This Just In! KSBY is Turning 70

How Local News Anchors Spend their Free Time on the Central Coast

By Wendy Thies Sell

Their friendly familiar faces seem to be everywhere: TVs, cell phones, social media, billboards, and buses. Some of the most recognizable smiles in San Luis Obispo County undoubtedly belong to the top talent at KSBY-TV.

Many news watchers consider broadcasters Richard Gearhart, Nina Lozano, Claudia Buccio, and Dave Hovde an extension of their family. And yet, how well do you really know them? How do they live life to the fullest when they’re not in the TV studio?

Richard Gearhart

You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in SLO County who doesn’t know Richard Gearhart. A fixture on local television screens for more than three decades, Gearhart started his career in his hometown TV market at the tender age of 20.

“I literally was born here,” Gearhart said. The dedicated journalist anchors KSBY’s weeknight newscasts. He knows the area better than most, has an archive-like memory, and has earned viewers’ trust.

The day of the January “bomb cyclone” storm is a perfect example of his commitment. Gearhart was called in early because the street leading up to the TV station was flooding. It took four-wheel-drive to transport the accoladed anchorman up the hill, on one of the biggest local news nights in years.

It was too late for other co-workers who had to stay in the safety of their homes, but Gearhart proceeded to work essentially 24 hours straight—broadcasting solo in the TV studio for the 4, 5, 6, 10, and 11 p.m. newscasts AND for the morning show the next day!

“I couldn’t get home because it was still flooded, so I slept in the conference room for a couple of hours, and then I got up and anchored Daybreak at 5 a.m. too,” Gearhart recalled.

In honor of KSBY’s upcoming 70th anniversary, Wendy Thies Sell—Living Lavishly contributor and former KSBY news anchor—recently reunited with two former colleagues and made two new acquaintances up on San Luis Obispo’s “TV Hill.” Because she knows there’s much more to an anchor than meets the eye.

“It’s not about being a hero. It’s literally, ‘This is my community too.’”

“Richard absolutely walks the walk and talks the talk,” Dave Hovde said about his longtime co-worker and friend. “He will come in early. He’ll stay late. He will do the research. He is a resource like no other. There’s only one Richard Gearhart and we have him.”

KSBY can lay claim to him. So can Cal Poly. Gearhart puts in more than 80 hours a week at two full-time jobs. During the day, he teaches the journalists of tomorrow at Cal Poly, SLO. A former kindergarten teacher-turned tenured associate professor, Gearhart earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and has completed everything but the dissertation toward his PhD in education.

“Richard is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met,” Hovde went on to say. “He is Superman! People don’t know this about him; that guy is everywhere and can do everything. He fixes things, he bakes things, he brews things, he flies things, he drives things, he raises horses, he’s basically an amateur veterinarian/amateur pilot/amateur you-name-it. The guy can literally do everything. And he’s a college professor. So, he teaches it, then he comes in here to do it. He’s one of the funnier people you’ll ever meet. He’s an icon. And here’s the thing: The guy has no ego.”

“Journalists are like this,” Gearhart humbly explained. “To be a journalist you have to be interested and fascinated by a lot of things and then really want to research it. If something comes my way, I’ll fall into it, research it, and see if I can do it.”

That goes for everything Gearhart does; showing purebred dogs, participating in carriage driving competitions with his Welsh Mountain Ponies, and his personal fitness goals, which include hiking local trails and tracking all of his meals.

“I honestly keep a log on my phone every single day of everything that I’ve eaten and how many calories,” Gearhart shared.

It’s something he has in common with co-anchor Nina Lozano.

Nina Lozano

Anchor, Multimedia Journalist

“Richard and I talk about calories all the time,” Lozano confirmed. “It’s an almost daily back and forth.” she said, admitting she’s fixated on food. She plans restaurant visits days in advance, studying menus, reading reviews, looking at food photos, and planning what she’ll order. And that definitely includes dessert.

Lozano, who joined KSBY in 2020 after reporting in Las Vegas and Rochester, NY, allows herself a one-day pass on weekends to veer from her healthy eating regimen. She often seeks familiar flavors from home—the Philippines. She discovered Filipino restaurants in Santa Maria, FoodTrip and Jade’s, but she likes practically any type of cuisine.

Lozano has accomplished her goal of visiting all of the towns that KSBY covers and, of course, many of the restaurants.

“Chocolate is No. 1. I’ve tried Mama Ganache,” Lozano said. “One slice of Madonna Inn Pink Champagne Cake lasts me an entire week because it’s so big and so rich. SloDoCo donuts—I love them! And now they have two locations! Ice cream. McConnell’s. Oh, my goodness! It’s really good.”

In addition to exploring the Central Coast, Lozano’s a regular globe-trotter. Last year, she spent three weeks in the Philippines and also met up with friends in Italy and the U.K.

“I ate my way through London,” Lozano said, revealing that she plans vacations via spreadsheet. Her next long-haul trip in the works—Paris, Portugal, and Greece.

“I’m a planner for everything,” she said. “Every single thing.”

Lozano dives into work the same way; researching everything and taping sticky notes to her scripts to remind herself of tricky pronunciations. She cites the strong camaraderie she enjoys with Gearhart and Hovde, the two men she shares the set with each night.

“I love it! I work with two great people,” she said. “I’m so lucky that we get along really well.”

Hovde agreed: “Nina is fun. She brings energy! The three of us are like a family sitting down at the dinner table.”

Dave Hovde

Chief Meteorologist

Dave Hovde is celebrating his 20th year at KSBY this spring! The affable North Dakota native has worked in multiple TV markets but found “home” in SLO County. The self-described “entertainer-educator” is not just a weatherman; he’s a skilled microclimate meteorologist, an excellent on-air teacher, and well-liked for his witty, energetic personality.

“Over time, the viewers could see that I have a passion for wanting to connect and [there’s] some authenticity behind the three-ring circus that I do,” Hovde said.

“I really do try to please everybody. I know it’s an impossible pursuit, but I like the challenge.”

As a “kind of caffeinated person,” Hovde doesn’t sit still. He works late and wakes up early. His mantra is, “You have to get up and get outside. That’s where you’ll find the magic of the Central Coast.”

Heaven for Hovde is teeing it up on the local links. “What I love about golf is you’re outside,” he said. “I’m in the elements that I’ve predicted and it requires so much concentration. I’m not in work mode and I can kind of Zen out and connect with the environment.”

He does more practicing than playing now, which he says has actually helped his game. Hovde’s had four aces—holes-in-one. Not too shabby, but he downplays his golf prowess.

“For anybody who plays as much as I do, I should be a lot better,” he laughed. “I don’t lose golf balls. I’m a pretty good driver of the golf ball, but I waste my shots around the greens, like so many people do. It’s the challenge that I’m looking for because it requires you to be in the moment, turn off outside distractions, slow the mind.”

Golf helps him create a life-work balance because his job is demanding.

“I spend more time here [at KSBY] than I spend at home with my kids or any relatives, and you better make the place better by showing up. I’m aware of that,” Hovde said.

All of the anchors care immensely and volunteer outside of the station, for local nonprofits and for KSBY’s annual campaigns, such as the successful Season of Hope food and toy drive. And when they are out and about, they’re noticed by just about everyone.

“It’s funny when Richard and I do something together … it’s Lennon and McCartney!” Hovde laughed. “We’re really more like [the grouchy Muppet duo] Statler and Waldorf. But it’s fine. I want people to feel like they can come up to me and say, ‘Hi.’ If they want to ask about the weather, that’s great. I love it! People are just trying to connect and they feel like we are a part of their family.”

Claudia Buccio

Anchor, Multimedia Journalist

One of the newest members of the KSBY family is Claudia Buccio, the station’s 5 p.m. co-anchor and reporter.

“When I’m not working, I’ll often be looking for story ideas,” she said with a smile. “I’m a bit of a workaholic. I’ve learned to appreciate living in the moment more so after living in L.A. and San Diego, which are super hectic. Here, I’ve found a sense of community and traditions of people helping one another. They welcomed me with open arms.”

Born in Chino, Calif., Buccio and her family moved to Michoacán, Mexico, when she was 9 years old, allowing her to learn to speak, read, and write Spanish, in addition to English, which would serve her well.

At 18, she moved back to California to attend Santa Ana College, where she graduated as valedictorian. She transferred to her dream school, USC, where she earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism.

After stints as a bilingual reporter in Palm Springs and San Diego, Buccio landed a job at KSBY in 2021. In her reporting, she makes a point to highlight Hispanic traditions and issues that are important to her and thousands of viewers.

“If you have a diverse newsroom it will show!”

Buccio said. “I try to bring in my Hispanic heritage, my understanding of what it means to be MexicanAmerican, bringing those ideas, and actually putting them on the air, too.”

Buccio’s parents own a restaurant in Mexico. Food is how her family expresses their love for one another. Her mom’s delicious mole is legendary, but Buccio has found quality Mexican food on the Central Coast.

“Panaderia Mana bakery in Santa Maria has really good bread!” Buccio said. “They make the Three Kings Cake and other traditional bread.”

The team at KSBY is happy to have Buccio on board, especially when she brings in her mom’s tasty tamales to share with the staff.

“Claudia is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,” Hovde said.

Added Gearhart, “It’s just a really good group of people who really like each other, who genuinely get along. We have the same problems and live in the same community, pay for the same expensive housing, and raise kids the same way that everybody else does. I wish [our viewers] had a better understanding that we’re real people here on the Central Coast, too.”

This spring, KSBY will celebrate its 70th anniversary. In May of 1953, KSBY became the first television station to serve San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Today, KSBY is available on more sources than ever before—over the air, satellite, cable, and anytime on their app through a variety of streaming devices.

“The power of television is, more so than any other source, you get to connect with an actual person, and that establishes a level of trust that doesn’t happen anywhere else in journalism,” Gearhart explained.

Viewers literally look them in the eyes as they deliver the news of the day. And then, you cross paths with them walking down the street, or in a classroom, or teeing off on the golf course, or dining at a neighborhood restaurant. And chances are good they’re probably counting calories, just like you!

Emmy Award winning journalist Wendy Thies Sell has more than 30 years experience in TV news, radio, and print.