Ownership background and recent transfers: KIMA was previously owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. In 2025, operations shifted to Rincon Broadcasting Yakima LLC (a relatively new entity founded in late 2024 by Todd Parkin). On March 24, 2026, an FCC application was filed to transfer control from Rincon to Community News Media LLC (a New York-based company associated with Soohyung Kim and Deborah A. McDermott) as part of a larger $116.5 million deal involving multiple stations. This marks the second ownership change in roughly two months. The deal also includes sister station KEPR-TV (CBS in the Tri-Cities/Pasco area) and affiliated Univision stations.
KIMA-TV (channel 29) is the longtime CBS affiliate serving Yakima and the surrounding Yakima Valley. It has operated since 1953 as the area’s first television station and historically maintained a local news presence branded as KIMA Action News.
Recent developments in early 2026 involve rapid ownership shifts and operational changes that have raised concerns about the station’s local news production in Yakima.
As of late March 2026, KIMA’s nightly newscasts (particularly the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. slots) appear to have shifted production from the station’s Terrace Heights studio in Yakima to the KEPR studio in Pasco (Tri-Cities area). Previously, KIMA offered the only fully Yakima-focused local newscasts with a dedicated newsroom in Yakima on weekdays at 5 and 6 p.m. (with some sharing of morning, 10 p.m., 11 p.m., and weekend newscasts with KEPR). On March 30, the broadcasts were still anchored locally in Yakima by News Director John Kennedy O’Connor with Yakima/Ellensburg-focused weather. By March 31, they were rebranded as “KIMA KEPR Action News,” anchored from Pasco by Scott Stovall, with expanded weather coverage including the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla areas. This centralization suggests a move away from fully independent Yakima-based production.
The vice president/general manager, David Praga, is no longer in that role for the CBS affiliates (KIMA/KEPR), and no replacement was immediately listed. In early March, the station reportedly had about 25 employees across KIMA and sister Univision station KUNW. There are no confirmed public reports of specific layoffs or a full “shutdown” of the news department at this time. Similar Rincon-related deals often lead to downsizing, fewer local journalists, and centralized operations covering broader regions, which can reduce dedicated local coverage. KIMA’s Yakima-focused newscasts at 5 and 6 p.m. were previously highlighted as unique in the market.
These changes come amid a broader trend in smaller markets where local TV news operations face consolidation, cost pressures, and ownership flux (including “sidecar” arrangements to navigate FCC rules). Other Yakima stations (like KAPP-ABC and KNDO-NBC) have similarly moved primary newscast basing outside Yakima while retaining some local reporters.
As of early April 2026, KIMA’s website (kimatv.com) continues to post local Yakima news stories, but the on-air shift has drawn local attention and concern about diminished Yakima-specific journalism. Long-term plans remain unclear, as the FCC transfer is pending and specific details were not confirmed in initial reporting.
Is he lost?
Rose Churchley • April 16, 2026
I really miss the local Yakima news with John Kennedy O’Conner anchoring the 5 :00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. news and Scott Stovall on the 11:00 p.m. news. Where is John Kennedy O’Conner?? He is greatly missed as is local Yakima news! Yakima should be able to support a local TV station!
John Kennedy O'Connor
Jason Remington • April 8, 2026
A reader asked the status of John Kennedy O’Connor.
KIMA’s official “Meet Our Team” page (as recently as early April 2026) still lists John Kennedy O’Connor as News Director/Anchor. His station bio remains active, and KIMA’s site continues to feature topics and mentions associated with him. There are no reports of him leaving the station, being laid off, or moving elsewhere—unlike the production shift affecting some local operations. Local viewers have expressed support for him amid the changes (“Don’t get rid of JKO”).
He maintains a professional presence tied to Sinclair Inc. in the Yakima area (per LinkedIn), and recent station content (videos, reels, interviews) aligns with his ongoing role in local broadcasting. No public announcements indicate a departure, retirement, or major career change beyond the station’s broader restructuring.
In short, at the moment, he remains affiliated with KIMA/KEPR-TV in his leadership/anchoring capacity, even as the station consolidates some newscast production regionally. For the absolute latest, checking KIMA’s site or recent broadcasts directly would confirm on-air appearances.
Bring news back to Yakima
Terry Campbell • April 7, 2026
I only liked watching KIMA as was based with more Yakima news.
Don’t get rid of JKO.
I’ll switch to CBS to watch 5:30 national news and go back to may streamed in newscast.
Too bad you had to take this away.
Southeastern Washington TV
Mike Barer • April 3, 2026
KEPR, I believe the call letters stand for Kennewick , Pasco, Richland, is a station that I watched as a youngster, we got it on cable channel 5, even though it was really channel 19.
I remember it being owned by Cascade broadcasting which also owned KIMA in Yakima and KLEW in Lewiston.
At one time, it carried both programming from CBS and ABC. But then KVEW spring up sometime in the late 60s or early 70s as an ABC affiliate.
KNDU carried NBC for that area, which included Walla Walla.
We also got the three commercial Spokane stations, along with KISW in Seattle and one Canadian channel.
In the early 70s, there was a local channel that only showed weather.
News hubbing in Eastern Wa.
Jason Remington • April 2, 2026
Rincon stations:
The move affects the following Yakima and Tri-Cities stations
KEPR (CBS, CW)
KORX (Univision)
KVVK (Univision)
KIMA (CBS, CW)
KUNW (Univision)
Rincon is a private company established a little over a year ago to take over mid-market TV stations. It operates more than 20 stations in more than a dozen markets.
Rincon?
TVMike • April 10, 2026
Is this really a Sinclair sidecar?