Duo heads to desert

There’s something about the sports desk and Wake Up! that sparks romance in the local TV newsroom. First, Sean Bennett and Melissa Cabral became lovebirds and flew off to Florida. Wednesday morning (Feb. 27), Eric Hodge and Linda Garrett (both pictured) headed off to Arizona.

The couple will work for competing stations in Tucson—Hodge at CBS affiliate KOLD, Garrett at ABC affiliate KGUN. Industry-wise, they’re making quite a jump, since Tucson is the 68th-largest TV market in the country and Chico/Redding is No. 130.

Garrett came to KHSL and KNVN from the Bay Area in March 2006, and succeeded Ashley Coleman—Cabral’s successor—as Wake Up! anchor last May. (Megan McDonald will replace her).) Hodge, a sports reporter, spent nine years in the North State, graduating from Chico State in 2004.