Washington

Leon Harris reveals departure from NBC4 Washington after sparking health concerns

Published

2 weeks ago

April 9, 2025

Leon Harris reveals departure from NBC4 Washington after sparking health concerns

Leon Harris, the NBC4 Washington anchor who sparked public concern about his health in November, is stepping down from his role at the station.

Harris, 63, confirmed his departure in a Tuesday statement released on the official NBC4 website, which was also shared on social media.

The news comes five months after Harris went viral for his appearance in a Thanksgiving broadcast, during which he seemed to struggle stringing words together. He subsequently took a medical leave of absence.

“Many of you have kindly asked about me over the past few months,” Harris said. “As you know, I took time off to focus on my health and family. After 40+ years of nonstop work and the dramatic changes in the news and television industry, I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my role at NBC4.”

While Harris did not provide any specifics on his condition, the newscaster added that “this is the right time to prioritize my health and family.”

“I’m grateful to NBC4 for having me as part of their team for the last eight years,” Harris concluded. “A special thanks to my amazing colleagues, friends, and especially to our viewers who welcomed me into their homes. It’s been an honor.”

In its own statement, NBC4 said the news outlet is “grateful” for Harris’ nearly decade-long tenure.

“We thank him for his commitment to our community, dedication to journalism, hard work, and friendship,” NBC4 said. “He will be missed, and we wish him nothing but the best.”

Prior to his stint at NBC, Harris worked as an anchor at CNN and ABC affiliate WJLA-TV. He has won more than a dozen local Emmy Awards, including two for best local news anchor, according to a biography on the NBC4 website.

Leon Harris health concerns led to public scrutiny

Harris has openly discussed his issues with alcohol in the past, though it’s unclear if the November 2024 incident was related to his struggle with substance abuse. The journalist previously suffered from a near-fatal case of necrotizing pancreatitis, according to a 2013 interview with CNN.

Soon after Harris’ troubling Thanksgiving broadcast, prayers and concerns trickled in for the newscaster, but not before speculation went rampant. “Pull him & get him some help!” one X user wrote at the time.

Experts warn that while it’s OK to wonder about the health of public figures — or anyone in your life — people should remember that everyone deserves respect amid a medical scare.

Because celebrities live their lives in the public eye, “some people can inappropriately believe they are entitled to every aspect of their life, which is untrue,” Chase Cassine, licensed clinical social worker, previously told USA TODAY.

“Celebrities and public figures are humans and deserve the fundamental human right of autonomy and self-determination by controlling what aspects of their lives will be self-disclosed.”

Just because someone is in the public eye doesn’t render them immune to pain or suffering — from a serious health condition or gossip.

“Instead of speculating and spreading false information, people should allow a safe and respectful space for the person whether they are providing information on their protected health information or not,” Cassine said. “They are not obligated to do so.”

Contributing: David Oliver, USA TODAY

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Washington

Bo Burkhart named Washington HS basketball head coach; Hawkins steps down at Heritage Hills

Published

9 hours ago

April 19, 2025

Press Room

Bo Burkhart named Washington HS basketball head coach; Hawkins steps down at Heritage Hills

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – There have been quite a few high school coaching changes, in the Tri-State lately, and that trend continued on Friday, updates at Heritage Hills and Washington high schools.

First, at Heritage Hills, boys basketball head coach Nate Hawkins announced he is stepping down. He spent nine years at the helm of the Patriots, and had plenty of success, notching two sectional championships.

Over at Bosse, a familiar face will be departing for a new gig. Bo Burkhart, the son of the Bulldogs’ head coach Shane Burkhart, will head to Washington, to become the head coach of the Hatchets, replacing the legendary, Gene Miiller.

Bo Burkhart served as an assistant under his father, for a couple years, and before that, he was an assistant at Xavier University. The Washington job, will be the younger Burkhart’s first head coaching job.

Congrats to the Burkhart family, and good luck to Coach Hawkins, in his future endeavors.

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Washington

‘Pay it back’: Maine veterans set to take trip to Washington with Honor Flight

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2025

Press Room

‘Pay it back’: Maine veterans set to take trip to Washington with Honor Flight

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Maine has more than 100,000 veterans living in our state.

78 of them will visit our nation’s capital next week and will receive a proper “welcome home.”

Veterans will make an inaugural flight from Bangor International Airport to Washington, DC, on Friday to tour the war memorials that honor their service and sacrifice.

This is one of four free trips Honor Flight Maine has planned for this year.

The veterans will return to Bangor on Sunday, April 27th, for a Welcome Home Celebration.

The public is invited to the Maine Army National Guard hangar for the special occasion.

“Everyone comes up to say ‘welcome home’, and a lot of these folks did not get that, and this is our opportunity to pay it back,” said Colonel Nathan Arnold of the Maine Army National Guard.

“Many of them will say I have heard more ‘thank you for my service’ in the last three days than I did in the 50 years since I served,” said Matthew Mank, chairman of the board for Honor Flight Maine. “We don’t call them tears. We call them Honor Flight allergies. I’ll have plenty of allergies.”

The Welcome Home Celebration will take place at the hangar off Maine Avenue in Bangor on Sunday, April 27th at 2 p.m.

Doors will open at noon.

The public will enter near Bangor Public Works.

Click here to learn more about Honor Flight Maine.

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Washington

Most points in a playoff game: Washington Wizards

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2025

Press Room

Most points in a playoff game: Washington Wizards

1. Elvin Hayes, 46 points

1975 Eastern Conference Semis, Game 5

Hayes tops this list with a stellar performance against the Buffalo Braves in Game 5 of an Eastern Conference Semifinals series in 1975. He scored 46 points, shooting 19-for-26 from the field and 8-for-13 from the free-throw line. In addition to his scoring contributions, Hayes provided 12 rebounds and five assists. No other player on the (then-)Bullets scored more than 14 points, but the Bullets still won the game. They would eventually win the series in seven games. Washington made it to the NBA Finals that season, and was swept by the Warriors.

2. Gilbert Arenas, 44 points

2006 Eastern Conference First Round, Game 5

Arenas made three All-Star teams during his time with the Wizards. He also made three trips to the playoffs. His best scoring outburst came in Game 5 of a 2006 Eastern Conference first round series against the Cavaliers. The game went to overtime, which helped Arenas score 44 points over 53 minutes. LeBron James scored 45 points for the Cavaliers, though, and the Wizards ended up losing the game. The Wizards would go on to lose the series in six games.

3. John Wall, 42 points

2017 Eastern Conference First Round, Game 6

The Wizards selected Wall with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 Draft. He went on to make five All-Star teams with the franchise. In his four playoff stints with the team, his best scoring performance came in Game 6 of an Eastern Conference first round series against the Hawks in 2017. He scored 42 points, shooting 16-for-25 from the field and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. The Wizards won the game and advanced to face the Celtics, to whom they eventually lost in seven games.

4. Kevin Grevey, 41 points

1978 Eastern Conference First Round, Game 2

The Bullets selected Grevey with the 18th pick of the 1975 Draft, and he spent the first eight seasons of his career with the franchise. During the regular season, his highest scoring average came in 1980-81 when he averaged 17.2 points. However, he stepped up to score 41 points in Game 2 of a 1978 Eastern Conference first round series with the Hawks. He shot 15-for-24 from the field and 11-for-13 from the free-throw line in the game. The Bullets would go on to win their lone championship that season.

5. Elvin Hayes, John Wall – 40 points

1974 East Semis, Game 1; 2017 East Semis, Game 2

Two players tied for the fifth spot on this list. Hayes scored 40 points in Game 1 of a 1974 Eastern Conference Semifinals series with the Knicks. Wall also scored 40 points in Game 2 of a 2017 Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Celtics. Wall’s performance came in a game that went into overtime, while Hayes’ performance came in regulation. Still, Hayes logged 48 minutes in his 40-point performance, while Wall played 47 minutes in his.

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