Q&A on the News
Q: I heard on the Weather Channel that Oct. 2 was the last show for Al Roker and Stephanie Abrams. Since it is at 5 a.m., I missed it, and I wonder what is going on. Was Roker fired? What will Abrams be doing? Also, one of the grocery store magazines had a note about Sam Champion no longer hosting “AMHQ.” Yet I still see him on there. What is going on here?
—Mary Shepherd, Atlanta
A: "Wake Up With Al," which aired from 5 to 6 a.m., ended Oct. 2, after six years on the Weather Channel.
The show was shot in New York for the Atlanta-based network.
Champion is moving from “AMHQ” to a prime-time position on Nov. 2, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported, and Abrams will help host “AMHQ.”
Champion also “will work to create regular prime-time shows that highlight the intersection of new technologies and weather,” a memo stated.
The changes, which were announced last month, also include cutting back on reality shows as the Weather Channel refocuses on weather coverage.
About 50 employees of the channel’s 1,400 were let go in the changes, CNNMoney reported.
Q: Is the U.S. helping the refugees who are pouring into Europe, or are we helping the European countries? If not, who is helping them?
—Lynn Simonson, Dunwoody
A: The U.S. has given more than $4.5 billion in aid, the most of any country, since the crisis began in 2011, the State Department stated in a release on Sept. 21.
The U.S. has given $1.6 billion to “those affected by the war in Syria” in fiscal 2015, the release stated.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
