Duluth’s WDIO is losing its second high-profile anchor in nearly as many months. Following the November announcement of anchor Dennis Anderson’s retirement, anchor Sandy Drag, who helms the ABC-affiliate’s 5 p.m. weeknight newscasts, informed the station that she is leaving to accept a public affairs position with Cleveland Cliffs, a mining and natural resources company.
Drag’s decision comes as she was in line to be Anderson’s natural successor at WDIO’s 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts. “If Sandy had been able to stay and wanted the job, there’s no reason to think she wouldn’t have gotten it,” WDIO news director Steve Goodspeed told the Duluth News Tribune about Anderson’s soon-to-be vacant anchor seat.
Ultimately Drag’s decision came down to family. She is expecting her first child in March and wanted a job that would allow her to spend more time with her new baby.
“I gave a lot of consideration to the 6 and 10 o’clock news,” she said. “It has always been my dream to do that job. But it’s also been my dream to be a mom.”
Now WDIO is left to fill two evening anchor positions in the coming months.
“They’re two first-rate people and first-rate talents, and the timing is challenging,” Goodspeed told the Duluth News Tribune. “We have our work cut out for us to find the right couple of people to fill their shoes and continue the legacy.”