Julie Bologna, WPXI's morning and noon meteorologist, is leaving the station for a job with the CBS affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth, coincidentally also Channel 11. She will be the weekday morning meteorologist at KTVT and have the chance to do some feature reporting and live, on-location weather reports.

Julie Bologna

Her husband, pharmacist Phillip Dodd, is from a small Texas town called Port Lavaca, and his family lives in Austin and San Antonio, she said yesterday.

Bologna, 32, a native of Center, Beaver County, has worked at WPXI since August 1999. Her last day on TV here will be Aug. 6, and she expects to be on air in Dallas in late August or early September.

"I'm really want to thank the Pittsburgh viewers. They've been wonderful to me," Bologna said between newscasts yesterday. "They've welcomed me into their home each and every morning and again at noon, and [they] have been very friendly to me, everywhere I see them. They've sent me letters and e-mails and calls, and I've appreciated hearing from each and every person."

The move boosts Bologna from the 22nd largest TV market in the country to the seventh.

"I feel it's going to be a very good opportunity for me. I'm excited about the challenges ahead," she said. Dallas-Fort Worth obviously receives much less snow than Western Pennsylvania, but it has its share of heavy rains, flooding and severe weather, including tornadoes and ice storms that can shut down the region. Not to mention the 100-degree temperatures.

Bologna holds a journalism degree from Penn State University with a minor in theater. She came to Channel 11 after gaining broadcasting experience in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Altoona, Steubenville, Ambridge and State College. She is the only woman on WPXI's weather team and one of the few in this market.

Pat Maday, WPXI's news director, said yesterday that meteorologist Kevin Benson will fill in mornings and at noon. "The search is under way, and Kevin may ultimately be the best person for that position, but it's too early to tell."

The news director called Bologna an excellent meteorologist, adding that in the mornings, in particular, the forecaster has extensive air time. "You have to be, given that and some of the other things we do in the morning, organized and focused, and she does a terrific job."

Bologna's contract was up and speculation had been circulating that she might move to a bigger market. Her new deal was negotiated by lawyer Michael Burns of the Pittsburgh firm Burns, White and Hickton.