News Team

  • Our team…

  • John Summers is an award-winning longtime veteran of broadcast journalism, proudly serving as the News Radio KKOB News Director, overseeing the on-air and digital news product. Summers was, before landing in ABQ, the Brand Manager and News Director for Saga NewsTalk WHCU-AM & FM/Ithaca, NY. Prior to that, he was Regional Brand Manager and News Director for KPQ-AM and KKWN-FM in Wenatchee, as well as KONA-AM in Tri-Cities, Washington. Summers’ radio ‘tour of duty’ shows a long list of both on-air and voiceover activities at various Los Angeles broadcast facilities, as well as Riverside/San Bernardino, Palm Springs, Dallas, New Orleans, Topeka, Chattanooga, Augusta, Little Rock and Reno. This includes the CBS/Westwood One Radio Networks, Fox Sports Network, and the Kansas Information Network. John’s married to his college sweetheart, Dana. They enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities, globetrotting, astronomy, New Zealand rugby, American football, scuba diving, ice hockey, rodeo, and Aussie Rules Football. John and Dana lived out their Polynesian dream in the South Pacific islands of American Samoa, 2001 to 2005, as co-owners and operators of TV and radio stations. John loves to teach and is an adjunct professor having taught mass media, communications and journalism courses over the years at three universities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and work on a master’s degree in National Security Studies from Cal State-San Bernardino.

  • Haylee Gonzales is an Albuquerque native with family roots dating back to the 1600s in the Rio Grande Valley. She attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado for her undergraduate degree and Newcastle University in northern England for her masters. Once graduating from the International Multimedia Journalism program, she took a work fellowship with BBC World Service in London, producing for the program “BBC Minute”. In 2017, she returned home to Albuquerque to be closer to family. Haylee then worked as a producer and reporter for Albuquerque’s CBS affiliate before joining the News Radio KKOB team in March of 2021. She enjoys camping, cooking, and won’t ever turn down the opportunity to two-step. Haylee’s passionate about explanatory journalism that keeps New Mexicans up to date on the things that matter to them most. 

  • Mike Gaba joined the KKOB News Team in 2015 and anchors the award-winning PM news on KKOB radio. Gaba enjoys spending his time hiking and exploring National Parks. His witty interactions with hosts can be heard weekdays from 1pm-6:30pm

     

First QuikTrip for New Mexico is restricted

First QuikTrip for New Mexico is restricted

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — New Mexico’s first QuikTrip gas station was denied their request to sell alcohol, products containing nicotine, and heavy fuel for trucks, by an Albuquerque city official. The proposed location sits on 12th Street just south of Interstate 40. The company submitted applications in July, presenting its requests to the Zoning Hearing…MORE

NMSP targeting left lane usage

NMSP targeting left lane usage

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — New Mexico State Police conduct a Commercial Motor Vehicle Operation along Interstate 10 Corridor. The CMV Strike Team conducted an operation targeting left lane usage. During the operation, New Mexico State Police officers conducted 38 inspections, issued 19 citations, 1 distracted driver citation, and 13 speeding citations. 4 CMV drivers were…MORE

Free Canine Bortedella clinic

Free Canine Bortedella clinic

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — Bernalillo County Animal Care Services will be offering a free canine Bordetella clinic on Wednesday from 1 – 4 p.m. It’s proactive precautionary measure against Canine Respiratory Syndrome. There are still no identified positive cases in New Mexico. The walk-up clinic takes place at 3001 2nd St. southwest. To service canines…MORE

NFIB Jobs Report: Main Street jobs openings dip slightly in November

NFIB Jobs Report: Main Street jobs openings dip slightly in November

Santa Fe, NM (KKOB) — According to NFIB’s monthly jobs report, 40% (seasonally adjusted) of all owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, down three points from October. The percent of small business owners reporting labor quality as their top small business operating problem remains elevated at 24%. Labor costs…MORE

AAA Weekend Gas Watch

AAA Weekend Gas Watch

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — The statewide gas price average in New Mexico is $2.99 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to the AAA New Mexico Weekend Gas Watch. That price is 10 cents less when compared to this day last week and 18 cents less per gallon than on this day last year. Of…MORE

UNM Hospital is short on beds

UNM Hospital is short on beds

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — University of New Mexico Hospital is coming up short on patient beds. Over the last two weeks, hospital staff has noticed a surge in people who need care. Since Thanksgiving, they say patient numbers have gone up, putting them at 124% capacity in the adult units. To help handle patient numbers,…MORE

South Valley robber arrested

South Valley robber arrested

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — Wednesday, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 25-year-old Sergio Jhoy Salinas-Rodriguez. He is accused of eight armed robberies in the South Valley. Deputies allege each robbery involved a suspect armed with a knife, threatening store employees. According to BCSO, the robberies happened at three Cricket Wireless stores, three…MORE

Christmas tune celebrates Santa Fe

Christmas tune celebrates Santa Fe

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — A new single from a northern New Mexico singer celebrates the holiday in the Capital City. Tess Fresquez and Todd Blanchard produced the single “Christmas in Santa Fe.” Blanchard attended New Mexico Tech and met Fresquez playing music in Albuquerque in the 80s. A family trip to Santa Fe during the…MORE

New Mexico Film Office announces “The Really Loud House” season 2 resumes production in ABQ

New Mexico Film Office announces “The Really Loud House” season 2 resumes production in ABQ

Santa Fe, NM (KKOB) — Amber Dodson, the New Mexico Film Office director, announced today that Nickelodeon will resume production on season two of the original live-action television series, “A Really Loud House,” in Albuquerque.   Season two of “The Really Loud House” will continue to follow Lincoln Loud (Wolfgang Schaeffer, “The Really Loud House,”…MORE

New rules about flying over National Parks

New rules about flying over National Parks

Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — New regulations are in effect, designed to preserve the serenity of two dozen National Parks, including some of New Mexicos. The regulations are the result of a federal appeals court finding three years ago that the National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration failed to enforce a 2000 law governing…MORE