Allison Payne to Mayo Clinic, Jesse Jackson on WGN

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Posted by chicagomedia.org on September 10, 2008 at 07:22:39:

In Reply to: Where is Allison Payne posted by chicagomedia.org on September 09, 2008 at 20:37:43:

Payne seeks way to deal with strokes

Longtime WGN-Ch. 9 anchor Allison Payne was packing Tuesday for a visit to Minnesota's famed Mayo Clinic for a battery of tests to determine the best way to battle the residual effects of a series of mini-strokes that kept her off the air for three months this year.

So long as the visit is uneventful, Payne expects to return in time for Monday's scheduled debut of Channel 9's 5:30 p.m. newscast, which she is to co-anchor with her 9 p.m. partner, Mark Suppelsa.

"That's the plan, unless they find something," Payne said. "They're going to check my brain, my blood and my heart."

WGN news director Greg Caputo said the station has a backup plan should Payne be unavailable. But, as the assumption is the broadcast will go as planned, he did not want to discuss it.

"The most important thing for us here, who know Allison and love her and have worked with her for years, is that she get better," Caputo said. "Our concern is for her. If for some reason she is unable to [work Monday] because of whatever may come from being up there, we'll handle that as we go along, just as we've always been handling it."

Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co. also owns WGN.

Payne, who has co-anchored WGN's 9 p.m. newscast for 15 years, apologized to viewers in a Tribune interview last month for an unsteady on-air appearance, saying overwork compounded the effects of the mini-strokes that sidelined her from January to April.

She said Tuesday that she also hadn't been taking her prescribed blood thinner, "and that's a major no-no."

Payne credited Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife with helping persuade her to seek additional medical treatment and expediting the process of getting her into the Mayo Clinic.

Caputo said this "absolutely will not change coverage" of Jackson and his family by the station, "and if that limits Allison's participation in stories involving Rev. Jackson, then that's what we'll do."

Said Caputo, "There's personal and there's professional, and I'm grateful to anyone who is going to be able to help get her better."

(ROSENTHAL/trib)

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: Payne seeks way to deal with strokes : : Longtime WGN-Ch. 9 anchor Allison Payne was packing Tuesday for a visit to Minnesota's famed Mayo Clinic for a battery of tests to determine the best way to battle the residual effects of a series of mini-strokes that kept her off the air for three months this year. : So long as the visit is uneventful, Payne expects to return in time for Monday's scheduled debut of Channel 9's 5:30 p.m. newscast, which she is to co-anchor with her 9 p.m. partner, Mark Suppelsa. : "That's the plan, unless they find something," Payne said. "They're going to check my brain, my blood and my heart." : WGN news director Greg Caputo said the station has a backup plan should Payne be unavailable. But, as the assumption is the broadcast will go as planned, he did not want to discuss it. : "The most important thing for us here, who know Allison and love her and have worked with her for years, is that she get better," Caputo said. "Our concern is for her. If for some reason she is unable to [work Monday] because of whatever may come from being up there, we'll handle that as we go along, just as we've always been handling it." : Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co. also owns WGN. : Payne, who has co-anchored WGN's 9 p.m. newscast for 15 years, apologized to viewers in a Tribune interview last month for an unsteady on-air appearance, saying overwork compounded the effects of the mini-strokes that sidelined her from January to April. : She said Tuesday that she also hadn't been taking her prescribed blood thinner, "and that's a major no-no." : Payne credited Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife with helping persuade her to seek additional medical treatment and expediting the process of getting her into the Mayo Clinic. : Caputo said this "absolutely will not change coverage" of Jackson and his family by the station, "and if that limits Allison's participation in stories involving Rev. Jackson, then that's what we'll do." : Said Caputo, "There's personal and there's professional, and I'm grateful to anyone who is going to be able to help get her better." : (ROSENTHAL/trib)

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