Anchor Israel Balderas leaves WCCB

Israel Balderas, evening anchor at WCCB (Channel 18), parted ways with the station Monday.

Balderas, who anchored the 10 p.m. newscast with Morgan Fogarty, left before his contract was due to expire late this year. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

Balderas joined WCCB in 2010 on the station’s morning show, then was named 10 p.m. anchor in 2011 when longtime co-host Brien Blakely left the station in 2011. Balderas, a key figure during the station’s coverage of the Democratic National Convention, worked for Fox News Channel while getting his law degree at Catholic University in Washington.

Balderas was named TV news anchor of the year in November by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.

His departure follows that of veteran sports director Bruce Snyder and news director Ken White in the last six months. In January, WCCB was told by Fox that it was losing its affiliation with the network after the network bought rival WJZY (Channel 46). WCCB recently announced it would affiliate with the CW network beginning July 1.

Two from Charlotte area to vie on 'Bachelorette'

Once again, the Charlotte area is donating manpower to ABC's "The Bachelorette."

On the next season of the romance series, debuting 8 p.m. May 27, a lawyer from Hickory lawyer and a Charlotte investment adviser will be among the 25 potential suitors for Desiree Hartsock. 

Jonathan Vollinger

Jonathan Vollinger, 26, is a December graduate of the University of Miami school of law from Hickory. In his ABC profile, he described his worst date: "The girl yelling expletives across the street as she went back to her building. It didn't end well."

Nick Mucci

Nick Mucci, 27, is an investment adviser for Vanguard from Charlotte who grew up in Rochester, N.Y. In his ABC profile he said his dream job would be sportscaster. "My job would be to analyze football games and I'd have the best seat in the house." 

Their competitors include a former pro soccer player, a federal prosecutor and a professional magician.

Hartsock, 27, a fashion designer, was dumped by Sean Lowe in the last season of "The Bachelor." This time around, Hartsock will be taking her retinue to Munich, the Alps and Barcelona. 

Charlotte has always been a rich source of potential mates for ABC's romance franchise. Best known is Emily Maynard, who appeared on both "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette." Katie Levans, a Charlotte yoga instructor, was a colleague of Hartsock's on the last season of "The Bachelor." Other bachelorettes from Charlotte over the years have included cocktail waitress Blakeley Shea, grad student Emily O'Brien, marketing specialist and former Panthers cheerleader Kimberly Coon and fitness trainer Kristine Heffelfinger.