» Close Encounters Of The Rove Kind At last night's Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities, Salem Radio Network U.S. Senate correspondent Linda Kenyon had just completed a one-on-one interview with Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell when she realized she had only five minutes to travel six floors up to the press box level for a live broadcast. As Kenyon reached the elevator she found security surrounding Republican heavyweight Karl Rove blocking access. "He was standing in front of it, shaking hands, but not getting on," reports Kenyon. "So I shouted, 'Karl! Please! I'm on the air in four minutes!' I'm sure he wouldn't recognize me if he fell over me, but the seas parted, security succumbed and I lunged under the rope and vaulted into the elevator!" For the record, Kenyon not only made it on the air in time, but also managed to add a quick aerobic workout to her busy day.

» Air America Elects A Reagan: That's Ron Reagan Jr., who has been covering the RNC for the New York City-based liberal Talk network this week. AAR Senior VP/Programming Bill Hess says that network honchos have been so impressed with Reagan's work covering the convention that, "we've gone ahead and signed him for a daily one-hour show." Effective next Monday (9/8) Reagan will begin hosting a nightly one-hour program on the network from 8-9pm (ET) immediately following AAR's Rachel Maddow Show. Reagan will host his daily talk show from Seattle where he currently lives.

» Hacked Off: At the end of his show yesterday (9/3) KLSD (XTRA Sports 1360)/San Diego host Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton told listeners he was leaving the station effective "immediately." A 20-year Sports radio veteran in America's Finest City, Hamilton told San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Jay Posner that the decision to leave the Clear Channel Sports/Talker was "mutual" and added, "At the end of the day I wanted to be a free agent and they said OK. No bitterness, no angst." No word on who will permanently takeover Hamilton's 3-6pm weekday slot, but midday host Chris Ello is expected to fill-in at least on an interim basis.

» Fred's Back: It was way back in June when we first reported that KDKA/Pittsburgh host Fred Honsberger had suffered a broken shoulder and would be taking some time off to recover. Last hosting his show on the CBS Radio News/Talker on June 13, Honsberger is set to return to his 3-5pm afternoon drive slot next Monday (9/8). Although absent from fulltime hosting duties for the summer while he underwent physical rehab, Honsberger has been making regular appearances on the station via telephone with KDKA host Kevin Miller in recent weeks. Honsberger has been on the air at KDKA for nearly three decades, first joining the station in 1979.

» My Kind Of Town: Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) welcomes Salem Radio Network host Michael Medved (r) to the Twin Cities where Coleman once served as mayor of St. Paul before moving on to Washington, DC. Coleman appeared on Medved's national radio show yesterday to talk about his hotly contested race for the U.S. Senate against former Air America Radio host and comedian Al Franken.

» In Tomorrow's NTS Aircheck Weekly: Just one week from today Americans will commemorate the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Still influencing the conversation at Talk radio almost daily, especially in this presidential election year, this week we take a look at some of the special programming that will be available to stations and other events worth noting as 9/11 is remembered and its victims honored nationwide. Read about it in the September 5 edition of NTS Aircheck Weekly arriving in your inbox tomorrow morning.