» Day One In Austin, Day Seven In Houston: Here at the NAB Radio Show under sunny skies in Austin, it's hard to imagine that residents and stations in Houston are still slogging it out in the aftermath of hurricane Ike. KTRH/Houston PD Bryan Erickson tells NTS Aircheck Today that station staffers have logged nearly 170 hours of non-stop disaster coverage since storm preparations and evacuations began last week. "It's been an all hands on deck event, with sports, sales, promotions and support staffers all joining the on-air regulars at all of our CC/Houston radio stations," he says. "For the millions of residents out there who still have no power KTRH has been their lifeline for local information as we all try to recover from the storm." You can listen live to the station's coverage HERE.

» Radio Unites For Ike Relief: As radio execs head to Texas this week for the NAB Radio Show the broadcasters' group has distributed a special PSA urging listeners nationwide to make a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to boost recovery efforts in Southeast Texas and other hard hit areas along the Gulf coast. NAB CEO David Rehr is asking radio to unite in a "roadblock" airing of the PSA on as many stations as possible at 1pm (ET) on Friday, September 19. He's also asking stations to air the spot as frequently as they can at other times. If you didn't get your PSA in the mail download it from the NAB website HERE.

» "Tony B." Partners With "Jimmy D." Veteran sports radio personality Tony Bruno will return to radio via a new deal with Jimmy de Castro's Chicago-based Content Factory. Into The Night With Tony Bruno will air live from the west coast, 7-10pm (PT), beginning September 29. Bruno's national broadcast career spans more than 20 years with previous stints at ESPN Radio and FOX Sports Radio. His show is the second full-time Sports/Talk radio program to be produced and distributed by the Content Factory which already syndicates The Dan Patrick Show. "Tony Bruno is a guy's guy," said de Castro. "He's totally relatable to the average listener." Interested stations can get more info on the show from Karen Peterson HERE.

» Talk Media News Notes: As part of a restructuring process WGN/Chicago Director/Marketing and Promotions Lori Brayer will exit at the end of this month after more than two decades with the Tribune News/Talker ... Talk radio host and world traveler Peter Greenberg will expand his weekly Syndicated Solutions show, Peter Greenberg Worldwide, to three hours, from 10am-1pm, effective November 15 ... The Commentators -- John Carlson and Ken Schram -- will move from KVI/Seattle to News clustermate KOMO as of September 29. Concurrently Talk Radio Network's Laura Ingraham Show moves into Carlson's and Schram's 3-6pm slot at KVI ... Condolences to the friends and family of longtime Southern California food talker Elmer Dills who passed away on Monday (9/15). He was 82. Dills, who spent many years at KABC/Los Angeles, was most recently heard on CRN Digital Talk Radio.

» What Are We Talking About? Longtime industry guru and regular NTS Aircheck Today reader Walter Sabo has a bone to pick with the kind of talk he hears on the radio. "Most talk stations miss 90% of the hit playlist of topics," he says. "I passed by CSPAN one day recently and was caught by an exchange between [KGO/San Francisco host] Ronn Owens and a guest while they were in a commercial break during a TV simulcast of his radio show. It was fascinating. They were talking about their young teenage kids and the challenges of raising a teenager. The host and his famous guest were sharing intimate insights into their lives using a casual tone of voice. It was captivating, honest and absolutely entertaining to anyone with children. Suddenly their voices hardened and they started talking about an election. What happened was the commercial break ended on the radio show, so they again became 'official' host and guest. Good at that? You bet. But oh, the other conversation was so much more unique -- and it would certainly have attracted a much younger crowd."

» Keep Peter In Your Prayers: Just before we hit the "send" button on today's issue of NTS Aircheck we heard from WNYM (The Apple)/New York PD Peter Thiele that he will undergo brain surgery tomorrow (9/18) at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ. Although it will likely be awhile before he returns to action, you can offer Peter your support and prayers HERE.

Ridin' And Rappin': ABC News Radio correspondent Aaron Katersky chats with voters during a stop in Erie, PA of ABC News' "50 States In 50 Days" whistle-stop train tour across America.