Our local news stations have been busy.

A day after WHTM-TV ABC 27 announced it was expanding its weekend newscasts, WGAL-TV 8 sent word that it would increase its news coverage as well.

WGAL will add an additional hour of news to the station's Saturday and Sunday morning broadcasts beginning Saturday, Aug. 14. On both days, "News 8 Today" will air an hourlong newscast at 6 a.m., joining the station's existing weekend newscast in the 9 a.m. hour. Both newscasts will be anchored by Meredith Jorgensen.

"As seen in surrounding markets, we have discovered there is also an increased appetite for earlier newscasts on weekend mornings," said Paul Quinn, president and general manager of WGAL.

Harrisburg's WHTM will increase its Sunday night coverage with a half-hour show beginning Sept. 12. The 11:30 p.m. newscast will be anchored by Amy Kehm.

"Sunday evenings are becoming one of the most popular local news time periods," said Joe Lewin, WHTM's president and general manager. "With increasingly busy weekends and lifestyles, viewers are looking for an opportunity to catch up with stories they may have missed while out of town or spending time with their families."

New weatherman: WGAL-TV 8 has hired Drew Anderson as a weatherman. Anderson will perform regular on-air duties during "News 8 at Noon" broadcasts Thursday and Friday, and morning newscasts Saturday and Sunday.

A Chester County native and a Penn State graduate, Anderson has a degree in meteorology. He previously worked as a meteorologist in "Tornado Alley" at KTEN-TV in Denison, Texas.

Watch last season: Season 4 of "Mad Men" began last Sunday on AMC. (I was a little disappointed with the first episode.) If you need to catch up on what happened last season, Comcast has Season 3 available On Demand for digital customers. In the On Demand menu, look under "TV Entertainment" and select "AMC." The episodes are available in standard and high-definition formats.

WNNK newsman dies: According to NorthEast Radio Watch, WNNK-FM 104.1 morning news director John Beaston died July 10.

Beaston, 35, was part of a "Wink 104" morning crew that included co-hosts Denny Logan and Sue Campbell. On Monday, July 12, Beaston didn't show up for work, and police found him dead in his apartment, where he'd apparently suffered a massive heart attack sometime Saturday. Beaston had been with the Harrisburg station since 2006.

He'd been in FM radio since he was 15, when he started out at WIKZ in Chambersburg. He later worked at WSRT in Chambersburg, WIMX and WRBT in Harrisburg, WWMD in Hagerstown, Md., WOCQ in Ocean City, Md., and on weekends at WIOQ in Philadelphia, according to NorthEast Radio Watch.

"Bridge" collapse: CBS has pulled the Canadian cop drama "The Bridge" after airing three Saturday episodes, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

CBS will replace "The Bridge" with reruns of "Cold Case" at 8 p.m.

"Dora" anniversary: Viacom's Nickelodeon will celebrate the 10th anniversary of "Dora The Explorer" this month with an hourlong prime-time TV movie and a "Dora" documentary, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The movie, "Dora's Big Birthday Adventure," will air at 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, and feature guest stars Rosie Perez, John Leguizamo and Hector Elizondo.

Staff writer Eric Stark discusses trends and tidbits in broadcast media each week in the Sunday News. Write to him at estark@lnpnews.com.