Morning anchor Johnathon O’Halloran, 28, announced on Instagram on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, that he was leaving WJAC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, after more than two years. He said the following morning’s edition of “6 News at Sunrise” would be his last.
“It’s bittersweet to say that tomorrow, Tuesday, will be my final day at WJAC,” O’Halloran wrote on Instagram. He thanked viewers throughout the station’s ten-county coverage area and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to work at a station with a long history.
In a separate farewell post, O’Halloran shared his final appearance on the morning broadcast and thanked the people who had supported him. He singled out viewers at home as the people most deserving of his gratitude.
O’Halloran said he was excited about his next opportunity and planned to share details in the coming days. Reflecting on his arrival in June 2024, he said he had known no one in the region but quickly felt welcomed by residents.
Two Years at the Sunrise Desk
O’Halloran joined WJAC in June 2024 and anchored its early-morning newscast, which serves a ten-county area of west-central Pennsylvania that includes Punxsutawney. In a June social media post marking his second anniversary, he reflected on how quickly his time at the station had passed.
His final studio broadcast was Tuesday, Sept. 15, the morning after he announced his departure.
From Woodbridge to the Anchor Desk
O’Halloran grew up in Woodbridge, New Jersey, and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and digital media from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2020. During four years at the university, he performed as both school mascots, D’Artagnan the Musketeer and the Blue Blob.
He began his broadcasting career in radio, working as a producer and fill-in sports talk host before moving into television.
Before joining WJAC, O’Halloran worked as an assignment editor at WPIX in New York City. His station biography lists coverage of major breaking news, including the arrest of an alleged Long Island serial killer, the 2022 Twin Parks apartment fire in the Bronx and the 2022 Sunset Park subway attack.
He also produced an in-depth report about an alleged cancer cluster at Colonia High School in New Jersey, earning a regional New York Emmy Award in 2023.
The story attracted national attention after more than 100 former students and staff reported brain tumors. Environmental testing at the school in 2022 found no radiological hazards. Colonia is part of Woodbridge Township, where O’Halloran grew up.
A Second Job in New York Radio
Alongside his Pennsylvania television work, O’Halloran has continued working as a news anchor for WOR 710 and iHeartRadio in New York. His assignments have included local broadcasts and coverage of national events.
O’Halloran said he was honored to participate in special coverage marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Having grown up near New York City, he described the events of that day as among his earliest memories.
He also shared on social media that he had reported from New York earlier this year on a pretrial hearing in the case against Luigi Mangione, during which a judge excluded certain evidence from the upcoming trial.
Viewers Respond to His Farewell
WJAC, a Sinclair Inc. station, lists morning anchor Valory Myers, chief meteorologist Caitlin Westerholm and news anchors Sean Eiler and Jen Johnson among its on-air staff. Its newsroom also includes meteorologists, multimedia journalists and a Centre County reporter.
O’Halloran ended his farewell by emphasizing his connection to the region and its residents.
“Please know this area will forever have a special place in my heart, and no matter where I go, I’ll always be rooting for the amazing people of these ten counties I’ve had the privilege of calling home,” O’Halloran wrote in the Instagram post.
Friends and viewers responded with congratulations and messages of support. One commenter expressed pride in his career progress. Another, writing on Facebook, regretted seeing young talent leave the region while acknowledging his interest in pursuing new opportunities.
