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    dom's big story

    Dominique Sachse reveals new TV gig on Dr. Phil's network and shares message to fans

    Steven Devadanam
    Jan 25, 2024 | 11:52 am
    Dominique Sachse

    Sachse is the new morning anchor for Merit Street Media.

    Photo courtesy of Dominique Sachse and Merit Street Media.

    Back in the late 1990s, Houston TV superstar anchor Dominique Sachse would break into evening newscasts with “The Big Story” on Channel 2. Now, the anchor/influencer/entrepreneur/media celeb has her own breaking, big story.

    Sachse, who has moved to Dallas revealed on her popular YouTube channel “what on earth is going on” with her and why she moved to the DFW area. “You knew that for me to make a move like this, it would have to be something huge,” she told her audience on January 25.

    “I am working for a company called Merit Street Media, founded by the one and only Dr. Phil McGraw,” she revealed, adding that she even sat in on a taping of his show.

    She then reported that she will co-host “Morning on Merit Street” newscast from 7 am to 9 pm, launching on February 26. “Yes, I’m back in the news biz!” she exclaimed to live commenters who, like us, guessed that she’d be in front of the camera again.

    Houston audiences will be able to watch online and potentially even on broadcast, she said.


    Big News. And we mean news.
    “Morning On Merit Street” and “The News on Merit Street” debut February 26, 2024 on Merit Street Media™, the upcoming news and entertainment cable broadcasting network founded by Dr. Phil McGraw. pic.twitter.com/XD3p2OiFK1
    — Dr. Phil (@DrPhil) January 25, 2024


    “Morning on Merit Street” is steeped in journalism, storytelling, presenting both sides, and truth, she said, adding that she got out of the business. “I saw it becoming something I couldn’t align with anymore,” she noted about her decades in broadcast TV news.

    Also attractive for Sachse is her ability to seamlessly blend her broadcast TV experience and hosting with her current YouTube prowess and following. “I honestly think everything needed to happen for this to come my way,” she told her more than 1.6 million subscribers. “You know, because you drive the content,” she added, noting the “evolution of beauty, fashion, lifestyle,” plus her parenting tips, thoughts on family, and more.



    As for the lightning pace, Sachse reveals that this all started during Thanksgiving, when she got a voicemail from her former TV agent, powerhouse rep Ken Lindner. Merit Street Media news director Joel Cheatwood — who once tried to woo Sachse to anchor in Miami in the ’90s — was curious if she’d consider anchoring again, with Merit’s approach being the draw.

    A return to TV was always a nonstarter for Sachse: “No, never, not gonna do it,” she said of any comeback offer, even quoting ’90s R&B divas En Vogue — “never gonna get it, never gonna get it.”

    But Cheatwood’s involvement was key, as he saw her potential in 1993 when she was just starting to audition for TV — starting with Extra on Los Angeles and KPRC Channel 2 here. Cheatwood, Lindner told Sachse at the time, was known as an innovator for fast-paced, graphic-driven news presentation that pumped up an often tired industry.

    Saying she was grateful for the opportunity to host in Miami, a young Sachse opted to stay in Houston, and the rest, as they say, was history.

    Fast forward to a week after Thanksgiving, which found her in Dallas, chatting with Cheatwood in Merit Media’s whopping 5-acre news set. “I’ve never seen something so tricked out in my life,” she added, noting that people are moving from New York, California, and Florida to join Merit Street Media.


    View this post on Instagram
    A post shared by Fanchon Stinger (@fanchonstinger)

    And from the Indianapolis area, where Fanchon Stinger, Sache’s new co-host, will be heading from to take the “Morning on Merit Street” desk. Stinger boasts “grit and grace,” Sachse teased of the 15-time Emmy winning anchor.

    A little about Dr. Phil's Merit Street Media: The TV network is a “fully distributed, cable, satellite, and free over-the-air broadcast media brand,” with “commitments already exceeding 65 million television homes and pending agreements set to significantly expand that number,” per the site. Partnering with Trinity Broadcasting Network, the network will feature “Dr. Phil Primetime,” a nightly program, four hours of original prime time content, true crime, family-friendly shows, and familiar TV personalities, per the network.

    For now, fans here can catch Sachse on YouTube and Instagram before the big launch late next month.

    “February 26th can’t get here fast enough!” the beloved former Houston star tells CultureMap as her phone blows up in Dallas. A big story, indeed, Dom.

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    reimagining toyota center

    $180 million renovation plan unveiled for Houston's Toyota Center

    Eric Sandler
    Apr 8, 2026 | 4:50 pm
    Toyota Center reimagined rendering
    Courtesy of Toyota Center
    A rendering illustrates the new atrium that will be built at the corner of Polk and La Branch.

    The Toyota Center is getting some major upgrades. Unveiled Wednesday, April 8, the $180 million "Toyota Center Reimagined" plan includes a new outdoor atrium and a comprehensive set of upgrades to both the downtown stadium’s public areas and its suites.

    In comments at today’s Houston City Council meeting, Mayor John Whitmire stated that the costs of the project will be divided between the state and Clutch City Sports & Entertainment, billionaire Tilman J. Fertitta’s company that operates the Toyota Center, CultureMap news partner ABC13 reports. The stadium serves as the home of the Houston Rockets and the soon-to-return Houston Comets. It also hosts concerts and other events.

    “Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to continually invest in Houston and deliver a world-class experience for the millions of guests who visit Toyota Center and downtown Houston each year,” Fertitta said in a statement. “Toyota Center Reimagined will elevate the guest experience, introduce dynamic new gathering spaces, and ensure Toyota Center remains one of the premier sports and entertainment destinations in the country.”

    The highlight of the plan is a new, 20,000-square-foot atrium that will be built at the corner of Polk and La Branch. Intended to serve as a new entrance for Toyota Center, it will feature a covered, outdoor space for pre-game events as well as a 5,000-square-foot lounge for season ticket holders.

    In addition, the plans will double the size of the Rockets and Comets team store. Other changes to the exterior include reconfiguring the Bell Street entrance to provide fans with a view of the bowl and upgrade to the skybridge that connects the Toyota Center with its adjacent parking garage.

    Inside, all of the venue’s luxury suites will be upgraded with new interiors and refreshed sightlines. Behind-the-scenes changes include improvements to the stadium’s fiber cable network and Wi-Fi systems to support broadcasts both inside and out.

    The project will also build two new gathering spaces:
    • The Summit Club, a 6,000-square-foot space on the suite level with dining and lounge spaces.
    • The Sky Bar and HOU Market, a 5,000-square-foot space on the upper concourse with views of downtown

    Toyota Center reimagined rendering

    Courtesy of Toyota Center

    A rendering illustrates the new atrium that will be built at the corner of Polk and La Branch.

    Work on the project will begin when the Houston Rockets season ends. It is expected to be completed in the fall of 2027, ahead of the Republican National Convention that will take place in the summer of 2028.

    "This is a significant milestone for both the Houston Rockets and the City of Houston,” said Harris County–Houston Sports Authority CEO Ryan Walsh. “As the steward of Houston’s sports venues, including Toyota Center, the Harris County–Houston Sports Authority is proud to partner in this important investment. The modernization of the arena is a critical step in maintaining Houston’s competitive edge as the premier destination for major events. These upgrades will not only elevate the fan experience, but also strengthen our ability to attract high-profile events, drive tourism, and generate economic impact across the region.”

    Toyota Center isn’t the only downtown venue getting a facelift. The George R. Brown Convention Center is currently in the midst of a project that will add an additional 700,000 square feet of space, among other improvements.

    downtowntoyota centerhouston-rocketstilman fertitta
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