Longtime KPRC 2 news anchor, Owen Conflenti, is slated to return to the morning broadcast on October 13 after a temporary leave of absence following surgery. While on the mend from a hernia operation, Conflenti made an unexpected appearance at Houston's Southern Smoke Festival - an event he's volunteered at consistently - sporting an entirely new look complete with a beard and sans glasses, according to Chron. Although actively recovering, Conflenti couldn't resist personally showing his support for the annual charity event, albeit in a reduced capacity this time around.
His absence on air led to speculation among KPRC 2 viewers until Conflenti addressed the ongoing inquiries with news of his recovery. "I didn't mention it beforehand, but, uh, I recently had surgery to repair a hernia," Conflenti acknowledged in a video he shared on social media obtained by Chron. "That's why I've been home resting, recovering, kind of laying low. But everything's been going well. I'm feeling a lot better."
Fans and colleagues alike missed Conflenti on the morning news, as reflected by a flurry of well-wishes and inquiries in the comments of his social media update. Investigative reporter Amy Davis weighed in on Conflenti's bearded look, "There you are! Glad everything went well. We all miss you. And are you keeping the beard? We’ve never seen that Owen on-air!" alongside co-anchor Sofia Ojeda who simply stated, "MISSSSSSSS YOUUUUUUUUU," as reported by Chron.
A fixture on the KPRC 2 morning newscast since 2005, Conflenti's connection to the Houston community runs deep. Before joining Houston's news landscape, he was the weekend anchor at WNCT in North Carolina and is an Emerson College graduate where he honed his skills in broadcast journalism. Viewers enthusiastically await Conflenti's October 13 return, with comments like Jan Sills', "Missing you on the news, but happy to hear all is well, take care of yourself," underscoring the veteran anchor's impact on the local audience, as noted by the Houston Chronicle.
