Remember anchors Ernie Bjorkman and Steve Kelley? In recent months, several trusted faces have vanished from local television news programs. Now add to the list Chris Dunn, Fox 31’s chief weatherman, and several other staff members, fired by the station yesterday in the latest round of budget trimming. Reporters Audra Ensign and Charlie Brennan are also getting their walking papers, along with several photographers and production staffers, according to The Denver Post.

Dennis Leonard, vice president and general manager of the recently merged operations at Fox 31 and News 2, blamed a “budgetary/economic situation,” adding that he’s “having to cut while trying to build. That’s not what I came to Denver to do.” In all, five news employees lost their jobs, according to Westword, which reports that an undisclosed number of business-side workers were also canned.