WMAQ NBC 5 Chicago is giving more air time to weekend meteorologist Cheryl Scott. And in other news, the station is expanding its Saturday and Sunday morning newscasts by an additional two and half hours.

Starting July 27, NBC 5 will air local news on Saturdays from 5 to 7 a.m. and from 9 to 10 a.m., and on Sundays from 5 to 7 a.m., 8 to 9 a.m. and 10 to 10:30 a.m. Kim Vatis and Anthony Ponce anchor both mornings.

Scott, who's been a rising star in Chicago since she joined the station in 2011 from NBC affiliate WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee, forecasts weather on NBC 5's weekend morning and evening newscasts.

NBC's "Weekend Today" will continue to air from 7 to 9 a.m. Saturdays and from 7 to 8 a.m. Sundays.

H/T Robert Feder