Bumped of The Food Chain in Chicago

Our man Robert Feder  tells us that Dan Ponce, son of one Chicago news anchor and brother of another, will now have an anchor chair of his own.

After three years as a general assignment reporter at WGN-Channel 9, Ponce has been promoted to Monday-through-Friday morning news anchor at the Tribune Broadcasting station. Starting Sept. 3, he'll anchor "WGN Morning News" alongside Erin McElroy from 4 to 6 a.m. weekdays. The move coincides with the expansion of the broadcast to six hours — airing from 4 to 10 a.m.

"News, music and humor — there's only one newscast in the city where I can do all three," Ponce said after signing a new long-term deal with the station Thursday. (Terms were not disclosed.) "I'm thrilled to be joining Chicago's most popular morning TV team. It's going to be a big adjustment waking up that early, but anchoring with Erin McElroy every day will make it well worth it."