Insiders at local CBS affiliate WKRG-TV tell Lagniappe longtime News Director Dan Cates is leaving the station at the end of April and being transferred to a station in Spartanburg, S.C.

It is not yet known what position Cates would occupy at WSPA, the CBS affiliate for Spartanburg, Greenville and Anderson, S.C. WSPA is owned by Media General, which also owns WKRG.

Cates has been the news director at WKRG for several years and has seen both highs and lows in this market. He came aboard when the station was dominant in the ratings. Over the past year he has had to help his company try to pare back expenses through the reduction of staff. The station has cut 28 staffers in the past four months.

No word yet on who might be chosen to replace Cates.