General manager Richard Dyer told the staff that "ongoing challenges of her rehabilitation make it impossible for her to return to work."

Robertson was in two auto accidents in three months and suffered a traumatic injury. "I did try to go back to work," Robertson said. "I was there a day and a half and could hardly stand up."

Doctors have told her there's a chance her injury could heal, but it might take as long as two years.

In the meantime, "I'm sidelined."

Seeking Layne

Batches of e-mails have been rolling in asking what happened to Layne Mason. The smiling and popular Channel 12 weekend meteorologist has been off the air for more than a month.

He has been freelancing on Channel 19 since June when Maria LaRosa took a job in Philadelphia.

But Mason won't be at Channel 19 much longer. The station has hired meteorologist Valerie Abati to take over LaRosa's spot.

She comes here from WTVC in Chattanooga and debuts this weekend on the 10 p.m. news.

On freedom

Still haven't been to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center? You'll want to check out Thursday's Focus (7:30 p.m. Channel 48, repeating at 1:30 p.m. next Sunday).

Freedom Center staffers Ernest Britton, director of external relations, Jennifer Purpora, director of membership and sales, and Naomi Nelson, director of education, will discuss what visitors to the museum will see, as well as how the fight to end slavery is still alive and relevant today.

Visiting Judge Joe

Here's why you need to tune in to Judge Joe Brown on Friday (12:30 p.m. weekdays, Channel 5): Kim Shanks, a 41-year old Cleves resident, is on the show. And wins her case.

"The show went great because I won $1,500 and change. I was suing a girl who caused an injury to my leg when she tried to start a fight and I tried to walk away.

"The show called me in the spring and I flew out April 24. It was first class all the way - they picked me up in a limo, gave me spending money and put me in a first-class hotel.

"I didn't have much contact with Judge Joe other than the courtroom, but he seemed nice. If it had been Judge Judy, I wouldn't have done it. She's just too obnoxious."

More justice

Speaking of Judge Judy (4 p.m. weekdays, Channel 5), if you were watching her show Friday you saw Cincinnatians Mari Saturday and Tequana Colvin square off over the violation of a false protection order and alleged assault.

Plaintiff Saturday was suing for $3,000, claiming she was harassed and left threatening messages. Defendant Colvin was claiming Saturday punched her in the face when Colvin tried to repay a debt."

The verdict? $3,000 for plaintiff Saturday.

Award for Lewin

WGUC-FM's (90.9) Naomi Lewin won a Clarion Award from the Association for Women in Communications for her weekly Classics for Kids (8:50 a.m. Saturdays, 6 p.m. Sundays).

The nationally distributed show is an intro to classical music aimed at elementary school-aged kids, but also popular with uninitiated adults. It also has an unusual format: Each month focuses on a different composer while each week highlights a different aspect of that composer's life and work.

Payne watch

Wondering who those people are on the back cover of Reader's Digest this month?The drawings, recall, are done by Cincinnati artist Chris Payne in a multiyear deal similar to the one Norman Rockwell had with the Saturday Evening Post.

The way Payne works is to take a picture of the subjects, then paint his impression of same. It has become a popular game around town to try to figure out who's who in his covers.

So here goes . . .

The guy performing for "Amateur Hour" is his friend and fellow cartoonist Daryll Collins. The couple watching from backstage are Payne's high school friend Wally Elliott and Collins' wife Marilyn.

Yukking it up in the audience is Darin Overholfer, a favorite Payne subject. He's the first two guys in the lower left hand corner. The guy above, hand on face, is Payne himself. And the couple in the rear are Payne pals Craig and Laura McKay.

E-mail: jknippenberg@enquirer.com