Rise Of The Phoenix: As reported earlier via Twitter and Facebook, CBS Radio/Phoenix Country KMLE & Top 40 KZON OM/PD Tim Richards has been promoted to VP/Programming for the cluster, which also includes Classic Hits KOOL. Richards will retain programming duties for KMLE & KZON; KOOL PD Dave Shakes will continue in that role, answering to Richards. "Tim has certainly earned the VP/Programming stripes here at CBS Radio/Phoenix," says SVP/MM Tim Pohlman. "I am excited to see his talents applied to the heritage brand of 94.5 KOOL-FM." Richards added OM responsibilities in late 2014 (CAT 10/13), two years after joining KMLE as PD from iHeartMedia's crosstown Top 40 KZZP (Breaking News 4/4/13). He also spent 10 years as Show Dir. for the company's syndicated Johnjay & Rich show and has prior stops in Tucson, Chicago, Detroit and Boston. Congratulate him here.