21 WFMJ, the television station known for giving viewers More Local News in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys, is doing just that beginning September 5, giving viewers more local news in a format that breaks traditional local news boundaries.

The hour-long 21 News 5 p.m. will air weekdays beginning Labor Day, September 5.

Former WFMJ Weekend Today anchor Lindsay McCoy, known for her hard-hitting questions, looking for answers, and covering issues that concern the people of the Valley, will anchor the newscast. Joining Lindsay will be Storm Tracker 21  meteorologist Andrew DiPaolo.

"I'm honored, beyond excited, and ready to take on this role. I'm a reporter at heart, and I can't wait to dig into local news and topics that impact our daily lives," McCoy said.

"As a working mom, I find it hard to keep up with what's happening and juggle all my duties at home, so I want to offer viewers a place to catch up, learn more about what's news, what's behind some of the headlines and be able to make plans for all the fun events in the area."

McCoy says what will set the new program apart from other newscasts will be its candid, less formal approach with timely topics and deeper conversations on top stories of the day.

"We're at a point in society where people just want answers and helpful information, it's time to cut through the talking points and get to the truth, and we'll lean on local experts to ensure that happens," she said.

21 News Director Mona Alexander said, "As the Valley's longtime channel for local news, we are committed to providing news that matters to the people of the Valley, with more clarity and focus on what matters to you and your life."

Alexander added, "Launching the 5 p.m. news is part of a broader commitment to serve our audience with in-depth coverage. The additional 5 hours per week of local news adds to more than 30 hours of local news coverage we provide to our viewers."

Meteorologist Andrew DiPaolo will be covering the afternoon and evening forecasts and offering the science behind weather that impacts your life.

McCoy joined 21 News in 2012 as a multimedia journalist and was promoted to WFMJ Weekend Today Anchor in 2015, and DiPaolo joined 21 News in 2014.

21 News at 5 p.m. replaces "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" from the 21 WFMJ afternoon lineup, which ended new episodes in May.