NEW YORK – Katie Couric signed off as “CBS Evening News” anchor for the last time on Thursday, thanking viewers for “coming along with me on this incredible journey.”

The first woman chosen to solely anchor a network evening newscast left on a high note, interviewing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and leading the broadcast with an exclusive “60 Minutes” investigation on new doping accusations against cyclist Lance Armstrong.

Her next destination is likely to be ABC, where she has talked about doing a daytime talk show and some work at the news division. But she has made no announcement about her future plans.

After several years at No. 3 in the evening ratings behind NBC and ABC, the Tiffany network had high hopes in 2006 when it convinced Couric to leave NBC’s “Today” show and take over the anchor role. There was an initial burst of interest, but viewers rejected efforts at changing a news format that has lasted decades, and the broadcast slid back to third.

Couric’s newscast won awards, and she drew attention with newsmaker interviews like a 2008 conversation with Sarah Palin, but it could never escape the cellar. The format also proved restrictive to Couric, who told former “Today” colleague Matt Lauer in an interview last month that “it might be nice to have a little more wiggle room for me to show a little more personality.”

Kate, of ‘Plus 8,’ owes marriage therapist

HAZLETON, Pa. – A northeastern Pennsylvania judge says reality TV star Kate Gosselin must pay a local marriage therapist more than $10,000 in a dispute over counseling.

Sylvia Lafair contends she flew to Los Angeles at Gosselin’s request to counsel her and then-husband Jon Gosselin in March 2009. The pair starred in “Jon and Kate Plus 8” before divorcing.

Lafair sued last year after Kate Gosselin didn’t pay for the services or travel. Gosselin testified last week that she never had a contract with Lafair, who heads Creative Energy Options in White Haven, Pa.

Track Palin marries his high school sweetheart  

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – People magazine is reporting that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s son has married.

The magazine says 22-year-old Track Palin married 21-year-old Britta Hanson, his high school sweetheart, recently in a small ceremony in Hatcher Pass, not far from the Palins’ hometown of Wasilla. The newlyweds plan a larger wedding celebration next winter at Alyeska Ski Resort south of Anchorage when family and friends from out of state can travel north.

Palin attorney John Tiemessen confirmed details reported in the magazine.

Track Palin is an Army reservist. He spent a year deployed in Iraq with the Army. After the commercial fishing season, he plans to take courses at the University of Alaska.

Hanson is a University of Alaska nursing student.

Hudson River hero at CBS

NEW YORK – The pilot who safely brought down that plane in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009, has now landed at CBS News.

The network announced Thursday that Capt. Chesley Sullenberger III, also known as Sully, has been named as Aviation and Safety Expert.

In his new role, Sullenberger will provide analysis of aviation safety, contributing to all CBS News broadcasts and platforms.

CBS News president David Rhodes said, “Sully is a genuine hero.”