Bell to end his UFO-tracking job

Syndicated radio talk show host Art Bell, whose late-night talk of UFO sightings and conspiracy theories made him famous, has announced his retirement. Bell, 57, told listeners this week that he’ll retire because of back problems.

Regular guest host George Noory will replace Bell on Jan. 1. Barbara Simpson will host on weekends. Bell plans to be an occasional guest host for Noory.

“Coast to Coast AM,” heard locally from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. on KFI-AM (640), will continue its current broadcast schedule until Dec. 31. Bell hosts three nights a week, Noory hosts three nights and Simpson one night.

Bell cryptically announced his retirement once before, in April 2000.

But he returned to the air the following February, explaining that he had needed to take time off to deal with family and legal issues stemming from an assault on his son.