Wednesday, March 14, 2007

News Happenings II

Channel 4 stepped in it this time. On tonight's broadcast at 10 they "took action 4 you," or for some UTPA student more precisely.

Basically, the student complained that his dorm was searched by the police, while he was away, of course. Knowing that, can't one say he has no way of knowing if it really was the police, or whether it really happened at all for that matter. But that doesn't stop a news outlet from picking up the loose ball and running with it. . .the wrong way.

Where's the weenie? The student says it was Hidlago County Sheriff's deputies who went into his room. Again, second hand information he got from a dorm supervisor. Sheriff Lupe Trevino says it wasn't his guys. Hell, there's a conflict right there. Someone's either lying or is misinformed.

The student said he called up there and spoke to an officer, conveniently unnamed, who told him some line about not needing a warrant because he lives on school property. That's B.S. You are entitled to all the rights against unlawful search and seizure in your dorm just as you are in an apartment, hotel room, or your house.

The reporter then three eighths assed the explanation about whether or not officers need a search warrant. Apparently the UTPA dorm handbook trumps the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, because that's the document Channel 4 opted to cite to explain when a dorm can be searched. In the end, the viewer still did not learn when an officer needs a search warrant.

Next we hear that "the University" is aware of the student's case. What case? Is it a criminal investigation? Who at the U is involved in the case? Is it the administration or is it the campus police? Whose officers went in?

I'm sure that if the journalists wanted to get to the bottom of this, they'd file an open records request with the Sheriff's Department and the University. I'm not a professional journalist, but at least I know that would be the thing to do. Here's a novel idea. Interview the dorm supervisor! He's a potential witness to the search and might be able to shed some light on how it went down. Psssst! Don't say it too loudly, but could he have been the one to let the cops in?

Once again, this story was more about, "look what we did," rather than investigating and reporting news. Of course Channel 4 assisted the student, who apparently was not aware of his rights. They hooked him up with attorney Jesse Gonzalez, who, oddly enough, happens to advertise on their website. Is it just me, or is there something strange about that?

The alleged reporter on the story was Romeo Cantu.

Monday, March 12, 2007

It Takes a Village for Granted

Word has it that Hillary Clinton, Senator from the state with the weakest competition she could find, will be here in the Valley. Another modest affair at the Cantu residence in McAllen for only $500.00. Funny how the the price of the fundraiser is only an issue if it's a Republican fundraiser.

If she is coming, Hil' had better start working on her pandering South Texas accent. It'll be a lot harder than that ridiculous southern drawl she whipped out in Selma a couple of weeks ago.

Think about it. Where exactly in a conversation with a star struck Valley Hispanic does an orale, chale, or a simon ese go? Will she know the differences between chingon, chingadera, or the Anglicized chingow?

Maybe something short and sweet in Spanish will do the trick. Holuh meez uhmeeguhs, grassy-ass pore sewey ahyewdar...say...loh...? And with that, the local Dems will swoon and praise her for her understanding of our unique local culture. "It's almost as if she's one of us," they'll say as she boards her plane with her carpetbag full of Valley money to New Hampshire and Iowa where she needs it.

Just in case I haven't made things crystal clear, and in the interest of full disclosure, I don't like Hillary Clinton! She's a sour-pussed, power hungry, win at all costs, circus of smoke and mirrors, slick politician who is riding on the coat tails of her ex-president husband. She will not submit to hard questions and speaks to suit her purpose based on the audience she is in front of.

Anybody but Clinton 2008! (I'd even take eight more years of Billy if it meant she'd lose.)

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

News Happenings I

I've decided to start occassional comments under the title News Happenings on this blog. Instead of screaming at my television, or crumpling my newspaper like an idiot, I'll post my observations of stupidity or incompetence in news reporting. With Channel 4 and 5 around, I'm sure this will be a regular feature.

My first rant. Channel 5 aired a story tonight at 10 about a child being hit by a car at 29th and Lark in McAllen. Was it an informative news piece meant to inform us of the who, what, when, where, why, and how? No, not really. It was a see-we-reported-it-first, victory dance.

You see, last week, 5 ran a story about how dangerous the intersection was, featuring all its dramatic favorites. The proximity to a school, parental outrage, and Big-Brother's slow response to the problem.

Where's the weenie in this follow-up story? What did the police say about the cause of the accident? Any charges filed or pending? What if the lady pushing the stroller was at fault? We can't ask that question because if she was at fault, well you get the picture. It goes against the "speeding cars are the problem" template from before.

But don't worry. The parents are still outraged, the school is still there, and the district has no comment, so stay tuned.

Alex Trevino was the reporter.