On Ethics, Again
The Chron tweeted this yesterday:
(U.S. Sen. John) Cornyn is threatening to block the confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche unless he changes the terms of a controversial IRS settlement with President Donald Trump.
It looks like Cornyn is finally growing a set of BBs. Well, better late than never.
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Chron Opinion Editor Evan Mintz devotes the editorial column to, well, here is the headline:
The opinions you hate belong in this newspaper
Go check out the Mintz column here: The opinions you hate belong in the Houston Chronicle.
I am all in for having opposing views and differing opinions in the Chron, like we used to have in the USA. Mintz says this in his column:
At the other end of the spectrum, nothing gets progressives riled up like a piece from conservative talk radio host Kenny Webster.
I have said it before. This knucklehead Webster isn’t contributing a darn thing to a healthy, public debate. He is in it to rile up folks with BS and get followers and clicks. That is what is wrong with America these days. The knucklehead is playing Mintz and the Chron like a used fiddle.
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Here we go on ethics, again. From the Chron:
One of KPRC 2’s most recognizable anchors is at the center of an ethics review after a report alleged she accepted complimentary tickets to a FIFA World Cup match and a Bruno Mars concert from the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation.
The records, first obtained and published Tuesday by The Texas Voice, show that KPRC 2 anchor Daniella Guzman was among several recipients—including Harris County elected officials and political appointees—who received complimentary tickets to high-profile events at NRG Stadium this year.
According to the HCSCC, the county-created entity manages and develops NRG Park and the surrounding sports and entertainment complex on behalf of Harris County.
The report stems from a public records request filed by conservative activist Mark McCaig, publisher of The Texas Voice, who said he sought to determine who had benefited from the HCSCC’s hospitality during the World Cup and other events.
Records obtained by The Texas Voice indicate Guzman received three tickets to the June 17 FIFA World Cup match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as four tickets to Bruno Mars’ April 24 concert at NRG Stadium. Videos posted to Guzman’s social media show attended the World Cup Match with her parents.
The Texas Voice reported Guzman’s acceptance of the tickets could conflict with KPRC’s ethics policies.
KPRC General Manager Sean McLaughlin confirmed to Chron that the station is reviewing the matter.
“We are looking into this matter. KPRC takes journalistic ethics very seriously along with anything that could potentially create even the appearance of a conflict of interest,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “Due to this being a personnel situation, we won’t have any other comments.”
The report also names Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo; Commissioners Lesley Briones, Rodney Ellis; Adrian Garcia and Tom Ramsey; Ellis’ chief of staff Brandon Dudley; former Houston City Council member and Democratic Harris County judge nominee Letitia Plummer; HCSCC board appointee Elsa Flores; and Erica Lee Carter, the daughter of late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee who recently became Harris County’s administrator.
Here is the entire read: KPRC reviewing report involving Daniella Guzman over World Cup tickets.
KPRC Channel 2 News anchor/reporter Britanny Jeffers was subbing for Daniella this morning and announced that Daniella was suspended pending the investigation on a conflict-of-interest matter. I also saw the FB post by Daniella on her World Cup game experience. She did take her mom and dad, and it appeared that they were in a suite at Reliant Stadium. She wasn’t discreet and looked like she was having a great time.
I get it. The World Cup was a hot ticket. I won’t guess the value of the tickets. I don’t know what the ethics and conflict-of-interest policies are at KPRC Channel 2 News. Stay tuned to see how this plays out. That is Daniella in the featured photo.
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Another win last night. 54-55. We wrap up the series in Anaheim this evening.