Mirthala Salinas and Telemundo part ways

Reporter failed to show up for work after being reassigned to the Inland Empire bureau to avoid conflicts of interest involving her relationship with L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Los Angeles television newscaster Mirthala Salinas, whose affair with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa prompted her transfer to Riverside, failed to show up for her first day of work Monday after a two-month suspension. A few hours later, Salinas' employer, the Spanish-language Telemundo network, announced that she would not be returning.

Telemundo's KVEA-TV Channel 52 and Salinas "have mutually agreed to end our employment relationship," the network said in a statement.

"We are not in a position to make any further comment on our discussions with Ms. Salinas surrounding her departure," added Telemundo, which is part of media giant NBC Universal.

Telemundo officials had suspended Salinas for covering Villaraigosa while the two were romantically involved and media experts across the nation accused Salinas of having a conflict of interest.

Station executives had expected Salinas to report for duty at KVEA's Inland Empire bureau Monday morning. KVEA dispatched its communications directorto the Riverside office to handle an expected onslaught of news crews covering her return.

Several crews did appear -- including those from sister station KNBC-TV Channel 4 and KVEA. They waited outside the bureau to capture footage of Salinas but left empty-handed.

Salinas was unhappy over her reassignment to Riverside, a factor that contributed to her decision not to show, according to a source familiar with the situation who would only speak anonymously. But KVEA felt the Riverside alternative was the best way out of an awkward ethics dilemma for the station, whose credibility was damaged by the romantic relationship.

Station executives believed the appearance of a conflict would continue if they allowed Salinas to work as a general assignment reporter in Los Angeles, where Villaraigosa is a visible public figure -- and a favorite subject of Spanish-language news outlets.

Salinas did not return phone calls for comment.

Villaraigosa declined to speak about her departure from Telemundo. "I don't have any knowledge about that," he said in an interview. "I just couldn't tell you anything. I wouldn't have any information." The two are still seeing one another, according to a source familiar with their relationship.

Via latimes