When a 17-year-old girl claimed Sergeant David Rodriguez – who had responded three times to domestic violence calls at the victim's home – raped her in February, authorities believed the "smoking gun" in the case would be a DNA link between a piece of gum, that was supposedly shoved down the teen's throat as he raped her. Rodriguez, who is married to WNBC-TV co-anchor Darlene Rodriguez, was ordered to submit a DNA sample.

And the tests are back: The DNA doesn't match.

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After her "What the fuck are you doing?" incident, Sue Simmons wasn't fired. In fact, she's getting what some might term a promotion. Betting on a ratings surge thanks to increased interest in Simmons and co-anchor Chuck Scarborough, WNBC/Channel 4 is increasing their on-air presence.

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Regarding the Post's scathing report that WNBC Sue Simmons enjoys a little sauce between news broadcasts: "Not one word of it is true. I haven't had an alcoholic drink between shows for at least 15 years or more. [...] I understand more now why many people don't trust the media." [NYP]

It's open season on WNBC anchor Sue Simmons, though it's not like she didn't bring it upon herself.

The Times goes pretty easy on her, rounding up New Yorkers' reactions to her "What the fuck are you doing?" line, while ducking around what she actually said. (Family paper and all.) [NYT] There's also the official excuse, which was that Simmons was talking to co-anchor Chuck Scarborough in "mock derision," since he was looking at his computer screen and not paying attention during the live promo spot.

And then there's the Post's take, which involves alcohol.

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So this is sort of interesting. The first Google News result for "Sue Simmons," the WNBC anchor who let it fly during a live promo, is her apology: "I have to acknowledge an unfortunate incident : I used a word that many people find offensive. It was a mistake I made and I'm truly sorry." [Google News]

New York City is already spoiled with NY1, the no-nonsense 24-hour local news channel available only to Time Warner customers (it makes sense, then, that its big brother partner is CNN). Now, a new offering: WNBC is launching its own 24-hour news channel and, hypes the press release, will be upgrading 30 Rock's central operations into something super exciting called a content center, which will be "capable of producing and distributing content across multiple electronic media platforms." The news arrives after NBC News' iCue launch and various projects, which serve as heavy-handed evidence the GE unit is investing heavily to stay competitive. They're also cramming everybody into the same 3-foot by 3-foot workspace!

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Daily News local TV industry scribe Richard Huff, a member of a dying breed, sees good fortune in the exit of WNBC Channel 4's news SVP Dan Forman. Might his replacement have Sue Simmons and Chuck Scarborough start anchoring a broadcast filled with breaking news instead of mere investigative reporting? Audiences, argues Huff, want to see a reporter stationed outside of a house fire; stand outside a courthouse, even if it's bitterly cold and raining, because the shot looks stronger. But viewers also want their talent to be passionate about the news, which leads to Huff's most immediate suggestion: Steal a network star, or even make an offer to Alycia Lane, the down-on-her-luck "dyke bitch"-screaming former Philly news anchor who would certainly deliver ratings, or at least a publicity push.

Daily News columnist Asa Aarons lost his job at WNBC on Friday due to budget cuts.

So what do you do when you’re a middle aged journalist with five kids to support and you’ve just lost your main source of income?

Why, put out an open call for a new job offers via the Daily News of course! In a cover letter posing as a news article Aarons told the paper,

I'm certainly going to pursue opportunities [in TV] and continue doing the column for the Daily News … Also, I'm looking for new opportunities. I've always been one to embrace new technology.

Hear that ABC and CBS? Asa is willing to appear on Webisodes. Anything for a steady pay check.