Drug testing of reporters at the Star-Advertiser? Or just my misunderstanding?

Did you happen to see PBS Hawaii’s Leahey & Leahey last night, with guest Stephen Tsai?

This weekly program features father & son team, Jim Leahey and Kanoa Leahey in a 30-minute discussion of local sports that often wanders in political and social commentary. It’s always a well-done piece of local programming.

They introduced Tsai as the top Star-Advertiser reporter on the UH football beat.

Tsai responded that he had just taken a drug test (did he say “drug test” or “blood test”?) and hoped that his job at the Star-Advertiser is secure. It was said in a joking manner, but it didn’t seem to be a joke. However, I have to leave the door open because I haven’t heard anything else about such testing, which would likely raise a fuss. Hopefully I just misunderstood.

And I don’t see anything concerning drug testing on the Hawaii Newspaper Guild web site. Actually, the transition to the Star-Advertiser isn’t yet reflected there. Instead, there are still links to the Star-Bulletin and Advertiser. I suppose this reflects some disarray as the Guild goes through merger talks of its own.