Do we smell a conspiracy? Duke Hefland wrote in the LA Times:

“The Villaraigosas’ marriage, long rumored to be in trouble, ended officially a week ago when the mayor issued a brief statement saying he and his wife were separating.”

The news was largely overshadowed by the unfolding Paris Hilton jail saga.

Did the Mayor keep Paris in the pokey, so prying eyes would stop poking around his private parties?

Or is the LA Times just frivolous? Hefland’s right to point out the disparity in the coverage from June 9th through 23rd.

Paris Hilton: 19 stories vs. Villarigosa’s divorce: 7 stories

To be fair, the LAT has had 7 stories in the last two days on the lover-boy mayor. No editorials, though.

Paris Hilton
Tug-of-war over Hilton raises larger questions
June 9, 2007

Regarding Paris
June 9, 2007 (editorial)

Inmates resent Hilton’s special treatment
June 9, 2007

Baca unfazed, denies any favoritism
June 9, 2007

Paris Hilton says she will not file appeal
June 10, 2007

Paris Hilton not the only one waiting for visitors
June 11, 2007

Effort launched to recall Sheriff Baca
June 12, 2007

County board to probe Hilton release
June 12, 2007

Walters’ warm view of Hilton
June 13, 2007

Baca ordered to report on Hilton’s release
June 13, 2007

Hilton will do more time than most, analysis finds
June 14, 2007

We’ll always have Paris (as a marketing opportunity)
June 15, 2007

Hilton back at women’s jail in Lynwood
June 15, 2007

Our blond obsession, from Di to Paris
June 16, 2007 (Megan Daum column)

On Hilton decision and others, Baca goes his own way
June 18, 2007

Deputies give Baca low marks in poll
June 20, 2007

Paying $1 million for Hilton interviews alarms journalist ethicists, rankles NBC employees
June 22, 2007

Hilton case sheds light on sentencing process
June 22, 2007

Networks distance themselves from Paris interview
June 23, 2007

Mayor Divorce
Villaraigosa and his wife to separate
June 9, 2007

Villaraigosa takes ‘responsibility’ for split
June 12, 2007

Villaraigosa’s wife files for divorce on grounds of ‘irreconcilable differences’
June 13, 2007

Mr. Mayor: Shut up, grow up, slow down
June 14, 2007 (Steve Lopez column)

I don’t care about Antonio’s breakup
June 14, 2007 (Patt Morrison column)

Backers split on impact of L.A. mayor’s divorce
June 16, 2007

Villaraigosa deserves privacy
June 20, 2007

A second chance for Villaraigosa
July 3, 2007

He’s the Energizer Mayor
July 3, 2007

Early Challenges, Different Paths, Same Goal
July 3, 2007

The quiet force
July 3, 2007

A sizzling summer at City Hall
July 3, 2007 (Steve Lopez column)

Mayor reveals romantic link with TV newscaster
July 4, 2007 (Steve Lopez column)

At L.A. City Hall, the summer of love
July 4, 2007