National News (9/28/09-10/4/09)

Texas Boy Commits Suicide After Being Bullied, 10/3/09, Star-Telegram, New York Post (NYP)

Hunter Layland, a 15-year-old boy from Cleburne, Texas, committed suicide last Wednesday to escape from a life of constant bullying, according to family and friends. His funeral was held this Saturday. r.i.p.

Chicago Lost Bid to Host 2012 Olympics, 10/2/09, USA Today

Chicago (along with heavy hitters President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah) was campaigning to host the 2012 Olympics last week. They lost that bid when they were eliminated in the first round. The 2010 games will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Arlington Teen Wins Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, 10/02/09, NYP

Jamara Hogan, a 17-year-old member of  the Arlington (Texas) Boys and Girls Club is a good student and active in her community- volunteering about 1500 hours of community service. She was recently awarded the Youth of the Year Award, which comes with both a cash prize and a renewable scholarship. Inspiring little video.

No Sex in the Tufts Dorm Room (While Your Roomie is There), 10/1/09, Associated Press

Tufts University (located in Massachusetts) has instituted a new policy regulating sex in the dorm rooms- you can do it, just not while your roommate is there. seriously.

Woman (Allegedly) Locked Teen Son in Closet for Years, 09/30/09, NYP

An Oklahoma City-woman who was arrested and charged with severely abusing and neglecting her 14-year-old son. The details are disturbing, including the fact that the woman previously served (very little) time for starving her 2-year-old daughter to death in the Bronx. smh. Where is the justice?

Teen Beaten to Death in Chicago, 09/28/09, New York Daily News (NYDN)

A group of teens were caught on cell phone video beating another teen to death near a school. The victim, 16-year-old  Derrion Albert, allegedly was beaten for refusing to join a gang. smh. Four teens have been charged in his murder. The Chicago Tribune has a photo gallery of the funeral.

Four Teens Sued Over Fake Facebook Profile, 09/28/09, Arstechnica.com

Four teens created a fake fb profile for one of their classmates “representing him as a sexually obscene racist,” they added friends, posted real photos, and his real contact info. They are now being sued by the real teen’s mother for the damage it caused her son.

National Dating Seminars Combat Teen Violence, 09/28/09, NPR

Dating violence is a huge problem among teens and in high schools. So, a new program is being tested in some middle and high schools across the country to try to educated young people.

Teen Reality Show Stars Get Paid…A lot, 09/28/09, The Daily Beast

This article reveals the salaries of teen stars of the MTV reality shows The Hills and Laguna Beach.