Local News (10/12/09-10/18/09)

Pre-Teen Pageant Controversy, 10/17/09, New York Daily News (NYDN)

Ashanti McKelvin, an 11-year-old Queens girl, wanted to compete in the Miss Pre-Teen New York City Pageant. Only, Ashanti is deaf and pageant officials said tat they would not provide a sign-language interpreter for her unless she paid for it herself. (Does that not sound all types of illegal?) Well, interpreters aren’t cheap, so her outraged mom contacted the Daily News and after the story aired, Ashanti got her interpreter. Good for you, pretty pretty.

Another Teen Shot by Stray Bullet, 10/14/09, NYDN

Brian (Cozmik) Scott, a 18-year-old “Rollerblading phenom” died after being shot to death in a Brooklyn restaurant. “Scott, a rising star in the city Rollerblading scene who dreamed of going pro, was shot twice in the chest and once in the back, police said.” Reports are that the was just an innocent bystander. Two of his friends were also wounded. r.i.p.

Middle Schooler Killed in Car Crash Laid to Rest, 10/12/09 NYDN

Leandra Rosado, an 11-year-old middle schooler, who died in a terrible drunk driving crash was finally laid to rest. I’m not sure if you heard, but here’s the basic story. Carmen Huertas was driving a car load of girls to her house for a slumber party, only Carmen was apparently driving drunk. Her car flipped over on the Henry Hudson Parkway and Leandra was killed; the other girls and Huerta suffered cuts, bruises, whiplash and broken bones. smh.