National News (10/19/09-11/1/09)

Man Runs Over “Westernized” Daughter, October 30, 2009, NYDN

Over in Arizona, an Iraqi immigrant allegedly ran his 20-year-old daughter, Noor  Faleh Almaleki, down with his car “because she was becoming ‘too Westernized.'” He was arrested when his plane  arrived in Atlanta. smh…

Teens Ticketed for Rapping at McDonald’s Window, October, 30, 2009 NYDN

Four teens in Utah drove up to a Mickey D’s drive-through there and rapped their order. According to the article, “the teens said they were imitating a popular video on YouTube. They rapped their order, which begins with, “I need a double cheeseburger and hold the lettuce …” once quickly before repeating it more slowly.” They were given a ticket for disordely conduct, although they dispute that they ever held up the line.  Ok, the ticket-issuing was dumb, bu the youtube video was hilarious! If you haven’t seen it…here it is-

“Balloon Boy” is a Hoax, October 29, 2009, NYDN

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard about the “balloon boy” controversy. If not, here goes- a 6-year-old Colorado boy named Falcon Heene captivated the nation when his parents called 911 to report that he trapped in a floating hot air balloon. Well, turns out, after a two-hour search, he wasn’t in balloon after all; he was in the attic hiding/sleeping. Police now believe the parents set up the entire incident to try to get a reality show. Now, I saw the Heene family on Wife Swap, but this is truly shameful. If you want more, google it…ican’t.

FBI Bust Saves Children From Sexual Exploitation, Arrests Predators, October 27, 2009, NYDN

According to the article, “FBI officials say they have rescued 52 children in a series of raids around the United States aimed at under-age prostitution.” sexual expoitation. Let us remember that there is no such thing as under-age prostitution or child prostitutes. Children too young to consent to sex, cannot be prostitutes; they are victims. Good job on the raids. Keep it up.

Missing Black Women in North Carolina Get No Media Attention, October 21, 2009, Newsweek

Well surprise, freakin’ surprise. So, according to the article, “Ten women have been found slain or have been declared missing in Rocky Mount, N.C. in recent years. But the rest of the country hasn’t heard about a possible serial killer stalking the young women in this Southern town of 60,000.” People are starting to question why. Perhaps because “they were all African-American, many were poor, and some had criminal histories including drug abuse and prostitution.” There’s also a multimedia piece on unsolved serial killings in LA. Check it out.