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NYC Students Get Promoted, 10/10/09, New York Daily News (NYDN)

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Good news in education! The number of students being promoted in NYC schools is higher this year than last year.

Two Teens Hit by a Car, 10/10/09, NYDN

Angela D’Ambrose and Terrence Semler, a Queens couple, were hit by a car while crossing the street. Angela, 15, died while Terrence, 18, is still in the hospital. The driver, who stayed at the scene, is not being charged. I won’t comment on the age thing here, but be careful girls!

Funeral Held for Queens Boy Struck by Stray Bullet, 10/10/09, NYDN

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Last week, Kevin Miller was struck by a stray bullet while walking home from school; the 13-year-old was killed. The two teens who have been arrested in the shooting are rival gang members. His funeral was held this week, with many community leaders speaking out about the violence and the senseless tragedy.

Teen Grazed by a Bullet in Class, 10/9/09, NYDN

An 18-year-old high school student in Long Island was grazed by a bullet while sitting in class at Mattituck HS. “Miraculously, she suffered only a scratch and was treated by the school nurse.” Seriously.

Brooklynites Back Home After Being Jailed in Antigua, 10/9/09, NYDN

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Six friends from Brooklyn (four girls and two guys in their 20s) went to Antigua on vacay. While there, they got into an argument with a cabbie they thought was trying to overcharge them. He took them to the police department where they say cops attacked them and cops say they started a fight. They got locked up and detail the horrific conditions of the jail and its effect on their lives back home. smh…

Homeless Mom Sacrifices to Give Kids a Better Life, 10/8/09, NYDN

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Herminia Rojas, a homeless mom from the Bronx, travels from a shelter there to Brooklyn everyday so that she can send her kids to school. Their morning starts at 5:30 a.m., so they can make the long trek on the D train through three boroughs.The single mom values education and wants her kids to have  a better life.

Ban on Texting While Driving?, 10/5/09, NY1

New York Senator Charles Schumer wants a nationwide ban in texting while driving. According to the article, “Schumer cites Department of Transportation statistics that show nearly 100 teenagers have died in the last five years in New York City and on Long Island in texting-related accidents.” Also, texting while driving is “already illegal in New Jersey; a ban in New York State takes effect November 1st.” Safety first, y’all.

Cops Shoot Teen, 10/5/09, NYDN

Peter Colon, a 19-year-old man, was shot in the stairwell of the Gouverneur Morris Houses in the Bronx by a city housing cop. The police say that Colon has a gun, which the cop tried to take from him; they fought; the female officer was hit in the face; Colon pointed the gun at her; and her partner shot Colon.  Colon’s brother-in-law, who said he saw the fight, disagreed with that report, saying “”They shot this boy,” he said. “He had no gun. They tripped him. They kicked him.” He is currently in the hospital.

Gay Rights March in D.C., 10/11/09, New York Times (NYT)

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There’s a new president in office and new changes being made around the country. On Sunday, people took to the streets in D.C. to  rally for “equality across America,” specifically for the LGBTQ community.

Six-Year  Old Suspended, 10/11/09, NYT

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A six-year-old Delaware boy was suspended from school because he took a “camping utensil that can serve as a knife, fork and spoon to school.” He was excited about joining Cub Scouts and the school saw it as a weapon. This also opened up a debate on zero-tolerance weapons policies at schools.

High School Dropouts More Likely to go to Jail, 10/8/09, NYT

A new study was released that revealed the consequences of dropping out of high school, including: jail, unemployment, low-paying jobs, struggling in general, and, JAIL. This is particularly bad news for many black men who are incarcerated at higher rates than anyone. smh…stay in school, kids!

Ellen Page Writing Comedy Series About Brooklyn for HBO, 10/8/09, New York Daily News

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One of our fave “sassy” actresses, Ellen Page (of Juno and Whip It fame) is writing and producing a comdedy series for HBO. The show, “titled “Stitch N’ Bitch,” [is] about a pair of hipster girls from Williamsburg who move to Los Angeles to make it in the arts, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Brining Brooklyn to the big screen? I’m feeling that, in theory.

Tracing Michelle Obama’s Roots, 10/7/09, NYT

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Someone thought it would be a good idea to trace First Lady Michelle Obama’s roots from slavery…It’s true that it’s important to know where you came from, but…seriously? Anyway, here it is if you’re interested.

Nationwide Ban on Texting While Driving?, 10/5/09, NY1

New York Senator Charles Schumer wants a nationwide ban in texting while driving. According to the article, “Schumer cites Department of Transportation statistics that show nearly 100 teenagers have died in the last five years in New York City and on Long Island in texting-related accidents.” Also, texting while driving is “already illegal in New Jersey; a ban in New York State takes effect November 1st.” Safety first, y’all.

Follow One Pakistani Girl’s Journey, 10/11/09 New York Times (NYT)

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In all the news about war, some of the most interesting stories are not on the front lines. A few NY Times Reporters write a blog on war-torn areas like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. One of them followed a Pakistani family for several months and produced a piece on the daughter’s journey throughout her family’s difficult journey. Check out the video here. Read more about Pakistan here.

Single Moms Get Support in Korea, October 7, 2009, NYT

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So, here in the U.S., single moms (and ladies) are no big deal. It’s not uncommon to find unwed mothers having babies (or even “babies having babies), bt in Korea, it’s still a very big deal. Being an unwed mother is so taboo, that women are frequently pressured into having abortions or giving their babies up for adoption to save them from the shame of being a single mother. Well a group of women is now trying to change that, by starting :the country’s first unwed mothers association to defend their right to raise their own children.” Interesting story, check it out.

The Nobel Prizes were awarded- President Obama won one; and first prize for a woman in Econ.

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Here’s a little background, courtesy of Nobelprize.org, “Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace. The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. Each prize consists of a medal, personal diploma, and a cash award.”

President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

Another winner from the U.S., Elinor Ostrom, became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in economics. Yay! Congrats!

See a full list of all the winners here.

Women Targeted in Violence in Guinea, 10/5/09 (NYT)

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According to news reports, there was a political demonstration in Guinea last week ad soldiers came in to shut it down. It was violent and people were killed. There is also evidence (cell phone photos) that women, in particular, were being targeted- beaten, raped, and abused. Here’s more info. on Guinea.

Mobile Phones Becoming Popular in Uganda and other Rural Areas, 10/5/09, NYT

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In rural parts of Uganda, there is almost no electricity and practically no Internet. So people there are using cell phones to get and send information- about crops, sports scores, money transfers, and to sell things. According to the article, “Africa has the fastest-growing mobile phone market worldwide.” MOre info. on Uganda here.

Monsoons in India, 10/5/09, NYT

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After a drought in India, four days of heavy rain leave 240 people dead and hundreds of thousands homeless. Here’s more info. on India.

It’s Hispanic Heritage Week, y’all!!! (I thought it was a month-long celebration from Sept. 15-Oct. 15?) I have been slacking, I know, but I’m ready to catch up.

So, what better place to start than a story (and video) from NY1 on our newest United States Supreme Court Justice (and Bronx Homegirl) Sonia Sotomayor?  Today, the first Monday in October, is her first day on the Supreme Court, as the court begins its new term.

sotomayorQuick facts, just in case you haven’t been paying attention. Sonia Sotomayor was born in the Bronx in 1954 to two Puerto Rican immigrants. Her father, who did not speak English or have much formal, worked in a factory and her mother was a telephone operator and later a nurse. Sotomayor was diagnosed with diabetes at age 8 and her father died when she was 9.  She was raised in the Bronxdale Housing Projects where her family lived.

Sonia Sotomayor went to Princeton for college and graduated with the highest honors. She then went to Yale Law School. She married her high school sweetheart right before going to law school, but the marriage didn’t last. In law school, like in high school, she was an excellent student.

After law school, she worked as an assistant district attorney in NYC for five years, which began her distinguished legal career as both a prosecutor and a judge. In May of this year, President Obama nominated Sotomayor to the highest court in the country. She was confirmed, making her the first Hispanic judge on the Supreme Court, and the third woman, ever. Yes, you can. Or I should say, Si, se puede.

Read more about her, her experience, and views on controversial issues here.  And about her “wise Latina woman” statement (and effect on the culture) here.

A lot has been going on globally in the past week, here are some of the details:

Iran Plans to Allow Inspectors, Finally, 10/04/09, New York Times (NYT)

Iran has agreed to allow UN inspectors access to one of their new nuclear facilities. See the article for details.

Spotlight on the Glossier Side of Sub-Saharan Africa, 10/4/09, NYT

The stories our of Africa are, let’s face it, usually depressing and tragic. But they don’t tell the whole story. The times has a piece on the glamourous life in sub-saharan Africa- money, cars and lots of clothes.

Indonesian Rocked by Earthquakes, 10/2/09, NYT

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In late September, two earthquakes rocked Indonesia. According to the Times, “On the island of Sumatra, in Indonesia, a 7.6-magnitude quake struck Wednesday evening just 30 miles off the coast of the city of Padang, killing at least 200 people and trapping thousands in buildings.” Then, “A second earthquake struck western Indonesia on Thursday morning more than 100 miles from the epicenter of the quake on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.” And finally, “Early on Tuesday in the Samoas, an underwater 8.0 magnitude quake produced a tsunami that struck with little warning after dawn, causing at least 103 deaths and 145 injuries, destroying villages throughout the islands. “It is the worst one we have had,” said Lilo Malava, the police commissioner of Samoa, in a telephone interview.” Tragic.

London Teen Did not Die from HPV Vaccine, New York Daily News (NYDN)

When Natalie Morton, a 14-year-old teenage girl in London, died shortly after receiving the HPV vaccine, many thought the vaccine was to blame. (intelligent person side eye). It was not. She died from “a malignant chest tumour and not by a reaction to the vaccine manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.” So smart girls…read more about the vaccine here.

Roman Polanski- Child Rapist/Famed Director Brouhaha, 09/29/09 (NYT)

Roman Polanski, a famed director, was arrested in Switzerland “31 years after he fled the United States following a guilty plea to having had sex with a 13-year old girl.” And the drama ensues. Some in Hollywood have signed a petition urging his release …as others demand he be punished for his crime. Read the article for details on their reasoning. You know our stance- we don’t play with the safety and lives and girls over here. Not at all. Here’s Chris Rock’s take-

South African Children March for Better Schools, 09/24/09, NYT

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According to the article, the children were marching for libraries and librarians. ‘“We want more information and knowledge,” said a ninth grader, Abongile Ndesi.’ Amazing.

Queens Teen Arrested For Shooting 13-year-old Boy, 10/05/09, New York Post (NYP)

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Kevin Miller, 13, was struck by a bullet on his way home from school by one of  two high-school students who were fighting (and shooting) nearby. The gunman has been arrested. r.i.p.

David Letterman Blackmailed over Affairs with Staff Members, 10/02/09 New York Daily News (NYDN)

Apparently NY-based late-night host David Letterman had sex with several employees and/or interns on his show. (Wow. now. that. is. a. shock.) A CBS News producer tried to extort $2M dollars out of him to keep it a secret, so Letterman refused to pay and instead told all on his show. Insert jokes here.

Aspiring Victoria’s Secret Models Audition at Yankee Stadium, 10/4/09, NYDN

Ever want to be a Vickie’s Secret Model? Well the company recently came to Yankee Stadium looking for a few new models.

Queens Teen Saves Kids, 09/30/09, NYP

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Rachel Guzy, a 17-year-old Queens camp counselor, saved nine kids after she jumped behind the wheel of the bus carrying the kids after the driver had a heart attack, back in August. She has been nominated for a New York Post Liberty Medal in the Young Heart category.

DeBlasio and Liu Win, 09/29/09, New York Times (NYT)

On Tuesday, there was a Democratic Runoff election for the offices of public advocate and comptroller.(Meaning, the top candidates from the Democratic party went up against each other to find out who would be the party’s candidate in the November election). Bill de Blasio (from Brooklyn) is now the Democratic nominee for Public Advocate and John Liu (from Queens) is their pick for Comptroller.

Popular High School in Queens Overcrowded, 09/28/09 NYT

Francis Lewis High School in Queens is a good school…so good it’s now overcrowded, trying to accommodate the kids and “middle class parents” who want their kids to go there.

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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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

Teens Discover and Assert Sexual Identity Younger and Younger, September 27, 2009, NYT

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Cover story in the New York Times Magazine called, “Coming Out in Middle School,” about LGBTQ teens around the country coming out, younger and younger.

VH1 Divas Concert Filmed at BAM, September 24, 2009, NYP

Anyone watch the VH1 Divas concert? Well, this year it was filmed in Brooklyn and featured stars like Adele, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, India Aire, Leona Lewis and was hosted by Paula Abdul.

Jersey Schools Take a Stand Against Girl-on-Girl Hazing, September 21, 2009, NYT

Apparently there’s a lot of hazing going on at schools in Jersey since the school year began. School officials there want it stopped before it gets out of hand.

Bronx Teen Arrested for Making Threats to President Obama, September 21, 2009, NYDN

Bronx teen Jonathan Avalos, 18, made calls to 911, threatening to kill both President Obama and NY PoliccCommissioner Ray Kelly. The calls were traced, he was caught, and his mental state is being evaluated.


Online High-Schooling 09/24/09, Wall Street Journal

Going to high school online? Have you ever heard of such a thing? Well apparently there is and going to high school online has both benefits and challenges- like learning to socialize off the computer.

New CW Show about Flight Attendants, 09/23/09, Variety.com

CW and Virgin Airlines team up to bring you “Fly Girls,” a new reality show about the lives of a group of flight attendants and their high-flying adventures. Interesting.

Sweet Valley High: the Movie, 09/23/09, New York Daily News via The AP

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Diablo Cody (who’s film Jennifer’s Body was recently released in theaters) has been tapped to write the screenplay for  a Sweet Valley High movie and produce it for the big screen (!)

Teens Commits Suicide over Facebook Harassment, 09/21/09, NYDN

Holly Grogan, a 15-year-old British girl, jumped off a bridge last week after being being taunted, harassed and bullied at school and on Facebook. Very sad story.

Pregnant Teen Shot and Killed in Boston, 09/21/09, Boston Herald

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Paula Castillo, 18, was celebrating her birthday party when she was shot, apparently by one of the boys she told to “keep on walking,” to prevent them from crashing her part.

First woman (ever) Appointed Top Drill Sergeant in the Army, 09/21/09, The New York Times

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Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa L. King, 48 is that woman. She will be in charge of the army’s drill instructor school in Fort Jackson, S.C.- meaning that she (along with her staff) is in charge of training all the drill sergeants in the Army, who then train all of the new recruits.

So, I’ve decided that every week (on Sunday), I’m going to do a quick re-cap of what’s happened in the news the past week that might be of some interest to you. (I’m still debating if I should list them in the order that they occurred or in ascending order of importance. What do you think?)

Here’s the local news:

Teens Looking for “Fame,” the Old-Fashioned Way…With their Talent, September 20, 2009, NYDN

Cute article on 5 NYC teens who are pursuing their dreams at performing arts schools around town.

Hofstra Student Lied About Sexual Assault, 09/16/09, New York Daily News (NYDN)

Last Tuesday, an 18-year-old female student at Hofstra accused five men of sexually assaulting her and four young men were arrested. She then recanted the claim, setting off a flurry of debates about if race played a part in the way the suspects were initially villainized in the media. What basically happened is that she had sex with multiple men in a freshman dorm bathroom and one of them recorded some of it on his cell phone. Speculation about why she accused them ranged from her not wanting to get a bad reputation and mental instability. I’m not going to give a speech, because I see several issues at work here; but the main three lessons learned- 1) don’t lie about sexual assualt.ever. (the results are always disastrous for everyone involved and there is no excuse for ruining lives) 2) don’t “run trains” on people or participate in lewd sex acts that make you vulnerable to such accusations. (just because it’s legal, doesn’t make it right. have some respect for yourself. be a better person). 3) if you need psychological attention, please get it.

Bronx Teen Sues over Misuse of Photos, 09/16/09, NYDN and The New York Post (phot0)

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Katelyn Lee Aviles, a 17-year-old from the Bronx is suing a Bronx catering hall for using a picture taken at her Sweet 16 party in advertisements for their business, without her permission. The photo is one Katelyn and her uncle took at her Sweet 16 party, but the ads for the catering hall (which works mostly with brides and weddings) make it look like they are married. How dreadful, no?

F.B.I Raid in Queens, 09/14/09, The New York Times (NYT)

The F.B.I. raided several homes in a Queens neighborhood as part of a terrorism investigation. Detailed timeline  here.

Missing Yale Graduate Student Found Dead, 09/14/09, NYT

Annie Le, a 24-year-old Yale University graduate student was found dead in a campus lab after an exhaustive search; a vigil was held to remember her life; and a lab technician has been charged with her murder.

New Jersey Teens Suing the Newark Bears, 09/14/09, NYT

Apparently, three teens attending a (minor league) Newark Bears baseball game refused to stand during the singing of “God Bless America,” and were asked to leave by Bears’ president Thomas Cetnar. The boys claim their constitutional rights were violent and, surprise, surprise, are suing the Newark Bears.

Bronx Teen Founded Murdered, (09/08/09), NYDN

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Jamia Hazel, a 17-year old from the Bronx was found stabbed to death and dumped in an alley. Her foster mother said that the teen wanted to turn her life around (get a GED, become an anesthesiologist) but “couldn’t break her bad habits” (running away, staying out late, running the streets, dealing with older guys). One of those older men she was seeing has been charged with her murder. Very sad story.