Afternoon Edition - 8/15/05

So Close; Yet So Far
Approximately 90 Dominican migrants have drowned this year, making the trek across the dangerous Mona Passage from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. Just before dawn this morning 116 Dominicans were seized just two miles off the coast of Puerto Rico as they traversed the passage in a 32 foot wooden motorboat – a yola. U.S. Coast Guards say they will be processed and returned to the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, enjoys financial help from the U.S. and Puerto Ricans are born U.S. citizens. Last year 110 Dominicans died making the journey to freedom from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico.

Mr. Jackson If He's Nasty
Cornell Jackson, 31, slashed his girlfriend with a box cutter on January 21. When she returned from getting stitched up on January 22, Jackson slashed her again. He has undergone two trials and was convicted. His sentencing is set for tomorrow, where he can be charged with 33 years for the crime. During his second trial Jackson’s sanity was brought into question when he stood up, screamed “cuckoo” and proceeded to drop his pants and moon the jury. He was ruled competent to stand trial and now may be doing quite a bit of mooning in years to come.

Straight-Up Frauds
Bryan Pinn and Bill Dalrymple, both divorced and self-proclaimed straight men, had planned to marry after Canadian law made same sex marriages legal. Their motive was simple – tax breaks for married couples. The two have been friends for 22 years. They say that after their announcement to marry, many gay couples criticized their decision. The straight two-some say Canada did not specify that same sex couples needed to be gay to marry. The two have cancelled their plans to marry and said they were just making a point of the implications the new all-inclusive law has for Canadians.

Atlanta Now HotManTa?
The Associated Press says Atlanta is now home to the biggest concentration of black same sex-couples in the South. Conversely, southern black churches still condemn same sex relationships.

Hate Alert; Success Acknowledged
Ranked the 19th richest person under 40, according to Fortune Magazine, J-Lo has also made Time Magazine’s 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America list. Her JLO and Sweetface clothing lines combined with her Glow and Still Fragrance lines have netted over $300 million in 2004. Jenny from the block has changed the perception of the beautiful body in Hollywood and has put a healthy booty on the map. Today, women across culture lines struggle to increase the size of their backside. J-Lo continues to set fashion trends and set the “Hateration” bells ringing.

Keep passin’ the open windows…