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Remembering Boy 'Bullied To Death;' Disney's First Black Princess; Ex-Cop Charged
(Wednesday, 22 April 2009) A DeKalb County boy who committed suicide is remembered at a prayer vigil; Disney is introducing its first black princess; an ex-cop is suspected of several attacks on prostitutes. Details are on today's KISS News Now!
- Days after Dunaire Elementary student Jaheem Herrera hanged himself over bullying, other parents say their kids have been targeted there, too. DeKalb Schools spokeswoman Jennifer Errion tells Channel 2 Action News they have an anti-bullying program, "and unfortunately it's not a vaccine," she says. "I wish it was."
Eschondria Yant says her own fifth-grade son has been bullied at Dunaire.
"It's a problem at all schools, but it appears to be a bigger problem at Dunaire than at other schools, because it's really bad," says Yant.
Herrera was only 11 years old. His 10-year-old sister says other kids would beat him up and call him gay, and she would take up for him. The last time, she said, was the day he committed suicide.
"And the rest of his day he was quiet," she says. "He didn't eat his lunch."
When Herrera came home later that Thursday afternoon, he went to his room and hanged himself. Tuesday, dozens turned out for a prayer vigil in his memory outside the Wesley Club Apartments in Avondale Estates. His mother is angry with Dunaire officials; she says they frequently complained to the school about the bullying, but that nothing was done to stop it.
"My first born!" cried Jaheem's mother Masika Bermudez. "Now he's gone. Nobody can replace him." - Fayette County authorities suspect an ex-Fulton County cop in a series of rapes and beatings of prostitutes. Police say they tracked Gerald Copeland through an ATM receipt found at the latest crime scene, and have charged him with sexual assaulting and abandoning a woman who was found wandering partially-clothed through an undeveloped subdivision. Copeland, 48, is a former 20-year veteran of the Fulton County Police, who lives in Fayette County. Authorities say they are investigating Copeland in connection with two other cases now in which prostitutes were picked up in Atlanta, assaulted and dumped in north Fayette County.
- New laws in Georgia include an expansion of unemployment benefits, and one upping Georgia Power bills starting in 2011 so customers can prepay for a couple of nuclear reactors the company plans to build in a few more years.
Meanwhile today, Governor Perdue is set to sign a bill today boosting salaries for math and science teachers, who are in high demand across the state. The law would allow certified new teachers to start at the salary of a fifth-year educator. - An accused Somali teen pirate being tried under a couple of obscure federal laws could face life in prison. Prosecutors say Abdi Muse was the first to board the Maersk Alabama--and that he took a shot at the captain. Muse's lawyers say he is terrified, but that they are glad he was brought to New York for his trial, so he will have the protection of the U. S. Constitution.
- Atlanta's graduation rate is up nearly 11 points over the past decade; yet America's Promise Alliance says only 43.5% of Atlanta high schoolers graduate on time.
- AirTran reports a $28.7 million profit in its first quarter, despite a 9% drop in revenue; Tuesday, Delta reported nearly 800 million in first-quarter losses.
- Disney debuts its first black princess! Tiana will be featured in her own movie this December. Cori Murray of Essence Magazine thinks it's about time.
"Finally, here is something that all little girls--especially young black girls--can embrace, and that is huge," Murray says.
The Tiana doll was unveiled weeks ago at the American International Toy Fair in New York City as part of the hype for the film, "The Princess and the Frog." Tiana's an up-and-coming New Orleans chef who kisses a frog that becomes a Prince named Naveen.
Anika Noni Rose stars as Tiana; other voice talent includes Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard, Keith David, and Jenifer Lewis. - The KISS 104.1 weather forecast: mostly sunny, high near 70; lows 44-52 tonight. Thursday, partly cloudy, stray showers in the afternoon, high of 79. Friday, partly to mostly sunny high of 84, lows 54-60.
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