Lead Story *In a kidnapping trial in San Mateo, California, in July, the eleven-year-old victim was asked to identify the man who had abducted her. She gazed around the courtroom, past defendant John Paul Balocca sitting with his attorney, and pointed to juror number eleven. Fortunately Balocca had already confessed…
This past January 22, shortly before 5:00 p.m., Dany Toussaint arrived at Miami International Airport aboard American Airlines flight 1292 from Port-au-Prince and was detained by officials from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Although he is a legal permanent resident of the United States, Toussaint had become accustomed to…
It’s Not How You Conduct the Trial, It’s Whether You Send ‘Em to the Slammer Kirk Semple’s article about Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Udolf (“Witness for the Prosecution,” August 21) was — succinctly stated — silly. Its silliness was surpassed only by Mr. Udolf’s responses to Mr. Semple’s questions. Prosecutors…
Lead Stories *In July a St. Paul, Minnesota, jury acquitted the well-to-do Gerald and Judy Dick and an adult daughter of all but one of the shoplifting counts brought against them by Roseville, Minnesota, police, who had charged family members with engaging the services of a personal shoplifter to steal…
The Very Best Politicians Ethnicity and Religion Can Offer From reading Ted B. Kissell’s article “The Body Politic Hits the Beach” (August 14), it appears to me that political consultant Armando Gutierrez was a hypocrite of the worst order when he said a group of Hispanics discussing how not to…
Lead Stories *In April DSC Communications of Plano, Texas, filed a lawsuit against ex-employee Evan Brown to force him to surrender a thought. DSC had fired Brown for allegedly not honoring a contract that it says gives the company the right to know any idea Brown had for ten years…
E. Howard Hunt Finds the Spirit I was thrilled and delighted by Lynda Edwards’s study of black male choirs in South Florida (“Gospel Truth,” August 6). A terrific piece, and long overdue for understanding by the white community. As a boy back in the mid-Twenties I was driven every Saturday…
Lead Stories *In July British Labor Party politician Ken Brookman, age 54, was fined $1500 for picking a fight with a man on a train near Cardiff, Wales, and biting off part of his ear. And a week later in St. Mary’s, West Virginia, county judge Joseph Troisi, who had…
The Captain Captured As a visitor to Bimini for the past 35 years and an acquaintance of the Brown family for that same time period, I thought Sean Rowe’s story on Capt. Harcourt Neville Brown (“The Bell Tolls for Him,” July 31) was one of the finest pieces of prose…
Since last October’s election of Alex Penelas as Dade mayor, Natacha Millan has emerged as the most commanding — some would say domineering — influence on the county commission. None of her colleagues on the dais moved as quickly to fill the power void created when Penelas, Art Teele, and…
Over His Dead Body I am writing in reference to Jim DeFede’s column on the Versace aftermath (“The Versace Experience,” July 24). I was outraged reading his depiction of the ridiculous behavior certain people have shown. It has turned into a profoundly disgusting spectacle. Among those childish people making their…
Lead Stories *Explaining his June no vote in the California legislature on a bill to ban discrimination against gays, assemblyman-rancher Peter Frusetta told his colleagues: “I’ve seen thousands and thousands of [heifers and] three, maybe at the top four, had the hormonal imbalance … that makes them shy away from…
Here, this is the spot,” Jeffrey said as he guided Karen a few inches to her right. “That camera there is CNN.” Settling into the prescribed position, the 28-year-old part-time model adjusted her tight black top so that her considerable cleavage could indeed be considered by millions of viewers around…
Lead Stories *It took 26 years, but in June former inmate Frank Smith, age 64, became the first person to win damages related to the deadly 1971 riot at Attica prison, in New York. A jury awarded him four million dollars for injuries inflicted by guards after they recovered the…
Toni to Pot Opponents: Shove It Regarding Kathy Glasgow’s article: I have the greatest respect for Jim Hall (“Dope Detective,” July 10). His unique ability to offer unbiased information about drugs is a refreshing change from the usual drug-war rhetoric and lies. His observations, however, about the medical use of…
Lead Stories *At a May hearing, the Ohio state medical board began considering whether to discipline Toledo pediatrician Gary F. Gladieux, age 43, who was accused of having sex with three women during their visits to his office. The board cited a 1991 American Medical Association ruling that physician-patient sex…
Looking to add a little zing to their lineup, officials from the Office of Cuba Broadcasting have proposed several new programs for Radio Marti, including one featuring Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas and County Commissioner Miriam Alonso. According to an internal Radio Marti memo, the show would be “aimed at…
Take a Bow, Marcus and Elsie I would like to express my appreciation to Elise Ackerman for her interesting article about Marcus Garcia and Elsie Etheart (“Cause for Return,” July 10), two members of Miami’s Haitian community whose commitment to the betterment of the lives of their fellow men and…
Walk the Black Point Plank, You Scurvy Dog Sean Rowe missed an important point in his article “The Pirate of Black Point” (July 3). It may be true that the Dade County Park and Recreation Department has occasional management problems, but the Black Point Marina lease is not one of…
Lead Stories *A California pro-prostitution organization called the National Sexual Rights Council began a fundraising appeal in April for its campaign to get teenage hookers off the streets. For a $250 donation, the Council’s Pretty Woman Committee gives the donor a T-shirt and a membership card, but for $150,000 (which…
The following is a copy of a letter I sent last week to Chief Justice Gerald Kogan of the Florida Supreme Court. Your Honor: I am writing to you in the hopes of preventing a great tragedy. On your calendar is Supreme Court Case No. 90,805 — The Florida Bar…
Last month’s decision by the Dade County Commission to reject an ordinance that would have guaranteed equal protection for gays may have been the most important vote that body has taken in years. It is doubtful, however, that commissioners realized the significance of their action. After all, it’s hard to…
