In The News Quick Picks

Police: UCONN football player found stabbed to death

 

Cornerback Jasper Howard called his mom Saturday night after Connecticut beat Louisville, and he was given the game-winning ball. He was thrilled.

 

Just hours later, the phone rang again. This time it was UConn football coach Randy Edsall notifying her that her son had been stabbed. He was pronounced dead early Sunday.

"He was a good child, a wonderful, sweet, loving child," Joangela Howard told CNN affiliate WSVN. "I just hope whoever did it turns himself in. [Jasper] didn't deserve this."

Howard, a 20-year-old cornerback who started in every game for the team last season, was killed following a sponsored student dance on campus, authorities said. The junior from Miami, Florida, was a soon-to-be dad, said UConn football coach Randy Edsall.

During the dance at the university's student center, a fire alarm was pulled at about 12:26 a.m., campus police Maj. Ron Blicher told reporters. More than 300 people who were attending the dance left the building and spilled out into the street. A fight broke out between two groups of people, and Howard and an unidentified person were stabbed, police said.

The incident happened at 12:33 a.m. Howard and the other victim were taken to a local hospital. Howard was then airlifted by helicopter to St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, where he later died from his injuries, police said. The second victim was treated and released.

Howard's family was in Florida, so Edsall was called in to identify Howard's body.

 

 

Louisiana JP says he won't resign over interracial marriage issue

 

A white Justice of the Peace in Louisiana who refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple says he has no plans to resign, the Associated Press reports.

Keith Bardwell's comments to reporters follows calls for his ouster by Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal and Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu.

"Everybody hates me," he tells reporters. "Really. I don't know why. I treat people, I figure, equal. I have one problem with mixed marriages and that is the offspring."

Asked if he is "racist," Bardwell replies: "Absolutely not.

"My definition of a racist is to hate black people, or treat black people different that anybody else," he says.

The controversy in Hammond, La., erupted after Bardwell refused to issue a marriage license to  a white woman and a black man. They were later married by another official.

Bardwell says his concern is with the impact that an interracial marriage has on children. He says he has married white couples and black couples, but refers interracial couples to another JP.

 

 

 

 

RIOT SPARKED AFTER DMX DENIED CONCERT: Rapper goes off after security tried to stop him from performing at scheduled charity gig.

 

A scheduled DMX concert in Colorado Springs turned horribly wrong on Friday night (Oct. 16) when security tried to prevent him from taking the stage because he was an hour and a half late.       

According to Allhiphop.com, the Yonkers MC was to perform at the benefit for American Charities, but upon his arrival at around 11 p.m., he was approached by a security guard and told not to go through with his set. The guard reportedly explained to X that he was supposed to be there by 9:30 p.m., and fans had already been told he wasn't coming.      

The conversation got heated and the security guard reportedly threatened to have X arrested if he attempted to get on stage.      

"[Arrest me] for what?! You ain't no police!" DMX argued, according to the Web site. "I've been paid to perform."      

When X attempted to force his way on stage, several authorities tackled him to the ground. His entourage and fans joined the fracas, and DMX's publicist Pam Pinnock reportedly suffered a minor concussion and face laceration after being trampled on the floor.     

DMX eventually took the stage, but was not given the supporting sound system.      

Allhiphop says the American Charities' refusal to let DMX perform is allegedly the result of the non-profit not having the remaining money needed to cover X's performance. The rapper was paid an $8000 deposit, with a remaining amount of $7000 to be delivered upon the show's completion.      

Instead of informing DMX's management, the show promoters allegedly opted to completely cancel the set rather then negotiate a new arrangement, the site reported.

 

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