Nation briefs 11/04/02

Sharpton calls for release of Haitian migrants

MIAMI -- The Rev. Al Sharpton called the treatment of more than 200 Haitian migrants detained in South Florida a "moral outrage" Saturday, and pledged to organize rallies and marches to demand their release.

Sharpton spoke to loud applause and cheers at a Haitian music festival as a slide show behind him depicted the landing of more than 200 Haitians last week, who plunged from a wooden freighter into shallow waters and scrambling onto a highway.

"If other races can come to America, then we can come to America from Haiti," Sharpton said to a crowd of about 2,000 at the Haitian roots music festival in Miami's Bayfront Park.

One dead in collapse of century-old bridge

WAYNESBORO, Miss. -- A portion of a century-old, one-lane bridge collapsed Saturday, killing at least one man, authorities said.

Divers searched until dark for what they suspect is a second car submerged in the Chickasawhay River. The search was called off after dusk because of the swiftly moving water.

The victim was E.B. Davis, who lived close to the bridge outside of Waynesboro in southeastern Mississippi, said Jerry Walker, Davis' nephew.

Walker said he heard the heavily traveled bridge collapse at about 9:15 a.m.

A new bridge is under construction and slated to open next summer about 200 yards downstream.

Rap music promoter shot in New York City

NEW YORK -- A man identified as a rap music promoter was fatally shot while sitting in his van -- three days after the killing of Run DMC founder Jam Master Jay, officials said.

Keneth Walker, 31, was shot several times in the back about 3 a.m. Saturday and died three hours later at Lincoln Hospital, said police spokesman Det. Robert Price.

Police said Walker was gunned as he sat inside his yellow van, which had the names of music groups on its side. But police would not confirm reports that Walker was a music promoter. No telephone number was listed for Walker, who lived in Yonkers.

Detectives had no evidence to suggest Saturday's shooting was linked to Wednesday's slaying of rap icon Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, said Sgt. Elias Nikas, a police spokesman.

Flying dachshund makes animal activists howl

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Sporting custom-made goggles, Brutus the skydiving dachshund plunged from a plane flying at 6,000 feet and parachuted before spectators at a military air show.

Animal rights activists had condemned Saturday's jump as cruel and exploitative. But Ron Sirull, the dog's owner and diving partner, said Brutus gets a kick out of freefall -- or "fleafall" as he calls it.

"I love Brutus. I wouldn't do anything to hurt him," Sirull said. "It turns him on."

Brutus makes the jumps tucked into a pouch fastened to Sirull's chest.

Sirull says the 4-year-old dog has logged 100 jumps since his first dive at age 1.

-- From wire reports