- When you at war, it's always a top story, so I'll have to include Iraq, and the "surge"
- NFL player Sean Taylor is shot to death during a home invasion robbery at his home in Miami. One of the robbers was an acquaintance of Taylor's younger sister; invited to the home for her birthday party. You can't let just anybody into your home...
The Virginia Tech massacre stuns the nation.
High oil prices and a housing bubble that burst, plus a subprime mortgage blow-up, make the U.S. economy feel recessionary, even as the Dow soars past 13,000.
Locally:
New York (via Trinidad) college grad Stepha Henry comes to Miami for Memorial Day weekend and disappears. She still has not been found. She becomes the Black Natalee Holloway, only without the 24-7 news coverage;
Poinciana Park becomes the name of a scandal, and the site of a development paid for by HUD, but that never materialized;
The House of Lies is uncovered by the Miami Herald investigative team, netting reporter Debbie Cenzipper a Pullitzer, and the paper a renewed reputation for ferreting out scandal;
Barrington Irving flies around the world solo, setting records as the youngest person and first Black person to make the trip;
The Liberty City Seven trial ends in a hung jury, with one member acquitted outright. The Bush administration tries to deport him anyway;
Dr. Robert Ingram, legendary former Mayor, cop and NAACP chair, and current School Board member, dies. His funeral is perhaps the event of the year in Miami.
The Dunbar Village rape case disgusts the nation.
Radio One sells out ... I mean, sells 14 stations, including WTPS in Miami.
A rash of police-on-civilian shootings is matched with a rash of shootings of police officers. One shooting, that of BSO deputy Brian Reyka, nets a nearly $300,000 reward, but remains unsolved.
In politics:
- Barack Obama catches Hillary, after the Hil camp stumbles post-Philadelphia debate, and a full frontal assault by the mainstream media;
- Mike Huckabee becomes a phenomenon, frustrating Willard Romney's nomination purchase plans;
- Iowa still matters most, while the DNC screws Florida and Michigan, by making our votes count for nothing. Thanks, Howard.
In Sports:
- Barry Bonds passes Hank Aaron's record, but steroid rumors persist
- Major League Baseball is confronted with its full steroid problem, with the Mitchell report recommending no punishment (yes, Bonds is on the list);
- Michael Vick fights dogs, gets 23 months in prison
- Locally, the Northwestern High School Bulls endure a sex scandal (the Antwain Easterling underage sex scandal), a principal's indictment (flawed in my opinion) and the klieg lights, as they become the nation's top team;
- Staying local, the Miami Dolphins suck (nothing new) and almost go winless (but they'll get a great draft pick!)
In Entertainment
Anna Nicole Smith dies at the Hardrock in Hollywood, Florida.
Paris Hilton goes to jail for a hot minute.
Jennifer Hudson wins an Oscar for "Dreamgirls" (you know Beyonce hates her)
And the world learns to accept Brangelina (yuck!)
Oh yeah, and Britneey Spears remains a train wreck.
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I'm sure I'm missing a lot...
