The Dombrovski Report

Crime and federal spending

The records used in this report by IRE include the Federal Procurement Data System and www.federalspending.org to track government spending. Crime is being tracked by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports.

The reporter for this article had to have knowledge in where these databases lie, knowledge that not many Internet users necessarily have.

The writer(s) are able to provide insight as to which sites are better than the others.

I can see these sites being useful in a number of ways in reporting. For instance, if you're tracking a string of crimes happening around the U of M campus you might find national trends of similar crimes in the Uniform Crime Reports page.

Former top Gucci salesman Adolfo Mendez has filed a lawsuit against the brand's flagship store in New York City for $5 million on charges of discrimination because he was straight.

Mendez, who is married, said his gay manager, Michael Daly, got too personal. He allegedly approached Mendez from behind and gave him an unwelcome massage.

Mendez communicated his discomfort with the situation to Daly saying, "Look, I really don't appreciate this. You touched me. I don't think it's professional."

Another manager, David Gray allegedly told Mendez, "I know you're gay."

Mendez's lawyer Rick Ostrove told New York Daily News, "Not only are the managers engaging in inappropriate sexual banter on a public floor, the HR department retaliated against the employee who brought it to their attention."

Nurse William Melchert-Dinkel of Faribault is charged with encouraging up to 11 strangers to kill themselves via chat room.

Melchert-Dinkel, 47, is allegedly addicted to online pro-suicide chat rooms and spent time in his Faribault home encouraging dozens of strangers to kill themselves and informing them on methods that would help them to do so.

Two charges against Melchert-Dinkel were filed in the aiding of suicide of Mark Drybrough, 32, hanged himself in Coventry, England, in 2005. He set up a webcam for Melchert-Dinkel to view as he hanged himself. Also, he encouraged Nadia Kajouji, 18, of Brampton, Ontario, to drown herself in 2008. She was a student at Carleton University.

Melchert-Dinkel faces up to 15 years in prison if sentenced, however, authorities say these laws are difficult to enforce.

"I believe a compelling argument can be made that not only are the charges unconstitutional but the underlying statute is unconstitutional," George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley said.

Melchert-Dinkel's nursing license was revoked in 2008 after being negligent and rough with patients. Authorities have since started investigating his case.

"Nothing is going to come of it," Melchert-Dinkel said in October. "I've moved on with my life, and that's it."

Six people were killed in a head-on automobile crash Saturday night. Four of which have been named; Kelsee Blackledge, 15, Stephen Kendryna, 16, Travis Buchan, 17, and Travis Gryczkowski,21.

The 16-year-old driver Sabrina Schumacher is currently in serious condition at a nearby hospital.

Lieutenant Eric Roeske of The State Patrol said this accident is "the worst he's ever seen in his life," saying the vehicles were "completely burned up."

Eleven people have been killed in highway crashes this week, including the six in this crash.

"It's mind-boggling, it truly is," said Deborah Kendryna, mother of Kendryna-Whitefeather, 16, who died in the crash. "Why, God? Why?"

The 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mine, 35 miles from Asheville, North Carolina, were remembered Sunday in a service with a eulogy from U.S. President Barack Obama.

USA Today reports Obama spoke broadly of the miners, with the executive of the mine company they worked for sitting in the rear of the venue with the miners' families.

"How can we let anyone in this country put their lives at risk by simply showing up to work, by simply pursuing the American Dream?" Obama said in his eulogy. Nearly 2,800 mourners joined in the memorial.

"The men we remember here today went into the darkness so we could have light," Biden said. "It was dangerous work and they knew it. But they never flinched," the president said.

The 29 miners died in an explosion twenty days ago. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. Senate will hold a hearing on the investigation Thursday.

Protesters seeking recognition of civil marriages took to the streets in Beruit Sunday to make their voices heard.

Lebanon is divided between Christianity and Islam, making inter-religious couples decide whether they will marry in a church or a mosque. The protest sought to gain civil marriages, ridding the country of religious tugs-of-war.

The "divisive sectarian system," as BBC reports, has been the status quo since the 15-year-long civil war in Lebanon, starting in 1975.

More than 2,000 protesters joined in on the march.

Al-Jazeera reports that social networking sites were utilized to organize the event.

Said Shaito, one of the march's organizers said, "We are for citizenship, which is being Lebanese, not Muslim or Christian. We want people to talk about it, to create a public debate in Lebanon."

"Glee," Drew Barrymore and Wanda Sykes top the list of GLAAD Media Award winners Sunday.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation held it's 21st awards, giving recognition to media who promote fair and accurate stories of LGBT people in the news, television and film.

Writer and director of "Glee" Ryan Murphy accepted his award saying, "This show is about arts education and inclusion, and we are using the show in a great way."

Wanda Sykes took home the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is awarded to gay entertainers who works to eliminate homophobia. Sykes' most recent work to raise awareness of homophobia can be found in her PSA for GLSEN.

Actress Drew Barrymore was also awarded the Vanguard Award for being a voice for the LGBT community.

"The thing that means the most to me about an evening like this or why I want to fight and be outspoken about (gay rights) is there are so many people who are in desperate need of families," Barrymore said. "That is the most important thing in the world: that we take care of each other because this is a family."

President Obama mandated visitation rights for same-sex couples Thursday.

The decision marks Obama's first visible form of change regarding same-sex rights and equality in the United States.

The Washington Post reports Obama has been advised to make change in small steps, such as this, to achieve overall equality.

A poll in the New York Times says eight out of 10 people think same-sex couples deserve the same rights straight couples get when their partners are in the hospital.

The New York Times also reported the socially conservative Family Research Council stated they have "no objection" to individuals needing to make decisions with whomever they wish.

The unexpected move allegedly came after White House officials heard a story about a lesbian couple kept apart during a stay at a hospital and one of them collapsed and died.

"In this day and age, basic rights are deemed to be accorded to everyone. This allows him to give something to his base without worrying too much about backlash on the other side," Whit Aryes, a Republican pollster from Virginia said.

But gay rights activists are still wanting more.

"This is a small and welcome step forward," Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry said.
"This isn't about just hospital visitation but the full measure of protections that families seek and want, and the real answer here is to end the exclusion on marriage."

Corey Endl, 27, Wayne Gollmer, 40, and Lori Sobania, 50, all died in motorcycle related crashes in Wisconsin Saturday.

Endl had reportedly owned his bike for less than 48 hours before he was struck dead by a semi truck on Highway 85 in Dunn County Saturday.

Authorities say he is a Dunn County native.

Gollmer was reportedly not wearing a protective helmet at the time of his collision with a fence in Dane County.

William Sobania was driving Lori Sobania on a motorcycle northbound on Highway 35 when a vehicle drove into oncoming traffic, striking the two. Lori was killed and William was airlifted to the hospital.

William Sobania remains in critical condition.

Jeffrey Degn, 37, was found dead in the Crow River Sunday, according to McLeod county authorities.

A caller tipped off rescuers after reportedly seeing a red jacket floating down the river near Tartan Park. Degn was identified by his driver's license.

Degn fell into the river Tuesday, according to a witness.

The extensive rescue search involved sonar gear from Hennepin County. Boats and helicopters were used to try to find Degn this past week. Cadaver dogs were also used along the river to find Degn.