Leading off today: Lopez Lomong has gone from the Lost Boys of Sudan to the front of the U.S. delegation at the Beijing Olympics. The 2003 Tully High graduate was selected today to serve as the flagbearer for the United States team during the opening ceremonies.
The 1,500 meters runner earned the honor in a vote of U.S. team captains 13 months after becoming a U.S. citizen.
Lomong, 23, was born in Sudan, separated from his parents at age 6 and escaped to a refugee camp in Kenya. He was brought to Central New York in 2001 as part of a program to relocate lost children from war-torn Sudan.
Queens DA called upon to investigate: Lawyers for Christ the King boys basketball coach Bob Oliva and James Carlino, the man who accused him of sexual abuse, both want Queens District Attorney Richard Brown to investigate.
Letters exchanged by the sides say it is important for Brown's office to review the case. Oliva maintains he has been falsely accused of sexually abusing Carlino more than 30 years ago, The Daily News reported.
In a July 9 letter to Oliva's lawyer Lloyd Thompson, the paper said, Florida attorney John Klawikofsky, representaing Carlino, suggested that the coach may have abused other children while employed at CTK, though the letter does not offers details.
In a response last week that was also sent to the DA, school president Michael Michel Klawikofsky challenged the accuser to produce for Brown "all of the information in your possession pertaining to students, past or present, at Christ the King."
The DA was not available for comment.
Greece changes eligibility standard: Athletes in Greece's four high schools will face tougher eligibility standards this year under a policy that the board of education is expected to ratify next week, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.
Under the new plan, a single failing average in any class during the season would put an athlete on probation. Two failing grades would limit the athlete to participating only in practices, and three failing grades would prevent them from even trying out for a team.
Affected athletes will be required to join academic intervention programs and boost their grades. Grades
