The Story from APM

Former Gang Member Shot

Tuesday, October 24 2006

Former Gang Member Shot

Hykiem Coney

On Thursday October 19, The Story aired an interview with Hykiem Coney. After a youth spent in gangs and prison, Hykiem had turned his life around. He was a minister in training with the anti-gang group HEVN and was speaking out against gang violence to his former friends and enemies.

Bishop Mackey and Hykiem Coney

Forty-eight hours after than interview aired, Hykiem was shot in the head. He is now on life support.

Dick talks with Bishop J. Raymond Mackey, the priest who Hykiem said saved his life. Bishop Mackey prayed with Hykiem just after midnight, before he was shot.

Dick also talks to Hykiem's friend, Sergio Argueta. Sergio and Hykiem often spoke to teens about alternatives to violence, including a group at a high school last week. Yesterday, Sergio visited Hykiem in the hospital. 

• Listen to the original interview with Hykiem Coney, called Operation Ceasefire

Note: Hykiem Coney died on Wednesday, October 25.

Life with a Stutter

The medical community is talking about a new drug which, if approved, would be the first drug ever for treating stuttering. Three million Americans suffer from stuttering. Dr. Gerald McGuire knows first hand the frustration and anguish stuttering can cause. He himself is a stutterer and he lost his brother in part to the depression which sometimes accompanies the condition. Dr. McGuire has dedicated his life to stuttering research and has made some startling advances in the field.

• Read Dr. McGuire's new discoveries
• Find out how to help a child who stutters
• Read books on stuttering
• Find a referral for stuttering treatment

ENRON FOLLOW-UP

Yesterday, Enron's former Chief Operating Officer, Jeffrey Skilling, was sentenced to twenty-four years and four months in prison for his part in the company's scandal-ridden collapse.

Dick talks to George Maddox about the sentencing. George lost his retirement savings (nearly one million and a half dollars) after the company's demise. He worked in maintenance for close to thirty years at Enron-linked companies. He's seventy-four years old now. Instead of enjoying the retirement he'd planned on, he's now working in East Texas, mowing lawns.