Dominican Republic mulls ban on bizarre names including ‘Rambo Weed’ and ‘Dear Family Perez’

September 30th, 2009 DR cops find ostriches, boars on fugitive's farmSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Police raiding a Dominican Republic farm allegedly owned by a drug fugitive found a menagerie of exotic animals including ostriches and a wild boar. Prosecutor Alejandro Moscoso says a warehouse on farmland outside Santo Dominigo allegedly owned by Puerto Rican fugitive Jose Figueroa Agosto was used to store drugs.

September 30th, 2009 Dominican soldiers to settle along Haiti borderSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Authorities plan to relocate soldiers and their families to border communities that are home to thousands of illegal Haitian immigrants and increasingly fewer Dominicans. Dozens of families will move next year as part of a pilot program to reforest the area, repair run-down homes and teach locals how to read and write, Military Secretary Pedro Rafael Pena said Wednesday.

September 30th, 2009 DomRep extradites Colombian cocaine suspect to USSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A Dominican official says an alleged Colombian cocaine trafficker arrested in the Dominican Republic has been extradited to the United States. The official says Luis Alberto Santacruz Echeverri, known by the nickname "Lucho," was extradited Monday to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

September 30th, 2009 DomRep debates access to property to reach beachSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Legislators in the Dominican Republic are debating whether to allow residents access rights to private property so they can reach beaches, rivers and lakes. President Leonel Fernandez recently submitted a proposal to amend the constitution, which currently bars people from entering such property.

September 17th, 2009 Dominican agents check dictionaries, find cocaineSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Dominican authorities have intercepted packets presumed to be cocaine sewn in the lining of dictionaries. The shipment was left at a Dominican post office to be mailed to an address in Madrid.

August 12th, 2009 SANTO DOMINGO - A mob killed a man suspected of robbing a Santo Domingo residence by pelting him with stones and bottles and stabbing him, the Dominican National Police said. The killing occurred Sunday when the unidentified man was surprised by a group of people while he was allegedly stealing goods from a house in the Dominican Republic's capital.

August 1st, 2009 Brazil busts international prostitution ringSAO PAULO — Brazilian police say they have busted a ring that allegedly sent some 200 women in the last year to the United States, Europe and elsewhere to work as prostitutes. Leandro Daiello Coimbra of the federal police in Sao Paulo tells state-run Agencia Brasil that nine Brazilians and one American were arrested in Brazil on Friday.

June 17th, 2009 DomRep police: Smoke kills 2 who set cocaine afireSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Dominican authorities say two suspected drug dealers have died of smoke inhalation after trying to burn cocaine before police could find it. The spokesman of the National Drug Control agency says that Mauricio Encarnacion Castillo and Ramon Antonio del Rosario set the evidence on fire after exchanging gunfire with police conducting a raid.

May 9th, 2009 Angry protests in Haiti over slaying of countrymanPETIONVILLE, Haiti — Angry demonstrators hurled stones and tore down a sign at the Dominican Republic's consulate in Haiti on Friday to protest the decapitation slaying of a Haitian in Santo Domingo. Some 150 protesters massed outside the walled consulate, but Haitian police prevented them from entering the compound.

May 8th, 2009 Panel: 'Dear Pineapple' OK in Dominican RepublicSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A judicial panel says Dominicans are free to name their kids "Dummy Ruiz," ''Dear Pineapple" and other unusual monikers if they choose. The Central Electoral Commission has rejected a proposal to ban any names that could be confusing or give no indication of gender, such as Querida Pina (Dear Pineapple) and Tonton Ruiz (Dummy Ruiz).

May 6th, 2009 Haitian migrant decapitated in Dominican RepublicSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Dominican police are investigating the decapitation of a migrant from neighboring Haiti. Police Maj. Jose Llubres says the victim's body was found Saturday in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of the capital, Santo Domingo.

April 22nd, 2009 Don't call him Dummy: Odd names crop up in DomRepSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — "Dummy Ruiz?" ''Dear Pineapple?" A judge says such names should be a no-no in this Caribbean country where parents also have been known to model their children's identities after car brands and cartoon characters. Mazda Altagracia, Toshiba Fidelina, Seno Jimenez (Breast Jimenez), Querida Pina (Dear Pineapple), Tonton Ruiz (Dummy Ruiz) and Querido Familia Perez (Dear Family Perez) are among the unique names listed in the nation's civil registry.

April 22nd, 2009 Increase in odd names leads DR to consider banSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Names like "Dummy Ruiz" and "Dear Pineapple" may become a thing of the past in the Dominican Republic as officials consider a ban on odd names. Officials say Dominicans are increasingly giving their children names that are car brands, cartoon characters or even body parts, and a judge has submitted a proposal limiting such names to the Central Electoral Commission.

March 2nd, 2009 HAVANA - Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez Sunday ordered the retirement of 31 generals for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking, according to reports reaching here from Santo Domingo. The decision was taken just two days after Fernandez had said in a joint session of the Congress that he will not hesitate to take drastic measures against members of the armed forces and the police.

February 28th, 2009 LONDON - Oscar nominated actor Mickey Rourke's career is back on track. He has been signed up for the next Rambo film.