SU students in business competition semifinals

A non-profit company created by three Syracuse University students has made it to the semi-finals of the Dell Social Innovation Competition. The Whitman School of Management students, Ryan Seeram, Holly Tassi, and Tamara Cohen started Ag 4 Africa to help out farmers in Africa. The group searches for global demand for the bambara groundnut, a crop that is similar to soybeans. The company pays farmers for their crops, which are then processed by Nestle and sold to companies like Starbucks. 

According to Syracuse.com Ag 4 Africa is one of 60 projects, chosen from a group of more than 700, that has moved on to the semi-final round. Three finalist will be chosen and the group members will then travel to Austin, Texas to present their plan business leaders, non-profit organizations, and government officials. All finalists will receive prizes, but the winner gets $50,000 to start their company. 

Same-sex couples flock to Washington D.C. 

Same-sex couples are beginning to make their way to Washington D.C. where they will legally be allowed to get married tomorrow. The law, which was signed by Mayor Adrian Fenty in Dec., has faced some opposition. Last week the Supreme Court rejected the request of some Washington residents to block the implementation of the law. According to CNN.com, City residents against the law say they should have had the opportunity to vote on the issue before the city council passed it, and hope to force a ballot initiative to overturn the law. 

Washington D.C. joins Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont in allowing same-sex couples to marry in the United States. (CNN)

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Lil' Wayne arrives at Rikers Island

Rapper Lil' Wayne arrived to Rikers Island this morning to begin serving a one-year sentence for a weapons conviction. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., 27, could get out in as little as eight months for good behavior. Wayne initially pled not guilty to gun possession in July 2007, but changed his plea in Oct. in exchange for a reduced 12-month sentence. Wayne has already had his sentence delayed twice this month; once so he could have dental work done, and once last week because of a fire that broke out in the courthouse. (People)

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