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Michelle 'the Closer' Obama receives an A for her Speach
Michelle Obama declared "I love this country" Monday as she sought to reassure the nation that she and her husband Barack share Americans' bedrock values and belief in a dream of a better future. she said. “Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values. Like you work hard for what you want in life. That your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do. That you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them, and even if you don’t agree with them.” Michelle Obama's job was to show voters they have nothing to fear and she did it.
FAA says communication breakdown delaying flights
The Federal Aviation Administration says a communication failure at a Georgia facility that processes flight plans for the eastern half of the U.S. is causing flight delays around the country. FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen says there are no safety issues and officials are still able to speak to pilots on planes on the ground and in the air.
Hip-Hop Producer Dr. Dre's Son Found Dead
The son of rap music legend Dr. Dre was found dead at his home in Woodland Hills. Andre Young Jr. was found when his mother went to check on him around 10 a.m. The 20-year-old man was unresponsive, prompting his mother to call 911. The cause of death is unknown, pending completion of a toxicology report.
Susan Lucci, Toni Braxton set for ABC's `Dancing'
Susan Lucci, Toni Braxton and Lance Bass will hit the floor on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." The other contestants are Cloris Leachman, Kim Kardashian, Ted McGinley, Brooke Burke, NFL champ Warren Sapp and two Olympic athletes: Misty May-Treanor, who won her second gold medal for beach volleyball at this year's summer games in Beijing, and Maurice Greene, who won two gold medals in track at the 2000 games in Sydney. Rounding out the cast are chef Rocco DiSpirito, Cody Linley of "Hannah Montana" and comedian Jeffrey Ross.
Poll: Obama holds onto slight lead
Obama has a slight lead, 49 percent to 43 percent, over McCain among registered voters just before the start of the Democratic National Convention. His lead is based largely on a 20-point advantage among women voters. McCain leads Obama by a 2-1 margin as more knowledgeable on world affairs and as better suited to be commander-in-chief. Obama has a 2-1 advantage on which candidate is most optimistic, and leads McCain 50-39 when they are asked who they trust more to handle the economy, which is the top issue among the voters.
Southeastern deactivates AKA chapter
The approximately 15-member Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority chapter at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond was ordered on June 24 into inactive status for three years. Sheriff’s deputies said they arrested eight AKA sisters at SLU on counts of hazing, false imprisonment or other violations. All eight were arrested between Aug. 11 and 19, jail officials said. According to court documents, SLU student Ariel Ellis accused them of locking her in a room, making her take her clothes off, beating her with a belt and a paddle, asking questions about her sex life and forcing her to simulate oral sex with a banana.
US stars regain basketball gold
Culminating a three-year mission to end years of embarrassment, the U.S. team survived a huge challenge from Spain, winning 118-107 in the gold-medal game. Dwyane Wade scored 27 points for the Americans, who found a much gamer Spanish team than the one they humiliated by 37 points earlier in the tournament. Kobe Bryant added 20 points.
Obama's choice of Biden raises stakes for McCain
Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden as a running mate sets the bar for John McCain. The Republican could use his own pugnacious No. 2 to deliver attack lines and a solid debate performance. An appeal to working-class voters also would be a plus, although most political strategists add quickly that running mates historically make scant difference in the outcome of a presidential election.
Football union chief Gene Upshaw dies at 63
Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard who during a quarter century as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it, has died. He was 63. Upshaw died Wednesday night at his home in Lake Tahoe, Calif., of pancreatic cancer, which was diagnosed only last Sunday, the NFL Players Association said Thursday. His wife Terri and sons Eugene Jr., Justin and Daniel were by his side.
Janet Jackson creates lingerie with Aussie designer
The Grammy-winning singer has joined forces with Sydney-based designer Bruno Schiavi to create Pleasure Principle, a lingerie line named after her 1987 global hit. Jackson, 42, said the collection would be lacy and sexy. "You will see a lot of satin and lace combined and rich colors such as burgundy and beige, silver and peach as well as your classic black and white," Jackson said in a statement. "It makes you feel incredible and offers variety as diverse as the women who will wear it."
Laurence Fishburne joining "CSI" cast
Stage and screen star Laurence Fishburne is better known for playing dark, brooding characters says he looks forward to his new TV gig as a forensics investigator with disturbing tendencies on the hit CBS detective drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Famed for his movie work as Morpheus in "The Matrix" trilogy and his Oscar-nominated role as Ike Turner in "What's Love Got to Do With It," Fishburne is slated to make his "CSI" debut in episode nine of the show's upcoming ninth season.
Thousands pay respects to comedy king Bernie Mac
As Cedric the Entertainer scanned the crowd of more than 6,000 gathered on Chicago's South Side to remember Bernie Mac on Saturday, he cracked that the comedy king was "still the hottest ticket in town." Fans, friends and fellow celebrities descended on the House of Hope megachurch to bid their farewells to a man who never forgot his humble Chicago roots. Mayor Richard Daley recalled that Mac was in his office recently, asking how he could help fight violent crime in the city.
Swimmer Phelps wins historic eighth gold Medal
Michael Phelps won his eighth Olympic gold medal of the Beijing Games to beat Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven. Phelps, who swam 17 times over nine days and set world records in seven finals, had already won the 400m medley, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x100m free relay, 4x200m free relay, 200m medley and the 100m butterfly. Victory in the 4x100m relay rounded off a remarkable Olympics the 23 year old, 6ft 4in swimmer.
Minorities set to be US majority
White people of European descent will no longer make up a majority of the US population by the year 2042 - eight years sooner than previous estimates. The big change is among Hispanics and Asians whose share of the population is set to double to 30% and 9%. According to the census bureau's statistics, people who regard themselves as Hispanic, African-American, Asian, American Indian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander will become the majority by 2042.
Shaq's Wife Shaunie Said There Will Be No Divorce
Shaunie O’Neal told The Associated Press that the couple plans to stop divorce proceedings soon. “Neither one of us could probably answer why we were getting one in the first place,” Shaunie O’Neal said. Shaquille O’Neal filed for divorce in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in September 2007, after nearly five years of marriage. “Things have been going so great, that someone actually had to remind us that ‘Hey, you do remember those papers are still there.’ Literally, it was days ago,” Shaunie O’Neal said. “So, we’ve agreed that before we leave Florida in a few days we’ll make sure that that’s gone away.”
Music Icon Isaac Hayes died of stroke
Singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes has died at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 65. Police were called after his wife found him unconscious next to a moving treadmill. No autopsy was performed, but paperwork filed by Hayes' family physician, Dr. David Kraus, lists the cause of death as a stroke. Hayes, a flamboyant, deep-voiced performer, won an Oscar for the 1971 hit Theme From Shaft. In the 1960s he wrote hits for Sam and Dave such as Hold On, I'm Coming and Soul Man.
Sen. John Edwards admits to affair
Former U.S. Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has admitted to having had an extramarital affair Edwards, whose wife Elizabeth is suffering from incurable cancer, pulled out of the Democratic race for president earlier this year. His name had been mentioned as a possible vice presidential running mate for Democratic candidate Barack Obama. He denied fathering Rielle Hunter's child, born in February, but said he was willing to take a paternity test.
Lexus once again tops JD Power dependability study
Lexus once again stands alone atop a closely watched list of vehicle dependability after Buick slipped from the No. 1 spot it shared with the Japanese luxury brand last year, J.D. Power and Associates said Thursday. It's the 14th straight year Toyota Motor Corp.'s high-end brand has held the highest ranking in the annual study, which measures problems experienced by the original owners of vehicles after three years. Lexus had 120 problems per 100 vehicles, down from 145 last year.
Black reporter booted from McCain rally
Stephen Price, a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, was among four Florida capital press corps reporters behind the scenes at a Panama City rally Friday when a Secret Service agent approached and asked if he were with the national media traveling with McCain. Price said no, and the agent told him he had to leave. Price said he then pointed out that there were other state reporters in the same area, but was still told to leave. The other reporters were white.
Dr. Dre about to uncork cognac, vodka brands
Hip-hop mogul (Andre Young) Dr. Dre's cognac and vodka brands will hit liquor stores in the next 60 days. Aftermath Congac will come out first, followed by an 80-proof flavored and unflavored sparkling vodka, Drinks America said Monday. It added that the marketing for the beverages will be tied in with the release of Dr. Dre's long awaited "Detox" album.
BMI to honor the Jacksons at annual Urban Awards
There's a possibility for a Jacksons reunion of sorts - the brothers are set to be honored as BMI Icons at its annual Urban Awards next month. So far, all the brothers, with the exception of Michael, have confirmed their attendance at the event, to be held Sept. 4 at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills. An all-star tribute is planned.
Freeman injured in car accident
Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman is in hospital after being injured in a car accident in Mississippi. Freeman's car left the road and "began to flip several times" before landing in a ditch. Both the actor and a female passenger had been wearing seatbelts and were airlifted to hospital. "He was lucid, conscious. He was talking, joking with some of the rescue workers at one point." When one person tried to take a photo with a mobile phone, Freeman joked, "no freebies, no freebies,"
Clinton: 'I never made a racist comment'
Former President Clinton acknowledges there are some things "I wish I hadn't said" during the Democratic presidential nomination fight, but denies he made racist statements about Barack Obama. "I bragged on Sen. Obama hundreds of times," he said. "Now, I will be glad, as soon as this election is over in January, to have this conversation with you and everybody else. I have very strong feelings about it."
Judge removed from cases against 'Jena Six' teens
The judge tasked with hearing the cases against the remaining Jena Six defendants has been recused. Judge J.P. Mauffray Jr. had been accused of making prejudicial comments about the teens, calling them "trouble makers" and "a violent bunch." He had insisted he could be impartial, but defense lawyers filed motions asking that he be removed.
US House of Rep formally apologizes for slavery and Jim Crow
The resolution, passed by voice vote, was the work of Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen, the only white lawmaker to represent a majority black district. Congress has issued apologies before - to Japanese-Americans for their internment during World War II and to native Hawaiians for the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893. In 2005, the Senate apologized for failing to pass anti-lynching laws.
Fla. guns at work law upheld by federal judge
Employees with concealed weapons permits can keep guns locked in their cars at work in Florida, but businesses are allowed to prohibit customers from bringing firearms on their property. The law exempts other places including schools, nuclear power plants and some government installations.
XM Satellite and Sirius complete merger
XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio say they have completed their merger. The new company plans to change its name to Sirius XM Radio Inc. The combined company's stock will continue to be traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SIRI.
Whitaker named NBC Washington bureau chief
NBC News announced that Mark Whitaker (an African American) has been named the new Washington bureau chief. The position had been vacant since Tim Russert's death in June. His day-to-day responsibilities will include executive oversight of "Meet the Press" and the network's election and political coverage.
Think Tank finds that Major Networks were tougher on Sen. Obama than McCain
The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University found that ABC, NBC and CBS were tougher on Obama than on Republican John McCain during the first six weeks of the general-election campaign. Network news people ventured opinions in recent weeks, 28% of the statements were positive for Obama and 72% negative. Network reporting also tilted against McCain, but far less dramatically, with 43% of the statements positive and 57% negative.
Report: Repairing U.S. bridges would cost $140 billion
It would cost at least $140 billion to repair all the nation's bridges if work began immediately, a nationwide safety organization said in a comprehensive report. "States simply cannot keep up with bridge maintenance," the report warns, adding that 73 percent of U.S. road traffic -- and 90 percent of truck traffic -- travels over state-owned bridges. Nearly one in four bridges needs repairs, and the average age of America's bridges is 43 years -- seven years shy of the maximum age for which most are designed, according to the report, titled "Bridging the Gap." One in five U.S. bridges is more than 50 years old, the report says.
Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg to fund anti-smoking campaign
Bill Gates and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York announced that they would spend $500 million to stop people around the world from smoking. In an effort to cut that number, Bloomberg's foundation plans to commit $250 million over four years on top of $125 million that he announced two years ago. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is allocating $125 million over five years.
Smith tops Hollywood earner list
Will Smith was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood last year, according to Forbes magazine. The I Am Legend star earned $80m between 1 June 2007 and 1 June 2008. Smith, Johnny Depp, Eddie Murphy Mike Myers and Leonardo DiCaprio were the best paid Hollywood actors in the past year.
Black soldiers to get apology from Army for framing
The U.S. Army is set to apologize to black soldiers framed for a 1944 riot and the lynching of an Italian POW in Seattle, officials said. The assistant secretary of the Army is expected to apologize for the court-martial of 28 men, which last year an Army appeals court ruled as fundamentally unfair, as part of a series of tributes.
Rabbi: Removal of Obama's purported prayer note 'sacrilegious'
The decision by an Israeli newspaper to publish a prayer note, apparently left by Senator Obama, was criticised by the senior rabbi in charge of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinovitz. He said a written message was a private matter between God and the individual and the removal of Mr Obama's note was highly inappropriate. Obama's note: "Lord - Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will."
Federal minimum wage rises to $6.55 today
About 2 million Americans get a raise as the federal minimum wage rises 70 cents. The bad news: Higher gas and food prices are swallowing it up, and some small businesses will pass the cost of the wage hike to consumers. The increase, from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour, is the second of three annual increases required by a 2007 law. Next year's boost will bring the federal minimum to $7.25 an hour.
Ex-cop may be charged in case of Louisiana man Tasered to death
A police officer shocked a handcuffed Baron "Scooter" Pikes nine times with a Taser after arresting him. He stopped twitching after seven, according to a coroner's report. Soon afterward, Pikes was dead. Now the officer, since fired, could end up facing criminal charges in Pikes' January death after medical examiners ruled it a homicide. Winnfield, a sleepy lumber town about 100 miles southeast of Shreveport, Louisiana, it's also about 45 miles northwest of Jena, Louisiana.
Omarosa: Wendy Williams is 'a fake and a phony'
Omarosa is not sorry for sparring with Wendy Williams. "I stand by everything I said," Omarosa said. The reality star - whose full name is Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth - appeared Monday on "The Wendy Williams Show" to promote her upcoming book but instead spent more time trading insults with radio personality-turned-talk show host Wendy Williams, who infamously engaged Whitney Houston during an interview on her radio show in 2003.
Rice: Obama's success is great gain for blacks
Condoleezza Rice says it's a remarkable accomplishment that a black politician is on track for his party's presidential nomination. Rice noted that Colin Powell was the first black person to be America's top diplomat. She is the second. "I think it's great, and I think it's great for our country," Rice said of Obama's candidacy. Rice also said she has decided which candidate she will vote for in November.
It's the law: No sagging pants in Chicago suburb
Be careful if you have saggy pants in the south Chicago suburb of Lynwood. Village leaders have passed an ordinance that would levy $25 fines against anyone showing three inches or more of their underwear in public. The American Civil Liberties Union says the ordinance targets young men of color.
Southern States Leads Nation In Adult Obesity
The South tips the scales again as the nation's fattest region, according to a new government survey. These are the 10 states with the highest levels of adult obesity, according to a 2007 survey by the CDC. Mississippi, Alabama,Tennessee, Louisiana,West Virginia,Arkansas,South Carolina,Georgia,Oklahoma and Texas.
Birmingham votes to rename airport for King aide
Birmingham International Airport will become Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport once the Federal Aviation Administration approves the change. The Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, 86, invited King to Birmingham in 1963, and televised scenes of police dogs and fire hoses being turned on black marchers helped the rest of the nation grasp the depth of racial animosity in the Deep South. Before the name change is official, the authority needs a signed agreement from Shuttlesworth, who is expected to approve.
Viagra helpful to women on antidepressants, study finds
More than 6 million women in the U.S. suffer from major depression. Antidepressants are the most common treatment for the mood disorder, and while they can be quite beneficial, they often have debilitating sexual side effects. Doctors said the study, which was funded with a grant from Pfizer, could foster broader experimentation with Viagra for women, although they added that the drug was unlikely to become the blockbuster phenomenon it is among men. Its effectiveness in women is limited compared with men, and Pfizer has said it does not plan to develop the drug for female disorders.
Black Ohio neighborhood was denied water service
Residents of a mostly black neighborhood in rural Ohio were awarded nearly $11 million by a federal jury that found local authorities denied them public water service for decades out of racial discrimination. Each of the 67 plaintiffs was awarded $15,000 to $300,000, depending on how long they had lived in the Coal Run neighborhood, about 5 miles east of Zanesville in Muskingum County in east-central Ohio. Coal Run residents either paid to have wells dug, hauled water for cisterns or collected rain water so they could drink, cook and bathe.
Rev Jessie Jackson's former Mistress Speak To Inquirer
Karin Stanford, who has a 9 year daughter with Rev Jackson [the Rev and Mrs. Jackson have been married for 46 years], says the Rev made the crack about Obama because he feels guilty about the relationship he has with his child. The hot mic conversation where Jesse was caught saying he wanted to “cut Barack’s n*** out” for “talking down to n******” was in reference to a speech Barack made chastising absentee African-American fathers for not taking responsibility for their children.
Racist Sen. Jesse Helms dies a better man
CNN contributor Roland Martin reminds everyone in his commentary that Death has a way sanitizing virulent and despicable aspects of prominent lives especially racial bigotry. Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun was on the elevator and The rasist Senator saw her, Helms started to sing "Dixie," a call-to-arms song for lovers of the Old South, and clearly an offensive song to anyone black. He later said he did it hoping it would make her cry. Give credit where it's due but don't cover up racism.
After 60 years, black officers rare
Sixty years after President Truman desegregated the military, senior black officers are still rare, particularly among the highest ranks. Blacks make up about 17 percent of the total force, yet just 9 percent of all officers. That fraction falls to less than 6 percent for general officers with one to four stars.
Scientists: Watermelon yields Viagra-like effects
A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra. Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists in Texas, one of the nation's top producers of the seedless variety.
Mandela taken off US terror list
US President George W Bush has signed a bill removing Nelson Mandela and South African leaders from the US terror watch list, officials say. Mr Mandela and ANC party members will now be able to visit the US without a waiver from the secretary of state. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had called the restrictions a "rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in my own counterpart, the foreign minister of South Africa, not to mention the great leader Nelson Mandela."
BET, TV One make plans to go all out over Obama convention coverage
With Sen. Barack Obama poised to make history as the first African-American presidential nominee of a major political party, BET and TV One will significantly step up their coverage of the Democratic National Convention in August. BET, which covered the 2004 Republican and Democratic presidential conventions on a limited basis, will offer more than five hours of on-air convention coverage from Denver, as well as provide a robust online offering which will allow users to provide user-generated content.
After 38 years, 'Soul Train' to get new owner and new lease on life
People who think of "Soul Train" as an artifact from 1970s television may be surprised to learn that the 38-year-old song-and-dance show was never canceled. Although no new episodes are produced, it lives on in reruns that showcase the taste-making music, hairstyles and fashions of decades past. Now a production company, MadVision Entertainment, has bought the "Soul Train" franchise from its founder, Don Cornelius, and plans to breathe new life into it.
US court overturns DC handgun ban
The Supreme Court ruled today that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting, the justices' first major pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history. The court's 5-4 ruling struck down the District of Columbia's 32-year-old ban on handguns as incompatible with gun rights under the Second Amendment.
John McCain's First Wife Speaks Out
The UK Times scores the first interview with John McCain's first wife. For nearly 30 years, Carol has maintained a dignified silence about the accident, McCain and their divorce. she says. 'My accident is well recorded. I had 23 operations, I am five inches shorter than I used to be and I was in hospital for six months. It was just awful, but it wasn't the reason for my divorce. 'My marriage ended because John McCain didn't want to be 40, he wanted to be 25. You know that happens...it just does.'Some of McCain's acquaintances are less forgiving, however. They portray the politician as a self-centred womaniser who effectively abandoned his crippled wife to 'play the field'. They accuse him of finally settling on Cindy, a former rodeo beauty queen, for financial reasons.
Antibacterial wipes can spread superbugs: study
Disinfectant wipes routinely used in hospitals may actually spread drug-resistant bacteria rather than kill the dangerous infections, British researchers said. While the wipes killed some bacteria, a study of two hospitals showed they did not get them all and could transfer the so-called superbugs to other surfaces. The findings presented at the American Society of Microbiology's General Meeting in Boston focused on bacteria that included methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.
West Virginia Senator Endorses Obama
Former KKKlan Member, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., endorsed Barack Obama for president shortly after noon today, focusing on his hope to end the Iraq War. "As people all across this great nation know, I have been one of the most outspoken opponents of the Bush administration's misguided war in Iraq and its saber rattling around the globe," Byrd said.
Black Cancer Patients Less Likely to Get Chemo, Radiation
Even though black and white rectal cancer patients have similar referral rates to oncologists, blacks are less likely to receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy, new research shows. The study found that 75 percent of whites and 73 percent of blacks saw an oncologist after being diagnosed with rectal cancer, but only 54 percent of blacks received chemotherapy, compared with 70 percent of whites. In addition, rates of referral to a radiation oncologist were similar, but only 74 percent of blacks received radiation therapy, compared with 83 percent of whites.
Marijuana Use May Raise Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke
Smoking marijuana increases the body's production of a protein that raises levels of blood fats associated with heart attack and stroke, government researchers report. The finding helps explain the increased risk of such cardiovascular problems found in previous studies of marijuana.
Hillary Rodham Clinton's Former Pastor Sentenced 3 Years For Child Molestation
Former Clinton pastor was sentenced to three years in prison for inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl at his home last March, Judge Michael L. Dwyer said Procanick sacrificed his honesty the day he testified. 'As a minister of God, you got on the stand and you lied,' Dwyer told Procanick, the 54-year-old former pastor of Resurrection Assembly of God church. A jury found Procanick guilty Jan. 22 of first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
Vanessa Williams Recieves her degree from Syracuse University
Singer/Actress Vanessa Williams will get her bachelor of fine arts degree from Syracuse University. The 45-year-old actress-singer, who stars in ABC's ''Ugly Betty,'' will also deliver the convocation address Saturday to graduates of Syracuse's College of Visual and Performing Arts. After only two years (1981-83) at SU, she earned the remaining credits for her degree through industry experience and performances on stage and screen. She has won a Tony, received two NAACP Image Awards and nine Grammy nominations.
FDA study: Insulin pumps linked to injuries, deaths in teens
Insulin pumps are used by tens of thousands of teenagers worldwide with Type 1 diabetes, but they can be risky and have been linked to injuries and even deaths, a review by federal regulators finds. Parents should be vigilant in watching their children's use of the pumps. The federal review of use by young people over a decade found 13 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries connected with the pumps. At times, the devices malfunctioned, but other times, teens were careless or took risks.
Tavis Can't Take It and leaves Tom Joyner's Show
Tom Joyner announced Tavis Smiley will end he's twice a week commentary on the popular syndicated morning show. ‘We all know that isn’t the real reason he’s leaving the show,’ Joyner writes in the open letter, ‘The real reason is that he can’t take the hate he’s been getting regarding the Barack issue — hate from the black people that he loves so much. He needed to feel the love. We all do, whether it’s from our radio audience or from people we know personally. He wasn’t feeling any love, so he quit.’
Obama says US cannot ignore race
Presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama said he understood the history of anger between black and white Americans but that the US could not afford to ignore race issues. "The anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races," he said. As the child of a black father and white mother, he said he understood the passions of both sides in what he called "a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years" - and said he was not so naive as to believe it could be overcome in one election cycle.
Best Buy chain announces strategic alliance with Magic Johnson Enterprises
Magic Johnson Enterprises, one of the nation?s leading companies dedicated to serving emerging, multicultural markets, has entered into a multi-year relationship with Best Buy Co., Inc. Through this strategic relationship, the consumer electronics retail giant hopes to strengthen its urban market presence and deepen relationships with multicultural customers. Magic Johnson Enterprises has a long-standing history of working with major retailers on issues related to diversity and the multicultural consumer such as Starbucks, Burger King, NASCAR, Washington Mutual, Cadbury Schweppes, Lincoln, T.G.I. Fridays and 24 Hour Fitness.
Vt. towns approve Bush 'indictment'
Voters in two Vermont towns approved measures calling for the indictment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for what they consider violations of the Constitution. More symbolic than anything, the items sought to have police arrest Bush and Cheney if they ever visit Brattleboro or nearby Marlboro or to extradite them for prosecution elsewhere - if they're not impeached first.
McCain's birthplace prompts queries - Can He Run For President?
Senator John McCain's (of Arizona) likely nomination as the Republican candidate for president, may be not be eligible because he's constitutionally unqualified. McCain was born on a military installation in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936. Constitutional scholars say that only a "natural-born citizen" can hold the nation's highest office.
Black buying power to reach $1.1 trillion by 2012
A new report from Packaged Facts, “The African American Market in the U.S.,” forecasts that the buying power of 39 million Blacks will hit $1.1 trillion by 2012. According to the report, there are 2.4 million affluent Black households with incomes of $75,000 or more. This group accounts for 17 percent of all Black households, but 45 percent of total Black buying power.
President Castro's rule outlasted 10 U.S. presidents
An ailing, 81-year-old Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president after nearly a half-century in power, saying he will not accept a new term when parliament meets Sunday. The end of Castro's rule - the longest in the world for a head of government - frees his 76-year-old brother Raul to implement reforms he has hinted at since taking over as acting president when Fidel Castro fell ill in July 2006.
Bush says faith helped him beat alcohol addiction
President Bush is talking more openly lately about his old drinking habit, and he offered perhaps his most pointed assessment yet by saying plainly that the term "addiction" had applied to him. "Addiction is hard to overcome. As you might remember, I drank too much at one time in my life,"
'Boondocks' creator Aaron McGruder to BET: %@*$% ^ & !
The battle between "The Boondocks" creator Aaron McGruder and Black Entertainment Television is about to get a lot more animated. Two second-season episodes of the biting cartoon series that attack the black-themed network but were never aired -- possibly because of corporate pressure -- are slated for DVD release Tuesday. The pair of shows take aim at BET's top executives and lampoon what it views as the cable network's harmful negative imagery and stereotypes that work as a "destructive" force within African American culture.
Phone cable to link China and US
Work has begun on the first undersea telecommunications cable linking the US with China. The fibre-optic cable is designed to meet booming internet traffic between the regions, with 60 times more capacity than existing cables. Verizon has previously said that the cable will extend more than 18,000 kilometres and will cost the consortium about $500m.
Castro says Cuba helped save Reagan
Fidel Castro claims Cuba's government saved the life of President Reagan by giving American officials information about an assassination plot in 1984. Castro, who has not appeared in public for more than a year, wrote that a Cuban security official stationed at the United Nations told the then U.S. mission security chief about an extreme right-wing group that was planning to kill Reagan during a trip to North Carolina.
Life expectancy of Americans hits 78
The life expectancy for Americans is nearly 78 years, the longest in U.S. history, according to new government figures from 2005 released Thursday. That age, based on the latest data available, was still lower than the life span in more than three dozen other countries.
US and Israel in $30bn arms deal
The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, has said the aid will preserve his country's military advantage over other countries in the Middle East. The US announced multi-billion-dollar arms deals with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other Gulf states last month. US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns called the aid package an "investment in peace", saying "peace cannot be made without strength".
Judge tosses date-dissing Web suit
A Florida-based Web site that invites women to warn others about men they've dated cannot be sued in a Pennsylvania court by an attorney who said its postings falsely claimed he was unfaithful and had sexually transmitted diseases. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge R. Stanton Wettick Jr. said he had no jurisdiction over the lawsuit Todd Hollis filed last June against DontDateHimGirl.com and its creator, Tasha C. Cunningham, of Miami.
Study: Those with lighter skin make more money
Light-skinned immigrants in the United States make more money on average than those with darker complexions, and the chief reason appears to be discrimination, a researcher says. Joni Hersch, a law and economics professor at Vanderbilt University, found that those with the lightest skin earned an average of 8 percent to 15 percent more than similar immigrants with much darker skin.
A handful of almonds can help keep your heart healthy
New research on almonds has found that the dry fruits are especially good for the heart, for not only do they happen to be high in several types of antioxidants, but may also improve blood sugar levels as well as play an important role in a cholesterol lowering eating plan. The researchers found that a one ounce serving of almonds or about a handful, for instance, contains the same amount of antioxidants as a serving of cooked broccoli or a serving of brewed green or black tea.
Web sites not liable for posts by others
Web sites that publish inflammatory information written by other parties cannot be sued for libel. The ruling in favor of free online expression was a victory for a San Diego woman who was sued by two doctors for posting an allegedly libelous e-mail on two Web sites. Unless Congress revises the existing law, people who claim they were defamed in an Internet posting can only seek damages from the original source of the statement, the court ruled.
Tourists warned on Fla. deadly force law
Florida's "stand your ground" law removes a duty on the part of citizens to retreat in the face of an attack as long as they are in a place they have a legal right to be, including a public street or their place of business. It also gives immunity from criminal or civil charges to a shooter as long as the person shot is not a police officer.
