Teachers discuss violence, students and safety in the classroom
Steelers QB Rudolph denies report he used racial slur
PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph is
denying he used a racial slur before his confrontation with
suspended Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
ESPN, using anonymous sources, reported Thursday that Garrett told
the NFL that Rudolph used a slur just before a brawl between the
two teams last week that included Garrett ripping off Rudolph’s
helmet and then hitting the quarterback in the head with it. The
NFL suspended Garrett indefinitely. He appealed the decision on
Wednesday. The matter remains under review.
Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said Rudolph ”vehemently denies”
the report. Rudolph, who has not yet been disciplined for his role
in the fight, said on Wednesday that there was ”no acceptable
excuse” for his behavior during the fight.
Cleveland coach Freddie Kitchens said he supports Garrett ”in
every way possible” but did not comment when asked if Garrett told
Kitchens about the slur in the aftermath of the fight.
Former Baltimore mayor enters guilty pleas in fraud case
BALTIMORE (AP) — The disgraced former mayor of Baltimore pleaded guilty Thursday to federal conspiracy and tax evasion charges in a case involving sales of her self-published children’s books.
Catherine Pugh pleaded guilty in federal court in Baltimore to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the government and tax evasion. But she pleaded not guilty to wire fraud. The pleas came a day after an 11-count indictment was unsealed.
The case involves sales of her self-published “Healthy Holly” books to non-profits and foundations to promote her political career and fund her run for mayor. Pugh, a Democrat who was elected in 2016, resigned under pressure in May.
A federal grand jury indictment returned on Nov. 14 also charged two Pugh associates, Gary Brown, Jr., and Roslyn Wedington, who have pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tax fraud.
Pugh became Baltimore’s second mayor in less than a decade to step down because of scandal. Former Mayor Sheila Dixon left office in 2010 as part of a plea deal for misappropriating about $500 in gift cards meant for needy families.
The charges against Pugh came as the city has struggled violent crime and other cases of public corruption, as well as a major police scandal. The city has had more than 300 homicides for five years in a row.
“We are grateful to our listeners and sponsors and humbled by their generosity,” said WHUR General Manager Sean Plater. We collected tons of non-perishable food items and monetary donations that will make a difference for thousands of families across the DMV.
This year’s “Food2Feed” collected enough money and non-perishable food to be able to provide meals to over 66-thousand persons in the Washington area. The Capital Area Food Bank, Shabach Ministries and Alive Food Center are the organizations who are the benefactors of the 12-hour Food2Feed radiothon. The non-profit agencies work daily to fight under in the region by identifying those persons who are food insecure.
“We are grateful to our listeners and sponsors and humbled by their generosity,” said WHUR General Manager Sean Plater. We collected tons of non-perishable food items and monetary donations that will make a difference for thousands of families across the DMV.
“I came to give because I see everyday people living on the streets and it just breaks my heart. I can’t imagine their stories, but I can make sure I help them in this small way. That’s why I give every year to Food2Feed,” said WHUR Listener Michelle Thomas.
The reasons for giving varied from person to person. But most agreed that hearing statistics like hunger impacts 1 in 10 persons in the DMV are alarming. WHUR has been hosting its holiday food drive for 42 years. It truly is a labor of love.
Food2Feed is part of WHUR’s overall “Season of Giving Campaign” in which the station provides new winter gear for youth in October and toys and gifts for youngsters in December. Additionally, the radio station will partner with Steve Harvey and Shabach Ministries to disseminate 100 turkeys and bags of food to needy families Monday, November 25th. “Serving our local community is what radio is all about,” added Plater.
Employers will be looking to fill everything from entry level to upper management positions. All attendees are asked to dress for an interview and bring their resumes.
The jof fair will have members from local to government agencies. The U.S. Census Bureau is the largest company looking to hire. Here’s the current employers and exhibitors:
U.S. Census Bureau
United States Capital Police
Woodforest National Bank
Francis O. Day Company, Inc
Manpower Staffing
Thompson Creek Window Company
Visiting Angels: Senior Care and Home Services
HCD International
World System Builder
Loving Heart Assisted Living
City of Seat Pleasant
The Training Source, Inc.
Employers will be looking to fill everything from entry level to upper management positions. All attendees are asked to dress for an interview and bring their resumes.
The Training Source, Inc. provides education, training and other services that help those who want to work get into the work force.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Past winners include The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton.
Martin is due to learn his punishment on December 10th.
Martin was found guilty of using city letterhead to approve the purchase of 50,000 thousand dollars worth of fireworks for the city. When in reality the items actually went to one of his friends. The purchase was for Class B and C fireworks which are only available for purchase by municipalities or anyone with a federal explosive license.
Martin is due to learn his punishment on December 10th.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Profile Noire is on exhibit through January 18th 2020 at the Charles Sumner School Museum
A powerful exhibit is underway celebrating black women and all their beauty. It’s called Profile Noire and the portrait series is on display now thru January 18that the Charles Sumner School. My guest is Rhonisha Franklin – Award-Winning Photographer, Speaker, Workshop Presenter
Profile Noire will exhibit until January 18th2020 at the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives. The portrait series features 100 Black women photographed over a one-year timespan. The women were asked during their photo sessions to answer questions about themselves. More information here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitterat @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Kanye West has been denied a permit to build an amphitheater on his ranch in Wyoming.
CODY, Wyo. (AP) — Kanye West has been denied a permit to build an amphitheater on his ranch in Wyoming.
The Park County Planning and Zoning Commission made the decision Tuesday after the rapper changed his plans for the structure near Cody.
West told county officials he now wants to include residential space.
The Cody Enterprise reports county officials also object to West already having done considerable work at the site. They told West’s representatives to stop work immediately.
Kane Morris with Point Architects in Cody apologized, saying West came forward as soon as he changed his mind and will stop the work.
West bought the ranch this year and plans to move the headquarters of his shoe and clothing company, Adidas Yeezy, to Cody.
Smollett’s attorneys filed a response Tuesday in federal court. It said the city should not be allowed to recover costs from Smollett because it accepted $10,000 from the actor “as payment in full in connection with the dismissal of the charges against him.”
CHICAGO (AP) — Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett is suing Chicago for malicious prosecution and says the city should not seek payment from him to cover the cost of the investigation into his claim that he was a victim of a racist and homophobic attack because it accepted his $10,000 bail “as payment in full.”
Chicago filed a lawsuit in April seeking reimbursement of more than $130,000 for overtime paid to police officers who were involved in investigating the alleged January attack.
Smollett’s attorneys filed a response Tuesday in federal court. It said the city should not be allowed to recover costs from Smollett because it accepted $10,000 from the actor “as payment in full in connection with the dismissal of the charges against him.”
They also filed a counterclaim, saying Smollett was the victim of a malicious prosecution that caused him humiliation and extreme distress.
Smollett told police that he was beaten Jan. 29 by two men who looped a noose around his neck and threw vile comments at him. Chicago police said the attack was staged, and Smollett was charged with making a false report.
Prosecutors dropped the case in March. Smollett maintained his innocence but agreed to let authorities keep the $10,000 bail.
Chicago’s Law Department issued a statement Wednesday saying the city will continue to pursue its efforts to recover the full cost of its investigation.
“The judge in this case has already ruled in our favor once and we fully expect to be successful in defeating these counterclaims,” Bill McCaffrey, Chicago law department spokesman, said in a statement.
Jawn Murray calls in to discuss Monique’s lawsuit against Netflix.
How do Millennials and older generations compare and contrast when it comes to handling money?
Trump directed Ukraine quid pro quo, key witness says
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ambassador Gordon Sondland declared to impeachment investigators Wednesday that President Donald Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani explicitly sought a “quid pro quo” with Ukraine, leveraging an Oval Office visit for political investigations of Democrats. But he also came to believe the trade involved much more.
Besides the U.S. offer of a coveted shoulder-to-shoulder photo, he said it was his understanding that the president was holding up nearly $400 million in military aid — badly need with an aggressive Russia on Ukraine’s border — in exchange for an announcement of the investigations.
Sondland conceded that Trump never told him directly the security assistance was blocked for the probes, a gap in his account that Republicans and the White House seized on as evidence the president did nothing wrong. But Sondland said his dealings with Giuliani, as well as administration officials, left him with the clear understanding of what was at stake.
“Was there a ‘quid pro quo?'” Sondland testified in opening remarks. “With regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.”
The rest, he said, was obvious: “Two plus two equals four.”
Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union and a major donor to Trump’s inauguration, was the most highly anticipated witness in the House’s impeachment inquiry into the 45th president of the United States.
In often-stunning testimony, he painted a picture of a Ukraine pressure campaign that was prompted by Trump himself, orchestrated by Giuliani and well-known to other senior officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Sondland said he raised his concerns about a quid pro quo for military aid with Vice President Mike Pence — a conversation a Pence adviser vigorously denied.
Pompeo also dismissed Sondland’s account.
However, Sondland said, “Everyone was in the loop. It was no secret.”
He said that he and Trump spoke directly about desired investigations, including a colorful cellphone call this summer overheard by others at a restaurant in Kyiv.
Trump himself insists daily that he did nothing wrong and the Democrats are just trying to drum him out of office.
As the hearing proceeded, he spoke to reporters outside the White House. Reading from notes written with a black marker, Trump quoted Sondland quoting Trump to say the president wanted nothing from the Ukrainians and did not seek a quid pro quo. He also distanced himself from his hand-picked ambassador, saying he didn’t know him “very well.”
Trump concluded, “It’s all over” for the impeachment proceedings.
The impeachment inquiry focuses significantly on allegations that Trump sought investigations of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son — and the discredited idea that Ukraine rather than Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election — in return for the badly needed military aid for Ukraine and the White House visit.
In Moscow on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was pleased that the “political battles” in Washington had overtaken the Russia allegations, which are supported by the U.S. intelligence agencies.
“Thank God,” Putin said, “no one is accusing us of interfering in the U.S. elections anymore. Now they’re accusing Ukraine.”
Sondland said that conditions on any potential Ukraine meeting at the White House started as “generic” but more items were “added to the menu including — Burisma and 2016 election meddling.” Burisma is the Ukrainian gas company where Biden’s son Hunter served on the board. And, he added, “the server,” the hacked Democratic computer system.
Sondland said he didn’t know at the time that Burisma was linked to the Bidens but today knows “exactly what it means.” He and other diplomats didn’t want to work with Giuliani. But he and the others understood that Giuliani “was expressing the desires of the president of the United States, and we knew that these investigations were important to the president.”
He also came to understand that the military aid hinged on the investigations, though Trump never told him so directly.
Sondland, a wealthy hotelier, has emerged as a central figure in an intense week in the probe that is featuring nine witnesses testifying over three days.
The envoy appeared prepared to fend off scrutiny over the way his testimony has shifted in closed-door settings, saying “my memory has not been perfect.” He said the State Department left him without access to emails, call records and other documents he needed in the inquiry. Republicans called his account “the trifecta of unreliability.”
Still, he did produce new emails and text messages to bolster his assertion that others in the administration were aware of the investigations he was pursuing for Trump from Ukraine.
Sondland insisted, twice, that he was “adamantly opposed to any suspension of aid” for Ukraine. “I followed the directions of the president.”
The son of immigrants who he said escaped Europe during the Holocaust, Sondland described himself as a “lifelong Republican” who has worked with officials from both parties, including Biden.
Dubbed one of the “three amigos” pursuing Ukraine policy, Sondland is disputing that they were running some “rogue “operation outside official U.S. policy. He produced emails and texts showing he, former special envoy Kurt Volker and Energy Secretary Rick Perry kept Pompeo and others apprised of their activity. One message from Volker said, “Spoke w Rudy per guidance from S.” He said, “S means the secretary of state.”
Democratic Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff of California said, “The knowledge of this scheme was far and wide.”
Schiff warned Pompeo and other administration officials who are refusing to turn over documents and testimony to the committee “they do so at their own peril.” He said obstruction of Congress was included in articles of impeachment during Watergate.
The top Republican on the committee, Devin Nunes of California, decried the inquiry and told the ambassador, “Mr. Sondland, you are here to be smeared.”
Nunes renewed his demand to hear from the still-anonymous whistleblower whose complaint about Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy led the House to open the impeachment inquiry.
Sondland’s hours of testimony didn’t appear to sway Trump’s GOP allies in the Senate, who would ultimately be jurors in an impeachment trial.
Mike Braun of Indiana said the president’s actions “may not be appropriate, but this is the question: Does it rise to the level of impeachment? And it’s a totally different issue and none of this has.”
“I’m pretty certain that’s what most of my cohorts in the Senate are thinking and I know that’s what Hoosiers are thinking — and most of middle America.”
Ex-Baltimore mayor charged in ‘Healthy Holly’ book scandal
BALTIMORE (AP) — The disgraced former mayor of Baltimore was charged Wednesday with fraud and tax evasion involving sales of her self-published children’s books to non-profits and foundations that did business with the government.
An 11-count federal indictment accuses Catherine Pugh of arranging fraudulent sales of her “Healthy Holly” books to schools, libraries and a medical system to enrich herself, promote her political career and fund her run for mayor.
“There are many victims in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Hur in announcing the indictment. “The victims are all of us, the taxpayers and the people of Baltimore, who expect and deserve integrity from their public officials.”
Federal authorities say Pugh and two city employees double-sold the books or failed to deliver them to institutions they were purchased for, including the Baltimore City Public Schools. Pugh then allegedly used the proceeds to fund straw donations to her mayoral campaign and to renovate a house.
Pugh, who has been in seclusion since early April, is expected to surrender to U.S. marshals ahead of her arraignment Thursday in Baltimore. She’ll appear before U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and tax evasion.
The grand jury indictment returned on Nov. 14 also charged two Pugh associates, Gary Brown, Jr., and Roslyn Wedington, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tax fraud.
Hur described the alleged crimes as a years-long “ruse” involving “funny documents” including faked federal tax forms and invoices, and companies that did no actual work.
If convicted, Pugh faces up to 20 years in prison on each wire fraud count, and five years for each tax evasion count. The federal government also will seek to seize a house owned by Pugh and $770,000 as part of any sentence.
Pugh’s attorney, Steven Silverman, declined comment, saying he’ll address the allegations in open court.
Pugh, 69, resigned in May as federal, state and local authorities probed whether she arranged bulk book sales to disguise political kickbacks that netted her hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years. The books were meant for schools and day care centers, but it’s unclear where tens of thousands of copies ended up.
Asked whether he views the buyers of the books as victims or co-conspirators, Hur said people can “rest assured that we are continuing to look at all the potential criminal charges that could be brought.”
Jennifer Boone, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, said the complex and demanding investigation, nearly three years in length, illustrates that “no one is above the law.”
“There is a growing intolerance by the American people of public corruption, an intolerance reflected in the willingness to come forward and report abuse of public office,” Boone said.
The first-term Democrat, who became mayor in late 2016, took a leave from the mayor’s office in early April. At the time, Silverman blamed poor health following a bout of pneumonia, and described Pugh as so fragile physically and mentally that she was unable to make “major decisions.” Days later, FBI and IRS agents raided her offices, homes and other locations, seizing money transfer receipts, a laptop, compact discs and a $100,000 check from the University of Maryland Medical System to Pugh’s “Healthy Holly” company.
The indictment accuses her, among other crimes, of claiming taxable income in 2016 of $31,020, with $4,168 tax due, “when in fact, Pugh’s taxable income was $322,365, with an income tax due of approximately $102,444.”
Pugh’s books included “Healthy Holly: Exercising is Fun” and “Healthy Holly: Fruits Come in Colors like the Rainbow.” Most were sold directly to nonprofits and foundations that did business — or attempted to do business — with the state or the city of Baltimore, according to the indictment.
Brown, an aide to Pugh in the state Senate and during her 2016 campaign, helped hawk the books, often calling himself Healthy Holly’s CEO even though he was never an employee. His lawyer, Barry Pollack, said Wednesday that “Mr. Brown regrets his role in this matter, has resolved the charges against him, and trusts that the court process will treat everyone involved fairly.”
Wedington, who worked with Brown and directed a job training center Pugh chaired, “unfortunately made some wrong decisions” to help pay her medical bills, said her lawyer, Brandon Mead.
Pugh had served in the state legislature since 2005. As a state senator, she sat on a committee that funded the University of Maryland Medical System, one of the state’s largest private employers. She also sat on the hospital network’s board sat starting in 2001, and until the scandal erupted in March, it was her biggest book customer.
The medical system paid Pugh $500,000 for 100,000 copies, but there was no contract, and the system described some of the purchases as “grants” in federal filings. She returned her most recent $100,000 payment and described the deal as a “regrettable mistake” before retreating from public view.
Health care provider Kaiser Permanente also disclosed that it paid Pugh’s Healthy Holly LLC about $114,000 between 2015 and 2018 for roughly 20,000 copies. She oversaw Baltimore’s spending board in 2017, when the city awarded a $48 million contract to the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States Inc.
A longtime city council member, Bernard “Jack” Young, took over as mayor after Pugh resigned. He inherited a city with failing schools, a thriving illegal drug market and one of the nation’s highest rates of violent crime.
Jada Pinkett Smith revealed to People.com that T.I and his wife would be joining her and said, “They came on today and he addresses the controversy that is happening right now in regards to his daughter — and me and Tiny also talk about how they survived their challenges in their marriage.” The Red Table Talk has become a popular safe zone to make amends and open up.
Last week, the rapper, T.I., made headlines across the internet for his comments regarding his daughter, Deyjah Harris.
T.I. made a guest appearance on the “Ladies Like Us” podcast, where he admits to attending the gynecologist with his daughter to make sure she’s still a virgin. His exact words were “to check her hymen.” The topic of virginity and hymen quickly began to trend on multiple social platforms.
According to E! Network, “T.I.’s daughter would later unfollow the rapper on social media. She also subtly responded to the headlines by liking a series of tweets that called her father’s actions ‘disgusting,’ ‘possessive’ and ‘controlling.’”
Jada Pinkett Smith revealed to People.com that T.I and his wife would be joining her and said, “They came on today and he addresses the controversy that is happening right now in regards to his daughter — and me and Tiny also talk about how they survived their challenges in their marriage.” The Red Table Talk has become a popular safe zone to make amends and open up.
The digital talk show airs Mondays on Facebook Watch.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — To LeBron James, triple-doubles are not a goal.
They are only a side effect of the consistent, brilliant all-around play he has been dishing out for 17 NBA seasons, with no slowdown in sight.
Triple-doubles also don’t mean much to LeBron without wins attached to them, so James was pleased when his latest statistical superlative occurred during yet another successful night for the surging Los Angeles Lakers.
James became the first player in NBA history to record a triple-double against every team in the league, and Anthony Davis scored 34 points during the Lakers’ fifth straight victory, 112-107 over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
James finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to post a triple-double against his 30th opponent for the NBA-leading Lakers, who have won 12 of 13 after a perfect four-game homestand. James was more surprised than thrilled by his latest statistical achievement, particularly while a different statistic glared at him from the box score.
“Coach (Frank) Vogel came in here and said, ‘Congratulations,’ and I thought he was joking about my seven turnovers,” James said. “I really don’t know what to think about it. I just think it’s a pretty cool stat to know, and I’m glad it happened in a win.”
James has five triple-doubles in the Lakers’ last 10 games, getting four in victories. There’s a reason for this spree: Although James has constantly filled the stat sheet since he joined the league in 2003, he is leading the NBA this season with 11.1 assists per game, nearly four more than his career average. He has at least 10 assists in six consecutive games, the longest streak of his career.
Vogel has put the ball in James’ hands constantly on offense, and his playmaking acumen has grown along with his chemistry with Davis, as they demonstrated repeatedly against the Thunder. Seven of LeBron’s assists came on baskets by Davis.
“Amazing,” Davis said. “To be able to do that against every team is something special. I mean, (it’s) trippy that he’s been playing for a long time, so it was a matter of time before it happened, but just a tribute to all his hard work.”
James is fifth in NBA history with 86 triple-doubles, but the four players in front of him — Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, Lakers great Magic Johnson and Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd — hadn’t done it against 30 teams. Kidd, who did it against 28 teams, has served as a role model for James’ efforts as a tall point guard.
“He’s just playing terrific basketball,” Vogel said. “For him to be doing what he’s doing in his 17th year is just nothing short of remarkable. There’s no reason to believe he can’t sustain that for the rest of the season and help us make a real strong playoff push.”
Dennis Schröder scored 20 of his season-high 31 points in a phenomenal first half for the Thunder, who have lost four of five despite two solid performances at Staples Center. Danilo Gallinari added 25 points in his former home arena, and Nerlens Noel had 15.
“That’s why (James) is considered probably the best of all time, but I think we did a great job on him,” Schröder said. “They obviously hit some tough shots.”
One night after the Thunder barely missed an upset win over the Clippers thanks to a last-minute 3-pointer by former star Paul George, Oklahoma City couldn’t quite catch up to the powerful Lakers despite keeping the game close all night.
“There’s a lot of things we did well in there,” Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan said. “But, you know, we came up short in all these games. I think the one sign you can point to is both teams, the Clippers and the Lakers, are really, really good teams, so we’re competing well at a high level. But we’ve just got to do more in order to be able to finish and close out games.”
The Thunder won’t have to wait long for a rematch: These teams meet again in Oklahoma City in three days.
TIP-INS
Thunder: F Hamidou Diallo missed his third straight game with a left knee sprain. … Schröder got a technical foul in the third quarter for confronting Davis at the free throw line after Davis dunked and was fouled.
Lakers: Kyle Kuzma left the court in the second quarter with an eye abrasion after teenager Darius Bazley hit him in the right side of his face with an elbow on a drive. Kuzma returned to the bench in the second half, but with obvious damage above his eye. He didn’t return to the game, although Vogel said he was available if necessary. The Lakers plan to re-evaluate him within the next 24 hours.
CLOSEOUT SEQUENCE
James’ 3-pointer put the Lakers up 109-98 with 3:08 to play, but the Thunder scored nine straight points to cut the Lakers’ lead to two on Gallinari’s free throws with 1:24 left.
After Danny Green got a key offensive rebound for the Lakers, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope drilled a 3-pointer with 55 seconds left. James missed two free throws moments later to keep the Thunder in it, but Oklahoma City couldn’t score again.
POINT GUARDS BEHAVE
Chris Paul had four points, 10 assists and five rebounds for the Thunder, and he didn’t appear to clash with Rajon Rondo, his opponent in a fight early last season while he was with the Rockets. Rondo had eight points and a season-high 10 assists.
UP NEXT
Thunder: Host the Lakers on Friday.
Lakers: Visit the Thunder on Friday.
The Grammy’s are set to premiere on CBS on January 26, 2020.
The late rapper, Nipsey Hussle, has been nominated for three posthumous Grammy awards.
Hussle scored three nominations for best rap performance and best rap song for his song “Racks in the Middle” and best rap/sung performance for “Higher Up” featuring DJ Khaled and John Legend, according to Grammy.com.
Hussle was fatally shot in the parking lot of his clothing store, “The Marathon Clothing” earlier this year. His longtime partner, Lauren London, an actress known for her role in the movie “ATL,” has promised to always continue his legacy.
CNN reports that, “Hussle was previously nominated for a Grammy in 2019 for best rap album for his debut studio album, “Victory Lap.” Hussle will be up against rappers such as Cardi B, Offset, and J.Cole.
The Grammy’s are set to premiere on CBS on January 26, 2020.
“Coach John” and his team were featured on “Bring It” several times. Connor currently has two other cases pending that involve sexual partners.
A Memphis, Tennesse dance coach pleads guilty to sex charges after exposing his dance student to HIV.
John Conner III, also known as “Coach John,” on Lifetime’s hit show ‘Bring It’ began romantic relations with a young man after meeting on social media in 2015.
According to Gossiponthis.com, “The teen eventually joined Conner’s dance team, the Infamous Dancerettes, but it wasn’t until several months after their first sexual encounter that the teen found out from another source that Conner was HIV positive.”
The young man opened up to his parents about what was happening. Eventually, Conner was charged with criminal exposure to HIV, statutory rape by an authority figure and solicitation of a minor.
Conner was set to start trial this week, but the The NY Daily News reports that he “reversed his decision and pleaded guilty to felony charges of criminal exposure to HIV, statutory rape by an authority figure and solicitation of a minor. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 20.”
“Coach John” and his team were featured on “Bring It” several times. Connor currently has two other cases pending that involve sexual partners.
“Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus” will also include guest appearances from Jennifer Lopez, Dwayne Johnson, Amy Schumer, Tina Fey, Tracee Ellis Ross and Kate Hudson.
NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey’s going on tour, and she’s bringing a rock-star lineup with her, including former first lady Michelle Obama and Grammy- and Oscar-winner Lady Gaga.
Live Nation announced Wednesday that Winfrey’s wellness arena tour with WW (Weight Watchers Reimagined) — dubbed “Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus” — will also include guest appearances from Jennifer Lopez, Dwayne Johnson, Amy Schumer, Tina Fey, Tracee Ellis Ross and Kate Hudson.
On the tour, Winfrey will hold one-on-one conversations with the superstars, first with Gaga on January 4, 2020, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The nine-city tour will also visit St. Paul, Minnesota (Fey); Charlotte, North Carolina (Schumer); Atlanta (Johnson); Brooklyn, New York (Obama); Dallas (Ellis Ross); San Francisco (Hudson); and Los Angeles (Lopez). Winfrey will wrap the tour on March 7 in Denver with BFF Gayle King.
In addition to the celebrity interviews, each full-day wellness event will include Winfrey discussing her own wellness journey; a dance exercise from choreographer Julianne Hough; talks from inspirational guest speakers; a pre-show dance party; a WW-customized box lunch; and interactive concourse activations.
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Online:
A list of nominees in the top categories at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards, announced Wednesday by The Recording Academy.
A list of nominees in the top categories at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards, announced Wednesday by The Recording Academy.
— Album of the year: “I,I,” Bon Iver; “Norman (Expletive) Rockwell!,” Lana Del Rey; “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” Billie Eilish; “Thank U, Next,” Ariana Grande; “I Used to Know Her,” H.E.R.; “7,” Lil Nas X; “Cuz I Love You (Deluxe),” Lizzo; “Father of the Bride,” Vampire Weekend.
— Record of the year: “Hey, Ma,” Bon Iver; “Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish; “7 Rings,” Ariana Grande; “Hard Place,” H.E.R.; “Talk,” Khalid; “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus; “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo; “Sunflower,” Post Malone and Swae Lee.
— Song of the year (songwriter’s award): “Always Remember Us This Way,” Lady Gaga, Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey and Lori McKenna; “Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell; “Bring My Flowers Now,” Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth; “Hard Place,” H.E.R., Rodney Jerkins, Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth and D. Arcelious Harris; “Lover,” Taylor Swift; “Norman (Expletive) Rockwell,” Lana Del Rey and Jack Antonoff; “Someone You Loved,” Lewis Capaldi, Tom Barnes, Pere Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn and Sam Roman; “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo, Ricky Reed, Tele and Jesse Saint John.
— Best new artist: Black Pumas; Billie Eilish; Lil Nas X; Lizzo; Maggie Rogers; Rosalía; Tank and the Bangas; Yola.
— Best pop solo performance: “Spirit,” Beyoncé; “Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish; “7 Rings,” Ariana Grande; “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo; “You Need to Calm Down,” Taylor Swift.
— Best pop duo/group performance: “Boyfriend,” Ariana Grande and Social House; “Sucker,” Jonas Brothers; “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus; “Sunflower,” Post Malone and Swae Lee; “Senorita,” Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello.
— Best pop vocal album: “The Lion King: The Gift,” Beyoncé; “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” Billie Eilish; “Thank U, Next,” Ariana Grande; “No. 6 Collaborations Project,” Ed Sheeran; “Lover,” Taylor Swift.
— Best traditional pop vocal album: “Si,” Andrea Bocelli; “Love (Deluxe Edition),” Michael Bublé; “Look Now,” Elvis Costello & The Imposters; “A Legendary Christmas,” John Legend; “Walls,” Barbra Streisand.
— Best dance/electronic album: “LP5,” Apparat; “No Geography,” The Chemical Brothers; “Hi This Is Flume (Mixtape),” Flume; “Solace,” Rüfüs Du Sol; “Weather,” Tycho.
— Best rock album: “Amo,” Bring Me the Horizon,” “Social Cues,” Cage the Elephant; “In the End,” The Cranberries; “Trauma,” I Prevail; “Feral Roots,” Rival Sons.
— Best alternative music album: “U.F.O.F.,” Big Thief; “Assume Form,” James Blake; “I,I,” Bon Iver; “Father of the Bride,” Vampire Weekend; “Anima,” Thom Yorke.
— Best urban contemporary album: “Apollo XXI,” Steve Lacy; “Cuz I Love You (Deluxe Edition),” Lizzo; “Overload,” Georgia Anne Muldrow; “Saturn,” NAO; “Being Human In Public,” Jessie Reyez.
— Best R&B album: “1123,” BJ the Chicago Kid; “Painted,” Lucky Daye; “Ella Mai,” Ella Mai; “Paul,” PJ Morton; “Ventura,” Anderson .Paak.
— Best rap album: “Revenge of the Dreamers III,” Various artists; “Championships,” Meek Mill; “I Am I Was,” 21 Savage; “Igor,” Tyler, The Creator; “The Lost Boy,” YBN Cordae.
— Best country album: “Desperate Man,” Eric Church; “Stronger Than the Truth,” Reba McEntire; “Interstate Gospel,” Pistol Annies; “Center Point Road,” Thomas Rhett; “While I’m Livin’,” Tanya Tucker.
— Best jazz vocal album: “Thirsty Ghost,” Sara Gazarek; “Love & Liberation,” Jazzmeia Horn; “Alone Together,” Catherine Russell; “12 Little Spells,” Esperanza Spalding; “Screenplay,” The Tierney Sutton Band.
— Best jazz instrumental album: “In the Key of the Universe,” Joey DeFrancesco; “The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul,” Branford Marsalis Quartet; “Christian McBride’s New Jawn,” Christian McBride; “Finding Gabriel,” Brad Mehldau; “Come What May,” Joshua Redman Quartet.
— Best gospel album: “Long Live Love,” Kirk Franklin; “Goshen,” Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers; “Tunnel Vision,” Gene Moore; “Settle Here,” William Murphy; “Something’s Happening! A Christmas Album,” CeCe Winans.
— Best Latin pop album: “Vida,” Luis Fonsi; “11:11,” Maluma; “Montaner,” Ricardo Montaner; “#Eldisco,” Alejandro Sanz; “Fantasia,” Sebastian Yatra
— Best Latin rock, urban or alternative album: “X 100PRE,” Bad Bunny; “Oasis,” J Balvin and Bad Bunny; “Indestructible,” Flor De Toloache; “Almadura,” iLe; “El Mal Querer,” Rosalía.
— Best comedy album: “Quality Time,” Jim Gaffigan; “Relatable,” Ellen DeGeneres; “Right Now,” Aziz Ansari; “Son of Patricia,” Trevor Noah; “Sticks & Stones,” Dave Chappelle.
— Best compilation soundtrack for visual media: “The Lion King: The Songs”; “Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”; “Rocketman”; “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”; “A Star Is Born.”
— Producer of the year, non-classical: Jack Antonoff; Dan Auerbach; John Hill; Finneas; Ricky Reed.
— Best music video: “We’ve Got to Try,” The Chemical Brothers; “This Land,” Gary Clark Jr. “Cellophane,” FKA twigs; “Old Town Road (Official Movie),” Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus; “Glad He’s Gone,” Tove Lo.
— Best music film: “Homecoming,” Beyoncé; “Remember My Name,” David Crosby; “Birth of the Cool,” Miles Davis; “Shangri-La,” Various artists; “Anima,” Thom Yorke.
Racine alleges DoorDash pocketed the tips and used it to offset what they paid workers. In March, the AG’s office launched an investigation into the matter. He is seeking to recover millions of dollars in tips from them to return to workers.
Racine alleges DoorDash pocketed the tips and used it to offset what they paid workers. In March, the AG’s office launched an investigation into the matter. He is seeking to recover millions of dollars in tips from them to return to workers. The AG calls the company’s model for tips is “deceptive” as customers didn’t have a clear understanding of where their money was going.
DoorDash has responded by saying the accusations have no factual basis and that they have been working with a third-party vendor to make sure all workers get their customer tips.
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Pugh who is 69-years-old faces up to 175 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors have charged Pugh with fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy. A grand jury decision on the matter was released today. The indictment claims she defrauded local businesses and nonprofits groups with $800,000 dollars in sales of her children’s book series “Healthy Holly”. Pugh self-published and promoted the sale of it while in office and on the campaign trail. In addition, the grand jury said she double sold her book and used the profits to purchase a home, donations to her campaign and pay down debt. Prosecutors allege she shortened the government by some $100,000 dollars.
Pugh who is 69-years-old faces up to 175 years in prison.
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The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System is hosting an Authors Expo
Calling all local Authors. The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System is hosting a local Authors Expo and they want you in the house. My guest is Ryiesha Simms – Librarian for Prince George’s County Memorial Library System
Prince George’s County Memorial Library System will be hosting a local Authors Expo on April 25th2020 at the Bowie Branch Library. But they want authors to begin submitting applications now to participate in the expo. Mail two copies of each of your books you plan to promote at the event for review by the selection committee to: Prince George’s County Memorial Library System ATTN: Local Author Expo 9601 Capital Lane – Largo, MD 20774.
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
What does the contract dispute between COMCAST and STARZ mean for African-American entertainment on cable TV?
“Director Marielle Heller frames “ A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood ” as if it were an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”.
According to the Associated Press (AP) “Director Marielle Heller frames “ A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood ” as if it were an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” with miniature sets of cars and bridges to illustrate New York and Pittsburgh. Mr. Rogers, played with clear-eyed purpose by Tom Hanks “….Read full article here https://apnews.com/0521c43d461f44acb03841268048cc2e
DC Board Considers Recall Petition
(Washington, DC) — A D.C. Council committee will hold another hearing today on its investigation into Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans. The committee meeting comes after a petition was received by the D.C. Board of Elections seeking to recall Evans from office. The Ad Hoc Committee is expected to hear from investigators looking into alleged ethical lapses by Evans over the past five years. The Board of Elections has 30 days to certify the petition by validating at least 10-percent of the signatures. The Committee to Hold Jack Evans Accountable is scheduled to meet at 12:30 this afternoon at the Wilson Building.
“I think it’s more of a storytelling show. …
NEW YORK (AP) — “Red Table Talk” garnered an Emmy nomination for best talk show, but Jada Pinkett Smith doesn’t see it through that lens.
“I think it’s more of a storytelling show. … It’s just exchanging of stories and life lessons learned from those stories,” said Pinkett Smith in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
Hip Hop powerhouse, Jay-Z held an inaugural gala to support his Shawn Carter Foundation. The event raised millions and brought celebrities together to support the cause.
Jay-Z recently held his inaugural gala to support his namesake Shawn Carter Foundation. The organization was started in 2003 by Jay-Z and his mother, Gloria Carter and serves to provide low income students with scholarships, college prep, study abroad and professional development.
This year the organization raised $6 million dollars to support future scholars. Many previous winners come from single parent households and have an income of less than $40,000.
The event was packed with celebrities who supported cause including Jay-Z’s wife, Beyonce, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, Swizz Beatz, Fabolous and Tyler Perry. The event was hosted by Robin Roberts and included a performance from Alicia Keys.
Students 25 years old or younger from any place in the nation can apply to the scholarship. The minimum GPA requirement is 2.0 and student can be enrolled in a 2 year school, 4 year school, high school senior or have obtained their GED.
Even if students do not have a high GPA they are encouraged to apply as many factors are considered in the selection process, including the quality of the essay, socioeconomic factors, community service and leadership.
The scholarship application opens on April 1st and closes April 30th.
Our Food2Feed Partners discuss the importance of helping the hungry and food insecure in the DMV.
House lawyer says committee investigating whether Trump lied
Two of the three judges who heard arguments at the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit — Judith Rogers, a Clinton appointee, and Thomas Griffith, an appointee of George W. Bush — seemed prepared to order at least some of the material sought by the House to be turned over.
House General Counsel Douglas Letter told the judges that the need for the still-secret material redacted from the Mueller report is “immense” because it will help House members answer the question, “Did the president lie? Was the president not truthful in his responses to the Mueller investigation?” in his written responses to the probe.
The House Judiciary Committee is seeking grand jury testimony and other details redacted from the public version of Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Last month a judge ordered the Justice Department to turn over the redacted material, but the Trump administration appealed. Whatever the appeals panel decides, the case is likely headed to the Supreme Court.
Griffith suggested that the House had a particular need for the material since the Mueller report ultimately left it to Congress to decide whether Trump had obstructed the Mueller probe.
But a third judge, Trump appointee Neomi Rao, seemed more sympathetic to the Justice Department’s arguments against releasing the information. She questioned whether the courts should get involved in any way in a dispute over impeachment between the legislative and executive branches.
Mailing free home HIV tests helps detect more infections
Overall, 25 infections were detected in the self-testing group, versus 11 in the other group. Even more infections — 34 — were detected among friends of those who shared tests.
Over 70% of participants who learned of positive results sought treatment.
The study was published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Other studies have tested the benefits of home HIV tests but the current one is the first internet-based effort with a mail-order advantage, the researchers said.
“Self-testing is an important option for some people and in some situations, it saves time, offers privacy, and reaches people who may not be able to or willing to access existing testing services,” said Robin MacGowan, the lead author and a researcher at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC paid for, designed and conducted the study.
A little over 1 million Americans are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. More than two-thirds of newly diagnosed people are men who have sex with men, like those in the study, and 1 in 6 of these men is unaware of his infection.
The CDC launched the study in 2015, three years after the U.S. approved the OraQuick saliva test, the first and still only over-the-counter HIV test for home use. The study used the OraQuick saliva test plus a finger stick blood test, which was sent to a lab. OraQuick tests are sold in many pharmacies for about $35 to $50 per kit.
Men received no advice on how often to test; the average was about five tests during the yearlong study in the home-test group versus about two in the others. Most self-testers reported testing three times or more, compared with only 22% of the others.
They could receive up to $90 for participating, if they reported test results and completed several surveys.
Several cities and states have also offered free self-testing HIV kits, including Arizona, Los Angeles, New York and New York City.
Since Arizona’s program began last year, more than 2,800 kits have been distributed by mail or at pharmacies with vouchers, said Glen Spencer, head of a nonprofit foundation that runs the program for the state health department.
“It’s too early to tell the overall effect that the program has had on HIV rates, but it has identified at least six positive individuals and they have been successfully linked into care,” Spencer said. Participants have indicated on surveys “that they prefer the convenience of at-home testing and the avoidance of any stigma associated with in-person testing.”
A journal editorial notes that since 2013, the U.S. rate of new HIV diagnoses has stabilized, not decreased. Self-testing, along with HIV prevention medication designed for high-risk people, may help “accelerate the end of the epidemic,” the editorial says.
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An anonymous source claimes that Jay-Z was disappointed in Kaepernick for choosing to turn his first NFL workout since 2016 into a publicity moment.
Colin Kaepernick’s last-minute decision to change locations for his Saturday workout disappointed one of his biggest supporter’s, rapper Jay-Z.
Kaepernick’s NFL workout was initially scheduled to take place at the Falcon’s practice facility, but Kaepernick unexpectedly changed the location to Charles R. Drew High School in Riverdale, Ga. Kaepernick requested to shoot a Nike ad as a part of Saturday’s workout, featuring the quarterback and mentioning all the NFL teams present at the workout. The NFL agreed. However, change of location led the turnout for this event to be minimized.
Jay-Z has been active and vocal about his support for Kaepernick since 2016. However, following the NFL workout, a source claims that Jay-Z was “disappointed with Colin’s actions and believes he turned a legitimate workout into a publicity stunt.”
Kaepernick has given no response to the alleged disappointment from Jay-Z. On Tuesday following the workout, Kaepernick tweeted “I’ve been in shape and ready for this for 3 years, can’t wait to see the head coaches and GMs on Saturday.”
The 2019 BET Soul Train Awards performances and winners were aired last Saturday, and featured an array of artists from Chris Brown to Kirk Franklin.
The 2019 BET Soul Train Awards were aired last Saturday night.
The stage was graced by performances from iconic artists, such as Wale, Jeremih, Stokley, K. Michelle and many more.
The nominees and winners from the 2019 BET Soul Train Awards were as follows:
If you missed the performances, no worries! The encore will be aired on BET tonight at 7:30/6:30c.
This afternoons event will be held at Politics and Proses at 5015 Connecticut Avenue in Northwest at 6 p.m. Ticket for this highly anticipated event sold out quickly.
Over the weekend word spread quickly about her best selling book “Becomings”. It is in celebration of the books one year anniversary of the date it was released.
This afternoons event will be held at Politics and Proses at 5015 Connecticut Avenue in Northwest at 6 p.m. Ticket for this highly anticipated event sold out quickly.
For those who were lucky enough to get tickets it’s recommended you take public transportation to the event. All ticket hold purchasers were required to buy her book. The book has broke book sales worldwide after Oprah’s Book Club Selection named it in 2018.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
The WHUR 2019 Food2Feed 12-hour Radiothon is tomorrow starting at 6am.
We are one day away DMV from WHUR’s Annual Food2Feed and we need your help to collect money and non-perishable food to feed needy families across the region just in time for Thanksgiving. I’m with my friend and co-worker, Renee Nash – News and Public Affairs Director for WHUR
Food2Feed 12-hour Radiothon is tomorrow, November 19thfrom 6am to 6pm. This year we are crisscrossing the DMV to take non-perishable and monetary donations. More information go to: www.whur.com.
Join Renee Nash and myself tomorrow morning at The Wilson Building, located at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave from 6am-10am as we will taking your donations. Come by and drop off non-perishable food items or cash donations. Let’s combat hunger together. See you tomorrow morning.
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitterat @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuuZMg6NVeA
Hezekiah Walker is Pastor of Love Fellowship Tabernacle in Brooklyn, New York. He is affectionately known as the “Hip-Hop Pastor” because of the high-profile secular hip-hop artists attending his church.
Billboard ranked the following Gospel songs as the top 5 for the decade:
“Grace” is the first full musical project to be selected in the 44-year history of the Humana Festival, an internationally recognized platform for launching new American works and emerging playwrights and creatives. In addition, Nolan’s theatrical concert production “Stirring The Waters Across America” will tour beginning in February 2020.
Nolan Williams is a musicologist, theologian, American songwriter, and producer whose professional career defies conventional boundaries. Best known for his work as Chief Music Editor of the bestselling African American Heritage Hymnal—a critically acclaimed compendium of music, with sales now surpassing 300,000 books worldwide. Nolan Williams studied at Howard University and Oberlin College and is C.E.O. of NEWorks Productions and co-chair of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Community Advisory Board. Visit neworksproductions.com for more information.
Our men’s panel discusses what women say and how those things can be irritating.
Roger Stone guilty of witness tampering, lying to Congress
Stone has denied wrongdoing and consistently criticized the case against him as politically motivated. He did not take the stand during the trial and his lawyers did not call any witnesses in his defense.
Stone, 67, showed no visible reaction as the verdict was read aloud, count by count. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 6. He could face up to 20 years. Another former Trump campaign aide, Michael Caputo, was removed by the courtroom by security officers after he turned his back on the jury after the verdict was read.
Stone smirked at reporters as he left the courtroom, holding hands with his wife. As he walked out of the courthouse, Stone was asked if he had any comment on the verdict and replied: “none whatsoever” before he hopped into a waiting SUV with his wife.
Trump tweeted minutes after the verdict, calling the conviction “a double standard like never seen before in the history of our Country,” because his frequent nemeses, including Hillary Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey and “including even Mueller himself,” have not been convicted. “Didn’t they lie?”
In a trial that lasted about a week, witnesses highlighted how Trump campaign associates were eager to gather information about emails the U.S. says were hacked by Russia and then provided to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.
Steve Bannon, who served as the campaign’s chief executive, testified during the trial the trial that Stone had boasted about his ties to WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange, alerting them to pending new batches of damaging emails. Campaign officials saw Stone as the “access point” to WikiLeaks, he said.
After the verdict was read, prosecutors asked for Stone to be jailed as he awaits sentencing, arguing that he may have violated a judge’s order that prohibits him from communicating with the media about his case. But Judge Amy Berman Jackson rejected that request and said Stone will be subject to same conditions he faced following his arrest, including the gag order.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors used Stone’s own text messages and emails — some of which appeared to contradict his congressional testimony — to lay out their case that he lied to Congress and threatened a witness. Stone did not testify, and his lawyers called no witnesses in his defense.
On Tuesday, a top Trump campaign official, Rick Gates, who was a key cooperator in the Mueller probe, testified that that Stone tried to contact Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, to “debrief” him about developments on the hacked emails.
Prosecutors alleged Stone lied to Congress about his conversations about WikiLeaks with New York radio host and comedian Randy Credico — who scored an interview with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2016, when he was avoiding prosecution by sheltering in the Ecuadoran embassy in London — and conservative writer and conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi.
During the 2016 campaign, Stone had mentioned in interviews and public appearances that he was in contact with Assange through a trusted intermediary and hinted at inside knowledge of WikiLeaks’ plans. But he started pressing Credico to broker a contact, and Credico testified that he told Stone to work through his own intermediary.
Earlier testimony revealed that Stone, while appearing before the House Intelligence Committee, named Credico as his intermediary to Assange and pressured Credico not to contradict him.
After Credico was contacted by Congress, he reached out to Stone, who told him he should “stonewall it” and “plead the fifth,” he testified. Credico also testified during Stone’s trial that Stone repeatedly told him to “do a ‘Frank Pentangeli,’” a reference to a character in “The Godfather: Part II” who lies before Congress.
Prosecutors said Stone also had threatened Credico’s therapy dog, Bianca, saying he was “going to take that dog away from you.”
Prince of Cats is originally a 2012 graphic novel written and illustrated by Ron Wimberly. The novel tells the Shakesperian tragedy set in Brooklyn’s vibrant 80’s hip hop scene.
Filmmaker Spike Lee is set to direct the 1980’s hip-hop adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, Prince of Cats. Lee will also rewrite the script with the author and Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, a former editor and chief of The Source magazine, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Prince of Cats is originally a 2012 graphic novel written and illustrated by Ron Wimberly. The novel tells the Shakesperian tragedy set in Brooklyn’s vibrant 80’s hip hop scene. The story is told through the eyes of Tybalt, Juliet’s hot-head cousin. Tybalt and the rest of the capulets navigate the underground sword dueling scene against their enemies, the Montagues, while participating in the thriving music scene.
When the film was originally announced, Lakeith Stanfield was set to star as Tybalt, but has since pulled out, according to Vibe. No other casting has been announced since then.
Myles Garrett, helmet a ‘weapon,’ banned for rest of season
Garrett’s violent outburst in the final seconds of Thursday’s nationally televised game against the Steelers landed him the longest suspension for a single on-field infraction in league history. Tennessee’s Albert Haynesworth was suspended five games in 2006.
The league’s No. 1 overall pick in 2017 was also fined an undisclosed amount and Garrett must meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office before his reinstatement is considered.
After wrestling Rudolph to the ground as the Browns were closing out a rare win over their rivals, Garrett ripped off the quarterback’s helmet and clobbered him on top of the head, triggering a benches-clearing brawl that capped another physical game between the AFC North teams.
“I made a terrible mistake,” Garrett said in a statement Friday. “I lost my cool and what I did was selfish and unacceptable. I know that we are all responsible for our actions and I can only prove my true character through my actions moving forward. I want to apologize to Mason Rudolph, my teammates, our entire organization, our fans and to the NFL. I know I have to be accountable for what happened, learn from my mistake and I fully intend to do so.”
Rudolph, who suffered a concussion earlier this season, avoided serious injury and said after the game the defensive star’s attack was “cowardly and bush league.” That sentiment was shared across the league and sports world.
The league said Garrett “violated unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct rules, as well as fighting and removing an opponent’s helmet and using it as a weapon.”
Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, who was doing all he could to separate Garrett and Rudolph, was suspended three games without pay and also fined for punching and kicking Garrett. Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was suspended for one game. He shoved Rudolph to the ground from behind during the melee.
The suspended players have three business days to appeal their penalties.
The Steelers and Browns were also fined $250,000 each.
“There is no place for that in football and that is not reflective of the core values we strive for as an organization,” Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “We sincerely apologize to Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Myles Garrett has been a good teammate and member of our organization and community for the last three years but his actions last night were completely unacceptable. We understand the consequences from the league for his actions.”
Added Steelers President Art Rooney II: “We must always maintain composure, no matter what happens. After a hard-fought game between two rivals, it is a shame the game ended that way.”
Rudolph’s agent, Tim Younger, said he’ll explore legal action against Garrett. Cleveland police say no police report or charges have been filed.
“There are many risks an NFL QB assumes with every snap taken on the field. Being hit on your uncovered head by a helmet being swung by a 275 lb DE is not one of them,” Younger said on Twitter. “Tonight could have had a catastrophic ending. The matter will be reviewed thoroughly.”
Garrett’s disturbing actions will cost the Browns (4-6), who have moved back into the playoff race but must now play the rest of this season without their best defensive player.
There were two other nasty hits in the 135th game between Pittsburgh and Cleveland with Browns free safety Damarious Randall delivering a helmet-to-helmet shot on Steelers rookie receiver Diontae Johnson, who left with a concussion. Randall was ejected for the hit in the third quarter.
The Browns and Steelers play again in Pittsburgh on Dec. 1.
Although Garrett has been called for late hits on quarterback this season, this sort of attack was seemingly out of character for someone who is a self-proclaimed pacifist and poet. Last month, he didn’t retaliate after a fan wanting a photograph punched him in the face while stopped in traffic downtown.
The loss of Garrett is a devastating blow to Cleveland’s defense. He’s one of the league’s best rushers and the Browns are already missing end Olivier Vernon, who missed his second game Thursday with a knee injury.
The Browns have been one of the league’s most penalized under first-year coach Freddie Kitchens. The Garrett episode came just a few hours after the team released troubled wide receiver Antonio Callaway, who was suspended Friday by the league for another violation of the substance abuse policy.
Further, the team recently released safety Jermaine Whitehead after he posted threatening messages on Twitter following a loss. And the Browns were criticized for signing running back Kareem Hunt, who was suspended for the first eight games this season for two physical off-field altercations when he was with Kansas City.
“That is not who we want to be at the end of the game,” Kitchens said about Garrett. “That is not who Myles wants to be. That is not who we are going to be. You have to be able to maintain your composure in times like that and under no circumstances do we want anything to do with anything like that. I am embarrassed. Myles is embarrassed. It is not good. He understands what he did, he understands it is totally unacceptable, and we have to get through it.”
“Our resolution calls for a bold transformation of the status quo – devoted to dismantling injustices so that the system is smaller, safer, less punitive, and more humane.”
Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley introduced a criminal justice reform resolution yesterday. The People’s Justice Guarantee focuses on working within the criminal justice system to decrease the number of people that are incarcerated as well as transform the system to make it less discriminatory against marginalized communities.
“The People’s Justice Guarantee is the product of a symbiotic partnership with over 20 grassroots organizations and people impacted by the discriminatory policies of our legal system,” said Rep. Pressley in statement. “Our resolution calls for a bold transformation of the status quo – devoted to dismantling injustices so that the system is smaller, safer, less punitive, and more humane.”
“This country’s criminal INjustice system is racist, xenophobic, rogue & fundamentally flawed beyond reform.” she poster on Twitter.
Today, we are calling for a radical transformation rooted in decarceration: The People’s #JusticeGuarantee ➡️ https://t.co/67rSvoSmt5 pic.twitter.com/MxdKetnOTo
— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) November 14, 2019
The resolution outline facts that display the reality of the criminal justice system in America. “America accounts for 4% of the world’s population3 , but 22% of the world’s prisoners,” and “Black and brown Americans make up 31% of America’s population but 56% of the incarcerated population.”
The resolution looks to systematically implement criminal justice reform by:
The Congresswoman herself is familiar with the lasting effects of having a family member in the system. Growing up, he father was in and out of prison, while her mother was a community organizer, according to her bio.
“There’s absolutely no reason to try to redo it,” said Fox. “It’s been done, and we did it so well, that people are absolutely going to compare it to that and I think that’s her taking on a tremendous chore because that film has become a cult classic and some things are just better left [alone].”
The 1996 classic Set It Off is set to be revived soon by Issa Rae who will produce and star in the movie. However original cast member, Vivica A. Fox, says she’s not here for it.
The star who played Frankie in the movie plainly told Entertainment Tonight, “It’s a classic, leave it alone.”
https://twitter.com/JeSuisVee/status/1194972210848522240
The film also starred other up and coming 90’s stars including: Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith and Kimberly Elise.
Pinkett- Smith also spoke about her feelings on a possible remake before Issa Rae had even announced involvement. “I personally think that’s just something you leave alone,” she said. “It’s a classic, it’s done.” She also stated that none of the original stars were interested in doing a remake or sequel.
“There’s absolutely no reason to try to redo it,” said Fox. “It’s been done, and we did it so well, that people are absolutely going to compare it to that and I think that’s her taking on a tremendous chore because that film has become a cult classic and some things are just better left [alone].”
Even though we are in a era of reboots, Fox says that unless the new film is moving the story forward, it shouldn’t be done. She also went on to offer a suggestion to Issa Rae on Set It Off.
“You can make it up to date. We did that film in 1996. We are in 2019, going into 2020. So, create your own thing because people are absolutely going to compare it to it, and she’ll probably, if it’s not good, they’re going to slay her for it.”
Last June, Senicar also announced that she and Ellis were engaged and planning to get married this summer. However, no official confirmation of their wedding has yet been given. Either way, it seems that the new family is very happy together.
Insecure star Jay Ellis and his girlfriend, actress Nina Senicar, welcomed their first child earlier this week, a daughter named Nora Grace.
In an Instagram post, Nina Senicar announced that their daughter was born on Friday, November 8, the same day as Senicar’s birthday, saying “And just like that our lives got a whole new meaning. Welcome Nora Grace Ellis.”
Senicar and Ellis have been dating happily since 2015, but did not confirm their romance until a 2017 interview with The Breakfast Club.
During the interview, Ellis said, “I am in a relationship. I’m in a very happy relationship, and that’s where I leave it. I don’t really worry about anything else, and that’s it. I think for me, we give so much of ourselves in what we do no matter what side of the industry we’re on, so for me… a relationship for me is probably the most important thing that I think two people can have.”
Last June, Senicar also announced that she and Ellis were engaged and planning to get married this summer. However, no official confirmation of their wedding has yet been given. Either way, it seems that the new family is very happy together.
Welcome baby Nora!
“The holiday season is the perfect time for families to come together and enjoy another ‘Live in Front of a Studio Audience’ special on ABC,” said Karey Burke, president of ABC Entertainment in a statement.
Good Times is coming back to television for one night only. ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience franchise is recreating Good Times for their holiday special, reports Shadow and Act.
The franchise comes from Norman Lear and Jimmy Kimmel. It recreates popular sitcoms and some our favorite stars play our favorite characters. Previously, they recreated All In The Family and The Jeffersons with Jaime Foxx and Wanda Sykes starring as George and Weezy Jefferson.
“The holiday season is the perfect time for families to come together and enjoy another ‘Live in Front of a Studio Audience’ special on ABC,” said Karey Burke, president of ABC Entertainment in a statement. “Only Jimmy and Norman can top what they accomplished the first time. From the superstar talent to the unforgettable music and the richly deserved Emmy win, their collective vision has introduced a whole new generation of people to these groundbreaking and timeless stories – and now with Good Times as part of the lineup, this will surely be another can’t-miss television event.”
Kerry Washington, who played Helen Willis in The Jeffersons special will executive produce this recreation, according to Variety.
The last special was nominated for three Emmy Awards and won the prize for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) reported Deadline.
The special will air December 18 on ABC.
The casting for Good Times hasn’t been announced yet.
“At first, I did think last year was a one-time thing, but when the opportunity came back around, there was no question about returning as host.”
Musician, singer and songwriter Alicia Keys is hosting the Grammy Awards, again in 2020. The “No One” singer hosted the 2019 show for the first time. She rocked the stage during the 2019 show, and some of her powerful friends to open the show.
Keys broke the news in a funny video, where she gets bombarded with advice on how to be the best host – from herself.
She shared the video in a tweet this morning.
Them: You can only host the GRAMMYs once
Me: https://t.co/69Ha1ntcSh
— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) November 14, 2019
“At first, I did think last year was a one-time thing, but when the opportunity came back around, there was no question about returning as host,” the pianist said in a press release. “Not only did I feel the love in the room, but I felt it from around the world and it confirmed the healing and unifying power of music.”
Keys is the first woman to host the show since 2005 when Queen Latifah hosted, according to CBS News. Keys herself has been nominated for 28 Grammy Awards and took home 15 of them.
She show will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 26.
The “Girl On Fire” was recently in the news for defending her son’s choice to wear rainbow nail polish.
“Less Labels, More Expressions”
“BNC will offer real, responsive, reliable and relevant news coverage by and for African Americans.”
A news network for and by African Americans will launch at the top of the new year. Black News Channel, or BNC, is a news network that will serve as the nation’s only African American news network.
The network is founded by former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts and TV executive Bob Brillante.
“The launch of BNC will be a historic event, and our highly qualified journalists are chomping at the bit to be on-air now,” says Bob Brillante, co-founder and CEO for BNC in a statement.
“Our network is about providing intelligent programming that is informative, educational, inspiring and empowering to our African American audience, so they are participants in a national conversation,” says J.C. Watts, co-founder and chairman for BNC.
#TheBlackNewsChannel pic.twitter.com/H2N1mKhQnx
— BNC (@BlackNewsC) October 16, 2019
Programming includes shows surrounding HBCU life, HBCU sports, financial management, sports and more.
“BNC will not just tell a story, but the network will tell the entire story. The network will empower the black community and address the issues of the day in a way that is fresh, bright, and complete. BNC will offer real, responsive, reliable and relevant news coverage by and for African Americans,” says their about page.
BNC will operate 24/7 and will be available in 33 million households in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta. The network did a trial run where they were available in eight million homes as a trial to test live programming.
The network has made carriage deals with Comcast, Charter and Dish Network, according to Deadline.
Black News Channel will launch January 6, 2020.
The adult male that has not been identified was struck around 9 p.m. The driver never stopped.
The adult male that has not been identified was struck around 9 p.m. The driver never stopped. Detectives are working to get a description of the vehicle involved. Police are also looking for anyone who may have witnessed it.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
“Kanye used to be about nothing greater than himself. Now it’s all about a higher power.”
The next location for Kanye West’s Sunday Service will be at Joel Osteen‘s Lakewood Church this Sunday.
The megachurch is anticipating a huge crowd, maybe too huge. The church will be using a ticket system for admission into the service. The tickets are free, but are only available to the first 45,000 takers. The tickets will be available on Friday, but only for the evening service where Kanye’s Sunday Service will be held.
According to KHOU, Osteen extended the invitation to West after his lasted album release.
West will be present at the 11 AM service and will have a conversation with Osteen in the pulpit, according to TMZ. We can expect the conversation to be able West’s newfound faith that he’s been very vocal about lately. His latest album, Jesus is King, is based on this faith.
“Kanye used to be about nothing greater than himself. Now it’s all about a higher power,” said a source in TMZ.
For those who weren’t quick enough for the tickets, the service will be live broadcasted on Sirius XM.
The amount of the gift cards vary based on the type of gun. Gift cards in the amount of $75 will be given for shotguns and rifles. $125 for handguns and $175 for automatic or semi-automatic guns.
Gun owners can turn in weapons, no questions asked and receive a gift card for up to $175. Officials say all weapons should be placed in the truck of your vehicle. A uniform officer will be on-site to inform you what to do next once you pull up in parking lot B.
The amount of the gift cards vary based on the type of gun. Gift cards in the amount of $75 will be given for shotguns and rifles. $125 for handguns and $175 for automatic or semi-automatic guns.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
