Bring That Week Back: Week of September 6
Reggie Bush could get stripped; Beyonce settles suit; Sean Bell's fiance runs for office. Plus more!
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Beyoncé Settles Suit - Beyoncé recently settled a lawsuit brought by a man who claimed his privacy was “shattered” during the shooting of the “Why Don’t You Love Me” video. Philip Markowitz, a Hollywood Hills resident, filed the lawsuit in May, saying that he wasn’t able to get into his home (among other nuisances) during the filming of the video, which lasted until 11 p.m. He reportedly received a “five-figure” settlement out of court to drop the case.
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Fla. Minister: Quran Burning Still Planned - The Rev. Terry Jones, who leads a small church in Florida, plans to go forward with plans to burn Qurans on September 11 despite warnings and pleas from military leaders and fellow ministers to call off the event. Jones calls the Islamic holy text “evil” because it espouses something other than biblical truth and incites radical, violent behavior among Muslims, he says. <br><b>UPDATE: </b>After talking to a Muslim Iman Rev. Jones has suspended the burning
3 / 28
Daley’s Done - In a move that has surprised many, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election. Daley has been in office since 1989, following in the footsteps of his father who was mayor of the city for 21 years before dying in 1976. Daley “helped build Chicago's image as a world class city," the president said in a statement. His move could open the door for White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, who has expressed interest in being mayor of the city in the past.
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Barnes Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge - Lakers forward Matt Barnes was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of domestic violence after an incident involving his girlfriend. Police came to his Sacramento home following an incomplete 911 call from the residence. When they arrived, they saw both parties had injuries but decided Barnes was the aggressor and arrested him. He was released after posting $50,000 bond and will be arraigned Sept. 13.
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Willow Smith Bursts Into the Music Scene - Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s daughter Willow Smith made her recording debut this week by releasing the single “Whip My Hair.” And this week it was also announced that the 9-year-old singer has signed a deal with Jay-Z’s label, Roc Nation. In addition to being a singer, Willow is also an actress, appearing alongside her dad in the movie “I Am Legend” among other projects.
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6 / 28
Protestors Hurl Rocks, Eggs at L.A. Station - Following the shooting death of Guatemalan immigrant Manuel Jamines at the hands of officers on Sunday, hundreds of angry protestors took to the streets of Los Angeles Monday and Tuesday nights setting fires and throwing rocks, eggs and bottles at an L.A.P.D. station. Police arrested 22 protestors Tuesday. At a local town hall on Wednesday night, the police chief defended the shooting, saying that according to a witness, Jamines, who was armed with a knife, had threatened two women.
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Mrs. Obama Hosts Dance Event at White House - On Tuesday, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the debut of the new White House Dance Series. Dancers from the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dazzled the audience, which included Mrs. Obama’s daughters Sasha and Malia, and mother Marian Robinson. The evening also served as a tribute to Judith Jamison, who served as the dance company’s artistic director for two decades. Jamison will step down next year.
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Malinda Sapp Dies - On Thursday, Gospel singer Marvin Sapp’s wife Malinda passed away due to complications from colon cancer. Mrs. Sapp had served as administrative pastor of her husband’s church, Lighthouse Full Life Center, in Michigan. The couple have been married for 15 years and had three children together.
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Report: Bush to Be Stripped of Heisman - On Tuesday, Yahoo! Sports reported that 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush will likely be stripped of the award by the end of the month. Earlier this summer the NCAA discovered major violations in the football program at Bush’s former school, the University of Southern California. Heisman Trophy officials are not confirming the report. If he’s stripped, Bush would be the first player in the award’s 75-year history to have the title taken away.
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Rihanna Strips Down for Single Cover - The cover art for Rihanna’s latest singer “Only Girl (In the World)” made headlines this week for featuring the singer pretty much naked and clutching a red dress. The single is off of her upcoming album entitled “LOUD!” which is due out in November.
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11 / 28
Remembering 9/11 - Saturday marks the nine year anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001. Almost 3,000 people died when terrorists high-jacked planes that morning, crashing two into the World Trade Center in New York, one into the Pentagon in the D.C. area and another one in rural Pennsylvania. The president will mark the day by attending a memorial service at the Pentagon, while the vice president heads to New York. First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush will go to Pennsylvania.
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Getting Special Treatment? - Has Lil’ Wayne been getting preferential treatment while serving time at Rikers? According to sources at the New York Post, officials are investigating whether Capt. Latanya Brown has been “spending extra time” with the rapper and “letting him hang out in his cell while other inmates were locked out of their bunks and ordered into the recreation yard.” This isn’t the first time he’s gotten special attention. A lady guard was fired earlier this year for allegedly spying on the rapper.
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Jay-Z Throws Beyoncé a Birthday Bash - Details about Jay-Z’s party to celebrate Beyoncé’s 29th birthday on Saturday came out this week. According to a NY Post source, “Jay brought a six-layer cake out for B, they were really affectionate. Cassidy played Stevie Wonder's 'Happy Birthday.' The party went on until 6 a.m. Both Jay and B's moms were there, but there was no sign of her father or her sister.” Celebrity attendees included Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Diddy and Serena Williams.”
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Ochocinco Makes His Pick - VH1 aired the finale of “Ochocinco’s Ultimate Catch” Sunday night in which Cincinnati Bengals star Chad Ochocinco chose aspiring singer Rubi Pazmino as the winner. Rubi had been a favorite throughout the season. In a recent interview, she says the two still talk, despite reports that Chad has been dating VH1 “Basketball Wives” star Evelyn Lozada.
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‘Low Pants, No Chance’ - A council member in Louisiana wants locals to back a campaign against men and boys who wear pants so low their boxers show. “Low pants, no chance,” is the slogan Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle has suggested for the area-wide effort to get people to pull up their pants. “I see so much of it in my district…It’s disrespectful to the elderly, to young kids and to women,” Marcelle said. Although she recognizes there are constitutional issues, she’d like to pass a law fining and citing people.
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16 / 28
Black Comic Joins 'SNL' - This week, “Saturday Night Live” announced its new cast, which includes a Black comedian from Chesapeake, Va., Jay Pharaoh. The 22-year-old is the first Black person to join the cast since 2003, when Kenan Thompson joined.
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New Obama Book - “Obama’s Wars,” the latest work from top-notch investigative reporter Bob Woodward (who was also one of the reporters who broke the Watergate scandal in the 1970s), is slated to be released at the end of this month. The non-fiction book will show the president “making critical decisions on the Afghanistan War, the secret war in Pakistan and the worldwide fight against terrorism,” publisher Simon & Schuster announced Tuesday.
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Rihanna Doesn’t Play - “Gossip Girl” actress Taylor Momsen caused a bit of a stir when she criticized Rihanna in a recent interview for her rock-like style and persona. “People think pop is rock, and the lines are getting blurred. Now Rihanna’s wearing f—kin’ leather jackets, and it’s really annoying,” Momsen told Spin magazine. Rihanna was not too pleased by the comments. She reportedly got Taylor’s number, called her and told her to “back off,” according to Perez Hilton.
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Sean Bell’s Fiancée to Run for Office - Nicole Paultre Bell, whose unarmed fiancé Sean Bell was gunned down by police officers on his wedding day four years ago, announced this week that she’s running for City Council in New York. Paultre Bell is one of 10 candidates running. Losing her fiancé "made me realize that there are serious problems out there," she told the Daily News. The city recently agreed to settle a civil lawsuit stemming from the November 2006 shooting, awarding Sean Bell’s estate $3.25 million.
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100 Nigerian Prisoners Freed After Attack - Boko Haram, a radical Muslim group in Nigeria, launched a raid at a prison Tuesday night, freeing more than 100 followers and killing five people. The prison, located in the northern part of the nation, was destroyed. Many fear this attack could lead to more violence, months before elections or that the radicals (who want to impose strict Muslim law in the nation) might try to take on the government
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21 / 28
South African Unions Suspend Strike - Earlier this week, civil servant unions in South Africa suspended a nationwide strike for higher wages while members consider the government’s latest offer. In a joint statement, some two dozen unions said the strike produced a victory for labor, saying the government had moved from offering a 5.2 percent wage increase to 7.5. Unions had asked for 8.6. The strike, which had entered into its 20th day on Monday, has crippled hospitals and schools in the country.
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Bob Marley’s Daughter Pleads Guilty - Makeda Jahnesta Marley, the youngest child of reggae legend Bob Marley, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to having large marijuana plants inside her Philadelphia-area home. Marley, 29, was arrested in 2008 after cops caught her removing plants from her basement when officers arrived on a domestic dispute call. Sentencing will take place in October.
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Obama Press Conference - On Friday, one day before the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, President Obama will take questions from reporters at a press conference at the White House. This marks the president’s eighth solo press conference since he took office last year.
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Revis Agrees To Terms With Jets - New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis ended his 36-day holdout Sunday evening by signing a four-year deal. The All-Pro is expected to play in the team’s season opener next Monday night.
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Engaged - Actress Niecy Nash confirmed to “Entertainment Tonight” that she is getting married to fiancé Jay Tucker. She told “ET” that the proposal took her by surprise. “I cannot believe that God has been this kind that he would gift me this man,” she said. This is the actress’ second marriage. Her first, to minister Don Nash, lasted 13 years and produced three children.
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Soulja Boy/Fabolous Twitter Beef - This week, rapper Soulja Boy responded to a series of disparaging Tweets recently sent by fellow rapper Fabolous, clowning him for hooking up with Kat Stacks. Fabolous “pick the wrong week to beef. lets see how much his new "EP" sell 1st week. -_- garbage a** rapper,” Soulja Boy tweeted Tuesday. “Lettin Kat Stacks in ur hotel room alone is #StupidBoySwag,” Fabolous tweeted last week among other insults.
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‘Little Rock 9’ Member Dies - Jefferson Thomas, one of nine Black students (‘Little Rock 9’) to integrate a high school in Little Rock, Ark. during the first major U.S. battle over school segregation, died Sunday at 67. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer, according to fellow ‘Little Rock 9’ member Carlotta Walls LaNier.