Bring That Week Back: Week of Nov. 15
Rangel found guilty; Eva Longoria files for divorce | and Ochocinco proposes? Plus more!
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Ochocinco Engaged? - On Tuesday, star Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco reportedly asked his girlfriend “Basketball Wives” star Evelyn Lozada to marry him. Lozado, who had been engaged to former NBA star Antoine Walker for ten years, posted a picture of the 10-carat engagement ring on Twitter, writing “I’m no rabbit but 10 carats looks good on me!!” The two have been dating for four months.
2 / 23
Rep. Rangel Found Guilty - Longtime Harlem lawmaker, Rep. Charles Rangel, was found guilty on Tuesday of 11 ethics violations. Rangel’s violations included not paying taxes on rental income from a Dominican Republic villa and running four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem (he’s only allowed one). On Thursday the House ethics committee voted to recommend censure, the second strongest discipline, as punishment.
3 / 23
Did Katrina Delay Lil Wayne Paternity Test? - Hurricane Katrina, the devastating storm that hit New Orleans five years ago, delayed Lil Wayne from taking a paternity test, according to a woman that claims the rapper is the father of a now 8-year-old boy. According to the child’s grandmother, she tried many times to reach out to him but couldn’t due to the storm. Flooding also destroyed court docs, she says. If he’s the father, this would be Lil Wayne’s fifth child.
4 / 23
Is Marriage Dead? - About 40 percent of people surveyed believe that marriage is obsolete, according to a Time magazine survey published in this week’s issue. This percentage has jumped over ten percent since the question was last posed over 30 years ago. The shift in public psyche could be a result of the fact that more Americans are willing to accept alternative households and living arrangements, the magazine reported.
5 / 23
Former HBCU Prez Gets Flak over Salary - The $1.1 million salary of former Clark Atlanta University president Walter Broadnax during the 2008-2009 school year also made headlines this week, with many questioning why a school, struggling financially, would pay him so much. The figures were released Monday in a Chronicle on Higher Education report that listed the top 30 salaries among college presidents. Broadnax defended his pay, though, saying he improved finances at the school while he was there by making tough choices.
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6 / 23
Medal of Honor Honorees - On Wednesday, the White House announced the 15 newest Medals of Freedom honorees. Included in the list, generated by President Obama, are poet Maya Angelou, Rep. John Lewis, D-GA, Boston Celtics icon Bill Russell and former president George H. W. Bush. He’ll present the medals during a ceremony early next year.
7 / 23
Govt. Warns Four Loko, Others - In a letter issued Wednesday, the FDA warned four makers of alcoholic energy drinks, including Four Loko, that the drinks are a public health concern. The combination of alcohol and caffeine is “unsafe” and can lead to a state of “wide-awake drunk” which has reportedly caused accidents and alcohol poisoning. The companies have 15 days to respond, but late Tuesday, Four Loko makers already announced they would be removing the caffeine from the drink.
8 / 23
Dems Keep Pelosi - On Wednesday, House Democrats elected California Rep. Nancy Pelosi to continue as their leader, defeating Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina 150-43. She’ll assume her role as minority leader when the new Congress arrives in January.
9 / 23
Rev.: Get off Facebook! - A New Jersey Rev. is ordering his married church officials to delete their Facebook accounts – or resign. The Rev. Cedric Miller said that 20 couples among the 1,100 members of his Living Word Christian Fellowship Church have run into problems over the lasts six months due to a spouse reconnecting with an ex over the social network. “The temptation is just too great,” he said.
10 / 23
Simpson Lawyers Want Another Appeal - On Tuesday, lawyers for O.J. Simpson asked a panel of Nevada Supreme Court justices to reconsider their appeal of his robbery and kidnapping conviction. The first appeal was rejected last month. His lawyer argued that the panel misunderstood their arguments for an appeal. In 2007, they argue, Simpson was retrieving personal items before he was confronted in a casino hotel room by two sports memorabilia dealers. He and a co-defendant were convicted in 2008. He's currently serving nine to 33 years
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11 / 23
Judge Sings Chris Brown’s Praises - At a hearing Thursday, an L.A. judge praised singer Chris Brown for his progress in completing the terms of his probation for the 2009 assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna. "Out of thousands of probationers, no one has done a better or more consistent job than you have," the judge told Brown. The singer has had perfect attendance at his domestic violence counseling and has completed about 72 of 180 days of community service.
12 / 23
Vick Puts on a Show - With his stunning six-touchdown performance, Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick led his team to a 59-28 rout of the Washington Redskins on Monday night. Vick threw for 333 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for two scores. “I’ve had some great games in my day, but I don’t think I’ve had one quite like this,” he said during a post-game conference.
13 / 23
T.O. Slams McNabb, He Responds - Bengals receiver Terrell Owens took to Twitter Monday night to publicly criticize his former Philadelphia Eagles teammate and current Redskins QB Donovan McNabb for his 3 interception performance. "How do u justify a 78 million dollar contract w/this type of performance?" he wrote referencing McNabb’s newly signed contract extension. In an ESPN interview Tuesday, McNabb responded, “It's unbelievable how they can comment on what I'm doing over here,” and brought up the Bengals' lowly 2-7 record.
14 / 23
Attorneys for Oscar Grant Shooter Wants Bail - Lawyers for Johannes Mehserle, a White former transit officer sentenced to two years for shooting and killing an unarmed Black man, are seeking his release on bail while he appeals his involuntary manslaughter conviction. He was sentenced last month for the shooting of Oscar Grant on an Oakland train platform. The sentence sparked protests in the area by people who believe Mehserle’s punishment was too light.
15 / 23
Report: Black Boys Underperform - Black male students “perform lower than their peers throughout the country on almost every indicator,” according to a report released by the Council of the Great City Schools. The group called the findings a “national catastrophe” that needed national attention. The data calls “into question the nation's ability to harness all of its talent to maintain a leadership footing in the world," Council Executive Director Michael Casserly said.
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16 / 23
T.I.’s Sick of Jail - In a letter posted to his Web site Thursday, incarcerated rapper T.I. expressed his frustration saying he’s “sick and mother f---ing tired of going to jail, juve, prison, the pen, correctional facilities or whatever else you want to call it." He also stated that he’ll use himself, and not others, as his motivation to do better and vowed that his children would never “grace the presence of a jail cell” if he could help it. He’s currently serving an 11-month sentence for violating his probation.
17 / 23
Guard Accuses Mayweather of Assault - A Las Vegas security guard has accused boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. of assaulting him Monday evening, police say. The boxer allegedly poked him in the face several times over parking violations outside of his home. He could be prosecuted on misdemeanor battery charges over the incident, authorities say.
18 / 23
Did Golf Make Tiger Unfaithful? - In an op-ed piece he wrote for Newsweek, golfer Tiger Woods, whose numerous extramarital affairs were revealed nearly a year ago, wrote that his massive success in golf made him feel invincible. But now, he’s learned the error of his ways. “Now I know that, no matter how tough or strong we are, we all need to rely on others.”
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Eve Longoria and Tony Parker Split - After three years of marriage, “Desperate Housewives” actress Eva Longoria filed for divorce from her husband Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs in L.A. Wednesday morning, citing irreconcilable differences. According to reports, Parker’s numerous “inappropriate” text message exchanges with the wife of a former teammate led to the relationship's breaking point. On Friday, Parker filed his own divorce petition in Texas.
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Beyoncé Commercial Banned - Beyoncé’s sexy commercial for her Heat fragrance has been banned from daytime television in the UK. “Beyoncé’s body movements and the camera’s prolonged focus on shots of her dress slipping away to partially expose her breasts created a sexually provocative ad that was unsuitable to be seen by young children,” the nation’s Advertising Standards Authority said in a statement.
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