Bring that week back: Week of Dec. 6

Bishop Long seeks to settle; "dead" celebs brought back to life and Vick leads votes. Plus more!

Cam Newton Wins Heisman Trophy - Amidst some controversy, Auburn University star quarterback Cam Newton received college football’s biggest award, the Heisman Trophy, in December in a landslide win. "Honestly, it's a dream come true for me,” Newton said. “I'm living testimony that anything is possible." His win, though, is shrouded in some controversy, as his father, Cecil, (not in attendance) stands accused of breaking NCAA rules for trying to get another school to pay him $180,000 to have his son play there.

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Cam Newton Wins Heisman Trophy - Auburn University star quarterback Cam Newton received college football’s biggest award, the Heisman Trophy, Saturday night in a landslide win. "Honestly, it's a dream come true for me,” Newton said. “I'm living testimony that anything is possible." His win, though, is shrouded in some controversy, as his father, Cecil, (not in attendance) stands accused of breaking NCAA rules for trying to get another school to pay him $180,000 to have his son play there.

James Moody Dies - Jazz saxophonist James Moody passed away Thursday after a fight with pancreatic cancer. He was 85. Moody is best known for his 1949 hit record, “Moody’s Mood for Love,” which was later recorded by Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison and Amy Winehouse. He’s survived by Linda Moody, his third wife; daughter, Michelle Bagdanove; sons Patrick, Regan and Danny McGowan; brother, Lou Watters; four grandchildren and one great grandson.

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James Moody Dies - Jazz saxophonist James Moody passed away Thursday after a fight with pancreatic cancer. He was 85. Moody is best known for his 1949 hit record, “Moody’s Mood for Love,” which was later recorded by Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison and Amy Winehouse. He’s survived by Linda Moody, his third wife; daughter, Michelle Bagdanove; sons Patrick, Regan and Danny McGowan; brother, Lou Watters; four grandchildren and one great grandson.

Palin Visits Haiti - Former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin made a weekend trip to Haiti alongside Rev. Franklin Graham. During her short trip, she urged Americans not to forget about Haiti and told them to “get out of your comfort zone and volunteer to help.” While in the nation, she visited Samaritan’s Purse Projects, which included cholera clinics. Palin was joined by husband Todd, daughter Bristol and a Fox News television crew.

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Palin Visits Haiti - Former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin made a weekend trip to Haiti alongside Rev. Franklin Graham. During her short trip, she urged Americans not to forget about Haiti and told them to “get out of your comfort zone and volunteer to help.” While in the nation, she visited Samaritan’s Purse Projects, which included cholera clinics. Palin was joined by husband Todd, daughter Bristol and a Fox News television crew.

90 Pregnancies at Memphis High School - Frayser High School in Memphis, Tenn. is experiencing a baby boom, as almost 90 students are either pregnant or recently had a baby. A city official recently confirmed the news recently, as the community plans  to find a way to stop the trend. At between 15 and 20 percent, the teen pregnancy rate in Memphis is twice the national average. And, in the particular zip code where the high school is located, the rate is a startling 26 percent, The Chicago Tribune reports.

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Teacher Loses Baby After Student Kick in Stomach - In a sad story out of New York, Bronx high school teacher Lissedia Batista miscarried after a student accidentally kicked her in the stomach as she was trying to break up a fight Wednesday. According to investigators, the students (a ninth-grader and an 11th-grader) were arguing over a chair when the incident occurred. She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but it was too late. Batista is not cooperating with the police in order to keep the boys out of the criminal-justice system, acco

Elizabeth Edwards Dies - Surrounded by her children, siblings, friends and estranged husband John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards passed away in her North Carolina home Tuesday after a fight with cancer.  She was 61. Edwards was a “tenacious advocate” for health care reform and fighting poverty, President Obama said in a statement.  Funeral services were held over the weekend.

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Elizabeth Edwards Dies - Surrounded by her children, siblings, friends and estranged husband John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards passed away in her North Carolina home Tuesday after a fight with cancer. She was 61. Edwards was a “tenacious advocate” for health care reform and fighting poverty, President Obama said in a statement. Funeral services were held over the weekend.

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Ban on Affirmative Action Upheld - On Wednesday, a federal judge in California upheld the state’s ban on the use of affirmative action in the public university admissions process. The plaintiffs, including the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action as well as 56 California students, argued that the law violated the civil rights of minority students. Though the judge dismissed their challenge, they plan to appeal. Since the ban passed in 1996, the state has seen the Black and Latino populations at schools like UCLA and UC Berkeley

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Ban on Affirmative Action Upheld - On Wednesday, a federal judge in California upheld the state’s ban on the use of affirmative action in the public university admissions process. The plaintiffs, including the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action as well as 56 California students, argued that the law violated the civil rights of minority students. Though the judge dismissed their challenge, they plan to appeal. Since the ban passed in 1996, the state has seen the Black and Latino populations at schools like UCLA and UC Berkeley

Aretha Franklin Talks About Cancer Reports - The Queen of Soul is finally addressing the pancreatic cancer rumors that hit headlines in December. On Dec. 2, she underwent surgery for a still undisclosed illness, following a cancellation of concert dates on doctor’s orders.  Then, late last year, “The Detroit Free Press” cited an anonymous source that said Franklin was being treated for pancreatic cancer. But on Thursday, Franklin told “Access Hollywood”, “I don’t know where ‘pancreatic cancer’ came from…No one in my family ever said that."

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Reports: Aretha Franklin Has Cancer - On Wednesday, Detroit media outlets reported that legendary songstress Aretha Franklin has pancreatic cancer. The previous week, Franklin, who has been mum about the nature of her illness, had “highly successful surgery.” In October, she cancelled all of her upcoming concerts due to doctors’ orders.

Obama Allocates $4.6 Billion for Black Farmers - President Obama signed legislation Wednesday that puts aside $4.6 billion for settling claims by Black farmers who alleged discrimination. “It’s finally time to make things right,” President Obama said at the signing ceremony. In addition, the law will also be used to settle allegations by American Indians that they were cheated out of land-use royalties by the government.

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Obama Allocates $4.6 Billion for Black Farmers - President Obama signed legislation Wednesday that puts aside $4.6 billion for settling claims by Black farmers who alleged discrimination. “It’s finally time to make things right,” President Obama said at the signing ceremony. In addition, the law will also be used to settle allegations by American Indians that they were cheated out of land-use royalties by the government.

The Return Of Michael Vick - Less than two years after he was released from prison, Michael Vick was named the starting NFC quarterback in the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl. It’s a remarkable comeback story for Vick, who is in the process of leading the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs.

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Vick Leads in Pro Bowl Voting - What a difference a year and a half makes. Eagles’ star QB Michael Vick, whose two-year stint in jail on dogfighting charges initially drew the ire of many NFL fans, is now the leading vote-getter for the Pro Bowl, the league reported Wednesday. Vick, who has led his team to the top of the NFC after starting the season as a backup, garnered 729,838 votes from fans; almost 40,000 more than second place vote-getter Peyton Manning.

Long Agrees to Mediation - Bishop Eddie Long, whose sexual coercion lawsuits rocked headlines in September, recently agreed to go to mediation with his four accusers – Spencer LeGrande, 22, Jamal Parris, 23, Anthony Flagg, 21, and Maurice Robinson, 20 ¬¬– in February. The young men have accused the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church leader of abusing his spiritual authority and exchanging lavish gifts for sex while they were teenagers. If the mediation doesn’t go well, a tentative trial date is scheduled for July 11, 201

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Long Agrees to Mediation - Bishop Eddie Long, whose sexual coercion lawsuits rocked headlines in September, recently agreed to go to mediation with his four accusers – Spencer LeGrande, 22, Jamal Parris, 23, Anthony Flagg, 21, and Maurice Robinson, 20 ¬¬– in February. The young men have accused the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church leader of abusing his spiritual authority and exchanging lavish gifts for sex while they were teenagers. If the mediation doesn’t go well, a tentative trial date is scheduled for July 11, 201

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Kennedy Center Honors Main Event - After the reception, the president and first lady attended the ceremony, held at the Kennedy Center. Notable honorees included choreographer and dancer Bill T. Jones, Tony Award-winning composer Jerry Herman, country music singer Merle Haggard and former Beatle Paul McCartney. The program airs on CBS December 28, 2010 at 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time.

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Kennedy Center Honors - After a White House reception, the president and first lady attended the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center. Notable honorees include talk show host Oprah Winfrey, choreographer and dancer Bill T. Jones, Tony Award-winning composer Jerry Herman, country music singer Merle Haggard and former Beatle Paul McCartney.

Tyson Will Enter Hall of Fame - Earlier in the week, officials announced that former champion boxer Mike Tyson will be inducted into the 2011 class of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Tyson dominated the scene during his heyday in the 1980s, and his current record is 50-6 with 44 knockouts. “The sport of boxing has given me so much and it is truly a blessing to be acknowledged alongside other historical boxing legends,” Tyson said.

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Tyson Will Enter Hall of Fame - Earlier in the week, officials announced that former champion boxer Mike Tyson will be inducted into the 2011 class of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Tyson dominated the scene during his heyday in the 1980s, and his current record is 50-6 with 44 knockouts. “The sport of boxing has given me so much and it is truly a blessing to be acknowledged alongside other historical boxing legends,” Tyson said.

Redskins Suspend Haynesworth - On Tuesday, the Washington Redskins suspended defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth through the final games of the season for “conduct detrimental to the club.” In a statement, Coach Mike Shanahan said Haynesworth wouldn’t follow the instruction of coaches during practices and games and had indicated he would no longer speak to him.

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Redskins Suspend Haynesworth - On Tuesday, the Washington Redskins suspended defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth through the final games of the season for “conduct detrimental to the club.” In a statement, Coach Mike Shanahan said Haynesworth wouldn’t follow the instruction of coaches during practices and games and had indicated he would no longer speak to him.

Feminine Touch - We all watched as Alicia became a style star in '07. Most notable, were her hair choices which finally didn’t include cornrows. Her wild wavy hairstyle went perfectly with her new sound, while her neat straight style was a reminder that Alicia is a more polished woman these days.

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‘Digitally Dead' Celebs Brought Back to Life - Stars such as Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz and Kim Kardashian were brought back to digital life earlier this week after Keys’ charity, Keep a Child Alive, reached its $1 million fundraising goal. The celebs had logged off of social sites such as Facebook and Twitter on Dec. 1 (World AIDS Day) and vowed not to return until the goal was met. The charity, headed by Keys, supports HIV-affected families in Africa and India.

Doug E. Fresh Owes Millions in Taxes - Rapper/beat boxer Doug E. Fresh owes the IRS almost $2.3 million in back taxes, reports The Detroit News. In 2008, it was reported he owed $367,000 in back taxes.

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Doug E. Fresh Owes Millions in Taxes - Rapper/beat boxer Doug E. Fresh owes the IRS almost $2.3 million in back taxes, reports The Detroit News. In 2008, it was reported he owed $367,000 in back taxes.