Bring That Week Back: Week of Nov. 22

Fantasia makes a stunning revelation in court;Kanye catches Rihanna off-guard. Plus more top stories!

MJ, Lauryn Hill Inspire Beyoncé - For her next album, chart-topping singer Beyoncé, is aiming to blend – not create – genres to showcase a unique style, she revealed in an interview with MTV News. “It’s just everything I love all mixed together in my own little gumbo of music,” she said. She also named Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall” as inspiration in her upcoming project.

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MJ, Lauryn Hill Inspire Beyoncé - For her next album, chart-topping singer Beyoncé, is aiming to blend – not create – genres to showcase a unique style, she revealed in an interview with MTV News. “It’s just everything I love all mixed together in my own little gumbo of music,” she said. She also named Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall” as inspiration in her upcoming project.

Stitches for the President - President Obama was accidentally elbowed in the mouth by an opposing player during a pickup basketball game Friday. The incident resulted in the president needing 12 stitches in his upper lip. Rey Decerega, director of programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, caused the injury and said afterward, “I learned today the president is both a tough competitor and a good sport.”

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Pres. Obama Takes a Blow - President Obama was accidentally banged in his mouth with an elbow by an opposing player during a pickup basketball game Friday. The incident resulted in Obama needing 12 stitches in his upper lip. Rey Decerega, director of programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, was the one that caused the injury and said afterward, “I learned today the president is both a tough competitor and a good sport.”

Kilpatrick to Detroit: Time to Move On - Disgraced former mayor of Detroit has a message for his home town: Let’s move on. Kilpatrick, who now lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Southlake, resigned as the Detroit mayor in 2008 and spent 99 days in jail for lying under oath about having an affair. In an interview with The Dallas Morning News, he said, “"The city has not been allowed to move forward, and the city has not been allowed to heal."

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Lawyer Refutes Dancer’s Claims - A lawyer for disgraced ex-Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick says documents claiming a stripper was paid to perform at a party at the mayor’s mansion in 2002 are unfounded. Kilpatrick’s wife allegedly attacked a woman who was giving him a lap dance. Lawyers for another dancer, Tamara Greene, who was killed months after the rumored party, released the papers Sunday in response to efforts to dismiss a lawsuit by Greene’s family, who allege city officials suppressed the murder investigation.

Unemployment Claims Drop - In some long-awaited good news on the jobs front, the Labor Department announced Wednesday that the nation’s unemployment claims dropped significantly last week, bringing it to its lowest level since July 2008. Claims dropped by 34,000 to 407,000 in the week ending Nov. 20. Unemployment applications have been steadily decreasing over the past few weeks, but this recent drop was far more than analysts had expected.

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Unemployment Claims Drop - In some long-awaited good news on the jobs front, the Labor Department announced Wednesday that the nation’s unemployment claims dropped significantly last week, bringing it to its lowest level since July 2008. Claims dropped by 34,000 to 407,000 in the week ending Nov. 20. Unemployment applications have been steadily decreasing over the past few weeks, but this recent drop was far more than analysts had expected.

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.

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Facebook Banning Pastor Offers to Resign - New Jersey Pastor Cedric Miller, who recently made headlines for ordering church officials to delete their Facebook accounts, is now offering to resign days after it was revealed he and his wife had sexual contact with a male church assistant and his wife. “We had crossed the line many times…between the four of us,” the pastor said during court testimony in 2003. “There was touching, there was … it was crazy, it was as wrong as wrong could get.”

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“Exhausted” Supporter Loses Job - Velma Hart, the woman who told President Obama during a televised town hall that, as a supporter, she was “exhausted” from defending him, has lost her job. Hart had been the chief financial officer for Am Vets, a nonprofit organization focused on veteran services based in Maryland. The reason for Hart’s dismissal had nothing to do with performance, according to the group’s executive director, but for financial reasons.

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“Exhausted” Supporter Loses Job - Velma Hart, the woman who told President Obama during a televised town hall that, as a supporter, she was “exhausted” from defending him, has lost her job. Hart had been the chief financial officer for Am Vets, a nonprofit organization focused on veteran services based in Maryland. The reason for Hart’s dismissal had nothing to do with performance, according to the group’s executive director, but for financial reasons.

Vikings Fire Coach - After a dismal 3-7 start, the Minnesota Vikings fired Coach Brad Childress on Monday. Leslie Frazier, who is African American, was promoted to serve as head coach on an interim basis. Frazier had been the team’s defensive coordinator.

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Vikings Fire Coach - After a dismal 3-7 start, the Minnesota Vikings fired Coach Brad Childress on Monday. Leslie Frazier, who is African American, was promoted to serve as head coach on an interim basis. Frazier had been the team’s defensive coordinator.

Oh Lawd - U.S. Sen. Roland Burris now acknowledges trying to raise money for ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Word of this comes after he had previously denied the allegation when testifying under oath to a state House panel that recommended the governor's impeachment. Burris insists he never actually raised money for the ex-governor. But the fact that he tried to do so is likely to increase calls for his resignation.

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Is Burris Running for Mayor? - Illinois Sen. Roland Burris is reportedly eyeing Chicago’s mayoral position. Burris, who was appointed to fill then-President elect Obama’s Senate term by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, didn’t seek re-election. Supporters, not Burris, filed nomination paperwork for the mayoral job, which included the minimum 12,500 signatures needed to get on the ballot. A Burris aide told CNN that he “hasn’t made any decision yet” on running.

Rest in Peace - Margaret Burroughs, a founder of one of the nation’s oldest African-American history museums, passed away at her Chicago home Sunday morning. She was 93. Burroughs, along with her husband and others, founded the DuSable Museum of African American History on Chicago’s South Side in 1961. President Obama honored Burroughs as being “widely admired for her contributions to American culture as an esteemed artist, historian, educator and mentor.”

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Rest in Peace - Margaret Burroughs, a founder of one of the nation’s oldest African-American history museums, passed away at her Chicago home Sunday morning. She was 93. Burroughs, along with her husband and others, founded the DuSable Museum of African American History on Chicago’s South Side in 1961. President Obama honored Burroughs as being “widely admired for her contributions to American culture as an esteemed artist, historian, educator and mentor.”

Fantasia’s Drama - “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino certainly saw her share of ups and downs throughout 2010. In June, the singer was able to realize her dream and walk across the stage to receive her high school diploma. Things took a turn for the worse later in the summer, though, when she was hospitalized for overdosing on sleeping pills in a failed suicide attempt. She later revealed that she had an abortion around the same time.

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Fantasia Admits Abortion - Earlier in the week, Fantasia testified during the divorce case of her ex-boyfriend Antwaun Cook and his estranged wife Paula. Reporters and witnesses weren’t allowed in the courtroom, but according to Radar Online sources, the singer admitted to being pregnant with Cook’s baby and getting an abortion not long before her August suicide attempt. Paula is still considering suing Fantasia by citing North Carolina’s Alienation of Affection law.

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Report: 1 in 3 S.A. Men Admit Rape - According to a new government-funded survey by the Medical Research Foundation, more than 37 percent of men (not the one pictured) in South Africa’s Gauteng province admitted that they had raped a woman before. Even worse, almost 7 percent said they had taken part in a gang rape.

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Report: 1 in 3 S.A. Men Admit Rape - According to a new government-funded survey by the Medical Research Foundation, more than 37 percent of men (not the one pictured) in South Africa’s Gauteng province admitted that they had raped a woman before. Even worse, almost 7 percent said they had taken part in a gang rape.

Kanye Catches Rihanna Off-Guard - Kanye West interviewed Rihanna for the latest issue of Interview magazine, asking the songstress such colorful questions as, “Do you know any famous people now?” (To which she replied, “Huh?”) and “How does it feel to know that you could have any man in the world. Or woman. How does it feel to know that you can turn straight women gay?" Rihanna responded with, “Is that a real question?”

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Kanye Catches Rihanna Off-Guard - Kanye West interviewed Rihanna for the latest issue of Interview magazine, asking the songstress such colorful questions as, “Do you know any famous people now?” (To which she replied, “Huh?”) and “How does it feel to know that you could have any man in the world. Or woman. How does it feel to know that you can turn straight women gay?" Rihanna responded with, “Is that a real question?”

Almost 55 Million Registered - Due to a big vote drive in Nigeria, almost 55 million people in the nation have been registered to vote ahead of the country’s presidential elections in April. The nation has an estimated 70 million eligible voters.

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Nigeria Election Date Announced - On Tuesday, Nigeria’s electoral commission announced that the nation’s presidential elections will take place April 9. The vote was originally slated to take place in January, but had to be postponed due to concerns over whether or not the electoral commission would be ready. Late President Umaru Yar-Adua passed away earlier this year. Current President Goodluck Jonathan will be running.

Obamas Volunteer - The Obama family got into the Thanksgiving spirit Wednesday by joining family and friends to pass out turkeys, stuffing and other Thanksgiving dinner favorites to local food pantry, Martha’s Table. The president greeted families and kids as he packed bags with supplies. The Obamas volunteered at the pantry last Thanksgiving as well.

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Obamas Volunteer - The Obama family got into the Thanksgiving spirit Wednesday by joining family and friends to pass out turkeys, stuffing and other Thanksgiving dinner favorites to local food pantry, Martha’s Table. The president greeted families and kids as he packed bags with supplies. The Obamas volunteered at the pantry last Thanksgiving as well.

Lower HIV Rates - In Johannesburg on Tuesday, a woman and children appeared outside of the Rahima Moosa hospital, an institution with a large pediatric HIV unit. According to a United Nations report, the AIDS epidemic has slowed nationwide; and particularly in South Africa, the infection rate has gone down by more than 25 percent in the past decade. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

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Lower HIV Rates - In Johannesburg on Tuesday, a woman and children appeared outside of the Rahima Moosa hospital, an institution with a large pediatric HIV unit. According to a United Nations report, the AIDS epidemic has slowed nationwide; and particularly in South Africa, the infection rate has gone down by more than 25 percent in the past decade. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

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Burkina Faso Elections - A man votes during Burkina Faso elections, which took place Sunday Nov. 21. And, to the surprise of few, the incumbent Blaise Compaore, a 59-year-old former army captain who gained his power through a coup in 1987, won by a landslide. Compaore’s opposition was so divided it could not mount a unified challenge against him.

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Burkina Faso Elections - A man votes during Burkina Faso elections, which took place Sunday Nov. 21. And, to the surprise of few, the incumbent Blaise Compaore, a 59-year-old former army captain who gained his power through a coup in 1987, won by a landslide. Compaore’s opposition was so divided it could not mount a unified challenge against him.

AIDS Pill Breakthrough - In what’s being described as a “major milestone” by officials, researchers have discovered that a pill, already used to treat HIV infection, can also be used to protect healthy men from catching the virus. Daily doses of Truvada cut the risk of infection by 44 percent when given with condoms, counseling and other prevention services. Men who used the pill more regularly cut their risk by up to 73 percent.

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AIDS Pill Breakthrough - In what’s being described as a “major milestone” by officials, researchers have discovered that a pill, already used to treat HIV infection, can also be used to protect healthy men from catching the virus. Daily doses of Truvada cut the risk of infection by 44 percent when given with condoms, counseling and other prevention services. Men who used the pill more regularly cut their risk by up to 73 percent.