Bring That Week Back: Week of July 26
Wyclef could be making a run for office and Rihanna's set to make her film debut. More top stories!
1 / 27
Is Lauryn Hill Making a Comeback? - Lauryn Hill is back and she has hit the ground running with a new single, “Repercussions,” and a performance earlier this week at the FESPAD Festival in Kigali, Rwanda. Ms. Hill has also been confirmed for the upcoming Rock the Bells concert series, bringing back some selections from her 1998 “Miseducation” album. The four-day concert series kicks off in California in August.
2 / 27
T.O. Signs with Bengals - The Cincinnati Bengals reached an agreement with receiver Terrell Owens on Tuesday, giving him the chance to play alongside his good friend and fellow VH1 reality star Chad Ochocinco. After reporting to training camp on Thursday, Owens is expected to sign a one-year deal that will pay him $2 million with a chance to earn $2 million more in bonuses.
3 / 27
T.I. and Tiny Tying the Knot - After a wedding invitation leak, it has been confirmed: rapper Clifford “T.I.” Harris and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle plan to jump the broom this weekend at a small, private ceremony in Miami. On their recent vacation with family to Hawaii, many speculated that that would be their wedding weekend. But according to the invitation, the wedding is on Saturday, July 31. The couple chose “platinum” and black as their primary colors, and Tiny’s BFF Monica is a bridesmaid.
4 / 27
Sean Bell Suit Settled - On Tuesday, the city of New York agreed to pay more than $7 million to settle a civil suit connected to the 2006 police shooting of Sean Bell on his wedding day. The settlement filed in Brooklyn federal court pays $3.25 million to Bell’s estate; $3 million to Joseph Guzman and $900,000 to Trent Benefield, both of whom were wounded in the shooting that killed their friend.
5 / 27
BP CEO Replaced - Tony Hayward stepped down as CEO of BP. He will be succeeded by the first non-British man, Robert Dudley, 54, who has 30-plus years in the oil business. Dudley plans to rebuild “BP’s strengths and reputation” out of these devastating circumstances. It has been more than 100 days since the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded killing 20 people in April. A temporary cap has been placed over the well, but millions of gallons of oil have already spewed into the Gulf.
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6 / 27
InDRUpendence Day - Dru Hill just released their fourth studio album titled “InDRUpendence Day.” After seven Top 40 hits and R&B favorites like “In My Bed” and “How Deep Is Your Love,” the group is facing high expectations. Two singles – “Love MD” and “Remain Silent” – have already been released off the album under the Kedar Entertainment label. Dru Hill was recently featured on the Centric reality show, “Keith Sweat’s Platinum House.”
7 / 27
Ex-NBA Player Found Dead - The body of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright was found Wednesday, south of downtown Memphis. Wright had been missing since July 18, when he was expected to take a flight. Wright's mother, Deborah Marion, arrived at the scene Wednesday night with a handful of family members. Wright played 13 years in the NBA with five different teams, most recently with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2008-09 season.
8 / 27
Murder Charge for Driver in Mandela Car Crash - The driver involved in the crash that killed Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter is being charged with attempted murder and driving under the influence of alcohol. 23-year-old Sizwe Mankazana has a court date set for August 27 for the death of 13-year-old Zenani Mandela, who was killed back in June in a car accident following the FIFA World Cup opening concert. Mankazana, a student in the U.S., was visiting South Africa to watch the games.
9 / 27
Michelle and Sasha Obama to Visit Spain - While Malia is away at camp and President Obama is off saving the world, Michelle and Sasha Obama plan to take a mother-daughter trip to Spain. The pair will be paying a visit to King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, but the rest of the trip is considered “private,” and closed off to the press.
10 / 27
Beyoncé Pulled Over for Texting and Driving - Beyoncé, who just got her license not long ago, recently received a $100 ticket for texting and driving. There is speculation that once Oprah gets word of the incident she won’t be too happy, as the influential talk show host has been fervently endorsing her ‘no texting while driving’ campaign, which includes a pledge signed by many A-listers.
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11 / 27
Wyclef Jean to Run for President? - Haitian native Wyclef Jean has been considering a five-year term as president in his home country this fall. Chosen as the ambassador at-large of the Caribbean country in 2006, Jean has shown incredible support through his charity, the Yéle Haiti Foundation, but has yet to decide whether he will be voting or running in the November elections. In a CNN interview, when questioned about the highest executive position, Jean stated, “I can’t sing forever.”
12 / 27
Obama Speaks at the National Urban League - President Obama, along with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, addressed crowds of the National Urban League in D.C. on Thursday, July 29. At this centennial conference, Obama and Duncan were expected to address education reform and ramping up jobs in this struggling economy.
13 / 27
First Black Politician Wins a Russian Election - Jean Gregoire Sagbo won an election in Novozavidovo, Russia, making him one of 10 municipal councilors. The West African native living in the racially charged country, is simply viewed as a man who cares deeply about his hometown. “His skin is Black, but he is Russian inside,” says the mayor. His plans while in office include decreasing the pervasiveness of drugs, cleaning out polluted lakes and providing heat to homes.
14 / 27
Kanye West is on Twitter, Rapping for Facebook - It’s official: the Louis Vuitton Don is now on Twitter. Within his first hours, the rapper/singer/record producer had gathered 40,000 followers, to whom he tweeted about his upcoming album, which might not be titled “Good Ass Job” as previously reported. “I'm bouncing a couple of titles around now,” wrote West. On his Facebook account, West posted clips of new a cappella raps.
15 / 27
World’s First Face Transplant - A Spanish man identified only as “Oscar” made his first appearance before cameras on Monday. After suffering severe injury to his face in a shooting accident five years ago, Oscar underwent a 24-hour surgery to gain back his ability to comfortably eat and breathe. The operation, done by 30 experts, took place back in March in a Spanish hospital. Coming off of nine failed surgeries, Oscar received a full face replacement including skin, muscles, nose, teeth, lips, a jaw, cheek bones and a palate.
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16 / 27
Rangel Wants Plea Deal - Facing ethics charges, Rep. Charles Rangel’s (D-NY) lawyer was looking to negotiate a plea deal on Thursday just before a House ethics panel is to hold a public session where his charges will be read. The only way he can avoid a trial is through the plea deal or resignation. Shortly before the session was to take place, Rangel said a deal hadn’t been reached.
17 / 27
Jack Tatum Dies - Jack Tatum, a former Oakland Raider safety known as the “Assassin” for his hard hitting, passed away on Tuesday in an Oakland hospital. He was 61. The cause of death was a major heart attack, according to a friend, and he had battled diabetes and other health problems for years. Tatum was also involved in "The Immaculate Reception" in the Raiders' 1972 playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With 22 seconds left, he jarred loose a desperation pass from Terry Bradshaw to Frenchy Fuqua.
18 / 27
Rihanna’s Film Debut in the Works - Rihanna will be starring in Universal’s “Battleship” set to be released in 2012. The sci-fi action film, based on the Hasbro board game, will be directed by Peter Berg with shooting set to begin in August. The Barbadian singer and songwriter will be joining actors Taylor Kitsch and Alexander Skarsgard.
19 / 27
Campbell to Testify in Diamonds Trial - Supermodel Naomi Campbell will testify next month during the war crimes trial for former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Prosecutors want to confirm whether or not Taylor gave her a rough, or uncut, diamond as a gift in 1997. He denies prosecutors' allegations that he provided arms and ammunition to brutal rebels during Sierra Leone's civil war in exchange for so-called blood diamonds.
20 / 27
Pamela Anderson Disses Janet Jackson - Proud PETA supporter and former “Baywatch” beauty Pamela Anderson is throwing some shade at Janet Jackson for wearing fur for BlackGlama. “It’s disappointing. She has spoken out against fur before. I don’t know why some people stop listening to their heart. I guess some people get greedy, but it’s sad,” she told Out magazine.
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21 / 27
Foxy Brown Faces Charges - Foxy Brown appeared in court Tuesday for charges stemming from a recent dispute with her neighbor, Arlene Raymond. The two women have a volatile history (Raymond has an order of protection against the rapper) and last week Foxy pleaded not guilty to charges of public lewdness, harassment and criminal contempt. She appeared in court with her new lawyer Salvatore Strazzullo, after her former lawyer decided to leave the case.
22 / 27
Berry Headed for Broadway - Actress Halle Berry is set to make her Broadway debut in Katori Hall’s “The Mountaintop.” The award-winning play is about the final hours in the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Berry will play the role of a maid who visits King in his room prior to his assassination.
23 / 27
DMX Sent Back to Jail - After just recently serving a sentence in an Arizona jail for violating probation, rapper DMX is heading back to jail in L.A. to serve a 90-day sentence for a 2002 reckless driving conviction. Court docs show DMX was found in violation of his probation in January and was supposed to surrender in March. He didn't appear in court and a judge revoked the rapper's $100,000 bail.
24 / 27
DC Pushes Female Condoms - In an effort to curb the spread of HIV in the nation’s capital – which has one of the highest infection rates in the country – Washington, D.C. is pushing the use of female condoms. Community groups are handing out 500,000 female condoms, which are also being advertised on local buses, and sold at CVS stores in the city. D.C. is the only place where the female condom can be obtained outside of a clinic or community group.
25 / 27
Powder, Crack Cocaine Laws Changed - On Wednesday, lawmakers voted to change controversial 25-year-old drug laws that gave longer prison terms for crack cocaine offenders (who are mostly Black) than offenders caught with the powder form of the drug (who are mostly White). Under the law, a person convicted of crack possession gets the same mandatory term as someone with 100 times the same amount of powder cocaine. During his presidential campaign, Obama said that the wide gap in sentencing "cannot be justified."
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26 / 27
Arizona Immigration Law Blocked - On Wednesday, just hours before it was to take effect, a federal judge ruled to block some of the most controversial parts of Arizona’s immigration law. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton delayed provisions that required immigrants to carry their papers and banned illegal immigrants from soliciting employment in public places. She also blocked officers from making warrant-less arrests of suspected illegal immigrants.