Bring That Week Back: Week of 9/27

Singer Mario is arrested for assault; Laila Ali is expecting again | plus more!

Deal Sending ‘Melo to Nets Falls Apart - A blockbuster deal involving four NBA teams to send the current Denver Nugget Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets fell apart late in the week, according to reports. Anthony says he’s committed to the Nuggets in the meantime, but also recently said there is a “50-50” chance he might not be in a Nugget jersey come opening night, leading many to believe the deal is not completely dead.

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Deal Sending ‘Melo to Nets Falls Apart - A blockbuster deal involving four NBA teams to send the current Denver Nugget Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets fell apart late in the week, according to reports. Anthony says he’s committed to the Nuggets in the meantime, but also recently said there is a “50-50” chance he might not be in a Nugget jersey come opening night, leading many to believe the deal is not completely dead.

First Black Doctor to Be Honored - James McCune Smith, the nation’s first Black doctor, was honored Sunday by his descendants who only recently learned that they had a Black ancestor. Smith (whose mother was a Black slave and his father White) might have been passing for White during his lifetime, scholars believe. After earning his medical degree in Scotland in 1937, he returned to Manhattan to treat the city’s poor. On Sunday, his family members gave his unmarked grave a marked new tombstone.

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First Black Doctor to Be Honored - James McCune Smith, the nation’s first Black doctor, was honored Sunday by his descendants who only recently learned that they had a Black ancestor. Smith (whose mother was a Black slave and his father White) might have been passing for White during his lifetime, scholars believe. After earning his medical degree in Scotland in 1937, he returned to Manhattan to treat the city’s poor. On Sunday, his family members gave his unmarked grave a marked new tombstone.

Laila Ali is Expecting - The daughter of boxing great Muhammad Ali is expecting her second child. “I am pregnant again! I’m three months, and I’m so excited, my family is excited,” she told People. “I’m hoping it’s a girl this time!” Ali and husband, former NFL player Curtis Conway, had their first child, Curtis Jr., in 2008.

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Laila Ali is Expecting - The daughter of boxing great Muhammad Ali is expecting her second child. “I am pregnant again! I’m three months, and I’m so excited, my family is excited,” she told People. “I’m hoping it’s a girl this time!” Ali and husband, former NFL player Curtis Conway, had their first child, Curtis Jr., in 2008.

Nigerian Floods - Recent floods in Nigeria have destroyed crops in the nation just before harvest. Flood waters now cover about 34 square miles of farmland throughout the rural Jigawa state. About 2 million people in the state have been displaced or affected by the flooding that began two week ago, according to an official.

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Nigerian Floods - Recent floods in Nigeria have destroyed crops in the nation just before harvest. Flood waters now cover about 34 square miles of farmland throughout the rural Jigawa state. About 2 million people in the state have been displaced or affected by the flooding that began two week ago, according to an official.

Carter Gets Sick on Plane - Former President Jimmy Carter was hospitalized on Tuesday after he developed an upset stomach on a flight to Cleveland. Carter, who was on a trip promoting his new book, stayed in a hospital overnight at his doctor’s recommendation. Doctors have kept him in the hospital until later in the week to run more medical tests. He’s in good spirits, his medical team reports.

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Carter Gets Sick on Plane - Former President Jimmy Carter was hospitalized on Tuesday after he developed an upset stomach on a flight to Cleveland. Carter, who was on a trip promoting his new book, stayed in a hospital overnight at his doctor’s recommendation. Doctors have kept him in the hospital until later in the week to run more medical tests. He’s in good spirits, his medical team reports.

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Terry McMillian Speaks Out on Will and Jada - On Wednesday, author Terry McMillian, who penned “Waiting to Exhale,” took aim at Hollywood power couple Will and Jada Smith via Twitter. “It feels like the Smith children are being pimped and exploited. Or they’re already hungry for fame,” she tweeted. “What about 4th grade?” She went on to refer to former child stars Lindsay Lohan and the late River Phoenix, both troubled by drug addiction, saying that they also missed out on their childhood.

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Terry McMillan Reunites with Her Ex on "Oprah" - Author Terry McMillan reunited once again with her gay ex-husband Jonathan Plummer this week on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Five years ago, Plummer, the center McMillans’ “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” book and movie, had an infamous showdown with her on the show following his revelation that he is gay, six years into their marriage. The two were friendlier on this recent show though, with Plummer saying that things between them are “great.”

NJ Student Commits Suicide - The body of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi was found Wednesday afternoon. The previous week he jumped off the George Washington Bridge after authorities say two classmates secretly recorded him having sex with a man in his dorm room and broadcast it over the Internet. Gay rights groups across the country decried the tragedy, calling it a “hate” crime.

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NJ Student Commits Suicide - The body of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi was found Wednesday afternoon. The previous week he jumped off the George Washington Bridge after authorities say two classmates secretly recorded him having sex with a man in his dorm room and broadcast it over the Internet. Gay rights groups across the country decried the tragedy, calling it a “hate” crime.

Bishop Long Scandal - This year, megachurch Bishop Eddie Long came under fire when four young men filed lawsuits against him accusing him of using his authority, along with cash and gifts, to lure them into sexual relationships. After weeks of silence, Long addressed his congregation late in September about the allegations saying that while he’s not “perfect,” he’s not the man being portrayed in the media. Recent reports indicate he’s looking to settle with the young men.

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Bishop Long Breaks His Silence - On Sunday, Bishop Eddie Long, who stands accused of coercing four young men into having sex with him using lavish gifts, finally spoke out. While not directly addressing the allegations, Long did say he’s “not a perfect man” and assured his congregation that “he was not the man being portrayed in the media.”

Jags Player Attacked in Cheerleader’s Home - On Monday, Kassim Osgood, a receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, jumped out of a second-floor window to escape a man armed with a gun who attacked him and a 19-year-old Jaguars cheerleader, Mackenzie Rae Putnal, police say. The man, Julian Armond Bartletto, 20, had exchanged gunfire with his ex-girlfriend Putnal after putting a gun to her head. Osgood suffered some minor injuries during the attack and while fleeing, but is doing “fine,” according to team head coach.

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Jags Player Attacked in Cheerleader’s Home - On Monday, Kassim Osgood, a receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, jumped out of a second-floor window to escape a man armed with a gun who attacked him and a 19-year-old Jaguars cheerleader, Mackenzie Rae Putnal, police say. The man, Julian Armond Bartletto, 20, had exchanged gunfire with his ex-girlfriend Putnal after putting a gun to her head. Osgood suffered some minor injuries during the attack and while fleeing, but is doing “fine,” according to team head coach.

Chrysler Fires Workers - On Monday, Chrysler fired 13 auto plant workers that a Detroit TV station caught drinking alcohol and smoking what might have been marijuana during their breaks. The company was able to ID the workers on the tape, and are pursuing the others, they told WJBK-TV in a Sept. 22 report.

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Chrysler Fires Workers - On Monday, Chrysler fired 13 auto plant workers that a Detroit TV station caught drinking alcohol and smoking what might have been marijuana during their breaks. The company was able to ID the workers on the tape, and are pursuing the others, they told WJBK-TV in a Sept. 22 report.

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Rahm Emanuel Steps Down - On Friday, President Obama announced that his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, is stepping down. Emanuel is said to be gearing up for a run for mayor of Chicago. In the interim, Obama appointed senior advisor Pete Rouse to the position, which he’ll likely serve out until the end of the year. Rouse, along with Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, are considered frontrunners to become the permanent chief of staff.

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Rahm Emanuel Steps Down - On Friday, President Obama announced that his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, is stepping down. Emanuel is said to be gearing up for a run for mayor of Chicago. In the interim, Obama appointed senior advisor Pete Rouse to the position, which he’ll likely serve out until the end of the year. Rouse, along with Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, are considered frontrunners to become the permanent chief of staff.

McNair Mourned - Nearly 5,000 turned out Saturday to say goodbye to 36-year-old NFL star Steve McNair, who was shot and killed on the Fourth of July by a girlfriend who then turned the gun on herself. McNair’s family, old friends and fans filed into the Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi, and McNair's family rented buses to haul in people from his hometown of Mount Olive.

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Steve McNair’s Widow Asks For $2.5M - Mechelle McNair, the widow of late NFL quarterback Steve McNair, is asking permission to give $2.5 million from his estate to his five sons, giving them $500,000 each. McNair, who was murdered last year, left behind no final will. His estate currently has nearly $20 million in assets.

Mario Cleared of Charges - Singer Mario, who was arrested in September for allegedly pushing his mother into a wall at the home they share, was cleared in November after prosecutors dropped the misdemeanor assault charges. His mother, Shawntia Hardaway, changed her story on the witness stand, saying that she was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when she called police on her son and that he had never laid a hand on her, said a spokesman for the Baltimore state’s attorney office.

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Mario Arrested for Allegedly Attacking Mom - On Friday morning, singer Mario was arrested in Baltimore for allegedly assaulting his mother. His mother, Shawntia Hardaway, told officers he “pushed her very hard [about] eight feet into a living room wall.” Mario was released on $50,000 bond, and his lawyer referenced Hardaway’s longtime battle with heroin addiction. "Anyone who has waged the battle to save loved ones from the forces of drugs knows the irrational behavior that almost always accompanies their actions.”

Nicole Hits Jamaica Hard - Tropical Storm Nicole ravaged Jamaica Wednesday, causing flooding and mudslides across the island, which have left two confirmed dead and at least 12 more missing.

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Nicole Hits Jamaica Hard - Tropical Storm Nicole ravaged Jamaica Wednesday, causing flooding and mudslides across the island, which have left two confirmed dead and at least 12 more missing.

LeBron Makes His Pick - Ending weeks of will-he-or-won't-he speculation, two-time MVP LeBron James announced in July that he's decided to join the Miami Heat and leave the Cleveland Cavaliers after an unsuccessful seven-year quest for the ring he covets. "I can't say it was always in my plans, because I never thought it was possible," James said in a made-for-LeBron live show on ESPN. As a result, LeBron got plenty of flak from his former hometown fans and heard chants such as “Akron Hates You!”

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Was Race a Factor? - Could fallout over LeBron James’ nationally televised July announcement to play with the Miami Heat have been about race? Named “The Decision,” the ESPN special caused many fans to view James as a disloyal egomaniac. When CNN asked James in a recent interview if race had anything to do with the backlash he answered, “I think so, at times. There’s always a race factor.”

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Michigan Man Owes More Than $500,000 in Support - Howard Veal, 44, who stands accused of fathering 23 children with 14 women, owes more than $533,000 in back child support. On Thursday, a judge sentenced him to 2-4 years in prison. While in court, he cast doubt on whether he actually fathered all of the children in question and said he pays what he’s able to from his unemployment checks. That didn’t stop the judge from laying into him, calling him “an insult to every responsible father who sacrifices to provide for their children.”

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Michigan Man Owes More Than $500,000 in Support - Howard Veal, 44, who stands accused of fathering 23 children with 14 women, owes more than $533,000 in back child support. On Thursday, a judge sentenced him to 2-4 years in prison. While in court, he cast doubt on whether he actually fathered all of the children in question and said he pays what he’s able to from his unemployment checks. That didn’t stop the judge from laying into him, calling him “an insult to every responsible father who sacrifices to provide for their children.”

Acid Attack Hoax ’Victim’ Pleads Not Guilty - Bethany Storro, the Washington state woman who admitted to throwing acid in her own face after she originally stated a Black woman did it back in September, ended up pleading not guilty to charges associated with the incident. Storro allegedly accepted donations following the “attack,” and spent nearly $1,500 of the almost $28,000 donated to her. She is facing second-degree theft charges. Her parents have indicated that all of the donated money will be returned.

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Acid Attack Hoax ’Victim’ Pleads Not Guilty - Bethany Storro, the Washington state woman who has admitted to throwing acid in her own face after she originally stated a Black woman did it, pleaded not guilty to charges associated with the incident. Storro allegedly accepted donations following the “attack,” and spent nearly $1,500 of the almost $28,000 donated to her. She is facing second-degree theft charges. Her parents have indicated that all of the donated money will be returned.

Drake - Last year he got nominated twice off a mixtape, but now that his debut, Thank Me Later, has finally hit stores and sold over 1 million units, the Canadian MC has doubled his nominations: he's up for Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for "Over" and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Fancy."

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Fan Gets into Scuffle With Drake and Bodyguard - A Florida fan plans to sue rapper Drake, after a violent incident following a concert in Jacksonville left him with six stitches. According to Jeremis Perez Soriano, the rapper’s bodyguard hit him in the face for reasons unknown. “Before I got to say his name, [his bodyguard] punched me in the mouth and I fell back,” he told a local news station. “These are the same people that are buying your CDs. You shouldn’t treat us like that,” he added. Soriano says he only wants his medical bills covered.

Boston Shooting Kills 4, Including Toddler - On Tuesday, police officials in Boston searched the city for clues and suspects after four people, including a toddler, were shot and killed in an execution-type crime earlier that morning. Some of the victims were dragged from a house and killed in the street, an activist told reporters. There are no known motives and no suspects have been identified, Police arrested one man, Kimani Washington, on Friday on firearms charges and want to question him about the shootings.

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Boston Shooting Kills 4, Including Toddler - On Tuesday, police officials in Boston searched the city for clues and suspects after four people, including a toddler, were shot and killed in an execution-type crime earlier that morning. Some of the victims were dragged from a house and killed in the street, an activist told reporters. There are no known motives and no suspects have been identified, Police arrested one man, Kimani Washington, on Friday on firearms charges and want to question him about the shootings.

Reggae Star Freed - Jamaican reggae singer Buju Banton was released from a Florida jail Wednesday to await a retrial on federal drug charges. Stephen Marley, son of Bob Marley, posted his home bond. Banton stands accused of trying to buy cocaine from an undercover officer and was held since last December. But after his trial in September, jurors couldn’t reach a verdict and the judge declared a mistrial.

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Banton’s Mistrial - On Monday, a Florida judge declared a mistrial in the drug case against reggae star Buju Banton, who is charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and aiding two others in possessing a firearm during the course of cocaine distribution after he tried to buy cocaine from an undercover officer last year. The jury, who had been deliberating for a couple of days, has not been able to come to a unanimous verdict.

Long Accuser Speaks Out - One of Bishop Long’s accusers, 23-year-old Jamal Parris, spoke to a local Atlanta TV reporter in an interview that aired during the week. "That man cannot look me in my eye and tell me we did not live this pain... You are not a man, you are a monster,” he said. He’s one of the four alleged victims sexually coerced by the Bishop.

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Long Accuser Speaks Out - One of Bishop Long’s accusers, 23-year-old Jamal Parris, spoke to a local Atlanta TV reporter in an interview that aired during the week. "That man cannot look me in my eye and tell me we did not live this pain... You are not a man, you are a monster,” he said. He’s one of the four alleged victims sexually coerced by the Bishop.