News One » NewsOne Staff

Black Baby Doll Found Hanging From A Noose

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:00:46 +0000

An investigation is under way after an African American employee of the New York City Parks and Recreations Department discovered a black baby doll hanging from a noose on Tuesday.

The letters “KKK” were also found scratched into the wall of the bathroom.

A statement issued by NYC Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe reads:

The Parks Department does not tolerate hateful acts such as this or any form of discrimination. We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for all staff. We immediately reported this incident to the NYPD and are fully cooperating in their investigation.

Why Do People Think Tyler Perry Is Gay?

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:08:09 +0000

Ever since Tyler Perry appeared as the cross-dressing grandma character, Madea, people have speculated on the filmmaker’s sexuality.

And despite word that Perry is to engaged to an Ethiopian model, rumors that he is gay continue to surface.

A piece published today by Madamenoir takes the Tyler Perry gay speculation head on, asking “why do people think Tyler Perry is gay.”

Perry’s been dealing with the question marks about his sexuality since he and Madea sashayed from the “chittlin circuit” some time ago. Although he has not shied away from the rumors, publicly stating several times that he is in fact straight, the rumor has persisted.

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Fast Food Burger Chain Considers Alcohol Sales

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:57:43 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — White Castle, a 90-year-old hamburger chain known for its square “slider” burgers, is sipping on the idea of offering alcoholic beverages as it tests beer and wine sales at a restaurant in Indiana.

The food famously craved by stoners in the 2004 movie “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” can be had with a glass of wine or a domestic or seasonal beer at a Lafayette, Ind., restaurant that fuses a conventional White Castle with a new concept for the company called Blaze Modern BBQ. Wine costs $4.50 and beers start at $3.

“This was something that customers had been suggesting,” said Jamie Richardson, a spokesman for Columbus-based White Castle System Inc. “They thought that beer and wine might go nicely with the barbecue that was available at Blaze. We’re certain that we might have some customers who might enjoy some sliders and a beer or wine as well.”

Other fast-food restaurants also are dabbling with alcohol. Earlier this year, Burger King opened the Whopper Bar South Beach, a restaurant in Miami Beach offering beer, and Starbucks Corp. has been testing beer and wine at a few sites.

The companies see alcoholic beverages as a growth opportunity after years of flat sales, said David Henkes, a vice president with the Chicago-based food research firm Technomic. “Alcohol is one of those things that is extremely profitable to the operator,” he said.

White Castle’s beer and wine tryout is part of a broader experiment with three new concepts that the company has been studying for a little over a year, Richardson said Wednesday. Besides Blaze Modern BBQ, there’s also an Asian food brand, Laughing Noodle, at a White Castle in Springfield, Ohio, and a triple-decker sandwich concept, Deckers, in Lebanon, Tenn.

Customers have had a “very positive” reaction to the alcoholic beverages offered in Indiana, but for now, White Castle is considering only whether to expand them to the two other co-branded restaurants, Richardson said.

White Castle would face challenges trying to roll out beer and wine on a wider scale, Henkes said.

“What we find with fast-food places is, there’s very strict regulations around training. Typically, a lot of the employees in fast food are under 21, so you get into some service issues,” he said. “You get into some inventory issues. You get into whether distributors are willing to deliver to you because you’re generally not doing a whole lot of volume in these categories.”

Adding beer and wine to the menu sounds fine to lifelong White Castle fan Jim Kreml of Elk River, Minn. – even though he’s a teetotaler. “I know my wife would love that because she is a wine drinker,” said Kreml, the operator of a chimney-cleaning business who acknowledged he eats at the restaurants “a couple of times a week.”

Kreml, named in 2009 to White Castle’s Cravers Hall of Fame, said Wednesday that he would expect alcoholic beverage options to be popular with many slider aficionados. “If they’re of age and they drink that already, I think they’d be happy with that. As long as they’re responsible and don’t sit in there, and that’s not party time,” he said.

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Fire Fiend Stole Keys, Harrassed Victim For Months

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:46:41 +0000

Jerome “Jerry” Isaac, the Brooklyn man accused of setting a 73-year-old grandmother on fire in her building’s elevator, harassed his victim for months, family members say.

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According to reports, Issac stole keys to Delores Gillespie’s apartment and repeatedly jammed the locks every time she changed them.

Issac claims she owed him more than $2,100 for odd jobs he did in her apartment, but according to members of the victims family, Issac apparently snapped when she refused to pay him anything after she caught him stealing her belongings.

Maurice Gillespie, 37, Norris’ dad, said his mother “put tape on her door” to check if anyone had opened it while she was out, and “changed the locks every two weeks.”

Diddy Leaving Music To Start Another Liquor Brand?

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:33:43 +0000

After having already built Ciroc into one of the most successful Vodka brands, Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs told wants to expand his role in the liquor industry.

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Speaking with AdWeek, Combs hinted at launching a tequila brand, saying he has been spending time in Mexico learning about the art of tequila.

Combs also spoke of transitioning out of the music industry onto the big-screen, where he’s also been successful as a television executive producer.

I’ve had six shows on the air at one time. I don’t say that in a braggadocio way. But you should definitely remember this conversation and look back at it and say, “I remember he told me he was going to make some huge announcements.

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Saudi Prince Invests $300 Million In Twitter

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:10:45 +0000

Prince Walid bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, who owns 95 percent of Kingdom Holding, recently announced that he invested $300 million in the popular social media site Twitter.

According to reports, Prince Walid’s purchase was part of a strategy “to invest in promising, high-growth businesses with a global impact.”

Twitter has been increasingly popular in the Arab world, where it was credited with playing a role in the recent social uprisings across North Africa and the Persian Gulf. Arabic-language messaging is the fastest-growing segment on Twitter, according to the data intelligence company Semiocast.

Read more at the New York Times.

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NewsOne’s Top Scandals Of 2011

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:51:49 +0000

From action heroes to political figures, 2011 saw its fair share of high profile scandals and controversies.

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Below is a list of scandals from the past year that rocked NewsOne.

7. News Corp. Phone Tapping

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., the parent company of cable news channel Fox news, found itself in hot water when it was revealed that journalists at British tabloid News of the World had illegally accessed voice mails, bribed law enforcement officers and exercised improper influence in the pursuit of publishing stories. Amidst the scandal, it was even alleged that News Corp. journalists tapped into the phones of 9/11 victims. [washingtonpost.com]

6. Weinergate

In May, news surfaced that the New York Democrat had sent racy pictures (including one of his crotch) to various young women that he had inappropriate online relationships with via Twitter. Initially Weiner denied the allegations, claiming he had never met, or had a physical relationship with any of the women. But after days of scruntiny in the media, and after more pictures surfaced, Weiner finally admitted sending sexually explicit photos and messages to women both before and during his marriage. Weiner resigned from office weeks after the story broke. [politico.com]

5. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Love Child

Hollywood icon and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, shocked America when it came to light that he had fathered a baby with a member of his household staff. According to statements by Gigi Goyette, Schwarzenegger’s alleged mistress and other of his love child, she and Arnold met in 1975, when she was just 16 years old. In the wake of the allegations, Schwarzenegger’s wife, Maria Shriver, divorced the former action star after more than 25 years of marriage. [abcnews.go.com]

4. Fast and Furious Sting Operation

A sting operation by the ATF aimed at cracking down on illegal gun-running became news after it was discovered that the agency lost track of hundreds of huns originally owned by the U.S. government that started showing up at the scenes of violent crimes in Mexico — including the murder of a U.S. border agent. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder, who took much of the blame in the media, testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee that while the tactics were inappropriate he or and other top level officials had no knowledge that it was in use. [latimes.com]

3. DSK Sexual Assault Allegations

In May, Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned after it was alleged that the former IMF head sexually assaulted a maid at a New York City hotel. Kahn was detained by New York authorities boarding a plane to France and placed on house arrest as an investigation ensued. According to reports, the hotel housekeeper’s account was so compelling that it brought tears to the eyes of investigators. And yet, the subsequent charges were later dropped after doubts about the maid’s credibility surfaced. [nydailynews.com]

2. Penn State Sex Abuse Scandal

Former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky became better known as an accused child molester when it surfaced in the news that at least eight underage boy claimed he has inappropriate sexual contact with them dating from 1994 to 2009. While Sandusky continues to maintain his innocence, he has admitted to showering with young boys. Longtime Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, the winningest coach in college footbal history, and school president Graham Spanier over how the school handled child sex abuse allegations against Sandusky. [nytimes.com]

1. Herman Cain Sexual Harassment

The unconventional Republican presidential hopeful and the former head of Godfather’s Pizza chain was leading the GOP field before his campaign took a wild turn when numerous women came forward alleging sexual harassment, and in one case, a 13-year extramarital affair. While Cain denied the accusations, his shady handling of the situation ultimately led to him dropping out of the race. [politico.com]

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Detroit’s “Hustle Boys” Gang Indicted For Alleged Drug Pipeline

NewsOne Staff — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:18:44 +0000

Ten members of an Detroit drug gang were indicted on various drug charges, including using women to transport drugs across state lines, Thursday in federal court following an FBI investigation.

Members of the Hustle Boys, a gang formed to promote and organize parties at area nightclubs, allegedly charged admission and sold drugs at the parties in addition to trafficking drugs to and from various states.

“The hard work of dedicated FBI agents, Detroit Police, Michigan State Police and other members of the Violent Crime Task Force helped result in these arrests and ultimately making the streets of Detroit safer,” FBI spokesman Simon Shaykhet said Friday.

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“If I Were A Poor Black Kid” Author Respond To Critics

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:03:10 +0000

Days after Forbes columnist Gene Marks wrote the highly controversial and viral “If I Were A Poor Black Kid” article, numerous pundits and opinion leaders from around the Web have weighed in.

Writer and Director of Digital for The Onion, Baratunde Thurston offered a satirical retort, underhandedly accusing Marks of being out of touch with his assumptions.

On Thursday, Marks responded to Thurston:

What do I know about being a “poor black kid?” Absolutely nothing. I’m a middle class white guy. But I went to school. So I know about that. And I’m in the business of technology. So I know about that.

Former NBA Employee: League Ignored Sexual Harassment

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:49:42 +0000

A former National Basketball Association security official is suing the league, alleging that he was fired for warning his superiors that women in the office were being sexually harassed or discriminated against.

Warren Glover, 50, filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court Thursday morning accusing senior N.B.A. security officials of creating a hostile environment and being denied promotions because of his willingness to speak out.

In one instance, Glover said a senior security official made sexual advances toward a female colleague, then demeaned her publicly when she rejected his advances. In another, a different security official proposed using sexually inappropriate material as part of a presentation to N.B.A. players.

Read more at the New York Times.

Sarah Palin Can’t Sell New Reality Show

“The Help” Receives Five Golden Globe Nominations

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:28:03 +0000

The Help, the film adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s bestselling novel about black maids in Mississippi in the 1960s, received five Golden Globe nominations Thursday.

In addition to the best drama nomination, Viola Davis received a nomination for best actress in a drama. While Jessica Chastain and Octavia Davis were both received best supporting actress in a motion picture nods.

The nominations are among the first major honors on the long road to the Feb. 26 Academy Awards. The SAG list of contenders and Golden Globe nominees that will be announced Thursday help sort out favorites from also-rans for Oscar voters, whose nominations come out Jan. 24.

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More Children Homeless As A Result Of U.S. Economic Downturn

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:13:43 +0000

A new study released Tuesday by the National Center on Family Homelessness reports that a growing number of children are being left without a roof over their heads as result of America’s economic downturn.

According to the report one in every 45 children in the U.S. are homeless.

“Throughout the country we see a man made disaster caused by financial speculation and the collapse of the housing market.” According to the study, the recession period between 2007 and 2010 lead to a 38 percent spike in homelessness amongst children. 1.6 million American children go to bed at night without a permanent place to call home, roughly one hundred thousand more than in 2006, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Troy Davis’ Remembered, Nephew Publishes Obituary

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:16:10 +0000

Until the day Troy Davis was executed, his nephew, Antone De’Jaun Correia visited him every other week from the day he was born.

This past week The Guardian published an obituary for Davis written by his nephew.

The Guardian reports:

What Troy did for me in my life will never be forgotten Now I’m hoping to go to Georgia Tech to study robotic engineering. With good work put in, good things come out. My uncle helped me understand that, and I really can’t thank him enough.

Activist Beaten Protesting Blackface Christmas Tradition

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:30:18 +0000

An activist was beaten and arrested at a Dutch Christmas celebration after attempting to call attention to the racist depiction of Zwarte Piet, a beloved Santa’s-helper folk character in the Netherlands.

For the last few years, activists have worked to reform or change Zwarte Piet. In 2007, Piet’s face was depicted as multicolored instead of black.

“I am afraid to say — and I know this will not go down well with many Dutch white people — that Black Pete is tainted beyond redemption,” Flavia Dzodan, a South American-born, Amsterdam-based activist said. “There is no redeemable quality in this character in its current incarnation. There is no going around the racist nature of a character that acts as a de facto slave for a white saint, who is portrayed as clumsy and mischievous, who is used as an instrument to instill fear in children who misbehave.”

Oprah’s OWN Network Wants Her Black Audience Back

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:21:21 +0000

Oprah Winfrey, having largely geared her brand towards Middle-American white women over the course of her rising career, is now working to regain her Black audience.

Struggling to attract a large viewership nearly eleven months since her fledgling OWN network premiered, Winfrey, the network executives, is switching up her game plan, acknowledging that she is going after black audiences.

The Grio reports:

Though it’s nice to know that we’ll be getting more shows out of Ms. Oprah, it’s hard not to harbor some resentment at being her ugly-duckling-turned-swan, reckoning Winfrey’s sudden change of heart with virtually being ignored for years.

Obama: GOP Wanted To Take Me Down, Not Fix Country’s Problems

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:32:53 +0000

In what may have been one of his most candid interviews to-date, President Barack Obama levied highly contentious charges against his Republicans rivals, accusing them of willingly allowing the economy to tank in order to regain the White House.

Speaking with 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft in an interview that aired Sunday night, the president said Republicans chose to stand on the sidelines while the economy worsened so that they could capitalize on blaming him.

“When I came into office in 2008, it was my firm belief that at such an important moment in our history, there was no reason why Democrats and Republicans couldn’t put some of the old ideological baggage aside and focus on common sense, what works, practical solutions to the tough problems we were facing,” Obama told “60 Minutes”.

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Virginia Tech Shooter Changed Clothes To Escape

NewsOne Staff — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:53:02 +0000

The man suspected of fatally shooting an officer Thursday at Virginia Tech University worked to escape by changing his clothes in a campus greenhouse, according to sources close to the investigation.

The suspect’s escape was foiled when another officer spotted him acting funny parking lot. The man shot and killed himself as the officer approached the rental car he had car-jacked earlier in the day to get to campus, source say.

The man who shot officer Deriek Crouse remains publicly unidentified, but police say he wasn’t a student or affiliated with the school.

One-Year-Old Shooting Victim To Be Taken Off Life Support

NewsOne Staff — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:13:59 +0000

The lawyer for the family of a one-year-old who was shot in the head last week in Oakland, Calif. said the child is brain dead and will soon be taken off life support, KRON 4 News reports.

Baby Hiram Lawrence was one of seven victims wounded a week ago when gunmen opened fire on a group of people watching the filming of a rap video in West Oakland.

Family members were gathering at the hospital Thursday afternoon to say their final goodbyes to the baby. The family has cleared the hospital to comment on the case. A statement is expected soon.

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Really?! Taco Bell To Unveil Doritos Taco

NewsOne Staff — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:40:37 +0000

After years of being accused of filling its tacos with a fake meat mixture, the fast food restaurant chain Taco Bell is reinventing its staple with shells made of nacho cheese-flavored Doritos.

BBQ Hot Spot Has Cult-Like Following

The tacos, which debuted earlier this year in California’s San Joaquin Valley, are now making their way across the country as parent compnay Yum Brands looks to separate Taco Bell from its competitors.

The fillings on the Dorito-clad tacos are said to be spiced more mildly than those in traditional tacos, to help compensate for the extra flavor in the shell.

NBA Rejects Deal To Send Chris Paul To The Lakers

NewsOne Staff — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:16:40 +0000

A trade that would have sent New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers was vetoed Thursday night N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern.

Read more at the New York Times.

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Detroit Robbery Victim Gives Life To Save His Wife

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:37:41 +0000

A Detroit man is being hailed as a hero after he gave his own life in a robbery so that his wife could be spared.

Tommie Caldwell, 63, was fatally shot when robbers entered the northwest Detroit home he shared with his wife.

Caldwell was forced back into his home by a gunman Wednesday morning as he exited to head to work.

According to reports, Caldwell struggled with the man and begged him not to hurt his wife before he was fatally wounded. His 64-year-old wife, Alberta Caldwell, was spared.

“He begged them not to hurt her because she’s in remission,” Alberta Caldwell’s sister Ethel Jackson said, explaining that Alberta has been battling breast cancer. “He told her that they were being robbed.”

Al Sharpton Spearheads Multi-City Rally

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:21:37 +0000

As African American unemployment hovers at a dismal 15 percent and voter ID laws threaten to undermine the political power of millions of Blacks and Latinos, Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) in a partnership with the labor union AFSCME, clergy, labor and civil rights leaders from around the nation are staging a multi-city rally on Friday, December 9to bring attention to key economic and equality issues.

The rallies are expected to attract thousands of activists and citizens in cities that are the most effected by joblessness, and by attacks on workers and voters rights.

New York

Philadelphia

Cleveland

Indianapolis

Atlanta

Chicago

Houston

Las Vegas

Memphis

Baltimore

Detroit

Boston

Newark

are among the more the 25 cities that will hold rallies.

According to an NAN press release:

In recent years, too many American families have lost economic ground. Over the decade ending in 2009, median family income fell by $3,800. And the gap between the wealthiest Americans and those with the least is growing every day, making it tougher to enter into the middle class. With African American unemployment at an unacceptable 15%, this is a clear sign that we need action-inaction is not an option. Black layoffs have only skyrocketed as the public sector – heavily comprised of a Black workforce – continues to slash jobs. And as a result, not only has Black wealth diminished, but so too has the existence of much of this nation’s Black middle class itself. Black, White or Brown – that is a startling reality that should have all of us deeply concerned.

For more information including locations and times in each city please visit:

www.nationalactionnetwork.net

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Sandusky Accuser: I Screamed For Help From Wife

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:23:01 +0000

According to testimony by new to accusers, Jerry Sandusky allegedly molested young boys at his residence even when his wife was home.

Innocent Man Fully Exonerated Of Rape Charges After 27 Years

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:43:04 +0000

A virginia man who spent 27 years behind bars for a rape he did not commit was officially declared an innocent man by a Virginia appeals court on Tuesday.

Suspect Arrested In Sexual Assault, Killing Of 7-Year-Old Georgia Girl

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:38:53 +0000

Police have arrested a suspect in the murder and sexual assault of Jorelys Rivera, the 7-year-old Georgia girl who body was found htree days after she went missing from her apartment complex, sources say.

According to reports, the killer lived in or had ready access to the apartment complex where Rivera lived.

She was last seen alive Friday near a playground at her apartment complex. Police initially thought she might have wandered off, but, after more than 48 hours of searching, they said they believed she was kidnapped.

Why Gun Sales Are At A Record High

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:08:39 +0000

This Black Friday, Americans bought more guns than they ever have, breaking the previous single-day record set back in 2008 by nearly a third.

And while analyst attribute the 2008 numbers to fears that Obama would outlaw certain types of firearms, they contend that the current surge is part of a long-term trend.

“When Obama was elected, I think people rushed out and stocked up on their tactical rifles,” Bret Jordan, analyst at investment firm Avondale Partners said, referring to military-style weapons that were potential targets of legislative restrictions.

More recently, though, the focus has switched to handguns. In spite of the economic downturn, “The category of firearm that has continued to sell very well is something one would have if they were concerned about their personal safety,” Jordan said.

Cain Mistress: Herman Couldn’t Swing The ‘Cain’ Strong Enough

NewsOne Staff — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:08:15 +0000

“One time we were having sex, and I was looking up at the ceiling, thinking about, ‘What am I going to buy at the grocery store tomorrow?,”Ginger White, the Atlanta businesswoman who alleges she had a 13-year extramarital affair with Herman Cain, said in an exclusive interview with the Daily Beast.

White’s admission comes in what is perhaps the most revealing look into allegations waged against Cain, the Republican presidential candidate who recently bowed out of the race after several women, including White, alleged they had inappropriate relations with Cain.

In the interview, White talks to the Daily Beast about how Cain’s arrogance inspired her to go public, how Cain thought the ‘man was always right’ and how she thinks his wife Gloria is in denial.

The Daily Beast Reports:

“I was pretty amazed at how a person could just come up to you at a cocktail party, and an hour and a half later he wanted me to follow him to his hotel room to plan our first trip to Palm Springs,” said White, who was then working as a clerk at a transportation company.

HBCU Funding On The Chopping Block

NewsOne Staff — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:11:58 +0000

HBCUs could lose as much as $85 million a year in federal support as Congress looks to make deficit-reducing budget cuts, the Root reports.

But now, just when the country needs HBCUs the most, many in Congress want to slash the federal support HBCUs receive by more than a third — $85 million — even if it means slashing HBCUs’ contribution to the country’s economic and social health.

Chris Rock On Black Film: “Might As Well Be Making An iPad”

NewsOne Staff — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:35:42 +0000

“In the old days, they used to have signs up, ‘Whites Only, Whites Only.’ Now they have a new thing. It’s called prices?,” comedian Chris Rock said of the racial make-up of his audience on the latest episode of Alec Baldwin’s WNYC interview podcast, Here’s the Thing.

DEA Launders Money For Mexican Drug Cartels

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:42:29 +0000

Undercover US agents have laundered and smuggled millions of dollars in drug money for Mexican drug cartels in an efforts to learn how these criminal organizations move their money, where they keep their assets and root out their leaders, the New York Times reports.

While DEA officials declined to discuss the details of the operation, citing concerns about compromising their investigations, critics say these efforts violate the law and are turning undercover agents into crime facilitators.

“My rule was that if we are going to launder money, we better show results. Otherwise, the D.E.A. could wind up being the largest money launderer in the business, and that money results in violence and deaths.”

CBC Pushes To Extend Unemployment Benefits

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:05:42 +0000

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus spoke on the House floor for the extension of the Federal Unemployment Compensation Act.

With unemployment across the U.S. at 9 percent, Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II and members of the CBC called for extending jobless benefits beyond the current expiration date of Dec. 31.

“It is virtually impossible to live any kind of productive life without hope,” Cleaver said on the house floor. “And there are millions of Americans who unfortunately cannot place their hope in this body.”

Report: Chris Paul Requests To Be Traded To The Knicks

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:17:40 +0000

The New York Daily News is reporting that New Orleans Hornet guard Chris Paul has asked to be traded to the New York Knicks.

While speculation of the deal sounds great for New York sports fans, the Daily News says it is not the likely since the Knicks would have to trade either Amar’e Stoudemire or Carmelo Anthony to secure Paul.

The New york Daily News reports:

Hornets general manager Dell Demps, a former Knicks scout, wants to meet with Paul to gauge whether he wants to be traded, Yahoo! Sports said.

Bronx High School Under Investigation In Course Credit Scam

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:03:44 +0000

Department of education officials in New York are investigating a Bronx high school accused of giving students credit for courses they never took.

According to the New York Daily News, Jane Addams High School principal Sharron Smalls is under investigation for alledgedly awarding bogus credits to hundreds of students dating back to 2008.

The allegations, which teachers and staff at the school are backing, stand to jeopardize graduation for half of the current senior class.

The New York Daily News Reports:

Beauty classes passed for studying the periodic tables, said furious teachers who insisted that the school hasn’t even had a chemistry instructor since 2009.

Kids in tourism classes — which covered topics like managing the front desk at a hotel — were also credited as having taken geography, where students learn to map countries around the world.

Deputy Commissioner Will Recommend Firing Sean Bell Shooter

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:02:43 +0000

A source close to the trial of two New York City Police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Sean Bell says the deputy commissioner overseeing the proceedings overseeing the case will recommend that Detective Gescard Isnora be fired, NY1 reports.

According to reports, the deputy commissioner will recommend to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly that Isnora, who allegedly instigated the incident, be found guilty and fired from the force.

The police commissioner has the final say in the case. He is expected to go along with the deputy commissioner’s recommendation.

NFL All-Pro Chester McGlockton Dead Of Apparent Heart Attack

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:35:20 +0000

Former NFL all-pro defensive lineman Chester McGlockton died an apparent heart attack Wednesday at the age of 42, Stanford University is reporting.

A former first round pick of the then-Los Angeles Raiders, McGlockton played 12 seasons with the Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and New York Jets.

McGlockton registered 555 tackles, 51 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and four interceptions in his career. He made four straight Pro Bowl trips starting in 1994, when he had a career-high 9½ sacks with three forced fumbles and 48 tackles for the Raiders.

Jhessye Shockley’s Mother Released From Police Custody

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:59:47 +0000

Jerice Hunter, the missing five-year old Jhessye Shockley, was released from jail earlier this week after prosecutors failed to file charges against her within the required time limit.

According to reports, Hunter, 38, was released after police missed the required 48-hour time limit of Hunter’s first court appearance.

Despite her release, police say hunter is still a suspect and charges against her may be filed in the future.

After searching for Jhessye for weeks, the police arrested Ms. Hunter last Monday and held her in $100,000 bail. At a news conference the afternoon of the arrest, Sergeant Coombs said that Ms. Hunter was a suspect in Jhessye’s disappearance and that the police presumed that the child was dead.

Read more at the New York Times.

Assemblyman Arrested Taking Bribes To Pay Lawyers In Old Bribe Case

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:01:35 +0000

Federal authorities arrested Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland Jr. for the second time this year yesterday on charges that he took bribes to pay lawyers defending him against old bribe charges.

Boyland sought more than $250,000 in bribes in exchange for his promise to secure local development projects, authorities said yesterday.

The accusations come only weeks after Boyland was acquitted by a Manhattan federal jury this month in a crooked health-care kickback scheme.

In one exchange, recorded by an undercover fed posing as a developer, Boyland practically begs his new “partner” for a quarter-million dollars to help pay the lawyers defending him in the Manhattan case.

“I have legal fees for this thing,” Boyland tells the agent in a June 7 meeting. “I have to hire a good attorney.”

Free Lunch Programs Surge As Families Weather Economic Downturn

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:57:01 +0000

Millions of American school children are receiving free or reduced lunches for the first time as America’s economic downturn has left many middle-class families struggling to make it.

The number of students recieiving subsidized lunch rose 17 percent since the 2006, according to Department of Agriculture data gathered by the New York Times. Eleven states had four-year increases of 25 percent or more.

“These are very large increases and a direct reflection of the hardships American families are facing,” said Benjamin Senauer, a University of Minnesota economist who studies the meals program, adding that the surge had happened so quickly “that people like myself who do research are struggling to keep up with it.”

Read more at the New York Times.

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Patrice O’Neal

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:17:24 +0000

While comedian Patrice O’Neal is best known for his stand-up act and numerous television appearances, few realize the multiplicity of his comedic contributions.

Never shy when it came to confronting controversial issues, O’Neal had knack for making the most contentious subjects something to laugh about.

On November 28, 2011 O’Neal passed away from complications of a stroke he suffered weeks earlier. In the wake of his passing, we explore some of the little known fact about his career and life.

1. Nothing Like Home

O’Neal was born and raised in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, where he was raised by his mother. [www.enotes.com]

2. Named After A Revolutionary

O’Neal’s was named after Patrice Lumumba, the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo. [www.enotes.com]

3. Student-Athlete

O’Neal was recruited to play football for Northeastern University fooball, but quit football to study theatre arts. [www.enotes.com]

4. First Television Appearance

O’Neal’s first television appearance came on The Apollo Comedy Hour, where he performed Malcom XXL. From there, he moved on to Showtime at the Apollo and various other television appearances. [www.tmz.com]

5. World Wrestling Entertainment

O’Neal worked a breif stint as a writer and creative team member for WWE, the professional wrestling company started by Vince McMahon. [www.prowrestling.net]

6. Chappelle’s Show

O’Neal appeared on Chappelle’s Show during its first season, starring as a character named Pit Bull. [www.imdb.com]

7. What You Talking ‘Bout Willis

O’Neal once played an adult-sized Gary Coleman in an Internet sitcom called Break a Leg. [wikipedia.org]

8. Statutory Rape Controversy

In 2010, O’Neal was denied entry into Canada because of a statutory rape case that dated back to 1986 when he was 16. [www.cbc.ca]

9. Grand Theft Auto

O’Neal starred as the voice of Jeffron James, a character on an in-game radio show in Grand Theft Auto IV. [wikipedia.org]

10. Elephant In The Room

In 2011, Comedy Central aired O’Neal’s first hour-long special, Elephant in the Room. [wikipedia.org]

African Americans Hit Hardest As Government Sheds Jobs

NewsOne Staff — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:15:23 +0000

While America’s economic downturn has been devastating to the middle class as a whole, middle-class African-American government workers have suffered disproportionately in terms of layoffs and unemployment.

About one in five black workers have public-sector jobs, and according to economists and recent government data, tens of thousand of middle-class African-American government workers, have been laid off since the recession ended in June 2009.

Though the precise number of African-Americans who have lost public-sector jobs nationally since 2009 is unclear, observers say the current situation in Chicago is typical. There, nearly two-thirds of 212 city employees facing layoffs are black, according to theAmerican Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union.

Read more at the New York Times.