Charges Against ‘New Black Panthers’ Dropped by Obama Justice Deptartment
May 30, 2009
Charges brought against three members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense under the Bush administration have been dropped by the Obama Justice Department, FOX News has learned.
The charges stemmed from an incident at a Philadelphia polling place on Election Day 2008 when three members of the party were accused of trying to threaten voters and block poll and campaign workers by the threat of force — one even brandishing what prosecutors call a deadly weapon.
Pictured: New Black Panther Party members march toward the gates of Duke University as they surround their leader, Malik Z. Shabazz (Back-C) May 1, 2006 in Durham, North Carolina. The action follows allegations of a sexual assault of a woman hired as a private dancer to a party attended by Duke lacrosse team members on March 13. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)
Obama Setting Up Better Security For Computers
May 30, 2009
America has for too long failed to adequately protect the security of its computer networks, President Barack Obama said Friday, announcing he will name a new cyber czar to take on the job.
Surrounded by a host of government officials, aides and corporate executives, Obama said this is a “transformational moment” for the country, where computer networks are probed and attacked millions of times a day.
“We’re not as prepared as we should be, as a government or as a country,” he said, calling cyber threats one of the most serious economic and military dangers the nation faces.
Pictured: US President Barack Obama speaks on securing cyber infrastructure May 29, 2009 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Plans to reorganize the US government’s approach to IT security come amid a growing threat of cyber spying and attacks, including reported breaches of the US electricity grid and the F-35 fighter jet program. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
African AIDS activists slam US funding shortfall
May 30, 2009
Health activists said Tuesday that a shortfall in promised U.S. funding for HIV/AIDS projects would affect over 30 million people and means President Barack Obama risks reversing the gains made by his predecessor.
“Such projects are like planes … they must have a forward momentum or they will stall and crash,” said Dr. Paul Zeitz, the executive director of the Global AIDS Alliance.
He singled out a reduced rate of funding for President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a pet project of President George W. Bush that is credited with saving millions of lives.
Dr. Dre debuts “Detox” in Dr. Pepper ad
May 30, 2009
It may just be a few seconds of music, but Dr. Dre fans will remember the new Dr. Pepper ad as the spot where they heard the first officially released beats from his much-delayed album “Detox.”
The L.A.-based hip-hop producer appears in the last installment of an ad campaign entitled “Trust Me, I’m A Doctor,” and teases music from the long-awaited album, currently slated for a late 2009 release on Interscope. The commercial will begin airing on Monday.
Pictured: Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, music producer Dr. Dre, and producer Robin Antin attend the Pussycat Dolls by Robin Antin Fall 2008 fashion show after party during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on March 13, 2008 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Maui and Sons)
Rihanna to Testify Against Chris Brown Next Month
May 30, 2009
Rihanna is ready, willing and—as it happens—required to take the stand against ex-beau Chris Brown at a hearing next month.
The singer’s attorney, Donald Etra, told E! News that Rihanna will be called to testify at the June 22 preliminary hearing in Brown’s felony assault case.
“The judge advised me that there will be a subpoena for Rihanna as a witness at the preliminary hearing,” Etra said following a morning hearing. “She will definitely comply.”
And she will be doing so while facing her alleged attacker.
AICPA Celebrates 40 Years of Dedication to Minority Initiatives in the Accounting Profession
May 30, 2009
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is proud to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of its Minority Initiatives Committee. To commemorate the landmark establishment of the AICPA committee, the AICPA is releasing an eBook entitled “CPAs of Color: Celebrating 40 Years,” to illustrate the accomplishments of minority CPAs.
While 2009 marks an historic year for the nation with the inauguration of the first African-American president of the United States, the AICPA is also making history. Forty years ago the AICPA recognized the need to support people of color within the public accounting profession. The Institute launched the Minority Initiatives Committee during a time when the nation was navigating its way through the Civil Rights Movement.
LL Cool J at the GRAMMY Celebration Concert Tour
May 30, 2009
Rapper LL Cool J performs onstage during the Grammy Celebration Concert Tour at Terminal 5 May 28, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Candids: Toni Braxton attends Lupus LA Orange Ball
May 30, 2009
Singer Toni Braxton and guest attend the 9th annual Lupus LA Orange Ball at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 28, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Skin Cancer Is Colorblind — No ‘Free Pass’
May 30, 2009
When Tiffany Wilson noticed a small growth on her left hip, she didn’t think much of it.
“It was bizarre,” recalled the 41-year-old salon owner from Minneapolis, Minnesota. “I just thought it was a pimple.”
Wilson, who is African-American, can’t say exactly what prompted her to point out the bump to her physician, but she said she remembered thinking the diagnosis wouldn’t be anything serious.
“It never occurred to me that it was skin cancer,” she said. But it was. She had basal cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer.
Wilson spent long hours as a child in the summer sun at Lake Nokomis in Minnesota and went to the tanning bed before visiting relatives in the Caribbean, she said. She also said she never wore sunscreen.
Jennifer Hudson to perform for President Obama
May 30, 2009
Grammy and Oscar-winning Jennifer Hudson performed at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in California where President Barack Obama was expected to be in attendance, according to KTLA.com.
Hudson seems to have won fans in the DNC, having performed her soulful, gospel-toned “Star Spangled Banner” last year during the party’s national convention in Denver.
Hudson is a gospel talent whose voice continues to give depth to music by reaching back to her youthful days in the church choir. As a result, she has a fuller sound, which can be heard on her self-titled CD.
She recently concluded her first concert tour with R&B artist Robin Thicke.
Since returning to public life earlier this year, after mourning the brutal slayings of her mother, brother and nephew last fall in Chicago, the former “American Idol” contestant has been on a roll and it doesn’t appear that her time in the spotlight will be dimming any time soon.
Pictured: Singer/actress Jennifer Hudson performs at WaMu Theater in Madison Square Garden on April 10, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
