Charges were filed this morning against two surviving members of a murderous drug crew that may be responsible for more than a dozen slayings in Chicago, officials say.
Monthly Archives: February 2011
Charges filed against 2 surviving members of drug crew linked to dozen slayings
Charges were filed this morning against two surviving members of a murderous drug crew that may be responsible for more than a dozen slayings in Chicago, officials say.
New Jersey Gov. Christie Feeling First Lady’s Health Efforts
*First Lady Michelle Obama has stood in the face of criticism from those who say her national campaign against childhood obesity is a scam. Most of the remarks and outrage come from the conservative side, but one Republican governor is saying she’s doing a bang up job.
New Jersey’s governor, Chris Christie, has struggled with weight all of his life. But with Obama’s initiative to change the health of America, he’s been encouraged.
Christie told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that he doesn’t have a problem with the initiative and calls the criticism “unnecessary.” He does say, however, that the government shouldn’t be deciding what people can and can’t eat.
Christie says that encouraging kids to eat better is “a really good goal.”
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
Gov. Christie’s comments come on the heels of some scathing criticism from conservative bully Rush Limbaugh, who blasted the first lady for feasting on ribs recently in Colorado.
“The problem is —and dare I say this — it doesn’t look like Michelle Obama follows her own nutritionary, dietary advice,” Limbaugh said on his show. “And then we hear that she’s out eating ribs at 1,500 calories a serving with 141 grams of fat per serving.
“I’m trying to say that our first lady does not project the image of women that you might see on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue or of a woman Alex Rodriguez might date every six months or what have you.”
Perhaps Limbaugh doesn’t know what a black woman should look like.
We Remember: Blues Legend Eddie Kirkland Dies at 88
*An 88-year-old blues legend known as the “Gypsy of the Blues” was killed in Florida when his car turned into the path of a Greyhound bus, reports the Associated Press.
Eddie Kirkland was traveling southeast on U.S. Highway 98 in Crystal River, north of Tampa, about 8:30 a.m. Sunday when he tried to make a U-turn in front of the bus, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The bus, which was traveling northwest, pushed Kirkland’s Ford Taurus about 200 yards before the vehicles stopped.
Kirkland was flown to Tampa General Hospital, where he later died.
Thirteen passengers were on the bus, which was being driven by 67-year-old James Smith of Tallahassee, the Highway Patrol said. No one on the bus was injured.
The Highway Patrol continued to investigate the accident Monday.
According to his website, Kirkland, who lived in Macon, Ga., performed Saturday night at the Dunedin Brewery in Dunedin, the final stop in a four-city swing through Florida in February. His tour was to pick up April 8 in Pensacola.
Born in Jamaica, and raised in Alabama, Kirkland eventually moved to Indiana before he settled in Detroit. He polished his blues sound and toured for 7 1/2 years with John Lee Hooker. He moved to Georgia, became a bandleader for Otis Redding and performed with a variety of artists, including Little Richard, Ben King, Ruth Brown and Little Johnnie Taylor.
R. Kelly Pushing New African Music Group
*R. Kelly is reaching to the Motherland for some new sounds and to offer the world of westernized music a new flavor. He is supporting a new African group called ONE8, which was highlighted as “one to watch in 2011” by Billboard.
The group consists of eight superstar talented artists from all over Africa. Together they represent the vast diversity of music and culture around the continent. Kelly has produced their first official single, “Hands Across the World.”
“There is a more optimistic and positive generation now in Africa and you can feel that in the music,” said One8 member Amani, a Kenyan singer who won MTV’s African Music Award for Best Female Artist. “You can feel that in the culture. I think it’s time that the world got introduced to that vibe right now because it’s different.”
The group’s first album together is set to debut next month.
Green Line service resumes after halt due to icing
Service on a large part of the CTA’s Green Line suspended because of icing on the tracks resumed about 6:45 a.m.
Juvenile and Lil Wayne Touched by the Law
*Rapper Juvenile was acting his name when he was caught up with the law, again. On Saturday night, he was pulled over by a Louisiana police offer after being clocked going 75 mph in a 65 mph zone. When he rolled down the window, the officer, Sgt. Jacob Greer, said he smelled the distinct odor of weed emanating from the vehicle.
When asked if he had marijuana in his possession, Juve straightway turned over a small bag of the substance.
“He was very courteous and respectful as he could be. He asked me if I recognized him, and I said ‘No. Now if you were George Strait I’ll probably have recognized you,’” Greer said.
The rapper, born Terius Gray, was charged with simple possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended license. He was released on a $750 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court April 1.
In other news, Juvenile’s rapping peer, Lil Wayne, also got mangled with the law last week. When he landed at Opa-Loca Airport in Miami, he was met by federal agents as he was getting off the plane.
According to TMZ, law enforcement sources revealed that multiple agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency performed a contraband search on Wayne. The rapper, who is currently on felony probation stemming from incidents involving drugs and guns, was not found to be in possession of anything.
CTA suspends Green Line service due to icing
Service on a large part of the CTA’s Green Line was temporarily suspended this morning because of icing on the tracks.
Video: ‘Sunday Best’ Winner Leandria Johnson Asks for Prayers
*Last February Leandria Johnson auditioned for BET’s Sunday Best and emerged as the season 3 winner.
Her story alone captured viewers’ attention (she’d lost her home and auditioned in New Orleans wearing jeans and flip flops) and her undeniably gifted voice gained fans who have been anticipating her first professional CD.
Until she performed on ‘Celebration of Gospel’ last December and at a King Day event in Atlanta this January, the buzz about Johnson had fizzled.
Recently, a video was posted on YouTube that offers insight as to why we have not seen nor heard much from the Florida-bred singer.
In the clip, Johnson testifies at New Life Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York – that after winning “Sunday Best” – she didn’t want any parts of this (apparently referring to a career in the gospel industry.)
“Pray that my mind stays focused on Jesus … Even after ‘Sunday Best’ I found myself going back to where I had came from … I didn’t think I’d minister again,” she confessed.
“I’ve been holding this in for a long time and I didn’t know how to express myself,” Johnson continued with tears streaming down her face, “I’m tired of turning my back on God … that’s why I ask for your prayers. Please keep me in prayer.”
As several women begin to encircle Johnson and pray, another unidentified woman takes the microphone and prophesies:
“The enemy is after our musicians … and the enemy knows how to send people that just wanna get in to the fame and into the limelight and they’ll let you do what and say what you want. But thank God for some leaders that don’t mind telling you the truth and when it’s all said and done, we’re going to pray until something happens.”
Fortunately, Leandria Johnson is back on track as she is in the process of recording her first album.
See/hear Leandria Johnson’s prayer request here:
New! Watch Trailer for ‘Madea’s Big Happy Family’
*More than likely Idris Elba could care less about Tyler Perry’s new trailer for “Madea’s Big Happy Family,” but you might. If so, we’ve got it for you.
Besides Perry, “Big Happy Family” stars Loretta Devine, Bow Wow, Isiah Mustafah, and Teyana Taylor.
Catch a sneak peek of the film before it hits theaters April 22nd. We have to admit the trailer has some pretty funny scenes.