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"Two McDonald's employees were arrested after police say both were using drugs at the restaurant and at least one of them was selling drugs along with fast food. Police arrested 20-year-old Estevan Quiroz at a McDonald's in Floresville last week. Investigators say Quiroz admits to selling marijuana inside the restaurant during his shifts." - 4 News
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Twelve-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys’ latest opus The Element of Freedom (MBK/J Records) debuts at #1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums and Digital Albums charts and #2 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart, according to Nielsen/SoundScan. With a total of 417,277 units sold in a week, this marks the biggest first week sales debut for a female R&B singer this year and Keys’ 5th straight chart-topping debut (Keys’ previous four albums debuted at #1 on the aforementioned charts).
With radio stations playing five songs simultaneously from The Element of Freedom (“Doesn’t Mean Anything,” “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart,” “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down,” “Un-thinkable,” with background vocals provided by Drake, and “Put It In A Love Song” featuring Beyonce) and critics such as Entertainment Weekly citing “Keys latest hits all the right notes” there’s no wonder why fans flocked to purchase Keys’ fifth release.
Keys was nothing shy of visible in the U.S. leading into the December 15 release with a marketing campaign consisting of several major highlights, including TV appearances on Dancing With The Stars, The American Music Awards, Oprah, two visits on both The Today Show and Late Show with David Letterman, Regis & Kelly, Christmas at Rockefeller, The View, BET 106 & Keys Live Special, The Colbert Report and Fuse’s special television broadcast of Keys’ World AIDS Day Concert. The online community was also saturated with an array of Alicia Keys promotions including the first ever album preview on Facebook, Clear Channel’s Stripped/iheartradio performance and YouTube’s worldwide broadcast of her World AIDS Day concert.
Named one of Billboard’s Artists of the Decade, Keys is never one to rest on her laurels as we move into the new year. Keys will launch 2010 in high gear with a performance on Saturday Night Live on January 9 followed by an AOL Music Sessions premiere on January 14. On March 3, Keys embarks on the U.S. portion of “The Freedom Tour” at Chicago’s Allstate Arena. The European leg of the tour will commence late April 2010.
The Alicia Keys Freedom Tour U.S. dates are as follows (subject to change):
DATE CITY VENUE
---- ---- -----
March 03, 2010 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
March 05, 2010 Detroit, MI Fox Theater
March 06, 2010 Detroit, MI Fox Theater
March 13, 2010 Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods Casino
March 17, 2010 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
March 19, 2010 Newark, NJ Prudential Centre
March 20, 2010 Atlantic City, NJ Mark Estess Arena
March 22, 2010 Boston, MA Agganis Arena
March 24, 2010 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
March 25, 2010 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center
March 27, 2010 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
March 28, 2010 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times-Forum
March 30, 2010 Atlanta, GA Phillips Arena
April 02, 2010 Dallas, TX Nokia Theater (Grand Prairie)
April 03, 2010 Houston, TX Toyota Centre
April 06, 2010 Los Angeles, CA Staples Centre
April 07, 2010 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
April 09, 2010 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay
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The former supermodel told People.com that she is ending her popular daytime talk show, The Tyra Show, in spring 2010.
"This will be the last season of The Tyra Show," Banks told People.com. "I've been loving having fun, coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past 5 years."
Banks had been among the names mentioned as potential heirs to the throne being vacated by talk show empress Oprah Winfrey, who announced in late November that she is abandoning The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2011, after 25 years.
Banks appealed to young women in part with a focus on body and beauty issues. The model host once famously donned a fat suit that made her unrecognizable and then shared her shock with viewers over how differently she was treated.
Banks intends to focus on launching a New York-based film production company, Bankable Studios, that will bring "positive images of women to the big screen," a source told People.com.
"My next huge steps will allow me to reach more women and young girls to help us all feel as fierce as we truly are," Banks says.
The source elaborated that filmmaker Tyler Perry and Winfrey had provided support for Banks' decision. "With Oprah's big announcement this year, I think that gave Tyra the confidence to get out there and follow her longtime dream of film producing," the insider told People.
Banks will remain a small screen presence on her modeling reality competition show, America's Next Top Model, set to enter its 15th season in February, as well as her show True Beauty.
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A career criminal massacred three members of a family in their apartment but fell to his death when he tripped over his own baggy pants.
The massacre occurred Thursday afternoon near a string of upscale shops on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Police said the attack apparently stemmed from botched drug ripoff.
"There is a significant amount of heroin found in the apartment," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told the Daily News.
David Karp, AP
Workers from the medical examiner's office carry the body of a murder suspect who fell to his death from an apartment building fire escape.
Police said Hector Quinones, 44, shot and killed Carlos Rodriguez Sr., 52, and his 24-year-old son, Carlos Rodriguez Jr., then stabbed to death the younger Rodriguez's grandfather, Fernando Gonzalez, 87, according to reports in the Daily News and the New York Post.
The elder Rodriguez's wife, Gisela Rodriguez, 49, and her daughter, Leyanis, 28, walked in on the carnage. Quinones heard keys in the lock and opened the door for the women, police said.
He shot the mother, who was grazed on the head by a bullet but managed to run from the apartment. The killer was just about the grab the daughter when his low-slung pants fell down and he tripped, the Post said. That gave the young woman the chance to run into a back room, where she found the bodies of her brother and father.
Quinones yanked up his pants and scrambled after Leyanis Rodriguez, who climbed onto a fire escape, screaming for help to construction workers on the roof of a nearby building, the Post said. The attacker followed her onto the fire escape, but once again his drooping pants fell and he tripped, plunging three stories to his death.
Estella Carrino, who manages a street-level bicycle store in the building, said she heard the body hit the ground.
"He had no jacket on and his pants were down. He was very dead," she told the Daily News.
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Description:
The official music video for "This Is It" by Michael Jackson, from the two-disc compilation album that features music from American pop and R&B icon Michael Jackson, which is in stores now!
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ABC Report: Why Successfull Black Women Find It So Hard To get Married? (Steve Harvey Shares Input)
"What is keeping African-American women from walking down the aisle? " - Nightline
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why is she lettin it ALL HANG-OUT! her friends should have NOT let her leave the house with all that HAM hanging out the wrapper! LoL!
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WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history.
"We are now finally poised to deliver on the promise of real, meaningful health insurance reform that will bring additional security and stability to the American people," Obama said shortly after the Senate acted.
"This will be the most important piece of social legislation since Social Security passed in the 1930s," said Obama, standing with Vice President Joe Biden in the State Room of the White House.
The 60-39 vote on a cold winter morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by past congresses to get to this point. Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no."
An exhausted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., initially cast a "no" vote by mistake, then quickly corrected himself as fellow senators burst out laughing.
The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage.
The Senate's bill must still be merged with legislation passed by the House before Obama could sign a final bill in the new year. There are significant differences between the two measures but Democrats say they've come too far now to fail.
Both bills would extend health insurance to more than 30 million more Americans. Obama said the legislation "includes the toughest measures ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable."
Vicki Kennedy, the widow of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who made health care reform his life's work, watched the vote from the gallery. So did Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the longest-serving House member and a champion of universal health care his entire career.
"This morning isn't the end of the process, it's merely the beginning. We'll continue to build on this success to improve our health system even more," Reid said before the vote. "But that process cannot begin unless we start today ... there may not be a next time."
At a news conference a few moments later, Reid said the vote "brings us one step closer to making Ted Kennedy's dream a reality."
The Nevadan said that "every step of this long process has been an enormous undertaking."
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Finance Committee, said he "very happy to see people getting health care they could not get."
It was the Senate's first Christmas Eve vote since 1895, when the matter at hand was a military affairs bill concerning employment of former Confederate officers, according to the Senate Historical Office.
After the vote Obama offered congratulations in phone calls to Vicki Kennedy and Reid, Baucus and other senators, including 92-year-old Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who was brought to the Senate in a wheelchair.
The House passed its own measure in November. The White House and Congress have now come further toward the goal of a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's health care system than any of their predecessors.
The legislation would ban the insurance industry from denying benefits or charging higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions. The Congressional Budget Office predicts the bill will reduce deficits by $130 billion over the next 10 years, an estimate that assumes lawmakers carry through on hundreds of billions of dollars in planned cuts to insurance companies and doctors, hospitals and others who treat Medicare patients.
For the first time, the government would require nearly every American to carry insurance, and subsidies would be provided to help low-income people to do so. Employers would be induced to cover their employees through a combination of tax credits and penalties. The legislation costs nearly $1 trillion over 10 years and is paid for by a combination of taxes, fees and cuts to Medicare.
Republicans were withering in their criticism of what they deemed a budget-busting government takeover. If the measure were worthwhile, contended Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., "they wouldn't be rushing it through Congress on Christmas Eve."
House Minority Leader John Boehner assailed the bill moments after passage.
"Not even Ebenezer Scrooge himself could devise a scheme as cruel and greedy as Democrats' government takeover of health care," the Ohio Republican said in a statement.
"Sen. Reid's health care bill increases premiums for families and small businesses, raises taxes during a recession, cuts seniors' Medicare benefits, adds to our skyrocketing debt, and puts bureaucrats in charge of decisions that should be made by patients and doctors," he said.
The occasion was moving for Sen. Paul Kirk, D-Mass., appointed to fill Kennedy's seat after his death in August.
"He's having a merry Christmas in heaven," Kirk told reporters after the tally. He said he was "humbled to be here with the honor of casting essentially his vote."
Said Dingell: "This is for me, this is for my dad, this is for the country."
Reid nailed the last votes down in a rush of dealmaking in the last week that is now coming under attack because of special provisions obtained by a number of senators. In Nebraska, home to conservative Democrat Ben Nelson, the Democrats' crucial 60th vote, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of a planned Medicaid expansion in perpetuity, the only state getting that deal.
Negotiations between the House and Senate to reconcile differences between the two bills are expected to begin as soon as next week. The House bill has stricter limits on abortion than the Senate, and unlike the House, the Senate measure omits a government-run insurance option, which liberals favored to apply pressure on private insurers but Democratic moderates opposed as an unwarranted federal intrusion. Obama has signaled he will sign a bill even if it lacks that provision.
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The face tracking feature of the HP web cam will not recognize or track black faces. You have to watch this video. It is hilarious!
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AP reports "Atlanta rapper T.I. has been released from a federal prison in Arkansas and is headed to a halfway house in Georgia. A lawyer for T.I. said the rapper was released Tuesday morning.". Welcome Home TIP
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Bad Girls Club Poppin Off: Porsha Goes Bonkers On Natalie! "F*ck Her Mom For Breeding Something Like That" + Natalie Says Goons Will Be At Her Door & Comes Reunion Time It Will Be On & Crackin!
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London, England (CNN) -- British police have appealed for information about the whereabouts of an escaped prisoner who has been telling the world via Facebook about his life as a fugitive.
Craig Lynch, 28, escaped Hollesley Bay open prison near Suffolk, eastern England, back in September, but has continued to update his Facebook status regularly -- describing everything from his meals to who his next girlfriend will be.
"mmm i just had a 12lb venison steak. Roasted veg and chips, bangin meal. I feel stuffed but still got room for the j.d's . Hope you enjoyed the meal babe's. We'll have to eat here again" Lynch wrote on his wall.
In another posting from earlier this week Lynch wrote "Is thinkin, which lucky girl will be my first of 2010!!."
Police are trying to use clues left by Lynch on his Facebook to track down where the convicted burglar may be hiding.
Lynch was sentenced to a seven-year prison term for aggravated burglary and was serving his sentence in an open prison before his escape, according to a police spokeswoman.
"We have spoken to Facebook and we are trying to trace him from the information we have, but it's one of those things that we're also asking for help from members of the public," Suffolk police spokesperson Anne-Marie Breach told CNN.
"Obviously we're taking what he's saying on Facebook with a pinch of salt because he's now aware that people may be reading what he's writing."
News that Lynch's Facebook was being updated broke yesterday and since then, he has written several times of his life on-the-run.
"The hotel staff haven't even clocked which was the only thing I've been paranoid about all day!" he wrote.
Lynch's most recent posting read "well what can i say fellow friends. The run is nearly over. Sorry some of you had to find out like this. I know some of you might take offence that i never told you personally. But you know me. I Trust No One. Its the only way to be."
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NIKE AIR JORDAN XI RETRO SPACE JAM MEN SNEAKERS(378037-041). Finally, Air Jordan XI Space Jam sneakers have been released, these Jordan's pay homage to the most entertaining movie, which came out 13 years ago. The outer-sole is made out of gum and features accents of blue and black. The mid-sole comes in white color, contrasting with the upper that uses patent leather, leather and mesh. The flying Jordan is featured in blue on the heel tab. The inner lining comes in black. Colorway: black/varsity royal-white.
For those of you who were not able to make it to the stores in time to get a pair of the Jordan XI (Space Jam) this morning, here are a few websites that still have them in stock, click each link for pricing & availability (be prepared to pay "Black Market Prices":
SneakerFather.com
BNYCOnline.com
NikeTown.com
UpTempoAir.com (youth size only)
UpTempoAir.com (men size)
eBay.com
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Lil Jon Hosts A $500 Chicken & Beer Contest In ATL! (Females Who Can Eat The Most Chicken & Drink The Most Beer)
"Eat the Chicken, Drink the beer Take the shot, Get the Gwap "
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"Rihanna and Kanye West reportedly hooked up at Whisky Mist where she gave him a "very private dance" to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You." " - CelebTV
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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. actor and director Tyler Perry on Wednesday announced the death of his mother, who he has previously credited as helping inspire the iconic Madea character in a string of hit movies.
In a brief message on his website, Perry wrote: "Willie Maxine Perry. February 12, 1945 to December 8, 2009. Thank you for all your prayers." The cause of death was not known.
Perry, 40, first introduced the character of the God-fearing, gun-toting, loud-mouthed grandmother Madea in his 2000 play "I Can Do Bad All By Myself".
Playing the character himself, Madea appeared in a series of plays and then hit movies including "Madea's Family Reunion", and the 2009 film "Madea Goes to Jail" which opened No 1. at U.S. box offices and went on to gross $90.5 million.
Perry told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a 2006 interview that Madea was a combination of his mother and his aunt. "My mother is the wisdom of Madea, but my aunt Mayola, that's her wig, that's her voice, that's her gun in the purse," he said.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
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The lack of minority head coaches in Division I-A college football has been a source of hand-wringing and head-scratching for years.
But over the last two weeks, a veritable flood of black coaches have entered the head-coaching ranks. Four African-Americans have been hired to fill vacancies so far this season: Virginia coach Mike London, Memphis coach Larry Porter, Louisville coach Charlie Strong and Western Kentucky coach Willie Taggart.
That increases the number to 11 black head coaches and 13 minority coaches overall among the 120 Division I-A schools. The recent hiring suggests perhaps there is a shift in the way athletic directors are making their hiring decisions.
"What we're seeing this year is really the first time that I can say that there is substantial progress on the issue of hiring African-American football coaches," said Richard Lapchick, director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at UCF. "It's a clear demonstration of opening the pipelines and bringing people into the interview process. We've been putting pressure on ADs for a long time to discover there are guys they might not have ever brought in that are clearly people who fit the mission of the school and can get the job."
Just last month, Lapchick released a study called, "The Buck Stops Here: Assessing Diversity among Campus and Conference Leaders for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Schools in the 2009-10 Academic Year." Unsurprisingly, it found the world of college athletics to be a bastion of white males.
Going into the season, there was only one black head coach in the 66 BCS programs – Miami coach Randy Shannon. There are now four with the addition of Strong, London and Kansas coach Turner Gill. Of the eight vacancies that have already been filled, five have gone to minorities.
But Shannon wants people to look at him as a coach, not as a standard bearer for all minorities looking to become head coaches.
"Sometimes we get into a minority situation -- it's great, but Charlie's the best candidate for Louisville, Mike London's the best coach for Virginia," Shannon said. "We're all coaches. It doesn't make a difference. If I go to the ACC meetings, they're not going to say minority Randy. I'm happy that the coaches got an opportunity like Charlie did and l did, and hopefully some other coaches get another opportunity because there's a lot of great coaches out there who deserve a chance."
Even with the progress being made, there are those who believe more must be done. Last week, former Colts coach Tony Dungy called the lack of minority coaches in major college football "disgraceful," and added minority coaches feel they have better opportunities in the NFL than in college football.
There are seven black head coaches in the NFL, including Bills interim coach Perry Fewell. That works out to about 22 percent of the head coaches in the league. Minority coaches in I-A make up about 11 percent of the head coaches. The goal of the Black Coaches Association is 25 percent.
"That's where basketball's been at for a long time," Lapchick said. "Football has been waiting for those success stories. Basketball had them with John Thompson and John Chaney and Nolan Richardson in the '80s and early '90s. They were able to speak out for other opportunities for other African-American coaches. But it's going to take a long time to get that percentage up in college football."
True, but this hiring season is a good start.
On the menu: Big Ten expansion?
Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez told the school's athletic board on Friday that he expects the Big Ten to push for a 12th football team. This has seemingly become a hot topic of conversation every year. Many believe the league is irrelevant at the end of the season because it ends play so early and doesn't have a conference championship game.
Earlier this year, Penn State coach Joe Paterno said the Big Ten should expand, but Commissioner Jim Delany shot down the idea. Alvarez told the board he has a sense that Delany is "going to take this year to really be more aggressive" about expansion. "I just think everybody feels [that] is the direction to go, coaches and administrators."
The last time the Big Ten expanded was when it added Penn State, which started competing in football in 1993. The question of who the Big Ten should add is an interesting one. Notre Dame? Pittsburgh? Missouri? The Irish are obviously the most logical choice, but what are the chances they finally give in and join a conference?
On the rise
UCLA. The Bruins (6-6) had to wait a week, but they finally got their bowl appearance – the EagleBank against Temple (9-3) on Dec. 29 in Washington, D.C. – after Army lost to Navy on Saturday. "We've reached our goal," UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said. "Now, we need to finish with a flurry."
On the decline
Lane Kiffin. So the Tennessee coach is being questioned about his recruiting practices once again. First came word from The New York Times that there were questions about the use of recruiting hostesses. Now there are questions about a recruiting trip Kiffin took to St. Thomas Aquinas in South Florida in October with a recruiting intern who just so happened to be a St. Thomas grad.
Kiffin called the investigations a compliment. "When it comes to recruiting, we're at the highest level, and I think that people really want to know what we're doing," Kiffin said. "They want to know how are we able to get interest from so many great players, and sign so many great players, so I think you have a lot of people coming at us."
Read Andrea Adelson's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/collegegridiron365 and e-mail her at aadelson@orlandosentinel.com.
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ESSENCE magazine announces its third annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon to be held during Oscar Week on March 4, 2010 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Honoring four extraordinary women making a significant impact in Hollywood, this star-studded event commemorates ESSENCE magazine’s annual Hollywood issue and will pay tribute to a special milestone in 2010; the 40th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine. The esteemed honorees for the 2010 event include: Queen Latifah (Power Award), Zoe Saldana (Star to Watch Award), Mary J. Blige (Songstress of the Year) and Gabourey Sidibe (Best Breakthrough Performance).
“Our annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon is taking on special meaning in 2010 as we are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine by paying homage to phenomenal women throughout the year,” said ESSENCE editor-in-chief Angela Burt-Murray. “We are proud to carry the ESSENCE legacy into the future by honoring the accomplishments of such brilliant performers as Latifah, Zoe, Mary J., and Gabourey, whose incredible talent and sheer grit are serving to change the face of Hollywood.”
Queen Latifah is not only a celebrated television and film actress, but also a gifted musician, as well as an established author and entrepreneur. As a one-woman entertainment conglomerate, Latifah’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable–landing her a place in history as the first hip-hop artist to be given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. That same year, her work in the critically-acclaimed musical, Chicago, garnered her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award nomination for her groundbreaking portrayal of Mama Morton. Following Chicago, Latifah starred in Disney’s box office hit Bringing Down the House, in which she also acted as executive producer. For her work in the HBO film Life Support, in which she was both the star and executive producer, she won both a Golden Globe and SAG Award. Receiving her breakthrough role in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever followed by a noteworthy starring role in Set it Off, Latifah has gone on to star in box office favorites such as Hairspray, Mad Money, The Secret Life of Bees, Last Holiday and Beauty Shop, just to name a few. No stranger to the small screen, Latifah’s first television series, Living Single, was enormously successful and remains in syndication. Her production company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, is currently co-producing the sports-driven romantic comedy, Just Wright, in which she will also star.
Zoe Saldana has shown she can hold her own in major blockbuster productions and has proven herself to be an amazing Hollywood star on the rise. After landing her first leading role as a ballet dancer in the film Center Stage, her turn as a leading lady in both the college-set drama Drumline and romantic comedy Guess Who followed shortly thereafter. Over the past decade, Saldana has grown into stand-out performances in popular films such as Avatar and Star Trek and continues to demonstrate the versatility necessary for longevity in Hollywood. Saldana has much to look forward to in 2010 having recently wrapped several films including Takers with Matt Dillon and Hayden Christensen; action adventure The Losers opposite Idris Elba; and comedy Death at a Funeral with Chris Rock. In addition, Saldana is set to reprise her role as Uhura in the upcoming untitled Star Trek sequel set for 2011.
As one of the greatest singers of our time, Mary J. Blige’s accomplishments are beyond impressive. A multi-faceted mogul and philanthropist, with a career spanning 15 years–including nine Grammy awards, eight multi-platinum records, and over 40 million albums sold–she has lent her tremendous talent this year to the official soundtracks for two powerful films with original songs: “I Can See in Color” from Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and “Stronger” from the Lebron James documentary, More than a Game. “Stronger” tells a moving story and Blige performs it beautifully and authentically–exploring issues surrounding people standing by one another through the difficult times. And, “I Can See in Color” is a raw, passionate and emotional tale of both pain and promise, which has been attracting considerable attention and speculation as a serious contender for an Academy Award. Blige not only contributed as an artist but also co-executive produced the soundtrack to Precious through her music, TV and film company, Matriarch Entertainment. Additionally this year, she made star turns in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad By Myself, 30 Rock, and Entourage. Co-owner of the successful beauty line, Carol’s Daughter, Mary is an entrepreneur and entertainer, as well as a dedicated philanthropist. Through FFAWN (Foundation For The Advancement Of Women Now) Mary’s mission is to inspire women from all walks of life to gain the confidence and skills they need to reach their fullest potential. Blige is currently set to release her ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear, featuring the single, “I Am.”
Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe has wowed the public and taken the industry by storm with her compelling breakthrough role as the title character in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, which is garnering serious awards buzz. With the film winning numerous prestigious awards, including the Sundance Film Festival Audience and Grand Jury Awards, it’s been a whirlwind year for the young actress, who was a student pursuing a degree in psychology when she was cast in Precious. A native New Yorker, Sidibe is the daughter of R&B/gospel singer Alice Tan Ridley. Next up for Gabourey is the Showtime pilot The C-Word opposite Laura Linney for director Bill Condon and the film, Yelling to the Sky.
The ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon is an annual event to honor African-American women, who through their work in Hollywood–both in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes–have helped to change and inspire positive images of Black women in television and film. The red-carpet celebration, which simultaneously exudes old-Hollywood glamour and modern style, also commemorates ESSENCE magazine’s annual Hollywood issue.
The inaugural event, which took place in 2008, honored Jada Pinkett-Smith (Power Award), Ruby Dee (Legend Award), Suzanne de Passe (Visionary Award) and Jurnee Smollett (Star to Watch Award), and hosted A-List stars including Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Kerry Washington, Star Jones and more. In 2009, celebrities such as Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Queen Latifah, to name a few, were on hand to fete honorees including Halle Berry (Power Award), Diahann Carroll (Legend Award), Gina Prince-Bythewood (Visionary Award), and Taraji P. Henson (Star to Watch Award), with a posthumous honor given to Eartha Kitt.
Pictured: Queen Latifah attends The Fourth Annual Black Girls Rock! at The New York Times Center on October 17, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
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A new study finds many breast cancer patients - particularly African American women - do not receive recommended radiation treatments after undergoing a lumpectomy. The study, published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, indicates that efforts are needed to improve breast cancer care in general, and that they should specifically address racial disparities.
Research has shown that the use of recommended breast cancer treatments varies by race, but there is limited data looking at such disparities at a national level. To investigate, Grace Smith, MD, PhD, MPH, of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and colleagues analyzed data from a national cohort of Medicare patients and quantified racial disparities in the use of recommended radiation therapy after lumpectomy for invasive breast cancer. Their analysis included all women over age 65 years who underwent a lumpectomy for invasive breast cancer in 2003..
Of 34,080 women studied, 91 percent were white, 6 percent were black, and 3 percent were of other races. Seventy-four percent of whites, 65 percent of blacks, and 66 percent of other races received radiation therapy. "Given that radiation therapy after lumpectomy is standard therapy, particularly if a patient has at least one high-risk feature, this level of compliance is surprisingly low," said Dr. Smith.
The investigators determined that whites were 48 percent more likely to receive radiation therapy than blacks. In addition, disparities between white and black patients varied by geographic region, with the lowest rates of radiation therapy (57 percent) received by blacks in areas of the Northeastern and Southern United States. In patients who were younger than 70 years (who would be expected to have higher rates of treatment), racial disparities persisted, with 83 percent of whites, 73 percent of blacks, and 78 percent of other races receiving radiation.
The reasons for the disparities seen in this study are not known. It could be that physicians offer treatment less frequently to non-white patients, substandard care occurs more frequently in predominantly non-white communities, or that non-white patients are more likely to decline treatment. The underlying causes of the observed geographic variations in racial disparities are also unclear.
"We hope our research will affect awareness about disparities in breast cancer treatment, and promote efforts to overcome disparities," said Dr. Smith. She noted that a key aspect of overcoming racial disparities is education. "If patients and health care providers together can recognize that barriers to treatment exist, steps can be taken to address the problem." Patients can play a role by becoming educated about the value of radiation after lumpectomies and helping to disseminate this information in their communities. In addition, both patients and their physicians can work together to identify specific obstacles that contribute to disparities in cancer care.
http://www.cancer.org/
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Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) researchers at the Slone Epidemiology Center found that black women with high intake of dairy products have a reduced incidence of uterine leiomyomata (fibroids). This report, based on the Black Women's Health Study, appears in the current issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
See Also:
Health & Medicine
* Women's Health
* Menopause
* Gynecology
* Nutrition
* Health Policy
* Colon Cancer
Reference
* Hysterectomy
* Uterine fibroids
* Food groups
* Hormone replacement therapy
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus and are two to three times more common among black women than white women. They are the primary indication for hysterectomy in the U.S. and account for $2.2 billion annually in health care costs.
National surveys show that black women consume fewer servings of dairy than white women and have lower intake of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. The causes of fibroids are poorly understood, but sex steroid hormones and growth factors are thought to play a role. The Slone researchers studied dairy products because of the possibility that they have antioxidant effects and may modify endogenous sex hormones.
The study was based on data from the Black Women's Health Study. The 59,000 study participants, enrolled in 1995, completed biennial questionnaires on which they reported whether they were diagnosed with fibroids. Their diet was assessed at two points in time using a modified version of the National Cancer Institute's Block short-form food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).
Based on 5,871 incident cases of fibroids diagnosed after 10 years of follow-up, the study found that high dairy intake was inversely associated with fibroid risk after controlling for other risk factors. Fibroid incidence was reduced by 30% among women who had 4 or more dairy servings a day, relative to women who had less than 1 serving a day. Intakes of calcium, phosphorus, and calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (an indicator of calcium bioavailability) were also inversely associated with fibroid risk. Because dairy intake is lower among blacks than whites, such differences in intake may contribute to the racial discrepancy in rates of fibroids.
"Although the exact mechanisms are unclear, a protective effect of dairy consumption on uterine fibroids risk is plausible, as calcium, a major component of dairy foods, may reduce cell proliferation," said lead author Lauren A. Wise, ScD, an associate professor of epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health and a senior epidemiologist at the Slone Epidemiology Center at BUSM. "This is the first report showing an inverse association between dairy intake and fibroid risk. If confirmed, a modifiable risk factor for fibroids, a major source of gynecologic morbidity, will have been identified," added Wise.
This study was funded by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
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(Media-Newswire.com) - Since April 2009, the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus has been spreading from person-to-person worldwide, affecting all racial and ethnic groups. This 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu and African American Communities: Questions and Answers document summarizes current understanding of the impact of 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza virus on African Americans, describes some of the barriers to uptake of 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines, and outlines potential strategies for improving health and increasing vaccine coverage in African American communities.
2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza materials for all individuals are available at www.flu.gov and www.cdc.gov.
1. What impact is 2009 H1N1 having on African American communities?
2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu data on racial and ethnic groups have been taken from a wide range of sources and geographic areas and show differing results. For instance:
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data show self-reported influenza-like illness and having sought medical care for that illness was similar among racial/ethnic groups.1
From April 15-August 31, 2009, 35 percent of people hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 in 13 metropolitan areas of 10 states were non-Hispanic black. Only 16 percent of the catchment area population studied, however, was non-Hispanic black.2
Non-Hispanic black children less than 5 years old had higher seasonal influenza-associated hospitalization rates ( 1.2/100,000 ) than non-Hispanic white children of the same age ( 0.5/100,000 ) in university medical centers serving Rochester, Nashville and Cincinnati.3
Black children younger than 18 years of age account for 16.6% of 210 reported influenza-associated deaths in 2009.4 Their representation in the U.S. population is 16.8%.5
Because the geographic spread of influenza varies over time, findings may vary depending on when and where data were collected. However, any influenza-associated hospitalization or death is tragic. It is important to better understand the causes and take steps to prevent these hospitalizations and deaths.
2. What factors contribute to 2009 H1N1’s impact on African American communities?
Many medical conditions are associated with an increased risk of serious complications from influenza www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/highrisk.htm. Disparities in underlying medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, may contribute to the impact of 2009 H1N1 on African American communities.
From April 2009 — September 2009:
Almost one-third of people hospitalized with complications from 2009 H1N1 influenza were persons with asthma. Asthma-related hospitalization and mortality rates from all causes, not just influenza, are approximately two to three times higher among non-Hispanic blacks compared with non-Hispanic whites.6
Approximately 10 percent of people hospitalized with complications from 2009 H1N1 influenza have been diabetic. Among adults 20 years of age and older, diabetes is more prevalent among non-Hispanic blacks ( 12% ) compared with non-Hispanic whites ( 7% ).7
Some African-Americans may also face barriers to accessing health care, such as lack of insurance or transportation. There is no epidemiological or clinical evidence that suggests that African Americans are more susceptible to either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal influenza, or to poorer health outcomes by virtue of their race alone. Therefore, further investigation is essential to more clearly elucidate factors that might contribute to the disproportionate influenza-associated hospitalization among non-Hispanic blacks.
3. What can we do to prevent 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu?
CDC recommends a three-step approach for everyone to fight the flu http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm,
Get vaccinated;
Take everyday preventive actions, including covering coughs and sneezes, frequent hand washing, and staying home when sick; and
Use antiviral drugs correctly if your doctor recommends them.
Although the most effective way to prevent both 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza and their complications is to be vaccinated, overall 2008-2009 seasonal influenza vaccination coverage was low across racial and ethnic groups. Further, many non-Hispanic blacks were less likely than non-Hispanic whites to receive influenza vaccination ( Figure1 ).
However, non-Hispanic blacks at high-risk for complications in the 18-49 year old age group received vaccine at levels above their white counterparts, but rates were suboptimal for both racial populations in this and other groupings8. Similarly, in the 2008 National Health Interview survey 33% of non-Hispanic blacks in the 19-49 year old high-risk group reported receiving seasonal influenza vaccine compared to 30% of non-Hispanic whites9.
4. What perceptions affect the uptake of 2009 H1N1 and seasonal vaccine?
Many African Americans are concerned about the safety of influenza vaccines. For example, in a recent survey of 1500 registered voters in California, 17% of survey respondents felt that there was a strong chance that the 2009 H1N1 vaccine was unsafe. However, this concern was twice as high among African Americans.10
According to a University of Michigan study, despite recommendations emphasizing the importance of vaccinating children against 2009 H1N1, only 40% of parents intended to have their children vaccinated. Broken down by racial background, 52% percent of Hispanic parents, 38% of white parents, and 30% of black parents were planning to have their children vaccinated against 2009 H1N1.
5. What are some strategies for increasing 2009 H1N1 and seasonal vaccine coverage in African American communities?
Promotion of 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccination among African Americans recommended for these vaccines is a key part of the response. Vaccination campaigns should be inclusive and transparent, engaging all stakeholders in the African American community in order to more effectively address community concerns, and to inform and educate the public.12
Improve the collection and use of data.
It is important to continue to improve our ability to collect, analyze, and disseminate race/ethnicity data on influenza-associated hospitalizations, deaths, and influenza vaccine coverage.
Better understand beliefs about influenza immunization.
African American communities’ historical experiences with health care and public health may impact perceptions of the safety and utility of vaccination. Tailored outreach, sensitive to these issues, is critical. For example, focus groups about seasonal influenza immunization beliefs among older African Americans revealed the following13:
Participants who did not intend to receive influenza vaccination believed that they had gotten sick from the flu shot or knew someone else who became sick after receiving the flu shot.
Some participants expressed a distrust of the government, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies. Trusted influenza spokespeople included physicians or other health professionals, peers, family members and, for men, their wives.
The concept of “protecting others” by getting the flu shot resonated well with the participants.
Communicate what is known about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Vaccine coverage will improve with increased awareness that:
Both the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines are safe.
The 2009 H1N1 vaccine is made the same way as the seasonal vaccine that has been used safely and successfully for many years.
The benefits of vaccination with the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine outweigh the risks.
Increase the number, accessibility, and use of vaccination sites.
As more vaccine becomes available, it will also be important to continue to increase the number, accessibility of, and use of vaccination sites, particularly within underserved communities.
6. Where can I get more information?
H1N1 Flu: General Information
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm
2009 H1N1 Flu: Free Resources
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/freeresources.htm
Flu Shot Locator
http://www.flu.gov/
References
1. CDC. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009. Unpublished data.
2. CDC. Emerging Infections Program. Unpublished data.
3. CDC. New Vaccine Surveillance Network. Unpublished data.
4. CDC. Nationally Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. Surveillance for Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality, 2009. Unpublished data.
5. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Black or African American Alone or in Combination Resident Population by Sex and Age for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008
6. Moorman JE, Rudd RA, Johnson CA, King M, Minor P, Bailey C, Scalia MR, Akinbami LJ. National surveillance for asthma—United States, 1980–2004. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. CDC Surveill Summ 2007; 56:1–13.
7. American Diabetes Association. 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet. Accessed 28 November 2009 at: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/
8. CDC. Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Children and Adults --- United States, 2008--09 Influenza Season. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009 Oct 9;58( 39 ):1091-5.
9. Schiller, JS and Euler GL. NCHS Health E-Stat. Vaccination coverage estimates from the National Health Interview Survey: United States, 2008. Accessed 28 November 2009 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/vaccine_coverage.htm
10. Hennessy-Fiske, M. Times/USC poll finds majority of California's registered voters have no plans to get H1N1 vaccine. Los Angeles Times. Accessed 6 November 2009 at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/timesusc-poll-finds-majority-of-californias-registered-voter-have-no-plans-to-get-h1n1-vaccine.html
11. C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. National Poll on Children’s Health. Vol. 8 Issue 1. September 24, 2009. Accessed 28 November 2009 at: http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/pdf/092409report.pdf
12. Hutchins SS, et al. Protection of Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations during an Influenza Pandemic. Am J Public Health 2009; Suppl: S261-S270.
13. Sapsis, K and Janssen, A. Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunization: A Qualitative Assessment of the Beliefs of Physicians and Older Hispanic and African Americans. Final Report December 2002. Accessed 28 November 2009 at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/downloads/flubeliefs-pres.pdf
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First lady Michelle Obama played Santa Claus on Wednesday afternoon, delivering two bulging sacks of donated toys to the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign in Quantico.
Earlier this month, when she unveiled the White House Christmas decorations, Obama also kicked off a toy collection drive to benefit Toys for Tots. So far, White House staff have donated some 500 gifts including board games and Legos and at least one spectacular Barbie Corvette. Obama delivered about a third of those goodies to Quantico. The rest will go to a distribution center in Anacostia. No word on which facility will be the lucky recipient of the Barbie luxury automobile.
The first lady arrived at the large, unheated warehouse where the toys are sorted, a space decorated with gold garlands and red bells. She was greeted by volunteers and Toys for Tots staff, as well as several Marines, including Staff Sgt. Christopher Gordon, who served as the Quantico campaign coordinator.
Gordon, tall and rather dashing, explained the sorting system to Obama, who then went to work helping separate donations by the age and gender of the recipients. She also thanked the Marines, noting that, "at a time when you all are already serving . . . you show America you can dig even deeper in this time to make sure kids all across America have something good to wake up to on Christmas morning."
And she added that the White House will be involved in the campaign as long as she's calling 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. home.
So far, the Toys for Tots campaign has collected 59,064 gifts and 74,406 have been requested. Obama also made a special plea for donations appropriate for older kids, particularly those age 10 to 14, who have not received the same kind of attention as toddlers.
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"You're 11; you're still waiting for Santa," she said. "I'm going to go back shopping. We still have a couple more days."
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(CBS) Twenty-year-old Boston krumper Russell Ferguson emerged as America's top dancer Wedesday night in the two-hour finale of "So You Think You Can Dance"
In a episode filled with celebrity performances and "favorite" dances of the season, Ferguson, who suffered an injury in Tuesday night's performance, beat highly-trained contemporary dancer Jakob Karr for the title.
Photos: "So You Think You Can Dance"
In the six-way finale, dancers were eliminated in this order: Ryan Di Lello, Ashleigh DiLello, Ellenore Scott, Kathryn McCormick and Jakob Karr.
Special guests who performed were Leona Lewis, Mary J. Blige, Adam Lambert and Jennifer Lopez.
Photos: Adam Lambert
Photos: Mary J. Blige
Photos: Jennifer Lopez
Ryan and Ashleigh were the first married couple to compete on "So You Think You Can Dance" and Ryan, when he was eliminated, told host Cat Deeley that the best part of his journey was "sharing it with my sweetheart."
Earlier in the evening, judge and producer Nigel Lythgoe described Jakob as "a polished diamond" and Russell as a "diamond in the rough," and said both were superb dancers.
When his name was announced as the winner, Russell hopped up, despite his injury, and tore off his shirt. He said he had been dreaming of this moment "since I was born."
During the two-hour show, contestants performed dances that the judges and choreographers had chosen as their favorites of the season.
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Beyoncé’s mother and costume designer, Tina Knowles, has reportedly filed divorce papers against the singer’s dad and longtime manager, Mathew Knowles. According to TMZ, Tina Knowles filed the papers last month in Texas, seeking an end to the couple’s 29-year marriage. A spokesperson for Knowles could not be reached for comment on the claims at press time.
Both parents have played a pivotal role in Beyoncé’s career, with Mathew quitting his job at IBM nearly 20 years ago to begin managing the singer’s early group, Girl’s Tyme, which eventually morphed into Destiny’s Child. He has had producer credits on many of Beyoncé’s projects, including the 2009 film “Obsessed,” and he is the founder of Music World Entertainment, a label that, through Columbia Records, has released albums by Beyoncé, sister Solange Knowles, Sunshine Anderson, and former DC members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
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"Shane Sparks, a judge on MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew," was arrested on Friday and booked on suspicion of sexual assault on a child, and police are looking for more victims. Sparks, 40, was being held on $590,000 bail following his arrest at his residence in the 10900 block of Bluffside Drive, between the Hollywood (101) Freeway and Vineland Avenue, in Studio City, about 8 a.m., said Officer April Harding of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section." - LA
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Alaina Reed Hall-Amini, a long-time character on Sesame Street, passed away this month at the age of 63 after a battle with breast cancer.
Reed, who appeared from 1976 until 1988 on Sesame Street, was part of the fictional Robinson family and played Gordon's younger sister Olivia. According to her cast page on sesamestreet.org:
"Gordon's little sister, Olivia, first came to the Street in 1976. Her relationship with Gordon was a positive example of the way siblings can interact as adults. She worked as a photographer on Sesame Street until she left in 1988."
According to Wikipedia, after leaving Sesame Street, Reed Hall-Amini co-starred with Marla Gibbs on the sitcom 227 as Rose Lee Holloway. After 227 ended in 1990, Hall appeared in guest roles on various television series including Herman's Head and Blossom. She also provided the voice for the animated characters on Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? and Sonic the Hedgehog. In 1995, Hall co-starred on the short-lived WB sitcom Cleghorne!, starring Ellen Cleghorne. The following year she appeared in the television film The Cherokee Kid. She has since had recurring roles on Ally McBeal, Any Day Now, and ER.
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