NEWS BRIEFS
Radio Station Bails Out Bobby Brown
Posted March 2, 2007 –Top 40 radio station Hot 99.5 in Washington, D.C. paid Bobby Brown's $19,000 bail on Wednesday and secured his freedom, in exchange for him working for station jocks for a week. The payment to cover Brown's child support bill came from the Kane Show, and was delivered by Brown's brother, Tommy. Said Brown's attorney, Phaedra Parks, "It's unfortunate he finds himself in this situation. But the court hasn't exactly cut Bobby any breaks. I daresay there are a million guys out there who are a few months behind in their child-support payments who have not been treated the way Bobby has been treated."
Tornadoes Tear Through Middle America
Posted March 2, 2007 – Tornadoes hit Midwestern and Southwestern states on Thursday, leaving at least 21 people dead and several injured, according to the news agency Reuters. Many of those who died were taking shelter in a school in Enterprise, Ala. At least nine died in Georgia, while there were also fatalities in Missouri. There were multiple injuries and extensive property damage, including phone and power outages.
Bus Plunges Off Overpass; Six Dead and Dozens Injured
Posted March 2, 2007 – A chartered bus carrying college baseball players from Ohio plunged off of an overpass onto Interstate 75 in Atlanta, early Friday morning, leaving six dead, according to CNN. There were 35 passengers on the bus, and dozens were hurt in the accident, including nine who were seriously injured. The crash, which happened north of downtown Atlanta, shut down traffic on I-75 in both directions.
NOLA Sues Army Engineers Over Faulty Levees
Posted March 2, 2007 – On Thursday the city of New Orleans entered a $77 billion claim against the Army Corps of Engineers because of failed levees that allowed flooding to wreak havoc in the city following Hurricane Katrina, CNN reports. Thursday was the deadline for residents of New Orleans to file damage claims under the Federal Tort Act, and city officials moved to file in order to "to preserve the city's claim," according to City Attorney Penya Moses-Fields. There is a six-month period during which the Corps, which designed the levee system, can accept or reject the claims; following that period, claimants can sue the federal government.
Bush Admits Katrina Recovery Incomplete
Posted March 2, 2007 – When President Bush toured the still-embattled Gulf Region on Thursday, he was forced to face the fact that recovery from Hurricane Katrina is far from over. Reuters reports that a year and a half later, tens of thousands are still displaced, while more than 50 percent of the schools in the region are still closed. Bush acknowledged that some $33 million in recovery money is stuck in bureaucratic red tape, and that it is the duty of federal and local governments to "unstick" it. As he sat down to lunch with the mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, and Louisiana's Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, Bush said, "I certainly understand that there are frustrations and I want to know the frustrations. To the extent we can, we'll help."
Top Brass at Army Medical Center Fired
Posted March 2, 2007 – Army Maj. Gen. George Weightman, the commander of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center where soldiers wounded in Iraq receive care, was relieved of his duties on Thursday amid a crisis of confidence, according to Fox News. In an announcement, the Army stated that it had "lost trust and confidence" that Weightman was able "to address needed solutions for soldier outpatient care." Recent press had reported deplorable conditions at the 113-acre facility, including dirty carpets, mold, mice and cockroaches.
Former Cowboy Donates Kidney to Ex-teammate
Posted March 2, 2007 –. Everson Walls, pictured left, and Ron Springs, both former Dallas Cowboy players, were recovering from surgery after an operation on Wednesday in which Walls donated his kidney to his old teammate and friend Ron Springs, according to the Associated Press. Springs, has battled diabetes for 16 years and had been on an organ transplant list since 2004. The disease had already cost him a foot and toes, and the disfigurement of his hands; wheelchair bound, he was receiving dialysis three times a week. He expects to recover now that he has a new kidney of his own, however. Said Walls, "It's like getting a new battery in a car. I'll be able to be back to basically almost 100 percent normal."
Foxy Brown Pleads Guilty to Probation Violation
Posted March 2, 2007 –Rapper Foxy Brown, who found herself in the midst of fisticuffs in a Florida salon, should not have been there in the first place. Her probation requires her to seek permission before leaving the state, and she apparently had not done so before traveling to Florida. A Manhattan judge sentenced Brown to six additional months of probation, but stated "I'm reserving the right to re-sentence you to jail for one year" if Brown violates probation again.
"Making the Band" Alum Wanted by Cops
Posted March 2, 2007 – The rapper now known as Young City, who was called Chopper when he appeared on the MTV reality show "Making the Band," is wanted by Baltimore cops after he failed to appear in court, according to sources. A Baltimore judge issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the rapper, whose legal name is Kevin Barnes, on Wednesday. The case in Baltimore is related to a 2001 incident in which a 16-year-old Barnes allegedly robbed a couple with a BB gun. Barnes' attorney Paul Gardner reportedly informed the judge Barnes failed to appear because he was being held in a detention center in Georgia after a domestic dispute with his girlfriend.
Former O'Jay Sues Other Two O'Jays
Posted March 2, 2007 – Sammy Strain, pictured left, who was one-third of the legendary soul group The O'Jays, is suing his other bandmates, Eddie Levert and Walter Williams, claiming that he was shut out of royalties for 16 years, sources report. Strain joined the group in 1976 and remained until 1992, and appeared on 11 O'Jays albums, including three that went gold and two that went platinum. Said Strain's attorney, Charles Whittier, "My client has been stabbed in the back for the love of money."
Singer Seal Must Pay $1 Million to Former Manager
Posted March 2, 2007 – British pop singer Seal who was appealing an earlier ruling that would force him to pay a former manager $1 million in commissions from his first two albums, sources report. The singer claims that he was "ripped off" by John Hadlow, his one-time manager. Seal also claimed to have paid Hadlow $4 million since 1995, but the judge was not swayed. He ordered Seal to pay the money Hadlow was seeking, plus his legal costs.
Ludacris Foundation Recieves "Runaway" Love
Posted March 2, 2007 – Ludacris Foundation receives award for "Runaway Love." The National Runaway Switchboard (NRS), a communication system dedicated to runaway and homeless youth, has awarded the Ludacris Foundation its 2007 Spirit of Youth award. The organization cited Ludacris Foundation's dedication to helping American youth, highlighted by the rapper's latest single, "Runaway Love." Maureen Blaha, executive director of NRS, said, "Since the release of 'Runaway Love,' Ludacris and The Foundation's commitment to helping runaway youth and letting people know about the help they can receive by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY has only increased." Since Ludacris and his foundation began working with NRS in 2006, the organization has received 17 percent more calls and seen a jump in traffic to its Web site, www.1800runaway.org.
Denzel Washington to Direct Again
Posted March 2, 2007 – Actor-turning-director Denzel Washington is now in pre-production for the film "The Great Debaters," that he will both direct and star in, according to sources. The film tells the true story of Professor Melvin B. Tolson of HBCU Wiley College in Texas, who rallied students to establish the college's first debate team in 1935. The team went on to challenge Harvard in national debates. Washington will play Tolson in the film, which begins shooting in May.
ABC Renews Black Drama "Lincoln Heights"
Posted March 2, 2007 – In spite of a rocky start in the ratings, "Lincoln Heights," a drama that centers on the family of a Black police officer who moves his family back to the hood in order to give back, is here to stay — for at least 10 more episodes. According to industry publication Daily Variety, the series did well with females aged 12 to 34.
Two Found Alive After Haitian Freighter Sinks
Posted March 2, 2007 – A Haitian woman and man were found afloat off the Haitian coast after the freighter they were on caught fire and sank, according to the BBC. At least eight passengers were found dead in the water and some 44 are missing. The two rescued passengers, who were taken to the Dominican Republic for treatment, said that the ship was bound for Turks and Caicos. Authorities do not yet know why the sunken ship caught fire.
Wade Wins Senegal Polls
Posted March 2, 2007 – Incumbent Wade, 81, is declared the winner in Senegal's presidential election. Senegal's election commission has declared that incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade is the victor in Sunday's election with 55.86 percent of the vote, which eliminates the need for a run-off election. The BBC reports that the Senegalese Constitutional Council must still review and approve the results, which some of Wade's 14 opponents say are inaccurate and fraudulent.
Uganda's President Denies Troops Will be Peacekeepers
Posted March 2, 2007 – President Yoweri Museveni of Ugandan said Thursday that 1,700 Ugandan troops to be deployed in Somalia are not peacekeepers, but rather will bethere to help Somalian troops and help the government, according to the BBC. Somalia has faced years of internal political turmoil, but violence in the country has escalated in the past two months, prompting the African Union to commit to sending peacekeeping troops there. However, in speaking to his troops, Museveni said, "We will not go to Somalia to impose peace on the Somalis, because we shouldn't do that and we can't do it. What we are going to do in Somalia is to empower our Somali brothers to rebuild their state."
Six Explosions Rock Mogadishu During Morning Prayers
Posted March 2, 2007 – Explosions rock Somalian capital of Mogadishu. Six explosions from mortars hit Mogadishu Friday morning, injuring six civilians that included two children, according to the BBC. Reportedly many people were in mosques for morning prayers when the blasts occurred. The explosions came a day after Ugandan troops left for Somalia as part of a deployment by the African Union to support stability in the country. Violence in Somalia has escalated greatly in the past two months, and the U.N. reports that more than 10,000 civilians have left Mogadishu in the past two weeks alone.
Chad Rejects Deployment of U.N. Troops
Posted March 2, 2007 – Chad rejects deployment of U.N. military force on its border with Sudan. Chad will not permit the U.N. to deploy a military unit on its Sudanese border, despite the fact that 200,000 refugees from Sudan's troubled Darfur region have spilled into Chad, the BBC reports. Instead, Chad favors the U.N. sending a police force. Along with the Sudanese refugees have also come Janjawee Arab militias that have committed human rights atrocities in Sudan and recently have left over 100 dead and 110,000 homeless near the Chad/Sudan border. The U.N. was prepared to send 11,000 peacekeeping troops. Still, Chad's Deputy Foreign Minister Djidda Moussa Outman said, "For Chad, it has never been a question of receiving any military force on the eastern border but rather a civil force made up of gendarmes and police officers."
Beyoncé Avoids Hepatitis A
Posted March 1, 2007 – By not eating at a recent party, singer Beyoncé managed to dodge a bullet, so to speak. The Feb. 14 party in L.A. was thrown by Sports Illustrated magazine to celebrate the issue on which Beyoncé graces the cover. However, it was also the soiree where a cook infected with hepatitis A is believed to have exposed guests to the disease. Beyoncé, it seems, did not eat at the party. Her publicist, Alan Nierob said, "Thank goodness, neither one of us ate. According to the health department, she wasn't at risk." Public health officials in Los Angeles say as many as 3,500 may have been exposed to the infection by the same cook between Feb. 3 and Feb. 20. New York City Passes Anti 'N-Word' Measure
Posted March 1, 2007 – New York has joined a handful of cities actively trying to erase the “N-word” from people's vocabulary. In the Big Apple, where the “N-word” is often used by and in reference to people of all races, the City Council has passed a resolution that encourages New Yorkers not to use the word. Councilman Leroy Comrie began lobbying for the resolution at the beginning of Black History Month. Said Comrie, "People are using it out of context. People are also denigrating themselves by using the word and disrespecting their history, disrespecting the history of a people and a country, and also putting themselves in a negative light that we need to correct."
Sen. Obama Now Leading Presidential Candidate Among Blacks
Posted March 1, 2007 – Presidential candidate Barack Obama is now ahead of Hillary Clinton among Black voters, according to The Washington Post. This shift in support comes a month after most early polls showed Black voters backing Clinton. In fact, although Clinton is still ahead of Obama generally, her lead has been cut in half of late, thanks to Obama's gain in popularity among Black voters.
Sen. McCain Seeks Republican Presidential Nomination
Posted March 1, 2007 – Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has stated that he "will be a candidate" for the Republican nomination in the 2008 presidential campaign. McCain made the statement while on the "David Letterman Show" that aired on Wednesday. McCain, who lost a presidential bid to Geroge W. Bush in 2000, has supported the war in Iraq and early on wanted to send more troops to the region. When host David Letterman turned up the fire under him, McCain said, "This is the announcement preceding the formal announcement!"
Bay Area School Divvies Up Students for Testing — By Race
Posted March 1, 2007 – San Mateo's Mount Diablo School recently held rallies designed to motivate students to improve test scores but faced the wrath of parents when it was discovered that students were divided up ethnically. According to the San Mateo County Times, Black students had one rally, Latino students another, while Asian and White students each had their own gathering to discuss upcoming tests in spring. Parents of students have cried racism, but Principal Bev Hansen explained that students were separated so that no one would be ridiculed because of poor performance. At the ethnically diverse school, Asians scored highest on the academic performance index score, followed by Whites, Hispanics and then Blacks.
Gay Vet Calls For Gays To Serve Openly In Military
Posted March 1, 2007 – Staff Sgt. Eric Alva has sacrificed for his country. He became one of the Iraq war's very first casualties when he lost his leg to a land mine in battle. Now CNN reports that the decorated soldier is pushing for a law that will allow other gays and lesbians to serve openly in the American military. Alva, who hid his homosexuality while he served in the Marines, wants to see the "don't ask, don't tell" policy go away. At a Capitol Hill news conference on Wednesday, Alva said, "I'm an American who fought for his country and for the protection and the rights and freedoms of all American citizens – not just some of them, but all of them." Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.) is also acting to enact a bill that will lift the ban. 
Naomi Campbell Sorry for Outburst
Posted March 1, 2007 – Runway stunner Naomi Campbell expressed regret Wednesday for attacking her maid with her cell phone because of a pair of her jeans went missing, according to CNN. Campbell, who has a history of anger-management issues, said, "I felt very remorseful for having thrown the phone at someone that didn't deserve it. I have a deep sense of shame for the things I've done." Campbell entered a guilty plea to charges of assault filed by her former maid, Ana Scolavino, but insists that the injury was unintentional. "I threw a cell phone in the apartment. The cell phone hit Ana," Campbell explained in court. "This was an accident because I did not intend to hit her."
U.N. Peacekeepers Arrive In Somalia
Posted March 1, 2007 – The first group of U.N. peacekeeping troops have arrived in Somalia, according to the BBC. U.N. Officials say that about 30 soldiers arrived at the country's airport and that they are believed to be Ugandan. The African Union has committed to sending 8,000 troops to war-torn Somalia, but so far only about half that number has been pledged by member nations. Uganda has promised to send 1,500 soldiers, while Nigeria has committed to sending 850; Ghana and Burundi have also pledged to send troops. Shaky Truce In Uganda Expires
Posted March 1, 2007 – A truce between the Ugandan government and rebel fighters from the Lord's Resistance Army expired Wednesday, and there seems to be little chance of it being renewed, according to the BBC. What that means, in effect, is that the country's 20-year civil war is now raging on. LRA soldiers say the government violated the truce and left active talks with the government in December, although the truce was still in effect. LRA Deputy Commander Vincent Otti said Wednesday, "We are not going to renew the truce because there are no peace talks at the moment. But if we are attacked, we shall retaliate and then continue fighting."
U.N. Warns Against Fake Drugs
Posted March 1, 2007 – U.N. watchdog group has issued a warning that fake prescription drugs have flooded markets in developing countries, at times resulting in death. The International Narcotics Control Board reports that nearly half of the prescription drugs in developing nations are not real, and that soon, the abuse of prescription drugs will be more prevalent than narcotics abuse. The board points to Internet drug sales as a major factor in these trends, and urged governments to be more diligent in enacting and enforcing laws that address the problem.
Diddy Loses In British Court
Posted March 1, 2007 – Sean "Diddy" Combs may be "Diddy" no more, at least not in jolly old England. According to sources, a British judge has ruled in favor of UK record promoter Richard "Diddy" Dearlove, who claims that Combs violated an agreement not to use the name "Diddy" while in England, because that was already Dearlove's moniker. Judge David Kitchin of London's High Court ruled that Combs violated the agreement by advertising himself as Diddy in a song lyric on his latest album, "Press Play." Unless the parties can come to some resolution, the case will return to court in October.
Athletic Group Upset Over Lack of Black College Football Coaches
Posted March 1, 2007 – An odd coalition of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, NCAA President Myles Brand and congressmen from both parties came together to express concern over the lack of Black football coaches at the college level at a hearing Wednesday. The Houston Chronicle reports that among 119 Division I-A schools, only six have Black coaches. In other divisions, Blacks don't fare any better when it comes to coaching: There are a total of eight Black coaches. "Sadly, if the pace of progress remains the same, it will be approximately 80 years before we reach a percentage that even approximates the number of African Americans in the general population. This is not only unacceptable, this is unconscionably wrong," Brand told the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Tennessee Inmates Trade Hostages for Cigarettes
Posted March 1, 2007 – Two inmates incarcerated in a non-smoking prison in Tennessee took a hostage on Monday night, but then released him in exchange for cigarettes. Billy Grubb, 32, and Bradley Johnson, 25, who are housed at the Northeast Correctional Complex on murder convictions, engaged prison officials in a six-hour standoff. Said warden Howard Carlton, "As the night progressed they started saying, 'Look, we'll give up if you let us have some tobacco. If you do that, we'll go back to our cell.' They got them some cigarettes, they smoked them and went back to their cell and locked themselves back in."
Destiny's Child's Williams Latest Addition To 'Color Purple' Cast
Posted March 1, 2007 – Michelle Williams, formerly of girl-group Destiny's Child, has been cast to play Shug Avery in the national tour of "The Color Purple" when the production leaves Broadway. Willliams will debut in her role in Chicago on April 17. Said Williams, "This is just a dream come true. I could not pass up the opportunity to do The Color Purple. To have the privilege of even auditioning was an honor for me." Williams, who is from Rockford, Ill., previously played the title role of the Elton John-backed Broadway production of "Aida."
N.Y. Giants Star Splits With Wife Over Abortions, Depression
Posted March 1, 2007 – New York Giants Amani Toomer is suing his wife Yola Dabrowski for annulment amid claims that she went back on an agreement to have his children, and had as many as four abortions. Toomer, who is claiming the marriage was fraudulent, says that Dabrowski suffers from depression but wouldn't take her medication, nor would she clean or cook. Dabrowski, who is seeking divorce, accuses Toomer of "extreme cruelty," claiming that he was "relentlessly demanding . . . insecure and paranoid."
Hankerson Dishes About Toni Braxton
Posted March 1, 2007 – Former Braxton manager and Blackground Records exec Barry Hankerson has stated that he and Braxton were very close friends for years, and he is still confused by the bitter ending to their bond, according to sources. Hankerson describes Braxton as "bewildered. She didn't know ... Here's a young woman who sold all these records. She really didn't know what she had; she didn't know how much money she had. She was impervious to all going on around her. I've really got to honestly say that... She was bewildered at the time I met her.” He blames the demise of her career on her decision to include her husband, keyboardist Keri Lews (formerly of Mint Condition), in her business affairs. Hankerson and Braxton recently arrived at a long, drawn-out and acrimonious end to their business relationship in which Braxton sought to be released from her management contract with Hankerson.
Victoria Secret Model Selita Ebanks Denies Being Nick Cannon's Wife
Posted March 1, 2007 – Victoria Secret model Selita Ebanks has stated that she and main squeeze Nick Cannon did not marry in Las Vegas during the NBA All-Star weekend as was reported, according to Web site TMZ.com. Rumors were flying that after initially hooking up in Miami during Super Bowl weekend, the couple enjoyed a whirlwind romance that led them to get hitched in Sin City. Wrong, says Ebanks. "It's so funny, because I've been saying 'Thank you, thank you' all week -- but no, I'm not married," Ebanks said on Wednesday.
Isaiah Washington Hires Gay Rep.
Posted March 1, 2007 – Actor Isaiah Washington, who was recently at the center of a storm after his use of an anti-gay epithet, has now signed with an openly gay rep. Washington's new spokesman is PR veteran Howard Bragman and his firm, Fifteen Minutes. Bragman also represents former NBA player John Amaechi, who recently came out of the closet in his autobiography. In an online statement, Bragman said of new client, "Our work with Isaiah is about his future -- not the past. There is an important dialogue in our society about diversity that needs to happen, and Isaiah is uniquely positioned to be the catalyst for this."
African Countries Move To Curb Use of Chewing Plant
Posted March 1, 2007 – Growing numbers of young Africans who chew the khat plant for its stimulant properties have concerned many officials, according to the BBC. The plant, which is harvested every 20 days, has become the target of anti-drug efforts on the continent. Khat is used mostly in Kenya and Somalia, but is also exported to England. The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse claims that in Kenya, khat use is on the rise, especially on the coast and in Nairobi. Somali officials claim that khat is commonplace in Mogadishu and that many militia members in Somalia are dependent on the plant, which makes them volatile.
Liberian Official Resigns Over Sex Scandal
Posted March 1, 2007 – Willis Knuckles, the most senior minister under Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has resigned after photos of him having sex with two women have surfaced publicly, according to the BBC. Johnson-Sirleaf described the married Willis as someone who "has been a friend and close associate for many years," but said that she will accept his resignation because she cannot condone his behavior. The graphic photos were printed in a local newspaper, The Independent, last week. Willis apologized to his wife, his family and the public.
Emmett Till Murder Goes Unpunished
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – All but closing the books on a crime that helped give rise to the civil rights movement, a Mississippi grand jury refused to bring new charges in the slaying of Emmett Till, The Associated Press reports. Till, a Black teenager, was beaten and shot in 1955 after he was accused of whistling at a white woman in the Mississippi Delta. The district attorney in rural Leflore County had sought a manslaughter charge against the White woman, Carolyn Bryant Donham, who was suspected of pointing out Till to her husband to punish the boy for what was a grave offense in the segregated South. But the grand jury on Friday issued a "no bill," meaning it did not find enough evidence to bring new charges, according to documents made public Tuesday. Federal authorities decided last year not to prosecute anyone, saying the statute of limitations for federal charges had run out. Mississippi authorities represented the last, best hope of bringing someone to justice. No one has been convicted in the slaying.
Tiger Woods To Be A Daddy Soon
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren, are expecting their first child together, the golf superstar announced on his Web site Saturday. "As some of you know, today is my 31st birthday. I'll spend it quietly with family and friends, but Elin and I have more exciting news to share: We are expecting our first child together this summer," Woods wrote on his site. "Obviously, we couldn't be happier and our families are thrilled," Woods said. "I have always wanted to be a dad. I just wish my father could be around to share the experience." Woods's dad, Earl Woods, died in May at age 74 after battling cancer. Woods and his father had a famously close relationship. Woods married Nordegren in October 2005.
Janet Jackson Pegged for New Film
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – Sources report that Jackson will star in Perry's next feature film, entitled "Why Did I Get Married" along with Sharon Leal and singer Jill Scott. Perry's latest offering will be based on one of his stage plays, in which a group of couples go away every winter to reassess their marriages. When one of the wives brings a sexy young woman along on the trip, trouble follows. Shooting for the film is scheduled to begin in March in Vancouver, followed by production in Perry's Atlanta studio.
Ice Cube To Star In Playwright's Film
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – Rapper turned actor/director Ice Cube will star in the directorial debut by veteran playwright David E. Talbert. Much like Tyler Perry, Talbert has found great success in the gospel theater circuit for the past 15 years or so. His film, "First Sunday," is the story of two thieves who attempt to rob a church, but are led to see the error of their ways by the churchgoers they are holding hostage. Talbert, Cube and crew will begin shooting the film in May, in both Los Angeles and Baltimore. Ice Cube will also appear in theaters in spring in "Are We Done Yet?," the sequel to "Are We There Yet?" Meanwhile, Talbert's current play, "Nick of Tyme," is on tour starring Morris Chestnut.
LAPD Probing 'Diddy' In Battery Case
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – LAPD is looking at Sean Combs in battery case. According to Web site TMZ.com, Los Angeles police are investigating reports that Sean "Diddy" Combs assaulted a man at an Oscar party on Sunday night. TMZ.com reports that witness claim that Combs was talking to the fiancee of Gerard Rechnitzer at a party at Teddy's in the Roosevelt Hotel, when Rechnitzer approached and told the woman it was time that they leave. Reportedly, Combs then invited the woman to a party he was having, at which point Rechnitzer again insisted that they leave. It was then that witnesses say that Combs punched Rechnitzer. The LAPD was called and took a report, but Rechnitzer declined treatment once an ambulance arrived.
Car Bomb Explodes In Baghdad Market, Killing 10
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – Car bomb in Baghdad market kills at least 10, sets off "state of panic." A car bomb exploded early today near a Baghdad market, setting off what a bystander described as a "state of panic," according to CNN. Imad Jassim, a Shiite shopkeeper described the scene: "People were in a state of panic. There was a lot of blood on the ground, and we helped carrying the wounded to the ambulances." At least 10 were known to be dead right away, and 21 were wounded; officials expect the death toll to rise. Yesterday saw another car bomb attack at a soccer field in Ramadi. Iraqi officials maintain that 18 boys between the ages of 10 and 15 were killed in that attack, while U.S. military officials say that 30 people were injured, including nine children.
Senegalese Presidential Candidates Reject Election Results
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – Two presidential contenders dismiss Senegal election results. Two leading candidates in Senegal's presidential elections have rejected the partial results of the election, which officials say give incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade a victory, according to a BBC report. Senegal's news agency claims that the 81-year-old Wade has secured 55 percent of the votes in a partial count, making the need for a run-off election unnecessary. However Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Abdoulaye Bathily, two of Wade's top competitors in the race say that there were irregularities in the electoral process, and that these results don't reflect the people's will. According to BBC reports, most in the country expect that there will be a run-off election.
Fidel Castro Says He's Feeling Stronger
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – Castro says he's feeling stronger, gaining ground. Cuban leader Fidel Castro held his first radio address since his stomach surgery in July on Tuesday, and said he feels stronger. Said Castro, "I am gaining ground. I feel I have more energy, more strength, more time to study. I have become a student again." Castro, who reportedly commented on Tuesday's stock market fall, also had a conversation with Venuezlean president Hugo Chavez during the radio show. Chavez, who shares an uber-healthy criticism of the United States, also talked with Castro about producing ethanol fuel and Venuezuela's industrial output. Chavez has visited Castro frequently since his ill health began last year. Chavez ended his call to Castro saying, "I declare to the world that you are my father." Reportedly Castro replied by saying, "We will overcome."
Relative of Somali Prime Minister And Four Others Killed
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – Five dead in attacks in Somalia's capitol city. Five people, including a relative of the Somali prime minister, were killed in various attacks in Somalia's capitol city of Mogadishu, according to the BBC. Representatives of the African Union are in Mogadishu currently, laying ground for the deployment of its peacekeeping troops, but the U.N. reports that some 15,000 have fled the city as violence there has escalated in February. Government spokesman Hussein Mohamoud Mohammed said that an influx of weapons into the city is to blame, adding, "This trend of violence may increase unless the African Union troops are deployed to assist the government in the disarming process."
DNA Testing Ordered in Atlanta Child Murders of 1980s
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – DNA tests ordered in 1982 Atlanta child murders case. Attorneys for Wayne Williams, convicted of the killings of two men and linked to a string of child murders in Atlanta between 1979 and 1981, have gotten DNA testing on key evidence used in the case. The Associated Press reports that Superior Court Judge Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore ordered the tests on Monday, and prosecutors in the case, confident that the convictions will stand, did not object. After his 1982 conviction, Atlanta officials closed the remaining 22 open murder cases of black youth, saying that Williams was responsible for all of them. Williams has maintained his innocence, claiming that officials were covering up Ku Klux Klan involvement in the murders in order to avoid a race war.
National Steriod Ring That Supplied Athletes And Celebs Busted
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – Steroid ring that supplied athletes and stars busted in Florida, New York, Texas. At least 8 eight people were arrested in Florida on Tuesday in a bust of a steroid ring accused of supplying athletes with steroids and celebrities with human growth hormone via the Internet without any examinations, according to Reuters. Two dozen more people face arrest in connection with the ring. Officials believe that the Orlando-based pharmaceutical distributor, Signature Pharmacy, supplied professional athletes with muscle-building anabolic steroids, while celebrities were provided with human growth hormone, which is in high demand for its alleged anti-aging properties. Victor Conte, who headed the embattled BALCO lab at the center of a steroid scandal involving Marion Jones, was nonplussed, saying, "The recent steroid raid in Florida doesn't surprise me at all. People from all walks of life now are using performance enhancing substances. From athletes to movie stars, there seems to be an ever-growing need to find a competitive edge."
Racist Column In Asian-American Paper Condemned By Leaders
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – "Why I hate Blacks" column condemned after publication. Asian-American leaders are condemning a column entitled "Why I hate Blacks" that was published in the Feb. 23 issue of AsianWeek, the Associated Press reports. The nationally circulated weekly paper published an article by Kenneth Eng, who laid out the reasons he is in favor of discrimination against Blacks, including the view that, "I would argue that blacks are weak-willed. They are the only race that has been enslaved for 300 years." An official from the paper offered an apology for the publication of the column, and said that it was a mistake. Ted Fang, the editor at large of AsianWeek, said, "The newspaper is sorry that this got published, and I am personally sorry that this got published. The views in that opinion piece do not in any way reflect the views of AsianWeek." The paper will hold a news conference with the NAACP today to address ways to improve relations between Asian Americans and African Americans.
Salmonella Cases Now Number 370
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – Salmonella-infestation toll hits 370, probe turns to Reese's Cups. According to the Associated Press, the number of infections linked to salmonella-infested peanut butter produced by ConAgra, and sold under the labels Peter Pan and Wal-Mart brand Great Value, has hit 370. As the investigation into the tainted peanut butter continues, the Web site Consumeraffairs.com reports that Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are now under scrutiny after one woman claims she got severe diarrhea after eating a King Size Reese's Cup. Reese's manufacturer Hershey's says that the company "does not source" ConAgra peanut butter, while ConAgra declined to comment on Hershey's products. FDA spokesman Michael Herndon said "I don't have any information on Reese's peanut butter cups but ConAgra's products were sold and distributed a number of ways, including to a number of institutional food establishments. As part of the traceback FDA is trying to determine who these establishments and food service providers are but we don't have that information at this time."
New HIV Drug Found To Suppress AIDS
Posted Feb. 28, 2007 – Drug marivoc suppresses AIDS virus, according to Pfizer. Reuters is reporting that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has revealed that its new drug, maraviroc, was effective in suppressing the AIDS virus in study subjects who were also taking a regimen of other HIV meds. Maraviroc jams the receptor sites of T cells, the white blood cells needed for immunity, so that the AIDS virus cannot enter these cells and replicate. Pfizer also contends that since maraviroc does not attack the AIDS virus directly, it may take longer for the virus to develop resistance to it. The Centers for Disease Control report that 1 in 10 newly diagnosed HIV patients have a form of the virus that is resistant to at least one of the three major HIV drugs in the United States.
Murphy Addresses 'Sore Loser'