NBA Star Charles Barkley Arrested

On Wednesday, the NBA star Charles Barkley was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in Phoenix, Arizona. Barkley failed the field sobriety tests after a police officer smelled alcohol. He was then arrested, cited, and released. His car was impounded and he left in a cab. Police say that Barkley was cooperative throughout the entire ordeal.

Actress Eartha Kitt Dies

Eartha Kitt, a well known, actress, singer, and dancer, died on Thursday at the age of 81 from colon cancer in Connecticut. In her lifetime she had won two Emmys and was nominated for several Tony awards and two Grammy awards. She had done a lot of work in television and movies. She is also known for playing Catwoman in the television show "Batman" in the 1960's.

Man That Killed Rapper T.I.'s Friend Sentenced

Hosea Thomas, the man that was convicted of killing rapper T.I.'s friend, has been sentenced to 66 years to life in prison. He was convicted by a jury last month for murder, felonious assault, and illegally having a gun after a felony conviction. The rapper T.I. had took the stand against him during his trail to say that he believed that the shots that were fired and killed his friend Philant Johnson were actually meant for him.

Burger King Releases New Meat Scented Cologne

This holiday season Burger King has released a men's body spray called Flame. It is meat scented and is being promoted as "the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat." It is being sold online and in some stores in the United States at the price of $3.99. It even has its own website at firemeetsdesire.com.

Death of Singer Sean Levert Encourages New Jail Drug Policy

The death of the singer Sean Levert has encouraged a proposed new policy that provides more flexibility in giving inmates their anti-anxiety medication. Levert died on March 30th of 2008 after becoming sick at a county jail in Cleveland, OH and was not given the Xanax prescription that he had brought to the jail after he was sentenced for not paying child support. The jail administrator and a jail doctor proposed the policy to allow inmates to get their prescription medication as soon as their prescriptions are verified.

Singer Akon Pleads Guilty

On Wednesday, the singer Akon pleaded guilty to harassment for tossing a teenage fan off of a stage at a concert in upstate New York in June of 2007. He will not serve any jail time but he will have to perform 65 hours of community service and pay a $250 fine due to his plea bargain. He was originally charged with misdemeanor endangerment of the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, which is a violation.

First Face Transplant Done in America

In Cleveland, reconstructive surgeon Dr. Maria Siemionow and a team of specialists performed the first face face transplant done in America by replacing 80 percent of a disfigured woman's face by using the face of a female cadaver. Many details of the surgery have not been released but surgeons that do this usually transplant skin, facial nerves, muscles, and other deep tissue.

Skin is considered an organ and it still runs the risk of the body rejecting it, as with other organ transplants. Recipients of transplants have the risk of deadly complications, such as the new facial tissue attacking the recipient's body and the recipient's body attacking the bone marrow or the transplanted face to cause inflammation at the area of the new tissue. They also have to take immune-suppressing drugs for the rest of their lives to prevent the body rejecting the organ. This raises the risk of cancer and other diseases.

This is the fourth one done worldwide. Two have been done in France and one was done in China. The first one was a partial face transplant done in France in 2005 on a woman who had been mauled by her dog and received a new nose, chin, and lips from a brain-dead donor. Another was done in France on man disfigured by a genetic disease. One was done in China on a farmer that had been disfigured by being mauled by a bear.

Singer Madonna Settles Divorce

The singer Madonna has settled the divorce with her ex-husband Guy Ritchie for more than $76 million. The settlement is in the range of $76 million to $92 million as apart of the divorce agreement. This amount includes their country home in western England. The couple's west London pub would also go to Ritchie. The couple is supposedly worth around $525 million and most of that belongs to Madonna. Richie's worth is about $35 million. The couple have two children together. Madonna also has a child from previous relationship and a child that she had adopted from Malawi in 2006.

GM to Temporarily Close 20 Plants

On Friday, General Motors Corp. stated that it will temporarily close 20 of its factories across North America and reduce vehicle production while it tries adjust to the decline in automobile demands. The company will cut 250,000 vehicles from its production schedule for the first quarter of 2009. They normally produce 750,000 automobiles for that quarter. Many of the plants will be closed for the whole month of January and employees will be temporarily laid off and will receive part of their normal wages. They could be able to apply for state unemployment benefits. GM reported that its sales are down 41 percent for November and are down 22 percent for the first 11 months of 2008.

General Motors currently trying to obtain Government loans to be able to stay in business. The White House says that it might go into its $700 billion Wall Street Bailout fund to help GM and Chrysler. The entire automobile industry is having to make cuts due to the decline in the demand of automobiles.

Singer Usher and Wife Have New Baby

The singer Usher and his wife Tameka have welcomed a new baby boy into the world on Wednesday. The baby was named Naviyd Ely Raymond and was born weighing 5 pounds and 13 ounces. This is the couple's second child. Their first child was born last November. Tameka also has three children from a previous marriage.

Rapper DMX Arrested

The rapper DMX was arrested in Miami on Tuesday by federal authorities for not attending his recent court appearance. He was arrested on a warrant issued by a judge in Phoenix after he didn't attend his court hearing on Friday. DMX was being held at the Miami-Dade County jail and will be taken back to Phoenix. His bond is set at $120,000. He has pleaded not guilty to charges to drug possession, identity theft, and animal cruelty.

Singer Toni Braxton has Tumor Removed

The singer Toni Braxton has recently had a benign tumor removed from her breast. She says that she knew about the tumor before appearing on the television show "Dancing With the Stars" and scheduled the surgery to remove the tumor after being eliminated from the competition on October 20th. She is still recovering and is scheduled to appear on the "Dancing With the Stars" tour, which begins on December 17th in San Diego.

Tyler Perry Wins Lawsuit

The actor-screenwriter Tyler Perry has won a lawsuit that accused him of stealing material from Donna West's play for his movie "Diary of a Mad Black Woman." The jurors found that West did not present evidence that supported her accusation of copyright infringement.

West is accusing Perry of stealing material from her play called "Fantasy of a Black Woman" that has been performed three times in 1991 in Dallas, TX and claims that Perry could have accessed the script in 1998 when he presented his plays to the Dallas Black Academy of Arts and Letters. Perry testified in court that his screenplay is an original work. West was asking the court to receive money for damages and profits made from the film, which earned around $50 million in theaters after it was released in 2005. Her attorneys are planning to seek a new trial.

Charges Dropped Against Suge Knight

On Friday, a judge dropped the drug and battery charges filed against Marion "Suge" Knight, the co-founder of Death Row Records. The prosecution had discovery problems and witness problems. The district attorney's office has filed a notice showing that it might revive the charges by seeking a grand jury indictment. Knight had recently been charged with two counts of felony drug possession and one count of misdemeanor battery in the beating of a woman in August after police caught him hitting his girlfriend while holding a knife in a parking lot near the Las Vegas Strip. Police found the drugs Ecstasy and hydrocodone in his possession. The girlfriend was not stabbed but she was treated at a hospital for the injuries.

Another Warrant Issued to Rapper DMX

The rapper DMX was issued a bench warrant by a judge in Phoenix after he didn't show up to court on Friday. This is the second time that he missed a court appearance in Maricopa County Superior Court. He is currently facing charges of drug possession, identity theft, and animal cruelty. His bond has been raised to $120,000 cash and his attorney says that he is currently at an undisclosed rehab facility.

O.J. Simpson Sentenced to Serve Prison Time

O.J. Simpson was sentenced to serve at least 15 years in prison for a armed robbery at a hotel in Las Vegas. The judge said that the sentence had nothing to do with his 1994 acquittal in the murder of his ex-wife and her male friend. Simpson was taken away to prison after the judge refused to allow him to go free on bail while he appeals the sentence.

Don Cornelius Fights Battery Charges

Don Cornelius, the former host of the show "Soul Train", has pleaded not guilty in court to the charges against him that come from a domestic dispute case against his wife in October. He is currently facing three counts of spousal battery, one count of dissuading a witness from making a police report, and one count of assault with a deadly weapon. His wife has filed two restraining orders against him since the incident.

Actor Gary Coleman Pleads No Contest

The actor Gary Coleman has pleaded no contest to a disorderly charge from a recent incident at a bowling alley. He also pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge, which will be waived if he doesn't have another violation within a year. He was ordered to pay a $100 fine in a Payson court on Tuesday.

Read More: http://mediatoken.blogspot.com/2008/09/actor-gary-coleman-being-sued-over.html and http://mediatoken.blogspot.com/2008/09/actor-gary-coleman-hits-pedestrian.html

Man Arrested in Hudson Murders

The singer Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law was arrested due to the murders of her mother, brother, and nephew. The man, who is named William Balfour, is the prime suspect in the killings. He has been a main suspect since the beginning even though he wasn't arrested until yesterday. He was arrested on Monday at Stateville Correctional Center on a murder warrant and was released to the detectives as he awaited formal charges in the murders. Balfour states that he is not guilty of the killings.

Update: William Balfour was charged with three counts of first-degree murder on Tuesday. He was also charged with one count of felony home invasion. He is scheduled to appear in bond court on Wednesday.

Verdict of Man Who Killed T.I.'s Friend

The man, named Hosea Thomas, who killed the friend of rapper T.I., named Philant Johnson, was found guilty of murder in the shooting that happened in 2006. Thomas was also convicted of felonious assault and illegally having a gun after having a felony conviction. T.I. had testified last week in the trial and he told jurors that he felt that the bullets that were fired and killed his friend was meant for him even though he wasn't injured in the shooting. Thomas can face up to life in prison at his sentencing on December 23rd.

Rapper MC Breed Dies

The rapper MC Breed died on Saturday at the age of 37 at a friend's home in Ypsilanti, which is 30 miles southwest of Detroit. There is no foul play suspected in the death and toxicology results are in pending status. It is suspected that he died due to kidney failure. He had released 13 albums between 1991 and 2004. He is known for his song "Aint' No Future in Yo' Frontin."

Rapper T.I. Testifies in Murder Trial

On Friday, the rapper T.I. testified in court as a witness that he felt that the bullets fired at his entourage during a vehicle chase two years ago were meant for him. A man named Hosea Thomas is on trial for firing a shot that killed a man named Philant Johnson, a close friend of T.I., during a gun battle on Interstate 75. T.I stated that he felt that all of those shots were actually meant for him and not the man that was killed. T.I. was not harmed during the shooting but three other people were.

Singer Ashlee Simpson-Wentz Gives Birth to Baby

The singer Ashlee Simpson-Wentz gave birth to a 7 pound and 11 oz baby boy named Bronx Mowgli Wentz on Thursday night. This is the first child for her and her husband named Pete Wentz. The couple had gotten married earlier this year.

"Suge" Knight Facing Criminal Charges

Marion "Suge" Knight, the co-founder of Death Row Records, is facing criminal charges in Las Vegas that come from an incident where he had beaten his girlfriend near a busy thoroughfare in August. Police had arrested him after they saw him beating the woman while brandishing a knife in a parking lot near the Las Vegas Strip. He also had Ecstasy and hydrocodone in his possession when he was arrested. He was released from custody after posting $19,000 bail.

Knight is being charged with two counts of felony drug possession and one count of misdemeanor battery. He could face mandatory probation and up to four years in a Nevada state prison on each of the drug charges. He could also be sentenced to up to six months in jail on the battery charge.

Singer Prince Being Sued by Perfume Maker

The singer Prince is being sued by a perfume company named Revelations Perfume and Cosmetics Inc. that claims that he and his music publisher didn't honor a contract to help market a fragrance named after the album "3121." The company says that it licensed Prince's name, likeness, and the "3121" album to market the fragrance. The company says that it spent $2.5 million and agreed to pay Universal half of the net profits from the sales of the perfume but Universal and Prince haven't participated in promotions since the fragrance launched in July of 2007.

Rapper Kanye West Arrest in England

The rapper Kanye West was arrested on suspicion of assault after an incident with a photographer outside of the Tup Tup Palace bar in Newcastle, northern England. He was later released without any charges. Kanye West is currently in England as apart of his Glow in the Dark tour.

Don Cornelius Charged with Battery

Don Cornelius, the former host of the show "Soul Train," has been charged with spousal battery, assault with a deadly weapon, and dissuading a witness from making a police report due to two domestic incidents that involved his wife last month. He was arrested and taken to jail last month after the police were called to his Hollywood Hills home after a report of a domestic dispute. He was released on $50,000 bail and could face up to one year in prison for each of the five misdemeanor charges against him.

Busboy Sues Justin Timberlake

A busboy in New York is suing the singer Justin Timberlake claiming that Timberlake's restaurant, named Timberlake's Southern Comfort, didn't pay him a legal wage. The busboy states that he and the other staff didn't get the right amount of gratuity charge that the restaurant automatically collects from parties of six or more customers. He also states that he worked more than 40 hours per work without getting paid overtime. A manager at the restaurant says that the staff members received all of their tips and the busboys were paid more than minimum wage.

Michael Jackson Gives Up Neverland Ranch

The singer Micheal Jackson has decided to give up the title to his Neverland ranch and transfer the deed to a company that he partly controls. He filed a grant deed on Monday on the ranch that would make the new owner an entity called the Sycamore Valley Ranch Co. Sycamore Valley Ranch Co. is a joint venture between Jackson and an affiliate of Colony Capital LLC.

Earlier this year, Jackson went into default on the $24.5 million that he owes on the property and Colony Capital bailed him out. Colony Capital is a Los Angeles-based real estate investment company that is ran by the billionaire Tom Barrack. The company also owns several properties in Las Vegas, including the Las Vegas Hilton. Neverland Ranch was called Sycamore Valley Ranch before Jackson bought it in 1988 and turned it into a miniature amusement park where thousands of children were invited to the property.

Jackson has been struggling to pay his debts to the ranch since his arrest in 2003 where he was accused of molesting a 13 year boy at the ranch. He has not been to the property since being acquitted of the charges.

Dead Woman Found Outside Singer Paula Abdul's House

A body was found inside of a car a few houses away from singer Paula Abdul's Home. The body was a former contestant on the show "American Idol" named Paula Goodspeed. She was a big fan of Abdul and died from a drug overdose. It appears that the woman had been stalking Abdul for a while and cops had been to the house several times before to deal with her. Abdul was not home at the time that the body was found.

Comedian Katt Williams Arrested

The comedian Katt Williams was arrested on weapons charges in midtown Manhattan after police pulled him over for driving without license plates. Police found a handgun in his car after he was stopped. He was released on bail Thursday and was able to make it for his show at Carnegie Hall.

Barack Obama Officially Elected President

Major news companies are reporting that Barack Obama has defeated John McCain to become the first African American president of the United States. Obama had announced his presidential candidacy two years ago and now he will become the next president of the USA.

Def Jam Executive Found Dead

Shakir Stewart, Executive Vice President of Def Jam, was found in his home dead from a gunshot wound to his head on Saturday. Police found him after responding to a a shooting at an undisclosed address. The official cause of death has not been released yet but police suspect that he committed suicide. No arrests or charges have been made. He was the person who signed the music artists Young Jeezy and Rick Ross to the label.

Memorial Service Held for Jennifer Hudson's Slain Family Members Today

A memorial service is set for this afternoon at Pleasant Gift Memorial Baptist Church for the mother, brother, and nephew of singer Jennifer Hudson. Hudson's friends and relatives are expected to attend the church in Chicago. Jennifer Hudson and her sister are not going to attend the service.

British Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Amy Winehouse Drugs

A British couple, named Johnny Blagrove and Cara Burton, who sold video footage of the singer Amy Winehouse smoking crack to a newspaper pleaded guilty to drug charges in court on Friday. They admitted to offering to supply drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, to the singer.


The couple had filmed Winehouse and sold the footage to the Sun newspaper, which published the images of the singer smoking crack in January. Police also found a list of other celebrities they had supplied drugs to when they raided the couple's home. Detectives decided that there was not enough evidence to charge Winehouse with anything but the couple was charged. They have to go back to court on November 28th for sentencing.

Police Find Gun Used in Hudson Family Murders

On Friday, police confirmed that they found a .45-caliber gun that was used in the killings of singer Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew. The gun was found on Wednesday in a vacant lot where the the body of Julian King, Hudson's nephew, was found dead in the back of a SUV days earlier due to gun shot wounds. Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother, named Darnell Donerson and Jason Hudson, were found dead in the family's home last Friday.

Singer Jennifer Hudson’s Nephew Found Dead

The singer’s Jennifer Hudson’s 7 year old nephew named Julian King was found dead in the back of a SUV on Monday. The SUV was found about 10 miles from the house where the other homicide victims were found. This ends a search for the child that began after Hudson’s mother and brother were found shot to death in their Chicago home on Friday. The boy has been found to have been shot to death. The medical examiner’s office has an autopsy planned for Tuesday. The motive for the recent killings is still unsure and the person who did it most likely was not a stranger to the family.

Police consider the case domestic-related and the main suspect is a man named William Balfour who is the stepfather of the child. He was taken into custody for questioning on Friday for the homicides and on Sunday he was transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections for his parole violations. He had previously spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking, and possessing a stolen vehicle.

Jennifer Hudson Asks for Help Finding Nephew

Jennifer Hudson is asking for help from the public in finding her 7 year old nephew who has been missing since her mother and brother were shot to death in their home. An Amber Alert has remained in effect Sunday for the boy, named Julian King, who disappeared on Friday. Police don’t have a motive for the killings and abduction but they consider it domestic-related.

A man named William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson’s sister, named Julia Hudson, has been in police custody and is a suspect in the shooting. Julia Hudson is also the mother of the missing child. Balfour has been transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections based on his active parole violations unrelated to the homicides and abduction. He will remain in state custody until the Illinois Prisoner Review Board looks at his case.

Singer Jennifer Hudson’s Mother and Brother Found Dead

The singer Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were found dead due to gun shot wounds on Friday at a South Side Chicago home. The deaths are assumed to be the result of domestic abuse. A family member entered the home around 3 p.m. Friday afternoon and found the woman shot on the living room floor. The family member left to notify police. When police officers arrived they found a man shot in the bedroom. There were no signs of forced entry into the home.

A 7 year old boy named Julian King that was the grandson of the woman was also abducted from the home by a man considered armed and dangerous and who is also the suspect in the killings. The man is currently on parole and in the past spent almost seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking, and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Rapper 50 Cent Settles Child Visitation Issue

The rapper 50 Cent has reached a settlement with his ex-girlfriend over the visitation of their 11 year old son, named Marquise. The agreement is that 50 Cent will get one weekend per month, one month in the summer, and half of each winter and spring break. Both parties are satisfied with the decision.

Singer Lyfe Jennings Involved In High Speed Police Chase

Today, the R&B singer Lyfe Jennings was arrested in Georgia for shooting off a gun, taking police on a car chase in a Corvette, and refusing to take a DUI test. The police chase ended when Jennings’ car eventually crashed. He was charged with felony weapon possession by a convicted felon, attempting to elude, discharging a firearm near a public highway, and refusing to take the sobriety test.

Hulk Hogan's Son Released from Jail

Nick Bollea, the son of wrestler Hulk Hogan, has been released from a Florida jail on Tuesday morning after serving five months for causing a serious car crash. He had pleaded no contest in May to causing the crash. He was arrested last year after speeding on a a busy street and crashing his father's car, causing his passenger to become permanently disabled. He had the possibility to spend five years in prison, but the family of the injured passenger requested a lesser sentence.

Don Cornelius from Soul Train Arrested

Don Cornelius from the show “Soul Train” was arrested last night for beating his wife. That evening, someone called the police department from Cornelius' home and the LAPD responded to the domestic dispute. Cornelius was arrested at the scene on charges of felony domestic violence. He was taken to the LAPD jail in Van Nuys. His bail was set at $50,000 and he was released from jail at 5 A.M.

Singer Madonna Getting Divorce

The singer Madonna is getting divorced after almost eight years of marriage to her husband Guy Ritchie. They have not agreed on a financial settlement and child custody yet. They have approximately $525 million in worth and most of that belongs to Madonna. Ritchie has approximately $35 million in worth. The couple owns homes in London, Los Angeles, and New York. They also own a retreat in Wiltshire.

The court judgment will be based on who came into the marriage with what and the assets that they have will be divided equally. The needs of the children will also be considered. The children they have are 8 year old Rocco and 3year old David Banda, who was adopted in Malawi in 2006. Madonna also has a 12 year old daughter named Lourdes from a previous relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes Set to Have Album Released

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, the late rapper of the group TLC, is going to have a solo album released on November 11th that is based on her past recordings that have never before been released. Funds from the album will to the Lopes’ foundation, which helps build orphanages and schools in Honduras. Lopes died on April 25, 2002 in Honduras from a fatal car crash.

Singer Janet Jackson Sick from Vertigo

It is reported that the famous singer Janet Jackson had cancelled her recent shows and had gotten sick due to vertigo. She had been suffering from migraines related to the disease and the disease and symptoms are being treated, which include dizziness and imbalance. She is set to continue her concert tour.

Lisa Marie Presley Names Newborn Twins

Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of late singer Elvis Presley, had decided to name her newborn twin daughters Finley and Harper. She has been married to music producer Michael Lockwood since January of 2006 and has a 19 year old daughter and a 15 year old son from a previous marriage to musician Danny Keough, which ended in 1994. She has also been married to singer Michael Jackson and actor Nicholas Cage.

Lisa Marie Presley Gives Birth to Twins

Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of late singer Elvis Presley, gave birth to twin girls on Tuesday. One of the babies weighed 5 pounds and 15 ounces. The other weighed 5 pounds and 2 ounces. She gave birth by Cesarean section. She is currently married to the music producer Michael Lockwood and has a 15 year old son from a previous marriage.

Rapper Lil Kim Sued by Recording Company

The rapper Lil Kim is being sued by a recording company called Brookland Media for $2.5 million. The company states that she hasn’t delivered all of the recordings that their contract requires and they have already spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on recordings, equipment, and advanced payments after contracting the rapper this year. Court papers state that Lil Kim tried to change the contract and refused to continue recording unless the company agreed. Brookland Media wants the court to declare the contract as valid and wants to bar her from recording for another company.

Singer Natalie Cole Released from Hospital

The singer Natalie Cole has been released from the hospital this week and was able to go home. She is currently suffering from hepatitis C but has been receiving kidney dialysis that isn’t related to the hepatitis. She was hospitalized due to problems she was having with the medicine she was taking and having a busy schedule to promote her new album, called “Still Unforgettable.”

In July, she announced that she had hepatitis C and it was found during a routine examination. The disease is likely caused by her past drug use. Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is spread by contact with infected blood.

Actor James Earl Jones Gets SAG Life Achievement Award

The actor James Earl Jones is going to receive the 2008 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in January. He has been devoted to advanced literacy, the arts, and local and national humanities. He was the voice of Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” movies and was the voice of Mufasa in the Disney movie “The Lion King.” He has already received two Tony awards, three Emmy awards, an Oscar nomination, and the National Medal of Arts.

Singer Janet Jackson Released from Hospital

The singer Janet Jackson was released from a Montreal hospital two hours after she arrived. It is not known why she had gotten sick. She was taken to the hospital after feeling ill during one of her sound checks before her concert. She will continue her tour in Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday.

Rapper Beenie Man Cleared in Tax Evasion Charges

The rapper and singer Beenie Man has been cleared of tax-evasion charges because the government hadn't informed him of his legal rights when auditors issued their assessment last year. He had owed nearly $1 million in overdue taxes but a Jamaican judge threw out the case on Tuesday.

Singer Janet Jackson Hospitalized

The singer Janet Jackson was taken to the hospital after not feeling well shortly before a concert in Montreal. During her sound check she suddenly felt sick and had to be taken to the hospital just before the show was scheduled to start. She is currently being monitored at the hospital and plans to reschedule the show.

Actress Scarlett Johansson Gets Married

The actress Scarlett Johansson has gotten married this past weekend to her fiance Ryan Reynolds. The wedding was small and took place at a resort outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. The couple had announced their engagement in May.

Rapper Kanye West Not Charged in Airport Incident

Prosecutors have decided not to file felony charges against the rapper Kanye West and his manager for an incident in which the camera of a paparazzi was broken. Prosecutors referred the case to the city attorneys and they will decide if West will be charged with a misdemeanor.

West was arrested on September 11th at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of vandalism after he was caught on video struggling with a paparazzi and then breaking his camera on the floor. His manager was also arrested on suspicion of breaking the camera and one that belonged to a TMZ videographer.

Actor Shia LaBeouf Not Charged in Car Accident

The actor Shia LaBeouf will not be charged for his involvement in a recent drunken driving accident that caused him to injure his hand. He could have his license suspended due to refusing to take the breathalyzer test. Authorities say that there wasn’t enough evident to charge him with drunken driving. He has a traffic hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles on Friday and his driver’s license could possible be suspended for up to nine months.

Rapper Busta Rhymes allowed to Enter Britain

The rapper Busta Rhymes has won the right to enter Britain to perform at a charity concert. A High Court judge ruled that he could play at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday, even though he is challenging the British government’s decision to keep him out of the country. The concert is for charity, where people who completed four hours of volunteer work were rewarded with a concert ticket.

Rapper Busta Rhymes Refused Entry into Britain

The rapper Busta Rhymes was refused to be allowed to enter Britain on Thursday. He was detained by immigration officers who said that the refusal was based on unresolved convictions in the United States. Busta Rhymes had to remain in custody in London while legal steps were taken to try to change the decision. His lawyer presented papers to support him being allowed entry but authorities arranged for him to fly back to Amsterdam. His lawyers then got an injunction from a High Court judge to prevent him from being sent back.

Busta Rhymes was scheduled to appear at a concert on Friday at London's mammoth Albert Hall. The rapper Ludacris has agreed to take his place.

Rapper T.I. Ordered to Increase Child Support Payments

On Tuesday, a judge ordered the rapper T.I. to pay more child support to the mother of two of his children. She had recently claimed that the $2,000 she was receiving each month wasn’t enough. T.I. has been ordered to pay a little over $3,000 a month to the woman named LaShon Dixon. The rapper must also continue to pay for the boys to attend private school, uninsured medical bills, and expenses related to the children’s extracurricular activities. He was also awarded joint custody of the two boys and Dixon was granted primary physical custody. The boys had previously spent 40 percent of their time with their father.

Late Singer Isaac Hayes Leaves Part of Estate to Foundation in Will

In his will, the late singer Isaac Hayes left his estate to his wife, his children, and the Isaac Hayes Foundation, which supports literacy, music, and nutrition. Last week, the will was filed in Probate Court. The Commercial Appeal in Memphis reported the value and the contents of the estate haven’t been filed. Isaac Hayes died on August 10th at his Memphis home.

Singer Natalie Cole Hospitalized

Natalie Cole, Grammy-winning singer and daughter of late Nat King Cole, has been hospitalized due to side effects of her medication and having a heavy promotional schedule for her new album “Still Unforgettable.” She has been in a New York City hospital since September 12th and is expected to stay there for a short time and then return to her home in Los Angeles where she will be on bedrest. She is reportedly responding well to the treatment.

She announced in July that she had hepatitis C, which is a liver disease that is spread through contact with infected blood. The disease was found during a routine examination and is likely due to her previous years of drug use.

Actor Gary Coleman Being Sued Over Bowling Alley Incident

The actor Gary Coleman is being sued by a man who says that Coleman punched him and ran into him with his truck at a Payson bowling alley parking lot. The man received knee, back and neck injuries. On September 6th, he and Coleman got into an argument after he took a picture of the actor with a cell phone. Coleman was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and disorderly conduct in Payson City Justice Court.

Rapper Webbie Involved in High Speed Police Chase

The rapper Webbie was arrested and charged with felony eluding, driving under the influence, and misdemeanor possession of marijuana after being involved in a high-speed police chase in Hattiesburg. He tried to elude police on Sunday after a police officer tried to pull over his 2009 Dodge Challenger for a traffic violation on Interstate 59. He ignored the police signal for him to pull over and continued on the Interstate. He also hit another vehicle while on the road. Police later found his damaged vehicle in a parking lot on U.S. Highway 49. He was arrested after police later stopped a gray sedan.

Webbie is being held at the Forrest County Jail until his court appearance. He was charged with one count of felony eluding, one count of DUI, and one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana that was found in the Dodge Challenger.

Singer Jennifer Hudson Engaged

The singer and actress Jennifer Hudson has gotten engaged to her boyfriend David Otunga. He asked her to marry him while celebrating her 27th birthday in Los Angeles on Friday. They have not set a wedding date yet. David Otunga was a contestant called “Punk” on the VH1 reality dating show called “I Love New York 2.”

Rapper T.I. Being Sued for Child Support

The mother of two of the rapper T.I.'s children is suing him for child support. She says that she is having a hard time financially supporting the boys and wants a court-ordered arrangement for payment. The woman, named Lashon Dixon, and T.I. have known each other since teenagers and have children that are 7 and 8 years old. Dixon says that he currently gives her about $2,000 each month to take care of the children but she is sure that he is able to pay more with his successful career. Both Dixon and T.I. appeared in Fulton County Superior Court on Thursday.

Rapper Snoop Dogg Granted Visa for Australia

The rapper Snoop Dogg has been granted a visa to enter Australia after finishing a full character assessment. He has a concert tour scheduled for the near future in Australia. The immigration department had originally had concerns about his criminal record but considered the fact that he had traveled there three times before without any problems. In the assessment they weighed his previous convictions against his more recent charity work and they considered if he would be any risk to the Australian community. Snoop Dogg is also suppose to do charity work with at-risk youth during his visit.

Singer Kelis Acquitted of Charges

Kelis, a singer and wife of rapper Nas, has been acquitted of all charges against her in an incident that happened in Miami where she was accused of disrupting a police operation by going towards the officers screaming racial profanities at them. The incident started when authorities were talking to men in March of 2007 in the South Beach nightclub district and they claim that Kelis rushed towards them and said that one of the men was her husband. She was charged with disorderly conduct while resisting arrest without violence. A jury acquitted her of the charges on Thursday.

Female Boxer Laila Ali Gives Birth to Baby

Laila Ali, a professional boxer and daughter of Muhammad Ali, has given birth to a baby boy that she and her husband Curtis Conway named Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr. He was born on August 26 and he is their first child.

Rapper Kanye West Arrested

The rapper Kanye West and one of his bodyguards was arrested on Thursday morning at Los Angeles International Airport after an altercation with paparazzi where West smashed a camera on the floor. West and his road manager, who is also his bodyguard, were arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism. The two were scheduled to board a flight to Honolulu, Hawaii that morning. The broken camera was valued at worth more than $10,000. West and his road manager were taken to be booked at a Los Angeles Police Department station in Culver City. West has been released from police custody on Thursday afternoon.

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Actor Gary Coleman Hits Pedestrian

The actor Gary Coleman hit a pedestrian named Colt Rushton with his truck after arguing with him at a local bowling alley. They had got into an argument on early Saturday morning over pictures that Rushton had taken of Coleman inside of the bowling alley. The argument continued while outside and Coleman hit Rushton and a car as he was backing out of a parking space. Neither of the men were issued a citation and it is not known whether Coleman hit the man on purpose. Neither of the men gave police much information and alcohol may have played a part in the incident. Rushton was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries before being released.

Rev. Jesse Jackson Released from Hospital

The Reverend Jesse Jackson was released from a Chicago hospital on Friday morning after being admitted for two days with stomach problems. At the hospital, he was treated for viral gastroenteritis and severe dehydration. He entered the hospital on Wednesday after returning from registration events and experiencing stomach pains and dehydration.

Rev. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized

The Reverend Jesse Jackson has entered a Chicago hospital after having severe stomach pains. Doctors told him that he has viral gastroenteritis but they are conducting more tests. He says that he was campaigning and doing voter registration in Georgia earlier this week when he began feeling sick after becoming dehydrated. He then entered a Chicago hospital on Wednesday. He isn’t sure when he will be released. Viral gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines and usually isn’t serious for most people.

Sony Laptop Recall

Sony Corp is recalling 440,000 Vaio laptop computers worldwide due to a wiring flaw that could cause overheating. The recall involves 19 models in the Vaio TZ series manufactured between May 2007 and July 2008. The company had improperly placed wires near the hinge connecting the body of the laptop and its display could wear quickly and cause a short circuit and overheating. A mistake in a circuit board inside the display could also cause overheating inside its rim. Sony has already received 209 reports of overheating worldwide and seven cases where people received minor burns.

Actor David Spade Father of New Baby

The actor David Spade has become the father of a baby girl on August 26th . The mother is Playboy playmate Jillian Grace. The two had a short relationship and Spade agreed to accept responsibility of the child if it was confirmed that he was father. He plans to visit the child on his first break from filming his sitcom “Rules of Engagement.”

Man Gets Prison Time for Robbing Actress Kirsten Dunst's Hotel

A man named Jarrod Beinerman has been sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison for burglarizing the actress Kirsten Dunst's New York City hotel penthouse suite. He was arrested in August 2007 on burglary and larceny charges after a security camera captured his movements in Manhattan's SoHo Grand Hotel. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of attempted burglary. An iPod, wallets, and purses were stolen from Dunst's hotel suite. Beinerman has also been ordered to receive drug treatment for his drug addiction and he faces sentencing on September 10th on a drug charge.

Oprah Winfrey’s Mother Getting Sued for Unpaid Bill

A high-end clothing store in Brookfield, Wisconsin named Valentina is suing Oprah Winfrey’s mother, Vernita Lee, for not paying a bill. A civil complaint states that she owes the store nearly $156,000 for purchases and interest as of July 1st and has not made the monthly minimum payment of $2,000. A nonbinding mediation session is scheduled for September 16th.

Akon Goes to Trial in Fan Tossing Case

The singer Akon will go to trial on criminal charges that he tossed a fan offstage at a concert last summer. He is being accused tossing a teenager off of a stage during a concert in June of 2007 at a minor league baseball stadium near Poughkeepsie. Another woman claimed that she suffered a concussion when the tossed boy landed on her.

Akon is due back in court on December 1st. In December, he pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment.

Google Releases New Web Browser

Google has released its own Web browser called “Chrome.” The browser is free of cost and it supposedly is more innovative and has more tools for surfing than its competitors. It is going to be available today for downloading in more than 100 countries for computers that are running on Microsoft's Windows operating system.

Rapper DMX Pleads Guilty

On Wednesday, the rapper DMX has pleaded guilty to attempted marijuana and cocaine possession and was sentenced to time served. He is now awaiting extradition to face more charges in Arizona. He is still in custody while waiting for Arizona authorities to pick him up on drug and animal cruelty charges there.

DMX decided to plead guilty after he was denied bail earlier this week due to an outstanding Arizona warrant. If he hadn’t pleaded guilty, then he would have had to stay in jail in Miami until an October trial date.

Suge Knight Gets Bailed Out of Jail

Marion “Suge” Knight, founder of Death Row Records, was put in jail on Wednesday on assault and drug charges after being accused of beating his girlfriend while brandishing a knife near the Las Vegas Strip. He post $19,000 bail and was scheduled to be released from jail on later in the day on Wednesday with a promise to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court on September 26th.

“Suge” Knight was arrested at 6:40 A.M. in the morning after police was at the scene of a minor traffic accident and found Knight hitting a woman in a parking lot off of a busy thoroughfare. He was on top of her and in the act of violently beating her when police arrived. An officer drew a Taser stun gun as they approached him and he dropped the folding knife that he had. The woman was not stabbed but she was treated at a hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening. Knight was arrested and booked into the Clark County jail on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor charges of possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription, and domestic violence. He had Ecstasy and hydrocodone in his possession when he was arrested. It is not certain whether he or the woman had used drugs or alcohol before the arrest.

Rapper Snoop Dogg Has Visa Assessed by Australia

The immigration department has said that it is conduction a character assessment of the rapper Snoop Dogg, which would include his criminal history, in considering whether he will he will be granted a visa to go to Australia for a concert that is scheduled for later this year. Snoop Dogg applied for a visa in July and the immigration department did a preliminary assessment. The department has decided to do a full character assessment of him. The concert is scheduled for October.

Snoop Dogg has already visited Australia three times in the past in 1998, 2006, and 2007 without any incidents happening, even though he overstayed his visit by two days on his last visit. He withdrew his application for a visa to Australia last year after he didn’t pass the character requirements when he pleaded no contest to gun and drug charges in the United States.

Dr. Dre’s Son Found Dead

The rapper Dr. Dre’s 20 year old son was found dead on Saturday morning by his mother at their home in Woodland Hills. It is reported that he was out partying the night before until 5:30 AM in the morning and his mother found him deceased around 10 AM. An autopsy was performed on Monday, but the cause of his death won’t be known for another eight weeks while toxicology tests are done. Police do not expect any foul play as to the cause of death.

Cop Pulls Gun on Rapper Puff Daddy

At about 3:00 AM in the morning, Puff Daddy, also known as Diddy and Sean “Puffy” Combs, was being driven by an entourage on the Sunset Strip. One of the cars didn't have proper tags and deputies from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department pulled the vehicle over. The other three cars in the entourage pulled over also. It is the policy of the Sheriff Department to call for backup when other cars linger around during a traffic stop.

Backup was called and the driver of the second car had to be detained for being uncooperative with the police. At that time, Diddy and the other five or six members left of the entourage got out of their cars and started walking towards the detained member of their group. One deputy drew his weapon not knowing what they were going to do and not knowing that Diddy was part of the group. Eventually things ended well and the detained man was let go. The vehicle that was pulled over wasn't ticketed because it was a rental car.

Rapper Da Brat Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

The rapper Da Brat was sentenced on Friday to three years in prison for hitting a hostess in the head with a bottle of rum during an altercation at an Atlanta nightclub last fall. She pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in DeKalb County. She was also sentenced to serve seven years on probation and 200 hours of community service and have substance abuse treatment, mental evaluation, and anger management classes.

The altercation started at a private Halloween party at Studio 72 last fall when Da Brat got into an argument with the hostess named Shayla Stevens, who was also an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader, after the two bumped into each other. Stevens walked away after the argument and soon after was hit in the face with the rum bottle. She had gotten a deep cut in her cheek, some swelling on her forehead, and a permanent scar on her face.

Singer Gwen Stefani Gives Birth to Baby

The singer Gwen Stefani has given birth to a baby boy on Thursday. He was named Zuma Nesta Rock and weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces at birth. This is the second child for Stefani. She and her husband, rock star Gavin Rossdale, already have a little boy named Kingston. Rossdale also has a teenage daughter with designer Pearl Lowe.

Singer Ricky Martin Becomes Father

The singer Ricky Martin has become the father of twin boys through a surrogate mother. The babies were born a few weeks ago and are already under Martin's full-time care. Recently, the multiplatinum Latin singer has been actively participating in charities, including one that supports the prevention of sexual exploitation of children.

Actor Matt Damon's Wife Gives Birth to New Baby

The Actor Matt Damon's wife Luciana gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday. The baby was named Gia Zavala Damon. The couple married in December of 2005 in New York and have a daughter named Isabella that was born in June of 2006. Luciana also has a daughter named Alexa from a previous marriage.

Rapper DMX Arrested After Not Showing Up in Court

The rapper DMX has been arrested in Miami on a warrant for not attending a Phoenix, Arizona court hearing. His lawyer says that he checked into a Miami hospital on the day that he was suppose to go court in Phoenix and was planning on entering a rehab facility afterwards. A judge in Phoenix issued the warrant on Tuesday after he didn’t appear for a pretrial conference on his four counts on possessing drug paraphernalia and one count of possession of marijuana.

Officials Report What Singer Isaac Hayes Died From

Officials with the sheriff department say that the singer Isaac Hayes died from a stroke. Hayes died after being found unconscious on the floor beside a treadmill that was still switched on at his Memphis, TN home on Sunday. There wasn’t an autopsy performed but paperwork that was filed by Hayes’ family physician lists the cause of death as a stroke. The physician told investigators that he had been treating Hayes for high blood pressure. A memorial service will he held on Monday at Hope Presbyterian Church in Cordova from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rapper Yung Berg Arrested for Weapons and Drugs

The rapper Yung Berg was arrested on Saturday morning in New York City after police went to investigate a complaint that was made by a limo driver about a dispute with five passengers. After police investigated the complaint, they busted Yung Berg and some of his friends on many charges. Yung Berg was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of marijuana, and menacing.

Singer Isaac Hayes Dies

The singer Isaac Hayes died on Sunday afternoon after collapsing near a treadmill in his home. He was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. His wife, son, and wife’s cousin had returned home from the grocery store when they found him collapsed in a downstairs bedroom. A sheriff’s deputy gave him CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene.

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Actor Morgan Freeman Discharged from Hospital

The actor Morgan Freeman was discharged from a hospital in Tennessee on Thursday after being treated for a broken arm, broken elbow, and other injuries that he had gotten in a car accident in Mississippi last weekend. He and his wife of 24 years are also divorcing and the two have been separated since December, but no divorce papers have been filed yet.

Comedian and Actor Bernie Mac Dies

The well known comedian and actor Bernie Mac has died on Saturday at the age of 50 from complications due to pneumonia at a Chicago area hospital. He has suffered from sarccoidosis, which is an inflammatory lung disease that produces small lumps of cells in the body's organs, but the disease went into remission in 2005. He recently had to be hospitalized for pneumonia but it was not related to the sarcoidosis.

Actor Health Ledger’s Drug Inquiry Dropped

Federal prosecutors have chosen not to open a criminal case into how the late actor Heath Ledger was able to get the painkillers that contributed to his death earlier this year. Lately, prosecutors in the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan had been overseeing a Drug Enforcement Administration probe into whether the painkillers found in Ledger’s body were obtained illegally. Prosecutors decided not to open a case because they don’t believe that there is anybody to make responsible for his death. The actress Mary-Kate Olsen was Ledger’s close friend and played a part in this decision because she demanded immunity before answering questions about his death and drug use. A case can still be opened if there is evidence of a crime.

DEA investigators suspect that the painkillers found in Ledger’s body were obtained with false prescriptions and illegally in other ways. The painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone were found in his system. Ledger had also taken anti-anxiety mediation and sleeping pills that were legally prescribed by doctors in California and Texas.

Judge Orders Wesley Snipes to Reimburse Government

Last week, the U.S. District Court Judge William Terrell Hodges ruled for the actor Wesley Snipes to reimburse the government $217,000 in prosecution costs for his recent tax conviction. Wesley Snipes is objecting to the cost. He was convicted in February of three counts of willfully failing to file his income taxes. He has appealed the convictions and a three year prison sentence.

Actor Morgan Freeman Doing Well After Car Accident

The actor Morgan Freeman is doing well after the recent car accident that he was involved in. He had surgery done to reconnect nerves and repair damage to his left arm and hand. The surgery was done on Monday night and lasted four and a half hours, which included recovery. He is reportedly doing well and has visited with family members this morning. He is looking forward to being released from the hospital as soon as possible.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol is still investigating the car accident. The accident happened when Freeman was traveling down a rural Mississippi Delta Highway in Tallahatchie County. His vehicle careened off the highway and flipped before landing upright in a ditch. The rescuers had to use a jaws-of-life machine to free him from the damaged vehicle. He was airlifted to the Regional Medical Center where he was treated for a broken arm, broken elbow, and damage to his shoulder.

Actor Morgan Freeman Injured In Car Accident

The actor Morgan Freeman was injured in a a serious car accident at about 11:30 pm on Sunday night in Mississippi. He was airlifted from the scene of the accident to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Freeman's health condition is currently unknown but state troopers said that he was talking on the scene before being taken to the hospital.

Comedian Bernie Mac Hospitalized With Pneumonia

The comedian Bernie Mac is currently in a hospital in Chicago with pneumonia. He is reportedly responding well to the treatment and should be released from the hospital soon. The pneumonia isn't related to the inflammatory lung disease that he has that has been in remission since 2005.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Sell Baby Pictures for $14 Million

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are giving People magazine and a British tabloid joint rights to publish the first pictures of their newborn twins for $14 million. The money will go to a foundation that was created by Jolie and Pitt that focuses on helping children around the world. The issue featuring the twins, named Marcheline and Knox Leon, is set to hit newsstands on Monday.

Snoop Dogg Tour Bus Pulled Over and Two People Arrested

On Thursday, a tour bus that the rapper Snoop Dogg was riding in was pulled over and two people were arrested on marijuana possession charges. Members of a commercial vehicle inspection team pulled the bus over because it had an expired registration sticker. Troopers searched the bus for drugs after they smelled marijuana and they found two ounces of the drug.

Two men, named Ethan Calhoun and Kevin Barkey, were arrested on drug charges and were taken to Navarro County Jail. They could face fines of up to $2,000 and six months in jail if they are convicted. The bond was set at $1,500 for each of them. Snoop Dogg was not arrested and he was on his way to perform at a concert in Dallas, TX when the bus was pulled over.

Actor Shia LaBeouf Not Cause of Accident

The actor Shia LaBeouf was found not be the cause of the car of recent car accident that he was involved in this past weekend. Authorities say that the other driver is to blame for running a red light and will be cited. After the accident LaBeouf was booked for a misdemeanor DUI and had surgery done for injuries to his left hand.

Rapper Wyclef Jean Sued by Jewelry Company

or watches and jewelry that he bought. They say that he bought several items from the company between March 2002 and January 2006 that totaled $765,100. They say that he still owes $319,680 and they have demanded payment many times.

The founder of the jewelery company, known as “Jacob the Jeweler,” was sentenced in June to 2 ½ years in federal prison for lying to investigators about a multistate drug ring.

XM Satellite and Sirius Completes Merger

XM Satellite and Sirius Satellite Radio have completed their merger. The merged company will change its name to Sirius XM Radio Inc. Their stock will continue to be traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol SIRI. The company now has more than 18.5 million subscribers and expects to save about $400 million in costs in 2009.

Actor Shia LeBeouf Booked for DUI After Car Accident

The actor Shia LeBeouf was arrested and then later released for misdemeanor DUI following a recent car accident that happened this past weekend. He was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was treated for injuries to his left hand and knee. He also had a minor head injury. He was driving while intoxicated when he made a left turn in front of another car and caused a collision.

Actor Shia LeBeouf Gets Into Car Accident

It is reported that the actor Shia LeBeouf was in a car accident last night. He was in Hollywood at the time and was driving drunk. He had made a left turn in front of another car and the two cars collided, which caused Shia's car to roll. Nobody involved in the accident had any major injuries on the scene but both parties were still taken to the local hospital to be checked out. If the other party happens to have serious injuries, then he will be arrested on suspicion of felony DUI. If the injuries are minor, then he will be cited and released on a misdemeanor DUI.

California Bans Restaurants From Using Trans Fats

On Friday, California became the first state to ban the use of trans fats in restaurants . Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a legislation that will ban restaurants and other retail food establishments from using oil, margarine, and shortening that contains trans fats.
This legislation would start to take effect on January 1, 2010. Restaurants that violate the ban could face fines between $25 and $1,000 and the only exception would be food that is sold in manufactures' sealed packaging. Both California and Oregon already have laws that ban trans fat from being served in schools.

Trans fats are naturally in meat and dairy products in small amounts. Most trans fats are made when vegetable oil is treated with hydrogen to make baked and fried foods have a longer shelf life. Trans fats are considered bad because they are supposedly linked to coronary heart disease.

Rappers Foxy Brown and Lil Kim Gets Sued

The rappers Foxy Brown and Lil Kim are being used by a New York publisher, named Simon &Schuster Inc., which stated that they paid advances for books that were never delivered. Foxy Brown was paid $75,000 in 2005 for an autobiography called “Broken Silence” that was suppose to be delivered by February of 2006. Lil Kim was paid $40,000 for a book to be delivered by June of 2004.

The publisher wants its money back through the two separate lawsuits that were filed on Thursday. After signing the deals, both women spent time imprisoned. Lil Kim went to prison for lying in court about a shooting in 2005 and Foxy Brown was imprisoned for violating her probation by starting a fight with two manicurists in 2007.

Rapper 50 Cent Sues Taco Bell

The rapper 50 Cent is suing Taco Bell because he says that the restaurant has used his name without his permission in their advertising that asks him to call himself 99 Cent. In a federal lawsuit, he also claimed that the Taco Bell print ad features him asking to change his name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent, or 99 Cent. The ad is part of a Taco Bell "Why Pay More?" campaign that promotes items that cost less than a dollar.

The company supposedly sent a bogus letter that requested the name change to the news media but not to 50 Cent. He didn't find out about the letter or that he was featured in the ad campaigns until he saw a news report about it. He wants $4 million in damages.

Rapper DMX Indicted on Charges

The rapper DMX has been indicted on felony charges by a grand jury in Arizona for using a false name to avoid paying for a hospital bill. He has been charged with one count of theft and one count of taking someone else's identity. He went to Scottsdale's Mayo Clinic in April using the name “Troy Jones” to receive medical care even though his real name is Earl Simmons and didn't have any intentions on paying the bill.

Kid Rock Sentenced to Probation

On Monday, Kid Rock was sentence to serving a year of probation and was fined $1,000 for his part in a fight at an Atlanta Waffle House this past fall. He was also sentenced to six hours of anger management counseling and 80 hours of community service. He pleaded no contest to one count of simple battery and four counts of battery were dropped.

Five members of his entourage were also arrested because of the fight. Two of them pleaded no contest and also received probation and community service. Charges were dropped against the other three people since the court decided that they weren't involved in the altercation after viewing the videotape.

Amy Winehouses’s Husband Receives Jail Sentence

On Monday, a judge sentenced Amy Winehouse’s husband to 27 months in jail for assault and obstruction of justice. Her husband, named Blake Fielder-Civil, admitted to beating up a pub manager, named James King, in a barroom fight in 2006 and offering him $400,000 to be quiet about it. The judge told Fielder-Civil that he had behaved in a gratuitous, cowardly, and disgraceful manner. Amy Winehouse wasn’t present in the courtroom.

Rapper Lil Scrappy Free After Arrest

The rapper Lil Scrappy is free from jail on bond after being arrested for getting into a fight with his sister’s boyfriend. He was released on a $1,500 bond from the Dekalb County jail in Georgia on Sunday.

Lil Scrappy had gotten into the fight with his sister’s boyfriend after the couple had an argument. The rapper was stabbed during the fight, but the injuries were minor. The police arrested him and charged him with felony marijuana possession, felony use of a weapon during a crime, misdemeanor obstruction of police officers, and misdemeanor battery. The boyfriend wasn’t charged with anything.

Angelina Jolie Goes Home with Twins

giving birth a week ago. Jolie and the babies are reportedly doing well. To avoid the paparazzi she left out of one the hospital’s back entrances in a van. It isn’t known if Brad Pitt was there at the time.

Jolie checked into the hospital on July 2^nd and delivered a healthy baby girl, named Vivienne Marcheline, and a baby boy, named Knox Leon, ten days after arriving. The babies were born a little early due to medical reasons and so that they could be born as healthy as possible. A U.S. publication has already paid $11 million for the exclusive rights to the first photos of the twins and that money will go to charity.

Rapper DMX Arrested at Arizona Mall

The rapper DMX was arrested at a mall in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday after suspicion that he gave a false name and Social Security number to a hospital to avoid paying for medical expenses. He went to Scottsdale’s Mayo Clinic in April and used the name Troy Jones, even though his real name is Earl Simmons, and tried to avoid paying the $7,500 bill.

DMX started being investigated about this incident after an animal neglect investigation that happened last year at his Phoenix home. The bond for this recent case has not been set yet.

DMC of Rap Group Run DMC Has Surgery

The rapper DMC, named Darryl McDaniels, from the legendary rap group Run DMC was scheduled to have surgery done to remove blood clots at a New Jersey hospital on Friday. He had two major blood clots in his left arm and was suffering from pain and swelling when doctors discovered the clots. It is not known when he will be released from the hospital and he has already canceled a performance scheduled for the weekend.

Khloe Kardashian Serves Three Hours in Jail

Kloe Kardashian, the youngest daughter of late lawyer Robert Kardashian and reality TV star, had to spend three hours in a Los Angeles jail for violating her probation that came from a drunken driving arrest that happened last year. Soon before she arrived, someone called in a bomb threat to the facility and it had to be locked down. The threat was not related to Kardashian and she was put in a holding cell for her safety.

Earlier this month, a judge sentenced her for up to 30 days in jail after she admitted that she violated her probation by not enrolling into an alcohol education class and cleaning up roadside trash.

50 Cent Passes Drug Test

The rapper 50 Cent is able to take his son on vacation after passing a court-ordered drug test. He was in a Long Island courtroom on Thursday to ask a judge for permission to take his 11 year old son, Marquise, on a trip scheduled for next month. A drug test was ordered and came back clean.

Marquise lives with his mother, Shaniqua Tompkins. She recently blamed 50 Cent for a fire that destroyed the Long Island mansion where she and their son was living. 50 Cent denied any accusations. After the fire, six people, including Shaniqua and Marquise, were treated for smoke inhalation.

Singer Natalie Cole Has Hepatitis C

Natalie Cole, who is a Grammy award winning singer and the daughter of late singer Nat King Cole, has been diagnosed with the disease Hepatitis C. The disease was diagnosed during a routine examination and was possibly caused by her previous drug abuse problems. Her physician, Dr. Graham Woolf, has said that her body is responding well to the medication and is now virus negative. She is now recovering from side effects from the medication, which would include fatigue, muscle aches, and dehydration. Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is spread by contact with infected blood.

James Brown’s Belongings Ready to be Auctioned

A judge in South Carolina gave the okay for the auction of the late singer James Brown’s belongings. The judge lifted a temporary stay that could have held up the auction. Christie’s auction house has it planned for the auction to take place on Thursday and there would be 320 items up for sale, which would include a red jumpsuit and a blue satin cape. James Brown had died on Christmas Day of 2006 at the age of 73 of heart failure.

Death Row Records Auctioned

Death Row Records Company was auctioned for $24 million, which had released albums by Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Tupac Shakur in the past. On June 24^th, Global Music Group Inc. purchased the music label and its black catalog and its current artist contracts because the company had gone down due to debt and mismanagement.

Financial problems came to Death Row Records recently when a former couple, named Lydia and Michael Harris, took the company to court and stated that they had helped found the label. They won a judgment of $107 million and tried to collect it in 2006. The label was not able to pay the amount and filed bankruptcy in April of 2006 and claimed debts of over $100 million. Also in 2006, a federal judge ordered for a bankruptcy trustee to takeover Death Row Records and said that the label had gross management. The decision to file bankruptcy saved the company from the decision of the court to appoint someone to take control of the record label and its assets.

Heart Doctor Pioneer Michael DeBakey Dies

Dr. Michael DeBakey, the famous cardiovascular surgeon that pioneered the bypass surgery and inventor of many devices to help people with heart problems, has died at the age of 99 from natural causes at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX. In 1932, while he was still in medical school, he invented the roller pump, which later became the most important part of the heart-lung machine. The machine takes over the responsibilities of the heart and lungs during surgery. He was also the pioneer in the development of artificial hearts and heart pumps to help people waiting for transplants. He had helped to create more than 70 surgical instruments in his lifetime.

In the 1950s, DeBakey was the first person to perform the replacement of arterial aneurysms and obstructive lesions. He had developed bypass pumps and connections to replace parts of diseased arteries.

He had performed more than 60,000 heart surgeries in his career that lasted 70 years. His patients had included the Duke of Windsor, the Shah of Iran, King Hussein of Jordan, Turkish President Turgut Ozal, Nicaraguan leader Violetta Chamorro, President Kennedy, President Johnson, and President Nixon. He was a consultant when Russian President Boris Yeltsin had surgery.

He served as the chairman of the President’s Commission on Heart Disease, Cancer, and Stroke during President Johnson’s administration. He had helped to establish the National Library of Medicine and was the author of more than 1,000 medical reports, papers, chapters, and books on surgery, medicine, and similar topics.

In 1953, he performed the first Dacron graft to be able to replace part of occluded arteries. In the 1960s he started coronary artery bypasses. In 1966, he was the first person to successfully use a partial artificial heart. In the 1990s, he helped to create the Michael E. DeBakey Heart Instititute at Hays Medical Center.

Angelina Jolie Officially Gives Birth to Twins

The actress Angelina Jolie has given birth to both a boy and a girl. The babies were delivered by Caesarean section on Saturday night. Jolie and the twins are doing well. The baby boy was named Knox Leon and was born weighing just over 5 pounds. The girl was named Vivienne Marcheline and weighed 5 pounds. The babies were born at the seaside Lenval hospital in Nice in southern France. Jolie is expected to stay in the hospital for a few more days.

Hip Hop Singer Nate Dogg Charged With Stalking

The hip hop singer Nate Dogg has been charged by prosecutors on Monday with stalking after he was accused of threatening and stalking his wife. He was arrested last month by the California Highway Patrol after his wife stated that he threatened and followed her while she was driving on a freeway south of Los Angeles.

He will be arraigned on July 16^th on felony counts of making criminal threats, stalking, and a misdemeanor charge of driving while his license was suspended for a drunken driving violation.

Actress Nicole Kidman Gives Birth to Baby

It is reported that the actress Nicole Kidman has given birth to a baby girl on Monday morning of July 7^th in Nashville. The baby is named Sunday Rose Kidman Urban and was born weighing 6 pounds and 7 ½ ounces.

The baby is the first for the couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. Kidman as two children, named Isabella and Connor, from her previous marriage to Tom Cruise.

Judge Allows Wesley Snipes to Travel

Judge William Terrell has allowed the actor Wesley Snipes to leave the United States to work on two movies. His lawyers are still working on trying to appeal his income tax convictions. The judge approved for him to be able to travel to London and Bangkok.

Snipes plans to be in London, England for three days this month to do post-production editing of the movie “Gallowwalker.” He will also be in Bangkok, Thailand for eight weeks to film the movie “Chasing the Dragon.”

In February, Snipes was convicted of three counts of willfully failing to file income taxes. He has appealed the convictions and a three year prison sentence to the 11^th Circuit Court in Atlanta.

Rapper DMX Arrested on Outstanding Warrants

The rapper DMX has been arrested at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on outstanding warrants. He was taken into custody on Wednesday morning after coming in from Florida. He is being held on a $1,075 bond for driving with a suspended license and a $10,000 bond from previous drug charges. He was scheduled to appear before a judge on Wednesday.

Angelina Jolie Checks Into Hospital for Birth of Twins

It is reported that the actress Angelina Jolie has checked into the seafront Lenval hospital in Nice in the south of France to be kept under doctor’s surveillance and rest before she gives birth to her twins. It is expected that she will stay in the hospital until she gives birth. The babies are due in August but it is possible that they will be born early. Angelia Jolie and Brad Pitt have four children that are 6 year old Maddox, 4 year old Pax, 3 year old Zahara, and 2 year old Shiloh.

Heath Ledger’s Hometown Names Theater After Him

The hometown of the late actor Heath Ledger had decided to name a theater after him for his commitment to acting. The 575 seat Heath Ledger Theater is located in Perth, which is in Western Australia. Heath Ledger had died earlier this year at his loft in New York of an accidental prescription drug overdose.

American Idol Star Ruben Studard Gets Married

As the former winner of the show “American Idol,” Ruben Studard has married his fiancé Surata Zuri McCants at a church in a suburb of Birmingham, AL. There wasn’t any singing during the ceremony, but there was the exchange of vows, prayers, and music from a string ensemble. Studard wore a black tuxedo with a white bow while his bride wore a white and ivory wedding gown. Studard is currently working on a new album that is set to be released later this year.

American Idol Star Ruben Studdard Getting Married

The American Idol winner Ruben Studdard is set to get married on Saturday to his fiancé, named Surata Zuri McCants. The couple obtained a marriage license on Monday. Studdard has already released three albums since he won on the show American Idol in 2003. He is currently working on a new album.

NBA Star Dennis Rodman Pleads No Contest to Spousal Battery

The former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman has decided to plead no contest to a misdemeanor charge of spousal battery in a Superior Court appearance on Tuesday. There were two other counts that were dismissed under a plea deal. He was arrested at a Los Angeles hotel in April after a woman, named Gina Peterson, stated that he struck her during an altercation.

Rodman was sentenced to 45 days of road cleanup work, a year of domestic violence counseling, and three years on probation. He was also warned not to intimidate or use physical force against Peterson.

Comedian George Carlin Dies

The comedian George Carlin has died at the age of 71 of heart failure on Sunday. He has had a history of heart problems and was taken to St. John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica after complaining about having chest pains on Sunday afternoon. He died later that evening. He has done comedy shows for many years and has even done appearances in movies. He is famous for his “Seven Words You Can Never Say on TV” routine.

In his lifetime, he produced 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, three books, and made appearances in several TV shows and movies. He hosted the first broadcast of “Saturday Night Live,” won four Grammy Awards for best spoken comedy album, and was nominated for five Emmy Awards.

Nelson Mandela in London to Celebrate Birthday

Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, is in London for the week to celebrate his 90^th birthday. He is set to attend an outdoor concert that is in his honor in Hyde Park on this coming Friday. The performances will include Queen, Annie Lennox, Leona Lewis, and the Soweto Gospel Choir. Amy Winehouse will also perform if her doctors say that it is okay for her to do so. The proceeds from the concert will go to 46664 charity, which is the AIDS charity named after the number Mandela wore while he was imprisoned by South Africa’s apartheid authorities.

Mandela is also set to meet supporters, which include Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and talkshow host Oprah Winfrey. The concert coincides with the 20^th anniversary of London’s Free Mandela concert. Mandela was released from prison in 1990 after being incarcerated for 27 years and was elected as the first black president in South Africa in 1994.

Amy Winehouse Diagnosed with Emphysema

The singer Amy Winehouse has been found to have early stage emphysema and she has lung damage from smoking crack cocaine and cigarettes. She has an irregular heartbeat and has been warned that if she keeps smoking drugs she will have to wear an oxygen mask and her voice will be ruined. The severity of her drug use could possibly kill her if she doesn’t stop. There has reported to be nodules around her chest area and dark marks. She also only has 70 percent lung capacity.

Winehouse collapsed at her home in north London last week on Monday after signing autographs for a group of fans. She was taken to a hospital in London for testing and stayed there all week long.

Jamie Lynn Spears Gives Birth to Baby

It is reported that Jamie Lynn Spears, the younger sister of singer Britney Spears, gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday morning at a hospital in southern Mississippi. The baby is named Maddie Briann and was born weighing 7 pounds and 11 ounces.

Seventeen year old Jamie Lynn starred in the Nickelodeon show “Zoey 101.” This past December, it was announced that she was pregnant. The father is named Casey Aldridge and he is a pipe layer from Liberty, Mississippi. The couple lives near Liberty, Ms and is not married yet but had gotten engaged several months ago.

Rapper Young Jeezy Arrested

The rapper Young Jeezy was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and speeding after he was pulled over on Interstate 85 in his Corvette in Atlanta at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. He was also charged with driving with no proof of insurance or license plate, having an open container, and reckless driving. He was released from the Atlanta City Detention Center a few hours after being arrested on a $4,100 bond. He is scheduled to go to court on July 17^th.

Rapper Snoop Dogg’s Wife Arrested

The wife of rapper Snoop Dogg has been arrested in Orange County, California for investigation for driving under the influence of alcohol. Police stopped her vehicle at about 12:15 a.m. on Saturday and took her to jail. She received a citation and then was released. She has a pending court appearance. There was nobody else in the car at the time she was arrested.

Singer R. Kelly Acquitted of All Charges

The singer R. Kelly has been acquitted by the jury of all 14 charges against him after less than a day of deliberations in his child pornography case. The prosecutors against him tried to say that a video tape that was mailed to the Chicago Sun-Times in 2002 was of him having sex with a girl that was as young as 13 years old at the time that the tape was made. R. Kelly and the girl, who is now 23, both denied in court that it was either of them on the tape. Most of the evidence against him was questionable in court so there was not enough evidence for him to be sentenced.

Rapper Coolio Arrested

The rapper Coolio was arrested on Tuesday on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for driving with a suspended license. He posted $10,000 bail and was released from jail five hours after police pulled over his gray Hummer at around 1:45 a.m. in the morning in Hollywood. He was pulled over because the vehicle’s registration was expired, but police found that he had a suspended license and an outstanding warrant.

No Charges Pressed Against Warren G

Prosecutors have decided not to press charges against the rapper Warren G, who was arrested earlier this week for being in a car that had marijuana in it. There was insufficient evidence to prove that he knew anything about the drugs.

He was riding in a car with another man, which was registered to neither one of them, when they were pulled over by police on Sunday morning in Hollywood after the driver ran a red light. Marijuana was found in the trunk and police wanted to charge them both with felony charges. They were released from jail after each posting $20,000 bail.

Senator Edward Kennedy Returns Home After Surgery

The senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy has left Duke University Medical Center to go home to recuperate after his surgery. His progress has been well since the surgery to remove a cancerous brain tumor was done a week ago.

He was diagnosed with a malignant glioma last month after having a seizure at his home in Cape Cod. A malignant glioma is deadly and is one of the worst types of brain cancer. He went through three and a half hours of surgery last week to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are the next course of actions that are most likely to happen.

Amy Winehouse’s Husband Pleads Guilty

Singer Amy Winehouse’s husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, has pleaded guilty to assaulting a barman and then trying to cover it up. His is on trial in London on charges of attacking a pub landlord, named James King, and then conspiring with him to withdraw as a witness at the trial. He could possibly receive five years in prison for the assault charge. Even though it is unlikely, he could possibly face a life sentence in prison for perverting the course of justice.

New and Faster iPhones Available

This month a new version of the iPhone will be available on the market. The iPhone 2.0 will have 3G wireless technology that will allow faster Internet access and surfing capabilities. It will allow users to download more business applications and social-networking programs. It will be available in the middle of June.

Jessica Alba Has New Baby Girl

The actress Jessica Alba has given birth to a baby girl. She married her boyfriend Cash Warren just a few weeks ago on May 19^th at a Beverly Hills courthouse. The couple met on the set of the movie “Fantastic Four” back in 2004. She announced in December that she was pregnant and engaged to Warren.

Rapper Warren G Arrested

The rapper Warren G was arrested on drug charges after police pulled over the car he was riding in for a red light violation on Sunday. Police found marijuana in the car and both he and the driver of the car were booked on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. They both were released after each posting $20,000 bail.

Actor Vin Diesel Has New Baby Girl

The actor Vin Diesel and his girlfriend, model Paloma Jimenez, has welcomed a baby into the world on April 2^nd in Los Angeles. The baby’s name hasn’t been released yet. Vin Diesel has starred in the movies, “The Fast and the Furious,” “Boiler Room,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “The Pacifier,” and “The Chronicles of Riddick.”

Sean Levert’s Widow Files Lawsuit

The widow of singer Sean Levert, named Angela Lowe, has decided to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the county officials who were holding him in jail when he had gotten sick soon before he died. She filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in federal court that accuses his jailers of showing disregard for his medical needs. Lowe and Levert’s estate are seeking to receive an unspecified amount in damages.

Sean Levert died on March 30^th soon after he was removed from jail and taken to a hospital. A coroner ruled that he died of natural causes. He was in jail serving a 22 month sentence for failure to pay child support.

Senator Edward Kennedy Undergoes Surgery, Radiation, and Chemo Therapy

On Monday, Senator Edward Kennedy had 3 ½ hours of surgery done to cut out as much of his cancerous brain tumor as possible. The surgery was successful and chemotherapy and radiation will be done next to shrink whatever is left of the tumor. In the next days to come, he will most likely be given drugs to prevent brain swelling and seizures. He will also be closely watched for possible bleeding and blood clots.

The Senator was diagnosed with a malignant glioma last month, which is an often lethal brain tumor, after he suffered from a seizure at this home in Cape Cod and had to be hospitalized.

Thousands of People Evacuated in China

In China, 200,000 people were evacuated by early Saturday to safer places due to a lake formed by the recent earthquake threatening to breach its dam. Hundred of Chinese troops have been working to drain Tangjashan Lake in Sichuan province. The lake was formed when a hillside plunged into a river valley during the earthquake on May 12^th that killed 68,977 people and left 17,974 missing, according to most recent updates.

A runoff channel has been recently completed and water is expected to be discharged between Sunday and Tuesday. Another 1.3 million people in the area will be evacuated if the barrier of the lake fully opens and floods the area.

Evacuation Warnings in China

It is possible that more than one million people might have to evacuate dozens of villages in a Sichuan province if the lake bursts and floods the area due to the recent earthquake. The lake has a wall of debris that is clogging a river. On Saturday, officials will start a three-day drill that will test the government communications systems to make sure that residents in the valley can hear future evacuation orders.

So far, it is estimated that 68,858 people were killed in the earthquake and there are 18,618 people that are missing. The earthquake left 5 million people homeless and many people were separated from their families.

Angelina Jolie Gives Birth to Twins

The actress Angelina Jolie has given birth to twins in France. The twins are the fifth and sixth children for Jolie and Brad Pitt. They have 6 year old Maddox, 4 year old Pax, 3 year old Zahara, and 2 year old Shiloh.

Coroner Finds Cause of Singer Sean’s Levert’s Death

A coroner has ruled that the singer Sean Levert died of natural causes. He died soon after getting sick in jail. Attorneys for Levert’s widow found in sheriff’s department records that he wasn’t given his anti-anxiety medicine while he was in jail and he wasn’t being seen by a doctor, which could have possibly prevented his death. He died on March 30^th at the age of 39 at a hospital nearly an hour after he was taken from the Cuyahoga County jail. He was sentenced to serve 22 months in jail for failing to pay child support.

Levert had supposedly been acting strange and was restrained before getting sick. The coroner states that he died from complications of sarcoidosis, which is an inflammatory lung disease that produces small lumps of cells in the body’s organs. He also had heart disease, high blood sugar, and withdrawal symptoms from the drug alprazolam, which is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

Sean Levert was a member of the 1980s group called Levert. He was also the son of O’Jays singer Eddie Levert.

Employee Arrested at 50 Cent’s Mansion

An employee, named Dwayne McKenzie, was arrested at the rapper 50 Cent’s mansion for attacking a woman. McKenzie was charged with assault, strangulation, breach of peace, and unlawful restraint. He supposedly choked the woman and hit her with a belt during an argument on 50 Cent’s property. He was released after posting the $10,000 bond. McKenzie was already on conditional discharge after an arrest in Hartford for supposedly pistol-whipping a club promoter.

Singer Ashlee Simpson Pregnant

The singer Ashlee Simpson-Wentz has announced that she and her husband Pete Wentz are expecting their first child together. She stated on a blog that she wanted to wait until after the first trimester to announce the pregnancy.

The couple had gotten married earlier this month at her parent’s Los Angeles home. Her sister, singer Jessica Simpson, was the maid of honor. Pregnancy rumors started after the couple announced their engagement last month.

Model Naomi Campbell Charged In London Airport Assault

The model Naomi Campbell has been charged with assaulting two police officers during an incident that happened at Heathrow Airport on April 3rd. She was charged when she reported to Heathrow police station to answer bail. She faces three counts of assaulting a constable, two counts of using threatening abusive words or behavior towards the cabin crew, and one count of disorderly conduct. The assault was against two officers. She has been ordered to appear at a west London magistrates’ court on June 20^th and she could possibly receive six months in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.

On April 3^rd, Campbell was on a British Airways plane ready to go to Los Angeles when she got into a dispute over her luggage. She was removed from the plane and held for eight hours at the airport police station before she was released on bail.

China Changes One-Child Policy Due to Earthquake

China has decided to change its one-child policy to exempt the families with a child killed, severely injured, or disabled in the country’s recent earthquake. The families can get a certificate to have another child.

On May 12th of this year, there was a devastating earthquake that killed 65,000 people and left more than 23,000 people missing. There were many children that were killed and injured in the disaster. Usually, having more than one child is illegal in China and families that have more than one child are punished by having to pay fines. If the families’ legally born child is killed and the family only has an illegally born child under the age of 18, then that child can be registered as a legal child. This is a positive thing because it gives the child that was once illegal the same rights as a legal citizen and nine years of compulsory education.

China started the one-child policy in the late 1970s to control China’s very large population and to provide better education and health care. There were already certain exceptions for ethnic groups, rural families, and families where both parents are only children. In some parts of rural China, most families are allowed to have a second child, especially if the first child is a girl.

Many people in China have shown interest in adopting children that have become orphans due to the earthquake. There are not any limitations to the number of orphans that a family can adopt. The adoptions and the future birth to a family that adopts an orphan is exempt from the one-child policy as the earthquake left 4,000 children to become orphans. Most of the orphans will be sent to live with other family members.