Grammy-winning rapper T.I. was arrested along with his wife on suspicion of possessing methamphetamines, five months after the hip-hop star finished a prison stint on weapons charges. The 29-year-old rapper and his wife, Tameka Cottle, were arrested Wednesday night in West Hollywood after deputies smelled marijuana and pulled the couple over, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. They were released from jail at about 4 a.m. Thursday after posting $10,000 bail each, sheriff's … [Read more...]
Huston-Tillotson University commemorates 135 year history
A four-day celebration will commemorate the 135th anniversary for Austin's oldest institution of higher education-Huston-Tillotson University. The University, a symbol of hope, with roots dating back to 1875 for Tillotson College and 1876 for Samuel Huston College, was founded by The United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ to educate freed slaves. Its diverse student population continues its legacy and promise of access to education for all. The Charter Day Convocation, … [Read more...]
Austin Fashion Week Awards
The 2nd Annual Austin Fashion Awards was held at the Long Center for the Performing Arts where participants of Austin Fashion Week were selected in three different categories: People’s Choice Awards (voted on by general public), Critic’s Choice Awards (voted by a panel of 40 local Austinites influential in the fashion community), and Peer Choice Awards: (each official participant of Austin Fashion Week placed a vote for a business or individual in their own category). BEST DESIGNER … [Read more...]
Rodriguez’s “Machete” in immigration debate
In Robert Rodriguez's new grindhouse feature "Machete," the vengeful title character uses vicious cutlery to butcher his enemies. Could something similar happen to the movie when it's released next week? "Machete's" convoluted story explicitly takes place amid the current powder keg of an immigration debate and on the heels of Arizona's controversial anti-illegal immigration legislation. Crooked politicians, powerful drug kingpins, malicious border vigilantes, antsy day laborers, … [Read more...]
The flavor of soul: “Suite 709”
Suite 709, Austin’s newest band, has been compared to “John Legend meets The Jackson 5;” a fresh flavor with just a hint of vintage to round off a sound that stretches across several musical genres. Infectious rhythms, hooks that stick to your brain, and soulful vocals combine to produce a sound that moves through your body and makes you want to dance. The sound of Suite 709 is “a nod to several genres of musical influence, but definitely a fresh sound intended to make music lovers dance. Suite … [Read more...]
Tiger Woods, Elin officially divorced
Divorced. Single dad. Golf game still to be determined. And so, after nine months of turmoil over his extramarital affairs, now begins the next chapter in the life and times of Tiger Woods. In a hearing that lasted no more than 10 minutes in a Florida judge's chambers, Woods and his Swedish-born wife officially divorced Monday. "We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future," Woods and Elin Nordegren said in a joint statement released by their … [Read more...]
Study suggests link between diet sodas and premature delivery
Could drinking one or more artificially sweetened, carbonated diet sodas a day boost a woman's odds of premature delivery? A new study from Denmark suggests such a link. The researchers looked at the soft drink habits of nearly 60,000 Danish women enrolled in a national study there from 1996 to 2002. The investigators found a link between the intake of diet carbonated drinks and, to a lesser extent, diet noncarbonated drinks and delivering a baby early. The study is published … [Read more...]
Spike Lee screens new Katrina film in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS – Five years after he documented the horrors of Hurricane Katrina, Spike Lee returned to New Orleans with his new movie showing the city's agonizing efforts to return to normal. The premiere Tuesday included hours one and four of the HBO documentary, "If God Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise." "The first hour was very, very emotional," said Sharon Starks, 53, who said she had a purse full of tissues after seeing the first Lee film on the hurricane. "But the second hour I was … [Read more...]
Romo promises a “good offense.”
Tony Romo is over his flu bug, but his right tackle just had knee surgery. He's getting better throwing to Roy Williams, but he's still waiting to get his timing down with injured rookie Dez Bryant. He's moved the ball every drive he's had this preseason, but he hasn't produced a touchdown and neither has anyone else on the Dallas Cowboys. For everything that's gone right so far during training camp, something's gone wrong. Romo believes the Cowboys are just working out the kinks. He's … [Read more...]
“Lottery Ticket” plays on easy jokes
As in any number of movies about a poor schlump who wins a fortune in Las Vegas, at the racetrack or in a lottery, the clueless nice-guy hero who suddenly becomes a millionaire 370 times over in "Lottery Ticket" learns that sudden wealth can endanger one's health and life expectancy. The twist in this Warner Bros. release is that the story is set in an African-American community -- OK, it's set in the projects -- which triggers an unfortunate onslaught of caricatures one had hoped had gone out … [Read more...]