LOS ANGELES – Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the talk show host who recently apologized for saying the N-word 11 times to a caller on the air, said Tuesday she plans to give up her radio show when her contract is up at the end of this year. The conservative advice maven made the announcement on CNN's "Larry King Live," saying she wants to "regain her First Amendment rights." Schlessinger said she's not retiring or quitting. Instead, she said, she feels stronger and freer to say what she believes … [Read more...]
Wimbledon waives all-white dress rule for Olympics
WIMBLEDON, England – Wimbledon is brightening its wardrobe for the 2012 Olympics. Organizers of the venerable tournament said Friday the traditional all-white dress rule will be waived for the tennis competition at the London Games. Players must wear predominantly white clothing during the Grand Slam event. But that will change for Olympics, and All England Club chief executive Ian Ritchie said Wimbledon had no hesitation in loosening its rules. "We have been very supportive to the … [Read more...]
Manager says Fantasia hospitalized after overdose
NEW YORK – Fantasia is in stable condition at a North Carolina hospital after taking an overdose of "aspirin and a sleep aid," according to the manager for the former "American Idol" champ. The overdose came days after the singer was named in court documents by Paula Cook, who accused Fantasia of having an affair with her husband, Antwaun Cook. Brian Dickens, Fantasia's manager, said in a statement Tuesday that winner was "overwhelmed by the lawsuit and the media attention." "Last night, … [Read more...]
Rangel: ‘Don’t leave me swinging in the wind’
WASHINGTON – A combative Rep. Charles Rangel told the House on Tuesday he's not resigning despite 13 charges of wrongdoing and demanded the ethics committee not leave him "swinging in the wind." Rangel, who is 80, spoke without notes in an extraordinary, often emotional 37-minute speech that defied his lawyers' advice to keep quiet about his case. The New York Democrat and 40-year House veteran had a sharp message in dismissing fellow Democrats who, worried about election losses, want him to … [Read more...]
x-White House social secretary Rogers to lead Ebony, Jet
Desiree RogersFormer White House social secretary Desirée Rogers has been named chief executive of Johnson Publishing Company, billed as "the world's largest African-American owned-and-operated publishing company." JPC publishes both Ebony and Jet magazines. "Desirée has a proven track record of successful business leadership," company chairman Linda Johnson Rice said in a statement. "She is a longstanding confidante and a savvy businesswoman who is committed to the strategic growth of … [Read more...]
Black Eyed Peas’ E.N.D. tour has staying power
Sitting in an Athens hotel room on a humid summer day in early July, Will.i.am recalls the days when he and his fellow members of the Black Eyed Peas made a collective $150 per show -- and were ecstatic about it. "We would jump up and down because we got paid, even though it meant we had to split it with each other and the band, meaning about $20 a piece," he says. "Then we got paid $2,000 for a show. And then I remember the first time we got paid a million bucks for an hour. I was … [Read more...]
The Roots ‘How I got Over’ fulfills promise
By Jesse Washington No offense to bandleader ?uestlove and emcee Black Thought — both will be remembered as among the greats — or any of the five CDs their fantastic rap band has released since the 1999 masterpiece “Things Fall Apart.” But in this era of impatience, those five albums had too many skippable songs. Some tracks stuck to your ribs — “Rolling With Heat,” “Don’t Say Nuthin,” “Don’t Feel Right” — but it was easy to forget the albums they appeared on. That’s not the case with “How I … [Read more...]
Erykah Badu sparkles brighter than ever
By Mick Stingley Clad in a black trench coat and top hat, Erykah Badu stood before the sold-out crowd at New York’s Roseland Ballroom on Monday crooning the atmospheric opener “20 Feet Tall.” With four backup singers and a seven-piece band to accompany her, Badu was a smoldering torch who warmed and glowed as the night went on. She burned through “Out My Mind, Just in Time,” which is also the name of this tour, supporting her March release “New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh.” The … [Read more...]
Photo exhibit to benefit Mexico’s indigenous Huicholes
While living in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon in Mexico, photographer Diego Huerta accidentally came across a sacred ceremony being performed by the Huicholes (pronounced Whee-chol-es) during a hike in a big canyon in the La Huasteca (pronounced Whah-steck-a) region. Huerta returned to the area months later only to discover that the neighbors had shut down this ritual site that the Huichole people have visited and considered the center of the universe for thousands of years. Huerta, who was … [Read more...]
Bomba Estéreo en Fuego: Interview with Colombia’s rising stars
The first time I met Liliana, from Bomba Estéreo, was a few months ago in Indio, CA at Coachella. Paul Dryden, with Nacional introduced me to her, saying “This is Katie, from The Austin Times.” “AUSTIN?!?!?!,” exclaimed Liliana, “I love Austin!!!!!” She then grabbed my pen out of my hand and proceeded to write the word Austin on her arm. At that point, all I remember thinking was this chick is super cool! We hung out briefly at the festival and then made plans to meet and do a formal … [Read more...]