Posts Categorized: local news

388

CNN Suspends Roland Martin

CNN has apparently caved in to pressure from gay groups by suspending political analyst Roland Martin for making a joke about British soccer star David Beckham.

A CNN spokeswoman confirmed the suspension with this statement issued today:

“Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being."

Martin came under attack from gay groups after tweeting a wisecrack about Beckham's underwear commercial which aired during Sunday's Super Bowl telecast on NBC.

Martin seemed to suggest in his tweet that his followers “smack the ish out of” any male Super Bowl fan who is “hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad.”

Martin added that “real bruhs” would not purchase underwear advertised by Beckham.

A network suspension is usually the first step towards a contract termination. Martin was a CNN political analyst for 4 years.

Source: Washington Post blog

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Beating Victim Speaks Out

20-year-old Brandon White stepped forward today to speak about the beating incident that has galvanized the gay community in Atlanta.

“I want to see something done. I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I went through,” White said at a packed midday news conference.

White was the man seen in a viral video being brutalized by three unidentified men who punched and kicked him while they shouted anti-gay slogans. The 3 attackers are reportedly members of a local street gang called the "Jungle Boys" and the 1029 Jack City gang.

White said he didn't report the incident to the police initially until he saw the video go viral on the Internet.

“I don’t bother anyone. I felt that if a straight person could walk to the store and not have a problem, I should be able to do the same thing,” White said.

In the video, which was first posted on Worldstarhiphop.com, White, wearing tight black "skinny jeans", was ambushed by 3 gang members outside a convenience store on McDaniel Street in the "Pittsburgh" area of Atlanta on Saturday.

A man off camera can be heard repeatedly yelling "No f*ggots in Jack City!"

The FBI is investigating the case as a hate crime based on the anti-gay slogans heard in the 30-second video.

White, who is seeking therapy for his emotional scars, gave this advice to others who are victims of homophobic violence: “Say something. Speak to someone. Don’t hide it. You shouldn’t have to. This is 2012."

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Zone 3 police officers at 404-624-0674 or to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477.

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Video Beating Victim To Speak

The Atlanta man seen in a viral video being savagely beaten by thugs for wearing skinny jeans will speak today at a press conference scheduled for noon.

The victim's family told reporters that the 20-year-old man came forward on Tuesday to speak with police after the FBI joined the investigation.

"Atlanta Police Department spokesman Carlos Campos said that the widespread dissemination of the video led family members of the 20-year-old victim to contact police," according to the Atlanta Journal.

"Atlanta police investigators were able to locate the victim ... who gave a statement to investigators," Campos said in statement emailed to the news media Tuesday night.

In the video, which was first posted on Worldstarhiphop.com, the victim is seen exiting a convenience store on McDaniel Street in the "Pittsburgh" area of Atlanta on Saturday. The man, wearing tight black "skinny jeans" and a long black ponytail, is set upon by three thugs shouting anti-gay slogans.

The thugs punch and kick the defenseless man as he crouched on the ground. One thug picked up a tire that was leaning on a wall nearby and hit the victim with it.

The brutal scene was captured on two cell phone cameras as well as a surveillance video from the convenience store.

The FBI is investigating the incident as a federal hate crime against gays. If captured and convicted, the perpetrators will face stiffer sentences than if they were convicted on state charges.

Watch the video here.

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CNN’s Roland Martin Under Attack From Gay Groups for David Beckham Tweets

CNN's political analyst Roland Martin came under attack from gay groups after tweeting a wisecrack about British soccer star David Beckham.

Martin, who is very sensitive when he is the subject of gay jokes, took to his Twitter page last night to "live tweet" during the Super Bowl broadcast. His tweets included this one, which his followers took to be an anti-gay slur:

Martin seemed to suggest that his followers "smack the ish out of" any male Super Bowl fan who is "hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad" that was shown during the Super Bowl.

Martin added that "real bruhs" would not purchase underwear advertised by Beckham.

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177

AKOO Fashion Show Hosted by T.I. and Kevin Hart

Thanks to celebrity photographer Thad McAdams of ExclusiveAccess.net for these pics from last night's T.I. & Tiny: Family Hustle Finale and AKOO Fashion show at Reign. Pictured above are Violeta Morgan (T.I.'s mom), T.I., his wife Tiny Harris, and Tiny's hair stylist Shekinah.

T.I.'s wife Tiny Harris, who has a big announcement to make, likes what she sees on the stage.

Keri Hilson performed during the fashion show, which is part of the final episode of T.I. and Tiny: Family Hustle on VH1.

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Tameka Harris Announces the Expansion of Tiny’s Nail Bar

Yesterday, Tameka "Tiny" Harris' publicist reached out to Sandrarose.com with the great news that Tiny is expanding her successful Tiny's Nail Bar to a new location.

"We are so excited about the success of Family Hustle and especially proud of Tameka as a business woman, mother, wife, producer and executive producer," wrote Tenisha Ramos of Somar Entertainment in an email.

"As an entreprenuer giving back to the community Tameka is looking for 10 nail technicians and a Spa Manager," she announced.

Tameka is also announcing the winner of her Family Hustle giveaway February 6, 2012 on her Twitter page for the best Family Hustle story. People can register by going to www.tinysnails.com or www.hypehair.com.

Above is an exclusive photo of Tiny by celebrity photographer Nicky Woo from Tiny's feature in EBONY magazine this month.

Also, congrats to Crystal (loyal SR member Twilight), who was named Tameka's new media manager!

126

Sneak Peek: Braxton Family Values, Ep 12, Caught Red Handed

In tonight's dramatic episode of WEtv's Braxton Family Values, Trina Braxton and her estranged husband, Gabe Solis, tackle his infidelities during an emotional therapy session with TV Dr. Sherry.

"I caught Gabe red handedly acting inappropriately on a social network site with a female that he knew," explained Trina.

Gabe's cheating ways came to light on Twitter.com when a woman tweeted photos of him exposing himself on Skype.

But when it was Gabe's turn to speak, he avoided the issue of exposing himself online.

In typical canine behavior, Gabe blamed the other woman for tempting him with a bone. "I took the bait," he said. Gabe has since deleted his Twitter page.

Although he remains in denial about his voyeuristic behavior, Gabe did admit to Dr. Sherry that he didn't do what a married man should have done.

In an interview last month, Trina, who has children from a previous relationship, revealed that she and Gabe separated a year ago. Their Johns Creek, GA home is still on the market.

Watch the sneak peek of tonight's episode after the break.

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Man who killed Jorelys Rivera found dead in prison

The 20-year-old maintenance man who pleaded guilty to killing 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera last month was found dead in his cell of an apparent suicide.

Ryun Brunn was arrested on Dec. 7, 2011 and charged with murdering Jorelys who was reported missing by her mother on Dec. 2.

Jorelys was last seen playing with other children in the playground of the apartment complex where she lived. Brunn was hired as a maintenance man at the apartment complex in Nov. 2011. He bragged on facebook about living rent free at the complex.

A Georgia Department of Corrections spokesman said Brunn was found unresponsive in his cell at 4:15 pm, reports Channel 2 Action News. It isn't clear if Brunn was on suicide watch at the time.

Brunn appeared in a Cherokee County courtroom on Tuesday and coldly recounted how he committed the crime. Brunn said after he molested the child, he slashed the girl's throat with a knife and beat her in the head with her own roller skate. Brunn wrapped the girl's body and dumped her in a trash compactor.

"I never had an idea of killing a child in my life ... I was just so terrified and scared. I didn't want her to tell her mom and dad on me and I just ... I cut her," Brunn said. Source

Brunn pleaded guilty to murder and child molestation charges, among other offenses. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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452

Monica Headlines Battle of the Bands 2012

R&B Diva Monica will headline the annual Battle of the Bands on Jan. 28 at the Georgia Dome.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports: "eight college marching bands from historically black colleges and universities will showcase their music and showmanship at this annual invitational event, but it will also spotlight the talents of Grammy-winning Atlanta singer and songwriter Monica."

Monica will perform at the Battle of the Bands on Jan. 28, just weeks before the scheduled release of her seventh album, New Life. You can get a taste of the new album on the Georgia native’s website, which features the video for the track “Until It’s Gone.” You can pre-order the album there, too.

Tickets for the event, which begins at 3 p.m. Jan. 28, are available at Ticketmaster or at the Georgia Dome Box Office. Tickets are $10-$12.

The bands participating in this year’s Honda Battle of the Bands are:

Albany State University’s Marching Rams Show Band

Bethune Cookman University’s Marching Wildcats

Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South

Prairie View A&M University’s Marching Storm

South Carolina State University’s Marching 101

Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands

Virginia State University’s Marching Trojan Explosion

Winston-Salem State University’s Red Sea of Sound

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Education Leaders: Teachers Should Not Be Fired Over Slavery Beatings Math Lesson

The unorthodox teaching methods of teachers at a Norcross elementary school have caused a national uproar. The teachers gave 3rd grade students at Beaver Ridge Elementary a math lesson featuring slavery questions such as figuring out how many beatings a slave would get if he was whipped twice a day for 2 weeks.

Over 100 students were sent home with the math lesson, which featured about 20 questions on slavery. Some parents reacted with fury, accusing the teachers of blatant racism. But education leaders dismiss the allegations of racism.

According to the AJC, Calvine Rollins, president of the Georgia Association of Educators said "the slave math lesson created by a teacher to reinforce a lesson on Frederick Douglass may have used poor judgment, but it shouldn’t lead to the termination of those who wrote or handed it out without reviewing it."

“This is an unfortunate incident,” Rollins said. “I don’t believe the teacher wanted to expose those kids to anything offensive. Gwinnett County teachers are dedicated. They work hard and try on a daily basis to do the right thing.”

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Person of interest speaks about missing Buckhead woman

"When a person disappears without a trace, often the most critical information is hidden in their actions and words in the days before they vanished," says the narrator of ID Channel's TV series 'Disappeared'.

In the case of Stacey Nicole English, the 36-year-old Buckhead woman who went missing on Dec. 26, 2011, her last actions and words may hold the key to her disappearance.

According to her family, English was acting "out of character" and talking about the end of the world in the days leading up to her disappearance. She is on medication and she was previously hospitalized following a suicide attempt, according to the police report.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Erin Coleman spoke by phone with the last person to see English alive.

Atlanta police named Robert Kirk a 'person of interest' in the case. He was visiting English over the holidays when the two got into an argument on Dec. 26. English reportedly threw Kirk out of her apartment that day.

“(I) heard about the reports and it sent a tingle through me,” Kirk told Coleman, according to WSBTV.com.

Kirk said he is praying for English’s safety and that the situation is “crazy.”

Kirk also spoke with a reporter from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a phone interview today. "I don't know what's going on. All I know is, I've been speaking with [authorities] for a week," he said.

Kirk declined to say anything more, referring a reporter's questions to his attorney Scott Rosenblum.

English worked at Sun Trust Bank and lived in a condo off Lenox Road in Buckhead for 4 years. She left behind her cellphone, iPad and keys, according to Channel 2 Action News.

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Ludacris Closes Straits to Focus On New Airport Restaurant

Rap mogul Ludacris announced today he was closing his popular Straits restaurant in midtown to focus on a new restaurant he's opening inside Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport.

According to the AJC, Ludacris, whose real name is Chris Bridges, made the decision after winning a contract to open a restaurant -- Chicken N Beer -- at the nation's busiest airport.

The new restaurant was inspired by the title of Luda's third hip hop album, Chicken N' Beer. The new restaurant will serve "comfort food" and beer created from "locally grown ingredients," according to the AJC.

"As I continue to learn and evolve as a businessman, I am extremely excited to put my restaurateur footprint into a new venture inside the busiest international airport in the United States, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport," Ludacris said in a release.

"Straits was a great segue into the industry and with Chicken N Beer I can create my own concept. I look forward to expanding my creativity and driving to a much higher plane."

Source

This post, originally written Jan 4, 2012 @ 2:07pm, was edited to reflect the following corrections: Straits received a score of 91 on its 2nd inspection. There was no 3rd inspection. And Chicken N' Beer was Luda's third album.

114

Eddie Long’s New Birth Christian Academy Closes

Bishop Eddie Long's New Birth Christian Academy is closing its doors after 18 years in operation. The private school's 200 students learned about the school closing in a letter sent home to their parents and signed by Carlton Donald, the board's vice-chair.

"We have operated New Birth Christian Academy for several years with substantial deficits in hopes that the national economic climate would change, however, that change never materialized," read the letter. A few years ago the academy boasted of having one teacher for every eight students.

The school's tuition ranged from $5,253 for New Birth members to $6,198 for non-members, according to the Atlanta Journal.

The school's closing is just another step toward the dismantling of Eddie Long's church empire in Atlanta. The church has laid off staff after losing hundreds of members since Long settled a sexual coercion case filed against him by four former New Birth members who were heterosexual and gay.

Additionally, Bernice King, daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, stepped down as a church elder in May. And 10 former parishioners filed a $1 million lawsuit against Long and the church alleging they lost their life savings in an investment scam.

Long, who temporally stepped down as the church's senior pastor this month, reportedly used the school as a hunting ground for young males to satisfy his sexual appetite. In court documents, Long was accused of coercing the young men with Bible passages and plying at least two of the boys with cash, trips, gifts and cars to loosen their sexual inhibitions.

Earlier this month, the embattled preacher's long-suffering wife, Vanessa, announced she was filing for divorce.

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Suspect Named in Shooting Death of Rapper Over Candy

The late rapper Notorious B.I.G.'s seemingly prophetic song, "You're Nobody Until Somebody Kills You," comes to mind as Atlanta's underground rap scene grieve over the death of rapper Slim Dunkin, 24.

Dunkin, real name Mario Hamilton, was virtually unknown to the rest of us outside of the underground scene, until he was killed.

Police say Hamilton was shot once in the chest -- reportedly over a piece of candy at a southeast recording studio on Dec. 16.

Hamilton, who was 6-8, towered over his shorter assailant who produced a gun and shot Hamilton. Friends loaded the mortally wounded rapper into a car and rushed him to Grady hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police say about 20-30 people were present inside the recording studio on Memorial Drive when the gun went off. But no witnesses came forward.

On Thursday, police identified Atlanta rapper Young Vito, 28, as the gunman. Police say Vito, real name Vinson Hardimon, is in danger, and he is being urged to turn himself in.

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Santa T.I.’s K.I.N.G. Foundation Christmas Giveaway

Last night, rapper T.I. (above left), his wife Tiny (far right) and his family gave back to the community at the Carrie Steele-Pitts Center in Atlanta. To kick the night off, the family acted out a play that was written by T.I.'s oldest son Messiah, 11. The whole family donned full troll costumes, and after the play T.I. changed into a Santa Clause outfit and passed out toys to the children.

The elaborate troll costumes were Messiah's idea. He is pictured above with his beautiful mom, @LashonDixon, who is also mom to rapper Domani Harris, 10. All of the Harris children participated in the play! Gifts were handed out to the excited neighborhood children after the play. The gifts included toys, clothes, jackets, shoes, backpacks that were purchased by T.I., his K.I.N.G. Foundation and his record label Grand Hustle.

Tiny Harris and son, Major, 3. She was dressed as Queen of the Trolls. See more pics after the break, and on ExclusiveAccess.net!

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Rumor Control: Tiny’s Dad is Alive and Well

This morning I received an urgent call from former Xscape singer Tameka "Tiny" Harris' mom, Dianne Pope, asking me to inform my readers that Tiny's father, Charles Pope, is alive and well. Tiny's fans were introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Pope on Tiny's reality show, Tiny & Toya on BET in 2009.

It seems that some idiot created a fake Facebook page imitating Tiny and claiming her father was deceased. "Tiny wants people to know that her daddy is fine," said Mrs. Pope. "That's not her Facebook page at all.

As you know, Mr. Pope (pictured at right with Tiny's daughter, Zonnique) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. T.I. and Tiny founded the For The Love of Our Fathers Foundation, which raises money for Alzheimer's research.

Mrs. Pope says her husband's condition has improved and he's getting stronger. "He's more alert. We're getting him up now doing exercises," she said.

Mrs. Pope theorized that Tiny's fans may have confused Tiny's father with a member of his legendary R&B group The Tams, who was murdered by his roommate. Tiny's father founded The Tams, and Tiny has performed with the group.

According to Channel 2 Action News, longtime Tams band director Versi Sain, 59, was found shot to death in his Clayton County home earlier this month. Police arrested his roommate, Sam Morgan, and charged him with murder. He is being held in the Clayton County jail. The two men were childhood friends who grew up together in Muskegon, Michigan. Sources say the motive may have been money.

The Tams, now headed by Tiny's brother Red, are known for their 60s hits "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy," and "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me."

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CAUGHT: Thief Who Robbed Buckhead Men’s Boutique

The man who brazenly robbed a high end men's clothing boutique in Buckhead for thousands in merchandise has been in a Dekalb jail since the day of the robbery.

On Saturday, career criminal Tavoris Ashmon, 25, walked into a Chamblee Audi dealership and asked to test drive a brand new Audi S-5. The Atlanta Journal reports that Ashmon nearly ran over employees as he drove off the lot. He never returned the vehicle.

Later that same evening, Ashmon strolled into the upscale MODA404 men's clothing boutique in Buckhead. He left the grey Audi parked outside with the engine running.

An hour later, Ashmon walked out of the boutique with an armful of clothing and shoes worth $4,300, which he didn't pay for.

"The man obviously had this crime planned out,” co-owner Lee Brockwell said. "He was very arrogant and just bold with it; he picked the stuff up and walked right out of here like he owned it."

Later that night, an alert DeKalb officer spotted the grey Audi as it blew past him. Sgt. Dan Oak stopped the Audi and took Ashmon into custody after determining the car was stolen. Ashmon gave Oak a false name when he was arrested. He was booked into the DeKalb County jail under the name 'John Doe' until he could be positively identified.

Sunday night, Oak said, he recognized Ashmon in the video from MODA404 broadcast on Channel 2’s evening news program.

"'That’s him,' I told my wife," Oak told Channel 2. "'That’s the guy I arrested last night.'"

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Booster Hits Moda 404 for Thousands in Merchandise (Video)

A high end Buckhead Men's clothing store was hit by a brazen booster who stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise by simply walking out of the store with the items.

Moda 404 owner Lee Brockwell told the Atlanta Journal she spent more than an hour chatting with the outgoing customer who seemed to want to spend a lot of money on clothes and shoes. But when she turned her back for a minute, the man brazenly walked behind the counter, picked up 3 bags of merchandise and strolled out of the store in broad daylight.

Brockwell said the man's $4,300 take included a couple pairs of pants, jeans, shirts, a pair of sunglasses and several pairs of shoes worth $200 to $600 each.

Another customer spotted a grey Audi parked outside the store with the motor running. But the customer wasn't sure if that was the getaway vehicle.

If you recognize the man, call the Crime Stoppers Atlanta Tipline at (404) 577-8477. Watch the surveillance video after the break.

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In Case You Missed It: Real Housewives of Atlanta, Ep 6

Local "celebrity attorney" Phaedra Parks represented one of her clients in court on a drug charge in last night's episode of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta'. Afterwards, in the parking lot, the enterprising young man peeled a couple of Gs off of a thick wad of cash and handed the money to Phaedra who quickly tucked the cash into her purse. I tried to reach my own attorney last night to ask her if accepting drug money on camera was legal. Maybe she didn't answer her phone because she was laughing so hard.

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Arrest made in rape, murder of 7-year-old girl

A 20-year-old man has been arrested in the rape and murder of a 7-year-old Canton, GA girl, according to AJC.

GBI Director Vernon Keenan identified the man as Ryan Brunn, who was taken into custody around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Keenan said Brunn lived at the River Ridge apartment complex where Jorelys lived and was killed, and had been a maintenance worker there. Tips from the public led investigators to Brunn, Keenan said. Source

Police called the killing "planned and calculated," as more than 65 local, state and federal investigators currently worked on the case since the girl's body was discovered in a dumpster Monday.

Residents of the complex where Jorelys's body was found told the AJC that police had been in and out of a maintenance worker's apartment. But police declined to identify the worker until today.

Jorelys was playing with friends in the apartment's playground on Friday when she went to get drinks for her friends and never returned.

Brunn, who has no known criminal record, had been under police surveillance since Tuesday evening, Keenan said. He had been employed at the complex since Nov. 7, John Bankhead, GBI spokesman, told the AJC.

"We are confidant that Brunn is the killer, that's why he's in custody," Keenan said, when asked if there are any other suspects.

Neighbors in the complex told the AJC they were relieved at news of an arrest. Lorenza Wright said he heard the news, along with his mother and brother, when he went home for a lunch break.

"We all burst into tears," Wright said. "We were ecstatic."

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Autopsy: 7-year-old Georgia girl raped, stabbed, beaten to death

A missing 7-year-old Canton girl was found dead in the dumpster of her Canton apartment complex on Monday.

Jorelys Rivera disappeared from a playground at the River Ridge apartments where she lived, according to police. Results of an autopsy shows the girl died of blunt force trauma to the head after she was stabbed, beaten and raped by an unknown predator.

The girl had been playing with friends at the apartment complex on Friday when she left to get drinks for her friends and never returned. She was killed in a vacant building in the complex, according to police.

Channel 2 Actions News reports Jorelys was being watched by a teenage babysitter that day. Her two younger siblings have since been taken into state custody, according to WSBTV.com.

Law enforcement officials launched a massive search and found the body three days later while sifting through the complex’s Dumpster. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan said authorities believe the killer lived in the apartment complex, though no suspects have been identified.

"This was a very calculated and planned crime," Keenan said at a Tuesday news conference.

Keenan said the girl was killed in a vacant apartment of the complex. He said there are several sex offenders in the area, but they have been ruled out as suspects.

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Eddie Long Denies Stepping Down As Pastor of New Birth

During a surprise announcement from the pulpit on Sunday, troubled prosperity preacher Bishop Eddie Long announced he was taking time off as pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

"I'm going to take a little time off to work with my family," Long said Sunday. "I'm still your pastor. You'll still receive my direction," he said, choosing his words carefully. "You've given me some weeks to take care of some family business."

The "family business" that Long seemed to be referring to were conflicting reports that his wife of 21 years, Vanessa G. Long, had sought to terminate their marriage.

On Thursday afternoon, Mrs. Long filed for divorce, saying her decision had been reached "after a great deal of deliberation and prayer." The divorce was announced in a press release early Friday morning. But by Friday afternoon, Eddie Long's own publicist released a statement attributed to Mrs. Long stating she was calling off the divorce.

A few hours after that statement was released, the media received word that the divorce was back on again.

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Bishop Eddie Long’s Wife Says “Never Mind”

24 hours after filing for divorce from embattled Atlanta preacher Bishop Eddie Long, his long-suffering wife, Vanessa Long, has asked her attorneys to withdraw her divorce petition.

Mrs. Long blames "years of attacks in the media" for her abrupt decision to file for divorce yesterday (Dec. 1).

But in a new statement released this afternoon, Mrs. Long said,

"Upon prayerful reflection, I have reconsidered and plan to withdraw my petition for divorce from my husband, Bishop Eddie L. Long," she said in an emailed statement bearing the New Birth logo. "I love my husband. I believe in him and admire his strength and courage."

Yesterday, Mrs. Long appeared to give up on her marriage to the troubled leader of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church:

"After a great deal of deliberation and prayer, I have decided to terminate my marriage to Bishop Eddie L. Long. Accordingly, I authorized my attorneys to file for divorce on December 1, 2011."

The divorce filing followed a tumultuous period for the Bishop, who, earlier this year, settled a sexual misconduct suit brought by 4 former Longfellow Youth Academy students, and a fifth man who was not included in the suit.

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Atlanta Screening of Jeezy’s ‘A Hustlerz Ambition’ Documentary

Last night rapper Jeezy premiered his documentary 'A Hustlerz Ambition' which will be packaged with his most personal album yet, TM 103. Jeezy poses below, center, with music producer Polow Da Don, left, and recording exec Devyne Stephens. Jeezy also held a screening of his documentary in New York on Tuesday. There are more screenings planned in other cities.

The documentary on the life and times of the Corporate Thugz founder was narrated by Samuel L. Jackson. The film takes the viewer from Jeezy's hardscrabble beginnings as a drug dealer and gang banger to the glory days makin' it rain in the strip clubs. The prolific rap star talks about buying his mom a home so she would never have to clean houses again.

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Bishop Eddie Long’s Wife Has Had Enough — She’s Filing for Divorce

According to CBS Atlanta 46, the long-suffering wife of embattled Atlanta prosperity preacher, Bishop Eddie Long, has filed for divorce.

Vanessa G. Long released a statement early Friday morning announcing her decision to terminate her marriage to Long, who is the leader of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia.

The statement reads as follows:

"After a great deal of deliberation and prayer, I have decided to terminate my marriage to Bishop Eddie L. Long. Accordingly, I authorized my attorneys to file for divorce on December 1, 2011.

It is my sincere hope that this matter can be resolved expeditiously, harmoniously, and fairly. I ask that you respect my privacy and that of my family, as my attorneys and I have agreed that we will not try this case in the media, and I do not intend to make any further statements concerning this matter.

I also ask that the public pray for my entire family during this difficult period of transition.

Thank you, and may God continue to bless and keep each of you." Source

The divorce proceeding follows a tumultuous year for the Bishop, who, earlier this year, settled a sexual misconduct suit brought by 4 former Longfellow Youth Academy students, and a fifth man who was not included in the suit.

Photo: John Amis, AP

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Soulja Boy is flat broke – and about to be evicted

Rapper Soulja Boy has more problems to worry about than drug busts and poor album sales. Gossip website TMZ reports that the rapper is about to be evicted from his Buckhead condo near Elton John's old digs.

Soulja's 2011 has included ... lying about buying a private jet, pissing off the military with one of his songs and getting arrested for allegedly carrying weed and a gun in a briefcase.

Now TMZ has learned the rapper, real name DeAndre Way, has not paid his November rent for his Atlanta pad -- a whopping $4,725 -- so he's been served with eviction papers. Soulja has until December 5 to pay up, or risk getting thrown out. Source

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Tameka wants Usher to know his kids don’t want to be with him

Struggling celebrity stylist Tameka Foster is at it again. Earlier today, she posted Twitpics of her sons, Usher IV, 4, and Naviyd, 2, on their way to visit their father at his home in Los Angeles. Under one photo of a sulking Naviyd, Tameka's tweeted:

"Navi is pissed to the bitter end. Haha. I'm sure candy, toys and Neverland awaits ... He'll be ok. My loves!"

Apparently, she meant that Naviyd was sulking because he did not want to see his dad. Once again, Tameka continues to shamelessly exploit her own children for sympathy and attention.

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Usher To Tameka: ‘No Drug Test’

There's a surprising twist in the ongoing child custody battle between R&B crooner Usher Raymond and his ex-wife, struggling celebrity stylist, Tameka Foster. The NY Post reports that Foster's attorneys have demanded that Usher submit to a drug test as part of his response to her petition to strip him of his parental rights to their two sons.

But, according to The Post, Usher flatly refused to take the drug test. Foster's court documents indicate that a drug test was demanded, in part, because of blog rumors that Usher is a well-known nose candy connoisseur.

The custody battle between Usher Raymond and his ex-wife, Tameka Foster, is turning to war: Justin Bieber mentor Usher last week rejected a demand by his ex to submit to drug testing after she alleged he was “in delirium” during a January concert in Germany.

She also filed a request for Raymond to submit to drug testing, claiming she found mysterious pills in his jeans pockets in September 2008, and that she believed he was wasted during the Germany concert, according to court documents.

Video circulated widely online at the time showing Usher meandering onstage in front of the crowd and unable to sing. He apologized to fans, and his reps blamed a respiratory infection for his inability to perform.

Foster, however, alleges he was under the influence of something. “I dated him . . . when he’s had a very serious throat condition and he still performs like a champ,” she said. “ I really feel strongly that something was going on there, and it wasn’t, ‘Oh I have laryngitis.' "

She made a further claim in the deposition: “I believe he gets high. And if he doesn’t then he’d take the drug test, correct?” Source

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Movers, sheriff’s deputies refuse to evict 103-year-old woman (video)

Not many people live to be 103 years old. But rather than celebrating her 104th birthday in 3 weeks, Vita Lee worries about staying in her home.

Channel 2 Action News reports that movers hired by Deutch Bank, and sheriff's deputies arrived at the ranch style home yesterday to evict Ms. Lee and her 83-year-old daughter as community activists and Channel 2's Ryan Young gathered outside. But after seeing Ms. Lee in her fragile state, the movers and sheriff's deputies refused to go through with the eviction.

"I saw the sheriffs who came to put them out take off and leave. I gave all glory to God," community activist Michael Langford said.

"This family has been waging a war against Deutch Bank," said community activist Derrick Boezeman.

The eviction action was too much for Ms. Lee's daughter. An ambulance rushed her to Grady hospital as news cameras rolled.

When Ms. Lee was asked if she knew she was being evicted, she said, "No. I knew they didn't know what they was doing. God don't let you do wrong." She added: "You know, the Bible says 'once a man and twice a child'. I'm a child, 104-years-old. Don't put me outdoors at 104."

Young explained that the house and case have been in the court system for years. Ms. Lee and her daughter has shared the home on Penelope Street in Northwest Atlanta for 53 years.

Ms. Lee had one last message for the ruthless bankers: "Please don't come in and disturb me no more," she said. "When I'm gone y'all can come out here and do anything you want to do."

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Tameka Foster wants you to know that…

Tameka Foster is currently at home nursing her sick 2-year-old son back to health. We know that because she tweeted a pic of the child stretched out on a sofa today. She wants us to know that she's a good mother. Or she could be posting pics of the baby in order to gain sympathy.

As you know, Foster, 45, has filed yet another legal action in the ongoing child custody dispute with her ex-husband, Usher Raymond, 33.

This time Foster, who still uses her ex-husband's last name, seeks to strip Usher of his parental rights to their two boys. After TMZ broke the story this morning, Foster took to her Twitter page to grouse about the media coverage, and about her ex in particular.

"Haha I love how this guy manages to always be the victim. So masterful. Its amazing," she tweeted. In another tweet, she wrote, "To play innocent victim? Oh. That's crafty... & hilarious."

But wouldn't it be considered "crafty" to exploit your sick child on a social networking site to prove a point?