Russell Simmons will throw a second hip-hop ball to celebrate the genre’s influence in the re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama. The music mogul organized the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball after President Obama became the first African-American to be voted into the White House in 2008. The event took place following Obama’s official inauguration ceremony in January, 2009, and it honored rappers T.I., LL Cool ...

Special to the NNPA from the Los Angeles Sentinel Brandy Norwood was a huge fan of Whitney Houston and one year after her death, the singer is still in shock. Looking back on how the late Whitney’s life transformed before the world’s eyes, Brandy supposes it was the loss of her voice that eventually drove Whitney over the edge. “I understand what that [losing your voice] feels like,” Brandy told The Boom Bo ...

The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS), in partnership with the Chicago Park District, invites residents to recycle their Christmas trees, January 5-18, 2013, to help keep alleys clear, and reduce the amount of materials deposited in landfills. “Recycling Christmas trees is an easy way for residents to make a big impact on the environment,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Each year, we are able to ...

By J. Coyden Palmer Special to the NNPA from the Chicago Crusader STATE SENATOR Donne Trotter emerged from Saturday’s slating by Democratic party leaders as the favorite to replace former Cong. Jesse Jackson Jr. But neither Trotter nor any other candidate got a majority of the vote. Over a dozen announced candidates for the 2nd Congressional seat vacated by Jesse Jackson Jr. last month told a group of Democ ...

Rev. Flowers was a tireless worker in this community for over 40 years. He was a constant fixture. Whenever there was a crisis or problem he was willing to work on solutions and follow through with actions to solve the problem. “The loss of Rev. Lewis Flowers reminds us how much our city gained from his life of love and service to our city,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. “Rev. Flowers is justly ce ...

By Frank S. Washington Santa Monica, Calif., -- Four out of five cars sold in the U.S. last year were midsize sedans. And Ford is making a serious push to get a bigger slice of that market which is expected to grow even larger. The Fusion is a global car. Ford will produce it and its sister model, the Mondeo, in Flat Rock, Mich.; Hermosillo, Mexico; Genk, Belgium; Russia and China. We came here to test driv ...

By Maya Rhodan NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Although Black and Latina youth represent only 35 percent of all U.S. teenagers, they accounted for 84.4 percent of all newly HIV-infected teenagers in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Blacks ages 13 through 24 accounted for more than a quarter of new HIV infections in 2010 in the U.S. Of the newly-infected in ...

by Chelsea Battle Special to the NNPA from the Los Angeles Sentinel If the name Seth Brundle rings a bell, you’re probably thinking about the popular 1980’s Sci-Fi thriller, “The Fly”.  Chris McMullen, who goes by the nickname Seth Brundle, is flying to new heights in the fashion industry as a celebrity wardrobe specialist. It is a typical blazing hot day in Los Angeles, and Brundle sits relaxed, unaffected ...

Chicago – Chicago Public Schools (CPS) today announced the process and timeline for its comprehensive review of the District’s charter school contract agreements that end on June 30, 2013. This process is governed by Illinois State School Code. All renewal recommendations will be presented to the Chicago Board of Education for approval during the January 2013 Board meeting. Charter schools that do not meet ...

By James Clingman Falling off the Fiscal Cliff Will we jump from the cliff?  Congress and the president will determine whether we fall, jump, or back away from the cliff.  While I trust they will get together and make the right decision, I think we should be prepared for the worst case scenario.  How do we prepare?  First of all, learn what the fiscal cliff and its implications are for your personal economy ...