POLITICAL | URBAN | ENTERTAINMENT | GOSPEL | HISTORY & CULTURE

buzzz worthy. . . New York, NY – July 10, 2015 – Legendary Gospel Hall of Fame inductee and multiple Grammy-nominated singer/composer/and arranger, Richard Smallwood tops the Gospel Albums chart this week with the debut of his 15 th album ANTHOLOGY LIVE (RCA Inspiration) released on June 29 . “I’m elated that ANTHOLOGY has entered on the number one spot on the Billboard Top Gospel Chart,” said Richard Smallwood. “Personally, this project is the most important recording that I’ve done, so it adds more to the excitement that people are excited.  I’m so appreciative of their support!”  Recorded in front of a full-capacity audience at Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, Maryland—the 2 disc CD features 21 powerful tracks backed by Smallwood’s 20-member ensemble Vision . Other guest appearances include renowned R&B singer, Angela Winbush and the esteemed Dottie Jones from The Smallwood Singers .    ANTHOLOGY LIVE is a brilliant collecti...

buzzz worthy. . . “Intentional” is Travis Greene’s First Single Off Of His Highly-Anticipated Debut Album THE HILL   NEW YORK, NY – July 10, 2015 – Gospel sensation Travis Greene’s new single “Intentional” debuted at No.1 on the iTunes Christian/Gospel Songs Chart this week.  The buzzed-about singer-songwriter’s new single quickly garnered attention among peers and listeners nationwide who’ve embraced the inspiring anthem, fueled by his soaring vocals and the buoyant melody.    “Intentional” is Travis Greene’s first single off of his highly-anticipated debut album THE HILL , which he recorded late last year in a live recording before a packed crowd in his hometown of Charlotte, NC, and is expected to be released on RCA Inspiration in the fall. INTENTIONAL , a 4 track EP will precede the full album and will be released on Friday, August 14.     Travis Greene’s “Intentional” Retail Links iTunes - http://smarturl.it/Intentional...

buzzz worthy. . . Some people willdo anything for a dollar, incluibgn betraying a family member and capitalizing off of murder.  A South Caorlina woman has done both. Emanuel 9 shooter Dylan Roof's sister, Amber is angry that his criminal activity upstaged her wedding plans, so she took to crowd funding site GoFundMe.com to solicit funds for a honeymoon, 10%of which she agreed to onate to the Emanuel AME church, the site of the vicious murders her brother committed on June 17. Roof gunned down the pastor and state Senator Clementa Pinkney and 8 others while attending Bible study. "Our wedding day was suppose[d] to be the most important and special day of our lives. It was suppose to start our lives together with our new family. Our day was the exact opposite. Our wedding day was full of sorrow, pain, and shame, tainted by the actions of one man." Amber Roof also upset with the media for spreading her fund-raising efforts. The fund-raising page has been removed.

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buzzz worthy. . . July 7, 2015 – Washington D.C . – Bishop Joel Peebles, Sr. and Pastor Ylawnda Peebles are humbled and grateful by the recent ruling by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia which reinstates the original Board of Trustees, including Bishop Joel Peebles, Sr., to the Jericho City of Praise in Landover, Maryland. The ruling invalidates all actions of the improperly seated board. We give thanks to God and move in His love, as we work through this transitional period. In preparation for the final steps of this process, we will carry out the mandate God has for our Ministry, by continuing to operate for the meantime within our current schedule of worship services. At the God ordained time, Bishop Joel Peebles will make the announcement of when and how we will move to the next phase of this restoration. As it is written in Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according ...

buzzz worthy. . . Whether it's picking up a grocery tab, cutting an elderly neighbor's grass or paying it forward by investing in someone's future, a random act of kindness can change someone's day or life for the better. Pageant queen Aria Austin, 16 is embracing the lasting impact of good deeds through the "Pretty Is As Pretty Does" campaign. The "Pretty Is As Pretty Does" campaign  is a safe and positive and speaks to the need to spread love and kindness.  Participants are encouraged to share ways in which they are spreading goodwill  (either online and offline) by posting videos or photos of themselves performing a kind act or simply being a blessing to others.The slogan is derived from a Southern saying that means outward beauty should be a reflection of inward beauty. The campaign fits right in with Austin's platform of empowering girls to be beautiful on the inside and outside. Austin said what motivated her to take part in t...

buzzz worthy. . . A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the cancellation of the Washington Redskins' trademark registration, ruling that the team name may be disparaging to Native Americans. Lee emphasized in his 70-page ruling that the organization is still free to use the name if it wishes - the team would just lose some legal protections that go along with federal registration of a trademark. Lee ruled the team culd still use the name but may not have the same legal protections that go along with federal registration of a trademark. Jeff Lopez, lawyer for the Native Americans who challenged the team's name, said he expects the Redskins to appeal the ruling to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. But he said that Lee's ruling was an across-the-board victory for his clients and that he is confident it will be upheld.

buzzz worthy. . . With nearly one thousand entries submitted to this year’s Healthy Lunchtime Challenge , the fifty-five winning recipes were selected based on their healthfulness, taste, originality, affordability, and following USDA’s MyPlate recommendations. Our panel of judges were extremely impressed with the incredible recipes that kids cooked up this year! These young chefs and a parent or guardian will join the First Lady for the Kids’ “State Dinner,” featuring a selection of the winning recipes, followed by a visit to the White House Kitchen Garden on July 10, 2015.     2015 Kids' "State Dinner" Winners ALABAMA : Jay Wolanzyk, Age 10, Alabama Fancy Fish Tacos   ALASKA : Sable Scotton, Age 10, Deliciousness Over Rice   ARIZONA : Nia Thomas, Age 10, Oodles of Zoodles with Avocado Pistachio Pesto   ARKANSAS : Aspen Smith, Age 11, Arkansas Baked Almond Catfish CALIFORNIA : Aria Pelaez, Age...

buzzz worthy. . . July 8, 2015 ,  New York, New York :  Actor  Michael Jai White  has wed longtime fianceé and actress  Gillian Waters .  In a private ceremony held in Thailand this past weekend at the multi-acre riverfront estate of their good friends, film producer and finance executive,  Michael Selby  and his wife  Jantana , the lovely couple, who will star in the upcoming film  Never Back Down 3  together, exchanged vows surrounded by their children, family and close friends. In a custom gown by  Milan Bangkok , the beautiful bride donned a 10-carat engagement ring, and the actors exchanged custom diamond and platinum bands. The extravagant traditional Thai ceremony featured fireworks, an elephant parade, belly dancers, drone airplanes and a lavish dinner reception where guests noshed on Pad Thai, jumbo prawns, crab fried rice, curried chicken, and a custom three-tiered cake by the famous Bang...

buzzz worthy. . . Isaac Carree (ATLANTA, GA) Gospel music superstar,  Isaac Carree , attended and performed at the 2015 ESSENCE Festival. The annual festival in New Orleans, included a musical, 'All Star Gospel Tribute to Kim Burrell.' Mr. Carree sat down with Sirius XM for an interview on all his new happenings, attended the nightly concerts at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and visited many of the various sponsored booths/stages during his stay at the festival.   (left) Isaac Carree and Dorinda Clark Cole; (right) Isaac Carree, Kim Burrell and Zacardi Cortez    (left) Kelly Rowland and Isaac Carree; (right) Rico Love and Isaac Carree Sunday, Carree, joined Jazmine Sullivan , LeAndria Johnson , Yolanda Adams, Jessica Reed y and more in paying tribute via song to BET Sunday Best vocal coach, Kim Burrell .  WATCH ISAAC CARREE MINISTER "THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY" WITH ZACARDI CORTEZ Isaac Carree & Bacardi Cortez pay t...

buzzz worthy. . . EDMONDS, Wash., July 8, 2015  -- Dr. Gregory Jantz, founder of The Center • A Place of HOPE in Edmonds, Washington, delivered a recent statement about the abuse of trust and lack of confidentiality by treatment professionals, counselors and others confided to high profile, high net worth celebrities, athletes and business executives. "At a time when high profile individuals are most vulnerable, confidants they trust the most are breaking that trust. Too many are openly discussing in articles, online posts, in on air or print magazine interviews their high profile clients' struggles in an effort to gain notoriety." "Those in the public spotlight, and those who run or manage large corporations, deal with intense scrutiny. The pressure can be overwhelming. The number one self-reporting issue among high-profile individuals in depression, followed by addiction and eating disorders." "The result for the high-profile ind...

buzzz worthy. . . Do you find it challenging to keep up with your workouts while on vacation or business travel? Many people do! Whether you’re on your family vacation or traveling for business, Pilatesology and Athleticulture keep your workouts intact when you’re on the road. And the best part is you only need a computer or tablet. Pilatesology and Athleticulture bring your workouts with you, with amazing pilates, yoga, barre, ballet and functional workouts. You’ll never miss a workout again! No more worries over a bad hotel fitness center or not getting your outside run in for safety concerns. Pilatesology and Athleticulture Founder Alisa Wyatt believes great workouts are the ones we want to do again and again. They’re fun, entertaining, challenging, engaging and inspirational and make us feel confident, sexy, alive, at peace with our bodies. They are also super effective at getting results whether we’re training for a marathon, staying fit while traveling or simpl...

buzzz worthy. . . Bishop Joel Peebles The story about the ousting of a prominent Maryland pastor has taken a significant turn. Years after he was fired from the mega church his parents founded, Pastor Joel Peebles  has been reinstated to the board of Jericho City of Praise in Landover, MD through the courts.   D. C. superior court judge Stuart G. Nash ruled yesterday (Tuesday, July 7) that the firing of  Pastor Joel Peebles and his removal from the board at Jericho City of Praise was invalid. William A. Meadows, a former board member who was fired, was also named in the ruling. Peebles has sought to settle the dispute and reclaim what he deemed his rightful inheritance, through ongoing litigation since the passing of his mother, Apostle Betty Peebles in 2010. Despite their legal woes and the thwarting of his legacy, Pastor Peebles and his wife, First Lady Ylawnda Peeples continued in ministry under the name "Jericho City" at an area school, taking many of their f...

buzzz worthy. . . LOS ANGELES, CA  -  The National Bar Association (NBA), the nation's oldest and largest national association of predominantly African-American lawyers, judges, educators and law students is pleased to announce its 90 th  Annual Convention and Exhibits.  The event will be held at the luxurious Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Downtown Los Angeles, 404 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA  90071, on July 19, 2015 – July 23, 2015. Panelist and speakers include nationally respected professionals including Dr. Cornel West, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Congressman G.K. Butterfield, Judge Glenda Hatchett, Judge Mablean Ephriam, Judge Faith Jenkins, and Judge Kevin Ross to name a few. The convention will also consist of an Exhibit Hall for companies to showcase their products and services. The Exhibit Hall is “open to the public”, so exhibitors can expect to market their products and services to visitors from the...

buzzz worthy. . . July 7, 2015 (New York, NY) - Legendary group, Mint Condition, will release first ever Christmas album,  "Healing Season," October 16, 2015. The holiday themed project will include five original songs including  "1st Snowfall," "Not What I Wanted," "1 Brand Name," and title tracK  "Healing Season." The 5-member band (Stokley Williams, Lawrence Waddell, Homer O'Dell, Ricky Kinchen & Jeffery Allen) heralded as one of the last, great R&B bands, Mint Condition creates a Christmas project that is also perfectly suited for every day and will last way past the holidays.    "Healing Season"  goes beyond the typical silver bells and holiday cheer, it speaks right into the hearts of people and seeks to touch a chord with people in need of healing, peace and comfort before, during and after the holiday season.  With songs like "Not What I Wanted," and "Lonely Ch...

buzzz worthy. . . Today the South Carolina Senate approved a bill to remove the controversial Confederate Flag that has flown over the state house for over 50 years.  “I applaud the Senate’s decisive action … and ask that the House act swiftly and follow the Senate’s lead.” S.C. Governor Nikki Haley said following a senate vote to remove the confederate flag that has flow under the American flag since 1991. The Senate's vote is one step closer to the permanent removal  of he flag.  A two thirds vote from both the house and senate chambers  is required before Gov. Haley can sign off on prohibiting the flag from state house grounds. Opposition the the honorable placement of the flag has been ongoing for years, but gained momentum when the man who killed 9 black parishoners in a Charleston, SC church was seen in photos with the flag just before he allegedly committed murder.  The self-confessed shooter, 21-year-old Dylann Roof , was seen in photos online s...

buzzz worthy. . . JONATHAN McREYNOLDS TO RELEASE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED SOPHOMORE ALBUM LIFE MUSIC: STAGE TWO ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2015   NASHVILLE, TN (July 7, 2015) – From the moment he first shared his music, writing his debut album Life Music as a college student, Jonathan McReynolds has burst onto the scene as one of the freshest voices in music today, building a rising tide of acclaim from fans of all ages and peers across genres, from Gospel to Christian, R&B/Soul artists and more.  Hailed for his inspiring messages, his far-reaching talents and musicianship as a young singer-songwriter and compelling live performer, McReynolds will release his sophomore album Life Music: Stage Two , on Friday September 18, 2015. Featuring the singles “Gotta Have You,” and “Pressure,” McReynolds has crafted an unforgettable sound that shatters expectations at every turn on his highly-anticipated new album, melding acoustic, gospel, pop sounds and more with p...

buzzz worthy. . . On Monday afternoon (July 6), Floyd Mayweather was stripped of the WBO title he won in the "fight of the century" against Manny Pacquiao earlier  this year. Immediately after the fight there were numerous biased claims that Mayweather did not deserve the title, but the WBO has found a reason that will stick.    Why? Because he did not  pay a required sanctioning  fee of $200,000 and failed to release two previously held junior middle weight titles, which is against the rules. "The WBO world championship committee is allowed no other alternative but to cease to recognize Mr. Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the WBO welterweight champion of the world and vacate his title for failing to comply with our WBO regulations of world championship contests," the WBO wrote Monday in its resolution.    Mayweather made over $220million in the Pacquiao fight and retains an undefeated record of 48-0.  According to ESPN, initially Ma...

buzzz worthy. . . (Raleigh, N.C.) Maybe the cure to the common cold is years away but according to Adam L. Perkins, race relations expert, author and speaker, views of race in America is about to change. Perkins who affectionately calls himself America’s Race Doctor says that he feels the time has come to provide a perspective on race that will cause ideas like white guilt and black rage to become a thing of the past. Perkins says the discussion of race is outdated and needs to be revised. His solution: “Stop focusing on race.” His speaking campaign MAKE RACE MAKE SENSE will launch this fall. Perkins says that his revolutionary approach removes “race” from the discussion in its entirety. “To design a lecture that doesn’t focus on race has taken many years to perfect. Audiences are diverse and lecturing to a diverse group on race requires delicate precision. My goal is to create an environment conducive for learning, conducive for understanding and one that leaves attende...

buzzz worthy. . . Unscripted show gives viewers an inside look at pageant and modeling competitions through the eyes of two sisters. Young book smart beauties eye the spotlight in pageantry and modeling in new Web-based series. (Bristow, VA --July 7, 2015)   Some parents sign their children up for modeling for fame and others for funds,  but a work-from-home mom in Bristow, VA signed her daughters up as a form therapy. The run way is the last place you would expect to see the brainy Austin sisters (Aria and Amber), who prefer books to beauty, but that is exactly where the quarrelsome, yet close knit pair solidify their sisterly bond in the new original docuseries, "Model Behavior: One Year Later." "Model Behavior" takes a  rare look at children pursuing their goals on their own versus  cooperating with the demands of over-bearing parents.  This perspective and the personalities of the stars of the show sets it apart from other  child-...

  CURRENT SINGLE "WORTH" AMONG TOP SELLING GOSPEL SONGS  July 6, 2015 (Indianapolis, IN) - 2013's Stellar Awards' Group / Duo of the Year, Anthony Brown & group therAPy returns with an impressive new album, EVERYDAY JESUS, due in stores July 17, 2015.  Brown, who is heralded for his creativity, passionate worship and top-notch vocals, brings his entire arsenal of talent to EVERYDAY JESUS a project geared towards helping us experience Jesus every day and in every way.  EVERYDAY JESUS, was recorded live at New Psalmist Baptist Church, in Baltimore MD to a capacity crowd earlier this year.  It is jam-packed with 14 innovative tracks that range from urban inspirational and show-tunesque to high-energy praise, beautiful ballads and tried and true church music. "Everyday Jesus is a collection of songs for the everyday believer, literally they are songs for every season," said Brown. "As a Christian, I experience ...