::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

buzzz worthy. . .#mybigfatfablife Whitney Rae Thore is almost 400 pounds and she did not eat her way there as many people may assume.  Thore, whose dance Youtube video went viral last year, hopes to expand the conversation obesity as the star of the  new reality "My Big Fat Beautiful Life." We are looking forward to Thore challenging America to measure people by the size of the hearts instead of their waist lines. "My BigFat Fabulos Life" artisis on Jan. 13, 10/9c on TLC

MarVista Digital Entertainment Presents Lexi Giovagnoli and Austin & Ally Star Calum Worthy in the Romantic Teen Comedy, All She Wishes, Premiering on Digital and On Demand January 20, 2015, Just in Time for Valentine's Day The Thriller Patient Killer, Starring Victoria Pratt and Casper Van Dien, Available January 13, 2015 LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Two original movies from MarVista Digital Entertainment (MVDE) will debut in January 2015. Just in time for Valentine's Day is the romantic teen comedy All She Wishes , starring Lexi Giovagnoli ( Varsity Blood ) and Disney star Calum Worthy ( Austin & Ally ), and featuring Diedrich Bader and Julia Duffy. The hypnotic thriller Patient Killer, starring Victoria Pratt ( Mutant X ) and Casper Van Dien ( Sleeping Beauty ), also debuts with a sophomore directorial debut from Van Dien. Both films will be available on demand and across digital platforms. ...

buzzz worthy. . . The award-winning urban inspirational vocalist DeWayne Woods is back in the spotlight with his first album in four years. “Life Lessons” (Soul Therapy) hits stores February 3rd. The uplifting ten-song set features contributions by Urban AC radio A-Listers such as Grammy® Award winner Anthony Hamilton, Avery* Sunshine, Dave Hollister, P.J. Morton and Larry Waddell & Stokley Williams of the legendary band Mint Condition. Best-known for the Top Ten radio smashes “Let Go” (2006) and “Living on the Top” (2010), Woods pulls out all of the stops on this collection that stretches him beyond his musical comfort zone. “I can honestly say this is the kind of creative project I’ve always wanted to record where there is enough on it to cater to everyone, but not lose my core,” Woods says of his third faith-inspired album. “It’s always great to think about building your audience as you ...

buzzz worthy. . . QUEEN LATIFAH STARS IN HBO FILMS’ BESSIE , THE STORY OF ICONIC BLUES SINGER BESSIE SMITH, DEBUTING THIS SPRING -------- Directed By Dee Rees; Screenplay By Dee Rees And Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois; Story By Dee Rees And Horton Foote -------- Cast Includes Michael Kenneth Williams, Khandi Alexander, Mike Epps, Tika Sumpter, Tory Kittles, Oliver Platt, Bryan Greenberg, With Charles S. Dutton And Mo’Nique --------             O scar ® nominee Queen Latifah (“Chicago”) stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films drama BESSIE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees (“Pariah”) from a screenplay by Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois. With a story by Rees and Horton Foote, the film focuses on Smith’s transformation from a struggling young singer into “The Empress of the Blues,” one of the most successful r...

buzzz worthy. . . LOS ANGELES (AP) - Two members of the Tuskegee Airmen - the famed all-black squadron that flew in World War II - died on the same day. The men, lifelong friends who enlisted together, were 91. Clarence E. Huntley Jr. and Joseph Shambrey died on Jan. 5 in their Los Angeles homes, relatives said Sunday. Huntley and Shambrey enlisted in 1942. They were shipped overseas to Italy in 1944 with the 100th Fighter Squadron of the Army Air Force's 332nd Fighter Group. As mechanics, they kept the combat planes flying. Huntley serviced P-39, P-47 and P-51 aircraft, and as crew chief was responsible for the plane of the squadron commander, Capt. Andrew D. Turner, said Huntley's nephew, Craig Huntly of Inglewood. "The life of his pilot was in his hands, and he took that very seriously," his nephew said. His concern led Turner to nickname him "Mother," Huntly said. In addition to facing danger, the Tuskegee Airmen faced racism. Sh...

February 24, 2015 will bring the release of PMG's Stellar Award winning duo 21:03's latest album effort, 'Outsiders.' 21:03 is comprised of Detroit native's Evin Martin and Torrence Greene. The duo is currently enjoying the success of their radio single, 'A Friend,' and are gearing up to release a new single perfectly titled, 'Brand New Day.' Their new album will feature collaborations with J Moss, BET Sunday Best winner, Joshua Rodgers and more.

buzzz worthy. . . By Mona Austin The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has declared a flu epidemic over the entire United States as the illness infiltrates most of the country. Within the past week, the number of states reporting a high amount of “influenza-like” illnesses has increased from 43 to 46 with a rise in deaths due to the virus. Flu season started early in December of 2014  and may last through May of this year, some health officials estimate. The window of flu season is typically 13 weeks. As of last Monday, the CDC identified Tennessee  as one of the areas of widespread outbreak. "Six Tennessee children have died from the flu this year," reports the state’s Department of Health. Other states reporting flu-related deaths include Minnesota and South Carolina. This season H3N2,  the most common string of the virus,  has been more aggressive, weakening the effectiveness of the vaccine.   The elderly and young are showing the most vulnerabil...

buzzz worthy. . . Oscar winning actress Jennifer Hudson will be  starring in the reboot of "The Color Purple."  Producers confirmed rumors  that the "Dream Girl" actress would be taking on the role of Shug Avery in the Oprah Winfrey backed production Friday.  Hudson tweeted that she was excited to be a part of the play in the coming fall. Hudson is not the only American Alum to be associate with the Broadway version of the play based on the book written by Alice Walker.  Fantasia once played in the lead role as Celie.

buzzz worthy. . . Thrice Grammy nominated Christian Rapper Lecrae spit lyrics in a second appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night.  After performing the conscious raising "America" he said, "Go see Selma," the Paramont Picture release about the MLK led Civil Rights movement.

buzzz worthy. . . Following a busy week of travel delivering progress reports on the recovering economy, housing market and his proposal for  free community college tuition, President Obama took some time to  speaks on the death of gospel music pioneer Andrae Crouch in a heartfelt statement.  Read more.

buzzz worthy. . . By Mona Austin Authorities released this sketch of a man they say is a person of interest in the Colorado Springs NAACP bombing case on Friday, January 9, 2014. Terrorist activity in France dominated news reports  this week while a bombing incident in America was largely ignored by major media. A building housing the NAACP office in Colorado Springs, CO was bombed on Tuesday, January 6.   Cornell  Brooks tweeted, "Thankfully no one was hurt in a suspicious explosion at our Colorado Springs office. We remain vigilant." A statement from the national office indicated, " The NAACP looks forward to a full and thorough investigation into this matter by federal agents and local law enforcement." The FBI has already begun an active investigation into the incident, avoiding speculation about the incident possibly being domestic terrorism relate or a hate crime. Official have released a composite drawing of a balding white male around the age o...