::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

buzzz worthy. . . And the nominees  for the 29th Annual Stellar Awards are. . . Category #1 ARTIST OF THE YEAR BISHOP PAUL S. MORTON,  BEST DAYS YET , TEHILLAH MUSIC/LIGHT RECORDS/ENTERTAINMENT ONE TAMELA MANN,  BEST DAYS , TILLYMAN MUSIC TASHA COBBS,  GRACE , EMI GOSPEL (MOTOWN GOSPEL) TYE TRIBBETT,  GREATER THAN , MOTOWN GOSPEL Category #2 SONG OF THE YEAR ANTHONY BROWN,  TESTIMONY  –  ANTHONY BROWN &  GROUP  THERAPY , TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT DONALD LAWRENCE,  YOUR BEST DAYS YET  –  BEST DAYS YET , TEHILLAH MUSIC/LIGHT RECORDS/ENTERTAINMENT ONE KIRK FRANKLIN,  TAKE ME TO THE KING  –  BEST DAYS , TILLYMAN MUSIC WILLIAMS REAGAN,  BREAK EVERY CHAIN – GRACE , EMI GOSPEL (MOTOWN GOSPEL) Category #3 MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR BISHOP PAUL S. MORTON,  BEST DAYS YET , TEHILLAH MUSIC/LIGHT RECORDS/ENTERTAINMENT ONE JONATHAN NELSON,  FINISH STRONG , KAREW RECORDS T...

buzzz worthy. . . December 1 marks World AIDS Day.  AS he has done throughout his presidency President Obama today gave remarks on the occasion: Every year, this is a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come since the early days of the AIDS epidemic.  And those of you who lived through it remember all too well the fear and the  stigma, and how hard people with HIV had to fight to be seen, or heard, or to be treated with basic compassion.  And you remember how little we knew about how to prevent AIDS, or how to treat it.  What we did know was the devastation that it inflicted -- striking down vibrant men and women in the prime of their lives and spreading from city to city and country to country seemingly overnight. Today, that picture is transformed.  Thanks to the courage and love of so many of you in this room and around the world, awareness has soared; research has surged.  Prevention, treatment and care are now saving millions of lives not ...

buzzz worthy. . . Best known as the Emmy Award-winning Chrysler  Choir, Larry Callahan & Selected of God and the Deaf Dynamic Praise Choir of San Francisco  were featured in the American Sign Language ground-breaking world  premiere video of  “Sunshine” on Thanksgiving Eve on November 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET on the Word  Network. The video was a part of a 30 minute television special,  inspired by the  number  one  international mega hit song “You Brought the Sunshine” by t he  GRAMMY ®  Award-winning  recording group The Clark Sisters.  “Sunshine” marks the first time the gospel music industry  and the deaf and the hearing impaired   communities have joined forces on a powerful and  inspired music project. A YouTube sensation, the Deaf Dynamic Praise Choir is  founded by  Tanisha Cotton, Larry 'Scooter' Cotton Jr., Don Espy Jr. and Cherie Esp y. They were brought together by their common f...

buzzz worthy. . . Paul Walker, star of "Fast and Furious" movie franchise died in a car crash engulfed in flames in Valencia, CA outside of Los Angeles Saturday afternoon.  Walker was a passenger in a friend's car. Both died in the single vehicle wreck. Investigators are trying to determine if speed was a factor according to an L.A. Times report. Sadly, a statement on his Twitter page said the 40-year-old actor was headed to  a charity event to aid Filipino victims of Typhoon   Haiyan   for his organization Reach Out Worldwide, formed in 2010 as a quick response first-aid organization. “It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide,” the statement read. He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives. We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news.” Repres...

buzzz worthy. . . The Founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, the world's largest Christian TV network, Paul Crouch died Saturday, November 30, 2013.  The following announcement was made on the TBN Facebook page: Dr Paul F Crouch passed into the presence of the Lord on November 30, 2013. We are grateful for the life of this amazing servant of God. Please pray for the Crouch family during this time.  It was well known that Crouch had an ongoing heart condition over the last decade.  He had been hospitalized in October and at one point relied upon a ventilator to assist with his breathing, but had improved and returned home in early November. Dr. Crouch, an Assemblies of God minister from Missouri founded the network with his wife Jan 40 years ago in Southern California and it currently reaches every continent. Paul Crouch, dead at the age of 79.

buzzz worthy. . . WASHINGTON - Often arts programs are the first to go amid budget cuts. But the Obama Administration has upheld a commitment to the arts even in difficult times.  First Lady Michelle Obama, the Honorary Chairperson of the White House Committee on the Arts and Humanities honored 13 students from around the country and one international student from Kenya for their involvement in after school arts programs. The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards is the highest award given for after school arts and humanities programs. Chosen from a pool of more that 350 nominees and 50 finalists, students from our region were among the awardees: Asia Palmer, a flutist in the OrchKids program in Baltimore and Jamine Marr from the Where We Live program at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC The honor supercharged Marr's confidence.  The high school junior said she will return to school feeling like she can "run things." Some of the participa...

buzzz worthy. . . Here is a brief summary of the holiday family musical "Black Nativity."  A more detailed written review is coming soon! For now I'll reiterate what I say in the video report -- the sound track glistens.  In fact, it outshines the content of the movie, but more on that later.  Enjoy what's left of your Thanksgiving!

buzzz worthy. . . President Obama gave  Popcorn, a 36 lb., 20-month-old white turkey dinner table clemency today. Popcorn faced off with Caramel in an online campaign in which the American people voted for the superior bird via Facebook. Twitter and Instagram.  The turkeys were raised by National Turkey Federation Chairman John Burkel of Badger, Minnesota, his wife Joni,and their five children.   Interjecting political humor in his remarks, President Obama said, "The competition was stiff, but we can officially declare that Popcorn is the winner -- (applause) -- proving that even a turkey with a funny name can find a place in politics.  (Laughter.)   As for Caramel, he’s sticking around, and he’s already busy raising money for his next campaign.  (Laughter.)"   Popcorn is the 66th turkey to be pardoned in this national White HOuse tradition.  Carmel will be kept as an alternate. After the pardoning, the turkeys were driven ...

buzzz worthy. . . Detrick Haddon answers a call from Bishop Noel Jones that suddenly changes things on his wedding day. Deitrick Haddon, star of Oxygen's "Preachers of L.A." (POLA) will be in tears on the season one finale of the faith-based reality show tonight.  For the past five weeks, the controversial show has presented men of the cloth like they have never been seen on television before and the finale promises to be just as  attention grabbing  as the premiere. In a preview video of episode 6, Deitrick and Dominique Haddon, the couple whose storyline has dominated the series, learn that cast mate, Bishop Noel Jones, won't be able to officiate their formal wedding an hour before they are to say the ceremonial  "I do" (they had an informal ceremony in an earlier episode). Jones suggests Haddon ask Pastor Jay Haizlip to perform their nuptials, which could be a bit uncomfortable because Pastor Ron and First Lady Gibson are the couple's ...

buzzz worthy. . . WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, November 27, 2013, President Obama will pardon the National Thanksgiving Turkey in a ceremony on the North Portico.  The President will celebrate the 66th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation, reflect upon the time-honored traditions of Thanksgiving, and wish American families a warm, safe, and healthy holiday. The President will pardon Popcorn and his alternate Caramel, both 20-week old, approximately 38-pound turkeys.  The names of the turkeys were chosen from submissions from elementary schools in Roseau County, Minnesota, where the turkeys were raised.  This year, the American public once again decided which of the two turkeys – Caramel or Popcorn – would become the 2013 National Thanksgiving Turkey by casting a vote for #TeamCaramel or #TeamPopcorn on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.    National Turkey Federation Chairman John Burkel of Badger, Minnesota, his wi...