Matthew Flugence Confesses to Stabbing Murder of 6 Year Old Ahlittia North

NEW ORLEANS -- A suspect in the stabbing death of a 6-year-old girl whose body was found in a trash can only days after she disappeared from a suburban New Orleans apartment has confessed to the killing, a sheriff said Wednesday.

Matthew Flugence, 20, was captured Tuesday night after authorities received tips he had been sighted, said Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand. Flugence was booked on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Ahlittia North. "We began interviewing Matthew through the evening and he admitted to the murder of Ahlittia North," Normand said at a news conference.

The 6-year-old had been put to bed Friday night and was found missing early Saturday from an apartment where she lived with her mother and stepfather in the Jefferson Parish community of Harvey, near New Orleans. Read More...READ More...

John Henry Spooner Shooting 13 y-o African American youth in chest and killed him ( VIDEO): Evidence Shows Darius Simmons Killed (GRAPHIC)

Spooner shoots 13 y-o in chest and killed him

A video entered as evidence in the murder trial of John Henry Spooner on Tuesday appears to show the 76-year-old shooting his 13-year-old neighbor Darius Simmons dead.

The Milwaukee senior is charged with first-degree homicide after the alleged incident in May last year. Jurors saw the video (below), taken from Spooner's own surveillance camera, that shows the suspect walk out of his house, brandishing a gun. After a short argument, the man in the video waves the gun around before he shoots Simmons in the chest. Simmons manages to flee outside the scope of the camera before dying. READ More...

Talia Joy Castellano Dead: Inspirational YouTube Star Dies After 6-Year Battle With Cancer (VIDEO)

Talia Castellano

Talia Joy Castellano, the charming teen that inspired thousands with her YouTube make-up tutorials, died at 13 of cancer.

With wise beauty tips and an inspirational story, Talia became an Internet sensation and captivated many with her extensive cosmetic knowledge as well as her experience fighting two forms of aggressive cancer: neuroblastoma and preleukemia. On Tuesday, a message appeared on the teen’s Facebook page announcing her death.  READ More...

AFRICAN AMERICAN woman, Terry Ragland Diagnosed With 'Ghetto Booty' By White Tennessee Doctor Timothy Sweo after back pain complaint

©2013 MapQuest  -  Portions ©2013 Natural Earth | Terms

They don't teach terminology like this in medical school.

Terry Ragland, a woman in Tennessee, was incensed after her doctor, Timothy Sweo, diagnosed the source of her severe lower back pain as "ghetto booty."

“I think I blacked out after he said ghetto booty. I think my mind was just stuck on the phrase because I couldn’t believe he said that,” said Ragland, 55, in an interview with area news outlet WREG. READ More...

LAUREL K. BROWN with NYC MAYOR, MICHAEL BLOOMBERG AND SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES COMMISSIONER WALSH PRESENT 12th ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS AT GRACIE MANSION

Mayor Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion with Laurel Brown (Far Right) 

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES COMMISSIONER WALSH PRESENT 12^th ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Awards Honor Organizations and Individuals for Their Outstanding Impact on New York City’s Neighborhoods

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel, and New York City Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Robert W. Walsh presented the 2013 Neighborhood Achievement Awards today to recipients from all five boroughs for their outstanding impact on New York City’s neighborhoods. Established in 2002, the awards honor organizations, businesses and individuals that have demonstrated excellence in enhancing New York City neighborhoods by fostering economic opportunity. This year’s awards included a new category called the Helping Hand Award, to honor a business, organization, or individual that went above and beyond to help the people, businesses, and neighborhoods affected by Hurricane Sandy. The awards were presented at Gracie Mansion. The BID Leadership Award was presented to three individuals.

• Laurel Brown / Jamaica Center Business Improvement District, Queens – Laurel Brown, Executive Director of the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District (BID), is responsible for making Jamaica Center a thriving business hub and enjoyable destination to work, live and visit. The BID provides sanitation, graffiti removal, maintenance, and marketing services to the district. Last year the Jamaica Center BID's Clean Team logged over 17,000 hours removing 1,100 tons of litter from nearly 50,000 trash bags from Jamaica Avenue, averaging three tons of garbage every day. Laurel manages her large district with limited resources, yet she is constantly encouraging her staff, colleagues, and youth in the community.  READ More...

Asafa Powell's hotel room raided by Italian police, with a stash of pills and medicine found

Italian police have reportedly discovered a stash of unidentified pills and medicines in the hotel room of Asafa Powell, the Jamaican sprinter accused of doping. Carabinieri officers searched Powell’s hotel room overnight, a day after it emerged that he had tested positive for a banned stimulant, oxilofrine, at the Jamaican championships last month.

Powell and other Jamaican athletes have been training in the area, part of the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region which abuts the border of Slovenia.

Police from a specialist drug and food safety unit found around 50 boxes and vials containing medicines and pills, according to Italian press reports.

“For the moment there have been no arrests,” a police source told the Italian press. READ more...

Miracle X 3! - Manchester Teenager Gives Birth To Triplets After Being Told By Doctors She Could Never Get Pregnant

Danielle Young and two
of her daughters. The third baby
 is in the hospital being
treated for a minor injury

After being informed by her doctor that she would never get pregnant, it was a miracle when 19-year-old Danielle Young gave birth to not one, not two, but three girls at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH) in Kingston two weeks ago.

Having given up hope of ever having children, Young, a resident of Christiana in Manchester, went for medical treatment at a private doctor, after experiencing stomach pains. The piercing intensity of stomach pains in January prompted her doctor to rush for the ultrasound machine.

Shocked at the revelation that she was pregnant with triplets, Young recalled that she wept uncontrollably.

"I knew from the time I found out that I was pregnant that it was triplets, but at the time, it came as a shock to my doctor and myself," Young toldThe Sunday Gleaner. Read More...

American Tyson Gay Tests Positive For Banned Substance

Tyson Gay

American Tyson Gay has been tested positive for a banned substance. The American has since pulled out of the World Championships slated for next month in Moscow. "I don't have a sabotage story... I basically put my trust in someone and was let down," he said. 

"I know exactly what went on, but I can't discuss it right now. "I hope I am able to run again, but I will take whatever punishment I get like a man." READ More...

ASAFA POWELL & SHERONE SIMPSON TESTED POSITIVE FOR BANNED SUBSTANCES: Difficult Time, Says Sherone, Asafa Devastated … See Full Statements

MVP Track Club stars Sherone Simpson and Asafa Powell have released statements confirming that they have tested positive for a banned substance. 

In their statements both athletes said the substance - a stimulant called oxilofrine (methylsynephrine) – was found in their samples taken at the National Trials in Kingston in June.  “This is a very difficult time for me,” said Simpson, a 2004 Olympic relay gold medallist. Meanwhile, Powell, a member of Jamaica's Beijing Olympics gold-medal-winning relay team said he was surprised at the finding. READ More...

55 new PALAS scholarship recipient names to be announced 7/14/13 on 9 Radio Networks. 110 scholarship awards & 10 computers in the past 3 years. Please donate online at www.PALAS1.org or send a check payable to PALAS, P.O. Box 5461, Alpharetta GA 30023 USA.

Peace and Love Academic Scholarship, Inc. (PALAS) will be announcing the names of the 2013-2014 scholarship recipients. The names will be announced this weekend on www.RulaBrownNetwork.com (RBN) via Sultry Sunday Slow Jamz, (7/14/13) and eight other radio networks including CaribbeanRadioShow, RockDaBox, Mixx102, FoundationRadioNetwork, Reggaenostalgia, WDBM, Paramountent and USTREAMtv. Showtime is 3-7 pm ET/8-12 pm GMT.

We will also speak with Ms. Angelita Elliott of International All African Inventors Museum (IAAIM), who is sponsoring 3 scholarships with PALAS. The phone lines will be opened. We will also announce the many partners with PALAS (PWP) and the contributors who make this all possible. We still need donation to assist these high school and tertiary level students residing in the Caribbean region. 

We received applications from 128 students.  Over 1,000 files were evaluated; Summary Stats :  age range 12-32 yrs, 87 females, 41 males, 39 High School students, 89 University students, 21 Medical Students, 12 Law Students, 9 Nursing, 9 Science & Engineering and additional liberal and fine arts applicants. The program awarded fifty-five (55) scholarships and five (5) computers over the past 18 months. PALAS goal is to award one-hundred (100) scholarships and computers in 2013-2014 academic year.

Please help us in "Preserving Young Minds for Posterity" by making a donation online up to July 30th, at www.PALAS1.org or send a check payable to PALAS, P.O. Box 5461, Alpharetta GA 30023 USA. PALAS is a non-profit, 501 (c)( 3) entity, tax deductible foundation. READ More...

JAMAICA : Marvin Williams hurdles to historic win at World Youth Champs

Williams

 MONTEGO BAY, St James — Jamaica secured two more medals, including another gold, to stay atop the medals table and extend their historic run of success at the eigth IAAF World Youth Championships that come to an end today in Donetsk, Ukraine.

Marvin Williams ran a Jamaican best and World Youth Leading time of 50.39 seconds to land Jamaica's first ever men's 400m hurdles title, while Christoffe Bryan won the bronze in the high jump, also a first in the event for Jamaica in the history of the competition. Williams' time was also the ninth fastest ever recorded in the 10-barrier one-lap race at the youth level.

Jamaica goes into today's final day of the five-day championship at the top of the medals table with six medals -- four gold and two bronze. Read more: 

 

At 112 y-o, Jane Young loves Guinness stout Centenarian said to be oldest person alive in Jamaica

Jane Young is the oldest living
 person in Jamaica

AT 112, Jane Young may very well be the oldest person alive in Jamaica today.

'So far she is the oldest person that we know of,' Ingrid Hardy, parish organiser for St Andrew at the National Council for Senior Citizens said. "If there is someone older, nobody has called us about that person yet, so right now she is the oldest that we know of," she said. "When we heard she was 112, we said we can't let the opportunity pass and therefore we will try to keep up with you to see how you are doing," Hardy told Young at her belated birthday party held two weeks ago at the St Andrew Sunrise Cottage on Manning's Hill Avenue.

Young was born on June 22, 1901 in Milk River, Clarendon.

Hardy said that the oldest person that they had come across since they started a centenarian programme in 1991, was 110. She died at 113 years old. Read more.... 

 

LATANYA CLAYTON : Olympic Gardens girl tops GSAT with 99.6% average

LATANYA Clayton from St Jude's Primary School, located in the inner-city community of Olympic Gardens, Kingston 11, is this year's top female GSAT performer in the entire island from any school type.

Latanya Clayton

Clayton received an average of 99.6 per cent, after scoring 99 per cent in Mathematics, 100 in Science, 99 in Social Studies, 100 in Language Arts and 12/12 in Communication Tasks.

The top performing boy in the entire island from any school type is Mark Brown from Chetwood Memorial Primary in Montego Bay with an average of 99.4 per cent. He scored 99 per cent in Mathematics, 98 in Science, 100 in Social Studies, 100 in Language Arts and 12/12 in Communication Task.

The two are among 63 students who have been awarded scholarships for their excellent performance in the 2013 GSAT Examination by the Ministry of Education. They were chosen from a field of over 43,000 students who sat the examination in March.

Both students will be moving on to St Andrew High and Cornwall College respectively. And both will be receiving the ScotiaBank Foundation Shining Star Excellence Award valued at a total of $1,435,000 each and paid in equal instalments over seven years or $205,000 per annum. Read more: 

Jr Gong Marley Takes Youths To Sumfest

Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley's fourth appearance on the ReggaeSumfest stage promises to be one for the history books. The Grammy-award winning performer will bring his artistes signed to the Ghetto Youths International (GYI) label on International Night 2, Saturday, July 26.

The appearance will feature Marley along with reggae singers Christopher Ellis, Black-Am-I, Jo Mersa and dancehall artiste Wayne Marshall.

The Ghetto Youths round out the eclectic line-up for the night which also includes Romain Virgo, Chronixx, No-Maddz and R&B singer Miguel.

Fresh from their United States tour to support the label's newest project,Ghetto Youths International Presents Set Up Shop Vol. 1, Jr Gong says the Ghetto Youths are looking forward to sharing their brand of music with Jamaica. READ More...

Mandela Could Soon Be Discharged, Mbeki Says..... (LATEST)

JOHANNESBURG — A former president of South Africa says he expects Nelson Mandela to soon be discharged from the hospital to recuperate at home.

South Africa's radio broadcaster Eyewitness News reported on Sunday that Thabo Mbeki was speaking at a memorial service Saturday when he predicted that Mandela would be going home.

Mandela has been hospitalized for more than five weeks for a recurring lung infection, sparking an outpouring of support in South Africa and internationally. Friends who have visited him say he is on life support in the form of mechanical ventilation. The most recent official update on his health said Mandela was in critical but stable condition.

The anti-apartheid hero spent 27 years in prison before becoming South Africa's first black president in 1994. He turns 95 on Thursday. READ More....

NOT GUILTY*......*BUT NOT INNOCENT...George Zimmerman Not Guilty: Jury Lets Trayvon Martin Killer Go

FOLLOW:

Trayvon Martin, Zimmerman Not Guilty, George Zimmerman, George Zimmerman Not Guilty,George Zimmerman Verdict, Trayvon Martin Case, Trayvon Martin Trial, Zimmerman, Zimmerman Trial,Black Voices News

After deliberating for more than 16 hours, a jury of six women on Saturday evening found George Zimmerman not guilty in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old in Sanford, Fla.

Zimmerman had pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder with an affirmative defense, claiming he had shot Martin to save his own life after being attacked by the teen on Feb. 26, 2012. The trial, televised nationally on cable networks and streamed live across the Internet on various sites, kept the country captivated awaiting a verdict on the tragic events that took place that rainy night.

Following four weeks of testimony, more than a dozen witnesses and a host of controversy, Zimmerman walked out of court a free man. READ More...

55 new PALAS scholarship recipient names to be announced 7/14/13 on 9 Radio Networks. 110 scholarship awards & 10 computers in the past 3 years. Please donate online at www.PALAS1.org or send a check payable to PALAS, P.O. Box 5461, Alpharetta GA 30023 USA.

Peace and Love Academic Scholarship, Inc. (PALAS) will be announcing the names of the 2013-2014 scholarship recipients. The names will be announced this weekend on www.RulaBrownNetwork.com (RBN) via Sultry Sunday Slow Jamz, (7/14/13) and eight other radio networks including CaribbeanRadioShow, RockDaBox, Mixx102, FoundationRadioNetwork, Reggaenostalgia, WDBM, Paramountent and USTREAMtv. Showtime is 3-7 pm ET/8-12 pm GMT.

We will also speak with Ms. Angelita Elliott of International All African Inventors Museum (IAAIM), who is sponsoring 3 scholarships with PALAS. The phone lines will be opened. We will also announce the many partners with PALAS (PWP) and the contributors who make this all possible. We still need donation to assist these high school and tertiary level students residing in the Caribbean region. 

We received applications from 128 students.  Over 1,000 files were evaluated; Summary Stats :  age range 12-32 yrs, 87 females, 41 males, 39 High School students, 89 University students, 21 Medical Students, 12 Law Students, 9 Nursing, 9 Science & Engineering and additional liberal and fine arts applicants. The program awarded fifty-five (55) scholarships and five (5) computers over the past 18 months. PALAS goal is to award one-hundred (100) scholarships and computers in 2013-2014 academic year.

Please help us in "Preserving Young Minds for Posterity" by making a donation online up to July 30th, at www.PALAS1.org or send a check payable to PALAS, P.O. Box 5461, Alpharetta GA 30023 USA. PALAS is a non-profit, 501 (c)( 3) entity, tax deductible foundation. READ More...

Flo Rida Excited About Jamaica and Sumfest

Flo Rida

Not only is he excited about his first visit and performance in Jamaica, hip hop artiste Flo Rida says he is a big fan of reggae singer Beres Hammond.

Speaking with The Gleaner via a phone interview recently, Flo Rida said he is looking forward to coming to Jamaica for his performance at Reggae Sumfest's International Night One in Catherine Hall, MontegoBay, on July 26.

"This is actually my first time in Jamaica and I am very excited. I have a lot of Jamaican friends growing up here in Miami, so I am definitely anticipating going out there, performing, and having a good time," he said.

"I am a big fan of the Jamaican culture, as far as the food, and I am excited to go check out some of the beaches. I am excited to go mingle with some of the other artistes on the bill as well." READ More...

PORTLAND, JAMAICA : Cancer Patient Fights On (Read more by clicking RBN link below)

Sasah-Gaye Lewis

PORT ANTONIO, Portland: DIAGNOSED WITH cancer of the stomach in October 2012, 24-year-old Sasha-Gaye Lewis is determined to fight the disease, but with the entire family savings now exhausted, time is running out for this high-spirited female.

Sasha-Gaye, who, despite her sickness, is optimistic that a good Samaritan will come to her aid with funding to do radiation therapy, which costs in excess of $1.9 million.

"I am a positive person. At first, I was bothered and worried a lot after finding out about my illness, but I have taken the decision not to give up, and I am positive that I will be a cancer survivor," said Lewis. "I have since changed my diet, which now comprises fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, nuts, and grains. Apart from the disease, which has affected me, I am eating a lot healthier now and I am really feeling good. My only worry is that at this tender age I have not done anything with my life and I am facing a race against time." READ More...

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To listen, click PLAY icon above then unmute speaker icon at bottom left on player after a brief commercial. Enjoy the sweet music.To chat below, please sign in with your RBN account. Scheduled shows are PALVS & SSSJamz w/ RULA BROWN, Sir ROCKWELL w/ Golden Sundays, Foundation Radio Networkw/ CLINTON LINDSAY is broadcast daily. TONY RYAN w/ Tony Ryan Showcase every Mon-Fri. Pleasesupport the scholarship program by considering to donate at least $10.00 at www.PALAS1.org. Thank you very much.

The Scary Truth About Depression and Dementia.....which comes first: depression or dementia?

Memory trouble, excessive sleeping, decreased interest in hobbies and activities, social withdrawal—all of these are symptoms often exhibited by a person who is suffering from depression. They also happen to be hallmark signs of many dementias, including the two most common forms: Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

The undeniable connection between depression and dementia has ignited a firestorm of research in recent years. Much of the scientific debate centers on a quintessential chicken and egg dilemma—which comes first: depression or dementia? Can being diagnosed with dementia cause someone to become depressed, or is depression a harbinger of cognitive impairment to come?

Examining the relationship between dementia and depression

Several new studies aimed at illuminating the relationship between these two cognitive conditions has shed some interesting light on how depression might affect a person’s risk for exhibiting signs of dementia later on in life. A bout of depression may potentially triple a person’s risk for developing dementia, according to research recently published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Read More....

Jamaica, Cuba Sign Cultural Agreement

Lisa Hanna - Ja Culture Minister

An AGREEMENT for cultural cooperation and exchange has been signed between Jamaica and Cuba, which seeks to update an earlier agreement between the two countries which was originally signed during the 1970s.

We are promoting and advancing a cultural revolution in Jamaica and Cuba can help us to make that happen, said Culture Minister Lisa Hanna, who signed the agreement on Jamaica's behalf last week. Hanna said many areas of opportunities existed for both countries to share best practices and exchange talent that can improve their cultural products.  Read More...

YANIQUE THOMPSON Golden Run at IAAF Championship - Jamaican Hurdler Sets World Youth Record

Jamaica's Yanique Thompson

Jamaican sprint hurdler Yanique Thompson turned in one of the greatest performances ever seen at the IAAF World Youth Championships (WYC), smashing a 14-year record and bagging Jamaica's first gold medal here at the RSC Olympiyskiy.

The youngsters will be on the hunt again on today's third day of competition with four Jamaicans competing in finals and semi-finals, looking to add to the medal tally.

The 17-year-old Holmwood Technical student stopped the clock in a jaw-dropping 12.94 seconds to win the 100m hurdles final, in the process becoming the first Jamaican 100m hurdles gold medallist at the WYC, and the first to hold a world record in the event at any level, after bettering Adrianna Lamalle's 13.08, which was set in 1999.

Her compatriot, Rushelle Burton, barely missed out on a medal. She did a personal best 13.32, which gave her fourth behind silver medal winner Dior Hall, 13.01, and Mikiah Brisco, 13.29. Read More...