Bobbi Kristina Brown: Fans feared that the 22-year-old has passed away....White Tent Put Up At Her Hospice Sparks Concern

Bobbi Kristina Brown

There have been concerns about Bobbi Kristina Brown after a white tent was put up outside the Peachtree Christian Hospice where she currently is.

Whitney, Bobby, Baby Bobbi-Kristina

Fans feared that the 22-year-old has passed away when the white tent was erected at 5pm (local time) on Wednesday. However, while receptionists at the hospice declined to comment on Bobbi Kristina’s condition, they did tell RadarOnline that ‘there had been no’ deaths that day.

Major Don Woodruff from Duluth Police commented that the local police had not been informed of any “major occurences” at the hospice.

Major Don added that her family had, allegedly, hired state troopers to give her room more security, and that the hospice itself had hired private security around the building to make it extra secure. more

GUILTY, GUILTY : James Holmes Verdict GUILTY of 1st Degree Murder on ALL Charges

The Huffington Post  |  By Ryan Grenoble Email Posted: 07/16/2015 4:18 pm EDT 

After less than two days of deliberations, the jury in the James Holmes trial reached a verdict on Thursday afternoon, a court spokesman said.

Holmes' defense had argued that he was not guilty by reason of insanity in the killing of 12 people and wounding of 70 others in a Colorado movie theater shooting in 2012.

The jury in Centennial, Colorado, heard closing arguments on Tuesday and began deliberations Wednesday morning after 47 days of grueling and at-times highly emotional testimony.

The jury will present its ruling Thursday at 6:15 p.m. EST.

Holmes and his legal team never denied that he committed the crime, instead seeking to convince jurors that the onetime neuroscience graduate student was insane and therefore incapable of distinguishing right from wrong. During the trial, the defense said a total of 20 doctors had confirmed that Holmes suffers from schizophrenia.

In Colorado, prosecutors must prove a defendant's sanity. To show that Holmes was sane as he planned and carried out the July 20, 2012, attack, the prosecution called upon more than 250 witnesses, including everyone from survivors of the shooting to Holmes' former girlfriend and his former therapist. An FBI agent recalled how Holmes had booby-trapped his apartment with explosives to distract first responders from the theater attack, using jars of homemade napalm and other incendiary devicesall meticulously wired together. more

Lisa Hanna: Becoming a woman is hard, painful work — the conclusion

BY DESMOND ALLEN Executive editor - special assignment allend@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, July 17, 2015    

LIKE all the truly anointed, Lisa Hanna had been obedient to fate's unerring, if irresistible command. Hardly more than a girl, she had taken on the world and conquered it. She was Miss World 1993, standing in a place coveted across time by legions of the planet's most beautiful girls. The question going forward now was what does she do with all this glory.

Cuba’s Fidel Castro, who was struck by Lisa Hanna’s
 beauty, encouraged her to go into politics. At right: Lisa
Hanna on the hustings in St Ann South Eastern.

Two weeks after being crowned and being feted as the darling of the international paparazzi, she returned home to a Jamaica mad with pride and 'Lisamania'. Prime Minister P J Patterson sent his personal envoy, Burchell Whiteman to welcome her at the airport, followed by a motorcade. The entire thing was "overwhelming and moving".

But unknown to the cheering throngs, dark clouds were rapidly gathering. When Hanna greeted her father, Rene, on the tarmac, she knew something was wrong the moment she saw him. She dearly loved her father and had been close to him. He said he was fine, perhaps not wanting to ruin her moment. But as she moved on to acknowledge the adulation of the crowd, Mr Hanna suffered a massive aneurism which tore his aorta.

"I remember preparing to get an air ambulance for my dad the night of my arrival, after the Jamaican doctors advised that the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami was better equipped to deal with this emergency," Hanna relives the moment.

Lisa Hanna gives all ears to St Andrew Eastern MP
Andre Hylton. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)

Fretting heavily for her dad, she went to Montego Bay the following morning for that leg of the Miss World homecoming celebrations which was a repeat of Kingston. She then hopped onto a plane the next day to see her dad, who was then out of surgery but strung up in bed. She spent some days with him before seeing him off to Kansas City for recuperation.

Back home, Jamaica was in the throes of Yuletide festivities. After the holidays, she left for Miss World duties in London. It was a year of charity appearances, working with children, doing fashion shows, judging pageants, and jetting across the world.

HANNA... The first day I went in the
 upheaval ceased

Meeting Nelson Mandela

Says Hanna: "The high point of the year, for me, was attending the installation of Nelson Mandela as the first black president of Apartheid-free South Africa. I spent time in South Africa during the election campaign and what a great learning experience it was for me." more

Strong US support : America stands with Jamaica against criminals; ambassador extends sympathy to family of murdered constable

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, July 17, 2015    

Police being briefed during an anti-crime operation
 in Dehman Town, Kingston, yesterday.
 (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

THE American Government yesterday issued a strong statement of support for Jamaica’s anti-crime efforts as soldiers and police rolled out an aggressive all-island campaign against criminals who, since the start of the year, have murdered more than 600 people, among them four women in the last 36 hours.

“The United States Embassy stands with the people and Government of Jamaica against these lawless criminals,” America’s top diplomat, Luis Moreno, said in a statement in which he extended sympathy to the family and colleagues of Constable Crystal Thomas.

Thomas was brutally murdered by gunmen Tuesday night while on her way home on a public passenger bus. Police reported that she had challenged the gunmen who had hijacked the bus on Spanish Town Road in Kingston.

Two suspects were held shortly after and the police said they were hot on the heels of other men in relation to the execution-style killing. Thomas’s service pistol was recovered hours after the incident.

A police corporal during yesterday’s security forces’
 anti-crime operation in Kingston.
 (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

“On behalf of the United States Mission to Jamaica, I wish to extend our deep and sincere condolence to the family and colleagues of Constable Crystal Thomas,” Moreno said in an extraordinary expression from a diplomat.

“Constable Thomas’s bravery and quick action saved many lives and demonstrated her dedication to her country and to protecting her fellow citizens.

At 24 years old, she exemplified the code of the Jamaica Constabulary Force: Serve, Protect and Reassure,” the ambassador said.

“Every day law enforcement officers across Jamaica step into the line of duty. I commend these officers and know they will continue to carry [out] their duties professionally and justly. more

RBN USTREAM Broadcast (BELOW)    LISTEN & WATCH BROADCAST LIVE 24/7

            FOR AUDIO ONLY (No Commercials) - CLICK PLAYER ABOVE on RIGHT OR

        FOR USTREAM VIEWING CLICK ON PLAYER BELOW    

To listen, click PLAY icon above then unmute speaker icon at bottom left on player after a brief commercial. 

You may also listen commercial FREE by clicking ON AIR-Listen LIVE AUDIO BOX above or TUNE-IN LINK or call in on Tele at 213-401-0061. Studio line is 770-744-2154. Enjoy the sweet music.To chat , please sign in with your Chatango account.Please support the scholarship program by considering to donate at least $10.00 at www.PALAS1.org. Thank you very much

‘Cosby Show’ Actor Declares, ‘Of Course Bill Cosby Is Guilty!’

The Wrap

Tim KenneallyJuly 14, 2015

The rising chorus of voices rising up against scandal-plagued comedian Bill Cosby has increased by one.

Former “The Cosby Show” actor Joseph C. Phillips, who played Denise Huxtable’s husband Lt. Martin Kendall on the NBC sitcom, has pointed a finger at his former TV father-in-law in a column on his website titled, “Of Course Bill Cosby Is Guilty!”

‘Cosby Show’ Actor Declares, ‘Of Course
Bill Cosby Is Guilty!’

In the lengthy blog post, Phillips recalls that, during his “Cosby Show” tenure, “my attitude was that if Bill was cheating on [his wife] Camille, I am fairly certain Camille knew. Hey, if everyone who claimed to know actually knew, then certainly Camille knew, and had long ago made her peace with it.”

See video: Whoopi Goldberg Flip-Flops on Bill Cosby: 'All of the Information ... Points to Guilt'

He added, “I never saw Bill engage in any inappropriate behavior. I certainly never saw him drug anyone. So, all I have is the same gossip as everyone else.”

Phillips noted that his attitude took a turn as the accusations began to dominate headlines and he ran into an “old friend” that Cosby had served as a “mentor” to:

The question popped into my head.“Hey, do you mind if I ask you something?”She looked at me and then asked, “Is it going to make me cry?”I was a bit taken aback. “Well,” I stammered. “I hope it doesn’t make you cry.”She smiled. “Go ahead and ask your question.”

“Back in the day,” I started. “I remember that you knew Bill – that he was like your mentor or something. Did he ever…” more

Jamaican Teenager, Radcliffe Saddler Featured on CNN, Lands Job at IBM! [MUST SEE VIDEO]

By FB, IG & Twitter!: @JamaicaTakeOut -  Jul 14, 2015

At only 18 years of age, this teenager from Jamaica is certainly making all the right moves to ensure that he succeeds in life.

Radcliffe and Pres. Obama

Radcliffe Saddler has already been interviewed by CNN, spoken at Harvard, earned an Associate Degree and he starts his new job as an associate analyst for IBM Market Development and Insights today.

IBM selected only the most outstanding students from his former high school P-TECH and offered those students jobs.

A son of Kingston, Radcliffe has two younger brothers Theodore and Anthony aged, 17 and 11 respectively. His father Radcliffe Saddler Sr. is also a son of Kingston and his mother Claudette Saddler hails from the garden parish.

We at Jamaica TakeOut truly love to see when Jamaicans excel, particularly youngsters. We managed to get in touch with Radcliffe despite his busy schedule to have him share a few words. Here is what he shared with us:

Radcliffe Butler

I was born in Kingston Jamaica. I am the oldest of three in my family who came to America in search of a better life. Throughout my experiences in school I always tried to work hard. I attended Pathways into Technology Early College High School. While completing my high school diploma I earned my Associate Degree in Applied Science fromNew York City College of Technology. In addition to completing my studies I also played on athletic teams from my school. In my second year of High School I played basketball. In my fourth year of High School I played on the school’s soccer team. more

A Taste Of St Thomas - Sunday Lunch With A View Thursday Life's Culinary Gem Tour continues...

Steamed carrots and string beans,
garden fresh vegetables with cubes
 of watermelon, and sweet potato
salad. (PHOTOS: KARL McLARTY)

Thursday, July 16, 2015    

We're running late for lunch with Whispering Bamboo Cove owner Marcia Bennett. Those who know the elegant Bennett will appreciate that missing a hairdresser's appointment is not to taken lightly. Thankfully, she understands our delay and soon we're regaling her with tales of our visit to Morant Point Lighthouse and quenching our thirst with sips of mango passion juice. Bennett, who has been the parish custos for 11 years, is passionate about her parish and its potential. "St Thomas is beautiful. Look at the sea in front of you. We welcome tourists from all over the world who delight in their chosen destination, but we'd be a lot better off with a highway from Harbour View to Morant Bay... we're a forgotten parish. Agriculture is a must and agro-park (where onions are cultivated) is doing well. More (help). The amount of mangoes wasted each day is of great concern. There's no one to reap them to make chutney, butter, juice, so many things. I do despair for the young people who have such few options.

Refreshing glasses of mango passion.

Bennett's two sous-chefs, Demouy Brown and Marvin Brown (not related), are two such young people who have been given the opportunity to develop their culinary skills have done just that. Thursday Life can attest that we have already discovered two candidates for next year's Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards Chef on the Rise category. Our Sunday lunch, each course tasting better than the last, will long be remembered.

— NMW

CONGRATULATIONS : PALAS students success story....Graduating from Universies in JAMAICA as Doctors, Lawyers and Nurses....Thanks to all those who support the PALAS program.

Please support PALAS students by making a donation at www.PALAS1.org

PALAS Student News 7/14/15

Below is a note received by PALAS from 3-time scholarship recipient, Dr. Venicia Cruickshank after graduating from UWI in the medical program....At one point she struggled to pay for her tuition but she persevered and earned her degree on June 9, 2015.....

Good morning, I am pleased to inform you that I was successful n my last set of examinations for the 2014-2015 academic year at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona.  I was enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery(MBBS) degree programme and  was sworn in as Dr. Venicia Cruickhsank on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 as such I should start working soon. God remains faithful.

Thank you PALAS for your continued support over the years, I am indeed grateful

Yours truly, 

Dr. Venicia Cruickshank (M.D.)

**************************************

The students are Dr. Venicia Cruickshank (UWI), Dr. Carolyn Blake (AAIMS), Dr. Sashalee Campbell (UWI), Crystal Green (NCU), Steven Jackson, Attorney (UWI), Danesha Burke (NCU). Congratulations extended to all the students.

PALAS support these students from your kind donation. Please make a donation at www.PALAS1.org or Send a check to PALAS *P.O Box 5461*Alpharetta, GA 30023 USA. PALAS, Preserving Young Minds for Posterity.

Iran Nuclear Deal Concludes In Historic Announcement

The Huffington Post  |  By Charlotte Alfred Email Posted: 07/14/2015 5:12 am EDT

Iran reached a historic deal with six world powers on Tuesday that promises to curb Tehran’s controversial nuclear program in exchange for economic sanctions relief.

The accord was announced on Tuesday by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the European Union's policy chief Federica Mogherini in a joint statement in the Austrian capital.

MONTEGO BAY, St James : Three killed as gunmen go on murder spree in St James...The the number of reported murders in the parish stood at 116 in comparison to the 65 corresponding period for last year.

BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter  Tuesday, July 14, 2015    

MONTEGO BAY, St James — A man who went to pick up his daughter and her mother at a medical facility in Montego Bay became one of three people who were shot and killed in two separate incidents in St James yesterday.

The dead man has been identified as 27-year-old Kenroy Colquhoun, also called Nardo, of a Felicity Road address in the parish.

Reports are that sometime after 1:00 pm Colquhoun drove his Toyota Corolla motorcar on to the grounds of the medical clinic, operated by the Brenda Strafford Foundation in Albion, when he was attacked by a group of gunmen who turned their guns on the vehicle hitting the driver all over his body.

Colquhoun ran from the vehicle but collapsed shortly after.

The police who were summoned, removed a number of AK-47, .45 and .9mm spent shells from the scene.

No motive has been established for the killing.

Before investigators could complete processing that scene in Albion they were summoned to Church Street also in Montego Bay, where another man was shot and injured.

He was rushed to hospital, however his condition was not ascertained up to press time.

Meanwhile, in an earlier incident, about 4:00am, armed men gained entry to a house occupied by common-law couple, Chandev Edwards and Chantel Wilson, both 24, along Leonie Avenue in the inner-city Glendevon community by kicking down the door before shooting the two dead. more

JAMAICA's OMI's 'Cheerleader' dethrones Wiz Khalifa's 'See You Again' on Billboard... The song has over 350 Million Youtube Hits

Monday, July 13, 2015 | 4:25 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica – After dominating the Billboard charts for 12 weeks, Wiz Khalifa’s ‘See you again’ has been dethroned by Omi's ‘Cheerleader’.

Omi (File Photo)

Following a new Friday global release date for albums, which led to a change in Nielsen Music and Billboard's chart tracking cycle, the song rose from the number two spot to number one, crowning the Billboard Hot 100 list.

With this adjustment, the reggae/pop sensation's ‘Cheerleader’ now rules the Hot 100 with nearly half its chart points from sales, as it spends a second week at number one on the Digital Songs chart with 276,000 downloads sold.

‘Cheerleader’ joins a list of reggae hits that have crossed over to the Hot 100's top spot such as

Shaggy’s ‘It Wasn't Me’ and ‘Angel’ in 2001, Sean Paul’s ‘Get Busy’ in 2003, Sean Kingston’s ‘Beautiful Girls’ in 2007, and MAGIC!’s ‘Rude’ last year.

‘Cheerleader’, the breakout hit for Jamaican artist Omi, has found global success thanks in large part to its remix by Felix Jaehn. To date, it has led the Official UK Singles chart for four weeks and has logged a 16th week atop the Reggae Digital Songs chart.

IN JAMAICA: MINISTER of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson yesterday disclosed that bisexuals accounted for 40 per cent of new HIV infections in 2012

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

MINISTER of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson yesterday disclosed that men who have sex with both men and women accounted for almost 40 per cent of new HIV infections in 2012.

Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson (second right) shares
a light moment with the Global Fund’s Fund Portfolio
Manager Giulia Perrone (right), USAID Mission Director Denise
 Herbol (second left) and National HIV/STI Programme Director
Dr Nicola Skyers after an announcement that more than
 US$20 million will be pumped into the country’s
 HIV/STI programme. (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

Speaking at a press conference to announce the approval of funds for the National HIV/STI Programme at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston, Dr Ferguson said although the HIV/STI programme has made significant strides in achieving a decline in new infections and is on track to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, it continues to face challenges with respect to the prevalence rate among vulnerable groups.

“While we have a prevalence rate of 1.8 per cent among the general population, female sex workers have a prevalence of 4.2 per cent, young men under 25 years who have sex with men are at 24.3 per cent as at 2013, and adult men who have sex with men (MSM) have a prevalence rate of 32 per cent,” the health minister explained.

“In addition, men who have sex with men and their female partners accounted for almost 40 per cent of new infections in 2012,” he said.

“I want to further note that MSM who reported being involved in sex work, reported an HIV prevalence of 41 per cent, transgender women 45 per cent, and transgender populations in sex work reaching as high as 56 per cent.”

Insisting that the prevalence rate among these groups are “way too high”, Dr Ferguson said that much of the efforts must be concentrated on these vulnerable groups, adding that there is the ever present challenge of implementing mechanisms to effectively deal with the issue of stigma and discrimination.

The approved funds include US$14.9 million from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, to be used from January 2016 to December 2018; US$5 million from the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief (PEPFAR)/United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the 2015/2016 financial year, and increased budgetary allocation from the Jamaican Government. more

JAMAICA's Simone Facey cops sprint double at TrackTown Classic held at Foote Field in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, July 14, 2015   

SIMONE Facey warmed up for the Pan American Games by winning the women’s sprint double at the TrackTown Classic held at Foote Field in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Sunday, as Nesta Carter also won the men’s 100m.

Facey, who just failed to make the Jamaican team to the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, next month, had season-best runs in both events, clocking 11.10 seconds (0.6m/s) in the 100m and 22.55 seconds (1.4m/s) in the 200m.

Her compatriot Sherone Simpson made it a Jamaican onetwo in the 100m as she ran 11.17 seconds to take the runner-up spot, just edging Canada’s Khamica Bingham who took third in 11.18 seconds. Another Jamaican, Samantha Henry-Robinson, was sixth in 11.31 seconds.

American Shalonda Solomon was second in the 200m in 22.56 seconds followed by Kim Hyacinthe of Canada in 22.86 seconds. Running into a slight headwind of -0.4m/s, Carter clocked 10.08 seconds to win the men’s 100m comfortably ahead of American Beejay Lee in 10.14 seconds and Canada’s Justyn Warner in 10.17 seconds.

Shevon Stoddart was second in the women’s 400m hurdles event, after leading for the first 200m, clocking 55.62 seconds. American Tiffany Williams won the event in 54.33 seconds, while Canadian Sarah Wells was third in 55.65 seconds.

Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Dwyer was third in the men’s 200m in 20.46 seconds (1.0m/s) as American Wallace Spearmon won in 20.21 seconds ahead of Antigua and Barbuda’s Miguel Francis in 20.41 seconds.

Anastacia Le-Roy was also third in the women’s 400m, running 52.02 seconds behind the American pair of Sanya Richards- Ross in 50.47 seconds and Jessica Beard in 51.03 seconds. more

LISA's STORY: Who is this Lisa Hanna that we should be mindful of? The mischievous twinkle behind those bewitching eyes, the broad, fleeting, if enchanting smile and the enduring beauty...

BY DESMOND ALLEN Executive Editor - Special Assignment allend@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, July 13, 2015    

Lisa Hanna

THE Lisa Hanna story, only now for the first time to flow from this uncertain pen, does not promise to be easy to script or to unravel for the casual onlooker. The mischievous twinkle behind those bewitching eyes, the broad, fleeting, if enchanting smile and the enduring beauty that she swears is a blessing but still not yet a curse, belie her stupendous rise from St Mary girl to beauty queen of the world.

But then the precipitous descent into the dark place of divorce and trauma, a painful, public child custody battle and a mystery that might never be solved, before the final triumph of a woman Jamaicans love to love.

Lisa Hanna in a seido exercise with
 instructor Errol Lyn

Do you ask, dear reader, who is this Lisa Hanna that we should be mindful of? Ask if you will but be prepared never to find a truly satisfying answer. For this Lisa Rene Hanna gives so little hint of the child who was rejected by the elder Hanna clan because she was born to a Black-Chinese mother. And if her personality reflects the steady, unruffled, focused flow of the river, it is only because she grew up by a St Mary river that witnessed the early innocence and might better reveal her true nature if only it had tongues to tell.

On the cusp of 40-years-old - when life is just only supposed to begin for a woman - Lisa Hanna can share life-changing experiences that many much older members of her gender might never be able to fathom. Most of all, she learnt about her Jamaican people and it is a knowledge that has kept her balanced and sure-footed, even amidst the raging political and other storms that she would traverse because fate had somehow commanded it.

Queen’s School students and Principal
Yvonne Keane-Dawes (centre) eagerly seek
autographs from Lisa Hanna on a visit to
 her alma mater.

Not for the faint-hearted

"The Miss Jamaica World stage was at times a harrowing experience. It was then that I understood that Jamaican people like you or they don't like you. And they will tell you whether or not you are fit to be in a situation," Hanna recalls about one of the momentous events that would shape her public persona forever. "There were the Miss Jamaica connoisseurs. The elimination shows were not for the faint-hearted. You had to have a lot of courage to walk that stage..." more