NEW YORK (AP)—Singer Mary J. Blige says the Burger King commercial that caused major backlash for her was a "mistake." DERBY DAY—Singer Mary J. Blige arrives for the 138th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., on May 5.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
by Don BabwinAssociated Press Writer CHICAGO (AP)—The wife of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. declined to answer questions Wednesday about the medical leave of absence her husband is taking, saying only that she loves him and is focused on providing for their children. Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson initially avoided camera crews and other reporters waiting outside the Chicago City Council chambers, though she later decided to make a brief statement before departing. Sandi Jackson
by David PorterAssociated Press Writer NEWARK, N.J. (AP)—Eight-time Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill pleaded guilty Friday to not paying federal taxes on more than $1.5 million earned over three years. Appearing in U.S. District Court in Newark, Hill admitted failing to file tax returns from 2005 to 2007. She faces a maximum one-year sentence on each of the three counts. She was charged three weeks ago. ARRIVING AT COURT—Reclusive singer Lauryn Hill arrives at federal court June 29, in Newark, N.J. The eight-time Grammy Award winner and South Orange, N.J., resident was charged this week with willfully failing to file income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Week of July 2-8July 4 1776—The United States formally becomes a nation with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The document was largely written by later President Thomas Jefferson. Amazingly, although he was a slave owner himself, Jefferson originally included a section in the Declaration denouncing slave traders and slave owners. But it was later deleted by Congress. The section said of the slave trader: “He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him.”
by Larry Miller For New Pittsburgh Courier PHILADELPHIA (NNPA)—From one end of Philadelphia to the other, virtually no neighborhood—from Society Hill to Grays Ferry and from University City to Strawberry Mansion—is exempt from the senseless violence that seems to have a vice-like grip on Philadelphia. FAHEEM THOMAS-CHILDS
ATLANTA (NNPA)—Winners in five categories of the A. Philip Randolph Messenger Awards were announced June 21 during the national convention of the NNPA. MillerCoors, sponsor of the event, donated $30,000 to journalists who produced outstanding work in 2012. The winners in each category received $5,000 and runner-ups were awarded $500. AWARDS CEREMONY—Pictured above are, from left: Karl Rodney, NNPA Foundation; Natalie Cole, Our Weekly; Thelma Sardin, The Chicago Citizen Group; Bernie Foster, The Skanner; James Washington, The Dallas Weekly; Kenya Vaughn, St. Louis American; Larry Waters, MillerCoors; Janis Ware, The Atlanta Voice; Rod Doss, New Pittsburgh Courier; David Miller, Our Weekly; Larissa Tyler; The Chicago Citizen; Sonny Jiles; The Houston Defender; and Jeffrey Boney, Houston Forward Times. (Flowers Communications Group Photo/Waylan Phillips)
ATLANTA (NNPA)—The St. Louis American Newspaper was awarded the highly coveted John B. Russwurm Trophy at The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Annual Merit Awards ceremony June 22 at the NNPA 2012 Annual Convention in Atlanta. With the award comes the title “Nation’s Best Black Newspaper.” The St. Louis American has captured the distinguished honor seven of the past 14 years. DR. DONALD SUGGSPublisher, St. Louis American
by Alexis Taylor (NNPA)—Singer Bobby Brown remarried June 18, just four months after the death of ex-wife Whitney Houston, who accidently drowned in a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel bathtub. Brown and his new wife, Alicia Etheredge, who also is his manager, were wed in Hawaii with New Edition colleagues, family and friends in attendance, according to Reuters. BOBBY BROWN Photos posted on Twitter show the blended family with the bride in white and the groom in a red suit and Adidas sneakers, according to Essence.com.
(AP)—Yvette Wilson, a comedian and actress best known for her work on the popular 1990s sitcom “Moesha” and its equally popular spinoff, “The Parkers,” died June 14. She was 48. The cause was cervical cancer, said her manager, Holly Carter. YVETTE WILSON Ms. Wilson, who lived in Los Angeles, where she was born in 1964, began her career as a stand-up comic. She was seen on the sketch show “In Living Color” and the sitcom “Thea” and in movies including “Friday,” “Poetic Justice” and “House Party III.” She achieved her greatest fame on “Moesha,” which starred the singer Brandy and ran on the UPN network from 1996 to 2001.
For the week of June 27-July 1 June 27 1833—Prudence Crandall, a liberal White woman, is arrested in Canterbury, Conn., for operating an academy designed to educate young Black women. The academy was permanently closed.
