Just a few short weeks ahead of A.K.A., her 10th studio album, People reports Jennifer Lopez may have split from her younger boyfriend Casper Smart, who seemed to be the subject of her recent single “First Love.” The 44-year-old “American Idol” judge and 27-year-old choreographer have been dating for the past two and a half years, but may have run out of love for one another.

“They initially split about six weeks ago, but that can take a little time to extricate. But they’ve definitely broken up,” a source told People. While neither have confirmed the breakup, the two have remained friendly over the past few months.

Smart, a former backup dancer for Lopez, may have social media to blame for the demise of the relationship. Sources report that Smart is said to have been sending questionable messages and Instagram photos to someone else. Just a few weeks ago, Smart and J.Lo were seen riding together listening to songs from her latest album.

[Image: INFPhoto.com]

The couple began dating shortly after her divorce from Marc Anthony, who was her third husband. The two were often seen together during her world tour, but didn’t confirm their relationship until months later. When asked in recent months if she would consider marriage for the fourth time, Jennifer remained optimistic but offered no real answer.

“You know, I’ve always believed in that institution. I believe in it, but it is difficult,” she said. “I’ve had my challenges, but at the same time I believe in love, and I think that is the main thing.”

A North Carolina man was stopped by police late last week after authorities say they found drugs hidden in the man’s belly button.

Randall Streeter of Greenville was arrested on numerous trafficking heroin charges after being pulled over during a traffic stop. Police say they discovered 150 bags of heroin and $1,200 in his vehicle, as well as an additional 40 bags of heroin and crack cocaine on Streeter.

Officers said they also found Percocet pills hidden in his navel.

According to WITN, the arrest was made by Greenville Reginal Drug Task Force, which says it had bought 150 heroin bags from Streeter prior to the vehicle stop. In total, officers seized 340 bags of heroin.

Police say Streeter had been selling the heroin out of a local area hotel and has been linked to numerous prostitution cases. He is being held on a $1,000,000 secured bond.

Marshal Wilson, a passenger in the vehicle, was also arrested and his bond was set at $75,000.

The search is over! Yaya Alafia has been tapped to play Whitney Houston in Lifetime’s upcoming biopic directed by Angela Bassett.

TV Line initially broke the news that the 31-year-old actress and former “America’s Next Top Model” contestant will play the legendary singer in the film chronicling her relationship with Bobby Brown. The biopic is said to follow the years between 1989 and 1994.

There is no word on who will be cast as Brown.

“I have such regard for both Whitney’s and Bobby’s amazing talents and accomplishments, and I feel a responsibility in the telling of their story,” Bassett said upon news of the film. “Their humanity and bond fascinates us all. I’m beyond excited to have this opportunity to go behind the camera and into their world.”

Alafia was last seen in Lee Daniels’ The Butler and the indie dramedy Big Words. Up next, she will be featured in And So It Goes with Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton.

Photo courtesy of Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images North America

The untitled Whitney Houston biopic is slated for a 2015 premiere.

Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan is in intensive care after a limousine bus he was riding in was involved in a six-vehicle accident on the New Jersey Turnpike.

According to state police, the bus was carrying the 45-year-old former “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” star and six passengers when it collided with the other vehicles at around 1 a.m. Saturday. New Jersey State Police Sgt. Gregory Williams tells CNN at least one person died in the wreck.

Morgan is currently listed in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Hospital officials say three others were critically injured and one is in fair condition.

A preliminary investigation has found that a tractor trailer came up on slow moving traffic and caused the accident.

Photo courtesy of Theo Wargo/Getty Images North America

This story is still developing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Morgan and his family at this time.

It’s officially a wrap for Mase and ex-wife Twyla Betha who recently settled their divorce, according to TMZ.

The pair have signed the papers to dissolve their 12-year marriage after secretly filing for divorce earlier this year. Mase and Twyla went back and forth several times before pulling the plug.

Despite their previous battle over their two kids, Twyla will get full physical custody while Mase will receive “reasonable visitation” rights. The rapper will be granted up to three hours a day with the children as long as he gives 12 hours advance notice.

Mase has also been ordered to pay $6,000 a month for child and spousal support.

Photo courtesy of Michael Buckner/Getty Images North America

Twyla has been ordered to return all of Mase’s musical equipment.

Details are still unfolding in the fatal six-vehicle accident involving Tracy Morgan which left the actor/comedian in critical condition and one dead in New Jersey. The incident occurred after a tractor-trailer crashed into Morgan’s limousine bus and caused a chain-reaction pileup.

On Saturday, a rep for Morgan told PEOPLE:

“Tracy remains in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. He sustained these injuries in an accident that occurred early this morning as one of several passengers in a chauffeured SUV returning from a tour date in Delaware. His family is now with him and he is receiving excellent care. We don’t anticipate much of a change in his condition today but will provide a further update once more information becomes available.”

Fellow comedian and Morgan’s mentor James “Jimmy Mack” McNair, 63, was killed in the crash. The Peekskill, New York native often wrote for Morgan and also hosted “The Original Uncle Jimmy Mack’s Amateur Hour.”

Two others, Jeffrey Millea and Ardie Fuqua Jr., were listed in critical condition along with Morgan at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. Another comedian, Harris Stanton, was treated and released from the hospital on Saturday.

Truck driver Kevin Roper, 35, turned himself into state police on Saturday as he was accompanied by his attorney. He was released on $50,000 bail. Officials report Roper failed to slow for traffic ahead, swerving at the last minute to avoid the crash and hitting Morgan’s limo bus.

Photo courtesy of Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America

Roper has reportedly been charged with one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto.

Photo via Vibe

Tracy Morgan is now recuperating after having surgery on his leg, impacted in the car crash that killed his friend and comedy writer, James McNair, on Saturday night in New Jersey.Contrary to reports, the comedian and actor best known for his role on NBC’s 30 Rock will not need a leg amputation.

A series of tweets that appear to be published by Kevin Roper, the trucker behind the accident which left the comedian in critical condition, were posted June 10. Using the moniker @KevinMoneyTalks, the Walmart driver wrote:

I thought our country said we still had right of being innocent until proven guilty?Oh wait that doesn’t sell newspapers or get website hits

— Kevin Roper (@Kevinmoneytalks) June 10, 2014

TY for support from all the other Truckers in industry and my friends/fam. To those that wanna judge me before hearing both sides. god bless — Kevin Roper (@Kevinmoneytalks) June 10, 2014

So yes i am now most likely fu*ked because i had an unfortunate ACCIDENT with the wrong car that night.

— Kevin Roper (@Kevinmoneytalks) June 10, 2014

did the police all of a sudden make a determination i was up 24 hours (sounds good and sells papers) also covers their ass — Kevin Roper (@Kevinmoneytalks) June 10, 2014

But the drama doesn’t end there. Allegedly, Morgan’s mother Alicia Warden, who according to Tracy had not seen him in over 11 years, tried to visit her son in the hospital, but was blocked by security and Tracy’s fiancee, Megan Wollover.

Warden says when she returned the next day, she was allowed in to see her then unconscious son. She says that she was only allowed to visit him for five minutes.  Warden says that she was not personally contacted after Tracy’s accident, but learned about it through the media.

According to TMZ, Warden claimed that Tracy’s friends and a pastor were visiting at the time of her visit. “All I wanted was for our family to be alone with him. I wanted to pray over him and couldn’t do that because so many people were in the room,” she said.

I’ve never been a fan of the original football (fútbol). I tried to watch part of the World Cup once and was so woefully bored  that I just gave up. No offense to those who watch it, but it just wasn’t for me. However, had I known that some of these guys were playing, I would have paid much closer attention.

June 12 is the start of the 2014 World Cup. Check out our list of some of the hottest players participating in this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Maybe a couple of them will make soccer fans out of you.

Gabriel Achilier, 29

Hometown: Machala, Ecuador

Team: Ecuador

Sergio Ramos, 28

Hometown: Andalusia, Spain

Team: Real Madrid

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, 22

Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil

Team: FC Barcelona

Yaya Toure, 31

Hometown: Bouaké, Ivory Coast

Team: Ivory Coast

Ezequiel Lavezzi, 29

Hometown: Villa Gobernador Gálvez, Argentina

Team: Argentina

Jérome Boateng, 25

Hometown: West Berlin, Germany

Team: Germany

Kevin-Prince Boateng, 27

Hometown: Berlin, Germany

Team: Ghana

Gerard Pique, 27

Hometown: Barcelona, Spain

Team: Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo, 29

Hometown: Santo Antonio, Portugal

Team: Portugal

Givanildo “Hulk” Vieira de Souza, 27

Hometown: Campina Grande, Brazil

Team: Brazil

Fabian Johnson, 26

Hometown: Munich, Germany

Team: USA

Aurélien Chedjou, 28

Hometown: Douala, Cameroon

Team: Cameroon

Gokhan Inler, 29

Hometown: Olten, Switzerland

Team: Switzerland

Adam Larsen Kwarasey, 26

Hometown: Oslo, Norway

Team: Ghana

A teen gunman is dead after killing one student and injuring a high school faculty member. The teen shot and killed a 14-year-old student and injured a teacher on Tuesday at Reynolds High School, located in a Columbia River town in Oregon, a day shy of the final day of classes.

The first shots were fired at 8 a.m., and when the shooting stopped, police used a robot with a camera to find the gunman slumped in a toilet stall. The gunman is believed to have turned the gun on himself.

The murdered student, freshman Emilio Hoffman, was “loved by all,” according to Police Chief Scott Anderson at a press conference Tuesday. Hoffman’s body was found in the boys’ locker room.

[Image: OregonLive]

Emilio Hoffman

A girl who used to date the Hoffman described him as “a good kid” and a “down-to-earth guy.” The injured teacher, 50-year-old physical education coach Todd Rispler, had non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene. Authorities have since identified the gunman, whose name is being withheld until his family is notified, Anderson said.

Reynolds High School was rocked by the shooting. It is the second-largest high school in Oregon, with about 2,800 students. The school is about 15 miles from Portland, and its students come from several communities.

Many offered prayers for those affected by the incident via Twitter.

Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected by the Reynolds High School shooting. #tragic

— Donate Life NW (@donatelifenw) June 10, 2014

I hope everyone at Reynolds HS is ok! Prayers!

— Thomas Tyner (@thomas_tyner) June 10, 2014

When are we going to stop ignoring these shootings? “It’s complicated” is not enough. We can’t keep saying it’s not an issue. #RHshooting

— Sarah Dolislager (@speezknees) June 10, 2014

The Clackamas Town Center shooting was close but the #RHShooting is much, much closer. I’m so sad for those students.

— Melinda (@mellykaymurph) June 10, 2014

#rhshooting this is too close to home. #Stoptheviolence

— Julie England (@JulesyBulesy) June 10, 2014

Source

[Main image: Shutterstock]

It appears Kelly Rowland is having a baby! The singer/songwriter posted a photo of two pairs of Nike Air Jordans yesterday on Instagram. There was an adult size of the popular sneakers and a little pair of infant kicks.

This photo seems to be a very clever response to circulating rumors that Rowland is indeed pregnant.

She married her husband and manager Tim Whiterspoon last month in a very private ceremony in Costa Rica. Without addressing the rumors directly, Rowland added the caption, “I’ll be stuntin like my daddy…” With that, we think it’s safe to say that the former Destiny’s Child star is definitely expecting a little child of her own.

Congrats Kelly and Tim! We can’t wait to meet Blue Ivy‘s play cousin.

[Main image: Instagram]

‘Popped a molly, I’m spending – wooo’ is probably what was going through a group of wealthy men’s heads after hooking up with a group of strippers for some after work adventures. A network of New York strippers have been arrested after spiking the mark’s drinks with mollies and tricking them into spending upward of $200,000.

Over a period of approximately four months, a group of four women targeted NYC professionals, including a banker and attorney. The men went out for evenings of fun at the topless strip club, but got quite more than they bargained for. The men ended up being driven to clubs, Scores in Manhattan and RedHouse in Queens, where they were charged exuberant amounts for private rooms, food, and other services.  Mmmmhmm. Services.

The night was a real life Hangover experience, after the men woke up the next day with little memory of the previous night’s events. They were outraged at their bills and the amount spent, but received threats by the four women that their whereabouts would be exposed if they disputed the charges.

The suspected ringleader of the stripper ring is Samantha Barbash, who denies all charges. She and her posse (Roselyn Keo, Marsi Rosen, and Karina Pascucci) are under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency for grand larceny, forgery, and assault.

One of the named victims, Zyad Younan, is a doctor. The names of the other men involved have not been released to date.

Photo credit: AP

A 19 year old Fosters, Alabama teenager was arrested for soliciting her aunt’s fake Facebook persona to the murder her family. This almost sounds too bizarre to believe. But trust, this actually happened …

Marissa Williams blocked her aunt, whom she lived with since April, from viewing her Facebook profile. The aunt had previously disciplined Williams for friending strangers, inviting them to their home, and attending parties with random men. In return, her aunt, whose name has not been released, created an undercover Facebook account under the alias, Tre “Topdog” Ellis, and friended her niece. The two began messaging one another in late May. Williams gave “Ellis” her phone number and invited him over to get drunk with her. She also offered “Ellis” sex if he paid her $50 cell phone bill. But that’s not even the worst of this situation.

[Image: Tuscaloosa County Jail]

The messages between Williams and “Ellis” became even more explosive as time progressed. The teen began describing how she despised her family and wanted “Ellis” to stage her kidnapping. Williams gave instructions on how to enter the aunt’s bedroom to kill her and her fiancé. Williams also wanted her cousin and the family dog murdered. She planned to pack the car with necessities while “Ellis” committed the murders. Then, they’d escape.

The aunt contacted the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff about the murder plot. Williams admitted to sending the messages, but said she didn’t want anyone to die. The teen has been charged with solicitation of murder and is being held in county jail in lieu of a $30,000 bond.

Fosters is a rural town southwest of Tuscaloosa.

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Love the Coca-Cola taste but hate the large sugar content? A new “green” Coke, sweetened with a blend of sugar and stevia leaf extract, will go on sale in September.

Coca-Cola Life, the new beverage, will be in a new green-colored can and will have a third less sugar than its original counterpart. A regular 330 ml can of Coca-Cola contains 35 grams of sugar. Coca-Cola Life will contain 22.1 grams. Coke Zero and Diet Coke have no calories.

Coca-Cola Life was created to support the government’s effort to combat obesity. The Coke company, along with other food and drink companies, has pledged to promote a healthier diet. Coke committed to serve reduced, low-, and no-calorie options to consumers. James Quincey, president of Coca-Cola Europe said, “It complements our existing brands and is well-positioned to meet changing lifestyle trends, providing people with a great-tasting, lower calorie cola sweetened from natural sources.”

Coca-Cola Life will be available in a 330 ml can, 500 ml bottle, and a 1.75 liter bottle in September.

Recently I participated in a relationship panel discussion in which a few men and I were asked very direct questions about sex and dating by a room full of women. The first question to kick the night off was: “Is there such thing as a perfect man?” Instantly, the other women in the room began to roll their eyes hard, as if there was a foregone conclusion. In fact, I remember one woman audibly laughing like Nelson on “The Simpsons.” The men on the panel gave answers that denied the existence of a perfect man in some form or the other. Since I was the last to answer, I shocked most of the people in the room by simply stating, “Yes, the perfect man does exist.”

Before I could even begin defending my stance, the backlash came quick, fast, and very harsh. I followed up my seemingly controversial point with a reality that is far too often overlooked when we talk about perfection and relationships — being a perfect partner is NOT about being flawless. It’s about being perfectly compatible with the person you are dating. Perfection in love does NOT exclude having shortcomings. It’s about achieving true harmony with someone else mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

[Image: Shutterstock]

As I continued, I asked the women in the room one simple question: “If every woman in this room wrote down a list of what makes the perfect man, is it fair to say that each one of you would have a different list?” Every woman in the room replied, “Yes.” That means that even if Woman A created a man without flaws (i.e. the traditional concept of “The Perfect Man”) and she sent that man on a date with Woman B, the latter would NOT find him to be flawless at all. In fact, Woman B would see more than a few major issues that would need to be changed about him. And that’s a result of one main factor, our conceptualization of so-called perfection is predicated on our own subjective desires. Perfection is what we make it, and it’s far from a scientific fact.

Now I know some people are reading this and thinking, “Just because my concept of flawless differs from another woman’s, that doesn’t make it any less true and unattainable.” But to argue that is to miss the main point — perfection is the result of a remarkable state of COMPATIBILITY. Not just lust, or infatuation, or simple longing, but a connection that supersedes intellectual comprehension and tangible evaluation. While true love is nothing more than a fairy tale concept to many, there are some people who understand how real it really is because they are (or were) with someone truly suited for them.

The problem with the concept of perfection as it pertains to love, is that somewhere along the line some narcissistic jackass decided that a perfect partner means someone without any faults. S/he arrived at this conclusion through the same stupid-ass mistake that far too many of us make at some point in our lives. We forgot that we are nowhere NEAR flawless ourselves. It is incredibly easy to look at someone else and point out what makes them below par, but taking stock of our own individual impairments is damn near impossible. Men can look at women and tear them down from the flatness of her butt or chest, to her perceived personality flaws, and even all the way down to her career and school choice. Women can look at a man and disparage his appearance, his lack of financial security, and a bunch of other flaws. But how many people can realistically assess what makes them flawed in a truly candid manner? So many people equate relationship perfection with finding a flawless person because so many of us are blind to our own faults. If we were more realistic, we would realize that the concept of finding a perfect man or a perfect woman is an absolutely realistic possibility. Just as soon as you drop the pretense that a perfect mate is someone without any shortcomings.

LAB

Lincoln Anthony Blades blogs daily on his site ThisIsYourConscience.com, he’s an author of the book “You’re Not A Victim, You’re A Volunteer” and a weekly contributor for UPTOWN Magazine. He can be reached via Twitter @lincolnablades and on Facebook at This Is Your Conscience.

Kenya’s Kim Kardashian, known for her voluptuous curves, has ignited a cultural firestorm for her skin bleaching habits.

Vera Sidika, 24, often flaunts her big rear view and expensive designer outfits to her 28,000 Instagram followers, with “the baddest video vixen” and “my body, my bizniz” in the bio. On a recent televised interview on Kenya’s “#TheTrend”, Sidika bragged about her quest for beauty with her skin lightening routine. She admits to spending over $170,000 in skin bleaching procedures. The aspiring singer names rap superstar Nicki Minaj and Rihanna as her inspiration to lighten her skin.

After the story made the rounds, the hashtag #BleachedBeauty slammed the Mombas native for having low self-esteem. Others questioned her skin bleaching habit because the cremes are not tested or regulated.

Despite the controversy behind skin bleaching trend in Africa (and beyond), it’s gaining popularity.

Sidika, in the interview, says she’s one of the only women who’s willing to admit to skin lightening. According to the BBC, Kenyan men prefer their women lighter as opposed to darker or “tinted” women.

Despite the praises of the Oscar winning actress Lupita Nyong’o mocha complexion, others aren’t as satisfied with their darker skin tone. They still strive for European beauty standards, including hair extensions and bleaching cremes.

“Looking good is my business,” said Sidika openly about her choice to lighten her skin. “My body is my business, nobody else but mine.”

Below, a photo of Sidika from October, 2013.

Photo credits: The Trend; Instagram/vee_beiby; Twitter/vee_beiby

Eyes are usually on the women at the many entertainment galas and premieres that take place throughout the year. But, when it comes to appearing clean-cut and well-coordinated, dare I say, the men bring it just a tad better than the women? What I love is how men appear to look good in a way that is simple and unforced, proving that their legacy is not only driven by their talent, but also their style. Go on, brothers! You won’t catch these guys in sagging jeans, because they understand the importance of presenting a positive message that reflects their craft and themselves. So in honor of Father’s Day, this week’s Star Style is paying homage to 12 of the best-dressed celeb dads of the red carpet. 

When it comes to the red carpet, Kevin Hart knows that the photos will speak a thousand words, so he always comes correct. As a vertically challenged man, Kevin always walks tall with confidence, in well-coordinated ensembles.

Nas has a sense of style that’s just as smooth as his rap lyrics. When it comes to presenting himself, he often coordinates looks that are lavish and show his character. After all, how many men do you know who can pull of a lime green blazer and embellished shoes with such a swag and confidence?

All eyes are always on Idris Elba. The British gent knows and understands the power of style and when it comes to presenting himself on the red carpet, his looks always mix edge and European flair.

Kanye West really is a fashion-forward thinking icon. His passion for style is evident, not to mention his uncanny knowledge of fashion history. Whether he’s spotted in a leather kilt or a tuxedo with tails, people take notice. I often look forward to seeing what he will wear next.

Whether on stage or off, Usher Raymond is never one to overdo it by piling on too many statement pieces at once. But no matter what he wears, Usher’s best accessory is often his subtle coolness.

Pharrell Williams is an all around fashion businessman, in addition to making us “Happy” with his music. He does his own thing on the red carpet in a way that gets us talking. This is partially the reason he’s a style icon and trendsetter.

It’s evident that Jamie Foxx knows the power of simple, statement-making details. Whether that means pairing a cool bow-tie with a suit or a bold Tee with sleek jeans, his style is A-list.

When it comes to scoring style points off the court, LeBron James stats are high. He’s not one to shy away from adding his own finesse to whatever he wears. His sense of style has landed him on the cover of the March cover of GQ.

Hats are Ne-Yo‘s signature and no matter what he’s wearing, he seamlessly ties them into the look. Overall, his main accessory of choice takes his ensembles from gentlemanly to cool cat. Hats have the same power as shoes, yet are often underestimated. Take note, guys.

Chicago native rapper Common doesn’t take the flashy approach to dressing. Nonetheless, he always manages to show his style in an understated way.

Kirk Franklin proves time and time again, that dressing your “Sunday’s best” is always a good move.

As a former model, Djimon Honsou rarely looks bad. His appearance is statuesque, well-coordinated, and stately.

Kristy Edmonson and Christian Sawyers allegedly drugged teacher Kenneth Chapman to death before doing the unthinkable. During their murder trial, prosecutor Tony Cross said on Monday that Edmondson, 23, and Sawyers, 36, were “so twisted” that they took selfies of themselves having sex “in the very same room as the cadaver.” The deadly British couple also allegedly filmed themselves having sex while Chapman’s corpse decomposed.

Sawyers obviously had no remorse for the killing, as he allegedly told his friends: “If you want to see something sick I will show you a photograph of a corpse.”

The trophy photos in question were presented as evidence during the trial, in which the two are accused of giving Chapman a lethal dose of heroin before attempting to access his bank account. Allegedly, Chapman agreed to shoot up with heroin, but was in a comatose state when the pair delivered the final dose.

The sick duo, who took over Chapman’s apartment in Eccles, Greater Manchester and stole his car, also used his iPhone to con his sister out of $125. What’s scarier is that it is not the first time the alleged deadly duo has attacked. Prosecutors say that in July 2012, Peter Clark, 60, died after allegedly being injected with heroin by Sawyers, who has been charged with manslaughter.

The two maintain that they had no involvement in either death.

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[Homepage image: Shutterstock]

Women have two new items to be wary of when it comes breast cancer: moles and red meat. Three studies released in the past couple of days have identified links between skin moles and red meat to breast cancer in women.

Two studies conducted by teams at INSERM in Paris and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston found a correlation between the number of moles on a woman’s arm and cancer risk. The INSERM study, women with “very many moles” were 13 percent more likely to develop cancer than women with no moles.  In the the Brigham study, data collected between 1986 and 2010 indicated that female participants with with 15 or more moles on their left arm had an 11.4 percent chance of breast cancer among women while women with zero moles had an 8.5 percent chance of developing the condition.

All of the women in these two studies were white. However, a key revelation from both studies is that the moles don’t cause cancer. Rather, there is likely a genetic or homornal link between the moles and the risk of developing cancer.

On the other side, there are new findings that dietary choices can impact cancer risk. Women who eat hamburgers, steaks and other red meat may have a  higher risk of breast cancer, according to a recent study by Harvard University researchers. Doctors have long warned against consuming a great amount of red meat, as it has previously been linked to cancers of the colon and pancreas, but now there is more evidence to support the theory that it is linked to breast cancer, as well.

In the new study, Harvard researchers analyzed data from over 88,000 women aged 26 to 45 who had been surveyed in 1991. The ladies’ red meat intake varied from never or less than once a month, to six or more servings a day. When the first study was published in 2006, it showed a preliminary link between breast cancer and eating red meat after 12 years. The new research confirmed the findings of the original study and included more follow-up information.

After analyzing 20 years of follow-up research, scientists say that among the women who ate the most red meat, there were an extra 6.8 cases of breast cancer for every 1,000 women. In developed countries, women already have about a 12.5 percent chance of developing breast cancer.

Scientists believe that the proteins in red meat increase cell division and tumor growth. Certain chemicals in red meat, such as nitrates, are already classified as likely carcinogens.

Mia Gaudet, director of genetic epidemiology at the American Cancer Society, said that women’s diets in their 20′s may be especially significant. “Breasts are still developing and are more susceptible to carcinogens before women have their first full-term pregnancy,” she said.

[Source: Reuters;  AP]

A Seattle doctor, accused of sending dozens of explicit text messages a day while he was on the clock supervising surgeries, has had his medical license suspended by the Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission.

Arthur K. Zilberstein, 47-year-old anesthesiologist and surgeon at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, is being investigated by Washington state health authorities for compromising patient safety by sexting during surgery, engaging in sexual activity on hospital grounds, issuing unauthorized prescriptions, and using medical images for sexual pleasure.

Evidence brought against Zilberstein by the Medical Quality Assurance Commission shows that he engaged in inappropriate behavior between April and August 2013, including sending over 250 messages featuring sexually explicit content believed to be sent while he performed or supervised medical procedures.

Selfies showing the doctor in his scrubs, wearing hospital identification and exposing himself were sent during the time patients were under his medical care. In addition, he is accused of improperly accessing medical records for his own sexual gratification, engaging in sexual acts at work and signing off on 29 prescriptions for illegal substances for a patient he had sex with and for whom he did not properly review her medical history.

“Once we learned that the state had suspended this physician’s medical license, the physician’s Medical Staff membership and privileges were immediately suspended. We just recently learned of these allegations and are conducting our own internal review of the physician, who is not directly employed by Swedish,” the Swedish Medical Center said in a statement.

The Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission has not revealed how the charges were brought to them but it is believed that one of his colleagues may have played a role in the investigation. “Oh. And my partner walked in as I was pulling up my scrubs. I’m pretty sure he caught me,” one of the text messages read.

Zilberstein will not be able to practice medicine in Washington until the charges are resolved. He has 20 days to respond to the charges and request a hearing. Sources have stated that the doctor has not provided a comment.

Cortez McClinton (left) and Terrell Johnson attempted to rob a St. Louis home at gunpoint by using a 17-year-old girl as a human shield, but the would-be robbers hadn’t counted on one thing — the girl’s father. The men grabbed the 17 year old girl as she was retrieving items from her car outside the home. McClinton and Johnson allegedly used her as a human shield and put a gun to her head when her father, 34, saw them approaching. The teen’s father grabbed his gun and fired shots at the pair from the home. He killed Johnson and wounded McClinton as they came through the door.

The girl’s mother also shot at the men, but did not hit anyone, according to StLToday.com.

As of now, no one in the family has been charged with any crime. All of the family members, including a 5-year-old boy, are unharmed. However, the same can’t be said for the would-be robbers. Johnson, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene while the second suspect, McClinton, 33, fled the scene and was taken to hospital by his brother. He was shot in the chest and thighs.

McClinton is no stranger to the wrong side of the law. Last January, he was released after a murder case against him was thrown out as a result of a lack of witnesses. In 2010, he allegedly shot and killed 28-year-old Bryan Reed, who had been sitting in his car at the time. McClinton also has prior convictions for offenses including drugs and vehicle tampering.

McClinton now finds himself charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, burglary, and armed criminal action. Bail was set at $1 million.

The names of the family members have not been released.