Four children are dead after a fire swept through eight row houses in Philadelphia early Saturday morning, authorities said. Dozens of residents were also displaced following the blaze.

An investigation has been launched to figure out where and how the fire started that claimed the lives of four children in one home. The victims included a 1-month-old baby boy, 4-year-old twin girls and a 4-year-old boy.

“This is a tragic, tragic day for the city of Philadelphia. Tragic. We lost four children today,” said Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer. “And I want everybody to understand that fire is everyone’s fight. Not just the fire department. It’s everyone’s fight.”

Two 11-year-old girls suffered smoke inhalation, while four people had minor injuries. Witnesses said people tried to rescue the children who were trapped in the fire, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. Sawyer said the heavy fire in three homes spread to five more homes via wooden porch roofs.

Photo courtesy of Rob Tornoe/Philly.com

At least 42 residents were displaced in the three-alarm fire. A shelter has been set up for them at a nearby high school.

Columbus Short has once again been cuffed. The former “Scandal” actor was arrested early Saturday morning  in Dallas for public intoxication.

Local authorities said the 31-year-old star was placed in police custody at around 2 a.m. at the Katy Trail Ice House, a popular beer garden and restaurant. Sources say Short had been heavily drinking for approximately four hours when things took a turn for the worse.

The actor allegedly got up from his seat and looked as if he was leaving without paying his tab. A security guard confronted him and Short reportedly started screaming, accusing the guard of racism. The guard was Black.

The pair eventually engaged in a scuffle that left Short in handcuffs. The actor nor his team have yet to speak out about the incident.

Photo courtesy of Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America

Short has filled out quite a rap sheet this year. In addition to facing a misdemeanor spousal battery charge, the star pleaded not guilty to felony battery in May. The charge stemmed from a fight earlier this year at a West Hollywood restaurant that left a man seriously injured.

As a proud native of Houston, Texas, Beyoncé is leaving her mark on the city that groomed her to become an international star. The singer’s hometown pastor says the star has donated millions to his church to help the homeless and feed the poor.

In a recent interview with KHOU 11, Rev. Rudy Rasmus said St. Johns Downtown has benefited from Beyoncé’s $7 million gift to the establishment. Despite her superstar status, the pastor explained the Grammy award-winning artist still has a heart of gold.

“She has a global platform and is doing some amazing work and I’m glad she’s a friend of mine,” Rasmus said. “[...] She’s an incredible human being. Has an incredible heart and has been extremely helpful in our mission and our ministry here.”

Rasmus said Beyoncé has kept the ministry near and dear to her heart because she grew up at that very church and entertained the congregation with her musical talents.

“She used to sing right here,” he pointed out. “I don’t remember the song but I do remember she had long braids, tennis shoes and jeans on. A far cry from what she is today.”

Check out the Rev. Rasmus’ interview after the jump.

Photo courtesy of Instagram

Two parents who were unable to control their autistic son decided to keep him in a cage, in an effort to restrict his violent outbursts. Anaheim, Calif. police arrested the parents last week after child protective services and police received a tip that the 11-year-old child was being imprisoned in a large dog kennel, according to the Los Angeles Times. The identities of the parents and the child have not been released, however, both are reportedly in their 30s. The parents have been charged with felony child endangerment and false imprisonment.

Child protective services officials and police inspected the home after receiving an anonymous tip. Inside they discovered the cage similar to that of a dog kennel. The enclosure, which is made of metal was big enough for the boy to fit inside comfortably. Parents placed a mattress and other amenities in the cage. Preliminary investigation has revealed that outbursts as a result of his autism caused the parents to have difficulty controlling and coping with him.

[Image: Shutterstock]

Police are unsure the length of time the boy was housed in the cage. He has severe autism and was unable to communicate with arresting officials for an interview. No other signs of abuse or visible injuries were noted by arresting officers. He received medical attention at a local hospital as a precaution.

Officials also removed the boy’s younger brother and sister from the home. All three children have been taken into the custody of child protective services. Police are working on getting translators to interview the parents, who are of Vietnamese descent, to find out what guided their actions. Other family members and neighbors will be interviewed as well to gain insight into what took place in the home.

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Doctors are prescribing painkillers to nearly every American, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). A recent study found that health care providers in 2012 wrote enough prescriptions for every American adult to have a bottle of highly-addictive pills.

The CDC says pain-causing conditions don’t vary much state to state, but the prescription rates throughout the states tell a different story. Doctors in some states prescribe three times as many opioid or narcotic pain relievers, including OxyContin, Opana (oxymorphone), methadone, and Vicodin, which is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, per person than in others. And America has twice as many prescriptions per person compared to Canada.

According to statistics, 10 southern states account for the highest rates of prescription painkillers per person. Tennessee, Alabama, and West Virginia are leaders in the pack with nearly 96-143 prescriptions written per person. The Northeast had the most long-acting prescriptions and higher doses. New York tallied 52-71 prescriptions per 100 people, while Maine and Rhode Island were two of the highest states.

[Image: Shutterstock]

Many states reported that for-profit pain clinics encourage doctors to prescribe higher quantities of pain meds. Some of these pills end up back on the street, sold to users to get a cheap but similar high to illegal drugs, including heroin. Most states are working on strengthening the law on obtaining prescriptions from these so called “pill mills,” if not banning them completely like Florida. This has caused a reduction in deaths caused by painkiller overdoses. New York and Tennessee noted a reduction in patients seeking treatment from multiple doctors or doctor shopping to obtain the same painkiller prescription.

Forty-six people per day die from prescription painkiller overdoses in the United States records show. The CDC is pushing for health care providers to prescribe only what’s needed for a patient while ensuring they receive safe, effective pain treatment. In addition the CDC is calling for a more uniform drug monitoring system that will combat over prescribing and doctor shopping.

Whatever happened to that conversation on “income inequality?”

Of the many things President Obama is chatterbox about these recent days, income inequality isn’t one of them.  That approach is partly due to political design, partly due to longstanding shifts in public attitude. It’s not just because Congressional Democrats couldn’t push any income inequality-related bills such as a minimum wage hike or equal through a GOP-controlled Congress before the summer recess.

This was predictable.  Talking up the wealth gap may sound good.  But, psychologically, Americans hate being in the doldrums about the poor economic state of things, thus they hate being reminded about the poor.  And as the official unemployment rate continues to slowly fall each month (refusing to account for the huge number of jobless Americans that have checked out), people are even more inclined to not give a shit about other people’s money problems. In that case, the president may have struck too much of a depressing and realistic tone that was just too hard for too many Americans to swallow.  Presidents must be cheerleaders before they are soothsayers.

It’s not like we ever really wanted a conversation on inequality in the first place – even though the president clearly did.  Perhaps nostalgic for a community organizer rebirth, Obama may have misread public appetite for an inequality conversation.  A Pew Research poll back in December showed the income gap wasn’t that big of a deal to Americans, though we might privately hate on the mega-rich: despite the griping, only 47% of Americans cite income gaps as a huge problem compared to anywhere from 65% to nearly 85% in countries like France, Greece, Italy and Spain.

Of course, other troubles like Ukraine and the Islamic State have popped up since then, as well as political impasse back at home preoccupying White House attention.  But, the income inequality debate – accentuated by proposals such as minimum wage hikes, equal pay and extending unemployment benefits – was supposed to be a centerpiece of Democratic strategy for the upcoming Congressional midterms, a way to somehow snap the party’s base back into action.

The problem is that it’s never really been clear if poor folks were a priority for voters, particularly the middle class folks who will account for the usual low voter turnout in midterm November.  Let’s keep it real: poor people making under $30,000 annually, or those who were picketing your local McDonald’s for a raise, don’t vote as much as taxpayers making more than $100,000.  Voter participation rates for low income voters are barely 50% compared to nearly 80% for high income earners, according to Census Bureau population surveys.

Low income people and the unemployed just don’t have a lobby like that.  They don’t possess or retain teams of highly-skilled advocates and messaging flacks who can storm Capitol Hill on their behalf and drop change into campaign war chests.  If that were the case, Congress would have easily passed an extension on long term unemployment benefits which expired last Christmas rather than mugging the families that really needed it.

Take a recent Fresno Bee field poll of California (largest state in the union) which showed only 48% of residents agreeing with a state increase in the wage above the $9/hour just taking affect.  And, as expected, only 40% of California Whites agreed compared to 56% of African Americans and 62% of Latinos.   Interestingly enough, only 57% of Democrats agreed to a hike above the $9 compared to 70% of Republicans who did not.

Don’t know about you, but even though 57% is a majority it’s not overwhelmingly large enough for Democratic Party planners to brag ahead of the midterm.

It’s not like we didn’t see that coming.  Back in March, about 50% of voters told Pew they’d be more likely to vote for a Congressional candidate who supported a minimum wage hike compared to 19% who would not and 28% who didn’t care either way.  That means 47% combined wouldn’t be putting the minimum wage high on their priority list of issues to vote about.

Indifference on any issue dealing with poverty is, on many complex levels, one of our ugly pastimes.  On any given day on any given street corner, we’re notoriously lacking in empathy when it comes to the needs of others less fortunate whether we mean to be or not.  The president is simply outnumbered when attempting to push his sympathy agenda on a society more pressed about buying the latest smartphone than preventing social breakdown and unrest triggered by falling economic indices. When a HuffPost/YouGov poll asked in April, only 23% claimed they were tuning in to the struggle to extend unemployment benefits.   It also found that experiencing unemployment prompts greater empathy for the jobless than not experiencing it: 57% who know a long-term unemployed family member want an extension compared to 41% who haven’t experienced that kind of static.  And there are still a rather significant minority of Americans, 44% according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, who believe poor people not doing enough for themselves is a leading cause of poverty.

In a June YouGov poll, 36% of independents felt like a higher minimum wage would hurt workers because businesses would be too strapped to meet new salary requirements to hire.  The 72% of Democrats who do support the minimum wage might be high, but add that 28% who don’t with the independents also mixed on the proposal and the income inequality.

Some of that, frankly, is also due to race.  Wide ass racial divides on issues ranging from income inequality and unemployment benefits continue informing either side of the debate.  Another YouGov poll discovered 82% of African Americans supported a minimum wage increase versus 67% of their White peers – a 15% gap (and a 14% gap with Latinos who are at 68% on the issue, interestingly enough).  On one side, there’s the Black president who’s seen poverty first hand and on the other side there are Congressional Republicans, many from Southern and Western states that are still in denial about the alarmingly high numbers of poor Whites in their respective states and districts.

CHARLES D. ELLISON is Chief Political Correspondent for UPTOWN Magazine and a veteran political strategist.  While he’s host of the weekly #Uptownhall, he’s also Washington Correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune and a frequent contributor to TheRoot.com.  He can be reached via Twitter @charlesdellison.

Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothing to f*** with and neither is His Royal Badness Prince. Singer Lil’ Mo came for Prince after New Orleans Police prevented her from using a particular restroom at the Essence Festival over the weekend. And of course Lil’ Mo pointed the finger at Prince.

According to her Instagram page, the “Superwoman” singer had VIP passes to roam around backstage at the festival but says she was prevented from using the restroom and even “pushed in the stomach” to get out of the way, because Prince was about to make his way to the stage. Hot butter popcorn mad about the incident, Mo went on Instagram and called Prince out for being a diva, er, divo.

“yall have NO idea how these celebs be actin. and I’m not gonna eem bother they ass. i had to pee I’m real life,” she wrote. “I was pushed in my stomach cuz somebody was coming through. i just want to sing and take care of MY family. f— all this EXTRA unnecessary s— dawg.”

That wasn’t enough, so Mo took it a little further by accusing Prince of not being able to hit his notes and having no songs on the radio. But Prince’s fans weren’t having any of that disrespect and let Mo have it on Twitter.

Some of the tweets are as follows:

“Very tacky of you. If the security or police pushed you, go at them. Not the celebrity.”

“Girl you will NEVER have the amount of fans, hit songs, or record sales as Prince. That’s the problem with you wannabes you don’t respect the people who paved the way. You will NEVER Ever compare to Prince.”

“you can hold your pee for a few more seconds or better yet why you didn’t pee early? Please have ALL the seats in the Superdome.”

“You should be grateful you were in the presence of The Legendary Prince Rogers Nelson!!! Know your place, which is an irrelevant one. Oh and by the way, Prince could have written 3 or 4 albums while you were in the bathroom. Lol”

Poor Lil’ Mo, everyone knew this wasn’t going to end well.

Prince (or whomever tweets from his handle @3RDEYEGIRL) jumped in on Twitter and tweeted a series of disses to the “R&B Diva” cast member, which were later deleted, or because it’s Prince, probably vanished into thin air. But the one tweet that remains is the a sub-tweet from the Purple Rain-maker himself, which was a photo of him giving some serious side-eye captioned: “I hope she know, none of her clothes match.”

After that, there’s nothing left to say, drop the mic and exit the stage.

Unfortunately, this isn’t Lil Mo’s first time disrespecting a living legend. She sent for Stevie Wonder when he encouraged Americans to boycott Florida after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin.

The holiday weekend in Chicago was marred by multiple shootings that left at least nine dead and 60 people injured.

The first deadly shooting was Friday morning around 2:30am, kicking off the violent weekend.

34 year old Corey Hudson was killed after a someone inside a car shot him and a friend on the street. According to WLS-TV in Chicago, there were also several police involved shootings on July 4th. At least one of the suspects involved was killed.

The most recent shootings happened overnight. Reports say an unidentified 44-year-old woman was shot at a barbecue around 12:30 a.m. Monday in the city’s Morgan Park neighborhood. She was shot as she leaned into a car in a parking lot and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The violence marks a deadly streak for Chicago. However, the city has been actively combating gang and shooting violence in recent years after a bloody year in 2012, when it was the only city in the nation to record more than 500 homicides.  To bring down the high murder rate, police have been dispatched by the hundreds in dangerous neighborhoods and government officials have worked with community leaders to try to combat the violence. So far, the number of homicides fell to 415 in 2013, however the murder rate in Chicago is still higher than many other U.S. cities.

So far, no one is in custody for any of the weekend shootings

Solange Knowles is speaking out for the first time about the infamous elevator scuffle between her and her brother-in-law Jay Z.

In the cover story for the August issue of Lucky Magazine, the singer glosses over the punching match by calling it “that thing.”

“What’s important is that my family and I are all good,” said Solange. “What we had to say collectively was in the statement that we put out, and we all feel at peace with that.”

The family issued a statement shortly after security footage of the brawl surfaced.

“As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident,” the statement read. “But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it. Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family.”

It’s evident that Beyonce’s little sister has moved on beyond “that thing” that happened in that elevator.

Solange stuns on the cover of Lucky magazine’s August issue in a 60’s chic white and mint casual outfit. In the issue she also dishes about her music and personal style.

Check out more from the shoot after the jump.

Photo credit: Lucky Magazine

Sherri Shepherd is experiencing a life-changing course of events! Weeks after “The View” announced its shake up of hosts, which will result in her replacement, Shepherd is finalizing the sale of her love nest with Lamar Sally. But that’s not the most intriguing part of what is turning out to be a bitter divorce between Shepherd and Sally.

Shepherd, who married Sally in 2012, is seeking to halt the couple’s surrogacy with what would be Shepherd’s second child. The surrogacy is not with Shepherd’s egg, and if it is born she will be forced to fork up a hefty sum of child support to Sally.

Shepherd has one child, Jeffrey, with her first husband, whom she also divorced bitterly.

Even though Sally filed for divorce, the dissolution of their marriage may have been his fault. Shepherd allegedly discovered that Sally and one of her close friends had a relationship prior to the couple tying the knot.

Sherri has listed the home she shared with Sally for $1.725 million. But she’ll take hit for dumping the love nest she originally purchased for $1.737 million in 2012.

State Assemblywoman Lucy Flores, 34, is the Democratic lieutenant governor candidate for Nevada’s June election, which will pit her against Republican State Senator Mark Hutchison. Whomever wins this election will most likely be promoted to governor when Gov. Brian Sandoval steps down to challenge Senator Harry Reid in 2016.

But life for Flores has been more about survival than politics. She was born into an impoverished family of 13 children and found herself at the wrong end of the law numerous times. She was affiliated with a gang before ultimately pursuing dreams of becoming a lawyer and state legislator after college.

Flores’ father, a mariachi singer, moved his family from California, where she was born, to Nevada after two of her older brothers were killed in gang violence. When Flores was 9, her mother abandoned the family, and things got much worse.

Flores dropped out of school, turned to crime, and often clashed with the law, which resulted in her being imprisoned as a juvenile before she became an upstanding citizen. She has admitted to once leading cops on “a low speed chase through half of a neighborhood,” which she currently represents in government, in an interview with MSNBC. Upon realizing that her lack of education created a glass ceiling in corporate America, Flores obtained her GED. She had been working as an office manager for an accounting firm in Los Angeles.

Should she win the June election against Hutchinson, Flores will become the most high-profile Hispanic Democrat in the U.S.

But regardless of the election outcome, as a juvenile inmate turned an assemblywoman, Flores is a true testament to the phrase “dream big.”

The family of Genesis Rincon took the 12 year old off life support Monday night, after she was shot in the head while in her northern New Jersey neighborhood Saturday night. Her family said their goodbyes at the preteen’s bedside Sunday.

Rincon was critically injured and left brain dead in the shooting, which occurred at 8:40 p.m. in Paterson. She and her companions were returning from a convenience store, which was closed, when the stray bullet hit her.

Police do not have a description of the gunman, but have speculated that he or she may be connected to a separate shooting that occurred a block away earlier Saturday, in which a 26-year-old man was injured.

Speaking on behalf of Rincon’s family, Rev. Della Fischer said, “They’re hurting, they’re in mourning, but they’re outraged,” to CBS New York.

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[Image: NorthJersey.com]

A Texas woman has seen one too many Madea movies -– or maybe she saw just the right one. Lillie McClendon, an 83-year-old Houston resident, fought off an intruder with just a stick and a pot of boiling water this past weekend.

The grandmother was doing housework when she noticed an open window in her home. Not too long after that, she was approached by the thief who was looking for money. She says he held her in a choke-hold and repeatedly asked, “Where’s that money at?”

After insulting him and his poor upbringing, McClendon used the tools she had nearby to get the man off her -– a stick and some boiling water. She was boiling the water to make some sausages, but it came in handy for self-defense. McClendon refused to allow the intruder to dominate her and take her cash. Fortunately, she wasn’t injured in the incident.

In a revenge scene from Madea’s Family Reunion, the victim threw hot grits on her abusive husband. Perhaps Grandma McClendon saw the flick.

The perpetrator is still at large, and McClendon was not able to give a thorough description of the intruder. The investigation is ongoing.

Source

If you thought airport security couldn’t get any tougher -– think again. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) just made it more difficult for people flying into the United States from certain international airports. The TSA is requiring these passengers to power-up their electronic devices prior to boarding the plane.

As if taking off our shoes, placing all liquids in clear plastic bags, and closely measuring our carry-on essentials down to 3 oz. wasn’t enough, international travelers now must make sure their phones are fully charged before arriving at the airport. New reports suggests that there are bombs that can pass airport security and can be triggered using a mobile phone, such as the Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, or these phones can be the bomb itself. By requiring passengers to power up their devices, authorities will be checking to make sure phones are bomb-free.

[Image: Shutterstock]

TSA says that mobile phones will be confiscated if they cannot power up, but British Airways, has taken further steps and says that it will bar passengers from flying. This can be a problem for people with connecting flights to the U.S., who have used their phones as music or video players for the duration of the flight. Phones die all the time and now this may prohibit passengers from making it to their destination on time — if at all.

These new security measures will not be in place in all international airports, but the TSA has not revealed which ones will be impacted by the new regulation. Everyone should purchase a backup charger now when flying since a dead phone may result in not being able to board a U.S.-bound plane.

Husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks, Apollo Nida is preparing for prison sentencing today for his guilty plea of conspiracy to commit fraud charges. Prosecutors allege that Nida created fake companies, and opened fake bank accounts to funnel stolen U.S. Treasury checks and auto loan proceeds.

The embattled personal trainer is pleading with Atlanta courts to lower his criminal history category, which would lower his maximum time in prison. Nida faced up to 30 years in prison.

“Mr. Nida’s lengthy but early small-time criminal history is simply not in the same league as the “violent offenders, drug kingpins and perpetrators of far more serious offenses” that Criminal History Category V was designed to address.” said Nida’s attorneys in a July 3 statement. He’s been to prison before, admits his attorneys, but they believe the charges aren’t serious enough to warrant a category 5 classification.

Nida has been cited for three probation revocations, driving under the influence, and giving a false name to law enforcement, but all of that occurred before he turned 24 years old.

For the last two days, the 35 year old has been spending time alone as he prepares for sentencing while wife Phaedra is vacationing in Mexico with friends, including singer Fantasia and Kandi Burress.

It’s not clear whether the court will approve his request at this time.

UPDATE: Nida was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison. The judge cited Nida’s cooperation with authorities for the lenient sentence.

If you enjoyed those huge, delectable cupcakes from Crumbs Bake Shop that came in a variety of specialty flavors, hopefully you got your fill before yesterday. The bakery chain has crumbled, closing all of its stores nationwide.

Employees of the trendy cupcake and coffee shop were notified by phone on Monday that all locations would shut down by the end of the workday. The bakery, which has 48 stores in 10 states, had already been closing select locations in recent months. The shut down comes a week after Nasdaq removed the struggling cupcake shop company from its list.

The New York-based bakery was founded in 2003. It was best known for their signature flavor cupcakes, including Cookie Dough, White Chocolate Cupcake, Oreo, and Girl Scouts Thin Mints. Despite their yummy treats and exquisite variety, the brand had been suffering from a steep decline in sales. For the three months ending March 31, Crumbs Bake Shop Inc. reported a loss of $3.8 million, steeper than the loss of $2 million from the same period a year ago.

At the end of last year, Crumbs listed 165 full-time employees and about 655 part-time, hourly employees working in its stores.

Mathew Knowles, father and former manager of pop superstar sisters Beyoncé and Solange, was summoned to participate in a DNA test on May 30, for declaration of paternity and child support from TaQoya Branscomb. The 30-year-old former lingerie model turned real estate agent filed legal documents in Houston, claiming Knowles impregnated her in 2010, the same year his ex-wife Tina Knowles filed for divorce after 31 years of marriage.

This isn’t Mathew’s first paternity case. In 2010, Mathew fathered son Nixon with Alexsandra Wright and was ordered to pay $12,000 per month in child support for the 3 year old. After Beyoncé fired him as her manager, his child support payments were reduced to $2,485, according to TMZ. The gossip site also reported the multimillionaire convinced the family court judge that he should have been paying the reduced amount all along, and should be given credit for overpayment. He now doesn’t have to pay child support for the next three years. Wright is currently fighting the ruling, and is currently engaged to “Celebrity Fit Club” trainer Harvey Weldon IV.

Beyoncé, 32 and Solange, 27, did not attend their father’s wedding earlier this year to former model Gena Avery in Texas and have reportedly had little dealings with their half-brother Nixon.

A New Jersey man is on trial for duping a Brooklyn teen into signing a sex contract, and threatened to sue her for breach of contract.

Posing as a owner for several Victoria Secret and Champs stores, unemployed Gregory Schaffer offered the now 18 year old woman into signing what she thought was new hire paperwork. The papers, signed in March 2012, turned out to be contracts to perform a variety of sexual acts with him. Schaffer allegedly claimed that he could sue her if she failed to follow the fine print and that she also had unknowingly signed a confidentiality agreement that prevented her from discussing the arrangement.

Frightful for breaching a legal contract, the girl had sex with Schaffer in a New Jersey office. Prosecutors said his plot stemmed from her Craigslist ad seeking summer employment in the retail field. The 35 year old also convinced her to pose in revealing outfits, saying he had contacts in the modeling industry.

Schaffer’s defense attorney Michelle Gelernt said in her opening statement that Schaffer’s conduct was “deplorable”, but he never coerced the teen into anything and that she willfully replied to his emails after the sexual encounter.

The trial resumes on Tuesday. Schaffer could face up to twenty years in jail if found guilty.

Photo credit:  TK/Shutterstock

Ever since Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, people with common sense around the globe immediately noticed the level of contentiousness towards him escalated with extreme prejudice. After everything that occurred during George W. Bush‘s presidency, it was hard to believe that America could find more conflicting character than him — but the country did, in its first Black president. This was apparent in the subtle racial jabs made by members of the GOP, the incredibly racist “jokes” made at the expense of Barack and Michelle Obama, and the overt xenophobia displayed by the Tea Party. But still, Obama’s staunchest Caucasian opposition refuses to acknowledge their implementation of the dirty, little r-word into their politics. Most become incensed when there’s mention of their political dissent being tied to prejudice. And this is why every American — Black, white, or other — must read James Lincoln Collier‘s op-ed, “The Nigger in the White House.”

Since we live in a time in which people don’t read full articles as much as headlines, it’s easy to see why Collier’s piece received so much reflexive backlash. However let’s be clear, Collier, an old white man, is taking it upon himself to bring credence to a truth many other white men and women are unwilling to admit: Their hatred for President Obama is predominantly based on race. I don’t believe Collier is a racist, but I do think he has an adept ability to call bullshit on his own community more effectively than those outside of it could ever do. Collier isn’t trying to belittle the Black community by explaining to us what we already knew — that racism extends all the way to the White House. Instead, he is attempting to cut through the rhetoric of racist whites who use every excuse imaginable to legitimize their political extremism. And Collier blatantly put the word nigger in the title to encapsulate their hatred towards the President because no other word accurately embodies the unprecedented level of hate Obama has faced.

The hatred against Obama is without precedent. The idea that he has faced the same level of hate as Dubya is an excruciatingly ignorant false equivalency. That would be like comparing the hate some white baseball players faced, to what Jackie Robinson had to deal with when he first put on a Brooklyn Dodger uniform in the 1940s. Race in America is just as explosive of a topic today in 2014, as it was in 1947, yet we address it less under the guise of living in a “post-racial society.” Whether Black folks use the word nigger (or nigga, for those of you who claim there’s a pointed difference), it still is an extremely jarring word to hear from some people, especially out of the mouth of a white man. And that is why Black people NEED to read the “Nigger in the White House.”

Although we are not the intended audience, it’s important to let that headline make us uncomfortable, mad, frustrated, and fed up. It’s not just one writer’s headline — it’s the war cry of our white co-workers, neighbors, teammates, colleagues, teachers, students, friends, and even in-laws.

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.

Whether it’s her artistic expression through music or fashion, Solange Knowles is a talent to be reckoned with. Everything about her exudes the true meaning of a shining star. From having her own record label, Saint Records, to being an art director and creative director for PUMA, to writing and creating her own music, it is fairly evident that Solange’s mark as an artist is multifaceted.

In the July issue of Lucky magazine, Solange shared that her parents have always allowed her to express herself through fashion. This really doesn’t come as a surprise. After all, what avid style lover doesn’t find themselves checking for what she is wearing? It also doesn’t come as a surprise that Solange isn’t too fond of some of her early looks in the spotlight. But all style mavens have to experiment, right? Solange definitely presents who she is through her eclectic clothing choices. In case you are looking to incorporate a hint of retro glam mixed with a contemporary vibe into your wardrobe – here are a few inspirational looks from this week’s Style Star, Solange Knowles.

From the chic wide-leg trousers to the flowing blouse, this look definitely gives off a sophisticated ’70s vibe.

A bold suit that consists of a blazer and skinny pants, doesn’t require a bulky blouse underneath. Keep the accessories simple by going with a complementary hue.

Solange looks hot in this athletic-chic look! She’s showing a stylish example of how perforated or sheer crop tops should be worn. The bra should ideally be the same tone as the shirt you are wearing, as some others have gotten wrong on the red carpet.

The pairing of the over-sized blazer with the front knot mini is just plain ol’ FUNKY.

In the summer, no sneaker should be boring. Solange is sporting a pair of fly kicks, no pun intended.

A metallic, strappy gown gives off a “Supremes” vibe, which is a great look for a night out for a retro glam fashionista.

Bringing a ray of sunshine into your wardrobe really can make a difference. Yellow is such an optimistic color that gives off a fun felling. Solange looks girly in this look and the lemon-shaped handbag is a great kitschy touch.

Having a dress with a regal print is one thing, but if that dress has outstanding details, such as an asymmetric neckline, the look is golden.

Symmetry is everything when it comes to an outfit. To that point, the V-neck top is the perfect piece to wear with a center slit skirt.

This season, there are several styles of shorts. Finding the right cut for your hips, backside, waist, and legs is possible. Think of the process as the same as jean shopping … and remember to stay calm.

An equestrian-inspired look, gone fabulous!

Some mix two prints, but Solange is clearly the print mixologist tying in three. Basically ladies, it’s about scale and colors being mixed.