Apollo Nida might actually be catching a break. Despite his eight-year sentence for committing bank fraud and money laundering, the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” husband could be looking at an early release for completing a drug treatment program.

TMZ reports the star has agreed to an “intense” 500-hour program while serving his prison sentence. His acceptance into the program stemmed from a prior DUI.

While Nida isn’t currently addicted to anything, law enforcement sources say he agreed to the treatment in hopes to lower his sentence. Inmates who successfully complete the program reportedly get early releases.

Nida was sentenced on July 8 after submitting a guilty plea of conspiracy to commit fraud charges. Prosecutors allege he created fake companies and opened fake bank accounts to pocket millions in U.S. Treasury checks and auto loan proceeds.

Photo courtesy of Bravo TV

Nida has also been ordered to pay back $1.9 million in restitution to his victims.

The NYPD officer caught on video putting a chokehold on a Staten Island man has been stripped of his gun and badge following the public outcry and pending investigation.

On Saturday, authorities confirmed Officer Daniel Pantaleo, an 8-year veteran, had been placed on “modified assignment,” pending the outcome of the dual probes by the district attorney and Internal Affairs. Just a day earlier, the cop and his partner were said to be on “desk duty,” but were still in possession of their guns and shields.

Eric Garner, who stood at 6-foot-3 and weighed approximately 350 pounds, died Thursday afternoon as police struggled to arrest him. Officers accused him of selling loose cigarettes to residents in his Staten Island neighborhood. Garner was known for selling the individual cigarettes to children in the past, which police considered to be a “quality of life” issue.

The video of Garner being tackled by several officers and put in a chokehold eventually went viral after being released by the New York Daily News. He could be seen arguing with cops over his alleged sale and asking them to leave him alone.

As he was wrestled to the ground, Garner was heard yelling that he couldn’t breathe while being placed in a chokehold, which is prohibited by NYPD departmental policy. Police said he appeared to suffer a heart attack.

Garner is survived by his wife, six children and two grandchildren.

Mayor Bill De Blasio delayed his planned Italian vacation for a day after receiving word of the incident. He’s called the video of the arrest “very troubling” and said NYPD internal affairs and the local district attorney were investigating the incident.

ABC News questioned Policeman’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch about what constitutes an appropriate use of force and he’s urged the public to not rush to judgement.

“At times, when officers are required to make an arrest, they must employ the use of force in order to get compliance from an individual who NYPD policy requires must be rear-cuffed for transport to a precinct,” Lynch said. “Force, by its very nature, is an ugly thing to witness. Taken out of the context of what is happening, necessary force can be misinterpreted to be excessive by those who are not trained in law enforcement procedures.”

Photo courtesy of Andrew Burton/Getty Images

Protests over Garner’s death have sprung up across the city and online support has called attention to the tragedy.

In 2012, when Evergreen Terrace residents in Joliet, IL, learned that the city wanted to demolish their Section 8 housing complex to make room for “development,” they fought back.

Employing eminent domain, the city hoped to seize their homes by forcing Evergreen Terrace owners to sell due to blight. As the city and the housing authority played hardball, city officials, according to the Chicago Sun- Times, described the more than 300 mostly African American families they sought to push out as “rats and whores from Chicago…who needed to be removed.”

In addition to the tenants winning the support of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, better known as HUD, their plight made the news. In a country where “downtown” is being reclaimed at alarming rates, casting out lower income and largely black residents who were once forced there by city governments that didn’t want them in the predominantly white suburbs (only to suddenly find, decades later, that they’re living on prime real estate), the stories of mothers and children resonated beyond Joliet.

Sympathy, however, wasn’t the main difference maker for the Evergreen Terrace residents. Instead, the significant legal help they received from the Shriver Center was. Formally known as the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law—named for Maria Shriver’s father, Sargent Shriver, who was the driving force behind the Peace Corps under the administration of his brother-in-law, President John F. Kennedy, and the man President Lyndon Johnson tasked with implementing the war on poverty, through programs like Head Start—they assembled a team of high-powered legal eagles, who took up the tenants’ cause pro bono.

Nearby Chicago, which the Shriver Center calls home, is a city defined by the mass migration of black Americans from the South during much of the 20th century. It also experienced the boom of the steel mills that dotted the city’s far South Side, and bust, as the industry vanished in the 1980s, leaving a graveyard of empty, hulking buildings and shattered lives, some of which were scuttled off to Joliet. Known for its larger-than-life mayors: the Daleys, Harold Washington and now Rahm Emanuel, not to mention for being the political birthplace of the nation’s first black president, Barack Obama, the Windy City is no stranger to this fight. Chicago’s battles over affordable housing are as legendary as its political lions. Hoping to expand the civil rights movement, by highlighting the ways in which the plight of Northern black citizens in employment and housing were as dire as those in the South, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. moved his family to the city in 1966. To fight what he called the “further colonization” of African Americans “within a slum environment,” King, who lived parttime in an apartment in North Lawndale, on Chicago’s West Side, launched the Chicago Freedom Movement.

At King’s side in this, as well as other epic battles for civic justice throughout his short life, was Rev. Ralph David Abernathy. Recently, at their Building Better Lives Benefit, the Shriver Center honored his widow, Juanita, along with Jenner & Block, the 100-year-old law firm that fought in the courts on behalf of the Evergreen Terrace residents. Evelyn Wynn-Dixon, who overcame poverty, abandonment and homelessness to earn four degrees, including a PhD, and who, at age 59, became the mayor of Riverdale, Georgia, in the Atlanta metro area, spoke at the benefit.

During the Shriver Center event, which highlighted the long civil rights tradition of skilled attorneys working alongside expertly planned public demonstrations to produce the fragile victories that spanned the heroic period between Brown vs. the Board of Education and the Voting Rights Act, there was no mistaking the continuity of our history. Just as it was when Mrs. Abernathy participated in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and protested segregation in her native Alabama, facing death threats and bombings of her and Rev. Abernathy’s home, the work of civil rights requires a combination of activism and legal acumen, individual bravery and institutional knowledge.

Yes, those Evergreen Terrace tenants won their fight with the city and established their human right to not be cast aside and displaced. But they didn’t do it alone—it took their voices, combined with the skills of dedicated attorneys supporting their cause.

It’s a much-needed reminder that civil rights work is not history; it’s ongoing. We cannot allow ourselves to be the generation that watches those civil rights era gains, not just on fair housing but also on voting rights and advancement in education, get rolled back and stripped away without a fight. Even today, the battle for civic justice still requires a massive, concerted and multi-faceted effort. It still requires the force of law, the strength of coalitions and the power of people.

That’s the lesson taught in Chicago. Here’s hoping it continues nationwide.

Joy hosts MSNBC’s The Reid Report weekdays, 2 p.m. ET.

Born in Brooklyn to a Guyanese mother and Congolese father, Joy Reid, who made a splash covering politics for the Miami Herald before serving as managing editor of TheGrio.com, is one of MSNBC’s latest “greatest hires.” The Reid Report, named for Reid’s popular blog, highlights current hot button issues and exposes what people should be talking about next.

What was your first big break?

I actually had a series of “big breaks” [but] the first time I realized I could make it as an opinion writer was when I sold my first piece to Salon.com in 2000. The editor was Joan Walsh, who’s now my colleague as an MSNBC contributor.

When did you first appear on MSNBC?

The first show I went on was Weekends with Alex Witt and after that I was in the regular guest rotation for Chris Jansing’s show, Jansing & Co. The rest, as they say, is history.

At The Reid Report, what is your mission?

To deliver smart, compelling television covering the news of the day, politics, policy and culture, hopefully in an entertaining, engaging way. And I want to get people to focus on voting— especially in midterm elections—and valuing their vote.

Being a mother, wife and career woman, would you say you’re ‘leaning in’ or are you ‘striving to thrive’?

Striving to thrive, definitely.

With so much already going on, what’s next on the horizon?

My book! It’s called Fracture and will deal with race, history, the Democratic Party and the threads that link LBJ to Barack Obama and the Clintons. It comes out January 2015, just in time to kick off the 2016 election season.

Photo credit: Keith Major

You’d be surprised to discover that amazon singer, LiV Warfield, who rocks a short, platinum do with perfectly winged eye liner, was once a shy and ashamed. But the Illinois native has come out of her shell. Mr. Purple Rain himself, Prince, validated Warfield by hand-picking the former track star from a powerful YouTube clip. An artist who embodies a fusion of R&B with a splash of soul, sprinkled with rock-n-roll, Warfield’s fearless lyrics and dominating voice reign supreme.

Warfield’s inspiring story of chasing her dream to her rising stardom includes her debut at this year’s Essence Festival and her induction into Prince’s world-class super band New Power Generation. Her talent is explosive, with her captivating performances complete with raging horns and aggressive guitars. Warfield takes full flight with her second release, The Unexpected, produced by her musical mentor Prince. With her straight-no-chaser style, reeking of passion and dripping vulnerability, even her imperfections are perfect. Warfield confidently shatters her cocoon, commanding audiences nationwide, with a living legend co-signing her along the way.

Check out the former gymnast’s interview on how she and Prince hooked up, her new album, and her incredibly inspiring words for any frustrated dream chaser.

UPTOWN: Tell us all about Essence Fest, how was it?

LiV Warfield: Essence was incredible! It was my first Essence Fest, so I really didn’t know what to expect, but it was everything beyond my expectations. It was really cool to see people come together on a positive note celebrating the music. The coming together of it was incredible.

U: Did you perform?

LW: Yes, I did! I performed with Prince, then we performed at the House of Blues later that night at three in the morning. Then turned around and performed at the Super Lounge the next day, so it was a super busy weekend.

U: How has performing at such a huge musical event helped your career?

LW: Honestly, it’s really cool to see my music out to the masses of the people. It’s really hard to get played on the radio just because of the songs they play now, so it’s good to see people watch it live and listen to what I do and what my band do.

U: How did you and Prince hook up together? He discovered you on YouTube, right?

LW: He saw a YouTube clip of me singing “Gimme Shelter.” What’s funny about it is, good friend of mine Rick Curt told me Prince was looking for some singers and that I should send it. I was like “Yeah right, I know I’m not going to hear anything from him, like that’s crazy!” I had forgot about it, but three to four months later I got a call back when he told me to come to Paisley Park and the rest is history.

I wouldn’t think it would be me. It shows you how life can really change on you. I kind of wanted to take a break from singing because as an independent artist it’s so hard. So many things go against you just to get your music heard. When I got on with Prince it changed my life. It changed the way I thought and looked at music. I’m thinking about it now and I still can’t believe I’m with New Power Generation.

U: Your story is so dope! It proves dreams really can come true!

LW: Yes! I never wanted to give up. I really had faith in the situation. I never gave up on it. I had to put fear aside for a second. You have to know that there’s something on the other side.

U: You’re from Illinois and attended college on a track scholarship. How did you discover your passion for music when you were heavily involved in athletics?

LW: The wonderful part is my parents put me on to music early. The first instrument I picked up was a violin, so my ear was accustomed to playing a violin for about 11 to 12 years although I was also running track. I knew I could sing at 7, but I was too scared and too ashamed. I wouldn’t sing in front of my family. They never knew until I left for college when I was about 20. I let them know what I was doing. I would sing around my high school friends a little bit and they were like “I didn’t know you could do that!” I was so shy with it but as soon as I got to Portland, Oregon on my scholarship I said, “I don’t have anybody telling me what I should do with my life plans. I want to do something for me!” I started singing karaoke and I placed myself around others musically, because I knew that’s what completed me.

U: Tell us about your new album The Unexpected. This is actually your second release. What makes this album different than your first?

LW: Growth. The first album was really discovering who I was as a songwriter, learning how to be comfortable in my own voice, telling a story and entering this journey of singing. Now, six years later, it’s a different side.

I love Tina Turner, Sade, and Al Green. [The Unexpected] is a gumbo of sounds of these amazing artists. So The Unexpected has a lot of alternative R&B soul with a little bit of rock and roll. I wanted this album to be musical. I wanted it to be recorded live with my band and it was. Also, some of the horn section of New Power Generation wrote the horn part. It’s an incredible project. Prince wrote the title track and we co-wrote a song. I really opened up this time.

U: What would you say are the components to the perfect song?

LW: The lyrics, the arrangement, and the movement. That’s a good question, although it’s a hard question because of course it’s to each its own on what they consider a perfect song. But the soul and the feel of that element in a song will make people feel it, not pretending the lyrics or the sound. As long as you make the people feel the emotion you’re trying to display that’s the component you need. I wasn’t trying to have a perfect vocal; I want people to feel. For instance with my song “Soul Lifted,” I wanted you to feel every lyric. I wanted it to feel real. Even if there were mistakes, I wanted you to feel them because they were real.

U: What was the best piece of advice you received and actually followed?

LW: That’s a good question. The one that sticks out in my mind is to be fearless. Go into your life situation fearless. Fear is the one thing that can hold people back. You can’t be afraid to fall, you just can’t. I’ve fallen many times with scrapes and cuts — even peroxide won’t heal that up. But I got back up and I’m glad I went through being fearless. Be fearless. Take chances. You have one life, just one, and you’re not getting it back.

U: What’s on your bucket list?

LW: I’ve never really thought about that, but to sing with Tina Turner.

U: What do you want to be remembered for? What legacy do you want to leave behind?

LW: That she was passionate in everything. That she was thankful for everything and passionate about her gift with every person she came into contact with. I’m very simple in that way.

U: You’re related to Richard Pryor … How does that feel?

LW: That’s quite crazy to be attached to someone who was an innovator. He was fearless in his own right. He pushed the boundaries; that’s what I love about him. And I also didn’t know he could sing, too! And he was quite an amazing singer, too. I saw a video clip of him and he was actually really, really good. Richard Pryor was someone who really gave of himself. He always told a true story that the general people can relate to. If I can somehow relate to people and do it in a genuine way, I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.

Check out the video for LiV Warfield’s “Why Do You Lie?” on LiVWarfieldMusic.com. And follow her on Twitter.

It looks like a former member of Destiny’s Child can add an arrest to her ‘record.’

Farrah Franklin was arrested Sunday morning for disorderly conduct in Conway, South Carolina. The 33 year old was booked around 5 a.m. EST Sunday and released shortly after noon the same day after posting $280 bail, according to the Horry County Sheriff’s Office.

After a Saturday full of day drinking – and allegedly other things – with Ricky Sapp and Da’Quan Bowers, Franklin and the two NFL players retired to Sapp’s home.

Sapp and Bowers indicated to police “they thought Franklin had been doing drugs.”  When police found her laying in a stranger’s front yard, she told them “she planned on sleeping in the woods.”

Hours before Franklin was arrested she posted a picture of herself on the beach on Instagram.

TMZ reported that Franklin was also arrested in L.A. in 2011 for disorderly conduct and later claimed she was the victim of racial profiling.

Franklin joined Destiny’s Child in February 2000 but left a few short months later in July of that year. The group claimed Franklin was kicked out for missing several promotional appearances and shows. She says she left the group because of “negative vibes” and a lack of input on decisions. Franklin later told E! that she felt like she was losing her identity and had to leave.

At the time, Beyonce said, “Destiny’s Child is going to be fine. We’ve done three or four shows already without Farrah and they’ve been phenomenal.”

We’re guessing that Beyonce and Kelly weren’t the first people Farrah chose for her one and only phone call from jail.

A Sunday of babysitting ended tragically for a Dayton, Ohio grandmother. The woman was watching her 7-month-old step-grandson, Jonathon Quarles Jr., when her dog jumped a gate and viciously attacked the baby.

The grandmother fought off her dog but was unsuccessful. After the attack, she frantically carried the child to her neighbor’s house for assistance in calling 911. With the dispatcher on the line, the grandmother could be heard wailing, “The baby’s dead!”

The grandmother was visually distraught, needing physical support from officials who had arrived at the scene on Sunday.

The American Staffordshire Terrier dog resembles a pit bull and had previously been in a violent conflict with another dog just one month prior. The owner of the other dog, which suffered multiple injuries to its leg, filed a criminal misdemeanor complaint on the grandmother, but it was postponed.

Police are expected to continue the investigation to ensure that there were no homicidal motives leading to this tragic death.

[Images: ABC22]

Growing up, most people play “house” with a bride and groom and lots of pretend children. It’s reality for a 9 year old in South Africa. Saneie Masilela has become one of the world’s youngest groom again, marrying his 62 year old wife for the second time.

Baby faced Saneie Masilela clung to his bride Helen Shabangu as they repeated their vows on their one year anniversary.  The second marriage ceremony was held at the home of the blushing bride in Ximhungwe in Mpumalanga, South Africa, in front of 100 guests.

Shabangu, a married mother of 5 shared a piece of cake, a toast, and even a kiss with her young groom Saneie and with her legal husband 66 year old Alfred Shabangu.

Last year, Saneie tied the knot with Shabangu after claiming he had been told by his dead ancestors to wed. His family took his claim seriously and forked out the money for the bride and for the big day. Saneie, insisted they follow through with South African traditions by having a second ceremony to make their marriage official.

Villagers were shocked, saying the marriage is “sickening” but the boy’s family has defended the union saying it is just a ritual and not legally binding. After the wedding, the couple went their separate ways, but they do meet up on occasion.  The young groom said, “I chose Helen because I love her and although we don’t live together all the time we meet at the dumping site where my mother works regularly.” His bride, old enough to be his grandmother said she was happy with the arrangement.  Her husband and their 5 children attended both ceremonies stating they are happy with their decision and don’t care what other people have to say.

Good, then they won’t mind our side eying this entire situation.

Using Craigslist to find apartments, jobs, and cheap items seems to be a thing of the past. A North Carolina mother of five sought the help of Craigslist to find a home for her children, but instead, she drew the attention of social services.

A desperate Moshimalee Johnson, 32, took to Craigslist to pleading for someone to take her kids in, after she says the Durham Department of Social Services refused to help her earlier this month. “I called DSS, and they won’t take them. The shelter has a waiting list and Urban Ministries won’t let you work if you come there,” Johnson wrote in the July 9 posting in the apartment section of Craigslist. “I am a certified nursing assistant but can’t find work due to numerous doctor’s appointments because my 6-year-old accidentally hung [sic] himself. Please help anyone,” she added.

Johnson, who is currently eight months pregnant, says the children were taken and put into foster care following her posting. She is mother to a set of 2-year-old twins, a 9 year old, a 7 year old, and 6 year old.

Speaking to the News & Observer, Johnson claimed she didn’t want to lose her children, but instead wanted to find a place for them all to live together. “Maybe I didn’t make myself clear. I didn’t want to give the kids up,” she explained. “I wanted a place for me and my kids.”

The Durham County Social Services Office have not confirmed whether the children were taken away as a result of the posting.

The United States seems to be making progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. According to a new study, HIV diagnosis rates have significantly declined in recent years.

The study, released on Saturday by the Journal of American Medical Association shows the decline in diagnosis over a ten year span. It is now the longest running study of its kind.

In 2002, 24 out of every 100,000 people were diagnosed with HIV. In 2012, the number went down to 16 out of 100,000. It is not clear if the numbers reveal that less people are becoming infected or if the same people were already counted for and have not seen changes in their status.

All in all, the numbers are looking much better. Decreases were seen in virtually all major groups (blacks, whites, men, women, etc.) except for gay and bisexual men – where the rates were increasing.

To keep the numbers low and the diagnosis on a steady decline for the virus, the CDC has recommended a prevention plan. This plan includes taking prescription drugs to help reduce the risk of contracting the virus in an effort called ‘pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)’.

The rate of HIV infections successfully dropped by 1/3 and hopefully these numbers can continue to decrease in the United States, and globally with these preventative measures.

Photo credit: Oraquick

Kanye West is basically a new man. Now a father, a husband, and a rising fashion designer, the controversial rapper has some new things to talk about, especially in his GQ interview.

In the upcoming issue, of which Kanye also graces the cover, he talks about the craziness that goes into planning a wedding, and not just any wedding, but a grand wedding. His wife Kim Kardashian West boasted about the cover on Instagram, posting a photo with the caption:

“So sexy! My husband on the cover of GQ shot by Patrick Demarchelier!!!”

In the article, Kanye boasts about Kardashian West, as well. When asked about his wedding guests and who did and did not show up to the wedding, he says:

“It doesn’t even matter to me whatsoever, who would show up. Because the most important person to show up there, to me, was Kim. And that’s all that matters to me. I had to fight for that for seven years.”

The interview also addresses Kanye’s strides in the fashion industry, his recent moves in the business, and how he continues to “dress like a God.” He reminisces on the past saying:

“There was a time they wouldn’t even let me be at shows. Now the idea that Kim is in a Givenchy Couture dress is raising the communication. Because people would be more apt to be like, ‘Celebrities don’t really have style. Celebrities can’t dress. Celebrities are less educated.’”

Now, Kanye is emerging in the fashion world,  recently releasing his second menswear collection for line, APC, earlier this month.

Kanye also addressed his issues with the paparazzi and being tabloid fodder:

“That wasn’t my goal. My goal is just to be respected as a man when I walk down the street with my family. I don’t care what your job is, you’re not gonna talk down to me, you’re not gonna try to get a rise out of me. I’m a man first. And in establishing that, some interesting things have happened.”

And speaking of tabloids, Kanye cleared up the New York Post‘s account of him being a groomzilla and sawing a bar at his wedding in half:

“For the person that wrote that, were they involved with anything last year that was as culturally significant as the Yeezus tour or that album? They didn’t even talk there about the photographs, or the dress, or Andrea Bocelli singing, or the marble tables. They’re like: ‘It’s a gold toilet.’ No. The bathrooms—that usually would be a porta-potty—were wrapped in a fabric that was neutral to match the fort. The bar was terrible, and the wedding planner didn’t approve it with me. I was having issues with this wedding planner the entire time on approvals, and I get there and they threw some weird plastic bar there. So the same materials that were used to cover the bathroom, we said, ‘Let’s just use that, because this is all we have to make the bar look better.’ Which it did, in the end. And anyone knows that you cannot pick up tools yourself, because of—what are those rules about the workers?”

Kanye knows that his success is only beginning, but he continues to address and stir up controversy. After all he says. “I am a Black American male from Chicago who had my rehearsal dinner at Versailles and then got married in Florence with a view of the entire city.” And that is impressive …

[Photo credit: GQ]

Take a few moments – if you can spare it – to jump from one major news channel to the next and you’d be as lucky to find news on Detroit’s water crisis as you are at finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

It just doesn’t exist. MSNBC gives you some solid outrage footage (depending on the show and host agenda, hence you’re more likely to find it on Rev. Al Sharpton’s Politics Nation than Chris Matthews Hardball), but it’s not like MSNBC is doing anything in the ratings race at the moment.  News about nearly 20,000 Detroit residents having their water shut off (of the 46,000 shut off notices that have went out) isn’t bubbling to the top of our collective consciousness at the moment, and try all that it might, MSNBC can’t help the situation with low viewership (see Nielsen below)

FOX News is reporting on it, perhaps more so online than through visual means.  But, political strings are always attached. Anything to make the Democrats who’ve run the city for eons look bad in contrast to their super-star nerd Republican Gov. Rick Snyder (R-MI) is worthy enough of FOX News.  So, it’s not like FOX cares about the low income residents suffering through long, endless days of summers with no water to drink or bathe in. It’s all partisan gain in the end and seeing just how many pounds in flesh you can extract from Democratic politicians and labor union chiefs who’ve succeeded in running the Motor City into the ground.

To the larger point: Detroit is lucky to get a slice of the coverage Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 gets or even a decimal point of the coverage on revived hostilities between Israel and Hamas.  Ukraine and the Middle East dominate headlines, although polls clearly show very low U.S. public appetite for anything foreign policy.  In some respects it speaks to the ongoing disparity between the editorial decisions of network producers – who are like pop radio deejays and program directors addicted to rotating the same song each hour of the day – and the realities of a public exhausted from too much global intervention.

Look no farther than the most recent POLITICO poll on the topic.   Only 17% of Americans want direct involvement in Ukraine – although that could tick slightly upward since the poll was taken right before Flight 17 was shot down.  Still, only 17% want some sort of confrontation with Russian along with 31% who are just fine with the Obama administration’s work on it and 34% who really want to stay out of it.

Let the POLITICO poll tell it and President Obama’s keep-it-steady, stay out of it approach largely aligns with the public’s own attitude towards Ukraine.  Even as more people disagree with his specific strategy:

More want to stay out of it, according to Pew here:

Ultimately, most Americans rank foreign policy or any focus on it at the very bottom of problems they face.  When YouGov asked what’s the most important issue in the news at the moment, only 1% identified foreign policy as just that.  And a May Gallup poll of the 13 Most Important Problems shows foreign affairs at 4%:

That prompts many of us to wonder why networks like CNN seem so immersed in Ukraine and Gaza Strip coverage since its viewers want more on what’s happening at home (you can’t even find anything on Detroit’s recent troubles in a CNN.com search).  Not that we don’t care about what happens overseas.  And of course foreign policy is significant – but, not at the expense of front yard issues like Detroit. As bad is when the public either turns a blind eye to it or allows little local or mainstream news coverage of that trend.  Networks and other media outlets can’t lean on the excuse that they just don’t have the resources to spread themselves thin into covering every major local story or small town election since we know they have the resources to send reporters into war zones.

There’s real concern that water shut offs in Detroit could serve as a familiar template elsewhere in other major urban centers and how that disproportionately impacts low income residents already being squeezed and displaced by hyper-gentrification.  Detroit’s handling of the situation smells fishy and it’s suspiciously parallel to the slow resurgence of the bankrupt city’s downtown core which The Atlantic CityLab characterized as a comeback in 2013 with an attempt at quantifying it.  So, as the city’s low income residents suffer water shut-offs, an influx of college-educated professionals (mostly White) is quietly moving in:

That can’t be an accident, even if it feels like one.  All of this happens at a time when Michigan’s governor, in conjunction with his appointed emergency manager, look to sell off city assets to wealthy buyers looking for a cheap buy – MyFDL blogger “masaccio” contends that we’re seeing the beginnings of a trend in which “Private Capital is Eating Public Capital:”

Detroit is the poster child for the future. The rich and their minions on Wall Street are circling the city, planning to buy up the assets that belong to the community at fire sale prices.  What else is there? The Financial Times points to Belle Island, a logical site for development by the rich as a playground carefully isolated from the misery of the city; the water and sewage system; 22 square miles of Detroit, mostly blighted; nine parking garages, two parking lots and a bunch of parking meters; and half of an aging cross-border tunnel to Windsor, Ontario. More generally, the private sector is looking for roads, bridges, airports, utilities and hospitals. So what could go wrong with private ownership?

Keep that up and it begins reading like a Judge Dredd script (you should check the remake out, just don’t watch it after lunch or dinner): miles of fortress-like and cordoned off urban oases that push all the “undesirables” out into the suburbs with their bad credit, delinquent water bills, unpaid rent and unextended unemployment insurance.

Bankole Thompson in a March Michigan Chronicle piece warns Detroit about relying on “Hipsterification” to save it:

Everyone seems to have an answer about the problem with Detroit and for the most part, the response to decades of strategic urban segregation, mass unemployment, extreme poverty and violent crime has been to get more “hipsters” into selected areas of the city and make it a cool place to live and play. If we do so, according to some self-described urban thinkers, the city will come back without explaining what will, in fact, trigger the comeback.

There is a very disturbing national context to the Detroit water issue. Reasons why we should pay attention to it are laid out nicely by Grist writer Heather Smith, especially when you consider Detroit Water and Sewage District (DWSD) moving post-haste to disconnect low-income residents for $150 bills but claims it doesn’t have the technical muscle to do the same to a golf club like Vargo Golf which owes nearly $600,000 in water expenses:

Water is getting more expensive everywhere. This is true both internationally and in the U.S., where the cost of water has been rising faster than the rate of inflation. There’s no federal policy to help people deal with the cost of water.

Brett Walton offers striking back-up with a 2013 analysis in Circle of Blue.  It’s not just happening in Detroit – just the news of it is much more pronounced because of Motown’s dramatic fiscal death spiral along with its fast eroding population. Once you see it, there’s fear of a sequel at a major city near you (if it’s not already happening):

What this also shows us is a model of urban redevelopment and forced economic hub design antics being utilized quite heavily all over.  Cities are the new playgrounds. There’s nothing really wrong with that.  Personally, as a native Philadelphian transplanted to D.C., I’m all for resetting urban centers But, there’s something wrong and morally contemptible about actively ruining large populations in the process of doing it. Not just that: it also lacks common sense. Those leading the gentrifying charge need to step back for a moment and think about the long-term consequences and impact – not only to those affected, but to themselves.  This is not a sustainable or healthy social improvement formula; not only will you eventually lose money on the investment, but you’ll end up stirring a pot of social resentment and upheaval. Ultimately, it will do the exact opposite of what you want it to do since it could end up creating a proletariat backlash of Rome-like proportions.

CHARLES D. ELLISON is a veteran political strategist and Chief Political Correspondent for UPTOWN Magazine.  He’s also Washington Correspondent for The Philadelphia Tribune and a frequent contributor for The Root.  You can catch him hosting #Uptownhall or via Twitter @charlesdellison. 

If you haven’t heard, everyone is dumping on government these days.  And it’s not just Republicans: if it’s not a high profile wine from any fill-in-the-blank-here GOP House or Senate lawmaker (who, incidentally, will have little problem drawing an annual six-figure salary from … the federal government)  then it’s us in our daily routines bashing the tax dent in our paychecks or the “incompetent” bureaucrats administrating a range of key services.  Obviously, government these days doesn’t help its case. Brookings fellow Paul C. Light talks about government as a “cascade of failures” in his latest research:

In essence, we don’t like government.  We went from a high of 78% trust in government in 1958 to a dismal and awfully disconcerting 19% trust in government in 2013, see Pew:

Gallup offers similar assessment, breaking down our trust numbers by branches of government.  Not surprisingly, the legislative branch gets the lowest trust number at 34% – mostly Republican-induced gridlock in Congress fulfilling the conservative prophecy of “dysfunctional government” – compared to the executive branch at 51% and the judicial branch at 62%:

A Rasmussen poll (usually described as “Republican-leaning”) from April – somewhat predictably – tells us that 37% of Americans actually “fear” the federal government with “… 54% consider[ing] the federal government today a threat to individual liberty rather than a protector.”

We’re comfortably shifting into a generally accepted mindset that businesses or the private sector can govern better.  If you think that sounds like something out of a dystopic sci-fi series, look no farther than a 2013 Public Affairs Council survey on which is better or which should provide key services:

An Edelman global 2014 Trust Barometer of 27 developed countries (including the United States) dropped in January also showed “historic” trust-in-government lows:

One of the more pronounced dips was in the United States where trust in government fell 16 percentage points to 37%.  Globally, 79% felt business should be playing a greater role in shaping policy and 84% believe business can do good … while working to increase its profit margins.

Considering the central role technology now plays in economic growth, accounting for a huge slice of GDP, frigid perceptions of government are fed by an emerging mindset that technology can do it better or a world where Silicon Valley – along with its innovations – can possibly run it.

Presidential hopefuls for 2016 are making frequent fundraising sojourns to technology kingdoms in a bid to lock nominations, the most recent visits from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Freshly anointed House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), eager to translate leverage in his home into a base of power on Capitol Hill, frequently huddles with tech titans on an almost monthly basis.  Politically, it’s not only a good move, but it’s an essential move for any candidate or elected official: the innovation sector has now outpaced the defense industry in terms of lobbying and campaign contribution influence in Washington.  And it’s a smart move when making a big play for Millenial voting blocs in the next election.

But, so intense is Paul’s love affair with Silicon Valley that he’ll make every effort to publicly scorn and ostracize government as an enemy of innovation. “I have nothing but optimism when I’m out here because I see amazing potential for growth away from the disaster that is Washington. I don’t have to think there has to be a governmental solution for everything,” Paul was quoted as saying by the LA Times. “… Don’t be depressed with how bad government is. Use your ingenuity, use your big head to think of solutions the marketplace can figure out, that the idiots and trolls in Washington will never come up with.”

The private sector, buoyed by technology, is seen as society’s go-to retired general or quick-fix-it guy.  If a federal agency or program needs overhauling or a local school district needs revamping, there’s a performance measurement, app, or tech-inspired matrix for that.  We’ve become very deft in advancing that model in the pursuit of the ultra-efficient, low-overhead organization.

These trends – and statements like Paul’s above – should be especially alarming to people of color, particularly African Americans given the dramatic history of turning to the federal government as a somewhat reliable enforcer of civil rights and equity.  No surprise that Black trust in government is much higher than White trust in the same – although Latinos show higher rates of trust in the most recent polling on the question, according to Pew:

Using private sector innovation to enhance or rehabilitate government function is not really a bad thing. However, there are serious consequences to consider when its role is elevated from the tactical to the strategic and visionary at a time of growing animosity towards government – and an era beset by bad governance. There is a problem in viewing technology or the innovation sector as a reliable governance model substitute. That’s somewhat troublesome in an increasingly uncertain and economically tenuous world in which income disparities are widening. The standard of living is rapidly increasing due to inflationary pressures and a planet still resetting itself in the wake of economic meltdown.

As a result, the innovation sector should be partnering with government (and vice versa) rather than allowing itself to be put on a path towards replacing it.  There’s no hard data to show Silicon Valley (and its hipster culture) actually cares about the challenges faced by populations that have traditionally turned to government as an arbiter of fairness.   While new advances in innovation and organizational development should naturally inspire a collective move to greater institutional competence, there is mounting evidence to the contrary on the question of innovation sector empathy towards underserved populations.

CHARLES D. ELLISON is a veteran political strategist and Chief Political Correspondent for UPTOWN Magazine.  He is also Washington Correspondent for The Philadelphia Tribune and a frequent contributor for The Root.  He can be reached via Twitter @charlesdellison 

Don’t anger a senior citizen in the bedroom! This is the mugshot of Sadie Bell, a Detroit woman who admitted to shooting her lover, after a less-than-satisfactory sexual encounter back in April.

Bell accused 60-year-old Edward Lee of cheating on her because he released a diminished level of ejaculate. Bell punched Lee, to which he responded by slapping her. Bell then shot him in return.

Lee was hospitalized for five months. Bell was later convicted of assault to do bodily harm and sentenced to four years in prison.

But here’s where things get weird …

Judge Phyllis McMillen granted Bell an appeal bond for $10,000, much lower than her original $25,000 bond, despite the fact that prosecutors pointed out that Bell has a history of flying off the handle and resorting to violent, potentially deadly actions.   Bell shot her husband years ago, but has never faced repercussions for the deed.

Source, Photo credit: CDPD; Getty Images/Sara Gomes

A Michigan man was sentenced Monday to a minimum of 18 years and nine months in prison for beating his young daughter to death in an attack, he says, was an attempt to make her a lesbian. Donovan Lamar Haynes, 23, smirked in a Flint courtroom after pleading no contest to second-degree murder for the 2011 killing of two-year-old Ti’Airra Woodward. During a pre-sentence investigation report, it was discovered that Haynes beat the girl so that she would not pursue men like him in the future. Haynes’ attorney Elbert Hatchett called him “deranged.”

Genesee Circuit Judge Joseph J. Farah sentenced Haynes to serve five to 15 years concurrently in prison for first-degree child abuse. Hatchett suggested that Haynes go through psychological counseling while in prison.

Haynes bit and beat Woodward in July 2011. The toddler was found unresponsive in the basement of his mother’s Flint Township home. The girl was rushed to hospital, but was later pronounced dead.

After her death, Flint Police Chief George Sippert said she was the youngest homicide victim he could remember in a quarter century career with the department.

Source

Nicole Richie is one of our favorite stars to watch on the red carpet and is once again a favorite reality TV personality. She has proven to have a bit of a funny bone with her show “Candidly Nicole,” which began on AOL, but is now airing on VH1. The socialite, designer, mother, and wife created the show based on her candid Twitter feed, which always gets a good laugh. But using Twitter and real-life experiences as a form of entertainment isn’t Richie’s only talent. From her fashion company House of Harlow 1960, to her QVC line The Nicole Richie Collection, to her appearances on NBC’s “Fashion Star” — Nicole is serious about Star Style. Here’s how she explained it to USA Today:

“Ultimately, this will be a lifestyle brand. I pace myself, and I am very serious about anything that I do. We’re about to launch [into home décor]. We’re launching candles this holiday [season]. This chapter is just about growing and raising my kids and being with my family. And working.

Richie’s style has evolved through the years and we love it! As with anyone who loves fashion and possesses great style, Richie loves to have fun with her clothes. If you’re looking to bring a new life to a few items in your own wardrobe, then be inspired by this week’s Star Style, Nicole Richie.

Richie goes mod in an Emilio Pucci mini dress. 

 Topping off your LWD with a boyfriend blazer makes the look more casual for day. But for night on the town, simply slip on heels and grab a clutch.

Richie shined at the 2014 MET Gala in a sheer and velvet silver gown. The look was a perfect choice for her slender figure.

 Mixing prints is simple when you stick to basic primary colors. Red, black, and white all complement each other.

 For events taking place during a summer night, keep the colors bold and festive like Richie.

 Give your boyfriend jeans a sexy twist with a satin top, heel,s and girly clutch. Richie’s pajama-inspired cover-up was the right touch.

Those with lean shapes should feel comfortable going for pants that are pleated at the waist. In contrast, those with fuller mid-sections should opt for a cut that is straight and flat, without the fullness of pleats. 

 It doesn’t matter what season it was purchased — a denim dress is always on trend. 

 This black and white A-line dress gives the illusion of curves on Richie’s petite frame. Although this dress looks fabulous on her, the print and shape of the dress is one that would complement curvy figures, too.

Richie proves that a woman can look sexy not racy in a sheer gown. She’s spotted in a floor-grazing Dolce & Gabbana gown that looks stunning on her.

Now, this is how you walk a dog! Nothing quite says style like a perfect pair of jeans offset by a perfect white shirt. The blazer draped over the shoulders is a posh touch, that takes this “dog walking outfit” to a next level.

Richie’s black gown gives off an Old Hollywood glam vibe. A beautiful gown is always classic evening wear look.

Wawona Packing Co. is voluntarily issuing a recall of its peaches, nectarines, plums and pluots that were packed at its Cutler, Calif. warehouses between June 1 and July 12. The fruit recall is nationwide, according to the USFDA. Wawona believes the products may contain Listeria monocytogenes.

Costco, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and the Walmart Corp., which operates Walmart and Sam’s Club, have posted notices about the contaminated fruit on their websites. Trader Joe’s has encouraged that no one consume fruits with large pits, and that the fruits be returned to the store for a full refund.

But that’s not all.  In addition, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. has recalled several of its baked goods that contain fruit from Wawona, including cakes, pies, tarts, and more. See a full list of products at FDA.gov.

[Image: Shutterstock]

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause Listeriosis. Symptoms of Listeriosis include gastrointestinal issues, diarrhea, fever, and muscle aches. Pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and people with a weakened immune system are particularly at risk for serious infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC estimates approximately 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths are caused by Listeriosis each year in the U.S. Outbreaks have been relatively quiet since 2001. But a significant reemergence of Listeria occurred in 2011 with cantaloupes from a farm in Colorado, resulting in 147 reported cases of sickness and the deaths of nearly three dozen. The farmers responsible for the outbreak were recently sentenced to five years probation, including six months of house arrest.

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Naya Rivera is married, yes! Married! The 27-year-old Glee star surprised fans and foes all over when she confirmed that she wed Ryan Dorsey over the weekend. Ryan is also an actor and has starred in multiple series including Parks and Recreation and Southland.

The secret wedding took place on July 19th in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with only the couple’s closest friends and family in attendance. Naya shared photos from the wedding weekend on Instagram, but never said that she was celebrating her nuptials.

This girl moves quickly seeing as though she just ended her engagement to rapper Big Sean in April. Naya blasted Big Sean on Twitter claiming that he stole an expensive watch from her home. Big Sean released a statement saying that he called off the wedding and would no longer discuss the matter. At the time, Big Sean and Naya seemed to be head over heels for each other – with him even referencing her in his song lyrics …so you know it’s real.

You may be wondering…so when did she have time to date this new guy? Well, some are saying that he was the rebound all along. According to the Daily Mail UK, the couple has been “friends” for four years although they only recently started dating. Anyways, congrats Naya and Ryan!

Source; Photo credit: IG/TuffMagazine; IG/NayaRivera

Wendy Williams always seems to find herself on somebody’s bad side, but this time it looks like she’s offended the stylish sensibilities of a particularly outspoken housewife. Nene Leakes took off to her blog yesterday to give her full opinion on Wendy – and it wasn’t pretty.

Nene was clearly upset because Wendy spoke poorly of Nene’s taste after she embellished her Hermes Birkin bag. Nene custom- decorated the bag with some of her favorite and most memorable quotes from the Real Housewives of Atlanta show.

Wendy – as a talk show host – asked her fans for their opinion on the statement bag, tweeting: “Hot Question: What do think about @NeNeLeakes defacing her Birkin bag?’

For some reason (or to stay relevant), Nene was pissed with that twitter post. It’s not like Wendy said she hated the bag or hated Nene for scribbling on the bag – but Nene clearly thought otherwise.

Related: Wendy Williams’ Most Outrageous Comments & The Celebs’ Comebacks

On her blog,  Nene wrote:

Wendy I am sure people think that I’ve done something to you, maybe we had a beef or I slept with your man but none of that is true! I’ve actually only been nice to you! I gave you a beautiful black $3,200 Celine Phantom Bag to celebrate your 500th show but you haven’t spoken of that! But what you have chosen to do is constantly speak negative of me and lie on me! What you need to do is stop spewing hate! When it comes to gossip you are the lowest of the low! I know you hate because I turned down the chance to come on your Talk Show and I am sure you’re scared I will take your place (I know you have heard! Ummhmm wink wink) BE SCARED! I have a clothing line on HSN coming out in a few days and I know it must be hard for a black woman to support another black woman but you should try it sometime. PS: My Birkin is being turned into a work of art to raise money for a worthy charity something you fail to mention on your show! I don’t have one Birkin I have five now run tell that WIG.

Wendy had since deleted the tweet and has not responded to the blog post.

Now, who do YOU think is in the wrong? Do you think this was just a big misunderstanding or just another opportunity for Nene to throw shade?

Images: TamaraTattles;Getty; NeneLeakesofficial.com

It’s rare that an outfit is appropriate for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, but that’s exactly what we thought when we came across Keke Palmer wearing a white peplum top, ripped jeans, and white pumps. You’re probably asking yourself how this look is appropriate at any age, so allow us to convince you.

The peplum top is no longer the trend it was last summer, as the figure-enhancing silhouette has become a wardrobe staple. Ripped or distressed jeans aren’t just for the young anymore. This denim style also proves that a 40-something- or 50-something-year-old woman doesn’t take herself too seriously and can kick back when she needs a break, like it does for women in their 20s and 30s. (Just avoid jeans that are over-distressed, too tight, and low-rise.) And gone are days when women avoided white pumps like gum under their shoe. White pumps with an unexpected detail, like Palmer’s two-tone straps, are so much cooler than black pumps. If you think the overall look exposes too much skin, then simply add a flowing cardigan or blazer to the look.

If you’re looking to Style Out this weekend, then here’s how to get Keke Palmer’s appropriate-at-any-age look.

[Image: RogerWong/INFphoto.com]

Target Women’s Statement Necklace, $16.99
H&M Peplum Top, $29.95
Aldo Therarwen Pumps, $34.99
Zara Girlfriend Fit Ripped Jeans, $29.99