To pay respect to those whose lives have been affected by police brutality cities cross the nation are holding peaceful vigils. Participants will gather on August 14, 2014 at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PT. A moment of silence will start at 7:20 p.m. and 4:20 p.m.

To identify each other and show solidarity, everyone is asked to wear a red ribbon/cloth/bandana on your right arm at the vigils. Do not wear red in areas where doing so can cause conflict.

Check the links below for locations in your area.

Also, follow the hashtag, #NMOS14 on Twitter for updates on peaceful gatherings.

Arizona
(Phoenix) https://www.facebook.com/events/902521466443415/
(Tucson) – https://www.facebook.com/events/695342890535882/

Arkansas
(Little Rock) http://facebook.com/profile.php?id=480313318739032

California
(San Francisco) https://www.facebook.com/events/704940676222328/ |
(Oakland) https://www.facebook.com/events/286098704907250/
(San Diego) https://www.facebook.com/events/1476921019232309/
(Los Angeles) https://www.facebook.com/NMOS14LA
(La Jolla) https://www.facebook.com/events/527276700707735/
(Sacramento) https://www.facebook.com/events/687510408009380/

Colorado
(Denver) https://www.facebook.com/events/1459381507666962/
Connecticut
(Hartford) https://www.facebook.com/events/1515572861990983/

District of Columbia

https://www.facebook.com/events/622649584500191/

Florida
(West Palm Beach) https://www.facebook.com/events/616835281766174/ |
(Tampa) http://facebook.com/events/1485988644975793/
(Orlando) https://www.facebook.com/events/327629527404503/
(Miami) https://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Moment-of-Silence-2014-Miami/187263208140291
(Gainsville) https://www.facebook.com/events/1477326142515217/

Georgia
(Decatur/Atlanta) https://www.facebook.com/events/697218930327017/
(Valdosta) — https://www.facebook.com/events/327046970753994

Hawaii
(Honolulu) https://www.facebook.com/events/661469167277975/

Illinois
(Chicago) https://www.facebook.com/events/358420444311713/
(Carbondale) https://www.facebook.com/events/276511749209836/276568469204164/

Indiana
(Indianapolis) https://www.facebook.com/events/412384712236148/
(Bloomington) https://www.facebook.com/events/282076065313400/

Iowa
(Des Moines) https://www.facebook.com/events/767353336639025/

Kentucky
(Louisville) https://www.facebook.com/nationalmomentofsilencelouisville
(Bowling Green) — Pending

[Image: Shutterstock]

Louisiana
(Baton Rouge) https://www.facebook.com/events/752026591509550/
(New Orleans) https://www.facebook.com/nmosapbnola

Maine
(Portland) https://www.facebook.com/events/566737933431807/

Maryland
(Baltimore) https://www.facebook.com/events/670392223044453/
(Annapolis) – https://www.facebook.com/events/678034935605742

Massachusetts
(Boston) https://www.facebook.com/events/275145419356249

Michigan
(Detroit) https://www.facebook.com/events/815511191813015/ |
(Lansing) https://www.facebook.com/events/346348768846640/
(Saginaw) https://www.facebook.com/events/552996471496017/
(Grand Rapids) https://www.facebook.com/events/773686129349198/
(Ann Arbor) https://www.facebook.com/events/322515014580239/
(Wausau) https://www.facebook.com/events/747694931936051/

Minnesota
(Minneapolis) https://www.facebook.com/events/1442088142746371/

Mississippi
(Oxford) https://www.facebook.com/events/295906250592449/

Missouri
(St. Louis) https://www.facebook.com/events/676481605774851/ |
(Kansas City) https://www.facebook.com/events/821911307841292/
(St. Joseph) https://www.facebook.com/events/918376681511128/
(Springfield) https://www.facebook.com/events/733167813423178/

Nebraska
(Omaha) – Pending

Nevada
(Carson City) https://www.facebook.com/events/1509308679282936/

New Jersey
(New Brunswick) https://www.facebook.com/events/308314949346393 |
(Newark) https://www.facebook.com/events/682066405221010/
(Wyckoff, NJ) https://www.facebook.com/events/691239120970300/

New York
(Manhattan: includes Lower Manhattan and Harlem gatherings) https://facebook.com/events/696125507103287 |
(Rochester) https://www.facebook.com/events/694217234003406/ |
(Farmingdale) https://www.facebook.com/events/1451890618369258/1452050428353277/
(Brooklyn) https://t.co/RC6qfLq4vs
(Long Island) https://www.facebook.com/events/1451890618369258/
(Albany) https://www.facebook.com/events/877077668987606
(Queens) https://www.facebook.com/events/295700793967936/
(Syracuse) – Pending
(Binghamton) https://www.facebook.com/events/778643945512851/

North Carolina
(Durham) https://www.facebook.com/events/1502725206533280/
(Charlotte) https://www.facebook.com/events/1448288622123916/

Ohio
(Columbus) https://www.facebook.com/events/619920534788830/
(Cleveland) https://www.facebook.com/events/1468531566735259/
(Dayton) https://www.facebook.com/events/749072441821445/
(Beavercreek) https://www.facebook.com/events/749072441821445

Oregon
(Portland) https://www.facebook.com/events/489229881213939/

Pennsylvania
(Pittsburgh) https://www.facebook.com/events/566150613507509
(Philadelphia) https://www.facebook.com/events/364180407068799

Rhode Island
(Providence) https://www.facebook.com/events/360308754120965

South Carolina
(Columbia) https://www.facebook.com/events/823862437632882/
(Greenville) https://t.co/c11YdZNu6G

Tennessee
(Nashville) https://www.facebook.com/events/648204311945518/
(Knoxville) https://www.facebook.com/events/810032495715604/
(Memphis) https://www.facebook.com/events/761454243897785/

Texas
(Houston) https://www.facebook.com/events/705374916201811/ |
(Lubbock) https://www.facebook.com/events/579236358853127 |
(Austin) https://www.facebook.com/events/760877517298441 |
(Denton) https://facebook.com/events/1448837368723829
(San Antonio) https://www.facebook.com/events/1449862428628577
(El Paso) https://www.facebook.com/events/297205180451231/
(Bryan/College Station) Brazos Museum – 500 E Pruitt St., Bryan, TX, 77803
(McAllen) https://www.facebook.com/events/1523277577890239/

Utah
(Salt Lake City) https://www.facebook.com/events/1527809874099530/

Vermont
(Burlington) https://www.facebook.com/events/443780749097324/

Virginia
(DC) https://www.facebook.com/events/622649584500191/ |
(Woodbridge) https://www.facebook.com/events/1517198948492919/
(Richmond) https://www.facebook.com/events/260370380837848/
(Hampton Roads) https://www.facebook.com/events/701267309953639/
(Norfolk- ODU) https://www.facebook.com/events/1464979327086842/
(Blacksburg) Henderson Lawn 7pm

Washington
(Vancouver) https://www.facebook.com/events/489229881213939/ |
(Seattle) https://m.facebook.com/events/348282328662642
(Bremerton) https://www.facebook.com/events/800952593268519/

Wisconsin
(Milwaukee) https://www.facebook.com/events/685581838186107/

Wyoming will not have a vigil against police brutality.

I don’t know Dr. Simone Whitmore, her husband, or the intricacies of their marriage. When the OBGYN and Married 2 Medicine star announced on the show that she “rarely” gave her man head, it started a very interesting debate amongst viewers and, well, every man and woman who has given or received oral sex. Dr. Whitmore, who has been married to her husband for 18 years, began receiving unsolicited relationship advice from strangers on the internet who flooded the comment sections of articles to reiterate the tired phrase, “what you won’t do, another woman will.” Suddenly, every damn person (including people who have trouble getting married and starting a family in SIMS 2, much less real life) felt that they knew the key to “fixing” the sexual component of her relationship.

My thoughts on her individual relationship are simply this: Do what makes YOU and YOUR MAN happy. If her husband likes getting blow jobs every solar eclipse, then who in the hell am I to tell him or her that they are wrong? Sex is always about mutual satisfaction, so if they’ve been enjoying their sex for 18 years, then kudos to them. Now, the REAL problem doesn’t lie with Dr. Whitmore’s actions, it’s about her advice for other women. Her comments missed the mark on what sex means to many married men.

When a man loves a woman enough to get on his bended knee and propose that they spend the rest of their lives together, he is expecting they will now be officially responsible for maintaining their shared emotional, mental, spiritual and physical connections. To reiterate a point I’ve made a million times, most men don’t exhibit the full scope of their emotions verbally, or by writing limericks, or some other action. Many men express the depths of their love for their woman through making love.

When a man is with a woman he truly loves, it’s NOT all about flippin’ it, smackin’ it and rubbin’ it (although that IS a big part), it’s about being inside the one perfect woman for you. After meeting, dating and vetting countless women, you are now physically and emotionally one with the one person you’ll do anything to make happy, in and out of the bedroom. But, if she isn’t on the same page with her man in that sense, that is scary for a married man because it proves that there may be a huge gap in mutual appreciation.

When many women hear another woman say that she doesn’t give head, they think the issue he has is about not getting the freaky sex he wants. But what men really take issue with is the possibility that her lack of reciprocity is a sign that she’s unwilling to love him in the same way that he would be willing to for her. Married men HATE hearing that Dr. Simone Whitmore doesn’t give head because they immediately think about how willing they may be to give their woman oral sex and assume that her husband is getting a raw deal. See, what really scares men, married or not, is attaching themselves for life to a woman who is too selfish and entitled to appreciate the man she has, and to reciprocate the efffort he’s putting in.

Screw what ya heard, marriage isn’t about you and me, it’s about us. If you don’t believe a man or woman “completes” you, then that’s perfectly fine for you, but don’t you ever forget that you made the CHOICE to become a couple, and acting like one means  that you must ALWAYS take them into account with whatever you do.

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.

New details have emerged about the tragic death of legendary comedian, Robin Williams. Williams was sober at the time of his death but was struggling with early stages of Parkinson’s disease.

“Robin spent so much of his life helping others. Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops on the front lines, or comforting a sick child – Robin wanted us to laugh and to feel less afraid,” said his wife, Susan Schneider. “Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly.

Robin William’s wife also added that his diagnosis was not something he wanted to share to the public right away. Although this can be a natural reaction to any health deficiency, many celebrities affected by neurological disorders have opened up about their conditions to bring awareness to such groups. In the pages that follow, learn how celebs like Tamia, Samuel L. Jackson, B. Smith, Muhammad Ali and others have dealt with their prognosis.

 Muhammad Ali

Diagnosed in 1994, Muhammad Ali battled Parkinson’s disease until the end of his career. Philanthropist Jimmy Walker and Abraham Lieberman, MD established movements disorder clinic in his honor at the St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ three years later.

Tamia

Canadian born songstress Tamia Hill, 39, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003.  The wife of former NBA player Grant Hill and mother of two daughters controls the condition with diet, exercise and medication.

Maurice White

As a musician and one of the founding member of Earth, wind, & Fire, Maurice White took notice of his first Parkinson’s Disease symptoms while on tour in the 1980s. He kept quiet about his disease for eight years before releasing details.

Brian Grant

Brian Grant spent more than ten years in the NBA playing with the Sacramento Kings, the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Phoenix Suns. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 36 which is early for many but it was just the right time for him to establish his own foundation, The Brian Grant Foundation. 

Sugar Ray Robinson

Frequently cited as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson was the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times.  He battled with diabetes but was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in his final years. He died at the age of 67.

 B. Smith 

Smith, 64, was one of the first African American models to grace the cover of Mademoiselle Magazine. She revealed that she had Alzheimer’s in an interview by CBS News earlier this year.

Montel Williams

Emmy® Award winning talk show host Montel Williams has been living with multiple sclerosis since 1999. The 58 year old created the Montel Williams MS Foundation shortly after his diagnosis to raise awareness and funding for the disease.  His daughter Maressa was diagnosed late last year with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of cancer.

Samuel L. Jackson

Though he has yet to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, Samuel L. Jackson is convinced that he will be the fifth in his family to get the disease. Four family members, including his mother and father, had been diagnosed when he opened up about his urgency to find a cure.  “I read, I do crossword puzzles, I memorize lines for a living,” he said. “Maybe that’s why I continue to work — because I want to exercise my mind.” 

Missouri’s African-American state Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson was named to look after security in Ferguson in wake of the backlash against the local police department after the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9th. Captain Johnson said in a press conference on Thursday that he will emphasize respect for the entire community as he takes over operations.

“What’s gone on here over the last few days is not what Missouri is about, it is not what Ferguson is about. This is a place where people work, go to school, raise their families and go to church, a diverse community, a Missouri community,” stated Governor Jay Nixon said at the press conference.

The actions of police officers in Ferguson have recalled memories of the Civil Rights movements in the 1960s for many older Americans. Disturbing photos showing police officers sitting in driving tanks, using tear gas, stun guns and arresting protesters, journalists and supporters on the streets of Ferguson and first hand accounts from witnesses have flooded Twitter and Facebook. The Federal Aviation Administration instituted a six day no-fly zone over Ferguson after a civil helicopter was shot at during a riot on Sunday. In the words of Governor Nixon, Ferguson “has looked a little bit more like a war zone.”

Photo: AP

One memorable image shows an African-American man with dreadlocks hurling a can of tear gas back at law enforcement while wearing a tank top emblazoned with the American flag.

The hashtag #Ferguson and #JusticeForMikeBrown trended in the aftermath of the news, offering a place of public grief, outrage, and served as a virtual meeting post for supporters outside of Ferguson to rally together against police brutality. Vigils and demonstrations were held across the nation in cities including New York’s five boroughs, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New Orleans on Thursday.

Michael Brown’s family requested a second autopsy to be overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice. Plans for the funeral are on hold until a second autopsy can be performed, the family’s attorney, Ben Crump says. The family hopes that a second autopsy will provide a fair look into the cause of death. If the request is granted, the funeral will take place by the end of August.

President Obama has called on both sides to take a step back to remember how this all started and focus on healing.

“…when something like this happens, the local authorities, including the police, have a responsibility to be open and transparent about how they are investigating that death and how they’re protecting the people in their communities,” Obama said. “There is never an excuse for violence against police or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting. There’s also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment right.”

The explosive fourth season of “Braxton Family Values” kicked off Thursday night. This season is sure to be full of disagreements between The Braxtons, Trina, Towanda, Traci, and Tamar, with Toni in the middle attempting to salvage relationships, as usual.

First, the new season saw the youngest Braxtons dining with their father Michael Braxton Sr., for Tamar’s 37th birthday lunch. And Mrs. Herbert served up plenty of diva-tude as always.

Then, Toni made her return to Broadway in the jazz musical “After Midnight” with frequent collaborator Babyface.

The drama reached a fevered pitch during Tamar’s birthday dinner at Phillippe’s restaurant. The sisters were shocked to see Gabe pull up to the party and kiss Trina. It appears that the couple is back on again.

While at the dinner, a friend of Tamar’s said he never knew her persona to change. The sisters didn’t take this well, and Towanda called out the guest for attempting to act as if he knew Tamar better than they did.

The following day while out to eat, Toni begged the question, “What is a Tamartian?” to which Towanda answered “A rude, young child on Twitter.”

Was that a read? Apparently Tamar felt so, and didn’t stay quiet on her feelings of being disrespected.

Toni encouraged her family to put everything on the table while at dinner, following the incident, in an effort to clear the air before the girls embark on a collective album.

Feeling fatigued with arguing with a seemingly unmoved Tamar, Towanda pounded the table in a rage, shattering glass shrieking, “Nobody f***ing cares about me!” Wow!

Tune in to season four of Braxton family values Thursday at 9 on WE tv.

An African-American ballerina’s inspirational life story is headed to the big screen with the help of New Line Cinema. The movie studio has optioned the rights to Misty Copeland’s story of being homeless with her mother and siblings to becoming only the second African-American female soloist in the American Ballet Theatre. Copeland’s best selling memoir Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina will serve as the basis for the script being written by Stephanie Allain and Lenore Kletter. Offspring Entertainment’s Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot serve as producers for the project. Both are familiar with bringing movies involving dance to theaters.

Misty Copeland started taking ballet classes at a local Boys & Girls club in Kansas City at the age of 13-a late age according to ballet standards and by 18 she had joined New York’s prestigious American Ballet Theatre- a feat practically unheard of in the ballet world. Copeland excelled quickly in her ballet classes, prompting her ballet teacher to move her in to continue working with her. Just as her star was starting to rise, Copeland found herself in the middle of a bitter custody battle between her teacher and her mother, who wanted her to move home. “It was like my world was ending,” Copeland told Elle back in 2014. “They were like family.”

Copeland bounced back and entered the American Ballet Theatre just as her body was changing from the ideal ballerina standard to a more developed body. Suddenly Copeland’s teachers took notice of her fuller figure and told her that her lines weren’t they wanted. “I had no idea what to do with my body. It wasn’t responding like it used to. It was like starting over.” On top of that she had to learn how to deal with critics who didn’t think as an African-American woman she belonged in the company.

Despite a rocky upbringing, changing body and negative reactions, Copeland never lost her passion for dance. She danced Prince on and off for three years, appeared on So You Think You Can Dance and is the newest spokeswoman for Under Armour. Her Under Armour ad giving a glimpse into her story went viral over the summer.

Damon Dash, Lee Daniels, and Joyce DeWitt pose at an event for the film Shadowboxer in 2005.

It seems a business relationship will soon turn into a legal war. Hip Hop executive Damon Dash has filed a $25 million lawsuit against director Lee Daniels, claiming the filmmaker stiffed him for money and film credits.

According to TMZ, Daniels convinced the former Roc-A-Fella mogul to invest in his films, including Precious and The Butler.

Dash claims to have invested $2 million into The Woodsman in 2004 and never saw a return on it. In the lawsuit, Dash claims there was a similar investment in Daniels’ other projects.

In the legal documents, Dash says he never received his executive producer and producer credits for the films. The Butler grossed more than $100 million worldwide at the box office.

According to New York Daily News, Daniels isn’t the only one facing a lawsuit. Dash is also coming for Simone Sheffield of Canyon Entertainment for $1 million dollars for the film Shadowboxer.

With Dash reportedly in debt, there’s no wonder why he’s trying to recoup his investments now.

You better check your freezer. Perdue is recalling about 15,000 pounds of frozen chicken nuggets after receiving complaints that plastic fragments were found in the products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service says the Perdue recall is the result of several complaints of small pieces of plastic inside the precooked Applegate Naturals Chicken Nuggets.

More specifically, the products that could be contaminated have the establishment number P2617 and a best before date of Feb. 5, 2015. The products were shipped to retailers across the country.

Applegate did a market withdrawal of the nuggets on August 8.

So far, no consumers have reported injury or illness after eating the nuggets.

For questions and concerns about the Perdue recall, contact a Applegate Consumer Relations Specialist at (800) 587-5858.

The name of the officer who shot and killed unarmed teen Mike Brown has been released. Officer Darren Wilson, a six-year veteran who has no history of disciplinary action, has been named as the shooter.

Police Chief Thomas Jackson revealed the cop’s identity early Friday morning in a press conference. Officer Wilson was reportedly treated for injuries after the shooting. The St. Louis-area officer is described by Chief Thomas as “torn up” over the shooting.

The “hacktivist” social media account, Annoynous, whose Twitter account has been suspended, released the wrong name of the officer. Authorities said that the person Anonymous named was actually a dispatcher and was not involved in the Ferguson shooting.

Many were outraged that officials hadn’t released the shooter’s name, even a week after the incident. The Ferguson Police Department was reluctant to release the name, citing death threats to officers.

Meanwhile, the Missouri chapter of the Ku Klux Klan has started raising reward money for Officer Wilson.

In an email from the terroristic hate group, described Brown as a thug and Officer Wilson as “a hero. We need more white cops who are anti-Zog and willing to put Jewish controlled black thugs in their place. Most cops are cowards and do nothing while 90 percent of interracial crime is black (and non-white) on white.”

This week in celebrity quotes: Idris Elba talks about the XXL ‘package’ in his pants, Faith Evans recounts fighting one of her ex-husband’s mistresses and Sherri Shepherd jokes about her two failed marriages. Plus, Ciara slams a tabloid for falsifying a story about her rumored break-up! AND I QUOTE…

“As soon as I kicked in the door and saw her I just started to *punches fist* 
I don’t even know if she got a chance to say anything and I just looked over at him as I’m still hitting her. *punches fist again*
He’s sitting there like, “Wow Faye. Why are you doing that to her? I didn’t even **** her.”  I was like, “Well you shoulda . . . ‘cause you see what happened to her.”

Faith Evans recounts introducing her fist to the mistress of her former husband, Notorious B.I.G, mistresses, on Centric’s “BEING.”

Source

“You don’t think that my life has been hell and I’ve had so many ups and downs now. If I did that what am i showing my children that when it gets tough that’s the way out No you gotta buckle down ask God to help you. That’s when prayer really comes into effect. Rest in peace Robin Williams I hope you found what you were looking for.”

Todd Bridges alluding that actor Robin Williams was ‘selfish’ for committing suicide earlier this week, via Twitter.

“The good new is i got a sh*t load of followers. The bad news is, that is a mic wire. #egowentintospaceshipmodethough”

Idris Elba responding to uproar over the Anaconda-sized print in his pants that the paparazzi captured while filming the movie A Hundred Streets, via Twitter.

“When I started ‘The View’ seven years ago, my [son] Jeffrey was 2 years old, and I was going through a very public divorce. Now, my son is 9 years old, and I’m going through another very public divorce. Let’s just say, I’m happy that Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie were better at picking co-hosts than I was at choosing my husbands.”

Sherri Shepherd poking fun at her inability to find a good husband, multiple divorces and more, during her emotional farewell from The View.

Source

“the stats also show AL coon sharpton has not helped one situation he has protested at,he actually made it worst and because of him the jury goes the other way..(think about it) Jena six,trayvon and the list goes back way back..#AL ur like a #THOT in the club,lookn for attention what u said at trayvons rally #enoughisenough ur right were tired of u PRETENDING”

Gilbert Arenas criticizing the Ferguson rioters for destroying their city and calling Rev. Al Sharpton a THOT, via Instagram.

“Also for the rest of the people who feel as though my blonde hair is yet another way to look more Caucasian? ‘GET. YO. LIFE’….. I went blonde for the same reason I went purple …and for the same reason I’ll probably go Green at some point ..because I felt like it.”

Meagan Good responding to rumors that she has joined the skin bleaching trend and wishes to become Caucasian, via Instagram.

“@UsWeekly I did not do this interview with you! This is a lie, and tasteless! Must you be that thirsty to create a story?! Unbelievable.”

Ciara slamming US Weekly for creating a story about the rumored break-up with her son’s father Future, via Twitter.

A Loudon County, Virginia police chief shot his daughter in the garage after mistaking her for an intruder. It is thought that the 16-year-old teen was trying to sneak back into the house without getting caught after leaving earlier that morning.

Deputy Easton McDonald was preparing for work early Tuesday morning when the security alarm went off in his home, signaling the garage door had been opened. He took his gun to investigate when he saw and shot a person walking towards him. After turning on the light, he discovered it was his daughter, whom he just wounded in the torso.

[Image: Facebook]

McDonald then attempted to drive his daughter to hospital for medical treatment, but on the way there he crashed his car. Winchester Fire and Rescue then transported the girl to Winchester Medical Center.

She is recovering in stable condition.

Donnie Lang of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Department said no one’s decided whether any charges will be filed.

[Image: Shutterstock]

Things are spiraling even more for the Chicago couple charged with murdering the woman’s mother. The woman was found dead and stuffed in a suitcase at an upscale Bali hotel. Her daughter, 19 year-old, Heather Mack and her 21 year-old boyfriend, Tommy Shaefer were later taken into custody after police found the luggage in a taxi parked outside of St. Regis Bali in Nusa Dua on Tuesday.

South Kuta Police Chief Comr. Gede Redastra told the Jakarta Post, “When we opened the suitcase we were really surprised as we found a dead body.”

Days before they were scheduled to check out, the couple carried the suitcase to a cab in front of the hotel and told the driver they had more bags – they then escaped through the backdoor of St. Regis. The driver waited for two hours before he noticed that the luggage had blood on it. He then drove it to the nearest police station.

Police said the two had an argument with the teen’s mother that escalated to her killing. Reports have not been released of how the 62 year-old mother died, but when the suitcase was opened they found blood and lashes on her forehead.

It was reported that Mack had a long history of domestic abuse with her mother. Between January 2004 and June 2013, the police came to the family’s home over 86 times.  All of the reports were between Heather Mack and her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack.

In Indonesia, inmates charged with murder and condemned to death row face being executed by firing squad. “They are taken to a field and shot by twelve gunmen,” explains New York Times. “If the dozen shots to the chest do not kill the prisoner, the squad’s leader will deliver a point-blank shot to his or her head.”

Photo: NYDailyNews

An Okeechobee teen has been charged for beating a 16 year-old boy with Autism. The incident was recorded by a cell phone and put online as reported by the Okeechobee City Police Department.

The victim told police that he was invited to the party last Friday by classmates and given alcohol. He was then told to go outside “to fight someone”- that someone was 18-year-old Andrew Wheeler.

When the victim refused, matters got worse. Andrew Wheeler showed up and brutally beat the teen. Reports say that Wheeler followed him outside, punched him repeatedly, and choked him until he was unconscious. Other people just stood around and watched.

Police found him lying in the middle of road just after midnight with contusions and a concussion.

The video recorded was found on Andrew Wheeler’s Facebook page and discovered by police. Wheeler claimed that he had been told that a “drunk guy” was punching and hitting another teen, so he took matters into his own hands. Officers say that Wheeler admitted to “losing his temper”.

“I think the video is disgusting. It is just as upsetting to myself and my officers as it is to anyone else that viewed it. Absolutely no way would we ever attempt to cover up anything like that. So it’s very disturbing,” the chief of Okeechobee city police said.

Andrew Wheeler was taken into custody and charged with child abuse without bodily harm.

*Warning: Some viewers may find this video disturbing. Watch at your own discretion.*

Images: WPTV/Youtube

Let’s face it: it’s been a tough week in the news. From the ongoing turmoil in Ferguson, Missouri over the death of Michael Brown to the outrage in South Los Angeles over the shooting of Ezell Ford and everything in between, there seems to be no end.

Still, there’s been a refreshing wave of kids and young adults who’ve made recent headlines that temporarily took our minds off the heartbreak and put smiles on our faces. They’re making sports history, owning businesses, using technology to better communities and being amazingly awesome.

Here are just a few of the young folks on our radar.

JACKIE ROBINSON WEST ALL-STARS

These baseball all-stars have become the first all-Black team from Chicago to reach the Little League World Series in three decades. Founded by the late Joseph Haley, this team of 13 talented athletes is well on its way to becoming world champions in a sport that’s seen a steady decline in Black participation. On Sunday, the boys will head to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to compete against the Mountain Ridge Little League from Las Vegas, Nevada. Full story

Photo courtesy of Gene J. Puskar

MO’NE DAVIS, 13

This girl’s got some serious heat. Mo’Ne led her Philadelphia Little League team to its first World Series after pitching her second complete shutout in a row (the first qualified her team for the series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania). She’s the first girl to throw a shutout in the Little League World Series. This all-star is throwing out fastballs at 70 miles per hour, making the boys– and the world– take notice. Full story

Photo courtesy of Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

CALEB CHRISTIAN, 14; IMA CHRISTIAN, 16; ASHA CHRISTIAN, 15

In light of recent events (see: Eric Garner, Denise Stewart, Michael Brown, etc.), these siblings are using technology to cut down on police abuse and keep citizens safe. Their new app titled “Five-O” will enable users to document any incident of police abuse and rate the specific officer. The information will then be brought to community activists, the media and other forms of law enforcement. Full story

Photo courtesy of Facebook

CORY NIEVES, 9

This pint-size entrepreneur is not only serving up a mean cookie, but he’s doing so in a stylish way. He’s the CEO of his very own cookie company called “Mr. Cory’s Cookies.” He’s known for his all-natural treats that include the “perfect” chocolate chip cookie and sugar-free oatmeal raisin cookies. He’s also gaining traction on social media as a fashion-forward business kid with an enviable closet. Full story

CHASE REED, 16

Chase has turned his passion for kicks into Harlem’s Sneaker Pawn, the world’s first sneaker pawn shop. The idea came about after the teen repeatedly asked to borrow money from his dad for limited edition sneakers. Customers looking to pawn their shoes can come in for a price estimate and negotiate a deal. The teen only deals with “high-end” kicks that are in great condition and are hard to find. In the future, Chase hopes to expand his business overseas. Full story

Photo courtesy of Taryn Finley/The Root

Uzo Aduba came out as the big winner at Saturday’s Creative Arts Emmys, honoring the best in technical and other achievements in television. The “Orange is the New Black” actress scored an Emmy for her breakout role as “Crazy Eyes” in Netflix’s hit series.

Aduba, 33, beat out castmates Laverne Cox and Natasha Lyonne in the category of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. She also bested Tina Fey (“Saturday Night Live”), Melissa McCarthy (“Saturday Night Live”) and Joan Cusack (“Shameless”).

“I don’t know how to say how incredibly impressed I am to be a part of this show day in, day out,” a teary-eyed Aduba said after being handed her award by Morgan Freeman. She went on to thank her family, producers and others for a show “that lets everyone be represented in such a beautiful way.”

She further expressed her joy backstage, stating, “I feel so full, that’s why the tears came out […] I’m stuffed. My cut runneth over right now. Mission accomplished, thank you.”

In total, “Orange is the New Black” has collected 12 nominations in categories such as Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Taylor Schilling), Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and more.

Additionally, Joe Morton scored his first Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role on “Scandal.” He beat out Dylan Baker (“The Good Wife”), Reg E. Cathey  (“House of Cards”), Paul Giamatti (“Downton Abbey”), Robert Morse (“Mad Men”) and Beau Bridges (“Masters of Sex”).

“It’s an incredible feeling to have been in the business this long. This is the first time I’ve been up for one of these things and, given who I was quote unquote up against, it’s terrific,” Morton said in his acceptance speech. “My head is in the clouds somewhere and my feet are trying to touch the ground.”

Photo courtesy of The Associated Press

The remainder of the awards will be handed out at the 66th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, airing Monday, Aug. 25 on NBC.

The Justice Department has ordered an additional autopsy in the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old shot by Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9. A spokesman for the department released a statement on Sunday concerning the federal civil rights investigation into the shooting.

“Due to the extraordinary circumstances involved in this case and at the request of the Brown family, Attorney General Holder has instructed Justice Department officials to arrange for an additional autopsy to be performed by a federal medical examiner,” read the statement.

“The independent examination will take place as soon as possible. Even after it is complete, Justice Department officials still plan to take the state-performed autopsy into account in the course of their investigation.”

The turmoil in Ferguson continued early Sunday morning as a state mandated curfew went into place at midnight. Protestors and dozens of police officers in riot gear clashed within the first hour, ending with the arrest of seven people charged with “failure to disperse.” The curfew was lifted at 5 a.m.

The New York Daily News reports one man was shot and critically wounded near the area, but authorities have not identified the victim. It is unclear who shot him, yet officials said it did not appear he was shot by an officer.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced the initial curfew at a news conference on Saturday when he declared a state of emergency.

“This is not to silence the people of Ferguson, but to address those who are drowning out the voice of the people with their actions,” he told reporters at a church in the area.

Photo courtesy of Eric Thayer/The New York Times

“We will not allow a handful of looters to endanger the rest of this community. If we’re going to achieve justice, we must first have and maintain peace.”

By Ericka Blount Danois | Photography By Cliff Watts

Common, dressed in a classic streamlined Caruso black tuxedo, is looking over his shoulder at Selita Ebanks, sporting a La Perla black bra and panties, as she sensually rests her body against his back for the cameras. The Chitown rapper is at the top of his game yet again. His 10th album dropped in July and he just wrapped a challenging role as civil rights activist James Bevel for Selma, the Martin Luther King, Jr. biopic directed by Ava DuVernay and produced by Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt due out by Christmas. With an already full plate, he will also continue his starring role on the AMC series, Hell on Wheels, as Elam Ferguson, an emancipated slave.

Ebanks reaches over toward the nightstand and feeds Common caviar off of her long crimson fingernails as they lounge seductively on an oval bed in the 57th floor penthouse suite of the W Hotel Times Square. Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo croon in the background of the racy scene. Throughout the day there are many changes for Common: one luxurious suit after another—all attire befitting a leading man or maybe a hip-hop sex symbol. It’s the sex symbol part that Common approaches reluctantly. “It’s not what I reach for, but I like women, so I’m not running away from it,” he smirks. “But I’m not running out saying, ‘Hey let me get my eyebrows arched’ or whatever sex symbols do.”

The current scene is definitely sexy, but potentially awkward. See, Ebanks and Common’s real-life ex-girlfriend, Serena Williams, are best friends. And according to him, there was a time he thought Serena was the one. However, he just laughs off today’s provocative posing with his ex’s supermodel bestie. It’s acting, just like any role.

Common is easygoing and down-to-earth—qualities that have sometimes earned him the unfavorable label of “soft.” Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.

There’s a war going on in Chicago. Over the July 4th holiday, 82 people were shot, 14 fatally. As the murders continue to increase, so does the silence surrounding the crisis. Common, a Southside native, bucks silence. He has been a loyal activist for Chicago’s youth through his Common Ground Foundation, which seeks to use creative arts to expose young people to new opportunities (Common Ground and Kanye West’s Donda’s House have together found jobs for 20,000 young people in Chicago).

The rapper’s latest album, Nobody’s Smiling, is as much a nod to the lyrics of Rakim’s legendary track, “In the Ghetto,” as it is a wake-up call to anyone who is listening to what he deems as the cries of Chicago youth for help.

“One way of giving back is by having young Chicago artists on the album,” says Common, who has Cocaine 80s, Malik Yusef, and Dreezy as guests. “This album is an action to increase awareness to people in the city. I owe it to Chicago.”

Common is no stranger to violence or death. His 6-foot-8 father, Lonnie Lynn, (Common was born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr.) was a basketball playground legend who suffered from an addiction to drugs and the fast life. He once kidnapped Common, then a toddler, and his mother at gunpoint, taking them to a tryout with the Seattle SuperSonics to prove to recruiters that he was a family man, even though Common’s parents were separated and getting a divorce at the time.

Some of Common’s friends have been killed in senseless shootings, and he knows the uncle of Hadiya Pendleton, the honor student slain by gang members, who performed at the President Obama’s inauguration just days before her death.

As a teenager, Common had a competitive and roguish streak and would instigate fights on the basketball court near Hyde Park. One session, his friend, Ron Coward, remembered, lasted all night. Their team would win and they would fight the opposing team and play again. Their team would lose and they would fight the opposing team and play again. This went on until the sun came up.

But overall, Common tended to be the voice of reason. “Ras was always pushing us to do better,” says his life-long neighborhood friend, who grew up near 88th and Dorchester. “We would be out there gangbanging and he introduced us to positive stuff like rapping and playing sports.”

In one of his first interviews on BET in 1989, host Madelyne Woods said to him, “You’re not really hardcore.” He responded, “I’m hardcore which to me is coming from the heart. Putting your heart on that paper and being true.”

That heart has been breaking a lot lately. In 2006, he lost one of his closest friends, producer and hip-hop genius, J. Dilla, to Lupus and the rare blood disease thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) three days after his 32nd birthday. When Common found out he was sick, he invited Dilla out to Los Angeles to stay in an apartment with him because he thought L.A.’s sunshine and beaches would be a healing environment. “He was physically deteriorating. It would be sad for me to see. You know you coming home healthy,” remembers Common. “You feel guilty. It brought my own immortality to the forefront.”

The Detroit rapper and producer was in a wheelchair toward the end of his life and sometimes Common would come home from a tour and find Dilla on the couch with his head in his mother’s lap.

On the single, “Rewind That” on Nobody’s Smiling, Common is finally able to talk about J. Dilla since his death. His childhood friend and producer, Ernest Dion Wilson, better known in the industry as No I.D., re-connected with Common to produce the album and he convinced the typically private rapper to address the death of his friend.

“Until I did this song, I wouldn’t answer questions in interviews about him. I wouldn’t keep pictures around. That song has been part of my process in dealing with it still.”

Before an injury sidelined him, Common wanted to be a professional basketball player. His father got him a job as a ball boy for the Chicago Bulls and he got the chance to know Michael Jordan just when he was starting out with the Bulls. “You know how popular I was?!” He smiles thinking about how the kids at his school reacted. By the time Common had heard the story about the kidnapping by his father, the two of them had already built a solid relationship. “He was always honest, acknowledging his flaws. He didn’t try to hide anything,” Common says. His father also introduced him to music. On each trip to visit with his father he would borrow an album from him.

But his mother, Dr. Mahalia Ann Hines, has always been his rock and spiritual foundation. She wrote passages of her recollections of her son for his memoir, One Day It’ll All Make Sense. Common’s 16-year-old daughter, Omoye, helps him stay relevant musically. She and her friends had a listening session for his latest album, and critiqued and approved it.

“The most beautiful thing about this project is it’s not ahead of its time, it’s not a throwback album. It feels like today,” he says. “I feel like a new artist. There are people out there that don’t know my music, but they know me from acting. Some don’t know me at all.”

No I.D. has been friends with Common since Common skipped from the second to the fourth grade and ended up in the same class with him. Though they grew apart when Common moved to New York to build his career, they reunited and Nobody’s Smiling is produced entirely by the producer, who is the executive vice president of Def Jam Recordings and has his own label, ARTium Records. “This album is an example of letting people know where we come from,” says No I.D. “We can say to kids, ‘You can do it, because we did it.’”

A third friend that used to hang out with No I.D. and Common in the fourth grade, Twilite Tone, performs live with Common, deejays and does background vocals. Common is single now, and enjoying his unattached life, but says he believes in marriage. He thought it would happen with Williams, but he is taking his time now before he jumps into something else. “If I’m in it as much as I was with Serena, as much as I loved her…it takes time to heal and find that peace to be able to move on.”

Common has worked with the best in both the music and film industry and has met many fans along the way from countries around the world. But there was one particular fan that had his heart beating out of his chest when he performed for him and his wife. The second time he met President Obama was in 2007, when he was a potential presidential candidate and Common’s album, Finding Forever was coming out. Then-Senator Obama rushed over to him and said, “Man, I heard the album is coming out. I’m going to have to scoop it.”

Whether it’s world leaders doting on him or young people in need, Common is grateful for his position and the chance to complete his 10th album with the same friend he began with. “It’s full circle for me and No I.D. [The album] is on his label. It’s validation. We are doing this for a purpose and a reason.”

Location: The EWOW Penthouse Suite at The W Times Square | Make-up: Starina Catchatoorian (Common) | Tiffany Garlick (Selita) | Grooming: Gaston “Junior” Nunes | Hair: Yale’ wa Sabree-Melvin | Manicurist: Maisie Dunbar | Assistant: Brandon Washington

In this month’s cover story, writer Ericka Blount Danois caught up with Common who recently released his 10th album, Nobody’s Smiling.

The rapper-actor touched on his sex-symbol status (he’s not working at it), Serena Williams (he really loved her) stopping the violence in Chicago (he’s a soldier) and where he fits in music today (he feels like a new artist).

But before we jump into the world of Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , check out the making of this sizzling hot cover shot on location at The EWOW Penthouse Suite at The W Times Square – plus a special message from Common and Selita Ebanks.

How’s that composition looking?

Getting ready for the caviar shot.

Make-up: Starina Catchatoorian (Common) Tiffany Garlick (Selita); Grooming: Gaston “Junior” Nunes ;Hair: Yale’ wa Sabree-Melvin; Manicurist: Maisie Dunbar; Assistant: Brandon Washington

Videographer: Oluwaseye Olusa | Cover photo: Cliff Watts | BTS photos: Chrystal Parker

The day started off normal. It was the first week of school, and I was a new and nervous second grader attending a private school in Redondo Beach, California. My mom bought me a new outfit, a pink skirt that had a matching sweater with glitter hearts on it. She braided my hair beautifully and my dad packed my sister and me lunches to take to school. Our house was only a short ten minute drive to school and my parents drove us together that day. I was so excited.

During the drive I noticed a police car following behind us, but at such a young age, had no idea what that meant. I remember my dad looking in the rear-view mirror and commenting about the officer, but to this day I cannot recall his exact words. What I remember is my sister and I being so small and sitting in the backseat clutching our lunch boxes nervous to enter our new school. As my dad pulled up to the front of the school he told us to not worry and to go into school. What followed after is a moment that I will never forget, and a moment that literally changed my entire outlook on life, the police, and my being as a child and now a woman of color.

I slowly opened the car door because at this time the officer had turned on lights and yelled something from a speaker to my dad. My dad just wanted to get us to school, and I realize as an adult, that he was telling us to not worry, to get out, and just go to school, because he knew something would happen that he did not want us to see. My new bracelets jiggled against my skin as I struggled to open the back door. My dad could not get out of the car to walk us into school. Now, I understand why, but then I remember thinking about how heavy the door to our car was. I finally got the door open to start my day at school, as I opened the door and stepped my foot out onto the ground, the police officer reached for his gun and pointed it at me. Again, I was 7, and in front of my Christian private school, clutching my lunchbox. In that moment I felt scared and my dad yelled for me and my sister to go to school, so that’s what we did. That was my introduction to the police. That was my introduction to racism.

[Image: Shutterstock]

Moments like these are nothing new, and at that time in the early-eighties, there were no Black people living in Redondo Beach whatsoever. I believe that is why the officer started following us. Seeing a car full of Black people was “not normal” in Redondo Beach at the time. The private school I had previously attended, from preschool through first grade, was populated by a majority of Black students, and I never felt like an outsider or different. At my new school alone there were about six Black kids, and that included my sister and older brother. The police officer questioned my dad and I don’t know what the outcome was. I think he just questioned why we were there. What I thank god for is that he did not beat or shoot him — or me. We were lucky. Yes, lucky. How sad is it that we were. Truth is we all have stories like these, and this was not my last scary or negative interaction with a police officer. Worse yet is that I can honestly say, I have yet to have a positive encounter with one. I feel fear and anxiety instead of a sense of protection when I see them.

We all know the numbers, and have read the statistics. Mike Brown, Ezell Ford, and the countless other Black men and women have not been so lucky.

A California Highway Patrol officer beat Marlene Pinnock a Black homeless woman, on the freeway here in Los Angeles on July 1, and the entire incident was captured on video. The officer can be seen punching her repeatedly about her head and face. He is now on desk duty.

The KKK is now raising funds for Darren Wilson, the police officer who murdered Mike Brown. There are Black men beaten, harassed, profiled and murdered in this country weekly. The fear that has been instilled in not just our men but our women as well is palpable. Sometimes, I wonder what happened to the cop that pulled his gun on my seven-year-old self, but then thoughts of all my brothers and sisters who have suffered a worse fate make me realize that where he may be in life does not matter, the fact that I am still here does.

Tear gas is fired into a crowd of protestors in Ferguson, Missouri Sunday night.

Tensions in Ferguson, Missouri continue to escalate one week after the police involved shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown.

Monday morning, Missouri’s governor said he intends to send the National Guard into Ferguson to help calm things down after authorities dispersed a crowd of protestors Sunday night. Last night, hundreds of protestors sought safety after police wearing gas masks and body armor fired tear gas and smoke canisters to scatter them ahead of the midnight curfew.

Governor Jay Nixon signed an executive order deploying the National Guard saying demonstrators had thrown Molotov cocktails and shot at police. Two civilian casualties have been reported.  No police officers have been hurt. MSNBC host Chris Hayes reported being threatened by police.

Riot cop to me just a few minutes ago: “Get back! Or next time you’re gonna be the one maced.”

— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) August 18, 2014

Many took to social media to recount the events through some powerful pictures.

Protesters return tear gas canisters at police in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/cHNU2LD3Ev — Alex Wroblewski (@alexwroblewski) August 18, 2014

Missouri Highway Patrol Officers allege some aggressive protestors were trying to break into a law enforcement command post and that armored vehicles were deployed to ensure public safety.

In a statement on his website, Nixon said, “Tonight, a day of hope, prayers, and peaceful protests was marred by the violent criminal acts of an organized and growing number of individuals, many from outside the community and state, whose actions are putting the residents and businesses of Ferguson at risk.”

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has also stepped in to help ease tensions. The human rights group has never deployed inside the United States until now. The organization has a 13 person delegation that has been in the suburb since last Thursday.

Preliminary autopsy report shows Michael Brown was shot at least six times.

As people fled seeking safety late Sunday night, the New York Times released findings from a preliminary autopsy report showing the 18 year old was shot at least six times. The paper also reported that former New York City chief medical examiner Michael M. Baden said Brown was shot twice in the head, and the bullets that hit him appeared to not have been fired from close range due to the lack of gunpowder on his body.  Baden performed the autopsy at the family’s request. Two more autopsies are expected to be performed, one by local officials, and one under the direction of Attorney General Eric Holder Jr.

Brown was shot August 9. Witnesses have said Brown had raised his hands to surrender when Officer Darren Wilson shot him. Police say Brown was asked by Wilson to move off the road and onto the sidewalk and that Brown reached into the patrol car and struggled with Wilson when he was shot.

The Justice Department is also conducting an inquiry into possible civil rights violations related to the shooting. The FBI is also investigating.