Bring that week back!
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Where's the Money? - In a lawsuit filed in May, Whitney’s stepmama, Barbara Houston, claims her husband's will instructed the Pop diva, the beneficiary, to use the $1 million life insurance policy she got to pay off the mortgage on his residence and hand over the title to the property and any remaining funds to Barbara. Whitney denies the claim.
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Deathcasting - The family of a college student who took a fistful of pills and lay on a bed to die say they can't believe his life ended before a virtual audience of at least 1,000 people, and they're p*ssed that operators of the Web site, justin.tv, didn't act sooner to save him. Abraham Biggs Jr. was found dead some 12 hours after he announced his suicide on the site.
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Protecting Obama - If you plan to be in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, you can expect thousands of video cameras, sharpshooters and air patrols to have their eyes on you. Authorities, who are preparing for the largest crowd in inaugural history, say they want to make sure Obama, his family and other dignitaries are safe.
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T.I.'s Testimony - T.I. believes the bullets that killed his best friend and personal assistant were meant for him. The rapper testified this past Friday that after his van drove away from a club where he had just performed, another vehicle seemed to be trying to move alongside the van on I-75. He says shots rang out; he took cover; and someone from inside his van returned fire. T.I. wasn't injured, but T.I.’s friend, Philant Johnson, died of his injuries.
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Nabbed - Bryant Gumbel's 29-year-old son got nabbed by N.Y. State Troopers last weekend on drunk-driving charges. The popo said Bradley Gumbel reeked of booze when state police pulled him over for swerving on the highway and that his blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit for DUI. Bradley was arrested.
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6 / 21
Wyclef's Boy Freed - After serving about half of a 14-year sentence for smuggling drugs, Grammy Award-winning rap artist John Forté is getting out of the big house, thanks to President Bush. The former producer for "The Fugees" was one of 14 people for whom Bush pardoned or commuted prison sentences this week.
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I'm Guilty - Michael Vick could be one step closer to freedom. He admitted to being a dog killer in a Virginia court Tuesday in a bid to make him eligible for early release from prison and potentially speed a return to the NFL.
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It's Settled - The latest courtroom drama for Michael Jackson is over before it started. Lawyers for the King of Pop reached an out-of-court settlement this week with a sheik from Bahrain who claimed the singer owes him $7 million for a breached contract. Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa says he gave M.J. millions for a series of projects they planned that never materialized. M.J.'s lawyers say the money was a gift.
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Crib's Gone - Wyclef’s Miami crib is being foreclosed on. The rapper/producer took out a $2 million mortgage to purchase and renovate a Miami Beach spread but failed to keep up on payments, according to "The Palm Beach Post." The unfinished home will go up for auction on Dec. 12.
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Deal's Done - General Motors has ended its 10-year endorsement deal with Tiger Woods to save cash. Woods said he’s cool with it because he was looking to spend more time with his family. The endorsement deal was said to be worth $7 million a year.
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11 / 21
Covering 'Newsweek' - We can never get enough of Michelle. The First Lady is on the Dec. 1 issue of “Newsweek.” Allison Samuels writes that Michelle Obama has raised the profile of Black women and will "knock down ugly stereotypes about Black women, and she will educate the world about American Black culture."
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Let's Party - She knows a thing or two about throwing a party – and now, Desirée Rogers will be bringing the party to D.C. The 49-year-old Harvard grad is set to be named White House social secretary, which means she'll be in charge of all social functions at the White House for Barack Obama. She'll be the first Black to hold that job.
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Bash for Barack? - Word has it that the queen of daytime talk may be getting her groove on in D.C. – for Obama. "The Washington Post" reports that Oprah wants to broadcast three shows from D.C. the week of the inauguration – possibly at the Kennedy Center – and she's also searching for a site to hold a big Barack bash. Neither the Kennedy Center nor Harpo Productions would comment.
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Private School - It’s settled. Malia and Sasha will be going to private school Sidwell Friends when they move to D.C. A spokeswoman for America’s future first lady said the school appealed to the Obamas because it boasts a strong basketball team, and it is well suited to guarantee security and privacy.
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Fitting Honor - An elementary school in a N.Y.C. suburb renamed itself after President-elect Barack Obama. The name change at Ludlum Elementary took effect immediately. It's believed to be the first school in the country named after him. There are similar efforts to rename schools, parks and streets after Obama elsewhere.
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16 / 21
Biggest Prize - Chris Brown just added "Artist of the Year" to his professional resume. He got the American Music Awards' biggest prize Sunday night. In addition to his own success at the awards, it was also a big night for the woman who's said to be his girl. Rihanna won favorite female artist in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories.
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His First Two - Kanye West won his first two AMAs Sunday night. He thanked those who accepted his desire to, as he put it, "break new boundaries in music" – though he did add that he wants to "be Elvis." He also offered his award for favorite male rap/hip-hop artist to Lil’ Wayne, saying his fellow rapper had a better year.
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She's a Favorite - Alicia Key's latest CD, "As I Am," won for favorite pop/rock album and favorite soul/R&B album at the AMAs. She also closed the show with a bang, performing her single "Superwoman" with a couple of musical stars in their own right. She teamed with Queen Latifah and opera star Kathleen Battle on the tune.
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The Other Awards Show - She couldn't get a spot on the American Music Awards like her Destiny's Child band mate. So, Kelly Rowland headed all the way back to the motherland this week to attend and perform at the MTV Africa Music Awards in Nigeria. You go girl!
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MC Breed Dies - Rapper MC Breed was found dead at a friend's home near Detroit this past weekend. The 37-year-old rapper, who collaborated with other top rappers like Tupac, Too $hort and Warren G, died from apparent kidney failure. Breed hit the national hip-hop scene in 1991 with his most famous hit "Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin.'"