Bring That Week Back: Week of March 22, 2009

Is Chris Brown going to Norfolk State? Check out this week's biggest stories.

Struggling - Chris Brown is reportedly going through it, according to Tyrese Gibson.  Gibson told PEOPLE magazine that although Chris "appears" to be doing OK, the whole "Chrihanna" thing is "really taking a toll on his spirit."  Gibson says Brown is also having a hard time focusing on his music.

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Struggling - Chris Brown is reportedly going through it, according to Tyrese Gibson. Gibson told PEOPLE magazine that although Chris "appears" to be doing OK, the whole "Chrihanna" thing is "really taking a toll on his spirit." Gibson says Brown is also having a hard time focusing on his music.

Dating Abuse - The publicity over the "Chrihanna" saga has helped give attention to a grim statistic: one in three young people experience dating abuse at some point in their teenage years.  The organization "Break the Cycle" says only a handful of states are protecting teens from dating violence.  States were evaluated and given failing grades if they didn't provide protective orders for minors or if the state in question didn't recognize dating relationships as a valid cause for obtaining protective orders.

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Dating Abuse - The publicity over the "Chrihanna" saga has helped give attention to a grim statistic: one in three young people experience dating abuse at some point in their teenage years. The organization "Break the Cycle" says only a handful of states are protecting teens from dating violence. States were evaluated and given failing grades if they didn't provide protective orders for minors or if the state in question didn't recognize dating relationships as a valid cause for obtaining protective orders.

Probation - Soul Train creator, executive producer and long-time host, Don Cornelius, recently got a slap on the wrist for beating his wife. The 72-year-old got three years probation after entering a 'no contest' plea Wednesday. Cornelius will reportedly serve 300 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine in connection with misdemeanor spousal battery charges.

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Probation - Soul Train creator, executive producer and long-time host, Don Cornelius, recently got a slap on the wrist for beating his wife. The 72-year-old got three years probation after entering a 'no contest' plea Wednesday. Cornelius will reportedly serve 300 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine in connection with misdemeanor spousal battery charges.

It's Over - After four years of marriage, Damon Dash's wife has decided to call it quits.  Rachel Roy reportedly slapped the Roc-A-Fella Records and Rocawear co-founder with divorce papers this month.  An electronic record of the case says the divorce is for "nonmonetary relief."

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It's Over - After four years of marriage, Damon Dash's wife has decided to call it quits. Rachel Roy reportedly slapped the Roc-A-Fella Records and Rocawear co-founder with divorce papers this month. An electronic record of the case says the divorce is for "nonmonetary relief."

Wedding Date Set - Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga have set a wedding date — but they're keeping it a secret.  Otunga, perhaps best known as "Punk" from the VH1 reality series "I Love New York 2," has been training to become a professional wrestler. The 28-year-old Harvard Law grad said, "It was almost like love at first sight," when he met Hudson. "We met one day and have been together ever since."

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Wedding Date Set - Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga have set a wedding date — but they're keeping it a secret. Otunga, perhaps best known as "Punk" from the VH1 reality series "I Love New York 2," has been training to become a professional wrestler. The 28-year-old Harvard Law grad said, "It was almost like love at first sight," when he met Hudson. "We met one day and have been together ever since."

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T.I. Sentenced - A judge sentenced Rapper T.I. to one year and a day behind bars on federal weapons charges Friday.  He will have between 30 and 60 days to report to prison. He already has completed about 1,000 hours of community service and has warned youths about the pitfalls of guns, drugs, violence.

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T.I. Sentenced - A judge sentenced Rapper T.I. to one year and a day behind bars on federal weapons charges Friday. He will have between 30 and 60 days to report to prison. He already has completed about 1,000 hours of community service and has warned youths about the pitfalls of guns, drugs, violence.

'Lock Him Up' - A former employee of Juanita Bynum's ex-husband has asked a judge to put Thomas Weeks in jail. Suzanne Ellis says Weeks has failed to reimburse her for about $90,000 in items he asked her to purchase for Global Destiny Church. Weeks had agreed on a payment plan to reconcile the debt. However, Ellis says she hasn't seen a dime.

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'Lock Him Up' - A former employee of Juanita Bynum's ex-husband has asked a judge to put Thomas Weeks in jail. Suzanne Ellis says Weeks has failed to reimburse her for about $90,000 in items he asked her to purchase for Global Destiny Church. Weeks had agreed on a payment plan to reconcile the debt. However, Ellis says she hasn't seen a dime.

No Deal - Jim Jones rejected a plea bargain that would have seen him do 10 days of community service. The rapper is charged with attacking a friend of Ne-Yo during a confrontation in a Louis Vuitton store in Manhattan. A lawyer for Jones says the whole case is "a setup for a civil lawsuit," noting there are witnesses who say Jones didn't start the fight and is innocent.

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No Deal - Jim Jones rejected a plea bargain that would have seen him do 10 days of community service. The rapper is charged with attacking a friend of Ne-Yo during a confrontation in a Louis Vuitton store in Manhattan. A lawyer for Jones says the whole case is "a setup for a civil lawsuit," noting there are witnesses who say Jones didn't start the fight and is innocent.

Sued - T-Pain was hit with a $5 million breach of contract lawsuit this week for canceling a concert in Guyana.  The lawsuit, filed by Hits and Jams Entertainment, claims the rapper caused damages for ditching an Feb. 23 appearance.   T-Pain canceled the appearance when his management company revealed that a credible source said that the artist would be kidnapped, because Hits and Jams had not paid debts to “their street guys.”

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Sued - T-Pain was hit with a $5 million breach of contract lawsuit this week for canceling a concert in Guyana. The lawsuit, filed by Hits and Jams Entertainment, claims the rapper caused damages for ditching an Feb. 23 appearance. T-Pain canceled the appearance when his management company revealed that a credible source said that the artist would be kidnapped, because Hits and Jams had not paid debts to “their street guys.”

Say It Ain't So! - Kobe Bryant's ex-housekeeper is suing him and his  wife, Vanessa, claiming she was "harassed and humiliated." In the suit, Maria Jimenez says the Bryants denied her health insurance and forced her to quit because of "intolerable" working  conditions. In one case, the suit claims Bryant's wife ordered her to put her hand in a container of dog waste to retrieve the price tag of a blouse.

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Say It Ain't So! - Kobe Bryant's ex-housekeeper is suing him and his wife, Vanessa, claiming she was "harassed and humiliated." In the suit, Maria Jimenez says the Bryants denied her health insurance and forced her to quit because of "intolerable" working conditions. In one case, the suit claims Bryant's wife ordered her to put her hand in a container of dog waste to retrieve the price tag of a blouse.

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He Must Pay - Allen Iverson will have to cough up some big bucks for what he didn't do during a 2005 bar fight. A federal appeals court ruled that Iverson must pay $260,000 for doing nothing while his bodyguard beat up a man during a confrontation. The man claims Iverson's bodyguard beat him because he wouldn't leave the V.I.P. area of the club to make way for the NBA star and his posse. The man suffered a concussion, ruptured eardrum, burst blood vessel in his eye, a torn rotator cuff as well as various cuts

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He Must Pay - Allen Iverson will have to cough up some big bucks for what he didn't do during a 2005 bar fight. A federal appeals court ruled that Iverson must pay $260,000 for doing nothing while his bodyguard beat up a man during a confrontation. The man claims Iverson's bodyguard beat him because he wouldn't leave the V.I.P. area of the club to make way for the NBA star and his posse. The man suffered a concussion, ruptured eardrum, burst blood vessel in his eye, a torn rotator cuff as well as various cuts

DUI Charge - A missing front license plate led to a drunken driving arrest for former L.A. Lakers guard Norm Nixon last week. The California Highway Patrol says officers smelled alcohol coming from the car after Nixon was pulled over, and he was given a sobriety test.  After being arrested, he was released on $5,000 bail. Nixon, who is married to Debbie Allen, does broadcasts for NBA games.

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DUI Charge - A missing front license plate led to a drunken driving arrest for former L.A. Lakers guard Norm Nixon last week. The California Highway Patrol says officers smelled alcohol coming from the car after Nixon was pulled over, and he was given a sobriety test. After being arrested, he was released on $5,000 bail. Nixon, who is married to Debbie Allen, does broadcasts for NBA games.

Homeless? - Isaiah Washington may be about to be kicked out of his Los Angeles home.  His landlord claims Washington owes $100,000 in rent and has begun eviction proceedings. Paperwork filed in Santa Monica, Calif., claims Washington and his wife have fallen behind on their $20,000 a month payments.

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Homeless? - Isaiah Washington may be about to be kicked out of his Los Angeles home. His landlord claims Washington owes $100,000 in rent and has begun eviction proceedings. Paperwork filed in Santa Monica, Calif., claims Washington and his wife have fallen behind on their $20,000 a month payments.

Suicide - Police in New York say a rapper who called himself "King Tut" shot and killed himself in a taxi as officers closed in last week. Darnell Brittingham was also the prime suspect in a New Jersey stabbing. He was released on $25,000 bail on Tuesday, after police reportedly found drugs in his car. Brittingham apparently did not have a record label, but several music Web sites describe him as a Dipset affiliate.

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Suicide - Police in New York say a rapper who called himself "King Tut" shot and killed himself in a taxi as officers closed in last week. Darnell Brittingham was also the prime suspect in a New Jersey stabbing. He was released on $25,000 bail on Tuesday, after police reportedly found drugs in his car. Brittingham apparently did not have a record label, but several music Web sites describe him as a Dipset affiliate.

Pioneering Historian Dies - John Hope Franklin, considered one of the most influential historians of the 20th century, died Wednesday at the age of 94. His book "From Slavery to Freedom" was a landmark integration of Black history into American history. His research helped Thurgood Marshall win Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 case that outlawed the doctrine of “separate but equal” in the nation’s public schools.

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Pioneering Historian Dies - John Hope Franklin, considered one of the most influential historians of the 20th century, died Wednesday at the age of 94. His book "From Slavery to Freedom" was a landmark integration of Black history into American history. His research helped Thurgood Marshall win Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 case that outlawed the doctrine of “separate but equal” in the nation’s public schools.

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Unexpected Visit - It looks like Method Man is having a hard time just like everybody else.  The tax man reportedly showed up at his house at 6 a.m. and took his 2008 Lincoln Navigator as payment for the $52,000 he owed in unpaid income tax.

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Unexpected Visit - It looks like Method Man is having a hard time just like everybody else. The tax man reportedly showed up at his house at 6 a.m. and took his 2008 Lincoln Navigator as payment for the $52,000 he owed in unpaid income tax.

Get Rid of 'Em - Angela Davis, the pioneer and revolutionary, is calling for an end to the prison system.  The University of California-Santa Cruz professor sees prison as “structural racism,” and the current U.S. justice system is “based on revenge” and the current prisoner rehabilitation methods are not working.

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Get Rid of 'Em - Angela Davis, the pioneer and revolutionary, is calling for an end to the prison system. The University of California-Santa Cruz professor sees prison as “structural racism,” and the current U.S. justice system is “based on revenge” and the current prisoner rehabilitation methods are not working.

Saying ‘Sorry?’ - Connecticut legislators are thinking about making their state the first in New England to apologize for slavery. A legislative committee heard testimony Monday on a resolution that would see the state issue a formal, general apology for slavery as well as for the racist policies that persisted long after slaves were freed.

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Saying ‘Sorry?’ - Connecticut legislators are thinking about making their state the first in New England to apologize for slavery. A legislative committee heard testimony Monday on a resolution that would see the state issue a formal, general apology for slavery as well as for the racist policies that persisted long after slaves were freed.

Stay Out - Tyson Beckford has a message for celebrities: stay out of modeling. Beckford complains that stars are taking jobs away from models. He says it takes "a lot of tweaking and airbrushing" to get the same look from a movie star that you would get from a model. Beyoncé is currently on the cover of Vogue and Drew Barrymore is on the cover of "W."

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Stay Out - Tyson Beckford has a message for celebrities: stay out of modeling. Beckford complains that stars are taking jobs away from models. He says it takes "a lot of tweaking and airbrushing" to get the same look from a movie star that you would get from a model. Beyoncé is currently on the cover of Vogue and Drew Barrymore is on the cover of "W."

No College for Chris - Rumors that Chris Brown is planning to enroll at Norfolk State University are false.  Brown, who was spotted this past weekend on the campus with his mom and cousin, was visiting the school as a "support factor" for his cousin, who is a prospective student at the university, according a representative for Brown.

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No College for Chris - Rumors that Chris Brown is planning to enroll at Norfolk State University are false. Brown, who was spotted this past weekend on the campus with his mom and cousin, was visiting the school as a "support factor" for his cousin, who is a prospective student at the university, according a representative for Brown.

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College Hill - The sixth season of BET's longest-running reality series, "College Hill," premiered Tuesday. The new season finds the eight housemates from different colleges throughout Florida, in South Beach, where things are sure to be hot! See more images of the housemates by clicking on the link below.

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College Hill - The sixth season of BET's longest-running reality series, "College Hill," premiered Tuesday. The new season finds the eight housemates from different colleges throughout Florida, in South Beach, where things are sure to be hot! See more images of the housemates by clicking on the link below.

Big-Screen Debut - Mary J. Blige will reportedly make her big-screen debut in Tyler Perry's "I Can Do Bad All By Myself."  The cast already includes Taraji P. Henson, Gladys Knight, Brian J. White and Marvin Winans. The film is about an alcoholic jazz singer forced to take care of her deceased sister's three children. Blige will play a nightclub manager and singer who is good friends with Taraji P. Henson's character.

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Big-Screen Debut - Mary J. Blige will reportedly make her big-screen debut in Tyler Perry's "I Can Do Bad All By Myself." The cast already includes Taraji P. Henson, Gladys Knight, Brian J. White and Marvin Winans. The film is about an alcoholic jazz singer forced to take care of her deceased sister's three children. Blige will play a nightclub manager and singer who is good friends with Taraji P. Henson's character.

Lady O on “O” - For the first time, Oprah is moving over to make room for somebody else: first lady Michelle Obama. The media mogul had gone solo on the "O" magazine cover for nine years, but in the issue that will hit the newsstands March 17, Winfrey shares the spotlight with Mrs. Obama. Winfrey interviews the first lady about topics ranging from her decorating philosophy to how she hopes she can help other women.

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Sharing ‘O’ - Oprah Winfrey is getting into the habit of sharing the cover of her magazine. This time, she will appear with fellow talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. After doing the cover solo for the past nine years, Winfrey shared the spot for the first time on the current issue, with first lady Michelle Obama.

They’re Adjusting - President Obama says his daughters Sasha and Malia "are adapting remarkably" to life in the White House and that they "do seem to be having  fun." He notes his wife Michelle "is thriving as well" – even though he still "repeatedly" gets turned around as he makes his way through the huge White House complex.

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They’re Adjusting - President Obama says his daughters Sasha and Malia "are adapting remarkably" to life in the White House and that they "do seem to be having fun." He notes his wife Michelle "is thriving as well" – even though he still "repeatedly" gets turned around as he makes his way through the huge White House complex.

Edible Garden - First lady Michelle Obama teamed up with more than two dozen elementary schools in Washington, D.C. this past Friday to break ground on a new White House garden.  Spinach, broccoli, collard greens and blueberries are just a few of the varieties of crops expected.  The kids will return from time to time to help with the garden.

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Edible Garden - First lady Michelle Obama teamed up with more than two dozen elementary schools in Washington, D.C. this past Friday to break ground on a new White House garden. Spinach, broccoli, collard greens and blueberries are just a few of the varieties of crops expected. The kids will return from time to time to help with the garden.