Bring That Week Back: Week of March 16 to 21
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Blacks May Be Set to Lose Menthols - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now considering banning mentholated cigarettes. The FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee has been studying the effect of the cigarettes for the past year. The popularity of brands such as Kool and Newport in the Black community has been blamed by many for the higher rate of lung cancer among African-American men in comparison to white men. An ad campaign for Lorillad, the company that makes Newports, pushes the idea that adults should have the freedom to smoke menthols if they want to. “Informed grown-ups who decide to smoke should have the freedom to choose menthol cigarettes,” one ad states, USA Today reports.
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Nate Dogg Passes - West Coast singer and serial rap collaborator Nate Dogg passed away Tuesday after suffering stroke complications. He was 41. Nate Dogg, whose real name was Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, made his debut on the rap scene on Dr. Dre’s 1992 album “The Chronic” and since then has gone on to collaborate with rappers including 50 Cent, Eminem, Ludacris, Tupac, Snoop Dogg and Warren G. His 1995 song “Regulate” with Warren G earned him a Grammy nod. “We lost a true legend,” Snoop, one of Nate Dogg’s closest friends tweeted late Tuesday. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Image)
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Beyoncé vs. Lady Gaga? - Singer Beyoncé blasted Lady Gaga calling her a “selfish egomaniac,” and called her recent entrance to the Grammy Awards (Gaga arrived in an egg on the red carpet) “over the top and ridiculously self-serving,” according to the National Enquirer. The singers collaborated on the monster hit “Telephone.” While neither star has publicly addressed the rumors to date, both have only said positive things about each other in the past, with Gaga most recently telling a radio station that she’s “already collaborated with my favorite female in the business.” (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)
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Nicki Minaj Set to Star in Upcoming Film? - Rapper Nicki Minaj, who in the past has declared acting as her first love, could be up for a starring role in an upcoming movie. The rapper is one of the few actresses being considered for the role as Erica Payne in the film adaptation of Michele A. Fletcher’s bestselling novel Charge It to the Game, Bossip reports. Others also being considered for the role include Keri Hilson, Eve and basketball wife Evelyn Lozada. Minaj studied drama at a top performing arts high school in New York.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)
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Rihanna Not Dating Colin Farrell - The blogs were on fire the past week when rumors of pop singer Rihanna dating actor Colin Farrell surfaced. But a People source, Thursday, squashed those reports saying they contained “no truth whatsoever.” The dating rumors began when the two were spotted leaving the same Santa Monica restaurant Wednesday evening. But the two were not there together, the source told the magazine. “Colin was there at a business dinner and Rihanna was across the room.” (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)
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Haiti Holds Run-Off Election - On Sunday, Haiti held a presidential run-off election between musician Michel Martelly and former first lady Mirlande Manigat. Election officials in the nation and international observers called the voting calm and said turnout looked like it was larger than the first round of voting back in November. Official preliminary results will be announced March 31, with final results being announced April 16. Here, current President Rene Preval casts his ballot at a polling station in Port-au-Prince. (Photo: AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
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Wyclef Shot in Haiti - Haitian-American musician Wyclef Jean’s hand was grazed by a bullet Saturday night in Port-au-Prince after he stepped out of his car to make a phone call. Jean was treated at a local hospital and released. In an interview with the AP, Wyclef said he couldn’t tell whether or not he was the target of the bullets. He was in the nation to vote in Sunday’s run-off election and to campaign for his friend and fellow musician Michel Martelly, one of the candidates. (Photo: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
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Petey Pablo Pleads Guilty - North Carolina rapper Petey Pablo could face 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to possession of a stolen firearm. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop two additional charges. The rapper, born Moses Barrett III, was arrested last year at Raleigh-Durham International Airport after security found a loaded gun in his bag. He will be sentenced in June. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
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Tyra Launches New Site - Former model and talk show host Tyra Banks has teamed up with Demand Studios to launch a new style and beauty site geared towards the unconventional fashionista. “Beauty is not one size, one shade, one style, one color—YOU are beauty and typeF.com is the beginning of a movement that starts with and for YOU,” Tyra wrote in the site’s welcome message. (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)
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Middle East Visit - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the Middle East last week, making stops in Tunisia and Egypt. While in Egypt, Clinton stressed U.S. support as they transition into democracy. Here she listens to Tunisian Foreign Minister Mouldi Kefi during a joint press conference at the presidential palace in Tunis. (Photo: AP Photo/ Paul J. Richards, Pool)
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U.S. Launches Air Strikes Against Libya - Citing reports of attacks on civilians by Libyan forces, an international coalition launched missile attacks targeting the nation’s troops late last week. The latest bombings have hobbled Libya's air defenses, stalled Moammar Gadhafi’s troops and all but ended attacks on civilians, the AP reports. Still the global intervention in the North African nation will likely last “awhile,” a top French official said. Here, a group of protesters angry about international intervention in Libya blocked the path of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon as he left a meeting at the Arab League. (Photo: AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)