Tag Archives: city

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray “Pay Day” Nagin Indicted On Bribery And Fraud Charges!

Say it ain’t so shady Ray… Ray Nagin Indicted For Bribery And Fraud Via NYPost Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was indicted Friday on charges that he used his office for personal gain, accepting payoffs, free trips and gratuities from contractors while the city was struggling to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The charges against Nagin are the outgrowth of a City Hall corruption investigation that already has resulted in guilty pleas by two former city officials and two businessmen and a prison sentence for a former city vendor. The federal indictment accuses Nagin of accepting more than $160,000 in bribes and truckloads of free granite for his family business in exchange for promoting the interests of a local businessman who secured millions of dollars in city contract work after the 2005 hurricane. The businessman, Frank Fradella, pleaded guilty in June to bribery conspiracy and securities-fraud charges and has been cooperating with federal authorities. Nagin, 56, also is charged with accepting at least $60,000 in payoffs from another businessman, Rodney Williams, for his help in securing city contracts for architectural, engineering and management services work. Williams, who was president of Three Fold Consultants LLC, pleaded guilty Dec. 5 to a conspiracy charge. The indictment also accuses Nagin of getting free private jet and limousine services to New York from an unidentified businessman. Nagin is accused of agreeing to wave tax penalties that the businessman owed to the city on a delinquent tax bill in 2006. After all that the folks in New Orleans have gone through, if these charges end up sticking, Ray Nagin might just be the most “ain’t isht” ninja ever! Image via AP

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Former New Orleans Mayor Ray “Pay Day” Nagin Indicted On Bribery And Fraud Charges!

Kanye West Bans Rap Music from Kim Kardashian’s Womb

Kanye West only wants the best for his impending Kim Kardashian baby . Therefore, according to a new report, the rapper is banning the music that made him famous, telling Kardashian she can only listen to classical songs while pregnant. “ Kanye wants his son or daughter to be educated at a top U.S. university such as Harvard or Yale before embarking on a career in business,” an insider tells The Daily Star . “He doesn’t want the child to become a pop star.” With that lofty goal in mind, West is adhering to the belief that a fetus can actually learn while in gestation. Certain studies have shown that Mozart, in particular, can increase a pre-born baby’s intelligence. There are no studies, however, that show the effects of playing Kim’s ” Turn It Up ” for your children. Let’s hope there never are.

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Kanye West Bans Rap Music from Kim Kardashian’s Womb

Jessica Simpson: Expecting a Boy!

Jessica Simpson is having a boy! The 32-year-old singer found out this week that her daughter Maxwell will have a little brother, according to reports. “It’s Jessica’s dream come true, she prayed she was having a boy ,” a source said. “She found out this week. What with everything going on in her personal life, and her problems with her father , this has given her something to smile about.” “After a check-up at the doctor, [they] asked if she wanted to know the sex … she said yes and when the doctor told her it was a boy she screamed with joy.” “She was so happy that Maxwell is getting a little brother because that’s something she always wanted when she was growing up,” the insider adds. “Jessica and [fiance Eric Johnson ] are going through names, but haven’t settled on one just yet. It’s just a pity their favorite boy name went to their daughter first!” Touche. As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Jessica confirmed reports she was expecting her second child by tweeting the happy news with a super cute photo on Christmas Day. Jessica posted a snap of her eight-month-old daughter Maxwell sitting on sand with the words BIG SIS scrawled in front of her. She captioned the pic “Merry Christmas from my family to yours!”

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Jessica Simpson: Expecting a Boy!

Robert F. Chew Dies; The Wire Star Was 52

Robert F. Chew, a Baltimore teacher and actor who portrayed one of TV’s most unforgettable characters as Proposition Joe on HBO’s The Wire, has died. He passed away Thursday of apparent heart failure in his sleep at his home in Northeast Baltimore. Chew, who also appeared in Homicide , was 52. Chew taught and mentored child and young adult actors at Baltimore’s Arena Players, a troupe he stayed with as his career blossomed through David Simon. With Chew’s help, Simon, creator of The Wire , enlisted new talent in the form of young actors who played students in the Baltimore City School system. “Robert was not only an exceptional actor, he was an essential part of the film and theater community in Baltimore,” Simon said Friday via email. “He could have gone to New York or Los Angeles and commanded a lot more work, but he loved the city as his home and chose to remain here working.” “He understood so much about his craft that it was no surprise at all that we would go to him to coach our young actors in season four of The Wire .” “He was the conduit through which they internalized their remarkable performances.” “The Wire cast was an embarrassment of riches and it was easy, I think, for outsiders to overlook some of those who were so essential as supporting players.” “Robert’s depiction of Proposition Joe was so fixed and complete that the writers took for granted that anything we sent him would be finely executed.” R.I.P.

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Robert F. Chew Dies; The Wire Star Was 52

Justin Timberlake And Destiny’s Child: A Tale Of Two Singles

Two acts from the same era come out of nowhere with new music after more than a half-decade hiatus. Let’s take a closer look! By Gil Kaufman Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Kelly Rowland Photo: Getty Images

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Justin Timberlake And Destiny’s Child: A Tale Of Two Singles

Carrie Bradshaw Finds Her Voice In ‘The Carrie Diaries’

‘Sex and the City’ prequel examines writer’s small-town roots — before the men and Manolos. By Amy Wilkinson AnnaSophia Robb in “The Carrie Diaries” Photo: CW

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Carrie Bradshaw Finds Her Voice In ‘The Carrie Diaries’

My name is Abby (to the right of Justin) and I’m going to…

My name is Abby (to the right of Justin) and I’m going to start this out in the most cliché way possible; I never thought I would be able to sit here and tell you all about my very own Bieber experience. It all started when I convinced my mom to let me join BieberFever in order to get the pre-sale on the Believe Tour. I was freaking out the night before the tour went up, because I wanted to go so badly! I was already going to Italy for three months, and I was convinced I was going to miss the whole tour. Well, I did miss the city closest to me, but I got tickets to go to Tulsa! I didn’t even look at where they were! I was so happy I had gotten tickets at all, I didn’t realize I had gotten really great floor seats! Fast forward a couple of months and I realized I had forgotten to cancel my BieberFever membership. My parents weren’t happy, but it ended up being fate. Three weeks before the concert, I entered their contest to meet Justin. I entered, but I never thought that there was any chance I would win . I didn’t let myself think about it, because I didn’t want to get disappointed. The night before the concert, I was starting to get bummed. It was seven and I still hadn’t heard anything. I decided to take a break from checking my email and left my phone and computer downstairs while I ate dinner. My best friend, Haleigh (standing to the right of me), came over and we sat down to watch the premiere of Pretty Little Liars when I clicked on my phone to see if I had missed anything. An email from BieberFever saying congratulations made me start screaming.  The day of the show, we drove five hours to Tulsa. We saw all of the dancers in the lobby of our hotel and watched them pack up the buses. We also met Melly (Justin’s drummer). We walked to the BOK Center and saw Justin’s buses. We heard a couple of girls scream when he rode by on his segway, but we didn’t get to see him. By that time, we had to get our wristbands. We waited in line for three hours before we were ready to see Justin. I handed my letter to Justin’s new security guard and he promised he would get it to Justin. Before I could realize anything else, the lady said, “It’s your turn.” I walked through the curtains, ready to tackle him in a hug. But, decided to ask first, “Can I hug you?!” which was the first thing to come out of my mouth. He said, “Of course!” and we hugged. It was amazing. He was so tiny, I thought I was going to break him! Haleigh hugged him too, and stated, “This is weird.” Justin seemed offended, saying “Why is this weird?” Haleigh responded, “Because you’re real!” And he just kind of scoffed at her. We smiled for the picture and then he looked at us and said, “You guys look good tonight.” And of course Haleigh replied, “We know.” They were pushing us out, and I just kept saying, “You’re beautiful!” He was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. His skin was flawless! And smooth! So smooth!  I managed not to freak out until after we were done, when I started screaming and hyperventilating. I was so glad I had kept it together for the picture! After we met him, it was already time for the concert. Cody and Carly were good, but Justin was amazing. We had to wait for an hour for him to take the stage, but it was so worth it. He was so good! Even when his microphone broke before OLLG, it was flawless! Thank you so much to BieberFever and to Justin and his crew for making our dreams come true! -@abbiebz View post: My name is Abby (to the right of Justin) and I’m going to…

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My name is Abby (to the right of Justin) and I’m going to…

Vampire Diaries Spinoff: Coming to The CW!

The CW is reportedly spinning off The Vampire Diaries into a new series called The Originals, starring Joseph Morgan (Klaus) and Phoebe Tonkin (Hayley). An upcoming episode of The Vampire Diaries , the network’s biggest hit, will serve as a “backdoor pilot” for The Originals . Tentatively, that’s set for April 25. The title refers to Klaus’ status as one of the original vampires in the show’s mythology. Guy has been doing his badass, yet charming thing for a long time . Also prominently featured will be werewolf Hayley, introduced in the current fourth season. She and Klaus return to the French Quarter of New Orleans. There, in the city he helped build centuries earlier, Klaus will reportedly be reunited with a Marcel, a former protege. No other details are available. Vampire Diaries show-runner Julie Plec will write and produce; no word on any involvement from Klaus’ Original siblings Elijah, Kol or Rebekah. Daniel Gillies and Claire Holt (Elijah and Rebekah) also recur on TVD . What do you think? Good idea by the CW? Or would you miss them too much on the Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev-anchored hit?   Yes! Love Klaus, and great idea for a show! Maybe. I’d check out the pilot. NO! Terrible idea! View Poll »

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Vampire Diaries Spinoff: Coming to The CW!

Steve Stoute On Sean Combs Fight: “We Were Kids…Millionaires At 26″

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Translation CEO Steve Stoute shook up the ad world when his 8-year-old company scored the Bud Light account from competitor McGarry Bowen. Stoute’s Bud Light…

Steve Stoute On Sean Combs Fight: “We Were Kids…Millionaires At 26″

Black Pioneer George Washington Founds City In Pacific Northwest On This Day In 1875

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The little-told story of pioneering African-American George Washington (pictured) and his founding of the city of Centerville (now called Centralia) in Washington state is fascinating.…

Black Pioneer George Washington Founds City In Pacific Northwest On This Day In 1875