The Mentalist#39;s Owain Yeoman and his girlfriend, jewelry designer Gigi Yallouz, are engaged. “We are both thrilled to be engaged and set to marry in Malibu in June 2013,” Yeoman said. In an “only in Los Angeles” scenario, the couple met earlier this year at an intersection. “Our cars pulled up opposite each other at a traffic light on Crescent Heights! We started dating after exchanging numbers,” he says, noting that asking for her hand in marriage was tricky. “It was quite a challenge
Wouldn’t you be embarrassed every time someone asked you for your address? Seven months after starting a petition to rename their Columbia street, C00n Hunt Court, residents officially have their new street — April Wind Court. According to The Grio : “For more than 175 years, the word “c00n” represented racism and bigotry against African-American people. Whether those charged with the naming of the streets of Thunder Hill named Coon Hunt Court with cruel intention or honest mistake will remain a mystery. Today, that no longer matters,” April Wind Court resident Ambrose Lane Jr. said during Monday’s unveiling ceremony. “We come here today to right the wrong, to correct the mistake, to continue James Rouse’s vision and dream of an inclusive, neighborly, and multiracial Columbia community,” Lane Jr. said. Lane Jr., the son of a civil rights activist, was one of six residents living on the Oakland Mills street who, with the help of County Council member Calvin Ball, spurred the name change. “I am pleased to be part of creating a new chapter for this neighborhood and making it more inclusive. By working together, we were able to accomplish this efficiently and quickly,” Ball said. “I want to thank all the county departments, staff and the Planning Board — all of them made this reality.” In July, a petition to change the name was accepted by the county’s Department of Planning and Zoning. On Sept. 7, the Planning Board unanimously voted to approve the name change. Street names in Thunder Hill come from the titles of paintings by Andrew Wyeth, and although there was no “C00n Hunt,” there was a piece entitled “The Coot Hunter,” named for a type of bird found in Maine. Resident Khari Lane said watching the neighborhood rally around the change was motivating. “To finally have it done here in 2012, it’s more of a representation of how our culture is changing,” Lane said. County Executive Ken Ulman said his parents moved to Columbia to “raise a family in a community that embraced the values of diversity, acceptance and opportunity.” “The fact is, the street name “C00n Hunt Court,” does not represent those values,” Ulman said. “Your new name and your new identity in the community begins today free of negative racial connotations.” Sad it took more than 40 years to get this changed. Images via facebook
You know when your Dad calls you out you’ve got some changes to make! No longer the flavor of the month, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has mustered only one win in the first full month of the NFL season, with his team at 1-4 at the bye week. According to The Grio : Newton has come under criticism for a variety of things, including his demeanor at post-game press conferences following a loss. Even his father, Cecil, agrees that Cam needs to be a bit less deflated and downtrodden. “Is it something he needs to change?” Cecil Newton told WFNZ’s The Drive with Taylor and Marc. “Well yes I guess so.” “I know he hasn’t been responsive in some of his interviews [after losses] but he has been like that since he was seven years old,” said Cecil Newton, who explained that he did the spot in order to “take some of the heat off” Cam. “It’s difficult, there are some things that I don’t touch and don’t tell him what he should and shouldn’t do.” As to the things that are causing the Panthers to lose so many games, Cecil Newton agrees with coach Ron Rivera’s assessment of Cam. “I think he’s just pressing,” Cecil Newton said. “I think he’s maybe trying to do too much. I know my son, he is going to go back into the lab, tweak some things, work hard, and come out better. He is not in the business of making excuses. He is going to come back better.” Hope Cam knows how lucky he is to have a supportive Dad in his life and cuts the bull! Images via facebook/GQ
Call her ready to move on with a new hit. After giving fans a listen to her next single, ” This Kiss ,” Carly Rae Jepsen has now come out with a preview of the track’s official music video. Featuring the rising superstar at a party… and a swimming pool… and in the middle of the street with friends, Jepsen ends up jumping into the water and sharing a smooch with a member of the opposite sex. See for yourself here: Carly Rae Jepsen Music Video Tease Will “This Kiss” elicit the same sort of Call Me Maybe covers that helped propel Jepsen’s career? We doubt it. But the tune sure is catchy!
Former NFL cheerleader Sarah Jones has pleaded guilty to having sex with her 17-year-old former student while she was a teacher at a Kentucky high school. Jones will NOT serve jail time as a result. In a tearful admission in Kenton County Circuit Court in Covington, Ky., Sarah Jones , 27, pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and custodial interference. “I began a romantic relationship while he was a student and I was in a position of authority ,” Jones said, her voice cracking as family members wiped their tears. The one-time Cincinnati Ben-Gal then detailed her dalliances with the boy. Jones admitted that the two had sex, that she sent him sexually explicit text messages and lied about the relationship to police, beginning in February 2011. The teen had been in Jones’ freshman English class in 2008, and she was his peer tutor in 2010 and 2011 before he graduated at the age of 17 this year. In accepting the plea agreement, Judge Patricia Summe granted prosecutors’ recommendation to sentence Jones to five years of diversion but no jail time. The ” female Sandusky ” won’t have to register as a sex offender, either. The diversion requires Jones to report to a probation officer and undergo drug tests. Prosecutors said they were willing to make the deal because the teen, now 18, and his family were uncooperative with them and on Jones’ side.
Or just another way to pick up pretty girls? From the football field to downward dog. Not only is Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson completing anger management counseling for head butting his ex-wife Evelyn Lozada , but RadarOnline.com can reveal he’s also taking up yoga. The former NFL player – who was dropped by the Miami Dolphins earlier this year – visited Clear Gardens Yoga Studio in Inglewood, California on Oct 3 in a bid to better his body and mind. “I met him at a local restaurant and approached him about coming to my new yoga class,” studio owner Selena Collins tells RadarOnline.com exclusively. “He was so keen, he came to the studio after his meal to check it out, making a special stop even though he was on his way to the airport. He told me, ‘I’ve never done yoga before, but I think it’s something I should do. I’ll definitely be back. “He was really a very cool guy,” said Collins who posed for a photo with Chad. “With everything that is going on in his life at the moment, yoga would be a great way for him to find inner peace and the meditation aspect would be beneficial too. We can’t wait to see him when he is back in Los Angeles.” Johnson – who was sentenced to probation and domestic violence awareness classes after pleading no contest to domestic battery charges last month – has spoken candidly about how he plans to control his anger issues. ‘I’m trying to find out how can I channel my anger when I’m in situations to where I would pop off,’ he said in an interview on Showtime’s Inside the NFL. Maybe yoga will do the trick. Clear Gardens Yoga
Retired NFL baller and habitual woman beater Larry Johnson has been arrested yet again for “unnecessary roughness” with the fairer sex. Ex-baller boo thang to Julissa Bermudez and former BFF and “roommate” to Hov — was accused of trying to choke a beyotch out in Vegas today. According to TMZ reports : Former NFL running back Larry Johnson was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada this morning for domestic violence … TMZ has learned. According to Clark County Jail records, Johnson has been accused of strangling someone. It’s unclear who the alleged victim is. Johnson — who once signed a $45 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs — is being held until he can see a judge tomorrow morning. 32-year-old Johnson has been arrested 4 other times since 2003 — each time he was accused of assaulting a woman. In 2008, he was sued for allegedly spitting on a woman in a nightclub. He paid $100k to settle that case. In 2011, LJ was sued for allegedly beating up a man in Miami Beach. Attempted strangling? This ninja ain’t isht. And Julissa knows she’s better off without him. After being tweeted about her past love, the reality star had this to say: Welp. We’re glad Julissa has moved on. Homegirl is clearly doing much better without that thug lovin’.
This story still has so many unanswered questions… Almost two months after O.J. Murdock passed away, the Hillsborough County (Fla.) medical examiner’s office has officially ruled the cause of death a suicide. The former Tennessee Titans wide receiver died on July 30th. Interim Medical Examiner, Dr. Mary K. Mainland, signed off on the autopsy report last Friday. According to Sports Illustrated , O.J.’s family plans to have further investigations into the cause of death… What remains unclear is what effect, if any, football played in the July 30 tragedy. Murdock was the fifth former NFL player in the last two years to take his own life and the fourth this year — following Kurt Crain (April 10), Ray Easterling (April 19), Junior Seau (May 2) — and his family has consented to his brain tissue being examined by Boston University researchers studying the effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative disease brought on by multiple concussions. While his family awaits the findings from that study, his death remains a puzzling tragedy for them, his friends, teammates and former coaches. By the accounts of those people who knew him best, Murdock was a happy young soul with a 500-watt smile and fervor to restart his NFL career with the Titans after missing his rookie season last year with a torn Achilles tendon. “When you met O.J., you fell in love with him. He was a humble young man who just had this great gleam in his eye,” said Hadley Engelhard, his agent. “He just had a wonderful personality,” said Harry Hubbard, who was Murdock’s head football coach at Middleton High in Tampa. “He had a great smile. He was a loving person.” Images via AP/twitter
Emily Maynard was sexting none other than NFL quarterback Matt Leinart while on vacation with Jef Holm, according to the magazine who will simply not let go of this story. Last month, The Bachelorette winner was accused by Us Weekly of sexting with another man , leading to an explosive fight with fiance Jef that his own brother “confirmed.” The tabloid now claims it was Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Leinart on the other end. Despite his earlier denials, Us claims Holm had a heart-to-heart with ex Kaylee Shepherd about the incident, and she says “He said the story was 100 percent accurate.” “When she put her phone down, [Jef] picked it up and read everything. Jef said, ‘It was that pro football guy … She strung me along and was talking to another guy the whole time!'” [SIDE NOTE: Matt Leinart is still in the NFL? Who knew!] Of course, Bachelorette fans are likely aware that Emily Maynard and Jef Holm have not only stayed together, but seemed happier than ever since the alleged incident. And he met her late fiance’s parents. And moved to North Carolina. Still, “Jef said their relationship isn’t what it seems,” Shepherd says. Us claims in its new issue that the reason they’re still together is simple: Emily’s paying him . The couple also shot this report down immediately, so you be the judge. Will Emily Maynard and Jef Holm last? Yes! Jef’s the one! Emily made a great choice! No. She should’ve picked Arie. Or Sean. View Poll »
President Obama addressed the United Nations today and told told world leaders that attacks on U.S. citizens in Libya “were attacks on America.” President Obama called on…
