Fight Breaks Out In Courtroom After Judge Gives One Year Sentence To Man Who Kills 6-Year Old Boy

Chaos broke out when a Milwaukee judge recently gave 23-year old Dedrick Ashford a sentencing of just one year in prison for striking and killing a 6-year-old boy with his car last April. Christopher Wade, the boy killed, was crossing an intersection, when Ashford accidentally struck him with his vehicle.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington and Jamie Foxx Cover Vibe Magazine To Promote New Film

Actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington and Jamie Foxx all appear on the December issue of Vibe Magazine to promote their new film, Django Unchained directed by Quentin Tarantino. Inside, they all talk about the making of the film and its controversial treatment of the topic of slavery. All of them express concern for certain acts of violence, racist remarks and foul language that were in the script, and how they overcame their initial shock after reading it. The film is due to hit theaters December 25, 2012.

Teen Drowns During Swimming Class After Teacher Fails To Notice Him Struggling

Malvrick Donkor, a 14-year old high school student from Connecticut was recently found dead in his school’s pool. He was reportedly under water for nearly 20 minutes before being discovered at the deep end of the pool. Upon discovery, Donkor, who recently moved to the U.S. from Ghana, was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

An anonymous source told a local newspaper that a surveillance tape from the scene shows Donkor getting into the pool and disappearing underwater, where he then went unnoticed as other students swam around him. After watching the video, she commented, "There’s no splashing, no flailing like you would typically think of. He just slipped underwater, and other kids were swimming over the top of him, not knowing he was down below."

Parents Find Out About Daughter's Death on Facebook

A mother and father from Lawrenceville, Georgia, had no idea that their daughter, Jasmine Benjamin, had died until they read about it through a friend's post on Facebook. Their daughter, who was a nursing student at Valdosta State University, was apparently found dead in a shared dorm student area, but University staff did not immediately notify the parents. To make matters worse, no one knows what happened to her and there are no signs of trauma on her body. But police do suspect foul play because they have determined that her body may have been deceased for up to 15 hours before being discovered. Because of that and other unrevealed factors, the case is now being investigated as a homicide.

Strike Three!! Third Accuser Comes Forth With An Underage Sex Accusation Against Kevin "Elmo" Clash

First one, then two, and now a third person has stepped forward claiming to have engaged in underage sexual activity with Kevin Clash - the puppeteer behind Sesame Street's Elmo character. According to his attorney, the third accuser who is a 29-year old man that prefers to remain anonymously known as "John Doe", will be filing a suit against Clash in Manhattan Federal Court. His allegation is that he met Clash on a gay chat line, and engaged in sexual acts with Kevin when he was just 16-years old.

29-Year Old Chicago High School Teacher Wins $100,000 on Jeopardy

A new JEOPARDY! champion was crowned recently when Colby Burnett, a 29-year-old AP World History and Regional World History teacher from Chicago, bested 14 of the nation's brainiest K-12 educators to win the JEOPARDY! Teachers Tournament. Burnett will take home the $100,000 grand prize and a guaranteed spot in the upcoming February 2013 JEOPARDY! Tournament of Champions. Burnett intends to use his winnings to purchase a condo for his mother, whom he credits with his thirst for knowledge.

Jada Pinkett-Smith Defends Daughter Willow Smith on Facebook

Many have criticized Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett-Smith for their daughter Willow Smith's hairstyles. At just 12-years old, the young singer and actress has been very public about her rock star hair styles, varying from half-bald to hot pink. Her mom recently took to her Facebook page to set the record straight about why they allow it. Here’s what she posted:

Teen Murders 2 Year-Old Sister After She’s Caught With Boyfriend

13-year-old, Tyasia Jackson of Atlanta, Georgia, has been charged with the death of her 2-year-old sister. Apparently, she stabbed young Sasha Lamaya Ray and left her in the backyard of the family’s home.

Kevin "Elmo" Clash Resigns From "Sesame Street" After Second Underage Sex Accusation Surfaces

Kevin Clash, the famous voice and puppeteer behind Elmo for the last 28 years, has officially resigned from Sesame Street in the wake of allegations that he had sex with at least two under-aged minors. The first accuser recanted his allegations, but now a second accuser has already filed a lawsuit in New York seeking $5 million in damages, alleging that at age 15, he was persuaded by Clash to meet for sexual encounters.

Sesame Workshop, the organization behind the show, released a statement, saying "the controversy surrounding Kevin's personal life has become a distraction that none of us want... he can no longer be effective in his job, [and] this is a sad day for Sesame Street."

Clash was more than just "Elmo" to Sesame Street; He was also the show's senior Muppet coordinator and Muppet captain. For his work, he has won 23 daytime Emmy awards and one prime-time Emmy. He also published a best-selling autobiography, "My Life as a Furry Red Monster," and was the subject of the 2011 documentary "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey."

Confirmed: Kimora Lee Simmons Splits With Djimon Hounsou

Fashion mogul Kimora Lee Simmons,37, and actor Djimon Hounsou, 48, have officially split up and are no longer a couple. A representative for the actor confirmed the split to People magazine, saying the two “have officially separated after 5 1/2 years.” They first met in 2007, but the two never wed. They do, however, do have a 3 year-old son together - Kenzo Lee Hounsou. Kimora Lee also has two children from her previous marriage with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Officially Resigns From Congress

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has officially resigned from Congress. Jackson, who is the son of Jesse Jackson Sr., the civil rights leader, has been on medical leave since mid-June and has been treated twice at the Mayo Clinic for bipolar disorder. His decision ends a once-promising political career for the Illinois Democrat. He commented, "For 17 years I have given 100% of my time, energy and life to public service. However, over the past several months, as my health has deteriorated, my ability to serve the constituents of my district has continued to diminish."

4th Grader Writes Book About Mom's Breast Cancer

9-year old James "Trey" Rawlins III of New Haven, Connecticut, has authored a book called "When Mommy Had Cancer" to help other kids and their mothers who are dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis. Published with the help of a $1,000 donation from Howard University Hospital, the book recounts the experience Trey had with his mother, Veronica Marian-Rawlins, as she underwent treatment for her diagnosis.

Targeted toward children between the ages of 4-7, Rawlins has no interest in making money from the book; He wants to donate copies to hospitals all around the world. It has already received national attention on ABC News, Yahoo, and more.

President Obama Nominates First Gay African-American Federal Judge

President Obama has nominated Judge William L. Thomas to be a judge for the U.S District Court for the Southern District of Florida. If confirmed, Thomas, who is currently serving as a Circuit Judge in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit since 2005, will be the second openly homosexual judge on the federal bench.

Obama commented, "[Thomas] has demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system. [He] also represents my continued commitment to ensure that the judiciary resembles the nation it serves."

Actress Maia Campbell Opens Up To Iyanla Vanzant

On a recent episode of "Iyanla, Fix My Life" on the OWN Network, actress Maia Campbell talked about her struggle with bi-polar disorder, her drug abuse and the relationship she had with her mother, the late author BeBe Moore Campbell. In a tear-jerker conversation, Iyanla helped her to best deal with her problems - which included being arrested many times and several embarrassing videos that went viral online. According to Campbell, she is now living in a rehabilitation center (by her own choice) and told Iyanla she is ready to take to steps necessary to reclaim her life and her light.

Watch Some Clips Below:

Alicia Keys on Jet Magazine Cover; Says "I'm Not A Home Wrecker"

Singer/songwriter Alicia Keys is on the cover of the November 26, 2012 issue of Jet Magazine. Inside, she talks about her new album, her son Egypt, and her marriage to husband Swizz Beatz. She also elaborates on her pre-marriage drama, in which she has been criticized of wrecking her husband's former marriage. All of this, just in time for her new album "Girl On Fire" to be released on November 27th.

Actress Lisa Bonet Turns 45

Actress Lisa Bonet recently celebrated her 45th birthday. She is best known as "Denise" from "The Cosby Show" and "A Different World", the character who was "different", made mistakes, followed her dreams, and wore the most unusual wardrobe. In her real life, though, Bonet had a good-girl-gone-bad reputation. She was known for being a sex diva and afro-punk who once appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. She was also once married to rock star Lenny Kravitz, and the two have a daughter from that marriage named Zoe, who is also an actress - most recently appearing in one of the X-Men films.

Kevin Clash, Voice of Elmo, Responds to Sexual Allegations: "Yes, I'm Gay, But..."

58-year old Kevin Clash who is the voice of the popular Sesame Street character Elmo is has been accused of having a gay sexual relationship with a minor in the past. But his anonymous and alleged victim (who is now 23 years old) has now recanted his allegations. Clash has since released the following statement denying the allegations:

“I am a gay man. I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it, but felt it was a personal and private matter. I had a relationship with the accuser. It was between two consenting adults and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to characterize it as something other than what it was. I am taking a break from Sesame Workshop to deal with this false and defamatory allegation.”

Responding to the accuser's recanted allegation, Clash comments: “I am relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest. I will not discuss it further.”

It seems like Sesame Street, just like Wall Street and Main Street, now has it's own scandals.

Daycare Owner Found Guilty of Murder After Kids Die In House Fire Because She Left To Go Shopping

Jurors have finally reached a verdict in the trial of 24-year old Jessica Tata, a Houston, Texas day-care owner who, in 2011, left children alone in her house while she went shopping at Target. As a result, four children died in a fire because she left a pan of grease heating on a stove, and three others were badly injured. After the tragedy, she fled to her home country of Nigeria to hide. After authorities found her and brought her back to the U.S., her trial began, and just yesterday, she has been officially charged with four counts of murder, three counts of abandoning a child and two counts of reckless injury to a child. Her defense claimed it was an accident, and not murder.

Actress Maia Campbell To Appear on Iyanla Vanzant's "Fix My Life"

Maia Campbell, best known for her role in the 90's hit sitcom UPN's "In The House" with LL Cool J and Debbie Allen, will appear on the next episode of "Iyanla, Fix My Life" on Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network. The episode will cover Campbell’s issues with substance abuse, following an embarrassing video of her that went viral on the web. The interview will air on Saturday, November 17, at 10/9c.

Watch The Sneak Peek Below:

91-Year-Old Granny Wins Indiana State Lottery - Twice!

Lena Eaton, a 91-year old woman from Indianapolis, Indiana, has beaten the odds by winning the state lottery twice - once in August 2012 for $300,000 and again in November 2012 for $99,000. According to experts, the odds for winning two such lotteries back-to-back is one in 5.7 trillion. Eaton has six children, 16 grandchildren, and 20 great-grand children. She told local newspapers, "It's been a pleasure being able to help [my kids]. I’ve got good kids."

President Obama Covers This Week's Issue of Rolling Stone Magazine

Rolling Stone Magazine must have already known that President Obama would win the 2012 presidential election because they interviewed him weeks ago and decided to feature him on the cover of this week's issue. Inside, the president talks about everything from healthcare, economic reform, and access to affordable education. He also talks about his other plans for the next four years in the Oval Office.

President Obama Wins 2012 Re-Election; Promises "Better Days Ahead"

President Obama made history again by beating former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the 2012 U.S. presidential election, despite a weak economy that has plagued Americans for the last few years. During his victory speech to a crowd in Chicago, he confidently promised that are "better days ahead".

With returns from 88 percent of the nation’s precincts, Obama had 55.8 million, 49.8 percent of the popular vote. Romney had 54.5 million, or 48.6 percent. Obama captured Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Virginia, New Hampshire, Colorado and Nevada, seven of the nine states where the rivals and their allies poured nearly $1 billion into dueling television commercials.

Below are more photos of the historical evening:

Obama and Romney Make Last-Minute Plea To Voters

President Barack Obama and candidate Mitt Romney made their last-minute pleas to voters one day before the U.S. election, even making use of some last minute celebrity endorsements - Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Rock, and Jay-Z all made appearances either with or for Obama. Both men were seen campaigning in the states that are critical to them winning the election. Romney was seen in Florida, Virginia, and New Hampshire, while President Obama was seen in both Wisconsin and Iowa.

Two Atlanta Police Officers Die In Tragic Helicopter Crash

Two police officers in Atlanta, Georgia died when their helicopter crashed during a recent search for a 9-year old boy who was reported missing. The officers were identified as 48-year old Richard Halford who had been on the force for 26 years, and 40-year old Shawn Smiley who had only been on the force for 2 years. There were no injuries on the ground, but the helicopter did destroy some power lines and hundreds of local residents lost their power.

Gabby Douglas Covers Essence Magazine; Named Amongst Women of the Year

16-year-old double gold medalist, Gabby Douglas, is on the cover of the December 2012 issue of Essence magazine. She is also named as one of Essence's Women of the Year. Inside, the all-around gymnastics champion and her mother Natalie Hawkins are interviewed about her new-found fame and fortune. She also talks about her family, and the silly controversy about about her hair.

LisaRaye Says: "I Got Obama's Back"

The image was apparently a response to Stacey Dash, who has vocalized her support for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and recently tweeted herself in a photo op with his running mate, Paul Ryan. She comments, "I wanted to say why I’m behind President Obama in this election, and I want to encourage everyone to vote. I have Obama’s back, and I want everyone to have Obama’s back."

Denzel Washington Covers The Hollywood Reporter; Promotes New Movie "Flight"

Denzel Washington is on the cover of the November 2012 issue of The Hollywood Reporter. Inside, the veteran Oscar-winning actor talks about his first movie "St. Elsewhere" which launched his career in 1982, and how he was able to remain relevant for the last 30+ years. He also talks about his new film, Flight, which also stars John Goodman and Don Cheadle. The film will open in theaters November 2, 2012.

Nene Leakes Covers Ebony Magazine

Reality TV star NeNe Leakes, best known from "Real Housewives of Atlanta",  is on the December/January 2013 cover of Ebony Magazine's Money and Power Issue. Inside, she talks about life, marriage, business, and her new show "The New Normal" on NBC. The special issue also features the 2012 annual "Power 100" list, which includes Atty General Eric Holder, Cam Newton, Catherine Brewton, Cathy Hughes, Cee Lo Green, Debra Lee, T.D. Jakes, and more.

President Obama Visits Hurricane Sandy Victims

President Obama visited, encouraged, and offered hope and assistance to local victims during a recent tour of a New Jersey neighborhood effected by Hurricane Sandy. He assured them that "we will not quit" until cleanup and recovery are complete. Afterwards, he took a helicopter tour with Gov. Chris Christie to see first-hand the damage cause by the powerful storm, which included power loss for millions of residents, washed-out roads, flooded homes, fires, and millions of dollars of damage to properties and infrastructures.