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Tag: DC

  • HOT COPY: Usher’s 911 Call Posted Online

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    Usher 911 Call

    Last week reports were circulating stating that R&B superstar Usher had called authorities back in September to report that his car had been keyed, and that he implicated his estranged wife, Tameka Foster. Well apparently TMZ got their hands on the 911 tape which reveals the ‘Confessions’ singer explaining in detail what he believes took place.

    “I want to report a situation where my car has been keyed,” Usher said. “…It happened last night apparently. I called [last night] and filed a complaint because of a potential domestic violence [situation] between me and my ex-wife. She had come to my house. They sent the police here last night; we filed a complaint.”

    In response to the tape’s release a rep for Foster told MTV News the story is “totally preposterous” and “did not happen.”

    Hear the 911 call here.

    Usher Pictures

      Recording Artist Usher attends the 6th annual Do Something Awards at The Apollo Theater on June 4, 2009 in New York City..6th Annual Do Something Awards.The Apollo Theater.New York, NY United States.June 4, 2009.Photo by Jason Kempin/WireImage.com..To license this image (57603393), contact WireImage.com

      WireImage.com

      Recording Artist Usher attends the 6th annual Do Something Awards at The Apollo Theater on June 4, 2009 in New York City..6th Annual Do Something Awards.The Apollo Theater.New York, NY United States.June 4, 2009.Photo by Jason Kempin/WireImage.com..To license this image (57603387), contact WireImage.com

      WireImage.com

      Singer Usher attends the 6th Annual Do Something Awards at The Apollo Theater on June 4, 2009 in New York City..6th Annual Do Something Awards.The Apollo Theater.New York, NY United States.June 4, 2009.Photo by Mike Coppola/FilmMagic.com..To license this image (57604596), contact FilmMagic.com

      WireImage.com

      Singer Usher attends the 6th Annual Do Something Awards at The Apollo Theater on June 4, 2009 in New York City..6th Annual Do Something Awards.The Apollo Theater.New York, NY United States.June 4, 2009.Photo by Mike Coppola/FilmMagic.com..To license this image (57604602), contact FilmMagic.com

      WireImage.com

      (L-R) Maryam Saghatelian, AVP of Cartier Beverly Hills, musician Usher, Larissa Sabadash and President and CEO of Cartier North America Frederic De Narp attend the Cartier 100th Anniversary In America Celebration at the Cartier Boutique on June 3, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California..Cartier 100th Anniversary Exhibition and Cocktail.Cartier Boutique.Beverly Hills, CA United States.June 3, 2009.Photo by Donato Sardella/WireImage.com..To license this image (57597518), contact WireImage.com

      WireImage.com

      Musician Usher attends the Cartier 100th Anniversary In America Celebration at the Cartier Boutique on June 3, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California..Cartier 100th Anniversary Exhibition and Cocktail.Cartier Boutique.Beverly Hills, CA United States.June 3, 2009.Photo by Donato Sardella/WireImage.com..To license this image (57597472), contact WireImage.com

      WireImage.com

      Musician Usher attends the Cartier 100th Anniversary In America Celebration at the Cartier Boutique on June 3, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California..Cartier 100th Anniversary Exhibition and Cocktail.Cartier Boutique.Beverly Hills, CA United States.June 3, 2009.Photo by Donato Sardella/WireImage.com..To license this image (57597468), contact WireImage.com

      WireImage.com

      Usher and Kanye West at MTV and ServiceNation’s “Be the Change: Live From The Inaugural Ball” at the Washington Hilton on January 20, 2009 in Washington, D.C..MTV and ServiceNation’s “Be The Change: Live From The Inaugural Ball”.Washington Hilton.Washington, DC United States.January 20, 2009.Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com..To license this image (16491330), contact WireImage.com

      WireImage.com

      Usher and Rosario Dawson at MTV and ServiceNation’s “Be the Change: Live From The Inaugural Ball” at the Washington Hilton on January 20, 2009 in Washington, D.C..MTV and ServiceNation’s “Be The Change: Live From The Inaugural Ball”.Washington Hilton.Washington, DC United States.January 20, 2009.Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com..To license this image (16491244), contact WireImage.com

      WireImage.com

      Rosario Dawson and Usher at MTV and ServiceNation’s “Be the Change: Live From The Inaugural Ball” at the Washington Hilton on January 20, 2009 in Washington, D.C..MTV and ServiceNation’s “Be The Change: Live From The Inaugural Ball”.Washington Hilton.Washington, DC United States.January 20, 2009.Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com..To license this image (16491143), contact WireImage.com

      WireImage.com

     

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  • DC Budget Cuts Can’t Overcome a Mother’s Love

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    My mother gave birth to me when she was 17-years old. As a teen mother who didn’t have a lot of money, she didn’t know the first thing about raising a child, taking care of her health, or preparing for her economic future. Fortunately, there were adults in community-based programs who cared enough to teach her the things that she didn’t yet understand.

    It is for that reason I support programs like The Health Babies Project in Washington, DC. There is no more important job than that of a mother, and The Healthy Babies Project understands that. The great challenge for the organization is that politicians seem to remember that babies don’t vote. So, when the funds are low, programs like this one are among the first to be killed.

    Due to recent budget cuts, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty has allowed for the program’s budget to lose a whopping $500,000 per year, well over half of the funding that the program needs in order to operate. Dr. Pierre Vigilance, Director of the Department of Public Health, has played his role in the process by allowing funding to be cut that had been previously promised to the organization. What’s worse is that the program has been doing a better job than the Department of Health itself when it comes to reaching benchmarks on the elimination of infant mortality.

    The unborn babies can’t quite speak for themselves, but their mothers aren’t taking this lying down. The organization is planning a rally Tuesday, October 6 in Freedom’s Plaza, located on Pennsylvania Avenue. The women being supported by the program are also working the phones to hold local officials accountable and are even pushing to get the attention of First Lady Michelle Obama.

    Programs like The Healthy Babies Project are important, since infant mortality in the black community is 2.3 times greater than that for white Americans. Additionally, persistent problems in the DC area, such as HIV infection and malnutrition require continuous dedication from public officials. One can understand the idea of cutting a program that isn’t working. But if a program is doing well, and goals are being reached, why would this be the program that gets one of the most significant funding cuts in the city?

    Perhaps we are getting a chance to see DC politics at its finest. Politicians are going to be political, but our children need our support.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a professor at Syracuse University and author of the forthcoming book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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