AP Top Stories

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Here's the latest news for Thursday Oct. 23: Asian markets tumble; Possible verdict in Sen. Stevens corruption case; New York City Council to vote on measure allowing Mayor Bloomberg to run for a third term; Phillies win game one of World Series.

Raw Video: Killer Attacked in Courtroom

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A man attacked a convicted killer before a judge pronounced the death sentence for him in the hammer-slayings of his wife and twin 2-year-old sons. The man rushed the defense table in the Dekalb County, Georgia courtroom. (Oct . 22)

World Leaders to Meet on Economy in Washington

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World leaders will meet Nov. 15 in Washington to address the global financial crisis _ the first in a series of summits to mitigate what economists predict could be a long and deep downturn. (Oct. 22)

Branson Breezing Toward Another Record

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Adventurer Sir Richard Branson is sailing toward another record as he tries to go from New York to England in record time. (Oct. 22)

Feds say they drive a stake into Mongols gang

By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer Thomas Watkins, Associated Press Writer Wed Oct 22, 6:15 am ET
LOS ANGELES – An undercover investigation in which federal agents infiltrated the notorious Mongols motorcycle gang has ended with dozens of members arrested in six states and prosecutors say it could herald the end of what they call a criminal group.

"This is one of those celebrated investigations in which the organization from top to bottom has been charged and targeted," said Michael Sullivan, acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "It puts a stake in the heart of the Mongols."

At least 61 Mongol Motorcycle Club members were arrested under a racketeering indictment. Agents served 110 arrest warrants across Southern California and in Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Ohio.

Members of the Mongols, a Southern California-based group of 600 or so members, claims it is a social club but prosecutors say it's a criminal gang involved in murder, torture, drug trafficking and other offenses.

The 177-page indictment describes a tightly organized group routinely engaging in violence. It alleges the group, which is mostly Latino, sometimes attacks black people and commits robberies, steals motorcycles, and funds itself in part by stealing credit card account information.

John Torres, the ATF agent in charge in Los Angeles, described the pivotal role his organization's four undercover agents played in the investigation.

The unidentified federal agents infiltrated the gang and were accepted as full members, a difficult process that requires winning the trust of top leaders over a period of months, Torres said.

They had been given completely new identities, including Social Security numbers and life stories. To be accepted into the Mongols, the agents had to pass a lie detector test and background test carried out by private detectives.

Torres declined to comment on how they were able to pass the polygraph test. The agents started out doing errands for the gang, including security work at Mongol parties, and later became "full-patch" members, meaning they could wear the group's insignia.

The agents were required to live away from their real families for days on end in homes set up to make it look like they lived a Mongols lifestyle, Torres said. Four undercover women ATF agents also were involved, pretending to be biker girlfriends and attending parties with the agents. Women are not allowed to be full members of the gang.

Torres said the agents never committed any crimes during their work.

Among those arrested were the gang's former national president Ruben Cavazos, who wrote a memoir of his life called "Honor Few, Fear None: The Life and Times of a Mongol," published by HarperCollins in June.

Another former Mongols national president, Roger Pinney, alleged in an interview with The Associated Press that Cavazos was the problem, not the club in general.

"They were just on the verge of cleaning up their act," said Pinney, who is no longer a member and is serving probation from his role in an infamous brawl in Laughlin, Nev., in 2002. "It's not a club-run deal, it's individuals who are the ones who decide to commit crimes."

Pinney doesn't believe the raid will force the Mongols off the road. "This is all going to blow over. The Mongols aren't going away, and neither are the Hells Angels," he said.

But U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Brien has asked for an injunction that would seize the Mongols' trademarked name. If the order is approved, any Mongol would no longer be able to wear a jacket displaying the gang's name or emblem.

"It would allow law enforcement to seize the leather jackets right off their back," O'Brien said.


Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Sean "Diddy" Combs Talks Enyce Purchase

Sean “Diddy” Combs added another asset to his expanding clothing empire today (October 21), with the purchase of fashion brand Enyce from Liz Claiborne, Inc.

Enyce, which was founded in 1996, is a denim sportswear line specializing in wovens, knits, outerwear, and graphic tees for men and boys.

Recently, the company also found success through its “Big and Tall” line. Liz Claiborne purchased the brand in 2003.

In an exclusive interview with AllHipHop.com, Combs detailed his plans to expand Enyce’s popularity through the cutting-edge marketing that’s made his various brands a success.

“I remember when Enyce was sold back in 2003 for $114 million,” Combs told AllHipHop.com exclusively. “I was always a fan of the brand from when [founders] Evan Davis, Lando Felix, and Tony Shellman owned it. About a year ago I heard that Liz Claiborne was considering selling it because it wasn’t a good fit for their portfolio. I knew it would be a great opportunity so we began negotiations which took about six months...”

I read this article and learned what it was sold for the first time, but i wanna know what Diddy got it for. I bet food stamp prices, which means no matter what it would be almost impossible to take a lost.


Diddy Breaking News #1 - Diddy aka Black Buffet Talks About Buying ENYCE

AP Top Stories

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Here's the latest news for Wednesday October 22nd: Asian stocks fall in overnight trading; Jury deliberations start in Sen. Ted Stevens' corruption trial; Sir Richard Branson tries to set sailing record; World Series starts tonight in Tampa.

Comedian Rudy Ray Moore dies

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Rudy Ray Moore, a raunchy 1970s comedian who played the title role of a flashy pimp in the movie Dolemite and influenced a generation of rappers, has died. He was 81.
Moore died Sunday evening at an Akron nursing home from complications of diabetes, said his brother, Gerald Moore.

Services will be held in Akron and Spokane, Wash., where his mother and other family members live, he said.

Rudy Ray Moore was part of the heyday of black "party records." His stage personality featured blunt sex routines but, unlike contemporaries Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor, he never crossed over to mainstream white audiences.

The Washington Post said in a 1992 profile that Moore was "an astounding renderer of 'toasts,' — elaborately boastful, profane and scatological tales of life in the old-style urban subculture of pimps, prostitutes, gamblers and badmen. His husky, down-home voice is ideal for it."

Moore said he developed the style, later a feature of rap music, by listening to men sitting outside joints "drinking beer and lying and talking (expletive)."

Moore played the fast-talking pimp and title character in the 1975 film Dolemite. In later years Moore collaborated with 2 Live Crew, Big Daddy Kane and Snoop Dogg.

Moore's other acting credits during the Blaxploitation era of black action films included The Human Tornado in 1976 and Disco Godfather in 1979.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Peer To Peer Phone Porn

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Cell phones with cameras make it easy for young people to take and send pornographic photos of themselves. As KOTV's Lori Fullbright reports, it is often done for attention and parents are clueless.

AP Top Stories

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Here's the latest news for Tuesday, October 21st: Mahoney's wife files for divorce; Mexico prison riot kills 21; Prosecutors seek evidence in Nowak kidnapping trial; Soldier sends her Iraqi puppy home

Rapper's assistant: I saw gun, pot on tour bus

Lil Wayne's assistant says he occasionally saw a handgun and people smoking marijuana on the award-winning rapper's tour bus.

But Terry Bourgeois also testified Monday he never saw Lil Wayne with a gun and didn't know whether one was on the bus in July 2007 when the 26-year-old rapper was arrested in Manhattan on gun charges.

A police officer testified last month she boarded Lil Wayne's bus after a concert because she smelled marijuana.

She said that while on the bus she saw him try to hide a gun.

Defense lawyer Stacey Richman wants the charges dismissed. She says police falsely claimed they smelled marijuana so they could illegally board the bus.

The rapper (real name: Dwayne Carter) has pleaded not guilty and is free on $70,000 bail.

Via: www.cnn.com

NYC's Green Skyscraper

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The new Bank of America building in New York City uses sustainable and recycled materials. It also generates two-thirds of its own energy, reports Bianca Solorzano.

Bernanke breathes life into another stimulus bill

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – With a timely endorsement from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, there's new life to the idea of Congress returning to Washington next month to pass a second round of measures aimed at injecting life into the economy.

The White House said Monday that President Bush was at least willing to consider a second stimulus measure to follow a $168 billion stimulus measure passed in February and a $700 billion Wall Street rescue plan passed 2 1/2 weeks ago.

Democrats say any stimulus bill would include items previously rejected by Bush such as road and bridge construction money and help for state budgets. Another round of tax rebates is possible as well to make the measure big enough to jolt the economy.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., predicted Congress would return after Election Day to work on a measure equal to or exceeding February's $168 billion stimulus package, which included $600 tax rebates for most individuals and tax breaks for businesses.

Despite the new momentum, action in November is by no means certain. There's a narrow window between the elections and Thanksgiving, and the results of the elections are likely to affect both sides' willingness to bargain.

Democrats hope Bernanke's endorsement will help bring Bush around, and they predicted that congressional Republicans would warm to the idea as well.

"With the economy likely to be weak for several quarters, and with some risk of a protracted slowdown, consideration of a fiscal package by the Congress at this juncture seems appropriate," Bernanke told the House Budget Committee on Monday. It marked the first time Bernanke had endorsed the need for another round of economic stimulus.

Democrats believe Bernanke's support for the first round of stimulus steps was key to getting the White House behind the idea. But Bush has been strictly opposed to Democratic proposals such as infrastructure projects.

"We're continuing to have conversations with members of Congress, and we're open to ideas that they would put forward ... that would stimulate the economy and help us pull out of this downturn faster," White House press secretary Dana Perino said Monday, shortly after Bernanke endorsed the need for a fresh and "significant" round of government action.

"What we've seen put forward so far by the leaders in Congress, the Democrats, were elements of a package that we did not think would actually stimulate the economy," Perino added.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and fellow congressional Democrats are pushing a package that could cost as much as $150 billion or more.

As part of that package, Pelosi wants to resurrect a $61 billion House-passed measure that included about $37 billion in public works spending, $6 billion to extend jobless benefits, $15 billion to help states pay their Medicaid bills and $3 billion in food stamp assistance for the poor.

Democrats also are considering a second round of tax rebates to follow the $600-$1,200 checks most individuals and couples got earlier this year. That money, going directly to consumers in hopes they would spend it, could push the price tag much higher.


Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Powell Bashes McCain

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"CBS News RAW:" After appearing on "Meet The Press," Colin Powell said Barack Obama "brings a fresh set of eyes," while McCain will simply "execute the Republican...

Katt Williams A No Show, Lil Wayne Wins At BET Hip-Hop Awards

The third annual BET Hip-Hop Awards kicked off with a bit of a surprise in Atlanta this evening (Oct 18).

Attendees of the event were greeted by surprise host T-Pain, who took over the role of master of ceremonies from comedian Katt Williams, who has hosted the award show since it’s inception in 2006.

While T-Pain provided no clue to the last minute line-up change, rumors have surfaced that the replacement was made due to a disagreement between Williams and the brass at BET or even that the pint-sized comedian had been arrested in the hours preceding the start-studded live taping.

BET.com’s P.O.V. blog, however, provides a much more interesting theory, courtesy of the Network’s Executive Vice President Stephen Hill.

“So we were all hanging out last night and Katt bets T-Pain couldn’t beat him in a break dance battle,” Hill was quoted as saying. “Not knowing T-Pain was an extremely DOPE break dancer, Katt thought it was an easy win. T-Pain said if I win, I get to host the Hip-Hop Awards.”

An official statement released by BET Networks following the awards ceremony at the Atlanta Civic Center simply stated that Williams was “unable to attend...”

Via: www.allhiphop.com

Katt got caught trying to make a come up. He probably would of hit T-Pain for $20 stacks or something if he wouldn't won, instead he lost alot with the exposure he was going to get all night, but at least he manned up and honored the B.E.T.(pun intended)

Poll: Voters souring on McCain, Obama stays steady

By ALAN FRAM and TREVOR TOMPSON, Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON (AP) — When it comes to the public's image of John McCain, it's as if somebody dialed the electricity down in the past month. For Barack Obama, the juice is still flowing.

People's regard for the Republican presidential nominee has deteriorated across-the-board since September, an Associated Press-Yahoo! News poll showed Friday, with McCain losing ground in how favorably he's seen and in a long list of personal qualities voters seek in White House contenders.

Perceptions of Obama have improved or remained steady. Beyond views of the two rivals' character traits, McCain faces another problem — Obama is more trusted on the economy, the contest's commanding issue, including a 15-percentage-point edge for better grasping how the raging financial crisis is affecting people.

Obama's image has been sturdy even as voters' views of the overall campaign have tumbled downhill since September. The portion of people saying the contest excites them has sunk to 32 percent while those calling it frustrating have grown to 41 percent — and in both cases, six in 10 of those whose feelings have worsened are McCain backers.

Negative campaigning and a month of intense public focus on collapsing global economic and financial markets have not been kind to McCain. The new AP-Yahoo! News poll of likely voters, conducted this month by Knowledge Networks, shows more people viewing him favorably than unfavorably by just 5 percentage points, down from a 21-point difference in mid-September.

During the same period, Obama went the other way, increasing a 5-percentage-point net favorable rating to 15 points. Now, Obama is seen favorably by 57 percent and McCain by 52 percent — a close margin that masks the opposite direction the two rivals' ratings are heading.

"He kind of scared me," Leesa Zick, 48, an undecided Republican from Edwardsville, Ill., said of McCain's abrupt and short-lived suspension of his campaign last month during Capitol Hill talks on a financial package. "We need a president who can deal with multiple tasks. It seemed like it overwhelmed him."

For McCain, the poll's good news is that despite a difficult month, his public image is not dramatically worse than Obama's and in several areas remains better. The public still rates him higher than Obama for keeping America safe, working with both political parties, and being decisive, experienced and competent.

"He's more qualified than Obama, definitely, because of his experience and history, " said Richard Tosti, 67, a Republican from Rochester, N.Y.

Zick and Tosti are among about 2,000 people the AP-Yahoo! News poll has been tracking since November. By repeatedly questioning them, the survey has opened a detailed window on how individuals have reacted to the campaign's twists and turns.

Less than three weeks from Election Day, Obama has taken a solid lead over McCain in most national and swing-state polls. The AP-Yahoo! News survey underscores the morale problem McCain faces.

Obama supporters are more than twice as likely to say they're excited about the race and significantly more likely to say they're interested and hopeful. McCain backers, meanwhile, more often say they feel frustrated and helpless. Underscoring a period that has seen the rival candidates trade personal attacks, about a fifth of those backing each say they're angry.

"There's a lot of mudslinging, which I've never been a fan of," said Eric Juhl, 27, a Republican and McCain backer from Abilene, Kan. "And to me, the media seems pretty left-wing oriented. It's kind of frustrating."

A sour public mood is typical late in presidential campaigns as both sides' attacks accumulate, said University of Wisconsin political scientist and polling authority Charles Franklin. This year's disenchantment is probably magnified by worries about how the candidates would bolster the economy, he said.

Even so, Obama has staked out a clear advantage on economic concerns in the AP-Yahoo! News poll. The Illinois senator is trusted more than McCain to improve the economy by 54 percent to 44 percent, and to handle the financial crisis by 53 percent to 46 percent.

Obama also has a 56 percent to 41 percent advantage for understanding how the financial crisis affects people. Unhappily for McCain, six in 10 voters who may still change their minds, about as many independents and even one in 10 McCain backers prefer Obama on that question.

"To me his background indicates he'd be a little more sensitive to the middle class" in addressing economic problems, Peggy Chilton, 72, an independent from Los Angeles who hasn't decided on a candidate, said of Obama.

The numbers don't get better for McCain when it comes to personal traits.

Following debates between the two rivals in which the Arizona senator has appeared angry at times, 46 percent consider him hot-tempered, more than triple the 13 percent who say so about Obama.

"He'd be a little nerve-racking to have in the White House, jumping real fast," Darlene Finley, 48, an Obama-leaning independent from Ossineke, Mich., said of McCain. "When you're talking about war, that's something you don't want to do, jumping real fast."

Since September, McCain has lost ground on nearly every quality tested in the poll, including lower scores for being likable, decisive, honest, competent, intelligent and inspiring.

He's also lost ground for understanding ordinary peoples' problems, caring about "people like you" and improving America's international standing. Growing numbers even see him as supporting big business over the public interest and being influenced by lobbyists — despite repeated vows to do exactly the opposite.

Obama's ratings have stayed level since last month for most qualities tested, though he has shown some improvement in whether he's considered experienced and decisive.

Paralleling McCain's problems are similar ones faced by his running mate, Sarah Palin.

A month ago, more people said the Alaska governor made them more likely to vote for McCain than less likely by 14 percentage points. That gap is now down to 3 points — even as growing numbers say her Democratic counterpart, Joe Biden, makes them more inclined to support Obama.

The AP-Yahoo! News poll included 841 likely voters was conducted from Oct. 3-13 and has an overall margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points. Included were interviews with 373 people who initially said they were Democrats, 252 Republicans and 214 independents, for whom the margins of sampling error are plus or minus 5.1, 6.2 and 6.7 percentage points, respectively.

The poll was conducted over the Internet by Knowledge Networks, which initially contacted people using traditional telephone polling methods and followed with online interviews. People chosen for the study who had no Internet access were given it for free.

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AP News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Polling site: http://news.yahoo.com/polls

Union says teams acted in concert against Bonds

By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—The baseball players’ union says it has found evidence teams acted in concert against signing Barry Bonds but it reached an agreement with the commissioner’s office to delay the filing of any grievance.

The union expressed concern in May about the lack of offers to the home run king. Filing a grievance would trigger proceedings before arbitrator Shyam Das.

Union general counsel Michael Weiner confirmed the deal with Major League Baseball, which was first reported by murraychass.com.

“There were numerous things that occurred that made me believe that the clubs were acting in concert,” Bonds’ agent, Jeff Borris, said Thursday. “When I testify as a witness in the case, I will delineate each and every one of them.”

Bonds was indicted last Nov. 15 on charges related to 2003 grand jury testimony during which he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. No team signed Bonds when he became a free agent after the 2007 season.

“We have the agreement about the timing of a potential grievance,” Weiner said. “Our investigation revealed a violation of the Basic Agreement. It’s a violation of the Basic Agreement related to Barry Bonds and free agency.”


Weiner said the section that had been violated was Article XX (e) of the collective bargaining agreement, which states, in part: “Players shall not act in concert with other players and clubs shall not act in concert with other clubs.” Weiner would not say how long the agreement runs to allow the union to file a grievance.

Baseball attorneys repeatedly have denied that teams acted in concert against Bonds. Management lawyer Dan Halem said Thursday that MLB would have no additional comment.

Bonds pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of making false declarations to a federal grand jury and one count of obstruction of justice, and his trial is scheduled to start March 2. Any grievance is likely to follow the trial.

“The timing of the filing of the case is between the players’ union and the commissioner’s office,” Borris said.

After spending a lot of time during the first half of 2008 trying to get Bonds signed, Borris has stopped his efforts.

“I am convinced based on MLB’s actions in 2008 that they will never let him wear a major league uniform ever again,” he said.

The players’ association won three collusion grievances in which owners were found to have conspired against free agents following the 1985, 1986 and 1987 seasons. Management agreed in 1990 to settle those cases for $280 million and also agreed to a provision that future collusion would be subject to triple damages.

Test Drive: Honda's No Emissions Car

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The Associated Press test drives the Honda Clarity FCX. It's a fuel cell powered car that releases no pollutants. (Oct. 17)

Eminem's Album Titled 'Relapse'; Rapper Teams With Nike

Eminem has put rumors to rest about the title of his new album. "Relapse," will be his sixth studio album and has been one of the most highly anticipated albums from any musician for the last couple of years. Debuting his new song "I'm Having A Relapse" on October 15th, during the release party of his new book titled The Way I Am in New York.

To keep himself busy and to continue to promote his brand Eminem has teamed up with Nike and there Jordan Brand again to customized Jordan 2, his favorite pair. 313 pair will be made, which is the rappers Detroit, MI area code.

AP Top Stories

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Here's the latest news for Thursday October 16th: Helicopter crashes near Chicago, killing four people; Spanish judge questions three mechanics in plane crash investigation; Final debate between Barack Obama and John McCain; Asian markets tumble.