News, News, and More News

[AKA2D '91]

You may continue.

[Gina1201]

I thought for sure Soror JB would post this first, but perhaps she's still in shock!!

Rapper and producer Kanye West is engaged, several sources have confirmed to PEOPLE exclusively.

West, 29, proposed to his girlfriend, Alexis, while overseas for two weeks recently, sources close to the singer tell PEOPLE.

Alexis, whose last name and occupation were not immediately available, was West's girlfriend prior to his October 2002 car accident, one source says.

A rep for West had no comment. This will be the first marriage for the Grammy winner.

From People.com

[jitterbug13]

^^^^
This afternoon I was. I'm doing better now.

[pinkies up]

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

^^^^
This afternoon I was. I'm doing better now.

Girl don't worry. You know it's going to be over in 14 months.

[jitterbug13]

This is the girl he's been with (off and on) for years. So if they do make it down the alter, it probably would be longer than 14 months. But thanks for looking out!

Well, at least Shemar is still on the market!

[Intense1920]

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

This is the girl he's been with (off and on) for years. So if they do make it down the alter, it probably would be longer than 14 months. But thanks for looking out!

Well, at least Shemar is still on the market!

Shemar? Shemar Moore? *running back out of thread*

[aka1994]

Obituary
Jeanetta Welch Brown, activist
Strong black woman founded area job corps, dedicated life to service
By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer
Jeanetta Welch Brown dedicated her life to community service.

At age 95 she was still going strong serving on the Women's Board of Juvenile Court, the Urban League, United Way and Akron's Area Agency on Aging. She was also a member of Akron's St. Philip's Episcopal Church.

``She was quite impressive; there weren't many black women doing the things she was doing back in the '40s,'' said longtime friend Leona Farris. ``She was very warm and friendly and always willing to help someone else.''

Mrs. Brown died of pneumonia Aug. 22 at Rockynol Retirement Community, where she had lived since 2003.

``She was a dynamic bundle of energy. She was charming, beautiful, intelligent and very creative. A true lady,'' said Michelle Ellis, who considered Mrs. Brown a mother figure.

``She also had a way of engaging you in conversation that you always wanted to visit her again and again.''

Mrs. Brown was born in Greenville, Ala. Her family moved to Atlanta when she was in grade school. She graduated from high school in Atlanta and attended Tennessee State A&I College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration.

She started her career in Detroit. She was the first black secretary for the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, then became a columnist and editor for the Michigan Chronicle.

She married Army Sgt. Milton Brown in 1943.

She had completed two years of law school when her husband was transferred to Washington.

She got a job in Washington as a lobbyist for Alpha Kappa Alpha, a sorority she joined while in college. Her job was to lobby members of Congress to vote for projects the sorority was supporting, including civil rights and health legislation for blacks. It was then that she met the late Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of the National Council of Negro Women.

In 1943, Mrs. Brown became the first paid executive director of the council, serving until 1945. She served a second term from 1948 to 1952.

In 1945 Mrs. Brown became the first African-American woman to be nominated for the Michigan Legislature, but she lost the election.

While director of the National Council of Women, she organized the National Association of Fashion and Accessory Designers. She started NAFAD because there were not many opportunities available to African-Americans to showcase their talents in the fashion industry.

During her lifetime she met many notable leaders, including Coretta Scott King, Eleanor Roosevelt and Lady Bird Johnson. She was personally invited to the White House by Mrs. Roosevelt and maintained a friendship with her for years.

Mrs. Brown and her husband later moved to New York. She tried to be a homemaker but turned again to the work force and became a buyer, then a caseworker for New York City. In 1960 the couple divorced.

She moved to Cleveland in 1965 to head the Job Corps Center. After retiring in 1978, she moved to Akron to take care of her ailing mother. Her commitment to education inspired her to pursue a multimillion-dollar U.S. Department of Labor grant to establish the Cleveland branch of Job Corps. The program has expanded to provide education for hundreds of high school dropouts.

The Jeanetta Welch Brown Scholarship was established in 1994 to benefit a Job Corps participant. It was started by the Zeta Theta Omega Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

[txdiva]

Ronald Isley sentenced for tax evasion

Isley Brothers lead singer Ronald Isley has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison for tax evasion.

Isley was also ordered to pay $3.1 million in back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Conte.

He was convicted last year of five counts of tax evasion and one count of willful failure to file a tax return.

During a hearing Friday, defense attorney Anthony Alexander argued that the 65-year-old singer should receive probation instead of prison time because of complications from a stroke and a recent bout with kidney cancer. Isley is expected to be sent to a prison hospital facility.

Alexander also pleaded for leniency because Isley had been attempting to pay down his IRS debt.

But U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson declined to sentence the R&B singer to less time than called for under federal guidelines.

"The term serial tax avoider has been used. I think that's appropriate," Pregerson said.

Alexander argued during trial that "unfortunate circumstances," such as the deaths of two of Isley's accountants, made him unable to get records together and pay taxes during the years that led to the criminal charges.

Isley's recent albums include a collaboration with Burt Bacharach titled "Here I Am" and the Grammy-nominated Isley Brothers CD "Body Kiss."

[kiml122]

Originally Posted by txdiva

Ronald Isley sentenced for tax evasionAlexander argued during trial that "unfortunate circumstances," such as the deaths of two of Isley's accountants, made him unable to get records together and pay taxes during the years that led to the criminal charges.

Soooooo ummmmm, hole up, (and yes I did say "hole") This states 2 of his accountants died, and this was/is the reason why Ron...aka...Mr. Big wasn't able to pay his taxes...so you mean to tell me that "years" means more than 1 and he couldn't find a new accountant...I'm sorry but that is straight craziness and very much sounds like bullshyt. See, this is why Ron needed to stop believing in that Mr. Big persona, and as his record states go back to being just Ron.

[jitterbug13]

Originally Posted by txdiva

During a hearing Friday, defense attorney Anthony Alexander argued that the 65-year-old singer should receive probation instead of prison time because of complications from a stroke and a recent bout with kidney cancer. Isley is expected to be sent to a prison hospital facility.

Alexander also pleaded for leniency because Isley had been attempting to pay down his IRS debt.

But U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson declined to sentence the R&B singer to less time than called for under federal guidelines.

"The term serial tax avoider has been used. I think that's appropriate," Pregerson said.

Was he hoping for a Martha/Lil' Kim sentence? His health issues haven't stopped him from from making plenty of albums, marry his young backup singer and creating a child.

I agree with Soror kiml and that he needs to let the Mr. Big persona go. It's been going on since I was in HS, and my 10 year reunion is next year.

Has anyone wonder why all of these other stars have been charged, tried and convicted/aquitted and Rrrrr's trial hasn't started yet? It's been going on for about what, 5 years now?

I think I read the other day that the judge that was supposed to be presiding over his trial was sick for a few months and just came back. He's presiding over another case as well that will come before R.Kelly's...I think...

[AKA2D '91]

Maybe it is Tamara. I went back to look at the pic from last week or so. She could be preggers. Her face is a bit puffy. The bouquet "hides" her mid area.

Who knows?