WASHINGTON (AP) — The District of Columbia plans to hire 300 new police officers. Mayor Vincent Gray said Wednesday that the police department will be ready to train a class of 35 recruits starting Oct. 4. The training classes will consist of 25 to 35 recruits and will be held monthly at the police academy. […]
Author Archives: Associated Press
R&B Singer Vesta Williams Found Dead in L.A.
EL SEGUNDO, California (AP) — Big-voiced R&B diva Vesta Williams, perhaps best-known for her 1980s hits “Don’t Blow A Good Thing” and “Congratulations,” has been found dead of a possible drug overdose in a Southern California hotel room, coroner’s investigators said Friday. She was 53. Williams was found dead at 6:15 p.m. Thursday in an […]
Colin Powell's New Book is a Story of SuccessDue Out in 2012
NEW YORK (AP) — The retired four-star general and former Secretary of State has a deal with HarperCollins for “It Worked for Me: Lessons in Leadership and Life.” According to HarperCollins, the book will include his 13 rules of leadership and “revealing personal stories.” Financial terms were not disclosed. HarperCollins announced Sunday that the book […]
NY Mom Accused of Abducting Her 8 Kids from Child Welfare Agency
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Authorities say a mother from New York who is accused of abducting eight of her own children from a child welfare agency may be in South Carolina. Police say 28-year-old Shanel Nadal of Manhattan was visiting the children at the Forestdale agency in Queens on Monday when she took them. They […]
Sean Penn's Group Receives Grant to House Haitians
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The Haiti aid group run by Hollywood actor Sean Penn says it has received a $2.25 million grant to help more than 500 families displaced by last year’s earthquake move back home. Benjamin Krause from Penn’s relief group J/P HRO says the money from the World Bank will be used for […]
Ga. Board Denies Clemency for Troy Davis
Update: Click here to read “Ga. High Court Rejects Plea to Stop Davis Execution” Update: Click here to read “Troy Davis Has Much Support, Little Hope” ATLANTA (AP) — Two defense lawyers say Georgia’s pardons board has rejected clemency for Troy Davis, who has attracted high-profile support for his claim that he was wrongly convicted […]
Artest's Name Change to Metta World Peace Approved
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A court commissioner granted Lakers forward Ron Artest’s request to officially change his name to Metta World Peace on Friday, three weeks after the bid was blocked because Artest had unpaid traffic tickets. Artest, 31, did not attend a brief hearing Friday. Superior court spokeswoman Patricia Kelly said that Artest’s new […]
Jermaine Jackson Reveals Escape Plan for Michael
LONDON (AP) — Jermaine Jackson says his family had secretly arranged to fly Michael to Bahrain if the pop icon was found guilty of child molestation. Jermaine was quoted as telling The Times magazine out Saturday that a private jet financed by a friend was on standby to whisk his late brother to the Gulf […]
Man Gets 97 Years for Shooting Grizzlies Antonio Burks
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to 97 years in prison for shooting Memphis Grizzlies guard Antonio Burks. Criminal Court Judge Mark Ward on Thursday sentenced 20-year-old Darquan Lynneral Swift for the July 2009 shooting and attempted robbery during a dice game behind a vacant duplex. Burks, who played at the University […]
11th Circuit Rejects Actor Wesley Snipes’ Appeal
ATLANTA (AP) — The federal appeals court in Atlanta on Tuesday turned away the latest attempt by actor Wesley Snipes to get his conviction and prison sentence on tax charges overturned. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the appeal by Snipes, who was convicted in 2008 on three misdemeanor counts of willful failure […]
Serena Williams Tops Ivanovic in US Open 4th Round
NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams needed just 74 minutes to return to the U.S. Open quarterfinals, beating 2008 French Open champ Ana Ivanovic in straight sets. Williams won 6-3, 6-4 on Monday to move on to face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in her first major quarterfinal since missing nearly a year with a series of health […]
Update: Williams Tweets About Looking Forward to Return
NEW YORK (AP) — Venus Williams says she’s eager to return to action after withdrawing from the U.S. Open because of an immune system disease. Williams took to Twitter on Sunday, writing: “Thank you everyone for all your well wishes! It’s good to have support! Looking forward to getting better and back on tour!” When […]

