New England Sun-Times

San Diego, CA (September 4, 2012) -- World of EPI's newest doll line, the Positively Perfect Diva Collection, will be available in select stores and online in time for holiday shoppers.   "Having already created an infant and toddler line of multicultural dolls, the concept for this new line started with my desire to target girls in a slightly older age group," said Lisa Williams, Ph.D., CEO. "I wanted young ladies to know that they are Dignified, Intelligent, Vivacious and Attractive - and the Diva Collection materialized." Divas radiate confidence and beauty. When they walk into a room all heads turn, because of their outer beauty and inner grace. Diana loves to write, Abrielle is a dancer, and Zair is an artist. All are straight "A" students. Dr. Williams is a mom and former professor, and has always wanted to inspire the best in young people. In 2003, the World of...

  New Orleans, LA (September 4, 2012) -- New Orleans native Master P and Kentwood native Brittany Spears team up to help their hometowns that were affected by Hurricane Isaac. It's been seven years since Hurricane Katrina where most families from Louisiana lost it all and had to start over. Hurricane Isaac has blind sighted many families in Louisiana that had to evacuate and return to flooded communities and no home insurance. Master P has dedicated his time and resources to the recovery process in helping underprivileged families get back on track. In addition, Master P has reached out to other Hollywood stars such as Justin Bieber, Usher, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Ne-yo, Beyonce, Michael Bolten, Will Smith, and Dwight Howard to help with this cause. Master P and his team is organizing music festivals and Black Tie events to raise funds and awareness to help provide assistance to the r...

According to WFTV-9 in Lake County, Florida, a 77-year old female pastor has been arrested for allegedly trafficking oxycodone at a small church in the city of Umatilla called the Church of Jesus. Apparently, the arrest of Pastor Gussie Smith is part of a larger drug operation sweep that is still ongoing. Members of the church are in disbelief.

More than two weeks ago 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson was kidnapped from her mother’s home. 52-year-old Freddie Grant has been charged with kidnapping Gabbiee but Richland County Deputies still haven’t been able to find her. Grant was an obvious target because he was a convicted felon and deputies became even more suspicious when he refused to cooperate, Lott said. Bullets were found in his home, leading to a federal weapons charge. That led to more searches, which uncovered his DNA and Gabbiee’s DNA on duct tape with blood on it found near his house, the sheriff said. Cell phone records show Grant was near Swainson’s home around the time she disappeared and both of them appeared to end up at Grant’s home, the sheriff said. Grant is being held without bail at the Lexington County jail. It wasn’t clear if he had a lawyer. Gabbiee’s mom, Elvia Swainson, says this has to be a mother’s worst nightmare. “It is getting a little bit harder everyday and I am busy trying ...

Rise and shine. It’s time for breakfast pop or soda depending on where ya live! Taco Bell is adding Mountain Dew A.M. It’s a mix of Mountain Dew soda and Tropicana orange juice — to its breakfast menu, which was rolled out earlier this year at select locations. Taco Bell is also adding its new A.M. Crunchwrap, which combines scrambled eggs, cheese, a hash brown and bacon or sausage in a single tortilla. The Mexican-style chain introduced breakfast — which it refers to as “FirstMeal” — at about 800 restaurants in 14 states earlier this year. The chain plans to take the menu national by 2014 if the test goes well. Although Taco Bell is looking to expand by offering higher-end options such as its new Cantina Bowls, the chain is also finding success by appealing to younger men who crave junk food. Taco Bell restaurants that have been open at least a year experienced double-digit growth during the second quarter. ...

New voting laws could restrict millions of Americans from casting a ballot this fall—but an iPhone app aims to help voters navigate these rules and regs, writes Erika Eichelberger at Mother Jones. Designed by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and other voting rights groups, the “Election Protection” app provides registration forms and information for each state. It also has a hotline to call for last-minute news on election day snafus and hijinks. “You might be thinking: you are a privileged white girl, oblivious to the fact that poor people don’t have fancyphones!” writes Eichelberger. But half of American cell phone owners use smartphones, and according to one study, “blacks and Hispanics are more likely than whites to use their phones for ‘non-voice’ applications.” Eichelberger says the app is not only good for the underprivileged, but “the scatter-brained, the nomadic, and those who don’t have the ...

CLICK: WHAT DO YOU THINK? WOMAN TAKES A BEATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SLEEPING WITH MARRIED HIV PASTOR! A Georgia church pastor is under fire for allegedly spreading HIV among his church members…so far at least two victims have come forward to press charges. This shocking news set the internet on fire after it was posted on a blog by an angry church member and ex lover of the married pastor. Pastor Craig Lamar Davis (mug shot below) of Atlanta’s Full Gospel Baptist Church was arrested for reckless conduct after investigators discovered he was sleeping with several women in the church. Davis admitted to investigators that he’s HIV positive and chose to have unprotected sex with these women. According to an email sent to blogger Obnoxious, Pastor Davis is a church ho. The woman who reported him, Ronita McAfee, says she met Davis on Facebook and it wasn’t long before the two started meeting at his home to have sex. A few months after the affair kicked off, Ronita sa...

Alicia Etheredge Brown, R&B singer Bobby Brown’s wife, is recovering after suffering a seizure in Florida. Peeps close to the family say Bobby Brown’s early exit from rehab may be to blame for his wife’s hospital visit. Alicia had a seizure just hours before Bobby was due to perform with New Edition at Tom Joyner’s Annual Family Reunion event . Bobby requested fans pray for his wife and mother of his son, Cassius. “The report that my wife was rushed to the hospital is true. She is recovering and is in good spirits and doing well,” Bobby said Saturday. “Please keep my family in your prayers.”   Alicia is also Bobby Bobby’s manager and had been traveling with him for the annual labor-day weekend event. She reportedly collapsed while he was completing a sound-check for the upcoming show with New ...

Rapper Lil Wayne has hired security guards to keep a round-the-clock watch over his ex-wife and their daughter. The Cash Money Records rapper plunks down more than $10,000 a month to ensure the safety of BET reality star Toya Wright, whom Wayne divorced in 2007, and their daughter, Reginae. Why, you may ask. Well, this is where it gets juicy. 28 year old Wright, star of Toya: A Family Affair, got married last year to record producer Mickey “Memphitz” Wright. So happens Memphitz has been accused of domestic abuse so Lil Wayne wants to make sure someone’s on hand to keep Memphitz on the straight and narrow. The allegations, repeatedly denied by Memphitz, have been a prominent story line on the current season of VH1′s popular Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta. They were made mostly by R&B star and cast member K. Michelle. And it so happens K. Michelle is Memphitz’s ex girlfriend. “You bet that Lil Wayne is concerned,” a sour...

The Democrats kick off their three-day national convention today, in a night headlined by first lady Michelle Obama and keynote speaker Julian Castro. Here’s what you need to know: Whereas Ann Romney focused on her husband’s family life, Michelle Obama will focus on Obama’s presidency, hoping to shed light on how and why he’s made his decisions. “She has such insight into the president as a person,” David Axelrod tells USA Today. What she won’t do: Attack Republicans. “She will be positive,” a source says. San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro may not be a household name yet, but Democrats are betting he soon will be a star. Some are speculating that he could become governor of Texas or even, eventually, a presidential contender. Castro’s speech will focus on his life story, growing up in a low-income household and being shaped by his activist mother . “Our story makes clear that the American dream is intergenerational,” he t...

A community is outraged after cops stopped and harassed a group of black deaf teenagers. The group was heading to a local community basketball game when they were stopped by several New Jersey police officers. The brother of one of victims, who was the only non-hearing impaired tried to tell the officers that the boys were deaf. However, he said the officers insisted on continuing their search, leaving the group of young men shaking in fear. The parents of the victims are demanding an apology from Trenton Police Department. So far officials say this is not an incident of racial profiling but they are “investigating” the matter. Watch the young men explain what happened that night… SOURCE: CURRENTTV

 A 26-year-old pregnant woman in Turkey shot and decapitated her rapist, then flung his head into the village square. When police arrested the woman, she said, “That is the head of one who toyed with my honor.” Now we’re not condoning violence but YOU have to agree that was a crazy cool ass line – ok back to the story! The woman, five months pregnant, is demanding authorities let her have an abortion even though she is way beyond the ten week limit allowed for terminations in Turkey. Womens’ groups in Turkey have praised her as a heroine. It turned out that the woman, aged 26 and a mother-of-two, had been abused by her attacker for months before she took her revenge and was being blackmailed. The woman has reportedly even said she is prepared to die as long as she is allowed to have the abortion. The rapist had taken nude photos of her and threatened to send them to her parents unless she continued sleeping with...

Graduates from the St. Martinville, La., Senior High School Class of 1973 decided that after nearly 40 years, they would stop holding segregated class reunions, but a letter announcing the change included an after party for “white graduates only.” Michael Kreamer, who is the principal of the Louisiana school, said the letter was brought to his attention on Friday morning. “It’s disappointing to see something like this,” he said. “The school was really not involved at all in it.” On Sept. 21, a reception will be held at the school, followed by the homecoming football game , which the letter notes all graduates are welcome to attend. KATC in Lafayette, Louisiana explains: “ The Class of 1973 has always held a separate reunion. They would hold on for the white students and one for the black students. This year they wanted to change it up and have everyone celebrate together. ” Liza Chance is one of the organizers for this year’s event . When the group met up to st...

I'm 9 years old. I just got in from Haiti with my mother and father who have worked hard to get us here to America. My father told me so much about this place and how much freedom we have here. My parents found a modest apartment in Boston with 3 bedrooms, so me and my brother share a room, my two sisters share a room and my parents share a room. We walk a long way to the bus stop for school, and the children laugh at us because of the way we talk and dress. My father is working days and going to school nights to be an engineer. He says within four years, kids won't laugh at us anymore. FAST FORWARD 4 years. My father is about to get his degree in three weeks. he says he's ashamed of me because of the crowd I hang out with, and he told me to straighten up, or he will sign me up for a military school. But he don't understand that I need protection in this hood and I gotta do what it do. He's old and dumb, anyway. He's really angry that I have to go to cour...