By Stacy M. Brown   First R. Kelly. Now it’s the late King of Pop. After the scathing and gut-wrenching Lifetime Television documentary, “Surviving R. Kelly,” shed more light on the alleged crimes of the R&B crooner, a new film about Michael Jackson threatens to do the same to the late “Thriller” singer. The Wrap reports that the 2019 Sundance Film Festival has added a documentary that will focus on two men: (presumably) choreographer Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who say they were sexually abused by Michael Jackson. Following...

By Danica Coto   SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)—Lin-Manuel Miranda reprised his lead role in the hit musical “Hamilton” to start a two-week run in Puerto Rico expected to raise millions of dollars for artists and cultural groups struggling in the wake of Hurricane Maria. The audience giggled, hooted, clapped and tapped their feet throughout Friday's night's performance as Miranda took the stage for the first time since his last appearance in the Broadway version in July 2016, when he played the role of U.S. founding father Alexander...

By Staff Reports   SACRAMENTO–The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that influenza activity is increasing throughout California. Health officials encourage Californians to get vaccinated. “It is important to get vaccinated now if you have not done so already,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “I encourage everyone six months of age and older to be vaccinated to help protect themselves and others from the dangers of flu.” Flu activity is occurring throughout every region of the state...

By Lauran Neergaard   WASHINGTON (AP)—Too often people die of an opioid overdose because no one's around to notice they're in trouble. Now scientists are creating a smartphone app that beams sound waves to measure breathing—and summon help if it stops. The app is still experimental. But in a novel test, the “Second Chance” app detected early signs of overdose in the critical minutes after people injected heroin or other illegal drugs, researchers reported Wednesday. One question is whether most drug users would pull out their phone and...

By Staff Reports   BEVERLY HILLS—"Green Book," the story of the bond that grows between a Black musician and a white New York nightclub bouncer during a 1960s tour through the Deep South, took home a trio of Golden Globes Sunday evening, while the Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" was named best drama film. "Green Book" earned Globes for best comedy/musical film, best screenplay and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali. Director Peter Farrelly called the film honor "beyond anything we ever imagined when we started shooting...

By Russell Contreras   PALM SPRINGS—It's approaching 9 p.m. and Art Laboe adjusts the microphone as Sister Sledge's “We Are Family” ends. “And now it's time for you to call up for those goodnight dedications,” Laboe announces. “Hello?” a young girl says. “I want to dedicate this to my dad that's in Lancaster (prison) and I miss tonight ... I just want to say, Dad, I love you no matter where you go...” She dissolves into tears. The 93-year-old DJ based in Palm Springs, California, credits one...

By Jonathan J. Cooper   SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom's first act as governor Monday was to propose state-funded health coverage for 138,000 young people in the country illegally and a reinstatement of a mandate that everyone buy insurance or face fines. Newsom also proposed giving subsidies to middle-class families that make too much to qualify them under former President Barack Obama's health care law. He signed an order giving the state more bargaining power in negotiating prescription drug prices. And he sent a letter to President Donald Trump and...

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar   WASHINGTON, DC—Democratic Attorneys General last week appealed a federal court ruling that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, as new enrollment numbers underscored the staying power of the Obama-era law. The government reported that about 8.4 million Americans have signed up this year under the law, reflecting steady demand for its subsidized health insurance. President Donald Trump still disdains “Obamacare,” but he failed to repeal it after promising a better plan in its place. The Democratic Attorneys General...

By Stacy M. Brown   “When you look at the data, legalizing cannabis has an overwhelming net positive on the community. Huge spike in tax revenue, lower opiate deaths, big boosts in jobs and business opportunities, and safe access to a plant that benefits millions of people,” Max Simon, CEO of Green Flower, told NNPA Newswire. Recreational marijuana could be legal in New Jersey as early as January. While lawmakers failed to act in a timely manner to get legislation through before the end of 2018, a bill to legalize recreational marijuana was voted out of a...

By Marian Wright Edelman   As we begin the New Year, every new headline reminds us that these are very tumultuous times. I start this season redoubling my determination to focus all my energies towards helping build a transforming movement for children to end child poverty and inequality at this extremely dangerous time of attempted regression. And we must all strengthen our efforts to continue to try to provide a moral compass and example for our young and organize relentlessly to protect all of our children. The Children’s Defense Fund’s mission to leave no child...