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WILL SMITH: DOESN't WANT A STRIKE
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Will Smith hopes actors don't have to go on strike. The star of the new movie "Hancock" says it's not a good time for American workers to be on strike. The contract between the Screen Actors Guild and the studios ran out Tuesday. Union leaders say they haven't called for a strike authorization vote by members and would stay at the bargaining table. The two sides met Wednesday and SAG officials are studying the studios' latest offer. < < 00:08 "on strike" Will Smith Actor Will Smith says he hopes actors don't have to go on strike. < 00:11 "years ago " Will Smith Actor Will Smith says the economy has been bad for a while so now is not a good time for anyone to go on strike.
LENNY KRAVITZ, A-ROD AND HIS WIFE, MADONNA: THE SAGA CONTINUES
NEW YORK (AP) -- It's a complicated circle of gossip, denials and divorce involving Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, A-Rod and his wife. Madonna's publicist has denied rumors that her marriage to Guy Ritchie is falling apart. Us Weekly reported Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez had been visiting Madonna late at night and she had been sitting in Rodriguez's seats during a Yankees game. The New York Daily News reported that Rodriguez and his wife, Cynthia, have separated. Cynthia Rodriguez visited Kravitz in Paris, prompting rumors that Kravitz was involved in breaking up their marriage. Kravitz denies that. He says in a statement Cynthia is a friend and she came to his home in Paris "to escape from everything happening in New York City." He says he opened his home to her as a friend and it's "extremely hurtful" for him to be labeled an adulterer.
T.I.: MAN OF PEACE?
ATLANTA (AP) -- You might not expect T.I. to be espousing the beliefs of Martin Luther King Junior and reading the words of civil rights leader Andrew Young, the former U.N. ambassador. T.I. recently pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges and faces almost a year in jail. But these days, he's thinking about social responsibility and leadership, thanks to Young, who reached out to the rapper a few months ago. Young, who's also a former mayor of Atlanta, says T.I. is "bright enough, sensitive enough, vulnerable enough and intellectual enough" that he might be able to help society deal with the problem of violence. T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, was sentenced in March to serve about a year in prison, complete community service and three years of supervised home detention. To avoid a long sentence, he agreed to speak to young people about the pitfalls of guns, gangs and violence. That's where Young stepped in. He took T.I. to a rehab hospital in New York to meet with people who were paralyzed from gang violence. Young also took T.I. to an exclusive birthday party for poet Maya Angelou in May.
JILL SCOTT, ANGIE STONE, MARY J. BLIGE: AMONG HEADLINERS AT ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Headliners at this weekend's Essence Music Festival in New Orleans include Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, LL Cool J, and Morris Day and The Time, as well as Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. Tomorrow night's tribute to Patti LaBelle will include performances by two original members of LaBelle, Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx, as well as performances by Chaka Khan and Angie Stone. Besides concerts at the Superdome, the event includes seminars with speakers such as actor Tyler Perry, actress Keisha Knight Pulliam, the Reverend Al Sharpton and comedian-activist Bill Cosby. One session tomorrow will focus on black families, particularly children and education.
ESTELLE: USES THE TROUBLE WITH MEN AS INSPIRATION
NEW YORK (AP) -- Never underestimate the creativity of a rapper-singer scorned. The British artist Estelle, who recently introduced herself to American audiences with the buzz-heavy single "American Boy" featuring Kanye West, credits four years of crazy men and another four years in a rocky relationship as the catalyst behind her U.S. debut disc, "Shine." She says the album was kick-started by her dumping her boyfriend. She says every song "is a guy," about a situation she went through. Estelle grew up listening to Mary J. Blige, and calls Pepa of rap duo Salt 'n Pepa one of her greatest influences. And she knows at least one other great name in the business. Friend and collaborator John Legend signed her to his HomeSchool Records label.
JACKIE ROBINSON: IN COLLEGE BASEBALL FOUNDATION'S HALL OF FAME
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Jackie Robinson is now in the College Baseball Foundation's Hall of Fame. The man who broke major league baseball's color barrier in 1947, was inducted as the foundation's second Vintage-Era Hall of Fame class. Robinson was an infielder in college at Pasadena Junior College and UCLA. The Vintage-Era designation is for those who played or coached before 1947.
BOW WOW: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) -- On this date six years ago, some power companies were warning movie audiences about a scene in Bow Wow's movie "Like Mike." In the movie, there's a scene in which Bow Wow's character climbs up to grab a pair of old basketball sneakers hanging from a power line. The power companies warned that if kids tried to mimic the scene, they could be hurt or killed. The companies said they were especially concerned because in the movie, the sneakers ended up giving Bow Wow's character the ability to play in the N-B-A.
LUTHER VANDROSS: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) -- On this date six years ago, Luther Vandross was among the artists taking the stage at the Essence Music Festival. Others who performed at the festival were Alicia Keys, India.Arie, Mary J. Blige and Al Green.
2 LIVE CREW: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) -- On this date in 1990, 2 Live Crew released the single "Banned in the U.S.A." The song, which shipped double platinum, was a response to the various anti-obscenity groups that had targeted the rappers.
THE MAIN INGREDIENT: LOOKING BACK
UNDATED (AP) -- On this date in 1971, a member of the Main Ingredient died. Donald McPherson died of leukemia at age 29. The group's biggest hit is "Everybody Plays the Fool" -- which sold a million copies.
BILL WITHERS: BIRTHDAY
UNDATED (AP) -- Singer Bill Withers turns 70 today. His hits include "Lean on Me, "Just the Two of Us" and "Ain't' No Sunshine."
Last Update: July 04, 2008 03:07 EDT
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