Clarence Avant, ‘Black Godfather' of entertainment, and benefactor of athletes and politicians, dies
Read full article: Clarence Avant, ‘Black Godfather' of entertainment, and benefactor of athletes and politicians, diesClarence Avant, the manager, entrepreneur, facilitator and adviser who helped launch or guide the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and many others and came to be known as the "Black Godfather" of entertainment and beyond has died at 92.
Dolly Parton, Eminem, Richie get into Rock Hall of Fame
Read full article: Dolly Parton, Eminem, Richie get into Rock Hall of FameEminem, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, Eurythmics, Duran Duran and Pat Benatar have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a list that also includes Dolly Parton, who initially resisted the honor.
Killer of LA philanthropist gets 190-year prison term
Read full article: Killer of LA philanthropist gets 190-year prison termA parolee who murdered 81-year-old philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant, has been sentenced to 190 years in a California prison.
Drake, Pink, The Weeknd win big at Billboard Music Awards
Read full article: Drake, Pink, The Weeknd win big at Billboard Music AwardsIt was a family affair at the Billboard Music Awards: Pink twirled in the air in a powerful performance with her daughter, and Drake was named artist of the decade, accepting the honor alongside his 3-year-old son.
Pharrell, Beastie Boys, RZA, halftime show score Emmy nods
Read full article: Pharrell, Beastie Boys, RZA, halftime show score Emmy nodsSuper Bowl LIV Halftime Show Starring Jennifer Lopez And Shakira picked up four nominations, including outstanding variety special (live). It was not clear if Lopez and Shakira were specifically nominated, though past halftime singers, including Beyonc, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, have earned Emmy nominations as performers. For their work on Watchmen, they scored a second Emmy nomination for outstanding music composition for a limited series, movie or special. They earned nominations as producers for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special and as writers for outstanding writing for a nonfiction program. Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, who composed music for the Michelle Obama documentary Becoming, picked up a nomination for outstanding music composition for a documentary series of special.
Court puts abortion waiting period back in spotlight
Read full article: Court puts abortion waiting period back in spotlightThe 24-hour waiting period case could eventually become a key test for the Florida Supreme Court, which has historically backed abortion rights but is now dominated by conservative justices. The states evidence supporting the 24-hour law raises genuine issues of material fact, Osterhaus wrote. Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis, who has since retired from the bench, ruled in January 2018 that the waiting period law was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court in 2017 had issued a temporary injunction blocking the waiting period law from taking effect. Three supporters of abortion rights --- justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince --- left the bench because of a mandatory retirement age.