CNN Wire Service
Mar 29 2013

Ruling expected within three months

A majority of justices raised questions in oral arguments Wednesday about the federal Defense of Marriage Act, indicating the Supreme Court may strike down a key part of the law that denies legally married same-sex couples the same benefits provided to heterosexual spouses.

A ruling is expected within three months on the constitutionality of the 1996 law that defines marriage for federal purposes as only between one man and one woman.

Feb 15 2013

Pistorius weeps in court; prosecutors to seek premeditated murder charge

 PRETORIA, South Africa (CNN) -- South African sports icon Oscar Pistorius broke into tears Friday when a judge officially charged him with killing his girlfriend on Valentine's Day.

A grim-faced Pistorius, wearing a dark suit, shook uncontrollably with his head buried in his hands during the hearing at a packed courtroom in Pretoria.

Prosecutors say they plan to charge him with premeditated murder.

The athlete rejected the murder allegation "in the strongest terms," his agent, Peet Vanzuyl, told CNN.

Feb 13 2013

Widow thanks mourners: "A lot of people loved Mike"

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—A “sigh of relief.” A widow’s restrained sobs. The lingering fear of the targets, waiting to hear whether their pursuer had truly been run to ground.

Feb 1 2013

Questlove also performing

With his new single selling well, Justin Timberlake is easing back into performing.

The actor/musician will be a special guest at DirecTV’s pre-Super Bowl “Super Saturday Night” event on Sunday, which will be co-hosted by Mark Cuban.

It’s unknown what Timberlake will perform, but we’re guessing his new song with Jay-Z, “Suit & Tie,” is up for consideration. Questlove will also be on deck to keep the crowd grooving.

Feb 1 2013

Tickets go on sale today

Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera and John Mayer will be among the presenters and performers at the 28th annual Rock and Rock Hall of Fame induction ceremony in April, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum announced.

Hudson and Aguilera have been tapped to perform in honor of new inductee Donna Summer, who died last year.

In December, the Hall of Fame announced the queen of disco was part of the 2013 class of inductees, which also includes Heart, Randy Newman, Public Enemy, Rush and Albert King.

Feb 1 2013

Federal indictment unsealed

PHILADELPHIA—A federal indictment has been unsealed, charging a woman and her alleged co-conspirators with racketeering, sex trafficking, hate crimes and other violent crimes in the case of four disabled adults held captive in a dank Philadelphia boiler room.

The 196-count indictment, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, follows earlier state charges against four of the defendants and alleges the captors held adults with disabilities in subhuman conditions in order to carry out Social Security fraud.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”