411 | A new life for Jena 6 teen

411 | Jackson's death declared a homicide

411 | Fiore murder suspect found dead

411 | DWB

A man is beat and falsely charged by police in Minneapolis. sidebar: Did they really feel threatened by a brother in a PT Cruiser? SMH

411 | Burress pleads guilty; faces jail time

PBP | THIS is reality

Richard Hatch, remember him, the naked winner of the first Survivor. Well apparently he's broke and bitchin' about it in an exclusive Today Show interview with Matt Lauer. After serving jail time for tax evasion charges (he forgot to mention the milli he won on national TV to the IRS), he is serving the rest of his 4-year term @ home, penniless. It's a recession! You ain't the only one struggling.

411 | Dr. Conrad Speaks

The alleged suspect in Jackson's so-called 'murder' spoke through YouTube today. Honestly, it will be a mistake to find this man guilty of a crime when he did nothing illegal. He simply followed his patient's orders, which evidently had not been the first time Murray preformed this risk-filled procedure. sidebar: And all this time I thought he was a brother.

New New | "Wanna See Em Buss," Twista

We're worried about the terror threats from around the world, and brothers are wasting each other at funerals. In the name of what, a street? The revolution needs to be live immediately.

411 | Deaf, disabled man tasered, pepper sprayed

Via AOL Black Voices

411 | Dr. Murray may have killed the music?

I've strayed from this story as long as I could. One: for respect of Jackson's memory, restraining myself from getting caught up in the media slaughtering. And two: because Dr. Murray is a brother and this is not a good look. First it was the questioning of the late Dr. Donda West's plastic surgeon, and now this. AP reports he indeed administered a sleep aiding drug to Mr. Jackson. Officials believe this is what caused the cardiac arrest which killed Jackson. Full story is here. Personally I think after all that has been revealed of Jackson's alleged addiction to prescription drugs and plastic surgery, one cannot fault the doctor for doing something that in this case seemed normal. Those around him may have been at fault for enabling him, but Jackson was an adult and had to be quite aware of the affects and risks this activity acquired.

? | Second thoughts

As news surfaces in the Henry Gates incident, I'm leaning less and less in his corner. Allegedly the officer in question has a clean record and was even designated by a black commissioner to administer a class on how to avoid racial profiling. I think what we have here is an honest misunderstanding. Pure and simple. Its not like he called him a "nigger" or anything, just happens that he's black, the officer is white, and now everybody including the HNIC is ready to fight.

411 | Black Harvard professor arrestted in own home

Click above for full story. Sounds like everyday shenanigans on the eve of Black in America 2.

?| The word hip-hop is used too much in this story.

'04 | I can't live my, I-I can't live my

Woke up this morning to the news that my cousin - who would have graduated from high school last month - will serve six for dealing cocaine. He faced up to 60, which is a definite blessing that I hope he realizes. This is the closest I've come to prison in my life. We always hear or read the news of another brother whose caught a case. We momentarily feel for him from a far, but are still removed from the situation - it's not our problem. But the truth is it is our problem. And now the problem has a face and a name that will penetrate my thoughts and prayers for the next six years. This is dedicated to him and all our brothers and sisters caught up in the system. Whether you feel you're there justly or not, there's always a choice. You always have a choice.

411 | Madoff gets 150 years

411 | Child forgives assailaint

A young man who was paralyzed by a thief's stray bullet committed the most beautiful act - he forgave the shooter. Story @ BET.com. This young man holds wisdom beyond his years, and we should strive to maintain similar values.

411 | Browns' Stallworth gets 30....

....Days that is in the death of a construction worker. According to CNN, Donte Stallworth hit and killed Mario Reyes back in March. Stallworth was driving under the influence at the time. In conjunction with the sentencing he and the Reyes family agreed on a settlement and Stallworth will seve two years of house arrest. So far he remains on the Browns roster and will play next season. I know we never wanna see a brother become a part of the system, but thirty days for taking someone's life. Inadvertenly nonetheless, but we all know the risk we pose when we get behind the wheel after drinking. Now thinking bout it though, thirty days in jail do not compare to a lifetime of guilt he will have to endure every morning.

411 | Life cut short

It seems everyday you hear of more senseless violence. Ignorance has struck close to home with the triple murder of three young adults in Indianapolis; one being an Indiana University student. I did not know her personally, but I'm sure we passed each other on the way to class; or stood in the same room only a few people away. It could have been someone I did know, it could have been me. Suspects have yet to be found as police ask the community to aid them in bringing these criminals to justice.

'91 | Am I My Brother's Keeper?

I have to admit I just saw this film the other day. (a decade late=FAIL) Nonetheless, it still has the same impact. Mario Van Peebles just didn't make a film; he constructed a living, breathing PSA on behalf of the inner city to the American public. New Jack City brought the rising demise of black life to the hands of crack/cocaine to theater screens nationwide. And while previous urban flicks before left the viewer to hold his/her own opinion toward ghetto life, Peebles stapled his message repeatedly throughout the film, cementing it in the climatic final scene (!SPOILER ALERT! - if you have not seen the end of film do not click on link). Wesley Snipes is chillingly alluring as the villainous Nino Brown; the life-robbing hood who both uplifts and enslaves the poor. And Ice T is surprisingly natural as Scotty Appelton, the from-the-hood officer out to save his community. Equally majestic is the soundtrack. Crafted to match the new jack swing sound of the early 90s, the track list boasts the likes of Color Me Badd, Levert, Today and Queen Latifah, and Christopher Williams.

411 | Justice for Grant

The former transit officer charged with killing Oscar Grant on New's Year's Eve will be facing a murder trial. A judge has ruled sufficent evidence to charge Johannes Mehserle with first-degree murder for the videotaped shooting of Grant in a subway transit. Mehserle allegedly mistook his gun for his Taser as he shot point blank in a restrained Grant's back. The footage circulated YouTube within days of occuring, sparking outrage nationwide with riots in Oakland. More @ CNN.