Archive for the ‘news’ category

Houston’s funeral to be live-streamed Saturday

February 18th, 2012

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Whitney Houston performed at the Pre-Grammy Gala & Salute to Industry Icons in this file photo taken in Beverly Hills, February 12, 2011.

Whitney Houston performed at the Pre-Grammy Gala & Salute to Industry Icons in this file photo taken in Beverly Hills, February 12, 2011.

Photograph by: PHIL McCARTEN , REUTERS

Whitney Houston’s funeral Saturday will be “invitation only.” This much we learned this week.

Aretha Franklin is expected to attend the afternoon service – as is Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson, Ray J, Brandy, L.A. Reid and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, according to reports. As for the late singer’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown, it seems he’ll be there, too.

Reports out of ABC News and Forbes are refuting TMZ’s suggestion that the New Edition singer was barred from the service by Houston’s family, and as Brown himself told ABC News, he is currently with his and Houston’s daughter, 18-year-old Bobbi Kristina.

All told, CNN reports 1,500 people will be gathered inside Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston sang at as a young girl.

But there will be countless more watching. The service will be broadcast online and on TV, Houston’s publicist told CNN. And for the fans who’ve been keeping vigil outside the church, the New York Daily News reports that plans are underway to erect TV screens for those gathered outside. It’ll be the next best thing to a public memorial, something which members of Houston’s family have chosen to avoid.

The family didn’t “want to have a parade,” Rev. Marvin L. Winans, a Grammy-winning gospel singer and the pastor set to preside over Houston’s funeral, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

Following Saturday’s service, Houston is expected to be laid to rest at Fair View Cemetery in Westfield, N.J., next to her father, who was buried there nine years ago.

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Powerball Expansion Has Meant Less Business for Tiverton Store Owners

February 9th, 2012

Elaine’s Country Store in Tiverton has giant letters out front and a sign at the clerk counter telling customers about the $250 million estimated Powerball Jackpot, but there aren’t any lines forming.

Owner Joseph Sabino said it’s been a little busier than usual due to the jackpot, but since neighboring Massachusetts got Powerball, there has been a big change in how many people come in to play numbers at his Tiverton store.

“It’s partly the economy,” he said Wednesday, “but I don’t have these big lines coming in to play exclusively.”

Sabino said before Rhode Island and Massachusetts shared Powerball and Mega Millions, residents from as far as Cape Cod, New Bedford and Fall River would come to Tiverton to play Powerball.

“I used to drive down from Brockton/West Bridgewater to play here,” said one customer who stopped into the store on his way back from Newport.

Sabino added that since Powerball increased its ticket price from $1 to $2 last month, that has created the same effect.

“It’s a strategy to get the marginal players to play more often,” he said. “But what’s happening is devoted players are upset because they play every week loyally. Some would get 10 Powerball tickets. Now they’re cutting them [down] to $6 or $8. » Read more: Powerball Expansion Has Meant Less Business for Tiverton Store Owners

49ers CB Tarell Brown leaves game after collision

January 23rd, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown has been helped off the field in the NFC championship game after a hard collision with teammate and safety Dashon Goldson.

Both defenders were attempting to make a play — even a possible interception — on a pass by Giants quarterback Eli Manning with 1 minute left in the third quarter Sunday when Goldson raced up from his position and hit Brown in the helmet area and sent him to the ground.

Brown was down for several minutes, with coach Jim Harbaugh on his knees checking on the player, and a stretcher was brought to the field before Brown got up and instead limped off with assistance. He was moving and talking immediately after the play.