Michelle Williams continues to expand her brand and make a name for herself in the entertainment industry with a new reality series, My Sister’s Keeper. Produced and distributed by Entertainment One (eOne), the series will follow Williams’ journey of writing and recording her third Gospel album, and other aspects of her life.

“I am very thrilled about this opportunity, to extend into television with the eOne family as well, with this series,” she said in a release.

“Working together on my new gospel album and television series, I am excited to share with everyone a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration and journey of recording for the album, performing, fun family times and other unforgettable experiences out together with my dear sisters.”

One of those sisters sang alongside Williams in a gospel group, United Harmony. Destiny’s Child fans may remember a mini reunion that Williams had during an interview with Ananda Lewis on MTV’s TRL. Fans will have to watch the show to see what musical surprises, if any, the Williams sisters may be cooking up.

“We’re very excited to expand upon our relationship with Michelle on this new collaboration that will provide fans with a peek into her everyday life,” said Tara Long, Senior Vice President of U.S. Alternative Programming.

“eOne’s versatility across all pillars of entertainment from music, film and television through development, production and distribution enables us to offer comprehensive multi-platform opportunities for our partners.”

Williams’ career in entertainment spawns more than a decade. She got her start as a background singer for R&B singer Monica in 1999 and joined Destiny’s Child in 2000.  Alongside Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, Williams traveled the globe, selling out shows and collecting major music awards. In 2002, however, she branched out and forged a solo career.

On April 16, 2002 Williams released Heart to Yours via Sanctuary Records and Columbia Records. The album was well received by critics and performed marginally well on the music charts. Do You Know followed in 2004 and featured appearances by former band mates Knowles and Rowland. Knowles and younger sister Solange also wrote and produced on the album. Again, the album received positive reviews. The album did not perform as well as its predecessor though. In 2008 Williams ventured from gospel music and issued a dance/pop album titled Unexpected.  The album was a commercial disappointment. It is Williams’ lowest selling album to date.

In 2003 Williams made her Broadway debut in Aida, replacing Grammy-winning singer Toni Braxton in the lead role. The year 2007 saw Williams star in Oprah Winfrey’s The Color Purple, followed by a ground breaking, historical portrayal as Roxie Hart in Chicago in 2009. Williams is the first woman of color to take on the lead role. In 2011, Williams made a brief departure from the Broadway stage to act in a David E. Talbert play, What My Husband Doesn’t Know. Broadway fans saw Williams return to them in 2013 with a role in Fela!

In addition to being a singer, songwriter and actress, Williams is also a philanthropist, designer and a minority owner of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.

Image Courtesy : Michelle Williams

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Chicago and Springfield, U.S.A. — The Republican led U.S. House of Representatives wasted taxpayer dollars playing a partisan game on Wednesday, when they voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

It represented the 33rd time Congress has attempted to repeal the Act, even though the measure is destined for certain defeat in the U.S. Senate. Keith Kelleher, President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana, uniting 91,000 health care and child care workers, issued the following statement in response:

At a time when Congress should put its full attention on the country’s economic recovery, the U.S. House Republicans squandered a day at the office Wednesday when they voted for a politically motivated and legislatively futile repeal of President Obama’s landmark health care reform.

While average Americans need Congress to focus intensely on policies that will create jobs, make college education more affordable, reduce the federal deficit and generally improve our economic fortunes, the House Republicans chose to spend the day on a blatant political stunt. The attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act is considered dead on arrival in the Senate, so Wednesday’s vote was an exercise in empty symbolism, wasting time, energy and public dollars that should have been marshaled to accelerate our economic revitalization.

In response to today’s vote we will be informing our union members of all of Illinois’ Congressional members who voted to deny Illinois citizens quality, affordable health care. In the wake of last month’s U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act, the time has come for opponents of the bill to dispense with partisan gamesmanship and move on to the business at hand: putting more Americans to work.

Congress should let the Affordable Care Act continue to work for the people of Illinois.

According to the Campaign for Better Health Care, the law has already generated the following rewards in Illinois:

• More than 3.6 million residents became entitled to preventative medical services, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, without having to pay deductibles or co-pays.
• More than 100,000 uninsured young adults under the age of 26 became eligible for coverage under the parents’ health insurance.
• More than 150,000 seniors with Medicare received a $250 rebate to cover the cost of their prescription drugs once they hit the so-called donut hole.

For all of these reasons, members of Congress who voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act must explain to Illinois voters why they chose to deny health security to their constituents and why they oppose providing quality and affordable health care for all Americans.

Image Courtesy of  Jose Gil / Shutterstock.com

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At 10:08 AM on June 24 two trains collided head-on two miles east of Goodwell, Oklahoma. The collision caused a huge diesel fuel fire that has finally been contained by fire crews.

The eastbound train was carrying a mixture of goods from Los Angeles to Chicago, whereas the westbound train was taking a shipment of cars and trucks from Kansas City to Los Angeles. Each train had one conductor and one engineer, and of the two crews, only one man survived.

The westbound train operator, Juan Zurita, jumped from the train before the crash occurred and suffered only minor injuries. According to Raquel Espinoza, the spokeswoman for the Union Pacific Railroad Zurita was “shaken up about the situation, and we are working to make sure that he receives the care that he needs. We’re doing everything we can to find the rest of the crew.”

The conductor of the other train, Brian L. Stone, 50, from Dalhart, Texas died along with the two engineers, Dan Hall and John Hall. The Hall engineers are unrelated. According to the National Transportation Safety Board there was “no survivable space” left on the trains.

Betsy Randolph, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper, was surprised when remains were found because of the high temperatures of the diesel fire. The fire was so intense that one firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat-related injuries and several others were treated on site for the same thing.

Currently federal investigators are looking into why one of the trains did not pull into a side track when the other train approached the main line. Mark Rosekind of the National Transportation Safety Board stated, “one train had the right of way. We’re still getting the data to figure out what was scheduled to happen… who was supposed to be where and when.”

Gary Mathews, a truck driver, witnessed the train accident. He told reporters, “I was thinking, ‘I’m going to see a train crash unless somebody does something.’” Mathews also claimed that neither train signaled the other with lights or sounds. Mathews told officials that the westbound train, with conductor Juan Zurita, slowed down before the train but the eastbound train did not. The crash scared Mathews so badly he refused to stop until he reached his destination, 350 miles later.

According to investigators the track and signaling devices appeared to be in working order. The National Transportation Safety Board will also look into whether or not one of the crew was on his cell phone or if one of the crews had not been well-rested.

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Las Vegas, U.S.A – For the 3rd annual World Swastika Rehabilitation Day, Raelians, together with representatives from the Buddhist and Hindu religions, are planning to carry out major events in cities throughout the Americas, Australia, and Africa on Saturday, June 23.

In Europe, Raelians from Germany and its surrounding countries have decided to use this opportunity to inform the German public about the swastika’s history, since most Germans completely ignore the swastika’s good standing as a very ancient symbol of peace for Buddhists and a symbol of good luck for numerous other cultures.

The city of Karlsruhe, where the event is to be held, has nevertheless banned Raelians from displaying any type of swastika except for the Raelian symbol, in which a swastika intertwines with a six-pointed star.

“According to an order issued by the Karlsruhe government on June 15, the display of swastikas would lead to ‘an immediate danger for the public safety and order” explained Thomas Kaenzig, coordinator of World Swastika Rehabilitation Day. “But how can a peaceful assembly explaining the religious and multicultural origin of this symbol be a threat to public safety? The attempt by the German government to bury the swastika under the pretext that it’s a symbol of violence and hatred only gives credit to the horrible Nazi ideology. On the contrary, the government should encourage our action, since by giving this symbol its true value, we finally allow the German people to turn the page.”

Kaenzig said that is exactly what 18 members of the European Parliament did in a letter to the European Commission dated February 21, 2005. “For Raelians, the swastika is one of the most prominent traces left by the extraterrestrial scientists who created us, who were mistaken for gods by our ancestors,” Kaenzig said.

“We can find this symbol in all ancient cultures: in Buddhist manuscripts, on Shinto temples in Japan, in traditional African and Native American artwork, absolutely everywhere. Even in Israel one can find numerous synagogues and other ancient sites displaying the swastika.And last but not least, the Bellevue castle of the German president in Berlin proudly displays swastikas without compromising public safety. The ban by the city of Karlsruhe is an insult not only for all Raelians, but also for all Buddhists, Hindus and Shintos who represent a majority of the world’s population. As a reminder, in 1988 the Munich appeals court has established that ‘use of the Raelian symbol obviously doesn’t contravene against the protection purposes of article 86a of the penal code and is hence not punishable under this statute.’”

Kaenzig said that despite the ban imposed by the city order, the group in favor of rehabilitating the swastika has decided to proceed with the event, which will start at 3 p.m. at the Kronenplatz in Karlsruhe.

He added that in the United States, demonstrations will take place in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Miami starting at 3 p.m. local time, and that large swastika banners will be flown in the skies of the Los Angeles area and along the New Jersey coastline from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time, and in the New York City area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.

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Mýa and Michelle will design new collections for Ghanaian clothing brand Koshie O as a part of “The Koshie O Woman” campaign. The campaign celebrates strong, confident, independent women who possess the ability to multi-task while remaining fashionable. The singers will co-design and name the pieces along with founder and Creative Director of Koshie O, Nina Baksmaty. As part of the Spring/Summer 2013 collection, the pieces will be available for purchase in July 2012 and will be available to consumers in Spring 2013. “The Koshie O Woman” campaign will feature many more celebrity women who embody what the brand represents. Fans will be allowed to follow the process via social media networks.

While neither has been extremely vocal about the projects, which are still in the beginning stages, Michelle recently took to her twitter to say, “Bout to hop on a design call w/Koshie O. Designing some new clothes…..line will be out next Spring. This is a COLLABORATION for charity!” A percentage of the profits from the sale of this unique capsule collection, which will feature custom prints, will be donated to Mercy Corps, a global aid agency involved in helping populations stricken by tragic events in over 40 countries around the world.

Nina has stated that she is sure that the public is going to love what Mýa and Michelle will contribute to Koshie O. She says, “The whole Koshie O. team is excited to be working with Mya. We absolutely love her talent and her fashion and we strongly believe that Koshie O. and Mya are going to create magic together.” On working with Michelle, Nina states, “It is such an honor to have Michelle Williams design pieces for Koshie O. She has been an inspiration of mine from her Destiny’s Child days.”

Koshie O “integrates African themes and aesthetics with modern designs,” according to its website. Founder Nina Baksmaty, who is Lebanese and Ghanaian, was raised in Ghana, but was educated and currently resides in the United States of America. It was her Ghanaian upbringing among traditional dress makers and artisans, as well as being in the presence of her designer mother, which fueled her desire to be a designer.

In 2010, Nina launched Koshie O and has since been featured in the Washington Post and Upscale Magazine, and has garnered mentions from Fox 5 News. Singer Ledisi, as well as model and reality television star Cynthia Bailey, are among the numerous women who proudly wear Koshie O.

Image Courtesy of  Mya

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Chicago, U.S.A. – The start of summer also marks the beginning of the “100 Deadliest Days for Teens”— the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day that is traditionally the deadliest for teen drivers. Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, and more teens are killed on the road during summer than any other time of year.

But parents can do more than just stand by and worry this summer; when it comes to safe driving, parents have more influence over their teens’ behavior than they might expect, say experts featured on BeSmartBeWell.com/Teen-Driving in a series of new videos produced by the health and wellness website.

“Parents play a key role in preventing teen crashes. When asked whose opinions they listen to, teens most often said their parents,” says Erin Sauber-Schatz, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the CDC and one of the experts featured on BeSmartBeWell.com/Teen-Driving.

Parents can turn to BeSmartBeWell.com, where experts and real-life parents provide practical advice for starting conversations about safe driving and getting teens the driving experience they need to be safe behind the wheel.

Be clear and be involved

Teens who think their parents will be upset with them if they engage in risky driving are less likely to take risks when behind the wheel. That is why it’s important for parents to communicate their expectations for safe driving clearly.

Tanya, a mom featured on BeSmartBeWell.com/Teen-Driving, has been very clear with her teen daughter about driving rules and what happens when the rules are violated.

“It’s important to let her know the consequences. If she doesn’t follow through, she’ll know what I expect from her,” Tanya says. “She’ll know what she’s supposed to do, what’s wrong and what’s right.” Watch Tanya and her daughter negotiate their family’s rules of the road.

Tanya also makes sure Daija gets lots of supervised driving practice, essential for keeping teens safe behind the wheel. “You should be driving with your teen as much as possible,” says Flaura Winston, M.D., director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and one of the experts featured on BeSmartBeWell.com/Teen-Driving. “The more hours the better, and in a variety of conditions.”

Not sure how to begin?

A parent-teen driver agreement can help parents start a conversation about safe driving. A teen driver agreement lists driving rules – like always wear a seat belt, never text and drive, etc. – and spells out consequences for violating those rules.

Negotiating the terms of the agreement together helps parents communicate their expectations, and garners teen buy-in, says the CDC’s Sauber-Schatz in a video on BeSmartBeWell.com/Teen-Driving. ”It lets the teens and parents work together to set up the consequences.”

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New Bedford, U.S.A – If you haven’t heard the velvety voice and sultry strumming of Chicago treasure Frank D’Rone, well, better late than never. Fortunately, you can hear everything the man has to offer, and maybe a little bit more, on his latest album, Double Exposure.

D’Rone, who has been around long enough to be endorsed by none other than Nat King Cole, has a natural born affinity for providing great entertainment. Whether he’s belting out in front of a sizzling big band, singing some swinging pop-jazz, or crooning acoustic ballads, D’Rone can do it all and make it seem effortless. Double Exposure, and his frequent gigs in and around Chicago, and throughout his career in major nightclubs throughout the country, attests to this.

So, yes, D’Rone has indeed been there and done that. He has connected with audiences for decades; his mellow demeanor and outsize talent is shown in abundance on Double Exposure. The recording pops on impeccably arranged big-band style tunes like the opening “When the Sun Comes Out” and “Pick Yourself Up.” D’Rone makes solid contact on his many guitar-based ballads, including “Make Someone Happy” and “The Very Thought of You.” Throughout the record, D’Rone proves he can dazzle regardless of the genre.

Born in Providence, Frank started singing and playing the guitar on stage at the age of five. At 11, he had his own local radio show and at 13 he’d won an artist’s degree in classical guitar. He formed his own band and played local dates while finishing school then took his show on the road, playing in New York City and Chicago. Frank eventually ended up in a successful residency at a Chicago club called Dante’s Inferno.

During this time, Chicago proved to be a friendly place and D’Rone made a name for himself among the elite artists of the era. Celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Ella Fitzgerald, Shecky Greene, Oscar Peterson, Alan King, Ray Brown, Stan Kenton, June Christy and many more turned up to see D’Rone do his thing. He gained a reputation as a true artist, a singer’s singer. One of his most enthusiastic admirers, the late Nat “King” Cole, penned the liner notes for Frank’s first album. Sinatra requested that D’Rone be hired to play the lounge when he played Las Vegas and Atlantic Cityvenues.

D’Rone’s rare talent has served him well everywhere he goes. Frank was headlining the world-famous “Copacabana” when Tony Bennett took over the microphone on opening night and told the audience, “A few years back, Nat ‘King’ Cole said that Frank D’Rone was the finest singer around. Tonight he has proved that Nat was right!”

If it’s “right” with Cole and Bennett, it’ll be “right” with you, too.

Image Courtesy of  Frank D’Rone

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Chicago, U.S.A. – Medicaid cuts being considered in Springfield would cost thousands of jobs and threaten care at nursing homes across the state, according to nursing home administrators, health care leaders and elected officials who rallied at the Thompson Center in Chicago. The event was organized by the Health Care Council of Illinois (HCCI), which represents more than 500 nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities across the state of Illinois.

“Nursing homes are the 10th largest employer in the state,” Pat Comstock, HCCI Executive Director, told the crowd. “We employ 100,000 workers who pay their taxes and support their families. At a time when 70 cents of every dollar a nursing home spends is for staff wages, these Medicaid cuts could cause thousands of layoffs across Illinois.”

Legislators are considering Governor Quinn’s proposal to slash Medicaid spending by $2.7 billion. The proposed cuts to nursing homes could drastically jeopardize the quality of care for the more than 50,000 people residing in Illinois nursing homes who pay with Medicaid. These cuts put nursing homes at risk for closing, especially some Chicago nursing homes where Medicaid recipients make up more than 90 percent of the resident population.

“We’ve been traveling Illinois for the past few weeks, making 16 stops, calling on lawmakers and Governor Quinn to step up to the plate for nursing home residents,” Comstock continued. She invoked the baseball metaphor in calling upon the General Assembly to support nursing homes.

“The State of Illinois is dead last in the nation for the amount of Medicaid funds the state gives nursing homes. That’s strike one,” Comstock said. “The state is more than $600 million and eight months delinquent in paying most nursing homes. That’s strike two. Illinois must not strike out when it comes to our most frail, vulnerable residents.”

In addition to the multi-city tour and rally, nursing home staff from across Illinois have been visiting Springfield, meeting with legislators and urging them to give nursing home residents top priority for Medicaid funding.

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In recognition of National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, Executive Service Corps (ESC) released volunteer figures for its professional network of consultants – 22,000 hours in 2011, with an estimated overall impact on services affecting more than 3,700,000 Chicago area men, women children, and families.

The 300 experienced professionals, CEOS and other executives who contribute their time and put their career experience to work for Chicago area nonprofits and public agencies represent a growing trend among Baby Boomers toward social commitment and volunteerism.

Pam Wilcox, President and CEO of the Chicago-based ESC, says they come to the Executive Corps of Chicago to serve in a professional consulting role because they know they can make “a significant and lasting difference, helping nonprofits and public agencies to keep their doors open, find new ways to collaborate and consolidate programs and operation, locate alternative sources of revenue and provide critical services to people and communities in need.

ESC believes a diverse and vibrant nonprofit environment provides vital services to people in need, creates strong communities and fuels economic health and growth.”

When RJ retired in 2006, he had served as chief strategy officer and chairman of multiple business units for one of the nation’s largest Fortune 500 companies. After nine months of retirement, he became restless for something more. A friend told him about ESC, a volunteer corps of nearly 300 men and women who use their skills and knowledge from long and successful careers, to help other non-profits thrive.

“I was ready to start re-engaging my brain and ‘giving back’ to the community seemed like a good way to do just that,” says RJ. Since 2007, he has worked with 12 different nonprofits, assisting in strategic planning, board development, and marketing. “It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience, doing all we can to help make a difference in people’s lives.”

A nonprofit in crisis was referred to ESC as they faced closing their doors after 38 years of providing bilingual early childhood programs to the underserved. An ESC consulting team with more than 80 cumulative years of leadership and management experience in the Chicago corporate sector was engaged. Using the team’s experience in financial management, human resources, strategic and business planning, this vital agency is now on the right track to continue their service to the community.

“ESC is such a deep resource; we never would have survived this transition without them. We had been working on this for two years and ESC was able to help us through it in two months,” wrote the nonprofit’s Board chair.

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United Spinal Association’s membership division National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), announced that the on-line auction of the “Healing Harp,” a world class Grand Concert Harp built by George Flores — a master harp builder/technician and wheelchair user. Auction proceeds will benefit people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) nationwide.

The auction will be officially launched on February 18th at kick-off Dinner with Friends, at The Lexington House in Hickory Hills, IL (south Chicago suburbs) and end on March 18th. World renowned professional harpist Merry Miller will perform on the Healing Harp and George Flores will be on hand to mark the occasion.

Flores, an NSCIA member who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in 2004, created his 47-string harp with the aid of a stand-up wheelchair that allowed him to build, calibrate, and tune at the highest places of this tall symphonic instrument.

“I thought about the fact that harps are known around the world as being a healing instrument. I thought this would be a great opportunity to bring that same healing power to the world and all people with disabilities, including people with spinal cord injuries and disorders,” said Flores who built the harp with the support of the Venus Harp Company, a world leader in harp manufacturing.

Flores chose NSCIA as the beneficiary of his labor of love due to their support in navigating doctors and helping him successfully advocate for a stand-up wheelchair during his rehabilitation, as well as their ability to help others lead full and independent lives with spinal cord injury or disorder.

“This gift is clearly the most creative and unique donation we have received in our 65 plus year history,” said K. Eric Larson, United Spinal Senior Vice President of Membership and Chapter Services.

“The funds generated through this auction will directly support our mission of enabling people living with spinal cord injury and disease (like George Flores) to achieve the highest possible quality of life,” he added.

The custom-built Venus Aria model Grand Concert Harp in natural finish with hand painted soundboard and handpicked special veneers has a new technology no other harp in the world has, which was implemented in this particular harp. The technology strengthens the overall structure and enhances the acoustic properties of the wood. The Healing Harp is valued at $40,000.

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Living out your dreams can have some limits in a town with 300 people and no stoplights. For Michael Hollinger, Bodie Hope, and Dylan “Rocky” Riley, three young men from Arkansas, the chance to live out one of their dreams became reality and they received the opportunity to meet their long-time hero, Storm Chaser Reed Timmer.

Passion for storm chasing came at a young age for Michael, who enjoys going out and chasing storms with his dad. That enjoyment spurred an immediate draw to the television program in which meteorologist Reed Timmer leads one of three storm-chasing teams, and Bosch is a sponsor.

Bosch held a Twitter “retweet” contest, which Michael entered and won. He later tweeted to Bosch that he works at an auto parts store and has sold Bosch ICON Wiper Blades because he showed customers the Reed Timmer television spot. In the midst of a conversation with Bosch, Michael mentioned, “Me and my friends even advertised Bosch Wiper Blades at a community function when we built the Mini Dominator. We worked hard on it!”

The “Mini-Dom” video became an instant hit with Bosch. The idea was a natural and Bosch worked to create a new video and to introduce Michael and his friends to their idol, Reed Timmer. The idea was for the boys and Bosch to pull a “Switcheroo” where Timmer’s storm chasing vehicle the Dominator would switch with their “Mini-Dom” while Timmer was inside a local convenience store, all scripted, caught on tape, and looking like the ultimate prank.

The “Mini-Dom” was a fun project the boys worked on around Halloween, built with cardboard, PVC pipe, chicken wire, and a 4-wheeler. After Timmer saw the pint-sized Dominator, he was amazed saying, “It has the anemometer and everything, it’s all decked out. You guys really are big fans.”

Michael, Bodie, and Dylan received the opportunity of a lifetime. Two of the boys had never even been on a plane before and now they can say they flew out to Chicago and shot a video with their idol, Reed Timmer. Michael mentions, “This has been a dream come true.”

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The year was 1912 and Woodrow  Wilson was president.  Jim Thorpe won Olympic gold in the decathlon and pentathlon events at Stockholm, Sweden.  New Mexico became the 47th state in January followed a month later by Arizona completing the contiguous United States.  In April, RMS Titanic came to rest on the Atlantic Ocean floor at a depth of over 12,500 feet.

On assembly lines pioneered by Henry Ford, roughly 50,000 utilitarian Model T Touring Cars would be cranked out in 1912 — at a cost to eager buyers of $690.  While some Americans today annually spend that amount and more on coffee, $690 was a small fortune in 1912, resulting in the creation of a new class of criminal − the car thief.

The theft of three Chalmers brand automobiles from the streets of Chicago in the summer of 1912 led to the creation of the Automobile Protective and Information Bureau (APIB) under the leadership of Fred J. Sauter, whose employer, Boston Insurance Company, insured one of the vehicles.  Two different insurance companies covered the other vehicles.

Sauter recognized the efficiency in collaborating with the other companies rather than individually pursuing leads to recover the vehicles. Moreover, by casting his new organization as the bridge between insurers and law enforcement he established the model that exists to this day.

Recognizing Sauter’s success, several other organizations attempted to replicate APIB only to cause confusion among insurers and law enforcement as to which organization was the single point of contact for information.

All of that was solved in 1927 when the various groups were consolidated into the National Automobile Theft Bureau (NATB).  Fred Sauter was elected as NATB’s chairman and held that position until he retired in 1962.  Over the years, NATB built a reputation—unparalleled to this day—as the only organization whose special agent investigators define the term “subject matter experts” when discussing stolen vehicle identification.

NATB agents were routinely requested to find hidden vehicle identification numbers (VINs) or to “raise” identification numbers that had been removed by auto thieves attempting to hide the true identity of a stolen vehicle.

In 1992, NATB merged with the Insurance Crime Prevention Institute (ICPI) to form the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).  The merger combined the vehicle investigation expertise of the NATB with the insurance fraud prevention knowledge of ICPI and established NICB as the premier not-for-profit insurance crime investigation company.

In recent years, vehicle theft has declined, due to better anti-theft technology and law enforcement efforts, and many of the professional thieves have moved on to more insidious and lucrative kinds of insurance crimes — such as medical fraud and cargo theft.  And NICB, while maintaining its core mission of vehicle recovery, has also taken a lead role in combating these crimes.

When NICB questionable claims’ analysis showed a dramatic increase in medical fraud associated with auto policies, NICB established, in 2002, its first Major Medical Fraud Task Force (MMFTF) operations in south Florida and New York City.  Consisting of dedicated NICB special agents and analytical resources, these task forces also work closely with law enforcement and insurance company special investigation unit personnel.

The task force environment puts those resources together where communication, cooperation, collaboration and coordination are easily and effectively accomplished.  The result is a more coordinated and comprehensive attack on the most egregious kinds of medical fraud occurring within the task force’s jurisdiction.

The MMFTF model has been so successful that it has been replicated in Houston, Los Angeles,Washington, D.C., Edison, New Jersey (serving the Philadelphia and Delaware areas) and a secondFlorida task force was recently added in Tampa where Florida’s no-fault law enables auto policy medical fraud to thrive.

Every day millions of tons of merchandise are shipped by truck, train, rail and plane to destinations all across the nation.  While most arrive without incident, a growing number of shipments are stolen in transit by organized groups or individuals eager to make a fast dollar by selling the items through an established network of illicit brokers with direct access to black markets.  In response to this increasing commercial criminal activity, in 2006, NICB and the Marion County, Florida sheriff’s department established the National Cargo Theft Task Force.

“Insurance crime is causing billions of dollars in economic harm to the nation, the insurance industry and to individual consumers every year,” said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle.  ”The schemes have evolved and have become more complex, but there is one constant through the ages; someone is getting something to which they are not entitled and for which all of us must pay.

“While the Chalmers automobile that was a popular theft target on the streets of Chicago a century ago may not have survived, NICB has not only survived, but has evolved into an organization that its 1,100 member companies and its law enforcement partners across the country can be proud to support.”

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Poland has been America’s historically staunch ally and fellow fighter for freedom, but despite the close ties between the two countries, the Polish are often denied entry to visit relatives in America. Citizens of every member of the EU can travel freely to the USA without a Visa except Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland. And Poland has paid her dues.

After World War II, and despite being a devout ally, the West conceded to the Soviets, and Poland was incorporated into the eastern bloc to be under the Kremlin yoke for the next five decades. Upon the demise of the USSR, Poland immediately became an ardent American supporter, restoring strong diplomatic relations that continue unheeded to this day.

Polish patriots seeking liberation from occupying forces of the 18th century contributed greatly to the American Revolution. “Father of the American Cavalry,” Casimir Pulaski, was given a national holiday for his prowess and saving the life of George Washington. A good friend of Thomas Jefferson, expat Taddeusz Kosciusko engineered fortifications to defend against the British. He would later leave his will toward black emancipation and education. Countless towns, bridges, parks, monuments, mountains and even a submarine have been dedicated to such Polish-American heroes of valor.

Continuing to align themselves with the West, and in effort to prove themselves militarily with NATO, Poland has greatly contributed toward America’s War on Terrorism. Poland deployed the fourth-most troops in the second Iraqi war, and currently has over 2,500 soldiers engaged in Afghanistan.

Controversially, Poland has hosted black CIA interrogation/torture sites against suspected members of Al-Qaeda. A complaint was filed by The European Court of Human Rights for failing to investigate the CIA prison. A criminal case was launched in 2008 and is still ongoing for crimes against humanity. Additionally, NATO-Poland has harassed Russia by approving American SM-3 missile bases to be built near the border with Belarus.

Even as a member of the UN, NATO and Schengen committee, Polish people must enter a costly, time consuming application process to visit America. With a sizable Polish Diaspora, many family members are denied the right to visit relative émigrés.

Poland is the only European country that avoided recent economic depression, and even rated a positive GDP growth in 2010. The majority of Polish visitors are not looking to overstay their Visas during a boom time in their home country. An enormous Polish diaspora (Polonia) exists outside her European borders. America harbors an estimated ten million citizens of Polish descent. Chicago alone has over 180,000 Polish-speaking residents.

In April of 2011, the Polish American Congress raised the issue enough to garner attention from Senator Mark Kirk who sponsored bill S. 497 and Congressman Mike Quigly wrote up the corresponding H.R. 959 to modify existing immigration restriction rates to include Poland on the Visa Waiver Program. Currently, the visa refusal rate is the standard for a nation to qualify for the VWP.

The bill seeks to replace the standard, using overstay rates as the deciding factor. Quigly testified before the House Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Dec. 7. “This is an issue of fairness and equity for a longstanding friend and partner, Poland,” said Rep. Quigley. “Expansion of the Visa Waiver Program will improve our international diplomatic relationships, create jobs, stimulate the economy and strengthen national security. It’s time to expand outdated travel standards to include our proven allies.” VWP travelers spent more than 51 billion dollars in the U.S. That spending generated 512,000 jobs, 13 billion dollars in payroll and 7.8 billion dollars in taxes for the American economy.

Obama promised to sign both bills if they pass through their respective committees. “I am going to make this a priority,” Obama said, sitting alongside Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski. “I want to solve this issue before very long. My expectation is, is that this problem will be solved during my presidency. I am well aware that this is a source of irritation between two great friends and allies, and we should resolve it.”

The USA raised the standards of visitation in the post 9-11 world, and, with more than ten-percent of Poles being denied entry for suspicion they may overstay their Visa, they become disqualified from the VWP.

Grzegorz Kostrzewa-Zorbas, a former member of the Polish foreign affairs ministry, said, “Poland feels discriminated against,” Kostrzewa-Zorbas said, “differentiated from other allies of the United States around the world.”

“Will al-Qaeda penetrate America disguised as Polish peasants? Will the job market be flooded by unqualified, culturally alien workers from Poland? Of course not,” Kostrzewa-Zorbas said.

Contact members of your state’s Committee of the Judiciary to support the bill or become co-sponsor if they are not in the committee the bill was referred to, or sign the VISA Waiver Petition.

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The San Diego Chargers are finally playing well, while the Buffalo Bills have completely lost their way.

Behind Philip Rivers’ three touchdown passes, two of which went to Antonio Gates, the Chargers kept their playoff hopes barely alive in their 37-10 victory over the Bills Sunday, while eliminating the Bills from playoff contention for the 12^th straight season.

The Chargers have won two straight following a six game losing skid to move to 6-7, but a few minutes after their game ended the Broncos beat Chicago in overtime to move into first place atop the AFC West at 8-5. The Raiders are still ahead of the Chargers as well, despite losing to Green Bay sitting at a 7-6 record.

“Until they say we’re done, there’s always a chance,” said safety Eric Weddle, “Even if we were done, we’d be playing our hearts out.”

The Chargers will have to win out and hope they get some help from other teams to have a shot at winning the AFC West, but it won’t be easy as the Ravens, in a divisional race of their own, are up next for the Chargers.

For Buffalo, this marked their sixth straight loss and the final nail in the coffin on a season that started out with so much promise. The Bills started 5-2, but haven’t won in over a month and a half.

“I think the last few weeks we made some progress. Today obviously we took a step backward,” Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “We didn’t do anything well.”

Both teams came into the game desperate for a win to keep their seasons alive and the Chargers put their foot on the gas pedal and never let up.

Rivers finished with 240 yards on 24 of 33 passing and running back Ryan Matthews continued his good running with 114 yards on 20 carries.

The Bills tried to make it a game when Rivers fumbled a ball that was recovered by Bryan Scott in the end zone for a touchdown that pulled the Bills close at 16-10, but San Diego kept their composure and with a successful fake punt by Weddle, the Chargers were able to punch it in on Antonio Gates’ two yard reception.

“We had a very small window to make that a game and we didn’t stop that drive when they faked the punt,” Chan Gailey said. “We didn’t stop that drive and we couldn’t get anything going offensively consistently.”

After the touchdown on Buffalo’s first play, Fitzpatrick was picked off and it was returned by Steve Gregory for the touchdown to make the score 30-10 and seal the game.

Fitzpatrick finished the game 13 of 34 for 176 yards and two interceptions a far cry from the numbers he was putting up at the beginning of the year.

San Diego will need some help from other teams if they hope to make the playoffs trailing in the AFC West. Their schedule also doesn’t lend itself to them as they face the Ravens, Lions, and Raiders to finish the year. The Bills, now looking to play spoiler have the Dolphins, Broncos, and Patriots remaining on their schedule.

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Chicago stands as one of the most important cities in the Midwest, as well as the most heavily populated city in Illinois. Nearly 3 million people call Chicago home, and millions of visitors travel to Chicago yearly to take in the sights.

There are plenty of iconic attractions within the windy city that tourists love to visit, including shopping along Michigan Avenue and getting panoramic views from atop the John Hancock Building and Willis Tower. Aside from taking walks in beautiful Millennium Park and along Navy Pier, a visit to Lincoln Park, one of Chicago’s unique neighborhoods, is a great way to enjoy Chicago the way locals do.

Lincoln Park is a neighborhood just a few minutes north of the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago. This neighborhood has become a favorite for locals and visitors because of its buildings that are rich in history and its many distinct attractions. Much of city was devastated after the 1871 Chicago fire.

After rebuilding, Lincoln Park resurfaced with many magnificent stone and brick buildings and mansions. Taking a stroll through the streets of this neighborhood is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get a sense of the old world charm through architecture. For more outdoor fun, a visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo is not to be missed.

Over 1200 animals from 230 different species can be seen in the zoo, which has a stunning backdrop of the Chicago skyline. The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the country, opened in 1868. Children and adults can enjoy seeing anything from kangaroos, zebras, camels, and rhinos within the zoo.

The zoo is open every day throughout the year, and with no charge, it is a budget friendly attraction in the neighborhood. Just steps away from the Lincoln Park Zoo is the Lincoln Park Conservatory. This Victorian glass structure was created in the late 1800’s, the conservatory is an optimal spot to wander through exotic plants and flowers.

The Lincoln Park Conservatory is divided into four different sections, including the Fern Room, Palm House, Orchid Room, and Show House. Visitors can take in the beautiful sights and aromatic smells of orchid varieties and ferns. Tropical plants such as the banana and cacao are housed in the conservatory, while the Show House has changes its display based on the season.

Any visitor can build up an appetite after walking through many of the beautiful outdoor attractions in Lincoln Park. Located just a stone’s throw away from the zoo and conservatory is R.J. Grunts, a favorite restaurant for many locals. Established in 1971, R.J. Grunts has been “Catering to the Neurotic Compensation of Eating” ever since.

The restaurant offers American cuisine, including a soup and salad bar and a dozen different types of hamburgers. Served with homemade cottage fries, a burger platter comes in at around $10. R.J. Grunts is famous for their hand-dipped shakes and malts that come in flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, real peanut butter, or coconut, among other delicious choices.

For those over the age of 21, the restaurant serves “big kids” shakes and malts as well. Visiting Lincoln Park by public transportation is relatively easy. Take a ride on the Red, Brown, or Purple El line, Chicago’s characteristically unique elevated train, to Fullerton. A number of buses go to Lincoln Park as well, including the 9, 22, 36, 73, 74, and 151.

Lincoln Park is a neighborhood not to miss when spending time in Chicago.

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Though I am not the type of person who praises summer times after times since I live in the city where winter doesn’t quite exist, but I know there are many of you who cannot appreciate summer more and treasure all the good times that come with it. For this reason, I am writing these summer pieces for you, including this one.

Depending on your interest, summer could be about enjoying big events in the city or, camping out in a national park. Whichever you choose, America has it for you. So, if you not yet have an idea, here are a few useful thoughts:

City Break: Chicago, Illinois

As far as I can remember, this is one of the few places where I don’t see it being mentioned as a winter destination – none that I can recall. Once, I told my colleague there’s a chance of me moving up there. The next thing I know, I was hearing “Are you sure? The winter is horrible, so cold and windy. You probably have about 3-4 warm months where you can really enjoy the city”

Chicago is a place for architecture lover. Walking around town, you will see buildings in various architectural styles, from gothic to contemporary. Moreover, art sculptures are scattered around the city. Some are quite hidden, but I think that gives us the fun hunting for them. Don’t miss out Millennium Park, home to the famous, cool sculpture known as “The Bean” (as shown above). Once there, snap pictures of the Chicago Skyline. The park has such great angle of the city.

The fun doesn’t stop there, especially now that it’s summer. Between the months of June through September, many events are offered to both local and visitors. Movies in the Parks, for example, show multiple family-friendly films at the Chicago Park District Parks (between Lake Shore Drive & Belmont Avenue) for free of charge, starting at dusk from June 14 to September 17. Other popular summer events include Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays, Chicago Air & Water Show, and Chicago Summer Dance.

If time allows, walk or bike along Lake Michigan. Summer is warm enough for people to enjoy the outdoors, may it be the laying on sandy beaches or cruising along the river. With that being said, Chicago Architectural Cruise is a fun way to explore and obtain some cool historical and architectural facts about this windy city.

Lastly, when in Chicago, do try the Chicago’s deep dish pizza. It’s pretty much on almost every street corner. The big names are Lou Malnati’s Pizza, Gino’s East Pizza, and Giordano’s.

Out in the Wild: Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is no joke – the park is about 2,219,879 acres, covering parts of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho making it a very large area to view spectacular nature and diverse wildlife. It’s a great and educational trip for family with kids since there are many activities to do together: hiking, bicycling, picnicking, fishing, and boating – you name it. Additionally, adults and children can sign up for various educational programs offered at a few different locations within the national park. For example, Yellowstone for the Young is a course designed for children age 5-12 to learn about the park’s history, geology, and wildlife.

Aside from activities, what to see around Yellowstone? The following areas are the focus of the park: Old Faithful, Mammoth, Norris, West Thumb & Grant Village, and Canyon.  Again, this is a very large area and seeing all the highlighted spots will take more than a day. It’s important to have a map handy, and plan your trip out.

Keep in mind traveling to Yellowstone requires advance planning, as road conditions and weather change frequently.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1910563717518&set=o.144101559503&type=1&theater

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Want to make the hipsters fall inlove? Come watch Kesha: The Get $leazy Tour. The new star of dance music will be performing throughout the United States with all of her fun and edgy hits, including “Tik Tok,” “We R Who We R,” Blah Blah Blah,” “Blow,” and “Sleazy!”
This rambunctious star made some awesome appearances with rhinestoned leotards and light-up glasses. She’s worn some other crazy outfits, including an American flag and fake blood. Plus she really knows how to entertain. She’s shot glitter out to the audience with everyone on their feet, having the time of their lives. Some of her shows will have opening acts, including Beardo, LMFAO, and Spank Rock.

Kesha’s VIP Package includes a premium or general admission ticket located close to the stage as well as some merchandise!

July 28- Columbus, OH- Celeste Center

July 30- Duluth, GA- The Arena at Gwinnet Center

July 31- Nashville, TN- Nashville Municipal Auditorium

August 2- Woodlands, TX- Woodlands Pavillion

August 3- Cedar Park, TX- Cedar Park Center

August 4- Dallas, TX- Gexa Energy Pavillion

August 7- Miami, FL- Klipsch Amphitheater at Bayfront Park

August 9- Raleigh, NC- Raleigh Amphitheater and Festival Site

August 10- Charlotte, NC- Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheater Charlotte

August 12- Uncasville, CT- Mohegan Sun Arena

August 14- Toronto, ON- Molson Canadian Amphitheater

August 16- Boston, MA- Bank of America Pavillion

August 17- Philadelphia, PA- Festival Pier

August 19- Holmdel, NJ- PNC Bank Arts Center

August 20- Wantagh, NY- Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

August 21- Fairfax, VA- Patriot Center

August 23- Indianapolis, IN- The Lawn at White River State Park

August 24- Chicago, IL- Charter One Pavillion at Northerly Island

August 26- Clarkston, MI- DTE Energy Music Theatre

August 30- St. Paul, MN- Roy Wilkins Auditorium at St.Paul River Centre

August 31- Council Bluffs, IA- Mid-America Center

September 2- Kansas City, MO- Starlight Theatre

September 6- Calgary, AB- Scotiabank Saddledome

September 7- Edmonton, AB- Rexall Place

September 9- Vancouver, BC- Rogers Arena

September 10- Seattle, WA- WaMu Theater

September 11- Portland, OR- Rose Garden

September 14- San Francisco, CA- Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

September 16- Las Vegas, NV- Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino

September 17- Universal City, CA- Gibson Amphitheater at Universal Citywalk

September 18- San Diego, CA- Open Air Theatre- San Diego State University

September 20- Phoenix, AZ- Comerica Theatre

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Hey there Delilah

whats it like in new york city
I’m a thousand miles away
but girl tonight you look so pretty
yes you do
time square cant shine as bright as you
I swear its true.

Do you recognize this paragraph? That’s right, it’s one of the Plain White T’s most famous songs ever! It even reached 1# on Billboard Hot 100 in July 2010.  This band needs no introduction.

In 2010 Tim Lopez, Tom Higgenson, Dave Tirio, Mike Retondoy and De’Mar Hamilton featured their brand new album, Wonders Of The Younger and with it, their International Tour.

From april 29 to June 14 you had the chance to see Plain White T’s live in Europe and The USA in any of their 20 shows.

Did you miss it? Never mind, you got the final chance!
Take you baggage out and get ready to visit your new destination (if you are not there, of course), Chicago.

The ‘Wind City’ will receive Plain White T’s on July 15 at Madison & Des Plaines Streets due to their Rock Old St. Pat’s 27th Annual World’s Largest Block Party.

The Block Party is a Chicago Summer tradition, visited by almost 20.000 people and divided in two days. Tickets prices goes from 40 $ in advance and 45 $ at gate and includes five free beverages.

Sounds good, huh?

So do not miss the chance and buy your tickets!
Visit www.worldslargestblockparty.com and check out  all the information related to this huge summer event.

You will love it. Promised.

Image Courtesy of Lindsay Blair Brown http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockmycameraphoto/

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Police officers risk their lives to protect the safety of others; at least that is what we are led to believe. And probably many cops out there are good people. But, unfortunately, the profession is also loaded with corrupt officers who only want to look out for themselves.  Higher-ups in departments fastidiously protect officers, even officers who may be doing something wrong. The latest examples come from Chicago and a ridiculous law that protects police officers from being recorded.

In July of 2010, Chicago police responded to a domestic situation at the home of Tiawanda Moore and her boyfriend. While separating the couple to sort out the details, Moore reports that an officer groped her breast and gave her his home number. Later on, when Moore and her boyfriend tried to report the incident to internal affairs officials at the Chicago Police Department, the couple was discouraged from filing a report, according to Robert Johnson, Moore’s attorney. “They gave her the runaround, scared her, and tried to intimidate her from reporting this officer — from making sure he couldn’t go on to do this to other women,” Johnson stated. Okay, so men in uniform protecting each other is not that newsworthy. But, Moore was arrested the very same afternoon suggesting that this form of protection goes way too far. What was her crime, you ask.  During her conversation that day with internal affairs investigators, Moore began to record the interactions on her Blackberry.  In Illinois, it is illegal to record people without their consent.  Especially, as it turns out, police officers.

“This is someone who is already scared from being harassed by an officer in uniform,” said Johnson. “If the police won’t even take her complaint, how else is a victim of police abuse supposed to protect herself?”

The treatment of Moore has prompted outrage from domestic violence groups all over the country. “We just had two Chicago police officers indicted for sexual assault, there have been several other cases of misconduct against women,” says Melissa Spatz of the Chicago Task Force on Violence Against Girls & Young Women. “And now you have Moore, who was trying to report this guy, and she gets arrested. The message here is that victims of unwanted sexual advances by police officers have no recourse — that the police can act with impunity.”

Clearly, the Chicago police have demonstrated their wacky priorities. The Chicago cops recently indicted for sexual assault face four to 15 years in prison. That is the same sentence that Moore could receive for recording a police officer. Recording an on-duty police officer in Illinois is a Class 1 felony, the same class of crimes as rape.

And Moore is not the only or most shocking case of the systematic application of the Illinois law to protect police officers. A Robinson, Ill. Resident is facing up to 75 years in prison after he recorded conversations he was having with police officers.  75 years with no prior convictions all because the police like to act the way they want to and not take any responsibilities for their action. It is despicable and the reason why the distrust of police officers is very justified throughout the United States. I guess Ice Cube had it right all along.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicagobart/

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25 years of history making, and life changing television, ended yesterday, on May 25, 2011.  An atmosphere full of emotions surrounded Oprah’s final show. Goodbye is always a sad word. That denotes that something has ended and its time to say farewell. After being an iconic figure, a role model, and an admirable woman, she says goodbye to the screen.

Taking once again the stage, and standing in front of her audience, she began to say the first words of her final episode “”There are no words to match this moment.” The showed reveal all the greatest achievements that Oprah considered were made by her, or the ones that she had most pride for. “Every day that I stood here I knew that this was exactly where I was meant to be.”

The show had around 7 million of spectators that day. Exposing a remarkable cipher, and becoming the most important Oprah moment, in her 25 years debut on T.V.  The Oprah Winfrey’s Show was one of the longest running talk shows in United States. It began on 1986, and had emitted 24 seasons, and more than 4,000 episodes.

Everyone has a platform, Winfrey said. “Mine is a stage in a studio. Yours is wherever you are, with your own reach.” We’ve seen Oprah grow, and we have watched her ups and downs during her career. With a rough background and childhood, she found a way to start again, and succeeded becoming one of the most powerful women on the world.

Remarkably, every advertisement that was emitted during the final episode, having duration of 30 seconds was valued in one million of dollars.

The final program was recorded in the United Center and 15.000 people attended as an audience. During the record of the last episode, many artists, and important figures were present such as:  Beyonce, Madonna, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Halley Berry, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Dakota Fanning, Jamie Fox Queen Latifah and many others.

“Well, I say, all sweet, no bitter. And here’s why. Many of us have been together for 25 years. We have hooted and hollered together, had our a-ha moments, we ugly-cried together and we did our gratitude journals. So I thank you all for your support and your trust in me. I thank you for sharing this yellow brick road of blessings. …I thank you for being as much of a sweet inspiration for me as I’ve tried to be for you. I won’t say goodbye. I’ll just say, until we meet again. To God be the glory.

But for her fans out there not everything is sad news, because she will not be leaving the small screen completely. She will dedicate her time completely to the channel OWN T.V, that stands for Oprah Winfrey Network. Released a couple months ago.

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Three UFOs were recently captured on video flying over the U.S. city of Chicago, Illinois.  In a video that lasts for nearly 15 minutes, an alleged UFO is seen hovering in the sky above a grocery store parking lot.  The cameraman was filming an American flag in the parking lot that was blowing in the breeze when the videographer noticed the UFO.

The alleged sighting occurred at 6:50PM on February 28^th.  The video is shaky and it is difficult to make out the UFO at first.  The cameraman tries to zoom in to capture the mysterious light better but the image becomes distorted.  Many people believe it was a planet that was captured and not anything from another planet.  During the last two minutes of the video, three UFOs can be spotted through trees.  One of bright lights is described by the video’s subtitles as purple but on the footage, the color does not change and remains white.  The entire video can be viewed on Youtube.

This UFO sighting closely followed another UFO sighting also in the skies over Chicago.  Alex Scerbicke of Bartlett, Illinois, recorded video footage of what appears to be a UFO or group of UFOs changing formation on February 19th. The video has since been removed.  According to the website, Niternat, some witnesses report that the light show happens every night in the same spot over Chicago.  One witness reports there are sometimes up to 10 lights in the sky near each other.   The lights are extremely bright and often rainbow colored.  Another witness stated he saw a strange pattern of orange lights in a giant V shape.  Believing they were just aircrafts in a hold pattern for O’Hare International Airport, he and his son drove their snowmobiles up a large hill to watch the lights.  The witness reports they watched the lights for over 30 minutes and they never moved from their position, just changed their pattern of lights.

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