Posted by Charles Fisher and Randy Fisher (Twitter @HHSYC)

Justin Bieber Arrested For Drunk Driving

Justin Bieber was arrested for an alleged street-racing incident in Miami Beach.  According to the Florida DMV he has never had a California driver’s license and hasn’t had a valid license anywhere in at least 6 months.   Bieber, 19, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and drag racing in Miami Beach about 4 a.m. Thursday after police stopped his yellow Lamborghini.  According to police Bieber’s Georgia license expired June 24, 2013.  Last year he was convicted of driving at an unsafe speed.  Last May former USC and NFL star Keyshawn Johnson confronted the singer outside his home after Johnson claimed Bieber was speeding through the neighborhood while children were outside.  He was investigated for a possible hit-and-run outside the Laugh Factory in Hollywood where a paparazzo accused the singer of hitting him with his car.  No charges were filed.   In August, Bieber was cited by a sheriff’s deputy for running a stop sign and driving without a license.

Three Dead In Shooting At Maryland Mall; Police Call The Episode Isolated Darion Marcus Aguilar fatally Shot Two people Then killed himself

COLUMBIA, MD — Shots rang out at a popular shopping mall in this suburb between Washington and Baltimore on Saturday morning, sending shoppers running from stores and hiding under tables in the food court.  The 2 employees who were killed were identified by Saturday evening as Brianna Benlolo, 21, of College Park, MD, and Tyler Johnson, 25, of Ellicott City, MD.  The police said that they believed the suspect had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and had acted alone.  The 5 people who were injured at the mall were taken to Howard County General Hospital.  One person had a gunshot wound to the foot, and the 4 others were treated for a medical condition or minor injuries, like a twisted ankle.  On Saturday evening, the hospital said that the 5 patients had been treated there and released.

Husband Who Stabbed Wife & Two Kids To Death Caught Fleeing To Mexico

• Miguel Mejia-Ramos, 29, is on suicide watch following his arraignment
• He told prosecutors that he’d only killed the children when he realized he didn’t have car seats to take them with him after he killed his wife
• He was caught heading for the border of Mexico, where he was born, just before midnight on Monday
• His wife, Deisy Garcia. 21, and their daughters, aged 1 and 2, were found stabbed in their Queens home
• Mejia-Ramos told prosecutors that he found a photo of Garcia with another man that sent him into a rage
• He hugged and kissed his two young daughters before stabbing them
• He is charged with first-degree murder 

West Virginia Poison Water Crisis Update

CHARLESTON, WV — faucets and shower heads in West Virginia on Monday, a welcome sight and sound for a small fraction of the 300,000 people who have not been able to use running water since a chemical spill 5 days ago.  By now, it’s been thoroughly reported that Charleston-based Freedom Industries — a small, 2-week old company that stored and distributed coal-processing chemicals from 11 huge, 48,000-gallon containment units on the shores of the Elk River — accidentally allowed 7,500 gallons of the chemical 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) to seep into the region’s main water source.  The Elk supplies drinking water to some 300,000 residents through the publicly traded West Virginia American Water company.  And because not much is known about MHCM, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was forced to order last Thursday that no one use the water flowing into homes and businesses in a 9-county region surrounding Charleston.  It could still be days before everyone in the Charleston metropolitan area is cleared to use the water.

Robert F. McDonnell and Wife Charged: Only Virginia Governor Ever Indicted

Former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were charged Tuesday with illegally accepting gifts, luxury vacations and large loans from a wealthy Richmond-area businessman who sought special treatment from state government. Authorities alleged that for nearly 2 years, the McDonnells hit up executive Jonnie R. Williams, Sr. again and again, lodging near constant requests for large loans, clothes, trips, golf accessories and private plane rides.  For those who knew McDonnell over 2 decades in Virginia politics, the allegations — as detailed and as damning as they appear — come as a shock.  He will be “the only Virginia governor ever indicted.”  In Virginia, which has not had a stream of felon governors as has Louisiana or Illinois, this is a new and unprecedented low in politics.

McDonnell and his family allegedly accepted more than $135,000 in gifts and/or loans.  Even from lobbyists and those with business before the state — McDonnell apparently failed to fully disclose what he and his wife received.  The gifts included a silver Rolex watch, golf clubs, Louis Vitton shoes and $15,000 to help pay for the McDonnells’ daughter’s wedding.  According to the indictment, the former governor and his wife conspired to commit wire fraud to accept bribes, knowingly made false statements on loan applications to avoid reporting the Williams’ loans, and obstructed justice.  In July, then-Gov. McDonnell apologized for the “embarrassment” he and his family caused to Virginia and announced that he had repaid the roughly $120,000 in loans from Williams — loans he had previously insisted were not improper.  He later promised to return all the gifts the family had received.

Postage Rate Increase Price For First-Class Stamp Rises To 49 Cents

On January 26, 2014 the U.S. Postal Service® will implement new postage rates for several mail classes including First Class Package Service, Priority Mail® and Priority Mail Express® along with many special services.

•  First Class Letters (1 oz.) will increase by three cents to $0.49 from $0.46. Each additional ounce will cost an extra $0.21 (up one cent from 2013).

•  NEW! The USPS has introduced a new First Class letter rate for the “Metered Mail” category, which includes online postage providers and postage meters. This new rate would be $0.48, one cent below the retail rate of $0.49 for First Class Letters.

•  First Class Flats (1 oz.) will increase by six cents to $0.98 from $0.92. Each additional ounce will cost an extra $0.21 (up one cent from 2013).

•  Postcard rates will increase by one cent to $0.34 from $0.33.

•  Priority Mail Commercial Base (online postage) rates will continue to start at $5.05 and in some weight ranges and zones, the prices will be reduced compared to 2013.

•  Priority Mail Express Commercial Base (online postage) rates will increase by an average of 3% and will start at $16.95 (previously at $13.09).

•  First Class Package Service will see an average increase of 5% in 2014.

•  NEW! A new “Zone 9″ delivery zone has been introduced to represent U.S. territories and freely associated states (Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau) for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express.

•  NEW! A new morning delivery service option will become available for Priority Mail Express. For an extra $5.00 fee, Priority Mail Express packages can be delivered to their destinations by 10:30am.

•  NEW! Priority Mail International: The maximum weight for Rate Group 2 (Mexico) has been increased to 70 lbs. from 44 lbs.

•  NEW! Commercial Plus Pricing: The minimum annual package volume threshold for cubic pricing and other Commercial Plus offerings will be lowered to 50,000 packages.

Jay Z Is Among Those Named In A $600 Million Lawsuit Over The Naming Of The Brooklyn Nets Basketball Team

Jay Z, the NBA and developer Bruce Ratner are being sued in a $600 million lawsuit by a man over the naming of the Brooklyn Nets basketball team, according to radaronline.com.

Dr. Francois de Cassagnol says in his filing that he trademarked the name “Brooklyn Nets” more than a decade ago.  He claims that Jay Z, the NBA and Ratner “fraudulently conspired” to use loopholes in the U.S. Patent Office so that they could use the name Brooklyn Nets.  Dr. de Cassagnol has be involved in a legal battle over the issue since the Nets announced in 2012 that they would be called the Brooklyn Nets once they moved to Brooklyn from New Jersey.

In September, Jay Z was set to sell his remaining ownership stake in the Brooklyn Nets to Jason Kidd, the team’s head coach, and one of its former players.  The Brooklyn rapper’s total stake in the team was reportedly $500,000 and represented one-sixth of 1% ownership of the team.  The NBA must approve the proposed transaction between Jay Z and Kidd.  Jay Z had already sold the other portion of his Nets ownership to an existing minority owner of the team.

Macklemore & Ryan Were Almost Removed From Rap Grammys

An unnamed source from the Grammys Rap Committee told the Associated Press that Macklemore almost wasn’t included in their awards categories.  “It’s not that they don’t think he’s a rapper,” said the source. “It’s just that when you’re trying to protect categories and someone has become popular, it should be judged as much… Where does their music exist? Who are their fans?”  Whether Macklemore is rap or not isn’t a topic that is unfamiliar as he’s talked about this since May 2013.

The committee felt that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis shouldn’t qualify in the genre because “of their success on mainstream radio and their appeal in the pop world.”  When the debate was presented to the general committee, they voted and in a landslide decision concluded that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis should be in the rap categories.  Macklemore also performed at The Grammys and had 7 nominations.

EXCLUSIVE: Gov. Cuomo To Unveil Universal Pre-K Plan Without Hiking Taxes On The Rich

Gov. Cuomo will teach Mayor de Blasio a lesson in power politics – pledging to fund de Blasio’s signature proposal of universal prekindergarten but without raising any taxes.  The plan to fund prekindergarten with existing revenues will make it harder for NYC Mayor de Blasio to win support for his proposal to finance it by hiking taxes on city residents making more than $500,000.  As part of his universal pre-K proposal, Cuomo wants to separately fund the addition of pre-K classroom space through a $2 billion education technology bond act he wants to put before voters in November.

Cuomo will use his annual budget address to call for $1.5 billion in state spending over 5 years to make pre-K available in every corner of the state, sources told the Daily News.  The pre-K expansion would be paid for with existing state revenues rather than by hiking taxes on the rich, as de Blasio has demanded.  An improving economy and belt-tightening by the state has made the money available, the sources said.  Under the plan, part of Cuomo’s $138 billion budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins April 1, New York would become just the fourth state to fully fund full-day pre-K for any community that wants it, sources familiar with the proposal said.

Grammy Awards 2014: The Complete Winners List

Beyonce, Jay Z Open Grammy’s 2014 With Sexy “Drunk in Love” Performance

Kicking off the show with a major blast was Beyonce and Jay Z at L.A.’s Staples Center with a performance that rocked the house.  Although rapper Jay Z, 44, is the one up for multiple statues this year for his Holy Grail album, Blue Ivy’s mom and dad selected a duet-track from Beyonce’s late-December surprise album, “Drunk in Love” for their set.  (Us Weekly was first to reveal that the super-couple would be performing together.)  And for the very first live rendition of the romantic, raunchy song – featuring a guest rap from Jay Z and hot beach-side video – the couple amped up the intimate, sexy vibe with a dark stage, spotlights and mini-runway.

Album of the Year:

Daft Punk, Random Access Memories (Julian Casablancas, DJ Falcon, Todd Edwards, Chilly Gonzales, Giorgio Moroder, Panda Bear, Nile Rodgers, Paul Williams & Pharrell Williams, featured artists; Thomas Bangalter, Julian Casablancas, Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo, DJ Falcon & Todd Edwards, producers; Peter Franco, Mick Guzauski, Florian Lagatta, Guillaume Le Braz & Daniel Lerner, engineers/mixers; Antoine “Chab” Chabert & Bob Ludwig, mastering engineers).

Record of the Year:

Daft Punk, “Get Lucky” (Thomas Bangalter & Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo, producers; Peter Franco, Mick Guzauski, Florian Lagatta & Daniel Lerner, engineers/mixers; Antoine “Chab” Chabert & Bob Ludwig, mastering engineers).

• Song of the Year: Lorde, “Royals” (Joel Little & Ella Yelich O’Connor, songwriters)
• Best Country Abum: Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park
• Best Pop Vocal Album: Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox
• Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake, “Holy Grail”
• Best Pop Solo Performance: Lorde, “Royals”
• Best Rock Song: Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear, “Cut Me Some Slack”
• Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, “Get Lucky”
• Best New Artist: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
• Best Rock Album: Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day
• Best Metal Performance: Black Sabbath, “God Is Dead?”
• Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Pharrell Williams
• Best Music Video: Justin Timberlake Featuring Jay Z, “Suit and Tie” (David Fincher, video director; Timory King, video producer)
• Best R&B Album: Alicia Keys, Girl on Fire
• Best Urban Contemporary Album: Rihanna, Unapologetic
• Best R&B Song: Justin Timberlake, “Pusher Love Girl” (James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley and Justin Timberlake, songwriters)
• Best Traditional R&B Performance: Gary Clark, Jr., “Please Come Home”
• Best R&B Performance: Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway, “Something”
• Best Rap Performance: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz, “Thrift Shop”
• Best Rap Song: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz, “Thrift Shop” (Ben Haggerty and Ryan Lewis, songwriters)
• Best Rap Album: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, the Heist
• Best Latin Pop Album: Draco Rosa, Vida
• Best Reggae Album: Ziggy Marley, Ziggy Marley in Concert

For Complete Winners List go to:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/grammy-awards-2014-the-complete-winners-list-20140126

For more information please contact us at RandyKFisher@gmail.com.