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11-28-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
NEPHEW INVESTIGATED IN DEATH OF KANYE'S MOM: Nurse was supervising post-surgery care, but left to attend baby shower.
*Authorities in California are investigating the role of Donda West's 46-year-old nephew in her death last year following plastic surgery.
Stephan Scoggins, a registered nurse, was supposed to be supervising West's post-surgery care along with West's assistant and a friend. But, a source familiar with the situation tells People.com that Scoggins left the house to attend a baby shower the day after West underwent breast reduction and liposuction last Nov. 10. West died that evening at a Los Angeles hospital.
At the time, her death was described by a family spokesman as "the result of complications from a cosmetic surgical procedure," a statement that placed intense scrutiny on West's surgeon, Dr. Jan Adams. But last January, a Los Angeles coroner ruled that West died of "multiple post-operative factors," which cleared Dr. Adams of responsibility.
In this new development, an investigator with the California Department of Consumer Affairs has issued subpoenas asking individuals "to testify in the matter of the investigation of Stephan Scoggins," a source tells People.
According to an autopsy report, a heavily-bandaged West was able to walk out of the medical facility after nearly five and a half hours of surgery last November. The report further stated, "[West] opted to return to her home for care even though she was advised that she receive post-operative care at another facility."
That night, West took Vicodin for pain, slept and felt better in the morning. Later in the day, a source tells People, Scoggins left West's home to attend a baby shower and was unreachable when her condition worsened.
According to the autopsy report, West experienced pain, a sore throat and tightening in her chest before collapsing in the early evening. A friend at the house called 911 and West was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead in the emergency room.
The source also says investigators are looking into the possibility that Scoggins administered too much Vicodin in a short period of time.
MAN FOUND GUILTY OF SHOOTING T.I.S FRIEND: Hosea Thomas to be sentenced in December for murder of Philant Johnson.
*A jury has delivered a guilty verdict to the Cincinnati man who was accused of shooting the friend of Grammy Award-winning rapper T.I.
Hosea Thomas, 34, was on trial for shooting Johnson as he fired into T.I.'s entourage following a May 2006 concert in Cincinnati. During testimony last week, T.I. told jurors he believed the bullets were meant for him.
In addition to murder, Thomas was also convicted of felonious assault and illegally having a gun after a felony conviction.
He faces up to life in prison at his sentencing on Dec. 23.
NE-YO, LATIFAH TO SALUTE STREISAND?: Word has it they'll join Beyonce in musical tribute at Kennedy Center Honors.
*E! Online is reporting that Ne-Yo has been added to the lineup of artists scheduled to perform for the Barbara Streisand tribute next month at the Kennedy Center Honors.
Beyoncé recently confirmed that she'll be singing Streisand's signature tune "The Way We Were" during the segment, and Queen Latifah is reportedly in talks to join the Streisand bill as well.
Knowles and Latifah performed at the Kennedy Centers Honors three years ago for honoree Tina Turner.
Streisand, Morgan Freeman, choreographer Twyla Tharp and Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey of the Who will be honored at the 31st annual gala in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 7.
The star-studded affair, hosted by Caroline Kennedy, airs on CBS on Dec. 30.
BEYONCE'S 'SASHA' DEBUTS AT NO. 1: Album sells 482,000 copies; 112's Slim enters at No. 32.
*Beyonce's new double-disc "I Am … Sasha Fierce" has entered the Billboard 200 this week at No. 1, shifting a healthy 482,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The set's grand opening, fueled by first singles "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," were higher than the 317,000 first week sales of her 2003 solo debut, "Dangerously in Love," but lower than 2006's "B-Day," which moved 541,000 in its initial week.
Elsewhere on the Billboard 200, former 112 member Slim's solo debut, "Love's Crazy" (M3 Productions/Asylum) starts at No. 32 with 27,000.
At 9.45 million, sales this week are up 6% from last week but down 32% from the same week last year (13.96 million).
ELLEN TO MARIAH CAREY - 'YOU'RE PREGNANT!': Host wonders why singer would turn down Champagne toast.
*Ellen Degeneres decided she would try and settle the Mariah Carey pregnancy rumors once and for all during the singer's appearance on her talk show this week.
After Carey nervously laughed and told Ellen "Don't discuss that" when asked about the pregnancy talk, the host stood up and got a bottle of champagne and two flutes.
"You don’t' have to answer it, let's just toast with Champagne and decide…," said Ellen, before her voice was drowned out by audience laugher and applause.
"It's just fattening," demurred Carey – who married Nick Cannon in May – adding, "This is peer pressure!"
"No, let's toast to you not being pregnant, if you're not pregnant," Ellen persisted.
The two clinked glasses – but Carey only pretended to drink the wine.
"You're pregnant!" DeGeneres declared.
"No, no, no," Carey insisted. "We will let you know when we're going to have a family."
So why refuse the bubbly?
"It's too early for me," explained the Grammy-winner. "I only drink after 3 p.m."
PETA SEEKS MIJAC'S HELP WITH FORMER GIRAFFES: Animal rights group says animals are being mistreated at their new home.
*TMZ.com is reporting that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is upset over the current treatment of giraffes that were once owned by Michael Jackson, and have sought the entertainer's help in trying to make things right.
During the downward spiral of Neverland Ranch a year ago, a large portion of Jackson's pets – including four giraffes – were sold to an Arizona couple that wanted to start an animal sanctuary.
PETA claims the giraffes are stuck in cages barely as wide as the animals are tall, reports TMZ. They wrote the King of Pop a letter asking him to help pressure the owners into doing something more humane.
The couple that owns the animals says the giraffes have been moved to their new 150 x 150 ft. digs -- and the animals will have an even bigger space to roam when their 185 acre sanctuary is up and running.
BOBBY AND WHITNEY TO GIVE LOVE ANOTHER TRY?: Sun-Times columnist hears the former married couple have been on several dates.
*As previously reported, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker is hearing that Whitney Houston and her ex-husband Bobby Brown may be getting back together.
Zwecker writes:
The official word from Camp Houston sticks to the old line about the divorced couple remaining separate, 'but good friends whose primary interest is the well-being of their daughter.'
Yet, several Georgia sightings of Houston and Brown in recent days -- clearly looking very romantic while dining together -- seem to boost the reliability of what I'm hearing. I'm also hearing that the divorced couple's daughter Bobbi Kristina is eager for her parents to remarry.
DIDDY UPGRADES TIMES SQUARE BILLBOARD: Ad with black power fist replaced with even bigger image for new fragrance.
*Diddy has unveiled a mammoth new billboard advertisement of himself in New York's Times Square - thought to be the largest-ever to hang in the world famous destination.
The ad promotes his new Sean John men’s fragrance, I Am King, a follow-up to his previous scent, Unforgiven.
"I am really proud of the new billboard and of the message that it conveys to everyone who gets to see it," Diddy said in a statement.
The release further stated: "An untraditional fresh fruity woody scent, I Am King combines clean notes with sensual fruits and warm skin nuances. Impossible to ignore, I Am King subtly surrounds the wearer in fresh comfort and attracts women to encounter its power."
The billboard has replaced the already iconic Sean John ad that showed the rap mogul posing with his fist in the air.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"The day people stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them." — Colin Powell
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Nov. 28: Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. is 79. Actress S. Epatha Merkerson ("Law and Order") is 56. Actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon ("NYPD Blue," "The Jamie Foxx Show") is 42. Singer Dawn Robinson (En Vogue, Lucy Pearl) is 40. Musician apl.de.ap of Black Eyed Peas is 34. Rapper Chamillionaire is 29.
Nov. 29: Actor Don Cheadle is 44. Rapper The Game is 29.
Nov. 30: Actor Robert Guillaume is 81. Guitarist Shuggie Otis is 55. Rapper Jalil of Whodini is 45.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Learn all about Amour Creole, a new lifestyle magazine that focuses on Haitian fashion trends, culture, art and music (www.amourcreole.com/).
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Nov. 28, 1961: Ernie Davis became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy.
Nov. 29, 1955: Alice Childress becomes the first African American woman to receive an Obie Award for her play, "Trouble in Mind.”
Nov. 30, 1889: S.R. Scratton patents the curtain rod. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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