Jalen Rose, ESPN commentator and member of the legendary Fab Five, has been sentenced to 20 days in jail for his DUI conviction. Folks are up in arms over the sentence, since Rose has never been in legal trouble before. The state of Michigan does not have a minimum-sentencing requirement for DUI convictions, so sentencing…

House Speaker John Boehner’s leadership is being taken to the limit by his party. Last night the House vote on Boehner’s debt-limit bill was abruptly canceled. It seems that he had not generated enough votes from fellow Republicans to ensure that the bill would pass. Who were the holdouts? Can you say “South Carolina”?The Washington…

The Mail & Guardian is reporting that constitutional expert Pierre de Vos is calling South African President Jacob Zuma’s extension of Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo’s term of office unconstitutional. Zuma recently extended Ngcobo’s term for five years after being told it would expire at midnight on Aug. 14. Zuma’s extension was followed by a constitutional-court…

The Washington Post is reporting that House Speaker John Boehner and other Republican leaders, like Sen. John McCain, have ramped up the pressure on fellow Republicans to pass Boehner’s revised debt-ceiling bill. After much public squabbling within the GOP, Boehner told his fellow republicans to “get their a**** in line.” Paul Kane and Lori Montgomery…

CNN is reporting that GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona gave a speech yesterday on the Senate floor that lambasted the Tea Party and Michele Bachmann. McCain said that the movement is “foolish” to think a balanced budget amendment could pass before the Aug. 2 deadline. At one point, McCain read from an op-ed in…

The Web is buzzing with news that comedian-actress Mo’Nique’s BET talk show has been canceled by the network. BET has responded to reports by Media Take Out and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that The Mo’Nique Show has been canceled, saying instead that it is on a “production hiatus.” BET representative Kobe Swanson told EURweb, “The Mo’Nique…

Bloomberg is reporting that the U.S. faces losing its top-level debt rating as officials struggle to raise the $14.3 trillion borrowing limit. Investors are warning that a cut is likely as President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner argue over how to increase the debt ceiling while also trying to curb borrowing. The government…

Black America Web is reporting that jazz master Frank Foster has died. The jazz saxophonist played with the Count Basie Orchestra and composed the band’s hit “Shiny Stockings.” Foster was recognized in 2002 by the National Endowment for the Arts as a jazz master, the nation’s highest jazz honor. In a statement expressing sadness at…

Julianne Hing of ColorLines is reporting that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder believes the data showing that black and Hispanic students in Texas are disproportionately disciplined and suspended is a “wake-up call.” Troubling news about the impact of zero-tolerance policies in schools surfaced last week when the Justice Center at the Council of State Governments…