CNN is reporting that Laurent Gbagbo, the self-declared president of the Ivory Coast, was arrested Monday, according to Ivorian, French and U.N. sources. Gbagbo “is well and alive and will be brought to justice,” said Youssoufou Bamba, the country’s ambassador to the United Nations. Gbagbo’s refusal to accept that he lost a presidential election to…

MSNBC is reporting that Dr. Chiyome Fukino, the former director of Hawaii’s Department of Health, has affirmed again that President Obama’s birth certificate  is “real” and denounced “conspiracy theorists” in the so-called Birther movement for continuing to spread bogus claims about the issue. Michael Isikoff reports that Fukino said, “It’s kind of ludicrous at this…

It looks as if there is no limit to Flava Flav’s buffoonery. Just when we were hoping that he would start rocking the mic instead of rocking the reality-show boat again, EURweb is reporting that Flava Flav has pitched a reality show centering on his new chicken joint in Iowa. Flav says that “the show…

ESPN is reporting that the New Jersey Nets have been fined $50,000 for Nets minority owner Jay-Z’s presence in the Kentucky locker room after the Wildcats clinched a Final Four berth. League spokesman Tim Frank confirmed the fine Friday before the Nets played the New York Knicks at the Prudential Center. NBA rules prohibit team…

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that legendary filmmaker Sidney Lumet has passed away. Lumet is known for making provocative films that explore the many complexities of life, including issues of social justice, power, ethics, race and difference. Lumet’s films include the classics 12 Angry Men, Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon, which deconstructed the justice system…

You know it’s out of hand when a crooner known more for his music-making skills and penchant for social justice blasts “the Donald.” Pop Eater is reporting that Grammy Award-winning singer John Legend blasted Donald Trump over his Birther comments about President Obama, saying, “He needs to stop saying that racist bulls—- Birther s—-,” Legend…

EURweb is reporting that Showtime has ordered a new Don Cheadle comedy based on the book House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Tell You the Time. Shortened to House of Lies for Showtime, the series stars the Academy Award-nominated Cheadle as a self-loathing management consultant from a top-tier firm. House of…

The Associated Press is reporting that reporters and cameras will be barred from a key evidence hearing in the case against four men accused of fatally shooting former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor during a botched 2007 robbery at his home, a judge ruled Wednesday. Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy agreed with defense attorneys that the…

Paul Kane of the Washington Post is reporting that a 2011 budget deal seems to be elusive as Republicans and Democrats continue to haggle over $5 billion in differences. After weeks of negotiation, Congress has been unable to come to an agreement. A flurry of activity Thursday, including two Oval Office sit-downs with President Obama,…