- Mrs. MaXX

The Republican National Convention is coming next month to
the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul. This major event will expect about 45,000 visitors (not including protesters), bars will close later (word is they are staying open until 4 a.m.), and restaurants will be packed.

This huge event will attract over 15,000 members of the media such as NBC's "Today" show and "Nightly News", ABC's "Good Morning America" and CBS's "Evening News" with Katie Couric. You can also catch Jon Stewart and the "The Daily Show" at McNally Smith College of Music's History Theater, September 2nd - 5th.  For entertainment, visitors can catch local aritst I Self Devine performing at Ripple Effect, a partisan event on September 2nd from 1pm-7pm at the State Capitol mall in St Paul. Also performing is Anti-Flag, Wookie Foot, Matisyahu, Dead Prez and more.

For more information, check out the website www.gopconvention.com.

By Ismael AbduSalaam

Presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama has condemned an endorsement song from Ludacris, in which the Atlanta MC criticizes rivals Hillary Clinton and John McCain.
 
The song "Politics: Obama Is Here" contains celebratory bars on Obama's success ("The first is destined and it's meant to be"), but turns venomous when Obama's rivals are addressed.
 
Ludacris references the bitter Democratic primary battle by stating "Hillary hated on you/So that b**ch is irrelevant."
 
Regarding Republican nominee John McCain, the rapper rhymes:
 
"McCain don't belong in ANY chair unless he's paralyzed/ Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped/ Ball up all of his speeches and I throw 'em like candy wrap."
 
Through his campaign team, Senator Obama released a statement condemning the song as offensive and typical of much of Hip-Hop's current lyrical content...

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BBBS is excited to announce the 2008 "Barbershop Challenge" campaign. This campaign aims to identify and engage 60 new African American male mentors between June 30 and August 27, 2008. Of the nearly 800 young people waiting for a mentor, 27 percent are African American boys. Finding African American men to serve as Big Brothers will have ripple effects far into the future. During the challenge, barbershops from around the Twin Cities will be competing to recruit the highest number of new Big Brothers. The following shops will participate in the Challenge: Changez, Chiseler, Damien's, Dimensions, Final Cut Sports Barbershop, Grooming House, House of Fades, J-Klips, Johnson's Barber and Beauty Shop, Mass Appeal, Mr. Afro's, Par 4, TNT, Wilson's Image Barbershop and Wright Brothers. Each week during the challenge, KMOJ-Radio DJs will talk on-air with the barbershop owners to find out how many Big Brothers each shop recruited that week and what they're doing to help educate their customers about youth mentoring.

For more information on the Barbershop Challenge, or how to become a Big Brother or Big Sister, visit www.bigstwincities.org.

Be a part of history!

Get on the bus to Denver to support Barack Obama Aug. 24th to the 29th and enjoy 3 full days of Convention activities!
Round trip bus fair is only $150 (does not include food or living accommodations). Limited Seating is available so please make reservations with Vusumuzi Zulu by phone at 612.529.5864 or email at vzulu@blackstorytellers.com.

If you have information you would like us to get out about what's going on in YOUR community, email us at maxxnewsweekly@yahoo.com