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GILBERT ARENAS: EXPECTS TO MEET WITH NBA COMMISSIONER

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Now that he has met with law enforcement officials, Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas says he has another meeting on the horizon — with NBA commissioner David Stern. Like DC and federal law enforcement officials, Stern wants to know why Arenas had guns at the Verizon Center last month. Arenas says he hasn't been contacted by league officials about the incident, during which some reports say Arenas and a teammate angrily pointed guns at each other. Arenas says the incident was nothing more than a joke that went bad. Arenas says Stern could be feeling pressure to discipline him — even before authorities make a decision on whether to press charges. It wouldn't be out of the way for that to happen. Law violations aside, it is against NBA rules for a player to have firearms at an arena, practice facility, or any other place that a player conducts league business.

Sound:

<<CUT …022 (01/06/10)>> 00:26 "''

Oscar Wells Gabriel

While law enforcement decides what to do about Gilbert Arenas, AP Correspondent Oscar Wells Gabriel reports the NBA star has another matter to deal with.

<<CUT …023 (01/06/10)>> 00:23 "does league business"

Oscar Wells Gabriel

AP Correspondent Oscar Wells Gabriel says Washington Wizards' star Gilbert Arenas has spoken about his likely meeting with the NBA Commissioner.

GILBERT ARENAS: REPORT SAYS GRAND JURY GETTING EVIDENCE

WASHINGTON (AP) — There's word the Gilbert Arenas case is going before a grand jury. The Washington Post reports that prosecutors have already begun presenting evidence to a D.C. Superior Court grand jury. The jury decides whether Arenas is indicted on any charges related to the incident he had last month with teammate Javaris Crittenton. Arenas says he isn't worried about possible legal action in the case because he says law enforcement officials "already know the truth."

QUEEN LATIFAH: PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS SET FOR TONIGHT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Queen Latifah will be the one in charge — as she handles host duties for tonight's People's Choice Awards. The awards cover the fields of movies, TV, music and online entertainment. Among those up for honors in the movie categories: Zoe Saldana, who is nominated for favorite breakout movie actress. "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail" is among the nominees for favorite family movie. America Ferrera is up for favorite comedy actress in a TV comedy. And Oprah Winfrey competes with Tyra Banks for favorite TV talk show.

RIHANNA: IN A CLASS WITH HERSELF?

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In one music category at tonight's People's Choice Awards, Rihanna's main competition will be — herself. She's listed twice in the favorite music collaboration category — she's up for her work with T.I. in "Live Your Life" and she's also nominated for "Run This Town," which co-stars Jay-Z and Kanye West. T-Pain is also nominated in the collaboration category for "I'm On A Boat," which was done with The Lonely Island.

Beyonce is one of the nominees in the favorite female artist category. She competes against Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Pink and Taylor Swift.

ALICIA KEYS/USHER: OTHER MUSIC AWARDS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It's four gals and one guy in the battle for favorite R&B artist at the People's Choice Awards tonight. The only male in the fight is Usher. He faces off against Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson and Mariah Carey in the category.

The Black Eyed Peas are among the nominees in the pop category and among hip-hop artists, the contestants are Eminem, Flo Rida, Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne and T.I. That category allows voting to be done on mobile devices.

FERGIE: THE ACTORS — AND THE SINGER

NEW YORK (AP) — Fergie is the first to acknowledge it — she isn't a big-time actress. And she says she never felt that so much as when she was starring with a bunch of great actresses in "Nine." Fergie says she not only changed her persona to take on her character, but also the very way she carried herself. She says she made sure she never crossed her legs — as part of what she calls her "different physicality" for the movie role.

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<<CUT …001 (01/06/10)>> 00:13 "these people do"

Fergie

Fergie says it wasn't easy being the singer among a cast of great actors in "Nine" wasn't easy.

<<CUT …002 (01/06/10)>> 00:10 "I use myself"

Fergie

Fergie says she changed the way she carried herself to play her role.

<<CUT …003 (01/06/10)>> 00:06 "I'm an artist"

Fergie

Fergie says she wants to act again.

<<CUT …004 (01/06/10)>> 00:14 "picture of me"

Fergie

Fergie says she turned herself into her prostitute character for her audition and it's a good thing the paparazzi weren't watching.

VIOLA DAVIS: JOINING "FENCES" OPERATION

NEW YORK (AP) — Look for Viola Davis to team up with Denzel Washington on Broadway come the spring. They will appear opposite each other in the revival of "Fences," the August Wilson play. The production opens April 26 at the Cort Theater. Davis has the role of Rose and Washington plays her husband, Troy Maxson. Still to be cast is the role of the son in the piece. Davis describes "Fences" as Wilson's exploration of "the everyday man" — but it's done within the context of blacks who are dealing with the issue of race in America, which she describes as "a double whammy."

WILLIE MITCHELL: RECORD PRODUCER DIES, WORKED WITH AL GREEN

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A musician and record producer who did a lot of work with Al Green has passed away. Willie Mitchell died yesterday. He was 81 and his son says his father had cardiac arrest December 19. Willie Mitchell owned Royal Studio where Buddy Guy and many others recorded. During the 1970s, Mitchell also owned Hi Records, which was were Al Green laid down his tracks. Mitchell received a Trustees Award from the Grammy Foundation in 2008.

QUINCY JONES: TO BE HONORED AT KING BIRTHDAY CEREMONY

ATLANTA (AP) — Quincy Jones will be among those honored at an event that, in turn, is an honor for Martin Luther King. Jones will be honored by the King Center as part of its annual "Salute to Greatness" dinner in Atlanta. This year will mark the 25th federal observance of the King holiday. This would be King's 81st birthday.

PRECIOUS: PRODUCERS GIVE PROPS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Another pre-Oscar nod for "Precious." It is among the films nominated for best picture by the Producers Guild of America. Among the other movies also nominated include "The Hurt Locker," ''Up in the Air," and "Invictus," in which Morgan Freeman plays former South African president Nelson Mandela. Winners will be announced at a January 24 ceremony in Hollywood.

JAYSON WILLIAMS: CHARGED AFTER ACCIDENT, BREAKS BONE IN HIS NECK

NEW YORK (AP) — More trouble in the life of former NBA star Jayson Williams. He has been charged with drunken driving after his SUV veered off an exit ramp and struck a tree early yesterday. Authorities say he suffered a minor bone fracture in his neck — and had cuts to his face. Williams was found in the passenger seat when police officers arrived — and he told them someone else had been driving. But witnesses told police they saw him in the driver's seat. Police say it appeared Williams was drinking before the crash. He was taken to a hospital where he refused a breath tests. Williams is awaiting retrial in a case in which he's accused of shooting a limousine driver to death with a shotgun. His wife has also filed for divorce and police recently used a stun gun on him at a New York hotel after a female friend said he was acting suicidal.

MARK INGRAM: TO BE HONORED IN ALABAMA

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — This year's Heisman Trophy winner will be honored in Alabama today. The governor has proclaimed today "Mark Ingram Day" in honor of the Crimson Tide running back. Governor Bob Riley says Ingram has made Alabama residents proud both by his performance on the field and the character he has shown in his personal life. While the state celebrates, Ingram will be in California preparing for tomorrow's BCS National Championship Game between number one Alabama and number two Texas at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

MICHELLE OBAMA: PETA AD HIT BY WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some feathers are definitely ruffled over at the White House — over a PETA ad that features first lady Michelle Obama's image. The ad which appears in Washington D.C.'s Metro stations and elsewhere show Mrs. Obama with Tyra Banks, Oprah Winfrey and Carrie Underwood as non-fur-wearers. The animal rights group says it wouldn't have asked Mrs. Obama for permission to use her image — because it knows she can't make such an endorsement. The White House is upset because it says her image is being used without her permission.

BARACK OBAMA/MICHELLE OBAMA: HAVE A NEW NEPHEW

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Barack Obama's extended family has grown a little. Oregon State University says the first couple has a new nephew. Michelle Obama's brother Craig Robinson and his wife Kelly have welcomed a son, Austin. The child was born Monday. Robinson is head coach of the Oregon State men's basketball team.

DIZZY GILLESPIE: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1993, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie died in Englewood, New Jersey. He was 75 and had become one of the towering figures in modern jazz. Along with saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker, drummer Max Roach and pianists Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, Gillespie helped develop the bebop school of jazz during all-night jam sessions in New York during the 1940's. He later was instrumental in merging Latin rhythms with mainstream jazz. Gillespie was also one of the most recognizable jazz figures with his balloon cheeks, goatee and bent trumpet. Legend has it that another musician tripped over his trumpet stand and bent the bell upward at a 45-degree angle. It's said that Gillespie liked the sound and used bent horns from then on.

THE MARVELETTES: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1980, Georgeanna Tillman Gordon of the Motown group, the Marvelettes, died. She was 46 and had suffered from lupus.

THE CLOVERS: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1994, Harold Lucas, the founder of the Clovers, died in Washington. The Clovers were the most successful r-and-b group of the 1950's with such hits as "Don't You Know I Love You," ''Fool, Fool, Fool" and "Love Potion No. 9." As the only original member of the group still around, Lucas toured with a Clovers group until two years before his death.

JAMES BROWN: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 1996, James Brown's wife collapsed and died at a Beverly Hills, California, clinic. Adrienne Brown's death came two days after she underwent liposuction. She was 47. An autopsy showed she died from a combination of the illegal drug PCP and heart disease. The Browns' ten-year marriage was marked by her repeated charges and his repeated denials of physical abuse.

LOU RAWLS: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) — On this date in 2005, singer Lou Rawls died in Los Angeles. He had been fighting both lung and brain cancer. He was 72 years old.

KATHY SLEDGE OF SISTER SLEDGE: BIRTHDAY

UNDATED (AP) — A birthday today for one of the "sisters" that make up the group Sister Sledge. Kathy Sledge turns 51.

ERIC WILLIAMS: BIRTHDAY

UNDATED (AP) — A birthday today for a member of BLACKstreet. Eric Williams turns 50.

JOHN SINGLETON: BIRTHDAY

UNDATED (AP) — It's birthday number 42 for director John Singleton. He has done "Rosewood," ''Higher Learning," ''Poetic Justice" a remake of "Shaft" and what has become known as his breakthrough film: "Boyz N The Hood."

by Oscar Wells Gabriel II