Muslims are angry over headscarf ruling. Muslim rights activists are outraged at an Atlanta judge who ordered a 40-year-old Muslim woman to serve 10 days in jail for refusing to remove her headscarf before attending a hearing in his courtroom. Although she was released before serving a full day, critics want the Justice Department to look into what sparked the incident in the Atlanta suburb of Douglasville, Ga., a community of about 20,000 people.  We can deal with whether people knew about policies or whether they handled things correctly, but the bottom line is, can a Muslim woman walk into this courtroom wearing religious attire?” said Council on American-Islamic Relations spokesman Ibrahim. City court workers will now be required to undergo sensitivity training and post courtroom dress code signs.

N.Y. Pastor celebrates his 106^th birthday. The Rev. Charles Leonard, pastor of Mount Zion Church of Christ, celebrated his 106^th birthday on Christmas Day. He said that his friends, family and God has been the source of his longevity. “My generation coming up, young people, they were brought up in church,” said Leonard, who was born in Philadelphia in 1902. “This is the way it was with me. The secret is God. He keeps me alert. He keeps me active.” Leonard’s grandmother lived to be 108. He was reared in segregated North Carolina and Georgia. In 1933, he moved to New York, where he landed a job as a high-steam engineer for the Washington Heights Laundry Co. Leonard began preaching more than 50 years ago. “He travels by himself, he goes out on his own, he’s totally independent,” said his 48-year-old great-niece, Brenda Greene. “If he doesn’t hear from us, he calls and checks on us. Sometimes he’s more alert than we are.”

Rev. Jackson makes Christmas jail visit. On Christmas Day, the Rev. Jesse Jackson did what he has done for the past two decades – visited inmates in Chicago’s Cook County Jail. During his visit, he described U.S. corrections facilities as “Jail hotels” and said that people must stop thinking of prison as “free meals, medicine, heat and recreational activities.” It’s time to vote and get tested for HIV, he told the 500 inmates who gathered to hear him speak. Jackson, whose Rainbow PUSH Coalition turned 43 on Christmas, urged his audience to “make better choices.”

Top tennis player wins competition in Switzerland.

Venus Williams has her second singles tennis championship of 2008 after beating Italy’s Flavia Pennetta Sunday in Switzerland. The Zurich Open title is Williams’ first since she won it as a teenager in 1999. “I love the pressure,” Williams says of winning. “I need it in my life.” The player also defeated her sister Serena for the Wimbledon women’s singles title this year.Infection leads to UNC center’s amputation. Kenny George’s college basketball career is likely over after the 7-foot-9 player lost part of his foot. The UNC Asheville center suffered from a staff infection during the summer, resulting in several surgeries reportedly necessary to save George’s life. Removing part of his right foot was necessary to heal the player, doctors say. “This just breaks our heart,” says Dave VanderMeulen, George’s high school coach. “I’ve talked to Kenny and he’s dealing with what kind of mountain he’s facing and reflecting on what could have been…his parents are trying to keep his spirits up, but they are devastated, as any parents would (be) whose child lost part of a limb.”

Willie Horton celebrates 66^th  birthday. Baseball great Willie Horton celebrated his 66^th birthday this weekend in what is observed as “Willie Horton Day” in Michigan. The seven-time All-Star and retired Detroit Tigers player is honored every year on Oct. 18 after being recognized in state legislation. Apart from his talent as a player, Horton became known as a concerned community activist. Horton was among city leaders who worked to quell disturbances during Detroit’s 1967 race rebellion.

Certified Worldwide
Greg Street aka, The Voice of the People, prepares to release highly anticipated album.Get the details here.

On Location: Missy’s Birthday Party

See hot pics from Missy Elliot’s 37th birthday party at Marquee in downtown Manhattan here.

Bee actress will portray hip-hop pioneer in new film
“Akeelah & The Bee” star Keke Palmer proved she’s got some spelling skills, and now she’ll rock the mic in the film Vapors. Palmer joins Evan Ross, rapper Nas and others in the forthcoming movie about a legendary New York hip hop posse, the Juice Crew. Palmer has signed on to play rapper Roxanne Shante, one of the first popular lady MCs, who paved the way for Queen Latifah, Da Brat, Lil Mama and others. “She was 14 when she recorded those songs,” Palmer tells Giant magazine. “She had it in her contract that the label would pay for her to finish high school and college. That’s inspiring.”

Spike Lee takes helm of “Passing Strange”

Director Spike Lee will shoot a floundering Broadway production for cable TV, in hopes of helping to increase interest in the play. Despite a recent Tony Award, Passing Strange has reportedly performed poorly at the box office since its opening last spring. The production focuses on a Black musician who goes to Europe in search of his identity. No word on whether Spike plans to point out that a Black musician may have chosen a different continent to find himself.

Rapper’s birthday celebration cut short by nightclub scrap.

Missy Elliott’s 37th birthday bash went bust this past weekend after a woman identified as the rapper’s makeup artist allegedly clashed with a waitress. Deborah Padilla was arrested at the NYC Marquee nightclub where Missy was celebrating when Padilla reportedly fought with a waitress at the spot. The unnamed server filed charges against the makeup artist, saying she’d been “hit above the eye.” No comment has been issued by reps of the nightclub.