Michelle Obama’s mentor could be headed to Senate. It looks like long time family friend and mentor to Michelle Obama will replace President-elect Obama in the Senate. Jarrett is rumored to be the Illinois governor’s pick to fill the vacant seat untio 2010.  Read more at Pamela on Politics.
Okla. newspaper refuses to acknowledge Obama win. Residents of an Oklahoma community protested outside of the offices of a newspaper that refused to acknowledge that Barack Obama had won the presidential election. The publisher of the Sapulpa Daily Herald said, “We only have one president at a time.” Watch the video here.

Donyell Marshall to reach 15 years as Sixer. He may have been dropped by the then-unnamed, newly franchised Oklahoma City Thunder, but NBA vet Donyell Marshall wouldn’t be counted out. Marshall will reach his 15^th year in the league as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers after Oklahoma waived him. Marshall, 35, is expected to sign a one year deal with Philly for $1.26 million by week’s end. The deal makes the vet one of the seasoned class eligible for a minimum salary guaranteed only to players with at least 10 years experience in the league. Marshall last averaged 3.8 points off the bench with Seattle before the team moved to Oklahoma.

NFL season begins tonight. The Giants hope to defend their Super Bowl title as the NFL officially begins its regular season today. Meanwhile, New England is among top contenders, Adam “Pacman” Jones will try to show he’s worth his welcome back into the league from

suspension, and Chad Ocho Cinco, formerly Chad Johnson, will likely do his best impression as the Dennis Rodman of football. Keep up with all the action by visiting BET.com.

Tens of thousands sought shelter outside of the Bayou State

With three-year-old Katrina still fresh on their minds, tens of thousands of Louisiana residents fled the wind-whipped, water-soaked Bayou State Monday seeking safer ground in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. As an angry Hurricane Gustav barreled down on their homes, businesses neighborhoods, they traveled by car, train, bus and plane, determined not to be the ones seen on TV waving for helicopter rescue squads to deliver them. As many as 82,000 Louisiana residents crammed into shelters spread across eight states, according to Christina Stephens, a spokeswoman for the state. She told CNN that the Louisiana Department of Social Services had set up two shelters, including two in Shreveport, one in Bastrop and one more in Monroe – holding 10,000 people. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hooked up with the Red Cross to administer services from shelters in Shreveport and Alexandria – holding 5,000 people. According to Mississippi state officials, some 12,400 Louisiana residents had flowed into the state. Officials set up a phone registry so that people can find out where their relatives and loved ones are located. The number is 1-800-258-9822. State officials want residents to stay in their homes – even after Gustav passes by. “They’ll let people know when it’s safe to return,” Stephens said. This is important, she said because there are still dangers from threats posed by downed power lines and trees, floodwater and debris. “It’s really crowded, and everybody’s just trying to do their best,” Kesha Harlow, who was there with her daughter, 8, and her son, 2 months. “We’re just waiting for the storm to blow over.” New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has appealed to those who fled to stay put until the end of the week, which will give workers time to secure weakened levees and downed power lines and drain flooded streets.

Golf star gains Forbes magazine’s No. 1 rank.

Golf star Tiger Woods tops all takers in earnings from June 1, 2007 to June 1, 2008, according to Forbes magazine. Woods pulled down $115 million in competition earnings and endorsements, making him the top-paid pro player in the world. Others making the men’s top-earner list include retired NBA star Michael Jordan, who heads the Charlotte Bobcats, banked $45 million over 12 months, still snatching checks from his Nike brand endorsements. Male athletes out-earned female athletes by a collective $483 million compared with the women’s $118 million, according to Forbes.

Opening Olympics ceremonies begin today. It’s not only D. Wade, Kobe and King James who’ll hold court at the Beijing Olympics, which host opening ceremonies today. Elite Black athletes will compete in sports as diverse as track and swimming. The Williams family’s presence will be felt in women’s tennis, as Black stars appear among 11,000 athletes from 205 nations. You can follow BET.com to see who’s a contender and who brings home the gold.

Expansion team’s choice appears to be Thunder. The former Seattle Supersonics has apparently become the Oklahoma Thunder. But the new franchise’s name appeared on the Web without an official NBA announcement. Not long after the “Thunder” leak surfaced, the nickname was removed from the league’s site. Last month, the NBA had included Thunder among its potential choices after the city of Seattle let the team go to Oklahoma over complications with an arena lease.

NBA star tells Time US will win

In a recent issue of Time magazine, LeBron James guarantees that the USA will return to its past Olympics glory at the coming Beijing games. Comparing the anticipated thrill of taking the gold medal to opening gifts at Christmas, the NBA star is asked if he’s promising the top prize. “Absolutely,” James states twice. The Cleveland Cavaliers star sat out last Friday’s practice game with a sprained ankle, but he is expected to recover in time for the China competitions. The USA hasn’t taken gold in men’s basketball at the Olympics since 2000.

Kardashian expects proposal from Reggie Bush

The most recognizable, non-Black Hollywood personality who’s still known for her special physical assets says she expects an eventual proposal of marriage from NFL star Reggie Bush. Kim Kardashian tells an LA radio show hosted by “American Idol’s” Ryan Seacrest that she’s preparing for a wedding to Bush, who’s been dating her for about a year, though they’re not yet engaged. She’s planning ahead, she says, so that “whenever I get asked, there won’t be any drama.” Wonder if Reg knows he’s going to be asking.

New NBA franchise will choose from six options. The team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics has moved to Oklahoma City and needs a new ID. The NBA has filed for trademark rights to six nicknames for the Oklahoma City franchise: Barons, Bison, Energy, Marshalls , Thunder and Wind. The NBA and the team have refused to discuss possible new names publicly, until an official announcement is made. The league assigned Oklahoma City the former Seattle franchise that has boasted superstars such as Shawn Kemp and Ray Allen, after a court case resulted in the Sonics’ release from their agreement with Seattle ’s KeyArena.