Washington Informer

Donna Summer, known for her soaring voice and sensual purrs, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. The 63-year-old queen of disco, who had been living in Englewood, Fla., with her husband Bruce Sudano, was a five-time Grammy winner.

Although best remembered for her songs decades ago, Summer continued to tour and record, including a stint last year as a guest judge on the Bravo reality show "Platinum Hit."

Born LaDonna Andrea Gaines in suburban Boston on New Year's Eve, 1948, Summer was one of seven siblings in a church-attending family who encouraged studies and singing in equal measure.

An early fan of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, Summer sang in a Boston rock band called Crow in the late 1960s, and left home for New York City at age 18 to find work on Broadway, which she did quickly by landing a role in a touring version of the hot Broadway show "Hair."

She spent the next three years living and touring in Europe. There she met and married the singer Helmut Sommer, whose last name she adapted as her stage name.

While in Europe she also met Italian music producer Giorgio Moroder, whose early dance tracks were making an impact across Europe. Moroder and Summer started working together, resulting in their first hit, the seductive 17-minute-long dance floor epic "Love to Love You Baby." On it, Summer moans in ecstasy throughout, seeming to climax with the music. A shortened version of it was released by then-hot label Casablanca in 1975, and peaked on the Billboard singles chart at No. 2.

That was the first of a string of songs that not only helped bring disco to the mainstream, but predicted the rise of both techno and house music. Among those were "I Feel Love," "Bad Girls," "She Works Hard for the Money" and "On the Radio."

But unlike some other stars of disco who faded as the music became less popular, she was able to grow beyond it and later segued to a pop-rock sound. She had one of her biggest hits in the 1980s with "She Works Hard for the Money," which became an anthem for women's rights.

Soon after, Summer became a born-again Christian and faced controversy when she was accused of making anti-gay comments in relation to the AIDS epidemic. Summer denied making the comments but was the target of a boycott.

Still, even as disco went out of fashion she remained a fixture in dance clubs, endlessly sampled and remixed into contemporary dance hits.

Her last album, "Crayons," was released in 2008 and marked her first full studio album in 17 years. She also performed on "American Idol" that year with its top female contestants.

A statement from her family called Summer "a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith."

"While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy," according to the statement released by Universal Music, her record label. "Words truly can't express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time."

Families can apply to schools outside their neighborhoods

WI Staff

This week, District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) launched its annual Preschool/Pre-Kindergarten/Out-of-Boundary Lottery Application process that gives District families the opportunity to apply to preschool and pre-kindergarten programs in DCPS, as well as to schools that are different than the one they've been assigned for grades K-12.

"Parents and families in the District of Columbia deserve information and choices when it comes to their children's education," DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson said. "The lottery gives parents the chance to look inside and outside their neighborhood to find schools that best support their children's academic strengths and needs, as well as their extracurricular and social interests."

Henderson said regarding "our youngest students, we continue to offer compelling programs that better prepare them for kindergarten." Henderson noted the expansion of the Tools of the Mind program to more than 150 classrooms in 28 schools. Tools of the Mind is a curriculum that helps children acquire the skills they need to set a foundation for long-term success in school.

The Preschool/Pre-K/Out-of-Boundary Lottery application period opened Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, and closes Feb. 27, 2012. There is no advantage to applying early in the application period. Families must log on to the DCPS website to access the online Preschool/Pre-K/Out-of-Boundary application; paper applications will not be accepted.

Families can begin investigating their options by visiting an online tool that lists all DC Public Schools in profile and scorecard formats, gives users a chance to see what each school has to offer, and allows families to compare schools side-by-side.

Each applicant may apply to up to six schools. All families applying for preschool or pre-K must apply through the online application, even if they are applying to their in-boundary school. For help completing the application and for more information about schools, families are invited to call the DCPS Critical Response Team at 202-478-5738.

DCPS also offers four more information sessions to help families navigate the lottery process:

•An Online Live Chat on Feb. 6 from 2-3 p.m.

•Feb. 11 from 1-3 p.m. at the Dorothy I. Height/Benning DC Public Library (3935 Benning Road NE)

•Feb. 15 from 6-8 p.m. at Powell Elementary School (1350 Upshur St. NW)

•Feb. 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Wheatley Education Campus (1299 Neal St. NE)

The lottery process is part of DCPS' goal of ensuring every student – from every school in every ward – has access to a top-notch education. For more information on the Preschool/Pre-K/Out-of-Boundary lottery, upcoming Lottery Help Sessions, and scheduled Open Houses, visit the DCPS Out-of-Boundary Lottery webpage at http://lottery.dcps.dc.gov/ . the DCPS website to access the online Preschool/Pre-K/Out-of-Boundary www.dcps.dc.gov ) Families can begin investigating their options by visiting http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/.

 WI Online Editor

Authorities might be closer to solving the murder of Tupac Shakur after a man who is already in jail confessed recently to robbing and shooting the rapper.

Shakur, who died in 1996 of gunshot wounds in a separate shooting, would have celebrated his 40th birthday on June 17.

According to reports, Dexter Isaac, who is serving a prison sentence for murder and robbery and other offenses, said he shot Shakur during a 1994 attempted hit and robbery at Quad Studios in Manhattan. He added that to prove the robbery, he still has the jewelry that was taken.

Isaac said in a statement posted on AllHipHop.com, that he was paid $2,500 to carry out the robbery and was allowed to keep all the jewelry he stole except for a ring. The 46-year-old felon also claimed that James Rosemond – a talent agent who goes by the professional name of Jimmy Henchman -- put him up to the crime.

Rosemond, who lists singers Brandy and Akon among his roster of star clientele, is currently on the run from federal authorities on drug charges, according to Starpulse.com

Starpulse.com also reports that Rosemond and Isaac were both friends and associates of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs and the late rapper, Biggie Smalls.

In a statement Isaac reportedly wrote from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, he apologized for his near -fatal attack on Shakur.

"I want to apologize to his family and for the mistake I did for that sucker [Jimmy Henchman]," Isaac was quoted as saying.

A 23-year-old West Point cadet is suing singer Patti LaBelle in an airport ruckus that involved her body guards.

The incident occurred in March at the George H.W. Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, after LaBelle allegedly ordered the guards to confront Richard King, who had been standing next to her luggage in the passenger pick-up area, according to a Black Voices (BV) online report.

"Apparently, defendant LaBelle believed King was standing too close to her luggage, even though he was oblivious to her presence and the danger he was in," the lawsuit reportedly states. "LaBelle lowered the window of her limousine and gave a command to her bodyguards. They sprang into action ... LaBelle is hot-tempered ... [and] was a full participant in the cruel attack on King. She ordered it, and never tried to stop it."

An airport surveillance tape that was released by King's attorneys – and which has been circulating on the Internet -- showed him being punched and thrown into a cement pillar. BV also reported that King was sent by ambulance to a hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion.

King is suing LaBelle and three members of her entourage as well as the airport and a taxi dispatcher for unspecified punitive damages.

"I remember waking up the next morning with staples in my head," King was quoted as saying. "I've never been in a fight in my life."

Here are 10 of the lowest "regular"gas prices per gallon at locations in the District:

$3.69 – 1230 New York Ave., NE (US-50) & Fairview Ave., NE (as of June 7)

$3.81 – 4519 Benning Rd., NE & East Capitol (as of June 6)

$3.83 – BP Station -1535 Kenilworth Ave. near Quarrels St., NE (as of June 7)

$3.83 – Shell Station – 3355 Benning Rd. near 34th St. (as of June 6)

$3.85 – Shell Station – 2300 S Dakota Ave. & 33rd Pl (as of June 7)

$3.85 – Shell Station – 5420 New Hampshire Ave.,NW & Kennedy St. (as of June 6)

$3.86 – 420 Rhode Island Ave., NW near New Jersey Ave., NW (as of June 6)

$3.86 – W Express – 20 Florida Ave., NW & Q St., NW (as of June 5)

$3.87 – Sunoco Station – 2830 Sherman Ave., NW & Harvard St NW (as of June 7)

$3.87 – Shell Station – 4000 Georgia Ave., NW & Shepherd St., NW (as of June 7)

By Dorothy Rowley

WI Online Editor

Rapper and reality star Flavor Flav has come clean in his newly-released book, "Flavor Flav: The Icon, the Memoir."

The tell-all provides an eye-opening account of Flav’s life in the spotlight as a member of Public Enemy and his stints on several reality TV shows.

Flav’s real name is William Drayton. The 52-year-old Long Island, NY, native who has admitted to fathering eight children with different women, is also a grandfather of three. His book details among other issues, a longtime drug addiction as well as tensions with Public Enemy member Professor Griff.

"I [was] a drug addict for 18 years; only six years clean," Flav was quoted as saying in a Black America Web article.

"The worst mistake I ever made was experimenting with drugs. I was always more of a follower instead of a leader. Being around the 'hood, you’re following, you always wanna have a big name for yourself, and you don’t wanna be no punk. Whatever my friends were doing, I chose to do. It was the worst experiment that I could do in my life, but would I change it to this day? No. The reason why is because I got to learn about addiction. I got to live through all of that, so that way I could be able to teach about it and hopefully, people learn how I made my mistakes and they [don’t] make the same mistakes that I made."

Flav, who claims to have lost his virginity at age 6 on a playground, was accused in April of failing to pay employees at a new chicken restaurant in Clinton, Iowa, that he operated with a partner.

While the employees alleged that their paychecks bounced, the "Flavor of Love" star told a TV station that the employees were a bunch of disgruntled workers who were haters.

"It's not true information first of all, and second of all, maybe these are people that's just jealous of me being here and probably want to see me out," Flav reportedly said.

Wesley Snipes - AP Photo

In a June 6 ruling, the court refused to hear an appeal from Snipes, who was convicted in 2008 on three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file income tax returns, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Snipes has starred in films that include "White Men Can’t Jump" and the "Blade" trilogy. He reported in December to a federal minimum security prison to begin a s three-year term, and is expected to be released iin 2013.

The AP also reported that Snipes wanted his trial held in New York City, where he lived. However, the government brought charges against him in Florida, where Snipes’ driver’s license was issued.

Last month, Snipes reportedly tried through his attorneys to re-finance his Alpine, NJ, mansion for $1.6 million.

New Standard Offer Service rates Effective June 1

WASHINGTON – The District of Columbia Public Service (DCPSC) has authorized a decrease in supply rates. Based on the results of a competitive auction, District customers who buy their electricity through the Standard Offer Service (SOS) program will see decreases in their electricity bills beginning June 1, 2012. SOS represents about 70 percent of a residential customer's bill.

The change will decrease average monthly residential electricity bills by about 5.8 percent. The average residential customer uses about 825 kWh per month in the summer and 615 kWh per month in the winter. The monthly bill for an average residential SOS customer will decrease by $5.25 adjusting the average bill from $90.00 to $84.74.

The supply cost of electricity (including generation and transmission) for SOS customers will decline from 9.75 cents per kWh in the summer to 8.86 cents per kWh and from 9.22 cents per kWh in the winter to 8.61 cents per kWh. As a result the supply portion of the average residential electricity bill will decline from $63.71 to $58.45. The average monthly residential bill (including supply and delivery charges) will be about $84.74.

"This is great news for our District of Columbia customers because the cost of electricity has the greatest impact on their bills," said Thomas H. Graham, President, Pepco Region.

The SOS program is administered by Pepco under rules established by the DCPSC. Under legislation passed by the D.C. Council in 1990, Pepco no longer owns any power plants. The DCPSC has designated Pepco to purchase electricity for SOS customers through power supply contracts in an annual auction.

For more information and updates, visit www.pepco.com and follow Pepco at www.twitter.com/PepcoConnect.

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