Florida Sentinel Bulletin

NEWARK, NJ — Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, on Friday to three counts of failing to file federal income tax returns.

Hill, 37, a hip hop singer and rapper best known as a former member of the Fugees and for a Grammy-winning 1998 solo album, pleaded guilty to failing to file federal returns between 2005 and 2007, despite earning an income of more than $1.8 million primarily from film and recording royalties.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Hill said little in court and left without making a statement. Her sentencing date was set for Nov. 27.

Hill was released on $150,000 bail that U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp said included being allowed to leave the country for music tours and a condition she must undergo mental health counseling. Her lawyer Nathan Hochman said Hill has been in family counseling for the past ten years.

Snoop Dogg is rap’s pothead uncle. He was busted while traveling in Norway for having a little of that sticky icky in his luggage.

Snoop was detained by customs in the Kjevic Airport in Kristiansand, Norway. Police searched through Snoop’s bags and found about eight grams of kush in his possession. In most cases, a black man-famous or otherwise-would be locked underneath the jails in any country. However, lucky for Snoop Norway only charges fines for amounts of marijuana less than fifteen grams. The hidden herb cost Snoop 12,000 Norwegian Krone. If you’re wondering about the conversion, 12,000 Norwegian Krone comes out to about $1,980.13.

Gospel singer James Fortune is being sued for allegedly leaving his 4-year-old stepson with severe burns with over 45% of his body.

The suit says that Fortune picked up his stepson from pre-school after the boy was “misbehaving by coloring on a table.” The suit also says he scolded the boy the entire way home, put him in timeout at home, and beat the child with a switch. Then, Fortune is accused of pushing the toddler in scalding water and holding him down.

Now he’s being taken to court.

When Good Morning America‘s Robin Roberts announced that she was diagnosed with and undergoing treatment for the rare blood disease myelodysplastic syndrome, many people flocked to her aid.

Sally-Ann Roberts, Robin Roberts’ sister has announced that she is a match and will be the sole donor for her sister. Roberts is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

Robin’s oldest sister, Sally-Ann, who anchors a morning show on the CBS station in New Orleans, says she and a friend made a prayer circle around the test kit.  “We prayed: ‘Please let this be a match,’ ” Sally-Ann said.

Jada Pinkett Smith is lending her name to the fight sex trafficking around the world. Pinkett Smith made the decision after her daughter Willow approached her when she saw the Kony 2012 video, which motivated her to do something about it. Her husband Will Smith is fully supportive too.

Jada recently teamed up with the “Don’t Sell Bodies” campaign to raise awareness of this issue, and you might be heartened to know how she got involved in the first place.

Ludacris and Keri Hilson commemorated the first day of summer Wednesday, June 20 by doing volunteer work at a local high school near Atlanta.

Hilson and Luda, both from the area, visited Osborne High School where they helped to restore the educational facility, which is the oldest in Cobb County.

Sponsored by Bing and DoSomething.org, Luda and Hilson did everything from cleaning to painting. “It gives your life a purpose and you may not realize that when you’re young, but it really does give you a sense of appreciation, a humbleness that you wouldn‘t get if you weren’t being so selfless,” Hilson said.

Pop rap group Far East Movement were also on hand to show their support.

NEW YORK — A representative for 50 Cent says the rapper is out of the hospital after being injured in a car accident in New York on Tuesday morning.

The rep says 50 Cent was taken to New York Hospital Queens where he was treated for “minor neck and back injuries” and is now “doing fine.”

Bruce Miller, who was driving the car, was also injured and has been released from the hospital.

Photos of the 36-year-old on a stretcher are posted on his website www.ThisIs50.com. The Grammy winner, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, appears in a neck brace in two photos.

No other details were provided.

Oprah’s going back to the basics and has started up “Oprah’s Book Club 2.0.”

The project revitalization is a joint effort with OWN Network and O Magazine and will start with popular memoir “Wild,” Cheryl Strayed’s story of her 1,100-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in California and Washington.

But this time around, the book club gets an upgrade.

Besides the traditional paper version, featuring the circular Oprah book club logo, special e-editions will be made available that include Winfrey’s comments and a reader’s guide.

Beyonce may not have the power to heal, but a personal letter from the international superstar might just be the next best thing.

The singer has recently penned a correspondence to Timmy Kelly, an 18 year-old who is blind and has cerebral palsy. Having met Timmy when he was only 13, the young man has now graduated high school and been accepted to college.

Like a proud friend, Beyonce wrote about Timmy’s accomplishments and how he is an inspiration to others, herself included.