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James Brown, the "Godfather of Soul" and a legend in rap, rock and funk, has announced that he has prostate cancer. AP Photo Reuters Slideshow: James Brown In a statement released to The Associated Press on Friday morning, Brown, 71, said that he will undergo surgery for the ailment on Dec. 15. "I have overcome a lot of things in my life. I will overcome this as well," Brown said. Brown, best known for seminal hits like "I Feel Good," "Please, Please, Please," and "Cold Sweat," is also a diabetic. Dubbed the hardest working man in show business, he just...

BRAVE NEW SCHOOLSCatholic professor punished for viewsCollege removes man from classes after he expresses religious beliefs Posted: February 5, 20045:00 p.m. Eastern © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com A college professor in Ohio has been punished for refusing to hide his religious identity from his students. According to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, officials from Lakeland Community College removed Dr. James Tuttle from his philosophy classes and threatened him with dismissal because he made statements on his syllabi and in class that disclosed his traditional Catholic religious faith and how that shaped his personal philosophy. "Asking a philosophy professor to divorce...

JAMES BROWN TO RUN DEAN CAMPAIGN Will Help Candidate Control Temper, Says Godfather of Soul Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean shook up his campaign staff yet again today, naming “Godfather of Soul” James Brown his new campaign manager. While Mr. Brown admitted he had no experience running a national political campaign, he told reporters in South Carolina today that he was optimistic that he could right Mr. Dean’s ship in the crucial weeks ahead. “I feel good,” Mr. Brown said. In a joint appearance before the press, Mr. Dean told reporters that the campaign under Mr. Brown’s management would become...

James Brown charged with domestic violence The Associated Press AIKEN, S.C. -- Soul singer James Brown was arrested Wednesday and charged with criminal domestic violence, Aiken County authorities said. Brown, 70, of Beech Island was booked into the county jail about 1 p.m. and was to appear at a bond hearing at 3 p.m., said jail supervisor Nicholas Gallam. Brown, known as the Godfather of Soul, served a 2 1/2-year prison term after a 1988 arrest on drug and assault charges and was convicted of a drug-related offense in 1998. He was granted a pardon by the state Department of...

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has named James Brown, the so-called "Godfather of Soul," to a new and unusual, but apparently fictitious, senior diplomatic position, the State Department said. Spokesman Richard Boucher confirmed Monday that Powell had indeed appointed Brown to be the first US "secretary of soul and foreign minister of funk" but said the job description for the post had not yet been drawn up. In addition, he told reporters that it was uncertain whether the new title carried with it any salary or if Brown would be entitled to an office at the State Department. "I...

Al Sharpton, once labeled a racial polarizer, has recast himself as the soul of the Democratic Party. One rainy fall day, Sharpton paid a visit to Rolling Stone's offices to explain to us why he's running for president and how he fears the Democrats are about to blow it again. A decade ago, Sharpton was one of the most hated men in New York, accused by his critics of stoking racial fury and inciting near-riots. But since then, he has mellowed considerably, trading his track-suit-and-big-medallion look for tailored suits and flashy cuff links. In mainstreaming his appeal, Sharpton is reaching...

COLUMBIA - Singer James Brown was granted a pardon Tuesday for his past crimes in South Carolina. The Godfather of Soul appeared before the state Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services on Tuesday. Agency spokesman Pete O'Boyle said Mr. Brown had friends, family and state lawmakers speak on his behalf. The seven-member board granted Mr. Brown a pardon for his crimes in 1988 and 1998. After the board made its decision, Mr. Brown sang God Bless America to the crowd, said his publicist Dan Forman. "God bless America on this beautiful day. I hope my pardon shows the youth...

HOUSTON (AP) - Soul superstar James Brown donated 400 tickets to military personnel for his concert in Houston. Brown, 69, said the free tickets for Saturday night's concert were intended to give a boost to military workers as the U.S.-led war with Iraq continues. "I grew up as a poor boy and was able to rise up and be an entertainer and help others," Brown said through a spokeswoman Friday. "I wanted to do what I could do to help our nation in this time of need." Backed by the Soul Generals, Brown launched his current tour Dec. 27, marking...

<p>GREENSBORO, Ala. — A suspicious fire burned much of a bank that was holding Hale County voting records involved in a fraud investigation.</p> <p>The fire early Sunday morning severely damaged the Peoples Bank of Greensboro's main office, said state Fire Marshal John Robison. Several firefighters battling the blaze received minor injuries.</p>