Suite 411 – Page 59

Michelle O. featured in OK! mag; Jennifer Hudson in Gap holiday ad

In the latest issue of OK! magazine, Michelle Obama discussed being wife and mother to the new First Family at their new address, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. For more, check OK! site.

Jennifer Hudson will be featured in a new holiday ad for Gap. The photos were taken in July before several of her family members were killed in October. Gap considered pulling the plug on the photos but received the go ahead from Hudson to continue the campaign.

“We felt that it was really important first and foremost to respect what she wanted to do so long as she felt comfortable with her campaign being out there,” said Olivia Doyne, Gap marketing and pr director.

Trump offers refuge for Hudson

Jennifer Hudson and her family have been staying free of charge at the Donald Trump’s International Hotel and Tower on State St. since the deaths of her mother, brother and nephew on Oct. 24.

“She’s a great girl and we’re protecting them well,” said Trump to People magazine. “They are very safe.”

Hudson also thanked her fans for their support on her myspace page Thursday saying,” I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and pravers during this difficult time. My sister and I take great comfort and strength form your love and concern.”

It is not a secret anymore

The Secret Service names for the Obama family have been revealed. Barack is Renegade, Michelle is Renaissance, Malia is Radiance, and Sasha is Rosebud. Vice-President Joe Biden’s name is Celtic and his wife Jill’s name is Capri.

The Obamas go to the White House

President-Elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle went to tour the White House Tuesday. His first visit since winning the presidential election. For more than an hour, President Bush and Obama spoke alone in the Oval Office. Laura Bush gave Michelle a tour of the living quarters where the Obama girls would live. Michelle also toured private schools for the girls while in Washington D.C.

Hudson murder suspect may go free; R. Kelly’s relatives involved in a robbery

William Balfour, Jennifer Hudson’s brother-in-law and a suspect in the Hudson family murders, will appear at a parole violation hearing before the Illinois Prison Review Board on Monday morning in Joliet, IL. Balfour was convicted for attempted murder in 1999.

Balfour could be released if it is decided there is insufficient evidence that he violated his parole.

Brayel and Brandon Kelly, nephews of R.Kelly, have been arrested and are suspects in an attempted robbery of a Calumet City barbershop. Brayel,15, was shot in the abdomen and chest and is in intensive care at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Brayel and Brandon are two of the six children of Carey Kelly, R. Kelly’s brother.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright Speaks at Northwestern University

Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the former pastor of Barack Obama and the retired pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, spoke Friday at Northwestern University. He expressed joy in the election of Obama and criticized the media for their unfair treatment of him.

Obama’s First Press Conference as President Elect

On Friday, Barack Obama gave his first press conference in Chicago as the President-Elect. He discussed the current economic crisis and the the goals of his transition team to meet these challenges head on. Check out some of the press conference below:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kTYJMvX6QM]

Behind the Scenes Election Night Photos

Congratulations to President Elect Barack Obama! He will be the 44th President of the United States of America. Below are some pictures of the Obama family on election night watching the results. Check it out!

Hudson memorial service today

There will be a public memorial service held today for Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother, and nephew at the family church, Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church, 4526 S. Greenwood Ave. at 4 p.m. Hudson and her sister Julia are not expected to attend.

As mentioned earlier, there will be a private funeral service Monday at 9 a.m. for Darnell Hudson, Julian King, and Jason Hudson at the Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester Ave.

Please keep the Hudson family in your prayers.

Hudson memorial service set; Obama rally to draw huge crowd

A mourner stands outside the Hudson home in the Englewood neighborhood.

The .45 caliber gun found in an abandoned lot on the West Side a block away from where the body of Jennifer Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew was discovered is the same caliber as the weapon used in the two murders at the Hudson home, police officials said.

On Monday, a private service will be held for Hudson’s mother, brother, and nephew at 9 a.m. at Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester Ave.

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris, a friend of Hudson, has been asked by a family friend to donate a football jersey in memorial of Hudson’s brother, Jason.

“I would like to give them a personal jersey,” Harris said to the Chicago Tribune newspaper after practice today. “A lot of times, you try to understand things but you can’t fathom that, losing three loved ones within three days. It’s very difficult, and my prayers are with the family. It’s hard, but you just have to try not to lose faith in God.”

Mayor Richard Daley predicts one million people will attend the Sen. Barack Obama rally set for election night in Grant Park. Tickets are already sold out for the event.

Supporters are scouring the internet looking for tickets on sites such as Craigslist and Ebay with very little avail, according to the Tribune. A waiting list has formed at www.democrats.org/electionnight.

The Chicago Park District will allow vendors to sell pizza, hot dogs, and hot chocolate. Alcohol sales are prohibited. To accommodate the expected crowds, CTA and Metra will be adding extra buses and trains in the afternoon and evening.