Singer Chris Brown ordered by Los Angeles judge into 90 days of rehab

LOS ANGELES | A Los Angeles judge on Wednesday ordered R&B singer Chris Brown to complete a 90-day substance abuse and anger management program, capping a probation hearing that followed the Grammy winner’s assault charge in Washington, D.C., last month.

The judge also requested more information about the arrest to determine whether the 24-year-old singer had violated the terms of his probation.

Brown was placed on five years’ probation as part of his 2009 sentence for assaulting fellow R&B singer and girlfriend Rihanna. He also was ordered then to perform 180 days of community service and undergo domestic violence counseling.

In addition to the latest order for rehab, Brown will have to serve at least 24 hours of community service a week, submit to periodic drug testing and take prescribed medication, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Brandlin ordered.

The singer responded “yes” when the judge asked if he accepted the modified terms of probation.

While Brown is to remain in Los Angeles County, the judge said the performer would be allowed to travel to Washington for court dates related to the assault charge, the next of which is set for Monday.

Brown pleaded not guilty in October to misdemeanor assault stemming from an incident in which police said both he and his bodyguard both punched a man in the face outside a Washington hotel, where Brown had a nightclub appearance.

The singer served a voluntary two-week stay in a rehabilitation facility for anger management after his arrest.

Brown has had several highly publicized altercations in recent years, including a brawl between his entourage and that of rapper Drake at a New York night club and a parking lot fracas with R&B singer Frank Ocean in January in West Hollywood.

Brown’s probation was revoked in May in relation to a hit-and-run traffic accident. It was reinstated in August after he agreed to complete 1,000 additional hours of community service.

In February, he was accused by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office of cutting corners in this community service sentence, which he was allowed to complete in his home state of Virginia.

Prosecutors alleged that Brown was not at the recorded location of his community service but was instead performing or traveling, once on a private jet bound for Cancun, Mexico.

Judge Brandlin set the next probation hearing for December 16.

source: interaksyon.com

ABS CBN deluged with calls for help as Metropolitan Manila experiences the worst floods since killer typhoon of 2009

Metro Manila resident Josephine Cruz’s plea was loud and clear over ABS CBN’s flagship radio AM station, DZMM (630 kHz in Metro Manila).  Trapped in her house with her 83-year-old grandmother and 11 of her family members, she frantically cried, “Please rescue my family!” In the last 24 hours, as flood waters continued to rise in Metropolitan Manila as a result of torrential rains brought about by Typhoon Gener (international name:  Saola), similar pleas for help also came through the air.  By Tuesday morning, 60 people have perished, while thousands continue to be transported to evacuation centers.  ABS CBN Foundation International announces the reactivation of Sagip Kapamilya, a disaster rescue, relief and rehabilitation program, as the rescue operations are now a race against time.

What began as a typical, seasonal monsoon for the 12 million residents of the Philippine capital quickly became a deadly deluge of torrential rains that caused the overflow of dams and rivers.  The overflowing La Mesa Dam swelled rivers in the cities of Quezon City, Malabon, Valenzuela and Caloocan which surround the metropolis.  More than 5,0000 residents along the Markina River were immediately relocated as water levels over-indexed by 10 percent above critical levels. By yesterday evening, 50 percent of Metropolitan Manila was under water and more than 30 percent of the capital was under waist- or neck-deep waters, earning its horrifying monicker, “waterworld.”

As of August 7 (Manila time), Sagip Kapamilya’s rescue operations has reached 12,552 residents.  Sagip Kapamilya staff and volunteers are responding to the emergency needs of people inside the evacuation centers.  Special attention is being given to children, expectant mothers and the elderly. The immediate needs in the centers include a steady supply of rice; canned goods and other non-perishable food items; clothes for adults, children and infants; blankets and mats; first aid and medicine.

The collective donation of overseas Filipinos has always been the single largest and most reliable source of support for Sagip Kapamilya.  “We humbly call on all overseas Filipinos and our friends to assist in any way to help Filipinos affected by the recent floods in Metropolitan Manila,” says J. Robbie Fabian, President of ABS CBN Foundation International.  “Because the needs are immediate we encourage gifts of cash at this time.  Our commitment is to remit the donations within 24 to 48 hours of accepting them so items of greatest need can be purchased immediately on the ground.”

ABS CBN Foundation International remits 100% of all donations to Sagip Kapamilya in Manila for use in the rescue, relief and long-term rehabilitation of communities affected by natural disasters.  All donations in the US are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by US laws.

Donations of checks or money orders can be sent to ABS CBN Foundation International at 150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065.  Contributions also be made online at www.abscbnfoundation.org

source: asianjournal.com