Weekly News Headlines (Jul. 14-Jul. 20)

Arts & Entertainment

In the wake of the Jesse Jackson fiasco over his use of the N word, everyone from Whoopi Goldberg to Ice Cube had something to say about it. Meanwhile, actor Jeffrey Wright was tasered by police in New Orleans, where he was filming a new Oliver Stone movie about George W. Bush. And Will Smith and Natalie Cole made some startling revelations.

• Ice Cube speaks on Jesse Jackson
• James Brown's wardrobe auctioned
• Video game sales up sharply in June
• Isaiah Washington makes a donation
• Jeffrey Wright tasered by police
• Natalie Cole diagnosed with Hepatitis C
• Will Smith: 'I have an open marriage'
• Death Row records sold for $24 million
• Al Reynolds: I still love Star Jones  
• 1 Million iPhones sold in first weekend  
• Actor Jeffrey Wright arrested in bar fight
• Vivica Fox defends Jessica Simpson
• Miss USA trips again

Business 

It was not a great week for the economy. Customers flooded IndyMac banks to try to recover their deposits after the Feds took over the failed bank. Gas prices continued to soar despite the recent drop in oil prices.  GM announced spending cuts and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had to be rescued by the Treasury Department.

• Phil Gramm resigns from McCain team  
• Video game sales up sharply in June  
• FBI investigating IndyMac fraud
• BET plans political coverage  
• Inflation rises sharply in June
• Gas prices reach new record high
• Fed chief bleak on economy  
• GM announces spending cuts
• Bush calls for offshore oil drilling  
• 1 Million iPhones sold in first weekend  
• Treasury rescue for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac  

International

Senator Barack Obama began his first major international tour since becoming a candidate for president. Obama was scheduled to visit Afghanistan, Iran, Jordan, Israel, France, Britain and Germany during his trip. And the three network news anchors all announced they would be going with him, something that hasn't happened with Senator John McCain's trips.

• Obama lands in Afghanistan  
• Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday
• Blacks in Europe await Obama  
• Zimbabwe talks stall  
• Sudan's president charged with genocide  

Politics

The two presidential candidates fought over the economy and the war in Iraq and Obama's international trip. In the meantime, the media, Phil and Jesse continued to drive the news. McCain's top economic adviser Phil Gramm resigned from his post in the wake of the controversy over his statement that America is a nation of whiners in the middle of a "mental recession." And Jesse Jackson continued to apologize last week, this time for using the N word during that now infamous Fox News interview.

• Obama lands in Afghanistan
• Phil Gramm resigns from McCain team  
• Blacks in Europe await Obama  
• Paterson, at NAACP, warns of racism
• Should Jackson pay for N-word?
• Ice Cube speaks on Jesse Jackson  
• Obama raises $52 million in June  
• BET plans political coverage  
• McCain makes same gaffe twice
• Obama outlines Iraq plan  
• Bush calls for offshore oil drilling
• Rangel to give up apartment
• Obama calls for black responsibility
• John Lewis up for election today  
• Critics slam magazine cover
• Obama could affect congressional races
• Poll: Obama could help race relations  

Race Issues 

The NAACP wrapped up its 99th annual convention last week with speeches from Obama and McCain. And New York's new governor David Paterson also had a few choice words to say.

• Blacks in Europe await Obama
• New genetic clue to HIV rate in blacks
• Paterson, at NAACP, warns of racism
• Should Jackson pay for N-word?
• Ice Cube speaks on Jesse Jackson
• James Brown's wardrobe auctioned  
• Jeffrey Wright tasered by police  
• BET plans political coverage  
• Obama calls for black responsibility  
• Critics slam magazine cover  
• Actor Jeffrey Wright arrested in bar fight