Rapper T.I. Reports to Prison

Authorities say rapper T.I. has been booked into a federal prison in Arkansas to serve a year and a day sentence on a weapons charge. T.I., whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., was supposed to report to the prison by noon to begin serving his sentence. It is believed T.I. appeared at the prison at 12:29 p.m. in a black van with Georgia license plates and tinted windows. Guards and prison officials in three different vehicles escorted the van to the prison grounds. Click here to see Georgia Gazette host Rickey Bevington's interview with T.I. and Ambassador Andrew Young.

Support for Carter's Hamas proposal

Former president Jimmy Carter is under fire for a planned meeting with Hamas leaders. Speaking to reporters from Nepal, Carter says he hopes to facilitate open talks between Hamas and US officials.

Several state department officials have criticized the former president for the planned meet, but former US Ambassador Andrew Young defended Carter’s intentions. Young says Carter has done more to bring peace to the Middle East than any of the former president’s detractors.

“He sets an example for those who want to be president now. All three of them need to look at his example and look at his presidency and realize what a great president he was.”

Carter has criticized Washington’s policy of not meeting with terrorist organizations saying it is counterproductive to peace in the Middle East. Young himself faced criticism for meeting with former Palestanian leader Yasir Arafat during his time as UN Ambassador to the United Nations.

Young says neither he nor the former president have ever been afraid of being unpopular because of their views.

“Carter knows about the Middle East, than all of his critics put together because none of them has every produced 20 days of peace for the people of Israel.”

Andrew Young tribute unveiling

A bronze of civil rights icon Andrew Young will be unveiled today in Atlanta.

The project is funded by Young’s friend, businessman Charles Loudermilk who supported Young’s bid for mayor of Atlanta back in the 1980’s.

Young worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The tribute will be at a junction of three downtown streets, symbolizing the intersection of business, race and politics.

Andrew Young: Obama's Too Young

Young. (Ric Field/Associated Press)

Civil rights icon Andrew Young says Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is too young and lacks the support network to ascend to the White House.

In a media interview posted online, Young also quipped that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton has her husband behind her, and that "Bill is every bit as black as Barack."

Sen. Barack Obama. (AP /J. Scott Applewhite)

"He's probably gone with more black women than Barack," Young said of former President Clinton, drawing laughter from a live television audience. Young, 75, was quick to follow his comment on Bill Clinton with the disclaimer, "I'm clowning."

Young, a former United Nations ambassador and lieutenant of Martin Luther King, Jr., made the comments at an appearance at "Newsmakers Live," an urban media forum that interviews prominent Atlanta personalities and political figures.

Excerpts of the interview were posted on Newsmakers Journal, the Newsmakers' Web site, though the date of the appearance was not included with the video posting. Young was scheduled to appear on "Newsmakers Live" on Sept. 5, according to a press release.

Repeated efforts by The Associated Press to reach Young were unsuccessful.
Young's comments were prompted by a member of the audience who inquired about his opinion on Obama's candidacy.

"I want Barack Obama to be president," Young said, pausing for effect, "in 2016."

"It's not a matter of being inexperienced. It's a matter of being young," Young said. "There's a certain level of maturity ... you've got to learn to take a certain amount of (expletive)."

Young went on to say that Obama needs a protective network that he currently lacks - a quality that could hurt him if he were to be elected. He said Hillary Clinton already has that kind of network, including her husband to back her up.

"There are more black people that Bill and Hillary lean on," Young said. "You cannot be president alone. ... To put a brother in there by himself is to set him up for crucifixion. His time will come and the world will be ready for a visionary leadership."

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the Democratic Party, and here for political coverage.

(The Associated Press)

Memorial service for Yolanda King

A memorial service for Yolanda King is set for later today in Atlanta. The oldest child of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. died just over a week ago in California at 51 years old. The service will be at Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizons Sanctuary, across the street from the historic church where her father once preached. Former Atlanta mayor and King lieutenant Andrew Young is expected to be among those speaking at the service.