Dr. Rajesh Bindal, neurosurgeon on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, performed the surgery on a patient who was suffering from a benign tumor on her spinal cord that caused paralysis in her legs.

Leading the call for a cultural shift in how Americans view safe driving, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today challenged over 250 safety experts, industry representatives, elected officials and members of the public to help put an end to distracted driving.

Married on September 12, 1959, Henry and Earnestine Wagner celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with almost three hundred friends, family and well-wishers in attendance at the Crowne Plaza Reliant Hotel in Houston, Texas. The event was held exactly fifty years to the day on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

If you’ve been to one health fair you’ve been to them all. Glossy brochures. Cool give-a-ways. A variety of complimentary health screenings. Free pressure readings. Instant blood glucose tests. Good information. And then you walk away with some disturbing diagnosis, only to find yourself asking “Ok, now what do I do?

TV One political editor, Essence columnist and CNN analyst Roland Martin will host a new weekly public affairs series on TV One that will focus on issues that are critical to African Americans, through interviews with officials from the Administration, Congress and other policymakers who represent black communities, as well as discussions with journalists and commentators, and a wide range of policy experts.

Houston City Council Member and Candidate for Mayor Peter Brown today unveiled his third television ad, “Community,” outlining his “Get Tough, Get Smart” public safety blueprint. It calls for protecting Houston’s neighborhoods, including policies for neighborhood policing, hi-tech crime fighting, proactive crime prevention, and accountability.

The notion that national health care reform will actually reduce health-related spending is turning out to be a tough sell for many Americans. Just ask President Obama. But the experience of racial and ethnic minorities under our current health care system serves as object lesson on how reform that improves opportunities for good health can actually be good for the nation’s fiscal health, as well.

ESSENCE & Southern Company joined together on Friday, September 25th, to host An Evening of Excellence—a special awards reception held in conjunction with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to commemorate the achievements of today’s most influential politicians and architects of change.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday shook up the ranks of a state commission that is probing whether a man executed in 2004 belonged on Death Row, forcing the commission to delay a scheduled hearing on the case.

Tyrese Gibson is far from the first singer to make the transition from music to movies. However, the “Transformers” star is blazing a whole new trail with his latest crossover venture.

Wendy Williams knows that her syndicated television show often provides fodder for jokes on E!’s “The Soup.” She’s more than all right with that.

Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan Institute will host a discussion on the “Importance of the Census 2010, An
Explanation of Its Implications” Wednesday, October 7th, 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm in room 114 in the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs building located on the campus.

Simon Fashion Now, presented by Cadillac, opened at The Houston Galleria on September 17, 2009, with an invitation-only runway fashion show at Polar Ice. This free, high-energy celebration of style introduced a parade of posh fall fashion from The Galleria’s high-end retailers.

Increased need in our community for breast cancer awareness, support for survivors, scholarship fundraising, and a unique networking event spectacularly collide on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 from 8pm – midnight at the Port City Links “Girls Night Out Wigs and Martinis” event.

A conglomerate of people of ever race, creed, and gender assembled at the Toyota Center on Saturday, September 19, 2009, to enjoy the melodic vocalizations emanating from the How Sweet the Sound Competition.

On Sunday, September 27, 2009, friends and family will come together to celebrate the 100th birthday of Mattie H. Grant at the St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 2508 Clay Street at 9am. Mrs. Grant along with her husband Roland T. Grant are pioneers in entrepreneurship owning several grocery stores, a drug store with a lunch counter and a wholesale tobacco store in the Third Ward when there were very few African Americans who were doing so.

TSU Honors Inspiration Revealed is the hottest ticket in town. On October 1, Texas Southern University (TSU) will host a unique entertaining celebration. This star studded performance-packed show featuring Peabody and Obie Award-winning actor Roger Guenveur Smith will also highlight a montage of art expressed in word, song, and dance and showcase national, local and University talent.

A century of classic and new Disney stars are taking to the ice to share memories, laughs and excitement in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic. The magnificent celebration is coming to Reliant Stadium in Houston, November 11 to 15. Tickets go on sale September 26.

To enter the 2010 International Wine Competition, visit www.rodeohouston.com , click on the orange Exhibitor/Competitor Access button in the top right corner of the Web site, and choose Rodeo Uncorked! Wine Show. All entries are accepted online and must be completed by Oct. 30, 2009.

The Houston Rockets introduced “We Are Red Nation” as its new marketing campaign for the 2009-10 season during the team’s annual Tip-Off Party at Toyota Center this evening. The new advertising campaign follows last season’s highly successful “Get Red” initiative and builds upon the momentum of last year’s playoff campaign.