Good morning! Today the weatherman is calling for some morning sunshine, followed by a few afternoon clouds and a possible stray thunderstorm this afternoon. Today’s high will be around 90°. 

Here’s what’s brewing in the news

Beyonce and Jay-Z expecting

Last night’s MTV Video Music Awards was not short on surprises. After showing up on the black carpet with a long flowing orange gown and swollen belly, Beyonce took to the stage in a sparkling tuxedo and pair of her signature stilettos to perform “Love on Top” from her latest album 4.

She introduced the song by telling the crowd at LA's Nokia Theatre, "I want you to stand up on your feet. I want you to feel the love that's growing inside me." After her performance, a smiling Bey threw down the microphone, unbuttoned her jacket and revealed a baby bump which she gently rubbed as the audience roared.

Her hubby of three years, Jay-Z, was in the crowd smiling ear to ear as he received a congratulatory slap on the back from Kanye West. In case you missed it, here’s a clip:

 Never one to just be normal, pop chameleon Lady Gaga came to the VMA's dressed in drag as her cigarette-smoking, f-bomb dropping male alter ego, Jo Calderone. Dressed in a white t-shirt, a jacket, dark pants and sporting a black pompadour, Gaga tried to reenact the girl on girl kiss with pop princess Britney Spears, who was having none of it. Britney pulled away, reminding the audience that she’s been there and done that.
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Shocking results of Florida’s welfare drug tests

Florida Governor Rick Scott made headlines earlier this year when he implemented a mandatory drug test for all welfare recipients in his state - who he believed used drugs more than the general population. It turns out, he may have been wrong. At a time when the state was facing serious fiscal troubles, as many states are, Scott wanted to ensure that the low-income families who were taking advantage of the welfare system were not “wasting” the state’s money. The plan may have backfired. Only 2 percent of the people tested had positive results for drugs. Another 2 percent refused to take the test and 96 percent tested negative for drugs. Do you think the drug tests were a good investment of the state's money? (Read more)
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Half Americans to be obese

With more than one in three Americans being obese, it looks like we are losing our battle with the bulge, and things are shaping up to get worse. According to a study, by the year 2030, half of all Americans will be obese if current trends continue. This rise in obesity could also take a serious toll on the nation’s beleaguered medical system by triggering 7.8 million cases of diabetes, 6.8 million cases of stroke and heart disease, 539,000 cases of cancer, and tack on $66 billion a year to health care costs. (Read more)
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A planet is a girl’s best friend

Lying 4,000 light years away, astronomers have spotted an exotic planet in our galactic backyard that seems to be made of diamond. "The evolutionary history and amazing density of the planet all suggest it is comprised of carbon -- i.e. a massive diamond orbiting a neutron star every two hours in an orbit so tight it would fit inside our own Sun," said Matthew Bailes of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. Scientists believe the planet is probably the remnant of a once-massive star. (Read more)
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Study explains increased risk for kidney failure in blacks

Blacks are four times more likely to develop kidney failure than whites, according to a recently released study from Emory University. The study found that a condition which occurs when the kidneys are damaged and spill protein into the urine contributes to this increased risk.

“Our large nationwide study brings attention to higher levels of urinary protein excretion as important contributors to the increased incidence of kidney failure experienced by Blacks,” said William McClellan, MD of Emory University.

Treating urinary protein excretion may help reduce racial disparities related to kidney failure as well as reduce the rate of progression to kidney failure for all individuals.

Investigators analyzed information from 27,911 individuals (40.5% of whom were Black). Among the major findings:

• After an average follow-up of 3.6 years, 133 individuals developed kidney failure.
• There were 96 cases of kidney failure among Blacks and 37 among whites.
• Kidney failure was most common in individuals who excreted large amounts of protein in their urine.
• Blacks were more likely to excrete large amounts of protein in their urine than whites.

The investigators speculate that several factors may explain why Blacks tend to excrete more protein in their urine. These could include blood pressure and other heart-related factors, obesity, smoking, vitamin D levels, genetic differences, income, and birth weight. (Read more)

*** What's brewing on your mind this morning? Speak out in the comment section below.

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