from CNN.com

by Sara Pratley

The student body president of California State University, Chico, was recovering Monday from stab wounds suffered in what police believe was a hate crime, officials said.

Joseph Igbineweka, who was born in Nigeria, was stabbed early Sunday while walking in a Chico neighborhood near the college where mostly students reside, Chico police Sgt. Rob Merrifield said.

Igbineweka passed two men who began to make racial slurs, Merrifield said. He ignored them and continued to walk, but they followed him and continued to yell at him.

Igbineweka eventually turned around, and one of the men struck him, Merrifield said. He fought back, but the man pulled a pocket knife and stabbed him at least four times, in the neck, chest, stomach and arm, according to Merrifield. The attacker fled on foot.

Several police officers were in the area and were alerted to the situation, Merrifield said. An officer found Igbineweka and was able to get a description of the attacker and alert other officers in the area.

A suspect, 19-year-old Barry Sayavong, was found and arrested a few blocks away, Merrifield said. Sayavong, of Chico, is facing charges of attempted murder and a hate crime, according to Merrifield.

Igbineweka was hospitalized Monday but is expected to recover, Merrifield said. His worst injury was a deep gash on his arm.

Igbineweka was in stable condition, said Joe Wills, spokesman for the university, which is commonly known as Chico State.

“While violent crimes happen in this and other communities, this is very disturbing,” Wills said. “Lots of people know Joe.” The student body president is akin to a public figure in Chico, a university town of about 100,000 people, he said.

Igbineweka “is very well known in the local community,” Wills said. “This is a hate crime and a very big deal.”

Wills said the mood on campus “is one of shock and sadness and concern for Joe.”

“And also there is looking forward to what people can do so that these kinds of crimes aren’t repeated,” Wills said.

“Today, our thoughts are with Joseph hoping for his full recovery,” said a statement from Chico Mayor Ann Schwab and university President Paul Zingg. “We, and several others, have visited with him. … He is in good spirits considering what he has been through.”

Igbineweka “is looking forward to getting back on campus and looking for solutions to reduce violence in the community,” Wills said. “He is motivated to stay active.”

Igbineweka moved to the United States at the age of 15, and is from Richmond, California, Wills said.

The attack “is an assault on the values of civility and respect for other people that both Chico State and the city of Chico work so hard to ensure,” Schwab and Zingg said in their statement. “We choose not to be defined by hate-filled and criminal acts.”

“From his hospital bed, Joseph urges us to ‘continue the conversation’ around violence and prejudice,” the two said. “We assure Joseph we will do that.”

An open forum was set for Monday afternoon for anyone wishing to address the incident and discuss efforts for the community to move forward, they said.

After two separate sentencing delays, New Orleans rap star Lil Wayne was officially sentenced to prison today (March 8th) in Manhattan Criminal Court. Lil Wayne was sentenced to the prison term after the rapper admitted to possessing a loaded .40 caliber handgun that was found on his tour bus after a performance in New York in July of 2007. The rapper was taken away in handcuffs to begin serving his time on Riker’s Island. Lil Wayne was originally supposed to be sentenced to prison on February 9th but the date was postponed to March 2nd, because the rapper needed root canals, in addition to having his platinum “grillz” removed. The March 2nd date was rescheduled to today (March 8th), after a fire broke out in Manhattan Criminal Court’s basement which sent eight people to the hospital. Lil Wayne could be out in as little as eight months. He is expected to remain in protective custody during his time behind bars. “Law is mind without reason. ……………..I’ll return,” Lil Wayne told fans on his Twitter page this morning. — allhiphop.com

Gucci Mane was sentenced to 12 months in prison on Thursday (November 12) for probation violation and taken away to prison in handcuffs, according to a rep from his label.

The sentence is a blow to Gucci’s career. The ATL rapper has a album coming out — The State Vs. Radrick Davis — on December 8 and is arguably at the height of his career; in terms of his sentence, he may be out of prison in six months. Last September, Gucci went to jail and served until March; he was sentenced to a year in prison for failing to fulfill his court-ordered 600 hours of community service, which had been mandated in 2005.

“It was a challenge for me,” he told MTV News in March about going to jail in 2008. “I’m just happy my team kept my music going strong for me. And I’m happy I recorded so many records so people could hear me.”

Upon his release Gucci went straight to the studio and recorded five songs. ” Then I had a party later that night to get ready for, so that took up most of my day right there,” he added, describing his first day as a free man.

This year, Gucci definitely was breaking through the mainstream from the streets to the mainstream, guest appearing on tracks for the Black Eyed Peas, Mario, Omarion, Mariah Carey and even a 50 Cent song. Gucci’s current single is called “Spotlight” and features Usher. This follows on the heels of “Wasted,” featuring Plies.

(source = MTV)