BET Networks heads back to Atlanta for the Fifth Annual Hip Hop Awards 2010. And the nominees are in…

The Elements Will Ignite As Comedian Mike Epps Returns to Host Hip Hop’s Most Exciting Night At the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta on Saturday, October 2 and Premieres on BET Tuesday, October 12 at 8:00 p.m.*

Legendary Rapper Jay Z Receives The Highest Number of Nominations in The BET HIP HOP AWARDS History With 10 Nods Across Eight Categories

New York, NY (BlackNews.com) — The Fifth Annual BET HIP HOP AWARDS ‘10 returns and the chemistry will be explosive. Celebrating the biggest names in the game, newcomers on the scene, and shining a light on the community, THE BET HIP HOP AWARDS ‘10 is ready to salute the best of the best in hip hop culture. Back for a second round of show stopping tributes and fiery performances; host, actor and comedian Mike Epps is ready to lead hip hop’s main event from the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta on Saturday, October 2 with the network premiere on Tuesday, October 12th at 8:00 p.m. *

Voted on by an academy of music industry insiders and media members, the BET HIP HOP AWARDS ‘10 nominations are in. Released yesterday on BET.com and announced on 106 & PARK, hip hop heavy weight, Jay Z leads the 2010 nominations list with 10 nominations and breaks the BET HIP HOP AWARDS record for highest number of nominations in the history of the five year old awards show. This year, Young Money’s Drake follows behind with eight nominations, and Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj tie with seven nominations each. For the complete BET HIP HOP AWARDS ‘10 nominees list and categories please visit www.bet.com/hiphopawards.

Now that the nominees are in, viewers will also have an opportunity to be a part of the action by visiting www.bet.com/hiphopawards to learn about two exciting BET HIP HOP AWARDS ‘10 interactive elements:

- Verizon People’s Champ Award: an award presented in the show; determined by online & mobile voters.

- Def Jam Rapstar present’s BET.com Hot 16: a competition where aspiring rappers can upload their rhymes (16 bars) to a beat provided by producers Cool & Dre for a chance to win an all expenses paid trip to the BET HIP HOP AWARDS ‘10.

* For official contest rules and deadlines please visit www.bet.com/hiphopawards

This year, BET once again teams up with Cossette Productions, the famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards® and the record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to handle production of the telecast. Stephen G. Hill, BET President, Music and Programming, along with Lynne Harris-Taylor, BET Vice President of Specials, are executive producers of the telecast. Tickets for THE BET HIP HOP AWARDS ‘10 are by invite only and not available for purchase.

 The Active Transportation Alliance and the League of Illinois Bicyclists Survey asks candidates about transportation safety,  funding

To help voters get ready for the November election, candidates seeking Illinois public office were asked for their views on bicycle and pedestrian safety, transit funding and personal transportation habits.

The Active Transportation Alliance and the League of Illinois Bicyclists carried out the survey. To see the complete results, visit www.activetrans.org/candidatesurveyresults.

“Bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users are playing a major role in political conversations at the local and national levels,” said Ron Burke, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance. “We have a voice. We urge our leaders to hear Illinois’ residents call for safer and more convenient transportation options.”

A total of 273 candidates seeking Illinois public office were surveyed. Of the 137 incumbents, 25 responded. Of the 136 non-incumbents, 45 responded. Some of the highlights from respondents include:

COMMUTING

• Two-thirds of candidates in the City of Chicago use transit to get to work.
• Nearly half of suburban Chicago candidates drive to work.

ERRANDS

• Almost 90 percent of Chicago candidates use transit to run errands.

• More than half of suburban candidates walk for their errands.

SCHOOL

• All candidates drive their children to school.

POLICIES

• Seventy-one percent of respondents said they would support the distribution of transportation funding based on safety.
• Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they would support an expansion of the mobile phone ban.
• More than 80 percent of respondents would support the allocation of money for road projects based on population, crash rates, traffic counts or potential for congestion-reduction.
• More than 80 percent of respondents would support lower speed limits in areas where schools, senior citizens, parks or residential streets are present.

A copy of the original survey is also available for residents to forward on to candidates who haven’t yet responded.

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America’s largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.

• Identify and survey each Illinois consumer over the age of 65 who spends $500 or more in a quarter and remove those consumers from their mailing lists if they have misunderstandings about sweepstakes.

• Send a non-promotional letter to Illinois consumers who spend more than $1,000 on merchandise a year, emphasizing that making a purchase does not increase the likelihood of winning.

• Take additional steps to minimize the likelihood that their mailings will mislead or confuse consumers about their chances of winning.