(Photo: AP Photo/Al Behrman)

In today’s news, the ousted official of the Internal Revenue Service will face tough questions from Congress; Michigan is reported to have the nation’s highest unemployment rate for African-Americans; and ex-Detroit Councilwoman Monica Conyers is to be released from prison.

Ousted IRS official to take tough questions from Congress. [CBS]

Michigan has highest Black unemployment in the nation. [Michigan Chronicle]

Ex-Detroit Councilwoman Conyers ends prison stay. [USA Today]

Amid crises, Obama seeks to shift focus to jobs. [Reuters]

Sanford, Florida, residents say Trayvon Martin case is more than a trial. [WKMG]

University in South Africa makes Zulu compulsory. [BBC]

Many militants are killed in Nigeria’s Boko Haram crisis. [BBC]

Obama addresses IRS issue, repeating that he is outraged. [BET]

Detroit schools chief says he will not step down for six months. [BET]

(Photo: Ethan Miller/AP Photo, Pool)

In today’s news, O.J. Simpson speaks in court in an effort to seek a new trial; Roy Roberts, the head of Detroit’s public schools, says he will stay on the job longer than expected; and a whites-only scholarship at Columbia University is being challenged.

Seeking retrial, O.J. Simpson speaks in court, unbowed. [NYTimes]

Detroit schools chief will not step down yet. [Detroit Free Press]

Whites-only scholarship at Columbia challenged. [USA Today]

Los Angeles buildings emptied after devices found. [ABC]

Republicans say they will continue to investigate IRS after resignation. [Fox]

Nigeria declares a “massive” campaign to combat militants. [BBC]

African groups to hold forum on immigration. [LA Wave]

Judge throws out indictment of NYPD cop in Ramarley Graham case. [BET]

Black science student will not be prosecuted. [BET]

Six dead and 18 injured in Rwanda building collapse. [BBC]

(Photo: AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

In today’s news, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing announced that he will not run for a second term; Nigeria’s president has declared a state of emergency in three of the nation’s states; and New York City’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, issued a report saying that the judge in the stop and frisk trial is biased against police.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing will not run for reelection. [BET]

Nigeria’s president declares state of emergency in three states. [BBC]

NY Mayor Bloomberg says stop and frisk judge biased against cops. [NY Daily News]

O.J. Simpson will take stand in effort to win a new trial. [ABC]

Military sexual assault: Another prevention coordinator investigated. [MSNBC]

Suspect identified in New Orleans Mother’s Day shooting. [BET]

Ariel Castro’s lawyer says he loves his daughters. [USA Today]

Stars react to Angelina Jolie’s mastectomy news. [USA Today]

Congo builds a town to honor founder Patrice Lumumba.   [BBC]

Slave cabin in S.C. to be restored for Black History Museum. [Washington Post]

(Photo: AP Photo/Philadelphia Daily News, Yong Kim, File)

In today’s news, Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell was found guilty of murder; Detroit’s emergency financial manager, Kevyn Orr, says the city’s fiscal health is worse than anticipated; and two waiters were arrested for the death of Malcolm X’s grandson.

Philadelphia abortion doctor guilty of murder in late-term procedures. [NY Times]

Detroit’s emergency financial manager paints a bleak picture. [BET]

Two waiters arrested in killing of Malcolm X’s grandson. [USA Today]

Plano, Texas, elects first African-American mayor. [Pegasus News]

Lawmakers criticize Justice Department over AP phone records grab. [Fox]

Obama attends fundraisers in NY to raise money for 2014. [NY1]

Detroit NAACP sues Michigan over emergency manager. [M-Live]

Thieves target Justin Beiber concert in South Africa. [BBC]

Civil rights groups say assault on voting continues in 2013. [BET]

Ghana’s state media gets infrastructure for digital migration. [Ghana Business News]

(Photo: AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Lauren McGaughy)

In today’s news, a shooting at a Mother’s Day parade in New Orleans left 19 people injured; the victims of the kidnapping in Cleveland have asked that they be allowed privacy; and Black and Latino lawyers are underrepresented in arguing before the Supreme Court.

Shooting at New Orleans Mother’s Day parade leaves 19 injured. [USA Today]

Cleveland kidnapping victims request privacy. [Wall Street Journal]

Black and Latino lawyers underrepresented in appearing at Supreme Court. [Fox News]

Florida A&M student pleads no contest in band hazing death. [BET]

Desmond Tutu said he will no longer vote for South Africa’s ANC. [Mail & Guardian]

Nigerian doctors shut down hospital in protest. [BBC]

There is a lack of Black pitchers and catchers in Major League Baseball. [Baseball Nation]

George Zimmerman’s lawyer wants jury sequestered in Trayvon Martin trial. [BET]

Malcolm X’s grandson killed in Mexico. [BET]

Minnesota is expected to become 12th state to adopt same-sex marriage. [Chicago Tribune]

(Photo: AP Photo/Abdukareem Haruna)

In today’s news, the United States is weighing an overhaul of wiretap laws to extend to the internet; President Obama will dine with congressional Democrats; and more than 50 people were killed in a militant raid in Nigeria.

America is weighing overhaul of wiretap laws. [NY Times]

Obama to dine with House Democrats. [USA Today]

More than 50 killed in Nigeria militant raid. [BBC]

Florida A&M names alumnus as new band director. [USA Today]

Delaware becomes 11^th state to approve same-sex marriage. [Fox]

Catholics in Kenya oppose advertisement for condoms. [BBC]

Ja Rule released from prison. [TMZ]

Leader of Black farmers strikes back at New York Times article. [BET]

Louisiana Supreme Court rules voucher funding violates state constitution. [Nola.com]

Cleveland dishwasher becomes national hero in kidnapping case. [BET]

(Photo: AP Photo/Arlington County Police Department)

In today’s news, the head of the Air Force’s unit to combat sexual assault was arrested for sexual battery; Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lauryn Hill was sentenced to three months in jail for tax evasion; and New York State confirms the first Black woman to Court of Appeals.

The head of Air Force anti-sexual assault unit arrested for sexual battery. [Reuters]

Lauryn Hill sentenced to three months for tax evasion. [USA Today]

First African-American woman confirmed for New York Court of Appeals. [Syracuse.com]

Black farm workers claim race bias on farm work. [NY Times]

Black women at greater risk of MS than previously thought. [Medical Daily]

Obama plays golf with senators to promote his agenda. [Washington Post]

USC students complain that L.A. police overreacted in shutting down party. [BET]

Opponents of stop and frisk look to involve voters.  [BET]

Ghana’s cedi expected to be poor performing currency in 2013. [Bloomberg]

Somalia peace conference to be held in London. [BBC]

(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

In today’s news, the nation’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.5 percent, a four-year low; the suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing said the explosions were initially planned for July 4; and the New York City Police commissioner says that African-Americans are “understopped” and defended stop and frisk.

U.S. jobless rate falls to 7.5 percent, four-year low. [NY Times]

Black unemployment dips again in April. [BET]

Boston suspect said bombing was initially planned for July 4. [Washington Post]

African-Americans are “understopped,” NY police chief says. [International Business Times]

Former Black Liberation Army member is first woman on list of most wanted terrorists. [ABC]

Roy Roberts steps down as emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools. [Crain's Detroit Business]

Black jockey Kevin Krigger looks to win Kentucky Derby. [Washington Post]

Clarence Thomas: Obama says what elites expect from a Black person. [Fox]

In Chicago, 20 shootings, three killed, in one day. [BET]

Mali court drops case against editor Boukary Daou. [BBC]

(Photo: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

In today’s news, President Obama is expected to nominate Congressman Mel Watt, the former head of the Congressional Black Caucus, to lead the federal housing agency; three more people were taken into custody in the Boston Marathon Bombing case; and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg offers a strong defense of the controversial stop and frisk police program.

Obama to nominate Mel Watt to head housing agency. [Los Angeles Times]

Three more taken into custody in Boston bombing case. [Boston Globe]

NYC mayor defends stop and frisk policy. [BET]

Trayvon Martin family lawyer files appeal paperwork. [Orlando Sentinel]

Report: Somalia famine killed 260,000 people. [BBC]

South Africa sees race swap in suburban population. [BET]

Arrests follow the failed coup in Chad. [BBC]

Two airplanes clip at Newark Airport before taking off. [NY Post]

Obama tells liberals not to push too hard on immigration. [Washington Post]

Nearly half of Americans say budget cuts will hurt economy. [NY Times]

(Photo: Joe Burbank - Pool/Getty Images)

In today’s news, George Zimmerman waived his right to immunity under Florida’s controversial stand your ground law; Jason Collins is praised for how he announced he is gay; and voters want one party running the White House and Congress.

Zimmerman waives right to immunity under stand your ground. [BET]

Jason Collins is lauded for the way he came out. [NY Daily News]

Voters in poll want one party running White House, Congress. [Bloomberg]

Obama marks first 100 days in second term with press conference. [BET]

Bloomberg strongly defends police department and stop and frisk. [AP]

Central Park Five prosecutor is at center of controversy. [BET]

Paul Ryan now supports gay adoptions. [Washington Times]

Satellite images show Nigeria army abuse. [BBC]

Majority want death penalty for Tsarnaev if convicted of Boston bombing. [Washington Post]

An Asian-American fraternity is under fire for blackface video. [Jet]