(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, President Obama is urging taxpayers to lobby lawmakers by phone, email and Twitter; Kanye West is deposed in Kim Kardashian’s divorce; and Trayvon Martin’s shooter is seeking donations to pay for his expenses while he awaits his trial.

President Obama is urging taxpayers to lobby lawmakers by phone, email and Twitter to avoid impending tax hikes in 34 days. [ABCNews]

Kanye West is being deposed in Kim Kardashian’s divorce. [BET]

Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman is seeking donations to pay for his expenses while he awaits his trial. [AP]

Steven Tyler apologized to Nicki Minaj for his criticism of her. [BET]

Comedian Katt Williams is accused of leading police on a dangerous tricycle chase. [TMZ]

New York City reported that not a single person was stabbed, shot or slashed this past Monday. [NBCNewYork]

Some Philly residents suspect a  mural dedicated to Black artist Dox Thrash was covered by a firm contracted by the government. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

A new iPhone app helps you find the nearest Black-owned businesses. [New America Media]

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon offered conditional backing  to an African Union intervention in Mali. [BBC]

Egypt’s constituent assembly votes on a new constitution. [BBC]

In today’s top news, a man allegedly killed himself over President Obama’s re-election, Mitt Romney says President Obama won the election because he gave “gifts” to Blacks and Latino voters, and BP says the company is close to striking a deal with the U.S. government over the 2010 oil spill.

A man allegedly killed himself over President Obama’s re-election. [Daily Mail]

Mitt Romney is telling top donors that President Obama won the election because he gave “gifts” to Blacks and Latino voters. [AP]

BP says the company is close to striking a deal with the U.S. government over the 2010 oil spill. [BET]

Some Denny’s restaurants will charge customers a 5 percent “Obamacare” surcharge. [Grio]

Texas is set to execute its 15th resident this year. [Reuters]

Chris Brown says he is remaining mum on the Drake club fight incident because of legal issues. [BET]

The man who accused Sesame Street puppeteer Kevin Clash of underage sex has a dicey past. [BET]

Snoop Dogg is launching a food initiative for needy children in Jamaica. [BET]

The African Union backs ECOWAS’ plan to intervene in northern Mali. [AJE]

Israel stands poised to invade Gaza as cross-border fighting intensifies. [NBCNews]

In today’s top news, a witness recounts seeing drum major Robert Champion beaten with drum mallets during hazing, former high school football star Brian Banks is exonerated in rape case and Lil Wayne fires back at Pusha T for Young Money diss track.

A witness recounts seeing drum major Robert Champion beaten with drum mallets. [CNN]

Former high school football star Brian Banks is exonerated in rape case. [GMA]

Lil Wayne fires back at Pusha T for Young Money diss track. [BET]

One Atlanta man is gearing up to celebrate Memorial Day with his family from the motherland. [BET]

A high school in Brooklyn plans to hand out condoms for students at this year’s prom. [MSNBC]

The Ukranian reporter who kissed Will Smith apologizes for the gaffe. [BET]

Rapper Kendrick Lamar supports President Obama’s stance on gay marriage. [BET]

Doctors report an increasing number of children eating detergent packs thought to be candy. [AP]

The U.N. urges member nations to drop sanctions against Zimbabwe. [BET]

African Union forces capture Al-Shabab militant stronghold near Mogadishu, Somalia. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Nicki Minaj returns to Twitter, Mitt Romney kicks off his general election campaign against President Obama after sweeping four primaries and Michelle Obama says the upcoming election could hinge on the votes of just a “few thousand folks.”

Nicki Minaj returns to Twitter. [BET]

Mitt Romney kicks off his general election campaign against President Obama after sweeping four primaries Tuesday. [MSNBC]

Michelle Obama says the upcoming election could hinge on the votes of just a “few thousand folks.” [Yahoo]

Michelle Obama is on pace to set the record for first lady television appearances. [BET]

Feds make first arrest in BP oil spill probe. [AP]

Chicago researchers are looking into whether weight loss can help African-American breast cancer survivors. [Chicago Tribune]

A release date has been set for a Jackie Robinson biopic. [BET]

Doctors warn about teens getting drunk off hand sanitizer. [KTLA]

Nigeria’s heath minister says 150 million are at risk of falling ill from malaria. [Vanguard]

The African Union proposes Sudan peace deal. [BBC]

In today’s top news, both Tulsa shooters enter “not guilty” pleas, Tulsa shooter Jake England says shootings were not race-motivated because he has Black friend and the Senate rejects the proposed “Buffett” tax rule.

Tulsa shooters enter “not guilty” pleas. [Reuters]

Tulsa shooter Jake England says shootings were not race-motivated because he has Black friends. [AP]

Senate rejects proposed “Buffett” tax rule. [MSNBC]

Attorney for Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman wants the presiding judge removed from the case. [CNN]

Mississippi governor signs bill tightening rules for abortion providers. [CNN]

Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, is pleased with her late son’s “comeback” at Coachella. [BET]

Nicki Minaj’s dad says the rapper is exaggerating claims of abuse. [BET]

Bob Marley’s daughter, Cedella Marley, proclaims that no artist can compare to her father. [BET]

Police handcuff Georgia kindergarten student for throwing a tantrum. [AP]

Fanatical Norway killer Anders Breivik tells court, “I would have done it again.” [AP]

The African Union has suspended membership of Guinea-Bissau over coup. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Republican Rep. Allen West tells Obama and his Democratic counterparts to “get the hell out of the U.S.;” cleared of a death sentence, Mumia Abu Jamal begins his life prison term and one bullying victim receives $100k in damages.

Rep. Allen West tells Obama and Democrats to “get the hell out of the U.S.” [BET]

Now off death row, Mumia Abu Jamal begins his life sentence. [BET]

Bullying victim receives $100k in damages. [BET]

Herman Cain says he would work for a Gingrich administration. [TODAY]

Mandela loses his last surviving sibling. [CNN]

Dr. Conrad Murray wants to be released from prison. [BET]

Morehouse president Robert M. Franklin will step down. [PRN]

African Union opens $200 million headquarters in Ethiopia. [BET]

Study: Segregation lowest in a century. [USATODAY]

Occupy DC camps remain defiant of deadline. [CNN]

 A day after Israelis raided the Gaza Strip, even ramming the boat occupied by former Georgia Democrat Cynthia McKinney, the African Union Israel’s actions, calling on the United Nations Security Council to force the Jewish state to back down. “The (AU) Commission strongly condemns the ongoing air raids on the Gaza Strip by Israel since 27 December,” the union said in a statement. “This massive and disproportionate attack constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law and will further aggravate the suffering of the civilian population, which, as a result of the siege imposed by Israel, has been faced by shortages of food, medicine and fuel.” The African Union urged the Security Council and members of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet “to fully assume their responsibilities toward the civilians in the Gaza Strip by compelling Israel to an immediate ceasefire.” It also pleaded with the nations of the world to increase medical and humanitarian aid to victims of the attacks. On Monday, McKinney, the 2008 Green Party candidate and the first African-American woman elected to Congress from the state of Georgia, joined more than a dozen high-profile leaders who headed to the region aboard a medical supply ship on a humanitarian mission. The yacht, owned by the U.S.-based Free Gaza Movement, collided with an Israeli gunboat, which had fired machine guns into the water to stop the vessel’s progress, FOX News reported. At least 360 Palestinians, including more than 50 civilians, have been killed in the raids, according to officials.