(Photos from left: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images, Michael Kovac/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Russell Simmons, other stars and elected officials are urging President Obama to reform the U.S. drug and criminal justice  policy; North Korea issued new war threats; and families of Newtown, Connecticut, victims want Congress to revive gun legislation that has stalled for almost four months.

Russell Simmons, Will Smith, other stars and elected officials are urging President Obama to reform the U.S. drug and criminal justice  policy. [BlackVoices]

North Korea issued new war threats on Tuesday. [CNN]

Families of Newtown, Connecticut, victims want Congress to revive gun legislation that has stalled nearly four months after the slaying at Sandy Hook Elementary School. [ABCNews]

The interest on U.S. Stafford student loans are set to double this summer. [NBCNews]

The Louisville Cardinals beat Michigan 82-76 to capture the NCAA men’s basketball title. [BET]

You can now follow former President Bill Clinton on Twitter @PrezBillyJeff. [NYDailyNews]

Organizers of the Scripps National Spelling Bee are adding multiple-choice vocabulary tests to the annual competition. [ABCNews]

A fake Cookie Monster is being charged for reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a two-year-old  tourist in Times Square Sunday. [USA Today]

A couple who kidnapped their two sons, who were in legal custody with their grandmother, have been found in Havana, Cuba. [CNN]

In today’s top news, President Obama and Mitt Romney wrapped up the presidential debates with a bang, a Black woman in Louisiana says the KKK set her on fire and one of the students in the FAMU hazing case was cleared of jail time.

President Obama and Mitt Romney wrapped up the presidential debates with a bang. [CNN]

A Black woman in Louisiana says the KKK set her on fire. [CBSNews]

One of the students in the FAMU hazing case will not receive jail time for his involvement. [CNN]

Wyclef explains his now infamous Speedo pic circulating the internet. [BET]

Rapper Gunplay is released on $150,000 bond. [BET]

Azealia Banks is boycotting designer Dolce and Gabbana over racist imagery in its Spring 2013 line. [BET]

Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s bid to trademark daughter Blue Ivy’s name was rejected. [CNN]

France plans to send drones to Mali. [AP]

Benin uncovers a plot to poison the president. [AJE]

The Clintons are hosting a delegation in Haiti to show off a newly opened industrial park. [AP]

In today’s top news, former President Bill Clinton gave a rousing speech in support of Barack Obama’s candidacy, a federal judge ruled that Arizona’s “show your papers” law will stand and the Labor Department reports the number of Americans on food stamps hit a record high in June.

Former President Bill Clinton gave a rousing speech in support for Barack Obama’s candidacy. [BET]

A federal judge ruled that Arizona’s “show your papers” law will stand. [AP]

The number of Americans on food stamps hit a record high in June, says the Labor Department. [CNBC]

Jay-Z and Will Smith are producing a new Angela Davis documentary. [BET]

Diddy, 50 Cent and other hip hop giants paid last respects to music exec Chris Lighty at his funeral. [BET]

In today’s top news, Michael Phelps might make Olympic history again, Obama asks Bill Clinton to make a case for his re-election and a recently signed NFL player commits suicide.

NFL player O.J. Murdock kills himself in front of his former high school, police say. [CNN]

Obama asks Bill Clinton to make a case for his re-election at the Democratic National Convention. [BET]

Michael Phelps might make Olympic history again tonight. [AP]

Another Olympian is expelled from the games for a racist tweet. [WaPo]

China’s 16-year-old Olympian swimming champ denies dope allegations. [CNN]

Iranian president takes a jab at Mitt Romney’s controversial Israel trip. [AP]

A blackout leaves 600 million residents without power in India. [NPR]

Islamist occupiers stone an unwed couple to death in Mali. [Al Jazeera]

Rumor has it that Apple will announce the next iPhone and “mini iPad” this September. [NBCNews]

In today’s top news, The Jeffersons actor Sherman Hemsley has died at 74, Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones tweets about sweating out her hair, and the Jackson family feud escalates.

Michael Jackson’s siblings are barred from their mother’s house as the family feud escalates. [BET]

Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones’ tweets about sweating out her hair sparks familiar discussion on Black women, hair and fitness. [ESPNW]

The Jeffersons actor Sherman Hemsley has died at 74. [BET]

Study shows that Black teens are most likely to use contraceptives, but still “need to do a lot more.” [AP]

Former President Bill Clinton eulogizes Sylvia Woods at the soul-food queen’s funeral. [AP]

Ghana President Atta Mills has died only days after celebrating his 68th birthday. [BET]

Christian Bale from The Dark Knight Rises paid a surprise visit to victims of the Colorado shooting. [CNN]

Dallas Cowboys player Dez Bryant and his mother deny any family violence but plan to attend counseling. [ESPN]

At least 35 dead and several missing in central Nigeria floods. [ALJ]

In today’s top news, Beyoncé dispels surrogacy rumors, President Obama shouts out Young Jeezy at the latest White House Correspondents’ Dinner and Brian McKnight receives offers to perform his X-rated R&B satire ballad.

Beyoncé dispels surrogacy rumors. [BET]

President Obama shouts out Young Jeezy at the latest White House Correspondents’ Dinner. [Billboard]

Brian McKnight receives offers to perform his X-rated R&B satire ballad. [BET]

Ellen show DJ Tony Okungbowa makes his silver screen debut. [BET]

Bill Clinton and President Obama campaign together on the economy. [Reuters]

A Gallup poll shows that Americans expect to work longer, retire. [TODAY]

New study shows overweight teens may have harder time controlling diabetes. [CTV]

A mother’s stress level during pregnancy may cause iron deficiency in newborns. [HealthDay]

Sudan president declares state of emergency along South Sudan border. [CNN]

Uganda claims Sudanese government supports Joseph Kony. [New Vision]

In today’s top news, five people are dead after a shooting at an Oakland university, new evidence is revealed in the Trayvon Martin case and a California appeals court holds up the state’s affirmative action ban for university admissions.

Five dead in Oakland university shooting.  [BET]

New evidence revealed in Trayvon Martin case. [CNN]

California appeals court holds up the state’s affirmative action ban for university admissions. [Reuters]

President Bill Clinton hopes the Trayvon Martin tragedy will cause people to re-think “Stand Your Ground” law. [ABC]

Kentucky wins NCAA championship and celebratory riot leaves at least one person shot. [ABC]

Hunger Games tops $250 million at the box office. [BET]

Obesity rate may be underestimated. [CNN]

Michelle Obama to take part in The Biggest Loser. [BET]

Co-founder of largest Black bank dies. [Chicago Sun-Times]

U.S. joins $100 million aid pledge for Syria. [Democracy Now]

U.N. chief says world should be happy, not just rich. [MSNBC]

If former President Bill Clinton is inducted into Phi Beta Sigma, as has been widely reported, he would become the first ex-commander in chief to become a member of the historically Black Greek-lettered fraternity. Read more.

Former President Bill Clinton, who was blasted by Black leaders for his campaign tactics during his wife’s run against Barack Obama, is back to the kind of talk that made him a star in the Black community. On Saturday, during Major League Baseball’s Beacon Awards Luncheon in Cincinnati, Clinton said that racial equality in America is still a long way off – despite the election of Obama as president. Read more.

Former President Bill Clinton, continuing his longstanding role as an advocate to Haiti, will now serve as the special envoy to the tiny impoverished island nation. The official announcement is expected today, United Nations insider said Monday. Clinton has traveled repeatedly to Haiti, most recently two months ago with wife/Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ban Ki Moon, the general-secretary of U.N. Haiti may be the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, but after years of bloody revolution and political strife, there is relative governmental stability and slight economic growth.  Arizona,” Harrison points out.