In today’s top news, Trayvon Martin’s mother speaks out about gun violence; Sandy Hook students return to school; and a tax increase ignored by the fiscal cliff deal will raise payroll taxes for an estimated 160 million Americans.

Trayvon Martin’s mother speaks out about gun violence in the wake of the Newtown school shooting. [BET]

Sandy Hook students return to school today. [NBCNews]

A tax increase ignored by the fiscal cliff deal will raise payroll taxes for an estimated 160 million Americans. [L.A.Times]

Philadelphia plans to close nearly 40 schools amid financial trouble. [BET]

A Wisconsin state senator dubs Kwanzaa a fake holiday that Blacks don’t care about. [BET]

A Wisconsin ninth grader was arrested for giving a noose and a KKK symbol to a Black classmate. [Daily Caller]

A Maryland school suspended a 6-year-old boy for making a gun gesture with his hands and saying, “Pow.” [Daily Caller]

Metrics show that large numbers of Black moviegoers are supporting Django Unchained. [Hollywood Reporter]

Blue Ivy was voted 2012’s worst celebrity baby name. [Grio]

Central African Republic awaits the outcome of talks between rebels and the government. [AP]

In today’s top news, a medical report shows that Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman had a broken nose and other injuries, Trayvon Martin’s autopsy shows he had bruised knuckles at the time of his death and Jay-Z will take a break from recording to focus on parenting Blue Ivy.

Medical report shows George Zimmerman had a broken nose and other injuries after shooting Trayvon Martin. [BET]

Trayvon Martin’s autopsy shows he had bruised knuckles at the time of his death. [WFTV]

Jay-Z will take a break from recording to focus on parenting Blue Ivy. [BET]

Bobby Brown says recording his new album has been “healing.” [BET]

Study says more African-Americans leaving religious faiths each year. [USC]

Florida woman kills her four children before taking her own life. [NYT]

Mississippi lawmaker is fine with women using hangers to perform self-abortions. [MaddowBlog]

Report shows rising child care costs are forcing women to leave behind careers. [TODAY]

Chinese agencies looking for English teachers only seek white applicants. [MSNBC]

Charles Taylor says Hague prosecutors paid witnesses to testify against him in the war crimes trial. [BBC]

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, the federal government has decided to launch an investigation into the death of Trayvon Martin, new, negative details emerge about Robert Bales, the staff sergeant accused of massacring Afghan civilians, and Beyoncé is planning her first post-baby concert in Atlantic City.

The federal government has decided to launch an investigation into the death of Trayvon Martin. [BET]

New, negative details emerge about Robert Bales, the staff sergeant accused of massacring Afghan civilians. [ABC]

Beyoncé is planning for her first post-baby concert in Atlantic City. [BET]

Jaleel White to join Dancing With the Stars. [BET]

Nicki Minaj to become the face of a new Pepsi beverage. [Forbes]

Study shows “meth babies” have similar behavior to “crack babies.” [AP]

Black Chicago fire recruits from 1995 finally join the department. [Sun-Times]

Rick Santorum tells a crowd the unemployment rate “doesn’t matter” to him. [NBC]

Report: States do a poor job of guarding against corruption. [CNN]

Senegalese superstar Youssou Ndour launches his presidential campaign. [AFP]

In today’s top news, President Obama begins to abandon Bush-era No Child Left Behind Act, Beyoncé and Jay-Z move to trademark Blue Ivy’s name and ‘Bruhs’ back Roland Martin after CNN suspension.

President Obama begins to abandon Bush-era No Child Left Behind Act. [BET]

Beyoncé and Jay-Z move to trademark Blue Ivy’s name. [MTV]

‘Bruhs’ back Roland Martin after CNN suspension. [CBS]

Roland Martin to meet with GLAAD over Super Bowl tweets. [Reuters]

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. faces ethics investigation over mistress’ plane ticket. [BET]

Kobe Bryant’s assault charges dropped. [BET]

Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign celebrates two-year anniversary. [BET]

U.N. warns of food crisis in South Sudan. [CNN]

Late rapper Nate Dogg’s estate is ordered to pay sky-high hospital bill. [BET]

In today’s top news, Feb. 7th marks National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Beyoncé makes her first public appearance since the birth of Blue Ivy and Super Bowl Champions the New York Giants return home to a parade in their honor.

Feb. 7th is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. [BET]

Beyoncé makes her first public appearance since the birth of Blue Ivy. [BET]

New York Giants return home to a parade in their honor. [AP]

Al Sharpton is very concerned about the NYPD and muslims. [CapitalNewYork]

Santorum calls Obama “hostile” toward people of faith. [Politico]

Valerie Jarrett says much more needs to be done about Black unemployment. [BET]

Wal-Mart Foundation donates $9.5 million in grants to promote healthy eating among minorities. [BET]

LGBT advocacy group GLAAD wants Roland Martin fired over his Super Bowl tweets. [LATimes]

SAG Award winner Viola Davis gets glam for LA Times. [BET]

DNA testing manufacturer says one in ten Americans have questions about paternity. [MSNBC]