(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Michelle Obama went home  to Chicago to discuss gun violence; Ben Carson has withdrawn as Johns Hopkins Medical school’s commencement speaker; and Anthony Weiner hints that he may run for mayor of New York.

Michelle Obama traveled to her hometown of Chicago to give an emotional speech about gun violence and the need for youth programs. [BET]

South Korea, U.S. remain on edge over North Korea missile crisis. [Reuters]

Ben Carson, the African-American pediatric neurosurgeon, has withdrawn as commencement speaker at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine after negative reaction to derogatory comments he made about marriage equality. [The Washington Post]

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg launches immigration lobby group. [The Guardian]

Django Unchained opening cancelled in China. [BBC]

After resigning from Congress in an internet sex scandal, Anthony Weiner is hinting that he is interested in running for mayor of New York City. [NYTimes]

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are displeased by the prospect of President Obama’s budget plans calling for reductions in entitlement programs. [BET]

Duke student wrote Kenya’s President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta’s victory speech. [NYAmsterdamNews]

Officials in Major League Baseball are looking for ways to increase the participation of African-American fans, whose support has sunk to a record low. [USAToday]

2,000 invited to Margaret Thatcher funeral, but not Argentina’s president. [Yahoo News]

A year after George Zimmerman was arrested for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, Zimmerman’s mother has written a letter of thanks to supporters of her son. [WESH.com]

The Midwest is being hit hard by storms, with tornadoes creating hazardous conditions in the St. Louis area. [USAToday]

(Photos from left: Mark Wilson/Getty Images, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will square off in the first presidential debate tonight, a Black high school student in Arkansas is hazed with a noose and Nicki Minaj tells Mariah Carey “I’m gonna knock you out” during American Idol auditions.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will square off in the first presidential debate tonight. [CNN]

A Black high school student in Arkansas is hazed with a noose. [CNN]

Nicki Minaj tells Mariah Carey “I’m gonna knock you out” during American Idol auditions. [BET]

President Obama is outspending Mitt Romney on television ads. [NYT]

Both Romney and Obama rejected an invitation to participate in a forum on Black issues. [NNPA]

The Congressional Black Caucus takes on the stereotype that Black males aren’t college material. [NationalJournal]

Lawsuit may halt airing of Lifetime’s all-Black Steel Magnolias remake. [BET]

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Sahara Davenport dies at age 27. [BET]

South Africa strike spreads to an iron ore mine. [Reuters]

The U.S. is gathering information about possible targets in Libya. [CNN]

In today’s top news, a report says Trayvon Martin’s life may have been spared if George Zimmerman would have identified himself as a neighborhood watch captain, Rep. Charles Rangel won his 22nd term in Congress and President Obama’s reelection campaign has a team of lawyers on standby to combat legal disputes arising from this year’s election.

A report says Trayvon Martin’s life may have been spared if George Zimmerman would have identified himself as a neighborhood watch captain. [AP]

Rep. Charles Rangel won his 22nd term in Congress Tuesday, fending off four challengers. [NYT]

President Obama’s reelection campaign has a team of lawyers on standby to combat legal disputes arising from this year’s election. [AP]

The Pentagon held its first gay pride event. [ABC News]

A boxing promoter has offered Drake and Chris Brown $1 million to get in the ring. [CNN]

Beyonce’s father Matthew Knowles is trying to create the next Destiny’s Child. [CW39]

50 Cent was involved in a car accident yesterday morning. [BET]

NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire hurled a gay slur at a fan via Twitter. [BET]

Lawyers for Kris Humphries are expected to subpoena Amber Rose to find out details about when Kim Kardashian began seeing boyfriend Kanye West. [BET]

Nigerian President Goodluck Johnathan fired several state oil company executives over reports of corruption. [BBC]

Ethiopia convicted prominent journalist and blogger Eskinder Nega of conspiring to overthrow the government. [Reuters]

In today’s top news, the seller of Trayvon Martin gun range targets said he sold out of his entire inventory in just two days, Newsweek magazine crowns Obama America’s first gay president and Black churches wrestle with allegiance to Obama and stance on gay marriage.

Seller of Trayvon Martin gun range targets said he sold out of his inventory in two days. [WKMG]

Newsweek magazine crowns Obama America’s first gay president. [ABC]

Black churches wrestle with allegiance to Obama and stance on gay marriage. [USATODAY]

After 42 years in the House, some predict Rep. Charles Rangel may lose his next primary. [Kansas City Star]

Rapper Lil Boosie found not guilty in murder trial. [BET]

A jury convicted William Balfour of killing Jennifer Hudson’s family. [BET]

Tennis champion Serena Williams makes her rap debut. [BET]

Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, to star in new Lifetime reality show. [Reuters]

A Panamanian castaway is suing Princess Cruises for not coming to his rescue at sea. [AP]

Uganda captures a senior LRA commander and says Kony capture not far off. [MSNBC]

Human rights lawyer calls Niger Hunger Games “on steroids.” [CNN]

In today’s top news, Whitney Houston’s autopsy report confirms “white powder” found in hotel room, five former New Orleans police officers sentenced for Hurricane Katrina shootings and a new study shows that many whites and republicans are tired of Trayvon Martin coverage.

Whitney Houston’s autopsy report confirms “white powder” found in hotel room. [BET]

Five former New Orleans police officers sentenced for Hurricane Katrina shootings. [BET]

Study: Whites, republicans tired of Trayvon Martin coverage. [CNN]

Tyler Perry claims he was racially profiled by police. [BET]

Jesse Jackson’s daughter to work for FOX News. [Examiner]

Congressional Black Caucus members introduce Trayvon Martin legislation. [BET]

KKK accidentally sends membership letter to Black person. [CBS]

Connecticut senate repeals the state’s death penalty. [MSNBC]

Syria violence continues as U.N. peace team arrives. [BBC]

Mali’s rebels declare ceasefire. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Bobby Brown is fighting for the right to attend Whitney Houston’s funeral, the last Katrina FEMA trailer leaves New Orleans and a bus company and driver are being sued in connection with the death of FAMU drum major Robert Champion.

Bobby Brown is fighting for the right to attend Whitney Houston’s funeral. [BET]

The last Katrina FEMA trailer leaves New Orleans. [AP]

Bus company and driver sued in FAMU hazing death. [BET]

Congressional Black Caucus to honor Whitney Houston. [SmokingGun]

Waiting to Exhale sequel will go on without Whitney. [BET]

Interracial marriage in U.S. hits new high. [AP]

Nicki Minaj says she’s done proving herself. [BET]

New York police fear suicides at 9/11 memorial site. [NYT]

National Enquirer to produce Whitney Houston documentary. [BET]

Amnesty International: Libya’s armed militias are out of control. [BBC]

Yesterday, President Obama announced a new AIDS strategy that aims to reduce the annual number of new HIV infections by 25 percent within five years. It will also super-target treatment to 85 percent of patients within three months of their diagnosis. And, finally, the program plans to increase education about the virus – even in communities where infection rates are low.

For many members of the Congressional Black Caucus, like Rep. Maxine Waters, who helped to spearhead the launch of the Minority AIDS Initiative in 1998, the President’s new push, although long overdue, is most welcome.

 CBC Chairman Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) praised the President’s new program.

“I applaud the President for developing this new National AIDS Strategy and laying out a roadmap for how our country must address this devastating disease. Even as we welcome the release of this strategy, we must also recognize the urgent need for additional funding to eliminate the current waiting lists for life-saving AIDS drugs in states around the country,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Our charge in Congress must now be to ensure that we provide the necessary resources to address these urgent needs and ensure that this new strategy gets implemented quickly and effectively. The Congressional Black Caucus and our members look forward to working with the President and his Administration, as well as our state and local governments, to expand and improve access to prevention, care and treatment services and address the needs of our communities.”

Some 56,000 people in the United States are infected with the virus each year.

Speaking at a White House reception organized to honor people who fight HIV and AIDS last night, the President said, “Fighting HIV/AIDS in America and around the world will require more than just fighting the virus. It will require a broader effort to make life more just and equitable.”

Black Caucus Questions Obama About Farmers

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is not happy about President Barack Obama’s recent move potentially to stem billions of dollars owed to Black farmers. The Caucus recently requested an audience with the president’s officials after learning of a Justice Department filing by Obama’s administration that would prevent farmers who suffered discrimination from collecting up to $4 billion. The court action would top possible compensation at $100 million because it contradicts legislation Obama pushed while he was a senator. “At a minimum, the CBC should meet with the Obama administration and clarify this filing,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). Read more.

The Congressional Black Caucus Monday praised the decision by the U.S. Senate to put Roland Burris in Barack Obama’s old seat. “The CBC is very pleased with the decision of Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate leadership to seat Roland Burris,” said Rep. Barbara Lee, chairwoman of the caucus. “Mr. Burris has long been a public servant for the people of Illinois. He will be a wonderful addition to our caucus and we look forward to working with him as we move forward with our agenda in Congress.” Read more here.

Black lawmakers split on cigarette bill

There’s a riff within the 43-member Congressional Black Caucus over the bill that would allow the FDA to regulate tobacco products, reports The New York Times. Some members of the caucus would like to place some restrictions on menthol while others say leave the bill alone. Seventy-five percent of Black smokers use mentholated tobacco products, which account for about 28 percent of the $70 billion U.S. cigarette market, the Times reports. Currently, the bill, which enjoys broad bi-partisan support, does not regulate menthol, but it does place restrictions on flavor additives such as clover. It is thought that menthol and other additives might mask the harshness of tobacco, which could “make it easier for teenagers to begin smoking,” a recent study report. Researchers also have questioned whether menthol might play a role in disproportionate rates of cancer related to smoking among Blacks. A recent study from Harvard University found that some cigarette makers intentionally “manipulated menthol levels to attract young people.” The caucus is “split,” Caucus Chair Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) told the Times. “We do want to see menthol regulated, but we’re convinced that eliminating or prohibiting menthol would be a killer for the bill.” According to Kilpatrick, the caucus is drafting an amendment to the bill that would potentially call for a study on menthol.Doctors are in the dark about sexual behavior.Don’t-ask, don’t-tell is a losing proposition when it comes to sexual behavior. But that seems to be the standard operating procedure, according to a new study. And it’s a losing strategy for slowing the spread of HIV. When health care providers know about their patients’ sexual behavior, they can help prevent infection through testing, counseling and other services. A new study from the New York Health Department suggests 39 percent of men who have sex with other men had not disclosed their sexual orientation to their doctors – a lapse that greatly reduced their odds of being tested for HIV. African-American, Hispanic, and Asian men who had sex with men were far less likely to disclose their sexual activities. The study, published this month in the Archives of Internal Medicine, examined data from the 2004-2005 Centers for Disease Control National HIV Behavioral Survey, which examines risky behavior among men across the nation who have sex with other men. For the survey, men at gay bars and clubs were interviewed anonymously, tested for HIV, and offered medical and social services as needed. The study showed that men who disclose having sex with men were twice as likely as those who did not to have been tested for HIV (63 percent vs. 36 percent). The low rate of HIV testing among non-disclosers suggests that health care providers continue to practice risk-based HIV testing in New York City . This means that unless providers know that a patient has a risk factor for HIV, they are not offering the test. The current national guidelines, adopted in 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, call on health care providers to offer HIV tests to all patients between the ages of 13 and 64.