(Photo: John Goodwin/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, the 45th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored with a non-violence campaign; Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy will sign a tough gun control bill; and North Korea could be planning a missile launch soon.

The 45th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored with the “50 Days of Nonviolence” campaign. [Reuters]

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy will sign a tough gun control bill that will make over 100 weapons illegal. [CNN]

North Korea could be planning a missile launch soon, a U.S. official said. [CNN]

President Obama will return 5 percent of his salary to the U.S. Treasury. [BET]

The man who gunned down TV personality DJ Megatron was sentenced to 21 years in prison. [BET]

Exonerated football player Brian Banks signed with the Atlanta Falcons. [AP]

Assemblyman Eric A. Stevenson, a New York State lawmaker, was arrested on federal charges of accepting bribes and conspiring to defraud the state. [NY Times]

An Ohio judge sentenced Richard Beasley to death for the murder of three men who responded to an ad on the Craigslist website for a non-existent job. [Reuters]

Fast-food workers staged walkouts at McDonald’s, Burger King and other restaurants in New York City to protest wages that are “not enough.” [NBCNews]

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 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, former Chicago governor Rod Blagojevich begins his 14-year prison sentence today, Kony 2012 screenings are halted in Northern Uganda after residents express outrage and Memphis will finally name a street after Martin Luther King Jr. 40 years after his death.

Former Chicago governor Rod Blagojevich begins his 14-year prison sentence today. [BET]

Kony 2012 screenings halted in Northern Uganda after residents express outrage. [BBC]

Memphis to finally name a street after Martin Luther King Jr. 40 years after his death.  [CNN]

The White House is turning its attention to foreign-policy matters this week. [BET]

President Obama says it is not yet time to intervene in Syria. [AJE]

A new book from food justice activist Bryant Terry says that Black people can enjoy vegan food too. [BET]

Study shows that a lack of sleep may cause heavier eating. [WebMD]

Taliban suspends peace talks with the U.S. [Reuters]

Shocking, new anti-smoking campaign sets out to de-glamorize the addictive habit. [Reuters]

Arizona is on pace to have its busiest year for executions. [AP]

In today’s top news, music loses legend Jimmy Castor, boxing great Muhammad Ali celebrates his 70th birthday and the Occupy Movement marches on in Washington.

Funk legend Jimmy Castor dies at 64. [BET]

Muhammad Ali celebrates his 70th birthday today. [BET]

‘Occupy’ protesters plan to take on Congress. [MSNBC]

Gingrich gets grilled at a Black church. [AP]

Lil Boosie pens jailhouse letter to fans. [BET]

U.S. Border Patrol to toughen southern border policy. [AP]

Death toll rising in European cruise ship wreck. [CNN]

Holder vows to protect voting rights in an MLK day speech. [CNN]

Nigerian fuel agency is being investigated for corruption. [BBC]

2011 was a good year for beating down credit card debt. [CNN]

In today’s top stories, Oprah returns to her TV roots, a shady Kilpatrick deal gives new meaning to “behind closed doors” and Swaziland’s King claims his 12th wife was never thrown from the royal palace.

Oprah Will Return to Talk in 2012 [Reuters]

First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden Booed at Weekend Event [Mediaite]

Herman Cain Tears Up Over His Wife at Debate [Des Moines Register]

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Took 10K Bribe in Restroom [Detroit Free Press]

Swazi King Denies Eviction of 12th Wife From Royal Palace [BBC]

By R. Asmerom, The Atlanta Post

When Kwame Kilpatrick took office as Mayor of Detroit in 2002 at the young age of 31, he was the man; a role model, a shining example of a young and successful Black rising star in politics.  As fast as he rose, however, just as swiftly did he fall. Eight years later, Kilpatrick is not a dynamo but a joke of sorts. He is currently serving a prison term on corruption related charges and is now facing 38 federal criminal charges.

Along with his father and three others, Kilpatrick is accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes and extorting money from municipal contractors and other entities. Kilpatrick is also accused of using money from his nonprofit to fund his family’s lavish lifestyle as well as kicking back hundreds of thousands to his father. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Obstruction of justice and marital infidelity are also involved.

Read more at The Atlanta Post.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Michigan political consultant Sam Riddle is going to jail.

Riddle escaped corruption charges about two months ago when his federal corruption court case was declared a mistrial. 

Now, he faces this  jail sentence for something unrelated.

 Riddle, who is out on bail, facing another corruption charge and a domestic abuse charge, is going to jail this time around because of a bond violation. A Wayne County judge says Riddle had a phone conversation with his ex-girlfriend Mary Waters, who he allegedly assaulted with a shotgun, in spite of a court order forbidding contact between the two.

Federal prosecutors brought the initial charges against him as part of a broader corruption case against officials in Detroit. They accused Riddle of being a “bagman” for Monica Conyers, a former councilwoman in the city

Get more on the story.

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon is fighting for her political career and freedom as she faces two separate felony trials, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Dixon will go to trail in Nov. for allegedly stealing gift cards donated by local businesses and charities for the poor.  Her lawyers are trying to convince a judge to throw out perjury charges stemming from her not disclosing gifts she received from her boyfriend, a developer who was awarded city contracts.

The Baltimore NAACP questions who has the power to appoint an interim mayor if Dixon is removed?

A race for mayor in a suburban Cleveland community has become a national story as allegations of cross-dressing, criminal activity and police corruption hit the airwaves of a nationally syndicated news program.

On Tuesday, East Cleveland Mayor Eric Brewer appeared on Inside Edition to discuss allegations he levied against his opponent, Gary Norton, the East Cleveland Police Department and other city employees for “stealing” and disseminating photos of him in drag days before the election.

Brewer lost the Primary Election to Norton by a 2-1 margin.

Brewer, who admits taking to posing in several several pictures wearing bras, panties, hosiery, make-up and wigs wants the Ohio State Police to investigate who stole the photographs and is suing news organizations who broadcast the photos.