(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, Jay-Z and Kanye West lead 2012 Grammy nominations; Alicia Keys’ new album, Girl on Fire, takes the number-one spot on the Billboard charts; and a Texas  high school student allegedly shot himself while sitting in the back of a police cruiser.

Jay-Z and Kanye West lead 2012 Grammy nominations. [BET]

Alicia Keys’ new album, Girl on Fire, takes the number-one spot on the Billboard charts. [BET]

Police in Texas say a high school student shot himself while sitting in the back of a police cruiser. [AP]

A New York TSA screener has been accused of stealing iPads from passengers’ luggage. [NBCNews]

Forbes names Eddie Murphy the “most overpaid actor in Hollywood.” [BET]

Marijuana smokers in Seattle sparked up outside the Seattle Space Needle in celebration of the drug’s legalization. [USATODAY]

Barefoot “homeless” man famously given boots by NYPD officer has an apartment. [CNN]

Afghan president Hamid Karzai accused the U.S. of creating the country’s insecurity. [NBCNews]

Mali’s rebels agree to respect the country’s “national unity.” [AJE]

In today’s top news, George Zimmerman seeks a delay in the Trayvon Martin murder trial, national polls put President Obama and Mitt Romney neck and neck and Lifetime’s Black remake of Steel Magnolias posted record ratings.

George Zimmerman seeks a delay in the Trayvon Martin murder trial while asking for the release of the teen’s social media and school records. [BET]

National polls show President Obama and Mitt Romney neck and neck. [CNN]

Lifetime’s Black remake of Steel Magnolias racked up record ratings. [LATimes]

Mitt Romney shies away from speaking out on the most critical affirmative-action case in recent years. [WSJ]

U.S. bankers are becoming more worried about the strain of student loan debt on the economy. [TODAY]

Shyne lashes out at Rick Ross for misappropriating Judaism. [BET]

Jay-Z to release live recording of his Brooklyn Barclays concert. [BET]

A man died after a live roach eating contest in Florida. [AP]

The U.N. admits to publishing inflated global hunger numbers. [BBC]

A Brazilian politician hands out packets of cocaine to shore up votes. [Gawker]

In today’s top news, BET.com takes a look back at the contributions of the late, legendary Donna Summer, Trayvon Martin’s autopsy results show that he has marijuana in his system and police say Trayvon Martin’s death was “ultimately avoidable.”

BET.com takes a look back at the contributions of the late, legendary Donna Summer. [BET]

Trayvon Martin’s autopsy results show that he had marijuana in his system. [BET]

Police say Trayvon Martin’s death was “ultimately avoidable.” [CNN]

The Game stars Tia Mowry and Pooch Hall not returning for season 6. [BET]

Satirical cartoon The Boondocks will be returning for another season. [HipHopWired]

Facebook prepares to debut on Wall Street. [Reuters]

Michelle Obama reportedly talked divorce. [New York Post]

Notorious 1980’s drug dealer is arrested in NYC. [AP]

The U.S. to assign an Army brigade to various countries in Africa for training. [AP]

Obama to announce a $3bn plan to boost food security and farm productivity across Africa . [BBC]

In today’s top news, lawyers for George Zimmerman, the shooter of Trayvon Martin, have withdrawn from the case, eight Black New York college students reported being “stopped and frisked” by the NYPD a total of 92 times and a white man is attacked and robbed by a group of Black men in Baltimore.

Lawyers for the shooter of Trayvon Martin have withdrawn from the case. [BET]

Eight Black New York college students reported being “stopped and frisked” by the NYPD a total of 92 times. [NYT]

White man attacked and robbed by group of Black men in Baltimore. [CNN]

Final jurors chosen for the trial of William Balfour, alleged killer of Jennifer Hudson’s family. [ChicagoTribune]

Five-year-old boy brings heroin to school for show-and-tell. [MSNBC]

Rick Ross forced to cancel two shows after suffering a seizure. [BET]

Nicki Minaj’s new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, debuts at No. 1. [BET]

Hospitals hosting McDonald’s chains under pressure to cut ties. [USATODAY]

Syria gives Kofi Annan another promise that it will comply with ceasefire despite continued violence. [BBC]

Sudan vows to retake lucrative oil fields from South Sudan. [BBC]

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, the coroner’s report reveals Whitney Houston drowned, Sanford police chief Bill Lee and county prosecutor Norm Wolfinger step down over Trayvon Martin case and singer El DeBarge is cleared of drug possession charges.

Coroner’s report reveals Whitney Houston drowned. [BET]

Sanford police chief Bill Lee and county prosecutor Norm Wolfinger step down over Trayvon Martin case. [AP]

Singer El DeBarge is cleared of drug possession charges. [BET]

Gun sales are on the rise. [MSNBC]

Audit of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority shows accounting problems which bolster lawsuit. [AP]

Right wing blog calls Farrakhan’s tweets in support of Trayvon Martin “veiled threats.” [BLAZE]

A California school counselor taped his students having sex. [CNN]

Rapper Tyga speaks out on the Omaha, Nebraska, shooting that wounded a member of his crew. [BET]

Nokia eyes tattoos that communicate with your cellphone. [CNN]

African nations call for a Nigerian to head the World Bank. [BBC]

In today’s top news, daughter of the late Whitney Houston tells Oprah she can still feel her mother’s presence, critics fear the Kony 2012 campaign could do more harm than good and the NAACP plans to take the voting rights issue to the United Nations.

Bobbi Kristina, daughter of the late Whitney Houston, tells Oprah she can still feel her mother’s presence. [BET]

Critics fear Kony 2012 campaign could do more harm than good. [BET]

NAACP to take voting rights issue to the United Nations. [Guardian]

Republican Congress members threaten impeachment of Obama if Syria is attacked.  [RT]

The NCAA tournament bracket is now live. [BET]

Report: Hate groups on the rise. [Reuters]

U.S. women turn “dining out” money into charity. [MSNBC]

Univ. of Maryland student arrested for threatening to go on shooting rampage. [MSNBC]

Jamaican drug lord Christopher “Dudus” Coke faces sentencing in U.S. case. [AP]

Israel rolls out “iron dome” to help stem rocket fire. [CNN]

In today’s top news, Nick Cannon says he has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, former child star Brandy says her daughter will have to wait to hit the stage and Oprah Winfrey is set to interview Whitney Houston’s family.

Nick Cannon says he has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. [BET]

Former child star Brandy says her daughter will have to wait to hit the stage. [BET]

Oprah to interview Whitney Houston’s family. [AP]

President Obama on Sunday warned of “loose talk of war” with Iran.  [AFP]

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to address the “targeted killing” of Americans abroad. [FOX]

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi endorses Jesse Jackson Jr. for r-eelection. [AP]

Seven-year-old boy survives tornado after being dropped on a highway. [MSNBC]

Scientists are testing out an artificial pancreas for diabetics. [CNN]

Designer drug “Spice” linked to kidney failures. [Reuters]

Congo explosions kill 200 and wound nearly 2,000. [CNN]

In today’s top news, BET to air live coverage of Whitney Houston’s funeral, Chris Brown denies jokes about hitting women and Eddie Long’s wife has changed her mind about divorce … again.

BET to air live coverage of Whitney Houston’s funeral. [BET]

Chris Brown denies jokes about hitting women. [BET]

Eddie Long’s wife has changed her mind about divorce … again. [ChristianPost]

Bobby Brown gets invite to Whitney Houston’s funeral. [BET]

Plane carrying 18kg of marijuana is seized after mistakenly flying into President Obama’s airspace. [Guardian]

Hip hop producer Scott Storch arrested for cocaine possession. [BET]

Libya marks one-year anniversary of uprising. [BBC]

Lauryn Hill asks fans to be patient with her transition. [BET]

FDA warns some electric toothbrushes are hazardous to health. [MSNBC]

U.S. to invest 1.5 billion in Nigerian power sector. [ThisDay]