In today’s top news, all of Urban Prep Academy’s senior class is college-bound for the fourth year, Louisville’s Kevin Ware is recovering from surgery after a gruesome leg injury and the White House is expecting 35,000 people at the 135th Easter Egg Roll.

Urban Prep Academy, an all-Black male charter school in Chicago, is sending all of its students to college for the fourth year. [Chicago Sun Times]

Louisville’s Kevin Ware is recovering from surgery after a gruesome leg injury in last night’s game against Duke. [ABCNews]

A crowd of 35,000 is expected to show up to the White House lawn for the 135th Easter Egg Roll. [NBC Washington]

Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty for James Holmes, who was accused in last year’s movie theater massacre in Colorado. [Washington Post]

Philip Banks III, an African-American, is the new highest-ranking uniformed officer in the NYPD. [The Grio]

The Supreme Court is weighing in on race as they address the affirmative action and voting rights cases. [AP]

Conservatives attack Google for using its homepage to celebrate Cesar Chavez’s birthday and not Easter. [Politico]

Elwin Wilson, a former KKK supporter who apologized for years of violent racism toward Blacks, has died at 76. [AP]

The number of female tourists arriving to India has dropped by 35 percent in the past three months since the fatal Delhi rape. [The Guardian]

An Afghan teenager killed an American soldier by stabbing him in the neck while he played with a group of local children. [USA Today]

(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, the U.S. Supreme Court convenes to hear second gay marriage case; the Chicago Teachers Union will rally against planned school closings; and the location has been approved for a museum honoring Black firefighters in Chicago.

The U.S. Supreme Court convenes to hear second gay marriage case. [Reuters]

The Chicago Teachers Union is planning a rally against planned school closings. [Chicago Tribune]

Chicago approves location for future museum honoring the city’s African-American firefighters. [ABC Chicago]

None of the groups that raised money for the reward in the capture of Christopher Dorner want to pay up. [ABC]

Julia Pierson is the first woman to lead the Secret Service. [Newsday]

Two teen girls that made online attacks against the Steubenville rape victim will appear in court today. [CBSNews]

Former Pittsburgh Steelers player Kordell Stewart has filed for divorce from his reality TV star wife, Porsha Williams. [BET]

A plan to have unarmed students patrolling the campus of Towson University has sparked accusations of racism. [NBC Washington]

North Korea said it was cutting off a key military hotline with South Korea amid high tensions between the two sides. [CNN]

An earthquake killed at least one person and injured 19 other people in central Taiwan. [Wall Street Journal]

(Photo: AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

In today’s top news, Florida’s lieutenant governor Jennifer Carroll has resigned for ties to a company linked to illegal gambling, two high school football players in Steubenville, Ohio, go on trial for rape charges and a study states new voter ID laws have discriminated against young Black and Latino voters.

Florida’s lieutenant governor Jennifer Carroll has resigned because of her ties to an Internet cafe company that is now under federal investigation. [AP]

In Steubenville, Ohio, two high school football players go on trial on charges of raping a 16-year-old girl last summer. [NY Times]

A new study says that new voter ID laws disproportionately impacted young Black and Latino voters. [International Business Times]

House Republicans are sending mixed signals in an agreement to meet with President Barack Obama for talks over the budget. [AP]

The search continues for Terrilynn Monette, a New Orleans teacher, who has been missing for two weeks. [CNN]

A Chicago man has launched a social media campaign to end gun violence. [NBC Chicago]

Johnny Williams of Oakland, California, is free after spending 14 years in prison for a rape he never committed. [NBC Bay Area]

Dennis Rodman is in Rome supporting Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana to be the first Black pope. [AP]

The London Teaching Pool is complaining about inquiries from schools appearing not to want teachers of color. [BBCNews]

Cardinals will begin another round of voting to select the next pope. [Washington Post] 

(Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, the African-American unemployment rate has held steady at 13.8 percent, Michael Jordan applied for a marriage license and Philadelphia officials have voted to close 23 public schools.

The national unemployment rate dropped to 7.7 percent as the jobless rate for Blacks held steady at 13.8 percent. [BET]

Philadelphia officials have voted to close 23 public schools; 10 percent of the city’s total. [NYTimes]

A college education is linked to lower divorce rates for white women, but not for Black women. [Futurity]

The late August Wilson’s plays are being brought back to life by high school students in a national monologue contest. [NPR]

Facebook showed off a new home page redesign that will include bigger pictures. [NYTimes]

Apple is looking to make iOS the operating system for cars made by other companies. [Business Insider]

Former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will be laid to rest today. [CNN]

Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law, Suleiman Abu Ghaith, has been brought to New York to stand trial for conspiracy to kill Americans. [Reuters]

Michael Jordan applied for a marriage license in Florida. [ESPN]

In today’s top news, President Obama championed diversity, civil rights in his inaugural speech, Michelle Obama wore a stunning red Jason Wu gown to the inaugural balls and the president is expected to sign a three-month debt ceiling extension.

President Obama championed diversity, civil rights in his inaugural speech. [BET]

Michelle Obama wore a stunning red Jason Wu gown to the inaugural balls. [CBSNews]

The president is expected to sign a three-month debt ceiling extension. [USATODAY]

The nation’s high school graduation rate is the highest since 1976. [AP]

Teen rapper Chief Keef is being sued for child support. [BET]

Justin Timberlake’s new single “Suit & Tie” breaks Billboard records. [BET]

Jamie Foxx calls Spike Lee’s criticism of Quentin Tarantino “irresponsible.” [BET]

An advocacy group says fake ingredients in food are on the rise. [GMA]

Fruitvale, a film about police brutality victim Oscar Grant, was well received at Sundance Film Festival. [Grio]

Former Liberian leader Charles Taylor is appealing his war-crimes conviction. [BBC]

The U.S. has started transporting French troops and weapons to Mali. [Reuters]

In today’s top news, Don Cheadle and Django Unchained won Golden Globe awards, Colin Powell chided the GOP for its “intolerance” and Nas was hospitalized for vertigo.

Don Cheadle and Django Unchained won Golden Globe awards. [BET]

Colin Powell said there is a “darn vein of intolerance” running through some parts of the GOP. [BET]

Nas was hospitalized for vertigo. [BET]

A Missouri court has appointed a lawyer to protect the interests of the late Jovan Belcher’s 4-month-old daughter. [USATODAY]

Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa have decided to call off their divorce. [CNN]

Louis Farrakhan called Django Unchained “preparation for a race war.” [FOX]

An Ohio town will let some school employees bring guns to school once they have received tactical training. [Reuters]

Record low water levels in the Great Lakes are snarling commerce, tourism in the region. [CNN]

French fighter jets began bombing targets in militant strongholds of northern Mali this weekend. [AP]

Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki blocked a bid by legislators to give themselves $100K pay bonuses. [AP]

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, President Obama met with House Speaker John Boehner over the weekend to discuss the fiscal cliff, Nelson Mandela was hospitalized for unspecified medical tests and Manny Pacquiao says he has no plans to retire after devastating knockout.

President Obama met with House Speaker John Boehner over the weekend to discuss the fiscal cliff. [NBCNews]

Nelson Mandela was hospitalized this weekend for unspecified medical tests. [BET]

Manny Pacquiao says he has no plans to retire after devastating knockout. [Reuters]

Analysts say the lineup of replacement candidates for Jessie Jackson Jr.’s House seat has no standout star. [WSJ]

The L.A.P.D. apologized to the Notorious B.I.G.’s family after his autopsy report was released. [BET]

Former IMF leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn close to settling his sexual assault case with hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo. [AP]

A Black high school principal in West Virginia is under fire after forcing students to sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” [Grio]

The CDC announces that Black women have the highest obesity rate. [AP]

Toni Braxton was hospitalized for complications from lupus. [BET]

John Mahama was declared the winner of Ghana’s presidential election. [AP]

In today’s top news, George Zimmerman’s defense releases bloody nose photo, a New York court upheld a $1 million high school racial harassment award and Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas releases her memoir today.

George Zimmerman’s defense releases bloody nose photo.[BET]

A New York court upheld a $1 million high school racial harassment award. [AP]

Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas releases her memoir today. [Grio]

Study shows weak graduation rates for  Black male college athletes. [AP]

An Arizona high school principal is under fire for making two boys hold hands as punishment for fighting. [NBCNews]

Rob Kardashian slams Rita Ora on Twitter after their breakup. [BET]

Tyga admits to his wealthy upbringing after an old video surfaces. [BET]

Nigerian oil tycoon Folorunsho Alakija overtakes Oprah as world’s richest Black woman. [PRWeb]

A U.K. company plans to build massive solar power plant in Ghana. [BBC]

NATO warns Syria against using chemical weapons on its population. [AJE]

(Photo: KASANDRAPERKINS VIA INSTAGRAM)

In today’s top news, the family of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher is still in shock after the  murder-suicide; Chris Brown returns to Twitter; and funeral services for slain 17-year-old Jordan Davis were held this weekend.
The family of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher is still in shock after the murder-suicide. [BET]

Chris Brown returns to Twitter. [BET]

Funeral services for slain 17-year-old Jordan Davis were held this weekend. [WOKV]

Five states announced that public schools  will add 300 hours of learning time in 2013. [AP]

Comedian Katt Williams was recently arrested for a bar fight and caught on tape slapping a Target employee. [Grio]

Pusha T disses Lil Wayne and Birdman on new Ludacris song. [BET]

Pope Benedict XVI has opened a personal Twitter account. [CNN]

Some fear a  prolonged strike of the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports will have a negative effect on the country’s economy. [Reuters]

Israel has approved the construction of 3,000 new homes in Palestinian disputed territory. [BBC]

Congo’s M23 rebels withdrew from Goma but threatened to return if government negotiations don’t take place Monday. [AJE]