(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, divisions between the political parties are undermining the prospects for a bipartisan plan to extend background checks for gun buyers; the surgeon who worked on Kobe Bryant’s Achilles’ tendon says the basketball player should be back next season; and the small Black city of East St. Louis is wrangling over a church and state issue.

Deep divisions between Democrats and Republicans are threatening a bipartisan plan to extend background checks for gun buyers. [NYTimes]

The doctor who operated on Kobe Bryant’s Achilles’ tendon expects the Lakers star to be back on the court next season. [Los Angeles Times]

The small Black city of East St. Louis, Illinois, wrestles with separation of church and state. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

The judge in the trial of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has withdrawn from the case. [BBC]

A New York man jailed for four decades for a murder he says he didn’t commit is freed. [WPTVNews]

Niger is rapidly emerging as a partner to the U.S. in fighting terrorism in Africa. [Washington Post]

The film about Jackie Robinson’s historic rise to Major League Baseball was the weekend box-office champion. [Fox]

A new national ad campaign seeks to push for making the right to vote part of the Constitution. [BET]

A Florida police officer accused of bringing targets resembling Trayvon Martin to a gun range has been fired. [AP]

New York State’s tough new gun control laws requiring assault weapon registration is now going into effect. [Wall Street Journal]

(Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

In today’s top news, President Obama will appoint new leaders for the Department of Energy and the EPA, Lawrence Reed charged in the death of Mississippi mayoral candidate Marco McMillian and Malik Obama — Obama’s half brother — is running for office in Kenya’s elections.

President Obama plans to name Ernest Moniz as energy secretary and Gina McCarthy to head the EPA.  [AP]

Lawrence Reed was charged with murder Thursday in the death of Marco McMillian, a Mississippi mayoral candidate. [ABC]

Malik Obama — a half-brother of Barack Obama — is running for a governor’s position in Kenya’s elections. [AP]

Vice President Joe Biden led a march in Selma, Alabama, Sunday to commemorate the 48th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. [BET]

Corporations have benefited more than the unemployed during the economic recovery. [NY Times]

Miracles Singer Bobby Rodgers has died at the age of 73. [BET]

Connecticut Rep. Ernest Hewett was stripped of his deputy speaker position after making a sexist remark to a young woman. [Black Voices]

Newborn baby dies after parents were killed in hit-and-run accident in Brooklyn. [NY Daily News]

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry released $250 million in economic aid Sunday to Egypt. [CNN]

Israeli rights group are calling the launch of two Palestinians-only bus lines in the West Bank  racist. [Al Jazeera]

(Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Trayvon Martin’s mother reflects on the year since her son’s death; changes in federal loans have hampered Black student college enrollment; and North Chicago police department offends with brochures filled with stereotypes.

Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, reflects on the year since her son’s death. [BET]

Changes in eligibility of a federal loan program has hampered Black student college enrollment this school year. [AP]

The North Chicago Police Department has been hit for distributing pamphlets filled with stereotypes of African-Americans. [BET]

Beyoncé will headline the annual V festival in the U.K. in August. [BET]

Michael Bloomberg is spending big bucks on race to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. [TheGrio]

A tourist balloon exploded over Southern Egypt killing 19 people. [CNN]

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, President Obama is urging taxpayers to lobby lawmakers by phone, email and Twitter; Kanye West is deposed in Kim Kardashian’s divorce; and Trayvon Martin’s shooter is seeking donations to pay for his expenses while he awaits his trial.

President Obama is urging taxpayers to lobby lawmakers by phone, email and Twitter to avoid impending tax hikes in 34 days. [ABCNews]

Kanye West is being deposed in Kim Kardashian’s divorce. [BET]

Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman is seeking donations to pay for his expenses while he awaits his trial. [AP]

Steven Tyler apologized to Nicki Minaj for his criticism of her. [BET]

Comedian Katt Williams is accused of leading police on a dangerous tricycle chase. [TMZ]

New York City reported that not a single person was stabbed, shot or slashed this past Monday. [NBCNewYork]

Some Philly residents suspect a  mural dedicated to Black artist Dox Thrash was covered by a firm contracted by the government. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

A new iPhone app helps you find the nearest Black-owned businesses. [New America Media]

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon offered conditional backing  to an African Union intervention in Mali. [BBC]

Egypt’s constituent assembly votes on a new constitution. [BBC]

In today’s top news, state officials predict Jesse Jackson Jr.’s resignation could cost taxpayers $5.1 million, Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge to chair Congressional Black Caucus and retailers expect Americans will spend nearly $1.5 billion in online purchases this Cyber Monday.

Chicago officials predict Jesse Jackson Jr.’s resignation could cost taxpayers $5.1 million. [ABCNews]

Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge to chair Congressional Black Caucus. [Plain Dealer]

Retailers expect Americans will spend nearly $1.5 billion in online purchases this Cyber Monday. [ABCNews]

Chris Brown deleted his Twitter account after a nasty exchange with a female comedian. [BET]

A Georgia man suspected of shoplifting at a Walmart dies after a scuffle with employees. [NBCNews]

A seven-year-old girl becomes the country’s youngest medical marijuana patient. [NBCNews]

Chris Brown and Drake won’t face criminal charges for their infamous club brawl. [BET]

Halle Berry’s ex was arrested after an altercation with her new beau on Thanksgiving. [BET]

Millions of Egyptians are called to protest against President Mohamed Morsi. [Times]

Ugandan parliament drops the death penalty from its proposed anti-homosexuality bill. [BBC]

(Photo: Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images)

In today’s top news, President Obama called the leaders of Egypt and Libya overnight to discuss the recent anti-American attacks, the U.S. is deploying troops to beef up embassy security worldwide and a man was shot on the campus of Morgan State University.

President Obama called the leaders of Egypt and Libya overnight to discuss the recent anti-American attacks. [USATODAY]

The U.S. is deploying troops to Libya and other international posts to beef up embassy security. [CNN]

A man was shot on the campus of Morgan State University. [ABCNews]

Saturday Night Live has cast an African-American actor to play President Obama. [ANI]

Black Merrill Lynch brokers lose their appeal in racial bias bonus suit. [Reuters]

Jay-Z and Kanye West have been nominated for 19 BET Hip Hop Awards. [BET]

Rapper Chi Ali is released from prison after serving 12 years for second-degree murder. [BET]

Chris Brown defends his questionable neck tattoo and denies any reference to Rihanna. [BET]

Uganda’s female MC Keko recently signed with Sony, making her the first from Uganda to receive a major recording deal. [The Star]

South African miners call for a general strike to bring mining companies “to their knees.” [BBC]

In today’s top news, Gabby Douglas competes for second gold at Olympics and the psychiatrist of the Colorado shooting suspect had “serious concerns” about his behavior.

Report: The psychiatrist of Colorado shooting suspect James Holmes had “serious concerns” about his behavior. [CNN]

Gymnast Gabby Douglas is Team USA’s best hope for all-around gold medal. [LA Times]

Women can now get no-cost contraception. [BET]

Obama is supporting Syria rebels, sources say. [The Guardian]

Venus Williams loses in the third round at the Olympics: “Hopefully, there’s 2016.” [Yahoo]

Judge in George Zimmerman’s case rejects request to step down. [Reuters]

The Tea Party looks to become more influential in the Senate. [WSJ]

U.S.’s  Olympic  swimmer Nathan Adrian beats Australian favorite James ‘‘The Missile’’ Magnussen by a fingertip. [AP]

Same-sex marriage opponents champion their views by buying Chik-fil-A chicken sandwiches. [CNN]

Egypt’s new government is officially announced, with military retaining most power. [BBC]

In today’s top news, a family friend of Usher is under investigation for the Jet Ski incident that left his stepson brain dead, Romney outspends Obama this month once again and a report reveals that 70 percent of African-American children cannot swim.

Usher’s family friend is placed under investigation for the jet-ski incident that left his stepson brain-dead. [NYDN]

A new survey shows that Black women are the most religious group in America. [BET]

Romney campaign outspends Obama by about $30 million in June. [FOX]

Comedian Steve Harvey plans to perform his final stand-up act at this year’s Hoodie Awards. [BET]

Trayvon Martin’s street memorial has been removed by the city of Sanford, but preserved in the local museum. [CNN]

The ICC sentences Congolese warlord to 14 years for recruiting and using child soldiers. [BBC]

Report: Only 30 percent of African-American children can swim, drowning at a rate three times higher than their white peers. [GRIO]

First results are due in Libya’s historic parliamentary election. [CNN]

Texas is one of several states to reject major provisions of Obama’s signature health law [REUTERS]

Egypt’s recently dissolved parliament meet in court, increasing tension with military leaders and the Supreme Court. [ALJ]

In today’s top news, BET remembers the music of Michael Jackson on the third anniversary of his death, “superhero” Newark Mayor Cory Booker helped and comforted a pedestrian hit by a car and senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said President Obama has a “genuine love” for the Black community.

BET remembers the music of Michael Jackson on the third anniversary of his death. [BET]

“Superhero” Newark Mayor Cory Booker helped and comforted a pedestrian hit by a car. [NBC4]

Senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said President Obama has a “genuine love” for the Black community. [WaPo]

President Obama pledged to fight for immigration reform. [BET]

Politico suspends a Black reporter who said Mitt Romney is “comfortable” with “white folks.” [NYDN]

Some cash-strapped U.S. cities are considering selling advertising space on fire trucks and other spaces. [NYT]

Kandi Burruss says the Black community is “hush-hush” when it comes to discussing sex. [BET]

NBA star Tony Parker is suing the NY club where the Drake and Chris Brown brawl went down for $20 million. [BET]

Iraq orders BBC, Voice of America and other media outlets to shut down operations in the country. [MSNBC]

Egypt’s newly elected President Mohammed Mursi begins the task of forming a government. [BBC]

(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

In today’s top news , the Miami Heat win the NBA championship, the White House has “full confidence” in Attorney General Eric Holder amid the “Fast and Furious” controversy and George Zimmerman claims Trayvon Martin threatened to kill him.

The Miami Heat win the NBA championship. [AP]

The White House has thrown its “full confidence” behind Attorney General Eric Holder amid the “Fast and Furious” controversy. [The Ticket]

George Zimmerman claims Trayvon Martin threatened to kill him. [CNN]

Trayvon Martin’s parents resolve to stay focused on goals as George Zimmerman releases a flurry of information about the case. [BET]

A 64-year-old grandmother from L.A. takes second place in a fitness competition. [NBC4]

The adopted son of former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky has stepped forward to say that he was sexually abused. [BBC]

The Supreme Court ruled that people who committed crack crimes before the new, more lenient penalties took effect should benefit from the new rules. [AP]

50 Cent and Lil Kim weigh in on the Drake and Chris Brown beef. [BET]

Ice-T chats about his directorial debut. [BET]

Deaths of Somali pirate hostages are increasing. [BBC]

Egyptian protesters return to Tahrir Square to demand speedy election results. [AJE]