(Photo: AP Photo/Lulamile Feni-Daily Dispatch)

In today’s top news, Nelson Mandela is recovering positively in hospital; President Obama urged the nation and Congress into action against gun violence Thursday; and both suspects pleaded not guilty in the killing of Hadiya Pendleton.

Nelson Mandela is recovering positively after being admitted to the hospital yesterday for a lung infection. [BBC]

President Obama is shaming the nation and Congress into action against gun violence Thursday. [CNN]

Both men pleaded not guilty in the killing of Hadiya Pendleton. [BET]

The EPA plans to unveil a proposal that aims to clean up automobile emissions, a plan that may lead to higher gas prices. [Fox News]

7,000 patients who visited a Tulsa, Oklahoma, dentist may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis. [CNN]

Rep. Don Young of Alaska said he “meant no disrespect” when he used the term “wetbacks” to refer to the migrant laborers who worked on his father’s farm. [ADN]

(Photo: AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

In today’s top news, Michelle Obama calls voting rights activism the “march of our time,” voting laws in 23 states may keep more than 10 million Latino voters from the ballot and polls show President Obama is leading Mitt Romney in key battleground states.

Michelle Obama calls voting rights activism the “march of our time.” [Politico]

New voting laws in 23 states may keep more than 10 million Latino voters from the polls. [Reuters]

Polls show President Obama is leading Mitt Romney in key battleground states. [CNN]

Gas prices drop for the first time since July. [Reuters]

A draft of the Emancipation Proclamation was put on display at President Lincoln’s Cottage. [AP]

Jamie Foxx says he is ready to get behind the camera and try his hand at directing. [BET]

DMX says that he doesn’t want to beat up Drake. [BET]

Kanye West is worried about the possible release of a sex tape with a Kim Kardashian look-alike. [BET]

A suicide bomber attacked a northern Nigerian church, killing two and injuring 48. [BBC]

Sudan and South Sudan seek peace at a U.N. brokered summit. [AJE]

In today’s top news, Chaka Khan and friends record Trayvon Martin tribute, Magic Johnson and partners make record purchase of L.A. Dodgers for $2 billion and the Supreme Court holds its final day of arguments on Obama’s historic health care law

Chaka Khan and friends record Trayvon Martin tribute. [BET]

Magic Johnson and partners buy L.A. Dodgers for $2 billion. [AP]

Supreme Court holds its final day of arguments on Obama’s historic health care law. [Reuters]

Gas prices reach $4 and above in 10 states and Washington. D.C. [CNN]

Some Hunger Games fans post racist comments to Twitter in disappointment over casting of Black actors. [BET]

Basketball Wives star Tami Roman suffers a mild heart attack. [BET]

U.N. human rights chief says Syria is targeting children. [BBC]

The Red Cross considers building a hotel in Haiti. [AP]

Mega Millions jackpot reaches record $476 million. [MSNBC]

France seeks arrest of Equitorial Guinea president’s  “playboy” son for money laundering. [Reuters]

It’s true that gas prices are nowhere near the $4 they were last year this time. But with so many people out of work and the economy staggering as it is, the sting of rapidly rising petroleum prices are hurting as badly as they ever have. Over the past two weeks, the average price per gallon of self-serve regular gasoline has risen nearly 17 cents, to $2.66. Granted, gas is still $1.34 lower than last year in June “It’s a direct result of continued increases in the price of crude, with crude oil itself responding to a flight from the weaker dollar on the expectation of rising inflation from federal monetary policy,” says Lundberg, who publishes the Lundberg Survey. “Demand is not increasing. It is shrinking.” Here are where some gas prices stand in cities nationwide: On the low end, it’s Tucson, Ariz., at $2.41, for a gallon of self-serve regular. The other extreme is San Francisco, at $2.99. In between are: Houston, Texas: $2.45; St. Louis, Missouri: $2.45; Denver, Colorado: $2.49; Atlanta, Georgia: $2.52; Boston, Massachusetts: $2.63; Seattle: $2.82; Chicago: $2.92