In today’s top news, a judge has set George Zimmerman’s trial for June 2013, Rev. Jesse Jackson says he’s disappointed that the presidential debates have not focused more on poverty and gun control and Flavor Flav was arrested for assault and domestic violence.

A judge has set the trial of Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman for June 2013. [BET]

Rev. Jesse Jackson says he’s disappointed that the presidential debates have not focused more on poverty and gun control. [Politico]

Flavor Flav was arrested for assault and domestic violence. [BET]

An 80-year-old woman was arrested for taking down posters that depict President Obama as Hitler. [NBCNews]

A Republican congressman says today’s conditions are worse than slavery. [HuffPo]

Drake receives his high school diploma at age 25. [Daily Mail]

Willow Smith has launched a fashion blog. [BET]

Awkward Black Girl’s Issa Rae landed a network sitcom deal. [BET]

Human rights groups say nearly 28,000 people have been kidnapped in Syria. [BBC]

Uganda plans to increase social media surveillance to curb crime and terrorism. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Jay-Z urges voters to choose Obama in a new video spot, President Obama and Mitt Romney will face-off in the second presidential debate Tuesday night and Nelly speaks out for the first time since his Texas tour bus drug bust.

Jay-Z urges voters to choose Obama in a new video spot. [BET]

President Obama and Mitt Romney will face-off in the second presidential debate Tuesday night. [CNN]

Nelly speaks out for the first time since his Texas tour bus drug bust. [BET]

Trayvon Martin’s parents launch website dedicated to increasing awareness on ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws. [Orlando Sentinel]

Jennifer Hudson says she’s not buying the American Idol drama between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey. [BET]

Police released the names of 21 men accused of paying for sex with a Zumba instructor in Maine. [AP]

Nas’ Georgia home was recently foreclosed and sold via auction. [E! News]

Birdman of Cash Money recently shelled out $14.5 million on a Miami mansion. [Yahoo!]

More than 100 inmates have escaped from a jail in Tripoli, Libya. [BBC]

Hillary Clinton accepts responsibility for last month’s Libyan attacks on a U.S. diplomatic mission. [AJE]

In today’s top news, President Obama is expected to step up his energy level in the next presidential debate Tuesday, the Florida State Board of Education set learning goals for students based on race and a Maryland community is hosting a belt drive to combat sagging pants.

President Obama is expected to step up his energy level in the next presidential debate Tuesday. [CNN]

The Florida State Board of Education set learning goals for students based on race. [CBSNews]

A Maryland community is hosting a belt drive to combat sagging pants. [WashingtonTimes]

A poll shows Obama has taken the lead among early voters. [Reuters]

A gunshot was fired at an Obama campaign headquarters in Denver. [CNN]

Thousands gathered in Charlotte, NC, for the 17th anniversary of the Million Man March. [WSOC]

50 Cent recorded a new song with nascent rapper Chief Keef. [BET]

Shyne slams Drake as an “actor from Canada.” [BET]

A rep. for Bobbi Kristina says she is no longer engaged. [CNN]

Paris debuts first Black Fashion Week. [BET]

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, many Americans agree that Joe Biden won last night’s vice presidential debate, a poll shows Mitt Romney leading President Obama in Florida and Bobbi Kristina confirms her engagement to Nick Gordon.

The majority of Americans agree that Joe Biden won last night’s vice presidential debate. [CBS]

A poll shows Mitt Romney leading President Obama in Florida. [Tampa Bay Times]

Bobbi Kristina confirms her engagement to Nick Gordon. [BET]

BP and the Obama Administration are reportedly close to striking a settlement deal over the 2012 Gulf oil spill. [NBCNews]

Last Dragon star Leo O’Brien dies at 41. [BET]

Nelly was detained after drugs and a loaded gun were found on his tour bus. [BET]

Spike Lee’s Michael Jackson documentary will hit theaters briefly beginning next week. [Hollywood Reporter]

Rapper Shyne publicly expresses his support for Mitt Romney. [MTV]

Michael Vick confirms that he does own a dog. [Grio]

Ghana’s Ashanti crown jewels were stolen from a Norway hotel. [BBC]

The European Union won a Nobel Peace Prize. [CNN]

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, President Obama and Mitt Romney throw down in the first debate of the election season, a new campaign ad pits African-Americans against immigrants and the Chicago Teacher’s union approved a new contract.

President Obama and Mitt Romney throw down in the first debate of the election season. [BET]

A new campaign ad pits African-Americans against immigrants. [The Hill]

The Chicago Teacher’s Union approved a new contract ending their dispute with the city that led to strikes. [NBCNews]

A New Orleans city attorney  is cited after a joint falls of his pocket in court. [NBCNews]

Rihanna and Chris Brown were spotted attending a Jay-Z concert together. [BET]

Production of the Aretha Franklin biopic is back on. [BET]

Facebook hits 1 billion users. [CNN]

South Africa gets ready for an HIV vaccine trial. [AllAfrica]

A group of 60 Liberian prisoners staged a massive jailbreak. [BBC]

In today’s top news, a judge halts Pennsylvania’s controversial new voter ID requirement, Usher orders his ex-wife out of his mansion and Oprah’s OWN is slated to partner with Tyler Perry.

A judge halts Pennsylvania’s controversial new voter ID requirement. [BET]

Usher orders his ex-wife out of his mansion. [BET]

Oprah’s OWN to partner with Tyler Perry. [LATimes]

A Philly police officer was caught on tape punching a woman at a Puerto Rican Day Parade. [AP]

Jay-Z reflects on the anniversary of his Hard Knock Life album. [BET]

Study shows Black children are exposed to more background television. [CSM]

Winter storms will now receive names, courtesy of the Weather Channel. [Weather]

Twenty-five students were killed in northern Nigeria by an unknown gunman. [BBC]

A Dutch “abortion boat” is sailing to the coast of Morocco to provide offshore abortions. [BBC]

In today’s top news, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, D.C. sniper Lee Malvo says he felt like “worst piece of scum on the planet” and George Zimmerman’s lawyer speaks out about his client’s case.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. [NBCAM]

D.C. sniper Lee Malvo says he felt like “worst piece of scum on the planet.” [Reuters]

George Zimmerman’s lawyer speaks out about his client’s case. [Orlando Sentinel]

A Florida school district wants its band uniforms removed from Juicy J’s “Bands a Make Her Dance” video. [Miami Herald]

A convicted TSA officer reveals that theft from passengers was part of a corrupt “culture.” [ABC]

Residents of Chicago’s South Side marched in an anti-violence rally Sunday. [Chicago Tribune]

Dolce & Gabbana responds to racist earrings backlash. [Telegraph]

California bans gay therapy for teens. [NBC News]

A deadly grenade attack hit a Kenyan Sunday school leaving one child dead and three injured. [BBC]

An official inquiry began into South Africa’s Marikana mine shootings. [AJE]

(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, billionaire George Soros donates $1 million to Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, Lil’ Wayne breaks Elvis Presley’s Billboard record and Jay-Z shuts down rumors that Beyoncé is pregnant with baby No. 2.

Billionaire George Soros donates $1 million to Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. [CBS News]

Lil’ Wayne breaks Elvis Presley’s Billboard record. [Reuters]

Jay-Z shuts down rumors that Beyoncé is pregnant with baby No. 2. [E!]

The National Fair Housing Alliance filed a complaint against Bank of America for discrimination. [BET]

Brooklyn Nets cheerleader outfits get a streetwear makeover. [BET]

The man behind the infamous anti-Muslim film was jailed for probation violations. [AP]

A chef who cooked his wife was convicted of murder. [People]

Kanye West’s Cruel Summer sandals made at splash at Paris Fashion Week. [BET]

Nigeria suspends all flights to Saudi Arabia for Hajj after 1,000 women were deported. [BBC]

Kenyan fighters corner Somalia’s last al-Shabab stronghold. [AJE]

(Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Jay-Z says he feels like he has achieved the “American Dream,” police are investigating racist hate mail sent to GOP Congressional candidate Mia Love and Bronx’s District Attorney vows to cut back on prosecuting certain stop-and-frisk cases.

Jay-Z says he feels like he has achieved the “American Dream.” [AP]

Police are investigating racist hate mail sent to GOP congressional candidate Mia Love. [Politico]

The Bronx’s District Attorney vows to cut back on prosecuting certain stop-and-frisk cases. [BET]

Two women were caught trying to smuggle cocaine in weaves at New York’s JFK International Airport. [DailyCaller]

Swizz Beats is named global ambassador for the NYC Health and Hospitals Corp. [BET]

DMX dismisses Fredro Starr’s diss, calling him a “midget rapper.” [BET]

Study: Black girls under stress gain more weight. [USN]

Bobbi Kristina Brown was involved in a “mysterious” car accident with her boyfriend. [Yahoo]

The South African gold mine strike continues to spread. [BBC]

Sudan and South Sudan sign a groundbreaking deal. [AJE]