(Photo: Ethan Miller/AP Photo, Pool)

In today’s news, O.J. Simpson speaks in court in an effort to seek a new trial; Roy Roberts, the head of Detroit’s public schools, says he will stay on the job longer than expected; and a whites-only scholarship at Columbia University is being challenged.

Seeking retrial, O.J. Simpson speaks in court, unbowed. [NYTimes]

Detroit schools chief will not step down yet. [Detroit Free Press]

Whites-only scholarship at Columbia challenged. [USA Today]

Los Angeles buildings emptied after devices found. [ABC]

Republicans say they will continue to investigate IRS after resignation. [Fox]

Nigeria declares a “massive” campaign to combat militants. [BBC]

African groups to hold forum on immigration. [LA Wave]

Judge throws out indictment of NYPD cop in Ramarley Graham case. [BET]

Black science student will not be prosecuted. [BET]

Six dead and 18 injured in Rwanda building collapse. [BBC]

(Photo: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

In today’s news, President Obama is expected to nominate Congressman Mel Watt, the former head of the Congressional Black Caucus, to lead the federal housing agency; three more people were taken into custody in the Boston Marathon Bombing case; and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg offers a strong defense of the controversial stop and frisk police program.

Obama to nominate Mel Watt to head housing agency. [Los Angeles Times]

Three more taken into custody in Boston bombing case. [Boston Globe]

NYC mayor defends stop and frisk policy. [BET]

Trayvon Martin family lawyer files appeal paperwork. [Orlando Sentinel]

Report: Somalia famine killed 260,000 people. [BBC]

South Africa sees race swap in suburban population. [BET]

Arrests follow the failed coup in Chad. [BBC]

Two airplanes clip at Newark Airport before taking off. [NY Post]

Obama tells liberals not to push too hard on immigration. [Washington Post]

Nearly half of Americans say budget cuts will hurt economy. [NY Times]

(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Michelle Obama went home  to Chicago to discuss gun violence; Ben Carson has withdrawn as Johns Hopkins Medical school’s commencement speaker; and Anthony Weiner hints that he may run for mayor of New York.

Michelle Obama traveled to her hometown of Chicago to give an emotional speech about gun violence and the need for youth programs. [BET]

South Korea, U.S. remain on edge over North Korea missile crisis. [Reuters]

Ben Carson, the African-American pediatric neurosurgeon, has withdrawn as commencement speaker at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine after negative reaction to derogatory comments he made about marriage equality. [The Washington Post]

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg launches immigration lobby group. [The Guardian]

Django Unchained opening cancelled in China. [BBC]

After resigning from Congress in an internet sex scandal, Anthony Weiner is hinting that he is interested in running for mayor of New York City. [NYTimes]

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are displeased by the prospect of President Obama’s budget plans calling for reductions in entitlement programs. [BET]

Duke student wrote Kenya’s President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta’s victory speech. [NYAmsterdamNews]

Officials in Major League Baseball are looking for ways to increase the participation of African-American fans, whose support has sunk to a record low. [USAToday]

2,000 invited to Margaret Thatcher funeral, but not Argentina’s president. [Yahoo News]

A year after George Zimmerman was arrested for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, Zimmerman’s mother has written a letter of thanks to supporters of her son. [WESH.com]

The Midwest is being hit hard by storms, with tornadoes creating hazardous conditions in the St. Louis area. [USAToday]

(Photo: Family Photo)

In today’s top news, funeral arrangements are set for Janay McFarlane, the Chicago teen who was shot and killed just hours after her sister attended President Obama’s speech on gun violence, President Obama says his leaked immigration plan is a backup measure in the event Congress doesn’t come to an agreement and advocates are pleading with Georgia to stay the execution of a man deemed mentally retarded.

Funeral arrangements have been set for Janay McFarlane, the Chicago teen was shot and killed just hours after her sister attended President Obama’s speech on gun violence. [CNN]

President Obama says his leaked immigration plan is a backup measure in the event Congress doesn’t come to an agreement. [NBCNews]

Advocates are pleading with Georgia to stay the execution of convicted murderer Warren Hill because of his mental state. [CNN]

Forest Whitaker was falsely accused of stealing from a New York City deli. [BET]

An Idaho man was fired from his job after slapping a Black toddler and using the n-word. [Grio]

South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorious says his girlfriend’s murder was unintentional. [CNN]

The U.N. says man-made chemicals in everyday products are to blame for some cancers, fertility problems. [Reuters]

The Best Man sequel is slated for a Christmas release. [BET]

Actor Anthony Anderson has expressed his willingness to play fugitive Christopher Dorner in movie adaptation of the story. [BET]

The European Union lifted sanctions on banned Zimbabwe officials. [AJE]

In today’s top news, President Obama calls for swift action on immigration reform, a girl who performed at Obama’s inauguration was shot dead in Chicago and Harry Belafonte urged Blacks to get involved in the country’s debate over guns.

President Obama calls for swift action on immigration reform. [BET]

A girl who performed at Obama’s inauguration was shot dead in Chicago. [NBCNews]

Harry Belafonte urged Blacks to get involved in the country’s debate over guns. [AP]

Rep. Alcee L. Hastings says President Obama disrespects the Congressional Black Caucus and other groups of Blacks who supported his re-election. [Sacramento Observer]

Deion Sanders’ daughter Deiondra has joined the Bikini Basketball League. [Yahoo!]

Toyota is recalling 1 million vehicles for airbag and windshield wiper issues. [NBCNews]

Chris Brown was seen wearing a cast after his fight with Frank Ocean. [BET]

A man was charged with the murder of rapper Yung Teddy. [BET]

South Africa’s richest Black man, Patrice Motsepe, will donate half of his wealth to the poor. [BBC]

A Dutch court rejected four of the five claims brought by a group of Nigerian plaintiffs against oil giant Shell. [BBC]

In today’s top news, President Obama plans to make an appeal for immigration reform, the president is asking police chiefs to back his plan for gun reform and Louis Farrakhan said the right to bear arms is unnecessary.

President Obama plans to make an appeal for immigration reform today. [CNN]

The president is asking police chiefs to back his plan for gun reform. [BET]

Louis Farrakhan said the right to bear arms is unnecessary. [CBSNews]

The NFL Players Association wants the league to fund a $100 million Harvard study on players’ injuries and illnesses. [CNN]

Ex-49er Kwame Harris was charged for felony domestic violence and assault charges for an attack on a former boyfriend. [Grio]

Boy Scouts may lift ban on homosexuals. [AP]

Chris Brown’s lawyer has contacted the police about his fight with Frank Ocean. [BET]

Colleges are creating drone piloting programs in anticipation of a domestic drone boom. [NBCNews]

A Mali donor meeting raised $455 million for the campaign to root out Islamic militants. [BBC]

Nigerian militant group Boko Haram reached a unilateral ceasefire with the Nigerian government. [AJE]

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, Barack Obama officially accepts the nomination for president of the United States, Chicago is bracing for a massive teacher strike, and Secret Service arrest a North Carolina man for Twitter threats against President Obama.

Barack Obama officially accepts the nomination for president of the United States. [BET]

Chicago is bracing for a massive teacher strike. [Reuters]

The Secret Service arrest a North Carolina man for Twitter threats against President Obama. [CNN]

BET CEO Debra Lee says the Republican party is “pandering” to African-Americans and women. [Politico]

Chris Lighty’s family orders a second autopsy. [BET]

Alicia Keys releases a collection of shoes for Reebok. [BET]

Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, will be buried at sea. [Reuters]

U.S. government lawyers say BP sought to blame the “blue-collar rig workers” for the Gulf oil spill. [Reuters]

U.S. officials warn of a new border conflict brewing between Sudan and South Sudan. [BBC]

Mexican authorities say U.S. Border Patrol agents fatally shot a Mexican citizen for throwing rocks across the border. [CNN]

In today’s top news, former President Bill Clinton gave a rousing speech in support of Barack Obama’s candidacy, a federal judge ruled that Arizona’s “show your papers” law will stand and the Labor Department reports the number of Americans on food stamps hit a record high in June.

Former President Bill Clinton gave a rousing speech in support for Barack Obama’s candidacy. [BET]

A federal judge ruled that Arizona’s “show your papers” law will stand. [AP]

The number of Americans on food stamps hit a record high in June, says the Labor Department. [CNBC]

Jay-Z and Will Smith are producing a new Angela Davis documentary. [BET]

Diddy, 50 Cent and other hip hop giants paid last respects to music exec Chris Lighty at his funeral. [BET]

In today’s top news, Mitt Romney formally accepts the nomination for Republican presidential candidate, legendary hip hop manager Chris Lighty, 44, dies, and Gulf residents try to focus on clean-up as Isaac weakens.

Mitt Romney formally accepts the nomination for Republican presidential candidate. [BET]

Legendary hip hop manager Chris Lighty dead. [BET]

Gulf residents try to focus on clean-up as Isaac weakens. [CNN]

A federal court rejects Texas voter ID law. [AP]

The Chicago Teachers Union voted to strike over wages, job security and contract issues. [NBCNews]

Lupe Fiasco says the culture that newcomer Chief Keef represents scares him. [BET]

Three people died Friday morning in a supermarket shooting in New Jersey. [NBCNews]

California will begin issuing driver’s licenses to some undocumented immigrants. [Reuters]

South Africa’s justice minister demands an explanation after 270 protesters were charged with murder. [BBC]

World food prices jumped 10 percent in July, says World Bank. [BBC]