(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]

(Photo: CNN)

In today’s top news, President Obama sheds tears while thanking his campaign staff in Chicago, a Las Vegas employer fired 22 employees as a direct result of Obama’s re-election and prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case release FBI records to Zimmerman’s attorneys.

President Obama sheds tears while thanking his campaign staff in Chicago. [CNN]

A Las Vegas employer fired 22 employees as a direct result of Obama’s re-election. [CBSNews]

Prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case release FBI records to Zimmerman’s attorneys. [Orlando Sentinel]

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is believed to be in plea deal talks with federal prosecutors. [Grio]

The 18-year-old son of a billionaire jokes about plans to “kill Obama.” [Grio]

Jermaine Jackson is changing his last name to “Jacksun” for artistic reasons. [BET]

Three men in Detroit were sentenced to 20 years in prison for carjacking Marvin Winans. [AP]

Chris Brown wants to be the Steven Spielberg of music videos. [BET]

2 Chainz and Drake’s “No Lie” goes platinum. [BET]

A company has created an iPhone case that shoots pepper spray. [NBCNews]

(Photo: Courtesy of Burnt Orange Report)

In today’s top news, people are lynching empty chairs that symbolize President Obama, prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case are trying to prevent the release of  the teen’s school records and Jamaica plans to use the teachings of native son Marcus Garvey to cure societal ills.

People are lynching empty chairs that symbolize President Obama. [NBCNews]

Prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case are trying to prevent the release of the teen’s school records. [OrlandoSentinel]

Jamaica plans to use the teachings of native son Marcus Garvey to cure societal ills. [AP]

Mitt Romney is accused of dying his face brown to appeal to Latino voters. [Gawker]

Six million uninsured Americans to be hit with tax penalty. [AP]

Roscoe Dash says he wrote for Kanye West and Wale but didn’t get credit. [BET]

Beyoncé and Tina Knowles have designed a collection of baby clothes in support of Obama’s re-election. [BET]

T.I. jumps on the “I Hate New York” bandwagon. [BET]

Former Apple employees and retailers in France protested as customers waited to buy the iPhone 5. [CSM]

Strikes spread at South Africa’s gold mines. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Sikh temple gunman fronted a white supremacist rock band, Usain Bolt might become the first Olympian man to win consecutive gold medals in the 200m and Kevin Durant leads the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team in an explosive win.

Kevin Durant leads the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team in an explosive win against Argentina. [WaPo]

Wisconsin shooting gunman Wade Michael Page fronted a white supremacist rock band. [NYT]

Usain Bolt might become the first Olympian man to win consecutive gold medals in the 200 meter race. [HuffPo]

The rift between Apple and Google grows as new version of  iPhone drops YouTube app. [WSJ]

Death toll rises in Philippine capital as torrential rain flooding leaves thousands stranded. [CBS]

An Ohio husband shot his terminally ill wife as she laid in her hospital bed. [NBC]

Weight training might help prevent type 2 diabetes. [Boston]

In today’s top news, Michael Phelps might make Olympic history again, Obama asks Bill Clinton to make a case for his re-election and a recently signed NFL player commits suicide.

NFL player O.J. Murdock kills himself in front of his former high school, police say. [CNN]

Obama asks Bill Clinton to make a case for his re-election at the Democratic National Convention. [BET]

Michael Phelps might make Olympic history again tonight. [AP]

Another Olympian is expelled from the games for a racist tweet. [WaPo]

China’s 16-year-old Olympian swimming champ denies dope allegations. [CNN]

Iranian president takes a jab at Mitt Romney’s controversial Israel trip. [AP]

A blackout leaves 600 million residents without power in India. [NPR]

Islamist occupiers stone an unwed couple to death in Mali. [Al Jazeera]

Rumor has it that Apple will announce the next iPhone and “mini iPad” this September. [NBCNews]

In today’s top news, Michael Jackson’s mother is reportedly no longer missing, Usher’s stepson Kyle Glover is taken off life support, and politicians reconsider gun laws after movie shooting.

Usher’s stepson Kyle Glover passed away this weekend. [BET]

Politicians are considering tighter federal gun laws after Aurora movie shooting. [CNN]

Michael Jackson’s mother, who was reported as missing, is reportedly “fine.” [BET]

Rupert Murdoch has stepped down from the boards of News Corp’s U.K. newspapers. [FT]

BET, MTV, Nickelodeon and other channels return to DirecTV subscribers. [Chicago Times]

Apple predicts a dip in earnings as consumers hold out for the new iPhone. [Bloomberg]

Penn State’s removal of Joe Paterno statue incites anger within the university’s community. [MSNBC]

Eating less salt could prevent stroke and cancer deaths. [BBC]

CDC: 1 in 13 women drink alcohol during pregnancy despite major health risks. [ABC]

South Sudanese runner will race under the Olympic flag after denying Sudan’s offer. [REUTERS]

In today’s top news, Trayvon Martin’s shooter George Zimmerman says events were “all God’s plans,” Emmy nominations are announced this morning, and Penn State will respond to the NCAA’s demand for information within days.

Mad Men and ‘merican Horror Story lead the Emmy Awards pack so far with 17 nominations. [LA Times]

Trayvon Martin’s shooter George Zimmerman says events that fateful night were “all God’s plans.” [BET]

Penn State will respond to the NCAA’s demand for information. [Sports Illustrated]

Report: HIV-AIDS rate of Black gay males in the U.S. are the highest in the world. [AFP]

Black U.K. newspaper is granted access to Olympic Stadium after protests and petition. [The Guardian]

Rapper Ms. Melodie of Boogie Down Productions has died. [BET]

Older African-Americans and Hispanics are hit hardest by foreclosure. [AP]

About 100 people missing after ferry accident in Zanzibar. [BBC]

Mitt Romney is “not enthusiastic” about revealing his earlier tax returns. [REUTERS]

Next iPhone to be slimmer and lighter. [WSJ]

The top stories creating buzz from around the web.

Q&A: Egypt’s tensions explained. [CNN]

U.S. stocks soar amid optimism over Europe [MSNBC]

Hank Williams Jr. defends Obama-Hitler analogy in song [The Grio]

Apple: iPhone 4S pre-orders top 1 million. [Washington Post]

Netflix Learns its lesson, backtracks on Qwikster [Forbes]

By Robin Caldwell, BlackWeb20.com

The manufacturers of the LUXA2 H-1 Touch desktop cellphone stand believe your mobile device deserves the very best treatment. Made of industrial aluminum the H-1 Touch is padded with rubber backing to protect your cellphone’s battery plate and encasing while providing a protective grip. The H-1 Touch is a product of Thermaltake, a company known for computer cases and other hardware. Read the rest of this entry »

By Sherri L. Smith, BlackWeb20.com

As the world’s love affair with high-tech gadgets spreads like wildfire, it’s not enough to own the most advanced tech, they have to look good too. Shiny, glossy, matte finishes, eye-catching technical wonders of the world, it’s a constant arms race to have the best and prettiest tech. And with all arms races, he with the deepest pockets has the biggest guns. Which is why some of the best tech is in the hands of the rich and famous. What sets celebrity tech apart from the tech of mere mortals? Bling and plenty of it – from gold-plating to Swarovski crystals and even diamonds, celebrity devices are in a class all by themselves. Read the rest of this entry »