In today’s top news, a DOJ memo reveals the U.S. can order drone strikes on Americans; the NFL says Beyoncé did not cause the Super Bowl blackout; and lawyers in the Trayvon Martin case continue to argue over when George Zimmerman’s murder trial will begin.

A DOJ memo shows that the U.S. can order drone strikes on Americans it believes are connected to al-Qaeda. [NBCNews]

The NFL says Beyoncé did not cause the Super Bowl blackout. [BET]

Lawyers in the Trayvon Martin case are arguing over when George Zimmerman’s murder trial will begin. [BET]

A $400k reward has been announced for information about the Hadiya Pendleton shooting. [BET]

Pakistan’s tourism board plans to build an amusement park in the town where Osama bin Laden was killed. [NBCNews]

Malcolm X’s grandson was arrested by the FBI while en route to Iran. [PressTV]

A study shows Google displays more ads related to criminal activity when “Black names” are searched. [BBC]

The NYPD is defending its undercover spying on Muslims. [AP]

A Chinese tech company has unveiled a new Windows smartphone made specifically for use in African countries. [BBC]

Malian forces captured al-Qaeda fighters in Northern Mali. [AJE]

In today’s top news, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed President Obama’s reelection, the Black unemployment rate rose to 14.3 percent in October and President Obama and Mitt Romney are winding up their final campaign events in swing states.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed President Obama’s reelection. [BET]

The Black unemployment rate rose to 14.3 percent in October. [BET]

President Obama and Mitt Romney are winding up their final campaign events in swing states. [CNN]

The bodies of two NYC boys swept away by Hurricane Sandy were found. [NYPost]

Newark Mayor Cory Booker let a Hurricane Sandy victim “hang out” at his house and use his electricity. [Observer]

New charges were filed against Penn State officials in the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse case. [CNN]

A sequel to The Best Man is scheduled for a Nov. 15, 2013 release. [BET]

Iranians mark the anniversary of the U.S. embassy seizure. [AP]

Three Kenyans have been charged with the murder of Venezuela’s ambassador to Kenya. [BBC]

South African president Jacob Zuma calls for traditional African courts to solve “African problems.” [BBC]

In today’s top news, President Obama is scheduled to visit hurricane ravaged New Jersey today, experts say Hurricane Sandy is unlikely to stall the election and Stacey Dash tweets a photo of her and Paul Ryan.

President Obama is scheduled to visit hurricane ravaged New Jersey today. [MSNBC]

Experts say Hurricane Sandy is unlikely to stall the election. [NBC]

Stacey Dash tweets a photo of her and Paul Ryan. [USWeekly]

Queen Latifah’s daytime talk show is set to debut in fall 2013. [BET]

Toni Braxton says Oprah was mean to her in a 1998 interview. [BET]

Toni Braxton has been accused of transferring money to avoid paying creditors. [TMZ]

A study shows teens with smartphones may be more sexually active. [NBCNews]

Iranian warships leave the coast of Sudan after a four-day post. [Reuters]

Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire was sentenced to eight years in jail on charges stemming from the 1994 genocide. [AP]

In today’s top news, Usain Bolt is the world’s fastest man again, a Syrian prime minister defects and NASA’s rover Curiosity lands on Mars.

NASA’s rover Curiosity landing on Mars is “an unprecedented feat of technology,” says Obama. [CNN]

Lightning strikes twice as Usain Bolt breaks the 100-meter Olympic record again. [Yahoo]

Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab defects. [BBC]

White supremacist Wade Michael Page is named as the Sikh temple gunman. [NPR]

Sanya Richards-Ross redeems past Olympic disappointment with 400-meter gold. [ESPN]

Scotsman Andy Murray overtakes Roger Federer for men’s singles tennis Olympic gold. [WaPo]

Hundreds of Mali citizens attend makeshift militia training camps to oust Islamists. [NYT]

Syrian rebels abduct nearly 50 Iranian pilgrims. [LA Times]

New cases of swine flu have emerged around county fair pigs. [WaPo]

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, U.S. blood banks are in severe need of African-American donors, Super Tuesday raises the stakes for Republican presidential nominee hopefuls and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says it’s legal to kill Americans plotting terrorism abroad.

U.S. blood banks are in severe need of African-American donors. [BET]

Super Tuesday has arrived. [BET]

Attorney General Eric Holder says it’s legal to kill Americans plotting terrorism abroad. [Telegraph]

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says time is running out for Iran. [CNN]

Study: Violent crime has spiked in Haiti’s cities. [AP]

Colleges and employers request applicant’s Facebook passwords. [MSNBC]

Study: Black and Latino students far more likely to be suspended than whites. [MSNBC]

Black families overrepresented among U.S. homeless. [ICPH]

Former U.S. service members suing over sexual assaults at prestigious Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. [TODAY]

U.S. pledges aid to Congo after 200 killed in Blast. [AFP]

In today’s top news, Nick Cannon says he has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, former child star Brandy says her daughter will have to wait to hit the stage and Oprah Winfrey is set to interview Whitney Houston’s family.

Nick Cannon says he has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. [BET]

Former child star Brandy says her daughter will have to wait to hit the stage. [BET]

Oprah to interview Whitney Houston’s family. [AP]

President Obama on Sunday warned of “loose talk of war” with Iran.  [AFP]

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to address the “targeted killing” of Americans abroad. [FOX]

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi endorses Jesse Jackson Jr. for r-eelection. [AP]

Seven-year-old boy survives tornado after being dropped on a highway. [MSNBC]

Scientists are testing out an artificial pancreas for diabetics. [CNN]

Designer drug “Spice” linked to kidney failures. [Reuters]

Congo explosions kill 200 and wound nearly 2,000. [CNN]

In today’s top news, Google’s privacy policy is set to change tomorrow, March 1, Mitt Romney wins primary elections in Michigan and Arizona, and Ohio will prosecute school shooting suspect T.J. Lane as an adult.

Google’s privacy policy is set to change March 1. [BET]

Mitt Romney wins primaries in Michigan and Arizona. [MSNBC]

Ohio to prosecute school shooting suspect as an adult. [ABC]

Slaves who built the U.S. Capitol were honored by lawmakers. [LATimes]

Stroke deaths down in African-American children with sickle cell. [BET]

Autism not diagnosed as early in minority children. [AP]

Wendy Williams tells Chris Brown and Rihanna to back off romantic revival. [BET]

Pentagon admits it dumped 9/11 remains in a landfill. [MSNBC]

Syrian army continues assaults on civilians as the U.N. prepares a humanitarian resolution. [Reuters]

Uganda attracts $3 billion in oil investment. [EastAfrican]

Iran now accepting gold for oil in light of E.U. sanctions. [BBC]

In today’s top news, gunfire in an Ohio high school left two students dead and four wounded, 50 Cent says his trip to Africa was “enlightening” and Israel declares it won’t warn the U.S. ahead of a potential attack on Iran.

Two students died and four were wounded after a teen gunman opened fire in an Ohio high school. [MSNBC]

50 Cent says his trip to Africa was “enlightening.” [BET]

Israel won’t warn the U.S. ahead of a potential attack on Iran. [AP]

The U.S. Treasury Dept. will begin freezing bank accounts of child support debtors next year. [BET]

Malaysia cancels Erykah Badu concert over “Allah” tattoos. [AP]

One in five older Americans scrimp on health care to save money. [TODAY]

Light-skinned vs. dark-skinned pageant causes a stir. [Daily Mail]

FHM Philippines scrapped its latest cover image over claims of racism. [AP]

Occupy London camp finally gets evicted. [CNN]

Part of the controversial Keystone oil pipeline to begin construction. [MSNBC]

In today’s top news, the 2012 Grammy Awards honor the late Whitney Houston, some are angered as Etta James and Don Cornelius are left out of Grammys ‘in memoriam’ segment and new reports claim Houston died from deadly combo of prescription drugs and alcohol.

The 2012 Grammy Awards honor the late Whitney Houston. [BET]

Whitney Houston allegedly died from deadly combo of prescription drugs and alcohol. [TMZ]

Some angered that Grammys left Etta James and Don Cornelius out of ‘in memoriam’ segment. [MSNBC]

Whitney Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina hospitalized following her mother’s death. [BET]

New York City bans churches from operating in public schools on weekends. [WSJ]

Find out where ‘overweight’ ends and ‘obese’ begins. [BET]

Israeli Black Hebrews mourn Whitney Houston’s death. [BET]

U.S. government tops the list in layoffs. [MSNBC]

Gadhafi’s son warns of a Libyan revolt. [BBC]

U.S. admiral says Navy forces prepared to confront Iran. [FOX]