(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]

In today’s top news, President Obama nominates Tom Perez as next labor secretary; hundreds of New Yorkers will testify in trial challenging NYPD’s stop and frisk procedures; and Black farmers have still not been paid $1.2 billion from a 2010 settlement.

President Obama nominated Tom Perez to be his next labor secretary. [Politico]

Hundreds of New Yorkers will testify in a trial beginning Monday that will challenge the NYPD’s stop and frisk procedures. [AP]

Black farmers have still not been paid their $1.2 billion discrimination settlement from the USDA. [Monroe News Star]

Prosecutors are considering murder charges against Winnie Mandela following the exhumation of bodies of two young activists last seen at her home 24 years ago. [AP]

CNN is under fire for coverage of the Steubenville rape trial that was biased towards the convicted rapists and not the victim. [Huffington Post]

Dr. Conrad Murray, who was Michael Jackson’s personal physician, is refusing to testify in trial for a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Jackson’s mother. [CNN]

An ex-Oklahoma QB was killed in a plane crash Sunday that claimed the life of one other person. [Chicago Tribune]

In today’s top news, Nelson Mandela celebrates his 94th birthday, Mitt Romney may have narrowed his pick for vice president and Jada Pinkett Smith urges Congress to fight human trafficking.

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith urges Congress to fight human trafficking and slavery. [AP]

Nelson Mandela celebrates his 94th birthday today. [BET]

Mitt Romney may have narrowed his vice president pick list down to three hopefuls. [REUTERS]

Africa scores its own domain name: Dot Africa. [All Africa]

Britain’s only Black weekly paper is denied access to Olympics Stadium. [The Grio]

Nigeria slaps Shell Oil Company with a multi-billion dollar lawsuit. [AFP]

Pulitzer-Prize winning Black columnist William Raspberry dies from cancer. [BET]

Black children living in housing projects are more likely to smoke. [BET]

Tiger Woods looks to regain golf’s “Player of the Year” title with a British Open win. [NYDN]

Drug for immune disorders may help to stabilize Alzheimer’s. [WSJ]

In today’s top news, the coroner’s report reveals Whitney Houston drowned, Sanford police chief Bill Lee and county prosecutor Norm Wolfinger step down over Trayvon Martin case and singer El DeBarge is cleared of drug possession charges.

Coroner’s report reveals Whitney Houston drowned. [BET]

Sanford police chief Bill Lee and county prosecutor Norm Wolfinger step down over Trayvon Martin case. [AP]

Singer El DeBarge is cleared of drug possession charges. [BET]

Gun sales are on the rise. [MSNBC]

Audit of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority shows accounting problems which bolster lawsuit. [AP]

Right wing blog calls Farrakhan’s tweets in support of Trayvon Martin “veiled threats.” [BLAZE]

A California school counselor taped his students having sex. [CNN]

Rapper Tyga speaks out on the Omaha, Nebraska, shooting that wounded a member of his crew. [BET]

Nokia eyes tattoos that communicate with your cellphone. [CNN]

African nations call for a Nigerian to head the World Bank. [BBC]

In today’s top news, a new study stresses the importance of mobilizing Black voters, more Black families are turning to home schooling and Afghan president Hamid Karzai calls for U.S. troops to leave the country’s villages.

A new study stresses the importance of mobilizing Black voters. [BET]

More Black families are turning to home schooling. [BBC]

Afghan president Hamid Karzai calls for U.S. troops to leave the country’s villages. [MSNBC]

Carol’s Daughter is planning to launch an online destination dedicated to natural hair. [BET]

Death investigation of Florida teen Trayvon Martin has been sent to the State Attorney’s Office. [BET]

Survey shows three out of ten adults aged 25 to 34 are living at home with parents. [TODAY]

Study links cadmium and other estrogen-like pollutants to higher rates of breast cancer. [LATimes]

Mississippi college band yells racial remark at a Latino basketball player during a game. [CNN]

Houston mother to be reunited with her son who was kidnapped eight years ago. [AP]

Uganda gay group sues U.S. evangelical minister for allegedly sowing hatred. [BBC]

In today’s top news, President Obama honors Black history at National African-American Museum ceremony,  Michael Jordan is suing a Chinese company for unauthorized use of his name and U.S. troops are now in four African countries to help fight the Lord’s Resistance Army.

President Obama honors Black history at National African-American Museum ceremony. [BET]

Michael Jordan is suing a Chinese company for unauthorized use of his name. [AP]

U.S. troops now in four African countries to help fight the Lord’s Resistance Army. [AP]

Obama apologizes to Afghanistan over Quran burnings at a NATO military base. [MSNBC]

Actor Terrence Howard has 30 days to shell out $50k to his estranged ex-wife. [BET]

Jury recommends 26 years of prison time for UVA student’s alleged role in the death of his girlfriend. [CNN]

Tabloid magazine publishes photo of Whitney Houston’s open casket. [Reuters]

Nigeria renews ExxonMobil’s oil drilling licenses. [AFP]

Poll shows President Obama is reaping the benefits from the improving economy. [AP]

European Court of Human Rights tells Italy it was wrong to send African migrants back to Libya. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Spike is planning a bash for Obama’s re-election bid, Columbia vows to return mistakenly deported teen Jakadrien Turner and Rick Santorum backtracks on his infamous Black comment.

Spike Lee plans an upscale fundraiser to support President Obama’s re-election bid. [BET]

Mistakenly deported Dallas teen Jakadrien Turner to be returned home. [CNN]

D.C. Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. resigns amid felony charges [BET]

California homeless seek shelter amid killing spree. [MSNBC]

Rapper Wiz Khalifa accused of stealing hit song “Black and Yellow.” [BET]

Michelle Obama makes her acting debut on Nickelodeon show iCarly. [AP]

Africa is now China’s “golden ground” for investment. [AFP]

Rick Santorum backtracks on Black comment. [CNN]

New computer virus can raid your bank account. [MSNBC]

Commentary: Do Black celebrity weight loss endorsements make you want to shed those pounds? [BET]

(Photo: Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, music legend Aretha Franklin gets a ring, two Black frats have Obama’s back and Georgia’s anti-fat ads attract bad flack.

The ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin gets engaged. [BET]

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum says poor Blacks shouldn’t get welfare handouts. [CBS]

FAMU Board approves anti-hazing plan. [CNN]

Some Memphis Black farmers say they have been shut out of a class action lawsuit. [WMC-TV]

Nigerians take to the streets to protest high gas prices. [BBC]

Diabetes during pregnancy may lead to ADHD. [CNN]

Two Black fraternities have joined forces to rally support for Obama’s re-election bid. [BET]

Senegalese musician Youssou Ndour eyes the country’s top post. [AP]

Georgia’s anti-obesity ads featuring children are ruffling feathers. [NYDN]

Hong Kong rings in 2012 with fresh fears of a Bird Flu outbreak. [WSJ]

(Photo: AP Photo/Office of U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo)

In today’s top news, a Black WWII veteran finally gets his due, Nigeria fights to fend off terrorist attacks, and a post-Christmas shopping day at the Mall of America turns into an all-out brawl.

Black Navy veteran receives medal for WWII action. [BET]

More than 100 Sears and Kmart stores to close soon. [MSNBC]

Some members of Congress just keep getting richer. [NYT]

Nigeria is still reeling from deadly Christmas Day bombings. [BET]

Egypt puts an end to “virginity tests” for detained female protesters. [CNN]

A fired man catches a lawsuit from his former company over his Twitter followers. [BBC]

Post-Christmas shopping turned into a brawl at the Mall of America. [StarTribune]

Man returns $10,000 to teach his children a lesson about honesty. [AP]

Atlanta rapper Young Vito surrenders in Slim Dunkin murder case. [BET]

Iran seeks the death penalty for an alleged U.S. spy. [FOX]

(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Herman Cain speaks directly to Black folks, Occupy D.C turns up the heat in the nation’s capitol and Beyoncé may soon be shelling out big bucks to a video-game developer.

Herman Cain speaks directly to Black America. [BET]

U.S. government admits to testing AIDS drugs on foster kids. [MSNBC]

Occupy D.C. “Takes Back the Capitol.” [CNN]

African-American 15-year-old girl is youngest to fly plane cross-country. [DAILYNEWS]

Macy’s worker fired for kicking transgender customer out of fitting room. [KENS5]

Widow of slain cop says she is okay with Mumia’s death penalty being lifted. [AP]

Weave bandits plague Atlanta beauty shops. [FOX5]

New Orleans struggled with rampant homicides. [NYT]

Report: 274 U.S. troop remains dumped at landfill. [BBC]

Beyoncé sued for $100 million after video-game developer says she “double crossed” them. [BET]