(Photo: John Goodwin/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, the 45th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored with a non-violence campaign; Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy will sign a tough gun control bill; and North Korea could be planning a missile launch soon.

The 45th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored with the “50 Days of Nonviolence” campaign. [Reuters]

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy will sign a tough gun control bill that will make over 100 weapons illegal. [CNN]

North Korea could be planning a missile launch soon, a U.S. official said. [CNN]

President Obama will return 5 percent of his salary to the U.S. Treasury. [BET]

The man who gunned down TV personality DJ Megatron was sentenced to 21 years in prison. [BET]

Exonerated football player Brian Banks signed with the Atlanta Falcons. [AP]

Assemblyman Eric A. Stevenson, a New York State lawmaker, was arrested on federal charges of accepting bribes and conspiring to defraud the state. [NY Times]

An Ohio judge sentenced Richard Beasley to death for the murder of three men who responded to an ad on the Craigslist website for a non-existent job. [Reuters]

Fast-food workers staged walkouts at McDonald’s, Burger King and other restaurants in New York City to protest wages that are “not enough.” [NBCNews]

In today’s top news, lawyers for George Zimmerman, the shooter of Trayvon Martin, have withdrawn from the case, eight Black New York college students reported being “stopped and frisked” by the NYPD a total of 92 times and a white man is attacked and robbed by a group of Black men in Baltimore.

Lawyers for the shooter of Trayvon Martin have withdrawn from the case. [BET]

Eight Black New York college students reported being “stopped and frisked” by the NYPD a total of 92 times. [NYT]

White man attacked and robbed by group of Black men in Baltimore. [CNN]

Final jurors chosen for the trial of William Balfour, alleged killer of Jennifer Hudson’s family. [ChicagoTribune]

Five-year-old boy brings heroin to school for show-and-tell. [MSNBC]

Rick Ross forced to cancel two shows after suffering a seizure. [BET]

Nicki Minaj’s new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, debuts at No. 1. [BET]

Hospitals hosting McDonald’s chains under pressure to cut ties. [USATODAY]

Syria gives Kofi Annan another promise that it will comply with ceasefire despite continued violence. [BBC]

Sudan vows to retake lucrative oil fields from South Sudan. [BBC]

In today’s top news, BET News to air an exclusive Trayvon Martin special tonight, the New Black Panther Party offers $10K for capture of Trayvon’s killer, George Zimmerman, and the Supreme Court begins three days of hearings on challenges to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.

BET to air exclusive Trayvon Martin news special. [BET]

New Black Panther Party offers $10K for capture of Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman. [Chicago Tribune]

Supreme Court begins three days of hearings on challenges to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. [NYT]

Some church leaders and members wore hoodies this Sunday in honor of Trayvon Martin. [Yahoo]

IRS to garnish rapper Nas’s wages. [BET]

Legendary soul singer Bobby Womack has been hospitalized for pneumonia. [BET]

Wife of Afghan massacre suspect Robert Bales says “he would not do that.” [CNN]

McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Wendy’s eaters among the most unhealthy fast food customers. [MSNBC]

Oil is discovered in Kenya. [BBC]

(Photo: John Amis-Pool/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Bishop Eddie long’s wife files for divorce, rough winds batter parts of California, the ICC hires an African at the helm and Cain’s latest accuser has a bleeding heart.

Black unemployment increased slightly in November. [BET]

Bishop Eddie Long’s wife files for divorce. [AJC]

Wild winds wreak havoc in California. [CNN]

Honda recalls hundreds of thousands of airbags. [MSNBC]

NYC Mayor admits he “smoked up” in college. [MSNBC]

Some McDonald’s to charge for Happy Meal toys. [CSM]

First Family lights national Christmas tree. [Reuters]

Cain accuser’s “heart bleeds” for his wife Gloria. [CNN]

A Gambian woman will take over as prosecutor for the ICC [BBC]

Rich nations pledge climate donations to developing world. [AJE]

A McDonald’s employee who was shot while protecting a woman at the restaurant has been dissed by the burger chain. Nigel Haskett, 22, was working his shift in Little Rock, Ark. last summer when a man came in and attacked a woman. Haskett jumped between the two and tussled with the man, forcing him out of the restaurant. But he returned inside the store with a chest wound after the suspect shot him. Haskett survived and underwent extensive medical treatment. But Mickey D’s refuses to help him with the expenses, saying his injury occurred outside the realm of his job duties. A police spokesman describing Haskett’s actions says he literally came to the woman’s “rescue.” The owner of the restaurant where Haskins worked has said he’ll cover the hero’s bills with his own cash.