In today’s top news, former Chicago governor Rod Blagojevich begins his 14-year prison sentence today, Kony 2012 screenings are halted in Northern Uganda after residents express outrage and Memphis will finally name a street after Martin Luther King Jr. 40 years after his death.

Former Chicago governor Rod Blagojevich begins his 14-year prison sentence today. [BET]

Kony 2012 screenings halted in Northern Uganda after residents express outrage. [BBC]

Memphis to finally name a street after Martin Luther King Jr. 40 years after his death.  [CNN]

The White House is turning its attention to foreign-policy matters this week. [BET]

President Obama says it is not yet time to intervene in Syria. [AJE]

A new book from food justice activist Bryant Terry says that Black people can enjoy vegan food too. [BET]

Study shows that a lack of sleep may cause heavier eating. [WebMD]

Taliban suspends peace talks with the U.S. [Reuters]

Shocking, new anti-smoking campaign sets out to de-glamorize the addictive habit. [Reuters]

Arizona is on pace to have its busiest year for executions. [AP]

(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]

Teen Accused of Raping, Killing Girlfriend’s Infant Son

A Louisiana teen is suspected of raping and beating to death his girlfriend’s 8-month-old son. Police say they were called to an apartment near Gretna, La., to administer aid to a seemingly unconscious child. The child, Da-Von Lonzo was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. Read more.

You’ll Never Guess America’s Safest City

America’s largest cities are not necessarily the most violent. In fact, according to a new listing of the safest municipalities in the United States with populations over 500,000 people, New York City tops the list. This means that it has fewer violent crimes per capita than other major metropolises. Violent crimes refer to murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Read more.

Serena Still Hanging in Australian Open Three-time Australian Open champ Serena Williams has advanced to  face No. 8-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in the quarterfinals after he opponent withdrew Sunday after an apparent battle with heatstroke. Victoria Azarenka, the 19-year-old from Belarus, started the match strong, defeating the normally powerful Williams 6-3 in the first set. “I feel so bad; she was playing so well,” Williams said in a brief interview with Australian television. “She can’t risk it, so I hope she did the right thing. She’s obviously playing really well and has so many other Australian Opens out there for her.” Azarenka began to cry, covered her face with her left hand as she walked toward the net and retired from the match. Williams was there to meet her as the crowd cheered supportively. Azarenka was then helped off court, still distraught, by two officials. No details of her condition were immediately available, although the tournament director, Craig Tiley, said that she had been ill the night before.

It’s a Philly Affair in Memphis Former 76ers guard Lionel Hollins, who took over as head coach of the Grizzlies after replacing another former Sixer Marc Ivaroni, attempted to have two other former Philadelphia Sixers join him on the bench as coaches: Johnny Davis, a former Sixers coach, and Maurice Cheeks who was Hollins backcourt mate back in the day and the most recently fired Sixer head coach. Initially, Cheeks indicated that he would join Hollins, but he recently declined the offer. “But he decided he wanted a little more time to himself,” Hollins said. “I certainly understand that. He’ll have opportunities later.” The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Hollins said he wanted two experienced men with him ”who will have huge responsibility, who have the right to stop a practice and coach because they know what to look for. I’m not egotistical. I know basketball, but I also know the value of having good people around you.”

A 3-year-old Memphis boy attacks a cop.  A 3-year-old Memphis boy jumped from a car and helped his mother and the driver, who was a suspect in a crime, attack the arresting officer, according to witnesses. FOX News reports that the officer is recovering at a Memphis-area hospital, while the mother has been arrested and is being held. Watch the video below.

Smoking causes more cancers than once thought  It is known that tobacco-smoking leads to serious health complications. Smoking is a major risk factor for cancer. But a new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) links smoking to more cancers than most people realize. Get the details at BET.com/Body & Soul.

Infamous Klansman will rally troops in civil rights capital

Renowned ex-Klansman David Duke is uniting his troops in Memphis, the home of the National Civil Rights Museum. Duke, the Louisiana White supremacist politician who came a stone’s throw from landing in the U.S. Senate, has announced his Euro-International Conference to be held in the historic city on Nov. 8. But it is unclear exactly where the event will be held, according to Kevin Kane, an official with the convention and visitors bureau. At the convention, Duke will address the presidential election. “We will assemble to say clearly that neither Black radical, Barrack Obama, nor Mr. Amnesty, John McCain, truly represent the will of the American people,” says Duke, who left the Democratic Party several years ago to join the Republican ranks. Before his run for the Senate in 1990, Duke left the KKK – officially – and he formed the National Association for the Advancement of White People, NAAWP. He says he didn’t pick Memphis because it is the infamous site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or the home of the National Civil Rights Museum, but because it is the most centrally located cities in the United States.

Police seek noose planter at Texas University. Police want to know who put a noose on the chair of the student body president at Abilene Christian University last week. When Daniel Paul Watkins, and African-American senior political science major, returned to his office on Wednesday, somebody had put the racially insensitive symbol there. University President Royce Money said the action is nothing short of a hate crime and campus cops are working to solve the case. Only about 13 percent of the student body at Abilene Christian, a campus of 4,700 students, is Black.

No one injured at The Boss’ “Be Out Day.”

One man was arrested and another was being sought by police after gunshots disrupted a Florida charity event hosted by rapper Rick Ross. The Boss held his annual “Be Out Day” celebration this week, an event where he distributes food and school supplies, and encourages voter registration. Flo-Rida had performed and Ross had just taken the stage when the suspects began shooting and sending participants diving for cover. “The shots happened near the event … across the street, but it was close enough that it seemed as if it happened in the park (where the show was taking place),” says Elora Mason, publicist for Rick Ross Charities, Inc. “It’s not clear what brought it on, but police said the person shooting appeared to be shooting in the air.” The investigation is ongoing. Police cleared the stage, but Ross later returned to do a short performance and then sign autographs for some of those who remained. Ross says 2,000 backpacks were distributed.

Morgan Freeman reportedly “resting comfortably.”

Having undergone surgery for injuries connected to a weekend car crash, actor Morgan Freeman is back at home. A spokesman for the veteran actor says he left Memphis’ Regional Medical Center on Thursday. “He was released today at noon local time and is now resting comfortably,” Ken Sunshine says. Freeman and his passenger Demaris Meyer, who reportedly gave the hospital a phony name to hide her relationship with the married-but-separated star, were traveling in Mississippi when he lost control of the vehicle. Both occupants had to be cut out of the Nissan. Freeman later revealed that he and his long-time wife Myrna have been separated since December, apparently to quell speculation about Meyer’s identity. She was also treated for her injuries.

Remy Ma hopes legal eagle can come to rescue.

Just three months into an eight-year sentence for felonious assault, weapons possession and attempted coercion, rapper Remy Ma has hired a lawyer who she hopes will help her appeal her way to freedom. William “Billy” Murphy Jr. won an acquittal on behalf of boxing promoter Don King in 1998 after he’d been charged with defrauding Lloyd’s of London. Murphy has also represented DMX and Mary J. Blige, among other celebrities. “With the addition of Mr. Murphy…I now believe I have assembled a team that will have the might and expertise to tell my side of the story,” Remy says in a statement. “I am confident that after hearing everything, my side will prevail.” Remy was convicted this spring in the shooting of her former friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph in a dispute over money.