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]

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, many Americans agree that Joe Biden won last night’s vice presidential debate, a poll shows Mitt Romney leading President Obama in Florida and Bobbi Kristina confirms her engagement to Nick Gordon.

The majority of Americans agree that Joe Biden won last night’s vice presidential debate. [CBS]

A poll shows Mitt Romney leading President Obama in Florida. [Tampa Bay Times]

Bobbi Kristina confirms her engagement to Nick Gordon. [BET]

BP and the Obama Administration are reportedly close to striking a settlement deal over the 2012 Gulf oil spill. [NBCNews]

Last Dragon star Leo O’Brien dies at 41. [BET]

Nelly was detained after drugs and a loaded gun were found on his tour bus. [BET]

Spike Lee’s Michael Jackson documentary will hit theaters briefly beginning next week. [Hollywood Reporter]

Rapper Shyne publicly expresses his support for Mitt Romney. [MTV]

Michael Vick confirms that he does own a dog. [Grio]

Ghana’s Ashanti crown jewels were stolen from a Norway hotel. [BBC]

The European Union won a Nobel Peace Prize. [CNN]

In today’s top news, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson was fired from the Miami Dolphins, Malcolm X actor Robert Freeman Jr. died at 78 and Mitt Romney names Paul Ryan as his running mate.

Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson was fired from the Miami Dolphins following a domestic violence dispute with his wife, Evelyn Lozada. [BET]

Malcolm X actor Robert Freeman Jr. dies at 78. [AP]

Mitt Romney names Paul Ryan as his running mate. [BET]

Russell Simmons tweets, Romney and Ryan “will destroy our people.” [Twitchy]

Black hair braiders in Oregon and other parts of the country face stiff regulation. [Oregonian]

Debbie Rowe, mother of Prince and Paris Jackson, said she approves of the new joint custody agreement. [BET]

Rep. Allen West fights back against ad that depicts him punching white women. [Palm Beach Post]

Rampant racial profiling is reported at Boston’s Logan International Airport. [AP]

Brazilian soccer star Pele makes surprise cameo at Olympic closing ceremony as the country gears up for the 2016 Summer games. [SWR]

Nigeria’s army kills 20 suspected members of militant group Boko Haram. [AJE]

In today’s top news, Olympic swimmer Lia Neal wins a bronze medal, a Mississippi church bans a Black couple’s wedding and HIV-positive women in Namibia are being sterilized.

HIV-positive women are being forced to undergo forced sterilization in Namibia, lawyers say. [BBC]

A Mississippi church bans a Black couple’s wedding. [BET]

Swimmer Lia Neal wins a bronze medal. [NYDN]

Mike Tyson and Spike Lee team up to bring the boxer’s life to Broadway. [USA Today]

Team U.S.A. basketball team is a shoe-in to become the Olympic champion. [LA Times]

An Ebola outbreak in Uganda has left at least 14 dead. [CNN]

Colorado shooting suspect to be led to court through underground tunnel. [CNN]

A new test might prove that Michael Jackson’s doctor was innocent. [CNN]

In today’s top news, the names of six “secret” witnesses in George Zimmerman’s case are revealed, President Obama announces a new education program, and Katherine Jackson is no longer the guardian of Michael Jackson’s children.

President Obama announces a new initiative for Black academic excellence. [BET]

The judge reveals the names of six “secret” witnesses in George Zimmerman’s case. [News One]

Katherine Jackson is no longer the guardian of Michael Jackson’s children. [BET]

The top 10 African athletes to watch this Olympics. [BBC]

Authorities arrest James Brown’s daughter for a hit-and-run incident. [The Grio]

The “Black Madam” is charged with murder for lethal butt injections. [AP]

Somalia is close to creating its first legitimate government in more than 20 years. [ALJ]

In today’s top news, BET remembers the music of Michael Jackson on the third anniversary of his death, “superhero” Newark Mayor Cory Booker helped and comforted a pedestrian hit by a car and senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said President Obama has a “genuine love” for the Black community.

BET remembers the music of Michael Jackson on the third anniversary of his death. [BET]

“Superhero” Newark Mayor Cory Booker helped and comforted a pedestrian hit by a car. [NBC4]

Senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said President Obama has a “genuine love” for the Black community. [WaPo]

President Obama pledged to fight for immigration reform. [BET]

Politico suspends a Black reporter who said Mitt Romney is “comfortable” with “white folks.” [NYDN]

Some cash-strapped U.S. cities are considering selling advertising space on fire trucks and other spaces. [NYT]

Kandi Burruss says the Black community is “hush-hush” when it comes to discussing sex. [BET]

NBA star Tony Parker is suing the NY club where the Drake and Chris Brown brawl went down for $20 million. [BET]

Iraq orders BBC, Voice of America and other media outlets to shut down operations in the country. [MSNBC]

Egypt’s newly elected President Mohammed Mursi begins the task of forming a government. [BBC]

In today’s top news, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is reportedly in a coma after suffering a stroke, the Rodney King 911 call has been released and a Texas grand jury refused to indict a father who killed a man for sexually abusing his daughter.

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is reportedly in a coma after suffering a stroke. [CBS]

The dramatic Rodney King 911 call has been released. [CNN]

A Texas grand jury refused to indict a father who killed a man for sexually abusing his daughter. [CNN]

President Obama warned Mitt Romney to back off of criticizing his foreign policy decisions. [Politico]

The Southern Baptist Convention elects its first Black president. [BET]

T.I. calls Chief Keef a “representative” of the new generation. [BET]

The Miami Heat took Game 4 of the NBA Finals. [MSNBC]

The Pope calls for peace in Nigeria amid religious violence. [BBC]

Arsenio Hall is preparing to return to late-night TV. [BET]

The Jackson brothers are gearing up to go on their first tour after Michael’s death. [AP]

In today’s top news, a source says George Zimmerman claims Trayvon Martin circled his SUV and intimidated him before his fatal shooting, a Jacksonville woman who “stood her ground” against her abusive husband and fired a warning shot faces 20 years in prison and a Houston teen says police beat him in 2010 as he tried to surrender himself during arrest.

A source says George Zimmerman claims Trayvon Martin circled his SUV, intimidating him before the fatal shooting. [Orlando Sentinel]

A Jacksonville woman who “stood her ground” against her abusive husband was denied a new trial.  [Florida Times-Union]

A Houston teen says police beat him in 2010 as he tried to surrender himself during arrest. [AP]

In some areas of the country, many still won’t vote for Obama because he is Black. [NYT]

The family of the late NFL legend Junior Seau is considering donating his brain for study following his unexpected suicide. [ NBC]

The family of FAMU drum major Robert Champion says the school should disband the marching band to prevent hazing. [BET]

Pepsi has plans to use Michael Jackson’s image on its new cans. [BET]

Lawmakers band together to try to limit post office closures. [Reuters]

A U.N. deadline looms for Sudan and South Sudan to end fighting or face sanctions. [BBC]

Brazil pledges to increase investment in Africa and acknowledges slave trade gains. [AFP]

In today’s top news, Republican Rep. Allen West tells Obama and his Democratic counterparts to “get the hell out of the U.S.;” cleared of a death sentence, Mumia Abu Jamal begins his life prison term and one bullying victim receives $100k in damages.

Rep. Allen West tells Obama and Democrats to “get the hell out of the U.S.” [BET]

Now off death row, Mumia Abu Jamal begins his life sentence. [BET]

Bullying victim receives $100k in damages. [BET]

Herman Cain says he would work for a Gingrich administration. [TODAY]

Mandela loses his last surviving sibling. [CNN]

Dr. Conrad Murray wants to be released from prison. [BET]

Morehouse president Robert M. Franklin will step down. [PRN]

African Union opens $200 million headquarters in Ethiopia. [BET]

Study: Segregation lowest in a century. [USATODAY]

Occupy DC camps remain defiant of deadline. [CNN]

(Photo: AP Photo/Tampa Tribune, Joseph Brown III)

In today’s top news, investigators are still poring over details of the FAMU student hazing death, Diddy may be pitching in on your New Year’s cab fare and some California gun owners have decided to swap their steel for plastic.

Atlanta high school is tied to FAMU hazing death. [LA Times]

Southwest U.S. braces for impact of unusual winter weather. [CNN]

FAMU president John Ammons to keep job amid hazing probe. [AP]

New York man burns 73-year-old woman alive over an unsettled debt. [CNN]

Diddy will help you get home safely this New Year’s Eve by handing out free debit and metro cards. [BET]

California Black church community group trades gift cards for guns. [10 News]

FBI says nationwide, violent crimes are declining. [WSJ]

Doctor, 100, still taking appointments and making house calls. [MSNBC]

Study: more young people being arrested. [ABC]

Michael Jackson’s house auction raises $1 million. [BBC]