In today’s top news, 13 have been charged in the hazing death of FAMU band member Robert Champion, Trayvon Martin’s social media posts may be used at George Zimmerman’s murder trial and Rapper 2 Chainz will educate voters about felon’s voting rights for “Respect My Vote!” campaign.

Thirteen charged in the hazing death of FAMU band member Robert Champion. [BET]

Trayvon Martin’s social media posts may be used at George Zimmerman’s murder trial. [Miami Herald]

Rapper 2 Chainz to educate voters about felons’ voting rights for “Respect My Vote!” campaign. [BET]

Newt Gingrich suspends his presidential campaign. [BET]

Beyoncé wins writing award from the New York Association of Black Journalists. [NYDN]

Singer Omarion joins Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group. [BET]

A student files a $20 million claim against the DEA for being left in a holding cell for four days. [NBC]

Facebook privacy problems are on the rise. [MSNBC]

Jobless numbers see biggest dip in the last year. [Reuters]

Dozens are killed in a raid on a cattle market in northern Nigeria. [BBC]

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]

In today’s top news, Red Tails took a lion’s share of the weekend box office, many mourn the passing of college football coach Joe Paterno and Obama is gearing up to address the 99 percent in Tuesday’s State of the Union speech.

Red Tails wins big at the weekend box office. [EW]

Legendary college football coach Joe Paterno dies at 85. [BET]

Obama’s next State of the Union to focus on the 99 percent. [AP]

Four more FAMU students arrested for hazing. [Orlando Sentinel]

Heidi Klum and Seal reportedly headed for divorce. [BET]

Nicki Minaj to delay the release of her next album. [BET]

Recovering Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to resign from Congress this week. [AP]

Newt Gingrich gaining traction in his presidential bid. [BET]

Oprah is convinced of another Obama win. [AP]

U.S. looking to Africa for help with Iran. [FOX]

In today’s top news, music loses legend Jimmy Castor, boxing great Muhammad Ali celebrates his 70th birthday and the Occupy Movement marches on in Washington.

Funk legend Jimmy Castor dies at 64. [BET]

Muhammad Ali celebrates his 70th birthday today. [BET]

‘Occupy’ protesters plan to take on Congress. [MSNBC]

Gingrich gets grilled at a Black church. [AP]

Lil Boosie pens jailhouse letter to fans. [BET]

U.S. Border Patrol to toughen southern border policy. [AP]

Death toll rising in European cruise ship wreck. [CNN]

Holder vows to protect voting rights in an MLK day speech. [CNN]

Nigerian fuel agency is being investigated for corruption. [BBC]

2011 was a good year for beating down credit card debt. [CNN]

(Photo: Fame Pictures)

In today’s top news, GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich gets the stamp of approval from J.C. Watts, pop star Rihanna rejects being called a racial slur and Detroit’s budget crisis has put its publicly funded Black museum on the chopping block.

Black Republican lawmaker J.C. Watts to endorse Newt Gingrich’s presidential candidacy. [BET]

Rihanna snaps back after a Dutch magazine calls her the N-word. [MTV]

U.S intelligence officials pointing fingers after Kim Jong Il death went unnoticed for 48 hours. [NYT]

Housing starts are at highest level since April last year. [MSNBC]

Detroit eyes budget cuts that may affect city museums, zoo. [Free Press]

NYC rats raid holiday treats at area post offices. [MSNBC]

Georgia group delivers natural hair Barbie dolls to young Black girls. [News 13]

Study: Black girls exercise less and less as they age. [BET]

D.C. Black men outraged over police treatment. [WUSA9]

Plane crash lands on a busy New Jersey highway. [NYT]

(Photo: Kevin Winter/NBCUniversal/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Magic Johnson attempts to make moves in yet another field, Bishop Eddie Long says he needs to take time away from his megachurch and a deadly ‘game’ played by some children takes another life.

Magic Johnson makes a play for major league baseball. [BET]

Cain reminisces about his old “hood.” [BET]

Bishop Eddie Long taking time off after wife announces divorce. [ABC]

Cain expected to endorse Newt Gingrich. [Daily Beast]

Deadly ‘choking game’ claims another child. [MSNBC]

Europe bans airport body scanners [Mother Jones]

Amnesty International wants Zambia to lock up George Bush. [AP]

Few kids actually send racy text messages. [NYT]

Madonna to perform at Super Bowl halftime. [FOX]

State of Michigan considers intervening to save Detroit. [USATODAY]

Powell Warns His Party … Again
Call him a “liberal” all you want, but former Secretary of State Colin Powell says that unless the Republican Party embraces his vision for a more inclusive party – and not that of his ultra-conservative counterparts, Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney – the GOP is in trouble. Powell, along with former Pennsylvania governor and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, made their rounds on the Sunday TV talk shows hoping to throw a lifeline to their floundering party. “I believe we should build on the base because the nation needs two parties, two parties debating each other,” said Powell, who became the first African-American to head the State Department, during the administration of George W. Bush. “But what we have to do is debate and define who we are and what we are and not just listen to dictates that come down from the right wing of the party. …If we don’t reach out more, the party is going to be sitting on a very, very narrow base. You can only do two things with a base. You can sit on it and watch the world go by, or you can build on the base,” Powell said. Ridge, who was also appointed by Bush, agreed. He said if the Republican Party wants “to restore itself, not as a regional party, but as a national party, we have to be far less judgmental about disagreements within the party and far more judgmental about our disagreement with our friends on the other side of the aisle.” That so many Republicans are openly criticizing the direction of their party has signaled serious trouble at the homestead. Recent polls have shown that the party is not as popular as it used to be. Moreover, surveys are reflecting another unthinkable: that many Republicans are actually digging President Obama. Even when they don’t totally agree with a specific idea, they see him as intelligent, thoughtful, honest and quite presidential. This is not good news for hard-line conservatives like Limbaugh and Co. This isn’t the first time Powell has put Limbaugh on blast; several days ago, he described his partymate to a group of business leaders as a mere entertainer, a personality – not somebody who should be leading the GOP. “I may be out of their version of the Republican Party, but there’s another version of the Republican Party waiting to emerge once again,” he said. Limbaugh fired back, citing Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama over John McCain in the last general election as proof that Powell puts race above loyalty to the party. Powell is a Democrat in disguise, he said. Cheney was quick to jump into the debate, saying he’d rather follow the radio shock jock than Powell. On Sunday, Republican hitman Karl Rove co-signed on Cheney and Limbaugh’s anti-Powell vibe. “I don’t like this thing where people – and Powell is one them – who said, ‘Rush Limbaugh, shut up.’ We believe, as Republicans in the marketplace of ideas. Let that marketplace decide,” Rove said. “I want Colin Powell to go out there and lay out his vision, and then I want him to back it up by finding people who share it and working like heck to get them – and that’s how you win the party.” But offering further proof that there’s a shakeup going on in the Republican Party, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, known for commanding a successful conservative assault against the Clinton administration, is vociferously siding with the moderates. “I think Republicans are going to be very foolish if they run around deciding they’re going to see how much they can purge us down to the smallest possible base.” He says he wasn’t aiming to pick a fight with Cheney, only stating what his fellow Republicans need to hear.

Atlanta Mayor’s Disser is Suspended
There’s a price to pay for dissing the mayor, or any other person in Atlanta, according to Police Chief Richard Pennington, who on Saturday suspended the head of the police union. Last week, during a public discussion about seriously injured officers getting short shrift from the city workers’ compensation program, Sgt. Scott Kreher said he wanted to hit Mayor Shirley Franklin “in the head with a bat.” “The Atlanta Police Department does not condone nor will we tolerate supervisors making irresponsible and inflammatory remarks against the Mayor or any citizen of the City of Atlanta,” Pennington said in a statement released late Saturday night. Kreher is president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers — Local 623. city council members that he wanted to hit the mayor “in the head with a baseball bat.” In a statement, the mayor called Kreher’s comment “reprehensible,” and said she felt threatened.

An unlikely trio descended upon President Obama at the White House Thursday, agreeing that the education problems facing this country are far greater than the traditional differences that divide Democrats and Republicans, African Americans and Whites. Read more.