(Photo: MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/GettyImages)

In today’s top news, President Obama is expected to announce the return of 34,000 troops from Afghanistan in tonight’s State of the Union address; Rep. Keith Ellison called the GOP’s makeover efforts “putting lipstick on a pig”; and some Black L.A. residents are on guard as the manhunt for Chris Dorner continues.

President Obama is expected to announce the return of 34,000 troops from Afghanistan in tonight’s State of the Union address. [CNN]

Rep. Keith Ellison compared the GOP’s makeover efforts to “putting lipstick on a pig.” [BET]

Some Black, male residents of Los Angeles are wearing”don’t shoot” T-shirts after the manhunt for former cop Chris Dorner led to fatal cases of mistaken identity. [Newsone]

A 10-year-old was killed and two adults were injured when a Minnesota gunman opened fire in what authorities believe to be a “random shooting.” [Reuters]

Food stamp benefit amounts may be decreased soon if Congress doesn’t act. [NBCNews]

A Michigan attorney is running a free divorce sweepstakes for Valentine’s Day. [GMA]

In the wake of the pope’s resignation announcement, two African cardinals may be considered for the post. [BET]

Rapper Lil Mama will play the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in a new biopic. [BET]

Mali is hesitant about allowing U.N. peacekeepers on its soil. [BBC]

South Africa seeks justice for the teenage rape victim who was found dead last week. [Reuters]

In today’s top news, police have taken two men into custody in the case of slain Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton, the manhunt for renegade ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner enters its second week and President Obama is expected to be more aggressive in this year’s State of the Union address.

Police have taken two men into custody as “persons of interest”  in the case of slain Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton. [BET]

The manhunt for renegade ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner enters its second week. [CNN]

President Obama is expected to be more aggressive in this year’s State of the Union address. [Politico]

Pope Benedict XVI resigned from his position because of his age. [CNN]

Chris Brown crashed his car while trying to evade paparazzi after the Grammy Awards. [AP]

Rapper Ab Soul called fugitive Christopher Dorner’s revenge killing rampage a “necessary evil.” [Grio]

New York City’s Central Park Five may be closer to receiving a settlement from the city. [BET]

U.S. teen births have hit a record low. [NBCNews]

Kenya is set to hold its first presidential debate ahead of this year’s general elections. [BBC]

Guinea’s military chief and nine others were killed when their plane crashed in Liberia. [AJE]

(Photo: CNN)

In today’s top news, President Obama sheds tears while thanking his campaign staff in Chicago, a Las Vegas employer fired 22 employees as a direct result of Obama’s re-election and prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case release FBI records to Zimmerman’s attorneys.

President Obama sheds tears while thanking his campaign staff in Chicago. [CNN]

A Las Vegas employer fired 22 employees as a direct result of Obama’s re-election. [CBSNews]

Prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case release FBI records to Zimmerman’s attorneys. [Orlando Sentinel]

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is believed to be in plea deal talks with federal prosecutors. [Grio]

The 18-year-old son of a billionaire jokes about plans to “kill Obama.” [Grio]

Jermaine Jackson is changing his last name to “Jacksun” for artistic reasons. [BET]

Three men in Detroit were sentenced to 20 years in prison for carjacking Marvin Winans. [AP]

Chris Brown wants to be the Steven Spielberg of music videos. [BET]

2 Chainz and Drake’s “No Lie” goes platinum. [BET]

A company has created an iPhone case that shoots pepper spray. [NBCNews]

In today’s top news, a Washington man accused of making an email threat against President Obama was arrested, Nike will sell its latest LeBron James sneakers for $300 and Rep. Todd Akin says he will remain in the Missouri senate race after his “legitimate rape” comments.

The Secret Service arrested a Washington man accused of making an email threat against President Obama. [NBC News]

Nike will sell its latest LeBron James sneakers for $300. [ESPN]

Congressman Todd Akin says he will remain in the Missouri senate race after his “legitimate rape” comments caused a firestorm. [Reuters]

Kanye West is rumored to be considering a seat at the American Idol judges table. [BET]

A poll shows New Yorkers opinions about Stop-and-Frisk are divided along racial lines. [BET]

A woman held captive in a Philadelphia basement for a decade sues the city. [CNN]

A referee at the U.S. Open has been charged for allegedly murdering her husband with a coffee cup. [GMA]

Mike Tyson sympathizes with Chad Johnson amid his swirl of domestic violence related issues. [BET]

China has replaced the U.S. as Nigeria’s top crude oil importer. [This Day]

Federal authorities destroyed more than $1 billion worth of marijuana plants found growing on federal lands. [CNN]

A South African farm worker is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of white supremacist leader Eugene Terreblanche. [BBC]

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, Usher’s stepson was declared brain dead after a Jet Ski accident, George Zimmerman is at a safe house in Florida after posting $1 million in bail and a court battle over a Texas voter ID law is set to take place this week.

Usher’s stepson was declared brain dead after a Jet Ski accident. [BET]

Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman relocates to a safe house in Florida after posting $1 million in bail. [AP]

A controversial court battle over a Texas voter ID law is set to take place this week. [Reuters]

Hundreds of thousands of Internet users will lose access today because of a nasty virus. [CNN]

The Williams sisters took home the Wimbledon doubles title this weekend. [BET]

Morgan Freeman says President Obama’s white “mama” makes him America’s first mixed-race president — not the first Black president. [BET]

Study: The HPV vaccine is helping even those who skip it. [HealthDay]

South Sudan celebrates its first year of independence. [AFP]

South Africa desperately seeks to boost Black oil company ownership in the country. [Reuters]

Libya held its first democratic election this weekend. [Guardian]

In today’s top news, the Black jobless rate rose to 14.4 percent in June, George Zimmerman’s defense team renews public pleas for donations after bail was set at $1 million and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is being treated for serious “physical and emotional ailments.”

The unemployment rate for African-Americans rose to 14.4 percent in June. [BET]

George Zimmerman’s defense team renewed public pleas for donations after bail was set at $1 million. [NBC News]

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is being treated for serious “physical and emotional ailments,” his office announced. [AP]

Rihanna is suing her former accountants saying they cost her millions. [BET]

Wendy Williams is slated to produce the TV adaptation of Star Jones’ novel, Satan’s Sisters. [BET]

Muhammad Ali named 2012 Liberty Medal recipient. [AP]

A 14-year-old girl was killed in L.A. while watching a fireworks display this Fourth of July. [KTLA]

A 20-year-old Florida man received 162 years in prison for a first-time robbery offense that left no one injured. [NYDN]

Flyers for a three-day all-white Christian conference being held in Lamar County, Alabama, is angering some local residents. [MSNBC]

The U.N. calls for sanctions against Mali fighters, who are destroying important historical and religious sites in the area. [AJE]

(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

In today’s top news , the Miami Heat win the NBA championship, the White House has “full confidence” in Attorney General Eric Holder amid the “Fast and Furious” controversy and George Zimmerman claims Trayvon Martin threatened to kill him.

The Miami Heat win the NBA championship. [AP]

The White House has thrown its “full confidence” behind Attorney General Eric Holder amid the “Fast and Furious” controversy. [The Ticket]

George Zimmerman claims Trayvon Martin threatened to kill him. [CNN]

Trayvon Martin’s parents resolve to stay focused on goals as George Zimmerman releases a flurry of information about the case. [BET]

A 64-year-old grandmother from L.A. takes second place in a fitness competition. [NBC4]

The adopted son of former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky has stepped forward to say that he was sexually abused. [BBC]

The Supreme Court ruled that people who committed crack crimes before the new, more lenient penalties took effect should benefit from the new rules. [AP]

50 Cent and Lil Kim weigh in on the Drake and Chris Brown beef. [BET]

Ice-T chats about his directorial debut. [BET]

Deaths of Somali pirate hostages are increasing. [BBC]

Egyptian protesters return to Tahrir Square to demand speedy election results. [AJE]

In today’s top news, recordings of George and Shellie Zimmermam speaking in code about the couple’s finances have been released, Adidas halts the release of the  ”shackle shoe” amid much criticism and Republicans are seeking to make cuts to the food stamp program.

Recordings of George and Shellie Zimmermam speaking in code about the couple’s finances have been released.  [BET]

Adidas halts the release of the “shackle shoe” amid much criticism. [CNN]

Republicans are seeking to make cuts to the food stamp program. [CBS News]

A white nationalism group registers to lobby in Washington. [The Hill]

YouTube censors “terrorist” videos. [CNN]

Bebe Winans’ memoir in tribute to Whitney Houston is due to hit shelves July 31. [BET]

Report says Asian-Americans more satisfied with life. [MSNBC]

Chicago rapper Chief Keef, 16, has inked a deal with Interscope Records. [BET]

E.U. condemns Boko Haram’s church attacks in Nigeria and following reprisal. [AFP]

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor will appeal his war crimes conviction. [BBC]

In today’s top news, police are investigating the drowning death of Rodney King, thousands filled New York streets in silent protest of the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy and an SCLC official has spoken out in defense of embattled pastor Creflo Dollar.

Police are investigating the drowning death of Rodney King. [BET]

Thousands filled New York streets in silent protest of the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy. [BET]

An SCLC official has spoken out in defense of Pastor Creflo Dollar, who was arrested for beating his 15-year-old daughter. [AJC]

More white baseball players are filling spots on HBCU teams. [NewsObserver]

The New York nightclub where Drake and Chris Brown brawled last week has been shut down by the city for violations. [E!]

Drake’s first performance since the brawl draws extra security. [BET]

Melanie Fiona and J. Cole collab on new single. [BET]

The Miami Heat take Game 3 of the NBA Finals  in a 91-85 win against Oklahoma City. [NBC Sports]

Egyptian army vows to transfer power to the country’s  elected president. [BBC]

Boko Haram takes responsibility for the weekend bombings of three churches in Nigeria that left 50 people dead. [CNN]