In today’s top news, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee was sacked amid Trayvon Martin case criticism, Attorney General Eric Holder was found in contempt of Congress for his handling of the “Fast and Furious” gun trafficking program and the Southern Baptist Convention declares gay rights are not civil rights.

Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee was sacked amid Trayvon Martin case criticism. [BET]

Attorney Genral Eric Holder was found in contempt of Congress for his handling of the “Fast and Furious” gun trafficking program. [BET]

The Southern Baptist Convention declares gay rights are not civil rights. [AP]

New York City’s Black residents left out of the city’s jobs rebound. [NYT]

Half of all new HIV diagnoses occur in the South. [BET]

Exposure to traffic noise has been linked with heart attacks. [WHAM]

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has replaced Tiger Woods as the highest paid athlete. [LATimes]

A judge has thrown out three of 51 child sex abuse charges lodged against former Penn. State football coach Jerry Sandusky. [AP]

The Ugandan government bans 38 NGOs it has accused of promoting gay rights. [CNN]

Two South African hostage, captured by Somali pirates, have been freed after 20 months of captivity. [BBC]

In today’s top news, rapper 2 Chainz says airport officials tried to “assassinate” his swag this week, Colin Powell says he supports same-sex marriage and two female soldiers are suing to end the military restriction on women in combat.

Rapper 2 Chainz says airport officials tried to “assassinate” his swag when they arrested him for his over-sized chain this week. [BET]

General Colin Powell says he supports same-sex marriage. [CNN]

Two female soldiers are suing to end the military restriction on women in combat. [Reuters]

Mother of wrongfully deported teen Jakadrien Turner has filed suit against Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano for the mistake. [MSNBC]

NYPD roughs up 15-year-old honor student after mistaking her for a shoplifter. [NYDN]

NY Black radio pioneer and legend Hal Jackson dies at 96. [BET]

First Lady Michelle Obama will host a conference call with students this evening to discuss the presidential election. [BET]

George Zimmerman’s evolving views of the Sanford Police Department are now being aired and scrutinized. [CNN]

South Africa’s infamously impoverished township, Soweto, gets its own fashion week. [AP]

South African officials are suing to have a painting of president Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed removed from public view. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Jennifer Hudson takes the stand in her family’s murder trial, the DOJ is suing Jacksonville, Florida over allegedly discriminatory firefighter exams and the resignation of the Sanford police chief in the Trayvon Martin case is rejected by the city commission.

Jennifer Hudson takes the stand in her family’s murder trial. [BET]

The DOJ is suing Jacksonville, Florida over allegedly discriminatory firefighter exams. [Reuters]

The resignation of the Sanford police chief in the Trayvon Martin case is rejected by the city commission. [BET]

An Alabama white man is beaten by a group of African-Americans after taunting a group of Black teens. [Local 15]

Essence sacks white male editor over offensive Facebook post. [Journal-isms]

A college student launches “African-Americans for Mitt Romney” Website. [The Hill]

A 13-year-old girl died during a shooting in a Harlem housing project. [NBC]

Dr. Dre shuts down rumors of a Tupac hologram tour. [BET]

T.I. steps in between the growing beef between rappers Iggy Azalea and Azealia Banks. [BET]

South Sudan’s leader says Sudan has declared war. [AP]

In today’s top news, Trayvon Martin’s shooter appears uninjured in a surveillance video despite claims of self-defense, Spike Lee wrongly links elderly couple to George Zimmerman and a white alumni of Howard’s law school is credited with starting Trayvon Martin’s online petition.

Trayvon Martin’s shooter appears uninjured in video despite claims of self-defense. [BET]

Spike Lee wrongly links elderly couple to George Zimmerman. [BET]

White alumni of Howard’s law school is credited with starting Trayvon Martin’s online petition. [MSNBC]

Bobby Brown faces six months in jail following official DUI charge. [BET]

Florida teen gets life sentence for murdering two British tourists. [Guardian]

Criminal charges filed against JetBlue pilot who suffered a mental breakdown mid-flight. [Reuters]

Drinking alcohol may raise a woman’s risk for breast cancer. [HealthDay]

Overall cancer rates for U.S. are down. [CBS]

The National Rifle Association is selling hoodies that can conceal a gun. [MiamiNewTimes]

Delegation of west African leaders cancels Mali rebel negotiations. [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]

In today’s top news, the coroner’s report reveals Whitney Houston drowned, Sanford police chief Bill Lee and county prosecutor Norm Wolfinger step down over Trayvon Martin case and singer El DeBarge is cleared of drug possession charges.

Coroner’s report reveals Whitney Houston drowned. [BET]

Sanford police chief Bill Lee and county prosecutor Norm Wolfinger step down over Trayvon Martin case. [AP]

Singer El DeBarge is cleared of drug possession charges. [BET]

Gun sales are on the rise. [MSNBC]

Audit of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority shows accounting problems which bolster lawsuit. [AP]

Right wing blog calls Farrakhan’s tweets in support of Trayvon Martin “veiled threats.” [BLAZE]

A California school counselor taped his students having sex. [CNN]

Rapper Tyga speaks out on the Omaha, Nebraska, shooting that wounded a member of his crew. [BET]

Nokia eyes tattoos that communicate with your cellphone. [CNN]

African nations call for a Nigerian to head the World Bank. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Trayvon Martin’s parents speak to NYC crowds at Million Hoodie March, right wing blog suggests that Rev. Al Sharpton is “exploiting” the racial implications of the Trayvon Martin case, and Ray J denies rumors that he has a sex tape with the late Whitney Houston.

Trayvon Martin’s parents speak to NYC crowds at Million Hoodie March. [AP]

Right wing blog suggests that Rev. Al Sharpton is “exploiting” the racial implications of the Trayvon Martin case. [TheBlaze]

Ray J denies rumors that he has a sex tape with the late Whitney Houston. [BET]

North Carolina school asked students to dress in “African-American attire” or animal print for Black History Month. [MSNBC]

Mother of Rev. Al Sharpton has died. [BET]

Idris Elba will grace the silver screen as South African leader Nelson Mandela. [BET]

The U.S. Army is taking a second look at its PTSD evaluation program. [CNN]

Survey: Americans think today’s politicians talk about religion too much. [MSNBC]

Major supermarket chains to stop selling “pink slime” beef. [CBS]

Mali rebels announce takeover of country. [BBC]