(Photo: AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

In today’s top news, Carol Gray, the mother of Kimani Gray, wants to know why the police had to kill her son; Jonathan Watkins, the father of slain infant Jonylah Watkins, is in talks with Chicago police; and rapper Jay-Z will co-produce and perform on the soundtrack for The Great Gatsby.

Carol Gray, mother of Kimani Gray, wants to know why the police had to kill her son. [AP]

Jonathan Watkins, father of slain infant Jonylah Watkins, is in talks with Chicago police. [ABC Chicago]

Rapper Jay-Z has teamed up with Australian director Baz Luhrmann to produce and perform on the soundtrack for The Great Gatsby. [Reuters]

The two officers now under scrutiny for fatally shooting Brooklyn teen Kimani Gray are decorated cops who had fired their weapons before. [NY Daily News]

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is being asked to apologize for referring to the first Black female leader of the state Assembly by race and gender, and not by name. [AP]

Antron Brown is the first African-American to win a major driving title in the U.S. [Jacksonville.com]

Ohio conservative Sen. Rob Portman is changing his stance on gay marriage after finding out his son is gay. [CNN]

Another Carnival Cruise ship is having technical difficulties that are affecting its sailing speed. [Huffington Post]

The UN and human rights groups are warning of a rise in sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [Al Jazeera]

An alleged victim described abuses she says were committed under former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier’s rule. [BET]

(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, President Obama will sign an updated version of the Violence Against Women Act; the Seattle public school system is under investigation for racial bias in disciplining students; and an African-American man’s DNA has been traced back 338,000 years.

President Obama will sign an updated version of the Violence Against Women Act that includes new requirements for how colleges handle allegations of sexual assault. [NPR]

The Seattle public school system is under federal investigation for alleged racial bias in disciplining students. [AP]

DNA from an African-American man living in South Carolina has been traced back 338,000 years. [Discovery News]

Tia Norfleet, the ‘first and only African-American female licensed by NASCAR,’  has been overstating claims about her success. [Yahoo! Sports]

A petition is going around demanding the National Anthem be changed to R. Kelly’s “Ignition” Remix. [TheGrio]

A 24-year-old interning at a California Cat Haven was mauled to death by her favorite lion. [CNN]

North Korea threatened the United States on Thursday with a  nuclear strike before the United Nations approved new sanctions against the country. [Reuters]

An Italian court sentenced ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi to one year in jail over a leaked wiretap transcript published in his family’s newspaper. [BBCNews]

The party of Raila Odinga, Kenya’s prime minister, wants to halt the election vote-counting process on claims votes were “doctored.” [NYTimes]

(Photo: UPI/via Newscom/Landov)

In today’s top news, George Zimmerman’s lawyers want to question Trayvon Martin’s friend who spoke to him before he was killed, President Obama says today is “the best of times and worst of times” for Black Americans and Oscar Pistorius has been granted bail.

Defense lawyers in Trayvon Martin case want to question friend who was on the phone with him before he was killed. [AP]

President Obama says today is “the best of times and worst of times” for Blacks on Rev. Al Sharpton radio show.  [The Grio]

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of killing his girlfriend, has been granted bail. [CNN]

Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa welcomed their baby boy to the world Thursday. [BET]

The family of Emmett Till has penned an open letter to Lil Wayne for his controversial lyrics referencing Till. [TheGrio]

Blacks are consuming 15 percent of their calories from fast food, compared to 11 percent for whites. [BET]

Ted Nugent says President Obama is “the clear and present engineer of the destruction of Black America.” [Black Voices]

Democrats say Virginia’s new voter bill will disenfranchise the poor, elderly and African-Americans. [BET]

In Haiti, the U.N. will not compensate families of those who died in a 2010 epidemic blamed on U.N. peacekeepers. [Al Jazeera]

Fighting continues in Sudan’s Darfur region, with 21 people dead and 33 injured. [Reuters]

In today’s top news, President Obama warned that hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose jobs unless Congress takes action soon, mentally impaired Georgia inmate Warren Hill was spared from execution and four are dead after a California man went on a shooting spree.

President Obama warned that hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose jobs unless Congress takes action before March 1. [BET]

Mentally impaired Georgia inmate Warren Hill was spared from execution by final-hour stays from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Georgia Court of Appeals. [CNN]

Four are dead after a California man went on a shooting spree during a series of carjackings before taking his own life. [Reuters]

A natural gas explosion caused a massive fire in Kansas City, Missouri, injuring 14. [NBCNews]

Real Husbands of Hollywood star Kevin Hart will host Saturday Night Live. [BET]

Tracey Edmonds and BET founder Robert Johnson will launch a faith-based digital network. [Grio]

Quincy Jones has launched a music education app. [AP]

A member of the Navy Seal Team Six crew that killed Osama bin Laden says he listened to Game’s “Red Nation” before killing the terrorist leader. [BET]

France is urging its citizens to leave Cameroon after seven French tourists were kidnapped. [BBC]

The U.N. warned that four million Syrians are in need of assistance amid civil war and a typhoid outbreak. [AJE]

(Photo: Family Photo)

In today’s top news, funeral arrangements are set for Janay McFarlane, the Chicago teen who was shot and killed just hours after her sister attended President Obama’s speech on gun violence, President Obama says his leaked immigration plan is a backup measure in the event Congress doesn’t come to an agreement and advocates are pleading with Georgia to stay the execution of a man deemed mentally retarded.

Funeral arrangements have been set for Janay McFarlane, the Chicago teen was shot and killed just hours after her sister attended President Obama’s speech on gun violence. [CNN]

President Obama says his leaked immigration plan is a backup measure in the event Congress doesn’t come to an agreement. [NBCNews]

Advocates are pleading with Georgia to stay the execution of convicted murderer Warren Hill because of his mental state. [CNN]

Forest Whitaker was falsely accused of stealing from a New York City deli. [BET]

An Idaho man was fired from his job after slapping a Black toddler and using the n-word. [Grio]

South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorious says his girlfriend’s murder was unintentional. [CNN]

The U.N. says man-made chemicals in everyday products are to blame for some cancers, fertility problems. [Reuters]

The Best Man sequel is slated for a Christmas release. [BET]

Actor Anthony Anderson has expressed his willingness to play fugitive Christopher Dorner in movie adaptation of the story. [BET]

The European Union lifted sanctions on banned Zimbabwe officials. [AJE]

(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, the U.S. Postal Service will end Saturday mail service to cut costs; a Florida judge denied George Zimmerman’s request to delay his murder trial; and Home Depot announces plans to hire 80,000 more employees for spring.

The U.S. Postal Service will end Saturday mail service to cut costs. [BET]

Home Depot announced plans to hire 80,000 more employees for spring. [CNN]

A Florida judge denied George Zimmerman’s request to delay his murder trial. [BET]

Florida congresswoman Frederica Wilson introduced a resolution honoring Trayvon Martin on his 18th birthday. [Grio]

A proposed bill in Alabama would exonerate the wrongly convicted Scottsboro Boys. [BET]

The city of Detroit may lose up to 51 of its public parks. [Yahoo!]

Students at Duke University are planning to protest a racist, Asian-themed fraternity party. [Yahoo!]

A pregnant prison guard was arrested for having sex with an inmate who faces the death penalty for murder. [NBCNews].

French officials say they are in a “real war” with terrorists in Mali. [BBC]

The U.N. condemned Somalia for convicting a journalist and the rape victim he interviewed. [AJE]

(Photo: Simon Burchell/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Dr. Dre was named the highest paid musician of 2012; a  GOP state senator says he is in favor of “dissolving Detroit”; and Congress is considering getting rid of the $1 bill in favor of coins.

Dr. Dre was named the highest paid musician of 2012. [BET]

A GOP state senator says he is in favor of  ”dissolving Detroit.” [Grio]

Congress is considering getting rid of the $1 bill in favor of coins. [AP]

Country singer Trace Adkins defended the Confederate flag earpiece he wore at the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting. [CBSNews]

A man dressed as Madea tried to rob a bank in Mississippi. [WREGMemphis]

A mother is petitioning to have her dead don’s student loans forgiven. [Grio]

Joe Jackson reportedly suffered a minor stroke. [BET]

Bobbi Kristina’s boyfriend, Nick Gordon, was arrested for reckless driving.  [BET]

The U.N. General Assembly votes to elevate the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state. [NYT]

The U.K. has halted aid payments to Rwanda over the country’s alleged involvement with supporting rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [BBC]

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, President Obama is urging taxpayers to lobby lawmakers by phone, email and Twitter; Kanye West is deposed in Kim Kardashian’s divorce; and Trayvon Martin’s shooter is seeking donations to pay for his expenses while he awaits his trial.

President Obama is urging taxpayers to lobby lawmakers by phone, email and Twitter to avoid impending tax hikes in 34 days. [ABCNews]

Kanye West is being deposed in Kim Kardashian’s divorce. [BET]

Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman is seeking donations to pay for his expenses while he awaits his trial. [AP]

Steven Tyler apologized to Nicki Minaj for his criticism of her. [BET]

Comedian Katt Williams is accused of leading police on a dangerous tricycle chase. [TMZ]

New York City reported that not a single person was stabbed, shot or slashed this past Monday. [NBCNewYork]

Some Philly residents suspect a  mural dedicated to Black artist Dox Thrash was covered by a firm contracted by the government. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

A new iPhone app helps you find the nearest Black-owned businesses. [New America Media]

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon offered conditional backing  to an African Union intervention in Mali. [BBC]

Egypt’s constituent assembly votes on a new constitution. [BBC]

(Photo: AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

In today’s top news, a bus bomb hit Tel Aviv, Israel, as diplomats try to broker a peace deal between Israel and Palestine, a group of Black farmers in Alabama are suing the federal government for discrimination, and Rep. James Clyburn said racial “code words” are being used to insult U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice.

A bus bomb hit Tel Aviv as diplomats try to broker a peace deal between Israel and Palestine. [NBCNews]

A group of Black farmers in Alabama are suing the federal government for discrimination. [FOX6]

Rep. James Clyburn said racial “code words” are being used to insult U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice. [The Grio]

GZA of the Wu Tang Clan will teach high school science in 10 New York City schools. [CNN]

Twinkie maker Hostess Brands failed to reach an agreement with a baker’s union Tuesday. [NBCNews]

Alicia Keys recently reunited with her estranged father. [BET]

Birdman celebrated 500 million records sold by Cash Money Records. [BET]

Singer Frank Ocean says he’s not offering any more information about his love life. [BET]

Deion Sanders’ son has plans to play football at Southern Methodist University. [ESPN]

The U.N. reports that there has been a large drop in new HIV infections among children worldwide. [BBC]