In today’s top news, President Obama urged lawmakers to help him create jobs in last night’s State of the Union address, police believe rogue ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner was burned to death after a shootout and two men held for the death of Hadiya Pendleton say they mistook Pendleton and her friends for rival gang members.

President Obama urged lawmakers to work with him on creating jobs in last night’s State of the Union address. [BET]

Police believe rogue ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner was burned to death after a shootout with police in Big Bear Lake, California. [BET]

The two men held for the death of Hadiya Pendleton say they mistook Pendleton and her friends for rival gang members. [CBS]

Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake are planning to co-headline a 10-city tour this summer. [BET]

The Senate voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act. [AP]

Barry Bonds is asking a federal appeals court to throw out his felony conviction. [AP]

An Ohio mother was charged with helping her teen daughter beat up a girl at school. [HuffPo]

Stranded passengers on the Carnival Triumph cruise ship face an extra day at sea. [NBCNews]

South Sudan says Sudan is suspiciously bulking up its military along the countries’ contentious border. [AJE]

Canada will not send troops to Mali over worries that the country may become “another Afghanistan.” [Reuters]

In today’s top news, Beyoncé will sing the national anthem at the 57th presidential inauguration, 22 candidates have stepped up to fill the seat vacated by former Illinois congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and cable network MSNBC saw a 60 percent jump in Black viewership during 2012.

Beyoncé will sing the national anthem at the 57th presidential inauguration. [Grio]

Twenty-two candidates have stepped up to fill the seat vacated by former Illinois congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. [BET]

Cable network MSNBC saw a 60 percent jump in Black viewership during 2012. [ShadowandAct]

A N.Y. federal judge ruled stop-and-frisk unconstitutional in the Bronx. [BET]

New York’s governor Andrew Cuomo will propose a ban on assault weapons. [AP]

Laurence Fishburne got a restraining order on an alleged stalker who has tried to evict him from his own home. [BET]

The CDC says 1 in 5 high school girls binge drink. [CNN]

2012 was the U.S.’s hottest year on record. [Reuters]

Uganda returned $5 million in embezzled aid to Ireland. [Reuters]

South Africa’s farm workers stage mass strike over unfair wages amid “naked racism and white arrogance.” [BBC]

(Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Jay-Z says he feels like he has achieved the “American Dream,” police are investigating racist hate mail sent to GOP Congressional candidate Mia Love and Bronx’s District Attorney vows to cut back on prosecuting certain stop-and-frisk cases.

Jay-Z says he feels like he has achieved the “American Dream.” [AP]

Police are investigating racist hate mail sent to GOP congressional candidate Mia Love. [Politico]

The Bronx’s District Attorney vows to cut back on prosecuting certain stop-and-frisk cases. [BET]

Two women were caught trying to smuggle cocaine in weaves at New York’s JFK International Airport. [DailyCaller]

Swizz Beats is named global ambassador for the NYC Health and Hospitals Corp. [BET]

DMX dismisses Fredro Starr’s diss, calling him a “midget rapper.” [BET]

Study: Black girls under stress gain more weight. [USN]

Bobbi Kristina Brown was involved in a “mysterious” car accident with her boyfriend. [Yahoo]

The South African gold mine strike continues to spread. [BBC]

Sudan and South Sudan sign a groundbreaking deal. [AJE]

In today’s top news, forensic tests reveal Trayvon Martin’s DNA was not found on the murder weapon, Jesse Jackson Jr.’s D.C. home is reportedly up for sale and a report shows that Black male graduation rates lag behind whites.

Forensic tests reveal Trayvon Martin’s DNA was not found on the murder weapon. [BET]

Jesse Jackson Jr.’s D.C. home is reportedly up for sale. [NBC5]

Report shows that Black male graduation rates lag behind whites. [AP]

Whoopi Goldberg lambastes Mitt Romney via Twitter. [Twichy]

Wrongly accused rapist Brian Banks nabs a deal with the United Football League. [ESPN]

Nas and Lauryn Hill announce they will go on tour together. [BET]

Common wants to host a peace summit with Chief Keef and other Chicago rappers. [BET]

A Florida mom says she doesn’t regret beating up her son’s bully on a school bus. [NBCNews]

A 19-year-old woman from Uganda is Africa’s youngest legislator. [NewVision]

South African miners to resume work. [AJE]

In today’s top news, singer Frank Ocean revealed that his first love was a man, the judge in the Trayvon Martin case is expected to make a decision on George Zimmerman’s bond request today and President Obama hit the road via bus, making stops in key swing states of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Singer Frank Ocean revealed that his first love was a man. [BET]

A decision on George Zimmerman’s request for bond is expected to be handed down today. [CBSNews]

President Obama has hit the road via bus and is making stops in key swing states. [The Hill]

Nearly 700,000 Americans across 11 states celebrated the 4th of July without electricity. [CNN]

Legend Bobby Womack is talking about making a comeback. [BET]

A second arrest warrant was issued for That’s So Raven actor Orlando Brown. [BET]

A Nigerian entrepreneur has created a way to bring Nigerian films to the world. [CNN]

Nigerian president Goodluck Johnathan nominated the country’s first female Supreme Court chief justice. [AFP]

Childhood abuse has been linked to obesity in Black women. [L.A.Times]

Study shows U.S. apartment rent prices have reached their highest rate since 2007. [Reuters]

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, a medical report shows that Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman had a broken nose and other injuries, Trayvon Martin’s autopsy shows he had bruised knuckles at the time of his death and Jay-Z will take a break from recording to focus on parenting Blue Ivy.

Medical report shows George Zimmerman had a broken nose and other injuries after shooting Trayvon Martin. [BET]

Trayvon Martin’s autopsy shows he had bruised knuckles at the time of his death. [WFTV]

Jay-Z will take a break from recording to focus on parenting Blue Ivy. [BET]

Bobby Brown says recording his new album has been “healing.” [BET]

Study says more African-Americans leaving religious faiths each year. [USC]

Florida woman kills her four children before taking her own life. [NYT]

Mississippi lawmaker is fine with women using hangers to perform self-abortions. [MaddowBlog]

Report shows rising child care costs are forcing women to leave behind careers. [TODAY]

Chinese agencies looking for English teachers only seek white applicants. [MSNBC]

Charles Taylor says Hague prosecutors paid witnesses to testify against him in the war crimes trial. [BBC]

In today’s top news, President Obama announces an “enduring partnership” between the U.S. and Afghanistan and Tyler Perry’s production studios in Atlanta catch fire.

President Obama announces an “enduring partnership” between the U.S. and Afghanistan. [BET]

Tyler Perry’s production studios in Atlanta catch fire. [CNN]

George Zimmerman’s latest Myspace page is uncovered and reveals disparaging comments about Mexicans. [Miami Herald]

Samuel L. Jackson talks to BET.com about his latest role in Django Unchained. [BET]

Nicki Minaj announces U.S. tour dates. [BET]

African-Americans are taking on the scourge of sex trafficking in Black communities. [UPI]

At least 11 protesters in Cairo, Egypt were killed by an unknown assailant. [BBC]

Women in Ghana are being trained as pilots and health care workers to deliver health materials to isolated communities. [RFI]

In today’s top news, celebrities remember the life and contributions of Soul Train’s Don Cornelius, a trove of previously unseen Malcolm X artifacts have been discovered and Raven-Symoné is headed to Broadway.

Celebs remember Soul Train’s Don Cornelius. [BET]

New Malcolm X artifacts discovered. [AP]

Raven-Symoné is headed to Broadway. [BET]

Somali-born rapper K’Naan is mad Mitt Romney used his song and is seeking legal action. [WSJ]

Reggae star Elephant Man is charged with rape. [BET]

National Urban League and the U.S. Census Bureau host forum on Blacks. [BET]

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney says he’s not worried about the poor. [CNN]

Study: Racism, prejudice and conservatism linked to low IQ. [LiveScience]

London landlords are evicting tenants to cash in big on Olympics tourists. [MSNBC]

The number of names on the government’s no-fly list has doubled in the past year. [AP]

(Photo: AP Photo/Office of U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo)

In today’s top news, a Black WWII veteran finally gets his due, Nigeria fights to fend off terrorist attacks, and a post-Christmas shopping day at the Mall of America turns into an all-out brawl.

Black Navy veteran receives medal for WWII action. [BET]

More than 100 Sears and Kmart stores to close soon. [MSNBC]

Some members of Congress just keep getting richer. [NYT]

Nigeria is still reeling from deadly Christmas Day bombings. [BET]

Egypt puts an end to “virginity tests” for detained female protesters. [CNN]

A fired man catches a lawsuit from his former company over his Twitter followers. [BBC]

Post-Christmas shopping turned into a brawl at the Mall of America. [StarTribune]

Man returns $10,000 to teach his children a lesson about honesty. [AP]

Atlanta rapper Young Vito surrenders in Slim Dunkin murder case. [BET]

Iran seeks the death penalty for an alleged U.S. spy. [FOX]