(Photo: REUTERS/Andrew Winning)

In today’s news, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that states may not require proof of citizenship for people registering to vote; President Obama defended the use of surveillance programs; and Jesse Jackson Jr. says that if both he and his wife must go to prison, he would prefer serving first.

Supreme Court says states can’t add citizenship proof for voter registration. [Washington Post]

Obama defends authorization of surveillance programs. [NY Times]

Jesse Jackson Jr. says if prison is ahead, he should go before wife. [Chicago Tribune]

White House cites progress on gun issue. [USA Today]

Controversy takes a bite out of Obama’s approval rating. [BET]

Zimbabwe journalists suffer attacks ahead of elections. [Guardian]

Family of Ramarley Graham calls anew for new grand jury. [BET]

Lil Wayne offers controversial performance stepping on American flag. [ABC]

Increasing red meat intake boosts risk of diabetes. [Medical.net]

Ethiopia, Egypt vow to ease tension. [BBC]

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In today’s news, Attorney General Eric Holder said he has no plans to resign, despite pressure from Republicans; President Obama names a new national security team, including Susan Rice; and Cory Booker’s Senate aspirations are now on the fast track.

Eric Holder says he has no intention of stepping down. [MSNBC]

Obama names Susan Rice, two others, to national security team. [Washington Post]

Senate vacancy puts Cory Booker’s plans on fast track. [BET]

Bill Clinton among those honoring Medgar Evers 50 years after killing. [NY Times]

Six dead in Philadelphia building collapse. [CNN]

A new supermarket brings fresh hope to Detroit. [BET]

Michael Jackson’s daughter hospitalized. [CNN]

In Zimbabwe, Tsvangirai wants election delayed for reforms. [BBC]

IRS officials face grilling over lavish spending. [CNBC]

Ghana arrests 124 Chinese citizens for illegal gold mining. [Guardian]

(Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

In today’s news, President Obama is planning to appoint Charlotte mayor Anthony Foxx as transportation secretary; the wealth gap between white and minority Americans widened since the recession; and the new suspect in the ricin case is scheduled to appear in court.

Charlotte Mayor Foxx to become Obama’s transportation secretary. [Politico]

Wealth gap among races widened since the recession. [NYTimes]

New suspect in ricin case to appear in court. [Wall Street Journal]

Black voter turnout exceeded whites in 2012 election. [Fox]

Hadiya Pendleton’s parents create foundation in her name. [BET]

Rihanna’s fans are forgiving of relationship with Chris Brown [NYTimes]

Ethiopian Airlines flies first Boeing 787 to return to the air. [BBC]

After student protest, Chicago schools return to normal. [BET]

Mugabe gives Zuma team cold shoulder ahead of Zimbabwe elections. [Mail & Guardian]

Caribbean economies among the world’s fastest growing. [The Gleaner]

(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]

In today’s top news, the White House condemned the shooting death of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton, George Zimmerman wants to delay his murder trial and the Jamaican government has embraced the controversial Super Bowl ad featuring white actors and Jamaican accents.

The White House condemned the shooting death of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton. [BET]

George Zimmerman wants to delay his murder trial for the shooting of Trayvon Martin. [AP]

The Jamaican government has embraced the controversial Super Bowl ad featuring white actors and Jamaican accents. [Grio]

Arab-Americans are calling Coca-Cola’s Super Bowl ad racist. [NBCNews]

African-American William “Mo” Cowan will fill the senate seat vacated by John Kerry. [BET]

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver apologized for anti-gay remarks. [ESPN]

Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas will donate her Olympic items to the Smithsonian. [AP]

The NFL has dispelled rumors that Beyoncé  made outlandish demands for her Super Bowl performance. [BET]

Zimbabwe’s bank balance is $217 after paying government employees last week. [AJE]

France says Mali’s militants are in “disarray” after three weeks of airstrikes. [BBC]

In today’s top news, The Wire cast will be hosting a fundraiser for the Obama campaign, the International AIDS conference has kicked off in Washington, D.C., and the Colorado massacre gunman may face the death penalty.

The Colorado massacre gunman James Holmes may face the death penalty. [BET]

The International AIDS conference kicked off in Washington, D.C., this week. [BET]

The Wire cast will be hosting a fundraiser for the Obama campaign at Martha’s Vineyard. [NYDN]

The European Union announces plans to vacate sanctions against Zimbabwe if a “credible” referendum is held. [Aljazeera]

Rapper Ice-T defends the right to bear arms: “That’s the last form of defense against tyranny.” [Politico]

An Olympic hopeful launches Nigeria’s first bone marrow registry. [NPR]

Team USA basketball team honors the 1992 Dream Team during close game against Argentina. [FOX Latino]

Mariah Carey officially signs on to be on the American Idol judge panel. [BET]

The Jackson family is still at odds about Katherine Jackson’s whereabouts. [CNN]

Georgia Supreme court halts the execution of a death-row inmate who may be mentally ill. [MSNBC]

In today’s top news, a witness recounts seeing drum major Robert Champion beaten with drum mallets during hazing, former high school football star Brian Banks is exonerated in rape case and Lil Wayne fires back at Pusha T for Young Money diss track.

A witness recounts seeing drum major Robert Champion beaten with drum mallets. [CNN]

Former high school football star Brian Banks is exonerated in rape case. [GMA]

Lil Wayne fires back at Pusha T for Young Money diss track. [BET]

One Atlanta man is gearing up to celebrate Memorial Day with his family from the motherland. [BET]

A high school in Brooklyn plans to hand out condoms for students at this year’s prom. [MSNBC]

The Ukranian reporter who kissed Will Smith apologizes for the gaffe. [BET]

Rapper Kendrick Lamar supports President Obama’s stance on gay marriage. [BET]

Doctors report an increasing number of children eating detergent packs thought to be candy. [AP]

The U.N. urges member nations to drop sanctions against Zimbabwe. [BET]

African Union forces capture Al-Shabab militant stronghold near Mogadishu, Somalia. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Chris Brown and Rihanna have confirmed their renewed friendship through new music, Bobby Brown explains why he left his ex-wife’s funeral and Magic Johnson is preparing to launch a new television network via Comcast.

Chris Brown and Rihanna have confirmed their friendship through new music. [BET]

Bobby Brown explains why he left Whitney Houston’s funeral. [BET]

Magic Johnson will launch a TV network via Comcast. [LATimes]

NAACP blasts Iowa for lackluster minority protection. [ABC5]

Federal government is the worst offender of veteran discrimination. [MSNBC]

Chicago teacher sues for the right to use the N-word in class. [SunTimes]

French police are questioning former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn over prostitution links. [MSNBC]

Haiti may soon receive its first cruise ship in 25 years. [USATODAY]

Basketball star Allen Iverson gets lucrative offer from soccer league. [YahooNews]

Eighty-eight year-old Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe dispels rumors about his health. [AFP]

(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, a gang of thieving teens baffle police, Occupy protesters are running up high tabs across the country, Penn State’s Jerry Sandusky is in more trouble and Herman Cain thinks he’s got what it takes to grab Black votes.

Teen flash mob robs a Maryland 7-Eleven. [CNN]

Nearly half of all Americans struggle to make ends meet. [MSNBC]

New Sandusky child abuse allegations surface. [CNN]

Occupy protests running a high tab with U.S. cities. [AP]

New Mexico Black pastors allege discrimination by state university. [NYT]

DC DMV offers HIV testing. [AP]

Three U.S. students arrested in Cairo amid violence. [BBC]

One million in Zimbabwe need food aid. [IRIN]

Obama to hold third Native American conference. [AP]

Herman Cain bets on Black votes. [BET]

Bus Accident in Zimbabwe Kills Over 30
A tragic bus crash in Zimbabwe Sunday has left at least 33 people dead and many people hurt. The vehicle hit an oncoming truck on one of the country’s most dangerous roads, The Harare to Masvingo, and overturned three times. The wife of the country’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Susan, was killed in a car accident on that same road earlier this year. With the nation’s high economic woes and past political instability, the maintenance on the roads has not been kept up. The accident occurred about 55 miles south of the country’s capital city, Harare.
 

Strike Ends in South Africa
The week-long strike by South Africa’s municipal workers has come to an end, reports the BBC.  Protesters wanted a pay raise, and a deal was recently reached to give them at 13 percent pay increase. “It’s over … we signed an agreement this [Friday] afternoon. Our workers will return to their posts on Monday,” Mathandeki Nhlapo, a South African Municipal Workers’ Union official told the South African Press Association. About 150,000 people participated in the strike that effectively shut down the country’s services: buses didn’t run, trash wasn’t collected and local police officers did not work, the BBC reports. The raise is a little less than what they wanted, but is keeping with the pace of inflation. The country’s economic woes has made it difficult for new President Jacob Zuma to step up spending; in recent weeks residents of the nation’s townships have hit the streets protesting because the government isn’t covering their basic needs: electricity, water and housing.