UPDATED Saturday, May 4, 8 p.m. EDT: Goldencents, the horse ridden by jockey Kevin Krigger, finished 17th, according to Sports Illustrated. Krigger was trying to become the first black rider to win the race since 1902. Earlier: Kentucky Derby contender Kevin Krigger tells CBS News that he plans to win big today. If so, he…

During a recent wide-ranging interview with C-SPAN, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas took a swipe at President Barack Obama’s popularity among elites and the media, saying that Obama says “the prescribed things they expect from a black person,” Fox News reports. “Any black person who says something that is not the prescribed things that they…

Embattled former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. may follow the path of other fallen Illinois lawmakers and public servants, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. That is, he will reportedly ask a federal judge for leniency on his sentence because of his mental health, the paper says. But prosecutors are skeptical and want to have their own experts…

Kobe Bryant and his mother, Pamela Bryant, are reportedly locked in a battle over his memorabilia, including his old jerseys, varsity letters from high school, championship rings and trophies, TMZ reports. Pamela reportedly took the items to an auction house, saying that her son had passed them on to her, and received a $450,000 advance,…

(The Root) — Seventeen people were arrested on Monday during a nonviolent “pray-in” at the North Carolina General Assembly, which was held by the NAACP to call attention to the state’s Republican-led assault against the civil rights of poor and minority voters. Ben Wrobel, a spokesman for the National NAACP, said that the men and…

The Associated Press is reporting that for the first time, African American voters turned out at a higher rate than whites and other minority groups in 2012, reflecting a deeply divided presidential election in which blacks cast ballots in large numbers for Barack Obama and many whites failed to show up at the polls. Had…

Opening statements are scheduled to begin on Monday in a small Los Angeles courtroom in Michael Jackson’s wrongful-death trial, CNN reports, and the proceedings could bring plenty of drama. The witness list includes such luminaries as Diana Ross, Spike Lee and Quincy Jones. Jackson’s mother, Katherine, and children have accused AEG Live, the promoters of…

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Monday again praised President Barack Obama’s assistance to his home state after the devastating impact of Superstorm Sandy, the Associated Press reports. Speaking on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program on the 6-month anniversary of the deadly storm, the Republican governor said presidential politics were the last thing on his mind…

UPDATED Monday, April 29, 10:06 p.m. EDT: President Obama officially nominated Anthony Foxx this afternoon. Read The Root’s analysis here of how the move helps Obama clear the diversity hurdle. Earlier: Barack Obama is widely expected to nominate Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx on Monday to head the Department of Transportation, a White House official…

A Tennessee lawmaker has dropped a bill linking academic performance to a family’s welfare benefits after an intrepid 8-year-old girl followed him around the state Capitol, relentlessly questioning him about the measure, the Raw Story reports. State Sen. Stacey Campfield was greeted by Aamira Fetuga, a homeschooled 8-year-old, who presented him with a petition signed…