AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP)—The Queen of Soul came out to watch King James—and Dwyane Wade, too. Aretha Franklin was on hand Feb. 11 when LeBron James and the Miami Heat visited the Detroit Pistons. She sat in the second row next to Rev. Jesse Jackson and said at halftime she hopes to resume her public schedule in May—probably at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

“Probably starting at Radio City, reschedule what I had to cancel,” she said.

ARETHA AND JESSE WAVE TO FANS (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The Pistons game was believed to be one of Franklin’s first public appearances since undergoing surgery Dec. 2 for an undisclosed ailment. Franklin announced in November that she would be canceling all concert dates and personal appearances through May on doctors’ orders.

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—A doctor accused of running a filthy abortion clinic and using scissors to kill babies should sell assets if necessary to hire a lawyer for his murder trial because he doesn’t qualify for a public defender, a judge ruled Friday.

Dr. Kermit Gosnell, of West Philadelphia, is charged with killing a patient during a botched abortion and using scissors to sever the spinal cords of seven viable babies born alive. His wife, Pearl Gosnell, a cosmetologist accused of performing abortions, is among 10 clinic employees charged last month after a lengthy grand jury investigation.

by Darlene Superville

WASHINGTON (AP)—Michelle Obama’s advice for couples on Valentine’s Day and beyond: Laugh with your partner.

She said it’s what she and President Barack Obama do, and it seems to be working. Their marriage, although tested throughout the years by his political ambitions—for the Illinois Senate, the U.S. Senate and later president—is going on 19 years.

ROMANTIC—In this Jan. 2009, photo President Barack Obama dances with first lady Michelle Obama at the Midwestern Ball on the night of his inauguration in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

“I think a lot of laughing,” the first lady said Feb. 8 at a White House luncheon with reporters who asked about the Obamas’ union. “I think in our house we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and laughter is the best form of unity, I think, in a marriage.”

“So we still find ways to have fun together, and a lot of it is private and personal. But we keep each other smiling and that’s good,” she added.

ATLANTA (AP)—Filmmaker Spike Lee joined Education Secretary Arne Duncan in issuing a call Jan. 31 for more Black men to become teachers, making their plea at the country's only all-male historically Black college.

The two took part in a town hall meeting at Atlanta's private Morehouse College just a week after President Barack Obama urged more people nationwide to become teachers.

ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE—Audience members look on during a meeting where Education Secretary Arne Duncan; Filmmaker Spike Lee; Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.; and others called for more Black men to become teachers at Morehouse College, Jan. 31. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)