Michelle Obama gave a heart-wrenching speech about Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago teenager who was fatally shot earlier this year, urging community leaders to fight gun violence.

The first lady, who was the featured speaker at a luncheon held to raise money for at-risk youth, spoke about her meeting with the slain teenager's classmates.

"It is hard to know what to say to a roomful of teenagers that are about to bury their best friend," she said.     "But I started by telling them that Hadiya Pendleton was clearly on her way to do something truly worthy with her life. I told them that there is a reason that we're here on this earth. That each of us has a mission in this world and I urged them to use their lives to give meaning to Hadiya's life."

Watch the full speech (below):

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Major League Baseball will honor Sandy Hook victims with a moment of silence before every 2013 Opening Day.

The tribute will take place before every game played on March 31 - April 2.

Players, coaches, and team personnel will also wear patches dedicated to the 26 victims who lost their lives.

"The unimaginable tragedy that befell  Newtown, Connecticut will never be forgotten," said Commissioner Bill Selig. "Major League Baseball, all 30 clubs and baseball fans from around the country and Canada offer our deepest sympathies and our unbridled support as the community continues to heal from this heartbreaking day."

20 children and 6 adults were killed during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that took place in December.

Gabrielle Giffords, a former US Representative who was critically wounded after a shooting 2 years ago, will receive the John F. Kennedy Profile Award for her work to end gun violence.

Caroline Kennedy released a statement, praising Giffords for her dedication and bravery.

"Gabby Giffords has inspired the world with her bravery and her dedication to making a change through the political process," she said. "Instead of retreating following the tragic shooting that ended her Congressional career, she has recommitted herself to fighting for a more peaceful society free from hate and violence."

Giffords will receive the award in Boston on Sunday.

Officials confirm shooting at Prince Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia.

Two people have been injured in the shooting, including a 14 year old student.

The school has been placed on lockdown.

Three suspects have been taken into custody.

Watch live coverage of the shooting (below):

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Gabrielle Giffords, a former representative, who survived a shot to the head during an assassination attempt two years ago, begged Congress to put an end to gun violence on Wednesday.

"Too many children are dying. We must do something," she said. "Violence is a big problem. It will be hard. But the time is now. You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you."

Giffords husband Mark Kelly, a former astronaut also spoke at the hearing.

"The holes in our laws make a mockery of the background check system. Congress should close the private sales loophole, and the dangers people entered into that system." he said. "Gabby and I are pro-gun ownership. But we are also anti-gun violence. When dangerous people get dangerous guns, we are all more vulnerable."

This congressional hearing is the first since President Obama introduced his proposals to curb gun violence.

Wayne La Pierre, CEO of the NRA, believes that gun violence opponents should focus on mental health issues rather than banning assault weapons.

"The problem with gun laws is, criminals don't cooperate with them. The mentally ill don't cooperate with them," he said. "Law-abiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals, nor do we believe the government should dictate what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families...We need to be honest about what works and what does not work. Proposals that would only serve to burden the law-abiding have failed and will fail in the future."

Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly will meet with President Obama later today.

Watch Gabrielle Giffords' call to action ( below):

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(via whitehouse.gov)

President Barack Obama refused debt ceiling negotiations with Republicans on Monday.

"If the goal is to make sure that we are being responsible about our debt and our deficit - if that's the conversation we're having. I'm happy to have that conversation," Obama said during a news conference. "What I will not do is have that negotiation with a gun at the head of the American people."

Republican leaders are asking for spending cuts to accommodate the increasing debt ceiling.

House of Representative Speaker John Boehner said, "The American people do not support raising the debt ceiling without reducing government spending at the same time."

If Congress does not raise the debt ceiling in time, the United States economy will go into default from inability to pay for government obligations.

Watch Obama's news conference (below):

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