NATIONAL
LOS ANNEW YORK — Queen Elizabeth II challenged the United Nations to fight global dangers by "waging" peace, then entered ground zero on Tuesday for the first time to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Back in New York after more than three decades, the 84-year-old British monarch turned her eyes toward the future of the World Trade Center: new skyscrapers rising over what was once smoldering debris that had buried loved ones forever.
"We are not here to reminisce," she told the world body earlier Tuesday. "In tomorrow's world, we must all work together as hard as ever if we are truly to be United Nations."
Not even a record high temperature of 102 degrees, accompanied by a heat advisory, kept the monarch from New York's hallowed ground.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Levi Johnston acknowledged telling lies about Sarah Palin and her family after splitting with the former Alaska governor's daughter last year.The 20-year-old said in a People magazine story posted online Tuesday that since his untrue statements were made in public, "I owe it to the Palins to publicly apologize."It's unclear which statements he was referring to, and Johnston couldn't immediately be reached for comment.Johnston told People he was "unhappy and a little angry" after breaking up with his former fiance, 19-year-old Bristol Palin, after their son's birth in December 2008. He said against his better judgment, he said things about the Palins that "were not completely true."Johnston said he also privately apologized to Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, and her husband Todd.
HONOLULU — Hawaii's governor ended months of speculation by vetoing contentious civil unions legislation that would have granted gay, lesbian and opposite-sex couples the same rights and benefits the state provides to married couples.Republican Gov. Linda Lingle's action Tuesday came on the final day she had to either sign or veto the bill, which was approved by the Legislature in late April.The measure would have made Hawaii one of six states that essentially grant the rights of marriage to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself. Five other states and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage.Lingle said voters should decide the fate of civil unions, not politicians.
FENTON, Mo. — A 4-year-old Missouri girl missing for more than 24 hours was found alive more than 70 miles from her home, authorities said.St. Louis County police dispatcher Paul Jackson said Alisa Maier was found late Tuesday in the St. Louis suburb of Fenton after police received a call about a child wandering around at a car wash.Witnesses at the car wash noticed the girl about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday after a car with a loud muffler got their attention, FBI spokeswoman Rebecca Wu said today. The car was described as a black or dark brown four-door vehicle with missing wheel covers on the driver's side, Wu said.An officer who arrived at the scene said Alisa looked tired, Wu said. She was taken to a hospital and reunited with her family.Police continue to search for the man suspected of snatching the girl from the front yard of her Louisiana, Mo., home.She and her 5-year-old brother were playing about 8 p.m. Monday. The boy told police a man he did not know, driving a four-door car, pulled up and ordered his sister to get in before driving away.Police had only a vague description of the abductor — possibly a white male with dark hair in his late teens or early 20s.
LOS ANGELES — Leslie Van Houten, the one-time Charles Manson follower long seen as the most likely of his ex-acolytes to win freedom some day, was denied parole Tuesday for a 19th time in the killings of Leno and Rosemary La Bianca.At the conclusion of the emotional three-hour hearing, the chairman of the parole board, Robert Doyle, said Van Houten was not yet suitable for parole because she had failed to gain complete insight into her crime and its motivation.While commending her for her adjustment to prison and her work on behalf of other prisoners, Doyle and deputy commissioner Carol Bentley said the crimes involved were so atrocious and heinous they must be considered in the decision.Doyle and Bentley said they were disappointed Van Houten chose not to speak to them directly.Doyle criticized a report from a psychologist who he said accepted everything Van Houten told her and did not look beneath the surface.He particularly noted that in the past, Van Houten has suffered from dependence on strong male figures who were able to control her.He suggested she needs more counseling on how to deal with men.However, he said the concerns for public safety are not sufficient to give her a 10- or 15-year denial. He scheduled another hearing in three years.
