Easter Island's vandalizing tourist fined

Update

A Finnish tourist who chipped an earlobe off an ancient Maoi on Easter Island is being allowed to go home after paying a $17,000 fine and agreeing not to return for three years, police said Tuesday. Marko Kulju, 26, who was taken into custody after being caught trying to steal a piece of the ear as a souvenir two weeks ago, deposited the money into a bank account overseen by the court that handled his case, the Easter Island prosecutor's office said.

Snoop is just "nosy"

The UCLA Medical Center employee who allegedly pried into the medical records of the governor's wife and 60 others in a burgeoning scandal is a low-ranking administrative specialist who told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday that "it was just me being nosy." Lawanda Jackson, 49, said, "Clearly I made a mistake; let's put it like that," when asked in a telephone interview why she improperly looked at the records of so many patients, including California first lady Maria Shriver and actress Farrah Fawcett. "I didn't leak anything or anything like that," said Jackson. "It wasn't for money or anything. It was just looking." Federal prosecutors have started a preliminary inquiry into the matter, a source said Tuesday.

Critters

Flocking to Flocke

Say hello to Flocke, the new polar-bear cub likely to rival predecessor Knut in popularity among German zoogoers. In her debut Tuesday before television cameras at the Nuremberg city zoo, the 4-month-old slowly nosed around the rocks and grass before plunging into the water and later nibbling on a zookeeper's shoe. Flocke was born Dec. 11 and then rejected by her mother.

$2.7 million for a camel

Dubai's crown prince paid $2.7 million for a camel during a desert festival celebrating Bedouin traditions in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, state-run media said Tuesday. The festival also included a camel beauty contest, where thousands of owners strutted their animals in a bid for the top prize of finest overall camel and separate categories such as best neck, head, lips, nose, hump, legs or feet.

People

Rob Lowe sues 3

Actor Rob Lowe is suing two former nannies and a former chef, claiming a variety of misdeeds, including extortion. The actor claims one nanny tried to extort $1.5 million from him and denies the nanny's claims she had an affair with him. As for the chef, Lowe accuses him of using his bed to have sex "with third parties" while Lowe and his wife, Sheryl, were out of town. The chef also is accused of stealing prescription medications and overcharging the couple for food. The second nanny, Lowe said, spread "malicious lies" about both Rob and Sheryl and used "profane and vulgar" language during work hours to describe her love life.

Stalker pleads guilty

The Rev. David Ajemian, 46, a priest accused of stalking Conan O'Brien, pleaded guilty Tuesday in New York City to disorderly conduct. Ajemian also admitted in Manhattan Criminal Court that he sent letters and DVDs to the NBC talk-show host's home and office, and "I also sent mail to the home of Mr. O'Brien's parents." He said he never meant to cause anxiety or to upset anyone. Judge Rita Mella ordered Ajemian to pay a $95 court charge and signed a two-year order of protection directing him to stay away from O'Brien.

Braxton hospitalized

Singer Toni Braxton, 40, was hospitalized in Las Vegas late Monday, Flamingo Hotel-Casino spokeswoman Deanna Pettit said, adding that Braxton's undisclosed ailment wasn't life-threatening. Braxton is performing at the Flamingo hotel.

Today in History

1865: Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

1939: Singer Marian Anderson performed a concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington after she was denied the use of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

2005: Britain's Prince Charles married longtime love Camilla Parker Bowles, who took the title Duchess of Cornwall.

Today's Birthdays

Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner, 82. Actor Dennis Quaid, 54. Golfer Severiano Ballesteros, 51. Actress Cynthia Nixon, 42.

Seattle Times news services