National news briefs

Missouri girl wins Google competition

EL DORADO SPRINGS, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri third-grader got the chance to illustrate Google's website for the day.

Makenzie Melton, who is 9 and from El Dorado Springs in southwest Missouri, won Google's nationwide competition for a "doodle" that incorporates Google's colorful logo. The competition was for K-12 students.

Makenzie's drawing "Rainforest Habitat" was chosen out of 33,000 entries from across the United States. Online voting during the past week narrowed it down to four finalists. Google executives chose the winner.

Makenzie wins $15,000 and a netbook computer. Her school receives a $25,000 technology grant for a new computer lab.

RFK Jr.'s wife pleads not guilty to DUI

BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y. (AP) — The wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pleaded not guilty Thursday to a drunken-driving charge and will be evaluated to see if she needs treatment for alcohol abuse.

Mary Richardson Kennedy, 50, was arraigned in Bedford Town Court, near her home 45 miles north of New York City. Her husband, son of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, was not in court.

Mary Kennedy was arrested May 15 after a police officer reported seeing her drive her car over a curb outside a Bedford school. Police said she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.11 percent; the legal limit is 0.08 percent.

Obama honors Jews for Heritage Month

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says Jewish people's belief that a better future is always possible should be a lesson for all Americans.

Obama honored the contributions American Jews have made in the arts, music, sports and other fields at the first White House reception Thursday marking Jewish Heritage Month. Obama also took the opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to the safety and security of Israel.

Among those in attendance were former baseball great Sandy Koufax. Obama joked that while Koufax said he couldn't pitch on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, the president himself simply couldn't pitch — a reference to his rocky appearances on the mound when he's been asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at baseball games.

Day-care worker found guilty of endangering kids

CINCINNATI (AP) — A former Ohio church day-care worker has been found guilty of endangering children by slipping an over-the-counter dietary supplement into candy to help them sleep.