In the Nation

NEW YORK - New York Post chairman Rupert Murdoch apologized yesterday for a cartoon published a week ago that critics said likened a violent chimpanzee shot dead by police to President Obama.

In a statement published in the newspaper, Murdoch said he wanted to "personally apologize to any reader who felt offended, and even insulted." He said the Post would work to be more sensitive. Murdoch said the cartoon aimed only to "mock a badly written piece of legislation."

The cartoon depicted the bullet-riddled chimp Travis and two police officers. The caption said: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill." The chimp was killed in Connecticut last week after mauling a woman.

NAACP president Benjamin Todd Jealous said Murdoch's pledge to be more sensitive was welcome but did not go far enough. - AP

WASHINGTON - Sen. Roland Burris (D., Ill.) said yesterday he would not resign, rebuffing a call from the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, who made clear the embattled appointee had little hope of winning election next year to the seat.

"I told him that under the circumstances, I would resign," Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D., Ill.) said after an hour-long meeting with Burris. "He said, 'I'm not going to resign.' " Durbin added, "I can't force him."

Burris was named to the seat by disgraced Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, who was impeached and driven from office after being accused of trying to sell the seat previously held by President Obama.

Burris repeatedly changed his story about how he was appointed and faces calls to resign after he admitted trying to raise money for Blagojevich. He has said he did nothing wrong. - AP

JUNEAU, Alaska - Gov. Sarah Palin will reimburse the state nearly $7,000 for costs associated with nine trips taken by her children, her attorney said yesterday.

Palin must reimburse the state within 120 days, under a settlement agreement filed by a special investigator hired by the Alaska Personnel Board to investigate an ethics complaint filed against her.

No state law bars the governor's family from traveling with her, and the personnel board found no wrongdoing on Palin's part. But the investigator, Timothy Petumenos, interpreted the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act to require that state pay only if the first family serves an important state interest. - AP

Former Gov. Gary Locke of Washington state is set to be named today at the White House as President Obama's third pick for commerce secretary, an administration official said.

A Mardi Gras parade near New Orleans' Garden District erupted in chaos on Fat Tuesday when gunshots struck six people, including a baby. The baby was not seriously jurt, and two suspects, ages 18 and 20, were in custody, police said.