Angelina Jolie arrives in Hanoi to get visa for adopted son

Hanoi, Vietnam – Angelina Jolie arrived Monday in Hanoi to complete the procedures necessary to take her adopted son Pax Thien Jolie to his new home in the United States.

The 31-year-old actress dodged reporters on her way from the airport after flying from Ho Chi Minh City, where she adopted the newest member of her family at an orphanage on the outskirts of the city last week.

Jolie was expected to meet with U.S. Embassy officials today to apply for a visa for 3-year-old Pax. Once the visa is issued, she can take him to the United States. She was expected to leave Hanoi on Wednesday.

Jolie’s oldest child, 5-year-old Maddox, who was adopted from Cambodia, came with her to Vietnam. She also has two daughters: Zahara, 2, who was adopted from Ethiopia, and 9-month-old Shiloh, who was born to Jolie and her partner, Brad Pitt, in May.

Ever since she was young she has wanted to adopt children, Jolie said in an interview published Friday in a Vietnamese newspaper.

“Everyone would agree that children need to have a family,” the paper quoted the Oscar-winning actress as saying. “I have the ability to help children fulfill that desire. Why should I say no?”

Judge in Anna Nicole Smith case accused of smoking marijuana

Hollywood, Fla. – Police cited Broward Circuit Judge Lawrence Korda – one of two who made decisions recently in the Anna Nicole Smith case – for smoking marijuana Sunday afternoon in a park, a police spokesman said on Monday.

Three on-duty officers who were doing physical training in Stanley Goldman Park caught the judge about 2 p.m., said Capt. Tony Rode. The judge was smoking a joint near a tree in the park, which is near Interstate 95.

“They said they smelled a very strong odor of what they found to be marijuana,” Rode said. “They followed the smell to a gentleman sitting under a tree. He was actively smoking the marijuana cigarette as they approached him.”

The officers field-tested the joint, which tested positive for marijuana. Korda was not arrested, but given a misdemeanor citation to appear in court at a later date.

“It would not draw media attention except that it was an elected official,” Rode said. “The overwhelming majority of people who are detained for a marijuana cigarette are given a notice to appear.”

Cheryl Burke goes for third win on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

New York – Cheryl Burke, two-time champion on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” says she doesn’t feel any pressure to bring home another disco-ball trophy as the fourth season premiered Monday.

Burke, who won with celebrity partners Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith, tells People magazine’s Web site: “I don’t think it’s pressure. Even after coming in last season after winning with Drew in the second season, it wasn’t about, ‘Oh, I have to win again.’

“It’s about who I’m dancing with and making my partner the best dancer he can possibly be,” the 22-year-old professional dancer says.

Her new partner is “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Ian Ziering. Burke says Ziering is a fast learner who is quick with choreography, but gets frustrated because he’s a perfectionist.

So where does she keep her two disco-ball trophies?

“One trophy is home in San Francisco with my mom and dad and the other one is in my storage because I was on tour for two months,” she says.

“Both are falling to pieces, by the way. The mirrors are slowly falling off.”

Chuck Leavell donates conservation easement

Atlanta – Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell has donated nearly 300 acres of his middle Georgia hunting preserve to the state as a conservation easement.

Leavell, a noted conservationist, is among the first residents to take advantage of a new land conservation tax credit. He said he hoped others would follow his lead to protect more of Georgia’s open space.

“We all know that Chinese proverb that every journey begins with a single step,” he said Monday at a news conference with Gov. Sonny Perdue. “We are so fortunate in this state to have such beautiful land.”

Landowners who place a conservation easement on their property give up the right to develop the land. Georgia is one of 12 states with a tax credit program for the donation of conservation easements or land. There is a separate federal credit.

Songwriters Hall of Fame names 2007 inductees

New York – The newest members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame: Jackson Browne, Don Black and Michael Masser.

Irving Burgie, Bobby Weinstein and Teddy Randazzo also will be honored, SHOF Chairman and Chief Executive Hal David announced Monday. The induction ceremony will be June 7 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York. Special award honorees will be announced later.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond.

A nominating committee selects candidates for induction. Songwriters who have been in the profession for 20 years or more and have written an extensive catalog of hits are eligible.