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• "I miss my friend," Carey said. "I miss hearing her voice and laughter."
• R&B singer Monica was vocally top-notch as she sang "I Love The Lord," a gospel song once sang by Houston; Brandy sang two upbeat Houston hits, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and "I'm Your Baby Tonight." Chaka Khan blazed the stage with "I'm Every Woman," which Houston remade. Gary Houston, Whitney's brother, also performed; and Houston's "Waiting to Exhale" cast mates -- Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine -- also honored the singer.
• ___

• OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Dara Torres' quest to make a record sixth Olympic team is down to one last chaotic lap.
• The 45-year-old mother needs to finish first or second in the 50-meter freestyle final at the U.S. trials on Monday night to earn a spot in London.
• "I'm ecstatic," she said after qualifying third-fastest in Sunday night's semifinals.
• Jessica Hardy, who won the 100 free, led the way in 24.56, followed by Christine Magnuson at 24.72. Torres wasn't far behind in 24.80.
• "It wasn't all I've got," said Torres, one of five women to go under 25 seconds in the semis.
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• RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- While Olympic leaders and human rights advocates are encouraged by signs that Saudi Arabia may bow to pressure and send female athletes to the Summer Games, women athletes in the ultraconservative kingdom are worried about a backlash at home.
• Under pressure from the International Olympic Committee to end the tradition of sending men-only teams to the Olympics, Saudi Arabia said on Monday it will allow women who qualify to compete at the London Games.
• The announcement came as the leadership's favored candidate, equestrian Dalma Rushdi Malhas, was ruled out of the Olympics -- sending officials on a hunt for other female athletes they could include on the Saudi team and avoid IOC sanc

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