In the Nation

NEW YORK - Rep. Charles Rangel returned to his home turf in the city's Harlem neighborhood Saturday, saying he still loves Congress - despite a showdown with colleagues over ethics violations that led to his censure by the House.

"I have not lost my ability to love the Congress and to love this country," the 80-year-old Democrat told reporters at Harlem Hospital, where a crowd at a town-hall meeting gave him a standing, cheering ovation as he entered.

Dapper in a dark suit and tie, Rangel appeared confident and as defiant as ever about the allegations that led to his public scolding Thursday.

Speaking in a firm voice, he faced TV cameras and said at a news conference: "I was not found guilty of corruption, I did not go to bed with kids, I did not hurt the House speaker, I did not start a revolution against the United States of America, I did not steal any money, I did not take any bribes and that is abundantly clear." - AP

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Emergency vessels hurried to reach a cargo ship carrying nearly half a million gallons of fuel as it struggled off Alaska's remote Aleutian Islands for a second day Saturday.

The 738-foot Golden Seas, with a full load of canola seed, suffered engine troubles in strong winds and rough seas Friday that caused it to drift toward Atka Island, about 1,300 miles southwest of Anchorage. During the night, after the weather eased, it motored at 3 to 4 m.p.h. back out to sea, reducing fears it would run aground, said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Dana Warr.

A powerful commercial tug was expected to arrive Saturday evening, he said. Strong winds continued, with 16- to 20-foot seas, but calmer weather appeared to be moving in. A Coast Guard cutter was also on the way. - AP

SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc.'s attempt to buy local-coupon site Groupon Inc. appears to have failed for now, according to published reports.

Groupon, whose ties to local merchants and 35 million subscribers worldwide made it a company worth potentially $5 billion to $6 billion to Google, has decided to stay independent for now, according to the Chicago Tribune, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times, which cited unnamed sources close to the negotiations. The reports say Groupon may pursue an initial public offering of stock.

Groupon, a two-year-old start-up based in Chicago, dangles a different bargain each day to people signed up for the service. Google was pursuing Groupon in an attempt to turn the Internet's largest advertising network into an even more powerful marketing vehicle. - AP

A tour bus carrying University of Massachusetts students and others on a weekend ski trip to Quebec crashed Friday on a Vermont highway, injuring 17 people. The bus, one of three traveling in a caravan, veered off Interstate 91 in Putney and went down an embankment, coming to rest on its side. The group was on a private ski tour that was not affiliated with the school, UMass spokesman Patrick Callahan said.