BREAKING NEWS: Sarah Palin Resigning as Governor

Former Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin is stepping down as governor of Alaska, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Palin announced Friday that she intends to resign as Alaska’s chief executive by the end of the month and will not seek a second gubernatorial term in 2010.

Palin, who was elected governor in 2006, was recruited by Arizona Senator John McCain to be his running mate in the 2008 presidential election.

The Republican governor said she plans to transfer authority to Lt Gov. Sean Parnell, who will be sworn in on July 25.

"She thinks she has accomplished goals she has set forward," a source told CNN.  "She sees what a positive influence she has had on people's lives from traveling the country in the last year."

EXCLUSIVE NEW TWILIGHT INTERVIEW: Peter Facinelli Dishes on Vampire Baseball and Carlisle Cullen

Peter Facinelli is on a family road trip driving up the West Coast in an RV with Jennie Garth and their three daughters heading to the Vampire Baseball Game in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, July 4.  As Carlisle Cullen, Peter has become a Twilight fan favorite and RadarOnline.com spoke with him Friday while he took a break from driving and Jennie cooked up bacon and eggs for the family breakfast in the RV.

RadarOnline.com: How is the trip going?
Peter Facinelli: It’s really pretty; I’m sitting outside the motor home park right now it’s really beautiful. There’s no coast but it’s beautiful.  It looks a lot like Twilight. There are lots of big tall pine trees.
RO: Are you a safe driver?
PF: Well I had a rough patch last month, I got four tickets in three weeks all for different things, I was some kind of police magnet, I don’t know why.  I’m going to fight all of them; you never want to admit you’re wrong. I should go there in person and fight all of them.
RO: Tell us about the baseball game tomorrow?
PF: We’re going to test our vampire baseball skills in front of a large crowd and I think a lot of people are going to find out that a lot of the cast member s don’t know how to throw a ball and they just made us look good. The Make-A-Wish Foundation asked if I would play and I thought it was for a really good cause. I like doing charity events because I think it’s important to give back. I played baseball when I was younger but I haven’t played in a long time, so it should be fun.  I hope Rachelle’s on my team.  She’s the one with the wicked curve ball, right? I don’t know, I’m showing up with my old oiled glove and waiting to see where the coach puts me. I don’t even know who the coach is. I might be the coach for all I know.  I think Carlisle should definitely be the coach. The difference is tomorrow there are no special effects, whatever speed we run and however we hit the ball is the real deal.  We’re going to have no stunt doubles tomorrow.

RO: Did you have a stunt double while filming Twilight?
PF: I didn’t because I didn’t have to do that much, all I had to do was slide into second base which they actually gave me a stunt double for but I told them I think I can handle this.  So I practiced. It was supposed to be a super slide so I jumped off a little mini tramp and so it was fun. I like doing stunts, stunts are fun for me.  I try to do as many of them as I can. During the slide I bruised up my leg pretty bad. 

RO: Good thing you play a doctor, were you able to self medicate?
PF: Yes, a little ice and I was fine.  I took two aspirin and I called myself in the morning.

RO: When I would take trips with my family our Dad would threaten to pull over and spank us every time, do you ever have to do that?
PF: Only three times a day. Don’t make me pull this 34 foot RV over, don’t make me do it!

RO: What do your girls think about Daddy getting recognized on the street?
PF: I think they’re getting used to it. It’s a little time consuming but I just try to give back to the fans. When I was growing up and I went over to the guy to get an autograph and he said no because they were too busy you would go home with that, so I try to really go out of my way to make sure that I’m good to the fans because they’ve been so good to us.

RO: Are you looking forward to getting back to Vancouver?
PF: Yeah, it’s so quick. It’s like a blink of an eye and we’re shooting the third one already. I had a little time this summer to hang with my family, then we’re going to New York to see my folks, and then I think we’re going to Hawaii for a week. I’m trying to spend as much time as I can with my family because in August I’m busy with the clips and then I’m going to do the second season of Nurse Jackie.

RO: Have you read the script for the third movie?
PF: No, I haven’t. I’m supposed to be getting it next week.

RO: Is there anything you would change for your character?
PF: I wish that he didn’t disappear so much.  I would have had him go to Italy and do more.  He knows the all the Volturi and he could have helped smooth things over.  Maybe had a cappuccino with them and said “Hey, you know, this isn’t cool.” And I don’t want to give it away for people who haven’t read the fourth book, but like any typical doctor when the baby is due, he’s not there.  He’s off on the ninth hole somewhere playing golf; I was like, what’s going on?

RO: Have you given Rob and Kristen any advice about dealing with the fame?
PF: I don’t think there’s any advice to be given. It’s a learning curve. Even for me, I’ve been working for 15 years and I’ve never had the kind of fan base this movie has.  People always come up to me and said they like me in my old movies but with a movie like this when I walk somewhere people’s faces actually drop when they see me or fans will scream when they see us. That takes some getting used to; I wish someone would give me some advice. If people are watching, what are you going to do with that? You turn it around and try to do positive things like work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I feel very lucky to be able to do that.

RO: What is filming like, do you have a good time?
PF: We like to be around each other. We hang out a lot together after work. For me it’s very much like a family, I like being with them and I like when we’re all together. Especially when we’re all in scenes together, that’s always fun. It’s a good cast; it’s a good bunch of people. We all like each other so that’s important.  Rachelle is the tour guide when we’re up there, she’s Canadian and she tells us all the good places to go.

RO: What did you think about doing a vampire movie?
PF: When I got a phone call from my agent asking if I wanted to do a vampire movie I didn’t want to do it, so I read the book in a day and I fell in love with it. I thought it was a great story. It’s like a throwback to the old Bella Lugosi movies where it had the mystery and seductiveness of the old stories. That is why I enjoyed vampire movies.  Somewhere along the line they became horror zombie movies and so that’s what I thought when I first heard of it, but when I read it and realized that it wasn’t about that I said sign me up!

EXCLUSIVE: Jackson Got Drugs From Out Of U.S.

Some of the narcotics that Los Angeles police found in Michael Jackson's house were obtained by the singer outside of the United States, RadarOnline.com has learned.

"The investigation is going to go international," a source close to the situation told RadarOnline.com exclusively. The DEA and the Attorney General are now involved in the case.

But it is going to be very difficult to track down the drugs Jackson obtained outside of the U.S., the source told RadarOnline.com. "The investigation is growing."

U.S. law enforcement will ask for help from foreign law enforcement, the source told RadarOnline.com. As RadarOnline.com previously reported police found a large quantity of drugs inside Jackson's house, including the powerful sedative Diprivan.

Story developing....

Tom Cruise's 47th Birthday Down Under!

Tom Cruise celebrated his 47th birthday by catching a an AFL match in Australia. Cruise, accompanied by wife Katie Holmes, arrived just before the event began and quickly slipped into a private box.

Click here for more photos of the family at the game

Also on hand? Actor Guy Pearce who is Holmes' co-star in the thriller Don't Be Afraid of the Dark which is being filmed Down Under.

Since arriving in the country, the family has made use of their friendship with billionaire James Packer. They have been staying in
his private and secure suite at Crown Plaza and have also been driving around town in a two-car convoy for security purposes.

Despite the entourage, the family has made use of the country's colorful assets. Cruise recently took youngest daughter Suri to the zoo. After Suri met a tree kangaroo, Cruise gave her a toy version of the animal, a hobby horse, and two sequined dresses.

Jackson Memorial Plans Officially Announced; Tickets Randomly Assigned

At a press conference at the Staples Center on Friday, the plans for a memorial for Michael Jackson and the methods the public can use to lobby for the 11,000 tickets were officially announced.

Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG, confirmed that the tickets will be distributed on a random basis based on registration on the Staples Center website. Starting Friday morning to Saturday at 6:00 pm, fans can apply for tickets on the site. The randomly selected 8750 names will be given two tickets and two wristbands each and will be notified of their status on Sunday between 11 am and 8 pm. Chosen individuals will be given a code which they can take to ticketmaster on Monday.

There will be two locations for chosen fans to enjoy the memorial- 11,000 seats are slotted for the Staples center and 6,500 seats at the Nokia theater across the street which will be streaming a simulcast on three large screens.

For those who are not chosen, the Jackson family has made arrangements for a world-wide pool feed that will be broadcast free of charge.

As RadarOnline.com was the first to report, a public memorial is planned for Tuesday at the Staples Center. Despite an initial plan to charge $25 per ticket, RadarOnline.com also revealed the internal turmoil leading the family to drop the fee.

Click here to read the entire story.

Buckling under the bad press the fee was causing, after a series of heated arguments the Jackson brood decided to abandon the money-making
scheme.

EXCLUSIVE: Lauren Conrad Says Ryan Gosling Hit On Her

File this under one of the more bizarre conversations we've overheard:

Lauren Conrad and boyfriend Kyle Howard were whipping themselves into a frenzy Thursday night at Deluxe, where we just happened to be an earwitness.

Lauren claims that Ryan Gosling tried to hit on her and she told Kyle, "Who does he think he is? I'm with you. I would never..." At that point we couldn't stop listening and Kyle said: "I know baby, if I was there I would have set him straight."

But sadly, that wasn't the end of it. Kyle then started chatting with a friend and suddenly there was testosterone in the air, and a lot of it. "Let's go find Ryan Gosling. Let's beat him up," one of them said. And yes, it was funny that they kept calling him "Ryan Gosling" instead of just Ryan.

Of course we have no idea if Ryan Gosling did hit on Lauren, we only know what we heard. And there are many who would say if he did hit on her she should be flattered!

PHOTOS: Lindsay Lohan's Birthday Date with Samantha Ronson

While Thursday night was the kick-off to Lindsay Lohan's twenty-third year, she retreated to old, familiar patterns.

Lohan spent the entire day with on-and-off-again girlfriend Samantha Ronson, kicking off with lunch in Malibu, Ca. at swanky Italian eatery Tra Di Noi.

Click here for photos of Lindsay and Sam's intimate day.

Carting leftovers, the pair retreated back to West Hollywood where Lindsay reemerged at night in a form-fitting gold cocktail dress, topped with a gauzy black wrap.

She and Ronson then hit up The Ruby, an old hotel on Santa Monica Blvd., where reports say they danced all night.

EXCLUSIVE: Family Fight Led Jacksons To Drop Charging Fans for Memorial Service

After nearly a day of family members arguing, the Jackson family has dropped their plan to charge the public $25 to attend a memorial service for Michael Jackson at Staples Center.

RadarOnline.com broke the news of the family’s plan to charge the public and many fans were outraged. The family was not going to announce they were charging for several more days. Backed into a corner by the bad publicity, family members had heated closed door discussions and many arguments on Thursday. They blamed a close family associate for leaking the news and decided the only way they could save face with fans was to drop the plan to charge.

The family is in turmoil not over the memorial but also the will and how it will be administered by the executor, attorney John Branca. Randy, Jermaine and Janet are pushing their mother Katherine to fight certain aspects of the will involving how the money will be distributed. Other family members want them to leave Katherine alone because they believe she is too fragile for a battle. A family meeting is planned for Friday.

Bikini Showdown: Models versus Actresses!

Call it the battle of the bikini beauties. This is a rare contest where finishing last still makes you one of the most desirable women in the world!

Click here to see all the sizzling photos – leading to the winner -- of the model vs. actress bikini showdown.

Click here to see sexy photos of actresses who began their careers as models

Models and actresses set the standard for beauty in Hollywood and beyond, but which group of women is the sexiest and most appealing?  To find out RadarOnline.com turned to three experts who rated the six hottest actresses against six incredible models – all contestants, of course, wearing bikinis.

Click here to see all the sizzling photos – leading to the winner -- of the model vs. actress bikini showdown.

Click here to see sexy photos of actresses who began their careers as models.

EXCLUSIVE: Jackson Family To Meet With Executor of Michael's Will Today In Bid To Avoid Nasty Court Battle

In an effort to avoid a nasty court confrontation, Jackson family members will meet with attorney John Branca on Friday. Branca, a top attorney, is the executor of Michael Jackson's estate, as specified in Michael's will.

As RadarOnline.com reported Thursday, there is great dissension within the Jackson family. Some members want to challenge the will and Branca's role as executor of the estate. Those family members also want greater control of the money for Katherine Jackson, who currently has custody of Michael's children. Other Jackson family members believe Katherine is too fragile for a battle.

Londell McMillan is the attorney representing Joe and Katherine Jackson. He also had represented Michael at one point.

A judge granted Katherine's request for limited control over some of Michael's property. She had expressed concern over his finances and wanted them protected. Katherine requested control over thousands of items from Neverland that were removed and due to be auctioned. A hearing on that matter is set for July 6.

But sources tell RadarOnline.com that some Jackson family members want to challenge Branca's role as executor of the estate. The meeting today is to try and get everyone to agree that Branca should be the executor and avoid a nasty court battle.