Nation in brief: Yamaguchi wins ‘Dancing’ crown

Kristi Yamaguchi came into the “Dancing With the Stars” finale with a perfect score and left with the mirrorball trophy.

The figure skater’s victory Tuesday over pro football star Jason Taylor broke the string of four consecutive male winners. She was the first woman to claim the “Dancing” crown since the show’s opening season.

“This is definitely for all those women out there to continue to be strong,” Yamaguchi said after the show, hoisting the trophy above her head.

Taylor said he was surprised to make it to the finals and “thrilled” to come in second.

Washington

House Republican not running again

Scandal-scarred Rep. Vito Fossella of Staten Island on Tuesday became the 31st Republican member of Congress – and the third from New York – to announce a retirement or resignation this year.

Fossella’s decision not to run again – after disclosure of drunken driving and a child from an extramarital affair – came after three consecutive Democratic victories in special House elections this year.

Richmond, Va.

Abortion ban ruled unconstitutional

A Virginia law banning a type of late-term abortion is still unconstitutional, even though a similar federal ban was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

The 2-1 decision by a panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirms the same court’s 2005 ruling striking down the law. The Supreme Court had ordered the appeals court to take another look at Virginia’s statute after the ruling on the federal ban.

The state has two weeks to ask the full federal appeals court to review the ruling, or 90 days to appeal to the Supreme Court.