Nation in brief: Sebelius vetoes abortion measure

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius stuck to her ideological guns Thursday, vetoing legislation that would have imposed new requirements on late-term abortion.

Sebelius has vetoed similar measures in the past, but Thursday’s action comes as she awaits a final vote by the U.S. Senate on her nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Anti-abortion groups oppose her nomination based on her support for abortion rights and her ties to late-term abortion provider George Tiller, of Wichita, Kan.

The legislation would have required late-term abortion providers to report to state health officials the specific medical diagnoses used to justify the otherwise illegal procedure. Late-term abortions are prohibited unless necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman or prevent a serious medical threat.

Sebelius said the bill would not have reduced abortions and would likely be unconstitutional.

Atlanta

Swine flu cases now total seven

A unique type of swine flu has been diagnosed in seven people in California and Texas, up from the two reported earlier this week, U.S. health officials said Thursday.

Health officials said it’s not a cause for public alarm: The five in California and two in Texas have all recovered, and testing indicates some mainstream antiviral medications seem to work against the virus.

Still, it is a growing medical mystery. None of the seven people were in contact with pigs, which is how people usually catch swine flu.

The CDC is checking people who have been in contact with the seven confirmed cases, who all became ill between late March and mid-April.

From wire reports