Nation in brief: Health reform foe loses House race

Boca Raton, Fla. – A Democratic state senator on Tuesday handily won the first U.S. House race since Congress passed a massive health care overhaul, beating a decidedly underdog Republican who tried to use the backlash against the measure to pull an upset.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Florida state Sen. Ted Deutch had 62 percent of the vote compared to 35 percent for Republican Ed Lynch. No-party candidate Jim McCormick trailed far behind with just 3 percent.

Deutch, an attorney, and Lynch, a contractor, both 44, were vying to replace retiring Democratic U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler.

California probes Palin paperwork

Sacramento, Calif. – California Attorney General Jerry Brown said Tuesday his office had launched an investigation into the finances of a state university foundation and the alleged dumping of documents related to Sarah Palin’s upcoming speech at the school.

Brown also intends to look into whether the California State University, Slanislaus Foundation violated public disclosure laws.

“This is not about Sarah Palin,” Brown said. “The issues are public disclosure and financial accountability in organizations embedded in state-run universities.”

Palin is scheduled to speak at a June 25 gala hosted by the foundation.

The investigation came after students at the school retrieved five pages of the contract with Palin last week from a campus trash bin after hearing administrators might be shredding it.