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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Las Vegas woman nails world record

New York – Chris Walton has been working on her fingernails for 18 years. And it’s finally paying off.

Guinness World Records named Walton the woman with the longest fingernails on Wednesday, introducing “The Dutchess” and her nails at an event in New York City. The Las Vegas woman helped kick off the 2012 edition of the Guinness World Records book, which goes on sale later this month.

Walton’s nails measure 10 feet, 2 inches on her left hand and 9 feet, 7 inches on her right hand. She said she does her own nails and makeup and does household chores even though her nails twist and turn.

“I hate all the cleaning, but I do it. And the makeup, I only wear so much,” said Walton, who has also been working on a singing career while raising a family.

Robertson OKs Alzheimer’s divorce

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson told his “700 Club” viewers that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer’s is justifiable because the disease is “a kind of death.”

During the portion of the show where the one-time Republican presidential candidate takes questions from viewers, Robertson was asked what advice a man should give to a friend who began seeing another woman after his wife started suffering from the incurable neurological disorder.

“I know it sounds cruel, but if he’s going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her,” Robertson said.

The chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network, which airs the “700 Club,” said he wouldn’t “put a guilt trip” on anyone who divorces a spouse who suffers from the illness, but added, “Get some ethicist besides me to give you the answer.”

Terry Meeuwsen, Robertson’s co-host, asked him about couples’ marriage vows to take care of each other “for better or for worse” and “in sickness and in health.”

“If you respect that vow, you say ‘ ’til death do us part,’ ” Robertson said during the Tuesday broadcast. “This is a kind of death.”

A network spokesman said Wednesday that Robertson had no further statement.

Warren launches bid for U.S. Senate seat

Boston – Harvard Law School professor and consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren officially launched her Democratic campaign for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, hoping for a chance to take on Republican Sen. Scott Brown in next year’s election.

Warren was heavily courted by Democrats hoping to win back the seat long held by Sen. Edward Kennedy, who died in 2009 after a long battle with brain cancer. Democrats also are trying to hold onto their narrow Senate majority by ousting Brown.

Warren was tapped by President Barack Obama last year to set up a new consumer protection agency, but congressional Republicans opposed her leading the office. She returned to Massachusetts this summer.