First daughter’s ring is no promise

Washington First daughter Barbara Bush was wearing a ring on the third finger of her left hand Wednesday, but the White House said she is not engaged.

Susan Whitson, spokeswoman for the first lady, said the jewelry that the 24-year-old had on during a visit to Children’s National Medical Center with her mother was not an engagement or wedding ring.

Schiavo starts PAC to test candidates

Washington Michael Schiavo, whose effort to end life support for his brain-damaged wife – Terri Schiavo, who died on March 31 – divided a nation, is starting a political action committee that will challenge candidates based on where they stand on government’s reach in private lives.

Nine months after a fierce political and legal fight over Terri Schiavo, Michael Schiavo said his experience with political leaders “has opened my eyes to just how easily the private wishes of normal Americans like me and Terri can be cast aside in a destructive game of political pandering.”

Schiavo described himself as a lifelong Republican “before Republicans pushed the power of government into my private family decisions.”

The political action committee, TerriPAC, will raise and spend money on Florida candidates as well as those running for Congress.

Chicago City Council approves smoking ban

Chicago The City Council approved a ban on smoking in nearly all public places Wednesday but gave taverns and bars located inside restaurants until the middle of 2008 to comply.

The measure was approved after months of debate and aggressive lobbying by groups such as the American Cancer Society and the Illinois Restaurant Association.

The ordinance was a compromise between health advocates who wanted an immediate, all-out ban and businesses that wanted a less stringent measure.

The ban takes effect Jan. 16.

More than 10 states and dozens of cities and counties around the country now ban smoking in restaurants, bars or both. Washington voters enacted a ban last month that takes effect today across the state.

Director Rob Reiner won’t run for governor

San Francisco Director Rob Reiner said Wednesday he won’t run for governor in 2006, putting to rest rumors of a potential “Meathead vs. Terminator” showdown with Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“I’ve made a definite decision that it’s not something I’m going to do,” Reiner told the Associated Press.

Reiner, whose hit films include “When Harry Met Sally” and “A Few Good Men,” said concerns about his family had persuaded him to stay out of the governor’s race.

He also said he wants to focus his political energies on passing a ballot initiative establishing universal preschool for California children.

“My kids are young, and we’ve all decided this isn’t a good time for me to do this,” Reiner said. “My focus is the kids of California, and my own kids.”