Ex-President Bush faints while golfing
Former President George H.W. Bush was in good spirits as he gave a speech Monday night, a day after being overcome by the sweltering desert heat and staying overnight at a Southern California hospital.
Bush walked onstage with a cane at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and joked with the crowd before beginning his lecture on values. He recalled feeling tired while playing golf with some friends Sunday afternoon.
“The next thing I know, I fainted,” Bush said.
Jean Becker, Bush’s chief of staff, said earlier Monday in Houston that Bush, 82, “became dehydrated, and he had a fainting spell. He came to right away, but as a precaution, they took him to the hospital and then – much to his dismay – as a precaution, they held him overnight. The doctors released him first thing this morning.”
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.
State to require HPV vaccine
New Mexico is on the verge of becoming the latest state to require sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus, a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer, a spokesman for the governor said Monday.
The state House approved the bill Sunday, and Gov. Bill Richardson will sign it once he receives the legislation, spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said.
The measure would take effect June 15 – 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.
WASHINGTON
General calls being gay ‘immoral’
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday he considers homosexuality to be immoral, and the military should not condone it by allowing gay personnel to serve openly.
Marine Gen. Peter Pace likened homosexuality to adultery, which he said was also immoral.
“I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way,” Pace said.
He said he supports the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
CHICAGO
Woman charged with arson, killings
A woman was charged Monday with arson and murder for allegedly setting a series of house fires near Wrigley Field, including one that killed four people.
Mary Smith, 43, was questioned after the fires and charged Monday with two counts of aggravated arson and four counts of first-degree murder, the Cook County state’s attorneys office said.
Police Cmdr. Thomas Byrne said Smith, arrested in a coffee shop, made self-incriminating statements, and witnesses identified her from numerous lineups. She appeared coherent and calm, he said.
He said police did not know a motive for the alleged arsons.