In brief: Bob Dole checked in for routine procedure

Washington – Former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas checked himself into Walter Reed Army Medical Center for what his spokeswoman described as a routine procedure. Spokeswoman Marion Watkins says the 89-year-old Dole is “doing very well” and is expected to leave the hospital today.

Dole’s name drew mention as the Senate on Tuesday debated a U.N. treaty promoting equal rights for the disabled. Dole overcame disabling war wounds to forge a 36-year political career.

Dole spent 10 months at Walter Reed in 2010 after suffering pneumonia following knee surgery.

Naked AIDS activists storm Boehner’s office, arrested

Washington – Three women AIDS activists saying they wanted to highlight the “naked truth” about potential spending cuts in HIV programs were arrested Tuesday after taking their clothes off in the lobby of House Speaker John Boehner’s office.

The trio had the words “AIDS cuts kill” painted on their bodies and had linked arms with four men who also disrobed as part of the protest. The nude protesters, along with dozens of other clothed demonstrators chanted slogans, including: “People with AIDS are under attack. What do we do? Fight back.”

The three women were arrested by Capitol Police as they mingled with other protesters in the hall outside Boehner’s district office after putting their clothes back on. The naked male protesters appeared to have left.

The three nude female protesters were charged with lewd and indecent acts under the District of Columbia’s disorderly conduct law, a Capitol Police spokesman said.

Las Vegas to add zip line to Fremont Street Experience

Las Vegas – Tourists will soon have a new way to see the lights of Las Vegas: By being spit out of the mouth of an 11-story slot machine and zinged down a five-block zip line past some of the city’s oldest casinos.

Officials on Tuesday unveiled plans for a permanent zip line on the downtown Las Vegas promenade known as the Fremont Street Experience.

The monster zip line will cost $11 million to build and between $20 and $30 to ride. Construction is expected to start in January.

The attraction, expected to open in June, is an expansion of a much smaller, temporary zip line that has for two years scooted families, newlyweds and Elvis impersonators beneath a long metal canopy that displays an hourly light show.

That ride was intended to be a 30-day novelty, but it proved such a crowd pleaser and the business community began working to make it permanent.