National Desk

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun
NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

NORTHEAST


CONNECTICUT GOVERNOR UNDERGOES MASTECTOMY


HARTFORD, Conn. – Governor Rell underwent breast-cancer surgery yesterday after doctors discovered the disease in its very early stages, the governor’s office said.


Ms. Rell, 58, was expected to be hospitalized for about three days at Danbury Hospital, officials said. The governor was recovering last night after being in surgery for much of the afternoon. Doctors told her staff that the mastectomy was completed without any problems. She was expected to remain at the hospital until Wednesday, officials said. The governor’s office said tests showed the disease had not spread to her lymph nodes. Spokesman Rich Harris said Ms. Rell will probably not require radiation or chemotherapy after the surgery.


The cancer was discovered after a routine mammogram, her office said. The cancer did not appear on the mammogram itself, but was discovered during a biopsy of a non-cancerous calcium deposit. During the biopsy, the doctor noticed two additional deposits and removed both of them. One of the deposits proved to be cancerous.


Ms. Rell, a Republican, said in a statement that she still plans to address the Legislature on January 5, the opening day of the new session.


– Associated Press


MIDWEST


COURT-MARTIALED COMMANDER IS RELEASED


DAYTON, Ohio – A former Ohio Army Reserve commander who was court-martialed for taking abandoned Army vehicles in Kuwait so her unit could carry out its mission in Iraq returned home yesterday after serving a six-month sentence.


Major Cathy Kaus defended the actions taken by herself and her fellow soldiers. She said she is on leave, has applied for clemency, and that the military has made no decision on whether she will be discharged.


“What we did, we did at that time because we thought we needed to do that,” Ms. Kaus said at Dayton International Airport, adding that she would do it “all over again” if put in the same circumstances.


Ms. Kaus, released yesterday from a Navy brig in San Diego, said she was convicted of theft, willful neglect, abandonment, and conspiracy of abandonment. She was among six Ohio reservists from the Springfield-based 656th Transportation Company who were court-martialed at a time when some American troops in Iraq are complaining they have to scrounge for equipment. Members of the unit said they needed the equipment to deliver fuel to American forces in Iraq for everything from helicopters to tanks.


“I think the punishment was a little bit on the unfair side, maybe kind of extreme and kind of harsh,” Ms. Kaus said.


Senator DeWine, a Republican of Ohio, and Senator Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, have asked for clemency for the soldiers. A 28-year military veteran, Ms. Kaus said she wants to stay in the service and would go back to Iraq.


– Associated Press


WEST


COMEDIAN GEORGE CARLIN ENTERS DRUG REHAB


LOS ANGELES – George Carlin is entering a drug-rehabilitation facility to shake his dependence on wine and a painkiller.


“I’m going into rehab because I use too much wine and Vicodin,” the 67-year-old Mr. Carlin said in a statement released yesterday by his publicist, Jeff Abraham. “No one told me I needed this. I recognized the problem and took the step myself.” The name and location of the facility weren’t disclosed.


The stand-up comedian – and author of the best-selling book “When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?” – said he’s never been treated in a rehabilitation facility. “I know it isn’t easy, but I’m highly motivated, and will do whatever’s needed,” he said in the statement. “My levels of use are nowhere near the worst you hear about these days. I could easily have continued functioning at a good level for a while, but my use would have progressed. I would have been in deeper trouble and I didn’t want to tolerate that.”


– Associated Press

NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use