WEST

JACKSON TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR BACK PROBLEMS

SOLVANG, Calif. – Michael Jackson was taken to an emergency room yesterday for treatment of a back problem that has plagued him throughout his molestation trial, a spokeswoman said. Mr. Jackson, accompanied by a bodyguard, arrived at the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, about five miles from his Neverland ranch, at about 2:30 p.m., spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain said.

“Mr. Jackson’s back has spurred up on him again,” Ms. Bain said. “It’s pretty serious. It was serious enough for him to come over here.”

Ms. Bain said stress contributed to the entertainer’s back problem.

“He’s under a tremendous amount of stress right now,” she said at an impromptu news conference outside the hospital. “Other than his back, he is doing fine.”

Mr. Jackson’s health has been an issue throughout the trial. The 46-year-old pop star appeared gaunt in recent days, and officials at the hospital disclosed Friday that he had visited the emergency room overnight.

Mr. Jackson’s case was twice previously interrupted by hospital visits, once for treatment of flu symptoms. He first reported a back problem in early March, when he went to an emergency room on one of the days his accuser took the stand. Jackson arrived late, dressed in pajama bottoms, after the judge ordered him to come to court.

– Associated Press

SOUTH

AMID PROTESTS, TEXAS GOVERNOR SIGNS ABORTION BILL AT CHURCH SCHOOL

FORT WORTH, Texas – In a ceremony filled with religious references, Governor Perry signed a bill at a church school gymnasium yesterday that imposes more limits on late-term abortions and requires minors to get written parental consent for abortions.

The signing came as several hundred demonstrators – some opposed to the signing of a bill on church property – protested outside.

“It has been a tragedy of unspeakable consequences that for decades activist courts denied many Texas parents their right to be involved in one of the most important decisions their young daughter could ever make – whether to end the life that was growing inside her,” Mr. Perry told a crowd of about 1,000 people gathered at the Calvary Christian Academy. “For too long, a blind eye has been turned to the rights of our most vulnerable human beings – that’s the unborn in our society.”

During the 90-minute program, Mr. Perry also signed a resolution to amend the Texas Constitution by banning same-sex marriages. However, that signature was only ceremonial since voters must approve the proposed ban in November.

“A nurturing home with a loving mother and loving father is the best way to guide our children down the proper path,” he said.

Texas already had a parental notification bill, approved in 1999. The new, tougher measure requires a parent to provide written consent for unmarried girls under 18. The bill also restricts doctors from performing abortions on women who have carried a child for more than 26 weeks unless having the baby would jeopardize the woman’s life or the baby has serious brain damage.

Before Mr. Perry spoke, several pastors received standing ovations and shouts of “Amen!” from the crowd as they touted the two measures being signed by Mr. Perry.

– Associated Press

WASHINGTON

BIDEN: BOLTON LIKELY TO WIN CONFIRMATION

The Democrats aren’t likely to have enough votes to continue delaying confirmation of John Bolton as U.N. ambassador, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said yesterday. Senator Biden of Delaware told ABC’s “This Week” that President Bush will “probably be able to win the vote, somewhere between 45 and 47 votes against, and he’ll think it’s a victory.”

The Senate put off a final vote on Mr. Bolton late last month. Democrats claimed the White House was stonewalling them on the release of classified documents that might prove damaging to the nominee. “The president can probably refuse to give us this information, which we’re completely entitled to as the United States Senate, and that’s the reason why we’re not letting the vote go forward,” Mr. Biden said. Mr. Bolton, 56, is currently the State Department’s arms control chief.

The material Democrats have sought for weeks involves Mr. Bolton’s use of government intelligence on Syria, and instances in which he asked for names of fellow American officials whose communications were secretly picked up by an American spy agency.

Opponents of Mr. Bolton have cited his dismissive remarks about the United Nations, his reputation as an uncompromising and hotheaded conservative, and allegations that he shut out or retaliated against any voices of caution or dissent.

– Associated Press