Senator's hiccups keep doctors mystified

UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- Democratic state Rep. Larry Roberts has been hospitalized with a chronic case of hiccups, which has afflicted the lawmaker for about two weeks, according to his office manager.
"They can't stop the hiccuping. It is 24/7. It's tiring [for him]. Physically he's fine, except for that. It will stop for maybe a half-hour; then it starts up again," said Doris Perno, the manager of the Fayette county lawmaker's office in Uniontown.
Roberts has been hospitalized at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Presbyterian hospital since July 19 while doctors try to determine the cause of the problem. Further tests are scheduled for this week, Perno said.
The lawmaker is handling paperwork from his bed but had to cancel eight town meetings in his 51st district, about 40 miles south of Pittsburgh, she said.
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