Mickey Spillane, noted for macho mysteries, dies

Mickey Spillane, notedfor macho mysteries, dies
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Mickey Spillane, the macho mystery writer who wowed millions of readers with the shoot-'em-up sex and violence of gumshoe Mike Hammer, died Monday. He was 88. Spillane's death was confirmed by Brad Stephens of Goldfinch Funeral Home in his hometown of Murrells Inlet. Details about his death were not immediately available. After starting out in comic books, Spillane wrote his first Mike Hammer novel, "I, the Jury," in 1946. Twelve more followed, with sales topping 100 million. Notable titles included "The Killing Man," "The Girl Hunters" and "One Lonely Night." Many of these books were made into movies, including the classic film noir "Kiss Me, Deadly" and "The Girl Hunters," in which Spillane himself starred. Hammer stories were also featured on television in the series "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" and in made-for-TV movies. In the 1980s, Spillane appeared in a string of Miller Lite beer commercials.
G-8 leaders keep pressureon North Korea and Iran
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- World leaders called on North Korea on Monday to stop its missile tests and to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Although the Group of Eight summit of industrial powers was dominated by worries of the escalating warfare between Israel and Lebanon, leaders managed to address sensitive situations posed by the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran. The leaders urged North Korea to reinstate a moratorium on missile launching and said in the document that the country's recent test firings of missiles "intensify our deep concern over the DPRK's nuclear weapons program." North Korea is officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. North Korea test-fired seven missiles July 4 -- including a long-range Taepodong-2 -- which was believed capable of reaching the United States. World leaders also pledged to keep pressing for a resolution on Iran.
Senate debates fundingof stem cell research
WASHINGTON -- In an emotional session marked by tales of death and hope, the Senate debated Monday whether the government should pay for new embryonic stem cell research, pushing a measure to do it toward passage and President Bush's first veto. "He would veto the bill," the White House declared in a written statement, underlining the words for emphasis. That quieted speculation by supporters that Bush, perhaps persuaded by new science and strong public support for embryonic stem cell research, would reverse course and sign the legislation into law. Though several Republican Senate leaders support the measure, many GOP lawmakers oppose it, as do conservative voters in a midterm election year. Behind the scenes, former first lady Nancy Reagan lobbied lawmakers on the bill's behalf. The Senate was slated to vote this afternoon. Bush was expected to veto the bill early Wednesday, followed by the House's override effort.
Group: Private rooms inhospitals should be norm
CHICAGO -- Private rooms would be standard in new U.S. hospitals under recommendations from an influential architects' group that says building design can help curb infectious diseases and medical errors. Recommendations on hospital design from the American Institute of Architects are used as the basis for regulations in 42 states, and private rooms are increasingly favored by hospitals nationwide to address safety, noise and privacy issues, said Dale Woodin of the American Hospital Association. Woodin is on a panel of the architects institute that created the 2006 guidelines, which were to be highlighted at a Wednesday news conference in Chicago.
Dispute over tribute
WASHINGTON -- Bowing to criticism from Democratic and Republican House leaders, a congressionally chartered historical society dropped plans Monday to include imprisoned former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham in a tribute to retiring members of Congress. But despite complaints from Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the U.S. Capitol Historical Society is keeping former Majority Leader Tom DeLay on the program for Wednesday's annual event. So despite the group's about-face on Cunningham, Pelosi still won't attend the event or let her name be used as a co-host, her spokesman Brendan Daly said. Ronald A. Sarasin, president and chief executive of the historical society, said that DeLay is "entitled to the presumption of innocence" as he awaits trial in a state campaign finance case in Texas.
Associated Press