Nation briefs 10/14/02

Historian Stephen Ambrose dies of cancer

NEW ORLEANS -- Stephen E. Ambrose, a once-obscure history professor catapulted to prominence by his best-selling books that made aging World War II veterans hometown heroes again, died Sunday of lung cancer. He was 66.

Family members were with Ambrose, a longtime smoker who was diagnosed in April, when he died at a Bay St. Louis, Miss., hospital, said his son, Hugh.

While best known for his World War II books and as the founder of the National D-Day Museum, Ambrose wrote about numerous aspects of American history. Other books addressed former presidents Eisenhower and Nixon, the Transcontinental Railroad and the Lewis and Clark expedition of the American West.

He is also survived by his wife, Moira, brothers Harry and Bill, and children Andy, Barry, Grace and Stephenie.

Four adults die in house fire near Chicago

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- Four people were killed in a house fire early Sunday in Chicago's northwest suburbs, authorities said.

Four bodies were found in the family room of the split-level home, police Lt. Dennis Carroll said. He said the victims were all young adults.

Three children -- ages 14, 6 and 5 -- related to at least one victim were at the home when the blaze started but escaped, Carroll said. Their parents were not among the victims.

"We don't know what started the blaze," Carroll said. "We're pretty much conducting it as a criminal investigation."

Boston Globe publishes same-sex announcements

BOSTON -- The Boston Globe on Sunday published three announcements of same-sex commitments, joining a growing list of newspapers opening their wedding pages to gays.

The announcements ran on the "Special Occasions" page, where wedding and engagements also appear, under the heading "commitments."

"To be listed, same-sex couples must have their partnership affirmed in an officiated ceremony," said an editor's note at the bottom of the page.

They also will be eligible if they register their civil union or domestic partnership, the newspaper said last month when it announced the decision. The New York Times, The Charlotte (N.C) Observer and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch all made similar announcements in recent months.

California pollution rises, reverses improvements

LOS ANGELES -- California has endured its worst air pollution season in several years, reversing what had been years of improvements to the state's air quality.

All of Orange County and parts of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties have experienced 49 days when ozone readings exceeded federal standards, according to data collected by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. That is a 36 percent increase over last year.

-- From wire reports