Nation briefs 7/7/16

Archbishop: no sex for divorced couples

PHILADELPHIA -- The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Philadelphia is closing the door opened by Pope Francis to letting civilly remarried Catholics receive Communion, saying the faithful in his archdiocese can only do so if they abstain from sex and live "as brother and sister." Archbishop Charles Chaput, who is known for emphasizing strict adherence to Catholic doctrine, issued a new set of pastoral guidelines for clergy and other leaders in the archdiocese that went into effect July 1. The guidelines reflect a stance taken by St. John Paul II. "Undertaking to live as brother and sister is necessary for the divorced and civilly remarried to receive reconciliation in the Sacrament of Penance, which could then open the way to the Eucharist," the guidelines read. Church teaching says unless divorced and remarried Catholics received an annulment, they are committing adultery and cannot receive the sacrament of Communion.

Congress advances aviation measure

WASHINGTON -- House and Senate lawmakers announced an agreement Tuesday on an aviation bill to boost airport security, reduce screening lines and require airlines to refund fees to passengers whose bags are lost or delayed. The bill would also extend the Federal Aviation Administration's programs and policies through Sept. 30, 2017. The FAA's current operating authority is set to expire July 15. The bipartisan agreement was announced by senior members of the House and Senate transportation committees. Approval by both chambers is expected to swiftly follow. Congress has only nine days to act to prevent a partial shutdown of the agency.

Florida may spend millions on algae

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Amid a growing outcry about a massive algae bloom fouling Florida's southern beaches and rivers, Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday promised to dedicate millions more to battle the problem. Scott announced he would ask the Florida Legislature to set aside money that would be used for a grant program to aid homeowners who voluntarily want to switch from septic tanks to central sewer systems. He also pledged to set aside money in 2017 to help communities around the Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee River build new wastewater systems. Scott's promise won't do anything in the near future to remedy the algae bloom that put a smelly "guacamole-thick" muck on a stretch of beaches promoted as Florida's "Treasure Coast."

Imprisoned Chelsea Manning in hospital

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The soldier imprisoned for sending classified information to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks briefly was hospitalized this week, the U.S. Army said Wednesday without providing details. Chelsea Manning was taken to a hospital near Fort Leavenworth early Tuesday and returned to the Kansas military base's prison later in the day, Army spokesman Wayne Hall said. He said the 28-year-old transgender soldier, who is appealing her 2013 conviction and 35-year prison sentence, was being monitored. Hall declined to say why the Army private was hospitalized.

-- From wire reports