NATIONAL BRIEFS

HAWAII: Same-sex unions vetoed

After deliberating for weeks, Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed Tuesday a bill that would have permitted same-sex civil unions. The veto came on the final day that the Republican governor had to either sign or veto the contentious bill. The state legislature had approved it in late April. Had Lingle not vetoed it, the measure would have granted gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits that the state provides to married couples. It also would have made Hawaii one of six states that essentially grant the rights of marriage to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself. Five other states and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage.

WASHINGTON: Recess appointment for Medicare

President Barack Obama intends to use the congressional recess to bypass the Senate and appoint Dr. Donald Berwick, an expert on patient care who's drawn fire from the GOP, to oversee Medicare and Medicaid, the White House announced late Tuesday. The appointment was to be made Wednesday, with lawmakers out of town for the July Fourth break, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer said in a post on the White House blog. The decision means Berwick can assume the post of administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services without undergoing confirmation hearings in the Senate. Republicans had indicated they're prepared to oppose him over comments he's made on rationing of medical care and other matters. Democrats want to avoid a nasty confirmation fight that could reopen the health care debate. Berwick was nominated in April but no confirmation hearing had been scheduled. "With the agency facing new responsibilities to protect seniors' care under the Affordable Care Act, there's no time to waste with Washington game-playing," Pfeiffer wrote.

CALIFORNIA: Booby-trap motive: Pot charge?

A man suspected of carrying out a string of booby-trap attacks against the small Hemet Police Department was initially targeting an officer who arrested him last year for investigation of growing marijuana, a law enforcement official said Tuesday. Nicholas Smit naively believed the pot case would go away if he killed or injured the officer, said Karl Anglin, assistant special agent in charge of the Los Angeles division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Smit was arrested Friday for investigation of making a booby trap and assault on a police officer with intent to commit murder. His friend Steven Hansen was arrested for investigation of parole violation and weapons charges. The men have not yet been charged. In all there were eight attacks against the police.