Up With Marriage

HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Nov. 10 — Blacks and Hispanics who traditionally vote Democratic strongly backed Texas’ ban on homosexual marriage that was approved by 76% of voters earlier this month, “sometimes even outpolling Republicans,” reported the Houston daily.

That broad interest across political lines contributed to the highest participation in a constitutional amendment election in Texas since 1991, with roughly 18% of registered voters turning out.

“We didn't even call Republican homes,” said an organizer form a pro-family organization. “We called Hispanics, African-Americans and rural Texas voters. That's where the numbers were,” he said.

Adult-Cell Generator

MEDICAL NEWS TODAY, Nov. 15 — A Florida State University (FSU) research team in Tallahassee reported that it has designed a biomedical device that will allow stem cells derived from adult bone marrow to be grown in sufficient quantities to permit an expansion of research.

Faculty at FSU's College of Chemical Engineering said the “perfusion bioreactor” was developed without using cells derived from embryos or fetuses, but only from adult donors.

Fetal Pain Info

THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, Nov. 9 —The Wisconsin State Assembly has passed a bill that requires doctors to inform women seeking abortions that a fetus is developed enough after 20 weeks to feel pain.

In addition to printed material that physicians must give to women considering abortions, the new bill would require doctors to verbally inform women of the fetus's ability to feel pain at 20 weeks, and is likely to endure pain if an abortion is performed.

The printed material also includes information on agencies offering alternatives to abortion.