Florida

Father, daughter swim 5 hours after boat sinks

A father and his 11-year-old daughter swam five hours to shore after their 8-foot sailboat capsized in the Atlantic Ocean, authorities said.

The father was being held Tuesday for psychological evaluation. An official said the man thought poisonous gases were spreading across Florida and taking his daughter out to sea was the only way to save her.

After a daylong search, Benjamin Dilalla Jr., 42, and his daughter Celeste were found Monday evening as they came ashore at Floridana Beach near Melbourne.

Suffering from hypothermia, they were taken to a nearby hospital. A spokesman said the father was in fair condition Tuesday and the daughter was in good condition.

Maine

Governor signs ban on smoking in bars

The governor approved a law Tuesday that will ban people from lighting up in bars, making Maine the latest in a growing line of states to restrict smoking.

The new law will move Maine closer to banning smoking in all indoor public places. Smoking is already prohibited in restaurants in Maine, and the law makes it illegal to smoke in lounges and taverns, pool halls and certain off-track betting sites.

Gov. John Baldacci said Maine would be the fifth state to mandate smokeless bars and that experience elsewhere demonstrates that “this law is actually good for business,” allowing establishments to retain most regular customers while attracting new ones.