Rep. Charles Norwood, a Georgia dentist who rode to office on a Republican tidal wave in 1994, died Tuesday (Feb. 13, 2007) after battling cancer. Rep. Norwood, 65, died at his home in Augusta, Ga. House members paused for a moment of silence in his honor.

Rep. Norwood suffered from a chronic lung disease and later developed metastatic cancer that spread from his lung to his liver.

The vacancy created by Norwood’s death will be filled by a special election, to be held no fewer than 30 days after the vacancy is created, according to state law.

Barbara McNair, 72, started out as a nightclub singer and moved into film and TV as more opportunities for black women opened up in the 1960’s. She eventually hosted her own show in 1969 called The Barbara McNair Show.

Her best known film role came as Sidney Poitier’s wife in the classic crime drama They Call Me Mister Tibbs. She played on Broadway, posed in Playboy and was cast along Elvis Presley in his last film, Change of Habit. She also accompanied Bob Hope on a tour of Vietnam.

Barbara died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer, her husband said.