Former President George H. W. Bush hospitalized

Former President George H. W. Bush is staying in Methodist Hospital in Houston after being treated for bronchitis, according to officials on Thursday.

The former president has been receiving treatment for the illness over the past week.

Jean Becker, Bush's chief of staff, told The Houston Chronicle that the president's condition was not life threatening. Becker said his office had stayed quiet about Bush being in the hospital out of respect for him.

"His big problem is a chronic cough he can't get rid of, so he's back at Methodist," Becker said. "This is not a life-threatening illness."

Bush is likely to be released this weekend, according to Becker.

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