8 likely swine flu cases in Md.

Swine flu moves other nations to act
In Asia, Europe and the Mideast, officials have implemented measures including infrared scans of tourists, meat import bans and travel warnings. Reaction to the spread of swine flu may seem muted in the United States, despite its proximity to the deadly outbreak in Mexico.

Young Workers Find Opportunity In Power Industry

A large sector of the work force that runs the electrical system in the U.S. is expected to retire soon, depleting the supply of workers to maintain the grid and keep the lights on. So power companies find themselves training new workers to repair and maintain some very antiquated equipment.

Town, UNC plan 'Anoop Day'
"American Idol" finalist Anoop Desai is home after a top-six finish on the hit TV show.
8 likely swine flu cases in Md.
Officials identify 2 more probable cases, await confirmation from CDC State health officials said Thursday that they had identified two additional probable cases of swine flu in Maryland — bringing the total of probable state cases to eight.

ENVIRONMENT: Israel Stripping West Bank Quarries
RAMALLAH, Apr 30 (IPS)Israeli human rights organisation Yesh Din is taking the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the Israeli civil administration and a number of Israeli mining companies to court.

6 probable swine flu cases in Md., health officials say

14 cases of swine flu in California

Texas Sees First Swine Flu Death In U.S.

A Mexican toddler died in Houston on Monday, after falling ill while visiting family members in Brownsville, Texas, along the border. The state Department of Health Services says the boy had "several underlying health problems."

Apex 'Millionaire' contestant goes home with $1,000
Tracy Zothner did not reach her goal of making at least $25,000 on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Instead, the Apex native walked away with $1,000 after missing the $2,000 question.
6 probable swine flu cases in Md., health officials say
Tests being performed on samples from 3 in Balto. Co., 3 in Arundel Maryland officials say the state has its first probable cases of swine flu, including two among public school students.

ANGOLA: No Law to Stop Domestic Violence
LUANDA, Apr 29 (IPS)Teresa Barros’ problems started last year with the death of her baby.

Global swine flu alert sounded

Schwarzenegger, Obama ramp up efforts against swine flu
California's governor declares state of emergency, opening the door for quicker action by state agencies. Obama seeks $1.5 billion to fight swine flu; Napolitano forming Homeland Security task force. As isolated outbreaks of swine flu continue to be confirmed around the world, with new cases reported today in Canada, Israel, France, New Zealand, Costa Rica and South Korea, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency and the White House asked Congress for an additional $1.5 billion to fight the outbreak.

Swine Flu Vaccine May Be Ready By September

At the present time, a swine flu vaccine does not exist. Bruce Gellin, director of the National Vaccine Program Office at the Department of Health and Human Services, says the first doses of a vaccine could be ready by early September.

Court: FCC 'fleeting expletive' rule OK _ for now
The Supreme Court deleted expletives left and right Tuesday in narrowly upholding a government policy that threatens broadcasters with fines over the use of even a single curse word on live television.
Global swine flu alert sounded
Number of confirmed cases in U.S. rises to 64; Cuba bans flights to Mexico The swine flu epidemic crossed new borders Tuesday with the first cases confirmed in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, as world health officials said they suspect American patients who visited Mexico may have transmitted the virus to others in the United States.

HEALTH-ASIA: Swine Flu Threatens To Be Deadlier than Bird Flu, SARS
BANGKOK, Apr 29 (IPS)When the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the influenza pandemic alert from phase three to an ominous phase four warning this week, it went beyond the alarm associated with the killer avian influenza virus in Asia.

They're wrapping up on 'Main Street'

Obama says he has his eye on swine flu threat
The president refers briefly to the health emergency in an address to scientists. He vows to invest 3% of the nation's gross domestic product to scientific research and development. In the midst of a government-declared public health emergency involving "emerging cases" of swine flu, President Barack Obama said today that he is closely monitoring a situation that poses no cause for alarm.

Illnesses Prompt Swine Flu Concerns

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, a few people get swine flu every year in the U.S. In past outbreaks, swine flu has caused severe illness like pneumonia and respiratory failure. These severe illnesses are occurring in Mexico, prompting the heightened concern over the new swine flu strain.

They're wrapping up on 'Main Street'
"Main Street," the latest movie to be filmed in Durham, began shooting mid-March, and will wrap up sometime during the first week or two of May, said David Linck, unit publicist.
U.S. responding as if swine flu will be pandemic
U.S. declares national health emergency; Mexico death toll reaches 149 Confirming 40 cases of swine flu in the U.S., the Obama administration said Monday it was responding aggressively as if the outbreak would spread into a full pandemic. Officials urged Americans against most travel to Mexico as the virus that began there spread to the United States and beyond.

Hospitals adding fresh, organic food to the menu
More hospitals in the U.S. are offering organic produce and hormone- and antibiotic-free meats and dairy foods in response to a trend toward healthier eating habits. The days of bland chicken, reconstituted potatoes, frozen peas and a side of syrupy, canned peaches appear to be coming to a close at a growing number of hospitals across the U.S.

Swine Flu Spreads To Canada, New Zealand

The spread of swine flu has reached Canada and New Zealand, along with five American states and Mexico. The only confirmed deaths so far are in Mexico, but U.S. officials declared a "public health emergency" to deal with the outbreak. NPR's Jon Hamilton talks to host Jacki Lyden about the latest developments.

Bluegrass: Jeremy Garrett, 'I am a Stranger,' *** 1/2
Jeremy Garrett fiddles for the Infamous Stringdusters, one of bluegrass music's most talented groups of young pickers. With "I am a Stranger" (Sugar Hill), he strikes out on his own for a solo showcase of his talents and tastes.
20th case of swine flu confirmed in Ohio
CDC says it will release a quarter of its strategic antiviral med reserve CDC says it will release a quarter of its strategic antiviral med reserve

Think of the ER as if it were a restaurant

Think of the ER as if it were a restaurant
Think of it this way: Instead of an ER doctor, I'm a cook.

Health Officials: Flu Virus 'Unpredictable'

At least 20 people have died in Mexico from a new strain of swine flu. World health leaders expressed concern Saturday as a mild version of the virus was identified in three American cities.

Bringing the outside in
For their retirement home, John and Roberta Wilson chose a lot on a lake in a traditional suburban neighborhood in Wilmington. It was long and narrow with large neighboring homes just 10 feet from the lot line.
Barrier to health care vote looks poised to fall
Democrats target likely Republican blocking strategy Potentially removing a major obstacle to the sweeping health care legislation sought by President Barack Obama, senior Democrats on Capitol Hill have reached broad agreement on a plan to prevent Republicans from blocking such legislation later this year, according to congressional officials.

HEALTH-ASIA: Taiwan Blazes a Trail to Help Drug Users with HIV
BANGKOK, Apr 25 (IPS)Taiwan is emerging as a beacon of hope for countries across Asia grappling to stop the spread of the AIDS epidemic among injecting drug users (IDUs), a major risk group.

Minority stem cell donors needed
I spent more than a decade writing until leaving my job a few years ago to become a full-time minivan mom. I was so content ferrying my daughter to parks and play groups that I often wondered what it would take to coax me back to a keyboard. The answer came, unexpectedly, from my cousin Tami.

AIDS Study Marks 25th Year

A quarter-century ago, more than 6,000 gay men volunteered to participate in a landmark study of what came to be called AIDS. In Los Angeles, 1,600 men volunteered. Only 600 are still alive. The study has allowed researchers to learn much about how HIV is spread, how it destroys the immune system and how some people have natural immunity to HIV.

Bob Dylan is coming our way
On another baseball-park tour, Bob Dylan plays July 28 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park with fellow travelers John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson.
Health experts hunt new swine flu after 7 sickened
Federal health experts expect to find more cases of a unique new form of swine flu as they check people who had contact with seven California and Texas residents diagnosed with the illness.

HEALTH: Final Push to Control Malaria by 2015
WASHINGTON, Apr 24 (IPS)About one million people die every year from malaria, including a child every 30 seconds. Half a billion people are infected annually. Africa alone, according to studies, loses 12 billion dollars in productivity and to treating the disease. And almost all of it is easily preventable.

Chewing gum makes kids smarter?
Study conducted at Baylor College of Medicine suggests that kids who chewed gum had a 3% increase in math scores.

To Fight Malaria, Scientists Target Old Mosquitoes

Insecticides can kill mosquitoes that spread malaria, but some super-mosquitoes are immune to insecticides. Now, researchers think they've found a solution. Since most mosquitoes don't live long enough to transmit malaria, researchers are working on a fungus that kills only the older mosquitoes most likely to carry the disease.

Anoop Desai to ditch UNC for music
Anoop is picking music over UNC.
Va. woman has donated kidney removed via navel
Surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center say they have successfully removed a donated kidney through a woman's belly button.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Church Pushes Draconian Abortion Law
SANTO DOMINGO, Apr 23 (IPS)A truck full of female police officers, dressed in black riot protection gear, pulled up in front of the General Assembly building here to confront and control the crowd of women who had gathered on Tuesday to protest a "right to life" amendment to the Dominican constitution.

Official: FDA to approve use of Plan B pill for 17-year-olds

L.A.'s new macrobiotic scene
A little less earnest, a little more flavorful and luxurious -- L.A.'s macrobiotic restaurants are going mainstream. For two weeks straight, the hot topic around the communal table at Seed Kitchen in Venice has been the transition from winter to spring.

FDA To Allow Plan B Birth Control For 17-Year-Olds

Seventeen-year-olds will soon be able to buy the "morning after" emergency contraceptive without a doctor's prescription, after the Food and Drug Administration bowed to a federal judge's order Wednesday.

Anoop's disco performance gets mixed reviews
This was "Disco Week" on "American Idol," and Chapel Hill's Anoop Desai got a primo performance slot. He closed with Donna Summer's "Dim All the Lights" and drew a wide range of opinions from the judges.
Official: FDA to approve use of Plan B pill for 17-year-olds
The Food and Drug Administration, reversing field, will allow 17-year-olds get the 'morning-after' birth control pill without a doctor's prescription, a government health official said Wednesday.

Q&A: Russian Company Is Ready to Excavate African Potential
MOSCOW, Apr 22 (IPS)At a glance, trade between Russia and African states is still at low levels, which experts attribute to an inadequate flow of information and lack of interaction.

Psychologists Refute CIA Interrogation Memo

Routine removal of ovaries is questioned by new research
Women who have their healthy ovaries taken out during hysterectomy face a higher risk of death than those who keep them, a new study finds. Women who have their healthy ovaries removed when they have a hysterectomy face a higher risk of death -- including death from coronary heart disease and lung cancer -- than women who keep their ovaries, according to new research.

Psychologists Refute CIA Interrogation Memo

Recently released memos from the Bush administration argue that water-boarding, stress positions and sleep deprivation aren't torture because they don't produce "prolonged mental harm." The argument is based on the thousands of American soldiers who have been through the same experience during training exercises and haven't gotten PTSD. But several psychologists have stepped forward to say the comparison is all wrong.

Writer emerges in this journey
"I'm partial to giraffes, key lime pie and the night sky. (I have a thing for) words, winter, and water -- in all its incarnations. I'm carving myself a niche as an advocate for African-American elementary students."
Ovary removal raises risk of death, according to study
Study addresses outcome of usual practice in hysterectomy Women who have healthy ovaries removed when they have a hysterectomy face a higher risk of death, including from coronary heart disease and lung cancer, than those who keep their ovaries, new research shows.

SOUTH AFRICA: Communities Draft Health Map to Push for Better Services
CE TOWN, Apr 21 (IPS)The quality of South African public health services cannot improve if community-based organisations (CBOs) are not given a greater role in shaping, developing and implementing national and provincial health policies.

Summer is not just for reruns anymore

'Fringe's' feral child quandary
Episode calls some symptoms -- and exceptional powers -- into question. "Fringe"

Stephen Hawking Rushed To Hospital In England

The world-famous physicist has been hospitalized in England, Cambridge University officials said Monday. The university said Hawking was comfortable and would remain in the hospital overnight.

Summer is not just for reruns anymore
One of the strangest television seasons in recent memory is heading into the final stretch, at least in theory.
Pediatrician advises how to solve a toddler eating battle

Examining Ethics Of Lung Cancer Test

Examining Ethics Of Lung Cancer Test

Medical ethicist Nancy Berlinger and host Jacki Lyden dig deeper into the implications of a new test that could determine a smoker's risk of lung cancer.

Call it reboot camp
After running the suicides but before the high-step intervals on Day 1 of Boot Camp for the Rest of Us, I started wondering about this "for the rest of us" concept.
IMPACT: Manufacturers release tons of pharmaceuticals into US water supplies
U.S. manufacturers, including major drugmakers, have legally released at least 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals into waterways that often provide drinking water — contamination the federal government has consistently overlooked, according to an Associated Press investigation.

DIY: For weight-loss support, use the buddy system
Choosing trusty companions who will cheer you through major lifestyle switches can be key to achieving your goals. Weight-loss confidants can talk you down before you inhale the doughnuts in the break room, maybe cajoling you into going for a walk instead. They can also rejoice with you in another 5 pounds shed.

Who Put The Navel In Navel Oranges?

When you pull apart a nice, juicy navel orange, why do you find those cute little sections hiding in the center?

Duke's in flower
Duke Gardens are in full bloom and attracting visitors from around the world. Enjoy flowers and foliage in our photo gallery and panoramic image.
Online drug treatment receives praise
It can be effective, Hopkins study finds Online drug treatment programs can be just as effective as traditional in-person group counseling, at least in the short term, according to a new report by Johns Hopkins researchers.

Take That! High-Tech Ways To Fight Off Pirates

Injured war zone contractors fight to get care
They're crucial to U.S. military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but civilian workers wounded on the job must battle an insurance system marked by long delays and high costs, an investigation finds. Civilian workers who suffered devastating injuries while supporting the U.S. war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan have come home to a grinding battle for basic medical care, artificial limbs, psychological counseling and other services.

Take That! High-Tech Ways To Fight Off Pirates

Most merchant ships aren't allowed to carry cannons — unless they're water cannons. These high-tech super squirters are part of a growing market in pirate repellants, ranging from slippery foam that coats ship decks and stairs to beams of piercing sound.

Tupperware recalls toy
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall today of about 44,000 toy maracas made by Tupperware.
New rules would ease limits on stem cells, not end them
When President Barack Obama eased limits on federally funded embryonic stem cell research, the big question became how far scientists could go. Friday, the government answered: They must use cells culled from fertility clinic embryos that otherwise would be thrown away.

WATER-GUINEA BISSAU: Neglecting Infrastructure at the People's Peril
BISSAU, Apr 17 (IPS)The most recent cholera outbreak in Guinea-Bissau killed 225 people before it was brought under control in February; 14,000 people were infected by the water-borne disease, most of them in the capital, Bissau.

Living On The Edge: 15 Days From Homeless

Living On The Edge: 15 Days From Homeless

Earlier this year, Sylvia Martinez lost her job as an HR manager. Overwhelmed, she tried to commit suicide. She survived the attempt, but since then, things have gone from bad to worse. On Tuesday, she lost her few remaining possessions in a fire.

Recovering Targaholic re-evaluates priorities
A few months ago, I broke up with Target. I had no choice. I wasn't unable to control myself when I set foot through its sliding doors.
City initiative targets cardiovascular disease
The Baltimore Health Department has launched an effort to combat the city's biggest killercardiovascular disease. The initiative centers on education, prevention and treatment of a disease that kills 2,000 people in Baltimore each year, a disproportionate number of whom are black. Wal-Mart gave the city $50,000 to help fund the program. Information: www.baltimore health.org/disparities.

Carolina Chocolate Drops sign with Nonesuch Records
Big-time congratulations go out to Chapel Hill old-time band Carolina Chocolate Drops, who are joining the major-label ranks.
HEALTH-ARGENTINA: Scientists Reveal Effects of Glyphosate
BUENOS AIRES, Apr 15 (IPS)Glyphosate, the herbicide used on soybeans in Argentina, causes malformations in amphibian embryos, say scientists here who revealed the findings of a study that has not yet been published.

Raleigh woman doesn't become a millionaire

She has arthritis but can't take NSAIDs
I have taken pain relievers for years for arthritis pain in my knees and hips and plantar fasciitis in my foot. My rheumatologist prescribed Celebrex, but my kidney enzymes soared, and I was told no more NSAIDs, ever. My pain has not gone away. What can I take?

Raleigh woman doesn't become a millionaire
Carrie Shuping, a freelance calligrapher from Raleigh, walked away with $1,000 on today's episode of "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire."
Group brings fight against chronic diseases to Maryland
State has high rate of such illnesses, according to Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease A national group that aims to prevent and more effectively treat chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes launched a local chapter Tuesday in Maryland, where the number of people suffering from one or more of the conditions exceeds the national average.

Officials Probe E-Cigarettes' Health Claims

Officials Probe E-Cigarettes' Health Claims

Electronic cigarettes let smokers inhale a dose of nicotine and exhale "smoke" (it's water vapor). The products are marketed as a healthier, tobacco-free way to smoke, but that has raised a red flag with government regulators.

Steely Dan bound for Durham
Steely Dan is scheduled to play the Durham Performing Arts Center on June 9.
Mikulski asks VA to upgrade Cumberland veterans clinic
U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski has asked the Department of Veterans Affairs to upgrade mental health services at its outpatient clinic in Cumberland.

Clean Air Comes At A Price In California

The air in California should be getting cleaner, thanks to a new law hitting the state's gas stations this month. But fresh air does not always come cheap. In fact, many gas stations say the expensive new gear they're being forced to install is going to put them out of business. For good. It's a problem that many gas stations across the country may eventually face.

Where kids roam amid dinosaurs
Nine-year-old Connor Chandler discovered a Velociraptor skeleton the other day.

Tone your core with low reps

Tone your core with low reps
Strengthen and tone your midsection with this simple and effective move that doesn't require endless repetition. Make sure your form is precise and that you use complete control to get the maximum benefit.

Galileo's Telescope Travels Far, Sees Farther

Instruments of revolution can appear deceivingly simple. With a bit of wood, copper wire and paper, Galileo fashioned a telescope that opened the skies for discovery. Now, for the first time ever, his telescope has traveled across the Atlantic.

Why won't my hydrangea bloom?
Q: I live outside of Clayton and have been gardening here for eight years. About seven years ago I purchased a hydrangea, and it was a nice plant in a three-gallon pot. I planted it in a filtered sun location of my garden. It has never bloomed.
Facing America's Doctor Disparity
ABC News Medical Editor Dr. Tim Johnson reports: In response to my report on Primary Care on “World News” Thursday, I have received several comments requesting some ideas on how to improve the supply of primary care doctors -- general internists, family physicians and pediatricians.

First, a reminder: almost all industrialized countries strike a 50-50 balance between the numbers of primary care doctors versus specialists. But in this country the distribution is about 70-30, specialists versus primary care. And it's getting worse -- trending down every year.

One survey of graduating medical students indicated that only 2 percent were thinking of general internal medicine! And there is a joke among medical students that when they graduate, they are going to go "on the road" -- meaning they will try to choose among radiology, ophthalmology, anesthesiology or dermatology (ROAD).

The reasons are fairly obvious: better pay, shorter hours, less night and weekend calls and, therefore, better lifestyles.

So why do medical students in other countries choose primary care more often? There are many reasons but, again, some are obvious. Many of these countries make medical education much more affordable, even tuition-free, so that medical students do not graduate with huge debts that they must struggle to pay off. They also work at providing better working conditions for primary care doctors, such as reasonable night and weekend coverage.

Many studies now show that when good primary care is available, health care costs go down and quality rises -- which is to say that unless we work at providing more primary care in this country, true health care reform will be impossible.

P.S. -- We must also work at increasing the supply of nurse practitioners and physician assistants who can supply much of the expertise needed for good primary care. In fact, many experts now refer to "medical homes" as a combination of doctors, nurses and assistants who provide primary care.
Injunction stops Westminster firm's sale of 50 drugs
Md. firm barred from selling products lacking FDA's OK Federal regulators won a permanent injunction this week barring a Westminster drug company and its New Jersey parent from selling more than 50 unapproved medications, mostly prescription cough and cold products.

She has arthritis but can't take NSAIDs
I have taken pain relievers for years for arthritis pain in my knees and hips and plantar fasciitis in my foot. My rheumatologist prescribed Celebrex, but my kidney enzymes soared, and I was told no more NSAIDs, ever. My pain has not gone away. What can I take?

Pill For Alcoholism May Also Dampen Urge To Steal

For people with kleptomania, stealing can provide an intense high or rush. But a new study says that a pill long used to treat alcoholism may also take the thrill out of stealing. It may help people with kleptomania overcome what can feel like an uncontrollable need to steal.

They're off the road again
When bands put out a new album, they typically hit the road and go on tour. But except for a few jaunts up the East Coast, Chapel Hill's Kingsbury Manx will be sticking pretty close to home.
Boston hospital performs nation's 2nd face transplant
17-hour operation took place at at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital A Boston hospital has performed the nation's second face transplant; the patient is a man who suffered traumatic facial injuries in a fall.

IRAQ: Virtual Therapy Treats Real Agony
BERLIN, Apr 10 (IPS)"Oh, dear Lord, what I am going through," 'N', a 25-year-old Iraqi from Baghdad wrote several months ago. "Am I going to see my family again? Sometimes, I even see my own dead body, lying somewhere. And I imagine the pain my death would cause to the people I love the most."

'Baby fat' could make for leaner adults
Studies indicate that most of us retain deposits that could potentially be stimulated to burn off ordinary fat as heat. Three new studies show that most adults have unexpectedly large and active deposits of a calorie-burning type of fat that biologists once thought disappeared after infancy.

Fat Could Help You Lose Weight, Someday

Researchers have always known that babies have a good type of fat that helps them stay warm. For adults, researchers say the trick will be to find a way to increase brown fat, revving up these internal calorie-burning furnaces.

Anoop Desai hits No. 7 on 'American Idol'
Anoop Desai once again finds himself in the bottom-two -- and once again survived, barely.
CDC: U.S. cases of food poisoning held steady in 2008 despite salmonella outbreaks
ATLANTA — Americans didn't suffer more food poisoning last year despite high-profile outbreaks involving peppers, peanut butter and other foods, according to a government report released Thursday.

HEALTH-SWAZILAND: 'Role Models in the Community'
MBABANE, Apr 9 (IPS)She is popularly known as sitjifiri (beautiful and well-kempt woman in SiSwati). Sylvia Khuzwayo travels across the Shiselweni region in the southern part of the Kingdom of Swaziland, giving testimonials to communities on her experience of living with HIV.

In an ailing economy, the doctor can wait

In an ailing economy, the doctor can wait
More Southern California residents, even the chronically ill, forgo preventive care, healthcare providers say. Dena Lansford, 49, would like to have a cholesterol check, a mammogram and, soon, a colonoscopy.

Fat Could Help You Lose Weight — Someday

Researchers have always known that babies have a good type of fat that helps them stay warm. These fat cells burn energy instead of storing it. It turns out that most adults also have this so-called brown fat, but in very small amounts. Researchers say the trick will be to find a way to increase brown fat, revving up these internal calorie-burning furnaces.

All songs not equal anymore with Apple's iTunes prices
The era of one-price-fits-all-songs on iTunes came to an end Tuesday as Apple, the Internet's dominant digital music store, began selling some of its most-downloaded songs for $1.29 apiece.
City targets infant mortality
12 neighborhoods designated for services to parents Acknowledging that infants in Baltimore are dying at an "alarming" rate, city officials will outline plans Wednesday to prevent premature births, low birth-weight babies and deaths from unsafe sleeping habits by offering services in targeted neighborhoods.

DEVELOPMENT: U.N. Triples Allotment for Population
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 8 (IPS)The 1994 landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, fixed a target of 20.5 billion dollars for investments in population programmes worldwide for the year 2010.

U2 to play Carter-Finley in October

Universal health coverage in spotlight at L.A. forum
But the White House-organized event is light on details. Even as President Obama toured Europe his administration pressed its healthcare reform campaign Monday in Los Angeles with a forum co-hosted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who lost his bid in California to make many of the changes now on the table in Washington.

Collapsing Mountains Rocked Italy's Earthquake

Italy lies between two huge tectonic plates to the north and south, and the Earth's crust on the western side of the country is actually stretching apart. That stretching and gravity pulled down part of the Apennine mountains and caused the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that shook central Italy early Monday.

U2 to play Carter-Finley in October
Live Nation announced today mega-selling band U2 will play Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Md. lawmakers urged to limit liability for defibrillator use
Marylanders who've lost loved ones to heart problems are asking lawmakers to limit liability for facilities that make automated external defibrillators available on site.

DEVELOPMENT: U.N. Offers New Political Profile for Sanitation
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 7 (IPS)When the United Nations concluded its International Year of Sanitation (IYS) last December, it left behind some 2.5 billion people worldwide waiting in line for toilets that did not exist or were in short supply.

Duke doctor featured in PBS special

Stand and target triceps, rear delts
When you challenge your body with something new during each workout, your muscles have to struggle to adapt -- and you'll see results sooner. Here's a different way to target your triceps and rear delts from a standing position.

Staying Fit After Marathon Days Are Over

There comes an age in every marathoner's life when the body says it's time to hang up the running shoes. Still, there's plenty you can do to stay athletic and fit.

Duke doctor featured in PBS special
In 1987, filmmakers from NOVA, the acclaimed science series, began filming seven Harvard Medical School students with the idea of chronicling what it takes to be a doctor.
French hospital performs face, hand transplants
Dozens of doctors working in teams over 30 hours performed the world's first simultaneous partial-face and double-hand transplant during the weekend, Paris' Public Hospital authority said Monday.

DEVELOPMENT-SOUTHERN AFRICA: Helping the Most Vulnerable Households
JOHANNESBURG, Apr 6 (IPS)A new tool to accurately measure the vulnerability of rural households to the impact of shocks such as the illness or death of a household member from AIDS has been developed by a Southern Africa regional policy network, the Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN).

Twits no longer tongue-tied
Maybe it's the blogs, maybe it's the fact that so many of us have Facebook or MySpace pages, maybe it's the Twittersphere. Whatever it is, I've noticed that more of us are failing to screen what we say.
Of trust and science
Yearslong study of the Amish has given a UM researcher medical insight and a unique role in their tight-knit realm Yearslong study of the Amish has given a UM researcher medical insight and a unique role in their tight-knit realm

Some employers offer rewards for workers' healthful behavior

Some employers offer rewards for workers' healthful behavior
Check your benefits to see if your business pays you to lose weight, quit smoking or exercise more, or gives discounts at gyms. Would you drop five pounds, or check your blood pressure regularly, in exchange for a store gift card or some frequent flier miles? If the answer is yes, check your employee handbook or health insurer's website to see if they trade perks for healthful living.

Film Asks If Nirvana Through Yoga Is Possible

A new film, "Enlighten Up," takes a look at whether yoga really is the spiritual experience it's cracked up to be. Host Robert Smith talks to filmmaker Kate Churchill and subject Nick Rosen about the documentary.

Success, one bead at a time
When presenting his intricate beaded artwork, which looks right at home at a powwow, Jeff Brown makes it clear that he is not an American Indian, nor is he trying to be.
HEALTH-ZIMBABWE: Government Promises to Rebuild Health System
HARARE, Apr 4 (IPS)The resuscitation of Zimbabwe’s health care system has been identified as one of the major challenges facing the country by the country’s new unity government.

N.C. Symphony drums up exhilaration

Food safety reform is on the table again
The pistachio warning, coming not long after the peanut product recall, may lead to legislative changes. Consumers could be forgiven for feeling a little weary about this week's recall of pistachios that might be contaminated with salmonella.

Using Tiny Particles To Answer Giant Questions

It all started with the Big Bang, but then what? In a special broadcast from Arizona State University, cosmologists discuss the origin of the universe, how the Large Hadron Collider research fits in and what particle physics can explain about how the universe began.

N.C. Symphony drums up exhilaration
"Holy mackerel!" was one of many such spontaneous expressions after the N.C. Symphony's performance of Jennifer Higdon's "Percussion Concerto" at Memorial Hall.
AUSTRALIA: Concerns Rise Over Leak at Uranium Mine
MELBOURNE, Australia, Apr 4 (IPS)The revelation that a substantial amount of contaminated water is leaking each day from a tailings dam at a uranium mine, located in a World Heritage Site, has sparked protests from environment activists.

House approves FDA regulation of tobacco products
The federal government would for the first time have regulatory powers over the tobacco industry under a bill the House approved Thursday after years of campaigning by anti-smoking forces.

House Votes To Give FDA Control Over Tobacco

After more than a decade of debate, federal oversight of the way cigarettes are made and sold appears closer than ever. The House approved a bill Thursday giving the Food and Drug Administration jurisdiction over tobacco.

Director Mark Rydell on James Dean
The UNC College of Arts and Sciences brought director Mark Rydell ("Cinderella Liberty," "On Golden Pond," "The Rose,") to Chapel Hill this week for a retrospective of his films, which have receved 26 Academy Award nominations.
House approves expanded FDA regulation of tobacco products
The House on Thursday voted to give the Food and Drug Administration unprecedented powers to regulate the tobacco industry, after years of crusading by anti-smoking groups for the government to exert more control.

SOUTH AFRICA: Nurses Should Be Backbone of ARV Treatment
DURBAN, Apr 2 (IPS)Effectively scaling up South Africans’ access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment will require decentralisation of health services from hospitals to clinics and allowing nurses to manage and eventually to initiate ARV treatment and care.

Interior Department Shifts Course On Spotted Owl

Access to COBRA healthcare subsidy may expand
Under California bill, people laid off from businesses with fewer than 20 workers would qualify for the temporary federal subsidy. Health insurers would have to notify previously insured employees. Workers laid off by California's smallest businesses have a shot at subsidized healthcare under a bill moving quickly through the Legislature.

Interior Department Shifts Course On Spotted Owl

The Obama administration has told a federal court that it will not defend a Bush-era decision to cut back protections for the northern spotted owl. The action could affect logging in western Oregon.

'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' dazzles
If you are a parent taking kids to see "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" here on tour for Broadway South Series, or just going because you loved the movie, you'll get your money's worth.
Flu season peak has passed in Md., officials say
Changes are in works for next year's vaccine Changes are in works for next year's vaccine

POPULATION: Global Financial Crisis Threatens Family Planning
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 1 (IPS)The spreading global financial crisis is threatening to undermine another one of the U.N.'s major development and health goals: family planning.