A look at today’s science and health policy news:
Republicans abandon Bush on food, energy issues
A.P.–Congress responded speedily to voters’ angst over rising grocery prices and $4-a-gallon gasoline Thursday, bucking President Bush’s veto threats with lopsided votes to boost food stamps and farm subsidies.
[Read more]
Clean-Air Rules Protecting Parks Set to Be Eased
Washington Post–The Bush administration is on the verge of implementing new air quality rules that will make it easier to build power plants near national parks and wilderness areas, according to agency scientists who oppose the plan.
[Read more]
F.D.A. Delays Clinical Trial of Embryonic Stem Cells
Bloomberg News–The Geron Corporation announced Wednesday that its plans to begin the first clinical trial using embryonic stem cells had been delayed by federal regulators.
[Read more]
Renewable energy tax bill advances in House
Reuters–A bill that would renew billions of dollars in tax breaks for solar, wind, biomass and other renewable energy sources and extend a proposed new tax credit for non-corn ethanol fuels advanced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
[Read more]
Official Urged Fewer Diagnoses of PTSD
Washington Post–A psychologist who helps lead the PTSD program at a medical facility for veterans in Texas told staff members to refrain from diagnosing PTSD because so many veterans were seeking government disability payments.
[Read more]
NASA Faces Rocket Test Delays for New Spaceship
SPACE.com–NASA is expecting delays for the first tests of the rocket that will replace its aging space shuttles after they retire in 2010, agency officials said Thursday.
[Read more]
Valley execs lobby for alternative-energy tax credits
Silicon Valley.com–Clean-energy and tech executives are leaning hard on Congress to break a deadlock and approve a series of tax credits for the solar and wind industries.
[Read more]
Judge Rejects Deal on Disabled
Washington Post–A federal judge rejected a proposed agreement between Washington, D.C. and the Justice Department to establish programs and deadlines intended to improve health care for the developmentally disabled.
[Read more]
L.A. prepares massive water-conservation plan
L.A. Times–The initiative would punish water wasters and limit such activities as watering lawns and washing vehicles. And it would revive a controversial effort to recycle sewage water.
[Read more]
1,200 people to have canceled healthcare coverage restored
L.A. Times–The action comes after Kaiser Permanente and Health Net reach an agreement with a California state agency.
[Read more]
Wyoming marks first illegal wolf kill
L.A. Times–A wolf shot to death in northwest Wyoming is the first known illegal killing in the state since the animals lost federal protection.
[Read more]
Wildlife numbers plummet globally: WWF
AFP–The world’s wildlife populations have reduced by around a quarter since the 1970s, according to a major report published Friday by the WWF conservation organization.
[Read more]
They say they want a revolution
Nature–Climatologists have called for massive investment in computer and research resources to help revolutionize modelling capabilities.
[Read more]
Researchers warn of nitrogen hazard to environment
A.P.–While carbon dioxide has been getting lots of publicity in climate change, reactive forms of nitrogen are also building up in the environment, scientists warn.
[Read more]
Retired justice O’Connor speaks on Alzheimer’s
Reuters–Retired U.S. Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O’Connor made a rare public appearance on Wednesday with emotional testimony in Congress on Alzheimer’s.
[Read more]
Medical Journal’s Article Questions TV Ads for Stent
N.Y. Times– A television advertisement for a heart stent may deceive the public and should be reviewed by regulators, according to an op-ed article published by a leading medical journal.
[Read more]
