MED-Seau-Brain-Disease

Star NFL linebacker Junior Seau -- just 43 years old when he took his own life last May -- suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative brain disease that can follow multiple hits to the head, the National Institutes of Health said Thursday.

MED-US-Flu-Season

The flu has been spreading fiercely across the United States, with more than half of states reporting widespread activity. The season has started earlier, and cases are more severe than last year, health officials say.

MED-insomnia-drug-dosage-change

The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday it is requiring manufacturers of insomnia products, such as Ambien, Edluar and Zolpimist, to lower their current recommended doses. The drugs contain an active ingredient called zolpidem, which causes drowsiness. Researchers have found high levels of zolpidem in the blood of some patients the morning after a dose -- so much so it affects patients' cognitive skills, including their ability to drive.

MED-ovarian-cancer-test

Could the Pap smear, which is already commonly used to detect cervical cancer, also be used to find endometrial and ovarian cancers? A small study suggests that may be possible in the future. Scientists at Johns Hopkins have found that cervical fluid collected during a routine Pap smear can be used to detect both types of cancers by using a genome sequencing test called the "PapGene."

SPORT-Baseball-Human-Growth-Hormone

Major League Baseball and players have agreed to ramp up the battle against illicit performance-enhancing drugs by instituting in-season testing for human growth hormone.

POLITICS

POL-Gun-Control-Battle (also see POL-US-gun-laws)

A federal task force looking for ways to curb gun violence will have a set of recommendations by Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden announced Thursday. Speaking during a week of meetings with disparate groups on various sides of the issue -- including some for and others against stricter gun controls -- Biden, who oversees the task force, said the recommendations to be given to President Barack Obama will serve as a beginning.

POL-Gun-Meeting-NRA

The nation's largest gun lobby came away from a Thursday meeting with Vice President Joe Biden and his gun control panel "disappointed" with the conversation. The National Rifle Association said it would move forward on the issue independently. "We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen," the NRA said in a statement.

POL-Bidens-Gun-Panel-And-Faith

Vice President Joe Biden and officials on his gun violence committee held an unannounced meeting Wednesday evening with a group of 12 national faith leaders.

POL-Colorado-Governor-Guns

Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, became the latest governor to call for more gun regulations as he reflected on last year's deadly movie theater shooting in his state and said Coloradans "have an obligation to prevent similar tragedies."

POL-Poll-Virginia-Guns

While two-thirds of Virginia voters say they want armed guards in schools, the voting bloc is more split on their opinions over gun control laws in general, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.

POL-NBC-Gun-Magazine

A decision is expected by the end of the week on whether there will be any criminal charges brought against NBC News for displaying what appeared to be a high-capacity gun magazine during a "Meet the Press" broadcast. D.C. Attorney General Irvin Nathan received the results of an investigation by city's Metropolitan Police Department, and is weighing a decision, spokesman Ted Gest said Thursday.

POL-Sequestration-Preparations

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has ordered the military to begin implementing cost-cutting measures aimed at mitigating the risk of significant budget cuts should Congress fail to reach a deal in coming months to avert or soften them.