Controversy, distrust trail group aiming to help FDA - NJ.com

Controversy, distrust trail group aiming to help FDA - NJ.com: "A foundation created by Congress to help the Food and Drug Administration deal with increasingly complex science, spur innovation and improve safety has come under fire before it has convened its first board meeting. Reflecting a distrust of the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA, a congresswoman with sway over the agency's purse strings and some advocacy groups have been questioning the credibility of the fledgling Reagan-Udall Foundation. They warn it could be used by the pharmaceutical industry to unduly influence the regulatory agenda."

Obama Takes Iowa in a Big Turnout as Clinton Falters; Huckabee Victor - New York Times

Obama Takes Iowa in a Big Turnout as Clinton Falters; Huckabee Victor - New York Times: "A smaller field of presidential candidates arrived in New Hampshire Friday morning facing a dramatically upended campaign after two one-time insurgents — Senator Barack Obama, an Illinois Democrat, and Mike Huckabee, the Arkansas Republican — won the Iowa caucuses Thursday night."

From student's lab to commercial viability | IndyStar.com

From student's lab to commercial viability IndyStar.com - A teacher-and-student tandem from Indiana University-Bloomington has developed a rough prototype for a device based on biosensors that may provide an inexpensive and efficient way of quickly diagnosing the blood disease sepsis. Their company, SpheroSense, aims to put the device in research labs by 2009.

Independent Voters May Give Obama Edge in Iowa - washingtonpost.com

Independent Voters May Give Obama Edge in Iowa - washingtonpost.com: "With two days before Iowans go to the polls, significant support for Sen. Barack Obama from political independents has put rival Democratic campaigns on edge, challenging the traditional model of the state's caucuses as a low-turnout exercise dominated by partisan insiders."

Democrats: More Than Health Care - New York Times

Democrats: More Than Health Care - New York Times: "When you look at their policies as a whole, you see that Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama have actually laid out two competing economic philosophies. The fight over health insurance is just one part of their disagreement."

CA Assembly bill would help cover state's uninsured - sacbee.com

CA Assembly bill would help cover state's uninsured - sacbee.com: "The California Assembly has approved legislation that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, say would provide medical coverage to about 70 percent of Californians who are permanently uninsured. If the Senate passes Assembly Bill X1 1 after the Legislature reconvenes next week, voters would be asked next November to approve taxes that would help pay for the $14.5 billion annual tab."

State's minimum wage hits $8 - sacbee.com

State's minimum wage hits $8 - sacbee.com: "California's minimum wage joined the ranks of the nation's highest this year, increasing 50 cents to $8 an hour. Depending on whom you ask, the increase can be chalked up as a boost to low-wage workers or a blow to the state's business community. Meanwhile, those at the bottom of the pay scale wonder whether the raise will actually help workers keep pace with the Golden State's high cost of living."