Veto of bill to pay $484M hospital debt assured

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- With the threat of a veto looming, the Maine Senate nevertheless gave final approval Thursday to a bill to pay off a $484 million debt to Maine hospitals while expanding Medicaid to tens of thousands of uninsured people. ( AP 05/23/2013 5:37 PM )

Merck ends development of Parkinson's disease drug

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. (AP) -- Merck & Co. says it is ending development of an experimental Parkinson's disease drug because the drug wasn't working. ( AP 05/23/2013 5:33 PM )

Polish man gets quick face transplant after injury

WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- A 33-year-old Polish man received a face transplant just three weeks after being disfigured in a workplace accident, in what his doctors said Wednesday is the fastest time frame to date for such an operation. It was Poland's first face transplant. ( AP 05/22/2013 11:13 PM )

Vote on pot shops could end lingering LA issue

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Voters approved a law limiting the number of medical pot shops in Los Angeles after politicians failed for years to corral the blossoming industry. ( AP 05/22/2013 7:37 PM )

Mexico cartel dominates, torches western state

LA RUANA, Mexico (AP) -- The farm state of Michoacan is burning. A drug cartel that takes its name from an ancient monastic order has set fire to lumber yards, packing plants and passenger buses in a medieval-like reign of terror. ( AP 05/22/2013 7:06 PM )

Pentagon: New record plan won't help vet backlog

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon has decided to buy a new computerized health records system to be able to better share and merge its data with the Department of Veterans Affairs, but officials cautioned that it was part of a "long-term modernization" effort and would not help ease the backlog in VA disability claims. ( AP 05/22/2013 5:55 PM )