Seniors' medical pot collective stirs up trouble
Joe Schwartz is a 90-year-old great-grandfather of three who enjoys a few puffs of pot each night before he crawls into bed in the Southern California retirement community he calls home.

Finances look worse for Medicare, Social Security
The bad economy is worsening the already-shaky finances of Medicare and Social Security, draining the trust funds supporting them faster than expected and intensifying the need for Congress to shore up the massive benefit programs

Alarming combo: Bedbugs with 'superbug' germ found
Hate insects? Afraid of germs? Researchers are reporting an alarming combination: bedbugs carrying a staph "superbug."

Crude oil chemical linked to heart defect in babies
Babies who are exposed before birth to ethyl benzene, a toxic component in crude oil, may have a higher risk of developing congenital heart disease, US researchers said Saturday.

Arkansas medical marijuana advocates begin petition
Proponents of legalizing medical marijuana in Arkansas are hoping that 2012 is their lucky year.

Medicare rise could mean no Social Security COLA
Millions of retired and disabled people in the United States had better brace for another year with no increase in Social Security payments.

Administration wants to slow health care challenge
The Obama administration says the Supreme Court should not permit Virginia to sidestep a federal appeals court in the state's challenge to the health care law.

Appeals court speeds up health overhaul appeal
A federal appeals court has agreed to act swiftly in considering a Florida judge's ruling that President Obama's health care overhaul is unconstitutional.

Republicans planning cost curbs on health benefits
House Republicans will "lead with our chin" and offer politically explosive cost curbs this spring on programs like Medicare, Medicaid and perhaps Social Security, the party's point man for curbing crippling budget deficits said Thursday.