Gene linked to some cases of Lou Gehrig’s disease found

Researchers announced this week that they’ve found a new gene, ALS6, which is responsible for about 5 percent of hereditary Lou Gehrig’s cases. It’s being called a “momentous discovery” by the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association. Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Massachusetts and Kings College in London found the mutation by doing detailed sequencing of the genes in several families with an inherited form of ALS.

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No job, no insurance — Now what?

On a recent afternoon, Pamela Rinchich quietly recalled how her cancer doctor abruptly canceled an appointment. Rinchich owed $268 from a previous visit: She didn’t have the money and the doctor refused to see her until she paid. “I offered to do whatever I could, even work in the office to cover it,” said Rinchich, with tears in her eyes

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1 European killed, 9 others wounded in Egypt blast

An explosion in one of the Egyptian capital’s busy tourist districts Sunday left a French woman dead and wounded nine other Europeans, the country’s Health Ministry reported. Goody, 27 tied the knot with boyfriend Jack Tweed, 21, in Hatfield Heath, Essex, east of London, UK media report.

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With a New Budget, Now Californians Brace for the Pain

Thanks to the California state budget that was approved early Thursday morning, my husband and I — relatively new citizens of the Golden State — will help bridge the extraordinary $42 billion deficit next year by paying approximately $1,000 in additional taxes, fees and loss of dependent tax credits. And this figure will remain at that level only if we make no purchases for 12 months in an effort to avoid the new 1-cent-on-the-dollar increase in sales tax. It is, of course, a better option than getting laid off, not receiving our 2008 tax refund or being unable to drive through an abandoned highway repair project — the brutal realities of a state in freefall with no balanced budget

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