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Proven Link Between Obesity And Diabetes
A Monash University study has proven a critical link between obesity and the onset of Type 2 diabetes, a discovery which could lead to the design of a drug to prevent the disease.
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Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor Pledges 'Fidelity To The Law' As Confirmation Hearing Begins
In the first day of her confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor said on Monday that "fidelity to the law" is central to her judicial philosophy and that the role of a judge is "not to make law" but "to apply the law," the Washington Post reports. Sotomayor said her record as a district and federal appeals judge "reflects my rigorous commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its terms, interpreting statutes according to their terms and Congress" intent, and hewing faithfully to precedents established by the Supreme Court and by my circuit court." She also said her "personal and professional experiences help me listen and understand, with the law always commanding the result in every case" (Barnes et al., Washington Post, 7/14). The first day of the hearings was dedicated to opening statements from Sotomayor and senators, with the questioning portion scheduled to begin on Tuesday. According to the Wall Street Journal, Sotomayor is expected to be confirmed, as Democrats outnumber Republicans on the committee 12-7 and hold a 60-member majority in the Senate (Bravin/Bendavid, Wall Street Journal, 7/14). The New York Times reports that senators from both parties are likely to use Sotomayor"s confirmation as a way to frame the debate for the next Supreme Court nominee, with Democrats hoping to "build a lopsided victory" to give President Obama more leeway to choose a more liberal nominee. Conservatives, on the other hand, "hoped to draw a line making the president think twice about picking someone" like Sotomayor in the future, the Times reports (Baker/Lewis, New York Times, 7/14).In Monday"s hearing, both parties gave indications of how they plan to proceed for the rest of the confirmation process, the Post reports. Democrats in their statements portrayed Sotomayor as a role model for the country and a judge with a modest approach who would bring balance to the conservative-leaning court (Washington Post, 7/14). Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Sotomayor "puts rule of law above everything else." He added, "Given her extensive and evenhanded record, I am not sure how any member of this panel can sit here today and seriously suggest that she comes to the bench with a personal agenda" (Stern/Perine, CQ Today, 7/13). Republicans used their statements to cast Sotomayor as a partial judge, saying previous statements and rulings show she is an activist judge (Washington Post, 7/14). In particular, GOP senators on the committee referenced a comment from a 2001 speech in which Sotomayor said that a "wise Latina" would reach better decisions than a white man in some cases (Baker/Lewis, New York Times, 7/14). Sen. Jeff Sessions (Ala.), the ranking Republican on the committee, said, "No senator should vote for an individual ... who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their own personal background, gender, prejudices or sympathies to sway their decision." He continued, "Call it empathy, call it prejudice or call it sympathy, but whatever it is, it"s not law" (Wall Street Journal, 7/14). However, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) noted that Republicans lost in last year"s presidential election and told Sotomayor, "Unless you have a complete meltdown, you"re going to get confirmed" (Lewis, New York Times, 7/14).Antiabortion-Rights Protesters Arrested During HearingsFour antiabortion-rights protesters were arrested for shouting comments during the senators" remarks (CQ Today, 7/13). One of the arrested protesters was Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff "Jane Roe" in Roe v. Wade. According to the AP/Google.com, McCorvey began screaming that Sotomayor was "wrong" about abortion during the opening statement of Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.). McCorvey and the other three arrested protesters were charged with unlawful conduct-disruption of Congress. The protesters also prompted a warning from Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who said, "We"ll show respect to everybody who is here, we will show respect to everyb
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New York Times Examines Challenges Presented By Growing Number Of Surrogate Births
The New York Times on Sunday examined how the increasing number of surrogate births has created a "modern twist" on explaining pregnancy to children for many parents who used surrogacy. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine estimates that there were 400 to 600 surrogate births annually from 2003 to 2007. However, there is no widely agreed upon number, and many advocates believe the actual figure is much higher. Melissa Brisman, a lawyer who runs an agency that connects surrogates with prospective parents, said that ASRM figures are much too low and that her clients alone gave birth to 300 infants through surrogacy in 2008. She said that 20% of the cases involved gay men becoming parents via surrogacy. Experts believe the number of surrogate births will continue to rise as more people, including gay men, choose the option.Judith Kottick, a licensed social worker in Montclair, N.J., who counsels parents in addressing children"s questions about their surrogacy births, said, "What kids want to know is that they"re in the family they were meant to be in -- that they belong to their mom and dad." The Times included the experiences of several couples who had children via surrogacy (Rimer, New York Times, 7/12).
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HIV Awareness, Testing Efforts In Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky Target Black Community, Others

Religious leaders, health care workers, community organizations and government agencies in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky have begun a number of HIV and sexual health awareness efforts that encourage members of the black community, and others, to get tested, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. To increase the number of people being tested, the Northern Kentucky Health Department is providing HIV testing in people"s homes and the Cincinnati Health Department, along with other organizations, is conducting HIV testing in bars and clubs. Cincinnati also is a pilot site for the Black AIDS Institute"s "Test One Million" campaign. Separately, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections is nearing the end of a two-year pilot program in one prison that is testing inmates for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections upon their release. Other efforts in the states include condom distribution and HIV education (O"Farrell, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/5). This information was reprinted from dailyreports.kff.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily U.S. HIV/AIDS Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at dailyreports.kff.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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