national institutes of health

• Traffic Accidents

Woman pleads guilty to vehicular manslaughter for causing 2011 fatal accident near Bel Air

A 28-year-old Harford County woman accused of causing a fatal accident near Bel Air in July 2011 has pleaded guilty to a single count of manslaughter by motor vehicle, the county's state's attorney said, and will serve a prison term of five years.

• Health

Gut bacteria linked to obesity-related health problems

The answer to why some obese people develop diabetes and other health problems may be found not in just a love for junk food, but in the bacteria that thrive deep in the human gut.

• Colleges and Universities

Freeman Hrabowski's UMBC legacy grows as he celebrates 20 years as president

The melody of the president's voice, the intensity of his movements gripped Jeremy Brickey's attention, cutting through the monotony of freshman orientation at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

• Sports

Bits & Pieces: Connecticut-Maryland game will be a proud moment for local football

Stan Ber's Bits & Pieces column

• Politics

Convention focus shifts to Ryan, budget

TAMPA, Fla. -- Departing from an economic message that has so far dominated the Republican National Convention, Maryland Rep. Andy Harris used an address to state party leaders here today to focus instead on how to deal with federal budget deficits and government spending.

• Opinion

DREAM Act links ambition with opportunity

Residents brought here as young children deserve the same treatment as other Marylanders

• Politics

Akin rape comments 'offensive and wrong,' Bartlett says

Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett distanced himself from Republican House colleague Todd Akin¿s comments on rape on Tuesday, while his campaign manager called an attempt by Maryland Democrats to tie Bartlett to the controversy ¿disgusting.¿

• Science

Interview: John Powers wants to train 'biotechnicians'

John Powers is on his third biotech company — and this is the one that he says he's most excited about. He's a minority investor in his latest venture, Baltimore BioWorks, which is taking an unusual tack in the biotechnology sector.

• Environmental Issues

Editorial: The water is safe to drink

When the chemical difference in the water was discovered – it made tap water cloudy even after filtration and treatment – the Baltimore City Department of Public Works, which manages Loch Raven Reservoir, took precautions at the intake to fix the problem.

• Latest

STOCK Act: Federal employees sue government over financial disclosure

Seven senior federal employees and four employees' groups filed a federal lawsuit Thursday to stop their agencies from posting their personal financial disclosure forms online.

• Obituaries

Sylvester P. "Butch" Bollinger, energy company owner

Sylvester P. "Butch" Bollinger, founder and CEO of Bollinger Energy Corp. and cancer volunteer, died Thursday of cancer at Gilchrist Hospice Care. He was 68.

• Health

Kids can overcome allergies by gradually eating foods that cause reactions, study says

Study shows eating egg, other foods can help overcome food allergies

• Jobs and Workplace

Government falls short of goal for hiring of the disabled

The federal government is off the pace for 100,000 new hires in five years.

• Opinion

U.S. medical research endangered

NIH facing serious budget cuts if Congress fails to act this year

• Science

SpaceX flight carries Md. student project, but it never activates

The experiment designed by a 16-year-old Maryland student and launched into space never took off.

• Health

Robin Roberts, Nora Ephron bring MDS into spotlight

The underlying medical condition that contributed to the death of writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron and is forcing ABC news anchor Robin Roberts to get a bone marrow transplant is a rare and complicated disease that scientists are still trying to figure out.

• Opinion

Federal executives balk at new financial disclosure rules

Members of the Senior Executive Service warn that the public disclosure of their personal finances could leave federal executives vulnerable to identity theft, make their children "prime kidnapping targets" and blow the covers of intelligence operatives.

• Health

Is toothpaste giving your kid allergies?

Antibacterial in soaps and toothpaste may weaken development of the immune system and cause allergies in kids

• Howard County

At Relay for Life, emotions on display in battle against cancer

Donna Holt was healthy and strong, a breast cancer survivor. But while training for the Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon in 2009, she was surprised to find she couldn't complete the practice swim. Turns out, the breast cancer she had conquered in 1998 had returned and metastasized.

• Health

Prostate cancer counseling a personal cause for Baltimore City Council aide

Prostate cancer survivor Robert Ginyard, is a nationally known as a speaker for ZERO — The Project to End Prostate Cancer. Ginyard will testify before Congress June 6, asking for research funding.

• Health

Catonsville man to descend from hotel to raise money for National Kidney Foundation of Maryland

Billy Stapleton will step to the edge of the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore Saturday and rappel down to raise funds for the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland. Alongside him will be his mother, who donated a kidney to him six years ago.

• Health

University of Maryland, Baltimore to revamp teaching on pain

Under federal program, University of Maryland, Baltimore to address pain management in curriculum

• Weather

SpaceX rocket carries Maryland science project into space

The Dragon, the world's first commercial space capsule to dock to the International Space Station, is carrying with it a Maryland high school student's science project

• Health

North County student wins Intel Science Fair's top prize

North County High School freshman Jack Andraka stood on the auditorium stage, speaking about the invention that earned him the $75,000 grand prize at the recent Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

• Latest

Grandparents take on role of a parent

Ella Johnson was finished raising her children, but when her daughter died of a heart condition in the middle of the night next to her 1-year-old son, Johnson suddenly found herself mothering a grieving toddler who clung to his mother's picture.

• News

NIH employee guilty of theft

Germantown woman pleads guilty to using government credit card for personal use, buying 119 iPads, a mattress set and house cleaning services

• Health

Local biotech firm wins grant to develop vaccines for two viruses

Profectus BioSciences Inc., a Baltimore-based biotechnology company, won a $5.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to support the development of a vaccine for a pair of contagious and deadly viruses.

• Elections

State biotech firms hope Congress will act

A proposal to speed the approval of new prescription drugs has patient advocates and biotechnology firms, including many that are based in Maryland, hoping that Congress can deliver a rare dose of bipartisanship this year.

• Latest

Salad bars sprouting up in city school cafeterias

The Leadership School is one of 11 in the city that has introduced salad bars as part of students' regular lunch fare. On Tuesday, the city will announce the installation of the salad bars in 10 more schools.

• Opinion

Information needed to treat put beyond physicians' reach

Medical journals' pay walls often put access to the latest medical information beyond the reach of clinicians.

• National Institutes of Health

Fundraiser comes to aid of Arbutus boy with rare hip disease

The April 22 fundraiser to help the family of Ashton Barrick, an Arbutus boy with a rare hip disease, raised enough money to pay some of the families bills. The family will need more assistance, though, said a family friend.

• Obituaries

Philathia Yvonne Reese-Calhoun, outreach director

Philathia Yvonne Reese-Calhoun, former director of community outreach at Maryland New Directions, died Monday of cancer at Northwest Hospital. She was 63.

• Latest

UMBC president named among world's most influential leaders

UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski III, whose trailblazing work in educating minority students in the sciences has catapulted the university onto the national stage, has been named one of the world's most influential people by Time magazine.

• Opinion

Vaccine policy should not be one size fits all

Vaccines can cause harm, so a flexible policy is the best approach.

• Latest

Dismayed by Washington, Pooran runs for Congress

Milad Pooran was honeymooning in the South Pacific last summer as politicians in Washington were turning a deadline to raise the U.S. debt limit into another opportunity for partisan brinkmanship. He asked his wife for permission to run for Congress from Maryland's 6th District.

• Politics and Government

In 8th Congressional District, it's 'getting to know you'

Redistricting, early voting and the flood of interest from a presidential election year has made March a critical month for candidates vying for positions in Congress, perhaps none as hectic as the 8th Congressional District race.

• Latest

Lanham company warns of possible layoffs

A Lanham-based company warned state regulators Monday that it could lay off more than 100 employees if a federal contract isn't renewed this spring.

• Health

Black women in city infected with HIV at higher rate than national average

HIV infection rates for Baltimore, five other 'hot spots' much higher than previously thought.

• Health

Injection easier than IV in treating deadly epileptic seizures, study shows

Maryland doctors, paramedics find a shot in the thigh outdoes IV method of stopping seizures

• Health

Vitamin D may be used to treat common fibroids

Study shows injections of vitamin D may reduce size of uterine fibroid tumors

• Medical Research

Letter: Sharfstein's caution and desire for more data on marijuana is warranted

I am surprised that the Times (Feb. 15) would endorse the medical marijuana bill favored by State Del. Dan Morhaim (HB1158) and not endorse the medical marijuana bill (HB1024) favored by Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

• Health

Baby brain development may signal autism

• Politics and Government

Md. Democrats balk at bipartisan tax deal

Citing an effective salary cut for new employees to help pay for the legislation, all but one of Maryland's Democrats in Congress bucked their own party to vote against an extension of a national payroll tax holiday.

• Politics

Federal payroll deal passes, Maryland delegation split

Eight of Maryland¿s 10 members of Congress voted against a bi-partisan plan Friday to extend a national payroll tax holiday ¿ including two who were instrumental in crafting the deal ¿ citing concern over how the measure would affect federal employees.

• Politics

Fed workers to help cover payroll agreement's cost

New federal employees would contribute more than triple the amount paid by current government workers for their retirement under an agreement reached in Congress to extend a payroll tax break and unemployment benefits, two Maryland lawmakers who helped craft the deal said Thursday.

• Health

Nutrition and type 2 diabetes prevention

• Health

Know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke

Take heed of the warning signs of heart attack and stroke

• Latest

Good morning, Baltimore: Need to know for Tuesday

• Politics and Government

Obama budget cuts would hit Maryland

Federal employee unions and some Democratic lawmakers from Maryland on Monday criticized President Barack Obama's proposed $3.8 trillion budget for 2013 because of cuts to retirement plans.

• Health

People not using hearings aids despite hearing loss

Hearing loss is under treated Johns Hopkins, study finds.