Doug Hoffman will not contest NY-23 race as his campaign watches absentee count

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative candidate for the 23^rd Congressional District race is waiting to decide whether or not to contest the results of the election, according to The Post Standard.  This week the absentee ballots from the election will be counted.  Hoffman recently told Glenn Beck, on his talk radio show, that he was planning on “un-conceding” the race.  Hoffman’s campaign now says that he is waiting to see the results of the count before deciding.  Of the over 10,000 absentee ballots requested, at least 6,000 were returned to the 23^rd district last week.

My Take: The results of the 23^rd Congressional District election are influential on students because for nine months out of the year they live in the District.  If Hoffman decides to contest it would lead to a complete recount of the District making the election stand out.

Task force opposes routine mammograms for women age 40-49

According to CNN the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has updated guidelines for women’s breast health.  Women in their 40s are now advised to talk to their doctors before receiving a mammogram.  Women ages 50 to 74 are advised to have routine mammogram screenings every two years.  Previously, the task force recommended women ages 40 and older should receive screenings every year or two.  The Task Force is asking women in their 40s to consider the risks of the procedure.  The risks can include false positives, anxiety and unnecessary biopsies.  The task force acknowledged that this information would be controversial, but said they aren’t against screening, just routine screening.

My Take: Women in their 40s are now left to decide if they are willing to take the risks in order to possibly detect and cure cancer.  This may be alarming to many because mammograms have always been thought of as a key procedure to detecting Breast Cancer, and the negative sides of them have often been avoided.

Hasan Probe Will Include Pentagon

According to CBS News, The Defense Department will launch an investigation because of the Fort Hood shootings.  The investigation will look at how the military services in the United States recognize and react to potential problems within their ranks.  A pentagon spokesman said that the issues brought up by the Fort Hood shooting are larger than the army.  Overall the Defense Department wants to look at general procedures.  This will include investigating procedures at The Pentagon.  The investigation hopes to find if the military is missing red flags that could potentially result in danger.  The investigation is still being organized.

My Take: The Fort Hood shooting is raising many questions within the government.  The military was implemented to protect people of the United States not harm them.  By investigating the Defense Department could implement procedures that would promote trust amongst the military and citizens.