Mass. gets $2.1M in drug settlement
BOSTON — Massachusetts is getting more than $2.1 million to settle claims that British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline LLC deceptively promoted the diabetes drug Avandia.
The payment is part of a $90 million settlement between GlaxoSmithKline and attorneys general from 38 different states.
Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office says the Massachusetts share of the settlement will mostly fund programs to lower health care costs for residents, combat unlawful marketing practices in the health care market or benefit consumers.
Attorney generals say GlaxoSmithKline misrepresented Avandia’s cardiovascular risks and safety profile. The agreement requires the company to reform its marketing practices and to publicize information about any company-sponsored clinical trials on its diabetes drugs GlaxoSmithKline doesn’t admit any wrongdoing.
Norelli nominated
as House speaker
CONCORD — New Hampshire’s newly elected Democratic representatives nominated former House speaker and current House minority leader Terie Norelli of Portsmouth as their speaker for the next two years.
Democrats regained the majority in the election this month with a 221-179 edge over Republicans, though recounts could change the split slightly. The Legislature was set to meet Dec. 5 to organize and elect leaders. If House Democrats stick together, their nominee, Norelli, will become speaker.
$5M awarded in NH medical misdiagnosis
EXETER — A New Hampshire jury has awarded $5 million to an Epping woman in a medical misdiagnosis case.
The Portsmouth Herald says a Rockingham County jury issued a verdict Thursday in favor of Noel and Adam Jodoin in a medical negligence case against Dr. Ellen Johnson.
A former radiologist from Advanced Diagnostic Imaging in Exeter, Johnson was ruled at fault for the misdiagnosis in a case involving Noel Jodoin in August 2007. The verdict came after a two-week trial and three hours of jury deliberation.
The suit said that after Jodoin had a CT scan following a long and severe headache, Johnson failed to find abnormalities of clinical significance.
Jodoin was flown to a Boston hospital, where intracranial hemorrhages were detected, requiring brain surgery.
Police to address holiday safety
FRAMINGHAM — Police across New England are combining their efforts to reduce accidents and fatalities through the holiday season.
The effort is focusing on aggressive, distracted and impaired drivers.
The New England State Police Administrators Conference is holding a news conference on traffic safety efforts Monday.
— Associated Press
NH man among those killed in parade float wreck
NORTH STRATFORD, N.H. (AP) — A decorated soldier who was killed when a train hit a parade float in west Texas grew up in New Hampshire.
WMUR-TV says Retired Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Boivin graduated from Stratford High School in 1983 before serving in the Army for the next 24 years. Boivin, who was 47, served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was on board the float with fellow veterans when it was hit by a train on Thursday.
Boivin threw his wife to safety, giving his own life for hers. That didn’t surprise Roger Boyington, the former principal of Stratford High School in North Stratford. Boyington says Boivin has a record of putting others before himself.
Ayotte urges cooperation to back off fiscal cliff
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire’s Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte says it’s time to stop partisan bickering and back America away from the looming fiscal cliff.
In giving the Weekly Republican Address Saturday, Ayotte says power sharing is an opportunity, not an obstacle.
She harkened back a generation ago, to when Republican President Ronald Reagan and Democratic House Speaker Tip O’Neill bridged their difference to save the Social Security system.
She says failure to stop imminent tax hikes and deep spending cuts will be devastating to our military strength and could cost a million defense industry jobs.
Ayotte said both sides of the aisle agree the federal tax code is broken in need of reform.
Fast moving blaze destroys Lynn, Mass. church
Cape Cod town rebuilding shoreline ahead of tourist season
Shake-up on Beacon Hill as Lt. Gov. expected to resign
3-alarm fire destroys Lynn, Mass. church
Beach erosion closes Sandwich, Mass. beach
13-year-old found safe after Mass. Amber Alert
Huge tornado hits Oklahoma City suburb, kills 24
Abducted Braintree children found in South Windsor, Conn.
Abducted Braintree children found in South Windsor, Conn.
51 dead after tornado hits near Oklahoma City
Rand Paul visits NH for GOP fundraiser
Amber Alert issued in Braintree, Mass. abductions
3 hurt in Middleboro, Mass. wreck involving police cruiser
51 dead after tornado hits near Oklahoma City
Marathon bombing survivor strong in recovery
Residents of Maine town seek protection of 'cliff walk'
VT Gov. Shumlin signs bill to authorize end-of-life choices
Golf tourney raises orphanage funds, remembers victim of Haiti quake
4-year-old Webster, Mass. boy fighting cancer gets dream gift
McCain backs Gomez in Mass. Senate race
