Task Force Criticized as Mammogram Controversy Returns

Here's what we're checking out today:

Mammograms: Two years after its controversial recommendation for changing breast cancer screening guidelines, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is in hot water again as a new analysis suggests it may have ignored evidence supporting the benefits of more frequent mammograms. Julie Steenhuysen reports on the analysis  for Reuters.

Obesity: Brrrr. New research suggests that another reason we might be gaining weight is that our homes and workplaces are warmer; we burn more calories when we're cold, Linda Shrieves reports for the Orlando Sentinel.

Diabetes: The chronic disease now affects nearly 26 million Americans, or 8.3 percent of the population, according to a new CDC report. (Check out our tips for covering diabetes in your community.)

Medical Marijuana: It was only a matter of time before some enterprising entrepreneur (from near Santa Cruz, of course) developed a "cannabis cola" for the medical marijuana market, reports Wallace Bain for the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Medicare: The Wall St. Journal sues the feds to open up a confidential Medicare database listing how much money individual doctors receive from the government health program. Read more of the WSJ's coverage of confidential Medicare data and how it could be used to reveal waste and fraud.