CDC: New diabetes cases in adults drop

CDC: New diabetes cases in adults drop

NEW YORK

Fewer cases of diabetes are being diagnosed in U.S. adults, according to startling new federal statistics released Tuesday.

Diabetes had been climbing for decades, driven by surging obesity rates. In 2009, the number of new cases reached 1.7 million. By last year, it had dropped to 1.4 million.

“After so many years of seeing increases, it is surprising,” said Edward Gregg, a diabetes expert who has been tracking the numbers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In recent years, the number of new cases seemed to be leveling off or even going down. But researchers wanted to see a few more years of data before declaring an improvement, he said.

The figures from the past two years confirm a significant drop, Gregg said.

Israel will enlist HIV-positive soldiers

JERUSALEM

The Israeli military said Tuesday it will begin enlisting soldiers who are HIV-positive, in a policy shift putting the country at the forefront of military inclusivity toward people with the virus that causes AIDS.

Military service in Israel is compulsory for Jews, but until now people with HIV were automatically deemed unfit to serve for medical reasons.

Col. Moshe Pinkert, the head of the military’s medical services department, said that policy will change, allowing people who are HIV-positive to enlist and serve in a variety of positions, except combat, so long as they meet a series of health-related criteria. The policy is set to go into effect in the coming weeks.

Police investigate new mayor’s death

ANCHORAGE, Alaska

Police in Alaska’s capital city have tentatively ruled out gunshots, drugs or suicide in the death of the newly elected mayor but have not determined whether he died from a natural event or foul play.

The adult son of Stephen “Greg” Fisk, 70, found the mayor’s body Monday afternoon and alerted police.

Fisk was found with injuries that police did not describe. Police are awaiting autopsy results to announce a possible cause of death.

“It’s not clear what the cause of those injuries are,” said police spokeswoman Erann Kalwara.

Prison settles suit over inmate’s death

SALT LAKE CITY

The Utah state prison has settled a wrongful-death lawsuit in the case of an inmate who died after a dialysis provider didn’t show up to give him treatment for two days.

Court documents filed Tuesday show the family of inmate Ramon C. Estrada is still suing the provider, a University of Utah clinic.

Alyson McAllister, a lawyer for the family, declined to discuss details of the settlement, but she says it has helped bring them some closure.

Priest who stole from church is sentenced

DETROIT

A Detroit-area Roman Catholic priest who said he “stained” his profession by embezzling more than $500,000 was sentenced Tuesday to 27 months in prison.

U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow rejected a light sentence sought by the Rev. Ed Belczak, but the punishment was shorter than the three years in prison recommended by prosecutors.

The government said Belczak “took what he pleased” from St. Thomas More Church in Troy to buy a Florida condominium from his parish manager and invest in stocks. Much of the $573,000 came from a deceased parishioner’s bequest to the church, which Belczak had led for nearly 30 years.

Associated Press