A federal advisory panel voted 20-17 to recommend a ban on the prescription pain killers Percocet and Vicodin because both narcotics are combined with acetaminophen in their formulation. Acetaminophen, an ingredient in Tylenol and many commonly used over the counter products, is known to cause liver damage with prolonged usage.

Just shy of eight months after Election Day, the Minnesota Senate race between Al Franken and Norm Coleman has finally been decided. The state Supreme Court upheld Franken’s win today and Colemen conceded defeat. Gov. Tim Pawlenty was set to sign the certificate of election this afternoon and Franken will be heading to Washington next week.

In a 5-4 decision, SCOTUS has reversed the Ricci case that has become a talking point for those opposed to Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination. Those in favor were Justices Kennedy, Alito, Scalia, Thomas and Chief Justice Roberts. The crux of their decision, per Justice Kennedy:

Bernie Madoff has been sentenced to 150 years. Unless Madoff has Nicholas Flamel as one of his co-conspirators, that’s going to be a life sentence.

Target Ovarian Cancer, a UK charity group, surveyed 400 GPs (general practitioners) and 1,000 women about their knowledge of ovarian cancer. The results were not promising. Of the GPs polled, only 51% identified “increased abdominal size” as the “most important symptom” and a scant 2% identified “difficulty eating” or “feeling full” (other common symptoms). 93% of the GPs acknowledged that diagnosis is often delayed.