Morning Buzz: Jan. 25, 2008

The New York Times has endorsed Hillary Clinton and John McCain for the presidential nominations of the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively. The editorial board writes that Clinton, compared with Barack Obama, her main rival, "is more qualified, right now, to be president," and that McCain "is the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe."

The announcement on Thursday of a compromise agreement between House leaders and the Bush administration on a $150 billion stimulus package for the economy is meeting with mixed reviews in the Senate. Some Senate Democrats are apparently dismayed by the absence in the plan of increased unemployment benefits or food stamp support. Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts said he would like amend the package "to provide unemployment insurance to workers looking for jobs and to help families coping with high heating costs and skyrocketing food prices."

Taking birth control pills appears to significantly reduce a woman's lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer, according to a new study published today in the Lancet. Researchers say they aren't quite yet sure how the pills achieve this protective effect.