ALSO NOTED: General Electric ends Abbott buyout plan; Tobacco interests get states to cut back on anti-smoking ads; and much mo

> General Electric Co. has ended its effort to acquire Abbott Laboratories' in-vitro and point of care diagnostics businesses, which had 2006 sales of $2.7 billion. Article [1]

> Of late, the tobacco industry has been working to convince states to spend less on anti-smoking promotions. In some cases, tobacco interests have managed to convince states to let the companies handle anti-smoking campaigns on their own, with dubious results. Article [2]

> Louisiana is making it clear that while New Orleans providers seeking incentives for remaining in the area must accept Medicare and Medicaid--plus offer a sliding scale fee--they don't have to dedicate 30 percent of their practice to such patients. Article [3]

> Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has dished out $560,000 in grants to a variety of medical programs across the state. Article [4]

> If physicians begin responding to patient requests via email rather than seeing patients in their office, it could cut their practice revenues, according to one study. FierceHealthIT [5]

And Finally...  Sure, jogging is good. iPods are good. But sometimes they're not a good mix. Article [6]