Happy Friday. Here's your weekly health news roundup. Enjoy.

+   As the fond tributes continue to roll in for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, the NYT takes an in-depth look at Kennedy's battle with an aggressive and incurable brain tumor, glioblastoma, and how his fight mirrors the nation's 40-year war on cancer. In the wake of his death, could Congress could put aside the recent ugly debates on health care reform and actually pass legislation?

+   In other health care overhaul news, seniors are particularly skittish about proposed reforms, hospitals might actually profit from health care changes and a profile in the latest issue of Harvard Magazine goes deep on Dr. Atul Gawande, surgeon and writer who has unearthed a fascinating tale about excessive health care spending.

+   Maryland's budget woes are hitting health programs hard. In slashing $454 million from the state's $13 billion budget, officials will close an Eastern Shore psychiatric unit and cut millions in  funding to cancer research at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins.

+   Lots of swine flu updates as schools nationwide reopen, preparing for an onslaught of the virus this fall. New government data show children are 14 times more likely to get the H1N1 virus than adults, while others study whether the virus is more likely to affect blacks and Latinos . Got questions about swine flu? Have your say with public health officials on Monday and Tuesday through an online chat at www.WebDialogues.net/H1N1.

+   OK. This is just too much for me. Triathlons. For kids. As young as 3. Really?

And with that, have a great weekend!