Doctors to provide update on Giffords' condition

By the CNN Wire Staff

March 10, 2011 7:27 a.m. EST

Doctors say U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in January, is continuing to make progress.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords recuperating at a rehabilitation hospital in Houston

• Giffords was shot in the head outside an Arizona supermarket in January
• A judge has entered not guilty pleas on behalf of the shooting suspect
• He also ordered a competency hearing for Jared Lee Loughner

(CNN) -- Doctors treating U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords,
 D-Arizona, have scheduled a Friday morning news
conference to provide an update on her progress.

Giffords, who was shot in the head in an attack outside
a Tucson, Arizona, supermarket on January 8, has been recuperating at TIRR Memorial Hermann rehabilitation
 hospital in Houston. She was moved there in late
January from the University Medical Center in Tucson,
Arizona.

"Two months after her injury, the congresswoman
continues to improve," the Houston hospital said in a
statement Wednesday night.

Six people were killed in the incident; Giffords was
among 13 injured. Authorities have said they believe
Giffords was targeted.

On Wednesday, a federal judge in Arizona
entered not guilty pleas on behalf of Jared
Lee Loughner, 22, the Arizona man facing
49 counts, including murder and attempted
murder, related to the shooting.

Judge Larry Burns also scheduled a May 25
 competency hearing for Loughner, and
attorneys on both sides will be allowed to hire their
own experts to evaluate Loughner's competency to
stand trial.