NATIONAL
War spending pushes deficit
Spending for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan will help increase the deficit to a record $427 billion this year, a senior administration official said, as congressional analysts released projections showing the country's overall budget situation worsening. [Page 1a]
Bush lobbies black leaders
President Bush told black leaders that his plan to add private accounts to Social Security would benefit blacks since they tend to have shorter lives than some other Americans and end up paying in more than they get out. [Page 3a]
Rice lied to them, Democrats say
Senate Democrats said yesterday that Condoleezza Rice lied to them, misled Americans about the war in Iraq and was an apologist for Bush administration failures in Iraq. However, she still appeared on track for confirmation as secretary of state. [Page 3a]
WORLD
Violence continues in Iraq
Rampant violence continued in Iraq yesterday just days before the country's elections. The U.S. military announced that six soldiers died, a dozen Iraqis were killed in Baghdad, and gunmen handed out leaflets warning Iraqis not to vote or risk death. [Page 1a]
Shame expressed over Nazi era
Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expressed shame over the horrors of the Nazi era. [Page 12a]
MARYLAND
Probe continues in student's death
Detectives continued searching yesterday for suspects in the death of Linda Trinh, 21, a senior at the Johns Hopkins University who was found dead Sunday in her apartment near the school. Trinh was remembered as an energetic young woman with the potential to accomplish almost anything. [Page 1a]
Passage of intimidation bills urged
Prosecutors and victims of witness intimidation urged lawmakers to pass legislation to deal with the problem. The bills would increase the maximum penalty for witness intimidation and permit some statements of intimidated witnesses to be used in court if the witnesses are not present. [Page 1b]
City goes to rescue in Pigtown
Baltimore will use its power of eminent domain to buy run-down properties in Pigtown, a Southwest Baltimore neighborhood that's being gentrified. The city has designated $1 million for the project, and the properties would be resold to developers. [Page 1b]
TODAY
'Aviator' scores 11 Oscar bids
The Aviator, an old-style epic about Howard Hughes, received 11 Oscar nominations, including best picture and best actor, to top Academy Awards contenders. Tied for second were Finding Neverland and Million Dollar Baby with seven nominations each. [Page 1c]
'Titanic' exhibit at science center
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at the Maryland Science Center next month will include a memorial room containing a list of the 2,228 passengers who died after the ship hit an iceberg in the Atlantic in 1912. [Page 1c]
BUSINESS
State employers add 55,000 jobs
Maryland employers added more than 55,000 jobs last year, the best performance since 2000 as the state accelerated out of a recessionary slow patch. Though not as strong as the pace set in the boom years of the late 1990s, last year proved to be a big improvement over 2003. [Page 1d]
Mercantile to buy Virginia bank
Mercantile Bankshares Co., Maryland's largest independently owned bank, agreed to buy Community Bank of Northern Virginia for $212 million. Mercantile is one of several banks that have looked to build or acquire branches in suburban Washington. [Page 1d]
SPORTS
Delgado signs with Marlins
Ending weeks of negotiations and posturing, former Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract with the Florida Marlins. The free-agent slugger spurned the Orioles, who had offered a four-year, $48 million deal. [Page 1e]
Davenport advances in Australia
Top-ranked Lindsay Davenport advanced to the Australian Open semifinals today, overcoming Alicia Molik, 6-4, 4-6, 9-7. Davenport next will face Nathalie Dechy of France, who rallied to eliminate Patty Schnyder, 5-7, 6-1, 7-5. [Page 3e]
Ravens will have to wait
If the Ravens want to trade for Randy Moss, they'll have to be patient. Minnesota hasn't decided if it wants to deal the All-Pro receiver, and the Vikings could be sold soon, which would delay potential player moves. [Page 4e]
LEWIS SENTENCING HEARING
Ravens running back Jamal Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced today in Atlanta on a federal drug charge. See archived coverage of the case. www.baltimoresun.com/jamallewis
RASHOD ON MUSIC
See a video of Sun pop-music critic Rashold Ollison reviewing Marianne Faithfull's new album, Before the Poison. www.baltimoresun.com/rashodvideos
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"If you were told you could order a daughter, you would order someone just like Linda. I can't think of a single flaw."
Michael Durso, principal of Springbrook High School, of homicide victim Linda Trinh (Article, Page 1A)
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