NATIONAL
Weak oil royalty payments
At a time when energy prices and industry profits are soaring, the federal government collected little more money last year than it did five years ago from the companies that extract more than $60 billion in oil and gas from publicly owned lands and coastal waters. pg 1a
Uniting to make mining safer
In death, 14 West Virginia coal miners have achieved something that just a month ago seemed an unlikely goal: Labor, industry and lawmakers are united in demanding that a dangerous subterranean occupation be made safer. pg 3a
WORLD
U.S., Israel aim to boost Fatah
Israel and the United States scrambled yesterday to plan strategies in case of a Hamas victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections this week amid polls showing the militant Islamic faction running neck and neck with the governing Fatah party. pg 7a
Canadians head to polls
Canadians voting today for a new leader and House of Commons will choose between 13 years of Liberal Party rule or a new government that could shift the country toward a conservative right seeking to cut social programs funded by high taxes. pg 10a
MARYLAND
Youth center problems persist
Residents of the Chesapeake Youth Center, a psychiatric facility on the Eastern Shore, are still being mistreated, according to a report by the state Office of Health Care Quality, which warned the center's owner in November that he would lose his license unless he made sweeping changes. pg 1b
City plans vast bike network
Ambitious plans to create a bicycle network across Baltimore with a combination of designated lanes and shared roadways spanning more than 400 miles could begin in about a year pending approval by the city's planning commission. The first phase would be the creation of the Collegetown Bike Route, linking Johns Hopkins and Morgan State universities with St. Mary's Seminary and Loyola and Notre Dame colleges. pg 1b
SPORTS
Steelers stop Broncos, 34-17
Ben Roethlisberger passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Denver Broncos, 34-17, in the AFC title game. Pittsburgh became the first No. 6 seed in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl. pg 1d
Seahawks top Panthers, 34-14
The Seattle Seahawks advanced to their first Super Bowl by defeating the Carolina Panthers, 34-14, in the NFC championship game. League MVP Shaun Alexander came back from last week's concussion to rush for 132 yards and two touchdowns. pg 1d
TODAY
It's a depressing day
If you're feeling a little blue today, there's good reason. British psychologist Cliff Arnall has concluded that today is the most depressing day of this year. Last year's most depressing day also came on a Monday. pg 1c
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Most people don't get real enjoyment out of the flying experience anymore, so anything they can give makes everyone's lives a little bit better."
Dean E. Headley, co-author of an annual airline quality rating, on airlines' snacks
Article, PG 1a
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News from macworld
Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs used the annual Macworld Conference & Expo to introduce new hardware and software.
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