NATIONAL
President visits Ford bier
President Bush, joining thousands of Americans who started the new year by saying goodbye to a former president, stopped yesterday at the U.S. Capitol after returning from his Texas ranch to pay his respects to Gerald R. Ford. pg 3a
Democrats list agenda
When Democrats take power on Capitol Hill this week, House leaders will kick off their legislative campaign with a lightning-fast, 100-hour agenda. But there won't be a revolution. pg 4a
MARYLAND
Gun licenses targeted
The federal government has ratcheted up the number of licenses it has taken away from gun dealers over the past five years, according to newly obtained statistics. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives pulled federal firearms licenses from 22 gun dealers across the country in 2001. That number reached 131 last year. pg 1a
Housing counsels paid
The city and the federal government have agreed to pay nearly $300,000 to lawyers representing black public housing residents in Baltimore, the latest installment of legal fees in a long-running civil rights case. The payment goes to the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and the private firm of Brown, Goldstein & Levy for monitoring a partial consent decree in the case. pg 1b
WORLD
Insurgents defy coalition
After three years of fighting that has killed 143 American troops in Iraq's Anbar province, the U.S. military has been unable to quash a vicious insurgency that shows no sign of pg 1a
Jetliner's wreckage found
Rescuers today found the smoldering wreckage of an Indonesian jetliner that went missing during a storm. Officials said 90 people were killed, while the remaining 12 aboard survived pg 7a
SPORTS
Knight now No. 1 in men's wins
Bob Knight passed Dean Smith and became the leader in Division I men's basketball coaching victories with 880, when Texas Tech beat New Mexico yesterday, 70-68. pg 1d
BUSINESS
Stay alert for schemes
If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Consumers need to be watchful, whether the tantalizing offer is online or in the mail. pg 7d
Mutuals come clean
A new rule requires that mutual funds be more tranparent in their expenses. But some smaller mutuals complain that the requirement may make them seem more expensive than they are. pg 7d
TODAY
January surprises
Winter is no longer the burial ground for television. Networks frequently save the premieres of their best shows for this time of year. pg c1