BUSINESS
DOW
-2.40
12,565.53
NASDAQ
+8.10
2,451.31
S&P;
+4.13
1,430.50
SUN INDEX
+1.97
365.46
NATIONAL
High court handles finance law
The Supreme Court set the stage yesterday for striking down a part of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that bars the broadcast of corporate- and union-funded ads just before an election. pg 3A
Ney sentenced to 30 months
Former Rep. Bob Ney became yesterday the second former member of the House of Representatives to draw a prison term for his role in recent lobbying scandals. Ney, an Ohio Republican, was sentenced to 30 months, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and was fined $6,000. pg 3A
MARYLAND
Harford fire victims identified
The victims of a house fire in Harford County on Thursday were identified yesterday as a married couple and three of their grandchildren who lived in the house. All the victims died of smoke inhalation and thermal burns, said W. Faron Taylor, spokesman for the Maryland State Fire Marshal, which investigates fires. pg 1A
Vaccine respite to expire
An estimated 12,000 Maryland middle and high school students are in danger of being turned away from school next week if they do not receive two required vaccinations this weekend, according to the Maryland State Department of Education. pg 1B
SPORTS
Dolphins name Cameron coach
The Miami Dolphins concluded a two-week search for a head coach by hiring Cam Cameron, the San Diego Chargers' offensive coordinator for the past five seasons. Cameron signed a four-year contract to replace Nick Saban, who left for Alabama after a 6-10 season. pg 6C
BGE bills less than expected
Electricity bills for customers of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. are projected to rise by a less-than-expected 47 percent or about $550 for the year starting in June based on bids the utility received from wholesale energy suppliers this week. pg 1A
WORLD
Top Shiite official arrested
U.S. and Iraqi troops arrested a top Shiite official, who is suspected of torturing and killing civilians, during a raid in Baghdad yesterday. pg 10A
Journalist killed in Turkey
An outspoken journalist who repeatedly clashed with Turkish authorities over recognition of the early-20th-century slaughter of Armenians was shot to death in broad daylight on a busy downtown Istanbul street. pg 10A
TODAY
Curl up with a good book club
Oprah Winfrey may have put book clubs in the news, but Maryland book clubs including the Dear Sisters Book Club of Upper Marlboro and the Ruth Enlow Libraries in Garrett County, have long been quietly selecting, dissecting and endorsing their favorite reads. pg 1D