MARYLAND
Student's death ruled homicide
On the same day the state medical examiner ruled that the death of a student at the Bowling Brook Preparatory School was a homicide, the FBI said it is conducting an independent investigation into the incident. pg 1a
Third county OKs Verizon TV
The final obstacle for cable television competition in Baltimore County was removed last night when the County Council approved a deal with Verizon Communications. The county becomes the third in the Baltimore area with competition between Verizon and Comcast. pg 1b
NATIONAL
Walter Reed hearings open
The faces of the scandal over the treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center appeared before a congressional panel. pg 1a
Detainees appeal to high court
Lawyers for Guantanamo detainees held more than five years without charges asked the Supreme Court to step in a third time to guarantee that they can challenge their confinement in U.S. courts. pg3a
WORLD
U.S. admits Afghan incident
For the second time in less than 24 hours, the U.S. military acknowledged involvement in an incident that caused multiple civilian deaths in Afghanistan - this time, an airstrike on a rural compound that killed nine people from the same family. pg 1a
BUSINESS
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SUN INDEX -- DOWN
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SafeNet to be acquired
SafeNet Inc., the Harford County technology company under federal investigation for its stock option grants, said yesterday that it has agreed to be acquired by a San Francisco private equity firm for about $634 million. pg 1e
SPORTS
Ravens expand search
The Ravens, unable to strike a deal with Jamal Lewis over the weekend, have expanded their free-agent running back search. The team has contacted the agents for Corey Dillon and Chris Brown, although they are continuing to negotiate with Lewis. pg 1d
TODAY
Hip-hop team signs with MTV
In a move that will help local hip-hop composers, Darkroom Productions closed a deal yesterday with MTV Networks to submit music for the coming season of the reality series Rob & Big. pg 1c