Sun News Digest

NATIONAL

Fueled by Internet sales pitches, speculators across the country and in Iraq are snatching up new, cheap Iraqi dinars in the hope of making huge fortunes should the currency's value ever grow. [Page 1a]

Kerry backs stem-cell research

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry called on the Bush administration yesterday to ease restrictions against stem-cell research. [Page 3a]

Poll: Voters favor Edwards as VP

Registered voters favor North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as John Kerry's vice presidential running mate in November, according to an Associated Press poll. But Edwards' name on the ticket wouldn't automatically boost Democratic prospects, the poll found. [Page 3a]

WORLD

Russia's legal reforms scrutinized

For Russian defendants in criminal cases, few things are more certain than conviction -- just 0.4 percent were acquitted in 2001 -- causing concern among rights groups and questions about the country's legal reforms. [Page 1a]

Gunmen kill Iraqi official

Iraq's deputy foreign minister was shot and killed in Baghdad yesterday, while Lebanese officials announced that a Lebanese contract worker and two Iraqi associates who had been kidnapped last week were killed by their captors. [Page 16a]

American slain in Saudi Arabia

Gunmen killed an American worker in Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. Embassy said it was looking for an American citizen who was missing and believed to have been kidnapped by al-Qaida operatives. [Page 23a]

MARYLAND

Rosecroft board approves sale

The board that controls Rosecroft Raceway in Prince George's County voted yesterday to sell the financially troubled harness racing track for $13 million to the family of Peter G. Angelos, the majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles. The decision positions the Angelos family to become major players in the push to legalize slot machines in Maryland. [Page 1b]

BUSINESS

D.C. makes a bid for MLB team

The nation's capital has made an offer worth about $600 million to lure the bankrupt Montreal Expos to Washington. For Washington fans, the offer marks the chance of a lifetime. For Peter G. Angelos, owner of the Orioles, it's a looming disaster. [Page 1a]

SPORTS

LPGA's Sorenstam in the lead

Annika Sorenstam eventually found her groove after missing a half-dozen tries for birdies, knocking in four straight birdies to propel her to the lead at the LPGA Championship in Wilmington, Del. Sorenstam, the defending champion, shot a 4-under-par 67 to lead by one over Juli Inkster and Jennifer Rosales going into the extended final round. Because of a rain delay Friday, the players will play 36 holes today. [Page 10e]

Sailing championship

Sally Barkow of Wisconsin emerged from a tiebreaker to win the ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship in the waters off Lake Ogleton, just south of Annapolis. A lack of wind left the competitors bobbing in the water, forcing race organizers to settle the outcome. Betsy Alison of Rhode Island finished second. [Page 9e]

O's gain split with 5-4 win

Larry Bigbie's bases-loaded single in the 12th inning defeated the San Francisco Giants, 5-4, as the Orioles avoided a sweep of a day-night doubleheader that lasted 8 hours, 16 minutes. In the first game, Rafael Palmeiro hit two home runs, including his career homer No. 537, but Barry Bonds hit his 675th homer and capped a four-run 11th inning with an RBI single to defeat the Orioles, 9-6. [Page 1e]

ARTS & SOCIETY

Spy back in the spotlight

The Bush administration's nomination of Cold War scholar Allen Weinstein to be America's next National Archivist has brought the seemingly undying debate over the guilt of Baltimore diplomat and convicted spy Alger Hiss back into the spotlight once more. [Page 3f]

Reagan memorabilia popular

Demand has surged for artifacts relating to Ronald Reagan. Houston-based Toypresidents.com said it's been swamped with calls for its $29.95 talking Reagan dolls. And Internet auction site eBay saw a wave of Reagan items flood its pages by the morning after his death. [Page 5f]

REAL ESTATE

Md. home insurance rates rise

While U.S. homeowners are expected to see a smaller increase in insurance costs this year, paying on average 2.8 percent more than last year, Maryland residents are likely to pay above the national average because of Tropical Storm Isabel and other weather-related claims. [Page 1l]

TODAY ONLINE

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