NATIONAL
FCC chairman to resign
Michael K. Powell announced yesterday that he will step down in March as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, culminating a four-year tenure in which the Republican-controlled agency championed a generally pro-business agenda and drastically stepped up enforcement of broadcast indecency standards. [Page 1a]
Contraceptive decision delayed
Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc., the biggest U.S. maker of birth control pills, said the Food and Drug Administration delayed deciding whether to approve over-the-counter sales of its Plan B emergency contraceptive. [Page 3a]
EPA grants temporary amnesty
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced yesterday a temporary amnesty for pollution enforcement against large livestock operations that agree to air monitoring and pay small fines. [Page 3a]
WORLD
Step toward Mideast cease-fire
As ordered by their newly elected president, thousands of Palestinian police took up positions in the northern Gaza Strip yesterday to stop attacks on Israelis. The move was seen as a major - if somewhat symbolic - step toward a sustained cease-fire in the region. [Page 1a]
Car bombs kill at least 22 in Iraq
Car bombs outside a Baghdad Shiite mosque and a Shiite wedding party killed at least 22 people in what appeared to be the latest attempt to inflame sectarian tensions ahead of the Jan. 30 national election. [Page 9a]
MARYLAND
Renewed push starts for slots
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. launched his latest push for slots yesterday with legislation that calls for 15,500 of the machines at six locations around the state. But he and legislators said they doubt that the only major change from last year's bill will be enough to win General Assembly approval. [Page 1b]
Lead paint program loses funds
Despite promoting a statewide campaign to end childhood lead poisoning, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has eliminated funding for one of Baltimore's lead paint programs in his budget, the money paid for city employees to enforce compliance with lead paint regulations. [Page 2b]
City adds red-light cameras
Baltimore will add red-light cameras to 16 intersections, joining 47 intersections in the city that have the cameras to catch red-light runners. The new cameras will be digital. [Page 1b]
SPORTS
TV revenue key in Nationals' deal
As potential ownership groups travel to New York to inspect the financial records of the Washington Nationals, how much revenue the team will get from its local television deal remains a huge question mark. [Page 1c]
Clemens returns for record salary
Roger Clemens is coming back for one more year - and is getting the highest salary for a pitcher in baseball history. Clemens, 42, and the Houston Astros agreed to an $18 million, one-year contract, and the seven-time Cy Young Award winner made the commitment to play for his 22nd major league season. [Page 1c]
Orioles sign reliever Reed
The Orioles signed veteran reliever Steve Reed to a one-year, $1.05 million contract with an option for 2006. Reed, who turns 39 in March, led the Colorado Rockies with a 3.68 ERA last year, going 3-8 in 65 games. [Page 3c]
BUSINESS@SUBHEDThird week of losses for indexes
Stocks tumbled yesterday, wiping out the last of the Dow Jones industrial average's 2004 gain as benchmark indexes recorded a third straight week of losses. [Page 9c]
Medicare rules unveiled
The Bush administration unveiled rules yesterday for the new Medicare drug benefit that guarantees patients access to a wide range of medicines, while giving insurance companies potent tools to control costs. [Page 9c]
Sears to stop paying dividends
Sears, Roebuck and Co. said in a regulatory filing that it doesn't expect to pay more quarterly dividends after the department store chain's merger with Kmart Holding Corp., expected to be final in March. Sears has awarded stock splits and stock dividends as far back as 1911. [Page 9c]
TODAY
Furor stuns producer
Veteran musician and producer Nile Rodgers, who has made a pro-tolerance music video for children, featuring scores of their TV heroes including the Muppets and SpongeBob SquarePants, said yesterday that he is astounded that the project has been assailed by some conservatives as a cunning attempt to advocate homosexuality. [Page 1d]
A look back at Portland Gale
No matter what Mother Nature dishes the region today, it is unlikely it'll surpass the great Portland Gale - the hurricane-snowstorm of Nov. 26 and 27, 1898. [Page 5d]
NBC nets $18 million for aid
NBC raised more than $18 million for the American Red Cross to send to tsunami victims with its benefit broadcast last weekend, the network said yesterday. [Page 4d ]
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"You can see the concrete slabs of houses and all the roads, but the rest is all gone. It has completely disappeared: the structures and people. The only thing I can compare it to are images of Hiroshima during the war."
Patrick Johns, a Catholic Relief Services director overseeing relief efforts in Indonesia. (Article, Page 1A)
MARKETS
DOW -- DOWN
-78.48
10,392.99
NASDAQ -- DOWN
-11.61
2,034.27
S&P -- DOWN
-7.54
1,167.87
SUNINDEX -- DOWN
-0.13
303.62
TODAY ONLINE
CONTINUAL WEATHER UPDATES
For current conditions, updated weather stories and forecasts go to www.marylandweather.com
AREA TRAFFIC
Live traffic maps for Baltimore, Washington and Annapolis at www.baltimoresun.com/traffic
