Sun News Digest

NATIONAL

Faith tested in court

A Bush administration lawyer urged the Supreme Court yesterday to shield the president's faith-based initiative from legal challenges in court. pg 3a

WORLD

North Korea may regain assets

China and the United States are close to an accord to let North Korea regain some of the $25 million in its funds frozen now that it has agreed to start dismantling its nuclear arms program, officials said yesterday. pg 10a

MARYLAND

Man wanted in dating scheme

Authorities in Illinois are investigating a Baltimore-area suspected of conning at least 10 women from eight states out of more than $1 million through elaborate schemes. Police say he met the women on Internet dating sites. pg 1b

SPORTS

Ravens release J. Lewis

After failing to agree on a new contract, the Ravens released their all-time leading rusher, Jamal Lewis. The team still might try to re-sign him. PG 1C

BUSINESS

DOW -- UP

+52.39

12,268.63

NASDAQ -- UP

+8.29

2,416.15

S&P -- UP

+7.78

1,406.82

SUN INDEX -- UP

+0.04

368.68

Motown not a hit with cars

As occurred last year, no Detroit vehicle ranked in the Consumer Reports' "10 Top Picks," in which Toyota Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. had seven models. The magazine has not had an American car on its top picks list since April 2005, when it booted the Ford Focus for failing a crash test. pg 1d

TODAY

A tale of race and religion

David Matthews' new book, Ace of Spades, is a telling personal journey of what it is like to be black and Jewish in Baltimore. Matthew's complexion was just fair enough and his dark brown curls were just loose enough that he could pass for white. At nine-years-old, he did just that. pg 1e

Simon to do miniseries on Iraq

Baltimore writer-producers David Simon and Ed Burns will shift their storytelling focus from the failed war on drugs in Baltimore to the American invasion of Iraq. pg 1e