Incorrectly

Given their history, President Bush's nomination of U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein to the long-vacant Maryland seat on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals seems primarily intended as a poke in the eye to Maryland's two senators. Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin notified the White House as recently as September that they would oppose a Rosenstein nomination - as Maryland senators have done to two previous Bush choices for that seat - because the nominee lacks the critical qualification of a long history in Maryland's legal community.

Indianapolis. -- It would be truly foolish if the world brought an end to population growth -- and still lost the habitat for much of its wildlife. Unfortunately, that looks likely in the wake of September's population conference in Cairo.The world may be able to limit its population to as few as 8 billion to 9 billion people. Donor countries will almost certainly provide the $17 billion Cairo laid out for expanded family-planning programs. Affluence is spreading fast in the Third World, which helps reduce births, too.But there doesn't seem to be much public support for research on high-yield farming -- and that's dangerous.

The words "domestic violence" typically invite images of bruised women and children - and male perpetrators. But the real picture of domestic violence isn't so clear-cut. And the solution to family violence is far more complex than our current criminal justice approach can handle. For about 30 years now, we've been throwing money and punishment at domestic violence with not enough to show for it. Estimates are that more than 32 million Americans are affected by domestic violence each year, with many of those in need of help never reporting their abuse.

Build a soapbox and they will come.2 "I could get shot in many countries for that." Name: Harry BaldygaAge: 65Residence: CatonsvilleOccupation: Insurance agentLast year, Harry Baldyga and his son went to an Orioles game at Camden Yards. His son was keeping score, when a twentysomething fan leaned over and asked: "What are you doing?""We're keeping score.""What's that?" the intruder said.Something sacred and living died just then in Mr. Baldyga. He hasn't felt the same about the new park since.

Thousands of low-income nursing home patients in Maryland will have millions in old debts wiped out now that the state has settled a years-long case involving Medicaid payments. Much of the $16 million settlement will go directly to nursing homes that had not received payments from those patients. "We're starting to send checks to nursing homes now," said Cyril V. Smith, a lawyer for Zuckerman Spaeder LLP who represented the 12,000 Maryland patients who owed the money to about 160 nursing homes.

The city transportation department has voided more than 3,000 speeding tickets that were incorrectly processed, and in the next three weeks will issue refunds to the individuals who paid them, according to a department spokeswoman. Between December and April, a fixed speed camera in the 4500 block of Wabash Avenue - one of 75 in the city - captured 3,145 drivers traveling 12 mph or more above the posted speed limit, said Adrienne Barnes, the department spokeswoman. But the $40 citations that were subsequently sent to those drivers all listed the location where they were caught speeding as being in the 5400 block of Wabash Avenue, Barnes said.

Due to a computer glitch, the state has wrongly charged some taxpayers interest after incorrectly determining that not enough money had been withheld from their paychecks to cover their 1994 taxes, the comptroller's office acknowledged yesterday.Marvin Bond, a spokesman for Comptroller Louis L. Goldstein, could not say how many taxpayers received incorrect notices that interest was due, but said it was probably about 1,500 to 2,000.The mistake appears to have affected only taxpayers who last year sought an extension of the deadline for paying their 1993 taxes or whose 1993 taxes were processed late for some other reason.

Investing for retirement is the main reason many people buy mutual funds. It is why funds have become the hottest investment in retirement plans such as 401(k)s.Retirement investing is also a highly competitive area for fund companies, which want to lock up as many of the billions of savings dollars as they can.One way companies vie for that business is by providing retirement planning information that helps people determine how much they must save to meet their goals.But often the tax assumptions in those workbook and computerized retirement guides create the impression that retirees will pay higher income taxes than they actually will.

CHICAGO -- There is a feel of '50s sitcom bliss to dinner time at James Finn Garner's house, one of dozens of narrow houses on a quiet street on Chicago's North Side. Mozart plays softly on the kitchen radio. Six-month-old Liam snoozes in a baby seat next to the dinner table. And Mr. Garner and his wife, Lies, eat shish kebabs and discuss what went wrong with their garden.To complete this scene of mealtime domesticity, peaches and shortcake, Lies (pronounced lease) Garner's specialty, appear for dessert.