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NATIONAL Spy agency overhaul plan panned The proposal by intelligence panel head Sen. Pat Roberts to break up the CIA and rearrange the Pentagon's spy agencies under a national intelligence director met broad resistance yesterday. The panel's ranking Democrat called the Kansas Republican's plan a severe mistake, and former CIA Director George J. Tenet said it showed a dangerous misunderstanding of the business of intelligence. [Page 3a] Bush weighs in on ads President Bush sought yesterday to distance himself from ads attacking Sen. John Kerry's war record.

Several hundred sweating Midshipmen claw their way upward yesterday during the annual Plebe Week ritual of climbing the Herndon Monument at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Hoisted by classmates, Philip "Flip" Johnson (right) of Rock Hill, S.C., finally places an upperclassman's cap on the summit of the 21-foot obelisk coated with lard, a rite of passage marking the end of freshman year. But their celebration was brief. Excited plebes forgot to complete the first step of the challenge: Remove the plebe cap that had been secured on the monument's tip by upperclassmen.

Bob Hope, America's only honorary war veteran, turns 95 on Friday. If you're among the thousands of people he's entertained over the years, we at The Sun would like to hear from you.In a career that's spanned everything from vaudeville to compact discs, Hope has emerged not only as one of America's most popular comedians, but also -- thanks to his years of entertaining troops stationed overseas -- one of its most respected citizens.If you're a veteran, whether of World War II, Korea, Vietnam or Desert Storm, and have fond recollections of Hope's USO shows you'd be willing to share, please call us. If you were there in the early days, saw Hope on stage (either in vaudeville or on Broadway)

It's income tax season, and again this year The Sun and the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants will offer readers help on state and federal income tax returns. Association members, all certified public accountants, will answer selected questions from readers over the ensuing weeks until the April 15 filing deadline. Readers may submit questions by recording them on Sundial. Please be sure to state your question in full. Selected questions and answers will appear in the Business section of The Sun. Although not required, callers are encouraged to leave their names and phone numbers should questions need to be clarified.