baltimoresun.com - Nation

Domestic spying quietly goes on

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

NSA faces new limits, but surveillance thrives

A photo from 2006 shows the National Security Agency's buildings in Fort Meade. Congress is working on guidelines for the NSA, but not for other spy agencies.

Heart risk test urged for kids

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Doctors release new policy on cholesterol screening

Keith Miller leads what doctors call a healthy, active lifestyle. The suburban Baltimore teenager has always loved sports and plays soccer competitively. He avoids eating pizza and junk food.

U.S. disputes claims of Afghan fatalities

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Provincial officials say missile killed members of wedding party

Afghan officials said fighter aircraft battling militants accidentally killed up to 27 Afghans walking to a wedding ceremony in eastern Afghanistan early yesterday, the second military attack in three days with reports of civilian deaths.

Internet speech may not be so free

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Service providers have right to delete what they don't like

Rant all you want in a public park. A police officer generally won't eject you for your remarks alone, however unpopular or provocative.

Struggle to control wildfires

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Cooler weather aids fight, but blazes still threaten Calif. coast

Firefighters took advantage of cooler, damper weather yesterday to battle a vast blaze ravaging Santa Barbara County as they tried to gain a foothold against the fire before the expected return of hotter, drier conditions.

Bush defends choices ahead of G-8 summit

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

TOYAKO, Japan President Bush defended removing North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and attending the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics as world leaders assembled yesterday for the Group of Eight summit to address soaring gas prices, climate change and African aid. They faced major differences, especially over how far to go in trying to set limits on pollutants that contribute to global warming. The leaders of the United States, Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia planned to kick off the summit today on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Bush said not attending the Olympics opening ceremonies on Aug. 8 would be "an affront to the Chinese people, which may make it more difficult to be able to speak frankly with the Chinese leadership."

NBC, 2 equity firms buy Weather Channel

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

An investor group led by NBC Universal and two private equity firms clinched a deal for The Weather Channel yesterday after three weeks of negotiations. Though the parties did not disclose the price, the buyers - NBC and the private equity firms Bain Capital and the Blackstone Group - will pay just under $3.5 billion, people briefed on the matter said. That is less than the $5 billion that The Weather Channel's parent, Landmark Communications, sought when it put the basic cable channel and related properties like weather.com up for sale in January.

Peace Corps worker's killer is convicted

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

MANILA, Philippines A woodcarver was convicted today of killing a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer who disappeared while hiking in the northern Philippines' mountainside rice terraces. Juan Duntugan, 27, was sentenced to 40 years in prison without parole for the murder of Julia Campbell in April 2007. Duntugan had confessed to bludgeoning Campbell, 40, in a fit of rage when she accidentally bumped into him on a narrow mountain trail.

Calif. wildfires engulf homes, scenic lands

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

About 1,400 blazes contained as more than 330 rage on

About 1,400 blazes contained as more than 330 rage on

Picking a No. 2: the 'wow' factor

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Before he reinvented government, Al Gore revolutionized the way vice presidents are made.