Nation briefs 9A

Stewart defense wants some charges dismissed

NEW YORK -- The government rested its case against Martha Stewart and her stockbroker, and a judge said she would hear arguments next week on whether some charges in the case should be thrown out. Prosecutors called 21 witnesses over 14 days of testimony, all designed to prove Stewart lied about why she sold 3,928 shares of ImClone Systems stock in December 2001. Cedarbaum indicated she would hear arguments on the matter Monday but strongly suggested she was unlikely to even come close to tossing out the entire case. "We all understand that there are substantial portions of this indictment that will not be dismissed -- at this point, in any event," she said.

Democrats to use deficits to attack Bush, GOP

WASHINGTON -- Democrats are honing an election-year strategy of using record federal deficits to try and undermine the credibility of President Bush and Congress' majority Republicans. The GOP will write Congress' budget this year, a process that starts next week when legislators return from their President's Day recess. But Democrats plan to introduce their own fiscal blueprints exceeding Bush's goal of halving deficits in five years -- with at least one Democratic budget claiming balance in a decade. Democrats say this will help them underscore the budget's screaming freefall under Bush, which they say is emblematic of his mishandling of the economy. They hope that will feed doubts about his credibility, which flow chiefly from his decision to invade Iraq and his National Guard service during the Vietnam War.

Boat sinks after collision on Mississippi River

VENICE, La. -- An offshore supply vessel with a crew of five sank near the mouth of the Mississippi River after colliding with a container ship early Saturday, the Coast Guard said. A Coast Guard rescue boat was at the scene and searching for the crew of the Lee III, Coast Guard Petty Officer Jonathan McCool said. He said the rescue crew saw the Lee III sink, but had not found anyone several hours after the accident. If the crew members were not wearing their life jackets, they probably did not have time to get them, McCool said. The 178-foot Lee III and the 534-foot Zim Mexico III collided in the river's Southwest Pass, he said. The container ship's crew reported damage near the bow, but no injuries.

Mega Millions drawing yields $230 million winner

STEPHENS CITY, Va. -- There was one winning ticket for the jackpot of at least $230 million in the Mega Millions lottery, the biggest single prize in the game's history. The lucky ticket, purchased at a Stephens City convenience store, matched all five lotto numbers and the Mega Ball number to win the 11-state jackpot. Lottery officials waited Saturday for the holder or holders of that single ticket to come forward. The numbers drawn Friday night were: 1-13-20-21-30, and the Mega Ball was 24. Lottery officials were still tallying the final jackpot, driven beyond the $230 million mark by bigger sales on Friday than expected, said Penelope Kyle, Virginia Lottery director. The exact amount won't be known until Monday because the jackpot is based on the bond market, said Virginia Lottery spokesman Ed Scarborough.

-- From wire reports