contracts

With ongoing support and a relentless focus on instruction, Alonso can right this ship

Abandoned in early '02 amid health complaints about the building that were never proven in court, former Investment Building is being transformed into Towson City Center, a $27 million project of offices and retail space near the downtown traffic circle that is expected to be completed next June.

There are a lot of unknown players expected to fulfill big roles this season

State Highway Administration will launch a 511 phone service Thursday that will let travelers receive timely information on traffic conditions in Maryland.

Aberdeen council also approves plan to expand Grace UMC

Ravens sign Ricky Williams to be No. 2 running back Two year deal with former Dolphin fills need for a power back

Two companies are warning state regulators that they will collectively be laying off about 150 employees.

Liberals like to laud Big Labor's contributions to building America, but they ignore its dark side as an institution that has too often embraced thuggish tactics in pursuit of unaffordable wages and benefits.

Striking Verizon workers include those who install and service the company's FiOS Internet and cable TV products as well as those working on traditional telephones.

Tens of thousands of unionized Verizon Communications Inc. workers from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C., went on strike early Sunday after they failed to agree on a new labor contract with the telecommunications company.

Until Thursday, the competition to replace Dawan Landry, a free agent who left for Jacksonville, was between Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, both of whom arrived in the 2008 draft. Then the Ravens signed free agent Bernard Pollard to a two-year contract and it became a three-man competition.

Former second-round pick is a matchup problem who could help the Ravens in the red zone

Safety Bernard Pollard giddy to be joining Ravens Hard-hitting former Texan feels he's a good fot for this defense

Howard County: Paul Lemle Takes Over HCEA

A Missouri corporation and its owners have been ordered to stop marketing vehicle service contracts and to pay more than $25 million in penalties and restitution to Maryland customers.

Ravens notes: Matt Birk out three to four weeks, but he's still in line to be team's center Casey Rabach won't be joining Ravens after failing a physical

Jake Arrieta is almost certainly going to be shut down for the remainder of this season so he can have elbow surgery. ... Mark Reynolds hit a three-run home run and starter Alfredo Simon allowed just one run on four hits in Tuesday night's 8-2 win over the Royals. ... The Orioles released Justin Duchscherer. ... The Ravens signed center Casey Rabach to a two-year contract. ... Marc Bulger has decided to retire instead of backup up Joe Flacco. ... Todd Heap, who was caught off guard when the Ravens released him, wants to take the Cardinals "back to the top."

Ravens: Center Casey Rabach returns to Ravens. After six seasons with Redskins, he's back in Baltimore as insurance policy for Matt Birk.

Orioles: One year later, Buck Showalter's Orioles still a work in progress. Early success has vanished, but players stand behind manager, who believes team can turn things around.

Consumer lawyers call this yo-yo financing when dealers let buyers leave with a car and then reel them in again to say the agreement has changed. And Maryland regulators say it's just wrong.

Ravens: Ravens add fullback Vonta Leach but lose tight end Todd Heap. Longtime go-to receiver heads to Cardinals as proven run-blocker comes aboard.

Maryland has a split personality when it comes to illegal immigrants — a divide illustrated this year by the legislature's passage of a bill to provide college tuition breaks to undocumented state high school graduates only to have it put on hold by a citizen petition.

Another anchorwoman's departure leads to questions about TV news, but most agree it comes down to money

The departure last week of Marianne Banister from WBAL-TV after 15 years of co-anchoring a team that always finished first or second in its time period raised big questions about the changing face of television news in Baltimore.

Ravens could try to bring Derrick Mason and Todd Heap back with lower cap hits

Four veterans — Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, Kelly Gregg and Willis McGahee — to be released as team makes room under the salary cap

A federal judge on Monday said he will rule by next week whether eight bribery and extortion charges filed against state Sen. Ulysses Currie and two former executives of Shoppers Food Warehouse, which employed Currie as a consultant, will stand.

Under Armour, which has built itself from a basement startup to a billion-dollar enterprise, wasn't always able to afford the big endorsement deals of its more established competitors. So, the company instead turns to up and coming athletes to push its brand.

Today could be the day that the lockout clouds clear and NFL sunshine beams down on Baltimore and the rest of this football-crazed nation. The players and owners have reportedly agreed to a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement, and the players will vote to approve the deal -- and end the lockout -- at 11 a.m.

Ravens: Virginia Tech alum vows to show his skills will translate to the NFL, where pocket presence is key

Edwin F. Royston, who played two years as a guard for the New York Giants in the late 1940s and was a shipbuilding executive, died of cancer Saturday at his home in Seaside Park, N.J. He was 87 and had lived in Highlandtown.

Four companies that will help create a single high-speed broadband Internet system in the state to improve communications among public agencies, as well as upgrade telecommunications in rural areas, were awarded contracts this week.

Edwin F. Royston, who played two years as a guard for the New York Giants in the late 1940s and was a shipbuilding executive, died of cancer Saturday at his home in Seaside Park, N.J. He was 87 and had lived in Highlandtown.

Orioles: Pitcher Jim Johnson is Orioles' renaissance man. He flies under radar while leading in clubhouse, excelling on field and pursuing college degree.

The University of Maryland, College Park did not obtain required approval to pay $4.7 million to its food services provider and did not adequately monitor faculty research leave, according to a state audit released Thursday.

Although residents complained to the Prince George's County Council about the reliability of Lanham-based Optotraffic's speed camera technology, the county hired Optotraffic to install and maintain speed cameras.

Hope House is seeking a merger with Reality Inc. on Laurel's Main Street, in hopes of reopening the now closed substance abuse addiction treatment agency.

The MLB trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and the Orioles have pulled one of their most valuable trade chips, shortstop J.J. Hardy, off the table.

Because of its heavy concentration of federal employees and contractors, Maryland is more vulnerable than other states if Congress fails to increase the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by Aug. 2.

Stevenson professor says campuses, denounced as havens for socialism, actually embody a capitalistic model that conservatives should love

New contracts on homes for sale in the Baltimore area rose to their highest June level since 2007 — a positive sign for a housing market trying to heal after a years-long roller coaster ride.

Ten days ago, I asked on the blog if the 2011 Orioles season could get any worse. Nine losses, 75 runs allowed and one demotion of Zach Britton later, the answer is a resounding yes -- a Marv Albert-type yes.

Orioles: Orioles' Jeremy Guthrie, Buck Showalter criticize umpiring in ejection-filled Red Sox series. Umps show 'lack of feel by not understanding what is going on,' pitcher says.

Recent incident illustrates how Baltimore fails to aggressively enforce lead paint laws

Proponents of an ambitious plan to redevelop the city's largest state government complex gathered Saturday to pledge that the project's benefits would be shared among surrounding communities.

Dylan Bundy¿s stock is rising, and he knows it. Last week the Orioles¿ first-round pick was named the "Baseball America" High School Player of the Year and "USA Today" National Player of the Year. Add those honors to Bundy¿s Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award, and he is just the fifth player since 1994 to sweep the trio of awards.