Additions

The University of Maryland's planned departure from the Atlantic Coast Conference has raised questions about the league's long-term survival, a sobering prospect for fans that grew up on games between the Terps and their Tobacco Road rivals. The first notes of panic emerged Monday, after Maryland announced plans to leave for the Big Ten and its far greater television riches in 2014. "I think the ACC is vulnerable right now," said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski in taping his show Basketball and Beyond for Sirius XM Radio.

Recently, it has become en vogue for major league clubs to hire two hitting coaches. The Braves, Cardinals and Padres all employed assistant hitting coaches last season, while the Phillies last month hired former major leaguer Wally Joyner to assist newly hired hitting coach Steve Henderson. Last week, the Dodgers hired John Valentin as assistant hitting coach under new hitting coach Mark McGwire. New Red Sox manager John Farrell has said he's considering hiring two hitting coaches to his yet-to-be-completed staff.

Although they weren't splashy moves when made, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette's savviness in scooping up discarded players paid huge dividends during the team's best season in 15 years. For every Nate McLouth, who made the most of his opportunity with a new club, there was a Dontrelle Willis, who didn't pan out with the Orioles. But there's no double that Duquette's aggressiveness in acquiring undervalued commodities was a significant factor in the Orioles' success in 2012.

More than 70,000 Maryland women become victims of domestic violence each year, but only a fraction of these women seek protective orders from our state's courts. If we want to do more to protect women, we need to make it easier and safer for them to get such orders. Alarmingly, sometimes women actually put themselves at risk just by going to court. Consider the case of a Montgomery County resident whose estranged boyfriend had repeatedly beaten and threatened her. When this woman finished her court hearing and had received her protective order, she began walking to her car alone.

The Baltimore Development Corp. board this morning agreed to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with the owner of the former Examiner building, 400 E. Pratt St., so that an addition to the building can be built on city-owned land. The Peter D. Leibowits Co. wants to build a 22,600 square foot, glass-fronted retail space on land along East Pratt and Commerce streets, according to BDC records. The plan, which the developer hopes will be leased to a national retail chain or restaurant, is expected to make the Pratt Street sidewalk more pedestrian friendly, BDC Economic Development Officer Kerry DeVilbiss told the board.

The Harford County sheriff's office plans to have additional security Wednesday at five schools after a bomb threat was made. According to Capt. Keith Warner of the sheriff's office, the primary school mentioned in a threatening note was C. Milton Wright High School in Bel Air, which also had an unfounded bomb threat last week. Parents were notified Tuesday night that the school had been threatened again, according to schools spokeswoman Teri D. Kranefeld. Public high schools Aberdeen, Edgewood and Patterson Mill and the private John Carroll School were also mentioned in the note found at C. Milton Wright, Warner said.

The loss of cornerback Lardarius Webb to a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee is a blow to the Ravens defense. It also could impact the team on punt returns. Webb had teamed with Jacoby Jones for that duty, and although he handled just six chances - half of what Jones has undertaken so far - Webb was a sure-handed option. Now the Ravens are left with deciding how to fill the vacancy. For now, it appears that Jones will be the primary returner and free safety Ed Reed can complement him, but the team could also turn to a pair of rookies in Asa Jackson and Bobby Rainey.

Verde Pizza Napoletana is a family establishment. But don't let that scare you. You won't find arcade games, or even crayons, in the Canton eatery, which opened in September in the former Birches space. You will find good Neapolitan pizza, helpful service and — yes — kids. After 7 on a recent Friday night, the place was busy, though not packed. Despite the highchairs posted at tables both inside and out, the vibe was urban-cool, with reclaimed wood and exposed brick walls and a sparkling white open kitchen.

A Towson law firm has accused eight more doctors of playing a role in implanting unnecessary heart stents in patients at St. Joseph Medical Center, where cardiologist Dr. Mark Midei was accused of performing the procedure in hundreds of patients who didn't need them. The law firm of Kenny & Vettori filed claims on behalf of 39 patients this month with Maryland's Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office, which arbitrates malpractice cases. The claims are the latest in a string of legal actions against the embattled cardiologist and hospital.

The eerie sound of a pipe organ fills the air on Ocean City 's boardwalk as families, couples and solitary fans enter the seaside ride filled with severed heads, torture chambers and other ghoulish delights. Trimper's Haunted House is a vacation staple that has stood in the same location since 1964. But this boardwalk icon is far more than a nostalgic reminder of summers past. The house is an important part of the legacy of Bill Tracy, master of dark rides, those amusement park staples that ferry patrons through interiors where lighting, sound and creative displays are designed to amuse - or terrify.