Network

A cabal of corrupt corrections officers and members of the Black Guerrilla Family gang enjoyed nearly free rein inside the Baltimore City Detention Center, federal authorities allege, smuggling drugs and cellphones into the jail and having sexual relationships that left four guards pregnant. An indictment unsealed Tuesday names 25 people - including 13 women working as corrections officers - who face racketeering and drug charges. Twenty of the accused also face money-laundering charges.

The audience for NBC's coverage of the Preakness was up by as much as 24 percent during the afternoon, according to overnight Nielsen data provided by the network. The audience for the block of time that includes the race (5:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m. ET) was 9% up from 2012 with a 6.0 ratings versus 5.5 last year. Pre-race on NBC (5 p.m.-5:45 p.m. ET) was up 24% from 2012. That's a 3.6 ratings versus 2.9, and that's the largest audience since 2009. Not surpisingly, Baltimore was the top market with the telecast drawing a 15.7 rating and a 32 share.

The audience for NBC's coverage of the Preakness was up by as much as 24 percent during the afternoon, according to overnight Nielsen data provided by the network. The audience for the block of time that includes the race (5:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m. ET) was 9% up from 2012 with a 6.0 ratings versus 5.5 last year. Pre-race on NBC (5 p.m.-5:45 p.m. ET) was up 24% from 2012. That's a 3.6 ratings versus 2.9, and that's the largest audience since 2009. Not surpisingly, Baltimore was the top market with the telecast drawing a 15.7 rating and a 32 share.

CBS Sports Network analyst Evan Washburn took part in a Q&A on Monday. The former Delaware defenseman, who can be followed on Twitter via @EvanWashburn, also answered a few questions about Johns Hopkins, No. 9 Maryland, No. 11 Loyola and No. 16 Johns Hopkins. Johns Hopkins' streak of 41 consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament ended Sunday night. Was that the right decision by the selection committee? For sure. It was obvious. I did their Army game on Friday night and was able to speak with [coach Dave Pietramala]

Zayo Group announced Tuesday that it has acquired FiberGate Inc. and its network of fiber optic lines stretching from Northern Virginia to Baltimore. The $117 million purchase adds 399 new route miles and 130,000 fiber miles in the combined Washington, D.C./Baltimore metro areas to Zayo's network. FiberGate, based in Alexandria, Va., has been providing fiber optic services to the federal government, large enterprise and carrier customers for almost 17 years. "As a result of the acquisition, we will have one of the most comprehensive fiber networks in the D.C. area of any provider," said Dan Caruse, CEO of Colorado-based Zayo.

Michael K. Williams, who played one of the greatest villains in TV history on HBO's "The Wire," is joining the cast of NBC's "Community" for three episodes, according to Dan Harmon, executive producer of the NBC sitcom. Williams, who played stick-up man Omar Little in the Baltimore-based drama, will be cast as a biology professor in "Community," Harmon said. The producer added that he would like to use Williams in more episodes, but the actor is under contract to HBO's "Boardwalk Empire.

Today you'll notice the appearance of the new network MyNetworkTV in the daily TV grid. The network's two area affiliates, 20-WDCA and 24-WUTB, will broadcast new programming as well as shows that were featured on the former UPN network.

Apparently it is OK for Prince George's County Sen. Ulysses Currie to accept $250,000 from the grocery store chain Shoppers Food Warehouse, and nothing really happens to him if he fails to report it on his financial disclosure form. The FBI charged him with bribery, but the good ol' boys in Annapolis thought it was just five years of clerical oversight. This shows that we get what we deserve when we refuse to vote incompetent incumbents out of office. Dan Griffin, Perry Hall

Now cyberspace has its own mall.A Silicon Valley consortium has launched a computer network within the larger worldwide network known as the Internet, hoping to create a "virtual marketplace" where businesses can buy and sell in a secure, comfortable electronic environment.If it is successful, the CommerceNet trial project, announced Tuesday, could vastly expand the use of the Internet as a medium for business transactions. Eventually it could pave the way for computerized consumer shopping through the use of multimedia catalogs that could be updated instantly.

Four years ago, the CIA didn't have a network of black-hole prisons holding at least 100 people indefinitely. The agency and the U.S. government weren't putting America's allies in the awkward position of playing host to U.S. agents breaking international laws, such as those against holding prisoners without charges, without notice, without end. Now the spy agency has been outed as operator of a network of penal colonies, answerable to no one, and the...

As far back as Robert Lewis can remember, he has been fascinated by what he heard on the radio — he would even sneak a receiver under his pillow when he was younger so he could listen to music late at night. Decades later, he's still feeling that joy of radio. As the executive director of the Radio Reading Network of Maryland, he's bringing it to others who need it: fellow blind people in Maryland. "I enjoy going to work every morning," says Lewis, 63. "I've always loved radio, so I'm blessed to be able to come back to where I've started.

It has been nearly three years since my predecessor, Cardinal Edwin O'Brien, and the Blue Ribbon Committee on Catholic Schools released the Strategic Plan for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Since that time, enrollment declines have been stemmed in many schools; innovative new programs such as our dual language and Montessori initiatives have kept our schools competitive; and systemic changes to the governance of our schools, renewed focus on school leadership - training of principals and development of local school boards, as well as system-wide accreditation - are ensuring Catholic schools remain an excellent value (average annual K-8 cost is approximately $5,000)

AT&T has announced the expansion of its mobile Internet network at Aberdeen Proving Ground, extending access for advanced mobile services, devices and applications to federal government customers who work at or are visiting the post. "Demand for wireless speed is growing rapidly, and these network enhancements on the grounds of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a key military facility, are just the latest examples of AT&T's significant infrastructure investment in this region," said J. Michael Schweder, president of AT&T Mid-Atlantic in a press release.

The Food Network said today that  Dangerously Delicious Pies founder Rodney Henry of Baltimore will be a finalist on the ninth season of "Food Network Star. " The judges will be Alton Brown, Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay in the competition to name the best and brightest new faces in food television. The season premiere will be at 9 p.m. Sunday, June 2. The network says that each episode before the Aug. 11 finale will feature a first-round Mentor Challenge, second-round Star Challenge and an elimination determined by the selection committee, including returning judges Food Network executives Susie Fogelson and Bob Tuschman.

A global nonprofit that battles the spread of viruses has moved into the University of Maryland BioPark after sprouting from the university's Institute of Human Virology. Global Virus Network is the west side research park's newest tenant. It moved from incubator space in the virology institute, within the University of Maryland School of Medicine. GVN combines the resources and expertise of 30 virology research centers in 21 countries, helping them to share information and ideas to explore vaccine development, understand virus behavior and respond to viral outbreaks.

The Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber is offering its annual Regional Business Showcase and Tasting on Wednesday, April 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Suddath Relocation Systems, 1710 Crossroads Drive, Odenton. Vendor Happy Hour is from 4 to 5 p.m. The networking event, which reaches 500 local business professionals, has more than 65 exhibitors, networking, food and beverage samplings and special guests. Cost is $25 each or $20 each for five or more people. Tickets include two drink coupons.

Orion Network Systems Inc., one of Maryland's fastest growing technology companies, said yesterday that its third-quarter losses decreased to $5.79 million, or 53 cents a share, compared with a loss of $6.99 million, or 78 cents a share, during the year-ago period.The improvement for the Bethesda-based company was a result of a 97 percent increase in revenues to $12.2 million, compared with $6.2 million during the third quarter last year. While both parts of the business grew fast, the largest increase was in providing satellite services for private international businesses.

If it seems that networkers speak a whole different language, it's because they do. Here's a glossary of netspeak: Bridge - A device used to tie two network components together, such as a phone line and Ethernet networks. Broadband - High-speed Internet access, usually through a cable modem or a digital subscriber line (DSL) service. Category 5 cable - The most commonly used cable in an Ethernet network. It usually has connectors that look like large telephone plugs. Ethernet - The most widely installed local area network technology.