Presence

Maryland's injured and sorely missed point guard, Pe'Shon Howard, will return ahead of schedule and plans to play Friday night against Radford at Comcast Center. Howard's broken left foot healed quicker than expected. The sophomore — an important component of Maryland's ball movement, depth and defense — had originally looked at a January return or even a redshirt season. "We are a different team," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said Thursday in announcing that Howard, injured before the season, would return Friday night.

Desperately lagging in the world baseball market, the Orioles are attempting to step up their international efforts, and this weekend might serve as a primary example of that change in philosophy. An Orioles contingent — to include manager Buck Showalter, new executive director of international recruiting Fred Ferreira, international operations director David Stockstill and new bullpen coach and Dominican Republic native Bill Castro — will attend a private workout Saturday morning in the Dominican by 26-year-old outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, a Cuban defector.

Unless you are Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb, it's difficult to argue that Mike Wallace hasn't blossomed into one of the most lethal vertical threats in the NFL. The Pittsburgh wide receiver leads the league in catches of 40 yards or more with six, and he ranks second in yards per catch with an 18.6-yard average among receivers with at least 40 catches. (The Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith ranks first with a 20.0-yard average.) Perhaps that's why Wallace didn't seem the least bit awed by the idea of trying to go deep on a Ravens defense with seven-time Pro Bowl free safety Ed Reed patrolling the defensive backfield.

"After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over. " With his Oct. 21 statement on our withdrawal of troops from Iraq by year-end, President Barack Obama is keeping his promise to the American people for complete withdrawal of U.S. troops and satisfying the Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government. Mr. Obama declared that the U.S. and Iraq would have a "relationship between sovereign states, an equal partnership based on mutual interests and mutual respect.

In the aftermath of his eight-catch, 132-yard performance in the Ravens' 29-14 win against the Houston Texans, Anquan Boldin said he felt no pressure to lead a wide receiving corps missing Lee Evans for the third consecutive game. But with rookies Torrey Smith, LaQuan Williams and Tandon Doss dotting the roster, Boldin is the only healthy veteran among the wide receivers. (David Reed is a second-year player, but he has yet to catch a pass.) Boldin's status among his younger teammates was cemented when the organization parted ways with wide receiver Derrick Mason and tight end Todd Heap.

Jill DiMaura said she has never felt safer in her Charles Village neighborhood than she has since a shooting last summer at 28th and Barclay streets. "The police have been like neighbors," DiMaura, 52, told local law enforcement officials and city council members Monday, at a meeting to update residents on public safety. "I've been able to walk my dog at night," said DiMaura, a nine-year resident of Harwood, who was one of 70 people at the crime meeting. "It's been like a completely different neighborhood.

The case against Michael Hunter, who is accused of shooting a 72-year-old security guard for the Afro-American newspaper, will rely heavily on the reluctant testimony of his friends, prosecutors said during opening statements Wednesday. "Troy Taylor doesn't want to finger his friend," prosecutor Theresa Shaffer told a Baltimore Circuit Court jury. "Tonio Billinger doesn't want to testify. But the truth is what the truth is. " Hunter, 20, is accused of gunning down Vietnam veteran Charles Bowman during the April 8, 2010, robbery of a Chinese food carryout in Waverly that netted $13. The crime shook the North Baltimore community and led police to flood the area with extra officers.

Soccer Bays Chelsea U-19 boys win national title The Baltimore Bays Chelsea under-19 boys team defeated the Chicago Fire, 2-0, on Sunday in Phoenix to win the United States Youth Soccer Association national championship. The Bays scored five minutes into the game on a header by Marquez Fernandez (McDonogh) and added a goal by Jeremy Kirkwood (McDonogh) at the 51-minute mark. Phil Saunders (Perry Hall, UMBC), who recorded the shutout, won the Golden Glove award as the tournament's top goalkeeper.

Former Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor, drafted by Baltimore in the sixth round this year, has a few things in common with Ravens fans right now. He doesn't know when training camp is going to begin, but he is anxious for it to get here. "I'm ready to play some football," said Taylor, who threw out a ceremonial first pitch for the Bowie Baysox last Thursday, then signed autographs for fans for nearly an hour in the 100-degree heat. "I've been working real hard. I know whenever it's time to go to camp, I'll be prepared.