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G. Russell Walters, a veteran state trooper who served as Howard County police chief from 1969 to 1975, died Jan. 13 at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Southern Maryland. He was 92 and the oldest living former Maryland state trooper, according to an announcement by county police. A cause of death was not immediately available. During his time as chief, the county force doubled in size and the police budget quadrupled. He helped design new uniforms, started the first county police academy and presided over the start of construction of the police headquarters building in Ellicott City.

Charles O' Donovan Evans, a retired history teacher and archivist at Mount de Sales Academy, died of lung cancer Nov. 27 at his companion's home in Sparks. He was 80. Born in Baltimore and raised on Longwood Road in Roland Park, he was the son of the commander of the 29th Division, Maryland National Guard, Henry Cotheal Evans, who fought in both World Wars I and II, and the former Eleanor O'Donovan. He was a 1949 Loyola High School graduate and played for the school's football team, a squad invited to play in the New Year's Day contest at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

A Howard County Police officer was hospitalized early Monday morning after a traffic collision in Columbia with a driver who ran a red light, according to the police department. The officer, Kirk Brown, was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment, police said. Brown, an officer for eight years, had been driving south on Columbia Road at about 1:59 a.m. and started to turn left onto Little Patuxent Parkway when his vehicle was struck by a 2003 Toyota 4 Runner, according to police.

In a year when the smart money was on outsiders and dissatisfaction with government is high, Maryland voters bucked the tide, reelecting Martin O'Malley over former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. by a margin even greater than their first match-up four years ago. The unlikely outcome is destined to produce its share of crowing (and finger-pointing) by the political establishment. From the outset, Mr. O'Malley seemed to run the more aggressive and effective campaign — launching it earlier, raising more money, sticking to a message and collecting more endorsements.

John Joseph "Jody" Ferguson, a longtime computer programmer and talented athlete who regularly ran marathons and enjoyed swimming, died Friday at Baltimore-Washington Medical Center from complications of a seizure suffered last month. The Parkville resident was 39. Mr. Ferguson had suffered a seizure Sept. 15 while swimming at North Arundel Aquatic Center and was unconscious when removed from the pool by lifeguards. He had been in a coma since that time, said his brother, Terence T. Ferguson of Boston.

As homeowners on a quiet street in West Baltimore stood on their porches, the cool breeze and swishing of trees belied the commotion that took place moments earlier as a 33-year-old man was fatally shot. Police said the unidentified man, who was from Glen Burnie, was shot at about 1 p.m. in the 2600 block of Baker St., then ran into the Ashburton Soul Shack carryout, where he collapsed. He was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, said spokesman Donny Moses.

Dannell Ellerbe didn't do himself any favors to win the Ravens' inside linebacker job. After running back an interception early in the second quarter, Ellerbe stopped at the 1-yard line, looked back at the St. Louis Rams and extended the ball over the goal line in a taunting fashion. It was a good play but bad sportsmanship. The sparse crowd at the Edward Jones Dome booed. Ravens coach John Harbaugh ran up to Ellerbe, grabbed the second-year player by his jersey and screamed at him for about 10 seconds.

Dannell Ellerbe certainly didn't do himself any favors to win the Ravens' inside linebacker job. After running back an interception early in the second quarter, Ellerbe stopped at the 1-yard line, looked back at the St. Louis Rams and extended the ball over the goal line in a taunting fashion. It was a case of a good play but bad sportsmanship. The sparse crowd at the Edward Jones Dome booed. Then, Ravens coach John Harbaugh ran up to Ellerbe, grabbed the second-year player by his jersey and screamed at him for about 10 seconds.