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I have it on good authority that some bigwig from the United Arab Emirates traveled all the way to Johns Hopkins Hospital recently for some sort of treatment. My source? The garden center that lugged about eight cypress trees, large topiaries, 40 hanging baskets and other greenery into her room. That was on top of the floral arrangements. And no, they weren't the carnations-in-a-basket variety. "The floral arrangements were out of this world. I'm sure Princess Diana did not have this for her wedding," said my source at Valley View Farms, the garden center that provided the greenery but not the flowers.

On Jan. 4, 1821, the hat factory owned by Col. Charles S. Sewell at Old Philadelphia Road and Abingdon Road began operation. From 1821 to 1824, Sewell's establishment turned out hats made of beaver, straw and wool for prices ranging from $1.25 to $6. Raw materials - including hat bands, linings, buckles, muslin, velvet and finishing blocks - were obtained from Baltimore. Hats were sold locally and shipped to Charlestown and North East from Otter Point aboard Sewell's schooner, which also transported flour, wheat, salt, iron ore and iron bar. The factory was destroyed by fire in 1822, but Sewell rebuilt and resumed operations within two months.

WASHINGTON -- After a monthlong dispute between Washington and Havana over how to spend the profits from any Orioles-Cuba baseball games, both sides are close to concluding that the money involved is too small to argue about, sources close to the negotiations say.This new understanding gives a big boost to prospects for the exhibition games, a longtime dream of Orioles owner Peter Angelos -- and in the nick of time. Baseball officials have said that time is running out to prepare for the games before the start of this year's baseball season next month.

As Ravens officials were courting Detroit Lions quarterback Scott Mitchell over dinner last night, one of the team's best players, defensive tackle James Jones, already had found his meal ticket in the city Mitchell is trying to leave.In a stunning development, the Ravens lost out in their bid to re-sign Jones, an unrestricted free agent, who has agreed in principle to a six-year deal with the Lions worth an average of $3.9 million that includes a $4.3 million signing bonus. The contract has option clauses that could end it after four years, according to a league source.

A white Baltimore police lieutenant was ordered to desk duty yesterday after he allegedly made remarks deemed insensitive to black officers, a department source said.While the comments might not have been overtly racial, the high-level source said, they raised questions about whether the supervisor would fairly treat black officers under his command.A department spokesman, Robert W. Weinhold Jr., confirmed the disciplinary action last night. He said an internal hearing will be held this week, at which the lieutenant could be suspended.

The Ravens are expected to enter intense negotiations on Tuesday with the Minnesota Vikings about acquiring quarterback Brad Johnson, according to a league source familiar with the discussions.The source said Ravens vice president of player personnel Ozzie Newsome and Minnesota Vikings vice president Jeff Diamond may have had a brief discussion by phone yesterday, and the Vikings would like to complete a deal for Johnson by the end of next week.Newsome said yesterday that he expected to speak with Vikings officials early next week, but would not go into details about the negotiations.

A Baltimore police officer who patrols downtown streets is under investigation after being accused by his trainee of discarding drugs seized as evidence and playing basketball while on duty, a source said yesterday.The officer, whose name was not divulged, originally was suspended from duty. But commanders have decided to return him to duty until the investigation is completed, the source said.Robert W. Weinhold Jr., a department spokesman, would say only that a Central District officer is being investigated for allegedly mishandling evidence.

WASHINGTON -- In the flood of reports, rumors, allegations and speculation about President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, one question remains puzzling for even the most discerning readers and listeners: Where does it come from?The traditional standard of attributing information to its source has been swept away in this case by the journalistic imperative of getting the story when it is tied up in knots by legal inhibitions to publication or broadcast.Leaks flying wildlyDepositions by the president and Ms. Lewinsky, as well as others in the Paula Corbin Jones sexual harassment lawsuit and the investigation of independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr, are under seal, and the lawyers are under a gag order.

While the Albert Belle watch continued through last night without the left fielder agreeing to terms, the Orioles apparently have learned that it will be more difficult to retain their first baseman.In recent days the Orioles have raised their offer to Rafael Palmeiro to $45 million over five years, but a club source said yesterday the three-time All-Star has raised the bar. Rather than seeking $10 million annually, the source said Palmeiro wants "close to Mo Vaughn money" to remain in Baltimore.

The government will give Lockheed Martin Corp. about one more week to come up with a way to salvage the purchase of Northrop Grumman Corp. before going to court to block the deal, officials said yesterday.Observers had expected the Department of Justice to go ahead and file an antitrust suit yesterday, and the decision to hold fire didn't halt spreading pessimism about the $11 billion merger.The companies "are now examining whether they think they have any options for going forward with the deal," said one source close to executives at both companies.

With negotiations at a standoff five weeks after the end of the basketball season, Morgan State has given coach Todd Bozeman until Thursday to accept a contract offer or have it pulled off the table, according to a source familiar with the situation. Sources from both sides indicate the sticking point is less about salary than about the school's academic support program. Bozeman's contract expired at the end of the season, after a three-year run in which he took the team to two postseason tournaments - the National Invitation Tournament and the NCAA tournament - and won consecutive regular-season titles in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The Orioles and Chicago Cubs are again involved in trade talks, this time about Cubs left-handed starting pitcher Rich Hill. According to industry sources, the teams have had talks about Hill, a one-time top prospect who is struggling to regain his command. One industry source said it's a "strong possibility" that Hill will wind up with the Orioles, perhaps as early as next week. The Orioles will likely give up a player to be named, who could be contingent on Hill's success in Baltimore.

WASHINGTON - Investigators probing the Salmonella saintpaul outbreak that has sickened at least 810 Americans, including 25 in Maryland, are trying to make sure that tomatoes are the cause, an official of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said yesterday. For weeks, the government has focused on tomatoes, and investigators have been visiting farms, warehouses and other stops on the tomato supply chain in search of the source. Dr. Patricia Griffin, chief of the CDC's Enteric Diseases Epidemiology branch, said tomatoes remain the likeliest cause, but CDC scientists are also checking salsa, guacamole and produce other than tomatoes.

The Internet is living up to its potential as a major source for news about the presidential campaign, a new Pew Research Center study shows. Nearly a quarter of Americans say they regularly learn something about the campaign from the Internet, almost double the percentage at a comparable point in the 2004 campaign. Moreover, the Internet has now become a leading source of campaign news for young people, and the role of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook is a notable part of the story.

281 -- The number of murders or unjustified homicides in Baltimore so far, as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday. By Dec. 27, 2006, the city had recorded 273 murders. SOURCE: BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Brian Billick will remain the Ravens' coach in 2008. Any uncertainty surrounding Billick's job status was cleared up recently when he was notified by owner Steve Bisciotti that he would return for a 10th season, a source with intimate knowledge of the Ravens' decision-making told The Sun last night. Ravens @Dolphins Sunday, 1 p.m., chs. 13, 9, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Ravens by 3 1/2

244 -- The number of murders or unjustified homicides in Baltimore so far, as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday. By Oct. 25, 2006, the city had recorded 224 murders. SOURCE: BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Two years ago, Rick Kranitz was a little-known baseball lifer getting his first big break with the Florida Marlins. Today he's the hottest pitching coach commodity in baseball - and he is on the Orioles' short list to replace Leo Mazzone, who was fired yesterday. Kranitz did not return phone calls, but a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed last night that Kranitz, 49, has been contacted by the Orioles to gauge his interest in the opening. The source said Kranitz seemed intrigued about the possibility of reconnecting with Orioles manager Dave Trembley and president Andy MacPhail.

230 -- The number of murders or unjustified homicides in Baltimore so far, as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday. By Sept. 27, 2006, the city had recorded 203 murders. SOURCE: BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Ravens have approached backup quarterback Kyle Boller about a contract extension, an NFL source said. Boller, a 2003 first-round pick, is entering the final year of his contract and would become an unrestricted free agent in March. RAVENS@BENGALS Season opener, Monday, 7 p.m., ESPN, Ch. 13, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Bengals by 2 1/2