University Of South

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The University of South Carolina made it official yesterday, accepting an invitation to join the Southeastern Conference and accomplishing its goal of becoming a member of an all-sports league.Presidents of SEC schools voted earlier yesterday, during a conference call, to ask South Carolina to join the league, which added Arkansas in August. Since then, the SEC had been searching for a 12th member to give it an even number of schools."Today is a great day for South Carolina," Arthur K. Smith, the school's interim president, said at a news conference.

-- Orioles new scouting director Gary Rajsich said his goals heading into his first draft were simple: Get a couple top pitchers and then assemble a strong mix of players with differing skills. "I think we got some players we really liked. We got a good mix of college players, high school players and (junior college) guys," Rajsich said. "We got guys with upside, some young guys, good athletic ability. Overall, it's a good mix. " Now it's a matter of signing them - which Rajsich is hopeful he can make happen with many of the draftees well before the July 13 deadline.

Philip L. Carret, 101, a founder of one of the country's first mutual funds, died Thursday in Mount Vernon, N.Y., while recovering from hip surgery. He founded the Pioneer Fund in 1928 with $25,000 contributed by friends and family.In an investment career that encompassed dozens of bull and bear market cycles, Mr. Carret was known as a proponent of the "value" style of investing, buying shares of companies with steadily growing earnings, strong balance sheets and committed managers, and holding onto those investments for many years.

Reginald S. Avery, who was inaugurated yesterday as the fifth president of Coppin State University, pledged to work with the faculty and students to strengthen the university's academics and deepen its ties with its West Baltimore community. "If we say we're an urban institution, if we say we're about community engagement, it needs to be reflected in everything that we do," said Avery, 62. "Coppin State University has a moment in time to make a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of people," he said.

Israel promoted to executive VP by Columbia Bank Brian K. Israel has been promoted to executive vice president of commercial lending by Columbia Bank, a full-service commercial bank with headquarters in Howard County. The Ellicott City resident will oversee business development activities for small- to medium-sized businesses in Howard, Anne Arundel and Carroll counties. A former senior vice president of commercial banking, Israel has been with Columbia Bank since 1997. Johnson joins PCA Group as a staff accountant Sharon Kathryn Johnson has joined the PCA Group as a staff accountant in the accounting and auditing division.

Robert and Katie Jasinski of Odenton announce the marriage of their daughter, Kristine Sara, to John Angelo Tenini of Charleston. The couple wed on July 5th at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Towson with a reception following at the Country Club of Maryland. Kristine is a 2005 graduate of Furman University. She is presently working on her Masters of Teaching at the College of Charleston. The future groom's parents are Guy and Sara Tenini of Hammond, LA. John is also a 2005 graduate of Furman University.

WASHINGTON - Four U.S. residents, including a computer engineering professor at the University of South Florida, were arrested yesterday on charges of financing and managing a terrorist group that has been blamed for killing more than 100 people. The men are accused of running a U.S.-based operation for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which the government believes is connected to attacks in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, including many suicide bombings. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the arrests a day after a grand jury in Tampa, Fla., returned a 50-count indictment against the men and four others, who remain at large.

AIKEN, S.C. -- Between calls to his attorney, Kendall Truitt turned his head toward the television set and watched a replay of the USS Iowa's No. 2 gun turret exploding in a big gray-white puff.For the past 2 1/2 years, Truitt has tried to remove that image from his mind as the Navy accused his best friend, sailor Clayton Hartwig, of causing an April 1989 explosion that killed 47 crewmen, including Hartwig.Yesterday, acknowledging the blast's cause might never be determined, the Navy formally apologized to Hartwig's family in Cleveland.

BaseballAthletics: Recalled OF Allen Battle from Triple-A Edmonton. Placed OF Damon Mashore on the 15-day DL.Cubs: Placed SS Rey Sanchez on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 11. Purchased the contract of IF Terry Shumpert from Triple-A Iowa.Mets: Placed P Jason Isringhausen on the 15-day DL. Recalled P Derek Wallace from Triple-A Norfolk. Signed 1996 draft selections P Eddie Yarnall, P Brendan Behn and 3B Michael Meadows.Tigers: Placed P C. J. Nitkowski on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Sunday.

TAMPA, Fla. - A former college professor is set to enter Tampa's federal courthouse in shackles and handcuffs today, taking center stage in a highly anticipated trial. Sami Al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor, and three co-defendants will be in court to face terrorism charges in a case that began percolating a decade ago but took on new meaning after the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001. Five other co-defendants remain at large overseas. Al-Arian and the others are charged with 53 counts, including racketeering, conspiracy to kill civilians, money laundering and giving material support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group.

Robert and Katie Jasinski of Odenton announce the marriage of their daughter, Kristine Sara, to John Angelo Tenini of Charleston. The couple wed on July 5th at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Towson with a reception following at the Country Club of Maryland. Kristine is a 2005 graduate of Furman University. She is presently working on her Masters of Teaching at the College of Charleston. The future groom's parents are Guy and Sara Tenini of Hammond, LA. John is also a 2005 graduate of Furman University.

TAMPA, Fla. - A former college professor is set to enter Tampa's federal courthouse in shackles and handcuffs today, taking center stage in a highly anticipated trial. Sami Al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor, and three co-defendants will be in court to face terrorism charges in a case that began percolating a decade ago but took on new meaning after the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001. Five other co-defendants remain at large overseas. Al-Arian and the others are charged with 53 counts, including racketeering, conspiracy to kill civilians, money laundering and giving material support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group.

Israel promoted to executive VP by Columbia Bank Brian K. Israel has been promoted to executive vice president of commercial lending by Columbia Bank, a full-service commercial bank with headquarters in Howard County. The Ellicott City resident will oversee business development activities for small- to medium-sized businesses in Howard, Anne Arundel and Carroll counties. A former senior vice president of commercial banking, Israel has been with Columbia Bank since 1997. Johnson joins PCA Group as a staff accountant Sharon Kathryn Johnson has joined the PCA Group as a staff accountant in the accounting and auditing division.

WASHINGTON - Four U.S. residents, including a computer engineering professor at the University of South Florida, were arrested yesterday on charges of financing and managing a terrorist group that has been blamed for killing more than 100 people. The men are accused of running a U.S.-based operation for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which the government believes is connected to attacks in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, including many suicide bombings. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the arrests a day after a grand jury in Tampa, Fla., returned a 50-count indictment against the men and four others, who remain at large.

One of Jeanne-Minette Cilliers' great loves is propelling her across the ocean. Cilliers, a 26-year-old native of South Africa who recently moved to Columbia, leaves today for Japan to participate in the fourth Hamamatsu International Piano Competition. Cilliers - who is competing as a South African - is one of three pianists invited from the United States to participate in the event. "I am looking forward to playing," Cilliers said as she relaxed in her home. "It's so exciting to be able to share what I love with a new group of people."

Philip L. Carret, 101, a founder of one of the country's first mutual funds, died Thursday in Mount Vernon, N.Y., while recovering from hip surgery. He founded the Pioneer Fund in 1928 with $25,000 contributed by friends and family.In an investment career that encompassed dozens of bull and bear market cycles, Mr. Carret was known as a proponent of the "value" style of investing, buying shares of companies with steadily growing earnings, strong balance sheets and committed managers, and holding onto those investments for many years.

Lucille R. Kuhn, a retired captain who pioneered the role of female officers in the Navy, died Friday in a traffic accident in Newport News, Va. She was 68.Captain Kuhn enlisted in the Navy in 1949 and retired in 1985.She was the first female director of the officer candidate school in Newport, R.I., the first to command the Combined Recruit Training Command in Orlando, Fla., and the first to serve as deputy commander of the Navy Recruiting Command.Her service awards included the Legion of Merit with gold star, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star and the National Defense Medal with bronze star.

Edmund L. FountainArmy veterinarianCol. Edmund L. Fountain, a retired Army veterinarian, died June 24 of heart failure at his Heritage Harbor residence in Annapolis. He was 69.He developed a lifelong interest in and love of animals when he was growing up in Gloversville, N.Y., where his father bought and sold horses and owned several farms.He earned his degree in veterinary medicine in 1946 from Cornell University and went to work for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in Washington.

HERE'S THE THING about Carl O. Clark that should recommend him as a role model:He got to where he is today -- chairman of the physics department at Morgan State University -- by succeeding in the arena of the mind.Clark, 61, had been away from his native Baltimore for 35 years of study and teaching in South Carolina when he was lured back to Morgan, his alma mater, nearly two years ago.It was a homecoming in many ways. Clark had grown up in East Baltimore, one of six children who attended segregated public schools.

BaseballAthletics: Recalled OF Allen Battle from Triple-A Edmonton. Placed OF Damon Mashore on the 15-day DL.Cubs: Placed SS Rey Sanchez on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 11. Purchased the contract of IF Terry Shumpert from Triple-A Iowa.Mets: Placed P Jason Isringhausen on the 15-day DL. Recalled P Derek Wallace from Triple-A Norfolk. Signed 1996 draft selections P Eddie Yarnall, P Brendan Behn and 3B Michael Meadows.Tigers: Placed P C. J. Nitkowski on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Sunday.