Waived

Minutes before the Ravens were scheduled to begin practice at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, the organization announced it had signed Stevie Baggs Jr. to the roster. The 30-year-old linebacker has spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and the Detroit Lions, but has played mostly in the Canadian Football League. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 241 pounds, Baggs is a pass-rushing linebacker. The Ravens have been practicing at less than full strength at linebacker. Rookie outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw (bruised right shoulder)

The sluggish housing market and the ensuing decline in school enrollment has the Carroll County Commissioners considering a proposal to drop impact fees on new home construction for the next few years. The county collects the fees on residential construction to offset the growth-related costs of building the schools and other infrastructure needed to meet the demands of new residents. The fees, which depend on the size of a new home and can be as much as $6,000, pay to build new schools and parks and provide recreation.

Jurors in the murder trial of George Huguely V, accused of fatally beating his former University of Virginia girlfriend two years ago, will begin deliberation in the case later this week, after two weeks of intense testimony and several delays. The prosecution gave a lengthy and emotional statement during closing arguments Saturday, describing Huguely, 24, as a bully who couldn't control his drinking or his temper. They claim he killed Yeardley Love, a Cockeysville native, in a jealous rage, then stole her laptop to hide a threatening email trail.

It took two minutes and eight seconds for Robert Conley Richardson III, the 16-year-old C. Milton Wright High School freshman accused of murdering his father in their Bel Air house last Monday night, to waive his right to a pre-trial hearing on the charges. Much of that time was spent with Eric MacDonnell, Richardson's public defender, going through the formality of publicly asking Richardson a series of questions, so the teenager could state in the open courtroom that he was waiving his right to a hearing that would require the prosecution to prove it has enough evidence to hold him over for trial.

A doctor charged last month in Utah on murder charges in Elkton waived extradition on Monday and will be flown back to Maryland, according to authorities. Dr. Nicola I. Riley, 46, had been held without bail in a Salt Lake County jail. She is charged with first- and second-degree murder, among other charges, stemming from an abortion 16 months ago that injured a teenage mother who was 21 weeks pregnant. Another doctor, Steven C. Brigham, was extradited from New Jersey last week and was arraigned in Cecil County Circuit Court on Friday.

One of two doctors indicted in Elkton on murder charges under the state's fetal homicide law waived extradition from New Jersey on Wednesday and will return to Maryland, according to prosecutors and his attorney. A spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey, where the doctor was arrested last month, said that police in Elkton have 10 days to pick up Dr. Steven Chase Brigham, 55, and take him back to Cecil County. His attorney, C. Thomas Brown, confirmed the results of the hearing but declined to comment further.

The Ravens announced today that they have promoted rookie linebacker Josh Bynes from their practice squad to their active 53-man roster. Bynes, who signed with the Ravens in July as an undrafted free agent, appeared in 43 games for Auburn in his collegiate career, recording 238 tackles (127 solo), seven interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.     He had been waived by the Ravens on Sept.3, but he was re-signed to their practice squad on Nov.9. He'll provide linebacker depth with both Ray Lewis (toe)

The Ravens announced today that they have waived cornerback Bryan McCann and promoted outside linebacker Chavis Williams from the practice squad to their 53-man roster. Williams (6 feet 3, 227 pounds) signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in July. He played four seasons at Alabama, making 17 tackles in 33 career games. The Ravens' linebacker depth has been challenged with Prescott Burgess going on season-ending injured reserve with a torn abdominal muscle Tuesday, and Dannell Ellerbe sidelined with a hamstring injury.

President Barack Obama is prepared to offer states that have embraced his administration's key education reform initiatives — including Maryland — a break from the most rigid requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, senior officials said Thursday. Officials said the president will announce the sweeping changes Friday, allowing states to seek a waiver from elements of the Bush administration's signature education law if they agree to three key reforms, all of which Maryland has adopted.

The Ravens announced Wednesday that they have re-signed safety Mana Silva to the team's practice squad. Silva, an undrafted free agent, was added to the practice squad Sept. 4 after the club waived him the day before. He was cut again when the Ravens elected to sign offensive tackle Austin Howard to the practice squad two days later.