Xtc

* A Steelers fan just punched me in the nose. Where are emergency services?You have several options, none of which, unfortunately, involve punching the fan back or getting Tony Siragusa to come to your aid. Instead, contact the nearest usher or other Ravens representative. For minor medical care, walk to one of the stadium's six first-aid stations. For more serious injuries, roving teams of paramedics will be on hand to come to you. Ambulances also will be positioned around the building on game days beginning at 8 a.m.* Nothing like $4 beers to empty a wallet in a hurry.

Twelve-year-old Jason Amoss, a Taneytown seventh-grader with the build of a linebacker, found himself struggling to scale a nearly 7-foot wall at a military obstacle course.With cries of "Come on, Jason, you can do it" and some quick brainstorming with his teammates from Northwest Middle School, he conquered the wall, one of eight obstacles at a leadership program at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown.Twenty Carroll County seventh- and eighth-graders, ages 11 to 13, proved that challenging obstacles can be conquered with teamwork and problem-solving.

This series has marked former Orioles catcher Gregg Zaun's first return to Baltimore as a member of the Florida Marlins.Since the August 1996 trade that sent him to Florida, Zaun has played behind All-Star catcher Charles Johnson, earned a World XTC Series ring, and seen first hand the dismantling of the world champs."

If Crofton police were telling Charlie Wolfe that walking on private Crofton Country Club property was trespassing, they also should have been keeping the club's golf carts off public streets. Both are against the law and police should enforce all the laws, Wolfe argued.No, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled yesterday, police have discretion in enforcing laws. They do not have to enforce state laws that bar unregistered motor vehicles from public roadways."It's good to hear," said Barbara K. Swann, Crofton town manager.

A 51-year-old Annapolis man was the apparent victim of an accidental drowning yesterday in the Severn River at the U.S. Naval Academy's Hospital Point, a popular fishing and crabbing spot. Authorities identified the victim as Randolph Taylor Jr. of Stephanie Lane.Cmdr. Michael E. Brady, spokesman for the academy, said another man fishing near Taylor noticed about 9 a.m. that Taylor was missing from where he had been on the sea wall. The man went to investigate and found Taylor's hat floating in the water.

NEW YORK -- With more than $900 million in gifts and pledges in hand two years ahead of schedule, the Johns Hopkins University's board of trustees decided yesterday to extend the school's fund-raising campaign to $1.2 billion -- a $300 million increase to address pressing needs such as student financial aid.The trustees also announced that one of their own, Bethesda construction magnate A. James Clark, has jump-started the extended campaign with a pledge...

Astros: Coming into the game, Mike Hampton had allowed only six runs in winning his previous four starts. Jack Howell is 3-for-8 with three RBIs as a pinch hitter this season.Cardinals: Mark McGwire, who has 21 home runs in 36 career games at Busch Stadium, had a quiet night aside from the run-scoring single, striking out twice and drawing a walk. He entered the night with 30 RBIs, two behind league-leading Vinny Castilla of Colorado. Delino DeShields leads the majors with four triples.Expos: F.P. Santangelo has hit in eight straight games since becoming the leadoff man.Mets: Jim Tatum's home run was the third of his career and his first in a non-pinch-hitting role.

IT IS a classic battle between the haves and the have-nots. Only in this case, the have-nots are intent on destroying Maryland's successful health-cost regulatory system to enrich individual hospitals.A handful of hospitals has engaged some of Maryland's most expensive lobbyists to strong-arm legislators into giving them permission to establish expensive open-heart surgery centers -- despite state regulators' objections.Just such a provision has been attached to a bill in Annapolis aimed at restructuring the way Maryland regulates hospital and health-care costs.

The County Commissioners and the Board of Education agreed yesterday to work together to trim operating expenses by combining spending in areas such as warehousing, vehicle maintenance and health insurance.The initiative is part of an effort to address a projected $16 million deficit in the school system's operating budget in five years. Generally, the county funds more than half the school system's operating budget."There could be a fairly high dollar value attached to combining some of these entities," said Walter Brilhart, the school system's director of administrative services.

"Louisville," by Baltimore filmmakers Joy Lusco and Scott Kecken, will have its world premiere at the Charles Theatre on Saturday. The short film features Andre Braugher as a man who comes to understand his difficult father (Mets Suber) through his xTC own young son (Brandon Troy McMickens).The premiere will take place Saturday at noon at the Charles, 1711 N. Charles St. Tickets at the door will be $12. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 at Abbey Camera, 320 N. Charles St., or call 800-931-3083.