Whatever happened to ? ?

» Main players: Mark Yount, Cindy Marucci-Bosley

» Story then: Middle and high schoolers are engaging in sex parties, said a substance-abuse prevention coordinator with a Carroll County outpatient treatment agency.

Now

Mark Yount, a substance-abuse prevention coordinator for Junction Inc., an outpatient treatment agency in Westminster, told The Examiner in November that teenagers in Carroll County were attending sex parties and playing risky sex games involving drinking bodily fluids and sharing multiple partners.

When asked Dec. 22 about what he has heard since, Yount declined to comment and referred questions to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Members of the Carroll County Board of Education have said they may vote this school year on expanding eighth-grade sex education to include contraceptive methods in addition to abstinence.

? Kelsey Volkmann

Then

Orthodox Jew fights for her right to divorce

» Initial publication date: Sept. 18

» Main players: Cynthia Ohana, Ephraim Ohana

» Story then: More than one year has passed since Cynthia Ohana divorced her husband in civil court, but under her religion, she still cannot date, remarry or move on with her life, because he won?t grant her a Jewish divorce.

Now

The Baltimore woman who protested this fall for a Jewish divorce has not been granted one from her husband and plans to testify in support of state legislation that would prevent this from happening to other women.

“There is a flaw in Jewish law, and rabbis haven?t found a way to correct it, so we need to ask the legislature for help,” said Cynthia Ohana, who protested in September for a “get” ? or Orthodox Jewish divorce ? outside the University of Baltimore School of Law, which her ex-husband, Ephraim Ohana, attends. “This is no different than slavery. It?s a woman?s right to get out of an abusive marriage,” she said.

Even after a civil divorce, Orthodox Jewish men can refuse a “get,” keeping women as “agunahs” ? Hebrew for anchored down, meaning they could not remarry.

The Baltimore Jewish Council, the lobbying arm for Baltimore?s Jewish community, voted Dec. 19 to revive a bill in 2007 that would prevent men from refusing gets. This legislation would be similar to one that failed in 2000 that requires each party in a civil divorce to sign an affidavit promising removal of all religious barriers to remarriage.

In Baltimore City Circuit Court, Ephraim Ohana was found guilty of abuse and impoverishing himself in 2005 after 18 years of marriage. ? Kelsey Volkmann

Then

Chantilly couple to file complaint against police after arrest, robbery

» Initial publication date: May 16

» Main players: Joshua Kelly, Llara Brook

» Story then: When Joshua Kelly and Llara Brook were arrested for trespassing in Cherry Hill, their story? first reported by The Examiner ? set off a firestorm of criticism of Baltimore City police policies. The Chantilly, Va., couple got lost after leaving an Orioles game last May. Stopping to ask directions from housing authority officer Natalie Preston, the couple was eventually arrested for running a stop sign and being combative. Their car was impounded. But Brook and Kelly said Preston was hostile. “You found your way in. You can find your way out,” they said the officer told them.

Now

The Baltimore City State?s Attorney?s Office dropped the trespassing charges, and a city traffic court judge found Josh Kelly not guilty of running a stop sign. The couple has since put the city on notice that they plan to file a lawsuit.

And “they?re staying out of Baltimore,” said Llara Brook?s mother, Luanna Brook. ? Stephen Janis

Then

Sassy and savvy, teenage jockey rides to the top

» Initial publication date: June 12

» Main players: Jockey Anna Rose Napravnik, agent John Faltynski

» Story then: The teenage jockey sensation captured 221 victories in 51 weeks, making her the fifth-winningest jockey in the country at that point. She won the Private Terms Stakes on a horse with 74-1 odds. On Preakness Day, she won the Grey Goose turf race, which came with a $100,000 purse.

Now

Ranked the fifth-winningest jockey in the country at one point this year ? and the only woman in the Top 100 in earnings ? 18-year-old sensation Anna Rose Napravnik of Hereford was the talk of the industry. She still is.

Napravnik captured the riding titles at all four Maryland Jockey Club meets this year: Laurel Park in the winter, summer and fall, and Pimlico in the spring. With 250 victories at Laurel Park and Pimlico this year, she has the best winning percentage among riders with more than 500 mounts, winning at a 21.5 percent clip, according to Mike Gathagan, the club?s vice president of communications.

She ranks 32nd in the country for earnings with more than $6 million, according to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. ? Jaime Malarkey

Then

Nickel tries stopping quarterbacks and cancer

» Main players: Brian Nickel

» Story then: Johns Hopkins senior defensive end Brian Nickel juggles his football career and his future in medicine. He spent the summer doing studies on drugs and how they react with cancer cells, with the overall goal of eventually helping find a cure for cancer.

Now

After a busy year, Brian Nickel is home relaxing in Wisconsin.

The Johns Hopkins University senior completed his final season on the Blue Jays football team with a bevy of postseason honors. He was named to the AFCA Good Works Team, academic all-district first team, and was selected as a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy ? for academic, athletic and community achievement.

Nickel spent the summer researching cancer cells with the aim of stunting the mutation of the cells. Then, he took the field as a defensive end for the Blue Jays and recorded a career-best 54 tackles to go with three sacks and a blocked punt.

After spring graduation, Nickel will take a year off from school. He may continue his research or work for a health-care software company. And there?s always football. “I might teach at a high school or coach football,” he said. ? Sean Welsh

Then

Sex, lies and a Ph.D.

Now

Brandy Britton is still waiting. The former assistant professor of sociology and anthropology at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will have to wait until early 2007 to defend herself against four charges of prostitution.

Britton, of Ellicott City, was scheduled to go to trial in Howard County Circuit Court in December, but the hearing has been postponed twice, once until Jan. 23 and then a second time until Feb. 5.

Police said Britton, who also taught women?s studies at UMBC, entertained clients in her Ellicott City home. Each charge Britton faces carries a penalty of up to one year in jail or a $500 fine.

Police began investigating Britton last year after receiving “numerous complaints.” Police said Britton operated a Web site called Alexisangel.com, which is no longer active. According to the Web site, Britton charged a minimum of $300 an hour for modeling and providing companionship.

“Money exchanged in legal adult personal services for modeling is simply for my time and companionship,” the site stated. “Anything else that may occur is a matter of personal choice between consenting adults of legal age and is not contracted for, nor is it requested to be contracted for, in any manner. This is not an offer of prostitution.” ? Luke Broadwater

Then

Could Maryland be the next Hollywood?

» Initial publication date: June 19

» Main players: Gregg Maon, Vincent DePaul

» Story then: Baltimoreans saw film crews all over downtown and Patterson Park in June. Word was “Baltimore Street” was being created by local independent filmmaker Gregg Mason, featuring local actor Salvatore Zannino, who performs under the stage name Vincent DePaul. At the time, DePaul predicted the film would be submitted to national production companies such as HBO and Logo.

Now

That?s happened, and Emmy Award-winning film editor Oliver Janne of WJZ-TV fame is editing the film, which currently is in rough cut.

And it?s been submitted for consideration to film festivals around the country. “We couldn?t be happier,” DePaul said while home for the Christmas holidays.

? Kelly Carson

Then

Historic military boats sailing into Baltimore

» Initial publication date: April 22

» Main players: Forrest Taylor, Michael Sunday, military collectors and restorationists

» Story then: Collectors have bought three of only six remaining World War Two Higgins boats they will loan to museums and movie makers.

Now

New Windsor resident Forrest Taylor is negotiating to use his restored World War Two-era Higgins Boats in a movie scene re-enacting the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. Taylor bought three of the only six remaining flat-bottomed landing crafts in fall of 2005 in order to refurbished them at a Dillsburg, Pa., shop.

One restored boat is on loan to the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomon?s Island, where the boats were part of a landing re-enactment in August to commemorate a military training facility there.

The second restored boat is being “winterized” at a nearby marina, Taylor said. And the third boat is in Dillsburg undergoing restoration work.

All three may soon be sent to Puerto Rico for filming. Taylor?s next project will be to purchase and restore the authentic WWII “Tiger” tank used in the climactic battle of the film “Saving Private Ryan.”

? Matthew Santoni

Then

Animal cruelty in Harford

» Initial publication date: May 16

» Main players: Donna Bell, Humane Society of Harford County, Harford County Animal Control

» Story then: After the May 12 finding of more than 70 dogs and cats living in their own filth and among the carcasses of dogs and cats that did not survive the conditions, police charged Whiteford resident Donna Bell with 118 counts of animal cruelty.

Now

Donna Bell was charged with 118 counts of animal crueltyin May after authorities found more than 70 dogs and cats living in their own filth, and numerous dead animal carcasses in two houses she owned in the northern Harford County community of Whiteford.

Bell, 59, is undergoing psychiatric evaluation through the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as part of a plea of not criminally responsible.

All of the dogs and cats seized from Bell have since been adopted out to new homes through the Humane Society of Harford County.

Bell, who now resides in Highlandtown, has had her two Whiteford houses demolished, rather than spend the money to bring them up to Harford County Health Department specifications. Authorities said fecal matter in both houses were piled as much as two feet high in some places. ? Matthew Plum

Then

Lynx owner is ordered by the court to get rid of animal

» Initial publication date: June 14

» Main players: Animal owner Daniel Vitilio, Baltimore County Board of Appeals, Animal Control Supervisor Charlotte Crenson-Murrow

» Story then: The Baltimore County Board of Appeals upheld the animal control supervisors? decision that Virilio must get rid of his pet Siberian lynx.

Now

In June, Baltimore County?s highest appellate board told Kingsville resident Daniel Vitilio to get rid of a wild cat he?s grown to love during the past two years.

Six months later, the Siberian lynx “Puddy” has grown 5 pounds heavier, and Vitilio has filed a lawsuit in the county?s Circuit Court to keep him. He said he plans to come to court armed with hoards of supporters and is working on a petition ? he has about 800 signatures so far ? as testimony to Puddy?s gentle nature.

County spokesman Don Mohler declined comment, citing the pending litigation.

In June, Vitilio told the county?s Board of Appeals thatan animal control supervisor gave him the go-ahead to keep the cat from a local wildlife shop before a formal permit was secure. A county inspector visited his ranch ? where he also keeps peacocks, goats, miniature horses and several exotic birds ? to make sure his cage was secure.

Animal Control Supervisor Charlotte Crenson-Murrow denied the claim and said, with no proven rabies vaccine, the lynx is a public threat.

The hearing date is set for March 5. In the meantime, Puddy still lives in Vitilio?s yard. ? Jaime Malarkey