Newsmakers

Indicted Former NFL wide receiver Sam Hurd was indicted Wednesday on federal drug conspiracy and possession charges after he and another man were accused of trying to establish a drug-dealing network. The indictment handed up by a federal grand jury in Dallas accuses Hurd, cut by the Chicago Bears after his arrest last month during an undercover drug sting, and codefendant Toby Lujan of single counts of cocaine possession and conspiracy to possess cocaine. It also seeks forfeiture of $88,000 in cash by Lujan and a 2010 Cadillac Escalade by Hurd. Hurd remained free on $100,000 bond. Both could be sentenced to 10 years to life in prison if convicted of conspiracy and up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the possession count.

Died Former Notre Dame hockey coach Charles “Lefty” Smith, who started the school’s hockey program in 1968, has died of natural causes in South Bend, Ind. He was 81. Smith compiled a 307-320-30 record in 19 seasons from 1968-1987. . A new hockey rink was named for him last fall.

• Mitch Shirota, a veteran trainer and jockey at Churchill Downs and elsewhere, has died. He was 78. The Hawaiian-born Shirota saddled 236 winners from 1,637 career starters.

Signed The Portland Timbers signed forward Brent Richards, a standout at the University of Washington, under Major League Soccer’s homegrown player rule. The native of Camas, Wash., has played with the Timbers’ U-23 development team for the past three seasons, scoring 26 goals and 12 assists in 37 matches. In 2010, the U-23 Timbers won the USL’s Premier Development League championship with a 20-0-0 record. Richards was the league’s Most Valuable Player.

• Reliever Fernando Rodney signed a $2 million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. The hard-throwing right-hander will earn $1.75 million next season. The deal also includes a $2.5 million club option or a $250,000 buyout for 2013. Rodney was 3-5 with three saves and a 4.50 earned-run average in 32 appearances with the Los Angeles Angels last season.

Hired Richard Petty Motorsports hired Aric Almirola to drive the famed No. 43 in NASCAR’s elite Sprint Cup Series, and Cole Whitt will replace him at JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. Almirola left JRM to make another attempt at the Cup Series, this time in the car seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty made famous. He replaced AJ Allmendinger, who left the team last month for a job at Penske Racing.

Added Seattle Sounders midfielder Brad Evans and defender Jeff Parke were added to the U.S. men’s national team, U.S. Soccer announced