‘Affluenza’ teen drops Mexico appeal, returns in 1 or 2 days

MEXICO CITY (AP) – The Mexican lawyer for a Texas teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving accident says his client has dropped an appeal against deportation and will return to Texas to face charges. Attorney Fernando Benitez said Tuesday that Ethan Couch formally ratified his decision to drop the appeal Monday. […]

Former workers sue Disney, consulting companies over layoffs

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Two former technology employees at Walt Disney World in Florida are suing Disney and the outsourcing companies they say colluded to break the law and replace workers with cheaper immigrant labor. Representing both former employees, attorney Sara Blackwell filed lawsuits in Tampa federal court Monday against Disney and two consulting companies, […]

Florida may pay for burials of students who died at school

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida may pay to rebury students whose remains were once interred on the grounds of a now shuttered reform school. House and Senate committees on Tuesday voted unanimously for bills ordering state officials to preserve any records, artifacts or remains that were found on the site of a Panhandle school. The […]

Richt’s debut at Miami to come Sept. 3 against Florida A&M

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – Mark Richt’s first game as Miami’s coach will be Sept. 3, when the Hurricanes play host to Florida A&M. Miami opens with three non-conference games in 2016, a home matchup against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 10 followed by a road trip to Appalachian State on Sept. 17. After that, Miami […]

Judge OKs reworked NCAA concussions settlement

CHICAGO (AP) – A federal judge in Chicago has given preliminary approval to a reworked head-injury settlement between former college athletes and the NCAA. U.S. District Judge John Lee said Tuesday his is giving his OK to a deal hammered out after he rejected the initial agreement in 2014. Lee praised the new deal for […]

Champagne backs United States for 2022 if Qatar is stripped

GENEVA (AP) – The United States should directly get to host the 2022 World Cup if Qatar is stripped of the tournament, according to FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne. The 2018 and 2022 bidding contests are under scrutiny by Switzerland’s attorney general who is investigating suspected money laundering, and American federal prosecutors’ wider probe of […]

FSU booster group to pay attorney fees from lawsuit

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida State University’s booster organization will pay most of the defense fees from a lawsuit brought by a former student who said the school failed to adequately investigate allegations that she was raped by quarterback Jameis Winston. Seminole Boosters Chairman David Rancourt said in an email to members that the organization […]

US athletes urge expansion of Russian probe

U.S. Olympic athletes have sent a letter to leaders of the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency urging them to expand the investigation into Russian doping to sports beyond track and field. The letter came in response to the two-part report detailing doping inside Russia’s track team, the sport’s international governing body and allegations […]

Appeals court: Airports have wide latitude to kill birds

NEW YORK (AP) – A federal appeals court in Manhattan says the operator of New York City’s airports has the legal right to kill migratory birds when necessary to protect planes. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Tuesday that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was within its rights to […]