Source: Justice Department to pay $100M to settle with Nassar victims
The U.S. Justice Department has agreed to pay approximately $100 million to settle claims with about 100 people who say they were sexually assaulted by sports doctor Larry Nassar, a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The deal has not been finalized, and no money has been paid, the source said on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak before a formal announcement.
An internal investigation found that FBI agents mishandled abuse allegations by women more than a year before Nassar was arrested in 2016.
The settlement was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.
Nassar was a Michigan State University sports doctor as well as a doctor at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics. He is serving decades in prison for assaulting female athletes, including medal-winning Olympic gymnasts, under the guise of treatment.
Lawyers filed claims against the government, focusing on a 15-month period when FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles had knowledge of allegations against Nassar but apparently took no action, beginning in 2015. The Justice Department inspector general confirmed fundamental errors.
Nassar's assaults continued until his arrest in fall 2016, authorities said.
Judge denies request for Muth Derby run
A judge has denied a request by the owner of Bob Baffert-trained Arkansas Derby winner Muth for the colt to run in next month's 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Jefferson County Circuit Judge Mitch Perry declined to grant a temporary injunction to Zedan Racing Stables, which had argued that the ban of Baffert was “illegal.”
Muth won the Arkansas Derby on March 30 but is ineligible to receive the 100 points that would have put him in the Run for the Roses because of Baffert's suspension. ZRS sued Churchill Downs days later.
In his ruling, Perry expressed concern about “innocent third parties” having to remove eligible horses from the Derby on May 4 to accommodate the horse trained by the Hall of Famer, whose suspension by Churchill Downs was extended through 2024.
ASU QB Rashada entering transfer portal
Arizona State starting quarterback Jaden Rashada is entering the transfer portal. Rashada announced his decision on the social plaform X, thanking coach Kenny Dillingham and his staff.
Rashada earned the starting job out of training camp as a freshman, but missed nine games with a knee injury before returning for the season finale against rival Arizona. He threw for 485 yards and four touchdowns with three interceptions on 44-of-82 passing in three games.
Rashada initially committed to Miami before decommitting to play at Florida. He later asked to get out of an NIL deal and transferred to Arizona State.
• Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a measure into law that allows state colleges and universities to directly pay their athletes through name, image and likeness compensation deals, a measure believed to be the first of its kind.
The law, which takes effect July 1, was signed one day after the NCAA eased some of its NIL restrictions but noted that its longstanding “prohibitions against pay-for-play and schools compensating student-athletes for use of their NIL remain in place.”
• An unfair labor complaint was filed against the University of Notre Dame for classifying college athletes as “student-athletes.” The complaint was filed with the National Labor Relations Board by a California-based group calling itself the College Basketball Players Association. It said Notre Dame is engaging in unfair labor practices as defined by the National Labor Relations Act.
The complaint is similar to one filed against USC last May by the NLRB's Los Angeles office alleging players on USC's football and men's and women's basketball teams are employees and not “student-athletes” within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.
• Kentucky reserve guard Reed Sheppard, who was voted the Southeastern Conference's top freshman by coaches after leading the league in steals, says he will enter the NBA draft.
Korda is in the mix at Chevron Championship
Nelly Korda, who is looking to tie an LPGA Tour record with her fifth straight win, shot a 4-under 68 in the opening round of the Chevron Championship at The Woodlands, Texas, leaving her two shots behind leader Lauren Coughlin in the year's first major.
Coughlin shot a bogeyfree 66 in windy conditions at Carlton Woods, which is hosting the event for the second time.
Defending champion and world No. 2 Lilia Vu withdrew before the first round because of a back injury.
• J.T. Poston set the pace on an idyllic day at the RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, S.C. with nine birdies — six of them in a seven-hole stretch — for a 63 that gave him a two-shot lead over Collin Morikawa and Seamus Power. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler managed a 2-under 69.
• Wesley Bryan chipped in for eagle early and for birdie late, giving him a 9-under 63 for a three-shot lead in the Corales Puntacana Championship, a PGA Tour event at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.