FEMALE-LED GROUP AWARDED ST. LOUIS MLS TEAM FOR 2022

The prospects of a Major League Soccer franchise ever calling St. Louis home appeared to have died two years ago when voters turned down the use of a business tax to finance a new downtown stadium.

Then a new potential ownership group came along.

Led by members of the founding family of car rental giant Enterprise, the city began to work anew last fall on its pitch for a professional soccer team. On Tuesday, the league officially announced that St. Louis would become its 28th club when it begins play for the 2022 season.

“Our ownership group has come a long way since we first announced our bid last October at MathewsDickey Boys and Girls Club, and it’s an incredible feeling to now be able to say, ‘St. Louis is home to the first official majority female-led ownership group in MLS,’ ” said Carolyn Kindle Betz, granddaughter of Enterprise founder Jack Taylor and the president of Enterprise Holdings Foundation.

Six other female members of the Taylor family are part of the ownership group.

Women’s national team lawsuit goes to trial May 5.

ANGELES» A LOS judge set a May 5 trial date for the gender discrimination lawsuit filed by the women’s national team against U.S. Soccer. Judge R. Gary Klausner in Los Angeles assigned the date less than a week after mediation between the sides broke down. The players sued U.S. Soccer in March, alleging institutionalized gender discrimination that includes inequitable compensation.

Report: Beckham stadium site has unsafe arsenic levels.

MIAMI» A new problem for David Beckham’s Major League Soccer stadium in Miami has arisen: An environmental report shows it is far more toxic than previously expected. According to The Miami Herald, the analysis found arsenic contamination reaching more than twice the legal limit. The surface-level soil samples contained hazardous debris at the Melreese golf course site, where people have played golf for more than 50 years. The 131-acre site is being considered for a sprawling $1 billion stadium complex that would be home to Beckham’s MLS team, Inter Miami.

Ex-baseball players Dotel, Castillo linked to DR drug ring.

SANTO

Authorities in the Dominican Republic arrested former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel and cited ex-infielder Luis Castillo for their alleged links to a drug-trafficking and money-laundering ring in the Caribbean and United States. Dominican Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez said police are also pursuing the alleged leader of the ring. “Eighteen other people are linked to this network, including athletes and baseball players Octavio Dotel and Luis Castillo,” Rodriguez said.

Ex-Michigan State star Cleaves acquitted in sex assault case.

FLINT,

MICH.» A jury has acquitted former Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves of sexual assault and other charges. The verdict by the jury in Cleaves’ hometown comes nearly four years after a then-24year-old woman accused Cleaves of sexually assaulting her in a Flint-area motel room. The woman testified she wanted to leave but that Cleaves continued to force himself upon her.

Antonio Brown practices with Raiders in certified helmet.

Star receiver Antonio Brown practiced with the Oakland Raiders in a certified helmet. Coach Jon Gruden said Brown participated in the team’s first practice session back at team headquarters Tuesday, two days after being given an ultimatum by general manager Mike Mayock to be “all in or all out” after missing time fighting with the league and the union over his helmet.