Panthers owner focus of a criminal probe

Panthers owner David Tepper and his real estate company are the focus of a criminal investigation to see if they misused any public money in their failed effort to build a practice facility for the NFL team in South Carolina.

The York County Sheriff ’s Office said state agents and local prosecutors are aiding its investigation, and that the probe does not mean that any crime happened.

“An investigation is simply an inquiry and should not create any inference that wrongdoing has been committed by any party,” York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson and Solicitor Kevin Brackett said in a joint statement Thursday night that named Tepper and GT Real Estate, the company created to oversee the construction project. Tepper’s company denied any criminal wrongdoing and suggested the timing of the announcement might be meant to disrupt a settlement the team reached with York County to repay more than $21 million, an amount roughly equivalent to the sales tax money the project received to improve roads around the facility.

„ Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari underwent an appendectomy Friday and won’t play Sunday . ... Steelers running back Najee Harris expects to play Sunday when the Steelers travel to Atlanta.

Golf: Ockie Strydom’s new course record of 9-under 63 moved him within two shots of clubhouse leader Thriston Lawrence at the South African Open on Friday before play was suspended overnight because of lightning.

MLB: The Dodgers on Friday agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year deal with pitcher Shelby Miller for 2023. The 32-yearold right-hander was 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in four games as a reliever with the San Francisco Giants last season. Miller spent most of the season with Triple-A Sacramento and Scranton-Wilkes Barre, where he was a combined 2-4 with a 2.87 ERA and 69 strikeouts.