News

Swiss grant US request to extradite former Costa Rican soccer head Li in FIFA bribery case

BERN, Switzerland — Switzerland's justice ministry on Tuesday granted an American request to extradite former Costa Rican soccer federation president Eduardo Li in the FIFA bribery case.

Li was ousted from the FIFA executive committee two days before he could take up his seat after being arrested on May 27 in a dawn raid on a Zurich hotel along with six other football officials.

Li can appeal against the extradition order at Switzerland's federal criminal court within 30 days.

Costa Rica authorities have also opened an investigation against Li, who is accused by the U.S. of asking for a six-figure payment from marketing agency Traffic USA as part of an agreement for rights for Costa Rica's home qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. That deal was worth $2.55 million to $3 million, depending on the team's success, the U.S. indictment alleges.

"By accepting bribes for the award of sports marketing contracts, Li massively influenced the competitive situation and distorted the market for media rights in connection with the World Cup qualifying matches," the Swiss Federal Office of Justice said in a statement, referencing the extradition request.

A civil engineer and son of Chinese immigrants, Li became involved in football in 2004 after buying the franchise of a first division club in Costa Rica. He was credited with some of the recent successes of Costa Rica, including the national team's appearance in the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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Online:

AP video of Li's arrest in May https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDJ6FKW-uoU&app=desktop

The Associated Press

The list of 24 MacArthur Foundation ‘genius grant’ award winners for 2015

CHICAGO — Twenty-four people from the arts and sciences have won this year's "genius grant" awards from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The prize comes with $625,000 over the next five years that can be used any way the recipient likes.

The winners are:

__ Patrick Awuah, 50, Accra, Ghana. An educator and entrepreneur who founded a university in Ghana that teaches ethical principles and skills needed in contemporary Africa.

__ Kartik Chandran, 41, New York. Columbia University environmental engineer integrating microbial ecology, molecular biology and engineering to transform wastewater into useful resources such as fertilizers, energy sources and clean water.

__ Ta-Nehisi Coates, 39, Washington, D.C. Journalist and blogger who writes about issues such as racial identity, urban policing and racial bias.

__ Gary Cohen, 59, Reston, Virginia. Environmental health advocate and co-founder of Health Care Without Harm who has worked to reduce the amount of pollutants and hazardous waste produced and released into the environment by American hospitals.

__ Matthew Desmond, 35, Cambridge, Massachusetts. An urban sociologist at Harvard University, Desmond's work has revealed the impact of eviction on the urban poor and how eviction is not just a symptom of poverty, but a cause.

__ William Dichtel, 37, Ithaca, New York. A Cornell University chemist working to bring a new class of nanostructured materials out of laboratories and into daily use.

__ Michelle Dorrance, 36, New York. A dancer and choreographer reinvigorating tap dancing by combining its musicality with the intricacies of contemporary dance.

__ Nicole Eisenman, 50, New York. An artist whose paintings, sculptures and drawings explore such themes as gender and sexuality, family dynamics and the inequities of power and wealth.

__ LaToya Ruby Frazier, 33, Chicago. Photographer and video artist at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago who uses visual autobiographies to capture the impact of economic decline and environmental degradation.

__ Ben Lerner, 36, New York. An English professor at Brooklyn College of the City College of New York, Lerner also is a novelist, poet and critic who has explored the relevance of the artist to modern culture.

__ Mimi Lien, 39, New York. A set designer for theatre, opera and dance who has created performance space to establish relationships between the characters on stage as well as between the actors and the audience.

__ Lin-Manuel Miranda, 35, New York. A playwright, composer and performer whose work fuses traditional storytelling with contemporary musical styles and whose most recent play, "Hamilton," is a Broadway sensation.

__ Dimitri Nakassis, 40, Toronto, Canada. A classicist at the University of Toronto, whose work is transforming the understanding of prehistoric Greek societies.

__ John Novembre, 37, Chicago. A computational biologist at the University of Chicago, Novembre's work has shed new light on the study of human evolution, migration and the cause of the genetic diseases.

__ Christopher Re, 36, Stanford, California. Stanford University computer scientist, who has created an inference engine, DeepDive, that can analyze data in a way that is beyond the capabilities of traditional databases.

__ Marina Rustow, 46, Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton University historian whose work has shed new light on lives of Jews and the broader society of the medieval Middle East.

__ Juan Salgado, 46, Chicago. President and CEO of Instituto del Progresso Latino, Salado has pioneered an education helps immigrants learn the skills they need for higher paying manufacturing and health career jobs.

__ Beth Stevens, 45, Boston. A neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School, Stevens' research has triggered a major shift in thinking about neuron communication in the healthy brain and the origins of adult neurological diseases.

__ Lorenz Studer, 49, New York. A stem cell biologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Studer has pioneered research that could provide treatment for Parkinson's disease and perhaps other neurodegenerative diseases.

__ Alex Truesdell, 59, New York. An adaptive designer and fabricator, Truesdell has created low-tech and affordable tools and furniture out of such materials as cardboard and glue for children with disabilities.

__ Basil Twist, 46, New York. A puppeteer and theatre artist recognized for his innovative work that has helped revitalize puppetry as a serious and sophisticated art form.

__ Ellen Bryant Voigt, 72, Cabot, Vermont. A poet whose work is known for its distinctive musical quality, Voigt explores will, fate, and life cycles of the natural world.

__ Heidi Williams, 34, Cambridge, Massachusetts. An economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Williams has explored the causes and consequences of innovation in health care markets.

__ Peidong Yang, 44, Berkeley, California. An inorganic chemist at the University of California, Berkeley, Yang is seeking to transform the field of semiconductor nanowires and nanowire photonics.

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Online:

www.macfound.org

The Associated Press

FIFA bans former vice-president and Sepp Blatter ally Jack Warner for life for bribery

ZURICH — Four years after stepping down in disgrace, former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner was banned from soccer for life on Tuesday for repeated acts of bribery related to World Cup bidding votes.

Warner, a long-time ally of President Sepp Blatter who was allowed to resign from FIFA in 2011 with his "presumption of innocence" maintained, is currently fighting extradition from Trinidad and Tobago on U.S. charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering.

The decision by the FIFA ethics committee on Tuesday shows that judge Hans-Joachim Eckert will pursue officials long after they have left their jobs.

A more pressing case for the ethics body is an investigation into Blatter, who was interrogated by Swiss prosecutors on Friday in part over allegations he undervalued the awarding of World Cup television rights to Warner. Blatter, who denies wrongdoing, is at risk of being suspended by his own organization.

Warner's lifetime FIFA ban stems from Eckert's report on the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

As leader of the CONCACAF region from 1990-2011, Warner gained considerable influence in World Cup votes by the FIFA executive committee and now the extent of his wrongdoing has been reinforced by Eckert.

"Mr. Warner was found to have committed many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly during his time as an official in different high-ranking and influential positions at FIFA and CONCACAF," the FIFA statement said.

"In his positions as a football official, he was a key player in schemes involving the offer, acceptance, and receipt of undisclosed and illegal payments, as well as other money-making schemes."

The case highlights how the spectre of corruption has hung over FIFA under Blatter's 17-year presidency.

Former FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon, who hopes to succeed Blatter in February's election, said Tuesday the leadership crisis is so severe that an emergency task force should be set up to run the game.

With Blatter under criminal investigation and general secretary Jerome Valcke suspended from work and being investigated by the ethics committee, Chung said FIFA is in "total meltdown."

"Under such circumstances, FIFA and regional confederations should consider convening extraordinary sessions of their respective executive committee(s) as well as congress to set-up an emergency task force that will enable FIFA secretariat to function without interruption," Chung, a former vice-president under Blatter, said in a statement from South Korea.

Among Chung's potential rivals in February's election is UEFA President Michel Platini, who has been questioned as a witness over a payment from FIFA — one of the reasons Blatter was interrogated on Friday by Swiss authorities. Blatter and Platini denied wrongdoing as they await news from the ethics committee, which is looking into the case.

FIFA is expected to hold an election on Feb. 26 to replace Blatter, who delivered his sudden resignation statement in June, four days after being re-elected for a fifth term.

"FIFA is currently facing an unprecedented crisis," said Chung, a billionaire businessman and member of the family that founded Hyundai. "However, this is also an unprecedented opportunity to reform it. If all those who love football can bring their collective wisdom to bear on reforming FIFA, it will be possible to save and revitalize it.

"The most urgent task at hand is to root out corruption from within FIFA."

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Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReports

Rob Harris, The Associated Press

University of Toronto prof among ‘genius grant’ winners

CHICAGO — A tap dancer who has spent her life demanding respect for an overlooked art form. A writer at the centre of the national conversation about race. A sociologist who lived in a trailer park to study evictions.

They are among the 24 winners of this year's "genius grants," each to receive US$625,000 over five years to spend any way he or she wants, no strings attached, thanks to the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Each of them found out in recent weeks through a phone call out of the blue.

University of Toronto associate professor Dimitri Nakassis was chosen for his work studying prehistoric Greek societies.

"You think it's a prank until you hear everyone on the (conference) call describing your work," said Matthew Desmond, the sociologist, who works at Harvard University.

Some have gained fame and fortune for their work that, in the case of Ta-Nehisi Coates, landed him atop bestseller lists for what he has written about race. Another winner is playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose play, "Hamilton" has been a hit on Broadway.

Others come from worlds little understood outside their fields. For them, the award is a reminder that what they are doing is important — and the money may just help keep what they do alive.

"I can finally pay my debts that I have to create what I have created," said Michelle Dorrance, a tap dancer and choreographer. "But what is so much more important is this will turn heads toward this art form."

Kartik Chandran said he sees his grant as validation for something bigger than his work as an environmental engineer at Columbia University turning wastewater from a pollutant into a valuable resource. It is recognition, he said, that something must be done about the many millions of people without clean water.

Maybe, said Matthew Desmond, the Harvard sociologist, the work he's done can remind people that there are human beings behind statistics and quiet tragedies going on around them.

Evictions "used to be so rare that they used to draw crowds," he said. "Now families have grown used to the rumble of moving trucks early in the morning."

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Online:

www.macfound.org

Don Babwin, The Associated Press

Four pedestrians injured, two seriously, after being struck by Montreal taxi

MONTREAL — Four pedestrians — three women and a man — were injured early today when they were struck by a taxi in downtown Montreal.

At least two of the pedestrians were in serious condition in hospital.

The accident occurred just after 3 a.m. as the taxi was westbound along Rene Levesque Blvd.

No names or ages have been released, nor have police indicated if charges are possible.

 

 

The Canadian Press

Six stories in the news today, Sept. 29

Six stories in the news today, Sept. 29 from The Canadian Press:

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LEADERS DEBATE WORLD POLICY WITH EYES ON HOME

They were supposed to be looking out onto the world, but the three federal party leaders debating foreign policy had their eyes firmly fixed closer to home Monday night in Toronto. The policy mechanics of trade negotiations, climate change, immigration and refugee measures and security legislation gave way to a spirited battle of emotions and values aimed at loosening up votes in a campaign that remains too close to call.

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CANADIAN TENOR MICHAEL BURGESS DEAD AT 70

Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre and Royal Alexandra Theatre will dim their marquee lights tonight for two minutes to honour Michael Burgess. The theatre star — who dazzled Toronto audiences as Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables" and was well-known to sports fans for his stirring rendition of "O Canada" — died Monday at age 70. The famed tenor died in a Toronto hospice after battling cancer for a number of years.

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HARPER TORIES HOPE FOR TRADE DEAL BY FRIDAY

The Conservative government hopes to reach an agreement before the weekend that would establish the world's largest free-trade zone, allowing a final sprint toward election day with the 12-country pact in hand. If all goes according to plan, the government will reveal details later this week of the Trans-Pacific Partnership at briefings in different cities including Atlanta, Ottawa, and Montreal, which is hosting Friday's French-language election debate.

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TURCOTT MURDER TRIAL HEARS FROM EX-WIFE

The ex-wife of former Quebec doctor Guy Turcotte will face more cross-examination on Tuesday from the defence at his Montreal trial. Isabelle Gaston testified Monday, with her back to the accused, about the end of her rocky relationship with Turcotte in January 2009. Turcotte is facing two counts of first-degree murder in the 2009 slayings of Olivier, 5, and Anne-Sophie, 3. Turcotte has pleaded not guilty to the charges but admitted last week to causing the deaths.

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NOTLEY MOVES AWAY FROM CAP AND TRADE

A federal cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions may not be suitable for Alberta, the province's NDP premier said Monday, one day after her federal counterpart proposed such a plan on the campaign trail. Rachel Notley was commenting in Montreal on the first leg of a business trip. She told executives and politicians that a national cap-and-trade system "may not be our best road forward."  Notley will visit New York City today.

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STUDY: TOPPLED TVs INJURING, KILLING YOUNG CHILDREN

There's an often unrecognized hazard lurking in most Canadian homes that poses a potentially deadly threat to young children — the big-screen TV. Those top-heavy, flat-screen televisions can topple over onto children, crush their tiny bodies and in the worst-case scenario, fatally cave in their skulls, researchers say. "The kids who are at the biggest risk are toddlers, so one- to three-year-olds," said Dr. Michael Cusimano, a neurosurgeon at St. Michael's Hospital.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY ...

— The defence continues to outline its closing arguments at the Montreal trial of a 16-year-old boy facing two terrorism-related charges.

— CBC president and CEO Hubert T. Lacroix will make a presentation at the network's annual public meeting in Winnipeg.

— In Halifax, the Maritimes Energy Association hosts the 2015 Core Energy Conference.

— Canada's Walk of Fame will announce its 2015 inductees.

 

The Canadian Press

Middle Man: McCann scores winner as Canucks down Coyotes in pre-season action

VANCOUVER — A return to the middle paid off for Jared McCann and the Vancouver Canucks.

The 19-year-old scored on the power play in the third period and Jacob Markstrom stopped 32 shots as Vancouver shut out the Arizona Coyotes 1-0 in pre-season action on Monday night.

Making a strong bid to stick with the Canucks, McCann took a pass along the boards and fired a low shot past Arizona goalie Mike Smith at 8:34 for his first goal and third point of the exhibition schedule.

"It doesn't get any better than that," said McCann. "Game-winning goal, pretty exciting."

A natural centre, McCann started the game on the wing with Brandon Sutter and Alexandre Burrows before moving down the lineup and back to his usual position after the first period.

"It should do a lot for his confidence," said Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins. "It was a great shot and a great goal."

McCann and fellow 2014 first-round pick Jake Virtanen, who played on a line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin, were given top-six forward roles for the game as the Canucks get long looks at both players with the regular season set to begin Oct. 7 against the Calgary Flames.

"We have to have guys battling for jobs," said Desjardins. "If guys deserve it we have to get them in the lineup."

Sutter said he has been impressed with McCann throughout training camp, as well as on Monday when he was asked to play out of position.

"It's nerve wracking for a young kid when you're trying to make a team," said Sutter. "He's a pretty smart player and that's what helps him. He's really intelligent."

The Coyotes had a power play to start the third and Markstrom — tabbed to be Vancouver's No. 2 goalie behind Ryan Miller after Eddie Lack was traded in the off-season — had to be sharp on Tobias Rieder's quick shot from the slot.

"I felt good. The guys did a great job letting me see the pucks," said Markstrom. "I feel better and better every day."

Canucks forward Adam Cracknell, who scored in overtime in Vancouver's first pre-season game, then saw his shot on a 2-on-1 stopped by Smith five minutes into the final period before McCann struck on the power play.

McCann and Virtanen, who is also 19, are both too young to play in the AHL this season and would have to be returned to their junior teams if they don't make the Canucks' roster.

Virtanen had the bigger impact early, delivering a hit on his first shift before taking a high-sticking penalty. 

"He played hard," said Desjardins. "It's a learning experience to play with (the Sedins)."

Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal moved in on a breakaway early in the second, but Markstrom made a nice glove save, and Smith snagged a Sven Baertschi effort on a 2-on-1 at the other end five minutes later.

"I thought we got outplayed badly in the second," said Desjardins. "They got on us, we were losing lots of faceoffs. They were just winning all the battles.

"The McCann goal really got us going."

Notes: Smith finished with 23 saves . ... The Canucks visit the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, while the Coyotes travel to Edmonton to take on the Oilers. ... Vancouver assigned six players to the AHL's Utica Comets earlier Monday, including forwards Cole Cassels and Nicklas Jensen.

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Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

Rodgers throws for 5 TDs, Packers beat Chiefs 38-28 despite 3 rushing TDs for Jamaal Charles

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers coach Mike McCarthy is running out of superlatives to describe Aaron Rodgers.

Every week, his MVP quarterback dissects defences in painstakingly methodical fashion.

Rodgers threw for 333 yards and five touchdowns, including three to Randall Cobb, and Green Bay beat the Kansas City Chiefs 38-28 on Monday night.

Rodgers led the Packers (3-0) on two successful first-quarter drives that ended with scoring passes to Cobb and rookie Ty Montgomery. He found James Jones for a 27-yard touchdown reception late in the second quarter for a 24-7 lead at the break.

"Aaron is a phenomenal player ... and playing great football," McCarthy said with a laugh. "I'll just keep saying it."

Green Bay built a 38-14 lead early in the fourth quarter before withstanding a late rush by Jamaal Charles and the Chiefs.

Charles rushed for three touchdowns for Kansas City (1-2), which followed its stunning, last-minute loss at home to Denver with a respectable fourth-quarter effort at raucous Lambeau Field.

Charles' 7-yard TD with 1:25 left got the Chiefs within 10. But the end result was the same for Kansas City, which lost its second straight.

"Green Bay did a nice job," said a curt Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

Another masterful performance by Rodgers made for a difficult night for Reid's defence.

Rodgers, who finished 24 of 35, again burned a secondary on free-play situations following defensive penalties. The longest play came on a 52-yard catch in the fourth quarter by Jones following an offside penalty, setting up Cobb's third touchdown catch.

"His ability to really process information is as good as I've ever been around," McCarthy said about Rodgers.

The Chiefs were on alert for Rodgers' tendency to take advantage of free plays.

They still got beat.

"This is not acceptable, and coach Andy Reid is not happy," Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson said.

The offence's ability to build big leads feeds into the Packers' philosophy of making the opposing offence one-sided. It helps when the Packers can stop the running game, too.

Despite the three touchdown runs, the Packers prevented Charles from making explosive plays, limiting him to 49 yards on 11 carries.

Up front, Green Bay controlled the line of scrimmage when it counted and got to Alex Smith for seven sacks.

"Forcing (them) to punt that first half was pretty boring, being on the sideline," linebacker Clay Matthews said. "But, hopefully, this is just an indication of where we're headed as a defence."

Smith finished 24 of 40 for 290 yards and a touchdown.

Under pressure near his own end zone, Smith also threw an interception to Sam Shields at the Chiefs' 19 with about 7 minutes left in the third quarter. Shields returned it 15 yards, and on the next play, Rodgers found Cobb for a 4-yard touchdown and a 31-7 lead.

Rodgers and Cobb hooked up for another 4-yard scoring pass in the fourth. With the score, Rodgers set the franchise record with his fourth career game of at least five touchdown passes.

"That's a Hall of Fame quarterback, and we give him much respect," Johnson said. "It's not panic mode, but if we want to do good down the stretch, we're going to have to play a lot better against really good teams."

Kansas City stopped its long streak of no touchdown receptions by a receiver when Jeremy Maclin hauled in a 5-yard TD pass with 56 seconds left in the third quarter to get the Chiefs within 31-14.

It was the first touchdown pass caught by a receiver since Donnie Avery had a 79-yard catch-and-run against the Indianapolis Colts in a wild card game on Jan. 4, 2014.

NOTES: A week after fumbling twice, Charles had a little fun with his own Lambeau Leap into the awaiting arms of Chiefs fans following his 4-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. ... CB Phillip Gaines left late in the first quarter with a sprained knee, further depleting a thin position for Kansas City. ... For Green Bay, Jones finished with seven catches for 139 yards and a score. ... WR Davante Adams left following the first series after re-aggravating a left ankle injury. ... Also leaving the game for the Packers were TE Andrew Quarless (knee) and DL Datone Jones (head).

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

Genaro C. Armas, The Associated Press

Jared McCann, Jacob Markstrom lead Canucks over Coyotes in pre-season action

VANCOUVER — Jared McCann scored on the power play in the third period and Jacob Markstrom stopped 32 shots Monday as the Vancouver Canucks shut out the Arizona Coyotes 1-0 in pre-season action.

Making a strong bid to stick with the Canucks out of training camp, McCann took the puck off the wall and fired a low shot past Arizona goalie Mike Smith at 8:34 for his first goal and third point of the exhibition schedule.

McCann and fellow 2014 first-round pick Jake Virtanen were given top-six forward roles for the game as the Canucks get long looks at both players with the regular season set to begin Oct. 7 against the Calgary Flames. A broken foot suffered by veteran winger Chris Higgins in Vancouver's first exhibition game means there's at least one spot open up front.

Virtanen skated alongside Daniel and Henrik Sedin on the Canucks' first line, while McCann started on the wing with Brandon Sutter and Alexandre Burrows before dropping down the lineup before moving back to his natural centre position.

Scoreless through 40 minutes, the Coyotes had a power play to start the third and Markstrom — tabbed to be Vancouver's No. 2 goalie behind Ryan Miller after fan favourite Eddie Lack was traded in the off-season — had to be sharp on Tobias Rieder's quick shot from the slot.

Canucks forward Adam Cracknell, who scored in overtime in Vancouver's first pre-season game, then saw his shot on a 2-on-1 stopped by Smith five minutes into the final period before McCann struck on the power play.

Virtanen and McCann are both 19 years old, meaning that they are too young to play in the AHL and would have to be returned to their junior teams if they don't make the Canucks' roster.

Virtanen had the bigger impact early, delivering a hit on his first shift before taking a high-sticking penalty that Vancouver killed off. 

Markstrom made a nice pad stop on a deflection by Coyotes forward Shane Doan midway through the first, while Canucks defenceman Dan Hamhuis had a good chance at the other end.

Coyotes forward Martin Hanzel moved in on a breakaway early in the second, but Markstrom made a nice glove save, and Smith snagged a Sven Baertschi effort on a 2-on-1 at the other end five minutes later.

Notes: Smith finished with 23 saves . ... The Canucks visit the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, while the Coyotes travel to Edmonton to take on the Oilers. ... Vancouver assigned six players to the AHL's Utica Comets earlier Monday, including forwards Cole Cassels and Nicklas Jensen.

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Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

Toppled TVs causing serious injuries – and deaths – in young kids: study

TORONTO — There's an often unrecognized hazard lurking in most Canadian homes that poses a potentially deadly threat to young children — the big-screen TV.

Those top-heavy, flat-screen televisions can topple over onto children, crush their tiny bodies and in the worst-case scenario, fatally cave in their skulls, researchers say.

"The kids who are at the biggest risk are toddlers, so one- to three-year-olds," said Dr. Michael Cusimano, a neurosurgeon at St. Michael's Hospital.

"They're occurring in older kids as well, but these injuries can be extremely severe in the younger kids — and they can be fatal."

In a review of 29 studies from seven countries published Tuesday in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, Cusimano and co-author Nadine Parker found that tens of thousands of children have been harmed by falling TVs, an occurrence that is becoming increasingly common.

In the U.S., for instance, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 19,200 TV-related injuries from 2008 to 2010, up from 16,500 between 2006 and 2008.

The Toronto researchers determined that about 85 per cent of these injuries occurred in the home and more than three-quarters were not witnessed by a parent or caregiver.

"TVs are often placed on unstable bases, placed on high furniture like dressers, which aren't designed for TVs, or (are) not properly secured to the wall," said Cusimano.

"Meanwhile, parents are getting busier and busier and don't have as much time to supervise children, so it's not surprising that these injuries are getting reported more often."

He said accidents often happen when toddlers climb up on a piece of furniture that holds the TV. Somewhat older children may run into the furniture while horsing around and cause the television to fall on them.

"They're not being secured properly, they're not being used on the proper furniture," Cusimano said of big-screen TVs, which have become increasingly larger and less expensive over time.

"I heard of one case where (the family) had it on top of an aquarium, and the TV came down and crushed the child," he said. "The child died."

A 2005 study led by pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. James Drake at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto showed 18 children, aged 12 months to 10 years old, had been treated for a range of injuries due to falling TVs between 1992 and 2005. Sixteen of them had skull fractures.

Some of the children were left with short- and long-term symptoms, from neurological deficits causing severe disability to hearing loss and facial paralysis.

One two-year-old, who was treated at Sick Kids following submission of the study to the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, died after an 81-centimetre (32-inch) TV fell off its stand and fractured the child's skull.

"It's often like a crush injury," Drake said in an interview Monday. "So it's not what we would call a high-velocity head injury like you would have in a car accident. This is relatively low-velocity, but the TVs are very heavy, so they sort of crush the skull.

"So that causes these fractures and often injures the nerves at the base of the skull that control the face and the eyes and the hearing. Many recover, but some of them are left with a permanent deficit."

According to the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP), Sick Kids treated 33 children who had been injured by falling TVs between 2011 and 2013. Twelve of the children were admitted, 16 had head injuries and 18 had fractures, including skull fractures.

For privacy reasons, the hospital does not reveal the number of deaths, but a spokeswoman said there were "under five."

"It's a totally preventable trauma," agreed Drake," and families need to be vigilant and tether their TVs so they can't possibly fall over. And children watching TV do need to be monitored."

Cusimano said parents, grandparents and other caregivers can take steps to prevent this needless injury:

— Avoid placing toys or remotes on top of the TV.

— Create a restricted play area around the television. 

— Use a proper TV stand or console; don't place it on top of a high piece of furniture.

— Position the TV back from the edge of where it's placed.

— Attach the TV to the wall to prevent it from falling.

 

Follow @SherylUbelacker on Twitter.

Sheryl Ubelacker, The Canadian Press

CBC wins International news Emmy award for Ebola coverage in Liberia

NEW YORK — CBC's coverage of the Ebola crisis in West Africa has earned the network the 2015 International Emmys for News.

The award was presented Monday night at the Lincoln Centre in New York.

CBC sent a team, including senior correspondent Adrienne Arsenault, to Liberia in October 2014 to report from the African country worst hit by the disease.

More than 11,280 people have been reported to have died worldwide from Ebola, according to data released by the World Health Organization earlier this month.

In a series of reports, Arsenault, producer Stephanie Jenzer and videographer-editor Jean Francois-Bisson covered the victims, overwhelmed aid workers and the economic and political fallout caused by the disease.

Broadcasters in India, the Netherlands and Brazil were also nominated in the international news category.

"It was a year ago exactly we were on the ground in Liberia and we three are still struck by how much people there endured both physically and emotionally,” said Arsenault in a CBC news release. “I don't think that story will ever leave us. And neither will this honour tonight."

The Canadian Press

Semin scores as Canadiens down Penguins 4-1 in first game at Videotron Centre

QUEBEC — The first NHL game at the new Videotron Centre was hardly a classic.

But that was to be expected when the Pittsburgh Penguins showed up to face the Montreal Canadiens in a pre-season game without big guns Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel.

But even with a roster of mostly veterans, the Canadiens had to grind out a 4-1 victory on Monday night before a sellout crowd of 18,259 who seemed split between those cheering for Montreal and the fans who haven't forgotten the defunct Quebec Nordiques.

Quebec City is pushing hard to bring back the defunct Nordiques, who were Montreal's hottest rivals from 1979 to 1995.

"It was a pre-season game and the level of emotion of the players wasn't at its peak," Montreal coach Michel Therrien said of the game. "But we saw some good things."

"We played a good game overall. We were very good in the third period."

Alexander Semin scored his first goal of the pre-season while Lars Eller, Brian Finn and Dale Weise, with an empty-net goal, also scored for Montreal. Carey Price played the entire game in net and made 22 saves.

Beau Bennett scored for Pittsburgh, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves.

Most players enjoyed the experience and said they liked the new rink, although Pittsburgh defenceman Kris Letang said there is still work to do.

"The ice wasn't NHL quality," he said. "It was hard. The puck was bouncing a lot.

"And with the (black) logos at centre ice, you lost sight of the puck."

His teammate Pascal Dupuis and Montreal's David Desharais had no complaints, adding that the ice was better than at the old Colisee where the Nordiques played.

Whatever the quality of play, it allowed Montreal's brass to get a better handle on what roster decisions need to be made before the regular season begins Oct. 7.

After the game, forward Nikita Scherbak was assigned to St. John's of the AHL, leaving 30 players in camp.

Therrien liked the work of the new line with Alex Galchenuk between Eller and Semin.

"You can see they maintained the chemistry they've had since the start of camp," said Therrien. "They're enjoying playing together and they're trying to make plays."

The line of David Desharnais with Weise and veteran Tomas Fleischmann, who is on a tryout and who once again showed he is pushing hard for a contract.

"He has good speed and reads the play well," the coach said of Fleischmann. "He has a lot going in his favour."

Off-season free agent signing Semin scored 13:36 into the game when he took a drop pass from Galchenyuk and saw the rebound of his shot pushed in inadvertently by Letang.

Fate handed it back at 15:28 when Bennett tied it on a power play when his pass from the left side was redirected past Price by Weise.

The Canadiens were on a four-minute power play when Eller shifted an Andrei Markov pass behind Fleury.

Flynn defected a Markov shot in at 2:31 of the third.

Robert Laflamme, The Canadian Press

Dream of playing in football game comes true for boy with cerebral palsy

REGINA — Scoring a touchdown in a Regina Minor Football game was a dream come true for an 11-year-old boy who has cerebral palsy.

Mark Sulymka is the coach of the Griffins Atom team, and he heard all about Logan Tonge from his regular players who have gone to school with him since kindergarten.

"Logan is one of our biggest fans and I had heard that he was a big football fan and I saw him at one of our games a few weeks ago," said Sulymka.

"I thought maybe he would enjoy coming down on the sidelines if we got him involved with the team because they're all of his buddies and he's never had an opportunity to participate in a group sports activity before."

Tonge got his own jersey and came to the practice the night before the big game. Sulymka said it was the head coach of the opposing team, the Canadians, who gave him the idea to give Tonge the ball.

With 10 seconds left in the game, the Griffins had the ball, and that's when the coach called time out and asked the official and the other coach if he could substitute a brand new player. It was Logan's big chance and with the encouragement of players from both teams and the coach pushing his wheelchair, he made his move.

"We got Logan out there and we gave him a hand-off and he took off to the end zone and everybody was laughing and cheering and it was a very memorable, fantastic moment," Sulymka explained.

"Logan was completely overwhelmed, he was screaming all the way to the end-zone, he's a very bright and fantastic kid."

Krista Smith, Logan's mother, originally thought he would be thrilled just to see the game from the sidelines, but she never expected he would get this opportunity.

"He came home telling me that he had got to run this play and that he got to be part of the game," she said. "He was just so excited."

Smith said her son's friends keep him involved with hand-offs when they play at recess on the playground.

"The word that he was using was, 'I got to play real football,'" Smith said. "He got to feel like he was playing in a real game."

She said he won't stop talking about the game and every time he sees his friends, he recalls the time they got that touchdown.

It's a moment he will never forget, and he sums it up in one word.

"Awesome."

(CJME)

 

By Adriana Christianson, CJME , The Canadian Press

Blue Jays inch closer to AL East crown with 4-3 comeback win over Orioles

BALTIMORE — As they charge toward their first AL East title in 22 years, the Toronto Blue Jays are finding new and interesting ways to win.

A team that has hit 223 home runs used a 60-foot dribbler to beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 Monday night.

Toronto's fifth straight victory, coupled with the Yankees' loss to Boston, reduced the Blue Jays' magic number for securing the division crown to two.

After scoring twice in the eighth to pull even, the Blue Jays got the decisive run against Brad Brach (5-3) in the ninth. Dioner Navarro led off with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Dalton Pompey, who advanced on a single. After a sacrifice moved the runners up, Pompey scored when Justin Smoak hit a slow roller to first and Chris Davis threw wildly to the plate.

"I hit it off my thumbs," Smoak said. "Looking for a changeup, got a heater. That can happen."

The Blue Jays did get a home run — from Edwin Encarnacion — but that wasn't much of a factor in the Blue Jays' 35th comeback victory of the year.

"We can win any way possible," Smoak said. "This team is unbelievable. Guys fight to the end."

Brett Cecil (5-5) pitched one inning and Roberto Osuna got two outs for this 20th save.

Ryan Flaherty hit a three-run homer for the Orioles, who have lost four straight. Toronto starter Marco Estrada, Cecil and Osuna retired the last 17 Baltimore batters in order.

"Part of that is you have to credit the other guy who is on the mound," Baltimore's Matt Wieters said. "We've had some tough pitchers. Estrada was really pounding the zone. Anytime he wanted to throw a strike, he threw a strike."

Estrada gave up three runs and four hits in 7 1-3 innings. After allowing Flaherty's home run in the second, Estrada retired 18 of the next 19 batters. The only Baltimore baserunner during that span was Wieters, who singled with one out in the fourth.

Down 3-1, the Blue Jays rallied in the eighth against Chris Tillman and All-Star reliever Darren O'Day. Ryan Goins led off with a single and advanced on a groundout before O'Day entered and gave up RBI singles to Ben Revere and Jose Bautista.

The uprising, which didn't feature a hard-hit ball, was an appropriate prelude to the ninth.

"We felt good with Darren going in there," Wieters said. "He had a couple of ground balls that shot through the infield that could have easily have been an inning-ending double play. But they found holes."

The comeback came after Tillman took a four-hitter into the eighth.

"Tip my hat to my guys," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "They hung around and made a run at it late."

Tillman was 0-4 with a 15.50 ERA in five starts against Toronto this season, and 4-10 with a 6.02 ERA over his career. He was much improved this time around, but not good enough to get the win.

"Would've been better to come out of that with a W, but you know what? They're a good team. And they never stop," he said.

After Encarnacion led off the second inning with his 36th home run, Baltimore answered in the bottom half. Wieters and Jonathan Schoop hit successive one-out singles before Flaherty hit an opposite-field drive that barely cleared the left-field wall.

That ended a run of 29 consecutive scoreless innings by the Orioles, who were blanked in three straight games by Boston over the weekend.

But more zeroes followed, right up through the ninth.

STREAKY

Blue Jays: Navarro has a season-high, eight-game hitting streak. Kevin Pillar has hit in six straight, batting .591 over that span.

Orioles: Brach took his first loss in 39 games since June 6.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays: SS Troy Tulowitzki (shoulder, back) took batting practice and could be back in the lineup during this series. He hasn't played since Sept. 12.

Orioles: Adam Jones was held from the starting lineup for the sixth time in seven games because of an ailing back. "We'll back off a day, see what tomorrow brings," manager Buck Showalter said.

ON DECK

Blue Jays: Marcus Stroman (3-0, 1.89 ERA) makes his fourth start of the season Tuesday night. The right-hander came off the DL on Sept. 11 following knee surgery.

Orioles: Miguel Gonzalez (9-11, 4.85 ERA) starts for the first time since Aug. 30 after being sidelined with right shoulder tendinitis.

David Ginsburg, The Associated Press

Federal party leaders debate foreign policy but eyes fixed on domestic audience

OTTAWA — They were supposed to be looking out onto the world, but the three federal party leaders debating foreign policy had their eyes firmly fixed closer to home.

The policy mechanics of trade negotiations, climate change, immigration and refugee measures and security legislation gave way Monday to a spirited battle of emotions and values aimed at loosening up votes in a seemingly endless election campaign that's still too close to call.

For Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, the debate before a crowd of nearly 3,000 at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall was all about ensuring Canadian security — of person and of economy.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair wanted to make it a question of Canadian values — the ones that built a country of immigrants.

And Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau played to nostalgia and emotion, invoking the ghost of his prime minister father and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"Let me say very clearly, I am incredibly proud to be Pierre Elliot Trudeau's son," said Trudeau, before citing the Charter, multiculturalism and bilingualism as inheritances the country can take pride in.

Trudeau added that the evening was emotional because it marked the 15th anniversary of Pierre Trudeau's death. "And I know he wouldn't want us to be fighting the battles of the past; he'd want us squarely focused on the future and how we're going to respond to Canadians' needs, and that's what we're doing tonight."

The sentiment might not change a vote at the United Nations, but Liberals likely hope it swings a few more voters their way — especially in seat-rich Ontario.

Trudeau wasn't the only leader playing to the bleachers.

Harper stoutly defended his government's policies to date on accepting Syrian refugees.

"We haven't opened the floodgates," he said. "Some European countries just started letting everybody in and now they're trying to reverse those policies."

Harper noted that the process has been sped up, "while maintaining our security and not literally spending tens of millions of additional dollars. And these are the numbers we've arrived at. We're not chasing headlines."

Harper's repeated invocation of headline-hunting opposition parties earned a stern rebuke from Mulcair. Helping the world's most vulnerable is not headline-chasing, scolded the New Democrat.

"For a prime minister of Canada to say that trying to help the most needy of the earth, help people fleeing a tragedy on a scale not seen since the Second World War, anybody fighting to take more of them in to Canada and to help them is somehow chasing headlines — I find that's disrespectful," said Mulcair. 

"It is disrespectful to Canadians and to Canadian values."

Trudeau also got in a dig, saying Harper "wants us to be afraid that there's a terrorist hiding behind any leaf and rock around us, and we all need to be afraid."

The debate, the fourth of five during the extraordinarily long, 78-day election campaign, was also remarkable for the capacity crowd of close to 3,000 paying — and occasionally partisan — patrons.

Despite rules against cheering, the large live audience helped animate the well-paced debate with applause and laughter and even a heckle or two.

A battle over federal stewardship of the economy was supposed to be this election's defining issue, but emotive "values" questions have increasingly dominated the discourse.

Those values have been attached to the country's place in the world: Canada's handling of an international Syrian refugee crisis; the place of minority religious face coverings at citizenship ceremonies; and rescinding Canadian citizenship from convicted terrorists who hold dual citizenship.

On Syrian refugees, Trudeau drew applause when he named nearby Ireland Park in Toronto, where he said 38,000 Irish arrived in 1847 fleeing the potato famine. They arrived to a city of 20,000 citizens.

Harper, meanwhile, took both Trudeau and Mulcair to task for over their stated aim of ending the Canadian bombing mission against Islamic militants in Syria, known as ISIS.

"Imagine, first day of office, that we would have a prime minister who would say to the United States we are pulling out of the joint military mission against the Islamic state. And why? Because you Mr. Obama are continuing the polices of George W. Bush," Harper said. 

"Seriously, if you really want to poison the relationship, that would be the way to do it."

Harper also ripped into his opponents over his government's ongoing — and reportedly nearly complete — negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

"You don't get those deals by coming up with a million reasons why you're against them before you even get to the table and why you should walk away once you're there," he said.

Mulcair had an opportunity for his own two-front offensive, blasting both Harper's Conservatives and the Liberals who preceded them in office for not giving Canada a comprehensive policy to tackle greenhouse gas emissions.

Harper responded that his government has been consistent in stating any international protocol requires all countries to sign on and that he's "very optimistic" the world will reach an historic accord in December when international negotiations take place in Paris.

The last leaders' debate takes place Friday in Montreal, sponsored by the French-language network TVA. 

Bruce Cheadle, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said the climate change conference in Paris takes place in November.

Harper Conservatives hope to have big free trade agreement this week

WASHINGTON — The Conservative government hopes to reach an agreement before the weekend that would establish the world's largest free-trade zone, allowing a final sprint toward election day with the 12-country pact in hand.

If all goes according to plan, the government will reveal details later this week of the Trans-Pacific Partnership at briefings in different cities including Atlanta, Ottawa, and Montreal, which is hosting Friday's French-language election debate.

Should the negotiations in Georgia conclude successfully, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper will take the debate stage heralding a new free-trade deal covering 40 per cent of the global economy.

The government expresses optimism the deal might be sealed during a two-day round of talks for which Canada's trade minister departs Tuesday.

Ed Fast leaves the campaign trail in his British Columbia riding to join the three-dozen-member Canadian delegation already in Atlanta. Ministerial-level talks begin the next morning.

"We are certainly going down there with (hope there) could be a deal," said Max Moncaster, a spokesman for Fast. "But a lot of difficult issues remain, and we're committed to resolving those with our TPP partners."

That note of caution underscores the sense of disappointment still fresh in negotiators' minds following the last round. Harper had also planned to make a triumphant announcement on the eve of his election call, but those plans were scuttled during the late-July round in Maui.

The Canadian delegation felt blindsided by an unforeseen irritant on auto manufacturing. Sources in two countries say the American and Japanese sides worked out a drastic change that would affect vehicle manufacturing on this continent.

The other North American parties were only informed later. One source said the Americans first told the Mexicans they'd agreed to practically slice in half the regional-content requirement for tariff-free vehicles from the NAFTA levels. The Mexicans broke the news to the Canadians.

"Our officials were, like, 'No, that's not going to work,'" said a Canadian source, speaking on anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the talks publicly.

Officials identified positive signs since that July disappointment — they cited minor progress on auto manufacturing and dairy at subsequent talks in Washington and San Francisco.

Other countries have asked for greater access to Canada's tightly managed dairy sector, with sources saying those initial demands were multiple times higher than the increased import quotas in the Canada-Europe trade deal.

One source said other countries have inched away from their initial request.

But a New Zealand official said agriculture remains far too protected. Mike Petersen, that country's envoy for agriculture, said several countries including Canada haven't gone far enough.

"We have yet to see the major players offer the step up to what is required to meet the goals of TPP," Petersen said. "This issue is clearly shaping up as being pivotal to the success or otherwise of these talks in Atlanta."

The federal government faces pressure at home, too.

The dairy industry has a strong presence in dozens of Central Canadian ridings. Ontario and Quebec's agriculture ministers are heading to Atlanta to shadow their federal counterpart, accompanied by representatives from the dairy sector.

Quebec Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis said there's concern his federal counterpart could be pressured to give up too much.

"We want the minister, who left the federal campaign to go down there, to feel that this is a big deal," said Paradis, referring to federal-provincial meetings.

The battle over automobile production could be epic.

A union representing auto workers predicts production would shift to non-TPP countries like China with new regional-continent rules, and would exacerbate the long-term decline of Canadian auto manufacturing.

Unifor plans to fight the government in a dozen swing ridings in southern Ontario with a strong presence of auto workers. Unifor has previously run ads against the Harper Tories.

It wants the government defeated, and wants the opposition parties to back away from any bad deal. The union president noted that the deal's full text probably wouldn't even be released before Canadians vote.

"This government thinks they're going to close the deal, they're going to have a photo-op to say, 'Look, we just signed a deal,' without any intention of sharing the details with Canadians," said union leader Jerry Dias.

"They're not going to get away with it. They're going to have to tell the dairy farmers what's in the deal. They're going to have to tell the auto-parts companies what's in the deal."

Some Canadian auto companies favour the deal. Ontario-based Martinrea International Inc. pays taxes in Canada, has 2,500 employees in Canada, but also has 14,000 workers worldwide.

The auto-parts company says a TPP would help it grow — including in Canada. But if Canada misses out on TPP, it says, the car companies it supplies will simply shift operations to countries within the zone.

"How can we walk away from one of the largest free-trade agreements in the world — where we have an opportunity to participate and then don't?" said company chairman Rob Wildeboer.

The debate could continue for months, as parliaments in different countries decide whether to ratify the deal.

— With files from Julien Arsenault

Alexander Panetta, The Canadian Press

Canadian hockey coach Shannon Miller files discrimination suit against UMD

MINNEAPOLIS — Former Canadian women's hockey team coach Shannon Miller and two other former University of Minnesota-Duluth female coaches have filed a discrimination lawsuit against the school saying they lost their jobs because they're female and gay.

Miller, from Melville, Sask., led the Bulldogs to five NCAA women's championships in her 16 seasons there. UMD cited a budget deficit when it told her last December that it would not renew her contract.

The other plaintiffs in the suit are former women's softball coach Jen Banford, who was also director of operations for UMD women's hockey, and former women's basketball coach Annette Wiles.

Banford, who is from Ottawa, and Miller allege in the lawsuit filed Monday that the university dismissed them because they're female, gay and Canadian.

Wiles says she was forced out because of her gender and sexual orientation. Miller, 51, and Wiles, 46, also allege age discrimination.

"We continue to refute the allegations and claims of discrimination and will aggressively defend ourselves in the lawsuit," UMD chancellor Lendley Black said Monday in a statement. "I continue to stand behind the athletics department under the leadership of Josh Berlo, and the direction of UMD athletics.

"UMD continues its focus and commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion, and I am personally committed to continuing an environment where diversity is embraced."

The lawsuit seeks unspecified back pay and compensatory damages, as well as lawyers' fees.

The suit accuses the university of unlawfully retaliating against the women for reporting that other school employees harassed them because they were lesbians, and of creating a hostile work environment that made it difficult to do their jobs.

It also says the women were paid less and had smaller budgets than their male counterparts on the men's hockey, baseball and basketball teams.

Miller is a former Calgary police officer who coached the Canadian women to a world championship in 1997 as well as Olympic silver in 1998. She was assistant coach for the Canadian women when they won world titles in 1992 and 1994.

Her record at UMD was 383-144-56, which ranks fourth all-time among Division 1 women's coaches. The Bulldog women won three straight national titles from 2001 to 2003 and again in 2008 and 2010 under Miller.

Twenty-six alumni have represented their respective countries at Winter Olympics, including Canada's Caroline Ouellette and Haley Irwin.

Miller's contract at UMD expired in June. The contracts of her assistant coaches Gina Kingsbury and Laura Schuler, both former Canadian team players, were also not renewed.

The school named Maura Crowell as Miller's replacement April 3. Laura Bellamy and Samantha Reber were named assistant coaches June 15.

Schuler, from Toronto, is coaching the Canadian women's team this season, which isn't a full-time position. Kingsbury, from Rouyn-Noranda, Que., was hired by Hockey Canada as a director of women's national teams. They did not join in the lawsuit.

Miller says she was repeatedly told the decision to jettison her was because of "financial constraints."

Minnesota-Duluth is facing a budget deficit due in part to declining enrolment. Men's and women's hockey are UMD's only Division 1 sports with the rest in Division 2.

Berlo said Miller was the highest-paid coach in Division 1 women's hockey with a reported salary of just over US$200,000 in her final season.

The lawsuit contends that Bulldogs men's hockey coach Scott Sandelin earns a base salary of $300,000 and is still employed by UMD.

Miller has said she was willing to take a pay cut, but not asked to do so before she was informed Dec. 9 that the 2014-15 hockey season would be her last behind the Bulldogs' bench.

She has hired lawyers from both Minnesota and California.

Her Oakland lawyer, Dan Siegel, helped female volleyball, basketball and softball coaches, as well as a female associate athletic director, win financial settlements against their employer Fresno State in 2007 and 2008.

———

With files from The Canadian Press.

The Associated Press

Canadian tenor Michael Burgess dead at age 70 after battle with cancer: friend

TORONTO — A family friend says Canadian tenor Michael Burgess has died at age 70.

Bruce Bowser says Burgess died in a Toronto hospice on Monday evening surrounded by members of his family.

Burgess had been battling cancer for a number of years and was best known for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in the Toronto production of "Les Miserables."

He also took the role across Canada on the first national tour of the production as well as appearing for the 10th anniversary concert at Royal Albert Hall in London.

Burgess was also known to hockey fans for singing the national anthem for many years at Toronto Maple Leafs home games and was the first person to sing "O Canada" at a World Series baseball game.

Bowser says a funeral for Burgess is planned for Oct. 5.

 

The Canadian Press

MTV extreme sports star killed after hitting tree during skydiving performance in California

SAN FRANCISCO — An extreme sports and MTV star skydiving for the opening ceremony of a golf event in Northern California died when he struck a tree Monday, authorities said.

Placer County Sheriff's Capt. Dennis Walsh said Erik Roner of Tahoe City, California died during a skydiving accident at a golf course in Squaw Valley, California, about 5 miles from Lake Tahoe's northwest shore.

Witnesses told deputies Roner, 39, was part of a group conducting a skydiving performance for a golf event, when he hit a tree while trying to land and became entangled high above ground, Walsh said.

Authorities were not able to remove him from the tree and Roner was pronounced dead at the scene.

All the other skydivers landed safely, he said.

Walsh said the investigation is continuing and the Federal Aviation Administration has been notified.

Roner, a professional skier and avid BASE jumper, was known for being part of the Nitro Circus, an MTV show centred around freestyle motocross rider Travis Pastrana and his crew of extreme sports athlete friends. He also hosted TV show "Locals" on sports network Outside Television.

"Erik was an amazing person who made everyone and everything around him better," Pastrana said.

Roy Tuscany, a friend of Roner, who witnessed the accident said it occurred right before a celebrity golf tournament was about to begin Monday morning.

Tuscany said that he watched as two other parachutists landed safely on the golf course's fairway for the 9th hole but then looked on in horror when Roner slammed hard into a tree about 25-30 feet above the ground.

He said Roner's parachute got caught in the tree and Roner dangled there while many on the ground scrambled to find ladders and other means to get to him. At one point, several people attempted to stand on one another's shoulder to reach him.

"There's no protocol for this kind of rescue," Tuscany said. "There's no manual. It was just horrible."

Tuscany described his friend Roner as "always positive" and a "big supporter" of the local community.

He said Roner was "hilarious and was a "stand-up guy" who could always be counted on to help out with benefit events like the golf tournament sponsored by the Squaw Valley Institute, a non-profit organization that describes itself as being "dedicated to presenting enriching and inspirational programs to the Lake Tahoe region."

"We are still trying to process this tragedy," said Rob Faris, senior VP, programming and production at Outside Television. "Our hearts go out to his family."

Outside Television will air "Locals" from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

Roner's death comes four months after world-famous wingsuit flyer Dean Potter and fellow adventurer Graham Hunt fatally crashed after the pair leaped from Taft Point, 3,500-feet above Yosemite Valley, attempting to clear a V-shaped notch in a ridgeline.

Roner is survived by his wife and two children, according to the Squaw Valley Institute.

___

Associated Press writer Paul Elias contributed to this report.

Olga R. Rodriguez, The Associated Press