Associated Press
DICKINSON, N.D. — Teammates and family members threw roses and softballs Wednesday into the farm pond where three North Dakota college softball players were found dead inside their sunken sport utility vehicle. But there were few answers to their most troublesome questions: How did the women find themselves trapped in the water? How long did they suffer after frantically calling friends for help?
“I can’t believe that my baby is gone. I miss her terribly. I’m just wondering ... What went through her mind while she was still alive in her last moment?” said Claire Gemar, of San Diego, whose 22-year-old daughter, Kyrstin, was among the three Dickinson State University students pulled from the small pond after signals from the phone calls helped lead authorities to the farm.
No foul play is suspected in the deaths Gemar; Afton Williamson, 20, of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba. The bodies of the women and Neufeld’s dog were found inside the SUV Tuesday.
Sixth arrest in UConn stabbing case
STORRS, Conn. — A Hartford man has been charged with lying to police investigating the stabbing death of UConn football player Jasper Howard.
UConn Police Lt. Andrew Fournier says 18-year-old De’Quan Muhammad was arrested on Monday and charged with making a false statement, hindering prosecution and interfering with an officer.
He was being held Wednesday on $200,000 bond and is scheduled to return to Rockville Superior Court on Friday, according to court records. He has not yet entered a plea.
Official fired after flu shot controversy
EDMONTON, Alberta — A senior staff member for Alberta Health Services has been fired for giving the Calgary Flames swine flu shots while thousands of people waited in line for the vaccine last week.
The board, which reports directly to the Alberta government, won’t name who was dismissed Wednesday, but says it was wrong to give the hockey players and their families preferential treatment.
Members of Flames were given swine flu shots at a special clinic last Friday as thousands of people waited in line for the vaccine or were turned away. The revelation angered many people who have criticized Alberta’s swine flu vaccine rollout, which was plagued by long lineups before it was shut down Saturday.
IndyCars ready to partner with Izod
INDIANAPOLIS — IndyCar officials are expected to announce Thursday that clothing maker Izod will become the series’ title sponsor next season.
A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed the move Wednesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced. The league has scheduled a news conference for Thursday afternoon.
It would be the first time since 2002 that the IndyCar series has had a title sponsor, and it comes at a time when some companies have been tightfisted because of the tough economy.
Ex-NBA ref Donaghy released
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy was a free man Wednesday after serving most of a 15-month sentence in a gambling scandal.
Pat Berdan, a consultant working with Donaghy, said he was released from Hernando County Jail in Florida. Donaghy had been jailed there since August after officials said he violated travel restrictions while living at a halfway house in the Tampa area.
A New York judge sentenced the ex-referee in July 2008 after Donaghy said he took thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips on games — including games he worked.
Another bowl game coming for Dallas
DALLAS — The replacement for the Cotton Bowl game has been lined up.
Dallas city leaders say the Dallas Football Classic is planned for New Year’s Day 2011. The plan calls for using teams from the Big Ten to play teams from Conference USA and the Big 12 on a rotating basis.
The first game will pit the seventh-ranked team from the Big 12 against the sixth-ranked team from the Big Ten. Then on New Year’s Day 2012, it will be the Big Ten vs. Conference USA, with the order repeated in 2013 and 2014 under a plan revealed by bowl organizers this week.