Missouri football players defend Maty Mauk amid video controversy

Missouri Quarterback Maty Mauk Faces Indefinite Suspension

COLUMBIA A day after Missouri redshirt junior quarterback Maty Mauk was suspended indefinitely by the Missouri athletics department, members of the Missouri football team and Mauks father have come to his defense.

It started with redshirt junior linebacker Michael Scherer, who gave his support via Twitter around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

"Maty has been doing everything he can to be a better person," Scherer said. "No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes."

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Kenyon Dilosa and redshirt junior defensive lineman Harold Brantley were among a number of other players who tweeted. The other players were in agreement that the video, which appears to show Mauk snorting a white substance, is old and that Mauk has been working to improve himself.

This is the third time in the past six months the Ohio native has been suspended fromthe team.

Mauks father, Mike Mauk, said Tuesday that he did not know how old the video was, but said his son has been "absolutely" clean since he was reinstated from his second suspension in December.

"I don"t really think there"s anything he"s going to say about it until we take care of things that we need to inside," Mike Mauk said.

Former Missouri offensive lineman Connor McGovern told SECCountry.com, a blog that works in conjunction with the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, that Mauks suspension is due to "bad luck." McGovern played with Mauk at Missouri for three seasons. He and former Missouri center Evan Boehm are in Mobile, Alabama, for the Senior Bowl.

"Hes got some things to fix that are bigger than football," McGovern said. "He doesnt make the best decisions all the time, but nobody does. He just happens to be a quarterback that makes some poor decisions and seems to get caught whenever he makes a bad decision. Theres a lot of people here, Im sure, that have made poor decisions. They just didnt get caught doing it."

The Missouri athletics department has yet to address Mauks status with the team since announcing the suspension Monday via a joint statement from Athletics Director Mack Rhoades and football coach Barry Odom. Mauk is listed as a student in the Missouri student directory, but the MU Registrars Office said Tuesday it cannot divulge information on whether or not a student is still enrolled at MU.

Source: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/sports/mizzou_football/missouri-football-players-defend-maty-mauk-amid-video-controversy/article_91868fc4-c488-11e5-9f3e-b73098ade08d.html

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Missouri suspends QB Maty Mauk as it investigates alleged drug video

Missouri Quarterback Maty Mauk Faces Indefinite Suspension

UPDATE 11:29 A.M.

One of Maty Mauks teammates on the Missouri football team told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the video of Mauk appearing to snort a white powder is two years old and that the Tigers quarterback has since addressed his drug problem.

The teammate asked not to be identified by the Post-Dispatch, telling the paper that Mauk has been really turning things around since the end of the season and has been clean for a while.

The Post-Dispatch also reports, via multiple sources, that Missouri suspended Mauk for the first time last September because he failed a drug test.

The team suspected hed been using drugs and administered the test, leading to his suspension announced Sept. 29, Dave Matter writes.

ORIGINAL POST

Missouri has suspended quarterback Maty Mauk for the third time in four months after a video of someone who closely resembles Mauk snorting a white powder was released online.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch was first to report the news.

We are currently gathering information regarding the video in question. This is an issue we take very seriously and one that will not be tolerated within our program. We will take the appropriate actions once we have all the facts. In the interim, Maty Mauk has been indefinitely suspended for the Mizzou football program, Missouri Athletic Director Mack Rhoades and Coach Barry Odom said in a statement that was released less than two hours after the video was posted.

Mauk, a fourth-year junior in 2015, played just four games last season after being named to the SEC all-freshman team in 2013 and starting all 14 games in 2014. He was suspended twice, once for violating team rules and then again after he was briefly reinstated. According to the Post-Dispatch, the second suspension was the result of a drunken dispute Mauk had outside a bar in Columbia, Mo.

Odom, the Tigers defensive coordinator last season who was promoted to head coach after Gary Pinkels retirement, reinstated Mauk in December and said he was expected to compete for the teams starting quarterback spot in spring practice.

In 2013, Mauk was arrested on four misdemeanor traffic offenses after he struck two parked vehicles while riding his motor scooter. Mauk and two female passengers fled the scene, later refusing to pull over and running a stop sign.

After spending the first 17 years of his Post career writing and editing, Matt and the printed paper had an amicable divorce in 2014. He"s now blogging and editing for the Early Lead and the Post"s other Web-based products.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNHg8JmoSjve06W0RupAnxnOEXgA6g&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779037477845&ei=iXmoVvinOciL8gGSgoyoAQ&url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/01/26/missouri-suspends-qb-maty-mauk-as-it-investigates-alleged-drug-video/

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IRS on the lookout for bogus returns

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: The IRS (HBO)

The guy who prepared your tax return came through big time. Not only was he cheap, he got you ahuge refund, way more than you expected.

How did he do it? You"d know if you could take a look at your return, the one he had you sign inadvance. That"s odd, you don"t have any kids to deduct. And this company on your W-2 that took outtoo much tax? You never worked there.

The magic was fraud fictional dependents and employers, overstated credits and fake W-2s.

A favorite target of these unscrupulous tax preparers are low-to-moderate wage workers and theearned-income tax credit that benefits them, according to the Internal Revenue Service. By its ownestimate, the IRS said the error rate on earned-income tax credit returns can be as high as 27percent.

In 2014, about $18 billion in overpayments were sent out. Some were unintentional, some werecases of fraud.

For about seven weeks beginning in January 2011, Brandon Hamilton and Kenitha Ferguson operatedthe In and Out tax agency at 1687 Oak St. on the Near East Side. They processed more than 20fraudulent 2010 tax returns, according to a federal indictment. That was enough time to steal$132,000 in undeserved tax refunds, which they split between themselves and their clients,prosecutors said.

Hamilton pleaded guilty last week in U.S. District Court in Columbus to conspiring to defraudthe government. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Ferguson pleaded notguilty and was released on bond.

Prosecutors said In and Out advertised on Facebook, by word of mouth and through recruiters whowere paid to line up customers.

Hamilton might face prison. His clients might face a government lawsuit to recover theoverpayments.

"Each taxpayer is accountable for their own tax return," IRS Special Agent Craig Casserly said."As this case progresses, we would look at all the clients" tax returns."

Dan Brown, an assistant U.S. attorney who prosecutes IRS cases, said, "In the long run, theywill have damaged their clients, and the IRS will go after those clients for the money andpenalties."

The IRS operates "scheme development centers" across the country, where investigators look foranomalies such as an unusually large number of earned-income tax-credit filings in a certain ZIPcode, or from the same preparer, Casserly said.

The agency investigated 266 alleged cases of preparer fraud nationwide in fiscal year 2015. Ofthose, 204 defendants were convicted, and 80 percent of them went to prison. The average prisonterm was 27 months.

The arrest numbers could be higher if the agency had more agents, Casserly said. Congressionalbudget cuts have reduced the ranks almost 14 percent through attrition during the past five years.There are about 2,100 agents for the current fiscal year.

"Still, we are doing a good job of prosecuting these individuals," Casserly said, "and we thinkother people are seeing this and getting out of the (fraud) business."

There are several red flags that honest taxpayers should heed when seeking a preparer, Casserlysaid. Ask them for their required "preparer tax identification number," do not sign a blank returnand check the completed return for accuracy.

And make sure the government refund check is sent to you. If a preparer gets the check, he orshe could skim off some of the refund money for themselves.

"Look at the deductions. Do you actually have kids?" Casserly said. He said he knows of cases inwhich people who didn"t plan to file a return "loaned out" their children"s identities to taxpreparers.

erinehart@dispatch.com

@esrinehart

Source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/01/25/irs-on-the-lookout-for-bogus-returns.html

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FSU settling lawsuit with woman who accused Winston of rape

ERICA KINSMAN rant
By JOE REEDYAssociated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida State University has settled a Title IX lawsuit with a former student who said the school failed to adequately investigate allegations that she was raped by former star quarterback Jameis Winston.

The settlement was announced a day before Winston"s accuser, Erica Kinsman, had been scheduled to give a deposition in the case. As part of the settlement, FSU is making a five-year commitment to sexual assault awareness and prevention. The university also has agreed to publish annual reports for the next five years about those programs.

Florida State said in a statement that it has formed a Sexual Assault Prevention Task Group, hired a full-time Title IX coordinator, added six positions to improve campus safety and required all incoming freshmen to complete an online course to make "more informed choices about s*x and relationships."

FSU President John Thrasher also noted that there have been more than 100 training sessions conducted on campus dealing with sexual assault and how to prevent it.

The settlement also calls for a $950,000 payment to Kinsman and her attorneys. A copy of the settlement says Kinsman"s attorneys will get $700,000 of that money, though they say that figure was inserted by the university and that they will receive far less for their fees.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted, but Kinsman has spoken publicly about her case, including in a documentary.

Thrasher said in a press release Monday that the university settled to avoid spending millions on the lawsuit.

"Although we regret we will never be able to tell our full story in court, it is apparent that a trial many months from now would have left FSU fighting over the past rather than looking toward its very bright future," Thrasher said in the release.

Jim Ryan, a partner with Cullen and Dykman who deals in Title IX cases, said typical settlement amounts range from $250,000 to $500,000, but most are kept confidential.

Kinsman has said she was drunk at a Tallahassee bar in December 2012 when Winston and others took her to an apartment, where she says the quarterback raped her.

Winston has said the allegations are false and that he and Kinsman had consensual s*x. Prosecutors said there wasn"t enough evidence to win a conviction and that there were gaps in Kinsman"s story.

A lawsuit filed by Kinsman against Winston - and a countersuit he filed against her claiming she is trying to take advantage of his newfound wealth as the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - are ongoing and are not affected by the settlement.

A Title IX investigation by the Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Education also is ongoing. Title IX is a federal statute that bans discrimination at schools that receive federal funding. The department in 2011 warned schools of their legal responsibilities to immediately investigate allegations of sexual assault, even if the criminal investigation has not concluded.

Baine Kerr, one of Kinsman"s attorneys, told The Associated Press that the university wanted Kinsman to withdraw her complaint, but she refused. Kinsman will graduate this spring from another four-year university.

Melissa Ashton, who had been director of FSU"s victim advocate program until August, said in a deposition given this past summer that football players receive special treatment at the school. She said most of the estimated 20 rape victims she encountered during the past decade declined to press student conduct charges.

"My hope is that the federal investigation of my complaint by the Office of Civil Rights will produce even more positive change, not just at FSU, but across the country," Kinsman said in a statement.

The settlement comes as numerous other cases call attention to the need for reform at campuses across the nation, said Brett Sokolow, Executive Director of The Association of Title IX Administrators. Two other colleges, Michigan State University and the University of California, Berkeley have faced similar lawsuits accusing administrators of failing to adequately investigate reports of sexual assault.

"This case has raised awareness nationally because of the high-profile coverage and how starkly the systemic failures were chronicled in the media," Sokolow said.

Associated Press Writers Gary Fineout in Tallahassee, Florida, and Kareem Copeland in Salt Lake City, Utah, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.wtoc.com/story/31049831/fsu-settling-lawsuit-with-woman-who-accused-winston-of-rape

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Pregnant women warned over zika virus

BREAKING: WHO Says "Zika Virus Outbreak Will Spread in Americas Countries"

The Ministry of Health and health professionals are advising pregnant women to avoid travelling to areas with the mosquito-borne zika disease.

Aedes aegypti mosquitos, which can carry the zika virus, are seen in containers at a lab in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Photo: AFP

New Zealand government website SafeTravel lists Samoa as the only Pacific country with zika.

Secretariat of the Pacific Community senior epidemiologist Dr Salanieta Saketa told RNZ International seven other countries and territories across the region - Vanuatu, Fiji, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, the Federated States of Micronesia and Easter Island - have had cases of the virus, however those cases were not recent.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday the virus was likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except Canada and Chile.

An outbreak in Latin America has been linked to an increase in the number of babies being born with microcephaly, or smaller than usual brains and heads.

Brazil has been the worst-hit country, prompting concerns ahead of the Rio Olympics in August.

Some countries in South and Central America have advised women in affected areas to avoid becoming pregnant for up to two years.

WHO has advised pregnant women planning to travel to areas where zika is circulating to consult a healthcare provider before travelling and on return.

Travel advice

In New Zealand, the Ministry of Health is advising women who are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, to take extra care to avoid exposure to the virus.

The ministry"s deputy director of public health, Dr Shirley Crawshaw, said they should avoid areas with high levels of zika transmission as a precaution.

"If they are going to these areas, then they must be prepared to take protective measures such as wearing long sleeves, wearing long trousers, using insect repellent.

"If they can avoid going, or delay going, then at the moment that would be the advice to that particular group."

Travel Doctor managing director Wendy Penno advised pregnant woman to delay their travel plans as the situation was developing daily.

There was no vaccine but attempts could be made to limit mosquito bites, she said.

"The advice would be don"t go to an area that potentially has zika virus at the moment if you"re pregnant."

College of Midwives advisor Sheridan Massey said pregnant women should discuss any travel plans with their maternity carer.

"When women are planning travel during their pregnancy, [we] encourage them to talk to their midwife - get all the facts, and with the help of their midwife, about how they want to go forward."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which runs the SafeTravel website, has advised any concerned travellers to consult a doctor prior to their departure.

How to avoid being bitten:Related

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/294920/pregnant-women-warned-over-zika-virus

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No Tsunami Threat Following 6.8M Alaska Earthquake

7.1 EarthQuake/Alaska

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center image.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Southern Alaska.

According to PTWC, the earthquake occurred Sunday at 12:30 a.m. Hawaii time.

The earthquake was initially listed as a 7.1 magnitude, but was later downgraded by the United States Geological Survey.

USGS officials say the earthquake was located 53 miles west-southwest if Anchor Point, Alaska; 161 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska; 182 miles southwest of Knik-Fairview, Alaska; 403 miles south-southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska; and 631 west of Whitehourse, Canada.

Source: http://bigislandnow.com/2016/01/24/no-tsunami-threat-following-6-8m-alaska-earthquake/

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Peyton Manning Wife: Patriots Fans Are Last Ones Who Should Accuse QB Of Cheating [PHOTO, VIDEO]

Wife of Peyton Manning 2015

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Broncos QB Peyton Manning (L) and Patriots QB Tom Brady. (Photo : Getty Images)

Amid all the trash talk heading into the AFC Championship Game, a liquor company is the latest party to get involved.

Sons of Liberty Spirits Co., based out of South Kingston, R.I., went to great lengths to troll Peyton Manning and his wife, Ashley.

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Tom Brady Has More TD Passes In Denver This Season Than Peyton Manning

The liquor enterprise riffed off of Manning"s HGH allegations and sent a care package addressed to his wife. The box included a bottle of whiskey as well as a letter saying he can enjoy it on Super Bowl Sunday, while also providing an unnecessary explanation as to why it was addressed to the quarterback"s wife.

An Aljazeera America report last month alleged that Ashley Manning had HGH shipped to the couple"s home under her name, with the insinuation being that the 14-time Pro Bowler was secretly doping. The accusations angered Manning and he vehemently denied the report, which had some questionable sources tied to it.

Tom Brady"s Diet Proves He"s More Of A Diva Than His Wife

"Also, sorry for addressing the package to your wife," the letter reads, "we heard that"s the best way to get something to you."

The letter also insinuated that Manning can enjoy the whiskey on Feb. 7, as he"ll be watching the Super Bowl from home after Sunday"s AFC Championship Game against the Patriots.

This is the latest salvo in the pre-game trash talk leading up to Sunday"s game. Broncos defensive linemen Antonio Smith and Malik Jackson called out Tom Brady for being a crybaby and begging officials for flags whenever he"s***t.

Not to be out done, Rob Gronkowski fired back at Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. after he said he planned to hit the tight end low as a way to stop him.

The four-time Pro Bowler responded with a tweet that could be read as a double entendre, where he implied the whole Denver team is "good at giving low blows."

Things have escalated so far that a liquor company is now involved in the fun.

Still, if Patriots fans want to attack another team, accusing them of cheating is the last place they should resort to. Lest anyone forget SpyGate and DeflateGate.

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Source: http://www.sportsworldnews.com/articles/57363/20160121/peyton-manning-wife-patriots-fans-are-last-ones-who-should-accuse-qb-of-cheating-photo-video.htm

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