FRISCO, Texas – Stephen F. Austin headlines seven Southland Conference teams competing in the postseason this week when the Lumberjacks battle Texas Tech in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday in Dallas at 6:27 p.m. CT on TRUTV. The ‘Jacks, who won the league’s automatic bid to the Big Dance by winning the Southland Tournament on Saturday, earned the No. 14 seed in the East Region. Abilene ChristianThis Wildcats will make their Division I postseason debut in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. They begin their run with a 1 p.m. tipoff Monday at Drake in a first-round matchup that will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. LamarThe Cardinals will face UTSA in the CIT on Wednesday with the site and time to be determined. This is the second consecutive postseason bid for LU. The seven teams in postseason play is a Southland record. New OrleansThe Privateers will stay at home to host UTRGV at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the CBI. UNO is making back-to-back postseason appearances after qualifying for the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
Southeastern LouisianaThe Lions earned an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament after winning a share of the Southland regular-season championship and earning the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. The Lions head west as a No. 8 seed to face No. 1 St. Mary’s. The game is set for a 9 p.m. tipoff Tuesday on ESPNU. Central ArkansasCentral Arkansas garnered a spot in the 16-team field of the 11th annual College Basketball Invitational. The Bears travel to the northwest to challenge Seattle on Wednesday at 9 p.m. Their 17 wins heading into the tournament is the most for the program since moving to NCAA Division I in 2006-07. Sam Houston StateThe Bearkats have a first-round bye and will await a winner from Monday’s first four games. This is the fourth time Sam Houston is competing in the CIT.
Category: oitddi
Chelsea lose again, City score six
three minutes before halftime to equalise LONDON (AP): Defending champions Chelsea fell to their fourth loss of the Premier League season on Saturday, leaving Jose Mourinho talking about the possibility of being fired. In what appeared to be a pre-emptive move after yesterday’s 3-1 home loss to Southampton, Mourinho reminded owner Roman Abramovich that the club has an unwelcome reputation for discarding managers. In the six years before Mourinho returned to the Chelsea dugout in 2013 – after previously coaching the team from 2004 to 2007 – Abramovich went through seven managers. “If the club wants to sack me, they have to sack me because I’m not running away from my responsibility, my team,” Mourinho told Sky Sports television. If losing four games out of eight so far in the league was not bad enough, Chelsea also lost at Mourinho’s former team, FC Porto, in the Champions League on Tuesday. “If the club sacks me, they sack the best manager this club has had,” Mourinho said. “And the message is again that … bad results, the manager is guilty. That is the message the players have had for a decade.” Willian had curled in a free kick after 10 minutes to put the champions in front, but Steven Davis levelled before halftime. Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle netted in the second half to give Southampton its first win at Chelsea since 2002. Chelsea are only four points above the relegation zone and 10 points behind fledgling leaders Manchester City. Their latest setback overshadowed Sergio Aguero’s five-goal performance as City trashed Newcastle 6-1. City’s dominant performance in the second half against Newcastle provided a reminder of the team’s title credentials after back-to-back Premier League losses and a Champions League setback. Aleksandar Mitrovic headed Newcastle in front in the 18th minute and it took Aguero until three minutes before half-time to equalise. But in a 13-minute spell at the start of the second half, Aguero added another four goals, while Kevin de Bruyne also got in on the scoring act for the leaders. Aguero had only scored three goals in the first two months of the season before yesterday and his tally might have been greater had he not been taken off with around 25 minutes remaining. “In other games, he was maybe having a lot of chances but not scoring,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini told the BBC. “But today, he returned to his normal amount of chances he creates, but this time he scored. “He was not upset about going off. He was having treatment at half-time and it was a risk for him to finish the whole game.” Newcastle are last in the standings, still without a win after eight games. Northeast rivals Sunderland moved ahead on goal difference with a 2-2 draw against West Ham. Sunderland threw away a 2-0 lead to leave Dick Advocaat still searching for his first victory over the campaign. It’s similarly bleak for Aston Villa, who are a point further ahead with just one win to their name so far. Marko Arnautovic gave Stoke a 1-0 victory at Villa Park. There were victories for two of the surprise packages of the early season: Crystal Palace and Leicester. Leicester quickly bounced back from their first loss of the season last weekend by winning 2-1 at Norwich. Yohan Cabaye set up Yannick Bolasie’s header and then scored from the penalty spot as Palace beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 to move ahead of Leicester into third place on goal difference. A meeting between promoted clubs Bournemouth and Watford ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
FEU earns Final 4 spot, downs Adamson in 5 sets
Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award MOST READ Judy Ann’s 1st project for 2020 is giving her a ‘stomachache’ Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netFar Eastern University clinched its Final Four spot after surviving Adamson University in five sets, 25-22, 25-27, 14-25, 25-22, 15-11, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.The Lady Tamaraws’ second straight win pushed their record to 8-4 while the Lady Falcons dropped to 5-7 and stayed in fifth.ADVERTISEMENT Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Recto seeks to establish Taal rehab body to aid community, eruption victims Scarlett Johansson, Sterling K. Brown among SAG Awards presenters In Liverpool, Man United sees the pain and path to recovery Cabuyao City rising above the ashes through volunteerism View comments Adamson had momentary control of the fifth set after it took a 10-8 lead after an error in FEU’s part.Backed to a tight spot, the Lady Tamaraws retaliated with five unanswered points with Heather Guino-o’s ace giving FEU a 13-10 lead.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownAfter Fhen Emnas scored one for the Lady Falcons that cut the deficit to two, 13-11, Bernadeth Pons immediately landed the counter with a check ball for the 14-11 match point.A team block on Jema Galanza then finished off the Lady Falcons. Already with a reserved seat in the Final Four, FEU head coach George Pascua said they’re not stopping there as one of the top two seeds is what they aim for heading into the semifinals.“The goal is to get one of the two spots because we’re really chasing that twice-to-beat advantage,” said Pascua. “I hope we can win our remaining games so we’ll just work harder because we already gave ourselves a chance to get either of the top two seeds.”Bernadeth Pons put on a magnificent display to lead the Lady Tamaraws finishing with 20 points, 23 excellent digs, and 24 excellent receptions while Celine Domingo and Toni Rose Basas had 18 and 16 points, respectively.Galanza had 16 points to lead the Lady Falcons while Mylene Paat added 15.ADVERTISEMENT Ross lauds Fajardo: He’s in conversation to be best PBA player ever Jiro Manio arrested for stabbing man in Marikina LATEST STORIES Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Conor McGregor seeks to emerge from controversy in UFC comeback
Latest Track on Ebola: STATE OF EMERGENCY
“Got my gloves on my hands but tonight is for a different reason / I know the storm’s pouring down outside but it’s a different season / How many lives must we lose before we realize, start believing… / I might be calm outside but down inside I’m weeping / Ebola is real…”It is one of the most played Ebola songs on the airwaves, written and performed by Tan Tan B and Quincy B. Titled, ‘State of Emergency’, the chorus is pouring on every child’s lip around Monrovia today.Music like State of Emergency can be a very powerful tool in delivering a health message because it is catchy, emotional and entertaining.The song, with its slow beats and soulful lyrics, has a direct and authentic message warning people of the reality of Ebola and how many lives it has taken away. What catches many people’s attention for the first time when listening to the song is the manner in which Quincy B sings his heart out beautifully in the chorus, pouring out every emotion about how he truly feels about the virus that has taken the lives of so many people while Tan Tan B raps highlighting the deaths the disease is causing especially it starting from his very own home county, Lofa, where the virus first entered Liberia. Speaking to LIB Life, Tan Tan B says, “I feel so sad seeing a country that was once full of life, is now so lifeless with so many deaths all because of this deadly virus. All we can do is educate our people about the reality about the virus through our music cuz after all this is a state of emergency and only God can save us”.All over Liberia, Ebola is now the hottest topic all over the airwaves. It’s not the just news about the disease but also awareness songs as well. The virus is taking away so many lives, causing many to wonder if God is angry with Liberia.This Ebola Virus has been the worst ever outbreak of the hemorrhagic fever, for which there is no known cure, and has killed more than 3,000 people, most of them in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, since the start of the year.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Integrity Commission, GRA have a responsibility to Guyanese
Dear Editor,With information recently coming to the fore, some as a result of the long overdue and recently launched Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown, I believe the need has become even more critical for the recently reconstituted Integrity Commission to turn its attention to the policymakers and administrative officials of the Georgetown Municipality if it is to improve public confidence in the integrity of persons holding senior positions at City Hall.A section of the media has recently reported the purchase, by a senior officer of the Georgetown Municipality, of a $30 million home on the East Coast of Demerara, but failed to mention that the same officer had also purchased another ostentatious property in the Diamond, East Bank Demerara area, among others in Georgetown; in addition to massively upgrading yet another property that he owns in the South Ruimveldt Park area, all in just the last three years.How could an officer who lived in a very modest and unfinished home three years ago, and for which his salary could easily be checked, move from having difficulties with his bankers for outstanding debts to owning several properties overnight, and to having other assets and investments, both locally and overseas, without coming under the microscope of the Guyana Revenue Authority for unexplained wealth?Why has no net worth analysis been done of this individual and other municipal officers? Why is this individual and his colleagues not being made to demonstrate that these multiple homes, vehicles and other luxury assets were acquired using legal sources of income?Additionally, the children of these nouveau riche are being sent to the most expensive private schools, whilst the other staffers — who are being paid late every month — are barely eking out a living. These nouveau riche are unbelievably cruel and indifferent towards their underlings.And the revelation of the massive wealth acquired by this officer is just merely scratching the surface of the problem at City Hall. Many other senior officers and policymakers have acquired properties and other assets from the proceeds of corruption.How much longer must the citizenry put up with the Council’s corrupt elite and their brash display of wealth? The Integrity Commission and the GRA have a responsibility to ensure that any stolen wealth, bribe, kickback and other inducement acquired by corrupt municipal officials is frozen, and ultimately returned to the citizenry from whom it was stolen.Sincerely,Roseanne Rodgers
Corentyne ‘bad man’ gets 12-years for chopping ex-lover
A Corentyne man on Friday received a 12-year sentence for wounding his ex-wife.Robert Rollings, also called ‘Dagga Juju’ of Kingston, Corriverton, Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne), was found guilty by a mixed Berbice jury for wounding Sharmila Singh with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, or to maim or disfigure on July 3, 2014. Justice Jo-Ann Barlow sentenced him for the offence.Rollings was also on trial for wounding Sharmila Singh in an attempt to commit murder. The jury found him not guilty on that charge.The State’s case was presented by Prosecutor Stacy Goodings, and showed that Singh, who had severed the relationship with Rollings two years prior to the incident, went to her previous ex-husband’s home where she was attacked.In her evidence, Singh said she received chops to the back, head, right and left hands, fingers, wrist, forearm and shoulder. She had gone to the home of her ex-husband’s wake. He had died in the USA a few days prior.Dr Chandrawattie Lalbachan told the court that one of the chops to Singh’s right hand resulted in the loss of function to three fingers.Rollings, who was unrepresented, had earlier requested time to get legal representation and was given 24-hours by the court to do so.He returned to court without legal representation on Tuesday when the trial commenced.The state called three witnesses during the trial.
Frank Artus to Present Awards
Artus Frank, president Liberia Movie Union (LIMU)Following a month of winning two prestigious international awards, Liberian movie icon Artus Frank is set to present his awards to the Liberian government and people.Artus Frank is expected in Liberia on August 19, and an informal presentation of the awards will be made at a dinner with Vice President Joseph Boakai. Among topics to be covered at the presentation, will be a discussion about government’s support to the burgeoning movies industry.During his four-day visit to Liberia, the Ghana-based Liberian actor is expected to affix his signature on UN Women HeforShe Campaign in order to give it boost. The awards will be presented to the government on August 20, at the Ministry of Information Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), and will climax with a visit to an orphanage.Artus Frank received the Face of Africa and Humanitarian Figure Awards respectively from the Continental Award Committee in the US. The face of Africa Award represents the most popular and most dominated actor on the continent for 2014 – 2015.Artus received the Humanitarian award for his contribution in the fight against Ebola and other services in the area of Gender-based Violence, Child protection, among others. “We just want to let government and the people of Liberia to know that an actor who began his career in a growing industry has brought proud back to his native land,” said Henry D. Johnson, Vice President for Administration, Liberia Movies Union.He said that Artus’s “signature on the HeforShe Campaign will not only give it momentum that we should follow suit, but that it will create an opportunity where gender equality could be respected in Liberia.”Expressing excitement, he said the movies industry is proud of Artus Frank for the level of international recognition that he has continued to bestow on us.“Winning these awards creates an opportunity for investors to see that Liberia is a nation of raw talent that needs to be supported.” He said.“We hope that after talks with VP Boakai, he will lobby on behalf of the industry to get much needed support from the government and work together to deal with key challenges that are slowing down the progress of the industry,” Mr. Johnson underscored. What to Expect from the Dinner talk and Artus Frank’s StayTwo issues that are likely to emerge during the dinner talk is getting government full backing in the fight against piracy, which has become a serious problem in the movies industry, as well areas in which government can give financial support to the Movies Union.The pending visit of Artus is also an opportunity for him to reiterate his commitment to the industry’s growth, sending a strong message that filmmakers must do all they can to improve in the art of movie making.Additionally, he might talk about the lack of disunity that has engulfed the industry since Martha E. Akorsah took over as the new president this year, plunging this small but rising industry into disagreements and incoherence. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Salary Cuts: Gov’t’s New Headache
President George WeahCould affected integrity institutions be weakened?President George Weah’s recent pronouncement to cut salaries of government officials, especially appointees and some civil servants, may undermine the independence of anti-graft institutions such as the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), General Auditing Commission (GAC) and Internal Audit Agency (IAA), documents in the possession of the Daily Observer reveal.The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), particularly the office of the Comptroller General, in a memo to line ministries, agencies and commissions said “The payroll deduction will be effective from May 2018 and anticipate your usual cooperation.”President Weah indicated that appointees and civil servants who make US$1000 to US$1,500 will take a 3.5% reduction, US$1,500 to US$2,500 will get a 5% shaved off their salaries, US$2,500 to US$5,000 will make 7.5% less and those making US$5,000 to US$7,861 will get a 10% reduction.The Daily Observer source said anti-graft institutions like GAC, IAA and LACC can accomplish their tasks objectively and effectively only if they are independent of audited entities and are protected against outside influence.“President Weah needs to ensure that the salary cuts do not affect our independent institutions like Internal Audit Agency (IAA), and the General Auditing Commission (GAC) in order for them to maintain their independence,” said the Daily Observer source who welcomes the salary cuts.Section 2.1.4 of the General Auditing Commission (GAC) says “The Auditor General shall be paid a remuneration package that is commensurate with equivalent regional heads of Supreme Audit Institutions, as determined through an independent and transparent salaries and remuneration vetting process.”
Auditor General, Yusador S. GayeThe Observer source said there is a need for Liberia’s anti-graft institutions, particularly GAC and IAA to be free of politics especially if President Weah is to succeed in the fight against corruption.“The GAC has helped the government to save lots of money and has also recommended to government the way forward to reduce or end corruption in the public sector and must be taken seriously. Government has invested in these anti-graft institutions and must be supported,” said the Observer source.The inclusion of GAC, LACC and IAA in President Weah’s salary cuts, the Observer source said, will help to undermine the independence of these institutions.“The salaries of heads and staff of these institutions must not be cut. They must be free of politics. We don’t need to have people working at these institutions under the influence of President Weah,” the source added.According to the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAI), of which Liberia is a member state, “Although state institutions cannot be absolutely independent because they are part of the state as a whole, Supreme Audit Institutions shall have the functional and organizational independence required to accomplish their tasks.The ISSAI, which is called The Lima Declaration, further states that “the establishment of Supreme Audit Institutions and the necessary degree of their independence shall be laid down in the Constitution; details may be set out in legislation.”
CENTAL program manager, Gerald YeakulaThe Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) in its recent 100 Day Assessment report of the Weah led-Administration said although President Weah has vowed to support anti-corruption efforts, key integrity institutions with major anti-corruption mandates have little access to the President.Gerald D. Yeakula, CENTAL program director who presented the findings said the President has met with the Governance Commission but is yet to hold similar dedicated meetings with institutions such as the GAC and LACC.At the Cabinet retreat held from May 17-18, Yeakula said “Integrity institutions were afforded the opportunity to make first-time presentations. However, such gatherings fall short of providing integrity institutions the space and access to the President, whose political will and support is critical to fighting corruption.”He said the President recently constituted a committee to investigate corruption around the sale of Oil ‘Block 13’ as reported by Global witness, but failed to include on said committee, the LACC, which has a Statutory mandate to investigate corruption. These developments weaken the morale of the integrity institutions concerned, he added.Mr. Yeakula emphasized the issue of limited moral support to integrity institutions by the Weah led-Administration.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Cranston finishes Usport volleyball last weekend with Calgary Dinos
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Former student from Bert Bowes and North Peace Secondary School, Blain Cranston, finished his league play with Usport volleyball last weekend with the University of Calgary Dinos Men’s Volleyball team.A 2013 graduate of NPSS, Cranston played two years ACAC men’s volleyball with Grande Prairie Regional College and three years with the University of Calgary Dinos.The Canada West playoffs start this Thursday, February 21, with the ranked #8 Dinos playing at #1 University of Brandon Bobcats.- Advertisement -It will be a best of three on matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at 6 p.m. MST, which will be live-streamed on CanadaWest.tv.Cranston will graduate in April of 2019 with a degree in Kinesiology.
Gonzales must go
His embarrassing performance before Congress last week ought to be the final straw. His inability to recall meetings he attended, memos he read, decisions he made or answer even basic questions suggests either a dismal memory, total incompetence or willful deceitfulness – none of which is acceptable for the nation’s top law enforcement officer. Loyalty is a virtue, but so is accountability. And loyalty means more than being loyal to one’s friends. Bush also ought to be loyal to the American people and to his oath of office by letting Gonzales go. LOYALTY, to President George W. Bush, is not only a virtue, it is apparently the only virtue. And it’s seemingly loyalty that leads Bush to hang on to disgraced, failed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Truth be told, the attorney-firing scandal that has embroiled Gonzales is, at its basic level, petty. U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. They are fired and hired for political reasons all the time, such as when President Clinton dismissed 93 of them upon taking office in 2001. But that doesn’t excuse Gonzales’ inept handling of the situation, let alone the incredible dishonesty that’s followed. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!