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RandySF's JournalIndiana Fever to build 108,000-square-foot training facility in downtown Indianapolis
After an historic season for the Indiana Fever led by WNBA rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, Pacer Sports & Entertainment announced it would break ground on a $78 million “sports performance center” for exclusive use of the Fever in downtown Indianapolis. Up to this point, the Fever have used a practice court and training area inside Gainbridge Arena.
The Fever will still play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse but the state-of-the-art facility will serve as the go-to resource for everything else for Indiana’s players, support staff and front office. The center will have two regulation size practice courts, a strength and conditioning center, full-service kitchen and a spa center with massage, sauna, heat studio and multiple hydrotherapy pools. In total, the building will be three stories and 108,000 square feet. It will also house a Fever team store and offer experiences for Fever fans.
“With the goal of Indianapolis becoming the epicenter of women’s sports, this world-class sports performance center will be the preeminent place for players to train, recover and push their boundaries,” PS&E CEO Mel Raines said. “It’s a game changer in terms of providing the ultimate player experience and we can’t wait for our team to reap the benefits of having an exclusive and unparalleled facility designed specifically for them.”
The Fever joins a long list of WNBA franchise to have (or to have announced plans to build) a complex dedicated solely to its WNBA team. In March 2022, the Las Vegas Aces moved into a 50,000 square foot headquarters, and in April 2024, the Seattle Storm announced its “Center for Basketball Performance,” a 50,000 square foot facility. In July 2024, the Phoenix Mercury opened their 58,000 square foot practice facility, and in November, the Los Angeles Sparks announced that they would build a 40,000 square foot facility. Both Chicago and Dallas have announced plans to have their own facilities by 2026.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6066747/2025/01/16/wnba-fever-new-training-center/
Delaware State Senate special election date set for Feb. 15 to fill two vacated seats
Special elections to fill two open Delaware State Senate seats will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The elections are to fill the vacancies created by departures of Congresswoman Sarah McBride and Lt.-Gov. Elect Kyle Evans Gay.
The race for 1st District Wilmington-area seat pits the Democratic candidate — United Way of Delaware COO Dan Cruce — against the GOP’s choice — retired Brandywine School District special education teacher Steve Washington,
Former Democratic State Rep. Ray Seigfried seeks 5th District Talleyville-area seat. He faces the Republican candidate — retired DuPont supply chain manager Brent Burdge.
https://www.delawarepublic.org/politics-government/2025-01-15/delaware-state-senate-special-election-date-set-for-feb-15-to-fill-two-vacated-seats
Steve McClinton announces re-election bid for Hoover City Council
Hoover Councilman Steve McClinton this week announced his intention to seek re-election to the Hoover City Council in the Aug. 26 city election this year.
McClinton was elected to the council in 2020 after defeating Alli Nations and Carin Mayo in that election. He took the Place 7 seat on the City Council formerly held by John Greene, who chose not to run for re-election.
McClinton, 55, grew up in Birmingham’s Roebuck community but has lived in Hoover since 1998, including four years in the Deer Valley community and the past 23 years in Lake Cyrus. He and his wife, Stephanie, have two children who graduated from Hoover High School and Auburn University and one who is a senior at Hoover High.
McClinton graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminology in 1992, minoring in political science and history.
https://hooversun.com/peopleplaces/steve-mcclinton-announces-re-election-bid-for-hoover-city-co/
Port Huron makes history with election of first African-American mayor, Anita R. Ashford
The City of Port Huron has a rich history, which includes milestones such as being the childhood home of Thomas A. Edison, the first city in Michigan to have commercial petroleum production in 1886, and the first city in the world to have the first international under-water railroad tunnel which was built in 1890.
With the conclusion of the 2024 general election on November 5, history was made yet again with Port Huron electing its first-ever African-American mayor. Anita R. Ashford, former City Councilwoman/Mayor Pro Tem for Port Huron will fill the new role of mayor formerly held for 15 years by Pauline Repp. Mayor Ashford won the votes by a large margin of 6,005-4,965, over Repp.
Her new role as mayor comes with new responsibilities and plans to see the city flourish and grow.
“As Mayor of the City of Port Huron, I am the Chief Executive Officer and face of the City Council. I also Chair our meetings and serve as Ambassador for the city,” Ashford says. “ I’d like to see more creative ways to challenge the housing issue we are facing in this country which includes better housing conditions for our residents. We currently have several developments in progress on the South end of town along with new subdivisions being built on the North end. I’d also like to see an increase in our population which will see growth as we improve our schools, safety, sense of belonging, and our overall care of the city and its infrastructure.”
https://www.secondwavemedia.com/rural-innovation-exchange/features/port-huron-makes-history-with-election-of-first-african-american-mayor-anita-r-ashford.aspx
Second Minnesota election judge faces criminal charges, adding to concerning day at the polls
Two election judges from different parts of the state now face criminal charges for their conduct on Election Day, adding to a list of concerning incidents that occurred when voters went to the polls in Minnesota.
Two months later, state officials are still dealing with the fallout as the nation prepares to swear in the next president.
While there are no allegations of widespread voter fraud or misconduct, problems did surface, including missing ballots, unregistered voters and election judge violations.
“The unintended rippling effect may be feeding into false narratives… that perhaps there’s rampant voting fraud in the state of Minnesota when we all know that’s not the case,” said Annastacia Belladonna-Carrera, executive director of Common Cause Minnesota, a nonpartisan group working to ensure safe, secure and fair elections.
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/2nd-minnesota-election-judge-faces-criminal-charges-adding-to-concerning-day-at-the-polls/
Assembly sets aside money in case of special election
The city is setting aside money, anticipating that a special election could happen this spring.
A group of Sitkans are currently gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to limit cruise tourism. They must collect 613 signatures by March 30 in order to put the initiative out to voters in a special election.
When the Sitka Assembly met on Tuesday (1-14-25) it approved a financial appropriation of just under $18,000 requested by Municipal Clerk Sara Peterson, who said the money would go toward ballots, stipends for election officials, advertising, and staff overtime.
“Our budget, we don’t currently have the funds to hold a special election, and so to be proactive and ensure that we’re ready to go when and if that happens, we’re seeking the funding now,” Peterson said. “And then, of course, if there isn’t a special election, then those funds would go back into the general fund.”
The assembly approved the additional funding unanimously. If enough petition signatures are collected and approved by March 30, the city has up to 90 days to hold a special election.
https://www.kcaw.org/2025/01/15/assembly-sets-aside-money-in-case-of-special-election/
Riggs, Griffin spar over proper forum for NC Supreme Court election dispute
The two candidates in North Carolina’s recent Supreme Court election disagree about the proper forum for resolving a legal dispute involving the election. Republican Jefferson Griffin argues that the case belongs in state court. Democrat Allison Riggs counters that federal courts should settle the election fight.
Riggs and the North Carolina Democratic Party filed briefs Wednesday evening with the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals. Both made the case for federal review of the election dispute.
The State Board of Elections and left-of-center activist groups working with Democratic operative Marc Elias’ law firm agree with Riggs and the state Democratic Party. The 4th Circuit will hold oral arguments in the case on Jan. 27.
Riggs, the appointed incumbent, leads Griffin, a state appellate judge, by 734 votes out of 5.5 million ballots cast in the November election. Recounts have confirmed Riggs’ lead.
https://www.carolinajournal.com/riggs-griffin-spar-over-proper-forum-for-nc-supreme-court-election-dispute/
With matching funds, Lander has raised $5.3M for NYC mayoral bid, overtaking Adams
With public matching funds factored in, City Comptroller Brad Lander has raised more than $5.3 million for his mayoral run, outpacing Mayor Adams, whose haul to date sits at about $4.5 million from private donations alone, according to their campaigns.
The money moves make Lander the first 2025 mayoral candidate to claim the fundraising lead from Adams — who has been denied matching funds over his federal corruption indictment and is reeling from historically low approval ratings. The city’s public funds program is highly lucrative for mayoral candidates, as it matches any donation made by a city resident at an 8:1 ratio up to $250.
Lander’s pull gives him an early edge in the sprawling field of candidates running against Adams in June’s Democratic mayoral primary, especially as they need hefty war chests to pay for ads and properly staff their campaigns. A major unknown in the primary remains whether former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who polls suggest could pose the most serious challenge to Adams, will enter the race.
Other candidates have qualified for matching funds, too. Ex-Comptroller Scott Stringer, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie also announced this week they have locked in more than $3 million once public matching funds are baked in, with Stringer topping that list at roughly $4.1 million raised in total.
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/01/15/mayor-fundraising-campaign-disclosures-adams-2025/
The Prudential Center host the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic
The New York Tri-State area has historically been a beacon of college basketball and that tradition will continue on January 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Some of the top women’s basketball teams will compete in the event.
UCLA will face Baylor and Texas will take on Maryland with the tip-off for the opening game at 3:00 p.m. The event will be broadcast nationally on FOX. As of AmNews press time, UCLA was the top-rated team in the country with Texas ranked No. 5, Maryland No. 8. Baylor was unranked but still formidable at 12-3.
The Coretta Scott King Classic (CSKC) is a venture created by FOX Sports, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, and Playfly Sports, partnering with the King Center, founded by Coretta Scott King and today run by Dr. Bernice A. King, the daughter of Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King.
Following the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s. assassination on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, relentless efforts by ardent supporters culminated in then U.S. President Ronald Reagan signing bill H.R. 3706 on November 2, 1983, making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. It was first observed January 20, 1986.
https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2025/01/09/the-predential-center-host-the-inaugural-coretta-scott-king-classic/
NCAA approves paying women's basketball tourney teams
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Women's basketball teams finally will be paid for playing games in the NCAA tournament each March, just like the men have for years, under a plan approved Wednesday at the NCAA convention.
The unanimous vote by NCAA membership, which was met by a round of applause, was the final step toward a pay structure for women playing in March Madness after the Division I Board of Governors voted unanimously for the proposal in August.
NCAA president Charlie Baker joined others in giving credit for the creation of a performance fund to those who came before and helped build women's basketball.
"We're the lucky ones," Baker said. "We got to be here on the day it became a reality."
Now comes more work to continue investing in women's basketball to grow the sport even more.
https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/43428405/ncaa-approves-paying-women-basketball-tourney-teams
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