Signs deal
The Cowboys sign Beasley to a four-year deal worth around $14 million. $7 million is guaranteed. The Cowboys could have used the second-round tender on Beasley, but they decided to sign him to a multiyear deal in order to keep the salary-cap numbers lower over the next two seasons. Dez Bryant, Beasley’s teammate on the Cowboys:
Congrats to my boy @Bease11 #beast #truth
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) March 3, 2015
Jury seated
A panel of twelve jurors and six alternates are chosen for Tsarnaev’s federal death penalty trial. Eight men and ten women make up the panel of jurors and alternates. Many potential jurors are dismissed after they stated they had already formed an opinion on Tsarnaev’s guilt or that they are morally opposed to the death penalty. Many others are excused because of their personal connections to the bombings: they have friends or family who were near the finish line when the bombs went off or they knew first responders who treated the victims.
Contract extension
CBS renews Sheindlin’s contract through 2020. The contract includes a production deal with Sheindlin’s company.
I’m thrilled to be working with my CBS family for five more years and very excited about this new adventure in production.
Armando Nunez, president and CEO of the CBS Global Distribution Group:
She is a true television icon who entertains and inspires millions of fans each day on Judge Judy. We look forward to continuing to provide our station partners with her highly successful show and to working with her to create the next generation of hits.
Plans to sue
Pham plans to file suit against Texas Health Resources for ‘corporate neglect, alleging that Texas Health Resources failed to develop policies and provide proper training for staff dealing with Ebola patients.
I wanted to believe that they would have my back and take care of me, but they just haven’t risen to the occasion….I was the last person besides Mr. Duncan to find out he was positive. You’d think the primary nurse would be the first to know. … I broke down and cried, not because I thought I had it but just because it was a big ‘whoa, this is really happening’ moment.
Texas Health Resources spokesman Wendell Watson:
Nina Pham bravely served Texas Health Dallas during a most difficult time. We continue to support and wish the best for her, and we remain optimistic that constructive dialogue can resolve this matter.
Drug arrest, banned from mall
Security guards at Columbiana Centre mall call police after Roof asks employees at a shoe store and a Bath & Body Works about how many people worked at the stores, their closing times and when the employees typically leave, according to an incident report. Roof tells the police that he was asking questions because his parents were pressuring him to get a job. The officer asks Roof is he had gotten any applications from the stores and he said he had not. When asked whether or not he has anything illegal in his possession, Roof says “no,” however a search reveals an unlabeled white bottle containing orange strips, which Roof identifies as Listerine Strips. The officer, however, does not believe him and asked again. Roof says the strips are actually Suboxone, a schedule III narcotic for which he does not have a prescription. According to the FDA, Suboxone contains the active ingredient, buprenorphine hydrochloride, which works to reduce the symptoms of opiate dependence. The officer arrested Roof and had his 2000 Hyundai Elantra towed. He is banned from the mall for a year.
Pay cut
Brady signs a, salary-cap-friendly, $27 million three year extension designed to help the Patriots put together another championship run. The $43.6 million Brady would be owed over the next two years benefits the Patriots, giving flexibility within the cap.
Hyperloop deal
Hyperloop Transportation Technologies signs a deal with the developers of Quay Valley in central California to construct a five mile Hyperloop line in an area along Interstate 5 at a cost of over $100 million. Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of the JumpStartFund, which created Hyperloop Transportation Technologies:
This is big step. It’s time to take the Hyperloop from concept and design and build the first one. This is a phased process. We’ve done feasibility studies and now we will be able test all aspects of the Hyperloop.
Seeks reinstatement
After the charges for assaulting and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend are dropped, Hardy seeks reinstatement into the NFL. The NFL has opened its own investigation into the incident, so Hardy will remain on the league’s exempt list until that investigation is completed. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy:
He [Hardy] hasn’t been disciplined. There is nothing for him to … seek reinstatement from at this point.
Pleads not guilty
Jones pleads not guilty to charges of rape and sodomy. Jones is charged with assaulting two women, who were able to identify him as the assailant. Jones’s attorney, Scott Cox:
We believe this gentleman is innocent and he’s been falsely accused, and he’s going to be found not guilty. We understand there’s video potentially in the hallway of the building where this allegedly occurred; also video out in the parking lot. We believe those videos will be exculpatory to Mr. Jones.
Ruling in abuse case
U.S. District Judge David Doty rules that an NFL arbitrator failed to meet his duty in Peterson’s child abuse case. This ruling sends the case back for further proceedings. Doty says the NFL arbitrator “simply disregarded the law of the shop and in doing so failed to meet his duty” under the collective bargaining agreement. The issue was how the enhanced personal conduct policy (which increases a suspension for players involved with domestic violence from two games to six games) was applied in Peterson’s case. Because this policy was implemented after the injuries occurred to Peterson’s son, the NFLPA argued that the prior standard of punishment should apply. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith says in a statement that the decision is a “victory for the rule of law, due process and fairness.”
Our collective bargaining agreement has rules for implementation of the personal conduct policy and when those rules are violated, our union always stands up to protect our players’ rights. This is yet another example why neutral arbitration is good for our players, good for the owners and good for our game.
Signs $100m deal
Kris Jenner signs a $100 million deal with E! that will secure herself, Kourtney, Khloe, Kim, Kendall and Kylie spots on Keeping Up With the Kardashians on the network for the next four years. Source:
You’ll be seeing a lot more of the Kardashian family. This is a huge deal, which will see their involvement with the network and its digital properties expand well into the future.
Charged with insulting Erdogan
Buyuksarac faces up to 4.5 years in prison on charges of insulting Erdogan. Buyuksarac posted a satirical poem (that criticizes Erdogan) on her Instagram site.
I shared it because I found it funny…If you Google the poem I shared (the one that does not include any insult), you will see 960,000 more people shared it… it’s interesting, isn’t it?
Court orders compensation
A New York federal court has ordered compensation of $219 million from the PLO and Palestine Authority for victims of attacks to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and Hamas. Families of the victims demand compensation over shootings and bombings in 2002 to 2004 that had killed 33 people and injured over four hundred. Plaintiffs’ lawyer Nitsana Darshan-Leitner:
Now the PLO and the PA know there is a price for supporting terrorism.
The defendants announce that are seeking for appeal. Palestinian Deputy Information Minister, Mahmoud Khalifa:
Deeply disappointed by the adverse decision issued today in a New York court.
DUI arrest
Patton is arrested for DUI in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, and is released on $997 bond.
Capital murder conviction
A Texas jury rejects Routh’s insanity plea finding him guilty of capital murder in the deaths of Kyle and Littlefield. Judge Jason Cashon sentences Routh to life in prison without possiblity for parole. Littlefield’s mother, Judy Littlefield:
We’ve waited two years for God to get justice for us on behalf of our son and, as always, God has proved to be faithful. We’re so thrilled that we have the verdict that we have tonight.
Class action lawsuit
A class action lawsuit is filed in a California federal court by plaintiff Frank Lucido alleging that Purina’s Beneful dry dog food causes illness and death to thousands of dogs. Jeff Cereghino, one of the attorneys representing Lucido:
If it’s a hundred or so, it’s like, ‘Okay, a lot of dogs eat Beneful; things happen.’ But when you start getting into the thousands… The long and short of it is the complaint pyramid is such that even with the Internet–easy access to complain about things– there’s still a very large percentage of folks who simply don’t complain, or whose vet tells ‘em, ‘We don’t know what happened,’ and they’re not drawing conclusions or leaping to assumptions. But when I look at 4,000? Holy hell, there’s a lot of people out here. There seems to be somewhat of a singular event. [The dogs] are vomiting. They’re having liver problems, failures. I’m not a vet, but you look at some of this stuff and say, ‘OK, we’re starting to have similar symptoms across the board, and we’re starting to have causation.
Gets 5-year sentence
As part of the Egyptian government’s crackdown on dissent, Abd El Fattah is sentenced to five years in prison. He is convicted of taking part in an unauthorized demonstration against military trials of civilians. He must also pay a $13,000 fine.
Signs 4-year deal
Arians gets a four-year contract to remain with the Cardinals through the 2018 NFL season.
Sues toy maker
A&E sues toy maker The Wish Factory for over $320,000 following claims that the network never received money it was owed for profits made by the company near the end of 2013 on sales of Duck Dynasty merchandise.
One year, one day sentence
McDonnell is sentenced to one year and one day in prison for her role in a bribery scheme.
I would ask in your sentence today that you consider the punishment I’ve already received. My marriage is broken, my family is hurting and my reputation is in shatters. The venom from that snake has poisoned my marriage, has poisoned my family, has poisoned the commonwealth that I love.