NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL reminded its players Friday that they are prohibited from taking part in any form of illegal gambling and betting on league games.

Related Articles

State tennis: Hill-Murray tandem wins doubles title

Frederick: Chris Finch is at his best when he’s not beholden to anything or anyone

North Carolina transfer Cade Tyson can have ‘really good year’ for Gophers

The NBA hoped to begin its season on a strong note. Now it faces a gambling scandal

How a 2018 Supreme Court decision paved the way for meteoric growth in legal sports betting

In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league asked all 32 teams Friday to reiterate key aspects of its gambling policy and make the document readily available to players.

“We all have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the Shield by ensuring that our game is played fairly, honestly and to the best of a player’s ability,” the NFL management council wrote in the memo. “NFL players must also take appropriate steps to safeguard the game against gambling-related risks that may undermine the confidence and trust of the fans.”

The reminder followed an FBI investigation into illicit gambling activities resulted in the arrests of NBA coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and others.

“These developments underscore the risks that all sports are facing in the current environment and serve as a reminder of the need to adhere strictly to the NFL gambling policy,” the NFL wrote.

According to the NFL policy, players must not:

place any bet on NFL Football;
throw or fix any NFL game or event, or otherwise manipulate or attempt to manipulate any play or other aspect of an NFL game;
share confidential, non-public information regarding any NFL game, player or event with any third party.

The NFL Players Association sent a similar memo to players Friday pointing out that they should not bet on the NFL, gamble at the team facility or while traveling for a road game or staying at a team hotel, have someone bet for them, share “inside information,” enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season except to access another part of the casino, or promote any form or gambling or any gambling entity.

NFL players are allowed to legally place bets on other sports as long as they are off club property or not traveling with the team. They also are allowed to take part in traditional fantasy football leagues (prize money cannot exceed $250) and legally gamble at casinos on personal time.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Jonathan Weinhagen resigned from the Mounds View school board on Friday amid allegations that he embezzled more than $200,000 from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce during his time as its president and CEO.

Jonathan Weinhagen in a photo submitted for a Mounds View school board candidate profile. (Courtesy of Jonathan Weinhagen)

Weinhagen, 42, of Shoreview, stepped down from the elected school board seat effective immediately, Mounds View Public Schools said in a notice to district families and staff Friday afternoon. He had been on the seven-member board since June 2014.

The board will need to discuss steps to fill the rest of his term, which ends Jan. 3, 2028, the notice said.

Board chair Diane Glasheen and school district superintendent Chris Lennox did not respond Friday to requests from the Pioneer Press asking for comment.

The five-count indictment alleges Weinhagen ran a fraud scheme between December 2019 and June 2024 — when he abruptly left the chamber — by setting sham contracts with a consulting company that he made up. He allegedly deposited money from the contracts into a bank account he opened under the phony company’s name and used it for personal expenses.

A grand jury on Wednesday indicted Weinhagen on one count each of wire fraud, mail fraud, attempted bank fraud and providing a false statement on a loan application. He made an initial court appearance on the charges Thursday, and was released from custody on an unsecured $25,000 bond.

The indictment also alleges Weinhagen stole $30,000 that the chamber had given to Crime Stoppers for reward money following the shootings of three children in Minneapolis in May 2021. After the cases went unsolved, Weinhagen asked Crime Stoppers to return the money in May 2022 and directed the nonprofit to send the refund check to his home, claiming it was the chamber’s new address. He allegedly used the money for personal expenses.

Weinhagen is also accused of using a chamber credit card for personal expenses, including for first-class airfare and a two-bedroom oceanfront room in Honolulu. He created fake documents to make it appear as though the expenses were for legitimate chamber business, the indictment alleges.

Related Articles

US imposes sanctions on Colombia’s president and family members over drug trade allegations

Editorial: Trump’s Santos commutation is typically contemptuous of ‘law and order’

Lionel Laurent: Louvre robbery gang used a brazen new criminal blueprint

Former chamber exec, Mounds View school board member Jonathan Weinhagen indicted

Family of St. Paul man who died in prison calls for accountability from DOC

After leaving the chamber, prosecutors say, Weinhagen tried to defraud a bank of $54,661 by falsely claiming on a loan application that he worked for a Minnesota-based restaurant holding company and providing a phony bank stub showing a $425,000 annual salary. The bank denied the loan.

Weinhagen worked at the St. Paul Area Regional Chamber of Commerce for about six and a half years, including more than two years as vice president, before departing in October 2016 for the Minneapolis chamber. His resignation from the Minneapolis organization followed an internal investigation that projected a $500,000 deficit in 2024.

An attorney for Weinhagen is not listed in the federal court file, and he has not responded to a message left for him asking to respond to the allegations.

Class 2A

Unseeded entering the week, the doubles duo of Sedona Stumpf and Brooke Gabel ran the table through an upset-filled bracket in Bloomington to win the Class 2A crown.

Stumpf and Gabel dropped the opening set of the title bout to Holy Angels’ Josie Brown and Katie Jung 4-6, but rallied to win the final two sets 6-1, 6-0.

Holy Angels’ Elizabeth Payne won the singles title via a thrilling victory in the final, where she edged Mankato East’s Sam Williams in a third-set tiebreaker.

Class 3A

Mounds View sisters Rory and Reese Wahlstrand reached the finals in their attempt to defend their state doubles title, but fell 6-1, 6-0 to Edina’s Raya Hou and Lauryn Schenk in the championship match Friday at Baseline Tennis Center.

Rochester Mayo’s Aoife Loftus defeated her teammate, Malea Diehn, 6-1, 6-3 to win the singles title. Loftus upset top-seeded Cassandra Li of Eagan in the semifinals in three sets.

Class A

Minnehaha Academy’s Chloe Alley defended her singles title with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Leah Maddock of Osakis, while Breck’s Addie Berman and Abbey Perry won the doubles title in straight sets over Litchfield’s Isla Dille and Molly Patten.

Related Articles

Girls tennis: Rochester Mayo earns third straight state title over Minnetonka

Girls tennis roundup: Mounds View reaches Class 3A semifinals

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and LISA MASCARO, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon confirmed Friday that it has accepted an anonymous $130 million gift to help pay members of the military during the government shutdown, raising ethical questions after President Donald Trump had announced that a friend had offered the gift to defray any shortfalls.

Related Articles

US imposes sanctions on Colombia’s president and family members over drug trade allegations

Trump-Kim meeting speculation flares ahead of US president’s visit to South Korea

Trump says a Canadian ad misstated Ronald Reagan’s views on tariffs. Here are the facts and context

Government shutdown likely means no inflation data next month for 1st time in decades

How a 2018 Supreme Court decision paved the way for meteoric growth in legal sports betting

While large and unusual, the gift amounts to a small contribution toward the billions needed to cover service member paychecks. The Trump administration told Congress last week that it used $6.5 billion to make payroll. The next payday is coming within the week, and it is unclear if the administration will again move money around to ensure the military does not go without compensation.

“That’s what I call a patriot,” Trump said during a White House event Thursday when he disclosed the payment from the donor.

The president declined to name the person, whom he called “a friend of mine,” saying the man didn’t want the recognition.

The Pentagon confirmed it had accepted the donation on Thursday “under its general gift acceptance authority.”

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries and benefits,” said Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon. “We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”

Congress is at a stalemate over the government shutdown, now on track to become one of the longest federal closures ever, in its 24th day. Neither Republicans, who have control of the House and Senate, nor Democrats, in the minority, are willing to budge in their broader standoff over health care funding.

Payment for service members is a key concern among lawmakers of both parties as well as a point of political leverage. The Trump administration shifted $8 billion from military research and development funds to make payroll last week, ensuring that military compensation did not lapse.

But it is unclear if the Trump administration will be willing — or able — to shift money again next week as tensions rise over the protracted shutdown.

While the $130 million is a hefty sum, it would cover just a fraction of the billions needed for military paychecks. Trump said the donation was to cover any “shortfall.”

What’s unclear, however, is the regulations around such a donation.

Pentagon policy says authorities “must consult with their appropriate Ethics Official before accepting such a gift valued in excess of $10,000 to determine whether the donor is involved in any claims, procurement actions, litigation, or other particular matters involving the Department that must be considered prior to gift acceptance.”