Mississippi
Brett Favre: how a scandal in Mississippi tarnished an NFL hero
The Inexperienced Bay Packers open their preseason schedule in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers on Friday night time. Matt LaFleur’s crew are among the many favourites for the Tremendous Bowl and their veteran quarterback can be aiming for a uncommon particular person triumph.
Aaron Rodgers was named the NFL’s Most Invaluable Participant in 2020 and 2021, and sealing the accolade once more after a season throughout which he’ll flip 39 can be a shocking achievement for the Packers star. Just one participant has gained the award 3 times in succession: his predecessor at Lambeau Area, Brett Favre.
The 52-year-old retired in 2011, his standing as one of many all-time nice quarterbacks past dispute. Representing the Packers from 1992 to 2007, he’s, like Rodgers, a Tremendous Bowl champion.
Longevity additionally helps clarify his movie star: he made an NFL-record 297 consecutive begins over 19 seasons, throughout which his gunslinging type – his big throws downfield typically resulted in as many interceptions as touchdowns – endeared him to followers. The streak led to 2010 aged 41 when he was with the Minnesota Vikings and suffered a shoulder damage.
The endurance feats got here at a value: for a time, Favre was hooked on painkillers. However, if something, his struggles solely made him extra widespread within the swathes of center America that love a blue collar hero and represent a big a part of the NFL’s fanbase. They cheered after he led the Packers to a Monday Evening Soccer victory over the Raiders the day after the loss of life of his father; flooded him with assist when his spouse, Deanna, was recognized with breast most cancers (she recovered and arrange a basis); and stood by him when he entered a rehab clinic.
Even an allegation that he despatched specific pictures to a feminine sideline reporter – an NFL investigation mentioned there was not sufficient proof to determine Favre’s guilt – failed to significantly dent his recognition.
Now Favre is linked to a posh and wide-ranging welfare fraud scandal in his dwelling state of Mississippi that has engulfed politicians, state officers and former wrestlers. And the truth that those that have suffered are the working-class individuals many noticed him as representing might trigger lasting harm to his standing as an NFL folks hero.
It emerged in 2020 that as much as $94m in federal funds earmarked to assist a few of the most weak individuals in Mississippi, the nation’s most poverty-stricken state, was spent inappropriately, and in some circumstances, illegally. The state auditor, Shad White, has described the embezzlement, which prompted six individuals to be criminally charged, because the “largest public fraud in state historical past”. Final yr White issued calls for for the return of greater than $77m in misspent taxpayer cash handed out beneath the Momentary Help for Needy Households (TANF) programme.
Amongst these named by the auditor had been Favre and three members of the DiBiase wrestling household: Ted DiBiase Sr – who wrestled within the WWF as The Million Greenback Man, after which based a Christian ministry which allegedly acquired $1.7m in TANF funds – and his son Brett, one other one-time wrestler. Brett DiBiase allegedly was paid $48,000 to offer schooling classes on drug abuse however didn’t train the lessons, as a substitute heading for therapy at a luxurious rehab centre in Malibu. In December 2020, Brett DiBiase pled responsible to creating fraudulent statements.
The Mississippi Group Schooling Middle, one in all two non-profit organisations concerned within the case, paid Favre $1.1m for talking and promotional engagements and autograph signings in 2017 and 2018. White has mentioned there was no indication that Favre knew the cash got here from the misspent federal grants and Favre has not confronted felony fees over any of the allegations.
Favre has mentioned little in public however has denied the auditor’s declare that he didn’t present as much as the occasions in query. He insisted in 2020 that he “has by no means acquired monies for obligations I didn’t meet” and asserted that his basis has donated “almost $10m to underserved and underprivileged youngsters in Mississippi and Wisconsin”. In 2021 he said he “would by no means knowingly take funds meant to assist our neighbors in want”.
Favre returned the $1.1m, though he denies failing to satisfy talking obligations. The state can be demanding a further $228,000 in curiosity. With the objective of recovering over $20m by means of a civil course of, in Might Mississippi sued greater than three-dozen people and entities, together with Favre, two lesser-known former soccer gamers and the DiBiases.
However Favre’s profitable look charges usually are not the one cause he’s beneath scrutiny. The previous quarterback, who suffered a concussion on the final play of his profession, instructed Sports activities Illustrated in 2017 that he invested in Prevacus, a Florida-based start-up firm aiming to develop a counter-concussion neurosteroid that may very well be nasally administered after a jarring hit.
Nancy and Zachary New, a mom and son who ran the Mississippi Group Schooling Middle, pleaded responsible in April to fees of fraud in opposition to the federal government. This Might’s lawsuit, which has a bit titled “unlawful diversions of TANF funds to counterpoint sports activities celebrities”, claims that the Information, Favre and different figures linked with Prevacus conferred – even holding a gathering at Favre’s dwelling – and the centre transferred $2.1m in state welfare grants to Prevacus. Favre has but to answer the allegations and a consultant for him didn’t return a request for remark.
Then there’s the volleyball facility. Mississippi At this time, the non-profit information outlet that has led the best way in protecting the scandal, reported that Nancy and Zachary New directed $5m in welfare funds in direction of the development of a volleyball area on the College of Southern Mississippi. Favre was an enthusiastic booster of the challenge. The college is his alma mater and one in all his daughters performed volleyball there. Mississippi At this time revealed final month that Brad Pigott, an lawyer carefully investigating the volleyball fee for the state welfare company, was fired in contentious circumstances, ensuing within the postponement of deliberate depositions, together with Favre’s.
Pigott instructed the Guardian he would have had “many questions” for Favre, together with probing the extent of his information relating to the supply of the cash and his understanding of what constitutes a legitimate use of TANF funds.
“The entire sample of informal expenditures of tens of millions of {dollars} for people who find themselves not themselves needy,” Pigott mentioned, is “as morally unsuitable as it’s legally unsuitable. Due to the plain results of our racist previous as a state we’ve got immense wants.”
Bennie Thompson represents a Jackson-area district the place 38% of kids are under the poverty line. “TANF funds shouldn’t be going to construct volleyball stadiums,” the Democratic congressman instructed the Guardian. “It’s Robin Hood in reverse. Taking from the poor and giving to the wealthy.”
Thompson added that he’s “completely incensed” on the misuse, which he termed “as egregious because it will get”, and desires an intensive federal inquiry. “There’s no query that the cash’s misspent, there’s no query that the individuals who benefited from the cash had been ineligible, and so, for no matter cause, as a result of a few of them are wealthy, well-known, politically linked, they haven’t been indicted, or any indication that they are going to be,” he mentioned.
Favre endorsed the present governor, Tate Reeves, in 2019, describing him as “a good friend”. Textual content messages seen by Mississippi At this time present Favre’s shut relationships with senior state officers, together with the previous governor, Phil Bryant (who has denied any wrongdoing). The report contains messages during which Favre and his enterprise associate talk about giving Bryant shares in order that the governor would lend his assist to Prevacus (Bryant denies he ever thought-about taking inventory within the firm).
Favre, who earned $141m in wage throughout his profession, fees $400 to report brief personalised video messages on Cameo and was the positioning’s hottest athlete in 2020. He makes occasional media appearances, exuding an elder-statesman enchantment as a silver-haired former ironman with a clean Southern accent and a laidback appeal.
“One of many issues I’m most happy with about all of the issues I’ve been in a position to obtain is with the ability to give away a lot cash and assist so many individuals,” Favre instructed a reporter in early 2020 as he mentioned his charitable efforts. “Not at all are we good, however we do attempt to give again.”
Now, as investigations proceed, the main target is on what was taken throughout an unpleasant episode that spotlights the facility of wealth and movie star in addition to an ideological opposition amongst conservatives to handing out advantages to the poor.
Across the time that public {dollars} flowed with scant oversight to Favre, the DiBiases and different well-connected and rich people and firms, hundreds of struggling households in Mississippi had been rejected after they utilized for help value as much as $170 a month for a household of three. In 2016, in line with ThinkProgress, 11,717 low-income Mississippi residents utilized for TANF advantages. The Republican-led state accepted and enrolled solely 167 individuals.
“Our state has created an entire lot of limitations to even getting onto TANF within the first place,” Carol Burnett instructed the Guardian. She is government director of the Mississippi Low Earnings Youngster Care Initiative, a non-profit advocacy organisation that goals to assist strengthen girls’s financial safety.
“The variety of individuals on welfare has shrunk so low that our state now has just a bit over 200 adults in the entire state which can be nonetheless on TANF,” Burnett added. “Mississippi has an extended historical past of hostility to federally funded public advantages that assist the poor.” Requested how she felt in regards to the welfare scandal, she replied: “outraged can be a phrase.”
Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Mississippi high school Athlete of the Week for August25-31. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. The poll will close Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email Tyler@scorebooklive.com. For questions/issues with he poll, email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.
Editor’s note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Kohl Bradley, DB, George County: Racked up 17 tackles and returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown in a 33-7 win over East Central.
DaJuan Colbert, DB, Natchez: Recorded 15 tackles, forced one fumble and returned another one 75 yards for a touchdown in a 58-50 win over Hancock.
Garrison Davis, QB, Holmes County Central: Completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-6 win over Vicksburg.
Xzavion Gainwell, DB, Yazoo County: Recorded nine tackles, an interception and an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 20-16 win over South Delta.
Elijah Jones, RB, West Jones: Had 24 carries 226 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-6 win over Laurel.
Kingi McNair, WR, Pearl: Caught four passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-20 win over Neshoba Central.
Ashton Nichols, DB, Clinton: Recorded six tackles to go with two big pass breakups, a blocked punt and a return for a touchdown in a 26-20 win over Warren Central.
Ethan Prater, RB, Pisgah: Rushed for 132 yards on 27 carries with three scores and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass in a 33-32 win over North Forrest.
Glen Singleton, RB, Madison Central: Rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries with all four touchdowns in a 27-20 win over Ocean Springs.
Damarius Yates, RB, Kemper County: Rushed for 193 yards on 17 carries and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown in a 38-15 win over Kosciusko.
Mississippi
‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – It’s been one month since Thalia Mara Hall closed its doors due to a mold outbreak.
Innovation Arts and Entertainment is the company responsible for bringing Broadway productions to Jackson.
Representatives from the company visited Jackson after hearing the building had been closed.
CEO Adam Epstein says the City of Jackson did not inform them of the news.
“We did not find out from anybody within the city. We found out by reading news clippings forwarded to us by other people in Jackson,” Epstein said.
Certified Industrial Hygienic Testing reported visible dirt, debris, and suspected mold growth on many surfaces.
Epstein fears this could change the possibility of bigger shows coming to the capital city.
“They’re going to skip over us because of this mess. We need to show as a community that Jackson cares about this valuable asset and that we demand our elected leaders to support and treat this really, incredibly valuable asset with the TLC it deserves,” he said.
Thalia Mara Hall is the only venue in the state that can host a Broadway production due to the technical needs and accommodations required.
“Touring theatrical shows. If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all,” he said.
Broadway in Jackson is not only a great source of entertainment in the city, but it’s also beneficial economically.
“Those other businesses don’t benefit. The city doesn’t earn tax revenue from events that we present. They don’t earn rental income from the events we present. They don’t earn facility fees from the events we present. This is a real tragedy. It’s unacceptable.”
The well-being of the potential audience is the company’s main priority.
“I will not risk our ticket buyers’ health and safety and comfort. Our shows can and will cancel before we’d ever put somebody in jeopardy. We’ve issued a 100% guarantee of a full refund if the venue is not given a clean bill of health,” Epstein said.
All shows will be canceled on a case-to-case basis.
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Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting a probe into Saturday’s crash that killed seven and injured 36 people.
The deadly bus crash in Mississippi that killed seven people and injured dozens of others early Saturday occurred after the vehicle experienced a tire failure, causing it to run off the road and overturn, officials and authorities said.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, are conducting a probe into Saturday’s crash that left seven people dead and another 36 people injured. The collision occurred at about 12:40 a.m. on Interstate 20 near Vicksburg, Mississippi, when the bus left the roadway and overturned.
The bus, which authorities described as a 2018 Volvo commercial passenger bus, traveled westbound when its left front tire failed, NTSB member Todd Inman said at a news conference Sunday. The bus then moved onto an embankment and rolled over on its left side.
Inman added that investigators will be at the scene for at least another week and are looking into several factors of the crash, including the vehicle’s mechanical condition, motor carrier safety, the condition and experience of the driver, and environmental factors.
According to U.S. Department of Transportation records, the bus was operated by Autobuses Regiomontanos. Records show that in the 24 months before Saturday, the transit company’s vehicles were involved in one fatal crash, two injury collisions, and a crash requiring a tow truck.
The transit company has over 20 years of experience and provides trips between more than 100 destinations throughout Mexico and the United States, according to Autobuses Regiomontanos’ website.
“Everyone at the NTSB sends their expressions of sorrow for everything that the survivors and victims of this crash went through,” Inman said.
7 killed, 36 injured in bus crash
The bus carried a total of 41 passengers and two drivers, according to authorities. It was traveling from Atlanta to Dallas when the incident occurred.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash, according to Master Sergeant Kervin K. Stewart with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Six people were pronounced dead at the scene and another person died later at a hospital, Stewart said.
Another 36 people were transported to area hospitals.
Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey said two victims killed in the crash were identified by their mother as a 16-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, according to The New York Times. Authorities were working to identify the other victims.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
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