Green Bay News

There will soon be less fluoride in tap water nationwide. The federal government is lowering the recommended amount.

Experts say kids have had too much fluoride, and it’s actually affecting their teeth negatively.

While the reduction is almost in half, one local dentist told us the benefits of the decay-preventing mineral far outweigh the negative effects.
The mineral fluoride, added to water for decades to help strengthen children’s teeth, could now be causing spotting on tooth enamel.
That’s according to the federal government.

But local dentist Craig Janssen says it hasn’t been a problem locally.

“Over the course of all these years, I haven’t really seen much in the way of fluorosis. It’s a pretty rare event,” said Janssen, who has been a dentist for nearly thirty years.

Monday, the Centers for Disease Control released new guidelines, reducing the standard fluoride level to point 7 parts per million nationwide.

However, the Green Bay Water Utilities says it already made the change a few years ago.

“We were adding it about 1 to 1.1 parts per million and now we’re at 0.7,” said Nancy Quirk with the Green Bay Water Utility. “People are getting fluoride from other sources, such as toothpaste and fluoridation from their dentists.”

According to the website of Fluoride Action Network, an anti-fluoride group, six Wisconsin communities since 2010 have voted not to add fluoride to their water supplies.

Quirk says here in Green Bay, most health professionals want fluoride in the water.

“People who can’t afford dentistry they have to get fluoride somehow, and the water supply is the best way to do that at this point,” said Quirk.

Janssen agrees that fluoride can be good for teeth, in moderation.

“When it’s used at a specified amount, I think we’re fine. But more is not necessarily better,” said Janssen.

DE PERE – Area elder law attorneys and financial representatives say not enough people know about changes to the state’s Estate Recovery Program.

The changes mean it’s now more difficult to protect a person’s financial resources after that person dies. Those resources include a home or cottage as well as cash, if that person has had long term care paid for by Medicaid or Badger Care Plus.

For nine months, the state has had more power in trying to recover money it paid former Medicaid recipients.

“With these estate recovery issues, it becomes a bigger and bigger challenge to protect that family nest egg,” said Dan Walsh of Stellpflug Law.

Federal law requires each state to have an Estate Recovery Program. It’s designed to reclaim Medicaid money spent on long-term care like nursing homes or in-home medical services.

Starting last August, a surviving spouse’s estate could be used to recover that money although the actual recovery wouldn’t begin until after the surviving spouse’s death. Life estates, joint tenancy property, and life insurance are also now among other sources the state can use.

“Frankly I don’t think a lot of folks know about it, but given the cost of this type of care, I understand where the state is coming from,” said Walsh. “Likewise, I understand that families want to try to protect their nest eggs and that’s the inherit conflict.”

Walsh’s recommendation to protect the nest egg is long-term planning.

“We’re talking about this with our clients at 30, 40, 50 years old,” said Kyle Vander Loop of Northwestern Mutual. “A lot of people try to delay the topic until they are 60, 70s and 80s. I think it’s just they don’t want to visualize them self in that capacity.”

Vander Loop says if people choose to rely on Medicaid, assets and estates meant for family could end up going to the state.

“The costs of care are going up every single year,” said Vander Loop. “I think that could affect a lot of people’s nest eggs or that family farm of how are they going to be able to transfer that to the next generation.”

Money recovered through the Estate Recovery Program is used for other assistance for the state’s current 1.1 million Medicaid recipients.

When the changes were enacted, the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau predicted the state would recover $8.3 million in the 11 months ending with the end of the state budget cycle June 30th.

Green Bay Water Utility provides various resources and information on fluoride.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, for now, is not returning $5,000 her 2012 campaign received from the leadership PAC of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who has been indicted on federal bribery charges.

Baldwin’s spokesman John Kraus said Monday that she believes the charges against Menendez are serious but “everyone is innocent until proven guilty and he is entitled to his day in court.”

Kraus says if Menendez is convicted, Baldwin will return the money.

The Wisconsin Republican Party is calling on Baldwin and former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, whose 2010 re-election campaign accepted $5,000 from Menendez’s PAC in 2010, to return the money.

A spokesman for Feingold had no immediate comment.

Other Democrats across the country have returned or donated money they were given by Menendez.

Just hours after Freddie Gray’s funeral, rioters took the streets of Baltimore April 27 to protest the death of Gray, who died after being injured in police custody.

APPLETON – An Appleton North student got a big surprise Monday during lunch.

Cousins Subs and its Make it Better Foundation announced that Kaitlin Squier was one of four finalists of the third annual Wisconsin Sports Awards Scholarship Contest.

Squier was chosen due to her volunteer work and athletic participation.

She says she’s excited to see her hard work paying off, “It’s great. It’s like, the hard work I did to write this, it pays off and it feels really good.”

Squier has volunteered with the Special Olympics and the Fox Cities YMCA, as well as other community events throughout the Appleton area.

The U.S. Supreme Court will begin hearing a case Tuesday that could determine the future of same-sex marriage in America.

States have essentially been on their own so far with same-sex marriages allowed in Wisconsin for the past six months.

If the high court strikes down the remaining gay marriage bans across the country, Wisconsin would not be impacted. If the court rules the bans can stay in place, there could be a lot of confusion in states that previously had bans struck down.

Lance Kelley, a government instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay, says the battle surrounding same-sex marriage continues to evolve rapidly.

“This has relatively been pretty quick in the last two years where things have really moved forward for same-sex marriage issues,” said Kelley.

He says this is among the biggest cases the Supreme Court has heard in decades.

Same-sex couples cannot get married right now in 13 states plus parts of Missouri.

Same-sex marriage in Wisconsin was banned nine years ago after voters approved a constitutional amendment. Last June a federal appeals court ruled that ban was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court affirmed that ruling in October by choosing not to take up Wisconsin’s appeal of the lower court decision.

The case the court will hear Tuesday comes from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. Those states had their marriage bans upheld by a lower court.

Kelley says if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the states and upholds the bans, other states that stopped enforcing their bans, like Wisconsin, would face plenty of questions.

“What’s going to happen to the previous people who are married? People out of state? I think that’s another issue. Are you going to accept marriage licenses from across the 36 states that have it now? It’s a very complex issue here,” said Kelley.

If the court rules that same-sex couples have a right to marry, the remaining anti-gay marriage laws in the U.S. would be invalidated. The court is expected to issue its decision by the end of June.

Both sides have already laid out their arguments for Tuesday. Gay marriage supporters say states lack any valid reason to deny the ability to marry. States that want to keep their bans respond that the issue should be left to voters and not the legal system.

HOWARD – Students at an area school learned a lesson about acceptance and tolerance from a group of entertainer-athletes usually found in a ring.

Many of the wrestlers, like Oshkosh native Hornswoggle, shared personal stories of what it was like to be young and a victim of bullying.

“It hits home for me because, obviously, with my stature, I was bullied quite a bit as a kid and you always, kind of, learn to deal with it,” said WWE Superstar Hornswoggle.

WWE Diva Natalya talks to students about being bullied when she was in school.“I was teased because of my voice. I was teased for a lot of different reasons and there were times that I didn’t even want to go to school,” said WWE Diva Natalya.

The wrestlers stressed the importance of standing up for others and telling adults if someone is being bulled.

“But you’ve got to tell someone. So many kids hold it in and they let it get to them instead of telling a teacher or telling an adult,” Hornswoggle said.

In a world of entertainment wrestling, a harder fall, meaner punch and a dropkick could mean a bigger fan reaction.

It may seem ironic that something that could potentially cause pain is also promoting tolerance and respect.

“What we do on TV is entertainment. It’s just like going to a movie. But in our real lives, we all do so much work in the community,” Natalya said.

Students did more than listen to speeches, some were also given awards for promoting a message of anti-bullying in school.

“It’s important to get to know someone before you can judge who they are now,” said Katelyn Kane a Bay View Middle School student.

Show tolerance and respect – that’s the message the wrestlers are hoping the Bay View Middle schoolers learn.

In recent years, the state of Wisconsin has had a serious rooting interest in the NFL Draft with high profile college players such as J.J. Watt (Pewaukee), Travis Frederick (Sharon), Kevin Zeitler (Waukesha), Colin Kapernick (Milwaukee) and Joe Thomas (Brookfield) all earning first- or second-round picks.

This year, several in-state standouts will have the opportunity to hear their name called during the three-day event, including a handful on Day 1.

Headlining the group is Wisconsin star running back Melvin Gordon. The Kenosha native is coming off one of the most productive seasons in college football history, amassing 2,587 yards, second most all-time, and 29 touchdowns. For his efforts, the tailback was named the Doak Walker Award winner and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. A first-team All-American, Gordon’s ability to run, catch and block at the line of scrimmage has him listed as first-round player on countless draft boards.

Following in the footsteps of former skilled backs like Montee Ball, James White and Ron Dayne, Gordon, who measures at 6’1, 215 pounds, should exceed his predecessors’ productivity at the next level. With three years of premier college football under his belt, the Bradford High alum can step in and contribute right away.

Coaches rave about his character and work ethic, a plus for a player that will draw plenty of attention at the next level. Teams with a first-day need for a starting backfield contributor include the Chargers, Lions, Cardinals and Ravens.

Gordon’s high school teammate, Trae Waynes, seems to be a consensus lock for Thursday’s first round. The Michigan State cornerback is one of the top defensive backs listed after a second-team All-American season in which he recorded 46 tackles and three interceptions. Several draft analysts have Waynes as the top player from the state to be taken in this year’s draft.

In a league where passing has become the primary offensive attack, the 6-foot, 186-pound Thorpe Award semifinalist is surging up the boards after an outstanding NFL Combine. Waynes’ speed is a high-priced commodity (4.31 40-yard dash) and the fact he’s given up just two touchdowns in the Big Ten in the past two seasons can’t be overlooked.

Several teams in the top 15 selections struggled in pass defense last year and could use to upgrade, including the Giants, Rams and Vikings.

Besides Wisconsin and Michigan State, Minnesota is another school with projectable draft value. Defensive tackle Cameron Botticelli, a Milwaukee native, was a three-year starter for the Golden Gophers and is coming off a senior year in which he recorded 29 tackles, nine for a loss and three sacks. Botticelli was noted as having a solid pro day and could sneak into the late rounds on Saturday.

Green Bay native Thurgood Dennis, a Notre Dame High School graduate, is coming off a stellar senior season at Division III Eau Claire. The reigning National Track Athlete of the Year appeared at the Badgers’ Pro Day, and hopes to get an invite to a rookie mini-camp.

Other in-state college players with draft day or free agent aspirations include Minnesota guard Zac Epping (Kenosha), Iowa defensive end Mike Hardy (Kimberly), Texas A&M kicker Josh Lambo (Middleton), Purdue tight end Justin Sinz (Edgar), Wisconsin guard Dallas Lewallen (Berlin) and Michigan punter Will Hagerup (Whitefish Bay)

The Badgers look to continue an impressive trend of recent, sending yet another offensive lineman to the NFL Draft. Tackle Rob Havenstein is coming off an appearance at the NFL Combine and could receive a phone call that he’s been selected on either Friday or Saturday. The Maryland native started all 41 games over the past three seasons at right tackle. At 6’7, 320 pounds, the mammoth lineman should be a fixture at the next level for some time.

 

 

 

 

 

The Green Bay Packers enter the 2015 NFL Draft needing to fill holes on defense after casting away middle linebackers A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones and watching cornerbacks Tramon Williams (Browns) and Davon House (Jaguars) go elsewhere in free agency.

With a loaded offense, if the Packers can retool their defense maybe they can take that step to the Super Bowl next season.

With B.J. Raji and Letroy Guion returning to the middle of the defensive line next season, and assuming they play to their potential, the middle linebackers should be left open to make plays. If that’s the case, you don’t need a Ray Lewis to make plays, just a solid player.

Green Bay Packers’ Casey Hayward celebrates after intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Furthermore, if the Packers use Clay Matthews inside like they did last season maybe middle linebacker isn’t a huge need. Maybe. Still, expect the Packers to shore up that position.

But cornerback appears the team’s biggest need. As of now, Sam Shields and Casey Hayward are penciled in as the starters with Demetri Goodson and maybe Micah Hyde as depth.

That’s not a lot of depth and what if an injury occurs? Additionally, the NFL is such a passing league can a team have enough cornerbacks?

The Packers’ pass defense was solid last season, ranking 10th in passing yards allowed (226.4) and tied for 14th in TD passes allowed (26). That helped the Packers rank tied for 13th in scoring defense at 21.8 ppg.

According to multiple mock drafts, there are 12 cornerback candidates that could be selected in the first three rounds of the draft, meaning the Packers should be able to address a need.

Maybe because of the depth the Packers don’t need to pick a cornerback in Round 1, but they need to bulk up the depth, especially since Hayward has never been a full-time starter.

It might be wise for the Packers to avoid a cornerback in Round 1 if the last five cornerbacks they’ve selected in Round 1 are any indication. In 2004, they picked Ahmad Carroll (25th), in 1999 Antuan Edwards (25th), in 1995 Craig Newsome (32nd), in 1992 Terrell Buckley (5th) and 1991 Vinnie Clark (19th).

None had a long career with the Packers but Newsome was part of the 1996 Super Bowl champion team. Newsome then tore his ACL in 1997 and his last season with the Packers was 1998.

GM Ted Thompson has only targeted cornerback once in the first three rounds since taking Pat Lee in the second round in 2008. That should change this year.

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

APPLETON – Bimal Rajbhandari is one of four Nepali students among the student population at Lawrence University and doing what he can to help his country from thousands of miles away.

Rajbhandari, 22, is a sophomore double majoring in math and developmental economics. He’s also working double-time on homework and trying to organize a series of campus events to raise money for the Red Cross.

Rajbhandari says most of his immediate family in the capital of Kathmandu is okay, but did lose his grand-aunt and a close friend in the earthquake.

“Everybody’s depressed, it’s so chaotic,” he said. “But also, the great thing is, I have to say, I’m very proud of my countrymen right now, people could have been making use of a bad situation, to create havoc, to steal, but everyone is trying to help each other.”

He has since set up a Facebook page where he will post event information, once it’s planned. If you wish to contact Rajbhandari to help, you can email him: [email protected].

CALUMET COUNTY – One person was killed and another hurt in a crash Monday.

The crash happened on Hwy. 114 at Oneida St. in the Menasha area. Authorities on the scene say a driver headed east hit a grader. That person was pronounced dead at the scene. Another person was taken to the hospital.

The Wisconsin State Patrol was called in to reconstruct the crash to help the investigation into how it happened.

Traffic on Hwy. 114 was expected to be closed until at least 6 p.m.

FOX 11 will update this story as more information becomes available.

MADISON — Corey Clement had such a good spring practice at Wisconsin that new coach Paul Chryst thought he didn’t need carries at the spring game.

There will be enough of those to go around in the fall as Clement replaces Melvin Gordon as the Badgers’ top tailback.

Corey finished spring on high note,” said Chryst, who has consulted with Clement on how best to implement his pro-style offense. “The last couple practices, where we had a lot of football (contact), he was at his best.”

Clement, who rushed for 949 yards and nine touchdowns last year as a sophomore, certainly has big shoes to fill. Gordon opted to skip his senior season after rushing for a Big Ten-record 2,587 yards and scoring 32 touchdowns.

And although Wisconsin ranked No. 3 nationally in rushing yards last season, continuing its tradition of superb ground attacks, Clement will be working behind an inexperienced offensive line that lost three starters, including top right tackle Rob Havenstein.

Developing continuity in the rushing attack must wait until this summer, when center Dan Voltz (high ankle sprain) and guard Ray Ball (unspecified) return from injury.

Clement is definitely aware of the expectations that come with following Gordon, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. He has placed a greater emphasis this spring on holding himself accountable daily.

“With Melvin not being here, I guess I have to fight my own shadow,” Clement said after Saturday’s spring scrimmage. “Every time I go out, I’ve got to think as if Melvin were right next to me. If he’d probably run 10 yards, I’ve got to run 20.”

One big concern for Clement is increasing his lung capacity to handle a higher workload. The Badgers might be forced to lean more heavily on Clement than they’d like, because his backups – converted defensive back Dare Ogunbowale and bruising redshirt freshman Taiwan Deal – are largely untested.

Intent on ramping up his aerobic capacity while mindful of wear-and-tear on his joints, Clement has added lap swimming to his workout regimen.

“It is my time,” Clement said. “I’ve been waiting for it. Now’s my opportunity – why not take over?”

NEW YORK — The NFL draft heads to Chicago this year, with the top overall choice in our mock draft not planning to be on hand. No matter: Tampa Bay will already have let its selection know when the crowd in the Windy City gets, uh, wind of the pick.

Barring trades, a mock look at Thursday night’s first round:

1. Tampa Bay (2-14)
Player character and behavior should be even more of a deciding issue in this year’s draft. The Bucs, desperate for a quarterback, say they are convinced the guy they choose is not a bad apple and is a great prospect.
JAMEIS WINSTON, QB FLORIDA STATE

2. Tennessee Titans (2-14)
Do the Titans also go QB, or pull the trigger on a trade with someone eager to move up to get one? Hard to believe they see sixth-rounder Zach Mettenberger as the real deal, but they also love this crop’s top defensive player, Leonard Williams. Barring a deal …
MARCUS MARIOTA, QB, OREGON

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)
The Jaguars are going defense here no matter who goes in the first two slots. And that best defensive player is available …
LEONARD WILLIAMS, DE-DT, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

4. Oakland Raiders (3-13)
Al Davis would be proud of the folks now running his team if they select a breakaway threat receiver – exactly what he would have done. Philosophy hasn’t changed much in Oakland.
KEVIN WHITE, WR, WEST VIRGINIA

5. Washington Redskins (4-12)
Like Jacksonville, the Redskins are thinking defense, defense, defense. Perfect for a team representing Washington.
DANTE FOWLER JR., LB, FLORIDA

6. New York Jets (4-12)
Did we mention that many teams at the top of these proceedings are eager to bolster their defense? And will we mention it again? Uh, yeah.
VIC BEASLEY, LB, CLEMSON

7. Chicago Bears (5-11)
Trading Brandon Marshall to the Jets opened the door for one of the college wideouts to blow into Chicago and start. Receiver is a deep position in this draft, and the Bears bite immediately.
AMARI COOPER, WR, ALABAMA

8. Atlanta Falcons (6-10)
Yes, we’re beginning to sound repetitive on this, but defense is the focal point again. The Falcons can score, but they allowed 417 points last season.
SHANE RAY, DE, MISSOURI

9. New York Giants (6-10)
Eli Manning needs time to find his strong corps of receivers, especially 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year Odell Beckham Jr. Eli isn’t one to plead for a solid blocker, but he’ll get the best one in the draft, a former teammate of Beckham.
LA’EL COLLINS, OT, LSU

10. St. Louis Rams (6-10)
Another team on the prowl for behemoths in the trenches. There are several enticing prospects even with Collins gone, and the Rams find one.
BRANDON SCHERFF, OT, IOWA

11. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
While eager to help young QB Teddy Bridgewater by grabbing an offensive weapon, the Vikings also are looking for pieces in their secondary. The first DB flies off the board.
TRAE WAYNES, CB, MICHIGAN STATE

Michigan State defensive back Trae Waynes runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

12. Cleveland Browns (7-9)
One of their two first-rounders, the Browns could package to move up. But if they stay put, they can get an impact player to help their rushing defense, which is porous.
DANNY SHELTON, DT, WASHINGTON

13. New Orleans Saints (7-9)
As the Saints ponder their pick – yep, defense once again – they debate the character issue. Outside linebacker Randy Gregory has tested positive for marijuana; Kentucky’s Bud Dupree has a solid rep. Not an easy decision in the Big Easy.
RANDY GREGORY, LB, NEBRASKA

14. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
Pretty strong need here for a wideout with deep speed, but there are plenty of those in this crop. So the Dolphins wait for the second round to address that area, and go for another O-line building block.
ANDRUS PEAT, OT, STANFORD

15. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)
At some point, the Niners will take a linebacker (or two) and a wideout (or two). For now, they can help themselves on the defensive line, which could use some bulking up.
ARIK ARMSTEAD, DT, OREGON

16. Houston Texans (9-7)
The best player in franchise history, Andre Johnson, is gone. The huge hole in the receiving corps, if not in the locker room itself, gets filled by the top remaining wideout.
DEVANTE PARKER, WR, LOUISVILLE

17. San Diego Chargers (9-7)
Tempted to take an RB here, the Chargers also could trade down and still get one. If they stay put, the O-line has needs better addressed at this spot.
ERECK FLOWERS, OT, MIAMI, FLA.

18. Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)
A wideout makes sense here and Parker would have fit nicely. He’s gone, so the Chiefs mull taking a blocker, but then remember they had zero – yep, zero – TD catches from wide receivers last year.
JAELEN STRONG, WR, ARIZONA STATE

19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo Bills) (7-9)
Having filled a big need with Shelton, the Browns look to replace Josh Gordon; does anyone expect his future to be in Cleveland if he returns to the NFL?
BRESHAD PERRIMAN, WR, UCF

20. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
If you think the first 19 picks were tricky, well, no one has a clue what Chip Kelly might do. He could make a megadeal in pursuit of his college QB, Mariota. He could trade down from here, maybe more than once. He could … never mind.
LANDON COLLINS, S, ALABAMA

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1)
Either line would make sense, as would linebacker. The choice could come down to the higher-rated guy in the trenches. We think that will be …
MALCOM BROWN, DT, TEXAS

22. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
The Steel Curtain is a bit tattered, with holes in a lot of places. That’s blasphemy in Pittsburgh, so the Steelers plug up one of those chasms immediately.
JALEN COLLINS, CB, LSU

23. Detroit Lions (11-5)
Both incumbent DTs are gone, saving the Lions a ton of money, but leaving them without much proven tonnage inside. They work immediately to help replace Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley.
EDDIE GOLDMAN, DT, FLORIDA STATE

Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason (14) hands off to Georgia running back Todd Gurley (3) in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, in Athens, Ga.. Georgia won 44-17. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

24. Arizona Cardinals (11-5)
For a playoff squad, the Cardinals have lots of spots to fill or strengthen. Boosting the running game as QBs Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton work their way back from injuries is a starting point for the NFL’s best-coached team.
TODD GURLEY, RB, GEORGIA

25. Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)
Someone on the offensive line is headed for Charlotte. The Panthers have several options here, and will go for versatility and a proven winner.
CAMERON ERVING, OL, FLORIDA STATE

26. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
Guys who catch the ball and guys who prevent receptions are needed in Baltimore. Not as many standout cornerbacks remain as receivers, but don’t expect the Ravens to go for a player with character issues such as Marcus Peters.
KEVIN JOHNSON, CB, WAKE FOREST

27. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
Had Gurley been on the board, Dallas would have dived in. He’s gone, but there is plenty of RB talent available in later rounds, so defense is the word once more.
SHAQ THOMPSON, L, WASHINGTON

28. Denver Broncos (12-4)
Peyton Manning’s late-season injury and the impact it had on the Broncos means finding someone to help keep him upright is paramount – even if this turns into his final season.
T.J. CLEMMINGS, OT, PITTSBURGH

29. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
Manning’s former team also could use improvement on the offensive line, and needs to address the secondary. The best remaining prospect is a blocker, so …
D.J. HUMPHRIES, OT, FLORIDA

30. Green Bay Packers (12-4)
The Packers need to target linebacker so they don’t have to move Clay Matthews inside like they did last season. Several good ones remain, but the only true inside backer is …
BERNARDRICK MCKINNEY, ILB, MISSISSIPPI STATE

31. New Orleans Saints (from Seattle Seahawks) (7-9)
If the Saints stay put here, they’ll stick with the defensive philosophy and tag a brilliant athlete who has risen up the draft boards this offseason.
BYRON JONES, CB, CONNECTICUT

32. New England Patriots (12-4)
And if the Patriots stay put here, they also will address the secondary after losing Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Bill Belichick doesn’t seem to mind players with character issues in their past, either.
MARCUS PETERS, CB, WASHINGTON

ESPN is suing Verizon in an escalating clash over how the popular sports channel is being sold in a discounted pay-TV package.

The complaint filed Monday in New York’s state Supreme Court alleges Verizon is breaking its contract with ESPN, owned by Walt Disney Co., by unbundling the sports channel from the main programming line-up of Verizon’s FiOS TV.

The legal showdown could have ripple effects on how other pay-TV programming is packaged. Cable and satellite services are scrambling to retain subscribers as the advent of Internet video spawns new and less expensive ways to stay entertained and informed.

Verizon is allowing customers to subscribe to a bare-bones package of 35 channels for $55 per month, with the option of adding other two other tiers of programming such as a sports package that includes ESPN. The streamlined packages are meant to appeal to budget-minded consumers weary of paying for dozens of TV channels that they rarely watch.

Pay-TV providers such as Verizon are under pressure to give subscribers cheaper and more flexible choices as they face intensifying competition from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon.com and other online services that stream TV series and movies over high-speed Internet connections.

Those market forces prompted Time Warner Inc.’s HBO, a long-time staple in pay-TV lineups, to recently begin selling an Internet-only service for $15 per month.

“Verizon’s current skirmish speaks to the trouble distributors will have in creating a slimmer package that is attractive both from an economic and content perspective,” MoffettNathanson Research wrote in an analysis Monday.

ESPN is fighting Verizon’s discounted “custom TV” package because it gives subscribers the option of bypassing the sports channel in their programming selections. That violates pay-TV requirements stipulating that ESPN be included in the main bundle of programming, according to ESPN. Despite the alleged breach of contract, ESPN hasn’t yet pulled its channel from the sports pack that Verizon is selling as part of its discounted service.

New York-based Verizon Communications Inc. denies its new options break its ESPN contract. “Consumers have spoken loud and clear that they want choice, and the industry should be focused on giving consumers what they want,” the company said in response to ESPN’s lawsuit.

In its statement, ESPN said it favors innovation as long as it doesn’t violate existing agreements. The sports channel recently worked out a deal that enabled Dish TV’s Sling service to include ESPN and ESPN2 in an Internet video service that costs about $20 per month. ESPN is included in the main programming line-up of Sling, though.

While ESPN took Verizon to court, CBS Sports Network disclosed plans to join Verizon’s separate sports package beginning May 1.

Few details of ESPN’s claims against Verizon were available Monday because the material in the lawsuit is currently considered confidential.

ESPN is highly prized by pay-TV providers and advertisers because the channel has the rights to a variety of major professional and college sports that still command large audience who watch the programming live instead of on DVR recordings that let viewers skip the commercials.

The sports channel’s allure has established ESPN as the most expensive channel in basic pay-TV channels, based on estimates from data provider SNL Kagan. ESPN charges pay-TV distributors $6.61 per monthly subscriber compared to just $1.65 per subscriber for the second most expensive basic channel, TNT.

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AP Business Writer Tali Arbel in Washington contributed to this story.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — An 89-year-old former University of Kansas football player has gained fresh fame after making a touchdown run during an alumni scrimmage.

Bryan Sperry was all grins Saturday as he jogged toward the Memorial Stadium end zone during the scrimmage before Kansas’ annual spring football game, The Kansas City Star reported. His decades-younger opponents intentionally missed repeated tackles before showering him with congratulatory hugs and pats on the back.

“That was fun,” the Pittsburg resident said. “I didn’t know if I could run.”

Sperry was 17 years old when he first left home to play football at Kansas State, but World War II interrupted his schooling. The process of returning soldiers home by boat after the war took months, so the military sent Sperry to a university in England to wait. While there, he says, he played 13 games on a team that was a mix of professionals, college players and high school graduates with limited football experience.

Upon returning home in February 1946, he headed for a tryout, mostly for veterans, held by then-Kansas football coach George Sauer. He played “end” while at Kansas — offense and defense, Sperry said: “Well, we played both ways in those days.”

The Jayhawks finished 7-2-1 in 1946 and in 1947, with a team captained by KU legends Otto Schnellbacher and Don Fambrough, the Jayhawks went 8-1-2, their only loss coming to Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Sperry finished his career in 1948.

“There aren’t many people that are lettermen of both KU and K-State,” Sperry said.

With his playing days behind him, he spent decades as a high school football coach and math instructor at Pittsburg State.

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – A Rhode Island man who racked up four drunken driving arrests in less than 48 hours is heading to prison.

Fifty-three-year-old John Lourenco was sentenced Monday to two years in the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institute. He must pay a $3,400 fine and attend alcohol counseling. His license will be suspended for eight years once he is released from prison.

Lourenco was arrested Sept. 14 in Providence for drunken driving. He was arrested three times the next day in Cumberland for the same charge.

Police say he crashed into three cars and a tree.

After the first three arrests, Lourenco was released with summonses to the custody of his parents. After the fourth crash, he was held for arraignment.

A message left for Lourenco’s attorney wasn’t immediately returned.

NEW YORK (AP) – The government is lowering the recommended amount of fluoride in drinking water because some kids are getting too much, causing white splotches on their teeth.

It’s the first change since the government urged cities to add fluoride to water supplies to prevent tooth decay more than 50 years ago. Now, fluoride is put in toothpaste, mouthwash and other products as well.

One study found about 2 out of 5 adolescents had tooth streaking or spottiness. It’s primarily a cosmetic issue, said Deputy Surgeon General Boris Lushniak, in announcing the new standard Monday.

The mineral fluoride is in water and soil. About 70 years ago, scientists discovered that people whose drinking water naturally had more fluoride also had fewer cavities.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the world’s first city to add fluoride to its drinking water in 1945. Six years later, a study found a dramatic decline in tooth decay among children there, and the U.S. surgeon general endorsed water fluoridation.

Today, about 75 percent of Americans get fluoridated water.

But adding fluoride was – and has remained – controversial. Opponents argue its health effects aren’t completely understood and that adding it amounts to an unwanted medication.

Among the more recent dust-ups: Portland, Oregon, voters rejected a proposal to add fluoride two years ago. Sheridan, Wyoming, this year resumed adding fluoride; the city stopped in 1953 after a referendum.

Water fluoridation has been a public health success, and communities should keep adding fluoride, said Kathleen O’Loughlin, the American Dental Association’s executive director, who joined Lushniak in Monday’s announcement.

Lushniak added: “It is the best method for delivering fluoride to all members of the community.”

Since 1962, the government has recommended a range of 0.7 milligrams per liter for warmer climates where people drink more water to 1.2 milligrams in cooler areas. The new standard is 0.7 everywhere.

Recent unpublished federal research found there’s no regional differences in the amount of water kids drink. So it makes sense for the same levels to be used everywhere, health officials said.

To limit fluoride for young children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this advice: Don’t use fluoride toothpaste for children under 2 unless recommended by a dentist; use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste for children 2 through 6, and avoid fluoride mouthwash.

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