People and Pop Culture

Names In The News

2.8.2018

Burgum's trip drew criticism from the Republican partyGETTY IMAGES

North Dakota Gov. DOUG BURGUM yesterday said that he "will repay" Minnesota-based Xcel Energy $37,000 for "tickets the company provided him and his wife" to Super Bowl LII (AP, 2/7). Meanwhile, U.S. Bank Stadium operator SMG contacted an Eagles fan who "stole one of the purple plastic seats" from the venue after the game and "took it back to Philadelphia." Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority Dir of Communications JENN HATHAWAY said that the man "has agreed to pay to replace it, including labor, which is estimated at $125" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 2/7).

ALL THINGS COWBOY: ESPN NFL analyst DARREN WOODSON, who founded software company CounterFind last year, "just received an investment" from the JERRY JONES-backed Blue Star Innovation Partners. The company, which "tracks and eliminates ads selling counterfeit merchandise online," also "partnered" with DALE EARNHARDT JR. last year (SPORTTECHIE.com, 2/7)....Former NFLers DREW PEARSON and DEMARCUS WARE have been "designated 'community ambassadors'" for the Cowboys' youth outreach initiatives that will "complement the hoopla" of the NFL Draft road show that lands at AT&T Stadium in April. Cowboys Exec VP & Chief Brand Officer CHARLOTTE JONES ANDERSON "heads up the team's involvement in the draft that ultimately will be run by the NFL" (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/7).

IN THE CLEAR: L.A. Times Publisher & CEO ROSS LEVINSOHN has been "cleared of wrongdoing following an investigation into his conduct," and he will "move into a new role within the paper's parent company, Tronc." Levinsohn "has been on unpaid leave" since Jan. 19 following a report that he was the defendant in two sexual harassment lawsuits. Before joining the Times, Levinsohn "worked at Guggenheim Digital Media, Yahoo and RUPERT MURDOCH's News Corp." (L.A.TIMES, 2/8).

NAMES: A trial for former Auburn assistant basketball coach CHUCK PERSON, who pleaded not guilty to six charges of bribery, fraud and corruption stemming from the FBI investigation into college basketball, is "scheduled for over a year from now," on Feb. 4, 2019. Judge LORETTA A. PRESKA will hear the case in the Southern District of N.Y. (AL.com, 2/7)....Astros Owner JIM CRANE, Warriors co-Owner JOE LACOB, Bruins Owner JEREMY JACOBS, Hurricanes Owner TOM DUNDON, Liberty Media President & CEO GREG MAFFEI and Endeavor Exec Chair PATRICK WHITESELL are among those competing this week in the PGA Tour AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (GOLFWEEK.com, 2/6)....DANICA PATRICK and AARON RODGERS on Tuesday attended the annual Chevron Shootout, a charity event at Pebble Beach ahead of the tournament this week (NYPOST.com, 2/7)....The Univ. of the People named Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnast SIMONE BILES a Global Ambassador for the online, non-profit, tuition-free university (UoPeople)....Philips Arena Exec Chef JOE SCHAFER last night talked to a crowd of 200 local media and food influencers at a private tasting event at the new Courtside Club. Among those in attendance were Hawks CEO STEVE KOONIN, COO THAD SHEELY and Exec VP & CRO ANDREW SALTZMAN (THE DAILY).