In a joint statement released Friday, the university and Liberty’s Board of Trustees said it has agreed to pay Falwell an undisclosed sum in authorized retirement and severance payments and agreed on the conditions under which the school will use Jerry Falwell Sr.’s name, image and likeness.

Under the agreement, the trustees and Falwell said they “each take responsibility” for their part in the “lengthy and painful” disputes and litigation between them.

“Falwell acknowledges and apologizes for the errors in judgement and mistakes made during his time of leadership. The Board of Trustees acknowledge and apologize for the errors and mistakes made on their part as well,” the statement said.

Falwell announced his resignation in August 2020 after a provocative photo and revelations of his wife’s extramarital affair sparked criticism at the school. The photo, which Falwell posted and then deleted on social media, showed him with his pants unzipped, his stomach exposed and his arm high around the waist of his wife’s pregnant assistant. Falwell said at the time that the photo was taken at a costume party during a family vacation. Critics said the photo was evidence of hypocritical behavior from the leader of a university where students must follow a strict code of conduct.

The same month, a news outlet published an interview with a man who said he had a yearslong sexual relationship with Falwell’s wife, Becki Falwell, and that Jerry Falwell participated in some of the liaisons as a voyeur. Falwell denied any participation.

Falwell’s resignation marked a fall from power for one of the country’s most visible conservative Christian leaders. His father had aspired to make Liberty University an academic and athletic leader for evangelicals. After taking over following his father’s death in 2007, Falwell succeeded in shoring up the school’s finances and increasing its enrollment.

Two months after Falwell announced his resignation, he filed a defamation lawsuit against Liberty, alleging that the school damaged his reputation in a series of public statements. Six months later, Liberty sued Falwell, alleging he crafted a “well-resourced exit strategy” from his role as president and chancellor in the form of a lucrative 2019 employment agreement while withholding damaging information about his marital scandal that was exposed the following year.

Falwell declined to comment on the settlement but told The Washington Post, “It’s an extremely happy day for everyone.”

Tied for the lead after Ryu three-putted for bogey on the par-4 16th, the 31-year-old Coughlin hit a 6-iron to 8 feet and birdied the 195-yard 17th. Ryu then missed a 3-foot par try to fall two shots behind.

“It was kind of a tweener of a club,” Coughlin said. “I could really only hit 6 and I needed to take some off it or else it might have gone over, especially considering how jacked up I was at the time.

“But I hit it pretty perfect and, the putt, I thought it was almost going to stay out to the left there and just dove right at the last second. It was huge.”

The former Hickory High and Virginia Cavaliers star finished at 13-under 275, closing with a 1-under 71 for a two-stroke victory over Mao Saigo in mostly calm conditions at Earl Grey Golf Club, with smoke from wildfires again leaving a haze over the course.

Coughlin earned $390,000 for the victory; she has earned $1,542,352 this season and $2,409,549 in her career, according to the LPGA. She turned pro in 2016, soon after winning the Atlantic Coast Conference individual championship.

“(This win) just makes it all worth it,” Coughlin told reporters after her win Sunday. “All the sacrifices that I made, that my husband (John Pond) made when I was just getting started, my family made when I was just getting started. A lot of people believed in me when I didn’t, and I wouldn’t be where I was without them.”

Saigo shot 69 a day after breaking the tournament record with a 61 on a tree-lined course with thick rough and small greens.

“Being in contention this week was great experience for me,” said Saigo, the 22-year-old Japanese player who is an LPGA Tour rookie after winning six times on the JLPGA.

Ryu also bogeyed the 18th in a 75 that left her tied for third with Jenny Shin (67) at 10 under.

“I can only remember my mistakes from the last couple holes, but there is always next time,” Ryu said.

Jennifer Kupcho was fifth at 8 under after a 71.

The leader after each of the first two rounds, Coughlin began the day a shot behind Ryu. Coughlin birdied the par-3 fifth, bogeyed the par-4 sixth and 10th and birdied the par-5 15th.

Coughlin was coming off a fourth-place finish two weeks ago in France in the major Evian Champions.

“I think just my story in general just shows that I’m always trying, always will to try to do things,” Coughlin said. “I am willing to stay in it. I don’t give up. I think I showed that perfectly today.”

Coughlin is in position to play for the United States in her home-state Solheim Cup in September at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville. She won in her 103rd LPGA Tour start.

“I don’t even really know how to describe it,” Coughlin said. “I’ve had people believe in me for a really long time, and I wouldn’t be here without their push and love.”

Ryu had her second straight top-three finish. The 23-year-old South Korean was second last week in Ohio at the Dana Open. She won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship last year for her first tour title.

“I’ll do my best next,” Ryu said.

Canadian star Brooke Henderson, the 2018 winner, finished with a 68 to tie for eighth at 6 under. On Friday, she bogeyed the final four holes in a 73 that left her seven shots back going into the weekend.

“I feel like I’m right there,” Henderson said. “Great days like yesterday and today, total minus-7, so if I cleaned up the first two days a little bit, I could have been right in the mix.”

Mao Saigo emerged from the wildfire-fed smoky haze Saturday at Earl Grey Golf Club with the lowest round in the tournament’s history. Five hours later, Haeran Ryu and Coughlin found themselves well clear of the rest of the field.

Coughlin, 31, a former Hickory High star and Atlantic Coast Conference individual champion for Virginia, is seeking her first LPGA Tour title.

Coughlin, the leader after each of the first two rounds, shot 66. She is coming off a fourth-place finish two weeks ago in France in the major Evian Champions.

“Hung in there for sure,” Coughlin said. “She (Ryu) was making everything there to start, so I was just trying to stay in my own bubble and not get too into what she was doing.”

Taking advantage of calmer conditions after two windy days, Saigo shot an 11-under 61 to jump from a tie for 46th to a tie for third — five strokes behind Ryu and four behind Coughlin on the tree-lined course with thick rough and small greens.

Saigo said through a translator, “I’m very proud of myself because that was the best round probably since I started playing golf. The wind wasn’t blowing much, so I was trying to make birdies on par-5s and try to keep my strengths with my iron shots.”

The 22-year-old Japanese player — an LPGA Tour rookie after winning six times on the JLPGA — holed out from 133 yards for eagle with a pitching wedge on the par-4 10th.

“I was able to feel the energy from the fans and that helped me play well,” Saigo said.

She broke the tournament record of 62 set by Song Hee-Kim in 2009 at nearby Priddis Greens and matched by Mo Martin in 2018 at Wascana in Regina, Saskatchewan, and by Paula Reto and Lindy Duncan in 2022 at Ottawa Hunt.

“I never set target score and I always try to hit the best shot each time,” Saigo said. “So today I kept the same attitude, and that added up to today’s score.”

Ryu shot a 64 to get to 13-under 203, making a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-4 14th.

The 23-year-old South Korean birdied the first four holes and five of the first six. She added a birdie on No. 10, bogeyed the par-4 12th and rebounded with a birdie on 13.

“She (Saigo) has a crazy day,” Ryu said. “But I started five holes and 5 under, so I’m crazy, too, I think. It’s funny today.”

Second last week at Ohio in the Dana Open, Ryu won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship last year for her first LPGA Tour title.

“Last year is just last year. Last week is just last week,” Ryu said. “I just think about now and future.”

Rose Zhang shot 66 to join Saigo at 8 under. Jennifer Kupcho was 7 under after a a 68, and second-ranked Lilia Vu (69) and Hannah Green (71) were 6 under.

“I felt like today was sort of an easier day because less wind and some moved-up tees,” Vu said. “But I didn’t drive the ball well.”

Three-time champion Lydia Ko was 3 under after a 72. She won as an amateur in 2012 at age 15, successfully defended her title as an amateur in 2013 and won as a professional in 2015.

Canadian star Brooke Henderson, the 2018 winner, was tied for 18th at 2 under after a 69. On Friday, she bogeyed the final four holes in a 73.

“This is still a tough golf course,” Henderson said. “Even though the wind was down, you still have to pick your way around.”

The tour did not disclose a cause, only saying that he died suddenly.

The son of a college basketball coach, Carnevale was born in Annapolis, Maryland, while father Ben Carnevale was coaching at the U.S. Naval Academy. The family later moved to Williamsburg, and Carnevale played college golf for James Madison.

Carnevale won the 1992 Chattanooga Classic and was voted the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. He later won on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour.

In 2003, he became tournament director of what was then known as the Nationwide Tour’s Virginia Beach Open.

He was best-known recently for being one of the lead announcers for Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio since 2005, and he most recently called the action from the penultimate group at the Scottish Open. He was scheduled to work the 3M Open this week in Minnesota.

“He was a member of that elite club, a PGA Tour winner, and then he held numerous roles within the industry, most recently as a significant voice in PGA Tour Radio’s coverage,” Commissioner Jay Monahan said. “Mark knew the game and did a terrific job of conveying insights from his unique point of view — and with an engaging wit and sense of humor.”

The crash happened just before 7 p.m. Sunday in the 2700 block of Cumberland Road in the Farmville area of Cumberland County, police said in a news release. The area is about 50 miles west of Richmond.

Seven people were on board the buggy at the time of the crash. One died on the scene and the other six were taken to a hospital with injuries that ranged from serious to life-threatening, police said. The driver of the pickup was not injured.

The crash was under investigation, police said.

Contract costs — with health care claims included — exceed $3 billion annually.

Blue Cross has administered the State Health Plan for over 40 years. The administrator handles health care expenses for several hundred thousand state employees, teachers, their family members and retirees, ensuring claims are paid and building out a provider network. After a bid process, the plan’s trustee board voted in December 2022 to award the initial three-year contract to Aetna over Blue Cross and a unit of United Healthcare, which also competed.

Blue Cross challenged the decision, arguing that the State Health Plan erred in how it decided which company would get the contract and calling the bid process oversimplified and arbitrary. But Administrative Law Judge Melissa Owens Lassiter, who heard the contested case in February, wrote Monday that Blue Cross had not met the burden of proof necessary to show that plan leaders had acted erroneously or failed to follow proper procedures.

“The preponderance of the evidence showed that the Plan conducted the procurement carefully and thoughtfully, fairly and in good faith, and that its decisions were properly within its discretion,” Lassiter wrote in affirming the trustee board’s decision to give the award to Aetna. It’s unclear if the ruling will be appealed to Superior Court.

Blue Cross said it was disappointed in the ruling but “gratified that the court reviewed the serious questions we raised” about the State Health Plan’s proposal request process. “Blue Cross NC is honored to serve our teachers, public safety officers and state employees and will continue to provide the highest level of service throughout the current contract,” the company said in a written statement.

State Treasurer Dale Folwell, the trustee board chairman, praised the ruling, saying it had been clear that the State Health Plan “performed a well-reasoned, high-integrity, and correct procurement process for third-party administrative services.”

Aetna North Carolina market president Jim Bostian said several hundred of its employees so far have worked on implementing the contract on time “while demonstrating in court that the transition to Aetna is in the best interests of the State Health Plan and its members.”

Ellis released a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday in response to a social media post by Brittany Alvarado, a former video and creative manager for the team. Alvarado called on the NWSL to remove Ellis, the former U.S. national coach.

Alvarado alleged the workplace was discriminatory and said it took a toll on her mental health in a lengthy post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Ellis said mental health concerns are a priority for the club and it has support measures, including an employee assistance program. She added that when allegations of mistreatment have occurred, the team has investigated.

“In addition, when appropriate, independent third parties have assisted us in evaluating our workplace. At no time have those evaluations uncovered any wrongdoing by the club,” Ellis said.

Ellis, a former William & Mary player who coached the U.S. team to World Cup titles in both 2015 and 2019, added that the Wave is committed to building a strong and unified club.

“What we do is all about fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity and excellence. The false accusations in (Wednesday’s) post are not only personally damaging, but also take away from the incredible work and progress we’ve achieved together as a team,” Ellis said in the statement.

The Wave called Alvarado’s allegations inaccurate and defamatory. The team said it was looking into possible legal avenues available to address the matter.

Wave forward Alex Morgan, who played for Ellis on both of the World Cup-winning teams, issued a statement on social media in which she said she was disappointed by the allegations.

“As players, we have worked hard to build a team that is surrounded by an inclusive, positive and safe environment,” Morgan said. “But it’s important to me that we are creating that environment for both players AND staff throughout the entire organization. Equity in the workplace is something I have and will continue to advocate for.”

John Force Racing said in a statement Monday night that the 75-year-old Force was still in a Virginia hospital and that doctors “were moving slowly in assessing the extent of the injuries … because of the intensity of the impact.”

The statement said medical staff will not provide a treatment and recovery timetable until a total evaluation is completed.

Force’s daughter, Brittany, a two-time world champion, was at the hospital with her mother, Laurie, and three sisters.

On Sunday, Force was alert and talking to safety workers immediately after crashing at 302 mph. The Hall of Fame owner and driver was examined at the track by the NHRA Medical Team before being transported by medical helicopter to the trauma hospital where he is being held.

During the first round of Funny Car eliminations, Force’s car had a catastrophic engine failure at the finish line, with the vehicle going across the center line and striking the left concrete guard wall, then careening back across into the right wall.

Three weeks ago in New Hampshire, Force raced to his record 157th NHRA victory and second of the season. In 2007 at age 58, Force was seriously injured in a racing crash in Ennis, Texas.

On Sunday, long after Force’s accident, his teammate Austin Prock won the Funny Car division, topping Bob Tasca III in the final round.

The AP issued an advisory saying that the margin separating U.S. Rep. Bob Good and state Sen. John McGuire is likely to remain within a margin of a single percentage point. That means the race is eligible for a recount under state law.

Good, who currently trails by more than 300 votes out of nearly 63,000 cast, has said he will seek a recount if the state electoral board certifies McGuire as the winner.
McGuire’s lead has actually grown slightly since early Wednesday morning.

Good on Monday also told former Trump adviser and right-wing podcaster Steve Bannon that he will be pursuing a legal challenge to block the certification of the count in the city of Lynchburg, the largest city in the 5th Congressional District and a Good stronghold.

“Lynchburg is the big key. That can’t be certified. There’s no confidence in Lynchburg’s results,” Good said.

Good and others have claimed that the city botched the vote count by accepting ballots from a drop box after election night.

In a statement Monday, the city registrar acknowledged a procedural error but said fewer than 10 ballots, if any, were affected.

The statement from the registrar’s office says the drop box, located inside the registrar’s office, was emptied out just before 1 p.m. on Election Day. But the box was not emptied again until Friday, June 21. Seven ballots were inside.

The registrar’s statement says staffers in the registrar’s office saw multiple ballots dropped off legally in the afternoon on Election Day but did not see any ballots placed in the box after that.

Those seven ballots have since been mixed in with another batch of ballots, and the registrar has said counting has been placed on hold while they consult with the Virginia Department of Elections on what to do next.

The department of elections said in an email Monday that it’s monitoring the situation in Lynchburg. The state elections board is currently scheduled to meet July 2 to certify the results.

Only after the results are certified can Good request a recount.

McGuire, who claimed victory on election night, issued a statement Monday thanking Good for his service and suggesting that a recount or a legal challenge would be pointless and divisive.

“While I understand the desire to continue the fight, the outcome of this election will not change,” he said.

Both Good and McGuire are among Republicans who have raised concerns about election integrity in the wake of Trump’s false claims of voter fraud in his 2020 reelection defeat. Good was among more than 100 GOP House members who voted in January 2021 to object to the Electoral College count from states that Trump disputed.

In an election eve telephone rally with Trump last week, McGuire urged supporters to deliver him a margin of victory “too big to rig.”

If Good loses, he would be the first House incumbent to lose a primary challenge this year, with the exception of one race in which two incumbents faced off due to redistricting.

UVA (45-15) can advance to its seventh College World Series with a win Saturday. Kansas State (35-25), which has never won a super regional or played in the CWS, must win the next two games to advance.

Kaelen Culpepper’s two-run double in the third gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

Virginia used a sacrifice fly and a groundout to score twice in the fifth and get within a run. The Cavaliers took a 4-3 lead the next inning on Griff O’Ferrall’s two-out two-run double.

K-State tied the game in the top of the seventh on David Bishop’s one-out solo homer.

Godbout’s go-ahead shot to left field on a 1-0 pitch was his ninth home run of the season, and it was UVA’s only hit of the inning.

Evan Blanco (8-3) got the start and the win. He allowed four runs on five hits and a walk in seven innings, striking out nine. Matt Augustin got the final two outs for his first save.

North Carolina 8, West Virginia 6: Luke Stevenson homered leading off the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game, Vance Honeycutt followed with a two-out, two-run shot, and No. 4 national seed UNC rallied behind three no-hit innings from reliever Matt Poston to win the opener of the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

UNC (46-14) can wrap up the best-of-three series and earn a spot in its 12th College World Series with a victory on Saturday. West Virginia (36-23), playing this far in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, must win twice to advance to its first CWS.

Florida State 24, Connecticut 4: Jaime Ferrer hit two of Florida State’s five home runs, James Tibbs III and Marco Dinges each added four RBIs and the Seminoles cruised in the opening game of the Tallahassee Super Regional.

Florida State set NCAA super-regional records for the most runs in a game and largest margin of victory. It was FSU’s most runs in an NCAA Tournament game since a 37-6 rout of Ohio State in a 2008 regional.

Florida State (46-15), which hosted its first super regional since 2017, is one win away from a 24th College World Series appearance. The Seminoles hadn’t faced UConn since the 1957 CWS.

The Seminoles drew 15 walks and struck out just once. Five of their 18 hits were homers, including two-out shots by Dinges and Max Williams. Cam Smith and Tibbs each drew two-out, bases-loaded walks in the third inning for an 8-0 lead.

Ferrer hit a two-run homer in the sixth, and Smith and Tibbs added RBI singles for a six-run inning. The Seminoles added nine runs in the seventh, started by McGwire Holbrook’s bases-clearing double.

Florida State starter Carson Dorsey (7-4) allowed just one earned run and struck out six over 5 1/3 innings.

Tennessee 11, Evansville 6: Hunter Ensley went 3 for 4, including a three-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning, and No. 1 national seed Tennessee beat Evansville to begin the Knoxville Super Regional.

Tennessee (54-11), playing in its fourth consecutive super regional, can advance to the College World Series with a victory over Evansville (38-25) on Saturday.

Christian Moore became the first Tennessee player ever to hit 30 home runs in a season when he blasted a shot in the third for a 3-2 lead. His error on a routine play at second hurt the Vols in the fifth as Evansville had a two-run double off the wall and an RBI single to center to tie it at 5.

Tennessee answered Evansville’s three runs in the top of the fifth with three runs in the bottom half.

Glance

Friday’s games

Florida State 24, UConn 4

Tennessee 11, Evansville 6

North Carolina 8, West Virginia 6

Virginia 7, Kansas State 4

Saturday’s games

UConn at Florida State, 11 a.m.

Evansville at Tennessee, 11 a.m.

N.C. State at Georgia, noon

Oregon at Texas A&M, 2 p.m.

Florida at Clemson, 2 p.m.

Kansas State at Virginia, 3 p.m.

Oregon State at Kentucky, 6 p.m.

West Virginia at North Carolina, 8 p.m.