Cities with anti-LGBT laws can no longer host NCAA tournaments

In a ruling aimed at protecting athletes and fans, the NCAA Board of Governors has voted in favor of prohibiting cities with anti-LGBT and other discriminatory laws from hosting or bidding on any NCAA events.

The regulation will apply across all events in all sports and divisions, including the Final Four contests for men’s and women’s college basketball, the association announced Wednesday

The ruling comes after action in several states, including Mississippi and North Carolina, has allowed for residents to be refused service because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. 

"We need to make sure our student athletes are competing in venues and competing in states that have an inclusive environment for all of our student athletes, our fans and our coaches," said Board of Governor's Chair Kirk Schulz in a video statement. "It's important for us to weigh in on these important issues and make sure that regardless of if our student's a Division One, Division Two or Division Three athlete, that their championship experience is among the best."

Sites already scheduled to host an NCAA event will be expected to comply with the ruling, the association said. 

The NCAA noted that it already prohibits championship events from being hosted by schools whose mascots use offensive American Indian imagery, and in states whose governments display the Confederate flag. 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver indicated last week that the league may move its 2017 All Star game from Charlotte if North Carolina does not overturn an anti-LGBT law that prohibits local governments from instituting rules protecting the LGBT community. 

Man throws birthday party for pothole, convinces city to repair road

Much like Shakespeare, this pothole died just as it was celebrating its birthday.

Jackson, Mississippi resident Eddie Prosser was tired of the pothole that had graced his neighborhood for a year, unfixed. So he got the city's attention — by throwing the pothole a birthday party.

The delightful display features a festive birthday balloon as well as a giant birthday card reading "Happy birthday, Pothole!" in beautiful script. (Seriously, Eddie Prosser: great handwriting.)

To drive the point home, the sign also says "I've been here for over a year!"

Prosser told WJTV News that although the sign was intended as a joke, he really was frustrated with the city's lack of action.

"I do find our problems in the city of Jackson serious, but at the same time, it's just one small pothole," he said. "When they fix the potholes just a block away, it wouldn’t have taken another 10 minutes [to fix this one]."

After several local news outlets reported on the pothole party, city officials finally filled it in. The next step will be paving the area over, according to local reports.

Of course, that might happen closer to ol' Pothole's second birthday.