(CBS Minnesota/CBS Local)– Jim Nantz has called many magical moments in his broadcasting career, but some of his best have come during the NCAA Tournament.

Nantz was court side last year when UMBC shocked the world as the first #16 seed to beat a #1 seed. That game represents why Nantz loves the Big Dance.

“It’s the unexpected turn of events. You just can’t ever predict what’s going to happen,” said Nantz in an interview with CBS Local at CBS & Turner Sports NCAA Tournament Media Day. “Last year at this time, we’re going into the tournament and Virginia looks like a Final Four team. They end up being the first #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed and I was there to call it. The stories, they write themselves.”

Nantz will call tournament games this year with Grant Hill, Bill Raftery and Tracy Wolfson. The CBS Sports play by play announcer has always been a fan of his partner Hill.

“He was one of my favorite players I ever covered. He was just such a good guy. Back in those days, my regular season obligations were different. I had a lot of Duke regular season games and I was around Grant a lot and that team that won back to back championships. I was always struck by how impressive, engaging, kind and smart he was. He is the perfect embodiment of what an NCAA athlete should look like.”

While Nantz works with a great crew today, he still misses his time with his former partner Billy Packer. Nantz says there was so much more to Packer than just college basketball.

“The games were a blast and he had such an amazing ability to see things I’m incapable of pointing out. I miss the evenings where we would go out to dinner. It was never about basketball. Billy is a genius. He invented things. He held rights to Notre Dame football internationally. He created cycling events around the world. He has a great business sense and he had a profound influence on my life.”

Story by Wochit Entertainment, Video by The Hollywood Reporter

(CBS Minnesota/CBS Local) The first day of this year’s tournament is in the books and Day 2 is just hours away. While the games are the main center of attraction, the studio crew is an integral part of recapping each half, game and getting you ready for the next contest.

Leading that charge is veteran studio host Greg Gumbel. Gumbel has been part of the tournament broadcasts for 40 years and has been hosting the Selection Show on CBS for most of that time. We caught up with Gumbel at CBS and Turner Sports NCAA Tournament Media Day last week in New York City and asked him what keeps him coming back every year.

“I have always called it one of the major stops on the sports calendar,” said Gumbel. “No matter where you are it is one of those events that is so all-encompassing. There are people in the remote areas of the country that are watching because they have a school nearby that is of interest.”

That interest has only continued to grow over the years that Gumbel has been part of the tournament broadcast. With so much experience in his career, we were curious when it was that the idea of the tournament being a landmark on the sports calendar really struck him.

“It was way back when I, I want to say I did it from Indianapolis on a chalkboard once, and we had gotten the bracket and filled it in by hand,” said Gumbel. “Everything is so electronic now and different but I realized then, this is something that nobody else is doing and it is kind of interesting to do. The way we do it now is easier/harder because it is more up to the minute and the margin of error is not huge or very forgiving. But, that is what makes it fun to do.”

That fun will continue for Gumbel throughout the next three weeks leading up to the Final Four in Minneapolis on April 6th and the championship game on Monday, April 8th. In the past, Gumbel has been our travel expert, offering places to go and best things to do in the host city. This time though, Gumbel’s advice is simple, stay indoors.

“College hoops in Minneapolis means that it is cold outside and I don’t venture out in the cold,” said Gumbel. “I hosted a Super Bowl in Minneapolis for CBS in the early 90’s and I went everywhere underground. They have enough foresight for everyone to get everywhere under ground. To my mind I wonder, ‘Why would anyone want to go outside and bother with that?’ Someone said the other day that last year on the day that the Final Four is happening April 8th it was nine degrees.

We’re here to help. Below you’ll find a full list of matchups, game times, and channels for the First Four and the first two days of the tournament. Every single game of the tournament will air live across CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV. Of course, for those early afternoon games when you’re probably going to be stuck at work, there’s always the streaming option of NCAA March Madness Live with the ever so handy “boss button”.

Without further ado, here are the times for the Friday and now Saturday tournament action. All times are Eastern.

Thursday, March 21st, First Round

(7) Louisville vs. (10) Minnesota, Minnesota 86 Louisville 76

(3) LSU vs. (14) Yale, LSU 79 Yale 74

(5) Auburn vs. (12) New Mexico State, Auburn 78 NMSU 77

(4) Florida State vs. (13) Vermont, FSU 76 Vermont 69

(2) Michigan State vs. (15) Bradley, MSU 76 Bradley 65

(6) Maryland vs. (11) Belmont, Maryland 79 Belmont 77

(4) Kansas vs. (13) Northeastern, Kansas 87 Northeastern 53

(5) Marquette vs. (12) Murray State, Murray State 83 Marquette 64

(7) Nevada vs. (10) Florida, Florida 70 Nevada 61

(2) Kentucky vs. (15) Abilene Christian, Kentucky 79 ACU 44

(6) Villanova vs. (11) St. Mary’s, Villanova 61 Saint Mary’s 57

(1) Gonzaga vs. (16) Prairie View A&M, Gonzaga 87 Fairleigh Dickinson 49

(2) Michigan vs. (15) Montana, Michigan 74 Montana 55

(7) Wofford vs. (10) Seton Hall, Wofford 84 Seton Hall 68

(3) Purdue vs. (14) Old Dominion, Purdue 61 ODU 48

(8) Syracuse vs. (9) Baylor, Baylor 78 Syracuse 69

Friday, March 22nd, First Round

(7) Cincinnati vs. (10) Iowa, 12:15 p.m. (CBS)

(8) Ole Miss vs. (9) Oklahoma, 12:40 p.m. (truTV)

(3) Texas Tech vs. (14) Northern Kentucky, 1:30 p.m. (TNT)

(4) Kansas State vs. UC Irvine, 2:00 p.m. (TBS)

(2) Tennessee vs. (15) Colgate, after conclusion of Cincy-Iowa (CBS)

(1) Virginia vs. (16) Gardner-Webb, after conclusion of Ole Miss-OU (truTV)

(6) Buffalo vs. (11) Arizona State/(11) St. John’s, after conclusion of TTU-NKU (TNT)

(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) Oregon, after conclusion of KSU-UCI (TBS)

(8) Utah State vs. (9) Washington, 6:50 p.m. (TNT)

(1) Duke vs. (16) North Carolina Central/(16) NDSU, 7:10 p.m. (CBS)

(3) Houston vs. (14) Georgia State, 7:20 p.m. (TBS)

(5) Mississippi State vs. (12) Liberty, 7:27 p.m. (truTV)

(1) North Carolina vs. (16) Iona, after conclusion USU-UW (TNT)

(8) VCU vs. (9) UCF, after conclusion Duke-NCCU/NDSU (CBS)

(6) Iowa State vs. (11) Ohio State, after conclusion UH-GSU (TBS)

(4) Virginia Tech vs. (13) St. Louis, after conclusion MSU-LU (truTV)

Saturday, March 23rd

(6) Maryland vs. (3) LSU, 12:10 p.m. (CBS)

(7) Wofford vs. (2) Kentucky, after game 1 (CBS)

(10) Florida vs. (2) Michigan, 5:15 p.m. (CBS)

(12) Murray State vs. (4) Florida State, 6:10 p.m. (TNT)

(9) Baylor vs. (1) Gonzaga, 7:10 p.m. (TBS)

(10) Minnesota vs. (2) Michigan State, after conclusion FLA-MICH (CBS)

(6) Villanova vs. (3) Purdue, after conclusion MSU-FSU (TNT)

(5) Auburn vs. (4) Kansas, after conclusion BU-GU (TBS)

By Norm Elrod

(CBS DFW/CBS Local) — Jarrett Culver and the Texas Tech Red Raiders were expected to run roughshod through the Big 12 Tournament. Instead they rolled over in the first round against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Along with a three-game mid-season losing streak, it was one of the few slip-ups in an otherwise strong season. As the third seed in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region, they’ll likely bounce back in Friday’s game against 14-seed Northern Kentucky.

Culver is a Texas product through and through. Born and raised in Lubbock, home of Texas Tech, the young guard played his high school basketball at nearby Coronado High School. He put up 20 points per game his junior year (2015-16) and 30 his senior year (2016-17). As a three-star recruit, who was among the top players in the state, he was heavily recruited locally. Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor and TCU all expressed interest, but Culver eventually committed to Texas Tech right down the road.

>>MORE: Latest on the NCAA Tournament

The young guard was a regular contributor in his freshman season, logging 11.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in his 26.4 minutes on the court. Those minutes increased as Culver transitioned into a starting role about halfway through the season. However, the additional time didn’t necessarily translate to improved stat lines. He did show flashes though, like late-season double-doubles against West Virginia and Texas. And his defensive effort doesn’t always show up in the box score.

Culver was less of an offensive factor in Texas Tech’s 2018 NCAA Tournament run, which saw the Red Raiders reach the Elite Eight for the first time ever in Chris Beard’s second season as head coach. Strong defense was a big part of their approach last season, and helped Texas Tech rise up through the rankings. But one of college basketball’s better defensive units couldn’t hold off one of its better offensive units. Villanova shot past Texas Tech en route to their second NCAA Tournament title in three years.

With Zhaire Smith and Keenan Evans now finding their way in the NBA, Culver would have to step up in his sophomore season for Texas Tech to do anything. Many expected it would be his last. And given how it’s transpired so far, they’re probably right. The Big 12 Player of the Year and Wooden Award finalist, who plays like a combination point guard and power forward, is averaging 18.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, with four double-doubles. Earlier this season he put up 20 points and pulled down 16 rebounds against Big 12 foe Iowa State.

There’s another reason for his improved skills and for his likely departure. Culver has shot up in height and, as a result, shot up the NBA Draft board. He left high school as a 6’5″ guard, and is believed to now be about 6’8″. In addition to his varied skill set, the three-inch difference — not to mention the possibility that he could still be growing — is big deal to NBA teams. As his body and game develop, Culver has become a legitimate first-round pick, who could find himself taken in the top half of the NBA Draft.

For now, his eyes are focused on Texas Tech’s NCAA Tournament first-round game with Northern Kentucky. A win could set them up to face Buffalo and possibly Michigan after that. Culver’s performance could be integral to how the West region plays out.

HERTFORDSHIRE, UK (CBS Local) — Calling all “Disney-mad nannies out there.” We’ve found a job posting for you.

A family in Brooksman Park, a village in Hertfordshire, southeast England, has posted an ad on Childcare.co.uk for a part-time nanny to watch their twin girls during the week with a “slightly unusual request” — you will be dressed as a Disney princess.

“Like most 5-year-olds, our girls are obsessed with Disney and we feel this would be the best way to communicate some important values,” the ad reads. “We know this isn’t a normal request for nannies, however we think it would be a great way to teach our girls about things like determination, compassion, fearlessness and ambition from strong yet relatable female role models like Princess Tiana, Princess Anna, Belle and Cinderella.”

The family is looking for someone who can play a different princess every month and commit to the character. However, they also said the ideal candidate “won’t be afraid to be a disciplinarian if the twins are naughty or act out – they can be little terrors at times!”

In this handout photo provided by Disney Parks, Princess Elena of Avalor, the first Latin-inspired Disney princess, receives a royal welcome during her arrival at Magic Kingdom Park on August 11, 2016 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Credit: Matt Stroshane/Getty Images)

The parents are offering to pay $52,500 a year and cover the cost of all Disney princess costumes. The nanny will also receive 25 vacation/holiday days.

“The role involves picking the girls up after school, four days a week, arranging a variety of Disney-related activities (arts and crafts, baking, singing, etc.), cooking dinner and potentially putting them to bed if we’re late home from work,” the ad says.

Candidates must be looking for a long-term job as the couple wants to keep the nanny in their daughters’ lives “for the foreseeable future.”

“The right person will have a real creative flare as well as a passion for all things Disney and will be able to share that love of those characters with our girls.”

Candidates must also have a clean driving record, first aid training and a minimum of two years “in nannying or a similar role.”

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (CBS Local) — Thousands of poisonous toads have seemingly come out of nowhere to overrun a community in Florida, posing a potential danger to children and pets, according to an expert.

They started appearing last week in a neighborhood in Palm Beach Gardens and now seem to be everywhere, swarming swimming pools, sidewalks and the street outside Jenni Quasha’s home.

“I just see a massive amount of toads or frogs everywhere,” Quasha told WPTV. “You can’t even walk through the grass without stepping on one, they’re covering people’s driveways.”

Toad Busters, a toad removal company, says the pests are cane toads, also known as bufo toads, which secrete a toxic milky substance.

“With the warmer winter and then we had a rain two to three weeks ago, a torrential rain, that caused them to go into a breeding cycle,” said Mark Holladay, a lead technician with Toad Busters. “They’re not safe for pets or children. If a pet was to ingest too many of them, even at that small size, it would cause a problem.”

Quasha said she contacted her homeowner’s association, but was told it’s her responsibility to handle the problem. Meantime, she says with her three kids on spring break, her caughter is scared to walk outside.

“There’s no swimming in the pool and no playing outside and enjoying the outdoors. Just hoping we can figure this out so we can put an end to it.”

Holladay said the problem may not go away anytime soon.

“There will be another influx like this in 22 days when the next batch hatches out, and this is in every community in Florida,” said Holladay.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (CBS Local) — A popular vlogger, who touts the health benefits of a raw vegan diet, is being slammed on social media after she was caught eating fish at a restaurant.

Yovana Mendoza Ayres, who goes by the name Rawvana on her social media channels, was briefly featured in another vlogger’s video last week with a plate of fish in front of her. Fans noted that she appeared caught off guard and embarrassed when the camera panned over to her.

Rawvana apologized to her viewers in a 33-minute video, saying her decision to incorporate eggs and fish into her diet was an “emergency measure” spurred on by various health problems.

“I’m really, really sorry about the way the news was communicated to you, how you had to find out,” she said. “I know that so many of you, you trust me, you listen to me, and you probably feel deceived and lied to and you’re in your whole right to feel that. And for that I ask forgiveness, I’m human.”

Rawvana has been hosting a vlog for the past six years, touting veganism as the cure-all to many ailments and addictions, including alcoholism, poor sleep and smoking.

She amassed nearly 2 million subscribers on her Spanish YouTube channel, nearly half a million on her English channel and 1.3 million followers on Instagram.

In her apology video, Rawvana explained she began to lose her menstrual cycles following a 25-day water fast. She also revealed she was borderline anemic and her hormone levels were pre-menopausal.

Rawvana, who lives in San Diego, said she was advised by a doctor to start incorporating eggs and fish into her diet after she developed digestion issues and was diagnosed with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).

Her fans, however, were not too happy with her admission, flooding her confessional video with comments.

“LOL there is nothing wrong eating whatever… the problem is the fraud, the deception, the fake news, the alternative facts… the LIES !!! You are morally bankrupt,” wrote MetaView7.

“Unsubscribed. Not because you aren’t vegan anymore, but because you’re a liar,” Gabrielle Tillmon wrote.

“I always knew there’s was something fishy about this person,” wrote Mujermaravilla3.

Still, others showed support for her health struggles.

“As a health coach, I am proud of you for sharing your journey. Don’t feel guilty about your dietary needs,” Coach Angela wrote. “Veganism is great, plant-based is great, but we all need to listen to our body.”

By Chuck Carroll

(CBS Boston/CBS Local) — The pro wrestling landscape has changed dramatically over the past 30 years. The evolution has been abundantly apparent in front of the cameras and to thousands of fans inside arenas. But the change has also been seismic for talent away from the ring. And Lanny Poffo, better known as the quick-witted wrestler The Genius, knows this all too well.

Poffo, the younger brother of WWE Hall of Famer ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, broke into the business at a time when talent were spending 50 weeks a year on the road. The time away from home tore apart families, destroyed relationships, led to rampant drug use for some, and left others to walk away with nothing more than empty pockets and a bitter taste for the business.

He details his experiences in Fulvio Cecere’s documentary 350 Days, a name chosen as a nod to the time talent would spend annually hustling from one town to the next. And while the documentary does shine a light on the dark side of wrestling’s past, Poffo says his experience was a positive one and recalls more good than bad. He only regrets using steroids for a short stretch of time in his career when he was involved in a storyline with Hulk Hogan.

In talking to the 64-year-old, I understood why he sees it that way. Focusing on the negative is largely absent from his personality. Poffo’s view on life is so rose-colored that he fondly recalls the time a fan tried to attack him in the ring. The gentleman from Boston, who was not part of the show or wasn’t supposed to be anyway, had grown enraged after Poffo recited a poem that ran down the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots in one fell swoop. It was exactly the reaction he was hoping for.

I had a chance to catch up with Poffo ahead of the April 2 home release of the 350 Days documentary.

>>MORE: From the world of Pro Wrestling

The whole premise of the documentary is 350 days a year on the road. Was that the experience for you when you were breaking into the business?

Yeah, pretty much. You see all these people complaining that “We work too hard,” and this and that, and the family and all that. But the thing is, I know people that work nine to five that are divorced. I’m divorced, I’m a one-time loser myself. But I don’t blame the business, because it’s just what it is. People that live in the same town and work nine to five get divorced too.

Do you think then that the time away from home was an excuse then and that the marriages that were referenced in the documentary may have been destined to fail regardless?

I think if you get a divorce, you should look in the mirror and blame yourself, either for marrying her or divorcing her or whatever, or not being a good husband, or whatever. It’s a failure that everybody is looking for a scapegoat, and sometimes the scapegoat is the wrestling business. Then they get into some other line of work, and they still get a divorce. So I believe in looking in the mirror and taking your own responsibility. Wrestling, for me, has been nothing but positive. I’m 64, I don’t go around with a chip on my shoulder that I got mistreated by wrestling.

Nowadays we hear a lot about talent entering into romantic relationships. Was that as common back in the ’70s and ’80s, when you were breaking in, or is that a relatively new phenomenon?

There’s a little motto that I have and I’ve found it to be 100% true: opportunity plus desire equals humpage. So, when you’ve been on the road too long and you’re lonely and somebody is in your face, and they’re willing and they’re able and they’re attractive, it’s going to happen. It’s got to. That’s how mommy met daddy and that’s why there’s so many babies.

The film really didn’t shy away from the rampant drug use among wrestlers that were on the road. Did you partake?

I didn’t smoke, drink or do drugs, but in 1989 I became ‘The Genius,’ and I had a chance to be main event with Hulk Hogan for four months. I defeated him on NBC. I mean, I went from the outhouse to the penthouse for four months and then eventually back to the outhouse again. I am ashamed to tell you that I took steroids for that period of time. I got acne vulgaris and testicular atrophy. The acne cleared up and you’ll have to take my word on the other. But I only told people that because it’s the truth and because it was legal then, and I’m recommending that anybody reading this abstain from steroids. Because the good stuff about steroids is very temporary and the bad stuff is permanent. I think I got away with it because I didn’t do it much.

Did you do it because you felt pressure because you were in such a high-profile spot at that point?

Nobody held a gun to my head, not Vince McMahon or anybody. But I was competing for a top spot, and I was finally getting an opportunity, and I was trying to earn it. So it was out of desperation and about being tired of being a jabroni. So I finally got to drink from the silver chalice of success, even though if I go to a shopping mall right now, you won’t find one person that remembers me. You know what I mean? Fame, if you win it, comes and goes in a minute.

Do you think that steroids are still somewhat prevalent in the locker room even though some promotions have a testing policy?

Yeah, but there’s ways to mask the test, and the scientists keep getting better on both ends. Scientists get better to catch you and scientists get better to hide it. I don’t watch wrestling anymore, because in 36 years I’ll be 100, but from what I’ve seen, some of the wrestlers that look a little too muscular might be that way for a reason.

Did you ever wrestle in a place where you kind of felt like you were in danger a little bit because the fans were a little bit too rambunctious?

I used to be very popular in Boston, because I would say nice things in the poem about the Red Sox, or the Celtics or the Bruins. But then when I turned into a villain I used to insult the Red Sox and the Bruins and the villains and the Patriots, and they wanted to kill me.

Give me an example of what they would do. (Poffo begins reciting a poem)

I’m the Genius Lanny Poffo. I always know what’s up. The Bruins haven’t got a chance to win the Stanley Cup. The Red Sox haven’t won in years. I hope they never do. The Celtics are a travesty, the Patriots are too.

And I start the third verse and a fan jumps in the ring, and never give a sucker an even break, I caught him between the ropes and sent him flying. I start the third verse and another fan jumps in the ring, but this time the police come and they stop the match. So that’s the kind of heat that I got with ridiculous poetry.

Sue Aithison and Jon Cena (Photo Credit: WWE)

NEWS & NOTES

Speaking of Boston… the Red Sox will celebrate WWE Night at Fenway Park on September 3 when they face the Minnesota Twins. A Red Sox WWE-themed item will be given to fans that night.

WWE will bestow this year’s Warrior Award to a long-time employee at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Saturday, April 6. Sue Aitchison, who has been with the company for 30 years, has helped to facilitate more than 6,000 Make-A-Wish events for children and WWE Superstars and spearheaded the company’s WrestleMania Reading Challenge initiative. The annual award is given to those who demonstrate “unwavering strength and perseverance and who lives life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of The Ultimate Warrior.” Dozens of current and former Superstars trumpeted Aitchison since the announcement. To say she is well-liked within the company would be a gross understatement.

The WrestleMania card continues to fill out, and there should be at least another couple of matches added in the coming weeks. Alexa Bliss will serve as this year’s host. Here is the card as it stands now:

Universal Championship

Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins

RAW Women’s Championship Triple Threat Match

Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair

No Holds Barred Match

Triple H vs. Batista

Shane McMahon vs. The Miz

AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton

United States Championship

Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio

Kurt Angle’s Farewell Match

Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin

WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Tony Nese

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (CBS Local) — A disabled Ohio man who walks with a cane says he was attacked by another customer two weeks ago after a dispute over a handicapped parking space.

Todd Oehler said he stopped at a White Castle restaurant in Colerain Township on March 3 for a bite to eat when he spotted a GMC SUV park in a handicapped space with no placard.

“I’d seen a young kid and his girlfriend pulling up and was sitting there and was pursuing to get out and I said, ‘Hey guys, if there’s nothing wrong with you, park over there,’ you know. Well, they took that as an attitude,” Oehler told WLWT.

Oehler, who suffers relentless pain on his left side, said he went into the restaurant to order and the man, who appeared to be in his 20s, followed.

“I turned around and he smacked me right in the mouth and in the nose and you know got me a little bloodied up and then I fell down,” Oehler said.

He said a White Castle worker called 911 as the man fled the restaurant.

“They about to fight, they about to fight Hey! Hey! They’re fighting. Yeah. They’re fighting,” the worker is heard telling 911 dispatchers.

Oehler said doesn’t know why the man got so angry.

“I thought we all (saw) eye-to-eye with handicapped people, elderly people. I thought we still had that instilled in us,” Oehler said.

The suspect was described as wearing a gray sweatshirt and a black hat with a red Cincinnati symbol.

(CBS Philly/CBS Local) – A baby cough syrup sold at Dollar General stores across the country has been recalled due to a possible bacteria contamination. Kingston Pharma, LLC, which manufactures the “DG/health NATURALS baby Cough Syrup + Mucus,” says the cough syrup may be contaminated with Bacillus cereus/ Bacillus circulans.

The bacteria has the potential to cause gastrointestinal illness, including vomiting and diarrhea. The FDA says the symptoms are often mild and self-limiting, although more serious and even lethal cases have occurred.

The FDA warns those at risk for more severe forms of illness include infants, young children, and others with weakened immune systems.

The recalled bottles are labeled, “DG/health NATURALS baby Cough Syrup + Mucus” and come in 2-fluid ounce bottles marked with Lot KL180157 Expiration date 11/20 on the bottom of the carton and back of the bottle label; UPC Code 8 54954 00250 0.

There have been no reports of illness in connection to this cough syrup.

Consumers who have purchased Lot KL180157 of DG/health NATURALS baby Cough Syrup + Mucus” may return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-844-724-7347 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST or e-mail at Christina.Condon@SciRegs.com.

(CBS New York/CBS Local)– Sports betting is sweeping the nation.

Sports gambling is now legal in eight states, but it wasn’t that long ago that Nevada was the only state in the country to allow this. Professional sports handicapper Kelly Stewart has seen this industry grow from the inside and is one of the many people that Showtime followed in its new docu-series “Action.” The four part docu-series explores the rise of this big business and its key players. Stewart’s whole life changed with one college football bet.

“In reality I made $8500 from that parlay, but that one bet changed my life,” said Stewart in an interview with CBS Local. “What catapulted me into the spotlight is that I was a female who hit on an 85-1 ticket. People were like ‘who is this girl’ or ‘who is her boyfriend giving her picks.’ With the legislation last year, this whole world has blown up.”

Stewart provides betting advice weekly on CBS Sports HQ and WagerTalk. Kelly in Vegas was ahead of the curve in predicting the rise of the gambling industry.

“I wrote an article for the New York Times seven years ago and predicted in five or six years that we would have legalized sports betting,” said Stewart. “So much money is going to the offshores. It is amazing to see these states legalize it. We need money for schools and infrastructure. In New Jersey, this may help revitalize Atlantic City.”

This week will be a busy one for Stewart with the beginning of the NCAA Tournament. The professional sports handicapper has a few words of advice for everyday people looking to lay down some money on the games.

>>MORE: Latest on the NCAA Tournament

“There’s a lot of really interesting dynamics that go into March Madness,” said Stewart. “The bookmakers focus really hard on their numbers, so by the time you go to bet, the lines have already shifted to where the market wants them to be. Bet early, bet often and look for those juicy underdogs. Those 12 seeds and 13 seeds might surprise you. Teams that have lost six of their last 10 games usually lose in the second round.”

Watch “Action” on Showtime starting Sunday, Mar. 24th at 8pm EST/PST.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CBS Local) — A Tennessee woman claims a doctor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center operated on the wrong kidney, causing her permanent health problems.

Carla Miller claims she went to VUMC in November 2017 with a fever and pain in her side. Doctors recommended putting a stent in her left kidney, but instead it was placed in her right kidney. Miller had to have additional surgery to fix the error.

As a result, Miller claims her urinary system was damaged and she now requires dialysis for life, CBS affiliate WTVF reported.

Miller filed a $20.5 million dollar lawsuit Tuesday in Davidson County Circuit Court.

“This type of error is shocking and inexcusable in modern medicine, and it is mind-boggling that it could occur at an institution like Vanderbilt,” said Miller’s attorney, Afsoon Hage.

A spokesperson for Vanderbilt University Medical Center said the hospital could not comment on ongoing court cases.

The lawsuit marks the third time this year VUMC has been linked to costly and dangerous medical errors. Last month, another lawsuit claimed a patient died after an unsupervised resident did not properly place a central line in the patient’s throat.

Earlier this year, a former Vanderbilt nurse was indicted for accidentally giving a patient a lethal dose of a powerful paralyzing medication that is used to execute inmates on death row. Charlene Murphey, 75, was left brain-dead and later died. RaDonda Vaught, 35, was charged with one count of impaired adult abuse and one count of reckless homicide.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Let the madness begin. March Madness kicks off into high gear Thursday and millions of people are distracted as they fill out their brackets for office pools.

But all of that time spent on the fun and games may not necessarily be bad for a company’s bottom line.

It’s front and center during water cooler breaks, and sparks new meaning to research reports and data entry: It’s March Madness in the office.

“We’ve done brackets in our office and I feel like it gets competitive among like workers,” one woman said.

“It takes about five seconds to fill my little sheet out, then I’m done. I just watch the brackets,” one man said.

>>MORE: Latest on NCAA Tournament

Each year, we hear about decreased productivity among employees during the NCAA Tournament, due to workers sorting through their brackets and monitoring scores.

At least here at CBS3, we’re honest about it. Check out Jim Donovan explaining his method to the madness on our CBS3 Morning Show.

Research out of the University of Kansas confirms the lost productivity, but also found benefits when employees were open about it, and bosses were understanding.

“I think it’s really well understood that, ‘Hey, go ahead and watch the games on the monitor for all we care and talk about it if you want. Just get your work done and no one will have a problem,'” one man said.

>>MORE: NCAA Tournament Picks: What Teams Will Advance To The Sweet 16?

The study found that as long as employees still finished their required tasks, supervisors were supportive, and when supervisors got in on the fun, too, camaraderie and feelings of motivation were increased company-wide.

If you’re not into college hoops, no worries. According to the study, even non-sports fans felt like March Madness provided more company outings and chances to socialize with coworkers.

By Norm Elrod

(CBS Minnesota/CBS Local) — The NCAA Tournament is about to begin for real. With Fairleigh-Dickinson, Belmont and North Dakota State all playing their way in, only one spot needs to be filled to set the field of 64. And then March Madness ensues in earnest on Thursday at 12:15 pm ET.

There are so many questions to answer over the next few weeks. Can Villanova defend its title? Could Duke be destined for another Final Four? Will Michigan State advance past the second round? To answer these and so many other questions, we’ll just have to watch.

For now, we’ve lined up sports anchors from the across the country — Ryan Baker at CBS Chicago, Bill Jones at CBS Dallas, Mike Max at CBS Minnesota, and Don Bell at CBS Philadelphia — to answer one pressing question. What four teams will advance from each region to the Sweet 16 next week?

Here are their picks:

West Region – Ryan Baker, CBS Chicago

• Gonzaga
• Florida State
• Texas Tech
• Michigan

East Region – Mike Max, CBS Minnesota

• Duke
• Mississippi State
• Maryland
• Michigan State

South Region – Don Bell, CBS Philadelphia

• Virginia
• Villanova
• Kansas State
• Tennessee

Midwest Region – Bill Jones, CBS Dallas

• North Carolina
• Auburn
• Houston
• Kentucky

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It’s March and the nation lights up by the sudden impact of college basketball aficionados that spill out of the woodwork with brackets in their hands. As the NCAA Tournament gets fully turning, the truth is, there may be no team in the country that can stop Duke, the overall No. 1 seed and top seed in the East region.

There is an estimated 70 million Americans expected to bet on the NCAA Tournament these next five weeks. According to the American Gaming Association, 29-percent of all Americans think Duke will win the national championship, which almost doubles the next closest team, Virginia, which is expected to garner 17-percent of the country’s gambling attention.

On the court, Duke possesses the best one-two punch in the country in freshmen Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett, who combine to average 45 points.

>>MORE: Wally Szczerbiak: ‘Zion Williamson Is The Best Defender In College Basketball’

The two teams that can beat Duke are two teams that have already defeated the Blue Devils, Gonzaga, the No. 1 seed in the West, and ACC arch-rival North Carolina, the top seed in the Midwest.

Gonzaga possesses the best scoring offense in the nation, averaging national-high 88.8 points. North Carolina has dynamic freshman point guard Coby White, who averages 16.3 points, and is third in the nation in scoring, averaging 86.1 points. The problem with Gonzaga is how will the Bulldogs react in a tight game against an elite team like Duke?

>>MORE: Zion Williamson: NCAA Tournament Player To Watch

Gonzaga literally rolled over opponents to the tune of the nation’s best winning margin, beating teams by an average of 23.8 points.

Duke, which plays in the much tougher ACC, beat its foes by average of 16.7 points.

Early sleepers

• No. 12 Murray State over No. 5 Marquette

• No. 12 Liberty over No. 5 Mississippi State

• No. 11 St. Mary’s over No. 6 Villanova (sorry, Jay Wright)

Cinderella team

Buffalo to reach the Sweet 16

CARSON CITY, Nevada (CBS Local) — Nevada is considering a bill which would allow more students as young as 14 years old to get a driver’s license under certain circumstances.

Assembly Bill 213 would expand an existing state law that lets rural Nevadans as young as 14 to drive to school where the district doesn’t provide transportation. This bill would grant privilege to charter school students regardless of where their school is located.

The driver’s license would only be good for the school year it’s issued and would restrict students to drive to and from school at speeds 55 miles per hour or less, the Las Vegas Sun reported.

Assemblywoman Alexis Hansen, a Republican from Sparks, said she introduced the bill to make it easier for kids to attend charter schools that they otherwise couldn’t because of a lack of transportation.

“I’m concerned about the disconnect that some students have in high schools, particularly high schools in their neighborhood that might not be a fit for these public school students,” she said. “So they have an opportunity to go a charter school that might be addressing the interests and the kinds of things they want to do.”

Hansen said students who violate any terms of the restrictions would lose their license until age 18.

“This is not for kids who don’t take it seriously,” she said.

The Assembly’s Growth and Infrastructure Committee is set to meet Thursday to discuss the bill. If eventually passed, the bill would be effective July 1, 2019, KSNV reported.

(CBS Minnesota/CBS Local) — Winning multiple games in the NCAA Tournament can define your legacy for life.

CBS Sports college basketball analyst Wally Szczerbiak can speak to that. People are still talking about when the NBA All-Star led Miami University to the Sweet 16 in 1999. Szczerbiak scored a career high 43 points in his team’s first round win over Washington and knows what it takes to get it done in March.

>>MORE: Latest on the NCAA Tournament

“You want to be healthy as a team come March,” said Szczerbiak in an interview with CBS Local at CBS & Turner Sports NCAA Tournament Media Day last week. “It’s such a long season and you don’t want to be dragging. You want to be fresh and you want to be mentally fresh. The great teams realize that the whole entire regular season is building up to March and making sure that you’re peaking at the right time.”

While Szczerbiak sprung onto the scene as an underdog on a mid-major team, he has his eye on two of the top teams to cut down the nets this year.

“Duke is one of my favorites to win it all along with Gonzaga,” said Szczerbiak. “They have a legit team on the west coast. They are a small conference team, but they can compete with anyone.”

In addition to his role with CBS Sports, Szczerbiak is also a studio analyst for the New York Knicks on MSG. With all the talk about Zion Williamson going #1 overall in June, Szczerbiak has been keeping a close watch on the Duke star.

>>MORE: Zion Williamson: NCAA Tournament Player To Watch

“Zion Williamson to me is the best defender in college basketball,” said Szczerbiak. “He blocks shots, gets steals and he can lock a guy up one on one. His pure competitiveness on that level is impressive. Obviously offensively, he is just as good if not better. He plays both ends of the floor.”

Once again, Gwinnett has said “no thanks” to welcoming MARTA transit services across county lines.

Home to some 900,000 people and growing, Georgia’s second most populous county decisively voted against expanding Atlanta’s transportation agency into Gwinnett in Tuesday’s closely watched referendum, the first since 1990.

That’s despite substantial grassroots get-out-the-vote efforts and bipartisan backing from places as disparate as the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, the Georgia Sierra Club, and longstanding Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway.

The unofficial count … No: 49,936. Yes: 41,985.

Gwinnett’s initial rejection of MARTA came at the agency’s inception in the early 1970s. Tuesday’s outcome marks the third “no.”

Nonetheless, some regional leaders exuded optimism in the wake of the referendum’s defeat, calling it a temporary setback. AJC political columnist Jim Galloway wrote recently that Gwinnett transit is basically inevitable and that Democrats will likely push for another vote in 2020.

The measure put to voters Tuesday would have seen a one-cent sales tax increase over the next four decades, beginning April 1. Bus service in Gwinnett would have increased within weeks and eventually doubled, with the addition of Express routes, bus rapid transit (BRT) routes, and Sunday service. The outlook on heavy rail finally breaching Gwinnett was estimated at 15 to 20 years.

Upon hearing the unofficial vote tally at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Gwinnett’s most powerful political, commission chairwoman Charlotte Nash, reportedly embraced former MARTA board chairman Robbie Ashe and told WSB Radio: “This is a pause, not an end.”

A precinct breakdown compiled by the AJC shows that, in general, more urbanized areas along major traffic corridors supported the measure—while more affluent or rural areas roundly declined MARTA’s services.

Within a couple hours of Gwinnett’s voting being tabulated, transit advocates Beltline Rail Now issued a statement expressing disappointment that “our neighbors in Gwinnett County again turned their backs on MARTA” and calling for the transit-expansion focus to turn to communities that clearly want it.

“It’s time to start work on rail projects like the Beltline, where trains run separated from traffic,” reads the statement. “It’s time to start building new stations to connect those projects to today’s MARTA lines. And it’s time to find new ways to link other MARTA communities to the metro core.”

Added Cathy Woolard, a Beltline Rail Now cofounder and former city council president: “New people are already pouring into Atlanta, and we need a way to get around town that doesn’t leave us wasting valuable time in gridlock … Let’s build transit that will get people moving and show others why they want to be part of it.”

Curbed Atlanta

With a similarly optimistic tone, Doug Hooker, Atlanta Regional Commission executive director, pointed to signs of momentum for transit in the region, ranging from State Farm’s massive, rail-connected expansion at the Perimeter, MARTA’s potential $2.7-billion boost approved by Atlanta voters, and even Douglas County’s efforts to launch its first bus system.

An annual public opinion survey conducted by the ARC, as Hooker noted, has shown that attitudes about transit have changed in metro Atlanta, including Gwinnett.

For instance, when 5,500 people were polled across 13 metro Atlanta counties in 2017, more than half (51 percent) said they’d be willing to pay extra taxes to expand transit options.

“This vote is far from the end of the line for transit expansion in this important, fast-growing part of the Atlanta region,” Hooker said in a prepared statement issued to Curbed Atlanta. “I’m optimistic about the future.”

(CBS Local) — Kale, that popular green of the health conscious consumer, has joined the list of 12 fruits and vegetables with the most pesticide residues, according to the Environmental Working Group.

For the third straight year, strawberries top the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” list. Spinach and kale finished in second and third place, respectively. Other “dirty” foods include nectarines, apples and grapes.

Analysis found 92 percent of conventionally grown kale samples had residue from at least two or more pesticides. Some samples contained as many as 18 different pesticides. The most common pesticide detected was Dacthal, also known as DCPA, which was classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1995 as a possible human carcinogen and banned in the European Union in 2009.

“We were surprised kale had so many pesticides on it, but the test results were unequivocal,” Alexis Temkin, an EWG toxicologist, said in a statement.

The report is based on more than 40,900 fruit and vegetable samples tested by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It found nearly 70% of “conventionally grown produce” has pesticides.

Researchers say consuming pesticides have been linked to health issues like cancer and fertility concerns.

Avocados, sweet corn and pineapples top the EWG’s “Clean Fifteen” list.

The nonprofit-nonpartisan environmental organization has annually ranked pesticide contamination in popular fruits and vegetables since 2004. It urges consumers to buy and eat organic produce, especially fruits and vegetables found on the “Dirty Dozen” list.

But others view the report with skepticism.

The Alliance for Food and Farming, a non-profit that represents organic and non-organic growers, said the “Dirty Dozen” list is “unsupportable.” It points to FDA and USDA data which shows “more than 99% of the produce sampled had residues far below Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety levels, if present at all.”

Netflix released the first full trailer for the third season of “Stranger Things” Wednesday, which returns this summer.

There are terrific retro-costumes from the mid-80s and plenty of teen angst as the kids of Hawkins, Indiana negotiate the challenges of becomes teenagers, all while battling a horrific scary monster.

Remember, Hawkins in an interdimensional portal to evil!

“We’re not kids anymore,” says Mike in a voiceover. “I mean, what did you think? That we’re just going to sit in my basement all day playing games for the rest of our lives?”

Netflix plans to release season three of “Stranger Things” on July 4.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (CBS Local) — A video that shows a moving truck dragging a dog down a street in Memphis, Tennessee, has caught the attention of local authorities.

“Stuff like that makes me sick. Turns my stomach, because I really love dogs,” local resident Joe Franklin told CBS affiliate WREG.

The person who shot the video said on her Facebook page that she stopped the truck and told a woman who was driving that she was dragging the dog. The driver said she didn’t know.

It’s still unclear what led up to the dog being dragged down Millbranch. Police think it was an accident since they never received any calls about it. Neither did Memphis Animal Services.

But even if it was an accident, officials say someone should be held accountable.

“Unfortunately, at this time there is not enough information for us to identify the driver in order to investigate this matter,” MAS said in a statement. “If anyone can identify the driver, or has a license plate number, they can contact us.”

“If it’s an accident, that’s something different. But just continuing and dragging the dog, something needs to be done about that,” said Franklin.

If the driver did forget their dog was tied up, then Memphis Animal Services says that’s still a problem. They say always check what’s in and around your vehicle before driving off.

Officials agree, saying pets are no different than people walking in the street or kids left in cars.

(CBS Minnesota/CBS Local) Playing in the NCAA Tournament is a dream that most anyone who has picked up a basketball has had. Young players around the world have had that moment of playing in the backyard and pretending that you have the ball with time running out and a chance to win the game with the final shot. Or, on an even more basic level, have thought about what it would look like to wear the uniform of their favorite school as they carry the program to an NCAA Tournament appearance.

For hundreds of players each March, that dream of stepping onto the court as one of the 68 teams in the field comes true. For some, that moment is just a stepping stone on the way to a longer professional career. For others, that moment is one that they will tell future generations of their family about. While fans root for the upset or who they picked in their bracket pool, the games have a whole different level of meaning to each player, coach, and family involved.

That emotion and significance of the moment is something that CBS Sports play by play man Ian Eagle is always mindful to be a caretaker of when calling the games.

>>MORE: Latest on the NCAA Tournament

“What always struck me is the participants involved, for many of them this is their career highlight,” said Eagle at CBS and Turner Sports NCAA Tournament Media Day last week. “This is the highest level of basketball that they are going to play. This is the game they are going to play for their grandkids many years down the road. For me, from a play by play perspective, you just want to make sure you do right by them. You want to make sure that you are prepared and you tell the stories in the right manner that is the pressure I feel. To make sure you cover it correctly.”

Eagle, who has been covering the tournament for 22 years, has seen all of the narratives that fans enjoy. The crazy upset, the Cinderella run, and the buzzer beating shot. But, for him, all of that is just an aside when compared with the meaning of the games for the athletes.

“The pageantry of the tournament, the idea that a Cinderella could emerge and a team that you had no familiarity with all of a sudden becomes a media darling and the center of attention, that is a nice little sidebar,” said Eagle. “But, ultimately, you just have to do your job. Convey the emotion of the event to the viewer at home.”

Eagle will do just that beginning tomorrow when he and his broadcast partners, Jim Spanarkel and Jamie Erdahl, open up East region play in Jacksonville when 14-seeded Yale takes on 3rd-seeded LSU at 12:40 p.m. Eastern Time on truTV.

(CBS Detroit/CBS Local)– Former Michigan State star Steve Smith knows what it takes to get it done in March.

The former All-American won a Big 10 championship and went to the Sweet 16 in 1990. The 2nd all-time leading scorer in Michigan State history grew up wanting to play in the Big Dance.

“I remember dreaming about playing in March Madness,” Smith said in an interview with CBS Local at CBS & Turner Sports NCAA Media Day in New York. “March Madness is all about the stories around these schools, coaches and student-athletes from all over the world. In March Madness, most people are looking for upsets and that’s what they tune in for.”

Smith’s assistant coach during his college years was current Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. The Spartans have only had two head coaches since the late 1970s.

“Izzo is going to outwork most people,” said Smith. “He still has that assistant coach mentality. His assistant coaches hate it because if he works that hard, they have to work even harder. The biggest thing for him is that he really takes in those kids as family. You still see the pure passion from him.”

The Spartans won the Big 10 Championship this year and are the #2 seed in the East Region. Junior Cassius Winston is one of the biggest reasons for the team’s success after all the injuries they endured.

“He is so cerebral and understands the game. He is a throwback point guard,” said Smith. “What I mean by that is he can beat you with the pass, his leadership and obviously his scoring, which he’s had to do more of. He’s an unbelievable student-athlete. He had the chance to go to an Ivy League school and instead went to Michigan State.”

Michigan State plays #15 Bradley Thursday, Mar. 21st on CBS.

(CBS Chicago/CBS Local)– Cannabis confections are all the rage now that CBD oil is increasing in popularity. The creator of one sugary snack is jumping on the bandwagon.

David Klein founded Jelly Belly jelly beans in Belleville, Ill in 1976.

His new company, Spectrum Confections, offers “gourmet” jellybeans, sugar-free jelly beans, and sour jelly beans that have about 10 milligrams of CBD inside each bean.

(Source: Spectrum Confections)

CBS2 checked this morning and their online stock is currently sold out.

The oil won’t make you high, but is said to relieve anxiety, insomnia, depression and seizures.

WALTON, Ky. (CBS Local) — A high school student in Kentucky is suing his local health department after he was barred from playing basketball because he’s not vaccinated against chickenpox.

Jerome Kunkel, a senior at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart/Assumption Academy in Walton, refuses to get the chickenpox vaccine, citing his Christian faith. He and his father allege that he’s being discriminated against because of religious beliefs.

“For the health department to say we have to get vaccines in order to go to school, that’s infringing upon my First Amendment right,” Kunkle told CBS affiliate WKRC.

But health officials say they’re just trying to protect the public by containing an outbreak of the highly contagious disease that has affected 32 people at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart/Assumption Academy.

The Northern Kentucky Health Department announced last week that all students at the school who don’t have “proof of vaccination or proof of immunity against chickenpox will not be allowed to attend school until 21 days after the onset of rash for the last ill student or staff member.”

This also affects the school’s sports and extracurricular activities, which have been canceled to avoid spreading the illness to other schools and places.

Kunkle and his father, Bill, say any vaccine that uses aborted fetal cells is immoral, illegal and sinful.

“Since 1973, Roe v. Wade to now, they’ve killed 60 million, butchered 60 million babies and they’re going to rub it in a Christian’s face by taking that vaccine and putting aborted baby cells in it and putting it in your body,” Bill Kunkle said.

The chickenpox vaccine is not derived from aborted fetuses, CNN reported.

“There are a number of vaccines made in descendent cells of aborted fetuses” dating back several decades, according to the National Catholic Bioethics Center, which derives its messages from the teachings of the Catholic Church.

“Since that time the cell lines have grown independently. It is important to note that descendent cells are not the cells of the aborted child. They never, themselves, formed a part of the victim’s body,” according to the NCBC.

“One is morally free to use the vaccine regardless of its historical association with abortion. The reason is that the risk to public health, if one chooses not to vaccinate, outweighs the legitimate concern about the origins of the vaccine,” the NCBC writes. “This is especially important for parents, who have a moral obligation to protect the life and health of their children and those around them.”

DAVAO, Philippines (CBS Local) — A young whale whose carcass washed up in the Philippines on Friday died of “dehydration and starvation” after consuming 88 pounds of plastic bags, scientists said.

The whale had been “vomiting blood before it died,” according to Darrell Blatchley, president and founder of the D’Bone Collector Museum, a natural history museum in the Philippine city of Davao.

The whale, found in Mabini, Compostela Valley, was taken to the museum for a necropsy and it was determined that it had died from ingesting plastic.

The museum said in a statement that this was the most plastic its team had ever seen in the stomach of a whale, and described the discovery as “disgusting.”

“I was not prepared for the amount of plastic,” Blatchley said. “Roughly 40 kilos of rice sacks, grocery bags, banana plantation bags and general plastic bags. Sixteen rice sacks in total.”

He added that cetaceans — a family of aquatic mammals that includes whales and dolphins — don’t drink water from the ocean but obtain their water from the food they eat. As the whale was no longer able to consume large amounts of food due to the ingested plastic, it died of “dehydration and starvation,” Blatchley said.

In the last 10 years, the museum has recovered 61 whales and dolphins of which 57 have died due to fishing nets, dynamite dishing and plastic garbage. It called on governments to take action against those who “continue to treat waterways and oceans as dumpsters.”

“Efforts must be stepped up worldwide to reduce plastics pollution in our oceans or this kind of tragedy may become far more common in the future,” said Mark Simmonds, senior marine scientist at Humane Society International.

WICHITA, Kan. (CBS Local) — A Kansas woman with a prior DUI conviction was sentenced last week to serve two days in jail for killing a 35-year-old man while driving under the influence.

Alexandra Eslinger, 27, pleaded guilty in January to vehicular homicide and driving under the influence, both misdemeanors, The Wichita Eagle reported.

Eslinger was convicted in the July 2017 death of Jesus Navarro-Gonzalez, of Wichita. Investigators say he was heading south on North West Street on his motorcycle when Eslinger turned in front of him causing him to collide into the vehicle. Navarro-Gonzalez succumbed to head and body injuries three days later.

Court records indicate Eslinger had blood-alcohol concentration of .102. The limit to drive legally is under .08.

Eslinger must also serve five days of house arrest, a year of probation. pay a $1,200 fine, complete out-patient drug and alcohol treatment and cannot use drugs or alcohol.

If she violates her probation, Eslinger can be sentenced to a year in jail.

Court records show Eslinger has a prior DUI conviction.

By Norm Elrod

(CBS Sacramento/CBS Local) — Spring Training is beginning to wind down. Opening Day, when all 30 MLB teams will play, is still over a week away. But the regular season actually starts this week with two games in Japan. The games, part of MLB’s broader effort to extend its reach internationally, will also act as a sort of mini farewell for one of baseball’s greats.

This week’s Spring Training Report looks at the Japan Opening Series, along with a glimpse at the some of the game’s rising stars and the League’s efforts to combat sign-stealing.

Japan Opening Series

The Seattle Mariners face the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday and Thursday in Japan’s Tokyo Dome to start the regular season. Marco Gonzalez will be the Mariners’ starting pitcher for the first game, ending Felix Hernandez’s streak of opening-day starts at 10. He’ll face Mike Fiers, who gets the start for the Athletics. Seattle’s Yusei Kikuchi will take the mound to face Oakland’s Marco Estrada in Game 2.

Taking the field behind Gonzalez and Kikuchi will be the legendary Ichiro Suzuki. The Hall Of Fame-worthy outfielder, who spent more than a decade with the Mariners, was signed to a minor league contract a few weeks ago. Ichiro, who is now 45, has received a hero’s welcome in Japan, and has showed flashes of his former self in exhibition games. His future beyond these two games remains uncertain.

Both games between the Mariners and Athletics will begin at 5:35 am ET.

Up-And-Coming Players

Much of the Spring Training talk has focused on proven superstars receiving big contracts. Today’s news of Mike Trout’s 12-year $430 million extension with the Los Angeles Angels is just the latest. But some of MLB’s lesser names are poised to step up.

Victor Robles of the Washington Nationals will get the opening-day start in center field after the injury to Michael Taylor. Previously overlooked in an outfield that included Bryce Harper and Juan Soto last season, Robles now has his turn to shine. The speedy outfielder has good range in the field, along with a strong arm. He’s hitting .333 in Spring Training and has displayed a little power upon occasion.

The Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta could be among MLB’s best pitchers in 2019. He was certainly better in 2018 than his stats show, given the Phillies’ poor defense. Look for his stock to rise as the season progresses.

Adalberto Mondesi, shortstop for the Kansas City Royals, possesses a nice combination of speed and power. He hit .275 in 75 games last season, tallying 32 stolen bases and 14 home runs. His stats should improve this season as he continues to gets consistent at-bats and playing time.

The Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez will have a breakout season if he can continue his success from the second half of last season. His sub-2.5 ERA after the All-Star Break was partly a product of his improved repertoire  We’ll see if he can continue his dominance, now that hitters have seen his slider. Coors Field isn’t exactly a pitcher’s paradise.

Combating Sign-Stealing

Sign-stealing isn’t illegal in baseball, but using technology to do it is. Teams can no longer put non-broadcast cameras in the outfield that could pick up communications between catchers and pitchers. MLB is also testing out a system that lets pitchers and catchers communicate with watches. How that might affect the pace of games — something MLB is keen to address — remains to be seen.

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (CBS Local) — Two Head Start teachers are on paid administrative leave after preschoolers were allegedly forced to strip off all of their clothes and stand in a closet as part of punishment for misbehaving, police in East St. Louis, Illinois, said.

The teachers and students are part of the Head Start program operated by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center.

“Children would misbehave in class and the teacher would have them disrobe and stand them, make them stand inside a closet for five or 10 minutes as their discipline,” SIUE Police Chief Kevin Schmoll told CBS affiliate KMOV. “Then they would redress and join the class.”

Schmoll said 4 of the 20 students in the class, aged 4 and 5-years-old, were forced to take their clothes off. Schmoll said this form of punishment had been going on since early February but that police were only notified last week.

“We felt that was very inappropriate and possible there’s some criminal action and some charges could come from this,” said Schmoll.

Police said the teacher accused of disciplining students inappropriately is 26-years old and has been a Head Start teacher at the center for three years.

A second teacher, aged 41 with five years’ experience in the program, was also put on paid administrative leave for allegedly witnessing the students forced to take their clothes off and not reporting it.

Police said they don’t believe there was any sexual contact between the adults and the children while they were naked.

A representative of the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office is expected to be present when the children are more thoroughly interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Belleville in two weeks. Charges could come after that, KMOV reported.