Newsmakers

Upheld The federal ban on sports betting in all but four states was upheld Tuesday, dealing a blow to New Jersey’s latest effort to expand gambling options to help its struggling casino and racetrack industries. But the 2-1 ruling by a panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia left the door open for New Jersey to further appeal the matter to the full court. The state has been trying since 2009 to legalize sports betting at its casinos and racetracks.

Fined The Los Angeles Clippers were fined $250,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for violating the league’s rules while trying to re-sign DeAndre Jordan last month. The league said the Clippers made a presentation to the then-free agent on July 2 that improperly included potential third-party endorsements.

Agreed Minnesota has finalized a two-year contract extension for coach Richard Pitino through the 2020-21 season, including a $400,000 raise. Pitino, who finished his second year as coach of the Gophers, will now make $1.6 million annually.

Seeded Top-ranked Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic are seeded No. 1 for the U.S. Open. The year’s last major tournament starts Monday, when Williams will seek to complete the first Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988. She has won the U.S. Open each of the previous three times she was seeded No. 1, including the past two years.

Canceled The Champions Tour has canceled its September tournament in China near the port where an explosion killed more than 100 people and left several more missing. The Pacific Links China Championship was to be held Sept. 18-20 at the 27 Club in Tianjin.

Selected Europe captain Carin Koch has named her four wild cards for the Solheim Cup, completing the 12-member team to face the United States in September. Caroline Hedwall of Sweden, Karine Icher of France, Caroline Masson and Catriona Matthew of Scotland all return to the team, having helped Europe to a record 18-10 victory over the U.S. in Colorado in 2013.