Newsmakers

Acquitted A jury acquitted former Southern University athletic director Greg LaFleur in Houston of soliciting prostitution. The Harris County jury deliberated about a half-hour before returning its verdict. Houston police arrested LaFleur last April, accusing him of soliciting sex from an undercover officer posing as a prostitute. Southern University fired LaFleur a few days later, ending a six years at the historically black Baton Rouge, La., university. LaFleur is suing the university, alleging breach of contract.

Donated Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. made good on a promise to a Nevada judge to donate $100,000 to a breast cancer support organization. The undefeated prizefighter gave the money to officials from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure research and support foundation in Las Vegas. Mayweather’s lawyers promised the judge who sentenced Mayweather in December in a domestic battery case that the boxer would make the donation. Mayweather is due to serve a 90-day jail sentence in the case beginning June 1.

Died Baseball umpire Marty Springstead, who at the age of 36 in 1973 became the youngest crew chief in World Series history, has died. He was 74. Springstead was found dead at his home in Florida on Tuesday night. A native of Nyack, N.Y., Springstead was an American League umpire from 1966-85. Among his three World Series were 1978 and 1983, and he also was an umpire at the All-Star game in 1969, 1975 and 1982 and at five A.L. championship series.

Selected Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson Boston’s Zdeno Chara will serve as captains for the NHL All-Star game. Picked by their fellow All-Stars, they will lead the team selection process at the Jan. 26 draft. Alfredsson is in his 16th NHL season, all with Ottawa. The right wing has been the Senators’ captain since 1999-2000, the league’s longest active streak. The 39-year-old Swede will make his sixth All-Star appearance at the Jan. 29 game at Ottawa. Chara is also making his sixth All-Star appearance. The 34-year-old defenseman from Slovakia spent four seasons with the Senators from 2001-02 through 2005-06.

Hired California football coach Jeff Tedford hired former National Football League standout Wes Chandler as wide receivers coach.

Signed The St. Louis Blues signed All-Star goalie Brian Elliott to a two-year, $3.6 million contract extension. The deal will pay the 26-year-old Elliott $1.7 million next season and $1.9 million in 2013-14. Elliott is 15-5-1 with five shutouts, and a 1.68 goals-against average that is second-best in the NHL. He entered training camp battling for a backup job behind Jaroslav Halak.