Newsmakers
Announced Dominican officials say St. Louis Cardinals rookie outfielder Oscar Taveras was drunk at the time of his fatal car crash last month. Tessie Sanchez, a spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office in the Dominican Republic, told The Associated Press that toxicology reports showed Taveras had a blood-alcohol level five times the legal limit when he lost control of his car Oct. 26 on a highway in Puerto Plata. Taveras’ 18-year-old girlfriend was in the car and also died.
• The Confederation of African Football says a new host for the African Cup of Nations will be named in 2-3 days. In comments published by the African soccer body from an interview with a French television station, CAF President Issa Hayatou said that delaying the tournament would have been like signing a “death warrant” for the sport in Africa.
• Clippers star Blake Griffin is facing a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from a scuffle with a man in a Las Vegas Strip nightclub in October. Las Vegas police had said they were investigating a man’s claim that Griffin grabbed him, took his cellphone and slapped him after the man took a photo early Oct. 19 at Tao nightclub at the Venetian resort.
Clinched Golfer Lydia Ko became the youngest player to win the LPGA Tour’s rookie of the year award. The 17-year-old Ko clinched the points-based award with three tournaments remaining on the LPGA Tour schedule. She already has two victories, two runner-up finishes and nine other finishes in the top 10.
Released The Tallahassee Police Department released an incident report saying Florida State running back Karlos Williams is not being charged after a domestic battery investigation. The investigation ended because “without a statement or additional evidence there is no way to further this case.” Williams was never arrested and did not miss any playing time.
Decided The Italian Golf Federation will bid to hold the 2022 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone club just outside Rome. The federation says its choice followed a consultation with IMG. Italy is one of seven European countries that has expressed an interest in hosting the event.