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BALTIMORE (WBFF) — An influential nonprofit in Baltimore that receives funding from federal, state, and city government agencies is ending its fiscal management services for local charities, raising questions about how it handles taxpayer money. Fusion Partnerships announced an end to its more than two-decade-old fiscal sponsorship program this year, potentially impacting dozens of organizations […]

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Prominent Baltimore non

An influential nonprofit in Baltimore that receives funding from federal, state, and city government agencies is ending its fiscal management services for local charities, raising questions about how it handles taxpayer money.

Fusion Partnerships announced an end to its more than two-decade-old fiscal sponsorship program this year, potentially impacting dozens of organizations in the Baltimore area that rely on financial services. Fiscal sponsorships allow government agencies to award grants to organizations that do not have a tax-exempt status.

An audit of Fusion Partnerships issued in 2023 revealed the organization managed taxpayer dollars awarded by the federal and Maryland state governments. This included $1.4 million from federal agencies in 2022, and roughly $500,000 from Maryland state agencies from 2021 to 2022.

The audit showed Fusion handled grants for a variety of institutions, including three federal agencies, Maryland Department of Health, Maryland governor’s office, and the Baltimore City government. It is unclear if Fusion’s decision to end its fiscal sponsorships will impact the taxpayer-funded grant programs.

Brian Mittendorf is the H.P. Wolfe Chair in Accounting at Ohio State University, where he specializes in nonprofit accounting. He said stability is required for fiscal sponsorships to be successful.

“It provides some assurances having a well-vetted fiscal sponsor help with that and essentially help charities that would be eligible,” Mittendorf told Spotlight on Maryland. “The problem that you run into here is that the huge value a fiscal sponsor can bring is assurance and stability. And that seems to be what the problem was in the end is that the fiscal sponsor wasn’t able to offer that ongoing stability.”

The audit of Fusion was required because the organization received more than $1 million in federal grants. The audit was conducted by L. Abrams & Company, a Maryland-based law firm that detailed five “significant deficiencies” at Fusion, which included how the organization had inaccurate and missing financial documents.

Fusion did not respond to questions about how it plans to resolve its taxpayer-funded grant programs, instead telling Spotlight on Maryland that it is focused on ensuring its fiscally sponsored organizations are able to continue operations.

The largest grant handled by Fusion, according to the audit, was $530,796 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for “Harm Reduction Services.” The federal agency awarded the taxpayer funds to the Maryland Department of Health’s Prevention and Health Promotion Administration.

A spokesperson for the Maryland Health Department said the state agency gave the federal grant to Fusion on behalf of the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition (BHRC).

“Fusion operated as the fiscal sponsor for Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition (BHRC), managing their funding, payroll, accounting, cash flow, etc. as the fiscal arm for BHRC during the grant period,” the Maryland Health Department spokesman told Spotlight on Maryland. “The grant provided harm reduction services through the non-profit BHRC who provides harm reduction services in downtown Baltimore City.”

The spokesman said the BHRC used the funds to provide clean drug paraphernalia and overdose services for drug users in 2022 — the only year of the program. BHRC provides kits for injecting, smoking, and snorting drugs, according to its website.

The Maryland Health Department gave $303,223 in state grants to Fusion from 2021 to 2022, according to the audit. The agency’s spokesman said the funds were also used for BHRC’s harm reduction services.

HHS gave another $257,426 to Fusion to manage two grants for Morgan State University, whose spokesperson told Spotlight on Maryland that “all awards are being actively wrapped up due to Fusion’s imminent closure and dissolution.”

An HHS spokeswoman told Spotlight on Maryland that the agency “does not comment on the details of its internal deliberation process related to grants to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the process.”

The U.S. Department of Treasury gave Fusion $428,403 to handle COVID-19 relief funds for the Baltimore City government.

The U.S. Department of Justice gave Fusion $209,967 to manage a parole reentry program for the Governor’s Office of Crime and Prevention.

The Treasury Department, Justice Department, Baltimore City government, and Maryland governor’s office did not respond to questions about how the funds were used and if the programs are still active.

The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) gave Fusion a $55,604 grant, which a spokeswoman said was for fiscal sponsorship services that are now uncertain as the program dissolves.

“Fusion is working with grantees and MSAC to ensure that contractual obligations are fulfilled on a case-by-case basis,” the MSAC spokeswoman told Spotlight on Maryland. “Using a fiscal sponsor allows MSAC to distribute grant funds to communities where establishing nonprofits is a barrier.”

Mittendorf expressed concern about next steps when a fiscal sponsor program suddenly folds.

“Ultimately, the question is what happens if you get a grant on the basis of having a fiscal sponsor and then that fiscal sponsor goes away?” he told Spotlight on Maryland. “That, of course, would put the grant in jeopardy.”

Fusion received at least $3 million in Baltimore City taxpayer dollars since 2020, as previously reported by Spotlight on Maryland.

Despite receiving funds from the local, state, and federal government, Fusion does not list any income under the government grants section of its nonprofit tax forms dating back to 2015.

Fusion paid the IRS federal tax liens in 2021 and faced a lawsuit from its former executive director that same year who alleged financial mismanagement at the organization, as previously reported by Spotlight on Maryland. Fusion denied allegations in the lawsuit and the two parties agreed to dismiss the case in 2022.

Baltimore City has struggled to maintain its fiscal sponsors in recent years, as previously reported by Spotlight on Maryland. Strong City Baltimore similarly ended its fiscal sponsorship program in 2021. Thrive Arts collapsed in 2023 after operating for less than two years.

Spotlight on Maryland is a joint venture by FOX45 News and The Baltimore Sun. Have a news tip? Contact Patrick Hauf at pjhauf@sbgtv.com. Follow him on X @PatrickHauf.

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Trump and Coach Saban have the right game plan to save college sports » Coach Tommy Tuberville

“Regardless of which path Trump chooses to address the current state of college sports, I’m confident that his administration — which has already proven to be both effective and unafraid to shake up the status quo — can make meaningful reforms to make sure college sports remain intact.” WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) penned an op-ed […]

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“Regardless of which path Trump chooses to address the current state of college sports, I’m confident that his administration — which has already proven to be both effective and unafraid to shake up the status quo — can make meaningful reforms to make sure college sports remain intact.”

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) penned an op-ed in Fox about the current state of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and college sports amidst the everchanging NIL landscape. In the piece, Sen. Tuberville addresses the growing problems college athletes are facing with the pay-for-play environment making it nearly impossible for Olympic sports and female athletics to survive. The current “patchwork” of laws has created an uneven playing field that President Trump and Congress are well-positioned to address in the near future. Sen. Tuberville currently serves as the Chairman of the HELP Subcommittee on Education and the American Family. 

Read excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s op-ed below or the full piece here. 

“As a former college football coach for 40 years, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of college sports in shaping young lives. From the locker room to the classroom, athletics instill discipline, teamwork and resilience — values that extend far beyond the field. But ever since the Supreme Court ruled that college athletes can be compensated for the use of their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), college sports have been in a tailspin.  

While I’m all for players making money, we need to create national standards to protect the integrity of college sports. Because there are no national rules for NIL contracts, every state has passed its own laws. This patchwork of laws has created an uneven playing field and given some universities advantages over their competitors.

We now have pay-to-play as bidding wars for recruits are starting in middle and high school. This is not to mention the transfer portal, which has become a revolving door with student-athletes jumping from school to school in pursuit of more money.  

[…]

Regardless of which path Trump chooses to address the current state of college sports, I’m confident that his administration — which has already proven to be both effective and unafraid to shake up the status quo — can make meaningful reforms to make sure college sports remain intact. 

Meanwhile, I’ll continue to work with my colleagues to hopefully draft legislation that could pass both chambers. The challenges facing college sports today are formidable, but not insurmountable. With President Trump’s leadership and a unified approach, we can navigate this new era while preserving the integrity and spirit of collegiate athletics.”

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

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OSU announces coaching change – Oklahoma State University Athletics

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State University Director of Athletics Chad Weiberg has announced that Cowgirl golf coach Greg Robertson will not return next season.   “We appreciate Greg’s service over the past six years and wish him well in the future,” Weiberg said.   Annie Young will serve as interim head coach. A national search for […]

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STILLWATER – Oklahoma State University Director of Athletics Chad Weiberg has announced that Cowgirl golf coach Greg Robertson will not return next season.
 
“We appreciate Greg’s service over the past six years and wish him well in the future,” Weiberg said.
 
Annie Young will serve as interim head coach. A national search for the next head coach will begin immediately.
 



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Geno Auriemma, UConn Land Elite Transfer Portal Guard From Rival USC Trojans

The USC Trojans women’s basketball team lost a couple of players through the NCAA Transfer Portal including guard Kayleigh Heckel. Heckel spent one season with the Women of Troy before announcing her intentions to enter the portal on April 3. Heckel was one of the top available guards in the transfer portal after earning extended […]

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Geno Auriemma, UConn Land Elite Transfer Portal Guard From Rival USC Trojans

The USC Trojans women’s basketball team lost a couple of players through the NCAA Transfer Portal including guard Kayleigh Heckel. Heckel spent one season with the Women of Troy before announcing her intentions to enter the portal on April 3.

Heckel was one of the top available guards in the transfer portal after earning extended minutes in the NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament. Heckel posted on her Instagram on May 20 that she will be transferring to the UConn Huskies.

Mar 29, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; USC Trojans guard Kayleigh Heckel (9) walks off the court during the second half of a Sweet

Mar 29, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; USC Trojans guard Kayleigh Heckel (9) walks off the court during the second half of a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images / James Snook-Imagn Images

“K9 by name, husky by nature. see you in storrs! Go huskiesss,” Heckel wrote.

The UConn Huskies knocked out the USC Trojans in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, 78-64. It was the second year in a row the Huskies knocked the Trojans out of the tournament in the same round. UConn went on to win the tournament.

The UConn Huskies lost star guard Paige Bueckers, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft. Forward Sarah Strong just completed her freshman season, already on a path to being a top college basketball player. UConn is looking to win back-to-back championships, and Heckel is set to be a part of that team.

Coming out of high school, Heckel was a five-star recruit who committed to the USC Trojans. Throughout her freshman season, Heckel continued to develop as a player, averaging 16.9 minutes with 6.1 points. She also averaged 1.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals.

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MORE: Elite 4-Star Recruit Luke Wafle To Commit To USC Trojans Over Penn State, Florida?

With USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins set to miss time, though it is still unknown exact timetable, Heckel could have competed for a starting role with the Women of Troy but ultimately chose to enter the portal. Heckel chose the UConn Huskies over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

While Heckel may begin as a depth piece for the UConn Huskies, she will be led by coach Geno Auriemma, a 12-time national champion-winning head coach. Heckel will be on a squad looking to compete for another national title.

The USC women’s basketball team is heading into a season with a new starting five. With Watkins recovering from her ACL tear, center Rayah Marshall and forward Kiki Iriafen in the WNBA, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb and the staff have their work cut out for them.

Feb 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard Kayleigh Heckel (9) and USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) duri

Feb 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard Kayleigh Heckel (9) and USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) during the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Guard Kennedy Smith will be returning which is a positive for the Trojans. Smith finished the season averaging 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.2 steals. The USC guard is entering just her sophomore season. Guard Malia Samuels only had one start in the 2024-2025 season but earned more minutes as the season progressed.

Through the Transfer Portal, the Women of Troy acquired guard Kara Dunn, from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Dunn led Georgia Tech in scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game, and averaged 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.1 blocks. The Trojans also acquired former Washington State forward Dayana Mendes. The forward averaged 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game last season.

USC will have a standout incoming freshman next season, with five-star recruit Jazzy Davidson joining the team. While the USC team may look different next season, the Women of Troy will be just as competitive, and look to take the next step in the NCAA Tournament.

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Vols' Zakai Zeigler sues for fifth year of eligibility, citing NIL pay

Field Level Media May 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler (5) during Senior Day presentations after a men’s college basketball game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler is suing […]

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Vols' Zakai Zeigler sues for fifth year of eligibility, citing NIL pay

Field Level Media

Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler (5) during Senior Day presentations after a men’s college basketball game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler is suing the NCAA for another year of eligibility, claiming he could lose up to $4 million in NIL money if he isn’t allowed to play in 2025-26.

Zeigler’s lawsuit requests a preliminary injunction allowing him to play a fifth season and arguing he will suffer irreparable harm without immediate relief, with schools currently finalizing rosters and settling NIL deals.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Zeigler’s lawsuit challenges the NCAA’s redshirt rule in which players are allowed to play a fifth year if they sit out a year of competition.

Zeigler played four consecutive seasons for the Volunteers from 2021-22 through 2024-25. He argues that he should get be allowed a fifth year of eligibility and its earning potential instead of being punished for not taking a redshirt year, per the News Sentinel.

“All NCAA athletes should be eligible to compete and earn NIL compensation during each year of the five-year window — not just those selected to redshirt,” the court filings state.

Zeigler filed his suit in the Eastern District of Tennessee. In it, he claims he could make between $2 million and $4 million in name, image and likeness money in 2025-26 after making $500,000 in 2024-25.

The lawsuit calls a fifth year “the most lucrative year of the eligibility window for the vast majority of athletes.”

Zeigler set the Tennessee career records for assists (747) and steals (251). The three-time All-SEC pick and two-time league defensive player of the year averaged 11.3 points, 5.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 138 career games (83 starts).

He graduated this month from Tenneseee and plans to pursue a graduate degree.

–Field Level Media

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Instant impact transfer portal DB picks Illinois as his landing spot

Illinois football built for the future on Wednesday, and we also added some instant impact talent on the defensive side of the ball. There are multiple positions on the field where the Illini can’t have too much depth. The more quarterbacks, the merrier. Illinois always needs linebackers. And in the defensive secondary, we could always […]

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Instant impact transfer portal DB picks Illinois as his landing spot

Illinois football built for the future on Wednesday, and we also added some instant impact talent on the defensive side of the ball.

There are multiple positions on the field where the Illini can’t have too much depth. The more quarterbacks, the merrier. Illinois always needs linebackers. And in the defensive secondary, we could always use more bodies on the field.

On Wednesday, Illinois managed to add to the secondary depth. Donovan Turner took to social media to announce he has picked the Illini as his landing spot.

Turner is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound cornerback who was only rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 2044 player in the class of 2022. He didn’t have a ton of scholarship offers, so Turner landed with Long Beach City College in the junior college ranks.

Turner just finished his sophomore season with Long Beach City College, and he played well. As a sophomore, he played nine games and had 15 tackles, four pass breakups, two interceptions, and one tackle for loss.

With two years of eligibility remaining, Illinois is getting a player in Turner who can fit perfectly into the rotation of defensive backs we will have the next couple of years.

Bret Bielema has gotten rid of the Illinois football defensive back depth issues

During the entire Lovie Smith era of Illinois football, we couldn’t sustain an injury. If one player went down at any position, especially in the defensive backfield, the Illini were in serious trouble.

That isn’t the case anymore, though. Bret Bielema has built the Illinois roster well. Just looking at the defensive backs, we can go pretty deep on the depth chart. We have 22 defensive backs on the roster for 2025, and most of those are at cornerback.

Now that Turner is in the mix, Illinois can strengthen the position even more. I don’t expect him to get any starts, as we have talent coming back from 2024. But Turner should be a main player in the second rotation in the secondary. He is going to be an important piece for the 2025 season.

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Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang lands transfer forward from Bowling Green

Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang has landed another big man through the transfer portal, but not a big man in the conventional sense. Marcus Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 265-pound senior forward from Bowling Green, announced on social media Wednesday that he will be joining the Wildcats for the 2025-26 season. He averaged a team-high 16.2 […]

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Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang lands transfer forward from Bowling Green


Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang has landed another big man through the transfer portal, but not a big man in the conventional sense.

Marcus Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 265-pound senior forward from Bowling Green, announced on social media Wednesday that he will be joining the Wildcats for the 2025-26 season. He averaged a team-high 16.2 points for a Falcons team that went 14-18 in 2024-25.

Despite Johnson’s physical size, he is not primarily an inside threat, averaging just five rebounds in his one season at Bowling Green. What he does give the Wildcats is a sharpshooter who made 39.4% of his 198 3-point attempts and shot 89.8% from the free-throw line.

Johnson, originally from Akron, Ohio, has taken a long road to K-State. He started his career at Parkland, a junior college in Illinois, and played a season and a half at Division II Wheeling University before transferring to Bowling Green last year.

Bowling Green forward Marcus Johnson (6) drives against Michigan State's Coen Carr (55) during a game last November in Lansing, Mich. Johnson has announced his commitment to Kansas State for next season.

Johnson was more of a rebounder at Wheeling, averaging 7.9 rebounds to go with 21.6 points in 2023-24. He also shot 44.7% from 3-point range and made 90.8% of his free throws.

It has been a productive week for Tang, who earlier got a commitment from 6-11 junior college forward Stephen Osei. The addition of Johnson now gives the Wildcats 11 players for 2025-26 if the NCAA approves midyear Memphis transfer Tyreek Smith’s request for an extra season of eligibility.

That leaves at least two more spots for Tang to fill with at least one presumably reserved for a frontcourt player, especially if Smith’s waiver is not approved. The Wildcats did get North Carolina-Wilmington transfer Khamari McGriff through the portal, but Osei is expected to redshirt while healing from an injury.

Kansas State basketball roster breakdown

Outgoing transfers

  • Macacleab Rich, sophomore forward
  • Brendan Hausen, junior guard (Iowa)
  • Dug McDaniel, junior guard (Memphis)
  • Ugonna Onyenso, junior center
  • Baye Fall, sophomore forward (Rutgers)
  • CJ Jones, junior guard

Incoming transfers

  • Abdi Bashir, sophomore guard (Monmouth)
  • Khamari McGriff, junior forward (UNC-Wilmington)
  • Marcus Johnson, senior forward (Bowling Green)
  • Nate Johnson, junior guard (Akron)
  • Stephen Osei, freshman forward (Casper CC)

Incoming freshmen

  • Exavier Wilson, guard, Columbia, Mo.

International recruits

  • Andrej Kostic, guard, Serbia (age 18)

Returning players

  • Taj Manning, sophomore forward
  • Mobi Ikegwuruka, sophomore guard
  • David Castillo, freshman guard
  • *Tyreek Smith, senior forward

*Smith, a midyear transfer from Memphis who did not play last season is seeking a waiver from the NCAA for another year of eligibility

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnegreen.

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