LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Matt Painter will, or won’t, become Mizzou’s new head coach within the next sixty minutes. Matt Painter’s Mizzou offer expires at 12 noon EST today, and with sixty minutes to go, Mizzou athletics director Mike Alden has yet to report to news that Painter has accepted.

On Tuesday, Alden set the noon deadline for Painter. But since yesterday, several developments have occurred.

First as to Mizzou, Painter met with school officials in Florida on Tuesday, reports Jeff Rabjohns. Mizzou has yet to confirm what it offered Painter. Rabjohns reports that Mizzou offered a seven year $14 million offer to Mike Anderson. Painter reportedly was offered more than $2 million by Mizzou.

As to Purdue, officials confirmed Tuesday that they increased Monday’s offer to match that given by Mizzou. Rabjohns reports that Purdue is now at the $2 million range as well. The St Louis Post Dispatch’s Bernie Miklasz reports that the two schools are at the same salary level.

Unclear is the daily operational budgets, staffing salaries, and incentives on the table from both schools.

The Dispatch’s Kathleen Nelson reports Purdue “is a better job” adding the school’s “biggest advantage is belonging to the Big Ten.” Bill Coats said that Mizzou is better because it has “two in state urban areas” for recruiting and “better facilities”.

Purdue assistant athletic director Tom Schott issued the following statement to news earlier on Tuesday. “Matt Painter is our men’s basketball coach, and we want him to continue his leadership of the program.” He added that on “(Monday) night, the board of trustees, president (France) Cordova and (athletic director) Morgan Burke clearly demonstrated Purdue University’s commitment to him and to our men’s basketball program.

“We were proactive, and although we will not go into details at this time, we encourage Matt to stay through our words and action.”

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – As questions into the USC rooftop scandal continue to dominate Los Angeles news this week, reporters are now focusing on the alleged Kappa Sigma Fraternity email sent also this month. On Saturday, images of a Kappa Sigma Fraternity member having relations on top of USC’s Waite Phillips Hall hit the internet. But just weeks earlier, the same fraternity was under fire for an email it allegedly sent members describing women as “targets” .

Gawker and the Daily Mail detail today that the Kappa Sigma fraternity email allegedly wrote that women “as aren’t actual people like us men”. The email was allegedly written by a single member and sent to other members. Not only did the email allegedly make negative remarks about females but also allegedly about persons of certain ethnicities.

The email allegedly advised members not to have relations with “middle-eastern targets. Exhibit some patriotism and have some pride.”

A spokesperson for the USC Interfraternity Council this week issued the following news statement to the Mail Online:

“It’s also important to note that this action was taken by one solitary member of a fraternity at USC, not the Greek community as a whole, which accomplishes great things on a daily basis at USC” said the Council. “In turn, we are doing everything we can to continue to reverse untrue stereotypes the action has created.”

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Chelsea Nichole McClelland, 34, operator of a Los Angeles day care center in South Los Angeles, appears in court today. Chelsea Nichole McClelland faces charges filed Tuesday that she had relations with her 13 year old godson in a white minivan.

In December, she was arrested near Santa Monica Freeway and La Brea Avenue. She was then released and charges were dropped.

Local residents had called police claiming they had repeatedly seen the white van parked in the spot. In fact, an online search of map street views of the intersection reflects a similar, possibly the same, white van parked exactly at the same location witnessed by police.

When police responded to the location near the Santa Monica Freeway and La Brea Avenue in December, they found a 13 year old godson inside the van having relations the 34 year old day care center operator. He told police he was 18 years old initially.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office is allegedly that the acts continued between December 1 and December 17. McClelland was initially released in December, then re-charged on Tuesday. She remains in custody on $400,000 bail.

Her day care center was located in her home at 4500 block of 3rd Avenue in South L.A. KTLA reports that she had eight children under her care; the center has since been closed down. McClelland is the mother of three children and legal guardian of a fourth.

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ST LOUIS (LALATE) – Butti the Tortoise joins the Bronx Zoo cobra as missing. But unlike the cobra, Butti the Tortoise disappeared as the result of a theft.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs is deeply concerned about Butti and his health. He’s reportedly 13 years, requires serious medical attention and is on a strict diet. Without that Butti, could be in peril.

Butti, obliviously unlike the Cobra, had a different Zoo habitat. Butti was part of an exhibit that allowed Zoo patrons to touch him. But on Monday, one visitor inside his “Loft” reportedly took off with Butti. Butti is the size of a grapefruit.

The theft was believed witnessed by Butti’s Loft co-habitat, Butti’s brother Tutti.

Butti trouble erupted just days after a Bronx Zoo cobra took off, on her own accord. Like Butti, the cobra is of adult age. Bronx Zoo officials have yet to indicate if their cobra’s health is in danger. But Butti suffers from upper respiratory infections.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Dancing with the Stars results tonight sent Mike Catherwood home after two weeks of lackluster performances. Mike Catherwood and Lacey Schwimmer made news last week as the lowest first round competitors. This week they failed to impress judges, news, and fans yet again.

In his first week, Mike Catherwood pulled in a mere thirteen for his foxtrot. Carrie Ann Inaba remarked “You’re a little jerky.” Len Goodman added “there was very little dance quality about it”. And Bruno Tonioli said “It was slightly ungainly.”

On Monday, the two improved, but not enough. Bruno remarked “You looked like a fly stuck on fly paper!” Carrie Ann also added “You have to make it consistent all the way through.” By Monday evening, news reports were predicting Mike’s elimination. Tonight, they were proven correct.

Dancing with the Stars favorites Hines Ward and Kym Johnson advanced to the next round after a second week of stellar numbers. In week one, Hines Ward earned a twenty-one for his Cha Cha Cha. On week two performance, Ward even improved, delivering a stunning twenty-three for his quickstep.

Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff again advanced with their twenty-one score on the jive last night. In week one, they delivered an enormous twenty-four for their Foxtrot. Carrie Ann Inaba was blown away that week saying “That was just an amazing surprise!”

Chris Jericho and Cheryl Burke also advanced. After Carrie Ann told Chris this week “All I can say is, I’m loving me some Chris Jericho right now,” the team picked up an impressive twenty-three score. This marks a second strong week for Jericho after nineteen for his Cha Cha Cha, a dance which Carrie Ann called “kind of like a Chippendale’s cha-cha!”.

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy of course are heading to week three following a strong twenty on their quickstep. Carrie Ann told Kirstie this week “The connection between you and Maks is going to be unstoppable.” Len however remarked “It was good, but it wasn’t great.”

Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas advanced despite an eighteen score this week. Len still has hope for Chelsea remarking “This girl has got fantastic potential, but not with dances like that.” Bruno agreed on Monday “Obviously, as jive goes, it could have been sharper.”

Romeo and Chelsie Hightower were stunning on Monday with their twenty-three score. To no surprise, they advanced as well. Bruno thinks Romeo can win the completion “I tell you Romeo, you are the one to watch!” Len agreed “That was the best dance of the night!”

Kendra and Louis advanced, followed by Petra and Dmitry. But in the end, the bad news came for Mike Catherwood and Lacey Schwimmer.

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