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NEW ORLEANS -- The NBA has decided to hold the 2017 All-Star Game in New Orleans after taking the midseason event out of North Carolina because of a state law that limits anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay and transgender people.New Orleans, announced Friday as the new location of the game, replaces Charlotte, which was set to host the game until the NBA decided last month to move it elsewhere.Unlike several other Southern states, Louisiana has not been swept up in legislative efforts to pass laws similar to that in North Carolina -- a fact Gov. John Bel Edwards has touted while lobbying the NBA to bring its All-Star weekend to New Orleans.We embrace our rich cultural heritage and see our diversity as a virtue, Edwards wrote in a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in late July. Should the NBA choose to bring the All-Star Game back to New Orleans in 2017, it will strongly reaffirm its commitment to communities that value fairness and inclusion.The NBAs decision -- and the economic boost it will bring -- provides a timely dose of good news following disastrous flooding across large swaths of southeast Louisiana that has killed at least 13 people and damaged an estimated 40,000 homes, mostly around Baton Rouge. Much of the New Orleans metropolitan area has been spared from the flooding.While we move into the recovery phase of this disaster, I want to thank the NBA for the vote of confidence in our state to host this event and their support of the relief efforts currently underway, Edwards said.This marks the third time New Orleans, which became an NBA city for the second time in 2002, has been selected to host the leagues All-Star Game.When the All-Star Game first came in 2008, the NBA spearheaded numerous community service projects aimed at helping neighborhoods hard hit by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. The NBA will be presented with similar opportunities next year to assist flooded communities within an hours drive of New Orleans.Indeed, the New Orleans Pelicans and the NFLs Saints, both owned by Tom Benson, already have begun deploying administrative staff to assist flood relief efforts while opening the teams headquarters as a collection point for donations of basic supplies for flood victims.As we know, the NBA will engage thousands of local children and charities during this weekend, Benson said in written comments thanking the NBA for choosing New Orleans.The All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 19, which falls during the first weekend of Mardi Gras parades. That weekend presents some logistical challenges for New Orleans in terms of policing and traffic control, but considerably less so than the following weekend, when the largest parades roll in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday, which is Feb. 28.All-Star weekend also came to the Big Easy in 2014, when Pelicans forward and center Anthony Davis made his All-Star debut. Davis would play the All-Star Game in his home arena again if he is named to the Western Conference squad for a fourth straight season.New Orleans, which has a history of hosting major sporting events, has seen its last two bids to host a Super Bowl come up short. It also bid unsuccessfully to host one of the NCAA Final Fours between 2017 and 2021. Those disappointments provided even more motivation for state and city officials to act decisively to lure the NBA All-Star Game after the leagues decision to take it away from the initially designated host city.A number of entertainment acts, including a Bruce Springsteen concert, have canceled North Carolina events because of its so-called HB2 law.Louisiana hasnt enacted -- or debated -- a bathroom bill of the type passed in North Carolina. Edwards earlier this year issued an LGBT rights anti-discrimination order.In the April order, the Democratic governor banned discrimination in state government based on sexual orientation and gender identity. State contracts also were required to comply, except contractors that are religious organizations. Edwards anti-discrimination order was similar to orders enacted by two former Louisiana Democratic governors -- but he added language protecting against discrimination based on gender identity, a provision that protects transgender people.Republican Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landrys office has issued an opinion claiming that Edwards order has no binding legal effect and exceeds the governors authority. But the order hasnt been challenged in court, and Edwards has vowed to follow it. Landrys office also has joined 10 other states in a lawsuit filed in May against President Barack Obamas administration over its directive to U.S. public schools to let transgender students use the bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.The Human Rights Campaign, a national civil rights group working on behalf of lesbian, gay and transgender people, applauded the NBAs decision to choose New Orleans.The NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver have sent a clear message to lawmakers in North Carolina and across the country that discrimination against LGBTQ people has consequences and will not be tolerated, HRC president Chad Griffin said in a statement. New Orleans explicit LGBTQ non-discrimination protections will ensure all NBA employees, players, and fans who participate in the All-Star Game are protected from discrimination. Cheap Custom Raiders Jerseys . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Cheap Raiders Jerseys . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. http://www.cheapraidersjerseysauthentic.com/ . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Wholesale Raiders Jerseys . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. DURHAM, N.C. -- With three big men out with injuries, top-ranked Duke is leaning on its guards for a little bit of everything.Grayson Allen had 25 points and 10 rebounds, freshman Frank Jackson added 21 points and the Blue Devils beat Grand Canyon 96-61 on Saturday.We have to rebound -- the whole perimeter has to rebound, said Allen, who finished one rebound shy of his career best. We know the big guys that we do have in the game, theyre going to be battling, boxing out the other bigs, so the perimeter, we need to crash in and rebound and clean up all the loose stuff.Amile Jefferson scored 15 points, Luke Kennard finished with 14 and Matt Jones had 11 points for the short-handed Blue Devils (2-0).Once again playing without three injured freshman post players, they kept things largely in their guards hands and shot 53 percent to win their second game in less than 24 hours.I like my team a lot. We just have to keep getting better, and then once all these injuries are taken care of in some time, we can become a different team, coach Mike Krzyzewski said. Right now, we have to be this team and not think about who we could be. Our complete focus has got to be how to win with this team.Now, with those two tuneup games out of the way, the focus squarely falls on one of the marquee matchups of the early season: a date with No. 3 Kansas on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.Shaq Carr had 18 points to lead pesky Grand Canyon (0-1), which gave Duke more of a test than Marist did in a 94-49 rout a night earlier but came up empty in its second opener against a top-ranked team in three years.BIG PICTUREGrand Canyon: The Antelopes -- who lost to No. 1 Kentucky by 40 points in 2014 -- will have to be content with making things tough on Duke for a good chunk of the first half and leading for about 7 1/2 minutes of the first half behind Carr, who repeatedly found his way through the Blue Devils defense and to the rim.I didnt know what to expect, coach Dan Majerle said about a team missing three starters. I was happy with how we started off. ... I thought maybe the firsst 12, 13 minutes, we played pretty good and were going to learn about our team as we go along.dddddddddddduke: The Blue Devils shortened their bench significantly, playing only seven players in the pre-garbage time portion of the game -- and the seventh, freshman Javin DeLaurier, logged only 6 minutes in all. Theyre trying to keep things working without injured freshman big men Harry Giles (knee), Marques Bolden (lower leg) and Jayson Tatum (foot). Krzyzewski says he doesnt anticipate having them against the Jayhawks and we may not have them all week.Whatever amount of time, whatever it is, lets just get well, Krzyzewski added. And while you guys are getting well and supporting the team, lets become a team with these nine guys. We made that a priority this past week. Were trying to figure out the system we need for this group of guys.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Blue Devils trailed for the first time this season but once again showed no reason why they should be ranked any lower than No. 1.THE COLANGELO CONNECTIONBoth coaches have strong ties to Jerry Colangelo. He was the Phoenix Suns owner when they drafted Majerle in 1988 and lured Thunder Dan to the Grand Canyon program in 2013.And with Colangelo as its chairman and Dukes Mike Krzyzewski as the coach, the U.S. national team won the last three Olympic gold medals.STAT WATCHThe Blue Devils were 21 of 31 from the free-throw line while Grand Canyon was 6 of 12. The Antelopes didnt attempt their first foul shot until just 1:44 remained in the first half -- by which point Duke had already attempted 17 and built a 39-28 lead.UP NEXTGrand Canyon: The Antelopes head to Penn State on Nov. 15 for their second game in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off.Duke: The Blue Devils get their first big test Nov. 15 when they face Kansas in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden.---Follow Joedy McCreary at http://twitter.com/joedyap---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '