rkers did not enjoy benefits that protect them from workplace injuries.The same inspector also said the organizing com

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Donald Trump is adding former wrestling executive Linda McMahon to his Cabinet as leader of the Small Business Administration.McMahon and her husband, Vince, founded and built World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., now a publicly traded sports entertainment company. She stepped down as the companys chief executive in 2009 and earlier this year launched a joint venture, Womens Leadership LIVE, which promotes opportunities for women in business and public service.She also poured $100 million of her fortune into two unsuccessful bids for a U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012 and has become an influential Republican donor -- including to the Trump campaign.Linda is going to be a phenomenal leader and champion for small businesses and unleash Americas entrepreneurial spirit all across the country, Trump said in a statement Wednesday.Trump said McMahon shares his vision of decreasing burdensome regulations that are hurting our middle-class workers and small businesses.As an entrepreneur myself, I have shared the experiences of our nations small business owners and will do my best to advocate on their behalf, McMahon, 68, said in a statement. My husband and I built our business from scratch, building it to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees.The SBA, best known for the small business loans it makes and the disaster aid it provides to companies and entrepreneurs, is also tasked with monitoring government officials compliances with contract laws. Its budget is generally under $1 billion.McMahons two Democratic Senate opponents had kind words for their former foe.Sen. Richard Blumenthal called her a person of serious accomplishment and ability who can help small businesses as long as she is not hamstrung by the dangerous economic policies espoused by other Trump-nominated Cabinet officials. Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Murphy called McMahon a talented and experienced businessperson who helped shepherd WWE from an idea into a successful business.Of course, I know firsthand what a fierce fighter Linda McMahon is, and though we havent always seen eye to eye, I have confidence shell bring that fight to the SBA on behalf of Connecticut small businesses, he said.Some national small business advocates said they had little experience with McMahon but hoped she would understand the needs of small companies. Connecticut members of the National Federation of Independent Business had supported McMahon when she ran for Senate, NFIB spokesman Jack Mozloom said.Her views with small business aligned very well with our views. If that indicates what kind of SBA administrator shell be, thatll be good, Mozloom said.The Small Business Majority said it would have liked a nominee with more direct small business experience, but was optimistic McMahon would support companies and their owners.We hope that she recognizes the unique role that the SBA plays in providing much-needed capital and support to Americas small businesses and that she is prepared to play a strong role advocating for small business needs throughout the government, said John Arensmeyer, the groups CEO.The contract laws that the SBA monitors compliance with are aimed at ensuring small businesses get at least 23 percent of federal contracting money that is considered eligible for small businesses. The SBA also sponsors small business training and assistance at hundreds of centers across the country. And its Office of Advocacys responsibilities include challenging government regulations that pose a burden for small businesses.House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, called McMahon an excellent choice.I look forward to working with her and the new administration to roll back burdensome regulations and increase access to capital for Americas 28 million small businesses, he said.Trump wasnt McMahons top choice for president. She first backed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. But McMahon has known Trump for three decades, and contributed $5 million to Trumps family charity, almost all of it in 2007. He participated in WWE events, including a 2007 Battle of the Billionaires, during which he shaved Vince McMahons head.After Trump secured the Republican nomination, McMahon became one of his most generous benefactors. Fundraising records show she gave $6 million to an outside group that aired supportive commercials and attack ads against Democrat Hillary Clinton. She also gave more than $150,000 to the Trump campaign and his Republican Party partners at the end of September.McMahon told The Associated Press in September that she was confident Trump would be a good president and said the two were on good terms.Once youre his friend, he is loyal to the end, she said. Hes an incredibly loyal, loyal friend.--Haigh reported from Hartford, Connecticut. AP Business Writer Joyce Rosenberg in New York contributed to this report.Mark Andrews Ravens Jersey . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. Joe Flacco Jersey . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. 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Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34.RIO DE JANEIRO -- A near-diplomatic incident -- as Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes termed it -- came to an end on Wednesday ahead of the Olympics.The Australian delegation gave the mayor a tiny boxing kangaroo doll as the sign of a truce. It also said its now happy with its rooms at Rios Olympic Athletes Village.The 700-member delegation refused to check in three days earlier because of water and gas leaks, electrical shorts, malfunctioning toilets and general filth.The unfinished village, built at a cost of about $1.5 billion, marks the first organizational crisis of South Americas first Olympics, which open in just over a week. Attention now shifts to dozens of venues, which will be filling up in the next few days with thousands of athletes hoping to practice. Problems here could make village problems seems small.It was almost a diplomatic thing, the mayor said, speaking to Australian officials and members of the mens field hockey team at the 31-building village.Paes apologized and acknowledged Australias was the worst building.Australia was right, he said. It was not in good shape. That was a mistake of the organization. What we have to do now is go ahead and organize it. Theyve got their building now, and I hope things go well from now on.As his offering, Paes gave delegation head Kitty Chiller the keys to the city, and a doll representing the official mascot Vinicius.Australian officials said about 50 athletes were living in the village on Wednesday accompanied by almost 100 additional staff members.Rio organizers said 2,902 people occupied the village on Wednesday -- 849 of them athletes.The village will accommodate 18,000 athletes and staff at its peak, but many delegations are still away at private training venues for a feww more days.dddddddddddd The crunch should come next week in the run-up to the opening ceremony on Aug. 5.After battling leaks for a week, Australia complained openly on Sunday. Dozens of other delegations also flagged up problems about their rooms, with many calling in their own workmen to fix the problems.The complaints led to hundreds of cleaners, plumbers, safety inspectors and electricians working 24-7 to resolve the issues.On Wednesday, Brazilian labor inspectors said they would fine the Rio organizing committee nearly $100,000 (about 315,000 reals) for hiring workers without proper contracts required by law. Inspector Hercules Terra told the Globo network that about 630 workers did not enjoy benefits that protect them from workplace injuries.The same inspector also said the organizing committee was going to be punished for withholding documents that would show how the employees were hired.Paes was asked four times about who would pay any bills run up by teams trying to fix their own problems. He walked away without answering, which Chiller also noted.He left immediately after that question, she said. Well sort all that out afterwards.Chiller promised to speak out again if things are not ready.Everything that weve ever said, and everything I will continue to say is about making sure that we have the best possible environment for our athletes, she said. And well stop at nothing to ensure that we get that. Whatever that takes.---Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report.---Stephen Wade on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP .His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/stephen-wade ' ' '