-MANCHESTER CITY 2, WATFORD 0City lost midfielder Ilkay Gundogan

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina lawmakers took steps Thursday to set aside a half-million dollars for the legal defense of a law limiting protections for LGBT people as a judge sought to streamline a cluster of lawsuits it has inspired.Republican lawmakers were mapping out the end of the session, including possible changes to the law known as House Bill 2, which has attracted high-profile critics including the NBA. The session could end this weekend.But there was no appetite to change the provision requiring transgender people to use restrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificate in schools, universities and many other public buildings. The law also excludes sexual orientation and gender identity from statewide anti-discrimination protections.Pressure to change the law has come from several quarters including NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who said earlier this month that there needed to be progress on changing the law this summer to ensure the league keeps its 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte.The league issued a joint statement late Thursday with the Charlotte Hornets saying they were doubtful that proposed changes would go far enough.We have been engaged in dialogue with numerous groups at the city and state levels, but we do not endorse the version of the bill that we understand is currently before the legislature, the statement said.Legislative leaders were weighing possible adjustments, while trying to determine whether theres enough support to get the legislation to Gov. Pat McCrorys desk. McCrory has urged lawmakers to repeal a provision preventing workers from using state law to sue over workplace discrimination.The governor has been public in what he has asked us to look at, House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, said Thursday. We are reviewing those matters and its just still in discussion.Moore confirmed other changes are being considered but he declined to elaborate.The Senate also approved a plan to give McCrorys office $500,000 to defend the law in court, by transferring money from a disaster relief fund. The measure still must pass the House.Entertainers including Bruce Springsteen canceled concerts to protest the law, while scores of business leaders signed a letter seeking its repeal. Rallies to support the law, meanwhile, drew thousands of conservatives to Raleigh.Other legislators have said possible changes include increasing criminal penalties for people who commit sexual assaults in bathrooms and locker rooms. There also could be dispensations for transgender people who have undergone sex reassignment surgery but were born in the few states where the sex on a birth certificate cant be changed.Gay rights advocates held a news conference to say nothing short of the laws repeal would suffice.There is only one fix for H.B. 2, and its full and total repeal, said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin. If they choose not to and Gov. McCrory and his political cronies run out the clock on this short session, they wont be able to outrun the voters of this state in November.McCrory discussed the law privately with Democratic legislators at the Executive Mansion.Sen. Floyd McKissick, D-Durham, described the discussion as candid. But he said Democrats remained concerned that proposed changes dont fix fundamental problems with the law.A spokesman for McCrorys re-election campaign, Ricky Diaz, later said in an email: Any Democrat standing with the Human Rights Campaign and other out-of-state liberal interest groups by refusing any compromise is attempting to drive the NBA All-Star Game from North Carolina.Transgender residents and the U.S. Department of Justice have challenged the law in court, while McCrory, legislative leaders and a citizen group filed lawsuits to defend it. Legislative leaders will have their own legal expenses after filing a lawsuit separate from the governors.Federal Judge Louise Wood Flanagan, who was overseeing lawsuits by the legislative leaders and citizens group, on Wednesday ordered that they be sent to another federal court hearing separate challenges to the law. Her move increased the likelihood that at least four of the five cases will end up before one judge. 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MANCHESTER, England -- Used sparingly by Chelsea during its long run of victories, Cesc Fabregas is providing significant reminders of his enduring value to the English Premier League leaders.Two weeks ago, it was Fabregas raking pass to set up Diego Costas goal that sparked Chelseas come-from-behind win at Manchester City.On Wednesday, it was the Spain midfielders classy goal -- a one-two with Willian before a composed finish from the edge of the area -- that earned Chelsea a 1-0 win at Sunderland, a 10th straight victory in the league and six-point lead over Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League.In football today, people forget very, very, very quickly who you are, and what you can do, Fabregas said. Hopefully now I can get a run of games in the team.Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been mostly selecting Nemanja Matic alongside the tireless NGolo Kante in central midfield, an axis in a 3-4-3 formation that has driven the team to maximum points since Oct. 1.The 29-year-old Fabregas covers less ground than Matic but offers something different: More vision, more creativity and a stronger goal threat. Its not a bad selection headache for Conte to have.Some games you need players more physical and some games with more technical, Conte said. It is important that Cesc had a good game.In the early stages of Chelseas winning run, the team was scoring freely -- five goals against Everton, four goals against Manchester United -- but it has been eking out victories in recent weeks.This was Chelseas third 1-0 win in its last five matches. In its 10 straight wins, Chelsea has only conceded two goals and this latest clean sheet was preserved by a stunning save by Thibaut Courtois off Patrick van Aanholt late in the game.You have seen many times that teams win titles with 1-0 wins, Fabregas said. Hopefully we can keep it up.It was a night when all of Chelseas potential title rivals -- Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Manchester United -- won.Heres a look at what else happened in the 16th round of games:---MIDDLESBROUGH 0, LIVERPOOL 3Adam Lallana scored two goals and set up another to inspire Liverpool to victory as goalkeepper Simon Mignolet marked his return to the team with a clean sheet.ddddddddddddMignolet regained his starting spot in place of Loris Karius, who was dropped after making errors in the last two matches, but had little to do.Lallana headed home Nathaniel Clynes cross to put Liverpool ahead in the 29th minute, provided a low cross that was swept in by Divock Origi in the 60th, and wrapped up the win in the 68th with his sixth goal of the season.Liverpool climbed into second place, above Arsenal on goals scored.---MANCHESTER CITY 2, WATFORD 0City lost midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to a serious knee injury in a win that brought mixed emotions for manager Pep Guardiola.Gundogan appeared to be in tears as he was helped off the field late in the first half, and Guardiola said after the match that the Germany international would be out for a long time with damaged ligaments.The injury marred a welcome victory for Guardiola, with goals by Pablo Zabaleta and David Silva ensuring City bounced back from consecutive losses, to Chelsea and Leicester. Those defeats had sparked criticism by many pundits of Guardiolas methods and philosophy.City is fourth, seven points behind Chelsea.---CRYSTAL PALACE 1, MANCHESTER UNITED 2Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored an 88th-minute winner for United, which has collected consecutive victories in the league for the first time since August.It was the Swedish strikers 13th goal in his first season in English football, keeping United three points behind fifth-place Tottenham.Paul Pogba slotted United in front on the stroke of halftime, before James McArthur equalized at Selhurst Park.---OTHER RESULTSChristian Eriksen scored twice and had a hand in the other goal as Tottenham beat Hull 3-0, and Salomon Rondon scored a hat trick of headers to guide seventh-place West Bromwich Albion to a 3-1 win over Swansea.Mark Nobles penalty earned West Ham a 1-0 win over Burnley, while Stoke drew 0-0 against Southampton after surviving with 10 men for more than hour following Marko Arnautovics sending-off. ' ' '