Fundraiser To Issue Refunds Over Team Hotel Stay

GENESEO, N.Y. (AP) — The organizer of a fundraising campaign to help New York state college swimmers stay in North Carolina for a national competition says he will issue refunds.

The GoFundMe campaign raised about $7,000 to allow 10 athletes from State University of New York at Geneseo stay near the competition despite Gov. Andrew Cuomo's ban on non-essential state-sponsored travel to North Carolina.

But Cuomo's office says the team would have to stay outside of North Carolina regardless of who paid for the hotel.

The Democrat & Chronicle reports that fundraiser organizer Clint Sugnet said Sunday donors will be able to request refunds.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned state-funded travel to North Carolina after lawmakers there voided a local ordinance enabling transgender people to use restrooms based on their gender identity.