AFGHANISTAN VIRUS OUTBREAK MUSIC Taliban special forces US death toll Female-forward bring abrupt end to hits 1,500 a day hip-hop duets Kabul protest march amid delta scourge dominate charts Page 6 Page 7 Page 13

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Volume 80 Edition 100B ©SS 2021 CONTINGENCY EDITION SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 Free to Deployed Areas

AFGHANISTAN Army vet’s Silver Star comes after 11-year fight BY CHAD GARLAND Stars and Stripes The war in Afghanistan wasn’t even half over when Adam Hol- royd earned his Silver Star. But it would not be pinned on the retired sergeant’s chest until more than a decade later — after the enemy he fought, the Tali- ban, had already retaken the country. Holroyd pulled a special operations med- ic to safety dur- ing a firefight in Holroyd a remote corner of Nuristan province 12 years ago, then he battled a fire in an out- house that held dozens of rocket- propelled grenades. Later, he climbed into the smoldering shack to pull out the RPG rounds, crate by crate. The 10th Mountain Division vet- eran was finally presented the country’s third-highest award for The spoils of war those actions Wednesday in a cer- emony at Fort Drum, N.Y., two days after the U.S. withdrew its Tanks, trucks, helicopters, drones, bullets: What US-supplied arms mean for Taliban last troops from Afghanistan. The ceremony culminated an 11-year BY NABIH BULOS ing under powerful overhead lights. push, plus a year of delay after the Los Angeles Times The choppers were just part of the Taliban’s medal was misplaced. KABUL, Afghanistan — When Taliban haul. The group’s blindingly fast sweep Yet nearly a decade earlier, a fighters rode triumphantly into Kabul airport through most of Afghanistan netted it billions SEAL who had been on a shadowy early Tuesday, they did so on U.S.-supplied of dollars’ worth of U.S. military equipment mission with the CIA when he pickup trucks, wearing U.S.-supplied uni- and weaponry given to the Afghan National helped Holroyd quench the fire forms and brandishing U.S.-supplied M4 and Defense and Security Forces, which collapsed and remove the RPGs was quietly M16 rifles. Then they spent hours examining in the 11 days before the Taliban seized Kabul, awarded a Navy Cross. It’s one the bonanza of materiel that American troops the capital, on Aug. 15. Afghan soldiers who step down from a Medal of Honor. unintentionally bequeathed them in what had didn’t surrender shed their uniforms and gear “I’m pretty sure we could have been the U.S.’ last redoubt in Afghanistan. gotten more than a Silver Star … “This is ghaneema,” said one uniformed Ta- SEE SPOILS ON PAGE 6 but we had to get something,” said liban fighter: war booty. With a gloved hand, Top: Taliban fighters arrive inside the Hamid a senior Army noncommissioned he snapped up the night-vision goggles on his Karzai International Airport after the U.S. officer who drove the effort to get ballistic helmet, looking like the very model of military’s withdrawal on Tuesday. Left: Tali- Holroyd’s medal but who asked an Afghan soldier the U.S. had tried to help ban special forces stand guard outside the not to be named in order to discuss create to eliminate people like him. He walked airport after the U.S. military’s withdrawal in the matter. inside a hangar and gawked with his squad Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday. mates at the U.S. Embassy helicopters gleam- PHOTOS BY KHWAJA TAWFIQ SEDIQI/AP SEE FIGHT ON PAGE 4 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 BUSINESS/WEATHER Stocks on Wall Street end week mostly lower EXCHANGE RATES Military rates South Korea (Won) 1156.07 Associated Press fell. Gold and silver rose. Treasu- strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Switzerland (Franc) 0.9134 Euro costs (Sept. 6) $1.16 Thailand (Baht) 32.47 Major stock indexes on Wall ry yields were mixed. Management. Dollar buys (Sept. 6) 0.8189 Turkey (NewLira) 8.3020 British pound (Sept. 6) $1.35 Street closed mostly lower Fri- Stock indexes' uneven finish The S&P 500 slipped 1.52 points Japanese yen (Sept. 6) 107.00 (Military exchange rates are those available day, though a rally in Big Tech followed a government report to 4,535.43. The Dow Jones Indus- South Korean won (Sept. 6) 1127.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ companies nudged the Nasdaq to showing that U.S. employers cre- trial Average fell 74.73 points, or many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain(Dinar) 0.3769 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ another all-time high. ated far fewer jobs than expected 0.2%, to 35,369.09. The Nasdaq Britain (Pound) 1.3851 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2529 your local military banking facility. Commercial The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% last month. The report led inves- composite rose 32.34 points, or China(Yuan) 6.4375 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.2549 a day after notching a record high. tors to question whether the delta 0.2%, to 15,363.52, its third Egypt (Pound) 15.7036 when buying currency. All figures are foreign The benchmark index still man- variant is starting to impact eco- straight gain. The technology- Euro 0.8412 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7736 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ aged its second straight weekly nomic growth. heavy index also posted a weekly Hungary (Forint) 292.65 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2039 gain. Losses in financial, industri- “Investors are saying, ‘looks gain. Japan (Yen) 109.67 INTEREST RATES al and utilities companies out- like this transition from reopen- The indexes’ moves were most- Kuwait(Dinar) 0.3006 Norway (Krone) 8.6420 Prime rate 3.25 weighed gains in technology ing to a reopened economy is go- ly muted ahead of a long holiday Philippines (Peso) 49.87 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.75 Poland (Zloty) 3.79 Federal funds market rate 0.09 stocks and other sectors of the ing to take a little bit longer,’” said weekend. U.S. stock markets will Saudi Arabia (Riyal) 3.7507 3­month bill 0.05 S&P 500. Energy prices mostly Tom Hainlin, national investment be closed Monday for Labor Day. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3405 30­year bond 1.91 WEATHER OUTLOOK SUNDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY IN EUROPE MONDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 67/62

Kabul Seoul 78/64 Baghdad 105/75 Tokyo Drawsko Osan Kandahar 78/63 65/62 Mildenhall/ Pomorskie Busan Lakenheath 64/52 77/72 74/55 Iwakuni Kuwait City Bahrain 80/73 Brussels Zagan Sasebo 108/85 94/91 Ramstein 67/52 83/73 Guam 78/59 74/41 84/81 Riyadh Lajes, 107/81 Doha Azores Stuttgart 102/86 71/68 73/52 Pápa Aviano/ 75/50 Vicenza 76/58

Naples 82/67 Okinawa Morón 84/81 98/65 Sigonella Rota 83/71 The weather is provided by the Djibouti 87/62 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 100/85 78/73 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 12 Comics ...... 16 Crossword ...... 16 Movies ...... 15 Music ...... 13-14 Opinion ...... 18 Sports ...... 19-24 Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY US soldier wins Paralympic gold for backstroke

BY SETH ROBSON 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janei- Stars and Stripes ro. She also won bronze in the TOKYO — A U.S. soldier 4x100-meter medley relay that smashed a world swimming re- year. cord by two seconds to win Para- Marks enlisted in the Army in lympic gold in the women’s 100- 2008 and severely injured both of meter backstroke at Tokyo Aquat- her hips in Iraq in 2010, according ics Center on Friday evening. to the World Class Athlete Pro- Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Marks, gram. She spent much of her re- 31, of Colorado Springs, Colo., fin- habilitation in the pool at Brooke ished with a record time of Army Medical Center in Fort Sam 1:19.57. China’s Yuyan Jian won Houston, Texas. silver in 1:20.65, and Germany’s “No one expects to be injured. It Verena Schott is one of those things that no one took bronze in thinks will happen to them,” she 1:21.16. said in a March 17 article on the Marks, a com- Army’s website. Marks declined bat medic and to discuss how she was injured in member of the an interview with ESPN for a Army’s World March 25, 2016 story. Class Athlete She underwent multiple sur- Program, in- geries. In 2017, her left leg was Marks jured her hips in amputated below the knee, ac- Iraq and later had a leg amputat- cording to Team USA’s official ed. She competes in a class that NATHANIEL GARCIA/U.S. Army website. includes people with different Army Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Marks swims backstroke on her way to a gold medal in Tokyo, Friday. The daughter of a Marine who types of disabilities, including ce- served in Vietnam, Marks fell in rebral palsy, short stature and my favorites because I get to golds won by Team USA in the first swimming medal of the love with the military as a teen af- amputations. breathe the whole time, so it was pool on the final night of swim- games, taking silver in the 50-me- ter attending an at-risk youth a- “Winning the gold feels great,” amazing. There’s some really fast ming at the games. The team ter freestyle on Aug. 25. She fol- cademy run by service members, Marks said after the race, accord- girls in that pool so I was very ex- earned 35 swimming medals in lowed that with a bronze in the 50- according to the Army profile. ing to the Team USA website. cited that I could hold my own Tokyo — 15 gold, 10 silver and 10 meter butterfly on Monday. “I’ve loved every race that I’ve with them.” bronze. She had already won gold in the [email protected] gotten to swim. This one is one of Marks’ medal was one of four Marks also won Team USA its 100-meter backstroke during the Twitter: @SethRobson1 Army veteran who lost his legs Marine Corps halts in Iraq sprints in Paralympics waterborne operations BY SETH ROBSON Stars and Stripes for amphibious vehicle TOKYO — A former U.S. soldier Associated Press cludes ensuring the functionality who lost both legs to a roadside SAN DIEGO — The Marine of vehicles and equipment,” Sten- bomb in Baghdad sprinted in a Pa- Corps on Friday halted water- ger said in a statement Friday. ralympic 200-meter final on Fri- borne operations for its new am- Lawyer Eric Dubin, who is rep- day. phibious vehicle after identifying resenting the families, has said Luis Puertas, 34, of Orlando, Fla., a problem with its towing mecha- BAE Systems knew for a decade was riding in a convoy while de- nism. or more about a design defect that ployed to Iraq’s capital city in 2006 Marine Corps spokesman Maj. makes it nearly impossible for when his Humvee was hit by a Jim Stenger said the decision was troops to open the cargo hatches deadly bomb called an explosively made “out of an abundance of cau- and escape the 26-ton amphibious formed penetrator, he told Stars tion.” vehicles when they sink. and Stripes after his race. The Amphibious Combat Vehi- The troops last summer were The penetrators can fire a slug of cle was obtained by the Marine trapped inside for 45 minutes be- high-density metal up to 6,500 mph. Corps last year to replace the Viet- fore the vehicle, known as an AAV, Puertas, a specialist with the Ar- nam-era Amphibious Assault Ve- sank. my’s 4th Infantry Division, had AKIFUMI ISHIKAWA/Stars and Stripes hicle, or AAV, which suffered An investigation by the mari- both legs blown off immediately by Paralympian Luis Puertas, an Army veteran who lost both legs in Iraq, problems. time branch found the accident off the blast. runs in a 200­meter event at National Stadium in Tokyo, Friday. Last year, eight Marines and San Clemente Island was caused Six months after losing his legs, one sailor were killed off the coast by inadequate training, shabby he ran in the Army Ten-Miler in and gold medal in the 200 meters at al Stadium in Tokyo, Puertas ran of San Diego inside an AAV after maintenance of the 35-year-old Washington, D.C., he said. the London Paralympics, Puertas the 200 meters in 25.4 seconds, becoming trapped inside the vehi- amphibious assault vehicles and Puertas said he was inspired to was inspired to sprint for gold. placing fourth in a race won by cle. poor judgment by commanders. run by his former squad leader in “I want to be that guy,” he said in South African Ntando Mahlangu in Marine Corps leaders after the BAE Systems also was selected Iraq, Richard McColloch, who had an undated article on the Team 23.59 seconds. July 2020 accident vowed to make by the Marine Corps to make the deployed multiple times and guard- USA website. “I want the crowd “It’s an honor to represent my safety a bigger priority. new vehicles or ACVs, which the ed the Tomb of the Unknown Sol- roaring for me.” country,” he said. “I represented it The break in waterborne oper- military started receiving last dier at Arlington National Cemete- The high-tech running blades before in a much more dangerous ations come a day after the fam- year. ry, Va. Puertas used in Tokyo would be an way. This is more relaxing and ilies of the eight Marines and one BAE Systems has declined to “He called me every day and advantage in distance running, he easy.” sailor filed a lawsuit in Los An- comment on the lawsuit. asked if I was training, and one day told Stars and Stripes, but don’t pro- Puertas was one of three U.S. mil- geles against the manufacturer, The vehicles have been at the he came and we did it,” Puertas vide any boost beyond what a itary veterans who competed in the BAE Systems. heart of the Marine Corps’ am- said. “We will never abandon each sprinter would achieve running Tokyo Paralympics’ track-and- “Realistic training is a vital phibious operations, carrying other no matter how bad life gets.” with their legs. field events. component of readiness, and the troops from ship to shore for both In 2012, after watching Britain’s “What it gives you is what you Marine Corps is committed to en- combat and humanitarian oper-

Richard Whitehead, a double knee don’t have,” he said. [email protected] suring Marines train under the ations since the early 1980s. They amputee, sprint to a world record On Friday evening at the Nation- Twitter: @SethRobson1 safest conditions possible; this in- can traverse both land and sea. PAGE 4 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 AFGHANISTAN Fight: Soldier fought off flames, removed unstable RPGs amid intense battle

FROM PAGE 1

Stars and Stripes is not identify- ing the sailor, though his name has previously been disclosed in other published sources, including mil- itary promotion board results linking him to SEAL Team 6. A redacted version of the Navy Cross citation was included in a 2016 USA Today report on secret medals, but Holroyd’s actions had been largely unknown before this week’s ceremony. Had he not risked his life on re- MIKE STRASSER/U.S. Army peated trips to smother the burn- Retired Sgt. Adam Holroyd is U.S. ARMY ing stockpile of RPGs, a resulting awarded the Silver Star during a U.S. soldiers from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division fire mortar rounds at blast could have been deadly and ceremony, Wednesday, at Fort suspected Taliban fighting positions during Operation Mountain Fire in Nuristan province, Afghanistan, in likely would have deprived dozens Drum N.Y. July 2009. of soldiers of a schoolhouse that was protecting them from well- grueling battle, Harrison said in a ing hadn’t yet occurred when Hol- cases and hot, dangerously close popular with special operations disciplined enemy snipers, the se- phone interview. What followed royd’s unit came under assault, to exploding, awards records troops, Holroyd said he just let the nior NCO said. was over two months of fighting the senior NCO had an ominous state. matter go after that. It wasn’t “What Adam did, not only did it from mud-and-timber huts and in premonition of an outcome simi- That’s when Holroyd volun- about the award, he said, but frus- save lives, but it saved the mis- the surrounding mountains to al- lar to those two routs. teered to go into the building and tration over 1-32’s relative lack of sion,” he said. low police and district leaders to “That’s what I pictured was pass the cases out to the others. honors. return. about to happen” in Barg-e Matal, The SEAL made several trips to “We did things that were very Mountain Fire For the senior NCO, a squad he said. throw them over the compound’s dangerous,” he said. “And they Holroyd’s actions in the fire- leader on the mission, it was the Holroyd’s heroics came on Aug. wall, his citation states, and with weren’t recognized.” fight came about a month into a heaviest fighting he saw in his 30 10, 2009, in response to an attack his bare hands he removed the The battalion received a Valo- mission to liberate Barg-e Matal months in the country. on the battalion headquarters ele- smoldering RPG warhead that ig- rous Unit Award in 2010 for Moun- district, a remote mountain village Holroyd and others declined to ment at what was dubbed “the nited the conflagration. tain Fire. But Holroyd believed that was a vacation spot for Ka- discuss the SEAL’s mission, but it girls’ schoolhouse.” Then the sailor went outside the that many of its soldiers, particu- bul’s elite. seems to have been as part of a Early on, a sniper’s bullet hit a compound, making several trips larly the junior enlisted ones, A task force of some 220 U.S. covert Joint Special Operations joint task force medic, breaking under fire to toss the ordnance in- didn’t get their deserved individu- and Afghan troops — most from Command and CIA “omega team” his arm and throwing him to the to the river. Their actions allowed al recognition, he said in July. 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Re- hunting terrorists, which was ground. the other troops to return to their He said he planned to dedicate giment — were sent to secure the mentioned in chapters of Bing Both Holroyd and the SEAL positions and repel the assault, re- his Silver Star to them. district center on a long-range air West’s book “The Wrong War.” braved enemy fire to drag him to cords state. “This award is and has always assault in July 2009. The mission The book also recounted 1-32’s cover, their citations state. That wouldn’t have been possi- been larger than just me,” he was was known as Operation Moun- mission there. Minutes later, a burning RPG ble without Holroyd. quoted in an Army statement as tain Fire. “The CIA believed that Lash- hit a commode building that “What he initiated ended up saying at Wednesday’s ceremony. It was largely political, request- kar-e-Taiba was dug in up in served as an ammo supply point saving everything,” the senior Many people helped ultimately ed by Afghanistan’s president at Barg-e Matal” and that al-Qaida and housed hundreds of RPG NCO said. “Lots of people are alive shepherd the award nomination the time, Hamid Karzai, to secure members were using the nearby rounds. A blast could have set because of him and they probably through the system, said the se- polling places ahead of August pass into Pakistan, said Wesley them off, but the cache didn’t ex- don’t realize it.” nior NCO. elections, said Jason Dempsey, a Morgan, author of “The Hardest plode. In 2019, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefa- retired lieutenant colonel who had Place,” a recent book about the “We should have all bought a Unrecognized nik, a Republican whose district in previously served with 1-32. war in northeastern Afghanistan. lottery ticket that day,” the senior Soon after the attack, Holroyd New York includes Fort Drum, Clearing it was supposed to take By 2009, the agency couldn’t NCO said. was chewed out for not evacuating wrote a letter to the Army secre- three days but ended up taking just drive up to Nuristan, even The roughly 50 soldiers were the schoolhouse, he said, but tary requesting Holroyd be about 70. with an omega team, he said. They ordered to evacuate, but Holroyd members of the Navy who were awarded the medal. Though the district center was a had to fly and piggyback onto didn’t hear that command, he said. there wanted to put him in for an Later that year, the awards meaningless objective, Mountain larger infantry operations for se- Annoyed at the prospect of dig- award. packet got final endorsements Fire “put an incredible load on 1- curity and cover. ging in elsewhere, he chose to The senior NCO submitted him from military officers, and then- 32,” said Dempsey. After Lindstrom’s death, Spc. fight the flames. for the Silver Star with the Army. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy The assault force landed with- Justin Coleman and Spc. Alexan- “There’s fear there, but there’s The recommendation was ap- signed the citation in May 2020. out a fight in cornfields outside der Miller were killed in separate also the very practical,” he said. “I proved at the brigade level before Holroyd said he also received a town, in the shadows of high incidents in late July. West wrote didn’t want to move all my stuff.” the paperwork “just disap- letter from a general apologizing mountain peaks of the Hindu that enemy snipers killed three As the attack raged, he sprinted peared,” Holroyd said. He learned for the delay. Kush, said Maj. Michael Harri- Afghans and wounded dozens of back and forth between the burn- of the nomination only after he’d It’s still not clear what held up son, former commander of Attack troops, including Americans. ing weapons cache and a small, left the service. the awards process, but the senior Company, 1-32. A week after the battalion final- twisted-up hose, filling a bucket It’s not clear when the SEAL got NCO said he never gave up on it Fleeing villagers avoided eye ly left in late September, insur- and emptying it on the flames. Sgt. the Navy Cross — an official cited because the thought of not doing contact, an ominous sign, and gents assaulted the nearest U.S. Sam Alibrando helped and would security concerns in response to a so drove him “absolutely crazy.” within hours the enemy launched outpost to its south, Combat Out- earn a Bronze Star with Valor for query — but an unredacted cita- The medal honors the blood, an ambush from the hills on all post Keating. The U.S. withdrew his efforts, the senior NCO said. tion was published online in a gov- sweat and tears Holroyd gave sides. An RPG blast mortally from there shortly thereafter. Soon the SEAL joined in, ma- ernment document apparently while doing what was asked of wounded Staff Sgt. Eric Lind- naging to untangle the hose and created in 2011. him, the senior NCO said. He still strom. Schoolhouse attack giving their efforts a needed boost, At some point, Holroyd met hopes an upgrade to a higher Two medics earned Bronze In 2008, insurgents had overrun recalled Holroyd, who between with a senator’s aide about an in- award is possible. Stars with Valor for repeatedly another outpost in Nuristan, at bucket runs manned a machine quiry into his own missing award, “This was absolutely the least I braving machine-gun and rocket Wanat, in what was one of the gun to suppress the attack. but that went nowhere, he said in could do” to say thanks, he said. fire to treat and help evacuate five bloodiest incidents for the U.S. in Once the rocket cache was sat- July. “Sometimes words don’t do it.” wounded that first day. the 20-year war. urated, the men soon found that A co-founder of Spiritus Sys- The Americans then dug in for a Though the attack on COP Keat- several RPGs were out of their tems, a tactical gear company [email protected] Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 5 AFGHANISTAN 24 hours of brutality, trauma, grace in Kabul

BY TAMEEM AKHGAR, and did not lend itself to allowing of the country before the U.S. MATTHEW LEE, LOLITA C. any large groups of people inside, withdrawal left on civilian trans- BALDOR, RAHIM FAIEZ AND let alone thousands frantically port. By 1:30 p.m., 1,200 U.S. CALVIN WOODWARD seeking entry. All of this unfolded troops remained on the ground Associated Press under constant fear of another at- and flights began to move them Bone-tired like everyone else in tack from an Islamic State off- steadily out. Kabul, Taliban fighters spent the shoot that killed 169 Afghans and U.S. airpower — bombers, last moments of the 20-year Af- 13 U.S. service members in the fighter jets, armed drones and the ghanistan war watching the night Aug. 26 suicide bombing at the air- special operations helicopters skies for the flares that would sig- port. known as Little Birds — provided nal the United States was gone. There were times, said another air cover. From afar, U.S. generals watched U.S. official familiar with the ■ Into the evening, U.S. troops video screens with the same antic- process, when Afghans made it on finished several days’ work de- ipation. to evacuation planes, only to be stroying or removing military Relief washed over the war’s pulled off before the flight when equipment. They disabled 27 winners and the losers when the they were found to be on no-fly Humvees and 73 aircraft, often final U.S. plane took off. lists. draining transmission fluids and For those in-between and left ALEXANDER BURNETT, U.S. ARMY/AP This official said that as far as is engine oil and running the engines behind — possibly a majority of Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division and others prepare to known, all but one U.S. Embassy until they seized. They used the allied Afghans who sought board a C­17 cargo plane at Hamid Karzai International Airport in employee made it out. That person thermite grenades to destroy the U.S. clearance to escape — fear Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday. had the required special visa but system that had intercepted a spread about what comes next, couldn’t bear to leave her parents rocket that morning. Equipment given the Taliban’s history of ruth- trying to process special visas for legial, over the last hours they and other relatives behind. De- useful for civilian airport purpos- lessness and repression of women. qualifying Afghans who made it spent face to face with U.S. troops spite pleading from Afghan and es, like the fire trucks, were left And for thousands of U.S. officials through the Taliban, Afghan mil- at the airport. Some were caught American colleagues to get on the behind for the new authorities. and volunteers working around itary and U.S. checkpoints into the off-guard by the U.S. decision to evacuation bus to the airport, she ■ At the end, fewer than 1,000 the world to place Afghan refu- airport. What she saw was leave a day earlier than called for opted to stay, the official said. troops remained. Five C-17 planes gees, there is still no rest. wrenching. in the agreement between the But a 24-year-old former U.S. came in darkness to take them out, As witnessed by The Associated “It was horrendous what the combatants. contractor, Salim Yawer, who ob- with crews specially trained to fly Press in Kabul and as told by peo- people had to go through to get in,” Sherzad said he and fellow Tali- tained visas and a gate pass with into and out of airfields at night ple The AP interviewed from all she said. “Some people had spent ban soldiers gave cigarettes to the the help of his brother, a U.S. citi- without air traffic control. sides, the war ended with episodes three to five days waiting. On the Americans at the airport and snuff zen, never got out with his wife From Scott Air Force Base in Il- inside, we could hear the live am- to Afghans still in the uniform of and children aged 4 and 1½. They of brutality, enduring trauma, a linois, Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, massive if fraught humanitarian munition being fired to keep the their disintegrating army. tried four times to get to the air- commander of Air Mobility Com- effort and moments of grace. crowds back and the ones who By then, he said, “everyone was port before the Americans left. mand, watched on video screens Enemies for two decades were made it in would tell us about Tali- calm. Just normal chitchat.” Yet, “Each time we tried getting to as the aircraft filled and lined up thrust into a bizarre collaboration, ban soldiers with whips, sticks “We were just counting minutes the gate, I was afraid my small for takeoff. An iconic image joined in a common goal — the Ta- with nails in them, flash-bang gre- and moments for the time to rise children would come under feet of showed Maj. Gen. Christopher liban and the United States were nades and tear gas pushing people our flag after full independence.” other people,” he said. He, too, did Donahue, commander of the 82nd united in wanting the United back.” U.S. efforts to get at-risk Af- not expect the Americans to leave Airborne Division, carrying his States out. They wanted, too, to Even more upsetting, she said, ghans and others onto the airport Monday, and he went back to the M-4 rifle as walked into a C-17 and avoid another deadly terrorist at- were the children who got inside grounds were complicated by the airport the next day. into history as the last of the U.S. tack. Both sides had a stake in the airport separated from family, viral spread of an electronic code “We didn’t know that night that soldiers in Afghanistan. making the last 24 hours work. some plucked by chance out of that the U.S. sought to provide to the Americans would leave us be- Crisp orders and messages cap- In that stretch, the Americans teeming crowds by U.S. troops or those given priority for evacua- hind,” Yawer said. “Monday, still, tured the last moments. worried that extremists would others. As many as 30 children a tion, said a senior State Depart- there were U.S. forces and planes “Chock 5 100% accounted for,” take aim at the hulking, helicop- day, many confused and all of ment official who was on the and hopes among people. But said one message, meaning all five ter-swallowing transport planes them frightened, were showing up ground in Kabul until Monday. Tuesday was a day of disappoint- as they lifted off with the last U.S. alone for evacuation flights during The official said the code, in- ment. ... Taliban were all over the aircraft were fully loaded and all troops and officials. Instead, in the the 12 days she was on the ground. tended for local Afghan staff at the area and there was no plane in the people accounted for. “Clam- green tint of night-vision goggles, A small unit at the airport for U.S. Embassy, had been shared so sky of Kabul anymore.” shell,” came an order, meaning re- the Americans looked down to unaccompanied children set up by widely and quickly that almost all Yawer owned a Kabul construc- tract the C-17 ramps one by one. goodbye waves from Taliban Norway was quickly over- people seeking entry had a copy tion company and traveled to vari- Then, “flush the force,” meaning fighters on the tarmac. whelmed, prompting UNICEF to on their phone within an hour of it ous provinces doing work for the get out. ■ The Taliban had worried that take over. UNICEF is now run- being distributed. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he One minute to midnight, the the Americans would rig the air- ning a center for unaccompanied At the same time, the official said from his village back in north- last of the five took off. port with mines. Instead, the child evacuees in Qatar. said, some U.S. citizens showed up ern Kapisa province, where he Soon came the message “MAF Americans left them with two use- More broadly, the U.S. sent with large groups of Afghans, fled. Safe,” meaning the Mobility Air ful fire trucks and functional thousands of employees to more many not eligible for priority Forces were gone from Kabul air front-end loaders along with a than a half-dozen spots around evacuation. And there were Af- Countdown space and in safe skies. bleak panorama of self-sabotaged Europe and the Middle East for ghan “entrepreneurs” who would In the final scramble at the Ka- The American generals re- U.S. military machinery. screening and processing Afghan falsely claim to be at an airport bul airport that evening, evacuees laxed. From the ground in Kabul, After several sleepless nights refugees before they moved on to gate with groups of prominent at- were directed to specific gates as Taliban fighter Mohammad Ras- from the unrelenting thunder of the United States, or were reject- risk Afghan officials. U.S. commanders communicated soul, known among other fighters U.S. evacuation flights overhead, ed. U.S. embassies in Mexico, “It involved some really painful directly with the Taliban to get as “Afghan Eagle,” had been Hemad Sherzad joined his fellow South Korea, India and elsewhere trade-offs for everyone involved,” people out. watching, too. Taliban fighters in celebration operated virtual call centers to the official said of the selections ■ About 8 a.m. Monday, explo- “Our eyes were on the sky des- from his post at the airport. handle the deluge of emails and for evacuation. “Everyone who sions could be heard as five rock- perately waiting,” he said. The “We cried for almost an hour calls on the evacuations. lived it is haunted by the choices ets were launched toward the air- roar of planes that had kept him up out of happiness,” Sherzad said. Over the previous days in Ka- we had to make.” port. Three fell outside the airport, for two nights had stopped. The “We yelled a lot — even our throat bul, many Afghans were turned The official said it appeared to one landed inside but did no dam- Taliban flares at the airport was in pain.” back by the Taliban; others were him, at least anecdotally, that a age and one was intercepted by streaked the sky. It was a harrowing 24 hours, allowed past them only to be stop- majority of the Afghans who ap- the U.S. anti-rocket system. No “After 20 years of struggle we capped Monday by the final C-17 ped at a U.S. checkpoint. It was plied for special visas because of one was hurt. achieved our target,” Rassoul takeoff at 11:59 p.m. in Kabul. madness trying to sort out who sat- their past or present ties with the Again, ISIS-K militants, com- said. He dared hope for a better isfied both sides and could make it U.S. did not make it out. mon foe of both the Taliban and life for his wife, two daughters and Airport madness through the gauntlet. Among the hurdles was the de- the Americans, were suspected as son. Before leaving Kabul, a U.S. Some Taliban soldiers ap- sign of the airport itself. It had the source. “I want my children to grow up consular officer with 25 years at peared to be out for rough justice; been constructed with restrictive ■ Through the morning, the under peace,” he said. “Away the State Department was busy others were disciplined, even col- access to prevent terrorist attacks last 1,500 or so Afghans to get out from drone strikes.” PAGE 6 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 AFGHANISTAN Spoils: US ‘demilitarized’ many aircraft, vehicles Afghan pilots to the Panjshir Val- FROM PAGE 1 ley in northern Afghanistan, and turned tail, following many of where the anti-Taliban resistance their military and political lead- is bunkered, or to neighboring Uz- ers. bekistan. Authorities in Uzbekis- For their effort, Taliban fight- tan confirmed last month that ers reaped almost 2,000 Humvees some 46 Afghan military aircraft and trucks; more than 50 armored landed in the country. fighting vehicles, including Mine- Although quips on social media Resistant Ambush Protection ve- about a “Taliban air force” are hicles, or MRAPs; scores of artil- overblown, the group has man- lery and mortar pieces; more than aged to operate a few helicopters a dozen aging but working heli- snatched from Afghan forces be- copters and attack aircraft; a doz- fore they could destroy them. en tanks; seven Boeing-manufac- Dozens of Afghan air force pilots, tured drones; and millions upon many of them trainees, are still millions of bullets, according to a stuck in Afghanistan; some have list compiled by the Oryx Blog, been coerced into flying them for which tracks weapons used in the group, said pilots interviewed conflicts. by the Los Angeles Times. Many of the items had been dis- Videos posted on social media abled by departing U.S. troops or from the southern city of Kanda- are beyond the ken of Taliban har show a Black Hawk flying the fighters to operate. But a bitter Taliban’s white banner during a irony of the chaotic Western with- military parade last week. The oc- drawal from Afghanistan is that casional whump-whump of a Rus- the very group the U.S. ousted 20 sian Mi-17 helicopter can still be years ago is not only back in pow- heard over Kabul. er but better-equipped militarily None of the aerial fleet left be- than ever before to repel adver- hind is cutting-edge, said a U.S. saries and enforce its brand of re- pilot and trainer who asked not to pressive rule. be named so as to comment free- Slightly less than one-third of ly. The aircraft, he said, were the $83 billion Washington spent WALI SABAWOON/AP “stripped of every modern com- on the Afghan defense forces Taliban fighters stand guard at a checkpoint near Hamid Karzai international Airport in Kabul, Aug. 28. ponent.” went toward materiel, estimates “They were sliced-up trucks, say. That it now lies in the hands fense policy analyst at the Wash- the more lethal weapons, includ- port plane parked outside squat- because the environment didn’t of the U.S.’ erstwhile enemy is a ington-based Project on Govern- ing the A-29 Super Tucano, a tur- ted on one wheel, and the Black need the fancy stuff — they didn’t source of embarrassment for the ment Oversight, said was behav- boprop attack aircraft reminis- Hawks had their windows even have the standard self-de- Biden administration, with for- ior suggesting they had once been cent of a World War II-era P-51 smashed and trash strewn inside fense systems,” he said, adding mer President Donald Trump in- part of the Afghan security forces Mustang but with modern avion- bays that once carried vital sup- that the rules for selling the equip- veighing in a statement Monday that had been trained by Ameri- ics, and helicopters such as plies to Afghan soldiers or evac- ment to the Afghan air forcere- that “ALL EQUIPMENT should cans. MD-530s and Black Hawks. uated them, sometimes alive but quired some demilitarization any- be demanded to be immediately “The stance, the way they’re U.S. troops “demilitarized,” or often dead, back home. way. returned to the United States,” holding the rifles, the trigger fin- rendered inoperable, 73 aircraft Most ruined were the MD-530s. Besides, whatever does fly now along with “every penny” of its ger, how’s it’s flat and laying out- left behind at Kabul airport, along In flight, they were nimble heli- probably won’t be doing so in a cost. side the trigger guard,” he said. with some 70 MRAP vehicles and copters, buzzing around and al- few months, said an Afghan air The arms have transformed the “That’s hallmark American mili- 27 Humvees, U.S. Central Com- most jousting with Taliban fight- force colonel who spoke on condi- Taliban into a skewed version of tary training right there.” mand said. The deliberate sabo- ers assaulting government out- tion of anonymity because he re- the army the U.S. wanted the Af- The leftover U.S. gear is omni- tage was evident Tuesday, when posts. Now they were smooshed cently escaped the country and ghans to have. One commander in present in Kabul, where Taliban Taliban officials toured the air- together in the hangar, as if a gi- still has family in Afghanistan. the Taliban’s elite Fateh Zwak fighters wielding shiny black M4s port grounds. ant child had flicked them into Even when the Afghan army ex- group proudly showed off the on dark-green Ford Ranger Although the A-29s were ar- each other. Their joysticks were isted, he said, it had no way of brown-gray pickups once used by trucks is a routine sight. Humvees ranged neatly in their hangar, cut at the handle. maintaining the aircraft without the CIA-backed National Directo- protect bigger government build- they stood amid a dump of sullied The disarray left some Afghans contractors and a steady pipeline rate for Security, the Afghan gov- ings. (The U.S. gave the Afghan camo-patterned bags, socks, bul- angry, including one journalist of spare parts; bigger repairs re- ernment’s intelligence service. army almost 5,000 M4s and ma- let boxes, grenades and discarded who was no friend of the Taliban. quired the aircraft to be taken to The only thing different was the chine guns in 2017, according to food packets. Their avionics bays But he was also unsurprised, he U.S. bases in the United Arab insignias. reports from Washington’s Spe- were open, and electronic boxes said. Emirates or Qatar. Many of the fighters acted the cial Inspector General for Af- that operate vital systems, includ- “This is what we’ve come to ex- “These aircraft aren’t flyable,” part too, demonstrating what Dan ghanistan Reconstruction.) ing the starter for the motors, had pect from Americans,” he said. he said. “I’m happy they’ll try to Grazier, who served as a Marine Less frequently seen — because been ripped out, their compo- Some of the Afghan air force- fly them. They’ll kill a lot of Tali- in Afghanistan and is now a de- they are not so easily usable — are nents bashed to bits. A C-17 trans- fleet had also been taken by their ban when they do.” Taliban special forces bring abrupt end to women’s protest Associated Press ture of the last U.S. forces after 20 the presidential palace. university student, told her Tali- ing demonstrators fleeing. Kabiri, KABUL, Afghanistan — Tali- years of war. The insurgent group “We are here to gain human ban interlocutor that Islam’s who spoke to The Associated ban special forces in camouflage must now govern a war-ravaged rights in Afghanistan,” said 20- prophet gave women rights and Press, said they also fired tear gas. fired their weapons into the air country that is heavily reliant on year-old protester Maryam Naiby. they wanted theirs. The Taliban The Taliban have promised an Saturday, bringing an abrupt and international aid. “I love my country. I will always official promised women would be inclusive government and a more frightening end to the latest pro- The women’s march — the sec- be here.” given their rights but the women, moderate form of Islamic rule test march in the capital by Af- ond in as many days in Kabul — As the protesters’ shouts grew all in their early 20s, were skepti- than when they last ruled the ghan women demanding equal began peacefully. Demonstrators louder, several Taliban officials cal. country from 1996 to 2001. But rights from the new rulers. laid a wreath outside Afghanis- waded into the crowd to ask what As the demonstrators reached many Afghans, especially women, Taliban fighters quickly cap- tan’s Defense Ministry to honor they wanted to say. the presidential palace, a dozen are deeply skeptical and fear a roll tured most of Afghanistan last Afghan soldiers who died fighting Flanked by fellow demonstra- Taliban special forces ran into the back of rights gained over the last month and celebrated the depar- the Taliban before marching on to tors, Sudaba Kabiri, a 24-year-old crowd, firing in the air and send- two decades. Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 7 VIRUS OUTBREAK COVID death toll reaches 1,500 people a day The Washington Post south divide. Brian Pierce, a coroner in Bald- Alabama’s top health official win County, Ala., thought he had has warned “there is no more seen the last of the coronavirus room to put these bodies,” while a months ago as the area’s death central Florida medical coalition count held steady at 318 for most of has purchased 14 portable mor- the spring and summer. But then gues to help manage the “unprece- in July and August, the fatalities dented” deaths. began mounting and last week, Florida and Louisiana are expe- things got so bad the state rolled a riencing their highest pandemic trailer into his parking lot as a tem- deaths per capita to date, surpass- porary morgue. ing their January toll. Mississip- “I think most people were think- pi’s death rate is higher than those ing, ‘We’re good,’ ” he said. “Life other states, although far lower was almost back to normal. Now than at its January peak. I’m telling my kids again to please Of the 14 states experiencing the stay home.” worst death rates this week, only Nationally, COVID-19 deaths Nevada, Oregon and Wyoming are have climbed steadily in recent outside the South. weeks, hitting a seven-day aver- At the other end, many Northern age of about 1,500 a day Thursday, and Midwestern states still have after falling to the low 200s in early low death rates despite rising case July — the latest handiwork of a counts, though covid-19 deaths contagious variant that has ex- typically lag infection reports by ploited the return to everyday ac- several weeks. The seven states tivities by tens of millions of Amer- KYLE GREEN/AP averaging two or fewer daily icans, many of them unvaccinated. Dr. William Dittrich M.D. looks over a COVID­19 patient in the medical intensive care unit at St. Luke's deaths per capita were Vermont, The dead include two Texas teach- Boise Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, on Tuesday. Alaska, Rhode Island, the Dako- ers at a junior high, who died last tas, Maine, and New Hampshire, week within days of each other; a ue rising as high numbers of pa- miologist at the Johns Hopkins deaths surged. along with the District. Most have 13-year-old middle school boy tients are hospitalized. Bloomberg School of Public Deborah Birx, coordinator of high vaccination rates, or high from Georgia; and a pregnant While most regions with in- Health, said the situation under- former president Donald Trump’s rates of natural immunity from nurse, 37, in Southern California creasing deaths have lower vacci- scores the unanswered questions coronavirus task force, suggested earlier pandemic waves, or both. who left behind five children. nation rates, that isn’t the case for about the virus 18 months out — in March 2020, that mitigation Ali Mokdad, a researcher at the What is different about this all of them. and the limitations of mathemati- measures might keep deaths at Institute for Health Metrics and fourth pandemic wave in the Unit- Florida, for example, where cal forecasting to predict the daily 100,000 to 240,000 under the most Evaluation at the University of ed States is that the growing rates more than 53% of the population is choices of 330 million Americans. optimistic scenario. But by the end Washington whose model is con- of vaccination and natural immu- fully vaccinated, is the worst-hit “The driving factor in the cur- of 2020, when vaccines were first sidered among the more optimis- nity have broken the relationship state in terms of daily deaths rent wave is human behavior — authorized for emergency use, the tic, said that at least nine states between infections and deaths in which have averaged 325 over the how people interact and how peo- nation had long surpassed those may have reached, or passed, their many areas. past week, alongside almost ple respond to risk — and that is numbers, and forecasters predict- peak for the delta variant — Mis- The daily count of new infec- 20,000 new daily infections on av- really very unpredictable,” he ed U.S. COVID-19 deaths would souri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, tions is rising in almost every part erage. Despite resistance from lo- said. top out at around 550,000. Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida of the country. But only some plac- cal school boards, Florida Gov. “We are in a perfect storm of vi- As of Thursday, the country has in the south, along with Nevada es — mostly southern states with Ron DeSantis has fought to en- ral changes and behavioral chang- logged more than 640,000 deaths and Hawaii — but that has little to lower vaccination rates — are see- force his ban on mask mandates es,” agreed Lauren Ancel Meyers, — and many experts believe we do with policy changes or other ing a parallel surge in deaths. The and made good on a threat to with- director of the University of Texas are not yet at the peak. major events. seven-day average of daily deaths hold salaries from some of them Covid-19 Modeling Consortium. When looking at coronavirus Likely it’s more about “individ- is about a third of what it was in Ja- this week even after a judge ruled Virtually every time that hu- deaths, the United States current- ual caution and [delta] running out nuary, the pandemic’s most dead- the ban unconstitutional. mans have underestimated the vi- ly looks like two very different of susceptible individuals,” he and ly month, but is forecast to contin- David Wesley Dowdy, an epide- rus, and let down their guard, countries with a mostly north- his team wrote in a recent report. Some may miss Sept. 20 booster shot start

Associated Press ing off on the third doses, with FDA commissioner, and CDC Di- WASHINGTON — President Moderna’s vaccine increasingly rector Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Joe Biden’s plans to start delivery seen as unlikely to make the Sept. briefed White House COVID-19 co- of booster shots by Sept. 20 for most 20 milestone. ordinator Jeff Zients and other offi- Americans who received the CO- According to one official, Moder- cials about the expected Moderna VID-19 vaccines are facing new na produced inadequate data for delay on Thursday, officials said. complications that could delay the the FDA and CDC to recommend Most of the 206 million Ameri- availability of third doses for those the third dose of its vaccine and cans at least partially vaccinated who received the Moderna vac- FDA has requested additional data against COVID-19 received the cine, administration officials said that is likely to delay those boosters Pfizer shot, but about 80 million re- Friday. into October. Pfizer, which is fur- ceived the Moderna vaccine, ac- Biden announced last month ther along in the review process, in cording to CDC data. that his administration was plan- part because of data collected from The administration’s public pro- ning for boosters to be available for the vaccine’s use in Israel, is still nouncement about booster availa- all Americans who received the expected to be approved for a third bility, a break from the more delib- mRNA vaccines in an effort to pro- dose for all by Sept. 20. A key FDA erate and behind-the-scenes plan- HANNAH BEIER/Bloomberg vide more enduring protection panel is to review Pfizer’s data on ning that defined its early vaccina- A healthcare worker administers a third dose of the Pfizer­BioNTech against the coronavirus, pending boosters on Sept. 17. tion campaign, sparked concerns vaccine at a senior living facility in Worcester, Pa., on Aug. 25. approvals from the Centers for Data for boosters on Johnson & from some that the White House Disease Control and Prevention Johnson’s single-dose vaccine was getting ahead of the science on FDA commissioner during the The White House said it was and the Food and Drug Adminis- won’t be available for months, boosters. Obama administration. “They merely preparing for the boosters’ tration. since that shot wasn’t approved un- “The announcement in August needed to say something, but they eventual approval, and that the re- Those agencies, though, are til February, officials said. kinda jumped the gun,” said Dr. could have just said, ‘we’re work- views were “all part of a process awaiting critical data before sign- Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting Stephen Ostroff, former acting ing on boosters, more to come.’” that is now underway.” PAGE 8 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 NATION New Orleans mayor urges Ida evacuees to return

Associated Press of a briefing by officials. NEW ORLEANS — With power The president has also promised due back for almost all of New Or- full federal support to the North- leans this week, Mayor LaToya east, where Ida’s remnants Cantrell strongly encouraged resi- dumped record-breaking rain and dents who evacuated because of killed at least 50 people from Vir- Hurricane Ida to begin returning ginia to Connecticut. home. But outside the city, the pro- At least 14 deaths were blamed spects of recovery appeared bleak- on the storm in Louisiana, Missis- er, with homes and businesses in sippi and Alabama, including those tatters. of three nursing home residents Six days after Hurricane Ida who were evacuated along with made landfall, hard-hit parts of hundreds of other seniors to a Louisiana were still struggling to warehouse in Louisiana ahead of restore any sense of normalcy. the hurricane. State health officials Even around New Orleans, a con- have launched an investigation in- tinued lack of power for most resi- to those deaths and a fourth one at dents made a sultry stretch of sum- the warehouse facility in Tangipa- mer hard to bear and added to hoa Parish, where they say condi- woes in the aftermath of Ida. Loui- tions became unhealthy and un- siana authorities searched Friday safe. for a man they said shot another The health department on Fri- man to death after they both waited CHRIS GRANGER, THE TIMES­PICAYUNE, THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE/AP day reported an additional death — in a long line to fill up at a gas sta- People wait to get gas at a Shell Station on Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Metairie, La., Thursday. Stations a59-year-old man who was poison- tion in suburban New Orleans. are slowly starting to open days after Hurricane Ida. ed by carbon monoxide from a gen- Cantrell said the city is offering erator that was believed to be run- transportation to any resident ago and garbage was piling up in- electricity should return by damage assessments across south- ning inside his home. Several looking to leave the city and get to a side, he said. The residents were Wednesday, according to Entergy, east Louisiana were almost com- deaths in the aftermath of the public shelter. It already began being taken to a state-run shelter, the company that provides power plete, and the company posted res- storm have been blamed on carbon moving some residents out of se- the mayor’s office said. to New Orleans and much of south- toration times for most customers. monoxide poisoning, which can nior homes. “I’m getting on the last bus,” east Louisiana in the storm’s path. Some parishes outside New Or- happen if generators are run im- At the Renaissance Place senior Brown said. “I’m able-bodied.” “We are saying, you can come leans were battered for hours by properly. home Friday, dozens of residents A phone message for the compa- home,” Cantrell told a news con- winds of 100 mph or more. More than 800,000 homes and lined up to get on minibuses ny that manages the Renaissance ference. President Joe Biden arrived Fri- businesses remained without pow- equipped with wheelchair lifts af- site, HSI Management Inc., was The outlook was not as promis- day to survey the damage in some er Friday evening across southeast ter city officials said they deter- not immediately returned. ing south and west of the city, of those spots, touring a neighbor- Louisiana, according to the Public mined conditions at the facility But Cantrell also encouraged where Ida’s fury fully struck. The hood in LaPlace, a community be- Service Commission. That’s about were not safe and evacuated it. residents to return to the city as sheriff’s office in Lafourche Parish tween the Mississippi River and 36% of all utility customers state- Reggie Brown, 68, was among their power comes back, saying cautioned returning residents Lake Pontchartrain that suffered wide, but it’s down from the peak of those waiting to join fellow resi- they could help the relief effort by about the difficult situation that catastrophic wind and water dam- around 1.1 million after the storm dents on a bus. He said residents, taking in neighbors and family who awaited them — no power, no run- age that sheared off roofs and arrived last Sunday with top winds many in wheelchairs, have been were still in the dark. Only a small ning water, little cellphone service flooded homes. of 150 mph. Ida is tied for the fifth- stuck at the facility since Ida. Ele- number of city residents had pow- and almost no gasoline. “I promise we’re going to have strongest hurricane ever to strike vators stopped working three days er back by Friday though almost all Late Friday, Entergy said its your back,” Biden said at the outset the mainland U.S. No timeline for return of Lake Tahoe evacuees amid Caldor Fire

BY DAISY NGUYEN more people back into their of South Lake Tahoe. Associated Press homes on the western and north- He said the shutdown will also SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. ern sides of the fires Friday after- hurt the city, as it gets most of its — Tens of thousands of South noon. revenue to pay for police and fire Lake Tahoe residents were But there was no timeline for al- services, as well as road mainte- watching hopefully during the lowing the return of 22,000 South nance, from hotel taxes and sales weekend for a chance to return Lake Tahoe residents and others taxes. home as firefighters made pro- across the state line in Douglas Fire crews still had a lot of work gress against a threatening Cali- County, Nev., who were evacuat- to do in the grasslands, timber fornia blaze that has turned their ed days ago. Authorities were tak- stands and granite outcroppings. thriving resort into a ghost town. ing that decision day by day. And despite the overall better Lighter winds and higher hu- “It’s all based on fire behavior,” weather, winds could still be midity heading into the Labor said Jake Cagle, a fire operations “squirrely” and locally erratic as Day weekend reduced the spread section chief. “For now, things are they hit the region’s ridges and of flames and fire crews were looking good … we’re getting deep canyons. quick to take advantage by dou- close.” The fire — which began Aug. bling down on burning and cut- The resort area can easily ac- 14, was named after the road ting fire lines around the Caldor JAE C. HONG/AP commodate 100,000 people on a where it started and raged Fire. Two firefighters from the Cosumnes Fire Department carry water busy weekend but was eerily through densely forested, craggy Bulldozers with giant blades, hoses while holding a fire line to keep the Caldor Fire from spreading empty just before the holiday areas — was still considered a crews armed with shovels and a in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., Friday. weekend. threat to more than 30,000 homes, fleet of aircraft dropping hun- The wildfire dealt a major blow businesses and other buildings dreds of thousands of gallons of Dean Gould, a supervisor with the ing containment lines in long sec- to an economy that heavily de- ranging from cabins to ski resorts. water and fire retardant helped U.S. Forest Service. tions of its perimeter. pends on tourism and was starting Wildfires this year have burned keep the fire’s advance to a couple The northeast section of the im- A map displayed at a Friday to rebound this summer from at least 1,500 homes and decimat- of thousand acres — a fraction of mense Sierra Nevada blaze was evening briefing showed much of pandemic shutdowns. ed several mountain hamlets. The its explosive spread last month still within a few miles of South the 333-square-mile blaze ringed “It’s a big hit for our local busi- Dixie Fire, burning about 65 miles and the smallest increase in Lake Tahoe and the Nevada state in black, to indicate containment nesses and the workers who rely north of the Caldor Fire, is the weeks. line but fire officials said it hadn’t lines. on a steady income to pay rent and second-largest wildfire in state “Things are clearly heading in made any significant advances in With the fire about one-third put food on their table,” said De- history at about 1,380 square the right direction for us,” said several days and wasn’t challeng- surrounded, authorities allowed vin Middlebrook, mayor pro-tem miles and is 55% contained. Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 9 NATION Biden moves to declassify some 9/11 documents

BY ERIC TUCKER an advocate for other victims’ rel- Associated Press atives, commended the action as a WASHINGTON — President “critical first step.” He said the Joe Biden on Friday directed the families would be closely watch- declassification of certain docu- ing the process to make sure that ments related to the Sept. 11, 2001, the Justice Department follows terrorist attacks, a supportive ges- through and acts “in good faith.” ture to victims’ families who have “The first test will be on 9/11, long sought the records in hopes of and the world will be watching. AP implicating the Saudi govern- We look forward to thanking Pres- Jacob Chansley, right with fur hat, during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in Washington pleaded guilty on Friday to ament. ident Biden in person next week felony obstruction charge. He has asked to be released from jail while he awaits sentencing. The order, coming less than a as he joins us at Ground Zero to week before the 20th anniversary honor those who died or were in- of the attacks, is a significant mo- jured 20 years ago,” Eagleson ment in a yearslong tussle be- said. ‘QAnon Shaman’ pleads guilty tween the government and the Still, the practical impact of the families over what classified in- executive order and any new doc- formation about the run-up to the uments it might yield was not im- to felony charge in Capitol riot attacks could be made public. mediately clear. Public docu- BY JACQUES BILLEAUD mental vulnerabilities examin- they were meeting to certify Pres- That conflict was on display last ments released in the last two dec- Associated Press ed,” Chansley said before plead- ident Joe Biden’s Electoral Col- month when many relatives, sur- ades, including by the 9/11 Com- PHOENIX — An Arizona man ing guilty to a charge of obstruct- lege victory. Fifty others have vivors and first responders came mission, have detailed numerous who sported face paint, no shirt ing an official proceeding. pleaded guilty, mostly to misde- out against Biden’s participation Saudi entanglements but have not and a furry hat with horns when U.S. District Judge Royce Lam- meanor charges of demonstrating in 9/11 memorial events if the doc- proved government complicity. he joined the mob that stormed berth is considering Chansley’s in the Capitol. uments remained classified. A long-running lawsuit in feder- the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 pleaded request to be released from jail Only one defendant who plead- Biden said Friday that he was al court in New York aims to hold guilty Friday to a felony charge while he awaits sentencing, which ed guilty to a felony charge has re- making good on a campaign com- the Saudi government account- and wants to be released from jail is set for Nov. 17. ceived their punishment so far. mitment by ordering the declassi- able and alleges that Saudi offi- while he awaits sentencing. Chansley acknowledged in a Paul Hodgkins, a crane operator fication review and pledged that cials provided significant support Jacob Chansley, who was wide- court record to being one of the from Florida who breached the his administration “will continue to some of the hijackers before the ly photographed in the Senate first 30 pro-Trump rioters to U.S. Senate chamber carrying a to engage respectfully with mem- attacks. The lawsuit took a major chamber with a flagpole topped stream into the Capitol building. Trump campaign flag, was sen- bers of this community.” step forward this year with the with a spear, could face 41 to 51 He riled up the crowd with a bull- tenced in July to eight months in “The significant events in ques- questioning under oath of former months in prison under sentenc- horn as officers tried to control prison after pleading guilty to ob- tion occurred two decades ago or Saudi officials, and family mem- ing guidelines, a prosecutor said. them, posed for photos and pro- structing an official proceeding. longer, and they concern a tragic bers have long regarded the dis- The man who called himself “QA- fanely referred to then-Vice Pres- Chansley’s lawyer said his cli- moment that continues to reso- closure of declassified documents non Shaman” has been jailed for ident Mike Pence as a traitor ent has since repudiated the QA- nate in American history and in as an important step in making nearly eight months since his ar- while in the Senate. He wrote a non movement and asked that the lives of so many Americans,” their case. rest. note to Pence saying, “It’s only a there be no more references to his the executive order states. “It is The Saudi government has de- Before entering the plea, Chan- matter of time, justice is coming.” past affiliations with the move- therefore critical to ensure that nied any connection to the attacks. sley was found by a judge to be He also made a social media post ment. the United States Government Fifteen of the hijackers were mentally competent after having in November in which he promot- After the hearing, attorney maximizes transparency, relying Saudi, as was Osama bin Laden, been transferred to a Colorado fa- ed hangings for traitors. Watkins told reporters that Chan- on classification only when nar- whose al-Qaida network was be- cility for a mental health evalua- The image of Chansley with his sley was under pressure from rowly tailored and necessary.” hind the attacks. Particular scruti- tion. His lawyer Albert Watkins face painted like the American family members not to plead The order directs the Justice ny has centered on the support of- said the solitary confinement that flag, wearing a bear skin head guilty because they believed Department and other executive fered to the first two hijackers to Chansley faced for most of his dress and looking as if he were Trump would be reinstated as branch agencies to begin a declas- arrive in the U.S., Nawaf al-Hazmi time in jail has had an adverse ef- howling was one of the first strik- president and would pardon him. sification review, and requires and Khalid al-Mihdhar, including fect on his mental health and that ing images to emerge from the Watkins said Chansley previously that declassified documents be re- from a Saudi national with ties to his time in Colorado helped him riot. felt like Trump’s message spoke leased over the next six months. the Saudi government who helped regain his sharpness. Chansley is among roughly 600 to him and that his client’s fond- Brett Eagleson, whose father, the men find and lease an apart- “I am very appreciative for the people charged in the riot that ness for Trump was akin to a first Bruce, was among the World ment in San Diego and who had court’s willingness to have my forced lawmakers into hiding as love. Trade Center victims and who is earlier attracted FBI scrutiny. Judge shields Texas clinics from anti-abortion group’s suits Associated Press hood request does not interfere Wednesday, allows anyone, any- weeks into pregnancy. statement. AUSTIN, Texas — A state judge with the provision. However, it where, to sue anyone connected to The order “offers protection to However, the order will not deter has shielded, for now, Texas abor- shields clinics from whistleblower an abortion in which cardiac activ- the brave health care providers and Texas Right to Life’s efforts, said tion clinics from lawsuits by an anti- lawsuits by the nonprofit group ity was detected in the embryo — as staff at Planned Parenthood health Elizabeth Graham, the group’s vice abortion group under a new state Texas Right to Life, its legislative early as six weeks into a pregnancy centers throughout Texas, who president. In a statement, the group abortion law in a narrow ruling director and 100 unidentified indi- before most women even realize have continued to offer care as best said: “We expect an impartial court handed down Friday. viduals. they are pregnant. they can within the law while facing will dismiss Planned Parenthood’s The temporary restraining order A hearing on a preliminary in- In a petition filed late Thursday, surveillance, harassment, and lawsuit. Until then, we will continue Friday by state District Judge junction request was set for Sept. Planned Parenthood said about threats from vigilantes eager to stop our diligent efforts to ensure the Maya Guerra Gamble in Austin in 13. 85% to 90% of people who obtain them,” said Planned Parenthood abortion industry fully follows” the response to the Planned Parent- The law, which took effect abortions in Texas are at least six spokeswoman Helene Krasnoff in a new law. PAGE 10 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 WORLD Extremist freed before New Zealand attack

BY NICK PERRY jured in the melee. On Saturday, terror laws, which experts say and violent extremism on Face- show violent murders like some Associated Press three of the victims remained are too focused on punishing ac- book. ISIS videos and weren’t classi- WELLINGTON, New Zealand hospitalized in critical condition tions and inadequate for dealing Police twice confronted him fied as the worst kind of illicit ma- — New Zealand authorities im- and three more were in stable or with plots before they are carried but he kept on posting. In 2017, terial. High Court Judge Sally prisoned a man inspired by the moderate conditions. The sev- out. Prime Minister Jacinda Ar- they arrested him at Auckland Fitzgerald described the contents Islamic State for three years after enth person was recovering at dern said lawmakers were close Airport. He was headed for Syria, as religious hymns sung in Ara- catching him with a hunting knife home. to filling some of those legislative authorities say, presumably to bic. and extremist videos — but at a Court documents named the holes when the attack occurred. join ISIS insurgency. Police A court report warned Samsu- certain point, despite grave fears man as Ahamed Aathil Mohamed She vowed law changes by the searches found he had a hunting deen had the motivation and he would attack others, they say Samsudeen, 32, a Tamil Muslim end of the month. knife and some banned propa- means to commit violent acts in they could do nothing more to who arrived in New Zealand 10 Police Commissioner Andrew ganda material, and he was later the community and posed a high keep him behind bars. years ago on a student visa seek- Coster said the law they were released on bail. In 2018, he risk. It described him as harbor- So for 53 days from July, police ing refugee status. working under required a sus- bought another knife, and police ing extreme attitudes, living an tracked the man’s every move, an Undercover officers monitor- pect to make the first move. found two ISIS videos. isolated lifestyle, and having a operation that involved some 30 ing him from just outside the su- “We might have an under- He spent the next three years sense of entitlement. officers working around the permarket sprang into action standing of intent, and ideology, in jail after pleading guilty to var- But the judge decided to re- clock. Their fears were borne out when they saw shoppers running and we might have high levels of ious crimes and for breaching lease him, sentencing him to a Friday when he walked into an and heard shouting, police said, concern,” Coster said. “But that bail. On new charges in May, a ju- year’s supervision at an Auck- Auckland supermarket, grabbed and shot him dead within a couple is not sufficient for us to take any ry found Samsudeen guilty on land mosque. a kitchen knife from a store shelf of minutes of him beginning his enforcement action.” two counts of possessing objec- Fitzgerald noted the extreme and stabbed five people, critical- attack. Samsudeen was first noticed tionable videos, both of which concerns of police, saying she ly injuring three. The attack has highlighted de- by police in 2016 when he started showed ISIS imagery. didn’t know if they were right, but Two more shoppers were in- ficiencies in New Zealand’s anti- posting support for terror attacks However, the videos didn’t “I sincerely hope they are not.” Japan’s PM to quit as leader of party Associated Press campaign is Sept. 17. Candidacy TOKYO — Amid growing criti- requires factional support largely cism of his handling of the pan- controlled by party heavyweights, demic, Prime Minister Yoshihide and their choices may not match Suga said Friday he won’t run for those favored in public opinion the leadership of the governing surveys. party later this month, paving the Two Cabinet ministers in for- way for a new Japanese leader af- mer Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ter just a year in office. government have come out as po- Suga told reporters that heading tential candi- Japan’s pandemic response and dates: dovish campaigning to lead his governing former Foreign Liberal Democratic Party at the Minister Fumio same time divided his energies. “I Kishida, seen as have decided not to run for the a top contender, AP party leadership elections, as I and former Inte- Displaced Amharas gather in a kindergarten school housing the internally­displaced, in Debark, in the would like to focus on coronavirus rior Minister Sa- Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, on Wednesday. measures,” Suga told reporters nae Takaichi, Suga who rushed to his office after the who shares news broke. Abe’s rightwing ideology. Suga has faced criticism and Current Vaccinations Minister Tigray forces accused of abuses nosediving public support over a Taro Kono also expressed interest Associated Press Mulu told the AP. He said his team week turned sharp criticism on coronavirus response seen as too on Friday, saying he will make a DEBARK, Ethiopia — As they had to transfer some 400 patients the Tigray forces. slow and limited and for holding final decision after consulting fel- bring war to other parts of Ethio- elsewhere for care. “Everyone “In Amhara now, we now know the Olympics despite the public’s low lawmakers. Former Defense pia, resurgent Tigray fighters face can come and witness the destruc- that the (Tigray forces have) ... health concerns. His hope of hav- Miniter Shigeru Ishiba, a favorite growing allegations that they are tion that they caused.” looted the warehouses, they’ve ing the Olympic festivities help in media surveys, and Seiko Noda, retaliating for the abuses their The war that began last Novem- looted trucks and they have turn around his plunging popular- former gender equality minister, people suffered back home. ber was confined at first to Ethio- caused a great deal of destruction ity was also dashed. also reportedly have expressed in- In interviews with The Associ- pia’s sealed-off northern Tigray in all the villages they have visit- He said he had put all his energy tentions to run. ated Press, more than a dozen wit- region. Accounts of atrocities of- ed,” the head of the U.S. Agency into important issues including Kishida has criticized Suga’s nesses offered the most wide- ten emerged long after they oc- for Economic Development, Sean the virus response since he took handling of the pandemic and re- spread descriptions yet of Tigray curred: Tigrayans described Jones, told the Ethiopian Broad- office. cently proposed a series of virus forces striking communities and a gang-rapes, massacres and forced casting Corporation. “But doing both takes enormous measures, including more fund- religious site with artillery, killing starvation by federal forces and In recent interviews with the energy and I have decided that I ing, a pledge to secure more hospi- civilians, looting health centers their allies from Amhara and AP, the spokesman for the Tigray should just choose one or the oth- tal beds and creation of a health and schools and sending hundreds neighboring Eritrea. forces Getachew Reda said they er,” he said. “As I have repeatedly crisis management agency to cen- of thousands of people fleeing in The Tigray forces retook much are avoiding civilian casualties. said, protecting people’s lives and tralize pandemic measures. the past two months. of their home region in a stunning “They shouldn’t be scared,” he health is my responsibility as Kono, the son of the longest- In the town of Nefas Mewucha turn in June, and now the fighting said last month. “Wherever we go prime minister, and that’s what I serving lower house speaker and in the Amhara region, a hospital’s has spilled into Amhara. Angered in Amhara, people are extending a will dedicate myself to.” grandson of a former deputy medical equipment was smashed. by the attacks on their communi- very warm welcome.” The Liberal Democrats and prime minister, is a political blue The fighters looted medicines and ties and families, the fighters are He did not respond to the AP their coalition partner have a ma- blood and has served as foreign other supplies, leaving more than being accused of targeting civil- about the new witness accounts, jority in parliament, meaning and defense ministers. a dozen patients to die. ians from the other side. but tweeted in response to USAID whoever wins the Sept. 29 party Suga’s decision is largely seen “It is a lie that they are not tar- The United States, which for that “we cannot vouch for every vote is virtually guaranteed to be- as a political move so the party can geting civilians and infrastruc- months has been outspoken about unacceptable behavior of off-grid come the new prime minister. have a fresh leader before nation- tures,” hospital manager Birhanu the abuses against Tigrayans, this fighters in such matters.” The official start of the party al elections later this year. Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 11 PAGE 12 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 AMERICAN ROUNDUP

Misspelling of Moderna leads to tourist’s arrest HONOLULU — A Illi- HI nois woman submitted a fake COVID-19 vaccination card to visit Hawaii with a glaring spell- ing error that led to her arrest: Moderna was spelled “Maderna,” according to court documents. In order to bypass Hawaii’s 10- day traveler quarantine, she up- loaded a vaccination card to the state’s Safe Travels program and arrived in Honolulu Aug. 23 on a Southwest Airlines flight, the doc- uments said. “Airport screeners found suspi- cious errors … such as Moderna was spelled wrong and that her home was in Illinois but her shot was taken at Delaware,” Wilson Lau, a special agent with the Ha- waii attorney general’s investiga- tion division, wrote in an email to a Delaware official who confirmed there was no vaccination record for the woman, 24, under her name and birth date. The email is included in docu- ments filed in court. She was charged with two misdemeanor counts of violating Hawaii’s emer- gency rules to control the spread of COVID-19. STEVE MELLON, PITTSBURGH POST­GAZETTE/AP Man swinging machete killed by deputies Riding to remember Firefighters bicycle along Ohio River Boulevard near Emsworth, Pa. on their way to Pittsburgh, Thursday. The effort, called MISSOULA — A man Bay2Brooklyn2021, honors firefighters and others who died in the attacks of 9/11. MT who was swinging a machete and making lethal al’s director said in a statement. THE CENSUS houses, the Portland Press Herald threats was shot and killed as Mis- In pre-pandemic times, the 10- reported. soula County law enforcement of- day festival attracted as many as The final payment that Panama City, Fla. will pay to The increase will take effect ficers tried to deescalate the situa- 75,000 visitors each year around $2.1M Crowder Gulf, the disaster recovery company that Nov. 1. Detoxification providers tion, the sheriff’s office said. Halloween for dozens of adult par- handled the city’s storm debris after Hurricane Michael in 2018. The Panama will get $385 per person per day, The man did not comply with ties, costumed marches, street City News Herald reported that about $94.6 million has been spent to remove up from $217. The reimbursement the verbal commands of officers fairs and balls. all of its hurricane debris. Most of the cost will be reimbursed by the Federal rate for halfway houses will in- responding to a disturbance north- Emergency Management Agency. In all, crews collected 5.7 million cubic crease from $106 per person per west of Missoula and deputies ini- Police: Boy died of drug yards of debris from the city and removed 18,000 tree stumps. day to $165. tially used a “less lethal option” to overdose at friend’s home Depending on their classifica- try to get him to comply, the sher- Larry D. Cavitt, 68, of Goreville, that supports human resources, fi- tion, reimbursement rates for oth- iff’s office said. WASHINGTON — A was charged in Johnson County nance, compliance/health and er residential rehab facilities will That failed and the man contin- MO teenager died of a Court with murder and aggravat- safety programs, according to increase between 28% and 39%. ued to pose a lethal threat, officials drug overdose during a sleepover ed battery with use of a firearm. charging documents. said. at a friend’s house in eastern Mis- The charges stem from the death Last month, Behun was charged Woman says concert At least one officer fired shots at souri, and three adults at the house of Cavitt’s half-brother, Joseph E. in the U.S. District Court in Green- attack paralyzed her the man, Sheriff TJ McDermott were arrested, police said. Geyman, 51. belt with theft of government said. The suspect was flown to a Police were called to a home in Johnson County Sheriff Pete property in the case first reported GILFORD — Police hospital in Missoula where he died Washington and found Zackary Sopczak said the two men, who by WRC-TV. The station reported NH are investigating after of his injuries. His name has not Foster dead in an upstairs bed- lived next door to each other, ar- that Behun has not entered a plea. awoman says she was knocked un- been released. room, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch gued over the COVID-19 vaccine An investigation by the Justice conscious and became paralyzed reported. before Cavitt took out a handgun Department’s Office of the Inspec- from the waist down during a Pit- Fantasy Fest is on but The boy’s friend, 12, told investi- and fatally shot Geyman in the tor General found that many times bull concert in New Hampshire. no parade or street fair gators they had been experiment- head. from 2015 to 2018, Behun worked The woman, from Keene, said ing with drugs they found in the Sopczak said there was no phys- significantly less than he claimed she was struck in the head by two KEY WEST — An an- house, police Sgt. Steve Sitzes said. ical altercation prior to the shoot- for a total of 876 falsely certified adults on Aug. 29 after an argu- FL nual celebration of de- After securing a search war- ing in the unincorporated Johnson hours, according to charging doc- ment about an alcoholic beverage bauchery and outrageous cos- rant, officers found various pre- County village of Tunnel Hill. uments. at the Bank of NH Pavilion concert tumed parties in the Florida Keys scription and some illegal drugs in in Gilford. She was with friends at- is canceling its famous parade this the house, including methamphe- Ex-FBI official accused of State to pay addiction tending the concert. year due to the state’s surge in CO- tamine and capsules possibly con- falsely claiming worktime treatment providers more Doctors said she suffered blunt VID-19 cases, but events connect- taining heroin or fentanyl, Sitzes force trauma to the spinal cord, ed to the 42-year-old festival are said. GREENBELT — A PORTLAND — Facil- which resulted in paralysis from still being held, according to plan- Police took the boy and his sis- MD former section chief ME ities that provide the waist down. She was being ners. ter, 7, into protective custody. at the FBI’s Quantico laboratory is treatment for substance use disor- transferred to a Boston hospital The Fantasy Fest parade and a facing federal charges, accused of der will be reimbursed at a higher for further evaluation and treat- street fair in Key Fest slated for Police: Man killed relative claiming nearly 900 hours of work rate for the Medicaid patients they ment. the end of October have been can- after vaccine dispute he didn’t do over four years, ac- treat, Maine Gov. Janet Mills an- Gilford Deputy Chief Kristian celed because of the pandemic, cording to court documents. nounced. Kelley said that a suspect has been and a masquerade march through VIENNA — A southern Il- John Behun worked for the FBI Some $2.1 million set aside in the identified, but investigators are the city’s Old Town section has IL linois man shot his half- for more than 28 years until his budget passed in July will go to- still looking for witnesses and col- been put on hold until organizers brother to death following an argu- termination in February 2019. He ward making the payments to a lecting statements. can determine that it’s safe to hold, ment over the COVID-19 vaccine, served as a laboratory division range of facilities, including de- Nadene Grossman Orr, the festiv- authorities said. section chief, leading the section toxification providers and halfway From The Associated Press Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 13 MUSIC

Powerful pairings Hit collaborations between Black women are sparking golden age of female hip-hop

BY NATACHI ONWUAMAEGBU The Washington Post urn on your car stereo. Or open one of Spotify’s top hits playlists. Or peruse your TikTok feed. Or go to a cafe, mall, bar, a busy street corner and just listen. Before long, you’ll hear it. It’s impossible to miss the recent slew of Tchart-topping, female-forward, hip-hop duets. From the record-breaking, headline-making “WAP” by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion; to the otherworldly anthem by Doja Cat and SZA, “Kiss Me More”; to the recent and instantly trending “Rumors” that teamed up Lizzo and Cardi B, Black women have been choosing to feature, well, other Black women. It’s simple, according to Carl Chery, head of urban music at Spotify. We’re in a golden age of female hip-hop. “A year and a half ago in comparison to now, the field has expanded so much,” Chery said. “You’re seeing wom- en who emerged as early as two years ago become stars. We’ve never seen this. I don’t think there’s ever been this many female rap stars, ever.” Men have long dominated hip-hop, and white exec- utives have long dominated the music industry. In the (very recent) past, most Black female artists trying to make it big have found success by leaning on either of these pillars. Between the late ’80s and early 2000s, Eve, Queen Latifah, Lil’ Kim, Trina and Foxy Brown were among one of the first waves of successful women in hip-

SEE PAIRINGS ON PAGE 14

Megan Thee Stallion performs at the Lollapalooza music festival on July 31 at Grant Park in Chicago. “WAP,” Megan Thee Stallion’s collaboration with Cardi B, broke the record for the biggest 24­hour debut for an all­female collaboration on YouTube and currently has more than 876 million plays on Spotify.

ROB GRABOWSKI, INVISION/AP PAGE 14 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 MUSIC

Halsey Sturgill Simpson CHVRCHES If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power The Ballad of Dood & Juanita Screen Violence (Capitol) (Thirty Tigers) (EMI/Glassnote Records) Halsey gave birth this summer, Sturgill Simpson knows how to The fourth studio album from and she supplied her own baby gift do a concept record. Scottish synth-pop group — a terrific new album in a new His latest, “The Ballad of Dood CHVRCHES was already sound- musical direction. & Juanita,” proves once again he is ing great before they did some- The 13-track “If I Can’t Have a prodigious musical chameleon. It thing to push it into the realm of Love, I Want Power” sees Halsey teaming up with Trent couldn’t be more different than his last album of original the spectacular. Reznor and Atticus Ross of the rock band Nine Inch Nails material, 2019’s fuzz rock, eardrum-blasting anime They reached out to The Cure frontman Robert Smith, and who are frequent movie soundtrack collaborators. It soundtrack “Sound & Fury.” In between, he recorded a whose dark sound has been a touchstone to the younger marks the most divergent sound in Halsey’s career. couple bluegrass records covering his own songs. band. That masterstroke produced “How Not to Drown,” The album captures the thrill and fear of impending The new record has more in common with the two most bridging a generational talent gap and anointing motherhood, and, as always, an artist looking with un- recent records, both released in the past year, and even CHVRCHES as worthy successors: “I don’t want the sentimental harshness at their weaknesses. Reznor and employs the same top-notch band. Willie Nelson takes a crown / You can take it now,” Smith sings. Ross have imbued the project with their special brand of guest turn on the track “Juanita.” “How Not to Drown” is just one of the highlights of ambient and post-industrial dread. “Dood & Juanita” is a tribute of sorts to Simpson’s “Screen Violence,” which examines anxiety, missed con- Highlights include the driving synthesizer-and-drum- grandparents, attaching their names to fictitious charac- nections and misogyny, in real life and on screens. Mem- led “I am not a Woman, I’m a god” — a very NIN sound — ters in Civil War-era Kentucky. A dog, mule, some horses bers Lauren Mayberry, Martin Doherty and Iain Cook and the rocking “Honey” with Dave Grohl on drums. She and Shawnee Indians figure prominently, as well. have a smoother, fuller and more assured sound. writes a lullaby for her baby on “Darling,” with Lindsey Pure country, with some bluegrass, gospel and a cap- The album kicks off with the terrific “Asking for a Buckingham on guitar, “I’ll kidnap all the stars and I will pella thrown in for good measure, it almost feels like a Friend” with lyrics that look back fondly at a broken love. keep them in your eyes.” radio serial from the 1940s. There’s even sound effects to The super “He Said She Said” is a less fond look at a con- Reznor and Ross have not lost Halsey in a flood of help move the story along, including gun shots, stamped- trolling partner, and the anthemic “Good Girls” destroys noises and synths but made vehicles, with special touches ing horses and a crackling fire. All that’s missing is an unrealistic ideals and isn’t polite: “I cut my teeth on here and there. overly dramatic narrator. weaker men / I won’t apologize again,” Mayberry sings. This is the sound of ambition, an evolution of Halsey’s Simpson said the entire project was completed in five You’ll find yourself returning again and again to the sound from the criminally underappreciated “Badlands” days. It clocks it at a scant 28 minutes with several songs lush and wistful “Lullabies” and the driving, electric or the Romeo-and-Juliet concept album “Hopeless Foun- a couple of minutes long or less. While expertly crafted “Final Girl,” a song that plays with cinematic clichés and tain Kingdom” and 2020’s busy, single-driven breakup and executed, it’s likely to be remembered more as a has a vibe reminiscent of The Smiths. And, of course, the album “Manic.” It’s the sound of a mom who can have it quirky, interesting curiosity, rather than a defining state- blissfully perfect “How Not to Drown.” It takes the all: love and power. ment. crown. — Mark Kennedy — Scott Bauer — Mark Kennedy Associated Press Associated Press Associated Press Pairings: Black women finding success on their own terms

FROM PAGE 13 Megan Thee Stallion, Bktherula doesn’t while still considered risque, has become hip-hop artists and their breakthrough hop. Most were led onstage by all-male shy away from broaching any subject more commonplace and accepted. For songs. “Even just by working on the play- recording agencies (Eve and the Ruff matter in her music — but she does know instance, every time Rihanna dropped list, I’ve seen so many new women rap- Ryders) or famous male rappers (Lil’ Kim that listeners, especially men, aren’t used music between 2007 to 2013, her songs pers,” he said. But the music industry is and Notorious B.I.G., Trina and Trick to seeing such confident Black women. would chart. Her tongue-in-cheek 2011 hit still led by men, regardless of how it may Daddy). “They’re seeing women, Black women, “S&M” was no different, he said. seem times have changed. Recent female duets and features might talking about whatever the hell we want to “The line from [S&M], ‘Sticks and But the men in charge seem to have prove this phenomena moot as Black talk about, and for some reason they don’t stones may break my bones but chains realized that women are popular and women are producing some of their most treat us like male rappers,” said Bkther- and whips excite me,’ didn’t evoke a lot of therefore profitable, said Alexander. listened-to songs with other Black women. ula. “When a guy talks about the same controversy,” said Alexander. But there That’s due, in some part, to social media. They’re doing so while discussing sex, stuff, they’re silent. If anything, I think it’s are still perceived limits to what a woman Instagram, Facebook and even streaming drugs and female friendships. better when women talk about sex and can rap about. Despite their often bawdy services such as Spotify allow users grea- “It’s incredible,” Chery said. speak their mind.” lyrics, female rappers are still viewed as ter control over the music they discover In 2019, Chery noticed the beginnings of When women do rap and sing about sex nurturers. and choose to listen to. Once a song be- this new wave of Black female artists. Acts with the vulgarity typically reserved for “This is still an evolutionary response to comes popular, it can make the leap from such as City Girls, Lizzo, Doja Cat, Cardi men, however, it becomes mainstream things that men have been doing since the your TikTok feed to a playlist like “Feelin’ B, Saweetie, SZA and Megan Thee Stallion news. The vivid lyrics and anatomical early ’80s,” said Alexander, who has Myself,” which boasts more than one were making a name for themselves on subject matter of “WAP” evoked ample worked with Usher, Mary J. Blige and million followers. the heels of Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and With an increase in popular female Beyoncé’s seemingly stand-alone success- musicians, however, comes gendered es, without the scaffolding of big names or insults and assumptions — especially from record labels to prop them up. “I think we’re really starting to realize how men within the industry. Jermaine Dupri, “Meg isn’t connected to anyone like a 46-year-old producer and rapper, re- that,” Chery said. “She’s standing up on freaking powerful we are.” ferred to Cardi B and other female rap- her own.” Bktherula pers who discuss sex as “strippers rap- “WAP,” Megan Thee Stallion’s collab- ping.” DaBaby, who has collaborated with oration with Cardi B, broke the record for female rapper from Atlanta Megan Thee Stallion several times, made the biggest 24-hour debut for an all-female news for seemingly retweeting a joke collaboration on YouTube and currently pushback, especially from conservative Diddy. “What’s interesting is not that about her allegedly being shot by Tory has more than 876 million plays on Spot- pundits, and inspired Megan Thee Stal- women are responding, it’s that it’s being Lanez — an incident for which she was ify, the most of any of Megan Thee Stal- lion’s next single (the title of which is done by artists with a family-friendly mocked and questioned. lion’s songs. In second place? “Savage unprintable in a family newspaper) re- brand. Because women are moms, aunties, Bktherula doesn’t let that sort of hate Remix,” her song with Beyoncé. leased this year. The song — which has sisters. Even though they are strippers, bother her, though; being a Black woman “Women are ruling,” said Bktherula, a lyrics like “I don’t give a f— about a blog they are still nurturers. Even though they in the industry is already difficult enough. female rapper from Atlanta. “It’s really trying to bash me / I’m the s— per the are prostitutes, they are still nurturers. She knows she’s talented, and was before amazing to just hear women everywhere Recording Academy” — has been listened Even though they are lawyers, they are her music went viral. all the time. You open TikTok, music apps, to more than 90 million times on Spotify. still nurturers. In our male[-dominated] “I think we’re really starting to realize what do you hear? Black women.” Over the past two decades, American society, they still provide a certain amount how freaking powerful we are,” Bktherula The 18-year-old musician began record- culture has changed to allow for the re- of nurturing that males are still trying to said. “Us Black women are extremely ing music four years ago, but her career lease and praise of a song like “WAP,” figure out.” talented. Other people are starting to see took off when her single “Left Right” went said Prince Charles Alexander, professor It is easy to highlight how far women that and they’re starting to gravitate to- viral in 2019. Now she has more than 1 of music production and engineering at have come in hip-hop. Chery has curated wards us. But the hits have been there. million monthly listeners on Spotify with Berklee College of Music. Women speak- the “Feelin’ Myself” playlist on Spotify for And the talent has been there — for all of her hit song nearing 15 million plays. Like ing (or singing) about taboo subjects, the last two years, highlighting female us.” Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 15 MOVIES

MARVEL STUDIOS/AP Tony Leung plays the titular Shang­Chi’s father in the Marvel movie “Shang­Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Widening the circle Director, cast of Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi’ hope to open door to new culture, expand onscreen representation BY PETER SBLENDORIO Zhang, who previously worked in theater New York Daily News in Nanjing and Shanghai, China. She’s ith their new addition to excited for audiences to meet her charac- Marvel’s superhero uni- ter. verse, the makers of “Shang- “She is someone you don’t want to mess WChi and the Legend of the with, because she can kick some butt,” Ten Rings” hope to further represent the Zhang said. “I think she’s really special. real world. She’s tough and unapproachable on the The movie is the first in Marvel’s in- outside, but she really has the sensitive terconnecting film franchise to be led by and vulnerable part deep down inside of AMY SUSSMAN/TNS an Asian hero and a predominantly Asian her. She knows to stand her own ground “Shang­Chi” director Destin Daniel Cretton, right, shown with actress Meng’er Zhang, cast. and find her own voice. I think the world says his mission was to tell an epic, relatable story that stayed true to Chinese culture. For director Destin Daniel Cretton, the is gonna love her.” mission was to tell an epic, relatable story Zhang didn’t know she was trying out that stays true to Chinese culture. for a Marvel film when she responded to “Growing up in Hawaii, movies were an audition call for an actress who speaks always my window to other cultures and Chinese and English. She realized the job other experiences,” Cretton told the Daily was for “Shang-Chi” when she was flown News. “When I watched a movie like ‘E.T.’ out to do a screen test with Liu. on Maui, that was seeing how high school- The movie leaves Zhang excited for the ers are in California. onscreen representation it provides. “But it also allowed me to feel connect- “I’m so proud,” she said. “For Asian ed to those kids, because they’re also kids growing up in Western countries, struggling with a broken home life or they can have a hero they can look up to insecurities or pain ... and they have the and say, ‘He looks like me.’ This story is same dreams as me. It helped me to feel very heartwarming, and I think everyone connected to people that were not like me. can relate.” I hope that this movie is something that Cast members include Awkwafina, who the Asian community can be very proud plays Shang-Chi’s best friend, and Tony of, but I also hope it’s a window to people Leung, who portrays the hero’s father. who are not from this community to feel It was important, Cretton said, to be connected.” authentic in portraying the characters and MARVEL STUDIOS/AP Simu Liu stars as Shang-Chi, who was their personal backgrounds. “This story is very heartwarming, and I think everyone can relate,” says Meng’er Zhang, raised as an assassin in China by his pow- “We very much are paying homage to who plays Xialing, the estranged sister of Shang­Chi (Simu Liu, right). er-hungry father before fleeing his family Chinese culture and the rich history of and starting a low-profile life in San Fran- kung fu films and martial arts films,” proud of this movie.” since they were young,” Cretton ex- cisco. Cretton explained. “We took incredible The film is filled with journeys of self- plained. The movie, now in theaters, follows care into making sure that everything just discovery for characters such as Shang- “They all have reacted to the traumatic Shang-Chi as secrets from his past catch felt real and relatable. Even though we are Chi and Xialing, the director said. experience in different ways, and over the up to him and reunite him with his es- in [the Marvel Cinematic Universe] ver- “All the characters, particularly in course of our movie, as they are learning tranged sister, the formidable fighter sion of everything, we still want to make Shang-Chi’s family, are learning over the to revisit and redefine what that pain Xialing, portrayed by Meng’er Zhang. sure that the cultures of these communi- course of our movie to deal with some pain means to them, I think they’re also able to “Shang-Chi” marks the first film role for ties that we are a part of ... can all be that they have not been able to deal with look at the beautiful parts of their pasts.” PAGE 16 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 CROSSWORD AND COMICS

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

RESETTLING LETTERINGS 1234 5678 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 BY STEPHEN MCCARTHY / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ 22120291 Stephen McCarthy, a native of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is a Ph.D. student studying transportation modeling in Stockholm. He got his start in puzzles by solving cryptic crosswords in Toronto’s Globe and Mail with his grandfather. Last 62524232 year he began constructing American-style puzzles, incorporating some of the wordplay of cryptics in his themes and clues. This is a good example. Stephen’s last Times crossword was ‘‘Maple Leaf,’’ in June. — W.S. 928272 ACROSS 48 Like some casts 97 Fill in 7 Feature of many 1 What a drawbridge 49 City nicknamed the 98 Word repeated in ‘‘I British accents 63534333231303 may bridge Old Pueblo ____, I ____, it’s off 8 Binges too much, for 1404938373 5 In that case 51 French city near the to work I go’’ short 99 Lick, say 746454443424 9 Control-tower Belgian border 9 As if orchestrated installation 52 Prefix with colonial 100 ‘‘____ merci!’’ 10 Indexed data (French cry) structures 15059484 14 Pass 53 Tightfitting 55 Toni Morrison title 101 ‘‘On it, captain!’’ 11 Directly 756555453525 19 ‘‘That one’s ____’’ heroine 103 ‘‘No need to make 12 Fourth person to walk (‘‘My bad’’) 56 Annual British acting me a plate’’ on the moon 58 59 60 61 62 63 20 Amelia Bedelia, e.g. award 106 Five-letter word 13 Do a double take? that replaces a four- 1707968676665646 21 ‘‘Go me!’’ 58 Series of questions, 14 Boot letter word? maybe 15 Almost 57473727 22 Member of a noble 107 1980s gaming inits. family 60 Counterpart of elles 16 What makes Shrek 62 Opposite of never 108 Not even shriek? 483828180897877767 23 2004 film about 64 Many relationships 111 Writing done 17 One side in a debate a group of GRAPHICALLY 9888786858 MALIGNERS are INSTIGATED 18 It may be blown 115 The Trojans lacked on one 24 They may be blown 4939291909 25 It might be put on for 68 Healthy eaters may the FORESIGHT to stage PAGEANTRIES turn this down 26 House Republican 89796959 give this A WIDE V.I.P. Stefanik 27 Annual film festival BERTH 116 It’s multilayered 28 Star in Canis Major 50140130120110100199 where ‘‘Saw’’ and 72 Disrupt an online 117 You should always ‘‘Get Out’’ premiered 32 Just so meeting, in a way bring it to a 011901801701601 28 ‘‘____ La La’’ (1964 74 Mauna ____ competition 34 Hot-dog topper hit) 75 Grp. that hasn’t yet 118 Children’s author 35 Airline passenger 511411311211111 Blyton request 29 Senator, e.g., for short found what it’s looking for 119 Be taken aback 36 Lion ____ 911811711611 30 Avoids a bogey, 120 One way to cook a perhaps 76 Wonder Woman and 38 ‘‘Dear ____ Hansen’’ 321221121021 others 116-Across (2017 Tony-winning 31 Being 79 Valuable load for a 121 Unenthusiastic musical) 33 Be hopping mad mule 122 They know the drill: 41 Responds to br-r-r-isk 57 Don’t believe it! 73 Showing the effects of 87 International 102 Make over, as a ship 81 Influence Abbr. weather? 34 Cool one 59 Aftmost masts on an all-nighter, say cosmetics company 104 A crowd, they say 84 Pioneering gangsta 123 Word after hard or 42 Like zebras and lions ships 76 Give one’s blessing to ____ Rocher 37 W.W. II hero, rap group before short 43 Voice with an Echo 105 It has 104-Down legs informally 61 Gives fuel to 77 It has more coastline 89 Content people? 106 Obscure, with ‘‘out’’ 85 Burdened 44 Rub it in than California, 39 Muletas are waved at 63 Gets a move on, 109 They may be set by 86 Just DOWN 45 ‘‘It is what it is’’ and quaintly surprisingly 91 Larsson who wrote them others industry grps. 88 Preferring one’s own 1 ‘‘My Two ____’’ (2015 65 Who can hear you 78 Score after seven ‘‘The Girl With the 40 Canon camera company, perhaps Claudia Harrington 46 Mike Krzyzewski, to scream in space points, maybe Dragon Tattoo’’ 110 Girl in ‘‘The Old children’s book) Curiosity Shop’’ 41 Branch of Islam 90 They can be Duke basketball fans 66 Ending with poly- 80 Certain radio format 92 Pooh-pooh 2 Top 47 Rise 111 sin/tan 42 You might be NOISELESS while 67 Title meaning 82 Apropos of 94 Common April stalking prey 3 Appliance brand since 112 Major Japanese MARVELING AT this 50 Hot-dog topper ‘‘commander’’ 83 ‘‘Like that’ll ever activity, nowadays as it whizzes by 93 Explorers of the 1934 54 A little too silky, 69 ‘‘____ Meenie’’ (2010 happen!’’ carrier UNTRAVERSED 4 Pea shooters? 97 Vietnamese sandwich 113 ‘‘Kill Bill’’ co-star 46 Sort of SCHEMATIC maybe hit) 86 ‘‘Appetizers’’ or 100 Group trying to sack for Christian 95 Burden 5 ‘‘Sign me up!’’ 56 Justin Trudeau, by 70 Battling ‘‘Desserts,’’ at a 114 You can chew on it education 96 Old cable-TV inits. 6 Complete travesty birth 71 Rings up diner a QB 115 Some appliances

GUNSTON STREET RESULTS FOR ABOVE PUZZLE

L L E S S T G S D I P E T E T U A S

L E E R D I N E E M A G A N O I N O

E S R O H T F I G Y H P A R G I L L A C

N A H T S S E L S E N P E E L B

E T A I R I S E Y A U E I D T E W

E W O F E I R B N N T S U N O

S R E R U T N E V D A S E S S E N O I L

L A I C O S A Y L E R E M N E D A L

A W N Y A W S O L I K S N O Z A M A

I T E S A E K B M O B M O O Z

D A E R B E T I H W E T I S G N I T A D

E M I T H C A E S L I M A X E

R E I V I L O A L U S G U N S O E N

E L L I L N O S C U T R A T S L L A

M S I H C E T A C N I A R T V E L G A M

“Gunston Street” is drawn by Basil Zaviski. Email him at [email protected], and online at gunstonstreet.com. A I H S S O E S O R O T E K I

T A C L I O B Y T I T N E S R A P

R E L H N A H S E C N A D N U S

T N I A P E S A E R G S L R I G N A E M

N O N E X E L U R I D I A M E M N O T C A N E R A D A R O S F I T A O M Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 17 GADGETS & TECHNOLOGY

GADGETS All-in-one computer stand and hub makes life easier BY GREGG ELLMAN produces is impressive, and just Tribune News Service as impressive is the $79.99 price. If you own an Apple Mac Mini Built into the compact Hi-Fi M1 desktop computer, Satechi’s desktop speakers is audio tech- new Stand Hub with SSD Enclo- nology featuring Clear Dialog sure is a must-have. and Surround, which are power- The all-in-one hub does exactly ed by Sound Blaster’s audio ex- what Satechi sets out for it to do, pertise. make everyday life more conve- From the Creative site, Clear nient by acting as a computer Dialog extracts the vocals and stand and a hub. It connects to spoken dialogue through an au- the computer with a single dio processing technique, then USB-C connection via a built-in intelligently enhances and ampli- 5.4-inch cable from the back. fies them, allowing you to hear There’s no need for any other each syllable clearly, and without power supply. compromising other sounds. iStock The Satechi Stand Hub mirrors Surround identifies and enhanc- A constantly full inbox can be overwhelming. Tips such as only checking your email at a certain time and the Mac Mini in design with its es the spatial information of dealing with messages in batches can help you get control of your inbox and get on with your day. brushed silver aluminum alloy incoming audio via Sound Blas- finish. Measuring 7.8-by-7.8- ter’s audio filters. The technology by-0.9 inches, it sits perfectly optimizes the listening experi- under the Apple Mac Mini M1 ence for both two-channel and computer with a top side plat- multi-channel source content form that is raised to provide resulting in a realistic listening You’ve got mail space to allow heat and air to experience. ventilate, preventing overheat- Using the speakers from a ing. Four rubber feet keep the laptop, stereo receiver and hub raised off the desktop. streaming via Bluetooth all pro- Tips to get your inbox under control so you can get back to life Easy-access hubs are built into duced great sound. The speakers the front, which includes a single have high volume levels, way BY ANGELA HAUPT emails until you want to receive them. USB-C port, three USB-A data more than my ears can take. The The Washington Post If your job requires more constant vigilance, aim transfer ports, SD and microSD sound is well balanced and there arsha Egan has a theory: You either to check your email “in between other things,” not memory card readers, and a 3.5 are options to help achieve the control your email, or it controls you. while you’re focusing on one specific task, Thomas mm headphone jack. The USB desired mix of treble and bass. I have 21,000 unread messages — in advises. And always process them in a batch, ver- ports are for syncing and data Inside each speaker is a 2.75- Mmy personal account, not others I use sus opening each email as it arrives. transfer, not charging. inch full-range driver along with for work — so it’s safe to say I fall into the latter ■ Adhere to the four Ds. Egan applies “the four But what makes this stand out a built-in digital amplifier. Cre- camp. Email overwhelm can be crippling: Good Ds” to every email she receives: do, delete, delegate is the bottom side SSD enclosure atives BasXPort technology al- intentions to read every interesting newsletter or or defer. If you deal with an email within two min- where you can add your SSD lows the right amount of bass respond to old friends are flattened by a constant utes, do it. If it’ll take longer, defer — which is also drive for storage expansion. without having a subwoofer. deluge of more, more and more messages, some known as triaging. Egan puts such emails into Fold- Inside the SSD storage compart- The Creatives T60s can be marked “urgent” or accompanied by chains that er A — which stands for “action” — and then sets ment is a small screwdriver and connected wirelessly with Blue- take an hour to decipher. reminders to return to them. You might also delete screw to assist with the simple tooth 5.0 or USB-C for digital “Email has become the biggest and worst in- an email or delegate it to someone else. The key is installation. The Satechi site lists audio, which both worked per- terrupter the universe has ever experienced,” says to deal with each message before you move on to compatible SSD drives, which fectly in my review unit. Other Egan, a workplace productivity coach and author of the next, rather than letting 10 (then 100) pile up have been tested to work with the ports for the AC-powered speak- “Inbox Detox and the Habit of E-mail Excellence.” unread. Treat your inbox as a place to receive and hub and include specifics from ers include a 3.5mm aux-in (ana- “It’s cheap, it’s immediate, and you can copy 200 process messages, not store them. Kingston, Samsung, Western log), a 3.5mm headphone port, people if you want to.” ■ Turn off notifications. Do you really need an Digital and Adata. and a 3.5mm port for plugging in It’s also, many would agree, a giant headache and alert for each new message? “Let me just end the Online: satechi.net; $99.99 an external microphone for com- time suck. suspense for you,” Thomas says. “You have mail.” municating during meetings. Most employees spend about 28% of the work- Constant pop-ups or dings “just contribute to your Creatives T60 desktop speak- A 6-foot wire connects the pair week reading and answering emails, according to habit of distraction,” she says. “It makes it really ers impressed me in every as- of speakers, with the controls on one analysis. Maura Thomas, a speaker and trainer difficult to stay focused for any period of time, and pect. The speaker pair is filled one speaker used for controlling on individual and corporate productivity whose it chips away at patience.” In addition to disabling with features for use as a sound both. Front-facing buttons are upcoming book is “The Happy Inbox,” says the first notifications on your computer, she suggests doing system with digital, analog and used for power, volume, audio thing many of her clients do when they open their the same for email on your phone. wireless connections and func- sound technologies, and switch- eyes in the morning is check their email. And the ■ Don’t think of your inbox as a to-do list. Lots of tionality for the work from the ing between audio or your head- last thing they do before they go to bed at night is, people make this mistake, says Matt Plummer, home office environment. set. you guessed it, refresh that inbox. CEO of Zarvana, which helps professionals become The sound the Creatives T60 Online: us.creative.com Part of taking control of our email, Thomas and more productive. Your inbox is a delivery tool; it other experts say, is establishing boundaries doesn’t function properly as a place to itemize your around when we check it. Here’s advice on that and tasks. Often, people think, “I’m going to need to other ways to wrangle your inbox into order. respond to this email, so I should just leave it in my inbox,” Plummer says. That’s not effective. Instead, Preventing email overwhelm he recommends using a task-managing app like ■ Check your email just a few times a day. In a TickTick, which lets you log everything you need to perfect world, Jim McCullen would check his email do and integrate tasks with your calendar. twice before lunch and twice after. If you want to ■ Unsubscribe aggressively. Think of your in- adopt such a schedule, enlist some help. “Turn off box as a garden you must prune, McCullen says. automatic send and receive,” says McCullen, au- Those newsletters you haven’t opened in six thor of “Control Your Day,” which details an email months? Unsubscribe. The place you once bought a productivity method based on David Allen’s “Get- hamburger from that now sends you deals every ting Things Done.” day? Unsubscribe. You can always check the web- SATECHI/TNS Most platforms allow you to temporarily delay site. Remember: Even looking at an email and de- The Satechi Stand Hub sits perfectly under the Apple Mac Mini M1 new messages from arriving in your inbox. You can ciding you don’t need it steals valuable time, computer with a top side platform that is raised to provide a space to also use a tool like Boomerang, which holds your McCullen says. allow heat and air to ventilate, preventing overheating. PAGE 18 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 OPINION

Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Marci Hoffman, Europe commander John Rodriguez, Europe chief of staff Vaccine mandates work, but not if they’re too strict Lt. Col. Michael Kerschbaum, Pacific commander BY SAAD B. OMER high vaccine refusal rates compared with opting out altogether. Michael Ryan, Pacific chief of staff Special to The Washington Post states with difficult procedures. For example, when Washington state he lukewarm pace of coronavirus But there is also a danger in making the started requiring that all parents seeking vaccination in the United States mandates too strict. Several governments nonmedical exemptions obtain mandatory EDITORIAL has led many policymakers and have tried to eliminate all nonmedical ex- health care-provider counseling and sign an private employers to impose vac- emptions with the idea that most people “informed declination” form, vaccine refus- Terry Leonard, Editor T [email protected] cine mandates, sometimes going so far as to won’t be able to opt out. The problem with al declined by more than 40%. refuse any religious or philosophical exemp- that approach is that there is no simple linear Based on vaccine ethics and science, my Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor tions. Others, such as some universities and relationship between the strictness of a man- colleagues and I came up with six criteria for [email protected] school districts, have opted for a softer ap- date and vaccination rates. triggering coronavirus vaccine require- Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation proach — urging vaccinations, but not re- In 2015, after a wave outbreaks — includ- ments. Among other things, we stipulate that [email protected] quiring them, in hopes that enough people ing a widely publicized outbreak of measles, mandates should be implemented only when will independently decide to do the right initially identified at Disneyland, that led to the virus is not adequately contained and vol- BUREAU STAFF thing. more than 300 cases — California stopped untary vaccination uptake has fallen short. Unfortunately, neither approach is granting vaccination exemptions to school- Under these criteria, the use of mandates Europe/Mideast grounded in evidence. A substantial and ex- children unless it was related to a medical is- is justified in specific settings in the United Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief panding body of research suggests that man- sue. The state had also recently cracked States, including hospitals, universities, [email protected] +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 datory immunizations work, but only if they down on a school admission process called many workplaces and the military. Since strike a middle ground that avoids draconian “conditional entrants,” which was supposed vaccine access has been sparser for many Pacific measures but makes it inconvenient to opt to be for children who had begun getting communities — particularly communities of Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief out. their required vaccinations but had not com- color — a general mandate that covers ev- [email protected] There is no question that vaccine man- pleted the immunization course by the start eryone, or all adults, is not justified at this +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 dates, crafted well, are effective. A review of of school. Vaccine-averse parents had moment. Washington studies from high-income countries showed abused the program. These mandates should include exemp- that school immunization requirements The percentage of California children be- tions for religious and medical reasons. Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief [email protected] were on average associated with 18 percent- hind on their vaccines declined from approx- However, getting an exemption should not (+1)(202)886-0033 age points higher rates of routine childhood imately 10% in 2013 to almost 5% in 2017. But be easier than getting vaccinated. And hav- Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News vaccinations. Similarly, during and soon af- this decline was mainly due to the crack- ing a mandate does not absolve governments [email protected] ter the H1N1 pandemic in 2009 and 2010, vac- down on the conditional entrant option, not a of other responsibilities related to ensuring cination mandates were instrumental in in- result of eliminating nonmedical exemp- equitable vaccine access, such as engaging CIRCULATION creasing health care worker influenza im- tions. with the community and removing financial Mideast munization rates. Most parents with strong objections to and logistical barriers to vaccination. Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager Most immunization mandates allow ex- vaccination — who would have previously Mandates must never be vindictive; they [email protected] emptions based on religious or other rea- sought nonmedical exemptions — found should not be an outlet for the collective frus- [email protected] sons. For instance, people with a history of loopholes, such as acquiring medical exemp- trations of the vaccinated. Instead, vaccine DSN (314)583-9111 severe allergies to vaccine components may tions, moving their children to home school- requirements that work as behavioral inter- Europe be medically exempt from mandates. Some ing or enrolling them in an independent ventions can be a useful nudge to ensure that Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager who say their faith doesn’t permit them to get study program. as many people as possible are inoculated [email protected] vaccinated may get a religious exemption. Mandates may not be “nudges” in terms of against this deadly virus. [email protected] However, if it is too easy to opt out, mandates the conventional use of the word, but effec- +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 are not as effective. In a 2012 study, my col- tive mandates work by ensuring that it is far Saad B. Omer is director of the Yale Institute for Global Health Pacific leagues and I found that states with easy ex- more convenient to receive the vaccine than and a professor at the Yale University schools of medicine and Mari Mori, [email protected] emption procedures had more than twice as not to — without taking away the choice of public health. +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 CONTACT US Washington ‘PICU at capacity’ terrifies any parent of a sick child tel: (+1)202.886.0003 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 BY UCHÉ BLACKSTOCK As I counted his breaths, my heart sank. because of a surge in RSV infections. While Special to The Washington Post 100. My baby was breathing at 100 breaths a RSV infections were historically low last year Reader letters lmost 204,000 cases of COVID-19 minute. For context, a healthy 3-week-old ba- because of increased masking and children [email protected] among children were reported in by takes 30 to 60 breaths a minute. We ended interacting with fewer people because of pan- the United States in the week end- up in the pediatric emergency room that demic restrictions, they have picked up sig- Additional contacts ing Aug. 26, according to the night, in the same hospital where I worked. nificantly over the summer because of de- stripes.com/contactus A American Academy of Pediatrics. The num- He was placed on oxygen to help him creased masking and increased reopening. ber of children now hospitalized with the dis- breathe better. A few hours later, after a nasal As the fall approaches and more children OMBUDSMAN ease continues to hit record numbers daily, viral swab and a chest X-ray, he was diag- return to full in-person learning, we will inev- Ernie Gates with pediatric intensive care units in Texas, nosed with respiratory syncytial virus bron- itably see further spikes in pediatric hospital- The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi over- chiolitis and admitted to the PICU. izations and PICU admissions. Hospitals and of news and information, reporting any attempts by the whelmed or at capacity. Once he was in the PICU, a mask was health care workers will be pushed further to military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns Many Americans likely don’t understand placed over his tiny face that forced oxygen the brink, if that is even possible. If PICUs re- and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for how terrifying those words are. “At capacity” into his nose and mouth, and his vital signs main at or over capacity, patient care will fairness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted by means that these PICUs don’t have the staff were continuously monitored. He stayed in continue to be severely compromised. email at [email protected], or by phone at and resources to care adequately and safely the PICU for five days and four nights. I slept Federal, state and local leaders have an 202.886.0003. for additional sick patients. It means that if in a chair next to his oversized bed every obligation to ensure that our most vulnerable

Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- your child comes to the hospital ill with CO- night. It was difficult to sleep those nights, not — including unvaccinated children — are days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday VID-19, or even a non-COVID problem re- only because of worry but also because of the protected. In addition to ensuring adults and through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals quiring ICU-level care, they will likely have bustling ICU staff working diligently through eligible children are vaccinated, we need pol- postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send to wait an indeterminate amount of time for a the night tending to my baby and the others in icies that support non-pharmaceutical inter- address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. This newspaper is authorized by the bed. It means worsened health outcomes and the room. ventions to decrease transmission, such as Department of Defense for members of the military services increased mortality rates. It means health We had waited only several hours in the ER mask mandates, indoor capacity restrictions, overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views care workers will be fatigued and burnt out. for my baby’s PICU bed. At the time, the wait free and accessible testing, adequate ventila- of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspa- per, Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official Almost five years ago, I had my own per- felt like forever. I cannot imagine the fear that tion in indoor settings and remote learning channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to sonal experience with a PICU — not as a phy- parents of critically ill children are experi- options. remote locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in this publication does sician but as a parent. I had given birth un- encing right now in overwhelmed hospitals Otherwise, parents in overwhelmed areas not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or eventfully to a beautiful, healthy baby. Two across the country. When I hear about PICUs will have every reason to worry, “What will Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. Products or services advertised shall be made available for days later, we brought him home from the being at capacity, I think about not only my happen if my child becomes severely ill?” purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, hospital. Three weeks later, as I nursed him baby, who is now healthy and almost 5 years These are worries that no parent should ever religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of in the middle of the night, I noticed that he old, but all of the children who require admis- have to face. the purchaser, user or patron. was breathing very quickly. His little belly sion, for COVID-related issues or otherwise. © Stars and Stripes 2021 moved up and down rapidly, and his nostrils PICUs are seeing a surge in admissions not Uché Blackstock is an emergency physician and founder and stripes.com flared with each breath. only because of COVID-19 infections but also chief executive of Advancing Health Equity. Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 19 SCOREBOARD

PRO SOCCER COLLEGE FOOTBALL TENNIS

MLS Friday’s scores U.S. Open gium, def. Ilya Ivashka, Belarus, and Japan, def. Alicja Rosolska, Poland, and Eri EAST Jaume Munar, Spain, 6-3, 6-3. Hozumi, Japan, 7-6 (5), 6-2. EASTERN CONFERENCE Bentley 41, West Chester 17 Friday Jack Sock, United States, and Neal Skup- Sam Stosur, Australia, and Zhang Shuai At USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis ski, Britain, def. Filip Krajinovic and Laslo (14), China, def. Sabrina Santamaria, Unit- WLTPts GF GA Delaware Valley 57, Kean 6 Hobart 35, Alfred 3 Center Djere, Serbia, 6-2, 6-3. ed States, and Miyu Kato, Japan, 6-2, 6-4. New York Men’s Doubles Alexa Guarachi Mathison, Chile, and De- New England 16 4 4 52 45 28 Merchant Marine 49, FDU-Florham 27 Nichols 21, Westfield St. 6 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Second Round sirae Krawczyk (7), United States, def. Nashville 9 2 11 38 37 21 S. Connecticut 28, CCSU 21 Men’s Singles Benoit Paire, France, and Ricardas Be- Danka Kovinic, Montenegro, and Rebecca Orlando City 9 4 8 35 30 24 Salisbury 56, Albright 14 Third Round rankis, Lithuania, def. Nathaniel Lammons Peterson, Sweden, 6-1, 6-3. and Jackson Withrow, United States, 6-4, Dayana Yastremska and Marta Kostyuk, NYCFC 10 7 4 34 37 22 Salve Regina 38, Norwich 0 Peter Gojowczyk, Germany, def. Henri Ursinus 42, Alvernia 6 Laaksonen, Switzerland, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4. 6-2. Ukraine, def. Aleksandra Krunic and Nina Philadelphia 8 7 8 32 28 24 WPI 38, Worcester St. 20 Daniil Medvedev (2), Russia, def. Pablo Bruno Soares, Brazil, and Jamie Murray Stojanovic (17), Serbia, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. CF Montréal 8 7 7 31 30 27 SOUTH Andujar, Spain, 6-0, 6-4, 6-3. (7), Britain, def. Bjorn Fratangelo and Anastassia Rodionova and Arina Rodio- Christopher Eubanks, United States, 7-6 nova, Australia, def. Renata Voracova, D.C. United 9 10 3 30 35 32 Charlotte 31, Duke 28 Daniel Evans (24), Britain, def. Alexei Virginia Tech 17, North Carolina 10 Popyrin, Australia, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (1). (4), 6-4. Czech Republic, and Anhelina Kalinina, Columbus 7 9 6 27 25 29 Wake Forest 42, Old Dominion 10 Carlos Alcaraz, Spain, def. Stefanos Tsit- Rajeev Ram, United States, and Joe Sa- Ukraine, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Caty McNally and Coco Gauff (11), Unit- Atlanta 6 7 9 27 25 28 MIDWEST sipas (3), Greece, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 0-6, 7-6 lisbury (4), Britain, def. John Millman, Aus- tralia, and Thiago Monteiro, Brazil, 6-3, 6-4. ed States, def. Tereza Martincova and Chicago 6 11 5 23 24 33 E. Michigan 35, St. Francis (Pa.) 15 (5). Diego Schwartzman (11), Argentina, def. Evan King and Hunter Reese, United Marketa Vondrousova, Czech Republic, Hiram 41, Bethany (WV) 21 6-4, 6-3. Inter Miami CF 6 9 5 23 21 31 Kansas 17, South Dakota 14 Alex Molcan, Slovakia, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. States, def. Austin Krajicek, United States, and Dominic Inglot, Britain, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Mixed Doubles New York 6 10 4 22 23 25 Michigan St. 38, Northwestern 21 Botic van de Zandschulp, Netherlands, FAR WEST def. Facundo Bagnis, Argentina, 3-6, 6-0, Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell, Aus- Second Round Cincinnati 3 9 8 17 21 37 6-2, 6-2. tralia, def. Szymon Walkow and Hubert Andreja Klepac, Slovenia, and Joran Chapman 35, Pacific (Ore.) 23 Hurkacz, Poland, 6-4, 7-6 (4). Toronto FC 3 13 6 15 26 47 Colorado 35, N. Colorado 7 Felix Auger-Aliassime (12), Canada, def. Vliegen, Belgium, def. Bethanie Mattek- Roberto Bautista Agut (18), Spain, 6-3, 6-4, Marcel Granollers, Spain, and Horacio Sands, United States, and Jamie Murray S. Dakota St. 42, Colorado St. 23 Zeballos (2), Argentina, def. Fabrice Mar- WESTERN CONFERENCE Whitworth 13, Carnegie Mellon 10 4-6, 3-6, 6-3. (5), Britain, 2-6, 6-4, 12-10. Frances Tiafoe, United States, def. An- tin and Jeremy Chardy, France, 6-7 (4), 7-5, Filip Polasek, Slovakia, and Belinda Ben- WLTPts GF GA drey Rublev (5), Russia, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (4). cic, Switzerland, def. Luke Saville and PRO FOOTBALL Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herb- 6-1. Storm Sanders, Australia, 6-4, 6-4. Seattle 12 4 6 42 35 19 Women’s Singles ert (3), France, def. Marcelo Demoliner, Marcelo Arevalo-Gonzalez, El Salvador, NFL schedule Third Round Brazil, and Marcus Daniell, New Zealand, and Giuliana Olmos, Mexico, def. Asia Mu- Sporting KC 11 5 7 40 37 26 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (1). hammad and Jack Withrow, United States, Colorado 11 4 5 38 30 20 Thursday’s game Simona Halep (12), Romania, def. Elena Women’s Doubles 7-6 (5), 6-3. Rybakina (19), Kazakhstan, 7-6 (11), 4-6, LA Galaxy 11 8 3 36 35 35 Dallas at Tampa Bay First Round Austin Krajicek and Jessica Pegula, Unit- Sunday’s games 6-3. Zarina Diyas, Kazakhstan, and Varvara ed States, def. Lukasz Kubot, Poland, and Minnesota 8 6 7 31 24 24 Garbine Muguruza (9), Spain, def. Victo- Arizona at Tennessee Gracheva, Russia, def. Misaki Doi, Japan, Lucie Hradecka, Czech Republic, 6-7 (4), Portland 9 10 3 30 31 39 ria Azarenka (18), Belarus, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. and Anna-Lena Friedsam, Germany, 7-6 6-0, 11-9. Jacksonville at Houston Barbora Krejcikova (8), Czech Republic, Real Salt Lake 7 8 6 27 31 27 L.A. Chargers at Washington (5), 4-6, 6-2. Ken Skupski, Britain, and Alexa Guarachi def. Kamilla Rakhimova, Russia, 6-4, 6-2. Andrea Petkovic, Germany, and Ajla Mathison (3), Chile, def. Bruno Soares, Bra- LAFC 7 9 6 27 32 31 Minnesota at Cincinnati Elina Svitolina (5), Ukraine, def. Daria Ka- N.Y. Jets at Carolina Tomljanovic, Australia, def. Tara Moore, zil, and Sam Stosur, Australia, 5-7, 6-3, 10-4. Vancouver 6 7 8 26 27 31 satkina (25), Russia, 6-4, 6-2. Britain, and Emina Bektas, United States, Max Purcell, Australia, and Dayana Yas- Philadelphia at Atlanta Angelique Kerber (16), Germany, def. San Jose 6 7 8 26 24 29 6-2, 6-4. tremska, Ukraine, def. Rajeev Ram, United Pittsburgh at Buffalo Sloane Stephens, United States, 5-7, 6-2, Elixane Lechemia, France, and Ulrikke States, and Sania Mirza, India, 6-3, 3-6, FC Dallas 6 9 7 25 30 33 San Francisco at Detroit 6-3. Eikeri, Norway, def. Oksana Kalashnikova, 10-7. Seattle at Indianapolis Austin FC 5 12 4 19 20 29 Elise Mertens (15), Belgium, def. Ons Ja- Georgia, and Ekaterina Alexandrova, Rus- Ivan Dodig, Croatia, and Nicole Melichar Cleveland at Kansas City beur (20), Tunisia, 6-3, 7-5. sia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. (1), United States, def. Zhang Shuai, China, Houston 3 10 10 19 24 36 Denver at N.Y. Giants Leylah Annie Fernandez, Canada, def. Petra Martic, Croatia, and Shelby Rog- and John Peers, Australia, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 12- Note: Three points for victory, one point Green Bay at New Orleans Naomi Osaka (3), Japan, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4. ers, United States, def. Mandy Minella, 10. for tie. Miami at New England Aryna Sabalenka (2), Belarus, def. Da- Luxembourg, and Liudmila Samsonova, Montserrat Gonzalez, Paraguay, and Chicago at L.A. Rams nielle Collins (26), United States, 6-3, 6-3. Russia, 7-6 (2), 1-6, 6-4. Nadia Podoroska, Argentina, def. Sabrina Saturday, Aug. 28 Monday’s game Men’s Doubles Second Round Santamaria and Nathaniel Lammons, Nashville 2, Atlanta 0 Baltimore at Las Vegas First Round Bethanie Mattek-Sands, United States, United States, 7-5, 7-6 (6). Chicago 1, New York 0 Andrey Golubev, Kazakhstan, and An- and Veronika Kudermetova (6), Russia, Galina Voskoboeva, Kazakhstan, and Ni- LA Galaxy 3, Los Angeles FC 3, tie GOLF dreas Mies (15), Germany, def. Albert Ra- def. Alize Cornet and Fiona Ferro, France, kola Cacic, Serbia, def. Matwe Middel- New York City FC 2, New England 0 mos-Vinolas and Pedro Martinez, Spain, 6-2, 6-2. koop, Netherlands, and Darija Jurak, Croa- D.C. United 3, Philadelphia 1 6-4, 6-4. Monica Niculescu and Elena-Gabriela tia, 6-2, 3-6, 10-8. Colorado 1, Sporting Kansas City 1, tie Tour Championship Jonathan Erlich, Israel, and Lloyd Harris, Ruse, Romania, def. Magda Linette, Po- Desirae Krawczyk, United States, and Minnesota 2, Houston 1 PGA Tour South Africa, def. Oliver Marach and Phi- land, and Bernarda Pera, United States, Joe Salisbury (2), Britain, def. Mitchell lipp Oswald, Austria, 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2. 6-3, 7-5. Krueger and Jamie Loeb, United States, Sunday, Aug. 29 Friday At East Lake Golf Club Frederik Nielsen, Denmark, and Vasek Alison van Uytvanck and Greet Minnen, 5-7, 6-3, 10-8. FC Dallas 5, Austin FC 3 Atlanta, Ga. Pospisil, Canada, def. Marcos Giron, Unit- Belgium, def. Kveta Peschke, Czech Re- Fabrice Martin, France, and Yaroslava Vancouver 4, Real Salt Lake 1 Yardage: 7,346; Par: 70 ed States, and Andre Goransson, Sweden, public, and Ellen Perez (16), Australia, 7-5, Shvedova, Kazakhstan, def. Michael Ven- Portland 2, Seattle 0 Purse: $46 Million 6-3, 7-6 (3). 1-6, 6-2. us, New Zealand, and Hao-Ching Chan (7), Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen (16), Bel- Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara (3), Taiwan, 6-4, 3-6, 10-7. Friday’s games Second Round Nashville 3, New York City FC 1 Patrick Cantlay 67-66—133 -17 DEALS New England 1, Philadelphia 0 Jon Rahm 65-65—130 -16 Portland 2, Houston 0 Bryson DeChambeau 69-67—136 -11 Los Angeles FC 4, Sporting Kansas City 0 Justin Thomas 67-67—134 -10 Friday’s transactions Jankowski from the paternity list. Return- injury settlement TE Alex Ellis. ed OF Jorge Bonifacio to Lehigh Valley. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Activated Saturday’s games Tony Finau 72-67—139 -9 BASEBALL ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Placed RHP Ju- DB Ryan Smith from the reserve/COVID-19 Austin FC at Vancouver Kevin Na 66-67—133 -9 Major League Baseball nior Fernandez on the 10-day IL. Recalled list. Signed DB Brandon Facyson and DT Columbus at Orlando City Viktor Hovland 66-68—134 -9 American League RHP Jake Woodford from Memphis (Tri- Forrest Merrill to the practice squad. Miami at Cincinnati Cameron Smith 68-68—136 -9 BOSTON RED SOX — Placed OF Jarren Du- ple-A East). Waived DB Kemon Hall. — Reinstated RHP — Signed DB Anto- FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake Harris English 66-69—135 -9 ran on the COVID-19 IL. Recalled C Connor SAN DIEGO PADRES LOS ANGELES RAMS Colorado at San Jose Wong from Worcester (Triple-A East). Jake Arrieta from the 10-day IL. Designat- nio Brooks Jr. and RB Buddy Howell to the Rory McIlroy 68-66—134 -8 CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Placed RHP Lu- ed RHP Taylor Williams for assignment. practice squad. Friday, Sept. 10 Jordan Spieth 69-67—136 -8 cas Giolito on the 10-day IL, retraoctive to SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Reinstated MIAMI DOLPHINS — Signed LB Milo Eifler Orlando City at Atlanta Louis Oosthuizen 68-67—135 -8 September 1. Recalled RHP Ryan Burr from INF Evan Longoria from the 10-day IL. Op- to the practice squad. Portland at Vancouver Jason Kokrak 67-68—135 -7 Charlotte (Triple-A East). tioned INF/OF Mauricio Dubon to Sacra- MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Signed P Jordan mento (Triple-A West). Berry. Released P Britton Colquitt. Billy Horschel 65-68—133 -7 HOUSTON ASTROS — Reinstated OF Saturday, Sept. 11 Chas McCormick from the 10-day IL. Se- WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Reinstated NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Waived LA Galaxy at Colorado Dustin Johnson 68-69—137 -6 lected the contract of OF Jose Siri from RHP Kyle Finnegan from the paternity list. with an injury settlement DE Nick Thur- Minnesota at Seattle Xander Schauffele 68-69—137 -5 Sugar Land (Triple-A West) and agreed to Placed RHP Kyle McGowan on the 10-day man. D.C. United at New York Abraham Ancer 69-70—139 -5 terms on a major league contract. Op- IL, retroactive to Sept. 1. NEW YORK GIANTS — Signed TE Ryan Iz- BASKETBALL zo, RB Dexter Williams and QB Brian Le- New York City FC at New England Brooks Koepka 67-71—138 -4 tioned INF Robel Garcia and RHP Enoli Pa- redes to Sugar Land. National Basketball Association werke to the practice squad. Released WR Toronto FC at Cincinnati Sam Burns 71-70—141 -3 Columbus at Miami LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Selected the BROOKLYN NETS — Signed C LaMarcus Damion Willis from the practice squad. Nashville at CF Montréal Sergio Garcia 68-70—138 -2 contract of RHP Janson Junk from Rocket Aldridge. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Signed DT Austin FC at Houston Sungjae Im 71-70—141 -2 City (Double-A South) and agreed to terms DALLAS MAVERICKS — Waived F E.J. Marvin Wilson to the practice squad. Re- Chicago at Sporting Kansas City Scottie Scheffler 67-72—139 -2 on a major league contract. Released INF Onu. leased S Grayland Arnold from the prac- San Jose at FC Dallas Jose Iglesias. FOOTBALL tice squad. PRO BASKETBALL OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Recalled LHP National Football League PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Acquired CB NWSL Sam Moll from Las Vegas (Triple-A West). ARIZONA CARDINALS — Signed LB Ron- Ahkello Witherspoon from Seattle in ex- Placed RHP Frankie Montas on the re- ’Dell Carter, WR Josh Doctson, CBs Rasul change for a 2023 fifth-round pick. Waived DT Henry Mondeaux. WLTPts GF GA WNBA stricted list. Activated CB Robert Alford Douglas, Antonio Hamilton, DLs Jeremiah from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Ledbetter, Jeremiah Ledbetter and OL Mi- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Signed TE Tan- ner Hudson, LB Rashad Smith, CB Dee Vir- Portland 10 4 2 32 24 11 EASTERN CONFERENCE NEW YORK YANKEES — Reinstated INF chal Menet to the practice squad. Gleyber Torres from the 10-day IL. Op- ATLANTA FALCONS — Signed WR Keelan gin and WR Isaiah Zuber to the practice North Carolina 8 4 4 28 22 9 WLPct GB tioned OF Esteven Florial to Scranton/ Doss and OLB James Vaughters to the squad. Reign FC 9 7 1 28 23 18 Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A East). practice squad. Released RB D’Onta Fore- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Signed G Phil x-Connecticut 21 6 .778 — — Sent 1B Ji-Man Choi Haynes to the practice squad. Orlando 6 5 6 24 20 19 TAMPA BAY RAYS man from the practice squad. Signed RB Chicago 14 14 .500 7½ to FCL Rays (Florida Complex League) on a Wayne Gallman. Waived RB Qadree Olli- TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Activated G Chicago 7 7 3 24 19 22 Nick Leverett from the reserve/COVID-19 Washington 10 16 .385 10½ rehab assignment. son. Washington 6 5 5 23 19 18 TEXAS RANGERS — Agreed to terms with BALTIMORE RAVENS — Waived with an list. Placed OLB Cam Gill on injured re- New York 11 18 .379 11 2B Domingo Leyba on a minor league con- injury settlement WR Deon Cain. serve. Gotham FC 5 5 6 21 17 15 Indiana 6 19 .240 14 tract. CHICAGO BEARS — Signed WR Rodney TENNESSEE TITANS — Activated OLB Ha- Houston 6 7 3 21 18 21 TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Claimed INF/OF Adams to the practice squad. rold Landry and WR Racey Mcmath from Atlanta 6 20 .231 14½ the reserve/COVID-19 list. Signed TE My- Louisville 4 8 4 16 13 23 Jake Lamb off waivers from Chicago White CINCINNATI BENGALS — Signed WR Sox. Designated RHP Connor Overton for Cole Pruitt to the practice squad. Released WESTERN CONFERENCE Trenton Irwin to the practice squad. Kansas City 2 11 4 10 9 28 assignment. Recalled LHP Kirby Snead DENVER BRONCOS — Signed DT Jonath- TE Miller Forristall from the practice squad. Placed S Brady Breeze on injured Note: Three points for victory, one point WLPct GB from Buffalo (Triple-A East). an Harris to the practice squad. for tie. National League HOUSTON TEXANS — Released WR Tay- reserve. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM — x-Las Vegas 20 7 .741 — COLORADO ROCKIES — Recalled RHP wan Taylor from injured reserve with a Saturday, Aug. 28 Ashton Goudeau from Albuquerque (Tri- settlement. Signed WR Jalen Camp and DB Signed K Eddy Pineiro to the practice Chicago 3, Kansas City 0 x-Seattle 19 10 .655 2 ple-A West). Optioned RHP Justin Law- Antonio Phillips to the practice squad. squad. x-Minnesota 17 9 .654 2½ rence to Albuquerque. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Signed K HOCKEY Sunday, Aug. 29 National Hockey League x-Phoenix 16 10 .615 3½ MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Reinstated INF Kaare Vedvik and TE Jacob Hollister to the North Carolina 0, Washington 0, tie Eduardo Escobar and RHP Freddy Peralta practice squad. DETROIT RED WINGS — Signed D Filip Orlando 1, Gotham FC 0 Dallas 12 15 .444 8 from the 10-day IL. Optioned RHP Alec Be- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Signed TE Tyler Hronek to a three-year contract. Reign FC 2, Portland 1 Los Angeles 10 18 .357 10½ ttinger to Nashville (Triple-A East). Placed Davis and CB Marvell Tell III to the practice SOCCER Houston 1, Louisville 0 2B Kolten Wong on the paternity list. squad. Released LB Curtis Bolton and WR Major League Soccer Thursday’s games NEW YORK METS — Placed LF Dominic Tyler Vaughns from the practice squad. INTER MIAMI CF — Loaned G Dylan Cas- Wednesday, Sept. 1 Smith on the bereavement list. Reinstated KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Signed DT Cortez tanheira to San Diego Loyal SC (USL Cham- Reign FC 1, Houston 0 Minnesota 66, Los Angeles 57 LHP Brad Hand from the 10-day IL. Broughton, DB Shakur Brown and LB Chris- pionship) for the remainder of the season Dallas 72, Atlanta 68 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Optioned 2B tian Rozeboom to the practice squad. Re- with a right to recall. Saturday’s games Seattle 85, New York 75 Nick Maton to Lehigh Valley (Triple-A leased DT Tyler Clark from the practice ORLANDO CITY SC — Added G Greg Ran- Chicago at Gotham FC Las Vegas 90, Chicago 83 East). Reinstated SS Didi Gregorius from squad. jitsing from the Major League Soccer gaol- Reign FC at Louisville Friday’s games the restricted list. Reinstated LF Travis LAS VEGAS RAIDERS — Waived with an keepers pool. Washington at Portland No games scheduled AP SPORTLIGHT Sunday’s games Saturday’s games Houston at Orlando Phoenix at Indiana North Carolina at Kansas City Washington at Minnesota Sept. 5 the most ever in a final — to defeat Ted straight U.S. Open men’s finals ends in the Schroeder, 16-18, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. Mary Os- quarterfinals. Pete Sampras wins in five Friday, Sept. 10 1922 — The U.S. beats Australia 4-1 to Sunday’s games capture the Davis Cup for the third borne du Pont defeats Doris Hart 6-4, 6-1 sets, 6-4, 7-6, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2. Gotham FC at Kansas City Las Vegas at Chicago straight year. for the women’s title. 2001 — Old rivals Andre Agassi and Pete Chicago at Houston Atlanta at Dallas 1949 — Pancho Gonzalez captures his 1951 — Maureen Connolly, 16, wins the Sampras battle in a classic match. Sam- second consecutive men’s singles title in U.S. women’s singles title with a 6-3, 1-6, pras wins in four sets, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 7-6 Saturday, Sept. 11 Monday’s games the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association cham- 6-4 victory over Shirley Fry. (2), 7-6 (5), with neither player losing Louisville at Orlando Phoenix at Indiana pionships. Gonzalez needs 67 games — 1990 — Ivan Lendl’s bid for a record nine serve. PAGE 20 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 MLB

Scoreboard Posey, Giants outlast Dodgers American League East Division WLPct GB BY JANIE MCCAULEY first base as Posey crossed and Brandon Belt Associated Press raced home from third. With fans chanting Tampa Bay 85 50 .630 _ New York 78 56 .582 6½ SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey could ex- ‘”Safe! Safe!” and players on both sides watching Boston 78 59 .569 8 hale at last, his teammates knowing better than to and waiting, the safe call was confirmed. Toronto 71 62 .534 13 dog pile on their 34-year-old catcher celebrating “It was a little bit higher throw, I was stretched Baltimore 41 92 .308 43 awild, 4½-hour game that put San Francisco atop out fully for it, I thought I kept my foot on, umpire Central Division the NL West. thought otherwise, then went back and looked at WLPct GB “They know they need to be careful with me,” replay,” Smith said. “It’s pretty close, couldn’t Chicago 78 57 .578 _ Posey cracked. overturn it I guess.” Cleveland 67 65 .508 9½ Second baseman Trea Turner threw wildly on San Francisco (86-49) holds a one-game lead Detroit 64 72 .471 14½ Posey’s bases-loaded, two-out grounder in the over LA (85-50) after the rivals came into the Kansas City 60 74 .448 17½ Minnesota 58 76 .433 19½ 11th inning and a lengthy video review upheld the opener of this key weekend series tied for the di- safe call as the Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodg- vision lead. West Division ers 3-2 on Friday night to grab first place. The Giants took a 1-0 lead into the ninth, but WLPct GB “From my vantage point it looked like he was Justin Turner singled and took third on Corey Houston 79 55 .590 _ off. I knew it was really close,” Posey said. “I was Seager’s one-out double. Oakland 74 61 .548 5½ Seattle 73 62 .541 6½ hoping that it held up on replay.” Smith then hit a grounder to second baseman Los Angeles 67 68 .496 12½ The rivals began the night tied for the division Thairo Estrada, who fired home to Posey. The Texas 47 87 .351 32 lead. The Giants nearly won in the ninth, but Po- All-Star catcher chased Turner back to third, National League sey missed a defensive play on the bases and the where Seager was already standing. Posey East Division Dodgers rallied to tie it at 1. tagged both of them, and umpire Nestor Ceja sig- WLPct GB After both teams scored in the 10th, San Fran- naled Seager out. cisco loaded the bases in the 11th against Evan Seager and Turner then both wandered off the Atlanta 71 63 .530 _ Philadelphia 69 65 .515 2 Phillips (1-1), the Dodgers’ 11th pitcher. bag. Posey went to tag Seager again, while Turn- New York 67 67 .500 4 Posey hit a grounder to Turner, who had plenty TONY AVELAR/AP er scrambled back to the bag. Chris Taylor fol- Miami 56 79 .415 15½ of time but zipped a throw that pulled first base- The Giants’ Brandon Belt celebrates after the lowed with a single to make it 1-all. Washington 55 78 .414 15½ man Will Smith off the bag — normally a catcher, replay showed that Buster Posey was safe at Trea Turner hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th that Central Division Smith had never played the position in college or first base for a 3­2 victory Friday against the scored pinch-runner Walker Buehler for a 2-1 WLPct GB as a pro before entering in the 10th. Los Angeles Dodgers in San Francisco. Belt lead. Brandon Crawford hit a tying single in the Milwaukee 82 54 .603 _ Smith desperately tried to reach back to tag scored the winning run on the play. bottom half. Cincinnati 72 64 .529 10 St. Louis 69 64 .519 11½ Chicago 61 75 .449 21 ROUNDUP Pittsburgh 48 87 .356 33½ West Division WLPct GB San Francisco 86 49 .637 _ Semien’s shot lifts Los Angeles 85 50 .630 1 San Diego 71 64 .526 15 Colorado 62 73 .459 24 Arizona 45 91 .331 41½ A’s over Blue Jays Friday’s games Tampa Bay 5, Minnesota 3 Associated Press Toronto 11, Oakland 10 Yankees 4, Orioles 3 (11): Boston 8, Cleveland 5 TORONTO — Marcus Semien Giancarlo Stanton led off the 11th N.Y. Yankees 4, Baltimore 3, 11 innings Kansas City 7, Chicago White Sox 2 hit a game-ending three-run inning with an RBI single and host L.A. Angels 3, Texas 2 Chicago Cubs 6, Pittsburgh 5 homer in the ninth inning after New York came back to edge Bal- Miami 10, Philadelphia 3 Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a tying timore, N.Y. Mets 6, Washington 2, 10 innings Detroit 15, Cincinnati 5 grand slam in the eighth, and the Stanton also homered as the Colorado 4, Atlanta 3 St. Louis 15, Milwaukee 4 Toronto Blue Jays rallied three Yankees remained 1½ games Seattle 6, Arizona 5, 10 innings times to stun the Oakland Athlet- ahead of Boston in the race for the Houston 6, San Diego 3 San Francisco 3, L.A. Dodgers 2, 11 in- ics 11-10 Friday night. first AL wild card. JON BLACKER, THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP nings “We just woke up,” Semien said. Red Sox 8, Indians 5: Kyle The Blue Jays’ Marcus Semien, second from front right, celebrates Saturday’s games Semien connected off Sergio Schwarber hit a leadoff homer in with teammates after hitting a three­run walk­off home run Friday Baltimore at N.Y. Yankees Oakland at Toronto Romo (1-1) for his career-best the first inning, then delivered a against the Oakland Athletics in Toronto. Minnesota at Tampa Bay Cleveland at Boston 34th home run of the season, tiebreaking, two-run double in the Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Texas at L.A. Angels sparking a wild celebration at seventh that sent host Boston past late lead to beat Washington for its cha (3-4) struck out seven over six N.Y. Mets at Washington, 1:05 p.m. home plate. Cleveland. fifth straight victory. innings, Kevin Kiermaier had an Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs N.Y. Mets at Washington, 6:05 p.m. “It’s huge,” said Semien, who Astros 6, Padres 3:Kyle Tuck- Mariners 6, Diamondbacks 5: RBI triple during a three-run sec- Philadelphia at Miami Detroit at Cincinnati delivered against the club that let er hit a tiebreaking two-run home Rookie Jarred Kelenic hit a go- ond and host Tampa Bay beat St. Louis at Milwaukee him leave as a free agent last off- run in the eighth inning and Car- ahead single in the 10th inning af- Minnesota, Atlanta at Colorado Seattle at Arizona season. “Every win is so impor- los Correa’s three-run shot in the ter earlier launching a two-run Marlins 10, Phillies 3: Miguel Houston at San Diego tant right now. Biggest at-bat of fourth ended a 22-inning scoreless homer to lead visiting Seattle past Rojas had two hits and three RBIs L.A. Dodgers at San Francisco the year for me, obviously.” streak for visiting Houston, which Arizona. during during a seven-run sixth Sunday’s games Baltimore (Akin 2-8) at N.Y. Yankees Oakland dropped three games beat scuffling San Diego. Royals 7, White Sox 2: Dallas inning and host Miami ended Phi- (Kluber 4-3) Oakland (Irvin 9-12) at Toronto (Ray behind Boston in the AL wild-card Cardinals 15, Brewers 4: No- Keuchel (8-8) had another rocky ladelphia’s six-game winning 10-5) race. Toronto remains five games lan Arenado homered twice in the outing for AL Central-leading Chi- streak. Cleveland (Plesac 9-4) at Boston (Pivet- ta 9-7) back of Boston, which beat Cleve- first three innings to help visiting cago, allowing six runs in three in- Tigers 15, Reds 5:Dustin Gar- Minnesota (Jax 3-3) at Tampa Bay (Pati- ño 4-3) land 8-4 Friday. St. Louis rout Milwaukee in a nings in a loss to host Kansas City. neau hit a two-run homer and a so- Chicago White Sox (Cease 11-6) at Kan- The Blue Jays have won nine of milestone performance for Adam Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young lo shot, Robbie Grossman had a sas City (Singer 3-9) Texas (Hearn 4-4) at L.A. Angels (TBD) the past 11 meetings with Oakland, Wainwright and Yadier Molina. Award winner, has a 7.26 ERA in three-run blast and visiting De- N.Y. Mets (Walker 7-9) at Washington (Gray 0-2) dating to 2019. It marked the 300th game to his past 11 starts after giving up troit routed Cincinnati. Detroit (Mize 7-7) at Cincinnati (Castillo 7-14) Angels 3, Rangers 2: Shohei feature Wainwright and Molina as five earned runs, seven hits and Rockies 4, Braves 3: Antonio Philadelphia (Wheeler 11-9) at Miami Ohtani (9-1) allowed two runs, the Cardinals’ starting pitcher- two walks with one strikeout. Senzatela (4-9) overcame a lead- (Hernandez 1-1) St. Louis (Lester 5-6) at Milwaukee struck out eight and threw a catcher combination. That total Cubs 6, Pirates 5: Manager off home run by Ozzie Albies, (Burnes 9-4) Pittsburgh (Crowe 3-7) at Chicago Cubs stateside career-high 117 pitches makes them the fourth-most pro- David Ross and president of base- pitching seven strong innings in (Davies 6-10) in seven innings, and host Los An- lific battery. ball operations Jed Hoyer missed host Colorado’s victory over At- Atlanta (Morton 12-5) at Colorado (Gom- ber 9-9) geles beat Texas. Mets 6, Nationals 2 (10):Kevin host Chicago’s victory over Pitts- lanta. Houston (Garcia 10-6) at San Diego (Pad- dack 7-6) The Japanese two-way star Pillar drove in two with a 10th-in- burgh after testing positive for The Braves maintained a two- Seattle (Flexen 11-5) at Arizona (Gilbert leads the majors with 42 homers ning double and visiting New COVID-19. game lead in the NL East over Phi- 1-2) L.A. Dodgers (Buehler 13-2) at San Fran- and dropped his ERA to 2.97. York recovered after blowing a Rays 5, Twins 3: Michael Wa- ladelphia. cisco (TBD) Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 21 NFL/SPORTS BRIEFS Partnering NFL working with HBCUs to provide opportunites

BY BARRY WILNER The Open House featured one- Associated Press on-one and group opportunities The idea behind the HBCU with a variety of NFL executives Open House staged annually by and personnel from departments the NFL is simple: providing op- in football strategy, develop- portunities. ment, data and analytics, talent Reactions from the recent acquisition, experience pro- event indicate the league is on grams and more. the right track in opening off- Participants came from the the-field paths for students and CIAA, Mid-Eastern Athletic alumni from the historically Conference (MEAC), South- Black schools that provide so western Athletic Conference many players to pro football. (SWAC) and Southern Intercol- MICHAEL CONROY/AP “The event was timely and legiate Athletic Association Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard runs a drill during a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers strategic,” says Jacqie McWil- (SIAA). on Aug. 13 in Westfield, Ind. Leonard is from South Carolina State, an HBCU school. liams, commissioner of the Cen- A partnership with the MEAC tral Intercollegiate Athletic As- and SWAC begun in 2016 has sisting with focused program- House. Some of them are work- have traditionally recruited sociation (CIAA), one of three been expanded to include the ming on student development, ing for NFL teams or in the from HBCUs. We found on the conferences in attendance. other two conferences. More career exposure and network- league office. field you can find great talent “It confirmed that over the than 3,000 students in the past ing. It is always our goal to in- Natara Holloway, the NFL’s from the HBCUs, of course, and past two years that there have five years have participated in crease opportunities for stu- vice president of business oper- when we started the 2016 pro- been intentional efforts to sup- programs carried out by the dents and athletic administra- ations and strategy for football grams, found so much more tal- port and identify opportunities NFL’s football ops department. tors from our HBCU institutions operations, can’t hold back her ent. And we have more people with the HBCU conferences col- “The NFL is one of the best in and the power of the NFL will as- excitement when speaking about from HBCUs in the offices lectively. I appreciated the NFL branding and telling stories,” sist in providing access and op- the symbiotic relationship creat- around the league than on the Football Operations team creat- McWilliams notes. “We both rec- portunities.” ed by these initiatives. field. People would be surprised ing space for thought leaders to ognize there is a need for more Indeed, students from HBCU “HBCUs have a long history of to find out that.” share and be heard while identi- Black and Brown professionals institutions have taken advan- diverse students coming out with There were 32 HBCU players fying shared values to support in the industry. HBCUs have one tage of advancement opportuni- so much talent, and to add value making opening rosters in 2020. meaningful opportunities that of the strongest recruiting bases ties through the Careers in Foot- to companies, and they’ve been The number for this season is bring value, and added value, to for talent. HBCUs’ traditions ball Forum, the NFL Campus overlooked for a long time,” she uncertain because final rosters both organizations.” and values align perfectly in as- Connection and the HBCU Open says. “Not a lot of companies remain fluid until late next week.

BRIEFLY Kiffin to miss opener after positive COVID-19 test

Associated Press ing into a weekend chase for $15 million. draft. He played for Portland and San Anto- The club announced a few hours later that Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin will miss Rahm birdied his last three holes Friday nio before originally signing in Brooklyn in Duran had been added to the list, which has the opener against Louisville with a break- for a 5-under 65. Cantlay birdied his last two March. been growing since Boston placed infielders through case of COVID-19. holes for a bogey-free 66 to keep one shot He provides the Nets with size and a post Kiké Hernández and Christian Arroyo on it Kiffin announced the positive test on Sat- ahead. presence that is one of the few weaknesses Aug. 27. urday, two days ahead of the Rebels’ opener It’s not quite a two-man race for the FedEx on a high-scoring team that often played Cora said Hernández has been feeling bet- in Atlanta. Cup with 36 holes still to play at East Lake, small. ter, but was unlikely to return to the lineup Kiffin, his staff and his players are all fully though it was shaping up as a possibility. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. this weekend. Arroyo could be back by the vaccinated. He said no other members of the Bryson DeChambeau was the next closest In other NBA news: middle of next week and shortstop Xander team are expected to miss the game because player, and his 67 lost ground Friday. He was ■ The Detroit Pistons acquired veteran Bogaerts, who was pulled from a game Tues- of COVID-19. six shots behind. center DeAndre Jordan in a multiplayer day and added to the list, may return by the “I am grateful to be vaccinated and experi- Cantlay started the Tour Championship at trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. end of next week, Cora said. encing only mild symptoms,” Kiffin said in a 10-under par because he was the No. 1 seed in The Pistons also received four second- Pitchers Martín Pérez, Matt Barnes, Josh statement released on Twitter. “So much so, the FedEx Cup. Rahm began four shots back. round picks and cash considerations from Taylor and Hirokazu Sawamura and infiel- I debated over being tested, but I’m relieved the Nets in exchange for forward Sekou der Yairo Muñoz were also placed on the list that I did. Aldridge rejoins Nets Doumbouya and center Jahlil Okafor. this week. “I’m proud of our program’s commitment NEW YORK — LaMarcus Aldridge re- In other baseball news: to vaccination and as a result there are cur- joined the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, five Duran on COVID-related list ■ Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench rently no other cases to report or team mem- months after having to retire because of an BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox placed says he has tested positive for COVID-19 and bers expected to miss the game. We will con- irregular heartbeat. outfielder Jarren Duran on the COVID-19- will miss this year's induction ceremonies in tinue to monitor our team closely and take Aldridge retired in April after experienc- related injured list Friday, bringing the Cooperstown, N.Y. responsible measures if any symptoms ing an irregular heartbeat in the last of the team’s total to nine players added to the list The 73-year-old Bench posted Friday on arise.” five games he played for the Nets. Aldridge in a span of a week. Twitter that he had the virus. was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White The Red Sox announced the move before “Fortunately, I have been vaccinated, oth- Cantlay keeps lead at East Lake syndrome — an abnormality that can cause a Friday night’s home game against the Cleve- erwise doctor said I would be hospitalized,” ATLANTA — For the second day in a row, rapid heartbeat — as a rookie in 2007. land Indians. Bench said. no one had a better score than Jon Rahm at Aldridge, 36, is a seven-time All-Star who Manager Alex Cora said earlier Friday Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons the Tour Championship. That’s just what he has averaged 19.4 points in a career that be- that Duran wasn’t feeling well and would not and Larry Walker will be enshrined in the needed to gain ground on Patrick Cantlay go- gan when he was the No. 2 pick in the 2006 be with the team as he underwent testing. Hall festivities on Wednesday. PAGE 22 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 US OPEN/WRESTLING Osaka, Tsitsipas ousted in third round

BY HOWARD FENDRICH ent, and boosted by a rowdy Ar- Associated Press thur Ashe Stadium crowd a tad NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka tired of Tsitsipas’ penchant for looked over at her agent and said taking lengthy breaks between she wanted to tell the world what sets, Alcaraz won in just over four the two of them had discussed pri- hours. vately in an Arthur Ashe Stadium “I just don’t know what hap- hallway after her U.S. Open title pened out there in the court,” the defense ended with a racket-toss- 55th-ranked Alcaraz said after ing, composure-missing, lead- what was only his 10th Grand Slam evaporating defeat in the third contest. “I can’t believe that I beat round. Stefanos Tsitsipas in an epic His reply: “Sure.” match. For me, it’s a dream come And then Osaka, pausing every true.” so often as her voice got caught on He made sure during his on- her words and her eyes filled with court interview to thank the fans, tears, said Friday night she is who are making up for last year’s thinking about taking another absence — no spectators were al- break from tennis “for a while.” lowed because of the coronavirus “I feel like for me, recently, pandemic then, but it’s full capac- when I win, I don’t feel happy, I ity now — with plenty of noise. feel more like a relief. And then They chanted “Let’s go, Carlos!” when I lose, I feel very sad,” Osaka They rose to their feet for ovations said at her news conference fol- at various points, including right lowing a 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4 loss at before the concluding tiebreaker, Flushing Meadows to Leylah Fer- with Alcaraz waving his arms to nandez, an 18-year-old from Cana- request, and receive, even more da who is ranked 73rd and never support. had been this far in Grand Slam JOHN MINCHILLO/AP “He can be a contender for competition. “I don’t think that’s Japan’s Naomi Osaka reacts during Friday’s loss to Canada’s Leylah Fernandez during the third round of Grand Slam titles,” said Tsitsipas, normal.” the US Open in New York. After the loss, Osaka said she may take another break from tennis. the runner-up at the French Open The moderator in charge of the this year. “He has the game to be session with reporters attempted break from playing for a while.” a chaotic final — and a year ago, Her game was off. Her game there.” to cut things off, but Osaka said she This was the first Slam tourna- plus two more on the hard courts of face was gone. By the end, the In earlier action, three women wanted to continue. ment for the 23-year-old Osaka the Australian Open. When she crowd was booing her for turning with multiple major titles each — “This is very hard to articulate,” since she pulled out of the French took a hiatus after Roland Garros, her back to the court and taking too Garbiñe Muguruza, Simona Halep she said, resting her left cheek in Open before the second round to she revealed that she endures much time between points. and Angelique Kerber — pulled her hand. “Basically, I feel like I’m take a mental health break after waves of anxiety before meeting This day had that sort of vibe: out three-set victories to advance kind of at this point where I’m try- having announced she would not with the media and has dealt with Earlier in Ashe, another 18-year- to Week 2. ing to figure out what I want to do, participate in news conferences in depression for three years. old new to this territory surpris- Muguruza got past Victoria Aza- and I honestly don’t know when Paris. The first sign Friday that things ingly eliminated a No. 3 seed when renka, a three-time U.S. Open run- I’m going to play my next tennis She also sat out Wimbledon, be- were not entirely OK with Osaka Carlos Alcaraz of Spain edged ner-up including a year ago, 6-4, match.” fore participating in the Tokyo came when she smacked her rack- French Open runner-up Stefanos 3-6, 6-2 and next faces French Crying, she lowered her black Olympics, where she lit the caul- et against the court after dropping Tsitsipas 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 0-6, 7-6 Open champion Barbora Krejci- visor over her eyes and offered an dron as one of Japan’s most fa- one point. Moments later, Osaka (5) to become the youngest man in- kova. Kerber, who won the title in apology, then patted her palms on mous athletes. chucked her equipment, sending it to the fourth round at Flushing New York in 2016, defeated 2017 both cheeks. Osaka owns four Grand Slam ti- bouncing and skidding halfway to Meadows since Michael Chang champ Sloane Stephens 5-7, 6-2, “Yeah,” Osaka added as she rose tles, including at the U.S. Open in the net. Then came a full-on spike and Pete Sampras in 1989. 6-3. And Halep was a 7-6 (11), 4-6, to leave, “I think I’m going to take a 2018 — beating Serena Williams in near the baseline. With a tenacity to match his tal- 6-3 winner over Elena Rybakina. Grappling: US gold medalist Stevenson in high demand FROM PAGE 24 “I can only say this — I’m waiting Steveson walked to the ring at Summer- for a couple of calls that may come Slam with another American Olympic gold medalist, Tamyra Mensah-Stock. Some any day now. But other than that, fans were surprised that Steveson didn’t I’m chilling.” seem awestruck as he walked down the ais- le. Gable Stevenson “People were like ‘He didn’t look like he U.S. gold medalist wanted to be there,’ ” he said. “No. I was just comfortable in the ring and just, straight name, image and likeness income while he face and just doing a good job of being who I figures things out. am. So it was nice. I was happy to be there.” He has most often been linked with WWE The WWE was happy to have him there, and UFC, but said he’s open to everything, too. He was photographed that night with including Bellator. He said he’d be willing WWE chairman/CEO Vince McMahon and to listen to All Elite Wrestling, which has not executive vice president Paul Levesque. reached out to him. In the meantime, the reigning NCAA The combat sports world has been abuzz heavyweight wrestling champion said for weeks about where he will end up. there’s a good chance he will show up at the “I can only say this — I’m waiting for a AARON FAVILA/AP University of Minnesota when classes start. couple of calls that may come any day now,” The United States’ Gable Dan Steveson celebrates his victory in the men’s freestyle That would position him to benefit from he said. “But other than that, I’m chilling.” 125kg wrestling final at the Summer Olympics last month in Tokyo. Sunday, September 5, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 23 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Sources say Big 12 adding 4 members

BY RALPH D. RUSSO One of the people said Big 12 Associated Press leaders believe it would benefit the The Big 12 is moving quickly on conference to move quickly on a an expansion plan that could have long-term plan to show stability the conference at 12 schools after and not allow speculation about Texas and Oklahoma leave, with the league’s uncertain future to BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati linger throughout the football sea- and Houston as the “most intrigu- son. ing” candidates. After the Pac-12 announced it Three people familiar with the was not planning to expand last Big 12’s talks said Friday the eight week, it quickly became apparent schools being left behind by the to the remaining eight Big 12 Longhorns and Sooners are work- schools — Kansas, Kansas State, ing to rebuild by adding four new Iowa State, Baylor, TCU, Oklaho- members. ma State, Texas Tech and West Two of the people said there Virginia —- that they had no other were regularly scheduled meet- Power Five conference options. ings planned for Big 12 university Their best move was to stick to- presidents and athletic directors gether and add new members, one in the coming days to discuss next of the people said. steps, and another meeting of pres- The first question was how big idents was expected to take place should the Big 12 be? late next week. “I think 12 is the magic number,” One person said invitations to one of the people said. new members could go out as soon How soon new members could as next week. join is to be determined. The people spoke to The Associ- BYU is an independent that al- PHOTOS BY MATT GENTRY, THE ROANOKE TIMES/AP ated Press on condition of anonym- ready has a television contract Virginia Tech quarterback Braxton Burmeister picks up a first down against North Carolina during Friday’s ity because the Big 12 was not mak- with ESPN, one of the Big 12’s cur- game in Blacksburg, Va. Burmeister ran for a touchdown and threw for another in the 17­10 victory. ing its internal discussions public. rent broadcast rights holders, and Sports Illustrated first reported could likely join as soon as next on Friday, citing unidentified football season. sources, that BYU, Cincinnati, Cincinnati, UCF and Houston Houston and UCF were expected are in the American Athletic Con- Burmeister, Virginia Tech to apply for membership to the Big ference. AAC bylaws require 27 12 early next week. The Athletic months’ notice if members plan to was first to report earlier this week leave the conference. the Big 12 was focused on those One person said the Big 12 has four schools. been focused on schools with sub- knock off North Carolina Big 12 Commissioner Bob stantial fanbases, located in grow- Bowlsby declined to comment Fri- ing markets, and with a history of BY HANK KURZ JR. day in a text message to AP. football success under multiple Associated Press The Southeastern Conference coaches. BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech didn’t appear invited Texas and Oklahoma to Conceivably, new members to get much consideration when the experts tabbed leave the Big 12 and join that pow- could join the Big 12 before Texas No. 10 North Carolina and No. 14 Miami as the teams to erhouse league in late July, a move and Oklahoma depart. If Texas beat in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Divi- that rocked college sports and put and Oklahoma wanted to leave the sion. the Big 12’s future in doubt. Big 12 before 2025, it could cost the They will now. The Longhorns and Sooners schools tens of millions of dollars to Braxton Burmeister ran for a touchdown and threw have said they will honor their cur- buy out the grant of media rights for another and Virginia Tech made Sam Howell look rent contracts with the Big 12 and agreements members have with pedestrian in a 17-10 victory over North Carolina on do not plan to join the SEC until the conference. Friday night in the opener for both teams. 2025, when the conference’s cur- Burmeister scored on a 4-yard run and found James rent television rights contracts AP sports writer Stephen Hawkins in Fort Worth, Mitchell for an 11-yard scoring strike as the Hokies with ESPN and Fox run out. Texas, contributed to this report. built a 14-0 lead they took into halftime. The defense did the rest, sacking Howell six times and intercepting three passes. “We kept putting them back out there in the second half,” Hokies coach Justin Fuente said about the de- fense, which allowed 354 yards. “We couldn’t put the game away but the defense continued to rise to the oc- casion.” They struggled to put the game away in the second North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell is sacked half until the final minute when they chased Howell by Virginia Tech’s Chamarri Conner. from the pocket at the Virginia Tech 40 and he tried to find a teammate while defensive end Jordan Williams season ranking since 1997, had the ball for just 9:11 in held him by an ankle. the first half and only avoided being down by more be- Howell, who’d thrown eight touchdown passes in cause Keshaun King fumbled the ball away at the Tar two prior games against Virginia Tech, whirled to get Heels 9. away, then threw right to Chamarri Conner. “Obviously, now the shine’s off and the rating sure The play was reviewed, and when the officials an- doesn’t matter tonight,” Tar Heels coach Mack Brown nounced that it was an interception, the sellout crowd said. “We were overrated with the way we played.” at Lane Stadium erupted with relief. The Hokies dominated the clock in the first half, Many fans joined the team in celebration on the slowing things down to avoid the kind of shootout they MARK HUMPHREY/AP field after the game, which marked the first time since had with UNC last season. In that one, the Tar Heels Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell watches from the sideline during a 2019 that fan attendance was not limited. rolled up 656 yards and beat a virus and injury-deci- game against Memphis in 2019. Cincinnati is expected to join the Big The Tar Heels, who arrived with their highest pre- mated defense 56-45. 12 along with BYU, Houston and Central Florida. PAGE 24 • STARS AND STRIPES • Sunday, September 5, 2021 Uncertain future SPORTS Osaka contemplating time away after third-round loss ›› US Open, Page 22

WRESTLING Grappling with fame US gold medalist Steveson having fun as he considers his next career move BY CLIFF BRUNT Associated Press ven an Olympic gold medalist has limits. American wrestler Gable Steveson has been on the go since his dramatic last-sec- Eond victory in the freestyle heavyweight final put him at the top of the podium in Tokyo. He blew the Gjallarhorn at a Minnesota Vikings presea- son game, attended a Bellator MMA event and showed up at World Wrestling Entertainment’s SummerSlam, stepping into the ring to celebrate bringing home the gold in front of more than 50,000 adoring fans. He’s living it up as he contemplates his next move. “It’s very new and something different that I haven’t experienced, but I think I’m taking it very well and I’m staying the course how I should be,” he said. Even for a 21-year-old who seeming- ly has the world by the tail, being Ga- ble Steveson can be overwhelming. Reality hit when he became so busy that he opted out of the World Championships in Oslo. “It was actually really hard, to be honest, just because we planned on going way before we got to Tokyo,” he said. “I was hoping that I was going to get a medal in Tokyo and I ended up with the gold. And so we planned on going and me and my coaches talked about it. And then when we won the gold and when I got home, it was just like I just got hit with a bunch of stuff that I had to do.” He also couldn’t find time to meet with UFC presi- dent Dana White while in Las Vegas for Summer- Slam. “This story came out where it was like me kind of like ditching him,” Steveson said. “When I got to Ve- gas for SummerSlam, I was just on the go all day and I had no time to see him. So I didn’t ditch him. We’ll connect soon. And I’m looking forward to that day.”

SEE GRAPPLING ON PAGE 22

Gable Steveson has been fielding offers from organizations across the combat sports spectrum since winning gold for the United States last month at the Tokyo Olympics. AP photo

Sources: Big 12 moving to expand, add four teams ›› College football, Page 23