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Volume 79 Edition 168 ©SS 2020 WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 9, 2020 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas 2 generals among 14 disciplined at Fort Hood

BY COREY DICKSTEIN AND ROSE L. THAYER Stars and Stripes WASHINGTON — Army Secre- tary Ryan McCarthy said Tuesday that he had relieved or suspended 14 Army leaders at Fort Hood in- cluding a two-star general as a re- sult of a probe into the command climate at the Texas installation launched amid a rash of deaths among soldiers. “I have determined the issues at Fort Hood are directly related to leadership failures,” McCarthy said at the Pentagon. “Leaders drive culture, and are responsible for everything the unit does or does not happen to do. I am grav- ely disappointed that leaders failed to effectively create a cli- mate that treated all soldiers with dignity and respect.” Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt was the highest ranking soldier fired for his role in the Fort Hood prob- lems. The leaders of the Fort Hood-based 3rd Cavalry Re- PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AP giment, its commander Col. Ralph Then-U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Lloyd Austin III testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2015. Overland and top enlisted soldier Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Knapp, were also fired, McCarthy said. The Army secretary said he has also suspended the leaders of Fort Nominee set to make history Hood’s 1st Cavalry Division — Maj. Gen. Jeff Broadwater and BY COREY DICKSTEIN Austin’s name only surfaced as a candidate Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Ken- Stars and Stripes Biden expected to name last week, as former Pentagon policy chief Mi- ny. WASHINGTON — Retired Army Gen. retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin chèle Flournoy, long-expected to be Biden’s Efflandt served as the base Lloyd Austin, a former commander for U.S. Pentagon pick, faced increased opposition commander in the absence of its Central Command, will be nominated to serve as first Black Pentagon chief from the Democratic Party’s left wing over deployed top general, Lt. Gen. Pat as President-elect Joe Biden’s defense secre- her ties to the defense industry and hawkish White. Efflandt was supposed to tary, according to news reports late Monday. positions on conflicts in Afghanistan and Libya move to Fort Bliss, Texas, during Austin, 67, would become the first Black Austin retired in 2016. during her time in former President Barack the summer and serve as com- Pentagon leader if he is confirmed by the Sen- Biden offered Austin the job on Sunday, The Obama’s administration. mander of the 1st Armored Divi- ate. But his nomination would require Con- Associated Press reported, citing four un- As defense secretary, Austin would bring sion. But he was replaced and re- gress to grant a rarely issued waiver of the re- named sources. Biden told reporters Monday with him more than 40 years of experience in quirement that defense secretaries be at least that he expected to make an official announce- SEE DISCIPLINED ON PAGE 5 seven years removed from military service. ment about the defense secretary job Friday. SEE NOMINEE ON PAGE 5 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER Uber sells robot-vehicle division amid decline EXCHANGE RATES

Military rates So. Korea (Won) 1,086.37 Associated Press Dara Khosrowshahi will join Aur- Urmson said. Switzerland (Franc) 0.8887 Euro costs (Dec. 9) $1.18 Thailand (Baht) 30.05 SAN RAMON, Calif. — Uber is ora’s board of directors. Uber will not have exclusive Dollar buys (Dec. 9) 0.8043 Turkey (New Lira) 7.8305 British pound (Dec. 9) $1.30 selling off its autonomous vehicles After the transaction, Aurora rights as a ride-hailing company Japanese yen (Dec. 9) 102.00 (Military exchange rates are those available development arm as the ride-hail- will be worth $10 billion and Uber to Aurora’s technology, but the South Korean won (Dec. 9) 1,057.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ ing company slims down after its will hold a 26% stake in the compa- two will have a “preferred rela- many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain (Dinar) 0.3770 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ revenues were pummeled by the ny, Aurora CEO Chris Urmson tionship,” Urmson said. Britain (Pound) 1.3324 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2791 your local military banking facility. Commercial coronavirus pandemic. said in an interview. San Francisco-based Uber will China (Yuan) 6.5314 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.1384 Self-driving vehicle technology “Our first product will be in lose a critical piece of its company Egypt (Pound) 15.6812 when buying currency. All figures are foreign company Aurora will acquire the trucking and freight, but we look after the pandemic cut into its fi- Euro 0.8247 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7510 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ employees and technology behind forward to taking this great team nances by suppressing demand Hungary (Forint) 296.74 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2445 Uber’s Advanced Technologies that we have and accelerating that for shared rides. Its path to profit- Japan (Yen) 104.12 INTEREST RATES Group in an stock transaction, the while continuing working on light ability has often been linked with Kuwait (Dinar) 0.3045 Norway (Krone) 8.7470 Prime rate 3.25 companies said Monday. vehicles and ride-haling, and we’ll its plans to deploy autonomous ve- Philippines (Peso) 48.20 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.25 Poland (Zloty) 3.68 Federal funds market rate 0.09 Uber will also invest $400 mil- ultimately see our vehicles de- hicles and reduce the high cost of Saudi Arab (Riyal) 3.7518 3­month bill 0.08 lion into Aurora, and Uber’s CEO ploying on the Uber network,” paying drivers. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3371 30­year bond 1.69 WEATHER OUTLOOK WEDNESDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY IN EUROPE THURSDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 40/35

Kabul Seoul 49/32 76/59 Baghdad 64/47 Tokyo Drawsko Osan Kandahar Mildenhall/ 42/34 51/41 48/39 Pomorskie Busan Lakenheath 34/30 42/38 49/34 Iwakuni Kuwait City 57/51 Bahrain Brussels Zagan Sasebo 66/54 71/67 Ramstein 40/34 56/46 Guam 39/33 35/30 85/81 Riyadh Lajes, 74/46 Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 65/61 34/30 72/59 Aviano/ 42/36 Vicenza 42/38

Naples 55/51 Okinawa Morón 74/70 54/52 Sigonella Rota 57/50 The weather is provided by the Djibouti 59/53 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 84/72 62/57 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 11 Classified ...... 13 Comics ...... 16 Crossword ...... 16 Faces ...... 18 Opinion ...... 14 Sports ...... 20-24 Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY Air Force postpones fitness tests until April BY ERICA EARL postponed airmen’s fitness tests make sense to risk your life for The physical assessment will that leaders will take the appropri- Stars and Stripes until Jan. 1, 2021, and said it would something that ultimately doesn’t still consist of a 1½ -mile run, and ate steps to keep their Airmen safe The Air Force postponed its forgo the height, weight and waist affect your work output when you one minute each of pushups and while making every effort to pro- physical fitness assessments until measurements. can still work out in your free sit-ups. Airmen will receive auto- vide fitness options during the April 2021, due to a record-break- On Monday, it said the waist time.” matic credit for the waist mea- pandemic.” ing surge in U.S. coronavirus measurements are gone for good, COVID-19 is the respiratory surement until it’s removed from The Navy last month delayed cases, and will do away perma- but height and weight measure- disease caused by the coronavi- the online scoring system, accord- fitness tests for sailors until nently with waist measurements, ments will resume in October rus. ing to the Air Force. March. the service announced Monday. 2021. Commanders may delay official In the interim, the service ex- The Marine Corps on Friday This is the third time the Air Senior Airman Justin Geter, fitness assessments beyond April pects its members to stay fit on suspended combat fitness tests Force has pushed back its fitness stationed at Langley Air Force 2021 based on mandates by local their own. until January, with the exception testing since the pandemic began Base, Va., said Tuesday he feels public health officials, such as “We trust that our Airmen un- of recruits in boot camp or Ma- in March. The Navy and Marine safer knowing the Air Force is de- closed fitness centers and state- derstand the standard of good rines needing a test for training Corps also recently postponed laying the tests. wide restrictions on gatherings. physical health practices and we such as Sniper School or Officer their fitness tests, citing restric- “I personally have people in my The new testing date and elim- are all finding innovative ways to Candidate School. tions on gatherings due to the pan- workplace who have tested posi- ination of the waist measurement stay fit,” Air Force Chief of Staff demic. tive for COVID,” Geter said via also applies to the Space Force, ac- Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. said in [email protected] The Air Force in September Facebook Messenger. “It doesn’t cording to the press release. the press release. “We also trust Twitter: @ThisEarlGirl Marine combat engineer adapts runway repair kits

BY JAMES BOLINGER Stars and Stripes MARINE CORPS AIR STA- TION IWAKUNI, Japan — First Lt. Christian Cullen knew almost immediately that five 20-foot-long shipping containers holding $3.5 million worth of new runway re- pair equipment would move nei- ther quickly nor easily. In other words, it did not fit the mission assigned Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 to repair runways damaged by missile strikes or aerial bombardments, often unimproved runways used by Marine aviators in places close to the fight. To move all that new equipment The Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 combat engineer platoon at would take at least one C-17 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, uses the medium airfield Globemaster, or multiple C-130 damage repair kit to fix runways. Hercules airlifters, the Marines’ workhouse. That would not do. ship cruise missiles and F-35B The C-130 that delivers the re- So Cullen, a Mustang, meaning Lightning II fighters there. pair team can land on expedition- he’s a prior enlisted Marine, fig- Hence, the need to rapidly and ary or unimproved runways, but ured out how to break down all easily deploy a runway repair kit. jet engines can be damaged by de- that gear, including a 20-foot con- But the five-container kit is too bris sucked through an intake. crete mixing trailer, and repack it large to be moved quickly and re- The medium kit includes all the so it fit into a single C-130. His quires an entire combat engineer equipment from one 20-foot ship- squadron commander, Lt. Col. platoon, about 20 Marines, to em- ping container and a compact Jerry Godfrey, took note of his ac- ploy. track loader with optional attach- complishment. The full complement of gear is ments, he said. “We are excited about 1st Lt. meant for repair and maintenance “This kit allows us to conduct PHOTOS BY JAMES BOLINGERr/Stars and Stripes Cullen’s innovative ideas regard- of semi-permanent airfields, such expedient repairs to runway sur- A combat engineer from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 uses a ing employment of our airfield as those in Iraq and Afghanistan faces, specifically crater and spall hammer drill to secure a fiberglass panel to a concrete pad to cover damage repair kits,” Godfrey where the U.S. military has been damage,” Cullen said. Spall dam- up damage from a simulated missile strike during an exercise at wrote Dec. 4 in an email to Stars for two decades. age is small holes or chunks blown Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, in October. and Stripes. “His forward think- Cullen started to reconfigure out of a runway. “The only thing ing and creativity will allow us to the equipment in August. Using the heavy kit can do, which this said. When the panels are bolted to tial part of Marine air, said the op- navigate the EABO environment additional equipment, he resized cannot, is permanent repairs.” the cement, they prevent debris erations officer at Marine Wing more efficiently in the future.” the one kit into three: small, medi- The 20-foot shipping container from damaging fighter jets like Support Squadron 171. EABO, for Expeditionary Ad- um and large, each designed for is too large to fit on a C-130 and be the F-35B Lighting II or F-18 “Our ability to ‘go where the vanced Base Operations, is a rela- particular jobs in specific places. unloaded without heavy equip- Hornet that are flown by Marine planes go’ continues to be the tively new doctrine in the Marine The small kit fits into one ship- ment, so Cullen said the Marines Aircraft Group 12, the parent unit linchpin to support expeditionary Corps, one created to meet the ping container 8-feet long by 5- simply unload it and take the indi- of Cullen’s platoon. operations,” Maj. Milton Rehbein challenge presented by an ex- feet wide and 7-feet tall. It comes vidual supplies and equipment The medium-sized kit comes said in an email Nov. 24. “Without panding China on land and at sea. with hand tools, a concrete saw, aboard a C-130. with rapid-fill concrete, a variety aviation ground support, aircraft The concept entails, among other buckets of quick-setting concrete The medium kit includes rein- of hand tools, concrete saws and a cannot remain in the fight in a for- things, distributing bases in aus- mix and a generator. With it, five forced fiberglass panels, which generator. The equipment lacks ward deployed environment.” tere environments within range of Marines can repair small craters can quickly cover up bomb craters the glamour of a fifth-generation an adversary’s weaponry and po- in a runway, making it safe for after they have been refilled with fighter and the work is down to [email protected] sitioning U.S. weapons like anti- fighter jets to operate. rubble and compacted, Cullen earth, but the mission is an essen- Twitter: @bolingerj2004 PAGE 4 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 MILITARY Mideast troop pullouts raise fears about Iranian attacks

Associated Press fense official said at the time that said the official, may cause Iran WASHINGTON — As the Pen- the decision would ensure that or the militias to rethink a pos- tagon pulls troops out of the Mid- American troops could deter any sible attack. dle East in the coming weeks, un- adversary from taking action The Pentagon is mindful of the der orders from President Do- against U.S. forces. No timeline impact of the extended deploy- nald Trump, U.S. military leaders was given, but the U.S. military ment on the Nimitz sailors and on are working to find other ways to official speaking Monday made it the Navy’s plan for the ship’s deter potential attacks by Iran clear that the change is open-end- maintenance, said the military of- and its proxies, and to counter ar- ed, and it’s not clear when the ficial, who spoke to a small num- guments that America is aban- ship’s crew will return home. ber of reporters on condition of doning the region. The potential Iranian threat anonymity to discuss ongoing A senior U.S. military official has become an increasing con- troop deliberations. JON GAMBRELL/AP with knowledge of the region said cern in recent weeks following The Pentagon announced last A U.S. MH­60 Seahawk helicopter flies over Iranian Revolutionary Monday that Iran may try to take the killing of Iranian nuclear sci- month that the U.S. will reduce Guard patrol boats in the Strait of Hormuz in 2018. The withdrawal of advantage of America’s troop entist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Iran troop levels in Iraq and Afghan- U.S. troops in the Mideast is raising concerns about the possibility of withdrawals from Iraq and Af- has blamed the death on Israel, istan by mid-January, asserting Iranian attacks. ghanistan, and the planned de- which has been suspected in pre- that the decision fulfills Trump’s parture of the aircraft carrier vious killings of Iranian nuclear pledge to bring forces home from Trump’s troop withdrawal de- McKenzie told the sailors: USS Nimitz from the Persian scientists. U.S. officials are also America’s long wars. Under the cision got a cool reception from “You’re here because we don’t Gulf. worried about a possible Iranian accelerated pullout, the U.S. will Republican lawmakers and al- want a war with Iran and nothing The official said as a result mil- retaliatory strike on the first an- cut the number of troops in Af- lies, who warned of the dangers makes a potential adversary itary leaders have determined niversary of the U.S. airstrike ghanistan from more than 4,500 of reducing forces before security think twice about war than the that based on the security situa- that killed Iran’s top general, to 2,500, and in Iraq from about conditions are right. And it came presence of an aircraft carrier tion in the region, the Nimitz Qassem Soleimani, and senior 3,000 to 2,500. despite arguments from senior and the strike group that comes must remain there now and “for Iraqi militia leaders near Bagh- Postponing the return of the Ni- military officials who favor a with it.” some time to come.” In addition, dad’s airport in early January. mitz, however, will keep between slower pullout to preserve hard- Despite widespread demands the official said an additional The military official said the 5,000-7,000 sailors and Marines fought gains. for U.S. Navy ships in other parts fighter jet squadron may also be U.S. is aware of Iranian attack in the Middle East, likely into Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, of the world, McKenzie request- sent to the region, if needed. planning and threats, and that next year. Other ships in the Ni- top U.S. commander for the Mid- ed and received a much larger The Nimitz left the Gulf region some are more mature, while oth- mitz strike group may remain dle East, has long argued for a than usual naval presence in the and was set to begin heading ers are aspirational. A key worry, with the carrier. consistent aircraft carrier pres- Middle East region throughout home. But the ship was ordered the official said, is that Iranian- The military official said that ence in the Gulf region to deter the early part of this year. But to return last week to provide ad- backed militias in Iraq may be the Pentagon will look at other Iran. over time, the numbers have de- ditional security while the troop willing to act even without the ways to make up for the loss of Visiting the aircraft carrier clined, in recognition of the Pen- withdrawals from Iraq and Af- blessings or direction of Tehran. the Nimitz when the carrier does USS Harry S. Truman in the tagon’s effort to put more empha- ghanistan continue. A U.S. de- The presence of the Nimitz, leave the region. North Arabian Sea in February, sis on China and the Indo-Pacific. In a first, Black woman to lead Europe Army reserve command BY JOHN VANDIVER nel spread out woman to do so,” said Maj. Gen. U.S. European Command. deputy commanding general of Stars and Stripes across nearly 20 Chris Mohan, head of the Kaiser- Williams replaces Brig. Gen. the 412th Theater Engineer Com- Brig. Gen. Wanda N. Williams countries, U.S. slautern-based 21st Theater Sus- Michael Harvey, who was re- mand headquartered in Vicks- assumed leadership of the Kai- Army Europe tainment Command. moved from the post in June after burg, Miss., and deployments in serslautern-based 7th Mission and Africa said Williams will also serve as dep- coming under investigation for a support of Operation Desert Support Command on Tuesday, in a statement. uty commander of the 21st TSC, matter that did not involve crimi- Shield/Storm and Operation En- becoming the first Black woman “It is a special which is responsible for ensuring nal activity or safety, the service during Freedom. to serve in a job that also makes day in Army Re- Army units are supplied for mis- said at the time. The Army never In her civilian career, she her deputy commander of Army serve history, sions stretching from the Baltic provided details on the circum- works as an accountant for the logistics efforts in Germany. Williams because not only states and Poland down to Italy stances surrounding Harvey’s re- Securities and Exchange Com- Williams, one of only three will Brig. Gen. and parts of Africa. moval. mission in Atlanta, the Army in Black women now serving as a Williams be the first woman to The 7th MSC serves as the Ar- Williams brings more than 33 Europe said. general officer in the U.S. Army serve as Commander of the 7th my’s forward-based reserve years of active and reserve mil-

Reserve, will lead more than Mission Support Command, she headquarters in Europe and pro- itary service to the position. [email protected] 1,000 soldiers and civilian person- will be the first African-American vides soldiers to units supporting Her prior assignments include Twitter: @john_vandiver  Chuck Yeager, first pilot to break the sound barrier, dies at 97 Associated Press passed just before 9pm ET. An in- ‘You don’t concentrate on risks. Test Center at Edwards. morrow, it won’t be with a frown Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. credible life well lived, America’s You concentrate on results. No Yeager, from a small town in the on my face. I’ve had a ball.” Charles “Chuck” Yeager, the greatest Pilot, & a legacy of risk is too great hills of West Virginia, flew for On Oct. 14, 1947, Yeager, then a World War II fighter pilot ace and strength, adventure, & patriotism to prevent the more than 60 years, including pi- 24-year-old captain, pushed a Bell quintessential test pilot who will be remembered forever.” necessary job loting an X-15 to near 1,000 mph at X-1 rocket plane past 660 mph to showed he had the “right stuff” Yeager’s death is “a tremen- from getting Edwards in October 2002 at age 79. break the sound barrier, at the time when in 1947 he became the first dous loss to our nation,” NASA Ad- done,’ ” Briden- “Living to a ripe old age is not an a daunting aviation milestone. person to fly faster than sound, has ministrator Jim Bridenstine said stine said. end in itself. The trick is to enjoy Sixty-five years later to the min- died. He was 97. in a statement. He was “the the years remaining,” he said in ute, on Oct. 14, 2012, Yeager com- Yeager died Monday, his wife, “Gen. Yeager’s pioneering and most righteous “Yeager: An Autobiography.” memorated the feat, flying in the Victoria Yeager, said on his Twit- innovative spirit advanced Amer- of all those with “I haven’t yet done everything, back seat of an F-15 Eagle as it Yeager ter account. “It is w/ profound sor- ica’s abilities in the sky and set our the right stuff,” but by the time I’m finished, I broke the sound barrier at more row, I must tell you that my life nation’s dreams soaring into the said Maj. Gen. Curtis Bedke, com- won’t have missed much,” he than 30,000 feet above California’s love General Chuck Yeager jet age and the space age. He said, mander of the Air Force Flight wrote. “If I auger in (crash) to- Mojave Desert. Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 5 MILITARY Nominee: Austin has extensive Mideast experience FROM PAGE 1 threat. He also oversaw early form. But the Pentagon would be contractor. uniform. He worked closely with American attempts to train Syrian the wrong place for him to do it,” If confirmed, Austin will take Biden when the president-elect rebels to fight ISIS. he wrote. the reins of a Pentagon already in was vice president and the Obama Austin has been retired from Austin could face another hur- a transition, following the post- administration’s point person for the military for less than five dle on Capitol Hill, where in a election ouster of former Defense Iraq, where Austin has extensive years, giving him an extra hurdle high-profile 2015 hearing he was Secretary Mark Esper byTrump experience, including as the U.S. to overcome for confirmation as sharply criticized by the late Sen. on Nov. 9. Esper, who was top commander there. defense secretary. Like Jim Mat- John McCain, R-Ariz., who was Trump’s second confirmed de- A U.S. Military Academy at tis, President Donald Trump’s the chairman of the Senate Armed fense secretary, was fired via West Point, N.Y., graduate in first defense secretary, Austin Services Committee. tweet. The outgoing president re- 1975, Austin commanded infantry would need Congress to approve a McCain rebuked Austin for his placed him with the acting De- units from platoons up and led sol- waiver for him to serve as the De- testimony on the battle against fense Secretary Christopher Mill- diers in combat in Iraq and Af- fense Department’s top civilian, JOE GROMELSKi/Stars and Stripes ISIS, where the general an- er, a retired Army Special Forces ghanistan. As a general, he com- because law requires retired offi- Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, then nounced U.S. troops were making officer and the third acting secre- manded the 10th Mountain Divi- cers wait seven years before as- commander of the U.S. Central progress, while admitting a $500 tary during the last four years un- sion, the XVIII Airborne Corps suming top civilian Pentagon Command, in 2015. million program to train Syrian der Trump. and, in September 2010, Obama jobs. rebels to fight ISIS had produced Austin would come into the role entrusted him with overseeing the That 1947 law was intended to is purpose-built to ensure civilian only “four or five” prepared fight- just days after the United States is U.S. pullout of some 50,000 troops ensure civilian control of the mil- oversight of the military,” she ers. “I have been a member of this expected to have completed from Iraq. Despite recommend- itary. It has been granted only wrote. “That is why it requires a committee for more than 30 drawdowns in Afghanistan and ing against the full withdrawal, twice, with Mattis and George waiver from the House and Sen- years, and I have never heard tes- Iraq to 2,500 troops in each of according to a 2016 Washington Marshall, a former five-star Army ate to put a recently retired mil- timony like this,” McCain told those nations, where the U.S. mil- Post story, Austin led the efforts to general who received one in 1950 itary officer in the job.” Austin. “I have never seen a hear- itary’s future involvement is un- leave Iraq by December 2011, and to serve as defense secretary for Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a re- ing that is as divorced from the re- certain. Miller announced Nov. 17 was one of the last American ser- former President Harry Truman tired Air Force brigadier general, ality of every outside expert and that Trump had directed the pre- vice members to exit that country. during the Korean War. said he plans to support a waiver what you are saying.” inauguration drawdowns, about Earlier in Iraq, Austin was hon- Mattis, who like Austin retired for Austin to serve as the next But Biden chose Austin amidst one week after he stepped into the ored for valor as a one-star, re- from the military after leading Pentagon leader. news reports that he was under temporary role. ceiving a Silver Star — the na- CENTCOM, was easily granted “It does not bother me to have a pressure to name the first Black The new defense secretary tion’s third highest medal for bat- the waiver and confirmed 98-1 by retired general be the secretary of defense secretary, instead of his would also be faced with making tlefield heroics — for actions the Senate just hours after Trump defense. He is retired, so he’s now long-expected nominee Flournoy. quick decisions about the future while leading 3rd Infantry Divi- was sworn into office Jan. 20, a civilian. It’s still civilian control She would have been the first fe- of U.S. forces in those countries. sion troops in their charge toward 2017. of the military … I think Gen. Aus- male Pentagon leader. Biden has signaled he intends to Baghdad during the 2003 inva- It is not clear whether such a tin will bring 41 years of experi- Flournoy was rumored to be retain at least a small counterter- sion. At the end of Austin’s career, waiver would be as easily granted ence into the Pentagon. I think Hillary Clinton’s choice for de- rorism force in Afghanistan. after briefly serving as the Army for Austin, as some members of that’s very good,” Bacon said fense secretary had she won the Austin would also inherit a Pen- vice chief of staff in 2012, he led Congress signaled during Mattis’ Tuesday on C-SPAN. presidency in 2016. But left-wing tagon that has spent recent years CENTCOM, overseeing all U.S. confirmation process they were While Austin is a capable and Democrats called on Biden to prioritizing competition — and military forces and operations unlikely to repeat that action. respected former commander, a nominate a Pentagon leader who potential military clashes — with throughout the Middle East and Among them, Sen. Jack Reed of civilian should be next to lead the is not closely tied to the military power rivals China and Russia Afghanistan. Rhode Island, the ranking Demo- Pentagon, Jim Golby, a former industrial complex, perhaps de- over the threats of international He was at the helm of CENT- crat on the Senate Armed Servic- special adviser to Biden as well as railing Flournoy’s chances. terrorism, its primary focus for COM as Islamic State emerged es Committee, who said such a current Vice President Mike Progressive Reps. Mark Pocan, some two decades. amid civil war in Syria and tore waiver should only be granted Pence, wrote in a The New York D-Wis., and Barbara Lee, D-Cal- He would be charged with over- across the eastern portions of that “once in a generation” and vowed Times opinion piece Monday. if., authored a letter on Nov. 10 to seeing modernization efforts un- country and into western and not to support another. Biden will want to have more ci- Biden urging him not to select a derway meant to increase the U.S. northern Iraq in 2014, capturing a Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., a vilian oversight and possibly a defense secretary who has military’s ability to deter potential mass of land roughly the size of former CIA analyst and top Pen- new vision for the defense budget, worked for a defense contractor. conflict with those rivals, even as the United Kingdom. He then tagon official under Obama, took according to Golby, but having Their letter did not name Flour- some Democrats have recently oversaw the early portions of the to Twitter on Tuesday and wrote another retired general leading noy or any individuals to whom called for major budget reduc- U.S. military’s role in targeting while she has “deep respect” for the Pentagon will not help return they would object. Austin also has tions. ISIS, initially with airstrikes, and Austin, having another retired the department to normal. ties to the defense industry, serv- then as U.S. troops returned to general in a civilian role “just “Gen. Austin is a fine public ing as a board member since 2016 Stars and Stripes reporter Caitlin M. Kenney contributed to this report. Iraq to train and advise Iraqi feels off.” servant, and he may well continue for Raytheon Technologies, the [email protected] forces to fight the new terrorist “The job of secretary of defense his service to the nation out of uni- country’s third largest defense Twitter: @CDicksteinDC Disciplined: Panel urges changes to anti-harassment program

FROM PAGE 1 other soldiers fired or suspended chairman, said Tuesday. “We group to look at making those himself July 1 when approached mained at Fort Hood as the III after the probe because of their have recommended changes to changes by March. The task force by civilian law enforcement in Corps deputy commander for lesser ranks. Those soldiers serve the staffing, structure and imple- will be led by a three-star general. Killeen, the town just outside Fort support while awaiting the results between the squad and battalion mentation of the SHARP program The investigation was triggered Hood. of several ongoing investigations. level and face noncriminal, ad- at Fort Hood, and possibly be- by the death of Spc. Vanessa Guil- Since March, the deaths of five The firings come following a re- ministrative punishments, the Ar- yond, to address deeply dysfunc- len, 20, who disappeared from soldiers assigned to the Army lease of a report from a civilian- my said in a statement. tional norms and regain soldiers’ Fort Hood on April 22 while base have been ruled homicides. led investigation that found Fort McCarthy appointed five civil- trust.” working in an arms room with the The committee found Fort Hood soldiers have a lack of con- ians to investigate the base in July The committee provided nine 3rd Cavalry Regiment’s engineer Hood’s Criminal Investigation fidence in the SHARP program as part of a Fort Hood Investiga- findings and 70 recommendations squadron. Her remains were Command detachment was not that has led to a fear of retaliation tive Review Committee, which af- related to the SHARP program, found June 30 alongside a river prepared to take on such cases. and significant underreporting of ter three months identified the Fort Hood’s Criminal Investiga- about 30 miles from the base. The committee found it to be “un- sexual assault and harassment central Texas base to have a “de- tion Command detachment, mis- Spc. Aaron Robinson, another der-experienced and over-as- cases, particularly within the en- ficient climate” and an “ineffec- sing soldier protocols and the soldier in Guillen’s squadron, signed,” which negatively im- listed ranks. tive implementation” of the base’s crime prevention and pub- killed her with a hammer, then pacted investigations. Fort Hood leadership knew or SHARP program. lic relations efforts. moved her body, according to The five members on the inde- should have known of the high “Soldiers assaulting and ha- McCarthy said he had accepted court documents. A second sus- pendent review committee said risk of harm to female soldiers, rassing other soldiers is contrary all of the investigation’s findings pect, Cecily Aguilar, is in federal Tuesday they conducted more according to the report. to Army values and requires a and would move for the Army to custody and accused of conspir- than 600 interviews with soldiers Army officials said Tuesday dramatic change in culture,” implement its recommendations. acy to tamper with evidence in at Fort Hood and surveyed anoth- that they would not name the nine Chris Swecker, the committee McCarthy said he established a the case. Robinson fatally shot er 31,000 as part of their probe. PAGE 6 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 PACIFIC Pearl Harbor ceremony honors absent vets BY WYATT OLSON After the surprise attack, he Stars and Stripes fought on in the Pacific during FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — For World War II and retired from the the small group of still-living veter- Navy in 1967. ans who survived the Japanese sur- “But for thousands of people, the prise attack of Dec. 7, 1941, the cor- first day of the war was also the last onavirus pandemic did what ex- day they saw of it,” he said. “The treme old age had failed to do. loss of those lives showed us what For the first time, no World War was at stake. At the same time, their II veteran attended the annual courage ignited a spark that rallied commemoration of the attack held Americans all across the country Monday at the Pearl Harbor Vis- and redefined the meaning of ser- itor Center in Honolulu. Only a vice.” handful of officials and service All who fought that war shared members were on hand to conduct one thing in common, he said. the livestreamed memorial mark- “Dec. 7, 1941, changed our lives ing 79 years since the attack. —not just for those of us on the USS The event is normally attended Arizona or at Pearl Harbor, but by more than a dozen veterans who throughout the United States,” he survived the attack, and even more said. “It affected those of us who veterans of the war. served as well as our families, our “To that warrior community that friends, our neighbors.” we fondly refer to as the Greatest Initial plans for the memorial Generation, while you are not here called for a handful of local World physically, I can assure you, you War II veterans to attend the live are here in our hearts, in our ceremony, but that was dropped as thoughts and in our gratitude,” said coronavirus infections have con- Rear Adm. Robert Chadwick, com- tinued unabated in Hawaii, with PHOTOS BY CALEB JONES/AP mander of Navy Region Hawaii, the state roughly average 90 new A sailor plays taps in front of the USS Missouri during a ceremony Monday in Hawaii to mark the during the ceremony. cases a day. anniversary of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. More than 2,300 people died in With no Dec. 7 veterans present the surprise attack, during which in the audience, speakers focused Japanese planes struck all military more broadly on the role of World bases on the island of Oahu, War II veterans and on 2020 mark- prompting America’s entrance in- ing the 75th anniversary of the end to World War II. of the war when Japan officials At its end, 21 Navy vessels were signed the surrender agreement destroyed or damaged — decimat- aboard the USS Missouri in Sep- ing Battleship Row — 200 aircraft tember 1945. were demolished and the island “The veterans who couldn’t be was left reeling. with us today represent the great- The Navy lost 1,999 men, with est generation of all American his- roughly half of them dying aboard tory,” said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mike the USS Arizona, which still lies at Genta, master of ceremonies for the bottom of Pearl Harbor and has the event. “No one before them and become the memorial to the lives no one since has been asked to an- lost that day. The Army lost more swer the call to serve and sacrifice than 200 men. in the way they were between the Only two survivors of the Arizo- years of 1941 and 1945.” na remain living — Lou Conter and “Today, a grateful nation reflects Ken Potts, who both turned 99 this upon those who went above and be- year. yond,” Adm. John Aquilino, com- Conter rarely has missed attend- mander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, said at ing the commemoration in recent the event. “We honor their service, years, and he appeared Monday in we remember their sacrifice and aprerecorded video. we pledge to continue striving for a “Today, I have the honor of intro- better and safer world.” ducing and remembering World

War II veterans both past and pre- [email protected] sent,” Conter said in the video. Twitter: @WyattWOlson A National Park Service official rings a bell from the USS Arizona on Monday in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Tokyo’s virus numbers fall; US military in Japan records 13 patients

BY JOSEPH DITZLER rived at Narita and Haneda inter- Those patients’ situations var- kota reported 21. week because many testing facil- Stars and Stripes national airports near Tokyo; ied: two people affiliated with the The U.S. military in Japan does ities are closed on weekends, ac- TOKYO — The U.S. military in three more were isolated on base Navy and one base employee test- not typically identify patients as cording to NHK. Japan as of 6 p.m. Tuesday report- as close contacts of infected pa- ed positive during contact tracing, service members, Defense De- More than 400 people on aver- ed 13 individuals newly infected tients previously identified, ac- one individual with the Navy was a partment civilian employees or age are infected each day in To- with the coronavirus. cording to the post. recent arrival to Japan, another family members. kyo, according to the seven-day Yokota Air Base, headquarters The remaining patient “was tested positive during a medical Tokyo on Monday announced moving average calculated by the in western Tokyo of U.S. Forces identified and quarantined” by screening and a second base em- 352 newly infected coronavirus metro government. Japan, reported that seven pa- public health authorities on the air ployee tested positive in a local patients, a precipitous drop in dai- All or parts of the Tokyo metro tients tested positive between Fri- base, which provided no further medical facility after experienc- ly case numbers from a record area are off-limits to most U.S. day and Monday. Six were already information. ing symptoms of COVID-19, the high of 584 on Saturday, according military personnel, including ci- quarantined, according to a base Yokosuka Naval Base, home- respiratory disease caused by the to public broadcaster NHK and vilians. Facebook post. port south of Tokyo of the 7th coronavirus. Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Three were tested by Japanese Fleet, reported six new virus pa- Yokosuka reported 27 active pa- data. The number of cases report- [email protected] health authorities when they ar- tients in a Tuesday press release. tients on base Monday, while Yo- ed daily typically falls early in the Twitter: @JosephDitzler Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 7 MILITARY House poised to pass defense bill under the threat of Trump veto

BY KAROUN DEMIRJIAN way. Doing it on the defense bill, The Washington Post airdropping at the last minute is WASHINGTON — The House not the right thing,” Thornberry is poised to pass the annual de- said. “If somebody is going to vote fense authorization bill Tuesday, no on a bill because of what’s not in throwing down the first of two it, that has nothing to do with it ... gauntlets before President Do- that can’t be the standard.” nald Trump, who has threatened If the House is able to secure an- repeatedly to scuttle the $741 bil- other veto-proof majority for the lion legislation. final compromise version, law- The only question is whether makers are hopeful it will set the the bipartisan legislation will earn stage for a similarly decisive vote enough votes to override the presi- in the Senate — and dissuade dent’s promised veto — and Trump from closing out his presi- whether the Senate will follow dency with a veto showdown. suit. Over the summer, both the But if he wants to, Trump still House and Senate passed inde- has the ability to further compli- pendent versions of the defense cate their efforts. Once both bill by veto-proof majorities. chambers of Congress pass the “The stronger the vote, the less bill and send it to the White House, chance of having to deal with a ve- the president has 10 days, not in- to later,” Rep. Mac Thornberry, cluding Sundays, to sign, veto or R-Texas, the top Republican on “pocket veto” the legislation — a the House Armed Services Com- pocket veto being a de facto rejec- mittee, told reporters Monday, tion of the bill by simply refusing adding that GOP lawmakers to sign it. Should Trump decide to should seriously weigh the “con- run out the clock, he could force sequences of a no vote” before sid- Congress to reconvene for an ing with Trump. override vote after Christmas — The legislation is the product of an added impediment in any year, a monthslong negotiation between but especially during a pandemic. the House and Senate that autho- The defense bill must become rizes everything from new initia- law before noon Jan. 3, when the tives to counter China to health new session of Congress begins, or coverage for members of the Na- it will expire along with all re- tional Guard aiding pandemic re- maining unfinished legislation sponse efforts. Yet the bill, which from the last two years. has been cheered by leaders of Facing that calendar, Republi- both parties, was negotiated un- cans have sought to convince der shifting veto threats from the Trump to back off his veto threats. White House that have not been But whether he listens may come rescinded. down to whether he wants to end At first, Trump vehemently ob- his presidency by dealing with jected to the legislation’s mandate Congress gracefully, or go down for the Pentagon to rename mili- fighting. tary installations that commemo- The defense bill contains sever- rate Civil War-era Confederates. al rebukes of Trump’s tenure as In recent days, however, the presi- commander in chief. dent has taken existential issue Among the safeguards it incor- with the fact that the bill does not porates that were inspired by repeal a law shielding technology Trump’s policies are a ban on re- companies from liability for what ducing the level of U.S. troops sta- third parties post to their websites tioned in Germany and South Ko- — an issue unrelated to defense rea without significant justifica- that Trump has sought to make tions, and a prohibition on using about national security. emergency authority to repurpose Trump has taken special inter- more than $100 million of military est in repealing Section 230 of the construction funds for domestic Communications Decency Act as purposes, such as Trump’s border part of his long-running vendetta wall. against Facebook, Twitter and The defense bill is not the only Google, whom he has accused of parting rebuke lawmakers are anti-conservative bias. While Re- contemplating this month. publicans and Democrats in Con- Later this week, a group of sen- gress agree that the law needs re- ators is expected to force votes to tooling, leaders are uniformly op- block the sale of fighter jets, posed to the president’s attempt to drones, missiles and other muni- hold the bill hostage to its inclu- tions to the United Arab Emirates, sion. which the administration an- “It needs to be addressed, but in nounced after Abu Dhabi signed a a different place and in a different peace deal with Israel this fall. PAGE 8 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK FDA posts positive review of vaccine data Associated Press ing its oldest citizens with the Pfizer-BioN- fore recommending whether the vaccine previously reported the shots appear 95% WASHINGTON — Documents released Tech shots. appears safe and effective enough for mil- effective at preventing mild to severe CO- by U.S. regulators Tuesday confirmed that But the U.S. judges experimental vac- lions of Americans. The FDA, which typi- VID-19 disease in a large, ongoing study. Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine cines in a unique way: On Thursday, the cally follows the committee’s advice, is ex- That’s based on the first 170 infections de- was strongly protective against COVID-19 FDA will convene what’s essentially a sci- pected to issue a decision in the days follow- tected. Only eight of the infections were — offering the world’s first detailed look at ence court that will debate — in public and ing the review. If given the green light, the among volunteers given the real vaccine the evidence behind the shots. live-streamed — just how strong the data first recipients would be health care work- while the rest had received a dummy shot. The Food and Drug Administration post- backing the shots really is. ers and nursing home residents according That was measured soon after study par- ed its analysis online even as across the At- A panel of independent scientists will to plans laid out by each state. ticipants got their second dose. Still un- lantic, Britain on Tuesday began vaccinat- pick apart the FDA’s first-pass review be- Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech known is how long that protection lasts. 14 days in the life of quarantined soldiers

BY JENNIFER SVAN force’s operations officer. Stars and Stripes Soldiers lodge in sparse ware- KAISERSLAUTERN, Germa- houses that are fenced-off from ny — Welcome to Germany. Grab the rest of Rhine Ordnance Bar- a cot, have some chow, and don’t racks, with personal devices of- go anywhere. fering their only connection to the That’s the message from U.S. outside world. Army Europe’s quarantine mis- “WhatsApp, Facebook, Insta- sion, called Task Force Willkom- gram, a lot of Netflix” helped Spc. men — German for “Welcome.” Lee Brown, 38, a heavy equip- Unaccompanied, junior enlisted ment operator based at Fort soldiers spend the first two weeks Bragg, N.C., find his “own zone” in Germany bunking inside large during his first few days in quar- warehouses, eating chow hall food antine before heading to Poland in a tent and fighting off boredom. for a monthslong deployment, he The aim of the mission is to pre- said. vent the coronavirus from spread- Brown is one of about 3,000 sol- ing within Army units in Europe, diers who have quarantined at to protect the local community, ROB since May. Most came from JENNIFER H. SVAN/Stars and Stripes and to keep soldiers safe and fit the U.S., which has the highest Soldiers at the Task Force Willkommen quarantine facilities on Rhine Ordnance Barracks in for their jobs, officials said. number of coronavirus infections Kaiserslautern, Germany, wait in line to drop off their laundry last month. And so far, it appears to be and deaths of any country. Many working. of them, including Brown, know Army physical training gear to Fourteen days of quarantine “is someone back home who died of visibly distinguish them from oth- our first line of defense,” against the disease caused by the virus. er soldiers who are further along the virus, said Maj. Selwyn John- In addition to quarantining, in quarantine. son, a spokesman for the 21st Thea- they follow a strict routine of so- They rise at 6:30 a.m., mop and ter Sustainment Command, which cial distancing, wearing face sweep their field latrines in the took charge of the task force this masks and frequent hand-wash- morning, and march in a group to fall from the 7th Mission Support ing. chow three times a day. The only Command, an Army Reserve unit “It feels like a high-speed boys’ other time they can leave quaran- based in Kaiserslautern. camp,” Brown said. “The organi- tine is for a bathroom or smoke The virus has been kept at bay zation, the structure, the disci- break. among troops arriving in Germa- pline.” “It’s long hours, pretty much ny before moving on to their units The prevention routine starts marked by food every couple of elsewhere in Europe, the Army when soldiers arrive in Germany hours, and then a long night with says. and are swabbed at Ramstein Air no food,” said Army Sgt. Evan “We have not had any reports of Base or the civilian airport in Paige, 26, a medic headed to where a soldier has … got to their Frankfurt. Baumholder from Hawaii. unit and caused an outbreak,” They’re issued government lin- But WiFi is free and Paige had a Army Pfc. Cherisse Bishop, foreground, and Sgt. Brithany Joseph said Capt. Sharon Lee, the task ens, assigned a cot, and must wear Kindle to pass the time. An exter- check their devices while resting on their cots inside the quarantine nal battery pack is an essential facilities. quarantine item though, given the lack of outlets, he said. check out magazines, books and tions, “It doesn’t feel like a deploy- If a soldier tests positive when board games. ment,” said Sgt. Chris James, a they arrive but shows no symp- Weights were set up outdoors cavalry scout who left the Army in toms, they’re moved to medical and soldiers were able to visit the 2018 but rejoined this year after isolation on Sembach; if they’re post shoppette, under escort. Sol- the pandemic caused work in his sick, they’re taken to Landstuhl diers also get time to complete field as a solar panel electrician to Regional Medical Center. newcomer training. dry up. If their first test comes back Pfc. Cherisse Bishop, 19, arriv- Twelve days into his quaran- negative, they move to a livelier ing from Fort Bragg, was one of tine, James was waiting for the re- warehouse, where soldiers wear- only two women in the new arrival sults of his second test. A negative ing face masks and staying a safe area earlier this month. She was result would mean he could head distance away from each other headed to Poland once she’d fin- to Grafenwoehr in Bavaria to join were playing video games and ished quarantining. his unit. cards on a recent morning. Being in quarantine. she said, “It’s going by fast,” he said. “It’s Nearby were table tennis and was relaxing. “Not much is ex- a mindset.” computers they could use in an pected of me, just to clean,” she

Washing hands before entering any building at Taskforce activity area run by the USO, said. [email protected] Willkommen, the Army’s quarantine facilities is mandatory. where they could grab snacks or Despite the sparse living condi- Twitter: @stripesktown Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 9 VIRUS OUTBREAK Virus talks snag on liability as Congress preps stopgap aid

Associated Press demeanor, The News & Observer WASHINGTON — Lawmakers reported. She could face a $150 are giving themselves more time fine if she is found guilty. to sort through their end-of-ses- sion business on government Michigan spending and COVID-19 relief, LANSING — Nonpublic schools preparing a one-week stopgap sued Monday after Gov. Gretchen spending bill that would prevent a Whitmer's administration extend- shutdown this weekend. ed a coronavirus order that pre- House floor leader Steny vents in-person instruction at Mi- Hoyer, D-Md., said on Twitter that chigan high schools, saying it vio- the temporary government fund- lates the First Amendment right to ing bill is slated for a vote Wednes- practice religion. day, when it is sure to easily pass. The federal lawsuit, filed in Mi- The development comes as Capi- chigan's Western District, was tol Hill is struggling to figure out brought by a group representing how to deliver long-delayed pan- more than 400 nonpublic schools demic relief, including additional across the state, as well as three help for businesses hard hit by the Catholic high schools and 11 par- pandemic, further unemployment ents. The state health department benefits, funding to distribute CO- lengthened the restriction by 12 JEFF CHIU / AP VID-19 vaccines and funding de- days, through Dec. 20. It took ef- A pedestrian wearing a protective mask walks under a sign posted at The San Francisco Athletic Club amid manded by Democrats for state fect Nov. 18 and also applies to the coronavirus pandemic in San Francisco on Monday. and local governments. public high schools and all colleg- Disagreements flared Monday es and universities. fall's surge in coronavirus cases, some facilities have as many as over one key provision — a pro- The plaintiffs include Lansing Gov. Mark Gordon announced Ohio 100 staff members out with CO- posed liability shield from CO- Catholic High School, Father Ga- Monday. COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike De- VID-19. VID-19-related lawsuits for busi- briel Richard High School in Ann The changes take effect Wine announced Monday that he Decatur Morgan Hospital Pres- nesses, schools and organizations Arbor and Everest Collegiate A- Wednesday and will remain in will extend the statewide curfew ident Kelli Powers said in a Mon- that reopen. cademy in Clarkston. They said place until at least Jan. 8. as Ohio surpassed 7,000 virus-re- day briefing to local news outlets Hoyer had previously told law- they can safely provide face-to- "Too many people have died,” lated deaths. that the north Alabama hospital is makers that this week would prob- face learning and sought an in- Gordon said in a statement. “Sci- “We think the curfew, as well as beginning to struggle with staff- ably be the last of the session, but junction to block enforcement of ence tells us limiting gatherings of the mask order and the enforce- ing, has had to create additional talks are going more slowly than the order. groups and using face coverings ment, have slowed this rate of in- intensive care unit beds and had to hoped on a $1.4 trillion omnibus A spokeswoman said Whitmer's are effective in slowing transmis- crease, but it is still at too high of a borrow two ventilators. spending bill under assembly by office does not comment on pend- sion of this virus. With these ac- level,” DeWine said during a virus senior members of the powerful ing litigation. tions we can avoid taking the more briefing. New Mexico Appropriations committees. The drastic step of closing schools and The seven-day rolling average SANTA FE — New Mexico’s stopgap measure would prevent a Texas businesses.” of daily new cases in Ohio has ris- hospital officials Monday urged government shutdown through AUSTIN — With new cases of Gordon up to now had resisted en over the past two weeks from the public to cancel social visits, Dec. 18. the coronavirus and hospitaliza- ordering face masks amid wide- 7,618 on Nov. 22 to 8,656 on Dec. 6, wash hands and wear masks to re- Three main items of legislation tions spiking in Texas as winter spread resistance to coronavirus according to an Associated Press duce COVID-19 hospitalizations. are at issue in the end-of-session approaches, Gov. Greg Abbott on public health orders in Wyoming. analysis of data provided by The They say the expected delivery agenda: a defense policy bill that Monday launched a program to Some law enforcement officials, COVID Tracking Project. of 17,500 doses of the Pfizer vac- President Donald Trump is provide small businesses with meanwhile, have expressed little The statewide curfew of 10 p.m. cine won’t be a silver bullet for an threatening to veto; the $1.4 tril- rapid tests for their employees. interest in enforcing mask orders to 5 a.m., designated Nov. 17, is set overstretched workforce of doc- lion government-wide spending Abbott said the Texas Division despite their effectiveness in re- to expire Thursday, but DeWine tors, nurses, techs and other hos- bill; and perhaps $900 billion in of Emergency Management will ducing spread of the virus through said it would have to be extended pital staff. long-sought COVID-19 relief. give local chambers of commerce the population. as health experts believe it is help- “It will help them so that they testing supplies that will be allo- ing to marginally flatten the curve feel a little more sure about not North Carolina cated to participating businesses. Colorado in Ohio. bringing this home to their fam- ZEBULON — A woman who au- A similar program for school sys- DENVER — The family that ilies. Will this be a huge increase thorities said organized a concert tems was implemented in Octo- owns a renowned Denver jazz Alabama in our health care force? It will in North Carolina that had nearly ber. club plans to close its doors per- MONTGOMERY — Alabama not,” said University of New Mex- 200 people in attendance was “This effective strategy will manently, partly because of the on Monday set a record of more ico Hospital Chief Medical Officer charged with violating the state’s help us detect and mitigate this vi- impact of the coronavirus pan- than 2,000 COVID-19 patients in Dr. Irene Agostini. limits on mass gatherings during rus while ensuring that Texas re- demic. state hospitals as some facilities The state’s top insurance regu- the coronavirus pandemic. mains safely open for business," El Chapultepec is known as an began to postpone non-emergency lator announced several direc- Deputies responding to a noise said Abbott, who said the tests unpretentious bar where jazz leg- procedures amid staff shortages. tives Monday aimed at safeguard- complaint Sunday night found the were provided by the U.S. Depart- ends have stopped to play for free, There were 2,079 patients in ing access to health insurance, concert at an event venue in Zebu- ment of Health and Human Ser- KCNC-TV reported. state hospitals with COVID-19 — COVID-19 testing and treatment. lon, the Wake County Sheriff’s Of- vices. The club, commonly known as the highest number since the pan- One directive from Insurance fice said in a news release. On Monday, the Texas Depart- “The Pec,” was operated for dec- demic began, according to state Superintendent Russell Toal puts Outdoor gatherings in the state ment of State Health Services re- ades by Jerry Krantz until his 2012 numbers from the Alabama De- a freeze on recent proposals by are limited to 50 people unless the ported 8,712 new confirmed cases death. partment of Public Health. Dr. commercial insurers to exclude event is taking place in a building of the coronavirus and 33 new Krantz's daughter, Angela Don Williamson, the former state coverage for various risks pre- with a seating capacity of 10,000 deaths. Guerrero, has continued running health officer who now heads the sented by COVID-19, as regula- people or has received an exemp- the club. Alabama Hospital Association, tors emphasize the need for “con- tion. Wyoming Music greats Count Basie, Ella said at least three hospitals have sistent and equitable review un- Authorities said Nanci Morales- CHEYENNE— Wyoming will Fitzgerald, Wynton Marsalis, To- begun to postpone non-emergen- der meaningful substantive crite- Gonzales, 20, was the event coor- require face coverings in public ny Bennet, Doc Severinsen and cy procedures amid staff shortag- ria.” dinator. She was charged with indoor spaces, reduce bar and res- Frank Sinatra are among those es. The suspension lasts through participating in an outdoor mass taurant hours and further limit who appeared on the venue’s tiny Williamson said staffing availa- the end of the 2021 regular legisla- gathering, which is a class 2 mis- gathering sizes in response to this stage. bility is a major concern. He said tive session and possibly longer. PAGE 10 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 NATION Safe harbor forces Congress to accept Biden win

Associated Press Missing the deadline won’t de- WASHINGTON — Happy Safe “If a state has prive Wisconsin of its 10 electoral Harbor Day, America. completed its votes. Biden electors still will Other than Wisconsin, every meet in Madison on Monday to state appears to have met a dead- post-election cast their votes and there’s no rea- line in federal law that essentially son to expect that Congress won’t means Congress has to accept the certification by accept them. In any case, Biden electoral votes that will be cast would still have more than the 270 next week and sent to the Capitol Dec. 8, Congress votes he needs even without Wis- for counting on Jan. 6. Those votes consin’s. will elect Joe Biden as the coun- is required to But lawmakers in Washington try’s next president. could theoretically second-guess It’s called a safe harbor provi- accept those the slate of electors from any state sion because it’s a kind of insur- results.” that misses the Dec. 8 deadline, ance policy by which a state can Foley said. lock in its electoral votes by finish- Rebecca Green Already one member of the ing up certification of the results William & Mary House of Representatives, Rep. and any state court legal challeng- ANDREW HARNIK/AP Mo Brooks, R-Ala., has said he will es by a congressionally imposed President­elect Joe Biden speaks about jobs at The Queen theater in sin, where a hearing is scheduled challenge electoral votes for Bi- deadline, which fell on Tuesday Wilmington, Del. for later this week. den on Jan. 6. Brooks would need this year. Like the others, the lawsuit does to object in writing and be joined “What federal law requires is In 2020, that date is Dec. 14. But refused to concede, made unsup- not appear to have much chance of by at least one senator. If that were that if a state has completed its Congress also set another dead- ported claims of fraud and called succeeding, but because it was fil- to happen, both chambers would post-election certification by Dec. line, six days before electors meet, on Republican lawmakers in key ed in accordance with state law debate the objections and vote on 8, Congress is required to accept to insulate state results from being states to appoint electors who procedures for challenging elec- whether to sustain them. those results,” said Rebecca challenged in Congress. would vote for him even after tion results, “it’s looking to me like But unless both houses agreed Green, an election law professor By the end of the day, every those states have certified a Biden Wisconsin is going to miss the safe to the objections, they would fail. at the William & Mary law school state is expected to have made its win. harbor deadline because of that,” The unwillingness of Trump in Williamsburg, Va. election results official, awarding But Trump’s arguments have said Edward Foley, a professor of and his supporters to concede is The Electoral College is a cre- 306 electoral votes to Biden and gone nowhere in court in Arizona, election law at Ohio State Univer- “dangerous because in an electo- ation of the Constitution, but Con- 232 to President Donald Trump. Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, sity’s Moritz School of Law. ral competition, one side wins, one gress sets the date for federal elec- The attention paid to the nor- Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Judge Stephen Simanek, ap- side loses and it’s essential that the tions and, in the case of the presi- mally obscure safe harbor provi- Most of his campaign’s lawsuits in pointed to hear the case, has ac- losing side accepts the winner’s dency, determines when presi- sion is a function of Trump’s un- state courts challenging those Bi- knowledged that the case would victory. What is really being chal- dential electors gather in state relenting efforts to challenge the den victories have been dismis- push the state outside the electoral lenged right now is our capacity to capitals to vote. legitimacy of the election. He has sed, with the exception of Wiscon- vote safe harbor. play by those rules,” Foley said. Health team picks offer Senator seeks glimpse of virus strategy update on missing Associated Press tions in one package, Biden is signaling US contractor WASHINGTON — President-elect that he expects his appointees to work Joe Biden’s choices for his health care together, and not as lords of their own Associated Press team point to a stronger federal role in bureaucratic fiefdoms. WASHINGTON — A Democratic senator is calling the nation’s COVID-19 strategy, restora- “These are not turf-conscious peo- on the State Department to prioritize the return of tion of a guiding stress on science and an ple,” said Drew Altman, CEO of the non- Mark Frerichs, an American contractor believed to emphasis on equitable distribution of partisan Kaiser Family Foundation, a have been taken by a Taliban-linked militant net- vaccines and treatments. clearinghouse for health care informa- JAE C. HONG / AP work in Afghanistan earlier this year. With Monday’s announcement of Cal- tion and analysis. But “it’s up to the (Bi- California Attorney General Xavier The letter from Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois ifornia Attorney General Xavier Becer- den) administration to make it an effec- Becerra talks to reporters in 2018. comes weeks after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ra as his health secretary and a half doz- tive team.” President­elect Joe Biden has picked held what are likely his last meetings with the Tali- en other key appointments, Biden aims The selection of Becerra as health sec- Becerra to be his health secretary. ban and Afghan government negotiators trying to to leave behind the personality dramas retary and businessman Jeff Zients as she said. He’ll “work on COVID and co- hammer out a peace deal. that sometimes flourished under Presi- White House coronavirus coordinator ordinate the assets of the FDA, CDC and It is unclear to what extent Frerichs, who is one of dent Donald Trump. He hopes to return point to a more assertive federal corona- NIH, but he’ll have lots of other things to Duckworth’s constituents, was discussed during the federal response to a more methodi- virus role. do.” Meanwhile “Zients will be the rail- those meetings. cal approach, seeking results by apply- Under Trump, states were sometimes road engineer making sure the trains But in the letter to Pompeo, which was released ing scientific knowledge in what he says left to figure things out themselves, as run on time.” Monday, Duckworth complained that the family has will be a transparent and disciplined when the White House initially called on States are ready for the feds to take on not had any recent, direct communication with U.S. manner. states to test all nursing home residents a more assertive role, she said. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. She requested a call “We are still going to have a federal, without providing an infrastructure, on- “Governors — Republicans and Dem- with Khalilzad before Dec. 23 to “discuss the latest state and local partnership,” comment- ly to have to rectify that omission later. ocrats — are eager to finally have a fed- developments in Mr. Frerichs’ case and how his re- ed Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive di- Zients has made a name for himself eral partner,” she said. “They have felt lease is being factored into negotiations.” rector of the nonprofit American Public rescuing government programs that not only on their own, but unclear about The State Department rejected any suggestion that Health Association. “I just think there is went off course, such as the “Obama- what was coming out of the White the return of Frerichs was not a priority, saying that going to be better guidance from the fed- care” HealthCare.gov website. Becerra House.” “Khalilzad consistently raises Frerichs’s case during eral government and they are going to has experience managing California’s Biden’s selection of infectious disease his foreign travel, including on his current trip.” It work more collaboratively with the attorney general’s office, which is big- expert Dr. Rochelle Walensky to head also said that Roger Carstens, the special presiden- states.” ger than some state governments. the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- tial envoy for hostage affairs inside the State Depart- In a sense, what Biden has is not quite Former Health and Human Services vention, the elevation of Dr. Anthony ment, is in contact with Frerichs’ family. yet a team, but a collection of players Secretary Kathleen Sebelius knows both Fauci to medical adviser and the return The Navy veteran from Lombard, Ill., went mis- drafted for key positions. Some have men from her service in the Obama ad- of Dr. Vivek Murthy as surgeon general sing in Afghanistan in late January and is believed to been working together as members of ministration, and says she does not see are being read in the medical communi- have been taken by members of the Haqqani net- Biden’s coronavirus advisory board. them working at cross purposes. ty as a restoration of the traditionally im- work, a militant group aligned with the Taliban and Others will have to suit up quickly. A Secretary Becerra “can’t get up ev- portant role of science in public health designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the By announcing most of the key posi- ery morning and think only COVID,” emergencies. Obama administration in 2012. Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 11 AMERICAN ROUNDUP

3 years later, dog and owners reunited WHEATON — A whiff of IL her old blanket was enough for Lola: The black Lab was back in her owners’ arms three years after the Michigan dog disappeared on a trip to suburban Chicago. “I feel like I’m in a dream right now,” Debra Mejeur said Satur- day when she and her husband, Steve, were reunited with Lola at DuPage County Animal Services. Lola vanished from a fenced yard in 2017 when the Mejeurs, of Kalamazoo, Mich., were visiting a friend in Elk Grove Village. The couple returned for about a month hoping to find a dog that was specially trained to help De- bra Mejeur in case of a seizure. The Mejeurs posted notices, got help from volunteers and hired a professional pet searcher. No luck. DuPage County authorities got a call last week from a couple in Glendale Heights who had noticed Lola the past few years going into a forest preserve. They had been leaving food for the dog and earned her trust. Masses of shrimp eggs leave visible slick on lake SALT LAKE CITY — UT Tiny shrimp eggs have been showing up in such huge numbers in Utah’s Great Salt Lake that some parts of the lake look covered with an oil slick. DAVE ZAJAC, RECORD­JOURNAL (MERIDEN, CONN.)/AP Cold weather in fall or winter causes the lake’s small brine shrimp to produce the eggs, called Modern menorah cysts. When conditions are right Raizy Kaplan, of Wallingford, attaches an electric menorah to the front door of Chabad of Wallingford, Conn., while preparing for Hanukkah. such as this year, the eggs come to- gether in giant masses. scenes. The trust is looking for THE CENSUS times. Photos from the Great Salt Lake partners to help restore the dete- The wounded man was taken to State Park and Marina show what riorating structure that dates to The age difference between the former Minnestoa Gov. Mark a hospital but was pronounced looks like a swirling, brown slick 1845. 41 Dayton and his new wife. Posting on Facebook, Dayton, 73, dead there a short time later. No on the water at the marina west of The Oldfields property in Gau- said he has wed Ana Orke, 32, one of his gubernatorial campaign staffers in other injuries were reported in the Salt Lake City. tier has been listed as one of the 10 2010. Acknowledging the age gap of more than four decades, Dayton said the encounter, and the names of the Shooting at bonfire most endangered historic places two “realized that the love binding” them “is far deeper and more meaningful would-be robber and the man who in the state, WLOX-TV reported. than the years that separate” them. Dayton, the 40th governor of Minnesota shot him have not been released. leaves 6 wounded The white-columned home sits from 2011 to 2019, says the two ran into each other a couple years ago in Minneapolis and the “rest is happy history.” Fire marshal warns of AUTRYVILLE — A on a bluff overlooking the Missis- holiday decor fire risk NC shooting after a fight at sippi Sound in Gautier. a late-night bonfire in North Car- “The porch was very badly “Extensive damage was sus- before suspending the search. SPRINGFIELD — The Il- olina left six people with non-life- damaged. It needs a new roof. tained to both the tractor and trail- They received help from agencies IL linois State Fire Marshal threatening injuries, authorities Some of the interior floorboards er,” state police said. “Due to the such as the Florida Fish and Wild- is warning holiday revelers about said. were washed out,” Rash said. damage sustained, it was initially life Conservation Commission, the the dangers of home fires posed by The Cumberland County Sher- “We’re looking at complete resto- undetermined if Downs was re- Fort Myers Beach Police, and the holiday decorations. iff’s Office said it was dispatched ration of the property.” strained at the time of the crash. Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Fire Marshal Matt Perez said to a gathering of a large group of Walter Anderson created some Alcohol use was not suspected.” Suspect fatally shot statistics from the National Fire people in Autryville, N.C. of his most significant work while Man is missing after during botched robbery Protection Association indicate An argument between two living at Oldfields. falling from dinner cruise that two out of every five home- males broke into a fight that ended Driver killed in milk PHILADELPHIA — A decoration fires occur because with the shooting, the sheriff’s of- tanker rollover FORT MYERS — The PA botched street robbery decorations are placed too close to fice said. FL U.S. Coast Guard says a outside a Philadelphia pharmacy a heat source. Detectives interviewed several FREMONT — A semi- man went missing after falling in- ended with a security company More than one-third of home people at the scene and continued IN truck hauling milk on the to the water from a dinner-cruise supervisor fatally shooting the fires are started by candles. Perez to investigate. Authorities said one Indiana Toll Road crashed and ship in the Gulf Coast in Florida. would-be robber, authorities said. said residents should be sure to of the shooters has been identi- rolled in the median, killing the The agency said Joel Hender- The attempted robbery oc- extinguish all candles before leav- fied. Michigan driver, police said. son, 37, was not wearing a life curred when a 20-year-old man ing home or retiring for the night. Group seeks to restore The incident occurred in Steu- jacket when he fell from the Capt. tried to steal the car of a 59-year- Perez offered tips for fire safety, Walter Anderson home ben County in northern Indiana. J.P. boat. old man and the victim’s personal including ensuring that decora- The driver was identified as The company J.C. Cruises said belongings, according to city po- tions are flame retardant, keeping GAUTIER — A dona- Robert Downs, 61, of Colon, Mich. Capt J.P. is a 475-passenger pad- lice. The older man yelled for help, lit candles 12 inches away from MS tion has enabled Mis- Approximately 4,000 gallons of dlewheel boat that tours the scenic and the security supervisor —who anything flammable, and replac- sissippi Heritage Trust to buy a milk spilled from the tanker, along Caloosahatchee River in Fort happened to be at the pharmacy to ing light strands that are worn out. former home of artist Walter An- with 100 gallons of diesel fuel. East Myers, Fla. check on a subordinate — respon- derson, known for his stylized and west lanes on the interstate Coast Guard crews searched for ded and fired multiple shots, hit- From The Associated Press paintings of wildlife and coastal were closed for nearly two hours. more than 11 hours in the waters ting the would-be robber three PAGE 12 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 WORLD Ethiopia’s forces shoot at, detain UN staffers in Tigray BY CARA ANNA the process of allowing in hu- constrained ... These people can Associated Press manitarian aid, but the U.N. has no longer be made to wait. Aid NAIROBI, Kenya — Ethiopia’s openly sought unfettered and must not be left at a standstill. security forces shot at and de- neutral access. Crucially, the We have been standing ready to tained U.N. staffers as they tried deal allows aid only in areas un- deliver food, emergency shelter to reach part of the embattled Ti- der Ethiopian government con- and other essential materials for gray region, a senior official said trol. weeks, and we expected this deal YU NAKAJIMA, KYODO NEWS/AP Tuesday, and he blamed them for Ethiopia’s government late last to clear the way.” A small capsule dropped by Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft, housed in trying to reach areas where “they month declared victory in the The U.N. announced the deal a container box after it was retrieved in Australia, arrives at the Japan were not supposed to go.” conflict in the Tigray region with Ethiopia’s government last Aerospace Exploration Agency’s research facility Tuesday. The shooting occurred amid against the Tigray People’s Lib- Wednesday, saying it was signed soaring frustration among hu- eration Front. The government on Nov. 29. manitarians as desperately need- asserts that the fighting has stop- The fighting in the region Capsule with asteroid samples ed aid is still not freely reaching ped, but the TPLF has said fight- erupted Nov. 4 between Ethio- the Tigray region more than a ing continues. pia’s government and the govern- arrives in Japan for research week after the United Nations Food, medicines and other aid ment of the Tigray region follow- Associated Press tion Agency said the capsule, and Ethiopia’s government for some 6 million people — some ing months of rising tensions. TOKYO — Japanese space tightly sealed and carefully stored signed a deal for access. 1 million of them now displaced Since then, aid-laden trucks have agency officials were delighted in a container box, arrived at its The senior official, Redwan — is in the balance. waited at the borders of Tigray, Tuesday by the return of a small research facility in Sagamihara, Hussein, told reporters that the “Regaining access to refugees even as warnings have become capsule containing asteroid soil near Tokyo, for analysis. U.N. employees “broke” two and others in need is urgent and increasingly dire about the lack samples obtained by their Haya- “It’s really like a dream,” said checkpoints and were trying to critical for UNHCR and human- of food, fuel, clean water, cash busa2 spacecraft, and were anx- Yuichi Tsuda, the Hayabusa2 pro- go through a third when they itarian organizations,” the head and other necessities. iously waiting to look inside after ject manager. “After 5.2 billion ki- were fired upon. He said the of the U.N. refugee agency, Fil- “Full access for humanitarian preparations are complete. lometers (3.2 billion miles) of staffers have since been released. ippo Grandi, tweeted Tuesday, actors must be guaranteed,” EU Hayabusa2 dropped the cap- space journey which took six “They were told in some areas amid growing fears about nearly foreign policy chief Josep Borrell sule from space and it landed as years, (the capsule) has returned they were not supposed to move. 100,000 refugees from Eritrea tweeted Tuesday. planned in the Australian Out- and now it’s here with us.” But they indulged themselves in trapped in the conflict. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy back over the weekend. It arrived Mission officials will have to a kind of adventurous expedi- In a separate statement, the Ahmed’s office said Monday that in Japan on Tuesday and will be wait until next week to look inside. tion,” he said. head of the Norwegian Refugee it was working with the U.N. and studied for insights into the ori- “I’m anxious to find out if the The U.N. did not immediately Council, Jan Egeland, said his or- others to extend humanitarian gins of the solar system and life on samples are really inside and how comment. ganization is “deeply concerned assistance “with a well-coordi- Earth. much is there,” mission manager Ethiopia’s government is mak- to find that humanitarian access nated framework led by the fed- The Japan Aerospace Explora- Makoto Yoshikawa said. ing it clear it intends to manage to the region is still significantly eral government.” Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 13 WORLD China condemns US Hong Kong sanctions, Taiwan arms sales Associated Press tee of China’s legislature, which including the arrest of leading gov- BEIJING — China lashed out at passed a sweeping Hong Kong Na- ernment opponents and the expul- the U.S. on Tuesday over new tional Security Law earlier this sion of four opposition members of American sanctions against Chi- year. the Legislative Council. nese officials for their actions in The State Department on Mon- That prompted the rest of the Hong Kong, along with the sale of day said the 14 officials will be opposition bloc to resign en masse, more U.S. military equipment to banned from traveling to the U.S. while Washington leveled sanc- Taiwan, moves touching on two of or accessing the U.S. financial sys- tions at leading figures in both the AP the most sensitive issues in the in- tem over actions in Hong Kong Hong Kong government and relat- A young patient is carried by a man at the hospital in Eluru, Andhra creasingly contentious relation- seen as squelching free speech ed Chinese government depart- Pradesh state, India, on Monday. ship between the nations. and opposition politics. ments. The dispute over Hong The foreign ministry summoned It also announced the approval Kong comes as China is upping Washington’s top diplomat in Chi- of a $280 million sale of advanced military and diplomatic pressure Mystery illness baffles experts na to express “strong indignation military communications equip- on Taiwan, a self-governing island Associated Press Since then, symptoms ranging and strong condemnation.” ment to Taiwan. democracy that Beijing claims as NEW DELHI — Health offi- from nausea and anxiety to loss of The U.S. actions “seriously vio- China passed the National Secu- its own territory, to be annexed by cials and experts are still baffled consciousness have been report- lated the basic norms of interna- rity Law as part of a campaign to force if necessary. by a mysterious illness that has ed in 546 patients admitted to hos- tional relations, seriously inter- impose tighter control and drive Hua demanded the U.S. cancel left over 500 people hospitalized pitals. Many have recovered and fered in China’s domestic politics, foreign political influence from its latest arms sale to Taiwan and and one person dead in the south- returned home, while 148 are still seriously damaged China-U.S. re- Hong Kong, a former British colo- said China would make a “proper ern Indian state of Andhra Pra- being treated, said Dasari Nagar- lations, are arrogant, unreasona- ny that was handed back to China and necessary response.” desh. juna, a government spokesperson. ble and vile,” Vice Foreign Minis- in 1997 with a promise it could re- President Donald Trump’s ad- The illness was first detected Teams of experts from India’s ter Zheng Zeguang was quoted as tain its relatively liberal political, ministration has incensed Beijing Saturday in Eluru, an ancient city top scientific institutes have sug- telling Deputy Chief of Mission legal and economic systems for 50 with 11 separate arms sales and famous for its hand-woven prod- gested different theories. The Robert Forden. years. closer military and political ties ucts. People started convulsing most recent hypothesis is contam- Foreign ministry spokesperson Harsh suppression of months of with the island. without any warning, said Geeta ination of food by pesticides. Hua Chunying also condemned increasingly violent anti-govern- China has responded with Prasadini, the director of public “But nobody knows,” Prasadini the new sanctions leveled against ment protests last year led to un- stepped-up military flights and health. admitted. 14 officials in the standing commit- yielding enforcement of the law, wargames near Taiwan PAGE 14 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 OPINION

Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Marci Hoffman, Europe commander Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander Look for the mavericks, and help them Caroline E. Miller, Europe Business Operations BY KEITH C. BURRIS stand alone. It is not only lonely, it is danger- quaint in much of the profession, especially Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ous. You can get canceled. You can have among the young. your character assassinated. So, we should not be surprised that jour- EDITORIAL red Rogers, when trying to make If you want to be an engaged and in- nalists are even less-trusted than politic- Terry Leonard, Editor sense of 9/11, not only for kids but formed and educated citizen, look for the ians. And that citizens now get their infor- [email protected] also for their parents, reverted to mavericks. I am thinking, in past politics, of mation from the tribes they join. something his mother used to say. people like Rep. Shirley Chisholm, whose The loss of an independent press is a trag- Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor F Mr. Rogers’ mother taught him to “look campaign slogan was a promise and a truth edy for the republic, just as surely as the [email protected] for the helpers.” — “unbought and unbossed.” And of great president of the United States undermining Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content Those seem like grounding words as we mavericks of the Senate, like John McCain the democratic process is a crisis for the re- [email protected] all wrestle with COVID-19 days. and Barry Goldwater. public. How to live, and live well, in a slow- But I am thinking, at this moment, of the When I think of great institutions of learn- Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation [email protected] churning pandemic and a politically divid- secretary of state for the state of Georgia, ing, I think of the New York City schools of ed nation? Brad Raffensperger, who, though a Repub- 100 and 75 years ago; the old City College of Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital Look for the helpers — the first respon- lican officeholder, is willing to stand up to New York (it was free but you had to be able [email protected] ders, and teachers, and sisters and brothers the president and his base and say that Ge- to hack it); the University of Chicago in its of mercy — and help them. orgia had a free and fair election. It has heyday; and West Point. The modern col- BUREAU STAFF And maybe there is a corollary for deal- brought him and his family death threats. lege and university is seldom independent ing with the political divisions: Look for the And he can probably forget about any politi- and unaligned. Students leave school with a Europe/Mideast mavericks. As you try to determine what to cal future in his party. set view of the world, a comfortable blanket Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief [email protected] believe, look for the leaders, the journalists, I am also thinking of a Democratic con- of prejudices. They have all the answers, +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 the academics who seem not to have a per- gressman from Illinois named Dan Lipin- the attitudes, the postures, down cold. Pacific manent side or tribe, or at least can break ski, who lost his seat this year in a primary. The schools where intellectual rigor, in- Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief away from that tribe when something big- He stood against his party on abortion. That tellectual honesty, and mutual respect have [email protected] ger is at stake. is a politically suicidal position if you are a a chance these days (other than the service +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 By something bigger I have in mind ideas Democratic officeholder. academies) are probably small schools that Washington like decency, due process and fair play, re- Lipinski voted with the Democratic Party have embraced rather than shed their reli- Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief spect for evidence, love of country. 87% of the time. It wasn’t enough. gious heritages. [email protected] (+1)(202)886-0033 This is the advice I gave a bright bunch of In journalism, I think of great mavericks If I were advising a college freshman I Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News high school students recently when one of old — like I.F. Stone, and Meg Greenfield would give the same advice I gave the high [email protected] asked: Who can we trust to inform us? and Charles Krauthammer, and Dorothy school student about reading journalism. I can’t point to any one source. Rather, I Day. None of them ever met a cliche he or Be your own curator. Find the great teach- CIRCULATION think each citizen, young or old, has to be his she didn’t slay. They were “unbought and ers — the ones who make you (and them- Mideast or her own curator — of data, information unbossed,” and persons of great intellectual selves) think; the ones who question the un- Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager and commentary. He must ask of every honesty and moral courage. They were ex- questioned assumptions and momentary [email protected] source: Is he (it) fair, informed and open to emplars of the rule, not exceptions to it. orthodoxies. Look for the mavericks. [email protected] change based on research? Once upon a time, virtually all journalists DSN (314)583-9111 That takes a certain amount of courage, strove to be fair and independent. This is Keith C. Burris is editor, vice president and editorial director of Europe because, in this society, it is very hard to now a standard considered dated and Block Newspapers. Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager [email protected] [email protected] +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 Pacific History predicts defense bill veto threat will fail Mari Mori, [email protected] +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 BY CECILY N. ZANDER gram of violent Native American removal, ter three conference committee meetings, Special to The Washington Post build infrastructure and provide data about the Army appropriations bill failed to pass CONTACT US n Tuesday, the House planned to the territory gained in the Mexican Cession. before the end of the legislative session. Washington vote on the annual National De- To do this, Congress consistently allocated The failure to appropriate funds for the tel: (+1)202.886.0003 fense Authorization Act, despite at least 20 percent of the federal budget to Army was unprecedented, and Pierce 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 Oa threat from President Donald the Regular Army, and very few lawmakers called Congress back for a special session. Reader letters Trump to veto the bill unless lawmakers voted against military appropriations. Ultimately, the need to fund the Army out- [email protected] agree to use it to repeal Section 230 of the But in 1856, the country faced a presiden- weighed the politics of the moment, and the Communications Decency Act. That 1996 tial election that would hinge on the issue of House caved. Additional contacts law provides a liability shield protecting popular sovereignty (the right of residents More recently, passing the NDAA and stripes.com/contactus free speech on social media platforms.Sen. in a territory to decide whether to allow military appropriations bills is a routinely OMBUDSMAN James M. Inhofe, R-Okla., the chairman of slavery) and the westward expansion of bipartisan affair in which concerns about the Senate Armed Services Committee, ex- slavery. And this broader battle spilled into military readiness outweigh politics and Ernie Gates plicitly rejected the president’s threat — the debate over funding the Army. temptation to insert extraneous provisions. The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow saying the request has nothing to do with One amendment roiled debate, threaten- Trump’s gambit is like the one House Re- of news and information, reporting any attempts by the the military or the NDAA. Yet Trump has ing to torpedo the entire bill. The new Re- publicans made in 1856, injecting politics military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns refused to back down. publican Party accused Pierce of using his into essential legislation, to hold a federal and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for As wary as Republicans are of crossing executive power to prop up an unconstitu- institution hostage to his political will. But fairness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted by Trump, this is a battle history tells us he will tional proslavery government in Kansas unlike Republicans in 1856, who based their email at [email protected], or by phone at 202.886.0003. lose. Trying to take prominent national se- and of using nearly 500 troops from the objections in a moral argument against the curity legislation hostage over unrelated Regular Army to threaten the free-state leg- expansion of slavery, Trump, who believes Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- matters is problematic because passage is islature at Topeka into dissolving. that social media companies have treated days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday essential. This is true regardless of whether The House of Representatives, which him unfairly, is threatening to veto the final through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals it is a president or lawmakers attempting to was controlled by Republicans, inserted an NDAA of his presidency to protect his own postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send use military legislation to achieve a differ- amendment stipulating that Pierce remove interests. Even Republicans loyal to Trump address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. This newspaper is authorized by the ent objective — as House Republicans all U.S. troops from Kansas and stop using might balk at losing their streak of setting Department of Defense for members of the military services overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are learned in 1856 when they tried, and failed, the Army to enforce legislation promul- defense policy, seeing it as a bad precedent. unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views to hamstring President Franklin Pierce on a gated by the proslavery territorial assemb- At the end of the day, politicians usually of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspa- per, Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official matter tied to slavery in the annual Army ly. The amended bill passed in the House on realize that national defense is too impor- channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to appropriations bill. a wave of Republican support. tant to risk jeopardizing it — and the politi- remote locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in this publication does In the decade before the Civil War, the When the bill arrived in the Senate, con- cal blowback that would come with being not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or Regular Army of the United States received trolled by Democrats, the upper chamber accused of politicizing a bill that provides Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. Products or services advertised shall be made available for unprecedented levels of political support. proposed only one amendment: striking the for American troops — over extraneous pol- purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical In 1855, Congress voted to increase the size proviso that would require Pierce to with- icy. handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of of the national force by four regiments, add- draw the Army from Kansas. Only two Re- the purchaser, user or patron. ing almost 4,000 men for duty in the West, publicans voted for the Senate version of © Stars and Stripes 2020 Zander is a Ph.D. candidate at the Pennsylvania State Uni- where the federal government expected the bill, which passed with the support of 24 versity, where she is writing a dissertation on the 19th-century stripes.com soldiers to protect settlers, carry out a pro- Democrats. But the House balked — and af- U.S. Army and the politics of territorial expansion. Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 15 PAGE 16 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Eugene Sheffer Crossword Frazz Dilbert

ACROSS DOWN 27 Goes bad 1 Aug. follower 1 Urban haze 28 “Zounds!” 4 Martial art 2 Off-white 29 Earring site 8 October 3 Pocket bread 30 Wicked 31 Only

Pearls Before Swine Pearls Before birthstone 4 Waters south 12 Roman 1101 of Borneo 35 Supervised 13 Related 5 Guitar’s kin 38 Christmas tree 14 Pleasing 6 Insult, slangily shimmer 15 Scrap 7 Aware of 40 Clean air org. 16 Clerical attire 8 “Anna Christie” 42 Pouch 18 Tropical fruit playwright 45 Understands 20 Kimono closer 9 Brooch 47 “The Lion 21 “Understood” 10 Do something King” lioness 24 Modify 11 Guitar master 48 Taxi alternative Paul 49 Senate aide Non Sequitur 28 Periodic table listings 17 CEO’s deg. 50 Anderson 32 “Fight Club” 19 Pep Cooper’s actor Jared 22 Letter extras channel 33 Head of st. (Abbr.) 51 “Norma —” 34 Sneeze sound 23 Community spirit 52 Greek vowel 36 Squealer 25 Seabird 53 “Unh-unh” 37 Slightly 26 Coup d’— 54 — -la-la 39 Chem lab fluids 41 Sandwich shops Answer to Previous Puzzle

Candorville 43 Leak out slowly 44 Pester 46 Accumulated, as debt 50 Dinner roll shapes 55 Lawyers’ gp. 56 NBA’s Archibald 57 Skater Lipinski 58 Table support

Carpe Diem 59 Patricia of “Hud” 60 “Pygmalion” writer 61 “All bets — off” Beetle Bailey Bizarro Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 17 PAGE 18 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 FACES Nolan: Warner streaming plan ‘a mess’

BY LINDSEY BAHR its 2021 film slate, includ- Knight” trilogy, “Inception” and “Dun- blockbuster to test the waters opening in Associated Press ing the new “Matrix” mo- kirk.” theaters in early September after they had Christopher Nolan, one of Warner Bros.’ vie, “Dune” and “In the “It’s not right. And it’s not a good busi- been closed for nearly six months because most important filmmakers, has come out Heights” would debut on ness decision,” Nolan said. “It’s all a bit of a of the pandemic. With major markets like strongly against the company’s decision to its streaming service and mess.” Los Angeles and New York closed, domes- debut its films on HBO Max and in theaters in theaters simultaneous- Representatives for Warner Bros. did not tic ticket sales fizzled, and Warner Bros. in 2021. The “Tenet” filmmaker told The ly in the U.S., rattling Hol- immediately respond to request for com- and other studios responded by delaying Associated Press on Monday that it’s not a lywood and resulting in ment. the year’s remaining major films. But in- Nolan good business decision and criticized how doomsday predictions “Tenet,” his time-bending sci-fi thriller ternationally, “Tenet” has made more than the company handled it. about the future of movie theaters. starring John David Washington, is not fol- $300 million. “It’s a unilateral decision that the studio “I’ve never seen everybody so upset lowing suit and heading straight to HBO “That sends a very optimistic message took. They didn’t even tell the people in- about one particular decision,” Nolan said. Max. It is being released on DVD, Blu-ray about when theaters can open, as long as volved,” Nolan said. “You have these great AMC Theaters chief Adam Aron con- and digital Dec. 15. Nolan said he’s “very there are films for them to show, people are filmmakers who worked with passion and demned the move last week, but no in- glad” his film “isn’t caught up in the mess going to come back,” Nolan said. “I think diligence for years on projects that are in- house filmmaker has spoken out on the re- that they’ve made.” everybody in this business completely un- tended to be feature films with fantastic cord until Nolan, one of the studio’s mar- “We will be accessible through Roku and derstands that, long term, people are al- movie stars. And they’ve all now been told quee names. Nolan has worked with War- Amazon Prime and iTunes and be every- ways going to want to go to the movies. I that they’re a loss-leader for a fledgling ner Bros. on every film since 2002’s “In- where all at once for people to enjoy,” No- think that there's a lot of short-term think- streaming service.” somnia” in a profitable and critically lan added. ing going on right now, which is maybe in- The company announced last week that acclaimed run that’s included “The Dark “Tenet” was the first and only major evitable in such a terrible situation.” This week: Virtual ‘Jingle Ball,’ double Streep Associated Press Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertain- ment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.

GRANT POLLARD, INVISION/AP Movies George Clooney was honored Travel may seem closed off Monday by co­stars and right now but how about a cruise colleagues at the annual film with Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest benefit for the Museum of and Candice Bergen? “Let Them Modern Art, held virtually. All Talk,” which debuts Friday on HBO Max, was filmed on an Atlan- Clooney honored tic crossing of the Queen Mary 2, for career, charity the British ocean liner. Directed in a two-week dash by Steven Soder- George Clooney’s co-stars, bergh and scripted by the short- friends and collaborators gath- story writer Deborah Eisenberg, ered virtually to share anecdotes the film — delightful and light de- THE CW/DISNEY+/NBC/AP and praise his contributions as ac- spite its lumbering setting — is This combination photo shows, from left, key art for the “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2020,” “High School tor, director, humanitarian and about an American novelist Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special” and “Saturday Night Live.” colleague. (Streep) given a prize in England, Among those paying tribute to who, refusing to fly, takes the boat daughter (Honor Kneafsey) of a ley, Sarah Uriarte Berry and Ste- and a sneak peek is promised at a Clooney at the Museum of Modern instead and brings along several hunter (Sean Bean) befriends a ven Pasquale. The demos will be season-two musical number, Art’s annual film benefit Monday old friends (Wiest, Bergan) and mythical tribe who walk as wolves available Friday on CD from “Something in the Air.” night were David Letterman, Da- her nephew (Lucas Hedges). by night, a once-unthinkable BroadwayRecords.com and digi- Timothée Chalamet will make vid Oyelowo, Julianna Margulies, If one Streep film wasn’t enough peace becomes possible. It tally from all major digital retail- his debut as host of “Saturday Tilda Swinton, Bradley Cooper for you, she’s again in typically streams on Apple TV+ Friday. ers. Night Live” this weekend, the sec- and many others. fine form in “The Prom,” parody- — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle The Kills are opening up their ond-to-last episode of the year. Clooney joins a group of previ- ing a diva actor in Ryan Murphy’s killer archives. The English- The in-demand actor, an Oscar ous MoMA honorees that includes adaptation of the 2018 Broadway Music American rock duo formed by nominee in 2018 for “Call Me by Martin Scorsese, Tom Hanks, Ju- musical. In the Netflix film, Jon Bon Jovi has already pro- singer Alison Mosshart and guita- Your Name,” gets the honor of in- lianne Moore, Cate Blanchett, streaming Friday, Streep and duced an album this year with rist Jamie Hince on Friday will re- troducing Bruce Springsteen and Quentin Tarantino, Pedro Almo- James Corden play a pair of com- “2020” and the concert film “On a lease “Little Bastards,” a B-sides the E Street Band as they tally dovar and others. MoMA’s annual ically self-centered, awards-ob- Night Like This — Bon Jovi 2020.” and rarities album. The tracks their third appearance as “SNL” film benefit raises funds to bring sessed theater stars. When their But he’s not done: The Rock and date back from the band’s first 7- musical guests. great works of film to the mu- show flops and their careers are Roll Hall of Famer on Monday re- inch singles in 2002 through to The CW’s “iHeartRadio Jingle seum’s collection. This year, teetering, they try to win back pub- leased three holiday cover songs: 2009 and includes the previously Ball 2020,” a 90-minute special amidst the COVID-19 crisis, the lic favor by traveling (with Nicole “Christmas All Over Again,” unreleased demo “Raise Me.” based on the annual concert, will event also benefits Artist Relief, Kidman and Andrew Rannells in “Fairytale of New York” and “If I — AP Entertainment Writer air at 8 p.m. EST Monday, Dec. 14. an emergency initiative support- tow) to small-town Indiana to de- Get Home on Christmas Day,” Mark Kennedy In light of pandemic restrictions, ing artists. fend a high-schooler barred from made famous by Tom Petty and the virtual event will feature art- attending prom with her girl- the Heartbreakers, the Pogues Television ists at home performing their hits Other news friend. and Elvis Presley, respectively. This season’s winner for lengthy along with covers of holiday tunes.
Natalie Desselle Reid, who From the Irish animator Tomm If you’re missing Broadway, the title: “High School Musical: The Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, starred alongside Halle Berry in Moore (“The Secret of Kells,” composing team behind the Tony Musical: The Holiday Special,” Harry Styles and Shawn Mendes the 1997 film “B.A.P.S.” and on the “Song of the Sea,” both Oscar nom- Award-winning musical “Rag- debuting Friday on Disney +. Cast are among those slated for the sitcom “Eve,” has died. She was inated) comes his latest lyrical, time” has something for you. A members including Olivia Rodri- event, which begins 9 p.m. EST 53. A rep for the actor’s family said earthy beauty. “Wolfwalkers,” collection of two previously un- go, Matt Cornett and Sofia Wylie Thursday, Dec. 10, on iHeartMe- she died after a battle with colon which Moore co-directed with heard song cycles by Lynn Ahrens will share holiday memories and dia radio stations, iHeart and The cancer. Ross Stewart, is a hand-drawn folk and Stephen Flaherty is coming perform songs. Joshua Bassett CW apps and CWTV.com. tale set in a medieval village suf- out Friday, featuring performanc- will sing “The Perfect Gift,” which — AP Television Writer From The Associated Press fering wolf attacks. When the es by Marin Mazzie, Jason Danie- he wrote for the upcoming season, Lynn Elber Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 19 PAGE 20 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 SCOREBOARD/SPORTS BRIEFS

COLLEGE BASKETBALL DEALS BRIEFLY AP Men’s Top 25 ryland (4­0) 6; Connecticut (3­0) 6; Xavier Monday’s transactions (6­0) 5; Memphis (3­2) 2; Drake (4­0) 2; BASEBALL The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ Western Kentucky (3­2) 1; SMU (4­0) 1; Major League Baseball college basketball poll, with first­place Kentucky (1­3) 1; Alabama (3­1) 1; Abilene American League votes in parentheses, records through Christian (5­0) 1. BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Claimed RHP Dec. 6, total points based on 25 points for a Ashton Goudeau off waivers from Pitts­ first­place vote through one point for a Monday’s men's scores burgh. Assigned C Austin Wynns outright 25th­place vote and previous ranking: to Norfolk (IL). Michigan cancels EAST — Acquired RHP Record Pts Prv LOS ANGELES ANGELS Hartford 67, Fairfield 54 Raisel Iglesias and cash considerations 1. Gonzaga (54) 3­0 1518 1 UMBC 92, George Washington 81 from Cincinnati in exchange for RHP Noé Ramirez and a player to be named later or 2. Baylor (7) 3­0 1470 2 SOUTH cash considerations. 3. Iowa 3­0 1385 3 Chattanooga 80, Middle Tennessee 70 SEATTLE MARINERS — Agreed to terms Coastal Carolina 78, NC Central 71 with OF Mitch Haniger on a one­year con­ Ohio State game, 4. Michigan St. 5­0 1296 8 tract. Claimed RHP Robert Dugger off 5. Kansas 4­1 1195 7 E. Kentucky 71, Morehead St. 68 East Carolina 88, UNC­Wilmington 78, OT waivers from Miami. 6. Illinois 3­1 1104 5 FAU 79, North Florida 77 TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Claimed RHP Walker Lockett of waivers from Seattle. 7. Houston 4­0 1090 10 Norfolk St. 76, Hampton 64 Richmond 77, Wofford 72 8. Creighton 3­0 1068 9 National League The Citadel 96, Columbia (SC) 57 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Claimed RHP 9. Villanova 4­1 1033 12 Ian Hamilton off waivers from Seattle. cites virus cases MIDWEST 10. Duke 2­1 954 6 WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Claimed Bradley 95, Lewis 62 11. West Virginia 4­1 918 11 RHP Rogelio Armenteros off waivers from SE Missouri 82, Lipscomb 77 Arizona. 12. Tennessee 0­0 767 13 W. Michigan 62, Adrian 42 Associated Press Horseshoe Bay, Texas, from com- FOOTBALL 13. Wisconsin 3­1 750 4 FAR WEST National Football League ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michi- plications of dementia, his daugh- 13. Texas 4­1 750 17 Arizona 96, N. Arizona 53 NFL — Suspended Tennessee Titans DE gan canceled its annual rivalry ter Lesli told The Associated Teair Tart and Cincinnati Bengals S Shawn 15. Virginia Tech 4­0 688 16 CS Bakersfield 94, Bethesda 43 game at Ohio State on Tuesday be- Press. He was 82. 16. North Carolina 3­1 547 14 Oregon 69, E. Washington 52 Williams for one game for violations of un­ UC Santa Barbara 69, Loyola Marymount necessary roughness and unsportsman­ cause of the COVID-19 outbreak Akers coached the Texas Long- 17. Texas Tech 4­1 541 17 58 like conduct rules. 18. Virginia 3­1 474 15 BALTIMORE RAVENS — Activated QB La­ within the Wolverines football horns’ first Heisman Trophy win- AP Women’s Top 25 mar Jackson, FB Patrick Ricard, DT Justin 19. Richmond 2­0 419 19 Madubuike and LS Morgan Cox from the program. ner, Earl Campbell, and won like 20. Florida St. 1­0 350 22 The top 25 teams in The Associated reserve/COVID­19 list. Waived OT Jake “The number of positive tests few others at Texas, amassing an 21. Rutgers 3­0 293 24 Press’ women’s college basketball poll, Rodgers. Released FB Tommy Bohanon with first­place votes in parentheses, re­ from the practice squad. has continued to trend in an up- 86-31-2 record in 10 seasons. But a 22. Ohio St. 3­0 287 23 cords through Dec. 6, total points based on BUFFALO BILLS — Activated LB Matt Mi­ 23. Arizona St 3­1 218 25 25 points for a first­place vote through one lano from injured reserve. ward direction over the last seven Cotton Bowl rout in 1977 and a 24. San Diego St. 4­0 123 — point for a 25th­place vote and previous CAROLINA PANTHERS— Placed WRs D.J. ranking: Moore, Ishmael Hyman and Curtis Samuel, days,” Michigan athletic director muffed punt six years later on the 25. Louisville 4­0 122 — DT Derrick Brown, LB Shaq Thompson, DT Warde Manuel said. “We have not same field cost Akers and Texas a Record Pts Prv Zach Kerr, OT Greg Little and P Michael Pa­ Others receiving votes: Michigan 107, lardy on the reserve/COVID­19 list. been cleared to participate in football national championship Saint Louis 94, Florida 90, Indiana 40, Ore­ — Placed DT LaCale 1. Stanford (24) 3­0 740 2 CHICAGO BEARS practice at this time. Unfortunate- the Longhorns wouldn’t win until gon 26, Oklahoma St. 26, Marquette 22, 2. Louisville (2) 4­0 689 5 London and BL Manit Te'o on the reserve/ Missouri 19, UConn 12, Xavier 9, Clemson 7, COVID 19 list. Alabama 5, Washington St 3, Maryland 2, 3. UConn (2) 0­0 675 3 CINCINNATI BENGALS— Placed DE Ama­ ly, we will not be able to field a 2005. UCLA 1, SMU 1, Oklahoma 1. 4. NC State (2) 4­0 670 8 ni Bledsoe on the reserve/COVID 19 list. team due to COVID-19 positives
Louisiana-Monroe coach CLEVELAND BROWNS — Claimed WR USA Today Men’s Top 25 5. South Carolina 4­1 647 1 Marvin Hall off waivers from Detroit. As­ and the associated quarantining Matt Viator is leaving the program 6. Arizona 3­0 605 7 signed WR Ja'Marcus Bradley to practice required of close contact individu- with one game left in what has USA Today Top 25 Men's basketball coach­ 7. Baylor 2­1 552 4 squad. es poll with team's records through Sun­ DALLAS COWBOYS — Placed G Zack als. This decision is disappointing been a winless season. day, total points based on 25 for first place 8. Oregon 4­0 525 10 Martin and S Steven Parker on injured re­ through one point for 25th, first­place 9. Kentucky 4­0 504 11 serve. Promoted CBs Rashard Robinson for our team and coaches but their Athletics Director Scott McDo- votes received and ranking in last week's 10. Texas A&M 4­0 463 12 and Deante Burton to the active roster. poll: DENVER BRONCOS — Signed K Taylor health and safety is paramount, nald said Monday that he and Via- ecord R Pts Pvs 11. UCLA 2­1 452 9 Russolino to the practice squad. and it will always come first in our tor, who has a 19-39 record at 12. Mississippi St. 2­1 413 6 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Signed DB's 1. Gonzaga (23) 3­0 788 2 13. Arkansas 5­1 409 16 Quentin Meeks, Trevor Williams and Gabe decision-making.” ULM, “mutually agreed” on the 2. Baylor (8) 3­0 774 1 Wright and WR Damion Willis to the prac­ 14. Maryland 3­1 342 14 tice squad. The third-ranked Buckeyes move. 3. Iowa (1) 3­0 717 6 15. Indiana 2­1 304 13 LAS VEGAS RAIDERS — Activated RT played through what coach Ryan 4. Michigan State 5­0 679 12 15. Oregon St. 3­0 304 17 Trent Brown from the exempt list. Waived DT Daniel Ross. Day called a “mini outbreak” on NFL suspends 2 players 5. Kansas 4­1 585 5 17. Northwestern 0­0 271 15 LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Released P 6. Villanova (1) 4­1 581 3 18. Ohio St. 3­0 191 19 Lachlan Edwards and K J.J. Molson from Saturday in a 52-12 win at Michi- for stepping on foes 7. Creighton 3­0 561 11 the practice squad. 19. Michigan 3­0 170 24 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES— Released G Ja­ gan State after he was relegated to 8. Houston (1) 4­0 529 18 20. Syracuse 3­0 169 22 mon Brown from the practice squad. watching the game from home. NEW YORK — The NFL sus- 9. Illinois 3­1 525 10 21. Missouri St. 2­1 162 21 Signed LB Joe Bachie off of New Orleans 10. West Virginia 4­1 471 15 practice squad. Day is among the coaches and pended Titans defensive end 22. South Dakota St. 3­0 104 — PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Promoted K 11. Duke 2­1 458 8 23. Texas 3­1 69 25 Matthew Wright and OL Anthony Coyle to players in the program that tested Teair Tart and Bengals strong 12. Texas 4­1 407 22 24. DePaul 1­2 63 20 the active roster. Activated OL Jerald Haw­ positive for the coronavirus, lead- safety Shawn Williams for unnec- 13. Wisconsin 3­1 361 7 kins from the reserve/COVID­19 list. 25. Gonzaga 1­2 62 18 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Promoted CB ing to Ohio State canceling a game essarily stepping on opponents 14. North Carolina 3­1 331 16 Tim Harris, Jr. to the active roster. 15. VirginiaTech 3­1 315 — Others receiving votes:South Florida 59, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Signed RB at Illinois. last weekend. 16. Tennessee 0­0 311 14 Iowa St. 54, North Carolina 38, Arizona St. Kenjon Barner to the active roster. Waived Earlier Tuesday, the regular- Both have until mid-week to ap- 12, Notre Dame 8, West Virginia 6, Wake WR Jaydon Mickens. 17. Texas Tech 4­1 310 13 Forest 5, Boston College 4, Ohio 4, Georgia TENNESSEE TITANS — Activated OT season football finale between No. peal their suspensions. 18. Virginia 3­1 268 4 3, Virginia Tech 2. Isaiah Wilson from the reserve/suspend­ ed list. Activated RB Darrynton Evans from 7 Cincinnati and No. 18 Tulsa was Jon Runyan, the league’s vice 19. Richmond 2­0 198 — Monday’s women’s scores injured reserve. 20. Ohio St. 3­0 176 24 also canceled due to COVID-19 president of football operations, HOCKEY 21. Florida State 1­0 167 18 SOUTH National Hockey League cases and contact tracing within issued the one-game suspensions 22. Rutgers 3­0 161 23 Florida 88, FAU 76 NASHVILLE PREDATORS— Loaned Fs Lu­ the Bearcats’ program. The two without pay for violations Sunday. 23. Arizona State 3­1 121 17 High Point 87, NC Central 65 kas Craggs, Patrick Harper, Tanner Jean­ not, Cole Smith and Josh Wilkins and G De­ teams are scheduled to play Dec. 24. Louisville 4­0 95 — NC Wesleyan 52, UNC­Greensboro 37 Breakdancing among 4 Troy 131, LaGrange 57 vin Cooley to Florida (ECHL). 25. Florida State 3­0 83 — 19 in the American Athletic Con- UNC­Wilmington 69, SC State 56 SOCCER Dropped out:No. 9 Kentucky (1­3); No. 20 ference title game. new Olympic sports MIDWEST Major League Soccer Oregon (1­1); No. 21 UCLA (3­1); No. 25 Ala­ FC DALLAS — Exercised contract op­ Last week, Michigan coach Jim GENEVA — Breakdancing be- bama (3­1). Indiana St. 78, W. Illinois 51 tions for Gs Jimmy Maurer and Kyle Zo­ Others receiving votes: Michigan (4­0) Missouri St. 100, Lincoln (MO) 38 beck, D Nkosi Burgess and Ms Michael Harbaugh said team meetings came an official Olympic sport. 78; San Diego State (4­0) 50; Saint Louis SOUTHWEST Barrios, Brandon Servania and Ema Twu­ (3­0) 44; UCLA (3­1) 38; Oregon (1­1) 34; Ok­ masi. that were scheduled to be done in The International Olympic lahoma State (4­0) 30; Indiana (3­1) 26; Oklahoma St. 75, SMU 63 NEW YORK CITY FC — Acquired G Evan Marquette (3­1) 16; Missouri (3­0) 15; person would be conducted vir- Committee’s pursuit of urban FAR WEST Newton on loan from Indy Eleven for re­ North Dakota (0­3) 14; Oklahoma (2­0) 13; mainder of 2020 season. tually after an increased number LSU (3­1) 13; Arkansas (4­0) 11; North Car­ BYU 87, Utah St. 66 events to lure a younger audience olina State (3­0) 10; Clemson (3­0) 10; Ma­ Montana 86, North Dakota 72 National Women's Soccer League of presumptive positive CO- saw street dance battles officially NWSL — Announced that expansion COLLEGE FOOTBALL team Kansas City has been approved to VID-19 tests. added to the medal events pro- begin play in 2021 and that all player The Buckeyes have missed two rights, draft picks, and certain other as­ gram at the 2024 Paris Games. AP Top 25 schedule No. 13 Oklahoma at West Virginia, Satur­ sets formerly held by Utah Royals FC will games in this pandemic-short- Also confirmed for Paris by the day be transferred. No. 1 Alabama at Arkansas, Saturday No. 14 BYU vs. San Diego State, Saturday ened season because of COVID-19 IOC executive board were skate- No. 3 Ohio State vs. Michigan, ccd. No. 15 Northwestern vs. Illinois, Satur­ HOCKEY No. 6 Florida vs. LSU, Saturday day National League Hockey issues and one more would leave boarding, sport climbing, and No. 7 Cincinnati at No. 18 Tulsa, ppd. No. 16 Southern Cal at UCLA, Saturday ARIZONA COYOTES — Assigned G David them unable to reach a confer- No. 8 Indiana vs. Purdue, Saturday No. 19 Iowa vs. No. 25 Wisconsin, Satur­ Tendeck to Rapid City (ECHL). surfing. No. 9 Miami vs. No. 20 North Carolina, day NASHVILLE PREDATORS — Assigned G ence-mandated minimum to be el- Those three sports will make Saturday No. 21 Colorado vs. Utah, Friday Devin Cooley and F's Tanner Jeannot, Pa­ No. 11 Coastal Carolina at Troy, Satur­ No. 23 Texas at Kansas, Saturday trick Harper, Lukas Craggs, Cole Smith igible for the Big Ten champion- their Olympic debuts at the Tokyo day No. 24 Buffalo vs. Akron, Saturday and Josh Wilkins to Florida (ECHL). No. 12 Georgia at Missouri, Saturday ship game. Games. PRO BASEBALL PRO SOCCER The Big Ten, however, could de- COLLEGE HOCKEY cide Ohio State will still represent MLB calendar MLS playoffs South Dakota State Monday’s score the East Division at least in part Jan. 15 — International amateur signing Conference Championships women ranked in Top 25 MIDWEST period opens. Sunday's game because the conference doesn’t Minnesota State 2, Michigan Tech 0 Jan. 26 — Hall of Fame voting an­ Eastern Conference want to hurt the Buckeyes’ chanc- South Dakota State women’s nounced. Columbus 1, New England 0 es of earning a playoff berth. basketball team entered The As- AP SPORTLIGHT Feb. 1­19 — Salary arbitration hearings, Monday's game Scottsdale, Ariz. Western Conference In other college football news: sociated Press Top 25 on Monday, Feb. 17 — Voluntary reporting date for Dec. 9 pitchers, catchers and injured players. Seattle 3, Minnesota 2
Former Texas football coach coming in at No. 22. The last time 1973 — Jim Bakken of the St. Louis Cardi­ Feb. 22 — Voluntary reporting date for MLS Cup Fred Akers died Monday sur- the team was in the Top 25 was the nals kicks six field goals in a 32­10 victory other players. Saturday's game over the Atlanta Falcons. Feb. 27 — Mandatory reporting date. Seattle at Columbus rounded by family at his home in 2008-09 season. Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 21 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Gilyard’s 3 seals No. 19 Richmond’s win over Wofford

BY HANK KURZ JR. Nov. 29. Richmond had to cancel Associated Press two games last week after a posi- RICHMOND, Va. — Jacob Gi- tive COVID-19 test within the pro- lyard and No. 19 Richmond gram, and announced the match- stepped into uncharted territory up with Wofford on Saturday.The and learned a lesson. Terriers also had two games can- The Spiders, playing for the first celed in the first week of Decem- time this season as a ranked team, ber and were playing their first scored the game’s first 11 points game since Nov. 28. Monday but needed Gilyard’s “Really pleased that we were three-pointer with 19.5 seconds able to play a game, and I appre- left to beat Wofford 77-72. ciate Wofford being able to also “I think we let our foot off the play the game on such short no- gas,” Gilyard said. “Early on, we tice,” Spiders coach Chris Mooney could have pushed the lead a little said. better. ... We’ve never been some- His team appeared to take com- body that guys are aiming to play, mand with an 11-3 second-half run CARLOS OSORIO, ABOVE, AND MARK HUMPHREY, BELOW / AP looking forward to playing. We’re that gave it a 56-44 lead, but the Above: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo talks to guard Rocket Watts (2) and forward Aaron Henry on Dec. 4going to have a target on our Terriers responded with a 12-3 against Detroit Mercy. Izzo and Tennessee coach Rick Barnes, below, have had bouts of COVID­19. backs. We have to be better.” burst to get to within 59-56. Wof- Gilyard led the Spiders (3-0) ford grabbed its first lead at 64-63 with 18 points and Grant Golden on Tray Hollowell’s three-pointer had 15. Richmond led almost with 4:32 remaining. It was one of throughout in a game that was ar- 12 threes for the Terriers. Older coaches well aware ranged only two days earlier, but “That will probably be some- the Terriers (2-1) shot 55% after thing we need to look at and figure halftime and took their first lead out what those issues were so we with 4:32 remaining. can be better defending the three- Storm Murphy led Wofford with point line,” Mooney said. of risks during pandemic 21 points and Messiah Jones had The lead changed hands five 20 points and 10 rebounds. The times the rest of the way until Tyl- BY CLIFF BRUNT guaranteed. But the university Terriers missed their first 13 field- er Burton scored in the lane to put Associated Press continuously reminds us to be goal attempts and trailed 16-3 af- the Spiders ahead 73-72 with 1:09 Rick Barnes thought he was in careful and follow the recommen- ter eight minutes, but trailed just left. After Jones missed for Wof- the clear early in his bout with CO- dations. Especially with the 37-30 at halftime. ford, Gilyard hit his fourth three- VID-19. masks. It’s a pretty easy thing to do The Spiders hadn’t played since pointer of the game to give Rich- The Tennessee coach should to wear a mask.” they beat then-No. 10 Kentucky on mond more of a cushion. have known better, given his texts Dr. George Monks, president of with Tom Izzo, his Michigan State the Oklahoma State Medical Asso- counterpart who also went ciation, said fans wearing masks, through it. About a week into his washing and sanitizing their quarantine, Barnes lost his appe- hands, and keeping their distance tite and started feeling lethargic. from others when they are away Just like Izzo said. from the arenas will play a key “He gave me full warning,” said role in protecting their coaches — Barnes, who is 66 and has been a even with attendance at games head coach the past 33 years. “He limited or barred altogether. texted me almost every day — just “We need to all do our part to don’t be surprised when this stuff lower the spread of the virus in the happens. And I would tell you, it community,” Monks said. “When done or not spending your time probably took me 12 days to where it’s going like crazy in the commu- preparing your team,” he said. I felt really good.” nity and there’s a lot of cases, that “We’ve got to do everything we Barnes, Izzo and Syracuse’s Jim puts those players and those can and be able to handle the new Boeheim are among the coaches coaches more at risk.” information, and be able to handle 65 and up who have contracted C. Vivian Stringer, the 72-year- the next new information and be COVID-19, which can be a greater old coach of the Rutgers women’s able to handle the next informa- threat the older you are. While basketball program, worries that tion.” many elderly people are isolating her daughter who lives with her Adjustments have become the at home, college basketball coach- might be especially vulnerable be- norm. Oklahoma opened the sea- es are required to travel, work in- cause she had spinal meningitis at son at home Dec. 3 against UTSA doors and be around crowds — all age 2 and still deals with the ef- in a game that was supposed to be among the most risky behaviors in fects. played the previous week. Players the pandemic. “I’m concerned about myself wore masks in warmups. Seats on Lon Kruger knows he is taking a and definitely Nina,” Stringer the bench were separated and in chance. Oklahoma’s 68-year-old said. “We’ve got to look out for ev- rows rather than one long row. has been spared so far, even with eryone surrounding us. This is There were just a few socially dis- his Sooners having to briefly shut crazy.” tanced cheerleaders on hand, next down because of cases within the North Carolina coach Roy Wil- to a small band. program. liams, 70, said he respects the vi- Kruger said it was a different He said hearing about his col- rus, but he can’t focus on it too experience. leagues got his attention. much. “You’re always trying to do the “It’s just a reminder to do what “The biggest thing is, if you right thing, but it’s not normal to ALEXA WELCH EDLUND / AP we can to avoid it,” Kruger said. spend all your time worried about be wearing a mask all the time,” Richmond’s Tyler Burton, right, shoots as Wofford’s Sam Godwin “Not to say that anything’s 100% that, you’re not ready to get the job he said of being on the bench. defends during the No. 19 Spiders’ 77­72 win Monday in Richmond. PAGE 22 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 NBA/MLB LeBron considers load management, future with Lakers

BY GREG BEACHAM Associated Press LOS ANGELES — After Le- 72 Days between LeBron James' final Bron James emerged from the game of last season and the start of longest season in NBA history the 2020-21 season. with a fourth championship ring, he returned home and planned the first Christmas family vacation of Source: Associated Press his adult life. That’s when James learned that though that’s normal every year his 17th NBA offseason would be after the first two preseason prac- unprecedentedly short. tices. TONY GUTIERREZ / AP When James was told the NBA The uniqueness of 2020 has A person with direct knowledge of the deal said the Texas Rangers are trading right­hander Lance Lynn to intended to resume games on Dec. forced James and the Lakers to the Chicago White Sox. Lynn was 22­14 the past two seasons with the Rangers. 22, just 72 days after the Lakers consider whether they should beat Miami to win the title, the su- practice load management this perstar admits he reacted with a season. MLB BRIEFS mild expletive. LeBron has largely declined to “Just being completely honest, I follow other stars’ strategy of stra- wasn’t expecting that,” James tegic absences from games in re- said Monday in his first public cent years: He played in all 82 Source: Rangers trading Lynn comments since the NBA cham- games for Cleveland in 2017-18, Associated Press was 22-14 in 46 starts the past two Angeles Angels acquired closer pions opened training camp. and after an injury-plagued 2018- Lance Lynn is being traded seasons for the Rangers. Raisel Iglesias from the Cincinna- “Early conversations were go- 19 in LA, he only missed four from the Texas Rangers to the ti Reds for right-hander Noé Ra- ing on, and I was hearing there games last season. Chicago White Sox, according to a Japan’s Sugano put up for mirez and a player to be named or would be kind of a mid-January Still, James has played 1,265 ca- person with direct knowledge of MLB bidding cash Monday in the first trade of start,” James said. “Training reer regular-season games — al- the week of baseball’s winter the deal. The person spoke on con- NEW YORK — Japanese star camp would start after Christmas, ready the 33rd-most in league his- meetings. dition of anonymity to The Associ- pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano has and we would have the opportuni- tory — and an NBA-record 260 Iglesias has been the Reds’ clos- ated Press late Monday night, at been posted by the Yomiuri Giants ty to spend Christmas with our playoff contests as he heads to- er for the past four seasons, rack- the end of the first day of Major and is available for bidding to ma- families. ... I had to switch up a lot ward his 36th birthday later this ing up 100 saves in 114 opportuni- League Baseball’s virtual winter jor league teams. of things. I just started preparing month. meeting, because there was no an- A right-hander who turned 31 ties over that stretch with a career my mind and preparing my body.” James says there’s “a fine line” 3.15 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. nouncement from either team. on Oct. 11, Sugano was 14-2 with a James still reported to camp between strategic rest and unnec- Lynn would be reunited in Chi- 1.97 ERA and three shutouts in 20 ready last week for his 18th NBA essary inactivity. He does sound cago with new manager Tony La games last season, striking out 131 Cardinals’ Wainwright season and the pursuit of yet an- amenable to limited action in the 1 and walking 25 in 137 ⁄3 innings other banner with the Lakers, who preseason, which begins Friday. Russa. Lynn was a rookie pitcher wins Clemente award while allowing 97 hits. He is 101-49 added an impressive amount of “We’re going to be as smart as I for the 2011 World Series cham- NEW YORK — Longtime St. with a 2.32 ERA over eight sea- veteran talent in the abbreviated can be in making sure that my pion St. Louis Cardinals, who beat Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam sons in Japan. offseason for their repeat quest. body and making sure that I’m the Rangers in seven games in the Wainwright has won the Roberto James also showed up with a ready to go,” James said. “Every last season La Russa managed in Angels get Iglesias from Clemente Award, given annually new two-year, $85 million con- game matters, but we’re compet- the big leagues before returning to by Major League Baseball for tract extension through the 2022- ing for something that’s high. I un- the White Sox this offseason. Reds for Ramirez, cash community involvement and phi- 23 season, setting his future in Los derstand that with the shortened The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Lynn ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los lanthropy. Angeles through his 20th NBA (training camp) and the offseason campaign. is going to be the shortest in any James will shoulder the physi- professional sports ever, we’re go- cal challenges of this difficult ing to be very conscious about Allen, 7-time All-Star, dies at 78 year, but it isn’t easy: He said he what we do going forward and BY ROB MAADDI Allen’s No. 15 was retired by the was “sore as hell” Monday, al- with me personally.” Associated Press Phillies in September, an honor Dick Allen hit the ball so hard, that was considered way overdue fans in Philadelphia started show- by many for one of the franchise’s ing up at batting practice during greatest players. his rookie season just to watch him Phillies managing partner John hammer shots over the Coca-Cola Middleton broke from the team’s sign atop the left-center field roof longstanding “unwritten” policy at Connie Mack Stadium. of only retiring the number of The rousing attention, he got players who are in the Hall of that early. The rightful acclaim, Fame to honor Allen. In 2014, Al- sadly, he had to wait much longer. len fell one vote short of Cooper- Allen, a seven-time All-Star MATT SLOCUM / AP stown in a Hall committee elec- slugger whose fight against rac- Dick Allen, 78, was a seven­time ism during a tumultuous time with All­Star, the 1964 NL Rookie of tion. the Phillies in the 1960s cost him the Year and the 1972 AL MVP. “I thank the city of Philadelphia. on and off the field, died Monday. Even though it was rough, I’ve He was 78. most popular players in our fran- made some friends along the The 1964 NL Rookie of Year and chise’s history, but also as a coura- way,” Allen said in an emotional 1972 AL MVP had a lengthy illness geous warrior who had to over- ceremony on a warm, sunny after- MARK J. TERRILL / AP while at home in Wampum, Pa. come far too many obstacles to re- noon. LeBron James missed only four games last season, but the soon­to­be “Dick will be remembered as ach the level he did,” the Phillies Middleton said he was “bereft to 36­year­old is looking at managing his time this season. not just one of the greatest and said in a statement. learn of Dick’s passing today.” Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 23 NFL

Scoreboard

American Conference

East Allen, Bills stay atop AFC East WLTPct PF PA BY DAVID BRANDT Bills 34, 49ers 24 Buffalo 9 3 0 .750 333 306 Associated Press Miami 8 4 0 .667 303 212 Buffalo 0 17 10 7 — 34 GLENDALE, Ariz. — The pas- New England 6 6 0 .500 274 255 San Francisco 7 0 10 7 — 24 N.Y. Jets 0 12 0 .000 180 353 ses zipped through the air one by First quarter South one, almost always finding their SF—Aiyuk 2 pass from Mullens (Gould WLTPct PF PA intended target right on the hands kick), :44. Indianapolis 8 4 0 .667 328 273 and in stride. Second quarter Tennessee 8 4 0 .667 359 326 By the time Josh Allen was Buf—Beasley 5 pass from Allen (Bass Houston 4 8 0 .333 288 323 kick), 13:02. done, the quarterback had fin- Buf—Knox 4 pass from Allen (Bass kick), Jacksonville 1 11 0 .083 251 352 2:41. ished one of the best games of his Buf—FG Bass 37, :00. North young NFL career, and the Buffa- Third quarter WLTPct PF PA lo Bills once again looked like one SF—FG Gould 45, 11:14. Pittsburgh 11 1 0 .917 334 211 of the league's elite teams. Buf—McKenzie 23 pass from Allen (Bass kick), 5:48. Cleveland 9 3 0 .750 306 321 Allen threw for 375 yards and Buf—FG Bass 28, 3:09. Baltimore 6 5 0 .545 282 214 SF—Juszczyk 6 pass from Mullens Cincinnati 2 9 1 .208 237 308 tied a career high with four touch- (Gould kick), :26. down passes as the Bills stayed in West Fourth quarter sole possession of first place in the Buf—Davis 28 pass from Allen (Bass WLTPct PF PA kick), 9:50. AFC East with a thoroughly im- SF—Reed 5 pass from Mullens (Gould Kansas City 11 1 0 .917 370 254 pressive 34-24 victory over the ROSS D. FRANKLIN / AP kick), :43. Las Vegas 7 5 0 .583 323 347 A—0. Denver 4 8 0 .333 225 320 San Francisco 49ers on Monday Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, scrambles as San L.A. Chargers 3 9 0 .250 277 345 night. Francisco 49ers defensive end Kerry Hyder pursues during the first Buf SF half of Monday's game in Glendale, Ariz. National Conference “That’s our quarterback. He’s a First downs 31 24 baller,” Bills safety Jordan Poyer Total Net Yards 449 402 East said. “I don’t know what answer “It just seemed like our guys were which set a franchise record. Jim Rushes-yards 27-81 21-86 Passing 368 316 WLTPct PF PA you want me to say. It’s no surprise getting open and the ball was com- Kelly did it three times in 1991 and Punt Returns 1-22 1-16 N.Y. Giants 5 7 0 .417 231 265 to us what he does every week. I’m ing out of my hand really well.” Drew Bledsoe three times in 2002. Kickoff Returns 1-25 1-13 Washington 5 7 0 .417 264 260 happy he’s on our team.” The Bills are one game ahead of “As long as it correlates to team Interceptions Ret. 2-33 0-0 Philadelphia 3 8 1 .292 253 307 Buffalo (9-3) moved a step clos- the Miami Dolphins with four success, it means we’re doing the Comp-Att-Int 32-40-0 26-39-2 Dallas 3 8 0 .273 251 359 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-7 0-0 er to winning its division for the games left for both teams. right thing, making the right deci- South Punts 1-68.0 2-45.0 first time since 1995, thanks to a San Francisco (5-7) lost in its sions and we’re winning football Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0 WLTPct PF PA nearly flawless performance from first game at its adopted home in games,” Allen said. “That’s all that Penalties-Yards 4-50 7-43 New Orleans 10 2 0 .833 347 241 Allen. The 24-year-old completed Arizona. The 49ers will be based matters to me.” Time of Possession 34:58 25:02 Tampa Bay 7 5 0 .583 344 280 Atlanta 4 8 0 .333 311 302 32 of 40 passes with no intercep- in Glendale for at least the next The Bills had a much more INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Carolina 4 8 0 .333 280 300 tions. three weeks after Santa Clara pleasant trip to the desert than RUSHING—Buffalo, Singletary 18-61, Al- len 6-11, Moss 3-9. San Francisco, Wilson North He threw touchdown passes to County issued strict new corona- three weeks ago, when they lost a 7-47, Mostert 9-42, Juszczyk 2-5, Samuel 1-3, Coleman 2-(minus 11). WLTPct PF PA Cole Beasley, Dawson Knox, virus protocols that forced the 32-30 heartbreaker to the Arizona PASSING—Buffalo, Allen 32-40-0-375. Isaiah McKenzie and Gabriel Da- team to find a temporary new Cardinals. That was the game San Francisco, Mullens 26-39-2-316. Green Bay 9 3 0 .750 379 299 RECEIVING—Buffalo, Diggs 10-92, Beas- Minnesota 6 6 0 .500 319 329 vis as the Bills built a 17-7 halftime home. when DeAndre Hopkins made a ley 9-130, Knox 4-27, Davis 3-68, Singletary 3-22, McKenzie 2-31, Moss 1-5. San Francis- Chicago 5 7 0 .417 246 284 lead and controlled the majority of It was Allen's fourth game of the stunning catch over three Buffalo co, Samuel 6-73, Aiyuk 5-95, Bourne 4-35, Detroit 5 7 0 .417 286 358 the second half. season with at least 300 yards defenders with 2 seconds left for Reed 3-32, Woerner 2-33, Dwelley 2-29, Wil- son 2-12, Juszczyk 1-6, Mostert 1-1. West “We were clicking,” Allen said. passing and three touchdowns, the game-winning score. MISSED FIELD GOALS—None. WLTPct PF PA L.A. Rams 8 4 0 .667 301 243 Washington 23, Steelers 17 Seattle 8 4 0 .667 353 321 Washington 0 3 7 13 — 23 Arizona 6 6 0 .500 332 296 Big: Steelers squandered 14-point lead Pittsburgh 0 14 0 3 — 17 San Francisco 5 7 0 .417 285 288 drive ended with the ball near midfield and Washing- Monday's games FROM PAGE 24 ton’s players sprinting off in celebration while the Second quarter Washington 23, Pittsburgh 17 Pit—Di.Johnson 3 pass from Roethlis- Buffalo 34, San Francisco 24 build off of.” Steelers trudged to the locker room. berger (M.Wright kick), 10:33. Tuesday's games Pit—Washington 50 pass from Roethlis- The Steelers (11-1) missed a chance to clinch a “We’re getting to that point of the season when berger (M.Wright kick), 3:54. Dallas at Baltimore playoff berth and dropped into a tie with defending you’ve got to be sharp in all areas, your whole team, Was—FG Hopkins 49, :01. Thursday's game Super Bowl champion Kansas City for the best re- both sides of the ball,” Roethlisberger said. “There Third quarter New England at L.A. Rams cord in the AFC with four weeks remaining. They can be all kinds of distractions, changes of this, that Was—Barber 1 run (Hopkins kick), 8:16. Sunday's games Fourth quarter Arizona at N.Y. Giants squandered a 14-point lead. and the other. At the end of the day, we’ve got to go Dallas at Cincinnati “It stinks,” Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlis- play good football.” Pit—FG M.Wright 37, 14:57. Denver at Carolina Was—Thomas 15 pass from Smith (Hop- Houston at Chicago berger said. “Been a while since we lost a game. It’s For the first time in a long time, the Steelers didn’t. kins kick), 9:09. Kansas City at Miami Was—FG Hopkins 45, 2:04. Minnesota at Tampa Bay not a good feeling.” At least not enough of it. Was—FG Hopkins 45, :17. Tennessee at Jacksonville The Steelers were 10-point favorites while facing a A—0. Indianapolis at Las Vegas Blood in, blood out N.Y. Jets at Seattle team that hadn’t won three straight since 2018 and Was Pit Atlanta at L.A. Chargers hadn’t won in Pittsburgh since 1991. Washington won Smith’s return from a right leg injury that nearly Green Bay at Detroit First downs 18 17 New Orleans at Philadelphia the Super Bowl that season. The club’s expectations cost him his life has made him a lock for the NFL’s Washington at San Francisco Total Net Yards 318 326 Pittsburgh at Buffalo this year are far more modest. Yet a day after the New Comeback Player of the Year. In the first half, Rushes-yards 21-45 14-21 Monday, Dec. 14 York Giants won at Seattle, Washington (5-7) kept Smith’s left leg was stepped on. Passing 273 305 Baltimore at Cleveland pace while giving the lowly NFC East its second mar- “You get stepped on a bunch as a quarterback, es- Punt Returns 1-9 3-28 Kickoff Returns 3-72 1-32 quee victory in 25ish hours. pecially that front leg,” Smith said. “You get used to Interceptions Ret. 1-0 0-0 “We’re on a roll,” said defensive end Montez it. You get numb to it. Looked down ... (you could) vi- Comp-Att-Int 31-46-0 33-53-1 Sweat, who knocked down three Roethlisberger pas- sually see the blood pumping out. Never had one gush Sacked-Yards Lost 3-23 0-0 ses. “This is the kind of football we’ve been wanting to like that. New for me.” Punts 7-46.0 6-44.3 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-0 play since Game 1.” Smith remained in the game, his bloody sock giving Penalties-Yards 9-62 6-45 It’s the kind of football the Steelers had played his nearly all-white uniform a splash of color. Time of Possession 30:26 29:34 since Game 1. The best start in the franchise’s 87- Up next INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS year history came to an abrupt halt on a rare Monday RUSHING—Washington, Barber 14-23, late afternoon game. The NFL pushed the contest Washington: Travels to Arizona next week to take Gibson 2-14, McKissic 5-8. Pittsburgh, McFarland 4-15, Snell 8-5, Samuels 1-1, back a day as part of the fallout from a COVID-19 out- on the San Francisco 49ers in a game relocated due to Roethlisberger 1-0. PASSING—Washington, Smith 31-46-0- break in Baltimore that forced the league to postpone COVID-19 restrictions in Santa Clara, Calif., the site 296. Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger 33-53-1- the Ravens’ visit to Heinz Field three times. of Levi’s Stadium. 305. RECEIVING—Washington, McKissic 10- KEITH SRAKOCIC / AP Roethlisberger passed for 305 yards and two Steelers: Face a stiff test Sunday night in Buffalo. 70, Thomas 9-98, C.Sims 5-92, S.Sims 4-17, McLaurin 2-14, Wright 1-5. Pittsburgh, Washington running back Antonio touchdowns, but was picked off by Jon Bostic — a for- The Bills beat the Steelers — minus Roethlisberger Johnson 8-71, Ebron 7-68, Smith-Schuster mer Steeler — with 1:59 remaining. Hopkins added — 17-10 at Heinz Field last December to lock up a 7-28, Samuels 3-11, Washington 2-80, Clay- Gibson picks up yardage Monday pool 2-38, Snell 2-5, McCloud 2-4. in Pittsburgh. another 45-yard field goal and Pittsburgh’s last-gasp playoff berth. MISSED FIELD GOALS—None. PAGE 24 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 Winter move SPORTS Source says Rangers are trading Lynn to White Sox ›› MLB, Page 22

JUSTIN BERL / AP Washington defensive end Chase Young celebrates his team’s 23­17 victory over the Steelers on Monday in Pittsburgh. It was the Steelers’ first loss of the season.

NFL Big surprise Washington hands Steelers first loss

BY WILL GRAVES So much for that. Associated Press Pittsburgh’s bid for an unbeaten season is over. PITTSBURGH Washington’s — yes, Washington’s — quest for an un- he Pittsburgh Steelers spent three likely division title may just be starting. months shaking off whatever 2020 threw Alex Smith threw for 296 yards and a touchdown, at them. Schedule changes. Injuries to a Dustin Hopkins kicked a tiebreaking 45-yard field handful of impact players. The ever-pre- goal with 2:04 remaining, and Washington rallied for sent threat of COVID-19. a 23-17 victory on Monday in one of the biggest sur- TThrough the chaos, they kept winning. Sometimes prises of the NFL season. pretty. Sometimes ugly. Sometimes a little of both in “We’ve been down for such a long time and we’re the same game. Through it all, they insisted they trying to rebuild ourselves and build up,” first-year KEITH SRAKOCIC / AP were well aware of their flaws. pointing out time and coach Ron Rivera said. “This is something we can Washington quarterback Alex Smith threw for 296 yards and a again the only thing perfect about them was their re- touchdown, and didn’t throw an interception. cord. SEE BIG ON PAGE 23

No. 19 Richmond pushed by Wofford ›› College basketball, Page 21