Volume 78, No. 167B ©SS 2019 CONTINGENCY EDITION SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas J.M. Eddins Jr. / U.S. Air Force Official: Gunman viewed shooting videos prior to Fla. base attack BY BILL KACZOR AND BRENDAN FARRINGTON Associated Press PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Saudi stu- dent who fatally shot three people at a U.S. naval base in Florida hosted a dinner party earlier in the week where he and three oth- ers watched videos of mass shootings, a U.S. official told The Associated Press on Saturday. One of the three students who attended the dinner party videotaped outside the building while the shooting was taking place at INSIDE Naval Air Sta- tion Pensacola Still no motive on Friday, said Cosmic the U.S. offi- found in slayings cial, who spoke at Pearl Harbor on condition of anonymity after Page 3 being briefed by federal authori- bargain ties. Two other Saudi students watched from a car, the official said. The official said 10 Saudi students were being held on the base Saturday while sev- Congress, White House near deal to create Space Force in eral others were unaccounted for. U.S. officials previously had told the AP they were investigating possible links to exchange for extending paid parental leave to federal workers terrorism. The student opened fire in a classroom at the base Friday morning, killing three BY JEFF STEIN, JOSH DAWSEY people. AND ROBERT COSTA ‘ As the country’s largest employer, the United States A U.S. official who spoke to The Associ- ated Press on condition of anonymity on The Washington Post Government must lead by example. Friday identified the shooter as Moham- Congressional lawmakers and the ’ Ivanka Trump med Saeed Alshamrani. The official wasn’t White House are on the verge of reach- president’s daughter and advisor authorized to discuss the matter publicly. ing a sweeping agreement that would The official also said the FBI was exam- extend 12 weeks of paid parental leave ining social media posts and investigating to federal workers in exchange for whether he acted alone or was connected Congress. It would secure a massive known to change his mind even when making Space Force the sixth branch to any broader group. expansion of benefits for federal work- negotiations reach a final stage. The assault ended when a sheriff’s dep- of the U.S military, according to four Still, some top White House officials people with knowledge of the tentative ers, something Democrats have long uty killed the attacker. Eight people were sought, in exchange for a realignment were already celebrating the possible hurt in the attack, including the deputy and deal. addition of a new federal paid leave The deal is part of a defense autho- of the U.S. military that Trump has a second deputy who was with him. sought to secure as part of his legacy. policy. On Saturday, the Pensacola News Jour- rization bill that is slated to pass this “As the country’s largest employer, Multiple people close to the nego- nal identified one of the dead as Joshua month. If consummated, the agree- the United States Government must ment could mark one of biggest deals tiations stressed any final package still Watson, 23, who had reported to Pensacola President Donald Trump has cut with must be approved, and Trump has been SEE DEAL ON PAGE 5 two weeks earlier for flight training. Watson’s father, Benjamin, told the SEE LINK ON PAGE 3 MILITARY MILITARY MUSIC Company sued by families Permanent cease-fire is goal Strike a merry note to halt leasing of homes with as US, Taliban open first with tunes made for unsafe maintenance problems peace talks since September the holiday season Page 4 Page 5 Pages 12-13 Knicks’ coaching carousel continues with Fizdale’s firing » NBA, Page 19 PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 8, 2019 BUSINESS/WEATHER EXCHANGE RATES Military rates Switzerland (Franc) ...........................0.9900 PG&E: Wildfire settlement reached Euro costs (Dec. 9)............................$1.1380 Thailand (Baht) ....................................30.35 Dollar buys (Dec. 9) ..........................€0.8787 Turkey (Lira) ........................................5.7825 British pound (Dec. 9) ..........................$1.35 (Military exchange rates are those Associated Press Japanese yen (Dec. 9) ........................106.00 available to customers at military banking resolve all claims arising from customers, our neighbors and our South Korean won (Dec. 9) ............1,158.00 Commercial rates facilities in the country of issuance the 2017 Northern California friends in those impacted areas for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the SAN FRANCISCO — Pacif- Bahrain (Dinar) ...................................0.3770 Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For wildfires and 2018 Camp Fire, as recover and rebuild after these British pound ......................................1.3137 ic Gas and Electric says it has nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., Canada (Dollar) ..................................1.3264 well as all claims from the 2015 tragic wildfires.” purchasing British pounds in Germany), reached a $13.5 billion settlement China(Yuan) ........................................ 7.0353 that will resolve all major claims Butte Fire and 2016 Ghost Ship The settlement is still subject to Denmark (Krone) ...............................6.7586 check with your local military banking Fire in Oakland. a number of conditions involving Egypt (Pound) ...................................16.1397 facility. Commercial rates are interbank related to devastating wildfires Euro ......................................... 1.1056/0.9045 rates provided for reference when buying blamed on its outdated equipment “From the beginning of the PG&E’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy Hong Kong (Dollar) ............................7.8288 currency. All figures are foreign currencies to one dollar, except for the British pound, and negligence. Chapter 11 process, getting wild- reorganization plans, which must Hungary (Forint) ................................299.49 Israel (Shekel) ....................................3.4709 which is represented in dollars-to-pound, The settlement, which the util- fire victims fairly compensated, be completed by June 30 . Japan (Yen) ..........................................108.55 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) ity says was reached Friday, still especially the individuals, has Friday’s settlement figure re- Kuwait (Dinar) ....................................0.3036 INTEREST RATES been our primary goal,” Bill sponds to pressure from Gov. Norway (Krone) ..................................9.1258 requires court approval. PG&E Philippines (Peso) ................................ 50.77 Prime rate ................................................4.75 says it is a key step in leading it Johnson, PG&E Corporation’s Gavin Newsom to give wildfire Poland (Zloty) .........................................3.87 Discount rate ..........................................2.25 Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ..........................3.7498 Federal funds market rate ...................1.56 out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. CEO and president, said in a victims more than it originally Singapore (Dollar) .............................1.3604 3-month bill .............................................1.49 It adds that the settlement will statement. “We want to help our offered. South Korea (Won) ..........................1186.04 30-year bond ...........................................2.24 WEATHER OUTLOOK SUNDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY IN EUROPE MONDAY IN THE PACIFIC Misawa 39/32 Kabul 52/24 Seoul 40/30 Baghdad 59/52 Kandahar 62/32 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 45/30 41/32 Lakenheath Pomorskie Busan 47/43 46/41 47/32 Iwakuni 55/49 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City 75/70 Brussels 46/42 Guam 63/57 49/44 Ramstein 53/45 82/79 Lajes, 47/42 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 70/58 80/62 65/62 48/42 41/31 Aviano/ Vicenza 44/32 Naples 58/51 Okinawa Morón 47/30 58/44 Sigonella Rota 60/42 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 81/74 58/46 63/60 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ............ 15 Comics ............................. 14 Crossword ........................ 14 Music .......................... 12-13 Opinion ............................ 16 Sports ......................... 17-24 Sunday, December 8, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 MILITARY Screening of foreign students scrutinized Pensacola attack Link: prompts concern Victim hailed for actions FROM FRONT PAGE Friday night, the FBI declined about military newspaper that his son was to release the shooter’s iden- officer of the deck when the tity and wouldn’t comment on exchange program shooting started and he was his possible motivations. shot at least five times. “There are many reports “Heavily wounded, he made circulating, but the FBI deals BY DAN LAMOTHE his way out only in facts,” said Rachel L. The Washington Post to flag down Rojas, the FBI’s special agent first respond- in charge of the Jacksonville A shooting at a U.S. military ers and gave Field Office. base in Florida by a Saudi military an accurate Earlier Friday, two U.S. offi- student has prompted questions description of cials identified the student as a about how the U.S. government the shooter,” second lieutenant in the Saudi scrutinizes candidates for mili- Benjamin Air Force and said authorities tary exchange programs as the Watson said. were investigating whether Pentagon highlighted the layers “He died the attack was terrorism-re- of screening