FACES MILITARY MASTERS Connick Jr. makes Marines begin new A measure of album of hymns probe of disaster normalcy returns while in lockdown that killed 9 to Augusta Page 15 Page 3 Page 24

Fort Benning mulled as next base to house migrant children ›› Page 4

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Volume 79 Edition 252 ©SS 2021 THURSDAY,APRIL 8, 2021 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas

VIRUS OUTBREAK US military Rising looks to end vaccine lag RISK in Europe BY JENNIFER H. SVAN Stars and Stripes KAISERSLAUTERN, Germa- ny — Health officials expect more coronavirus vaccines to be availa- ble to service members and fam- ilies in Europe, where vaccination rates have lagged behind military communities in the United States and many overseas installations. Many personnel and family members in Europe with high- risk medical conditions are still waiting to get their first shots. The timeline for offering vaccinations to all who want them is uncertain, even after President Joe Biden an- nounced Tuesday that he wants every adult in the U.S. to be able to receive vaccination appointments by April 19. “While we have been hesitant to make predictions on future vac- cine deliveries, we are confident that vaccine allocations to Europe will increase throughout April,” said Gino Mattorano, a spokesman US military warns of increasing threat of Chinese move against Taiwan for Regional Health Command Europe. BY ROBERT BURNS buildup. It has become more aggressive with ic entity or risking what could become an all- About 25% of the adult Army Associated Press Taiwan and more assertive in sovereignty dis- out war over a cause that is not on the radar of community in Europe has re- WASHINGTON — The American military is putes in the South China Sea. Beijing also has most Americans. The United States has long ceived at least one dose and 11% of warning that China is probably accelerating its become more confrontational with Washing- pledged to help Taiwan defend itself, but it has beneficiaries have been fully vac- timetable for capturing control of Taiwan, the ton; senior Chinese officials traded sharp and deliberately left unclear how far it would go in cinated, Mattorano said Tuesday. island democracy that has been the chief unusually public barbs with Secretary of State response to a Chinese attack. In the U.S. general population, source of tension between Washington and Antony Blinken in talks in Alaska last month. This accumulation of concerns meshes with Beijing for decades and is widely seen as the A military move against Taiwan, however, the administration’s view that China is a fron- SEE VACCINE ON PAGE 6 most likely trigger for a potentially catastroph- would be a test of U.S. support for the island tline challenge for the United States and that ic U.S.-China war. that Beijing views as a breakaway province. more must be done soon — militarily, diplo- RELATED The worry about Taiwan comes as China For the Biden administration, it could present wields new strength from years of military the choice of abandoning a friendly, democrat- SEE RISK ON PAGE 5 US military makes

Seaman Xi Chan stands lookout on the flight deck of the Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Barry during routine underway vaccine progress in operations in the Taiwan Strait in April 2020. Japan, S. Korea SAMUEL HARDGROVE/U.S. Navy Page 6 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 BUSINESS/WEATHER IMF upgrades forecast for 2021 global growth EXCHANGE RATES Military rates South Korea (Won) 1,118.57 Associated Press economy in IMF records dating early last spring. That is the worst Switzerland (Franc) 0.9285 Euro costs (April 8) $1.16 Thailand (Baht) 31.38 WASHINGTON — The rollout back to 1980. annual figure in the IMF’s data- Dollar buys (April 8) 0.82 Turkey (New Lira) 8.1747 British pound (April 8) $1.35 of COVID-19 vaccines and vast In 2022, the IMF predicts, inter- base, though not as severe as the Japanese yen (April 8) 107.00 (Military exchange rates are those available sums of government aid will accel- national economic growth will de- 3.5% drop it had estimated three South Korean won (April 8) 1,087.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ erate global economic growth to a celerate to a still strong 4.4%, up months ago. Without $16 trillion in many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain(Dinar) 0.3770 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ record high this year in a powerful from its January forecast of 4.2%. global government aid that helped Britain (Pound) 1.3739 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2623 your local military banking facility. Commercial rebound from the pandemic re- “A way out of this health and ec- sustain companies and consumers China(Yuan) 6.5433 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.2537 cession, the International Moneta- onomic crisis is increasingly visi- during COVID-19 lockdowns, IMF Egypt (Pound) 15.7124 when buying currency. All figures are foreign ry Fund says in its latest forecast. ble,’’ IMF chief economist Gita forecasters say, last year’s down- Euro 0.8409 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7859 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ The 190-country lending agency Gopinath told reporters. turn could have been three times Hungary (Forint) 301.75 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2939 said Tuesday that it expects the The agency’s economists now worse. Japan (Yen) 109.84 INTEREST RATES world economy to expand 6% in estimate that the global economy The U.S. economy, the world’s Kuwait (Dinar) 0.3020 Norway (Krone) 8.4652 Prime rate 3.25 2021, up from the 5.5% it had fore- shrank 3.3% in 2020 after the re- biggest, is now forecast to expand Philippines (Peso) 48.72 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.75 Poland (Zloty) 3.85 Federal funds market rate 0.09 cast in January. It would be the cession that followed the coronavi- 6.4% in 2021 — its fastest growth Saudi Arabia (Riyal) 3.7504 3­month bill 0.02 fastest expansion for the global rus’ eruption across the world since 1984 — and 3.5% in 2022. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3395 30­year bond 2.31 WEATHER OUTLOOK THURSDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST THURSDAY IN EUROPE FRIDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 45/32

Kabul Seoul 67/42 66/41 Baghdad 71/54 Drawsko Osan Tokyo Kandahar Mildenhall/ 50/47 59/40 Pomorskie Busan 86/54 Lakenheath 44/33 54/34 59/45 Iwakuni Kuwait City 63/41 Bahrain Brussels Zagan Sasebo Guam 92/74 74/71 Ramstein 45/33 68/50 50/36 46/28 87/79 Riyadh Lajes, Stuttgart 97/70 Doha Azores Pápa 61/58 46/38 92/68 Aviano/ 49/26 Vicenza 56/49

Naples 60/51 Okinawa Morón 70/66 69/50 Sigonella Rota 66/48 The weather is provided by the Djibouti 61/55 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 89/76 61/54 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 18 Classified ...... 23 Comics ...... 17 Crossword ...... 17 Faces ...... 15 Opinion ...... 16 Sports ...... 19-24 Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY Marines start new probe into disaster that killed 9 troops

BY DAN LAMOTHE the 15th MEU, and Lt. Col. Mi- The Washington Post chael Regner, who commanded WASHINGTON — The Marine 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, a unit of Corps has launched a new investi- more than 1,000 troops that re- gation into an amphibious task ported to Bronzi and was a part of force at the center of a disaster at his task force. sea last year that killed nine U.S. But the investigation released troops, service officials said, open- on March 26 raised the possibility ing the possibility for additional that others also may be culpable. discipline for officers involved. They include Maj. Gen. Robert CAROLYN KASTER/AP A board of officers will review Castellvi, the former commanding A police officer stands behind police tape outside the apartment of Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Fantahun the formation of the 15th Marine general of 1st Marine Division, Girma Woldesenbet, assigned to Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md., on Tuesday. Expeditionary Unit, of Camp Pen- who oversaw the training of the dleton, Calif., with Lt. Gen. Carl Marines in the platoon of amphib- Mundy serving as board presi- ious assault vehicles involved. dent, the service said in a state- Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, the Sailor who shot 2 was assigned ment. commanding general of Marine “The investigation will inquire Corps Forces Pacific, found that into the formation of the 15th Castellvi “bears some responsibil- to Md. medical research center MEU; training and material read- ity” because the Marines involved iness impacting the formation of did not receive a required assess- BY ROBERT BURNS Medical Research Center’s Bio- given advance notice told him to the 15th MEU; and higher head- ment known as a Marine Corps AND MICHAEL KUNZELMAN logical Defense Research Direc- pull over for a search. But Wolde- quarters oversight of the 15th Combat Readiness Evaluation be- Associated Press torate at Fort Detrick, Navy Cmdr. senbet immediately sped off, mak- MEU,” the service said. “The goal fore they were reassigned to the WASHINGTON — A Navy- Denver Applehans, a spokesman ing it about a half-mile into the in- is to ensure the Marine Corps is 15th MEU. corpsman who shot and wounded for the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine stallation before he was stopped at doing everything possible to pre- Rudder opted not to discipline two sailors before he was killed by and Surgery, said Wednesday. a parking lot by the base’s police vent this type of mishap from hap- Castellvi, noting that the Marines police on a nearby Army base was The Naval Medi- force. When he pulled out a weap- pening again.” involved already had been trans- a laboratory technician assigned cal Research on, the police shot and killed him, The new investigation follows ferred under Bronzi. Castellvi is to a Naval medical research cen- Center’s head- Fort Detrick’s Brig. Gen. Michael an outcry from the relatives of now the service’s inspector gener- ter on the base, according to his quarters are in J. Talley said. some of the service members al. service record and a military offi- Silver Spring, Fort Detrick is home to the mil- killed in the disaster, in which an The investigation also cited the cial. Md. itary’s flagship biological defense armored vehicle designed to carry former commander of 3rd Assault Fantahun Girma Woldesenbet, Woldesenbet’s laboratory and several federal ci- Marines from Navy ships to shore Amphibian Battalion. The com- 38, and the two men he shot Tues- service record vilian biodefense labs. About rapidly took on water and sank on mander, who was not named in the day were all assigned to Fort De- says he enlisted 10,000 military personnel and ci- July 30 during a training exercise report the service released, did Woldesenbet trick in Frederick, authorities in September vilians work on the base, which off the coast of California. The not ensure that the Marines in- have said. 2012 and reported to his most re- encompasses about 1,300 acres in families have questioned why no volved in the AAV platoon re- One of the wounded sailors was cent position in August 2019. In the city of Frederick. general was held responsible after ceived the required combat read- released from a Baltimore hospi- between, he served at military fa- Woldesenbet lived at an apart- the initial investigation found nu- iness evaluation and that the vehi- tal Tuesday afternoon, while the cilities in San Antonio, Texas; ment building in Frederick, a few merous failures by Marine offi- cles were fully operational before other was in critical condition, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Corpus miles from the site of the shooting. cers, including a lack of safety they were assigned to the 15th military officials said on the Na- Christi, Texas; Bremerton, Wash.; Police cordoned off the apartment boats, slipshod maintenance, gaps MEU to prepare for a deployment, vy’s Twitter account. and Portsmouth, Va. on Tuesday afternoon and a neigh- in required training and compla- the investigation found. The Navy says it is sending a The shooting took place at a bor reported seeing officials es- cency. Rudder also wrote in his assess- “Special Psychiatric Rapid Inter- warehouse rented by the research corting his wife and children from “Why are these men allowed to ment that the coronavirus pan- vention Team” to Fort Detrick to directorate to store research sup- the building. be in control of people’s lives peri- demic played a role in the disaster. offer mental health services to plies and equipment. The ware- Lt. Col. Gregory Jackson, the od anymore?” Christiana Sweet- “In my opinion, this distracted people on the base. house is in the Riverside Tech Army base’s chaplain, said in a wood of Danville, Va., whose son personnel from the attention to de- Authorities haven’t disclosed a Park, an office park several miles Facebook post that the shootings was among those killed, said in an tail required to form a MEU,” possible motive for the shooting. from the Army base. The ware- leave a lasting mark on the Fort interview last week. “No more. Rudder wrote. “However, to the “We’re still trying to sort house is not staffed on a regular Detrick community “with a lot of That’s the angry part of me speak- extent any such distractions oc- through stacks of paper ... to figure basis and is leased by a military questions, and the biggest will be ing. Are these generals getting off curred, they should not have pre- out exactly what the motive would contractor, Applehans said. why?” and these lower-level guys taking vented the units involved from ac- be,” Frederick Police Lt. Andrew Woldesenbet shot the sailors “Why did this person choose to the blame?” complishing their respective mis- Alcorn said Tuesday. with a rifle, police and military of- do what he did?” he asked. “I wish Several officers have been re- sions.” Woldesenbet was a hospital ficials said. we had answers to these ques- moved from their job or disci- Seven Marines in the vehicle, corpsman third class who worked He then drove to the base, tions, but, we don’t always know plined, including Col. Christopher including the vehicle commander, as a lab technician in the Naval where gate guards who had been the reason.” Bronzi, the commanding officer of survived. Woman sentenced in Chinese smuggling case tied to Navy officer The Florida Times-Union Chinese technology company, vey Schlesinger imposed the time- flatable rubber “raiding craft” Ge hired the lieutenant’s wife, A defendant in a Chinese smug- pleaded guilty in August to con- served sentence last week, but the and military-grade motors from Yang Yang, as a consultant to han- gling case that led to a Jackson- spiring to violate American export order was only entered in the case American companies into China dle his Shanghai Breeze Technol- ville, Fla.-based Navy officer’s in- laws in a case where investigators docket in Jacksonville’s federal and hide their destination. ogy Co.’s business arrangements dictment has been sentenced to gathered information through use court Tuesday. Prosecutors said Ge had a long- with American companies and time she had already served be- of the spy-busting Foreign Intelli- Zheng was an assistant to Ge term connection to Lt. Fan Yang, both the lieutenant and his wife hind bars. gence Surveillance Act. Songtao, the head of a Chinese who was assigned to a command were indicted with the business- Zheng Yan, an employee of a Senior U.S. District Judge Har- company that wanted to ship in- at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. man and his assistant in 2019. PAGE 4 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 MILITARY Fort Benning eyed for housing migrant kids BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY porters at the Pentagon. co border have increased in re- and facilities to house children at HHS site on the base, Kirby said Stars and Stripes HHS has not sent a letter to the cent weeks. Unaccompanied chil- Camp Roberts, a National Guard Tuesday. The location has soft- WASHINGTON — Fort Ben- Defense Department to use Fort dren who are found by U.S. Bor- installation in central California. sided tents and can house up to ning, Ga., is the latest military Benning, he said. The Army in- der Patrol agents must be trans- The base could potentially house 5,000 children. base to be considered to tempora- stallation is the home of the servic- ferred to HHS within 72 hours. up to 1,500 children, according to A request to HHS about the site rily house migrant children, the e’s infantry, armor, airborne, and Due to the increase in people at local news reports. visit and the status of children at chief Pentagon spokesman said Ranger schools. these border facilities, HHS has The first request from HHS the three other military installa- Tuesday. The visit comes after three mil- been asking the Defense Depart- asked to use space on two Texas tions was not immediately return- The U.S. Department of Health itary installations have been re- ment to provide land and facilities military bases: Fort Bliss near El ed Tuesday afternoon. and Human Services conducted a quested to support HHS with tem- to house the children. Paso and Joint Base San Antonio- site visit at the Army installation porarily housing migrant children On Friday, the Pentagon ap- Lackland. Fort Bliss has slightly [email protected] Wednesday, John Kirby told re- as crossings along the U.S.-Mexi- proved a HHS request for land less than 1,000 children at the @caitlinmkenney US military help desk closes permanently at Japan’s Narita airport

BY SETH ROBSON lars to continue to maintain a Stars and Stripes desk in Narita,” she said. TOKYO — The U.S. military Closing the desk saves the mil- has shuttered an office at Narita itary $50,000 annually, she said. International Airport that The cost was split between the helped troops, Defense Depart- Army, Navy, Air Force and Ma- ment civilians and their families rine Corps. with lost luggage, transport to The regularly scheduled shut- bases, lodging and other travel- tle buses that run between Narita ers’ dilemmas. and the area’s many U.S. mili- The help desk, which closed tary bases will continue operat- March 31, was staffed daily from ing, Yokosuka Naval Base an- noon to 6 p.m. and catered to as nounced in a Facebook post last many as 30 incoming personnel week. each day, depending on the time But services that will no longer of year, U.S. Naval Forces Japan be available to U.S. personnel at spokeswoman Cmdr. Katie Cer- Narita include copying, printing ezo said in an email Wednesday. and scanning travel documents, The military has booked peo- lost luggage assistance, lodging THERON GODBOLD/Stars and Stripes ple departing or arriving at new assistance for stranded passen- A service member boards a bus to Narita International Airport at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on April 1. duty stations in Japan on flights gers, help with passenger reser- through Haneda International vations or space available prior- conditions that mandate the use Thursday from Yokota Air Base vided by the help desk. Airport in Tokyo since last year. ity, coordination of loading and of U.S. government shuttle, the in western Tokyo after complet- McCarthy, who was on his way Most military travelers going unloading buses, notifications best way for personnel to access ing two weeks of quarantine. He to Hiroshima, said he’s an adept through Narita now are on tem- for delayed bus arrival or depar- the shuttle is to closely coordi- wasn’t thrilled to hear the help internet user but added: “Ulti- porary duty, Cerezo said. ture and calls to military tele- nate with their command spon- desk is no more. mately, face to face is the best “Due to a change in the con- phones, according to the post. sor and installation prior to ar- “It’s going to be a pain,” he way to provide those services.” tract, the determination was Each base in Japan has its own rival,” she said. said, adding that people will end made that it was no longer an ef- airport shuttle, Cerezo said. Dennis McCarthy, 69, was on up going online to access some of [email protected] ficient use of U.S. taxpayer dol- “Due to COVID (coronavirus) his way to Narita on a shuttle bus the services that had been pro- Twitter: @SethRobson1 Former soldier gets 12½ years in staged kidnapping of 12-year-old girl

The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer was a private second class sta- sic examination confirmed that hamster. The friend explained to volved in a sexual relationship, said NEW BERN — A former Fort tioned with the 82nd Airborne Di- Peele had recently had sexual in- investigators that he had become that when she told him her true Bragg soldier was sentenced to vision. tercourse with the girl, the release disgusted and left the room when age, he responded that age is just a more than 12 years in federal pris- The case began the morning of said. Peele and the minor began kissing. number. She admitted that she had on on Tuesday for staging the kid- Oct. 21, 2018, when a New Bern During the investigation, law en- Investigators determined that not been kidnapped but denied napping of a 12-year-old girl and grandmother found a ransom note forcement interviewed a friend of after staging the kidnapping, Peele coming up with the idea to stage a leaving behind a ransom note to demanding $20,000 in her 12-year- Peele’s, also a soldier stationed at drove the minor victim to his par- kidnapping, the release said. throw off authorities. old granddaughter’s empty bed- Fort Bragg, who described how a ents’ home in South Carolina Peele made a videotaped confes- James Murdock Fletcher Peele, room, according to a news release week before the staged kidnap- where he introduced her as his sion during which he admitted to 21, pleaded guilty June 26, 2020, to from the U.S. Attorney for the East- ping, Peele had asked for a ride to girlfriend and claimed that she having sex with the minor victim transportation of a minor with in- ern District of North Carolina. his “girlfriend’s” house in New worked in a sewing shop, the re- and to writing the ransom note, the tent to engage in criminal sexual Investigators found mulch from Bern. Peele had claimed the girl lease said. The two stayed for less release said. activity, court records show. In ex- the yard on the child’s bed and was 18 years old, the friend said. than 30 minutes before Peele’s ser- He claimed the victim had asked change for the plea, a count of sex- smudges on the window but no sign When they arrived, however, geant called him back to Fort to leave with him and had come up ual abuse of a minor was dismis- of forced entry. While reviewing Peele instructed the friend to park Bragg. with the idea of staging a kidnap- sed. U.S. District Court Judge the granddaughter’s Facebook at a vacant house nearby, and Peele Upon his return to North Caroli- ping. Peele also claimed that he be- Louise Wood Flanagan sentenced page, they noted that Peele was list- entered the home through a win- na, the girl waited in his barracks lieved the victim was 18 years old, to 151 months, or 12½ years in pris- ed as her boyfriend. dow. The friend said he also en- room while he met with his ser- but he admitted that he saw her at a on. He will receive credit for the That same day, agents with the tered the room and became con- geant, Peele’s roommate told in- sleepover with friends who looked time he’s served since his arrest. Federal Bureau of Investigation cerned about the girl’s age after vestigators. very young, including one girl At the time of his arrest, Peele, found Peele and the girl in his bar- noticing childlike decor, including The victim, who told investiga- whose age he had seen to be 12 originally from Chesterfield, S.C., racks room on Fort Bragg. A foren- middle school photographs and a tors that she and Peele had been in- years old, according to the release. Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 5 MILITARY Risk: Taiwan minister says military threat against country rising ades of ground-focused combat FROM PAGE 1 against extremists in the Middle matically and by other means — to East. deter Beijing as it seeks to sup- Hardly an aspect of China’s mil- plant the United States as the pre- itary modernization has failed to dominant power in Asia. Some rile the U.S. military. Adm. Char- American military leaders see les Richard, who as head of U.S. Taiwan as potentially the most im- Strategic Command is responsible mediate flashpoint. for U.S. nuclear forces, wrote in a “We have indications that the recent essay that China is on track risks are actually going up,” Adm. to be a “strategic peer” of the Unit- Philip Davidson, the most senior ed States. He said China’s nuclear U.S. military commander in the weapons stockpile is expected to Asia-Pacific region, told a Senate double “if not triple or quadruple” panel last month, referring to a in the next 10 years, although that Chinese military move on Taiwan. goes beyond the Pentagon’s offi- CODY BEAM/U.S. NAVY “The threat is manifest during cial view that the stockpile will “at An MH­60R helicopter takes off from the flight deck of the USS Mustin in the Taiwan Strait in 2020. The this decade — in fact, in the next least double” in that period. U.S. military is warning of an increasing threat of a Chinese move against Taiwan. six years,” Davidson said. Taiwan, however, is seen as the Days later, Davidson’s expect- most pressing problem. ed successor, Adm. John Aquilino, U.S. officials have noted Peo- declined to back up the six-year ple’s Liberation Army actions that China warns not to boycott Winter Olympics timeframe but told senators at his seem designed to rattle Taiwan. Associated Press confirmation hearing: “My opin- For example, Chinese aerial in- spirit of the Olympic Charter and the interests of ion is, this problem is much closer cursions, including flying around BEIJING — China’s government warned Wash- athletes from all countries,” said the spokesper- to us than most think.” the island, are a near-daily occur- ington on Wednesday not to boycott next year’s son, Zhao Lijian. “The international community Biden administration officials rence, serving to advertise the Winter Olympics in Beijing after the Biden ad- including the U.S. Olympic Committee will not ac- have spoken less pointedly but threat, wear down Taiwanese pi- ministration said it was talking with allies about a cept it.” stress the intention to deepen ties lots and aircraft and learn more joint approach to complaints of human rights Human rights groups have urged a boycott or with Taiwan, eliciting warnings about Taiwan’s capabilities. abuses. other measures to call attention to accusations of from Beijing against outsider in- Chinese officials have scoffed at A Foreign Ministry spokesperson rejected ac- Chinese abuses against Uyghurs, Tibetans and terference in what it considers a Davidson’s Taiwan comments. A cusations of abuses against ethnic minorities in residents of Hong Kong. domestic matter. Ministry of Defense spokesman, the Xinjiang region. He warned of an unspecified The U.S. State Department suggested an Olym- On Wednesday, Taiwanese For- Col. Ren Guoqiang, urged Wash- “robust Chinese response” to a potential Olympics pic boycott was among the possibilities but a se- eign Minister Joseph Wu said the ington to “abandon zero-peace boycott. nior official said later a boycott has not been dis- military threat against his country thinking” and do more to build “The politicization of sports will damage the cussed. is increasing, and while he said it mutual trust and stability. He said was not yet “particularly alarm- that “attempts by outside forces to ing,” the Chinese military in the use Taiwan to seek to restrain Chi- Larry Diamond, a senior fellow at objections to a wide range of Chi- from Chinese missiles and pre- last couple of years has been con- na, or the use by Taiwan inde- Stanford University’s Hoover In- nese actions. serving U.S. military dominance ducting what he called “real com- pendence forces to use military stitution, said last week he doubts Last week, the U.S. ambassador in the region. bat-type” exercises closer to the means to achieve independence, Chinese leaders are ready to force to the Pacific island nation of Pa- Rep. Adam Smith, a Washing- island. are all dead ends.” the issue. lau, John Hennessey-Niland, be- ton Democrat and chairman of the “We are willing to defend our- The implications of a Chinese “I don’t think it’s coming soon,” came the first serving U.S. ambas- House Armed Services Commit- selves, that’s without any ques- military move against Taiwan and he said. sador to visit Taiwan since Wash- tee, is skeptical of the military’s tion,” Wu told reporters. “We will its 23 million people are so pro- The Trump administration ington cut ties with Taipei in favor fixation on dominance. fight a war if we need to fight a found and potentially grave that made a series of moves to demon- of Beijing. “Given the way the world works war, and if we need to defend our- Beijing and Washington have long strate a stronger commitment to China is a frequent target of now, having one country be dom- selves to the very last day, then we managed a fragile middle ground Taiwan, including sending a Cabi- criticism in Congress. Concerns inant is just hopelessly unrealis- will defend ourselves to the very — Taiwanese political autonomy net member to Taipei last year, about countering its growing mil- tic,” he said in a recent online fo- last day.“ that precludes control by Beijing making him the highest-level U.S. itary might are reflected in pas- rum sponsored by Meridian, a Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin but stops short of formal inde- official to visit the island since for- sage of the Pacific Deterrence Ini- nonpartisan diplomacy center. calls China the “pacing threat” for pendence. mal diplomatic relations were se- tiative, funded at $2.2 billion for He said the U.S. military can the United States, and the military Predictions of when China vered in 1979 in deference to Chi- 2021. maintain sufficient strength, in services are adjusting according- might decide to try to compel Tai- na. Davidson wants it to support, partnership with allies, to send the ly. The Marine Corps, for exam- wan to reunite with the mainland The Biden administration says among other initiatives, establish- message: “China, don’t invade ple, is reshaping itself with China have long varied, and there is no it wants to cooperate with China ing a better air defense system to Taiwan because the price you’re and Russia in mind after two dec- uniform view in the United States. where possible but has voiced its protect the U.S. territory of Guam going to pay for that isn’t worth it.” USAF master sergeant pleads guilty to drug, gun charges BY CHAD GARLAND handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun — ed him on charges, including selling for distributing a mixture laced with on a resolution to both the military Stars and Stripes the Justice Department said in a aCentury Arms AK-47 and a .25 cal- cocaine. and civil charges, according to a An Air Force master sergeant at statement Tuesday, citing court re- iber Titan handgun without a li- He pleaded guilty to the count of February court filing. Nellis Air Force Base pleaded guilty cords and Reimers’ admissions in cense, and selling a Mossberg shot- selling firearms without a license The airman faces a maximum in federal court Tuesday to selling court. In July of that year, he sold gun to a prohibited person, who and one count of distributing a con- sentence of life in prison with the methamphetamine and illegally $800 worth of meth, the government prosecutors said he had reason to trolled substance for the meth sale. possibility of parole and a fine of trafficking in firearms. said. believe was in the U.S. illegally. He was held in pretrial confine- over $10 million. A sentencing hear- Michael Reimers, 41, of Las Ve- He was arrested in September Reimers was also charged with ment at Nellis while awaiting a pos- ing is scheduled for July 13. gas, offered to sell several firearms 2019 at Nellis, where he was as- two counts of distributing a con- sible general court-martial for the th in July through September 2019 — signed to the 99 Communications trolled substance, one for the sale of same misconduct, court records [email protected] including an AK-47, a .25 caliber Squadron, after a grand jury indict- 50 grams or more of meth and one show. Both sides had been working Twitter: @chadgarland PAGE 6 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 VIRUS OUTBREAK US military gains on vaccine in Japan, S. Korea

BY JOSEPH DITZLER come and get vaccinated. Stars and Stripes The Kadena Air Base medical U.S. Forces Korea and three clinic will administer the two-shot military commands in Japan have Moderna vaccine on Thursday announced plans to expand their and Friday to all personnel, uni- vaccination programs to anyone formed and civilian, who live, 18 and older who is eligible in the work or receive their medical military health care system. care on the installation, according Meanwhile, Japan’s second- to a base Facebook post. most populous prefecture on Inoculations will be given at the Wednesday reported its highest Risner Gym basketball courts at one-day total of new coronavirus Kadena. Appointments must be patients. Osaka prefecture an- booked online at https:// nounced another 878 newly in- bit.ly/3uvs5Sm. fected people, exceeding the pre- Likewise, Naval Hospital Oki- vious one-day record, 719, set nawa at Camp Foster is offering Tuesday, according to public inoculations to eligible 18-year- broadcaster NHK and prefectural olds and older, according to a data. news release. Appointments are In Tokyo, 555 people tested pos- booked online at https:// itive for the virus Wednesday, bit.ly/31QHUab. NHK reported. That’s the city’s MATTHEW KEELER/Stars and Stripes The hospital has already vacci- highest one-day count since a 2 An airman assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing receives the one­shot Jannsen COVID­19 vaccine last month nated tens of thousands of people, ½-month-long state of emergency at Osan Air Base, South Korea. according to its commander, there ended March 21. It’s also the Capt. David Krulak. The U.S. pop- highest one-day total since 695 The fifth, at Marine Corps Air infections continues to rise. hind the United States in vacci- ulation on Okinawa is nearly tested positive Feb. 6, according Station Iwakuni, tested positive Most U.S. military command- nating their populations against 80,000. to metro government data. for the virus after having contact ers have put Osaka off-limits as a COVID-19, but U.S. commands in “Anybody who can possibly get By contrast, only the Marine with another infected person, ac- leave and liberty destination for those countries are making pro- care either at the 18th Med Group Corps on Okinawa as of 6 p.m. cording to a base Facebook post. the people on their installations. gress. at Kadena or at the hospital here Wednesday had reported any new The new patient was not initially “Japan, unfortunately, is expe- USFK announced that starting is welcome to come to USNHO cases of COVID-19, the coronavi- quarantined but was isolated after riencing an uptick in COVID Thursday, it will offer the one- and get their vaccine,” Krulak rus respiratory disease, within the being tested. cases,” Capt. Manning Montag- shot Johnson & Johnson, or Jans- said in a Facebook video posted U.S. military in Japan. Osaka, neighboring Hyogo pre- net, commander of Naval Air Fa- sen, vaccine to anyone 18 and ol- Wednesday. The Marines on Okinawa had fecture and Miyagi prefecture in cility Atsugi, southeast of Tokyo, der and eligible in the U.S. mili- The hospital is dispensing the four new COVID-19 patients on northeast Japan are under a re- said on American Forces Network tary health care system. USFK Moderna vaccine but expects to Tuesday and Wednesday, accord- newed state of emergency as the Radio on Wednesday. “In fact, 42 has about 28,500 service mem- receive the Johnson & Johnson ing to a Facebook post by Marine new case numbers there are ris- of the nation’s 47 prefectures are bers on the peninsula. vaccine next week, he said. Corps Installations Pacific: two at ing. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told experiencing increases in daily On Okinawa, the Air Force and

Camp Hansen and one each at NHK she too is considering emer- cases.” Navy also called Wednesday for [email protected] Camps Courtney and Kinser. gency measures if the tide of new Japan and South Korea lag be- any eligible person 18 and older to Twitter: @JosephDitzler Vaccine: Different services have different availability in Europe

FROM PAGE 1 Availability has varied within 40% of its population had been ful- “The fact that we aren’t even vaccine access by May 1. That pro- 42% of those over 18 have received Europe between services, coun- ly vaccinated. close to that over here and it’s that jection, however, depends on how at least one dose, while 24% have tries and within garrisons. U.S. There’s also been some pro- many less people, is very frustrat- quickly the department can get been fully vaccinated, Centers for Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz’s gress elsewhere in Italy. The Ar- ing,” she said. vaccines, Place said at a Pentagon Disease Control and Prevention Baumholder community an- my in Vicenza opened inocula- In Belgium, Sonja Nieuwejaar, briefing last month. data showed Tuesday. nounced appointment registration tions to those with one or more 46, a civilian spouse in Mons, reac- Outside of Europe, several The Air Force in Europe in- for its entire population in a Face- high-risk conditions this week. hed out to her New Hampshire bases are already well ahead of cludes all family members, in- book post this week. But at other bases, campaigns lawmakers. that timeline. cluding children who are ineligi- About 25 miles south, Landstuhl continue to stall. “DOD when it fights a war, the Fort Bragg, N.C., opened ap- ble to receive the vaccine, in their Regional Medical Center and its The Army’s Bavaria garrison machinery kicks in, but in the pointments to everyone 16 and up data. The figures show 32% have thousands of beneficiaries are clinic in Hohenfels said Monday fight against COVID, it seems like starting Tuesday. received at least one dose and mostly waiting. The hospital said that no additional vaccine was re- DOD was unprepared and I’m not “There are plenty of good ap- 21.5% are fully vaccinated, said 1st in a statement that they “expect to ceived or administered last week, sure what happened,” she said. pointments available this week,” a Lt. Hannah Durbin, a U.S. Air begin vaccinating” a tier that in- and none is expected this week. In correspondence with con- message on the base’s Facebook Forces in Europe — Air Forces cludes those with high-risk medi- “Rest assured, we are diligently gressional staffers, Seger and page said Monday. The base offers Africa spokeswoman. cal conditions next week. advocating for our clinic to re- Nieuwejaar were told the Penta- the Pfizer vaccine, which is rec- At Ramstein, the largest Air Several of those considered ceive more vaccinations for the gon expects to begin making the ommended for people 16 years of Force base in Europe, vaccina- high-risk who were able to get community,” the clinic said in a vaccine available to stateside and age and older, according to CDC tions are mostly going to essential vaccinated counted themselves Facebook post. overseas healthy personnel and guidance, which recommends workers, personnel preparing to lucky. Some Americans have appealed families in early May. Moderna for those 18 and older. deploy and those 75 years and ol- Bill Black, 67, a Marine Corps to Congress for help. “Just to have a marker on the Elsewhere overseas, U.S. der. retiree and his wife, Judy, were Emilee Seger, 31, and her hus- calendar was encouraging,” Nieu- Forces Korea announced that the The clinic has vaccinated a lim- vaccinated Monday in Wiesba- band, a Defense Department civil- wejaar said, “versus this up in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would ited number of people with under- den, Germany. ian at Ramstein, began writing to air, we have no idea” when vacci- be available for anyone 18 and ol- lying health conditions “due to “Judy has a sore arm. I have a their federal and state elected offi- nations will be available. der starting Thursday. U.S. Cen- Ramstein’s large population size sore head after celebrating last cials in Ohio last month, urging The Pentagon did not immedi- tral Command announced weeks and number of doses required for night,” Black said Tuesday. them to make the U.S. military ately confirm this timeline when ago that it would be receiving this tier,” 1st Lt. Shelby Chapman, Black was ready to fly to the Na- community in Europe a priority, asked by Stars and Stripes on large vaccine shipments and ex- a spokeswoman for the 86th Airlift vy base in Naples to get inoculated she said. Tuesday. pected the majority of its person- Wing, said in a statement. before being turned away. Naples Ohio is among more than a doz- Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, the De- nel to be inoculated by early April. The wing anticipates it will re- has been well ahead of most instal- en states that have expanded coro- fense Health Agency director, ceive more doses “over the com- lations in Europe since January. navirus vaccine eligibility to any- said Tuesday on Twitter that he [email protected] ing weeks,” Chapman added. The base reported last month that one 16 and older. expects everyone in DOD to have Twitter: @stripesktown Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 7 VIRUS OUTBREAK Nearly half of new US cases are in just 5 states

Associated Press where infection numbers are tions. She has blamed the virus “We still need supply, supply, New virus variants are clearly Nearly half of new coronavirus climbing makes sense, said Dr. El- surge on pandemic fatigue, which supply,” de Blasio said, before one of the drivers in the increase, infections nationwide are in just vin H. Geng, a professor in infec- has people moving about more, as adding, “But things are really get- said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domin- five states — a situation that is put- tious diseases at Washington Uni- well as more contagious variants. ting better.” go, chair of the department of epi- ting pressure on the federal gov- versity. But it’s also complicated. “Taking steps back wasn’t going On the state level, Gov. Andrew demiology and biostatistics at the ernment to consider changing how States that are more successfully to fix the issue,” Whitmer said as Cuomo has not called publicly for University of California at San it distributes vaccines by sending controlling the virus might see less she got her first vaccine dose Tues- an increase in New York’s vaccine Francisco. Failure to suppress the more doses to hot spots. vaccine as a result. day at Ford Field in Detroit, home allotment, even as cases ticked up rise in cases will lead to more peo- New York, Michigan, Florida, “You wouldn’t want to make of the NFL’s Lions. “What we have in recent weeks and the number of ple getting sick and dying, she said, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to- those folks wait because they were to do is really put our foot down on hospitalized people hit a plateau. and drive increases in other parts gether reported 44% of the nation’s doing better,” Geng said. “On the the pedal on vaccines” and urge In New Jersey, where the seven- of the country. new COVID-19 infections, or near- other hand, it only makes sense to people to wear masks, keep their day rolling average of daily new in- “More vaccine needs to be ly 197,500 new cases, in the latest send vaccines to where the cases social distance and wash their fections has risen over the past two where the virus is,” Bibbins-Dom- available seven-day period, ac- are rising.” hands. weeks, from 4,050 daily cases to ingo said, adding that people cording to state health agency data The spike in cases has been es- Whitmer got the shot the day af- 4,250, Democratic Gov. Phil Mur- should get over the “scarcity compiled by Johns Hopkins Uni- pecially pronounced in Michigan, ter Michigan expanded eligibility phy said he is constantly talking to mindset” that has them thinking versity. Total U.S. infections dur- where the seven-day average of to everyone 16 and older. She the White House about demand for surging vaccine into one place will ing the same week numbered daily new infections reached 6,719 asked the White House last week the coronavirus vaccine, though hurt people elsewhere. more than 452,000. cases Sunday — more than double during a conference call with gov- he stopped short of saying he was The heavy concentration of new what it was two weeks earlier. Only ernors whether it has considered lobbying for more vaccines be- cases in states that account for 22% New York reported higher case sending extra vaccine to states bat- cause of the state’s high infection of the U.S. population has prompt- numbers. And California and Tex- tling virus surges. She was told all rate. ed some experts and elected offi- as, which have vastly larger pop- options were on the table. Vaccine shipments to New Jer- cials to call for President Joe Bi- ulations than Michigan, are re- In New York City, vaccination sey were up 12% in the last week, den’s administration to ship addi- porting less than half its number of appointments are still challenging Murphy said Monday, though he tional vaccine doses to those plac- daily infections. to get. Mayor Bill de Blasio has questioned whether that’s enough. es. So far, the White House has Though Michigan has seen the publicly harangued the federal “We constantly look at, OK, we shown no signs of shifting from its highest rate of new infections in government about the need for a know we’re going up, but are we policy of dividing vaccine doses the past two weeks, Democratic bigger vaccine allotment almost going up at the rate we should be, among states based on population. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has said daily, a refrain he repeated when particularly given the amount of Sending extra doses to places she does not plan to tighten restric- speaking to reporters Tuesday. cases we have?” Murphy said.

Army-developed vaccine could ‘stop variants in their tracks’

BY JOHN VANDIVER other pandemic,” Kayvon Mod- new coronaviruses in human pop- responses against the virus that Stars and Stripes jarrad, director of Walter Reed’s ulations, which Modjarrad said causes COVID-19” and three ma- The U.S. Army this week began emerging infectious diseases was “a threat that has been accel- jor variants, the statement said. testing a vaccine that could pro- branch, said in a statement. erating in recent years.” The current phase of testing will tect against “major variants” and Clinical testing of the vaccine “That’s why we need a vaccine involve 72 healthy adult volun- new strains of the coronavirus, began Tuesday at the Walter Reed like this: one that has potential to teers aged 18-55. one of the vaccine’s developers Army Institute of Research. protect broadly and proactively Several coronavirus vaccines said. The Army first started working against multiple coronavirus spe- are available around the world “We have designed and posi- on the vaccine in January 2020, cies and strains,” he said. and hundreds more are in devel- tioned this platform as the next weeks before the World Health Modjarrad co-invented the vac- opment. The BioNTech-Pfizer, generation vaccine, one that paves Organization expressed alarm cine, known as SpFN, with Walter Johnson & Johnson and Moderna the way for a universal vaccine to over the “levels of spread and se- Reed Army Institute of Research vaccines are the most used in the protect against not only the cur- verity” of the virus and declared colleague Gordon Joyce. United States and by the military. rent virus, but also counter future COVID-19 to be a pandemic. Pre-clinical studies have found variants, stopping them in their The Walter Reed team is con- that SpFN “induces highly potent [email protected] tracks before they can cause an- cerned about the emergence of and broad neutralizing antibody Twitter: @john_vandiver PAGE 8 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 NATION Ruling gives path for Dems’ agenda despite filibuster Associated Press “For a president who ran as a bi- WASHINGTON — With a pow- partisan, I haven’t seen that yet,” erful new tool, Senate Majority McConnell told reporters in Ken- Leader Chuck Schumer has fresh tucky. options for potentially advancing McConnell said Biden is a “ter- President Joe Biden’s infrastruc- rific person I know him well, I like ture package and other priorities him. We’ve been friends for years. past Republican obstruction in the A moderate he has not been.” 50-50 split Senate. While congressional Democrats Republicans still pledge to do all had already planned on resorting they can to halt Biden, but an offi- to “budget reconciliation,” a spe- cial parliamentarian’s opinion this cial, budget-linked procedure with AP week is a potential game-changer. a 51-vote threshold to pass parts of Houseboats float in the drought­lowered waters of Oroville Lake near Oroville, Calif., in 2014. Rainstorms It unleashes multiple options for Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure grew more erratic and droughts much longer across most of the U.S. West over the past half­century, Democrats to advance parts of Bi- package, the parliamentarian’s according to a government study released Tuesday. den’s agenda — including immi- ruling opens the door to using it on gration and Medicare legislation certain other priorities. —with 51 votes in the 100-member Talks are swirling around an im- Senate rather than the 60 typically migration overhaul that could pro- Study: Drought-breaking rains needed to move major legislation vide a pathway to citizenship for past filibuster threats. some. There is also discussion There has been talk of trying to about using the process to lower more rare, erratic in US West change the filibuster rules, but that the Medicare retirement age from BY MATTHEW BROWN creasingly unpredictable, and able for agriculture and plants would be a very heavy political lift 65 to 60 and other agenda items. Associated Press more areas showing longer inter- such as grasses that have shallow in the divided and tradition-devot- Using the budget rules to pass BILLINGS, Mont. — Rainstorms vals between storms since the turn roots and need a steadier supply of ed Senate. sweeping legislation on a party line grew more erratic and droughts of the century compared to prior moisture than large trees. The White House was heartened vote is not new. Congress used the much longer across most of the decades, the study concludes. “Once the growing season starts, by the parliamentarian’s ruling budget reconciliation process last U.S. West over the past half-centu- The study comes with almost the total amount of rainfall is im- but isn’t giving up on support from month to approve Biden’s sweep- ry as climate change warmed the two-thirds of the contiguous U.S. portant. But if it comes in just a few some Republicans, despite their ing $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue planet, according to a sweeping beset by abnormally dry condi- large storms, with really long dry strong opposition to paying for despite no Republican support. government study released Tues- tions. Warm temperatures forecast periods in between, that can have much of the infrastructure plan First used in 1980, the process day that concludes the situation is for the next several months could really detrimental consequences,” with a corporate tax increase. The has been employed most years worsening. make it the worst spring drought in study co-author Biederman said in president, said press secretary Jen since, according to a Congression- The most dramatic changes almost a decade, affecting roughly an interview. Psaki, “continues to believe ... that al Research Service report. But the were recorded in the desert South- 74 million people across the U.S., The total amount of rain in a year there is a bipartisan path forward.” opinion by the nonpartisan Senate west, where the average dry period the National Oceanic and Atmo- doesn’t matter to plants — espe- However, it is clear that the deep parliamentarian, Elizabeth between rainstorms grew from spheric Administration said. cially if rains come mostly in heavy partisan polarization in Washing- McDonough, late Monday means about 30 days in the 1970s to 45 Water use cutbacks, damaged bursts with large run-off — but ton has led to a new era in legisla- the process can potentially be used days between storms now, said wheat crops, more fires and lower consistent moisture is what keeps ting. The seasoned policy wonks on multiple times this year — rather Joel Biederman, a research hy- reservoirs in California and the them alive, said UCLA meteorolo- Capitol Hill are digging deep into than just two or three times, as had drologist with the U.S. Department Southwest are possible, weather gist Daniel Swain, who writes a the procedural toolbox to find been expected. of Agriculture Southwest Wa- service and agriculture officials weather blog about the West and ways around the gridlock that typ- Typically, Congress has one tershed Research Center in Tuc- have warned. Climate scientists was not part of the study. ically leaves Congress at a stand- budget resolution every fiscal son, Ariz. are calling what’s happening in the The new findings were publish- still. year, or two each calendar year The consequences of the intense West a continuation of a “mega- ed in the journal Geophysical Re- Senate Republican leader Mitch since the fiscal year starts Oct. 1. dry periods that pummeled areas drought” that started in 1999. search Letters. Researchers led by McConnell chided Biden for parti- The parliamentarian signaled if of the West in recent years were se- While previous research docu- University of Arizona climate sci- sanship, and declared Tuesday the annual budget resolution is re- vere — more intense and danger- mented a decline in total rainfall entist Fangyue Zhang compiled that his side would not be support- vised, the process can be used ous wildfires, parched croplands for much of the West, the work by daily readings going back to 1976 ing the $2.3 trillion infrastructure again. and not enough vegetation to sup- Biederman and colleagues put from 337 weather stations across package that Biden wants to pay That’s a quicker route to passage port livestock and wildlife. And the more focus on when that rain oc- the western U.S. and analyzed rain- for with the tax hike on corpora- for certain Biden priorities than problem appears to be accelerat- curs. That has significant implica- fall and drought data to identify the tions. gutting the Senate filibuster. ing, with rainstorms becoming in- tions for how much water is avail- changing patterns. Breyer: Proposed Supreme Court changes could diminish trust Associated Press School students, faculty and alumni. have prompted talk that Breyer, ap- jority, the court in the past year re- Breyer acknowledged that con- WASHINGTON — Justice Ste- His talk, Breyer said, “seeks to pointed by Democratic President frained from getting involved in the servative views prevailed in other phen Breyer on Tuesday said liberal make those whose initial instincts Bill Clinton in 1994, could soon re- 2020 election, delivered a victory to decisions. advocates of big changes at the Su- may favor important structural (or tire, perhaps as early as the sum- Louisiana abortion clinics and re- “These considerations convince preme Court, including expanding other similar institutional) changes, mer. jected former President Donald me that it is wrong to think of the the number of justices, should think such as forms of ‘court-packing,’ While he has said nothing publi- Trump’s effort to end legal protec- Court as another political institu- “long and hard” about what they’re think long and hard before embody- cly about his plans, the speech could tions for immigrants who were tion,” he said. proposing. ing those changes in law.” be read as a kind of farewell ad- brought to the United States as chil- Breyer’s speech was part of Har- Politically driven change could Breyer, a Harvard law alumnus dress, filled with calls for the public dren. vard’s Scalia Lecture Series, named diminish the trust Americans place who also taught at the school, is the to view the justices as more than “ju- Trump appointed three justices for the late Justice Antonin Scalia. in the court, Breyer said in the pre- court’s oldest justice at 82. Presi- nior league politicians.” to the court, the last of whom, Amy Breyer and Scalia were high-court pared text of a long speech he gave dent Joe Biden’s election and Dem- He noted, for example, that de- Coney Barrett, replaced the late colleagues for more than two dec- remotely Tuesday to Harvard Law ocrats’ paper-thin Senate majority spite the court’s conservative ma- Ruth Bader Ginsburg in October. ades. Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 9 NATION Minn. officers line up to reject Chauvin’s actions Associated Press submitted Tuesday, Chauvin took a 40- weight to maintain control. different moments during Floyd’s arrest, MINNEAPOLIS — The parade of Min- hour course in 2016 on how to recognize But Mercil added: “We tell officers to starting about four minutes after he was neapolis police officers rejecting a for- people in crisis — including those suffer- stay away from the neck when possible.” first pinned to the ground, according to mer officer’s actions in restraining Ge- ing mental problems or the effects of Nelson has argued that the now-fired time stamps on the images. orge Floyd continued at his murder trial, drug use — and how to use de-escalation white officer “did exactly what he had In other testimony, Jody Stiger, a Los including a use-of-force instructor who techniques to calm them down. been trained to do over his 19-year ca- Angeles Police Department sergeant said officers were coached to “stay away Sgt. Ker Yang, the Minneapolis police reer,” and he has suggested that the ille- serving as a prosecution use-of-force ex- from the neck when possible.” official in charge of crisis-intervention gal drugs in Floyd’s system and his un- pert, said officers were justified in using Lt. Johnny Mercil on Tuesday became training, said officers are taught to “slow derlying health conditions are what force while Floyd was resisting their ef- the latest member of the Minneapolis things down and reevaluate and reas- killed him, not Chauvin’s knee. forts to put him in a squad car. But once force to take the stand as part of an effort sess.” In fact, Nelson sought to point out mo- he was on the ground and stopped resist- by prosecutors to dismantle the argu- Records show Chauvin also underwent ments in the video footage when he said ing, “at that point the officers … should ment that Derek Chauvin was doing what training in the use of force in 2018. Mercil Chauvin’s knee did not appear to be on have slowed down or stopped their force he was trained to do when he put his knee said those who attended were taught that Floyd’s neck. as well.” on George Floyd’s neck last May. the sanctity of life is a cornerstone of de- Nelson showed Mercil several images Stiger said that after reviewing video of Several experienced officers, includ- partmental policy and that officers must taken from officers’ body-camera videos, the arrest, “my opinion was that the force ing the police chief himself, have testified use the least amount of force required to asking after each one whether it showed was excessive.” that Floyd should not have been kept get a suspect to comply. Chauvin’s knee appearing to rest more on Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder pinned to the pavement for close to 9 ½ Under cross-examination by Chauvin Floyd’s back, shoulder or shoulder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death May minutes by prosecutors’ reckoning as the attorney Eric Nelson, Mercil testified blades than directly on Floyd’s neck. 25. Floyd, 46, was arrested outside a Black man lay face down, his hands that officers are trained in some situa- Mercil often agreed. neighborhood market after being ac- cuffed behind his back. tions to use their knee across a suspect’s Nelson acknowledged the images were cused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 According to testimony and records back or shoulder and employ their body difficult to make out. They were taken at bill. Ark. lawmakers enact ban on trans youth treatment Associated Press from drinking. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkan- “They need to get to be 18 be- sas lawmakers Tuesday made the fore they make those decisions,” state the first to ban gender con- Republican Rep. Robin Lund- firming treatments and surgery strum said. for transgender youth, enacting The Family Council, a conser- the prohibition over the gover- vative group that backed the nor’s objections. measure, praised lawmakers for The Republican-controlled enacting “historic legislation.” House and Senate voted to over- Hutchinson said the measure ride GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s went too far in interfering with veto of the measure, which pro- parents and physicians, and hibits doctors from providing noted that it will cut off care for gender confirming hormone transgender youth already re- treatment, puberty blockers or ceiving treatment. He said he surgery to anyone under 18 years would have signed the bill if it old, or from referring them to had focused only on gender con- other providers for the treat- firming surgery, which currently HAVEN DALEY / AP ment. isn’t performed on minors in the The San Francisco school board suspended a plan to rename 44 public schools, including those named for Opponents of the measure have state. presidents Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. vowed to sue to block the ban be- “I do hope my veto will cause fore it takes effect this summer. my Republican colleagues across Hutchinson vetoed the bill the country to resist the tempta- Monday following pleas from pe- tion to put the state in the middle San Francisco board suspends diatricians, social workers and of every decision made by par- the parents of transgender youth ents and health care profession- who said the measure would als,” Hutchinson said in a state- plan to rename some schools harm a community already at ment after the vote. Associated Press War hero Paul Revere. A school than getting children back into risk for depression and suicide. The law will take effect in late SAN FRANCISCO — Ameri- named for longtime Sen. Dianne classrooms. The ban was opposed by several July at the earliest. The Ameri- ca’s founding fathers got a re- Feinstein was on the list as well. Feinstein Elementary made medical and child welfare can Civil Liberties Union said it prieve Tuesday in San Francisco, Tuesday’s 6-0 decision means the list because when she was groups, including the American planned to challenge the measure when the city’s scandal-plagued that the school board is rescind- mayor in 1984, a decision was Academy of Pediatrics. before then. school board formally suspended ing its vote from January and will made to replace a vandalized “This legislation perpetuates “This is a sad day for Arkansas, a plan to rename 44 schools as revisit the matter after all stu- Confederate flag that was part of the very things we know are but this fight is not over — and part of a racial reckoning that dents have returned full time to a longstanding display outside harmful to trans youth,” Dr. Rob- we’re in it for the long haul,” Hol- critics said went too far. in-person learning. It sets no spe- City Hall. When the flag was ert Garofalo, division head of ly Dickson, ACLU of Arkansas’ The city’s Board of Education, cific timetable. pulled down a second time, it was adolescent and young adult med- executive director, said in a state- which convened on Zoom, voted Parents, students and elected not replaced. icine at Lurie Children’s Hospital ment. unanimously to reverse its much- officials blasted the board for The renaming process was led in Chicago, told reporters on a The override, which needed criticized decision to strip the some of its targets — and its tim- by a committee created in 2018 to press conference call held by the only a simple majority, passed names of a third of San Francis- ing. The decision in late January study the names of district Human Rights Campaign. easily in both chambers, with the co’s public schools, which it said came while all of San Francisco’s schools amid a national reckon- “They’re not just anti-trans. House voting 72-25 in favor and honored figures linked to racism, public classrooms were closed ing on racial injustice that fol- They’re anti-science. They’re an- the Senate 25-8. sexism and other injustices. because of coronavirus restric- lowed deadly clashes at a white ti-public health.” Another bill advanced by a Among them were schools named tions. They still are. Mayor Lon- supremacist rally in Charlottes- The bill’s sponsor dismissed House committee earlier Tues- for presidents Abraham Lincoln, don Breed, among others, called ville, Va. Schools and institutions opposition from medical groups day would prevent schools from George Washington and Thomas it “offensive and completely un- nationwide are evaluating wheth- and compared the restriction to requiring teachers to refer to stu- Jefferson, writer Robert Louis acceptable” for the board to focus er to change names as the coun- other limits the state places on dents by their preferred pro- Stevenson and Revolutionary on changing school names rather try reevaluates its heroes. minors, such as prohibiting them nouns or titles. PAGE 10 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 WORLD Envoy: Iran nuke deal talks begin on ‘right track’ The Washington Post ment in 2018. BERLIN — U.S. and Iranian of- “We know there will be difficult ficials said Tuesday an initial day discussions ahead but again, this of talks in Vienna on returning to is a healthy step forward,” Price the 2015 nuclear deal were “con- said. He added that diplomatic structive,” but the Biden adminis- contact, even if not face to face, is tration cautioned that no immedi- the best way to fulfill Joe Biden’s ate breakthroughs were antici- campaign pledge to comply with pated on one of the new presi- the original deal so long as Iran dent’s top foreign policy goals. shows it is committed to doing the The European-led diplomatic same. effort featured mediators shut- “The shorthand is ‘compliance tling between Iranian and Amer- for compliance,’ ” Price said. ican envoys, a far cry from the in- The talks will not resolve the tensive face-to-face discussions core disagreement over which BURHAN OZBILICI / AP held by U.S. and Iranian diplo- side, Iran or the United States, is Riot police officers Wednesday leave a courthouse in Sincan, outside of Ankara, Turkey, during the trial of mats who brokered the original at fault and should make the first 497 defendants in the failed 2016 coup attempt. The court sentenced dozens to life imprisonment. agreement. move to repair the agreement. The goal now is agreeing on a While both sides still publicly road map toward lifting U.S. sanc- maintain that the onus is on the Turkey sentences dozens to life tions that were imposed under other, in recent weeks they have President Donald Trump and re- moved, with help from European committing Tehran to its agree- signatories to the deal, toward ne- terms over failed 2016 coup attempt ments under the accord, a compli- gotiating a list of sequential, si- cated undertaking with no guar- multaneous steps to return to Associated Press ed members of a network led by person to 61 years in prison while antee of success. compliance. ANKARA, Turkey — A Turkish U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gu- 106 defendants received terms Still, Iran’s lead negotiator, A U.S. team led by President court sentenced dozens of people, len, whom Ankara accuses of or- ranging from six to 16 years. Other Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Joe Biden’s special envoy for including former soldiers at- chestrating the failed attempt. Gu- defendants were either acquitted Araghchi, characterized the ini- Iran, Robert Malley, was in Vien- tached to the presidential guard len, a former Erdogan ally, denies or were not given prison terms, tial talks as on “the right track,” a na for the discussions, which are regiment, to life imprisonment the accusation. Anadolu said. notable comment given Iran’s re- scheduled to continue Friday. Wednesday over their involve- The court in the outskirts of An- On July 15, 2016, factions within cent tough rhetoric. The Americans and Iranians are ment in the 2016 failed coup at- kara sentenced 32 defendants to the Turkish military used tanks, “It’s too soon to say it has been staying in separate hotels, and tempt against President Recep life, including six who received warplanes and helicopters in an successful,” Araghchi added in U.S. officials do not anticipate di- Tayyip Erdogan’s government, aggravated life terms without the attempt to overthrow Erdogan. an interview with Iran’s Press rect talks between the two delega- the state-run Anadolu Agency re- possibility of parole, Anadolu re- Fighter jets bombed parliament TV. He reiterated Iran’s demand tions. ported. ported. and other spots in Turkey’s capi- that the United States lift its sanc- For the United States and oth- A total of 497 defendants had Among those sentenced to the tal. Heeding a call by the presi- tions in one step, rather than in ers, the hope is that diplomacy been on trial since 2017 for at- aggravated life term is a former dent, thousands took to the streets stages responding to Iranian can persuade Iran to scale back tempting to seize the military lieutenant colonel who forced the to stop the coup. moves. its uranium enrichment to the headquarters in Ankara, occupy- anchorwoman to read the state- A total of 251 people were killed State Department spokesman agreed levels. Iran wants an end ing the headquarters of the state ment, a former colonel accused of and around 2,200 others were Ned Price also hailed what he to sanctions initially lifted under broadcaster TRT, and of forcing a giving the order for the takeover wounded. Around 35 alleged coup called progress, and acknowl- the accord and reimposed by television broadcaster to read out of the TRT building and a former plotters were also killed. edged the difficulty of disman- Trump, as well as more than 1,500 a statement on behalf of the coup- major who led a team that at- The government has designated tling the network of sanctions new measures Trump levied to plotters. tempted to take over the military Gulen’s network a terrorist group, erected after Trump pulled the force Iran’s leaders to make a new The massive trial was one of headquarters, the agency said. another claim he denies. He lives United States out of the agree- deal, which they never did. hundreds of trials against suspect- The court also sentenced one in the United States. Iranian ship believed to be troop base off Yemen attacked Associated Press peatedly criticized by Saudi Arabia, has international authorities.” Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An Ira- come as the West and United Nations ex- In an earlier state TV statement, an an- believed to be close to the Guard, reported nian ship believed to be a base for the para- perts say Iran has provided arms and sup- chor cited a New York Times story, which that a limpet mine planted on Saviz’s hull military Revolutionary Guard and an- port to Yemen’s Houthi rebels in that coun- quoted an anonymous U.S. official telling caused the blast. A limpet mine is a type of chored for years in the Red Sea off Yemen try’s yearslong war. Iran denies arming the the newspaper that Israel informed Amer- naval mine that is attached to the side of a has been attacked, Tehran acknowledged Houthis, though components found in the ica it carried out an attack Tuesday morn- ship, usually by a diver. It later explodes, Wednesday. rebels’ weaponry link back to Tehran. ing on the vessel. Israeli officials declined to and can significantly damage a vessel. Iran Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the at- Iran previously described the Saviz as comment about the assault when reached did not blame anyone for the attack and said tack on the MV Saviz, suspected to have aiding in “anti-piracy” efforts in the Red by The Associated Press, as did the Saviz’s Iranian officials likely would offer more in- been carried out by Israel — though Tehran Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a crucial owner. formation in the coming days. did not immediately blame its regional ar- chokepoint in international shipping. A Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, In a statement, the U.S. military’s Central chenemy. The assault came as Iran and statement attributed to Foreign Ministry while refusing to say if his country launched Command only said it was “aware of media world powers sat down in Vienna for the spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh described the attack, described Iran and its regional reporting of an incident involving the Saviz first talks about the U.S. potentially rejoin- the ship as a commercial vessel. allies as a major threat. in the Red Sea.” ing the tattered deal aimed at curbing Iran’s “Fortunately, no casualties were report- “Israel must continue to defend itself,” “We can confirm that no U.S. forces were nuclear program, showing events outside ed ... and technical investigations are un- Gantz told journalists. “Any place we find involved in the incident,” the command the negotiations could derail those efforts. derway,” Khatibzadeh said. “Our country an operational challenge and necessity, we said. “We have no additional information to The ship’s long presence in the region, re- will take all necessary measures through will continue to act.” provide.” Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 11 PAGE 12 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 13 PAGE 14 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 15 FACES

Grohl memoir Q&A In this screenshot from YouTube, ‘The Storyteller’ Harry Connick Jr. appears in the video coming Oct. 5 for “Amazing Grace.” The video was Associated Press directed by his Some unexpected free time in daughter Georgia. 2020 led Grammy winner Dave Grohl to put some thoughts and memories into words. Grohl’s memoir “The Storytell- er” will come out Oct. 5, Dey Street Books announced Tuesday. Grohl, 52, will reflect on every- thing from his childhood to his years with the bands Nirvana and Foo Fighters to times spent with Paul McCartney, Da- vid Bowie and Grohl ‘I watched as much many others. Grohl’s book grew out of an es- say he published in The Atlantic and out of anecdotes he shared on his Instagram account. Netflix as anybody else’ “I soon found that the reward I felt every time I posted a story was the same as the feeling I get when playing a song to an audience, so I kept on writing,” Grohl said in a Harry Connick Jr. used pandemic lockdown to record first faith-based album statement. “The response from readers BY JIM HARRINGTON some tunes. There was no recording engineer, a matter of writing things in real time and was as soul-filling as any applause The Mercury News no musicians, so I went into my home studio thinking about our shared experience and all in an arena. So, I took stock of all arry Connick Jr. has accom- and started recording everything myself. the pros and cons of going through this kind of the experiences I’ve had in my life plished much during his leng- As I did a couple of those tunes, I’m having thing. — incredible, difficult, funny and thy career, from winning mul- some feelings, kind of all over the map, about There are so many great gospel numbers emotional — and decided it was tiple Grammys and Emmys to faith and spirituality, just based on what was and faith­based tunes. How did you decide on time to finally put them into selling more than 25 million al- going on in our world. So, I wrote some tunes the ones you wanted to sing? words.” bHums and starring in such Hollywood hits as and I incorporated those with the traditional To be honest with you, I picked the first ones “Independence Day” and “Hope Floats.” Harry, Meghan set first songs. And it sort of turned into more of a faith that popped in my mind. But some of them On a purely musical note, he has recorded album than a gospel album. I don’t know if I didn’t pop in my mind. Like “Because He Netflix docuseries both instrumental and vocal efforts, delivered would have recorded this exact set of songs had Lives” was one I knew — but I had never really Meghan Markle and Prince Christmas albums as well as a Tony-nominat- this pandemic not happened. So, I feel grateful performed it and didn’t think about it. But a Harry’s first Netflix series will ed original Broadway score, and he’s focused for that chance. friend of mine by the name of J. Harrison center on the Invictus Games, his talents on everything from Dixieland to And you took the whole solo album concept Ghee, who is this Broadway performer/drag which gives sick and injured mil- funk to standards. to the extreme here, playing all the queen/just all-around brilliant entertainer. He itary personnel and veterans the Oh, and he also found time to be a judge on instruments, singing all the parts, arranging does this thing where he does these Instagram opportunity to compete in sports. TV’s “American Idol.” all the music. Basically everything on it is you,posts where he just sits and talks while he does The Duke and Duchess of Sus- Yet going into 2020, the one thing that Con- right? his makeup. He was singing it one day and I sex’s Archewell Productions an- nick, 53, had never managed to do was record a Literally everything. Yes. was like, “Oh, man, I’ve got to do that one.” Oth- nounced Tuesday its first series to faith-based music album. Well, at least you didn’t try and direct the er ones like “Old Rugged Cross” and “How hit the streaming service. The Now he can check that one off his list as well. album’s first video — for “Amazing Grace” — Great Thou Art” — those have personal mean- multi-episode docuseries, titled The multi-talented star spent part of his time or take the album cover photos yourself. You ing to me, because I have done them onstage “Heart of Invictus,” is in partner- during the COVID-19 lockdown in his home left those for your daughter Georgia. It seems and I just love those songs. ship with the Invictus Games studio, recording such classic hymns as that talent runs in the family. I love your rendition of “Be Not Afraid.” In Foundation, of which Prince Har- “Amazing Grace,” “The Old Rugged Cross” Yeah, I am really proud of our kids. We have the midst of the coronavirus storm, I’m ry is a patron. and “How Great Thou Art” as well as other three daughters. Georgia is the oldest — she’s guessing you found a lot of comfort and Prince Harry will appear on faith-oriented material. 24 — and she’s always been interested in film assurance in singing the lines “Be not afraid/ I camera and serve as executive The result is the newly released “Alone With and editing and all that. She went to NYU film go before you always / Come, follow me and I producer on the series. My Faith,” which is Connick’s first studio of- school for a while and got different certifica- It is the latest in a flurry of activ- fering since 2019’s “True Love: A Celebration tions for the things she needed. It came time to will give you rest.” ity for the couple. They signed a of Cole Porter.” shoot the album cover and I said, “Well, we are One hundred percent. You know, I used to deal to create content for Netflix I recently had the opportunity to chat with home. We can’t really be around anybody. Do sing that song in high school. I went to a Jesuit and are creating podcasts for the New Orleans native about the new album. you want to take the picture?” So, we went up to high school. (Years later) I was driving around Spotify. Prince Harry has joined Mercury News: Take me back to March the woods and shot the picture. Then it came and I just Siri’d “Be Not Afraid” and some col- the corporate world as a leader 2020. There’s a pandemic brewing, your tour time to do the video — same kind of thing. It laborative effort of that song came up. There with the employee coaching and is being canceled, and half of America decideswas just me, Georgia, hair/makeup people and was a bunch of people singing it — I don’t even mental health firm BetterUp Inc. to cuddle up on the couch and watch Netflix. our second daughter Kate, who was holding know who it was. I was just listening to it in my The couple have been detangling Instead of joining us on the couch, why’d you the reflectors and stuff. car to remind myself of the lyrics to the other their lives from the British royal decide the time was right to record an album? Did you know what kind of album you verses. And I just wept, especially when it gets family and are living in California. Connick: Well, full disclosure — I watched wanted to record right from the start? to that part about “stand before the power of as much Netflix as anybody else. I knew at some point I wanted to make a gos- hell and death is at your side.” That’s heavy Other news Yeah, but at some point you presumably pel album. But had the pandemic not hap- stuff. Even if you’re not Christian, the notion of ■ iHeartMedia announced turned off Netflix — at least long enough to pened, I probably would’ve just, at some point, looking at an unclimbable mountain of a chal- Tuesday that “In Fact with Chel- make an album. picked 12 of my favorite spiritual tunes and re- lenge is daunting sometimes. And that’s what sea Clinton,” a podcast hosted by I wanted to make some music. I was one of corded them with a band — like I would nor- we were all looking at. I mean, I lost so many the daughter of former President the lucky ones that was able to quarantine and mally do. But because this happened, I really friends and family members over the last year. Bill Clinton and former Secretary kind of stay at home. One of the ideas that had had a chance to pick some tunes that I wanted Just to know that — “I go before you. I got you. of State Hillary Clinton, will pre- been floating around in my head for a while to sing but also wrote some new songs. So, I re- Be not afraid. I’ll give you rest.” That stuff was miere April 13. was a gospel album. I started thinking about ally didn’t know where it was going. It was just emotional to sing. PAGE 16 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 OPINION

Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Marci Hoffman, Europe commander Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander The GOP’s nasty breakup with big business BY CONOR SEN cans campaigning in the midterms. In a they want right now. Bloomberg Opinion press conference last week, Georgia Re- And it could have ramifications in the EDITORIAL epublican Senate Leader Mitch publican Gov. Brian Kemp, up for reelec- 2022 elections should Republican candi- Terry Leonard, Editor McConnell’s statement on Mon- tion in 2022, defended the state’s new elec- dates run on the issue. At this point it [email protected] day threatening corporations tion law, saying the backlash was “worth wouldn’t be surprising if, instead of focus- who get involved in political is- the boycotts” and that he would “not be ing on his Democratic opponent, Sen. Ra- Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor R sues like Georgia’s recently-passed election backing down from this fight.” Texas Re- phael Warnock, the Georgia Republican [email protected] law rings a bit hollow. After all, it’s hard to publican Gov. Greg Abbott, who’s also up Senate nominee ran against Major League Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content see a party that’s been committed to tax cuts for reelection in 2022, sided with Kemp Baseball, Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola or any [email protected] and deregulation for decades doing any- when he said on Monday that the state other local or national business interest Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation thing that harms corporate interests in a would not seek to host the Major League that’s perceived as being on the “other [email protected] meaningful way. But the response of some Baseball All-Star Game following the side.” Meanwhile, Warnock’s campaign GOP elected officials to the recent actions league’s announcement that it would be message might be that voter suppression is Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital of Delta Air Lines and Major League Base- moving the game from Atlanta, where it bad for business, and that Democrats are [email protected] ball shows how corporate activism is ani- was originally scheduled to be played. the better choice for both civil rights and mating the conservative base. With Repub- There have been signs over the past sev- business interests. In Georgia, where the BUREAU STAFF licans searching for an issue to run on in the eral years that Republicans were getting Republican Party has prided itself for years 2022 elections in key states like Georgia, aggravated by big companies, following the on being the number one state for business, Europe/Mideast they may have found their boogeyman. lead of then-President Trump who would it would be a sea change. Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief [email protected] It’s not worth spending much time hash- complain about the media, or Amazon.com, In the last two midterm elections after a +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 ing out why the party that made a large cor- or whoever else he felt like tweeting about. newly-elected president, there’s been a Pacific porate tax cut its signature piece of legisla- One of the more interesting examples of theme aimed at motivating an emotional Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief tion under President Donald Trump isn’t this happened last month when Florida Sen. part of the electorate. In 2010 it was a tea [email protected] currently in a position to demonize corpora- Marco Rubio expressed sympathy with party faction animated by opposition to +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 tions. The numbers in the Republican con- Amazon workers’ efforts to unionize in Ala- then-President Barack Obama and the Af- Washington gressional caucus to pursue any actions bama — not because of a change of heart on fordable Care Act. In 2018 it was college- Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief aren’t there right now, nor will they be there labor organizing, but because of the per- educated and suburban voters united by [email protected] after the 2022 elections. It takes time for ceived progressive activism of the company their opposition to Trump. It’s early, but at (+1)(202)886-0033 Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News Congress to turn over, particularly when on cultural issues. the moment it looks like 2022 might be [email protected] the issue has been the economic center- We’ve also seen Republicans get charged Trump’s base mobilizing against corporate piece of a party for decades. up by mini news cycles involving the Potato interests that are siding against them in cul- CIRCULATION But last week felt like a watershed mo- Head toy and Dr. Seuss books, which have tural and political fights. ment in the relationship between the Re- been providing outlets for outrage in a way Mideast publican Party and corporations that nei- that President Joe Biden has largely man- Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager Conor Sen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and the founder of [email protected] ther side fully understands yet — and which aged to avoid. To some extent this battle Peachtree Creek Investments. He’s been a contributor to the [email protected] could turn into a central issue for Republi- against “cancel culture” feels like the fight Atlantic and Business Insider and resides in Atlanta. DSN (314)583-9111 Europe Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager [email protected] Flow of Congress’ money shower is unconstitutional [email protected] +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 BY GEORGE F. WILL adds this: Washington’s “gross federal over- ing to dispose of waste by a set date must take Pacific Washington Post Writers Group reach,” which takes “state tax policy hos- title to and possession of the waste and be- Mari Mori, [email protected] WASHINGTON tage,” is “the greatest attempted invasion of come liable for all damages the producer of +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 he essence of progressivism’s state sovereignty by Congress in the history the waste might suffer because of the state’s agenda is to create a government- of our Republic.” Today’s 117th Congress failure to promptly take possession. CONTACT US centered society by increasing cannot bind the 118th, but, the letter says, a The court held that this “would ‘comman- Washington Tgovernment’s control of society’s governor accepting stimulus funds under deer’ state governments into the service of tel: (+1)202.886.0003 resources, then distributing those resources Washington’s terms could bind his state’s federal regulatory purposes” and thus be 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 in ways that increase the dependency of indi- legislature and his successor from cutting “inconsistent with the Constitution’s division Reader letters viduals and social groups on government. any tax or tax assessment through 2024. of authority between federal and state gov- [email protected] Hence this stipulation in Congress’ just-en- The Biden administration’s laconic re- ernments,” thereby violating the 10th acted $1.9 trillion money shower: None of the sponse is: “It is well established that Con- Amendment (”The powers not delegated to Additional contacts $350 billion allocated for state governments gress may establish reasonable conditions the United States by the Constitution, nor stripes.com/contactus can be used to finance tax cuts. on how states should use federal funding that prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to OMBUDSMAN So, the federal government is using the al- the states are provided.” The Supreme the states respectively, or to the people.”) location of society’s financial resources to Court, however, has thought about reasona- The court said “the Constitution has never Ernie Gates state governments to coerce them into main- bleness. been understood to confer upon Congress The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow taining their existing claims on such re- In 1984, Congress, concerned about inter- the ability to require the states to govern ac- of news and information, reporting any attempts by the sources. This illustrates how progressives state problems arising from a diversity of cording to Congress’ instructions.” Today, military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns try to implement a leftward-clicking ratchet. states’ drinking ages, imposed a national however, Congress is attempting to com- and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for The Supreme Court, whose duties in super- minimum age of 21, to be enforced by with- mandeer the states, telling them they cannot fairness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted by vising democracy include reminding a for- holding a percentage of federal highway receive their portions of the $350 billion — email at [email protected], or by phone at getful Congress about federalism, should funds from noncompliant states. South Da- which Congress says addresses an emergen- 202.886.0003. find the following provision unconstitution- kota, which permitted 19-year-olds to pur- cy — without forfeiting discretion concern- al. chase low-alcohol beer, objected. The court, ing their core function, fiscal policy. Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday It says states shall not use federal funds “to however, held that 5% was a “relatively small In the 2010 Affordable Care Act (“Obama- through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals either directly or indirectly offset a reduc- financial inducement” and “not so coercive care”), Congress stipulated that states refus- postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send tion in net tax revenue . . . resulting from a as to pass the point at which pressure turns ing to participate in the expansion of Medi- address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. This newspaper is authorized by the change in law, regulation, or administrative into compulsion.” caid would lose their existing Medicaid fund- Department of Defense for members of the military services interpretation.” This seems to forbid tax re- So, the court signaled that some financial ing. The court blocked this: “The threatened overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views lief of any kind, for any reason. If so, it consti- inducement could constitute unconstitution- loss of over 10% of a state’s overall budget is of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspa- tutes (in the language of a letter by 21 Repub- al compulsion. Arizona’s $4.8 billion share of economic dragooning that leaves the States per, Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to lican state attorneys general seeking clarity the $350 billion at issue today equals about with no real option but to acquiesce.” remote locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. from the Biden administration) “an unprece- 40% of this year’s state budget from general Dragooning, commandeering, coercing, The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or dented and unconstitutional intrusion on the funds — not a “relatively small” sum, a coer- compelling — pick your gerund, the legal sig- Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. separate sovereignty of the States through cive one. nificance of the practices denoted is the Products or services advertised shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, federal usurpation of essentially one half of In 1985, Congress gave states various fi- same: The progressive drive to break the religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical the State’s fiscal ledgers i.e., the revenue nancial incentives to dispose of low-level ra- states to the saddle of the federal govern- handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. half).” dioactive waste within their borders. New ment, which progressives attempt for the © Stars and Stripes 2021 The letter notes that money is fungible, York challenged this, and the Supreme Court purpose of producing an ever-more govern- and states must balance their budgets, and objected to one of the incentives: A state fail- ment-centered society, is unconstitutional. stripes.com Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 17 Eugene Sheffer Crossword Frazz Dilbert

ACROSS 53 Exploits 21 100 yrs. 1 Belgrade 54 Golf peg 24 Gloomy guy resident 55 Ache 25 Tram load 5 U-boat, for one 56 Ernie’s “Sesame 26 “A Christmas Street” pal Carol” Pearls Before Swine Pearls Before 8 No neatnik 12 Advertising 57 Sailor’s assent name award 58 Village People hit 28 Iowa college 13 — out a living 29 Tax payer, e.g. 14 Suffix for billion DOWN 30 Hearing thing 15 “Roots” author 1 Large amount 31 UFO pilots Haley 2 Jazzy Fitzgerald 36 Most ashen 16 Brain scan 3 Nothing, in 37 Bio stat (Abbr.) Nantes 38 “Make it —!” 17 Sent a dupe to 4 Freight train unit 41 “I see” 5 Young plant 42 Blunder Non Sequitur 18 Practiced the tango 6 Guitar’s kin 43 Lighten 20 Plot 7 Pleads 44 Personnel list 22 The whole 8 Potpourri bag 46 500 sheets enchilada 9 Driving needs 47 Idle of Monty 23 Poetic dusk 10 Utah city Python 24 Active one 11 Eliot’s “Adam —” 48 Actress 27 “Please turn on 19 Chicago Merrill the lights!” transport 51 Lock opener 32 City area, Answer to Previous Puzzle

Candorville for short 33 Refusals 34 Nosh 35 Slow outflows 38 Ukr. and Lith., once 39 Pester 40 Many millennia 42 Preliminary proposal Carpe Diem 45 Was generous 49 Lounge about 50 Approves 52 Gilpin of “Frasier” Beetle Bailey Bizarro PAGE 18 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 AMERICAN ROUNDUP

Family sues after man dies in eating contest FRESNO — The son of CA a California man who choked to death during an ama- teur taco eating contest at a minor league baseball game is suing the event’s organizers for negligence. The lawsuit for Marshall Hutchings, 18, alleges his father, Dana Hutchings, was not made aware of the risks and danger in- volved in an eating competition, the Fresno Bee reported. The 41-year-old died after chok- ing on tacos while competing in the contest during a Fresno Griz- zlies game on Aug. 13, 2019. Par- ticipants competed to devour as many tacos as possible during a certain amount of time. The suit names Fresno Sports and Events, the owner of the Griz- zlies. Cat spent days in tree, rescued after big plunge EVANSVILLE — A cat IN that spent days stuck in a tree in southwestern Indiana is back on solid ground after surviv- ing a dramatic plunge when a tree service company cut the limb it had been clinging to because the feline was beyond its rescuer’s re- ach. JOHN RAOUX/ AP When someone mentioned the cat’s dayslong plight at the High Score Saloon, the bar’s owners, On the road to the rodeo Jared Neible and Clint Hoskins, Local ranchers participate in a cattle drive through downtown Kissimmee, Fla., to promote this weekend’s Silver Spurs Rodeo. The cattle drive pledged $200 for a tree service to is a yearly event before the rodeo to bring attention to years ago when cattle ranchers led their cattle to market through Kissimmee. rescue the animal from the tree, the Evansville Courier & Press re- THE CENSUS out of the car during an initial traf- ported. Man rescued from fic stop before the car sped away; a A worker for DJ’s Tree Service freezing sinkhole The number of new vehicles, valued at more than $400,000, second passenger was uninjured, was raised in a bucket truck into 7 that were stolen from an auto dealership in Valley, Ala., al- officials said. the tree, but the cat was too tired DENVER — A man is .com reported. Employees arrived at King Ford Auto to find the business had and scared to move, so he used a CO recovering after he fell been broken into and the vehicles were missing from the lot. According to po- One of country’s largest 30 feet into a water- and ice-filled lice, the stolen vehicles include a 2021 Dodge Charger SX, a 2021 Dodge Char- saw to cut the limb the cat was on. ger, four Ford F250 4x4s, and a Dodge Ram Laramie 3500. sugar maples removed The cat plunged about 70 feet, but sinkhole in the central Colorado appeared fine afterwards. mountain town of Leadville. KENSINGTON — A The Denver Post reported fire- Cars were slowly getting by. Then sion to make the rule change, say- NH sugar maple tree that Shark replica stirs fighter Alex Conlin with Lead- all the sudden this cow comes run- ing it was “inevitable a neighbor has watched over a New Hamp- debate in beach town ville/Lake County Fire Rescue ning around the corner with a gen- or visitor will eventually put a mo- shire home for more than 200 rappelled into the hole to rescue tleman chasing him,” Gerbick torboat or jet ski on the lake” that years and was one of the largest of GULF SHORES — One the man, whose name and age said. could displace the loons, disturb- its kind in the United States came AL store in this Gulf Coast were not released. Police say they were able to cap- ing the quiet of the lake and harm down because of safety concerns. beach town has a giant, purple oc- Conlin used a ladder that was ture the cow with help from some- its water quality. As a small crowd looked on, ar- topus draped across its roof, and placed across the top of the hole as one with a rope. borist Micum Davis started trim- the main entrance at another re- a support to lower himself and at- Driver topped 115 mph ming the crown of the tree. The sembles the toothy mouth of a gi- tach a safety line to the man so he State bans motorized before crashing tree had a crown stretching 100 ant shark that customers can walk wouldn’t sink into the water. The watercraft from lake feet across, a diameter of more through. man was taken to a nearby airport, FALMOUTH — A than 7 feet and stood 100 feet tall. But plans to install a realistic, where a helicopter flew him to a COLUMBIA FALLS ME Maine man sped away The tree is considered the sec- 27-foot-long shark replica outside hospital. MT — State wildlife com- from a deputy at speeds topping ond largest sugar maple after one another store in an area that’s be- missioners have banned motori- 115 mph on Interstate 95 before in Virginia, according to Rose Ti- ing spruced up for redevelopment Cow causes traffic jam zed watercraft from a lake near the car crashed and flipped, offi- leson, the manager of American are stirring debate, with some on area interstate Glacier National Park in north- cials said. Forests’ National Champion Trees wondering whether such a display western Montana at the request of Abdiaziz Dahir, 28, of Portland, program. ATLANTA — A loose residents worried about growing was charged with driving to en- Davis estimated the tree was at just steps away from the surf cow was blamed for a pressures from people moving in- danger, operating after suspen- least 240 years old and is one of would be too scary. GA traffic jam on an Atlanta area to the area. sion and giving a false name to an two on the property planted at the A proposal to hang a giant shark highway. Montana Fish Wildlife and officer, said Naldo Gagnon, chief same time. The other maple re- model outside an Alvin’s Island Police in Dunwoody, a suburb Parks commissioners voted unan- deputy at the Cumberland County mains. store near Beach Boulevard in about 15 miles north of Atlanta, imously for the ban, The Hungry Sheriff’s Office. A bout of recent storms with Gulf Shores, a prime tourist town say officers responded to a cow Horse News reported. Dahir, who was ejected when he strong winds proved too much for on the Alabama coast, is drawing running on Interstate 285. It had It covers Tepee Lake, a shallow, crashed, was not identified until the tree. Cracks formed in the questions among members of the apparently fallen out of a livestock 43-acre water body several miles after he was being treated at trunk and it became clear that the panel that would have to OK the trailer. from the North Fork Flathead Riv- Maine Medical Center, Gagnon tree had become a safety hazard, plan, Al.com reported. Michael Gerbick told the Atlan- er near the U.S.-Canada border. said. with the potential for branches to The commission is considering ta Journal-Constitution the cow The lake hosts a family of loons A loaded firearm was discov- fall onto the house. whether the shark would run afoul surprised him as he headed to and is publicly accessible. ered among the debris alongside of regulations covering “novelty work at a Volvo dealership. Property owners around the the road, he said. architecture” in Gulf Shores. “Traffic was moving a little. lake had petitioned the commis- One passenger managed to slip From The Associated Press Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 19 SCOREBOARD/SPORTS BRIEFS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL COLLEGE HOCKEY TENNIS BRIEFLY Saturday’s schedule NCAA Division I Tournament Volvo Car Open FROZEN FOUR Tuesday EAST At Pittsburgh At Family Circle Tennis Center Stony Brook (1-3) at New Hampshire National Semifinals Charleston, S.C. (0-1) Thursday, April 8 Purse: $565,530 Maine (2-2) at Rhode Island (2-1) Minn. Duluth vs. UMass Surface: Green clay Lehigh (0-2) at Lafayette (1-1) St. Cloud St. vs. Minnesota St. Women’s Singles Fordham (1-1) at Holy Cross (2-0), ppd. National Championship Round of 64 Woods speeding Kennesaw St. (4-0) at Monmouth (NJ) Saturday, April 10 Leylah Annie Fernandez, Canada, def. (2-0) Semifinal winners Zhang Shuai (16), China, 6-3, 6-1. Fordham (1-1) at Bucknell (2-0) Shelby Rogers, United States, def. Kristi- Holy Cross (2-0) at Colgate (0-2) na Mladenovic, France, 6-4, 6-3. Delaware (3-0) at Delaware St. (2-1) GOLF Danka Kovinic, Montenegro, def. Gabrie- SOUTH la Talaba, Romania, 7-6 (2), 6-4. World rankings Anastasija Sevastova, Latvia, def. Anas- Valparaiso (3-1) at Morehead St. (2-3) tasia Potapova, Russia, 6-3, 6-3. before crashing Robert Morris (0-2) at Charleston South- Through April 4 Liudmila Samsonova, Russia, def. Nao ern (0-2) Hibino, Japan, 6-2, 6-1. Davidson (4-1) at Presbyterian (2-3) 1. Dustin Johnson USA 11.07 Sloane Stephens, United States, def. Xi- Associated Press sexual assault or harassment in Richmond (3-0) at William & Mary (1-2) nyu Wang, China, 6-2, 6-4. Furman (3-3) at The Citadel (1-9) 2. Justin Thomas USA 9.31 Ons Jabeur (12), Tunisia, def. Martina LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods lawsuits filed by 22 women. One of MVSU (0-2) at Alabama St. (1-2) 3. Jon Rahm ESP 8.53 Trevisan, Italy, 6-2, 6-2. Alabama A&M (1-0) at Jackson St. (3-2) 4. Collin Morikawa USA 7.38 Hailey Baptiste, United States, def. Car- was speeding when he crashed an those women, Ashley Solis, said SE Louisiana (3-2) at Nicholls (4-2) oline Dolehide, United States, 6-3, 6-3. Elon (1-5) at James Madison (4-0), ppd. 5. Bryson DeChambeau USA 7.30 Emma Navarro, United States, def. Rena- SUV in Southern California less Tuesday during a news confer- ETSU (4-1) at Mercer (4-5) 6. Xander Schauffele USA 6.70 ta Zarazua, Mexico, 6-4, 6-3. than two months ago, leaving the ence that she was assaulted and 7. Patrick Reed USA 6.12 Coco Gauff (14), United States, def. Tsve- MIDWEST tana Pironkova, Bulgaria, 6-3, 6-0. golf superstar seriously injured, traumatized when she tried to give 8. Tyrrell Hatton ENG 5.92 Drake (1-2) at Butler (0-4) Women’s Singles authorities said Wednesday. Youngstown St. (1-5) at Missouri St. (4-4) 9. Webb Simpson USA 5.83 Round of 32 Watson a massage in March 2020. N. Dakota St. (5-1) at N. Iowa (3-3) 10. Patrick Cantlay USA 5.73 Garbine Muguruza (6), Spain, def. Mag- Woods was driving 84 to 87 mph In other NFL news: dalena Frech, Poland, 6-1, 6-3. SOUTHWEST 11. Brooks Koepka USA 5.70 Yulia Putintseva (11), Kazakhstan, def. on a downhill stretch of road out- ■ The Tennessee Titans have McNeese St. (3-3) at Sam Houston St. 12. Rory McIlroy NIR 5.68 Zarina Diyas, Kazakhstan, 6-2, 6-2. side Los Angeles that had a speed hired veteran defensive coordina- (4-0) 13. Tony Finau USA 5.28 Petra Kvitova (3), Czech Republic, def. Northwestern St. (0-5) at Incarnate Storm Sanders, Australia, 7-6 (4), 6-2. limit of 45 mph, Los Angeles tor and former Lions head coach Word (3-1) 14. Viktor Hovland NOR 5.13 Round of 16 Southern U. (3-1) at Prairie View (2-0), 15. Daniel Berger USA 4.64 Alexa Guarachi Mathison, Chile, and De- County Sheriff Alex Villanueva Jim Schwartz as a senior defen- ppd. 16. Matthew Fitzpatrick ENG 4.43 sirae Krawczyk (4), United States, def. Va- nia King, United States, and Yaroslava said Wednesday. sive assistant. FAR WEST 17. Billy Horschel USA 4.40 Shvedova, Kazakhstan, 6-2, 7-6 (5). The stretch of road is known for Schwartz has been defensive Central Washington University at Mon- 18. Paul Casey ENG 4.26 Lucie Hradecka and Marie Bouzkova, tana 19. Sungjae Im KOR 4.20 Czech Republic, def. Hayley Carter, United wrecks and drivers hitting speeds coordinator for 14 NFL seasons, Idaho St. (2-3) at Weber St. (4-0) States, and Luisa Stefani, Brazil, 6-2, 6-4. so high that there is an emergency Stetson (0-3) at San Diego (3-1) 20. Lee Westwood ENG 4.05 Timea Babos, Hungary, and Veronika the last five with Philadelphia. Idaho (2-2) at E. Washington (4-1) 21. Harris English USA 4.04 Kudermetova (2), Russia, def. Misaki Doi exit for runaway vehicles just be- ■ The Cincinnati Bengals con- N. Arizona (1-2) at S. Utah (1-4) and Nao Hibino, Japan, 6-3, 6-4. 22. Scottie Scheffler USA 4.02 yond where Woods crashed. tinued to part with veterans when 23. Matthew Wolff USA 3.91 Copa Colsanitas Sunday’s schedule Villanueva blamed the Feb. 23 24. Tommy Fleetwood ENG 3.83 Tuesday they released running back Giova- At Centro de Alto Rendimiento EAST 25. Hideki Matsuyama JPN 3.50 crash solely on excessive speed ni Bernard on Wednesday. 26. Joaquin Niemann CHI 3.46 Bogota, Columbia Sacred Heart (2-1) at Duquesne (4-0) Purse: $235,238 and Woods’ loss of control behind Bernard, who had a year left on 27. Ryan Palmer USA 3.46 SOUTH Surface: Red clay the wheel. Sheriff’s Capt. James a two-year contract that would 28. Louis Oosthuizen SAF 3.44 Women’s Singles Jacksonville St. (8-2) at Murray St. (5-1) 29. Victor Perez FRA 3.44 Round of 32 Powers said there was no evi- have paid him $4.1 million in 2021, SE Missouri (3-4) at Tennessee St. (2-4) 30. Cameron Smith AUS 3.44 Tamara Zidansek (5), Slovenia, def. An- dence that the golfer braked Tennessee Tech (2-4) at UT Martin (2-4) na Kalinskaya, Russia, 6-0, 7-5. played his entire eight-year NFL 31. Abraham Ancer MEX 3.42 MIDWEST Sara Errani, Italy, def. Sara Sorribes Tor- throughout the wreck and that it’s career in Cincinnati and establish- 32. Adam Scott AUS 3.40 mo (2), Spain, 7-5, 7-5. Austin Peay (4-5) at E. Illinois (1-5) Giulia Gatto-Monticone, Italy, def. Astra believed Woods inadvertently hit ed himself as a reliable blocking Sharma, Australia, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. DEALS Arantxa Rus (3), Netherlands, def. Irina the accelerator instead of the back and receiver. The 29-year- Bara, Romania, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. brake pedal. old Bernard became a starter for Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, Colombia, Tuesday’s transactions CAROLINA PANTHERS — Signed CB Jalen def. Sachia Vickery, United States, 6-3, 6-2. Detectives did not seek search the last 10 games of 2020 after Joe Julius, OT Martez Ivey and S J.T. Ibe. Ac- Tereza Martincova (7), Czech Republic, BASEBALL quired QB Sam Darnold from New York def. Leonie Kung, Switzerland, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. warrants for the athlete’s blood Mixon suffered a foot injury. Major League Baseball Jets in exchange for a 2021 sixth-round Harmony Tan, France, def. Mihaela Bu- samples, which could have been MLB — Announced that USA Baseball draft pick and a second-round and fourth- zarnescu, Romania, 6-3, 6-3. named Mike Scioscia manager of the 2021 round picks in 2022. Lara Arruabarrena, Spain, def. Jessica screened for drugs or alcohol, or Professional National team for a berth in DENVER BRONCOS — Signed DL Shamar Plazas, Colombia, 6-0, 6-1. Source: Arizona parts the Tokyo Olympics. Announced that the Stephen. Daniela Seguel, Chile, def. Clara Tauson his cellphone. Sheriff’s officials Colorado Rockies will host the 2021 All- DETROIT LIONS — Signed LB Jason Cabi- (4), Denmark, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. ways with Miller Star Week. nda to an exclusive rights contract. Women’s Doubles said there was no evidence of im- American League MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Signed OLB Nick Round of 16 pairment or of distracted driving. Arizona has parted ways with BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Named Adam Vigil. Arantxa Rus, Netherlands, and Tamara Esselman manager of baseball communi- HOCKEY Zidansek (1), Slovenia, def. Viktoriya To- Investigators, however, did men’s basketball coach Sean Mill- cations. National Hockey League mova, Bulgaria, and Erin Routliffe, New search the SUV’s data recorder, er as the program awaits its fate in NEW YORK YANKEES — Acquired INF ANAHIEM DUCKS — Recalled D Simon Zealand, 1-6, 6-4, 11-9. Rougned Odor from Texas in exchange for Benoit, RW David Backes and C Benoit-Oli- Astra Sharma, Australia, and Aliona Bol- known as a black box, in the days an NCAA infractions investiga- cash and minor league OF/C Antonio Ca- vier Groulx from the minor league taxi sova Zadoinov, Spain, def. Emiliana Aran- bello and OF Josh Stowers. Designated INF squad. go and Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, Col- after the crash. tion, a person with knowledge of Thairo Estrada for assignment. Optioned BUFFALO SABRES — Recalled RW Ras- ombia, 6-1, 6-2. RHP Michael King to the alternate training mus Aspland and D Jacob Bryson from the Arina Rodionova, Australia, and Rosalie No traffic citations were issued. the situation told The Associated site. minor league taxi squad. van Der Hoek (2), Netherlands, def. Tara The sheriff said Woods gave per- Press. TAMPA BAY RAYS — Claimed C Deivy BOSTON BRUINS — Recalled D Jack Ah- Moore, Britain, and Emina Bektas, United Grullon off waivers from Cincinnati. can and G Callum Booth from the minor States, 7-5, 6-7 (6), 11-9. mission for authorities to reveal The person told the AP on con- Placed OF Kevin Kiermaier on the 10-day league taxi squad. injured list. Recalled 3B Kevin Padio from CAROLINA HURRICANES — Recalled C AP SPORTLIGHT details about the crash. dition of anonymity Wednesday the alternate training site. Placed RHP Morgan Geekie from the minor league taxi Documents show that Woods because no official announcement Chaz Roe on the 60-day injured list. squad. Waived C Jason Cotton. April 8 TEXAS RANGERS — Acquired minor CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS — Recalled told deputies he did not know how has been made. league OF Antonio Cabello and C/OF Josh RWs MacKenzie Entwistle and Reese 1935 — Gene Sarazen gets a double ea- Stowers from New York Yankees trade. Johnson from the minor league taxi squad. gle on the 15th hole to erase Craig Wood’s the crash occurred and did not re- Miller and the Wildcats have OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Placed RHP COLORADO AVALANCHE — Assigned F three-stroke lead, and goes on to win the member driving. At the time of the been in the NCAA’s crosshairs Burch Smith and LHP Reymin Guduan on Travis Barron to Utah (ECHL). Recalled F Masters. the 10-day injured list. Recalled INF/OF Charlie Gerrard from Colorado (AHL). 1943 — The Detroit Red Wings beat the wreck, Woods was recovering since being ensnared in a 2017 FBI Seth Brown and RHP Jordan Weems from COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS — Recalled Boston Bruins 2-0 to win the Stanley Cup the alternate training site. RW Liam Foudy and C Zac Dalpe from the with a four-game sweep. from a fifth back surgery, which investigation into shady recruit- National League minor league taxi squad. 1971 — The first legal off-track betting took place two months earlier. ing practices. DETROIT RED WINGS — Recalled RW Eve- (OTB) system in the United States opens in ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Recalled New York City. RHP Matt Peacock from the alternate ny Evgeny Svechnikov, Givani Smith, Mi- Woods, who is originally from The move was first reported by chael Rasmussen, C Frans Nielsen and D 1974 — In the home opener in Atlanta, training site. Placed RHP Joakim Soria on Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth’s career re- the Los Angeles area, had been Stadium. the 10-day injured reserve. Alex Biega from the minor league taxi cord by hitting his 715th home run, con- ATLANTA BRAVES — Acquired INF Orlan- squad. necting off Al Downing of Los Angeles in back home to host his PGA tourna- The NCAA issued a Notice of Al- do Arcia from Milwaukee trade. LOS ANGELES KINGS — Assigned C Lias the fourth inning. ment, the Genesis Invitational at MIAMI MARLINS — Optioned RHP Jordan Andersson, D Sean Durzi and RW Matt Luff 1975 — Frank Robinson, the first black legations last year and the case is Holloway to the alternate training site. Ac- to Ontario (AHL). manager in the majors, debuts as player- Riviera Country Club, when the currently going through the Inde- tivated 1B Garrett Cooper from the 10-day MINNESOTA WILD — Assigned G Dereck manager for the Cleveland Indians. Robin- injured list. Baribeau to Iowa (AHL) from the taxi son hits a home run in his first at-bat — as crash happened. pendent Accountability Resolu- MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Acquired RHPs squad. a designated hitter — to help beat the New MONTREAL CANADIENS — Signed C Jan tion Process. Arizona issued a self- Chad Sobotka and Patrick Weigel from At- York Yankees 5-3. Nike suspends lanta in exchange for INF Orlando Arcia Mysak to a three-year entry-level con- 1989 — Alex English scores 26 points to imposed postseason ban this year and assigned them to the alternate train- tract. Recalled G Cayden Primeau from the become the first player in NBA history to ing site. Selected the contract of RHP Brad minor league taxi squad. score 2,000 points in eight straight sea- sponsorship of Watson and finished 17-9, 11-9 in the Boxberger from the alternate training site. NASHVILLE PREDATORS — Recalled F sons, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Placed RHP Justin Topa on the 60-day in- Rem Pitlick from the minor league taxi Utah Jazz 110-106. Nike has suspended its endorse- Pac-12. jured list. squad. 1990 — Nick Faldo becomes the second ment contract with Deshaun Wat- In other college basketball WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Placed NEW YORK RANGERS — Recalled RWsVi- player to win consecutive Masters, beat- RHP Will Harris, Cs Alex Avila and Yan tali Kravtsov and Kaapo Kakko from the ing Ray Floyd on the second hole of a sud- son amid allegations of sexual as- news: Gomes, 1B Josh Bell, LHPs Patrick Corbin, minor league taxi squad. den-death playoff. Faldo joins Jack Nick- Jon Lester and Brad Hand, INFs Josh Harri- PITTSBURGH PENGUINS — Recalled Cs laus as the only repeat winner. sault and harassment against the ■ Texas Tech’s search for its son and Jordy Mercer and OF Kyle Schwar- Frederick Gaundreau and Radim Zohorna 2001 — Tiger Woods claims the greatest ber on the 10-day injured list. Recalled C from the minor league taxi squad. feat in modern golf by winning the Mas- Houston Texans quarterback. new basketball coach didn’t take Tres Barrera, RHPs Sam Clay, Kyle McGo- TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING — Recalled D ters, giving him a clean sweep of the four “We are deeply concerned by long, and didn’t have to go far. win and Ryne Harper, INFs Luis García and Luke Schenn from the minor league taxi professional majors in a span of 294 days. Carter Kieboom, and OF Yadiel Hernandez squad. Recalled F Daniel Walcott from Sy- Woods, with his winning score of 16-under the disturbing allegations and Mark Adams, the Texas Tech from the alternate training site to the ac- racuse (AHL) to the taxi squad. 272, sweeps the majors with a combined tive roster. Selected the contract of C Jo- VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS — C Chandler score of 65-under. have suspended Deshaun Wat- graduate who was born about 40 nathan Lucroy from Rochester (Triple-A Stephenson completed suspension. 2007 — Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby fin- son,” Nike said in a statement re- miles from the Lubbock campus East). Selected the contract of OF Cody SOCCER ishes with 120 points to become the Wilson as a replacement player from the National Women’s Soccer League youngest player to win the Art Ross Tro- leased Wednesday. “We will con- and spent the past five seasons as a alternate training site. SKY BLUE FC — Announced a name phy. Crosby, 19, betters the mark set by FOOTBALL change to NJ/NY Gotham FC. Wayne Gretzky, who was 20 years and tinue to closely monitor the situa- Red Raiders assistant, was intro- National Football League COLLEGE three months old when he recorded 164 tion.” duced Tuesday night as their head ARIZONA CARDINALS — Signed C Rod- GEORGE MASON — Named Duane Simp- points for his first Art Ross in 1980-81. ney Hudson to a two-year contract. kins assistant men's basketball coach. Crosby had 36 goals and 84 assists. Watson has been accused of coach. PAGE 20 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 NBA/COLLEGE BASKETBALL NBA scoreboard Single site Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division might be WLPct GB Philadelphia 35 16 .686 — new model Brooklyn 35 16 .686 — New York 25 26 .490 10 BY MICHAEL MAROT Boston 25 26 .490 10 Associated Press Toronto 20 31 .392 15 Southeast Division INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA used the single-site concept for its WLPct GB marquee championship out of ne- Atlanta 27 24 .529 — Charlotte 25 24 .510 1 cessity. Miami 26 25 .510 1 Now it could become part of the Washington 17 32 .347 9 tournament’s future. Orlando 17 33 .340 9½ A day after crowning a national Central Division champion for the first time since WLPct GB 2019, NCAA senior vice president Milwaukee 32 18 .640 — of basketball Dan Gavitt told re- Indiana 22 27 .449 9½ porters that the successful men’s Chicago 21 28 .429 10½ college basketball tournament Cleveland 18 32 .360 14 Detroit 15 36 .294 17½ held primarily in Indianapolis and exclusively in Indiana could create Western Conference a late-round model for future tour- CHARLES KRUPA / AP neys. Southwest Division 76ers center Joel Embiid, right, dunks over the Celtics’ Luke Kornet during the second half on Tuesday. “If it’s the desire of the commit- WLPct GB tee and the membership to consid- Dallas 28 21 .571 — er something along these lines for ROUNDUP Memphis 25 23 .521 2½ San Antonio 24 24 .500 3½ the future, I think we would give it New Orleans 22 28 .440 6½ significant consideration,” he said Houston 13 37 .260 15½ Tuesday on a video call. “I would Northwest Division hesitate to say, though, I don’t think WLPct GB a 68-team single site, short of an- other pandemic, would be some- Embiid scores 35, helps Utah 38 12 .760 — Denver 32 18 .640 6 thing we would have great interest Portland 30 20 .600 8 in. However, once you get down to Oklahoma City 20 30 .400 18 a fewer amount of teams, say the Minnesota 13 38 .255 25½ Sweet 16 and on, having teams in 76ers dominate Celtics Pacific Division the same location may provide WLPct GB some opportunities the member- Associated Press pointer with 1:06 to play on the way troit. Phoenix 35 14 .714 — ship, coaches and all would want to BOSTON — Doc Rivers said his to 41 points with five three-pointers Jokic also dished out 11 assists, L.A. Clippers 34 18 .654 2½ consider for the future.” L.A. Lakers 32 19 .627 4 star big man Joel Embiid had a few as his team worked until the final his 83rd career double-digit assist Golden State 24 27 .471 12 Whatever happens, it won’t be words for him as he walked off the buzzer to snap a three-game losing game, two more than Wilt Cham- Sacramento 22 29 .431 14 anytime soon — at least not by TD Garden court on Tuesday streak. berlain had in his Hall of Fame ca- Monday’s games choice. night. Khris Middleton scored 28 reer. Dallas 111, Utah 103 The NCAA already has awarded Toronto 103, Washington 101 “I’m back,” Embiid told the points as Milwaukee again missed Plumlee and Grant helped the Cleveland 125, San Antonio 101 preliminary round games through 76ers coach. injured big man Giannis Anteto- Nuggets make a deep run in the Detroit 132, Oklahoma City 108 2026 and intends to play those Minnesota 116, Sacramento 106 “I noticed,” Rivers replied. kounmpo. bubble last season. Brooklyn 114, New York 112 games as scheduled, something it In just his second game back af- Clippers 113, Trail Blazers 116: Lakers 110, Raptors 101: Los Phoenix 133, Houston 130 couldn’t do this year because of the ter being sidelined by a bruised Paul George scored 36 points and Angeles built a 34-point lead in the Tuesday’s games COVID-19 pandemic. Chicago 113, Indiana 97 bone in his left knee, Embiid host Los Angeles rode a franchise- first 20 minutes and cruised past Atlanta 123, New Orleans 107 Players, coaches and staff mem- Philadelphia 106, Boston 96 scored 35 points and Philadelphia best 47-point first quarter to a vic- host Toronto. L.A. Lakers 110, Toronto 101 bers were tested daily for the coro- rolled to a 106-96 win over the Bos- tory over Portland. Talen Horton-Tucker led seven Memphis 124, Miami 112 navirus throughout the three-week Denver 134, Detroit 119 ton Celtics on Tuesday night. Kawhi Leonard added 29 points, Lakers in double figures with 17 L.A. Clippers 133, Portland 116 event. Seating capacity was Danny Green added 17 points as 12 rebounds and seven assists as points. Markieff Morris scored 15 Golden State 122, Milwaukee 121 capped at 25% in the six playing the 76ers posted their third the Clippers followed an 18-point before leaving the game with five Wednesday’s games venues. Minnesota at Indiana straight victory over the Celtics to rout of the defending champion fouls in the third quarter. Washington at Orlando By almost any measure, the pro- New Orleans at Brooklyn sweep the season series for the first Lakers two days before with anoth- Grizzlies 124, Heat 112: Dillon New York at Boston tocols worked. time since the 2000-2001 season. er impressive performance. Brooks scored 28 points on 10- Charlotte at Oklahoma City Gavitt said there were 15 posi- Dallas at Houston Embiid went 16-for-20 at the foul George shot 11-for-18 and made for-16 shooting and visiting Mem- Memphis at Atlanta tive tests among the 28,311 con- San Antonio at Denver line and grabbed six rebounds. He six three-pointers. phis ended another Miami winning Utah at Phoenix ducted. The 66 games drew missed 10 games with the injury. Hawks 123, Pelicans 107:Trae streak. Thursday’s games 173,592 fans, including nearly “I’m not all the way there, but to- Young scored 30 points and helped Jonas Valanciunas had 20 points Chicago at Toronto 8,000 Monday for the champion- L.A. Lakers at Miami night is a big step,” Embiid said. lead a third-quarter three-point for the Grizzlies, who won their Cleveland at Oklahoma City ship game. It’s also a small bit of revenge for barrage as surging Atlanta beat third straight. Milwaukee at Dallas Sure, there were obstacles. Detroit at Sacramento Philadelphia, which was swept by Zion Williamson and visiting New Jimmy Butler scored 28 points Phoenix at L.A. Clippers But ultimately what mattered Boston in the first round of the Orleans. for the Heat, who had won their Portland at Utah most was that only one game, playoffs last season. The Hawks sank each of their 11 past four. Three weeks ago, Mem- Friday’s games UCLA-VCU, was canceled and Indiana at Orlando “It’s not just about what hap- three-point attempts in the third, phis stalled another Miami win- Memphis at New York Baylor won the title in a city that is Minnesota at Boston pened in the playoffs, every single including four from Bogdan Bog- ning streak at five. Chicago at Atlanta likely to find itself at the center of year you want to win this match- danovic, who had 21 points. Atlanta Bulls 113, Pacers 97: Nikola Philadelphia at New Orleans future tourneys, too, and as the Charlotte at Milwaukee up,” Embiid said. made 20 of 31 threes overall. Vucevic took advantage of Indi- San Antonio at Denver NCAA’s top backup option. Houston at L.A. Clippers Philadelphia led by 21 in the sec- Young also had 12 assists. He ana’s missing big men by posting Washington at Golden State Or perhaps as a single-site city ond half of the opener of a four- made three threes in the third as 32 points and 17 rebounds in visit- Calendar again. game trip. It has won three of four the Hawks surged to a 107-90 lead. ing Chicago’s win. “Knowing what we were able to May 16 — End of regular season overall. Williamson led the Pelicans with Chicago has won two straight May 18-21 — Play-In Tournament pull off here in such a short amount May 22 — July 22: 2021 NBA Playoffs Warriors 122, Bucks 121:Kelly 34 points. since snapping a six-game losing May 30 — Deadline for an early entry of time, I think gives me and the Oubre Jr. converted a pair of free Nuggets 134, Pistons 119: Ni- streak and moved within one game player to apply for this year’s Draft (11:59 NCAA staff incredible confidence p.m. ET) throws with 7.7 seconds left to give kola Jokic scored 27 points in 27 of the Pacers for the No. 9 spot in June 21-27 — NBA Draft Combine that we have minimally an incred- June 22 — NBA Draft Lottery host Golden State the lead, and Mil- minutes and host Denver spoiled the Eastern Conference. Vucevic July 19 — Deadline for an early entry ible backup plan if we’re presented waukee missed at the end. the return of Jerami Grant and Ma- also had five assists while going 14- player to withdraw from the NBA Draft (5 with a challenge and have to to p.m. ET) Stephen Curry made a three- son Plumlee by shellacking De- for-29 from the field. July 29 — 2021 NBA Draft shift,” Gavitt said. Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 21 MLB

Scoreboard ROUNDUP

American League

East Division WLPct GB Soto sends Nats over Braves Baltimore 3 2 .600 _ New York 3 2 .600 _ Toronto 3 2 .600 _ Boston 2 3 .400 1 Associated Press Tampa Bay 2 3 .400 1 WASHINGTON — Juan Soto Central Division drove in the winning run with a WLPct GB single on a 3­0 pitch in the bottom Kansas City 3 1 .750 _ of the ninth inning Tuesday, lifting Detroit 3 2 .600 ½ the coronavirus­depleted Wash­ Minnesota 3 2 .600 ½ ington Nationals to a 6­5 come­ Chicago 3 3 .500 1 Cleveland 1 3 .250 2 back victory over the Atlanta Braves after waiting five days to West Division start their season. WLPct GB Lefty reliever Will Smith (0­1) Houston 5 1 .833 _ entered for the ninth and prompt­ Los Angeles 4 2 .667 1 Seattle 2 3 .400 2½ ly gave up a single to new leadoff Texas 2 3 .400 2½ hitter Victor Robles, and then hit Oakland 0 6 .000 5 Trea Turner with a pitch. That National League brought up Soto, the 2020 NL bat­ ting champion, and he delivered a East Division line drive to center field. WLPct GB Ronald Acuña Jr., Freddie Philadelphia 4 1 .800 _ Freeman and Dansby Swanson Washington 1 01.000 1 homered against Washington ace New York 1 1 .500 1½ Miami 1 4 .200 3 Max Scherzer. Acuña drove Atlanta 0 4 .000 3½ Scherzer’s first pitch of the game Central Division deep to left­center, and led off the WLPct GB third with his second homer. Turner hit a two­run shot for the Cincinnati 4 1 .800 _ Chicago 3 2 .600 1 Nationals. Daniel Hudson (1­0) got St. Louis 3 2 .600 1 the win. Milwaukee 2 3 .400 2 Because of a COVID­19 out­ ALEX BRANDON / AP Pittsburgh 1 4 .200 3 break — four players tested posi­ The Nationals’ Juan Soto, right, and Trea Turner celebrate in front of Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies West Division tive; seven were forced into quar­ after Soto hit a game­winning single during the ninth inning of Washington’s opener on Tuesday. WLPct GB antine after potentially being ex­ Los Angeles 5 1 .833 _ posed — Washington’s first four The Rays were in line for the fans react to their sign­stealing run shot into the Toronto bullpen San Diego 4 2 .667 1 scheduled games were scrapped. win before Christian Vázquez scandal in the 2017 and 2018 sea­ in left­center field for a 2­1 lead in Arizona 2 3 .400 2½ Dodgers 5, Athletics 1:Los An­ belted Diego Castillo’s 0­2 pitch sons. the first inning. San Francisco 2 3 .400 2½ Colorado 1 4 .200 3½ geles ace Clayton Kershaw struck over the Green Monster for a tying Mike Trout hit a 464­foot homer Ronald Guzman and Jonah Monday’s games out eight in seven smooth innings homer leading off the ninth. in the first inning. Heim also went deep for the Rang­ Minnesota 15, Detroit 6 to send host Oakland to its worst Martinez had an RBI double in Reds 14, Pirates 1: Tyler Na­ ers in their first four­homer game Kansas City 3, Cleveland 0 start in more than a century. the eighth for the Red Sox, who quin homered twice and drove in a in their year­old ballpark. Toronto 6, Texas 2 N.Y. Yankees 7, Baltimore 0 Mookie Betts homered for the won their second straight after an career­high seven runs, leading Tigers 4, Twins 3 (10): Akil Boston 11, Tampa Bay 2 L.A. Dodgers 10, Oakland 3 first time this season, a towering 0­3 start. host Cincinnati to its fourth Baddoo added another big hit in Chicago White Sox 6, Seattle 0 L.A. Angels 7, Houston 6 solo shot to left­center in the ninth. Mets 8, Phillies 4: Marcus straight victory. this charmed start to his big St. Louis 4, Miami 1 Max Muncy and Edwin Rios also Stroman tossed six sharp innings Rookie Jonathan India had league career, lining an RBI sin­ Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 3 Philadelphia 5, N.Y. Mets 3 went deep for the World Series in his first start after sitting out three hits and four RBIs in Cincin­ gle in the 10th inning for host De­ Chicago Cubs 5, Milwaukee 3 San Francisco 3, San Diego 2 champion Dodgers (5­1). last year due to COVID­19 con­ nati’s latest offensive outburst. troit. Tuesday’s games At 0­6, the A’s have matched the cerns, and Dominic Smith and The Reds set a franchise record Baddoo made his debut Sunday Detroit 4, Minnesota 3, 10 innings poorest start in franchise history. Pete Alonso each hit a two­run with 46 runs in their first five and homered on the first pitch Houston 4, L.A. Angels 2 N.Y. Yankees 7, Baltimore 2 The 1916 Philadelphia Athletics homer, lifting visiting New York to games. The 1895 and 1976 teams thrown to him. Then he hit a grand Texas 7, Toronto 4 also began the season with six con­ the win. scored 44 runs through five slam in a 15­6 loss to the Twins on Boston 6, Tampa Bay 5, 12 innings L.A. Dodgers 5, Oakland 1 secutive losses. Didi Gregorius hit a solo homer games. Monday. The rookie entered Chicago White Sox 10, Seattle 4 Washington 6, Atlanta 5 Oakland and Atlanta (0­4) are for Philadelphia, which sought its Cardinals 4, Marlins 2: Yadier Tuesday’s game as a pinch run­ Cincinnati 14, Pittsburgh 1 the only winless teams in the ma­ first 5­0 start since 1915. Molina hit a tiebreaking sacrifice ner, stayed in to play the outfield St. Louis 4, Miami 2 N.Y. Mets 8, Philadelphia 4 jors. Padres 3, Giants 1:Victor Car­ fly off former batterymate Sandy and ended it with a hit to right off Milwaukee 4, Chicago Cubs 0 San Diego 3, San Francisco 1 Yankees 7, Orioles 2: Gerrit atini hit a tiebreaking two­run Alcantara, capping visiting St. Hansel Robles (0­1). Arizona 10, Colorado 8, 13 innings Cole struck out 13 and walked homer for host San Diego, and Yu Louis’ three­run rally in the sixth White Sox 10, Mariners 4:Jose Wednesday’s games none in seven scoreless innings in Darvish pitched six strong in­ inning. Abreu hammered a grand slam in­ Kansas City at Cleveland Minnesota at Detroit his most dominant start since join­ nings. Dylan Carlson hit his second to the second deck for his 200th ca­ Tampa Bay at Boston Toronto at Texas ing host New York. The Padres won a few hours af­ homer of the season for an insur­ reer home run, Luis Robert and L.A. Dodgers at Oakland Cole (1­0) allowed four hits, ter getting the news that star ance run in the ninth. Zack Collins both went deep for Chicago White Sox at Seattle Baltimore at N.Y. Yankees three of them singles, in the type of shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is ex­ Brewers 4, Cubs 0: Freddy the first time this season and vis­ Atlanta at Washington, 2 Pittsburgh at Cincinnati performance that showed why the pected to avoid surgery for now Peralta pitched five sharp innings, iting Chicago beat Seattle. Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs Yankees made him baseball’s for a partially dislocated left Travis Shaw hit a three­run homer Lucas Giolito (1­0) struck out 10 N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia 1 San Francisco at San Diego highest­paid pitcher in December shoulder. Tatis was placed on the and visiting Milwaukee stopped a in 5 ⁄3 innings. St. Louis at Miami Arizona at Colorado 2019 with a $324 million, nine­ 10­day injured list and the Padres three­game slide. Diamondbacks 10, Rockies 8 Thursday’s games year contract. didn’t set a timeline for his return. Peralta (1­0) struck out eight (13): Stephen Vogt homered and Boston (Rodríguez 0-0) at Baltimore Jay Bruce backed him with his Astros 4, Angels 2:Carlos Cor­ and walked four. Kris Bryant dou­ hit a go­ahead single in the 13th in­ (Harvey 0-0) Kansas City (Keller 0-0) at Chicago first Yankees home run, a solo rea hit a tiebreaking two­run bled in the fourth for Chicago’s on­ ning as visiting Arizona overcame White Sox (Lynn 0-0) Seattle (Gonzales 0-0) at Minnesota shot in the second off Dean Krem­ homer in the ninth inning, lifting ly hit of the game. Ryan McMahon’s three home (Berríos 1-0) er (0­1), and Aaron Judge added a visiting Houston to the victory. Rangers 7, Blue Jays 4: Nate runs, beating Colorado in a game L.A. Angels (Canning 0-0) at Toronto (Stripling 0-1) three­run homer in the eighth. Kyle Tucker and Aledmys Díaz Lowe homered twice for host Tex­ delayed about 50 minutes at the Oakland (Irvin 0-1) at Houston (Javier 0-0) Red Sox 6, Rays 5 (12):Randy hit back­to­back homers in the as and padded his franchise re­ start by snow flurries. Miami (TBD) at N.Y. Mets (Walker 0-0), Arozarena got twisted around in second inning for the Astros, who cord for RBIs to start the season McMahon hit three solo homers 1:10 p.m. Chicago Cubs (Arrieta 1-0) at Pittsburgh deep right field on J.D. Martinez’s went an impressive 5­1 on their with four more. in his first three at­bats to become (Anderson 0-1), 1:35 p.m. Arizona (Kelly 0-1) at Colorado (Gray two­run double with two outs in six­game road trip to start the sea­ Lowe was the first Texas player the 18th player in Rockies history 0-0), 3:10 p.m. the 12th inning that lifted host Bos­ son amid the incessant booing and to go deep in front of the home fans with three in one game. He added Milwaukee (Burnes 0-1) at St. Louis (Wainwright 0-1) ton over Tampa Bay. jeering they’ll hear indefinitely as at Globe Life Field, lining a two­ an RBI double in the 13th. PAGE 22 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 NHL/MASTERS Westwood, at 47, still seeking his Masters moment BY TIM REYNOLDS Associated Press 3 AUGUSTA, Ga. — Lee West- wood made his Masters debut in Number of runner-up finishes in major 1997 and went out for a Saturday tournaments by England’s Lee West- night shopping excursion when he wood, who has yet to win a major. realized that he would play the final Two of those second-place finishes round the following day with Jack came at Augusta National. Nicklaus. SOURCE: Associated Press He bought a photo — the iconic image of Nicklaus raising his putter out there,” said 1991 Masters win- as he watched his birdie putt drop to ner Ian Woosnam, who played a give him a lead that he never relin- practice round with Westwood ear- FRANK FRANKLIN II / AP quished on the 71st hole of the 1986 lier this week. “He seems to be real- The Islanders’ Brock Nelson receives congratulations from teammates after scoring during the third tournament — and asked the six- ly in control of his game. Just said to period of Tuesday’s game against the Washington Capitals in Uniondale, N.Y. The Islanders won 1­0. time Masters winner to sign it after him, ‘Just be patient.’ ” their round, while Tiger Woods was Patience is a virtue that comes running away from the field on the with waiting forever for that major NHL ROUNDUP NHL scoreboard way to his first Masters win. breakthrough. Nicklaus obliged. “Lee, enjoyed Westwood has won 44 times East Division our round, best wishes, Jack Nick- around the world, has been part of GP WLOT Pts GF GA laus,” he wrote. Westwood still has seven Ryder Cup wins and likely the picture and still looks to it every will play in that event again later Washington 39 25 10 4 54 132 118 Nelson’s goal lifts N.Y. Islanders 39 25 10 4 54 118 90 now and then for inspiration. this year and has won nearly $70 Pittsburgh 39 24 13 2 50 130 110 Nicklaus won the 1986 Masters at million in prize money. But he is 0- Boston 36 20 10 6 46 102 91 46, with his son as his caddie. West- for-84 in majors, landing him N.Y. Rangers 38 18 15 5 41 125 103 wood sees the parallels in his plan among those dubbed the “best play- Philadelphia 38 18 15 5 41 114 138 Isles over Capitals New Jersey 37 13 18 6 32 91 118 for this week — when he’ll try to win er to never win a major.” Buffalo 38 9 23 6 24 87 131 the Masters at 47 with his son as his Yet there are reasons for opti- Associated Press assists and host New York beat Central Division caddie. He has finished second in mism: the two second-places last

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Brock Pittsburgh. GP WLOT Pts GF GA major championships three times, month, the fact that he has made the Nelson scored with just under sev- Colin Blackwell, Mika Zibane- two of those coming at Augusta Na- cut in his last 13 appearances at the Florida 40 26 10 4 56 132 108 en minutes left and Semyon Varla- jad, Ryan Strome, Alexis Lafre- Carolina 38 26 9 3 55 125 94 tional, but the former world No. 1 Masters and that he’s held the lead mov made 29 saves as the New niere, Kaapo Kakko and Pavel Tampa Bay 39 26 11 2 54 132 97 player is still seeking that first ma- at Augusta National in past appear- York Islanders edged Washington Buchnevich also scored for New Nashville 40 21 18 1 43 102 115 jor triumph. ances after the first, second and 1-0 on Tuesday night to pull even York, which extended its point Chicago 40 18 17 5 41 113 124 “I maybe don’t play as well, as of- third rounds. Columbus 41 15 18 8 38 102 131 with the Capitals for first place in streak to four games (3-0-1). It was Dallas 37 13 14 10 36 100 99 ten, anymore,” Westwood said. “It just is validation, really, that the East Division. the first time in 11 years that eight Detroit 41 13 22 6 32 90 128 “But when I do play well, I tend to I’m still good enough at my age to be Varlamov and Vitek Vanecek Rangers scored in a game. West Division contend.” out here and contending,” West- matched each other save for save Ducks 5, Sharks 1: David GP WLOT Pts GF GA He has proven that this year. wood said. for more than 50 minutes before Backes and Nicolas Deslauriers Back-to-back second-place fin- And if history repeats itself — a Colorado 38 26 8 4 56 137 87 Nelson scored his team-leading each had a goal and an assist, and Vegas 37 25 10 2 52 119 85 ishes last month at The Players man closer to 50 than 40, with his 14th goal assisted by defenseman visiting Anaheim stopped San Jos- Minnesota 37 23 12 2 48 108 94 Championship and Bay Hill showed son as his caddie — finds a way to Ryan Pulock at 13:05 of the third e’s four-game winning streak. Arizona 39 19 15 5 43 107 118 everyone — himself, probably most win the Masters, Westwood certain- period. Adam Henrique, Isac Lundes- St. Louis 38 16 16 6 38 104 124 importantly — that he can still con- ly won’t mind. San Jose 38 17 17 4 38 106 127 Varlamov earned his fourth trom and Max Comtois also scored Los Angeles 37 14 17 6 34 100 107 tend. He has been thinking about “Jack has always been an inspira- shutout this season and the 31st of for Anaheim, which had lost three Anaheim 40 12 21 7 31 92 131 the Masters for weeks, came in for a tion the way he played the game, es- his career. It was the first time he in a row. John Gibson made 34 North Division couple of practice rounds between pecially his record around here,” blanked his former Capitals team saves. Bay Hill and The Honda Classic and Westwood said. “You can’t help be- GP WLOT Pts GF GA in a regular-season game. Hurricanes 5, Panthers 2:Vin- believes he’s done all he can to pre- ing inspired. There’s a few similar- New York improved to 16-1-2 at cent Trocheck scored a pair of Toronto 39 26 10 3 55 130 98 pare. ities there with age. It would be Winnipeg 39 23 13 3 49 125 107 Nassau Coliseum, remaining the power-play goals against his for- Edmonton 39 23 14 2 48 127 112 “He’s munching it pretty good great to break his record.” only team in the NHL with just one mer team, Jordan Staal also Montreal 35 17 9 9 43 114 96 regulation loss at home. scored twice and host Carolina Vancouver 37 16 18 3 35 100 120 The Islanders are 11-4-4 in rallied past Florida. Calgary 40 16 21 3 35 103 124 Ottawa 39 13 22 4 30 104 146 games decided by a single goal, in- Blue Jackets 4, Lightning 2: Tuesday’s games cluding a 6-4 record in regulation. Zac Dalpe scored for the first time Buffalo 5, New Jersey 3 Sabres 5, Devils 3: Defense- in 4 ½ years, Joonas Korpisalo N.Y. Islanders 1, Washington 0 Columbus 4, Tampa Bay 2 man Rasmus Dahlin scored and made 36 saves and host Columbus Carolina 5, Florida 2 N.Y. Rangers 8, Pittsburgh 4 set up the winning goal by Casey beat Tampa Bay. Boston 4, Philadelphia 2 Nashville 3, Detroit 2, SO Mittelstadt as visiting Buffalo Bruins 4, Flyers 2:Patrice Ber- Chicago 4, Dallas 2 snapped a 10-game road winless geron recorded a hat trick and re- Anaheim 5, San Jose 1 Vancouver at Winnipeg, ppd. streak with a win over New Jer- ached 900 career points, and Brad Wednesday’s games sey. Marchand’s short-handed goal led Edmonton at Ottawa Montreal at Toronto Ramus Asplund, Brandon Mon- visiting Boston past Philadelphia. Colorado at Minnesota tour and Rasmus Ristolainen also Predators 3, Red Wings 2 (SO): Vegas at St. Louis Arizona at Los Angeles scored for the Sabres, who recent- Ryan Johansen and Roman Josi Thursday’s games ly snapped an 18-game winless scored in the shootout to lift visit- Boston at Washington Edmonton at Ottawa streak. Linus Ullmark made 27 ing Nashville over Detroit. Florida at Carolina saves to beat the Devils for the Blackhawks 4, Stars 2: Kirby New Jersey at Buffalo DAVID J. PHILLIP / AP Philadelphia at N.Y. Islanders fourth time this season. Dach, Dominik Kubilik and Alex Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers England’s Lee Westwood hits his tee shot on the first hole during a Tampa Bay at Columbus Rangers 8, Penguins 4:Artemi DeBrincat scored, Patrick Kane Winnipeg at Montreal practice round for the Masters. At 47, Westwood is still seeking his Panarin had a goal and three as- had a goal and an assist, and host Nashville at Detroit first major title. He need look no further for inspiration than Jack Dallas at Chicago sists, Adam Fox had a goal and two Chicago beat Dallas. Vancouver at Calgary Nicklaus, who won the Masters in 1986 at age 46. Thursday, April 8, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 23 MASTERS Green: Johnson hopes to join elite group

FROM PAGE 24 no one had a lower score than he did in three DID YOU KNOW? of the four rounds — another record. The to join Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus At the Masters in November, Dustin Johnson crucial shot was his 8-iron to 6 feet away on as the only repeat winners at Augusta. finished at 20-under 268, the lowest score in the top shelf at the par-3 sixth that gave him Woods, such a huge part of the Masters tournament history. It wasn’t the only record the cushion he needed. The most bizarre landscape, won’t be around for this one. He that was set: there were 65 rounds in the 60s shot was his 6-iron on the par-5 13th that he suffered career-threatening injuries to his and 187 rounds at par or better for the week. purposely played along the ground so the right leg and foot from his SUV running off The records are attributed to soft conditions, moisture on the grass would clean the mud the road along the coastal suburbs of Los inevitable because the rye grass had not taken off his ball. It really was a stroke of genius. Angeles on Feb. 23. It will be the fourth time full root and the summer Bermuda had yet to He lost control only when it was over, so in the last eight years that injuries have kept go entirely dormant. overcome with emotion he couldn’t speak. the five-time Masters champ from playing. SOURCE: Associated Press A month later, when asked the best part of Augusta National has not said how many Neither stood much of a chance in No- winning, Johnson smiled wide and said, badges have been sold, only that they will be vember against Johnson. “Masters champion forever.” limited. Fans have slowly returned to golf in The No. 1 player in the world, whose ca- “Hold on,” he added. “And I get to go to the last few months, with estimates of about reer had been defined as much by the ma- Augusta for the Masters forever. I’m going 10,000 or more at places like Bay Hill and jors he didn’t win as the one he did, pulled to play as long as I can compete.” the TPC Sawgrass, enough to line the fair- away on the back nine for a five-shot victo- As for that green jacket? ways to watch the marquee players. ry. He finished at 20-under 268, the lowest He was never more proud than to wear it That was missing at the last Masters. score in tournament history. It was one of when he returned to Augusta National last “Without the patrons, it just wasn’t the several records that were set in soft condi- month to play a few casual rounds, one of same,” Jordan Spieth said. “Whatever per- tions, inevitable because the rye grass had them with Augusta National Chairman centage it will be, patrons that are there will not taken full root and the summer Bermu- Fred Ridley. But when he returns for this make it feel like normal, even it’s not at full da had yet to go entirely dormant. Masters, the jacket has to stay at the club in capacity. I’m looking more forward to this There were 65 rounds in the 60s. There the locker he shares with Fuzzy Zoeller. one than I was maybe in November. But the were 187 rounds at par or better for the In that sense, he had reason to feel short- Masters is the Masters. They give out a week. Both were records. changed. But he doesn’t. MATT SLOCUM / AP jacket at the end of it and it’s a dream-come- “DJ, I think, would have won whether it “It wouldn’t bother me if I only had it for a Tiger Woods, a five­time Masters cham­ true situation. was like it was in November or April,” Jus- day. It would be OK. I’ve got one,” he said. pion, won’t be at Augusta National this “It doesn’t matter when it’s played and tin Thomas said. “He played far and away “And five months, a year, one month, one week. He’s still recuperating from injuries who’s there,” he said. “It’s you against the better than anyone else.” day, it doesn’t really make a difference to he suffered in a car accident in February. golf course and the field.” Johnson had such complete control that me.” PAGE 24 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, April 8, 2021 Nelson lifts Islanders SPORTS Scores only goal in shutout of Capitals ›› NHL, Page 21

Dustin Johnson shows off his green jacket after winning the Masters on Nov. 15 in Augusta, Ga.

MATT SLOCUM / AP

Wearing o’ the green Color returns as Masters moves back to April AUGUSTA, Ga. he record score at Augusta National “Whatever percentage it will be, patrons that wasn’t all that set Dustin Johnson apart from other Masters cham- are there will make it feel like normal, even it’s Tpions. No one else ever won the Masters and then not at full capacity.” didn’t play in another tournament the rest of the year. No other Masters champion was Jordan Spieth allowed to keep his green jacket for only 2015 Masters champion, on a limited number of fans being allowed to attend the tournament five months before it was time to try to win it again. Gone are the autumn hues of gold, orange turns, though not to the same decibel. Augusta Then again, no one ever played the and red in the trees, the brown leaves mixed in National had no choice but to keep the specta- Masters in November. with the pine straw on the ground. Augusta Na- tors away in November because of the pan- Postponed last year because of tional is blazing with pink and red and purple demic, just like the other majors last year. The the COVID-19 pandemic, the azaleas, accented by the white blooms of dog- only witnesses to a master-class performance Masters is back to being that wood. by Johnson were media, staff, club members annual rite of spring — Inside the ropes — yes, there are ropes — is a and families. the first major of the year, course expected to play fast, firm and scary. It will be 144 days from when Tiger Woods not the last one — and so “I think it will be back to feeling like a nor- helped Johnson into his green jacket until much about the 85th edi- mal Masters,” Johnson said. “I’m definitely Johnson tees off in the opening round in his bid tion that begins April 8 looking forward to that.” feels almost normal. Along with the spring colors, the volume re- SEE GREEN ON PAGE 23

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy needs only to add a Masters championship to his résumé to complete the career grand slam.

CHARLIE RIEDEL / AP

NCAA might again consider single site ›› College basketball, Page 20