NFL MILITARY PACIFIC Buffalo in Soldier in Germany North Korea lashes thick of AFC orders chocolate sauce, out at Trump’s threat playoff race gets bullets instead of military force Back page Page 7 Page 5

Senators seek accountability, charges in base housing crisis » Page 3

stripes.com

Volume 78, No. 166 ©SS 2019 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas

IMPEACHMENT Heated hearing begins in Judiciary

BY LISA MASCARO AND MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee’s first im- peachment hearing quickly burst into partisan infighting Wednes- day as Democrats charged that President Donald Trump must be removed from office for enlisting foreign interference in U.S. elec- tions and Republicans angrily re- torted there were no grounds for such drastic action. The panel responsible for drafting articles of impeachment convened as Trump’s team was fanning out across Capitol Hill. Vice President Mike Pence met behind closed doors with House Republicans, and Senate Repub- licans were to huddle with the White House counsel as GOP law- FRANCISCO SECO/AP makers stand with the president NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, center front left, speaks with President Donald Trump after a group photo at a NATO leaders and Democrats charge headlong meeting at The Grove hotel and resort in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, on Wednesday . into what has become a one-party drive to impeach him. Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D- N.Y., gaveled open the hearing saying, “The facts before us are undisputed.” Nadler said Trump’s phone NATO touts progress amid rifts call with Ukraine’s president last July wasn’t the first time Trump sought a foreign power to influ- ence American elections, after Allies approve Baltic defense plan while trumpeting higher spending Russian interference in 2016, and if left unchecked he could do it again in next year’s campaign. BY JOHN VANDIVER While there are conflicting views within the achievement not only for our country, but for “We cannot wait for the elec- Stars and Stripes alliance over Ankara’s invasion of northern the whole region.” tion to address the present cri- Syria and its plan for containing Islamic Although NATO managed to take steps for- sis,” Nadler said. “The president President Donald Trump and fellow NATO State, Trump offered support. ward in London, there was acrimony among has shown us his pattern of con- leaders approved a defense plan for the Bal- “Frankly, a lot of people have great respect some of its leaders. duct. If we do not act to hold him tics and Poland on Wednesday, overcoming for Turkey for the work that they’ve done,” Trump and French President Emmanuel resistance from Turkey, which had threat- in check now, President Trump Trump said. Macron traded barbs at the start of talks ened to block it unless other alliance mem- will almost certainly try again to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg Tuesday, and later that evening Canadian bers designated Kurdish fighters in Syria as solicit interference in the election said allied leaders didn’t discuss the Kurd- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was captured terrorists. ish YPG militia before passing a revised for his personal political gain.” on tape, purportedly poking fun at Trump’s Speaking at the end of two days of talks defense plan for the Baltics and Poland. Lith- Republicans protested the lengthy news conferences as he chatted with in London, Trump heaped praise on Turkey uanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in a proceedings as unfair to the when asked about the Baltic defense plan. statement that the agreement was a “huge SEE NATO ON PAGE 8 SEE HEARING ON PAGE 9 PAGE 2 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 BUSINESS/WEATHER EXCHANGE RATES Military rates Switzerland (Franc)...... 0.9870 Euro costs (Dec. 5) ...... $1.1384 Thailand (Baht) ...... 30.30 Dollar buys (Dec. 5) ...... €0.8784 Turkey (Lira) ...... 5.7468 Google co-founders step aside British pound (Dec. 5) ...... $1.34 (Military exchange rates are those Japanese yen (DATE) ...... 106.00 available to customers at military banking South Korean won (DATE) ...... 1,162.00 facilities in the country of issuance Associated Press Commercial rates for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the public face of the company in ad- CEO since 2015, will now also Bahrain (Dinar) ...... 0.3770 Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For dition to his current role as chief head up Alphabet. The company British pound ...... $1.3097 nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., SAN FRANCISCO — Google’s purchasing British pounds in Germany), executive. isn’t filling Brin’s position. Canada (Dollar) ...... 1.3265 co-founders are relinquishing China (Yuan) ...... 7.0496 check with your local military banking Larry Page and Sergey Brin Google is facing increasing facility. Commercial rates are interbank their executive positions just as Denmark (Krone) ...... 6.7272 rates provided for reference when buying are stepping down as CEO and criticism and investigations from Egypt (Pound) ...... 16.1224 currency. All figures are foreign currencies state and federal regulators, not Euro ...... $1.1106/0.9004 to one dollar, except for the British pound, to mention the Department of president, respectively, of Google authorities in the U.S. and Eu- Hong Kong (Dollar) ...... 7.8294 which is represented in dollars-to-pound, parent company Alphabet. rope about its privacy policies Hungary (Forint) ...... 298.11 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) Justice and Congress, are taking Israel (Shekel) ...... 3.7403 a keen interest in possible abuse The move caps more than two and nature of its many-legged Japan (Yen) ...... 108.72 of its privacy practices and mar- decades during which the pair business. That will now fall to Pi- Kuwait (Dinar) ...... 0.3036 INTEREST RATES have shepherded the one-time chai to wrangle and push through Norway (Krone) ...... 9.1612 ket power. Philippines (Peso)...... 50.98 Prime rate ...... 4.75 But their long-foreshadowed startup they founded in a Silicon — though Brin and Page, both 46, Poland (Zloty) ...... 3.85 Discount rate ...... 2.25 Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...... 3.7499 Federal funds market rate ...... 1.56 successor, Sundar Pichai, has Valley garage. have noticeably backed out of the Singapore (Dollar) ...... 1.3621 3-month bill ...... 1.53 been well-prepped to serve as the Pichai, who has been Google’s spotlight already. South Korea (Won) ...... 1,190.23 30-year bond ...... 2.16 WEATHER OUTLOOK THURSDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST THURSDAY IN EUROPE FRIDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 33/29 Kabul 53/28 Seoul 27/17 Baghdad 62/49 Kandahar 67/42 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 44/39 Pomorskie 29/20 Busan Lakenheath 35/26 47/35 36/31 Iwakuni 46/41 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City Brussels 38/28 Guam 67/55 74/70 37/28 Ramstein 45/41 84/79 Lajes, 30/24 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 70/53 77/59 62/59 36/26 33/29 Aviano/ Vicenza 41/29

Naples 53/46 Okinawa Morón 30/21 61/47 Sigonella 62/50 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Rota Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 84/72 61/48 60/57 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. T O D A Y IN STRIPES

American Roundup ...... 15 Classified ...... 13 Comics ...... 16 Crossword ...... 16 Faces ...... 12 Opinion ...... 14 Sports ...... 17-24 Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 3 MILITARY Accountability sought in base housing crisis

BY ROSE L. THAYER problems would be much easier Stars and Stripes should Congress pass the Na- tional Defense Authorization Act Senators expressed outrage for fiscal year 2020 and the ap- Tuesday over the lack of account- propriations spending bill for the ability among military and busi- Defense Department. Both bills ness leaders who oversee base are held up as the parties squab- housing amid continuing com- ble over spending money to build plaints of poor living condition for a wall along the U.S. border with military families. Mexico. “There’s got to be somebody Until an agreement is reached, who can be held accountable here certain aspects of improving in what looks like endemic non- housing are stuck in limbo — in- enforcement,” said Sen. Angus cluding the Tenant Bill of Rights King, I-Maine, who was frustrat- created as a collaboration be- ed that private companies were tween the three service secretar- not forced to hold up their end of ies and Congress. the deal. “I want somebody who “When the bill of rights is pub- can be fired.” lished, dispute resolution is one The Senate Armed Services [right], in particular, we need to Committee last heard from the put in place as quickly as possi- military’s top brass in March on ble,” McCarthy said. “It’s why in their plans to fix problems such many cases that the only mecha- as mold and vermin infestations, nism that families have to get re- lead paint exposure and substan- sults is legal action. The sooner dard maintenance that plague on- [we] can have a dispute resolution base housing. in place, it will help improve mat- Tuesday’s hearing, the Senate ters dramatically.” committee’s third on the subject Some military families have this year, was meant to garner an decided they cannot wait for the update on fixing the problems. JOE GROMELSKI/Stars and Stripes bill of rights to offer them dispute But progress has been disappoint- resolution. Instead, they have cho- ing, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville talks with Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking the committee chairman, said in Member Jack Reed, D-R.I., before a hearing on privatized military housing Tuesday on Capitol Hill. sen to hire attorneys to file law- his opening statement. suits against the private housing “We continue to hear regularly Mississippi, where all housing or the enforcement of the con- So I don’t understand why not a management companies. So far, from families across the country had to be replaced after Hurri- tracts?” King asked. single garrison commander has at least four multifamily lawsuits about questionable practices, poor cane Katrina in 2005, 1,084 of its “I think it’s both,” said Eliza- yet been fired over a failure to have been filed in federal courts workmanship and about hous- 1,188 homes have experienced beth Field, director of defense maintain these standards,” Duck- across the country. ing contractors not caring about moisture and mold, primarily capabilities and management worth said, garnering applause “I thought there was a lot of the families they’re supposed to because of a mistake made while with the Government Account- from the military families who passing the buck,” Tampa-based be serving,” he said. “When is installing air conditioning units ability Office, who testified based filled the committee room. attorney Natalie Khawam said enough enough?” and ducts, said Sen. Roger Wick- on a report released Tuesday that Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D- about the Senate hearing Tues- Since the Senate’s March er, R-Miss. she authored on military housing Conn., pointed his blame toward day. Khawam is representing five hearing with military leaders, Six months after the last hear- privatization. “In many cases, the the private companies, asking if families suing a private housing all three services have new sec- ing, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said contracts were not written in such any criminal charges have been company because of mold in their retaries. At Tuesday’s hearing, maintenance crews tried to reuse a way that the services could truly referred related to housing. While residences at MacDill Air Force Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, moldy insulation during reme- hold the partners accountable for McCarthy and Modly said no, Base in Florida. She attended acting Navy Secretary Thomas diation of a house at Fort Belvoir, everything they should be hold- Barrett said the FBI and the Air the hearing with three military Modly and Air Force Secretary Va. ing them accountable for.” Force Office of Special Investiga- spouses involved in the lawsuit, Barbara Barrett sat alongside “[The management companies] Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., tions are looking into instances of which was filed Monday. their service chiefs, the com- all operate in the private sphere expressed concern that no garri- fraud reported by the media. Khawam said she anticipates mandant of the Marines and a and compete hard,” Kaine said. son commander, an officer who “Some housing issues invite hearing different responses representative from the Govern- Then they “treat military tenants typically functions like the base’s concern about possible allega- Thursday when leaders from five ment Accountability Office. For like they’re captives, like a cap- mayor, had been fired as a result tions that some owners manip- private management companies two hours, committee members tive audience.” of not holding private companies ulated data to increase their testify before the House Armed pressed them on housing solu- accountable at their base. incentive awards,” Barrett said Services Committee about the tions, with an emphasis on how to Root of the problem “If you had a tank gunnery in her opening statement. military housing crisis. hold someone accountable for al- range, an aerial gunnery range “I’m deeply disappointed that “At the end of the day, I don’t lowing such poor conditions. Though contracts, most span- or a door gunnery range that was there has been no such refer- care whether you’re part of the In McCarthy’s opening state- ning 50 years, require manage- constantly hurting the troops ral,” Blumenthal said before company or the military, if peo- ment, he said one-third of hous- ment companies to meet federal operating at that range, and that thanking Barrett for opening an ple come to you with a problem, ing on Army bases is rated in and state housing standards, ser- range was not up to standard, investigation. you’ve got to fix it. If you don’t do poor condition and needs to be re- vice secretaries were quiet when that garrison commander would anything about it, you’re part of placed, one-third is considered in King asked who within their be held responsible for whether Stalled bill of rights the problem,” she said. “The job good condition and the rest falls ranks is responsible for making or not they held responsible what- was just not done.” in between. certain those guidelines are met. ever contractor was running that Senators and military lead- [email protected] At Keesler Air Force Base in “Is the problem the contracts range for you and keeping it safe. ers agreed that tackling housing Twitter: @Rose_Lori

Charges dropped against most Marines arrested at morning formation

BY ANDREW DYER discharged from the Marines. gling. They were arrested by a swarm of 40 after that hearing. The judge ruled the The San Diego Union-Tribune “Thirteen Marines submitted and have to 50 law enforcement agents and marched mass arrest — conducted in front of an approved pretrial agreements requesting away in handcuffs. 800-person battalion — was an unlawful CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Military separation in lieu of courts-martial or waiv- Another eight Marines suspected of un- violation of their rights, attorneys involved prosecutors dropped human trafficking ing administrative separation boards,” the specified drug offenses also were taken out in two of the cases said. and drug charges against most of the two Marines statement said. of formation. Some of them were detained Marine Capt. Charles Whitman, who dozen Marines recently arrested in front Also, six Marines have pleaded guilty at by battalion personnel and taken to the represents a Marine charged with drug of their Camp Pendleton battalion, days courts-martial, and four still face criminal Camp Pendleton brig, Lt. Col. Eric Olson, offenses, successfully argued that the ar- after a court ruled those arrests were an charges, the statement said. the battalion commander, said during tes- unlawful violation of their rights, Marine Until now, the Marines had not answered timony at a court hearing Nov. 15. rests amounted to unlawful command Corps officials confirmed Tuesday. questions or responded to requests for in- Marines in the formation that day testi- influence. The Marines’ cases will be dealt with formation about the cases . fied at the hearing that their commanders “After that ruling, I think the government administratively, outside the military On July 25, 16 Marines were called to called the accused Marines a “cancer” on saw the writing on the wall and wanted to court system, according to a 1st Marine the front of their unit — 1st Battalion, 5th the battalion. get this out of the court system,” Whitman Division statement. Many of them will be Marines — and accused of human smug- The cases against the Marines fell apart said in an interview Tuesday. PAGE 4 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 MIDEAST GAO: 102 bases at risk of facing water shortages Report criticizes Pentagon’s data collection

BY COREY DICKSTEIN By the numbers Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON — More than ALASTAIR GRANT/AP 100 U.S. military installations face water shortage risks, accord- 84B ing to the Government Account- Wrapping up the donation season ability Office, which warned that Gallons of water the the Pentagon needs better stan- First lady Melania Trump joins students and U.S. Marines stationed at the U.S. Embassy in wrapping dards for monitoring and deter- Defense Department used presents to be donated at the Salvation Army Clapton Center in London on Wednesday . mining the bases that could be in fiscal year 2018. affected. The federal watchdog cautioned in its Nov. 27 report that bases in the United States had already ex- 43 perienced water shortages that Navy launches site to assist affected critical operations and said more installations were likely Military bases identified by to be affected by climate change- the GAO as facing drought . related issues and increasing se- sailors’ assignment process vere weather events. SOURCE: Associated Press In all, GAO listed 102 military BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY new website. locations in the United States as ment assessments on installations Stars and Stripes “Let me assure you, there is no secret list of billets vulnerable, noting the Defense vulnerable to water scarcity, GAO …,” Nowell said. “We’re going to show you all the Department relies on billions WASHINGTON — The Navy has changed how found that they varied markedly, billets. We are going to prioritize what’s most im- of gallons of water to operate — sailors search and apply for billets with the upcom- raising questions about their portant and they will get filled first. But you can go some 84 billion gallons in fiscal ing launch of MyNavy Assignment on Thursday, the quality and about which source of in and you can bookmark billets so that you follow year 2018 . service announced. information DOD is using to de- them over successive cycles.” The Pentagon defines water The website is replacing the Navy’s Career Man- termine which installations are The push for a new career management website scarcity as a lack of enough water vulnerable to water scarcity,” the agement System-Interactive Detailing website , is from the Navy’s Sailor 2025 initiative, which in- to meet needs for a wide range report reads. “… GAO found that with more search features and transparency in the cludes modernizing the personnel system and im- of critical missions on installa- these assessments did not reflect assignment process, according to a news release proving user experience, according to the Navy. tions including military training, four of five leading practices for Tuesday from the Navy’s personnel command. “We know that you want more visibility, you want weapons testing, firefighting and identifying and analyzing water “We based these changes on sailor input from transparency, you want flexibility and options. We providing drinking water, hy- scarcity — practices that con- around the Navy,” Rear Adm. Rick Cheeseman, think that we can meet that need, and that we can giene and sanitation services. tribute to a reliable assessment of director of the Career Management Department do that while giving a better fit for the Navy, which Vulnerable installations water availability.” at Navy Personnel Command, said in a statement. is better readiness,” Nowell said. stretched from Naval Air Station Specifically, the GAO reported, “As we continue to transform our Navy, our goal to On MyNavy Assignments, sailors can submit Key West in Florida to Joint Base the OSD did not always identify increase transparency, flexibility and choice for all seven applications, up from five, and track the sta- Lewis-McChord in Washington how much water was currently sailors and MyNavy Assignment is a huge step in tus of those applications. state. Mountain Home Air Force available at its installations and the right direction.” The website will also have a resume feature. Po- Base in Idaho, Francis E. Warren how much water was expected Enlisted sailors who are looking for their next job tentially interested commands and detailers can Air Force Base in Wyoming and to be available in the future or in their Navy career can work with a “detailer” who also view the information listed on their resume. Marine Corps Air Station Yuma take into account all sources of considers their goals and available openings across Sailors interested in other job fields will be able to in Arizona have experienced water available to those posts or the service. The website will function as a “detailing see where their skills and experience match. some level of water shortage in identify the precise locations it marketplace,” where sailors can search for vacant “It’s also going to have something called a com- recent years, the GAO reported. examined. jobs in the Navy as well as future opportunities. It monality matrix, so that as you look at what’s com- The new report also examined Installations can face water will have an improved look, according to the Navy. mon between your rating and perhaps if you’re a trio of assessments conducted shortages for a variety of reasons. Sailors in the reserves will see the changes in fu- looking at other ratings that you might want to cross this year by the Office of the Sec- In January, the Defense Depart- ture updates but no timeline was given. convert to, you can see where you would have the retary of Defense on energy- and ment identified threats of flood- Last week, during an online town hall event, Vice most luck doing that,” Nowell said last week . climate-related issues. The Penta- ing, drought and wildfires among Adm. John Nowell, chief of naval personnel, high- gon looked at water supply issues [email protected] the top issues that could lead to lighted the transparency in the billet process on the Twitter: @caitlinmkenney at its properties and compared water shortages. results with similar studies con- The GAO identified installa- ducted separately since 2017 by tions facing drought — as many as the three military departments. 43 bases — as those most vulner- The evaluations often did not able. Those bases included Ma- match, the GAO reported. Only rine Corps Air Station Yuma in Okinawans sue over noise at bases 42 bases of 95 identified by the Arizona, Kirtland Air Force Base BY AYA ICHIHASHI reau, an arm of the Japan Ministry of Defense, said Pentagon were considered at risk in New Mexico and several Cali- Stars and Stripes it had not yet received the complaint and declined of water scarcity in more than fornia installations, including the comment. A plaintiff’s lawyer was unavailable for one of the three OSD reports Marines’ Camp Pendleton, Naval CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Neighbors of two comment. and the three separate military Amphibious Base Coronado and U.S. air bases on Okinawa have filed new lawsuits department assessments. The Vandenberg Air Force Base. In April, the Fukuoka High Court Naga Branch re- seeking compensation from the Japanese govern- GAO blamed the OSD, criticizing The GAO said Pentagon offi- duced by $3 million a $22.6 million award in a simi- its data collections practices as cials agreed to its recommenda- ment for physical and mental damage from aircraft lar suit involving MCAS Futenma and dismissed the not following the same standard tion to implement better practices noise, according to local media reports. plaintiffs’ demand to halt flight operations there. for analysis the departments of for assessing water shortage vul- Two suits, both filed Saturday, seek $1.8 million in A separate lawsuit filed in 2018 by 2,800 residents the Army, Air Force and Navy nerabilities and conduct a new, compensation: $1.16 million for 110 residents around near Futenma seeks $10 million in damages and is followed. departmentwide analysis. Kadena Air Base and $642,00 for 102 residents near still pending. “When comparing the results [email protected] Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. [email protected] of six [OSD] and military depart- Twitter: @CDicksteinDC A spokesperson for the Okinawa Defense Bu- Twitter: @AyaIchihashi Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 5 PACIFIC N. Korea lashes out at US threat of force

BY KIM GAMEL he? That’s why I call him ‘rocket man,’ ” Stars and Stripes Trump said. Trump spoke hours after the North said SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea it was preparing a “Christmas gift” for the lashed out Wednesday at President Donald United States if Washington fails to offer a Trump’s threat to use military force if nec- more flexible stance in talks, which stalled essary to achieve denuclearization, warn- after a second summit in Vietnam in Feb- ing that “the use of armed forces is not the ruary. The North demanded extensive privilege of the U.S. only.” sanctions relief but the Trump administra- Trump called on North Korean leader tion said it must first give up more of its Kim Jong Un on Tuesday to live up to nuclear weapons program. promises to rid his country of nuclear In London, Trump called on Kim to stick weapons. to his promise to denuclearize. “Now, we have the most powerful mili- Many analysts have expressed concern tary we ever had, and we are by far the that the two sides may return to traded most powerful country in the world, and threats and long-range missile tests that hopefully we don’t have to use it,” Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in Lon- pushed the Korean Peninsula to the brink don. “But if we do, we’ll use it.” of another war in 2017. Those remarks drew a sharp response The comments came hours after the from Pak Jong Chon, the chief of the gen- North released photos of leader Kim visit- eral staff of North Korea’s army, who said ing a sacred mountain on horseback for the he and Kim Jong Un were “displeased” to second time in two months. hear Trump’s comments. In past years such visits have been har- “One thing I would like to make clear is bingers of major policy shifts. KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY, KOREA NEWS SERVICE/AP that the use of armed forces is not the priv- Pyongyang also announced that it will ilege of the U.S. only,” Pak said. “I clearly North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju ride horses during a visit to convene a rare meeting of senior ruling state here that if the U.S. uses any armed Mount Paektu in a photo released by North Korea on Wednesday. North Korea says Working Party officials later this month, forces against (North Korea), we will also Kim has taken a second ride on a white horse to the sacred mountain in less than two signaling a major announcement may be in take prompt corresponding actions at any months. In past years such visits have been harbingers of major policy shifts. the works as the deadline to resume talks level.” nears. North Korea and the United States “are ric as nuclear talks remain stalled ahead of ress, despite a resurgence of weapons tests North Korea has conducted several still technically at war and the state of truce an end-of-year deadline imposed by North by the communist state in recent months. weapons tests since May, but it has stopped can turn into an all-out armed conflict any Korea for Washington to offer conces- On Tuesday, however, the president re- short of lifting its self-imposed moratori- moment even by any accidental case,” he sions such as sanctions relief and security verted to using his nickname “rocket man” um on intercontinental ballistic missile or said in a statement published by the state- guarantees. for the North Korean leader, while insisting nuclear tests. run Korean Central News Agency. Trump has frequently touted his friend- they maintain a “very good relationship.” Some 28,500 American troops are based Both sides have ratcheted up their rheto- ship with the North Korean leader as prog- Kim “likes sending rockets up, doesn’t in South Korea. PAGE 6 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 WAR ON TERRORISM US peace envoy in Kabul seeking to launch talks

BY KATHY GANNON zad met with several Afghan lead- iban have been engaged in talks Associated Press ers, including President Ashraf and insisted the Taliban want to Ghani, who repeated his call for make a deal after heavy U.S. fire KABUL, Afghanistan — Wash- a cease-fire. in recent months. ington’s special peace envoy, Zal- Hekmat Karzai, chairman of The State Department state- may Khalilzad, was in the Afghan the Kabul-based Center for Con- ment said Khalilzad’s Kabul and capital, Kabul, on Wednesday to flict and Peace Studies, tweet- Doha talks are a follow-up to launch an “accelerated effort” to ed photographs of his meeting Trump’s recent visit and to dis- get Afghans on both sides of the Wednesday with Khalilzad in cuss how best to support acceler- Silkey Knadle protracted conflict to the negotia- Kabul, saying they “spoke about ated efforts to get all parties to tion table to plot a road map to a the way forward.” intra-Afghan negotiations.” Chief Warrant Officer 2 David C. Knadle; his wife, Silkey; daughter, post-war Afghanistan. A Taliban official said the group In Doha, Khalilzad will be Starling; and son, Eason Bertone, reunite in Fort Hood, Texas, in July His next stop will be Doha in has held informal talks with the pushing for a cease-fire or at least 2018, after the Army pilot finished a rotation in Germany. Knadle the Middle East where he will Americans, without specifying a reduction in violence with an eye died Nov. 20 in Afghanistan when his helicopter crashed. restart talks with the Taliban, where or who participated. He to an eventual end to fighting. according to a U.S. State Depart- spoke on condition of anonymity The Taliban official said the ment statement. The talks would to discuss the talks. U.S. has been pressing for a Apache pilot ‘gladly be the first official round since Khalilzad’s visit comes just cease-fire, even a temporary one September, when President Don- days after Trump visited U.S. during the time of an agreement ald Trump declared an all-but- troops in Afghanistan for the signing. While there has been no and willingly’ accepted done deal dead after a surge in Thanksgiving holiday, when he formal announcement of a reduc- violence killed 12 people in the hinted at a resumption of peace tion in violence, Taliban attacks at capital, including a U.S. soldier. talks with the Taliban. least in the cities appear to have risks of deployment In Kabul on Wednesday, Khalil- Trump said the U.S. and Tal- decreased in recent weeks.

BY J.P. LAWRENCE then included their infant daugh- Stars and Stripes ter, Starling, and his wife’s son, Eason Bertone. Five-year-old Starling Knadle An avid athlete who began Japanese doctor killed in attack sat on her mother’s lap, her 15- competitive bodybuilding short- year-old brother sitting beside ly before his death, Knadle had Associated Press her wearing a cavalry Stetson, areas, which He was critically wounded and bonded with Eason through rock earned him underwent surgery at a local hos- as six Army pallbearers loaded KABUL, Afghanistan — A climbing. He often teased that he the nick- pital but died while being airlifted their father’s coffin into a waiting shooting ambush in eastern Af- wanted to toughen up Starling, name “Uncle to the Bagram Airfield hospital in hearse during a ceremony at Fort but with tickles and kisses, his ghanistan on Wednesday killed Murad” for the capital, Kabul, said Sanger. Hood, Texas, on Tuesday. a Japanese physician and aid wife said. his services Nakamura had headed the Chief Warrant Officer 2 David This fall, despite having orders worker widely respected and be- C. Knadle, 33, was killed last to the people. Japanese charity Peace Medical to Colorado, he made a deal with loved in the war-scarred nation, Afghan Pres- Service in Nangarhar since 2008. month when his attack helicopter a friend so he could deploy to Af- triggering an outpouring of grief crashed while on a mission pro- ident Ashraf He came to Afghanistan after a ghanistan, his wife said. among the people whose lives he Ghani Japanese colleague, Kazuya Ito, viding security for ground troops Never a person to shy away from helped change for the better. in eastern Afghanistan. awarded him was abducted and killed. a fight, “he knew the enemy was The leaders of Japan and Af- After the dignified transfer of Nakamura honorary Af- Nakamura was credited with still there and active and looked ghanistan expressed their con- the Apache pilot’s remains, his ghan citizen- changing a vast desert stretch in forward to meeting them in per- demnations of the attack that took daughter insisted she be allowed ship in April. Nangarhar known as Gamber to son,” said his friend, Chief War- the life of Tetsu Nakamura and to put on her father’s dog tags, her Nakamura died of his wounds lush forests and productive wheat rant Officer 2 Travis Schroder. also killed five Afghans, includ- mother said in a phone interview shortly after gunmen opened fire farmlands. “He knew when he strapped on Wednesday. ing the doctor’s bodyguards, the on his car Wednesday morning The Taliban quickly denied the machine exactly what it meant “We talked about Daddy and driver and a passenger, hospital on a road in Nangarhar. Accord- responsibility for Wednesday’s and the dangers that came with his big muscles,” Silkey Knadle spokesman Gulzada Sanger said. ing to the provincial governor’s shooting that killed Japanese Dr. it,” Schroder said. “He accepted said — he had recently placed Nakamura, 73, had worked in spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, Tetsu Nakamura, as well as five these gladly and willingly.” second in a bodybuilding compe- the eastern Nangarhar province Nakamura was heading to the Afghans, including the doctor’s He deployed in October and tition. “She said her daddy is an for more than a decade, taking provincial capital, Jalalabad, bodyguards, the driver and a angel in heaven with the biggest flew his final mission the follow- the lead in water projects in rural when the attack took place. passenger. muscles and the biggest wings.” ing month. Officials are investi- The Texas native and his co- gating the Nov. 20 crash in Logar pilot on the fatal mission, Chief province that killed him and Warrant Officer 2 Kirk T. Fuchi- Fuchigami, a newlywed, the Pen- gami Jr., 25, of Keaau, Hawaii, tagon said last month. Court hears war crimes probe appeal had been assigned to the 1st Cav- The Taliban, who often fabri- Associated Press alry Division. Both members of cate or embellish reports of their In the ruling, which was con- held at the Guantanamo Bay de- battlefield exploits, claimed to demned by victims and rights tention facility in Cuba. 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Reg- THE HAGUE, Netherlands have shot down the helicopter, but groups, the judges said that an The United States is not a mem- iment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade — The International Criminal were posthumously awarded Afghan officials said the downing investigation “would not serve ber of the global court and re- was not caused by enemy fire. Court opened a three-day hear- the interests of justice ” because fuses to cooperate with it, seeing Bronze Stars. ing Wednesday at which prosecu- David Knadle “could do any- The aviators’ deaths brought it would likely fail due to lack of the institution as a threat to U.S. tors and victims aim to overturn thing,” Silkey Knadle said. “And to 19 the number of Americans cooperation. sovereignty and arguing Ameri- a decision scrapping a proposed if he didn’t know how to do it, he killed in Afghanistan so far this The decision came a month can courts are capable of dealing investigation into alleged crimes could figure it out.” year, which has been the deadli- after U.S. Secretary of State Mike with allegations of abuse by U.S. The two met while working at est for U.S. forces since the end in Afghanistan’s brutal conflict. Pompeo banned visas for ICC nationals. a financial firm in Fort Worth, of major combat operations in the Fergal Gaynor, a lawyer repre- staff seeking to investigate alle- Bensouda’s request to open an Texas. Both had high-paying jobs, country in December 2014. More senting 82 Afghan victims, called gations of war crimes and other investigation said there is infor- but he told her his dream was to than 2,400 American troops have it “a historic day for accountabil- abuses by U.S. forces in Afghani- mation that members of the U.S. become a pilot. died in the country since the 2001 ity in Afghanistan.” stan or elsewhere. military and intelligence agen- “You’re not getting younger,” U.S.-led invasion launched in re- In April, judges rejected a re- “Whether the two events are in cies “committed acts of torture, Silkey Knadle recalled telling sponse to the 9/11 attacks. quest by the court’s prosecutor, fact related is unknown, but for cruel treatment, outrages upon him. “If you’re going to do it, do A funeral for Knadle will be Fatou Bensouda, to open an in- many — victims as well as com- personal dignity, rape and sexual it now.” held on Thursday at Vista Com- vestigation into crimes allegedly mentators — the timing appeared violence against conflict-related He joined the Army in 2013. munity Church in Temple, Texas. committed by the Taliban, Afghan more than coincidental,” said detainees in Afghanistan and Two years later, he was a pilot [email protected] security forces and American mil- lawyer Katherine Gallagher, who other locations, principally in the and had started a family that by Twitter: @jplawrence3 itary and intelligence agencies. was representing two men being 2003-2004 period.” Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 7 EUROPE 2 sentenced to prison for attempted burglary Ramstein GI gets bullets in of Americans’ home BY MARCUS KLOECKNER watched everything from their mail, not sauce he ordered AND KARIN ZEITVOGEL hiding place, the court was told Stars and Stripes earlier. BY JENNIFER H. SVAN at how heavy the parcel was. The marks around the mother’s AND MARCUS KLOECKNER Amazon acts as a marketplace ZWEIBRUECKEN, Germany mouth indicated that the force the Stars and Stripes — Two of the four men who tried through which shoppers can suspect was applying could have choose and buy items directly to force their way into the home of KAISERSLAUTERN, Ger- led to her suffocating, the court from merchants and third-party an American family in Landstuhl many — A box of 250 bullets or- heard in earlier hearings. sellers. in February were sentenced to dered through Amazon turned up The American father chased the A seller who offers firearms prison Wednesday for attempted fourth home invader, H.M., down in the military mail last week at and some other weapons violates burglary. the stairs and out of the house, Ramstein Air Base, but the U.S. the tech giant’s policy. J.R., 33, wept as the judge stabbing him three times. H.M. service member who received “Amazon prohibits the listing sentenced him to four years in died of his wounds on the side- them says he ordered chocolate prison. The other suspect, J.M., walk in a nearby village, where sauce, not ammunition. or sale of firearm ammunition 52, was handed a slightly longer his accomplices had left him with The 27-year-old man immedi- and ammunition components for sentence of 4½ years. Under Ger- J.M., one of his brothers. ately turned the .30-caliber bul- assault weapons, black powder man law, convicted criminals can J.M.’s and J.R.’s sentences were lets over to U.S. military police, guns, handguns, muzzleloaders, be named only under specific slightly less than prosecutors had base spokesman Kilian Bluem- pistols, shotguns, and rifles,” its circumstances. sought because the burglary was lein said Wednesday. website says. “We still can’t gauge what the unsuccessful and they had both The bullets were not complete Nevertheless, Amazon has list- full impact on the victims was” entered guilty pleas, the judge rounds and the box did not con- ed ammunition for sale after list- of the attempted burglary of their said. tain shells or gunpowder, Bluem- ings slipped past the company’s home on Feb. 10, said the judge as The loss of his brother was an- lein said. software algorithms. Police headquarters Westpfalz, Germany she handed down the sentences. The two men were part of a other reason why J.M. was sen- The package was given to Ger- A 25-round ammunition clip A U.S. service member at group of four, three of whom were tenced to 4½ years instead of five, man police, who announced the was found for sale on the site in Ramstein Air Base, Germany, brothers, that had heard from she said. incident this week. August, according to a report by received a box of .30-caliber moving company workers that the A mitigating factor in J.R.’s German law enforcement of- The Washington Post, which is bullets in the mail instead of the American family had high-value sentence was that his family had ficials are examining the projec- owned by Amazon chief execu- chocolate sauce that he said he ordered. The GI immediately objects in a safe in their home. raised 1,000 euros for the Ameri- tiles and will likely turn the case tive Jeff Bezos. turned over the bullets to The four showed up at the can family, which the court over to the U.S. military since the [email protected] U.S. military police, a base house with duct tape, zip ties and deemed fair compensation for package didn’t contain live am- Twitter: @stripesktown spokesman said Wednesday. a loaded air gun, the court was damages. munition, Kaiserslautern police [email protected] told in an earlier hearing. Johannes Berg, counsel for the spokesman Luca Schulz said. The American father fought American family, said he was Ammunition — even if inert — back when the men tried to force satisfied with the sentences but is illegal to ship through the mili- their way into the home and added that the family’s ordeal tary postal system in Europe and pushed three of them back out the wasn’t over yet. is considered a criminal offense, door. After that, the father, a for- A third suspect, whose case a military postal official said. mer Air Force major now work- was spun off from the other two It’s unclear how the purported ing as a civilian for the military, because of his long criminal re- mix-up happened. grabbed a kitchen knife and ran cord, is expected to be sentenced The service member, who was upstairs, where the fourth home in mid-December. not identified, picked up the box invader was forcefully holding “This is not the end for the fam- two days before Thanksgiving at a his hand over the mouth of the ily,” said Berg. “The trial of the military post office on Ramstein. American mother to try to silence third man is still ongoing.” He was expecting a box of choco- her. [email protected] late sauce from Amazon, he told Two of the family’s children [email protected] base officials, and was surprised PAGE 8 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 EUROPE Trump: Japan, South Korea should pay more for troops

BY SETH ROBSON Voice of America. Stars and Stripes Trump also said he had asked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to help America out. Japan and South Korea can and should pay more “You are a wealthy nation and we are paying es- to host U.S. forces, President Donald Trump told sentially for your military,” he told the reporters in reporters alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens London. Stoltenberg on Tuesday in London. Japan contributes nearly $1.8 billion annually to- Trump, in a video of the press conference posted ward the cost of basing about 50,000 U.S. troops in online by Euronews, said he had recently persuaded the country, according to figures published Wednes- South Korea to up its annual contribution to the cost day by the Mainichi newspaper. of stationing U.S. troops on the peninsula from just Last month, Japanese Defense Minister Taro under $500 million to nearly $1 billion and that he Kono refuted reports that his country had been wants to increase that figure. asked to fork over five times as much as it now pays EVAN VUCCI/AP “We do a great job. We have 32,000 soldiers there,” to support U.S. forces stationed there. said Trump, who added he thinks it’s fair for Seoul Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s chief Cabinet secretary, President Donald Trump speaks during lunch Wednesday with to pay “substantially more.” said at a press conference Wednesday he was aware NATO members that have met their financial commitments to the “In some cases, you have countries that need help of Trump’s remarks in London and wouldn’t com- organization as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg listens. that don’t have money … and there’s trauma … and ment on what Trump and Abe had discussed. A that’s a different situation,” he said. video of Suga’s remarks was posted on the prime Late last month, U.S. negotiators stormed out of minister’s website. NATO: In a first, formal a meeting with their South Korean counterparts to “That being said, the current expenses for sta- discuss the Special Measures Agreement, as the de- tioning of the U.S. Forces in Japan has been prop- fense cost-sharing contract is known, in Seoul. Nei- erly allocated by an agreement between Japan and talks are held about China’s ther side released a figure or confirmed reports that the U.S.,” he added. the Trump administration is demanding a fivefold increase to nearly $5 billion per year. Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report. security implications U.S. and South Korean negotiators resumed cost- [email protected] sharing talks Tuesday in Washington , according to Twitter: @SethRobson1 FROM FRONT PAGE fighter-bomber squadrons and 30 Macron and British Prime Minis- land battalions available for com- ter Boris Johnson. bat in 30 days, Stoltenberg said. NATO leaders appear to gossip “He’s two-faced,” Trump said In a first for the alliance, NATO of Trudeau during a brief news also held formal talks among its conference alongside German leaders about China’s security about Trump in unguarded chat Chancellor Angela Merkel on implications. Wednesday. He paused and said, Throughout its 70-year history, BY JILL LAWLESS “And, honestly, with Trudeau, NATO has focused primarily on Associated Press he’s a nice guy. I find him to be a threats to the trans-Atlantic region very nice guy.” and its immediate surroundings. WATFORD, England — While Trump said Trudeau was likely “China is the second-largest angry over his repeated demands NATO leaders professed unity defense spender in the world next on Wednesday at a summit near that Canada spend more on to the United States and recently London, a spat rippled under the defense. displayed new modern capabili- surface after several were caught The dispute with Turkey also in an unguarded exchange on had threatened to drive a wedge ties including nuclear weapons,” camera apparently gossiping between allies. Macron on Tues- Stoltenberg said. “So we have to about President Donald Trump’s day accused Turkish President address the rise of China togeth- behavior. Recep Tayyip Erdogan of align- er and I look forward to the allies Trump branded Canadian ing with ISIS elements to further doing that at this leaders’ meeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Turkey’s agenda in Syria. for the first time.” “two-faced” after the remarks “The common enemy today is Putting China on NATO’s agen- captured during a reception in the terrorist groups. I’m sorry da has been a top military prior- London at Buckingham Palace. to say, we don’t have the same ity of the U.S., which is concerned Trudeau was seen standing in definition of terrorism around about Beijing’s ambitions in the a huddle with French President the table,” Macron said Tuesday Arctic and about Chinese 5G Emmanuel Macron, British Prime alongside Trump. “When I look at technology, which American offi- Minister Boris Johnson, Dutch Turkey, they are fighting against cials say presents a security risk. those who fought with us shoul- Prime Minister Mark Rutte and At the luxury hotel in Hert- Britain’s Princess Anne, daughter der-to-shoulder against ISIS, and HOST BROADCASTER/AP fordshire, northwest of central of Queen Elizabeth II, at Tuesday sometimes they work with ISIS evening’s event. In this screen grab taken from video Tuesday , French President proxies.” London, the leaders discussed After Johnson asked Macron, Emmanuel Macro, center right, gestures as he speaks with, from Erdogan, who met behind closed strategy but didn’t disclose any “is that why you were late?” left, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister doors with Trump on Wednesday, precise steps they would take re- Trudeau could be heard saying Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The NATO did not speak publicly during the garding China. “he was late because he takes a leaders seemed to have been caught in an unguarded exchange on NATO meeting. There were also disagreements 40-minute press conference off camera apparently gossiping about President Donald Trump. Also on Wednesday, Trump within the alliance, most notably the top.“ That appeared to be a and Stoltenberg touted a defense between the U.S. and France, on reference to Trump’s long and Trump said Wednesday that Trudeau’s office had no imme- spending increase of a combined whether China should be viewed unscheduled question-and-an- Trudeau was likely upset that diate comment. Trudeau spoke $130 billion by the European al- as an adversary at all. swer session with journalists ear- the U.S. president had broached briefly to Trump as NATO leaders lies and Canada since 2016. By At the conclusion of the lead- lier Tuesday. the fact that Canada falls short of gathered for a summit Wednes- the end of 2024, that figure is ex- ers’ meeting, Stoltenberg said al- Trudeau also said, “You just the NATO target of spending 2% day in Watford, outside London, pected to rise to $400 billion, said lies had agreed to “rely only on watched his team’s jaws drop to of its gross domestic product on and the two men shook hands. Stoltenberg, who credited Trump secure and resilient systems,” but the floor.” defense. with pushing members to spend Leaders of the 29 NATO states didn’t specify if that would ex- Trump wasn’t mentioned by “Well he’s two-faced,” Trump more on defense. are marking the 70th anniver- clude Chinese technology. name during the exchange. told reporters Wednesday. “And, “This is unprecedented. And Footage of the palace reception honestly, with Trudeau, he’s a nice sary of the military alliance it’s making NATO stronger,” Stol- Trump, meanwhile, said sepa- was recorded by a pool camera. guy — I find him to be a very nice — and trying to patch up differ- tenberg said. rately that some leaders he has The clip was posted online by Ca- guy — but you know the truth is ences over defense spending, the Allies moved forward with spoken with have pledged not to nadian broadcaster CBC and has that I called him out on the fact alliance’s strategic direction and other priorities, including imple- use China’s 5G equipment. been viewed more than 5 million that he’s not paying 2% and I guess member nation Turkey’s military menting a plan that calls for na- [email protected] times. he’s not very happy about it.” action in northern Syria. tions to have 30 warships, 30 Twitter: @john_vandiver Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 9 NATION Hearing: Legal experts called by Democrats back impeachment

FROM FRONT PAGE nately” defy the House’s consti- president, the dredging up of un- tutional authority to conduct the founded allegations as part of an impeachment proceedings by in- effort to undo the 2016 election structing officials not to comply and remove Trump from office. with subpoenas for documents “You just don’t like the guy,” and testimony. said Rep. Doug Collins, of Geor- For Democrats marching into gia, the top Republican on the what is now a largely partisan panel. He called the proceedings process, the political challenge a “disgrace” and a “sham.” if they proceed is to craft the im- Several Republicans immedi- peachment articles in a way that ately objected to the process, in- will draw the most support from terjecting procedural questions, their ranks and not expose Pelo- and they planned to spend much si’s majority to messy divisions, of the session interrupting, delay- especially as Republicans stand ing and questioning the rules. with the president. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi While liberal Democrats are said Democrats “haven’t made pushing the party to go farther a decision” yet on whether there and incorporate the findings from will be a vote on impeachment. former special counsel Robert She was also meeting privately Mueller’s report on Russian in- with the Democratic caucus. But terference in the 2016 election a vote by Christmas appears in- and other actions by Trump, more creasingly likely with the release centrist and moderate Democrats of a 300-page report by Demo- prefer to stick with the Ukraine crats on the House Intelligence matter as a simpler narrative that Committee that found “serious Americans understand. misconduct” by the president. Democrats could begin drafting Intelligence Committee Chair- articles of impeachment against man Adam Schiff, D-Calif., told the president in a matter of days, The Associated Press: “Ameri- with a Judiciary Committee vote /AP cans need to understand that this ALEX BRANDON next week. The full House could president is putting his personal George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley testifies during a hearing before vote by Christmas. Then the mat- political interests above theirs. the House Judiciary Committee on the constitutional grounds for the impeachment of President Donald ter moves to the Senate for a trial And that it’s endangering the Tr u m p on Wednesday . in 2020. country.” The White House declined an The Judiciary Committee president in history. invitation to participate Wednes- heard Wednesday from legal ex- Along with revelations from day, with counsel Pat Cipollone perts, delving particularly into earlier testimony, the new phone denouncing the proceedings as a the issue of whether Trump’s ac- records raised fresh questions “baseless and highly partisan in- tions stemming from the July 25 about Giuliani’s interactions with quiry.” Cipollone, who will brief phone call with Ukraine’s presi- the top Republican on the intel- Senate Republicans on Wednes- dent rose to the constitutional ligence panel, Rep. Devin Nunes, day, left open the question of level of “bribery” or “high crimes of California. Nunes declined to whether White House officials and misdemeanors” warranting comment. Schiff said his panel would participate in additional impeachment. The report laid out would continue its probe. House hearings. evidence that the Democrats say Republicans defended the shows Trump’s efforts to seek for- president in a 123-page rebuttal eign intervention in the U.S. elec- claiming Trump never intended tion and then obstruct the House’s to pressure Ukraine when he investigation. asked for a “favor” — investiga- Trump told reporters in Lon- tions of Democrats and Biden and don, where he was attending a his son. They say the military aid NATO meeting, that he doubted many people would watch the live the White House was withholding hearing “because it’s going to be was not being used as leverage, as boring.” Democrats claim — and besides, Trump did phone in to the the $400 million was ultimately House GOP’s morning meeting released, although only after a congressional outcry. with Pence to talk with House Mi- J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/AP nority Leader Kevin McCarthy. For Republicans falling in line The California Republican said From left, in foreground, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.; Rep. Jim behind Trump, the inquiry is sim- impeachment didn’t come up. Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.; and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., prepare for ply a “hoax.” Trump criticized “The unity has been very posi- the start of the House Judiciary Committee hearing. the House for pushing forward tive,” he said. with the proceedings while he New telephone call records man, a Harvard Law School pro- es only the fourth presidential was overseas, a breach of political released with the report deepen fessor, said he considered it clear impeachment inquiry in U.S. decorum that traditionally leaves Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s that the president’s conduct met history. partisan differences at the water’s known involvement in what House the definition of “high crimes and Based on two months of inves- edge. investigators called the “scheme” misdemeanors.” Pamela Karlan, tigation sparked by a still-anony- Democrats once hoped to sway to use the president’s office for a Stanford Law School professor mous government whistleblower’s Republicans to consider Trump’s personal political gain by enlist- and former Obama administra- complaint, the Intelligence Com- removal, but they are now facing ing a foreign power, Ukraine, to tion Justice Department official, mittee’s Trump-Ukraine Im- a ever-hardening partisan split investigate Democrats including said the president’s action consti- peachment Inquiry Report relies over the swift-moving proceed- Joe Biden and intervene in the tuted an especially serious abuse heavily on testimony from cur- ings that are dividing Congress American election process. of power “because it undermines rent and former U.S. officials who and the country. Trump told reporters he re- democracy itself.” defied White House orders not to Possible grounds for impeach- ally doesn’t know why Giuliani Republican witness Jonathan appear. ment are focused on whether was calling the White House’s Turley, a law professor at George The inquiry found that Trump Trump abused his office as he Office of Management and Bud- Washington University, said that “solicited the interference of a pressed Ukrainian President get, which was withholding $400 the Democrats were bringing a foreign government, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open in- million in military aid to the ally “slipshod impeachment” case to benefit his reelection,” Schiff vestigations into Trump’s politi- confronting an aggressive Russia against the president, but he didn’t wrote in the report’s preface. cal rivals. At the time, Trump was at its border. excuse the president’s behavior. In doing so, the president withholding $400 million in mili- “’You have to ask him,” Trump “It is not wrong because Presi- “sought to undermine the integri- tary aid, jeopardizing key support said. “Sounds like something dent Trump is right,” according to ty of the U.S. presidential election as Ukraine faces an aggressive that’s not so complicated. … No Turley. “A case for impeachment process, and endangered U.S. na- Russia at its border. big deal.” could be made, but it cannot be tional security,” the report said. The report also accuses Trump At the hearing, the three legal made on this record,” he said. When Congress began investi- of obstruction, becoming the experts called by Democrats The political risks are high for gating, it added, Trump obstruct- “first and only” president in U.S. backed impeachment. Noah Feld- all parties as the House press- ed the investigation like no other history to “openly and indiscrimi- PAGE 10 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 NATION Carbon pollution still rising but at a slower rate BY SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press ‘ Emissions grew WASHINGTON — The world more slowly than continues to increase the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide last year but we still it pumps into the air, but it’s not set a global record. rising as fast as in the previous couple of years. It’s hard to be JULIO CORTEZ/AP Led by big jumps from China upbeat about that. Maryland corrections secretary Robert Green, left, listens as Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn and India, the world is projected ’ Rob Jackson Mosby announces the indictment of 25 correctional officers in Baltimore on Tuesday. to spew 40.57 billion tons of car- study co-author bon dioxide into the air in 2019. That’s up nearly 255 million tons from 2018, according to two sci- Baltimore officers indicted for entific studies released Tuesday. ald, who wasn’t part of the report. The studies by Global Carbon Project, a group of international “A stronger switch from coal to scientists who track emissions, solar or wind needs to happen to assaulting, threatening inmates show a 0.6% increase from last reach low climate targets.” year. Led by 10% drops in both the BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN when the state Department of who serve with distinction every In previous years, global car- United States and Europe, car- Associated Press Public Safety and Correctional single day,” he said. bon dioxide emissions grew by bon pollution from coal dropped Services began investigating the Hogan, a Republican, said the 2.1% and 1.5% after a few years worldwide nearly 1% but in- BALTIMORE — More than allegations. department’s anti-corruption ef- in the mid 2010s when global creased 2.6% from cleaner natu- two dozen correctional officers Indicted officers used social forts have led to the arrests and emissions barely rose, according ral gas, according to the studies. in Baltimore were charged Tues- media to publicly promote their convictions of more than 200 day with using excessive force on to the studies in Environmental Coal still is the No. 1 source of “reputation and successes,” and officers, inmates and “citizen prisoners at state-operated jails Research Letters. Carbon diox- man-made carbon pollution put- they furtively used winks, nods accomplices.” in a city plagued by decades of in- ide from the burning of coal, oil and other body language to warn In 2015, Maryland closed the ting 16 billion tons of carbon di- stitutional corruption, inside and and gas has caused 1.8 degrees oxide in the air this year, followed each other about the presence of men’s section of a state-run Bal- of warming since pre-industrial outside jailhouse walls. by oil and then gas. Coal gener- The 25 indicted officers are supervisors and other ‘non-mem- timore jail that was notorious for times, and world leaders are ally emits 76% more carbon di- bers,’ ” the indictment says. its decrepit conditions, criminal meeting in Madrid to try to limit accused of assaulting and threat- oxide than natural gas , according Gov. Larry Hogan said in a activity and corruption. warming to another 1.8 degrees ening detainees at correctional fa- to the U.S. Energy Information cilities, tampering with evidence statement that his administration In 2013, a federal indictment from now. has no tolerance for corruption in exposed a sophisticated smug- “Emissions grew more slowly Administration. and falsifying documents, said Baltimore City State’s Attorney the state’s correctional system. gling ring operating inside the than last year but we still set a “I don’t think we have com- Marilyn Mosby, whose office se- “Our correctional officers have Baltimore City Detention Center global record. It’s hard to be up- pletely seen the end of coal yet, cured the indictments. one of the most difficult jobs in all involving dozens of gang mem- beat about that,” said study co- but it is certainly in the death Maryland corrections secre- of public safety, and we will not bers and correctional officers. author Rob Jackson, a Stanford throes,” Peters said. “Though I tary Robert Green said all the let the criminal behavior of the The investigation also revealed University climate scientist. would imagine a slow and pro- indicted officers have been on few tarnish the great work of the that a jailhouse gang leader had “The U.S. National Academy of tracted decline of coal because administrative leave since 2018, nearly 5,000 dedicated officers impregnated four female guards. Sciences sounded the alarm on of the young infrastructure in carbon and climate 40 years ago. Asia.” Since then, global carbon dioxide With coal dropping or even just emissions have doubled, and the plateauing, it is now apparent that world is hurtling towards cata- the world is not quite on the worst- Gun background checks on record pace strophic climate change.” case scenario carbon emissions The 2019 estimate is based on path of the four charted by the BY LISA MARIE PANE data through the first nine to 10 U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel Associated Press months of the year, with a few on Climate Change, Peters said. national estimates based on only But the next two highest emis- Background checks on gun purchases in the U.S. six months of data, said co-author are climbing toward a record high this year, reflect- sion scenarios, which the world is Glen Peters, a climate scientist ing what the industry says is a rush by people to buy in Norway. Past projections have closer to, are not “pleasant worlds weapons in reaction to the Democratic presidential proven pretty accurate, he said. to live in,” he said. candidates’ calls for tighter restrictions. That means every second Princeton University climate By the end of November, more than 25.4 million this year, people put 2.57 mil- scientist Michael Oppenheimer, background checks — generally seen as a strong in- lion pounds of carbon dioxide in who wasn’t part of the study, dicator of gun sales — had been conducted by the Earth’s atmosphere. That’s the called the numbers grim. FBI, putting 2019 on pace to break the record of equivalent weight of two Airbus “Stepping back and looking at 27.5 million set in 2016, the last full year President A380s, the world’s largest pas- 30 years of data, there is nothing Barack Obama was in the White House. MICHAEL CONROY/AP senger airliner, going into the air at all that reveals any reason to be On Black Friday, the FBI ran 202,465 checks. The number of background checks conducted by every second. optimistic that the world is about Some analysts question how accurately the back- federal authorities is on pace to break a record by Both the United States and the to turn the corner on reducing ground check figures translate into gun sales, since the end of this year, according to FBI statistics. European Union saw emissions carbon dioxide emissions.” some states run checks on applications for con- drop 1.7% from 2018 to 2019, cealed-carry permits too, and some purchases in- The United States, which is in fears appear to be driving up sales again. but China saw a 2.6% increase volve multiple firearms. But the numbers remain the early part of a year long pro- and India had a 1.8% rise. China the most reliable method of tracking the industry. “The Trump Slump is real, but the politics of cess of pulling out of the 2015 is by far the biggest carbon pol- In the years since President Donald Trump took guns has changed a little bit over the last year,” said luter, with 28% of the 2019 emis- Paris climate agreement, has re- office, the industry has struggled through what has Adam Winkler, a professor at the University of Cali- sions. The United States is No. 2 duced its carbon dioxide pollution been referred to as the Trump Slump, a falloff in fornia, Los Angeles, School of Law and an expert on at 14.5%. by 9.7% between 2000 and 2018, sales that reflected little worry among gun owners gun rights and politics. “As we’re coming up upon “Generally, I think this is bad Jackson calculated. about gun control efforts. another presidential election, Donald Trump is vul- news. Not terrible news, but bad Critics of the Paris agreement But with the 2020 presidential election less than a nerable, and the Democratic presidential contend- news,” said Cornell University said the U.S. is the leader in re- year out and virtually every Democratic candidate ers are falling all over themselves to propose more climate scientist Natalie Mahow- ducing emissions. offering proposals to restrict access to firearms, aggressive gun reforms than their opponents.” Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 11 NATION Report: Racial divide shrinks in US criminal justice system

BY DON THOMPSON the racial gap has narrowed, not the 1980s and ’90s. Associated Press only in incarceration but in parole While racial inequity in arrests and probation, said Adam Gelb, and incarcerations narrowed, SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ra- president and chief executive of the length of prison sentences cial disparities have narrowed the politically diverse council increased across all crime types across the U.S. criminal justice that launched in July to seek solu- for black people and partially system over 16 years, though tions to problems in the criminal offset the benefits, according to black people are still significant- justice system. the report co-authored by Geor- ly more likely to be behind bars “Most people think this is a bad gia State University professor than white people, new federal problem that’s getting worse,” William Sabol, former director figures show. said Gelb, whose group has of the federal Bureau of Justice Racial gaps broadly declined brought together governors of Statistics. in local jails, state prisons and among people on probation and both parties, police officials and Among the other findings of the parole, according to the study re- Black Lives Matter organizers. report, which is based on num- RICH PEDRONCELLI/AP leased Tuesday by the nonparti- “It turns out it’s a bad problem bers from the bureau, the FBI that’s getting a little better, and and other national statistics: Inmates walk through the exercise yard at California State Prison san Council on Criminal Justice. Sacramento, near Folsom, Calif., in 2013. A study released Tuesday for very complex reasons that Black men were in state pris- The divide in state imprison- shows racial disparities have shrunk across the criminal justice we need to understand at a much ons at nine times the rate of white ment rates dropped for all major system since 2000. crimes but was most pronounced deeper level.” inmates in 2000, which dropped for drug offenses — a key driving Critics contend minorities’ to a still disparate 6-to-1 by 2016. women were being incarcerated The nonpartisan Public Policy disproportionate involvement in The change mostly stemmed factor for the racial shift. Black for drug crimes, while more white Institute of California reported a the U.S. criminal justice system from a 30% decline in the black people were 15 times more likely women were imprisoned for vio- similar marked drop in the racial than white people to be in state reflects systemic racial bias. Re- male imprisonment rate, largely lent, property and drug crimes. divide in arrest trends since the prisons for drug crimes in 2000, searchers have blamed prejudice driven by falling drug crimes. but that dropped to five times as by police, prosecutors, judges Black women were impris- The disparities between 1980s in the nation’s most popu- likely by 2016, the most recent and juries; racial differences in oned at a rate of six for every Hispanic people and white people lous state but also found that black year available. crimes; and get-tough sentencing white inmate in 2000, which fell also shrank across all categories people are still far more likely to Many don’t realize how much laws during the high crime era of to 2-to-1 by 2016. Fewer black since 2000. be arrested than white people. Detective posthumously receives award for MS-13 cases

BY MICHAEL BALSAMO County police Detective William Maldo- a dozen homicides and 25 robberies. The to suggest he was actually the victim of an Associated Press nado, who died in April 2018 after a three- brutal MS-13 street gang, also known as MS-13 killing, Barr said. Maldonado and year battle with colon cancer. He was one Mara Salvatrucha, is blamed for dozens of fellow detectives worked aggressively to WASHINGTON — A New York police of 19 law enforcement officers from across killings on Long Island since 2016 . arrest dozens of people in connection with detective who relentlessly investigated the U.S. who were recognized with the At- The violence, including the 2016 slayings 17 killings on Long Island and, despite killings committed by MS-13 gang mem- torney General’s Award for Distinguished of two teenage girls in Brentwood, helped having cancer, he rarely missed work, the bers before succumbing to cancer last year Service in Policing during a ceremony at spark an aggressive effort by the FBI and attorney general said. became the first law enforcement officer to the Justice Department’s headquarters in the Justice Department to dismantle the posthumously receive a distinguished ser- Washington. gang, which the U.S. considers one of the Maldonado joined the Suffolk County Po- vice award from the U.S. attorney general Maldonado had worked on the FBI’s top transnational organized crime threats. lice Department in 1987 and was promoted on Tuesday. Long Island Gang Task Force, where he Maldonado was first assigned to assist to detective in 1994. His mother, his wife Attorney General William Barr pre- was involved in prosecutions of more than with investigating a young man’s disap- and his two daughters accepted the award sented the award to the family of Suffolk 40 MS-13 members, solving more than pearance and helped gather intelligence from Barr on Maldonado’s behalf.

Buffalo bishop resigns amid criticism of handling of misconduct

BY NICOLE WINFIELD perhaps is better able to bring stay on the job to see the diocese in the church, instead joined in Associated Press about the reconciliation, healing through a process of “renewal.” calls for his resignation. and renewal that is so needed.” Pressure on him to leave was The Vatican hasn’t released the NEW YORK — Pope Francis The diocese has been named intense. results of the inquiry into Buffalo on Wednesday accepted the res- in more than 220 recent lawsuits In the past year, two key mem- that was conducted by Brooklyn ignation of Buffalo Bishop Rich- by people who allege they were bers of Malone’s staff have gone ard Malone following widespread sexually abused by priests. public with concerns about his Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio. criticism from Malone’s staff, Many of the allegations date leadership, including his former Malone said he had been made priests and the public over how back decades, long before Malo- secretary, the Rev. Ryszard Bier- aware of the “general conclu- he handled allegations of clergy ne’s arrival in Buffalo in 2012. nat, who secretly recorded Malo- sions” of the report and that they sexual misconduct. But critics say there have been ne calling a then-active priest “a had been a factor in his decision The Vatican announced the more recent missteps by Malone, sick puppy” but taking no imme- to seek early retirement. resignation in a brief statement, including his decision to return diate action to remove him. “It is my honest assessment adding that Francis had named to the ministry a priest who had Earlier, his executive assis- that I have accomplished as much Edward Scharfenberger, the been suspended by a previous tant, Siobhan O’Connor, leaked bishop of Albany, N.Y. , to run bishop for including “love you” in internal church documents after as I am able to, and that there re- the Buffalo Diocese temporarily a Facebook message to an eighth- becoming concerned that Malone main divisions and wounds that I am unable to bind and heal,” he until a permanent replacement is FRANK FRANKLIN II/AP grade boy. had intentionally omitted dozens found. Malone later endorsed the of names from a publicly released said. The Vatican’s embassy to the Bishop Richard Malone of same priest for a job as a cruise list of priests with credible allega- DiMarzio said he had con- Buffalo resigned after coming U.S. said Malone offered to step ship chaplain, even after he was tions of abuse. ducted his investigation with “ur- under fire for his handling of down two years before the man- also accused of making unwanted A diocesan priest, meanwhile, gency” at the request of the Holy datory retirement age of 75 after clergy misconduct. advances toward young men. circulated a “no confidence” let- See, interviewing 80 people over learning the results of a Vatican- Malone has admitted to mak- ter for signatures. mandated inquiry into the west- he had come to believe “that the ing mistakes in cases involving And in September, the Move- several weeks. ern New York diocese and its spiritual welfare of the people of adult victims. ment to Restore Trust, a group of “I pray this moment of suffer- handling of abuse cases. the Diocese of Buffalo will be bet- But he had firmly refused to lay Catholics that had been work- ing and pain will lead to a birth of In a statement, Malone said ter served by a new bishop who resign and insisted he wanted to ing with Malone to restore trust new faith,” he said. PAGE 12 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 FACES ‘We should have stayed’ The Who’s Pete Townshend regrets leaving site of 1979 stampede that left 11 dead, 23 injured The Associated Press whether or not to go on,” Townshend said. “But the choice none of us made, which was orty years after a stampede left 11 equally dim, was that we left the building. You people dead and 23 injured at a Who know, we should have stayed.” concert in Cincinnati, Pete Townsh- Curbishley declined comment when con- Fend says he’s always regretted not tacted by The Associated Press. However, in sticking around to deal with the aftermath. an interview with WCPO of Cincinnati, he Instead, the band left the Riverfront Coli- said he fought with emergency officials and seum on December 3, 1979, and moved on to insisted the concert go on so there wouldn’t be Buffalo, N.Y., the next stop on their tour. more disruption, and believes it likely saved “I’m not forgiving us. We should have lives. stayed,” Townshend told The Associated “I said, ‘If you stop them, you’re going to Press during a recent interview where he have more problems on the arena floor. You was promoting his debut novel, “The Age of could have more people hurt for sure, and if Anxiety.” they came back through this area, the medical The tragedy occurred as fans surrounded teams are never going to be able to cope with the arena hoping to claim a seat near the stage. what they’re doing,’ ” he told WCPO. “And if Thousands had waited hours to get inside, keeping my band on stage saves even one life, ready to charge in for first-come seating. to me, that’s what it’s about.’” The band didn’t find out about the tragedy The Who announced Tuesday night it will until the end of the show. Townshend recalls play its first Cincinnati-area concert since the the band’s manager, Bill Curbishley, telling stampede on April 23 at Northern Kentucky him: “I’ve got something terrible to tell you.” University’s BB&T Arena. Townshend then described the shock of see- Townshend and lead singer Roger Daltrey ing bodies sprawled on the ground as they left both have said they’ve been haunted by the the stadium — “many of whom weren’t dead, tragedy. Townshend recently told The Asso- by the way,” he said. “They didn’t know who ciated Press he was looking forward to dis- was dead and who was just badly hurt; maybe cussing it in Cincinnati. 40 bodies under blankets.” “Now we can have a conversation about Townshend remembered the rage he felt to- it when we go back,” Townshend said. “We ward Curbishley for not telling the band about will meet people and we’ll be there. We’ll the tragedy before the show, admitting that he be there. That’s what’s important. I’m so “wanted to kill him.” glad that we’ve got this opportunity to go “You could at least give (us) a choice as to back.” INVISION/AP Drake Spotify’s most-streamed artist of the decade From wire reports Cicely Tyson, Seth MacFarlane Drake is the king of streaming: the rapper has joining TV Hall of Fame been named Spotify’s most-streamed artist of the decade. Cicely Tyson, Seth MacFarlane and Walt Dis- Spotify announced Tuesday that Drake has ney Co. chief executive Bob Iger will be joining been streamed 28 billion times in the past 10 the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame. years. Ed Sheeran came in second, while Post Geraldine Laybourne, who helped create the Malone, Ariana Grande and Eminem round out Nickelodeon channel and co-founded Oxygen the Top 5. Sheeran’s “Shape of You” was the most- Media, and veteran TV director Jay Sandrich also streamed song of the decade. were announced Tuesday as inductees. Sandrich’s For 2019, Post Malone is the top-streamed credits include “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” artist globally. Billie Eilish, Grande, Sheeran and and “The Golden Girls.” Tyson won three Emmy Awards over her AP Bad Bunny round out the Top 5. Eilish’s debut album — “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do nearly seven-decade acting career, including two Filmmaking duo Peter Farrelly (left) and Bobby Farrelly in 2015. We Go?” — is the year’s most-streamed album, trophies for 1974’s “The Autobiography of Miss while Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello’s “Se- Jane Pittman” and one for 1994’s “Oldest Living norita” tops the list of the most-streamed songs. Confederate Widow Tells All.” ‘Green Book’ director, brother get disability award MacFarlane, a writer, director, producer and ‘The Irishman’ earns best picture performer, is a five-time Emmy winner for his “Green Book” director Peter want it to take place in a real animated series “Family Guy.” Farrelly and his brother, Bobby world — and it’s not a real world from National Board of Review Iger became CEO of Disney in 2005, and during Farrelly, director of 1998’s if they don’t include everybody,” his tenure the company acquired Pixar, Marvel, “There’s Something About said Peter Farrelly, who co-wrote Director Martin Scorsese’s mob epic “The Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox and launched the Mary,” are being recognized for and directed “Green Book,” Irishman” has been named the year’s best picture new Disney Plus streaming service. pressing Hollywood repeatedly which won Oscars for best pic- by the National Board of Review. and publicly to do a better job of ture and best original screenplay The award for the sprawling drama, which casting and portraying people in 2018. stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, Children of Casey Kasem settle with disabilities. Bobby Farrelly recalled how gives a boost to Netflix in its ongoing effort to lawsuit with widow over death The Boston-based Ruderman the brothers played with children land its first-ever Oscar for best picture. Family Foundation, a leading with disabilities in the neigh- But in what has thus far been a fairly wide open Family members of radio personality Casey voice in calling for more op- borhood where they grew up in Oscar race, the critics organization spread its love Kasem have settled dueling lawsuits alleging that portunities for the disabled, said Cumberland, R .I . to other top contenders as well. Quentin Tarantino the longtime “American Top 40” host was badly Wednesday the brothers are the “They made us laugh. They was named best director for “Once Upon a Time mistreated before his death in 2014. The two sides filed a joint request Monday in recipients of its sixth annual were our friends,” he said in a ... in Hollywood,” which also earned Brad Pitt a Los Angeles Superior Court to dismiss a wrongful Morton E. Ruderman Award in videotaped message. supporting actor win. Renee Zellweger earned the best actress prize for the Judy Garland biopic death lawsuit by three of Kasem’s children and Inclusion. “And so when we started The foundation told The Asso- “Judy.” Adam Sandler, who is considered a long- his brother against Kasem’s widow that claimed making movies, we thought, why ciated Press it picked the Farrel- shot for an Oscar nod in a competitive year, earned her neglect and physical abuse led to his death, wouldn’t we include people with lys for their outspoken efforts to the best actor award for his turn as a diamond as well as a countersuit making similar claims disabilities in the movies — in make movies more inclusive and merchant in the crime drama “Uncut Gems.” against the plaintiffs that was filed by his widow authentic. They’ll be presented the stories that we tell — because The board’s selections are a precursor to a slew and another daughter. The terms of the agreement with the award next spring. they are a part of our life.” of other awards and nominations soon to come as were not revealed, and attorneys did not immedi- “When you tell a story, you The Associated Press Oscar season kicks into high gear. ately respond to emails seeking comment. Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 13 WORLD Iranian consulate in Iraq China, US clash over bills is burned for a 3rd time

Associated Press Associated Press worded rebukes from government departments. burning it for the third time in the span of a week. The building “It is regrettable that U.S. Congress has not only BAGHDAD — Anti-govern- BEIJING — Already strained relations between was empty at the time of the at- turned a blind eye to Xinjiang’s efforts to combat ment protesters burned an Ira- China and the United States were further muddied tack and there were no casualties, terrorism and protect human rights in accordance nian consulate in southern Iraq after U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved a bill according to a police official. with laws and regulations, but also to Xinjiang’s cur- for a third time on Tuesday as the targeting Beijing’s mass crackdown on ethnic Mus- The incident came after hours rent economic development, social stability, national country’s political leaders con- lim minorities Wednesday, less than one week after of a tense standoff with security unity and religious harmony,” the commission said. tinued talks over selecting a new President Donald Trump signed separate human forces earlier Tuesday when pro- Former detainees and their family members prime minister following weeks rights legislation on Hong Kong. testers surrounded a key shrine have told The Associated Press that they were ar- of widespread unrest. China’s ruling Communist Party has long regard- Five rockets landed inside in Najaf. Demonstrators gath- ed Hong Kong and the far west Xinjiang region as bitrarily held in heavily secured, prison like camps ered around the Hakim shrine, where they were pressured to renounce their faith Ain al-Asad airbase, a sprawling crucial areas for asserting territorial sovereignty, complex in Western Anbar which demanding that al-Sadr help and it has responded with fury to what it considers and express gratitude to the ruling Communist them enter and symbolically take Party. A recent leak of classified Chinese govern- hosts U.S. forces, without caus- foreign meddling. ing any casualties and little dam- control. Sadr commands Saraya “Xinjiang is China’s Xinjiang,” said a statement ment documents revealed a blueprint for rewiring Salam, a powerful militia group. the thoughts of ethnic minorities who had not com- age, said a statement from Iraq’s from China’s National Ethnic Affairs Commission, security media cell on Tuesday A few protesters and some elder- echoing another government mantra: “Hong Kong mitted any crimes. ly tribal sheikhs were eventually Beijing says the measures are necessary to com- evening. The statement gave no is China’s Hong Kong.” further details. permitted to enter the shrine and bat terrorism and eradicate religious extremism, Tensions over the recently passed U.S. bills have President Barham Salih met inspect it. calling the facilities “vocational training centers” cast doubt over the potential for a trade deal be- with Iraq’s main political blocs as The protesters believe the for those who lack employable skills. tween the two countries, which have been embroiled a 15-day constitutional deadline shrine is a center for Iranian in- in a 16-month tariff war. Trump said Tuesday that China has repeatedly criticized the U.S. for inter- to name the next prime minister telligence operations, the police he has “no deadline” for striking an agreement and fering in its affairs, most recently accusing Wash- nears, two Iraqi officials said. official said. that he may wait until after next year’s presidential ington of being a “black hand” that has orchestrated Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Madi Officials all requested anonym- election. riots in Hong Kong. announced his resignation on ity in line with regulations. The Uighur Human Rights Policy Act denounces After Trump signed bills mandating sanctions on Friday. The Sairoon bloc, led by Najaf has been one of the flash- the detention of an estimated 1 million Uighurs, Ka- Chinese and Hong Kong officials, an annual review influential Shiite cleric Muqtada points in the protest movement zakhs and others in Xinjiang, home to the predomi- of Hong Kong’s favorable trade status and a ban on al-Sadr, addressed Salih in a let- after demonstrators torched nantly Muslim minority groups. It would require exporting nonlethal munitions to Hong Kong police, ter and said they gave protesters the Iranian Consulate there on the State Department to evaluate whether Chinese China retaliated Monday by suspending U.S. mili- the right to support a premier of Nov. 27 and again on Dec. 1. The officials would meet the criteria for sanctions for tary ship and aircraft visits to Hong Kong. their choice. Hakim shrine has been the focus their roles in enacting oppressive policies. It also said it would sanction a number of groups, Anti-government protesters in of recent violence. Three protest- The bill “disregards the facts and mixes up black including Human Rights Watch and the National the holy city of Najaf burned tires ers were killed and 24 wounded on and white,” the Foreign Affairs Commission of Chi- Endowment for Democracy, that have “performed and hurled them toward the main Saturday as security forces used na’s legislature said in one among a slew of strongly badly” in regard to the unrest in Hong Kong. gate of the Iranian consulate, live rounds to disperse them.

Dental 902 Transportation 944

Transportation 944 Transportation 944 PAGE 14 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 OPINION Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Sean Klimek, Europe commander Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander Harris couldn’t get traction with expected base Caroline E. Miller, Europe Business Operations BY EUGENE SCOTT Some of Trump’s biggest critiques come doesn’t have the financial resources we The Washington Post from black women — a group that votes need to continue,” she wrote. “... And as the EDITORIAL against the GOP at higher rates than most. campaign has gone on, it’s become harder en. Kamala Harris ended her bid But while many black women long for rep- and harder to raise the money we need to , Editor Terry Leonard for the White House unable to rally resentation at the highest level of govern- compete.” [email protected] significant support from the voting ment, some voters questioned whether a Harris noted that she was not able to , Senior Managing Editor Robert H. Reid Sblocs her campaign and many po- black woman can attract the broad sup- self-fund her campaign like some of her [email protected] litical watchers thought would play a major port needed to defeat Trump. That con- billionaire competitors, but she does have Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content role in sending her to the Oval Office: black cern, along with former Vice President more money than some of her competitors. [email protected] voters and women. Joe Biden’s long history with black voters, In fact, enough to qualify for the Decem- The California Democrat’s campaign is part of what sent Biden flying past Har- ber debate, something not all of her com- Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation was loaded with historical symbolism from [email protected] ris in polls with black voters shortly after petitors have done. its earliest moment. The first black woman launching his campaign. With Harris’ exit, the stage for this elected to the U.S. Senate from California Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital Danielle Moodie-Mills, host of the month’s Democratic debate primarily announced her pursuit of the Oval Office [email protected] “#WokeAF” podcast, said last week that consists of white candidates and older can- on the birthday of civil rights icon Martin the former vice president who enjoys wide- didates during a time when the left’s con- Luther King Jr. And she regularly paid spread name recognition is a safe bet with stituency is younger and more ethnically BUREAU STAFF homage to late congresswoman Shirley many black voters. diverse. Despite this shift, long-standing Chisholm, D-N.Y., the first black woman to Europe/Mideast “You have older black voters who are perceptions of leadership remain among seek a major party’s presidential nomina- Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief definitely on his side because they are some voters. [email protected] tion, during her campaign. Kimberly Peeler-Allen, co-founder of +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 But the biracial lawmaker with an unfa- looking to see where are the white voters who voted for Donald Trump going to go,” Higher Heights, a political action com- Pacific miliar name who some believed was best situated to carry on the Obama legacy was she said on MSNBC. “We understand what mittee that helps black women get elected Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief oppression and discrimination looks like to office, previously told The Washington [email protected] never able to persuade large swaths of +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 those who backed the former president to on regular basis, and we understand Don- Post that black women seeking office often support her. ald Trump to be a lethal threat to our way have a harder time than white men in get- Washington of life. And so we are going to go … the way ting people to get behind their campaign. Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief Despite having viral, breakout moments during the Senate’s investigation of Rus- that seems the safest.” “I think a lot of it has to do with our per- [email protected] ception of what leadership looks like. For (+1)(202)886-0033 sia’s interference into the 2016 presidential There were also questions about Harris Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News election, Harris remained largely unknown among some of those groups she sought umpteen years, the majority of elected lead- [email protected] to many Americans before launching her to win. Her history as a prosecutor — and ers have been white and male,” she said. campaign — including some among the role in advocating for tough sentences for “You come and counter that with a woman CIRCULATION demographic group some believed would people of color — forced her to answer — and a woman of color, and a black woman Mideast propel her into the upper tier of the cam- questions that voters looking for a candi- at that — seeking the highest office in the Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager paign. Her campaign was a reminder date committed to criminal justice reform land, it’s something out of the norm.” [email protected] that being well-known in Washington and repeatedly asked. And some black Ameri- Regular frustrations with conversations [email protected] political circles is not the same thing as cans questioned whether the daughter of a about electability led Harris’ defenders to DSN (314)583-9111 having national recognition. While some Jamaican immigrant raised by an Indian argue that she was the most prepared can- Europe more established liberal candidates were woman could respond to the issues affect- didate to defeat Trump. But for those who Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager working to convince voters that they were ing black Americans calling on the United were hoping that Harris would break the [email protected] best positioned to undo President Donald States to reexamine the ongoing effects of glass ceiling that 2016 Democratic nomi- [email protected] Trump’s political decisions, Harris was in slavery on racial gaps. nee Hillary Clinton could not, 2020 was +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 many ways still introducing herself. That In her announcement ending her cam- simply not Harris’ time. And as cliched Pacific put the junior senator at a bit of disadvan- paign, Harris pointed toward fundraising as it sounds, in politics timing is often Mari Mori, [email protected] tage — even with black women, one of the being the biggest obstacle that kept her everything. +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 Democratic Party’s most influential voting from moving forward. Eugene Scott writes about identity politics for the CONTACT US blocs. “My campaign for president simply Washington Post blog The Fix. Washington tel: (+1)202.886.0003 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 China won’t let Hong Kong resemble Tiananmen Reader letters [email protected] BY JEFFREY WASSERSTROM caused them to increase their efforts to co- the international press to be on the scene Additional contacts Los Angeles Times opt, control and distract groups, such as when a large number of people are killed. stripes.com/contactus students at leading universities, who played It does not want a new iconic photograph eople from China will often ask central roles in the Tiananmen protests. capturing its brutality, 30 years after Tank OMBUDSMAN me, “Why are Westerners like you It’s interesting to me that many of those Man. so obsessed with what happened Ernie Gates asking about the West’s Tiananmen obses- Many people have been injured badly Pin Beijing in 1989?” sion are students who point out that they and arrested in Hong Kong, but there have I’ve never had a succinct answer to this weren’t even alive then. Many tell me they been few deaths. And in Xinjiang, the au- The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow question — until now. Next time I’m asked, of news and information, reporting any attempts by the have seen the famous photograph of the thorities have kept the enormous suffering military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s I’ll say, “I may be obsessed with 1989, but Tank Man, even though it is banned be- there out of sight. independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns China’s top leaders are even more obsessed hind the Great Firewall, and they know Another telling sign of the Chinese lead- and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for fair- with it.” The events of that time still rever- ness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman that soldiers killed civilians near Tianan- ers’ obsession with 1989 is their critical at- berate in Beijing’s response to the protests welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted men Square on June 4, 1989 — though they titude toward Mikhail Gorbachev, whose by email at [email protected], or by phone at racking Hong Kong now. avoid using the word “massacre” to char- decisions contributed to the dissolution of 202.886.0003. What scared the government most in acterize the bloodshed. the Soviet Union. Like his predecessors, Xi 1989 was not students gathering in Ti- What puzzles them is that the Tank Man does not want to be seen as China’s Gor- ananmen Square. It was members of many bachev, the man on whose watch a Commu- Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- social groups turning out to support those image should loom so large in our imagi- days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday nation, when they believe there are other nist Party-run empire imploded — and that through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and youths as multi-class protests erupted images — of fast trains, skyscrapers, the means proving he has the will to put down Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals in other cities too. China’s leaders were any movement that challenges his author- postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send Beijing Games , etc. — that better reflect address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, equally alarmed by protests that spread ity and that of the Communist Party. China’s exciting trajectory. And they find it APO AP 96301-5002. across class lines to topple Communist History never repeats itself. There are This newspaper is authorized by the Department of curious that Western commentators bring rule in places like East Germany, Czecho- always novel features that keep new events Defense for members of the military services overseas. up Tiananmen whenever new protests However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, slovakia and Romania. from unfolding exactly like previous ones. and are not to be considered as the official views of, or Haunted by those epochal events, Chi- break out. That’s certainly been true this It matters, though, that people often endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspaper, year, with the Western press filled with Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official chan- na’s top leaders have used quick and bru- imagine that the past could repeat itself nels and use appropriated funds for distribution to remote tal methods to crush any new movement speculation over whether the Hong Kong and sometimes actively try to increase or locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. that strikes them as having the potential to protests will result in a Tiananmen-style decrease the chance of this happening. The appearance of advertising in this publication does crackdown by Beijing. not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense link up people of varied classes in varied When historians of the future tell the story or Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. locales. That explains the merciless moves While there’s abundant evidence that of 2019, they would do well to focus on two Products or services advertised shall be made available for against Falun Gong in 1999. the Chinese government is absolutely will- purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, things: how the many protests around the religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical A concern with avoiding another 1989 ing to use vicious means to suppress dis- world this year differ from those of 1989 handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor has also influenced China’s top leaders, sent — as with the horrific human rights and how fear of the revolutions born in that of the purchaser, user or patron. from Deng Xiaoping to Xi Jinping, in other abuses directed at the Uighurs in Xinjiang era haunt some contemporary autocrats. ways. It has led them to allow some single- — it has also been careful to avoid any im- © Stars and Stripes 2019 Jeffrey Wasserstrom is a professor of history at issue, single-locale protests so that people ages that might recall 1989. University of California, Irvine and author of the stripes.com can let off steam. At the same time, it has Xi, like his predecessors, does not want forthcoming “Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink.” Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 15 AMERICAN ROUNDUP Bald eagle smashes into window, flies off

NORFOLK — A bald VA eagle made an unex- pected appearance at a Virginia tax preparation office, slamming into a window and then apparently flying off without serious injuries. The Virginian-Pilot reported the mature bald eagle struck a window at an H&R Block office in Norfolk, leaving a hole nearly three feet wide and scattering glass shards over the office floor. Harry Patterson Jr., who runs a neighboring insurance office, said he was on the phone when he saw what he thought looked like a stuffed animal. Patterson said the office is closed until tax season. Urine sample prompts theater evacuation

NORTH BEND — A WA movie theater in the small Washington city of North Bend was evacuated after author- ities said a package labeled as containing a “highly contagious human substance” was sent there in error. KOMO reported the package contained a urine sample. Sgt. Paul Graham, with Sno- qualmie Police, said the package arrived at the theater and the the- ater manager found a box with the labeled liquid inside. SARAH A. MILLER, TYLER (TEXAS) MORNING TELEGRAPH/AP The theater was evacuated, and local streets were closed as hazmat crews responded. Graham said the package was Christmas around the globe supposed to have been delivered to a medical clinic in Tacoma. Livi Ortiz, 8, and Alexis Olson, 8, both of Bullard, Texas, play inside a giant snow globe during the Christmas Kick-off in Bullard on Monday. 19 people report Evacuation slide falls THE CENSUS serving customers in the town of illness on cruise ship Logansport since 1897. from jet nearing airport The amount a northern Indiana museum re- Store owner Janet Palmer told ceived for a 19th-century sculpture at auction. KSLA-TV she’s ready to retire. LOS ANGELES — Au- MILTON — Authori- The Ruthmere Museum had owned the 1894 She’s having health issues, and CA thorities said 19 people ties said no one was MA $7.5M limestone sculpture by French artist Auguste her husband died nine years ago. aboard a cruise ship reported flu- hurt when an evacuation slide fell The couple had run the store for like illnesses as they reached a Rodin for more than 40 years. Profits from the from an airliner into the yard of a nearly 40 years. Southern California port. sale of the Rodin sculpture, named La Cariatide Tombee Portant Sa Pierre, or The suburban Boston home. N.J. Caraway & Co. survived The Los Angeles Fire Depart- Fallen Caryatid Carrying Her Stone, will help build a $10 million endowment for A company spokeswoman con- two fires and even received a visit ment said authorities were called the Elkhart, Ind., museum. firmed to the Boston Herald that from the notorious duo Bonnie to evaluate patients after they fell the uninflated slide fell from a Parker and Clyde Barrow, look- ill on a Norwegian Cruise Line Delta Air Lines flight from Paris ing to buy ammunition, which the ship. growth off of it and discovered to Boston’s Logan International Garage fire displaces store didn’t sell. Authorities said the patients the initials “H” or “R” as well as Airport . The store’s final day of opera- were evaluated and they declined the last initial, “B.” people and reptiles The Federal Aviation Admin- tions will be Dec. 28. to be taken to the hospital. istration said the pilot reported a Jake White, a testing coordina- The Los Angeles Times report- loud noise as the plane approached tor at Auburndale High, took the OXNARD — Authori- ed that paramedics responded to Logan and landed safely. initials and graduating year and CA ties said a fire in a Police kill man who the same ship a week earlier after Police in Milton south of Boston found the match in Board. Southern California garage dis- abducted teen girl a report that passengers were ill alerted the FAA that the slide had placed three people and a large and four were sent to a hospital been found in a resident’s yard. Clown sign from closed number of reptiles. NANTICOKE — Penn- for treatment. Wenhan Huang told The Patri- drive-in to be preserved The Ventura County Star re- PA sylvania State Police ot Ledger he was doing yard work ported that Oxnard firefighters said officers killed a 20-year-old when the slide took out several found a dozen or two dozen rep- Elk gets tangled up in WALL — Officials said man who they say stole a police branches of his Japanese maple. tiles after battling an electric fire resident’s hammock a clown sign that has vehicle and abducted a 15-year- NJ in a detached garage. old girl. smiled on motorists at a now-de- Oxnard Fire Department Bat- MAGGIE VALLEY Man finds ring lost molished New Jersey drive-in for Citing a news release, Penn- talion Chief Steve McNaughten Live.com reported state police NC — An elk is running in sand for 50 years two-thirds of a century will be said the animals included a boa around western North Carolina preserved. used “deadly force” against Jor- constrictor and a six-foot-long dan Patrick Oliver late Sunday. with a shredded hammock on its WINTER HAVEN — A NJ.com reported that developers lizard. The release says Oliver was hold- head, and apparently a love of man using a metal de- of a strip mall at the Wall Town- FL He said several animals died ing Samara Derwin hostage in a apples is to blame. tector on a Florida beach found a ship site said they will donate the in the blaze in the city about 60 wooded area in Luzerne County. News outlets reported Jim high school ring that another man Circus Drive-In sign for preserva- miles west of Los Angeles. Beaver told the Haywood County lost nearly 50 years ago. tion and display elsewhere. She was unharmed. Police said Oliver initially held Sheriff’s Office on Thanksgiving Kenneth Board said he lost the The Route 35 drive-in, a vestige Historic hardware that an elk was stuck in his yard Auburndale High School ring on of car culture with a white-and- the teen at knifepoint Sunday af- with its antlers tangled up in a Cocoa Beach the day after the red striped roof resembling an store is closing ternoon at Nanticoke High School. hammock. The sheriff’s office 1970 senior prom. old-fashioned circus tent, closed She escaped and was placed in a on Facebook says Cpl. Ken Stiles The Ledger reported Jerry in 2017. LOGANSPORT — A Nanticoke police cruiser as offi- climbed onto the roof, cut the Pope was sweeping his metal Developer Circus Partners LA 122-year hardware and cers tried to arrest Oliver. hammock and freed the animal. detector across the sand on Mel- LLC bought the site then, demol- department store that once saw But Oliver sprayed mace dur- Beaver said elks often eat ap- bourne Beach, some 20 miles ished the building last year and a visit from Bonnie and Clyde is ing a struggle and fled with the ples in his yard and play with his from Cocoa Beach, when he found last week won planning board ap- closing in northwest Louisiana. marked cruiser and girl. hammock. the ring. He cleaned the green proval for the strip mall. N.J. Caraway & Co. has been From wire reports PAGE 16 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 17 SCOREBOARD/GOLF Sports Pro football College basketball Deals Woods on AFN NFL Tuesday’s men’s scores Tuesday’s transactions AMERICAN CONFERENCE EAST BASEBALL East American U. 85, UMBC 61 American League W L T Pct PF PA Fairleigh Dickinson 78, Quinnipiac 77 KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Named Mitch New England 10 2 0 .833 322 145 Hobart 66, St. John Fisher 59 Maier director of baseball operations. Go to the American Forces Buffalo 9 3 0 .750 257 188 Iowa 68, Syracuse 54 OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Agreed to defends N.Y. Jets 4 8 0 .333 204 280 Lafayette 94, Saint Joseph’s 71 terms with LHP Jake Diekman on a two- Network website for the most Miami 3 9 0 .250 200 377 Northwestern 82, Boston College 64 year contract and RHP Jordan Weems up-to-date TV schedules. South Pittsburgh 71, Rutgers 60 and OF Dillon Thomas on minor league Houston 8 4 0 .667 293 271 Rider 89, Bucknell 69 contracts. myafn.net Tennessee 7 5 0 .583 276 234 St. John’s 79, St. Peter’s 69 TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Agreed to Indianapolis 6 6 0 .500 261 257 Yeshiva 85, St. Joseph’s (NY) 51 terms with RHP Anthony Bass on a one- Jacksonville 4 8 0 .333 220 292 SOUTH year contract. Mickelson North Appalachian St. 90, St. Andrews 58 National League College football Baltimore 10 2 0 .833 406 219 Barton 82, Limestone 57 PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Named Steve Pittsburgh 7 5 0 .583 236 225 Belmont 80, Lipscomb 75 Sanders assistant general manager. Cleveland 5 7 0 .417 246 272 Belmont Abbey 86, Chowan 76 BY DOUG FERGUSON — Promoted Cincinnati 1 11 0 .083 179 298 Butler 67, Mississippi 58 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS Schedule West Coppin St. 85, East Carolina 75 Patrick Elkins to major league internal Associated Press player strategist, Tony Ferreira manag- Friday’s game Kansas City 8 4 0 .667 348 265 Gardner-Webb 73, Coker 59 Oakland 6 6 0 .500 237 324 George Mason 67, Jacksonville St. 60 er/player development, Emily Wiebe to FAR WEST manager/player development and per- NASSAU, Bahamas — Tiger Pac-12 Championship: Oregon (10-2) Denver 4 8 0 .333 198 237 Georgia St. 83, Dartmouth 80 L.A. Chargers 4 8 0 .333 244 241 LSU 90, New Orleans 54 formance and Joseph Quezada to man- Woods is defending Phil Mick- vs. Utah (11-1) at Santa Clara, Calif. ager/international operations. Saturday’s games NATIONAL CONFERENCE Louisiana-Lafayette 98, SE Louisiana 81 elson and other top players who SOUTH East Louisville 58, Michigan 43 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Agreed to Sun Belt Championship: Louisiana-La- W L T Pct PF PA Memphis 71, Bradley 56 terms with LHP Tyler Anderson on a one- have signed up for the second edi- fayette (10-2) at Appalachian St. (11-1) Dallas 6 6 0 .500 310 236 Middle Tennessee 86, Columbia Inter- year contract. tion of the Saudi International. Conference USA Championship: UAB Philadelphia 5 7 0 .417 274 284 national 38 BASKETBALL (9-3) at FAU (9-3) Washington 3 9 0 .250 173 290 Richmond 80, Hampton 63 National Basketball Association The European Tour, and the American Athletic Championship: Cin- N.Y. Giants 2 10 0 .167 230 339 SC-Upstate 79, E. Kentucky 67 ATLANTA HAWKS — Transferred G cinnati (10-2) at Memphis (11-1) South Samford 89, Auburn-Montgomery 58 Brandon Goodwin to College Park (NBA- players who took part, came SEC Championship: LSU (12-0) vs. x-New Orleans 10 2 0 .833 298 248 Stetson 72, Bethune-Cookman 67 GL). under scrutiny last year for stag- Georgia (11-1) at Atlanta Carolina 5 7 0 .417 280 320 UNC Asheville 83, Charlotte 75 Women’s NBA SWAC Championship: Southern (8-4) Tampa Bay 5 7 0 .417 340 346 Vanderbilt 90, Buffalo 76 WASHINGTON MYSTICS — Promoted ing an event in Saudi Arabia be- at Alcorn St. (8-3) Atlanta 3 9 0 .250 260 323 W. Carolina 87, Chattanooga 77 player development assistant Asjha cause of its human rights record, ACC Championship: Clemson (12-0) North William & Mary 63, Old Dominion 46 Jones to assistant coach. vs. Virginia (9-3) at Charlotte, N.C. Green Bay 9 3 0 .750 289 255 MIDWEST FOOTBALL especially with the tournament MIDWEST Minnesota 8 4 0 .667 319 242 Charleston Southern 68, Missouri 60 National Football League taking place three months after Mid-American Championship: Miami Chicago 6 6 0 .500 212 208 Cincinnati 82, Vermont 73 CAROLINA PANTHERS — Fired coach (Ohio) (7-5) vs. Central Michigan (8-4) at Detroit 3 8 1 .292 280 315 Creighton 72, Oral Roberts 60 Ron Rivera. Promoted secondary coach the killing of journalist Jamal Detroit West Dayton 99, Houston Baptist 65 Big Ten Championship: Ohio State (12- Perry Fewell to interim head coach and Kashoggi. San Francisco 10 2 0 .833 349 183 Drake 56, Milwaukee 53 quarterbacks coach Scott Turner offen- 0) vs. Wisconsin (10-2) at Indianapolis Seattle 10 2 0 .833 329 293 Duke 87, Michigan St. 75 Dustin Johnson won the inau- SOUTHWEST sive coordinator. Reassigned offensive L.A. Rams 7 5 0 .583 283 250 E. Michigan 85, Valparaiso 79 coordinator Norv Turner to special assis- Big 12 Championship: Baylor (11-1) vs. Arizona 3 8 1 .292 255 351 Indiana 80, Florida St. 64 gural event and returns this year Oklahoma (11-1) at Arlington, Texas tant to the head coach. Thursday, Nov. 28 Indiana St. 71, N. Dakota St. 60 CINCINNATI BENGALS — Waived WR along with Mickelson, Brooks Ko- FAR WEST Chicago 24, Detroit 20 Mountain West Championship: Hawaii Kent St. 92, Detroit 57 Damion Willis. Activated WR John Ross Buffalo 26, Dallas 15 Loyola of Chicago 70, Ball St. 58 epka, Tony Finau, Patrick Reed, (9-4) at Boise State (11-1) New Orleans 26, Atlanta 18 III from IR. Missouri St. 71, Murray St. 69 CLEVELAND BROWNS — Released DE and European stars Henrik Sten- Sunday, Dec. 1 N. Kentucky 76, Miami (Ohio) 54 Chris Smith. Released S A.J. Howard from NCAA FCS playoffs Miami 37, Philadelphia 31 Oakland 72, W. Michigan 62 son, Shane Lowry and Sergio Cincinnati 22, N.Y. Jets 6 Rio Grande 90, Sam Houston St. 86, 2OT the practice squad. Signed DT Justin Zim- Garcia. First Round Tennessee 31, Indianapolis 17 mer from Atlanta’s practice squad and Saturday, Nov. 30 Wright St. 76, W. Kentucky 74 Pittsburgh 20, Cleveland 13 SOUTHWEST DE Trevon Young to the practice squad. Woods and Rory McIlroy are Monmouth (NJ) 44, Holy Cross 27 Washington 29, Carolina 21 DENVER BRONCOS — Signed QB Brett Albany (NY) 42, Central Connecticut Arkansas 69, Austin Peay 61 among those not playing. Green Bay 31, N.Y. Giants 13 Arkansas St. 78, Omaha 73 Rypien to the practice squad. State 14 DETROIT LIONS — Signed LB Jason Illinois State 24, Southeast Missouri Baltimore 20, San Francisco 17 Baylor 78, Md.-Eastern Shore 46 “I understand the politics be- Tampa Bay 28, Jacksonville 11 SMU 77, Northwestern St. 51 Cabinda from the practice squad and WR State 6 Victor Bolden to the practice squad. hind it,” Woods said Tuesday. Northern Iowa 17, San Diego 3 L.A. Rams 34, Arizona 7 TCU 81, Illinois St. 69 Austin Peay 42, Furman 6 Kansas City 40, Oakland 9 UTSA 89, Texas A&M-CC 67 GREEN BAY PACKERS — Claimed RB “But the game of golf can actually Kennesaw State 28, Wofford 21 Denver 23, L.A. Chargers 20 FAR WEST Tyler Ervin off waivers from Jackson- help heal all that, too. It can help Nicholls 24, North Dakota 6 Houston 28, New England 22 Arizona St. 71, San Francisco 67 ville. Southeastern Louisiana 45, Villanova 44 Monday, Dec. 2 Denver 67, Jackson St. 58 HOUSTON TEXANS — Released TE grow that. There are also a lot of Second Round Seattle 37, Minnesota 30 Grand Canyon 75, Mount St. Mary’s Jerell Adams from the practice squad. Saturday’s games Thursday’s game 67, OT Signed LB Nate Hall to the practice other top players that are going to Monmouth (NJ) (11-2) at James Madi- Dallas at Chicago New Mexico St. 59, UTEP 56 squad. be playing that particular week. son (11-1) Sunday’s games Sacramento St. 72, UC Merced 36 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Placed WR Northern Iowa (9-4) at South Dakota Washington at Green Bay Seattle 81, Incarnate Word 60 Chester Rogers on IR. Signed WR Chad It’s traditionally not a golf hot- State (8-4) Detroit at Minnesota UC Santa Barbara 64, CS Bakersfield 60 Williams from the practice squad and bed in the Middle East, but it has Kennesaw State (11-2) at Weber State Carolina at Atlanta WR Malik Henry to the practice squad. (9-3) San Francisco at New Orleans AP Men’s Top 25 schedule JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Waived CB grown quite a bit.” Albany (NY) (9-4) at Montana State Cincinnati at Cleveland Breon Borders. Signed CB Parry Nicker- Mickelson said in a statement (9-3) Indianapolis at Tampa Bay Thursday’s game son from the practice squad and RB Paul Southeastern Louisiana (8-4) at Mon- Denver at Houston No. 14 Auburn vs. Furman Perkins to the practice squad. released by tournament organiz- tana (9-3) Miami at N.Y. Jets Friday’s games — Placed RB Kalen Illinois State (9-4) at Central Arkansas MIAMI DOLPHINS ers that he watched Johnson win Baltimore at Buffalo No. 1 Louisville vs. Pittsburgh Ballage on injured reserve. Claimed RB (9-3) L.A. Chargers at Jacksonville No. 4 Michigan vs. Iowa last year and thought the course Nicholls (9-4) at North Dakota State Zach Zenner off waivers from Arizona Tennessee at Oakland No. 10 Duke at Virginia Tech and WR receiver Trevor Davis off waiv- (12-0) Kansas City at New England looked like an interesting chal- Saturday’s games ers from Oakland. Waived S Montre Hart- Austin Peay (10-3) at Sacramento Pittsburgh at Arizon No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 20 Colorado lenge, along with mentioning State (9-3) Seattle at L.A. Rams age. No. 3 Maryland vs. Illinois MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Signed LB Re- Monday, Dec. 9 No. 6 Ohio State vs. Penn State how it could help grow golf in the N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia shard Cliett to the practice squad. NCAA Division II playoffs No. 8 Kentucky vs. Fairleigh Dickinson NEW YORK JETS — Placed LB C.J. Mos- region. No. 12 Arizona at No. 18 Baylor Second Round ley on IR. Claimed S Bennett Jackson off All the top players are paid No. 13 Oregon vs. Hawaii waivers from Baltimore. Saturday, Nov. 30 No. 15 Memphis at UAB hefty appearance fees, which is Notre Dame (Ohio) 20, Kutztown 17 College hockey No. 23 Villanova at Saint Joseph’s PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Waived WR Slippery Rock 51, Shepherd 30 Mack Hollins. Signed G Sua Opeta from allowed on the European Tour. West Florida 38, Valdosta State 35 No. 24 Butler vs. Florida No. 25 Utah State vs. Fresno State the practice squad and DT Kevin Wilkins Mickelson later replied to criti- Ferris State 37, Central Missouri 10 Tuesday’s scores to the practice squad. Northwest Missouri State 63, Linden- PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Released cism on Twitter by saying, “I un- wood (Mo.) 7 EAST Tuesday’s women’s scores C Patrick Morris. Activated C Maurkice Minnesota State 35, Colorado St.- Sacred Heart 4, American Intl. 2 derstand those who are upset or EAST Pouncey and placed him on the exempt/ Pueblo 7 Boston U. 5, Harvard 2 commissioner permission list. Texas A&M-Commerce 23, Colorado Md.-Eastern Shore 65, Greensboro 48 disappointed. You’ll be OK. I’m School of Mines 3 St. Joseph’s (NY) 96, Yeshiva 78 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Waived PK excited to experience this for the Lenoir-Rhyne 49, Carson-Newman 21 Stony Brook 66, Molloy 49 Chase McLaughlin. Released OL Will Quarterfinals Pro baseball SOUTH Holden from the practice squad. Signed first time.” Saturday’s games Campbell 72, UNC-Greensboro 64 WR Chris Thompson to the practice Mickelson previously played in Notre Dame (Ohio) (12-1) at Slippery LSU 63, Nicholls 32 squad. Rock (12-0) MLB calendar Liberty 81, East Carolina 66 TENNESSEE TITANS — Waived C Hro- Abu Dhabi in 2011 and 2014. West Florida (10-2) at Lenoir-Rhyne Stetson 80, Florida National 37 niss Grasu. Claimed CB Tremaine Brock Woods has a long history in (13-0) Nov. 30-Dec. 4 — Major League Base- UAB 76, Samford 69 off waivers from Arizona. Northwest Missouri State (12-1) at ball Players Association executive board Wingate 73, Lenoir-Rhyne 67 HOCKEY the Middle East, first playing the Ferris State (11-0) meeting, Miami. Youngstown St. 72, E. Kentucky 63 National Hockey League Texas A&M-Commerce (11-2) at Min- MIDWEST NHL/NHLPA — C Matt Stajan an- Dubai Desert Classic in 2001. He nesota State (12-0) Dec. 2 — Last day for teams to offer 2020 contracts to unsigned players on Kansas St. 85, Incarnate Word 41 nounced his retirement. played Dubai eight times, most re- their 40-man rosters. Kent St. 81, St. Bonaventure 58 ANAHEIM DUCKS — Reassigned LW cently in 2017, and won twice. He NCAA Division III playoffs Dec. 8 — Hall of Fame Modern Baseball Marshall 72, Indiana St. 60 Max Jones to San Diego (AHL). Recalled committee vote announced, San Diego. Murray St. 61, Evansville 59 LW Max Comtois and D Josh Mahura also played twice in Abu Dhabi. Second Round S. Illinois 70, UT Martin 59 from San Diego. Saturday, Nov. 30 Dec. 9-12 — Winter meetings, San Di- “I remember going to Dubai ego. Saint Louis 76, SE Missouri 61 BUFFALO SABRES — Assigned F Curtis Salisbury 62, Union (N.Y.) 41 Toledo 53, Belmont 48 Lazar to Rochester (AHL). Muhlenberg 42, Brockport 0 Jan. 10 — Salary arbitration figures for my very first time and see- SOUTHWEST DETROIT RED WINGS — Assigned LW Delaware Valley 45, Wesley 10 exchanged. Sam Houston St. 114, Jarvis Christian 46 ing maybe two, three buildings Mary Hardin-Baylor 42, Huntingdon 6 Jan. 21 — Baseball Writers’ Associa- Taro Hirose and RW Filip Zadina to Grand FAR WEST Rapids (AHL). on the skyline when you tee off Wisconsin-Whitewater 41, Wartburg 28 tion of America Hall of Fame voting re- Colorado 74, Texas Southern 50 Wheaton 49, Central (Iowa) 13 sults announced. NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Fired coach Fresno St. 72, UNLV 66 John Hynes. Named Alain Nasreddine on No. 8,” he said. “Now there’s a Saint John’s (Minn.) 55, Chapman 26 Feb. 3-21 — Salary arbitration hear- Idaho St. 88, Utah Valley 61 Quarterfinals ings, Phoenix. interim coach and Peter Horachek assis- New York City skyline back there. Saturday’s games Feb. 4-6 — Owners meetings, Orlando, tant coach. The game of golf has grown. Muhlenberg (12-0) at Salisbury (11-0) Florida. AP Women’s Top 25 schedule WASHINGTON CAPITALS — Traded F North Central (Ill.) (11-1) at Delaware Feb. 11 — Voluntary reporting date for Chandler Stephenson to Vegas for a 2021 There’s only been a few courses Valley (11-1) Thursday’s games fifth-round draft pick. pitchers, catchers and injured players. No. 2 Louisville at Ohio State when I first went to Dubai, now Wisconsin-Whitewater (11-1) at Mary Feb. 16 — Voluntary reporting date for SOCCER Hardin-Baylor (12-0) No. 4 UConn at Seton Hall other players. No. 8 Florida State vs. No. 19 Michigan MLS — Fined Toronto F Jozy Altidore they’re everywhere; same with Saint John’s (Minn.) (11-1) at Wheaton Feb. 21 — Mandatory reporting date. for criticizing match officials following (Ill.) (12-0) State Abu Dhabi and maybe eventually March 26 — Opening day, active ros- No. 9 Maryland at No. 13 N.C. State his teams loss to Seattle. Fined Vancou- ters reduced to 26 players. No. 18 Gonzaga at Montana State ver coach Marc Dos Santos for criticizing in Saudi Arabia.” NAIA playoffs April 28-30 — New York Mets vs. Miami No. 24 Michigan vs. Syracuse the league and San Jose coach Matias Meanwhile, the tournament at San Juan, Puerto Rico. Friday’s game Almeyda for postgame comments about Quarterfinals match officials. Saturday, Nov. 30 June TBA — Amateur draft. No. 5 Oregon State vs. Hawaii chairman of the Waste Manage- Morningside 51, Saint Xavier 0 June 15 — International amateur sign- Saturday’s games COLLEGE ment Phoenix Open said he was Lindsey Wilson 35, Kansas Wesleyan 24 ing period closes. No. 6 South Carolina at Temple GEORGETOWN — Announced G James Grand View 14, Coll. of Idaho 6 July 2 — International amateur sign- No. 11 UCLA at Cal State Northridge Akinjo and F Josh LeBlanc have been re- disappointed by Mickelson’s de- Marian (Ind.) 30, Cumberlands 0 ing period opens. No. 12 Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma State moved from the men’s basketball team. cision to play in Saudi Arabia Semifinals July 10 — Deadline for drafted players No. 14 Indiana vs. North Florida IOWA STATE — Agreed to terms with Saturday’s games to sign, except for players who have ex- No. 16 DePaul at Green Bay football coach Matt Campbell on a one- the same week as the PGA Tour Lindsey Wilson (12-0) at Marian (Ind.) hausted college eligibility. No. 20 Arizona at UTEP year contract extension through 2025. (11-0) July 14 — All-Star Game at Los Ange- No. 23 Arkansas vs. Kansas State JACKSONVILLE — Announced it is dis- event he has played the last 29 Grand View (13-0) at Morningside (12-0) les. No. 25 LSU at Oklahoma continuing its football program. years and won twice. PAGE 18 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 NBA Spurs rally for 2OT win after Harden’s disputed non-dunk

BY RAUL DOMINGUEZ chief James Capers said after the DeRozan added 23 points, nine Associated Press game that, “in fact it did clear the assists and five rebounds as the net and should have been a suc- Spurs won their second straight SAN ANTONIO — James cessful field goal.” at home and snapped the Rockets’ Harden had a slam dunk waved Capers said the Rockets did not two-game winning streak. off by officials, the first sign that ask for a review within the 30- “They played faster but more it might not be the Houston Rock- second window that coaches can sense of urgency than we did, es- ets’ night. challenge calls, during which time pecially being up,” Houston point Lonnie Walker IV helped make they were arguing and asking for guard Russell Westbrook said. sure of that. clarification. The botched call Harden had six points in the Walker had a career-high 28 crushed Houston’s momentum. second overtime, including a fol- points and the San Antonio Spurs “We just stopped playing and low of Clint Capela’s missed free overcame Harden’s 50 points they gained confidence,” Harden throw with 1:41 remaining to put by rallying from a late 10-point said. Houston up 131-128. Bryn Forbes deficit to beat Houston 135-133 in The Rockets led by 22 in the tied it at 131 with a three-pointer, double overtime Tuesday. second half and were up by dou- and the teams traded free throws Harden played a season-high ble digits in the fourth quarter for the remainder of the game. 49 minutes coming off a 60-point all but the final 4:18. In addition to drawing the late ERIC GAY/AP outing Saturday in three quarters Walker, a second-year guard charge on Harden, DeRozan was against Atlanta, but he was whis- who has been patiently waiting on also 3-for-4 on free throws in the Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV, right, is fouled by Rockets guard tled for two charges in the sec- the bench most of his career, took final 30 seconds. James Harden during the second half in San Antonio on Tuesday. ond overtime. The second came over in his first extended playing “That’s who he is, he’s the leader against DeMar DeRozan with 0.8 time to fuel the comeback. of the team,” Walker said. “We ex- for-30 shooting but added 10 as- four days after knocking off the seconds remaining, sealing San “It was confidence,” Walker pect him to score in crunch time sists and 10 rebounds. Los Angeles Clippers at home. Antonio’s victory. said. “My teammates kept me and make big plays and that’s ex- The Spurs were without start- “This is a team that we think That followed a bizarre moment going, and once I started feeling actly what he did. He got us this ing power forward LaMarcus we have, we’ve just got to play like in the fourth quarter, when offi- it, I’m just going to let it go and win.” Aldridge, who missed his second this consistently and we haven’t cials erased Harden’s dunk with play my game. I know what I can Capela had 22 points and 21 straight game with a sore right really done that,” San Antonio 7:53 remaining and Houston lead- and cannot do. I’m just happy that rebounds, and Austin Rivers and thigh. coach Gregg Popovich said. “So, ing 102-89. Officials ruled the ball we played team ball and we got Westbrook added 19 points apiece San Antonio responded with a hopefully, we’re starting to figure didn’t clear the cylinder, but crew this win.” for Houston. Westbrook was 7- group effort to beat the Rockets that out.” Roundup Scoreboard

Heat win in OT, hand Raptors first home loss Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 15 5 .750 — Associated Press in Heat history to post a triple- Boston 14 5 .737 A A double, achieving the feat for the Philadelphia 15 6 .714 TORONTO — Jimmy Butler Brooklyn 10 10 .500 5 fifth time. New York 4 17 .190 11A delivered a triple-double to beat Southeast Division “He was doing even more stuff Toronto, then turned his focus to Miami 15 5 .750 — that you won’t see in the box score: Orlando 9 11 .450 6 Miami’s next opponent with an encouraging guys, talking, being Charlotte 8 14 .364 8 unbeaten home record. Washington 6 13 .316 8A in gaps defensively,” Miami’s Jus- Atlanta 5 16 .238 10A Butler had 22 points, 13 re- Central Division tise Winslow said. “He was fan- Milwaukee 18 3 .857 — bounds and 12 assists, Duncan tastic for us.” Indiana 13 7 .650 4A Robinson scored 22 points and the Detroit 8 13 .381 10 Lakers 105, Nuggets 96: LeB- Chicago 7 14 .333 11 Heat spoiled Kyle Lowry’s return ron James had 25 points, nine as- Cleveland 5 15 .250 12A to Toronto’s lineup by beating sists and a crucial dunk off a miss Western Conference the Raptors 121-110 in overtime late in the fourth quarter to lead Tuesday. Southwest Division visiting Los Angeles over Denver. W L Pct GB “I’m not going to say that this Anthony Davis shook off flu-like Dallas 14 6 .700 — one is more special than any Houston 13 7 .650 1 symptoms to score 25 points and San Antonio 8 14 .364 7 other one,” Butler said of Miami’s add 10 rebounds for the Lakers. Memphis 6 14 .300 8 third consecutive win and second New Orleans 6 15 .286 8A Both teams were coming off Northwest Division straight on the road. “Just two losses that ended long winning Denver 13 5 .722 — good teams going at it. We were Utah 12 9 .571 2A streaks, but it was Los Angeles Minnesota 10 9 .526 3A fortunate enough to do our job.” that bounced back . Oklahoma City 8 11 .421 5A Butler scored eight consecutive Portland 8 13 .381 6A Clippers 117, Trail Blazers NATHAN DENETTE, THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Pacific Division points in 55 seconds to begin the 97: Montrezl Harrell scored 26 L.A. Lakers 18 3 .857 — L.A. Clippers 16 6 .727 2A extra session as the Heat recov- points, Paul George added 25 and Heat forward Jimmy Butler drives past Raptors guard Norman Phoenix 9 10 .474 8 ered after blowing a seven-point host Los Angeles pulled away in Powell during the second half on Tuesday in Toronto. Sacramento 8 11 .421 9 Golden State 4 18 .182 14A lead in the final two minutes of the second half to beat Portland. Monday’s games the fourth quarter. Kawhi Leonard added 11 points and hit 10 of 13 free throws to lead for the Wizards, who have lost five Philadelphia 103, Utah 94 Phoenix 109, Charlotte 104 “When it’s closing time, he just in helping extend the Clippers’ the Mavericks to their eighth vic- of six. Atlanta 104, Golden State 79 makes whatever play is needed,” franchise-best start at home to tory in the past nine games. Markelle Fultz added a career- Indiana 117, Memphis 104 Milwaukee 132, New York 88 Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. 13-1. Doncic had 12 points the first high 20 points for the Magic, who Chicago 113, Sacramento 106 Miami also won at Milwaukee The game was tied 10 times in quarter and then broke open a have won three of four after earn- Tuesday’s games Detroit 127, Cleveland 94 on Oct. 26, a 131-126 overtime the first half before George and three-point game by scoring 15 ing just their second road victory Orlando 127, Washington 120 victory. The Heat are the only Leonard took over to start the of the Mavericks’ 25 points in of the season. Dallas 118, New Orleans 97 Miami 121, Toronto 110, OT road team to beat the Bucks this third. They each hit three-point- the final 9:18 of the third. Two of Pistons 127, Cavaliers 94: San Antonio 135, Houston 133 season. ers and George had a steal and a Doncic’s jumpers came from at Blake Griffin scored 24 points, L.A. Lakers 105, Denver 96 L.A. Clippers 117, Portland 97 Miami closes its three-game dunk to go with a free throw from least 25 feet with no defender in Andre Drummond had 17 points Wednesday’s games road trip at Boston on Wednesday. his face. and 14 rebounds, and visiting De- Golden State at Charlotte Leonard as part of a 14-3 run that Milwaukee at Detroit The Celtics (7-0) are one of three gave the Clippers a 76-62 lead. Dallas led by as many as 18 troit routed Cleveland to win con- Phoenix at Orlando NBA teams yet to lose at home points in the fourth quarter and secutive games for the first time Brooklyn at Atlanta Mavericks 118, Pelicans 97: Miami at Boston this season. Philadelphia (10-0) Luka Doncic scored 15 of his 33 coasted home. this season. Indiana at Oklahoma City and Miami (8-0) are the others. Magic 127, Wizards 120: Griffin played just 24 minutes Memphis at Chicago points in the third quarter and Minnesota at Dallas “We talked about it: We’ve got grabbed 18 rebounds in just 28 Evan Fournier scored 31 points, and was 8-for-13 from the field, L.A. Lakers at Utah one more to win,” Butler said. Sacramento at Portland minutes to power visiting Dallas D.J. Augustin added 16 of his 24 including 6-for-7 from deep. Thursday’s games “We’d better get over this one over New Orleans. in the fourth quarter and visiting Drummond played 31 minutes Philadelphia at Washington Denver at New York fairly quickly.” Doncic shot 9-for-18 from the Orlando beat Washington. as Detroit’s starters were on the Houston at Toronto Butler became the 10th player field, making five three-pointers, Bradley Beal scored 42 points bench for the fourth quarter. Phoenix at New Orleans Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 19 COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP No. 1 Louisville shuts down No. 4 Michigan

Associated Press points, matched a career high with 12 as- sists and made three steals as part of a de- LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville players fensive effort that forced several turnovers and coach Chris Mack cared more about early in the game and a total of 14. protecting the basket against Michigan Meanwhile, the Spartans (5-3) went than defending their new perch atop the into the game “a little fragile,” according rankings. to coach Tom Izzo, and they looked out of Fulfilling that priority helped the Cardi- sync and overmatched. nals succeed in their season debut as the Cassius Winston had 12 points on 4-for- nation’s No. 1 team. 14 shooting for Michigan State. Jordan Nwora had 22 points and 12 re- No. 15 Memphis 71, Bradley 56: bounds, and Louisville held No. 4 Michi- Alex Lomax scored 17 points, Boogie Ellis gan to a season-low 26% shooting mark for added 12 and the host Tigers overcame a 58-43 victory Tuesday night in its first a poor shooting performance to beat the game since returning to No. 1. Braves. The Cardinals (8-0) shot just 37% but Memphis made 36% of its shots from the their defense stifled Michigan (7-1) much field, but Bradley (5-3) was considerably of the night as they earned a signature vic- worse, hitting 27%, going just 2-for-23 out- tory in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge one day side the three-point arc. after claiming the top spot in the AP Top Tyler Harris and DJ Jeffries had 10 25 for the first time in six years. Though points apiece for Memphis (7-1). their second-year coach has downplayed Indiana 80, No. 17 Florida State 64: rankings, the win was significant for a pro- Devonte Green scored a career-high 30 gram he has guided back into the national points and Trayce Jackson-Davis added championship discussion following a sex 15, leading the undefeated Hoosiers past scandal and the school’s involvement in a the visiting Seminoles in the Big Ten/ACC federal corruption investigation of college Challenge. basketball. Indiana is 8-0 for the first time since Players seem more focused on building 2012-13 and has beaten three straight on it. ranked opponents under coach Archie “Our season’s not over yet,” Cardinals Miller. The previous two came last season. guard Lamarr Kimble said. “No. 1’s just Trent Forrest had 13 points as the Semi- a number. We’re going to continue to get noles’ seven-game winning streak ended. better.” No. 18 Baylor 78, Maryland Eastern As for Mack, he was most satisfied with Shore 46: Jared Butler made six three- how his team denied just about every- pointers and scored 20 points, Devonte thing Michigan attempted while passing Bandoo added 14 points and the host Bears or shooting, holding the Wolverines to just led throughout against the winless Hawks. better than half their scoring average (82.4 Baylor (6-1) played for the first time in points per game). That mattered on a night nine days, since a win over then-No. 17 Vil- when baskets were nearly as hard to come lanova for the championship at the Myrtle by for the Cardinals. Beach Invitational, where it won three “The story of the game was just our de- games in four days. fensive effort, from the beginning of the No. 19 Dayton 99, Houston Baptist game all the way through,” Mack said. “We 68: Obi Toppin scored 17 points and had probably played 38 ½ minutes as good a de- a soaring, one-hand slam off one of his 10 fense as we can play, outside of maybe the TIMOTHY D. EASLEY/AP rebounds, and the host Flyers celebrated first minute of the second half.” their return to the rankings by beating the Louisville answered the Wolverines’ 6-0 Louisville’s Malik Williams attempts to block the shot of Michigan’s Zavier Simpson Huskies. spurt that got them to 30-26 with a 10-0 run during the second half on Tuesday. Louisville won 58-43. Dayton (6-1) vaulted into the Top 25 after keyed by six points and a couple of pivotal an impressive run at the Maui Invitational rebounds from Nwora, who tied his season Steven Enoch had 10 points and 10 re- recruited hard by Michigan State and that included drubbings of Georgia and high on the boards. bounds, and Dwayne Sutton pulled down seemed very interested in attending the Virginia Tech followed by an overtime loss “That’s really been a big focus for us, 11 boards as Louisville topped Michigan school, but ended up signing with the Blue to Kansas in the title game. Dayton hadn’t being strong on D,” Nwora said. 48-41 in that category. Devils and came back to haunt coach Tom been ranked in the Top 25 since February The Cardinals also kept the Wolverines Jon Teske had 18 points and 10 rebounds Izzo. 2016. and first-year coach Juwan Howard from for the Wolverines, who were seeking their “He’s a load in there,” Izzo said. Toppin finished with his third double- adding another top-10 upset to the ones first victory over a No. 1 team since beat- Duke (8-1) looked like one of the top double of the season in only 24 minutes. that helped them enter the Top 25 and ing Duke 81-73 at home on Dec. 13, 1997. teams in the country and not a rebuilding No. 24 Butler 67, Mississippi 58: match Kansas (1989) for the biggest jump No. 10 Duke 87, No. 11 Michigan one a week after losing at home to Stephen Kamar Baldwin scored 31 points, helping from being unranked in the 70-year his- State 75: Vernon Carey Jr. showed the F. Austin. the Bulldogs remain unbeaten with a vic- tory of the poll. Spartans exactly what they’re missing. “If we played like this last week, we tory over the host Rebels. “Give them credit,” Howard said. “They Carey had 26 points, 11 rebounds and would’ve won two games instead of one,” Baldwin shot 11-for-16 from the field, in- do a great job of defending. Unfortunately, three blocks to help visiting Duke domi- coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “But we cluding 4-for-5 from three-point range, to they did a good job of keeping us out of the nate Michigan State. didn’t because we’re learning.” lead Butler (8-0). He added six rebounds paint.” The 6-foot-10, 270-pound freshman was Blue Devils guard Tre Jones scored 20 and three assists. PAGE 20 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 NHL Devils fire Hynes after dismal start

Associated Press New Jersey made the postseason in ’18, it was the first time since NEWARK, N.J. — John Hynes paid the price for the New Jersey going to the Stanley Cup Final in Devils failing to deliver on the 2012. high expectations created by hav- Hynes ranks second in team ing three No. 1 overall draft picks history in games coached, wins in the lineup. and points (345). Hynes was fired as coach Tues- “John played an integral role day after a 9-13-4 start that left in the development of this team the team in last place in the Met- in establishing a foundation for ropolitan Division and with the our future and we are grateful for NHL’s second-worst record. his commitment, passion and un- General manager Ray Shero matched work ethic,” Shero said announced the move roughly 20 in a statement. “John is a respect- KATHY WILLENS/AP minutes before Hynes was sched- ed leader, developer of talent and The Golden Knights’ Jonathan Marchessault, far left, celebrates with William Karlsson, center, and uled to speak to the media be- friend which makes this decision Nicolas Hague as Reilly Smith skates toward them to join in after Marchessault scored the first of his fore the Devils’ game against the difficult. We are a team who val- three goals during the third period on Tuesday. The Golden Knights defeated the Devils 4-3. Vegas Golden Knights. Hynes had ues and takes pride in account- been coach for four-plus seasons. ability to the results we produce. Shero said assistant Alain Nasreddine played for six dif- Roundup Nasreddine would become the in- ferent NHL organizations during terim coach and Peter Horachek, his 15-year pro career with Chica- a pro scout for the team, would go, Edmonton, Florida, Montreal, join the coaching staff as an the Islanders and Pittsburgh. assistant. Marchessault’s hat trick The dismissal comes a day after the Devils were ripped by Scoreboard the Buffalo Sabres 7-1, a game Shero said was hard to describe. leads Knights past Devils That followed a 4-0 loss at home Eastern Conference Associated Press to the rival New York Rangers on Atlantic Division work on, but it’s coming along so it Palat also scored and Andrei Saturday. GP W L OT Pts GF GA feels good right now.” Vasilevskiy stopped 30 shots as NEWARK, N.J. — Jonathan Shero said he made his decision Boston 28 20 3 5 45 101 65 Capitals 5, Sharks 2: John the Lightning snapped a three- Florida 27 13 9 5 31 96 97 Marchessault gave the Devils’ to fire Hynes after the Buffalo Buffalo 28 13 10 5 31 85 83 Carlson had a goal and two assists game skid. Montreal 28 12 10 6 30 93 98 day of change an all-too-familiar game, adding the team’s inconsis- in the opening period to reach 40 Bruins 2, Hurricanes 0: Char- Toronto 29 13 12 4 30 94 98 ending. tency and inability to hold leads Tampa Bay 25 13 9 3 29 91 81 points for the season, Nick Hatha- lie Coyle scored late in the third Ottawa 28 11 16 1 23 71 89 Marchessault scored three all season contributed to his dis- way and Jakub Vrana each scored period, Jaroslav Halak stopped 24 Detroit 30 7 20 3 17 63 119 straight goals in the third period appointment that began with an Metropolitan Division twice and visiting Washington shots for his second shutout of the Washington 29 20 4 5 45 109 85 to rally the Vegas Golden Knights 0-4-2 record after six games. N.Y. Islanders 26 18 6 2 38 77 63 over New Jersey 4-3 Tuesday beat San Jose. season, and host Boston beat Car- “I don’t think there is any one Philadelphia 28 16 7 5 37 91 79 Carlson had a hand in all three olina for its eighth straight win. Carolina 28 16 11 1 33 88 78 night, hours after the Devils fired player performing even at the Pittsburgh 27 14 9 4 32 93 78 coach John Hynes. Washington goals during a span of David Krejci also scored for level, let alone above, that we N.Y. Rangers 26 13 10 3 29 84 87 3:01 in the first period that put the Boston, just 1:08 after Coyle got Columbus 27 11 12 4 26 68 84 Marchessault scored twice in would expect or they would ex- New Jersey 27 9 14 4 22 69 101 the first 5:04 of the third to give Capitals in control in the opener the Bruins on the scoreboard. pect,” Shero said. “That’s the Western Conference the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead. He of their three-game California Jets 5, Stars 1: Kyle Connor thing that is disappointing. Obvi- swing. He assisted on the first had a goal and two assists, and Central Division added a power-play goal midway ously change brings opportunity GP W L OT Pts GF GA through the period, and Vegas goal of the game for both Hatha- host Winnipeg handed Dallas its not only for Alain Nasreddine St. Louis 29 18 5 6 42 90 75 way and Vrana and then scored fourth straight loss. Winnipeg 28 17 10 1 35 82 77 held on even after New Jersey’s but also for our players. It’s op- Colorado 26 16 8 2 34 97 75 Nico Hischier scored 20 seconds his own, giving him nine goals Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Morrissey, portunity for them and to find out Dallas 29 15 11 3 33 76 73 and 31 assists through 29 games Patrik Laine and Mark Scheif- Minnesota 28 13 11 4 30 83 88 later. where we are and where we are Nashville 27 12 10 5 29 89 88 The Golden Knights have this season. ele each had a goal and assist for going to go.” Chicago 27 10 12 5 25 74 85 Carlson joined Bobby Orr and Winnipeg, which is 4-1-0 in its Pacific Division won four straight to improve to Shero said Nasreddine would Edmonton 29 17 9 3 37 91 84 15-11-4. Al MacInnis as the only defense- past five games. be given a chance to turn things Arizona 29 16 9 4 36 82 69 men in the expansion era to reach Miro Heiskanen scored for the Vegas 30 15 11 4 34 91 85 “It’s fun,” Marchessault said. around, adding there is a lot of Vancouver 29 14 11 4 32 97 86 “We didn’t have that all year so 40 points in the first 30 games of Stars, who are 0-3-1 since ending San Jose 29 15 13 1 31 84 96 time left in the season. Calgary 29 13 12 4 30 73 86 far, so it’s good that we get on a a season. a seven-game winning streak. Nasreddine said he was in shock Anaheim 28 12 12 4 28 75 84 roll.” Flyers 6, Maple Leafs 1: Claude Coyotes 4, Blue Jackets 2: Los Angeles 28 11 15 2 24 72 93 when Shero informed him of the Note: Two points for a win, one point Malcolm Subban had 32 saves, Giroux scored the go-ahead goal Darcy Kuemper stopped 33 shots change, calling it a bittersweet for overtime loss. Top three teams in midway through the third period and visiting Arizona beat Co- each division and two wild cards per and Chandler Stephenson scored moment since Hynes had been conference advance to playoffs. in his first game since being ac- and host Philadelphia had three lumbus behind goals by Clayton his mentor for the last decade. Monday’s games goals in the final 2:06 to get its Keller, Christian Fischer and Vegas 4, N.Y. Rangers 1 quired Monday from the Wash- “I think everyone in that room Buffalo 7, New Jersey 1 ington Capitals. fifth straight win. Lawson Crouse. is disappointed,” Nasreddine said N.Y. Islanders 4, Detroit 1 Travis Konecny had a goal and Carl Soderberg had an empty- St. Louis 4, Chicago 0 Mackenzie Blackwood stopped of the team. “Everyone in that Anaheim 4, Los Angeles 2 26 shots for the Devils. Kyle Palm- an assist for Philadelphia, which net goal and assisted on two of the rooms feels responsible. Every- Tuesday’s games has earned points in seven straight earlier goals. Montreal 4, N.Y. Islanders 2 ieri and Jesper Bratt also scored. one in that room can be better.” Boston 2, Carolina 0 Hynes was fired Tuesday after games (6-0-1). The Flyers had an Wild 4, Panthers 2: Carson The Devils had high hopes en- Minnesota 4, Florida 2 NHL-best 24 points in November, Soucy scored the go-ahead goal Arizona 4, Columbus 2 a 9-13-4 start that left the team in tering the season after drafting Vegas 4, New Jersey 3 last place in the Metropolitan Di- going 10-2-4 to tie a franchise re- early in the third period to lift vis- Philadelphia 6, Toronto 1 Jack Hughes with the No. 1 over- Tampa Bay 3, Nashville 2, OT vision and with the NHL’s second- cord for most points in a month. iting Minnesota over Florida. all pick just two years after tak- Winnipeg 5, Dallas 1 worst record. Canadiens 4, Islanders 2: Phil- Luke Kunin, Mats Zuccarello Vancouver 5, Ottawa 2 ing Nico Hischier with the No. 1 Washington 5, San Jose 2 General manager Ray Shero lip Danault, Brendan Gallagher and Jason Zucker also scored as pick. The other first overall pick Wednesday’s games named assistant Alain Nasred- and Shea Weber each had a goal the Wild won their fourth straight Colorado at Toronto on the roster is Taylor Hall, who St. Louis at Pittsburgh dine the interim coach, and Peter and an assist, and host Montreal game and earned a point for the won the league MVP award in Ottawa at Edmonton Horachek, a pro scout for the beat New York to snap an eight- 10th straight game (7-0-3). Washington at Los Angeles 2018 after leading New Jersey to Thursday’s games team, joined the coaching staff as game losing streak. Canucks 5, Senators 2: An- the playoffs. Arizona at Philadelphia an assistant. Jeff Petry also scored and toine Roussel scored in his first Vegas at N.Y. Islanders The Devils are the third team N.Y. Rangers at Columbus Subban has been playing for Carey Price stopped 21 shots to game back after being sidelined to change coaches this season. Chicago at Boston Marc-Andre Fluery, who has earn his 11th win of the season for for eight months with an injury, Minnesota at Tampa Bay Toronto fired Mike Babcock two Colorado at Montreal been away from the team for the Montreal, which ended an 0-5-3 and host Vancouver beat Ottawa. weeks ago and Calgary parted San Jose at Carolina skid. Zack MacEwen got his first Winnipeg at Dallas past week with a family illness. way with Bill Peters last week. Buffalo at Calgary “It’s been huge. Obviously, you Lightning 3, Predators 2 (OT): NHL goal, and Tanner Pearson, Friday’s games Hynes, who was hired by the Chicago at New Jersey get a couple wins you feel better Nikita Kucherov scored at 2:35 of Elias Pettersson and Oscar Fan- Devils in June 2015, had a 150- Montreal at N.Y. Rangers about yourself, you feel good about overtime to give visiting Tampa tenberg also scored for Vancou- Arizona at Pittsburgh 159-45 record in 354 career Los Angeles at Edmonton your game, so it’s been great obvi- Bay a victory over Nashville. ver, which won for just the fifth regular-season games. When Washington at Anaheim ously,” Subban said. “Still stuff to Victor Hedman and Ondrej time in 15 games (5-8-2). Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 21 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Ohio State still No. 1 in playoff rankings Utah, Oklahoma, Baylor hoping to make a case in title games

BY RALPH D. RUSSO Associated Press CFP rankings Dec. 3 Ohio State will go into champi- Record onship weekend as the top team 1. Ohio State ...... 12-0 2. LSU ...... 12-0 in the College Football Playoff 3. Clemson ...... 12-0 selection committee’s rankings, 4. Georgia ...... 11-1 followed by LSU, Clemson and 5. Utah ...... 11-1 6. Oklahoma ...... 11-1 Georgia. 7. Baylor ...... 11-1 Utah, Oklahoma and Baylor 8. Wisconsin ...... 10-2 9. Florida ...... 10-2 are on deck, and that could turn 10. Penn St...... 10-2 out to be the great debate by Sat- 11. Auburn ...... 9-3 12. Alabama ...... 10-2 urday night. 13. Oregon ...... 10-2 Utah was fifth, Oklahoma 14. Michigan ...... 9-3 15. Notre Dame ...... 10-2 sixth and Baylor seventh in the 16. Iowa ...... 9-3 committee’s second-to-last top 17. Memphis ...... 11-1 25 released Tuesday. The final 18. Minnesota ...... 10-2 19. Boise State ...... 11-1 rankings to set the pairings for 20. Cincinnati ...... 10-2 the national semifinals come out 21. Appalachian State ...... 11-1 22. Southern Cal ...... 8-4 Sunday after each FBS confer- 23. Virginia ...... 9-3 ence plays a championship game. 24. Navy ...... 9-2 25. Oklahoma State ...... 8-4 The most pivotal games will be The playoff semifinals match LSU-Georgia in the Southeastern the No. 1 seed vs. the No. 4 seed, and No. 2 will face No. 3. The Conference championship game semifinals will be hosted at the Saturday; Oklahoma-Baylor in Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl on the Big 12 championship Satur- Dec. 28. The championship game will be played on Jan. 13, 2020 at PAUL SANCYA/AP day; and Utah-Oregon — 13th New Orleans. this week — for the Pac-12 title Ohio State linebackers Tuf Borland, left, Davon Hamilton, center, and Malik Harrison smother Michigan Friday night. running back Hassan Haskins during the Buckeyes’ 56-27 rout last Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich. could become a Pac-12 vs. Big 12 What next? debate. Utah (11-1) Oklahoma (11-1) Baylor (11-1) Utah appears to be on deck A team has never lost its con- to slide into No. 4 if Georgia is Victories against CFP ranked teams Victories against CFP ranked teams Victories against CFP ranked teams ference championship game bounced, but Oklahoma and Bay- — 0. — 2. — 1. and made the College Football lor are lurking. Victories against .500 or better FBS Victories against FBS .500 or better Victories against FBS .500 or better Playoff. Conventional wisdom — 5. — 5. — 4. Committee chairman Rob Victories against 8 wins or more FBS Victories against FBS 8 wins or more Victories against FBS 8 wins or more suggests that could happen this Mullens, the athletic director at season with LSU and Ohio State. — 0. — 3. — 2. Oregon, said the most vigorous Loss — at USC (8-4), 30-23. Loss — at Kansas State (8-4), 48-41. Loss — vs. Oklahoma (11-1), 34-31. Clemson might be in the same sit- debate among the 13-member Average scoring margin — 23.7 (5th in Average scoring margin — 16.4 (12th Average scoring margin — 15.8 (16th uation, but a loss to a four-touch- panel this week was between the FBS). in FBS). in FBS). down underdog might give the Utes and Sooners. Offense (yards per play) — 6.91 (9th in Offense (yards per play) — 8.36 (1st in Offense (yards per play) — 6.56 (17th committee some pause. It is also “We spent considerable time on FBS). FBS). in FBS). really unlikely Clemson will lose it. More time than anywhere else Defense (yards per play) — 4.20 (4th Defense (yards per play) — 5.33 (42nd Defense (yards per play) — 4.77 (18th to Virginia, so let’s not waste too on the board,” Mullen said. in FBS). in FBS). in FBS). much energy debating that un- How the games play out this Analytics/computer ratings Analytics/computer ratings Analytics/computer ratings likely hypothetical. ESPN FPI — 11th. ESPN FPI — 8th. ESPN FPI — 15th. weekend while the committee is SP+ — 7th. SP+ — 6th. SP+ — 14th. In a world where the undefeat- watching, all together at a resort FEI — 6th. FEI — 8th. FEI — 14th. ed Tigers (purple), Buckeyes and hotel in Grapevine, Texas, could SRS — 6th. SRS — 8th. SRS — 17th. Tigers (orange) stay undefeated, swing the decision. But here are Sagarin — 9th (strength of schedule Sagarin — 6th (strength of schedule Sagarin — 15th (strength of schedule the fourth and final playoff spot the résumés going in: 54th) 22nd). 42nd). Injuries, ejection drain No. 4 Georgia for SEC title game

BY CHARLES ODUM er top receiver, George Pickens, to complete half of his passes in Associated Press for the first half of the SEC title four consecutive games. game. Pickens was ejected in the Fromm had a slow start against ATLANTA — Jake Fromm may second half against Georgia Tech Georgia Tech with four straight be relying on some new starters for throwing a punch. incompletions but finished strong, around him when the SEC title That’s a significant drain on the matching his high with four — and a spot in the playoff — is Bulldogs’ depth at wide receiver. touchdown passes. He completed on the line for No. 4 Georgia. “We’re ready,” Fromm insist- 14 of 29 passes for 254 yards. Fromm insists Georgia’s of- ed. “Guys are ready to step up Georgia’s offense was handed fense will be ready for Saturday’s and fill that role.” yet another blow when top rusher Southeastern Conference cham- Pickens was held out in the D’Andre Swift went out with a pionship game against top-ranked first half against Georgia Tech shoulder contusion in the third LSU. as punishment for an undisclosed quarter. Smart downplayed the Despite Fromm’s optimism, violation of team rules. Then the injury and said he is counting on there’s reason for concern. freshman landed in a fight with Swift to play against LSU. Leading receiver Lawrence Georgia Tech cornerback Tre “We expect D’Andre to be fine,” Cager had shoulder surgery late Swilling. Smart said Sunday. last week and may be done for Cager and Pickens are tied for LSU (12-0, No. 2 CFP) rolled the season. When announcing the the team lead with 33 catches. into the SEC title game for the injury after a 52-7 rout of Geor- Pickens’ total includes a 41-yard first time since 2011 with perhaps JOHN AMIS/AP gia Tech, coach Kirby Smart said touchdown grab against the Yel- its most complete performance of Referees separate Georgia wide receiver George Pickens, Cager would make a full recovery low Jackets. the season, a 50-7 rout of Texas foreground, and Georgia Tech defensive back Tre Swilling during a but is doubtful for a bowl or play- Fromm has struggled recently A&M. scuffle in the end zone Saturday in Atlanta. Pickens was ejected for off game. even with a full cast of receivers. The week before, Georgia throwing a punch and will also miss the first half of this weekend’s Georgia (11-1, No. 4 College He enters his third straight SEC struggled to beat the Aggies SEC championship game against LSU. Football Playoff) also lost anoth- championship game having failed 19-13. PAGE 22 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, December 5, 2019 NFL Weekly statistics

AFC individual leaders NFC individual leaders Week 13 Week 13 Quarterbacks Quarterbacks Att Com Yds TD Int Att Com Yds TD Int Rivers, LAC 445 288 3434 17 15 Prescott, DAL 447 298 3788 23 11 Brady, NE 486 297 3268 18 6 Winston, TAM 467 281 3659 22 20 D. Watson, HOU 386 267 3133 23 7 Goff, LA 453 283 3419 13 12 Mahomes, KC 352 227 2983 20 2 Ryan, ATL 447 301 3246 20 12 Mayfield, CLE 407 244 2917 15 14 R. Wilson, SEA 383 258 3177 26 4 D. Carr, OAK 367 259 2843 16 8 Rodgers, GBY 413 266 3065 22 2 Josh Allen, BUF 366 225 2591 16 8 Cousins, MIN 358 248 3032 23 4 L. Jackson, BAL 322 214 2532 25 5 Garoppolo, SNF 358 247 2896 21 10 Dalton, CIN 375 226 2495 10 8 K. Murray, ARI 427 273 2866 14 6 Minshew, JAC 334 204 2432 14 5 Wentz, PHL 434 271 2840 20 7 Rushers Rushers Att Yds Avg LG TD Att Yds Avg LG TD N. Chubb, CLE 238 1175 4.9 88t 7 McCaffrey, CAR 235 1167 5.0 84t 12 D. Henry, TEN 232 1140 4.9 74t 11 D. Cook, MIN 223 1046 4.7 75t 12 J. Jacobs, OAK 218 1061 4.9 51 7 E. Elliott, DAL 227 990 4.4 30 7 Fournette, JAC 220 989 4.5 81 3 Carson, SEA 231 981 4.2 59 5 L. Jackson, BAL 140 977 7.0 47t 7 A. Jones, GBY 159 645 4.1 28 11 M. Mack, IND 192 862 4.5 63t 4 Gurley, LA 154 642 4.2 25 8 C. Hyde, HOU 184 853 4.6 58 4 A. Peterson, WAS 147 642 4.4 29 2 Ma. Ingram, BAL 166 837 5.0 53 9 Montgomery, CHI 172 594 3.5 55 5 Lindsay, DEN 164 766 4.7 40 5 Kamara, NOR 125 587 4.7 30 1 Michel, NE 184 645 3.5 26 6 Barkley, NYG 137 544 4.0 59 2 Receivers Receivers No Yds Avg LG TD No Yds Avg LG TD Kelce, KC 68 923 13.6 47 4 M. Thomas, NOR 110 1290 11.7 42 6 J. Landry, CLE 65 919 14.1 65 5 Godwin, TAM 74 1121 15.1 71t 9 Edelman, NE 82 915 11.2 44 5 M. Evans, TAM 66 1096 16.6 67t 7 Co. Sutton, DEN 54 906 16.8 70t 6 D.. Moore, CAR 74 980 13.2 52t 4 D. Hopkins, HOU 86 903 10.5 38 6 A. Cooper, DAL 64 971 15.2 53t 7 Jo. Brown, BUF 61 882 14.5 40t 5 Ju. Jones, ATL 64 950 14.8 54t 4 Chark, JAC 58 881 15.2 69 8 Golladay, DET 47 950 20.2 75t 9 K. Allen, LAC 76 864 11.4 36t 5 Kupp, LA 73 945 12.9 66 6 D. Parker, MIA 53 854 16.1 50 6 S. Diggs, MIN 50 905 18.1 66 5 MICHAEL AINSWORTH/AP Waller, OAK 66 807 12.2 48 3 Al. Robinson, CHI 71 850 12.0 49 5 Punters Punters Two-time rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott, left, is likely to finish without a rushing title in a full season No Yds Lg Avg No Yds Lg Avg T. Long, LAC 36 1707 60 47.4 Way, WAS 60 2996 79 49.9 for the first time in his four-year tenure with the Cowboys. Kern, TEN 62 2935 70 47.3 A. Lee, ARI 47 2262 64 48.1 Gillan, CLE 50 2320 71 46.4 Hekker, LA 48 2275 71 47.4 A. Cole, OAK 50 2310 60 46.2 Dixon, NYG 46 2162 62 47.0 Berry, PIT 55 2534 62 46.1 Johnston, PHL 49 2299 61 46.9 L. Edwards, NYJ 69 3173 63 46.0 Morstead, NOR 46 2111 64 45.9 Cooke, JAC 58 2656 61 45.8 Colquitt, MIN 45 2048 59 45.5 Sanchez, IND 43 1947 60 45.3 Palardy, CAR 57 2578 58 45.2 Haack, MIA 55 2470 62 44.9 Dickson, SEA 55 2483 63 45.1 Bailey, NE 66 2961 65 44.9 O’Donnell, CHI 67 3019 75 45.1 Punt returners Punt returners Cowboys still confident No Yds Avg Long TD No Yds Avg Long TD Berrios, NYJ 15 151 10.1 26 0 Cohen, CHI 25 232 9.3 71 0 D. Carter, HOU 18 171 9.5 23 0 D. Harris, NOR 25 232 9.3 53t 1 Olszewski, NE 20 179 9.0 22 0 Barner, ATL 24 212 8.8 78t 1 Spencer, DEN 21 172 8.2 42 0 R. James, SNF 30 255 8.5 32 0 A. Roberts, BUF 24 172 7.2 22 0 Natson, LA 19 149 7.8 35 0 Westbrook, JAC 19 116 6.1 43 0 Agnew, DET 15 89 5.9 32 0 King, LAC 16 96 6.0 68t 1 T. Quinn, WAS 16 78 4.9 15 0 Erickson, CIN 19 113 5.9 15 0 Bobo Wilson, TAM 15 42 2.8 11 0 despite underachieving Kickoff returners Kickoff returners No Yds Avg LG TD No Yds Avg LG TD B. Wilson, CIN 20 625 31.2 92t 1 Patterson, CHI 23 711 30.9 102t 1 Agnew, DET 17 454 26.7 100t 1 A. Roberts, BUF 17 482 28.4 66 0 BY SCHUYLER DIXON run to the Super Bowl. S. Sims, WAS 26 666 25.6 91t 1 Grant, MIA 23 578 25.1 101t 1 Latimer, NYG 17 396 23.3 50 0 Associated Press Amid the wild fluctuations, Hardman, KC 19 437 23.0 34 0 D. Harris, NOR 15 339 22.6 46 0 Trevor Davis, OAK 19 411 21.6 52 0 quarterback Dak Prescott says R. James, SNF 15 292 19.5 27 0 Scoring FRISCO, Texas — The only he remains calm and confident. Scoring Touchdowns Touchdowns other time the Dallas Cowboys “I’ve faced adversity a lot in my TD Rush Rec Ret Pts TD Rush Rec Ret Pts D. Henry, TEN 13 11 2 0 78 started 3-0 and missed the play- life on and off the field and at this McCaffrey, CAR 16 12 4 0 98 Ma. Ingram, BAL 12 9 3 0 74 A. Jones, GBY 14 11 3 0 84 offs, Jason Witten was a sixth- moment I’m just doubling down Ekeler, LAC 10 3 7 0 60 D. Cook, MIN 12 12 0 0 72 year tight end for a team that had Josh Allen, BUF 8 8 0 0 52 Godwin, TAM 9 0 9 0 56 Dallas Cowboys (6-6) on myself and my teammates,” Chark, JAC 8 0 8 0 50 been the top seed in the NFC the Golladay, DET 9 0 9 0 54 Prescott said. “I’ve got confi- M. Andrews, BAL 7 0 7 0 42 Gurley, LA 9 8 1 0 54 previous year and was eager to at Chicago Bears (6-6) N. Chubb, CLE 7 7 0 0 42 M. Jones, DET 9 0 9 0 54 dence in what I can do and what Fells, HOU 7 0 7 0 42 atone for a crushing divisional- AFN-Sports E. Elliott, DAL 8 7 1 0 48 these guys around me can do and L. Jackson, BAL 7 7 0 0 42 Barber, TAM 7 6 1 0 44 2:20 a.m. Friday CET J. Jacobs, OAK 7 7 0 0 42 round loss. hope they’re looking my way.” M. Evans, TAM 7 0 7 0 44 Witten is still around 11 years Kicking Kicking 10:20 a.m. Friday JKT Dallas hasn’t been past the di- PAT FG LG Pts PAT FG LG Pts Butker, KC 37-39 25-29 54 112 later after coming out of retire- visional round since the last of Lutz, NOR 29-30 27-31 58 110 ment because he thought Dal- Tucker, BAL 44-45 22-23 51 110 Gonzalez, ARI 21-22 26-29 54 99 the franchise’s five Super Bowl Boswell, PIT 23-23 23-25 51 92 Gay, TAM 29-34 23-26 58 98 las was good enough for him to Lambo, JAC 13-14 25-26 53 88 titles to finish the 1995 season. Zuerlein, LA 29-29 22-28 58 95 achieve one of the few things that Star running back Ezekiel El- McManus, DEN 16-17 22-26 53 82 Prater, DET 28-29 22-26 55 94 The sixth straight divisional loss Seibert, CLE 22-25 20-23 48 82 Maher, DAL 33-33 19-28 63 90 had eluded him for 15 years: a liott says the Cowboys are feeling Fairbairn, HOU 30-35 15-20 52 75 came last year at the Los Angeles Myers, SEA 33-35 18-23 54 87 trip to the Super Bowl. a little angry as well, which the Vinatieri, IND 22-28 17-25 55 73 Slye, CAR 25-29 19-26 55 82 Rams for the defending division Hauschka, BUF 26-28 15-21 51 71 D. Bailey, MIN 33-36 16-18 50 81 Winning the first three games two-time rushing champion said Bullock, CIN 18-18 17-21 48 69 champion. M. Crosby, GBY 33-33 14-15 54 75 fueled the lofty chatter, only to created some chippiness Sunday be followed by six losses in nine in the first practice after a 26-15 Elliott, who is likely to finish AFC team statistics NFC team statistics without a rushing title in a full sea- games with the Cowboys set to loss to Buffalo on Thanksgiving. Week 13 Week 13 AVERAGE PER GAME visit Chicago on Thursday night Elliott’s teammates agreed to son for the first time, has grown AVERAGE PER GAME weary of the search for theories OFFENSE OFFENSE in a matchup of 6-6 teams having varying degrees on how spirited Yards Rush Pass Yards Rush Pass Baltimore 420.8 207.8 212.9 disappointing years coming off practices have been for a team of what ails the Cowboys. Dallas 432.8 127.6 305.2 That includes the question of Kansas City 384.7 94.5 290.2 Seattle 390.2 143.7 246.6 postseason appearances. that has underachieved for weeks Houston 372.8 129.8 243.0 Tampa Bay 380.4 96.2 284.2 and simply hasn’t been able to weighty expectations that also L.A. Chargers 363.2 89.1 274.2 San Francisco 378.0 148.0 230.0 If there’s a common denomina- New England 360.8 96.3 264.4 Detroit 377.2 105.6 271.7 tor in faltering under the weight shake the inconsistency. grew out of the 2016 All-Pro end- Jacksonville 359.4 113.4 246.0 Minnesota 376.6 137.1 239.5 of high expectations for what There was a loss to the then- ing a preseason-long holdout the Oakland 354.8 122.7 232.1 L.A. Rams 369.6 94.2 275.4 Buffalo 353.0 137.9 215.1 Atlanta 369.4 74.2 295.2 could now be the only two Dallas winless New York Jets, which the morning of the first full practice Cleveland 347.9 122.7 225.2 New Orleans 361.4 107.3 254.1 teams to miss the playoffs after Cowboys answered by blowing of the season by signing a $90 Indianapolis 343.8 139.0 204.8 Philadelphia 342.3 118.8 223.6 Tennessee 329.8 125.4 204.3 Carolina 341.2 120.5 220.8 3-0 starts, Witten doesn’t see it. out Philadelphia with first place million extension. Elliott was Cincinnati 301.0 78.0 223.0 Green Bay 340.0 101.4 238.6 Besides which, the Cowboys still in the NFC East on the line. viewed as the one missing piece Denver 295.8 108.3 187.4 Arizona 331.8 114.1 217.7 Pittsburgh 291.3 90.8 200.5 N.Y. Giants 316.7 95.5 221.2 lead the NFC East despite their Special teams mistakes in in training camp. Miami 276.9 62.8 214.2 Chicago 281.8 79.3 202.4 frequent stumbles. a rainy and windy 13-9 loss at “I wouldn’t say it’s weighing on N.Y. Jets 262.8 72.6 190.2 Washington 262.4 99.4 163.0 DEFENSE DEFENSE “First of all, I think that’s a good New England set off owner Jerry us,” said Elliott, who is on a four- Yards Rush Pass Yards Rush Pass thing when there’s high expecta- Jones, who ripped the coaching game stretch without a 100-yard New England 258.0 94.5 163.5 San Francisco 250.9 116.7 134.2 Buffalo 300.1 104.2 195.8 Chicago 319.7 97.5 222.2 tions for them,” Witten said. “I staff in what became the latest game, the first time that’s hap- L.A. Chargers 309.2 109.9 199.3 Dallas 321.6 106.4 215.2 think if a team allows for outside saga over the often-discussed fu- pened in the same season in his Pittsburgh 317.2 103.7 213.5 New Orleans 323.5 88.6 234.9 N.Y. Jets 317.4 75.2 242.2 L.A. Rams 327.0 104.2 222.8 expectations to be higher than ture of coach Jason Garrett. four years as a pro. Baltimore 323.4 94.9 228.5 Philadelphia 332.7 91.0 241.7 what they have for themselves, Dallas looked as if it had an- “Everyone wants to try to find Denver 324.2 113.7 210.6 Minnesota 347.4 104.5 242.9 Indianapolis 328.7 101.8 226.9 Tampa Bay 358.1 76.2 281.8 then you have a problem. other answer with a quick start out what’s wrong. I’ll tell you Cleveland 337.2 124.0 213.2 Washington 361.4 131.6 229.8 “That’s why I think, yeah, against the Bills, only to get out- what’s wrong. We just haven’t Jacksonville 360.4 136.6 223.8 Carolina 366.7 137.5 229.2 Oakland 361.8 103.6 258.2 Atlanta 368.2 108.7 259.5 you’re frustrated, yeah, you’re scored 26-0 over a 50-minute played good football. We haven’t Tennessee 362.1 102.0 260.1 Seattle 368.9 99.6 269.3 disappointed. Trust me, whatever stretch, prompting a much calm- gone out there and executed as a Kansas City 372.1 141.3 230.8 N.Y. Giants 372.8 114.2 258.6 Houston 374.0 111.1 262.9 Green Bay 376.8 123.0 253.8 the fans are disappointed, we feel er Jones to back his coach and en- team. Until we do that, it’s going Miami 399.7 143.5 256.2 Detroit 398.1 118.0 280.1 that.” tertain “dreams” of a late-season to be tough to win ballgames.” Cincinnati 405.0 157.6 247.4 Arizona 426.3 118.8 307.5 Thursday, December 5, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 23 NFL Hunt: Big tests await Bills over next 2 weeks FROM BACK PAGE to prove, especially considering the conference-leading Balti- how it built much of its record by more Ravens (10-2) coming to taking advantage of a soft early town Sunday, and Buffalo play- season schedule. ing at New England (10-2) on The perception toward the Dec. 21. Bills, however, is beginning to Coach Sean McDermott on change based on the dominance Monday promptly cooled talk they’ve shown in winning three of having any AFC East title as- straight. pirations by saying he’s solely Allen, selected seventh over- focused on the immediate chal- all in the 2018 draft and 25 lenge ahead and noting how the spots ahead of Jackson, is find- dynamic Lamar Jackson-led Ra- ing his rhythm. He’s overseeing vens might well be the league’s an offense that has combined best team. for 1,204 yards and nine touch- “They just can beat you in so downs — seven of them passing many different ways,” McDer- — in its past three. mott said of the Ravens, who The uptick in production co- have won eight straight and had incides with coordinator Brian outscored their previous five Daboll introducing a no-huddle opponents by a combined mar- dimension. gin of 202-62 before eking out And Buffalo’s defense has a 20-17 win over San Francisco added a more attacking element DAVID T. FOSTER III, THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER/AP on Sunday. “I don’t think there’s that has led to 15 sacks in the past three games after manag- Former Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera holds up a T-shirt at the end of a press conference really been a defense that’s Wednesday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers fired Rivera on Tuesday. cracked the code to this point, ing just 22 in its first nine. so to speak.” Bills players note there is also And yet, McDermott appreci- a difference between this year’s ates the national attention the team and the one that sneaked Bills are suddenly generating in into the playoffs on the final day having matched the team’s best of the 2017 season by clinch- record through 12 games in 23 ing the AFC’s final wild-card Rivera fired by Panthers years. berth only after Baltimore was The latest sign of respect came eliminated by giving up a last- Sunday, when the NFL flexed minute touchdown in a loss to Buffalo into its most prestigious Cincinnati. TV spot by moving the Bills’ “That was a whole differ- game at Pittsburgh from a 1 ent team,” safety Micah Hyde with 4 games remaining p.m. start to prime time on Dec. recently said, noting how the 15. It will mark the first time roster was already in transition BY STEVE REED Buffalo has played on Sunday following the arrival of McDer- Associated Press night since a 56-10 loss to New mott and general manager Bran- England in 2007. don Beane earlier that year. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Panthers owner David “We talk a lot about things “It was kind of one of those Tepper said he would have preferred to wait until being earned, and the guys have seasons where we didn’t know after the season to make a coaching change. earned that. So, I don’t think we what to expect,” said Hyde, one Tepper ultimately decided he wanted to get a shy away from that standpoint,” of 12 remaining holdovers. “I jumpstart on his search for a new coach, so he fired McDermott said. “But we also think going into this year, we Ron Rivera, the franchise’s winningest coach, on know there’s a lot of work ahead expected to do something great. Tuesday with the Panthers (5-7) all but out of play- of us, a lot of runway to go yet.” And that’s still where our mind- off contention following a four-game skid. Buffalo might still have much set is.” “I was informed of other teams doing different types of searches out there and I’m not going to start a search and not tell Ron Rivera,” Tepper said Tuesday. “(He’s) too good of a man, and I have great respect for Ron. He’s a great human being and I’m not going to disrespect anybody like that, especially Ron Rivera.” Rivera said Wednesday that he doesn’t believe his coaching career is over. In his final news conference at Bank of America Stadium Rivera said he will take the next four weeks off but is eager to coach again next season. “I do believe I will get another opportunity, and I will coach again,” Rivera said. The 57-year-old Rivera opened his news confer- /AP ence by adamantly defending his accomplishments MIKE MCCARN in his nine seasons in Carolina. He took over a 2-14 Kyle Allen took over quarterbacking duties for team, won three straight NFC South titles and led Panthers starter Cam Newton after two games the Panthers to the Super Bowl. because of a foot issue that might require surgery. He leaves with a 73-61-1 record, more wins than any Panthers coach. Cam Newton’s injuries. Newton struggled through But Rivera was a coach with a defensive back- shoulder problems in the second half of last season ground, and Tepper said the NFL has implemented and played only two games this season because of a rules that favor the offense. The owner said that foot issue that might require surgery. benefits teams with a head coach that has an offen- “The biggest thing that contributed to our long- sive background. term mediocrity the last two seasons is that we didn’t “That’s why you’re having more people go that have our quarterback situation settled,” Rivera said. way,” said Tepper, who bought the Panthers in 2018 “.... Our problems didn’t start until when? Until our and did not hire Rivera, who was already in place. “I quarterback got hurt.” think you have a lot of people on that side accepting Rivera said he was surprised Tepper fired him the more modern processes.” with four games left in the season. Tepper has spoken repeatedly about his distaste “I thought, if anything, it’d happen at the end of for the “long-term mediocrity” that has plagued the the season. ... but at the end of the day you have to organization. win football games,” Rivera said. MICHAEL AINSWORTH/AP Rivera said he believes the team’s struggles the For now, Perry Fewell will serve as Carolina’s in- At 9-3, the Bills have had a lot to celebrate this season. past two seasons are directly tied to quarterback terim coach. S TARS AND STRIPES Thursday, December 5, 2019 F3HIJKLM CFP rankings Buckeyes No. 1 heading into SPORTS championship weekend » Page 21

Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates a fourth-down conversion NFL against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Bill-ieve it! ROGER STEINMAN / AP Don’t look now – Buffalo’s in thick of playoff hunt

BY JOHN WAWROW Associated Press ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. t was only a few weeks ago when the Bills had a 7-3 record, and quarterback Josh Allen acknowl- edged he and his teammates had taken a peek at the playoff picture. “I wouldn’t say we’ve started talking about it, Ibut you do want to keep an eye on what everybody else is doing,” the second-year starter responded, before mak- ing a cautious projection. “At the end of the day, I think you need at least 10 wins to get in.” Two weeks and two wins later, the question for Allen now might be why stop there? Returning from an extended weekend off following their convincing 26-15 win at Dallas on Thanksgiving Day, the Bills are in the thick of the AFC playoff race. At 9-3, the Bills will play the two teams ahead of them in the standings over the next three weeks, starting with

SEE HUNT ON PAGE 23

LYNNE SLADKY / AP Buffalo fans, wearing Buffalo wings on their heads, cheer for the Bills during their Nov. 17 game against the Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla.

No. 1 Louisville rolls past Michigan » College basketball, Page 19