Esper: US, Taliban Take Step Toward Talks Defense Secretary Tells Allies That Agreement in Principle to Reduction of Violence Could Lead to Peace Deal

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Esper defends stripping Stars and Stripes of all its funding » Page 3

Volume 78, No. 215 ©SS 2020 CONTINGENCY EDITION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas

AFGHANISTAN Esper: US, Taliban take step toward talks Defense secretary tells allies that agreement in principle to reduction of violence could lead to peace deal

BY JOHN VANDIVER peace deal, Esper said. allies supported U.S. efforts to negotiate a peace Stars and Stripes “But in all things, our approach to this process deal with the Taliban. will be conditions-based,” Esper said. “Let me “We welcome any steps that can lead to the re- The U.S. and Taliban have agreed in principle to say it again: conditions-based. So it will be a con- duction of violence, (but) the Taliban have to show a “seven-day reduction in violence” in Afghanistan, tinual evaluative process as we go forward, if we a real will and a real ability to deliver a reduction of which could lead to a peace deal to end 18 years of go forward.” violence on the ground,” Stoltenberg said. war in the country, Defense Secretary Mark Esper Esper declined to comment on whether the U.S. American and Taliban negotiators have also laid said Thursday at the end of a meeting of NATO de- would cease counterterrorism operations during the foundations for a political agreement in Af- fense ministers in Brussels. any period of reduced violence, saying talks were ghanistan, Esper said. Seven days would be “sufficient” to test whether ongoing. the Taliban was serious about moving toward a Esper NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said SEE ESPER ON PAGE 3

BY JOSHUA KARSTEN group’s commodore, said in a statement. Stars and Stripes Bataan and its amphibious ready group comprises Thousands of Marines 2,500 Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary MANAMA, Bahrain — The amphibious assault ship Unit, the transport dock ship USS New York and the USS Bataan transited the Strait of Hormuz into the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, the statement said. enter Persian Gulf Persian Gulf on Wednesday, becoming the first U.S. Also traveling with the group is the destroyer USS Navy “big deck” to enter the strategic waters in 2020. Carney and cargo ship USNS McClean. “Our passage through this important strait and with USS Bataan The last big deck to transit the strait before the Bataan continued presence in the area plays a critical role in maintaining the freedom of navigation key to regional was the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which Amphibious Ready Group security and stability here,” Capt. Lance Lesher, the SEE BATAAN ON PAGE 6

The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, front, is flanked by the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, left, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney, right, as they transit through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. The Bataan became the first Navy “big deck” to enter the Persian Gulf since the U.S. killed an Iranian general and Iran launched a rocket attack on a base in Iraq that left more than 100 U.S. service members with traumatic brain injuries.

LEVI DECKER/U.S. Navy PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER EXCHANGE RATES 401(k)s rise as workers save more, stocks jump Military rates Switzerland (Franc)...... 0.9780 Euro costs (Feb. 14) ...... $1.1162 Thailand (Baht) ...... 31.11 Dollar buys (Feb. 14) ...... €0.8959 Turkey (Lira) ...... 6.0503 Associated Press British pound (Feb. 14) ...... $1.34 (Military exchange rates are those erage individual retirement ac- their 401(k) in the fourth quar- Japanese yen (Feb. 14) ...... 107.00 available to customers at military banking South Korean won (Feb. 14) ...... 1,150.00 count, or IRA, balance rose the ter, a record. Combined with Commercial rates facilities in the country of issuance NEW YORK — How’s your for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the same percentage to $115,400. employer matches, the average Bahrain (Dinar) ...... 0.3769 401(k) doing? Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For British pound ...... $1.3044 Surging markets around the total savings rate was 13.5% in nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., President Donald Trump likes Canada (Dollar) ...... 1.3246 purchasing British pounds in Germany), world were a big reason for the the quarter, tying its record last China (Yuan) ...... 6.9763 to ask that question around the check with your local military banking Denmark (Krone) ...... 6.8821 growth: The S&P 500 index had reached in the spring of 2019. facility. Commercial rates are interbank country, sometimes throwing out Egypt (Pound) ...... 15.7500 rates provided for reference when buying big gains like 90% or 95%. The av- one of its best years in decades “Nobody can control the mar- Euro ...... $1.0858/0.9210 with a 31.5% return. Investments ket, so the behaviors of people Hong Kong (Dollar) ...... 7.7661 currency. All figures are foreign currencies erage 401(k) did indeed hit a re- to one dollar, except for the British pound, of all types logged gains, from contributing to their 401(k)s are Hungary (Forint) ...... 310.70 cord last year, although its growth Israel (Shekel) ...... 3.4244 which is represented in dollars-to-pound, was considerably less than that. junk bonds to stocks from devel- what get us the most excited,” Japan (Yen) ...... 109.75 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) oping economies. said Katie Taylor, vice president Kuwait (Dinar) ...... 0.3049 INTEREST RATES The average 401(k) balance Norway (Krone) ...... 9.2485 rose 17% last year to $112,300 But workers’ better savings of thought leadership at Fidelity. Philippines (Peso)...... 50.50 Prime rate ...... 4.75 from the end of 2018, according to habits also played a big role. “We have people saving 13.5%, Poland (Zloty) ...... 3.92 Discount rate ...... 2.25 Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...... 3.7506 Federal funds market rate ...... 1.58 a review of 17.3 million accounts Fidelity said the average work- which is really close to the 15% Singapore (Dollar) ...... 1.3885 3-month bill ...... 1.54 by Fidelity Investments. The av- er set aside 8.9% of their pay in that we recommend. ” South Korea (Won) ...... 1,182.58 30-year bond ...... 2.09 WEATHER OUTLOOK FRIDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST FRIDAY IN EUROPE SATURDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 39/36 Kabul 41/14 Seoul 55/37 Baghdad 63/42 Kandahar 54/33 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 58/41 56/41 Lakenheath Pomorskie Busan 49/37 38/33 56/44 Iwakuni 53/50 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City 63/59 Brussels 42/39 Guam 66/47 49/42 Ramstein 62/49 80/77 Lajes, 43/40 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 70/38 67/46 62/59 45/40 49/41 Aviano/ Vicenza 51/34

Naples 59/52 Okinawa Morón 71/68 65/48 Sigonella Rota 63/35 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 83/74 61/48 59/56 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ..... 19 Comics ...... 21 Crossword ...... 21 Faces ...... 17 Opinion ...... 22-23 Sports ...... 25-32 Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 MILITARY Esper defends Stars and Stripes decision

BY COREY DICKSTEIN said the newspaper not only provides ser- Stars and Stripes vice members “a little piece of home” or a “welcome diversion” from tough missions, WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary but it also provides independent, free-flow- Mark Esper on Thursday defended the ing information that they need to exercise Pentagon’s effort to strip Stars and Stripes their rights as Americans. of all of its federal funding as part of its The proposal has received pushback fiscal year 2021 budget request, telling from various directions, including lawmak- reporters in Brussels that the independent ers, a former commander of U.S. European news organization is not a priority. Command and a key journalism advocacy “So, we trimmed the support for Stars and education organization. and Stripes because we need to invest that Military veteran lawmakers Rep. Gil money, as we did with many, many other Cisneros, D-Calif., and Rep. Ruben Gal- programs, into higher priority issues,” lego, D-Ariz., tweeted their support for Esper said during a news conference at Stars and Stripes this week. NATO headquarters. He listed space, nu- “Stars & Stripes was a link to home when clear programs, hypersonic missiles and I was in Iraq and Okinawa,” wrote Gallego, “a variety of systems” as places the money a Marine veteran. “It’s an A+ indie take on — slightly more than $15.5 million — could everyday DoD news, f*** ups, and Admin- be reinvested in the $705.4 billion Defense istration & General Officer BS. No wonder Department spending proposal. this President wants to cut it. He’s got a Pentagon officials acknowledged fight on his hands.” Wednesday for the first time that the bud- Cisneros, a Navy veteran, wrote Stars get proposal completely cuts the subsidy and Stripes “provides a crucial voice on that the department provides Stars and the DOD, VA, and other military matters.” Stripes to print and distribute newspapers “We need their reporting,” he tweeted. to troops deployed around the world, in- Other members of Congress reached cluding remote and often dangerous loca- this week for comment said they needed tions in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq to take a close look at budget documents and Syria. before speaking. One member expected to Stars and Stripes receives about $8.7 be briefed on the Stars and Stripes funding million annually in operations and mainte- proposal this week. nance funds and about $6.9 million in con- In an email, a former top commander of tingency operations funds, said Marine Lt. American and NATO troops in Europe de- Col. Chris Logan, a spokesman for Deputy fended Stars and Stripes. Defense Secretary David Norquist. “Every day in my office as commander The cut to Stars and Stripes’ annual [of] U.S. European Command, I would Pentagon subsidy equals about half of the read Stars and Stripes,” said retired Navy news organization’s annual funds to pay Adm. James Stavridis, who served as expenses. Stars and Stripes’ remaining EUCOM chief and NATO Supreme Allied money comes from sales, subscriptions Command from 2009 to 2013. “It was an and advertising. invaluable, unbiased, and highly profes- Pentagon officials confirmed Monday sional source of information which was that the budget request would cut at least critical to me in my role overseeing U.S. some funding to Stars and Stripes, but they military throughout Europe.” declined to provide monetary figures at- The Society of Professional Journalists tached to the proposal. Stars and Stripes’ called on Esper to rethink the funding cut leadership was informed of the proposed to Stars and Stripes, which it said would be cuts by Pentagon leadership also Monday, “a huge disservice to the men and women after The Wall Street Journal reported the who serve our country” who rely on the news organization was eyed for a funding CHAD GARLAND/Stars and Stripes physical newspaper in areas where they reduction. cannot access the internet. Stars and Stripes first appeared during Spc. Angel Ruszkiewicz, 21, a combat camera specialist from Milwaukee reads a copy “Since it was first published during the the Civil War, and it has been continuously of Stars and Stripes in Erbil, Iraq, in December before a flight to Syria. Civil War, Stars and Stripes has been a bal- published since World War II. It produces anced and objective source of information daily newspapers for U.S. military troops knowledged Stars and Stripes’ value dur- to support our warfighters in the most crit- for members of the military,” SPJ National around the world and a website, which is ing its seven decades of continuous service ical areas of need. Therefore, the depart- President Patricia Gallagher Newberry updated with news 24 hours a day. Though to the U.S. military community. ment has made the difficult decision that, said Wednesday in the statement. “Its abil- it is part of the Pentagon’s Defense Media “Their hard work and dedication in re- beginning in fiscal year 2021, it will no ity to inform troops about issues important Agency, Stripes retains its editorial inde- porting on issues that matter the most to longer provide appropriated funds to Stars to them must not be hindered.” pendence and is congressionally mandat- the military community continues to be of and Stripes.” value,” he said. “However, as we look for- The news organization’s value to Ameri- Stars and Stripes reporters Slobodan Lekic and ed to be governed by First Amendment John Vandiver contributed to this report. principles. ward to the current budget proposal and can troops has been proven, said Ernie [email protected] In Logan’s statement Wednesday, he ac- beyond, the DOD must prioritize spending Gates, Stars and Stripes’ ombudsman. He Twitter: @CDicksteinDC Esper: NATO defense ministers US: Troops killed Syrian combatant vow to contribute more to Iraq effort Associated Press cluding armed men who fired at with Russian, Syrian government the soldiers and pelted them with and Turkish troops. They are BEIRUT — The U.S. military FROM FRONT PAGE reduce some of its roughly 5,000 stones and Molotov cocktails. deployed in part to maintain the troops there and refocus them said Thursday its troops fired Spokesman for the U.S-led co- peace but also in the latest tug “Progress has been made on on and killed a Syrian combat- this front and we’ll have more to on other missions. Allied defense alition Col. Myles Caggins said over territorial control in Syria’s ministers agreed “in principle” ant when government supporters report on that soon, I hope,” he the person killed was a combat- 9-year-old conflict. to enhance the NATO mission in attacked an American convoy in said. ant. He said the U.S. soldiers had Caggins said the patrol was Iraq. Neither they nor Esper said northeastern Syria a day earlier. come under fire and responded in planned, and the route passed During the two-day meeting which countries would be adding The clash Wednesday was a self-defense. Syrian government through a pro-government area. of NATO defense ministers, in forces to an alliance training mis- rare direct confrontation between media maintained the person The convoy of U.S. armored ve- addition to consulting with allies sion in the country. a Syrian pro-government group killed was a civilian. hicles passed through a Syrian about the potential pause in fight- Allies also considered ways that and U.S. troops deployed in the The U.S. maintains hundreds military checkpoint, but govern- ing in Afghanistan, Esper got NATO can do more in the broader increasingly crowded are near of troops in the area as part of its ment militia were also present. commitments from them to con- Middle East and North Africa, the border with Iraq and Turkey. fight against Islamic State group The U.S. maintains lines of tribute more troops to NATO’s ef- which has been a priority for U.S. A convoy of U.S. armored vehi- militants. In recent weeks, and communication with Russia, Da- fort in Iraq. President Donald Trump. cles drove into a government-con- following a Turkish invasion of mascus’s ally, to avoid such con- Esper has called on NATO to do [email protected] trolled area and was attacked by villages and towns along its bor- frontations. It wasn’t clear if the more in Iraq so that the U.S. can Twitter: @john_vandiver pro-government supporters, in- ders, the area has been swarming route was deconflicted. PAGE 4 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 PACIFIC Philippines’ plan to end pact is ‘fine’ with Trump

BY WYATT OLSON Philippines President Rodrigo “As we try and bolster our Stars and Stripes Duterte, a critic of the United presence and compete with States long before he was elected [China] in this era of great power President Donald Trump said in 2016, had ordered the agree- competition, I think it’s a move he’s “fine” with the Philippines’ ment terminated. in the wrong direction for the intent to terminate a security pact Military cooperation with the long-standing relationship we’ve with the United States despite the Philippines is seen by the Defense had with the Philippines for move’s potential effect on Ameri- Department as a key component their strategic location, the ties can efforts to contest China’s in- in pushing back on China’s broad between our peoples, our coun- fluence in the South China Sea. but disputed claims to sovereign- tries,” Esper said. “That’s fine — we’ll save a lot of ty over most of the South China Duterte spokesman Salvador money,” Trump said Wednesday Sea. Panelo said Wednesday the ter- in the Oval Office in response to In his Oval Room comments, mination should have come “a a reporter’s question. “I have a Trump did imply that the move long time ago” because it was RICK RYCROFT/AP very good relationship there, but displayed ingratitude by the Phil- advantageous only to the U.S., ac- Adm. Philip S. Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific I really don’t mind if they would ippines for U.S. military assis- cording to a state-run newswire. Command, said Thursday he hopes for a “successful outcome” after like to do that.” tance in helping put down a jihadi He said Esper’s reaction was the Philippines terminated its security pact with the U.S. Philippines Foreign Secretary uprising in the southern part of expected, “given that the VFA Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced the country in 2017. favors the U.S. and its abrogation lateral decision may be filed as versity, Manila, in a commentary Tuesday that a notice of termina- Trump said “we came in and affects its global strategic defen- early as next week. posted online Tuesday by the tion of the Visiting Forces Agree- literally single-handedly were sive positioning.” Early in his term, Duterte sig- Center for Strategic and Inter- ment, which allows U.S. forces able to save them from vicious at- Panelo told reporters Tuesday naled he would not implement the national Studies, a Washington, to train and visit in the former tacks on their islands.” that Manila is expecting “pref- 2014 Enhanced Defense Coop- D.C.-based think tank. American colony, had been sub- The U.S. provided Philippine erential attention” from the U.S. eration Agreement with the U.S., Now, two years before the end mitted to the U.S. Embassy in forces with assistance and train- following the revocation of the se- which was signed by the former of his term, Duterte “believes Manila that day. The pact, which ing in the areas of intelligence, curity pact. administration. The agreement that the [Armed Forces of the has been in place since 1999, is surveillance and reconnaissance On Thursday, Philippines Sen- gave America greater access to Philippines] will now support his scheduled to end 180 days after ate President Vicente Sotto said through a rotating group of spe- rotate troops and store supplies move since he has increased the that notification. cial operations troops that did lawmakers may take Duterte’s in a handful of military bases defense budget, funded the mil- Adm. Philip S. Davidson, com- not number more than 100 at any decision to end the military pact throughout the country. itary’s modernization program, mander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific given time, according to a Penta- to the country’s Supreme Court, But Duterte was confronted by and promoted senior officers who Command, said Thursday that gon statement at the time. Ameri- according to ABS-CBN News. “resistance within his own mili- will be loyal to him,” Cruz De he hoped the 180-day timeframe can troops were not involved in The Visiting Forces Agreement tary and defense bureaucracy” Castro said. would “allow some time for dip- direct combat. was approved by lawmakers and and appears to have waited for lomatic efforts to be pursued Trump’s remarks ran counter needs their concurrence if it’s “a more opportune moment” to Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. here.” to Secretary of Defense Mark to be set aside, the broadcaster alter the military status quo, said [email protected] “I hope we can get to a success- Esper’s comments to reporters quoted Sotto as saying. Sotto told Renato Cruz De Castro, a profes- Twitter: @WyattWOlson ful outcome,“ he told a foreign Tuesday that the move sent the a Philippine radio station that a sor in the International Studies policy think-tank in Sydney . wrong message to China. petition to review Duterte’s uni- Department at De La Salle Uni- US, Philippines expected to hold Balikatan drills

BY MATTHEW M. BURKE Visiting Forces Agreement, this cerns that other agreements be- pines,” he added. “It’s difficult to Stars and Stripes year’s planned military exercises tween the two countries may now deter China in maritime South- with the Americans shall proceed be in peril, namely the 1951 Mu- east Asia from Guam, Okinawa Joint military exercises with as scheduled within the 180 days tual Defense Treaty. That treaty or Darwin. They’re simply too far the United States will go on as that the VFA remains in force,” requires both countries to defend away … Beijing will certainly be planned ahead of the termination Lorenzana said Thursday in a one another should they be at- happy with this.” of a long-standing security pact statement released by his office. tacked by a third party. President Donald Trump said between the two allied nations in “However, our American coun- Security experts have said that he was “fine” with the Philip- six months’ time, Philippines Na- terparts may opt to discontinue ending the Visiting Forces Agree- pines’ decision when queried by tional Defense Secretary Delfin the scheduled exercises before ment could do real damage to the a reporter Wednesday in the Oval Lorenzana said Thursday. the 180 days are up.” longtime Pacific allies’ defense Office. The multinational Balikatan Once the termination is final, relationship as well as harm U.S. “That’s fine — we’ll save a lot exercise has taken place in the the Philippines would “cease to efforts to deter China in the South of money,” Trump said. “I have a Philippines every spring for 35 have exercises” with the U.S., China Sea. very good relationship there, but years. However, Philippines of- Lorenzana said. The Philippines is locked in I really don’t mind if they would ficials announced Tuesday they The U.S. Embassy in Manila a series of maritime territorial like to do that.” had notified the U.S. Embassy in could not be reached for com- disputes with China and military A Duterte spokesman said Manila of their intention to termi- ment Thursday afternoon. U.S. cooperation between the Philip- Wednesday that the agreement nate the Visiting Forces Agree- Indo-Pacific Command did not pines and the U.S. is seen as key should have been terminated “a ment, which permits U.S. troops immediately respond to requests to containing China and push- long time ago,” because it was to deploy in the country. seeking comment, and a spokes- ing back against its territorial only advantageous to the United Philippines President Rodrigo man for the III Marine Expedi- claims. States. Duterte ordered the termination tionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, “Washington will [be] less like- after Washington reportedly can- referred all questions to the ly to continue to commit to Philip- Balikatan, which translates celed the U.S. visa of Sen. Ronald embassy. pine defense in the South China to “shoulder to shoulder” from Dela Rosa, a stalwart ally and for- Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., chief Sea, given that there was no way Tagalog, took place April 1-12 mer Philippines National Police of staff of the Philippines armed for its troops to be in Filipino in locations around the Philip- chief. Dela Rosa has been cited forces, said the Philippines would territory,” Jeffrey Ordaniel, as- pines last year. It featured 4,000 for human rights violations relat- look to “increase” training and sistant professor of international Filipino, 3,500 American and 50 ed to Duterte’s bloody drug war exercises with other allied na- security studies at Tokyo Interna- Australian troops taking part in that began when he was elected tions like Japan and Australia to tional University, told Stars and amphibious operations, live-fire president in 2016. make up for the absence of U.S. Stripes in January. training, urban operations, avia- The agreement, in place since troops, the ABS-CBN television “One of the very few options tion operations and counterter- 1999, is slated to end 180 days network reported Thursday. available for the U.S. to influence rorism response on the islands of after notification. Politicians in the country ques- China’s behavior in the South Luzon and Palawan. “With the formal serving of tioned the constitutionality of the China Sea, long term, is to work [email protected] the notice of termination of the termination and expressed con- with its alliance with the Philip- Twitter: @MatthewMBurke1 Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 5 PACIFIC New rotational brigade transitions to S. Korea

BY KIM GAMEL at the southern port of Gwang- Stars and Stripes yang, then taken to its destination on the South Korean rail system, SEOUL, South Korea — Tanks it added. and other armored vehicles rolled The brigades will hold the offi- off a ship onto the Korean Penin- cial transfer of authority ceremo- sula this week in preparation for ny in early March, officials said. the arrival of the new rotational It’s the Dagger Brigade’s first ro- brigade. tation to South Korea. The Fort Riley, Kan .-based 2nd The rotational system was in- Armored Brigade Combat Team, troduced in 2015 when the Army 1st Infantry Division, known as deactivated the permanently sta- the Dagger Brigade, will be the tioned unit that had served near eighth rotational brigade to serve the border with North Korea for in South Korea since the system five decades. began in 2015. The Army said that it exposes It is replacing the 3rd Armored more soldiers to South Korea’s Brigade Combat Team, 1st Caval- operating environment and en- ry Division, which will return to hances the alliance between the Fort Hood, Texas, after its nine- two countries that fought together month rotation. in the 1950-53 Korean War. The transition comes as the Maj. Gen. Patrick Donahoe, U.S. and South Korean militaries the Eighth Army’s deputy com- are expected to begin joint exer- mander for operations, praised cises next month. The allies have the outgoing Greywolf Brigade, reduced the scale of the drills in which arrived in June 2018. a bid to avoid antagonizing North “They arrived at a high state U.S. Army Korea amid stalled diplomatic of readiness and we’re returning efforts to persuade it to give up them to Fort Hood better trained Tanks and other equipment are off-loaded at a port in South Korea ahead of the arrival of the Fort Riley, nuclear weapons. and more experienced, like any Kan .-based 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. The brigades bring their own unit marked for rotation” to South equipment to the peninsula and Korea, Donahoe said. “We’re reas Washington has insisted that it tanks and armored vehicles,” the call for dialogue, which it has remove some of it when they ally looking forward to the Dag- remains open to talks despite the Korean Central Broadcasting been speaking of in front of the leave, including M1 Abrams ger Brigade’s arrival and expect prolonged stalemate. Station was quoted as saying in world.” tanks and M2 Bradley Infantry nothing but the best from a unit of “The brigade announced the mid-January. “Such U.S. attitude [email protected] Fighting Vehicles. the Army’s oldest division.” launch of transfer of its latest discloses the deceitfulness of its Twitter: @kimgamel “The logistical process allows North Korea, which commonly for proper maintenance and ser- denounces U.S. activities on the vice of the old equipment and divided peninsula as threats, has aligns our deployed forces with criticized plans for the rotational current Army-wide moderniza- deployment of the new unit after ‘ We’re really looking forward to the Dagger Brigade’s arrival and tion and readiness efforts,” the it was officially announced in expect … the best from a unit of the Army’s oldest division. military said Thursday in a press early December. ’ release. State-run media called it a vio- Maj. Gen. Patrick Donahoe The equipment was offloaded lation of the spirit of negotiations, Eighth Army deputy commander for operations Jewish-American soldiers killed in WWII receive Star of David headstones

BY MATTHEW M. BURKE were replaced include: Stars and Stripes Pvt. Louis Wolf, 25, of Phila- delphia and the 454th Ordnance The American Battle Monu- Company (aviation), who was cap- ments Commission at a ceremony tured at Corregidor and died of Wednesday replaced Latin cross- malnutrition and dehydration in a es with Star of David headstones Japanese prison camp in 1945. over the graves of five Jewish sol- Pvt. Arthur Waldman, 27, of diers buried at the Manila Ameri- Detroit and the 200th Coast Ar- can Cemetery and Memorial in tillery Regiment, who survived the Philippines. the Bataan Death March and The crosses were originally in- died of beriberi heart failure at a stalled in error following the sol- Japanese prison camp in Tokyo in diers’ deaths during World War 1944. II, officials said. The new grave First Lt. Robert Fink, 25, of markers were requested by the New York City, and the 583rd Sig- families of the fallen soldiers with nal Air Warning Battalion, who support from Operation Benja- died of scrub typhus on his birth- min, a nonprofit dedicated to rec- tifying grave marker errors for day at a Papua New Guinea hospital in 1944. Jewish-American soldiers around the world. Pv t . A l l a n F r a n k e n , 2 0 , o f The ceremony was attended by New York City, and the 24th In- family members of the service fantry Division, who died from a members, U.S. Ambassador to the gunshot wound in Mindanao, Phil- Philippines Sung Kim and officials ippines, in 1945. from the monuments commission. Sg t . J a c k G i l b e r t , 3 7, w h o w a s “These young men left their born in Poland and drafted in New families, the comfort of their York, of the 161st Signal Photo- homes and their faith communi- graphic Company. He was killed ties to answer their nation’s call,” by an enemy shell on Bougainville, commission secretary William Papua New Guinea, in 1944. Matz said in a statement. [email protected] The soldiers whose headstones Twitter: @MatthewMBurke1 PAGE 6 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 MIDEAST Rise in friction with Iran so soon after arrival in Elevated threat Mideast ‘like a splash of cold water in the face’

BY DAN LAMOTHE The Washington Post ABOARD THE USS NOR- MANDY IN THE NORTH ARA- BIAN SEA — The captain of this warship loaded with Tomahawk missiles delivered the news to his crew: Hours earlier, the United States had killed Iran’s most powerful military commander in a drone strike. Navy Capt. Christopher Stone said it wasn’t clear how Iran might respond to the death of Qassem Soleimani. But the Nor- mandy, escorting the USS Harry S. Truman near the Persian Gulf, had to be ready for anything, he said. “We must be prepared for direct military action,” Stone recalled telling the crew. With the warning and an elevated threat level, the sailors prepared for potential combat. Additional precautions put in place on the Normandy required them to carry flame-resistant balaclavas and gloves to complement their flame-resistant uni- forms, and the Internet service they used to speak to family members was temporarily cut. Across the region, U.S. military officials made other changes as vessels were dispatched to sea, where they would be better MICHAEL H. LEHMAN/U.S. Navy positioned. The Navy’s schedule for ships going into port also was Seaman Charles Mazer, from Mantua, N.J. , scans the horizon aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy in the Gulf of Oman, on altered. Sunday. USS Normandy was on high alert after Iran launched missiles at two sites with U.S. troops. The previously unreported details and interviews with more cans and dozens of fighter jets are “sentry” duty, offering security than 20 sailors on three Navy deployed, the situation felt similar to commercial mariners while warships paint a picture of a mili- Bataan: Navy assault ship’s trip for some sailors. larger warships like destroyers tary that was bracing for war in Seaman Desiree Allen, who carry out “sentinel” duty by using the wake of Soleimani’s Jan. 3 across strait is to ‘reassure allies’ operates aviation support equip- powerful sensors to watch for po- death in Baghdad. Days later, ment on the carrier, said “of tential attacks. Iran launched ballistic missiles course I was scared” when she On one 12-hour day at sea, the at two sites in Iraq housing U.S. FROM FRONT PAGE commerce,” skipper Capt. heard about the rising tension Tempest sailed dozens of miles troops, briefly deepening the cri- departed last November dur- Greg LeLand said. with Iran. One of the most chal- into the Persian Gulf. Sailors sis until it became clear that no ing its record-breaking 10- “Our continued commitment lenging parts was not being able briefly deployed a battery-oper- Americans were killed. month deployment. to our partner nations lends to to share specifics with worried ated Puma drone from the ship’s the strength of nations here in The events point to a new real- The 96-mile-long Strait of family members about what was deck to test its abilities, practiced the Gulf and elsewhere in the ity: While tensions have cooled Hormuz is bounded to the happening, she said. facing harassment from a speed- region,” LeLand said. for the moment, the Pentagon is Still, she added, she knew she boat and sailed in formation with north by Iran and to the south The transit comes after a still feeling out whether Iran will had a job to do and put her faith in smaller American vessels, in- by Oman and the United Arab month of tension in the region retaliate again, and how. the ship’s defenses and her fellow cluding two Mark 6 patrol boats Emirates. Around a fifth of the following the January killing “I have spent 26 years in this sailors. and two Coast Guard cutters. world’s oil passes through the by the U.S. of Iranian general Navy not hoping for war, but “At the end of the day, the car- Cleveland, who has been in preparing for war so that we can strategic shipping route, which Qassem Soleimani and retalia- rier is one of the most protected is only 21 miles wide at its nar- tory rocket attacks on an air- command of the Tempest since keep our nation safe,” Stone said ships, so I felt protected,” she June, said all nations have a right rowest point. base in Iraq that left more than said. “I know what we’ve got on in an interview on his warship. “I to sail in international waters and Bataan’s passage through 100 U.S. service members with board, and I know they don’t have would say overwhelmingly, the that the Navy is looking to de-es- response I saw was a crew that the strait was to “reassure al- traumatic brain injuries. nothing on us.” calate tensions. But his crew is was very focused.” lies” and ensure “stability and [email protected] Navy officials declined to spec- “ready for anything,” he said. After Iran’s missile attack, security essential to maritime Twitter: @joshua_karsten ify what prompted the elevated Rear Adm. Andrew Loiselle, President Donald Trump declared threat level or how high exactly who oversees the Truman, Nor- on Twitter that “all is well!” But it was, citing security concerns. mandy and other ships as com- defense officials have reported a oversees weapons and is on his the highest I had ever heard.” They also asked The Post to with- growing number of service mem- third deployment to the Middle Chief Warrant Officer Jordan hold other specific information mander of a carrier strike group, bers who suffered mild traumatic East. Buck said Stone’s announcement about the steps the Navy took in said even at the height of the brain injuries. As of Monday, the There was “almost an eerie about Soleimani was a “shocking response. threat from Iran, the Sentinel Pentagon said 109 had been diag- feeling” afterward because the moment.” The USS Tempest, a 170-foot mission continued. But he vague- nosed, with 75 treated in Iraq and threat against U.S. forces at sea With 17 years in the Navy and patrol craft, was at sea shortly ly acknowledged that it changed, returned to duty, 21 sent back to seemed to dissipate so quickly, several deployments to the Mid- after the strike on Soleimani. But saying the Navy returned to the the United States and others still he said. Days earlier, Remmers dle East, Buck said he arrived Lt. Cmdr. Andre Cleveland, the mission “almost immediately under evaluation in Germany. had told his sailors they needed to on the Normandy on Dec. 28 and commanding officer, said it has after the cessation of hostilities.” “Our great American forces are make sure the Normandy’s weap- “just thought it was my luck” that been quiet throughout his crew’s Standing on the bridge of the prepared for anything,” Trump ons were ready to use. a crisis erupted days later. He deployment. Normandy, Stone watched as a said in a televised address. “Iran “I’ve never really spoken to soon began refreshing sailors on The ship, sailing out of Bahrain, succession of fighter jets landed appears to be standing down, anyone who has deployed to any how to use life rafts. is part of a rotating fleet involved nearby on the Truman. A single which is a good thing for all par- [area of operations] that has ex- “The threat level being elevated in Operation Sentinel, a mission fighter jet streaked by the Nor- ties concerned and a very good perienced a threat warning level like it was, I had never seen that,” the United States established mandy’s port side with a roar, its thing for the world.” that we were at,” Remmers said. Buck said. “It was like a splash of with several partner countries afterburners glowing in the twi- Aboard the Normandy, sailors “My experience, speaking to cold water in the face.” last year to protect commercial light as it pulled into a climb. watched Trump’s speech, said other people who have been in Nearby on the Truman, a 1,092- vessels from Iranian attacks. The “He’s just showing off for you,” Navy Lt. David Remmers, who high-tension situations, is it was foot vessel where 5,000 Ameri- Tempest spends some time on Stone said with a grin. Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 7 MILITARY Marine Raiders in California will move to NC base

BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS Marine Raiders are elite op- Stars and Stripes erators who must complete a rig- orous, seven-month individual The Marine Corps will move its training course to earn their title. Raider battalions at Camp Pend- Marine Raiders earned fame in leton, Calif., to North Carolina, World War II, but the current the East Coast home of Marine command was created in 2006. Raiders, by 2022, officials an- The cost-savings decision is in nounced Wednesday. The move means all personnel line with the 2018 National De- with Marine Forces Special Op- fense Strategy’s call on defense /AP DIMITRI MESSINIS erations Command will be based agencies to “build a more lethal Experts in a speed boat examine the damaged hull of the USS Cole at the Yemeni port of Aden, on Oct. at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, force and reform the depart- 15, 2000, after an al-Qaida attack that killed 17 sailors. Sudan’s transitional government said it has N.C., according to a special oper- ment for greater performance reached a settlement with families of the victims . ations command statement. and affordability,” Marine Forces About 900 Marines, sailors and Special Operations commander civilian employees attached to the Maj. Gen. Daniel Yoo said in the 1st Marine Raider Battalion and statement. Sudan’s government reaches deal the 1st Marine Raider Support The Camp Pendleton Raid- Battalion at Camp Pendleton will ers will move to Camp Lejeune start their moves in summer 2021, in three phases to complement with families of USS Cole victims the statement said. They will join normal Marine Corps permanent the 2nd and 3rd Raider battalions change of station timelines and BY NOHA ELHENNAWY mity. Observers and Sudanese man, Faisal Saleh, told The As- already based at Lejeune. officials have said that the settle- sociated Press over the phone manage the population increase Associated Press Locating its special opera- ment with the USS Cole victims that Justice Minister Nasr-Eddin in the Jacksonville, N.C., area, actions battalions in one place will CAIRO — Sudan’s transitional was among the last hurdles faced Abdul-Bari had traveled last cording to the statement. have “significant impacts to time government said Thursday it has by Sudan on its path to being re- week to Washington to sign the Camp Lejeune officials are reached a settlement with fami- moved from the U.S. list of state deal, which included compensa- and money,” according to the working with area schools to plan lies of the victims of the 2000 at- sponsors of terror. tions for both those wounded and statement. for increases in student popula- tack on USS Cole in Yemen, in a At the time of the Oct. 12, the families of those killed in the The service will save about $55 tion “to ensure that all students million between 2021-26 by reduc- bid to have the African country 2000, attack in the Yemeni port attack. will be accommodated effectively ing housing allowances and the taken off the U.S. terrorism list of Aden that killed 17 sailors and He said the figures could not be and receive a quality education,” cost to move Marines and their and improve relations with the wounded more than three dozen disclosed because the Sudanese according to the statement. West. families between duty stations, others, Sudan was accused of pro- government is still in negotiations The Marine Raider Training The settlement is the latest step the Marine Corps Times reported viding support to al-Qaida, which to reach a similar settlement with Center, which assesses and selects from Khartoum to end its interna- claimed responsibility for the families of victims of the 1998 Wednesday. Raiders will no lon- special operations candidates and tional pariah status. Earlier this attack. bombings of U.S. embassies in ger need to make cross-country week, Sudan’s provisional rulers Today, Sudan’s interim authori- Kenya and Tanzania. More than moves when switching units. trains designated Marines in in- said they had agreed to hand over ties are desperate to have its list- 200 people were killed in the at- However, the move will leave dividual, basic and advanced spe- longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir ing by the U.S. as a state sponsor tacks and more than 1,000 were the Pacific without a Raider unit cial operations, is also based at to the International Criminal of terror lifted, in order to receive wounded. as the service trains to meet a Camp Lejeune. Court to face trial on charges of an injection of badly needed The initial figures on the table “great power” challenge from [email protected] war crimes and genocide during funds from international lending had been in the billions, he said, China in East Asia. Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos the fighting in the western Dar- institutions. Sudan’s justice min- but Sudan’s interim government fur region. istry said that the agreement was had “inherited an empty trea- Also, Sudan’s interim leader, signed with the victims’ families sury.” He said he hoped the in- Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, earli- last Friday but its statement gave ternational community would be er this month met in Uganda with no details of the settlement. sympathetic to the situation. ‘ [The move will have] significant impacts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin There was no immediate com- “We expect the United States to time and money. Netanyahu, who announced that ment from Washington. and the world to understand and ’ Israel and Sudan would normal- Sudan’s information minister to be supportive instead of impos- Special operations command statement ize relations after decades of en- and interim government spokes- ing more obstacles,“ he said. U.S. Marine Corps Governor OKs reforms in how Wis. National Guard handles assault cases

BY TODD RICHMOND vention and equal opportunity employment statement that the plan will reassure sol- Wing security squadron had brushed off Associated Press positions are a priority. diers and airmen that the Guard metes out at least six sexual misconduct complaints Victims will be referred to National discipline in sexual misconduct cases. dating back to 2002. MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers ap- Guard Bureau attorneys at every step of “Simultaneously, our commanders, ju- One of the most glaring problems in- proved a plan Monday to improve how the their cases and information about disciplin- nior leaders, and all our service members vestigators found was commanders open- Wisconsin National Guard handles sexual ary actions will be passed down the chain will have visibility on trends and issues ing internal sexual assault investigations misconduct complaints. of command to individual soldiers and air- across the force, and see that discipline is rather than referring complaints to Army The plan includes a ban on internal men while protecting victim privacy. administered consistently and with trans- or Air Force criminal investigators as re- sexual assault investigations. All com- The Guard said the plan will be imple- parency across the force,” he said. quired by federal law and Department of plaints will be reported to the adjutant mented in phases and will be fully in place Evers issued an executive order calling Defense policy. general, local police and the federal Na- by Aug. 31. for the plan in December after the NGB The Wisconsin Guard’s top commander, tional Guard Bureau’s Office of Complex “There is still much work to be done to conducted a top-to-bottom review of Guard Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar, resigned at Investigations. ensure that our service members are safe sexual misconduct reporting protocols. Evers’ request hours before the report was The plan also calls for a new electronic and supported while carrying out their The review resulted in a report revealing made public. Air Force officials confirmed case tracking system and a new council led mission, but we are taking important steps multiple shortcomings. last month that Dunbar is under investiga- by the adjutant general to provide state- to implement needed reforms,” Evers Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin re- tion for allegedly opening an internal in- level oversight of all sexual assault, sexual said. quested the review in March after Master vestigation last year even though he knew harassment and retaliation cases. Recruit- Brig. Gen. Gary Ebben, the Wisconsin Sgt. Jay Ellis complained to Baldwin in the NGB investigators had identified such ing for judge advocate, sexual assault pre- Guard’s interim adjutant general, said in a 2018 that commanders in his 115th Fighter practices as problematic. PAGE 8 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 MILITARY Army unit to train African forces on security

BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY Stars and Stripes WASHINGTON — Members of the Ar- my’s 1st Security Force Assistance Bri- gade will deploy to Africa soon to provide training and assistance to African forces as a way to compete with Chinese and Rus- sian influence on the continent, the Penta- gon announced Wednesday. The SFAB unit, based at Fort Benning, Ga., will be deployed to conduct missions to train, advise and assist “in spotlight Af- rican countries,” said Alyssa Farah, the chief Pentagon spokeswoman, in a prepared statement. No countries were listed in the statement nor how many people from the brigade will deploy. The deployment will be the “first of many decisions regarding [U.S. Africa Command’s] mission,” according to the statement. The SFAB soldiers will replace members of an infantry brigade from the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Ky., who will return home in the coming weeks. “Army SFABs are manned, trained and equipped specifically for the train, advise and assist mission. This allows them to perform this important great-power competition role more effectively and more efficiently than conventional units,” the /U.S. Army statement reads. PATRICK ALBRIGHT Defense Secretary Mark Esper has been Soldiers from the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade conduct an exercise in July at Fort Benning, Ga. conducting a review of the military’s combatant commands to determine how they and training opportunities with African not far from the strategic American base The U.S. Army Africa commander em- can be aligned better with the 2018 Na- partner countries. U.S. military forces and there, and members of the Wagner group, phasized Esper’s review was not taking tional Defense Strategy, which prioritizes local partners have conducted operations a Russian mercenary organization, are AFRICOM away from its commitments to great-power competition against China in Somalia against the al-Shabab terrorist known to operate in Libya. the region. and Russia. group, which is seen as a serious threat in Cloutier said African allies know the “The purpose is to make sure that what eastern Africa. U.S. is a better military partner than Rus- “The message I’m relaying to my part- we’re doing is aligned with the National While al-Shabab is considered one of the sia or China. ners is that we’re not walking away. We are Defense Strategy, so I get the force sizing biggest threats on the continent, “competi- “So the competitive advantage that we still engaged,” he said, adding U.S. Army right, that the activities, the actions and tion with Russia and China on the continent have on the African continent, I think, is Africa will have its largest exercise — Ex- tasks right in each theater of command,” is critically important. We think we have a the professional nature of our military, the ercise African Lion — in late March with Esper said Tuesday to reporters traveling competitive edge there,” Maj. Gen. Roger discipline of our soldiers, the great train- about 9,000 soldiers from the U.S., African with him to Europe. Cloutier, the commander of U.S. Army Af- ing that we can provide, and the fact that For several years, AFRICOM has been rica, said Wednesday to reporters at the we believe we’re the partner of choice. So partners and allied nations participating. focused primarily on counterterrorism op- Pentagon via a teleconference from Italy. that’s how we compete head-to-head with [email protected] erations as well as building relationships China has a military base in Djibouti, them,” he said. Twitter: @caitlinmkenney National Guard leaders seek Space Force National Guard

BY COREY DICKSTEIN Alaska National Guard, added: which all have Army and Air Na- forces have talked with lawmak- expected to move into the new Stars and Stripes “I don’t think they would func- tional Guards, would not be cost ers about the need to establish a military service. tion very well if we didn’t have a effective to taxpayers. Space Force National Guard. The Space Force on Monday WASHINGTON — Top Na- Space National Guard.” “We’re not looking to stand Army Maj. Gen. David Bald- unveiled a $15.5 billion bud- tional Guard leaders want the The National Guard’s current up 54 Space [Force] National win said he hopes Pentagon offi- get request for fiscal year 2021, Pentagon to create a Space Force space operations force is small Guards,” said Air Force Maj. cials determine on their own that which made no mention of a Na- National Guard, which they said but growing, with some 1,100 Air Gen. James they should build a space guard, tional Guard or reserves compo- Wednesday was needed to ensure National Guard troops in space Eifert, the but if not, he and other top guard nent. However, Air Force senior continuity between guard space operations and another 300 or so adjutant gen- leaders would lobby congressio- leadership, which oversees the operators and their active-duty Army National Guard members. eral for Flor- nal lawmakers directly to add it Space Force within the Air Force counterparts who will soon join It has units that conduct space ida’s guard. into the fiscal year 2021 National Department, has backed a Space the new military branch. missions in Colorado, California, “The con- Defense Authorization Act, which Force National Guard publicly. Most of the National Guard’s Florida, Alaska, New York, Ohio cern it would sets Pentagon policy. The National Guard leaders almost 1,500 space-focused be creating and Arkansas, and is in the pro- “It is being received very well said the lack of clarity is concern- troops would be moved into a this huge, cess of establishing such units in by the members on The Hill,” ing, as they are prepared to begin Space Force National Guard so Hawaii and Guam. bureaucratic Baldwin said. “We are hopeful … planning for a Space Force Na- they can keep pace with chang- Guard space operators are in- overhead is we don’t have to [lobby Congress], tional Guard as soon as possible. es certain to occur as the Space volved in a variety of operations, really not but we are prepared to do that.” “We are a proven model. We Force, established late last year, including space intelligence, Loh what we Pentagon leaders are in the grows and develops its own cul- homeland missions such as mis- envision as how it would be and process of building the Space feel like it’s a pretty simple solu- ture, techniques and procedures, sile defense, and offensive elec- operate.” Force, the first new branch of the tion,” Eifert said. six National Guard generals told tronic warfare, the generals said. The generals said officials in military established since the Air “We’re not big fans of another reporters at the Pentagon. Guard planners have proposed Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s Force in 1947. Gen. Jay Raymond, yearlong study to examine the “Personally, I don’t see how limiting Space Force National office are debating the merits or the chief of space operations, is same things we have already we have a Space Force without Guard operations to those nine structure of a Space Force re- now the only official member of spent some time studying. We a Space Guard,” said Air Force states and territories who already serves component. They are re- Space Force, but officials expect feel like it’s a pretty simple solu- Maj. Gen. Michael Loh, the adju- have or will soon have space quired to report their plans for it to grow to about 6,000 troops tion, we’d like to be part of the so- tant general for the Colorado Na- capabilities. such an organization to Congress during the next year, beginning lution, and we would like to move tional Guard. “I really don’t.” They said attempting to have by late March. with the transfer of Air Force air- forward with it.” Air Force Brig. Gen. Torrence a Space Force National Guard in Already, top generals from men who work on space missions. [email protected] Saxe, the adjutant general for the all 50 states and four territories, many of the states that have space Army and Navy troops are also Twitter: @CDicksteinDC Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 9 MILITARY GAO: DOD effort on kid-on-kid sex assaults has gaps

Associated Press and prosecutors respond to cases. AP found that federal prosecutors The U.S. Department of De- with jurisdiction over many large fense is struggling to change how domestic bases and all overseas it handles the abuse of military bases rarely prosecute. On some kids, including cases involving bases, state prosecutors have ju- sexual assault by other children, risdiction — and were much more according to a report commis- likely to take a case. Unlike the sioned by Congress. federal system, states have juve- The military has been slow nile justice programs that focus to implement reforms that law- on rehabilitation. makers mandated more than a GODOT GALGANO/U.S. Army Another recommendation cited year ago, said the report released a lack of pediatric sexual assault Wednesday by the U.S. Govern- forensic examiners to help build Effort not flagging ment Accountability Office. The cases based on physical evidence Pentagon still doesn’t know the — the military there are only 11 extent of child-on-child sexual such specialists, the report said. Staff Sgt. Kelsey Schroeder runs the ball up the middle during the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment assaults, in part because some of- Command “Super Bowl” flag football game at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on Sunday . The Pentagon agreed that more ficials dismiss incidents without expertise was needed and said reporting them and the Pentagon it was working on building that has no one place to track all cases expertise. that have been logged. Generally, the changes related Worldwide, more than 1.2 mil- to child-on-child sexual assault Soldier hurt paratrooper in brawl lion school-age children live with so far have focused on revising military families, many on large written policies for how to handle bases that include schools, rec- and track reports. The military’s on street in Germany, Army says reation centers, playgrounds and equivalent of social services, other trappings of civilian life. the Family Advocacy Program, BY IMMANUEL M. JOHNSON has units in Grafenwoehr and in cenza, including a fight in which While the report credited the published new guidelines as did AND MARCUS KLOECKNER Vicenza, Italy. He was treated for one Italian man had his jaw frac- Pentagon and some armed ser- the Army and the Pentagon-run Stars and Stripes his injuries and returned to duty, tured and another sustained bro- vices for making policy changes school system, Department of Bradley added. ken ribs. on paper, it concluded ground- Defense Education Activity. GRAFENWOEHR, Germany The other person involved was The incident in the Italian city’s level change was lagging. AP’s investigation documented — An American soldier was in- also an American soldier, said old town in November led the “I’d say their intentions are nearly 700 sex assault reports jured in a brawl Saturday night on Bradley, but it was unclear to 173rd Airborne Brigade’s com- good. They’re starting to make on U.S. bases worldwide over 10 a Grafenwoehr street that’s home progress,” said Brenda Farrell, which unit he was attached. mander to put Contra Pescherie years, a certain undercount be- to several bars, German police the report’s primary author. “But German police detained the Vecchie — which, like Alte Am- cause the Pentagon did not sys- and U.S. military officials said. suspect and handed him over to it has a long way to go in order to berger Strasse in Grafenwoehr temically track cases. “At this time, we are investi- U.S. military police, said Stopfer. get it to the point where they have is home to several popular bars The GAO also found that the De- gating a 21-year-old man” who is By the time German police of- oversight in place to be able to say — off limits to brigade soldiers fense Department didn’t know the suspected of injuring the soldier ficers had arrived on the scene that things are actually improv- full scope of the problem because for 45 days. in the brawl, said Werner Stop- from Eschenbach, about seven ing or that they’ve got this par- data kept by its various branches Patrols by military police will fer, chief of police in the town of miles away, about two dozen ticular area under control.” was incomplete — and a central- Eschenbach, whose officers re- people were involved in a street be stepped up this weekend in Lawmakers tasked Congress’ ized tracking system is a long way sponded to calls about the melee brawl, said Stopfer. It was un- the Grafenwoehr area “to ensure watchdog agency with doing its from reality. The Pentagon said it at around 2 a.m. on Alte Amberg- clear if everyone involved in the proper discipline and provide review after an Associated Press awarded a contract to develop a er Strasse in Grafenwoehr. fight was an American service support to any soldiers in need,” investigation detailed how justice database in mid-November. The injured soldier is from member. said Bradley. failed both victims and offenders The Defense Department “has the 173rd Airborne Division, Soldiers from the 173rd have [email protected] in child-on-child sexual assaults not yet identified all information said Maj. Christopher Bradley, been accused of being involved in [email protected] on bases. AP’s reporting showed requirements, developed a plan spokesman for the division, which numerous violent incidents in Vi- Twitter: @Manny_Stripes how the Pentagon and Depart- for how it will use the data it col- ment of Justice were failing both lects, or established a schedule victims and offenders. Cases that for development and implemen- investigators made often died on tation,” GAO said of a tracking the desks of prosecutors, even database. Soldier, 21, dies at Bagram Airfield when an attacker confessed. Vic- The report also found that tims were denied help because some complaints weren’t get- BY PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN but said an Defense Service Medal and the regulations granted counseling ting classified as abuse by staff Stars and Stripes investigation Afghanistan Campaign Medal only if the attacker was an adult. at military bases. That staff has has been with Campaign Star. In response, Congress passed “considerable discretion” in de- KABUL, Afghanistan — A U.S. launched. Troops from the 10th Combat legislation that required a series ciding whether complaints are soldier has died in a noncombat “Our Aviation Brigade deployed last of reforms, starting in fall 2018. investigated or recorded in inci- Wednesday’s report amounted to incident at Bagram Airfield in thoughts fall for a nine-month rotation to dent-tracking data. Afghanistan, the Defense De- a progress check. and prayers support the U.S. mission in Af- In the DOD’s education system, partment said Thursday. The report recommended 23 for example, the GAO identified are with the ghanistan, replacing the 1st Ar- Spc. Branden Tyme Kimball, changes, which the GAO’s Farrell incidents of student misconduct, family and mored Division Combat Aviation 21, from Central Point, Ore., died said was a high number. including unwanted genital con- Brigade out of Fort Bliss, Texas. Wednesday at the base, which is friends of “If the leadership sends the tact, that base schools didn’t treat Spc. Bran- Official photos posted online the U.S.’ largest outpost in the Kimball message this is a high priority, as serious and report to the upper country, the Pentagon said. den Kimball show some elements of 10th CAB then everyone else will start to administration. The aircraft structural repair- during this very difficult time,” rotating back to the U.S. in De- fall in line,” Farrell said. “As a result, systemic issues er was assigned to 3rd Battalion, said Lt. Col. Kamil Sztalkoper, cember and January. In responses included in the re- within a particular school or dis- 10th Aviation Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division spokes- Kimball is the seventh U.S. port, DOD generally agreed with trict may never be reported to 10th Mountain Division (Light man . “He will be missed from service member to have died in the suggestions. DoDEA’s leadership,” said the Infantry) Combat Aviation Bri- our formations.” Afghanistan this year. Four of the On one recommendation, the report, “and any additional re- gade, based at Fort Drum, N.Y. Kimball joined the Army in deaths have been combat-related. Pentagon said it was working with sources that a school or district The Pentagon provided no fur- August 2016. His awards and [email protected] the Department of Justice to im- needs to prevent future incidents ther details about the incident decorations include the National Twitter: @pwwellman prove how criminal investigators may not be identified.” PAGE 10 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 NATION Critics: Trump on ‘retribution tour’ after trial

Associated Press to institutions. Some Republican senators, in- WASHINGTON — In the week cluding Tennessee’s Lamar Al- since his acquittal on impeach- exander, Maine’s Susan Collins ment charges, a fully embold- and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, ened President Donald Trump is said they found Trump’s effort demonstrating his determination to pressure Ukraine’s President to assert an iron grip on govern- Volodymyr Zelenskiy inappro- ment, pushing his Justice De- priate. But they also expressed partment to ease up on a longtime hope following his acquittal that friend while using the levers of Trump had learned a lesson from presidential powers to exact pay- the episode. EVAN VUCCI/AP back on real and perceived foes. Murkowski acknowledged Trump has told confidants in President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting Wednesday with Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno Wednesday that “there haven’t in the Oval Office in Washington. Trump has begun a removal process of everyone he deems unloyal recent days that he felt both vin- been very strong indicators this from his administration after his acquittal. dicated and strengthened by his week that he has.” acquittal in the Senate, believing After Trump vented on Twit- Alexander Vindman, who pro- fore them next month to answer gleaned from being just the Republicans have rallied around ter this week about federal pros- vided damaging testimony about questions. third president to endure an im- him in unprecedented fashion ecutors recommending up to the president in the impeachment Former Justice Department peachment trial: “Democrats are while voters were turned off by nine years in federal prison for inquiry. officials struggled to recall a crooked. ... They’re vicious, they the political process, according his confidant Roger Stone, the That came after White House precedent, describing it as norm- to four White House officials and shouldn’t have brought impeach- Justice Department abruptly an- officials last week told Vindman shattering turmoil that raises ment and that my poll numbers Republicans close to the West nounced that it would reevalu- and his twin brother, also an Army troubling questions about the ap- Wing who spoke on the condition are 10 points higher because of ate the recommended sentence. officer who had been detailed to parent politicization of an agency fake news.” of anonymity because they were Justice officials insisted the tim- the White House National Secu- meant to function independent of Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio not authorized to speak publicly ing was coincidental; they’d al- rity Council, that their services White House sway. Democrat, accused Trump of about private conversations. ready been planning to pull the were no longer needed and that “I’ve never seen anything like being on a “retribution tour” and Since then, Trump and his recommendation. they would be reassigned to new it,” said Michael Bromwich, a suggested that Senate Repub- aides have moved with haste to In recent days, the White House duties by the Pentagon. former federal prosecutor and licans — with the exception of clear his administration of those has yanked a senior Treasury De- “We are witnessing a crisis in Justice Department inspector Utah’s Mitt Romney, who voted he sees as insufficiently loyal, partment nomination away from the rule of law in America — un- general who has been represent- reaching all the way back to the a former Justice Department offi- like one we have ever seen being former FBI Deputy Director with Democrats to convict Trump time of former special coun- cial who supervised the prosecu- fore,” Senate Minority Leader Andrew McCabe in a criminal in- on the abuse of power count — en- sel Robert Mueller’s probe into tions of several Trump advisers. Chuck Schumer said in a speech vestigation before the same U.S. couraged the president by turn- Russian interference in the 2016 The administration also fired on the Senate floor Wednesday. attorney’s office. ing a blind eye to his conduct. election. an EPA official who claims he was Schumer called for the Justice Trump turned testy during an “It’s pretty clear the president Democrats and outside analysts ousted because he was deemed Department’s independent in- Oval Office appearance when re- of the United States did learn a are raising red flags that Trump too friendly with Democrats. spector general to probe the porters asked him about interfer- lesson: the lesson he can do what- is exhibiting a post-impeachment Trump even suggested this department’s action in the Stone ing in the Stone case and whether ever he wants, whenever he wants, thirst for vengeance that’s gone week that the Pentagon investi- case. Later, House lawmakers he learned anything from his im- he can abuse his office, he’ll never beyond bending norms and could gate and potentially discipline announced Attorney General peachment ordeal. ever be held accountable by this potentially cause lasting damage former White House aide Lt. Col. William Barr would come be- He described the lesson he Senate,” Brown said.” Congress left adrift after impeachment with elections near

BY LISA MASCARO tion that the legislative branch ident would learn his lesson. The Associated Press can only carry the country so far lesson the president learned was as a check on the executive. It’s that the Republican Party will WASHINGTON — Inside the now up to voters to decide. not hold him accountable no mat- Capitol, it’s as if the impeachment The outcome leaves Congress ter how egregious his behavior,” of President Donald Trump never adrift, its legislative agenda un- he said. happened. certain, its oversight role chal- Some Republicans who indicat- One week after the historic lenged. Both parties are in flux as ed the president might temper his undertaking shuttered to a close, the nation’s political energy turns behavior acknowledged Wednes- Congress is feverishly back at toward the presidential primaries day the limits. work emboldened but also argu- ahead of the November election, “I said before that I would hope ably diminished by the outcome. when voters will also decide con- that the president would learn Senate Republicans are flex- trol of the House and Senate. from that experience,” said Sen. ing their new status as Trump’s “Everything is at stake in No- Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. unshakable allies, hitching their vember,” said Rep. Hakeem Jef- Asked if the president has election pursuits to his and look- fries of New York, the Democratic ing the other away as the presi- caucus chairman, as he implored learned any lessons from im- dent seems to dole out favoritism Americans to prepare to vote “as peachment, Sen. Marco Rubio, R- for friends and payback for critics if your life depends on it.” Fla., said: “He seems the same as J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/AP with apparent impunity. They’re Democrats warn that Trump, he did two weeks ago.” back to confirming record num- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., talks to reporters far from having learned lessons Democrats, though, are dis- bers of judicial nominees viewing following a GOP strategy meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday . from becoming the third im- playing only tepid enthusiasm for impeachment politically as a net peached president, is in fact en- digging deeper into Trump’s al- gain. cally reviving their kitchen-table firewall against potential wrong- gaged in an escalating pattern of leged wrongdoings after the Sen- “We won and they lost,” de- agenda of health care and pock- doing by the president. retribution and political favorit- ate voted last week to acquit him clared Senate Majority Leader etbook priorities, a direct appeal What has become clear in the ism that started as soon as he was of the charges of abuse of power Mitch McConnell. to voters after spending the past aftermath of the impeachment acquitted by the Senate. and obstruction of Congress in House Democrats are franti- months focused on erecting a proceedings is the stark realiza- “Republicans thought the pres- the Ukraine matter. Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 11 NATION 2020 hopefuls focusing on Super Tuesday

BY WILL WEISSERT skipped the first four states to Associated Press deploy a political shock-and-awe campaign after that, spending WASHINGTON — Nevada heavily on television ads while votes next and then South Caro- already hiring more than 2,100 lina. But top Democrats vying for staffers in 40 states and U.S. ter- their party’s presidential nomina- ritories, including all voting on tion are already looking ahead to Super Tuesday. the biggest prize on the primary Past candidates have tried to calendar: Super Tuesday, the forgo the early states in favor of slate of contests when more than larger ones voting later, with little a dozen states go to the polls. success — including another for- Sen. Elizabeth Warren is hold- mer New York mayor, Rudy Giu- ing a town hall on Thursday night liani, in 2008. But Bloomberg is in the Washington suburb of Ar- making a larger bet on doing so lington, Virginia, a day before than anyone has. He’s worth an Sen. Bernie Sanders makes two estimated $60 billion and has al- North Carolina stops, then hits ready spent more than $200 mil- Texas. Pete Buttigieg, the former lion to hastily build a campaign mayor of South Bend, Ind. , will — with promises of plenty more campaign in California between where that came from. fundraisers in San Francisco and The candidates doing battle be- Silicon Valley. fore Super Tuesday, meanwhile, All four states vote March 3, are a study in contrasts. Warren along with a crush of others from has deep campaign infrastruc- Alabama to Colorado and from ture in around 30 states but little Maine to Utah, as well as Warren’s momentum. Former Vice Presi- /AP home state of Massachusetts and ANDREW HARNIK dent Joe Biden left New Hamp- Sanders’ native Vermont. More Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg arrives to speak shire for South Carolina before than 1,300 delegates to the Demo- to supporters at a primary night election rally at Nashua Community College on Tuesday in Nashua, N.H. the polls even closed Tuesday, has cratic National Convention are at important connections there and stake, about a third of the total. And for everyone, it’s a chance Bloomberg’s chances of resonat- states while stockpiling enough is counting on that to carry him The focus on Super Tuesday to prove they won’t cede this ing in his state and beyond. money to keep themselves in the in other southern Super Tuesday comes at a pivotal point in the swath of delegate-rich states to So far, there’s no sign that can- conversation in the bevy of con- states. But he, so far, has fared campaign. For Sanders and But- Michael Bloomberg, the billion- didates are completely bypassing tests unfolding next month. War- worse than Warren. tigieg, who have emerged in aire former New York mayor who Nevada or South Carolina. Every ren, for instance, will be in South Fresh off his New Hampshire strong positions after contests in has spent months building his leading contender will be in Ne- Carolina on Friday but is pulling win, Sanders has already pre- Iowa and in New Hampshire, the campaign around Super Tuesday. vada this weekend as early voting television advertising from the dicted victory in Nevada and travel gives them an opportunity He campaigned in Tennessee on begins. Democrats will caucus state after this weekend. Some of California, pointing in part to his to show their national appeal and Wednesday and will be in Texas there on Feb. 22. that money will instead go to the campaign’s outreach to Hispanic woo larger concentrations of non- and North Carolina on Thursday. But some are shifting their Super Tuesday state of Maine. voters. But he’s also bet on record white voters. For struggling can- “All bets are off this cycle,” resources as they begin an awk- Bloomberg, who is self-fund- turnout that never materialized in didates like Warren, it’s a signal said Texas Democratic strategist ward balancing act of paying at- ing his campaign, doesn’t have to Iowa, despite his efforts to grow that they are still in the fight. Colin Strother, who is bullish on tention to the remaining early make such considerations. He’s the electorate. Bloomberg aims to move past old remarks $60M raised

Associated Press long record to sift through to try ity? Yes, it does.” for Trump CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. to highlight unflattering moments During his time as mayor, — Michael Bloomberg sought of his career. Bloomberg also faced controver- in January to move past newly resurfaced “There’s so much content to be sy after The Associated Press un- unearthed,” she said. “He was covered a widespread New York years-old comments in which he Associated Press defended the controversial “stop- the mayor of New York City for 12 Police Department surveillance and-frisk” policing tactic that has years. That’s a lot of talking.” program targeting Muslims, a WASHINGTON — Pro-Trump been found to disproportionately Indeed, the comments that program he continued to defend groups raised more than $60 million in January and have more affect minorities. resurfaced Tuesday came from after it became public. than $200 million on hand for this The billionaire former New a 2015 appearance Bloomberg Billionaire activist Tom Steyer, year’s general election, shatter- York City mayor, who is now seek- made at the Aspen Institute. He who is working to attract black advocated for putting “a lot of cops voters in South Carolina ahead ing fundraising records on the ing the Democratic presidential where the crime is, which means of that state’s Feb. 29 primary, path toward a goal of raising $1 nomination, launched a two-day in minority neighborhoods.” called the comments “extreme- billion this cycle. tour of the South intended to build Michael Nutter, the former ly disturbing” and said that all The Republican National Com- relationships with African Amer- Philadelphia mayor and Bloom- candidates should disavow such mittee and President Donald icans, who are a crucial voting berg’s national political chair, “racist stereotypes.” Nina Turn- Trump’s campaign have raised bloc for the party. During a stop decried the former mayor’s 2015 er, a national co-chair for Bernie more than $525 million since the in Chattanooga on Wednesday, he GEORGE WALKER IV/AP remarks — but insisted that they Sanders’ campaign, said that the start of 2019 together with two told reporters: “We’re going to do didn’t match the man he knows comments reveal “the true na- joint fundraising committees. very well in the African Ameri- Democratic presidential today. ture” of Bloomberg and called on The January haul coincided can community. candidate Michael Bloomberg “The language on that tape him to drop out because of them. with most of the Senate’s im- “They need a good economy, speaks at a rally at Rocketown in right there at the end was just Bloomberg has apologized for peachment trial, which resulted they need better schools, they Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday. insensitive, it was inappropri- his oversight of the stop-and-frisk in the Republican president’s ac- need more health care, they need ate and lacking in the kind of program. But in Tennessee, he quittal earlier this month. jobs and those are the kinds of demonstrated that while Bloom- empathy and understanding of refused to directly apologize for “We already have 500,000 vol- things that I can bring to the berg has successfully generated the human condition that I know the 2015 comments. In response unteers trained and activated, table,” he said. attention for his campaign by Mike Bloomberg has within him,” to repeated questions, he said, “I and this record-breaking sup- His trip began the same day skipping the early voting states, he said. don’t think those words reflect port is helping us grow our grass- a trio of endorsements was an- flooding the airwaves with ads But during that same event, how I led the most diverse city in roots army even more,” said RNC nounced from members of the and traveling to multiple states a Bloomberg weighed in on in- the nation. Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. Congressional Black Caucus. day, he hasn’t faced the tradition- equality in remarks that would “I apologized for the practice The pro-Trump effort said that The question facing Bloomberg al scrutiny that comes with being seem strikingly out of place in and the pain that it caused,” he it has gained more than 1 million is whether that strategy will work a presidential candidate. today’s Democratic Party. He de- said Wednesday. “It was five new digital and direct mail do- as the intensity of his campaign Progressive Democratic strat- clared that he’d “love to get more years ago. And it’s just not the nors since Democrats launched grows. The controversy over his egist Rebecca Katz noted that billionaires coming to New York. way that I think, and it doesn’t re- their push to impeach Trump in 2015 “stop-and-frisk” remarks Bloomberg’s rivals will have a Does that give you more inequal- flect what I do every day.” September. PAGE 12 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 NATION Senate votes to restrict Trump’s options on Iran

Associated Press ‘this decision is fundamental, and we have rules that we are going WASHINGTON — The Senate to follow so we can make a good approved a bipartisan measure decision,’ that’s a message of Thursday limiting President Don- strength,” Kaine said. ald Trump’s authority to launch Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, agreed. military operations against Iran. SUSAN WALSH/AP Lee supports Trump’s foreign The measure, authored by Sen. Former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch speaks at Georgetown University on Wednesday . Tim Kaine, D-Va., says Trump policy, including toward Iran, but must win approval from Con- said Congress cannot escape its gress before engaging in further constitutional responsibility to military action against Iran. act on matters of war and peace. Ex-Ukraine ambassador: State “We want to make sure that Eight Republicans joined with Democrats to pass the resolution any military action that needs by a 55-45 vote. to be authorized is in fact prop- Department leaders lack vision Kaine and other supporters erly authorized by Congress. said the resolution was not about That doesn’t show weakness. Trump or even the presidency, That shows strength,” Lee said BY BEN FOX But she noted that the State De- efforts to press the government of but instead was an important re- Wednesday. Associated Press partment is being “hollowed out” Ukraine to address long-standing assertion of congressional power The principle of congressional under Trump and that the art of U.S. policy concerns about cor- to declare war. approval is established for an im- WASHINGTON — The career diplomacy has become less of a ruption. At that time, a back-chan- While Trump and other presi- portant reason, Kaine said. “If U.S. diplomat who was ousted priority under his administration. nel effort led by Trump’s personal dents “must always have the abil- we’re to order our young men and from her post in Ukraine by “Right now, the State Depart- lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, sought to ity to defend the United States women ... to risk their lives in war, President Donald Trump, then ment is in trouble,” Yovanovitch push the government of the east- from imminent attack, the execu- it should be on the basis of care- was criticized by him as she testi- said in accepting the award. “Se- ern European nation to dig up tive power to initiate war stops ful deliberation by the people’s fied at his impeachment hearings, nior leaders lack policy vision, political dirt to help Trump’s there,” Kaine said. “An offensive elected legislature and not on the warned that the State Department moral clarity and leadership.” reelection. war requires a congressional de- say-so of any one person.” is facing a crisis with senior lead- Secretary of State Mike Pom- She did not address the back- bate and vote.” Trump disputed that, arguing ers who lack “vision.” peo has been criticized by former channel efforts explicitly, but The Democratic-controlled in two tweets Wednesday that a Marie Yovanovitch, accepting diplomats and others for not com- warned about the state of diplo- House passed a separate, non- vote against Kaine’s proposal was an award at Georgetown Univer- ing to the defense of Yovanovitch, macy at a time when authoritari- binding war powers resolution important to national security . sity on Wednesday, portrayed the a charge he has denied. anism seems to be on the rise. last month. The House could take Kaine has long pushed for ac- department as “in trouble” and Yovanovitch praised the “quiet “To be blunt, an amoral, keep- up the Senate resolution later tion reasserting congressional under threat even as she sought to work of diplomacy” as a way to ‘em-guessing foreign policy that this month, said House Majority power to declare war. At Republi- encourage her audience of mostly ensure peace and prosperity in substitutes threats, fear and con- Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. cans’ request, he removed initial students not to give up on diplo- the world. fusion for trust cannot work over Two-thirds votes in the House language that targeted Trump in macy as a career. “It sounds so old-fashioned in the long haul,” she said. and GOP-run Senate would be favor of a generalized statement Yovanovitch urged students to our high-tech world, but diplo- Trump publicly criticized her as needed to override an expected declaring that Congress has the follow in her footsteps because macy is about human interaction, she testified before Congress, say- Trump veto. sole power to declare war. The the U.S. “needs diplomats that are and creating relationships of trust ing on Twitter that “everywhere Answering a claim by some of resolution also directs Trump to ready and capable. is more important than ever,” she Marie Yovanovitch went turned Trump’s supporters and Trump terminate use of military force “This country needs a robust said. “It’s not as exciting as send- bad.” Yet, in a nearly 34-year ca- himself that the measure would against Iran or any part of its gov- foreign policy,” Yovanovitch, the ing in the Marines, but it’s cheap- reer at the State Department, she send a signal of weakness to Iran ernment without approval from former ambassador to Ukraine, er and usually more effective in received a series of promotions and other potential adversaries, Congress. said as she accepted the Trainor the long term.” under both Republican and Dem- Kaine said the opposite was true. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Award for excellence in diploma- Yovanovitch was making her ocratic administrations, with po- “When we stand up for the rule a co-sponsor, called the reso- cy from the Institute for the Study first public appearance since her sitions that included ambassador of law — in a world that hungers lution “much needed and long of Diplomacy at Georgetown. testimony to Congress about her to Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. for more rule of law — and say overdue.” Trump slams ex-adviser who defended key impeachment witness

Associated Press mouth shut … which he actu- Council. against him. istration up until that phone call, ally has a military and legal ob- “He did exactly what we teach Trump has insisted that his call the policy of the U.S. was militar- WASHINGTON — On Thurs- ligation to do,” Trump tweeted them to do from cradle to grave,” to Ukraine President Volodymyr ily to support Ukraine in their day, President Donald Trump lashed out against former White about Kelly. “His incredible wife, said Kelly, a retired Marine gen- Zelenskiy was “perfect.” During defensive fight against … the House chief of staff John Kelly Karen, who I have a lot of respect eral who served as Trump’s chief the conversation, Trump asked Russians,” Kelly said. “And so, for being disloyal after the ex- for, once pulled me aside & said of staff from the summer of 2017 Zelenskiy to do him “a favor” and when the president said that con- adviser came to the defense of strongly that ‘John respects you until early last year. “He went and look into former Vice President tinued support would be based on a former national security aide greatly. When we are no longer told his boss what he just heard.” Joe Biden and his son’s business X, that essentially changed. And who offered key testimony in the here, he will only speak well of The Army officer was ousted dealings in Ukraine. that’s what that guy (Vindman) impeachment inquiry. you.’ Wrong!” from his job on the White House Vindman testified that he was most interested in.” The president’s comments tar- Kelly, speaking at a public National Security Council last raised his concerns inside the Trump initially tapped Kelly geting Kelly came after Kelly forum on Wednesday in Mor- Friday, just two days after the White House after concluding after the 2016 election to serve as defended Lt. Col. Alexander Vind- ristown, N.J., said that Vindman Senate acquitted Trump on abuse that Trump was inappropriately his secretary of Homeland Secu- man, who was among administra- did exactly as he was trained in of power and obstruction of jus- conditioning nearly $400 million rity before Trump asked him to tion officials who raised concerns raising concerns to his superi- tice charges. He is to be reas- in military aid to the country on become his chief of staff. Kelly about Trump’s July phone call ors after hearing “questionable” signed by the Pentagon. getting Zelenskiy’s help digging suggested at the forum he had with Ukraine’s president. That comments from Trump, accord- Kelly came to Vindman’s de- up dirt on the Republican presi- some hesitation about joining the call spurred the president’s im- ing to a report by The Atlantic fense after Trump suggested this dent’s political rival. administration, but ultimately de- peachment trial, which ended in magazine. Vindman was ousted week that the Pentagon should Kelly said at the forum that cided to at the urging of his wife. an acquittal last week. last week from his position as a review Vindman’s conduct in Vindman’s decision to raise his “I frankly think he needs you “Like so many X’s, he misses Ukraine specialist detailed to the the Ukraine episode and poten- concerns was valid. and people like you,” Kelly re- the action & just can’t keep his White House National Security tially consider disciplinary action “Through the Obama admin- called his wife telling him. Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 13 NATION Official says Weinstein lawyer: Puerto Rico lost $2.6M in Prosecutors have email scam Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — ‘movie,’ not case Puerto Rico’s government has lost more than $2.6 million after fall- Associated Press ing for an email phishing scam, “You don’t have to like Mr. according to a senior official. Weinstein,” she told jurors. “This NEW YORK — Harvey Wein- The finance director of the is not a popularity contest.” stein’s lawyer told jurors Thurs- island’s Industrial Development Weinstein is charged with rap- day that prosecutors in the rape Company, Rubén Rivera, said in a ing a woman in a Manhattan hotel case against him were acting like complaint filed to police Wednes- room in 2013 and forcibly per- moviemakers, creating a world day that the agency sent the forming oral sex on a different where “women are not respon- money to a fraudulent account. woman, Mimi Haleyi, in 2006. sible” for how they interact with Rivera said the government Other accusers testified as part men. agency transferred the money on of a prosecution effort to show he Weinstein is innocent, attorney Jan. 17 after receiving an email used the same tactics to victimize Donna Rotunno said, appeal- that alleged a change to a banking to jurors to ignore “outside many women over the years. Weinstein, who did not testify, ing account tied to remittance forces” and use their “New York payments, according to a police City common sense” in weighing has maintained any sexual en- counters were consensual. statement. a case seen as a watershed for the Manuel Laboy, executive direc- #MeToo movement. It was fueled The Associated Press has a policy of not publishing the names of tor of the agency, told The Asso- by the downfall of Weinstein, who ciated Press that officials found was once one of Hollywood’s most people who allege sexual assault RICHARD DREW/AP without their consent. It is without about the incident earlier this influential figures. Harvey Weinstein defense attorneys Donna Rotunno and Arthur week and immediately reported it Rotunno, who has taken heat holding name of the rape accuser because it isn’t clear if she wishes Aidala, left, arrive at court for his rape trial, in New York, on Thursday . to the FBI. from #MeToo supporters for her “This is a very serious situa- advocacy for the disgraced movie to be identified publicly. stein and the women. During the trial, the jury also tion, extremely serious,” he said. producer, argued that prosecu- The jury is scheduled to hear She pointed to a 2007 message heard about emails in which the “We want it to be investigated tors had to come up with a “sinis- the prosecution closings Friday from Haleyi asking how Wein- victim of the alleged rape wrote until the last consequences.” ter tale“ about him because they before getting instructions on the stein was doing and signing off to Weinstein afterward to accept Laboy declined to say how of- don’t have the evidence to prove law from Judge James Burke next with “lots of love” — the year after party invitations from him, give the charges. week and starting deliberations. ficials found out about the scam, he allegedly sexually assaulted him new phone numbers and even “The irony is that they are the In often emotional testimony, whether anyone has been dis- Haleyi, whom he had gotten a job express gratitude. One message producers and they are writing Weinstein’s accusers said he missed or how the company’s the script,” Rotunno said. “In lured them to hotels in New York on the Weinstein-produced TV read: “I feel so fabulous and beau- operations have been affected by their universe, women are not and Los Angeles on the pretense show “Project Runway.” tiful, thank you for everything.” the missing funds. He said an in- responsible” for their behavior of promoting their acting ca- “Not an email you send to your Rotunno delivered her closing ternal investigation is underway when they engage with men, she reers and then sexually assaulted sexual assaulter, even in the world argument less than a week after to determine whether someone added. them. The defense countered by they want to create,” Rotunno told she came under fire on social was negligent or did not follow Rotunno faces a tricky task: confronting some accusers with jurors. “This is where you need to media for telling The New York standard procedure, adding that convincing the jury of seven men warm emails and other commu- say, ‘Wait a minute — do I have Times’ podcast “The Daily” she’d government officials are trying and five women that there are nications with Weinstein that con- doubt about the story she’s tell- never been attacked “because I to recover the money. too many inconsistencies and tinued for months or even years ing?’ How could you not?” would never put myself in that “I cannot speculate about how contradictions in the testimony after the alleged attacks. Witnesses testified about want- position.” these things might happen,” he of Weinstein’s accusers, without In her closing argument Thurs- ing a professional relationship Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said, addressing heavy criticism breaking her earlier promise that day, Rotunno said the emails of- with Weinstein, Rotunno said, rebuked Rotunno for calling the from Puerto Ricans who were jurors wouldn’t hear any “victim fered “real-time evidence” of “because if they label it what it prosecution’s witnesses “liars” in incredulous upon hearing the shaming.” what happened between Wein- was, we wouldn’t be here.” the interview. news. Census Bureau at risk of being unprepared, report says

BY MIKE SCHNEIDER census that could jeopardize a gressional district of the partner- Associated Press ‘ This administration’s failures risk causing complete and accurate count,” ships the agency had established Democratic Rep. Carolyn Malo- in each congressional district. With the start of the 2020 cen- grave harm to this year’s census that ney of New York said. Dillingham said some partners sus just a month away for most U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio- could jeopardize a complete and accurate hadn’t given permission to make U.S. residents, the U.S. Census Cortez of New York and Debra Bureau is behind in recruiting count. Haaland of New Mexico, both their affiliation with the Census workers and establishing part- ’ Rep. Carolyn Maloney Democrats, asked what the Cen- Bureau public. nerships with civic groups, and D-N.Y. sus Bureau was doing to over- The 2020 Census started last it is at risk of missing some income misperceptions that there month in a remote part of rural formational technology testing was a question about citizenship goals, according to a report re- Alaska. on the 2020 questionnaire. leased Wednesday. including one that will allow peo- Dillingham testified that the But the rest of the nation won’t While the Census Bureau has ple to self-respond and another bureau was on its way toward The U.S. Supreme Court last be able to start answering the year rejected a Trump adminis- succeeded so far in early tasks for following-up with households reaching its goals for hiring and questionnaire until the middle of that haven’t answered the ques- partnerships. tration attempt to add a citizen- of verifying addresses across the next month. tions on their own. “We are confident that we are ship question to the form. U.S. and launching an advertis- For the first time, the U.S. Cen- ing campaign, the agency’s readi- “Where the risk is, is just time. on mission, on budget and on tar- Research indicates that people ness for upcoming operations is We are in a pressure cooker of get,” Dillingham said. “The 2020 respond to positive messages sus Bureau is encouraging most mixed, according to the report time to get things done,” said census is positioned for success.” about the 2020 census, so instead participants to fill out the form from the Government Account- Nick Marinos, the GAO’s director The chairwoman of the House of focusing on what could be con- online, although they can still an- ability Office. of information technology. Committee on Oversight and Re- sidered a negative, like the citi- swer the questions by telephone The report was made public Lawmakers held the hearing form said the GAO report was zenship question, “we enforce the or by returning a paper form. Wednesday to get an update from sending “flashing red lights” that positive,” Dillingham answered. Wednesday during a hearing by The 2020 count will help deter- the House Committee on Over- Census Bureau director Steven the bureau wasn’t ready. Other lawmakers, led by Dem- mine the allocation of $1.5 tril- sight and Reform. Dillingham and other agency of- “Whether through incompe- ocratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman The GAO report said the bu- ficials on its readiness for the tence or intentional action, this Schultz of Florida, were unhappy lion in federal spending and how reau was at risk of missing testing largest and most complex head administration’s failures risk that the bureau hadn’t yet shared many congressional seats each milestones for five IT operations, count in U.S, history. causing grave harm to this year’s with them a breakdown by con- state gets. PAGE 14 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 NATION Suit seeks to block transgender athletes

Associated Press remain silent,” Miller said. “I am a girl and I am a runner. I participate in athletics just HARTFORD, Conn. — The families like my peers to excel, find community, of three female high school runners filed and meaning in my life. It is both unfair a federal lawsuit Wednesday seeking to and painful that my victories have to be at- block transgender athletes in Connecticut tacked and my hard work ignored.” from participating in girls sports. Selina Soule, a senior at Glastonbury Yearwood said she also is a girl and has High School, Chelsea Mitchell, a senior at been hurt by the efforts to “tear down my Canton High School and Alanna Smith, a successes.” sophomore at Danbury High School are “I will never stop being me!” she said in represented by the conservative nonprofit her statement. “I will never stop running! organization Alliance Defending Free- I hope that the next generation of trans dom. They argue that allowing athletes youth doesn’t have to fight the fights that with male anatomy to compete has de- I have. I hope they can be celebrated when prived them of track titles and scholarship they succeed not demonized. For the next opportunities. generation, I run for you!” “Mentally and physically, we know the The American Civil Liberties Union said outcome before the race even starts,” said it will represent the transgender teens and Smith, who is the daughter of former Major defend the Connecticut policy in court. League pitcher Lee Smith. “That biologi- Attorney Chase Strangio, deputy director cal unfairness doesn’t go away because of for Trans Justice with the ACLU LGBT & what someone believes about gender iden- HIV Project, said transgender girls also tity. All girls deserve the chance to com- are protected by Title IX. “The idea that the law only protects the pete on a level playing field.” PAT EATON-ROBB/AP The lawsuit was filed against the Con- individuals with XX chromosomes as com- necticut Association of Schools-Connecti- Danbury High School sophomore Alanna Smith speaks during a news conference pared to individuals with XY chromosomes cut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Wednesday at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford, Conn. is found nowhere in the legislative history and the boards of education in Bloom- of Title IX, in any implementing regulation field, Cromwell, Glastonbury, Canton and lieves the policy is “appropriate under both to Miller and usually behind Yearwood. or in any other aspect of the interpretation Danbury. state and federal law.” Mitchell finished third in the 2019 state of Title IX over the last 50 years by the “Forcing girls to be spectators in their The lawsuit follows a Title IX complaint championship in the girls 55-meter in- courts,” he said. own sports is completely at odds with Title filed last June by the girls’ families and the door track competition behind Miller and The attorneys for Alliance Defending IX, a federal law designed to create equal Alliance Defending Freedom with the U.S. Yearwood. Freedom is asking the court to prevent the opportunities for women in education and Education Department’s Office for Civil “Our dream is not to come in second or transgender girls from competing while athletics,” attorney Christiana Holcomb Rights, which is investigating the policy. third place, but to win fair and square,” the lawsuit moves forward. No hearing said. “Connecticut’s policy violates that The lawsuit centers on two transgender Mitchell said. “All we’re asking for is a fair date on that request had been scheduled law and reverses nearly 50 years of ad- sprinters, Terry Miller and Andraya Year- chance.” Wednesday, the day before the state’s in- vances for women.” wood, who have frequently outperformed Yearwood, a senior at Cromwell High door track championships begin. The Connecticut Association of Schools- their cisgender competitors. School, and Miller, a senior at Bloomfield Connecticut is one of 17 states that al- Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic The two seniors have combined to win 15 High School, issued statements vehe- lowed transgender high school athletes to Conference says its policy follows a state girls state indoor or outdoor championship mently defending their right to run in girls compete without restrictions in 2019, ac- anti-discrimination law that says students races since 2017, according to the lawsuit. events. cording to Transathlete.com, which tracks must be treated in school by the gender The three plaintiffs have competed di- “I have faced discrimination in every state policies in high school sports across with which they identify and the group be- rectly against them, almost always losing aspect of my life and I no longer want to the country. Media seek open hearing on NFL team’s emails with church

Associated Press gone to court to keep the emails for release of hearing. priests would be named in the list from being made public, say- the emails. Judge Ellen Hazeur was set to of “credibly accused” clergy pub- New Orleans news outlets were However, set to argue Thursday for an open ing court rules would ordinarily hear arguments at Civil District lished by the archdiocese. hearing on the confidentiality of keep them under seal and that the the Feb. 20 Court in New Orleans. Attorneys for about two dozen emails between Roman Catho- plaintiffs’ lawyers want them re- hearing be- The Saints, whose devoutly men suing the church allege in lic officials and the city’s NFL leased “for publicity purposes.” fore the spe- Catholic owner Gayle Benson is court filings that the confidential franchise concerning clergy sex- A state court hearing is sched- cial master close friends with the local arch- emails show executives joined in abuse scandals. uled in New Orleans next week was to be bishop, have disputed as “outra- the church’s “pattern and prac- As The Associated Press re- before a court-appointed special closed to the geous” any suggestion that the tice of concealing its crimes.” ported last month, victims’ law- master to determine whether public. team helped cover up crimes. The attorneys contend that in- yers allege that hundreds of they may be released. Benson The own- They have accused plaintiffs’ cluded taking an active role in Saints emails show team execu- The AP has been allowed to ers of The attorneys of mischaracterizing helping to shape the archdiocese’s tives did behind-the-scenes pub- intervene in the effort to get the Times-Picayune/The New Or- what is in the emails. list of 57 credibly accused clergy, lic relations damage control amid emails released and lawyers for leans Advocate, WVUE-TV, Benson said in a news release a roster an AP analysis found the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ the news cooperative are being al- WWL-TV and WDSU-TV have Monday that the NFL team played was undercounted by at least 20 clergy abuse crisis. The team has lowed to participate in arguments filed a motion for access to the no role in determining which names. Iowa Democratic Party chairman resigns in wake of caucus chaos

Associated Press the presidential primary season “While it is my desire to stay the results on Feb. 3, it took until was unable to declare a winner, and led both front-runners to re- in this role and see this pro- Feb. 6 for the state party, which based on the available informa- WASHINGTON — The chair- quest a partial recanvass of the cess through to completion, I do operates the series of roughly tion. The results as reported by man of the Iowa Democratic results. believe it is time for the Iowa 1,700 local meetings statewide, the Iowa Democratic Party, the Party announced his resignation “The fact is that Democrats de- Democratic Party to begin look- to issue what it said are complete AP believes, may not be fully Wednesday after a disastrous served better than what happened ing forward, and my presence in results. accurate. caucus process beset by technical on caucus night. As chair of this my current role makes that more In those figures, released by Price had called the delays in glitches led to a dayslong delay in party, I am deeply sorry for what difficult.” the party, former South Bend, reporting results “unacceptable.” reporting the results, inconsisten- happened and bear the responsi- Price said his departure would Ind. , Mayor Pete Buttigieg leads He said the party would conduct cies in the numbers and no clear bility for any failures on behalf occur as soon as the state party Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by a “thorough, transparent and in- winner. of the Iowa Democratic Party,” elects a replacement, and he two state delegate equivalents out dependent examination” of what The embarrassing episode also Chairman Troy Price wrote in called an emergency Saturday of 2,152 counted. That is a margin caused the delays. threatened Iowa’s cherished sta- a resignation letter a week and a meeting to do so. of 0.09 percentage points. He apologized for the break- tus as the first voting contest of half after Iowa’s caucuses. After a breakdown in tallying The Associated Press said it down in the process. Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 15 NATION

AP photos A ship sails into the harbor at Pago Pago, American Samoa. Residents of the U.S. territory are concerned about how a court ruling on citizenship will affect their way of life. ‘We are so proud of who we are’ American Samoans weigh in on federal court’s ruling on US citizenship

Associated Press statement. American Samoa is the only HONOLULU — Growing up in U.S. territory where residents American Samoa, Filipo Ilaoa’s have no birthright claim to citi- neighbors were his cousins on zenship. Instead, those born in a plot of land full of banana and the cluster of islands some 2,600 breadfruit trees shared by his ex- miles southwest of Hawaii are tended family and overseen by a chief elected by his relatives. granted “U.S. national” status, He worries that a federal meaning that they can’t vote for judge’s recent ruling in Utah U.S. president, run for office out- saying those born in the U.S. ter- side of American Samoa or apply for certain jobs. The only federal Dancers representing Hawaii and the Samoas join to form a link at a ceremony celebrating the launch of ritory should be recognized as a new fiber optic cable in Pago Pago, American Samoa. U.S. citizens could threaten “fa’a election they can cast a vote in is Samoa,” the Samoan way of life. the race for American Samoa’s nonvoting U.S. House seat. for those who want it, but some say This includes cultural traditions that it’s costly and cumbersome. like prayer curfews, communal Supporters of automatic citi- Roy J.D. Hall Jr., who lives in living and a belief that the islands’ zenship say that it would benefit the village of Viatogi, says that lands should stay in Samoan fam- the estimated 150,000 to 160,000 he became a citizen more than ily hands. nationals who live in the states . 50 years ago, when it was easier. “Basically, what it comes down The territory’s population is As an attorney, he helps others to is freedom — the freedom to about 55,000. Yet many there say obtain citizenship, which he said own communal land,” said Ilaoa, they’re happy being nationals 66, a retired Marine Corps ser- and worry that birthright citizen- now requires more documents geant major who works at the ship would influence customs, and a $750 fee. Such roadblocks American Samoa government’s like their unique land ownership are unfair, he said. office in Hawaii. system. Pa’uulu opted to remain a na- In December, U.S. District “Right now, the government tional, even though her soldier Judge Clark Waddoups sided of the United States doesn’t own husband became a citizen. with three people from Ameri- a square inch of land in Ameri- Maintaining the land owner- can Samoa who live in Utah and can Samoa,” said Ilaoa, who left ship structure is important to sued to be recognized as citizens. his village of Leone at 18 to join Pa’uulu, in part because she plans The judge ruled that the Utah the Marines and later became a to return someday. The land “ties residents are entitled to birth- citizen to qualify for military jobs Filipo Ilaoa, left, and Bonnelley Pa’uulu pose with the American you back to your family name, right citizenship under the 14th that require top-secret clearance. Samoa flag at the American Samoa government office in Honolulu. and it’s like where you belong,” Amendment. He then put his rul- “We build what we want. Any she said. ing on hold pending appeal. time we want.” every family’s need that occupies being Christian, according to the From a legal perspective, citi- The U.S. government, which Most property in American that land,” said Tisa Fa’amuli, American Samoa government. zenship won’t lead to the down- argues that automatic citizenship Samoa is owned communally who owns Tisa’s Barefoot Bar in Bonnelley Pa’uulu, acting di- fall of American Samoa’s land should be a decision for Congress, among families. Family members the village of Alega on Tutuila, rector of the American Samoa ownership system, said Rose Cui- filed an appeal Friday. The Amer- select chiefs, or matai, to regulate the largest island in the Ameri- government’s office in Hawaii, son-Villazor, an expert in immi- ican Samoa government filed its village life and oversee the land. can Samoa archipelago. remembers how village police gration, citizenship and property notice of appeal Monday, said Samoan law restricts the sale “At the end of the day, we are would ring a 6 p.m. bell that sig- law at Rutgers Law School in New Michael Williams, a Washington of most property to anyone with so proud of who we are,” she said. naled it was time to go indoors for Jersey. lawyer representing the territory less than 50% Samoan ancestry. “We love who we are, and we family prayer. “Citizenship would not have the in challenging the lawsuit. Some are uncomfortable with a don’t want to change that.” Imposing “blanket adult cur- domino effect people are worried “We look forward to showing faraway judge making decisions There also are concerns that fews to United States citizens about,” said Sean Morrison, a for- the Court of Appeals that Judge about their relationship with the automatic citizenship would dis- could be unconstitutional under mer American Samoa assistant Waddoup’s decision is incorrect U.S., Williams said. rupt religious norms such as existing case law,” the American attorney general now living in as a matter of law and needlessly “Everybody else will come and prayer curfews that are enforced Samoa government said in a court New Orleans. “I think the biggest dismissive of Samoans’ self-de- impose their right in the village by local leaders in a territory filing opposing the lawsuit. worry is … you don’t know what a termination rights,” he said in a that is perfectly designed to fit where 100% of Samoans report A path to U.S. citizenship exists future judge might say.” PAGE 16 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 WORLD Spike in China cases with new way of counting

BY YANAN WANG as if they already have the dis- Associated Press ease, even in the absence of lab confirmation.” BEIJING — China on Thurs- China also appointed new day reported a sharp spike in high-level officials in Hubei and deaths and infections from a new Wuhan. virus after the hardest-hit prov- Former Shanghai Mayor Ying ince of Hubei applied a new clas- Yong succeeded Jiang Chaoliang sification system that broadens as the ruling Communist Party the scope of diagnoses for the out- chief in the beleaguered province, break, which has spread to more the Xinhua state news agency re- CHINATOPIX/AP than 20 countries. ported, while Wang Zhonglin took A doctor checks the conditions of a patient in Jinyintan Hospital, designated for critical COVID-19 The new diagnostic approach over from Ma Guoqiang as the patients, in Wuhan in central China’s Hubei province on Thursday. came on the same day that Hubei party secretary in Wuhan. and its stricken capital, Wuhan, The appointments follow the replaced their top officials in an sacking earlier this week of two apparent response to public criti- leaders of the provincial health cism of how authorities have han- commission. State media also re- Japan reports its 1st death from dled the epidemic. ported that a slew of others were The death toll in China reached expelled from the party for trans- 1,367, up 254 from the previous gressions related to the epidemic. virus and 44 more cases on ship day. The number of confirmed The public has widely criti- cases jumped 15,152 to 59,804. cized local officials for failing to The unusually large increases respond quickly and decisively BY MARI YAMAGUCHI earlier have severe symptoms and are on artifi- were due to the change in Hubei’s to the new virus. Authorities ini- Associated Press cial respirators or under intensive care. approach. tially assured people that there The government has decided to allow passen- The total now includes more was little to no risk of human-to- TOKYO — Japan announced Thursday its first gers older than 80 to get off the ship after testing than 13,000 cases of “clinical di- human transmission, a statement death from a new virus from China, hours after negative for the virus, Kato said. He said the re- agnosis” in Hubei, which appears that was later retracted. Wuhan confirming 44 more cases on a cruise ship quar- sults of tests on about 200 eligible passengers are to include those based on a doc- residents said hospitals were antined near Tokyo as fears of the spreading dis- underway, and those with chronic health prob- tors’ analysis combined with lung overcrowded and lacked suffi- ease mount in the country. lems or in cabins without operable windows will imaging, as opposed to waiting cient medical supplies. Doctors Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said the first be given priority. for laboratory test results. who tried to share information fatality is a woman in her 80s who had been hos- Kato said the measure is to reduce health risks pitalized since Feb. 1 when she was diagnosed In breaking down the large early on were reprimanded by for passengers stuck in rooms under difficult with pneumonia. Her confirmed diagnosis came number of new cases in China, police for “spreading rumors.” conditions. Those who are released will be asked after her death, he said. The woman, a resident of National Health Commission Many countries have imple- to stay at a designated facility through the end of Kanagawa prefecture near Tokyo, had no record spokesman Mi Feng said Hubei mented travel restrictions on re- the quarantine period. of traveling to China or contacts with Chinese had adopted a revised diagnosis cent visitors to China, which has “We are doing our utmost for the health of visitors, and health officials are investigating and treatment plan aimed at ac- more than 99% of the world’s re- crew members and passengers who remain on celerating the identification and how she contracted the virus. ported infections. the ship,” Kato told a news conference. treatment of patients. Kato also confirmed two other cases of the In an unprecedented measure Some experts have questioned Japan’s strat- That adds a “clinical diagnosis virus, a Tokyo taxi driver in his 70s and a doc- to contain the disease, recently egy of isolating the passengers and crew in a po- case” classification to identify sus- tor in his 50s who works at a hospital in western named COVID-19, the Chinese tentially virus-affected environment on the ship pected cases who appear to have Japan. government has placed the hard- while the disease is already slowly making its pneumonia so that patients can be est-hit cities — home to more than Earlier Thursday, he announced 44 new cases way into the country. accepted as soon as possible and 60 million — under lockdown. One on the Diamond Princess, which is still carrying “On the ship, infections are getting very dense,” treated as confirmed cases, Mi district in Shiyan, a city in Hubei, nearly 3,500 passengers and crew members. The said Shigeru Omi, an infectious disease preven- said, adding that should “reduce has implemented “wartime mea- ship now has 218 people infected with the virus tion expert and former regional director for the severe illness and mortality.” sures,” barring residents from out of 713 tested since it entered Yokohama Port One expert said the changed leaving even their apartment on Feb. 3, the largest cluster of infections outside World Health Organization. “It’s like we are see- case definition in Hubei likely compounds for two weeks. China. ing a very condensed version of what could hap- speaks to the crush of patients According to a local govern- In all, Japan has 250 confirmed cases of the pen in a local community.” the health system is experienc- ment notice, neighborhood com- new disease that apparently started in Wuhan, a Later Thursday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ing and the backlog of untested mittees will distribute basic city in central China, in December. announced a $139 million economic package to samples. necessities at a fixed time and China has reported 1,367 deaths among 5 9, 804 fight the virus, including funding for the devel- “Clearly in Wuhan, the health at fixed prices, as well as help cases on the mainland. Two other locations out- opment of vaccines and virus test kits, support system is under extreme pres- residents purchase any medicine side the mainland, Hong Kong and the Philip- for hundreds of returnees from Wuhan and measure and so the first priority has they might urgently need. pines, have recorded one death each. sures to strengthen border controls to minimize to be the patient,” said Mark Xu Min, a resident of Shiyan’s Kato said five of the patients sent to hospitals the spread of the virus in the country. Woolhouse, a professor of infec- Zhangwan district, said her tious disease epidemiology at the neighborhood entrance was being University of Edinburgh. guarded by community workers only lab-confirmed cases but also Geng Shuang said at a daily on- press cited a senior official of He said it wasn’t unprecedent- and security staff. clinically diagnosed cases based line briefing. Vinh Phuc province as reporting ed for case definitions to rely on “It doesn’t have too much of on symptoms and exposure,” “The purpose of the joint mis- an increase in cases in Son Loi. doctors’ diagnoses rather than an impact on our life, except that Jasarevic said in an email to The sion is that experts of both sides Vietnam has confirmed 16 cases, wait for laboratory confirmation, we’re not allowed to go out,” Xu Associated Press. can have in-depth communication most of them in the province. and that these kinds of changes said. “The jump in cases today re- on the situation and efforts of pre- Another cruise ship, the West- flects the broader definition,” he vention and control, and come up usually happen when there are World Health Organization erdam, finally docked Thursday simply too many patients to pro- spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said said. with advice for China and other in Cambodia after being turned cess in a fast-moving outbreak. the agency is seeking more clar- An advance team of WHO ex- affected countries,” Geng said. “I’m not surprised that this has ity from China on the updates to perts has been in China since In Vietnam, official media re- away by several Asian and Pacif- happened given the way the out- its case definition and reporting Monday. The team is here to ported that a village of 10,000 ic governments. No cases of the break has been going in China,” protocol. “discuss specific arrangements northwest of the capital, Hanoi, viral illness have been confirmed Woolhouse said. “You have to be “It is our current understand- for the China-WHO joint mis- was put in lockdown due to a clus- among its 1,455 passengers and pragmatic and take the concerns ing that the new case definition sion with the Chinese side,” Chi- ter of cases there. 802 crew members, according to of the patient first and treat them widens the net, and includes not nese foreign ministry spokesman The online newspaper VN Ex- operator Holland America Line. Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 17 FACES ‘Wagon Wheel’ rolling Darius Rucker song certified 8 times platinum, making it one of the top 5 country singles ever

BY KRISTIN M. HALL the radio,” said Rucker, who had already Associated Press had a highly successful rock career as lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish. Country singer Darius Rucker couldn’t He joked about seeing his CMA new art- quite believe it when he was surprised this ist of the year trophy behind glass, noting week with the news that his song “Wagon it happened for him when he was in his 40s. Wheel” was certified eight times platinum, But the South Carolina native also repre- making it one of the top five most popular sents the changing face of country music, country singles ever. as one of two black artists among the On Wednesday, Rucker stopped by the RIAA’s top country singles. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum “Lil Nas X being up there, it just shows to see his items in an exhibit, but his label, that country music is starting to open its Universal Music Group Nashville, sur- doors and broaden its horizons and realize prised him with a plaque featuring eight there’s a lot of different faces, a lot of dif- platinum-colored records. ferent colors and a lot of different things to After repeating the word “Wow!” over country music,” Rucker said. and over, Rucker muttered to himself, It’s another interesting chapter in a song “That can’t be true,” as he inspected the with a unique history. Ketch Secor, lead plaque in his hands. singer of string band Old Crow Medicine AP According to the Recording Industry Show, first encountered the song when he Association of America, “Wagon Wheel” heard a Bob Dylan bootleg that contained Darius Rucker, shown in 2018, can barely play the first chord of his eight-times-plati- now joins other multiplatinum hits among an outtake of a song called “Rock Me, num song “Wagon Wheel’ at his concerts before fans start cheering. country music’s biggest songs in RIAA’s Mama” that was mostly just a chorus and 60-year history, including Taylor Swift’s a muddled verse. Secor wrote verses about country style cover version at his child’s These days, he can barely get past the “Love Story,” Lady Antebellum’s “Need being homesick for the South and made it a school. first chord of the song before fans start You Now,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise,” signature song for the popular folk band in Rucker’s version, released in 2013 and cheering. and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road.” the early 2000s. featuring backing vocals from Lady Ante- “You hit that first chord and people just “It’s amazing to me because I came here For years, the foot-stomping banjo and bellum, went to the top of the country chart lose their minds, cause by the time we get to make country music, and I didn’t ex- fiddle song “Wagon Wheel” was popular for multiple weeks, earned him a Grammy to the third chord they know exactly what pect success and I didn’t expect to be on on the live circuits. Then Rucker heard a for best country solo performance. it is,” Rucker said. Snoop apologizes to Gayle King for rant over Bryant AP TNS BY NEKESA MUMBI MOODY Associated Press Bieber says he let fear Kinney writes another After days of blistering criticism, Snoop Dogg keep him from music ‘Wimpy Kid’ spinoff has finally apologized to Gayle King for attacking /AP her over her interview with former basketball star RICHARD SHOTWELL, INVISION Justin Bieber admits getting The “Wimpy Kid” and author Lisa Leslie about the late Kobe Bryant. Rapper Snoop Dogg has apologized to Gayle back in the studio to record his Jeff Kinney are both embarking “Two wrongs don’t make no right. when you’re King for lashing out at her over an interview first album in five years wasn’t on new paths. wrong, you gotta fix it,” he said in an Instagram easy. Amulet Books announced post on Wednesday. where she asked about a sexual assault charge against late NBA star Kobe Bryant. “I was dealing with a lot of Thursday that Kinney’s latest “So with that being said, Gayle King, I publicly fear,” the singer told Zane Lowe novel is called “Rowley Jefferson’s tore you down by coming at you in a derogatory in an interview with Apple Music Awesome Friendly Adventure” manner based off of emotions of me being angry comments were among the most inflammatory released on Thursday. “Just was and comes out April 7 with an an- at a question you asked. Overreacted,” he said. “I and seen as a threat. King’s best friend, Oprah afraid of, at that point, just even nounced first printing of 3 million should have handled it way different than that, I Winfrey, said that King was “not doing well” and the process; what am I going to copies, among the highest for any was raised way better than that, so I would like getting death threats because of the interview. talk about again, is it gonna be fiction writer. Rowley Jefferson, to apologize publicly for the language that I used Soon, an avalanche of support came in for King, received. I’m starting to compare “Wimpy Kid” Greg Heffley’s best and calling you out your name and just being from the head of CBS News to former Obama ad- friend, is the book’s narrator. He disrespectful.” ministration official Susan Rice to award-winning with other artists.” will tell the story of “Roland the Snoop Dogg was furious that the “CBS This author Ta-Nehisi Coates, who in an Instagram post Bieber releases his first album Kind” and “Garg the Barbarian” Morning” anchor brought up rape allegations from chastised black men who attacked her. of new music since 2015 on Friday and their quest to vanquish the Bryant’s past in her interview with Leslie, a friend “We did not calmly express our dislike of the with “Changes,” the follow-up to evil White Warlock. of Bryant. The retired Lakers star was killed in a question. We were too weak for that. We threat- his Grammy-winning, multiplati- Kinney also plans an unusual helicopter crash last month along with his young ened. We dragged. And we attacked,” he wrote. num album “Purpose.” promotional tour this spring. daughter and seven others. “It’s wrong. We should want more. We should be Bieber has talked about endur- There is no advance itinerary, not Snoop Dogg called King crude names on Insta- better.” ing several challenges in the past even for Kinney. Every day a new gram. He also said she had better back off “before Snoop Dogg was also heavily criticized in essays few years, including dealing with destination, decided upon by his we come get you,” and posted a slew of insulting in black media, including one that accused him of depression, recovering from past photos and memes about her. hating black women. drug use and contracting Lyme publisher and various booksell- King herself was angry at CBS News for pro- Last week, Snoop Dogg responded to some of disease, which he says seriously ers, will be announced. Kinney moting a snippet of what was a wide-ranging inter- the backlash and denied threatening King, but in affected his health. will “surprise children at under- view on social media, which drew sharp reaction Wednesday’s post, he offered a full apology. He Bieber says it wasn’t until he served schools and meet his fans and accusations from some that she crossed the said in the post’s caption that a talk with his moth- performed on stage with Ariana at independent bookstores, all line. King, in her own Instagram message last er set him right. Grande last year at the Coachella without knowing where he will be week, said she could see why people might be “I didn’t mean for it to be like that. I was just Valley Music and Arts Festival heading next.” upset if they only saw a brief portion of what was expressing myself for a friend that wasn’t there to and received an ovation that he Kinney said in a statement that discussed. defend himself,” he said. got a “boost of confidence.” he’s “ thrilled for the adventure Snoop Dogg, a friend of Bryant and ardent Lak- He noted that he knows some people look up “It kind of reminded me ... this that awaits, and I’m looking for- ers fan, was hardly the only one who was angry him, so it added to his importance to apologize. is what I do, this is what I’m good ward to epic moments with my at King for her questioning — LeBron James and “Anytime you mess up, it’s OK to fix it, it’s OK to at, and I don’t need to run away fans along the way.” even Bill Cosby were among her critics — but his man up to say that you’re wrong,” he said. from it,” he said. From The Associated Press PAGE 18 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 WORLD Climate change makes its mark on Alpine skiing

Bloomberg genuine threat. Climate change is expected to cost Austrian tourism At the northern edge of the 300 million euros a year, accord- Alps, ski runs near the foot of ing to one of the country’s leading Germany’s highest mountain environmental protection organi- snake down the greenish-brown slopes in narrow white ribbons of zations. In France, authorities in artificial snow. Tignes delayed the start of the ski Like other resorts at relatively season by several weeks, citing low altitude, global warming the effects of global warming on MICHAELA HANDREK-REHLE/Bloomberg has left its mark on Garmisch- the Grande Motte glacier. Partenkirchen — the site of the “If greenhouse-gas emissions A snow-covered jump is seen last month in Olympic Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. 1936 Winter Olympics — putting continue at the same level, snow the town’s identity and affluence will almost disappear at lower it won’t have the same role as it become unavoidable to cope with regions in the central Alps, and at risk. It’s January, and there’s levels by the end of the century,” does now,” he added after a day global warming. are more attuned to welcoming so little natural snow that anxiety said Marc Olefs, head of depart- on the slopes. The higher runs “Some regions and areas will guests around the year, Steiger ment for climate research at is building whether upcoming ski were in good shape but the lower lose ski tourism by the mid of said. Vienna’s Central Institute for Me- races can go ahead. ones needed cannons spraying the century, or even earlier,” said Already, the summer gener- teorology and Geodynamics. In Garmisch and across the artificial snow to keep them pass- Steiger, who has studied the im- ates 60% of the tourism intake, At an elevation of 800 meters, Alps, tourism is a key support for able, Hilla said. pact of climate change on tour- according to Garmisch Mayor local economies. In neighboring Garmisch — known for its land- To make up for a lack of natu- ism. “Higher areas will survive, mark ski jump — has little pros- Sigrid Meierhofer. That’s a devel- Austria, it makes up just over 6% ral snowfall, resorts switch on but they will have to invest more opment seen elsewhere. In Swit- of economic output, while in the pect of maintaining its status as a in snowmaking and to cope with the cannons, although they’re zerland, summer overnight hotel mountainous region of Tyrol the winter-sports mecca. energy intensive and unpopular the additional tourist inflow.” stays were a third higher than the share is more like 18%. The ratio Among visitors, the chang- with environmentalists. Produc- Another option is snow farm- is similar for the Swiss canton of ing conditions are accepted with ing artificial snow will get hard- ing, where mounds of the pre- winter of 2018- 19. Graub thanks to resorts like St. quiet resignation. er as temperatures rise, Olefs cious white flakes are collected in At Garmisch City Hall, Meier- Moritz, Klosters and Davos. Juergen Hilla, a school teacher predicted. spring and covered with sawdust hofer is putting on a brave face, In France’s Auvergne-Rhone- from near Frankfurt, predicted The practice didn’t start be- for use later in the year. citing the town’s brisk conference Alpes region, home to Courchevel that skiing and other winter sports cause of climate change originally Areas most affected by warm- business. and Val d’Isere, tourist spending may not be viable in Garmisch in — it was meant to make ski resorts ing are on the outskirts of the “Of course, we have to come totaled $23 billion in 2018, gen- the longer term and that he and less dependent on the whims of Alps — in Austria’s east, the up with concepts to maintain the erating nearly a 10th of gross do- his wife may have to consider al- nature, according to Robert Stei- foothills in France and Italy and winter tourism that we still have,” mestic product and 171,000 jobs. ternatives for their ski vacation. ger, an assistant professor at the in Germany. They were never as she said. “You say it’s brown, I say That source of income is under “Probably in 20 or 30 years, University of Innsbruck. But it’s dependent on ski tourism as some the hiking paths are open.” Fire sale: An Iran plant makes the US flags protesters burn

Associated Press workers said. Iran continues larly been high since President to support anti-Israeli militant Donald Trump unilaterally with- KHOMEIN, Iran — Near the groups like Hamas in Gaza and drew America from Tehran’s hometown of the late Ayatollah Hezbollah in Lebanon. nuclear deal with world powers Ruhollah Khomeini, workers at Diba Parcham Khomein pro- in May 2018. a small Iranian factory diligently add all 50 stars and 13 red-and- duces 1.5 million flags a year, In the time since, regional ten- white bars to what are supposed many bearing Islamic phrases sions across the Mideast have to be U.S. flags, and carefully for religious and official occa- steadily worsened, leading to the imprint the blue Star of David on sions across the country. The fac- Jan. 3 U.S. drone strike in Iraq Israeli ones. tory also makes Iranian flags and that killed Soleimani as he was That’s even as all their work is a small number of Iraqi national leaving Baghdad’s international destined to go up in flames. flags for export. airport. The company Diba Parcham But on a recent visit by the AP, Smiling images of Soleimani Khomein serves as a major pro- the American and Israeli flags and Iran’s Supreme Leader Aya- ducer for the American and Is- stood out, each 59 inches by 39 tollah Ali Khamenei appeared on raeli flags constantly burned at inches . The factory makes as small Iranian flags in the factory, pro-government rallies in the Is- many as 6,000 American, Brit- hanging behind women working lamic Republic. Such flag-burn- ish and Israeli flags in a year, all at sewing machines on American ings are a sign of support for Iran’s EBRAHIM NOROOZI/AP destined to be passed onto retail- flags. embattled clerical rulers and a ers. Iranian political hard-liners Khanjani said burning the A worker sews a U.S. flag at the Diba Parcham Khomein factory then purchase them for around American flag offered Iranians a throwback to the iconic images of Saturday in Heshmatieh village, a suburb of Khomein, Iran. the 1979 Islamic Revolution that $2 apiece to be stomped on, torn direct way to express their anger branded the U.S. Iran’s greatest and ultimately set ablaze. at U.S. policies, including the eco- foe and the “Great Satan.” many middle-class Iranians, still The factory itself is in the “In recent years, the production nomic sanctions now choking the Another batch of flags was pre- hopes for better relations between nearby suburban village of Hesh- of the U.S. flags has been tripled,” country. pared for Tuesday’s celebrations Tehran and the U.S. matieh, where staffers first dye Khanjani said. “What eventually “Does the production of U.S. marking the 41st anniversary of “I hope there is a day that the the blue canton containing the 50 happens to my products is on its flags for burning pose any danger the Iranian revolution. The cele- flags we produce are presented white stars of the American flag end user.” to anyone? Does it hurt anyone? brations had special symbolic im- as a gift,” factory owner Abolfazl on linen before dyeing its seven Khanjani, 36, identifies himself My answer is no. It is an insult at portance amid renewed tensions Khanjani told The Associated red stripes. as supporting Iranian reform- worst,” he said. “But what about with Washington after a U.S. Press. The flags then hang to dry in ist groups that want to slowly the production of weapons, bombs drone strike in Baghdad killed That day, however, has yet to the factory. As Iran does not rec- change, and open up, the Islamic and drones for terror that have Iran’s top general, Qassem Solei- come to Khomein, a city best ognize Israel as a country, the Republic. But he acknowledged been used against our people and mani, last month. known as the birthplace of the Is- factory adds “Death to Israel,” the anger hard-liners feel toward our country’s general? Has it not Yet the factory’s owner, like lamic Republic’s founder. written in Farsi on those flags, the U.S. Tensions have particu- harmed my country?” Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 19 AMERICAN ROUNDUP Missing bald eagle found safe

ASHFORD — A bald CT eagle missing from a Connecticut raptor rehabilitation center and feared stolen was found. The Horizon Wings Raptor rehabilitation and education center announced Tuesday on Facebook that Atka, a 10-year-old male eagle that cannot fly because of a permanent shoulder injury, was found on the organization’s Ash- ford property. No additional details were disclosed. Mary-Beth Kaeser, owner and founder of the nonprofit, found the door to Atka’s aviary open and the lock on the ground when she went to feed him Monday. Atka came to the center about nine years ago and is used in its education programs. City’s last call might be a little earlier

MIAMI BEACH — The FL mayor of Miami Beach wants the last call for alcohol to be a little bit earlier for spring break. Mayor Dan Gelber wants alcohol sales to end at 2 a.m. in the South Beach entertainment district for 17 days in March. It’s 5 a.m. now across the city. The Miami Herald reported the proposal was to come before KELSEY BRUNNER, THE ASPEN (COLO.) TIMES/AP the city commission for a pre- liminary vote. It could then be finalized at a Feb. 26 commission It takes two meeting. The rollback would begin Twins Colette Abrahams, 6, left, and Emilie Abrahams, hold on to each other while waiting for instructions from coach Drew Barr during March 6 and continue for 17 days. an Aspen Gymnastics practice Tuesday at the Red Brick Gym in Colorado. Barr said this group of girls have the potential to be the next It would affect the sale of alcohol competitive team. for on-site consumption, like at bars and restaurants. cer he was a sheriff’s deputy and THE CENSUS sion returned a record dividend showed a gun. of more than $83 million in fiscal Dead birds disguised When the detective said he was The approximate weight in pounds of seized cocaine the year 2019, the Idaho Press reas cat food confiscated an officer, Mitchem fled in his Coast Guard offloaded at Naval Base San Diego. The co- ported. That’s about $6.8 million Chevy Tahoe, according to the caine, estimated to be worth $338 million, was seized in more than the previous year. complaint. Mitchem was eventu- 20K the eastern Pacific Ocean in eight operations by the crews Idaho resident’s purchases mir- CHANTILLY — A ally arrested and charged with of four cutters between mid-November and mid-January. ror a national trend, Anderson package of tiny dead VA impersonating a peace officer The Coast Guard said the campaign against drug cartels involves numerous U.S. said, with consumption of spirits birds passed off as pet food was and felon in possession of a fire- agencies as well as the Navy. increasing at the expense of beer. confiscated by Customs agents at arm, police said. But Idahoans still consume less a Virginia airport. U.S. Customs and Border Pro- liquor overall compared to na- Meteorologists: 209 mph sands of dollars in store merchan- area home , stealing a TV and a tection said the package came in tional averages. dise that he then resold on the gun from the residents, accord- to Dulles International Airport on gust likely a mistake a flight from Beijing on Jan. 27. internet. ing to records filed in Davidson Man gets trampled by Agents discovered the bag of SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Nedeltcho Vladimirov of Cross County court. deer in parking lot dead birds in the baggage of a CA — A gust of 209 mph Lanes was charged in a criminal But prosecutors said Goddard recorded atop a California peak complaint with acquiring near- left something behind that al- passenger who was on their way LOCUST — A suspect recently was likely not a new ly 3,700 stolen items that were lowed authorities to solve the case to Prince George’s County, Md. escaped from a hit and state wind record but a mistake later resold for profit, U.S. Attor- — a notebook that listed multiple NC The passenger said the package run in a North Carolina McDon- resulting from a faulty sensor, ney Mike Stuart said at a news addresses, including one for an- was cat food. The plastic packag- ald’s parking lot last month. But ing had pictures of a cat and dog. meteorologists said. conference. other home a few miles away that police aren’t looking for who’s The birds are barred from im- The wind recording was made Vladimirov, who is charged had been burglarized that same responsible. portation to prevent the spread of by an instrument at 9,186 feet with money laundering, alleg- day, The Tennessean reported. avian flu. on Kirkwood Mountain south of edly paid cash to the shoplifters Investigators were able to iden- Ken Worthy was leaving the Lake Tahoe. If accurate, it would for a fraction of the stolen items’ tify the suspect, in part, through restaurant in Locust with his wife Man posed as deputy have broken the previous wind worth. Many of the shoplifters notes his daughter left in the jour- and a Diet Coke in hand, when he record of 199 mph at Ward Moun- then would use the money to sup- nal, along with her address. saw something approaching him, to undercover cop tain west of Lake Tahoe in 2017. port their drug habits. Goddard was caught on video the victim told news outlets. But forecasters now suspect the kicking in the back door of an- What he saw coming wasn’t a ALBUQUERQUE — sensor wasn’t working properly, Officials: Thief dropped other house the next day, court car, but a frenzied deer that had NM A New Mexico man said Cory Mueller, a meteorolo- list of homes to hit records state. run startled, likely from woods is facing charges after authori- gist with the National Weather nearby, and was stopping for ties say he tried to impersonate a Service in Sacramento. nothing in its way. Security video NASHVILLE — Au- Spirits sales soar, sheriff’s deputy to an undercover taken from the store showed the thorities in Tennessee but beer buying sinks police officer. TN animal barreling toward Worthy A criminal complaint said Man accused of paying said they busted a well-organized before plowing him over him and Daniel Mitchem was arrested addicts to shoplift burglar after he allegedly dropped BOISE — Idaho resi- continuing on. following a high-speed chase in a notebook during a break-in that ID dents are buying less Albuquerque. CHARLESTON — A contained a list of other places he beer and more liquor, according Worthy and his wife were sur- According to police, Mitchem, WV West Virginia man is planned to target. to the state Liquor Division. prised, but not hurt during the in- 46, had approached an under- accused of organizing a network Robert Shull Goddard, 49, is Director Jeff Anderson told cident, he told the station. In fact, cover detective during an auto of shoplifters, many of them drug accused of smashing a glass door the legislature’s budget-writing he didn’t even spill his Diet Coke. theft operation and told the offi- addicts, to steal hundreds of thou- and breaking into a Nashville committee that the Liquor Divi- From wire reports PAGE 20 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 WORLD Riding high Annual llama race in Ecuador draws attention to wetlands

Associated Press LLANGANATES, Ecuador — The tiny rider sat — well, was tied — atop the towering steed that would carry him to victory in the annual llama races at Ecuador’s Llanganates National Park. Wellington Barrera, clad in a wool poncho, sheep-leather pants and a cowboy hat, was the only finisher in his under-3 category, bouncing 1,640 feet to victory. But two dozen children in other Above: Riders race age groups also competed in an their llamas at the annual event meant to draw atten- Llanganates National tion to the park’s high wetlands Park, Ecuador, on and the need to preserve them. Saturday. Wooly llamas The park, roughly 80 miles east become the star for of Quito, is famed for dramatic a day each year when Andean vistas, and the race took Ecuadoreans dress up place between the wetlands at al- their prized animals for titudes nearing 15,000 feet. children to ride them A llama named Rayo McQueen in 500-meter races. carried Eric Javier Chicaiza, 6, to Right: A child sits on a a win in his category. His mother, llama before racing it. Fatima Guanotuna, said the ani- Bottom right: Milena mal was a gift to the family when Jami whips her llama to the boy was born, and the two win first place in a race have always been close. for children ages 7 and Ibeth Santafe, 9, three times a 8. Bottom left: A girl winner in past races, was som- waits for the start of a ber after finishing third. But she race. came out a winner in a llama- PHOTOS BY DOLORES OCHOA/AP training contest, showing mas- tery over her beast. Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 21 PAGE 22 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 OPINION Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Sean Klimek, Europe commander Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander Trump just pretending to tackle deficit Caroline E. Miller, Europe Business Operations Joshua M. Lashbrook, Pacific Chief of Staff BY DOYLE MCMANUS Vought, the acting director of the Office clean air and clean water. He’s done none Los Angeles Times of Management and Budget, told report- of those things. ers. The promises are still there, he said. Presidents’ budgets are often little more EDITORIAL WASHINGTON They’ve just been scaled back. than a wish list that Congress politely ig- romises made, promis- , Editor They’re also still wildly unrealistic. nores. But Trump’s new budget, with that Terry Leonard es kept” has been one of [email protected] Trump’s proposed budget forecasts 2.8% mountain of magic asterisks, is wholly un- President Donald Trump’s growth this year, growing to a steady 3% tethered from reality. Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor frequent boasts in his cam- after that. Those numbers are way above [email protected] “P His 2016 campaign promises were al- paign for a second term. reputable economists’ estimates. ways unrealistic. You can’t cut taxes and Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content So it was a little awkward this week when With 3% growth, Vought said, the federal balance the budget at the same time with- [email protected] his own proposed budget acknowledged, in budget could come into balance 15 years out cutting spending so deeply that even the fine print, that several of his key prom- from now, in 2035. That’s 10 years later Republicans will blink. Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation ises haven’t been kept at all. than Trump promised, but who’s counting? [email protected] So Trump blames Democrats for failing When Trump ran in 2016, he promised His pie-in-the-sky growth number is what to embrace the Republican agenda of gut- Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital that if Congress enacted big tax cuts for budgeteers call a “magic asterisk” — a ting domestic programs. [email protected] corporations, economic growth would soar statistical device that allows a president “We have not been able to make progress to 4% or more. “I actually think we can go to claim that he’s meeting his goals even … because Democrats in Congress have higher,” he said. when he’s not. Obama and earlier presi- opposed his previous budgets,” Vought BUREAU STAFF He promised to balance the federal bud- dents used them too. said. “We hope that changes. We probably get in eight years, a longstanding Republi- Europe/Mideast But Trump’s election-year budget plan need to have a national election before it can aim that those economic growth rates uses a second magic asterisk to make the Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief does.” Translation: If Trump wins a sec- [email protected] could make possible. deficit look better. It assumes that the Fed- ond term and the GOP takes control of the +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 Neither goal is being met — not even eral Reserve will keep interest rates low House, those budget cuts will begin to look close. for the next 10 years, which will reduce the Pacific possible. Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief In 2017, a Republican Congress ap- cost of interest on the national debt. That’s proved Trump’s corporate tax cut. It gave a wish more than a forecast. Many moderate Democrats want to be [email protected] fiscally responsible, just as Republicans +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 the economy a boost, but only a tempo- And a third magic asterisk, maybe the rary one. Growth reached 2.9% in 2018 biggest: It assumes Congress will enact once were (and still might be, under a dif- Washington but slowed to 2.3% last year. It’s running all of Trump’s proposed cuts in domestic ferent president). But if a Democrat wins Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief about 2% now, according to private-sector spending, from Obamacare and Medicaid the White House, the first thing GOP lead- [email protected] economists. to environmental protection and the Cen- ers in Congress will do is demand a bal- (+1)(202)886-0033 anced budget and claim that Democrats Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News That has extended the long economic ex- ters for Disease Control and Prevention. [email protected] pansion that began under President Barack That’s not going to happen. House Dem- are responsible for the $1 trillion deficit Obama, as well as reduced unemployment ocrats have promised to resist draconian Trump bequeathed them. CIRCULATION and raised wages — all good things. But cuts in the social safety net, health and the All the Democratic presidential can- it’s far short of Trump’s initial 4% promise, environment, just as they did last year and didates say they would reverse Trump’s Mideast tax cuts. Republicans will say it’s bad for Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager and it’s done nothing to balance the federal the year before. [email protected] budget. Quite the contrary; Trump’s tax Republicans in the Senate have rejected growth and unfair to hardworking corpora- [email protected] cut ballooned the deficit by about $1 tril- many of Trump’s proposals, too, including tions. They’ll claim the only way to reduce DSN (314)583-9111 lion a year — and his new budget forecasts cuts in farm subsidies and foreign aid. the deficit is to cut domestic spending. that pace to continue. Many of his domestic spending pro- Don’t listen. Trump’s fantasy budget Europe proposal shows how cynical that argument Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager To which Trump’s budget chief said as posals represent other broken promises. [email protected] he unveiled the new budget this week: When he ran last time, Trump pledged he is. [email protected] Never mind. would not touch Medicaid. He promised to Doyle McManus is a Washington columnist for the +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 “This president is a ‘promises made, replace Obamacare with a better, cheaper Los Angeles Times and director of the journalism promises kept’ kind of president,” Russell health insurance plan. He vowed to protect program at Georgetown University. Pacific Mari Mori, [email protected] +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 CONTACT US New Hampshire brightens Dem s’ prospects Washington tel: (+1)202.886.0003 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 BY GEORGE F. WILL than seriousness. Sanders’ coming defeat the equivalent of a no-nonsense sedan, an Washington Post Writers Group might send some of his most dyspeptic agreeable contrast with the gaudy chrome- Reader letters supporters — those most like him — into and-tailfins of Trump, a human land yacht. [email protected] WASHINGTON hibernation or opposition. Pouting would Bloomberg’s demeanor is that of someone fter three failures as the be in character for true believers who are who knows how to smile but resists the Additional contacts Democratic presidential nominee stripes.com/contactus self-righteous and ideologically inebriated. inclination. There are, however, credible (1896, 1900, 1908), Nebraska’s But it would not necessarily be fatal to the reports of a dry — arid, actually — Bloom- OMBUDSMAN AWilliam Jennings Bryan, a popu- Democratic Party, which has survived de- berg witticism. Asked about a possible fall list teetotaler, told a story about a drunk fections before . campaign between two billionaires, he re- Ernie Gates who, after being hurled out of a club a third Mike Bloomberg’s 30-second ads do not plied: Who would be the second one? time, dusted himself off and said: “They resemble the Federalist Papers but neither Bloomberg has a knack for getting The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow can’t fool me. Those fellows don’t want me do they lower the intellectual tone set by under Trump’s microscopically thin skin. of news and information, reporting any attempts by the in there.” Joe Biden can sympathize. military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s the Democrats’ “debates,” and they have His needling of Trump would augment independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns He was already in his third Senate term propelled him into contention. There is, the public stock of harmless pleasure, and and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for fair- when he sought the Democrats’ 1988 nomi- however, some point at which such blast could leave Trump wallowing waist deep ness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted nation. His campaign expired before Iowa, marketing has steeply diminishing effec- in his insecurities, a sight that members by email at [email protected], or by phone at in September 1987. In 2008, his campaign tiveness. In the last five months of the 2016 of his cult need to see and everyone else 202.886.0003. collapsed the night he received 0.9% of campaign, in two hotly contested metro- would enjoy seeing. Iowa’s vote. He has never won anywhere politan areas in swing states, Las Vegas Among Democratic activists, a nascent outside Delaware , which has not elected saw 20,471 presidential campaign ads and Anybody But Bloomberg faction is decry- Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday a Republican as congressman since 2008, Columbus, Ohio, saw 15,658. Such media ing New York’s “stop and frisk” anti-hand- through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and as senator since 1994, or as governor since blitzkriegs become like wallpaper — there gun police measures during his mayoralty, Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals 1988. but not noticed. measures often applied to young minority postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, In New Hampshire, Elizabeth Warren Whether Bloomberg’s campaign suc- males. This policy probably was more la- APO AP 96301-5002. finished fourth and closer to last than to ceeds or fails, the republic will benefit. If mented by white liberals living in buildings This newspaper is authorized by the Department of third. This effectively ended one of the two nominated, he might go on to fumigate the with doormen than by minorities living in Defense for members of the military services overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, candidacies that could have guaranteed Oval Office, and the political scolds who danger. Nevertheless, a party whose most and are not to be considered as the official views of, or Donald Trump’s reelection. The other, lament “too much money in politics” will fervid members consider “billionaire” an endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspaper, that of Bernie Sanders, probably reached Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official chan- be ecstatic about what his spending accom- unanswerable epithet might flinch from nels and use appropriated funds for distribution to remote its apogee Tuesday because the success plished. If, however, his “overwhelming” nominating one of those who was last elect- locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. of Amy Klobuchar, who finished third but spending does not overwhelm, this will ed to office as a Republican. The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense much closer to first than to fourth, demon- refute the scolds’ unempirical assertions So, a Bloomberg-Klobuchar ticket is less or Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. strated Democrats’ realism about how to about the irresistible power of money- feasible, and probably would be less potent Products or services advertised shall be made available for defeat Trump at a time when 70% of voters bought advertising. In 1957, Ford Motor Co. than, say, a Klobuchar-Deval Patrick (the purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical self-identify as moderate or conservative. put its enormous marketing power behind African American former two-term gov- handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor Today’s nomination process has myriad a new product, but the Edsel’s unhappy life ernor of Massachusetts) ticket. So, after of the purchaser, user or patron. defects but one manifest virtue: It provides lasted just 26 months. Tuesday, it is somewhat less likely that © Stars and Stripes 2020 ample time and small early venues for as- In politics, too, the product itself mat- the Trump-Mike Pence ticket will repeat pirants who, like Klobuchar, start with ters more than the marketing of it. Bloom- its Midwest victories or add Minnesota to stripes.com more pluck than money, and less notoriety berg’s incurable anti-charisma makes him them. Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 23 OPINION

ever, doesn’t go into effect until it includes What newspapers enough states to constitute a majority of 270 electoral votes. So far it has been endorsed by states representing 196 electoral votes. are saying at home Enforcement of the compact would mean, effectively, that the winner of the popular The following editorial excerpts are se- vote would become president. That would lected from a cross section of newspapers of course be preferable to the current sys- throughout the United States. The editori- tem, but its prospects are also uncertain . als are provided by The Associated Press It’s up to the American people to make it and other stateside syndicates. clear to their elected representatives that the Electoral College is an undemocratic Sanders benefits from anachronism. splintered Democratic vote The Wall Street Journal NFL happy to run with its The good news for democracy Tuesday false social justice narrative was that in New Hampshire they know how The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post to count votes. That’s especially good news Amid the gaudy spectacle and com- for Bernie Sanders, who was denied his mercial blitz of this month’s Super Bowl, a election night TV time in Iowa last week somber advertisement appeared that fea- but not this time as he narrowly won the tured, to our surprise, a Palm Beach Coun- Granite State. Whether that’s good news ty story, a story that, unfortunately, could for the Democratic Party is another story. have taken place anywhere in the U.S. The socialist from next-door Vermont It was the story of Corey Jones, the repeated his triumph from 2016, albeit 31-year-old black man whose car broke with a smaller (26%) share in a much larg- come operative. vote on a winner-take-all basis. Maine and down at an intersection of Interstate 95 er field. The result showed the loyalty of Nor is he the first to engage in rosy fore- Nebraska allocate some electoral votes to in the lonely after-midnight hours of Oct. Sanders’ millennial and left-wing support- casting — but in this case, the exaggeration candidates who finish first in congressio- 18, 2015, and who was shot to death by ers . In poll after poll, in state after state, is especially flagrant. Trump misleadingly nal districts.) an undercover officer of the Palm Beach Sanders has retained that plurality base of projects a future of declining federal defi- But in 2016, as in previous elections, Gardens Police Department who did not more than 20%. cits in part by claiming economic growth some electors decided to support people identify himself. Jones, as it happens, had The New Hampshire win after his near- exceeding consensus forecasts. The Trump other than the candidate who carried the a cousin, Anquan Boldin, a Pahokee native tie in Iowa gives him considerable momen- budget beats the Congressional Budget Of- popular vote in their states. The two cases who became a star wide receiver in the tum going into Nevada, then onto South fice’s projection for the annual growth rate the court will review — one from Washing- National Football League. And now that Carolina and the Super Tuesday states on a decade hence by more than a percent- ton state, the other from Colorado — raise retired player, impelled by the injustice March 3. He is already leading in Califor- age point, enabling him to claim an extra the question of whether states can penalize of Jones’ death, is heading an effort by the nia, the March 3 state with the biggest del- $4.5 trillion in 10-year deficit reduction, or remove such “faithless electors.” The NFL called “Inspire Change.” egate count. That plurality if it holds will according to the Committee for a Respon- court should answer yes. “Inspire Change” is an initiative that lets keep him above the 15% threshold needed sible Federal Budget. Also not forthright is In the Washington state case, three elec- current and former players receive grants to rack up delegates all the way to the Mil- the underlying assumption of the budget, tors voted not for Hillary Clinton, who for their causes as decided by a commit- waukee convention. In a splintered field , which is that the country’s structural fiscal carried the state, but former Secretary of tee of players and team owners. The league Sanders has staying power even if most deficits can be addressed almost entirely State Colin Powell, who wasn’t even on the says it began dispersing money for fighting Democratic voters prefer someone else. through cuts to nondefense discretionary ballot. They were fined $1,000 each for vio- social injustice in April 2018. Donald Trump took similar pluralities all spending . In fact, additional revenue, too, lating a state law binding electors to vote But the NFL did not tell the whole story the way to the Republican nomination and is necessary, yet Trump’s budget adds $1.5 for the popular-vote winner. The Supreme in that commercial. For, while the game the White House in 2016. trillion to the next 10 years’ debt by assum- Court of Washington upheld both the law was underway between the Kansas City The other winners Tuesday night were ing that the individual income tax cut he and the fines. In Colorado, where Clinton Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, and the Midwesterners Pete Buttigieg (about 24%) and a GOP Congress enacted in December also won the popular vote, Micheal Baca league was basking in its cultural and and, in a mild surprise, Minnesota Sen. 2017 will be extended beyond their sched- was removed as an elector after he tried corporate dominance, the 49ers’ former Amy Klobuchar at 20%. She won a major uled December 2025 sunset. to vote for then-Gov. John Kasich, of Ohio, quarterback Colin Kaepernick remained chunk of late-deciding voters. Inevitably, perhaps, this much dishon- who had lost to Donald Trump in the Re- blackballed after leading the protests that Klobuchar may also have benefited from esty leads to what can only be called cruel publican primary. Baca appealed to the pushed the NFL into the controversies and the campaign implosion of Joe Biden, as inequities. Upper-income tax cuts are pre- U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ultimate compromises that produced such she picked up his theme of electability and served, so Supplemental Nutrition Assis- ruled in his favor, holding that “the Con- a thing as “Inspire Change.” a “return to normalcy” after the Trump tance Program benefits must be denied to stitution provides no express role for the Or, as writer Samer Kalaf put it in an presidency. Her challenge now will be to those who cannot meet tightened work re- states after appointment of its presidential essay for The Washington Post: “ ‘Inspire raise enough money to organize and com- quirements, and redefined to include boxes electors.” The court also said that the defi- Change’ is a shameless strategy for Com- pete as the race expands . She has always of preselected foods rather than spendable nitions of the words “elector,” “vote” and missioner Roger Goodell and the league’s struck us as a candidate with the gravitas funds . The last vestiges of federal cash “ballot” — all occurring in the Constitu- owners to pretend that they not only sup- and message to give Trump a strong race anti-poverty benefits, the Temporary As- tion — imply “the right to make a choice or ported the movement to bring attention to in swing states. sistance for Needy Families block grant , voice an individual opinion.” police violence and systematic oppression Buttigieg capitalized on his apparent would get cumulative cuts totaling $15.2 This is a close question, but the court all along, but that they were really the pro- Iowa victory and showed he can attract billion by 2030. should uphold the laws against faithless genitors of the whole idea.” voters who think Sanders is too far left to This country badly needs an honest de- electors, for two reasons. It was Kaepernick, remember, who beat Trump. The former South Bend, Ind., bate about equitable tax and spending re- First, the overriding goal of the framers started it all by refusing to stand for the na- mayor has enough money to compete in forms. What we are getting instead from of the Constitution was to give states au- tional anthem during the 2016 preseason . the next states, but he will need to show he the administration is this budget, which thority over the selection of electors. While What was a public-relations headache can appeal to minority voters in addition to serves but one useful purpose: to record it’s true that early in American history, for the NFL became a full-blown crisis the white gentry liberals who like his bi- the warped priorities upon which Trump electors were chosen by state legislatures, when President Donald Trump began ography and his ability to speak in Barack is willing to campaign for a second term. states long ago decided that the better ap- tweeting about it in September 2017, twist- Obama-style aspirational tones . proach was to award electoral votes on the ing the protest against police brutality into Overall the results show an unsettled Closer to ensuring candidate basis of the popular vote . Second, ensuring an attack on patriotism and the U.S. armed race, with Democrats still looking for the that voters have the final say in the selec- forces . The controversy soon consumed candidate they hope can beat Trump. For- with most overall votes wins tion of electors is consistent with a trend to- the whole country. As more players joined mer New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg Los Angeles Times ward participatory democracy that is also the protests, voices threatened NFL boy- joins the fray on Super Tuesday with the The Supreme Court has agreed to hear reflected in changes in the Constitution, cotts. Owners got nervous. biggest checkbook in the history of politics. two cases involving the Electoral College, especially the 17th Amendment ratified in In one response, owners started working But as long as the field contains multiple the antiquated system that twice in recent 1913, which took the choice of U.S. senators with a group called the Players Coalition, candidates, Sanders’ socialist plurality has history has installed the loser of the popu- away from state legislatures and provided co-founded by Boldin, to financially sup- the advantage. lar vote for president in the White House for popular election for the Senate. port causes important to players. Kaepe- and could have that perverse result again Of course, the ultimate culmination of rnick broke ranks with them , seeing the Trump’s proposed budget is in 2020. Alas, it’s beyond the power of the that democratizing trend would be a consti- NFL’s offer as hush money. court to do away with the electoral vote tutional amendment to abolish the Elector- Kaepernick stopped playing for the self-serving and dishonest system, but the justices can prevent it from al College and provide for popular election 49ers after the 2017 season . There’s little The Washington Post becoming even less democratic. of the president. But even if approved by a doubt that the NFL has shunned the player, President Donald Trump’s proposed Although U.S. citizens cast ballots for two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, his politics too unsettling for the business budget for fiscal year 2021, which begins president on Election Day in November, such an amendment would require ratifi- of pro football; the league even settled a in October, is a dishonest exercise. In some they are actually choosing people to serve cation by three-fourths of the states. collusion lawsuit with him. respects, that’s not unusual. Trump is as electors — usually party loyalists — who Because amending the Constitution is It takes a special kind of hypocrisy to hardly the first president to obey his legal convene in state capitals in December to such a daunting proposition, reformers celebrate the activism of players who are requirement to present a spending plan formally choose a chief executive. Laws have proposed an alternative called the concerned about the mistreatment of mi- to Congress by sending one that has no in 29 states and the District of Columbia National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. norities by police departments while at the chance of passing. In fact, Trump signed bind those electors to reflect their citizens’ Under that arrangement, participating same time exiling and erasing the player legislation — a two-year budget agreement votes. (In 48 states, all of the electoral votes states pledge to award all their electoral who was brave enough or foolhardy enough last August — that would have to be re- go to the winner of the statewide popular votes to the candidate who wins the na- to use his celebrity to make a public issue pealed if this budget proposal were to be- vote, and D.C. also allocates its electoral tional popular vote. The compact, how- of it in the first place. PAGE 24 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 25 SCOREBOARD

Sports College basketball Pro football Auto racing Wednesday’s men’s scores Sam Houston St. 79, SE Louisiana 70 XFL Monster Energy NASCAR Cup on AFN South Carolina 75, Georgia 59 EAST Southern Wesleyan 98, Lees-Mcrae 92 East Division schedule Albertus Magnus 105, Lasell 97 Temple 72, Tulane 68 W L Pct PF PA Albright 74, Widener 71 Tusculum 80, Mars Hill 66 DC 1 0 1.000 31 19 Feb. 13 — x-Bluegreen Vacations Duel Alfred St. 74, D’Youville 67 UAB 83, Middle Tennessee 72 New York 1 0 1.000 23 3 1 At Daytona, Daytona Beach, Fla. American 81, Loyola (Md.) 76 UNC-Greensboro 82, W. Carolina 62 Feb. 13 — x-Bluegreen Vacations Duel Go to the American Forces St. Louis 1 0 1.000 15 9 2 At Daytona, Daytona Beach, Fla. Anna Maria 79, Bowdoin 74 UNC-Pembroke 81, Lander 66 Tampa Bay 0 1 .000 3 23 Network website for the most Army 65, Lafayette 48 Va. Wesleyan 69, Hampden-Sydney 65 Feb. 16 — Daytona 500, Daytona Beach, Baruch 86, Brooklyn 73 Washington & Lee 71, Roanoke 50 West Division Fla. up-to-date TV schedules. Bloomsburg 82, Mansfield 55 MIDWEST W L Pct PF PA Feb. 23 — Pennzoil 400 presented by Cabrini 94, Marywood 84 Adrian 69, Hope 65 Houston 1 0 1.000 37 17 Jiffy Lube, Las Vegas, Nev. myafn.net Cairn 82, Bryn Athyn 64 Albion 96, Kalamazoo 70 Dallas 0 1 .000 9 15 March 1 — Auto Club 400, Fontana, Centenary (NJ) 86, Keystone 84 Alma 96, Olivet 88 Los Angeles 0 1 .000 17 37 Calif. Charleston (WV) 94, Davis & Elkins 88 Aurora 87, Lakeland 80 Seattle 0 1 .000 19 31 March 8 — Fanshield 500, Avondale, Chatham 68, Thiel 67 Blackburn 88, MacMurray 65 Saturday’s games Ariz. Deals Clarion 79, Edinboro 70 Bluffton 55, Manchester 42 DC 31, Seattle 19 March 15 — Folds of Honor QuikTrip Clemson 72, Pittsburgh 52 Bradley 72, Indiana St. 61 Houston 37, Los Angeles 17 500, Hampton, Ga. Coast Guard 108, MIT 93 Butler 66, Xavier 61 Sunday’s games March 22 — Dixie Vodka 400, Home- Concord 101, Wheeling Jesuit 75 Calvin 78, Trine 71 New York 23, Tampa Bay 3 stead, Fla. Wednesday’s transactions Creighton 87, Seton Hall 82 Capital 76, Heidelberg 73, OT St. Louis 15, Dallas 9 March 29 — O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, Fort Worth, Texas BASEBALL Dominican (NY) 65, Post (Conn.) 54 Carroll (Wis.) 74, Wheaton (Ill.) 61 Saturday, Feb. 15 East Stroudsburg 92, Kutztown 90, 2OT Carthage 89, North Park 77 April 5 — Food City 500, Bristol, Tenn. American League New York at DC — Toyota Owners 400, Rich- Eastern 70, FDU-Florham 54 Chicago 73, Evansville 66 Tampa Bay at Seattle April 19 BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Named Nick Elms 115, Lesley 78 Concordia (Neb.) 85, Caldwell 73 mond, Va. White minor league strength and con- Emerson 103, Clark 70 Concordia (Wis.) 102, Wis. Lutheran 94 Sunday, Feb. 16 April 26 — GEICO 500, Talladega, Ala. ditioning coordinator, Ethan Stewart Fairmont St. 81, Notre Dame (Ohio) 76 Defiance 75, Earlham 74 Dallas at Los Angeles May 3 — NASCAR Cup Series Race at player performance facilitator, Anaima Felician 76, Bloomfield 70 Dominican 77, Marian 60 St. Louis at Houston Dover, Dover, Del. Garcia education coordinator, Trey Wied- Fisher 78, Pine Manor 54 Eureka 98, Fontbonne 83 May 9 — NASCAR Cup Series Race at man strength and conditioning coach of Framingham St. 67, Mass. College 64 Franklin 73, Rose Hulman 71 NFL calendar Martinsville, Martinsville, Va. Norfolk (IL), Jonathan Medici strength Franklin & Marshall 64, Dickinson 53 Greenville 136, Iowa Wesleyan 119 May 16 — x-NASCAR Open, Concord, and conditioning coach of Bowie (EL), Franklin Pierce 85, Stonehill 79 Grinnell 124, Illinois College 95 Feb. 24-March 2 — NFL scouting com- N.C. Liz Pardo strength and conditioning Frostburg St. 63, Urbana 62 Hanover 73, Anderson (Ind.) 46 bine, Indianapolis. May 16 — x-NASCAR All-Star Race, coach of Aberdeen (NYP), Brandon Far- Gallaudet 67, Penn St.-Harrisburg 62 Hiram 95, Kenyon 92, 2OT Feb. 25 — First day for clubs to desig- Concord, N.C. ish strength and conditioning coach of Gettysburg 75, McDaniel 73 Illinois Tech 66, Edgewood 56 nate franchise or transition players. May 24 — Coca-Cola 600, Concord, the GCL Orioles and Julio Diaz and An- Goldey-Beacom 67, Holy Family 58 Illinois Wesleyan 85, Elmhurst 73 March 10 — Deadline for clubs to des- N.C. dres Tarazona strength and conditioning Goucher 79, Elizabethtown 67 John Carroll 101, Baldwin Wallace 82 ignate franchise or transition players be- May 31 — Kansas 400, Kansas City, coaches of the DSL Orioles. Grove City 78, Penn St.-Altoona 68 Knox 90, Monmouth (Ill.) 65 fore 4 p.m. EDT Kan. DETROIT TIGERS — Placed RHP Mi- Hartford 66, Albany (NY) 60 Lake Forest 108, Lawrence 76 June 7 — FireKeepers Casino 400, chael Fulmer on the 60-day IL. Agreed Hilbert 106, Pitt.-Bradford 62 Michigan 79, Northwestern 54 Brooklyn, Mich. to terms with OF Cameron Maybin on a Hood 79, Lebanon Valley 70 Milwaukee Engineering 65, Benedic- June 14 — Toyota/Save Mart 350, So- Hunter 76, Staten Island 75 tine (Ill.) 64, OT noma, Calif. one-year contract. Immaculata 90, Neumann 65 Tennis June 21 — Chicagoland 400, Joliet, Ill. Agreed to Missouri St. 97, Drake 62 KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Indiana (Pa.) 79, California (Pa.) 70 Missouri Western 95, Pittsburg St. 79 June 27 — Kids Free 325, Long Pond, terms with OF Nick Heath; LHPs Richard Jefferson 78, Wilmington (DC) 62 Mount St. Joseph 75, Transylvania 67 Pa. Lovelady and Gabe Speier; Cs Cam Gal- John Jay 60, Medgar Evers 57 Mount Union 81, Marietta 67 New York Open June 28 — Worry-Free Weather Guar- lagher and Meibrys Viloria; INFs Kelvin Juniata 67, Catholic 51 N. Iowa 71, Illinois St. 63 antee 350, Long Pond, Pa. Gutierrez, Jeison Guzman, Nicky Lopez Kansas 58, West Virginia 49 North Central 70, Augustana (Ill.) 55 Wednesday July 5 — Big Machine Vodka 400 at the and Ryan McBroom;and RHPs Scott Bar- Kings (Pa.) 77, Delaware Valley 70, OT Oberlin 74, Allegheny 64 At NYBC Live Brickyard Powered By Florida Georgia low, Brad Keller, Kevin McCarthy, Jake La Roche 82, Franciscan 75 Ohio St. 72, Rutgers 66 New York Line, Speedway, Ind. Newberry and Stephen Woods Jr. on one- Lancaster Bible 71, Penn College 52 Oral Roberts 81, Omaha 78, OT Purse: $719,320 July 11 — Quaker State 400 Presented year contracts. Lehigh 89, Holy Cross 82 Otterbein 83, Ohio Northern 66 Surface: Hardcourt indoor by Walmart, Sparta, Ky. NEW YORK YANKEES — Agreed to Lincoln Memorial 94, Virginia-Wise 76 Ripon 83, Cornell (Iowa) 62 Men’s Singles July 19 — Foxwoods Resort Casino 301, terms with RHP Tony Zych on a minor Lycoming 67, ALVR 63 Rockford 100, Concordia (Ill.) 95, OT Round of 16 Loudon, N.H. league contract. Marymount 81, Gwynedd-Mercy 75 South Dakota 85, W. Illinois 72 Miomir Kecmanovic (6), Serbia, def. Aug. 9 — Consumers Energy 400, SEATTLE MARINERS — Agreed to Mass.-Boston 69, Castleton 43 St. Norbert 66, Beloit 43 Paolo Lorenzi, Italy, 6-3, 6-3. Brooklyn, Mich. terms with RHP Taijuan Walker on a one- Mass.-Dartmouth 77, Keene St. 66 St. Thomas (Minn.) 65, Bethel (Minn. ) 60 Andreas Seppi, Italy, def. Steve John- Aug. 16 — Go Bowling at The Glen, year contract. Placed RHP Austin Adams Mass.-Lowell 71, Maine 63 Valparaiso 55, S. Illinois 38 son, United States, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Watkins Glen, N.Y. on the 60-day IL. Mercyhurst 56, Gannon 51 Wabash 71, DePauw 64 Kwon Soon Woo, South Korea, def. Aug. 23 — Drydene 400, Dover, Del. TAMPA BAY RAYS — Agreed to terms Messiah 82, Stevenson 76 Wilmington (Ohio) 79, Muskingum 74 Milos Raonic (2), Canada, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), Aug. 29 — Coke Zero Sugar 400, Day- with LHP Aaron Loup on a minor league Mitchell 95, Dean 74 Wis.-Eau Claire 70, Wis.-River Falls 66 6-4. tona Beach, Fla. contract. Montclair St. 77, Rutgers-Newark 73 Wis.-La Crosse 94, Wis.-Stout 62 Ugo Humbert (4), France, def. Marcos Sept. 6 — Southern 500, Darlington, Moravian 68, Scranton 66 Wis.-Oshkosh 66, Wis.-Stevens Pt. 59 Giron, United States, 6-1, 6-0. S.C. National League Morrisville St. 72, Cobleskill 46 — Federated Auto Parts 400, Agreed to terms Wis.-Platteville 70, Wis.-Whitewater 68 Men’s Doubles Sept. 12 ATLANTA BRAVES — Muhlenberg 71, Haverford 50 Wittenberg 77, Ohio Wesleyan 61 Richmond, Va. with RHP Josh Tomlin on a minor league NYIT 68, Dist. of Columbia 64 Round of 16 — Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Wooster 93, Denison 72 Jonny O Mara, Britain, and Marcelo Sept. 19 contract. Navy 60, Bucknell 59 SOUTHWEST Race, Bristol, Tenn. CINCINNATI REDS — Agreed to terms New England Coll. 80, Becker 67 Abilene Christian 81, Houston Baptist 67 Arevalo-Gonzalez, El Salvador, def. Sept. 27 — South Point 400, Las Vegas, with INF/OF Derek Dietrich on a minor Niagara 69, Canisius 66 Cent. Arkansas 73, New Orleans 68 Philipp Oswald, Austria, and Marcus Nev. league contract. Penn St. Behrend 81, Medaille 74 Florida 78, Texas A&M 61 Daniell (3), New Zealand, 6-3, 4-6, 10-8. Oct. 4 — Alabama 500, Talladega, Ala. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Assigned Penn St.-Abington 94, Penn St.-Berks 51 Oklahoma 90, Iowa St. 61 Frederik Nielsen, Denmark, and Ro- Oct. 11 — Bank of America ROVAL 400, RHP JD Hammer outright to Lehigh Val- Pitt.-Greensburg 60, Mount Aloysius 54 SMU 79, UConn 75 man Jebavy, Czech Republic, def. San- Concord, N.C. ley (IL). Queens (NY) 87, Molloy 75 Stephen F. Austin 75, Texas A&M-CC 67 tiago Gonzalez, Mexico, and Ken Skupski Oct. 18 — Hollywood Casino 400, Kan- ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Placed RHP Ramapo 74, Rutgers-Camden 54 Tulsa 70, East Carolina 56 (2), Britain, 6-4, 6-4. sas City, Kan. Jordan Hicks on the 60-day IL. Agreed to Rhode Island Coll. 77, E. Connecticut 66 FAR WEST Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan, and Oct. 25 — Texas 500, Fort Worth, Tex- terms with INF Brad Miller on a one-year Richmond 74, La Salle 47 Concordia (Cal.) 84, Hawaii Pacific 68 Dominic Inglot, Britain, def. John Isner as contract. Rivier 91, Colby Sawyer 87 Fresno St. 84, San Jose St. 78, OT and Tommy Paul, United States, 6-4, 7-6 Nov. 1 — NASCAR Cup Series Race at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Agreed to Rosemont 95, Baptist Bible (Pa.) 59 Nevada 82, UNLV 79, OT (3). Martinsville, Martinsville, Va. terms with INF Wilmer Flores on a two- Rowan 101, William Paterson 61 UC Irvine 63, UC Riverside 59 Nikola Cacic, Serbia, and Hugo Nys, Nov. 8 — NASCAR Cup Series Champi- year contract. Signed RHP Trevor Cahill S. Maine 68, Plymouth St. 62 Monaco, def. Ante Pavic, Croatia, and onship, Avondale, Ariz. to a minor league contract. SUNY Delhi 98, BNSR 75 Miomir Kecmanovic, Serbia, 5-7, 7-5, 10- x-non-points race SUNY-IT 115, KC 110, 4OT AP Men’s Top 25 schedule 6. WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Agreed Salem International 72, Seton Hill 61 to terms with RHPs Dakota Bacus, Bryan Sciences (Pa.) 78, Georgian Court 74 Friday’s games Quarterfinals Bonnell, Paolo Espino, Javy Guerra, Da- Shepherd 83, West Chester 78 No games scheduled Steve Johnson and Reilly Opelka, Unit- Pro baseball vid Hernandez, Kevin Quackenbush and Shippensburg 87, Millersville 66 Saturday’s games ed States, def. Artem Sitak, New Zealand, Derek Self; LHPs Fernando Abad and Slippery Rock 78, Pitt.-Johnstown 75 No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 14 West Virginia and Divij Sharan, India, 6-3, 6-4. Sam Freeman; C Welington Castillo; INFs Springfield 100, Wheaton 76 No. 2 Gonzaga at Pepperdine Brandon Snyder, Drew Ward and Jacob St. John’s 80, Providence 69 No. 3 Kansas vs. Oklahoma Spring Training schedule Wilson; and OFs Emilio Bonifacio, JB St. Joseph (Conn.) 91, Regis 73 No. 5 Louisville at Clemson St. Petersburg Open No. 6 Dayton at UMass Thursday Friday, Feb. 21 Schuck and Mac Williamson on minor St. Joseph’s (Maine) 90, Emmanuel 81 No. 7 Duke vs. Notre Dame UConn vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla. league contracts. St. Rose 77, New Haven 73 At Sport Club Dinamo Southeastern U. vs. Detroit at Lake- St. Vincent 80, Bethany (WV) 69 No. 8 Florida State vs. Syracuse BASKETBALL No. 9 Maryland at Michigan State St. Petersburg, Russia land, Fla. National Basketball Association Stevens Tech 76, DeSales 64 Purse: $782,900 Texas vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz. Stockton 78, Kean 61 No. 10 Seton Hall at Providence ATLANTA HAWKS — Signed G Brandon No. 11 Auburn at Missouri Surface: Hardcourt indoor U. of Minnesota vs. Minnesota at Fort Goodwin to a multi-year contract. Stony Brook 75, Binghamton 70 Women’s Singles Suffolk 82, Norwich 53 No. 12 Kentucky vs. Mississippi Myers, Fla. Women’s NBA No. 13 Penn State vs. Northwestern Round of 16 Saturday, Feb. 22 DALLAS WINGS — Traded G Skylar Dig- Susquehanna 79, Drew 54 Maria Sakkari (6), Greece, def. Alize Swarthmore 83, Johns Hopkins 69 No. 16 Colorado at Oregon State Tampa Bay vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla. gins-Smith to Phoenix for the No. 5 and No. 19 Butler vs. Georgetown Cornet, France, 6-2, 6-4. Toronto vs. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa, Fla. TCNJ 86, College of NJ 66 Petra Kvitova (3), Czech Republic, def. No. 7 2020 draft picks and a 2021 first- Ursinus 80, Washington (Md.) 66 No. 20 Houston at SMU N.Y. Mets (ss) vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla. round draft pick, and traded the 2021 Vermont 74, New Hampshire 50 No. 22 Illinois at Rutgers Alison van Uytvanck, Belgium, 7-6 (1), 1- Baltimore vs. Atlanta at North Port, Fla. first-round pick to Chicago for C Astou Villanova 72, Marquette 71 No. 23 Creighton vs. DePaul 6, 6-2. Minnesota vs. Pittsburgh at Braden- Ndour. Washington & Jefferson 71, Waynes- No. 24 Texas Tech at Oklahoma State Ekaterina Alexandrova, Russia, def. ton, Fla. FOOTBALL burg 65 No. 25 LSU at Alabama Donna Vekic (7), Croatia, 6-1, 7-5. Philadelphia vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla. National Football League Wells 71, Cazenovia 65 Kiki Bertens (2), Netherlands, def. Ve- Miami vs. N.Y. Mets (ss) at Port St. Lu- NFL — Reinstated Cleveland DE Myles West Liberty 111, Glenville St. 80 Wednesday’s women’s scores ronika Kudermetova, Russia, 6-1, 6-2. cie, Fla. Garrett from indefinite suspension. Westfield St. 99, Bridgewater (Mass.) 71 Women’s Doubles L.A. Dodgers vs. San Francisco at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Named Westminster (Pa.) 79, Geneva 71 EAST Quarterfinals Scottsdale, Ariz. Ben McAdoo quarterbacks coach. Wilkes 79, Misericordia 63 Albany (NY) 63, Hartford 40 Alexa Guarachi Mathison, Chile, and Milwaukee vs. Texas at Surprise, Ariz. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Signed DL Worcester St. 85, Salem St. 76 Boston U. 60, Colgate 58 Kaitlyn Christian (3), United States, def. Oakland vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz. Ethan Westbrooks to a one-year con- Worcester Tech 75, Babson 56 Bucknell 75, Navy 65 Katarina Srebotnik, Slovenia, and Alla L.A. Angels (ss) vs. Chicago White Sox tract. York (NY) 74, City Colllege (NY) 66 Dayton 52, UMass 51 Kudryavtseva, Russia, 6-3, 7-5. at Glendale, Ariz. SOUTH Holy Cross 65, Lehigh 62 Cincinnati vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, HOCKEY Caroline Garcia, France, and Johanna Ariz. National Hockey League Anderson (SC) 91, Wingate 85 La Salle 61, George Washington 54 Konta, Britain, def. Renata Voracova, Auburn 95, Alabama 91, OT Lafayette 67, Army 58 Seattle vs. San Diego at Peoria, Ariz. NHL — Fined Minnesota D Matt Dumba Czech Republic, and Cornelia Lister, Swe- Kansas City vs. L.A. Angels (ss) at Augusta 87, Francis Marion 67 Loyola (Md.) 56, American U. 47 den, 6-2, 6-2. $5,000 for slashing. Maine 77, Mass.-Lowell 53 Tempe, Ariz. LOS ANGELES KINGS — Assigned F Carl Averett 71, Greensboro 65 Sharon Fichman, Canada, and Hayley Bridgewater (Va.) 85, Randolph 80 Rhode Island 72, Saint Louis 63 Arizona vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz. Grundstrom to Ontario (AHL). Recalled F Stony Brook 58, Binghamton 54 Carter (4), United States, def. Monique Washington vs. Houston at West Palm Carson-Newman 70, Lenoir-Rhyne 69 Adamczak, Australia, and Yana Sizikova, Martin Frk from Ontario. Catawba 90, Coker 76 Vermont 44, New Hampshire 42 Beach, Fla. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING — Recalled F Central St. (Ohio) 93, Bluefield St. 86 SOUTH Russia, 6-3, 6-3. Sunday, Feb. 23 Alexander Volkov from Syracuse (AHL). Chattanooga 86, VMI 67 New Orleans 85, Cent. Arkansas 73 Houston vs. Washington (ss) at West WINNIPEG JETS — Signed coach Paul Clayton St. 81, Georgia Southwestern 80 Richmond 67, Duquesne 64, OT ABN AMRO World Tournament Palm Beach, Fla. Maurice to a multi-year contract exten- Covenant 80, Piedmont 71 MIDWEST Washington (ss) vs. Miami at Jupiter, Fla. sion. ETSU 91, The Citadel 67 Ball St. 60, Toledo 58 Thursday Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia at Clear- SOCCER Eckerd 90, Florida Tech 78 Cincinnati 78, Tulsa 53 At Ahoy Rotterdam water, Fla. Major League Soccer Embry-Riddle 77, Tampa 62 E. Michigan 70, Bowling Green 58 Rotterdam, Netherlands N.Y. Yankees vs. Tampa Bay at Port ATLANTA UNITED — Signed W Manuel Emmanuel 101, King (Tenn.) 87 Kent St. 60, Akron 55 Purse: Euro2,013,855 Charlotte, Fla. Castro on loan from Club Estudiantes Ferrum 98, Emory & Henry 74 Memphis 69, Wichita St. 60 Surface: Hardcourt indoor Detroit (ss) vs. Atlanta at North Port, Fla. (Primera Division de Argentina) through Florida Southern 77, Rollins 72 N. Illinois 86, Miami (Ohio) 84, OT Men’s Singles Detroit (ss) vs. Pittsburgh at Braden- the end of June. Furman 86, Samford 71 W. Michigan 74, Buffalo 62 Round of 16 ton, Fla. MINNESOTA UNITED — Loaned G Dayne George Mason 72, VCU 67 SOUTHWEST Jannik Sinner, Italy, def. David Goffin Toronto vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla. St. Clair to San Antonio (USL Champion- Georgia College 72, Young Harris 65, OT Abilene Christian 71, Houston Baptist 54 (4), Belgium, 7-6 (7), 7-5. Boston vs. Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla. ship) for the 2020 season. Signed F Aaron Georgia Tech 64, Louisville 58 Baylor 81, TCU 62 Andrey Rublev (7), Russia, def. Alexan- St. Louis vs. N.Y. Mets at Port St. Lu- Schoenfeld from Maccabi Tel Aviv (Pre- Guilford 75, Lynchburg 60 Incarnate Word 76, Northwestern St. 39 der Bublik, Kazakhstan, 7-5, 6-3. cie, Fla. Houston 62, South Florida 58 Iowa St. 69, Texas 51 Chicago Cubs vs. L.A. Dodgers at Glen- mier League-Israel). Aljaz Bedene, Slovenia, def. Stefanos dale, Ariz. Maryville (Tenn.) 80, Berea 73 Nicholls 62, Lamar 60 Tsitsipas (2), Greece, 7-5, 6-4. COLLEGE Mercer 70, Wofford 68 Sam Houston St. 81, SE Louisiana 75 San Francisco vs. Oakland (ss) at IOWA — Agreed to terms with wres- Methodist 88, NC Wesleyan 81 Stephen F. Austin 72, Texas A&M-CC 49 Men’s Doubles Mesa, Ariz. tling coach Tom Brands on a contract ex- Miami 85, Boston College 58 Texas Tech 89, Kansas 72 Quarterfinals Chicago White Sox vs. Cincinnati at tension through the 2026 season. Miles 65, Savannah St. 56 UCF 67, Houston 49 Oliver Marach, Austria, and Raven Goodyear, Ariz. MICHIGAN STATE — Named Mel Tuck- Nicholls 69, Lamar 65 FAR WEST Klaasen, South Africa, def. Hubert Hur- Cleveland vs. Kansas City at Surprise, er football coach. North Georgia 73, Columbus St. 66 Boise St. 74, Air Force 69 kacz, Poland, and Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ariz. NORTH CAROLINA — Named John Lilly Northwestern St. 70, Incarnate Word 60 Colorado St. 67, Utah St. 61 Canada, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 10-8. San Diego vs. Milwaukee at Phoenix tight ends coach. Nova Southeastern 104, Lynn 71 Fresno St. 78, San Jose St. 76 Rohan Bopanna, India, and Denis Colorado vs. L.A. Angels at Tempe, Ariz. OHIO STATE — Dismissed CB Amir Palm Beach Atlantic 100, Barry 95, OT Nevada 62, UNLV 59 Shapovalov, Canada, def. Horia Tecau, Texas vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz. Riep and LB/S Jahsen Wint from the foot- Queens (NC) 88, Newberry 72 San Diego St. 67, New Mexico 58 Romania, and Jean-Julien Rojer (4), Neth- Oakland (ss) vs. Arizona at Scotts- ball program. SC-Aiken 81, Flagler 72 UC Davis 71, Cal Poly 58 erlands, 6-2, 3-6, 10-7. dale, Ariz. PAGE 26 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 NBA Doncic’s Scoreboard return lifts Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 40 15 .727 — Mavericks Boston 37 16 .698 2 Philadelphia 34 21 .618 6 Brooklyn 25 28 .472 14 New York 17 38 .309 23 Associated Press Southeast Division Miami 35 19 .648 — DALLAS — Before heading to Orlando 24 31 .436 11½ Washington 20 33 .377 14½ the All-Star game to play with his Charlotte 18 36 .333 17 Atlanta 15 41 .268 21 basketball idol, Luka Doncic re- Central Division turned from injury to test a pair- Milwaukee 46 8 .852 — Indiana 32 23 .582 14½ ing that’s a lot more important to Chicago 19 36 .345 27½ the Dallas Mavericks sensation. Detroit 19 38 .333 28½ Cleveland 14 40 .259 32 The 20-year-old Slovenian and fellow Euro star Kristaps Porzin- Western Conference gis will want to keep this up after Southwest Division W L Pct GB the break. Houston 34 20 .630 — Doncic had 33 points and 12 re- Dallas 33 22 .600 1½ Memphis 28 26 .519 6 bounds after missing seven games San Antonio 23 31 .426 11 New Orleans 23 31 .426 11 with a sprained right ankle while Northwest Division Porzingis chipped in 27 points Denver 38 17 .691 — Utah 36 18 .667 1½ with 13 boards, leading the Mav- Oklahoma City 32 22 .593 5½ ericks to a 130-111 win over the Portland 25 31 .446 13½ Minnesota 16 37 .302 21 Sacramento Kings on Wednesday Pacific Division night. L.A. Lakers 41 12 .774 — KATHY WILLENS/AP L.A. Clippers 37 17 .685 4½ An All-Star starter set to play Phoenix 22 33 .400 20 Sacramento 21 33 .389 20½ for LeBron James’ team in his Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris, left, defends Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet as Nets guard Golden State 12 43 .218 30 second season, Doncic added Caris LeVert, right, looks on during the Nets’ 101-91 win Wednesday in New York. Tuesday’s games Washington 126, Chicago 114 eight assists in the NBA triple- Philadelphia 110, L.A. Clippers 103 double leader’s final game before New Orleans 138, Portland 117 Roundup San Antonio 114, Oklahoma City 106 going to All-Star weekend in Chi- Houston 116, Boston 105 Wednesday’s games cago, where he also plans to play Cleveland 127, Atlanta 105 in the rising stars game. Orlando 116, Detroit 112, OT Brooklyn 101, Toronto 91 Porzingis will be waiting when Washington 114, New York 96 he gets back after thriving like Indiana 118, Milwaukee 111 Nets end Raptors’ win streak Memphis 111, Portland 104 rarely before in their first season Charlotte 115, Minnesota 108 Dallas 130, Sacramento 111 together, and after the 7-foot-3 Phoenix 112, Golden State 106 Latvian recorded a career-best Associated Press Utah 116, Miami 101 turnover on a bad pass with 19 A three-pointer by Nikola L.A. Lakers 120, Denver 116, OT three consecutive games with at seconds left after he passed up an Vucevic gave Orlando a three- Thursday’s games NEW YORK — The Toronto L.A. Clippers at Boston least 30 points and 10 rebounds open three-pointer with Denver point lead with 5.5 seconds left Raptors had their franchise-re- Oklahoma City at New Orleans with Doncic out. down 119-116. before Detroit’s Reggie Jackson Friday’s game cord winning streak stopped at 2020 Rising Stars Challenge “It’s just getting better and bet- Cavaliers 127, Hawks 105: hit a three-pointer with 1.4 sec- Team USA vs Team World ter,” Doncic said of the pair play- 15 games with a 101-91 loss to Tristan Thompson had 27 points onds left in regulation to send the Saturday’s games the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday No games scheduled ing together. “It’s good when we and 11 rebounds, Larry Nance Jr. game into overtime. night. both have those nights.” had a career-high 23 points, and Christian Wood had 26 points Leaders The defending NBA champi- Buddy Hield scored 22 points Cleveland broke a 12-game home and 12 rebounds for the Pistons, Scoring ons were hoping to keep rolling losing streak. who lost for the 11th time in 13 G FG FT PTS AVG and De’Aaron Fox added 16 for right into the All-Star break but Harden, HOU 51 517 532 1800 35.3 the Kings, who fell behind for The Cavaliers, coming off their games. Antetnmpo, MIL 48 529 307 1438 30.0 couldn’t find the form that helped worst home loss in franchise his- Wizards 114, Knicks 96: Young, ATL 49 451 383 1456 29.7 good in the second quarter and them average 121.2 points and Lillard, POR 53 500 364 1574 29.7 tory, went ahead midway through Bradley Beal scored 30 points and Beal, WAS 45 448 299 1310 29.1 were never closer than 11 points shoot 50% over the previous 15 Doncic, DAL 43 408 296 1238 28.8 in the second half. the first quarter and won at home Washington used a fourth-quar- Westbrook, HOU 45 473 234 1223 27.2 games. for the first time since beating ter surge to win at New York. Leonard, LAC 41 388 249 1113 27.1 “For some reason, we didn’t This time, the Raptors hit only Davis, LAL 45 416 314 1192 26.5 feel the need to try to play much the Hawks on Dec. 23. Davis Bertans added 16 points, Booker, PHX 51 455 338 1347 26.4 37.8%, with Kyle Lowry’s triple- Cleveland was routed 133-92 by Isaac Bonga had 13 and Troy LaVine, CHI 55 483 258 1392 25.3 defense tonight,” coach Luke Ingram, NOP 47 401 249 1169 24.9 double coming on a night the All- the Los Angeles Clippers on Sun- Brown Jr. scored 11 as the Wiz- Walton said. “We couldn’t stop James, LAL 50 473 188 1242 24.8 Star guard was just 4-for-13. day and had lost 13 of 14 overall. ards closed with a 34-19 run. Mitchell, UTA 52 468 201 1262 24.3 their top guys and when we did, Caris LeVert scored 20 points Siakam, TOR 43 379 167 1017 23.7 Pacers 118, Bucks 111: T.J. Grizzlies 111, Trail Blazers DeRozan, SAS 52 445 298 1196 23.0 it just didn’t feel like we had the for the Nets, who ended a six- Warren scored 35 points and Mal- 104: Brandon Clarke matched Embiid, PHI 39 290 262 893 22.9 passion and desire that it takes Wiggins, GSW 44 365 158 984 22.4 game losing streak against the colm Brogdon added 17 points his career high with 27 points, Tatum, BOS 49 392 172 1082 22.1 to win, especially on the road, in Raptors. That included a loss Sat- and tied a career high with 13 as- Ja Morant had 20 points and nine Walker, BOS 45 327 176 982 21.8 Rebounds this league.” urday in Toronto, where LeVert sists, helping host Indiana hold on assists and host Memphis beat G OFF DEF TOT AVG scored a career-best 37 points. Drummond, CLE 50 233 556 789 15.8 to beat Milwaukee. Portland. Gobert, UTA 51 188 550 738 14.5 By the numbers Joe Harris added 19 points and The victory sent the Pac- De’Anthony Melton and Jonas Whiteside, POR 50 200 507 707 14.1 Spencer Dinwiddie had 17 points Capela, HOU 39 168 369 537 13.8 ers into the All-Star break with Valanciunas scored 12 points Antetoknmpo, MIL 48 118 528 646 13.5 and nine assists for the Nets, who some momentum after beating each, with Valanciunas also grab- Sabonis, IND 51 158 482 640 12.5 head into the break 25-28 after Embiid, PHI 39 104 361 465 11.9 the league’s best team to end a bing 18 rebounds. Clarke con- Vucevic, ORL 43 114 351 465 10.8 having Kyrie Irving for just 20 season-worst seven-game losing nected on 12 of 14 shots as the Adebayo, MIA 53 138 413 551 10.4 games. He sat out again with a Valanciunas, MEM 50 139 381 520 10.4 streak. Indiana also had lost five Grizzlies won their 15th in the Assists +232 sprained right knee. straight home games. last 19 games. G AST AVG James, LAL 50 537 10.7 Lakers 120, Nuggets 116 Donte DiVincenzo led the Hornets 115, Timberwolves Young, ATL 49 447 9.1 (OT): LeBron James posted a Bucks with 19 points and Khris 108: Devonte’ Graham scored 28 Doncic, DAL 43 373 8.7 Luka Doncic’s team-leading Rubio, PHX 46 394 8.6 triple-double and Anthony Davis Middleton added 17 as reigning points and Malik Monk added 25 Simmons, PHI 53 441 8.3 plus/minus number with scored seven of his 33 points in MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to lead Charlotte to a comeback Lillard, POR 53 419 7.9 Graham, CHA 53 412 7.8 the Mavericks this season. overtime to push Los Angeles to missed his second straight game win at Minnesota. Lowry, TOR 42 315 7.5 a win at Denver. Harden, HOU 51 374 7.3 following the birth of his first Bismack Biyombo had 14 points Westbrook, HOU 45 324 7.2 James had 32 points, 14 as- child. and 10 rebounds for the Hor- FG Percentage sists and 12 rebounds for his 12th FG FGA PCT Milwaukee’s five-game win- nets, who rallied from a double- Gobert, UTA 303 438 .692 triple-double of the season as the ning streak also ended. figure deficit to spoil D’Angelo Holmes, SAC 204 309 .660 +.341 Lakers headed into the All-Star Allen, BKN 226 351 .644 Magic 116, Pistons 112 (OT): Russell’s home debut with the Capela, HOU 244 388 .629 break with a four-game lead over Aaron Gordon scored 25 points Timberwolves.. Clarke, MEM 231 376 .614 the second-place Nuggets in the Whiteside, POR 326 534 .610 Improvement in the Mavs’ and Markelle Fultz added 21 Jazz 116, Heat 101: Dono- Valanciunas, MEM 315 534 .590 Western Conference. as host Orlando rallied to beat van Mitchell scored 26 points and Adams, OKC 213 364 .585 winning percentage when Simmons, PHI 359 615 .584 Los Angeles improved its NBA- Detroit. Bojan Bogdanovic added 22 to lift Adebayo, MIA 330 567 .582 Doncic plays this season. best road record to 23-5. Gordon, who also had nine host Utah over Miami. Three-point Percentage JJ Redick NOP .461 They are 29-14 with him Jamal Murray led Denver with rebounds and nine assists, hit Suns 112, Warriors 106: Nemanja Bjelica SAC .449 33 points, but All-Star Nikola consecutive three-point shots Devin Booker scored 27 points, Doug McDermott IND .442 and 4-8 when he’s out. Khris Middleton MIL .438 Jokic was in foul trouble and late in he fourth quarter to help Kelly Oubre Jr. added 15 and host Duncan Robinson MIA .438 Seth Curry DAL .435 made some crucial blunders in the Magic erase a seven-point Phoenix held on for a victory over Marcus Morris LAC .434 SOURCE: NBA.com the extra period, including a deficit. Golden State. Bojan Bogdanovic UTA .425 Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 27 NBA/GOLF Tiger’s pursuit of 83 resumes at Riviera BY DOUG FERGUSON historical perspective. Associated Press It could be Bay Hill, where he has won eight times. Maybe LOS ANGELES — There is no the Masters, where he could set better place for Tiger Woods to the record and tie Jack Nicklaus set the PGA Tour record for most with a sixth green jacket. The career victories than at Riviera. U.S. Open is at Winged Foot, the Because this is where he played first major he played after his fa- his first PGA Tour event as a 16- ther died and the first cut he ever year-old amateur? missed in a major. No. It’s a long list. Because he now is tournament Woods hasn’t decided where he host of the Genesis Invitational, is playing or even how much this giving it the kind of elevated sta- year — even the Mexico Cham- tus — smaller field, bigger purse pionship next week remains up — enjoyed only by Jack Nicklaus in the air — but odds are he will at the Memorial and the late Ar- have won every tournament on nold Palmer at Bay Hill? his schedule except L.A. Not necessarily. Oddly enough, what made the PHOTOS BY KELVIN KUO, ABOVE, AND DAVID ZALUBOWSKI, BELOW/AP Because it’s the course Woods career record feel so inevitable The jerseys of the late Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant, right, and his daughter Gianna are draped on the has played the most times — 10 was a tournament he had never seats the two last sat on at Staples Center, prior to the Lakers’ game against the Portland Trail Blazers as a professional — without ever played. in Los Angeles on Jan. 31. Bryant will be announced Friday at All-Star Weekend in Chicago as one of the having won and he’s due? Winning the Tour Champion- finalists for this year’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction class. Not at all. ship (for the third time) at the What makes Riviera ideal is end of the 2018 season was the because it’s the next one on his first step in his comeback from schedule. And the sooner Woods four back surgeries. Winning the can win No. 83 to break the re- Masters (for the fifth time) made Mourning continues for Kobe cord he shares with Sam Snead, the comeback complete, for it was the sooner everyone can stop his first major after a drought of speculating about the inevitable. nearly 11 years. The question came up Tuesday But it was when he returned Lakers great’s tragic death hangs — how could it not? — about how from a fifth knee surgery — this special it would be for Woods to one of the maintenance variety over Hall of Fame announcement set the record at Riviera. He in- — and played the ZoZo Champi- terjected by saying with a smile, onship in Japan where he showed BY TIM REYNOLDS “Yes, that’s been mentioned.” such a comfort level with his Associated Press It was mentioned three weeks swing and with his game that Kobe Bryant will be announced Friday at All- ago at Torrey Pines when he more victories seemed certain to Star Weekend in Chicago as one of the finalists for started the new year, and that follow. this year’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction class, made just as much sense. Tor- So how about now? which isn’t a secret and never was. rey Pines was the first PGA Tour “I’ve played in a number of Bryant always was a lock to be a first-ballot pick. event he attended with his father, events over the years, and for me Fellow first-time nominees Tim Duncan and Kevin the course where he won eight not to win an event that has meant Garnett will almost certainly also be among those times, including that 2008 U.S. so much to me in my hometown announced Friday as finalists. The complete class Open that he played with a dou- ... I’ve done well in San Diego, that will be enshrined at Springfield, Mass., in Au- ble stress fracture and shredded I’ve done well at Sherwood, just gust will be announced on April 4 at the Final Four knee ligaments. haven’t done well here,” Woods in Atlanta. Then again, Woods has left such said. “So hopefully, I can put it to- But Friday’s announcement of the finalists in Chi- an enormous trail in golf that win- gether this week and we’ll have a cago will be largely about the memory of Bryant, ning anywhere would have some great conversation on Sunday.” and rightly so. This All-Star weekend is the first huge gathering of the NBA family since Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Jan. 26. They’ll be remembered and honored throughout the weekend. A young fan roots for the Lakers’ LeBron James Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team will play Sunday’s during Wednesday’s game against the Nuggets in All-Star Game wearing the No. 24 on their jerseys, Denver. With James’ 16th All-Star Game start on in tribute to the number Bryant wore in the second Sunday in Chicago, he will break the record of 15 half of his career with the Lakers. LeBron James’ he currently shares with Kobe Bryant. team will wear No. 2 that night, in tribute to Gianna Bryant and her jersey number. Everyone in the Ris- LeBron watch: Assuming he starts on Sunday as ing Stars game Friday, the All-Star Saturday events planned, LeBron James will become the first player and then the game itself will also wear a patch with in NBA history to start 16 All-Star Games. nine stars, one for each of the victims of the crash. He currently shares the record of 15 starts with A week after everyone leaves Chicago, the NBA Bryant. James’ 16th All-Star appearance will be will gather again in Los Angeles for the memorial second-most in NBA history, two shy of matching for Bryant and his daughter. It’s on Feb. 24 — 2/24, the mark of 18 set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. If he which is not a coincidence. The numbers on the wins MVP, James would tie the record of four such calendar made it seem like the appropriate day, so All-Star trophies — matching Bob Pettit and, again, that’s what Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife and Gi- Bryant. anna’s mom, ultimately chose. James is the All-Star all-time leader in points, That’s not the end, of course. The emptiness that field goals and three-pointers made, plus field goals the league is feeling without Bryant will come up and three-pointers attempted. If he plays 10 min- again in April, when the Hall of Fame officially says utes, he’ll pass Abdul-Jabbar (449) for most All-Star he’s going to be enshrined. Then in June, when some- minutes in a career. one wins a championship. Then in July, when some- All-Star weekend one on the U.S. men’s national team wears No. 10 — Bryant’s Olympic number — at the Tokyo Games. Friday, Rising Stars game in Chicago: The U.S. Then in August, at the Hall of Fame ceremony. Then vs. the World format remains in play this year. in January, the anniversary of the crash. And so on. Saturday, All-Star Saturday in Chicago: A newly DENIS POROY/AP “What I’m looking forward to is the time of heal- tweaked three-point contest, plus the dunk and ing,” USA Basketball managing director Jerry Col- skills events. Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the second hole during the angelo said. “It’ll give us a chance to kind of focus Sunday, All-Star Game in Chicago: $500,000 at final round of the Farmers Insurance on Jan. 26. Riviera is where on the entire class because everyone is entitled to stake for Chicago-area charities, and an untimed Tiger Woods played his first PGA Tour event as an amateur. It would their due.” fourth quarter with a target score. be a fitting place to set the tour record for most wins. PAGE 28 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 COLLEGE BASKETBALL/OLYMPICS College basketball roundup Kansas’ winning streak hits nine Jayhawks use late run to pull away

Associated Press Damien Jefferson, Ty-Shon Al- exander, Marcus Zegarowski and MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Denzel Mahoney all scored 18 Devon Dotson scored 15 points points and the Bluejays beat the and No. 3 Kansas finished the Pirates for their second road win game with a 9-0 run to beat No. 14 over a Top 10 team this month. West Virginia 58-49 on Wednes- day night. Christian Bishop added 11 The Jayhawks (21-3, 10-1 Big points as Creighton (19-6, 8-4 Big 12) won for the ninth straight East) won for the sixth time in time and remain a game behind seven games, including a win at first-place Baylor. No. 8 Villanova at the start of the Isaiah Moss had seven of his 13 month. points after halftime for Kansas. No. 11 Auburn 95, Alabama The Mountaineers (18-6, 6-5) 91 (OT): Austin Wiley had 18 KATHLEEN BATTEN/AP fell flat after leading by as many points, a career-high 17 rebounds and five blocked shots and the Kansas center Udoka Azubuike, left, is defended by West Virginia forward Oscar Tshiebwe during the as nine points in each half and first half of their game Wednesday in Morgantown, W.Va. No. 3 Kansas won 58-49. lost at home for the first time this host Tigers beat the rival Crim- son Tide in overtime. season. second-place tie with Creighton throws and also sank a three- Navy 60, Bucknell 59: Cam Auburn (22-2, 9-2 Southeast- Freshman Oscar Tshiebwe led in the Big East, avoided losing pointer that gave Houston (20-5, Davis had 22 points as the host ern Conference) picked up its West Virginia with 14 points and four in a row for the first time 10-2) breathing room down the Midshipmen defeated the Bison. nine rebounds, but had just two fourth overtime win of the last since Feb. 15-25, 2012. stretch in the matchup between John Carter Jr. had 10 points for points after halftime. Jordan Mc- five games. This time the Tigers No. 19 Butler 66, Xavier 61: the top two defensive teams in the Navy (13-11, 7-6 Patriot League). Cabe tied a season high with 10 scored the first eight points of Sean McDermott scored 14 points American Athletic Conference. Tyler Nelson added seven re- points. overtime and held on for redemp- to lead the host Bulldogs past the Army 65, Lafayette 48: Matt bounds and Richard Njoku had Georgia Tech 64, No. 5 Lou- tion from an earlier 19-point loss Musketeers. Wilson scored 20 points with 13 three blocks. isville 58: Moses Wright made to Alabama (13-11, 5-6). Kamar Baldwin added 11 rebounds and Josh Caldwell had The Midshipmen took the lead a huge block at one end, then No. 15 Villanova 72, No. 18 points and Jordan Tucker scored a double-double as the host Black for good, 46-45, on a free throw powered inside for a basket that Marquette 71: Jeremiah Rob- 10 for Butler (19-6, 7-5 Big East). Knights subdued the Leopards. by Davis with 7:50 remaining. helped the host Yellow Jackets inson-Earl had 17 points and 11 Naji Marshall scored 20 points Army (12-12, 7-6 Patriot Davis hit a three-pointer with snap the Cardinals’ 10-game win- rebounds and the host Wildcats to lead Xavier (16-9, 5-7). Tyrique League) led 31-23 at intermission 3:09 to go, giving Navy a 56-50 ning streak. held on to beat the Golden Eagles Jones had 19 points and 10 re- before Lafayette (15-9, 7-6) closed lead. Bucknell trailed 59-56 when Louisville (21-4, 12-2 Atlantic and snap a three-game skid. bounds for the Musketeers, his within 37-35 with 15:59 left on a the Bison’s Andrew Funk missed Coast Conference) lost for the Collin Gillespie and Jermaine 17th double-double. layup by Justin Jaworski. a three-pointer with 14 seconds first time since early January Samuels added 14 points apiece No. 20 Houston 62, South Kyle Stout’s three-pointer remaining. Tyler Nelson added a with a truly dreadful offensive for Villanova (18-6, 8-4 Big East). Florida 58: Quentin Grimes tied it at 39 before a 13-0 Black free throw to give Midshipmen a performance against Georgia The Wildcats had surrendered an scored nine of his 22 points in Knights run sealed the Leopards’ four-point lead that proved nec- Tech (12-13, 6-8). average of 75 points in defeats to the final 3:28, helping the visiting fate. Army made five layups and essary after Bucknell’s Walter No. 23 Creighton 87, No. 10 Creighton, Butler and Seton Hall. Cougars hold off the Bulls. Tommy Funk’s three-pointer Ellis made a three-pointer at the Seton Hall 82: At Newark, N.J., Villanova, which pulled into a Grimes made six straight free with 8:14 left made it 52-39. buzzer. They’re on: IOC reiterates virus will not stop Games

BY STEPHEN WADE message this time. Tokyo in jeopardy. Associated Press On Wednesday, the virus forced Saburo Kawabuchi, a former the cancellation of a Formula One Olympian and the so-called TOKYO — Tokyo Olympic or- race set for April in Shanghai, mayor of the Olympic Village that ganizers reiterated their message which draws more than 100,000 will house 11,000 athletes and on Thursday at the start of two over a race weekend. thousands more staff members, days of meetings with the Inter- The Hong Kong and Singa- suggested Tokyo’s hot and humid national Olympic Committee: pore rounds of the World Rugby summer would stop the virus. The 2020 Games will not be way- Sevens Series were rescheduled “The biggest concern is the laid by the virus that is spreading from April to October on Thurs- coronavirus and the infection,” from neighboring China. day, with organizers saying the he said, speaking in Japanese. “I would like to make it clear decision was taken “in response “Currently we don’t have any clue again that we are not consider- ing a cancellation or postpone- to continued health concerns when this issue will be resolved. ment of the games. Let me make relating to” the outbreak of the Based on various pieces of infor- that clear,” organizing commit- virus. Also, the SportAccord con- mation we receive, it seems that tee president Yoshiro Mori said, ference, an event with close ties this virus is not as strong as the speaking through an interpreter to the Olympic movement, will influenza virus. The virus is sus- to dozens of top IOC officials not take place in Beijing in April ceptible to humidity and heat. In gathered in Tokyo. as scheduled, organizers said Japan, we have the rainy season JAE C. HONG/AP The Olympics open in just more Thursday. which could defeat the virus.“ than five months, and the torch A tourist wearing a mask poses for a photo with the Olympic rings in The virus has also wiped out John Coates, an IOC member relay begins next month in Japan the background on Jan. 29 at Tokyo’s Odaiba district. the indoor world track and field who heads the regular inspection — a clear signal the games are championships in Nanjing, golf visits to Tokyo, said he expected getting close. Dr. Richard Budgett, the IOC’s fectious disease could throw cold tournaments, soccer matches, to receive reports on the virus Although there have been no medical and scientific director. water on the momentum toward and almost all sports in China, from the Japanese government, deaths in Japan attributed to the Last week, Toshiro Muto, the the games.” including Olympic qualifying the Tokyo city government and coronavirus, Tokyo and IOC of- CEO of the Tokyo organizing He backed down a day later and events. It is also keeping Chinese local organizers in order to see ficials are clearly jittery. Sitting committee, said he was “seriously said he was confident the games athletes from traveling to qualify, the “necessary precautions that among the officials this time was worried that the spread of the in- would go forward, which is the which could put their presence in are being taken.” Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 29 NHL Around the league Roundup Bruins, No shortage of Pastrnak talent available keep Standings have separated out a handful of rolling notable sellers ahead of the trade deadline Associated Press ADAM HUNGER/AP BOSTON — David Pastrnak BY STEPHEN WHYNO defenseman Alec Martinez is The Rangers’ Chris Kreider, left, congratulates goaltender Igor has been one of the Bruins’ most Associated Press drawing interest with a year left Shesterkin after a win on Sunday . Kreider may be bracing for a trade reliable scorers this season. on his contract. The Kings have that seems inevitable. His latest big night came at the Chris Kreider watched team- already traded goaltender Jack expense of one of Boston’s long- mates Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Campbell and forward Kyle Clif- The same goes for Lewis, who gether and get game after game time rivals. Hayes handle all the speculation ford to Toronto and made no se- might be the perfect kind of low- the same kind of efforts,” center Pastrnak had his fourth hat before getting traded a year ago cret they are open for business. risk deadline pickup that has Sean Couturier said. “You look at trick of the season and the Bruins and saw others do the same in “We all signed up for the plan,” proven to be the blueprint for re- our lineup, we have some depth. I rolled to their third straight win previous seasons. first-year Kings coach Todd cent Cup winners. Kings general think we can match up with any- over the Montreal Canadiens, 4-1 With the New York Rangers McLellan said. “We know where manager Rob Blake is attempting one in the league. It’s just a mat- on Wednesday night. still in the process of transitioning we’re going with the team and to quickly rebuild, but players are ter of doing it night after night.” “Obviously playing Montreal, to contender status, it is Kreider’s what we want to do with it. So, in wait-and-see mode. it’s a big rival,” Pastrnak said. turn, and he’s dealing with it his none of this approach to the dead- “I talk to my agent quite a bit, “These games are always fun.” way. line has been a shocker to us as a but it’s kind of up to them with Scoreboard And even bigger for a Boston “I think I’d be disingenuous to coaching staff.” what they want to do,” Lewis said. team that has won seven of its last try to embody how someone else Duclair was traded three times “Obviously when you play your eight and took three of four in the went about this situation, so I’m his first five NHL seasons, so his whole career somewhere, I’m season series with its northern just trying to be myself every approach hasn’t changed despite Eastern Conference sure they know you’d like to stay. nemesis. The Bruins outscored day,” Kreider said. “I feel like my being in the midst of an impres- Atlantic Division We’ll see what happens.” GP W L OT Pts GF GA the Canadiens 15-3 in the final name’s been out there for the last sive comeback year. Boston 58 35 11 12 82 192 144 three meetings. Montreal has lost seven years. It’s just the nature of Tampa Bay 57 37 15 5 79 203 152 “I’ve been through it for a cou- Giant-killing Flyers Toronto 57 30 19 8 68 203 189 two straight as it tries to stay in the beast.” ple of years in a row now,” Duclair Florida 56 30 20 6 66 198 188 the hunt for the playoffs. Montreal 59 27 25 7 61 180 180 Kreider may be bracing for a said. “I just try to focus on the The Flyers are on the playoff Buffalo 57 25 24 8 58 162 178 Patrice Bergeron added an trade that seems inevitable. The team and I just try to win, help the bubble and have had their share Ottawa 56 18 27 11 47 147 191 Detroit 58 14 40 4 32 120 216 empty-net goal and Tuukka Rask NHL standings suggest the Rang- team win as many games as pos- of inconsistencies. But Philadel- Metropolitan Division had 28 saves for the Bruins to ers, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa sible and we’ll go from there.” phia has shined against the top Washington 56 36 15 5 77 202 172 Pittsburgh 55 34 15 6 74 182 150 improve to 13-0-6 at home this Senators, Detroit Red Wings and A Massachusetts native who four teams in the Eastern Confer- N.Y. Islanders 55 33 16 6 72 166 151 season. Los Angeles Kings are clear sell- Columbus 57 30 17 10 70 148 139 played at Boston College, Kre- ence, picking up 12 of a possible 18 Philadelphia 57 31 19 7 69 184 170 Marco Scandella scored Mon- ers ahead of the Feb. 24 trade ider has been linked to the Bruins points against Boston, Tampa Bay, Carolina 56 32 21 3 67 181 157 treal’s lone goal. Canadiens goal- N.Y. Rangers 55 28 23 4 60 181 174 deadline. and the Stanley Cup champion St. Washington and Pittsburgh. New Jersey 55 20 25 10 50 152 195 tender Carey Price, who had While Kreider is the biggest Louis Blues, who have more than “We’re a tough team to play allowed two or fewer goals in name likely on the move, there stayed afloat amid significant for- against,” winger Jakub Voracek Western Conference seven of his previous 11 starts, is no shortage of talent available. ward injuries. said. “It can give us a lot of confi- Central Division had 34 saves. GP W L OT Pts GF GA New Jersey’s Sami Vatanen and He said last month at All-Star dence that against the top teams in St. Louis 56 32 15 9 73 178 160 Pastrnak now has eight career Wayne Simmonds, Ottawa’s Jean- weekend that the Rangers win- the league that we really perform Colorado 55 33 16 6 72 200 154 regular-season hat tricks and Dallas 56 32 19 5 69 151 142 Gabriel Pageau and Ron Hainsey, ning games would go a long way very well. Playing good defense, Winnipeg 58 29 24 5 63 174 176 nine overall, all but one com- Detroit’s Mike Green and Trevor to keeping the group together. the goalie shows up every time we Minnesota 56 27 23 6 60 173 181 Nashville 55 26 22 7 59 178 183 ing in the last two seasons. He is Daley, and Los Angeles’ Tyler Despite five victories in seven play the big teams and we just play Chicago 57 25 24 8 58 166 181 the first Bruins player with four Toffoli and Trevor Lewis are all games after the break, New York a good overall game.” Pacific Division Vancouver 58 32 21 5 69 190 175 hat tricks in a season since Phil pending free agents. is still nine points back of a play- The Flyers fell flat in a 5-0 loss Edmonton 56 30 20 6 66 181 176 Esposito during the 1974-75 sea- There is also Senators forward Vegas 58 28 22 8 64 182 178 off position and Kreider is almost to the Devils before bouncing Calgary 58 29 23 6 64 164 178 son. The only player in Bruins Anthony Duclair, who can be a certainly gone unless he signs an back to beat the Capitals 7-2. Arizona 59 28 23 8 64 165 162 history with more hat tricks in a Anaheim 56 23 26 7 53 146 173 restricted free agent, and Kings extension. “It’s just important to stick to- San Jose 56 24 28 4 52 147 187 single season was Esposito, who Los Angeles 58 20 33 5 45 142 186 had seven in 1970-71. Pastrnak Note: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in becomes the second player in the each division and two wild cards per NHL this season with four hat conference advance to playoffs. Wednesday’s games tricks, joining Washington’s Alex Boston 4, Montreal 1 Ovechkin. Los Angeles 5, Calgary 3 Vancouver 3, Chicago 0 Canucks 3, Blackhawks 0: Thursday’s games Columbus at Buffalo Jacob Markstrom had a career- Dallas at Toronto high 49 saves as host Vancouver Detroit at New Jersey Edmonton at Tampa Bay beat Chicago after retiring the Philadelphia at Florida numbers of Daniel and Henrik Arizona at Ottawa N.Y. Islanders at Nashville Sedin. N.Y. Rangers at Minnesota Brandon Sutter had a goal and Washington at Colorado Calgary at Anaheim two assists, and Bo Horvat and St. Louis at Vegas Adam Gaudette also scored to Friday’s games Montreal at Pittsburgh help the Canucks win their sec- N.Y. Rangers at Columbus ond straight after a four-game San Jose at Winnipeg New Jersey at Carolina skid (0-3-1). Markstrom was mar- Saturday’s games Detroit at Boston velous in recording his second Nashville at St. Louis shutout of the season and fifth of Edmonton at Florida Philadelphia at Tampa Bay his career. San Jose at Minnesota Kings 5, Flames 3: Tyler Tof- Dallas at Montreal Toronto at Ottawa foli and Austin Wagner scored 39 Los Angeles vs. Colorado at Falcon seconds apart in the second peri- Stadium, Air Force Academy, Colo. Chicago at Calgary od and host Los Angeles went on Washington at Arizona to beat Calgary. N.Y. Islanders at Vegas Sunday’s games Kurtis MacDermid, Jeff Carter Detroit at Pittsburgh and Sean Walker also scored to Boston at N.Y. Rangers Edmonton at Carolina help the Kings end a five-game Anaheim at Vancouver losing streak. Calvin Petersen JEFFREY T. BARNES/AP Columbus at New Jersey Dallas at Ottawa stopped 35 shots to get his first Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green passes the puck during a game against the Buffalo Sabres St. Louis at Nashville Toronto at Buffalo win of the season in his second on Tuesday, Green is among the players on losing teams that could be available at the trade deadline. Chicago at Winnipeg start. PAGE 30 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, February 14, 2020 MLB Baseball proceeds with rules changes to speed up games

Associated Press DID YOU KNOW ? NEW YORK — Major League Baseball went ahead with its MLB rules changes for this season: planned rules changes for this season, including the requirement a pitcher must face at least Relievers must face three three batters or end the half-in- batters unless they are injured or ning, unless he is hurt. the end of the inning comes first. The changes were agreed to by Active roster limits increase MLB and the players’ association from 25 to 26 through Aug. 31. last March 8, subject to the study Teams can carry a maximum PHOTOS BY JEFF ROBERSON/AP of a joint committee. The three- batter minimum will start in of 13 pitchers during the regular Above: Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman delivers a statement from the podium as teammate Jose spring training games on March season through Aug. 31 and again Altuve, seated at right, listens along with manager Dusty Baker, left, and owner Jim Crane during a news 12. in the postseason. Teams can have conference before the team’s first official spring training practice Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. There were 2,162 pitching ap- 14 pitchers from Sept. 1 through pearances of three batters or the end of the regular season when fewer last year, according to the rosters expand to 28 instead of 40. Elias Sports Bureau, but 1,471 of Position players can pitch in a Astros open spring training them finished with the end of a game only after the ninth inning half-inning or a game. unless their team is losing or The active roster limit will in- winning by more than six runs. crease by one to 26 from opening with apologies from players day through Aug. 31, will drop In an effort to speed up from 40 to 28 through the end of games, managers will be given 20 BY SAM FORTIER, CINDY BOREN Dusty Baker, the veteran manager brought in to the regular season and return to seconds, instead of 30, to declare AND ADAM KILGORE restore honor to the franchise, pointed to the outsize 26 for the postseason. Each team if they will challenge a play. role technology played in the scandal. may have a maximum 13 pitch- Rosters can be expanded to The Washington Post “I must admit that when technology gets as ad- ers through Aug. 31 and during 27 players for doubleheaders, Two Houston Astros players expressed shame for the postseason, and 14 from Sept. vanced as it has become, the boundaries seem to including a 14th pitcher. the sign-stealing scandal that has engulfed Major change. The guys said what they did was wrong. 1 through the end of the regular Pitchers placed on the injured League Baseball and owner Jim Crane promised Hopefully baseball can help clean up the game season. list can be recalled after 15 days greater control, saying that technologically ad- Two-way players who have and control the technology so this doesn’t happen instead of 10. vanced sign-stealing would “never happen again at least 20 innings pitched or 20 again.” on my watch” as the team opened spring training games started at a position or des- Two-way designations will exist Crane noted that he’d never been the kind of Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. ignated hitter with at least three for players who have pitched at owner who hung out in the clubhouse and admitted The remarks came amid calls for the team to be plate appearances in the previous least 20 innings and started 20 that may have to change. stripped of its World Series victory in 2017 and were season may pitch without count- games as a position player or “We’ll have better controls in place,” he said. ing against that game’s pitcher designated hitter with at least three the first since the scandal resulted in the firing of “Baseball will have better controls in place,” with- General Manager Jeff Luhnow and team manager limit. For this year, a player can plate appearances in the previous out specifying what those would be because “this A.J. Hinch. use 2018 or 2019 to meet the season. They will not count toward came very close to the dugout.” Astros star Alex Bregman directly apologized in Teams who lost to the Astros have called for the requirement. the roster limit of pitchers. What had been a 26th player a brief statement at the beginning of the news con- team to forfeit wins and the 2017 World Series title . for certain day-night doublehead- SOURCE: Los Angeles Times ference, which lasted less than 30 minutes. “I am “Our opinion is this didn’t impact the game,” ers through Aug. 31 will become really sorry about the choices that were made by Crane said. “We had a good team. We won the World a 27th player in those situations, lievers by teams who shuttle off our team, the organization and by me,” he said. “I Series and we’ll leave it at that.” and that player won’t count pitchers between the majors and have learned from this and hope to regain the trust Meanwhile, Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, against the pitcher limit. minors. There still is a seven-day of fans. . . . We as a team are totally focused on mov- who surrendered a series-clinching, walk-off home Position players are prohibited concussion IL. ing forward to the 2020 season.” run to José Altuve in the 2019 American League from pitching through the ninth Managers’ time to challenge a His teammate, José Altuve, added, “We had a Championship Series, called Altuve’s actions “a great team meeting last night and the whole organi- inning unless the player’s team is play with a video review has been little suspicious.” winning or losing by six or more zation and the team feels bad about what happened As Altuve crossed the plate, he told teammates not cut from 30 seconds to 20. runs when he takes the mound. in 2017. We especially feel remorse for our fans and to rip off his jersey and clutched the buttons with his The injured list and option re- MLB did not say whether it was for the game of baseball.” hands, video of which was widely circulated amid call minimum period for pitchers going ahead with its right to cut The players spoke for less than 90 seconds and de- speculation Astros hitters had used buzzers affixed will increase from 10 days to 15, between-innings breaks from 2 clined to take questions, with Crane taking the bulk to their bodies to alert them to what pitch may be an effort to slow the use of re- minutes to 1:55. of the questions. coming. Yankees had doubts about Houston last year

Associated Press Chapman in Game 6 of the 2019 AL Cham- Boone said he was not sure there was no pionship Series, then told teammates not rules breaking in last year’s playoff against TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees catcher Gary to rip off his jersey as he completed his the Astros. Sánchez and manager Aaron Boone are home-run trot. Some suggested he may “That’s certainly one of those great un- not convinced the Houston Astros’ use of have been wearing a buzzer underneath knowns,” Boone said. “I’ve spent time, as electronics did not continue into last year’s the jersey that could have signaled antici- I’m sure a lot of people have, wondering all AL Championship Series. pated pitches. the things that could have potentially been Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred “It’s a good question. I’ll tell you that if I going on, and we’ll probably never know found the Astros broke rules against elec- hit a homer and I get my team to the World for sure, frankly.” tronic sign stealing in 2017, including dur- Series, they can rip off my pants,” Sán- Boone still considers the three managers FRANK FRANKLIN II/AP ing the postseason, and during the 2018 chez said through a translator Thursday as that lost their jobs to be friends: Houston’s New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone regular season. The 2019 Astros were not Yankees pitchers and catchers reported for AJ Hinch, Boston’s Alex Cora and the New said he’s not convinced the Houston implicated. spring training. “They can rip everything York Mets’ Carlos Beltrán. Boone says he Astros’ use of electronic sign stealing José Altuve sparked speculation of ne- off if I get the team to the World Series hit- has struggled “making sense of it all.” didn’t continue during last year’s AL farious conduct when he hit a pennant- ting a walk-off homer like that. They can “Wrestle with my emotions, in a way get Championship Series with the Yankees. winning homer off the Yankees’ Aroldis rip anything off.” some clarity,” Boone said. Friday, February 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 31 AUTO RACING Road: No pressure in final season FROM BACK PAGE thing that helped me with all of it is it didn’t happen at once. I knew in my heart of hearts, it was months prior to that where the real opportunity lied and where we missed it.” Team owner Rick Hendrick hired Chad Knaus in 2001 when he launched the 48 team to be built around Johnson, and the driver and crew chief were together for all seven championships and 17 seasons. TERRY RENNA/AP Then Hen- With the Daytona 500 scheduled for Valentine’s Day in 2021, NASCAR’s Speedweeks — the opening stretch of racing at Daytona drick made International Speedway that includes run-up events like Daytona 500 pole qualifying, the exhibition Busch Clash, pictured, and the ARCA a change Series opener — could shrink from two weeks to one, eliminating two ‘dark days’ at the track between qualifying and Daytona 500 practice. before last Johnson year, moving Knaus to William Byron’s team; his replacement Speedweeks facing significant shake-up didn’t work out and Johnson was given Cliff Daniels midseason. Daniels has helped Johnson Drivers anticipate changes next year ‘ relax and believes the team is The Super Bowl is not a game. headed in the right direction. In The Super Bowl is an event. BY MARK LONG fact, pairing Johnson with Dan- The Daytona 500 can’t be just iels was the catalyst in Johnson Associated Press a race. It’s got to be an event. deciding to make 2020 his final DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Speedweeks is year. He knew all of last year he’d facing a significant shake-up. The second that we lose sight need to make a decision on con- The Daytona 500 is scheduled for Valen- of that, we’ve got problems. tract talks with Hendrick and it tine’s Day in 2021, a week earlier than usual ’ weighed on Johnson until Daniels and putting NASCAR’s version of the Super Clint Bowyer NASCAR driver arrived and changed the mindset Bowl seven days after the actual Super Bowl. of a struggling driver. The revised date could cause changes to “I was thinking about it pretty Speedweeks, the opening stretch of stock car hard through the course of the racing at Daytona International Speedway weather does not suck. It sucks in a lot of plac- year knowing I was going to have that includes run-up events such as Daytona es right now in America. It does not suck down to talk to Rick about a contract 500 pole qualifying, the exhibition Busch here and there’s a lot of good racing going on. extension. I started feeling less Clash and the ARCA Series opener. Why wouldn’t you be down here?” likely to come back when I start- It could ultimately lead to “Speedweek,” Tweaking Speedweeks would be the first ed working with Cliff,” Johnson singular. Cramming everything into one hint of an anticipated overhaul to NASCAR’s said. “When I sat Cliff down to week seems like the obvious outcome, which 2021 schedule. The sanctioning body has said talk to him, I wasn’t sure how he would eliminate two “dark days” at the track it won’t shy from trying new venues while was going to react to that. But between pole qualifying and Daytona 500 heeding calls from fans and drivers to visit the peace he brought me and the practice and help shorten a long, tiring regu- more short tracks and dirt tracks. leadership he has for our race lar season that drivers and crews have been NASCAR purchased sister company In- team and where I know our team complaining about for years. ternational Speedway Corp. last year to cre- JOHN RAOUX/AP is going really helped me identify But the allure of spending two weeks in ate one private company that gives the series with 2020 as probably my best Florida, where drivers often can be spotted at Driver Clint Bowyer has expressed the flexibility to alter race dates, venture to chance to win a championship.” Disney World and other various tourist spots, reservations about changes to NASCAR’s different tracks (new and old) or even shake Johnson said he is encour- still has an appeal for some. schedule that could leave the Daytona 500 things up like adding this year’s doubleheader aged by an updated Camaro that “I’d miss it,” driver Austin Dillon said vying for attention with the Super Bowl. at Pocono in Pennsylvania. Chevrolet will use starting this Wednesday during Daytona 500 media day. “I “Based upon all the conversations that I’ve weekend, as well as a second year like being down here for this long. I enjoy this year’s Speedweeks calendar has yet to be had with everybody from NASCAR, they’re adapting to NASCAR’s new rules week. I think it’s a great start to our season.” finalized. going to be aggressive and actively looking at package. NASCAR also could simply run its Day- Pole qualifying, the Clash and the ARCA things that are outside the box and different NASCAR next year will move tona 500 lead-in events a day earlier to avoid race typically run the weekend before the from what we’ve done in the past,” 2014 Cup to entirely new car, and Johnson having anything on Super Bowl Sunday. Of 500. NASCAR has been hesitant to go head- Series champion Kevin Harvick said. “It’s indicated he was leery of going course, that would still leave NASCAR vying to-head against the Super Bowl, even mov- kind of like ending at Daytona with the regu- through another overhaul. He for attention in the shadow of the dominant ing the Daytona 500 back a week in 2012 to lar season. The story’s already built and we wants to enjoy life with his two NFL finale. avoid any potential conflict in case the league need more of those types of situations. daughters, pick and choose the “I don’t think anybody should do that,” said lengthened its regular season. “Even if only go there for one year, who kinds of races he competes in Stewart-Haas Racing driver Clint Bowyer, NASCAR switched the opener back to Pres- cares? It was a great story, right? If the race is going forward, and he remains a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan. “It’d be like ident’s Day weekend before the 2018 season, no good, what difference does it make? Every- adamant he’d like to give IndyCar somebody trying to go on top of the Daytona but still hasn’t returned Speedweeks to its body wants to have a great game. Well, guess a try on a road or street course. 500. We’re all in this business together. It’s the original form that included the Rolex 24 at what, sometimes you get a Super Bowl like we “In my own head, I’m not done entertainment business. There’s a footprint Daytona, pole qualifying/Clash and the Day- had this year and sometimes you get a rout. yet, and I don’t want to get to a for all of them. tona 500 on back-to-back-to-back weekends. But the anticipation and hype up to that point, point where I’m pissed off going “The Super Bowl is not a game. The Super They’re spread out a bit more now, but still we need a lot of those on the schedule.” to the track and don’t want to be Bowl is an event. The Daytona 500 can’t be just integral to Speedweeks. Speedweeks, as historic as it might be, prob- there,” Johnson said. “I want to a race. It’s got to be an event. The second that There are also sprint cars, late models and ably won’t be immune. give 100% and through reflec- we lose sight of that, we’ve got problems.” modifieds racing at nearby short tracks like “I don’t mind them starting a week earlier,” tion, I know I can do that in 2020, The Super Bowl is set for Feb. 7, 2021. NAS- New Smyrna and Volusia speedways, all in defending Daytona 500 winner Denny Ham- knowing what I can give and what CAR and Daytona International Speedway the general vicinity of Daytona Beach, the lin said. “I think the schedule changes, things level I want to give it. It just feels announced earlier this week that the 500 will birthplace of NASCAR. like that they’ve made, have definitely made right.” be the following Sunday, but the rest of next “It takes all of that,” Bowyer said. “Hey, the things better.” S TARS AND STRIPES Friday, February 14, 2020 Jayhawks rock on Kansas extends streak to 9 SPORTS with win over WVU » Page 28

AUTO RACING One for the road? 7-time champ Johnson just enjoying the ride in 19th – and final – full NASCAR season, but title No. 8 is still in reach

JARED C. TILTON, GETTY IMAGES/TNS, above, AND RANDY HOLT/AP, below Jimmie Johnson stands on the grid next to his No. 48 Chevrolet during qualifying for NASCAR’s 62nd Annual Daytona 500 on Sunday in Daytona Beach, Fla. Johnson — the most accomplished driver of his generation — is determined to enjoy his final Cup season, casting aside the #Chasing8 hashtag of years past for the motto “One Final Time.”

BY JENNA FRYER Associated Press DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. immie Johnson has been chasing NASCAR history for so long that his relentless pursuit of rewriting the record books has become part of his legacy. JJohnson, tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with seven Cup Series titles, has been racing for sole possession of the record since 2017. He made a hashtag for his social media posts — #Chasing8 — and his push to make history has never wavered. As he heads into his 19th and final full season in stock car racing, Johnson has dropped the motto. He’d love to close his full-time career with a record eighth title, but the 44-year-old Californian said he would rather remove self-inflicted pres- the (November retirement) announcement torsports stalwarts Jeff Gordon and Dale ningest driver of his era is in a full slump. sure and enjoy his final season in the No. it just kind of dawned on me — the more I Earnhardt Jr. retired, leaving Johnson as He has gone two full seasons without a win, 48 Chevrolet. thought about it, I never chased anything,” the veteran on a team of 20-somethings. missed the playoffs last year for the first His new motto will be “One Final Time” Johnson said. “One final time just felt like Chevrolet was not competitive with the time and had a pair of crew chief changes. and it begins Saturday with practice at the correct thing to say and now we’ve Camaro it rolled out two years ago, a set- “It was definitely frustrating (not mak- Daytona International Speedway. The sea- struck the chasing eight from everything back for Johnson and an organization in a ing the playoffs), I was angry, embarrassed, son-opening Daytona 500, a race Johnson and one final time just fits well.” rebuild. all of those things,” Johnson said. “One has won twice, is Feb. 16. It’s been a bumpy ride for Johnson since The slide was gradual — Johnson won “Through reflecting back since I made winning his seventh title. Hendrick Mo- three races in 2017 — but now the win- SEE ROAD ON PAGE 31

Astros players apologetic as team opens spring training » Page 30