USA TODAY Future Will Meet in a Superstar the NATION's NEWS | $2 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 Showdown, Writes Nancy Armour

Stimulus checks: What Yes, it’s freezing, but more Super Bowl: to know before tax filing of us are heading outdoors A matchup

Do you have to pay income taxes on the checks? Weary of the pandemic, people are trying winter of greats What will it mean for your refund? In Money sports, hiking and other escapes. In Money like no other

With Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, the past and the USA TODAY future will meet in a superstar THE NATION'S NEWS | $2 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 showdown, writes Nancy Armour. In Sports USA TODAY SPORTS E3

SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL Trump defense strategy murky As trial begins, he lacks star lawyers, full GOP backing

Christal Hayes USA TODAY

WASHINGTON – When President Donald Trump faced an impeachment trial a year ago over his actions on Uk- raine, he lined up a star-studded team of attorneys led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone. Ken Starr, who headed the investigation into President Bill Clinton that led to his impeachment, and Alan Dersho- witz, a constitutional law expert who defended O.J. Simpson, were among the lawyers on Trump’s team. The case centered on whether Trump abused the power of his office to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Bi- den. For Trump’s second impeachment trial, over accusations that he incited the Capitol Hill riot Jan. 6, he hired Butch Bowers of South Carolina, a U.S. House officials deliver the article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump to the Senate floor Monday prominent attorney in conservative cir- at the Capitol. The trial, during which Trump will face accusations he incited the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, is expected to start the cles who made his name defending Re- week of Feb. 8. Trump’s strategy isn’t clear but could focus on the fact that he is no longer in office. JACK GRUBER/USA TODAY publican governors in the state but who is untested on such a high-profile political case. Trump’s first impeachment trial unit- Dominion sues Giuliani for ed Republicans on Capitol Hill. Some lawmakers acted as an informal defense team, arguing Trump’s innocence on ca- $1.3B, alleging defamation ble news and in front of TV cameras. Trump was acquitted. Bart Jansen “Giuliani’s statements are defamato- This trial will look dramatically dif- USA TODAY ry,” the lawsuit said. “They have ex- ferent. Trump is no longer president and posed Dominion to the most extreme thus may have less sway over a heavily WASHINGTON – Dominion Voting hatred and contempt.” divided Republican conference. He Systems filed a $1.3 billion defamation Other legal challenges facing Giuliani lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani, adding to include federal prosecutors investigat- See TRUMP, Page 4A mounting legal challenges facing Presi- ing him for dealings in Ukraine. The dent Donald Trump’s personal lawyer New York State Bar Association may who led the failed effort to overturn the boot Giuliani from its membership over More inside Rudy Giuliani, seen here with lawyer 2020 election results. his speech at a Trump rally the day of Sidney Powell, said Dominion’s The 107-page Dominion lawsuit al- the Capitol riot this month. And Middle- h DOJ investigates whether staffers defamation lawsuit against him will leges that Giuliani made more than 50 bury College in Vermont even revoked tried to alter vote result for Trump. 4A allow him to investigate the company’s statements disparaging the company’s an honorary degree. h Why did so many Capitol rioters post history, finances and practices. equipment in speeches, on Twitter and incriminating photos of themselves? 3A JACQUELYN MARTIN/AP on podcasts. See DOMINION, Page 5A

Ban on transgender CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC troops overturned President Joe Biden has directed his Teachers unions resist reopening new defense secretary to reverse the Trump administration policy from 2017 Parents frustrated, kids and ensure that transgender American troops are not discharged or denied struggle outside school reenlistment. 2A Erin Richards USA TODAY

This was supposed to be the semester when America’s largest school dis- QIJFAF-02005y(a)e ©COPYRIGHT 2021 tricts reopened. USA TODAY, A division of COVID-19 vaccinations are rolling Gannett Co., Inc. out. Studies have shown in-school HOME DELIVERY transmission of the virus is low. Thou- 1-800-872-0001, USATODAYSERVICE.COM sands of schools have successfully brought kids back in person, while kids who stayed home have struggled. Yet many parents are realizing their Vaccine rollout children may never see their teachers rated too slow in person this year. A growing number blame their local teachers union, even Asked about the speed of vaccine distribution Moving as President Joe Biden and his admini- nationally, Americans too fast stration make in-person instruction a say it’s … 8% priority. Brayson Lockwood, a student at E.D. Nixon Elementary School in Montgomery, “It’s so frustrating,” said Adam Ala., logs onto the internet signal from a Montgomery Public School bus parked Moving Grandi, a father of two elementary stu- at a YMCA last spring. The internet buses help students access remote classes too slow even if they don't have reliable internet at home. MICKEY WELSH/USA TODAY NETWORK 52% The right dents in San Francisco, where the dis- speed trict scrapped a Jan. 25 reopening date 19% because the school board couldn’t reach an agreement with the union. Reinventing Education at the University “Of course, we all feel for the teachers, of Washington. Some districts that got and we appreciate the work they’re do- kids back to schools face major push- “All this rhetoric about the ing, but it feels like the union is looking back from unions, predominantly Don’t out for themselves, which is their job, around safety measures and the spike in union stopping this or that – know but it’s at the expense of a whole lot of COVID-19 infection rates. we’re not stopping 21% kids and families.” In Chicago Public Schools, the na- Almost three out of four urban dis- tion’s third-largest district, the teachers anything.” SOURCE YouGov poll, Jan. 4-5 tricts offer only online instruction, ac- Diamonté Brown AMY BARNETTE, DAVID ANESTA/USA TODAY cording to a report from the Center on See SCHOOLS, Page 6A Baltimore Teachers Union president 2A ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS POLITICS Biden overturns transgender troop ban ‘America is safer’ with by, among other things, repelling potential recruits. repeal of Trump policy Retired Army Col. Sheri Swokowski, a transgender veteran whose doctoral Tom Vanden Brook dissertation focused on barriers to care USA TODAY for transgender troops, said the Penta- gon has failed to provide adequate care, WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden noting that some troops wait years for on Monday overturned President Don- required surgery or choose to pay for it ald Trump’s policy that aimed to ban on their own. transgender troops from service. “The process is so sluggish, an in- Biden directed Defense Secretary creasing number of service members Lloyd Austin to implement a policy that have chosen to avoid the DoD process prohibits discrimination against troops entirely, despite incurring five-figure based on their gender identity and re- costs, to best support unit mission quires the Pentagon to report within 60 timelines and meet individual health days its progress in unraveling the ban. needs,” Swokowski said. Biden said the move makes the na- Her research found that the Penta- tion safer. gon spends about $3 million per year on “Today, I repealed the discriminatory treatment for transgender troops. The ban on transgender people serving in Pentagon annually spends about $50 the military,” Biden said in a tweet. “It’s billion annually on health care. simple: America is safer when everyone Demonstrators protest the transgender military service ban in Washington on Resistance from commanders and qualified to serve can do so openly and April 10, 2019. ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES red tape led one soldier to pay more than with pride.” $24,000 for her own treatment. The directive is one of Biden’s first The soldier, who said she knew she moves to unravel Trump’s legacy in the gender troops from serving openly, and ma-era policy were grandfathered in. was trans at age 13 or 14, joined the Army military and elsewhere in government. it allowed them to receive counseling House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D- at 17. Now 30, she’s a senior enlisted sol- During his congressional confirma- and medical treatment, including sur- Calif., derided the policy as “bigoted.” dier and served a one-year deployment tion hearing Jan. 19, Austin vowed to re- gery. A study commissioned by the Pen- The Pentagon estimated that there to Afghanistan. She talked about her ex- scind the ban and “to create a climate tagon found that overturning the ban were about 9,000 transgender troops perience on condition that she not be where everyone fit and willing has the would have minimal costs and effects serving in 2016, and about 1,000 of them identified over concerns of retaliation. opportunity to serve this country with on the readiness of troops to fight. had a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. She thought about leaving the Army dignity.” Trump announced by tweet in July The Palm Center, a think tank that fo- to complete transition treatment but re- On Monday, Austin called repeal of 2017 his intent to ban transgender cuses on issues involving LGBT troops, enlisted in 2015 when she heard that the the ban “the right thing to do. It is also troops, a move that surprised Pentagon estimated that there are about 14,000 Pentagon was considering repeal of the the smart thing to do.” brass. Amid court challenges, the Pen- transgender troops in the active-duty ban on transgender troops. She began The Pentagon will ensure transgen- tagon implemented a policy developed and reserve force of 2 million. paying for her own treatment but found der troops are not discharged or denied under Defense Secretary Jim Mattis “Today, those who believe in fact- military medical providers were not reenlistment based on gender identity, that banned troops who required treat- based public policy and a strong, smart supportive, she said. Austin said. They will also receive med- ment for gender dysphoria. national defense have reason to be After the policy was rescinded in ically required treatment for transition. Mattis said treating transgender proud,” Aaron Belkin, director of the 2016, she had her name changed. A year The Pentagon will review cases of trans- troops detracted from the military’s center, said in a statement. “The Biden later, after Trump’s policy ban by tweet, gender troops who had action taken readiness to fight. administration has made good on its things worsened. She was forced to cut against them under the Trump-era ban. Gender dysphoria results from the pledge to put military readiness above her hair, she said. She had issues with “We would be rendering ourselves conflict between physical gender and political expediency by restoring inclu- some commanders through 2018 but less fit to the task if we excluded from gender identity and should not disqual- sive policy for transgender troops. The none with her peers, she said. our ranks people who meet our stan- ify troops from serving, according to the ban will now be replaced with a single She paid for her own surgeries and dards and who have the skills and the American Medical Association and oth- standard for everyone that, as in the used her leave time for recovery. The devotion to serve in uniform,” Austin er medical and psychiatric groups. successful previous policy, will apply military should pay for the treatment, said. The Trump policy required transgen- equally to all service members.” just like any other medical condition, In 2016, the Pentagon under Presi- der troops to serve based on their sex at Three retired surgeons general co- she said, but troops should recover on dent Barack Obama repealed a long- birth. Transgender troops who had be- wrote a report with the Palm Center that their own time and not let it affect their standing policy that prohibited trans- gun receiving treatment under the Oba- found the ban hurt military readiness jobs.

Former Trump aide Sanders to run for Arkansas governor

She will emphasize her FBI” that they had lost confidence in Director tenure as spokesperson James Comey before Trump fired him. David Jackson In pledging to promote USA TODAY “law and order” in Arkan- Sanders sas, Sanders in her an- WASHINGTON – Former White nouncement Monday House press secretary Sarah Sanders mentioned the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. will put Donald Trump’s political brand Capitol, the attack that triggered to the campaign test in 2022 after an- Trump’s second impeachment. She did nouncing Monday that she will run for so in connection with other recent epi- governor of Arkansas. sodes of violence, including the 2017 While Trump faces a second im- shooting of congressional Republicans peachment trial next month, Sanders on a baseball field. promoted her time in his White House “This is not who we are as Ameri- along with her Arkansas roots in a video cans,” she said. “To remain free, we declaring her candidacy. must have law and order and resolve our “As your governor, I will not be intimi- differences peacefully.” dated by the serious challenges we While Arkansas once generated pow- face,” Sanders said in remarks that ran erful Democratic politicians, including nearly eight minutes. President Bill Clinton, the Natural State Sanders also suggested she would is now solidly Republican. Trump re- run in part against the Democrats who mains popular, winning more than 62% control Washington, including Presi- of the vote in last year’s election. dent Joe Biden and both houses of Con- Janine Parry, director of The Arkan- gress. She attacked the Democrats as sas Poll, said Sanders probably enters “socialists” – though the vast majority the 2022 governor’s race as the favorite. of them are not – and said that “their so- Parry, a political science professor at the cialism and cancel culture will not heal University of Arkansas, noted Sanders America.” is the daughter of a popular state Re- Sanders promoted her work as publican, former Gov. Mike Huckabee. spokesperson in the Trump White “She’s got name recognition, times House in the video, which opens with two,” Parry said. clips from his 2018 Christmas visit with To take the governorship, Sanders U.S. troops in Iraq. will first have to win the Republican pri- At one point, Sanders said she was mary, and that may not be easy. Two “at the table with President Trump,” state officials – Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin and dealing with issues that included con- Attorney General Leslie Rutledge – have fronting adversaries like China and already been running for the job. North Korea, tax cuts, immigration, and Current Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchin- appointing conservative judges. son, a Republican, is term-limited. Sanders did not play much of a role in In her announcement video, Sanders developing policies during her time in stressed her Arkansas roots after grow- the White House but talked about them ing up in the state and returning after with the media. Sanders highlighted her her years in the White House. frequent jousts with reporters, many of Sanders’ video, which features dra- l whom questioned her credibility when matic music and stern warnings about ~l zol ¨ explaining Trump’s actions. America’s future, drew mockery from During the special counsel investiga- some political opponents. tion of Russian interference in the 2016 Alyssa Mastromonaco, deputy White election, Sanders told prosecutors she House chief of staff for President Barack made a “slip of the tongue” when she Obama, tweeted that she “genuinely said, falsely, that the White House had thought this was a Saturday Night Live heard from “countless members of the skit for a minute.” NEWS USA TODAY ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ 3A ATTACK ON CAPITOL FBI turns selfies against rioters Many on social media from voting in Joe Biden, and here’s a picture of me doing it!’ ” Wandt said. were looking for fame ‘Not like I did anything illegal’ Rachel Axon and Katie Wedell USA TODAY Federal prosecutors charged Adam Johnson of Parrish, Florida, after he was As she approached the U.S. Capitol captured carrying the Speaker of the doors, Jenna Ryan lined up her face in House podium in a viral Getty Images the frame of a Facebook Live video. photograph. After Johnson was re- “Y’all know who to hire for your Realtor. leased, his attorney addressed the prob- Jenna Ryan for your Realtor,” she said to lem the photo poses. the camera. “I don’t know how else to explain University of Kentucky student Gra- that. But, yeah, that would be a problem. cyn Courtright posted a photo of herself I’m not a magician,” Orlando attorney on Instagram from outside the Capitol Dan Eckhart told Tampa Bay TV station doors, arms lifted in celebration. “Can’t WTSP. “We’ve got a photograph of our wait to tell my grandkids I was here!” the Jenna Ryan, a Texas real estate agent, client with what appears to be inside the caption read. posted on social media that she took a federal building, or inside the Capitol, In posts on Instagram and Facebook, private jet to Washington for the rally with government property.” Edward “Jake” Lang shared his confron- and protest. The FBI identified her in a Like that photo of Johnson, social tation with police officers at the Capitol. photo posing on the Capitol steps. media posts will help federal prosecu- Using a finger-pointing emoji toward U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PHOTOS tors build their cases, experts said. They the front of the crowd, Lang wrote, “This provide documentation of someone’s is me.” actions, thoughts and motivations. All three publicly documented their The FBI says this image “When you put it on social media, it’s roles in the mob attack Jan. 6 on the U.S. is from a Facebook video in your own words written at the time Capitol that left five dead and sent law- Jenny Cudd filmed in you did it,” Wandt said. “So it gives us makers fleeing for safety, and all three which she talks about this contemporaneous writing which saw that documentation used against The FBI says Edward Lang posted this entering the U.S. Capitol usually is very damaging to the person.” them in charges filed by the Department photo on Instagram from inside the during the riot Jan. 6. In The images, videos and posts alone of Justice. Capitol during the riot. “I was the an affidavit, agents say would not be enough, experts said. Of the 119 people facing federal leader of Liberty today,” Lang other photos place Cudd inside the Prosecutors are likely to subpoena charges in connection to the riot, at purportedly posted. “Arrest me. You Capitol that day. records from Facebook, Twitter and least 71 cases involve photos, posts or are on the wrong side of history.” other social media companies to exam- footage from social media. At least 47 ine when and from what device posts people saw screenshots of their own were made, Wandt said. As they have al- selfies, livestreams, videos or posts in selves and others at events. Social media offers neurochemical ready in some of the cases, they will their charges, according to a USA TO- “Pics or it didn’t happen,” she said. rewards, she said. It feels good. seek evidence showing people traveled DAY analysis of the federal charging When people are part of a social “So likes, views and shares feel like a to Washington. documents. group, Chock said, they tend to assume social reward. And selfies are more like- Building a case will take time. The “While it’s not unheard of for crimi- that others share their attitudes. As they ly to elicit these types of responses,” FBI said agents are reviewing more than nals to brag about their crimes on social isolate from others on social media, the Chock said. The more positive response 100,000 pieces of digital evidence and media, what is unique about this partic- lack of dissent adds to that assurance. people got while posting at the Capitol, seeking tips on others yet to be identi- ular incident is the treasure trove of in- “You say something and no one dis- the more they may have felt they were fied. formation that was released by the sub- agrees, and you assume more people doing the right thing. Schneider pointed to the riots in Van- jects themselves in the form of both must actually agree with this,” Chock Some may have been seeking to one- couver after the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals video, pictures and conversations on said. “It sort of builds.” up others posting similar content. Plen- loss, including a social media post from different social media platforms,” said Many posters who have been ty of people can post about falsehoods a man who claimed to have punched a Adam Scott Wandt, assistant professor charged claimed that because they sim- that Trump won the election or share his police officer in the head and burned po- of public policy at John Jay College of ply followed others into the Capitol after discredited claims of voter fraud. Riot- lice cars. It ignited a massive response Criminal Justice. the doors had been broken down, they ers’ posts set them apart in their loca- online, but an 18-month investigation USA TODAY tried to contact Ryan, weren’t breaking the law. tion and actions. by the Vancouver police found he hadn’t Courtright, Lang and other defendants, Courtright, who has been accused of “The cultural space is crowded,” said done the things he bragged about. as well as their attorneys. They either entering the Capitol unlawfully and Christopher Schneider, professor of so- “Does the evidence from the Capitol could not be reached or did not return theft of government property, among ciology at Brandon University in Cana- rioters look damning? Of course it does,” messages. other charges, defended her actions on da. said Schneider, author of “Policing and There are several reasons why people Twitter saying, “The police officers “If I want to talk about QAnon and Social Media: Social Control in an Era of would post potentially incriminating walked around with us.” conspiracy theories, what’s going to New Media.” “But the authorities need videos and selfies from the Capitol, said “Everybody’s doing it, it must be make my video or my talk or my image to make sure that due process is recog- experts in the fields of media psycholo- okay,” Chock said. go viral?” he said. “When I can lives- nized, that these puzzle pieces, as it gy, sociology and social media studies. tream me sitting in Nancy Pelosi’s chair were, are used to bring people in for Sharing those moments publicly can ‘Hello Nice FBI Lady’ or at her desk and put my feet up there questioning and then with other evi- elicit a sense of belonging to a group or and people can take pictures ... I am in- dence determine whether or not they the feeling of being a part of history. Police had made relatively few ar- ternet famous now, and I think there’s should be brought to justice and be “It’s become part of our daily lives,” rests the day of the riot, which was an appeal there for people to be doing charged for the crimes. said Makana Chock, an associate pro- sparked by a throng of President Donald that.” “Just an image with somebody in a fessor at Syracuse University’s Ne- Trump's supporters fed false accusa- Many of those charged were turned rotunda is not going to be enough, but whouse School of Public Communica- tions that Joe Biden had stolen the elec- in by people they know. That may have that’s online now, and people are angry tions. “We are really heavily influenced tion. They had gathered that day at the come as a bit of a shock, Chock said, be- as hell about it.” by social norms, perceptions of what Ellipse to hear speakers, including cause there’s an illusion of privacy in In many instances, those images are others that we care about are doing and Trump, who urged the crowd to fight social networks. no longer online. In more than a dozen what they would expect or approve of us back. Participants marched to the Capi- “These people are all my friends, cases, court records indicate the people doing. And there’s a social norm or ex- tol, where they clashed with police and they’re part of my social network. arrested deleted accounts or posts. pectation that we post photos of our- breached the building. They’re my group even though you’ve Wandt said that won’t stop investiga- Once inside, they interrupted the never met them face-to-face and don’t tors from getting those records through Electoral College vote. Lawmakers, fear- know who they are,” she said. a subpoena. In fact, it makes it harder to ing for their lives, evacuated their cham- Caught up in the moment, the partic- defend against the government’s bers and hid in the vast maze of the ipants in the riot may not have rational- charges. building. After several hours, most of ly foreseen the consequences of their “This is very good for government be- the rioters left – returning to hotels, actions as they posted, said Mathieu cause we have case law here in the Unit- Customer service boarding flights, going home. Deflem, professor of sociology at the ed States that if you do something crim- To view important information online related to In the weeks since, the FBI has pored University of South Carolina. inally culpable and you put it on social your subscription, visit aboutyoursubscription. through thousands of tips, photos, “They justify what they did as not media and you later delete that post, usatoday.com. You can also manage your videos and other publicly available in- criminal violence, but on the contrary, then the deletion of that post could be subscription at account.usatoday.com Contact USA TODAY for questions or to report formation to identify those responsible. as patriotism,” he said. “Others will dis- used as prima facie evidence to the jury issues via email at [email protected] or by Many of those bread crumbs were sociate by taking distance from the vio- that you knew your behavior was phone at 1-800-872-0001. left by the participants themselves, lent mob and see themselves as part of wrong,” he said. “So the deleting of a Operating hours are: such as Kevin Lyons of Illinois. those protesters and Trump supporters post actually makes it worse for some- ❚ Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. EST After the FBI confronted Lyons with who were at the rally but not part of the body.” an Instagram photo he’d briefly posted Capitol attack. In both cases, it’s a mat- Even some law enforcement officers, Available subscriptions Subscribe and save today by visiting featuring the sign outside House Speak- ter of dissociation and taking distance who, it stands to reason, would know usatoday.com/subscribe. The subscription below er Nancy Pelosi’s office, Lyons showed from the notion that the Capitol was at- the danger of posting evidence on social is billed monthly and includes 24/7 access to detectives that the same photo re- tacked by a violent mob, even though media, incriminated themselves. Jacob usatoday.com, breaking news on our tablet and mained on his mobile phone, according objectively that is surely what some Fracker and Thomas Robertson, off-du- smartphone apps, subscriber benefits at to his arrest affidavit. did.” ty police officers from Rocky Mount, usatoday.com/memberguide and the eNewspaper, a digital replica of the print edition. He offered to upload a video he shot Many of the posts that helped the FBI Virginia, face charges after posing in ❚ Delivery of the Monday through Friday print inside the Capitol to YouTube and send snare people referenced the storming of front of a statue during the riot, accord- editions: $29.00 the link to investigators, the affidavit the Capitol as a historic event to be doc- ing to court records. *Plus applicable taxes said. His email read, “Hello Nice FBI La- umented for posterity. In their charging In a now-deleted Facebook post, dy, Here are the links to the videos. documents, several people cast their ac- Fracker wrote, “Lol to anyone who’s Contact us Looks like Podium Guy is in one of them, tions at the Capitol as part of history, possibly concerned about the picture of Customer Service ...... 1-800-872-0001 Newsroom ...... 703-854-3400, ext. 5, ext. 5 less the podium. Let me know if you something that can further explain why me going around ... Sorry I hate free- Classified advertising ...... 1-800-397-0070 need anything else. Kevin Lyons.” they recorded them. dom? … Not like I did anything illegal.” National, regional advertising ...... 703-854-3400 He’s been charged with three of- Lang wrote on Facebook, “I was the Before deleting his account, the FBI fenses related to entering the Capitol il- leader of Liberty today. Arrest me. You said, Andrew Wrigley posted photos Corrections and clarifications legally. are on the wrong side of history.” and videos from the Capitol. On some, Our goal is to promptly correct errors. Email us at "If you’re going to do something and In a Facebook live video after the riot, he wrote, “At the protest in DC. I went [email protected] to report a mistake. you want to show it off, you’d better Jenny Cudd said, “I was here today on inside the capitol building and got tear Describe the error, where you saw it, the date, page number, or the URL. have pictures of it, or no one is going to Jan. 6th when the new revolution start- gassed.” believe you,” Wandt said. “That’s kind of ed at the Capitol.” Courtright posted a selfie to her In- Postal information the society that we live in today.” Several other posts from those ar- stagram account after the riot. She de- Volume 39, No. 93 Selfies are a way for people to present rested include references to 1776, the leted her account, but the FBI was able USA TODAY, USPS #684090, ISSN #0734-7456, is themselves as members of a group, year the United States declared inde- to obtain the post as evidence, accord- published Monday through Friday at 7950 Jones Chock said. People at the Capitol want- pendence from Britain. ing to federal charging documents. On Branch Dr. McLean, VA 22108. Periodicals postage paid at McLean, VA 22108. Postmaster: Send ed to prove their membership in the “I’ve looked at a lot of these posts, it, she had written: address changes to Customer Service, PO Box “Stop the Steal” movement or whatever and a lot of them are, ‘We’re the revolu- “Infamy is just as good as fame. Ei- 62670, San Angelo, TX 76906 ideology brought them there. tionaries! We’re going to stop Congress ther way I end up more known. XOXO.” 4A ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS POLITICS Feds tracking plots aimed at lawmakers Threats, chatter focus on impeachment trial

Michael Balsamo ASSOCIATED PRESS

Federal law enforcement officials are examining threats aimed at members of Congress as the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump nears, including chatter about killing legislators or attacking them outside the U.S. Capitol, an official told The Associ- ated Press on Sunday. The threats, and concerns that armed protesters could return to sack the Capi- tol anew, prompted the Capitol Police and other federal law enforcement to insist thousands of National Guard troops remain in Washington as the Senate moves forward with Trump’s trial, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Similar to those intercepted by investigators before Biden’s inauguration, the threats law enforcement agents are tracking vary in specificity and credibility, said the official, who had been briefed on the matter. Mainly posted online and in chat groups, the messages have included plots to attack members of Congress during travel to and from the Capitol complex during the impeachment trial that begins Feb. 8, according to the official. These threats are like other threat cases that “happen in the Capitol every day – on steroids,” says Todd Keil, an associate managing director of security risk management at Kroll, a global provider of risk solutions. Keil, a former assistant secretary with the U.S. Department of Homeland Secu- rity, also told USA TODAY that accurate- ly assessing the potential danger of a given threat that surfaces on social Supporters loyal to President Donald Trump clash with authorities before breaching the Capitol on Jan. 6. JOHN MINCHILLO/AP media will be important. “Is the source “a keyboard commando … or someone with access to weapons up the Capitol Police to focus on per- Thousands of Trump’s supporters pected to stay until mid-March. and other material that we need to be sonal protection of congressional mem- descended on the Capitol on Jan. 6 as At least five people facing federal concerned about?” he said. Keil added bers and threat assessment. It also Congress met to confirm Biden as the charges suggested they believed they that investigators could have to sift would assist the Metropolitan Police De- winner of the 2020 presidential race. were taking orders from Trump when through “an overload of information” in partment. More than 800 made their way into the they marched on Capitol Hill. Those making a decision. The FBI could assist with intelli- Capitol during the violent siege, push- comments in interviews with reporters Keil and Daniel Linskey, a managing gence-gathering and analysis. The U.S. ing past overwhelmed police officers. and federal agents are likely to take director of the company’s security risk Marshals Service and the Diplomatic Capitol Police said they planned for a center stage as Democrats lay out their management practice, compared the Security Service could help assist with free speech protest, not a riot, and were impeachment case. potential security plan to protect con- personal security. And state and local caught off guard despite intelligence More than 130 people have been gressional members to the multi-agency police could provide security in the suggesting the rally would devolve into charged by federal prosecutors in the operation that safeguards the annual home states of congressional members a riot. Five people died as a result of the riot. Others were arrested after posting United Nations General Assembly in as the federal officials go to Washington melee, including a Capitol Police officer threats against members of Congress. New York City. D.C. and return home. who was struck with a fire extinguisher. They include a Proud Boys supporter “If this is not the time when every- “It’s an overlapping, layered security Though much of the security appa- who authorities said threatened to de- body is on high alert and hyper-vigilant, approach,” said Linskey, a former super- ratus set up after the riot and before Bi- ploy “three cars full of armed patriots” then when is?” said Linskey, who refer- intendent-in-chief of the Boston Police den’s inauguration – including scores to Washington, threatened harm enced the Jan. 6 Capitol assault that left Department. of military checkpoints and hundreds against Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., five dead and jeopardized members of The heightened security could be in of additional law enforcement person- and stockpiled military-style combat Congress. “This is an all hands on deck place for an extended time. nel – is no longer in place, about 7,000 knives and more than 1,000 rifle rounds time.” “It’s important for our government to members of the National Guard will rein his New York home. A Texas man was Sketching out a potential security be kept open. But there will probably be main to assist federal law enforcement. arrested for allegedly taking part in the plan, Linskey and Keil said thousands of a widening of the (Washington, D.C.) se- The Guard Bureau said the number riot and for posting threats, including a National Guard members who have re- curity zone that has existed,” said Robert of troops in Washington was less than call to assassinate Rep. Alexandria Oca- mained in the Capitol area since last McCrie, a professor of security manage- 20,000 as of Sunday. The bureau said sio-Cortez, D-N.Y. week’s inauguration could handle traffic ment at John Jay College of Criminal the number would decline in the com- Contributing: Kevin McCoy, USA TO- control and roadblocks. That would free Justice in New York City. ing weeks to about 5,000, who are ex- DAY

Some Republican allies brushed Camp David for retreats, hosted movie Trump aside Trump’s conduct, arguing a nights at the White House, invited law- It’s unclear whether Trump’s speech he gave outside the White House makers to the World Series and even Continued from Page 1A to protesters who later stormed the Cap- signed a Trump board game for one leg- team will use the trial as a itol was not inciting an insurrection but islator. doesn’t have a full legal team in place, forum to argue the list of rather just him complaining about the This time, Trump won’t be able to of- and the strategy is not clear. handling of the election. fer those perks in hopes of preventing The article of impeachment passed voter fraud claims that his It’s unclear whether Trump’s team defectors. by the House charges Trump with “in- will use the trial as a forum to argue the Republicans are divided. Some of citement of insurrection,” and a trial is campaign failed to prove. list of voter fraud claims that his cam- Trump’s former allies on Capitol Hill likely to begin in earnest the week of paign failed to prove in dozens of court have become some of the leading voices Feb. 8. Key arguments cases. against him. Ten House Republicans “Anything is possible with Trump. I joined Democrats in voting to impeach Legal team being worked out Bowers has yet to speak publicly just don’t think that Republican sena- him. about the case, saying only that he looks tors are going to be sympathetic to the The attack at the U.S. Capitol marked Bowers worked for the Justice De- “forward to representing the former fraud claims,” Conant said. “That isn’t the Republican Party’s biggest break partment during President George W. president.” going to help his standing in the Senate. with Trump since he took office. Some Bush’s administration, but he’s better Trump’s allies argued the case is un- I’m honestly curious what Trump does of his closest allies condemned him, and known for his government work in constitutional, pointing to text in the here.” many left open the possibility of con- South Carolina. He served as counsel to Constitution that applies only to current victing him at his trial, including Ken- Republican Govs. Nikki Haley and Mark public servants, not those who no long- GOP lawmakers divided tucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the top Re- Sanford and did a stint as chairman of er serve. publican in the chamber. South Carolina’s election commission. The central issue is the text that says The path to convicting Trump is an Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has Bowers will lead Trump’s defense impeachment applies to presidents, uphill one, though the political climate emerged as an adviser of the former team; other attorneys have yet to be an- vice presidents and other “civil officers.” has shifted since his last impeachment president and a middle-man between nounced. The slow pace in Trump cor- It doesn’t delve into former presidents trial. Trump and Senate Republicans. ralling a legal team has become a flash or holding an official who left office ac- Last year as the Senate heard The change in attitude toward Trump point, and some Republicans noted countable for conduct committed while Trump’s impeachment case, Republi- doesn’t mean he will be convicted. That there is a hesitancy to defend Trump in office. cans stood united. Every House Repub- would take 17 Republicans to vote with across the party. Trump’s legal team is likely to use the lican voted against impeachment, the entire Democratic caucus. “It’s much easier for a sitting presi- argument in an attempt to dismiss the and a few Democrats joined them. McConnell worked hand-in-hand dent to find aides than a former presi- case. Though the Senate has ruled cases Members of the House Republican con- with the White House last year to ensure dent,” said Alex Conant, a GOP strate- of former officials could be heard before ference were tapped as part of his im- Trump’s acquittal but is now open to gist. “I think everything about this case, the chamber, senators in the late 1700s peachment defense, going on cable convicting him. especially how politically toxic Trump is voted against hearing the trial of former news frequently and arguing the case If McConnell votes to convict, it with a lot of people, means there’s not a Sen. William Blount and decided it did for his acquittal. could open the floodgates and offer po- lot to be gained by representing Trump not have jurisdiction to hear the case Helping to keep the conference unit- litical cover for more lawmakers to do right now.” because Blount had been expelled. ed, Trump allowed Republicans to use the same. NEWS USA TODAY ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ 5A Suspect arrested in deadly shooting Juvenile linked to death level of moral depravity. “What we saw this morning was a of 5 and unborn child different kind of evil,” Taylor said Sun- day. Justin L. Mack and Binghui Huang “I myself am heartbroken,” he said. Indianapolis Star “For the lives that have been taken too USA TODAY NETWORK soon, for the young life that’s forever been changed and for the life that never INDIANAPOLIS – Police arrested a got the chance to start, for the neighbor- juvenile suspect in connection to a hood left to pick up the pieces in the weekend shooting that left five people wake of unprecedented violence.” and an unborn child dead. When asked whether any policy Officials with the Indianapolis Met- could have prevented the mass killing, ropolitan Police Department did not re- Hogsett said the city’s programs aim to lease the name and photo of the suspect reduce crimes of passion, self-defense because the individual is not an adult. It Indianapolis police investigate the scene of a shooting that left multiple people and desperation. is unclear how old the suspect is. dead Sunday. JUSTIN L. MACK/USA TODAY NETWORK “Not that any crime of gun violence is Investigators said they do not believe acceptable under any circumstance, but any other suspects were involved. when it is a crime of passion or retalia- “Yesterday, we promised swift justice found in a home, according to Sgt. half-dozen across the city in a span of tion, that is one thing,” he said. “It is a for this heinous act. Today, we delivered Shane Foley of the Indianapolis Metro- less than five hours that ended in at completely different thing for a trigger on that promise,” IMPD Chief Randal politan Police Department. least seven people hospitalized in addi- puller, or perhaps several trigger pullers, Taylor said in a statement. “While re- Investigators were led to the grisly tion to those killed. to walk into one home and kill six peo- moving the alleged perpetrator of yes- crime scene around 4 a.m. local time af- Weeks ago, Indianapolis recorded ple. And that is why we’re here today.” terday’s mass murder from our neigh- ter finding a juvenile male, whose age the most violent year in the city’s histo- Hogsett said police have the support borhoods does not bring back the lives police didn’t disclose, suffering from ry, which officials attributed to the des- of federal authorities on the case. senselessly lost, hopefully, it will bring gunshot wounds footsteps away. peration that plagued communities Shardae Hoskins, a member of the us one step closer to healing as a com- The boy may be the only survivor. struggling even before the pandemic. police department’s Violence Reduction munity.” Law enforcement are looking into “For a decade now, the city of Indian- Team, said people in the neighborhood Sunday, Taylor said the incident was whether the shooter illegally obtained apolis has engaged in a community con- woke up scared and are tired of the vio- the largest mass casualty shooting the the guns and will investigate who is re- versation as to how we should best ad- lence in their streets. city has seen in more than a decade. sponsible for supplying them, Mayor dress the deadly confluence of guns, To reduce violence, she said, the city Kezzie Childs, 42, Raymond Childs, Joe Hogsett said during a public address substance abuse and poverty that has not only has to change the way people 42, Elijah Childs, 18, Rita Childs, 13, Kia- from IMPD’s North District headquar- seen our city’s homicide rate rise to his- handle conflict but also fix the systemic ra Hawkins, 19, and Hawkins’ unborn ters. toric highs,” Hogsett said. City officials issues of poverty that drive much of the child were pronounced dead after being The shooting was one of nearly a said the mass shooting rose to a new crime.

DOJ probes if staffers tried to alter election Protest erupts Inspector general can after cop investigate department drives cruiser Bart Jansen USA TODAY into crowd

WASHINGTON – The Justice Depart- ASSOCIATED PRESS ment’s inspector general launched an investigation Monday into whether cur- TACOMA, Wash. – Protesters set a rent or former department officials im- large fire, damaged buildings and properly sought to “alter the outcome of marched with signs late Sunday in re- the 2020 presidential election" in favor sponse to a police car driving through a of Donald Trump. crowd and injuring at least two people The announcement follows disclo- the day before. sures last week that Trump considered The demonstrators gathered near firing acting Attorney General Jeffrey the intersection where the police car Rosen during the last weeks of the plowed through a crowd of president's administration in an effort pedestrians while responding to a re- to replace him with a loyalist to pursue ported street race Saturday evening. challenges to election results. Rosen Video of the incident was widely stepped into the job last month after his shared online. predecessor, William Barr, contradicted The two people went to hospitals the president's accusations of wide- with injuries that weren't life-threat- spread voter fraud. ening. One person has been released. “The investigation will encompass all Jeffrey Rosen, left, succeeded Attorney General William Barr when he stepped Sunday evening, demonstrators relevant allegations that may arise that down Dec. 23. MANUEL BALCE CENETA/AP gathered at a park, then marched are within the scope of the (office’s) ju- through downtown where windows risdiction,” Justice Inspector General were shattered and buildings were Michael Horowitz said. Georgia where the president had pres- ing machines "were programmed es- tagged with spray paint. Several items Trump made unfounded accusations sured state officials. sentially to skew the election results.” were set up to create a barricade in the before and after the election that fraud Clark didn't respond to a request He said the Departments of Justice street where a large trash can was set caused his loss. from USA TODAY for comment. He told and Homeland Security “haven’t ablaze. The demonstrators passed by His plan, first reported by The New the Times that he offered legal advice to found anything to substantiate that.” the Pierce County Jail. York Times, entailed replacing Rosen the White House, as is customary for Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giu- There were no known injuries from with Jeffrey Clark, whom Trump ap- any senior official, but he denied the re- liani, is being sued for $1.3 billion for the demonstration, police said in a pointed to lead the Justice Depart- port’s accusation that he sought to oust defamation by Dominion Voting tweet, and the protest was cleared ment's Environment and Natural Re- Rosen. Systems, a company that makes vot- around 11 p.m. local time. sources Division and who served as act- The inspector general has jurisdic- ing machines that was criticized re- The officer involved in the incident ing chief of the Civil Division. tion to investigate allegations concern- peatedly during the aftermath of the Saturday is a 58-year-old man who has 1 Had the effort proceeded, Clark, who ing the conduct of former and current election. Giuliani said the company is been with the department for 29 ⁄2 had raised concerns about voter fraud department employees but not other trying to stifle free speech and threat- years, Tacoma police said. He was sur- within the department, would have government officials. ened a countersuit. rounded by a crowd after arriving at been in a position to act on Trump's be- While he was attorney general, Barr Contributing: Kevin Johnson the reported street race. People hit the half to challenge election results in dismissed an assertion Dec. 1 that vot- cruiser, and the officer feared for his safety, according to police. The officer drove forward through the crowd, then stopped and called for medical aid, police said. to substantiate that.” utation, on the fact that we’re going to The officer was placed on paid ad- Dominion The lawsuit was accompanied by find criminality there.” ministrative leave. scores of exhibits listing Giuliani’s accu- The rally followed fall hearings in Protesters want the officer fired. Continued from Page 1A sations against the company it says are Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona, The Pierce County Force Investiga- unfounded – such as fixing elections in where Giuliani floated conspiracy the- tion Team is looking into Saturday's Giuliani said in a statement that the Venezuela – in messages spread to mil- ories while urging lawmakers to stop incident. The team is composed of law lawsuit will allow him to investigate Do- lions of Trump followers on Twitter and the “theft of an election.” But in each enforcement officials from around the minion’s history, finances and prac- in tens of thousands of retweets. state, officials certified the results of county and community representa- tices. He threatened a countersuit alleg- The lawsuit alleged that Giuliani Biden’s victory over Trump. tives, The Seattle Times reported. ing violation of his constitutional right sought $20,000 a day for his efforts. Federal authorities have also been Police said Sunday that while offi- to free speech. “Although he was unwilling to make investigating Giuliani’s dealings in Uk- cers observed the protest, three people “The amount being asked for is, quite false election fraud claims about Do- raine, where he urged an investigation tried to get onto the roof of a building obviously, intended to frighten people minion and its voting machines in a of then-candidate Joe Biden leading downtown. Two were armed with a of faint heart,” Giuliani said. “It is anoth- court of law because he knew those alle- up to the election. Two of Giuliani’s as- handgun and knives and were arrest- er act of intimidation by the hate-filled gations are false, he and his allies man- sociates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, ed. The third got away. left-wing to wipe out and censor the ufactured and disseminated the ‘Big face federal campaign finance charges. exercise of free speech, as well as the Lie,’ which foreseeably went viral and Federal prosecutors were reviewing ability of lawyers to defend their clients deceived millions of people into believ- Giuliani’s bank records, according to vigorously.” ing that Dominion had stolen their votes The Wall Street Journal. Prosecutors Courts have rejected scores of com- and fixed the election,” the lawsuit said. sought access to his emails, according plaints about the election, which Presi- This month, the company sued to NBC News. dent Joe Biden won with 306 Electoral another Trump lawyer, Sidney Powell, Middlebury College revoked an College votes compared with 232 for for $1.3 billion, also accusing her of defa- honorary degree earlier this month Trump. Biden prevailed in the popular mation. that Giuliani received in 2005 after he vote by more than 7 million votes. Giuliani defended his efforts during a was New York’s mayor during the Attorney General William Barr dis- speech at the Trump rally near the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Mid- missed the assertion that the voting White House on Jan. 6 before the Capi- dlebury College President Laurie “machines were programmed essential- tol riot. Patton said the revocation was be- A trash can burns during a protest ly to skew the election results” by saying “Let’s have trial by combat,” Giuliani cause of Giuliani’s role “in fomenting Sunday in Tacoma, Wash., a day after the Departments of Justice and Home- said. “I’m willing to stake my reputation, the violent uprising against our na- a police officer drove his car through land Security “haven’t found anything the president is willing to stake his rep- tion’s Capitol.” a crowd of pedestrians. AP 6A ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Schools Study: Continued from Page 1A Moderna union voted to continue to work from home rather than report to school vaccine fights buildings Monday – a move that effectively defied the city’s reopening plan two variants after a slim majority of union members approved the resolution over the week- Adrianna Rodriguez end. USA TODAY “Our members took a vote to keep learning remotely to avoid disaster,” Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine pro- Stacy Davis Gates, vice president of the tects against two variants of the coro- Chicago Teachers Union, said last navirus that have emerged from Brit- week. ain and South Africa, according to a Chicago’s district leaders an- company study. nounced they would start vaccinating In a statement Monday, Moderna teachers in mid-February, giving priori- In Odessa, Texas, where students have the option of in-person classes, teacher said the vaccine triggered an immune ty to those working in buildings and Nita Merrifield, left, and her students Kheeauna Liee, 17, center, and Joseline response to “all key emerging vari- older workers. The union wants the dis- Fabela, 18, stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. ELI HARTMAN/ODESSA AMERICAN VIA AP ants,” including B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, trict to delay in-person learning until all which were first identified in the U.K. teachers are vaccinated. and South Africa, respectively. Biden directed the Departments of In districts where classrooms are Grandi, the father in San Francisco, While the study showed no changes Education and Health and Human Ser- open, many families keep their kids works for the city’s health department immune response to the U.K. variant vices last week to provide clear guid- home. In Florida, the Miami-Dade as a deputy director of a child mental compared with the original coronavi- ance and resources to reopen schools school system offers in-person instruc- health clinic. He frequently sees chil- rus, the vaccine produced a weaker and child care centers while enacting tion every day. Forty percent of stu- dren who are struggling or not engaged immune response to the South African more stringent worker safety stan- dents have taken advantage of the op- in remote learning because they don’t variant. dards. tion, according to the teachers union. have stable resources or their families Stéphane Bancel, chief executive Even before he took office, Biden’s Studies have shown schools that re- don’t have the bandwidth to help them. officer of Moderna, said “out of an team proposed an additional $130 bil- opened with mitigation tactics have not Those children would be better abundance of caution,” the company is lion in federal money for schools that contributed to major outbreaks in served by attending school in person, developing a booster dose of the CO- could be used to reduce class sizes, im- places with mild to moderate commu- and their needs are getting overlooked, VID-19 vaccine that could combat the prove building ventilation, pay for pro- nity transmission. The research is less Grandi said. South African variant and future tective gear and ensure nurses are conclusive about the safety of reopen- Andrew Reeder, a San Francisco par- emerging ones. available – things many unions de- ing in places with higher rates of infec- ent with a 9-year-old daughter, said it’s “As we seek to defeat the COVID-19 manded. It’s unclear whether Congress tions. A new study by researchers in frustrating to see other cities with high- virus … we believe it is imperative to be would approve such a sum or do it in Florida and China shows that although er rates of virus transmission send kids proactive as the virus evolves,” he said time to affect the spring semester. children are less likely to get sick, they back to school. “I think at this point in the company news release. “The honest answer is none of us are 60% more likely than adults over 60 they should just say, we’re not going The booster candidate, know how this is going to play out,” said to spread the infection. back,” he said. “It feels like there’s no mRNA-1273.351, will advance into pre- Mike Petrilli, president of the Thomas That’s why some doctors recom- recourse for us as parents.” clinical studies and Phase 1 trial in the B. Fordham Institute, a conservative mend schools stay closed, including Teachers who wish to return to U.S. think tank based in Washington that Vin Gupta, an intensive care unit doctor classrooms said the union isn’t repre- Public health experts say the vari- follows education issues. acting as a medical consultant for the senting their views. ants from the U.K. and South Africa Chicago Teachers Union. Others from David Moisl teaches kindergarten in transmit at a higher rate, leading to Some reopen without union Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco and has a child in first more infections and more deaths. and Ann Arbor, Michigan, urged grade. He learned through media re- British scientists concluded that Absent the money, time or consen- schools to reopen. ports that his union doesn’t believe the U.K. variant, which was first de- sus to give teachers what they want, Marc Lipsitch, professor of epidemi- moving teachers to the front of the vac- tected in the country in September, some schools are forging ahead with re- ology at Harvard University and direc- cine line is, on its own, enough to re- spread 30%-70% faster than the previ- opening anyway. tor of the Center for Communicable Dis- open schools. ous dominant coronavirus strain. Leaders of Baltimore City Public ease Dynamics, said the thinking has “I was under the impression that’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Schools announced a plan to open shifted toward reopening schools be- what would end this pandemic,” Moisl Friday it also may be about 30% more classrooms for the youngest children cause data shows younger grades are said. “It feels like the light at the end of deadly than previous versions of the Feb. 16, followed by older elementary not typically the main source of trans- the tunnel has been extinguished.” disease. students as well as ninth and 12th grad- mission, at least when control mea- Parent groups united around re- The South African variant has yet to ers March 1. sures are in place. “The balance has opening schools have popped up in lots be discovered in the United States, but Baltimore schools CEO Sonja Santel- changed, and there’s a sort of mantra of large districts. Many are led by more the Biden administration isn’t taking ises said more than half of third now that schools should be the last to affluent, white parents who may not any chances. On Sunday, Reuters re- through 12th graders have failed a class close and the first to open,” Lipsitch represent the views of the parents who ported President Joe Biden will impose during remote learning, and the district said at a Harvard event in mid-January. make up the majority of an urban dis- a travel ban. can’t wait for all teachers to be vaccinat- In the absence of strong national trict’s population. “We are adding South Africa to the ed before opening buildings. guidance, districts have acted as their In places where in-person learning is restricted list because of the concern- The Baltimore Teachers Union pro- own epidemiologists along with local an option, white parents have been far ing variant present that has already tested that move, saying it wants the and state health departments, said more likely than Black and Latino par- spread beyond South Africa,” Anne district to provide a COVID-19 testing Robin Lake, director of the Center on ents to return their children to Schuchat, the Centers for Disease plan, a nursing plan and new ventila- Reinventing Public Education, which classrooms, according to a survey by Control and Prevention principal dep- tion assessments for all classrooms. surveyed districts’ reopening plans. Ipsos Public Affairs. uty director, is quoted by Reuters. Teachers shouldn’t be vilified for “Biden’s push to get most schools re- “It’s very difficult for parents to orga- Top U.S. infectious disease expert asking for those basic items, said Dia- opened in the first 100 days means he’s nize around a single voice based on Dr. Anthony Fauci called Biden’s deci- monté Brown, the union president. going to have to step into the politics of what they want districts to do,” said sion “prudent” Monday in a round of “All this rhetoric about the union this,” Lake said. Bradley Marianno, a professor at the television interviews. stopping this or that – we’re not stop- University of Nevada-Las Vegas, who “We have concern about the muta- ping anything,” Brown said. “We don’t A San Francisco showdown studies teachers unions. “There’s a tion that’s in South Africa,” Fauci told get to negotiate if we go back, but how. whole host of factors at play that makes “CBS This Morning.” “We’re looking at Ultimately, some teachers will come in, Teachers union officials maintain it easier for teachers to be heard over it very actively. It is clearly a different some won’t and some will retire.” that the health and safety of their mem- parents.” and more ominous than the one in the New York City’s mayor and teachers bers and the community are para- If schools haven’t started planning U.K., and I think it’s very prudent to re- union battled over reopening schools. mount. for on-premise instruction, and if they strict travel of non citizens.” Young students and those with disabil- Susan Solomon, president of the San don’t have the cooperation of their labor He warned that more mutations are ities were given the option to return to Francisco Teachers Union, said rates of partners, it’s probably too late to expect possible and said scientists are pre- classrooms last month, but as virus transmission are too high to reopen and classrooms to reopen this year, Marian- paring to adapt the vaccines if neces- rates crept up again in January, the the district has not committed to no said. sary. union raised concerns about safety. enough testing for staff and students. In the short term, Biden’s team will Last week, Biden moved to expand Determined to keep schools open, “Staff are doing all we can to provide be challenged to nudge schools open, on the CDC requirement and direct New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio said instruction and social/emotional sup- said Alastair Fitzpayne, a senior fellow that federal agencies require interna- the availability of vaccines will help ports to our students and their families, at the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit or- tional travelers to quarantine upon ar- teachers and students return to class. and we want very much to return to in- ganization that studies policy and edu- rival in the U.S. and obtain another Fewer than 350,000 of the 800,000 person instruction with our students cation in Washington. negative test to slow the spread of the vaccine doses delivered to New York when it is safe,” she said in a statement. The new administration has a head virus. City have been administered, the Unit- District officials said the union is start with the $900 billion relief pack- Contributing: Associated Press. ed Federation of Teachers reported last making new requests, such as holding age passed in December that includes Health and patient safety coverage week. off on returning until rates of virus money for schools, Fitzpayne said, but at USA TODAY is made possible in part transmission drop below what the any new package would take time to de- by a grant from the Masimo Founda- The politics of reopening school board and state and local health velop and implement. tion for Ethics, Innovation and Com- orders are willing to allow. “To have an impact on this semes- petition in Healthcare. The Masimo Parents are frustrated with remote The stalled negotiations have drawn ter,” he said, “you’d want the additional Foundation does not provide editorial learning, but infection rates in many ire from parents who want their chil- money and the guidance to get to input. communities are climbing. dren back in classrooms. schools now.”

Biden reinstates COVID-19-related travel restrictions

Josh Rivera tion added South Africa to the list, effec- order to further mitigate the spread of Last week, Biden issued an executive USA TODAY tive Jan. 30, in light of the contagious COVID-19,” Psaki had said on Twitter. order formalizing an international test- coronavirus variant first seen there. “It is in the interests of the United ing requirement to begin Jan. 26, which President Joe Biden on Monday rein- “With the pandemic worsening and States to take action to restrict and sus- had been announced by the Centers for stated travel restrictions to combat cor- more contagious variants spreading, pend the entry” of non-U.S. citizens Disease Control and Prevention. Air onavirus infections, via a presidential this isn’t the time to be lifting restric- who were in the noted countries within travelers ages 2 and older bound from proclamation. tions on international travel,” White 14 days of their attempted entry into the international destinations for the U.S. The restrictions, which were in place House press secretary Jen Psaki said at U.S., Biden’s proclamation says. must provide a negative coronavirus for most of 2020, apply to non-U.S. citi- a briefing Monday. U.S. residents and nationals; spouses test result within three days of traveling zens who have been in Brazil, Ireland, “On the advice of our medical team, or children of citizens or residents; par- and abide by the CDC’s recommenda- the United Kingdom and much of the Administration does not intend to ents, guardians or minor siblings of citi- tion to quarantine upon arrival in the Europe. Then-President Donald Trump lift these restrictions on (Jan.) 26. In zens or residents under 21; those seek- U.S. rescinded the restrictions days before fact, we plan to strengthen public health ing asylum; and several other groups are Contributing: The Associated Press; the end of his term. Biden’s proclama- measures around international travel in exempt. Courtney Subramanian, USA TODAY NEWS USA TODAY ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ 7A OPINION We need results more than unity Don’t give GOP minority veto power

David Rothkopf the filibuster. The thing is, there is nothing nuclear about removing the his month’s nominee for most supermajority rule. It is not in the Con- abused word in the English stitution. It does not exist in the House. language must be “unity.” It did not exist in the Senate until the Within hours of the insur- early 20th century. rectionT on Capitol Hill, the Republicans Though there have been famous fili- behind the attack were using calls for busters — such as when Southern sen- “unity” as a cynical shield to deflect de- ators staged one in an unsuccessful at- mands that they be held accountable. tempt to block the 1964 Civil Rights Act Impeaching a president who egre- — the filibuster was rarely invoked until giously and publicly violated his oath the 1990s. Now both parties use it fre- and provoked an attack on his own gov- quently, typically as a tool of obstruc- MIKE THOMPSON/USA TODAY NETWORK ernment was decried as “divisive.” tion, not compromise. Even in the few days since President Joe Biden made unity the core theme of 41 million fewer people his inaugural address, Republicans have twisted the word to suggest they The filibuster has always been a should have veto power over the initia- means to give the minority extra lever- Don’t hold a second tives of the new administration and the age in an institution already skewed by Democratic majorities in the House a power imbalance favoring a national and Senate. The Republican message minority. The 50 Republican senators Trump Senate trial seems to be bipartisanship on their in McConnell’s caucus represent terms, or bust. 41 million fewer people than do the 50 America has already which the then-president pressured When Biden spoke of unity, howev- Democratic senators. (Democrats hold him to “find” enough votes to change er, he was clear. He explicitly did not the majority because in a tie, the tie- canceled his act the outcome. mean he expected we’d all agree on ev- breaker goes to the vice president, in Meanwhile, Manhattan District At- ery initiative. Rather, his intent as laid this case, Democrat Kamala Harris.) Peter Funt torney Cy Vance is pursuing what court out in the speech was to remind Amer- If they keep the filibuster, Ezra Klein documents describe as “possibly ex- icans that we are all in this together. argues in The New York Times, Demo- Americans are awakening from a tensive and protracted criminal con- He has said that his goal is to detox- crats will not only fail to achieve their long national nightmare imposed by duct at the Trump Organization.” New ify politics, to end the zero sum, us-vs.- policy goals, “they will open the door Donald Trump. The best way to pre- York Attorney General Letitia James is them mentality that dominated during for Trumpism or something like it to reserve and build on that progress is to investigating four Trump real estate the Trump years. He wants to make turn” in the 2022 midterm elections. abandon plans for an impeachment projects. On top of that, Trump still sure people understand that under his Schumer’s allies suggest that he trial, set to begin the week of Feb. 8. faces lawsuits stemming from sexual administration, no state, city or indi- should let McConnell know he’ll work It was President Gerald Ford who misconduct allegations. vidual will be penalized for legitimate under the current rules unless and until spoke of the “national nightmare” as he Felons are not necessarily prohibit- political beliefs. the GOP becomes obstructionist. This took office in August 1974 following the ed from holding office unless they are is sound advice. While a unity-oriented resignation of a disgraced Richard Nix- found guilty of inciting “any rebellion or Ensuring Biden’s failure Biden-led party can promote biparti- on. One month later, Ford pardoned insurrection against the authority of sanship, Democrats cannot let it be a Nixon for crimes he committed against the United States or the laws thereof” Now, as Biden and Congress get cudgel with which opponents beat the nation while president. The act was — a ban that will apply to Trump if he’s down to business, it is time for a practi- them to death. The stakes are too high. controversial — and might have cost prosecuted and convicted for his role in cal reckoning about what it means to The point is, as the GOP has repeat- Ford the election in 1976 — but many the insurrection. The law, Section 2383 have a president who seeks to bring ed ad nauseum for the past four years, historians have concluded it was the of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, stipulates America together and what it does not elections matter. The people have right thing to do. that the offender shall be rendered “in- mean. Unity is an aspirational goal. But sought a different approach from a new After Trump incited an attack on the capable of holding any office under the we must not mistake it for the impos- president who won 7 million more U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, impeachment by United States.” sible ideal of unanimity or even for bi- votes than his now disgraced opponent the House of Representatives was nec- partisan collaboration on every issue. did. Senate Democrats represent tens essary, no matter how little time re- A small man That’s especially important when of millions more Americans than the mained before President-elect Joe Bi- some have already demonstrated they GOP. It is time to give those voters a den took office. Social media companies have acted are perfectly willing to exploit the chance to be heard and Biden a chance Now, however, with the rejuvenation to curb Trump’s dangerous rhetoric. president’s worthy goal to ensure his to carry out the ideas on which he was we experienced on Inauguration Day, The PGA of America stripped the for- failure and their own political success. elected, even if that means playing po- things are different. A trial won’t hurt mer president’s New Jersey golf course The negotiations between Senate litical hardball. Trump, and it won’t help the nation. of its contract to host next year’s PGA Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Many of those ideas — including Here’s why: Championship. Even some extremist Minority Leader Mitch McConnell over ending the COVID-19 catastrophe, get- Assuming none of the 50 Senate groups have abandoned Trump, includ- the terms of their “power sharing” ex- ting the economy back on its feet, re- Democrats and independents jump ing the far-right Proud Boys, who mes- posed the practical limitations of the building infrastructure, improving ship, it will take 17 Republican votes to saged: “Trump will go down as a total call for unity. McConnell argued that schools, combating the climate crisis, convict Trump. As it looks now, only a failure.” Schumer must commit to preserving ensuring health care for all and fixing fraction of that number are potential By the time Trump’s plane landed in the Senate’s filibuster rules as a pre- our democracy — in fact happen to ben- votes for conviction. Florida on Biden’s Inauguration Day, condition for any deal. This would give efit all Americans and have the support the nation had already moved on. Even the Republican Senate minority life- of a vast majority of Americans. That What another acquittal buys without a Senate trial, he was un- and-death power over Biden’s agenda. makes them pretty darned unifying. cloaked: a small man, withering before The principal reason for any im- our eyes, losing the things he cares ‘Unleash the nuclear option’ David Rothkopf is host of “Deep State peachment is to remove an offender about most — power, ego and money. Radio” and CEO of the Rothkopf Group from office, but Trump is already out. If President Biden is to have any Thankfully for Democrats, Schumer media and podcasting company. His The other reason — often cited in chance of uniting the nation, he needs had a ready response: “Leader McCon- new book is “Traitor: A History of Amer- Trump’s case — is to bar the offender conciliatory imagery. A Senate trial, re- nell’s proposal is unacceptable, and it ican Betrayal from Benedict Arnold to from holding future office. However, gardless of the outcome, will be viewed won’t be accepted.” Donald Trump.” that step comes in a separate Senate by many as a purely political exercise. The current filibuster rules in the vote, which would only occur if Trump Moreover, should Chief Justice John Senate require a 60-vote supermajority were convicted. Roberts decline to preside over the trial, to pass legislation, except in votes to Even if Trump were to somehow lose the task could go to Vice President Ka- approve presidential nominees and for in the Senate, he’d presumably ask the mala Harris, and the resulting scene budget-related “reconciliation” bills Supreme Court — where his appointees would smack of the very partisan poli- that include taxing and spending provi- are part of a conservative majority — to tics Biden hopes to avoid. sions. In an ideal world, such rules pro- rule on the constitutionality of im- mote bipartisanship and compromise. peaching and convicting a former No pardon for Trump But a scorched-earth politician like president. A frequent Trump defender, McConnell could use them to block professor Alan Dershowitz, says the In his pardon, President Ford stated, progress on most of Biden’s agenda Senate faces “a lack of jurisdiction” in “It is not the ultimate fate of Richard items or to water them down so their ef- Trump’s case. Nixon that most concerns me, though fects would be far from what was need- The “witch hunt” that Trump and his surely it deeply troubles every decent ed or intended. media allies have railed about for years and every compassionate person. My Senate traditionalists, a group that will be reinforced by a Senate acquittal. concern is the immediate future of this includes Biden, have seen this as a way It will help Trump raise more money — great country.” Forcing Nixon to face to give leverage to the minority party. on top of the hundreds of millions he trial, Ford said, would mean that “ugly But Biden has reserved judgment collected after Election Day by falsely passions would again be aroused. And about whether Democrats should seek claiming “fraud.” Trump will not only our people would again be polarized.” to end the filibuster because just by be free to run again in 2024, he will Unlike Nixon, Trump should not be having the option of doing so, they gain boast that he was “twice found inno- pardoned. He should be required to leverage. “Work with us or we can ‘un- Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch cent” in Senate trials. spend years defending himself in civil leash the nuclear option’ ” they could McConnell and then-Senate Minority Without an impeachment convic- and criminal proceedings. say, referring to the term of art that has Leader Chuck Schumer in 2017. tion, the crime Trump committed by in- Trump’s legacy need not be that he emerged in reference to getting rid of ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES citing the Capitol violence can still be was tried twice by the Senate; rather, prosecuted, now that he no longer has that he was canceled by a nation with the protections afforded sitting presi- more important things to worry about. WANT TO COMMENT? Have Your Say at [email protected], @usatodayopinion on Twitter and dents. Charges could also be brought facebook.com/usatodayopinion. Comments are edited for length and clarity. Content submitted to USA TODAY may appear in print, digital or other forms. For letters, include name, address and phone number. for Trump’s phone call to Georgia Sec- Peter Funt is a writer and host of Letters may be mailed to 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA, 22108. retary of State Brad Raffensperger in “Candid Camera.”

“USA TODAY hopes to serve as a forum for better understanding and unity to help make the USA truly one nation.” – Allen H. Neuharth, Founder, Sept. 15, 1982

Chairman and CEO USA TODAY Publisher USA TODAY Vice President/Local News and Audience Development: Amalie Nash Executive Editor/News: Jeff Taylor Gannett Co. President of News Editor in Chief Vice President & Executive Editor/Investigations: Chris Davis Executive Editor/Audience: Patty Michalski MICHAEL REED MARIBEL PEREZ WADSWORTH NICOLE CARROLL Chief Revenue Officer, sales and service: Kevin Gentzel Editorial Page Editor: Bill Sternberg 8A ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS

# ÙÝõï ðë Êáèì ÉáêáîÝðá Ëêßëéá âëî Ûëñî Ôáðåîáéáêð Ìëñîêáõ /HDUQ DERXW NH\ LQFRPH VWUDWHJLHV LQ WKLV )5(( JXLGH

:KHUHYHU \RXoUH KHDGHG LQ UHWLUHPHQW 7KH 'HƮQLWLYH *XLGH WR 5HWLUHPHQW ,QFRPH FDQ KHOS \RX ƮQDQFLDOO\ SUHSDUH IRU WKH MRXUQH\ 5HTXHVW \RXU )5(( FRS\ QRZ DQG GLVFRYHU UHWLUHPHQW LQFRPH VWUDWHJLHV LQFOXGLQJ ZD\V WR PDQDJH \RXU UHWLUHPHQW ZLWKGUDZDOV WLSV RQ SULRULWL]LQJ \RXU H[SHQVHV DQG KRZ WR KHOS \RXU LQYHVWPHQWV ODVWtVR \RX FDQ VSHQG \RXU WLPH HQMR\LQJ UHWLUHPHQW LQVWHDG RI ZRUU\LQJ DERXW KRZ \RX ZLOO SD\ IRU LW

-RLQ WKH PLOOLRQ LQYHVWRUV ZKR KDYH UHTXHVWHG 7KH 'HƮQLWLYH *XLGH WR 5HWLUHPHQW ,QFRPH

,I \RX KDYH D SRUWIROLR JHW \RXU )5(( JXLGH E\ ÅÝèèåêã $""% !$ 2U WH[WLQJ p,1&20(q WR 2U YLVLWLQJ )LVKHU5HWLUHFRP,QFRPH

7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQV DW ƮVKHULQYHVWPHQWVFRPHQXVWH[WWHUPVDQGFRQGLWLRQV 0HVVDJH DQG GDWD UDWHV PD\ DSSO\ 3OHDVH VHH RXU 3ULYDF\ 3ROLF\ DW ƮVKHULQYHVWPHQWVFRPHQXVSULYDF\ )LVKHU ,QYHVWPHQWV 1: )LVKHU &UHHN 'ULYH &DPDV :$ ,QYHVWPHQWV LQ VHFXULWLHV LQYROYH WKH ULVN RI ORVV 3DVW SHUIRUPDQFH LV QR JXDUDQWHH RI IXWXUH UHWXUQV Joan Didion’s new collection speaks to her mastery MONEY+LIFE “Let Me Tell You What I Mean” shares the writer’s USA TODAY | TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | SECTION B gifts. eeee review, Page 5B

MONEYLINE People flock outdoors even in cold weather

JEFF CHIU/AP

GOOGLE TO OPEN COVID-19 VACCINATION SITES

In a blog post Monday, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and parent company Alphabet, said the company will partner with a medical provider and public health authorities to open COVID-19 vaccination sites in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and Kirkland, Washington. Google also will expand information panels within search results to show local vaccine distribution information, as well as a "Get the Facts" project to provide "author- itative information" about the vaccines.

REPORT: VIRUS JOB LOSS IS WORSE THAN IN ’09 CRISIS

Four times as many jobs were lost last year due to the coronavirus pandemic Erica Higgs and her daughter Abby hike on Breakneck Ridge in New York. They often bring their dog, too. PROVIDED as during the worst part of the global financial crisis in 2009, a U.N. report said Monday. The International Labor After being cooped up, a day trip to Hickory Run State Park in Organization estimated that the re- Pennsylvania. “Walking in the snow strictions on businesses and public life recreation is a revelation with the ice was a lot of fun,” she said. destroyed 8.8% of all work hours “It’s so quiet and peaceful.” around the world last year. That is Lisa Iannucci Perry isn’t alone. She’s one of many equivalent to 255 million full-time jobs For the Poughkeepsie Journal looking to break free from quarantine - quadruple the impact of the financial USA TODAY NETWORK and spend time outdoors in order to stay crisis over a decade ago. The drop healthy and take in a view other than translates to a loss of $3.7 trillion in Here’s one more thing the coronavi- their own four walls. income globally. rus pandemic has changed: We’re all Some are even getting competitive – outside a lot more than we use to be, with themselves. especially during the winter. When the quarantine began, Erica Attendance is up at ski areas as Higgs and her 5-year-old daughter, Ab- ATLANTA CONSIDERING more people look to try out winter by, set a goal to walk as many miles as SHORT-TERM RENTAL BAN sports such as boarding and skiing for possible. the first time. The parking lots at pop- “When the pandemic hit, we didn’t Atlanta officials are taking a closer ular hiking spots are still full as more Pamela Perry and her fiance, Paul want to be indoors, so we took to the look at short-term home renting, with seek outdoor activities – even in Janu- O’Brien, on a winter hike. They got trails and just started hiking,” said the one councilman proposing to ban the ary. engaged on their first outing. PROVIDED Poughkeepsie, New York, mom. “We practice. Councilman Howard Shook That’s good news to the Outdoor In- hiked over 100 miles and started to seek said residents are concerned about a dustry of America, which tracks par- more and more remote locations.” stream of strangers in their neigh- ticipation. The group reported dwin- A few weeks ago, Pamela Perry was Now, the mother-daughter duo are borhoods and a loss of community. dling interest in outdoor activities be- looking for an activity that would keep currently on a personal quest to double But some homeowners say they rely fore the onset of the pandemic. In 2019, her moving, but she also wanted to con- down their hiking mileage from last on the money from renting out their it cited 13.6 million participants who tinue to socially distance. Not wanting year, which totaled around 300. properties, particularly in a pandemic. tried outdoor activities for the first to exercise at a gym, Perry decided to “We want to inspire everyone to try The city’s neighborhood planning time or returned after a hiatus that take her first winter hike. new things,” said Erica. “Usually no one units are evaluating short-term rental year, which was actually a decrease “We have always enjoyed hiking, but else is with us. We have done bush- proposals, according to the Atlanta from the previous year. have never gone in the winter,” said Per- Journal Constitution. In 2020, participation increased. ry. She and her fiancé Paul O’Brien took See OUTDOORS, Page 2B

Dow Jones Industrial Avg. 32,000 Biden -36.98 30,000 pushes 30,960 28,000 government 26,000

24,000 to buy JULY JAN. AP MONDAY MARKETS American

INDEX CLOSE CHG Michael Collins y Dow Jones Industrial Avg. 30,960.00 36.98 USA TODAY S&P 500 3,855.36 x 13.89 Nasdaq composite 13,635.99 x 92.93 T-note, 10-year yield 1.033 y 0.053 WASHINGTON – President Joe Bi- SOURCES USA TODAY RESEARCH, BLOOMBERG A stimulus check may affect your taxes even if you didn’t get one. GETTY IMAGES den will take steps Monday to encour- age the federal government to buy more American-made products, a move the new administration argues USA TODAY SNAPSHOTS© Stimulus checks will protect U.S. jobs and juice an economy severely hobbled by the deadly coronavirus likely are a plus or pandemic. Biden, who pushed a $700 billion Buy Amer- minus for tax returns ican campaign as a candidate for president, is Aimee Picchi come reported on your most recent tax set to sign an executive Special to USA TODAY return. Biden order that will advance But the process of distributing the several policies to boost Treasury rates Americans have now received two stimulus payments hasn’t always gone the federal government’s purchase of Rates as of Monday market close. rounds of stimulus checks, and ques- smoothly. In some cases, people didn’t U.S.-manufactured goods and ser- tions abound about how these pay- get their checks at all – or may have re- vices, administration officials said Rate Week ago ments tie into your 2020 tax returns as ceived the wrong amount, given life Sunday. 1 mo. T-bill 0.07% 0.08% filing season approaches. changes such as a job loss or the birth Federal law requires government There’s a link between your tax re- of a child. agencies to give preference to Ameri- 3 mo. T-bill 0.09% 0.09% turns and the stimulus checks: the two The good news is that the 2020 tax can firms when possible, but critics 5-yr. T-note 0.42% 0.46% payments – the first providing $1,200 filing season will allow people who say those requirements haven’t always 10-yr. T-note 1.02% 1.08% per eligible adult and $500 per eligible missed out on a check or received too been implemented consistently or ef- 30-yr. T-bond 1.80% 1.85% child and the second distributing $600 little to claim their full stimulus pay- fectively. Some have not been sub- for each qualifying adult and child – ASSOCIATED PRESS were based on the adjusted gross in- See STIMULUS, Page 2B See BIDEN, Page 2B 2B ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY MONEY Biden Bernie’s meme-able Continued from Page 1B stantially updated since the 1950s. mittens warm up charities The federal government spends nearly $600 billion a year on contracts, which is money the administration says can spur a revitalization of the na- April Barton tion’s industrial strength and create Burlington Free Press new markets for new technologies. USA TODAY NETWORK To that end, Biden’s order will increase the domestic content thresh- BURLINGTON, Vt. – You, too, could old, which is the amount of a product have a pair of mittens like the ones that that must be made in the U.S. before it propelled Bernie Sanders into instant can be purchased by the federal gov- meme-dom. Or, perhaps a T-shirt dis- ernment. playing the picture of Bernie at the Right now, loopholes in federal law presidential inauguration that in- allow products to be stamped “made in spired the internet frenzy. America” for purposes of federal pro- The merchandise capitalizes on the curement even if barely 51% of the ma- popularity of the moment but also pro- terials used to produce them are do- vides an opportunity for a much longer mestically made. Administration offi- impact, because money from sales will cials did not say how much Biden in- support Vermont charities. tends to increase that threshold. Jen Ellis, the teacher who created Jen Ellis, the maker of Bernie Sanders' mittens which created a meme-frenzy In addition, the order will close Bernie’s mittens, made three more after the presidential inauguration, has made three more pairs raising money for loopholes that critics say federal agen- pairs this weekend after she finished charity. Ellis' Twitter post from Jan. 24, 2021. APRIL BARTON/USA TODAY NETWORK cies often use to get around require- grading report cards, she said. ments that they buy American prod- A blue and navy blue striped pair is ucts. being auctioned to benefit Passion 4 many of whom are in the depths of iso- erosity brings joy.” The order calls for a central review Paws Vermont, a foster-based dog res- lation and disconnection, being cele- The Vermont senator’s own cam- of requests for waivers to Buy Amer- cue organization. brated and recognized.” paign has gotten in on the action and ican rules and the creation of a website The auction lasts until Friday at Bidding for the mittens takes place produced several shirts depicting the that will be available to the public. U.S. 7:39 a.m.; as of Monday morning, the on the Charity Auctions Today site. now-iconic image of Sanders in a fold- manufacturers will be able to see those price was up to $1,776 on eBay. The multicolored mittens Ellis is auc- ing chair, bundled up to keep warm. waivers and determine whether they Blue and white mittens are being tioning off are for her daughter’s college One regular T-shirt, a women’s T- are in a position to provide the re- auctioned off for Outright Vermont, an tuition. Tuition-free college and cancel- shirt and a sweatshirt, all in black, were quested goods. That will help more advocacy group for LGBT youth. The ing student debt have been among offered through the Sanders campaign American companies compete for and auction ends Friday at 5 p.m. and was Sanders’ major policy efforts. site. The T-shirts sold for $27 and the win federal contracts, an administra- already at $1,500 Monday morning. Sunday, on Twitter, Ellis said: “Bernie sweatshirt for $45. tion official said. Executive Director Dana Kaplan Sanders called me earlier today to tell All of the proceeds support various The order also will create a senior said in a news release: “This is a thrill- me that the mitten frenzy has already Vermont charities, including Feeding director’s position in the Office of ing opportunity to spread much need- raised an enormous amount of money Chittenden, Chill Foundation and Ver- Management and Budget whose focus ed warmth for LGBTQ+ youth in Ver- for Vermont charities. I am not autho- mont Community Action centers. will be on the Made In America cam- mont and beyond! The meme of 2021 rized to disclose the amount yet- but it’s The inventory for each of the shirts paign and making sure the new rules bringing awareness to young folks, BIG and it’s amazing! Thank you!! Gen- was listed as sold out Monday morning. and procedures are followed. Federal agencies will be directed to use the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a public-private network at many other Adaptive Sports Clinics & that supports small and midsize busi- Outdoors Camps following that, but this year, nesses in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, knowing that I would not have the same to help agencies connect with new do- Continued from Page 1B face-to-face or lesson opportunities, I mestic suppliers who can make the decided to diversify my options,” said products they need while employing whacking and also completed our first Vacca, a Poughkeepsie resident. U.S. workers. Catskill 3500.” So he joined a ski club, rented his Shortly after taking office in 2017, Catskill 3500 means hiking in the equipment for the season and took ad- President Donald Trump issued a se- Catskill Mountains in New York to a vantage of the opportunity to get a free ries of executive orders that were in- peak over 3,500 feet in elevation. “We New York State Access Pass allowing tended to strengthen rules requiring just wanted to be away from every- him to ski for free at Belleayre, Gore and federal agencies to buy U.S.-made thing and focus on something else.” Whiteface Mountains. goods when possible. But critics ar- Now they keep track of their hikes “The most challenging part was gued that effort fell short, partly be- in the AllTrails app and take photos learning how to change out my everyday cause of Trump’s failure to adequately and videos that they post on their so- prosthetic leg to my ski leg from the car,” enforce the rules. cial media accounts. They even started he said. The order that Biden will sign is ex- blogging about their experiences. Vacca has already been skiing eight pected to include a clear timeline for “The days where I honestly didn’t Abby Higgs tackles a hike in Storm times this season. “I have set a goal for updating domestic content require- want to leave the house because of ev- King State Park in New York. PROVDED myself to increase that number past 20,” ments and a process for reducing un- erything 2020 was tossing at us, were he said. necessary waivers, which the admini- the days that my daughter would be Vacca has really come into his own as stration argues would fundamentally there to get us going and back into our that this year’s winter sports season an independent adaptive skier, some- change how the program operates. happy place, which is the trails,” said was not going to be the same as it has thing that would not have happened Agencies will be required to report Erica. been for him for the last four years. had it not been for the challenges that he twice a year on their implementation “Also, Abby learns map skills, Back in 2017, the 19-year cancer sur- faced due to the pandemic. of Made in America laws. counting, math, leadership skills, vivor and left below-knee amputee had For Pamela Perry, her first winter hike Since taking office last Wednesday, compassion, respect, science, history, started taking adaptive standup down- came with another perk. “Paul arranged Biden has signed more than two dozen reading and art. I love it because every hill ski lessons at the New England Win- the hike to Hawk Falls to propose,” she executive orders spanning a variety of experience in the woods is different. ter Sports Clinic for Disabled Veterans said. subjects, including COVID-19 and food There is always something to learn.” at Mount Sunapee, New Hampshire. Lisa Iannucci is a Hudson Valley assistance for low-income families. Johnny Rocco Vacca said he knew “I’ve done well developing my skills freelance writer.

year that were aimed at stabilizing the lions losing their jobs or taking income Stimulus U.S. economy amid the coronavirus hits due to cuts in their work hours. That pandemic. means some people who didn’t qualify Continued from Page 1B “If you got the full amount for the first for the full payments based on their and second payments, you don’t need to 2018 or 2019 tax returns might qualify in ments, which the IRS will send later this do anything,” Pickering notes. 2020 if their income was lower last year. year via their tax refunds. In that case, they should use the re- “If you didn’t receive the full payment I’m not sure I received the right covery rebate worksheet to calculate you were entitled to, then it’s possible amount. What should I do? how much they are owed and claim that that when you are filing your 2020 tax amount on Line 30 on their 2020 tax re- return you may end up getting more First, check your two stimulus pay- turn. They’ll receive the stimulus pay- money,” says Eric Bronnenkant, head of ments against your 2020 adjusted gross ments in their refund check. tax at financial services firm Better- income as well as your family situation. GETTY IMAGES But as Betterment’s Bronnenkant ment. That’s because the IRS based your two noted above, if you received stimulus But, if you received more than you stimulus checks on either your 2019 or payments based on older tax returns were entitled to, the IRS can’t ask for the 2018 tax returns – but your income or but don’t actually qualify based on your money back, he notes. Some people family size could have changed in 2020. 2020 returns, you won’t have to pay whose incomes jumped in 2019 or 2020 For instance, the stimulus checks di- “If you didn’t receive the full back the IRS. compared with their earlier tax returns rected a combined $1,100 to each depen- – which the IRS relied on to determine dent child 16 and under – but if you had a payment you were entitled How will the stimulus checks whether they qualified for the payments baby in 2020, the IRS wouldn’t have to, then it’s possible that affect my tax refund – and when – may be in this situation. known that given the tax agency won’t will I get it? “If your economic situation change – start accepting 2020 tax returns until when you are filing your let’s say you qualified based on 2018 or Feb. 12. In other words, you wouldn’t If you are owed more money from the 2019 income because it was lower, but have received any stimulus money for 2020 tax return you may end two rounds of stimulus payments, the your economic situation improved for your child, even though your family up getting more money.” IRS will provide the additional pay- 2020 – the IRS actually can’t ask for any qualifies for the additional 1,100.$ ments with your refund check. Because Eric Bronnenkant of that money back,” Bronnenkant adds. In some cases, people didn’t receive Head of tax at financial services firm Betterment the stimulus payments aren’t consid- “Your situation can’t get worse in that checks because of glitches or incorrect ered income by the tax agency, it won’t scenario.” bank account information with the IRS. My income changed since I last impact your refund by increasing your Here are the basics of what to know In those situations, people can reconcile filed my taxes. What should I do? adjusted gross income or putting you in about your taxes and the stimulus their lack of payment when they file a higher tax bracket, for instance. checks: their 2020 tax returns. Taxpayers might not have qualified As noted earlier, taxpayers will have To figure out if you are owed money, for the full stimulus checks if their earn- to wait longer get their tax refunds this Will I owe taxes on the stimulus turn to the IRS’ recovery rebate work- ings were above the income cutoff based year since the IRS won’t even begin ac- checks? sheet, which is available in its 2020 in- on their 2018 or 2019 tax returns. Single cepting returns until Feb. 12, about two structions for filing your tax return people earning below $75,000 or mar- weeks later than is typical. No, because the stimulus checks (Form 1040.) ried couples with a combined income The IRS is urging taxpayers to file aren’t considered income by the IRS, If the calculation on the worksheet is below $150,000 qualified for the checks, electronically to receive their refunds in notes Kathy Pickering, chief tax officer higher than zero, you can claim that with the amounts tapering off until the the shortest amount of time, with the at H&R Block. Instead, they are prepaid amount as a recovery rebate credit on payments were cut off entirely for up- agency projecting that 9 of 10 taxpayers tax credits for your 2020 tax return, au- Line 30 of your tax returns, the IRS says. per-income families. who e-file will receive their refunds thorized by two relief bills passed last But 2020 was a rough year, with mil- within 21 days. MONEY USA TODAY ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ 3B CAREERS

ASK HUMAN RESOURCES Filming at a workplace can be legal It’s best to check company’s policies

Johnny C. Taylor Columnist USA TODAY

Johnny C. Taylor Jr., a human resources expert, is tack- ling your questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Soci- ety for Human Resource Man- agement, the world’s largest HR professional society. The questions are submitted by readers, and Taylor’s answers below have been edited for length and clarity. Question: I have a co-worker that set up a hidden camera to film me and my other co-workers without consent from anyone or from the company owner. Is this even legal? – Anonymous Johnny C. Taylor Jr.: I can understand your surprise at finding out you and your col- leagues have been filmed, but Many companies record meetings over safety concerns or to identify inappropriate behavior. PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES depending on the details, it may be legal if there are safety concerns, possible illegal activ- your company’s compensation ity, or other legitimate reasons. and incentive programs, For instance, it’s typical for should be clearly detailed employers to use video surveil- somewhere – whether on the lance technology to identify company intranet, in a hand- any inappropriate behavior or book, or in an onboarding pack- unsafe working conditions or et. to track security data. More- The first thing I would do is over, if you work in an industry speak with the people who like banking or real estate, sur- know your new workplace best: veillance often is used to en- Current employees. Ask your force safety and security. people manager or co-workers However, you mention it’s who they suggest you ask your your colleague who has been questions other than the HR filming you – that might be an person you’ve contacted. I entirely different situation. In would be surprised if your col- most workplaces, employees leagues didn’t have the same should not be recording work- questions when they joined site activities without the per- your organization. mission of those being record- You don’t mention where ed, unless they have valid con- you work or the structure of cerns about unlawful activity your organization, but I’ll note or safety issues. Depending on some HR departments out- where you live, there are state Employers should make it easy to access information about your benefits. GETTY IMAGES source benefit functions to a laws that require at least two third-party administrator. Oth- parties or all parties to consent er companies have an employ- to be recorded. with your HR team to see if they answers to questions like turn, you should feel comfort- ee self-service feature on the However, while employers have a workplace recordings what the pay schedule is or able and empowered asking company intranet where em- may generally ban unautho- policy that explains when re- how I can add a dependent to the important questions you ployees can access this type of rized recordings in the work- cording is and is not permitted. my insurance. I’ve never been mentioned above. information. place, there are a few situations If you find no policy exists, and turned away from HR before I am almost certain your Still, it’s in the organiza- where it’s legal. For example, you continue to feel uncomfort- like this! – Anonymous company doesn’t offer benefits tion’s and employee’s best in- under the National Labor Rela- able, elevate your concerns to Taylor: I am sorry to hear only to keep the details about terest to share this important tions Act, an employer’s policy your people manager or HR. this – nothing is more frustrat- them vague. After all, employ- information in a clear, accessi- should not prohibit recordings I wish you the best. ing than when you need an- ers are often legally required to ble way. I also would double- showing hazardous workplace Q: What do you do when swers quickly and you simply provide a summary description check your job offer letter and conditions or inconsistent ap- HR will not respond to ques- don’t know where to turn. for their medical plans and new hire paperwork to locate plication of employer rules, tions you have about benefits Candidly speaking, HR is make this information avail- the company handbook, which among others. like salary, bonuses, and called human resources for a able to their employees, de- should address some, if not all I’m sorry to hear you feel medical insurance? Every reason. They should be pending on the type of cover- the information. your privacy has been violated time I ask questions, I am told equipped to answer your ques- age they have. Good luck, and I hope you in a safe space like your work- it’s not HR’s responsibility. tions, or at the very least, point Additionally, other essential find the answers to your ques- site. I recommend checking I’m not sure who to turn to for you in the right direction. In benefits information, such as tions! Amazon seeks in-person unionizing vote Firm wants labor the best interest of all parties – possible," Knox said. associate convenience, vote fi- Some Amazon workers in board to reconsider delity, and timeliness of vote Europe are unionized and are count. moving to improve their work- Josh Rivera “We will continue to insist ing conditions. USA TODAY on measures for a fair election, A union election was held in and we want everyone to vote, 2014 at a Delaware warehouse, Amazon is asking the Na- so our focus is ensuring that’s but workers rejected the effort. tional Labor Relations Board to direct warehouse workers to cast unionizing votes in-person, rather than by mail. The company filed a motion last Thursday to delay the union election at an Alabama Make sure your auction facility. TIMED AIRPLANE AUCTION The union election was set professional is an to begin on Feb. 8 by mail. Amazon’s union election was to begin Feb. 8 by mail but the 2015 Learjet 70(2,000 hrs.) The motion by Amazon in- company wants a one-day, in-person vote. PROVIDED BY AMAZON Wed., Jan. 27 to Wed., Feb 3 tends to have the NLRB reconsider its decision on the meth- 5:00pm od of voting and instead go for a vote in close proximity to their bama last month, according to one-day in-person event. workplace," Amazon spokes- Johns Hopkins data. Kissimmee, FL(Orlando) "We believe that the best ap- woman Heather Knox said in a It also registered its record Fully Loaded, Well-Maintained proach to a valid, fair and suc- statement to USA TODAY. number of deaths at 1,981. MEMBER cessful election is one that is The NLRB had no comment "Amazon provided the NLRB Info: Scott (315) 439-7740 conducted manually, in-per- on the matter. with a safe, confidential and Go To: www.lyonauction.com son, making it easy for asso- There were 100,641 con- convenient proposal for asso- Find An Auctioneer at Auctioneers.org ciates to verify and cast their firmed COVID-19 cases in Ala- ciates to vote onsite, which is in 4B ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY MONEY

ALL THE MARKET ACTION IN REAL TIME AMERICA’S MARKETS MARKETS.USATODAY.COM

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE S&P 500 • STANDARD & POOR’S NASDAQ COMPOSITE RUSSELL 2000 Closing: 30,960.00 Closing: 3,855.36 Closing: 13,635.99 Closing: 2,163.27 Change: -.1% Change: +.4% Change: +.7% Change: -.3% -36.98 YTD % Chg: +1.2% +13.89 YTD % Chg: +2.6% +92.93 YTD % Chg: +5.8% -5.49 YTD % Chg: +9.5%

MARKET PERFORMANCE BY SECTOR MARKET NOTEBOOK TOP 10 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS COMMODITIES Sector Close Chg. 4wk 1 YTD 1 Issues NYSE NASDAQ ETF, ranked by volume Ticker Close Chg. % Chg %YTD Commodities Close Prev. Chg. % Chg. % YTD Energy 41.64 -0.43 +9.9% +9.9% Advancing 1,016 1,522 ProShs UltPro ShtQQQ SQQQ 13.03 -0.37 -2.8% -14.2% Cattle (lb.) 1.17 1.17 unch. -0.2% +3.2% Corn (bushel) 5.12 5.01 +0.11 +2.2% +5.7% Consumer discret. 170.73 +0.63 +6.9% +6.2% Declining 1,500 1,725 iPath Sh Term Fut VXX 17.06 +0.66 +4.0% +1.6% 127 Gold (troy oz.) 1,854.90 1,855.70 -0.80 -0.0% -2.0% Telecom 78.41 +0.62 +6.2% +5.6% Unchanged 51 SPDR S&P500 ETF Tr SPY 384.39 +1.51 +0.4% +2.8% Total 2,567 3,374 SPDR Financial XLF 30.12 -0.22 -0.7% +2.2% Hogs, lean (lb.) .71 .70 +0.01 +1.0% +0.5% Health care 118.36 +0.77 +5.9% +4.3% Issues at 401 iShs Emerg Mkts EEM 56.25 +0.42 +0.8% +8.9% Natural Gas (Btu.) 2.60 2.45 +0.15 +6.4% +2.5% Technology 133.94 +1.11 +2.6% +3.0% Oil, heating (gal.) 1.59 1.58 +0.01 +1.1% +7.5% New 52 Week High 168 7Direxion SCapBear 3x TZA 5.12 +0.03 +0.6% -25.5% Utilities 64.10 +1.26 +4.3% +2.2% Oil, lt. swt. crude (bar.) 52.77 52.27 +0.50 +1.0% +8.8% New 52 Week Low 3 SPDR Energy XLE 41.64 -0.43 -1.0% +9.9% Silver (troy oz.) 25.46 25.52 -0.06 -0.3% -3.3% Financials 30.12 -0.22 +3.5% +2.2% Share Volume Invesco QQQ Trust QQQ 328.11 +2.69 +0.8% +4.6% Materials 73.99 -0.39 +3.8% +2.2% Total 6,110,076,235 6,425,519,346 ProShs UltraPro QQQ TQQQ 103.31 +2.79 +2.8% +13.7% Soybeans (bushel) 13.44 13.12 +0.32 +2.4% +2.2% Wheat (bushel) 6.49 6.35 +0.14 +2.2% +1.3% Industrials 87.91 -0.60 -0.2% -0.7% Advancing 3,696,343,840 3,972,063,264 iShares Rus 2000 IWM 214.79 -0.21 -0.1% +9.6% 2,334,556,358 Consumer staples 65.72 +0.65 -2.3% -2.6% Declining 2,374,355,875 Unchanged 39,376,520 118,899,724 FOREIGN CURRENCIES FOREIGN MARKETS S&P 500’S BIGGEST GAINERS S&P 500’S BIGGEST LOSERS Currency per dollar Close Prev. 6 mo. ago Yr. ago Country Close Prev. Change %Chg. %YTD British pound .7319 .7309 .7819 .7646 Frankfurt 13,643.95 13,873.97 -230.02 -1.7% -0.6% Company (ticker) Price $ Chg . % Chg. YTD Company (ticker) Price $ Chg . % Chg. YTD Canadian dollar 1.2751 1.2728 1.3424 1.3142 Hong Kong 30,159.01 29,447.85 +711.16 +2.4% +10.8% Iron Mountain (IRM) 32.11 +1.96 +6.5 +8.9 TechnipFMC plc (FTI) 10.55 -.66 -5.9 +12.2 Chinese yuan 6.4798 6.4819 7.0173 6.9367 Japan (Nikkei) 28,822.29 28,631.45 +190.84 +0.7% +5.0% Fox Corp A (FOXA) 32.09 +1.93 +6.4 +10.2 WestRock Co (WRK) 44.12 -2.55 -5.5 +1.4 Euro .8238 .8219 .8594 .9067 London 6,638.85 6,695.07 -56.22 -0.8% +2.8% Fox Corp B (FOX) 30.68 +1.51 +5.2 +6.2 Baker Hughes Company (BKR) 21.05 -1.12 -5.1 +1.0 Mexico City 45,126.52 44,683.55 +442.96 +1.0% +2.4% Clorox Co (CLX) 211.96 +9.61 +4.7 +5.0 Freeport McMoRan (FCX) 28.98 -1.51 -5.0 +11.4 Japanese yen 103.80 103.83 106.01 109.24 CBS Corp B (VIAC) 47.71 +2.13 +4.7 +28.0 Royal Caribn (RCL) 68.42 -3.54 -4.9 -8.4 Mexican peso 20.1086 19.9483 22.2722 18.7998 SOURCE Morningstar, Dow Jones Indexes, The Associated Press Apple: Restaurant industry looks Charge to bounce back in 2021 iPhone 12, Businesses pivot to adjust to ‘new normal’

MagSafe Neil Strebig Beaver County Times safely USA TODAY NETWORK In March, Scratch Food & Beverage Keep gadgets, medical owner Don Mahaney developed a “pay what you can” menu and local market devices a distance apart model to help customers who had lost their jobs or couldn’t find groceries be- Brett Molina cause of early pandemic shortages. USA TODAY By May, he was running up the hun- dred-some-step staircases along Rial- Apple is warning owners of the to Street in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill iPhone 12 and any MagSafe charging neighborhood to raise money for safe accessories to keep the gadgets at a food deliveries to needy customers. “safe distance” from medical devices. Before the end of the year, the res- According to a support page on Ap- taurant changed its name to Scratch & David LeHeron, the owner of the Blue Heron, is reflected in the window ple’s website updated Saturday, the Co. and launched a retail brand, displaying his Certified COVID Compliant sign at the main entrance of the tech giant advises owners keep med- Scratch & Co. Made Brand. The goal is Springettsbury Township, Pa., restaurant. PAUL KUEHNEL/USA TODAY NETWORK ical devices at least 6 inches away from to cut through the global supply chain medical devices or 12 inches if they are and offer locally sourced provisions wirelessly charging. such as pickles, lunch meat and sauer- demic saw Michelin Star restaurants paying it forward, though in a time of The iPhone 12 as well as MagSafe, a kraut while ensuring local farmers and stop serving $75 plates and opting to pandemic the lack of competition line of accessories including cases commercial ecosystems have an ad- serve $35 takeout – just to keep the around Delta (a town with fewer than built to make wirelessly charging the vantage over global and national sup- lights on. Some, such as Alinea in Chi- 1,000 residents) may help, not unlike smartphones easier, contain magnets ply chains. cago, have found a way forward. Other the way Scratch found a way to sustain to help connect better. The smart- “If I hadn’t been taking that ap- nationally recognized restaurants such itself and become a resource for its com- phones also have “components and ra- proach I’d be talking to you as a former as the Gotham Bar & Grill in New York munity. dios that emit electromagnetic fields.” business owner,” Mahaney said. “The haven’t been so lucky. Longstreet expects corporate travel, The support page says devices such only reason we’re still in business now The fallout of the pandemic has which has historically been customer as implanted pacemakers “might con- is because we changed our entire busi- shown that while some restaurant own- fodder for fine-dining restaurants, will tain sensors that respond to magnets ness model.” ers may have the savvy to keep pivoting, not return to pre-pandemic levels. He and radios when in close contact.” By pivoting weekly, Scratch & Co. the industry remains in choppy waters expects to see a decline by at least 10% Apple suggests users get in touch became an outlier in the restaurant in- and, in some aspects, is on the verge of even after business returns to normal. with their doctor or the maker of their dustry – a 2020 success story. capsizing. Continued mandates and restric- medical device to find out how the new Now, as the restaurant gears up for John Longstreet, president and CEO tions on gatherings pose additional iPhone or accessories might have on several initiatives in 2021, the hospi- of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodg- risks for a return to normal in states the device. tality industry as a whole sits between ing Association, expects that the “new such as Pennsylvania where executive A recent study in the Heart Rhythm catastrophe and recovery. normal” will see more than 50% of res- orders have come in greater frequency, Journal tested the compatibility of the When the pandemic hit in March, taurants close. The restaurant spaces he said. iPhone 12 with a patient who had a few believed it would last as long as it are likely remain vacant, unlike the past “On the positive side, states like Medtronic Implantable Cardioverter has. It forced restaurants – an industry when a new eatery may have appeared. Pennsylvania, within driving distance Defibrillator (ICD), which is used to accustomed to pivoting – to either take “Banks will be less likely to provide of major population centers, will receive manage cardiac rhythms. The study a pragmatic approach or an innovative loans for restaurants in states like Penn- a quicker return of leisure travel,” he said that when the iPhone was brought one. sylvania with the threat of more govern- said, adding that the state saw an initial close to the ICD, “immediate suspen- Some fine-dining restaurants such ment shutdowns and capricious man- bump in the summer of 2020 before ad- sion of ICD therapies was noted which as The Left Bank in downtown York, dates forcing them into bankruptcy,” ditional stay-at-home orders came. persisted for the duration of the test.” Pennsylvania, opted to close before Longstreet said. “Boarded-up spaces In the in-between areas, such as York the initial shutdown. Ride this out in will be particularly prevalent in down- or Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the direct the short term and sort out the damage town areas, where restaurants are typi- competition may hurt smaller business- iPhone 12 may later. cally the lifeblood of revitalization, so es because the local population size may affect medical Others, such as Scratch, overhauled we can expect increased urban blight, not be large enough to contribute to a devices. APPLE their menu and concept. “One of my crime and mass exodus, like we are see- takeout-only model. goals was to keep my people em- ing in New York City. “The survival part doesn’t much alter ployed,” Mahaney said. Instead, without foot traffic, lovable our path from most of 2020,” said Chuck But even before the stay-at-home watering holes leave the communities Moran, executive director of the Penn- orders hit, restaurateurs swiveled in where they’ve become staples over dec- sylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern any and every direction. Patreon ac- ades. Association. “We’ll be working to gain fi- counts were created, GoFundMe cam- In other communities, such as Delta nancial help for the industry, and as dis- paigns were launched, and distilleries in southern York County, Pennsylvania, tribution of the vaccine picks up its stopped making alcohol just for our a single restaurant such as Delta Pizza pace, we’ll push for a return of certain gullets. can find a way to survive. business rights such as the ability to The beginning stages of the pan- Delta Pizza has built a reputation by seat patrons at bar tops.”

Coke with Coffee simplifies search for caffeine fix

Kelly Tyko ca-Cola Trademark, in a news release. piloted in Japan in 2018. USA TODAY “Now, you don’t need to leave Coca- The company says it tailors the reci- Cola to get your coffee fix.” pe in each country to "meet local tastes." Perk up, coffee lovers and Coke fans. Coca-Cola with Coffee is available in It's not the first time Coca-Cola has A combination beverage from Coca- three flavors – Dark Blend, Vanilla and had a soda with coffee in the U.S. Cola brings a new way to get a caffeine Caramel – while the zero-sugar, zero- In 2006, Coca-Cola Blak was fix. calorie version comes in Dark Blend and launched but then was discontinued Starting Monday, Coca-Cola with Vanilla. two years later. Some reviews of the Coffee and Coca-Cola with Coffee Zero All 12-ounce cans have 69 mg of caf- product said the drink had a brutal af- Sugar are available nationwide in ready- feine while Coca-Cola says the same tertaste. to-drink coffee aisles in stores, the com- serving of a Coke has 34 mg and a Diet Coca-Cola says in its preliminary pany said. The new drinks, which are in- Coke has 46 mg of caffeine. Coca-Cola with Coffee is available at consumer testing, more than 80% of fused with Brazilian coffee, were first The average cup of coffee has 95 mg stores nationwide PROVIDED BY COCA-COLA consumers who tried the new product announced in July. of caffeine. would buy it. “Many people are often torn between There are 70 calories in the Coca-Co- Last week, Greek yogurt company reaching for a soft drink or a coffee at 3 la with Coffee, half of the calories in a $2.32, the company said. Chobani announced new ready-to- p.m. at work, at school or on the go,” said 12-ounce can of regular Coke. A single The U.S. is the 50th market to launch drink cold brew coffees in bottles. The Brandan Strickland, brand director, Co- can of the new coffee will retail for about Coca-Cola with Coffee, which was first coffee comes in four flavors. Netflix’s ‘Ozark’ floats to the Singer Amanda Shires enlists top of the streaming deluge strong women for message LIFE We break down the ratings for the most popular “Our Problem” captures the tough conversation USA TODAY | TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | SECTION B TV series, movies and news. Page 7B about ending a pregnancy. Page 8B

LIFELINE TELEVISION BOOK REVIEW Didion’s gift is as clear as her prose

Matt Damsker Special to USA TODAY

REGÉ-JEAN PAGE PROVIDED BY NETFLIX The tide of “New Journalism” that flooded the late 1960s and ’70s may MAKING WAVES have been dominated by the exclama- ‘BRIDGERTON’ BLUNDER tion marks, manic italics and machis- mo of Tom Wolfe, Norman Mailer, or Eagle-eyed fans have spotted a mod- Hunter S. Thompson, but the lower- ern-day blunder in the opening mo- key voice of Joan Didion has outlasted, ments of the runaway hit Netflix peri- and outperformed, those swaggering od drama “Bridgerton.” The torrid peers. Didion’s latest volume, “Let Me romance, based on the first of eight Tell You What I Mean” (Knopf, 192 pp., novels by Julia Quinn, has proved a eeee), makes that case easily with a must-watch escape for many since its dozen previously uncollected pieces Christmas debut, and has been re- from 1968 to 2000. newed for a second Netflix season. Slim and elegant as Didion’s public While the tale of sex and scandal is persona remains at age 86, the book set in Regency era London, early 19th traces her journey and development as century, a painted yellow traffic line a writer of magisterial (a word she was clear on the road used, for dra- would never use) command and finely matic purposes, by horse-drawn car- measured style. She brought new eyes riages. Just as fans noticed the Star- to the American scene, whether chart- bucks cup and then the water bottle ing the disconnect between traditional in the finale of “Game of Thrones,” and hippie media – in the book’s open- “Bridgerton” fans drew the line at this er, “Alicia and the Underground Press” error (it is around the 3:19 mark in the – or with piercing observations of episode). boldfaced names including Ernest Hemingway, Nancy Reagan and Mar- CNN and MSNBC enjoyed big audience bumps leading up to the tha Stewart. She intuited the fragmen- inauguration of President Joe Biden. WILLIAM BRETZGER/USA TODAY tation that would breed an internet THEY SAID WHAT? world, and she sensed danger in the THE STARS’ BEST QUOTES shallow myth-making of celebrity journalism. “I have a great family. I have a Didion came to literature as an army beautiful mother. I have a step- Post-election brat Californian, bred from Sacramen- father who stepped in and played a to’s cultural aridity, whose greatest ad- huge, huge part in sharing what it is olescent trauma was not getting into to have a dependable father figure in Stanford. Settling for University of our life. But it doesn’t take away from California, Berkeley, she felt lost in her the fact that we didn’t bump propels first writing workshop – without know our dad. I think ideas, stories, worldliness. “I remem- as I’ve sort of gone ber each other member of the class as through that process older and wiser than I had hope of ever ... I kind of look at my CNN to No. 1 being,” she writes, “more possessed of dad and I’m, like, ‘You an exotic past: marriages and the know, the love has breakup of marriages, money and the Hudson never ever gone any- Bill Keveney USA TODAY lack of it, sex and politics and the Adri- where. It’s always been atic seen at dawn.” there, no matter what those compli- Former President Donald Trump isn’t the only one dealing with cations have been. And healing is ... loss after Election Day. h Fox News, the longtime top-ranked ca- personal, and I think people sometimes just need to hear that they’re ble news network and, until recently, Trump’s favorite media out- not alone in that,” Kate Hudson dur- let, has lost its No. 1 status, too, with CNN now holding the top ing an interview for “Sunday Today With Willie Geist,” opening up about spot. h From Election Day through Inauguration Day, when Dem- her complex family dynamics, in- ocrat Joe Biden was sworn in to succeed Trump as president, cluding her estrangement from her father, musician and actor Bill Hud- CNN was the most-watched cable news network in both total son. viewers (1.8 million) and those 25-to-54 (501,000), the key news demographic, according to Nielsen ratings.

Fox dropped to third (1.5 million) topped the rankings with 8.8 mil- across the day, trailing MSNBC (1.6 lion, while CNN straggled in at No. 5 million), although it narrowly leads (2.6 million), ahead of only MSNBC. MSNBC (283,000 to 278,000) Right-wing Newsmax, which among viewers ages 25 to 54. drew Trump’s praise as he criticized CNN also took over the top spot Fox for being disloyal, enjoyed a among viewers in the key demo- huge post-election bump in its tiny graphic in prime time, where Fox viewing base (47,000 in October, features its biggest hitters – opinion 214,000 in November and 225,000 hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity in December). IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY and Laura Ingraham – although Fox That likely played a role in Fox’s WHO’S CELEBRATING TODAY remains No. 1 overall. drop, says Brian Hughes, executive The reversal of fortune was most vice president at ad firm Magna. Anita Baker is 63. Ellen DeGeneres is apparent on Inauguration Day, Trump, who tweeted support of 63. Sara Rue is 42. where CNN was No. 1 among news Newsmax and One America News But the American icon who would competitors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Network (OAN), had been “dispar- declare, in her most famous sentence, EST with 7.7 million viewers, and aging Fox News for a while,” he says. “We tell ourselves stories in order to Fox finished last among news net- Fox was “on air admitting the elec- live” (from the classic essay, and sub- USA TODAY SNAPSHOTS© works with 2.2 million. (When sequent book, “The White Album”) Trump was inaugurated in 2017, Fox See CNN, Page 7B wasted no time telling the world what Top iTunes she saw. After an apprenticeship at movie rentals Vogue magazine, where writing photo captions influenced her less-is-more style, Didion found her voice quickly at 1. Tenet the Saturday Evening Post, via the 2. American Skin “Points West” column she shared with 3. The War With Grandpa her husband and screenwriting part- 4. Honest Thief ner, John Gregory Dunne. 5. Born a Champion Six of those early essays, all from 1968, are the short-form gems of the new collection, pioneering a coolly de- tached, analytic tone that shimmered – ironically – with subjectivity. Didion dissected the West Coast anomie and rootless questing that would mark such breakthrough novels as “Play It as It Lays” and “A Book of Common Prayer.” But the incomparable journalism and self-reflection that accompa- Dana Bash, from left, Jake Tapper and Abby Phillip anchor CNN’s AS OF JAN. 25, ITUNES/APPLE coverage of Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20. CNN See DIDION, Page 7B 6B ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY LIFE

TELEVISION ‘Big Sky’ is back with big questions

Kelly Lawler Cassie hesitates, she shoots Legarski in USA TODAY the head as he threatens and goads her.

Quite a bit has happened under the Meanwhile, Ronald continues to “Big Sky” in just five episodes. be creepy ABC’s hit crime drama from David E. Kelley (“Big Little Lies”) returns Tues- Legarksi may have been the master- day (10 EST/PST) after a holiday break mind behind the human trafficking op- and yet another pivotal plot twist in the eration, but Ronald is the skin-crawling Dec. 15 episode. Pursuing three missing muscle. His weird relationship with his girls and her missing ex-lover, private critical mother (Valerie Mahaffey) gives detective Cassie Dewell (Kylie Bunbury) off plenty of Norman Bates in “Psycho” shot Montana state trooper Rick Legar- vibes. She hints that Ronald has some ski (John Carroll Lynch) in the head, just kind of documented history of sexual steps away from the girls he helped kid- violence (he attacks her after she be- nap. But the story isn’t over. rates him), and outright asks if he has “Big Sky” began by killing its biggest anything to do with the missing girls. He star (Ryan Phillippe) in the series pre- fesses up, although he offers no details. miere, and has raced through a consid- As Cassie and Jenny get closer to erable amount of plot so far, including finding the girls, Ronald starts to worry multiple murders and kidnappings. that Legarski will pin the whole opera- Here’s a quick refresher before the se- tion on him. He visits Legarski’s unhap- ries returns for the second part of the Natalie Alyn Lind, from left, is Danny, Jessie James Keitel is Jerri and Jade py wife Merilee (Brooke Smith) at her season, and a few hints about what Pettyjohn is Grace in "Big Sky." PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DARKO SIKMAN/ABC quilt shop and invites her out dancing. comes next: The pair share a chaste night together, although Ronald is so off-putting it’s Legarski fooled Cassie and Jenny, hard to imagine what Merilee sees in but only temporarily him. When she gets home, Merilee tells her husband she danced with another “Big Sky” began with the abduction man but didn’t cheat on him, which still of teen sisters Danielle and Grace (Nat- angers Legarski enough that he fanta- alie Alyn Lind and Jade Pettyjohn), who sizes about murdering her. Instead, he got in a road rage match with Ronald vows to be a better husband and tells Pergman (Brian Geraghty) after he had Ronald he’s getting out of human traf- adducted sex worker Jerrie (Jesse ficking after they get rid of the three James Keitel). Ronald and Legarski fun- girls. nel women they see as undesirable (primarily sex workers like Jerrie) out of Jenny (Katheryn Winnick) is on the Ronald (Brian Geraghty) has an What’s next? Montana to a human trafficking ring in case as ex-cop Jenny. unusual relationship with his mom. Canada, part of Legarski’s goal to clean The fifth episode concludes with up the country. They primarily target Cassie staring down at a bleeding Le- women whose disappearances will go When Cody disappears, too (murdered planting a GPS tracker on Legarski’s car, garski, but 11 episodes are left this sea- unnoticed, but Ronald’s rage-induced by Legarski for getting too close to the Cassie and Jenny believe they’ve found son, after ABC extended the run of the capture of Dani and Grace puts heat on operation), Jenny and Cassie set aside the location where he’s holding the girls. new drama. It’s unlikely the story will be the criminals. Grace also proves to be a their feud over Cody – who declared af- But Legarski is a step ahead, moving the wrapped up with Cassie’s rescue of the remarkably crafty hostage, escaping fections for both women – to try to solve girls just in time. girls. There are lingering questions “Big once and generally causing havoc for the case. Jenny is arrested for breaking laws in Sky” needs to answer: Is Legarski actu- her captors. Cassie has suspicions about Legarski pursuit of the captors, but Cassie is un- ally dead? Will Jenny and Cassie discov- Searching for the sisters, and later from the moment she meets him, and deterred. She surmises that he might er what happened to Cody? What will Jerrie, are former cop and private detec- she and Jenny end up pursuing him as a have taken his hostages to a closed bar Ronald do after he learns about Legar- tive Cody Hoyt (Phillippe), his es- suspect to their detriment, angering the he frequents, and it’s there that she ski? How will Cassie handle what’s tranged wife Jenny (Katheryn Win- crooked cop and the local sheriff (Pat- finds him, standing at the bottom of a she’s done? nick), also a former officer, and his part- rick Gallagher), who has to keep clean- flight of stairs, the three missing girls The new episodes provide plenty of ner, in more ways than one, Cassie. ing up Cassie and Jenny’s messes. After tied up feet away from him. Though answers.

To report problems, email [email protected]. PUZZLES Formorepuzzles,gettheUSATODAYCrosswordapp. CROSSWORD WORD ROUNDUP ZPNMANICOTT I

EDITED Erik Agard By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek 1/26 MIALRFORKTWP BY Alina Abidi & Brooke Find and Circle: KETNEOPYZVRE Husic Five pastas ☑☐☐☐☐ SKR IAMTEKZFE Three eating utensils ☐☐☐ MAKE ENDS ____ Canal ☐☐☐ PRRYWMUINI JR Two five-letter mammals ☐☐ MEET ______in “Postcards from the Edge” ☐☐ OE LWL SARNNQT ACROSS Monday’s answer: APEX FLAX FLEX COAX JINX LYNX / SMILE FROWN OWH A L E P K N I E S 1 Backtalk SMIRK GRIN / POLAND FRANCE SPAIN ITALY / HOCKEY RUGBY /

WORLD © Andrews McMeel NHKL INGUINEV 5 Request from a dentist QUICKCROSS UP & DOWN WORDS 9 ___ and seek 13 Detangling target By John Wilmes 1/26 ByDavidL.HoytandRussellL.Hoyt 1/26 14 Backpedaling BORN phrase Low-lying clouds 1. 16 Object of worship 2. 17 Digging Oblong shape 18 Reluctant 3. 19 Breathing organ Seized auto 4. forafish 5. 20 Doormat saying Woody plant 23 Carne ___ 6. DONE 25 Painter Amos Military base 7. 26 “Aw, darn!” Clues: 27 Email address “Get ____ it!” Monday’s Answer character 1. Movie about a lion cub JOHNNY CASH 2. Certain Monopoly space 28 Anti-smoking ad, Monday’s Answer CASH PRIZE Open wide 3. A valet can find one PRIZE MONEY e.g. © Andrews McMeel SASH 4. Cosmic competition MONEY MONSTER 31 Shaadi garment 5. ______time Gin type MONSTER MOVIE 33 Pancake made © Andrews McMeel 1/26 ECHO 6. Phil Collins’ “______Odds” MOVIE THEATER with fermented 71 Mythology 22 Deckwithswords 60 Impolite IRON THEATER CRITIC batter QUICKCROSS 7.Finished 72 Common pet fish and cups 61 Get-rich-quick ON YOUR PHONE PLAY ONLINE 35 Prefix meaning name since 2003 23 Opposite of SEEK scheme, almost puzzles.usatoday.com PUZZLES.USATODAY.COM © Andrews McMeel “three” 73 Clarinet insert subtract always 1/25 37 Male cats 24 Chimney particles 62 Phrase after a SUDOKU 39 Cyndi Lauper hit DOWN 29 “Keep listening!” gulp, maybe 43 HRrepon“The 1 Oneofacross- 30 Soundfromacorgi 66 “___ You Happy Office” country pair 32 “Signmeup!” Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 Completethegridsothateveryrow,columnand3x2 Now?” (Michelle boxcontainsthenumbers1through9(norepeats). boxcontainsthenumbers1through6(norepeats). 44 ___ Lanka 2 “The Street” author 34 “Mi___”(“mylove”) Branch song) 45 ___ Scotia Petry 36 “___ been a 67 Colorful Taylor 47 Goes bad 42 57 39 546 3 “I guess we’re pleasure!” Swift album title 49 Firewood splitter done here?” 38 Dramatic look 51 First-aid ___ 4 Lasted 40 Magazine with 85 25 52 Flying saucer, e.g. 5 Bottom part of a aPower100list Monday’s Answer 55 Some brownie shoe 41 Historical 752 324 mix-ins 6 They’re in the + period 57 Singer with albums column 42 Descriptor for 43 41 6 named for her age 7 Totally stunned geniuses or 59 “Dealwithit” 8 Sacred symbols grins 382 4 659 61 63 Language of 9 Hottest 46 Brokeafast Ghalib’s poetry temperature of the 48 Drop by 62 34 6 64 Historical period day 50 Lobe’s place DIFFICULTY RATING ))$$$ 65 Word after 10 “Inapickle,”e.g. 52 Regular 498 Monday’s Answers “banner” or “gap” 11 Stuffed vegetable 53 Pass up 35 69372 1485 435 1 26 68 Like extra-sharp dish 54 Sequence 8425691 73 216453 cheddar 12 Journalist 56 Kitchen 157834629 69 Pieceofsitting Nakashima appliance 64 9 1 35 386495217 152364 415372896 3642 15 furniture 15 Famous trans under a hood 1/25 1/26 DIFFICULTY RATING ))$$$ 279186354 523641 70 Bronte protagonist allegory in film 58 Washer’s CROSSWORDS SUDOKU FUSION 728653941 Jane 21 Treasure hunt aid partner ON YOUR PHONE ON YOUR PHONE 9642 1 7538 64 1 5 32 Answers: Call 1-900-988-8300, 99 cents a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-320-4280. get our crossword app puzzles.usatoday.com © Andrews McMeel 531948762 1/25

123 Today’s theme ©WIGGLES 3D GAMES TXTPERT 1 2 3 DON’T QUOTE ME® Religion R T P Across Down 4 E I T R Canadian leadership Rearrange the words to complete the quote. 45 1. 773224 1. 72723473 Use the 5 6 expert Robin Sharma AWAY BEAUTIFUL FEAR IT RUN THING WHEN T YPEFACE 4. 73367637 2. 23736669 phone talks about fear. keypad to 6. 6984 3. 9677447 R D B S decode the ______6 7. 7474 6 3 5. 37427 THE ABOUT IS, clues. A I L S For example: 7 ______2 could be A, C ARTOON YOU TO , IT RUNS . 1/26 7 BorC...and T I 5678 could 8 be LOST L EAD

1/25 Monday’s Answer: “There are shortcuts to happiness, © USA TODAY and Rich Coulter 1/26 Yesterday’s solution and dancing is one of them.” - Vicki Baum LIFE USA TODAY ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ 7B

TELEVISION ‘Ozark,’ ‘The Office,’ ‘Frozen 2’ top 2020 TV lists

Gary Levin Morning shows USA TODAY 2020 2019 % change What a year 2020 was. Good Morning 3.7 3.9 -6% A pandemic, protests about racism, America (ABC) election drama ... and plenty of television, in part because of all us Today (NBC) 3.6 3.8 -6% trapped indoors due to coronavirus. CBS This 2.8 3.0 -4% So what did we watch? Nielsen says Morning Netflix’s “Ozark” was the most streamed original series, nearly doubling the No. 2 Viewers in millions, 12/30/19-12/20/20, vs. series “Lucifer” despite having fewer comparable period in 2019. Source: Nielsen than half the number of episodes. “The Office” was again the top network series streamed, while NBC’s “Sunday Night Video on Demand titles Football” was again the top network TV program, followed by “NCIS.” And Dis- 1. Homeland (Showtime) ney’s “Frozen 2” and “Moana” were the 2. Game of Thrones (HBO) most-streamed movies of the year. ABC’s David Muir led network eve- 3. 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days ning newscasts; “Good Morning Amer- (TLC) ica” was tops among morning shows; 4. The Sopranos (HBO) and Fox News’ Tucker Carlson is now the top-rated cable news host, eclipsing 5. Outlander (Starz) Sean Hannity. Netflix’s “Ozark,” starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney, was the 6. Married at First Sight (Lifetime) We’ve got you covered with this com- most-streamed original series of 2020, Nielsen says. PROVIDED BY STEVE DIETL/NETFLIX pendium of the most popular streaming 7. The First 48 (A&E) series, TV shows, news programs and 8. Sesame Street (HBO) more: TV news programs 9. Billions (Showtime) 2020 2019 % change Most streamed original TV 10. PAW Patrol (Nick Jr.) ABC World News Tonight (David Muir) 9.6 8.6 +12% series 11. 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? NBC Nightly News (Lester Holt) 8.3 7.8 + 6% (TLC) 1. Ozark (Netflix) CBS Evening News (Norah O’Donnell) 5.9 5.7 + 4% 12. SpongeBob SquarePants 2. Lucifer (Netflix) Tucker Carlson Tonight (Fox News) 4.5 3.1 +42% (Nickelodeon) 3. The Crown (Netflix) All In with Chris Hayes (MSNBC) 2.1 1.8 +18% 13. Power (Starz) 4. Tiger King (Netflix) Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN) 1.8 1.1 +70% 14. Shameless (Showtime) 5. The Mandalorian (Disney+) Hannity (Fox News) 4.4 3.4 +31% 15. The Last Dance (ESPN) 6. The Umbrella Academy (Netflix) Rachel Maddow (MSNBC) 3.4 2.9 +15% 16. 90 Day Fiancé (TLC) 7. Great British Baking Show (Netflix) Cuomo Prime Time (CNN) 2.0. 1.1. +76% 17.This Is Us (NBC) 8. Boss Baby: Back in Business (Netflix) Ingraham Angle (Fox News) 3.6 2.7 +35% 18. Henry Danger (Nickelodeon) 9. Longmire (Netflix) Last Word/Lawrence O’Donnell (MSNBC) 2.5 2.2 +13% 19. 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way (TLC) 10. You (Netflix) CNN Tonight w/Don Lemon (CNN) 1.6 1.0 +65% 20. Ray Donovan (Showtime) Based on total minutes viewed Most viewed titles on demand in homes 12/30/19-12/27/20. Source: Nielsen Viewership in millions, 12/30/19-12/20/20, vs. comparable period in 2019. Source: Nielsen served by Comcast Cable systems, based on number of hours viewed, 1/1/20-12/13/20. Most streamed acquired Source: Comcast Most streamed movies Top TV shows TV series 1. Frozen 2 (Disney+) 1. Sunday Night Football (NBC) 16.3 On-demand movie rentals 1. The Office (Netflix) 2. Moana (Disney+) 2. NCIS (CBS) 15.4 1. Jumanji: The Next Level 2. Grey’s Anatomy (Netflix) 3. Secret Life of Pets 2 (Netflix) 3. FBI (CBS) 12.9 2. Bad Boys for Life 3. Criminal Minds (Netflix/Hulu) 4. Onward (Disney+) 4. Thursday Night Football (Fox) 12.9 3. Just Mercy 4. NCIS (Netflix/CBS All Access) 5. Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018) (Netflix) 5. Blue Bloods (CBS) 12.2 4. The Invisible Man 5. Schitt’s Creek (Netflix) 6. Hamilton (Disney+) 6. Chicago Fire (NBC) 12.0 5. Trolls World Tour 6. Supernatural (Netflix) 7. Spenser Confidential (Netflix) 7. Chicago PD (NBC) 11.5 6. Sonic the Hedgehog 7. Shameless (Netflix/Showtime) 8. Aladddin (2019) (Disney+) 8. Young Sheldon (CBS) 11.4 7. Dolittle 8. New Girl (Netflix) 9. Toy Story 4 (Disney+) 9. Chicago Med (NBC) 11.4 8. Birds of Prey 9. The Blacklist (Netflix/Peacock) 10. Zootopia (Disney+) 10. This Is Us (NBC) 11.3 9.Joker 10. The Vampire Diaries (Netflix) Based on total minutes viewed Most watched regularly scheduled 10. Knives Out Based on total minutes viewed 12/30/19-12/27/20. Source: Nielsen programs, 1/1/20 to 11/15/20, in millions of Most rented on-demand titles on Redbox 12/30/19-12/27/20. Source: Nielsen viewers. Source: Nielsen service, 1/1/20-12/6/20. Source: Redbox

CNN

Continued from Page 5B tion was settled and that Joe Biden won. That seems to have had an impact on its viewer base, because that’s when we start to see this trend happen and the Newsmax audience bump up.” Author Joan Didion. BRIGITTE LANCOMBE Fox, whose audience includes many Trump supporters, likely took a ratings hit because of the former president’s loss, says Jeffrey McCall, a professor of Didion communications at DePauw University in Indiana. Continued from Page 5B “As Trump departed, I’m sure a lot of his followers were disgruntled or disap- nied every stage of her success would pointed, in some ways even exhausted. build her legacy. With such late, be- That would explain some of the audi- stselling memoirs as 2005’s “The Year ence drift away from Fox,” he says. “I of Magical Thinking” – in which she think some disgruntled voters did go described dealing with the sudden over to at least sample what was going Fox News Channel’s prime-time opinion programming, which includes a show death of Dunne (mainly by not dealing on at Newsmax and OAN,” which is un- hosted by Tucker Carlson, has performed better than its daytime news with it) – and 2011’s “Blue Nights,” measured by Nielsen. “I’d be surprised if programming during the network's slide from the No. 1 viewer ranking after the about the passing of their daughter that audience (stays there) long term November election. RICHARD DREW/AP Quintana Roo Dunne, Didion proved because I think Fox viewers are relative- she could sustain a cold gaze amid so ly loyal and have watched them over a much pain. good many years.” says, pointing to a bump in overall view- will be a key competitor, and I would The new book captures the essence Opinion programming performs best ership surrounding the 2016 election. not be surprised if they’re not No. 1 in a of Didion in countless lapidary sen- for Fox, so it’s no surprise the network Newsmax dropped to an average of month or so,” he says. tences, especially in the 1998 essay added a fourth hour at 7 p.m. EST, cur- 153,000 in the first week in January, One major variable is Trump, a “Last Words,” which deconstructs the rently with a rotating group of hosts, compared to December’s 225,000. news magnet who provided a ratings lean, “deceptively simple” opening and moved Martha MacCallum’s news- “We definitely saw a halo effect from bump for all media, regardless of polit- paragraph of Hemingway’s “A Farewell based show to the less desirable 3 p.m. the 2016 election, too. That eventually ical slant. to Arms.” Didion “imagined that if I slot. “Fox has recognized that opinion died down. We need more time to see if “One key will be whether CNN and studied them closely enough and prac- needs to drive their evening broadcast,” it’s just a temporary blip or if there’s MSNBC can generate enough excite- ticed hard enough I might one day ar- McCall says. been a lasting halo effect,” he says. ment to keep their audiences engaged range 126 words myself. Only one of In the post-election period, both CNN McCall thinks the shift is likely to be without Trump always being the cen- the words has three syllables. Twenty- and MSNBC were up dramatically from temporary, noting that CNN, MSNBC ter of the news agenda,” McCall says. two have two. The other 103 have one.” a year earlier, partly due to the election and broadcasters’ news divisions are “If (Trump) stays off the news and it’s She would come to match that news and the coronavirus pandemic, competing for many of the same view- just covering Biden, it’ll be interesting economy with unwavering vision, set- but Fox was down by a small amount ers while Fox has more of the right-lean- to see if they can maintain that audi- ting a standard for those who have in- across the day. ing audience to itself. ence growth. I expect some sort of nat- haled Didion not just as a writer’s writ- It’s hard to say whether the ratings “That’s not to say Fox will be No. 1 and ural decline once the sugar high of the er, but also as a soul – still-centered, shake-up will be long-lasting, Hughes dominant all the time, but I think they inauguration has drifted off.” self-haunted – of modern experience. 8B ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY LIFE

MUSIC Shires enlists A-list women as ‘Problem’ solvers

Jennifer McClellan her side, even driving her to appoint- grappled with the coronavirus pandem- USA TODAY ments. Her friend’s unconditional sup- ic, states including Ohio, Texas and Mis- port and empathy for Shire’s choice sissippi ruled that abortions were non- “I’m on your side” isn’t the same as “I helped her find peace. essential procedures and must be de- agree with you,” but it means so much “Sometimes, people who are anti- layed. In October, conservative judge more. choice, they believe that others choose Amy Coney Barrett joined the Supreme On “Our Problem,” singer Amanda this flippantly almost,” she says. “Un- Court, which experts say could chal- Shires captures the difficult conversa- less you’re around or have experienced lenge federal abortion rights for decades tion women share as one of them grap- it, you really don’t understand it as to come. ples with ending a pregnancy. much.” “The idea that we could regress to A friend runs away crying. Others Shires released “Our Problem” on pre-Roe v. Wade? I mean, are you kid- ask, “Are you feeling well? Are you gon- Jan. 22, coinciding with the 48th anni- ding me?” says Shires. “It seems like ev- na tell?” Then they find compassion in versary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme erything keeps slipping away little by lit- the chorus: “Everything’s gonna be OK/ Court ruling establishing nationwide tle.” It’s gonna be alright/I’m on your side.” abortion rights. This isn’t Shire’s first pro-choice Cyndi Lauper, Angie Stone, Morgane Singer Amanda Shires. ALYSSE GAFKJEN Forty-eight years after the landmark song. She released “The Problem,” Stapleton, Linda Perry, K.Flay, Nona decision, views on women’s reproduc- which centers on a woman and man’s Hendryx, Lilly Hiatt, Peaches and Valer- tive rights are among the most polariz- conversation about abortion, with Isbell ie June lend their voices to the track. Grammy-winning singer-songwriter ing in the country. This year, lawmakers last year. The lyrics and sound are very Sheryl Crow plays bass and Shires’ hus- tells USA TODAY. in states including Montana, Kentucky, similar and share the chorus of “I’m on band, Jason Isbell, is on guitar. She wrote “Our Problem” following Kansas, Iowa and South Carolina are your side.” Like that song, proceeds Shires enlisted a “crew” of strong her own experience seeking an abor- considering bills that would limit or from “Our Problem” benefit The Yellow- women “you could look up to and trust” tion. She had a friend “who didn’t be- change access to safe abortions in their hammer Fund, an Alabama-based re- to collaborate with on the track, the lieve the same things I did” yet stayed by states. Last March, as the country first productive justice organization.

TONIGHT ON TV

8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 NETWORK ABC To Tell the Truth Jimmy Kimmel, Andrea Savage and Black-ish Power outage. Mixed-ish Johan lies. (N) Big Sky Jenny and Cassie decide to work together to Local Programs Jimmy Kimmel Live Sherri Shepherd participate. (N) (Season premiere) (N) (Season premiere) find Ronald. (N) CBS NCIS Lead about smuggled weapons sends Bishop FBI (N) FBI: Most Wanted (N) Local Programs The Late Show with and Torres right into a shootout. (N) Stephen Colbert (N) Fox The Resident Cain’s life is threatened after crash; Prodigal Son Headmaster’s death affects Bright; Local Programs Conrad and Nic help crash scene victim. (N) Jessica grapples with choice to break up. (N) NBC Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Mo and Max face a This Is Us The lives of a group of strangers intersect Nurses Naz forms a bond with patient’s cousin after Local Programs The Tonight Show challenge as business partners. (N) as they uncover shared traits. realizing seriousness of condition. (N) Starring Jimmy Fallon (N) PBS Finding Your Roots Andy Cohen; Nina Totenberg. (N) PBS American Portrait Eliminating racism. (N) Frontline Trump and violence. (N) Amanpour and Company (N) CW Horror Stories (N) Horror Stories (N) Trickster Maggie is missing; new threat arrives. (N) Local Programs ION NCIS: New Orleans Trap for Garcia. NCIS: New Orleans Dangerous oil rig. NCIS: New Orleans Hacker coalition. NCIS: New Orleans Theoretical playbook Telemundo Exatlón Estados Unidos (N) (Season premiere) La suerte de Loli (N) (Series premiere) Buscando a Frida (N) (Series premiere) Noticias Telemundo (N) Noticias Telemundo (N) Univision Vencer el desamor Cuatro mujeres deben vivir juntas. Imperio de mentiras Elisa y Leonardo. Dulce ambición El amor de su hija. Noticiero Univisión (N) Noti. Univi. Ed. noc. (N) CABLE A&E The First 48 Teen fatally shot; woman shot & dumped. The First 48 Army veteran killed helping homeless. The First 48 Detective believes witness knows more. The First 48 Double-shooting in New Orleans. AMC Star Trek A team of Starfleet Academy cadets attempts to stop a mysterious menace who is bent on the complete destruction of the Federation. Chris Pine (2009) Fury Soldiers risk lives in enemy territory. (2014) Animal Planet Insane Pools: Deeper Dive Lucas transforms outdated pool into jungle oasis; outdoor water room. (N) Treehouse Masters: Ultimate Builds (N) BBC America Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters A man and his sister track down witches. Jeremy Renner (2013) Eraser An agent protects a government witness and becomes a target himself. Arnold Schwarzenegger (1996) BET Movie (6:00) Movie Bravo The Real Housewives of Dallas Birthday party. (N) The Real Housewives of Dallas Winery outing. (N) What Happens (N) The Real Housewives of Dallas Winery outing. Chrisley Knows Best Cartoon Bob’s Burgers Bob’s Burgers American Dad! American Dad! Rick and Morty Rick and Morty Family Guy Family Guy CMT Mom Different ideas. Mom Lend money. Mom Wellness retreat. Mom Jill’s coach. Mom Jill’s sobriety. Mom Shocking offer. Reba Sleek Barbra Jean. Reba Real estate agent. CNBC Shark Tank Group of teens pitch an idea. Shark Tank A spa design is introduced. Streets of Dreams with Marcus Lemonis (N) The Profit Marijuana manufacturing in America. CNN Anderson Cooper 360° (N) Cuomo Prime Time (N) CNN Tonight with Don Lemon (N) CNN Tonight with Don Lemon (N) Comedy The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office Daily Show (N) South Park Discovery Moonshiners Josh moves his still to Virginia; Mark, Huck and Jim Tom make cherry moonshine. (N) Moonshiners Brew contest for Popcorn Sutton liquor. Moonshiners: Master Distiller Mountain brandy. Disney Sydney to the Max Sydney to the Max BUNK’D BUNK’D Big City Greens BUNK’D King for a week. BUNK’D Barb’s campers. Sydney to the Max DisXD Player Select Parker Plays Phineas and Ferb Phineas and Ferb Amphibia Amphibia Player Select Player Select DIY Building Off the Grid: Island Oasis Woman constructs beach getaway. Building Off the Grid: Earth Block Ranch Building Off the Grid: Carolina Catamaran E! Chrisley Knows Best Chrisley Knows Best Chrisley Knows Best Chrisley Knows Best Chrisley Knows Best Chrisley Knows Best Chrisley Knows Best Nightly Pop (N) Food Chopped Sweetbreads in first basket. Chopped Chopped legends battle a champion. (N) Supermarket Stakeout Party snacks. (N) Chopped Chefs bake three courses of pies. Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight (N) Hannity (N) The Ingraham Angle (N) Fox News @ Night(N) Freeform The Waterboy A simpleton becomes a football hero. Step Brothers Two grown men are forced to share a bedroom when their parents get married. (2008) The 700 Club FX Jurassic World A new attraction at dinosaur theme park goes horribly awry. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard (2015) Jurassic World A new attraction at dinosaur theme park goes horribly awry. (2015) FXX The Simpsons The Simpsons Family Guy Family Guy Family Guy New bosses. Family Guy Bob’s Burgers Bob’s Burgers GSN America Says Master Minds Family Feud Family Feud Family Feud Family Feud Family Feud Family Feud Hallmark A Winter Getaway Man assumed to be a millionaire develops feelings for concierge on luxury trip. (2021) The Golden Girls The Golden Girls The Golden Girls The Golden Girls HGTV Fixer to Fabulous A historic Dutch Colonial home. Fixer to Fabulous Arkansas dream home. (N) House Hunters (N) Hunters International (N) House Hunters Hunters International History Beyond Oak Island Aztec treasure. (N) The Curse of Oak Island Underground work. (N) Proof Out There (N) The Proof Is Out There The Curse of Oak Island New structures. HLN Forensic Files Forensic Files Forensic Files Forensic Files Yacht club. Forensic Files Forensic Files Forensic Files Forensic Files ID See No Evil A woman is found strangled in her car. Evil Lives Here Serial rapist Richard Daniel Starrett. 48 Hours on ID Survivors speak. (N) Hometown Homicide Missing since 2010. IFC The Dukes of Hazzard Two rebellious cousins try to root out evil and corruption in their hometown. (2005) Starsky & Hutch Two big-city police detectives speed into action to stop a drug dealer. Ben Stiller (2004) Lifetime Rizzoli & Isles A boy band member is murdered. Rizzoli & Isles Corpse found inside of a statue. Rizzoli & Isles The duo investigates a poisoning. Rizzoli & Isles Suspicious suicide; Angela’s romance. MotorTrend Wheeler Dealers ‘99 BMW Z3 M Coupe. Wheeler Dealers 1965 Coronet 500. (N) Flipping Bangers Gus and Will flip a 1999 Saab. (N) Flipping Bangers A five-door hatchback family car. MSNBC All in with Chris Hayes (N) The Rachel Maddow Show (N) The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (N) The 11th Hour with Brian Williams (N) MTV Teen Mom Amber struggles with relationship. (N) Ridiculousness Ridiculousness Ridiculousness Ridiculousness Ridiculousness Ridiculousness NatGeo Life Below Zero: Next Generation The next generation of Alaskans race to stockpile survival resources. (N) Life Below Zero: Northern Territories (N) Life Below Zero: Next Generation NatGeo Wild Australia’s Most Dangerous Dangerous animals. Australia’s Most Dangerous Venomous reptiles. Australia’s Most Dangerous Toxic stonefish. Great Barrier Reef The largest coral reef system. Nick The Substitute SpongeBob Young Sheldon Young Sheldon Friends Friends Friends Joey uninsured. Friends OWN Underground on OWN On the run following an attack. Underground on OWN Religious leader. (N) Underground on OWN Sam protect brother. (N) Underground on OWN Reward is offered. Oxygen Chicago P.D. Voight is caught with a dead girl. Chicago P.D. Intelligence tracks down an opioid ring. Chicago P.D. Halstead risks credibility and career. Chicago P.D. The case of a ruthless pimp. Paramount The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) (7:00) Fast & Furious O’Conner and Toretto must join forces to track down a dangerous convoy heist. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker (2009) (9:15) Fast & Furious (2006) Pop NCIS: New Orleans Navy crimes. NCIS: New Orleans Navy crimes. NCIS: New Orleans Navy crimes. NCIS: New Orleans Navy crimes. Science Unearthed Experts explore town near Pompeii. Ancient Unexplained Files: Egypt (N) Forbidden History Forbidden History Ancient Order. Sundance The Karate Kid, Part II Pair face feud and foes. (1986) Failure to Launch Parents hire a beautiful woman to motivate their son to move out of the house. (2006) The Heartbreak Kid Ben Stiller, Malin Akerman (2007) Syfy Olympus Has Fallen A guard searches for the president after a terrorist attack on the White House. (2013) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Truth about Peter Quill’s lineage. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana (2017) TBS Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory The Misery Index (N) Conan Jason Segel. (N) The Misery Index TCM I’m No Angel A circus performer targets a playboy. Mae West, Cary Grant (1933) Road to Utopia Pals pretend to be notorious killers while searching for a gold mine in Alaska. (1946) (9:45) Nutty Professor (1963) TLC 7 Little Johnstons Jonah & Ashley’s future. (N) My Big Fat Fabulous Life Try to make amends. (N) Unpolished Secret bank account. (N) Unexpected Myrka goes to her last sonogram. TNT Geostorm A sabotaged satellite protection system threatens the earth with disasters. Gerard Butler (2017) London Has Fallen Secret Service agent must save U.S. president after terrorist attack on London. (2016) Travel Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Films & food. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations TruTV Impractical: Inside Jokes Impractical: Inside Jokes Impractical Jokers Impractical Jokers Impractical Jokers Impractical Jokers Impractical Jokers Impractical Jokers TV Land Loves Raymond Loves Raymond Loves Raymond Loves Raymond Two and a Half Men Two and a Half Men The King of Queens The King of Queens USA Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Girl’s found dead. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit An online hoax. The Rev Modern Family VH1 About Last Night Four smitten people decide to take their relationships to the next level. Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy (2014) To Be Announced Program information is unavailable at this time. Viceland Top Gear Lamborghini Aventador vs. crop plane. Top Gear Rental cars travel some tough terrain. QAnon: The Search for Q (N) (Series premiere) VICE News Tonight (N) Make It Count WE Law & Order Internet image. Law & Order Exploding building kills girl. Law & Order Middle Eastern man killed on camera. Law & Order Suspected pedophile murdered. Weather Heavy Rescue: 401 A new crew rollover. Heavy Rescue: 401 An operator faces a toxic mess. Heavy Rescue: 401 Wreck in Toronto. Strangest Weather on Earth Earthquakes. WGN America NewsNation NewsNation NewsNation NewsNation MOVIE NETWORKS Cinemax La La Land An aspiring actress and a jazz musician are drawn together by their desire to do what they love, Live By Night During the Prohibition, Joe Couglin, the son of the Boston Police superintendent, moves to but they are eventually faced with difficult decisions. Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone (2016) Florida in order to become a bootlegger. Ben Affleck, Elle Fanning (2017) (10:10) Encore Something’s Gotta Give Bachelor fond of girlfriend’s Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Larry sets out to save his friends The Intruder A homeowner’s attachment to a house invades the lives of a young mother. Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton (2003) (6:48) and runs into trouble from a crafty pharaoh. Ben Stiller, Amy Adams (2009) couple. Michael Ealy, Joseph Sikora (2019) (10:48) FXM The Martian Astronaut left behind on Mars must find way to survive and get The Martian Presumed dead after an intense storm, an astronaut left behind on the planet Mars is forced to use his wits and will to rescued. Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain (2015) (7:00) survive to find a way home. Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain (2015) (9:50) Hallmark Movies Mystery 101: Dead Talk Professor Amy Winslow heads to Seattle to give a TEDTalk-style lecture but when a Mystery 101: An Education in Murder A writer’s research prompts the police to revisit a murder case that tech genius dies, Amy suspects foul play and the local cops shut her out. Jill Wagner, Kristoffer Polaha (2019) convicted Amy’s colleague, so Travis and Amy get a chance at clearing the professor’s name. Jill Wagner (2020) HBO Independence Day An alien mothership launches a fleet of spacecraft which destroy entire cities one by Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel Euphoria Jules looks back Kill Bill: Vol. 1 A woman one, and the U.S. president escapes to Area 51, finding military secrets. Will Smith, Bill Pullman (1996) (7:35) on the previous year. goes on a revenge spree. Lifetime Movie Young, Stalked, and Pregnant A teenager gets pregnant after being accepted into a top university, and The Baby Stealer Sara Mitich, Kristian Bruun (2020) although she wants to have the future she intended, her boyfriend can’t accept it. Lindsay Hartley (2020) Showtime 1917 Two young British soldiers receive a seemingly Inside the NFL (N) Shameless Liam’s girlfriend he got in quarantine Inside the NFL impossible mission. George MacKay (2020) (7:00) breaks up with him for being a Gallagher. Starz Total Recall A procedure involving the implantation of American Gods Shadow has dreams about Bilquis; Black and Blue A rookie police officer in New Orleans witnesses a drug dealer’s Broken Lizard’s Super fake memories goes wrong for a man. (2012) (6:59) Wednesday aims to free an old love. murder. Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson (2019) (9:54) Troopers (2002) (11:45) TMC Five Feet Apart When a teenage girl has a life-threatening illness meets another patient, their flirtation causes Ophelia As the queen’s lady-in-waiting, a woman finds herself getting drawn to the prince of Denmark, but a dangerous temptation since restrictions force them apart. Haley Lu Richardson, Cole Sprouse (2019) as their secret love affair begins, betrayal hits the court. Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts (2019) SPORTS NETWORKS ESPN College Basketball Teams TBA (Live) College Basketball Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Duke Blue Devils from Cameron Indoor Stadium (Live) SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt ESPN2 College Basketball Teams TBA (Live) College Basketball Missouri Tigers at Auburn Tigers from Auburn Arena (Live) SportsCenter Special FS1 PBC Countdown College Basketball Butler Bulldogs at Connecticut Huskies from Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (Live) Hoops Extra NFL Films Presents WWE Friday Night Golf Golf Central College Golf 2021 Southwestern Invitational - Round 2 PGA TOUR: The CUT Learning Center MLB Hall of Fame Wrap Up MLB Tonight Hall of Fame Wrap Up MLB Tonight NBA NBA Basketball Washington Wizards at Houston Rockets from Toyota Center (Live) NBA Postgame (Live) NBA GameTime NBCSports NHL Hockey New York Islanders at Washington Capitals (Live) NHL Overtime The Chris Nikic Story Skiing NFLN 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Day 1 Recap NFL Playoffs

MOVIES Eastern Time may vary in some cities (N) New episode. College conferences pivoting Mahomes brings grit, Brady on the hiring of new leaders experience to Super Bowl 55 SPORTS Dan Wolken: Next round of commissioners will Columnists Jarrett Bell and Mike Jones write how USA TODAY | TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | SECTION C bring different approach and skill sets. Page 2C the quarterbacks led teams to Tampa. Page 3C

Final cause of Kobe copter crash due Feb. 9

Tom Schad perience, to the weather conditions, to not something that happens overnight. USA TODAY the helicopter’s safety features – are It requires a lot of digging, a lot of re- known. And a final determination on search.” USA TODAY Sports is marking the what caused the crash is now just weeks As investigators put the finishing first anniversary of the helicopter crash away. touches on that final report, here’s ev- that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others The National Transportation Safety erything we know about the crash, with a series of stories, photos and Board is set to release its final report on based on documents released by the videos looking back at the Lakers legend the incident on Feb. 9, including a proxi- NTSB to date. and the aftermath of his death. mate cause and subsequent safety recommendations. The flight When the helicopter careened into a In the meantime, the board has re- California hillside on the morning of leased 1,852 pages of factual evidence At 8:39 on the morning of the crash, Jan. 26, 2020, killing Kobe Bryant and collected during its investigation, in- pilot Ara Zobayan sent a text message to the eight others on board, the initial re- cluding interview transcripts, email rec- the small group of people coordinating sponse around the world was shock. ords, text messages, photos, meteoro- Bryant’s trip – including his drivers, Then, it was: How? logical reports and video footage from concierge and a representative from the How did this seemingly routine trip cameras in the area. helicopter company. to a youth basketball game end in trage- “Accident investigation is really like “Heli at OC,” Zobayan wrote. “Stand- dy? How did the helicopter that Bryant putting a puzzle back together,” said An- ing by.” used for years suddenly crash? thony Brickhouse, a former NTSB inves- Thirty minutes later, the helicopter Firefighters work the scene of the How could this possibly have hap- tigator who is now an associate profes- was in the air, traveling from John helicopter crash in Calabasas, pened? sor of aerospace safety at Embry-Riddle Wayne-Orange County Airport to Cam- California, where Kobe Bryant and Nearly one year later, the facts sur- Aeronautical University. eight others died. MARK J. TERRILL/AP rounding the crash – from the pilot’s ex- “(It’s) really a meticulous process. It’s See CAUSE, Page 5C

Bob Nightengale Columnist USA TODAY Cactus, city sites seeking a delay

PHOENIX – Major League Baseball, which has been urging the players association to delay the start of the season by a month, received support from Cactus League officials and the eight mayors and tribal leaders in the Phoe- nix area with the rise of COVID-19 cases in Arizona. Yet with spring training just three weeks away, the Major League Base- ball Players Association is adamant they will start spring training Feb. 17, while teams also are preparing for an on-time start. The St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady (12) will make his 10th career Super Bowl appearance. JEFF HANISCH/USA TODAY SPORTS Marlins on Monday even became the first teams to announce they will sell spring training tickets for home games in Jupiter, Florida. “We’ve had a recent meeting with GOAT vs THE KID MLB to talk about plans and concerns,” Cactus League executive director Bridget Binsbacher told USA TO- DAY, “and getting all of the cities to- It doesn’t get much better than Brady-Mahomes showdown gether to voice their opinion seemed like the right things to do. We told MLB that with everything peaking and con- cerning, if there’s an opportunity to delay spring training, we’d invite the Nancy Armour opportunity. Columnist “The letter was not a surprise to USA TODAY MLB, and they were very open to all of our concerns and input.” The letter, in part, reads: “In view of Fans in every sport like to imagine the current state of the pandemic in what would happen if the best players Maricopa County – with one of the na- from different generations could some- tion’s highest infection rates – we be- how face each other in their primes. lieve it is wise to delay the start of Babe Ruth against Hank Aaron. Bill spring training to allow for the Russell taking on Michael Jordan. The COVID-19 situation to improve here. 1999 U.S. women’s soccer team going up This position is based on public data against the 2019 version. from the University of Washington’s NFL fans don’t have to wonder. Institute for Health Metrics and Evalu- Past and future will meet – at center ation, which projects a sharp decline stage, no less – in this year’s Super Bowl in infections in Arizona by mid-March between the Buccaneers and the (an estimated 9,712 daily infections on Chiefs. It’s The GOAT against The Kid, February 15 and 3,072 daily infections Tom Brady trying to win one more title on March 15). while Patrick Mahomes looks to further Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) will get the chance to repeat as Super “We understand that any decision a legacy that one day might eclipse even Bowl champion against the Bucs in Tampa Bay. DENNY MEDLEY/USA TODAY SPORTS to delay spring training cannot be Brady’s. made unilaterally by MLB. As leaders “The Super Bowl is the Super Bowl. charged with protecting public health, Being able to go up against one of the said this will be Brady’s 150th Super “It puts a lot of cool things in per- and as committed, longtime partners greatest, if not the greatest, quarter- Bowl. But the hyperbole is allowed. spective,” Brady said after the Bucca- in the spring training industry, we backs of all time, in his 150th Super This will be Brady’s 10th Super Bowl neers held off the Packers 31-26 for the want you to know that we stand united Bowl, it’s going to be a great experience appearance, and fourth in five years, NFC title. “Anytime you’re the first time on this point. We appreciate the op- for me,” Mahomes said after Kansas and his six titles are more than any oth- doing something, it’s usually a pretty portunity to offer input and thank MLB City’s 38-24 AFC championship game er quarterback. He has been in the NFC good thing.” for its collaboration in assisting our fa- win over the Bills that wasn’t nearly as for all of 10 months and already has won Making this all the more impressive cilities as they prepare for the 2021 close as the score indicated. as many conference championships as is that Brady is doing it at 43, an age spring training season.” “To have the chance to repeat and do Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. when most players are well into their The union responded saying, “The it against the best,” Mahomes added, He’ll also be the first quarterback in retirement. He will be the oldest quar- letter correctly notes that MLB does “it’s something special, and I’m excited Super Bowl history – which goes back terback to start a Super Bowl, breaking not have the ability to unilaterally for the opportunity.” more than 50 years now – to play in his Yes, Mahomes was kidding when he home stadium. See ARMOUR, Page 3C See NIGHTENGALE, Page 5C 2C ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY SPORTS Facing change, leagues pivot on commish

worked in college sports. Coming from nia, to downtown San Francisco, on lav- ferent at the end of 2021 than it did at the tennis world, where he spearheaded ish travel arrangements all while deli- the beginning of the pandemic. significant growth in the WTA’s spon- vering disappointing revenue growth. The most immediately significant is- Dan Wolken sorship, prize money and exposure, he A commissioner with Scott’s profile sue, of course, is how these leagues will Columnist was the odd duck in the room with other was supposed to be the future of college manage whatever rules emerge from USA TODAY commissioners who represented the old sports. Instead, it’s the past. Judging by legislation in Congress dealing with guard of college sports. what Washington State President Kirk name, image and likeness and a Su- For a while, Scott seemed fresh and Schulz told The Oregonian on Thursday, preme Court case this year on whether Shortly after the Atlantic Coast Con- innovative, poised to invigorate a con- it’s a safe bet that understanding and schools can limit benefits to athletes reference announced that Northwestern ference that had fallen behind its peers managing those relationships on cam- lated to education. athletic director Jim Phillips would be in pretty much every metric. Within his pus will be a crucial quality for the next But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. its next commissioner, a veteran admin- first year on the job, Scott pursued con- Pac-12 commissioner. There’s the College Football Playoff istrator in the league expressed a sense ference expansion and nearly pulled off “You’ve got 12 schools, they’re like 12 and growing dissatisfaction with the of relief. a landscape-changing move for Texas, children. You have to love ’em all differ- four-team format. In 2023, the Big Ten’s A few of the candidates who had Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma ent,” he said. “I want the commissioner television contract will be up, with the been mentioned publicly came from State, Texas Tech and Colorado. In- to show up at Pullman (and other Pac-12, SEC and Big 12 coming up for ne- outside college sports, specifically from stead, he settled for Colorado and Utah, schools) and say, ‘What can I do to help gotiation shortly after that. The modern the television or digital world, which signed a market-setting television deal you succeed?’ ” history of college sports suggests such a could be considered a major asset in an with ESPN and Fox and created the When Scott’s replacement gets hired, glut in media rights deals leads to re- environment where conferences rise Pac-12 Networks. it will mark a fairly significant transi- alignment, though there’s an added and fall on how much money they can There are many reasons why Scott’s tion-of-power moment. The last 25 wild card this time of traditional cable generate from their media rights con- tenure eventually unraveled over the years have seen a steady erosion of the declining and digital growing. tracts. last few years, starting with the Pac-12 NCAA’s influence in the overall direction For every conference, creating new But this administrator, who spoke to Networks’ poor distribution on major of college sports and an increasing pow- revenue once the pandemic ends to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of cable systems and a lack of revenue er grab by conference commissioners, make up for a disastrous 2020 will be a anonymity because they were not di- from it that eventually shuffled the particularly those who run the South- top priority. And on everything from the rectly involved in the hiring process, Pac-12 to the bottom of the power con- eastern Conference, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 transfer portal to frustrations with the thought it was smart that the ACC opted ferences financially. and Pac-12. NCAA enforcement process, conference for Phillips, who has spent his entire ca- But on a more visceral level, Scott As tends to happen, though, the gen- commissioners will have to manage a reer on college campuses and under- simply ran out of goodwill. Over the eration of leadership that made college fractious and uneasy membership. stands the vast challenges facing col- years, the complaints about his rela- sports what it is today has receded into Perhaps that’s why, at least on the lege sports at this particular moment tionships – or lack thereof – with athlet- the background. Only Bob Bowlsby of campus level, the allure of a big-time and the needs of athletes, coaches and ic directors in the Pac-12 were almost too the Big 12 remains from the group that television executive or someone coming administrators on the local level. numerous to count. There was no sense established the College Football Playoff from pro sports seems less appealing in That conversation became newly rel- of partnership, of being a colleague. in 2013, and there won’t be any commis- the commissioner’s chair these days. evant this past week when Larry Scott They didn’t feel he was truly engaged sioners left from the last major confer- These are nervous times in college and the Pac-12 announced a separation, with their issues, their concerns. ence realignment in 2010-11. sports with lots of change on the hori- marking the third Power Five commis- From the campus level, they saw a That’s a lot of change in a short peri- zon. As the currents of history pull away sioner job to turn over within the last 13 conference that was spending massive od of time, and these new decision- from the amateur model, having com- months. More on that in a second. amounts of money on Scott’s salary, on makers will not exactly get to ease into missioners who understand higher edu- First, let’s rewind to 2009 when the moving the league headquarters from their jobs. In fact, the vast expectation is cation and campus culture is more val- then-Pac-10 hired Scott, who had never an office park east of Oakland, Califor- that the entire enterprise could look dif- ued than ever.

Kim’s amazing rounds should be remembered

Larry Bohannan Columnist Palm Springs Desert Sun USA TODAY Network

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Twenty-two Referee Natalie Sago during an NBA Referee Jenna Schroeder during an years ago this week, David Duval shot game between the Wizards and NBA game between the Warriors and the most famous come-from-behind fi- Pistons in 2019. NICK WASS/AP Pacers in 2021. JEFF CHIU/AP nal round in The American Express, a fabled 59 that erased a seven-shot def- icit for a victory in the 1999 edition of the PGA Tour tournament. NBA first: Two women What Patrick Cantlay did Sunday at the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta could easily have to officiate same game stood side by side with Duval’s final round. An 11-under-par 61 brought Can- Analis Bailey full-time NBA official. Schroeder joined tlay back from four shots behind and USA TODAY in 2019. They have experience in the could easily have qualified as the round NBA G League and the WNBA. of the year on the PGA Tour. Si Woo Kim hits a shot on the NBA history was to be made Mon- Only seven women have become full- Only Si Woo Kim managed to do what Stadium Course third hole during day night at the Amway Center in Or- time referees in NBA history with five Steve Pate couldn’t do 22 years ago. The American Express at PGA West in lando, Florida. When the Charlotte currently on the officials roster: Simone Pate missed a chance on the final La Quinta, California, on Sunday. Hornets and the Orlando Magic were Jelks, Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, Ash- hole to tie Duval and force a playoff that JAY CALDERON/(PALM SPRINGS) DESERT SUN scheduled to tip-off, two women were ley Moyer-Gleich, Sago and Shroeder. could have produced a different story to work on the same officiating crew, a In 2019, NBA Commissioner Adam for 1999. league first. Silver said he wanted more female offi- Kim, playing steady and unyielding number to remember from the 2021 The league announced Monday cials in the league: “It’s an area, frankly, golf, made some critical swings down American Express. that officials Natalie Sago and Jenna where I’ve acknowledged that I’m not the stretch to not only catch but pass Kim is just 25 years old and already Schroeder were to share the same sure how it was that it remained so Cantlay in the closing holes. has three wins on the PGA Tour. He has court. Sean Wright was to be the male-dominated for so long. Because As much credit as Cantlay deserves a chance, perhaps a good chance, of game’s third referee. it’s an area of the game where physical- for the 61, Kim deserves more for his surpassing K.J. Choi’s eight victories In 1997, Violet Palmer and Dee ly, certainly, there’s no benefit to being a week at PGA West. Three rounds on the as the most ever on the PGA Tour by a Kantner became the first women to man, as opposed to a woman, when it Stadium Course without a bogey from Korean player. And it is possible that serve as referees in the NBA. It was the comes to refereeing. the tournament tees is simply sublime Kim could join Y.E. Yang as a Korean first time that women officiated regu- “The goal is: Going forward, it should golf. player who wins a major champion- lar-season games in an all-male U.S. be roughly 50-50 of new officials enter- For all the low numbers and course ship in the near future. professional league. Since then, two ing in the league. Same for coaches, by records set during the tournament For now, Kim is The American Ex- female referees have never officiated the way. We have a program, too. There’s week, Kim’s bogey-free streak of 54 press winner, and in the end he over- the same game. no reason why women shouldn’t be holes on the Stadium Course is the real shadowed even a 61 by Patrick Cantlay. Sago joined the league in 2018 as a coaching men’s basketball.”

To view more Classified listings, visit: classifieds.usatoday.com

BUSINESS BUSINESS MARKETPLACE TRAVEL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITIES BOOKS/PUBLICATIONS CAMPGROUNDS

HELP VX GET OUR INTELLIGENT HOMES Lookingforapowerfuland Celebrate 2021 at Boulder Creek Lodge Montana lucrative change in sales? SECONDARY BREAK TO THE POOR AND HOMELESS FAMILIES We want to talk with you. An NBA Dad’s Story “The Happiest Place in Montana” Manufacturer of the VX turnkey Intelligent revenue producing self written by: Marvin Williams Sr. It is time to plan your 2021 Summer Vacation sustainable Micro Homes designed to house the poor/homeless is We are expanding! This book is about a young man and his love for basket- Think Montana going public! Help us change the world! We are offering investors Grewovera100%thisyear ball. equity, receive shares AND return of capital within 6 months (DURING COVID)!!! It will show you how ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE Roofing/Construction. when you continue to follow your passion. Boulder Creek Lodge in beautiful southwest Montana ph or txt 249-525-7238 or [email protected] Experience a plus. is located between two mountain ranges that make Available for purchase at BarnesAndNoble.com and Amazon.com up the Northern Rocky Mountains. Located 11 miles Sendresumeto:moses@ north of Philipsburg, Mt or midway between Glacier troyerscoatingsystems.com National Forest and Yellowstone. During your visit plan on fishing, sapphire mining, visiting ghost towns, AGardenObserved: andvisitingafamouscandystore.Destinationswithin a short drive of the resort: Phillipsburg, Butte, Deer Cultivating A Life Lodge, Anaconda, Missoula, and Helena, Montana. GET NOTICED! Resort features: Cabins, Glamping Tipis and Conestoga Place your advertisement in by Melanie Boyer Wagon, RV Park, restaurant and free strong wifi. Advertise in USA TODAY’s Marketplace! USA TODAY Marketplace! Enchanting 220 page To advertise, call: coffee-table devotional filled Boulder Creek Lodge Montana with garden photography Call:1-800-397-0070 800-397-0070 4 Boulder Creek Road, Call 406-859-3190 Available on Amazon Hall, Montana 59837 www.bouldercreeklodgemontana.com SPORTS USA TODAY ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ 3C Mahomes has plenty of grit and sizzle

next day, Jan. 18, the swelling had sub- ess. Many must have wondered: If Ma- sided and the color was returning to homes wasn’t himself, would the Chiefs’ normal. Ah, the benefits of modern chances for a repeat crown go up in Jarrett Bell medicine. smoke? Columnist The fast healing might have been an Turns out that was quite the stretch. USA TODAY omen. Even with the toe presumably at When someone asked Tyrann Mathieu less than 100%, Mahomes still func- if there was a moment during the week tioned at his ultra-high level, with the when he knew Mahomes would be his KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It is so easy to Chiefs significantly scaling back the normal self, the safety chuckled. get caught up in the sizzle of Patrick Ma- read-option plays and sprint-out “I knew after the last game,” Mathieu homes. This was on display again dur- passes. The toe was good enough. maintained, recalling the aftermath of ing the AFC title tilt at Arrowhead Stadi- Add the toe to a laundry list of inju- the divisional playoff win against the um that was essentially a high-stakes ries the quarterback has endured during Browns, when backup quarterback rebound game for the Chiefs’ quarter- his four NFL seasons. Chiefs general Chad Henne came off the bench to help back, a week after he left the same field manager Brett Veach took a moment af- secure the win. “He was in the locker dazed by a concussion. ter the Jan. 24 game to recall a few of the room. He had that look in his eye, like, Mahomes threw for 325 yards and setbacks as proof of why he didn’t worry ‘Don’t forget about me.’ ” three TDs. He scrambled out of danger, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is that Mahomes would be up to snuff with Besides, Mathieu knew there was an- threw dimes on the run. He looked cool heading to the Super Bowl for the a trip to the Super Bowl at stake. There other factor that sums up Mahomes. and composed in the process. second consecutive year. were the shoulder and ankle injuries, “He’s a gamer,” Mathieu said. Same ol’ Mahomes, even with the DENNY MEDLEY/USA TODAY SPORTS and in 2019 the knee injury that knocked Travis Kelce, the All-Pro tight end, double dose of worry because the con- him out for several weeks. was never worried. Like Mathieu, Kelce cussion was accompanied by a turf toe Let Veach tell you about Mahomes’ drew on his observations from the pre- injury. Mahomes added to his extensive collec- toughness. vious game. Kelce remembered how ex- “I feel like I was myself out there,” tion, they were raving about the grit in “Shoot, the guy came back (in 2019) cited Mahomes was after the victory Mahomes maintained after the 38-24 the aftermath of yet another big victory. from a dislocated kneecap and two days against Cleveland and believed it was a victory against the Bills. Chiefs coach Andy Reid seemed a bit later he was in the pool doing dips,” good indication that he would recover If Mahomes says he’s good, who can amazed at the improvement with Ma- Veach said. from the head injury. argue? He’s sparked Kansas City to a homes’ injured toe. He still had the vi- No doubt, there is much grit behind “I knew he had to go through the pro- trip to Super Bowl 55 with a chance to sion of the toe from a week earlier im- the sizzle. tocols, but he never seemed like he become the NFL’s first repeat champion printed on his brain as he praised the Still, Mahomes was limited in prac- wasn’t himself,” Kelce said. since the 2004 season. quarterback and training staff. tices ahead of the AFC championship In the title game, the same ol’ Ma- Besides, we saw some sizzle for our- “That was an amazing-looking thing, game and wasn’t cleared from concus- homes has taken the Chiefs to the same selves as he shredded the Bills’ defense. black-and-blue,” Reid remembered. He sion protocol until Jan. 22 after engag- ol’ place – one Super Bowl victory from Yet for all the highlight moments that was also happy to report that by the ing in the step-by-step evaluation proc- the top of the NFL mountain.

Brady, Bucs completed each other perfectly

Brady reiterated. “And I’m proud to be a pursue each without having to do it all And so after Brady lit up the score- part of it.” on his own. board for three TD passes in the first Brady’s responses came from a place Of course that didn’t mean Brady half, then threw three interceptions in Mike Jones of appreciation. Because here he is, in took his foot off the accelerator. He con- the second half, the Bucs never wa- Columnist the twilight of his NFL playing career, tinued to work just as hard and demand vered. “It don’t matter how many picks USA TODAY nearly a year after the coach and team just as much. He set a tone for the Bucs, Tom throws,” defensive end Jason he gave his heart and soul to for two dec- who are hungry to taste true success for Pierre-Paul said. “The defense always ades no longer valued what he had to of- the first time in many of the players’ ca- has his back. We’re like brothers.” GREEN BAY, Wis. – Tom Brady didn’t fer, taking for granted how he elevated reers. When the Packers threatened late want to talk about Tom Brady. those around him. “He’s at the helm, he’s our leader and and had the chance for a tying drive He had just punched his ticket to a And here he is, 43 years old and sur- he’s the reason why we’re as good as we with two minutes left, Bucs players 10th Super Bowl appearance, 10 months rounded by everything he could have are,” said wide receiver Scotty Miller, didn’t worry. after embarking on a journey that few ever asked for: who this season more than doubled his “We knew they had some time to understood. An organization that craved him so production from a year ago and on Jan. drive down the field, but we knew we He had delivered an electrifying first- much that the key front office personnel 24 caught one of three Brady touch- had Tom as our quarterback and that half performance, paving the way for kicked their former first overall pick to down passes. “He makes it easy to get our defense was going to step up,” said the Buccaneers’ 31-26 victory against the curb to make room for him. behind him. His composure. We know linebacker Jordan Whitehead, who the Packers in the NFC championship A head coach who greatly respects he’s going to get it done. He had a couple forced one of three Packers turnovers. game. him and an offensive coordinator who picks, but we know when the game is on Green Bay settled for a field goal rath- But when asked about the magnitude welcomes his input. the line, he’s going to make a play.” er than attempting a TD play and two- of his accomplishment – leading Tampa An offense full of talent rather than The potential Brady saw in his team- point conversion on 4th-and-goal from Bay to its first Super Bowl since 2002 – New England’s bare cupboard – an of- mates, the hunger they displayed and the 8, cutting the lead to 31-26. Then the and his decision to bet on himself and fense full of deficiencies that Brady was the support from his coaching staff Packers gave the ball back to Brady, the Bucs, Brady preferred to deflect. asked to compensate for by his former made it easy for him to keep grinding. It whose offense proceeded to run out the “This is an ultimate team sport,” Bra- coach. helped him weather a midseason storm clock. dy said. “We’ve had a lot of people work A game-changing defense that could that saw the Bucs lose three of four Now, the Buccaneers head back to hard over a course of time to get to this ease the load and at times clean up the games, as the quarterback looked like a sunny Tampa, where for two weeks they point. It’s a tough journey to get here, so messes that he made. poor fit in Arians’ and Leftwich’s deep- will prepare across the street from the to go on the road, win another road play- As perfect as Brady has been for the ball-loving offense. site of Super Bowl 55, so close to their off game is a great achievement.” Bucs, they have been just as perfect for But Brady did what he always does: goal they can almost taste it. Again, Brady was asked about his him. Maintained focus on the process rather Brady hoped and believed he and his journey, from face of the six-time world Brady wasn’t ready to be put out to than the results, and eventually he and new family could position themselves champion Patriots for 20 years to hitting pasture, as it seemed Bill Belichick de- his teammates reached a breakthrough. for this. But not even he could claim to the reset button with a previously 7-9 sired in those latter years in Foxbor- Tampa Bay closed out the season on a have expected it. It’s clear he’s savoring team that had the NFC’s longest playoff ough, Massachusetts. The quarterback four-game winning streak and won two this leg of his journey. drought. But he kept focusing on every- still loved the game too much, still had road playoff games before facing Green It remains incomplete, but he grasps body else. too much left to prove and still wanted Bay at Lambeau Field. how special this is. He praised head coach Bruce Arians to win. Brady’s teammates said their confi- “I think it’s hard to envision. This was and his coordinators, Byron Leftwich, That’s why he was willing to put him- dence soared. When they beat the the goal, but at the same time it’s a Todd Bowles and Keith Armstrong. self through the arduous task of starting Saints in the divisional round after get- week-to-week league. We were 7-5 five He praised the young playmakers on from scratch as he entered a 21st NFL ting smacked by them twice in the reg- weeks ago, not feeling great, felt like we both sides of the ball. season. ular season, the Buccaneers knew their needed to find our rhythm and play well. “It has taken a lot of people on all Tampa Bay’s players and coaches af- Super Bowl goals were possible, run- … Guys came through. Football is the ul- sides of the ball to come through … just forded him the opportunity to achieve ning back Leonard Fournette said after timate team sport. Just blessed to be a an incredible journey for all of us,” all of his goals. And he would be able to the NFC title game upset. part of it.”

in front of you,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid Bruce Arians said. reeled off 21 unanswered points to put Armour said. “I sit there and – I’m an old guy But just as he did in New England, the game effectively out of reach. that’s seen a couple of pretty good quar- Brady is showing signs that he is, in- Four different players scored touch- Continued from Page 1C terbacks, and I just keep going, ‘This guy deed, mortal. He was not particularly downs, including Clyde Edwards-He- seems to amaze me a little bit more ev- impressive in the wild-card game laire, who had missed the last month a mark he set two years ago. Which ery game.’ against the Washington Football Team, with a nasty-looking hip and ankle in- broke the mark he’d set the year before “I’m proud of the way he handles it, and it was the defense that led the way jury, and Mahomes showed no signs of that. most of all,” Reid added. ”He’s about the in the divisional round bulldozing of the the head injury or turf toe that had side- Brady has played so long, in fact, team and he’s all in. He works his tail off Saints. lined him all week. there are guys who were drafted a year and he does it the right way. That’s im- And after opening the lead at the half The Chiefs’ defense, meanwhile, after him who are already in the Pro portant. It’s important for the longevity against Green Bay, Brady did his best to sacked Josh Allen four times. Football Hall of Fame! for his career, for the success of the Kan- give it away, throwing interceptions on Since losing to Brady and the Patriots Another way to look at it: He’s closer sas City Chiefs and, obviously now, for three consecutive possessions. in overtime of the 2018 AFC champion- in age to Mahomes’ father, Pat, who is the Super Bowl.” If not for Tampa Bay’s defense stand- ship game, Mahomes is 30-4 as a start- 50, than to his 25-year-old son. Brady can still throw absolute lasers, ing on its head, and some questionable er. That includes a 23-16 win against Mahomes, meanwhile, has already like his 52-yard pass to Chris Godwin. decisions by Packers coach Matt La- Brady and the Patriots last season and a established himself as the face of the He can still rip the heart out of an oppo- Fleur, Brady would be headed for the off- 27-24 win against Brady and the Bucca- NFL for the next decade – and then nent, as he did when he converted on season. neers at Tampa Bay in Week 12. some. He won NFL MVP honors in 2018, 4th-and-4 with 13 seconds left in the “We’ve had a few tough games in a “Seems like we’ve had a couple of his first season as a starter, and will be first half and followed with a 39-yard TD row,” he acknowledged. “The next one those (Brady-Mahomes games) and ev- the first quarterback 25 or younger to pass to Scotty Miller to put the Bucca- will be really tough, too. But we know ery one of those is tremendous. I start two Super Bowls. neers up 21-10. what we’re playing for.” wouldn’t expect this to be any different,” He and the Chiefs are trying to be- And he can still wring effort and suc- Yes, but so do Mahomes and the Reid said. “They’ve got a tremendous come the first team to repeat as Super cess out of his teammates because he’s, Chiefs. And they are a force of nature, as team there. Those two have a lot of re- Bowl champions since the 2004 season you know, Tom Brady. prolific on offense as they are destruc- spect for each other.” when – guess who! – Brady and the Pa- “The belief he gave everybody in this tive on defense. As they should. Brady is the best triots did it. organization that this could be done – it After spotting the Bills nine points in there’s ever been. Mahomes just might “You guys are seeing him grow right only took one man,” Buccaneers coach the first nine minutes, Kansas City be the best there ever will be. 4C ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY SPORTS

FOR THE RECORD

All times Eastern Northwest Division N.Y. Rangers 5 1 3 1 3 13 15 Pittsburgh at Boston, 7 p.m. MLB the taxi squad. WL PctGB Central Division Tampa Bay at Carolina, 7 p.m. NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Sent LW Nolan Foots Utah 12 4 .750 — GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago at Nashville, 8 p.m. to Binghamton (AHL). NFL Portland 9 6 .600 2½ Tampa Bay 4 3 1 0 6 15 10 Edmonton at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. Calendar SOCCER Denver 9 7 .563 3 Columbus 6 2 2 2 6 15 18 Los Angeles at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Feb. 1-19 — Salary arbitration hearings, Major League Soccer Oklahoma City 6 9 .400 5½ Chicago 6 2 3 1 5 19 23 Detroit at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Scottsdale, Ariz. Minnesota 4 11 .267 7½ NEW YORK RED BULLS — Signed MF Wikel- Conference Championships Dallas 2 2 0 0 4 10 2 Anaheim at Arizona, 9 p.m. Feb. 17 — Voluntary reporting date for pitch- man Carmona. Sunday Pacific Division Florida 2 2 0 0 4 10 6 San Jose at Colorado, 9 p.m. ers, catchers and injured players. WLPctGB Carolina 3 2 1 0 4 9 6 St. Louis at Vegas, 9 p.m. Feb. 22 — Voluntary reporting date for other AFC L.A. Clippers 13 4 .765 — Nashville 5 2 3 0 4 12 17 Toronto at Calgary, 9 p.m. SOCCER Kansas City 38, Buffalo 24 players. L.A. Lakers 13 4 .765 — Detroit 6 2 4 0 4 12 20 Feb. 27 — Mandatory reporting date. NFC Phoenix 8 7 .533 4 West Division COLLEGE BASKETBALL March 15 — Last day to place a player on waiv- Tampa Bay 31, Green Bay 26 Golden State 8 8 .500 4½ GP W L OT Pts GF GA ers for 30 days termination pay. Sacramento 6 10 .375 6½ English Premier League Super Bowl Vegas 6 5 1 0 10 19 12 March 27 — Last day to offer a retention bonus GP W D L GF GA Pts Minnesota 6 4 2 0 8 18 15 Feb. 7 Sunday to an eligible player attending spring training Man United 19 12 4 3 36 25 40 Toronto 107, Indiana 102 St. Louis 6 3 2 1 7 17 23 Ferris Mowers Men’s Top 25 with a minor league contract. Tampa, Fla. Man City 18 11 5 2 31 13 38 Kansas City vs. Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers 108, Oklahoma City 100 Colorado 6 3 3 0 6 18 15 Coaches Poll March 30 — Last day to place a player on waiv- Boston 141, Cleveland 103 Los Angeles 6 2 2 2 6 20 20 ers for 45 days termination pay. Leicester 19 12 2 5 35 21 38 Anaheim 6 2 2 2 6 11 14 1. Gonzaga (29) 15-0 797 1 Charlotte 107, Orlando 104 April 1 — Opening day, active rosters reduced Liverpool 19 9 7 3 37 22 34 NBA San Antonio 121, Washington 101 San Jose 6 3 3 0 6 19 21 2. Baylor (3) 14-0 771 2 to 26 players. Milwaukee 129, Atlanta 115 Arizona 6 2 3 1 5 17 19 3. Villanova 10-1 735 3 July 13 — All-Star Game, Atlanta. Tottenham 18 9 6 3 33 17 33 Portland 116, New York 113 North Division 4. Michigan 13-1 666 7 July 25 — Hall of Fame induction, Cooper- Everton 17 10 2 5 28 21 32 GP W L OT Pts GF GA EASTERN CONFERENCE Sacramento at Memphis, ppd 5. Texas 11-2 665 5 stown, N.Y. West Ham 19 9 5 5 27 22 32 Montreal 6 4 0 2 10 29 18 Dec. 1 — Collective bargaining agreement ex- Atlantic Division Monday 6. Houston 13-1 635 8 Aston Villa 17 9 2 6 31 18 29 Charlotte at Orlando Toronto 7 5 2 0 10 22 19 7. Iowa 12-3 555 4 pires, 11:59 p.m. EST. WLPctGB Winnipeg 6 4 2 0 8 22 17 Philadelphia 12 5 .706 — Philadelphia at Detroit 8. Virginia 10-2 527 12 Dec. 15 — International amateur signing peri- Chelsea 19 8 5 6 33 23 29 Edmonton 7 3 4 0 6 19 23 od closes. Boston 9 6 .600 2 Toronto at Indiana 9. Alabama 13-3 527 16 Southampton 18 8 5 5 26 21 29 Miami at Brooklyn Calgary 4 2 1 1 5 13 9 Brooklyn 10 8 .556 2½ Vancouver 7 2 5 0 4 20 33 10. Texas Tech 11-4 439 13 Arsenal 19 8 3 8 23 19 27 New York 8 10 .444 4½ L.A. Lakers at Cleveland Ottawa 5 1 3 1 3 14 20 11. West Virginia 10-4 408 15 DEALS Leeds 18 7 2 9 30 34 23 Toronto 7 9 .438 4½ Sacramento at Memphis, ppd 12. Missouri 10-2 406 19 Denver at Dallas NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for Crystal Palace 19 6 5 8 22 33 23 Southeast Division overtime loss. The top four teams in each di- 13. Wisconsin 12-4 360 10 WLPctGB Boston at Chicago Wolverhampton 19 6 4 9 21 29 22 San Antonio at New Orleans vision will qualify for playoffs under this sea- 14. Creighton 11-4 359 11 Monday's Transactions Atlanta 8 8 .500 — son’s temporary realignment. 15. Ohio State 12-4 340 18 Burnley 18 5 4 9 10 22 19 Charlotte 7 9 .438 1 Minnesota at Golden State BASEBALL Orlando 7 10 .412 1½ Oklahoma City at Portland Sunday 16. Florida State 9-2 334 25 American League Newcastle 19 5 4 10 18 32 19 Miami 6 9 .400 1½ Tuesday Chicago 6, Detroit 2 17. Tennessee 10-3 320 6 BOSTON RED SOX — Acquired RHPs Adam Ot- Brighton 19 3 8 8 22 29 17 Buffalo 4, Washington 3, SO 18. Kansas 10-5 296 9 Washington 3 9 .250 3 L.A. Clippers at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. tavino and Frank German and cash consider- Fulham 18 2 6 10 15 27 12 Central Division Washington at Houston, 8 p.m. Vegas 1, Arizona 0 19. Virginia Tech 11-3 225 14 ations from the New York Yankees in ex- New York at Utah, 9 p.m. Toronto 3, Calgary 2 20. Minnesota 11-5 152 17 change for a player to be named later or cash West Brom 19 2 5 12 15 43 11 WL PctGB New Jersey 2, N.Y. Islanders 0 Milwaukee 10 6 .625 — 21. UCLA 12-3 150 20 considerations. Sheffield United 19 1 2 16 10 32 5 Indiana 9 7 .563 1 Anaheim 3, Colorado 1 22. Illinois 10-5 138 24 NHL San Jose 5, Minnesota 3 National League Tuesday Cleveland 8 8 .500 2 23. Louisville 10-3 88 NR ATLANTA BRAVES — Agreed to terms on a Newcastle vs. Leeds, 1 p.m. Chicago 7 9 .438 3 Edmonton 4, Winnipeg 3 Pittsburgh 3, N.Y. Rangers 2 24. Saint Louis 7-1 73 NR minor league contract with 3B Pablo Sando- Crystal Palace vs. West Ham, 1 p.m. Detroit 3 13 .188 7 val. West Brom vs. Man City, 3:15 p.m. East Division Dallas 3, Nashville 2 25. Oregon 9-3 66 21 WESTERN CONFERENCE GP W L OT Pts GF GA Los Angeles 6, St. Louis 3 Dropped out: No. 22 Clemson (9-4); No. 23 FOOTBALL Southampton vs. Arsenal, 3:15 p.m. Colorado (12-4). Wednesday Southwest Division Washington 6 3 0 3 9 22 21 Monday National Football League Burnley vs. Aston Villa, 1 p.m. WLPctGB Pittsburgh 6 4 2 0 8 21 23 Ottawa at Vancouver, late INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Promoted Marcus Memphis 7 6 .538 — Brady to offensive coordinator. Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton, 1 p.m. New Jersey 5 3 1 1 7 11 11 Tuesday Brighton vs. Fulham, 2:30 p.m. San Antonio 9 8 .529 — Boston 5 3 1 1 7 15 10 HOCKEY Dallas 8 8 .500 ½ Florida at Columbus, 7 p.m. Everton vs. Leicester, 3:15 p.m. Philadelphia 6 3 2 1 7 20 22 N.Y. Islanders at Washington, 7 p.m. Man United vs. Sheffield United, 3:15 p.m. Houston 6 9 .400 2 N.Y. Islanders 5 3 2 0 6 9 8 National Hockey League New Orleans 5 10 .333 3 N.Y. Rangers at Buffalo, 7 p.m. DETROIT RED WINGS — Designated LWs Gi- Buffalo 6 2 3 1 5 18 19 Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7 p.m. vani Smith and Taro Hirose for assignment on

GOLF Luke List (34), $58,625 69-68-68-72—277 ODDS SPONSORED BY BETMGM.COM National Hockey League Andrew Putnam (34), $58,625 67-69-70-71—277 Brendan Steele (34), $58,625 68-68-72-69—277 Tuesday Richy Werenski (34), $58,625 69-68-65-75—277 Favorite Line Underdog Line PGA Tour American Express COLUMBUS -120 Florida +110 Sunday LPGA Diamond Resorts Tournament of Cham- Philadelphia -155 NEW JERSEY +145 At PGA West BOSTON -135 Pittsburgh +125 pions NY Islanders -137 WASHINGTON +127 La Quia, Calif. Sunday Purse: $6.7 million BUFFALO -115 NY Rangers +105 At Four Season Golf and Sports Club NASHVILLE -160 Chicago +150 Stadium Course Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Edmonton -111 WINNIPEG +101 Yardage: 7,147; Par: 72 Purse: $1.2 million MINNESOTA -158 Los Angeles +148 Final Round For the latest lines, picks and expert Yardage: 6,645; Par: 71 sportsbookwire.com DALLAS -205 Detroit +185 Individual FedExCup Points in parentheses Final Round analysis, go to ARIZONA -133 Anaheim +123 Si Woo Kim (500), $1,206,000 66-68-67-64—265 Toronto -112 CALGARY +102 Patrick Cantlay (300), $730,300 69-71-65-61—266 Jessica Korda wins playoff on first hole Jessica Korda, $180,000 65-69-60-66—260 COLORADO -215 San Jose +195 Cameron Davis (190), $462,300 68-70-66-64—268 VEGAS -142 St. Louis +132 Tony Finau (135), $328,300 68-66-67-68—269 Danielle Kang, $150,326 64-65-63-68—260 Visit BetMGM.com for a risk-free first bet up to $500. Abraham Ancer (100), $247,900 69-65-73-66—273 Nelly Korda, $109,051 65-66-67-64—262 NFL Doug Ghim (100), $247,900 67-68-69-69—273 In Gee Chun, $84,359 68-65-67-67—267 Use bonus code ROAR Michael Thompson (100), $247,900 67-72-68-66—273 Angela Stanford, $61,727 67-69-67-65—268 Super Bowl - Feb. 7 Cheyenne Knight, $61,727 69-66-67-66—268 Favorite O T O/U Underdog Byeong Hun An (78), $189,275 65-73-67-69—274 1 Paul Casey (78), $189,275 72-65-68-69—274 Lexi Thompson, $43,621 67-69-69-65—270 Pregame.com Line Richmond 11 ST. JOSEPH'S Kansas City 3 3 56 ⁄2 TAMPA BAY 1 Brian Harman (78), $189,275 68-68-67-71—274 Brittany Lincicome, $43,621 66-74-64-66—270 NBA TENNESSEE 10 ⁄2 Mississippi St Francesco Molinari (78), $189,275 69-66-69-70—274 Brooke Henderson, $36,625 67-69-65-70—271 MEMPHIS 1 SMU Sungjae Im (59), $137,350 68-65-73-69—275 Sophia Popov, $33,333 68-69-67-68—272 Tuesday Toledo 5 MIAMI (OH) Henrik Norlander (59), $137,350 71-68-70-66—275 Georgia Hall, $28,887 70-70-67-66—273 Favorite Line O/U Underdog North Carolina 2 PITTSBURGH Rory Sabbatini (59), $137,350 68-69-67-71—275 Celine Boutier, $28,887 69-70-65-69—273 ATLANTA OFF (OFF) LA Clippers TEXAS 4 Oklahoma Chase Seiffert (59), $137,350 72-67-65-71—275 Gaby Lopez, $28,887 65-68-71-69—204 HOUSTON OFF OFF Washington AKRON 11 E. Michigan Ryan Armour (49), $102,175 70-67-73-66—276 Bronte Law, $25,349 73-70-70-63—276 UTAH 11 (212) New York ALABAMA 8 Kentucky Odds are subject to change. Bo Hoag (49), $102,175 71-69-68-68—276 Ally Ewing, $23,209 70-72-68-67—277 1 Drake 2 ⁄2 MISSOURI ST BetMGM.com does not offer lines Chris Kirk (49), $102,175 68-70-70-68—276 Mel Reid, $23,209 70-70-67-70—277 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Cydney Clanton, $20,466 75-69-68-66—278 E. ILLINOIS 6 SIU-Edwrdsvlle for New Jersey-based college Russell Knox (49), $102,175 69-70-64-73—276 Tuesday UCONN 6 Butler Gary Woodland (49), $102,175 70-68-68-70—276 Austin Ernst, $20,466 69-70-71-68—278 Favorite Line Underdog sports teams. Gannett may earn Jasmine Suwannapura, $20,466 72-68-69-69—278 1 SAINT LOUIS 9 Dayton revenue from audience referrals Rickie Fowler (34), $58,625 73-66-70-68—277 Tulsa 2 ⁄2 TEMPLE Talor Gooch (34), $58,625 74-66-65-72—277 Stacy Lewis, $18,929 66-71-74-68—279 AUBURN 3 Missouri to betting services. Newsrooms Pernilla Lindberg, $18,272 70-72-66-72—280 INDIANA ST. OFF S. Illinois 1 Brandon Hagy (34), $58,625 64-70-72-71—277 BUFFALO 13 Cent. Michigan LSU 4 ⁄2 TEXAS A&M are independent of this relation- Kramer Hickok (34), $58,625 70-69-69-69—277 Mi Jung Hur, $16,954 71-71-71-68—281 DUKE 5 Georgia Tech ship and there is no influence on Max Homa (34), $58,625 66-70-65-76—277 Hee Young Park, $16,954 71-69-72-69—281 OHIO 14 W. Michigan Se Missouri St 5 UT MARTIN John Huh (34), $58,625 68-68-70-71—277 Madelene Sagstrom, $16,954 73-69-69-70—281 news coverage. Matt Jones (34), $58,625 70-68-67-72—277 Annie Park, $15,720 69-71-73-70—283

The weather changes. Download WEATHER ONLINE our free app WEATHER USATODAY.COM Stay up-to-date, 24/7. TODAY’S FORECAST TODAY’S HIGH TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION FORECAST A storm will stretch from T-storms Rain Snow Ice/mix

the Midwest to the Eastern Seattle Olympia 44 states today. Accumulating Bangor 42 Spokane 31 Portland 33 Bismarck Duluth Marquette snow is forecast to extend Helena Miles City Salem 42 24 14 10 18 from eastern Iowa to New 41 27 Burlington Augusta Boise Fargo 27 31 Mpls-St. Paul Montpelier York state and southern New Bend 39 Billings 2 18 Boston 35 25 Rapid City Grand Buffalo 25 34 England. Several inches of Burns 20 Milwaukee Rapids 33 Albany 32 Pierre Sioux Falls 32 31 Detroit 27 Hartford Eureka Idaho Falls Jackson 18 17 32 Cleveland 33 snow are in store for this zone 49 23 Hole Casper Madison Des Moines Lansing 39 Pittsburgh New York TODAY Reno 21 North Platte with the heaviest amounts in Sacramento Elko 20 22 24 34 36 20 30 46 50 34 Salt Lake City Chicago Philadelphia the Midwest. A band of ice will Cheyenne Omaha Columbus Harrisburg Carson City 35 33 37 40 21 20 Springfield 45 occur south of the snow area 33 Kansas City Washington Annapolis San Francisco 29 35 Indianapolis Cincinnati 53 St. George Denver 46 44 Aspen Topeka 41 48 from north of the Ohio Valley Las Vegas 25 Charleston Fresno 40 22 Richmond 28 Jefferson City St. Louis Louisville to part of the mid-Atlantic 51 46 Knoxville 60 54 Wichita 37 39 53 region. Dodge City 31 66 Raleigh 22 Memphis 63 Los Angeles Santa Fe Charlotte Palm Springs Flagstaff 63 Nashville Drenching rain and spot- 58 33 Oklahoma Tulsa 71 Columbia 59 24 City 64 Albuquerque 42 74 ty thunderstorms will extend 41 WEDNESDAY San Diego 37 Little Rock Birmingham Atlanta Charleston 59 Phoenix 71 EXTREMES from the Chesapeake Bay Alaska 53 Lubbock Dallas/Ft. Worth 59 69 74 50 57 Montgomery Savannah Note: For contiguous region to the northern Gulf 48 states through El Paso Midland- Shreveport Jackson 72 79 coast. 47 Odessa Austin 71 69 3 p.m. ET yesterday Fairbanks Hawaii 74 Mobile Jacksonville 56 Tallahassee 78 HOTTEST: Snow is forecast to taper to -13 Juneau Baton Rouge 72 Honolulu San Antonio 75 88° Anchorage 25 73 New Harlingen, Texas flurries over parts of the cen- 14 80 73 Houston Orleans 75 73 Tampa tral Plains in the storm’s wake. 78 Puerto Rico Miami COLDEST: San Juan 83 -24° Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather Inc. ©2021 Brownsville 82 Flag Island, Minn. THURSDAY 81 Below 1010s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110+

TOP TRAVEL CITIES Air quality index (AQI)

ATLANTABALTIMORE BOSTON CHARLOTTE CHICAGODALLAS/FT. WORTH DENVER DETROITHONOLULU HOUSTON LAS VEGAS LOS ANGELES Showers A little P.M. An A.M. A little Plenty of Snow, A little Showers Incr. Mostly Cold TUE around TUE rain TUE flurries TUE shower TUE snow TUE sun TUE 1-2” TUE snow TUE around TUE clouds TUE TUE sunny 46/37 71/53 40/34 34/31 71/52 33/22 57/39 25/12 32/23 80/74 75/52 58/48 Partly Wintry A few Not as Cloudy, Rain Cooler Breezy Breezy Windy Breezy Cold WED WED sunny WED mix WED WED flurries WED WED cold WED WED WED WED WED cool 60/33 58/36 51/30 29/14 82/71 68/41 50/40 47/29 37/32 28/6 45/26 61/50 Breezy, A bit of A little Breezy, Partly Partly Not as Clouds, Partly Partly A few Shower THU cooler THU snow THU snow THU cooler THU sunny THU sunny THU cool THU sun THU THU sunny THU sunny THU showers 81/70 48/29 36/21 36/13 48/25 26/11 50/38 54/32 24/14 61/40 55/42 64/51 AQI Good AQI Moderate AQI Good AQI Moderate AQI Moderate AQI Good AQI Good AQI Moderate AQI Moderate AQI Good AQI Good AQI Good

MIAMIMPLS-ST. PAUL NEW ORLEANS NEW YORKORLANDOPHILADELPHIA PHOENIX SALT LAKE CITYSAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO SEATTLE WASHINGTON Partly A little Snow, Some Wintry A snow Sunny, Brief Cloudy, A little Breezy Shower TUE sunny TUE TUE rain TUE 1-3” TUE sun TUE mix TUE TUE shower TUE cool TUE showers TUE chilly TUE rain 18/-1 53/38 83/71 73/64 34/33 82/62 40/35 35/28 59/45 53/49 44/35 46/40 Partly Mostly A little Mainly Mostly Mostly Rain, Partly Mostly Partly Breezy A.M. rain WED sunny WED cloudy WED rain WED cloudy WED WED cloudy WED sunny WED snow WED sunny WED WED cloudy WED sunny 82/54 57/50 83/67 11/-1 70/43 39/30 44/29 58/42 42/32 61/45 46/35 50/32 Not as Partly Breezy, A bit of Partly A bit of Cooler Breezy Milder Clearing Rain Showers THU warm THU sunny THU THU THU cooler THU snow THU sunny THU THU THU THU THU snow 56/42 34/18 48/35 64/52 56/47 45/35 76/60 20/11 63/45 36/20 67/48 37/25 AQIGood AQI Moderate AQIModerate AQIGood AQIGood AQIGood AQIGood AQIModerate AQIGood AQI Good AQI Good AQI Moderate c Cloudy f Fog i Ice r Rain sf Snowflurries sn Snow w Windy dr Drizzle h Haze pc Partly cloudy s Sunny sh Showers t Thunderstorms TODAY WED TODAY WED TODAY WED TODAY WED U.S. CITIES TODAY WED WORLD CITIES Cincinnati 48/30c 34/21sn Hartford, Conn. 33/28sn 37/28sf Nags Head, N.C. 59/50r 55/38c Sarasota, Fla. 78/65f 78/58pc Akron, Ohio 42/28sh 32/21c Cleveland 39/28sh 31/21c Indianapolis 41/26c 32/20sn Nashville, Tenn. 64/37pc 45/28sh Savannah, Ga. 79/65c 70/43r TODAY WED Albany, N.Y. 27/24sn 29/20sn Colorado Springs 21/7sn 36/18s Islip, N.Y. 37/34sn 41/27pc Newark, N.J. 36/34sn 43/29c Scottsdale, Ariz. 50/34c 56/38s Beijing 48/20s 42/20pc Albuquerque 37/18sf 40/24s Columbia, S.C. 74/57pc 59/38r Jackson, Miss. 69/51pc 55/34pc New Haven, Conn. 36/33sn 40/30sn Shreveport, La. 71/45pc 57/33pc Buenos Aires 90/75pc 85/72pc Allentown, Pa. 34/32i 41/25c Columbus, Ohio 45/30sh 33/20c Jacksonville, Fla. 78/63c 77/46r Norfolk, Va. 57/45sh 53/35pc Sioux Falls, S.D. 17/3c 17/9c Cancun, Mexico 84/71pc 86/67s Amarillo, Texas 43/20sn 47/26s Corpus Christi, Texas 72/54pc 69/42pc Jefferson City, Mo. 37/27c 33/18sn Oakland, Calif. 55/50w 59/50r South Bend, Ind. 32/20sn 26/13c Dubai, UAE 76/62s 77/59s Anaheim, Calif. 58/44s 64/47c Dayton, Ohio 43/28sh 34/18sf Kansas City 29/20c 29/14c Oklahoma City 41/24pc 39/22pc Spokane, Wash. 33/26pc 37/29sn Frankfurt 40/32sn 39/36sn Anchorage, Alaska 14/1s 10/7pc Daytona Beach, Fla. 79/60s 79/50pc Key West, Fla. 79/71s 77/66pc Omaha, Neb. 20/9c 20/3c Springfield, Mo. 36/25pc 33/20sf Hong Kong 71/62s 71/61s Aspen, Colo. 22/2sn 30/16pc Des Moines, Iowa 22/12c 19/-3sn Knoxville, Tenn. 66/42pc 54/30sh Palm Springs, Calif. 59/42s 60/43pc Springfield, Ill. 35/23c 28/10sn Istanbul 60/43r 47/34sh Atlantic City, N.J. 46/41r 52/29c Duluth, Minn. 10/-8pc 6/-5c Laredo, Texas 78/53s 69/40pc Pensacola, Fla. 74/65r 71/40r St. Louis 39/28c 33/17sn Jerusalem 62/48pc 63/40h Augusta, Ga. 75/59sh 62/38r Durham, N.C. 66/48r 60/37r Lexington, Ky. 55/30c 37/21r Pierre, S.D. 18/9c 26/17pc St. Petersburg, Fla. 78/65f 76/55pc Johannesburg 72/58t 75/59t Austin, Texas 74/47s 63/35pc El Paso, Texas 47/27w 51/31s Lincoln, Neb. 19/10c 18/3c Pittsburgh 46/31r 32/22c Syracuse, N.Y. 30/28sn 29/18pc London 42/41r 49/45sh Bakersfield, Calif. 53/44pc 59/51r Fairbanks, Alaska -13/-25s -9/-25s Little Rock, Ark. 59/37pc 47/27r Portland, Maine 33/25pc 36/27sf Tallahassee, Fla. 75/66r 74/41sh Mexico City 78/49s 77/48s Baton Rouge, La. 73/58c 64/39c Flagstaff, Ariz. 24/9sf 34/18c Long Beach, Calif. 57/46s 59/47c Portland, Ore. 42/35r 47/38sh Tampa, Fla. 78/66f 77/55pc Montreal 21/17c 27/19c Billings, Mont. 25/13c 37/26pc Fargo, N.D. 2/-12c 4/1c Louisville, Ky. 53/33c 38/24sn Providence, R.I. 37/31sn 40/31sf Toledo, Ohio 35/24sn 30/15c Moscow 38/30c 33/29c Birmingham, Ala. 69/50pc 61/33pc Fort Myers, Fla. 81/65f 82/61pc Lubbock, Texas 50/24pc 48/27s Raleigh, N.C. 63/49r 55/35r Topeka, Kan. 28/19c 28/15c Mumbai, India 85/68s 85/68s Bismarck, N.D. 14/5c 22/13pc Fort Smith, Ark. 51/34s 45/24c Madison, Wis. 24/11sn 20/-2c Rapid City, S.D. 20/9c 35/22pc Tucson, Ariz. 49/31c 55/39s Paris 42/36c 49/47sh Boise, Idaho 39/33pc 46/38sn Fort Wayne, Ind. 36/23sf 29/16c Manchester, N.H. 34/28sf 37/30sf Reno, Nev. 36/29pc 42/33sn Tupelo, Miss. 68/44s 51/30pc Rio de Janeiro 88/77s 89/77s Buffalo, N.Y. 33/26sn 28/18c Fresno, Calif. 51/45pc 52/49r Memphis, Tenn. 63/38pc 42/29c Richmond, Va. 54/38f 53/31pc Tulsa, Okla. 42/27pc 41/21pc Rome 52/30s 51/34s Burlington, Vt. 27/23pc 31/21c Grand Rapids, Mich. 31/16sn 26/9c Milwaukee 32/19sn 26/8c Rochester, N.Y. 31/25sn 28/19c Virginia Beach, Va. 62/46sh 60/37pc Seoul 49/26c 43/23c Cedar Rapids, Iowa 23/11sn 19/-5sf Green Bay, Wis. 25/12sn 22/5c Mobile, Ala. 72/61r 66/35r Sacramento, Calif. 50/43pc 52/47r Wichita, Kan. 31/20c 32/18pc Singapore 85/76sh 86/77sh Charleston, S.C. 74/61c 62/42r Greensboro, N.C. 64/45f 56/32c Modesto, Calif. 51/43pc 51/47r San Antonio 73/48s 65/37pc Wilmington, Del. 42/36r 47/30c Sydney 96/79pc 80/68c Charleston, W.Va. 60/37pc 39/25r Greenville, S.C. 72/53sh 59/35c Montgomery, Ala. 72/58sh 66/37r San Jose, Calif. 54/47pc 57/49r Winston-Salem, N.C. 64/46pc 56/33c Toronto 29/20sn 26/12pc Cheyenne, Wyo. 21/12sf 35/20s Harrisburg, Pa. 37/37i 44/28c Myrtle Beach, S.C. 69/60c 60/43r Santa Fe, N.M. 33/10sf 38/18s Worcester, Mass. 31/26sn 32/28sf Tokyo 52/47c 54/42r SPORTS USA TODAY ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ 5C

Cause

Continued from Page 1C arillo, California, where the passengers would then be driven to a youth basketball game in nearby Thousand Oaks. Bryant was joined on the flight by his 13- year-old daughter Gianna; John and Ke- ri Altobelli and their daughter, Alyssa; Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton; and Christina Mauser, an assistant coach. The helicopter flew north for about 15 minutes before slowing down and cir- cling near Glendale to make way for air traffic at a nearby airport. Then it followed a highway into the hills near Cala- basas, flying between 400 feet and 600 feet above the ground. “You just going to stay down low at that for all the way to Camarillo?” an air traffic controller asked Zobayan. “Yes sir,” the pilot replied. “Low alti- tude.” Minutes later, there was a shift change at the Southern California TRACON, which provides air traffic control services to airports in the region. And the helicopter was heading into increasingly mountainous terrain, where visibility that morning was poor. When the new air traffic controller The hillside where a helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others crashed. contacted Zobayan, the pilot said that ROBERT HANASHIRO/USA TODAY he was climbing above the clouds, to 4,000 feet. Instead, the helicopter got no more than 1,600 feet above the additional data for investigators. Nor quite variable up there – then special “You can get yourself in a bad spot, ground before banking left and de- did it have a terrain awareness and VFR does get scary.” because your body is lying to you,” said scending rapidly, crashing into the warning system, known as TAWS, The weather that morning has also Cress, who is also the principal officer at hills. which notifies pilots when they get dan- been at the center of multiple lawsuits Vortechs Helicopter Analytics. “It “That combination of the low-lying gerously close to the ground. filed by Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, and the doesn’t know that you’re both turned stratus layer, and also the relatively other victims’ families against the heli- and attempting to climb.” high-rising terrain – (it’s) a common The weather conditions copter company and Zobayan’s estate. Cress also wonders if Zobayan might and, really, a deadly combination,” said The families argue that Zobayan should have felt pressure to complete the flight Jack Cress, a former helicopter pilot in One witness told the NTSB that she not have flown in adverse conditions, on time that day – pressure that might the U.S. Marine Corps who is now an in- was preparing to meet a friend for a hike and that Island Express Helicopters have kept him flying through the fog, structor in the Aviation Safety & Securi- at a nearby trail head when she saw a should have had regulations in place to into hilly terrain, when perhaps he ty Program at the University of South- helicopter disappear into clouds that prevent him from doing so. should have turned around. ern California. were obscuring the tops of trees. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s De- “There would’ve been a lot of profes- Another witness reached out to the partment and Los Angeles Police De- sional pressure within himself – ‘I’ve The helicopter investigators to advise them that the partment later said low clouds and fog done this kind of thing, I know this ter- area near the crash is “predisposed to in the area had prompted them to rain, I can do this. This guy in the back Bryant regularly traveled by helicop- channel fog up from the coast.” ground their own helicopters on the really wants to do it, and I’m going to do ter during and after his NBA career, in “We heard the helicopter flying nor- morning of the crash. everything I can,’ ” Cress said. “He just part to avoid the often-gridlocked traffic mally, but couldn’t really see it because got in too deep.” in Los Angeles. And he regularly char- it was extremely foggy and low clouds,” The pilot tered flights with Island Express Heli- a third witness reported in an email. “I The next steps copters, including 13 trips in 2019. was thinking to myself of (sic) why a he- Zobayan, 50, first became interested In fact, the helicopter involved in the licopter would be flying so low in very in flying when he emigrated from Leba- While the NTSB’s determination on crash – a Sikorsky S-76B – was the same bad weather conditions.” non in the 1980s, his girlfriend of seven the cause of the crash is not admissible machine that transported Bryant to his The weather on the morning of the years told investigators. He got his pri- in court, its findings on Feb. 9 will likely final game with the Lakers in 2016. crash has become a key component of vate pilot certificate in 2001 and had provide a road map for lawyers in the Cress said the Sikorsky S-76 is gener- the NTSB’s investigation. Its meteoro- flown more than 8,500 hours at the time wrongful death lawsuits filed by the vic- ally well-regarded among pilots and has logical report spans 394 pages and in- of the crash, including 1,250 in the Si- tims’ families. a strong safety record over decades of cludes satellite images, surface obser- korsky S-76. The final report will also give the use. He noted that it has been the “heli- vations, photos, maps and other assort- For several years, Zobayan was one of NTSB an opportunity to make safety copter of choice” for Queen Elizabeth II, ed data. only two pilots who flew Bryant for Is- recommendations to the FAA, which among other top dignitaries, since Investigators even compared footage land Express Helicopters, according to can then choose whether or not to enact 2009. from cameras in the area, perched be- Deetz, who was the other. them. “They just don’t fall out of the sky,” hind home plate at three youth baseball “He’s always been a great pilot, per- Robert Clifford, a lawyer who special- pilot Kurt Deetz, who previously flew fields, to estimate visibility at the time formed really well, very proficient,” Lu- izes in aviation litigation, said it often Bryant in the same helicopter, told CNN of the crash. ca Dell’Anese, an instructor who over- takes a tragedy for important safety re- last year. The weather was also a topic of con- saw Zobayan’s training checks for sev- forms to be taken seriously. The NTSB has examined the helicop- versation among Bryant’s travel coordi- eral years, told the NTSB. “He always “A person of the stature of Mrs. Bry- ter itself as part of its investigation, in- nating team prior to takeoff. Zobayan, demonstrated sound judgment ... dur- ant, advancing the cause of enhanced cluding both maintenance records and the pilot, fielded inquiries about it via ing the training.” safety for her husband and daughter,” physical evidence obtained at the crash text message the night before the flight Zobayan was reprimanded once by Clifford said, “maybe she can make scene. It said in a preliminary report last and the morning of. the FAA, in 2015, for flying into busy air- change.” year that the engines had been found “Should be OK,” he replied. space without clearance. He was coun- Brickhouse, meanwhile, noted that near the wreckage and showed “no evi- Pilots typically fly under visual flight seled on the incident but not required to the NTSB has been making some of the dence of an uncontained or catastroph- rules, where they can see where they’re undergo any remedial training. same safety recommendations to the ic internal failure.” going, or instrument flight rules, where Investigators have questioned FAA “for the past 15, 16 years” without “I haven’t seen anything in the data they primarily rely on the aircraft’s in- whether Zobayan became spatially dis- luck. that I’ve looked at that would suggest struments because their vision is ob- oriented in the fog just before the crash. The board first recommended that that there was anything physically scured. One NTSB document mentions the pos- TAWS be required on helicopters, for in- wrong with the helicopter, that would But the conditions that morning sibility that he might have experienced stance, in 2006 after a helicopter cause an accident,” said Brickhouse, prompted Zobayan to take off under a “somatogravic illusion,” a phenome- crashed in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 10 who reviewed the NTSB’s public docket special visual flight rules, a sort of mid- non in which gravitational forces can people. The FAA didn’t adopt it. of the crash. dle ground between the two. confuse the body in the absence of visu- “Because (this) was a high-profile ac- The helicopter did, however, lack two “That term in itself is not scary,” al cues. cident,” Brickhouse said, “it’ll be inter- notable components. It did not have a Cress said. “But when you’re having to In other words, Zobayan might have esting to see if some of those recom- flight recorder, colloquially known as a contend with low visibility, and low felt like the helicopter was climbing as it mendations will be enacted.” “black box,” that could have provided clouds, and variable terrain – and that’s banked toward the hillside. Contributing: The Associated Press

The state generates $644.2 million the season by a month, the union de- Nightengale during a normal spring, according to a clined unless players still received their recent report by the L. William Seidman full salaries, no matter how many games Continued from Page 1C Research Institute at Arizona State’s were played. They received only 37% or business school, so the later the start of their salaries last year, which amounted make this decision. While we, of course, spring training, the better for business. to about $25 million in lost wages a day. share the goals of a safe spring training Yet with six of every 10 fans attending “We’ll be prepared no matter what and regular season, MLB has repeatedly spring training games coming from out they decide,” Binsbacher said. “It’s ab- assured us that it has instructed its of state, Binsbacher insists their health solutely manageable. We just have to teams to be prepared for an on time start is the most important factor. make sure we follow CDC guidelines. to spring training and the regular sea- “We haven’t even made projections But if opening day (for Cactus League son and we continue to devote all our ef- on the economics and none of that have games) is Saturday, Feb. 27, we’ll be forts to making sure that that takes been in any discussions,” Beinsbacher ready to do that.” place as safely as possible.” MLB suspended the 2020 spring said. “The primary focus is public health MLB and the union still are establish- Commissioner Rob Manfred in- training season because of COVID-19. and safety.” ing health and safety protocols that will formed teams two weeks ago to prepare ROB SCHUMACHER/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC The players union believes that after go into effect at the start of spring train- for an on-time start of the season. But in playing a truncated 60-game season ing. Traditional regular-season games the meantime, Arizona’s infection rate last year, they are even more equipped will be altered during the season in a remains the worst in the country, ac- has yet begun selling tickets. Ticket to play through the pandemic this sea- proposal by MLB with seven-inning cording to the U.S. Centers for Disease sales, once given approval, will be sold son. doubleheaders and extra-inning games Control and Prevention’s COVID Data in pods of two, four or six and the pods There were 92 players and staff to begin with a runner on second base, Tracker. Arizona’s rate of new positive will be spaced at least 6 feet apart from members who were infected with as they did a year ago. The union still cases over the past week was 95.1 cases one another. COVID-19 last season, postponing 45 must formally approve the proposal. per 100,000 people. The U.S. average is The NBA’s Phoenix Suns have not had games, but the expanded postseason There are currently no discussions 54.4 cases per 100,000 people. any fans in their arena this season but was played in its entirety without any about a universal DH or expanded play- There are 15 teams based in the Phoe- the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL, also lo- disruptions. offs, like a year ago, although the two nix area for spring training, playing at 10 cated in Phoenix, have been permitted When MLB approached the union in sides have until opening day on April 1 to ballparks, but no Cactus League team to sell 3,450 tickets a game. December about potentially delaying reach an agreement. 6C ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY SPORTS Trends don’t look good for a ’21 Fame class

From Staff Reports casting a wide net. I pay particular at- Mark Faller (@FallerAZ): Todd Hel- USA TODAY tention to a player’s peak, which opens ton, Scott Rolen, Gary Sheffield, Omar the door for Jones, Sosa and Helton. My Vizquel The 2021 Baseball Hall of Fame vot- dividing line on the PED issue is when ing results will be revealed Tuesday MLB instituted league-wide testing in Paul Daugherty (@EnquirerDoc): night, and it’s looking like a real possi- 2004. That’s why Bonds and Clemens Curt Schilling, Omar Vizquel bility nobody will be voted in by the make the cut and Manny Ramirez Schilling was the hardest yay vote Baseball Writers’ Association of Amer- doesn’t. The toughest call for me is with I’ve ever made. Not for his politics, ica for the first time since 2013. Schilling, whose career accomplish- though they don’t help him. His career In their ninth and penultimate year ments put him above the line, but whose was borderline HOF. I try not to put too on the ballot, Barry Bonds, Roger Clem- post-career behavior has been over the much weight on postseason heroics, be- ens and Curt Schilling are the top hold- line. In the end, character is part of the cause it’s not a fair measure given ap- overs, needing to receive 75% of the vote voting criteria, but in trying to be as ob- pearances in October vary so widely. to earn a spot in Cooperstown, New jective as possible, a candidate’s play- What turned it for me was Schilling’s York. ing career is what I weigh most heavily. ERA+ and his WAR, which is 26th best in Others receiving significant support history, among pitchers. There were include Scott Rolen, Todd Helton, Gary Peter Barzilai (@ByPeterBarzilai): also the strikeouts and his forever will- Sheffield and Billy Wagner. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Scott Ro- ingness to take the ball. I didn’t like vot- A number of writers in the USA TO- Fans walk outside the Baseball Hall of len, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, Sam- ing for him. But I did. DAY Network are Hall of Fame voters Fame in Cooperstown, New York. my Sosa Vizquel owned 11 Gold Gloves and and their selections in 2021 project a MIKE GROLL/AP 2,877 hits. He was better than Ozzie wide variety of opinions on the worthi- Pete Caldera (@PCaldera): Barry Smith in nearly every offensive catego- ness of the candidates. Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, ry, save stolen bases. That’s good Here’s a look at who the eligible USA len, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield, Omar enough for me. TODAY Network reporters and editors Same as it ever was. Vizquel voted for this year. Bonds’ and Clemens’ annual, nomi- The issue of PEDs lingers, but a Hall Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak): Bar- nal gains make this feel like an exercise without Bonds or Clemens enshrined is ry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schil- Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale): in futility, one that will come to a close in hard to reconcile, Ramirez was the most ling, Gary Sheffield, Sammy Sosa, Todd Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jeff Kent, 2022. fearsome right-handed hitter of his time Helton, Jeff Kent, Scott Rolen, Billy Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, Sammy and Sheffield’s slugging rings authentic. Wagner, Andruw Jones Sosa, Omar Vizquel, Billy Wagner, La- Steve Gardner (@SteveAGardner): Vizquel’s wondrous glove work over a My first ballot was no cakewalk. Zero Troy Hawkins, Torii Hunter Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt lengthy period and Schilling’s historic no-brainer picks (i.e. a Derek Jeter, Schilling, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, strikeouts-to-walks ratio and postsea- Mariano Rivera or Ken Griffey Jr.) and Gabe Lacques (@GabeLacques): Scott Rolen, Sammy Sosa, Billy Wagner son excellence rate entry to Coopers- plenty of controversial ones. But I feel Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Scott Ro- On my first Hall of Fame ballot, I’m town. comfortable with my choices.

Yankees trade reliever Ottavino to rival Red Sox

Pete Caldera nounced Monday afternoon. Ottavino Then, as now, the Red Sox are in postseason games in 2020, lasting two- The (Bergen County, N.J.) Record has one year remaining on a three-year, something of a remodeling; they fin- thirds of an inning. USA TODAY Network $27 million contract that expires after ished last in the American League East Dealing Ottavino in a move for salary the 2021 season. Minor league right- in 2020, with a 24-36 record. relief also frees up a 40-man roster spot. NEW YORK – To operate under the hander Frank German, 23, a fourth- The salary space would allow the The Yankees have yet to officially add MLB luxury tax threshold this coming round pick in 2018, is also going to Bos- Yankees to possibly re-sign veteran out- DJ LeMahieu or Corey Kluber, who season, Yankees general manager Brian ton in exchange for a player to be named fielder Brett Gardner and to add another agreed to free agent contracts. New York Cashman has sought some creative so- or cash considerations. starter or reliever before pitchers and dealt four prospects Sunday to Pitts- lutions. It is the first deal between the ancient catchers report to camp on Feb. 15. burgh for starter Jameson Taillon. 1 The latest? rivals since the July 31, 2014, trade dead- For a second consecutive October, After pitching to a 1.90 ERA in 66 ⁄3 in- A rare trade with the rival Red Sox. line, when the Yankees acquired Ste- the Yankees lost faith in Ottavino and nings in his first season with the Yan- Reliever Adam Ottavino is heading to phen Drew for Kelly Johnson in an ex- his signature slider; the New York native kees, Ottavino pitched to a 5.89 ERA in 1 Fenway Park, the New York team an- change of infielders. appeared in one of the Yankees’ seven 18 ⁄3 innings last season.

Who’ll rule the halls this year?

The commercials of the class of 2021 are competing for your attention. Rate the ads before the big night is over to savor those memories and be entered to win a trip to the big game in 2022.

PRESENTED BY

PRIZE PROVIDED BY

SPONSORED BY

SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR DETAILS. Your one-stop portal for the news you need NATION’S HEALTH For all the latest developments, USA TODAY | TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 | SECTION D visit coronavirus.usatoday.com.

Merck ends its vaccine program Experts: Exit is proof safety protocols work

John Bacon USA TODAY

The decision by U.S. pharmaceuti- cal giant Merck to get out of the CO- VID-19 vaccine research business should have little direct impact on efforts to vaccinate Americans – and it’s proof safety protocols are working, experts say. Developing a vaccine is challenging and laden with failures, so Merck’s announcement Monday that it was giving up development of two COVID-19 vaccines after poor results wasn’t a People register for rapid-result coronavirus testing at UW-Milwaukee on Nov. 16, 2020. Some public health experts fear complete surprise, said Dennis Carroll, the spring semester’s timing could exacerbate the state of the pandemic. MIKE DE SISTI/USA TODAY NETWORK who led the pandemic unit at the federal Agency for International Develop- ment for nearly 15 years. The real surprise, he said, is the success of the Pfizer and Moderna vac- Colleges pin spring cines already widely distributed across the U.S. Both vaccines showed an effectiveness of better than 90% in clinical hopes on fall’s lessons trials. Return to campus comes amid new concerns

Chris Quintana USA TODAY

The University of Illinois had spent months preparing to reopen its campus to students, and a few weeks into the fall semester it seemed all for naught. Cases were exploding. A new testing Merck cited “inferior” immune method that relied on spit rather than responses based on early trial data. invasive nasal swabs allowed for thou- MARKO GEORGIEV/GETTY IMAGES sands of tests and showed many students had the virus that causes CO- VID-19. “Merck’s announcement in many Chancellor Robert J. Jones locked ways underscores just how extraordi- down the campus, and students expect- nary the success of the Pfizer and Mo- ing in-person learning were confined to derna vaccines are,” Carroll told USA dorm rooms for online classes they TODAY. “Merck’s announced ‘failure’ could have taken from home. Returning student populations may be at even greater risk than they were in comes on the heels of other reports on But the story didn’t end there. the fall. ROBERT FRANKLIN/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE VIA AP field trials of the Chinese and Russian A million tests later, the university vaccines that show modest – at best – generally had a positivity rate of less efficacy.” than half a percent at the end of the se- ey. College towns would feel the eco- Merck cited “inferior” immune re- mester. nomic pinch as well. sponses based on early trial data: Both “The key takeaway from last semes- “As conditions change, if we But when administrators talk about candidates generated fewer neutraliz- ter is that we showed it can work,” said the need for reopening, they focus on ing antibodies than other candidates. Martin Burke, the official who leads the see a spike in positive tests, what went well in the fall – and the ad- Merck said it would continue to con- university’s coronavirus response. we will adjust.” vantages of the full university experi- centrate on developing treatments for “We’re really hopeful that our example ence. those battling the infection, which has can inspire and enable others to achieve Rhett Brown As Illinois’ Burke put it, “We can’t killed more than 400,000 Americans. really important activities while we all President of Wingate University lose a generation of young people be- “We are grateful to our collaborators struggle through this really tough pan- cause of the pandemic.” who worked with us on these vaccine demic.” may be at even greater risk than they candidates and to the volunteers in the While not every college has Illinois’ were in the fall – not to mention their Do colleges spread coronavirus? trials,” said Dr. Dean Y. Li, president of resources, campus leaders hoped the surrounding communities, where re- Merck Research Laboratories. lessons from the fall would better posi- search has suggested greater outbreaks Some public health experts fear the The Merck vaccines were different tion them for the spring semester. That in college towns. new semester’s timing could exacer- from the others in that they used dis- was before a post-holiday winter surge Despite those concerns, colleges are bate the state of the pandemic. tinct, harmless viruses to deliver their pushed the number of COVID-19 deaths pushing ahead. The stakes are high; en- “Reopening universities, bringing payload. The International AIDS Vac- in America over 400,000. Before more rollment plummeted at most colleges all students back to town at this peril- cine Initiative, which was working contagious variants of the coronavirus last semester, and the loss of income ous phase in the U.S. pandemic is ex- with Merck on one of the vaccine can- emerged. Before the vaccine rollout from in-person services like campus tremely risky indeed,” said Gavin didates, said it remains committed to proved slower than anticipated. housing and dining could be devastat- Now, returning student populations ing to schools that depend on that mon- See COLLEGES, Page 2D See MERCK, Page 2D

Pharmacies: Nursing home residents have first shots

Karen Weintraub to the drugstore chains were actually month,” John Standley, Walgreens’ USA TODAY delivered to elderly residents and care- president, said in a prepared statement givers – a figure that reached 26% earli- Friday. Every nursing home resident and ca- er this month – it has stopped that pub- “This unprecedented effort has not regiver in America who wants to be vac- lic count, so it’s unclear how many un- been without challenges,” he said, with- cinated against COVID-19 should have delivered doses remain. out elaborating, “but as federal, state gotten at least their first shot by the end Just six weeks after the first vaccine and local jurisdictions continue to ad- of the day Monday. was authorized, pharmacy chains tout- vance their prioritization and distribu- Walgreens and CVS, which the ed their success at vaccinating so many tion plans, we have been able to rapidly Trump administration hired to deliver people in nursing homes, despite the expand vaccine access to our nation’s the shots, said Friday that they were on difficulties of reaching more than 15,000 most vulnerable populations and help track to meet the deadline. facilities nationwide and the challenges our communities begin to emerge from More than 2.4 million skilled nursing of getting permission forms signed for Judy Ryan is the first patient to get this pandemic.” facility residents and staff had been residents who were not capable of sign- her COVID-19 vaccination at Kimball The CDC decided late last year that vaccinated as of Saturday, according to ing themselves. Farms Nursing Care Center in Lenox, nursing home residents and their care- the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and “Thanks to the dedication of tens of Mass. Health care workers and givers should be among the first to re- Prevention, roughly half by each com- thousands of Walgreens pharmacy patients at nursing homes are part of ceive vaccinations. pany. team members, we have been able to Phase 1 of the introduction of the The authorized vaccines are deliv- Although the CDC had initially been provide 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations vaccine in the state. reporting how many shots distributed to those who need them most in just one BEN GARVER/THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE VIA AP See FIRST SHOTS, Page 2D 2D ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS NATION’S HEALTH

Colleges

Continued from Page 1D

Yamey, a professor of global health at Duke University. “Rates of community transmission are much higher across the country than they were at the start of last fall.” The risk of spread is especially high at the start of the semester. That’s because many students will be coming from communities where the transmission rate is higher. And most students are unlikely to have access to the type of rigorous testing found on some college campuses. Emerging research, both from aca- demics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found evidence that counties where universities reopened in the fall for in-person learning saw higher case counts than those counties without colleges. A USA TO- DAY analysis found that of the 25 hot- Regardless of protocols, college leaders and experts said testing has to be paired with preventive measures like social test outbreaks in the U.S. at the time, distancing and contact tracing teams that quickly isolate students who test positive. COURTNEY SACCO/USA TODAY NETWORK communities heavy with college students represented 19. Even communities that didn’t bring 6,300 undergraduates before the start or canceled tailgating. They have also some students, delaying the start of students back for in-person classes, like of the semester, using money from the expelled or otherwise punished stu- their education could mean never get- Washington State University, still saw federal government to fund the pro- dents who broke rules around quaran- ting a degree. outbreaks as students returned to these gram. tine requirements or throwing parties. Some relief may be in sight. communities en masse regardless of in- Other schools are scaling back on Still, there’s only so much they can do. The federal government recently re- struction given by college leaders. testing. Auburn University in Alabama For example, after the University of leased nearly $21 billion in stimulus Still other colleges, particularly had entry testing last semester but Alabama won the NCAA football cham- money geared toward colleges. And smaller campuses, reported few if any doesn’t plan to test everyone at the be- pionship this month, fans in Tuscaloosa President Joe Biden’s stimulus proposal cases throughout their semesters. ginning of this semester. Instead, it will poured into the streets. Health officials would give $35 billion more to public Yamey and colleague Nahid Bhade- select students, staff and faculty ran- are saying they expect to see more cases colleges and historically black colleges lia, a professor at Boston University and domly and ask them to test. in the area because of the event, accord- and universities and other minority- director of the Special Pathogens Unit at The disparity in university responses ing to The Associated Press. serving institutions, if Congress ap- Boston Medical Center, warned that col- can be vexing for parents and students proves. Those figures are well below the leges should prepare to be dealing with trying to figure out when, and to some Colleges plan to reopen $120 billion the higher education trade the impacts of the virus through 2021. extent if, their colleges will resume in- group, the American Council on Educa- In a recent story for Time magazine, person classes. For the most part, colleges’ approach tion, said would be necessary to meet they recommended colleges employ Whereas universities initially re- to the spring will be similar to their fall the needs of students and colleges. measures such as frequent testing of all sponded to the virus the same way in approach, said Chris Marsicano, a pro- So universities will do what they can students; plenty of isolation and quar- spring 2020 – in-person instruction was fessor at North Carolina’s Davidson Col- – both to stay open and stay true to their antine rooms for those infected or ex- paused and colleges sent students lege who runs the College Crisis Initia- mission to educate a new generation – posed to the virus; and social distancing home – their plans now vary widely. tive, which has been tracking universi- while pinning their hopes that the les- on campus and in the classroom. Adding to the confusion, earlier guid- ties’ responses to the coronavirus. sons of the fall will help keep their stu- ance from the CDC suggested mass test- Marsicano said some institutions dents and staff safe. Test, test and test again ing hadn’t yet been shown to be effective have delayed the start of in-person After a successful fall semester with in reducing outbreaks. That agency now classes. That has been the case at Syra- about 1,100 students on campus, the Many higher education leaders say says “entry screening combined with cuse University and the University of University of Massachusetts at Amherst they’ve already taken some of those les- regular serial testing” along with other North Carolina at Chapel Hill. That in- plans on bringing back 5,500 students sons to heart. prevention measures could prevent or stitution sent students home in the fall for the spring and testing students twice For example, Wingate University, a reduce spread. after it reopened for in-person instruc- a week, said Jeff Hescock, the univer- private liberal arts college in North Car- Regardless of protocols, college lead- tion and experienced several outbreaks. sity’s director of emergency manage- olina, is trying to double the number of ers and health experts said testing has And some universities that had of- ment. tests they did in the fall. They’ll test all to be paired with preventive measures fered classes largely online last semes- UMass Amherst has also been pro- students who return to campus, while like social distancing and contact trac- ter are attempting to bring students viding coronavirus testing to nonstu- also limiting social gatherings. They ing teams that quickly isolate students back this time around, Marsicano said. dents in the community. And the uni- hope to loosen restrictions if conditions who test positive. And schools have to Some may feel they can’t afford not versity started administering coronavi- allow – though that could go the oppo- account for spread in places where they to. Enrollment at most colleges and uni- rus vaccines to front-line responders in site way, too. don’t have control. versities plummeted in the last semes- addition to its health staff. The strategy “There is no simple answer,” said Illinois and other universities found ter, according to the National Student recognizes the college’s inherent links school President Rhett Brown. “As con- little evidence of transmission among Clearinghouse. More troubling, some with the community by seeking to pre- ditions change, if we see a spike in posi- students in classrooms. Rather, out- indicators of future enrollment such as vent outbreaks both on and off campus, tive tests, we will adjust.” breaks were more likely to occur in the the number of students who complete Hescock said. The University of Missouri had fo- off-campus spaces where students are applications for federal student aid “If it’s out there, we’re catching it,” cused in the fall on testing students with least likely to wear masks or practice so- were down as well. Hescock said. “And then we’re prevent- COVID-19 symptoms and people who cial distancing. That could spell even more financial ing further spread. And I think that’s had been in close contact with them. For To that end, some institutions have trouble for colleges, especially those something the town and us have worked the spring, they planned to test roughly banned audiences from sporting events that rely on tuition to stay afloat. For extremely well on together.”

COVID-19, Centers for Medicare & Medi- finished by Monday. Walgreens also Vaccination in assisted living facili- First shots caid Services data shows, and more said in a statement that it was on track ties still has a long way to go. So far, CVS than 100,000 have died from the dis- to meet Monday’s deadline. has administered more than 528,000 Continued from Page 1D ease. Nearly as many staff members The union that represents nursing first and second doses at nearly 38,000 caught the disease, but only 1,340 have home staff said they still have concerns. facilities. ered in two doses, either 21 or 28 days died, illustrating how much COVID-19 “We have no independent way of ver- The two vaccines authorized for use apart. CVS and Walgreens are contrac- has targeted the elderly. ifying what vaccinations CVS and Wal- late last year still remain in short supply, tually obligated to pay three visits to Cases in nursing homes peaked just green’s have administered,” April Ver- so shots are available only to people in each nursing home: the first to deliver before Christmas and have been falling rett, president of SEIU Local 2015, said certain age categories or professions, initial doses; the second to deliver sec- since, though they remain well above in a statement late Friday. though it varies by state. ond doses to the previously vaccinated levels seen earlier in the pandemic. Verrett emphasized that the virus has Both chains will be distributing their and first doses to anyone who missed The Trump administration, through hit hardest among people of color, who vaccines to the general public once dos- the first opportunity; and a third to com- its Operation Warp Speed vaccine pro- also are overrepresented among nursing es are available. plete second doses. gram, partnered with the two drugstore home employees and other essential Government officials have estimated It’s not clear how nursing homes – chains and some smaller pharmacies workers. that vaccines should be widely available which are known to have high turnover last fall to provide free vaccines to nurs- “Equity, transparency and account- by late spring or early summer, depend- of staff and residents – will provide ing home residents and staff. Participat- ability remain critical concerns in the ing on each state’s rollout strategy and shots to those who miss those dates. ing pharmacies will bill private and pub- vaccine rollout,” she said. “While I ap- how quickly other vaccines can be au- Nursing home residents account for lic insurance for the vaccine admini- plaud any advances in fighting the vi- thorized. more than a quarter of deaths from CO- stration fee. rus, we must remain clear eyed and so- Health and patient safety coverage VID-19. The disease has torn through Operation Warp Speed did not say ber about the challenges we face. This at USA TODAY is made possible in part nearly all of the country’s more than how much the effort would cost. means organizing our vaccination ef- by a grant from the Masimo Foundation 15,000 nursing homes. As of Friday, CVS had completed forts to prioritize the workers and com- for Ethics, Innovation and Competition More than half a million nursing first-round shots at nursing homes in all munities experiencing the worst of the in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation home residents nationwide have caught but nine states, and those were set to be pandemic.” does not provide editorial input.

ly to change soon. that Johnson & Johnson and Novavax Merck’s decision should provide re- Merck Merck’s announcement does wipe have yet to conclude their vaccine de- assurance that proper procedures are away a potential “one-shot” vaccine, velopment. being followed, and public safety is still Continued from Page 1D which could significantly reduce the lo- “If successful, they will be welcome of “paramount importance,” Omenka gistics burden for delivering vaccine in addition to the vaccine supply chain,” said. the vaccine type and hopes to deter- developing countries, he said. Omenka said. “It is actually comforting, albeit dis- mine whether administering it, perhaps In the world of vaccine development It would be a normal reaction for peo- appointing, because it is an indication as a nasal spray rather than a shot in the process, it’s understood that not all the ple to be discouraged because many that those vaccine researchers were fol- arm, would improve effectiveness. attempts will work. Hence the U.S. ef- people were already worried about the lowing appropriate safety protocols,” Eric Cioe-Peña, director of Global fort to help finance multiple research ef- speed of the vaccine production, espe- Omenka said. “It is similar to a flight be- Health for Northwell Health in New forts and purchase multiple vaccines in cially given the heavily scientific data ing delayed due to inclement weather. Hyde Park, New York, said Merck’s deci- advance of their completion. surrounding the process, Omenka said. While the passengers might be disap- sion represents only a minor setback for Ogbonnaya Omenka, an associate However, it is essential to help the pub- pointed, the decision was actually made the U.S., where heavy reliance on the professor and public health specialist at lic to understand that this sort of news to keep them safe.” Moderna and Pfizer vaccines is not like- Butler University in Indianapolis, noted is not unusual, he said. Contributing: Karen Weintraub NEWS USA TODAY ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ 3D NATION’S HEALTH

CORONAVIRUS NEWS BRIEFING Calif. dropping stay-at-home orders, curfew

California health officials lifted regional stay-at- home orders across the state Monday, citing a decline in the numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations and intensive care unit patients. The stay-at-home order had included most of the state’s counties, including the San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. The change will allow restaurants to resume outdoor dining in many areas, though local officials could choose to continue stricter rules. The state is also lifting a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. The restrictions had fueled an angry outcry from many small-business owners. California will now return to its four-tiered, color-coded system of county- by-county restrictions, state health officials announced. “Together, we changed our activities knowing our short-term sacrifices would lead to longer-term gains,” said Dr. Tomás Aragón, California Depart- ment of Public Health director and state public health officer. The U.S. has more than 25.1 million confirmed cor- Nursing student Brandi White, right, injects her mother, Angie Stark, with the Pfizer vaccine in Indianapolis onavirus cases and more than 419,600 deaths, ac- on Jan. 16. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE PEMBERTON/USA TODAY NETWORK cording to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: More than 99.3 million cases and 2.1 million deaths. Eager medical students 2 in 5 Americans live where ICUs strained Straining to handle record numbers of patients, hundreds of the nation’s intensive care units are running out of space and supplies and competing to hire help speed vaccination temporary traveling nurses at soaring rates. Many of the facilities are clustered in the South and West. Need to administer unused doses An Associated Press analysis of federal hospital data shows that since November, the share of U.S. offers unique learning experience hospitals nearing the breaking point has doubled. More than 40% of Americans now live in areas run- Adrianna Rodriguez ning out of ICU space, and only 15% of beds are still USA TODAY available. Intensive care units are the final defense for the INDIANAPOLIS – Nursing student Brandi White, sickest of the sick, patients who are nearly suffocat- 43, was a little nervous vaccinating her mother in mid- ing or facing organ failure. Nurses who work in the January. most stressed ICUs, changing IV bags and monitor- Angie Stark, 62, was initially hesitant to get the CO- ing patients on breathing machines, are exhausted. VID-19 vaccine, even though she works at a long-term care facility for the elderly. But pride quickly replaced NFL study finds transmission without that hesitancy when she saw her daughter at work on 15 minutes of close contact the evening of Jan. 16. After White was done, her mother stood up, gave A study of NFL players found that coronavirus her a big hug and said, “thank you.” More than 830,000 students educated by transmission is still possible even if exposure didn’t “It was amazing,” White said, who also vaccinated institutions in Students Assist America are trained surpass 15 total minutes within six feet, according to her 21-year-old daughter that night. The three genera- to vaccinate with supervision. a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- tions of health care workers volunteer at Ascension St. vention. The study, published Monday in the agen- Vincent William K. Nasser, MD, Health Education and cy’s Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report, tracked Simulation Center in Indianapolis. 20 players from Oct. 15 to Nov. 21 who were identified While White and Stark administer vaccines to Indi- as high-risk contacts of a COVID-19 patient. Re- ana residents, the youngest registers patients at the “These students have been asking for searchers determined through contact tracing that front desk. She’s also very proud of her mom. seven of them “had no interactions exceeding 15 “It was nice for all of us to be there together,” White ways to help for months.” cumulative minutes per day within (six feet).” said. “It feels good to be doing something.” Virginia Bader The findings put into question the CDC’s guidance Medical students are expected to be an increasingly Director of Students Assist America and senior adviser to the on community exposure, which it defines as having important part of the nation’s unprecedented vaccina- president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges close contact with an individual who is confirmed or of Osteopathic medicine tion effort. President Joe Biden’s National COVID-19 suspected to have COVID-19. According to the agen- strategy says clinical students, retired health care pro- ministering vaccines after Gov. Phil Murphy issued a cy, close contact is defined as within six feet for a to- fessionals and health workers who normally do not similar executive order. The school vaccinates 300 to tal of 15 minutes or more. The CDC also noted most of give vaccinations should all be called upon to deliver 400 patients per day on campus, according to the the cases came from community exposure and not vaccines. school’s dean Dr. Thomas Cavalieri. That amounts to from the field or other work-related environments. In White’s case, her chance to administer vaccina- one in every 95 patients vaccinated in the state. tions came through her school. It worked with the Stu- “Initially, we had an internal discussion as to Japan scrambling for ‘herd immunity’ dents Assist America program, an initiative spear- whether we had the resources to do it. … We came to a as Olympics near headed by the American Association of Colleges of Os- conclusion, ‘no’ wasn’t an option,” he said. “It’s not a teopathic Medicine to speed up COVID-19 vaccina- matter of ‘should we,’ it’s a matter of ‘we must.’ ” Japan’s vaccine effort is falling short and could tions by using qualified medical students. Students say they feel a similar sense of duty. imperil the Tokyo Olympics, at least one expert The effort comes as the nation faces a surplus of MacKenzie North, a student at Marian Univer- warns. distributed but unused vaccines, with about 20 mil- sity’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, doesn’t have Japan probably won’t achieve herd immunity to lion doses currently waiting to be administered, ac- the credentials to administer vaccines yet, but she COVID-19 through mass inoculations until months cording to Friday data from the Centers for Disease jumped at the chance to assist with registration. after the Tokyo Olympics, which are scheduled to be- Control and Prevention. “Feeling like you are a part of the solution is a very gin July 23, Rasmus Bech Hansen, the founder of “There’s no doubt that we have not been able to vac- rewarding feeling and puts in perspective of why British research firm Airfinity, told Reuters. cinate as many people in an efficient way that we want you’re going into medicine to begin with,” she said. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has pledged to in part because there’s not enough people involved at Dr. Amanda Wright, interim school dean, is proud have enough shots for the populace by the middle of all levels,” Virginia Bader, director of Students Assist of the how professional and selfless the student vol- 2021. Hansen, however, said Japan will not reach a America and senior adviser to the president and CEO unteers have been in helping to streamline the vacci- 75% inoculation rate, a benchmark for herd immuni- of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopath- nation process. ty, until around October. ic medicine. “If we could fully engage the million stu- She said students help offload work from other “Japan looks to be quite late in the game,” Hansen dents in SAA, there’s no doubt that we’d be in a far bet- health care workers who may need a break or don’t said. “They’re dependent on importing many (vac- ter position than we are now.” have the extra time to volunteer after working at cines) from the U.S. And at the moment, it doesn’t More than 830,000 students educated by institu- strained hospitals. seem very likely they will get very large quantities.” tions in Students Assist America are trained to vacci- It’s also a unique learning experience for students nate with supervision during their education. An addi- that licensed doctors today may never have had, In rural Pennsylvania, tional 147,000 students who are trained in social work, Wright added. COVID-19 is making a tragic mark psychology and other areas of public health are avail- “They’re going to be our future leaders,” she said. able to assist with nonclinical aspects of vaccination. “When I trained, I never saw something like this hap- The pandemic hasn’t bypassed rural America, and Many of these students still attend classes virtually pen. These learners have, so they’ll be very prepared it’s not going away. and are eager to begin clinical work as part of their for future crises because they’ve gone through it.” In the Pennsylvania town of Beaver, 35 miles training. COVID-19 cemented White’s decision to switch northwest of Pittsburgh, vaccine shots are nearly im- “These students have been asking for ways to help her career to nursing in March 2020 and volunteering possible to get. Nurses at Heritage Valley Beaver had for months, their lives have been really disrupted by has made her feel prepared to join the workforce bat- to open a second COVID-19 unit to treat all of the criti- this and their education process has been upended,” tling the pandemic when she graduates in December cally ill patients. The community-based health sys- Bader said. “(Volunteering) is a good way for people to 2021. tem recently treated 115 patients simultaneously with gain some sense of control and agency.” As White and her family volunteer side-by-side to COVID-19. White has volunteered a total of seven times. In six- immunize Indiana residents, she felt proud to be a “The struggle to just breathe. It sounds like a small hour shifts, she vaccinates between 50 to 60 patients. part of this historic effort. thing, you just keep breathing, it is not a small thing,” That has been possible because Indiana Gov. Eric “This will be a defining moment in all of our life- said Rebecca Register, 40, of Beaver, a seven-year Holcomb extended an executive order Dec. 23, first is- times,” she said. “We will be a part of history.” veteran nurse who works on the COVID-19 unit. sued in March in response to the pandemic, to grant “Watching someone struggle with that, and they’re temporary licensing to retired or student health care Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY on the highest amount of oxygen that I can give them workers. This included authorizing qualified students is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo at any time and it’s ripping your heart out.” to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition Contributing: John Bacon, Elinor Aspegren, Adri- In New Jersey, students from the Rowan University in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not pro- anna Rodriguez, Amanda Ulrich, Julie Makinen, Da- School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford began ad- vide editorial input. veen Rae Kurutz, The Associated Press 4D ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS NATION’S HEALTH

TRAVEL Nearby getaways look to cash in Regional theme parks to stay open during winter

Arthur Levine Special to USA TODAY

Folks with a yen for negative G-forces and churros in the heart of winter have long been able to head to destination theme parks in temperate Florida and California. Those hoping to get their roller coaster fixes at parks in other parts of the country were generally out of luck. That’s changing as some seasonal parks open their gates in January and Febru- ary and switch to four-season, year- round operation. In recent years, Halloween events expanded shoulder seasons at regional theme parks, along with holiday events that kept gates open through late De- cember. Now, the carousels practically never stop spinning at parks such as Six Flags Over Texas near Dallas and Busch Gar- dens Williamsburg in Virginia. The trend is partly fueled by the pandemic. “With COVID, people are craving to get out, and Six Flags has a safe, outdoor environment conducive to social distancing,” says Bonnie Sherman We- ber, the park chain’s senior vice president of operations. She also notes that people aren’t working traditional sched- For the first time in over a decade, SeaWorld San Antonio is opening its gates in January and February. The park’s Wild ules and have more flexibility to visit Days event features rides as well as animal encounters. PROVIDED BY SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT parks. Six Flags Over Texas is presenting its first-ever Fire & Ice Winter Festival on (Tickets have not gone on sale yet, but weekends through Feb. 28 as well as reservations probably will be required.) Feb. 15 for the Presidents Day holiday. The winter events help add value to Visitors will still be able to enjoy the the annual membership programs avail- twinkling lights and snow sledding that able at Six Flags as well as Busch Gar- were already part of the park’s holiday dens (part of SeaWorld Parks and En- event. There are fireworks shows every tertainment) – especially after the pan- Saturday, and most rides, such as the demic forced the parks to close and re- New Texas Giant coaster, are open. For duce capacity once they reopened. The an additional fee, guests can indulge January and February events likely are their inner Winter Olympian by trying an attempt by the park chains to recoup their hands at curling at the Six Flags ice some of the revenue they have been los- rink. (Note: Reservations are required.) ing because of the pandemic. Sister park Six Flags Fiesta Texas in “It made perfect sense for us to con- San Antonio is holding a Mardi Gras fes- tinue to offer our members and guests tival, complete with cavalcade floats, an opportunity to safely experience New Orleans-style music, colorful Busch Gardens year-round. It’s evident beads, and treats such as boiled craw- people are seeking some sense of nor- fish, jambalayas and beignets. It is also malcy, and we are thrilled to be able to open on weekends through Feb. 28 as provide that with our limited-capacity well as Presidents Day. The park is of- events,” Lembke says, adding that the fering a walk-through haunted maze- Busch Gardens Williamsburg will host its St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on select pandemic “forced us to rethink our busi- style attraction, The Houngan House of days from March 5 to 28. PROVIDED BY SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT ness and challenged us to be creative.” Voodoo, along with most of its rides. SeaWorld San Antonio, which is not (Reservations are required.) far from Six Flags Fiesta Texas, is open Generally, the winters aren’t crazy year-round for the first time in more cold in Texas. The same can’t be said for than a decade. On weekends through Virginia, where Busch Gardens Wil- Jan. 31, it is presenting Wild Days, which liamsburg is opening its gates in Janu- will celebrate the park’s animals as well ary, February, and early March for the as its rides. On weekends and other se- first time ever. “Our fans love riding our lect days from Feb. 6 to Feb. 28, the park world-class roller coasters no matter the will hold its own Mardi Gras event . temperature,” says Kevin Lembke, the The pandemic may have inspired park’s president. some regional parks to open their gates The Virginia park is holding its own in the first months of the year, but some Mardi Gras event on weekends from already had been exploring the idea of Jan. 29 through Feb. 28 as well as the operating year-round. Presidents Day holiday. There will be a “We were discussing and planning New Orleans jazz band, stilt walkers, year-round operation before the pan- hurricane cocktails and other NOLA demic,” says Byron Surrett, SeaWorld fun. (Reservations are required.) San Antonio’s park president. He hopes Busch Gardens Williamsburg plans a the park will keep its gates open after St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on select the threat of the pandemic has passed. days March 5 to March 28. It will focus “The world has changed,” says Six on the park’s Irish village and celebrate Flags’ Sherman Weber. “It’s not just CO- the country’s music, dance, and cuisine. VID. People want to come out. They can More than a dozen rides, including the The roller coasters at Six Flags Over Texas, most of which are open for its winter experience the parks without the big wooden coaster InvadR, will be open. festival, are decked out with holiday lights. PROVIDED BY SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS crowds.”

ID mix-up shifts sorrow from one family to another

N’dea Yancey-Bragg recovered from COVID-19. led to the death of one of them being USA TODAY “When I got there they gave me the certified on Jan. 13, although the identi- “When I got there they gave news: that my sister had been dead for ty was wrongly assigned.” A family in Spain is in disbelief after 10 days,” he said. “That they were very The foundation expressed regret in their 85-year-old relative returned to me the news: that my sister sorry for the mistake and that now the its statement to La Voz de Galicia for the her nursing home 10 days after they had been dead for 10 days.” court had to act and give permission for “unfortunate incident” that it described were told she had died of COVID-19, lo- the transfer of the body.” as a “one-off event, among more than cal media reported. Maximino Arias The San Rosendo Foundation, which 100 transfers.” The foundation did not Whose sister, Concepción, was misidentified when Officials from a nursing home in Xove she died of COVID-19 on Jan. 13 runs the nursing home, said the identity immediately respond to a request for in northern Spain told the family of Ro- mix-up happened when Blanco and oth- comment from USA TODAY. gelia Blanco she was transferred to a fa- turned to the nursing home free of the er residents who tested positive were Blanco’s husband, Ramón, was over- cility in Pereiro de Aguiar for specialized virus on Saturday, according to La Voz. transferred to Pereiro de Aguiar. whelmed when a doctor informed him care on Dec. 29 and died there on Jan. 13, Her family was informed that the wom- “Among the elderly people trans- his wife had returned to the nursing La Voz de Galicia reported. The woman an who died was her roommate, Con- ferred were two women who were as- home where they both live, relatives was buried the next day, and the family cepción Arias. signed the same room,” the foundation told the newspaper. was unable to attend because of safety Arias’ brother Maximino, 85, told the said in a statement to La Voz. “An identi- “He didn’t believe it. Of course, he protocols. newspaper he traveled to the nursing fication error during the process of was crying since the 13th for the death of To the family’s surprise, Blanco re- home Saturday believing his sister had transfer from Xove to Pereiro de Aguiar his wife,” a relative told La Voz. NEWS USA TODAY ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ 5D

News from across the USA

ALABAMA Birmingham: The Bir- HIGHLIGHT: COLORADO OHIO Cincinnati: The state reported mingham VA Health Care System is 4,334 new coronavirus cases and 57 expanding its ability to vaccinate COVID-19 deaths Monday, continuing veterans against COVID-19, provided a trend of declining infections and it can get enough doses. A partner- hospitalizations in recent weeks. ship with the United Way of Central OKLAHOMA Oklahoma City: Health Alabama will allow the agency to officials have stopped sending a por- provide as many as 1,000 shots a day, tion of the state’s COVID-19 vaccines up from 300, beginning this week. to pharmacies. Keith Reed, deputy ALASKA Juneau: The state held the commissioner of health, said the enviable position of having the high- temporary pause is meant to allow est rate of COVID-19 vaccinations per CVS Health and Walgreens to catch capita in the nation as of last week, up on doses set aside for residents its top health official said. and staff in long-term care facilities. ARIZONA Phoenix: With less than 1% OREGON Salem: The state Depart- of the population fully vaccinated ment of Corrections has reported the against COVID-19, a WalletHub study 39th COVID-19 death among adults in found Arizona the least safe state in custody since the pandemic began. the nation in regard to COVID-19. Wesley Morgan, 32, shows a letter from one of his “Peanuts” pen pals. AP PENNSYLVANIA Harrisburg: A Dem- ARKANSAS Little Rock: The state ocratic lawmaker criticized the state’s had the nation’s eighth-highest rate vaccine rollout as muddled Friday, Denver: Wesley Morgan has been sending cards and letters across the country to of new coronavirus cases per capita, saying other states are doing a much ease the solitude of older adults during the pandemic. “He’s kept me from being according to data from Johns Hop- better job at distribution and commu- lonely,” said Nancy Sloane, 67, a retired teacher quarantined at Brookdale Senior kins University on Sunday. But the nication, while unions representing Living Community in Denver. After Morgan was furloughed from his job at the seven-day rolling average of new police and prison guards expressed Denver International Airport in March, he soon ran out of shows to stream and cases declined during the past two outrage at having been shoved far- items to craft. Morgan learned of a friend’s efforts to write to people at a Denver weeks from 2,900.57 per day Jan. 9 to ther back in line for COVID-19 shots. nursing home and felt called to do the same, putting to use his beloved collection 1,831 on Saturday, the data shows. of “Peanuts” stationery. “I couldn’t think of a better way to use this collection,” he RHODE ISLAND Providence: The CALIFORNIA San Francisco: Ad- said. He has sent over 500 letters and heard back from 142 people. Many have state has received an infusion of vocates for farmworkers, teachers, become regular correspondents – his “Peanuts” pen pals, as he calls them. more than $70 million in federal grocery store clerks and other essen- funding to bolster its coronavirus tial workers are worried they’ll have testing and vaccination programs, to wait until summer to be vaccinated U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said Monday. as the state considers giving priority SOUTH CAROLINA Greenville: Stu- to older residents. State officials not- KANSAS Topeka: Gov. Laura Kelly MISSOURI St. Louis: Health experts dents’ fall test results showed lower ed older people have a much higher on Monday proposed moving the say the state isn’t vaccinating peo- scores in English language arts and rate of hospitalization and death. But state’s tourism division into the ple quickly enough to create wide- math, with young students sliding it could take until June to vaccinate Department of Commerce, aiming spread immunity by this summer. the most in math. But scores might all residents 65 and older, the Sacra- to boost an economy that’s suffered BJC HealthCare’s Chief Clinical not have dropped as much as in other mento Bee reports. a downturn amid the pandemic. Officer Dr. Clay Dunagan estimated states so far this academic year. vaccinating 5 million residents by CONNECTICUT Wilton: Local health KENTUCKY Louisville: City officials the end of June would require SOUTH DAKOTA Sioux Falls: State officials have ordered a home for and local utility companies are now 25,000 to 30,000 shots per day. health officials on Monday reported retired nuns closed to visitors and the accepting debt relief applications Over the past week, Missouri has 32 new cases of the coronavirus, the public because of a coronavirus out- for residents who have fallen behind been averaging almost 11,000 per lowest daily total since late July. break that has infected nearly half of on their bills during the pandemic. day, according to the state. the more than 70 residents at the TENNESSEE Nashville: The B.1.1.7 LOUISIANA Baton Rouge: The state School Sisters of Notre Dame, just as MONTANA Helena: Republican Gov. variant strain of the coronavirus, has confirmed a coronavirus out- vaccinations were underway. Greg Gianforte will deliver his first believed to be more contagious, has break connected to a wrestling tour- State of the State to a joint session been detected in the state and is ex- DELAWARE Dover: Health officials nament earlier this month in Ascen- of the Legislature on Thursday, with pected to be the “dominant” strain in say they vaccinated 11,154 people over sion Parish, with more than 20 peo- modifications to help prevent the Tennessee by March, Health Com- the weekend at events in Delaware ple tied to the event testing positive. coronavirus’ spread by letting law- missioner Lisa Piercey said. City and Georgetown. Delays and MAINE Portland: School districts makers stream the address online. confusion had plagued vaccination TEXAS Austin: The state has seen a across the state are cutting back on efforts earlier in the weekend. NEBRASKA Omaha: Gov. Pete Rick- decrease in new deaths due to CO- in-person classes in response to etts on Monday defended the state’s VID-19. There were 208 deaths re- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washing- staffing shortages as a result of a approach to distributing COVID-19 ported across Texas on Sunday after ton: President Joe Biden has brought statewide surge in COVID-19 cases. vaccines, saying it won’t redirect 407 were reported Saturday following back Dr. Kevin O’Connor as his physi- The shortages are affecting not just doses away from rural areas that are three straight days of more than 1,200 cian, replacing President Donald teachers but also transportation and outpacing Omaha and Lincoln with new deaths, according to the state Trump’s doctor with the one who custodial staff, The Portland Press vaccinations and moving on to the health department. oversaw Biden’s care as vice presi- Herald reports. next phase of residents. dent. Dr. Sean Conley faced intense UTAH Salt Lake City: The Capitol has MARYLAND Hagerstown: Three scrutiny over his lack of transparency NEVADA Reno: The U.S. Supreme reopened to the public after being state employees have died of CO- during Trump’s COVID-19 illness. Court refused a rural church’s re- closed for the first four days of the VID-19 in recent weeks, according to quest Monday to step into a legal legislative session due to concerns FLORIDA Miami: Gov. Ron DeSantis union officials. Leaders with the battle over the government’s au- about potential protests following the says the flow of COVID-19 vaccines American Federation of State, thority to limit the size of religious deadly breach of the U.S. Capitol. has been stagnant, and the state County and Municipal Employees gatherings amid the coronavirus Residents are still encouraged to needs more from the federal govern- Maryland Council 3 said more than pandemic even after the church participate in committee hearings ment to meet increasing demand. 3,000 state employees have been won an appeals court ruling last virtually. Masks and physical dis- White House press secretary Jen sickened since the beginning of the month that found Nevada’s restric- tancing are required in the Capitol, Psaki pushed back, saying Florida pandemic, and 10 have died. Council tions unconstitutional. where three coronavirus cases were has only administered about half of 3 President Patrick Moran blamed identified in staffers and an intern the vaccines it has been given. state leaders for failing to protect NEW HAMPSHIRE Concord: Anyone last week, the Deseret News reports. employees who have been working who owns property in the Granite GEORGIA Conyers: A nursing home throughout the pandemic. State will be allowed to get the CO- VERMONT Brattleboro: Amid the where 22 people died from COVID-19 VID-19 vaccine in the state, regard- challenges of the pandemic, the Brat- has been faulted by state inspectors MASSACHUSETTS Boston: The less of where they actually live. tleboro Area Chamber of Commerce for failing to control infections, but state relaxed some coronavirus has named the whole community as relatives of people who died say they restrictions Monday as several key NEW JERSEY Trenton: The state its 2020 person of the year, noting can’t sue because state lawmakers metrics used to measure the spread launched a COVID-19 vaccine hot- efforts by those “who rose up to sup- last year blocked lawsuits unless of the pandemic trend in the right line Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy said. port their neighbors." plaintiffs can prove the difficult-to- direction. Restaurants, movie thea- People with questions about the meet standard of gross negligence. ters and many other businesses will vaccine can call 855-568-0545 from VIRGINIA Richmond: State officials be allowed to remain open past 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to reach one of 250 announced Monday that the first HAWAII Honolulu: Lt. Gov. Josh 9:30 p.m. Also, a 10 p.m.-to-5 p.m. New Jersey-based operators. case of a new variant of the coro- Green said he has asked Gov. David curfew has been lifted. navirus has been identified in a resi- Ige to allow residents who have re- NEW MEXICO Santa Fe: The state dent of northern Virginia who had no ceived a full COVID-19 vaccine series MICHIGAN Lansing: If the state has surpassed all others in its reli- reported recent travel history. to be allowed to bypass the state’s could administer 50,000 COVID-19 ance on Medicaid as the coronavi- mandated quarantine for inter-island vaccine doses a day, it could hit its rus wreaks economic havoc and WASHINGTON Olympia: State House travel beginning in February. goal of inoculating 70% of people 16 shifts the way people receive health and Senate Democrats on Friday and older by August. At the current care, New Mexico’s Medicaid direc- released a plan that looks to spend IDAHO Boise: Members of Idaho’s rate, about 29,000 per day, it would tor told a panel of lawmakers Friday. $2.2 billion in federal aid money on COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Commit- not finish until a year from now. COVID-19 relief efforts to boost vacci- tee met Friday to help clarify exactly NEW YORK New York: The Met- nations, contact tracing and child who should have first dibs on the MINNESOTA Minneapolis: Gov. Tim ropolitan Transportation Authority care and to help schools, renters, state’s vaccine doses. Only five states Walz on Monday announced is honoring its 136 employees who landlords and businesses. have received fewer doses per capita changes in the sign-up process for a have died of COVID-19 since the from the federal supply. community vaccine program for pandemic began with a digital me- WEST VIRGINIA Charleston: The seniors, teachers and child care morial at 107 subway stations, the numbers of deaths, hospitalizations ILLINOIS Chicago: Mayor Lori Light- workers after heavy demand last authority announced Monday. The and new coronavirus cases in the foot received a COVID-19 vaccine shot week crashed a website and an- video tribute features photos of the state trended downward last week, to Monday as Illinois touted online gered many people who could not fallen transit workers accompanied levels not seen since late fall. signups and efforts to address racial get through. State officials have by a poem, “Travels Far,” by former equity at the start of its latest vacci- WISCONSIN Madison: The Wiscon- shifted from a first-come, first- U.S. poet laureate Tracy K. Smith. nation phase covering essential work- sin Medical Society on Monday an- served system to a lottery that al- ers and residents age 65 and older. NORTH CAROLINA Raleigh: The nounced its opposition to a Repub- lows 24 hours to sign up, beginning Department of Health and Human lican-authored resolution that would INDIANA Indianapolis: Nearly a doz- at 5 a.m. Tuesday, for Minnesotans Services said Friday that the state overturn the statewide mask man- en bills drafted by GOP legislators over 65 for a chance to be randomly has seen 1,280 of its COVID-19 vac- date put in place by Gov. Tony Evers. have sparked debate over where to selected for an appointment. cine doses get discarded, or about draw the line between public health WYOMING Bondurant: The coldest MISSISSIPPI Jackson: Because of 0.1% of all doses, because of tem- and personal freedom. In the midst of town in the state now contains an- disruptions caused by the pandem- perature-control issues or failure to a pandemic that has killed more than other curiosity: the only free-stand- ic, Mississippi third graders and administer them in a timely fashion. 9,000 Hoosiers, lawmakers face con- ing ice bar in America. The Ice Bar at high school students will still take tention over emergency health or- NORTH DAKOTA Bismarck: Hospi- Jackson Fork Ranch was built at the state-mandated exams this semes- ders, school and business closures, talizations due to the coronavirus direction of ranch owner Joe Ricketts, ter but will not be penalized for poor and vaccine requirements. have fallen to their lowest total who had seen ice structures on his performance. And although schools since Aug. 20, with Sunday’s update travels and wanted to create one on IOWA Des Moines: Vaccination will be assessed based on their per- by the state Department of Health his bison ranch in Bondurant. teams have reached 98% of the formance, they will not be assigned showing just 49 COVID-19 patients From USA TODAY Network and state’s nursing homes, an industry new A through F “report card” being treated in medical facilities. wire reports leader said Monday. grades this academic year. 6D ❚ TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS TRAVEL A wider window to the deep

Fla. attraction’s glass-bottom boat will expand access to people with disabilities

Kevin Spear ORLANDO SENTINEL VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS

OCALA, Fla. – Florida’s 150 years of treating tourists to gushing springs, loll- ing manatees, curious fish and emerald grasses undulating in invisible currents is about to take a turn because of a chance remark. In 2015, Paula Russo, a volunteer for the Florida State Parks Foundation, set up a table for a public event at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park near Gaines- ville. Russo, relying on a powered scooter because of childhood polio, was there to tout state park trails and paddling for people with disabilities. “And this woman came rolling over in her manual wheelchair with children trailing along with her,” Russo said, recalling as many as five about 5 to 12 years old. “She said something to the effect that ‘this is all very nice, but I took the kids over to Silver Springs to go out on a glass-bottom boat and I couldn’t get on the boat. It’s not accessible.’ ” “What are you going to do about it?” the woman implored. That challenge became a marathon for Russo, who will “beat my head until I get where I’m going or I’m bleeding” as an unyielding advocate for parks and people with disabilities. Nearly six years in the making, Rus- Visitors enjoy the view from a glass-bottom boat at Silver Springs, Fla., on Jan. 6. PHOTOS BY STEPHEN M. DOWELL/AP so’s response to that woman in the wheelchair is taking shape. Emerging from yellow-green fumes of aluminum named after a Florida Native American potato chips and tearing paper at the welding are the distinctive lines of a leader: Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, the same time. particular craft. Seminole tribe’s only female chief, Chief “I have a lot of friends with children, At the center and bottom of its Potackee, who died a decade ago. some of them in wheelchairs,” Brinson 37-foot hull are two rectangular open- The new boat’s propulsion system said. “I’m proud to be part of this.” ings, where nearly inch-thick panes of will be cutting-edge and the only of its Jeff Brown, 34, is a fitter, who cuts Coast Guard-approved strength will be sort approved by the Coast Guard, and bends aluminum. “I used to go to inserted for a window of crystalline Aprile said. Silver Springs on field trips for school,” clarity 4 feet wide and 16 feet long. The existing boats have 16 lead bat- he said. He has two children, ages 12 and Yet to be launched, the boat already is teries weighing 400 pounds each and 13, and plans to ride with them on the endowed with reverence and with ex- placed under seats. The new boat will boat his gloved hands will know every pectations for a vessel built in Florida by A new glass-bottom boat is being built carry four lithium batteries, like those inch of. Floridians and meant for what the state at St. John’s Shipbuilding near Palatka, powering electric cars, each weighing “I’ve been building boats since 1974,” is about: the world’s tourists, and espe- Fla., to accommodate people with about 150 pounds and installed in the Amaral said. “The customer gives you cially those with disabilities. disabilities. hull. money, you build them a boat and they Of scores of such boats plying Silver There will be a pair of electric out- go away. To see how happy they are Springs since the 1800s, the one nearing board motors, each with 20 horsepower, about this boat – they envisioned it, completion at the St. Johns Ship Build- an amusement park, along with jungle much more than current boats. Top they funded it and to see Paula like a lit- ing shipyard near Palatka will present a cruises, exotic animals, shops and fleets speed is estimated at 4 mph. tle kid, it energizes me.” flat deck and ample aisles, and it will be of glass-bottom boats. With aluminum skin three-six- “I’m just hoping to God we break even the first ever with dedicated, convenient With the state’s takeover in 2013, the teenths of an inch thick, the boat will be on this because there’s no way we are access for wheelchairs. springs array became part of the Silver light at 18,600 pounds and able to carry going to make any money on it,” Amaral It will cater to those who know exclu- Springs State Park of more than 5,000 30 passengers of an average 185 pounds. said. “We’ve had to do some very expen- sion and chagrin, Russo said. acres that encompass the springs and Loaded, it will sink less than 12 inches, sive details, making them from scratch 1 “They won’t have to separate from a the river they create, the 4 ⁄2-mile-long or a little more than a canoe. because they don’t exist in a catalog. We boyfriend, husband, sister or family, Silver River. The design honors the traditional want to give them a quality boat that we which often happens to people with dis- The park reduced the glass-bottom look of Silver River glass-bottom boats, know is going to get a lot of attention.” abilities. They are left behind at the fleet to eight, each a half-century old said Leif Detlefsen, the firm’s chief na- Within weeks, the boat’s aluminum dock, which is what’s going on now. and refurbished. But with steps down to val architect. skin will be coated Kelly green and This boat is going to change all that. the seats by the glass bottom, they were The sides of the cabin tilt outward to trucked to Silver River and launched “No one has to call in advance and considered impossible to retrofit for block glare on the glass bottom. There with a crane. say: ‘Hey, I’m a cripple. Will you bring wheelchairs. will be 14 portlights, or round windows out your special boat?’ ” Russo said. The Florida park system, a four-time 12 inches in diameter on each side and What captains think “No, they will show up just like anybody winner as the nation’s best, resorted to above square windows. The boat’s roof else would.” an apology for one of its most popular will rise nearly 9 feet. There will be sta- Silver Springs boat captains are en- The state has hundreds of remark- parks: “Unfortunately, we are unable to dium-style seats and space to turn a thused if uncertain about a high-tech, able, free-flowing springs. Silver accommodate wheelchairs on board the wheelchair around. unproven boat. Springs near Ocala, constituting a Glass Bottom Boats due to the historic “We’ve designed hundreds and hun- Their work is rooted in the days of Sil- close-knit family of dozens of springs, nature of the boats.” dreds of boats,” Detlefsen said. “This is ver Springs as an amusement park but drops jaws. Russo would be delayed in her mis- our first glass-bottom boat.” now tied to service to the public at a Until Florida cities began to pump sion to cure that deficiency. state park. The result is a patter of hokey water from the springs’ source, the un- “I had to take a break because unfor- From the bottom up jokes and straightforward references to derlying Floridan Aquifer, Silver Springs tunately I came down with cancer and I wildlife, spring flows and history. was the world’s largest and most power- had to be treated,” Russo said. “There Construction began in June last year If passengers jump overboard be- ful by flow. By comparison, the well- was a good year or more where I did with the bottom of the hull, building it cause of a rogue torpedo or pirates, said known Wekiwa, Rock, Blue, Ichetuck- nothing about my idea.” upside down until nearly complete, and Capt. Robbie Morin over restrained nee, DeLeon and others are quaintly ju- Russo and a park volunteer, Al Pen- then flipping it for fabrication of the laughter, “our highly trained team of nior-size. dergrass, the “nuts and bolts” guy, passenger compartment. rescue alligators will be dispatched to Where a lot of natural Florida is flat would brainstorm over designs and The St. Johns Ship Building shipyard help.” and subtly beautiful, the springs seen funding. builds mostly ships. Small by compari- For Kaylene Sturgeon, her 2-year-old through boat bottoms strike visitors as The two embarked on a go-big-or-go- son, the tour boat Chief Potackee is of daughter and friend Jamie Sites of Ko- dazzlingly three-dimensional, with home journey. They commissioned a le- “big-ship rules, big-ship qualifications komo, Indiana, a glass-bottom boat ride glimpses of 10, 20 or 30 feet into liquid gitimate glass-bottom vessel worthy of and big-ship skills,” said Bob Amaral, this month was thrilling. theater performed by schools of bass, Silver Springs. It would have underwa- the company’s production and schedul- When the boat’s window paused over bluegill, gar, bowfin, mullet and more. ter lights for night tours, special elec- ing superintendent. a sleeping manatee, they gasped, realiz- One of the state’s foremost springs tronics for hearing aids and capacity for “A boat like this, we would probably ing how vividly they could see the researchers, Bob Knight, visited when underwater video cameras. normally build in about two months,” animal. “Oh my gosh,” Sturgeon said. he was 5 years old. Patrick Rose’s explo- Financing was recruited: $200,000 Amaral said. “I bet you we are going to “He’s hairy,” Sites said. “Name this ration in his youth propelled him to be- from Florida State Park Foundation; do this in probably six.” manatee Hairy.” come executive director of the Save the $100,000 from the Ocala-based Felburn St. Johns Ship Building has been in Under state management and until Manatee Club. Karen Chadwick cites Foundation; $90,000 from the Delores business for 14 years, but its shipyard off the pandemic, Silver Springs drew about being there as a toddler for why she is an Barr Weaver Legacy Fund; $20,000 the St. Johns River has been the site of 150,000 people a year to take a ride. eco-tourism guide and environmental from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of waterborne industry since cypress log- Russo now works for the Florida activist fighting for Silver Springs. Florida; $10,000 from the Friends of Sil- ging in the 1800s. The builder runs two State Parks Foundation. She never “The springs were just fascinating,” ver Springs; and $10,000 from Cape Lei- shifts a day with 130 workers making a learned the name of the person in the Rose said, attributing his 1960s outing sure Corp., a concessionaire that oper- clamor with tools on steel and aluminum. manual wheelchair she spoke with six as a force in “why I became an aquatic ates the glass-bottom boats. “I’m pretty new to the area, as I’m years ago. But the woman’s frustration biologist and why I’ve worked to protect The state of Florida is contributing sure you can tell,” said Amaral, his ac- is widely shared. springs in addition to manatees my motors, batteries and electronics. cent etched by Massachusetts ship- On the day of Sturgeon’s tour, a New whole professional life.” A designer was brought on. Steve yards. Jersey retiree who winters in Ocala, De- Aprile, vice president of Lay, Pitman & One of key welders on the boat, Dan- witt Marsh, was steering his electric Silver Springs, star of parks Associates, a naval architectural firm in ielle Brinson, 28, born and raised in scooter along a Silver Springs park path. Neptune Beach near Jacksonville, said Gainesville, grew weary of restaurant He had had a stroke a few years ago. Silver Springs has been diminished his company has drawn plans for Mis- jobs and went to welder’s school. Marsh said he would definitely board and darkened significantly by pollution, sissippi River casino boats, offshore The boat’s thin aluminum skin re- the Chief Potackee. algae growth and a dam downstream, workboats, ferries, tugs and others now quires reduced voltage and a slower “Unless you are handicapped, you but it retains its original wonder. from Maine to New Orleans. feed of welding wire. Brinson’s preci- really don’t know what handicapped The springs long had been the star of As with tradition, the new craft was sion technique sounds like mashing means,” he said.