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Volume 80 Edition 45 ©SS 2021 CONTINGENCY EDITION FRIDAY,JUNE 18, 2021 Free to Deployed Areas

PACIFIC Al-Qaida could regroup in 2 years, Austin says

BY ROBERT BURNS AND LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON — An extre- mist group like al-Qaida may be able to regenerate in Afghanistan and pose a threat to the U.S. homeland within two years of the American military’s withdrawal from the country, ’s top leaders said Thursday. It was the most specific public forecast of the prospects for a re- newed international terrorist threat from Afghanistan since President Joe Biden announced in April that all U.S. troops would withdraw by Sept. 11. At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley whether they rated Borrowing from the likelihood of a regeneration of al-Qaida or Islamic State in Af- ghanistan as small, medium or large. “I would assess it as medium,” Austin replied. “I would also say, the Green Berets senator, that it would take possi- bly two years for them to develop

JOSEPH TOLLIVER /U.S. Army that capability.” Milley, the chairman of the Staff Sgt. Brandon Williams of the 1st Battalion, 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade leads a team training in small-unit tactics at Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, India, on Feb. 9. The brigade aims to strengthen alliances with foreign militaries to counter China and Russia. Joint Chiefs of Staff and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, said he agreed. Rank-and-file soldiers begin Special Forces-style security missions across Indo-Pacific “I think that if certain other things happen — if there was a BY SETH ROBSON 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade out of build ties to militaries around the world. If a SEE AL-QAIDA ON PAGE 4 Stars and Stripes Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. conflict arises, it will be vital for American Small teams of soldiers have been deploy- Activated in May 2020, the unit was estab- troops to know how to work with their foreign ■ Biden must ing across the Indo-Pacific this year on mis- lished as part of a defense strategy that calls counterparts. sions akin to those performed by the Green for a shift away from counterinsurgency mis- The brigade’s mission, which involves order evacuation Berets. sions taking place in Iraq and Afghanistan, strengthening alliances and finding new mil- The troops, who have already been sent to said brigade spokesman Maj. Willian Leasure. itary partners, is seen as crucial to that strate- of Afghan allies, places like India, Thailand, the Maldives, In- China and Russia have ramped up strategic gic competition, Leasure said in a telephone donesia, Papua New Guinea and the Philip- competition with the and its al- lawmakers say pines, are assigned to the 820-soldier strong lies, making it important for U.S. forces to SEE BORROWING ON PAGE 5 Page 4 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 BUSINESS/WEATHER Fed may hike rates sooner as inflation rises EXCHANGE RATES Military rates South Korea (Won) 1133.14 Associated Press mortgages and credit cards — rates low to encourage borrow- Switzerland (Franc) .9157 Euro costs (June 18) $1.16 Thailand (Baht) 31.41 WASHINGTON — The Feder- twice by late 2023. They had pre- ing. Dollar buys (June 18) 0.8167 Turkey (NewLira) 8.6930 British pound (June 18) $1.36 al Reserve signaled Wednesday viously estimated that no rate The Fed has made clear that Japanese yen (June 18) 107.00 (Military exchange rates are those available that it may act sooner than previ- hike would occur before 2024. its first step in slowing its sup- South Korean won (June 18) 1099.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ ously planned to start dialing At a news conference, Chair port for the economy will be to many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain(Dinar) .3770 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ back the low-interest-rate poli- Jerome Powell said the Fed’s pare its bond purchases — and Britain (Pound) 1.3942 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2329 your local military banking facility. Commercial cies that have helped fuel a swift policymaking committee also that it would begin to raise rates China(Yuan) 6.4421 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.2327 rebound from the pandemic re- began discussing when to re- only sometime after that. Its key Egypt (Pound) 15.6491 when buying currency. All figures are foreign cession but have also coincided duce its monthly bond purchas- rate has been pinned near zero Euro .8281 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7638 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ with rising inflation. es. But Powell made clear that since March 2020. Hungary (Forint) 298.15 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2671 The Fed’s policymakers fore- the Fed has yet to decide when it The central bank’s new fore- Japan (Yen) 110.44 INTEREST RATES cast that they would raise their will do so. The purchases, which cast for rate hikes starting in Kuwait(Dinar) .3012 Norway (Krone) 8.5138 Prime rate 3.25 benchmark short-term rate — consist of $120 billion in Treasu- 2023 reflects an economy that’s Philippines (Peso) 48.41 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.25 Poland (Zloty) 381 Federal funds market rate 0.09 which affects many consumer ry and mortgage bonds, are in- achieving faster progress than Saudi Arabia (Riyal) 3.7503 3­month bill 0.04 and business loans, including tended to keep longer-term was expected earlier this year. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3404 30­year bond 1.57 WEATHER OUTLOOK FRIDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST FRIDAY IN EUROPE SATURDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 61/56

Kabul Seoul 82/69 76/59 Baghdad 100/74 Osan Tokyo Drawsko Kandahar Mildenhall/ 77/58 70/66 96/61 Pomorskie Busan Lakenheath 82/64 74/67 58/53 Iwakuni Kuwait 73/69 Bahrain Zagan Sasebo Guam 102/83 88/85 Brussels Ramstein 84/62 74/70 83/68 85/64 84/81 Riyadh Lajes, 101/77 Doha Azores Stuttgart 99/86 68/65 87/64 Pápa Aviano/ 85/65 Vicenza 77/66

Naples 80/66 Okinawa Morón 81/78 79/64 Sigonella Rota 87/57 The weather is provided by the 70/64 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 101/83 73/65 2nd Weather Squadron at , Neb.

TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 13 Comics ...... 16 Crossword ...... 16 Faces ...... 14 Opinion ...... 15 Sports ...... 18-24 Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY Top US admiral bristles at GOP criticism BY PAULINA VILLEGAS tive lawmakers. The Washington Post “Holy crap,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R- Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of Texas, said in a tweet. “Perhaps a Naval Operations, rebuffed point- woke, emasculated military is not ed interrogations by GOP lawmak- the best idea. ...” ers who grilled him over his deci- Cruz was referring to a TikTok sion to recommend sailors read a video that compared the U.S. Ar- book deemed by some conserva- my ad with a Russia campaign that tives as anti-American. showed buff soldiers doing push- The U.S. Navy’s top admiral also ups and leaping out of airplanes, defended moves to address and adding that the contrast made the root out racism and extremism in American soldiers “into pansies.” the forces as well as its efforts to The confrontation Tuesday is al- bolster inclusion and diversity, so the latest in reproaches by which have prompted criticism Banks, who is a Naval Reserve offi- from some conservatives and Re- cer, and other GOP members over publican lawmakers. Gilday’s recommendation to in- “Do you personally consider ad- clude Kendi’s book in the Chief of vocating for the destruction of Naval Operations Professional American capitalism to be extre- Reading Program. mist?” Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., In February, Banks sent a letter asked Gilday during a House to Gilday arguing that the views Armed Services Committee hear- promoted in the book are “explicit- ing Tuesday, referring to a passage ly anti-American” and demanded from Ibram X. Kendi’s book “How Gilday explain the Navy’s decision to Be an Antiracist,” which argues MARVIN LYNCHARD/Department of Defense to include it on the reading list or capitalism and racism are interlin- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, shown at the Pentagon last year, faced questions from remove it. ked. lawmakers Tuesday about moves to address racism and extremism. Gilday responded to Banks in a Banks continued to interrogate letter obtained by Fox News saying the admiral over specific quotes specific quotes from the book and ideology, as the military takes across the Defense Department that the book was included on the from Kendi’s book, which was a asked him how those ideas laid out steps to address issues of racial in- pausing regular activities to ad- list because “it evokes the author’s No. 1 New York Times best seller in by Kendi would further advance or clusion, extremism, racism and dress extremism and white nation- own personal journey in under- 2020, and statements he had made improve the Navy’s power. white supremacy. alism in the ranks — an issue Aus- standing barriers to true inclusion, elsewhere in the past. Gilday responded by arguing And only last week, Sen. Tom tin declared as a priority after a the deep nuances of racism and ra- Visibly distraught, Gilday fired the importance of transparency Cotton, R-Ark., accosted Secretary number of rioters at the U.S. Capi- cial inequalities.” back: and open dialogue about racism. of Defense Lloyd Austin about tol in January were found to have Lamborn and Rep. Vicky Hart- “I am not going to sit here and de- “There is racism in the Navy just Kendi’s book, which Cotton said military backgrounds. zler, D-Mo., also wrote a letter to fend cherry-picked quotes from as there is racism in our country, promoted “critical race theories” The stand down completed in the admiral to convey their con- somebody’s book,” he said. “This is and the way we are going to get out at a different Senate Armed Ser- April was an effort to better under- cern about the inclusion of Kendi’s a bigger issue than Kendi’s book. of it is by being honest and not to vices Committee hearing where stand the scope of the problem of book as well as Michelle Alexan- What this is really about is trying to sweep it under the rug,” he ex- Austin was testifying. extremism in the ranks, Pentagon der’s “The New Jim Crow” and Ja- paint the United States military, pounded, adding that he does not Days earlier, Cotton and Rep. press secretary John F. Kirby said son Pierceson’s “Sexual Minori- and the , as agree with everything the author Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas — two in a briefing then. ties and Politics.” weak, as woke.” says in the book. combat veterans — launched a Earlier, Austin had revoked a The GOP lawmakers argued the He added that sailors had spent The key point however, he said, “whistleblowers” online platform ban on diversity training for the books “reinforce a view that Amer- 341 days at sea last year with mini- is for sailors “to be able to think to report examples of “woke ideol- military. ica is a confederation of identity mal port visits — the longest de- critically.” ogy” in the military. More recently, in May, a U.S. Ar- categories of the oppressed and ployments the Navy has done, he The exchange was the latest in “Enough is enough. We won’t let my animated ad focused on soldier their oppressors rather than a said. vociferous complaints from some our military fall to woke ideology,” diversity — featuring the real story common homeland of individual “We are not weak. We are conservative leaders and lawmak- Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL, of a soldier who enlisted after be- citizens who are united by com- strong,” Gilday said. ers who suggest the armed forces said in a tweet. ing raised by two mothers in Cali- mon purposes,“ Lamborn and Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., al- are becoming a pawn for the coun- Also in February, Austin in- fornia — drew criticism and politi- Hartzler wrote, according to Fox so challenged the admiral by citing try’s culture wars and “wokeness” structed a one-day stand-down cal backlash from some conserva- News. Bill to offer confidential mental health care is reintroduced

BY NIKKI WENTLING power service members to Caserta’s par- Suicides have increased since back, we can honor his legacy, Stars and Stripes quickly get help in an emergency ents, Patrick and then. In 2019, 348 active-duty ser- honor his service and prevent WASHINGTON — After a situation as soon as they confided Teri Caserta, vice members died by suicide, and tragic losses like these from ever failed attempt last year, lawmak- in someone that they needed it.” have pushed for in 2020 that number rose to 377. happening again,” Kelly said. ers reintroduced a bill Wednesday Under the bill, all service mem- the change since The military saw a significant that would allow service members bers would have to tell their super- their son died spike in suicides during the end of to quickly seek mental health care visor or commanding officer is three years ago. 2020. in confidence by using a safe that they had a “Brandon Act con- The couple The Brandon Act creates a sys- Correction word. cern” to receive a referral for Caserta spoke outside tem modeled off the process avail- A story in Thursday’s edi- Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., is mental health care, Moulton said. the Capitol on able to victims of sexual assault, tion about a Marine who leading the House bill, and Sen. The Brandon Act was named for Wednesday afternoon, continuing which would allow service mem- helped save a Japanese man Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., introduced Brandon Caserta, a 21-year-old to advocate for the bill. bers who experience mental contained incorrect medal the bill in the Senate. The measure sailor who died by suicide June 25, “Brandon had a smile that made health issues to receive care with- criteria. It should have said made it into the House’s version of 2018, at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. everyone want to smile,” Patrick out notifying their command or the Navy and Marine Corps the National Defense Authoriza- A command investigation into Caserta said. “He cared about ev- opening an official investigation of Commendation Medal is tion Act last year but was taken out Caserta’s death determined that eryone. Please support the Bran- any allegations. The Casertas be- awarded to service mem- in final negotiations. belligerent and brash leadership don Act. This is truly a matter of lieve the change would help re- bers who distinguish them- “We’re back here again de- of Helicopter Sea Combat Squad- life or death.” duce the perceived barriers of selves with “heroic or meri- manding Congress pass the Bran- ron 28 contributed to his decision Caserta was one of 325 active- self-reporting for mental health torious achievement or ser- don Act,” Moulton said Wednes- to end his own life. He felt alone, duty service members who died evaluations and ease service vice.” day outside the Capitol. “By pass- stuck and afraid of retaliation, his by suicide in 2018, and one of 68 members’ path to care. ing this bill, Congress could em- parents said. sailors, according to military data. “While we can’t get Brandon PAGE 4 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 WAR ON TERRORISM House votes to repeal Iraq War authority

BY KEVIN FREKING dents from relying on it to conduct Committee. “It has already been to the White House. Many law- war that goes way beyond any Associated Press unrelated military actions. The used as justification for military makers, particularly Democrats, scope that Congress conceived or WASHINGTON — The Demo- White House says there are no on- actions against entities that had say passage of the 2002 authoriza- intended,” Lee said. cratic-led House, with the back- going military activities reliant nothing to do with Saddam Hus- tion, or AUMF, was a mistake, and The vote came one day after ing of President Joe Biden, passed solely upon the 2002 authoriza- sein’s Ba’athist dictatorship sim- some Republicans agree the au- Senate Majority Leader Chuck legislation Thursday to repeal the tion. ply because such entities were op- thority should be taken off the Schumer said he intends to bring 2002 authorization for use of mil- The 2002 authorization was di- erating in Iraq.” books. Some lawmakers say the repeal legislation to the Senate itary force in Iraq, a step support- rected against the Saddam Hus- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Tex- 2001 resolution to fight terrorism, floor this year. ers said was necessary for Con- sein regime, authorizing the “nec- as, said he agreed the 2002 autho- passed after the Sept. 11 attacks, “The Iraq War has been over gress to reassert its constitutional essary and appropriate” use of rization was outdated, but he ar- should be reexamined as well. for nearly a decade,” Schumer duty to weigh in on matters of war force to “defend U.S. national se- gued that Congress should not re- Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee said. “The authorization passed in while detractors worried that it curity against the continuing peal it without also approving a of California, the bill’s sponsor, 2002 is no longer necessary in would embolden militia or terror threat posed by Iraq” and to “en- replacement. said that 87% of the current mem- 2021.” groups operating in the region. force all relevant Security Coun- “We should not encourage any bers of the House were not in Con- The White House said Biden is The repeal legislation was cil resolutions regarding Iraq.” president to go it alone without gress in 2002 and that the autho- committed to working with Con- passed overwhelmingly by a vote “Repeal is crucial because the Article I congressional authoriza- rization for military force passed gress to update the authorization of 268-161. executive branch has a history of tion,” McCaul said. at that time bears no correlation to with a “narrow and specific Supporters said repeal would stretching the 2002 AUMF’s legal Action on the repeal measure the threats the nation faces today. framework appropriate to ensure not affect U.S. military operations authority,” said Rep. Gregory follows years of debate over “To this day, our endless war that we can continue to protect around the world, but could pre- Meeks, the Democratic chairman whether Congress has ceded too continues costing trillions of dol- Americans from terrorist vent current and future presi- of the House Foreign Affairs much of its war-making authority lars and thousands of lives in a threats.”

Norway plans to President must order operate at Kabul evacuation of Afghan medical facility The Washington Post allies, lawmakers say Norway has said it will continue to operate the medical facility BY SARAH CAMMARATA have been mounting pressure on used by diplomats and aid person- Stars and Stripes the Biden administration to pro- nel in Kabul for the rest of this WASHINGTON — Two Army tect U.S. allies under the threat of year, provided its security can be veterans who serve on the House death by the Taliban as the Penta- assured after foreign forces com- Armed Services Committee deliv- gon accelerates the withdrawal of plete their withdraw from Af- ered a stark message Wednesday U.S. forces from Afghanistan after ghanistan. to President Joe Biden: Act now to nearly 20 years of war. “Right now, the situation in Af- evacuate thousands of Afghan in- Under scrutiny from lawmak- ghanistan is fragile,” Prime Min- terpreters and their families who ers, Defense Department officials ister Erna Solberg said at a NATO worked with U.S. personnel or have testified at recent Capitol Hill SARAH CAMMARATA/Stars and Stripes summit Monday. “Norway has there will be consequences. hearings on Afghanistan that they Reps. Michael Waltz, R­Fla., and Jason Crow, D­Colo., Army veterans, agreed to extend operation of the “If [Biden] doesn’t act, and he would support helping translators stand beside American Legion members, Wednesday in front of the field hospital during a transitional doesn’t get these people out, blood and their families get to the United Capitol to urge evacuation Afghan interpreters and their families. period, until a civilian hospital has will be on his hands and on his ad- States. been established.” She said the of- ministration’s hands. And I for one Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, to leave the country. day called the “Allies Act” that fer would not extend beyond the will very publicly and very loudly the commander of U.S. Central “We’re closing our only air base would increase the cap on the num- first quarter of 2022. hold him accountable for that,” Command; Army Gen. Mark Mil- in just a few weeks … we have a ber of slots and make other fixes to The withdrawal of U.S. and NA- Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., said ley, the chairman of the Joint moral and national security obli- the program to expedite the proc- TO troops from Afghanistan has during a news conference outside Chiefs of Staff; and Defense Secre- gation to get these people out. ess. led to concerns about whether re- the Capitol. tary Lloyd Austin have said they Evacuate them now,” the lawmak- The legislative package comes maining diplomats and aid per- Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., are developing “contingency er said. after the pair of lawmakers intro- sonnel will be able to continue to joined Waltz and members of the plans” to conduct an evacuation if Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero duced a bill in late May that would operate there amid ongoing secu- American Legion to ramp up calls they are ordered to do so. State De- wrote in a letter this month to Bi- allow applicants to the program to rity concerns and the lack of a po- for Biden to help roughly 18,000 partment officials have agreed to den that the administration there forgo a medical examination, litical agreement between war- Afghans whose visa applications that, too, yet the final approval will assist in carrying out the U.S. which can cost thousands. ring Taliban and government remain stalled by moving them to must be made by the White House, government’s evacuation plans. When Biden was a senator, he forces. Guam or another friendly country. Crow said. The State Department-run Spe- voted against evacuating Viet- A statement from the prime “People need to know that the And the clock is ticking, said cial Immigrant Visa program has namese allies out of their country minister’s office in Oslo said that American handshake matters. Waltz, a former Green Beret who been plagued by delays since it during the final days of the Viet- other conditions for it to operate That we will stand by them served combat tours in Afghanis- was created in 2009 to provide a nam War in 1975, Waltz said. the medical facility include an in- through thick and thin,” said Crow, tan and other parts of Africa and pathway for Afghan interpreters, “Had he had his way, we would vitation from the Afghan govern- aformer Army Ranger who served the Middle East. The withdrawal contractors and other personnel to not have gotten those people out,” ment, and “that other countries in Iraq and Afghanistan. from Afghanistan is set to be com- reach the U.S. safely and eventual- he said. maintain their staffing levels at The news conference comes as plete sooner than Sept. 11, the ly gain citizenship. the hospital or that others partici- members of the House and Senate, deadline that Biden had set in April The lawmakers said they will in- [email protected] pate in carrying out various func- advocacy groups and veterans for the remaining 2,500 U.S. forces troduce a package of bills Thurs- Twitter: @sarahjcamm tions at the hospital.” Al-Qaida: Milley, Austin warn of ‘medium’ risk of extremists’ resurgence FROM PAGE 1 The U.S. invaded Afghanistan after the another attack against America or other al- and ISIS continue to aspire to attack Amer- collapse of the government or the disso- Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on America, lies. ica. lution of the Afghan security forces — that when the Taliban allowed al-Qaida safe Military leaders have consistently said The Pentagon has said the U.S. with- risk would obviously increase, but right haven in the country. The key goal of U.S that combat operations in Afghanistan drawal after nearly 20 years in Afghanistan now I would say ‘medium’ and about two and coalition troops in Afghanistan since have greatly reduced the number of al-Qai- is a little more than half completed, and years or so,” Milley said. then has been to prevent a resurgence and da there. But they say that both al-Qaida U.S.-led coalition partners also are leaving. Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 5 PACIFIC USFK civilian worker accused of assaulting parking lot attendant

BY DAVID CHOI AND YOO KYONG CHANG Stars and Stripes CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — South Korean authorities are investigating a U.S. Forces Ko- rea civilian employee accused of assaulting a Seoul parking lot at- tendant over the weekend. Police were called out to a dis- MBC News turbance at the Hongdae Street lot Footage shows an altercation on Saturday evening and wit- between a man thought to be a nessed the altercation, a Mapo Dis- U.S. Forces Korea civilian trict Police Station official told employee and a parking Stars and Stripes by phone on attendant in Seoul, South Korea, June 12. Thursday. He spoke on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing in- vestigation. on Thursday. Video footage obtained by South A small group of South Korean U.S. Army Korea’s MBC News shows a man activists protested near the U.S. Capt. LaShaun Smith, a team leader for the 1st Battalion, 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade deployedpushing the uniformed parking at- Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday to Indonesia, teaches a leadership class to an Indonesian army unit on April 1. tendant while tripping his leg. The and demanded the USFK worker attendant was injured and hospi- be punished, according to local talized, according to police. news reports. Borrowing: Local capabilities assessed The USFK employee, whom Hongdae Street is an entertain- South Korean police are not identi- ment district popular among stu- FROM PAGE 1 uously working overseas, Sosnicki which has illegally occupied terri- fying due to privacy laws, was not dents and foreigners. It is roughly interview Thursday. said. tory to the north in the South Chi- intoxicated when officers arrived, 40 miles from Camp Humphreys, It’s a task that has, in the past, The goal of the 12-soldier team na Sea. the police official said. the largest U.S. in been the preserve of the Green on its first mission to Papua New The U.S. and Australia plan to The man was immediately turn- South Korea. Berets, said Chief Warrant Officer Guinea is to assess local forces’ lo- establish a presence on Papua ed over to U.S. military police for USFK personnel have been al- Jason Sosnicki, a maintainer and gistics capabilities, such as their New Guinea’s Manus Island by re- questioning, though Mapo District lowed to travel freely across the member of the 5th SFAB who de- ability to keep their vehicles run- furbishing a World War II-era na- police asked to question him later. peninsula since April 11, after ployed to Papua New Guinea in ning, along with a supply of spare vy base. “The American hasn’t yet been months of limitations due to CO- May for a six-week mission. parts. Information like that will be The Papua New Guinea mission questioned by us,” the police offi- VID-19 safety measures. Howev- “Green Berets work with [part- passed on to the next U.S. troops coincides with trips by other bri- cial said on Thursday. “So, we are er, they are still banned from bars, ner nations’] special forces,” he who go to the country, Sosnicki gade members to Mongolia, Indo- currently consulting with USFK clubs, karaoke rooms, saunas, said by phone Wednesday from said. nesia and the Philippines, Leasure about schedules, including when bathhouses, and other adults-only Port Moresby. “We partner with “When U.S. personnel come, said. Another group recently ar- he would be taken to our office for establishments. normal infantry, engineers, artil- they will have a better under- rived in Thailand. interrogation.” lery and logistics elements.” standing of Papua New Guinea’s USFK did not respond to [email protected] Special Forces’ elite nature strengths and challenges,” he [email protected] emailed and phoned requests for Twitter: @choibboy means they can deploy for only a said. Twitter: @SethRobson1 comment and more information [email protected] short time, limiting the number of Those challenges include lack foreign troops that can work with, of funding and some aging vehi- he said. cles kept roadworthy with the sort So, soldiers assigned to the se- of ingenuity that has been lost by curity force assistance brigade well-supplied western militaries are aiming to build relationships, in recent years, Sosnicki said. outside of exercises and combat The island nation north of Aus- deployments, with a wider group tralia could be a key partner in of foreign soldiers while contin- strategic competition with China,

FRANCOIS KINNEY/U.S. Army Papua New Guinea Defense Force personnel brief members of the Army’s 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade at a supply warehouse on Murray Barracks, Papua New Guinea, on May 24. PAGE 6 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 MILITARY Enough cocaine to send you to moon and back A wildlife manager checking on nesting turtles finds 30kg at Cape Canaveral

BY CHAD GARLAND forces bring a utility terrain vehi- Stars and Stripes cle, “as I counted at least 18 pack- A wildlife manager was check- ages,” the statement said. ing on sea turtle nests at Cape Ca- Joseph Parker, the squadron’s PHOTOS BY U.S. SPACE FORCE naveral Space Force Station in flight sergeant and on-scene com- The 45th Security Forces Squadron seized nearly 30 kilograms of cocaine that was found on a beach at when she discovered bun- mander, closed all beaches and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., on May 19. dles that turned out to be 30 kilo- started search protocols, which grams of cocaine with a street val- eventually turned up a total of 24 Investigations. Sometimes those ed field tests and examined the Canaveral was provided to the El ue of $1.2 million. packages. bales break apart and the bricks packages for unique markings. Paso Intelligence Center, a repos- Angy Chambers of the 45th Civ- A Brevard County Sheriff’s Of- are lost at sea until they wash ash- Space Launch Delta 45 officials itory for information about drugs il Engineer Squadron was patroll- fice narcotics agent performed a ore, he said. didn’t immediately respond to found in the U.S., the Space Force ing the beach on Cape Canaveral field test to verify that the bundles Cape Canaveral is located on questions about what distinctive said. last month when she came across contained cocaine, Parker said in Florida’s Atlantic coast, near Co- markings the bundles bore, but Homeland Security officials a package wrapped tightly in plas- the statement. The sheriff’s office coa Beach and the Kennedy Space authorities in Alabama, Puerto Ri- were still investigating where the tic and tape. estimated the value of the drugs at Center. The Space Force station is co, Chile and Honduras this year drugs came from, but Parker was “I immediately contacted the about $1.2 million. home to the service’s primary have reportedly started recover- thankful for Chambers’ vigilance. 45th Security Forces Squadron,” Drug traffickers will often space launch site in its eastern ing packages bearing a rare sym- “There is also a higher level of she said in a Space Force state- transport shipments in bales of 25 range, operated by Space Launch bol — photos of Medellin Cartel job satisfaction knowing that these ment. “While I was waiting for “bricks,” each weighing about a Delta 45, headquartered at nearby drug lord Pablo Escobar, the drugs will not make it into our them to arrive, I drove a little fur- kilogram, said David Castro, an Patrick Space Force Base “King of Cocaine” who was killed community,” he said. ther and noticed another package, agent with the Department of Castro collected the drugs after in a 1993 shootout. and then another.” Homeland Security’s main inves- they were transported to a secure Intelligence that Castro gath- [email protected] She suggested the security tigative arm, Homeland Security location, weighed them, conduct- ered from the packages in Cape Twitter: @chadgarland Ramstein staff sergeant given US Embassy in Afghanistan locked down amid virus rise 30 years for child sexual abuse BY MATTHEW LEE notice said 95% of the cases in- BY JENNIFER H. SVAN arguments for the government. where she submitted a written Associated Press volved people who have not been Stars and Stripes The victim, now 14, said in an statement, the court was told. WASHINGTON — The U.S. vaccinated or fully vaccinated RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Ger- impact statement read to the When Cabuhat learned he Embassy in Afghanistan ordered against the virus and urged all many — An Air Force staff ser- judge on her behalf, that she is un- might be under investigation, he a near-complete lockdown Thurs- staff to take advantage of availa- geant was sentenced to 30 years in able to sleep alone or with the deleted incriminating digital files day because of a massive spike in ble vaccines at the embassy. prison for a raft of crimes includ- lights off, and has nightmares from several devices. Investiga- coronavirus cases among employ- “We must break the chain of ing sexually abusing a child, about the abuse. tors were able to recover many of ees. transmission to protect one anoth- wrongfully photographing the “I can’t even look at my body in the images, including photos Ca- Already on uncertain footing er and ensure the mission’s ability child, and viewing and possessing the same way, the same body he buhat took of the victim without due to the imminent withdrawal to carry out the nation’s busi- child pornography. touched,” she said in the state- her consent, sometimes while she of American forces from the coun- ness,” the acting U.S. ambassa- Domingo J. Cabuhat Jr., as- ment. She also testified in court was sleeping, in various stages of try, the embassy in Kabul ordered dor, Ross Wilson, said in the no- signed to the 86th Aircraft Main- and asked the judge to find Cabu- undress. remaining staffers into virtual iso- tice. “Restrictions will continue tenance Squadron, also received a hat guilty so that she could “final- Cabuhat said he had child por- lation to prevent the spread of CO- until the chain of transmission is dishonorable discharge and was ly feel relief.” nography on a cellphone “for mo- VID-19, which has already killed broken.” reduced in rank to E-1, military Government prosecutors bile use” to gratify himself. at least one person, sent 114 into “We are all in this together and judge Lt. Col. Will Babor said as sought 45 years’ confinement for The victim’s mother, who was quarantine and forced several rely on your cooperation during he handed down the punishment Cabuhat — 10 years for each of also in court, cried as she identi- people to be medically evacuated. this difficult time,” he said. “We Wednesday at the close of a three- four offenses involving lewd acts fied her daughter in the photos. The embassy said in a notice to can only return to normal oper- day general court-martial. He upon a child and five years for She said she had no idea the abuse employees that almost all group ations with the cooperation of ev- will have to register as a sex of- possessing child pornography on was occurring. activities, including work meet- eryone.” fender when he is released from four different electronic devices. Cabuhat will initially be con- ings and recreational gatherings, The announcement was distrib- prison. “The Air Force is committed to fined at the Army corrections fa- are banned because intensive uted to journalists and others by Cabuhat, who joined the Air the pursuit of justice and has no cility on Sembach but will serve care units at military medical fa- the American Foreign Service As- Force in 2011, molested the victim tolerance for this type of behav- most of his sentence at a military cilities in Afghanistan are at full sociation, the union that repre- for several years, starting when ior,” 86th Airlift Wing officials said prison in the U.S., Air Force offi- capacity and the number of cases sents U.S. diplomats. she was 7 or 8, at Dyess Air Force in a statement after the trial. cials said. has forced it to establish tempora- The restrictions confine all per- Base in Texas and at Ramstein. The abuse stopped only when His family will receive part of ry COVID-19 wards to care for pa- sonnel to their living quarters ex- The abuse grew “more and the victim broke down and confid- his pay and benefits while he’s tients requiring oxygen. cept to get food alone or to exer- more intrusive, physically and ed in some friends during lunch, confined, though it’s not certain It said the restrictions would re- cise or relax outside by them- psychologically” and continued shortly after starting seventh for how long, officials said. main in place until the chain of selves. This requirement bans all until the victim was old enough to grade in 2019, according to court transmission is broken. Violators sports and means personnel must know it was wrong, Air Force testimony. One of the friends took [email protected] will be removed from the country stay at least 20 feet from others Capt. Julia Ziegler said in opening her to a guidance counselor, Twitter: @stripesktown on the next available flight. The unless they are wearing a mask. Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 7 MILITARY General: Europe a ‘priority theater’ for Army BY JOHN VANDIVER while adding more sophisticated of more than 30 European army The Army has been continuously Stars and Stripes command and control capabilities chiefs at his Wiesbaden headquar- rotating large units to Europe for STUTTGART, Germany — Eu- to counter adversaries like Russia ters. several years, including tank and rope remains high on the list of the and China. But those upgrades need “There’s been a very significant, combat aviation brigades. How that U.S. Army’s priorities, the Army’s to be compatible with what allies are very steady transformation of the mission will evolve over time de- top general said Thursday after doing, since “we are always going to capability we have over here,” Ca- pends in part on how allied militar- holding in-person talks with allied fight with allies and partners,” voli said. ies develop, Cavoli said. ground commanders for the first McConville said. “As we build these The force in Europe has been “The exact mix of U.S. forces here time since the coronavirus pandem- systems, as we transform our ar- beefed up in a relatively short depends on developments of other ic started. mies and militaries, we want to amount of time, he said, including countries in the alliance. As they “Europe is a priority theater for make sure we can all communicate with the addition of Army artillery modernize, as they make forces the United States Army,” Gen. MICHAEL ABRAMS/Stars and Stripes with each other.” units in Germany within the past available, that changes what is ex- James McConville, the Army’s Army Chief of Staff Gen. James As part of the U.S. effort to en- two years. pected or required on the U.S.,” he chief of staff, told reporters by McConville, shown in 2017, this hance military capabilities in Eu- But it was unclear what the ram- said. phone from U.S. Army Europe and week talked with allied ground rope, the Army last year reestab- ifications could be for the mission in McConville declined to comment Africa headquarters in Wiesbaden commanders in Germany. lished V Corps, which will have a Europe of a $3.6 billion reduction for on the plan by the Trump adminis- after holding three days of talks with forward operating post in Poznan, the Army in its draft budget, and a tration to sharply draw down the European allies. ensuring that U.S. and partner mil- Poland, on NATO’s eastern flank. V gradual shift in the U.S. military’s number of soldiers based in Europe. The military leaders agreed at itary modernization efforts are in Corps will eventually oversee Army focus toward the Pacific region and The Biden administration has put three days of discussions — which sync, he said. maneuvers all over Europe. what it needs to do there to counter that move on indefinite hold and be- also marked the first in-person “Our allies are all taking a look at Later this year, the Army will get China. gun adding more forces in Germa- meetings between them since for- where they need to be in the future. two new units and an additional 500 Asked whether he anticipated ny. mer President Donald Trump or- Their priorities are really on com- soldiers in the Wiesbaden area with any cuts or adjustments in troop ro- “We are in full support of the (cur- dered sweeping cuts to the number mand and control, making sure we the arrival of a Multi-Domain Task tations to Europe, McConville said rent) administration’s plan that we of U.S. troops in Germany — that a can all work together,” McConville Force and Theater Fires Command. that the Army remained fully com- are executing right now,” McCon- “policy of strength” was the best said. “It’s a big expansion of capabili- mitted on the Continent. ville said. way to deter adversaries like Rus- The U.S. Army has embarked on a ty,” said Gen. Christopher Cavoli, “We are going to continue to sup- sia, McConville said. modernization push focused on im- commander of U.S. Army Europe port the exercises and rotations,” he [email protected] A focus of the talks had been on proving long-range precision fires and Africa, who hosted the meeting said. Twitter: @john_vandiver Japan to end COVID-19 state of emergency but not on Okinawa BY MATTHEW M. BURKE will enter a quasi-state of emer- that the command will “continue to Stars and Stripes gency until July 11, the Kyodo re- work with the [South Korean] gov- CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — port said. ernment … to ensure this policy Nine of 10 Japanese prefectures, Serving alcohol would be al- update applies to the USFK-affil- including Tokyo and Osaka, will lowed under the quasi-emergency, iated community as well.” come out of a COVID-19 state of but only until 7 p.m. Restaurants U.S. military bases in Japan and emergency on Sunday, more than must continue to close by 8 p.m. South Korea reported 14 new CO- a month before the start of the To- Meanwhile, South Korea added VID-19 cases as of 7 p.m. Thurs- kyo Olympics. 540 new COVID-19 cases and one day. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga death at midnight Wednesday, ac- on Okinawa finalized that decision during a cording to the Korea Disease Con- had six people test positive “over coronavirus task force meeting on trol and Prevention Agency’s Cen- the last few days,” according to a Thursday in Tokyo, Kyodo News tral Disease Control Headquar- base Facebook post Wednesday reported Thursday evening. Japan ters. evening. reported 1,554 new infections Starting July 1, fully vaccinated U.S. Army Japan had three peo- Thursday, 635 fewer than the same travelers arriving on the peninsula ple test positive between June 9 day last week, and 47 deaths, ac- who received their inoculations and Wednesday, according to a cording to public broadcaster overseas will be exempt from a news release Wednesday. NHK and the World Health Orga- two-week quarantine, according to The Marine Corps on Okinawa nization. the country’s Ministry of Health had one person test positive at But Okinawa, home to most U.S. and Welfare. Until then, the ex- Camp Hansen, according to a military personnel stationed in Ja- emption applies only to those who Facebook post Thursday by Ma- pan, will remain under a state of AKIFUMI ISHIKAWA/Stars and Stripes were inoculated in South Korea. rine Corps Installations Pacific. emergency until July 11 because People walking near Tsunashima Station wear masks to prevent U.S. Forces Korea currently has USFK had three troops and one hospitals in the island prefecture coronavirus infection this spring in Yokohama, Japan. Nine of 10 a “working quarantine” policy for family member test positive after remain strained by a high number Japanese prefectures will come out of a state of emergency Sunday. fully vaccinated individuals who arriving on the peninsula between of COVID-19 patients, the Kyodo arrive in the country. USFK per- May 29 and Saturday, the com- report said. NHK. government data. That’s 13 more sonnel are allowed to travel only to mand announced Thursday. The prefecture announced an- Tokyo on Thursday reported an- cases than the same day last week. and from their quarantine and du- other 97 infections Thursday, 69 other 452 coronavirus infections Of the nine prefectures exiting ty locations for work. Stars and Stripes reporters David Choi and Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report. fewer than the same day last week, and seven deaths, according to the state of emergency Sunday, all USFK spokesman Col. Lee Pe- [email protected] and four deaths, according to NHK, which cited metropolitan except Okayama and Hiroshima ters said in a statement Thursday Twitter: @MatthewMBurke1 PAGE 8 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 NATION Juneteenth set as new US holiday

Associated Press WASHINGTON — The United States is commemorating the end of slavery with a new federal holiday. President Joe Biden was set to sign legisla- tion into law Thursday afternoon to make Ju- neteenth, or June 19, the 12th federal holiday. The House voted 415-14 on Wednesday to send the bill to Biden. KEVIN LAMARQUE/AP Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, President Joe Biden, third from left, and other NATO heads of the states and governments pose for a group photo during the NATO when Union soldiers brought the news of free- summit at the Alliance’s headquarters, in Brussels, on Monday. dom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas — two months after the Confederacy had surrendered. That was also about 2½ Biden pitched US to welcoming if wary allies years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the Southern states. BY JONATHAN LEMIRE sponsibility of our proud democracies to clock ticking on a deadline to land a biparti- It’s the first new federal holiday since Mar- AND AAMER MADHANI step up and deliver for the rest of the san infrastructure deal as the president was tin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983. Associated Press world,” Biden said Sunday in England. confronted with growing intransigence The U.S. Office of Personnel Management, WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden As vice president and chairman of the from Republicans and mounting impa- which is the human resources office for the spent his first trip overseas highlighting a Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bi- tience from fellow Democrats. But Biden federal government, tweeted Thursday that sharp break from his disruptive predeces- den had trotted the globe for more than four and his aides believe he accomplished what most federal employees will observe the new sor, selling that the United States was once decades before he stepped off Air Force he set out to do in Europe. holiday — Juneteenth National Independ- more a reliable ally with a steady hand at the One and onto foreign soil for the first time as The most tactile of politicians, Biden rev- ence Day — on Friday since June 19 falls on a wheel. European allies welcomed the pitch commander in chief. His initial stop, after a eled in the face-to-face diplomacy, having Saturday this year. — and even a longtime foe acknowledged it. speech to thank U.S. troops stationed in En- grown frustrated with trying to negotiate “Our federal holidays are purposely few in But while Biden returned Wednesday gland, was for a gathering with the other with world leaders over Zoom. Even amid number and recognize the most important night to Washington after a week across the G-7 leaders. some disagreements, he was greeted warm- milestones,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D- Atlantic that was a mix of messaging and de- The leaders staked their claim to bringing ly by most of his peers, other presidents and N.Y. “I cannot think of a more important mile- liverables, questions remained as to wheth- the world out of the coronavirus pandemic prime ministers eager to exchange awk- stone to commemorate than the end of slavery er those allies would trust that Biden truly and crisis, pledging more than 1 billion cor- ward elbow bumps and adopt his “build in the United States.” represents a long-lasting reset or whether onavirus vaccine doses to poorer nations, back better” catchphrase. The Senate passed the bill Tuesday under a Russian President Vladimir Putin would vowing to help developing countries grow Aides padded his schedule with some unanimous consent agreement that expedites curb his nation’s misbehaviors. while fighting climate change and backing a down time to pace the 78-year-old presi- the process for considering legislation. It Biden’s mantra, which he uttered in Ge- minimum tax on multinational firms. dent, though there were still a few missteps, takes just one senator’s objection to block neva and Brussels and on the craggy coast At the group’s first face-to-face meeting including some verbal flubs and when he such agreements. of Cornwall, England, was that “America in two years because of the pandemic, the simply neglected to announce a Boeing-Air- The bill was sponsored by Sen. Edward was back.” It was Putin, of all people, on the leaders dangled promises of support for bus deal in front of the European Council. Markey, D-Mass., and had 60 co-sponsors. trip’s final moments, who may have best de- global health, green energy, infrastructure His summit with Putin, coming three Democratic leaders moved quickly to bring fined Biden’s initial voyage overseas. and education — all to demonstrate that in- years after Trump sided with the Russian the bill to the House floor after the Senate’s “President Biden is an experienced ternational cooperation is back after the up- leader over U.S. intelligence agencies when vote the day before. statesman,” Putin told reporters. “He is ve- heavals caused by the pandemic and those two men met in Helsinki, loomed over Some Republican lawmakers opposed the ry different from President Trump.” Trump’s unpredictability. There were con- the trip, with the cable networks giving it effort. Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., said But the summit with Putin in Geneva, cerns, though, that not enough was done to Super Bowl levels of hype. Aides wanted to creating the federal holiday was an effort to which shadowed the entire trip and brought combat climate change and that 1 billion confront Putin early in the presidency, with celebrate “identity politics.” it to its close, also underscored the fragility doses were not nearly sufficient to meet the some hope of reining in Moscow and reac- “Since I believe in treating everyone equal- of Biden’s declarations that the global order stated goal of ending the COVID-19 pan- hing some stability so the administration ly, regardless of race, and that we should be fo- had returned. demic globally by the end of 2022. could more squarely focus on China. cused on what unites us rather than our differ- Though both men declared the talks con- The seven nations met in Cornwall and There were no fireworks in their summit ences, I will vote no,” he said in a press re- structive, Putin’s rhetoric did not change, as largely adhered to Biden’s hope that they near the Swiss Alps, and the nations agreed lease. he refused to accept any responsibility for rally together to declare they would be a to return ambassadors to each other’s cap- Many states recognize Juneteenth as a holi- his nation’s election interference, cyber- better friend to poorer nations than author- itals and took some small steps toward stra- day or have an official observance of the day, hacking or crackdown on domestic political itarian rivals such as China. A massive in- tegic stability. and most states hold celebrations. opponents. At the summit’s conclusion, Bi- frastructure plan for the developing world, But while Biden was able to deliver stern den acknowledged that he could not be con- meant to compete with Beijing’s efforts, warnings to Putin behind closed doors, he fident that Putin would change his behavior was commissioned, and China was called also extracted few promises. In the Russian even with newly threatened consequences. out for human rights abuses, prompting an president’s post-summit remarks, he en- Biden’s multilateral summits with fellow angry response from the Asian power. gaged in classic Putin misdirection and democracies — the Group of Seven wealthy But even then, there were strains, with what-about-ism to undermine any of the nations and NATO — were largely punc- Germany, Italy and the representatives for United States’ moral high ground. tuated by sighs of relief from European the European Union reluctant to call out In his own Geneva news conference, Bi- leaders who had been rattled by President China, a valuable trading partner, too den once more declared that America was Donald Trump over four years. Yet there harshly. And there was a wariness in some back, but he also soberly made clear that it were still closed-door disagreements on just European capitals that it was Biden, rather was impossible to immediately know if any how the Western powers should deal with than Trump, who was the aberration to progress with Russia had, in fact, been Russia or Biden’s declaration that an eco- American foreign policy and that the Unit- made. nomic competition with China would define ed States could soon fall back into a trans- “What will change their behavior is if the JOHN MINCHILLO/AP the 21st century. actional, largely inward-looking approach. rest of world reacts to them and it diminish- Protesters chant as they march after a “Everyone at the table understood and When touched back down es their standing in the world,” Biden said. Juneteenth rally at the Brooklyn Museum, understands both the seriousness and the in Washington, Biden again faced an uncer- “I’m not confident of anything; I’m just stat- in New York, on June 19, 2020. challenges that we’re up against, and the re- tain future for his legislative agenda, the ing a fact.” Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 9 NATION Jobless claims climb to 412K after slow fall

Associated Press jobs than it did before the pan- WASHINGTON — The number demic struck. of Americans applying for unem- And employers are posting job ployment benefits rose last week openings faster than applicants for the first time since April de- can fill them. In April, they adver- spite widespread evidence that tised a record 9.3 million job the economy and the job market openings, up a sharp 12% from the are rebounding steadily from the number in March. PAULA BRONSTEIN/AP pandemic recession. The rapid rollout of vaccines A man walks out of the Nike store in downtown Portland, Ore., on June 5. The store has wooden panels on The Labor Department said has brought the number of new its windows to protect them from being broken by ongoing protests. Thursday that jobless claims rose confirmed COVID-19 cases down 37,000 from the week before. As to an average of just over 12,000, the job market has strengthened, from around 250,000 a day in the number of weekly applica- early January. Portland tries to come back after tions for unemployment aid has Though jobless claims have fallen for most of the year. The tumbled since the start of 2021, nightly protests, violent clashes number of jobless claims general- when they exceeded 900,000, they ly reflects the pace of layoffs. remain high by historical stan- BY SARA CLINE wrenching periods, one that saw spooked from everything.” With vaccinations up and more dards. Before the pandemic para- Associated Press its reputation go from quirky City officials insist Portland is consumers venturing out to spend lyzed the economy in March 2020, PORTLAND, Ore. — The smell “Portlandia” to violent dystopia in resilient as they launch a revital- — on restaurant meals, airline unemployment applications were of fresh empanadas wafted the minds of many on the outside ization plan — in the form of city- fares, movie tickets and store pur- running at about 220,000 a week. through the stands at Portland’s looking in. wide cleanups of protest damage, chases — the economy is rapidly In Thursday’s report, the gov- Saturday Market. People talked The Pacific Northwest city had aggressive encampment remov- recovering from the recession. All ernment said a total of 3.5 million through their masks with artists as best been known nationally for its als, increased homeless services that renewed spending has fueled Americans were continuing to others sifted through fork wind- ambrosial food scene, craft brew- and police reform — to repair its customer demand and led many collect traditional state unem- chimes, crystal necklaces, tie dye eries and nature-loving hipsters. reputation. companies to seek new workers, ployment benefits in the week dresses and clay mugs. But last year, as a portion of its Based on a survey conducted by often at higher wages, and avoid ending June 5, up by just 1,000 The weekly event was smaller downtown was consumed by the city last month, 68% of people layoffs. from the week before. than in years past, but longtime at- nightly protests that often turned said their top reason for not visit- In fact, the speed of the re- Many Americans are contend- tendees say it was a sign of life be- violent and resulted in clashes ing was due to riots and protests. bound from the recession has ing with health and child care is- ing breathed back into downtown. with federal agents, former Presi- In recent months, Portland offi- caught many businesses off guard sues related to COVID-19 and Nine blocks away, past busi- dent Donald Trump and his ad- cials have committed millions of and touched off a scramble to with career uncertainty after the nesses still shuttered with ply- ministration labeled Portland an dollars to cleaning up downtown hire. In May, employers added a recession wiped out many jobs for wood boards — the names of “anarchist jurisdiction.” — removing graffiti, clearing less-than-expected 559,000 jobs, good. Some who have lost work Black people killed by police “It does feel kind of like some- large homeless encampments and evidence that many companies during the pandemic have decid- painted onto them — a panhandler one dropped a bomb in some areas restoring damaged buildings. are struggling to find enough ed to retire. Others are taking leaned against a fence outside the (of Portland), but I think they’re In addition, the mayor’s office workers as the economy recovers their time looking for work be- federal courthouse in an area that very contained areas,” said Ocean has launched a reputation and re- faster than expected. cause, in some cases, supplemen- was choked with tear gas last sum- Howell, a professor at the Univer- branding effort. But many economists expect tal federal jobless benefits, on top mer as thousands of protesters sity of Portland who teaches ur- “We’re doggedly determined to hiring to catch up with demand in of regular state unemployment seized the streets. It’s now over- ban history and planning. “I think recover,” Mayor Ted Wheeler the coming months, especially as aid, pay them more than their old whelmed by a makeshift homeless there’s likely some businesses said in his State of the City address federal unemployment aid pro- jobs did. camp. that are gone and aren’t coming this year. “Our community has grams end and more people pur- Many states, though, are set to The scenes are from a city try- back. And there are just some peo- what it takes to move forward to a sue jobs. They note that the econ- begin dropping the supplemental ing to emerge from one of its most ple, generally, who are kind of much greater future.” omy still has 7.6 million fewer federal jobless aid this month. VA defends request for 15% increase in medical funding BY NIKKI WENTLING ing a hearing of the Senate Veterans’ Af- of 80% from the same time period last ly on the VA for a greater amount of their Stars and Stripes fairs Committee. year, when the VA canceled and post- health care. Historically, veterans have WASHINGTON — Department of Vet- “The VA is seeking another record poned many appointments in response to used the VA for about 30% of their health erans Affairs officials went to the Senate budget,” Moran said. “Here is where I the coronavirus pandemic. care. That number is on the rise, Rychal- on Wednesday and defended President mostly need answers: The VA is asking McDonough predicted that the de- ski said. Joe Biden’s request for a 10% increase for for a 15% increase in medical spending mand for care would remain high, at least The department is seeing a significant the agency, including a 15% boost in this year. How does this marry up with through the end of the year. increase in emergency room visits, funding for medical care. actual patient care?” “The actuarial numbers suggest we which tend to be more expensive. Ry- Biden proposed a total budget of $296.9 McDonough insisted that the depart- should anticipate this level of care for chalski said the number of visits is “off billion for the VA in fiscal year 2022. Of ment has experienced high demand for some period,” he told reporters during a the charts,” but it’s uncertain why. that amount, $97.5 billion would go to- care during the last few months, and he news briefing Tuesday. “People are accessing emergency ward veterans’ medical care. Congress believes the trend will continue. The surge in care is the reason for rooms at rates we’ve just not seen be- ultimately determines the VA’s budget, From March to May this year, veterans about 8% of the proposed 15% boost in fore,” he said. “It’s increased dramatical- and some Republicans have quizzed VA scheduled 16.55 million appointments at medical funding for the VA, said Jon Ry- ly.” Secretary Denis McDonough about the the VA and an additional 1.23 million ap- chalski, the VA’s chief financial officer. need for the increase. Sen. Jerry Moran, pointments through the agency’s com- The VA also requested the boost be- [email protected] R-Kan., questioned him Wednesday dur- munity care program. That’s an increase cause more veterans are beginning to re- Twitter: @nikkiwentling PAGE 10 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 NATION Bipartisan group on infrastructure up to 21 senators

BY LISA MASCARO dent. Associated Press Ahead of Wednesday’s late af- WASHINGTON — A biparti- ternoon session, the 20 senators san senators’ group working on a issued a joint statement backing $1 trillion infrastructure compro- the emerging bipartisan propos- mise more than doubled in size to al, doubling their ranks in a show 21 members Wednesday, a key of momentum as Biden is expect- threshold that gives momentum ed to re-engage at home. The list to their effort as President Joe Bi- was later updated to 21. den returns from overseas at a The number is significant: CARRIE ANTLFINGER/AP pivotal time for his big legislative With 11 Republicans and 10 Dem- Melanie Paige closes her eyes as she gets her first COVID­19 vaccination at her church, St. Matthew priority. ocrats, the group for the first time Christian Methodist Episcopal, in Milwaukee in May. Biden told reporters he had yet shows the potential for a biparti- to see the emerging proposal san accord that could theoretical- from the group but remained ly reach the 60-vote threshold in hopeful a bipartisan agreement the Senate, which is now evenly Black community now has a new could be reached, despite weeks split 50-50, that’s needed to ad- of on-again, off-again talks over vance bills by bypassing the fil- option for health care: The church his more robust $1.7 billion ibuster. American Jobs Plan. “We support this bipartisan BY CARRIE ANTLFINGER forts beyond the fight against CO- bring in experts for vaccinations, “I’m still hoping we can put to- framework that provides a histor- Associated Press VID-19 and give their flocks a such as the flu, and to screen for gether the two bookends here,” ic investment in our nation’s core MILWAUKEE — Every Sunday place to seek health care for other ailments that are common in Black Biden said as he prepared to de- infrastructure needs without rais- at Friendship Missionary Baptist ailments at a place they trust — the communities, including heart dis- part Geneva after attending a ing taxes,” the senators said. “We Church, the Rev. Joseph Jackson church. ease, hypertension, diabetes, summit of European leaders. look forward to working with our Jr. praises the Lord before his con- “We can’t go back to normal be- AIDS and asthma. The effort aims The administration dispatched Republican and Democratic col- gregation. But since last fall, he’s cause we died in our normal,” De- to reduce discomfort within Black top White House advisers for leagues to develop legislation been praising something else his bra Fraser-Howze, the founder of communities about seeking health back-to-back meetings on Capitol based on this framework to ad- Black community needs: the CO- Choose Healthy Life, told The As- care, either due to concerns about Hill while the president was dress America’s critical infras- VID-19 vaccine. sociated Press. “We have health racism or a historical distrust of away. Biden and his Democratic tructure challenges.” “We want to continue to encour- disparities that were so serious science and government. allies in Congress are proceeding At the same time, Senate Ma- age our people to get out, get your that one pandemic virtually wiped The initiative has so far been re- on a two-track strategy — seeking jority Leader Chuck Schumer shots. I got both of mine,” Jackson us out more than anybody else. We sponsible for over 30,000 vaccina- a bipartisan bill while preparing convened a private meeting of the said to applause at the church in can’t allow for that to happen tions in the first three months in 50 to go it alone if Republicans try to Democratic senators on the Bud- Milwaukee on a recent Sunday. again.” churches in New York, Newark, block the investments with a fil- get Committee to set the ground- Members of Black communities Choose Healthy Life, a national N.J., Detroit, Washington, D.C., ibuster in the Senate. work for a process that would al- across the United States have dis- initiative involving Black clergy, and Atlanta. The administration officials low majority passage of the pack- proportionately fallen sick or died United Way of New York City and The federal funding will expand huddled late Wednesday in the age, without the need for Repub- from the virus, so some church others, has been awarded a $9.9 the group’s effort to 100 churches, Capitol basement with the Demo- lican votes. Initial votes could leaders are using their influence million U.S. Department of Health including in rural areas, in 13 cratic senators in the bipartisan start in July. and trusted reputations to fight and Human Services grant to ex- states and the District of Colum- group, grinding through details of “There was universal agree- back by preaching from the pulpit, pand vaccinations and and make bia, and will help establish an in- the proposal. On Tuesday, the ment we have a lot of things we phoning people to encourage vac- permanent the “health naviga- frastructure for the health naviga- White House team shored up have to do to help the American cinations and hosting testing clin- tors” who are already doing coro- tors to start screenings. Quest Di- restless House Democrats eager people and we have to have unity ics and vaccination events in navirus testing and vaccinations in agnostics and its foundation has al- for momentum on a shared do- to do it,” Schumer told reporters church buildings. churches. ready provided funding and mestic priority with the presi- afterward. “Good first meeting.” Some want to extend their ef- The navigators will eventually testing help. 2 South Carolina executions halted until firing squad is formed Associated Press der, are on hold “due to the statu- as the only option. usual, saying the new law moves ades on death row after he was COLUMBIA — The South Car- tory right of inmates to elect the “The department is moving the state toward less humane ex- convicted in 2002 of killing his olina Supreme Court on Wednes- manner of their execution.” ahead with creating policies and ecution methods. They have also ex-girlfriend’s parents with a day blocked the planned execu- The executions were scheduled procedures for a firing squad,” said the men have the right to die baseball bat. The state Supreme tions of two inmates by electrocu- less than a month after the pas- Chrysti Shain, a spokeswoman by lethal injection — the method Court also had previously sched- tion, saying they cannot be put to sage of a new law compelling the for the South Carolina Depart- both of them chose — and that the uled the June 25 execution of death until they truly have the condemned to choose between ment of Corrections, said in a state hasn’t exhausted all meth- Owens, a 43-year-old man who choice of a firing squad option set electrocution or a firing squad if statement Wednesday. “We are ods to procure lethal injection has been on and off death row out in the state’s newly revised lethal injection drugs aren’t avail- looking to other states for guid- drugs. since 1999 for the slaying of a capital punishment law. able. The statute is aimed at res- ance through this process. We Lawyers for the state have convenience store clerk. The high court halted this tarting executions after an invol- will notify the court when a firing maintained that prison officials Both Sigmon and Owens have month’s scheduled executions of untary 10-year pause that the squad becomes an option for exe- are simply carrying out the law, run out of traditional appeals in Brad Sigmon and Freddie Owens, state attributes to an inability to cutions.” and that the U.S. Supreme Court recent months, leaving the state writing that corrections officials procure the drugs. State prison officials have not has never found electrocution to Supreme Court to set and then need to put together a firing Prison officials previously said indicated when a firing squad be unconstitutional. stay their executions earlier this squad so that inmates can really they still can’t get hold of lethal would be up and running. State prisons officials had year after the corrections agency choose between that or the elec- injection drugs and have yet to Attorneys for the two men have planned on Friday to electrocute said it still didn’t have lethal in- tric chair. The state’s plans, the put together a firing squad, leav- argued in legal filings that death Sigmon, a 63-year-old inmate jection drugs — and before the court wrote in an unanimous or- ing the 109-year-old electric chair by electrocution is cruel and un- who has spent nearly two dec- passage of the new law. Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 11 NATION Catholic agency wins foster care Supreme Court case BY JESSICA GRESKO work with the agency, Catholic delphia in a manner consistent as part of their contracts. The Catholic Social Services has Associated Press Social Services, the court said. with its religious beliefs; it does city asked the Catholic agency said. Because of its beliefs, the WASHINGTON — The Su- “The refusal of Philadelphia not seek to impose those beliefs to change its policy, but the Catholic agency also does not preme Court on Thursday to contract with CSS for the on anyone else.” group declined. As a result, certify unmarried couples. unanimously sided with a Ca- provision of foster care servic- Catholic Social Services is af- Philadelphia stopped referring A lawyer with The Becket tholic foster care agency that es unless it agrees to certify filiated with the Archdiocese of additional children to the agen- Fund for Religious Liberty who says its religious views prevent same-sex couples as foster par- Philadelphia. cy. argued on behalf of Catholic So- it from working with same-sex ents cannot survive strict scru- Philadelphia learned in 2018 Catholic Social Services cial Services cheered the rul- couples as foster parents. The tiny, and violates the First from a newspaper reporter that sued, but lower courts sided ing. justices said the city of Phila- Amendment,” Chief Justice the agency would not certify with Philadelphia. “It’s a beautiful day when the delphia wrongly limited its re- John Roberts wrote. same-sex couples to become There is no record that any highest court in the land pro- lationship with the group as a Roberts said that the group foster parents. The city has said same-sex couple has ever asked tects foster moms and the 200- result of the agency’s policy. “seeks only an accommodation it requires that the two dozen- to work with the agency. In year-old religious ministry that Philadelphia violated the that will allow it to continue plus foster care agencies it such a case, the couple would supports them,” Lori Windham Constitution in limiting its serving the children of Phila- works with not to discriminate be referred to a different group, said in a statement. High court dismisses Obamacare challenge Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Su- preme Court has dismissed a chal- lenge to the Obama era health care law, preserving insurance cover- age for millions of Americans. The justices, by a 7-2 vote, left the entire law intact Thursday in ruling that Texas, other Republi- can-led states and two individuals had no right to bring their lawsuit in federal court. The Biden admin- istration says 31 million people have health insurance because of the law popularly known as “Oba- macare.” The law’s major provisions in- clude protections for people with pre-existing health conditions, a range of no-cost preventive servic- es and the expansion of the Medi- caid program that insures lower- income people, including those who work in jobs that don’t pay much or provide health insurance. Also left in place is the law’s now-toothless requirement that people have health insurance or pay a penalty. Congress rendered that provision irrelevant in 2017 when it reduced the penalty to ze- ro. Trump’s three appointees to the Supreme Court — Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — split their votes. Kavanaugh and Barrett joined the majority. Gorsuch was in dissent, signing on to an opinion from Justice Samuel Alito. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the court that the states and people who filed a federal lawsuit “have failed to show that they have standing to attack as unconstitu- tional the Act’s minimum essential coverage provision.” Because it dismissed the case for the plaintiff’s lack of legal standing — the ability to sue — the court didn’t actually rule on whether the individual mandate is unconstitutional now that there is no penalty for forgoing insurance. PAGE 12 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 WORLD

Hong Kong Chinese ship docks police arrest in new space station editors of BY SAM MCNEIL space officials, other uniformed newspaper Associated Press military personnel and a crowd of JIUQUAN — A Chinese space- children waving flowers and flags Associated Press ship carrying a three-person crew and singing patriotic songs. HONG KONG — Hong Kong docked with China’s new space The rocket dropped its boosters police used a sweeping national station at the start of a three-month about two minutes into the flight security law Thursday to arrest mission Thursday, marking a followed by the cowling surround- five editors and executives of a milestone in the country’s ambi- ing Shenzhou-12 at the top of the CCTV/AP pro-democracy newspaper on tious space program. rocket. After about 10 minutes, it In this image taken from video footage run by China’s CCTV, Chinese charges of colluding with foreign The Shenzhou-12 craft connect- separated from the rocket’s upper astronauts are seen aboard a Shenzhou­12 spaceship in space powers. ed with the Tianhe space station section, extended its solar panels Thursday. Police said they had evidence module about six hours after take- and shortly afterward entered or- that more than 30 articles publish- off from the Jiuquan launch center bit. good rest in space, which should tion and send up crews and suppli- ed by Apple Daily played a “cru- on the edge of the Gobi Desert. About a half-dozen adjustments make them less tired,” Gao said. es. A fresh three-member crew cial part” in what they called a The three astronauts are the took place over the following six Other improvements include an and a cargo ship with supplies will conspiracy with foreign countries first to take up residency in the hours to line up the spaceship for increase in the number of automat- be sent in three months. to impose sanctions against China main living module and will carry docking with the Tianhe, or Heav- ed and remote-controlled systems China is not a participant in the and Hong Kong. out experiments, test equipment, enly Harmony, module at about 4 that should “significantly lessen International Space Station, large- Apple Daily said in a statement conduct maintenance and prepare p.m. the pressure on the astronauts,” ly as a result of U.S. objections to that the move left it “speechless,” the station for receiving two labo- The travel time is down from the Gao said. the Chinese programs secrecy and but vowed to continue its report- ratory modules next year. two days it took to reach China’s Two astronauts on those past close military ties. The country, ing. The mission brings to 14 the earlier experimental space sta- missions were women, and while however, has been stepping up Police also froze $2.3 million in number of astronauts China has tions, a result of a “great many this first station crew is all male, cooperation with Russia and a host assets belonging to three compa- launched into space since 2003, be- breakthroughs and innovations,” women are expected to be part of of other countries, and its station nies linked to Apple Daily, accord- coming only the third country after the mission’s deputy chief design- future station crews. may continue operating beyond ing to Hong Kong’s National Secu- the former Soviet Union and the er, Gao Xu, told state broadcaster The mission is the third of 11 the International Space Station, rity Department. More than 200 United States to do so on its own. CCTV. planned through next year to add which is reaching the end of its police officers were involved in The astronauts were seen off by “So the astronauts can have a the additional sections to the sta- functional life. the search of Apple Daily's offices. Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 13 AMERICAN ROUNDUP

Adult altercation ends Little League title game STANTON — A Little KY League baseball cham- pionship game in eastern Kentucky came to an abrupt end when a group of adults got into an alterca- tion on the field. The Stanton Police Department and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department are investigating Mon- day’s incident, officials said. Video of the incident shared to Facebook shows more than a dozen adults on the field and some can be heard shouting obscenities, news outlets reported. Stanton Police Sgt. Ian Morton told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Tuesday that police are trying to determine what led to the events and whether charges should be fil- ed. Message in a bottle travels across Atlantic PROVIDENCE — A Por- RI tuguese teenager found a message in a bottle that traveled at least 2,400 miles from a Vermont teenager. Christian Santos, 17, was spear- fishing in the Azores when he found a crumpled plastic bottle that was tossed into the sea near Rhode Is- land in 2018, The Boston Globe reported. DAVE ZAJAC, (MERIDEN, CONN.) RECORD­JOURNAL/AP Santos’ mother, Molly Santos, posted a photo of the note on Face- book asking for others to share the Cheers in Cheshire post in hopes of finding the writer to Sixth­grade students applaud during a promotion ceremony at Norton Elementary School in Cheshire, Conn., on Tuesday. Connecticut Gov. share how far the message traveled. Ned Lamont visited the 2020 National Blue Ribbon School to celebrate the achievements of the school and promotion of the 2021 sixth grade. The note reads, “It is Thanksgiv- ing. I am 13 and visiting family in ing feeders with bleach. THE CENSUS pulling the ambulance out of the Rhode Island. I am from Vermont.” Megan Kirchgessner, a veterin- water. It included an email address to re- arian with Virginia’s Department of The number of days between when a plane was dropped off A spokesperson from Kunkel spond. Molly Santo said that she Wildlife Resources, told the Post 435 for storage at Southern California Logistics Airport and a Del- Ambulance said the vehicle was sent an email to the address, but that at least 325 reports of sick birds ta pilot’s “pandemic time capsule” was discovered. On March 23, 2020, stolen during a post-shift cleaning never received a response. have been collected. She said the Chris Dennis, in a Facebook post, shared photos of what he saw at the airport in and tracked using a GPS. condition appears to affect only Victorville, Calif.: long rows of Delta and Southwest jets parked on the runways The woman was immediately Wildlife groups young blue jays and grackles. under a cloudy sky. The final picture in the post was of a note penned by Den- taken into custody and charges are nis, a first officer, behind a tray table in the cockpit. “Hey pilots, it’s March 23rd pending. investigating bird deaths and we just arrived from [Minneapolis-St. Paul],” the note reads. “Very chilling 5 hurt when fire causes to see so much of our fleet here in the desert. If you are here to pick it up then the RESTON — People boat to explode at lake light must be at the end of the tunnel. Amazing how fast it changed. Have a safe Postal carriers among VA should stop feeding flight bringing it out of storage!” Dennis’ note was found as mechanics worked 4 indicted in meth case birds while scientists determine SUNRISE BEACH — to prepare the plane to start flying again. Tom Trenda told Nick Perez, a first why hundreds have been blinded MO Five people from Ne- officer who was part of the team picking up the last Airbus A321 still being TULSA — A Tulsa man and killed in the Washington, D.C., braska were seriously injured stored at the airport, to check the tray table before he took off. OK and three U.S. Postal region since late May, a federal when a boat exploded Tuesday at Service carriers have been charged agency said. the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. with participating in a methamphe- Wildlife managers in Washing- The Missouri State Highway Pa- converting it into a gym. However, afternoon. tamine drug conspiracy, federal ton, Virginia, Maryland and West trol said the explosion happened when Bobby Read went to the coun- WHAM-TV reported that police prosecutors said Tuesday. Virginia have received an increas- near Sunrise Beach. The boat was ty to get an address for his new busi- say they caught the vehicle on the A federal grand jury in Tulsa in- ing number of reports about sick docked when a mechanical failure ness location, he was told the parcel Thruway and later on I-490 and into dicted Kamau Jahi Williams, 42; and dying birds in recent weeks, ac- caused a fuel-related fire, the patrol he bought included the entire water the city of Rochester. The chase Erick Scott, 49; Christine Conner, cording to a statement from the U.S. said. tower site, according to the Tampa lasted about 100 miles. 54, all of Tulsa; and Shawn Boike, Geological Survey on behalf of con- James and Kari Hohenstein, Bay Times. Police said they later located the 46, of Skiatook, with drug conspir- servation groups in the area. Brad Vanwinkle and two children Luckily for the town, Read was ambulance off of the Culver Road acy, acting U.S. Attorney Clint The agency said birds have expe- aged 12 and 16 were seriously in- willing to give it back. County re- exit, and were led down Seneca Johnson said in a statement. The rienced “eye swelling and crusty jured. A 2-year-old was taken by cords show he transferred the wa- Road when the vehicle crashed into defendants made initial federal discharge, as well as neurological private vehicle to the hospital with ter tower back to Brooksville Irondequoit Bay near Newport court appearances Tuesday. signs.” Some have tremors, keep minor injuries. through a warranty deed last Yacht Club. Prosecutors allege that Williams their heads tilted or have trouble month. The town of 8,500 residents David Drushler was making a de- orchestrated the conspiracy with balancing, The Washington Post Town accidentally sells is located 50 miles north of Tampa. livery at the yacht club and wit- the other three, all postal workers at reported. A definitive cause of municipal water tower nessed the incident. He said the the Apache Street Post Office in death has yet to be determined. Police: Stolen ambulance woman rolled the window down to Tulsa. Williams’ drug supplier in Birds can transmit diseases to BROOKSVILLE — A driven into bay in chase get out and was trying to get on top California would mail shipments of one another when they congregate FL small town in Florida ac- of the ambulance. meth to an abandoned Tulsa ad- at feeders and baths. Environmen- cidentally sold its water tower in a IRONDEQUOIT — Re- “People on the power boats dress, and the postal workers would tal agencies recommend basic pre- blundered real estate transaction. NY ports of a stolen ambu- around were yelling, ‘She’s drown- mark the packages as delivered and cautions including avoiding the A businessman purchased a mu- lance from a Utica-based company ing. She can’t swim.’ That’s when then give them to Williams, prose- handling of birds but wearing dis- nicipal building underneath the city turned into a lengthy pursuit on the the power boats came down and cutors allege. posable gloves if necessary, keep- of Brooksville’s water tower last New York State Thruway for state fished her out,” Drushler said. ing pets away from birds and clean- April for $55,000 with the goal of troopers Sunday morning into the Crews spent more than an hour From wire reports PAGE 14 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 FACES Always ahead of their time ‘’ is about a real band you’ve probably never heard of, but should know about BY DAN DELUCA as a Sparks “fanboy.” And the The Philadelphia Inquirer Maels — who grew up in Southern here’s a scene in “The California and studied film and Sparks Brothers,” direc- theater at UCLA before recording tor ’s mo- with producer in Tvie about the hugely in- 1971 — were fans of Wright films fluential art-pop duo Ron and Rus- like 2004’s “” sell Mael, in which the siblings are and the music-mad 2017 action JASON KEMPIN/TNS asked why they had never before movie “.” Musicians (left) and of Sparks perform at Coachella in 2013 in Indio, Calif. The agreed to do a documentary film “He has a passion for music,” brothers have been recording together since the 1960s, a span that has produced 25 albums. about their fabulously unpredict- Ron Mael says. “And the other im- able 50-year-plus career. portant thing was that he didn’t stand” and British TV show “Top when they recorded a song called Sparks is often called a cult act. “We didn’t want to do the stan- want to fixate on the past, but of the Pops.” “Computer Girl,” years before “I don’t want to sound like L. Ron dard documentary full of talking wanted to treat all the periods of He brings in a range of pop cul- bands like Kraftwerk made elec- Hubbard,” Wright says, “but may- heads,” says Ron Mael, the broth- our career in a balanced way.” ture types for interviews, includ- tronic music fashionable. be my job is to recruit more cult er with the mustache who’s the Over 25 albums, “our band has ing , Bjork, Sonic Youth’s The big break came when members. ... If I can just turn one band’s principal songwriter. His had a really different kind of ca- , “Weird Al” Yan- Christine Ann Frka of The GTO’s person who had never listened to singing sibling Russell concurs: reer trajectory,” says Russell kovic, Flea, Go-Go’s guitarist Jane brought the brothers to Rund- Sparks into a Sparks fan, then I’ve “It would become too dry.” Mael, “and Edgar wanted to tell Wiedlin, comedian Patton Oswalt, gren’s attention. done my job.” To emphasize that he has no in- that whole story.” author Neil Gaiman and “Gilmore “It wasn’t like anything else that Late in the film, Rundgren pays tention of letting that happen to Wright first saw Sparks live in Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Pal- I was normally getting,” Rund- them the ultimate compliment: “The Sparks Brothers,” now in se- London in 2015 when the band was ladino. gren says in “The Sparks Broth- “There’s some comfort in the fact lect theaters, Wright resorts in the touring as FFS with Scottish band It’s tempting to describe the ups ers.” Talent scouting “is some- that something that weird can sur- movie to a slapstick gag: He tosses Franz Ferdinand. and down of the Sparks saga as a times like butterfly hunting: vive without becoming less water in the Maels’ faces. “I was dumbfounded by how “Rollercoaster,” the name of a for- You’re looking for some species weird.” “That was the physical repre- amazing it was,” Wright says. “I gotten 1977 disaster movie in that nobody has ever discovered Sparks have been on a late-ca- sentation of the fear of it being too started saying aloud to people that which the band was the featured before.” reer run with their 2017 “Hippo- dry,” says Ron Mael with a laugh, somebody should do a Sparks mo- musical act. Those who’ve never “We’re so indebted to Todd,” potamus,” last year’s “A Steady, speaking from Los Angeles via vie. ... then a friend said: ‘You heard of the often-satiric and un- Ron Mael says. “Before we did our Drip, Drip, Drip” and another mo- Zoom. “We were worried that a should do the movie!’” der-the-radar duo might wonder: first album, we sent our demos out vie project that has come to frui- documentary would be so much Wright tells the Sparks story in Am I watching a mockumentary? to 30 record people, and the only tion: They wrote the script and more boring than what we do as a lively fashion, with traditional and Is Sparks a real band? one who responded was Todd. music for “Annette,” French di- band. But when we met Edgar, we stop-motion animation, vintage Indeed, they’re real. The Maels (The Maels have reunited with rector Leos Carax’s movie star- realized we didn’t have to worry film clips and plenty of perform- have been either ahead of their Rundgren for “Your Fandango,” ring Adam Driver and Marion Co- about that.” ance footage, including stops on time — or slightly out of step with the new single from his forthcom- tillard, which opens the Cannes On screen, Wright is identified Dick Clark’s “American Band- it — going all the way back to 1967, ing album “Space Force.”) Film Festival on July 6. Anti-vaxxers protest Foo Fighters concert at Southern California club

From wire services wait in line and prove their vaccination sta- Shah’s attorneys are arguing that she was had been operating. Through the courts, the Dozens of anti-vaccine demonstrators tus. According to CBS, the Canyon Club can coerced, and pointed out that Bastos knew band had previously sought an injunction descended on Agoura Hills, Calif., Tuesday accommodate up to 600 people. her history with the man, who prosecutors against Cornell and accused her of locking night to protest the Foo Fighters’ first full- said was also involved in the scheme with the band out of the accounts after Chris Cor- capacity performance since the beginning Utah ‘Real Housewives’ star Shah and her assistant. nell’s death and the ensuing legal battle be- of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Although Ms. Shah waived her Miranda tween the two sides. The rock band performed at the intimate seeks fraud case dismissal rights, she did not do so voluntarily, but According to the band’s representatives, Canyon Club concert venue to a sold-out “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star rather as a direct result of law enforcement the deal includes Soundgarden’s Facebook, crowd of about 600 vaccinated fans. Jen Shah and her defense attorneys have deception and trickery calculated to over- Twitter and Instagram handles and took ef- Unvaccinated community members asked a federal judge in New York this week power her will,” her attorneys said. fect Tuesday. were not permitted to attend the show, to dismiss charges against her in a fraud sparking outrage among those who have case because officers allegedly coerced her Soundgarden to regain control Other news opted not to become immunized against the into waiving her Miranda rights when she ■ The Tony-winning stage musical “The deadly illness that has taken the lives of at was arrested in Utah. of social media accounts Book of Mormon” will return to Broadway least 600,000 people in the United States. Shah, 47, and her assistant have been ac- After a year and a half of contentious liti- on Nov. 5, producer Anne Garefino an- “Separating humans is not OK,” one pro- cused in a telemarketing scheme that feder- gation, Soundgarden and Vicky Cornell, the nounced Wednesday. Broadway shows tester told KCAL News while wielding a al prosecutors say took advantage of hun- wife of late singer Chris Cornell, have reac- have been shuttered since March 2020 due sign condemning the vaccination policy as dreds of “vulnerable, often elderly, work- hed a temporary agreement on at least one to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Book of “modern segregation.” “Those of us who ing-class people,” The Salt Lake Tribune piece of the ongoing lawsuit. Mormon,” which opened on Broadway in have healthy immune systems should be reported. They both pleaded not guilty to Under the agreement, which both sides 2011, won nine Tony Awards honors that able to enjoy these freedoms just like any- multiple charges. announced Wednesday morning, Sound- year, including best musical. The comedy body else.” Shah faces multiple counts of conspiracy garden and its management team will take centers on a pair of Latter-day Saints mis- Tickets to the event were distributed over to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to control of Soundgarden’s social media sionaries who are assigned to spread the the weekend to fans who were willing to commit money laundering. channels and website, which Vicky Cornell word of their religion in Uganda. Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 15 OPINION

Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Marci Hoffman, Europe commander Biden to Putin: Stability, sure. But democracy matters. Lt. Col. Michael Kerschbaum, Pacific commander Michael Ryan, Pacific chief of staff BY E.J. DIONNE JR. ferent from the bizarre get-togethers between been accustomed to offering since the end of Washington Post Writers Group the Russian leader and former President Do- World War II. The adoption of Biden’s “Build WASHINGTON nald Trump. Biden denied the Russian leader Back Better” slogan as the headline phrase of EDITORIAL scuffle between reporters and a shared podium, and there was, thankfully, the communique issued by the Group of Sev- Terry Leonard, Editor Russian security officials before no fawning over Putin, no taking Putin’s word en leaders underscored Europe’s embrace of [email protected] President Joe Biden met with Vla- over the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies. his approach. dimir Putin in Geneva on Wednes- On the contrary, when Biden met later with And if Biden was seeking to reinforce an ol- Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor A day was a minor event. Yet it spoke to the gulf reporters, he derided any link between the der vision of the United States’ global role, the [email protected] between the thuggish habits of the Russian jailing of Navalny and the Jan. 6 events as “ri- substance of what Europe’s leaders agreed on Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content leader’s regime and Biden’s hopes for a world diculous,” and he used his opening remarks to marked a sharp break with both the austerity [email protected] friendlier to democratic liberties. reaffirm the democracy-strengthening pur- policies of the past decade and the Reagan/ “Russian security yelled at journalists to pose of his European journey. Thatcher consensus on smaller government Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation [email protected] get out and began pushing journalists,” Anita Biden said he told Putin that “no president of the 1980s. Kumar, Politico’s White House correspond- of the United States could keep faith with the On its front page Saturday, the London- Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital ent, wrote in her pool report. “Journalists and American people if they did not speak out to based Financial Times referred to “the west’s [email protected] White House officials screamed back that the defend our democratic values, to stand up for apparent conversion to social democracy.” Russian security should stop touching us. the universal and fundamental freedoms that The key documents and public statements by BUREAU STAFF Your pooler was pushed multiple times, near- all men and women have in our view. That’s European leaders focused on reducing in- ly to the ground.” just part of the DNA of our country.” equalities, enhancing systems of social pro- Europe/Mideast It was an apt prequel to Putin’s post-meet- That Biden got prickly at the end of his news tection, acting against climate change and Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief [email protected] ing news conference where he defended his conference when CNN’s Kaitlan Collins supporting government-led efforts to restore +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 jailing of a Russian dissident while refusing to pressed him on why he had confidence that growth. Pacific use Alexei Navalny’s name. Putin would change his behavior — the presi- Because of the inevitable media attention it Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief In a classic display of his devotion to what- dent insisted he had expressed no such confi- fostered, the Putin meeting had more down- [email protected] aboutism, Putin defended his regime’s re- dence — pointed to the core challenge of the side than upside. It threatened to dilute Bi- +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 pression by attacking the U.S. record on hu- high-profile meeting. (Just before he boarded den’s democracy message with a heavy dose Washington man rights and brazenly insisting that he is his plane home, Biden apologized for being “a of realpolitik, exaggerate Putin’s world role Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief only trying to avoid the sort of disorder the wise guy” in his response.) and undercut the harmonization of Western [email protected] United States experienced in the Jan. 6 attack Biden stressed that the Putin meeting was a governments around more progressive eco- (+1)(202)886-0033 Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News on the U.S. Capitol. quest to understand differences and lay the nomic policies. [email protected] Putin then spun a remarkable syllogism, groundwork for future discussions, not an ef- In the end, Biden dodged the bullet. He arguing that since the United States regarded fort to reach substantive agreements. This started and ended his trip by underscoring CIRCULATION Russia as “an enemy,” U.S.-supported human pointed to the problem posed by the encoun- how different he is from Trump. He gave little Mideast rights advocates in Russia were enemies of ter from the start. Beyond enhancing Putin’s ground to Putin beyond the respect he showed Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager his state. He also flatly denied that the Russian profile, it threatened to overshadow the rest of by meeting with him. And he preached his [email protected] government has played any role in cyberat- Biden’s European journey, a broadly success- democratic gospel to the last. [email protected] tacks on the United States, which strains cre- ful effort to refurbish the United States’ alli- Biden’s final thought before he headed DSN (314)583-9111 dulity. ances with its longtime friends in Europe. home: “As long as I’m president, we’re going Europe Watching Putin play defense underscored Throughout the trip, Biden relished recit- to stick to the notion that we’re open, account- Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager the good news from Geneva: The Biden-Putin ing the anthem “America is back,” referring able and transparent.” Perhaps that was a [email protected] [email protected] encounter could hardly have been more dif- to the sort of leadership the United States had parting shot at Vladimir Putin. +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 Pacific Mari Mori, [email protected] +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 Delta variant should spark redoubled vaccination efforts CONTACT US BY ASHISH K. JHA dia. It is a major reason India experienced an to 85% protection (and two shots offered 95%), Special to The Washington Post unprecedented spike in cases and deaths dur- a single shot of Pfizer is only 33% effective Washington s we head into summer, the CO- ing its recent second wave. Why is the delta against the delta variant. Thankfully, fully tel: (+1)202.886.0003 VID-19 pandemic in the United variant so much worse? Any variant must be vaccinated individuals get almost 90% protec- 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 States looks increasingly different judged on three dimensions: Is it more conta- tion. We don’t know how much immunity Reader letters depending on where you are. But gious? Is it more deadly? And does it escape ei- gained from prior infections alone will protect [email protected] A for those not fully vaccinated, it is becoming ther natural or vaccine-induced immunity? people, but it may not be enough. Additional contacts increasingly dangerous almost everywhere. The delta variant may be one of the first tri- So what does all this mean? We are entering stripes.com/contactus So far, 17 states and the District of Columbia ple threats across all those factors. The emerg- atime when being unvaccinated is going to be- have reached President Joe Biden’s goal of ing and relatively strong evidence is that delta come exceedingly more dangerous. Society is OMBUDSMAN vaccinating 70% of adults with at least one is far more contagious than any other variant open. Distancing is a thing of the past, and Ernie Gates shot, which is building in those states an effec- recorded to date. It appears to be more deadly mask-wearing is declining. All of the public tive firewall against large outbreaks in the fall to those infected, and it appears to cause more health protections that kept unvaccinated The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow of news and information, reporting any attempts by the and winter. Vermont recently reported that infections among people with immunity than people safe are disappearing, but the delta military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s 80% of its population has at least one shot, mak- many other variants. variant is gaining momentum. In some states, independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for ing it the first state in the union to possibly So what’s the impact of a COVID-19 variant such as Mississippi and Wyoming, vaccina- fairness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman achieve herd immunity. that is much more contagious, possibly more tion rates mean that COVID cases are likely to welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted by email at [email protected], or by phone at Meanwhile, vaccination rates have flat- deadly and that may be causing more break- spike this summer and fall. Even in highly vac- 202.886.0003. lined in other states. In Tennessee, Wyoming, through infections in those who are only partly cinated places, the delta variant may trigger Mississippi, Idaho and a variety of states in be- protected? Well, again, let’s look at the evi- the occasional outbreak. The difference will Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday tween, the number of Americans stepping up dence: In India, the delta variant flattened the be in hospitalizations and deaths. For the vac- through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and to protect themselves and their communities health care system and caused hundreds of cinated, breakthrough infections will be in- Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send has dwindled to a trickle. And in some states, a thousands of deaths. In Britain, it has quickly convenient, annoying or maybe even miser- address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, particularly alarming trend is emerging: Peo- become the dominant strain and has caused able. But rarely deadly. The unvaccinated will APO AP 96301-5002. This newspaper is authorized by the Department of Defense for members of the military services ple are skipping their second vaccine dose. the number of daily infections to triple in just be far more vulnerable. overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are With U.S. case numbers relatively low over- the past month. And it has arrived in the U.S. Building a firewall across the nation is how unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspa- all, masks disappearing and society reopen- As of Wednesday, the delta variant accounts we can end this nightmare of the pandemic in per, Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to ing, it is not hard to imagine an end to the pan- for 10% of U.S. infections and is doubling its the U.S. If we can get all of America to vacci- remote locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. demic. But we must be clear: The pandemic is share of new cases every two weeks. At this nate like Vermont, we can achieve the level of The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or not over in the United States, nor can it end so rate, delta will become our dominant strain in population immunity that will keep the delta Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. long as COVID-19 rages across the globe. The the next month to six weeks. variant at bay. This means our fate is in our Products or services advertised shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, strongest evidence of the global pandemic’s For partly vaccinated Americans — those hands. We have to redouble efforts to get shots religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical influence on Americans’ lives recently ar- who have had just one shot of Pfizer or Moder- into arms here in the U.S. and across the globe. handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. rived on our shores: the delta variant of the vi- na — the delta variant’s tendency to escape an

© Stars and Stripes 2021 rus. It is a profoundly concerning threat. immune response is a problem. While a single Ashish K. Jha is a physician, health policy researcher and the The delta variant was first identified in In- shot of these vaccines previously offered 80% dean of the Brown University School of Public Health. stripes.com PAGE 16 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 Eugene Sheffer Crossword Frazz Dilbert

ACROSS 51 NBC weekend 22 Arctic native 1 Hill dweller show 23 French seat 4 Dictionary entry 25 Charged bits 8 Slightly DOWN 26 Human-like

Pearls Before Swine Pearls Before 12 Russian space 1 Parisian pal robots station 2 Diarist Anaïs 27 Abound 13 Miles away 3 John of “Grease” 28 Sicilian volcano 14 “Beloved” author 4 Is patient 30 Houston org. Morrison 5 Does in 33 Table tennis 15 Right away 6 U.K. military fliers need 17 Bikini parts 7 Parched 34 Apiece 18 Nov. honorees 8 Optimally 36 Manhandled 19 Urban of 9 Actress Spelling 37 Broadway’s country music Non Sequitur 10 Gray’s subj. Verdon 20 Alex Haley book 11 Platter 38 Tiny bit 22 Nile bird 16 “West Side 39 Rich soil 24 Shakespeare Story” gang 40 Poi base title starter 19 Smooch 42 AOL, for one 25 Worked up 20 Sitarist Shankar 43 Hide-hair insert 29 Cistern 21 “The Good 44 Architect Maya 30 Subjects, usually Earth” heroine 45 Snaky fish 31 Profit Answer to Previous Puzzle 32 Freaking out Candorville 34 Paradise 35 Admin. aide 36 Italian cheese city 37 Comic Radner 40 Mexican snack 41 Fireplace fuel 42 Shortly 46 And others (Lat.)

Carpe Diem 47 Achy 48 Conk out 49 Christen 50 Goad Beetle Bailey Bizarro Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 17 PAGE 18 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 SCOREBOARD/TENNIS

PRO SOCCER TENNIS DEALS MLS Wednesday’s transactions Fever-Tree Championships South Africa, def. Oliver Marach, Austria, Nadal and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi (8), Pakistan, BASEBALL EASTERN CONFERENCE Wednesday 6-3, 6-3. Major League Baseball At The Queen’s Club Guido Pella and Andres Molteni, Argen- WLTPts GF GA American League London tina, def. Raven Klaasen, South Africa, and BOSTON RED SOX — Sent RHP Brandon Ben Mclachlan (7), Japan, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6). New England 5 1 2 17 11 7 Purse: Euro 1,290,135 Brennan outright to Worcester (Triple-A Surface: Grass Sam Querrey and Austin Krajicek, Unit- East). Activated RHP Yacksel Rios and Philadelphia 4 2 2 14 9 5 skipping Men’s Singles ed States, def. Ivan Dodig, Croatia, and Fil- added to the active roster. Optioned INF Orlando City 3 1 3 12 8 4 Round of 16 ip Polasek (1), Slovakia, 5-7, 6-1, 10-6. Michael Chavis to Worcester. Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen (6), Belgi- NYCFC 3 2 2 11 13 7 Alex de Minaur (4), Australia, def. John HOUSTON ASTROS — Placed OF Kyle Millman, Australia, 6-1, 6-3. um, def. Luke Saville and Jordan Thomp- Tucker on the 10-day IL. Recalled INF Abra- CF Montréal 3 3 2 11 10 9 Cameron Norrie, Britain, def. Aslan Kar- son, Australia, 7-6 (4), 6-3. ham Toro from Sugar Land (Triple-A Columbus 3 2 2 11 7 6 atsev (5), Russia, 7-5, 6-2. West). Wimbledon, Nashville 2 0 5 11 9 6 Jack Draper, Britain, def. Alexander Bu- Birmingham Classic MINNESOTA TWINS — Reinstated LHP blik, Kazakhstan, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (0). Caleb Thielbar from the 10-day IL. Op- Atlanta 2 1 4 10 9 7 Marin Cilic, Croatia, def. Fabio Fognini Wednesday tioned RHP Griffin Jax and RHP Shaun An- New York 3 4 0 9 10 10 (8), Italy, 6-3, 7-6 (4). At Edgbaston Priory Club derson to St. Paul (Triple-A East). Signed Birmingham, Great Britain 2B Wilbis Santiago to a minor league con- D.C. United 3 5 0 9 8 11 Men’s Doubles Round of 16 Purse: $235,238 tract. Olympics Inter Miami CF 2 4 2 8 8 13 Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal Surface: Grass NEW YORK YANKEES — Returned OF Toronto FC 1 4 2 5 8 12 (2), , def. Dominic Inglot and Women’s Singles Ryan LaMarre from his rehab assignment Round of 32 and from the 10-day IL, then outrighted Chicago 1 5 1 4 4 11 Luke Bambridge, Britain, 6-4, 6-4. Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herb- Kristina Mladenovic, France, def. Fiona him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A Associated Press Cincinnati 1 4 1 4 6 15 ert (4), France, def. Liam Broady and Ryan Ferro (7), France, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. East). Peniston, Britain, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 12-10. Round of 16 OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Reinstated OF MADRID — Rafael Nadal will WESTERN CONFERENCE John Peers, Australia, and Reilly Opelka, Ramon Laureano from the 10-day IL. Op- Marie Bouzkova (8), Czech Republic, def. tioned OF Skye Bolt to Las Vegas (Triple-A not play at Wimbledon or at the United States, def. Ken Skupski and Neal Caroline Garcia, France, 6-3, 6-0. WLTPts GF GA West). Skupski (8), Britain, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (4), 10-2. CoCo Vandeweghe, United States, def. TAMPA BAY RAYS — Recalled RHP Chris Tokyo Olympics, saying Thursday Gonzalo Escobar, Ecuador, and Ariel Be- Ajla Tomljanovic, Australia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Seattle 5 0 3 18 14 3 Mazza from Durham (Triple-A East). he has decided to skip the two har, Uruguay, def. Fabrice Martin and Jere- Donna Vekic (3), Croatia, def. Camila Placed RHP Collin McHugh on the 10-day Sporting KC 5 2 2 17 16 11 my Chardy (6), France, 6-4, 6-4. Giorgi, Italy, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. IL. tournaments after “listening” to LA Galaxy 5 2 0 15 11 11 Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic (1), Croa- Heather Watson, Britain, def. Zhang TEXAS RANGERS — Reinstated RHP Ian tia, def. Feliciano Lopez, Spain, and Jannik Shuai (6), China, 5-2, ret. his body. Colorado 4 2 1 13 12 8 Kennedy from the 10-day IL. Optioned LHP Sinner, Italy, 7-6 (3), 7-5. Women’s Doubles Hyeon-Jong Yang to Round Rock (Triple-A Nadal, who reached the French Houston 3 3 2 11 11 12 Philipp Oswald, Austria, and Marcus Da- Round of 16 West). Signed 3B Trey Hair to a minor San Jose 3 5 0 9 11 12 niell (7), New Zealand, def. Adrian Manna- Ons Jabeur, Tunisia, and Ellen Perez, league contract. Open semifinals last week but lost rino and Benoit Paire, France, 6-3, 6-4. Australia, def. Caroline Dolehide and Caty Portland 3 4 0 9 9 11 TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Placed RHP Carl Aslan Karatsev, Russia, and Max Purcell, McNally (4), United States, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Edwards on the 10-day IL. Optioned LHP to Novak Djokovic, has won the ti- Real Salt Lake 2 1 3 9 9 7 Australia, def. Bruno Soares, Brazil, and Latisha Chan and Hao-Ching Chan (2), Travis Bergen to Buffalo (Triple-A East). tle at Wimbledon twice, in 2008 LAFC 2 3 2 8 8 9 Jamie Murray (5), Britain, 6-4, 6-4. Taiwan, def. Wang Yafan, China, and Julia Reinstated RHP Patrick Murphy from the Cameron Norrie, Britain, and Alex de Mi- Wachaczyk, Germany, 7-5, 6-2. 60-day IL. and 2010. He also won the Olympic Austin FC 2 4 2 8 6 9 naur, Australia, def. Rajeev Ram, United Hsieh Su-wei, Taiwan, and Elise Mertens National League Vancouver 2 4 1 7 6 9 States, and Joe Salisbury (3), Britain, 5-7, (1), Belgium, def. Sam Stosur, Australia, ATLANTA BRAVES — Placed LHP Tucker gold medal in singles at the 2008 6-1, 12-10. Minnesota 2 4 1 7 6 11 and CoCo Vandeweghe, United States, 6-4, Davidson on the 10-day IL. Recalled LHP 6-4. Kyle Muller from Gwinnett (Triple-A East). Beijing Games and in doubles at FC Dallas 1 3 3 6 8 11 NOVENTI Open CHICAGO CUBS — Selected RHP Robert the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. Note: Three points for victory, one point Bett1 Open Stock from Iowa (Triple-A East). Optioned for tie. Wednesday RHP Trevor Megill to Iowa. Placed RHP Dil- “The goal is to prolong my ca- At Gerry Weber Stadium Wednesday lon Maples on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Friday’s games Halle, Germany At Am Rothenbaum Rot-Weiss Tennis June 15. Recalled RHP Cory Abbott from Io- reer and continue to do what Nashville at New York Purse: Euro 1,318,605 Club wa. Transferred C P.J. Higgins from the 10- makes me happy, that is to com- Vancouver at Real Salt Lake Surface: Grass Berlin day IL to the 60-day IL. Selected the con- Purse: Euro 456,073 tract of RHP Mike Hauschild from the Lex- Saturday’s games Men’s Singles pete at the highest level and keep Round of 16 Surface: Grass ington Legends (Atlantic League). LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Selected the Chicago at Columbus Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany, def. Women’s Singles fighting for those professional and Colorado at Cincinnati Round of 16 contract of OF Steven Souza Jr. Designat- Corentin Moutet, France, 6-4, 7-6 (4). ed RHP Nate Jones for assignment. personal goals at the maximum Orlando City at Toronto FC Andrey Rublev (4), Russia, def. Jordan Ekaterina Alexandrova, Russia, def. Eli- New England at New York City FC MIAMI MARLINS — Selected the contract Thompson, Australia, 6-4, 6-4. na Svitolina (2), Ukraine, 6-4, 7-5. of 3B Deven Marrero from Jacksonville level of competition,” Nadal said. Miami at D.C. United Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada, def. Alize Cornet, France, def. Bianca An- Minnesota at FC Dallas (Triple-A East). Designated RHP Luis Mad- The 35-year-old Spaniard said Roger Federer (5), Switzerland, 4-6, 6-3, dreescu (3), Canada, 7-6 (2), 7-5. ero for assignment. San Jose at Austin FC 6-2. Belinda Bencic (5), Switzerland, def. Pe- Seattle at LA Galaxy MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Claimed RHP the fact that there are only two Marcos Giron, United States, def. Jan- tra Martic, Croatia, 6-3, 6-4. Ryan Weber off waivers from Boston and Sporting Kansas City at Portland Lennard Struff, Germany, 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4. Madison Keys, United States, def. Aryna weeks between Roland Garros Houston at Los Angeles FC optioned him to Nashville (Triple-A East). Men’s Doubles Sabalenka (1), Belarus, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5. Sent RHP Chad Sobotka outright to Nash- and Wimbledon “didn’t make it Sunday’s game Round of 32 Women’s Doubles ville. Reinstated RHP Patrick Murphy from Yannick Hanfmann and Dominik Koepf- Quarterfinals Philadelphia at Atlanta the 60-day IL. Reinstated LHP Travis Ber- easier” on his body to recover er, Germany, def. Santiago Gonzalez, Mex- Veronika Kudermetova, Russia, and gen from the 10-day IL and optioned to Tuesday, June 22 ico, and Marcelo Demoliner, Brazil, 7-6 (5), Marketa Vondrousova, Czech Republic, Buffalo (Triple-A East). Placed RHP C.J. Ed- from “the always demanding” San Jose at Orlando City 6-3. def. Alexa Guarachi Mathison, Chile, and wards on the 10-day IL. Round of 16 Desirae Krawczyk (3), United States, 7-6 NEW YORK METS — Sent RF Michael Con- clay-court season. Wednesday, June 23 Horia Tecau, Romania, and Kevin Kra- (4), 7-5. forto to Syracuse (Triple-A East) on a re- “Sport prevention of any kind of New York at New England wietz (3), Germany, def. Nikola Cacic, Ser- Sharon Fichman, Canada, and Giuliana hab assignment. Columbus at Philadelphia bia, and Tomislav Brkic, Bosnia-Herzego- Olmos, Mexico, def. Asia Muhammad and PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Placed 2B excess in my body is a very impor- Atlanta at New York City FC vina, 7-6 (3), 6-3. Jessica Pegula, United States, 6-4, 1-6, 10-5. Jean Segura on the 10-day IL. Recalled 2B tant factor at this stage of my ca- Austin FC at Minnesota Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan, India, Nicole Melichar, United States, and Nick Maton from Lehigh Valley (Triple-A Cincinnati at Chicago def. Lukasz Kubot, Poland, and Edouard Demi Schuurs (1), Netherlands, def. Rena- East). reer in order to try to keep fighting D.C. United at CF Montréal Roger-Vasselin (2), France, 7-6 (11), 6-4. ta Voracova, Czech Republic, and Miyu Ka- SAN DIEGO PADRES — Optioned LHP Colorado at Sporting Kansas City Jonathan Erlich, Israel, and Lloyd Harris, to, Japan, 6-1, 6-3. Ryan Weathers to El Paso (Triple-A West). for the highest level of competi- Portland at Houston WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Recalled Toronto FC at Nashville PRO BASKETBALL COLLEGE BASEBALL INF Luis Garcia from Rochester (Triple-A tion and titles,” Nadal wrote on Real Salt Lake at Seattle East). Placed INF Starlin Castro on the re- Twitter. FC Dallas at Los Angeles FC stricted list. WNBA World Series FOOTBALL Nadal is a 20-time Grand Slam LA Galaxy at Vancouver National Football League Friday, June 25 EASTERN CONFERENCE At Omaha, Neb. (Double Elimination; x-if necessary) NFL — Suspended TE Chase Harrell for champion with a record 13 titles at Orlando City at Miami WLPct GB Saturday, June 19 one-year for violating the league’s PED policy. the French Open. Saturday, June 26 Game 1: No. 9 Stanford vs. N.C. State Connecticut 8 3 .727 — ATLANTA FALCONS — Signed WR Jeff Ba- His loss at Roland Garros last Los Angeles FC at Sporting Kansas City Game 2: No. 4 Vanderbilt vs. No. 5 Arizo- det. Cincinnati at Toronto FC New York 6 5 .545 2 na CHICAGO BEARS — Signed OT Teven Jen- Friday was only his third in 108 Houston at Real Salt Lake Atlanta 5 6 .455 3 Sunday, June 20 kins to a four-year contract. Game 3: No. 3 Tennessee vs. Virginia SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Signed TE Do- matches at a tournament he won Philadelphia at Chicago Chicago 5 7 .417 3½ CF Montréal at Nashville Game 4: Texas vs. No. 7 Mississippi St. minick Wood-Anderson. Waived RB B.J. each of the last four years, includ- Vancouver at Seattle Washington 4 6 .400 3½ Monday, June 21 Emmons. LA Galaxy at San Jose Indiana 1 12 .077 8 Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser SOCCER ing by beating Djokovic in the Minnesota at Portland Game 6: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 win- WESTERN CONFERENCE ner LOS ANGELES FC — Loaned G Tomas 2020 final. NWSL Tuesday, June 22 Romero, D Mohamed Traore, D Mamadou WLPct GB Game 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser Fall, M Bryce Duke, M Alvaro Quezada, F WLTPts GF GA Christian Torres, D Tony Leone and F Dan- Seattle 11 2 .846 — Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 win- ny Musovski to Las Vegas Lights FC (USL). ner Orlando 3 0 2 11 7 4 Las Vegas 9 3 .750 1½ PHILADELPHIA UNION — Signed head Wednesday, June 23 coach Jim Curtin to a multi-year contract Portland 3 2 0 9 11 4 Los Angeles 5 5 .500 4½ Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser extension. Washington 2 1 2 8 5 5 Dallas 5 6 .455 5 Thursday, June 24 COLLEGE Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 los- Gotham FC 2 1 1 7 2 1 DREW — Named Drew Eberly head base- Phoenix 5 7 .417 5½ er ball coach. Houston 2 2 1 7 6 6 Minnesota 4 6 .400 5½ Friday, June 25 MARQUETTE — Named Kelly Komara Chicago 2 2 1 7 4 7 Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 win- and Tasha Taylor assistant women’s bas- Wednesday’s games ketball coaches. North Carolina 1 2 1 4 6 3 ner Los Angeles 85, Phoenix 80 Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 ST. JOHN’S — Named Aliann Pompey Reign FC 1 2 1 4 2 3 head coach of women’s track and field Thursday’s games winner Louisville 1 2 1 4 2 8 Saturday, June 26 and cross country. Named Tyler Watson Atlanta at Washington men’s basketball strength and condition- Kansas City 0 3 2 2 2 6 x-Game 13: Teams TBD ing coach. Seattle at Indiana x-Game 14: Teams TBD Note: Three points for victory, one point Connecticut at Chicago SYRACUSE — Named Dave Pietramala Championship Series assistant men’s lacrosse coach. for tie. Minnesota at Dallas (Best-of-three) New York at Las Vegas VANDERBILT — Named Andrew Allegret- Saturday’s games Monday, June 28: Teams TBD ta director of radio broadcasting and Ke- Friday’s game Reign FC at North Carolina Tuesday, June 29: Teams TBD vin Ingram has been elevated to director Washington at Chicago Phoenix at Los Angeles x-Wednesday, June 30: Teams TBD of digital operations. Sunday’s games GOLF Houston at Louisville Kansas City at Portland Gotham FC at Orlando LPGA money leaders 9. Ariya Jutanugarn 9 $546,479 21. Amy Olson 10 $338,992 10. Jin Young Ko 8 $543,026 22. Wei-Ling Hsu 11 $330,859 Tuesday, June 22 Through June 13 11. Shanshan Feng 7 $520,964 23. Austin Ernst 10 $316,307 Chicago at Reign FC Trn Money 12. Jessica Korda 8 $509,336 24. Matilda Castren 6 $296,057 1. Yuka Saso 0 $1,000,000 Wednesday, June 23 13. Sei Young Kim 10 $476,791 25. Jenny Shin 10 $288,562 2. Lydia Ko 10 $919,964 Orlando at Kansas City 14. Hannah Green 9 $464,832 26. Sophia Popov 10 $285,437 3. Patty Tavatanakit 10 $837,238 North Carolina at Louisville 15. Danielle Kang 11 $462,336 27. Jennifer Kupcho 10 $277,725 MICHEL EULER/AP 4. Lexi Thompson 10 $807,771 Saturday, June 26 16. Ally Ewing 11 $450,412 28. Xiyu Lin 11 $268,274 5. Nelly Korda 9 $773,930 Spain’s Rafael Nadal lost a 17. Hyo Joo Kim 8 $442,757 29. Leona Maguire 9 $266,801 Louisville at Chicago 6. Inbee Park 8 $768,014 Gotham FC at Reign FC 18. So Yeon Ryu 9 $419,688 30. Moriya Jutanugarn 9 $253,636 five­set match to Serbia’s Novak 7. Nasa Hataoka 10 $655,241 Portland at North Carolina 19. Megan Khang 10 $400,799 31. Nanna Koerstz Madsen 9 $228,725 Djokovic last week at the French 8. Brooke M. Henderson 11 $554,603 Orlando at Houston 20. Angel Yin 9 $397,226 32. Amy Yang 10 $224,496 Washington at Kansas City Open in Paris. Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 19 /TRACK AND FIELD Doping, burritos, tears: Welcome to 2021 track and field BY EDDIE PELLS of proof falls on the athlete to show AND PAT GRAHAM an exculpatory reason the drug en- Associated Press tered their system. EUGENE, Ore. — Track and Houlihan has a food log showing field stumbled back onto center she ate the burrito on the day in stage this week and found itself in a question. She’s had hair samples good, old-fashioned mess. analyzed, and they showed no buil- It involves — what else? — dop- dup, the likes of which would be ing. But also burritos. And pork present if she had been consistent- tinged with a performance-en- ly using the drug. She’s passed a po- hancing drug. And the suspension lygraph test in which she says she of an American record holder who never knowingly took nandrolone. was considered a contender for an None of this was enough for the Olympic medal that she will not Athletics Integrity Unit, which have a chance to win. oversees track’s international anti- The polarizing case of 1,500- and doping program and has the right PHOTOS BY CHARLIE NEIBERGALL/AP 5,000-meter runner Shelby Houli- to test athletes, or for the Court of looks at her time after winning the women’s 1500 freestyle during wave 2 of the U.S. han, who received a four-year dop- Arbitration for Sport, which heard Olympic Swim Trials on Wednesday in Omaha, Neb. ing ban only days before the U.S. Houlihan’s final appeal. Neither Olympic trials begin Friday, is the would absolve her of responsibility latest in a long string of dramas that or the minimum four-year ban that cut to one of the central weakness- comes with the violation. The full es of the international doping sys- details from the CAS decision have Ledecky secures Olympic tem: It is constantly conflicted be- not yet been released. tween the mission to unwaveringly “In my view, what happened to follow a voluminous and minutiae- her is entirely unjust,” said Houli- laden rulebook and the desire for han’s attorney. Paul Greene, who fairness and common sense. has worked many of these cases berths in 2 more events All the evidence Houlihan and over the years. “This result is going her defenders have offered in a to live with me for the rest of my ca- BY PAUL NEWBERRY free, though she wasn’t as fast as case that has meandered through reer because I know Shelby didn’t Associated Press expected. She’s also heavily favor- the system for five months points to do anything wrong and she’s OMAHA, Neb. — The long and ed in the 800 free, another race she the fact that the 28-year-old, who banned.” short of it was not an issue for Ka- won at Rio, which means she finished 11th in the 5,000 meters at The cruelest part of it for Houli- tie Ledecky. could swim as many as four indi- the 2016 Olympics, did not cheat. han is that USADA, which con- On another memorable night vidual events and perhaps a cou- Given the 53 doping tests the ducts most of her testing but was for the American swimming star, ple of relays at the Tokyo Games. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has sub- not involved in this case, would al- Ledecky won the 200-meter frees- Ledecky did confirm that she’s jected her to since 2017, none of most certainly not have pursued tyle and the historic 1,500 free scratched the 100 free. which came back positive, the best this. about 70 minutes apart at the U.S. She’s already got enough on her explanation for the five nanograms There are similar instances in- Olympic trials Wednesday, lock- Olympic plate. of the performance enhancer nan- volving tainted meat in which ing up two more individual events In other races on the fourth drolone that showed up in her sys- USADA has received tests that for the Tokyo Games. night of the trials, Zach Harting tem could very well be hers: It show traces of performance en- This was about as tough as it earned his first trip to the Olym- came from a pork burrito she hancers in athletes’ systems, done gets. pics with a victory in the men’s 200 bought from a street vendor near its own investigation and decided First, a relative sprint over four butterfly, while Alex Walsh won a her home in Beaverton, Ore., last to bypass the four-year ban. One laps — the shortest event on Le- thrilling race in the women’s 200 December. case involved U.S. runner Ajee decky’s program. Zach Harting made his first individual medley — the top three But according to the rules in Wilson. Another involved three- Then, a grueling metric mile Olympic team by winning the were separated by just four-hun- place when Houlihan tested posi- time Olympic medalist Will Claye. comprising 30 laps — the longest men’s 200 butterfly. dredths of a second. tive (which have been relaxed Another involved 90-year-old cy- race in pool swimming and one Harting, a 23-year-old from somewhat, but not in time to help clist Carl Grove, who was tested that will be making its Olympic more than 4 seconds off her per- Huntsville, Ala., won with a time Houlihan), once an athlete tests because he was a masters record debut for the women in Tokyo. sonal best to take the expected of 1:55.06. positive for such a drug, the burden holder. Her short time between races second Olympic berth in 15:51.18. Harting is already making plans was chaotically choreographed to The 200 free was one of four to get the customary Olympic keep Ledecky as fresh as possible gold medals that Ledecky won at rings tattoo. for the 1,500. the Rio Games. She’ll get a chance “Coming in here and not mak- “The goal was to get in the to defend that title after winning in ing the team was not an option,” he warm-down pool as quickly as I 1:55.11, a full body length ahead of said. “I don’t know if I could have could,” she said. “I tried to keep the field. handled it, so the easiest thing to moving, hydrated and swam for , who won the do was make the team and that’s 15-20 minutes before they pulled event at the 2012 London Games, what I did.” me to go back to the awards (cere- is headed to her fourth Olympics , who was among mony). I ate a banana, drank choc- at age 31 after holding off Paige the swimmers involved in Ryan olate milk and water, put a jacket Madden by one-hundredth of a Lochte’s infamous night in Rio on as I was walking.” second for the runner-up spot be- five years ago, touched after Hart- It worked out just fine. hind Ledecky. ing in 1:55.34 and will get the ex- The 24-year-old from the na- Schmitt’s time was 1:56.79, pected second spot in the event. tion’s capital touched the wall far which gives her a likely individual Walsh won in 2:09.30, followed ahead of everyone else with a win- event in Tokyo as well as a spot on by at 2:09.32 and ning time of 15 minutes, 40.50 sec- the 4x200 free relay. Madden and Madisyn Cox in 2:09.34. onds — well off her 2018 world re- Katie McLaughlin, who was Douglass will get the expected cord (15:20.48) but fastest in the fourth in 1:57.16, will also be going second spot on the Olympic team, CHARLIE NEIBERGALL/AP world this year. to the Olympics as relay swim- while Cox endured another heart- Shelby Houlihan, the American record holder in the 1,500 and 5,000 was nearly a mers. break after finishing fourth in two meters, has been banned from the sport for four years following a half-lap behind, but she knocked Ledecky already won the 400 events at the 2016 trials. positive test for what she concluded was a tainted pork burrito. PAGE 20 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 MLB Road worriers: D-backs tie mark Scoreboard American League

East Division San Francicsco hands WLPct GB Arizona MLB record-tying Tampa Bay 43 26 .623 _ Boston 42 27 .609 1 22nd straight road loss New York 35 32 .522 7 Toronto 33 33 .500 8½ Associated Press Baltimore 22 45 .328 20 SAN FRANCISCO — Hours be- Central Division fore first pitch, many of the Arizona WLPct GB Diamondbacks were busy working in an outdoor weight room at Oracle Chicago 43 25 .632 _ Cleveland 37 28 .569 4½ Park as others prepared for their Kansas City 30 37 .448 12½ pregame fielding drills. Detroit 29 39 .426 14 The little things aren’t leading to Minnesota 27 41 .397 16 winning results right now, which West Division makes the constant losing all the WLPct GB more painful. Manager Torey Lo- Oakland 43 27 .614 _ vullo is searching for answers from Houston 39 28 .582 2½ his own staff as well as baseball Seattle 34 36 .486 9 friends everywhere who might of- Los Angeles 33 35 .485 9 fer something that works. Texas 25 43 .368 17 Arizona dropped its 22nd straight National League road game Wednesday night, East Division matching the 1963 Mets and ’43 Phi- WLPct GB ladelphia Athletics for the major New York 35 25 .583 _ league record with a 13-7 loss to the Philadelphia 33 33 .500 5 San Francisco Giants. Atlanta 30 35 .462 7½ “This is obviously nothing that we Washington 30 35 .462 7½ ever expected, nothing that we’re Miami 29 39 .426 10 proud of, and we can’t reverse any- TONY AVELAR/AP Central Division thing that’s happened over the past The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Asdrubal Cabrera reacts after being called out on strikes by umpire Adam WLPct GB 40-plus days,” Lovullo said. “We’ve Beck during a 13­7 loss to the San Francisco Giants, Arizona’s 22nd consectutive road loss. Chicago 38 30 .559 _ got to find a way to win a baseball Milwaukee 38 30 .559 _ game tomorrow.” Houston went deep a season-high stole his team-leading 10th base, a Cincinnati 35 31 .530 2 Buster Posey hit a three-run six times. day before he was scheduled to start St. Louis 35 33 .515 3 Pittsburgh 23 44 .343 14½ homer in a first inning that lasted 43 Red Sox 10, Braves 8:Christian on the mound. minutes, while Steven Duggar and Arroyo slugged a pinch-hit grand White Sox 8, Rays 7 (10): Yas- West Division LaMonte Wade Jr. connected in the slam in the seventh inning as Boston mani Grandal hit a game-ending WLPct GB fourth as San Francisco sent its NL won at Atlanta to move within one RBI single in the 10th inning and San Francisco 43 25 .632 _ West rival to a 13th consecutive loss game of first place. host Chicago took two of three from Los Angeles 41 27 .603 2 overall. Pinch-hitter Wilmer Flores The Red Sox recovered after Tampa Bay in a matchup of division San Diego 38 32 .543 6 Colorado 28 41 .406 15½ added a two-run drive in the fifth blowing a 6-3 lead. Freddie Free- leaders. Arizona 20 49 .290 23½ and Brandon Belt hit his ninth man hit a go-ahead homer for the Jóse Abreu hit his 12th homer of homer that inning. Braves in the sixth after Dansby the season for the White Sox, who’ve Wednesday’s games Detroit 6, Kansas City 5 Giants starter Anthony DeSclafa- Swanson’s three-run shot tied the won 10 of 13. Chicago White Sox 8, Tampa Bay 7, 10 innings ni (7-2) pitched a two-hit shutout game in the fifth. Ryan Burr (1-0) worked a score- Oakland 8, L.A. Angels 4 against the Nationals on June 11 and Reds 2, Brewers 1:Tyler Mahle less 10th for Chicago. N.Y. Yankees 3, Toronto 2 Cleveland 8, Baltimore 7 followed that with another impres- tied his career high with 12 strike- Yankees 3, Blue Jays 2: Gerrit Houston 8, Texas 4 FRANK FRANKLIN II/AP Boston 10, Atlanta 8 sive performance to win his third outs, Tucker Barnhart drove in the Cole pitched eight effective innings, Minnesota 7, Seattle 2 straight start. The right-hander al- New York Mets pitcher Jacob go-ahead run with a double in the pinch-hitter Gary Sánchez connect- St. Louis 1, Miami 0 Cincinnati 2, Milwaukee 1 lowed two runs on five hits, struck deGrom, bothered by shoulder seventh inning, and Cincinnati fin- ed for a two-run homer and Aroldis Colorado 8, San Diego 7 out five and walked one over five in- tightness, left after three innings ished a three-game sweep at Mil- Chapman dodged trouble in the Washington 3, Pittsburgh 1 N.Y. Mets 6, Chicago Cubs 3 nings. of his team’s 6­3 defeat of the waukee. ninth as visiting New York held off San Francisco 13, Arizona 7 Cabrera homered and Ketel Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. The Reds have won six straight Toronto. Philadelphia 2, L.A. Dodgers 0 Marte hit a two-run double in the D- and 11 of 13. The Brewers dropped Indians 8, Orioles 7:Aaron Civ- Thursday’s games Baltimore at Cleveland backs’ five-run sixth. ered his ERA to 0.54. three straight for the first time in ale became the first pitcher with 10 N.Y. Yankees at Toronto “It’s really hard because we’ve Sean Reid-Foley (2-0) relieved nearly a month and were swept for wins this season and José Ramírez Chicago White Sox at Houston Detroit at L.A. Angels been working hard every day,” deGrom and allowed one run over the third time this season. Milwau- homered and drove in three runs as Tampa Bay at Seattle Arizona at San Francisco third baseman Asdrúbal Cabrera two innings. kee totaled nine hits and four runs in Cleveland extended Baltimore’s Chicago Cubs at N.Y. Mets said. “I feel bad for me and my team- Phillies 2, Dodgers 0: Zack the series against the Reds. road losing streak to 18 games. St. Louis at Atlanta Cincinnati at San Diego mates because I know we’re work- Wheeler outpitched Clayton Ker- Rockies 8, Padres 7:Pinch-hit- Nationals 3, Pirates 1:Paolo Es- Milwaukee at Colorado ing hard.” shaw, and Rhys Hoskins homered ter Charlie Blackmon singled home pino got his first major league win at Friday’s games Mets 6, Cubs 3:Jacob deGrom early to end an 0-for-33 slump as the winning run in the ninth inning age 34, Josh Bell hit a two-run Cleveland (Mejía 1-1) at Pittsburgh was pulled from a second straight Philadelphia won at Los Angeles to and Colorado shook off a monster homer against his former team and (Kuhl 0-4) Oakland (Kaprielian 3-1) at N.Y. Yan- start with an arm injury, this time avoid a three-game sweep. homer by Fernando Tatis Jr. to beat host Washington beat Pittsburgh kees (Taillon 1-4) Toronto (Ray 4-2) at Baltimore (Zim- leaving after three perfect innings Hoskins connected in the first in- visiting San Diego. for a three-game sweep. mermann 4-4) with right shoulder soreness, but ning and J.T. Realmuto added an Tatis hit a 477-foot homer, the Tigers 6, Royals 5:Willi Castro Minnesota (Berríos 7-2) at Texas (Fol- tynewicz 1-7) host New York’s bullpen stepped up RBI double in the third . longest of his career and his NL- homered during a three-run rally in Boston (Pivetta 6-2) at Kansas City (Ko- war 0-2) to finish a three-hitter. Astros 8, Rangers 4:Jose Altuve leading 21st. He also doubled, but the seventh inning and Detroit won Chicago White Sox (Rodón 6-2) at One start after being pulled from homered twice and made major the Padres lost for the 13th time in 17 at Kansas City for a three-game Houston (Garcia 5-4) Detroit (Ureña 2-6) at L.A. Angels (Cobb agem against San Diego with flexor league history by hitting a leadoff games. sweep. 4-2) tendinitis in his right arm, deGrom homer one game after belting a Athletics 8, Angels 4: Ramón Cardinals 1, Marlins 0: Yadier Tampa Bay (Wacha 1-1) at Seattle (Ki- kuchi 3-3) went directly down the clubhouse walk-off grand slam, leading host Laureano hit a home run and made Molina grounded an RBI single N.Y. Mets (Lucchesi 1-4) at Washington (Fedde 4-4) tunnel after finishing the third Houston past Texas. ahomer-robbing catch in his return down the third-base line in the ninth St. Louis (Martínez 3-7) at Atlanta against Chicago. Altuve connected again with a from the injured list, and host Oak- inning and host St. Louis edged Mia- (Fried 3-4) Miami (TBD) at Chicago Cubs (Davies DeGrom said initial tests ruled shot to the train tracks atop left field land rallied past Los Angeles for its mi to sweep the season series. 4-3) Milwaukee (Burnes 3-4) at Colorado out a serious issue, but he planned to with two outs in the eighth inning to sixth straight win. Twins 7, Mariners 2: Nelson (Senzatela 2-7) get imaging and more observation extend the lead to 8-4 and give him Shohei Ohtani homered for the Cruz hit a three-run homer against L.A. Dodgers (Bauer 6-5) at Arizona (Smith 2-2) Thursday. his fifth career multi-homer game. second straight day, giving him 19 his former team, rookie starter Bai- Philadelphia (Velasquez 2-1) at San The right-hander struck out eight Astros rookie Chas McCormick also for the Angels. He also neatly bunt- ley Ober struck out six and Minne- Francisco (Cueto 4-3) Cincinnati (Santillan 0-0) at San Diego of the nine batters he faced and low- hit two home runs on a night when ed against the shift for a single and sota won at Seattle. (Paddack 3-5) Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 21 NHL PLAYOFFS Hungry veterans seeking first title BY STEPHEN WHYNO to mind just because these guys Associated Press have been in the league for a When the Tampa Bay Light- while now, and they know few and ning won the Stanley Cup last how rare these opportunities year, it was the first time most of are.” their players and coaches had ev- Palmieri recently contemplat- er lifted the trophy. ed that rarity thinking back to his Now that they have savored the last trip to the third round: in 2015 taste of winning, they want to help as a fresh-faced 24-year-old with trade deadline pickup David Sa- Anaheim. The Ducks lost to Chi- vard do the same cago in seven and traded Palmieri in his 10th NHL to New Jersey that summer. season. Until this run, he had played “We’ve all five playoff games since. been in that sit- “I don’t think you necessarily uation before,” took it for granted, but it’s kind of said Lightning something you expected to come forward Patrick at the end of the year,” Palmieri Maroon, the only said Tuesday. “Making the switch Palmieri player to win the to Jersey, that’s something that Cup in 2019 and 2020. “He wants you kind of lost sight of. To have JOHN LOCHER/AP to win his first championship. the opportunity to come here and Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc­Andre Fleury, right, blocks a shot by Montreal Canadiens center That’s why we play this game. We help this team to achieve a goal is Nick Suzuki during the third period of Game 2 of their semifinal playoff series Wednesday in Las Vegas. play to win. He’s been working something you dream about, and hard for us, he’s been a great ad- it’s an opportunity that I definitely dition for us, so hopefully the guys don’t want to let go to waste.” can keep working hard for him Savard never advanced this far and finding ways for him because during a decade with the Colum- he deserves it.” bus Blue Jackets, so he under- Price makes 29 saves, Deserves have nothing to do stands that mentality. Much like with it in a sport with so many un- Palmieri, changing teams at the predictable bounces that create deadline gave him this opportuni- long-lasting legacies, but all four ty. teams left in the playoffs have at Unlike Palmieri, Savard is sur- Canadiens top Knights least one player worth rooting for rounded by teammates who have who is running out of chances to won it all recently. win it all. “They know how to win, and BY W.G. RAMIREZ ter he crunched Golden Knights The Vegas Golden Knights that’s why it was so exciting for Associated Press Scoreboard defenseman Alec Martinez into have captain Mark Stone, for- me to come here,” Savard said. LAS VEGAS — The Montreal the end boards behind Fleury, al- wards Max Pacioretty, Jonathan “It’s a fun experience for me, and Canadiens vowed to adapt after Semifinals lowing Corey Perry to gather the Marchessault and Ryan Reaves I’m just trying to enjoy every mo- looking out of sync in the first game (Best-of-seven; x-if necessary) puck and feed Joel Edmundson in and defenseman Nick Holden on ment right now. It’s going to be of their Stanley Cup semifinal se- Vegas 1, Montreal 1 the right circle. Edmundson fired the wrong side of 30 without a Cup hard to get all the way to the final ries with the Vegas Golden Vegas 4, Montreal 1 ashot that deflected back to Armia, Wednesday: Montreal 3, Vegas 2 ring. Andy Greene, Travis Zajac, and we’ve got a really good team Knights. Friday: at Montreal who one-timed it past Fleury’s Kyle Palmieri, Cal Clutterbuck, in front of us.” It’s exactly what they did Sunday: at Montreal right skate. Tuesday: at Vegas Matt Martin and Josh Bailey are The Islanders have a general Wednesday night. x-Thursday, June 24: at Montreal Jeff Petry made his presence at Vegas in that club for New York. And manager in Lou Lamoriello who Carey Price made 29 saves and x-Saturday, June 26: felt in his first game back after mis- Montreal Canadiens captain Shea won the Cup three times with the the Canadiens beat the Golden Tampa Bay 1, N.Y. Islanders 1 sing the Canadiens’ last two. He N.Y. Islanders 2, Tampa Bay 1 Weber isn’t getting any younger Devils and a coach in Barry Trotz Knights 3-2 to tie the series at a Tampa Bay 4, N.Y. Islanders 2 played give-and-go with Cole Cau- Thursday: at N.Y. Islanders at 35. who won in 2018 with Washing- game apiece. Saturday: at N.Y. Islanders field, who opted to pass across the “Huge hunger,” said Vegas ton. But Nick Leddy is their only Price improved to 9-4 in the Monday: at Tampa Bay slot rather than fire on net and x-Wednesday, June 23: at N.Y. Islanders coach Peter DeBoer, who has tak- player with a Cup ring, so the hun- playoffs, his most victories in a x-Friday, June 25: at Tampa Bay found Toffoli, who snapped a shot en two teams to the final but is ger is deep on Long Island even if postseason. He had eight in 2014. through Fleury’s pads to not only looking for his first NHL cham- Greene was the only player alive Paul Byron, Joel Armia and Tyl- push the Montreal’s lead to 2-0, but pionship. “Especially veterans (in diapers) during New York’s er Toffoli scored for Montreal, we’ll do that.” extend its first-period scoring like that: Pacioretty, Stone come early ’80s dynasty days. with Bryon making it 3-0 with 2:45 Game 3 is Friday night in Mon- edge in the playoffs to 12-3. left in the second period. treal. Vegas rookie Keegan Kolesar, Alex Pietrangelo scored twice The Canadiens, who improved who started the game centering for Vegas, and Marc-Andre Fleury to 6-2 on the road in the postseason, the third line, switched places with made 20 saves. have won 21 straight playoff games Roy and gave top-line wings Stone Abandoning the rugged ap- when scoring three or more goals. and Max Pacioretty a bit more proach they took in Game 1, the “Can’t go down 2-0 and expect to jump to bolster the offense. Canadiens looked more like the win the game,” Golden Knights But the Golden Knights contin- team that reeled off seven straight captain Mark Stone said. “These ued to be their own worst enemy in wins in the first and second guys play a good team game when the second period, as Pacioretty rounds, dominating in all three they get the lead. We gotta do a bet- clanked a breakaway shot off the zones in the first 20 minutes. ter job with our starts and we gotta bottom of the right post. Then dur- “We showed some good compo- find our preparation.” ing a power play, Martinez broke sure,” Montreal coach Dominique With Vegas missing top-line his stick while teeing off on a shot Ducharme said. “At one point we center Chandler Stephenson, and to Price’s left, and moments later it felt the pressure, they were trying third-line center Nick Roy skating was Pacioretty whiffing on a shot to come back. Overall, we showed in his place, Montreal opened the at the doorstep. pretty good composure. I think we game with a first-period advan- “Gotta capitalize on some of can still do a better job. We wanted tage in shots on goal (12-4), shot at- those in the second period,” Stone to support the puck better. I think tempts (24-13), scoring chances added. “Hit a post and had a CHRIS O'MEARA/AP we did that tonight and it paid off. I (14-4), and high-danger chances chance in the slot, we had lots of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman David Savard is in his 10th season think we still can be better on a few (8-1). chances to score, power play needs in the NHL and has yet to win a Stanley Cup. occasions managing the puck and Armia got the scoring going af- to score.” PAGE 22 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 US OPEN/NBA PLAYOFFS Last: Health a concern for playoff teams

FROM PAGE 24

season. Even though the arenas are full and masks are now largely op- tional, the pandemic is still here and might have a say in how the rest of these playoffs go as well. Paul, who is vaccinated, has en- tered the protocols presumably because of a positive test — only one player tested positive this week, and he’s the only one in the protocols. As such, his status for Game 1 of the Western Confer- ence finals next week is unknown. Another All-Star, another cur- veball from the basketball gods overseeing luck right now. “Our guys are ready for the challenge,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said. “Everybody’s dealing with it. Look around the league; Philly’s got a situation, the Clippers have a situation, PHOTOS BY JAE C. HONG/AP Utah’s had one Justin Thomas chips onto the third green during a practice round on Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego. for a while. Ev- Williams erybody’s deal- ing with it. So, we don’t feel like we’re the only ones dealing with a situation when it comes to health and try- ‘Like hitting through leather’ ing to stay healthy. It’s what you prepare for as a staff and as a team and we feel like our guys are Kikuyu rough figures to be a brutal test at Torrey Pines ready for whatever presents it- self.” BY JOHN MARSHALL ica. Some injuries, it can be argued, Associated Press Most other places it’s treated like a weed. may have happened because of SAN DIEGO — Take a bale of spinach, soak Properly named Pennisetum clandestinum, an accumulation of wear and tear it in water, mix in some cabbage bits. Throw in kikuyu grows quickly and invasively, smother- in a compressed 72-game season. some alfalfa stems and wispy wheat tops. Oh, ing any other grass in its path. Let it go and ki- Others were simply acute, the and a catcher’s mitt. kuyu will run wild, growing through cracks in bad-luck variety. Irving landing Now drop a golf ball down to the bottom and the pavement, up poles — anywhere here it can on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s foot try to hit it. Actually, just try to find the ball. grab a bit of sunlight. and twisting his ankle had noth- It’s called kikuyu. It could be preceded by a Most golf courses try to eradicate it. ing to do with the Nets playing a few four-letter words once the U.S. Open gets Torrey Pines, along with Riviera Country bunch of back-to-backs this sea- started Thursday at Torrey Pines. Club and a few other Southern California son. James labored through a “It’s like hitting through leather,” USGA se- courses, have embraced the killer kikuyu. high ankle sprain for the rest of nior managing director of championships John The USGA made it diabolical for the U.S. the season after getting crashed Bodenhamer said. Open. into by Atlanta’s Solomon Hill. The U.S. Open is known for having deep “It’s going to make for a great challenge for More bad luck. rough that swallows golf balls and infuriates the players, showcase their skills,” Bodenham- And it should be mentioned the world’s best players. er said. that injuries also played a role in Kikuyu raises it to a maddening level. Kikuyu is great for fairways. The grass is last season’s playoffs, and proba- Not from a height perspective. The rough at spongy and the ball sits up, almost as if it’s been Fans walk along the third fairway on Tuesday bly have in every season’s play- Torrey Pines tops out at 4 to 5 inches in most placed on pool table. at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. offs. Miami was without Goran places this week, well below the depths of some Around the greens, kikuyu can be a night- Dragic and Bam Adebayo for previous U.S. Opens. mare to judge. It’s sticky, so bump-and-runs or so the rough is far less punitive. much of the NBA Finals last fall It’s all about the density. long shots that hit fringe tend to take one hop After the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open, against James, Davis and the Kikuyu is thick and matted, the broad blades and stop, almost as if the grass is reaching up to Torrey Pines superintendent Rich McIntosh Lakers; the Heat lost that series in roiling in different directions as they rise, like a grab the ball. opted to cut down all the rye grass so the ki- six games. swirl of wet wires. The unpredictable nature In the rough and around the greens, kikuyu kuyu could continue to grow, a process he du- But there’s no denying that this can mean a ball in a good lie and one that’s al- is like green blades of taffy, gripping hosels plicated this year. regular season was dominated by most unfindable in a span of a couple of feet. and turning over club faces. Some of the rye grass is still around and the pandemic and by injuries. It’s “You put it in the rough, you’re going to “The rough is so thick and so penalizing that there’s some poa annua — the grass on the unfortunate, though weirdly fit- struggle,” two-time U.S. Open champion if you hit into it, it’s one of those you sit and real- greens — in the rough, so occasionally players ting, that the playoffs are follow- Brooks Koepka said. ize, do I chip out, or do I try to get up close to the will get a good lie and hit a full shot. Find the ing suit. Kikuyu — pronounced kuh-koo-yoo — is green?” 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed thicker stuff and they’re hacking out, hoping to A month or so from now, the named for the Kikuyu tribe in East Africa, said. get it back to the fairway. NBA will have a new champion. where the grass is native in the highland re- The kikuyu is less of a factor during the regu- Around the greens, the kikuyu has taken Odds are, it’ll be the team that gions. It’s also found in warmer climates of lar PGA Tour event in January. The course is hold in a gnarled mat, ready to gulp up golf stays the healthiest the rest of the Asia, Australia, South Africa and South Amer- overseeded with rye grass during the winter, balls and maybe even a few shoes. way. Friday, June 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 23 NBA PLAYOFFS Hawks rally from 26 points down to shock 76ers

BY DAN GELSTON Associated Press Scoreboard PHILADELPHIA — Trae Young ran off the court clapping and yap- Conference semifinals ping toward the few Hawks fans (Best-of-seven) x-if necessary that braved the Philly crowd and Eastern Conference stuck around and were rewarded Brooklyn 3, Milwaukee 2 Brooklyn 115, Milwaukee 107 with a comeback victory for the ag- Brooklyn 125, Milwaukee 86 Milwaukee 86, Brooklyn 83 es. Milwaukee 107, Brooklyn 96 “I was just showing love to the Brooklyn 114, Milwaukee 108 Thursday: at Milwaukee RICK BOWMER/AP ATL fans that showed up,” Young x-Saturday: at Brooklyn Atlanta 3, Philadelphia 2 Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, rear, defends against Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George during the said, “and we’re going to need them Atlanta 128, Philadelphia, 124 Clippers’ 119­111 win Wednesday in Salt Lake City. George had 37 points, 16 rebounds and five assists. to show up Friday for us.” Philadelphia 118, Atlanta 102 Philadelphia 127, Atlanta 111 Oh yes, there will be a Game 6 in Atlanta 103, Philadelphia 100 Wednesday: Atlanta 109, Philadelphia the Eastern Conference semifinals, 106 with Atlanta — not top-seeded Joel Friday: at Atlanta x-Sunday: at Philadelphia By George, Clippers move 1 Embiid and the Philadephia Sixers Western Conference — playing for a spot in the next Phoenix 4, Denver 0 Phoenix 122, Denver 105 round. Phoenix 123, Denver 98 Phoenix 116, Denver 102 “If you don’t believe, you got to Phoenix 125, Denver 118 game from eliminating Jazz L.A. Clippers 3, Utah 2 believe now,” Hawks coach Nate Utah 112, L.A. Clippers 109 BY JOHN COON in a playoff game. to lead Utah. Donovan Mitchell add- McMillan said. Utah 117, L.A. Clippers 111 Associated Press L.A. Clippers 132, Utah 106 “It was no secret. I knew I had to ed 21 points. Rudy Gobert chipped How could they not? Atlanta fans L.A. Clippers 118, Utah 104 SALT LAKE CITY — Paul Ge- be big tonight and gotta be big going in 17 points and 11 rebounds. Six can roll off a lengthy list of infamous Wednesday: L.A. Clippers 119, Utah 111 Friday: at L.A. Clippers orge delivered exactly what was forward,” George said. players scored in double figures for collapses in its collective sports his- x-Sunday: at Utah needed to move the Los Angeles Marcus Morris scored 25 points the Jazz. tory. Clippers one step closer to their first and Reggie Jackson added 22 for Utah and Los Angeles will play Here was a comeback to remem- conference finals berth. Los Angeles. It won its third straight Game 6 on Friday in Los Angeles. ber. Embiid scored 17 points in an 8- With Kawhi Leonard sidelined game to push the top-seeded Jazz to “This series is not over,” Mitchell Young was fouled on a three- for-8 first quarter and seemingly with a knee injury, George respon- the brink of elimination. The Clip- said. “We got a lot of life left to give, a pointer and hit all three free throws had the Sixers on their way toward a ded with one of the best postseason pers shot 51% from the field in Leo- lot of juice to give and we just got to with 1:26 left to cap a 26-point rally romp with a 26-point lead in the first performances of his NBA career nard’s absence after he played a go out there and play with a level of and send the Hawks on their way to half. They still led 87-69 at the end of with 37 points, 16 rebounds, and five critical role in helping them win desperation that we’d never played a 109-106 victory Wednesday night the third before they collapsed. assists to lead the Clippers to a 119- Games 3 and 4 in the series. with before, otherwise we’ll be in Game 5. Consider: 111 victory over the Utah Jazz in “Our season is alive because of his home.” The team won in Philadelphia for ■ Embiid scored 39 points and Game 5 of their Western Confer- shouldering of all the work he’s The Clippers played their first the second time in the series and can Seth Curry had 36 and they were the ence semifinals series Wednesday done,” George said. “We got to hold postseason game without Leonard advance to the conference finals for only two Philadelphia players to night. it together and continue to keep this after he suffered a knee injury in the first time since 2015 with a victo- score a field goal in the second half. George became the first player in boat afloat until he returns.” Game 4. Mike Conley missed his ry Friday night in Atlanta. ■ The Hawks outscored them franchise history to post at least 35 Bojan Bogandovic made nine fifth straight game for the Jazz while “We knew what we had to do and 40-19 in the fourth on 16-for-22 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists three-pointers and scored 32 points rehabbing a strained hamstring. we had to do it in a hurry. No quit,” shooting. McMillian said. ■ The Sixers still had a 97.5% Young scored 39 points and add- chance of winning Game 5 with 4:23 ed to a postseason where he has be- remaining. Hornets’ Ball selected top rookie come a breakout star. ■ Had 10 of 15 turnovers in the BY STEVE REED “We keep fighting no matter what second half. Associated Press the score is. I’m proud of this team,” “We got too comfortable,” guard CHARLOTTE, N.C. — LaMelo Ball thought he Young said. “We have confidence in Ben Simmons said. “We didn’t play would become NBA Rookie of the Year long before each other.” the way we should be playing.” he joined the league. That belief became a reality Wednesday night as Ball’s versatility as a passer, scorer and rebounder earned the Charlotte Hornets point guard the hon- or despite missing 21 games with a fractured wrist. Ball was the runaway winner, receiving 84 of the 99 first-place votes to beat out finalists Anthony Edwards from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Tyrese Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings. JACOB KUPFERMAN /AP Edwards received the other 15 first-place votes. Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball’s versatility as The award was determined by a global panel of 100 a passer, scorer and rebounder earned him NBA writers and broadcasters who cover the league. Rookie of the Year honors Wednesday, despite his “Honestly, way before the league when I was missing 21 games with a fractured wrist. playing basketball and they were talking about the NBA stuff, that is when I knew when I’m a rookie with you again. Just the beginning!” that is one of the accomplishments I can get,” Ball The 6-foot-7 Ball was selected third overall in said. 2020 after playing professional ball in Lithuania His teammates took to social media to congrat- and Australia. ulate him with Gordon Hayward tweeting “Rookie He led all rookies with averages of 6.1 assists and MATT SLOCUM/AP of the year, and well deserved. Huge congrats 1.6 steals per game and was third with 15.7 points Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young shoots against Philadelphia 76ers @MELOD1P ! Can’t wait to get out on the court and 5.9 rebounds. center Joel Embiid, left. Atlanta won 109­106 in Philadelphia. PAGE 24 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, June 18, 2021 Price saver SPORTS Canadiens goalie has 29 saves in Game 2 win over Knights ›› NHL playoffs, Page 21

NBA PLAYOFFS Last team standing With All-Stars struggling to stay healthy and on-court, postseason has entered survival mode

BY TIM REYNOLDS Associated Press “This is the best time of the year for our league and fans he NBA champion this season will be the last team standing. but missing a ton of our fav players.” Perhaps literally. LeBron James T Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clip- Los Angeles Lakers forward, in a tweet on Wednesday pers missed Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals with a knee sprain and amid concerns that it could be a far more significant injury. Brooklyn’s top players — the Lakers’ duo of LeBron James and person that know about the body and how it works all Kyrie Irving has been sidelined by a badly sprained Anthony Davis, Denver’s Jamal Murray and Miami’s year round it’s ME! I speak for the health of all our ankle. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid is playing through Victor Oladipo among them — that also players and I hate to see this many injuries this time a meniscus tear. Atlanta’s Trae Young is putting either limped to the finish of their of the year. Sorry fans wish you guys were seeing all heat packs on his shoulder that appear to be seasons or saw them end prema- your fav guys right now.” roughly the size of a small vehicle. Brooklyn’s turely because of serious inju- Consider the 27 players who were selected for the James Harden came back despite an ailing ry. All-Star Game this season. Leonard becomes the hamstring. “This is the best time of eighth of those to have to miss a playoff game this sea- Those are big names, All-Star names, all the year for our league and son because of injury, joining Davis, Utah teammates nowhere near their best right now because fans but missing a ton of Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell, Boston’s Jaylen of injuries, and there were plenty of other our fav players,” James Brown, Harden, Irving and Embiid. tweeted on Wednesday. Phoenix’s Chris Paul might become the ninth on Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul could be “It’s insane. If there’s one that list. He’s not hurt. He’s in protocols — that other the latest All­Star to miss a playoff game thing that the league has had to fight with all because of injury or illness after testing positive for COVID­19. SEE LAST ON PAGE 22 DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/AP

Nadal sitting out Wimbledon, Olympics to rest body ›› Tennis, Page 18