WAR FACES MLB US hands over Closeness of characters Ballparks sit eerily strategic Q-West diminishing escapism empty on what was base to Iraqis of TV during pandemic to be opening day Page 3 Page 15 Back page

Release of Afghan, Taliban prisoners could begin next week » Page 3

Volume 78, No. 245 ©SS 2020 CONTINGENCY EDITION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK 3.3 million Restrictions Heartbreaking change ship’s in US seek return to port for families jobless aid at Yokosuka homecoming BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER Associated Press WASHINGTON — Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — nearly five times the previ- ous record set in 1982 — amid a widespread economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus. The surge in weekly applica- tions was a stunning reflection of the damage the viral outbreak is inflicting on the economy. Filings for unemployment aid generally reflect the pace of layoffs. Layoffs are sure to accelerate as the U.S. economy sinks into a recession. Revenue has collapsed at restaurants, hotels, movie the- aters, gyms, and airlines. Auto sales are plummeting, and car makers have closed factories. Most such employers face loan payments and other fixed costs, so they’re cutting jobs to save money. As job losses mount, some economists say the nation’s un- employment rate could approach 13% by May. By comparison, the highest jobless rate during the Great Recession, which ended in 2009, was 10%. “What seemed impossible just two weeks ago is now reality,” said Nancy Vanden Houten, an economist at Oxford Economics, a consulting firm. “The U.S. econ- omy will experience the largest BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS would be no welcoming kisses. No hugs. No holding Ashton Andrews and her economic contraction on record Stars and Stripes hands or hoisting children and babies. son, Thomas, pose for a with the most severe surge in un- The U.S. military at home and abroad over the past photo with their husband employment ever.” YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan two days has heightened restrictions on the movements and father, Lt. Cmdr. The economic deterioration has aisy Morales was heartbroken Thursday of service members and their families, access to bases Ryan Andrews, waving been swift. As recently as Febru- when her husband, Ensign Matthew Mo- and warships and other measures, to curb the spread of in the distance aboard ary, the unemployment rate was rales, finally arrived back in port aboard the coronavirus, now a global pandemic. the USS Antietam, at at a 50-year low of 3.5%. And the Dguided-missile cruiser USS Antietam after Nonetheless, Morales and other spouses came to the Yokosuka Naval Base, economy was growing steadily if weeks at sea. pier Thursday afternoon to sneak a peek at their loved Japan, on Thursday. modestly. Morales, like other Navy spouses, discovered there SEE HEARTBREAKING ON PAGE 6 CAITLIN DOORNBOS/Stars and Stripes SEE JOBLESS ON PAGE 9 RELATED USS Theodore Roosevelt pauses Esper orders halt to movement Some Army promotion Services vary on STORIES operations after sailors test positive overseas, raises threat level boards move online haircut policies Page 8 Page 6 Page 5 Page 7 PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER Dakota Access pipeline to have environmental review EXCHANGE RATES Military rates Switzerland (Franc)...... 0.9693 Euro costs (March 27) ...... $1.07 Thailand (Baht) ...... 32.63 Dollar buys (March 27) ...... €0.8884 Turkey (Lira) ...... 6.3932 Associated Press and a more extensive review is Coalition, a group that supports British pound (March 27) ...... $1.17 (Military exchange rates are those Japanese yen (March 27)...... 109.00 available to customers at military banking necessary than the environmen- large infrastructure projects, South Korean won (March 27) .....1,195.00 FARGO, N.D. — A federal judge Commercial rates facilities in the country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the tal assessment that was done. said the decision could jeopardize Bahrain (Dinar) ...... 0.3771 on Wednesday ordered the U.S. Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For British pound ...... $1.2022 Standing Rock Chairman Mike the nation’s economic and energy nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., Army Corps of Engineers to con- Canada (Dollar) ...... 1.4118 Faith called it a “significant legal security. purchasing British pounds in Germany), duct a full environmental review China (Yuan) ...... 7.0750 check with your local military banking win” and said it’s humbling that “This is a stunning decision Denmark (Krone) ...... 6.8023 of the Dakota Access pipeline, facility. Commercial rates are interbank Egypt (Pound) ...... 15.7483 the protests continue to “inspire that flies in the face of decades rates provided for reference when buying nearly three years after it began Euro ...... $1.0975/0.9111 currency. All figures are foreign currencies national conversations” about the of widely accepted practice,” Hong Kong (Dollar) ...... 7.7537 carrying oil despite protests by to one dollar, except for the British pound, Hungary (Forint) ...... 324.15 environment. Stevens said in a statement. which is represented in dollars-to-pound, people who gathered in North Da- Israel (Shekel) ...... 3.6010 kota for more than a year. Officials with the Corps and “The Dakota Access Pipeline is Japan (Yen) ...... 109.66 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) U.S. District Judge James Energy Transfer, which owns the already the most studied, regu- Kuwait (Dinar) ...... 0.3066 INTEREST RATES Norway (Krone) ...... 10.5652 Boasberg wrote that the ease- pipeline, did not immediately re- lated, and litigated pipeline in the Philippines (Peso)...... 50.86 Prime rate ...... 3.25 ment approval for the pipeline spond to phone messages left by history of our country and has Poland (Zloty) ...... 4.15 Discount rate ...... 0.25 Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...... 3.7559 Federal funds market rate ...... 0.12 remains “highly controversial” The Associated Press. Craig Ste- been safely operating for nearly Singapore (Dollar) ...... 1.4348 3-month bill ...... 0.01 under federal environmental law, vens, spokesman for the GAIN three years.” South Korea (Won) ...... 1,219.21 30-year bond ...... 1.41 WEATHER OUTLOOK FRIDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST FRIDAY IN EUROPE SATURDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 44/40 Kabul 58/48 Seoul 48/41 Baghdad 71/61 Kandahar 69/50 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 47/36 65/54 Lakenheath Pomorskie Busan 50/32 50/36 49/45 Iwakuni 55/52 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City 76/69 Brussels 53/34 Guam 72/65 52/34 Ramstein 55/52 81/78 Lajes, 53/33 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 90/66 78/64 59/56 55/32 57/39 Aviano/ Vicenza 55/38

Naples 53/49 Okinawa Morón 72/59 63/47 Sigonella Rota 52/39 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 85/77 58/53 58/55 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ..... 16 Comics ...... 17 Crossword ...... 17 Faces ...... 15 Opinion ...... 18-19 Sports ...... 21-24 Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 WAR ON TERRORISM Afghan, Taliban prisoner release to start soon

BY PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN election. lease 100 Taliban prisoners by freed. would not return to battle. Stars and Stripes The rift between the two men the end of March, the National The U.S.-Taliban deal called Ghani two weeks ago proposed has been blamed for stalling the Security Council said in a state- for up to 5,000 Taliban and up a phased release of inmates who KABUL, Afghanistan — Thou- peace process by delaying the ment released after the video to 1,000 detainees held by the would have their biometric de- sands of prisoners in Afghanistan naming of a government delega- conference. Details of further re- insurgents to be freed by March tails recorded and sign a guar- could start being released by tion to hold talks with the Tal- leases would be announced in the 10, when intra-Afghan talks were antee not to return to combat, but early next week, fulfilling a key iban, another key condition of the coming days, the statement said. supposed to begin. It spells out the condition of the nearly month-old Feb. 29 deal between the U.S. and “It was decided in the virtual that freeing the prisoners and the Taliban rejected that offer, U.S.-Taliban deal to bring peace Taliban. meeting that the process of the intra-Afghan talks are conditions insisting 5,000 of their fighters to the country, government and that must be filled if U.S. forces But on Wednesday the govern- prisoner release will practical- must be released at once. Taliban officials said. are to complete their withdrawal ment published the names of its ly start on March 31,” Taliban The Taliban and government The two sides agreed on the from Afghanistan by next spring. representatives are expected to prisoner release Wednesday, delegates to the intra-Afghan spokesman Suhail Shaheen said But both the inmate releases hold face-to-face talks in the com- days after Secretary of State talks with the Taliban. Shortly in a tweet. and talks between the govern- Mike Pompeo said the U.S. would before that, the Taliban and the Members of the Taliban would ment and insurgents are behind ing days, the National Security cut $1 billion in aid to Afghani- government said they’d reach a visit Bagram prison — near the schedule. Council statement said, to ham- stan after he wasn’t able during a compromise on the prisoner re- largest U.S. military base in Af- The Afghan government, which mer out the details of the prisoner lightning visit to Kabul to resolve lease, which was supposed to start ghanistan — to identify detainees was sidelined from negotiations release and intra-Afghan talks, an impasse between President more than two weeks ago, after from its side that would be re- that led to the U.S.-Taliban deal, which would seek to map out a Ashraf Ghani and his political holding a four-hour video confer- leased, Shaheen said. He did not initially balked at the prisoner path to peace in the country. rival, Abdullah Abdullah, over ence facilitated by Washington. provide a timetable or number of release, saying it wanted assur- [email protected] who won last year’s presidential The government agreed to re- Taliban prisoners who would be ances that freed Taliban fighters Twitter: @pwwellman US hands State orders some to leave Q-West Iraq after base over rocket attack

BY CHAD GARLAND to Iraq Stars and Stripes The State Department has or- dered some U.S. government em- BY CHAD GARLAND ployees at diplomatic facilities in Stars and Stripes Iraq to leave the country, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said Thurs- Iraqi military leaders, clad in day, hours after two rockets hit camouflage and surgical masks, the Green Zone. accepted the handover of the “Designated U.S. Government U.S.-occupied side of Qayara Air- employees” were ordered to de- field West, known as Q-West, on part the embassy and the diplo- Thursday. matic support center in Baghdad, The long-planned transfer of as well as the U.S. Consulate Gen- the base, 40 miles south of Mosul, eral in the northern city of Irbil, and about $1.7 million in equip- the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, the ment, took place amid a pause in embassy said in an alert sent to the U.S.-led coalition’s training MYLES B. CAGGINS III/Twitter U.S. citizens. Security concerns of Iraqi forces and a temporary and restricted travel options re- withdrawal of some foreign forc- Army Brig. Gen. Vincent Barker, sustainment director for the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve, sulting from the global corona- es from the country because of shakes hands with an Iraqi officer during the transfer of Qayara Airfield West in Iraq on Thursday. virus pandemic were cited as coronavirus fears. reasons for the guidance. Despite those concerns, U.S. and helicopters at the base aided The alert encouraged U.S. citi- and Iraqi officials shook hands in the grueling nine-month cam- zens to depart Iraq as quickly as — the Iraqis with gloves. paign to retake the city, which possible. A second message is- Q-West “served as a strategic ended in the summer of 2017. sued minutes later said diplomat- launching point” for Iraqi and Since then, U.S. howitzers have ic officials were working to find coalition forces during the Battle continued to pound militant tar- options for U.S. citizens to leave of Mosul, said Brig. Gen. Vincent gets, including an “ISIS island” “on the next available commer- Barker, director of sustainment in the Tigris River used as a hide- cial flight opportunity,” citing for the U.S.-led Operation Inher- out after the group’s territorial travel disruptions caused by the ent Resolve mission helping bat- defeat. coronavirus. tle the Islamic State in Iraq and Locals who had fled Jaddalah Hours before the messages Syria, also known by the Arabic Ismail returned and restarted were sent out, two rockets struck acronym Daesh. their lives. When Stars and near an operations center that With two main runways over Stripes met with them in 2017, coordinates Iraqi security forces, 11,000 feet long and 30 hardened they remained proud of their bond just a few hundred yards from the aircraft shelters, “the base serves with the Americans, showing off U.S. Embassy inside the heavily as a hub for the Iraqi air force, fortified Green Zone, The Associ- who continue to deliver lethal letters of appreciation, photos and challenge coins they’d saved. ated Press reported, citing a mili- strikes on Daesh bed-down loca- tary statement. Coalition troops resumed their tions,” he said in a statement. The embassy, which has been JANZAEL SANCHEZ/U.S. Army connection with the locals, of- It was the second base transfer a frequent target of indirect fire ficials said in December, but the this month, as coalition forces The Exchange is emptied out as Qayara Airfield West, Iraq, is attacks, has not been providing consolidate their footprint in the prepared for transfer to Iraqi forces, March 13. threat of attacks from Iranian public services, the State Depart- country. proxy groups forced the troops to ment alert said. Visa services The U.S. had previously occu- insurgent violence. militants, who leveled much of it halt visits to the villages. were suspended at both the Bagh- pied the base during the Iraq War As ISIS swept across Iraq in before it was retaken and rebuilt The Americans and other co- dad and Irbil posts. from 2003 to 2010. Early in the 2014, some of those troops feared in late 2016 during the Iraqi mil- alition troops will soon depart the Thursday’s attack followed one war, 101st Airborne Division sol- villages like Jaddalah Ismail, itary’s drive toward Mosul, the base, once equipment transfers last week when three rockets hit diers worked with local villages near Q-West, would be destroyed country’s second-largest city and to the Iraqis finish, Inherent Re- near the American Embassy, and to bolster security, building clin- and the people killed for having the terrorist group’s Iraqi capital solve said this week. a deadly attack earlier this month ics and schools to assist the locals, helped the Americans. at the time. [email protected] on a U.S.-occupied base north of some of whom became targets of That fall, Q-West fell to the U.S. rocket artillery, cannons Twitter: @chadgarland Baghdad. PAGE 4 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 MILITARY Guam Air Force base getting $260 million upgrades

BY SETH ROBSON tion on Guam to support the relo- Stars and Stripes cation of 5,000 Marines from the Japanese island of Okinawa. ANDERSEN AIR FORCE The Guam construction is likely BASE, Guam — The Air Force is in response to increased vulner- building more than $260 million ability of more forward locations, worth of new facilities on Guam according to Jan van Tol, a senior to support its largest aircraft, in- fellow at the Center for Strategic cluding transports, tankers and and Budgetary Assessments in B-52 bombers, according to mili- Washington . tary officials. “The erratic behavior of the Work is already underway at [Rodrigo] Duterte government in construction sites next to Ander- the Philippines concerning U.S. sen’s runway, where the hulking access to Philippine locations is steel frames of several massive also a likely contributing factor,” half-built hangars, whose con- van Tol said in an email Tuesday. tracts were awarded between De- Experts have noted the rapid cember 2014 and February 2015, buildup of Chinese missile forces rise above the base. and their ability to strike U.S. One of the new facilities is a bases in Japan, for example. $132.6 million “Tanker General “The [Chinese military] also Purpose Maintenance Hangar,” 36th Wing spokesman Master has capabilities to strike Guam Sgt. Richard Ebensberger said in at distance, particularly with bal- an email Friday. listic missiles, but of course the “This is a hardened facility, longer the range, the costlier the sized and configured to sustain strike weapon and the fewer of critical missions,” he said. those they have, thus the greater The hangar, due for completion the potential for active as well as by July 2021, is designed to ac- passive defensive systems to be commodate large planes such as able to adequately protect Guam,” SETH ROBSON/Stars and Stripes the C-17 Globemaster III trans- he said. port, the KC-46A Pegasus tank- The Air Force is building more than $260 million in new facilities on Guam to support its largest aircraft, The prospect of a Chinese at- er and the B-52 Stratofortress including transports, tankers and B-52 bombers. tack on Guam means that plan- bomber, as well as various types ners should develop additional of jet fighters, he said. planning, aircrew briefing and port space. ministration areas. dispersed and perhaps rudimen- “The hangar bay will support debriefing, training and other ac- “The support space will pro- “This hangar will provide a sin- tary bases on nearby islands such aircraft maintenance, repair and tivities that are necessary to keep vide heating, plumbing, venti- gle aircraft parking bay and sup- as Saipan, Tinian and Palau, he regularly scheduled inspections a squadron mission capable dur- lation, compressed air and fire port personnel space,” he said. said. that require complete protection ing a contingency, Ebensberger detection and suppression,” Eb- It will support missions such “Bottom line: U.S. buildup in from the elements, to include rou- said. ensberger said. as rotational bombers, fighters, Guam signals U.S. commitment tine maintenance and airframe Nearby, workers are building The facility, due for completion tankers and RQ-4 Global Hawk to remain an active player in the repairs,” he said. a $128 million cast-in-place re- in June 2021, includes space to drones, he said. [western Pacific],” he said. It will include space for com- inforced concrete fuel systems store spare parts, tools and haz- The work is in addition to $8.7 [email protected] mand and administration, flight maintenance hangar with sup- ardous materials, as well as ad- billion worth of Navy construc- Twitter: @SethRobson1 Supreme Court won’t hear case on Marine recruit’s death

BY MELISSA NANN BURKE death during basic training falls The Detroit News ‘ This case was an ideal opportunity squarely within the wide reach of the Feres doctrine,” Judge Jane WASHINGTON — The Su- for the court to address the injustice B. Stranch wrote for a three-judge preme Court on Tuesday said that that the Feres doctrine has created and panel of the 6th Circuit. it wouldn’t hear the case brought Like the district court, the ap- against the U.S. military by the perpet uated for decades. pellate panel criticized the Feres family of a 20-year-old Marine ’ Shiraz Khan doctrine’s reliance on the mili- from Taylor who died four years Siddiqui family attorney tary’s so-called “generous” no- ago during boot camp, ending a fault compensation, saying that three-year legal battle. it’s outdated. In a one-page order, the jus- U.S. District Judge Arthur Tar- tices indicated that they would now in his November 2018 rul- let stand the decision by the U.S. Muslim faith. said. ing said that the $100,000 death 6th Circuit Court of Appeals to The complaint argued that Ma- “While we are disappointed benefit and $400,000 life insur- dismiss the wrongful death suit rine recruiters misled Siddiqui that we will not have an oppor- ance payout that the Siddiquis brought by the parents of Raheel by not warning him about the tunity to argue this case before received “are mere fractions of Siddiqui in 2017. abuse of other Muslim recruits at the Supreme Court, our fight for most wrongful death awards.” The appeals court ruled last Parris Island, and that military justice is not over. Evidence has a The September 11th Fund’s year that the lawsuit is barred officials were negligent in failing way of speaking for itself, and we awards for wrongful death under the oft-criticized Feres to protect him once at the train- will be looking into the possibil- ranged from $2 million to $3 mil- doctrine, which relegates claims ing depot, where Siddiqui died ity of legislative solutions for the lion, Tarnow noted. related to injuries to active-duty in March 2016 after falling three benefit of all Americans.” A Marine investigation into military personnel to the military stories. Khan had argued that the Feres Siddiqui’s death recommended courts, not the civil courts. Siddiqui’s parents, Ghazala and doctrine did not apply to the case discipline against several Marine “Unless and until” the justices Masood Siddiqui, argued that the because Raheel Siddiqui had not supervisors, including Gunnery overturn the 70-year-old Feres government was also negligent yet started his active military Sgt. Joseph A. Felix Jr. doctrine, the courts remain by almost immediately declar- service and was a civilian when A military court last year af- bound by it and, “accordingly, ing their son’s death a suicide he first started meeting with Ma- firmed Felix’s conviction and 10- find plaintiffs’ claims barred for without fully investigating the rine recruiters in 2015. year prison sentence for crimes lack of subject matter jurisdic- circumstances. The appeals court disagreed including the abuse of three Mus- tion,” the 6th Circuit wrote last The family’s lawyer expressed by arguing that “if Siddiqui’s lim recruits, including Siddiqui. year. disappointment after the order death was incident to his military Felix’s former supervisor, Lt. The Siddiqui family had sued was published Tuesday. service, then a claim of negligent Col. Joshua Kissoon, pleaded the Marine Corps in 2017, alleg- “This case was an ideal oppor- enlistment relating to his death is guilty to charges including neg- ing that he was assaulted, hazed, tunity for the court to address the also barred by Feres.” ligently returning Felix to work tortured and discriminated injustice that the Feres doctrine “There is no dispute that Sid- while he was under investiga- against at the training depot on has created and perpetuated for diqui was on active duty when tion for hazing another Muslim Parris Island, S.C., because of his decades,” attorney Shiraz Khan he died, and we conclude that his recruit. Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 5 VIRUS OUTBREAK Defense firms work to make masks, Army says some ventilators – but will it be fast enough?

BY TARA COPP AND MICHAEL WILNER promotions to McClatchy Washington Bureau WASHINGTON — The Defense Department has begun signing contracts with defense firms to be allowed online ramp up production of ventila- tors and N95 respirator masks in short supply around the country, but the medical equipment may BY COREY DICKSTEIN ‘ not reach hospitals before coro- Stars and Stripes We are trying navirus cases peak in the next few weeks, the Pentagon’s head of WASHINGTON — The Army to get ahead and acquisition said. will allow commanders to conduct be proactive and “We will strive to do everything some promotion boards by video we can before June, but we have conference and has suspended creative. We want no data to address that now,” Un- temporarily some requirements commanders dersecretary of Defense for Ac- for enlisted soldiers to be promot- quisition and Sustainment Ellen ed as it responds to the deepening and soldiers to IRFAN KHAN, LOS ANGELES TIMES Lord said Tuesday at a media coronavirus pandemic that has understand that briefing at the Pentagon. Teresa Olivas prepares single face mask bags at a store in Upland, forced military posts to close to Calif., this month . nonessential personnel. we’re thinking about The hastened production is The adjustments balance the being managed under the Defense what’s best for them Production Act, a law that gives to be able to produce the masks here for several weeks, but this need for the Army to advance sol- quickly and in large quantities, coordination at this level of detail diers to ensure combat readiness the president authority to protect and what’s best for Pentagon spokesman Air Force just started on Friday.” while taking measures to protect critical national defense supplies by allowing him to prioritize con- Lt. Col. Mike Andrews said. Likewise, the military’s top the force from the virus, which the Army all at the Asked why the ramp-up for has sickened at least 44 active- tracts or provide loans, grants or medic was questioned Tuesday mask production was so late in duty soldiers, Army officials said same time. other economic incentives to ac- as to why DOD had not obtained ’ coming, when the Pentagon had Wednesday. Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Clark celerate their production. more machines to process test known about the severity of the “We are trying to get ahead Army personnel Through the DPA, the Depart- kits for deployed forces and get pandemic for weeks, Lord said and be proactive and creative,” ment of Health and Human Ser- a better picture of the virus’s the Pentagon had not yet been di- said Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Clark vices and the Federal Emergency spread among the military. rected by HHS or FEMA on what with the Army’s directorate of Management Agency will iden- It will be weeks to months be- needed by staff sergeants and tify what items are needed and were the specific needs. military personnel management fore the machines will be avail- office. “We want commanders sergeants first class to be selected then DOD will place and manage “They have to give us the de- for promotion. It will also allow orders. But only a few contracts mand signal,” Lord said. “Once able, said Air Force Brig. Gen. and soldiers to understand that Paul Friedrichs, surgeon general we’re thinking about what’s best soldiers to use their most recent have been executed so far. we get clarity on the demand sig- for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. for them and what’s best for the fitness test and weapons qualifi- Over the weekend, HHS signed nal we’ll execute. If you’ll recall, Army all at the same time.” cations scores for their promotion a contract with five firms to pro- FEMA just got the lead role on “We’d love to have had it in The announcement came boards, Clark said. duce N95 respirator masks, and Friday.” January, but we didn’t know the Wednesday, just one day after the The temporary exemption to DOD, under its DPA authority, “This is all very new,” she said. virus was going to be this big of Army advanced its health protec- the professional military educa- will now work with those vendors “I know COVID[-19] has been an issue in January,” he said. tion condition at its installations tion course requirements — the worldwide to HPCON Charlie, Advanced Leader Course for staff the second-highest threat level. sergeants and the Senior Leader That condition restricts post ac- Course for sergeants first class cess to essential personnel and — does not mean soldiers will not forces installations to close many attend those courses. They will of their access points in an effort be required to complete those to keep much of its workforce at classes in the future, Clark said. home. Soldiers who have a track re- Most of the temporary policy cord of completing their required changes for promotion boards education courses will be pro- will begin in May and are expect- moted before others who have not ed to continue through fiscal year completed such courses, he said. 2020, which ends Sept. 30. They The Army Physical Fitness could be extended further or Test will remain a requirement halted sooner, depending on the for soldiers to be promoted, but impact of the coronavirus, Army because many units are not able officials said in a statement. The to conduct such tests during the policies apply to active-duty and coronavirus pandemic, soldiers Reserve soldiers and exemptions will be able to submit their most for National Guard soldiers will recent score for the board, Clark be announced in the future, they said. said. The temporary policy change The Army will allow command- also means soldiers whose last ers to conduct so called semi-cen- APFT score is expired — fitness tralized promotion boards for test scores are valid for one year staff sergeants and sergeants first — will not be deemed ineligible class via internet video commu- for promotion as long as the out- nications, Clark said. The tempo- break continues, he said. rary change allows commanders The service is making a similar to observe social distancing prac- policy exemption to allow soldiers tices as public health officials to submit their most recent weap- have encouraged in an effort to ons qualifications scores for their slow the spread of the virus. promotion boards regardless of Clark said the service has pro- when those scores were recorded, vided commanders leeway to de- Clark said. termine precisely how to conduct The service, Clark added, will the virtual promotion boards, continue to review its promotions such as through popular video boards policies every 30 days teleconferencing software pro- throughout the coronavirus out- grams such as Skype or WebEx. break and provide the force fur- The service has also elected ther guidance as warranted. not to require professional mili- [email protected] tary education courses typically Twitter: @CDicksteinDC PAGE 6 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK DOD halts all overseas travel, adds base limits

BY COREY DICKSTEIN, CAITLIN M. KENNEY ‘ This measure is taken ... to protect U.S. AND KAT BOUZA Stars and Stripes personnel and preserve the operational readiness of our global force. WASHINGTON — Defense ’ Secretary Mark Esper has is- Pentagon memorandum sued orders barring nearly all official movement for Defense Department personnel overseas viduals linked to the military had the ongoing drawdown of Ameri- and instituted new health protec- now tested positive for the virus can forces in Afghanistan, which tion measures worldwide as the worldwide. One person, a defense started this month as part of a Pentagon attempts to slow the contractor, died of the disease peace plan agreed to with the spreading coronavirus, which has Saturday. Taliban late last month. sickened at least 600 people in the The largest increase was The drawdown of some 3,400 military community. among military troops with 73 troops, leaving about 8,600 in Esper’s stop-movement order new cases reported, marking the Afghanistan, “is scheduled to be CAITLIN DOORNBOS/Stars and Stripes applies to all service members, biggest single-day jump of cases complete within 135 days follow- DOD civilians and sponsored among troops announced during ing the signed agreement,” the A drop box for items stands outside of the gate leading to the USS family members serving in any the outbreak. As of Thursday, 304 memo stated. Antietam at Yokosuka Naval Base on Thursday. location overseas, the Pentagon service members had tested posi- Esper’s order also allows for announced late Wednesday. The tive for the virus in recent weeks. other exceptions, which could order halts almost all travel for at Among them, 24 had recovered be granted by commanders for least 60 days related to “exercis- from the disease and 15 were hos- Heartbreaking: Families issues such as obtaining medi- es, deployments, redeployments pitalized, DOD reported. cal treatment, mission-essential and other global force manage- The new data also included travel or humanitarian reasons ment activities,” according to a the first case of a service mem- leave food and packages for on a case-by-case basis, the Pentagon memorandum. ber permanently station at the memo states. Other authorized The order came just hours Pentagon to test positive for the exceptions include scheduled de- after Esper had elected to raise virus, a Marine who has been in sailors held on the Antietam ployments or redeployments of the health protection condition self-isolation since March 13. The level at military bases world- Air Force previously announced Navy vessels, provided they have FROM FRONT PAGE family readiness group took shop- wide to its second-highest threat two individuals — an active-duty met the restriction of movement ones aboard the Antietam. Sail- ping lists from sailors on board level, HPCON Charlie. That deci- airman stationed elsewhere and requirements now in place. ors came out to the bow to wave who were looking forward to vis- sion places restrictions on large a defense contractor assigned to “This measure is taken to aid in to their families and talk to them iting the Navy Exchange after gatherings, adds temperature the Pentagon — had been in the further prevention of the spread via cellphone. weeks at sea. checks for personnel at building military’s Arlington, Va., head- of the coronavirus disease to pro- “The whole virus thing is hard Throughout the afternoon, access points and largely limits quarters in March and later tested tect U.S. personnel and preserve enough without family out here,” families dropped off grocery bags base access to mission-essential positive for the virus. Both have the operational readiness of our Morales said. and packages for the sailors in a individuals. since been isolated and received global force,” according to the Restricting sailors to their large container at the gate where Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul Fried- medical care, officials said. memo. vessels puts a “bubble” around the ship is berthed. The words richs, the Joint Staff surgeon, told Friedrichs on Wednesday de- Friedrichs said he hopes the incoming ships to halt the virus’ “A NTIETAM DROP BOX” were reporters Wednesday that he ex- clined to speculate about a time- measures being taken in the spread, base commander Capt. handwritten in large letters on pected military-related cases of line for slowing the virus’ spread United States will start to show Rich Jarrett said Thursday dur- the side. the virus to continue to increase or ending measures implemented similar success as seen in South ing a virtual town hall on the of- “Everyone is sending lists. A for the foreseeable future. across the force — like telework Korea in stopping the spread of ficial base Facebook page. It was lot don’t have spouses who can “Our curve is not flattening,” to allow for social distancing. On the virus. But it could take weeks unclear Thursday whether other go to the NEX (for them),” said Friedrichs said during a Penta- ships at Yokosuka were given Tuesday, Esper and Army Gen. to find out for certain. Ashton Andrews, whose husband, gon news briefing. “… We think Mark Milley, the chairman of the similar orders. “This is a pandemic,” he said. Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Andrews, is an the best way to limit that growth Joint Chiefs of Staff, said people Morales said she had stocked “This is a significant infectious operations officer aboard the or mitigate that growth are the should expect the outbreak to last disease outbreak, and it is going up on snacks and groceries at the Antietam. measures that we’ve been talking at least three months in the Unit- to be weeks, not days. It’s going base commissary the night before Andrews said that though about.” ed States. to take intensive measures, as we in anticipation of her husband’s she was disappointed her hus- Thursday morning, Pentagon Esper’s overseas stop-move- are implementing, to mitigate it.” arrival. officials announced an increase ment order will likely impact “I have enough food for the band could not come home, the Stars and Stripes staff member Joseph Antietam’s “family readiness of 163 coronavirus cases world- some 90,000 service members Ditzler contributed to this report. whole ship,” she said, smiling wide among its service members, slated to deploy or return to their [email protected] through tears after waving good- group and the community are so their dependents, DOD civilian home stations during the next 60 Twitter: @CDicksteinDC bye to her husband from afar. supportive.” [email protected] workers and defense contractors. days, Pentagon officials said. Twitter: @caitlinmkenney Looking for a silver lining, she [email protected] Pentagon officials said 600 indi- However, it should not slow [email protected] and other members of the ship’s Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos AAFES: Hang on to cash, pay with credit or debit cards

BY NANCY MONTGOMERY coins can harbor bacteria and viruses long the need for store clerks to touch consum- ed the coronavirus could live up to three Stars and Stripes after they change hands,” said the state- ers’ cards. days on plastic. It could live on copper for ment, which asked customers to rely on But credit cards, payment tablets and four hours and a day on cardboard, which The Army and Air Force Exchange Ser- plastic. ATM keypads also carry a variety of is a porous surface like paper. vice is asking customers to pay with credit Historically considered filthy, cash germs, in some cases more than cash, a Additionally, shoppers using cards that and debit cards, not cash, saying it will help require signatures may be using the same protect people from the coronavirus. is under increased suspicion and many 2018 study said. Some stores might “transition to a stores are going cashless to try to prevent The study by CreditCards.com and the stylus or pen that others used. cards-only environment” and others might the spread of the coronavirus. The Federal University of Texas at Austin found that It’s hard to clean cash. But credit cards not provide cash back and check-cashing Reserve is enforcing a holding period of some cards carried staph and salmonella can be cleaned the same way as hands: transactions, the statement emailed to cus- seven to 10 days before processing curren- bacteria. with soap and water. tomers Wednesday said. cy shipments from Asia and Europe. Another study published March 17 in the [email protected] “Studies show that paper money and Swipe-and-dip machines have reduced New England Journal of Medicine suggest- Twitter: @montgomerynance Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 7 VIRUS OUTBREAK Services seek balance on grooming policies

BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY day, limiting access to active-duty Stars and Stripes service members only, and limit- ing how many people are inside WASHINGTON — Sailors will buildings. get to grow out their locks while The Army is still following its Marines will keep their high-and- grooming policies, however, it is tight haircuts as military ser- trusting installation commanders vices take different approaches to to make exceptions if necessary to grooming as they adhere to social protect their soldiers. distancing to help stop the spread “Grooming standards are an of the coronavirus. important part of good order and The Navy Exchange Service discipline in the Army, though Command, which runs barber at the end of the day, we need to shops and salons on Navy installa- make sure we’re doing what we tions, directed the closure of all its can to keep our people safe,” Sgt. shops worldwide except for those Maj. of the Army Michael Grin- at the Recruit Training Command ston said in a statement. “Just like in Great Lakes, Ill., so recruits with readiness and protecting the have access to haircuts, according force, it’s not an easy balance to to a statement issued Monday. strike. There isn’t a one-size-fits The closures are expected to last for at least 14 days. all solution. We have to be agile, The announcement follows Navy and I know we have the right lead- guidance issued March 18 about ers in the right places to make relaxed standards for hair lengths, these tough decisions.” though not facial hair. However, Some installations have taken longer hair cannot interfere with actions in regard to base grooming wearing protective personal equip- services. Barber shops, salons, and ment such as helmets and masks, spas at some Army and Air Force according to the guidance. Exchange Services facilities, or Marine Corps Community Ser- AAFES, have been closed by the vices is allowing barber shops installation commands, according and exchanges to remain open on to a statement by Chris Ward, a installations, according to a state- spokesman for AAFES. ment by Bryan Driver, a spokes- “For those locations that remain man for Marine Corps Community open, exchange barbers are in- Services. creasing their focus on sanitation, Marine Corps installations are including staying home if sick, taking precautions to prevent frequent hand washing and rou- the spread of the virus based on tinely cleaning door knobs, faucet GRACE J. KINDRED/U.S. Marine Corps local conditions, according to the handles, etc.,” he said. statement, including deep clean- [email protected] A new recruit with Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, receives his initial haircut during ing procedures several times a Twitter: @caitlinmkenney receiving at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in February. Another US military child care center in Yokosuka-based sailor Japan closes pending virus test results confirmed to have illness

BY JOSEPH DITZLER BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS reports. Forty-three people have Stars and Stripes Stars and Stripes died of the illness in Japan — more than double the number of Another child development YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, deaths reported a week prior. center on a U.S. military facil- Japan — A Yokosuka-based sailor The Yokosuka base on Thursday ity in Japan has been closed tested positive Thursday for coro- set its health protection condition due to possible exposure to the navirus, becoming the first U.S. to Charlie following Indo-Pacific coronavirus. service member in Japan con- Command’s Wednesday decision The Sagamihara Family Hous- firmed to have the illness, U.S. to upgrade the threat level. At ing Area Child Development Cen- Forces Japan officials told Stars Charlie, the community is con- ter was shuttered Thursday “out and Stripes. sidered at a “substantial risk” of of an abundance of caution,” ac- The sailor — whose name was infection and further restrictions cording to a message posted that not released — had been con- are implemented to control the afternoon on the Army Garrison fined to a room since returning coronavirus’ spread. Japan Facebook page. from leave in the United States On Wednesday, Navy Forces Sagamihara, near Tokyo in on March 15, said USFJ spokes- Japan restricted all Navy person- Kanagawa prefecture, is a hous- woman Maj. Genieve White. nel to the installations or their off- ing area for service members and The confinement was in ac- base homes. their families posted to Camp cordance with a restriction of “All off-base restaurants, bars, KEITH PANNELL/U.S. Army Zama, the home of U.S. Army movement directive for those re- cafes, night clubs and like estab- Japan and other Army units. Staff members on a U.S. base in Germany deep clean a child turning from international travel lishments, indoor fitness facili- “This closure is being directed development center as a precaution against coronavirus on March that USFJ issued four days prior. ties, onsens and public baths are due to possible contact with an in- 19. Similar measures were taken at centers in Japan. The sailor has been placed in off limits,” Naval Forces Japan dividual who is pending COVID- isolation and is being treated at commander Rear Adm. B. P. 19 test results,” the post said, statement. It said further infor- pending the results of coronavi- Naval Hospital Yokosuka, White Fort wrote in a memorandum an- using the official name of the new mation would be forthcoming. rus tests. Those tests — a child said. nouncing the change Wednesday. coronavirus. “Parents will be asked to pro- and a staff member at Yokosuka USFJ went nearly three months Naval Hospital Yokosuka None of the children or staff vide care for their own children and a staff member at Yokota — without a positive case after the gained the capability to process coronavirus was first discovered coronavirus test results last week members within the center have on Friday,” the statement said. came back negative. tested positive for the virus, it in Wuhan, China, in December. and can now analyze about 40 a “Thank you for your patience as The Yokosuka center has re- added. we continue to make your health The illness has since become a day. Previously, tests were sent opened while the Yokota facility Parents were asked to pick up and safety our No. 1 priority.” global pandemic. to laboratories off base in Japan their children as soon as possible Earlier this month, child de- remains shuttered in line with As of Wednesday, Japan has re- or to the U.S. for processing, and Thursday. velopment centers at Yokosuka Defense Department school ported 1,193 confirmed cases, an results could take up to a week to The center will be closed Fri- Naval Base, also in Kanagawa closures. increase of 320 over the course of return. day “for deep cleaning and sani- prefecture, and Yokota Air Base [email protected] a week, according to the World [email protected] tation,” according to the garrison in western Tokyo were closed Twitter: @JosephDitzler Health Organization situation Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos PAGE 8 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK Aircraft carrier diverts to Guam with more cases

BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY any causes. He said that more Stars and Stripes analysis needed to be done to de- JENNIFER H. SVAN/Stars and Stripes termine the reason for the higher WASHINGTON— Five more number of cases. Master Sgt. Nicholas Kailing, a maintenance production supervisor and crew chief, reviews a checklist sailors have tested positive for during a base readiness exercise at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Wednesday. the coronavirus on the USS Theo- A Reuters story Thursday re- dore Roosevelt, forcing the ship to ported that the Pentagon would travel to Guam to conduct wide- no longer provide detailed data spread testing of the crew, the about the coronavirus cases in At Spangdahlem, US F-16s are acting Navy Secretary Thomas the department, such as locations Modly said Thursday. of people who are infected. The “We found several more cases Navy has been sending out daily flying as airmen adjust exercise on board the ship,” Modly told updates on new cases across the reporters in a news briefing service, and Modly said Thurs- BY JENNIFER H. SVAN from the Pentagon. “We are in day that while they have to con- no confirmed cases of the virus so personnel, resources and time, far, adjustments have been made the process now of testing 100% sider operational and privacy Stars and Stripes has also been altered because of of the crew of that ship to ensure to routines to minimize risk. the coronavirus. concerns, he wanted to continue that we’re able to contain what- SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Operations and maintenance The plan before the pandemic ever spread might have occurred to share how the virus is impact- Germany — The coronavirus crews have been split into teams was for a small team to set up at there on the ship. But I also want ing the service. pandemic has stood daily rou- that work on different days dur- Ramstein for a few days and drop to emphasize that the ship is op- “We will follow the direction of tines on their head around the ing the exercise to allow them to into another base farther afield to erationally capable and could do the secretary of defense in terms world, but at this Air Force base maintain more social distance, refuel, practicing how to pick up in Germany’s rural Eifel region, its mission if required to do so.” of this, but from our perspective Epperson said. and go with the right items to sus- one thing hasn’t changed: The F- The new cases bring the total — from my perspective, being as They alternate 10-hour shifts tain them for several days. 16s are still flying. confirmed cases on the ship to transparent as possible is prob- daily instead of splitting two 12- But the virus changed that, and The 52nd Fighter Wing has hour shifts per day, shortening the eight. But Modly said that several ably the best path,” he said. the team has instead set up on a more sailors are in isolation. been taking advantage of a late- typical round-the-clock exercise The Marine Corps has 44 posi- March string of crystal-clear, separate area of Spangdahlem’s A defense official, who spoke on schedule to reduce exposure. tive coronavirus cases, of which sunny days in southwestern Ger- flight line to simulate a forward the condition of anonymity, said “To load even a training mis- 31 are Marines, five are civilian many and launching F-16 sorties operating site. that the cases on the Roosevelt are sile on our aircraft requires three workers, five are dependents and as part of a base readiness exer- The airmen involved said that increasing and the ship is focused people,” he said. “But by making cise — modified, of course, be- even though they haven’t left now on doing testing and more three are contractors. sure that team is not close to my cause of the coronavirus. Spangdahlem, they’ve had to deal deep cleaning in accordance with At Marine Corps Recruit Depot other team that loads munitions, The exercise, which usually with spotty communication and Centers for Disease Control and Parris Island, S.C., where basic I can make sure if one team gets involves practicing for combat, exposed to COVID, the other long waits for small items, mak- Prevention guidelines. training is conducted, two Ma- this year takes into account the team is still safe.” ing them feel as if they’re in a re- The Wall Street Journal report- rine recruits have tested positive, fact that airmen are dealing with Keeping a safe distance from mote location. ed Thursday that are at least 23 Modly said. Additionally, two the real-life threat of contracting each other is tricky, but airmen After they unpacked, for exam- cases on the aircraft carrier, ac- other Marines stationed at the the virus, which, in some cases, are doing their best, said Master ple, and realized they’d forgotten cording to an unnamed defense base, but who work separate from causes severe lung illness and Sgt. Nicholas Kailing, a mainte- to bring lightbulbs, they had to official. recruit training, have also tested death. nance production supervisor. wait hours for them to be deliv- There are 800 coronavirus test positive. “We are in a real-world COVID- “We’re used to working very ered — roughly the same time it kits on the ship and more being The Marine Corps has can- 19 environment, and in the future, closely. We’ll normally have three would have taken had they been flown there Thursday, Modly celed or postponed exercises and it may be some other contagion or people in a three-foot area,” he at Ramstein. said. The Roosevelt can do limit- nonessential training, Marine something like it that we’re deal- said. As a result, “we were in a dark ed testing and processing of tests ing with,” said wing commander Corps Commandant Gen. David Another adjustment is that tent for the first four hours of the on the ship, but most tests will be Col. David C. Epperson, using video conferencing has replaced sent to Defense Department labo- Berger said. day,” said F-16 pilot Capt. Tim the acronym for the coronavirus the face-to-face meetings which Miller, who’s acting as a deployed ratories for processing. The test- Readiness of the force is still a disease. would normally take place during ing of the 5,000 crew members priority, according to Berger, so squad commander. “We’re build- “Our adversaries are watching an exercise between the wing and ing the checklist as we go.” will be a mix of swab tests and only essential training is ongoing how we’re going to react to some- leadership, Epperson said. How to launch sorties with surveillance tests. with modifications to deal with thing like COVID-19,” he said. “It’s just reminding people … minimal resources while deal- While the ship is at a pier in social distancing, such as more “It’s important for us to continue that we can spread out, we can ing with a contagious virus are Guam, no sailor will leave the to exercise and to demonstrate still communicate at a greater dis- spacing between Marines at pis- among the many lessons being area, according to Modly. tol ranges. that we have that mission readi- tance away from each other,” he The Navy seems to have the learned, Epperson said. “We are mandated by law to be ness today.” said. “And, really, it creates bet- highest number of positive coro- The virus has infected nearly ter security … we’re not a concen- “We’ve had to adapt,” he said. the nation’s most ready force and navirus cases at 133, or one-third half a million people on every trated target for an adversary.” “It’s not business as usual, but we of cases in the Defense Depart- that’s what I think you expect us continent except Antarctica The Agile Combat Employment have figured out ways to make ment, he said. But Modly also to be,” Berger said. and been blamed for more than part of the exercise, in which sure we’re still mission-ready.” said he was uncertain why that [email protected] 22,000 deaths. forces spread out and operate at [email protected] is and would not speculate on Twitter:@caitlinmkenney Although Spangdahlem has had various locations with minimal Twitter: @stripesktown US Forces Korea confirms another case at Camp Humphreys

BY KIM GAMEL USF K provided no details about the widow of a military retiree, gym on Camp Humphreys, offi- firmed at Camp Humphreys, Stars and Stripes the person who was infected or an American contractor and four cials said. home to USFK headquarters and the timeline in its announcement South Korean employees. “We have secured all areas that a population of more than 37,000. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South late Thursday, promising more Officials were conducting con- they were on and the clean team The others were at bases in the Korea — Another person tested information Friday. tact tracing to determine if any- is rapidly moving through, con- southeastern city of Daegu and positive for the coronavirus on Only one American soldier has body else may have been exposed ducting a thorough deep clean,” nearby areas, which were at the the largest U.S. military base in been confirmed to have the virus in the current case. Crews were garrison commander Col. Mi- center of the outbreak that began South Korea on Thursday, raising so far in South Korea. The oth- also activated to clean the areas chael Tremblay said in a brief in mid-February in South Korea. the total number of cases affiliat- ers were the soldier’s wife, two where the person was known to statement on Facebook live. [email protected] ed with U.S. Forces Korea to 11. other active-duty dependents, have been, including the main It was the third infection con- Twitter: @kimgamel Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 9 VIRUS OUTBREAK Pelosi forecasts House will OK Senate’s aid bill

BY ANDREW TAYLOR strong bipartisan support.” Associated Press Federal Reserve Chairman Je- rome Powell said in a TV inter- WASHINGTON — House view the economy “may well be Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the in a recession.” massive $2.2 trillion coronavirus The unanimous Senate vote economic relief bill approved by late Wednesday came despite the Senate will pass the House on misgivings on both sides about Friday with “strong bipartisan whether it goes too far or not far support.” enough and capped days of diffi- Pelosi spoke to reporters at the cult negotiations as Washington Capitol on Thursday, a day after confronted a national challenge the Senate unanimously approved unlike any it has faced. MICHAEL BRYANT, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER/AP the measure. President Donald The 880-page measure is the Trump is expected to sign the largest economic relief bill in U.S. A Costco employee looks toward a shopper wearing a mask and snorkel to shop, as she sanitizes carts legislation immediately. history. Majority Leader Mitch that are returned from the parking lot to fight coronavirus, in King of Prussia, Pa., on Wednesday. The pandemic’s toll continued McConnell appeared somber to increase across the United and exhausted as he announced Underscoring the effort’s sheer opt to stay on unemployment in- would pass by voice vote without States, with almost 70,000 con- the vote — and he released sena- magnitude, the bill finances a stead of return to their jobs. They lawmakers having to return to firmed cases and more than 1,000 tors from Washington until April response with a price tag that settled for a failed vote to modify Washington. on Thursday afternoon, accord- 20, though he promised to recall equals half the size of the entire the provision. House Republican Leader ing to Johns Hopkins University’s them if needed. $4 trillion-plus annual federal Wednesday’s delays followed Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said tally. “Pray for one another, for all of budget. The $2.2 trillion estimate Democratic stalling tactics ear- Thursday his members were on The package comes to the our families and for our country,“ is the White House’s best guess. lier in the week as Schumer held House as fresh evidence emerges said McConnell, R-Ky. Insistently optimistic, Trump out for additional funding for board. that the economy is in a reces- “The legislation now before us said of the greatest public health states and hospitals and other “Every day matters, so we want sion. The government reported now is historic because it is meant emergency in anyone’s lifetime, provisions. to get this done quickly,” McCar- 3.3 million new weekly unem- to match a historic crisis,“ said “I don’t think it’s going to end up The sprawling measure is the thy said. ployment claims, four times the Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, being such a rough patch“ and third coronavirus response bill The package would give direct previous record. D-N.Y. “Our health care system is anticipated the economy soar- produced by Congress and by far payments to most Americans, ex- “We will have a victory to- not prepared to care for the sick. ing “like a rocket ship” when it’s the largest. It builds on efforts fo- pand unemployment benefits and morrow for America’s workers,” Our workers are without work. over. cused on vaccines and emergency provide a $367 billion program for Pelosi said, praising the bill’s Our businesses cannot do busi- The drive by leaders to speed response, sick and family medical small businesses to keep making expansion of unemployment ben- ness. Our factories lie idle. The the bill through the Senate was leave for workers and food aid. payroll while workers are forced efits. She encouraged companies gears of the American economy Wednesday slowed as four conser- Senate passage delivered the to stay home. It includes a heavily battered by the pandemic to keep have ground to a halt.“ vative Republican senators from legislation to the Democratic-con- paying their workers, even those The package is intended as re- states whose economies are dom- trolled House, which is expected negotiated $500 billion program who are furloughed. lief for a sinking economy and a inated by low-wage jobs demand- to pass it Friday. House members for guaranteed, subsidized loans “Tomorrow we’ll bring the bill nation facing a grim toll from an ed changes, saying the legislation are scattered around the country. to larger industries, including to the floor,” she told reporters. infection that’s killed more than as written was so generous that House Majority Leader Steny airlines. Hospitals would get sig- “It will pass. It will pass with 21,000 people worldwide. workers like store clerks might Hoyer, D-Md., said the measure nificant help as well. Jobless: Funding, staffing limitations hamper states’ efforts to process claims

FROM FRONT PAGE With layoffs surging, a signifi- plied for jobless aid last week. In ployment benefits be calculated. was halfway through filling out Yet by the April-June quar- cant expansion of unemployment Nevada, the figure was 6.8%, in Worsening the problem, most her request. When she finally ter of the year, some economists benefits for the millions who will Rhode Island 7.5%. state agencies that handle unem- managed to press submit, she re- think the economy will shrink at lose jobs as a result of the corona- Jessy Morancy of Hollywood, ployment claims are operating ceived a pop-up saying she had to its steepest annual pace ever — a virus outbreak was included in an Fla., was laid off Friday from her at historically low funding levels file over the phone. That hasn’t contraction that could reach 30%. economic relief bill nearing final job as a wheelchair attendant and and staffing that are intended to worked well, either. In its report Thursday, the approval in Congress. One provi- customer service agent at Fort handle a trickle of claims. Just “I’ve called at all hours of the sion in the bill would provide an Lauderdale Airport. Morancy, 29, weeks ago, the job market was in day, she said. “That’s been my Labor Department said 3.283 extra $600 a week on top of the called the state unemployment the strongest shape it had been in life for a week, and I still can’t get million people applied for unem- unemployment aid that states office Monday to try to file for un- decades. through to anyone.” ployment benefits last week, up provide. Another would extend 13 employment benefits but encoun- Kim Boldrini-Sen, 41, has also On Monday, the New York State from 282,000 during the previous additional weeks of benefits be- tered just a recorded message struggled to even file her claim. Department of Labor tweeted, week. Yet many people who have yond the six months of jobless aid telling her to call back later. She has tried in two states: In “If you have been unable to get lost jobs in recent weeks have that most states offer. She was also concerned that Connecticut, where she works through our phone and/or online been unable to file for unemploy- The new legislation would also even a full unemployment benefit as an acupuncturist in a private system this week, please keep ment aid because state websites extend unemployment benefits, of $275 a week would be less than practice, and in New York, where trying.” and phone systems have been for the first time, to gig workers half of what she earned at her job she lives and has her own acu- “We are working as hard as overwhelmed by a crush of appli- and others who are not on com- and insufficient to provide for her puncture business. we can to ensure that all ben- cants and have frozen up. pany payrolls. children, ages 10 and 7. In Connecticut, she thought her efits are paid and appreciate your That logjam suggests that Separate legislation passed last “I’m still in a state of shock,” application had been submitted. patience,” the agency said on Thursday’s report actually un- week provides up to $1 billion to Morancy said. But when she returned last week Twitter. derstates the magnitude of job states to enhance their ability to Even for those able to file a to re-file as applicants are re- Ellen Zentner, an economist at cuts last week. So does the fact process claims. But that money claim, the benefits will take time quired to do each week, she found Morgan Stanley, said in a note to that workers who are not on com- will take time to be disbursed. to kick in. It typically takes two to there was no record of her initial clients that 17 million jobs could pany payrolls — gig workers, In California, claims for un- three weeks before applicants re- filing. After taking an hour to re- be lost through May — twice the free-lancers, the self-employed employment benefits more than ceive any money. State agencies file, she received a pop-up notice entire 8.7 million jobs that were — aren’t currently eligible for un- tripled last week to 187,000. In must first contact their former that she was ineligible to do so lost in the Great Recession . Still, employment benefits even though New York, they rose by a factor of employers to verify their work online. Zentner also expects the economy in many cases they’re no longer five to 80,334. Nationwide, about and earnings history. Only then In New York, the state’s web- to start recovering by the second able to earn money. 2.25% of the entire workforce ap- can the employee’s weekly unem- site repeatedly crashed when she half of the year . PAGE 10 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK Infection number nears 500,000

Associated Press sought to assure Spaniards that government measures to slow the MADRID — The number of virus were working, telling Par- coronavirus infections closed liament that the rises had been in on a half-million worldwide smaller than in previous days and Thursday, with Italy on track to “indicate a changing trend that surpass China. brings us to think that we are en- Health care systems in Europe tering a phase of stabilization.” buckled under the strain, with In Italy, doctors and nurses Spain’s death toll climbing to begged the government to pro- more than 4,000. vide more masks, gloves and At least 2.8 billion people, goggles and urged the public to or more than one-third of the understand how important oner- Earth’s population, are under se- ous social distancing measures vere travel restrictions. But the really are. Scientists say stopping head of the World Health Orga- just one person from getting the nization, Tedros Adhanom Ghe- virus means scores of others will breyesus, scolded world leaders MARTIN MEISSNER/AP not become infected down the for wasting precious time in the road. Bakers form round marble cakes wrapped in fondant that look like toilet paper rolls as a commentary on fight against the virus that has “Help us help you,” Dr. Fran- the toilet paper frenzy due to the coronavirus outbreak, in Dortmund, Germany, on Thursday. already killed more than 22,000 cesca De Gennaro, who heads people and infected over 480,000, a small medical clinic in Italy’s lators, working with engineers thrown millions out of work and hard-hit Bergamo region, wrote from Dyson. The government ravaged the world economy. in an open letter. wants to increase its supply of the “The time to act was actually The rate of increase in Italy has breathing machines from 8,000 to more than a month ago or two slowed slightly, noted Dr. Hans 30,000. months ago,” he said Wednesday. Kluge, the head of the WHO’s Eu- For most people, the corona- “We squandered the first window ropean office. virus causes mild or moderate of opportunity. … This is a second He said officials hope to soon symptoms, such as fever and opportunity, which we should not figure out whether lockdown cough that clear up in two to three squander and do everything to measures in numerous countries weeks. For some, especially older suppress and control this virus.” have worked. adults and people with existing In Brazil, the country’s gover- Germany has had a high num- health problems, it can cause nors are defying President Jair ber of infections at more than more severe illness, including Bolsonaro over his call to reopen 39,000 people, but just 222 deaths pneumonia and death. schools and businesses, dismiss- — which has widely been attrib- So far, more than 115,000 peo- ing his argument that the “cure” uted to early and aggressive test- ple have recovered from the virus, of widespread shutdowns is worse ing, among other factors. according to a running count kept than the disease. As of Thursday, On Thursday, Lothar Wieler, by Johns Hopkins University. the country had more than 2,500 the head of Germany’s Robert China’s cases have slowed, with cases and 59 deaths. Koch disease control center, said only 67 new cases reported, all Spain has become the country the country now has the ability to MAURO SCORBOGNA, LAPRESSE/AP recent arrivals. in Europe where the outbreak is test 500,000 people a week, per- The leaders of the Group of 20 spreading the fastest. On Thurs- Italian soldiers and Carabinieri police block one of the roads leading haps the greatest capacity in the largest economies held a special day, the Health Ministry report- to the small town of Nerola on Thursday. world. video conference to better coor- ed nearly 8,600 new infections European Union leaders were dinate a response to the outbreak, and 655 deaths, bringing the total past 12,000, Spain extended a response to the crisis. holding their third summit in amid criticism that the world’s cases to over 56,00 and more than state of emergency that will allow France began evacuating in- three weeks on the virus to man- wealthiest countries have not 4,000 fatalities — second only to it to impose broader lockdowns, fected citizens from the north- age the havoc it is wreaking on taken cohesive action. The con- Italy’s death toll of about 7,500. while French President Emman- eastern hotspot of Alsace using a their 27 economies. As the num- ference was chaired by Saudi Health Minister Salvador Illa uel Macron launched “Operation special high-speed train. ber of deaths in Europe soared Resilience,” a military-backed Britain ordered 10,000 venti- Arabia’s King Salman. Iraq, Lebanon extend government restrictions on movement

Associated Press Salman and comes amid criticism that the it would send units to enforce a weekslong Interior Minister Hossein Zolfaghari who world’s wealthiest countries have not taken curfew to stem the spread of the virus, and spoke on sate TV. BEIRUT — Iraq and Lebanon prepared cohesive action to combat the outbreak, even cordon off areas where cases were Zolfaghari said authorities will punish Thursday to extend government-imposed which has shuttered businesses and forced mounting. The provinces of Baghdad, shops that remain open with a one-month restrictions on movement for two more well over a quarter of the world’s popula- Basra and Karbala saw the highest number forced closure. Pharmacies, groceries and weeks, the latest measures announced to tion into home isolation. of new cases, according to the ministry. stem the spread of the coronavirus. In Iran, bakeries are exempt. Iraq’s Health Ministry reported a jump In Iran, which is facing the worst out- In Saudi Arabia, the lockdown of Riyadh, the death toll jumped by 157 new fatalities, of coronavirus-related deaths by seven break in the region, the death toll rose to prompting new steps to limit public gather- Mecca and Medina, include a 15-hour in 24 hours, according to a statement on 2,234 on Thursday with 157 new fatalities, curfew starting at 3 p.m. The rest of the ings and domestic travel. Thursday, the highest since the govern- according to the health ministry. There are In Saudi Arabia, authorities announced kingdom has 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. King ment began recording cases. At least 36 more than 29,000 confirmed cases in Iran, Salman ordered the latest restrictions and a total lockdown on the capital, Riyadh, people among 382 confirmed infected where authorities have advised people to announced them on Wednesday. and Islam’s two holiest cities, Mecca and cases have died. stay home but refrained from imposing na- Saudi Arabia has 1012 confirmed infect- Medina, in addition to a nationwide curfew. Iraqis have struggled to adhere to the tionwide movement restrictions or curfews In the United Arab Emirates, authorities dayslong curfew in place since March 17, as seen elsewhere. ed cases and four deaths from COVID-19, announced an overnight weekend lock- prompting senior Iraqi officials and prom- However, President Hassan Rouhani the illness caused by the virus. down and used drones to tell residents to inent religious figures to call for the public said Thursday that the government will In the UAE, malls, airports and beaches stay home. to stay at home and avoid congregating in apply more travel and gathering restric- have already been closed, and authorities As countries in the region grapple with crowds. Iraq’s Cabinet declared Thursday tions for the next two weeks to “break the said a weekend overnight curfew would the fast-spreading virus, leaders of the it would extend the curfew until April 11, chain” of the virus, and announced an aid begin Thursday at 8 p.m., lasting till 6 a.m. world’s most powerful economies were to the second extension since the curfew was package to support struggling businesses. Buses, trams and the metro will be sus- convene virtually in an effort to coordinate first imposed. The new restrictions will include a ban on pended over the weekend so they could be a response. Health officials said they expect num- domestic travel by road and public gath- disinfected. Police in Dubai and the near- The meeting for the Group of 20 nations bers to rise as more are tested in the com- erings, the closure of all public parks and by emirate of Sharjah were using drones to will be chaired by Saudi Arabia’s King ing weeks. An Iraqi army statement said points of meetings, according to Deputy tell people to stay indoors. Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 11 VIRUS OUTBREAK Charities face growing need without volunteers

Associated Press “We can’t take those food do- nations because we can’t sort For more than a week, Elaine Peoples, who cooked for a now- and repack them,” Mark Cole- shuttered day care center, has man said. Instead, they’re buy- been out of work. At 68, she’s ing prepackaged food that doesn’t also at a higher risk for catching require sorting, at roughly $30 the new coronavirus. Nonethe- per box. All of this is happening less, she’s showing up four days a as they expect demand for their week for her volunteer shift at an services to double, Coleman said. increasingly crowded Brooklyn Before the crisis, they packaged soup kitchen and food pantry. 72,000 boxes a month. “Volunteering is vital,” said “It’s really tough. The stock Peoples, who herself is experienc- market crash in 2008 was tough, ing financial strain. “Everything but nothing like this,” he said. I get goes to bills. My budget is Joe Burns, 69, is among just stretched to the limit. There is no 20 volunteers still pitching in at extra.” Food Lifeline. For the past four These days, low-income fami- years, he’s come four days a week lies still need food. Homeless to sort apples, oranges and other people still need beds. And those fresh fruits and vegetables. That puppies in the animal shelter still won’t change, he said. need walks. “People are getting laid off left For decades, American non- and right, going on unemploy- profits have relied on a cadre of volunteers who — quite suddenly ment and very soon aren’t going — aren’t able to show up. With to have any means for buying groceries,” he said. “There’s a millions staying home during the WONG MAYE-E/AP pandemic, charities that help the need right now, so you just gotta country’s neediest are finding Surrounded by a few volunteers, a man carries food donations from St. Stephen Outreach in the step up to the plate.” themselves in need. Brooklyn borough of New York on Friday . It’s not just food banks “This is a time when we do whose volunteer workforce has need everybody pulling together ple, and an extreme example, of the door, more people than she’s soap and water and are more ex- dwindled. to help us out,” said Leslie Bacho, everyone needing to help as best ever seen. posed to disease and violence. Laura Condouris, 38, a graphic CEO of Second Harvest of Silicon they can.” “Folks that don’t normally come “Further, many others, like in- designer, continued to show up for Valley, one of the nation’s largest One out of four Americans vol- are coming,” she said, after dish- take and shelter workers and food her weekly shift at the Maryland food banks. unteers, performing an estimated ing out countless plates of franks, delivery workers, are some of our Society for the Prevention of the Many Americans have now 8 billion hours a year of service. rice, beans and fruit. “They’ve lowest paid residents and are now Cruelty to Animals in Baltimore been ordered to stay inside their The most common work? Col- lost their job, there’s nothing in called to the front lines,” she said. until it closed on Monday. But lecting, preparing, distributing the supermarket.” “We must do everything we can homes, although there are ex- even then her work wasn’t over: or serving food, according to the Jose Rosa, 63, comes to the soup to protect these heroes from fur- ceptions for people providing es- That night, Condouris brought a Bureau of Labor Statistics. kitchen once a week. He lives in ther economic and health peril.” sential services, and, in orders mutt named Roxie, who’d been reviewed by The Associated Kathryn Strickland, chief net- a homeless shelter and said he Food banks are also largely work officer at Feeding America, doesn’t get enough to eat there. canceling soup kitchens to avoid staying at another shelter, to a Press, that includes volunteering new foster home. at food banks. the nation’s largest organization “It keeps me healthy, it keeps close contact that can spread the “The volunteers who are usu- Nonetheless, Bacho said that of food banks, with some 200, said food in my stomach,” he said of virus. Instead, they’re planning ally there on weekdays are retir- half of the bank’s volunteers that the group has seen a “sharp his trips to St. Stephen. Without to drop boxes of food into people’s — the equivalent of 107 full-time decline” in volunteers across the it, he said, “I’d go hungry.” trunks at drive-thru stations. ees and older people,” Condouris staffers — aren’t showing up. country, and is asking for new In Silicon Valley, some 10,000 In Seattle, the initial epicen- said. “Some of the people I nor- This means that as more people volunteers and scrambling to hire homeless people are in a terribly ter of the U.S. outbreak, Food mally see there can and should be need food, there’s less ability to additional staff for pay. vulnerable situation, said Jenni- Lifeline is struggling. It relies on staying home, so I’ve got to pick get it to them. Sheila Williams usually has 25 fer Loving, CEO of Destination: roughly 18,000 volunteers every up the slack.” “Volunteers are needed the volunteers to feed about 100 peo- Home, a public-private partner- year to collect and sort food dona- While the humans were hus- most in times of crisis,” said Dr. ple a day at St. Stephen Outreach ship that addresses homeless- tions, package boxes and deliver tling, Roxie, whose muzzle is Grover Gilmore, dean of Case in Brooklyn. ness. Public health experts have goods. The organization is now white and whose left ear sags, Western’s school of social scienc- Now she’s down to just 10, in- warned that people living in tents telling all but a small core group seemed unperturbed by her es. “This is simply another exam- cluding Peoples, with lines out or under tarps have less access to of volunteers to stay home. move. Veterinarians donate vital supplies to fight against coronavirus

BY ALLEN G. BREED Emergency and Critical Care Valley Hospital in Fort Collins Associated Press ‘ While that may not seem like a lot, if it’s, Society have identified about 100 a breathing machine that was full-service ventilators which can “brand new, right out of the box,” RALEIGH, NC — Veterinary you know, your grandmother, spouse that provide long-term breathing sup- professor Tim Hackett said. “We hospitals are donating breath- gets that ventilator, we’re hoping it can port. She said that there are also did not get a chance to use it.” ing machines, masks, gowns hundreds more relatively simple And in New York, the hardest- and other vital equipment and save a life. ’ anesthesia ventilators — “basi- hit place in the U.S., the Cornell supplies purchased with Fido in Dr. Virginia Sinnott-Stutzman cally like an automated hand University College of Veterinary mind, but now being redeployed Boston’s Angell Animal Medical Center squeezing a bag … to get air into Medicine has loaned two full- to help doctors fight the spread of the patient” — nationwide that service ventilators and a high- COVID-19 among humans. could be pressed into service. flow oxygen unit to a hospital in “We buy at the same stores,” It only amounts to just a dent in Manhattan. It is also preparing to to New York are stepping up. influenza had veterinarians said Paul Lunn, dean of the the overall need, however, with send three full-service breathing North Carolina State University There are 30 fully accredited readying to help in this kind of veterinary medical schools in emergency, he added: “This isn’t officials saying that tens of thou- machines and 19 of the smaller College of Veterinary Medicine 26 states, according to the Asso- the first time we’ve prepared for sands of ventilators are needed in anesthesia ventilators to Cayuga in Raleigh, which, on Monday, ciation of American Veterinary this, although it’s the first time New York alone. Medical Center in Ithaca, where turned over two full-service ven- Medical Colleges. Of those, 27 in my personal experience that “While that may not seem like the vet school is located. tilators, 500 protective suits and have veterinary teaching hospi- we’ve actually had to pull the a lot, if it’s, you know, your grand- Dean Lorin Warnick, whose 950 masks for use in area hospi- tals with comprehensive services trigger.” mother, spouse that gets that ven- institution has also provided hun- tals. “There’s no difference in the treating everything from pet Private institutions are also tilator, we’re hoping it can save a dreds of respirator and surgical equipment.” cats and dogs to horses and other heeding the call. life,” she said. masks, and testing materials, In response to a call last week large animals. Lunn said that Dr. Virginia Sinnott-Stutzman, Experts have said that there is said that the college is providing by U.S. Agriculture Secretary the schools have identified over chair of the Infection Control no evidence that household pets only essential emergency service Sonny Perdue for materials to 72 ventilators that could be com- Committee at Angell Animal can contract the disease. to animal patients and following combat the pandemic, vet schools mandeered for human treatment. Medical Center in Boston, said The Colorado State University FDA guidelines on conserving from North Carolina to Colorado The 2009 outbreak of H1N1 that members of the Veterinary vet school delivered to Poudre protective equipment. PAGE 12 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK Prep school: Survivalists feeling vindicated Once derided, some find their skills are in vogue

BY JASON NARK The Philadelphia Inquirer RINGTOWN, Pa. — When Dan Wowak went to live alone in the wilds of Patagonia in 2016 for a chance to win a half-million dollars on reality television, he was al- lowed to bring 10 items. Toilet paper wasn’t one of them. Wowak, a Mahanoy City native, did bring an ax, saw, sleeping bag and a ferro rod, which you can strike to make sparks in just about any condition. He also chose fishing line and hooks, which proved invaluable. Over 51 days, he ate nothing but fish he caught in a lake: nine of them. “I lost 54 pounds,” he said. “I know what hunger feels like.” Wowak, who worked in the juvenile jus- tice system before becoming a full-time woodsman, left the reality show “Alone” early, choosing sanity, food and his fam- ily over the big prize. Today, at age 38, he teaches survival and outdoors classes through his company, Coal Cracker Bush- craft, giving crash courses in how to stay alive in the woods or when goods are scarce. He said that he’s recently gotten hundreds of emails expressing interest PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BRYANT/The Philadelphia Inqui rer as America quickly went from normal to empty supermarket shelves. He’s seen Above: Survivalist Dan Wowak shows a yurt he constructed at his training camp outside Ringtown, Pa., and talks of the advantages it offers as a shelter in the wilderness. Wowak is a full-time woodsman who runs camps that teach survival skills and has a YouTube people making smart decisions, like social channel where he shares his expertise. distancing, and bizarre ones, like grabbing all the toilet paper they can. “You don’t use toilet paper if you’re out cades ago and has been hooked ever since. and seeing how one bad day can turn into in the woods. Just grab some leaves and “We were starting fires on the front lawn ‘ You don’t use toilet paper a major problem easily,” said Michelle, 44, wipe your butt. At home, you can cut up old of the school,” he said. if you’re out in the woods. from Centre County. T-shirts,” he said. “I think, honestly, a lot of Dawes said that people should use the Many said that the reaction to the coro- people just don’t know what to do. They see coronavirus pandemic to make plans, to Just grab some leaves and navirus — massive layoffs, scarcity of food me buying toilet paper, they see you buy- list out things they would take with them if wipe your butt. At home, and goods, relaxed law enforcement for ing toilet paper and Uncle Frank, and they they had to leave home. They should brush certain crimes — could be as bad as the go looking for it.” up on basic car repair too. you can cut up old T-shirts. virus itself, which might explain the uptick Wowak, who earned an MBA from Al- “You never know if your car is going to ’ in gun and ammunition sales. A gun store vernia University in Reading, Pa., defines break down,” he said. Dan Wowak owner in Montgomery County told The essentials as shelter, water, fire and food. Both woodsmen teach primitive skills to Survivalist Inquirer last week that he could not order Translated to a city or suburban environ- their students, such as making fire with a more ammunition. When asked if he had ment, that could be a house, heat sources “bow drill,” the way cavemen might have firearms, prepper Jon K., of Erie County, done. But they’re also practical and carry said, “Use your imagination.” like blankets and fireplaces, your faucet One administrator for a Facebook prep- The most important aspect of prepping, and extra cans of beans. If people remained tools that make lighting fire far easier. per group said that he’s been adding 2,000 in Jon K.’s opinion, is preserving water and calm and thought those needs out, he said, “There’s a reason why lighters were in- members per week. food, either through drying or canning. they’d find better alternatives at the store. vented,” Dawes said. “The only story we want to tell is that “I went to Target the other day and there All across the country, people who iden- everyone, every member of a community, Michelle has a greenhouse and root cellar was no water on the shelves,” he said. “I tify as “preppers” have spent years stock- should learn the basics of survival not only at her home. went over to the camping aisle and all the piling food and ammunition for disaster for themselves, but for their communities,” Wowak and Dawes agreed that in a sur- water purifiers and jugs were there. You scenarios, and many feel vindicated as the he said in a message. vival scenario, finding food is the most could literally boil a pot of water in the coronavirus and efforts to stop it spread. Wowak and Dawes do not consider critical and difficult task. Buying milk morning and at night.” They’ve often been ridiculed or called themselves “preppers,” as both prefer to and fresh meat is thinking very much in Art Dawes, 51, of Lock Haven, runs PA paranoid, but they have said that many of be called woodsmen who practice bush- the present, Wowak said, but when shop- Wilderness Skills, a business similar to their critics are now asking for their help, craft. Wowak said that he uses firearms for ping for a protracted quarantine, look for Wowak’s. He said that he took a survival including whether they can spare some of hunting , but believes that trapping is more canned foods, protein bars, nuts and even class offered by his junior high school de- their surplus if times get tough. practical when looking for food. pasta — high-caloric foods that can last. Some Pennsylvania preppers agreed to In nature, Wowak said, smaller foods speak to The Philadelphia Inquirer, but like blueberries or frogs are easiest to eat, none would divulge their full names out of but low in calories. Large sources of pro- concern that their locations would be un- tein like deer or turkey are more compli- covered. Many declined to be interviewed, cated, even with a firearm. saying that “the media” perpetuated the “If you were able to kill a deer and it was “prepper” stereotype. 70 degrees out, would you be able to pre- Robert B., 40, of Lebanon County, said serve it?” Wowak said. that he and his daughters have “bug out Both men have told their students to bags” packed in case they have to leave avoid eating plants unless they’re really the house immediately. He owns 45 acres skilled at identifying them. Many can “elsewhere.” Bug out bags usually contain make you sick or worse. Dawes suggested essentials like extra medicine, sleeping buying field guides to edible plants . gear, tools, lighters and more. Wowak said that a lot of strategies per- “We have prepped for different scenar- petuated by film and television aren’t quite ios, from home invasions to mass rioting practical in a true survival situation — like and pandemics to possible war,” Robert B. roasting a fish on an open fire and simply said. eating the fillets. He prefers to boil them None of the preppers could think of a whole and basically consume everything specific event that caused them to start but the bones to get every calorie. Wowak scrapes downward on a ferro rod, creating a very hot, glowing spark that stockpiling. “Even the fish heads,” he said. “The eye- ignites the dry grass he has piled on the ground to make a fire. “I guess growing up in extreme poverty balls kind of liquefy.” Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 13 VIRUS OUTBREAK ROUNDUP New York continues to struggle as overall US deaths increase Associated Press pacity from the current 16,900 to the nearly 30,000 officials said NEW YORK — New York au- might be needed by May. thorities mobilized to head off a The quickest way to boost ca- public health disaster Wednesday, pacity is if existing hospitals with the city’s emergence as the convert other areas to patient nation’s biggest coronavirus hot care, something that they are al- spot a warning flare — and per- ready planning to do. Hospitals haps a cautionary tale — for the are planning to convert recovery rest of the country as U.S. deaths rooms, unused surgical suites and from the pandemic topped 1,000. other areas to boost capacity. A makeshift morgue was set “Even if they can do that by up outside Bellevue Hospital, and 50%, that would be another 8,000 the city’s police, their ranks dwin- beds potentially and another dling as more fall ill, were told to 700 ICU beds,” Health Services patrol nearly empty streets to en- Department Director Dr. Cara force social distancing. Christ said. The state currently Gov. Andrew Cuomo, again has about 1,500 intensive care pleading for help in dealing with unit beds. the onslaught, attributed the clus- ter to the city’s role as a gateway Maryland to international travelers and the sheer density of its population, ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland with 8.6 million people sharing Board of Elections is planning to subways, elevators, apartment do away with polling stations for buildings and offices. the state’s already delayed pri- “Our closeness makes us vul- mary. Voters would instead be nerable,” he said. “But it’s true required to mail in or drop off that your greatest weakness is their ballots in an effort to limit also your greatest strength. And coronavirus infections. our closeness is what makes us If approved, the move would who we are. That is what New eliminate any need for Mary- Dr. Betty Chu, of Henry Ford, and Northampton counties to stay pandemic for politics after Abbott York is.” land’s more than 4 million regis- predicted an “upcoming surge.” home, with few exceptions, as on Sunday halted nonessential tered voters to cast their ballots Beaumont chief executive John more of the state is put under the surgeries in order to free up med- in person on June 2, according to Fox called on the state to invoke directive in an effort to slow the ical supplies to fight COVID-19, Alabama a draft presented by elections of- its power to balance care across virus’ spread. The two counties the disease caused by the virus. ficials at their Wednesday meet- eight regions in the state. are home to more than 670,000 That was followed by Texas MONTGOMERY — Alabama ing, held by teleconference. In western Michigan, where people. Attorney General Ken Paxton, a on Wednesday reported its first The board, citing advice from cases so far are significantly Before Wednesday, Wolf’s Republican, saying that the order coronavirus death as the total health officials, said that it could lower, Grand Rapids-based orders covered eight counties, banned “any type of abortion number of confirmed cases in the not guarantee poll workers the Spectrum Health said that it has including Philadelphia, Allegh- that is not medically necessary to state reached nearly 400, officials gear necessary to protect them room if the region gets a burst of eny County and Philadelphia’s preserve the life or health of the said. against exposure to the virus, patients. four heavily populated suburban mother.” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and The Baltimore Sun reported. counties. The 10 counties account “Abortion is essential health the Alabama Department of Pub- Ballots, with clear instructions Nevada for half of Pennsylvania’s 12.8 care, and it is a time-sensitive lic Health confirmed that the explaining how to return them, million residents and are home service,” said Amy Hagstrom Jackson County resident died LAS VEGAS — A 524-bed would likely need to be mailed to to nearly 80% of the state’s con- Miller, president of Whole Wom- from the COVID-19 disease. The Catholic Charities homeless shel- all registered voters by the end firmed coronavirus cases, as of an’s Health. She said that the governor said that she extends, ter in Las Vegas closed and health of April, Nikki Charlson, deputy Wednesday. 150-plus cancellations across her “my prayers and deepest sym- officials began screening untold administrator for the Board of In a video news conference three clinics in Texas left some pathies to the family and loved numbers of people who used it Elections, said during the meet- Wednesday, Wolf stressed that women “begging for the abor- ones during these extraordinary and a nearby city relief facility ing. Those ballots would in- business owners and their em- tions they needed.” circumstances. clude prepaid postage to be sent after a homeless person was diag- ployees have borne a huge brunt “I continue to urge everyone through the mail, or they could be nosed with the new coronavirus, of the shutdowns, and urged resi- that this virus is real, it is deadly, dropped off in boxes at locations health officials said Wednesday. dents to “step up” and do their West Virginia and we should continue to main- that weren’t yet specified, The The Southern Nevada Health part to help stop the spread of the CHARLESTON — A West Vir- tain social distancing as much as Sun said. District said that the closure was coronavirus. ginia nursing home with at least possible. Together, we will over- prompted by a discovery that a Everyone “must all act as if we 20 coronavirus cases has become come these challenges and diffi- Michigan man who used it and the nearby have it” to avoid spreading it fur- “ground zero” for the state’s cult days,” Ivey said. city Homeless Courtyard servic- ther, he said. growing caseload, officials said DETROIT — Michigan hos- The patient had underlying es center had COVID-19 but had Still, Wolf has resisted offering Wednesday. pitals braced Wednesday for a health problems and passed away recovered. He was no longer con- any sort of projection for when he Carl Shrader, medical director surge of coronavirus cases, as the in a facility outside the state of sidered a risk to others, officials thinks the state could start get- for the Sundale nursing home in number of cases in the state rose Alabama, the Health Depart- said. ting back to normal. Morgantown, said that 16 resi- ment said. The Jackson County to at least 2,294 and the number City officials, who recently “We’re going to recover from dents and four staffers have tested Commission said that the person of deaths nearly doubled, from 24 passed laws banning sleeping this crisis, but first we must get positive for the virus. Seventy-six was a part-time employee at the to 43. Most of the cases — 85% — on public thoroughfares, closed through it,” Wolf said. tests were pending , he said. county courthouse, and they are were reported in Wayne, Oakland a road off Las Vegas Boulevard “This is ground zero for having the area cleaned before and Macomb counties, but more to make room for up to 750 dis- Texas COVID-19 in West Virginia, and employees return to work. than half of the state’s 83 counties placed homeless people to spend I’m sitting in it,” Shrader told have been affected. the night. AUSTIN — Planned Parent- The Associated Press in a phone Beaumont Health and Henry In Reno, the city’s downtown hood joined other abortion pro- Arizona interview. Ford Health System in south- Events Center is serving as a viders Wednesday in suing Texas West Virginia’s total cases have PHOENIX — Officials from eastern Michigan said that they temporary shelter for up to 400 over moving to ban abortions hit at least 52, with the largest Arizona’s health department and were caring for more than 1,000 homeless people displaced by clo- during the coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers COVID-19 patients at their 13 sure of that city’s largest shelters including one clinic owner say- number in Monongalia County, spent hours Wednesday scouring hospitals. Operating rooms were because they couldn’t meet social ing that Republican Gov. Greg where the nursing home is lo- a shuttered Phoenix hospital to being converted into intensive distancing requirements ordered Abbott’s weekend order has al- cated. The grim tally at Sundale see how quickly it could be run- care units and clinics had been by Gov. Steve Sisolak. ready resulted in more than 150 also came on a day when officials ning if an expected surge of coro- turned into rooms for patients canceled appointments. moved to extend tax deadlines and navirus cases hits. needing other medical care. Pennsylvania The federal lawsuit filed in the statewide school closures. The state is looking to reopen “The numbers are changing Austin, Texas, is among the The state has yet to register a two closed Phoenix hospitals and and increasing even in two-hour HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom most high-profile challenges to death due to the coronavirus. But convert a specialty hospital. The intervals,” said Bob Riney, chief Wolf’s administration reported a government response to the testing remains limited, meaning review of the closed St. Luke’s operating officer at Henry Ford, more coronavirus-related deaths coronavirus pandemic. Abortion most people now spreading the Medical Center is part of an ef- whose flagship hospital is in in Pennsylvania on Wednesday providers accused Republican highly contagious virus may not fort to nearly double hospital ca- Detroit. and ordered residents of Lehigh leaders in Texas of exploiting the know that they’ve been infected. PAGE 14 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 WORLD New Zealand mosque gunman pleads guilty

BY NICK PERRY on the Al Noor mosque. “I feel Associated Press conflicted.” She said that on the one hand, WELLINGTON, New Zealand she had wanted to find out more — The man who committed the details about what happened at worst atrocity in New Zealand’s the trial but on the other hand modern history when he slaugh- was feeling relieved about not tered 51 worshippers at two having to face the trauma of sit- Christchurch mosques unexpect- ting through it. edly pleaded guilty to all charges Temel Atacocugu, who sur- SYLVAIN CHERKAOUI/AP Thursday. vived being shot nine times dur- The attacks targeting people ing the attack at Al Noor, said praying at the mosques a year ago he was surprised by the turn of Informative art shocked the nation and prompted events and hoped the judge would new laws banning the deadliest set an example at the sentencing A member of the Senegalese graffiti collective “RBS CREW” paints informational murals advising types of semi-automatic weapons. by imposing the harshest pun- how to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, on the wall of a high school in the Parcelles Assainies It also prompted global changes ishment in the country’s history neighborhood of the capital Dakar, Senegal, on Wednesday. to social media protocols after and helping ensure nothing like it the gunman livestreamed his at- would happen again. tack on Facebook, where it was Judge Cameron Mander has not viewed by hundreds of thousands yet set a sentencing date. Tarrant of people. faces life imprisonment, with the South Korea identifies suspected The sudden turn in the case judge having some discretion in took survivors and relatives by deciding the minimum number of surprise and brought relief to years Tarrant must serve before people across New Zealand. Many becoming eligible for parole. leader of sexual blackmail ring had feared Australian white su- The change in plea came at a premacist Brenton Harrison Tar- hastily arranged court hearing at BY MIN JOO KIM More than 1.8 million people of similar crimes from recur- rant would try to use his trial as a time that New Zealand was be- The Washington Post signed a petition asking the presi- ring,” the agency said Tuesday. a platform to promote his views. ginning a four-week lockdown to dential Blue House to release the Law enforcement authorities in He’d outlined those views in a 74- try and combat the new coronavi- SEOUL, South Korea — South identities of members of a group- South Korea usually refrain from page manifesto he published on- rus. The lockdown meant Tarrant Korean police took the rare step chat network where the videos personally identifying suspects line shortly before the attacks. appeared in the court via video of identifying and parading the had been posted. Local media on grounds of privacy rights and Tarrant, 29, pleaded guilty to link from his jail cell in Auckland suspected leader of a sexual said the network had 260,000 possible impacts on their family 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of and only a handful of people were blackmail ring in front of the people, but police said some were members. attempted murder and one count allowed inside the courtroom, in- press and protesters on Wednes- double-counted and that others Cho appeared in handcuffs of terrorism at the Christchurch cluding the imams from the two day after the case triggered a na- were not paying members. Wednesday outside a Seoul police High Court. He had previously mosques that were attacked. tional uproar. Another petition calling for the office, where he was faced by a pleaded not guilty to all charges Mander said it was unfortunate The police asked prosecutors main suspect to be publicly parad- swarm of reporters and protest- and his trial had been scheduled the lockdown prevented victims on Wednesday to indict Cho Joo- ed in a perp walk attracted more ers before being transported to to start in June. and family members from being bin, 24, for allegedly blackmailing than 2.5 million signatories since the prosecutor’s office. Tarrant is the first person to be able to attend the hearing but the at least 74 women, including 16 his arrest last week. The National “Thank you for stopping the life found guilty of terrorism in New imams were helping to represent minors, into producing sexually Police Agency said it decided to of a demon that could not stop,” Zealand under laws passed after them. He said he wanted to quick- degrading videos of themselves, publicly release Cho’s identity Cho said as he was escorted away the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist at- ly move ahead with the hearing, and then posting in pay-to-view in hopes of deterring similar of- as cameras flashed and protest- tacks in the U.S. especially with the COVID-19 re- chat rooms. fenses. It cited “his malicious and ers shouted. He apologized to “all The change in plea came less sponse threatening delays to the The allegations prompted a repetitive criminal method that the people who have been hurt by than two weeks after New Zea- court schedule. national outcry in South Korea forced sexually abusive videos me,” but he did not answer ques- landers commemorated those Tarrant, who was wearing a over a growing spate of online out of women whom he labeled tions about the accusations . who died on the anniversary of gray prison sweater, showed lit- postings of illegal sexual images slaves.” President Moon Jae-in on Mon- the March 15, 2019, attacks. tle emotion as he pleaded guilty. obtained through blackmail or “We decided to release his day ordered a thorough investiga- “Honestly, I’m still trying to He didn’t indicate why he had filmed secretly — a practice that name, age and face after review- tion of all operators and members process what just happened,” said changed his pleas, and his lawyer critics say is aggravated by lack ing how it would serve the public of the chat-room network, calling Aya Al-Umari, whose brother could not immediately be reached of respect for women and weak interest regarding the people’s it a “cruelty that destroys a per- Hussein was killed in the attack for comment. laws and penalties. right to know and the prevention son’s life.” Family: US government believes ex-FBI agent Robert Levinson has died

BY ERIC TUCKER said Wednesday evening that the The government’s acknowledg- about Levinson had come from dently on a private investigation. Associated Press U.S. believes Levinson “may have ment of Levinson’s death came Iran’s foreign minister. But a 2013 Associated Press in- passed away some time ago.” hours after a White House brief- “It is impossible to describe vestigation revealed that Levin- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Hours earlier, his family said ing in which President Donald our pain,” the family’s statement son had been sent on a mission by government has concluded that information U.S. officials had re- Trump appeared to equivocate on said. “Our family will spend the CIA analysts who had no author- retired FBI agent Robert Levin- ceived had led them to conclude the news, saying, “I won’t accept rest of our lives without the most ity to run such an operation. son, who vanished more than he was dead. Neither the govern- that he’s dead.” amazing man, a new reality that The family statement also said: a decade ago, died while in the ment nor the family described U.S. officials communicated is inconceivable to us. His grand- “Those who are responsible for custody of Iran, his family and that information. the news to Levinson’s family in children will never meet him. ” administration officials said The death is believed to have a meeting in Washington in re- Levinson disappeared on what happened to Bob Levin- Wednesday. occurred before the recent out- cent weeks, according to a person March 9, 2007, when he was son, including those in the U.S. The circumstances and tim- break of the coronavirus that has familiar with the situation who scheduled to meet a source on the government who for many years ing of Levinson’s death were un- gravely affected Iran and other spoke on condition of anonymity Iranian island of Kish. For years, repeatedly left him behind, will clear, but White House national countries, according to a state- to discuss the private encounter. U.S. officials would say only that ultimately receive justice for security adviser Robert O’Brien ment from Levinson’s family. The person said the information Levinson was working indepen- what they have done.” Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 15 FACES

BY ELAHE IZADI The Washington Post Gaga delaying Maura Quint’s self-isolating days in Pennsylvania are packed with full-time work and home-schooling her two young album release children. So, exhausted one evening last From wire services week, she put her kids to bed and mind- lessly flipped on the TV. Lady Gaga won’t be dropping her A character walked out of a building and highly anticipated new album, “Chro- onto a busy street packed with people, get- matica,” next month as planned. Ini- ting lost in the crowd. It shocked Quint. tially scheduled for April 10, the release “Without even noticing it, I was panick- has been postponed due to the coronavi- ing in the same way as watching a horror rus pandemic. film and you have that tense feeling that The “Shallow” singer and actress an- you’re about to be murdered,” she said. “I nounced on her social media Tuesday had to check myself: Why am I upset? Oh, morning that she is pushing back the now I’ve conditioned myself to see that as a album’s release indefinitely. threat as much as I’d see Freddy Krueger It joins a list of other high-profile or some terrible beast as a threat.” album postponements, including Haim’s On television, scientists, journalists and “Women in Music Pt. III,” Alicia Keys’ chyrons keep warning us that the most “Alicia” and Willie Nelson’s “First Rose important, civic-minded thing to do in of Spring.” the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is to In her lengthy post, Gaga also re- stay away from other people. And then we vealed that she’d been planning a sur- change the channel or queue up Netflix for iStock prise Coachella performance this year a reprieve and all we see are friends host- before coronavirus concerns postponed ing big parties, shaking strangers’ hands the festival from April to early October. and oh, dear God, touching their faces. “This is such a scary and hectic time There is no Purell in sight and a shocking for all of us, and while I believe art is lack of hand-washing. one of the strongest things we have to The contrast between our reality and provide joy and healing to each other our entertainment captures how swiftly A different world during times like this, it just doesn’t feel life has changed. Television shows, movies right to me to release this album with and commercials filmed and finalized just all that is going on during this global months ago are now artifacts of a simpler pandemic,” Gage wrote. time, one in which the term “social distanc- All over our TVs, characters are behaving Gaga released the album’s first single, ing” sounded less like a way to save lives “Stupid Love,” at the end of February. and more like a Goop-approved retreat. TV and streaming services “provide in ways we’ve been teaching ourselves not to Other news an important health benefit by allowing people to get away from the crisis they’re since the global coronavirus threat began  AMC announced Tuesday that its experiencing ... and go into this fantasy, signature series, “The Walking Dead,” fictitious world for a couple of hours,” said will end its current season one week Paul Levinson, a communications and earlier than planned, due to the corona- media professor at Fordham University. virus shutdown. A statement from AMC “But to some extent, that’s now even being said that the current season would end undermined,” because viewers notice the with the 15th episode, which airs April 5 absence of the coronavirus on shows they stateside. According to the network, the watch. planned finale of the postapocalyptic “It’s very hard to switch from, ‘You’re saga will appear “as a special episode not supposed to be too close to anyone,’ to later in the year.” ‘here’s a show where everyone’s frolicking  The South by Southwest Film Fes- in a pool or bar or on the street,’ ” Levin- tival announced its jury prize winners son added. “That’s diminished the value of Tuesday. The juries that decided on television as a vehicle of escape.” those prizes are among the only people People experiencing such dissonance iStock NBC to have seen the winning films, because have embraced the need to put public health first. They are staying home to People preparing for a cruise? That’s not Teens can forget about cuddling with the festival, originally scheduled to run isolate so they can slow the spread of the a vacation aspiration; that’s a plot setup their significant others these days, as in from March 13-21, was canceled. The novel coronavirus and not overwhelm the for a horror movie. this scene from “This Is Us.” narrative feature competition award health-care system. went to Cooper Raiff’s “Sh--house,” It’s a message that Steve Carbone, who things that are a lot of fun feels tone-deaf,” cies, but it had nary a word about COVID- while the documentary feature compe- has been socially isolating in Texas, “can’t he said. “They’re meant for another time 19. “It was bizarre,” Levinson said. tition award went to Katrine Philp’s “An not think about it right now,” even as he when we had the freedom and bandwidth Fictitious shows and movies that are far Elephant in the Room.”  caught up last weekend on episodes he to spend money on frivolous things or removed from reality, such as science fic- The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame missed of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and things that would bring us into such close tion programs set a thousand years in the induction ceremony will go ahead in “This Is Us.” contact with other people.” future, may offer viewers more of an es- November, six months after its origi- “It’s just clear that these shows were Cohen understands that commercials capist retreat, Cohen said. “The less real- nal date. The ceremony will take place taped before the guidance. Yet every single are needed to support programming, but istic the television show, the less that kind on Nov. 7 at the Public Auditorium in scene where it seems like social distancing it’s jarring, in the same way as it’s jarring of discordant effect sets in.” Cleveland, HBO announced Tuesday. is being violated, I think, ‘Oh, it doesn’t to sit on the porch on a nice early spring It may be annoying to not be able to for- Whitney Houston, The Notorious B.I.G., look right.’ Or I wonder what it’d be like day “and then have to bring yourself back get the counsel of public-health experts Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, if they filmed it now,” he said. “That’s all to remembering we’re in the middle of a even when we watch stuff like “Love Is- Nine Inch Nails and T. Rex are set to be ‘This Is Us’ is: people being together and pandemic, and much of this country is in land.” But there is a small glimmer of inducted in the 2020 class. hugging.” the middle of social distancing and shut- comfort within this: As a society, we are  The 74th Tony Awards have been Carbone tweeted about the surreal expe- ting down.” capable of changing our thoughts and be- postponed indefinitely. The Broadway- rience, and more than 6,000 people liked Shows that pride themselves on realism haviors when needed. lauding ceremony was scheduled to it. can be especially unsettling. Last Wednes- “It’s fascinating to see how quickly we air on CBS, broadcasting live on June David Cohen in Pennsylvania has been day, Levinson and his wife sat down for can adjust to what we consider normal,” 7 from Radio City Music Hall in New having a particularly hard time watching their weekly viewing of NBC’s Chicago- Quint said. “And I’m sure that shows us as York City. It was announced Wednes- commercials right now. He and his wife themed block of dramas, including “Chi- well that we will be able to readjust back day that the event will be rescheduled find escape through shows such as “Home- cago Med” (which has since shut down when it’s time.” at a later date. land” and “This Is Us,” but then he’ll see production and announced it will donate its But for now, we’ll continue to keep six  The Golden Globes will accept ads for cars or cruise lines. medical supplies to Illinois’ health depart- feet apart and just deal with cringing at movie submissions without a theatri- “It’s almost feels like every commercial ment). The show takes place in a hospital fictional characters who aren’t doing the cal release for the first time due to the where you see lots of people together doing with a medical team handling emergen- same. coronavirus pandemic, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Thursday. The press association said ‘ It’s very hard to switch from, “You’re not supposed to be too close to anyone,” films that are first released on televi- sion or a streaming service will be to “Here’s a show where everyone’s frolicking in a pool or bar or on the street. eligible for January’s Globes. Usually, THAT’S DIMINISHED THE VALUE OF TELEVISION AS A VEHICLE OF ESCAPE. the Globes mandate that a film play for ’ a week in a Los Angeles theater or on Paul Levinson pay-per-view, as well as have an official communications and media professor at Fordham University screening for its voting members. PAGE 16 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 AMERICAN ROUNDUP Squirrel sparks power loss near mansion

JUNEAU — An squir- AK rel knocked out power to residences near the state gov- ernor’s mansion, Alaska electric company officials said. The squirrel was interfering with equipment when the tem- porary loss of electrical service happened in Juneau on Monday, The Juneau Empire reported. “Our crews were on site very quickly, and found it not alive,” said Debbie Driscoll, Alaska Electric Light and Power vice president of consumer affairs. The squirrel generated a prob- lem with fuses and sparked the power outage experienced by 15 customers. Police: Another truck damages covered bridge

LYNDON — Another VT truck has damaged a historic covered bridge in north- ern Vermont that had been closed for months for repairs last spring after it was hit by a produce truck, police said. The Miller’s Run Covered Bridge in Lyndon was damaged at both ends early Monday by a tractor-trailer and closed to traf- fic for several hours, the Caledo- nian Record reported. The truck driver from Laval, Quebec, did not stop after hit- CHRIS O’MEARA/AP ting the bridge’s facade with the top of trailer, police said. Police Chief Jack Harris said he later Cruising past the boats found the truck in Lyndonville as the driver was waiting to make a A runner makes her way along the Davis Islands Yacht Basin on a beautiful spring day Wednesday in Tampa, Fla. delivery. The driver was issued a ticket and a $12,295 fine for being March 11 drawing to win a $3 THE CENSUS of Trenton, allegedly sold the leaf 71,000 pounds overweight on the million jackpot. The winning blowers, lawnmowers, edgers bridge. numbers were 11, 16, 23, 26, 31 The number of illegal prescriptions a south Geor- and weed whackers on Facebook The bridge reopened later in and 38. Kasal won the $50,000 gia pharmacy gave out, authorities said. Chip’s Marketplace and in person. the day after the town crew made prize in 2002 . Discount Drugs in Hazlehurst and pharmacist Police executed a search war- some repairs but more extensive 350K Rogers “Chip” Wood Jr. settled on a federal law- rant Thursday on a farm owned work is necessary, Lyndon Town suit and agreed to pay over $2 million in fines, Postal worker accused by Riley in Hamilton where he Administrator Justin Smith said . U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine said Tuesday in a news release. According to of running over woman the lawsuit, the pharmacy dispensed thousands of illegal prescriptions for opioids stored some of the stolen prop- New Veterans Memorial and other substances written by Dr. Frank Bynes Jr. over the course of two years. erty, authorities say . Park planned WOODSTOCK — A Bynes was sentenced in February to 20 years in federal prison. GA U.S. postal worker was Deputies seize cocaine in custody Tuesday and accused TAOS — Volunteers of running over a woman in Geor- worth estimated $3.5M and veterans are ex-girlfriend and obstructing of- hour, including one that damaged NM gia with her mail truck and lying helping lead an effort to build a ficers investigating the case. a downtown motel. about it. DURHAM — Depu- new Veterans Memorial Park in Lewis and Clark County Sher- Morris Snead was booked into The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office NC ties in North Caro- Taos. iff Leo Dutton said Ricky James the Washoe County Jail on Mon- said Jaynie Underwood, 38, of Ac- lina say they’ve seized cocaine The Albuquerque Journal re- Shelbourn was arrested on the day on seven counts of third-de- worth an estimated $3.5 million ported the nonprofit group Not worth, was arrested on charges of misdemeanor charges on March gree arson. from a storage locker and related Forgotten Outreach Inc. is taking improper backing, failure to ex- 16, the Independent Record re- Police say they received re- searches. the lead in a coalition that plans to ercise due care and giving false ported Monday. ports of five small fires downtown begin work this spring. statements to authorities about Shelbourn, the supervisory se- on Monday between 3:30 a.m. and A news release Monday from Earlier this year, the nonprofit the incident, which happened nior resident agent in Montana, 4 a.m. One forced the evacuation the Durham County Sheriff’s Of- received a $23,000 grant from March 18. was released on his own recogni- of a motel and caused damage to fice said the busts that netted 35 the Christopher & Dana Reeves According to the sheriff’s of- zance. He is not allowed to possess the building. pounds of uncut cocaine were co- Foundation. The grant will un- fice, Underwood told deputies or have access to any firearms. Police say Snead was arrested ordinated with the Craven Coun- derwrite the construction of an Barbara Daniels, 60, of Wood- The FBI branch did not imme- shortly after he was identified ty Sheriff’s Office and state and Americans with Disabilities Act- stock, was standing in grass near diately respond to calls. through surveillance video. federal investigators. accessible walking trail cross- her mailbox as she passed by. She An arrest affidavit by the Mon- Authorities said that the seizure said when she looked back, Dan- ing over a spring-fed drainage tana Department of Justice Di- Police: 2 men stole over was preceded by a tip in Craven iels was lying in the road. Depu- waterway. vision of Criminal Investigation County that led to a traffic stop on ties asked if her truck hit Daniels, $380K in equipment Taos County has a population said a woman described “sub- March 19. Information gleaned of more than 3,000 veterans. but she said it had not. stantial emotional distress“ in from that traffic stop led Durham Investigators later found cam- 2019 after she ended an “inter- HAMILTON — Two County deputies using a search W oman wins bigger era footage that shows the truck mittent, intimate relationship” of NJ men have been arrest- backing up and hitting Daniels , about three years. ed after hundreds of thousands dog to a storage locker where they Lottery prize this time who is being treated at an area of dollars worth of landscaping found most of the cocaine. hospital for a serious head injury Arson suspect charged equipment was stolen, police in In Craven County, deputies ST. LOUIS — A St. New Jersey said. seized a smaller quantity of co- MO Louis woman who FBI agent charged with in 5 trash bin fires According to Hamilton Po- caine, firearms and $175,000 in won $50,000 in a Lottery game 18 lice, Clint Riley, 39, and Kevin cash. Two men were charged, years ago has won again, and this stalking ex-girlfriend RENO — Reno police Cedeno-Ruiz, 24, stole equipment including one man in Greensboro time the prize is much bigger. NV have arrested a 62- worth more than $380,000 over The Missouri Lottery said HELENA — A Mon- year-old arson suspect accused the span of a year, NJ Advance who authorities described as a Wednesday that Anne Kasal MT tana FBI agent has of starting five fires in trash cans Media reported. major trafficker. matched all six numbers in the been charged with stalking his and dumpsters in less than an Riley and Cedeno-Ruiz, both From wire reports Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 17 PAGE 18 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 OPINION Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Sean Klimek, Europe commander Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander Analogies fail: We’ve never been here before Caroline E. Miller, Europe Business Operations BY ADAM TOOZE war would be over by Christmas, there for $1,200 and small-business loans are not Joshua M. Lashbrook, Pacific Chief of Staff Special to The Washington Post was, at first, little mobilization and a rise in going to fix that. It will not be enough for unemployment. The disruption was limited them to survive. EDITORIAL n trying to gauge the coronavirus cri- in scope and duration. No one dreamed of In a crisis, credit is crucial. It is the way sis, we are all struggling for historical shutting shops or restaurants. economies bridge time. Faced with the Terry Leonard, Editor reference points. Which is the histori- Grimmer analogies are to wars lost. The coronavirus, some creditors will behave [email protected] Ical example to choose? former Soviet Union in the early 1990s responsibly, playing their parts in absorb- Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor The turmoil in the financial markets and comes to mind. But that implosion reflect- ing some of the loss. But not all will. Not [email protected] the talk of bailouts reminds us of 2008. But ed the disintegration of a failed economic all can. They themselves are under acute though the shock comes at the end of a long Managing Editor for Content system and stretched over decades. financial pressure. That is what is rocking Tina Croley, economic upswing, it is not organically re- [email protected] Sometimes a useful thing for historians the financial markets. lated to that long period of growth. Some to do is to point out when something seems Economists recognize that you can’t undo Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation overstretched businesses are getting their radically new. That is our situation today . the damage done by these kinds of shocks. [email protected] comeuppance, no doubt. But even the air- The most optimistic recasting of the They call it scarring. To have minimized lines, the firms everyone loves to hate, are Managing Editor for Digital present crisis came recently from St. Louis this, we would have needed to prepare the Joe Gromelski, not to blame. [email protected] Federal Reserve President James Bullard, financial world for the lockdown six weeks It isn’t a black swan event, either. A pan- who urged his fellow economists to view ago and have rolled it out comprehensively, demic risk was well-mapped by experts. the output collapse not as something to with forewarning. We have already blown BUREAU STAFF We just chose to ignore them. And now we fight against, but as akin to an investment, our chances of that. Estimates suggest a are making an unprecedented public poli- an investment in public health, the price record-breaking 3.4 million Americans Europe/Mideast cy choice to shut down the economy. Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief for which is paid not in cash but in kind, filed for unemployment last week, and this [email protected] So, is it like a war? References to World in the form of enforced idling of labor and week’s total will surely be higher. Each of +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 War II encourage feelings of patriotic mo- capital. This is helpful because it softens those layoffs creates lasting damage. bilization. But mobilization is precisely not the idea of a shutdown into a kind of collec- And then think about the politics, first Pacific our goal. Nonessential sectors would be tive abstention from economic activity and Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief of fighting this virus and then recovering [email protected] furloughed in a war effort, too, but their thus opens the optimistic vista of restart- from it. In a fantasy world, it is possible to +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 workers and plants would likely be rapidly ing the economy just as it was before. imagine that smoothly injecting $2 trillion reallocated to war duty. If COVID-19 were But though we are about to absorb $2 into the U.S. economy would be the begin- Washington the kind of disease that required a broad- trillion — nearly one-tenth of last year’s ning of a healthy national debate about pri- Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief front medical mobilization, the military GDP — onto the public balance sheet, and orities and where to go from here. But does [email protected] analogy might work better. After all, in (+1)(202)886-0033 though this will be hailed as the biggest that sound like the United States, not just in Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News 2020, health care, at 18%, already accounts stimulus in history, its impact on the daily 2020 but any time in the past few decades? [email protected] for a far larger share of the U.S. economy struggles of Americans amid the coming We are where we are because we were than defense did at the time of Pearl Har- pandemic recession is uncertain. too slow, because we allowed the virus to CIRCULATION bor. But, except for overstretched intensive An alarmingly large percentage of overwhelm us, because the resources of care and respiratory care units, the health American families live paycheck to pay- our government have been gutted and be- Mideast care system is shutting down, too. Even as check. Their margins of safety are so slim cause our politics are dysfunctional. Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager [email protected] medical staff are working to exhaustion that even a brief period of reduced hours In our circumstances, historical analo- [email protected] and braving risks of infection, their em- has long-term catastrophic effects. What gies can easily become a form of danger- DSN (314)583-9111 ployers, both hospitals and private prac- savings they have will evaporate. Making ous nostalgia. This isn’t 1914. It isn’t 1941. Europe tices, are facing financial catastrophe. them “whole,” as well-heeled people like to It isn’t even 2008. It is 2020. So expect all Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager There are historical analogies to this say, will be extremely difficult. They were hell to break loose. kind of collective shutdown, but they are not whole to start with. Millions of people [email protected] Adam Tooze, author of “Crashed: How a Decade [email protected] not attractive. In 1914, when Europeans work in businesses that are similarly on the of Financial Crises Changed the World,” teaches +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 deluded themselves into thinking that the boundary between life and death. Checks history at Columbia University. Pacific Mari Mori, [email protected] +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 CONTACT US Botched response means we’re all socialists now

Washington BY GARY ABERNATHY the most vulnerable among us. It would be ernors around the nation would have hesi- tel: (+1)202.886.0003 The Washington Post interesting to poll the “most vulnerable” to tated to close business and industry. We’ll 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 determine whether they agree with wreck- never know. Instead, they felt empowered Reader letters HILLSBORO, Ohio ing the economy. to act with impunity, safe in the knowledge [email protected] undits are speculating on what But the snowball started rolling, state that no matter how many businesses were impact the coronavirus pandemic by state. One directive led to the next. Mil- forced to close and people thrown out of Additional contacts will have on the presidential race, lions were ordered home, where they wait work in the name of public safety, there stripes.com/contactus Pbut we know the answer. Sen. for their government to tell them it’s OK to would be a federal bailout. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., or at least his phi- come out. Without a doubt, some parts of the And so they were right. This week, our OMBUDSMAN losophy, has won. country were hit harder and needed to take leaders agreed to devote trillions of dollars Ernie Gates Our march toward socialism began in- stronger measures. But a one-size-fits-all to respond to this economic calamity of our crementally decades ago. But our response mentality was disastrous, and we are only own creation, spending at levels that will to the coronavirus will lead to its perma- The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow beginning to explore more nuanced ideas make the 2008-09 bailouts and stimulus of news and information, reporting any attempts by the nent implementation after elected officials for mitigating the risk to seniors and oth- package look like testaments to frugality. military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s of both parties shuttered businesses, or- ers who are at heightened risk. In recent It will be what we do from now on. independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns dered citizens not to go to work and made and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for fair- days, Trump has indicated he might soon In his 2019 State of the Union address, clear that there would be more draconian ness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman reverse course and lift federal restrictions. Trump said: “America was founded on lib- welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted measures to come. The delicate balance It’s already too late. The economy can’t be erty and independence — not government by email at [email protected], or by phone at between freedom and risk was less than an coercion, domination and control. We are 202.886.0003. turned on and off like a light switch. afterthought as our economy was gutted in We live in a world where politicians of born free, and we will stay free. Tonight, a matter of days. we renew our resolve that America will both parties promise no pain and no con- Most disappointing of all has been Presi- never be a socialist country.” So much for Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- sequences. That includes the president. days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday dent Donald Trump, who — after initially that. We have crossed the Rubicon. When As the push for a big intervention began, through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and trying, rightfully, to calm the population historians record the moment that the U.S. Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals and the markets — fell into line after a few Trump vowed that hourly wage workers economy transitioned from free-market postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send were “not going to miss a paycheck” and address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, days of attacks. Trump turned the coun- capitalism to democratic socialism, they APO AP 96301-5002. try over to health professionals, who were “don’t get penalized for something that’s will point to this week. Watching it all un- This newspaper is authorized by the Department of not their fault.” Defense for members of the military services overseas. understandably focused solely on the best fold has been like witnessing a plane crash However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, medical remedies. Sadly, no one seemed to In real life, bad things happen to us that in slow motion. When the smoke clears, and are not to be considered as the official views of, or worry much about protecting the economy aren’t our fault, but we still have to find a what’s left will be a feeble relic of the Unit- endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspaper, way, usually on our own, to cope and recov- Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official chan- or ensuring civil liberties, which, yes, must ed States we once knew. nels and use appropriated funds for distribution to remote be protected even in the face of a commu- er. Only in the land of make-believe that is For months, the rising influence of locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. nicable disease. our government would anyone think that big-government liberals such as Sand- The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense The cause of all this upheaval was a no one would miss a paycheck no matter ers, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and or Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. virus that, according to Johns Hopkins, how many businesses were closed or jobs Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Products or services advertised shall be made available for so far has killed no one under 10 and has a were lost. Airlines and the hospitality in- purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, has caused many Democrats to worry that religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical case mortality rate of 0.2% to 0.4% for peo- dustry can be rescued. Businesses large their nominee would be vulnerable to the handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor ple age 10-49, rising with age as people de- and small can get bailouts or low-interest label “socialist.” They should no longer be of the purchaser, user or patron. velop more underlying medical conditions loans. Millions of Americans will receive concerned. We are all socialists now. — all the way up to 14.8% for people 80 and $1,200 checks, maybe multiple times. © Stars and Stripes 2020 Gary Abernathy, a contributing columnist for The older. We were told that the closings and Without having every reason to believe Washington Post, is a freelance writer and former stripes.com restrictions were the only way to protect that Uncle Sam would step in, perhaps gov- newspaper editor based in Hillsboro, Ohio. Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 19 OPINION

assailed across the U.S. and around the What newspapers world as purported sources of the “Chi- nese flu,” the “Wuhan coronavirus” or simply the “foreign virus.” Once again, a are saying at home mysterious, fast-spreading and sometimes lethal disease is exacerbating racism and The following editorial excerpts are se- hatred — only now with the help of the po- lected from a cross section of newspapers tent megaphone of social media. throughout the United States. The editori- As the coronavirus has spread from als are provided by The Associated Press its beachhead in Wuhan, China, old anti- and other stateside syndicates. Asian prejudices have spread with it, from the “Yellow Peril” canard that led to the lynching of Chinese in the 1870s to stereo- To tackle virus crisis, mimic types of Chinese as dirty and decrepit. an elite athlete’s approach As The Times reported on Monday, Chi- The Baltimore Sun nese Americans and other Asians lumped Historically, it takes a war to postpone or together with them by racists are being cancel the modern Olympic Games. Since beaten, spat on, yelled at and insulted from 1896, there have been three cancellations coast to coast. — the 1916 Berlin games (World War I); The U.S. is not alone in this blight of and the 1940 and 1944 games (World War xenophobia. Japan’s Kyodo News agency II) in Japan, then Helsinki, Finland, and, described similar incidents of anti-Asian for the latter games, London and Italy. bigotry wherever the coronavirus has That’s a pretty high standard. There have struck: Asian students pelted with eggs been Olympics in some pretty bad times in Leicestershire, England, or people in Egypt yelling out “corona” when passing from the rise of Adolf Hitler’s Germany in KOJI SASAHARA/AP 1936 to the post-Afghanistan invasion by Asians in the street. Vile posts on social the Soviet Union Olympics of 1980, which A man walks in front of a Tokyo Olympics logo at the Tokyo metropolitan government media have made graphic threats in rants the United States and some of its western headquarters building Wednesday . The Olympic torch relay was postponed Tuesday against Asians over the coronavirus. allies boycotted. because the Tokyo Games themselves were pushed back to 2021. However much mystery still surrounds Tuesday’s announcement by Japan’s the coronavirus, these are not the Dark Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he and the Private companies know their vert resources from other lines. Ages, and there really should be no rea- International Olympic Committee came Businesses know their workforce ca- son to remind people that this terrible new to an agreement to postpone the summer processes best as they chip in pacities and supply chains better than the virus makes no distinction among races games to the summer of 2021 at the latest The Wall Street Journal government — and how to retool them to or nations. Though it makes good medi- came as no big surprise under the circum- President Donald Trump can’t do right maximize efficiency. Dozens of breweries cal sense to keep a distance from people stances. But it should serve as a reminder by some critics no matter what he does. and distillers including Anheuser-Busch who have been to an area with a high rate that the coronavirus outbreak will not be For three years he’s been denounced as and Pernod Ricard USA are churning out of infection — which today is effectively over in a matter of days or even weeks: The a reckless authoritarian, and now he’s at- hand sanitizer. General Electric plans to anywhere — it is foolish and malicious to Olympics were not set to open in Tokyo tacked for not being authoritarian enough hire more workers to produce ventilators hold the Chinese (or any other) people re- until July 24. by refusing to commandeer American in- even while it lays off thousands in aviation. sponsible for the spread of the virus, or to “The leaders agreed that the Olympic dustry. The truth is that private industry Fuel cell manufacturer Bloom Energy is assume that they are somehow more likely Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon is responding to the coronavirus with- retrofitting hundreds of old ventilators for to be its carriers. of hope to the world during these troubled out command and control by the federal the state of California. A time of great fear and danger requires times and that the Olympic flame could government. Ford said Tuesday that it would start solidarity, humanity, sacrifice and hope, become the light at the end of the tunnel Last week Trump invoked the 1950 De- assembling plastic face shields and work and not hysteria or hatred. That should be in which the world finds itself at present,” fense Production Act that lets a president with 3M and GE to make respirators and the message of the world’s political, social, the parties announced in a joint statement. during a national emergency order busi- ventilators. General Motors is also explor- religious and corporate leaders as they race to find ways to cope with the lethal That is a lovely thought. And it certainly is ness to manufacture products for national ing how to use its global automotive supply virus. Many leaders have done just that. not the first time that world leaders looked defense, set wage and price controls and chain to make ventilators. Ford’s CEO said It is more than unfortunate, then, that to the world’s largest sporting event to allocate materials. On Tuesday the Feder- its ventilators could be available by June, President Donald Trump, some members salve global wounds. al Emergency Management Agency used and it isn’t obvious that a government take- of his Cabinet and some conservative poli- Athletes are likely disappointed. World- the Korean War-era law for the first time over of manufacturing would speed this ticians have opted to fan the bigotry by de- class skills can be a perishable commodity. in this crisis to procure and distribute test- up. It might make sense for the federal liberately using the term “Wuhan virus” But they, perhaps better than most, under- ing kits and face masks. government to purchase supplies from or “Chinese virus.” Trump, who spent manufacturers and then allocate them to stand the limits of the human body and the But Democrats want the administra- previous months calling it the coronavi- hospitals and states with the highest need. risks conducting the games would have tion to take over much more of the private rus, started defending the use of “Chinese presented to everyone involved including economy. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo But it doesn’t make sense to order manu- virus” last week. Photographs of a text of their families. Meanwhile, Japan is look- on Sunday tweeted that the federal govern- facturers to make nose swabs or chemical the speech he was reading seemed to show ing at a major economic blow. President ment should “nationalize the medical sup- reagents for testing kits if they don’t have “Corona” lined out and “Chinese” written Donald Trump is already given to com- ply chain” and “order companies to make the expertise or suppliers to do so. in the president’s hand. Trump tweeted paring the battle against COVID-19 to a gowns, masks and gloves.” He has been The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can support of the Asian American community military conflict, positioning himself as a echoed by Democratic governors and lead- also help convert vacant hotels and col- on Monday, but his many supporters online wartime president. In a sense, the delay of ers in Congress. lege dorms into makeshift hospitals, as it had already embraced his formulation. the Olympics supports that narrative. Yet businesses across America are al- is doing in New York. When this pandemic In tying the virus to China, the president But the Olympics will rise again. Just ready chipping in where they can. Aero- is over, one of the lessons is likely to be that has also adopted the argument of Mike as the U.S. and other nations will emerge space manufacturer Honeywell plans to the government should have done more Pompeo, the secretary of state, that refer- from these days and weeks of quaran- hire 500 workers at its plant in Rhode Is- earlier to purchase and surge medical ring to Wuhan or China is payback for Chi- tine. People will get back to work. Schools land, which currently produces safety gog- equipment to hospitals. nese disinformation and for Beijing’s delay will eventually reopen. The economy will gles, to make millions of N95 face masks But dictating to businesses now will in letting the world know of the outbreak. bounce back. But there’s a lesson in sports for medical professionals. 3M has doubled lead to bureaucratic snafus and inefficien- Of course, it is possible to hold the Chinese about health and injury. Athletes who its global output of N95 masks and this cies. Trump said Sunday “we’re a country government accountable for its handling of have serious injury and try to get back in week is sending 500,000 respirators to hot not based on nationalizing our business.” the crisis and its spread of misinformation the game prematurely often cause a far spots in the U.S. That’s the right impulse. America needs to without maligning a nation of more than worse outcome, turning a sprained knee, Corporations including Apple, Face- emerge from this with a private economy 1.3 billion people or the people of Chinese for example, into a candidate for surgery. book, Tesla and Goldman Sachs are donat- intact and ready to grow again, not nation- descent around the world. Patience is as much a part of competi- ing millions of medical masks stockpiled alized industries subject to bureaucratic The xenophobia and prejudices that re- tion as motivation. Coaches often call this for wildfires or a biochemical attack. Ap- and political control. sult from naming new infectious diseases “playing smart.” Sometimes, you accept parel manufacturers are repurposing tex- after places, people or animals are the rea- short-term setbacks in order to achieve tile mills to produce personal protective Loaded terms for coronavirus sons the World Health Organization has long-term gain. equipment. Hanes plans to manufacture urged against doing so, and instead using Preventing hospitals and other medi- masks using U.S. cotton at factories in El harm all, don’t help recovery generic descriptive terms like “coronavi- cal providers from being overwhelmed by Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican The New York Times rus.” Names like Middle East Respiratory COVID-19 victims, that’s the goal here, Republic. Diverse supply chains can help We’ve been down this road before, too Syndrome, Spanish flu, swine flu or mon- that’s the finish line. businesses operate more flexibly during a many times. In the 14th century the Black key pox, the WHO said, can have serious Here’s the best part of the Olympic post- crisis since they don’t depend on any single Death provoked mass violence against consequences, whether provoking a back- ponement: It wasn’t about politics. Orga- country for materials or workers. That’s Jews, Catalans, clerics and beggars; when lash against members of a particular com- nizers simply recognized that this was why an America first or America only gov- syphilis spread in the 15th century, it was munity or prompting needless slaughter of not the time. The risks were not worth the ernment supply order would be a mistake. called variously the Neapolitan, French, food animals. reward. Reason won the day. We cheer for Maine-based Puritan Medical Prod- Polish and German disease, depending In the end, though, the hatreds spread by elected leaders who approach the outbreak ucts, one of America’s top sources for nose on who was pointing the blame; when the the coronavirus are not solely the product in the manner of an athlete looking to win swabs, says it has been rushing to keep up plague struck Honolulu in 1899, officials of politics, but of the deep fears that have the gold: Pay no attention to the complain- with orders even as some workers have be- burned down Chinatown. And so on, down always accompanied the outbreak of lethal ers, don’t get distracted by the unimport- come sick. Directing the company to pro- to our times, when epidemics like Ebola, pathogens. It is for all Americans to try, in ant, listen to expert coaching, focus on the duce more coronavirus swabs won’t do any SARS and Zika fueled animus toward spe- whatever ways they can, to remain united goal at hand, recognize our limits and, of good if it can’t get more workers and could cific regions or peoples. and compassionate as the disease invades course, saying a little prayer never hurt. create a shortage of flu tests if it has to di- Here we are in 2020, with Asians being all facets of our lives. PAGE 20 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 21 SCOREBOARD/MLB

Sports on AFN Baseball willing to get creative

Associated Press on a conference call Wednesday. DID YOU KNOW ? “But it’s certainly probably an op- Go to the American Forces TORONTO — If Major League Network website for the most Baseball needs to squeeze more portunity to try some things that By averaging nine games a week, up-to-date TV schedules. games into a condensed sea- you wouldn’t otherwise try in a myafn.net son without exhausting pitching a team could play 162 games in normal 162-game setting where staffs, perhaps this idea could 18 weeks, eight fewer than usual. everything’s kind of going off ac- Deals get tossed into play: seven-inning That means MLB could start as cording to plan.” doubleheaders. late as July and play a full schedule Atkins pitched in Cleveland’s “Maybe that’s something we by extending the regular season minor league system for five sea- Wednesday’s transactions have to consider,” Toronto Blue through October. sons before becoming that team’s BASEBALL Jays general manager Ross At- assistant director of player devel- Major League Baseball SOURCE: Associated Press American League kins said on a conference call opment. He was hired as Toron- BOSTON RED SOX — Agreed to terms Wednesday. to’s GM in December 2015. with 2B Yairo Munoz on a minor league doubleheaders might be neces- contract. Opening day has been post- sary to help fit more games into a Asked what he saw as potential KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Designated poned until at least mid-May LHP Eric Skogland for assignment and shorter window. solutions to scheduling issues, KENT NISHIMURA/TNS purchased the contract of RHP Trevor because of the novel coronavi- Atkins mentioned shorter games Rosenthal from Omaha (PCL). New York Yankees manager As part of a broad deal being LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Optioned RHP rus pandemic. The regular sea- in doubleheaders. Still, he isn’t Aaron Boone said he would be negotiated by the players’ Luke Bard, LHP Ryan Buchter, OF Michael son had been scheduled to begin entirely sold on the idea of seven- Hermosillo and LHP/1B Jared Walsh to open to considering seven-inning association and commissioner’s Salt Lake (PCL). Outrighted RHP Taylor Thursday. inning games. Cole to Triple-A Salt Lake (PCL). Minor league teams and col- games in doubleheaders. He said office, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ FOOTBALL averaging eight or nine games “You’re not playing the game Mookie Betts, pictured, and National Football League lege teams typically play seven that is written in the rulebooks,” ARIZONA CARDINALS — Agreed to innings in each game of a double- a week would require a couple all other players set to be free terms with DL Trevon Coley and RB D.J. he said. “It’s not the regulation header. But twinbills are rarely more roster spots above the cur- agents after the 2020 season Foster on one-year contracts. game, it’s a different game. Bull- ATLANTA FALCONS — Agreed to terms planned in the majors — only a rent 26, with at least 14 pitchers. would still get that chance if with TE Khari Lee on a one-year con- pens and teams are built in a way tract. handful were originally sched- Extending play into November there is no baseball this year. CAROLINA PANTHERS — Signed Terry could lead to neutral-site games to play nine innings. I’m sure Bridgewater to a threee-year contract. uled over the last decade. Signed DL Zach Kerr to a two-year con- The final total of big league dou- in warm weather cities and ball- there are people that would chal- tract. Re-signed WR DeAndrew White. bleheaders, most of them caused parks with roofs. lenge that and I’m not so sure it’s INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Signed DT Deal could Sheldon Day to a one-year contract. by makeup games, ranged from a “It is an opportunity prob- something we should do.” Las Vegas Raiders — Re-signed LB No matter how many innings Kyle Wilbur. low of 14 in 2014 to a high of 34 in ably to be creative or to try some MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Agreed to both 2011 and 2018, according to things that people think could get played, the likelihood of a allow Betts, terms with DL Anthony Zettel and WR Tajae Sharpe. Agreed to terms with LB the Elias Sports Bureau. stick a little bit or could be kind condensed schedule will require DeMarquis Gates. Colorado Rockies manager Bud of a segue to something differ- greater roster flexibility once NEW YORK JETS — Agreed to terms others to go with LB Patrick Onwuasor. Black said last week that frequent ent down the line,” Boone said baseball resumes, Atkins said. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Agree to terms with CB Nickell Robey-Coleman on a one-year contract. free in fall PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Signed FB Derek Watt to a three-year contract. Wait: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Signed DE Ballparks empty on ‘Opening Day’ Associated Press Kerry Hyder to a one-year contract. TENNESSEE TITANS — Agreed to terms NEW YORK — Mookie Betts with OT Ty Sambrailo. FROM BACK PAGE WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Re-signed more than 41,000 pounds of food, including perish- and all the players set to be free LB Nate Orchard. Signed LB Thomas Da- able items already sent to MLB stadiums it operates, vis and OL Jeremy Vujnovich. Released on hold because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, agents after the 2020 season CB Breon Borders, CB Dee Delaney, S ballparks were empty Thursday on what was sup- and concessions from its other venues, including would still get that chance if there Montae Nicholson, CB Coty Sensabaugh and CB Kavyon Webster. posed to be opening day. some NBA and NHL arenas suddenly shut down is no baseball this year, part of a “You’re used to seeing people run all over the in the middle of those seasons. There were also broad deal being negotiated by Pro football place. We have over 200 people (who work) at the several spring training venues at the peak of their the commissioner’s office and the park,” said Roger Bossard, the groundskeeper in his schedules. players’ association. 54th year with the Chicago White Sox. “Certainly, The World Series champion Washington Nation- If there’s no season because of NFL calendar it’s eerie when no one’s around. You walk around the als have reduced staff at Nationals Park, where a the novel coronavirus, the agree- April 17 — Deadline for restricted free hallways or underneath the stands there, and there’s facilities group is still maintaining the ballpark and ment would credit major leaguers agents to sign offer sheets. April 23-25 — NFL Draft, Las Vegas. nobody there — but understandably.” putting on the finishing touches for the season. with the same service time this May 19 — Spring owners meeting, Ma- From Baltimore to Miami in the east, San Diego to “Prior to every baseball season, you’re always year that they earned in 2019, a rina del Rey, California. Late July — Training camps open. Seattle in the west — and 11 other cities that would working very aggressively to get ready for opening person familiar with the talks told Aug. 6 — Hall of Fame game, Canton, have hosted season openers Thursday — there will The Associated Press on Wednes- Ohio. day. That’s a fixed date and time and you just have Aug. 8 — Hall of Fame inductions, Can- be no games, or at the remaining 15 MLB stadiums, to be ready,” said Frank Gambino, Washington’s se- day. The person spoke on condi- ton, Ohio. for at least a couple more months. Sept. 5 — Final roster cutdown to 53. nior vice president of ballpark operations. “We had tion of anonymity because talks Sept. 10 — Kickoff game to open regu- By then, when the weather will be warmer, the been working very diligently, and continue to work were ongoing. lar season. Sept. 13 — First full regular-season Rangers will be able to stay out of the heat by clos- diligently, to try and get as close as we can to ready Trevor Bauer, Marcus Stro- schedule. ing the retractable roof at their $1 billion-plus sta- for whenever opening day eventually comes.” man, George Springer and JT dium, the only new major league ballpark opening Gambino said the Nationals were able to defer Realmuto also would be eligible Pro baseball this season. many of the concession deliveries and stocking of the for free agency, even if the season After the postponement of a Chris Stapleton con- stadium while monitoring the COVID-19 situation. is canceled. MLB calendar cert that was to be the inaugural event at Globe Life There have been no reports of any MLB players Betts, the 2018 AL MVP, was Park on March 14, only three days after an open testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Two minor acquired by the Dodgers from TBA — Opening day, active rosters re- house that went on as scheduled, the Rangers were Boston last month for outfielder duced to 26 players. leaguers in the Yankees system did, and the Red Sox June 3-4 — Owners meeting, New supposed to play an exhibition game there this week. Alex Verdugo and two prospects. closed down their entire spring training complex in York. Their home opener was set for next Tuesday after a In a pair of deals at last July’s June 10-12 — Amateur draft, Omaha, Fort Myers, Fla., this week after saying that one of Neb. season-opening series in Seattle. trade deadline , Cincinnati ob- their minor league players had tested positive. June 13-14 — Chicago Cubs vs. St. Lou- “The stadium was 100 percent ready to go,” said tained Bauer from Cleveland and is at London. For most people, the novel coronavirus causes June 15 — International amateur sign- Casey Rapp, GM of the new Rangers stadium for the Mets received Stroman from ing period closes. mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and July 2 — International amateur sign- Delaware North Sportservice, which also oversees Toronto. ing period opens. concessions for 10 other MLB ballparks. “It’s the cough that clear up in two to three weeks. Service time affects a player’s July 10 — Deadline for drafted players The Baltimore Orioles were scheduled to open to sign, except for players who have ex- little things that we were trying to make perfect.” status for free agency, salary ar- hausted college eligibility. While there was plenty of time to finish construc- at home Thursday against the Yankees, likely with bitration and the pension plan. July 14 — All-Star Game at Los Ange- a clean-shaven Cole on the mound for the visitors. les. tion of Globe Life Park, Rapp and his group haven’t The likely service time agree- July 26 — Hall of Fame induction, Coo- yet been able to serve people during a full-scale Camden Yards will be ready whenever the season ment was first reported by The perstown, N.Y. finally starts, and the Orioles hope to maintain July 31 — Last day during the season event at the stadium. Athletic. to trade a player. Concessionaires start planning months in advance the enthusiasm that was whipped up for the team If less than a full regular sea- Aug. 13 — New York Yankees vs. Chi- cago White Sox at Dyersville, Iowa. of the openers. That means a lot of products, such as throughout a now-extended offseason. son takes place, a player would Aug. 23 — Boston vs. Baltimore at Wil- hot dogs, bottled beverages and frozen foods, had al- “The bright spot in this sort of cloudy day is that receive only a proportional share liamsport, Pa. Aug. 31 — Last day to be contracted to ready been delivered to many ballparks before the our fans will be craving baseball,” said Jennifer of his salary. an organization and be eligible for post- season was put on hold. Grondahl, the Orioles vice president of community Management would have the season roster. Sept. 1 — Active rosters expand to 28 “It’s definitely different. it’s kind of unheard of development and communications. “If we can put right to delay the amateur draft players. (that) all the major sports inside the United States together a season and the entertainment that we from its scheduled June 10 start Sept. 29-30 — Wild-card games. Oct. 20 — World Series starts. would be closed at the exact same time,” said Ken have planned and add to that, I feel like we’ll be able and to shorten it from its current October TBA — Trading resumes, day after World Series. Gaber, vice president of operational excellence for to continue that momentum.” 40 rounds. Teams also could push November TBA — Deadline for teams Delaware North Sportservice. “Personally, it’s dif- back the start of the international to make qualifying offers to their eligible AP sports writers David Brandt in Phoenix; Howard Fendrich former players who became free agents, ficult. I think everybody feels the exact same way.” in Washington, DC; David Ginsburg in Baltimore; and Andrew amateur signing period, which fifth day after World Series. Delaware North has donated to local charities Seligman in Chicago contributed to this report. usually is July 2. PAGE 22 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, March 27, 2020 OLYMPICS/COLLEGE BASKETBALL Tokyo Olympics seek new date for opening, closing

BY STEPHEN WADE was looking at “thousands of con- Associated Press tracts” and the interests of broad- casters, sponsors, the IOC, world TOKYO — The Tokyo Olympics sports federations and national need new dates for the opening Olympic committees. and closing ceremonies in 2021. “I didn’t imagine at all we’d ASSOCIATED PRESS Nothing much can get done be tested to this degree,” he North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano, center with fist raised, celebrates after his basketball team until those dates are worked out acknowledged. defeated Houston to win the 1983 nationals championship in Albuquerque, N.M. by the International Olympic He also voiced another reality. Committee, the Japanese govern- “Additional expenses are going ment and Tokyo organizers. to be quite massive we assume,” “We must decide this soon, oth- Muto said. Most upsetting: 1983 title run by erwise it will be hard to decide on The Japanese financial news- other things to follow,” Toshiro paper Nikkei has estimated added Muto, the CEO of the organizing costs due to the delay of $2.7 bil- North Carolina State hard to beat committee, told his 30 senior di- lion. This rectors — all men but one — seat- would go on BY AARON BEARD and still enjoys discovering things from that night ed in a large meeting room on top of an of- Associated Press like fan video from the arena. But it’s not his first Thursday. ‘ I didn’t ficial budget choice of everyday conversation, either. Two days after the unprec- imagine of $12.6 bil- There are still moments, even after nearly four “If there’s an event or something I do that ends edented postponement was an- lion. A Japa- decades, when Ernie Myers has trouble believing up being cooler than that, that would be great,” said nounced, the group gathered for at all we’d nese national it all really happened for his North Carolina State Sherburne, who had 14 points against Virginia. “But the first meeting of what is being be tested audit agency, team. I doubt that’s going to happen. I’m all for it being called the “Tokyo 2020 New to this however, says The series of tense upsets. discussed for years down the line.” Launch Task Force.” They must degree. the actual The airball-turned-buzzer-beating dunk to stun put the Olympics back together ’ amount of top-ranked Houston and Phi Slama Jama. And the George Mason (2006) after they were torn apart by the Toshiro Muto spending is 1983 national championship that came with it, cap- coronavirus pandemic. CEO of the Tokyo about twice ping a run unlike anything college basketball has George Mason was such a questionable tourna- Muto and the president of the 2020 organizing that size. seen before or since. ment choice that then-coach Jim Larranaga joked organizing committee, Yoshiro committee IOC Presi- “We kind of said we put the madness in March, his team was an “at-extra-large” entry. There was Mori, each gave pep speeches. dent Thomas as in what you see today,” Myers said . “That’s why no second guessing the bid once the 11th-seeded Pa- Mori, an 82-year-old former Jap- Bach said Wednesday that “all people watch the tournament, because they want to triots went to the Final Four after an 86-84 overtime anese prime minister, drew on options are on the table” for new see the upsets.” win against top-seeded Connecticut. war memories from his youth to dates. He said next year’s Olym- Fans won’t get that chance this year with the The Huskies had spent five weeks at No. 1 in the summon the resolve to redo in a pics don’t have to be restricted to NCAA Tournament canceled because of the corona- Top 25 and never dropped below fourth. Yet George few months what was seven years summer in the Northern Hemi- virus pandemic. Still, the sixth-seeded Wolfpack’s Mason overcame disadvantages in size and athleti- in the planning. sphere and might occur sooner. win is oft-replayed lore every March and CBS was cism to secure a trip to Indianapolis as the party He talked of his father going “to Two of the marquee Olympic showing the game Saturday as part of a weekend of crasher among the big-conference teams. the war in the Pacific” and leav- events — track and swimming — March Madness classics broadcast to fill the void ing a rugby ball and a baseball have already scheduled their own on what would have been the first weekend of the Richmond (1991) glove behind for his young son. world championships for July and tournament. “I’m sorry, I’m an old person August of 2021. There’s Lorenzo Charles stuffing home Dereck Before UMBC, the biggest round-of-64 upsets had and I talk about the old days,” If the Olympics are moved into Whittenburg’s missed 30-footer for the 54-52 win come with eight No. 15 seeds beating No. 2 seeds. Mori said. “I’m comparing this to spring, when it’s cooler in Tokyo, against a team with future NBA greats Hakeem It wasn’t until Richmond beat Syracuse 73-69 that the old days and I might be criti- Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. There’s the late coach fans believed it could happen. cized by the media. However, this they clash with the end of the Eu- ropean soccer season. In North Jim Valvano running around searching for someone The Orange had spent all but one week ranked in is the emotion I have inside me to hug after just the latest tournament nail-biter for the top 10 under Jim Boeheim and were led by first- America, they would bump into and this is the emotion I have as the “Cardiac Pack,” who also edged No. 1 seed Vir- team AP All-American Billy Owens. Team member Major League Baseball, NBA we face the predicament in front ginia in a regional final to end 7-foot-4 center Ralph Mike Hopkins, now Washington’s head coach, re- basketball, NHL hockey and of us.” Sampson’s college career. members feeling “devastated” but it didn’t linger. Muto ran off a condensed string possibly even college basketball. “You’re talking about it gives the fans hope — of issues to be resolved: ticketing, That’s assuming normal sports man, it gives us hope every day that if you don’t give Villanova (1985) security, venues, merchandise, schedules resume by then. up, anything can happen,” said Cozell McQueen, accommodation, the Athletes Vil- “The postponed Olympic who had 12 rebounds against the Cougars, then cel- Villanova remains the lowest seed to win it all lage, transportation and lining up Games will need sacrifices,” ebrated by climbing to stand atop one of the rims. at No. 8. To do it, the Wildcats had to play the per- unpaid volunteers. He added he Bach said. Retired BYU coach Dave Rose, a captain on that fect game against AP national player of the year high-flying Houston team, said the pain faded but Patrick Ewing and defending national champion only weeks later. Memories of missed free throws Georgetown. and a blown second-half lead remain today. The Hoyas were 35-2, including two regular-sea- He also noted the game’s added significance: son wins against Villanova, and had been ranked Valvano’s inspirational story ultimately aided the No. 1 or No. 2 all year. But the 10-loss Wildcats shot creation of the V Foundation for Cancer Research a record 78.6% (22-for-28) behind Final Four most before his death from the disease in April 1993. outstanding player Ed Pinckney in the 66-64 win. Charles died in June 2011 in a bus crash. “It’s been with me,” said Rose, who noted he is Texas Western (1966) often identified as a Phi Slama Jama team member. “For me — this sounds crazy, it’s probably easier for Texas Western (now UTEP) changed college bas- me to say now that I’ve retired — it’s way better to ketball with its win against top-ranked Kentucky for have played in that game and lost than not to have the national championship. had the opportunity to play.” The Miners became the first team to start five black players in the final against the all-white UMBC (2018) Wildcats featuring Pat Riley and coached by four- time national champion Adolph Rupp. Coach Don It’s still stunning to rewatch UMBC blowing out Haskins, who died in September 2008, had said he EUGENE HOSHIKO/AP top overall seed Virginia in the only 16-over-1 upset was simply starting his best players instead of try- Officials light a lantern from the Olympic Flame at the end of a flame in tournament history. ing to make a social statement, though the 72-65 vic- display ceremony in Iwaki, northern Japan, Wednesday . Organizers Forward Joe Sherburne said he watched YouTube tory eventually expanded recruiting opportunities are working on new dates for the start of the 2020 Games. highlights that “gave me goosebumps” for months nationally for black players. Friday, March 27, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 23 COLLEGE BASKETBALL

With no March Madness, The Associated Press is moving stories and historical pieces to help fill some of the TOP 10 void in college basketball. A panel of AP sports writers voted in March on the top 10 men’s basketball games in the history of the NCAA Tournament. They are being republished because the sport has been shut down by the No. 10 ALL-TIME coronavirus pandemic. The following game story, from April 5, 1993, was voted No. 10. Fab Five falls to UNC on fatal timeout call

Webber’s unbelievable ‘ You can call it error helps Tar Heels lucky, you can call capture national title it fortunate, but it still says NCAA BY JIM O’CONNELL championship. Associated Press ’ Dean Smith NEW ORLEANS — Same North Carolina head coach building. Same result. Different blunder. Dean Smith won his second national championship Monday games has been outstanding,” night when North Carolina beat Smith said. “When he’s on a Michigan 77-71. And like the first streak, we screen for him and title he won at the Superdome, look for him. I’m impressed with this one wasn’t sealed until some- him. He was in a different zone. I body made a costly, almost unbe- thought he was going to make it lieveable, error. every time he went up.” The Tar Heels won in 1982 Webber led Michigan with on a closing jumper by Michael 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Jordan and a botched pass by Jimmy King and Jalen Rose Georgetown’s Fred Brown. Mon- added 15 and 12 points. day night’s game wasn’t settled North Carolina led 53-46 with until Michigan’s Chris Webber 15:42 to play and then things called a timeout the Wolverines tightened — as expected — in didn’t have with 11 seconds to go. the second championship game “You can call it lucky, you can matchup of No. 1 seeds. The first call it fortunate, but it still says time it happened was 1982. NCAA championship,” Smith Michigan scored four straight said. points and, until Montross’ dunk Make no mistake, the Tar with one minute to play, neither team led by more than four. Heels were not handed this title. “We all make mistakes,” Mich- Eric Montross and George Lynch igan’s Ray Jackson said. “I think banged inside and Donald Wil- there was a lot of confusion. Ev- liams stroked three-pointers in erybody was saying, ‘No timeout.’ putting Smith, the second-win- The locker room was quiet and ningest coach of all time, into everybody was hurting. We lost some high NCAA tournament the national championship.” company. Last year they lost in a blowout The loss sent Michigan, a team to Duke, which was defending its so fabulous for two seasons, home title. This year, Michigan could again as a runner-up. The Wolver- have won it. ines were beaten 71-51 by Duke “It feels the same, the exact last season when they started five same,” Webber said. “This was freshmen. No one is certain how totally different. We had a chance many will be back for their junior to win tonight and we didn’t get season. it done. A year ago we didn’t The Tar Heels led 73-71 when have a chance to win in the final Pat Sullivan missed the second of seconds.” two free throws with 20 seconds Smith received the loudest left. Webber, who had been so big cheers from Carolina fans when for the Wolverines all season as he climbed a ladder to cut the well as in the title game, grabbed nets. The cheers might have been the rebound, brought the ball up- a thank you for a 774-223 record, court almost out of control and including 55-23 in the NCAA called for a timeout in front of his SUSAN RAGAN/AP Tournament. bench. Michigan, however, was “It isn’t any particular place out of timeouts and a technical Michigan forward Chris Webber stands by as North Carolina center Eric Montross celebrates during the that accounts for winning,” Smith foul was called. Tar Heels’ technical foul shots in the final seconds of the NCAA championship game at the Superdome in said, “But I’ll always have great “I just called a timeout and we New Orleans on April 5, 1993. Webber called a time out the Wolverines did not have, and Michigan was memories of New Orleans.” didn’t have one and it probably charged with a technical foul and lost possession of the ball. UNC went on to win 77-71. Fisher still has a 17-3 NCAA cost us the game,” a disconsolate tournament record. He won the Webber said. “If I’d have known ki of Duke. On the all-time list the I’m pleased we’ve been a national timeout. It’s an awful way for the 1989 title as an interim coach and we didn’t have any timeouts left, I only ones ahead of him are John contender for a number of years. season to end. No one feels worse then recruited the fabled class of wouldn’t have called a timeout.” Wooden of UCLA with 10 titles, It is exciting to say ‘It’s over; we than Chris, but we’re not here ex- freshmen who brought him to the Williams made both free Adolph Rupp of Kentucky with won it.’ We might not be the best, cept for Chris.” title game two straight years. throws, added two more on the four and Knight with three. but we’re the champions.” Williams finished with 25 “What I want to do is put a bear ensuing possession, and then it But Smith has been to nine Michigan coach Steve Fisher, points, matching his semifinal hug on all of them and let them was over. Smith left the Superdo- Final Fours and the rap against who was also trying for his sec- output from three-point range know how proud we are of all of me court a champion — again. him was that his team couldn’t go ond national championship, said with five in 11 attempts. Montross them,” he said. “North Carolina “I think Coach Smith might home with the title. Asked if the the players had been told there had 16 points and Lynch had 12 played a terrific game. They’re move here,” Montross said. victory over Michigan will end were no timeouts in their last points and 10 rebounds. a great team. Our Michigan ball “Crazy things happen and some the criticism, he said: “They said huddle with 46 seconds to play. Williams, who got the Tar club, I also thought, fought gal- of it is just luck.” that the last time. I didn’t win the “In the heat of the moment Heels to the Final Four with two lantly. We also have a terrific Smith is the fourth active coach game, the team did. strange things happen,” he said. huge three-pointers in overtime team. I could not be more proud to win two titles, joining Bob “I wanted it for this team and “We talked in the huddle that we against Cincinnati, was the Final of a team than I am of this group. Knight of Indiana, Denny Crum this staff. We set out every year had no timeouts. Chris said he Four’s most outstanding player. We’ll move on. We’ll be better of Louisville and Mike Krzyzews- to win the national championship. heard someone holler or call for a “His run in these last four people because of it.” S TARS AND STRIPES Friday, March 27, 2020 Webber’s blunder No. 10 NCAA game best known SPORTS for blown timeout » Page 23 Put onMLB hold ‘Opening Day’ will have to wait due to pandemic

By Stephen Hawkins Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas here will be no hot dogs on the grill, no beer on tap, no vendors in the stands selling peanuts and Cracker Jack. The shiny new stadium deep in the heart of Texas will still be Twaiting for its first Rangers game. Instead of warming up for his debut with the New York Yankees after a record $324 million, nine-year contract, Gerrit Cole is playing catch with his wife at home. With the start of the Major League Baseball season indefinitely

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A grounds crew member walks on the field inside Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, on Wednesday. The start of the regular season, which was set to begin Thursday, is on hold indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

JEFF ROBERSON / AP

As the sports world pauses to join the rest of the world in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, you will see fewer sports stories in Stars and Stripes. We look forward to resuming our normal coverage when the leagues and governing bodies determine it is safe for athletes and fans to return to competition.