Volume 78, No. 220B ©SS 2020 CONTINGENCY EDITION SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas Afghanistan deal will be tough to assess, Easing forward fraught with pitfalls BY LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON — Hopes for end- ing America’s longest war hinge on maintaining a weeklong fragile truce in Afghanistan that U.S. officials and experts agree will be difficult to as- sess and fraught with pitfalls. What if one militant with a suicide vest kills dozens in a Kabul market? Or, if a U.S. air- strike targeting ‘ This Islamic State in- is a fi rst surgents takes out Taliban members down, instead, does that we’re at destroy the deal? the 10- The agreement, which took ef- yard line. fect at midnight We have on Friday, calls for an end to at- 90 more tacks around the to go. ’ country, including Seth Jones roadside bomb- ings, suicide at- Afghanistan tacks and rocket expert strikes between the Taliban, Af- ghan and U.S. forces. But in a country that has been wracked by violence for more than 18 years, determining if the agree- ment has been violated will be a tough task. And there are a number of other groups and elements in the country that would love to see the deal fall through. “The reason this is a challenge is that this is a very decentral- ized insurgency,” said Seth Jones, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Stud-

RAHMAT GUL/AP ies and an Afghanistan expert. “There are going to be a lot of An aerial view looks down on a busy bazaar in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday. A temporary truce between the U.S. and the Taliban took effect earlier, setting the stage for the two sides to sign a peace deal next weekend aimed at ending 18 years of bloodshed. SEE PITFALLS ON PAGE 5 Violence down ‘significantly’ on first day of truce between US, Taliban

KABUL, Afghanistan — There was a “sig- The seven-day period of reduced violence, U.S. commander in Afghanistan told report- BY J.P. LAWRENCE nificant” drop in violence in Afghanistan on which falls short of a complete cease-fire and ers in Kabul. AND PHILLIP Saturday, the first day of a weeklong period could eventually lead to a withdrawal of U.S. “We remain committed to defend our forc- WALTER WELLMAN of reduced violence, the Afghan Defense forces and end America’s longest war, began es,” Miller said. Stars and Stripes Ministry said. Several attacks were reported just after midnight Saturday. Afghan troops also halted operations against throughout the day but didn’t appear to break The U.S.-led coalition is focused only on de- the truce. fensive operations, Gen. Scott Miller, the top SEE TRUCE ON PAGE 5

MILITARY MIDEAST MUSIC Mother sues VA after Presence of foreign Taylor Swift documentary veteran kills himself forces in Syrian war examines backlash artists near medical facility raises tensions can face for talking politics Page 4 Page 6 Page 12

Midshipman found dead was standout OL on football team » Military, Page 3 PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER

Switzerland (Franc)...... 0.9791 EXCHANGE RATES Thailand (Baht) ...... 31.60 Military rates Turkey (Lira) ...... 6.1139 US economy begins showing effects of virus Euro costs (Feb. 24) ...... $1.1089 (Military exchange rates are those Dollar buys (Feb. 24) ...... €0.9018 available to customers at military banking British pound (Feb. 24) ...... $1.32 facilities in the country of issuance A ssociated Press Japanese yen (Feb. 24) ...... 109.00 for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the or 0.8%, to 28,992. The Nasdaq other big companies. South Korean won (Feb. 24) ...... 1,175.00 Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For lost 174 points, or 1.8%, to 9,576. “There’s a little bit more con- Commercial rates nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., Stocks fell and bond prices rose purchasing British pounds in Germany), Technology companies, which cern about how hard this is going Bahrain (Dinar) ...... 0.3769 sharply on Wall Street Friday British pound ...... $1.2946 check with your local military banking have much greater exposure to to impact, not just Asia, but also Canada (Dollar) ...... 1.3251 facility. Commercial rates are interbank rates provided for reference when buying amid fresh signs that the viral China than other industries, fell the broad global economy,” said China (Yuan) ...... 7.0311 Denmark (Krone) ...... 6.8920 currency. All figures are foreign currencies outbreak that originated in China to one dollar, except for the British pound, the most. Chipmakers were some Adam Taback, chief investment Egypt (Pound) ...... 15.5584 is weighing on U.S. companies. which is represented in dollars-to-pound, of the worst hit. Companies that officer for Wells Fargo Private Euro ...... $1.0838/0.9227 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) The yield on the 30-year Trea- Hong Kong (Dollar) ...... 7.7882 depend on consumer spending, Bank. Hungary (Forint) ...... 311.62 sury reached a record low as in- especially in travel-related indus- The situation has also begun to Israel (Shekel) ...... 3.4222 vestors sought the safety of U.S. Japan (Yen) ...... 111.71 tries, also fell broadly. weigh on the U.S. economy. Data Kuwait (Dinar) ...... 0.3066 government bonds. The price of Travel restrictions and other from IHS Markit show U.S. man- Norway (Krone) ...... 9.3104 INTEREST RATES gold also rose. Philippines (Peso)...... 51.02 efforts in China aimed at contain- ufacturing and business activ- Poland (Zloty) ...... 3.96 Prime rate ...... 4.75 The S&P 500 fell 35 points, or ing the spread of the virus have ity slowed in February from the Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...... 3.7506 Discount rate ...... 2.25 Singapore (Dollar) ...... 1.4004 Federal funds market rate ...... 1.58 1.1%, to 3,337. The Dow Jones In- begun to disrupt supply chains previous month, coming in below 3-month bill ...... 1.52 South Korea (Won) ...... 1,211.42 dustrial Average fell 227 points, and sales prospects for Apple and analysts’ expectations. 30-year bond ...... 1.92 WEATHER OUTLOOK SUNDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY IN EUROPE MONDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 41/33 Kabul 61/34 Seoul 49/31 Baghdad 71/52 Kandahar 71/46 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 53/33 Pomorskie 55/35 Busan Lakenheath 42/34 47/44 40/37 Iwakuni 52/42 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City Brussels 49/43 Guam 69/58 68/64 53/46 Ramstein 55/40 80/77 Lajes, 50/45 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 81/58 76/60 61/57 52/44 47/39 Aviano/ Vicenza 47/39

Naples 57/43 Okinawa Morón 68/65 71/46 Sigonella 60/32 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Rota Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 83/74 65/42 53/50 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ...15 Comics ...... 14 Crossword ...... 14 Movies ...... 12-13 Opinion ...... 16 Sports ...... 17-24 Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 MILITARY Army, Navy search for savings in budget

BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY to exist for that manufacturer.” McCarthy said the Army is on Stars and Stripes The Navy’s 2021 budget pro- a “collision course” in about 2023 posal buys fewer ships and puts with the cost of modernizing and WASHINGTON — The secre- them behind in attaining the re- growing the number of soldiers in taries of the Army and Navy said quired 355 ships by 2030. Modly order to reduce the strain of con- Friday that they need to make said he believes they can still get tinuing deployments on the force. difficult choices to find budget to that number or higher in 10 “And I think that that’s where savings or fall short of the com- years by finding $40 billion in there’s going to be some very petitive force that the military savings by 2026 as part of their hard choices in front of us,” he needs for the future. “Stem to Stern” review, which said about finding savings. “Do The services are dealing with was announced Tuesday. we have to stop, do we have to ad- growing demands to modern- The Navy is considering spend- just, do we get more topline, can ize their equipment, capabilities, ing that money on more ships that we find more buying power.” and forces at the same time they are smaller and less expensive The Pentagon announced Feb. are seeing budgets stagnate. The ships, and can be spread out to in- 13 that $3.8 billion from the ser- ALEXANDER C. KUBITZA/U.S. Navy Army and Navy are reviewing crease their presence around the vices’ 2020 budgets has been re- programs in their budgets to find Kathleen Hicks, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and globe, he said. programmed to build the wall savings to reinvest in other ways. International Studies, speaks as Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, Air Barrett said the Air Force faces along U.S.-Mexico border. The “What I’ve told the depart- Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and acting Navy Secretary Thomas the same challenges and bud- service secretaries on Friday did ment is we need to look internally Modly listen during a discussion in Washington on Friday. get constraints as the Army and not discuss how the funding to first at ourselves to see where Navy, but she did not discuss ef- buy new ships, aircraft, or tac- we can find savings within the National Defense Strategy that proposed budget before the com- forts within the service to review tical vehicles is being diverted way we traditionally do things seeks to prepare the United States mittee on Thursday. program budgets to find savings. while they said they face growing to help fund that, before we can for competition with China and The Army has about 40% of its The Air Force is implementing demands to make investments in ask for anything more from the Russia. The Pentagon’s budget budget slated for modernizing its reforms to their acquisition pro- personnel and new equipment. taxpayers,” acting Navy Secre- would allocate $178 billion for the force, McCarthy said, challenges cess to make it more efficient, The issue is expected to be a tary Thomas Modly said during a Army, $207.1 billion for the Navy service leadership to find a bal- she said, especially as the air and topic at next week’s 2021 budget discussion at the Center for Stra- and Marine Corps, $191.8 billion ance between investing in new space technology that the service hearings after members of the tegic and International Studies, a for the Air Force and $15.4 billion capabilities and divesting from buys becomes more expensive. House Armed Services Com- D.C.-based think tank. Army Sec- for the Space Force. legacy programs. The other big issue facing the mittee have already questioned retary Ryan McCarthy and Air Defense Secretary Mark Esper “The underlying theme here Army and Navy are the costs as- the diversion of funds, including Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and Army Gen. Mark Milley, is you got to have the will to look sociated with personnel, which the chairman of the committee’s also spoke about their services. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of at Congress in the face and tell a continues to be a growing part of subpanel on readiness, Rep. John The Pentagon’s proposed bud- Staff, will defend their budget member where they make a prod- their budgets. The Navy is look- Garamendi, D-Calif., calling it get for fiscal year 2021 is about proposal Wednesday before the uct in their district, that we don’t ing at unmanned ships or ships “grossly irresponsible.” $705.4 billion as the military House Armed Services Commit- need it anymore,” he said. “But that need less personnel to oper- [email protected] falls in line with supporting the tee. Modly will defend the Navy’s here’s the opportunity that’s going ate, Modly said. twitter: @caitlinmkenney VA greenlights controversial university for GI Bill funds

BY STEVE BEYNON bus,” Carrie Wofford, president of Veter- VA approved all but 20 of Ashford’s pro- enroll veterans. In 2018, Ashford received Stars and Stripes ans Education Success, said in a prepared grams, which were either in the process more than $27 million in Post-9/11 GI Bill statement. “Veterans have legal rights to of being voluntarily discontinued by the revenue, according to VA data, with nearly WASHINGTON — The Department of be protected from fraud and VA has a legal university or failed to meet requirements 7,000 student veterans enrolled, making Veterans Affairs agreed to preserve Ash- obligation to stop funding that fraud — but for approval, according to the department. the university the sixth-largest recipient of ford University’s eligibility to receive GI VA keeps refusing to follow the law.” The school has 91 programs, and the 20 GI Bill funds in the country. Bill benefits after years of whistleblowers, Most states have an authority that ap- unapproved programs failed to satisfy at Wofford said for-profit colleges target veterans, and state officials sounding the proves a school’s qualifications for eligi- least one of two provisions, VA said. veterans largely because of the so-called alarm over the school’s alleged predatory bility to receive GI Bill funds. However, in The Ashford programs not approved by “90/10 loophole.” The 90/10 rule requires habits aimed at veterans. October, VA pulled California’s oversight the VA include a Bachelor of Arts in early that for a for-profit school to be eligible to Ashford, which is based in San Diego, of military education benefits after a long childhood education, a master’s degree in receive federal student assistance, it must is a primarily online university that has a dispute over how to regulate for-profit public health, and a Master of Arts in spe- find at least 10% of its revenue from sourc- long history of battling to hold on to its ac- schools. Since 2017, VA also has acted as cial education. es other than federal aid. The idea being cess to tens of millions of dollars in GI Bill the eligibility authority for schools in six “The 20 programs that were not ap- legitimate for-profit schools should be able funds — a key source of revenue for the other states, according to the department. proved by the VA do not represent a sig- to recruit students willing to pay out of school. In 2017, California’s attorney general nificant number of students and will not Veterans Education Success, an advo- sued Ashford for defrauding and deceiving result in a material impact to Ashford’s their own pockets and taxpayers wouldn’t cacy group primarily for student veterans, students. total enrollment,” according to a news re- be propping up failing schools. However, said the VA is violating the law for approv- “Ashford University preyed on veterans lease from Zovio, the company that owns the GI Bill does not count towards this fed- ing federal benefits to be used at a school and people of modest means,” Attorney Ashford. eral aid limit, despite those dollars coming that “engaged in deceptive advertising or General Xavier Becerra said in a state- Zovio did not respond to a request for ad- from federal funding. recruiting.” ment. “This for-profit college illegally ditional comments. Zovio said in its news release that Ash- “It is outrageous that VA continues to vi- misled students about their educational In 1974, Congress banned the GI Bill ford’s revenue is below the 90/10 rate. olate federal law in order to help for-profit prospects and unfairly saddled them with from being used at schools that relied on [email protected] colleges while throwing veterans under the debt.” misleading advertising and recruiting to Twitter: @StevenBeynon Midshipman found dead at Naval Academy was starter on football team

Staff and wire reports “Words cannot express our pain commission as a cryptologic warfare Medical Center. The cause of his and sorrow,” said Navy head football officer, according to a statement from death is still pending, according to Naval Academy officials identi- fied Navy football offensive lineman coach Ken Niumatalolo in a state- the Naval Academy. the Office of the Chief Medical Ex- David Forney as the midshipman ment released by Navy Sports. “The Forney’s death comes one week aminer in Baltimore. found dead Thursday night in Ban- Navy Football Brotherhood is not a after Midshipman Duke Carrillo was Forney, a native of Walkersville, croft Hall. He was 22 years old. team, we are a family. We are devas- laid to rest at the U.S. Naval Academy. Md., and a 2015 graduate of George- Forney was the anchor of an offen- tated to have lost one of our brothers. His is the second death at the Naval town Prep, is survived by his par- sive line that set a school record and We all loved — and will always love Academy this year, and the 11th mid- ents, Rick and Erika Forney, younger led the nation in rushing, averaging — David. We pray for strength dur- shipman death since 2012. brothers, Chris and Erik, and sister, 360.5 yards per game. He was named ing this most difficult time.” Carrillo, a 21-year-old sophomore, Rebekah. Service arrangements are First-Team American Athletic Con- A political science major, Forney collapsed while taking a physical pending, according to Navy Sports. ference and First-Team All-East in was set to graduate from the Acad- readiness test Feb. 8 and was later Information from the Capital Gazette and the 2019 season. emy in May and had been assigned to pronounced dead at Anne Arundel Navy Sports was included in this report. Forney PAGE 4 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 VETERANS Mother sues VA hospital for vet’s suicide

BY NIKKI WENTLING function. Stars and Stripes Pressley’s sister, Lisa Johnson, tried to warn VA police. Pressley had contacted WASHINGTON — The mother of a Navy his family to let them know he was in cri- veteran who killed himself in the parking sis. The hospital in Dublin, Ga., was two lot of a Department of Veterans Affairs hours away from their home in Forsyth, so hospital last year filed a wrongful death Johnson called the VA hospital, the claim lawsuit this week, accusing the VA of neg- states. ligence in her son’s death. The lawsuit alleges that hospital staff Machelle Wilson, of Forysth, Ga., is seek- was not properly trained about how to re- ing $8.25 million from the VA. Her claim spond to calls like Johnson’s. states that a VA doctor abruptly discontin- “Lisa told the operator exactly where he ued her son’s opioid prescription, which he was located based on his GPS signal,” the used to manage chronic hip and back pain. claim reads. “No one from the VA attempt- The lack of medication caused him to suf- ed to locate or assist Gary, who was on the fer pain and withdrawal symptoms and brink of death.” pushed him into crisis, the claim says. VA police found Pressley in his car just Gary Pressley, 28, a former aviation or- after 5 p.m. danceman in the Navy, shot himself in the In the 10 months since his death, Wilson chest April 5 in the parking lot of the Carl has suffered anxiety and depression, she Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, Ga. said. She also quit her job of 15 years be- He had just left the hospital’s pharmacy, cause of the grief. where he tried in vain to have his pain “I’m unable to get out of bed most days,” medication refilled. Wilson said. “I’m taking medication, going “Nobody listened to him,” Wilson said. to therapy. I no longer have a job. I tried to “The signs were all there.” go back to work, but I couldn’t do it. It’s dev- Before shooting himself, Pressley wrote astated us emotionally and financially.” a note and placed it on the dashboard of his car. In part, it read, “This is what happens No comment by punishing already suffering people.” In response to questions about Wilson’s ‘He was strong’ lawsuit, VA Press Secretary Christina Mandreucci said Friday that the VA does Last year, Pressley’s suicide was one of not comment on pending litigation. Pressley family three during a five-day period on VA prop- She said suicide prevention remains the erty. The deaths prompted scrutiny from Navy veteran Gary Pressley killed himself in April 2019 in the parking lot of the Carl agency’s top clinical priority and pointed Capitol Hill, where lawmakers held a hear- Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, Ga. His mother, who filed a wrongful death claim to efforts the VA has undertaken to reduce ing and news conference to draw attention this week, says Pressley’s VA doctor acted negligently when he cut off the veteran’s veteran suicide, including the PREVENTS to the issue. pain medication. initiative. President Donald Trump cre- At the time, it was unclear why the vet- ated the initiative with an executive order erans had killed themselves and what had Private doctor unpaid VA. last year. Its task force includes the secre- prompted them to do it on VA property. In The agency is working through 2.5 mil- taries of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Health a quest to find answers, House lawmak- Pressley returned to Georgia after leav- lion backlogged claims from private pro- and Human Services and Homeland Secu- ers passed legislation that would require ing the military. As a result of his injury, viders, said Kameron Matthews, the VA’s rity, and its purpose is to “mobilize every the VA to notify Congress of suicides at VA he was treated at Carl Vinson VA Medical assistant undersecretary for health for level of American society” to address the campuses and provide information about Center. Opioids were part of his pain man- community care. The total inventory of veteran suicide crisis, Trump promised. the veterans, including an explanation of agement routine. claims stands at 3.4 million. The VA hopes The VA’s budget request for fiscal 2021, their most recent encounters with VA em- Pressley was under VA care from 2013 to to eliminate the backlog by Sept. 30, the released earlier this month, gives $53.4 ployees. The bill has not yet been approved 2018, when his VA doctor referred him to a end of the fiscal year, she said. million to the task force. More details by the Senate. private medical provider. He developed a In Pressley’s case, he immediately noti- about the task force’s plan are expected to In her son’s case, Wilson wants people to good relationship with his private doctor, fied the VA in February 2019 that his doctor be announced next month. know how he had suffered and what drove but in February 2019, she stopped treating was no longer accepting him as a patient. The last annual report from the VA him to shoot himself. veterans. The agency owed her thousands He requested a pain consultation, which showed that suicide among veterans con- “I definitely need his story to be told, be- of dollars in reimbursement for treating was never scheduled, the claim states. tinues to be higher than the rest of the cause this was uncalled for,” she said. “He VA patients, the claim states. By March 2019, Pressley was out of pain population. The suicide rate among male didn’t need to take his life if he would’ve Wilson blames the VA’s lack of payment medication, and he contacted the VA again. veterans was 1.3 times the rate for other gotten the help he needed.” for her son’s eventual suicide. The wrong- The hospital told him he couldn’t get a pre- adult men in 2017, the latest year data was Wilson described her son as a positive ful death claim states that Pressley’s sui- scription until he was seen by a doctor. available. For women, the contrast is even person, an “all-American boy,” and always cide could’ve been prevented “if the VA On April 5, the day of his death, Press- more stark. The rate among female veter- the comedian in a group of people. would have honored its financial obliga- ley made five calls and one visit to the VA. ans was 2.2 times the rate for other adult He served in the Navy from 2008 to 2012, tion” and reimbursed his doctor. He spoke to four people about his need for women that year. and he excelled there. “The VA needs to make some changes,” medication. The highest suicide rate was among He was an aviation ordinanceman, Wilson said. “If they could’ve paid their “While waiting, Gary lost all hope,” the younger veterans, ages 18 to 34. In 2017, responsible for handling and servicing bills, he would’ve still been going there.” claim reads. there were 44.5 suicides for every 100,000 weapons and ammunition carried on Navy Pressley received treatment from a pri- The lawsuit alleges that Pressley’s VA veterans in that age group. aircraft. He deployed in 2010 to Haiti to vate doctor through the Veterans Choice doctor should have known better. Wilson Last year, just one week after Pressley’s help with disaster relief following the cata- Program, which was established by Con- and her attorney, Peter Bertling, brought suicide, senators heard from Richard Stone, strophic earthquake. One of his final evalu- gress in 2014 following the VA wait-time attention to an article written by VA Sec- executive in charge of the Veterans Health ations in 2012 described him as “dedicated scandal. retary Robert Wilkie six months before Administration. Some senators questioned and hardworking,” “meticulous,” “focused Soon after the Choice program launched, Pressley’s suicide. In it, Wilkie warned him about Pressley’s death, as well as the and productive” and “a total team player private medical doctors criticized the VA that any reduction in a patient’s use of opi- two others that had occurred that week on who produces quality results with little to for being slow to reimburse them for treat- oids should be done carefully. VA property. no supervision.” He was said to possess ing veterans. As early as 2015, some private “Otherwise, patients could be driven to Stone said suicides on VA property ac- “unlimited potential” and was recom- providers started to turn away VA patients crisis by both the effects of withdrawal counted for less than 1 percent of veteran mended for retention and promotion. because of the lack of payment. and ineffective pain management,” Wilkie suicides overall and urged lawmakers to A car wreck in 2012 ended his military The Choice program ended last year wrote. look at the broader picture. service and left him with chronic pain. He with the launch of the VA Mission Act, “The fact that help was a few feet away had planned on a long military career, but which aims to create new networks of pri- ‘Devastated’ is deeply troubling,” Stone said at the time. after the wreck, he developed a new plan vate care for veterans. But even under the “But yet, even if we fix that problem, 99.6 for his life, Wilson said. new program, concerns persist. Included in Wilson’s wrongful death percent of veteran suicides are not occur- At the time of his death, Pressley had just During a Senate hearing earlier this claim is a photo of Pressley as he was ring on our campuses. There are those who bought his first home. He was taking busi- month, multiple senators questioned the found that day: sunglasses on, the left would like to indict the VA. I would cau- ness classes and working at an auto parts VA’s ability to reimburse the private pro- side of his short-sleeved polo drenched in tion you, this is not as easy as having just store. He dreamed of a family, and of open- viders who care for veterans under the blood, slumped against the door, with his a few more policemen to go through park- ing his own auto shop with his stepfather. Mission Act. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., right arm draped over the center console. ing lots. This is about a whole-of-society “He was a stand-up guy,” Wilson said. said two large health care providers in his The death certificate, also included with approach.” “He fought hard to have the life he wanted, state are collectively waiting on more than the lawsuit, said Pressley died of cardio- [email protected] even after the accident. He was strong.” $5 million in reimbursements from the pulmonary arrest, the sudden loss of heart Twitter: @nikkiwentling Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 5 NATION Pitfalls: US warns of ‘spoiler’ attacks

FROM FRONT PAGE all the insurgent groups are oper- tails of the private negotiations. UN report cites opportunities for any militia com- at ing so it will be able to deter mine Once Miller reaches a conclu- mander, element of the Taliban, where any attack comes from and sion, officials said it will be up the Haqqani network, and other who likely was responsible. And to the White House and State local forces who don’t want to see U.S. military officials said they Department to make a final de- a deal, to conduct violence.” were prepared and ready to make termination about whether an at- quick assessments. tack constitutes a violation of the ‘grim milestone’ The Haqqani network is an insurgent group linked to the If successfully implemented, truce and if it is enough to affect Taliban. the weeklong “reduction in vio- the peace deal. lence” agreement will be fol- The Pentagon has made it clear According to one defense offi- lowed by the signing of a peace that U.S. troops may continue to cial, any attack will be reviewed accord Saturday. That accord conduct operations against Is- on a “case-by-case” basis. And in Afghanistan would finally wrap up the 18-year lamic State and al-Qaida mili- much will depend on how well war and begin to fulfill one of tants as needed. But officials also U.S. military and intelligence of- President Donald Trump’s main noted that all sides want the peace ficials in Afghanistan can quickly campaign promises: to bring U.S. agreement to be successful, so 100,000 civilian casualties in past decade determine two things: Who was troops in Afghanistan home. they will try to avoid anything responsible for the attack, and The U.S. will continue to have that might scuttle it. BY PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN military estimates. can any of the blame be traced surveillance aircraft and other The Pentagon has said for Stars and Stripes Pro-government forces — back to the Taliban, particularly assets overhead to monitor events months that it is poised to reduce which include the U.S. military KABUL, Afghanistan — Over the group’s leaders who have been and help to determine who is re- the number of U.S. troops in Af- — caused over a quarter of all 100,000 civilians have been killed participating in the negotiations. sponsible for any attack. ghanistan from the current num- civilian causalities last year: or injured by the war in Afghani- The Taliban issued a statement One senior U.S. official also said ber of more than 12,000 to 8,600. 1,473 killed and 1,460 injured. stan in the past decade, the United late Friday saying their military that the U.S., Afghans and Tal- That reduction is likely to be trig- The combined total is the highest council has instructed command- iban will have a channel through gered once the peace agreement Nations said in a report released number attributed to pro-govern- ers and governors to stop all at- which they will be able to discuss is finalized, but officials said Fri- Saturday. ment forces since UNAMA began tacks against foreign and Afghan any issues that arise. day it could take several months The announcement came just systematic documentation a de- forces. The council has a web of Another U.S. official said that for any troop cuts to begin. hours after the U.S. and Afghan cade ago. commanders and shadow gover- communications between the Jones expressed some skepti- militaries began a weeklong pe- UNAMA said International nors across the country. groups will allow the Taliban, for cism, saying the Taliban has ex- riod of reduced violence with military forces — a term largely U.S. officials have made it clear example, to quickly deny involve- pressed little interest in laying the Taliban, which could lead to synonymous with the U.S. mili- that “spoilers” — such as mili- ment with an attack. But in all down arms or integrating into a peace agreement being signed tary, which is the only foreign tants associated with the Taliban cases, officials said the U.S. mili- a government run by someone between the U.S. and the insur- military officially conducting who are not in favor of the peace tary — led by Gen. Scott Miller other than the group itself. gents next weekend and an even- combat operations in Afghani- talks — could launch an attack in in Afghanistan — will be respon- “This is a first down, we’re tual withdrawal of American stan — caused nearly 660 civilian a deliberate attempt to prevent sible for investigating incidents at the 10-yard line,” said Jones. forces from the country. deaths and 320 injuries last year, them from happening. and figuring out who is at fault. “We have 90 more to go and I Despite the “grim milestone,” an overall increase of about 20% Jones said the U.S. military has The officials all spoke on con- don’t know that we’ll ever get the the overall number of civilian from the previous year. tried to get a good layout of where dition of anonymity to discuss de- touchdown.” war casualties documented last These were largely the results year dropped to a six-year low, of airstrikes, which caused a re- the U.N. said, adding that the de- cord number of casualties in 2019, crease was largely due to fewer surpassing the previous highest Truce: Residents hopeful of lasting peace attacks by the local Islamic State tally recorded the year before, affiliate. UNAMA said. The number of noncombatants A ramped-up bombing cam- FROM FRONT PAGE killed or injured by the U.S. and paign has been part of the Trump insurgents and were told they the Taliban both increased last administrations strategy for push- could only fight in self-defense, year compared to the year before, ing the Taliban to the negotiating Surobi district governor Gawhar as the sides engaged in peace table and maintaining leverage in Khan Baburi told Stars and talks, the U.N.’s data showed. ongoing peace talks. The Taliban Stripes at his office in the district The U.N. Assistance Mission have also seen violence as their capital east of Kabul. in Afghanistan documented over main source of leverage, accord- “They don’t have any plans to 3,400 civilians killed and nearly ing to analysts. fight the enemy,” Baburi said. 7,000 injured by the war in 2019, The U.S. military routinely “It’s totally peaceful.” a 5% decrease from the year disputes UNAMA’s quarterly before. But in Paktia and Uruzgan findings, saying the methodol- “Almost no civilian in Afghani- provinces, Taliban fighters at- ogy used attributes more casu- stan has escaped being person- tacked checkpoints, wounding at alties to the U.S. than it actually ally affected in some way by the least two Afghan police officers, caused. The Afghan government ongoing violence,” UNAMA head the governors of both provinces and Kabul also usually dispute Tadamichi Yamamoto said in a said. the findings. statement. “It is absolutely im- Taliban spokesman Zabihull- If a seven-day period of re- perative for all parties to seize duced violence that began Satur- lah Mujahid said the group would the moment to stop the fighting, refrain from attacking provin- day is successful, it could lead to as peace is long overdue.” the U.S. signing a peace deal with cial capitals and Afghan and U.S. UNAMA attributed most of the military bases — as per terms of the Taliban on Saturday, officials / Stars and Stripes civilian casualties caused in 2019 the reduction in violence agree- J.P. LAWRENCE on both sides have said. That to anti-government forces. Of the would pave the way for intra-Af- ment — but insinuated attacking An Afghan soldier checks his cellphone atop the walls of his base nearly 1,700 deaths and nearly ghan talks that would focus on, checkpoints was not off-limits. just south of Kabul during the first day of an agreed reduction of 4,800 injures attributed to these among other things, reaching a “This is not a general ceasefire,” violence between the Taliban and U.S. forces. groups, 76% were blamed on the permanent cease-fire. Mujahid said in a statement. Taliban, which is about a quarter While neither side publicly “Everyone will be happy the insurgents, the Afghan gov- said even the men who hurt 50 of jump from the previous year. if peace finally comes,” said specified what the period of re- ernment and other Afghan stake- his students are capable of peace. Attacks attributed to Islamic duced violence would entail or Karimullah, 41, who like many holders, that could lead to a more “All these fighters who used State, the second major anti-gov- Afghans has one name. how it would be monitored before permanent cease-fire. to carry out these cruel attacks, ernment organization in Afghani- it came into effect, Pentagon of- Several members of the Just hours after the week of re- they were not born that way,” stan in recent years, dropped by Karimullah’s family were among ficials told reporters earlier in duced violence began, the United Hamdard said. “It was their lead- 44% last year compared to the the week that Miller would be dozens of civilians killed in a Nations released data that showed ers who made them like that.” year before, resulting in about mosque explosion in eastern Nan- responsible for a “continual more than 100,000 Afghan civil- Bakhtullah Shinwari, a science 300 civilians killed and over 900 garhar province in October. evaluative process” to determine ians had been killed or injured teacher injured in the attack, said injured, UNAMA said. “You can’t imagine how sad compliance. in the war over the past decade. he was hopeful the weeklong re- ISIS has been one of the main we were, no one wanted to eat If the truce is successful, it Over 10,000 casualties were re- duction in violence would be suc- groups targeted by the U.S. mil- or drink for days because of this will be followed by the signing corded last year, the U.N. said. cessful and that the war’s end was itary’s counterterrorism mission nightmare,” Karimullah told of a broader peace deal between The prospect of less bloodshed on the horizon. in Afghanistan and was denied Stars and Stripes. “We are ready the U.S. and the Taliban on Feb. has already brought hope to some “God willing, peace will come key terrain in 2019. In November, for peace. Continued fighting will 29, officials from both sides have local residents affected by the to Afghanistan,” Shinwari said. President Ashraf Ghani said ISIS only bring more destruction.” said. war. has been “obliterated” from the The deal would lead to a phased Zubair Babakarkhail contributed to Zubair Babakarkhail contributed to this Niamatullah Hamdard, the this report country. However, the group still report. withdrawal of U.S. forces. It would principal of a Kabul school at- [email protected] has thousands of fighters in Af- [email protected] also pave the way for talks among tacked by the Taliban last July, Twitter: @jplawrence3 ghanistan, according to the latest Twitter: @pwwellman PAGE 6 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 MIDEAST Foreign actors in Syria war raise tensions

BY ZEINA KARAM Associated Press BEIRUT — In northern Syria, heavy exchanges between Syrian and Turkish troops are erupting with more frequency, threatening to escalate into full-blown con- flict. Russian and U.S. convoys crisscross each other on remote dirt roads, the tension between them on full display. U.S. troops even have had a deadly clash with Syrian gunmen at a checkpoint. Syria’s civil war long has pro- vided a free-for-all battlefield for proxy fighters. But in its ninth year, it is drawing major foreign actors into direct conflict, with the threat of all-out confronta- tions becoming a real possibility. In the northwest, the Syr- ian government’s Russia-backed military offensive to recapture Idlib, the country’s last opposi- tion-controlled region, has infuri- ated Ankara, which has poured in thousands of troops in response. In the northeast, U.S. troops on SANA/AP a murky mission to protect oil Syrian army soldiers flash the victory sign in the village of al-Eis, in Aleppo province, Syria, on Feb. 9. fields find themselves an increas- ing target as government troops most of the country. The cost has fields and facilities form falling exhibit more confidence. been huge: Whole cities have been into the hands of militants from The result is a battlefield so destroyed, mostly by indiscrimi- the Islamic State group. fraught with tensions that every nate Russian bombardment. According to officials, there are day brings the potential for an But Syria, and its naval base in about 750 U.S. troops in eastern incident or a miscalculation that Tartus, gives Moscow a strategic Syria, spread across a swath of could ignite broader violence. foothold in the Mediterranean, land that stretches more than 90 On Thursday, Turkish forces and Russia is determined to go all miles from Deir el-Zour to the bor- and Turkey-backed rebels at- out to protect it. t acked gover n ment t r oops i n Id l ib, der region east of al-Hassakeh. Moscow has blamed Turkey They patrol a region crowded and Russian warplanes struck for the collapse of a cease-fire in back. Two Turkish soldiers were with other troops, including the Idlib, accusing Ankara of “pro- killed in the incident, bringing the Russians, Syrian government voking further escalation” by number of Turkish troops killed troops and even Iranian proxy continuing to offer military sup- in Idlib this month to 15. Later, forces not too far away. port for militants in violation of Turkey said it had asked the U.S. But it is clear who has the upper the 2018 agreement. to deploy Patriot missile defense hand. Russia moved to fill the vacu- systems on Turkey’s border with AP Earlier this month, U.S. troops Syria to guard against possible um left by the United States last shot and killed a man after their attacks from Syrian territory. Russian, Syrian and others gather next to an American military year after U.S. President Donald convoy came under attack near a A look at the foreign actors and convoy stuck in the village of Khirbet Ammu, east of Qamishli city, Trump ordered the pullout of checkpoint manned by pro-Assad how they’re involved in northern Syria, on Feb. 12. American forces in northeastern forces on a remote road east of the Syria: Syria, deploying its troops to keep city of Qamishli in northeastern military advances in Idlib threat- have failed to bring results. apart Syrian and Turkish forces. Syria. The convoy was attacked en areas of the border farther Now, Turkish President Recep That made Moscow the ulti- Turkey by stones and firebombs, and a north that were captured in Tur- Tayyip Erdogan is threatening mate power broker, mediator and man was seen firing at the convoy key’s incursions. Ankara, which a larger operation to halt Syria’s winner of the war — maintaining Syria’s northern neighbor was with a rifle. An American vehicle an early backer of the Syrian hosts more than 3.5 million Syr- current offensive, but to do that cooperation with all the players, got stuck in the dirt, apparently opposition, providing crucial lo- ian refugees, is also worried that would be to risk a direct confron- including the Kurds, Turkey and having veered into a ditch, while gistical support as well as weap- an attack on the provincial capital tation with Moscow that Ankara even the United States, with whom ons and funding for the rebels and its surroundings will push 2 can ill-afford to have. it operates a so-called deconflic- another had a flat tire. who took up arms against Syrian million more people toward its tion line to defuse tensions. At one point in the melee, a President Bashar Assad. border, putting it under enormous Russia Russian army convoy arrived on Nine years later, Turkey has pressure to let some of them in. United States the scene, apparently to mediate. essentially lost that war. Idlib In the last two weeks, it has sent If there has been a constant in Images showed vehicles bearing province, near the Turkish bor- thousands of additional troops the Syrian war, it is Russia’s un- While Trump ordered U.S. Russian, U.S. and Syrian flags all der, is the last region still held to Syria to try to stem the gov- wavering support for Assad. troops to withdraw from Syria in one frame. by the rebels. That’s why for An- ernment’s advances, triggering Russia has waged a military last year, his military command- The Russian Defense Ministry kara, it has become an existential clashes with Syrian government campaign in Syria since Septem- ers and advisers later convinced said the arrival of Russian troops problem. troops. So far, talks between Rus- ber 2015, allowing Assad’s gov- him to keep a scaled-back force prevented “further escalation of The Syrian government’s rapid sia and Turkey to reduce tensions ernment to reclaim control over to protect Kurdish-controlled oil the conflict.” Iranian hard-liners take early lead in Tehran after vote

Associated Press ballot, as more than 7,000 potential candi- the government has handled a range of ers headed to the polls with face masks on, dates had been disqualified, most of them crises. and some pharmacies ran out of masks and TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian state TV on reformists and moderates. Among those State TV, without providing the num- Saturday announced the first partial re- hand sanitizer amid the election-day rush. disqualified were 90 sitting members of ber of votes, announced the names of the So far, there have been five coronavi- sults from the country’s parliamentary Iran’s 290-seat parliament who had want- leading candidates in Tehran’s 30 parlia- rus deaths from among the 28 confirmed elections, indicating a strong showing by ed to run for re-election. mentary seats. All were hard-liners led hard-liners in the capital Tehran, although Although the final tally was still not re- by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who is ex- cases in Iran, including two deaths on elec- authorities have not released full results or leased, a lower-than-usual turnout would pected to be the next parliament speaker. tion day. Another fatality was reported on the all-important turnout figure. signal widespread dissatisfaction with the Looming over the election was the Saturday, although the exact time was not Voters had limited options on Friday’s state of the economy and the ways in which threat of the new coronavirus. Many vot- specified. Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 7 NATION President chides Dems in Nevada GOP rally stirs faithful on eve

ORLANDO SENTINEL/ AP of caucuses A Drug Enforcement Admin- istration agent was charged with BY ZEKE MILLER conspiring to launder money Associated Press Friday. LAS VEGAS — President Don- ald Trump rallied supporters in the battleground state of Nevada DEA agent on the eve of the state’s caucuses and predicted chaos once again for Democrats for their manage- charged ment of the voting process, Looking to exploit Democratic divisions as he focuses on his re- in cartel election fight, Trump pointed to Iowa, where a tally of the caucus conspiracy votes ended in chaos earlier this month. Associated Press “I hear their computers are all messed up just like in Iowa, ” MIAMI — A once-standout U.S. Trump said of Nevada’s Demo- federal narcotics agent known for crats. “They can’t count votes.” spending lavishly on luxury cars Nevada scrapped its Republi- and Tiffany jewelry has been ar- can caucuses last year, as is com- rested on charges of conspiring to mon when an incumbent is in the launder money with the same Co- White House. It allows Trump lombian drug cartel he was sup- to consolidate his support as the posed to be fighting. Democratic field remains bitterly The FBI arrested Jose Irizarry divided. The state GOP will for- and his wife, Nathalia Gomez- mally bind its delegates to Trump Irizarry, Friday at their home on Saturday. near San Juan, Puerto Rico, ac- Trump was closing out a four- cording to a law enforcement of- day, four-state political tour ficial familiar with the case. through the West that saw him PATRICK SEMANSKY/AP In an indictment unsealed hold three campaign rallies and Friday, federal prosecutors in a pair of high-dollar fundraisers President Donald Trump speaks alongside a supporter who he called onstage from the audience during a Tampa, Florida, accuse Irizarry and promote policies that benefit- campaign rally, Friday in Las Vegas. of “secretly using his position and ed many of his supporters. his special access to information” Speaking to thousands of fans Putin would prefer Vermont Sen. Feeling his reelection odds ris- he’s branded “mini Mike.” to divert millions in drug pro- Friday at the Las Vegas Conven- Bernie Sanders as president. ing after his acquittal in the Sen- “We are going to win Nevada in ceeds from DEA control. tion Center, Trump also rejected “Wouldn’t he rather have say, ate impeachment trial and his a big, beautiful landslide, ” Trump Prosecutors allege the conspir- a fresh intelligence community Bernie, who honeymooned in campaign’s record fundraising, acy not only enriched Irizarry but assessment that Russia was seek- Moscow? ” Trump said. Trump seized on the deep divi- predicted. benefited two co-conspirators, ing to interfere in the 2020 race Sanders on Friday condemned sions and personal tiffs on dis- Trump called up to the stage neither of whom is named in the just as it did in 2016 on Trump’s Russian efforts to interfere in the play in this week’s Democratic members of the 1980 U.S. Olym- indictment. One was employed behalf. 2020 election after The Washing- debate. pic men’s hockey team that de- as a Colombian public official “Here we go again, ” Trump ton Post reported U.S. officials Trump was still regaling his feated the Soviet Union’s team in while the other was described said, as the crowd booed. “Aren’t have told him that Russia was audiences with his critical assess- as the Colombian head of a drug people bored?” trying to help his campaign. The ments of the Democratic debate Lake Placid 40 years ago. trafficking and money launder- The president speculated that statement did not confirm the field, including former New York Most were wearing Trump’s ing organization who became the Russian President Vladimir report. Mayor Mike Bloomberg, whom signature red campaign hats. godfather to the Irizarry couple’s children in 2015. Irizarry was posted to the Colombian resort city of Cartagena at the time. When The Associated Press Trump offers aid to farmers in wake of tariffs revealed the scale of Irizarry’s alleged wrongdoing last year, Associated Press floated the possibility in recent through higher prices. The low projection from the it sent shockwaves through the weeks that the new coronavirus Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., replied DEA, where his ostentatious hab- WASHINGTON — President Agriculture Department econo- may delay some of the anticipated to Trump’s tweet, saying “I see its and tales of raucous yacht par- Donald Trump signaled Friday mist contrasted with the adminis- purchases by China. Meanwhile, that you are, again, embracing ties with bikini-clad prostitutes that he’s prepared to tap federal tration’s description of the Phase were legendary among agents coffers again to help farmers suf- data from the Administrative Of- socialism. Also, you don’t seem to 1 trade deal. fice of the U.S. Courts shows an understand math. Your tariffs are But prior to being exposed, fering from the tariff fights that Under the deal, China is sup- Irizarry had been a model agent, he initiated. uptick in farm bankruptcies last paid by US citizens, not China. year : 595, versus 498 the year That’s subtraction, not addition.” posed to buy $40 billion in U.S. winning awards and praise from The Trump administration agricultural products a year, de- his supervisors. While an agent over the past two years has com- before. Trump’s comments come after spite never having bought more in Miami beginning in 2009, he mitted to providing farmers with Typing in all capital letters, the Washington Post reported that was entrusted with an undercov- $27 billion in assistance. Agricul- Trump tweeted that if “our for- the Department of Agriculture’s than $26 billion a year. er money laundering operation ture Secretary Sonny Perdue has mally targeted farmers need ad- chief economist, Robert Johans- Trump has raised expectations using front companies, shell bank said that a third year of financial ditional aid until such times as the son, projected that agricultural for farmers going into the elec- accounts and couriers. Irizarry assistance would not be neces- trade deals with China, Mexico, exports to China would reach tion year, telling them at his cam- resigned in January 2018 after sary since China had committed Canada and others fully kick in, roughly $14 billion in the fiscal paign rallies that they will need being reassigned to Washington to increasing its agriculture pur- that aid will be provided by the year that ends Sept. 30, only a $4 to buy bigger tractors to meet the when his boss in Colombia be- federal government, paid for out billion increase from one year chases under a trade deal. coming demand for their corn, came suspicious. But China’s economy is being of the massive tariff money com- ago. The Wall Street Journal also soybeans, beef and pork. The case has raised concerns rocked by the new virus that has ing into the USA!” reported Perdue’s comments that within the DEA that the conspir- infected more than 75,000 people That’s not how tariffs work, his department isn’t planning for Farmers could play a key role acy may have compromised un- and forced many businesses and though. Tariffs are paid by another round of financial aid un- in the coming presidential elec- dercover operations and upended factories to temporarily close. American companies, which usu- less there is an unexpected dis- tions in states such as Wisconsin, criminal cases. Administration officials have ally pass the cost on to consumers ruption in global trade. Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan. PAGE 8 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 NATION US officials say Russians trying to aid Sanders Associated Press ecutors said was aimed at divid- ing public opinion on hot-button WASHINGTON — Democrat- ic presidential candidate Ber- social issues as well as propping nie Sanders said Friday he was up Sanders and Republican can- briefed by U.S. officials “about a didate Trump in the 2016 election month ago” that Russia has been while also denigrating Hillary trying to help his campaign as Clinton, the eventual Democratic part of Moscow’s efforts to in- nominee. terfere in the 2020 presidential Organizers of that Russian election. effort circulated an outline of “It was not clear what role they themes for future social media JOHN LOCHER/AP were going to play,” Sanders said content, with instructions to “use during a campaign stop in Cali- any opportunity to criticize Hill- Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a rally Friday in Las Vegas. fornia. “We were told that Russia, ary and the rest (except Sanders maybe other countries, are going and Trump — we support them),” to get involved in this campaign.” according to the indictment. The Vermont senator con- Campaigning Friday in Las In Nevada, Biden casts Sanders, tinued: “Here’s the message to Vegas, Trump told supporters Russia: Stay out of American that he heard Democrats were elections.” trying to “start a rumor … that Bloomberg as Dem party posers Sanders’ response was a sharp Putin wants to make sure I get contrast from that of President elected.” Associated Press Donald Trump, who has pushed relationships with Obama, the know about Reid’s apparent move Sanders told reporters he had nation’s first black president who to step in. back at the assessment of U.S. LAS VEGAS — As the Demo- seen some of Russia’s “tweets and tapped Biden, then a Delaware “The paint is being peeled back intelligence agencies that Rus- cratic presidential primary ad- stuff,” which he said were aimed senator, to be his running mate in here a little bit,” Biden said. “And sia has interfered in elections on vances toward Super Tuesday, his behalf. Minutes before Sand- at sowing divisions. 2008. I think they’re entitled to those “They try to divide us up,” Joe Biden wants voters to choose “You can spend a billion dol- opinions. I don’t mean they’re bad ers condemned Russian interfer- a loyal Democrat. Preferably him, ence, Trump dismissed reports Sanders said of the Russians. lars, and I guess he spent but what because of that. But the idea that “That is the ugliest thing they’re of course, but mostly just not Ber- $400 million so far, whatever it … ‘We really loved Barack, man. that Russian President Vladimir nie Sanders or Mike Bloomberg. doing. They’re trying to cause is,” Biden said of Bloomberg’s He did a great job,’ is simply not Putin was trying to help him “They’re not bad folks. They’re chaos, they’re trying to cause ha- eye-popping personal investment turning out to be the case.” as well as “a rumor” started by just not Democrats,” the former tred in America. It’s an ugly busi- in his White House bid. “But you Sanders has led all candidates Democrats. vice president said at a rally Fri- ness and all of us have got to say, can’t hide your record,” Biden in the first two nominating con- Federal investigators in 2018 day night on the eve of Nevada’s sorry, you’re not going to do this continued, pointing specifically tests and appears to have strong charged 13 Russians in a covert caucuses. social media campaign that pros- in this election.” to Bloomberg’s “stop-and-frisk” support in Nevada. Bloomberg Biden, needing a boost after policy that, when he was mayor, isn’t competing in any February disappointing finishes in Iowa effectively allowed New York contests, instead directing his and New Hampshire, has turned police to detain disproportionate unprecedented personal spend- a sharper focus on his primary numbers of non-white residents, ing in the 14 states that vote on rivals this week, culminating Fri- mostly young men, without prob- March 3. His “Super Tuesday” day in repeated barbs of Sanders able cause. strategy hinges on Biden, once and Bloomberg. On Sanders, Biden cited a re- the national front-runner, slip- Earlier in the day, in an inter- cent Atlantic magazine article ping out of contention. view with the Associated Press, that cast Sanders’ consideration That makes Nevada critical for Biden noted that Sanders, who of a primary campaign against Biden after he finished fourth in claims the label of “democratic Obama as serious enough that Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire. socialist,” once toyed with run- Harry Reid, the powerful Nevada “I think we’ll do well” in Nevada, ning in a primary against then- Democrat who was then Senate Biden said Friday, forgoing a de- President Barack Obama in 2012, Democratic leader, stepped in tailed assessment of where he Bloomberg is the mega-billion- personally to shut Sanders down. must finish. aire and former New York mayor “I knew he talked about some- Nevada and the South Carolina who was a Republican and then one should primary Barack for primary on Feb. 29 have always independent before finally de- a second term, like he thought been key to Biden’s path to the DAMIAN DOVARGANES/AP claring himself a Democrat. Barack wasn’t, I guess, socialist nomination. Iowa and New Hamp- Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders signs Both men, Biden told The Asso- enough or whatever,” Biden said, shire are both overwhelmingly autographs at the Valley High School in Santa Ana, Calif., Friday . ciated Press, misrepresent their adding that he didn’t previously white and not heavily unionized. Bloomberg : 3 women can be released on non-disclosure agreements

Associated Press claims of sexual harassment or his efforts to remove a vulner- cally to comments he’s alleged to context of sexual harassment and misconduct going forward.” ability ahead of the next debate, have made. sexual assault, promote a culture WASHINGTON — Mike His remarks come after days on Tuesday in South Carolina, His company reportedly faced of silence in the workplace and Bloomberg said Friday he’d free of intense scrutiny over the treat- and refocus his campaign ahead nearly 40 lawsuits involving 65 contribute to a culture of women three women from confidenti- ment of women at the company of March 3, known as Super Tues- plaintiffs between 1996 and 2016, not feeling safe or supported,” it ality agreements that bar them he’s led for three decades, and day, when he will be on the ballot though it’s unclear how many continued. from speaking publicly about sex- amid pressure from Democratic for the first time. relate to sexual harassment or But his move only prompted ual harassment or discrimination presidential rival Elizabeth War- Bloomberg didn’t automati- discrimination. more criticism from his rivals. suits filed against him over the ren to allow the women to share cally revoke the agreements, but Bloomberg said in a statement “That’s just not good enough,” last three decades. their claims publicly. Warren told the women to contact the he’d done “a lot of reflecting Warren said while campaigning The billionaire former mayor hammered Bloomberg over the company if they would like to be on this issue over the past few Friday in Las Vegas, a day before of New York also said his compa- issue in the recent debate, his released. days.” the Nevada caucuses. “If there ny, Bloomberg LP, will no longer first time facing his rivals. The The three agreements he’s “I recognize that NDAs, partic- are only three, then why didn’t he use such agreements “to resolve announcement Friday highlights willing to open up relate specifi- ularly when they are used in the sign a blanket release?” Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 9 NATION Weinstein jury split on most serious counts

BY TOM HAYS for a few more minutes before let- said the note suggests the jury rape accuser because it isn’t clear mitted one of the other charged AND MICHAEL R. SISAK ting them go home for the week- is split on a key aspect of both whether she wishes to be identi- offenses. Associated Press end. They’ll resume Monday predatory sexual assault counts fied publicly. The predatory sexual assault morning. — “Sopranos” actress Anna- “It’s not unusual for the judge to charge requires prosecutors to NEW YORK — The jury in Har- “It is not uncommon for a jury bella Sciorra’s allegations that have them keep deliberating and show that a defendant committed vey Weinstein’s rape trial indicat- to have difficulty initially in Weinstein attacked her in the not just give them a pass at the a prior rape or other sex crime, ed Friday that it is deadlocked on reaching a unanimous verdict, mid-1990s — and that it is in first sign of trouble,” said Bader, the most serious charges against and it is not uncommon for a jury unanimous agreement on the al- a former federal prosecutor who but doesn’t have the statue of lim- the once-powerful Hollywood to believe that they will never legations by two other women teaches at Fordham University itation constraints that would bar mogul, but the judge told the be able to reach a unanimous — an aspiring actress who says School of Law. Sciorra’s allegations from consid- panel it must keep working. verdict,” Burke said, reading he raped her in March 2013 and The defense said speculating eration on their own. In a note to the judge late in the instructions to the jurors. “But a former film and TV production on the verdict at this point “would Since getting the case Tuesday, fourth day of deliberations, jurors after further deliberations, most assistant, Mimi Haleyi, who says be premature and a mistake.” jurors have been focusing a lot of asked if it was permissible for jurors are able to reach a unani- he forcibly performed oral sex on In all, Weinstein, 67, is charged attention on Sciorra, who testified them to be hung on one or both mous verdict.” her in March 2006. with five counts stemming from nearly a month ago and was the counts of predatory sexual as- The jury posed its deadlock Weinstein has maintained the allegations of Sciorra, the as- first accuser to do so in the close- sault while reaching a unanimous question in hypothetical fashion, any sexual encounters were piring actress and Haleyi. ly watched #MeToo trial. verdict on the other charges. writing: “We the jury request to consensual. To convict Weinstein of a Weinstein’s lawyers said they understand if we can be hung on The Associated Press has a pol- predatory sexual assault charge, Bader said she was surprised would accept a partial verdict, (Count) 1 and/or (Count) 3 and icy of not publishing the names of jurors must agree on two things: the jury appears to be struggling but prosecutors said no and Judge unanimous on the other charges? people who allege sexual assault that Weinstein raped or forcibly with Sciorra, “because she was a James Burke refused to allow it. Thank you.” without their consent. It is with- performed oral sex on Sciorra, much cleaner witness” than the He sent jurors back to deliberate Law professor Cheryl Bader holding the name of the 2013 as she alleges, and that he com- other alleged victims. Man guilty Republicans for killing seek to block Equal Rights 2 who tried Amendment to stop slur Associated Press

Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Five Republican attorneys general are PORTLAND, Ore. — A man seeking to block an effort by three accused of fatally stabbing two Democratic-led states to see the people who prosecutors say tried Equal Rights Amendment is ad- to stop his racist tirade against opted into the U.S. Constitution. two young black women on a Port- Legal chiefs in five states land, Ore. , commuter train was — Tennessee, Alabama, Louisi- convicted of murder Friday after ana, Nebraska and South Dakota an emotional trial that featured — filed a motion on Thursday to testimony from both women and intervene in a lawsuit filed by the sole survivor of the attack Virginia, Nevada and Illinois. All nearly three years ago. five rescinded their approvals of Jurors found Jeremy Christian, the ERA amendment before a 37, guilty of the deaths of Taliesin congressionally mandated rati- Namkai-Meche and Ricky Best. fication deadline more than 40 He also was convicted of at- years ago, Tennessee Attorney tempted murder for stabbing sur- General Herbert Slatery said vivor Micah Fletcher and assault BETH NAKAMURA, THE OREGONIAN, POOL/AP Thursday. and menacing for shouting slurs Virginia recently became the and throwing a bottle at a black Jeremy Christian remains stoic as verdicts are read, guilty on all twelve counts, at his trial in Portland, Ore., on Thursday. 38th state to ratify the measure woman on another light rail train designed to guarantee women the the day before the May 26, 2017, neck. Fletcher was seriously in- same legal rights men enjoy. stabbings. Constitutional amendments The verdict was announced to ‘ Both of those people would be alive if jured but survived. must be ratified by three-quar- a packed courtroom, with victims Christian stabbed the men 11 they’d kept their hands to themselves. ters of the 50 states, or 38. But the and victims’ relatives filling one times in 11 seconds. He was ar- ERA’s future is uncertain, in part side, The Oregonian/OregonLive ... Or allowed me to have my free speech. rested a few blocks away. because the ratification deadline reported. Christian’s mother sat ’ Christian’s defense attorneys Jeremy Christian set by Congress expired so long on the other side. convicted murderer Gregory Scholl and Dean Smith Fletcher sat with his eyes argued that Christian had acted ago. Enforcing that rule fell to the closed as the verdicts were read. in self-defense and felt threatened archivist of the United States, Some members of the dead men’s by Namkai-Meche and Fletcher. the Nazi salute while wearing an ground. Defense attorneys argued David Ferriero, who announced families cried. An expert witness for the defense American flag around his neck that Namkai-Meche had first ap- that he would “take no action to Christian didn’t express any testified that Fletcher, in par- emotion. and holding a baseball bat. proached Christian and was try- certify the adoption of the Equal According to prosecutors, ing to film the tirade, which made ticular, escalated the situation by Rights Amendment.” The three A judge last year dismissed getting within 6 feet of Christian charges of aggravated murder Christian boarded the train dur- him feel cornered. Democratic attorneys general ing the evening commute on May Authorities say another passen- moments before Christian pulled sued Ferriero, arguing that the — which carries a potential death out his knife sentence — because of a new Or- 26, 2017, and began shouting rac- ger, Fletcher, stood up to intervene deadline, first set for 1979 and During the trial, detective Mi- egon law that narrows the defini- ist, anti-Muslim and xenopho- and got into a shoving match with later extended to 1982, is not chelle Michaels read from a tran- tion of aggravated murder. bic slurs at the two young black Christian, who was taunting them binding In the days after the stabbing, women. One was an immigrant to “do something” to stop him. script of Christian’s comments “The Equal Rights Amend- photos and video surfaced show- from Somalia and wore a Muslim Christian then took out a 4-inch shortly after he was arrested. ment is valid as the 28th Amend- ing that Christian had recently headscarf. Some witnesses said folding knife and stabbed Fletch- “There’s no way I can explain ment to the Constitution, and it attended — and spoken at — a Christian in his outburst made a er and Namkai-Meche, prosecu- what happened,” he said. “Ex- is disappointing and frankly un- rally hosted by a far-right group slicing motion across his neck and tors said. Authorities say he also cept both of those people would fathomable that any state would called Patriot Prayer, whose peri- mentioned decapitating people. stabbed a third passenger, Ricky be alive if they’d kept their hands take action to block equal rights odic political events were already As his tirade continued, Chris- Best, who was standing nearby. to themselves. Or got off the train for women,” said Virginia Attor- causing tension in the city. He tian grabbed Namkai-Meche’s Namkai-Meche and Best died at or allowed me to have my free ney General Mark Herring in a was captured on camera making cellphone and threw it to the the scene of stab wounds to the speech.” statement. PAGE 10 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 NATION Greyhound halts immigration checks on buses

Associated Press person needs a ticket to access. it violated consumer protection Greyhound said it would pro- laws by facilitating raids. SEATTLE — Greyhound, the vide its drivers and bus station “We are pleased to see Grey- nation’s largest bus company, said employees updated training re- hound clearly communicate that Friday it will stop allowing Bor- garding the new policy, and that it does not consent to racial profil- der Patrol agents without a war- it would place stickers on all its ing and harassment on its buses,” rant to board its buses to conduct buses clearly stating that it does Andrea Flores, deputy director routine immigration checks. not consent to the searches. of policy for the ACLU’s Equal- The company’s announcement “Our primary concern is the ity Division, said in an email. came one week after The Associ- safety of our customers and team “By protecting its customers and ated Press reported on a leaked members, and we are confident employees, Greyhound is sending Border Patrol memo confirm- these changes will lead to an im- a message that it prioritizes the ing that agents can’t board pri- proved experience for all parties communities it serves.” vate buses without the consent involved,” the statement said. Ferguson said in an email his of the bus company. Greyhound U.S. Customs and Border Pro- office will follow up with Grey- had previously insisted that even tection, which includes the Bor- hound to ensure compliance. though it didn’t like the immigra- der Patrol, did not immediately “Today’s announcement from tion checks, it had no choice under return a call seeking comment. Greyhound confirms what should NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS/AP federal law but to allow them. Greyhound has faced pressure have been obvious to the compa- In an emailed statement, the from the American Civil Liberties Agents for Customs and Border Protection board a Greyhound bus ny since I contacted them a year company said it would notify the Union, immigrant rights activists headed for Portland, Ore., earlier this month in Spokane, Wash. ago — it has both the power and Department of Homeland Secu- and Washington state Attorney the responsibility to stand up for rity that it does not consent to un- General Bob Ferguson to stop crossing or even approaching an under President Donald Trump. its customers, who suffered for warranted searches on its buses allowing sweeps on buses within international boundary. Border Patrol arrests videotaped far too long from Greyhound’s or in areas of terminals that are 100 miles of an international bor- Critics say the practice is in- by other passengers have sparked indifference to CBP’s suspicion- not open to the public — such as der or coastline. In many cases, timidating and discriminatory criticism, and Greyhound faces a less bus raids and harassment,“ company offices or any areas a the buses being checked were not and has become more common lawsuit in California alleging that he said. Helicopter sharpshooters to kill Connecticut students’ nonnative goats in Grand Teton arrest over slur prompts

Associated Press review of ridicule law CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A dis- Associated Press Person on Account of Creed, Re- ligion, Color, Denomination, Na- puted effort to help native bighorn HARTFORD, Conn. — Free tionality or Race.” sheep in Grand Teton National speech concerns that were raised “I know the title sort of sounds Park was scheduled to start Fri- following the arrests of two Uni- like, whoa, what are they doing,” day with a helicopter buzzing over versity of Connecticut students said state Sen. John Kissel, an rugged peaks with sharpshooters accused of saying a racial slur Enfield Republican and ranking aboard tasked with killing nonna- have led state legislators to con- tive mountain goats. sider repealing a century-old law member of the Judiciary Com- Park officials closed off a large that bans ridicule based on race, mittee. “But … the issue as to portion of the Teton Range to the religion or nationality. whether someone can really face public for the eradication effort The episode on campus involv- criminal charges for something and planned to begin the flights ing two white students in Octo- that has some real question- in the afternoon, park spokes- ber was recorded on video and able constitutionality, I think, is woman Denise Germann said. sparked protests against racism. at least worth discussing at this The operation was scheduled Many people applauded their ar- point in time.” despite opposition from Wyoming rests, but civil liberties groups According to state court re- officials including state Game and condemned them as an affront to cords, the ridicule charge, which Fish Department Director Brian First Amendment rights. carries up to 30 days in jail, has Nesvik, who protested Friday in Police said the students, Jarred been filed 40 times since 2012, a call with acting Grand Teton Karal and Ryan Mucaj, uttered resulting in 10 convictions. Only Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail. the racial slur several times while one of the convictions included Emails sent to Germann on Fri- walking through the parking lot of jail time. day afternoon asking whether the a campus apartment complex and Critics say the law appears to hunt had begun were not immedi- be among only a few such state DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/AP were recorded by a black student. ately returned. They said that they were playing laws in the country. “We again asked them not to A mountain goat leads its kid across the Mount Evans Scenic Byway a game that involved saying of- “It is so clearly unconstitution- use this method of removal. We just below the summit near Idaho Springs, Colo., in 2016. fensive words and that it was not al under the First Amendment were told, ‘Thank you for your directed at anyone in particular. that it’s hard to believe that it’s comments, this is what we’re keen to go after the goats before Park Service only use hunters on They were charged under a still on the books,” said William going to do,’ ” department spokes- they become too numerous to the ground to pursue the moun- 1917 law that makes it a misde- Dunlap, a professor at the Quin- woman Rebekah Fitzgerald said. be easily eliminated from the tain goats. meanor for anyone who “ridi- nipiac University School of Law Department officials aren’t nooks and crannies of the rugged Hunters on foot could at least cules or holds up to contempt in North Haven, Conn . “It pun- opposed to shooting the goats, backcountry. try to recover the goats they kill any person or class of persons, ishes speech based on the content Fitzgerald said, just doing so from Winter in some ways is an ideal so the meat would not go to waste, on account of the creed, religion, of the speech, and that it is one a helicopter. time because few park visitors commissioners said. color, denomination, nationality of the key concepts of the First The 100 or so goats in the park venture into the Tetons in winter The National Parks Conser- or race of such person or class of Amendment — that the govern- are descended from animals in- compared to the busy summer vation Association, a nonprofit persons.” ment cannot punish speech based troduced near the western Wyo- tourist season. group that lobbies to protect and A bill before the Legislature’s on its content.” ming park decades ago. They Friday’s weather in the Tetons enhance the U.S. National Park Judiciary Committee would re- Douglas Spencer, a UConn law could spread pneumonia to a herd was a chilly 18 degrees but clear system, does not object to the peal the law, which has been crit- professor, added the state ridicule of about 100 native bighorn sheep, and calm. helicopter goat shooting, said icized by law professors around law, in theory, could be used to ar- officials have said. Foul weather called off a previ- group program manager Sharon the country and other groups, rest comedians who make fun of The goats also compete with ously scheduled helicopter-borne Mador. including the American Civil others. the bighorns for food and habitat attempt at shooting the goats in But she said her group wor- Liberties Union, which said the Scot X. Esdaile, president of on the steep slopes of the famous January. After that eradication ries that the eradication program students’ conduct was offensive the Connecticut State Conference craggy mountains. effort was postponed, the Wyo- could lead to members of the pub- but not criminal. of the NAACP, said that the bill to The park’s plan to eradicate ming Game and Fish Commis- lic eventually getting hunters on A public hearing was held Fri- repeal the law raises serious con- the goats also calls for using sion board that sets state hunting foot permission to kill the goats. day on the bill — whose full title cerns and that he will seek opin- sharpshooters on the ground. The rules and limits passed a resolu- “It would be an ad-hoc hunt in is “An Act Repealing the Prohibi- ions from civil rights lawyers and National Park Service has been tion demanding that the National the park,” Mader said. tion Against Ridicule of Another NAACP officials. Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 11 VIRUS OUTBREAK Virus spreads in S. Korea city as crowds screened

BY KIM TONG-HYUNG In some positive news, China Associated Press said Saturday that the daily count of new virus cases there fell sig- SEOUL, South Korea — South nificantly to 397, though another Korea on Saturday reported an 109 people died of COVID-19, the eight-fold jump in viral infections disease caused by the virus. Most in four days to 433, most of them of the new cases and all but three linked to a church and a hospi- of the deaths were in Hubei prov- tal in and around the country’s ince, where the outbreak started. fourth-largest city, where health /AP The new figures, along with an LEE JIN-MAN workers scrambled to screen upward revision of Hubei’s ear- thousands of worshippers. Visitors wearing face masks walk near the Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the 14th-century Gyeongbok lier count, brought the total num- The country also reported its Palace, in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday. ber of cases in mainland China to third death of a virus patient, a 76,288, with 2,345 deaths. man in his 40s who was found where that weren’t immediately 100 on Friday. line. Buses and subways were full dead at home and posthumously Of the 229 new cases in South traceable, government officials Around 230 of those have been of mask-clad commuters. tested positive. Korea, 200 are from Daegu and remained hopeful of containing directly linked to a single house Rallies were banned in down- There’s concern that South Ko- nearby areas. By Saturday morn- the outbreak. of worship, a Daegu branch of town Seoul, but hundreds went rea’s death toll could grow. Virus ing, the city of 2.5 million and “Although we are beginning to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, ahead with an anti-government patients with signs of pneumonia surrounding areas counted 352 see some more cases nationwide, where a woman in her 60s at- protest on Saturday. or other serious conditions at the cases, including two fatalities in infections are still sporadic out- tended two services before test- The first three cases in the Cheongdo hospital were trans- the Cheongdo hospital. Both pa- side of the special management ing positive for the virus. country’s 600,000-member mili- ferred to other facilities, 17 of tients had pneumonia. zone of Daegu and North Gyeong- All 74 sites operated by the tary also sprung up on separate them in critical condition, Vice The central government has sang Province,” Kim said during Shincheonji Church have been bases Friday, bringing added Health Minister Kim Gang-lip declared the area a “special man- a briefing. He called for main- closed and worshippers have concern. A U.S. Army garrison in told reporters. agement zone” and is channeling taining strong border controls been told to instead watch ser- Daegu restricted access and im- He said that the outbreak had support to ease a shortage in hos- to prevent infections from China vices online. posed self-quarantine for Ameri- entered a serious new phase, but pital beds, medical personnel and and elsewhere from entering Anxiety is also palpable in other can troops. still expressed cautious optimism equipment. South Korea. parts of the country. In Seoul, “There remain zero confirmed that it can be contained to the re- While some experts say the Nationwide, the numbers told South Korea’s capital, fear of the cases of USFK personnel with gion surrounding Daegu, where virus has started to spread na- of a ballooning problem. There virus led many to avoid shops COVID-19 despite the rise in con- the first case was reported on tionwide, pointing to a number were 20 new cases reported and restaurants and instead eat firmed South Korean cases,” U.S. Tuesday. of infections in Seoul and else- Wednesday, 53 on Thursday and at home and order necessities on- Forces Korea said in a statement. Italian towns lock down Japan official: 23 passengers after two virus deaths let go without BY LUCA BRUNO coveted face masks, which were AND NICOLE WINFIELD nearly impossible to find in sold- being tested Associated Press out pharmacies. The regional president of Lom- CODOGNO, Italy — A dozen bardy, Attilio Fontana, said there BY MARI YAMAGUCHI northern Italian towns were on were 32 confirmed cases in the Associated Press effective lockdown Saturday after region, where 10 towns are under the new virus linked to China orders to shutter nonessential ac- TOKYO — Japan’s health min- claimed two lives in Italy and tivities and services. ister said Saturday that 23 pas- sickened an increasing number of Seven cases were reported in sengers were released from the people who had no direct links to the Veneto region, including that Diamond Princess cruise ship the origin of the virus. of a 78-year-old man who died without being tested for the new The secondary contagions late Friday, said the Veneto re- virus due to procedural mistakes, prompted local authorities in gional president, Luca Zaia. Two another sign of sloppiness in the towns in Lombardy and Veneto UCA RUNO/AP of those infected were related to L B quarantine of the ship, where to order schools, businesses and the man who died. more than 600 people were restaurants closed, and to can- People wear masks as they stand in front of the San Biagio church Premier Giuseppe Conte sent infected. cel sporting events and Masses. in Codogno, Italy, on Saturday. condolences to his family, and to Health Minister Katsunobu The mayor of Milan, the business Kato said the 23 were tested be- capital of Italy, shuttered public the family of an unidentified sec- the health minister imposed an were alarming given the second- ond victim. effective lockdown on 10 Lom- ary contagions. The first man fore the quarantine began Feb. offices. 5 but were allowed to leave the Hundreds of people who came Zaia said Saturday that the bardy towns around Lodi, south- to be confirmed as infected in ship on Wednesday and Thursday into contact with the more than contagion showed that the virus east of Milan, after Lombardy Lombardy had met with someone without being tested again. Three 40 people confirmed infected in is transmitted like any other flu reported a quadrupling of cases who had returned from China Italy were in isolation pending and that trying to pinpoint a sin- Friday. But individual cities out- on Jan. 21, but remains without of them have since tested nega- test results, and civil protection gle source of infection or one with side that core cordon area, such symptoms. tive, and most of the others have crews set up a tent camp outside a direct links to China is no longer as Cremona, issued their own re- The infected man worked at a agreed to be tested, he said. closed hospital in Veneto to screen effective. strictions canceling school after Unilever plant near Codogno, and He said officials have tracked medical staff for the virus. “You can get it from anyone,“ he confirming their own cases. more than 100 of his colleagues the 23 passengers down and In hard-hit Codogno, where told reporters. “We can expect to The numbers of infected were were being kept in isolation pend- asked them to self-quarantine at the first patient of the northern have cases of patients who had no in constant flux, but by Saturday ing test results. home for 14 days. cluster was in critical condition, contact” with suspected carriers. had topped 40 nationwide. A press Separately Saturday, 19 Italians “We deeply regret that there main street was practically a While the virus isn’t particularly conference was planned later Sat- who spent more than two weeks was an operational error,” Kato ghost town Saturday, with super- lethal, it can be for the elderly or urday to provide the most up-to- quarantined on a virus-stricken said at a news conference. “We markets, restaurants and busi- people with existing conditions, date figures. cruise liner in Japan landed at will examine what went wrong nesses closed. The few people he said. Authorities urged calm but Rome’s military Pratica di Mare so we will not repeat the same out on the streets were wearing An initial ordinance penned by acknowledged that the clusters airport. mistake.” PAGE 12 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 MUSIC

The high price of speaking out ‘Miss Americana,’ the documentary on Taylor Swift’s career, explores the predicament pop artists face — voice your political beliefs or say nothing

BY DAN DELUCA The Philadelphia Inquirer

arly on in “Miss Americana,” the new Taylor won a judgment against him — the $1 that she Swift documentary, the then-16-year-old singer asked for — and Mueller’s $3 million defama- takes a moment to celebrate “Tim McGraw,” tion suit against her was dismissed. the 2006 hit that made her the youngest artist The second was her decision during the 2018 ever to write a No. 1 country song that she also midterm elections to speak out politically — performed. specifi cally against conservative Tennessee Re- “I give myself, like, fi ve seconds a day to say, publican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, whom Swift ‘Yes, this is happening!’ ” the curly-haired, whip- called “Trump in a wig.” Swift was appalled by smart teenager exults. “The rest of the time I’m her vote against reauthorization of the Violence trying to fi gure out how to make it last.” Against Women Act. Blackburn went on to de- She hasn’t done too badly: seven million-sell- feat Democratic opponent Phil Bredesen. ing albums, two Grammy album of the year A central scene pits Swift and mother Andrea trophies and legions of fans who pack stadiums against the men in the room. Among them is wherever she goes. And her latest album, last her father, Scott, who asks, “Did Bing Crosby year’s “Lover,” is both her most mature effort do it? Did Bob Hope do it?” suggesting she and a creative rebound after the mild disap- shouldn’t risk alienating fans. pointment of 2017’s “Reputation.” For Swift, though, striving to be the good girl Yet, to hear Swift tell it in the Netfl ix movie is no longer viable. “I’ve been doing it for 15 directed by Lana Wilson, all that success came years, and I’m tired of it,” she says. at a cost: keeping her mouth shut. Wokeness is manifest both in “Lover’s” clev- “Miss Americana” is about Swift becoming erly feminist single “The Man” and in “Only The self-aware. It starts slowly, tracking her rise to Young,” the new song from “Miss Americana” fame and rehashing battles with Kanye West that aims to be a youth vote anthem. and Kim Kardashian. Swift’s decision to engage politically stemmed The doc gets seriously compelling, though, when it sends a camera into the recording stu- from personal experiences, of course. And “Miss Americana” offers a revealing look remaining neutral left her open to both being at singer-songwriter Taylor Swift during a dio to capture her creative process, and when it transformational period in her life. The film focuses on two transformative events outside. excoriated by the left for not taking a stance in tells the story of Swift navigating the difference The fi rst was a 2017 trial stemming from the the 2016 election and being appropriated by between who the world wants her to be, and white supremacists as an “Aryan goddess.” who she wants to be. singer’s allegation that Denver DJ David Mueller Netflix groped her during a 2013 promo event. Swift CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 13 MUSIC Justin Bieber

Changes (Def Jam) The most striking image in “Seasons” — the thinly veiled 10-part commercial that Jus- tin Bieber rolled out piece- meal on YouTube ahead of the Feb. 14 release of his fifth studio album — is the sight of the 25-year-old pop superstar zipping himself into an enormous oxygen chamber. Proof (if you needed it) that pop superstars are nothing like the rest of us, it’s a blunt visual expression of what the docuseries makes clear in plenty of other ways: Bieber, scarred from the experience of global celebrity, is in deep need of protection. Again and again, we see the people around him — his wife, Hailey Baldwin; his manager, Scooter Braun; his onetime “swagger coach,” Ryan Good — doing all they can to create a kind of safe space around Bieber, who talks frankly in the show about having his nervous system wrecked by too much money, too many drugs, too much adulation. The singer makes yet another cocoon for himself on “Changes,” a low-key set of gentle electro-R&B jams that depicts his relation- ship with Baldwin as a refuge from the unkind world he’s still not quite ready to reenter. Long on clean-toned guitars and drowsy soul grooves TNS DANNY CLINCH / Big Hassle Media — and many, many words about the love of a good woman — it represents a distinct shift from the throbbing EDM of Bieber’s last album, 2015’s “Purpose”; its stylistic consistency is a change, too, from the dabbling that Bieber did between LPs in far-flung collaborations with Luis Fonsi, David Guetta, Dan + Shay and others. Yet R&B has always been where Bieber — who, don’t forget, came up under the tutelage of Usher — goes for comfort and redemption. At times “Changes” recalls “Journals,” the intimate FROM PAGE 12 collection of digital singles he released in 2013, at But Swift’s shift is a prime the end of a year in which his paparazzi exploits example of the predicament (including his novel use of a restaurant’s mop pop artists face, with pressure bucket) put a serious dent in his popularity. Chief ramping up to take sides as among the studio wizards here? Poo Bear, who the calendar moves inexorably also worked behind the scenes on “Journals.” toward November. For all the personal stability it seems to reflect, Choosing between a politi- though, the question this very chill — and often cal stance and silence can be a very pretty — album poses for Bieber is how business decision, as well as a dedicated he is to reclaiming his spot at the cen- matter of principle. Protest art ter of pop. Sure, there are on-trend trap drums doesn’t necessarily stand the sprinkled here and there; sure, Post Malone and test of time. Travis Scott put in streaming-bait guest spots. But “Changes” mostly feels like a willful retreat The likelihood of artists from a scene that demands instant engagement. alienating their audiences Which you’d say was precisely the point if varies widely. Rapper YG Bieber weren’t headed out on a stadium tour in had little to lose by releasing Musical artists such as the TNS Drive-By Truckers, top, Jason May. How these songs play in those spaces is “FDT” about Donald Trump in 2016. anyone’s guess. Hopefully the guy brings along And in a nonmusical realm, Larry Isbell, above, and Steven his oxygen chamber. David made it clear he didn’t care if he Van Zandt, right, of Bruce released “Be Afraid,” the fi rst track from his upcoming album “Reunions.” — Mikael Wood lost fans over his MAGA hat jokes in Springsteen’s E Street Band Los Angeles Times “Be afraid, be very afraid,” Isbell the new season of HBO’s “Curb Your have been known to publicly sings on the rugged song. “Do it any- Enthusiasm.” comment on politics. But a mainstream country act might way.” The advice could apply to any be inclined to steer clear of politics, existential situation — carpe diem, Lil Wayne remembering the ostracism of the while you can — but Isbell is also Dixie Chicks for criticizing George W. That notion that now, more than speaking to fellow artists who might Funeral (Young Money/Republic) ever, art should provide a place for Bush in 2003. fear the consequences of speaking Yes, it’s too long. The people to escape politics has its adher- This year, artists who have long their minds. “If your words add up to Wayne we know and adore ents. made social commentary their metier nothing, then you’re making a choice won’t truly be “back” until have resolved to make their voices In 2017, I talked with Steven Van to sing a cover when you need a battle he can refrain from unload- heard — among them, the Southern Zandt, the Bruce Springsteen guitarist cry.” ing 24 tracks in 76 minutes rock band Drive-By Truckers, who who made politically agitating music “Be Afraid” also addresses anyone on his fans. But “Funeral,” the second offering just released “The Unraveling,” their as a solo artist in the 1980s. who insists that artists have no place of Weezy’s comeback period that began with state-of-the-nation statement. He saw these times as different. “I commenting on the world at large: 2018’s long-awaited and surprisingly maudlin In “Thoughts and Prayers,” singer don’t feel the need to explain Donald “We won’t shut up and sing.” “Tha Carter V,” is worth an old fan’s time. The Patterson Hood seethes with frus- Trump. He explains himself every day Isbell’s urgency is akin to that hypnotic “Mahogany” and completely bonkers tration at hollow responses to gun ... It’s redundant to even talk about it, expressed by Swift in the Netfl ix doc “Mama Mia” (wherein he brags about perform- violence. But he also wishes he could honestly.” as she realizes she needs to make her ing a sex act with a woman’s breasts while her block out the ceaseless partisan racket. A better strategy, he said, is to cre- beliefs heard if she’s going to thrive as baby nurses) alone comprise the man’s great- “White noise in my head, I think I ate a refuge that’s “a spiritual fuel stop an artist and a human being. est thrills since 2013. There are 22 more tracks need a fi lter, a pressure valve to keep ... in a way that’s totally away from She talks candidly about her career with too much Auto-Tune, dotted with keepers from blowing up.” daily life and daily frustrations.” as a window that inevitably will close. nonetheless: the Kanye-inspired robo-gospel Green Day has gone in the other With Springsteen expected to re- “I want to work really hard while soci- “Dreams,” the overdue New Orleans bounce direction. In 2004, the pop-punk trio lease a new album and tour with the E ety is still tolerating me being success- of “Clap for Em,” the monster closer “Wayne’s led by Billie Joe Armstrong were Bush Street Band this year, it remains to be ful,” she says, cognizant that she works World” (“party time, excellent, pardon my excel- bashers on “American Idiot,” their seen whether the Boss will be inclined in an industry “where women are lence”). The oddly-named “Funeral” tries too rock opera that became a hit Broad- toward escapism or engagement in discarded in an elephant graveyard by hard where his classics are laid-back, and there’s way show. 2020. the time they’re 35.” too much “pistol-whip you till you know the serial But their new “Father of All ...” Jason Isbell, the acclaimed Nash- In “Miss Americana,” the clock is number by heart” to be truly fun. But all over it eschews politics, instead returning to ville songwriter who’s an heir to ticking, and when it comes to deciding you can hear the Best Rapper Alive gearing up the antics of their 1994 breakthrough Springsteen in depicting quotidian whether to speak out, Swift can only for something big. “Dookie.” The new album is fun, but struggles with poetic grace, is leaning come to one conclusion: Now is the — Dan Weiss feels cautious. toward the latter. This month, Isbell time. The Philadelphia Inquirer PAGE 14 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 CROSSWORD AND COMICS NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

GUNSTON STREET RESULTS FOR ABOVE PUZZLE

“Gunston Street” is drawn by Basil Zaviski. Email him at [email protected], and visit gunstonstreet.com. Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 15 AMERICAN ROUNDUP Child given doll with noose at Mardi Gras

BILOXI — A 12-year- MS old-girl received a black doll with beads forming a noose around its neck at a Missis- sippi Gulf Coast Mardi Gras pa- rade, and officials said that police were investigating the incident as a hate crime. Nicole Fairconeture of Pass Christian said she and her fam- ily were attending the Krewe of Nereids parade when a man rid- ing on one of the floats called her daughter to get a Mardi Gras throw. “She grabbed the item, put it to her chest, and was coming back and he called her back,” Faircon- eture told The Sun Herald news- paper. “When she turned around, he said, ‘That’s you.’ ” The doll was black and “was dressed like a slave,” Faircon- eture said. Walmart workers find dead body in bathroom

FORSYTH — A dead GA body was found inside the bathroom of a Walmart store in Georgia, and police were try- ing to determine what happened. Walmart employees made the grisly discovery in the morn- ing, according to news outlets, which said investigators believe the body could have been in the store’s bathroom all night. The cause of death wasn’t immediate- ly known, and the person’s iden- CHRIS DORST, CHARLESTON (W.VA) GAZETTE-MAIL/AP tity wasn’t released . Maj. Alexander Daniels with the Forsyth Police Department Flipping for frisbees said the person isn’t a Walmart employee, and officials don’t Suzanne Sigmon tosses a frisbee to her dog, McKenna, as she enjoys the sunshine with her great-nephew, Trip Jobst, 1, in front of her know if a crime was involved. house in South Charleston, W. Va. Alienstock fest looks to campus-wide. THE CENSUS Man shot at troopers make another landing Developers told the Yale Daily and K-9 with pellet gun News that users order items from The approximate amount an Alabama LAS VEGAS — The a menu on their phones and re- man pleaded guilty to hiding from the WILMINGTON — A NV Alienstock festival ceive them at one of several drop Internal Revenue Service. John P. Cooney, DE man accused of shoot- could attract thousands of extra- locations around campus in a pad- $435K 70, of Birmingham pleaded guilty to tax terrestrial fans to Nevada for a ded envelope attached to a drone. evasion, a Department of Justice news re- ing a pellet gun at Delaware State second consecutive year if county Kiki Air’s founder, Yale senior lease said. It said that documents show that in 2011 he acknowledged filing three Police troopers and a police dog commissioners grant permission. Jason Lu, said his company grew years of late returns, admitting that he owed $780,000 for taxes due in 2008 was arrested on weapons and as- The owners of restaurant and from a class project and has won through 2010. He then created a company, GVA Advisors LLC, where he had sault charges. motel Little A’Le’Inn in Rachel a $150,000 grant from Y Combi- his employer deposit his pay, the department said. “From 2013 through 2016, Jason W. Tatom, 31, of Wilm- announced plans to host Alien- nator, a California-based investor Cooney deposited more than $435,000 into the GVA account, concealing the ington shot at troopers who stock 2020 for three days begin- in startups. funds from the IRS,” it said. approached him after they re- ning Sept. 10, The Las Vegas sponded to a report that he had Review-Journal reported. Man faces prison for taunted somebody with a weapon Last year’s event was con- at a bar in Wilmington, police ceived after a viral Facebook stolen TVs scam Student robotics team Cannabis oil laboratory said. meme urged people to storm the recovers stolen trailer explodes in apartment Tatom hit two troopers and gate of the secretive Air Force GREENBELT — Fed- tried to disarm them, then shot eral prosecutors in base commonly known as Area MD ST. PAUL — A trailer ORCUTT — One per- and hit the police dog with a pel- 51, which has been rumored for Maryland recommended a prison MN that contained equip- CA son suffered serious let gun after a chase, police said. years to house extraterrestrial sentence of more than five years ment for a Twin Cities high school injuries after a lab extracting technology. for a man who pleaded guilty to robotics team was recovered after cannabis oil that was inside an Drunk driver charged for The prospective gatecrashers conspiring to obtain hundreds it was stolen . apartment blew up , authorities crashing truck into home were urged to head to the site to of stolen televisions worth more The trailer belongs to the said. “see them aliens.” than $1 million. St. Paul Highland Park team. A person who lived in the apart- FALMOUTH — A Saul Eady, who pleaded guilty Dubbed the Automatons, they ment was taken for medical treat- man accused of driv- Yale students start to conspiring to commit mail and spent the first six weeks of the ment, the Santa Barbara County MA ing drunk barreled his pickup wire fraud, was one of eight de- new year building a robot from Sheriff’s Department said in a drone delivery service into a house in Falmouth , police fendants charged in a September scratch. The robot was not in the news release. said. 2018 indictment. He is set to be trailer when it was stolen. Sheriff’s deputies found “arti- NEW HAVEN — A The 36-year-old man was group of students at the first defendant sentenced in Senior Greta Shore said she cles that are associated with a bu- CT speeding and under the influ- Yale University has set up a drone the case. was “completely baffled” when tane honey oil lab and detectives ence of alcohol when he crashed delivery service on campus. Prosecutors said Eady was a she heard about it. As the team’s from the Cannabis Compliance into the front right corner of the Kiki Air promises to deliver member of the West Coast op- business captain , she started an Team (CCT) responded to assist home , Falmouth officials said. candy, snacks and other small eration of an international fraud online campaign to buy replace- with the investigation,” accord- items to students who place or- scheme that posed as U.S. Navy ment batteries, tools and parts. ing to the department. Neither the driver nor a person ders through an app. contracting agents to convince The campaign raised $2,500 in As a result of the investiga- who was in the house at the time The service is being tested three U.S. companies to ship “a matter of hours,” said Marta tion, Albert Alvarado, 37, of Santa were injured. No one else was in using a small group of student them electronics equipment with- Shore, Greta’s mother and busi- Maria was arrested on multiple the truck. customers before being launched out payments upfront. ness mentor for the team. charges . From wire reports PAGE 16 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 OPINION Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Sean Klimek, Europe commander Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander US keeps updating its virus response. That’s good. Caroline E. Miller, Europe Business Operations BY LEANA S. WEN Constant reevaluation stant reevaluation is the bedrock of any Joshua M. Lashbrook, Pacific Chief of Staff Special to The Washington Post emergency response. The CDC has an- is the bedrock of any nounced plans to test additional patients EDITORIAL irst, there were no plans to quar- with flu-like symptoms in five cities, even antine people arriving from the emergency response. if they have not traveled to China. This is Terry Leonard, Editor center of the COVID-19 outbreak; another example of proactive monitoring [email protected] Fthen the U.S. government imposed that should be commended. its first quarantine in more than 50 years. Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor Some have criticized the CDC for mis- Passengers on the Diamond Princess leading the response pivot when new infor- steps, such as when a sample was misla- [email protected] mation comes out and change course when cruise ship were ordered to stay on board beled and a patient who tested positive unexpected circumstances arise. Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content for two weeks; then the government an- for COVID-19 was accidentally released The decisions to quarantine return- [email protected] nounced it would evacuate the Americans from the hospital. I have a different take. ing Americans illustrate the agility of the among them. After an announcement that Public health relies on public trust. Admit- Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation only those who tested negative would be U.S. government’s response. At the begin- ting mistakes and explaining prompt cor- [email protected] flown back to the United States, 14 people ning of the outbreak, the exposure was rective actions engender that trust. In this tested positive and they ended up on the concentrated in Wuhan, China, with no Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital case, the CDC announced the mistake pub- [email protected] flight, too. U.S. cases. As Americans started being Critics have called these changing di- repatriated from Wuhan, this was the op- licly and immediately enacted measures to rectives “chaotic” and an “about-face.” In portunity to stop, or at least significantly isolate the individual. They worked with BUREAU STAFF fact, we should see the rapid adjustments slow, the spread of COVID-19 to the United partners involved to prevent such errors by the U.S. government as indicative of a States by quarantining those with risks from happening in the future. Europe/Mideast Are there areas for the U.S. government Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief strong public health response. for exposure. Military bases were quickly [email protected] COVID-19 is a new coronavirus that repurposed for this use, and local health to improve its response? Absolutely. The +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 was discovered only two months ago. It authorities coordinated closely with area United States should apply more pressure has since sickened at least 75,000 people hospitals and the Centers for Disease Con- on China to provide up-to-date information Pacific to its own people and to other governments. Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief around the world, but much about it re- trol and Prevention to monitor, test and [email protected] mains unknown. We are still not certain treat patients. It needs to adequately fund local public- +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 if the virus can be spread by people who Initially, those on board the Diamond health departments, which are on the front have no symptoms. The incubation period Princess were undergoing a similar type lines of this and every epidemic. It should Washington — the time between acquiring the virus of quarantine. When it became apparent do much more to increase capacity in coun- Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief tries with less developed public-health in- [email protected] and when symptoms begin — is estimated that disease transmission was happening (+1)(202)886-0033 at anywhere between two and 14 days. This on the ship, the U.S. government decided frastructure, because a global response is Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News is a wide range of time during which some- to evacuate uninfected passengers. This only as strong as its weakest link. And it [email protected] one can feel well but actually be infected made sense. Then, during the process of certainly should not be cutting funding to and possibly transmitting the disease evacuation, positive tests came back for the CDC and other critical agencies. CIRCULATION to others. We don’t yet know if there are 14 Americans. Since transmission of the But we must commend the U.S. govern- Mideast many more people infected who have no virus appears to require close contact, of- ment and its public health experts for their Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager or mild symptoms and are not being test- ficials determined that they could safely transparent and evidence-based response [email protected] ed. Even the testing is still being refined, transport these 14 in a contained area thus far. As COVID-19 continues to esca- [email protected] with the goal of faster and more accurate separate from the other passengers. This, late, I hope more governments, and the DSN (314)583-9111 diagnoses. too, was a change from the previous plan public, will see that nimbleness, change Europe This uncertainty can be unsettling, but but a sensible decision given the develop- and constant improvement are good — and Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager it is actually normal and expected. By ing circumstances. necessary — to combat disease outbreaks. [email protected] definition, outbreaks are quickly evolving All of these decisions needed to be made [email protected] situations. Outbreaks with novel diseases under extreme time pressure. Leaders Leana S. Wen is an emergency physician and a visiting professor at George Washington +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 bring even more unknowns. An effective must use the best available evidence they University Milken Institute School of Public Pacific public-health response requires that those have, then course-correct as needed. Con- Health. Mari Mori, [email protected] +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 CONTACT US Liberals love EVs, but combustion engines still rule Washington tel: (+1)202.886.0003 BY ASHLEY NUNES Irony aside, EVs pose challenges of their emissions — and dramatic improvements 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 Special to The Washington Post own. Producing them requires more en- in public health — for each mile traveled ergy than goes into a regular car, and the compared to years past. Reader letters iberals love electric cars. The rest [email protected] process relies on minerals from countries Democrats have largely ignored these of America, less so. Just 2% of where human rights abuses are rampant. positive developments. The party seems Additional contacts autos sold annually are powered Recycling EV technology isn’t easy, and infatuated with bringing on an EV nirvana. stripes.com/contactus Lby electricity. Democrats, mean- when they’re still on the road, EVs are only Zero-emissions sales by 2030 is the name while, are too busy trying to curb gasoline as eco-friendly as their underlying power of the game. It’s a seductive idea except for OMBUDSMAN use altogether to care. source (relying on coal-powered plants to two things. First, there’s no such thing as a Ernie Gates Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., wants to charge an EV is a problem). Green isn’t al- zero-emissions vehicle. Even the cleanest phase out traditional car engines in favor ways clean. cars pollute, in one way or another. Even if of electrified ones. So do former Vice Pres- Granted, EVs can travel farther on a sin- The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow they didn’t, consumers would still need to of news and information, reporting any attempts by the ident Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D- gle joule of energy while producing fewer abandon existing vehicles and opt for new military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s Mass., and former New York Mayor Mike emissions in the process. But this makes ones. Reception to this idea has been tepid independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns Bloomberg. Standing in the way, however, EVs part of the solution, rather than the and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for fair- at best. ness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman is cost. Electric cars are pricier than their only — or even the best — one. Moreover, We need to recognize that for all their welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted gasoline-powered counterparts. No mat- while EV technology is improving, so are by email at [email protected], or by phone at virtues, EVs have vices — and addressing ter. Democrats promise to underwrite the the systems that power their traditional them won’t be easy. We also need to ac- 202.886.0003. added cost by doling out billions in tax- counterparts. knowledge that large-scale, public financ- payer cash to, well, taxpayers, if they go The internal combustion engine, a work- ing of EVs may not have the intended effect. electric. Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- horse of the industrial era and a mainstay Norway’s EV experiment has cost billions, The idea isn’t new. Norway adopted a days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday of vehicles today, is imperfect. It relies on and the majority of the vehicles sold so through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and similar approach in the 1990s. “The sys- gasoline to run and produces pollutants far have been to households that also own Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals tem works,” touted then-transport minister that contribute to climate change. The postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send a gasoline-powered car. Put another way, address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, Ketil Solvik-Olsen. Except for one small technology is also inefficient, using just a EVs are best understood as complements, APO AP 96301-5002. detail. It doesn’t. Although EV purchases fraction of the power generated by burning This newspaper is authorized by the Department of not substitutes. This suggests that tradi- come with perks such as free access to bus gasoline for propulsion. Defense for members of the military services overseas. tional vehicles are — despite government However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, lanes, discounts on local ferries and, most But cars running on gasoline are get- and are not to be considered as the official views of, or notably, sizable relief from heavy import ting better — much better. They pollute efforts — going nowhere fast. endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspaper, taxes, public enthusiasm for traditional less (government figures suggest 99 per- Given this reality, what politicians should Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official chan- do is incentivize improvements in the gas- nels and use appropriated funds for distribution to remote cars persists. In fact, over the past decade, cent less) than their predecessors from locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. the number of gasoline-powered vehicles the 1960s and are becoming far more ef- oline engine. Carmakers already get bil- The appearance of advertising in this publication does lions in state and local incentives to cover not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense in Norway has gone up, not down. ficient thanks to improvements in underly- or Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. It seems even climate-conscious Norwe- ing technology and materials, things like things like job training and infrastructure Products or services advertised shall be made available for gians are unconvinced by their politicians’ direct injectors that calculate exactly how development. purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, This policy admittedly won’t go over well religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical rhetoric. It’s probably just as well, given much gasoline an engine needs, turbo- handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor that Oslo’s subsidy scheme is underwritten chargers that put otherwise wasted energy with die-hard EV fans. They will argue an of the purchaser, user or patron. by fossil fuels sales. The country is a major to use, and microwave igniters that, com- electrified future is inevitable. Perhaps, © Stars and Stripes 2020 producer of oil and natural gas, the export pared to traditional spark plugs, operate at but not anytime soon. of which pumps billions into government a lower temperature and thereby improve Ashley Nunes is a research fellow at Harvard Law stripes.com coffers. fuel economy. The result is fewer harmful School. Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 17 SCOREBOARD

Sports Auto racing Pro football College baseball Seton Hall 5, Liberty 4 Strat 200 XFL Friday’s scores Tennessee Tech at NC State, ppd. to on AFN NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series EASTERN CONFERENCE EAST Feb. 22 Saturday W L Pct PF PA Air Force at Navy, ppd. To Feb. 22. The Citadel 4, Yale 3 At Las Vegas Motor Speedway DC 2 0 1.000 58 19 Albany at Md.-Eastern Shore, ccd. Towson at High Point, ppd. to Feb. 22 Las Vegas, Nev. New York 1 1 .500 23 30 Maine at Villanova, ppd. To Feb. 22. Troy 4, Louisiana Tech 0 Go to the American Forces Lap length: 1.50 miles St. Louis 1 1 .500 39 37 Penn St. at Wagner, ppd. To Feb. 22. UCF 3, Auburn 1 (Start position in parentheses) Tampa Bay 0 2 .000 12 40 Pittsburgh 3, Eastern Michigan 2 UNC-Asheville 7, UAB 3 Network website for the most 1. (3) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 134 laps, 0 WESTERN CONFERENCE Saint Joseph’s 4, Coastal Carolina 2 UT Martin 7, South Alabama 6 up-to-date TV schedules. points. W L Pct PF PA St. Bonaventure 12, Mount St. Mary’s 3 Vanderbilt 9, UIC 0 2. (1) Johnny Sauter, Ford, 134, 34. Houston 2 0 1.000 65 41 West Virginia 7, Kennesaw St. 1 VCU 5, Sacred Heart 3 myafn.net 3. (6) Austin Hill, Toyota, 134, 40. Seattle 1 1 .500 36 40 SOUTH Virginia 6, Bucknell 5 4. (13) Matt Crafton, Ford, 134, 29. Dallas 1 1 .500 34 33 Alabama St. 9, Oakland 5 W. Carolina 9, Illinois 2 5. (18) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 134, 39. Los Angeles 0 2 .000 35 62 Alcorn St. at Florida A&M, ccd. W. Kentucky 6, Wright St. 2 6. (15) Zane Smith, Chevrolet, 134, 31. Sunday, Feb. 16 Belmont 1, Missouri St. 0 7. (25) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 134, 32. Western Michigan 12, Alabama A&M 2 Dallas 25, Los Angeles 18 Bowling Green 5, Marshall 3 Winthrop 6, Canisius 5 Tennis 8. (14) Tanner Gray, Ford, 134, 29. Houston 28, St. Louis 24 Bryant 4, Georgia St. 3 9. (17) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 134, Wofford 8, Manhattan 2 Saturday’s games Butler at Marshall, ccd. MIDWEST 28. Houston at Tampa Bay 10. (2) Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 134, CCSU 2, Bethune-Cookman 0 Arkansas 9, Gonzaga 3 Rio Open 28. Dallas at Seattle Central Arkansas 6, Southern Miss 3 Ball St. 5, Houston Baptist 3, 11 innings Friday 11. (7) Tyler Ankrum, Chevrolet, 134, Sunday’s games Charleston Southern 2, Kansas 1 Indiana St. 1, Dartmouth 0 At Jockey Club Brasileiro 23. New York at St. Louis Charlotte 4, UMBC 0 Kansas St. 5, Missouri 1 Rio de Janeiro 12. (21) Spencer Davis, Toyota, 134, 25. DC at Los Angeles Clemson 2, Stony Brook 0 Lamar 3, Texas St. 1 Purse: $1,759,905 13. (5) Ty Majeski, Chevrolet, 134, 24. Saturday, Feb. 29 Coll. of Charleston 5, Youngstown St. 4 Merrimack 9, Michigan St. 6 Surface: Red clay 14. (12) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 134, Los Angeles at New York Dallas Baptist at North Carolina, ppd. Miami (Ohio) 6, Purdue-Fort Wayne 2 Men’s Singles 0. Seattle at St. Louis to Feb. 22 Nebraska-Omaha 2, Chicago St. 0 Quarterfinals 15. (23) Brennan Poole, Toyota, 134, 0. Sunday, March 1 Davidson 5, Georgetown 0 New Orleans 5, Arkansas St. 4 Cristian Garin (3), Chile, def. Federico 16. (10) Brett Moffitt, Chevrolet, 134, Houston at Dallas Duke 8, Cornell 0 Northern Illinois 7, SE Missouri 4 Coria, Argentina, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. 28. DC at Tampa Bay Eastern Kentucky 2, LSU 0 Notre Dame 12, Incarnate Word 1 Borna Coric (5), Croatia, def. Lorenzo 17. (26) Austin Wayne Self, Chevrolet, Saturday, March 7 Elon 10, UMass Lowell 0 Oklahoma 2, Illinois St. 1 Sonego, Italy, 7-6 (5), 6-3. 134, 20. Seattle at Houston ETSU 7, Rider 0 Oklahoma St. 17, Texas-Rio Grande 18. (27) Codie Rohrbaugh, Chevrolet, New York at Dallas Fairfield at UNC-Greensboro, ppd. to Valley 2 134, 19. Feb. 22 Oral Roberts 7, Baylor 3 Delray Beach Open 19. (22) Tate Fogleman, Chevrolet, 133, Fairleigh Dickinson at William & Mary, Prairie View 3, Texas College 2 Friday 18. ppd. to Feb. 22 Saint Louis 7, Ohio 2 At Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis 20. (20) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, College basketball FIU 5, George Mason 2 132, 17. Sam Houston St. 14, Loyola Mary- Center Florida 2, Miami 1 mount 6 21. (29) Natalie Decker, Chevrolet, 132, Florida Atlantic 9, Binghamton 8 Delray Beach, Fla. 16. Southeastern Louisiana 2, Jackson- Purse: $602,935 Friday’s men’s scores Florida Gulf Coast 2, Kent St. 0 ville 1 22. (16) Derek Kraus, Toyota, 131, 15. Florida St. 11, Cincinnati 4 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor 23. (4) Christian Eckes, Toyota, 130, 32. EAST Stephen F. Austin 2, SIU-Edwardsville 1 Men’s Singles Furman 9, Northern Kentucky 8 24. (31) Angela Ruch, Toyota, 130, 13. Brockport 86, Cortland 80, OT Gardner-Webb 8, Delaware 4 Tennessee 6, Texas Tech 5 Quarterfinals 25. (30) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 129, Brown 72, Columbia 66 Texas 7, Boise St. 0 Ugo Humbert (6), France, def. Frances Georgia 9, Santa Clara 0 12. Bryant 82, St. Francis (NY) 74 Georgia Southern at East Carolina, Texas A&M 12, Army 3 Tiafoe, United States, 6-1, 6-2. 26. (19) Cory Roper, Ford, 128, 11. Case Western 88, Rochester 87, OT UConn 8, Michigan 7 Yoshihito Nishioka, Japan, def. Bran- ppd. to Feb. 22 27. (28) Josh Reaume, Chevrolet, 126, Cobleskill 84, Gallaudet 70 Georgia Tech 12, Ohio St. 4 Utah 2, Texas A&M-CC 1 don Nakashima, United States, 3-6, 7-6 10. Daemen 93, Dist. of Columbia 90, OT UTSA 8, Toledo 5 (5), 6-4. Hartford 6, Stetson 3 28. (11) Timmy Hill, Chevrolet, over- Dartmouth 66, Penn 59 Holy Cross at Old Dominion, ppd. to Wichita St. 5, Texas Southern 2 Reilly Opelka (4), United States, vs. heating, 113, 9. Emory 98, Carnegie Mellon 86 WEST Kwon Soon Woo, South Korea, 6-3, 6-4. Feb. 22 29. (24) Stefan Parsons, Chevrolet, Fairfield 61, Niagara 60 Indiana 3, UT Martin 2 Alabama 8, UNLV 0 Men’s Doubles 112, 8. Harvard 61, Princeton 60 Arizona 6, S. Illinois 5 Quarterfinals James Madison 1, Quinnipiac 0 30. (8) Raphael Lessard, Toyota, acci- Hobart 88, Bard 58 Arizona St. 10, Boston College 4 Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan (1), United dent, 90, 15. Kentucky 7, Appalachian St. 3 Iona 70, Rider 69 Lafayette 5, VMI 0 BYU 4, Cal Poly 3 States, def. Artem Sitak, New Zealand, 31. (9) Grant Enfinger, Ford, accident, Creighton 7, San Jose St. 0 and Divij Sharan, India, 6-2, 4-6, 10-3. 89, 3. Ithaca 91, Vassar 70 Lehigh at Richmond, ppd to Feb. 23. KC 95, Penn College 88 Lipscomb 10, Bradley 7 CS Northridge 12, Fordham 5 32. (32) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, han- CS Northridge 5, Grand Canyon 3 dling, 3, 0. LIU 86, Fairleigh Dickinson 81 Little Rock 8, Nicholls 6 Dubai Championships Merrimack 64, Sacred Heart 57 Louisiana-Lafayette 5, Virginia Tech 0 Hawaii 4, Washington St. 2 Race Statistics Houston 11, Stanford 4 Saturday Average Speed of Race Winner: Monmouth (NJ) 65, Marist 61, OT Louisiana-Monroe 15, Grambling 0 121.195 mph. New Paltz 73, Plattsburgh 68 Louisville 3, Valparaiso 0 Long Beach St. 6, Wake Forest 2 At Aviation Club Tennis Centre New Mexico 7, Northern Colorado 6 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Time of Race: 1 hour, 39 minutes, 30 Oswego St. 64, Geneseo 42 Marist 12, George Washington 8 seconds. Penn St.-Abington 71, Morrisville St. Maryland 9, Rhode Island 3 New Mexico St. 7, Iona 5 Purse: $2,643,670 North Dakota St. 7, UC Davis 4 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Margin of Victory: 5.958 seconds. 69, OT Memphis 7, Dayton 2 Caution Flags: 5 for 25 laps. Penn St.-Harrisburg 84, Cazenovia 67 Mercer 9, Radford 2 Oregon 3, Nevada 2 Women’s Singles Pepperdine 12, Akron 1 Championship Lead Changes: 15 among 5 drivers. Potsdam 91, Oneonta 83 Middle Tennessee 6, Evansville 0 Lap Leaders: J.Sauter 0-4; S.Creed 5- Quinnipiac 66, Canisius 64 Mississippi 13, Xavier 0 Portland 6-8, Utah Valley 5-2 Simona Halep (1), Romania, vs. Elena Sacramento St. 4, Milwaukee 0 Rybakina, Kazakhstan, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5). 8; J.Sauter 9-11; K.Busch 12-33; C.Eckes RPI 74, Clarkson 71 Morehead St. at Norfolk St., ppd. to 34-37; K.Busch 38; C.Eckes 39-44; K.Busch Robert Morris 68, Mount St. Mary’s 60 Feb. 22 San Diego 12, Nebraska 11 Women’s Doubles San Diego St. 4, Iowa 1 Championship 45-78; S.Creed 79; K.Busch 80; S.Creed 81; Rochester 81, Skidmore 70 Murray St. 12, Saint Peter’s 0 K.Busch 82-91; J.Anderson 92; K.Busch SUNY-IT 80, Lancaster Bible 53 Niagara at NC Central, ppd. to Feb. 22 San Francisco 10, CS Bakersfield 6 Barbora Strycova, Czech Republic, South Dakota St. 2, Pacific 1 and Hsieh Su-wei (1), Taiwan, def. Zheng 93-95; S.Creed 96-97; K.Busch 98-134 St. Peter’s 67, Manhattan 64 NJIT 13, Longwood 0 Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Union (NY) 79, St. Lawrence 64 Northwestern 5, South Carolina 2 Southern Cal 6, Seattle 2 Saisai, China, and Barbora Krejcikova (5), Laps Led): K.Busch, 7 times for 108 laps; Czech Republic, 7-5, 3-6, 10-5. WUSL 77, Brandeis 70 Northwestern St. 8, North Alabama 2 St. John’s 10, California 6 C.Eckes, 2 times for 10 laps; S.Creed, 4 Wagner 68, CCSU 56 Oregon St. 6, Mississippi St. 2 Tulane 1, Cal St.-Fullerton 0 times for 8 laps; J.Sauter, 2 times for 7 Wells 64, Penn St.-Berks 59 Presbyterian 6, Brown 3 UC Irvine 10, Rice 1 Open 13 laps; J.Anderson, 1 time for 1 lap. Yale 81, Cornell 80, 2OT Presbyterian 6, Brown 3 UC Riverside 7, Cal Baptist 4 Wins: G.Enfinger, 1. Purdue 6, Campbell 4 UC Santa Barbara 7, Abilene Christian 0 Saturday Top 16 in Points: 1. A.Hill, 82; 2. SOUTH At Palais des Sports Centenary 84, Austin 71 Samford 6, Austin Peay 0 UCLA 5, Saint Mary’s 0 J.Sauter, 73; 3. B.Rhodes, 60; 4. B.Moffitt, SC-Upstate 6, Monmouth 3 Washington 8, Fresno St. 1 Marseille, France 59; 5. S.Creed, 58; 6. Z.Smith, 57; 7. MIDWEST Purse: Euro691,880 G.Enfinger, 56; 8. C.Eckes, 55; 9. T.Gilliland, Augustana (SD) 61, Sioux Falls 58 Surface: Hardcourt indoor 54; 10. C.Rohrbaugh, 53; 11. S.Friesen, Bemidji St. 86, St. Cloud St. 65 Men’s Singles 53; 12. J.Anderson, 52; 13. M.Crafton, Buffalo 104, Kent St. 98, 2OT Golf Semifinals 51; 14. T.Ankrum, 50; 15. D.Kraus, 48; 16. Green Bay 84, Detroit 67 Stefanos Tsitsipas (2), Greece, def. Al- N.Decker, 48. Minn. Duluth 90, Minn.-Crookston 84, OT exander Bublik, Kazakhstan, 7-5, 6-3. Minn. St. (Moorhead) 75, Minot St. 55 Felix Auger-Aliassime (7), Canada, Northern St. 77, Mary 63 Mexico Championship Puerto Rico Open def. Gilles Simon, France, 7-5, 7-6 (2). Oakland 75, Milwaukee 68 World Golf Championships PGA Tour Men’s Doubles Deals SW Minnesota 78, Wayne St. (Neb.) 61 Friday Friday Semifinals Saint Louis 80, VCU 62 Chapultepec Golf Course Coco Beach Golf & Country Club Nicolas Mahut, France, and Vasek Upper Iowa 89, Minnesota St. 81 Mexico City, Mexico Rio Grande, Puerto Rico Pospisil, Canada, def. Kevin Krawietz and Thursday’s transactions Winona St. 74, Concordia (St.P.) 60 Purse: $10.5 million Purse: $3 million Andreas Mies (1), Germany, 6-3, 6-2. SOUTHWEST BASEBALL Yardage:7,345; par 71 (35-36) Yardage:7,569; par 72 (36-36) Southwestern (Texas) 74, Colorado 70 Second Round Second Round Major League Baseball St. Thomas (Texas) 95, Dallas 94, OT OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER — Sus- Bryson DeChambeau 68-63—131 -11 Kyle Stanley 64-70—134 -10 Texas Lutheran 84, Johnson & Wales Erik van Rooyen 70-62—132 -10 Josh Teater 66-68—134 -10 Pro baseball pended Minor League players C Edward (Co.) 66 Guzman, Cincinnati Reds 50-games, RHP Patrick Reed 69-63—132 -10 Emiliano Grillo 66-68—134 -10 FAR WEST Hideki Matsuyama 69-64—133 -9 Viktor Hovland 68-66—134 -10 Kyle Hill, Seattle Mariners 50-games, and Chadron St. 82, CSU-Pueblo 73 OF Ryan Shinn, New York Mets 50-games Justin Thomas 67-66—133 -9 Sam Ryder 70-65—135 -9 Spring Training Colo.-Colo. Springs 74, S.D. Mines 62 Rory McIlroy 65-69—134 -8 David Lingmerth 71-65—136 -8 for violation of the Minor League Drug Colorado Christian 85, Westminster Friday’s games Prevention and Treatment Program. Sebastian Munoz 71-66—137 -5 Ben Martin 70-66—136 -8 (Utah) 75 Tyrrell Hatton 69-68—137 -5 Rhein Gibson 66-70—136 -8 Boston 3, Northeastern 0 Suspended free agent RHP Victor Alcan- Colorado Mesa 89, Fort Lewis 82 Detroit 5, Southeastern 4 tara 80-games for violation of the Major Paul Casey 69-68—137 -5 Martin Laird 67-69—136 -8 Colorado Mines 79, Black Hills St. 43 Corey Conners 68-70—138 -4 Robert Streb 69-68—137 -7 Texas 5, Kansas City 4 League Drug Prevention and Treatment N.M. Highlands 77, Metropolitan St. 71 Minnesota 16, Minnesota 0 Program Lee Westwood 69-70—139 -3 Chris Couch 66-71—137 -7 Regis 73, Dixie St. 61 Kevin Na 71-68—139 -3 Wes Roach 67-70—137 -7 Saturday’s games American League Western St. (Col.) 83, Adams St. 58 Tampa Bay vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla. SEATTLE MARINERS — Claimed RHP Matthias Schwab 71-68—139 -3 Rob Oppenheim 69-68—137 -7 Toronto vs. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa, Fla. Taylor Williams off waivers from Milwau- Billy Horschel 68-71—139 -3 Adam Schenk 72-65—137 -7 N.Y. Mets (ss) vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla. kee. Dedignated RHP Phillips Valdez for Friday’s women’s scores Bubba Watson 67-72—139 -3 Kiradech Aphibarnrat 68-69—137 -7 Baltimore vs. Atlanta at North Port, Fla. assignment. Louis Oosthuizen 68-71—139 -3 Shawn Stefani 72-65—137 -7 EAST Tommy Fleetwood 70-69—139 -3 Sebastian Cappelen 72-65—137 -7 Minnesota vs. Pittsburgh at Braden- FOOTBALL Columbia 76, Brown 66 National Football League Gary Woodland 70-69—139 -3 Peter Uihlein 66-71—137 -7 ton, Fla. DePaul 87, Georgetown 69 Zach Murray 71-69—140 -2 George McNeill 69-69—138 -6 Philadelphia vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla. CHICAGO BEARS - Released DB Prince Amukamara and WR Taylor Gabriel. Delaware 73, Elon 60 Ryan Fox 72-68—140 -2 Scott Brown 67-71—138 -6 Miami vs. N.Y. Mets (ss) at Port St. Lu- Drexel 84, William & Mary 74, OT Abraham Ancer 70-70—140 -2 Will Gordon 70-68—138 -6 cie, Fla. CLEVELAND BROWNS — Named Ste- phen Bravo-Brown and Seitu Smith as Fairleigh Dickinson 64, LIU 50 Danny Willett 73-68—141 -1 Tyler McCumber 70-68—138 -6 L.A. Dodgers vs. San Francisco at James Madison 86, Northeastern 64 Jon Rahm 72-69—141 -1 Nelson Ledesma 70-68—138 -6 Scottsdale, Ariz. quality control assistants and Ryan Cordell as coaching assistant. Merrimack 59, Sacred Heart 45 Zander Lombard 73-68—141 -1 Patrick Rodgers 70-68—138 -6 Milwaukee vs. Texas at Surprise, Ariz. Mount St. Mary’s 62, Robert Morris 59 Shane Lowry 72-69—141 -1 Ted Potter, Jr. 68-70—138 -6 Oakland vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz. HOCKEY National Hockey League Penn 67, Dartmouth 31 Lanto Griffin 72-69—141 -1 Joseph Bramlett 71-67—138 -6 L.A. Angels (ss) vs. Chicago White Sox Princeton 66, Harvard 45 Sungjae Im 69-72—141 -1 Kyoung-Hoon Lee 70-69—139 -5 at Glendale, Ariz. NHL DEPARTMENT OF PLAYER SAFETY - Fined Philadelphia Flyers D Matt Nis- St. Francis Brooklyn 80, Bryant 77 Collin Morikawa 72-70—142 E Maverick McNealy 70-69—139 -5 Cincinnati vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, kanen $5,000 for slashing and Ottawa Towson 71, Hofstra 54 Justin Harding 71-71—142 E J.J. Henry 69-70—139 -5 Ariz. Senators Scott Sabourin $1,881.72 for un- Villanova 61, Marquette 47 Matthew Fitzpatrick 72-70—142 E Tim Wilkinson 69-70—139 -5 Seattle vs. San Diego at Peoria, Ariz. sportsmanlike conduct. Wagner 63, CCSU 56 Adam Scott 74-68—142 E Zack Sucher 70-69—139 -5 Kansas City vs. L.A. Angels (ss) at DETROIT RED WINGS — Assigned D Yale 65, Cornell 51 Rafa Cabrera Bello 71-71—142 E Doug Ghim 69-70—139 -5 Tempe, Ariz. Brian Lashoff to Grand Rapids (AHL). MIDWEST Kevin Kisner 73-69—142 E Bill Haas 69-71—140 -4 Arizona vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz. NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Assigned G Butler 76, Creighton 61 Matt Kuchar 75-67—142 E Xinjun Zhang 71-69—140 -4 Washington vs. Houston at West Palm Louis Domingue to Binghamton (AHL). Cleveland St. 83, Oakland 64 Branden Grace 71-71—142 E Fabian Gomez 70-70—140 -4 Beach, Fla. SOCCER Green Bay 75, Ill.-Chicago 49 Benjamin Hebert 73-70—143 +1 Bo Van Pelt 71-69—140 -4 Major League Soccer IUPUI 60, Milwaukee 53 Scottie Scheffler 73-70—143 +1 Brice Garnett 72-68—140 -4 MLB calendar DC UNITED — Agreed to terms with M Missouri St. 76, Evansville 62 Carlos Ortiz 75-68—143 +1 MJ Daffue 67-73—140 -4 Julian Gressel to a three-year contract. S. Illinois 60, Indiana St. 42 Jason Kokrak 73-70—143 +1 Kristoffer Ventura 72-68—140 -4 Feb. 4-21 — Salary arbitration hear- FC CINCINNATI — Signed F Rey Ortiz. Xavier 61, Providence 42 Shaun Norris 75-68—143 +1 Chase Seiffert 71-69—140 -4 ings, Phoenix. LOS ANGELES GALAXY — Signed M Youngstown St. 72, Detroit 66 Brendon Todd 72-71—143 +1 Julian Etulain 67-73—140 -4 Feb. 16 — Voluntary reporting date for Jonathan Perez to a Home Grown Player FAR WEST Robert MacIntyre 76-68—144 +2 Cameron Davis 69-71—140 -4 other players. contract. Arizona 85, Utah 69 Marc Leishman 74-70—144 +2 Roberto Castro 71-69—140 -4 Feb. 21 — Mandatory reporting date. NEW YORK RED BULLS — Signed M Arizona St. 65, Colorado 59 Shugo Imahira 74-70—144 +2 Anirban Lahiri 70-70—140 -4 March 26 — Opening day, active ros- Cristian Casseres Jr. to a multi-year con- Oregon 93, California 61 Lucas Glover 71-73—144 +2 John Senden 70-70—140 -4 ters reduced to 26 players. tract. Stanford 63, Oregon St. 60 Byeong Hun An 75-69—144 +2 Arjun Atwal 73-67—140 -4 April 18-19 — San Diego vs. Arizona at ORLANDO CITY SC — Signed M Joey UCLA 70, Washington St. 62 Xander Schauffele 72-72—144 +2 Cameron Percy 70-71—141 -3 Mexico City. DeZart. Washington 75, Southern Cal 66 C. Bezuidenhout 72-72—144 +2 Sangmoon Bae 74-67—141 -3 PAGE 18 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 SPORTS BRIEFS/NFL Briefl y Busch notches 7th straight truck win

Associated Press overall standings lead — when Gut-Behrami and Ortlieb raced LAS VEGAS — Kyle Busch down as later starters in the top- raced to his seventh straight NAS- 20 group. CAR Truck Series victory to push That preserved Mikaela Shif- his record total to 57, leading 108 frin’s overall lead as the three- of 134 laps Friday night at home- time defending champion takes an town Las Vegas Motor Speedway. extended break from racing after The reigning NASCAR Cup Se- ries champion swept both stages her father’s death this month. and finished 5.958 seconds ahead Shiffrin’s lead over Brignone of Johnny Sauter. Busch started is just 27 points with Brignone the streak in 2018 at Pocono and among the favorites to score 100 won all five races he entered last on Sunday by winning a com- season. bined event. Petra Vlhova, who “It was the first win for (crew tied for 14th Saturday, trails Shif- chief) Danny Stockman at KBM, frin by 86 points. and it’s cool to have him on board,” In other skiing news:  Busch said. “My guys worked Filip Zubcic of Croatia won their butts off. We unloaded and a men’s World Cup giant slalom we really weren’t that close. We race in Yuzawa Naeba, Japan on worked on it a lot with this new Saturday after coming from 12th tire, and we got it a lot better. We place after the first run. PHOTOS BY BEBETO MATTHEWS/AP kind of showed that with the last Zubcic had a strong second run for a combined time of 2 min- Above: Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis leaves Thursday after NFL owners mee to discuss a long run.” proposed labor agreement in New York. Below: Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder arrives. Austin Hill was third, followed utes, 37.25 seconds to finish 0.74 by defending series champion seconds ahead of Switzerland“s Matt Crafton and Ben Rhodes. Marco Odermatt. Tommy Ford of Grant Enfinger, who opened the the United States was third, 1.07 season with an overtime victory seconds off the pace. at Daytona, did not finish after an Player representatives accident with 43 laps to go. Humphries wins third Christian Eckes was right be- women’s bobsled title hind Busch in the opening two stages, but he finished 23rd after Kaillie Humphries of the U.S. an early final-stage wreck. is a bobsled champion again, win- ning her third world title Satur- don’t vote on labor deal Switzerland’s Suter day to put an emphatic cap on her comeback season. locks up downhill title BY BARRY WILNER practice squad makeup and eligi- Humphries teamed with Lau- Associated Press bility, and reduced offseason and CRANS-MONTANA, Switzer- ren Gibbs to finish four runs preseason requirements as piv- land — Corinne Suter won the over two days in Altenberg, Ger- NEW YORK — NFL owners’ otal parts of the deal. season-long World Cup downhill many with a time of 3 minutes, eagerness to approve negotiated Those people spoke to The As- title on Saturday by finishing race 45.49 seconds. Germany’s junior terms of a new labor agreement sociated Press on condition of an- runner-up to Lara Gut-Behrami world champion Kim Kalicki and apparently is not matched by the onymity because specific details for the second straight day. Kira Lipperheide were second in players. of the provisions in the agreement Gut-Behrami edged her Swiss 3:45.86, and Christine de Bruin They want more talks. that would run through 2030 are teammate Suter by 0.02 seconds, and Kristen Bujnowski of Canada Union player representatives not being made public. with Nina Ortlieb of Austria just were third in 3:46.55. decided Friday to not vote on the An expansion of the playoffs to 0.05 off the pace in third. Humphries finished it off by new labor deal approved by team seven teams in each conference, Suter held a clear lead in the posting the fastest time in the owners Thursday. The NFL Play- with only the top seed in the AFC downhill standings and needed final heat, wrapped her arms ers Association will meet with and NFC getting a wild-card bye, only to finish ahead of Federica around the front of her sled once league negotiators at the scout- can be instituted by the league Brignone and Ester Ledecka to it came to a stop, then hopped out ing combine in Indianapolis on without any negotiations — as secure her first career World Cup and hoisted a U.S. flag. Her first Tuesday. long as the postseason remains in crystal trophy. two world titles, along with both Earlier Friday, the union’s ex- a four-week format. Several own- Brignone placed fourth and of her Olympic gold medals, were ecutive committee voted 6-5 to ers are strongly in favor of doing lost her podium place — and the won for Canada. recommend rejecting the terms so regardless of the CBA status. of the new collective bargaining One of the wild-card weekend agreement. But the player reps games might wind up as a Mon- and the full union membership day night contest. could vote next week. The 17-game schedule actually Objections to an expanded reg- is a compromise offer for some ular season are considered the season, larger rosters and limits owners who wanted 18 games. main stumbling block to player on the number of international Adding the one regular-season approval. games. game would seem to indicate “Today the NFLPA Board of The union’s executive commit- each of those games would be at Players Representatives did not tee includes NFLPA President a neutral site. take a vote on the principal terms Eric Winston, former Giants But the league has promised of a proposed new collective bar- linebacker Mark Herzlich and the union to cap the number of in- gaining agreement,” the union former Bills linebacker Lorenzo ternational games and that there said in a statement. “Our player Alexander, all retired; Giants would not be a full week of such leadership looks forward to meet- long snapper Zak DeOssie; 49ers contests. More likely is a con- ing with NFL management again cornerback Richard Sherman; tinued mix of games in England next week before the board takes Patriots tight end Benjamin Wat- (and other European sites) and a vote shortly after.” son; Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri; Mexico. Most team schedules will If the NFLPA does not approve Chargers tackle Russell Okung; have nine home games and eight the terms, the current CBA that Saints punter Thomas Morstead; road games in alternating years. expires in March 2021 would re- Buccaneers linebacker Sam Acho; The preseason would be re- main in effect and further talks and Giants safety Mike Thomas. duced from four games to three, GABRIELE FACCIOTTI/AP would be required. Several people familiar with the not counting the Hall of Fame Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami smiles after winning Saturday’s The owners’ proposal features terms say they feature increases game that starts the exhibition women’s World Cup downhill in Crans Montana, Switzerland. a 17-game season, shorter pre- in minimum salaries, changes in schedule. Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 19 NBA Scoreboard Roundup

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 41 15 .732 — Lakers hold off Grizzlies, win 4th straight Boston 39 16 .709 1½ Philadelphia 35 21 .625 6 Brooklyn 25 29 .463 15 Associated Press New York 17 39 .304 24 Southeast Division LOS ANGELES — LeBron James scored Miami 35 20 .636 — Orlando 24 32 .429 11½ 32 points, Anthony Davis recovered from an Washington 20 34 .370 14½ early injury scare to get 28 points and 13 re- Charlotte 19 36 .345 16 Atlanta 16 41 .281 20 bounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers returned Central Division from the All-Star break with a 117-105 victory Milwaukee 47 8 .855 — Indiana 33 23 .589 14½ over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. Chicago 19 37 .339 28½ Avery Bradley added 14 points for the West- Detroit 19 39 .328 29½ Cleveland 15 40 .273 32 ern Conference-leading Lakers, who finished strong after blowing most of their 25-point Western Conference lead accumulated in a superb first half. Davis Southwest Division had 14 points and seven rebounds in the fourth W L Pct GB Houston 35 20 .636 — quarter as Los Angeles improved to 42-12 with Dallas 34 22 .607 1½ Memphis 28 28 .500 7½ its fourth straight win since Feb. 6. San Antonio 24 31 .436 11 Josh Jackson scored a season-high 20 points New Orleans 24 32 .429 11½ Northwest Division for the Grizzlies, who have lost back-to-back Denver 38 18 .679 — games in California after heading into the All- Utah 36 19 .655 1½ Oklahoma City 34 22 .607 4 Star break with eight wins in 10. Ja Morant Portland 25 32 .439 13½ added 17 points as Memphis dropped to 0-2 on Minnesota 16 38 .296 21 Pacific Division its four-game West Coast trip, which matches L.A. Lakers 42 12 .778 — its longest road stretch of the season. L.A. Clippers 37 18 .673 5½ Sacramento 22 33 .400 20½ Davis departed less than two minutes after Phoenix 22 34 .393 21 the opening tip when he bruised his right calf Golden State 12 44 .214 31 Thursday’s games on an opponent’s knee. The All-Star went to Milwaukee 126, Detroit 106 the locker room and missed the rest of the Atlanta 129, Miami 124 Charlotte 103, Chicago 93 first quarter, but returned early in the second Philadelphia 112, Brooklyn 104, OT before scoring 24 points in the second half. Sacramento 129, Memphis 125 /AP Houston 135, Golden State 105 Mavericks 122, Magic 106: Luka Doncic MARK J. TERRILL Friday’s games had 33 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Dallas 122, Orlando 106 Lakers center Dwight Howard blocks the shot of Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant during leading visiting Dallas to the victory. Cleveland 113, Washington 108 the second half of Friday’s game in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 117-105. Indiana 106, New York 98 Maxi Kleber added a career-high 26 points Toronto 118, Phoenix 101 Boston 127, Minnesota 117 to help the Mavericks improve to 19-8 on the Oklahoma City 113, Denver 101 Celtics 127, Timberwolves 117: Gordon under interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff, beating San Antonio 113, Utah 104 road. They won just 18 road games combined L.A. Lakers 117, Memphis 105 the last two seasons. Hayward scored 29 points, Daniel Theis had host Washington. New Orleans 128, Portland 115 career highs with 25 points and 16 rebounds The Cavaliers won back-to-back games Saturday’s games Pelicans 128, Trail Blazers 115: Zion Wil- Sacramento at L.A. Clippers liamson had 25 points for his seventh straight and Boston held off host Minnesota. for the first time since Jan. 9-11. After those Brooklyn at Charlotte Jalen Brown scored 25 points and Jayson wins, they lost 13 of 15 heading into the All- Dallas at Atlanta game with at least 20 points, and visiting New Cleveland at Miami Orleans beat short-handed Portland. Tatum had 28 points and 11 rebounds as fellow Star break, resulting in first-year head coach Phoenix at Chicago All-Star Kemba Walker sat out with a minor John Beilein’s resignation. Philadelphia at Milwaukee The Blazers were without Damian Lillard, Houston at Utah who is expected to miss three or more games knee injury. Marcus Smart had 10 points and Thunder 112, Nuggets 101: Chris Paul Sunday’s games a season-high 10 assists as the primary point scored 29 points, Steven Adams had 19 points Boston at L.A. Lakers because of a groin injury. Indiana at Toronto Raptors 118, Suns 101: Pascal Siakam guard in Walker’s place, helping the Celtics and 17 rebounds and Oklahoma City beat vis- Minnesota at Denver San Antonio at Oklahoma City had 37 points and 12 rebounds and Toronto win for the ninth time in last 10 games. iting Denver. Washington at Chicago beat visiting Phoenix for its 16th victory in 17 Spurs 113, Jazz 104: Dejounte Murray Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 11 points, New Orleans at Golden State Detroit at Portland games. had 23 points and seven rebounds in visiting nine rebounds and nine assists for the Thun- Monday’s games After Toronto’s franchise-record 15-game San Antonio’s victory over Utah. der. They have won 11 of their past 14 games. Atlanta at Philadelphia Miami at Cleveland winning streak ended with a loss at Brooklyn DeMar DeRozan added 18 points and seven Pacers 106, Knicks 98: T.J. Warren had Milwaukee at Washington in the final game before the All-Star break, assists for the Spurs. 27 points and eight rebounds, leading Indiana Orlando at Brooklyn New York at Houston the Raptors bounced back by starting the sec- Cavaliers 113, Wizards 108: Collin Sexton past host New York. Minnesota at Dallas ond half with their eighth consecutive home scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter Domantas Sabonis added 24 points and 13 Phoenix at Utah Memphis at L.A. Clippers victory. and Cleveland rallied to win in its first game rebounds for the Pacers. Briefs Heat retiring Wade’s No. 3 as part of weekend celebration

Associated Press probably going to keep most, if T-wolves: Towns out not all, of those records for a very MIAMI — Dwyane Wade says at least 2 more weeks that whenever he heard the na- long time. Consider: He scored tional anthem play before Miami 21,556 regular-season points with MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota home games, he would take a mo- the Heat, and Alonzo Mourning is Timberwolves center Karl-An- ment and look to the rafters. second with 9,459. thony Towns will sit out for at “I always imagined my jersey Wade was the 2006 NBA Finals least two more weeks because of being up there,” Wade said. MVP, was selected to 13 All-Star an injured left wrist that the team He will no longer have to imag- Games in his 16 seasons, was an announced Friday is broken. ine the sight. After this weekend, All-Star MVP in 2010 and won an Towns first had an X-ray after it’ll be there for good. Olympic gold medal. hurting his wrist Jan. 25 against Wade will become the fifth “Every time I look up to the Oklahoma City, coach Ryan Saun- Heat player to get his number re- rafters and see your #3 hang- ders said. Towns played through tired by the team, joining Alonzo ing there, I’ll think of the impact discomfort in the next six games, Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Sha- you had not only on this organi- posting 20-plus points and 10-plus quille O’Neal and Chris Bosh. A zation, this city and this league, rebounds in five of those, but he three-day celebration of Wade’s AL DIAZ, MIAMI HERALD/AP but on my life,” Heat coach Erik time in Miami started on Friday, was ruled out of Minnesota’s last Spoelstra wrote in an open letter a weekend highlighted by his No. Dwyane Wade stands with his mother, Jolinda Wade, during Friday’s game before the All-Star break to Wade, part of the team’s game- 3 formally going to the rafters on celebration of the 13-time All-Star in Miami. Wade became the fifth with the injury. Further evalua- Saturday night . player to get his number retired by the Heat on Saturday, joining night giveaway program for fans tion by multiple medical special- Wade spent 16 seasons in the Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Bosh. on Saturday. ists revealed the fracture, the NBA, 14 ½ of those with the Heat. The weekend also included a Timberwolves said. He was one of two players to be ly be retired by the team one day, to be retired by the Heat, only a night of tribute speeches on Fri- Towns will be re-evaluated in part of all three Heat champion- is the other. question of when. He’s the fran- day, and will conclude with a two weeks and his playing status ship teams — Udonis Haslem, It was never a question of chise’s all-time leader in points, showing of a documentary about reassessed, meaning his absence whose No. 40 will almost certain- whether Wade’s jersey was going games, assists and steals and is Wade on Sunday. will total at least 10 games. PAGE 20 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 NHL Roundup Scoreboard

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Perron scores 24th as Blues beat Stars GP W L OT Pts GF GA Boston 62 39 11 12 90 205 150 Tampa Bay 61 40 16 5 85 218 164 Associated Press Toronto 62 32 22 8 72 217 204 Florida 61 32 23 6 70 214 207 Montreal 63 28 27 8 64 191 195 DALLAS — David Perron Buffalo 60 27 25 8 62 175 190 Ottawa 61 21 29 11 53 164 209 scored his team-leading 24th goal Detroit 63 15 44 4 34 128 236 and the St. Louis Blues chased Metropolitan Division Pittsburgh 59 37 16 6 80 196 158 Dallas goalie Ben Bishop early Washington 60 37 17 6 80 211 184 while extending their Western Philadelphia 61 34 20 7 75 202 181 N.Y. Islanders 60 34 20 6 74 172 163 Conference lead with a dominant Columbus 62 30 19 13 73 159 159 5-1 victory over the Stars on Fri- Carolina 60 34 22 4 72 195 169 N.Y. Rangers 60 32 24 4 68 200 186 day night. New Jersey 60 23 27 10 56 164 208 Jake Allen stopped 18 shots in the Blues’ third straight win Western Conference since a 0-3-2 stretch that included Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA an overtime loss at home to the St. Louis 62 35 17 10 80 196 173 Stars. Colton Parayko had a goal Colorado 60 35 18 7 77 210 165 Dallas 61 35 20 6 76 165 158 and two assists. Winnipeg 62 32 25 5 69 190 185 St. Louis is four points ahead Nashville 60 29 23 8 66 191 193 Minnesota 60 29 24 7 65 185 193 of Dallas with 20 games to go in Chicago 61 27 26 8 62 181 195 a tight race among the top three Pacific Division Vegas 62 32 22 8 72 197 188 teams in the West. Edmonton 61 32 22 7 71 194 190 Colorado moved into second Vancouver 60 32 22 6 70 194 184 Calgary 62 31 25 6 68 183 194 in the Central Division, a point Arizona 64 30 26 8 68 174 171 ahead of the Stars, with a 1-0 win San Jose 60 26 30 4 56 156 196 Anaheim 61 24 30 7 55 156 191 at Anaheim. Dallas has 21 games Los Angeles 61 22 34 5 49 153 197 remaining, and the Avalanche Note: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in have 22. each division and two wild cards per Bishop, a 2019 Vezina Trophy conference advance to playoffs. Friday’s games finalist, was pulled after Jaden N.Y. Rangers 5, Carolina 2 Schwartz beat him from the right N.Y. Islanders 4, Detroit 1 St. Louis 5, Dallas 1 circle for a 4-0 lead just 4:45 into Chicago 2, Nashville 1, OT the second period. Bishop made /AP Boston 4, Calgary 3 RAY CARLIN Minnesota 5, Edmonton 3 nine stops on 13 shots. Colorado 1, Anaheim 0 Bruins 4, Flames 3: Patrice St. Louis Blues left wing David Perron is congratulated by teammates on the bench after scoring his Saturday’s games Buffalo at Pittsburgh Bergeron scored two more goals, team-leading 24th goal of the season against the Stars during the first period of Friday’s game in Dallas. Washington at New Jersey and visiting Boston earned its Winnipeg at Philadelphia Carolina at Toronto fifth consecutive win. first NHL shutout, leading Colo- assist for New York, which won Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two Montreal at Ottawa Bergeron has scored 21 times rado to its fifth straight road win. for the eighth time in 11 games. goals and an assist for the Oilers, San Jose at N.Y. Rangers Columbus at Nashville in 32 games since returning from J.T. Compher scored in the sec- Jesper Fast and Brady Skjei also who have lost two in a row. Leon Tampa Bay at Arizona a lower-body injury on Dec. 9, ond period, helping Francouz get scored, and Igor Shesterkin made Draisaitl also scored. Boston at Vancouver Florida at Vegas an injury that sidelined him for the win after he finalized a $4 27 saves. Spurgeon gave Minnesota its Colorado at Los Angeles seven games. million, two-year contract exten- New York swept the four-game first lead at 4-3 midway through Sunday’s games Pittsburgh at Washington Brad Marchand and Char- sion earlier in the day. It was the season series. The Rangers have the third period when his back- Chicago at Dallas lie Coyle also scored for Boston 27th career game for the 29-year- won 31 of their past 37 games hand tipped in off defender Adam Winnipeg at Buffalo San Jose at N.Y. Islanders (39-11-12), which opened a five- old Czech goaltender. with the Hurricanes since Febru- Larsson’s stick. Spurgeon earned Calgary at Detroit point lead on Tampa Bay atop the Colorado’s victory — its 10th ary 2011. the natural hat trick late in the St. Louis at Minnesota Edmonton at Los Angeles NHL’s overall standings. in its last 14 games — and Dal- Brock McGinn and Sebastian game, scoring his 10th goal into Vegas at Anaheim The Bruins, who have won 11 las’ loss to St. Louis moved the Aho scored for Carolina, which an empty net. Monday’s game Ottawa at Columbus of 12 overall, also made a trade, Avalanche into second place in dropped to 5-4 since the All-Star Islanders 4, Red Wings 1: Jor- Tuesday’s games acquiring forward Ondrej Kase the Central Division. They have break. Petr Mrazek stopped 31 dan Eberle scored three times, Calgary at Boston Dallas at Carolina from Anaheim. 77 points and trail the Blues by shots in his third loss of the sea- and host New York stopped a N.Y. Rangers at N.Y. Islanders Mikael Backlund had two goals three points. son to the Rangers. four-game skid. San Jose at Philadelphia Toronto at Tampa Bay and Johnny Gaudreau also scored Rangers 5, Hurricanes 2: Mika Wild 5, Oilers 3: Jared Spur- It was Eberle’s third career hat Vancouver at Montreal for Calgary (31-25-6), which is Zibanejad had a goal and two as- geon scored three goals, sending trick. Winnipeg at Washington New Jersey at Detroit fighting for a wild card in the sists, powering visiting New York Minnesota to the road win. Anthony Mantha scored for Chicago at St. Louis Western Conference. to the victory. Kevin Fiala and Carson Soucy Detroit, which became the first Columbus at Minnesota Ottawa at Nashville Avalanche 1, Ducks 0: Pavel Artemi Panarin and Ryan also scored for the Wild, who have team this season to be eliminated Florida at Arizona Francouz made 26 saves in his Strome each had a goal and an won two straight. from playoff contention. Edmonton at Anaheim Briefs Bruins trade Backes, 1st-round pick to Ducks for Kase

Associated Press a conference call. “I was praying, actu- A combination of injuries and being a Knights send Eakin to Jets ally praying, to get an opportunity where I healthy scratch led to Backes playing in David Backes no longer has to worry could reassert myself and show that I still just 16 games this season, scoring one goal WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Cody Eakin is whether he’ll get another shot at playing in going home to Winnipeg. the NHL. belong in the NHL.” and adding two assists. That’s a consid- The 35-year-old forward was freed from Backes hasn’t erable drop for a player who’s topped 20 The Jets acquired the Winnipeg-born what Backes referred to as “purgatory” played since logging goals in six of his previous 13 seasons, the center from the Vegas Golden Knights on on Friday, when the Boston Bruins traded 8 ½ minutes of ice time first 10 with St. Louis. Friday for a conditional fourth-round pick him to the Anaheim Ducks. In freeing up in Boston’s 5-4 win Backes is in the fourth year of a five-year, in 2021. most of Backes’ significant salary-cap hit, over Winnipeg on Jan. $30 million deal he signed with Boston in If Winnipeg qualifies for the playoffs Boston also gave up a first-round draft pick 9. He’s been off the free agency. Boston also agreed to pick up this year or re-sign Eakin to a new contract and defensive prospect Axel Andersson to ice for three weeks as 25% of the contract as part of the trade. by July 5, the Jets will instead transfer acquire forward Ondrej Kase. part of an agreement In Kase, the league-leading Bruins their 2021 third-round pick to the Golden The deal was completed three days be- he and Bruins reached added a forward who filled various top- Knights. Eakin is eligible to become an un- fore the NHL’s trade deadline and marked to allow Backes to not and secondary line roles during his first restricted free agent this summer. the end of a monthlong stretch of uncer- have to report to the four seasons in Anaheim. The 28-year-old Eakin had four goals tainty for Backes, which began with him minors. “Odrej is a young, solid player, been a sig- and six assists in 41 games with Vegas this Backes declining to report to AHL Providence He expects it will nificant producer while 5-on-5, has shown season. He has 102 goals and 130 assists in after being waived by the Bruins. take a week to get back versatility to be able to adapt his game and 578 career NHL games with Washington, “It’s been a roller coaster of, ‘Am I just into playing shape, and added: “I’m hoping complement different lines,” Bruins gen- Dallas and Vegas. going to be dying a slow death here or is to expedite that with that new energy I’ve eral manager Don Sweeney said. The Jets also assigned forward Andrei this something where I’m going to get an- got, the fire that I feel that’s lit throughout Kase has missed the past five games Chibisov to the Manitoba Moose of the other opportunity,’ ” Backes said during my whole being.” with flu-like symptoms. American Hockey League. Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 21 NHL Around the league Taking the road less traveled Teams moving AHL affiliates closer to home

BY PAT GRAHAM NAM Y. HUH/AP Associated Press Nashville Predators goalie Pekka DENVER Rinne, right, blocks a shot ason Dickinson encoun- by Blackhawks left wing Alex tered quite a few bumps DeBrincat during the first period in the road on his route of Friday’s game in Chicago. to the NHL. Good thing for his trusty truck. JDickinson was up and down be- tween the Dallas Stars and their Chicago American Hockey League affili- ate, the Texas Stars, a total of 17 times during the 2017-18 season. outlasts Sometimes, the forward would join the team from the road. And sometimes, he would make that 183.5-mile trek along the inter- Nashville state in his truck. BY MATT CARLSON That’s a rather easy call-up commute by league standards: Associated Press From rink to rink, the average GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP CHICAGO — Alex DeBrincat distance between NHL teams scored in the third period and and their AHL partners is rough- The Dallas Stars’ Jason Dickinson moves in on Canadiens goaltender Carey Price as the Canadiens’ overtime to rally the Chicago ly 460 miles. Victor Mete, right, defends on Feb. 15 in Montreal. During the 2017-18 season, Dickinson drove his Blackhawks past the Nashville Currently, there are a half- truck from the Stars’ American Hockey League affiliate in Austin to Dallas when he was called up. Predators 2-1 on Friday night. dozen NHL teams that have af- DeBrincat skated in alone from filiates located more than 1,200 league affiliates closer to base Arena next season. from a geographical proximity,” center ice, then snapped off a shot miles away. camp. The Colorado Avalanche It makes sense having players Billington explained. “Informa- with 57.8 seconds left in the extra The longest jaunt? From the relocated their farm team from nearby for practical (emergency tion travels quite quickly and en- period that beat Pekka Rinne Utica Comets in New York to San Antonio, Texas, to Loveland, call-up) and logistical (easier ables us to feel connected — the high on the glove side for his 16th the Vancouver Canucks, which Colo., in 2018 and Ottawa a year for executives to catch games) coaching staff, all the players, the goal. is a 2,918-mile coast-to-coast earlier moved its from Bingham- purposes. trainers, the benefit of doctors DeBrincat tied the game at 1-1 expedition. ton, N.Y., to Belleville, Ontario. Avalanche assistant general and the medical support.” with a power-play goal midway The shortest? A tie between the The Vegas Golden Knights re- manager Craig Billington lives in Eagles forward Jayson Megna through the third period. His goal San Jose Sharks/San Jose Bar- cently announced their purchase Denver but spends about 80% of is no stranger to making various came on a deflection and snapped racudas and the Winnipeg Jets/ of an AHL franchise from Spurs his time working with the Eagles NHL/AHL treks. He has taken that long flight from Utica to Van- Chicago’s 0-for-21 drought with Manitoba Moose. That’s simply Sports & Entertainment, opera- in Loveland, which is about 50 couver while with the Canucks. the man advantage. a short walk down the hallway tors of the San Antonio Rampage. miles away. thanks to shared arenas. The plan is to relocate the team “When you take into account He’s gone from the Wilkes- “In a tough game like that Over the past few seasons, a few from Texas to Henderson, Nev., the viewing and the communica- Barre/Scranton Penguins to the where we battled hard, definitely teams have moved their minor and begin play at the Orleans tion that goes on, it really benefits Pittsburgh Penguins (264 miles). good to get the win,” DeBrincat He knows the trip from the Hart- said. “I feel like I’ve had a lot hit ford (Conn.) Wolf Pack to the New the post. Had a lot of chances late- York Rangers (115 miles). ly and they went in tonight.” The current commute, from DeBrincat had 41 goals last Loveland to Denver, is more than season, his second in the NHL. manageable for a player who’s The 22-year-old forward has had been added, recalled or returned a hard time trying to replicate on loan five times this season. that in 2019-20 and has just four Theoretically, he could be back goals in his last 13 games. at home in Fort Collins that night “Nice to see that puck go in for after a game. Brinksy,” Chicago coach Jeremy “Super easy,” said the 30-year- Colliton said. “We’ve had a bunch old Megna, who has played in of games lately where we played 121 NHL games. “There’s not hard and didn’t get rewarded. So any issues with travel plans. You it helps to move this thing forward still feel good and prepared for a when you get a win.” game.” Corey Crawford finished with Not that players mind the travel 42 saves in an up-tempo goalten- — any sort of travel. ders’ duel between Central Di- “I mean, when you get called vision rivals. Rinne blocked 36 up to the NHL, you have a certain shots, including Brandon Saad’s amount of adrenaline,” Megna first-period penalty shot. said. “Guys just make it happen.” “(Crawford) was excellent,” Take goaltender Calvin Pick- Colliton said. “Big saves and very ard, for instance: He played in calm back there, as usual.” weekend games for the Grand Mattias Ekholm scored in the Rapids Griffins last month, be- second period for Nashville. fore getting a quick call to join Fading Chicago won for the the Detroit Red Wings to make a second time in nine games (2-5- start. MARY ALTAFFER/AP 2). Nashville closed within two “Just a quick drive,” Pickard points of the second Western Right wing Jayson Megna, left, used to travel 115 miles from Hartford, Conn., to New York when he got said of the 157-mile commute. Conference wild-card spot . called up. Now with the Colorado, he only has to drive 50 miles from Loveland, Colo., to Denver. “Just had to go grab my gear.” PAGE 22 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, February 23, 2020 MLB Rangers’ Choo relishing final year of deal 37-year-old leadoff hitter uncertain what will happen at end of season

BY STEPHEN HAWKINS special, major league uniform, Associated Press wearing my number on it, my name on it on the back. That’s SURPRISE, Ariz. very special, very lucky. I still hin-Soo Choo wants to feel that way, so we’ll see.” enjoy baseball even more His oldest kid is a 14-year-old this season, all of those son who is a high school fresh- Stimes in the clubhouse man playing baseball and foot- and on the field while still at the ball. Choo flew home to Texas top of the Texas Rangers lineup. last weekend to watch one of his “I don’t know what’s going to baseball games. happen at the end of the year,” “I really want to see him play said Choo, the 37-year-old leadoff so bad sometimes,” Choo said. hitter going into the final season “Just think about myself, I’ll play of his $130 million, seven-year five, 10 more years.” contract. A first-time All-Star in 2018, Choo has genuine confidence Choo followed that up by hitting that he can play at a high level for .265 with a career-high 24 home another couple of years, or more, runs and a .371 on-base percent- after 2020. age last season. There is just no way to know if “He’s the most professional he will be re-signed by the Rang- player, person,” manager Chris ers, maybe go to another team Woodward said. “I truly value the or decide it’s time to be at home person and what he can do. And, full time with his wife and three you know, I still think there’s a growing children. Those are all lot left physically just based on CHARLIE RIEDEL/AP questions he said are too early to the way he prepares himself, the Shin-Soo Choo will be the highest-paid player on the Rangers roster this season, making $21 million. consider. shape that he keeps himself in.” “I still love this game,” Choo Choo will be the highest-paid his back-loaded deal. The only for his own hard work ethic and third Rangers player to do that. said. “I’m still lucky to play major Rangers player this season, at longer-tenured Texas player is 31- attention to detail, made his The others were Rafael Palmei- league level, and then it’s very $21 million for the final year of year-old shortstop Elvis Andrus, major league debut in 2011 with ro’s record five in a row (1999- who is entering his 12th season. Cleveland when Choo was with 2003), and Alex Rodriguez from By the numbers Texas signed Choo as a free the Indians. 2001-03. Palmeiro and Adrian agent the same offseason it ac- “When I first got called up, you Beltre are the only other Texas quired Prince Fielder in a trade noticed right away the way he players with at least 24 homers in from Detroit, when the All-Star goes about his business. So I tried a season at age 36 or older. slugger had seven seasons left on to try to pay attention to that a Over those three seasons com- a nine-year contract. Fielder was lot,” said Kluber, who was traded bined, Choo is fifth among all 24 3 149 forced to retire midway through from Cleveland to Texas dur- American League players in the 2016 season, at age 32, after a ing the offseason. “It definitely games played (446), walks (247), second neck surgery over a three- had an impact on me when I was hit by pitch (35) and times on Number of home Number of Number of year period. younger.” base (721). runs by Rangers seasons in a row games Choo has Choo, who turns 38 in mid-July, Choo has averaged 149 games “I think he’s gotten smarter. leadoff hitter in which Choo averaged the past was coming off a career-high .423 over the past three seasons, since His ability to control the strike on-base percentage during his being limited to 48 games in 2016 zone and get on base,” Woodward Shin-Soo Choo has hit at least three seasons only season with the Cincinnati because of four stints on the dis- said. “Pitch one, he is the most last season, 20 homers and since playing only Reds when he got to Texas. He abled list for different injuries prepared player I’ve seen. He a career high. earned 75 walks. 48 in 2016. is still having productive seasons each time. doesn’t take one day for granted. for the Rangers. He has had at least 20 homers He’s there. He’s the earliest there Corey Kluber, a two-time AL and 75 walks in each of the past every day. He’ll talk about the SOURCE: Associated Press Cy Young Award winner known three seasons, becoming only the game all the time.” Reds’ Castillo aiming for Cy Young

2 BY GARY SCHATZ and 226 strikeouts in 190 ⁄3 innings. Castillo struggled near the end of the Associated Press The first-time All-Star had career highs season as his innings piled up. He had a in wins, innings and strikeouts, relying on 4.40 ERA in his last eight starts, giving up GOODYEAR, Ariz — Luis Castillo ac- a change-up that former Cubs manager Joe at least five runs three times. complished two of his goals last year: He Maddon likened to a “Bugs Bunny change- He’s trying to use his change-up more was the Reds’ opening day starter and up” because of the way it complements his strategically this season. made the All-Star team. He’s aiming high- fastball. “The small little things are what we are er in 2020. “He had a phenomenal year,” Reds man- focusing on this year,” Castillo said. “The With an upgraded offense behind him, ager David Bell said. “Just staying hun- mistakes from last year. We will learn Cincinnati’s best starter thinks he’s capa- gry and continuing to get better will help from this year.” ble of winning the Cy Young Award. him reach his potential, which is through The Reds finished near the bottom of “I try to set goals every year,” Castillo the roof. We saw a lot last year and there’s the National League in runs scored last said. “Even though I got those two goals, I more in there for sure.” season despite playing in one of its most want to get three goals. I want to get three Over the last three seasons, Castillo hitter-friendly ballparks. The additions of goals and add the Cy Young and make the leads the Reds’ staff with 28 wins, 78 starts, infielder Mike Moustakas and outfielders 2 playoffs.” 449 ⁄3 innings and 489 strikeouts. He’ll be Nick Castellanos and Shogo Akiyama are “I think with this team filled with veter- eligible for arbitration next year. expected to provide a significant upgrade, ans, it is something we can do together,” he Castillo got attention with his impressive The Reds also added to an already im- said. beginning to last season. Bell chose him pressive rotation by signing left-hander KAREEM ELGAZZAR, THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER/AP Castillo, 27, had a breakout season in for the opening day start, and he allowed Wade Miley. Castillo leads a rotation that 2 Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luis every way last year. He was 11-4 with a only two hits in 5 ⁄3 innings of a 5-3 win includes All-Star Sonny Gray, Trevor Castillo had a breakout season last year, 2.63 ERA in early August before fading over Pittsburgh. After 10 starts, he was 5-1 Bauer and Anthony DeSclafani. finishing 15-8 with a 3.40 ERA and 226 down the stretch of his most challenging with a 1.90 ERA, allowing only three hom- “I gives me such confidence,” Castillo 2 strikeouts over 190 ⁄3 innings. season. He finished 15-8 with a 3.40 ERA ers overall. said. Sunday, February 23, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 23 MLB Bounce: Injuries ended several veterans’ seasons

FROM BACK PAGE spring training. If he’s healthy, games last season, batting .288 the 30-year-old could provide the with three homers in 59 at-bats. Cubs with a capable right-handed He hit 38 homers in his first year bat. with the Yankees in 2018 and a career-high 59 in 2017 with Mike Foltynewicz the Miami Marlins. In spring RHP, Braves training, it will be interesting to see how much time he spends The 28-year-old was an All-Star in the outfield and how much in 2018 but struggled through time he’s the designated hitter. 2019, even getting sent down to “No limitations,” Stanton said the minors midway through the on Wednesday in Florida. “Just season. He returned in August be smart with the workload get- and pitched a little better, but his ting back into it.” season ended on an extremely A few other veterans who will sour note after he gave up seven runs in just a third of an inning in be watched closely over the next an NLDS Game 5 loss to the Car- month: dinals that eliminated the Braves Blake Treinen from the playoffs. PHOTOS BY KAREN WARREN. HOUSTON CHRONICLE/AP RHP, Dodgers Chris Sale Houston Astros outfielders Josh Reddick, left, and George Springer, center, duck for cover as Michael Brantley runs after a fly ball during spring training this week in West Palm Beach, Fla. The 31-year-old Treinen was LHP, Red Sox an All-Star and one of the game’s The seven-time All-Star has dominant relievers in 2018 with been one of the game’s best pitch- the Oakland A’s, when he had a 1 ers for the better part of a decade, 9-2 record and 0.78 ERA in 80 ⁄3 but 2019 was a rough year and he innings. He regressed quite a bit finished with a 6-11 record and Reddick: Astros players last season with a 4.91 ERA and a career-high 4.40 ERA. He was lower strikeout rate. shut down in mid-August with a The Dodgers are betting he sore elbow. can regain some of that ’18 magic The Red Sox hope he can after signing him to a $10 mil- bounce back and once again be lion, one-year deal during the their ace, but the spring hasn’t receiving death threats offseason. started well after Sale reported to camp a few days late because of Steven Souza Jr. pneumonia-induced weakness. BY KRISTIE RIEKEN told reporters that he received Astros this season. Atlanta’s OF, Cubs Associated Press death threats on social media and Nick Markakis said Tuesday Carlos Martinez that people have commented on that “every single guy over there Souza was one of the game’s WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. pictures of his infant twins, say- needs a beating.” promising young power hitters in RHP, Cardinals — On the day Houston outfielder ing they hope they get cancer. Clark said the union has had 2017 after he hit 30 homers with Martinez was an All-Star start- Josh Reddick said he and other He said teammates have also re- conversations with MLB about the Tampa Bay Rays. But after ing pitcher in 2015 and 2017 but players have received death ceived threatening messages and ensuring the safety of the players two straight injury-plagued sea- weakness in his throwing shoul- threats in the wake of the team’s he thinks it will be “pretty scary“ and their families and that com- sons with the Diamondbacks he der led to a transition to the bull- sign-stealing scandal, union for his wife and children to join ments are “hard to ignore.” Still, was non-tendered during the off- pen last season. The right-hander head Tony Clark said safety had him on the road this season since he said the union’s job was to de- season and signed to a one-year was good as the closer, saving 24 become an issue for some of his club hotels become known. fend its members. deal by the Chicago Cubs. games, but the Cardinals would members. Baseball Commissioner Rob “I will never apologize for pro- He missed the entire 2019 like him back in the rotation “There are undoubtedly con- Manfred concluded last month tecting player rights,” he said. season after tearing multiple if his shoulder can handle the cerns out there based on some that the Astros violated rules by Clark, who visits each team ligaments in his left knee during workload. of the commentary that .. there’s using a television camera to steal during spring training, said sign a heightened sense of concern to catchers’ signs during their run stealing was just a part of chang- make sure that themselves and to the 2017 World Series title and es brought about by technology in their families are protected,” again in the 2018 season. While recent years. Clark said Friday after speak- manager AJ Hinch and general “It’s manifesting itself in how ing with the Astros. “There’s no manager Jeff Luhnow were sus- player service time is being ma- doubt making sure that our play- pended for one season and then nipulated, it’s manifesting itself ers and their families are able to fired by the team, players were in a way that we’re seeing abuses go to and from the ballpark and not disciplined. of the injured list, it’s manifesting perform safely ... is a huge piece Some players on other teams itself in ways that’s directly affect- of the puzzle.” have said and implied that they ing the type of game that’s being Clark spoke before Reddick would intentionally throw at the played on the field,” he said. “So I know a lot of the headline has said sign-stealing, but the truth is this conversation about technology is much larger than that.” Clark thinks allowing tech- nology to impact every facet of the game has become “very problematic.” “We developed this culture of it’s OK to do all of these things to affect the game in the fashion that they are, because we’re being hyper efficient and we’re really smart,” he said. “That culture has been allowed to fester and it’s af- fecting our game.” There are ongoing talks be- tween the union and MLB about further restricting the availabil- JEFF ROBERSON/AP ity of video during games. “We’ve had discussions about Although St. Louis pitcher Carlos Martinez was an effective closer moving the replay room so it’s not last season (24 saves), the Cardinals would like him back in the Astros manager Dusty Baker Jr. watches batting practice. quite as accessible,” Clark said. pitching rotation — provided his shoulder can handle the workload. S TARS AND STRIPES Sunday, February 23, 2020 Four in a row Lakers hold off Grizzlies, extend SPORTS winning streak » NBA, Page 19

MLB

Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz was an All-Star in 2018, but struggled last year, even getting sent down to the minor leagues midway through the season.

CURTIS COMPTON, ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION / AP

Bouncing back? Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton played in only 18 games last season. Spring training crucial to some veterans FRANK FRANKLIN II/AP BY DAVID BRANDT games in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues Associated Press on Saturday. The games — especially early in the spring SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — are often filled with young prospects and iancarlo Stanton’s intimidating others who are longshots to make opening day presence was missing from the rosters. Most veterans will be eased into games middle of the Yankees’ lineup for and their stats won’t be particularly important a big chunk of 2019 because of an as they tinker with batting stances, pitch rep- injury-filled season. ertoires and gradually build toward the first GAs he tries to bounce back, the New York regular-season games on March 26. slugger will have his spring at-bats analyzed For others, the exhibition games are a lit- more than most. tle more important. Stanton is one of those Spring training game action began in Ari- exceptions. zona on Friday with a meeting between the The 6-foot-6, 245-pounder played in just 18 Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals while the other 28 teams played their first exhibition SEE BOUNCE ON PAGE 23

Inside: Astros’ Reddick says he’s received death threats, Page 23