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Japan: Okinawa base relocation will take more time, money » Page 3

Volume 78, No. 181 ©SS 2019 CONTINGENCY EDITION FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas A bigger bang

CYBERCOM mulls aggressive plan if Russia meddles with ’20 election

BY ELLEN NAKASHIMA The Washington Post WASHINGTON — Military cyber officials are developing information warfare tactics that could be deployed against senior Russian officials and oligarchs if Moscow tries to interfere in the 2020 U.S. elections through hack- ing election systems or sowing widespread discord, according to current and former U.S. officials. One option being explored by U.S. Cyber Command would tar- get senior leadership and Rus- sian elites, although likely not President Vladimir Putin, which would be considered too provoca- tive, said the current and former officials who spoke on the condi- tion of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity. The idea would be to show that the target’s sen- sitive, personal data could be hit if the interference did not stop, although officials declined to be more specific. U.S. Army “When the Russians put im- plants into an electric grid, it The Army test-fires a Patriot missile recently. The Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System, known as IBCS, means they’re making a credible is designed to cover more ground with fewer Patriot fire units. It will also ease the burden on an overworked missile corps. showing that they have the abil- ity to hurt you if things escalate,” said Bobby Chesney, a law profes- sor at the University of Texas at Army missile defense test a critical step forward for key program Austin. “What may be contem- plated here is an individualized BY COREY DICKSTEIN For hundreds of the Army’s in-demand swath of ground. version of that, not unlike indi- Stars and Stripes air defense soldiers, the successful test A smaller workload would be welcomed vidually targeted economic sanc- Dec. 12 of the Integrated Air and Missile by the Patriot Missile corps — 15 battalions tions. It’s sending credible signals WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. Defense Battle Command System, known that have faced near-constant duty across to key decision-makers that they — A sudden flash of deep red and orange as IBCS, means relief could be on the way. the globe because their services are so in are vulnerable if they take cer- streaked across the bright blue sky as a Pa- The upgraded missile defense system — soft- demand, said Army Col. Tony Behrens, the tain adversarial actions.” triot missile slammed into a cruise missile ware that ties Army air and missile defense Army capability manager for the service’s Cyber Command and offi- above this remote stretch of desert, signal- launchers with sensors across a battlefield Air and Missile Defense Command at Fort cials at the Pentagon declined to ing a long-delayed, critical upgrade to the to detect incoming threats — would require Sill in Oklahoma. comment. Army’s air defense systems. fewer Patriot fire units to protect a larger SEE BIGGER ON PAGE 6 SEE ELECTION ON PAGE 5 PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 BUSINESS/WEATHER EXCHANGE RATES Removal of toxic ash from SC plant completed Military rates Switzerland (Franc)...... 0.9808 Euro costs (Dec. 27) ...... $1.1366 Thailand (Baht) ...... 30.13 Dollar buys (Dec. 27) ...... €0.8798 Turkey (Lira) ...... 5.9376 British pound (Dec. 27)...... $1.33 (Military exchange rates are those BY JEFFREY COLLINS nounced earlier this month. Law Center said in a statement. Japanese yen (Dec. 27 ...... 107.00 available to customers at military banking South Korean won (Dec. 27) ...... 1,132.00 Associated Press The coal ash was being held in “With this milestone, the Wa- Commercial rates facilities in the country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the Bahrain (Dinar) ...... 0.3761 pits without a protective plastic teree River and the Congaree Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For British pound ...... $1.2990 COLUMBIA, S.C. — A utility liner, which allowed arsenic and National Park are safer than they nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., Canada (Dollar) ...... 1.3129 purchasing British pounds in Germany), company in South Carolina fin- other toxic materials to seep into have been in decades, and the China (Yuan) ...... 6.9981 check with your local military banking Denmark (Krone) ...... 6.7369 ished removing all the coal ash groundwater. continuing flow of coal ash pol- facility. Commercial rates are interbank from the site of a nearly 50-year- Egypt (Pound) ...... 16.0528 The project started as part of lution into the Wateree River has Euro ...... $1.1091/0.9016 rates provided for reference when buying old power plant on the Wateree Hong Kong (Dollar) ...... 7.7882 currency. All figures are foreign currencies a court settlement in 2012 with ended,” the center’s senior law- to one dollar, except for the British pound, River. Hungary (Forint) ...... 298.55 South Carolina Electric & Gas, yer, Frank Holleman, said. Israel (Shekel) ...... 3.4706 which is represented in dollars-to-pound, The work to remove the toxic which was bought by Dominion The Wateree site had 7 billion Japan (Yen) ...... 109.61 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) ash byproduct of making power at the start of the year. Since the pounds of coal ash. Al together, Kuwait (Dinar) ...... 0.3027 INTEREST RATES Norway (Krone) ...... 8.8952 from burning coal was finished work started at the Eastover site, the environmental group said it Philippines (Peso)...... 50.81 Prime rate ...... 4.75 at the Wateree Station east of Co- arsenic levels in groundwater in has obtained court orders to re- Poland (Zloty) ...... 3.84 Discount rate ...... 2.25 Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...... 3.7502 Federal funds market rate ...... 1.55 lumbia more than a year ahead of the area have dropped by at least move 500 billion pounds of coal Singapore (Dollar) ...... 1.3542 3-month bill ...... 1.54 schedule, Dominion Energy an- 90%, the Southern Environmental ash from sites across the South. South Korea (Won) ...... 1,161.66 30-year bond ...... 2.33 WEATHER OUTLOOK FRIDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST FRIDAY IN EUROPE SATURDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 32/28 Kabul 50/24 Seoul 37/28 Baghdad 64/52 Kandahar 60/33 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 39/28 44/31 Lakenheath Pomorskie Busan 44/39 36/33 42/30 Iwakuni 49/43 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City 70/65 Brussels 36/33 Guam 68/55 45/42 Ramstein 48/44 81/78 Lajes, 41/33 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 79/47 73/53 65/62 43/38 41/35 Aviano/ Vicenza 46/34

Naples 53/43 Okinawa Morón 66/63 64/51 Sigonella Rota 57/44 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 82/68 63/48 56/53 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ...17 Comics ...... 21 Crossword ...... 21 Faces ...... 16 Opinion ...... 22-23 Sports ...... 25-32 Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 PACIFIC Okinawa base relocation cost, time to double

BY MARI YAMAGUCHI Delaying the relocation of the ments. That would likely reignite Associated Press base adds to safety risks for the tensions and further delay the crowded Ginowan area, one of relocation. TOKYO — Japan’s Defense the main reasons for moving Ministry now estimates that Opponents of the relocation Futenma. plan also contend it should be moving a U.S. Marine Corps base The Defense Ministry said scrapped for environmental rea- on Okinawa will require more moving the Futenma base to He- than twice the time and costs noko will cost $8.5 billion and take sons because the site is a habitat estimated earlier, prompting the 12 years, pushing its completion for certain corals and for dugongs, island’s Gov. Denny Tamaki to and the closure of Futenma into a marine mammal similar to a renew demands Thursday that the 2030s. That adds more than a manatee that the International Japan’s central government halt decade to the plan, which has al- Union for Conservation of Nature construction. ready been delayed by more than Tamaki was responding to a says is critically endangered, just 20 years because of local opposi- Defense Ministry estimate that a step away from extinction. tion and other reasons. the project will take longer and Washington and its ally Tokyo Under an earlier plan agreed cost more because the seabed at /AP reaffirmed their commitment to to by Tokyo and Washington in KOJI HARADA, KYODO NEWS the planned reclamation is “as pursue the Henoko plan in 2017, 2013, construction was to cost soft as mayonnaise,” according to Preliminary construction work is performed last year at Henoko saying it was the only way to end experts, and needs reinforcing. about $3.2 billion and take five in Nago city, Okinawa, where a U.S. Marine Corps base is to be years, with completion expected relocated. the use of Futenma. The plan was U.S. Marine Corps Air Station developed after the 1995 rape of Futenma is to be moved from in about 2022. a schoolgirl for which three U.S. densely populated Ginowan to the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshi- timate Wednesday to a panel of of the burden. previously undeveloped Henoko hide Suga on Thursday defended Japanese experts. Japan’s central government servicemen were convicted, reig- area on Okinawa’s eastern coast. the relocation plan as “the only The heavy U.S. military pres- began reclamation work in De- niting simmering Okinawan op- Futenma’s current base is to be solution, taking into consider- ence on Okinawa is a longstanding cember 2018 despite repeated position to the U.S. bases. closed and returned to Okinawa. ation the role of the Futenma air source of conflict between the is- protests by Okinawans. Tokyo and Washington have Opponents of the relocation plan station as deterrence under the land and Washington and Tokyo. Tamaki says Tokyo’s approach agreed the current 1,100-acre want the base moved entirely out Japan-U.S. alliance and a remov- About half of the 50,000 Ameri- is high-handed and undemo- Futenma base will be returned to al of its risks.” of Okinawa can troops in Japan are stationed cratic. He has called for a three- Japanese control after operations “In order to achieve a closure Most of the additional cost and in Okinawa. The 30 U.S. instal- way dialogue between Okinawa, are moved to Henoko. The plan and return of Futenma air sta- time is required to stabilize and lations on the island account for Tokyo and Washington. He is tion as soon as possible, the con- strengthen reclaimed land off the more than 70% of the area used expected to reject an application requires 5,900-foot runways built struction work like this should coast of Henoko that will be used by the U.S. military in Japan, by the central government for a in a V configuration on reclaimed immediately stop,” Tamaki told for runways, the Defense Minis- leading Okinawa to protest that it local government permit to carry land in Henoko Bay near the U.S. reporters. try said. It presented its new es- is shouldering more than its share out additional land reinforce- military’s Camp Schwab. Japan to base Ospreys in Chiba Report: US softens its

BY MATTHEW M. BURKE demand for S. Korea AND HANA KUSUMOTO Stars and Stripes to pay more for troops CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A city in Chiba prefecture has agreed to temporarily host Japan BY JIHYE LEE the Special Measures Agreement Ground Self-Defense Force V-22 Bloomberg News technically expires at the end of Ospreys while negotiations for a this year, both sides are likely more permanent home on the is- SEOUL, South Korea — Days to agree to some sort of tempo- land of Kyushu continue, officials before a troop-funding deal was rary extension as they negotiate, said this week. set to expire, the U.S. has dropped allowing for the continued op- The mayor of Kisarazu city, Yo- its demand that South Korea pay erations of the about 28,500 U.S. five times more to host its mili- shikuni Watanabe, on Wednesday MATTHEW M. BURKE/Stars and Stripes military personnel positioned on announced a temporary five-year tary personnel after receiving the peninsula. deal to host the U.S.-made helicop- Japan plans to temporarily base its tilt-rotor Ospreys — similar to assurances Seoul would purchase The talks with South Korea ter-plane hybrids at Ground Self- this Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey — in Chiba prefecture until a more American weapons, a news- could affect other countries that Defense Force Camp Kisarazu, permanent base can be found. paper report said. host U.S. troops, as the Trump about 25 miles southeast of Tokyo, The Trump administration also administration is seeking fund- Watanabe said Wednesday in a Ospreys farther south at Saga previously. likely eased up after South Korea ing increases from other Ameri- statement posted on the city’s web- Airport, in Saga prefecture on Watanabe said Wednesday his indicated it would step up its can allies. site. Watanabe informed Japanese the island of Kyushu. cooperation came with condi- presence in the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump, ar- Defense Minister Taro Kono dur- However, talks between the tions, such as assurances that helping U.S. efforts to protect oil guing that South Korea is rich and should pay more for U.S. ing a meeting that same day. prefecture and a local fishery co- the Ospreys will be stationed flows in the region, South Korea’s protection, has demanded Seoul “We are in a position to basical- operative stalled over using the in Kisarazu no longer than five Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported contribute about $5 billion for ly cooperate with national defense airport for military purposes, years and that the ministry will Thursday, citing an unidentified hosting U.S. troops. The price tag policy as one local government as a ministry spokeswoman said take thorough safety measures. diplomatic source. The increase originated with the White House, Thursday. Kono agreed to those stipulations, now may be about 10% to 20% (the) security environment sur- according to people familiar Ministry officials plan to con- Watanabe’s statement said. above the current level of nearly rounding our country becomes with the matter, and administra- tinue to try and reach an agree- $1 billion, it said. ever more severe,” Watanabe “The Ospreys … will be uti- tion officials justify it by saying ment with the cooperative, she South Korea’s Foreign Minis- wrote in his statement. It was lized effectively for national de- it reflects the costs South Korea said. a “very difficult decision when fense and disaster response,” the try declined to comment . would incur if it takes operational In the meantime, the ministry thinking about the safety con- Defense Ministry spokeswom- Last month, U.S. negotiators control of combined U.S.-South cerns residents have and the ex- in May asked Watanabe to accept an said. “We will take all pos- walked out of a meeting on troop Korean forces in the case of a pected burden the residents living the temporary deployment, Wata- sible measures to operate them funding in Seoul after South conflict. near the base will face from the nabe said. Area residents balked safely.” Korea balked at the fivefold in- The request for more money deployment.” at the plan due to their concerns The only thing needed to fa- crease seen as exorbitant by many hasn’t sat well in South Korea, Kisarazu was chosen as an over the aircraft’s safety record cilitate the deployment is a tem- in the country. The breakdown at where many in President Moon Osprey base because Japan sees and that a temporary deploy- porary building to house the that time raised questions about Jae-in’s progressive camp and op- the defense of its southern is- ment could lead to a permanent approximately 430 troops that one of the U.S.’ closest military position conservatives have come land chain, including Okinawa, one, Asahi Shimbun reported will call the base home by March alliances and a key piece of the out against the demands. Moon, Miyako and the Senkakus, as an Wednesday. 2022, the report said. Pentagon’s strategy for counter- facing a sagging support rate, “urgent issue,” according to a De- Maintenance on U.S. military ing North Korea and a rising may not want to make any major [email protected] fense Ministry report in May. Ospreys is already performed at Twitter: @MatthewMBurke1 China. The two sides resumed concessions that further dent his Plans were previously made to Camp Kisarazu by a Japanese [email protected] talks in December. popularity ahead of an election permanently base 17 Japanese contractor, officials have said Twitter: @HanaKusumoto Even though the deal known as for parliament next year. PAGE 4 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 WAR/MILITARY Report: Army company leaders are overworked

BY JOHN VANDIVER less per week, the study said. time can respectfully decline a Stars and Stripes But to make that happen, the tasking,” it said. relatively junior officers who are During focus groups, company Army company-level leaders today’s company commanders leaders also said that the extra are overwhelmed by their work- need to learn to “selectively dis- time they needed to execute loads in part because they’re obey” unreasonable orders from seemingly simple tasks often reluctant to push back against their chain of command, some- went unacknowledged by higher excessive demands made on thing they appear reluctant to do, command. them by leadership, a new study the report said. “Battalion and above have no suggests. “Rather than pushing back on visibility of what we are doing Company commanders and higher command tasking, sol- and what that takes,” the report /U.S. Army their senior enlisted leaders work diers may resort to lying, misrep- quoted one soldier as saying. GRANT LIGON on average 12.5 hours per day to resenting the truth, or seemingly “Let’s say a $100,000 tent was A recently published Rand Corp. report says company-level leaders complete tasks that range from tasking themselves and their sub- broken. The leaders that grew like Capt. Kevin Gibbons, above, commander of the Sabalauski Air ensuring unit combat readiness to ordinates beyond the limits of up in Iraq and Afghanistan used Assault School, work an average of 12.5 hours a day. cutting the grass on installations, productivity and effectiveness,” to be able to just buy a new tent, said the report released this week the study said. and it would be here next week. But more measures are needed resources, the study said. by Rand Corp., a nonpartisan re- Army leaders must encourage Now we have to go through a pro- now that the Army is largely a Shifting tasks such as main- search group. legitimate, tactful disagreement cess and it takes time,” the report garrisoned force after the peak tenance and grass cutting to ci- “There are so many different when garrison tasks consume quoted the company commander war years of the past decade, the vilians would enable soldiers to things that you have to track and more time than companies have as saying. “Senior leaders see report said. focus on more important tasks, do,” one soldier told researchers to complete them, the report taskings across the boards but In addition to fostering an envi- the study said. who compiled the report on re- said. don’t see the build-up.” ronment in which company lead- “Soldiers don’t think that they ducing time burdens for Army Selective disobedience would In 2018, the Army took some ers feel they can speak candidly company leaders. “You are con- also require “senior leaders [to] steps to ease the burden on sol- about their time constraints and are soldiers anymore,” one ser- stantly playing Whack-a-Mole.” take the time to engage with their diers by abolishing some online question unreasonable orders, vice member said in the report. Work-life balance would im- company commanders to ensure training requirements that were the Army would help to ease the “We are gardeners. It’s crazy.” prove for company leaders if on only those who have proven to unrelated to combat, the report burden on them by providing [email protected] average they worked 12 hours be responsible custodians of unit said. them with more administrative Twitter: @john_vandiver Taliban attack Afghan military compound, killing 6 soldiers

BY TAMEEM AKHGAR The Taliban claimed they in- bushed a peace convoy in western active in Farah, have not claimed ing at least five policemen, said Associated Press flicted a far greater number of Afghanistan and abducted 26 ac- responsibility for the abductions. Talib Mangal, the provincial gov- casualties and also that they cap- tivists, members of a peace move- However, Watandost also said ernor’s spokesman. KABUL, Afghanistan — A tured the base and seized huge ment, a police spokesman said. that tribal elders in the province powerful suicide car bombing tar- quantities of weapons and am- The insurgents staged the am- immediately launched an effort geted an Afghan army compound munition, according to a tweet bush in the district of Bala Buluk to negotiate with the Taliban to in the country’s north Thursday by their spokesman, Zabiullah in Farah province on Tuesday. release the abducted activists. He morning, killing six Afghan sol- Mujahid. The militants routinely The Taliban forced the six-vehi- added that phone lines were down diers, the Defense Ministry said. exaggerate their claims. cle convoy to a halt, then got into in the region, making communi- The Taliban quickly claimed re- The Afghan Ministry of De- the cars and drove them and the cation and getting information sponsibility for the attack. fense rejected the Taliban claim, activists to an unknown location, from the area difficult. Shortly after the bomber deto- saying the insurgents had not said provincial police spokesman The Taliban now control or nated his car laden with explo- taken the base. Mohibullah Mohib. hold sway over practically half of sives outside the small military The Taliban have been active According to Mohib, police Afghanistan but continue to stage base in Balkh province, a group in Balk in recent days. They tar- were trying to find and free the near-daily attacks targeting Af- of insurgents stormed into the geted an army checkpoint in the activists whose convoy was going ghan and U.S. forces, as well as compound, setting off a shootout province’s district of Dawlat Abad village-to-village to rally for government officials — even as with Afghan forces. on Tuesday, killing at least seven peace. they hold peace talks with a U.S. The Defense Ministry said in a Afghan soldiers and wounding However, Bismillah Watandost, envoy tasked with negotiating statement that three Afghan sol- six other members of the secu- of the People’s Peace Movement an end to the 18-year conflict, diers were also wounded in the rity forces — three soldiers and of Afghanistan, to which the ac- America’s longest war. Scores of explosion and the ensuing “terror- three intelligence agents. At the tivists belong, said that 27 of their Afghan civilians are also killed ist attack.” The provincial gover- time, the Taliban said they also members were abducted by the in the crossfire or by roadside nor’s spokesman, Munir Farhad, captured four Afghan troops and Taliban in the Farah assault. The bombs planted by militants. said fighting inside the compound seized weapons and ammunition different figures could not imme- Also Thursday, a roadside continued for hours before the at- f rom the checkpoint. diately be reconciled. bombing struck a police patrol in tackers were repelled. On Tuesday, the Taliban am- The Taliban, who have been eastern Khost province, wound- Tyndall air base to get $2.4B in funds to help rebuild

BY JACQUELINE BOSTICK negotiate with contractors, ac- contractors now have the guaran- lion to the Panama City station of The (Panama City, Fla.) cording to Congressman Neal tee the money is there and they’ll the U.S. Coast Guard. News-Herald Dunn , R-Panama City. be on the job this year, next year, Dunn noted he had submitted PANAMA CITY — With Presi- “Military construction fund- (and so on). It really saves a huge the disaster tax relief bill back dent Donald Trump signing ing is allowed to be held for up amount of money to do it that in November 2018 so that tax into law the $1.4 trillion federal to five years at a time, and if you way.” relief would be available as soon spending bill Friday, Tyndall Air appropriate the money on the Alongside the funding to re- as possible following Hurricane Force Base has secured all of the front end, you can make a better build, the base also secured addi- Michael. necessary funding to rebuild. contract with your contractors,” tional funds for the procurement “I dropped that bill in 2018 and The $2.4 billion appropriated to said Dunn, who has been instru- of 28 F-35s. Also, about $240 they just picked that up word for Tyndall for construction will be mental in introducing and sup- million was appropriated to the word (this year) and put it in this available over the next five years, porting bills related to recovery Naval Surface Warfare Center appropriations (package),” he which means more flexibility to from Hurricane Michael. “The located on the beach and $70 mil- said. “That’s really outstanding.” Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 5 MILITARY

the following month of a national Election: security presidential memoran- Officials discussing dum that revised the process by which cyberoperations are vet- ted and approved, leaving the cyberoperations that expose final decision with the defense secretary even if other agencies adversaries’ malign behavior object. No single office within the De- fense Department oversees cy- FROM FRONT PAGE BERCOM used emails, pop-ups beroperations, electronic warfare The military has long used psy- and texts to target Russian inter- and psychological operations. chological operations — dropping net “trolls” who were seeding dis- So this month, Congress created hundreds of thousands of leaflets information on U.S. social media a Senate-confirmed position of platforms. The trolls worked for in Iraq, for instance, to persuade principal information operations the Internet Research Agency, Iraqi soldiers to surrender to adviser to coordinate strategy and a private entity controlled by a the U.S.-led coalition during the policy in this area across the Pen- Gulf War. But the internet, so- Russian oligarch close to Putin. CYBERCOM also messaged tagon and with other agencies. cial media and smartphones have Other former U.S. officials are vastly extended the reach and hackers working for Russian mil- itary intelligence, indicating their wary of CYBERCOM’s move into precision of such tactics. information operations. The development comes as identities were known and could be publicized. Although the com- “I’m not a big fan of the Depart- numerous agencies within the ment of Defense doing messaging Trump administration seek to en- mand did not sign its messages, ALEXANDER NEMENOV, POOL/AP the Americans knew there would operations,” said Richard Sten- sure the U.S. is shielded against Military cyber officials are developing information warfare tactics gel, a former undersecretary of foreign efforts to disrupt the be no mistaking who had sent them, officials said at the time. that could be deployed against senior Russian officials, although state for public diplomacy in the 2020 elections, even as President likely not Russian President Vladimir Putin, and oligarchs if Moscow Obama administration. “I’m even Donald Trump has cast doubt on When the trolls persisted, CY- BERCOM, beginning on Election tries to interfere in the 2020 U.S. elections, according to current skeptical of the State Department or belittled his own intelligence Day and for at least two days af- and former U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. doing messaging operations. … I community’s finding of Russian terward, knocked their servers just don’t think that’s something interference in 2016. offline, The Washington Post said that CYBERCOM’s thinking said, it is likely to be more effec- we’re good at.” The intelligence community previously reported. The Ameri- several years ago was much more tive when used with other tools Meanwhile, the Marine Corps last month issued a classified up- cans also sent messages aimed at limited and conventional. such as sanctions — especially has created a position of deputy date — a “national intelligence es- spreading confusion and discord Any operation would be re- those also backed by allies. commandant for information to timate” — assessing that Russia’s among IRA operatives, includ- viewed by other agencies, includ- CYBERCOM got a boost in Au- build information warfare capa- main goal in the 2020 campaign ing computer system adminis- ing the State Department and gust 2018 when Congress clari- continues to be to sow discord. bility. Army Cyber Command has trators. Some personnel were so CIA, and require the defense fied that cyber actions that fall “It’s always been about exacer- integrated cyberoperations, elec- perturbed that they launched an secretary’s approval. It would be below the use of force — what bating fault lines in our society,” tronic warfare and information internal investigation to root out aligned with other potential U.S. practitioners call “the gray zone” one senior U.S. official said. operations into its mission. The what they thought were insiders efforts, such as sanctions or in- — can be conducted as “tradi- 16th Air Force cyber unit is doing In the past year, Congress and leaking personnel information, the Trump administration have dictments, officials said. tional military activities” as dis- the same. according to U.S. officials. Cyberoperations alone are usu- tinct from covert action. That Among the things that cyber eased restraints on the military’s The new options contemplate use of cyberoperations to thwart ally not sufficient to transform an was a key change that meant that officials are discussing are op- targeting key leaders in the secu- adversary’s behavior. clandestine operations such as erations that expose adversaries’ foreign adversaries. The push is rity services and the military and part of a move by military offi- “It can serve a useful message the IRA takedown last fall, for in- malign behavior. potentially some oligarchs. The of ‘We’re watching and be careful stance, would not get delayed by “Basically, it’s a war of strate- cials such as Gen. Paul Nakasone, messaging would be accompa- who heads both CYBERCOM and not to go further,’ ” said Michael disputes about whether they were gic narrative,” said Sean McFate, nied by a limited cyberoperation Carpenter, a former senior de- covert operations. a foreign policy expert and author the National Security Agency, that demonstrates the Americans’ fense policy official in the Obama Also enhancing CYBERCOM’s of “The New Rules of War.” “We the government’s powerful elec- access to a particular system or administration. But generally, he flexibility was Trump’s signing need to get into that domain.” tronic surveillance arm, to weave account and the capability to in- cyberoffensive capabilities into flict a cost, said individuals famil- military operations. iar with the matter. The message The 10-year-old command’s would implicitly warn the target foray into influence operations that if the election interference reflects an evolution in thinking. did not cease, there would be “It’s a really big deal because consequences. we have not done a good job in the The options do not envision any past of integrating traditional in- attempt to influence Russian so- formation warfare with cyberop- ciety at large, which officials saw erations,” Chesney said. “But as as having limited success given Russia has demonstrated, these Putin’s control of the country, in- two are increasingly inseparable cluding much of the media. in practice.” Some see the new options as While other military organiza- potentially effective at altering tions, such as Joint Special Oper- a key official’s decision-making ations Command, also have cyber calculus without being hugely es- and information warfare capabil- calatory because they do not seek ities, CYBERCOM is the first to to foment a popular uprising, turn such powers toward combat- which is Putin’s big fear, analysts ing election interference. note. “In 332 days, our nation is Another possibility involves going to elect a president,” Na- disinformation aimed at exploit- kasone told a defense forum this ing rivalries within the Russian month. “We can’t let up. This is government and power elites. In something we cannot be episodic 2016, National Security Council about. The defense of our na- aides in the Obama administra- tion, the defense of our elections, tion developed cyber options is something that will be every against Russia similar to those single day for as long as I can see being contemplated by CYBER- into the future.” COM now, but “no one had an The options being considered appetite for it,” a former senior build on an operation CYBER- official said. COM undertook last fall in the “There is a night-and-day differ- run-up to the midterm elections. ence between 2016 and this,” said Beginning in October 2018, CY- a second former U.S. official, who

‘ Basically, it’s a war of strategic narrative. We need to get into that domain. ’ Sean McFate foreign policy expert, author of “The New Rules of War” PAGE 6 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 MILITARY Bigger: Army stresses value in system’s ability to detect, track missiles earlier

FROM FRONT PAGE “We believe that once we have this system in place and are able to start fielding it across the force, we will be able to reduce some of that stress on our force in the future — just by virtue of the way we will employ it in the future,” Behrens told Stars and Stripes just moments after the test, dubbed Flight Test 5. The system is the Army’s pri- mary focus in the air and missile defense sector and one of Army Futures Command’s 31 top pri- ority programs. The develop- ment is so critical that the Army has assigned one of its 15 Patriot A Black Hawk crew chief looks battalions full time to the testing out over White Sands. program. The Dec. 12 launch was Less than 10 minutes after the watched closely by Army senior cruise missiles were fired and leaders, including its vice chief split off to attack two separate of staff, Gen. Joseph Martin, who locations, both were destroyed was there. in fiery collisions with the “When you talk about 31 signa- interceptors. ture programs — that’s a lot of ac- Applause rang out in the view- tivity,” Martin said after the test. ing area. “Lots of testing, lots of activity. “Today, two cruise missiles When things like this (test) hap- flew. Two Patriot Missiles hit pen, they are critical, so that we them,” Martin said minutes after can validate that which we think the intercepts. “It’s a huge victory PHOTOS BY COREY DICKSTEIN/Stars and Stripes will happen and … move forward for this program, and these guys” Gen. Joseph Martin, left, Army vice chief of staff, meets with soldiers and Marines who participated in a with our development process.” involved in it. Dec. 12 test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., of an updated Patriot Missile system that allows IBCS has been in development Northrup Grumman, the de- sensors from across different services to track projectiles that can be eliminated by Patriot interceptors. since 2004 and was once aimed fense contracting giant building to reach soldiers in the field by the IBCS program, was just as the best interceptor type and the the Army will make a decision 2018, but setbacks have delayed excited. best intercept point to defeat the ‘ IBCS provides next summer on how to move for- the delivery. The new goal is for “Building on the success of the threat.” ward. The plan is to field the ini- a single Patriot battalion to field most recent flight test this past For Behrens, a career air de- decision space. tial IBCS capability — which ties the system in the third quarter of August, today’s test demonstrates fense artillery officer who has together the Army Patriot and that IBCS is achieving unprec- It’s significant fiscal year 2022. served in Patriot battalions, Sentinel radar systems — to two edented performance in defeat- The IBCS test this month, with that means he can decide more — measured in battalions each year over a seven- ing multiple missile threats,” soldiers destroying two incoming quickly how many interceptors year period. Dan Verwiel, the company’s vice seconds and minutes cruise missiles, comes after the he needs to launch. If an intercep- “This is probably … the most president and general manager same system in August intercept- tor misses its target, it could also in decision space for significant change to how we’re for missile defense and protective ed a cruise missile at a range well provide time to launch another going to fight in air and missile systems, said in a statement. commanders … to beyond what today’s Patriot Mis- missile. That means saving more defense since the birth of the Pa- Army officials declined to dis- sile systems can handle. lives and military assets. triot Missile system itself, which cuss how far or fast the intercep- positively identify the Those successes, Martin said, “If I am protecting an air base is close to 40 years now,” he said. tors flew or at what altitude the have energized the program and out in the Central Command the- threat and determine The system might have made collisions occurred. What was left the service hopeful it is on ater, I’m launching those intercep- a difference in those strikes on most important, they said, was the best interceptor track to reach soldiers around the tors for the protection of that air Saudi Arabia in September, Beh- world. the system’s ability to detect and base — the F-35s that are parked type and the best track the cruise missiles much rens said. Defense officials have “We are in the process of achiev- there, or the other airframes, or intercept point to said the strikes went undetected ing significant momentum in our earlier than they would have been the mission commando that’s able to with current systems. because they came from the modernization program,” Martin there, everyone that is participat- defeat the threat. north, while most Saudi and U.S. The Patriot Missile systems ing in the fight,” he said. “That’s ’ said. “And it’s tests like this … Army Col. Philip Rottenborn air defenses were facing south to- that maintain that momentum.” deployed today in Europe, the what we’re protecting.” Middle East and Asia could not project manager, Army Integrated ward Yemen, where Iran-linked have accomplished what those Air and Missile Defense Houthi rebels have regularly ‘Clear to engage’ linked to the IBCS system did at Long-term gain development program fired missiles into the Kingdom. With an operational IBCS sys- White Sands. The systems in use With the success of Flight Test One after another, highly tech- tem, it is possible that other sen- today cannot communicate with 5, the Army will move into opera- nical battlefield sensors tracked sors could have picked up the the pair of incoming projectiles the non-Army sensors, and the tional testing and will commit an incoming drones and cruise mis- flying low and fast over the south- Army radars they can communi- entire Patriot battalion to those Since the summer, Defense siles, Behrens said. ern New Mexican desert. Marine cate with must be in much closer efforts at least through the sum- Secretary Mark Esper has surged “You still have to have the sen- Corps TPS-59 Radar first picked proximity than IBCS would allow, mer, Behrens said. more Patriot units into the Middle sors in the right place,” he said. up the incoming objects, then a said Army Col. Philip Rottenborn, “The dedication of that bat- East, largely into Saudi Arabia in “You still have to plan that. But pair of Air Force F-35 Lightning project manager for the Army In- talion is not insignificant to the the wake of Iranian hostilities, today we don’t have the ability to II stealth fighters flying high over tegrated Air and Missile Defense Army,” he said. “They are ex- including a drone and cruise mis- the missile range tracked the po- development program. tremely busy.” siles attack in September on criti- put those sensors on that network. tential targets. What that means to future Removing that battalion — 3rd cal Saudi oil infrastructure. So, even if we had the sensors in A message to air defense sol- commanders in charge of air and Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artil- Pentagon officials have dis- the right places, we would not diers operating two Patriot Mis- missile defense is more time, Rot- lery — could mean added stress cussed sending more troops to have been able to engage a target sile launchers on White Sands’ tenborn said. The Army hopes it in the short term for the other the Middle East to curb future that came from that direction.” 100-by-40-square-mile site came will also mean more options. Patriot units, some of which have Iranian aggression, which could Martin downplayed that scenar- over a loudspeaker: “Hostile.” When IBCS is fully operation- recently been surged into the include even more air defense io, but he said he was encouraged Moments later: “Clear to en- al, several years down the road, Middle East. soldiers, according to several of- by the test and the improvements gage in the kill zone,” referring it should allow sensors to connect Behrens said 65 percent of ficials who spoke in recent weeks the IBCS could bring air defense to the area where it was deemed with Patriot systems and other Patriot units are deployed, con- on condition of anonymity. Those soldiers. safe to shoot down the incoming air defense assets, such as the ducting real-time air defense op- officials did not directly identify “This allows you to see — to missiles. Terminal High Altitude Area De- erations or preparing to deploy. Patriot units as those under con- address threats of many kinds,” Within minutes, the Army’s Pa- fense system, or THAAD, which For example, nearly 10 full bat- sideration for deployment. he said. “You saw cruise missiles triot and Sentinel radars picked can intercept ballistic missiles. talions at all times are committed Behrens said the Army is con- today; there’s ... all sorts of differ- up their targets. “IBCS provides decision to air defense missions including vinced that removing an entire ent threats out there. This system “You are now free to engage,” space,” Rottenborn said. “It’s sig- one in Europe, three between battalion from its Patriot rotation allows you to address threats in a the direction came. The soldiers nificant — measured in seconds Japan and South Korea, and five for IBCS testing will be worth- much more agile and flexible and fired two Patriot Advanced Capa- and minutes in decision space or more battalions in the Central while because the system is a dif- adaptive way.” bility-2 Guidance Enhanced Mis- for commanders … to positively Command area, which covers the ference-maker for air defenders. [email protected] sile-TBM interceptors. identify the threat and determine Middle East and Afghanistan. If successful testing continues, Twitter: @CDicksteinDC Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 7 NATION Trump: ‘Carnage’ in rebel stronghold in Syria

Associated Press ground bombardment by government forc- children fled their homes in buses, trucks lines of cars, trucks and buses heading es in southern and eastern Idlib province, and cars in recent weeks. Many have been north. People carried their valuables and PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Don- the last rebel-held bastion in the country. heading toward the Turkish border for loaded bags and mattresses on buses. ald Trump is speaking out against the Syrian government forces about a month safety. Trump also addressed the plight of ci- “carnage” involving thousands of civilians ago launched a renewed effort to take the Before a ground offensive began a week vilians in Idlib in June, accusing Russia, in a rebel stronghold in Syria. province, which is dominated by al-Qaida- ago, the U.N. reported that some 60,000 Syria and Iran of “indiscriminately kill- In a tweet Thursday, Trump wrote: “Rus- linked militants and is also home to 3 Idlib residents had already been displaced ing many innocent civilians“ in a bomb- sia, Syria, and Iran are killing, or on their million civilians. The United Nations has since the government’s bombing campaign ing campaign. “The World is watching way to killing, thousands of innocent civil- warned of the growing risk of a humanitar- started late last month. this butchery,” he tweeted then, imploring ians in Idlib Province. Don’t do it! Turkey ian catastrophe along the Turkish border. Videos posted online by activists and them to “STOP!“ Several months later he is working hard to stop this carnage.” A Syrian relief group said Wednesday the opposition’s Syrian Civil Defense, also announced he would withdraw U.S. troops The tweet refers to an intense air and that more than 200,000 men, women and known as White Helmets, showed long from northeastern Syria. Pa. dioceses pay $84M to 564 clergy abuse victims

BY MICHAEL RUBINKAM “These are all time-barred Associated Press claims, so it’s not going to be the kind of numbers one sees in a Pennsylvania’s Roman Catho- courtroom,” said Camille Biros, lic dioceses have paid nearly $84 who helps administer compensa- million to 564 victims of sexual tion funds for the Archdiocese abuse, a tally that’s sure to grow of Philadelphia and dioceses in substantially in the new year as Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie and compensation fund administra- Scranton. tors work through a backlog of Lawmakers recently agreed claims, according to an Associ- to begin the lengthy process of ated Press review. amending the state constitution to Seven of the state’s eight dio- allow a two-year window for civil ceses launched victim compen- suits otherwise barred by the MARY ALTAFFER/AP sation funds in the wake of a landmark grand jury report on statute of limitations, but there’s Mohammed Hafar helps his daughter, Jana, with luggage at JFK Airport in New York on Dec. 3. Before sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. no guarantee that effort will bear they were reunited, Jana had been forced by President Donald Trump’s travel ban to stay in Syria. The funds were open to claims fruit. for a limited time this year. They Together, Allentown and the are independently administered, four other dioceses that hired though each diocese set its own Biros and veteran claims admin- Families fight US travel ban in court rules on eligibility. istrator Kenneth Feinberg to run To date, the average payout their funds have received more BY DEEPTI HAJELA Angeles-based attorney who has from December 2017 to January across all seven dioceses has ex- than 1,500 claims. AND AMY TAXIN filed several federal lawsuits, in- 2019, according to State Depart- ceeded $148,000 — a fraction of The dioceses agreed to pay vic- Associated Press cluding Hafar’s, against the ad- ment figures. what some adult victims of child- tims after the grand jury conclud- ministration on behalf of dozens In an emailed statement, the hood abuse might have expected ed that more than 300 predator NEW YORK — Mohammed of plaintiffs from countries af- State Department said changes from a jury had they been permit- priests had molested more than Hafar paced around the airport fected by the travel ban. made in late June have “signifi- ted to take their claims to court. 1,000 children since the 1940s terminal — first to the monitor to Many of those he has repre- cantly” increased the number Under state law, victims of past — and that church leaders sys- check flight arrivals, then to the sented have received visas. But he handed out monthly, and officials abuse have until age 30 to sue. tematically covered it up. gift shop and lastly to the doors said those cases represent only a “believe this is representative of where international passengers fraction of the people in need and the new normal” and that “ap- were exiting. that the decision to grant those plicants who qualify for a waiver At last, out came Jana Hafar, visas is unfair to thousands of will likely be issued their visa his tall, slender, dark-haired teen other immigrants who cannot sue Police find teen suspected daughter who had been forced by or do not know how to take their much sooner than possible before President Donald Trump’s travel frustrations to court. the changes.” in killing of college student ban to stay behind in Syria for The third version of the ad- But while some applications months while her father, his wife ministration’s ban took effect in for immigrant and nonimmigrant and 10-year-old son started re- December 2017, keeping citizens visas submitted in recent months BY MICHAEL R. SISAK mains active and ongoing.” building their lives in Bloomfield, of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, are seeing faster processing and Associated Press Of the two other suspects, only N.J. , with no clear idea of when Yemen and North Korea, and approval times, earlier cases are one has been charged. NEW YORK — New York City the family would be together government representatives from still languishing, with no trans- A 13-year-old boy arrested police say they have located a again. Venezuela, from traveling or im- parency from the government, Dec. 13 and charged as a juvenile 14-year-old boy suspected of fa- “Every time I speak to her, she migrating to the United States. said Mahsa Khanbabai, an immi- with felony murder told detec- tally stabbing a Barnard College asks, ‘When are they going to give The Supreme Court upheld the gration lawyer in North Easton, tives he was at the park with the freshman as she walked through me the visa?’ ” the elder Hafar ban in June 2018, in part because Massachusetts. other youths but wasn’t the one a park near the school. said, recalling the days of uncer- of the promised waiver system Hafar, a Syria native and natu- who stabbed Majors, police said. Chief of Detectives Rodney tainty that took up the better part that would allow people to come ralized American citizen since Another juvenile suspect was Harrison tweeted Thursday that of this year. There was “nothing despite the ban if certain criteria questioned for several hours, also 1996, had been living in Syria the boy had been found but gave I could tell her because nobody were met. with his family when civil war on Dec. 13, but police let him go, knows when.” The government says 28,100 no other details. started. He is one of three youths po- Harrison said. He has declined to That she landed at Kennedy immigrant visa applications were Farida Chehata, an immigrant say why that boy wasn’t charged. Airport on a recent December lice believe were involved in the filed by people seeking waivers to rights attorney for the Council on Majors was stabbed while walk- day was testament to her father’s move to the U.S. between Decem- stabbing of Tessa Majors, 18, on American-Islamic Relations in ing in the park just before 7 p.m., determination to keep his prom- ber 2017 and Oct. 31 . Of those, Dec. 11 in Morningside Park in California, worked with the fam- two days before the start of final ise that they would be reunited 11,325 have been deemed quali- Manhattan. exams at Barnard, an all-wom- and his willingness to go as far as fied for waivers and 16,775 have ily before they sued. Police tracked down the teen suing the government in federal not. After filing the lawsuit in Au- after taking the unusual step last en’s school that is part of the Ivy court. Advocates say the process It was unclear how many of gust, Jana’s petition got moving in Friday of releasing photographs League’s Columbia University. for obtaining a travel ban waiver those who have been deemed October, and she was soon given of him, but not his name or any She staggered up a flight of is still shrouded in unpredict- qualified have actually received the go-ahead to come to the U.S. other identifying information. stairs to street level and collapsed ability, which causes delays for visas and how quickly. At the “It’s been difficult for me to be A police spokeswoman declined in a crosswalk. thousands of American citizens beginning of 2019, waivers were away from my whole family,” she to answer questions about where Her death has troubled city and waiting for loved ones. being issued in a trickle, with said. But she believed her father. and how the teen was located, re- college leaders, both for its prox- The “system is messed up,” only 2,673 granted for both im- “My dad wouldn’t lie to me. He ferring back to Harrison’s tweet imity to campus and its apparent said Curtis Morrison, the Los migrant and nonimmigrant visas always tells me the truth.” and saying “the investigation re- randomness. PAGE 8 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 NATION GOP senator ‘disturbed’ by McConnell remark

Associated Press and so I heard what leader Mc- nesses remains to be seen,” Connell had said; I happened to ‘ To me it means that we have to take that Murkowski said before saying ANCHORAGE, Alaska — U.S. think that Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Repub- step back from being hand in glove with the House should have gone to that has the courts if witnesses refused to lican from Alaska, said she was further con- the defense. appear before Congress. disturbed to hear Senate Major- fused the ’ ity Leader Mitch McConnell say process.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski Murkowski also spoke of her there would be “total coordina- In a recent R-Alaska desire for a “full and fair pro- tion” between the White House interview cess,” potentially using the im- and the Senate over the upcoming with Fox peachment hearings of President presidential impeachment trial. News’ Sean ordination with the White House now being asked to cure deficien- Bill Clinton as a template. “And in fairness, when I heard Hannity, counsel’s office and the people cies in evidence to be presented Murkowski remained unde- that I was disturbed,” Murkowski McConnell, who are representing the presi- at the trial, particularly when it cided about how she would vote told KTUU Tuesday before saying a Kentucky dent as well as the Senate,” Mc- comes to whether key witnesses when the trial takes place. there should be distance between Murkowski Republican, Connell said. should be brought forward to the White House and the Senate described his Murkowski was critical of the testify, including White House “For me to prejudge and say in how the trial is conducted. planning with the White House. impeachment process conducted Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and there’s nothing there or on the “To me, it means that we have “We’ll be working through this in the House of Representatives, former national security adviser other hand, he should be im- to take that step back from being process, hopefully, in a fairly describing it as rushed. John Bolton. peached yesterday, that’s wrong; hand in glove with the defense, short period of time in total co- Murkowski says the Senate is “How we will deal with wit- in my view, that’s wrong.” Rust Belt region looks to become a hub for new electric vehicles BY JOHN SEEWER to restore what has been lost. Associated Press “For a long time in our com- munity, we were chasing smoke- The day Youngstown’s steel stacks, chasing things that were mills began shutting down 40 on the decline,” he said. “We’re years ago remains fresh in the starting to move in a good minds of those who live in the direction.” blue-collar corner of Ohio. Com- Economic development lead- munity leaders don’t want the ers point out that the Youngstown recent closing of General Motors’ area already is home to an elec- massive assembly plant to leave tric battery testing lab and busi- that same lingering gloom. ness incubators that are focused The region is embarking on on energy and additive manu- an ambitious plan to become a facturing through 3-D printing. research and production hub for Youngstown State University is electric vehicles and carve out a breaking new economy for itself by mixing ground on its industrial past with emerging ‘ An an advanced TONY DEJAK/AP technology. opportunity manufactur- A “Save Me” sign rests against the Lordstown Complex sign in Lordstown, Ohio, on March 6. The There are positive signs al- ing technol- Rust Belt community of Youngstown, Ohio, which was stung by the loss of the massive General Motors ready. GM in early December like this ogy center Lordstown plant this year, wants to become a research and production hub for electric vehicles. announced it will form a joint really plays and wants to venture and hire more than 1,100 to our play a part in Fully electric vehicles currently people at a new plant that it says training stu- make up only 1.5% of U.S. new will be among the largest electric regional dents to work vehicle sales, and LMC Automo- vehicle battery cell factories in in the elec- tive forecasts that will rise to the world. strengths. ’ tric vehicle only 7.5% by the end of the next And the Lordstown assem- Mike Hripko industry. decade. bly plant that GM shut down in Youngstown “We want March has been sold to a newly State University “We’re still in the early days of to take this,” Smith said. formed company that intends to associate vice charge of Uncertainty also surrounds begin making electric trucks by president our future. what will happen with the former late 2020. An opportu- GM assembly plant. It was bought But the Youngstown region, nity like this really plays to our by Lordstown Motors Corp., a which for decades has been a regional strengths,” said Mike new company that wants to begin symbol of the American Mid- Hripko, the university’s associ- west’s declining industrial might, ate vice president for economic making electric trucks by late faces plenty of competition from 2020 but also needs more inves- development and government ANDREW RUSH, PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE/AP places like Detroit, Silicon Valley relations. tors before manufacturing can and China — all of which also are Hundreds of Chevrolet Cruze cars sit in a parking lot on Dec. 5, For decades now, those in begin. positioning to be centers for elec- 2018, at General Motors’ assembly plant in Lordstown. the Mahoning Valley have been While the new owner plans to tric and autonomous vehicles. start out with just 400 workers, While the electric transforma- counting on “the next big idea” rector of research at the Center vesting heavily in their Detroit- with investors promising to build CEO Steve Burns said he has a tion within the auto industry is for Automotive Research, an in- area factories, where they plan much bigger vision that includes factories that would make blimps, dustry think tank in Ann Arbor, to build the next generation of just beginning to take shape, it’s bringing in other like-minded clear that fewer workers and fac- commuter airplanes and a new Mich . electric and autonomous vehicles. companies and becoming a center tories will be needed to make cars version of the Studebaker. The Technology and research will Volkswagen is making Tennes- for electric vehicle production. that require fewer parts. Where closing of the GM plant that had be centered largely in South see its North American base for those next clusters of electric ve- been churning out cars for 50 Korea, China, Detroit and Cali- electric vehicle production by ex- There’s also talk of potentially hicle manufacturing will sprout years marked the loss of the big- fornia, he said. A big question is panding its plant in Chattanooga. building a new generation of is yet to be determined. gest manufacturing anchor re- whether a place like Ohio that has Where the manufacturing is mail trucks for the U.S. Postal U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat maining in what once was Ohio’s had a big role in producing tradi- centered will be determined by a Service. who represents the Youngstown industrial core. tional engines and transmissions number of factors, Smith said, in- “It’s a pretty lofty goal,” Burns area, thinks being involved with It will take more than a battery can stake a claim to a new way of cluding logistics, labor contracts, said. “But we didn’t buy this plant the development of electric ve- cell plant for the Youngstown re- making vehicles. political influences, workforce not to fill it up and get to full pro- hicles early on is the best chance gion to become a hub for electric Both GM and Ford Motor Co. training and how quickly car duction. We really want to put the his hometown has had in decades vehicles, said Brett Smith, di- announced this year they are in- buyers embrace electric vehicles. area on the map.” Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 9 NATION Baltimore nears record homicide rate

BY REGINA GARCIA CANO ment lacks the personnel and Associated Press resources to achieve all the goals, and Harrison has acknowledged BALTIMORE — Baltimore that the city’s deep-rooted “gun could wrap up 2019 with its high- culture” also must be changed. est per-capita homicide rate on “People can expect that num- record as killings of adults and ber to go down. We are building minors alike for drugs, retribu- capacity, but we need to have tion, money or no clear reason some type of effect on the pover- continue to add up and city of- ty, the housing, the education, the ficials appear unable to stop the addiction, the skills, the jobs and violence. the lack thereof, together at the Police recorded 338 homicides same time,” Harrison told The as of Tuesday, following a week of Associated Press. relentless gunfire that saw eight “All of that has to be addressed people shot — three of them fatal- while prosecuting people who ly — in one day and nine others commit crimes and preventing — one fatally — another day. That other people from committing total is up from 309 in 2018 and those crimes. Otherwise, it con- four shy of the 342 killings tallied tinues and then you ask the ques- in 2017 and 2015, the year when the city’s homicide rate suddenly tion, ‘When does it stop?’ without spiked. fixing the reason it starts.” With just over 600,000 resi- Last week, the U.S. Department dents, Baltimore’s homicide rate of Justice and members of the would reach approximately 57 state’s congressional delegation per 100,000 residents if the death announced additional resources toll reaches 342. That would to help Harrison and federal law eclipse the rate of 1993, when the enforcement in Maryland track city had a record 353 killings but guns, hire additional police of- was also much more populous. ficers and beef up task forces. By contrast, New York City, JERRY JACKSON, THE BALTIMORE SUN/AP Harrison, in a reversal, agreed to allow three surveillance air- with more than 8 million resi- Baltimore Police block off Penn Street at Lombard Street in Baltimore on Feb. 4 after a shooting at planes to fly above the city for dents, had 306 homicides through University of Maryland Medical Center Shock Trauma. Dec. 15. up to six months as part of a pilot Police yellow tape and make- program. person had a conflict and would of a young black man, Freddie litical incompetence at City Hall Law enforcement experts, shift memorials with flowers, have a fight at best. Now these Gray. also contributed. stuffed animals and balloons however, warn it would be unfair young kids, at the age of 13, 14 Reasons for the upward trend Police Commissioner Michael have become common in some to assume that law enforcement years old, are finding handguns vary and are subject to inter- Harrison, who was tapped this neighborhoods of this deeply seg- alone will reduce violent crime. regated city. Memorials can be in their possession and they use pretation. Many accuse police of year to fix a dispirited depart- “Let’s not assume simply that found within blocks of each other them as toys ... The whole system taking a hands-off approach to ment and regain residents’ trust, by putting more officers, this is at the same time. needs to be revamped.” crime-fighting since six of their unveiled a five-year crime-fight- going to lead to greater closure of “It’s a major concern for me, This is the fifth year in a row own were charged in connection ing plan in July that includes a cases or will be a deterrent, ” said not just as a hopeful man but as this Mid-Atlantic community with Gray’s death. Others attri- goal of responding to calls within Jeffrey Ian Ross, a criminologist a citizen of Baltimore who grew dubbed “Charm City” has report- bute it to the apparent free flow 10 minutes and prioritizing those at the University of Baltimore. up in inner city Baltimore,” said ed more than 300 killings. Before of illegal guns, the effects of a threatening life or property. “It may help families, it may put Carmichael “Stokey” Cannady, 2015, that number had generally punishing opioid epidemic, social The plan also contains recruit- behind bars some more bad guys, a reformed drug dealer turned been on the decline, but the trend inequalities and a lack of decent ment strategies, community but it doesn’t mean it necessarily community activist who wants to reversed after civil unrest fol- jobs for many in disenfranchised engagement efforts and account- leads to a decrease in crime and be mayor. “I remember when a lowed the death in police custody neighborhoods. Some say po- ability measures. But the depart- homicides.” Texas man charged with killing pregnant sister

BRITTANY SHAMMAS harming herself because of some from behind and put his arm was handcuffed and arrested at The Washington Post personal issues.” around her neck, squeezing the end of the interview. She had reportedly struggled until she stopped breathing. He The family is devastated by Texas police say a 19-year-old with mental health problems, and wrapped her head in duct tape, the situation, Diego Arevalo told man admitted to strangling his relatives found a suicide note. the affidavit said, “because he pregnant older sister — and fak- KTVT-TV, adding that “seeing Police, however, were skeptical. was afraid that she might come my parents sad and emotional ing her suicide — out of embar- Footage from cameras in the area back to life.” really breaks my heart.” He said rassment for their family. where the body was found helped Then, the affidavit said, he he didn’t believe his brother was Eduardo Arevalo is charged lead them to Eduardo Arevalo. drove her body outside the city with capital murder in the death They say he admitted the crime. and into Fannin County, leav- the killer, despite the alleged of his sister Viridiana, 23, who “I murdered her ... I murdered ing it in a grassy field where he confession. was about a month from her due her,” he told detectives, according believed it “would not be discov- “I know my brother,” he said. date. Residents found the body of to a probable cause affidavit. ered.” And he wrote the supposed “He wouldn’t do something like the soon-to-be mother in a neigh- this.” borhood alley early Sunday, less He claimed he needed to “pro- suicide note, Woodard said. than a mile from her family’s tect his family and the unborn Six days later, during the early As the family struggles to pro- home in a Dallas suburb called child from its mother,” blaming morning of Dec. 22, he allegedly cess the death of one sibling and The Colony. Her brother’s arrest the “ongoing conflict” his sister’s retrieved his sister’s body and arrest of the other, Eduardo Are- came soon after. mental health condition caused in drove it back to The Colony. He valo sits in the local jail. His bail “The only reason he gave for the family, the affidavit said. left her corpse in the alley, police is set at $1,050,000, the Dallas The brutal killing unfolded on said. On his way home, he stopped killing her was that she was an THE COLONY POLICE DEPARTMENT/AP Morning News reported. Police embarrassment to their family,” the morning of Dec. 16, after the at Whataburger to get something said additional charges could be siblings got into an argument, ac- to eat. Colony Sgt. Aaron Woodard said Eduardo Arevalo has been filed against him. charged with capital murder in cording to the affidavit. Eduardo After Viridiana’s body was during a news conference. “And Woodard told the Morning he stated that it would be better connection with the strangling went into his room and tried to go found, investigators brought Edu- News that the case had been dif- off that she wasn’t here.” death of his pregnant sister . to sleep, but thought to himself, ardo in for an interview, believing Viridiana had been excited “Maybe it’s time to murder her,” that he might be involved in her ficult for investigators. about having a baby girl, her She disappeared from home on it said. death based on the evidence. He “It’s not what our officers and brother Diego Arevalo told local Dec. 16, with a family member According to the affidavit, as confessed while being questioned, detectives wanted to be dealing station KTVT-TV, noting that she claiming to police that she had Viridiana sat on a couch in the police said, and provided details with two days before Christmas,” “always wanted a little sister.” “made some statements about living room, Eduardo approached only the killer would know. He he said. PAGE 10 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 NATION Slave cemetery poses questions for country club More than 40 graves discovered under fairway of Tallahassee, Fla., golf course

BY BOBBY CAINA CALVAN decayed. For years, golfers have Associated Press unknowingly trod through the cemetery. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Leon County was the center rumors swirled for decades: of Florida’s plantation economy A dark history long lay buried during the antebellum days and under the grassy knolls and man- had the state’s highest concentra- icured lawns of a country club in tion of slaves. Just before the Civil Florida’s capital city. War, three of every four county Over the years, neat rows of inhabitants were human chattel rectangular depressions along owned by elite white families. the 7th fairway deepened in the The Houstouns of Tallahas- grass, outlining what would be see was one such family. From confirmed this month as sunken the early 1800s through the Civil graves of the slaves who lived War, the family operated a 500- and died on a plantation that once acre plantation. In modern times sprawled with cotton near the it has been parceled out to de- Florida Capitol. velopers who transformed fields The discovery of 40 graves into an expanse of strip malls and — with perhaps dozens more yet residential neighborhoods . to be found — has spawned dis- cussion about how to honor those A huge swath of the property became the Capital City Country who lie in rest at the golf course. BOBBY CAINA CALVAN/AP And it has brought renewed at- Club, now an 18-hole golf course in one of Tallahassee’s most Delaitre Hollinger visits the Capital City Country Club in Tallahassee, Fla., on Dec. 17. The discovery this tention to the many thousands month of graves at the golf course has spawned discussion about how to dignify those who lie there. of unmarked and forgotten slave sought-after communities. cemeteries across the Deep South “It’s fair to say that the golf of scanning 7,000 square meters sites — despite the scores of plan- that forever could be lost to devel- course is one of the reasons why ‘ They deserve much of the golf course using ground- tations that once existed in the opment or indifference. this burial ground has been pre- “When I stand here on a cem- served as well as it has for so better than this. And penetrating radar and two cadav- area. Each would have had a cem- etery for slaves, it makes me long,” said Jay Revell, the coun- they deserved much er-sniffing dogs, Shanks issued etery for its enslaved. thoughtful and pensive,” said De- try club’s resident historian . his preliminary conclusion: The “It’s safe to say that there are laitre Hollinger, the immediate “A hundred years ago when better than what subsurface anomalies at the coun- thousands upon thousands of these past president of the Tallahassee the golf course was constructed, occurred in that era. ’ try club are indeed graves. graves in Leon County,” said Jon- branch of the NAACP. His ances- there was certainly no technolo- Shanks called the discovery athan Lammers, a historian who gy to decipher what was or wasn’t Delaitre Hollinger a significant historical find be- drafted a report on the Houstoun tors worked the fields of Leon former president of the Tallahassee, here,” he said during a recent cause so many slave cemeteries property. “And hundreds and hun- County as slaves. Fla., branch of the NAACP “They deserve much better visit to the country club. are unaccounted for. dreds of thousands, if not millions, than this,” said Hollinger, 26, who There had long been talk A Florida state task force two across the Southeast that remain is leading a push to memorialize among some Tallahassee old-tim- decades ago estimated that there unknown today.” the rediscovered burial ground. ers about the long-gone plantation out to experts. could be as many as 1,500 un- At the Capital City Country “And they deserved much better and its cemetery. That’s when Jeffrey Shanks, a marked and abandoned slave or Club, there are no plans to exhume than what occurred in that era.” The stories piqued Hollinger’s National Park Service archaeolo- black cemeteries across the state. or disturb any of the remains. Wooden markers that had iden- curiosity. He contacted city offi- gist, took up the cause. In Leon County, there are only How the site will be memorial- tified the graves have long since cials for help, who in turn reached Earlier this month, after weeks a handful of known slave burial ized is still up for discussion. Disney’s ‘Song of the South’: The Jim Crow-era film that won’t die

BY JAY REEVES fully and fully,” Antonio, a senior associate among the editions available for sale on the Associated Press dean of arts at New York University, said in internet. an interview conducted by email. Jason Sperb, who wrote a book about BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Racially seg- Released the year after World War II the movie and its legacy, said “Song of regated movie theaters and whites-only ended, “Song of the South” premiered in the South” received a lukewarm recep- water fountains disappeared decades ago Atlanta, where the Civil War epic “Gone tion when it first opened but was a “huge after court rulings struck down the legal With the Wind” made its debut a few years hit” financially when it was released in the framework of Jim Crow America, but an- earlier. Set in post-Civil War Georgia, the 1970s and ’80s. other element of the era just won’t die: Walt Disney film featured stories that white “Disney had become more of a cultur- Disney’s 1946 movie “Song of the South.” newspaper writer Joel Chandler Harris al institution by then. All the old films, With racist stereotypes and Old South heard from one-time slaves and published whether successful or not upon its origi- tropes, the film isn’t available to the mil- starting in 1876, according to The Wren’s nal release, were now being rebranded as lions of subscribers of the company’s AP Nest, Harris’ one-time home and now a ‘classics,’ ” said Sperb, author of “Disney’s new Disney Plus streaming service, and museum in Atlanta. Most Notorious Film: Race, Convergence, it hasn’t been released in theaters in de- Brer Rabbit, a character from the movie Actor James Baskett was presented an and the Hidden Histories of Song of the cades. Yet the movie, still beloved by many, “Song of the South,” is on a sign near honorary Academy Award for his por- South.” lives on. the Briar Patch gift shop at Walt Disney trayal of Uncle Remus, but the movie was The continuing fascination that some “Song of the South” is easily viewed on World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. perhaps best known for its Oscar-winning have with the movie is likely more about the internet either in whole or in pieces, song “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.” The tune is the fact that Disney made it than its actual and numerous websites offer versions of “Yay! Have been looking for a good copy part of the soundtrack at Disney World’s contents, he said in an email interview. the movie or memorabilia for sale. Ani- for years, kids really enjoyed it! Thank Splash Mountain ride, which also features “I think if anyone else in Hollywood had matronic characters and music from the you,” a reviewer wrote recently on the on- Remus characters including Br’er Rabbit. made that movie it would have been almost movie are even featured in a ride at Disney line marketplace Etsy, where multiple ver- Yet while Disney Plus added a disclaim- completely forgotten about by today except World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., minus the sions of the movie are for sale. er to “Peter Pan,” “Dumbo” and other for only the most hardcore animation his- racist context. Groups including the NAACP protested vintage movies because they depict racist tory buffs who would note in passing its The movie — a mix of live action, car- the film’s initial release, and arts professor stereotypes, the company kept “Song of role in helping to shape the possibilities of toons and music featuring an old black Sheril Antonio said the continuing problem the South” locked away in its vault. hybrid animation,” said Sperb. plantation laborer named Uncle Remus with “Song of the South” is that some just Disney last screened the movie in 1986, Christian Willis, who runs a “Song of the who enchants a white city boy with fables don’t see anything wrong with it. its 40th anniversary, despite years of com- South” website, said he was enamored with of talking animals — is like a zombie that “Most of the harm of all of this is not plaints that it showed blacks as subservient the movie as a child . He hopes the movie is keeps popping up seven decades after it acknowledging our shared history, all the to whites, and it never released “Song of the released to the public again . was first released. While many find it racist good and bad of it. The harm comes from South” for home video sales in the United “I think burying history is the wrong ap- and offensive, others see it as endearing. ignoring it and not talking about it truth- States. Foreign versions of the movie are proach,” he said. Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 11 NATION Army vet quits job to fix cars free of charge

BY CATHY FREE book, they came up with the idea Special To The Washington Post for Hard Luck Automotive. Toni Ely would focus on public rela- Tamesha Rayes climbed be- tions and fundraising through hind the wheel of her 2011 Hyun- T-shirt sales to pay for tools, gas- dai to drive her son to school one oline and oil while her husband morning last spring, but her car would handle the repairs. wouldn’t start. A former Army paratrooper A troubleshooter from her auto and helicopter mechanic, Adam insurance company came out and Ely developed asthma, hearing told her she probably needed a loss and post-traumatic stress new starter or alternator, which syndrome in Afghanistan, where are both expensive to acquire and he served for four years. Since install. Her heart sank. 2007, he has received federal fi- The single mom and Air Force nancial assistance, which supple- National Guard veteran from mented the paychecks he earned Moore, Okla. , wasn’t working be- as a civilian aircraft mechanic cause she had returned to college once he re- to pursue her degree and become turned home. a middle school English teacher. ‘ Because “I didn’t have the money for an I can’t Toni is still expensive car repair,” said Rayes, say working as a 39, who used her car to drive her enough B-52 bomb- son to school and herself to her er program college classes. about what manager at Photos by Adam Ely Then a friend told Rayes about he did Tinker Air Hard Luck Automotive Services, — he’s a Force Base, Army veteran Adam Ely and his wife, Toni , shown in Chocktaw, Okla., last year, run a nonprofit car repair a nonprofit car repair service they decided service called Hard Luck Automotive Services. started by Adam Ely and his blessing. they would be wife, Toni Ely, in the Oklahoma Without able to get by City area. financially if After Rayes called Adam Ely, him, I Adam left his he drove to her house the next don’t know job to focus morning with his toolbox, tin- on Hard Luck kered around under the hood for what I Auto. a bit and confirmed the car need- would have “It made ed a new starter. done. ’ sense to us,” “We’ll find you a good deal on a Tamesha said Adam new one,” Rayes said he told her. Rayes Ely, who And then he told her this: He’d Air Force taught himself do the labor for no charge. The National Guard to repair cars whole thing cost her $200. veteran as a hobby “I could hardly believe it,” said when he was Rayes. younger. When Ely then took her and “When I first started fixing her 9-year-old son, Tysen, out for cars for free, it was in my spare ice cream, a new friendship was time when I wasn’t working on sealed. aircraft,” he said. “But it wasn’t “I can’t say enough about what long before my days off were bus- he did — he’s a blessing,” Rayes ier than my days on the job. It was said. “Without him, I don’t know obvious to me that people were in what I would have done.” need of some help.” It’s something that Adam Ely The Elys have always owned hears often since deciding to re- reliable cars, and they live in a pair cars for no charge. cozy three-bedroom, two-bath log It started in the fall of 2017 cabin on several acres, he said. when he noticed that a car driven “We feel fortunate,” Ely said. Ely gets help from Tysen Rayes last spring while repairing Tysen’s mother’s car. by his daughter’s friend was run- “Most families are just one car ning poorly. repair bill from catastrophe. If “Returning the Favor,” featured Several local teens who hope repaired, Ely allowed Tysen to be “I said, ‘Hey, let’s get your car the engine or transmission blows Adam Ely on his Facebook page to become mechanics frequently his assistant. fixed,’ and she told me she’d like up in your car, you’re looking at a and paid to rent an auto garage stop by after high school to get “Tysen was asking him all to, but it would cost $400 that she $4,000 to $5,000 repair. for a year so that Ely wouldn’t some hands-on training, he said. these questions, and Adam pa- didn’t have,” recalled Ely, 40. “What we’ve done is take away have to make house calls in his “I give them a safe environ- tiently took the time to explain the middleman. Bring me your “I told her I’d fix it for free and truck. ment with quality tools and some- everything and had my son hand it ended up costing her $65 (for car and let’s see if we can fix it for body to show them the way. I’m “People have been incredible him the tools he needed,” recalled parts) instead of $400.” cheap. I’ll look into every option thrilled that they want to be car — we’ve had tools donated and a Rayes. “Tysen now tells me al- That weekend, said Ely, he did without charging you a dime.” mechanics — we’re going to need some soul-searching and told his After word got out about Hard welder offered to help as needed,” them,” he said. most every day, ‘I want to fix cars wife he’d like to help others whose Luck, a Napa Auto Parts store said Ely, who now devotes 40 One junior mechanic, in par- like Mr. Adam.’ ” cars were just a few miles away near the Elys’ home in Chock- hours every week to diagnosing ticular, has been inspired by the That’s the ultimate compliment from a breakdown. She thought taw offered discounts on parts to problems and repairing every- good he’s witnessed at Hard Luck to Ely. it was a great idea and wanted to Hard Luck clients, said Toni Ely, thing from alternators to valve Automotive: Tamesha Rayes’ son, “That was soul food to me,” he help. 35. trains for about 25 to 30 clients a Tysen. said. “This is the greatest pay- After putting a notice on Face- Then, last June Mike Rowe, of week. On the day Rayes had her car check I’ve never earned.” PAGE 12 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 NATION The secret life of seashells

and 5 p.m. (Generally, the public A biologist yearns may access the site only on a free guided tour.) Then he sent a note to Paul to discover the Valentich-Scott, a curator at the Santa Barbara Museum of His- secrets of Watts tory and author of two compre- hensive books on the bivalves of Towers’ shells the western United States. “I definitely need a clam expert BY DEBORAH NETBURN to help me solidify my identifica- tions, and you are the obvious Los Angeles Times person, for sure!” Pernet wrote. LOS ANGELES — Thirteen Valentich-Scott was on board. miles from the coast, marine bi- “It was way out of left field, but ologist Bruno Pernet was himself I love new challenges,” he said. surrounded by concrete, asphalt “My feeling was, ’Why not?’” and an assortment of roughly Pernet began identifying shells 10,000 seashells. in the various regions of the tow- There were the iridescent shells ers. When he was stumped, he of black abalone, the chalky shells sent photos to Valentich-Scott. of California Venus clams and To organize his research, Per- the sun-bleached shells of Pismo net used a schematic map that clams. broke Rodia’s sculpture into No such specimens had seen the nearly 100 discrete sections. He ocean for decades, and some had tackled a few sections a day, doc- been on dry land for nearly a cen- umenting all the species of shells tury. All of them adorn the Watts he observed. Towers, the folk-art monument In some ways, it was similar to that rises like a do-it-yourself ca- PHOTOS BY ALLEN J. SCHABEN/Los Angeles Times his more traditional fieldwork - thedral above a neighborhood of Dr. Bruno Pernet, Invertebrate Biology professor at Cal State University Long Beach, studies the shells identifying species in the coastal modest one-story homes in South on the Watts Towers to learn what they can teach us about marine life in the area, especially with mudflats of Southern California, Los Angeles. respect to invasive species at the Watts Towers on Nov. 14, 2018. gauging their abundance, and Pernet spends most of his pro- keeping detailed notes of where fessional time studying the larval each specimen was found. But stages of worms and snails that cataloging creatures in a marine inhabit the Southern California ecosystem is more straightfor- coast. But over the past 10 years, ward than taking an inventory of he has channeled some of his sci- Rodia’s creation, Pernet said. entific expertise into this national On a mud flat, he can create a historic landmark in pursuit of an simple square grid, label the sec- unlikely obsession. tions and record the animal spe- His goal is to identify the spe- cies found in each one. The towers, cies and provenance of all the on the other hand, are rambling shells on the 17 structures that and unwieldy. Built free-form make up the iconic sculpture. He from Rodia’s imagination, they calls it the Watts Towers Bivalve don’t lend themselves to easy cat- Inventory Project. egorizations or boundaries. It is an audacious and time- Pernet was able to identify consuming undertaking, but many of the most common shells he believes it is scientifically by sight, taking into consideration worthwhile. the size and shape of the shell, Though the shells were in- and what biologists call shell tended as decorative elements, sculpture. collectively they create a physical A view of shells imbedded in the “There are all kinds of raised record of the clams, snails, mus- Watts Towers by Sabato ‘Simon’ parts of a shell - some that run sels, and other mollusks that in- Rodia over a period of 33 years Pernet, Invertebrate Biology professor at Cal State University Long parallel to the edge, others that habited the local shoreline over a from 1921 to 1954. Beach, studies the shells at the Watts Towers on Nov. 14, 2018. are perpendicular,” he said. “We 30-year period between the 1920s can use all of those things to iden- and 1950s, when the towers were and decorated them with recy- To another, he said, “You gotta side the sculpture’s wavy walls. being built. tify it.” cled materials, including glass do something they never got ’em Having just completed a survey What they couldn’t use was the “If this were a museum col- in the world.” of clams in Alamitos Bay, he was bottles, broken tiles and shards of interior of the shells, which were lection, all the shells would have There are no drawing board primed to notice that the shells mirrors. stuck in the cement. labels,” Pernet said. “Here, the The result is a stunning tour designs, no recipes for the ce- were frequently grouped by size, “The outside only gives you labels were missing.” through one man’s boundless ment mix he used. When discuss- but not necessarily by species. part of the story,” Valentich-Scott Pernet’s friend and colleague, creativity. ing his work on the towers, he had Pernet wanted to investigate said. “There are a lot of struc- Christine Whitcraft, said the un- “When you walk inside, it’s a a tendency to change his story de- further, but it would be three tures inside a shell that help a ton usual quest is not as crazy as it very spiritual feeling,” said Rosie pending on his audience and his years before the California State might sound. Lee Hooks, executive director mood. University, Long Beach professor with identification.” “Creativity and science are of the Watts Towers Arts Center “There’s a lot of anecdotal in- found the time. For example, there may be usually juxtaposed to each other,” Campus. “I’ve been here 20 years formation and history, but it’s “Identifying all the shells on a teeth along the top interior edge she said, “but I think good science and I’m still finding surprises. hard to know what to believe,” giant work of art is interesting, of a shell that hint at how the ani- is done with creative thinking.” It’s just amazing that one person said Mark Gilberg of the Los An- but it’s not going to get you ten- mal once attached itself. There The Watts Towers were built can do all that by themselves.” geles County Museum of Art, who ure,” he said. may also be indications of the by Sabato Rodia, an Italian im- In 1954, Rodia declared his art- is currently managing a three- In 2012 he took a sabbatical to shape of the muscles it used to migrant who worked odd jobs and work finished, abruptly deeded year restoration of the towers. work at the University of Hawaii’s keep the shell closed. had no training in art, sculpture the property to a neighbor, and Pernet first visited Watts Tow- Marine Lab in Honolulu, where The results of Pernet’s project or architecture. He purchased a moved to Northern California to ers in the spring of 2009. He was he learned new techniques to appeared this month in the Jour- triangle-shaped property on East be closer to family. new to the city and a friend and study invertebrate embryos. He nal of Conservation and Museum 107th Street in 1921 and began He died 10 years later. fellow biologist had offered to returned to the mainland a few Studies. The research paper also building the towers that year. It Rodia, who stood less than 5 show him around. weeks before he was due back on includes a link to a downloadable took him more than three decades feet tall, never clearly articu- “I don’t really remember what the Long Beach campus. pictorial guide to the shells of the to complete the project, working lated what drove him to create else we did,” Pernet said. “Watts At last, he could turn his atten- Watts Towers. in his spare time. his magnum opus, which reaches Towers sticks out in my mind tion to his passion project. While the publication is nice, Rodia created his sculpture out a height of 99 1/2 feet. He told because I spent such a long time He asked the Watts Towers he said the real inspiration for the of structural steel, chicken wire one interviewer: “I wanted to do thinking about it afterwards.” conservation team for permis- work was to satisfy his curiosity. and mortar. He climbed the tow- something. I wanted to do some- He was transfixed by the shells sion to wander freely among the “It just seemed like a cool ques- ers as if they were monkey bars, thing big.” from the moment he stepped in- towers weekdays between 9 a.m. tion to answer,” he said. Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 13 NATION

J. PAT CARTER/AP Above: Marvin Hernandez, right, and Kelly Vera sit in the shade of a palm tree in Key Biscayne, Fla., in July 2015. Right: Brian Bahder, assistant professor of entomology at the University of Florida, points last month to a cabbage palm tree that died from a lethal bronzing disease in Davie, Fla. WILFREDO LEE/AP Hit by lethal bronzing disease Florida’s iconic palm trees threatened by invasive malady spread by treehoppers

BY TERRY SPENCER coconut plantations, and Brazil is taking arteries getting blocked by fat and choles- owners don’t like to discuss publicly, fear- Associated Press preventive measures to avoid invasion. terol. The blockage makes it impossible for ing it will hurt business. Coincidentally — but conveniently — le- the tree’s cells to get sufficient nutrients Eric Muecke, Tampa’s urban forestry DAVIE, Fla. thal bronzing is attacking palms right out- and sugars, starving them. As an infected manager, said the city has had success con- lorida’s iconic palm trees are side Bahder’s office at the University of tree dies, its fronds and central spear leaf taining the disease by keeping its palms under attack from a fatal disease Florida’s agriculture re- transform from green healthy and surrounding its more suscep- that turns them to dried crisps in search station near Fort to a tell-tale shade of tible palm varieties with trees that don’t at- Fmonths, with no chance for recov- Lauderdale. Some are bronze as it succumbs tract the bacteria-spreading bugs. ery once they become ill. dying, some are dead. in about six months. The “It’s not like it marches through a tree Spread by a rice-sized, plant-hopping This gives him a lab to disease doesn’t infect population — you don’t see one dead tree insect, lethal bronzing has gone from a test ideas and make pre- humans or animals. after another,” Muecke said. “It hops small infestation on Florida’s Gulf Coast sentations, so he is not Genetic testing around; it’s pretty sporadic.” to a nearly statewide problem in just over removing infected trees shows lethal bronz- Brent Gaffney, a Gainesville landscaper, a decade. Tens of thousands of palm trees as recommended. ing likely originated said Bahder’s research is the state’s best have died from the bacterial disease, and “To understand the in Mexico’s Yucatan hope for containing the disease, but only if the pace of its spread is increasing, adding disease, I need to watch region. Bahder’s hy- he gets enough funding. Studies are under- to environmental woes of a state already pothesis is that 2005’s it spread and see what it way on whether massive doses of antibiot- struggling to save its other arboreal icon, Hurricane Wilma, is doing,” said Bahder, ics can save trees in the infection’s early citrus trees, from two other diseases. which tracked from the an assistant professor stages. Florida’s official state tree — the tall, Yucatan to Florida, or with the university. After infected trees are removed, nearby broad-leafed sabal palm — is especially a storm with a similar Lethal bronzing’s susceptible, and Florida nurseries, busi- path carried infected palms need preventive antibiotic injections first Florida appearance nesses and homeowners are taking a fi- treehoppers across the to halt the spread. Each injection costs $50 nancial hit as they scrap infected palms. came near Tampa in gulf to Tampa. Those and loses effectiveness after three months: Some preventive measures can be taken, 2006, but it’s now found insects infected area that makes injections before the disease is but once infected, uprooting the tree is the from the Keys in the palms, which infected present too costly for most homeowners, only practical solution. south to Jacksonville in native treehoppers. The businesses and municipal governments, “Getting this disease under control is es- the north. The disease disease spread when Bahder said. Only high-end resorts that is transmitted solely by use mature palms to enhance ambience sential because it has the potential to dras- WILFREDO LEE/AP winds blew infected tically modify our landscape,” said Brian the haplaxius crudus, bugs to new territories might consider injecting trees without a Bahder, an entomologist who studies in- a tiny winged insect This plant-hopper insect, viewed or they hitched rides on nearby infection, he said. sect-borne plant diseases and is a leader in sometimes called the through a microscope at a lab in vehicles. Bahder said Lethal bronzing is sometimes called the state’s battle against lethal bronzing. American palm cixiid Davie, Fla., is thought to transmit the palm cixiid is par- “Texas Phoenix palm decline” because If nothing is done, Bahder said, “I don’t or, generically, a tree- the lethal bronzing disease . ticularly attracted to it appeared in that state in the late 1970s, think all the palm trees will die, but the hopper. These specific white cars. killing trees in the Rio Grande Valley issue we see will get a lot worse before it treehoppers (there are To check the spread, around Brownsville. That state’s agricul- gets better.” other kinds) inject the bacteria through the state agriculture department regularly ture department said outbreaks today are Lethal bronzing, which experts say like- their saliva when feasting on the sap from inspects palm nurseries and certifies those infrequent and isolated. But Bahder said ly originated in Mexico, also is found in a palm’s leaves. Any palm cixiid that later found free of the disease. If infected trees global warming is widening the threat. parts of Texas and throughout the Carib- feeds from the tree will pick up the infec- are discovered, they’re destroyed and the “With increased human movement bean. Some worry it will migrate to Cali- tion and pass the bacteria to more palms. nursery’s remaining trees are quarantined around the region and, especially, stron- fornia and Arizona, infecting date palms Once inside a tree, the bacteria migrate for at least six weeks. Calls to about a dozen ger weather patterns in regards to climate and damaging that fruit crop. The disease to its base, multiplying until they clog the palm tree farms around the state weren’t change, there are more possible routes for has already heavily damaged Jamaica’s circulatory system — much like human returned — Bahder said it is a problem invasive insects,” Bahder said. PAGE 14 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 WORLD Typhoon kills at least 20 at Christmas in Philippines

BY JIM GOMEZ Cindy Ferrer, of the regional Of- into seven coastal towns and is- Associated Press fice of the Civil Defense, said by land provinces without losing phone. power, government forecasters MANILA, Philippines — A The storm weakened slightly said. strong typhoon that barreled Thursday as it blew into the South Provincial officials, army through the central Philippines China Sea with sustained winds troops, police and volunteers left at least 20 people dead and of 74 miles per hour and gusts spent Christmas away from home forced thousands to flee their of 93 mph after lashing island to tend to thousands of displaced homes, devastating Christmas after island with fierce winds and residents in town gymnasiums celebrations in the predominant- pounding rain on Christmas Day, and schools turned into emergen- ly Catholic country. the weather agency said. cy shelters. Many more people Typhoon Phanfone stranded Most of the 20 deaths report- spent Christmas Eve, tradition- many people in sea ports and ed by national police and local ally a time for family reunions, in airports at the peak of holiday officials were due to drown- bus terminals. travel, set off landslides, flooded ing, falling trees and accidental More than 25,000 people were AP low-lying villages, destroyed electrocution. stranded in sea ports across the A resident checks his home, which was damaged by Typhoon houses, downed trees and electri- A father, his three children central region and outlying prov- Phanfone, in Ormoc city, central Philippines, on Thursday. cal poles and knocked out power and another relative were among inces after the coast guard pro- in entire provinces. One disaster those missing in hard-hit Iloilo hibited ferries and cargo ships batter the Philippines each year. animal, traveled along a path sim- response officer described the province after a swollen river from venturing into dangerously The Southeast Asian nation is ilar to that of Typhoon Haiyan, battered coastal town of Batad in inundated their shanty, officials choppy waters. also located in the Pacific “Ring one of the most ferocious storms Iloilo province as a “ghost town” said. Dozens of international and of Fire,” where earthquakes and on record, which left more than on Christmas Day. The typhoon slammed into domestic flights to and from the volcanic eruptions often occur, 7, 30 0 people dead and missing, “You can’t see anybody be- Eastern Samar province on region were canceled, includ- making the country of more than flattened entire villages, swept cause there was a total blackout; Christmas Eve and then plowed ing to popular beach and surfing 100 million people one of the ships inland and displaced more you can’t hear anything. The across the archipelago’s central resorts. world’s most disaster prone. than 5 million people in the cen- town looked like a ghost town,” region on Christmas, slamming About 20 typhoons and storms Phanfone, a Laotian word for tral Philippines in 2013. Indonesia and Australia is Thailand mark bracing for a heatwave anniversary as fires burn of ’04 tsunami Associated Press

BY YAYAN ZAMZAMI AND NINIEK KARMINI PERTH, Australia — Fire- Associated Press fighters battling wildfires in Australia’s most populous state BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — Thousands attempted to make headway of people knelt in prayer in Indonesia’s Aceh Thursday amid favorable condi- province at ceremonies Thursday marking tions before an “extreme heat- the 15th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsu- wave ” hits embattled areas on the nami, one of modern history’s worst natural weekend. disasters. Thousands of firefighters in The massive Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami was New South Wales took advantage triggered by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off of cooler weather and continued Sumatra island. The giant wall of water killed to strengthen containment lines. about 230,000 people in a dozen countries More than 70 fires were still burn- as far away as East Africa. Indonesia’s Aceh AP ing across the state with areas in province, which was closest to the earthquake, the south coast currently at the was hit first and hardest. More than a week after her village of Ban Nam Khem was hit by a tsunami in Khao Lak in “watch and act” level issued by More than 170,000 people died in Indone- southern Thailand on Dec. 26, 2004, Nataya Pumsi tries to sort out what to do with the fire services. boat that landed on and destroyed her home. sia alone, about three-quarters of the overall About 12.35 million acres of death toll. land have burned nationwide “No words can describe our feelings when Strait tsunami, which followed the eruption over the past few months, with we tearfully saw thousands of corpses lying and partial collapse of the Anak Krakatau nine people killed and more than on this ground 15 years ago, ” acting Aceh Gov. volcano. That tsunami struck coastal regions 950 homes destroyed. New South of Banten on Indonesia’s main island of Java Nova Iriansyah said at a ceremony in Sigli, a Wales has received the brunt of and parts of southern Sumatra island, leav- town in Pidie district, “And now, we can see the damage, with around 850 ing more than 400 people dead and 14,000 how people in Aceh were able to overcome homes razed in the state. injured. Authorities are bracing for suffering and rise again, thanks to assistance In Thailand, hundreds of people attended from all Indonesians and from people all over a tsunami memorial ceremony at Ban Nam conditions to deteriorate as high the world.” Khem, a small fishing village that lost about temperatures return. Sydney is Weeping survivors and others attended re- half of its population of 5,000 when the waves forecast to hit 88 degrees Fahr- ligious services and memorial ceremonies. rolled in. enheit on Sunday before reaching Relatives of the dead and religious and com- 95 degrees on Tuesday. The city’s NURHASANAH/AP More than 8,000 people in Thailand died or munity leaders presented flowers at mass went missing in the disaster, and the bodies of western suburbs could reach 106 graves of victims in the provincial capital, A woman pours water at a stone marking almost 400 victims remain unidentified and on Sunday. Banda Aceh. Shops and offices were closed, the mass grave for victims of the Indian unclaimed. Bureau of Meteorology fore- boats were not allowed to sail and flags were Ocean tsunami on the 15th anniversary of Western visitors and local residents attend- caster Rose Barr said a heatwave being flown at half staff throughout Aceh on the disaster in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on ed the service at the Ban Nam Khem Tsu- was currently building in south- Thursday and Friday. Thursday. nami Memorial Park in Phang Nga province, ern parts of New South Wales be- Disaster-prone Indonesia, a vast archipel- where they viewed a photo display of victims. fore worsening on the weekend. ago of more than 17,000 islands that is home the Pacific Basin. A Thai woman handed over an offering of “Some areas are forecast to to 260 million people, lies along the “Ring of Thursday’s commemoration came four days food for Buddhist monks presiding over the reach extreme heatwave condi- Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in after the anniversary of last year’s Sunda proceedings. tions,” she said. Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 15 WORLD Lawmaker aims to oust Notre Dame may Israeli PM in Likud vote

BY TIA GOLDENBERG Saar, who has garnered support Associated Press from a handful of Likud back- benchers, had seen a bump in JERUSALEM — Israel’s gov- support in the lead-up to the vote be too fragile to erning Likud party was holding a and he could benefit from stormy primary vote on Thursday in the weather that may keep turnout first serious internal challenge to low. If he wins, he would become Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- yahu in his more than a decade in Likud’s candidate for prime min- power. ister in the March polls. save after blaze “We can win today, to set forth Veteran politician Gideon Saar BY JEFFREY SCHAEFFER chance of scaffolding falling onto FRANCOIS MORI/AP hopes to unseat Netanyahu, argu- on a new path that will allow us to AND ANGELA CHARLTON the three vaults, so as you can see A family takes a photo in front of ing that he will be better placed form a strong and stable govern- Associated Press the building is still very fragile,” Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to form a government in national ment, that will allow us to unite he said. on Tuesday . elections in March after Netan- the people of Israel which is prob- PARIS — The rector of Notre The 12th-century cathedral yahu failed to do so in two repeat ably the most important thing Dame Cathedral says the Paris was under renovation at the time we need to assess the state of the elections this year. right now,” Saar told reporters. landmark is still so fragile that of the accidental April fire, which cathedral, the quantity of stones Despite the shadow of corrup- Netanyahu has portrayed Saar there’s a “50% chance” the struc- destroyed its roof and collapsed to be removed and replaced.” tion indictments hanging over as inexperienced while depict- ture might not be saved because its spire. With no more roof to Chauvet estimated it would him, Netanyahu remains popular ing himself as a security buff scaffolding installed before this keep the massive stone structure take another three years after among Likud members and the and master of international diplo- year’s fire is threatening the stable, the cathedral’s surviving that to make it safe enough for fiercely loyal party — which has macy. In what was seen as an em- vaults of the Gothic monument. vaults are crucial to keep it stand- people to re enter the cathedral, had only four leaders since its in- barrassment at a critical moment Monsignor Patrick Chauvet ing, but they are vulnerable. but that the full restoration will ception in the 1970s — has stood a day before the primary, Netan- said restoration work isn’t likely to Some 50,000 tubes of scaffold- take longer. President Emmanuel firmly behind the long-serving yahu was rushed off stage after a begin until 2021 — and described ing crisscrossed the back of the leader. He is expected to defeat Macron has said he wants it re- rocket was fired from Gaza, set- his “heartache” that Notre Dame edifice at the time of the fire, and Saar handily, and a win could built by 2024 when Paris hosts ting off an air raid siren, at a cam- couldn’t hold Christmas services some were damaged. Removing the Olympics, but experts have strengthen his hand going into paign rally in the southern city of this year, for the first time since them without causing further questioned whether that time the next national vote. Ashkelon on Wednesday. the French Revolution. problems is one of the toughest frame is realistic. “For years I have been working “Today it is not out of danger,“ parts of the cleanup effort. Another reason it’s still too for you for the sake of our beloved A similar incident happened in he said. “It will be out of danger “We need to remove completely dangerous to host religious ser- country. Now I am asking for September when Netanyahu was when we take out the remaining the scaffolding in order to make vices inside Notre Dame is that your support,” Netanyahu wrote in the nearby city of Ashdod cam- scaffolding.” the building safe, so in 2021 we the fire released tons of toxic lead on Facebook. “A big victory for paigning for the second general “Today we can say that there will probably start the restoration dust, and authorities are working me in the primaries will ensure Israeli election of the year. is maybe a 50% chance that it of the cathedral,” Chauvet said. to clean it up and assess related a huge victory in the Knesset The polls close at 11 p.m. and re- will be saved. There is also 50% “Once the scaffolding is removed health risks. elections.” sults are expected early Friday.

Erdogan says parliament to support Libya deployment

Bloomberg Turkey’s government will ask parliament in early January to au- thorize the deployment of troops to Libya after the internation- ally recognized administration in Tripoli requested help, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. The legislative motion will be the government’s “first act” after parliament returns from its recess on Jan. 7, Erdogan said Thursday in Ankara. “We’ll go where we’re invited, and won’t go where we aren’t,” he said, predicting the motion will be passed within two days. “Cur- rently, as there’s an invitation, we’ll accept.” Turkey has said the troops would be sent to train fighters loyal to Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj, and are meant as a deterrent and not as an active fighting force. Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha told reporters in Tuni- sia on Thursday that the Tripoli- based government had the right to call on Turkey’s assistance if the eastern commander attack- ing the capital, Khalifa Haftar, continues to receive foreign help. Erdogan had signaled on Wednesday that the dispatch of Turkish troops to the North Af- rican nation was only a matter of time. PAGE 16 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 FACES

Spacey posts bizarre video on humble Christmas Eve New York Daily News Ho ho holy moly, that was uncomfortable. Disgraced actor Kevin Spac- TO A FAULT ey, seldom heard from since his #MeToo scandal blew up in 2017, posted a bizarre and disturb- ing video to YouTube on Christ- mas Eve in which he appears to channel his malevolent “House of Cards” role, murderous politician Frank Underwood — who was killed off in the wake of the alle- gations against the actor. “You didn’t really think I was going to miss the opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas, did you? It’s been a pretty good year,” Spacey says to the viewer, break- ing the fourth wall as his charac- ter did on the Netflix series. “And I’m grateful to have my health back. And in light of that, I’ve made some changes in my life, Surrender to the charm, self-deprecation and I’d like to invite you to join me. As we walk into 2020, I want to cast my vote for ... more good in JAY L. CLENDENIN of the next Batman, Robert Pattinson this world.” Los Angeles Times Spacey, 60, added that he’s “dead serious.” “It’s not that hard, trust me. BY GLENN WHIPP he possesses actual, discernible gifts. On The next time someone does Los Angeles Times screen, Pattinson can convey self-mockery, something you don’t like, you can vulnerability, intensity and insanity. In “The go on the attack. But you can also hen other people were out cel- Lighthouse,” he often veers between these hold your fire and do the unex- ebrating the New Year at the end emotions in the same scene. pected. You can ... kill them with of 2018, Robert Pattinson was But ask Pattinson about any of this and he kindness.” staring at an empty calendar, W will cover his face with his hands and begin Spacey was hit with an on- thinking, “God. Nothing. My career is over. to massage those exquisite angular features slaught of sexual assault allega- I need to quit. I need to start finding work in that pop with such beauty in the dramatic, tions in 2017 in the wake of those other industries.” Music? Maybe. Japanese black and white photography of “The Light- leveled against then-movie mogul toilet spokesperson? Why not? His public love house” and just laugh. Pattinson finds just Harvey Weinstein. for them has made many converts. about everything about life ridiculous, but The actor continues to main- Within months though, Pattinson had land- any discussion of acting will steer him to- ed two huge roles, first in Christopher Nolan’s tain his innocence and he no lon- ward hysterics. A24/TNS ger faces criminal charges, as 2020 globe-trotting action-thriller “Tenet” “I’ve always been fascinated by someone and then the lead role in Matt Reeves’ “The Pattinson, right, stars with Willem Dafoe in two of the cases were dropped in who tells me, ‘I like your choices in that July, and an accuser from a third Batman,” set for 2021. His professional anxi- scene,’ because I don’t even know what the the drama “The Lighthouse.” case died. eties eased, Pattinson soon found another options are,” Pattinson says, giggling. “I feel Since the allegations came to thing to worry about. like you have a tion. He spent three weeks preparing for his light, Spacey has only ever posted “I immediately thought, ‘Oh God, does that thick membrane audition scene only to have all his work cast ‘ on Twitter three times, including mean I’m going to get a really bad disease? ’” I didn’t know of conscious- aside once he put on the Batsuit. Tuesday’s video. Pattinson says, laughing. “I just had a really you could go ness and you’re “The lesson I always learn is don’t ever weird feeling about it. I’m always scared of after the people digging inside bother preparing for anything because it’s blowing all my luck, and getting both those yourself, trying pointless,” Pattinson says. “Every time I’ve jobs, one right after the other.” you wanted to to find one little heavily prepared a scene, I go in and they’ll ‘Colors of the Mountain’ His modest comments bring to mind Wil- work with. And idea and hope say something like, ‘Oh, by the way, it’s zero lem Dafoe recently saying of Pattinson, with it works. It’s an gravity.’ Or: ‘It’s raining.’ ” And I’m like, ‘But author Da Chen dies no small amount of exasperation: How do I that’s what I’ve all-consuming I really wanted to play it this way! I’ve been deal with this charming self-deprecation? thinking about it every waking minute!’ It Da Chen, the brilliant story- done the last terror, and it has teller who drew from the hard- Dafoe’s question was less an inquiry and been there from never works!” more of an act of surrender to Pattinson. eight movies. ’ Pattinson finds all this extremely amus- ships he suffered as a persecuted the start. I have child growing up in the midst of For most of November, they had been going Robert Pattinson no idea what I’m ing, and it’s impossible not to get caught up China’s cultural revolution to cre- around together, doing countless interviews doing. I’m just in his casual, good-natured and clear-eyed ate the critically acclaimed mem- in support of their movie “The Lighthouse,” tossing a coin, relying entirely on luck.” view of acting and stardom. Two years ago oir “Colors of the Mountain,” has Robert Eggers’ claustrophobic chamber And, yes, this is ridiculous, and Pattinson, for a magazine cover profile, he was asked to died at age 57. piece about a couple of lighthouse keepers 33, knows that full well. But in recalling his do a video in which he’d interview his hair. Chen died of lung cancer on trying to keep madness at bay while at a re- transition from playing the vampire roman- He was furious. Now he’d probably do it. But Dec. 17, his wife, Dr. Sun-Ling mote island station. tic Edward Cullen in the “Twilight” fran- at the time, it seemed too obvious. Chen, told The Associated Press At these events, Dafoe typically drives the chise to making art house movies , Pattinson “And I never want to do something for an on Tuesday from the family’s conversation, much as his character does in can peg the pivotal moment. audience ... ever,” Pattinson says. “I think it’s home in Temecula, Calif. the movie. He’ll talk about craft, preparation, “It’s when David (Cronenberg) called me literally disgusting.” He bursts out laughing rhythms of language, the sense of discovery for ‘Cosmopolis,’ ” Pattinson says, referring at the force of his disdain. His most recent book, “Girl that makes acting come alive. to the 2012 movie in which he played a Wall “It’s just so disrespectful of people. ‘I made Under a Red Moon,” was pub- Then Pattinson will puncture the whole Street titan . Before that, all his auditions this for you,’ ” he continues, on a roll. “ ‘You lished just three months ago. thing with an offhand observation about feel- were for mainstream movies. “I didn’t know don’t know me. How can you know what I Chen’s breakthrough came in ing like he’s a lumbering dolt capable of deliv- you could go after the people you wanted to want?’ And it also indoctrinates the audience 1999 with the critically acclaimed ering only one emotion at a time, squeezing it work with. And that’s what I’ve done the last into thinking that they somehow are special “Colors of the Mountain,” in out the way a large, flightless bird might pro- eight movies.” because someone said, ‘I made it for you.’ which he recounted the abuses he duce an egg under the hard duress of labor. That includes “The Batman.” Pattinson They didn’t make it for you. They made it for and his family suffered . And Dafoe will just throw up his hands read about Reeves making a noir “Batman” your money. A New York Times best seller, because if you’ve seen any of Pattinson’s movie and thought, “I haven’t done a big “Everybody should be making (things) for it has been published in seven work — primarily in this recent, remarkable thing for ages. This is the one I want.” (His themselves. If no one likes it, you just have to languages and, like his other run of indie movies made with the likes of agents were shocked.) He badgered Reeves, do it more. And put it out more places. And books, taught at schools and David Cronenberg, Claire Denis, the Safdie met with him and producer Dylan Clark a eventually someone will like it. It has to work universities. brothers and David Michod — you know that number of times and finally secured an audi- eventually. ” From The Associated Press Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 17 AMERICAN ROUNDUP Crop duster drops holy water on town

ABBEVILLE — A LA Roman Catholic church in Louisiana decided to disperse some blessings to a local town via crop dusters. According to a Facebook post from the Diocese of Lafayette on Sunday, members of St. Anne Church in Cow Island called upon crop duster pilots to help spread their blessing to the community. The Rev. Matthew Barzare and parishioners of the church loaded 100 gallons of holy water into the planes, and the pilots sprayed the water onto the town and nearby farms, KATC-TV reported. Parishioners also bought water from their homes to the airstrip to be blessed by Barzare. W oman accused of faking cancer for money

NORTHWOOD — An IA Iowa woman was accused of lying about a cancer diagnosis so she could collect donations. Jennifer Hope Mikesell, of Northwood, is charged with ongo- ing criminal conduct, fraudulent practices and forgery. The Worth County Sheriff’s Office said Mikesell, 43, had told people she was diagnosed with cancer and was receiving cancer treatments at Mayo Clinic Health System in Rochester, Minn . Iowa court records said Mayo had no record of Mikesell being diag- nosed or treated there. MALCOLM DENEMARK, FLORIDA TODAY/AP Mikesell received multiple do- nations of money, food and other supplies, as well as a bedroom Surf’s up for fundraisers makeover from My Happy Haven, the court records said. George Trosset Jr. and George Trosset, who started surfing in Santa and Christmas costumes 10 years ago behind their house on Christmas Eve, high-five each other during the 10th annual Surfing Santas event in Cocoa Beach, Fla., on Tuesday . Almost 10,000 spectators turned Officials seize $800K out for the event, which raised $40,000 for two local nonprofits — Grind for Life, which helps with financial assistance for cancer patients, in fake merchandise and the Florida Surf Museum.

FAYETTEVILLE Police: Thieves stole THE CENSUS conscience. — Officials in North The Topeka Capital-Journal NC from rehabbed homes reported that someone anony- Carolina said they’ve seized The number of trash bins with the word county mis- mously sent the money to Shaw- $800,000 in counterfeit merchan- ST. LOUIS — Two spelled in an Alabama town. The city of Prichard’s new dise at shopping centers and flea nee County along with a letter MO suspects now in residential garbage cans say the town is located in “Mobile dated Dec. 18. markets. custody are accused of steal- 10K Country,” but they were supposed to say it’s located in The letter states that the sender The Raleigh News & Observer ing more than 800 items from “Mobile County.” The mistake isn’t just in fine print; it’s printed in large letters on reported that the sham goods is in a 12-step program and work- St. Louis homes that were under two sides of the big, gray cans. The city doesn’t plan to replace the bins, and that’s ing to make financial amends. It included fake UGG boots, fake rehabilitation. fine with some people. “It doesn’t really matter as long as they pick it up,” said Louis Vuitton handbags and fake states that many years ago the The St. Louis Post-Dispatch longtime resident Murlean Henderson. writer stole a receptacle meant North Face Jackets. reported that detectives believe The North Carolina Depart- for cigarette ashes that was in the thieves monitored the re- front of the courthouse. ment of the Secretary of State habbed homes, waited until dark, toys, pet food and money to help Nonprofit repairs, gives said the sweep was conducted and took hundreds of items that area families facing hardships. in the Fayetteville area. And it included stained glass windows, away nearly 50 bikes Influx of seagulls brings warned that Christmas shoppers lawn mowers, generators and City mulls ending ban beach sounds to city should be wary of bogus goods. many other items. LANSING — A Lansing Police said around 150 to 200 on throwing snowballs MI nonprofit distributed TERRE HAUTE — Un- Officials: City Hall hit stolen items have been returned nearly 50 bicycles to children IN usually large flocks of to their owners. WAUSAU — For de- after a dozen volunteers spent seagulls descended on a western by bedbug infestation cades, those who par- WI several weeks cleaning and re- Indiana city, bringing the sounds Thousands flock to giant ticipated in snowball fights in one of the beach to a local reservoir TUCSON — Officials Wisconsin city risked getting in pairing them. said Tucson City Hall holiday display at farm The Lansing Bike Co-op staged where the birds began gathering AZ trouble with the law. But that may in late November. had been bugged for several be about to change. the giveaway , offering the 49 used months — with bedbugs that is. STATESBORO — Roy bikes to anyone on a first-come, Peter Scott, a retired Indiana A 1962 ban on throwing projec- State University ecology profes- The Arizona Daily Star re- GA Thompson’s farm in tiles in Wausau lumps snowballs first-served basis, the Lansing ported officials said it took nearly southeast Georgia lights up after State Journal reported. There sor who directs an annual Christ- into the same category as rocks mas Bird Count around Terre three months to remove the small dark like a Christmas wonderland and other items that can cause se- were no rules or requirements. Haute, estimated that between insects from the Arizona munici- — not just the house, but the fields rious harm. Every bike came with a red, 400 and 1,000 of the birds have pal building. and even surrounding woods. City Council President Lisa green or blue helmet. congregated at the lake. Officials believe the bedbugs He said more than 45,000 Rasmussen said that recent nega- He said ring-billed gulls aren’t were brought in accidentally from carloads of people came to see tive national attention over the Thief sends money an outside source. the massive display during the rarely used ordinance has raised uncommon in Indiana but they Tucson spokesman Andy Squire holidays last year. This year, the questions about whether it could for stolen receptacle prefer to winter around larger said that after the three-month re- family plans to welcome visitors be time to take snowballs off the bodies of water . moval, the city had to hire a Phoe- through Sunday. naughty list. TOPEKA — A Kan- Scott said the birds are most nix company earlier this month to Tours are free, though the The City Council will consider KS sas County has an likely feeding on small fish in the bring in a specially trained dog to Thompsons encourage visitors decriminalizing snowball fights extra $75 in its coffers thanks lake. sniff out the remaining bugs. to donate canned food, children’s at a meeting next month. to a former thief with a guilty From wire reports PAGE 18 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 NATION Brewer aims for quality, depth Company avoids the temptation to go big after initial success

BY B.A. MORELLI The (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Gazette IOWA CITY, Iowa — Fresh off the RAG- BRAI bicycle ride, Big Grove Brewery began fielding messages from beer dis- tributors in Oregon, Colorado, Washington and elsewhere who believed their custom- ers would embrace the product. Thousands of people from around Iowa and the country had just been exposed for the first time to a handful of Big Grove’s brews during RAGBRAI. Big Grove signed a five-year agreement as the main beer sponsor of the statewide bicycle ride at the end of each July, meaning its beers were in virtually every official beer garden and many local bars and gas stations along the route. But for now, Big Grove is saying no to anywhere not in Iowa. “We are taking the philosophy of going deeper rather than wider,” said Matt Swift, co-founder of Big Grove. “As far as our dis- tribution goes, we want to make sure Iowa Stacks of empty Big Grove Brewery IPA is completely saturated with beer before aluminum cans stand in the warehouse. we take a leap to go to another state.” Earlier this year, Big Grove — which routinely packs its Solon and Iowa City lo- cations — attempted to raise its profile and grow its brand by aligning with one of the state’s signature tourism draws, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette . This comes at a key time when competi- tion is increasing. Microbreweries are opening in even the smallest of Iowa cities. Iowa has 114 native breweries and brew pubs, or four brewer- ies per 100,000 people aged 21 and older, according to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division and the Brewers Association. Native gallons of beers sold annually has climbed each of the past five years, and 42% over the five years to 683,858 gal- lons, according to the Alcoholic Beverages Wort bubbles in a brewing kettle as Division. brewer Matt Burkey brews a batch of While overall sales in the $27.6 billion Arms Race American Strong Pale Ale. craft beer industry are up about 7% nation- /AP ally, the Brewers Association also reports PHOTOS BY JIM SLOSIAREK, THE (CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA) GAZETTE going to hit a lot of places you never been signs of saturation. Andrew Gomez attaches filling heads to kegs as he fills the barrels with Easy Eddy before, and we always felt like Big Grove The number of openings of brew pubs Hazy India Pale Ale at Big Grove Brewery & Taproom in Iowa City, Iowa. would translate to any part of Iowa.” and microbreweries is declining, while the Staff set out to determine how to use the number of closures is increasing. However, Grove.” RAGBRAI this year toured through sponsorship to maximize their exposure openings still vastly outnumber closures RAGBRAI and Big Grove previously southern Iowa communities including around the state. — 1,046 openings and 213 closures, ac- had partnered on events, including the Council Bluffs, Atlantic, Winterset, Indi- They forged new partnerships — Gold- cording to the association. first series of official RAGBRAI training anola, Centerville, Fairfield, Burlington en Eagle Distributing of Mount Pleasant Big Grove Brewery, which opened in rides around the state. Big Grove helped and Keokuk. But they believed the cred- signed on to supply the southern part of Solon in 2013 and added the significantly host a ride called Big Rove in June. ibility of RAGBRAI would help persuade Iowa, and Doll Distributing supplied the larger Iowa City location in 2017, was look- The first step for Big Grove was develop- the participants to give them a try, Swift western part of the state. ing to set itself apart when it became the ing a new limited-release beer — an easy said. Staff rode along on RAGBRAI in Big first Iowa brewery to sponsor RAGBRAI. Grove jerseys, and others spent time in Until this year the ride had turned to mass drinker called Tailwind Golden Ale — just “It was a commitment on our part, but local bars to personally introduce bartend- producers including Michelob Ultra and for RAGBRAI, using the biking lingo for it paid off,” said Doug Goettsch, another ers and customers to the beers. Goose Island, which is owned by Anheus- when a breeze is at your back. The can also co-founder. The gamble paid off on the ride and ap- er-Busch InBev. served as a collectors’ item for some as it Until last summer, Big Grove had some pears to be paying off since, as many of “Half joking, I said, ‘I know we are the featured the RAGBRAI route and logo. exposure outside Iowa City, but it was fairly small guys, but this is something that would Because they ordered a printed can, limited. More than a year ago, they began the relationships have continued and their really align with our brand, and if there’s they had to take a truckload, or about 6,000 canning their beers to be sold in stores, market has expanded. ever an opportunity, let’s have a conver- cases, which translates to about 140,000 such as Hy-Vee — some of which also sell On the ride, Big Grove outsold what sev- sation,’ ” Swift said of early conversations 16-ounce cans, said head brewer Andy Big Grove apparel — and a number of bars eral unofficial surveys suggest is Iowa’s with RAGBRAI Director TJ Juskiewicz. Joynt. carried their kegs. favorite beer — Busch Light. In the beer “Two or three weeks later, I got a phone Tailwind sold the most, but RAGBRAI Distribution was primarily focused in tent in Atlantic, Big Grove sold 180 cases, call, and he said, ‘Matt, there might be an fans also chugged through cases of Easy Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, the compared with 120 cases of Busch Light, opportunity. What do you think?’ I said I’d Eddy, a Hazy India Pale Ale; Boomtown, Quad Cities area and the Des Moines according to Goettsch. love to align with an Iowa brand.” a cream ale; and Big Grove IPA, a West metro. When asked about plans for expansion, Biking and craft beer have long drawn Coast-style IPA. “We’ve never done anything on this Goettsch and Swift are not making com- similar crowds. Juskiewicz said he thought On the front end, the financial invest- scale,” Swift said of the sponsorship. “Re- mitments. They noted they still have room his crowd, which can number well over ment in both the sponsorship and brewing ally, it’s about long term. If you play the in their Iowa City location, even as produc- 10,000 people a day, would appreciate the such a large quantity of beer for markets long game, what are the best brands in tion volumes have grown from 600 barrels Iowa connection. loyal to light domestic beer and that had Iowa to be associated with. in the first year to more than 10,000 bar- “It is great to work with an Iowa brew- little familiarity with Big Grove, raised “You have the Hawkeyes, RAGBRAI, rels this year. ery like Big Grove,” Juskiewicz said. “Our questions about how it would go over. the state fair. Their focus is brewing quality, develop- riders really like to drink our local Iowa Or, more likely, how much beer would “The cool thing about RAGBRAI is it ing stories for each beer and marketing the brews, so it made sense to partner with Big they have left over. goes everywhere — side to side. You’re beers. Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 19 PAGE 20 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 21 PAGE 22 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 OPINION Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Sean Klimek, Europe commander Proper implementation crucial for Space Force Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander Caroline E. Miller, Europe Business Operations BY JAMES STAVRIDIS launch facilities such as the Air Force’s members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As Joshua M. Lashbrook, Pacific Chief of Staff Bloomberg Opinion bases at Vandenberg in California and the new kid on the block, you will require elsewhere; executing financial planning a special sense of humility, empathy and EDITORIAL ith the recent passage of and programming to purchase satellites good humor to fit in the elite company of this year’s big defense bill, and ground support equipment; and, above the other service chiefs. Likewise, building Terry Leonard, Editor Congress authorized the cre- all, training a specialized cadre of space peer relationships with the 10 combatant [email protected] Wation of a sixth branch of the officers and enlisted men and women. commanders — who are the end users of Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor armed forces — the United States Space It will start small with a few hundred the Space Force in conducting operations [email protected] Force. The move reflects the growing mili- specialists, probably reporting to a chief of — will be crucial. Working closely with tarization of space as the other branches space operations (a title resembling that of the U.S. Special Operations Command — Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content have grown increasingly reliant on opera- the head of the Navy, the chief of naval op- which has both “train, equip and organize” [email protected] tions there. Despite criticism from spend- erations). Over time it will probably grow and operational responsibilities — will be Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation ing hawks and late-night comics, Space to 10,000 to 15,000 trainers, operators and particularly helpful. [email protected] Force is an idea whose time has come. But leaders whose job will be to deliver capabil- Third, push for a long tenure at the the public has questions: What will it look ity in space to the 10 U.S. combatant com- upper levels of the Space Force. One of the Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital like? What will its mission be? manders — the jobs I held at four-star level reasons the Navy’s high-tech nuclear pro- [email protected] It’s worth pointing out that the U.S. hasn’t both for Latin America and Europe/NATO. grams have succeeded is that the chief of created a new branch of the military since During my seven-plus years in command, naval reactors has always served a mini- BUREAU STAFF the Air Force in 1947. While not without I would have relished being able to call a mum of eight years in that essential job. controversy at the time, that move simply fellow four-star in charge of space to levy To get the Space Force launched — pardon Europe/Mideast recognized the reality at the time that air my needs for greater surveillance, com- the pun — will require more than the typi- Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief operations were going to become increas- munication and targeting. My successors cal four-year service chief tenure. Like- [email protected] ingly large and complex. That necessitated will be able to do so. +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 wise, the other senior leaders of the Space a cadre of true experts who would “grow With that, I have three pieces of advice Force should be in place for a longer ten- Pacific up” thinking, planning, procuring equip- for the new chief of space operations, who- ure than is typical while it really gets off Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief ment and actually conducting pure avia- ever he or she will be: the ground. [email protected] tion in that domain — alongside the Navy First, study the history. Both the creation +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 On a lighter note, let’s also remember at sea and the Army ashore. of the Air Force in 1947 and the develop- that the ranks should be naval in character Washington That is the essential rationale for the U.S. ment of the Marine Corps offer powerful — after all, the Starship Enterprise was led Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief Space Force — given the complexity and lessons. Learn how the first year and the by Captain James Kirk, not a Colonel Kirk [email protected] scale of operations in space, that domain initial decade of operations unfolded for — and that he always piloted the ship from (+1)(202)886-0033 requires a dedicated mission focus. Unlike the Air Force, studying the record to see the “bridge,” not the “command post.” Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News Russia and China, which each have had the pitfalls and lay out a plan to avoid them. [email protected] But whether we end up with an admiral dedicated space forces, the U.S. has relied Those pitfalls include whether the services or a general as the chief of space opera- CIRCULATION largely on the Air Force to run space op- will resist giving up resources, whether tions, it seems clear that space, this vital erations, with supporting efforts from the the Joint Chiefs of Staff will pay heed to fourth domain of combat, requires a fo- Mideast Army and Navy. In many cases, that puts the “new” member, and what role Con- cused and dedicated branch of the armed Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager space forces at a disadvantage in a fighter- gress must take in giving initial lift to the forces to master it for the nation. The voy- [email protected] and bomber-dominated Air Force. new service. Likewise, the history of the [email protected] ages of the Starship Enterprise may be a The basic mission of the Space Force Marine Corps — which remained a tiny century and more away, but the voyages of DSN (314)583-9111 will be to train, equip and organize to con- adjunct to the Navy until World War I and the U.S. Space Force are about to begin. Europe duct military operations in space. That World War II created a narrative of larger- Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager means running the extensive constellation scale land operations — is instructive. Bloomberg Opinion columnist James Stavridis is [email protected] of U.S. military satellites (currently man- Second, build solid relationships, with a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former supreme [email protected] allied commander of NATO and dean emeritus of aged by the services separately depend- both your boss — presumably the sec- the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 ing on function); operating the military’s retary of the Air Force — and the other University. Pacific Mari Mori, [email protected] +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 How will Saudi prince employ situational awareness? CONTACT US

Washington BY BOBBY GHOSH specific entrances in restaurants — were taliation by uncertainty over whether the tel: (+1)202.886.0003 accompanied by a step back in others. The U.S., his main ally, would join another war 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 Bloomberg Opinion arrest of intellectuals in late November in the Middle East — or the certainty that Reader letters s Crown Prince Mohammed bin echoed last year’s shocking detention of the Islamic Republic would. [email protected] Salman a reformer or a reactionary? women’s rights activists, just weeks before Cold political reality may also explain The answer, maddening to those who the prince lifted a ban on women driving. efforts to end one of MBS’ earlier follies, Additional contacts love him as much as to those who So Saudis can revel in such previously the Saudi-led war against Houthi rebels stripes.com/contactus I loathe him, is that Saudi Arabia’s de facto proscribed enjoyments as rock concerts, in Yemen; in its fifth year, the assault has OMBUDSMAN ruler might just be both those things. but actually asking for freedoms remains yielded nothing but embarrassment for In a year when he was under especially a precarious proposition. the prince. At year’s end, there was hope Ernie Gates close international scrutiny, thanks to the In the country’s other major story of the that the blockade on Qatar, another of the grotesque late-2018 murder of the jour- year, the prince was on the receiving end prince’s missteps, might be walked back . nalist Jamal Khashoggi, the prince — ar- The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow of mixed messages. The initial public of- Realism is a sign of maturity; the region of news and information, reporting any attempts by the guably the Middle East’s most important fering of Saudi Aramco was the marquee as a whole will benefit from more of it in military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s figure — gave free rein to both sides of his project of MBS’ Vision 2030 plan, and he 2020. MBS’ biggest foreign policy chal- independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns public persona, presiding over both reform and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for fair- invested a great deal of personal prestige lenge in the new year will be to reckon and repression. It did nothing to alter the ness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman in achieving a $2 trillion valuation on the with a belligerent Iran. His spine may be welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted impression of MBS, as he is commonly stiffened by the deployment of more U.S. by email at [email protected], or by phone at kingdom’s cash cow. Although he had been 202.886.0003. known, as a man who wants to have his military personnel to “assure and enhance cake as well as eat it. persuaded by a battery of international bankers that this target was attainable, the defense of Saudi Arabia,” but he must The duality was on display in his in- know that President Donald Trump will terview with PBS’ “Frontline,” when he foreign investors mustered only lukewarm Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- enthusiasm. In the end, Aramco had to have little appetite for a new war in an days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday both acknowledged and averted responsi- shrink the size of its offering, even as it election year. A diplomatic breakthrough through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and bility for Khashoggi’s killing. It had hap- with Tehran is hard to imagine, but Riyadh Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals pened “under my watch,” he allowed, but leaned on the kingdom’s richest citizens to postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send get close to the prince’s target. might settle for a tense standoff, so long as address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, then sought to deflect blame by saying he there are no more attacks on its oil instal- APO AP 96301-5002. If there was one area in which MBS couldn’t know what all 3 million govern- lations or shipping. This newspaper is authorized by the Department of demonstrated a change in behavior, it was Defense for members of the military services overseas. ment officials were doing at any given At home, it is time for the prince to go in the realm of foreign policy, and even However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, time. A secretive Saudi investigation, fol- back to the economic basics of his Vision and are not to be considered as the official views of, or there, it was as much about what he didn’t lowed by opaque court proceedings, led to 2030 plan: to make the kingdom less re- endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspaper, do as what he did — the virtue of omission Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official chan- sentences being handed down this week liant on oil revenue and wean its people nels and use appropriated funds for distribution to remote — but nobody was persuaded that justice more than of commission. Saudi Arabia away from government employment and locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. had been done. For the record, the United did not reprise its 2018 diplomatic contre- generous subsidies. Next year’s budget The appearance of advertising in this publication does temps with Canada, or its 2017 row with not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense Nations rapporteur who investigated the is, typical of MBS’ year, a mixed bag: the or Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. murder said Mohammed “has a responsi- Germany. promise of spending curbs and a widening Products or services advertised shall be made available for bility in relationship to the killing” and the Both of those spats were the product of purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, deficit. religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical CIA believes he gave the order. Saudi overreaction to mild criticism. This Which MBS will we get in 2020? Chanc- handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor There was an air of equivocation, too, in year, MBS reacted with reassuring caution es are, both. of the purchaser, user or patron. MBS’ program of social reforms, where to a far greater provocation: Iran’s attack two steps forward in some areas — such on Saudi oil installations, which cut the Bobby Ghosh is a columnist and member of the © Stars and Stripes 2019 Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. He writes on as the relaxation of guardianship laws for kingdom’s output by half. It might be that foreign affairs, with a special focus on the Middle stripes.com women and regulations requiring gender- MBS was held back from an aggressive re- East and the wider Islamic world. Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 23 OPINION

life,” said Herbert . What newspapers In Colorado, a state whose congressional delegation is almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, Democratic are saying at home Gov. Jared Polis says the state will gladly accept refugees turned away by other The following editorial excerpts are se- states or local jurisdictions . lected from a cross section of newspapers Just four years ago, following a wave of throughout the United States. The editori- terrorist attacks in Europe, 31 governors, als are provided by The Associated Press all but one of them Republicans, said they and other stateside syndicates. opposed resettling Syrian refugees in their states. Now, the political ground may be NDAA cost too much, didn’t shifting. No governor has yet publicly ac- cepted Trump’s invitation to bar the door address military quagmires to refugees. Whether some do in coming The Orange County (Calif.) Register months may be a barometer of the presi- Amid the theatrics of impeachment and dent’s success in turning the United States opposition to impeachment, both parties into a fearful, trembling nation, wary of took the time over the past two weeks to newcomers — in effect, the opposite of the do what they always do: spend more, grow principles on which America was founded. government, keep perpetual wars on auto- pilot and infringe on liberty. Future uncertain, but Notre Over the past two decades, the United States has spent or obligated trillions of Dame Cathedral endures American taxpayer dollars on a foreign The New York Times policy costly both in terms of dollars but, ANDREW HARNIK/AP There will be no Christmas at Paris’ more importantly, lives. Most Americans, Notre Dame Cathedral, the headlines read, including most veterans, recognize that President Donald Trump arrives with first lady Melania Trump to sign the National De- the first such lapse in two centuries. the costs have not been worth what we’ve fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Dec. 20. In ordinary terms, that was not re- gotten in return. ally news. Yawning holes in the roof still With the nearly $740 billion National ly and hold a trial. managers by a certain date or he will ap- open the Gothic nave to winter rain eight Defense Authorization Act, Congress had One emerging dodge seems to be that point lawyers to make the case for the months after the great fire, and not even the opportunity to scale back the many President Donald Trump isn’t formally im- House. Or he could announce the start of workers are allowed in the middle because conflicts the United States is involved in, peached until the articles are transmitted the trial by a certain date, and proceed of the damaged roof beams precariously or at least put hard limits on existing or to the Senate. This is absurd. The House without the House managers if they fail dangling above. The head of the task force future conflicts. Unfortunately, what was voted on two articles and passed them with to show up. The president’s lawyers could charged with repairing the cathedral has approved by the House and Senate did a majority. The House broadcast this fact make their case, and then the Senate could promised that a religious service will be nothing of the sort. to the country along with more-in-sorrow- vote . held on April 16, 2024, a day after the fifth A proposal to end the unauthorized than-anger claims that they are doing their For Senate Republicans, their constitu- anniversary of the blaze, which would U.S. support for the brutal Saudi-led war solemn constitutional duty. tional duty here is also the best politics. fulfill a pledge by President Emmanuel in Yemen was removed from the NDAA There’s nothing in the Constitution Don’t join Nancy Pelosi in defining im- Macron to repair Notre Dame within five amid White House pressure. Proposals to that says impeachment requires a formal peachment down. Honor the Constitution years. But that’s optimistic — debates still require Congress to finally reexamine the transmittal of the articles to the Senate , or by holding a trial. swirl over how to rebuild the roof and spire outdated 2001 and 2002 military force au- that the House must appoint impeachment that burned and collapsed. thorizations that have served as little more managers. The parchment merely says the Key red states have practical But there was Christmas for the faithful than blank checks to the executive branch House has sole power over impeachment of Notre Dame. The clergymen of the ca- to wage limitless war were refused by the and the Senate the sole power to try an im- reasons to welcome refugees thedral have been using the nearby church Senate. Likewise a proposal to make clear peachment. The act of impeachment is the The Washington Post of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, a landmark that any American war with Iran would vote. Few places in the United States need only a couple of centuries younger than require congressional authorization was The Founders also defined impeachment fresh blood more than North Dakota, Notre Dame that once ministered to the also prevented from making it to the final as consisting of two parts — the House vote whose infinitesimal unemployment rate royalty of the nearby Louvre Palace, and NDAA. followed by a Senate trial. They are two — it has more than three jobs available all the services of Christmas were celebrat- On top of it all, the NDAA marked yet stages of the same process. The Found- for every in-state applicant — reflects the ed there. A liturgical platform resembling another unjustified ballooning of mili- ers gave the first impeachment step to the state’s oil boom. That didn’t stop local of- Notre Dame’s has been constructed there, tary spending. Over the past six years, House knowing it would often be governed ficials in Burleigh County, which includes and the cathedral’s great 14th-century so-called defense spending has grown by by populist and partisan passions. They the state capital of Bismarck, from calling “Virgin of Paris” sculpture, untouched by $120 billion. gave the Senate control over the trial as a for a ban on refugee resettlements. the inferno, has been temporarily placed On Dec. 11, the House overwhelmingly check on the House. They knew the Senate North Dakota, which is nearly 90% in Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois. approved the NDAA, 377-48, despite the would represent the different interests of white, is among the least diverse states, so Still, even if there is no surprise, and no many problems with it. varied states. And with staggered elections it might be tempting to conclude that most gap in religious observance, it is terribly But, alas, the bipartisan consensus pro- every six years, two thirds of the Senate of Burleigh’s 95,000 residents want to keep sad for anyone who has ever been to Paris duced yet another big spending defense wouldn’t face immediate re-election after it that way. In fact, angry opposition killed in winter to think that this year — and next bill that pleased the president. a trial and vote. the proposal to ban refugees in the county, year, and the year after that and for God “Wow! All of our priorities have made This means the current Senate has a re- where just a couple of dozen resettlements knows how many more years — there will it into the final NDAA: Pay Raise for our sponsibility to fulfill its part of the Consti- are expected in the coming year — not ex- be no children gazing spellbound at the Troops, Rebuilding our Military, Paid Pa- tution’s impeachment duty as a check on actly an overwhelming burden. large, detailed creche, no candles flicker- rental Leave, Border Security, and Space the partisan excesses of the Pelosi House . That may surprise President Donald ing at midnight to the thunder of the great Force!” President Donald Trump tweeted. By making a fuss of withholding the ar- Trump, who, pandering to his nativist base, organ for the “Messe de la Nuit,” no sea of “Congress don’t delay this anymore! I will ticles until she hears the Senate’s specific issued an executive order this past fall al- awe-struck tourists looking forward to re- sign this historic defense legislation imme- plans for a trial, Pelosi is trying to dictate lowing states and localities to veto refugee counting how they celebrated Christmas at diately!” (And he did, on Dec. 20.) to the Senate how to hold a trial. But the resettlements. He did so having already one of Europe’s most familiar and wonder- Setting aside the merits of any particu- Constitution reserves this power for the slashed the ceiling on refugee admissions ful landmarks. lar provision the president cited, it’s worth Senate. If she never sends the articles and in the current fiscal year to 18,000, a 40- It is a reminder of how great an emptiness remembering that, at this point, both Con- there is no trial, she will have effectively year low. the fire left in the heart of Paris and far be- gress and the president have completely trampled on executive power and Sen- President Ronald Reagan cited the Unit- yond. Notre Dame is more than a church, dropped the pretense of caring remotely ate prerogatives by maligning a president ed States’ embrace of refugees as evidence more than a masterpiece of medieval ar- about fiscal responsibility . without the chance for acquittal at trial. the nation cherished freedom. Trump has chitecture, more even than a symbol of one The Senate followed the House last She will be turning impeachment into the called them a “Trojan horse,” a stealthy of the great cities of the world. Like many week, with a vote of 86-8. Unfortunately, equivalent of a censure resolution wrapped conveyance for internal attacks on an un- of the earth’s great cultural landmarks, it despite the facade of tremendous partisan in the claim of impeachment. This sets an suspecting nation — despite the fact that has a life of its own; it is a living character polarization, when it comes to many of the awful precedent, making impeachment few terrorist incidents here have involved in art, literature, music and legend, and a biggest problems at hand, both parties are more likely because a president is unlike- refugees, who are legal immigrants heav- place where a tired passer-by can drop in all too willing to continue indebting the na- ly to be removed, but also less potent if a ily vetted by U.S. officials before their for some rest and quiet thought. It carries tion while looking the other way as unnec- president does deserve to be removed from arrival. a message that every visitor can interpret essary wars drag on. office for real abuses. If impeachment The heartening news is that in many in his or her own way. without trial becomes common, genuinely places, including conservative strongholds, There is nothing symbolic or spiritual, Senate doesn’t have to wait dangerous presidents will cite that history Reagan’s view of refugees has more appeal however, about the turbulent aftermath as a partisan shield. than Trump’s. That includes Nebraska and of the fire that broke out among the oak for Pelosi to act to hold a trial Current Senate rules say a trial isn’t trig- Tennessee, where Republican governors rafters of the roof on April 15. And though The Wall Street Journal gered until the House appoints impeach- say they will welcome refugees. In Utah, more than $1 billion has been raised or Speaker Nancy Pelosi continues to with- ment managers who deliver the articles to the Republican governor, Gary Herbert, as pledged, controversy rages over how to hold the House articles of impeachment the Senate. But those rules were written well as Republican congressmen and local restore the roof. Proposals range from a from the Senate, further trivializing a se- when senators never anticipated the House officials, have a clear message concerning faithful reproduction of the old roof and rious constitutional power and process. would treat impeachment in such a cava- refugees: Bring ’em on. “We empathize spire to a glass roof, a “spire” of light and Senate Republicans seem content to play lier fashion. deeply with individuals and groups who even a rooftop swimming pool. along while ridiculing her gambit, but they Senate Majority Leader Mitch McCon- have been forced from their home and we But then Paris has always been a battle- should take their own duties more serious- nell, R-Ky., could tell Pelosi to nominate love giving them a new home and a new ground of past and present . PAGE 24 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 25 SCOREBOARD

Sports College football Pro football Bowl schedule Redbox Bowl NFL (shoulder), RB Alexander Mattison (an- on AFN Santa Clara, Calif. kle). FULL: S Jayron Kearse (foot), CB Friday, Dec. 20 Illinois (6-6) vs. California (7-5) AMERICAN CONFERENCE Xavier Rhodes (ankle), DT Shamar Ste- Bahamas Bowl Orange Bowl East phen (knee). Nassau Miami Gardens, Fla. W L T Pct PF PA LOS ANGELES CHARGERS at KANSAS Buffalo 31, Charlotte 9 Florida (10-2) vs. Virginia (9-4) y-New England 12 3 0 .800 396 198 CITY CHIEFS — CHARGERS: Practice Not Go to the American Forces Frisco (Texas) Bowl Tuesday, Dec. 31 x-Buffalo 10 5 0 .667 308 246 Complete. CHIEFS: Practice Not Com- Kent State 51, Utah State 41 Belk Bowl N.Y. Jets 6 9 0 .400 263 353 plete. Network website for the most Saturday, Dec. 21 Charlotte, N.C. Miami 4 11 0 .267 279 470 NEW YORK JETS at BUFFALO BILLS Celebration Bowl Kentucky (7-5) vs. Virginia Tech (8-4) South — JETS: DNP: G Tom Compton (calf), CB up-to-date TV schedules. At Atlanta Sun Bowl y-Houston 10 5 0 .667 364 350 Nate Hairston (illness), G Alex Lewis (an- myafn.net NC A&T 64, Alcorn State 44 El Paso, Texas Tennessee 8 7 0 .533 367 317 kle), WR Demaryius Thomas (hamstring/ New Mexico Bowl Florida State (6-6) vs. Arizona State (7-5) Indianapolis 7 8 0 .467 341 335 knee). LIMITED: S Jamal Adams (ankle), Albuquerque Liberty Bowl Jacksonville 5 10 0 .333 262 377 DE Henry Anderson (knee/shoulder), WR San Diego State 48, Central Michigan 11 Memphis, Tenn. North Robby Anderson (calf), OT Kelvin Bea- Cure Bowl Kansas State (8-4) vs. Navy (9-2) y-Baltimore 13 2 0 .867 503 272 chum (back/ankles), DT Steve McLen- Deals Orlando, Fla. Arizona Bowl Pittsburgh 8 7 0 .533 279 275 don (knee/hip) FULL: LB James Burgess Liberty 23, Georgia Southern 16 Tucson, Ariz. Cleveland 6 9 0 .400 312 360 (thumb), WR Jamison Crowder (thumb), Boca Raton (Fla.) Bowl Wyoming (7-5) vs. Georgia State (7-5) Cincinnati 1 14 0 .067 246 397 QB Sam Darnold (knee/left thumb). FAU 52, SMU 28 West BILLS: DNP: DE Shaq Lawson (hamstring), Wednesday’s transactions Alamo Bowl OT Ty Nsekhe (ankle), WR Andre Roberts Camellia Bowl San Antonio y-Kansas City 11 4 0 .733 420 287 FOOTBALL Montgomery, Ala. Oakland 7 8 0 .467 298 403 (foot). FULL: C Mitch Morse (ankle). Texas (7-5) vs. Utah (11-2) OAKLAND RAIDERS at DENVER BRON- National Football League Arkansas State 34, FIU 26 Wednesday, Jan. 1 Denver 6 9 0 .400 266 301 DALLAS COWBOYS — Placed LB Leigh- Las Vegas Bowl L.A. Chargers 5 10 0 .333 316 314 COS — RAIDERS: DNP: G Richie Incognito Citrus Bowl (ankle), RB Josh Jacobs (shoulder/ill- ton Vander Esch and G Xavier Su’a-Filo Washington 38, Boise State 7 Orlando, Fla. NATIONAL CONFERENCE on IR. Signed LB Ray-Ray Armstrong and New Orleans Bowl East ness), S Lamarcus Joyner (calf/quadri- Michigan (9-3) vs. Alabama (10-2) cep). LIMITED: C Rodney Hudson (ankle), OT Wyatt Miller. Appalachian State 31, UAB 17 Outback Bowl W L T Pct PF PA Placed RB Myles Philadelphia 8 7 0 .533 351 337 G Gabe Jackson (knee), CB Trayvon MIAMI DOLPHINS — Monday, Dec. 23 Tampa, Fla. Mullen (neck/concussion). Gaskin on IR. Signed RB Samaje Perine Gasparilla Bowl Dallas 7 8 0 .467 387 305 BRONCOS: Minnesota (10-2) vs. Auburn (9-3) N.Y. Giants 4 11 0 .267 324 417 DNP: T Ja’Wuan James (knee), G Ronald from Cincinnati’s practice squad. At Tampa, Fla. Rose Bowl Leary (concussion), OT Elijah Wilkinson PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Waived RB UCF 48, Marshall 25 Washington 3 12 0 .200 250 388 Pasadena, Calif. South (ankle). LIMITED: DE Dre’Mont Jones (an- Jay Ajayi. Placed CB Ronald Darby on Tuesday, Dec. 24 Oregon (11-2) vs. Wisconsin (10-3) kle), LB Joseph Jones (back). FULL: S Will IR. Signed TE Richard Rodgers. Signed Hawaii Bowl y-New Orleans 12 3 0 .800 416 331 Sugar Bowl Tampa Bay 7 8 0 .467 436 421 Parks (hand), WR Tim Patrick (shoulder), WR Deontay Burnett from the practice Honolulu New Orleans DT Mike Purcell (shoulder/knee), LB Ma- Hawaii 38, BYU 34 Atlanta 6 9 0 .400 353 377 squad. Signed WR River Cracraft to the Georgia (11-2) vs. Baylor (11-2) Carolina 5 10 0 .333 330 428 lik Reed (ankle), DE DeMarcus Walker practice squad. Thursday, Dec. 26 Thursday, Jan. 2 (ankle). Independence Bowl North SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Signed RB Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl y-Green Bay 12 3 0 .800 353 293 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at JACKSON- Marshawn Lynch and RB Robert Turbin. Shreveport, La. Cincinnati (10-3) vs. Boston College (6-6) VILLE JAGUARS — COLTS: DNP: DT Denico Miami (6-6) vs. Louisiana Tech (9-3) x-Minnesota 10 5 0 .667 388 282 Placed RB Chris Carson and RB C.J. Pro- Gator Bowl Chicago 7 8 0 .467 259 279 Autry (concussion), LB Darius Leonard sise on IR. Signed DT Shakir Soto to the Quick Lane Bowl Jacksonville, Fla. (back), CB Kenny Moore (ankle), DE Al- Detroit Detroit 3 11 1 .233 321 400 practice squad. Indiana (8-4) vs. Tennessee (7-5) West Quadin Muhammad (groin), G Quen- TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Waived Pittsburgh (7-5) vs. Eastern Michigan Friday, Jan. 3 ton Nelson (concussion), S Khari Willis (6-6) x-San Francisco 12 3 0 .800 453 289 WR Ishmael Hyman and TE Jordan Famous Idaho Potato Bowl x-Seattle 11 4 0 .733 384 372 (shoulder), CB Quincy Wilson (shoulder). Leggett. Signed CB John Franklin and Friday, Dec. 27 Boise LIMITED: DT Grover Stewart (knee). JAG- Military Bowl L.A. Rams 8 7 0 .533 363 340 WR Jaydon Mickens from the practice Ohio (6-6) vs. Nevada (7-5) Arizona 5 9 1 .367 337 411 UARS: DNP: DE Calais Campbell (back/ squad. Annapolis, Md. Saturday, Jan. 4 shoulder), C Brandon Linder (knee), WR North Carolina (6-6) vs. Temple (8-4) x-clinched playoff spot Armed Forces Bowl y-clinched division Michael Walker (hamstring). LIMITED: Pinstripe Bowl Fort Worth, Texas Sunday’s games LB Dakota Allen (hamstring), DE Josh Al- New York Southern Miss (7-5) vs. Tulane (6-6) len (shoulder), CB A.J. Bouye (wrist), DT Wake Forest (8-4) vs. Michigan State Chicago at Minnesota Pro baseball Monday, Jan. 6 Atlanta at Tampa Bay Taven Bryan (wrist), WR D.J. Chark (an- (6-6) Miami at New England kle), RB Leonard Fournette (neck), CB D.J. Texas Bowl Lendingtree Bowl Mobile, Ala. Green Bay at Detroit Hayden (knee), DT Abry Jones (elbow), MLB calendar Houston Miami (Ohio) (8-5) vs. Louisiana-La- Cleveland at Cincinnati QB Gardner Minshew (right shoulder), Oklahoma State (8-4) vs. Texas A&M (7-5) L.A. Chargers at Kansas City TE Nick O’Leary (shoulder), OT Cam Rob- Holiday Bowl fayette (10-3) Jan. 10 — Salary arbitration figures Monday, Jan. 13 N.Y. Jets at Buffalo inson (knee). FULL: WR Dede Westbrook exchanged. San Diego New Orleans at Carolina (neck/shoulder). Iowa (9-3) vs. Southern Cal (8-4) College Football Championship ARIZONA CARDINALS at LOS ANGELES Jan. 21 — Baseball Writers’ Associa- New Orleans Oakland at Denver tion of America Hall of Fame voting re- Cheez-It Bowl Tennessee at Houston RAMS — CARDINALS: DNP: TE Charles Phoenix Peach Bowl winner vs. Fiesta Bowl Clay (calf), TE Darrell Daniels (biceps), sults announced. winner Washington at Dallas Air Force (10-2) vs. Washington State Indianapolis at Jacksonville G Justin Pugh (back). LIMITED: S Budda Feb. 3-21 — Salary arbitration hear- (6-6) Saturday, Jan. 18 Baker (quadricep), LB Chandler Jones ings, Phoenix. East-West Shrine Classic Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants Saturday, Dec. 28 Pittsburgh at Baltimore (thumb), QB Kyler Murray (hamstring), S Feb. 4-6 — Owners meetings, Orlando, Camping World Bowl At St. Petersburg, Fla. Charles Washington (calf). RAMS: DNP: Florida. East vs. West Arizona at L.A. Rams Orlando, Fla. San Francisco at Seattle DE Michael Brockers (knee), RB Darrell Feb. 11 — Voluntary reporting date for Notre Dame (10-2) vs. Iowa State (7-5) NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Henderson (ankle), CB Troy Hill (thumb), pitchers, catchers and injured players. Cotton Bowl Classic At Pasadena, Calif. CB Jalen Ramsey (knee), WR Nsimba Feb. 16 — Voluntary reporting date for Arlington, Texas American vs. National NFL injury report Webster (concussion), OT Andrew Whit- other players. Penn State (10-2) vs. Memphis (12-1) Saturday, Jan. 25 worth (quadricep). LIMITED: S Eric Wed- Feb. 21 — Mandatory reporting date. Senior Bowl NEW YORK — The National Football dle (groin). FULL: T Bobby Evans (hip). Peach Bowl League injury report, as provided by the March 26 — Opening day, active ros- Atlanta At Mobile, Ala. TENNESSEE TITANS at HOUSTON ters reduced to 26 players. North vs. South league (OUT - definitely will not play; TEXANS — TITANS: DNP: WR Adam CFP Semifinal, LSU (13-0) vs. Oklaho- DNP - did not practice; LIMITED - limited April 28-30 — New York Mets vs. Miami ma (12-1) Sunday, Jan. 26 Humphries (ankle), CB Adoree’ Jackson at San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hula Bowl participation in practice; FULL - full par- (foot), WR Kalif Raymond (concussion). Fiesta Bowl ticipation in practice): June 10-12 — Amateur draft, Omaha, Glendale, Ariz. At Honolulu LIMITED: WR Corey Davis (concussion), Neb. East vs. West Sunday WR Cody Hollister (ankle). FULL: LB Dar- CFP Semifinal, Ohio State (13-0) vs. ATLANTA FALCONS at TAMPA BAY June 15 — International amateur sign- Clemson (13-0) en Bates (shoulder), RB Derrick Henry ing period closes. BUCCANEERS — FALCONS: DNP: DE Allen (hamstring), DT Jeffery Simmons (knee). Monday, Dec. 30 NCAA FCS playoffs Bailey (hand), DE Adrian Clayborn (knee), July 2 — International amateur sign- SERVPRO First Responder Bowl TEXANS: DNP: WR Will Fuller (groin), WR WR Julio Jones (knee). LIMITED: S Ricardo DeAndre Hopkins (illness). LIMITED: S ing period opens. Dallas Championship Allen (shoulder/knee), RB Kenjon Barner July 10 — Deadline for drafted players Western Kentucky (8-4) vs. Western Saturday, Jan. 11 Jahleel Addae (Achilles), LB Jacob Martin (shoulder/hip), G Jamon Brown (illness). (knee), LB Brennan Scarlett (Achilles), to sign, except for players who have ex- Michigan (7-5) At Toyota Stadium FULL: TE Jaeden Graham (knee). BUC- hausted college eligibility. Music City Bowl Frisco, Texas WR Kenny Stills (knee), OT Laremy Tun- CANEERS: DNP: DT Beau Allen (ankle), sil (ankle), QB Deshaun Watson (back). July 14 — All-Star Game at Los Ange- Nashville, Tenn. North Dakota State (15-0) vs. James OT Demar Dotson (not injury related), les. Mississippi State (6-6) vs. Louisville (7-5) Madison (14-1) FULL: LB Benardrick McKinney (concus- WR Chris Godwin (hamstring), LB Jason sion). Pierre-Paul (not injury related). LIMITED: PITTSBURGH STEELERS at BALTIMORE K Matt Gay (back), DE William Gholston RAVENS — STEELERS: DNP: LB Mark Bar- (ankle), OT Donovan Smith (ankle/knee), ron (not injury related), RB James Con- College basketball QB Jameis Winston (right thumb/knee). ner (quadricep), G David DeCastro (not FULL: G Alex Cappa (elbow), CB Carlton injury related), DT Cameron Heyward Davis (ankle), TE Tanner Hudson (con- Elizabethtown at Loyola (Md.) West Virginia at Youngstown St. (not injury related), TE Vance McDonald Wednesday’s men’s scores cussion), C Ryan Jensen (elbow). (not injury related), CB Steven Nelson Austin Peay vs. Duquesne at St. Pe- Idaho at S. Dakota St. CLEVELAND BROWNS at CINCINNATI tersburg, Fla. Montana at Omaha (groin), C Maurkice Pouncey (knee), OT FAR WEST BENGALS — BROWNS: DNP: TE Ricky Alejandro Villanueva (not injury related), Ball St. 61, Portland 46 California vs. Boston College at San Wright St. at Toledo Seals-Jones (illness). LIMITED: WR Odell Francisco Bradley at Miami (Ohio) LB T.J. Watt (not injury related). RAVENS: Boise St. 72, UTEP 67 Beckham (groin), WR Khadarel Hodge Practice Not Complete. Georgia Tech 70, Hawaii 53 North Florida at Syracuse Green Bay at N. Illinois (neck), OT Christopher Hubbard (knee), Bucknell at Siena Fairfield at Oakland PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at NEW YORK Houston 75, Washington 71 OT Kendall Lamm (knee), WR Jarvis GIANTS — EAGLES: DNP: WR Nelson SOUTH Purdue vs. Butler at Indianapolis Landry (hip), DT Sheldon Richardson NC A&T at Wake Forest Agholor (knee), TE Zach Ertz (ribs), OT SIU-Edwardsville at Detroit (back), C J.C. Tretter (knee), DE Olivier Lane Johnson (ankle). LIMITED: WR J.J. Men’s schedule Florida St. vs. South Florida at Sunrise, SE Missouri at S. Illinois Vernon (knee). FULL: S Damarious Ran- Fla. Arcega-Whiteside (foot), DE Derek Bar- Friday’s games Milwaukee at Wisconsin dall (foot). BENGALS: DNP: DT Geno At- nett (ankle), G Brandon Brooks (calf), DT Johnson & Wales (NC) at Campbell North Dakota at Nebraska kins (not injury related), CB Darqueze EAST Jacksonville St. at Tennessee Fletcher Cox (triceps), RB Jordan Howard Mount St. Mary’s at Navy Saint Louis vs. Kansas St. at Kansas Dennard (knee), TE Tyler Eifert (not in- (shoulder), CB Jalen Mills (ankle). GI- Jackson St. at Memphis City, Mo. Quinnipiac vs. Drexel at Atlantic City, N.J. Texas State at Georgia St. jury related), CB William Jackson (shoul- ANTS: DNP: CB Corey Ballentine (back), CCSU at Penn St. E. Michigan at Michigan St. der), WR Stanley Morgan (concussion). LB Lorenzo Carter (knee), LB Alec Ogle- Bob Jones at SC-Upstate Murray St. at Evansville Lipscomb at Vermont Texas-Arlington at Georgia Southern LIMITED: CB Tony McRae (concussion), G tree (back), OT Mike Remmers (concus- Binghamton at Pittsburgh Hampton at Kent St. John Miller (concussion). sion). LIMITED: CB Sam Beal (shoulder), Marist at Bethune-Cookman Arkansas at Valparaiso Delaware at LIU Brooklyn Elon at Winthrop MIAMI DOLPHINS at NEW ENGLAND TE Rhett Ellison (concussion), G Nick Maine at UMass Northwestern at DePaul PATRIOTS — DOLPHINS: DNP: CB Jomal Gates (shoulder), WR Darius Slayton Blue Mountain at Tennessee St. Cincinnati vs. Iowa at Chicago, Ill. James Madison at Fordham Coppin St. at Miami Wiltz (shoulder). LIMITED: LB Vince (knee). SOUTH SOUTHWEST Biegel (elbow), DE Taco Charlton (an- WASHINGTON REDSKINS at DALLAS Chattanooga at UNC-Asheville UCF at Oklahoma Akron vs. Tulane at Washington, D.C. SE Louisiana vs. Mississippi at Jack- kle), WR Allen Hurns (ankle/neck), DT COWBOYS — REDSKINS: DNP: LB Ryan Towson vs. Liberty at Washington, D.C. Texas A&M-CC at Cent. Arkansas Zach Sieler (ankle/thumb), TE Durham Anderson (Achilles/shoulder), S Troy son, Miss. Texas Rio Grande Valley at Texas Tech Ecclesia at Alcorn St. Belmont Abbey at High Point Smythe (quadricep), LB Andrew Van Gin- Apke (knee), S Landon Collins (shoul- North Alabama at Alabama A&M Missouri St. at Oral Roberts kel (shoulder), DE Christian Wilkins (an- der), QB Dwayne Haskins (ankle), WR Utah St. vs. Florida at Sunrise, Fla. Colorado St. at Tulsa SMU at Georgia Arkansas St. at Louisiana-Monroe kle). FULL: RB Chandler Cox (shoulder), Terry McLaurin (concussion), CB Fabian Bowling Green vs. Norfolk St. at Atlan- Tougaloo at Southern Miss. New Orleans at Sam Houston St. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (right shoulder), WR Moreau (hamstring), OT Morgan Mo- tic City, N.J. UCLA vs. North Carolina at Paradise, Nev. Illinois St. at UTSA Isaiah Ford (knee), C Daniel Kilgore (fin- ses (knee), S Montae Nicholson (neck/ Furman at Mercer Appalachian St. at Troy Minnesota vs. Oklahoma St. at Tulsa, ger), CB Nik Needham (groin). PATRIOTS: ankle), OT Donald Penn (knee). FULL: Jacksonville at Clemson St. Bonaventure at Middle Tennesse Okla. LIMITED: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee), OT LB Cole Holcomb (thumb). COWBOYS: MIDWEST Belmont vs. Alabama at Huntsville, Ala. Ark.-Pine Bluff at North Texas Marcus Cannon (ankle), LB Jamie Collins DNP: DE Demarcus Lawrence (shoul- UC Irvine at UIC SC State at Coll. of Charleston Nicholls at Abilene Christian (shoulder), WR Julian Edelman (knee/ der), LB Sean Lee (pectoral/thigh), QB N. Colorado vs. South Dakota at Sioux UMBC at George Mason Oregon St. at Texas A&M shoulder), CB Jonathan Jones (groin), CB Dak Prescott (right shoulder), OT Tyron Falls, S.D. VMI at Virginia Tech FAR WEST Jason McCourty (groin). Smith (back). LIMITED: DE Michael Ben- N. Dakota St. at Marquette Lamar at Northwestern St. Drake at Air Force NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at CARO- nett (foot), CB C.J. Goodwin (thumb), S FAR WEST Stephen F. Austin at McNeese St. Wyoming at Denver LINA PANTHERS — SAINTS: DNP: CB Jeff Heath (shoulder/shoulder), P Chris Southern U. at UC Santa Barbara Cleveland St. at ETSU Stanford vs. San Diego at San Francisco Eli Apple (ankle), WR Krishawn Hogan Jones (abdomen), LB Joe Thomas (knee). IUPUI at Fresno St. Coastal Carolina at South Alabama Robert Morris at UNLV (hamstring), S Marcus Williams (groin). FULL: T La’el Collins (knee), G Zack Mar- MVSU at Santa Clara Southern University at New Orleans N. Arizona at Pepperdine LIMITED: LB Kiko Alonso (quadricep), S tin (ankle), WR Devin Smith (knee). Saturday’s games UAB vs. Alabama St. at St. Petersburg, E. Washington at Gonzaga Vonn Bell (knee), QB Drew Brees (knee), SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at SEATTLE EAST Fla. UC Davis at San Francisco S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (knee), SEAHAWKS — 49ERS: DNP: DE Dee Ford Fairleigh Dickinson at La Salle W. Carolina at Tennessee Tech Dayton vs. Colorado at Chicago, Ill. G Andrus Peat (forearm), WR Michael (quadricep/hamstring). LIMITED: LB Harvard at George Washington Ohio St. vs. Kentucky at Paradise, Nev. San Diego St. vs. Utah at Los Angeles, Thomas (hand), G Larry Warford (knee). Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), G Mike Person Samford at Georgetown Lehigh at Auburn Calif. PANTHERS: Practice Not Complete. (neck), WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder), S Kansas vs. Villanova at Philadelphia Charleston Southern at E. Kentucky Incarnate Word at Washington St. GREEN BAY PACKERS at DETROIT LI- Jaquiski Tartt (ribs). FULL: CB Tarvarius Bryant at Dartmout N. Kentucky at UNC-Greensboro Utah Valley at Long Beach St. ONS — PACKERS: Practice Not Complete. Moore (concussion), DT Jullian Taylor (el- Rider at Temple St. Thomas (FL) at Florida Gulf Coast E. Illinois at Grand Canyon LIONS: DNP: DT A’Shawn Robinson (shoul- bow). SEAHAWKS: DNP: T Duane Brown Boston U. at Mass.-Lowell UALR at Louisiana-Lafayette Creighton at Arizona St. der), OT Rick Wagner (knee). LIMITED: T (knee/biceps), S Quandre Diggs (ankle), Widener at Penn UNC-Wilmington at Vanderbilt LSU at Southern Cal Taylor Decker (ankle), LB Devon Kennard C Joey Hunt (fibula), G Mike Iupati (neck), Stony Brook at American U. MIDWEST Weber St. at BYU (shoulder), S Tavon Wilson (hamstring). WR Malik Turner (concussion). LIMITED: W. Kentucky at Rhode Island Presbyterian at Michigan St. John’s vs. Arizona at San Francisco FULL: DT Damon Harrison (knee/calf). DE Jadeveon Clowney (core), CB Shaquill Army at Wagner VCU at Wichita St. Florida A&M at Seattle CHICAGO BEARS at MINNESOTA VI- Griffin (hamstring), LB Mychal Kendricks Niagara at Buffalo Notre Dame vs. Indiana at Indianapolis CS Bakersfield at Cal Poly KINGS — BEARS: Practice Not Com- (hamstring). FULL: T George Fant (knee), Albany (NY) at Monmouth (NJ) Morehead St. at Ohio Idaho St. at Pacific plete. VIKINGS: DNP: LB Eric Kendricks OT Germain Ifedi (knee), C Ethan Pocic Texas at Providence Missouri vs. Illinois at St. Louis, Mo. Texas Southern at Oregon (quadricep). LIMITED: RB Dalvin Cook (core), LB Bobby Wagner (ankle). PAGE 26 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 NHL Blues cruise into holiday break Scoreboard Eastern Conference Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Boston 38 22 7 9 53 130 100 Toronto 38 20 14 4 44 133 122 Montreal 37 18 13 6 42 121 117 Florida 36 18 13 5 41 127 121 St. Louis atop Buffalo 38 17 14 7 41 115 119 Tampa Bay 35 18 13 4 40 124 111 Ottawa 38 16 18 4 36 106 123 Detroit 38 9 26 3 21 82 150 conference with Metropolitan Division Washington 38 26 7 5 57 137 111 N.Y. Islanders 35 23 9 3 49 105 91 Philadelphia 37 21 11 5 47 121 106 six-game streak Pittsburgh 36 21 11 4 46 120 96 Carolina 37 22 13 2 46 124 102 Columbus 37 17 14 6 40 98 106 BY DAN GREENSPAN N.Y. Rangers 36 17 15 4 38 114 118 New Jersey 36 12 19 5 29 91 128 Associated Press Western Conference LOS ANGELES — Christmas Central Division marked a turning point for the St. GP W L OT Pts GF GA St. Louis 38 24 8 6 54 118 99 Louis Blues last season as they Colorado 37 23 11 3 49 134 103 went from last place at the holi- Winnipeg 37 21 14 2 44 113 107 Dallas 38 20 14 4 44 100 97 day to winning the Stanley Cup. Nashville 36 18 12 6 42 126 116 Heading into the three-day Minnesota 38 18 15 5 41 118 126 Chicago 38 15 17 6 36 105 125 break this year, the Blues are on Pacific Division top of the Western Conference Arizona 39 21 14 4 46 112 99 Vegas 40 20 14 6 46 122 118 and look more than ready to de- Edmonton 40 20 16 4 44 117 124 fend their title. Calgary 39 19 15 5 43 104 116 Vancouver 38 19 15 4 42 124 115 Brayden Schenn scored twice Anaheim 37 15 18 4 34 96 114 San Jose 38 16 20 2 34 101 133 in St. Louis’ four-goal first peri- Los Angeles 39 15 20 4 34 99 124 od and the Blues won their sixth Note: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in straight game, 4-1 over the Los each division and two wild cards per Angeles Kings on Monday night. conference advance to playoffs. Tuesday’s games “It’s crazy what a little bit of No games scheduled winning and confidence can do to Wednesday’s games a hockey team, and, you know, ob- No games scheduled MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/AP Thursday’s games viously we’re feeling it as a group No games scheduled Friday’s games right now,” Schenn said after the The Blues’ Alex Pietrangelo, left, passes to Brayden Schenn, center, who scored past Kings goaltender Boston at Buffalo Blues improved to 55-20-11 in the Jonathan Quick during the first period of Monday’s game in Los Angeles. Schenn had two goals. Carolina at N.Y. Rangers Toronto at New Jersey regular season since last Christ- Columbus at Washington mas. “We believe in one another Schenn opened the scoring at Everything seems to be click- high or low just ’cause it can eat Minnesota at Colorado Pittsburgh at Nashville coming to the rink.” 4:51 and wrapped the flurry by ing for the Blues, who have won away at you.” St. Louis at Winnipeg Vince Dunn had a goal and getting a power-play goal that eight straight games against Iafallo got the Kings on the N.Y. Islanders at Chicago Calgary at Edmonton an assist, and Jaden Schwartz gave St. Louis a 4-0 lead with his Western Conference opponents. board when he redirected Drew Vegas at Anaheim scored on the power play for the 17th of the season. Schenn has The power play is 5-for-12 in the Doughty’s shot from the blue Los Angeles at San Jose Saturday’s games Blues. Jordan Binnington made the same number of goals in 38 past four games after needed just line with 1:07 left in the opening Washington at Carolina 29 saves in his first start since games this year as he had in 72 33 seconds to convert two chanc- period. Colorado at Dallas Detroit at Florida Dec. 16 against Colorado. Alex games last season. es against the Kings. Los Angeles controlled long Nashville at Pittsburgh Pietrangelo and David Perron “I’ve started getting some puck But Schenn insists the lessons stretches of play in the second Montreal at Tampa Bay N.Y. Rangers at Toronto each had two assists. luck, which has been huge,” said from last season’s turnaround and third, but St. Louis was able Los Angeles at Vancouver Alex Iafallo had a power-play Schenn, who has three goals will keep this Blues team focused to protect its lead and win for the Arizona at Vegas Philadelphia at San Jose goal and Jonathan Quick made and two assists in his past three on the next game, not the bigger 10th time in 13 games. 24 saves, but the Kings lost their games. “Every player definitely picture. “I still think we could have Scoring leaders third in a row. needs that, and just try and shoot “I mean, we’re obviously not come out of the game better had Through Wednesday Kings coach Todd McLellan the puck at the right time and it’s going to get too far ahead of our- we just been responsible,” McLel- GP G A PTS Connor McDavid, EDM 40 21 41 62 was wary about the last game been going in.” selves by any means,” he said. lan said. “Lack of a good start Leon Draisaitl, EDM 40 22 39 61 Schwartz tipped in Pietrange- “It’s very hard to repeat as we’ve and lack of responsibility in two Nathan MacKinnon, COL 37 21 34 55 before time off, and his concerns Brad Marchand, BOS 38 19 35 54 were justified when the Blues lo’s shot on the power play for a seen, but we feel — just kind of faceoff situations, and chase it David Pastrnak, BOS 38 28 26 54 Jack Eichel, BUF 37 24 27 51 scored four times in the first 2-0 lead at 5:43, and Dunn made it what we’ve been through last all night against the Stanley Cup John Carlson, WSH 38 13 35 48 12:21. 3-0 at 11:22. year — we don’t try and get too champs. That’s what you get.” Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA 36 14 34 48 Journeyman Aliu sparks reckoning

BY JOHN WAWROW It was an extraordinary public accusa- Babcock’s firing and word he had embar- Associated Press tion in perhaps the most private of pro- rassed Marner by revealing a list he asked fessional sports in North America. The the player to write that ranked Leafs play- VAUGHAN, Ontario — There was no allegations proved true and prompted Pe- ers by work ethic. breaking point or seminal moment that ters’ resignation as With hockey already buzzing, Aliu prompted Akim Aliu to post two tweets coach of the Calgary kicked things up a notch by accusing Pe- less than a minute apart that rocked the ‘ It seems Flames. Over the past ters, a Babcock protoge, of openly using NHL in a matter of hours. different. It month, other claims the ‘N word’ in questioning Aliu’s choice of Aliu was scrolling through the timeline have cropped up and music in a locker room all those years ago. on his phone when he saw a report of how really does the NHL has swiftly It was later revealed Peters had kicked and just-fired Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike because moved to strengthen punched his own players during his four Babcock had mistreated Mitch Marner, its personal conduct years as coach in Carolina. his prized rookie forward. it has the policies regarding Aliu’s allegations also led to Chicago “It was a spur of the moment kind of NHL’s racism and bullying. Blackhawks assistant Marc Crawford thing,” Aliu explained during an interview attention. Suddenly, Aliu was being suspended for physically and ver- at a Toronto-area gym where the 30-year- ’ no longer just a long- bally abusing his players at past stops as a old works out to stay in shape in case a Anson Carter forgotten defenseman head coach. team gives him one more shot at playing. Former NHL who’s played for 21 Aliu’s timing turned out to be perfect in The tweets went viral and soon the text player, on teams in six countries sparking a much-needed discussion. messages were piling up for Aliu. the league over the past 10 years. “It seems different,” said Anson Carter, “I was like, ‘Woah, like this is for real,’ ” addressing racism He was an agent of a former player and broadcaster. “It really he said. change coming hard does because it has the NHL’s attention.” JEFF MCINTOSH, THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP The posts sent Nov. 25 were thunder on the heels of two incidents that hover, “Is it going to change overnight? No,” The Calgary Flames’ Akim Aliu, a claps heard around hockey, alleging coach still, over the first half of the NHL season. added Carter, who is black. “Are we going Nigerian-born Canadian, made a public Bill Peters had directed racist slurs at him Long-time Canadian broadcaster Don to totally, completely eliminate it 100%? No. accusation that former Flames coach Bill when the two were in the minors a decade Cherry was let go last month after calling It exists in society. We would be ignorant to Peters directed racial slurs at him. The ago and then tried to make sure he’d be immigrants “you people” during his Hock- think that there wouldn’t be some instanc- accusation led to Peters’ resignation. demoted. ey Night in Canada segment. Then came es that might pop up.” Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 27 NBA Scoreboard Roundup

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Clippers rally to knock off rival Lakers Boston 21 7 .750 — Philadelphia 23 10 .697 A Toronto 21 10 .677 1A Brooklyn 16 13 .552 5A Associated Press New York 7 24 .226 15A Southeast Division Miami 22 8 .733 — LOS ANGELES — The Los Orlando 13 17 .433 9 Angeles Clippers were resilient Charlotte 13 20 .394 10A Washington 9 20 .310 12A and dominant in the second half Atlanta 6 25 .194 16A to put away the Los Angeles Lak- Central Division Milwaukee 27 5 .844 — ers, using the NBA’s marquee Indiana 21 10 .677 5A Christmas game to show why the Chicago 12 20 .375 15 Detroit 11 20 .355 15A city and the Western Conference Cleveland 9 21 .300 17 might belong to them this season. Western Conference Kawhi Leonard scored 11 of Southwest Division his 35 points in the fourth quar- W L Pct GB ter and had 12 rebounds and five Houston 21 10 .677 — Dallas 19 10 .655 1 assists to help the Clippers beat San Antonio 12 17 .414 8 the Lakers 111-106 on Wednesday Memphis 11 20 .355 10 New Orleans 9 23 .281 12A night. Northwest Division The Clippers trailed by 12 Denver 21 9 .700 — Utah 18 12 .600 3 points at halftime, by 15 in the Oklahoma City 15 14 .517 5A third quarter, and by seven in the Portland 14 17 .452 7A Minnesota 10 19 .345 10A fourth quarter with 6:39 remain- Pacific Division ing, but they rallied to improve L.A. Lakers 24 7 .774 — L.A. Clippers 23 10 .697 2 to 2-0 against the Lakers this Sacramento 12 18 .400 11A season. Phoenix 11 19 .367 12A Golden State 8 24 .250 16A “And we didn’t f linch,” Clippers Wednesday’s games coach Doc Rivers said. “Like, we Boston 118, Toronto 102 Philadelphia 121, Milwaukee 109 just kind of hung in there. Al- Golden State 116, Houston 104 most felt like we were biding our L.A. Clippers 111, L.A. Lakers 106 New Orleans 112, Denver 100 time and just trying to make a Thursday’s games run. That’s something you have Washington at Detroit New York at Brooklyn to have when things aren’t going Memphis at Oklahoma City great for you. You just got to hang San Antonio at Dallas Minnesota at Sacramento in there, and I thought we did that Portland at Utah tonight.” Friday’s games Cleveland at Boston Leonard set a franchise record Oklahoma City at Charlotte for points on Christmas, and he Philadelphia at Orlando Milwaukee at Atlanta became the 10th player in NBA Indiana at Miami history with at least 35 points, 10 Phoenix at Golden State Saturday’s games rebounds and five assists on Dec. Memphis at Denver 25. Indiana at New Orleans Toronto at Boston Montrezl Harrell had 18 points Atlanta at Chicago off the bench, and Paul George Brooklyn at Houston ROBERT GAUTHIER/TNS Cleveland at Minnesota added 17, and the Clippers are 15- New York at Washington Philadelphia at Miami 2 at Staples Center. Clippers guard Patrick Beverley, left, causes Lakers forward LeBron James to lose control of the ball in Dallas at Golden State “We have so many interchang- the closing moments of Wednesday’s game in Los Angeles. The Clippers won 111-106. Detroit at San Antonio Orlando at Milwaukee ing parts,” Clippers guard Lou Phoenix at Sacramento Williams said. “We have guys despite committing 19 turnovers. L.A. Lakers at Portland Utah at L.A. Clippers that’s going to have big nights. I The Pelicans pulled away late think I had five or six points to- courtesy of the long-range shoot- Calendar night, and that’s just how this ing of Lonzo Ball and Ingram. Jan. 10 — All contracts guaranteed for rest of season. team is built. It’s going to be dif- They also out-rebounded the Feb. 6 — Trade deadline (3 p.m. EST) ferent guys every night.” Nuggets, including 14 offensive Feb. 14-16 — All-Star weekend, Chi- cago. Kyle Kuzma led Los Angeles boards. April 15 — Regular season ends. with 25 points. LeBron James New Orleans finished a four- April 18 — Playoffs begin. May 19 — Draft lottery, Chicago. had 23 points, 10 assists and nine game trip with a 3-1 mark, which May 21-24 — Draft combine, Chicago. rebounds, and Anthony Davis includes consecutive wins for the June 4 — NBA Finals begin. June 25 — NBA Draft. had 24 points. The Lakers have first time in a month. lost four straight games. Celtics 118, Raptors 102: Leaders Williams made two free throws Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, Scoring — after a questionable foul call Kemba Walker had 22 and Boston G FG FT PTS AVG Harden, HOU 31 343 337 1182 38.1 against Davis for tapping the beat Toronto in the first Christ- Antetokounmpo, MIL 31 352 191 947 30.5 mas Day game played in Canada. Doncic, DAL 25 236 184 732 29.3 swingman after his transition Young, ATL 30 285 197 871 29.0 layup rimmed out — to give the Enes Kanter had 12 points Beal, WAS 29 280 183 820 28.3 Davis, LAL 29 282 208 804 27.7 Clippers a 105-103 lead with 3:29 and 11 rebounds as the Celtics Lillard, POR 29 243 192 772 26.6 to go. snapped an eight-game losing Towns, MIN 23 207 113 609 26.5 Leonard, LAC 24 217 144 622 25.9 Leonard, who had a three to streak north of the border and James, LAL 30 298 108 770 25.7 cap a 7-0 run and tie it at 101 with /AP became the first Atlantic Divi- Assists CHRIS SZAGOLA G AST AVG 5:14 remaining, then made four sion opponent to win in Toronto James, LAL 30 318 10.6 late free throws. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, is accidentally poked in in more than four years. Rubio, PHX 24 226 9.4 Doncic, DAL 25 222 8.9 “They wanted it more,” Davis the eye by the 76ers’ Josh Richardson while driving to the basket on Toronto had gone an NBA-re- Simmons, PHI 31 269 8.7 said. “We had a lot of mistakes Wednesday in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 121-109. cord 34 games between home Young, ATL 30 255 8.5 Brogdon, IND 26 198 7.6 down at the end of the game, men- losses to division foes. The Rap- Rebounds tal mistakes at both ends of the 76ers 121, Bucks 109: Joel to push back a late Bucks run, tors’ last home loss to an Atlan- G OFF DEF TOT AVG Drummond, DET 29 130 337 467 16.1 floor. We fouled a lot in the fourth Embiid outplayed Giannis An- and the Sixers improved to 16-2 tic team was a 111-109 defeat to Capela, HOU 27 108 280 388 14.37 quarter, put them to the line. ... tetokounmpo in his team’s first at home. the New York Knicks on Nov. 10, Gobert, UTA 28 103 297 400 14.29 Whiteside, POR 28 104 274 378 13.5 We gave that one away.” home Christmas game in 31 years, Pelicans 112, Nuggets 100: 2015. Sabonis, IND 29 98 293 391 13.48 Los Angeles had a chance to finishing with 31 points and 11 re- Brandon Ingram scored 31 points, Warriors 116, Rockets 104: Antetokounmpo, MIL 31 82 319 401 12.94 Steals tie in the final seconds, but video bounds to help three-point happy Derrick Favors grabbed 13 re- Draymond Green scored 16 of G STL AVG review showed James touched Philadelphia beat Milwaukee. bounds and visiting New Orleans his 20 points in the second half, Simmons, PHI 31 67 2.16 Butler, MIA 26 55 2.12 the ball last after Patrick Beverly Tobias Harris sank five threes, halted Denver’s seven-game win- Damion Lee had 22 points and a Dunn, CHI 32 65 2.03 knocked it away as James went up Josh Richardson and Furkan ning streak. career-high 15 rebounds and host VanVleet, TOR 26 52 2.0 Drummond, DET 29 57 1.97 for a three. George hit two free Korkmaz each had four and even The 9-23 Pelicans are now 2-0 Golden State beat Houston. Harden, HOU 31 59 1.9 throws for the final margin. Embiid hit three as part of Philly’s against the Nuggets this season. D’Angelo Russell added 20 Blocks G STL AVG “That wasn’t the game right season-high 21 threes (on 44 at- They spoiled the festive mood at points, and Glenn Robinson III Whiteside, POR 28 77 2.75 tempts) against a Bucks team that the Pepsi Center as the Nuggets Davis, LAL 29 77 2.66 there,” James said. “I mean, it’s had 18 to help the Warriors win Isaac, ORL 28 72 2.57 a big play and you want to try to had the best record in the NBA. played at home on Christmas for their third straight and end the Lopez, MIL 30 71 2.37 Turner, IND 23 53 2.3 get it right, but it wasn’t where the Harris and Al Horford hit the first time in 25 years. Rockets’ four-game winning Porzingis, DAL 28 60 2.14 game was lost.” threes over the final 90 seconds New Orleans sprang the upset streak. PAGE 28 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Irish focused on Iowa State Cyclones offense has Notre Dame’s attention

BY JOHN FINERAN Associated Press ‘ (Purdy) is a special SOUTH BEND, Ind. player — he’s really rian Kelly need not good and you can worry that No. 14 Notre Dame isn’t focused on tell he’s a leader. BIowa State, its opponent They have receivers Saturday in the Camping World Bowl. who can make big After a week of final exams, his Fighting Irish (10-2) aren’t tak- plays. They are ing Matt Campbell’s Cyclones (7- really electric. 5) lightly. ’ Drew White “I think there are a lot of peo- Notre Dame linebacker ple who don’t know how good they are,” offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg said Saturday after the sixth practice in a hectic The Irish will counter with a week for the Irish, who ended defense that finished the regu- the season on a five-game win- lar season allowing just 325.8 ning streak. “They lost to (No. 8) yards (22nd nationally) and 18.7 Baylor by two points and (No. 4) points (17th) with a turnover AL GOLDIS/AP Oklahoma by one point.” margin of 1.25 (third) thanks to The Cyclones, who also had a 17 fumble recoveries and nine Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes, left, warms up with teammates before the game against Maryland. one-point loss to No. 19 Iowa in interceptions. Willekes began his career as a walk-on and holds a school record with 49 ½ tackles for loss. September, finished in a four-way Offensively, quarterback Ian tie for third place in the high- Book threw for 2,787 yards and scoring and competitive Big 12 33 touchdowns with just six in- after a 27-17 loss at Kansas State terceptions and was the second- leading rusher (516 yards, four Michigan State’s Willekes Nov. 30. They outscored their op- position 409-304, including 139- TDs) on a team that managed just 74 in the fourth quarter. 46 and 47 yards rushing in losses “One of the things in their DNA at Georgia (23-17 Sept. 21) and finishing up remarkable run and the way they are coached is Michigan (45-14 Oct. 26). It’s one of the reasons why Kelly they play extremely hard for four BY NOAH TRISTER game with my teammates.” quarters,” Kelly said. “They are moved on from offensive coor- dinator Chip Long earlier this Associated Press Willekes redshirted in 2015, a team that, argumentatively, and he hardly played the following could have been an 11-win team month and has directed quarter- Almost a year to the day after backs coach Tom Rees, running season, but coach Mark Dantonio this year. Their 3-5-3 (defense) is breaking his leg, Kenny Willekes eventually saw the potential. a challenge and they have an out- back coach Lance Taylor and of- is ready for his Michigan State fensive line coach Jeff Quinn to “Kenny is relentless. I started standing quarterback.” swan song. thinking he could be a player for The Cyclones’ Brock Purdy, a get more balance into the Irish As usual, he’s trying to think of attack that averaged 429.4 yards Pinstripe Bowl us in the spring of 2017 when he 6-foot-1, 210-pound elusive sopho- himself as an underdog. Michigan State (6-6) finally got opportunities,” Danto- more, has thrown for 3,760 yards (47th) and 37.1 points (14th) per “Always,” he said. “That’s the game. vs. Wake Forest (8-4) nio said. “He’s a smart player, a and 27 touchdowns with just nine way you’ve got to play, that’s the tough player.” interceptions and he’s rushed for “We ran the ball at times effec- mentality I play with. I play with AFN-Sports tively; at other times we weren’t 9:20 p.m. Friday CET Willekes earned a scholarship 265 yards and eight more scores. a chip on my shoulder regard- that spring and had seven sacks effective,” Kelly said. “We want to less. I still feel like I got a lot to “Their quarterback can escape 5:20 a.m. Saturday JKT in the 2017 season. Then he added be, moving forward, more effec- prove.” the pocket and he sets up deep,” 8 ½ more sacks in 2018. He was a tive and that requires complete Willekes already holds a school defensive end Khalid Kareem first-team selection to the AP’s collaboration and everybody on record with 49 ½ tackles for loss said. “His mobility is similar to All-Big Ten team in 2018, and al- the same page. Then again, this in his career, and the senior de- derdogs and show other walk-ons the quarterback from Virginia though the injury was a sour way was an offense that was pretty fensive end has nine sacks this that there’s a way to do it — it can [Bryce Perkins].” to finish that year, he was able to darn good, too.” season. But the honor that best be done, and here’s an example of The elusive Perkins threw for recover in time for this season. Book, who could return next exemplifies his path at Michigan it.” 334 yards and two touchdowns but The broken leg was just anoth- season, wants to finish this sea- State may be the one he received Michigan State faces Wake was intercepted twice and sacked er obstacle for him to overcome, son on a high note. earlier this month. Willekes was Forest in the Pinstripe Bowl on eight times by the Irish, including and although the Spartans have “The season is not over,” he the 2019 winner of the Burlsworth Friday. For Willekes, it’s a chance 2 ½ by Kareem, in Notre Dame’s had their setbacks this season, said. “We should be proud. It’s Trophy, which goes to the nation’s to finish his college career on a 35-20 victory Sept. 28. Willekes moved up to fourth on a good bowl game and we want most outstanding player who positive note — and another op- “(Purdy) is a special player — the school’s career list with 24 ½ to go there, and we want to win. began his career as a walk-on. portunity to move on from his dif- he’s really good and you can tell sacks. He’s only a half-sack be- That’s what it’s all about.” Brandon Burlsworth was a ficult experience last year, when he’s a leader,” middle linebacker walk-on who eventually became Willekes broke his leg in a 7-6 loss hind Julian Peterson for third Drew White said. “They have re- a standout at Arkansas. He died to Oregon in the Redbox Bowl. place, and if he has a really big ceivers who can make big plays. in a car accident 11 days after After that injury, Willekes re- game this week, perhaps second- They are really electric.” being drafted by the Indianapolis turned to Michigan State for his place Shilique Calhoun is within Wide receivers Deshaunte Colts in 1999. The award bearing senior season. He remained a reach at 27. Jones (72 receptions, 832 yards, 2 his name has gone to players such force on the defensive line. With Not bad for a player who — a few touchdowns), Tarique Milton (33- as Baker Mayfield and Hunter one game to go, it would have years ago, at least — very much 689-3) and La’Michael Pettway Renfrow. been hard to blame him if he’d looked the part of an underdog. (51-622-6), tight end Charlie “It’s pretty cool. Everyone loves decided to sit out this bowl — es- “I’ve seen how far he came,” Kolar (48-675-7) and running Camping World Bowl the underdog. Everyone loves the pecially after what happened last senior defensive tackle Raequan back Breece Hall (1,100 yards No. 14 Notre Dame (10-2) underdog story,” Willekes said. year. Instead, he’s playing. Williams said. “I was here when rushing and passing) have Notre vs. Iowa State (7-5) “There’s a lot of people that truly “Obviously something that he couldn’t run straight, so it’s Dame’s attention. AFN-Sports2 are the underdog, and they’re crossed my mind,” he said. “A kind of crazy that he’s turned “They match up with the top working to get noticed, so the fact lot of people actually told me I into the player that he is. I just teams we’ve played this year,” 6 p.m. Saturday CET that they brought that trophy in shouldn’t play in it, but I want to feel very fortunate for him — and Kelly said. 2 a.m. Sunday JKT to acknowledge some of those un- play in it. I want to play one last very happy for him.” Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 29 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Open: Game-breaking receivers power explosive offenses

FROM BACK PAGE teams relying more on lightning fast, shifty pass catchers with sticky hands. “There’s no doubt things have changed,” he said. It was only four years ago LSU was a run-heavy team with Leon- ard Fournette leading the charge. His 22 touchdowns were more than the 13 the Tigers passed for that 2015 season. Now, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow has LSU in Air Raid mode with his school- record 48 TD passes. Tigers coach Ed Orgeron ac- knowledged his defense has had to adjust sometimes to their fast- paced attack. “But we’re not going to slow down,” he said. None of the four teams in the CFP are expected to slow down, not with the pieces in place to blow opponents out. LSU’s Chase won the Bilet- nikoff award as the game’s top receiver. His 18 touchdowns tied the Southeastern Conference’s single season mark — one its seems likely he’ll obliterate with more games left. “Ja’Marr is a special talent,” Orgeron said. “Not only is he fast, but he’s very strong. “He loves to win the one-on-one matchup,” Orgeron continued. “He’s physical. He works hard. He catches everything. He’s got AP photos big hands, a route runner. I think Above: LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson (2) outruns the Georgia he’s a phenomenal player.” defense during the SEC championship game earlier this month in Chase said his route-running Atlanta. Right: Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb celebrates a has improved considerably this 30-23 overtime win against Baylor during the Big 12 Championship. season, particularly because he has gotten better at creating sepa- ration early when defensive backs inbounds to complete the catch. try to disrupt his pass pattern. “Every time I see that I say, “Executing coming off the ‘Man, I really caught that. It’s line most of the time has been a crazy,’” Higgins said with a big difference from last year to smile. this year,” Chase said. “It’s more Typically, Higgins or Ross about footwork and hand-eye (he had three TD catches in coordination.” Clemson’s 44-16 blowout of All the talented receivers in the Alabama to win the national CFP have shown great hand- title a year ago) eye coordination. has created Perhaps the most talked- enough space about play in Clemson’s to catch passes 62-17 destruction of from quarter- Virginia in the Atlantic back Trevor Coast Conference title Lawrence. game was Higgins’ Ross said highlight-reel sideline teams can’t grab — reaching out put extra de- of bounds while fenders on keeping his toes him, given Clemson’s deep, talented group of Ohio State playmakers. wide receiver Oklahoma’s Lamb also has K.J. Hill been a nightmare for defenders, even with his frustration at times when he feels he is not getting the ball when he’s open. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said it’s Lamb’s competitiveness that stands out. Lamb is “so invested in this team and sometimes he wants it so much you’ve got to take a deep breath and go on to the next one,” Riley said. At Ohio State, Hill has already surpassed David Boston’s career mark with 195 catches. A recep- Ryan Day wasn’t at Ohio State for “He’s been clutch,” Day said, t ion against Clemson will give him all of Hill’s five seasons, but ap- “very, very productive.” another Buckeyes’ record with a preciates what he has seen first- He’s not alone, and that could catch in 49 straight games. hand, saying Hill has consistently make for an entertaining College Second-year Buckeyes coach excelled. Football Playoff. PAGE 30 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Friday, December 27, 2019 NFL Weekly statistics

AFC individual leaders NFC individual leaders Week 16 Week 16 Quarterbacks Quarterbacks Att Com Yds TD Int Att Com Yds TD Int Rivers, LAC 545 359 4334 21 18 Winston, TB 602 367 4908 31 28 Mahomes, KC 459 303 3857 25 4 Prescott, Dal 563 365 4599 26 11 Watson, Hou 495 333 3852 26 12 Goff, LAR 581 365 4319 19 16 Brady, NE 584 357 3836 22 7 Ryan, Atl 565 378 4153 25 14 Carr, Oak 467 332 3663 20 8 Wilson, Sea 476 316 3877 29 5 Mayfield, Cle 507 305 3548 19 18 Wentz, Phi 567 365 3750 26 7 Dalton, Cin 500 298 3304 15 13 Garoppolo, SF 454 311 3693 27 13 Fitzpatrick, Mia 461 283 3209 19 13 Rodgers, GB 514 326 3679 24 3 Jackson, Bal 401 265 3127 36 6 Cousins, Min 444 307 3603 26 6 Allen, Buf 456 268 3084 20 9 K.Murray, Ari 500 323 3397 18 10 Rushers Rushers Att Yds Avg LG TD Att Yds Avg LG TD Chubb, Cle 285 1453 5.1 88t 8 McCaffrey, Car 278 1361 4.9 84t 14 Henry, Ten 271 1329 4.9 74t 13 Elliott, Dal 283 1235 4.4 31 11 Jackson, Bal 176 1206 6.9 47t 7 Carson, Sea 278 1230 4.4 59 7 Fournette, Jac 265 1152 4.3 81 3 Cook, Min 250 1135 4.5 75t 13 Jacobs, Oak 242 1150 4.8 51 7 Jones, GB 211 984 4.7 56t 16 Hyde, Hou 241 1057 4.4 58 6 Barkley, NYG 200 911 4.6 67t 5 Ingram, Bal 202 1018 5.0 53 10 Peterson, Was 198 820 4.1 29 5 Mack, Ind 232 1014 4.4 63t 6 Gurley, LAR 203 789 3.9 25 12 Mixon, Cin 252 975 3.9 30 3 Montgomery, Chi 219 776 3.5 55 5 Lindsay, Den 206 958 4.7 40 7 Sanders, Phi 170 766 4.5 65t 3 Receivers Receivers No Yds Avg LG TD No Yds Avg LG TD Kelce, KC 94 1205 12.8 47 5 Thomas, NO 145 1688 11.6 49 9 Hopkins, Hou 104 1165 11.2 43t 7 Godwin, TB 86 1333 15.5 71t 9 Allen, LAC 95 1117 11.8 45 5 J.Jones, Atl 92 1316 14.3 54t 6 Landry, Cle 81 1092 13.5 65 5 Moore, Car 87 1175 13.5 52t 4 Edelman, NE 97 1091 11.2 44 6 Evans, TB 67 1157 17.3 67t 8 D.Parker, Mia 64 1065 16.6 51 9 Diggs, Min 63 1130 17.9 66 6 Brown, Buf 72 1060 14.7 53t 6 Golladay, Det 62 1118 18.0 75t 11 Sutton, Den 68 1060 15.6 70t 6 Cooper, Dal 75 1097 14.6 53t 8 ELAINE THOMPSON/AP Waller, Oak 84 1038 12.4 48 3 Robinson, Chi 89 1076 12.1 49 7 Boyd, Cin 85 987 11.6 47 5 Woods, LAR 83 1067 12.9 48 1 Newly signed Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch stretches during warmups Tuesday at the team’s Punters Punters practice facility in Renton, Wash. Lynch could play a major role Sunday against San Francisco. No Yds Lg Avg No Yds Lg Avg Long, LAC 45 2122 60 47.2 Way, Was 75 3692 79 49.2 Kern, Ten 74 3483 70 47.1 Hekker, LAR 62 2972 71 47.9 Cooke, Jac 73 3389 66 46.4 Lee, Ari 58 2762 64 47.6 Cole, Oak 64 2957 74 46.2 Johnston, Phi 64 2989 61 46.7 Anger, Hou 40 1846 71 46.2 Dixon, NYG 63 2921 62 46.4 Edwards, NYJ 82 3777 63 46.1 Morstead, NO 54 2487 64 46.1 Gillan, Cle 59 2706 71 45.9 Palardy, Car 68 3105 58 45.7 Lynch’s return provides Berry, Pit 69 3124 69 45.3 Martin, Det 69 3128 62 45.3 Haack, Mia 65 2935 62 45.2 Colquitt, Min 61 2750 59 45.1 Bailey, NE 77 3460 65 44.9 Dickson, Sea 71 3191 63 44.9 Punt returners Punt returners No Yds Avg Long TD No Yds Avg Long TD Berrios, NYJ 20 231 11.6 26 0 Harris, NO 34 319 9.4 53t 1 Carter, Hou 20 189 9.5 23 0 Cohen, Chi 33 302 9.2 71 0 Olszewski, NE 20 179 9.0 22 0 James, SF 31 258 8.3 32 0 Spencer, Den 25 204 8.2 42 0 Barner, Atl 33 264 8.0 78t 1 spark in Seattle morale Roberts, Buf 28 223 8.0 22 0 Natson, LAR 19 149 7.8 35 0 Kickoff returners Kickoff returners No Yds Avg LG TD No Yds Avg LG TD Wilson, Cin 20 625 31.3 92t 1 Patterson, Chi 28 825 29.5 102t 1 Roberts, Buf 25 664 26.6 66 0 Harris, NO 24 644 26.8 51 0 BY TIM BOOTH reserve to open up the roster Grant, Mia 23 578 25.1 101t 1 S.Sims, Was 31 799 25.8 91t 1 Associated Press spots. T.Davis, Mia 22 488 23.6 52 0 Latimer, NYG 20 472 23.6 50 0 Did you know Hardman, KC 25 587 23.5 34 0 James, SF 19 428 22.5 81 0 Lynch made a surprise media Bolden, NE 22 477 21.7 34 0 Cooper, Ari 22 493 22.4 39 0 RENTON, Wash. appearance after practice for all Scoring Scoring hen Marshawn Lynch of 9 seconds, saying, “Happy holi- Touchdowns Touchdowns played his last game TD Rush Rec Ret Pts TD Rush Rec Ret Pts Seahawks days. Merry New Year. You all Henry, Ten 15 13 2 0 90 Jones, GB 19 16 3 0 114 for Seattle in Janu- running back have a great day. It’s a great feel- Ingram, Bal 15 10 5 0 90 McCaffrey, Car 18 14 4 0 108 ary 2016, a playoff ing to be back.” Ekeler, LAC 11 3 8 0 66 Gurley, LAR 14 12 2 0 84 W Andrews, Bal 10 0 10 0 60 Cook, Min 13 13 0 0 78 loss to Carolina, the idea of him Marshawn But he did expand on his deci- Allen, Buf 9 9 0 0 54 Elliott, Dal 12 11 1 0 72 ever wearing a Seahawks uni- Lynch sion in a video posted on his Beast D.Parker, Mia 9 0 9 0 54 Golladay, Det 11 0 11 0 66 form again seemed preposterous. 5 tied 8 1 7 0 48 5 tied 9 7 2 0 54 averaged 4.2 Mode Productions YouTube chan- Kicking Kicking Yet here was Lynch on Tues- nel that was shot a few days ago. PAT FG LG Pts PAT FG LG Pts day going through his first prac- yards per carry last Butker, KC 41-44 33-37 56 140 Lutz, NO 42-43 32-36 58 138 It was clear in the video that there Tucker, Bal 55-57 24-25 51 127 Gay, TB 41-46 27-32 58 122 tice with Seattle in nearly four season with the had been discussions of a return Boswell, Pit 27-27 28-30 51 111 Gonzalez, Ari 31-32 30-34 54 121 years, and potentially tasked with to Seattle before news broke on Lambo, Jac 16-17 30-31 53 106 Bailey, Min 39-43 23-25 50 108 Oakland Raiders. McManus, Den 24-25 26-30 53 102 Zuerlein, LAR 38-38 23-31 58 107 playing a major role on Sunday Monday. Seibert, Cle 28-32 24-28 53 100 Myers, Sea 37-41 23-28 54 106 against San Francisco with the What’s uncertain is what Lynch Fairbairn, Hou 38-43 20-25 54 98 Prater, Det 33-34 24-29 55 105 SOURCE: Associated Press Bullock, Cin 21-21 25-29 57 96 Gould, SF 39-40 21-29 47 102 NFC West title on the line. can provide Seattle’s offense. The Hauschka, Buf 30-32 20-26 51 90 Slye, Car 30-34 24-31 55 102 W hen it comes to N F L reunions, scheme is similar to the last time Sanders, Mia 26-27 21-28 54 89 Maher, Dal 36-36 20-30 63 96 this is as unlikely as it gets. Not up looking like a 33-year-old who he was with the Seahawks, but AFC team statistics NFC team statistics just Lynch back on a football field hasn’t played in more than a year. the team has a different offensive after more than a year away, but But the idea of “Beast Mode” car- coordinator and different offen- Week 16 Week 16 rying the ball once again in a Se- AVERAGE PER GAME AVERAGE PER GAME back in Seattle. sive line coach. None of the line- OFFENSE OFFENSE “What I needed to hear from attle uniform galvanized not only men who will block for Lynch on Yards Rush Pass Yards Rush Pass the fan base, but a locker room of Baltimore 414.5 204.9 209.6 Dallas 425.8 128.7 297.1 him is where his heart is. Is he Sunday were around the last time Kansas City 382.1 93.8 288.3 Tampa Bay 402.5 92.3 310.1 in it and does he want to go for players who mostly haven’t had he had a carry for the Seahawks L.A. Chargers 367.5 89.7 277.9 Atlanta 380.1 84.9 295.2 it, which he totally does,” Seattle Lynch as a teammate. — a divisional-round playoff loss Houston 366.1 126.7 239.4 San Francisco 379.9 145.1 234.8 Oakland 356.1 119.7 236.4 Seattle 376.2 138.3 237.9 coach Pete Carroll said. “He’s Linebacker K.J. Wright, one of to Carolina on Jan. 17, 2016. Tennessee 355.9 131.9 224.0 New Orleans 373.5 108.2 265.3 worked to prove that. I don’t the few holdovers from Lynch’s Lynch averaged 4.2 yards per New England 354.1 104.5 249.6 L.A. Rams 371.6 92.4 279.2 last season, said some of the Cleveland 342.8 121.8 221.0 Philadelphia 358.1 121.2 236.9 doubt him one bit about that. He’s carry last season with Oakland Jacksonville 341.0 109.4 231.6 Minnesota 357.1 130.6 226.5 very sincere about how he pres- younger players seemed a bit in before suffering a season-ending Buffalo 331.6 132.1 199.5 Detroit 349.6 98.5 251.1 ents himself to this game and it’s awe of Lynch being back in Seat- Indianapolis 330.9 133.2 197.7 Carolina 342.7 118.5 224.1 core muscle injury. Seattle would Cincinnati 320.5 89.2 231.3 Green Bay 339.7 111.7 228.1 very important to him to be at his tle’s locker room. gladly take that kind of produc- Miami 304.7 72.9 231.9 Arizona 338.3 127.9 210.3 best and do well, and he’s going to “Only one person can pull this tion in concert with Turbin and Denver 302.6 106.1 196.5 N.Y. Giants 334.6 104.2 230.4 Pittsburgh 284.0 90.4 193.6 Chicago 294.1 86.7 207.5 do everything he can to make that off and that’s No. 24,” Wright said. rookie sixth-round pick Travis N.Y. Jets 273.1 78.1 195.1 Washington 274.9 99.7 175.3 happen.” “Back in the building, it feels Homer. DEFENSE DEFENSE The arrival of Lynch was a good. When I heard the news I Yards Rush Pass Yards Rush Pass “What he brings and what he New England 268.3 97.7 170.7 San Francisco 277.4 111.8 165.6 spark of energy inside a Seattle was like, ‘Perfect.’ He’s just the offers, he brings a lot to the table,” Buffalo 300.1 104.2 195.9 Chicago 325.7 97.2 228.5 locker room that was left reeling ultimate teammate, cool dude, Carroll said. “He’s as physical a Pittsburgh 304.1 102.0 202.1 Philadelphia 327.3 88.0 239.3 Baltimore 309.4 93.5 215.9 Dallas 330.7 104.5 226.2 after Sunday’s 27-13 loss to Ari- just ballin’. I’m glad to have him player as I’ve ever been around, L.A. Chargers 311.5 109.5 202.0 New Orleans 333.3 94.7 238.7 zona. Not only were the Seahawks back.” as great a competitor as I’ve ever N.Y. Jets 324.1 87.9 236.2 L.A. Rams 336.1 115.9 220.2 Seattle made official the sign- Denver 327.7 112.4 215.3 Minnesota 341.9 104.7 237.2 run over by the Cardinals, they been around and when you get to Indianapolis 346.4 100.0 246.4 Tampa Bay 342.0 72.9 269.1 lost their most direct path to the ings of Lynch and Robert Turbin add somebody like that to your Kansas City 348.5 129.5 219.0 Green Bay 355.8 116.7 239.1 No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs — the same backfield combo it team it only helps and enhances Cleveland 361.6 142.4 219.2 Atlanta 357.6 109.3 248.3 Oakland 362.6 100.0 262.6 Carolina 374.2 145.4 228.8 and their top two running backs used from 2012-14 — on Tuesday. kind of the mentality that we al- Tennessee 363.4 104.2 259.2 N.Y. Giants 375.8 112.7 263.1 to injury. The Seahawks placed injured ready cherish anyway. We’ll find Jacksonville 382.1 139.8 242.3 Washington 376.3 141.1 235.3 Houston 383.1 112.8 270.3 Seattle 380.5 117.0 263.5 Lynch may end up being great running backs Chris Carson (hip) out how he can play and how he Cincinnati 399.1 153.9 245.2 Detroit 398.3 115.7 282.6 in Seattle’s backfield. He may end and C.J. Prosise (arm) on injured does. It’s been a little while off.” Miami 400.8 135.4 265.4 Arizona 400.5 120.6 279.9 Friday, December 27, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 31 NFL Texans DE Watt practices, could return for playoffs

BY KRISTIE RIEKEN then literally a couple days after Associated Press the surgery I was feeling so good that I asked — ‘is it remotely pos- HOUSTON — J.J. Watt re- sible?’ We left the ... door open for turned to practice with the Hous- a possibility.” ton Texans on Tuesday, clearing Players on injured reserve must the way for the star defensive end miss eight games before returning to play in the team’s playoff game and Watt has only missed seven so in two weeks. far, meaning he could not play in Watt has been out since Oct. 27 Houston’s regular-season finale after tearing a pectoral muscle, against Tennessee on Sunday. an injury that required surgery. This is the third time in four “I feel really good,” Watt said. seasons that the three-time NFL “We’ve worked extremely hard at Defensive Player of the Year has rehab. We’ve had a very smooth had a major injury. He missed the process and everything’s been last 13 games of 2016 with a back going extremely well. So I’m re- injury that required surgery and ally, really excited to back in the played just five games in 2017 be- field with everybody and to get fore breaking his leg. He played back out there helping my team all 16 games last season and was and playing for this city.” a first-team All-Pro. The Texans will have 21 days Watt said that recovering from from Tuesday to take him off his most recent injury was much TONY AVELAR/AP the injured reserve and add him easier than his rehabilitation from 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has a 20-5 record as a starter, but he has yet to play in Seattle. to the active roster. If they plan his leg and back injuries. The Seahawks have one of the loudest stadiums and are especially hard on young quarterbacks. to play him in their first playoff “(Those were) two massive, game during the weekend of Jan. massive things that really affect 4-5, they’ll have to activate him movement,” he said. “But the nice by 4 p.m. ET the day before the thing about this surgery was this game. whole time I’ve been able to run, Garoppolo faces Seattle Watt has been working out with I’ve been able to work out my legs, the team’s trainers and medical do agility drills, position drills. staff away for a while and said he’s So that has been a huge help both felt good during those workouts. mentally and physically for this He said he’s been wearing a har- recovery.” ness during those workouts and While Watt said he expects to crowd noise for first time that he’ll continue to wear that to play in Houston’s first playoff protect himself during team prac- game, he was careful to point out tices. The harness keeps his arm that it’s unlikely that he’ll partici- from being pulled too far back- pate in as many snaps as he has CenturyLink is one of noisiest places for opponents ward, but it will not restrict him throughout his career. from moving his arm forward or “I’m sure it’s not going to be raising it up. an every play type of thing, just BY GRANT COHN Garoppolo missed the 49ers’ game at Seattle last Watt said that he began think- for the first one back,” he said. “I Associated Press season with a torn ACL. His backup, Nick Mullens, ing he might be able to return for don’t think that would be the best threw for 414 yards — the most a quarterback with the postseason not long after he situation. But we’ll see how it feels SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Sunday’s game against 25 or fewer career starts has ever recorded against was injured. over the next two weeks and get a the Seahawks in Seattle will be the biggest test of the Seahawks in Seattle. Although Mullens handled “When I got hurt I just assumed gauge for it before we go into that Jimmy Garoppolo’s career. the noise well, the 49ers lost 43-16. I was done,” he said. “I didn’t even game. I’m sure we’ll have a good Granted, he hasn’t had many tests yet — he has How will Garoppolo fare? know there was a possibility. And plan.” started only 25 games. And he has passed most of “I can tell Jimmy it will be exactly like New Or- the tests opponents have presented him — his re- leans was,” Shanahan said. “I’ve been in New Or- cord is 20-5. leans a bunch, but it was different last time we were Six teams still battling for But Garoppolo hasn’t started a game at Seattle’s there. It was as loud as I’ve been anywhere. So last CenturyLink Field, one of the loudest, gloomiest, time in New Orleans was tied with how Seattle is. I most difficult places for opponents to play in the thought Garoppolo handled himself well there, and important first-round bye NFL, particularly for in- expect him to do the same in Seattle.” experienced quarterbacks. Garoppolo passed for 349 yards and four touch- Since 2010, QBs with 25 or BY ROB MAADDI of the last 25 Super Bowl cham- ‘ There’s a downs at New Orleans on Dec. 8, and the 49ers beat fewer career starts have Associated Press pions have been either a No. 1 or the Saints 48-46. That was perhaps the best game of really good won just six of 28 games in No. 2 seed. Garoppolo’s career, and it showed him what to ex- chance it’s Seattle. Six teams are still fighting for The 2010 Packers were the last pect Sunday in Seattle. three important spots to ease wild-card team to advance to the going to be If the 49ers lose on Sun- day, they’ll be a wild-card “It’s going to be a 60-minute game,” Garoppolo their path to the Super Bowl. Super Bowl. as loud as it team and start their quest said. “You have to have your mind ready for that. While 10 teams have clinched Over the last 25 years, 39 of the for the Super Bowl on the When you get to these big games, two good football playoff spots entering Week 17, 50 teams that played in the Super ever gets and road. But if they win Sun- teams, it’s always going to go up until the last whis- only the Baltimore Ravens (13- Bowl were either a No. 1 or a No. as exciting as tle, and we’ve had multiple experiences this year 2) have earned a first-round bye. day, they will earn the No. 1 2 seed. seed in the NFC and a first- like that.” The Ravens secured the AFC’s it ever gets. ’ Here’s a look inside more num- round bye. The 49ers kept it close earlier this season at home No. 1 seed for the first time in Pete Carroll bers entering the final week of There’s plenty at stake for against the Seahawks before losing in overtime. franchise history. Seahawks coach the regular season: Garoppolo and the 49ers in Garoppolo played poorly: His quarterback rating New England (12-3) and Kan- Running Ravens: Lamar Jack- Seattle. was 66.2, he fumbled twice and the Seahawks re- sas City (11-4) are battling for the son and Mark Ingram have the “They’ve had as good of a 10-year run defensively covered both times. No. 2 spot. Ravens on the verge of break- as probably anyone in the history of football,” 49ers Garoppolo played that game without his top tar- In the NFC, the top two seeds ing the league’s season rushing head coach Kyle Shanahan said of the Seahawks. get, tight end George Kittle, and wide receiver Em- are still up for grabs. San Fran- record. The Ravens have 3,073 “Then you add in the elements of their stadium, manuel Sanders missed most of that game with cisco (12-3), Green Bay (12-3), yards rushing. The 1978 Patriots where you can’t hear. When you can’t use cadence broken ribs. Sanders and Kittle will play Sunday in New Orleans (12-3) and Seattle had 3,165. and you’re going up against a very skilled team with Seattle, giving Garoppolo more weapons against the (11-4) each has a chance to clinch Jackson (1,206) and Ingram a pass rush, it’s extremely hard.” hostile crowd. home-field advantage throughout (1,018) are the seventh team- Cadence is a quarterback’s snap count. Garop- “There’s a chance they’re going to be frickin’ fly- the playoffs. mates with 1,000-yard seasons polo won’t be able to verbally communicate on the ing off the top of the roof,” Seahawks coach Pete No team has reached the Super and first since Carolina’s Jona- field in Seattle, so the 49ers will have to use a silent Carroll said of the home crowd. “And there’s a re- Bowl without a first-round bye than Stewart and DeAngelo Wil- count, which the Seahawks’ pass rushers can time ally good chance it’s going to be as loud as it ever since the 2012 Ravens. Eighteen liams in 2009. and anticipate. Advantage: Seattle. gets and as exciting as it ever gets.” S TARS AND STRIPES Friday, December 27, 2019 Beast boost Lynch’s arrival provides spark, SPORTS energy for Seahawks » Page 30

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF Wide open Postseason matchups will showcase dynamic group of pass catchers

BY PETE IACOBELLI Associated Press flick of the wrist, a slight shift of the shoulder and they’re off. Talented receivers are a big part of this year’s College Foot- ball Playoff. Never before have Athere been four teams in the CFP so prolific at scoring points. And it’s in large part due to a growing — think 6-foot or taller — list of game-breaking receivers keen on quick cuts, one-handed grabs and the ability to catch al- most any pass thrown their way. “Not always sure how we do it,” said Clemson’s top receiver Tee Higgins. Neither is anyone else who has seen the impressive weekly grabs by Higgins and the other receivers in the CFP who have become must-see TV:  No. 1 LSU has a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, who have combined for 32 touchdowns this season.  No. 2 Ohio State features K.J. Hill and Chris Olave. The duo has 21 touchdown catches between them.  Third-ranked Clemson pairs Higgins with Justyn Ross, a com- bination that has helped the de- fending national champions win their past 28 games.  And Oklahoma showcases CeeDee Lamb. All Lamb has done is average nearly 21 yards a catch and haul in 14 touchdown receptions. It’s the first time the four CFP participants enter the national semifinals averaging more than 43 points a game — which gives offense- crazed fans the promise of two potentially ex- plosive showdowns when LSU faces Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl and Ohio State takes on Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday. CBS Sports analyst Gary Danielson has seen the evolution of the game go from big, physi- cal bruisers getting 35 carries a contest to

SEE OPEN ON PAGE 29

LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase won this season’s Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top receiver. His 18 touchdowns tied the SEC’s single-season mark.

JOHN BAZEMORE/AP

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