GAO report outlines safety shortfalls - Stripes Lite
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THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021
GAO report outlines safety shortfalls
BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS pervisors — such as vehicle commanders — services evaluate to ensure “responsibili-
Stars and Stripes to effectively perform their role,” according ties to identify and communicate” dangers
WASHINGTON — Driver distraction, su- to the report. “As a result, implementation are upheld.
pervision lapses and training shortfalls of risk management practices, such as fol- “If the responsibilities are not being car-
were among the leading causes behind Ar- lowing speed limits and using seat belts, ried out, the [services] should determine if
my and Marine Corps tactical vehicle acci- was ad hoc among units.” existing workarounds are adequate or if ad-
dents in a new report released Wednesday While no single event inspired the study, ditional resources should be applied to ful-
by the Government Accountability Office. the GAO said it was initiated because “the fill these responsibilities,” the GAO said in
The study reviewed 3,753 Army and Ma- Army and Marine Corps have experienced its report.
rine Corps noncombat tactical vehicle acci- tactical vehicle accidents that resulted in The GAO also suggested the Army and
dents between 2010 and 2019, which result- deaths of military personnel during non- Navy secretaries evaluate the number of
ed in 123 deaths. While the number of dead- combat scenarios.” personnel responsible for tactical vehicle
ly accidents fluctuated during the years The report found the services lacked ap- safety “and determine if these units are ap-
with a high of more than 23 in 2010 and a low propriate and continuing driver training propriately staffed or if any adjustments are
of about 7 in 2017, the causes remained across “diverse driving conditions, such as needed to workloads or resource levels,” ac-
largely the same, according to the report. driving at night or over varied terrain,” ac- cording to the report.
To address the issue, the GAO made nine cording to the report. “The Army and Marine Corps have prac-
recommendations in the report, calling for “Licensing classes were often condensed tices to mitigate and prevent tactical vehicle
the services to create more clearly defined into shorter periods of time than planned accidents, but units don’t always use them,”
roles for supervisors, establish procedures with limited drive time and unit training fo- the report found.
and mechanisms for risk management and cused on other priorities rather than driv- The GAO also recommended the Army
ensure driver-training programs have a ing,” according to the units that the GAO in- and Navy secretaries, along with the Army
well-defined process with specific perform- terviewed. chief of staff and Marine Corps comman-
ance criteria. In some cases, troops weren’t effectively dant, create “a formal collaboration forum”
“The Army and Marine Corps had not communicating hazards found on training for the services to “share methods for iden-
clearly defined the roles or put procedures grounds and ranges to units and drivers, tifying and communicating hazards to units
and mechanisms in place for first-line su- something that the GAO recommended the with each other on a regular basis.”
Ala. base is 1st in States to require proof of vaccination
The Washington Post personnel “must be prepared to show proof good reason not to,” reads the official order,
An Alabama military base is taking in- of vaccination” when on the base. issued Wednesday.
creased actions to combat the ongoing preva- “Due to the rising rates in the counties On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman John
lence of coronavirus infections, authorizing around us and some on Fort Rucker, we’re Kirby said that about 70% of military person-
leaders to ask for proof of vaccination of ser- now implementing G.O. number 12,” Francis nel have received at least one dose of a coro-
vice members not wearing a mask while on said in a video posted July 12 on Fort Ruck- navirus vaccine.
duty. It is the first military base in the conti- er’s official Facebook page, referring to the “That’s encouraging, but there’s more
nental United States to allow leaders to check general order issued to Fort Rucker person- work to do, and so we continue to be in the
the vaccination status of those in uniform. nel. “The big difference is going to be that if mode of encouraging troops to get vaccinated
The new guidance at Fort Rucker comes as you are not wearing a mask, the leadership to the maximum degree,” he said.
the new delta variant of the virus continues to will be able to ask you, ask soldiers, to prove In Alabama, just 33% of the population is
drive infection rates and now accounts for a that they’ve been vaccinated by showing fully vaccinated and just over 40% has re-
majority of cases in the U.S. The base is their vaccination card.” ceived at least one dose, which is well below
among facilities, including Fort Leonard The new rule applies only to uniformed the national average, according to data from
Wood in Missouri, Fort Sill in Oklahoma and personnel, of which there are about 5,000 as- The Washington Post. In Dale County, where
Fort Jackson in South Carolina, where less signed to the base. The base, which houses Fort Rucker is located, the daily average for
than half of the surrounding populations the Army’s aviation branch, is also home to coronavirus infections is at 12 cases per day.
have been vaccinated. thousands of civilian dependents and civilian Alabama is also among states that have en-
The order issued Tuesday by Maj. Gen. employees. acted legislation banning vaccine passports
David Francis, commanding general of Fort Civilian employees on the base “must be or requiring immunization to receive govern-
Rucker, states that unmasked uniformed taken at their word unless the supervisor has ment services.PAGE 2 • STRIPES LITE • Thursday, July 15, 2021
Milley reportedly feared Trump coup
The Washington Post complaints of election fraud, drawing a nymity and the scenes reported were recon-
WASHINGTON — In the waning weeks of comparison to the 1933 attack on Germany’s structed based on firsthand accounts and
Donald Trump’s term, the country’s top mil- parliament building that Hitler used as a multiple other sources whenever possible.
itary leader repeatedly worried about what pretext to establish a Nazi dictatorship. After attending a Nov. 10 security briefing
the president might do to maintain power af- “This is a Reichstag moment,” Milley told about the “Million MAGA March,” a pro-
ter losing reelection, comparing his rhetoric aides, according to the book. “The gospel of Trump rally protesting the election, Milley
to Adolf Hitler’s during the rise of Nazi Ger- the Führer.” said he feared an American equivalent of
many and asking confidants whether a coup Portions of the book related to Milley — “brownshirts in the streets,” alluding to the
was forthcoming, according to a new book first reported Wednesday night by CNN paramilitary forces that protected Nazi ral-
by two Washington Post reporters. ahead of the book’s July 20 release — offer a lies and enabled Hitler’s ascent.
As Trump ceaselessly pushed false remarkable window into the thinking of Late that same evening, according to the
claims about the 2020 presidential election, America’s highest-ranking military officer, book, an old friend called Milley to express
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint who saw himself as one of the last empo- concerns that those close to Trump were at-
Chiefs of Staff, grew more and more nerv- wered defenders of democracy during some tempting to “overturn the government.”
ous, telling aides he feared that the presi- of the darkest days in the country’s recent “You are one of the few guys who are
dent and his acolytes may attempt to use the history. standing between us and some really bad
military to stay in office, Carol Leonnig and The episodes in the book are based on in- stuff,” the friend told Milley, according to an
Philip Rucker report in “I Alone Can Fix It: terviews with more than 140 people, includ- account relayed to his aides. Milley was
Donald J. Trump’s Catastrophic Final ing senior Trump administration officials, shaken, Leonnig and Rucker write, and he
Year.” friends and advisers, Leonnig and Rucker called former national security adviser H.R.
Milley described “a stomach-churning” write in an author’s note. Most agreed to McMaster to ask whether a coup was actual-
feeling as he listened to Trump’s untrue speak candidly only on the condition of ano- ly imminent.
Hard landing strands 165 Submariner takes helm
Patriot Express passengers of Naval forces in Japan
BYJONATHAN SNYDER the base gym around 9:30 p.m. BY ALEX WILSON month lockdown at Yokosuka,
Stars and Stripes Tuesday. Stars and Stripes the Navy’s headquarters south
MARINE CORPS AIR STA- “The Patriot Express flight YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, of Tokyo and homeport of the
TION IWAKUNI, Japan — The had a rough landing and dam- Japan — Rear Adm. Brian Fort 7th Fleet.
air station’s North Gym basket- aged something in the nose of closed out 32 years in the Navy The commander of U.S.
ball court was temporary home the aircraft,” he said. this week by handing over his Forces Japan, Air Force Lt.
for 165 passengers bound for The plane and its crew re- last command to an experi- Gen. Kevin Schneider, congrat-
Okinawa after a hard landing turned to Yokota for mainte- enced submariner who recently ulated Fort for his many years
Tuesday sent their Patriot Ex- nance, Staff Sgt. David Grigg, a arrived from Washington, D.C. of service and his numerous ac-
press flight back to Yokota Air terminal agent at Yokota, told Fort transferred the dual-hat complishments. Fort received
Base for repairs. Stars and Stripes by phone responsibility for U.S. Naval the Order of the Rising Sun,
Most of the delayed passen- Wednesday. Forces Japan and Navy Region gold and silver, from the Japa-
gers slept on cots and dined on He said the flight was expect- Japan to Rear Adm. Carl Lahti, nese government July 1 in rec-
Burger King, teriyaki chicken ed to depart Iwakuni at 10 p.m. most recently the commandant ognition of his service.
and sandwiches. Forty-one pas- Thursday. of Naval District Washington. Lahti thanked Fort for his ser-
sengers, parents with infant The Patriot Express from The command exerts both oper- vice and pledged to continue “to
children, were afforded rooms Iwakuni wasn’t the only one de- ational and administrative con- maintain and foster the strong
at a hotel on the air station, layed Wednesday. Another trol over all Navy personnel and relationships” that Fort created.
MCAS Iwakuni spokesman flight from Seattle-Tacoma In- installations in the country. “For the U.S. Naval Forces
Maj. Joshua Diddams told Stars ternational Airport to Yokota The Wednesday ceremony at Japan and Naval Region Japan
and Stripes on Wednesday. turned back to Sea-Tac after the naval base’s Fleet Theater teams, our missions are clear:
Marine Capt. Antonio Marre- two or three hours, a customer featured accolades on Fort’s be- enable the 7th Fleet, enhance
ro, a passenger heading to service agent for Air Mobility half. He presided over the Navy and strengthen the U.S.-Japan
Camp Schwab on Okinawa, told Command in Seattle told Stars response to the coronavirus alliance and serve as the naval
Stars and Stripes on Wednesday and Stripes by phone Wednes- pandemic in Japan, which in component to U.S. Forces Ja-
that he and the others arrived at day. spring 2020 meant a three- pan,” he said.
Stars and Stripes digest is produced by the news desk at our central office in Washington, D.C. The internet address is: http://slite.dma.mil. You may contact us by calling
(202) 886-0003 or by sending an email to SSCcopydesk@stripes.osd.mil. Visit Stars and Stripes online at stripes.com.Thursday, July 15, 2021 • S T R I P E S L I T E • PAGE 3
DOD: US once trained men in Haiti hit
The Washington Post training is only as good as the institution it- nership dates at least to the 1950s.
Some of the former Colombian service- self,” he said. Colombian military and police also use
men arrested after last week’s assassination “The Colombian army, which we have U.S.-provided weapons and equipment, an
of Haiti’s president previously received U.S. supported for 20 years, has a long history of agreement that came under scrutiny earlier
military training, according to the Pentagon, targeting civilians, violating the laws of war this year after police there killed multiple
raising fresh questions about the United and not being accountable. There has been a protesters during demonstrations against
States’ ties to Jovenel Moïse’s death. cultural problem within that institution.” government tax proposals. A related analysis
“A review of our training databases indi- Colombian officials have said 13 of the 15 by The Post, published in May, found that
cates that a small number of the Colombian Colombian suspects in the July 7 assassina- Colombian authorities overstepped their
individuals detained as part of this investiga- tion plot once served in that country’s mili- own rules of engagement in some of the dead-
tion had participated in past U.S. military tary, including the two killed by Haitian au- ly encounters.
training and education programs, while serv- thorities after Moïse was fatally shot inside Fighting in Colombia’s decades-long war
ing as active members of the Colombian Mil- his home. has been a springboard for military veterans
itary Forces,” Lt. Col. Ken Hoffman, a Penta- It is common for Colombian troops and to trade their U.S.-funded experience for hire
gon spokesman, said in a statement to The other security personnel across Latin Amer- in other global conflicts, such as in Yemen.
Washington Post. ica to receive U.S. training and education. “The recruitment of Colombian soldiers to
The Pentagon’s review is ongoing, Hoff- Colombia, in particular, has been a signifi- go to other parts of the world as mercenaries
man said. He did not say how many of the cant U.S. military partner for decades, re- is an issue that has existed for a long time, be-
men received training or precisely what it ceiving billions of U.S. dollars since 2000 in cause there is no law that prohibits it,” the
entailed. its effort to battle drug trafficking organiza- commander of Colombia’s Armed Forces,
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., whose legisla- tions, leftist guerrillas and far-right paramil- Gen. Luis Fernando Navarro, told reporters
tion provides oversight to foreign defense aid itary groups. last week.
used in human rights abuses, said the epi- That effort has included CIA-backed mis- Foreign military training provided by the
sode was a grim reminder that U.S. assist- sions and a close relationship between Col- United States is intended to promote “re-
ance to other countries can take unexpected ombia military personnel and the Green Be- spect for human rights, compliance with the
turns. rets, who help train their elite counterparts in rule of law, and militaries subordinate to
“This illustrates that while we want our guerrilla warfare. A Colombian commando democratically elected civilian leadership,”
training of foreign armies to build profes- school is modeled on the Army’s grueling Hoffman, the Pentagon spokesman, said in
sionalism and respect for human rights, the Ranger School, and the two militaries’ part- his statement.
‘Stepchild’ notation on military ID causes dispute
BY CHAD GARLAND sponsor. Biological offspring “My daughter has never But in another post that was
Stars and Stripes are listed only as “child,” social called herself a stepchild,” shared less widely, @kristen-
Service members and spous- media users said. @justjsides said in a follow-up mary20 said she had received a
es are calling for change to the “Why are we now specifying tweet. “We’ve never used that response from a Defense De-
military’s new dependent ID *stepchild* on dependent IDs?” term really. I think if she saw partment office explaining the
cards this week over the way the wrote Twitter user @justjsides, this on her ID it would hurt inclusion of the term “step-
relationship field identifies whose profile lists her as an Ar- her.” child” was an oversight when
spouses’ children from previ- my spouse, in the original post The word “never saw the light the new ID card was rolled out,
ous marriages. sharing the photo of the new ID. of the day in my blended mili- and that officials were looking
The Defense Department be- The tweet was shared nearly tary family,” said Fred Well- into the possibility of fixing it.
gan transitioning last summer 100 times as of Thursday morn- man, in a retweet of the photo. A The previous ID cards listed
from its paper-based uniformed ing, including by several ac- retired Army officer and the ex- the relationship as “SC,” but the
services ID card to a plastic counts with high numbers of fol- ecutive director of political ac- new one allows the whole term
“next generation” card similar lowers and some who tagged top tion committee The Lincoln to be spelled out more promi-
to the Common Access Card military leaders or official ac- Project, Wellman has more than nently, the email said, accord-
used by DOD personnel. The counts. 186,000 followers on Twitter. ing to a series of @kristen-
new card is meant to be more Some were concerned the His tweet was shared nearly mary20’s tweets.
secure and harder to counter- new cards might reveal a child’s two dozen times. “This is an error of omission
feit. adoption status, apparently The ID card photo belonged vice commission,” it said.
But a photo posted on social based on the fact that the De- to a user going by @kristen- “There was not a conscious de-
media Wednesday drew contro- fense Enrollment Eligibility Re- mary20, that user said in re- cision made during the imple-
versy over the card’s use of the porting System, or DEERS, re- sponse to Wellman, explaining mentation of this major change
term “stepchild” in a field list- quires different documents, de- that she’d originally posted it to to DoD’s ID card program to
ing the relationship between the pending on a child’s legal rela- a spouse page before it was bring emotional distress to any
dependent and the military tionship to their sponsor. shared to Twitter. DoD ID card recipient.”PAGE 4 • STRIPES LITE • Thursday, July 15, 2021
Overdose deaths in US hit Biden seeks
to unite Dems
behind new
record 93,000 last year
Associated Press Jordan McGlashen died of a been sold illicitly and mixed
$3.5T agenda
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Overdose drug overdose in his Ypsilanti, with other drugs. WASHINGTON — President
deaths soared to a record 93,000 Mich., apartment last year. He “What’s really driving the Joe Biden made a quick foray
last year in the midst of the CO- was pronounced dead on May 6, surge in overdoses is this in- to the U.S. Capitol hunting sup-
VID-19 pandemic, the U.S. gov- the day before his 39th birthday. creasingly poisoned drug sup- port for his multitrillion-dollar
ernment reported Wednesday. “It was really difficult for me ply,” said Shannon Monnat, an agenda of infrastructure,
That estimate far eclipses the to think about the way in which associate professor of sociology health care and other pro-
high of about 72,000 drug over- Jordan died. He was alone, and at Syracuse University who re- grams, a potential landmark
dose deaths reached the previ- suffering emotionally and felt searches geographic patterns in achievement that would re-
ous year and amounts to a 29% like he had to use again,” said overdoses. “Nearly all of this in- quire near-unanimous backing
increase. his younger brother, Collin crease is fentanyl contamina- from fractious Democrats.
“This is a staggering loss of McGlashen, who wrote openly tion in s ome way. Heroin is con- His visit Wednesday came a
human life,” said Brandon Mar- about his brother’s addiction in taminated. Cocaine is contami- day after Senate Democratic
shall, a Brown University pub- an obituary. nated. Methamphetamine is leaders capped weeks of bar-
lic health researcher who tracks Jordan McGlashen’s death contaminated.” gaining by agreeing to spend a
overdose trends. was attributed to heroin and Fentanyl was involved in mammoth $3.5 trillion over the
The nation was already strug- fentanyl. more than 60% of the overdose coming decade on initiatives
gling with its worst overdose While prescription painkill- deaths last year, CDC data sug- focusing on climate change,
epidemic but clearly “COVID ers once drove the nation’s over- gests. education, a Medicare expan-
has greatly exacerbated the cri- dose epidemic, they were sup- There’s no current evidence sion and more. That’s on top of
sis,” he added. planted first by heroin and then that more Americans started a separate $1 trillion bipartisan
Lockdowns and other pan- by fentanyl, a dangerously pow- using drugs last year, Monnat compromise on roads, water
demic restrictions isolated erful opioid, in recent years. said. Rather, the increased
systems and other infrastruc-
those with drug addictions and Fentanyl was developed to treat deaths most likely were people
ture projects that senators from
made treatment harder to get, intense pain from ailments like who had already been strug-
both parties are negotiating,
experts said. cancer but has increasingly gling with addiction.
with Biden’s support.
Democrats’ accord on their
overall $3.5 trillion figure was a
Fire erupts near site of 2018 blaze major step for a party whose ri-
val moderate and progressive
factions have competing vi-
Associated Press and hard-to-reach terrain more prepared and more vigi-
PULGA, Calif. — A blaze that about 10 miles from Paradise, lant.” sions of how costly and bold the
erupted near the flashpoint of the foothill town that was vir- Joyce Mclean’s home burned final package should be. But
the deadliest wildfire in recent tually incinerated by the Camp last time but she has rebuilt it many of them say bolstering
U.S. history was heading away Fire that killed 85 people. and will again if necessary, she lower-earning and middle-
from homes on Thursday but Larry Peterson, whose home told the station. class families, and raising taxes
survivors of the 2018 blaze in in neighboring Magalia sur- “We just take each day as it on wealthy people and big cor-
the town of Paradise worried vived the previous blaze, said comes and if it happens, it hap- porations to help pay for it,
that history could repeat itself. some of his neig hbors were pens,” Mclean said. “There’s would nurture long-term eco-
The Dixie Fire had burned a getting their belongings togeth- not much that we can do about nomic growth and pay political
couple of square miles of brush er in case they had to flee. it.” dividends in next year’s elec-
and timber near the Feather “Anytime you’ve got a fire af- Ironically, the blackened tions for control of Congress.
River Canyon area of Butte ter what we went through, and scar of the previous blaze was Democrats’ agreement on a
County and moved into nation- another one is coming up, standing between the fire and topline spending figure, while
al forest land in neighboring you’ve got to be concerned,” he homes. significant, is merely an initial
Plumas County. told KHSL-TV. “Everything’s pretty much move that leaves the toughest
There was zero containment Other locals stocked up on burned between them and the decisions for later. They must
and officials said people in the water and other items. fire,” Butte County Supervisor translate their plan into legisla-
tiny, remote communities of “We pretty much left with Bill Connelly told the Sacra- tion with specific spending and
Pulga and east Concow should our clothes on our backs” dur- mento Bee. “Some bushes and revenue figures, then line up
prepare to leave at a moment’s ing the previous fire, said Jen- grass have grown back, but it’s the needed votes to enact it, a
notice. nifer Younie of Paradise. “So probably not a direct threat at process likely to grind right
Flames raced along steep this time we are looking to be this time.” through autumn.Thursday, July 15, 2021 • S T R I P E S L I T E • PAGE 5
Leaders wary as US seeks Central Asia spot
Associated Press ghanistan. whatever comes of its fight with the Kabul
American diplomats are escalating a There’s distrust of the U.S. as a reliable government.
charm offensive with Central Asian leaders long-term partner, after an only partly suc- “I mean, I personally can see the value of
this week as they work to secure a close-by cessful war in Afghanistan and after years of an American base in Central Asia, but I’m
spot to respond to any resurgence of outside widely fluctuating U.S. engagement region- not sure the Central Asian states see such
militants in Afghanistan after the U.S. mili- ally and globally, former American diplo- value” currently, said John Herbst, who as
tary withdraws. mats say. There’s Russia, blasting out this U.S. ambassador to Uzbekistan helped ar-
But even as high-level U.S. diplomats week that a permanent U.S. military base in range military access in Central Asia in 2001.
head to the region, they’re meeting with its Central Asia sphere of influence would be “We’ve taken a hit through our failures in
more doubts from Afghanistan’s neighbors “unacceptable.” Afghanistan” in credibility, Herbst said, af-
about any such security partnering with the Meanwhile, the Taliban leadership, more ter the U.S. neutralized al-Qaida in Afghan-
United States. That stands in contrast to internationally savvy than it had been in istan but struggled in fighting against the
2001, when Central Asian countries made 2001, has been visiting regional capitals and fundamentalist Taliban and in trying to
available their territory for U.S. bases, Moscow this summer in a diplomatic push of strengthen a Kabul-based state. “Is that a
troops and other access as America hit back its own, offering broad pledges that it will mortal hit? Probably not. But it’s still a very
for the 9/11 attacks plotted by al-Qaida in Af- pursue regional security, peace and trade powerful factor.”
Child tax credit dollars flowing to parents’ pockets
Associated Press qualify for the credit. Daniel went nearly a he is also setting up a broader philosophical
WASHINGTON — The child tax credit decade without a job because her oldest son battle about the role of government and the
had always been an empty gesture to mil- is autistic and needed her. So she got by on responsibilities of parents.
lions of parents like Tamika Daniel. Social Security payments. Democrats see this as a landmark pro-
That changed Thursday when the first But the extra $1,000 a month for the next gram along the same lines as Social Security,
payment of $1,000 hit Daniel’s bank account year could be a life-changer for Daniel, who saying it will lead to better outcomes in
— and dollars started flowing to the pockets now works as a community organizer for a adulthood that will help economic growth.
of more than 35 million families around the Richmond nonprofit. It will help provide a But many Republicans warn that the pay-
country. Daniel, a 35-year-old mother of security deposit on a new apartment. ments will discourage parents from working
four, didn’t even know the tax credit existed “It’s actually coming right on time,” she and ultimately feed into long-term poverty.
until President Joe Biden expanded it for said. “We have a lot going on. This definitely Some 15 million households will now re-
one year as part of the $1.9 trillion coronavi- helps to take a load off.” ceive the full credit. The monthly payments
rus relief package that passed in March. Biden has held out the new monthly pay- amount to $300 for each child who is 5 and
Previously, only people who earned ments, which will average $423 per family, younger and $250 for those between 5 and
enough money to owe income taxes could as the key to halving child poverty rates. But 17.
US unemployment at pandemic low with 360K claims
Associated Press steadily since topping 900,000 in early Janu- dinners out, a round of drinks, sports and en-
WASHINGTON — The number of Ameri- ary. tertainment events, vacation getaways and
cans applying for unemployment benefits The U.S. recovery from the recession is shopping trips.
has reached its lowest level since the pan- proceeding so quickly that many forecasters In response, businesses have scrambled to
demic struck last year, further evidence that have predicted that the economy will expand meet the unexpected surge in customer de-
the U.S. economy and job market are quickly this year by roughly 7%. That would be the mand: They are posting job openings — a re-
rebounding from the pandemic recession. most robust calendar-year growth since1984. cord 9.2 million in May — faster than they can
Thursday’s report from the Labor Depart- As the health crisis has receded, cooped-up fill them. The worker shortage in many indus-
ment showed that jobless claims fell by Americans have increasingly emerged from tries is causing employers to raise wages and
26,000 last week to 360,000. The weekly tally, their homes, eager to spend on things they in some cases to raise prices to offset their
a proxy for layoffs, has fallen more or less had missed during pandemic lockdowns — higher labor costs.PAGE 6 • STRIPES LITE • Thursday, July 15, 2021
Bucks even NBA Finals with Suns at 2-2
Associated Press assists. His streak of 40-point “That’s an NBA Finals spe- couldn’t handle things without
MILWAUKEE — Khris Mid- games ended at two but the on- cial moment right there, and him.
dleton is an All-Star with unwa- ly number that matters for the we’re going to need more of With the leaders of its only
vering confidence in his shot, Bucks is on the series score- them,” Milwaukee coach Mike title team in the arena, Milwau-
always believing that no matter board. Budenholzer said. kee improved to 9-1 at home in
how poorly he starts that he can Devin Booker scored 42 Middleton missed a couple of the playoffs. It is trying to over-
turn things around. points for the Suns, but his foul jumpers but Paul lost the ball come a 2-0 deficit for the sec-
“Khris has no fear and he trouble cost them a chance to after the second one when he ond time in this postseason.
never has,” Milwaukee guard build a big lead in the second slipped and fell down while The Suns never got more
Jrue Holiday said. half. Chris Paul struggled dribbling. That sent Middleton than two wins in their two pre-
Middleton’s big shots — and through a 5-for-13 night, finish- off for a layup and he followed vious trips to the NBA Finals
throw in Giannis Antetokounm- ing with 10 points and five turn- with four free throws to make it but it seemed they were finally
po’s big block — may have overs. 107-101. headed there Wednesday.
turned around the course of Game 5 is Saturday night in “Nobody caved,” Middleton Booker had a big finish to the
these NBA Finals. Phoenix. said. “We stayed with it.” third quarter to send them to
Middleton scored 40 points, “This is a tough one but Brook Lopez had 14 points the fourth leading 82-76, but he
including 10 straight for the we’ve got to bounce back,” Paul for the Bucks and Holiday add- picked up his fifth foul barely a
Bucks down the stretch to send said. “That’s why we fought all ed 13 points, seven rebounds minute into the period and sat
them past the Phoenix Suns, season to get home court.” and seven assists. He shot only for about five minutes.
109-103 on Wednesday night to Phoenix led by two with 2½ 4-for-20, but his defense helped The Bucks trimmed only
tie the series 2-2. minutes left before Middleton knock Paul off his game. Be- three points off the lead before
“We wanted this bad and the made the next two baskets to fore Middleton’s run, it ap- he returned in the fourth, but
team showed it tonight,” Ante- give Milwaukee a 101-99 edge peared it was going to be Book- Middleton made sure they
tokounmpo said. with 1:28 to play. It appeared er’s night. He bounced back in surged ahead when it mattered.
Middleton’s hot hand and a the Suns would tie it with a lob a big way from a 3-for-14 night “When you have that kind of
big block from Antetokounmpo pass to center Deandre Ayton in Game 3 with his third 40- lead in the fourth, if we can just
gave the Bucks their second but Antetokounmpo swooped point game of this postseason. hold on to the ball and get good
straight victory in the first in to block it, flexing his mus- But he had to spend portions possessions, you feel like you
close game of the series. cles to the crowd behind the of the third and fourth quarters can at least hold it there,”
Antetokounmpo had 26 basket as the Bucks broke the on the bench after picking up Phoenix coach Monty Williams
points, 14 rebounds and eight other way on the fast break. fouls and his teammates said.
Turnover bug hits Paul at wrong time for Suns
Associated Press “The turnovers,” Suns coach Monty by Booker, who scored 42 points and shot
The ball was in Chris Paul’s hands Williams said, “just crushed us.” 17-for-28 from the field.
with 35 seconds left and his team needed Game 5 is Saturday in Phoenix. Paul finished with a series-low 10
a bucket to tie or take the lead in Game 4 The 36-year-old Paul — who has wait- points on 5-for-13 shooting and seven as-
of the NBA Finals. ed 16 seasons to play in the NBA Finals — sists on Wednesday, but the real problem
The Phoenix Suns — and the 11-time didn’t shy away from taking the blame. was the giveaways. The miscues have
All-Star — wouldn’t have wanted it any “It was me. I had five of them,” Paul been part of a troubling trend: Paul’s had
other way. said of the turnovers. “It was bad deci- 15 turnovers over his past three games
The point guard did one crossover sion making. At the time, we’re down and that’s about twice as bad as his ca-
dribble to shake Milwaukee’s Jrue Holi- two. I try to crossover right there, slip, reer rate of 2.4 turnovers per game.
day. Then he immediately did another to turn it over. There were some bad passes Even so, his coach isn’t concerned and
try to lose Giannis Antetokounmpo. in the first half. They got a significant said there is nothing physically wrong
What happened next was not what the amount of more shots than us, so for me, with Paul.
Suns or Paul expected. He just ... fell I’ve got to take care of the ball.” “He’s fine,” Williams said. “Great
down. The ball bounced away and so did He wasn’t the only one coughing up the players have games like that.”
Phoenix’s chances of taking a command- basketball as the Suns finished with 17 Paul has given his coach reason to be-
ing lead in the series. turnovers. But there’s little doubt the lieve in him, overcoming considerable
Holiday scooped up the free posses- point guard’s five turnovers on Wednes- adversity in these playoffs. A shoulder
sion and the Bucks converted a 3-on-1 day night, including one in the game’s injury limited Paul in the first round
fastbreak when Khris Middleton scored most crucial moment, were some of the against the Lakers. He missed the first
a layup. Just like that, Milwaukee had team’s most unexpected. two games of the Western Conference fi-
taken control of a come-from-behind They were part of the reason Phoenix nals against the Clippers in the league’s
109-103 victory on Wednesday night that blew a seven-point, fourth-quarter lead COVID-19 health and safety protocol.
evened these Finals at 2-2. and wasted an impressive performanceThursday, July 15, 2021 • S T R I P E S L I T E • PAGE 7
Oosthuizen, Spieth lead at British Open
Associated Press Patience already might be wearing thin his round of 68 that had him in a tie for 15th.
SANDWICH, England — The majors fi- for U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm, who Spieth had not won since Birkdale until
nally had a degree of normalcy Thursday at slapped his thigh in frustration after mak- he ended his slump at the Texas Open in
Royal St. George’s. Louis Oosthuizen and ing a double-bogey at No. 9 after taking two April. He looked the happiest of anyone,
Jordan Spieth leading the way at the British shots to get out of a pot bunker in the fair- saying he liked where his game was at after
Open felt pretty familiar, too. way. He shot 71. Bryson DeChambeau had matching his lowest score at an Open. He
Cheered on by the biggest golf crowd the same score after spending much of his also had a 65 on the first day at Birkdale.
since the coronavirus outbreak, Oosthuizen first round up to his knees in deep grass and And he made reference to that victory
saved par from a fairway bunker on the fi- unable to use his power to overwhelm Roy- while running off four straight birdies
nal hole for a 6-under 64 to take the early al St. George’s. starting at No. 5, telling former caddie John
lead. Spieth was only one stroke back by Shane Lowry, the defending champion Wood — part of the U.S. broadcast team —
making putts like it was 2017 all over again. from 2019, also shot 71 in front of a crowd that it was just like 2017 the way he was
“It feels inside the ropes, from the first that has a daily capacity of 32,000 this week. making putts and Wood was watching him.
tee forward, the most normal of any tourna- Not since Royal Portrush, where Lowry Wood was caddying in the final round at
ment we have played thus far relative to won, has a major seen so many spectators
Birkdale for Matt Kuchar, who was second.
that same tournament in previous years, through the gates.
“Here I feel for the first time since then
pre-COVID,” said Spieth, whose run of four There was plenty of good scoring on a
I’m at least coming in with a bit of form, a bit
straight birdies in his round of 65 reminded course where soft fairways and greens —
of confidence, and really my start lines off
him of his play at Royal Birkdale when he because of recent rain — negated the im-
the tee,” Spieth said.
lifted the claret jug four years ago. pact of its storied undulations.
The return of the spectators made it feel
Oosthuizen is coming off two straight By halfway through the first round, 14
runner-up finishes at majors — the PGA like a proper Open, especially on the hill
players had shot 67 or better. They includ-
Championship and the U.S. Open — and is ed Justin Rose and three more of his coun- overlooking the par-3 6th hole that attract-
contending again after tying the lowest trymen looking to become the first English ed some of the biggest galleries.
opening round at Royal St. George’s. Chris- winner of golf’s oldest championship since Just before midday, the group containing
ty O’Connor Jr. had a 64 in 1981. Nick Faldo in 1992. Cink, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer
That didn’t look as though it would be the Brian Harman was tied for second with all hit tee shots inside 6 feet of the pin. As
case after the South African opened with Spieth after making five birdies in his first they walked onto the green to mark their
seven straight pars. He followed with six eight holes and finishing with another for balls, one spectator shouted: “You three
birdies in his next nine holes. 65. should be professionals.”
“I’ve learned over the years playing ma- Stewart Cink, the 2009 champion at To which Kaymer’s caddie, Craig Con-
jor championships that patience is the key Turnberry, was in a three-way tie for fourth nolly, replied back across the green: “You
thing,” said Oosthuizen, who hasn’t won place with Dylan Frittelli and MacKenzie should be a comedian.”
one of them since the British Open at St. An- Hughes after 66s. “I feel like the fans here are very knowl-
drews in 2010. There have been six runner- Top-ranked Dustin Johnson hit 14 greens edgeable about the sport,” Spieth said, “and
up finishes in the majors since then. in regulation and said he was pleased with they’re also having a great time.”
Pogacar wins last mountain stage, pads overall lead
Associated Press attacked, Pogacar countered ride leading to the Champs-Ely- rain Victorious team had been
LUZ ARDIDEN, France — the move and dropped Jonas sees, there is just one difficult raided by French police as part
Tadej Pogacar won the final Vingegaard and Richard Cara- stage remaining — a time trial of a doping investigation. The
mountain stage of the Tour de paz to claim a third stage win through the Bordelais vine- team confirmed that riders’
France on Thursday to cement this year and win his second yards scheduled Saturday. Po- rooms were searched by offi-
his grip on the race. straight mountaintop finish. gacar excels in the race against cers at the hotel it stayed in on
The short trek in the Pyre- “It’s unbelievable, it’s crazy,” the clock and won the first time Thursday in the southwestern
nees featured a daunting combi- Pogacar said. “It’s been a game trial of this year’s Tour, beating city of Pau.
nation of the Col du Tourmalet for me since I started (my ca- the pure specialists. In a statement to The Associ-
and the final sharp climb to the reer) and I’m enjoying playing Pogacar has a huge lead of ated Press, the Marseille prose-
Luz-Ardiden ski resort, two it,” Pogacar said. five minutes, 45 seconds over cutor in charge of the case said a
classics of the Tour. Barring an accident, the 22- Vingegaard in the general clas- preliminary investigation tar-
Pogacar’s main rivals did not year-old UAE Team Emirates sification. Carapaz is in third geting members of the team was
take advantage of the brutal rider should be crowned Tour place, 5:51 off the pace. opened on July 3 “for acquisi-
course. The defending cham- champion for the second “Still three days, but it looks tion, transport, possession, im-
pion surged away from a re- straight year when the race good,” Pogacar said. port of a substance or method
duced group of four riders in the ends in Paris on Sunday. The stage start was overshad- prohibited for use by an athlete
last kilometer. After Enric Mas Before Sunday’s processional owed by the news that the Bah- without medical justification.”PAGE 8 • STRIPES LITE • Thursday, July 15, 2021
MLB on deck: Trades, Jays’ return to
Toronto is still
races and more trophies not definite yet
Associated Press
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays won’t
Associated Press the mound, and slugger Joey Gallo could be find out by this weekend whether they will get
SAN FRANCISCO — Across the globe, on the move if Texas wants prospect pack- permission from their federal government to
everybody is watching Shohei Ohtani in ages for its All-Stars. play in Canada soon, a government official fa-
awe and intrigue. Major League Baseball miliar with the talks said on Wednesday.
can only love the attention from around the
Oh, yes, Ohtani A team spokeswoman said the club contin-
world surrounding the Angels’ two-way star No matter which coast or division, all eyes ues to work with the federal government to-
and the spotlight he’s brought to the sport. are on Ohtani, especially after he topped ward playing games at Rogers Centre starting
Can Ohtani keep this up? An encore to a 500 feet in the Home Run Derby and threw July 30, and expected to receive a response by
sensational first half? He leads the majors 100 mph heat as the winning pitcher in the Friday.
with 33 home runs and has shown no signs All-Star Game. But the government official familiar with
The two-way Japanese phenom is five the talks said the Blue Jays will not learn
of slowing down or slumping — and should
homers ahead of All-Star Game MVP Vladi- whether they will get to play in Toronto by the
soon have a healthy Mike Trout back in the
mir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. for weekend. The official spoke on condition of
lineup with him.
the big league lead. He’s also got 70 RBIs, anonymity because no one has been autho-
Pitchers across the big leagues are doing
just three behind Guerrero for most in the rized to discuss the talks publicly.
their part so far, too.
majors. The U.S.-Canada border remains closed to
There have already been seven no-hitters
Want more? He’s tied for the AL lead with nonessential travel. Major League Baseball
in the majors this season, matching the
four triples. No one has led the league in will require an exemption for nonvaccinated
mark for most in one year during the mod-
homers and triples since Jim Rice in 1978 players and team staff to play games in Cana-
ern era. The record of eight was set in 1884,
(before that, Mickey Mantle and Willie da. As of last week, fully vaccinated athletes
the first season overhand pitching was al-
Mays both did it in 1955). Plus, Ohtani tops in MLB who have valid work permits are no
lowed.
the Angels with 12 stolen bases. longer required to submit to a 14-day quaran-
Will Jacob deGrom, Walker Buehler and
On the mound, he’s 4-1 with a 3.49 ERA in tine upon entry into Canada, but teams have
Gerrit Cole join the list soon? And will the
13 starts. He’s struck out 87 in 67 innings, players that are not vaccinated. A quarantine
uproar over sticky substances tamp down?
allowing just 46 hits. exemption and the protocols around that need
Manager Torey Lovullo and the Arizona
Diamondbacks are eager for a fresh start, Surprise, surprise to be worked out.
determined to forget that record 24-game At 57-32, reinvigorated Buster Posey, re- Another official familiar with the talks reit-
road losing streak in which they went more surgent Kevin Gausman and the surprising erated the team is expecting an answer Fri-
than two months without a win out of Chase San Francisco Giants not only lead the tal- day based on conversations with the govern-
Field. ented NL West, they own the best record in ment and said that is the club’s deadline on
The rush to the playoffs — and the judg- baseball — with two more wins than the Red the decision.-wise. The official noted the team
ments — for fans all over began Thursday Sox and Houston Astros both at 55-36. has a long homestand starting July 30 that
night when the second half opened with one In a division the defending World Series represents more than 25% of the remaining
game: Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and champion Dodgers or San Diego Padres games at a crucial juncture competitively.
the AL East-leading Red Sox visiting Yan- were expected to dominate, its second-year The Blue Jays are tied for third in American
kee Stadium to start an early stretch that manager Gabe Kapler’s Giants with an un- League East standings.
could decide New York’s fate. expected place at the top. A third official, who spoke anonymously as
Here are some things to watch when play they were also not authorized to speak publi-
resumes:
No-no stuff cly, said it would be preferable to have lead
How many more no-hitters might we see time in order to move what the club needs
Trade story-lines in the second half? from Buffalo and prepare for Toronto oper-
Trevor Story, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Gib- The no-hitters this year have been thrown ations, including ticket sales, although
son are sure to attract plenty of attention as by San Diego’s Joe Musgrove (April 9), Car- they’ve begun preparations at Rogers Centre
the July 30 trade deadline — moved up a los Rodón of the Chicago White Sox (April in Toronto already.
day this year — rapidly approaches. 14), Baltimore’s John Means (May 5), Cin- If the Blue Jays are not given an exemption
Story becomes a free agent after this sea- cinnati’s Wade Miley (May 7), Detroit’s for the 10 game homestand that begins July 30
son and Colorado might try to get something Spencer Turnbull (May 18), the New York the next homestand begins August 20. Ap-
for the star shortstop. Rockies teammate Yankees’ Corey Kluber (May 19) and a com- proval could come amid a federal election
C.J. Cron also will draw interest. bined no-hitter by the Chicago Cubs on June that’s widely expected to be called next
At 41, all Cruz does is continue to hit home 24. month. Providing exemptions for travel into
runs. He’s got 18 more this year and is bat- In addition, Arizona’s Madison Bumgar- Canada is politically sensitive. Nonessential
ting .304. In a down year for the Twins, the ner pitched a seven-inning hitless game in a fully vaccinated Americans and foreigners
big bopper at Target Field is sure to be a doubleheader on April 25 that is not recog- remain barred from entering Canada as the
trade target. nized as a no-hitter by Major League Base- government works to get a high percentage of
Gibson, enjoying his best season ever on ball. Canadians fully vaccinated by the end of July.You can also read
