Taliban demand US withdrawal by May 1 - Stripes Lite
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FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021
Taliban demand US withdrawal by May 1
Associated Press agreement. That violation would not be phasized that the government of President
MOSCOW — The Taliban warned from our side … Their violation will have Ashraf Ghani would not fit their definition
Washington on Friday against defying a a reaction.” of an Islamic government.
May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of He did not elaborate on what form the In previous statements, the Taliban
American and NATO troops from Afghan- “reaction” would take, but in keeping with have said their vision of an Islamic gov-
istan, promising a “reaction,” which could the agreement they signed in February ernment would allow girls to attend
mean increased attacks by the insurgent 2020, the Taliban have not attacked U.S. school, and women to work or be in public
group. or NATO forces, even as unclaimed life. But in every conversation, they em-
The Taliban issued their warning at a bombings and targeted killings have phasized the need to follow Islamic in-
press conference in Moscow, the day after spiked in recent months. junctions without specifying what that
meeting with senior Afghan government “We hope that this will not happen, that would mean.
negotiators and international observers to they withdraw and we focus on the settle- They have said they would not accept a
try to jumpstart a stalled peace process to ment, peaceful settlement of the Afghan woman as president, and while women
end Afghanistan’s decades of war. issue, in order to bring about a permanent could be judges they could not take the
President Joe Biden’s administration and comprehensive ceasefire at the end of job of the Chief Justice.
says it is reviewing an agreement the Ta- reaching a political roadmap (for) Afghan- But even without the Taliban in govern-
liban signed with the Trump administra- istan,” Shaheen said. ment in Afghanistan, The Georgetown In-
tion. Biden told ABC in an interview He also reaffirmed that the Taliban stitute for Women, Peace and Security
Wednesday that the May 1 deadline were firm on their demand for an Islamic Afghanistan said Afghanistan was one of
“could happen, but it is tough,” adding government. Shaheen didn’t elaborate on the worst places in the world to be a
that if the deadline is extended it won’t be what an Islamic government would look woman in 2020.
by “a lot longer.” like or whether it would mean a return to Only one woman attended Thursday’s
“They should go,” Suhail Shaheen, a their repressive rules that denied girls talks in Moscow, and in the two decades
member of the Taliban negotiation team, education, barred women from working, since the Taliban were ousted, successive
told reporters, warning that staying be- and imposed harsh punishments. governments in Kabul have been unable
yond May 1 would breach the deal. “After Shaheen did not say whether the Tali- to ratify a law outlawing violence against
that, it will be a kind of violation of the ban would accept elections, but he em- women.
Biden says US set to hit goal of 100M vaccinations
Associated Press weeks from now. ternational outcry that lifesaving vaccine is
WASHINGTON — With the U.S. closing Ahead of Biden’s remarks, the White being withheld when it could be used else-
in on President Joe Biden’s goal of inject- House said it was finalizing plans to send a where. The White House said just 7 million
ing 100 million coronavirus vaccinations combined 4 million doses of the AstraZene- of the AstraZeneca doses are ready for
weeks ahead of his target date, the White ca COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico and Cana- shipment.
House said the nation is now in position to da in its first export of shots. Press secre- The initial run of doses manufactured in
help supply neighbors Canada and Mexico tary Jen Psaki said the details of the “loan” the U.S. are owned by the federal govern-
with millions of lifesaving shots. were still being worked out, but 2.5 million ment under the terms of agreements reac-
The Biden administration on Thursday doses would go to Mexico and 1.5 million hed with drugmakers, and the Biden ad-
revealed the outlines of a plan to “loan” a would be sent to Canada. ministration has faced calls from allies
limited number of vaccines to Canada and “Our first priority remains vaccinating across the globe to release the AstraZeneca
Mexico as the president announced the the U.S. population,” Psaki said. But she shots for immediate use. Biden has also
U.S. is on the cusp of meeting his 100-day added that “ensuring our neighbors can fielded direct requests from Canadian
injection goal “way ahead of schedule.” contain the virus is a mission critical step, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mex-
“I’m proud to announce that tomorrow, is mission critical to ending the pandemic.” ican President Andrés Manuel López
58 days into our administration, we will The AstraZeneca vaccine has not yet Obrador to buy vaccines produced in the
have met our goal,” Biden said. He prom- been authorized for use in the U.S. but has United States.
ised to unveil a new vaccination target next been by the World Health Organization. Global public health advocates say
week, as the U.S. is on pace to have enough Tens of millions of doses have been stock- wealthy nations like the U.S. need to do far
of the three currently authorized vaccines piled in the U.S., waiting for emergency use more to help stem the spread of the pan-
to cover the entire adult population just 10 authorization, and that has sparked an in- demic.PAGE 2 • STRIPES LITE • Friday, March 19, 2021
US, China officials trade barbs in talks
Associated Press staid diplomatic meeting, Secretary of ness in the South China Sea and the cor-
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Top U.S. State Antony Blinken and Chinese Com- onavirus pandemic.
and Chinese officials were set to meet munist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Blinken said the Biden administra-
again on Friday after offering sharply Jiechi took aim at each other’s coun- tion is united with its allies in pushing
different views of each other and the try’s policies. The contentious tone of back against China’s increasing author-
world in their first face-to-face talks their public comments suggested the itarianism and assertiveness at home
since President Joe Biden took office. private discussions would be even more and abroad. Yang then unloaded a list of
After the opening on Thursday, the rocky. Chinese complaints about the U.S. and
two sides traded barbs, with the U.S. ac- The meetings in Anchorage, which accused Washington of hypocrisy for
cusing the Chinese delegation of were expected to continue with a clos- criticizing Beijing on human rights and
“grandstanding” for domestic con- ing session on Friday, were a new test in other issues.
sumption in China and Beijing firing increasingly troubled relations be- A senior Biden administration official
back Friday by saying there was a tween the two countries, which are at said that despite the acrimonious public
“strong smell of gunpowder and dra- odds over a range of issues from trade airing of differences, the initial closed-
ma” in the room that was entirely the to human rights in Tibet, Hong Kong door discussions had been “substantive,
fault of the Americans. and China’s western Xinjiang region, as serious and direct” and lasted far long-
In unusually pointed remarks for a well as over Taiwan, China’s assertive- er than the two hours that been planned.
Putin’s offer to call Biden an effort to save ties
Associated Press thought Putin was a “killer.” Russia respon- sues, and he suggested that the conversa-
MOSCOW — The Kremlin said Friday ded by recalling its ambassador in Wash- tion be open to the public.
that President Vladimir Putin’s offer to ington for consultations and Putin on Thurs- Peskov said Putin’s offer to make the call
speak by phone with U.S. President Joe Bi- day pointed at the U.S. history of slavery, public was intended to prevent Biden’s
den was intended to prevent bilateral ties slaughtering Native Americans and the statement from inflicting irreparable dam-
from completely falling apart over the atomic bombing of Japan in World War II in age to the already-frayed ties.
American’s remark that the Russian leader an “it-takes-one-to-know-one” response. “Since Biden’s words were quite unprec-
was a killer. At the same time, Putin noted that Russia edented, unprecedented formats can’t be
Putin made it clear that “it makes sense to would still cooperate with the United States excluded,” Peskov said. “President Putin
have a talk to maintain Russia-U.S. rela- where and when it supports Moscow’s in- proposed to discuss the situation openly be-
tions instead of trading barbs,” and he want- terests, adding that “a lot of honest and de- cause it would be interesting for the people
ed to make it public to help defuse tensions cent people in the U.S. want to have peace of both countries.”
over Biden’s “very bad remarks,” said his and friendship with Russia.” Peskov said the Kremlin hasn’t heard
spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. He proposed the phone call with Biden in back from the White House on the call offer,
In an interview broadcast Wednesday, the next few days to discuss the coronavirus adding that it wasn’t going to repeat the pro-
Biden replied “I do” when asked if he pandemic, regional conflicts and other is- posal.
DOD looks to root out extremists recruiting US military
Associated Press they develop databases on domestic extre- tary members were present at the January
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is mists groups, in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot insurrection in Washington, D.C.
focusing on identifying extremist organi- at the U.S. Capitol. Military leaders are in- Speaking to a small number of reporters
zations in the United States that are trying tent on developing training for troops that at the Pentagon, Colón-López said the
to recruit members from within the armed makes clear they should not get involved Pentagon has to take the threat seriously,
forces. A top official compared the recruit- with such groups. noting that the Islamic State and other ter-
ment effort to that undertaken by interna- The military has long been aware of ror groups in the Middle East used social
tional terrorist groups trying to lure the small numbers of white supremacists and media to recruit followers.
support of service members. other extremists in its ranks. But Penta- A recent Pentagon report noted that
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chair- gon leaders launched an all-out effort to members of the military “are highly
man Ramón Colón-López said Thursday root out extremism in the force after it be- prized by these groups as they bring legiti-
that the Defense Department is talking came clear that a significant number of macy to their causes and enhance their
with federal law enforcement agencies as military veterans and some current mili- ability to carry out attacks.”
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.Friday, March 19, 2021 • S T R I P E S L I T E • PAGE 3
Storms send TV anchors scrambling in NC
Associated Press But no serious damage or injuries were Forecasters worried the storms would
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Storms that left immediately reported in North Carolina intensify as they moved into South Caroli-
splintered homes and broken trees across from the storms near High Point and Char- na and North Carolina on Thursday after-
Alabama and Mississippi moved east lotte, which both had tornado warnings. noon, but they mostly stayed below severe
Thursday, forcing a TV newscast out of In southwest Alabama, at least two peo- limits.
their studio for a few minutes, but largely ple were hurt Wednesday, when a tornado In South Carolina, the severe weather
sparing the Atlantic Coast states any sig- destroyed a house. Pieces of homes and threat led the state Senate president to
nificant damage. twisted metal laid amid broken trees in the caution senators to stay home Thursday
There were scary moments. In High hardest-hit areas, but no one died and the while urging staff to work remotely for
Point, N.C., WGHP-TV meteorologist Van region appeared to escape the kind of hor- their safety. House Speaker Jay Lucas
Denton ordered everyone off the set dur- rific toll many feared after ominous pre- kept his promise from the day before to
ing the 5 p.m. broadcast and into a makeup dictions of monster twisters and huge hail. meet less than an hour Thursday so mem-
room for a few minutes after a storm with a “Overall, we have a lot to be grateful for, bers could beat the severe storms home.
tornado warning moved right over the sta- as it could have been much worse,” Alaba- The forecast led a number of the state’s
tion. ma Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. school systems to call off in-person classes
“I’ve never heard the roof rattle like Forecasters issued a string of tornado Thursday and have students and teachers
that. We’ve never had to leave the studio warnings Thursday morning around the meet online.
during a broadcast,” said anchor Neill region where Alabama, Georgia and Flor- The metro Atlanta area was pelted by
McNeill, who has been with the station 37 ida intersect, but there were no immediate heavy rain with intense lightning and
years. reports of major damage. strong wind gusts of up to 50 mph.
Atlanta cops ‘looking at Judge limits evidence,
everything’ in shootings won’t move Chauvin trial
Associated Press investigating whether the kill- Associated Press a civil lawsuit over Floyd’s
ATLANTA — Police said ings were hate crimes. MINNEAPOLIS — A judge death. Nelson called the timing
Thursday that “nothing is off Georgia lawmakers last on Friday denied a defense re- of the settlement deeply dis-
the table” in the investigation year passed a hate crimes law quest to delay or move the trial turbing and unfair, and said it
of the deadly shootings at two that allows additional penal- of a former Minneapolis police jeopardized Chauvin’s chance
Atlanta massage businesses, ties to be imposed for certain officer charged in George for a fair trial. Chauvin is
including whether the slayings offenses when motivated by a Floyd’s death after the announ- charged with murder and man-
were a hate crime. victim’s race, color, religion, cement of a $27 million settle- slaughter.
Those attacks and a third national origin, sex, sexual ment for Floyd’s family raised But Cahill, who has called the
one near the suburban town of orientation, gender or disabil- concern about a tainted jury. timing “unfortunate,” said he
Woodstock killed eight people ity. A hate crime is not a stan- In a separate ruling, Henne- thought a delay would do noth-
and prompted President Joe dalone crime under the law, pin County Judge Peter Cahill ing to stem the problem of pre-
Biden and Vice President Ka- but it can be used to add time said he would allow the jury to trial publicity. As for moving
mala Harris to change their to a sentence once someone is hear limited evidence from the trial, he said there’s no place
plans for a previously sched- convicted of another crime. Floyd’s 2019 arrest, but only in Minnesota that hasn’t been
uled trip to Atlanta. The pair Investigators believe Long that pertaining to the cause of touched by that publicity.
postponed a political event in had previously visited two of Floyd’s death in 2020. He ac- The judge had previously de-
favor of meeting Friday with the Atlanta massage parlors knowledged there are several nied a defense attempt to allow
Asian American community where four of the women similarities between the two in- the year-old arrest at trial. But
leaders. were killed, Hampton said. cidents, including that Floyd he heard fresh arguments this
A 21-year-old white man, Long told police that the at- swallowed drugs after police week because of drugs found in
Robert Aaron Long, is tacks were not racially moti- confronted him. January in a second search of
charged with murder in Tues- vated. He claimed to have a The rulings were a blow to the police SUV in which the four
day’s slayings. Six of those sex addiction, and authorities Derek Chauvin’s defense. His officers attempted to put Floyd
killed were women of Asian said he apparently lashed out attorney, Eric Nelson, had in 2020.
descent. at what he saw as sources of sought to halt or move the trial He said Thursday that he
“Our investigation is looking temptation. due to concerns that the settle- would allow medical evidence
at everything, so nothing is off Long’s statements spurred ment announcement had taint- of Floyd’s physical reactions,
the table,” Deputy Atlanta Po- outrage and widespread skep- ed the jury pool. such as his dangerously high
lice Chief Charles Hampton ticism in the Asian American Jury selection was halfway blood pressure when he was ex-
Jr. said at a news conference. community, which has in- complete last week when the amined by a paramedic, and a
The Cherokee County Sher- creasingly been targeted dur- city of Minneapolis unanimous- short clip of an officer’s body
iff’s Office said it also was ing the pandemic. ly approved the payout to settle camera video.PAGE 4 • STRIPES LITE • Friday, March 19, 2021
Official: Herd immunity possible for Wis. by July
Associated Press and stay open until 1 a.m., the mass vaccination sites on the started a change.org petition
MADISON, Wis. — There will governor said Thursday. phone or online, Hogan said. asking UT president Ronald
be enough coronavirus vaccine “Hopefully this is a little bit of The governor said nearly 90% of Vaughn and Florida Gov. Ron
in Wisconsin by the end of June relief given the positive move- COVID-19 deaths in the state DeSantis, among others, to re-
to immunize 80% of those age 16 ment of where we are right now have been in people over 60. consider the decision. She noted
and over in the state, hitting a as a state with vaccines going up On March 30, Maryland resi- that the university had been
key target to achieve herd im- and cases going down,” Beshear dents 16 and over with underly- holding most of its courses in-
munity for COVID-19, a top said. ing medical conditions will be person since last fall. And the
state health official said Thurs- Capacity limits at bars and eligible for Phase 2B. On April university said it would host
day. restaurants will remain at 60% 13, everyone 55 and over and all other in-person graduation
“Wouldn’t that be a wonder- and the spaced-out seating rule essential workers in critical in- week events for seniors, includ-
ful 4th of July celebration, to hit still applies, the governor said. dustries will be eligible in Phase ing photo opportunities.
80% community immunity in Kentucky’s rate of positive 2C. Maryland residents over 16 “I’m baffled,” Steele told the
the state of Wisconsin?” said cases fell to 3.23% Thursday, the will be eligible no later than newspaper. “I’m confused. I
Wisconsin Department of lowest level since July 3. April 27 for Phase 3. don’t understand why we can’t
Health Services Secretary Julie have an in-person ceremony
Willems Van Dijk. Connecticut Michigan when I see so many in-person
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the na- Yale epidemiologist Dr. Al- HOLLAND — A western Mi- things in Tampa.”
tion’s top infectious disease ex- bert Ko, a top pandemic adviser chigan woman who has defied The petition received more
pert, has said the nation must to Gov. Ned Lamont, said coronavirus restrictions while than 3,500 virtual signatures
achieve a vaccination rate of Thursday he’s concerned about operating her restaurant was from people who supported an
about 80% to reach “herd immu- the different variants that have stopped in her car and arrested in-person graduation for the
nity.” Other health experts have been detected in Connecticut, before dawn Friday, authorities school’s 1,850 expected gradu-
said “herd immunity” won’t be but he’s not opposing the state’s said. ates. However, the university
reached until 90% of the popula- plans to eliminate capacity lim- Marlena Pavlos-Hackney responded that the decision was
tion is vaccinated. its. was operating a Holland restau- final.
As of Thursday, more than Beginning Friday, limits will rant without a license and had Steele, along with students
23% of Wisconsin residents had be lifted at restaurants, non-the- refused to surrender by Thurs- Allison Clark and Emma
received at least one dose of the ater indoor recreation centers, day, Attorney General Dana Stange, started organizing their
vaccine and more than 13%, libraries, museums, aquariums, Nessel said. Pavlos-Hackney, own ceremony for May 8 at the
about 761,000 people, were fully gyms and fitness centers, retail 55, was arrested by state police Tampa Convention Center. It
vaccinated, according to the shops, offices, personal services and driven to the Ingham Coun- will follow the university’s on-
health department. establishments and houses of ty jail, Nessel said. line version.
On Monday, more than 2 mil- worship. Mask-wearing, dis- State investigators said the Clark started a GoFundMe
lion people ages 16 to 64 with tancing and cleaning protocols owner had ignored caps on res- drive that’s raised more than
any of a broad array of preexist- will still be required. taurant capacity at Marlena’s $1,200.
ing conditions including being Also, movie theaters and per- Bistro and Pizzeria and wasn’t “After this whole past year,
overweight, having high blood forming arts venues will only be enforcing mask rules. Her food we’ve all had to learn to adapt to
pressure or moderate asthma, allowed to open at 50% capacity. license was suspended Jan. 20, a new way of life, and that’s
will become eligible. Everyone Restaurant seating will be limit- but the eatery remained open. what we’re doing,” she told the
over age 65, and all frontline ed to eight people per table and An Ingham County judge de- newspaper.
health care workers, grocery hours of operation capped at 11 clared Pavlos-Hackney in con-
store workers and restaurant p.m. Bars, meanwhile, will re- tempt of court. Texas
employees are already eligible. main shuttered. AUSTIN — The number of
Everyone in Wisconsin will Florida COVID-19 cases in Texas was
be eligible “no later” than May Maryland TAMPA — A handful of stu- still declining on Thursday, as
1, Willems Van Dijk said. ANNAPOLIS — Maryland dents who were disappointed were the number of people hos-
Gov. Larry Hogan announced that the University of Tampa is pitalized with the virus.
Kentucky Thursday when the next phases holding a virtual spring gradua- The 4,373 new confirmed and
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility tion ceremony have planned probable cases Thursday were
governor has relaxed the cur- will take effect, with residents their own in-person ceremony. 373 fewer than Wednesday’s re-
few on bars and restaurants as 60 and older becoming eligible When university officials an- port, according to the Texas De-
the state’s rate of positive CO- starting next week and plans for nounced last month that the partment of State Health Ser-
VID-19 cases reached its lowest all residents over 16 becoming Class of 2021 would have an on- vices. The state’s pandemic to-
level since early July. eligible no later than April 27. line ceremony due to the uncer- tal is about 2.74 million cases.
The curfew will be extended In what’s known as Phase 2A, tainty of the coronavirus pan- The researchers also said the
one hour, starting Friday, Gov. starting Tuesday, residents demic, Jacie Steele sprang into rolling average of daily new
Andy Beshear said. Bars and over 60 will be eligible, and they action, the Tampa Bay Times cases has fallen by 2,695 cases
restaurants can serve food and can now begin preregistering reported. over the past two weeks, a 37%
drinks until midnight local time for an appointment at the state’s Steele, a graduating senior, decrease.Friday, March 19, 2021 • S T R I P E S L I T E • PAGE 5
AMERICAN ROUNDUP
Man swings metal rod above freezing. was first seen in the goose on Police didn’t say how severe
The Springfield News-Lead- March 5 at a different location, their injuries were.
in highway standoff er reported4 that Jerry Smith, but it flew away when officers The dog has been “secured,
43, and Rebecca Herndon, 51, tried to capture it then, she said. kenneled, and quarantined and
UT SALT LAKE CITY
— A Utah highway
was shut down midday
were charged Tuesday with
four counts of child abuse and
Sheriffs: Slain cattle will remain out of service until
the investigation is complete,”
Wednesday as a SWAT team re- two counts of endangering the dumped along roads police said. The dog will also
sponded to a man confronting welfare of a child. undergo further assessment.
them with a metal rod.
Officers tried to stop the man
Court documents say the boy
told police that Smith punched
IA AMES — Sheriffs in
two central Iowa coun-
ties say their offices are looking
“The Portland Police K9 Unit
and the Bureau regret this un-
because he was driving errati- him in the face and zip-tied him for the person or people who fortunate incident,” said Depu-
cally in a pickup truck that had to a porch swing outside in Feb- dumped slain cattle along grav- ty Chief Chris Davis.
spray-painted windows, as well ruary 2020 to prevent him from
running away. The boy had
el roads in their jurisdictions. Former worker gets new
as a United States flag obscur- Two cows and a calf were
ing the back window and li- been living at the time with trial in fake-gun stickup
found dead in Boone and
cense plate, KSL-TV reported. Herndon, a family friend, in a
The driver fled, but eventual-
ly the truck died on an overpass
home she shared with Smith.
Court documents say police
Greene counties on March 10,
the Ames Tribune reported. In- NJ TRENTON — A man
convicted of using a
fake gun to try robbing a McDo-
vestigators said the calf, found
over Legacy Parkway north of found cut zip ties on the front
in Boone County, had its front nald’s restaurant where he
Salt Lake City, according to porch. Smith said in an inter-
legs bound with twine. once worked has been granted a
view that he zip-tied the boy to
North Salt Lake Police Sgt. A red shorthorn cow was new trial.
the porch swing at Herndon’s
Mitch Gwilliam. found a short distance away in a In a unanimous ruling, New
request.
The driver got out, but re- creek with its throat slashed, Jersey’s Supreme Court held
Court documents said Hern-
fused to talk to officers or do Boone County Sheriff Gregg that a trial judge unfairly pre-
don showed police pictures that
what they told him, police said. Elsberry said. The carcass of vented Thomas Outland from
had been taken of the boy while
He swung the rod around ag- the other cow, also a red short- acting as his own attorney at his
he was restrained, saying the
gressively and claimed to have horn, was found in a Greene 2017 trial.
boy was not in distress.
a bomb and a shotgun in his County ditch. Scuff marks on Outland was convicted of
truck, police said. Officers rescue goose the animals’ hides indicated conspiracy and possession of an
A SWAT team responded and with arrow lodged in body they were dumped on the roads imitation firearm for an unlaw-
tried to get the man to surren- from a vehicle, authorities said. ful purpose after he and an ac-
der using foam, gas and pepper
spray rounds, as well as flash
CO BOULDER, Colo. —
Police in Colorado
are looking for whoever shot a
The animals’ bloated condition
led investigators to believe they
complice were accused of try-
ing to rob a McDonald’s in
bangs. He nevertheless man- had been dead several days. Union County in 2015. Accord-
goose with an arrow, leaving it
aged to jump over a barrier on ing to trial testimony cited in
the overpass and run down an
lodged in its body near its beak. Police dog bites 2 after
Police on Wednesday re- Tuesday’s ruling, Outland and
embankment on the other side escaping fenced yard the accomplice entered the res-
leased video of the animal’s res-
before he was taken into custo- taurant and demanded money.
dy.
cue in Boulder the day before to
help find those responsible. OR PORTLAND
Two people walking
—
But the caper was foiled when
2 charged with zip-tying The video shows animal con- their dog in Happy Valley were an employee noticed that Out-
trol officers using a net to cap- bitten by a Portland Police Bu- land’s shotgun was a fake and
boy on cold day reau dog that escaped his han- called him out on it. When Out-
ture the goose and then cutting
land took off his mask, a manag-
MO SPRINGFIELD —
Multiple felony
charges have been filed against
off most of the arrow before tak-
ing it in for medical attention.
dler’s fenced yard recently, po-
lice said.
An initial investigation shows
er recognized him as a former
employee.
It wasn’t immediately clear
a man and woman who are ac- how the animal was doing. But the dog broke through a piece of Outland laughed, said it was a
cused of zip-tying a 13-year-old it had been wounded for over a fencing, encountered the peo- joke and tried to hug the manag-
boy to a Springfield porch week and was still able to fly, ple walking the dog and bit er before leaving, according to
swing last year on a day when city public safety spokesperson them both, police said in a news testimony.
temperatures barely inched Dionne Waugh said. The arrow release. — From wire reportsPAGE 6 • STRIPES LITE • Friday, March 19, 2021
Some familiar names in unfamilar place
Associated Press Even before the pairings were an- Illinois was a powerhouse once, but its
INDIANAPOLIS — Nobody will get a nounced, the pandemic ensured this NCAA last trip to the Final Four was in 2005, and
lump in their throat or start sizing up glass Tournament was going to be a much differ- that came nearly a decade after Lou Hen-
slippers for programs like these — Alaba- ent affair. Then, some dominoes started son left and brought an end to a golden era
ma, Illinois, Baylor. falling. Duke and Kentucky, two longtime for Illini hoops. Underwood said when he
They’re not underdogs. They’re hardly maestros of March, didn’t even make the arrived four years ago, he did an informal
unknown. What they are is a group of new field of 68 — the first time that pair has poll of his players to start each season, ask-
teams with well-recognized names in the missed the tournament together since 1976. ing them which team in the Big Ten plays
NCAA Tournament, and they’re hoping to Michigan State struggled. Kansas had a the hardest.
keep making life hard on some of the pro- not-quite-Kansas kind of year. North Car- “They would all say it’s Michigan State.
grams that have long had a stranglehold on olina found itself with a late-season match- Michigan State, Michigan State, Michigan
March. up against Duke not for the ACC title but State,” Underwood said. “Then, it was start
Alabama is a 2 seed, matched for the best basically to keep its tournament chances of last year, before they finally figured out
in its history, on the strength of its first SEC alive. what I wanted to hear. They finally said
Tournament title in 30 years. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide were roll- ‘Us.’ They had to start believing that.”
Baylor, building momentum for a while ing, and it had nothing to do with the foot- Michigan State slipped in this season as
now, beat out Kansas for the Big 12 regular- ball field. They make movies about the his- an 11 seed. So did UCLA and Syracuse, a
season title despite a three-week break in- tory of Alabama football. The history of few more familiar names that took a little
duced by the coronavirus. The Bears are Alabama basketball can be written on a longer to find in this year’s bracket.
top-seeded for the first time. postcard: Wimp Sanderson and his plaid Meanwhile, some other Power Five
Illinois is making its first trip to the tour- sports coat, Robert Horry, one trip to the teams are finding themselves enjoying a
nament since 2013, joining a more tradi- Elite Eight in 21 previous, mostly unmemo- new cachet — maybe not tournament regu-
tional Big Ten power, Michigan, as a No. 1 rable tournament berths. lars, but certainly not to be overlooked.
seed. “They weren’t terrible at basketball, and Rutgers is in for the first time since 1991.
“I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a lot of it seemed like they were on the verge of Its first-round opponent, Clemson, is a
‘uh-oh’ moments” along the road to rebuild- being a good basketball school,” said Herb once-proud program that has been over-
ing Illinois, coach Brad Underwood said. Jones, the third-team All-American out of shadowed by football in recent years. An-
All these programs have, indeed, had Greensboro, Ala. “It looked like the perfect other “football school,” Florida State, is in
their uh-oh moments over the years, which place to come in and turn the narrative, and Year 5 as a burgeoning hoops power in the
is what makes their trip to the top of the give kids from Alabama a place to play bas- ACC, coming in as a 4 seed after two
brackets that much more unique. ketball instead of going out of state.” straight trips to the Sweet 16.
NCAA Tournament returns with ‘First Four’
Associated Press from Mount St. Mary’s and won Michigan State’s brief ap- Indianapolis, where the Bruins
Who are we kidding? “First 60-52. pearance in the tournament was will face No. 6 Brigham Young.
Four” still sounds more like an The first four games were coach Tom Izzo’s 23rd straight, Drake’s win was a long time
educational toy than the prel- grafted onto the 64-team main but it was small consolation. He coming — 50 years to be exact
ude to three of the best weeks in bracket in 2011, naturally, to pad got into a heated exchange with — and didn’t go into the books
sport. the NCAA coffers. They were one of his own players — and not until a last-second three-point
But because of the pandemic, originally dubbed “play-in” for the first time — after what try by Wichita State’s Alterique
it’s been 710 days since last we games, and then briefly the appeared to be a defensive mis- Gilbert clanged off the front
saw the NCAA Tournament — “First Round,” which the NCAA communication on the final play rim.
who’s counting? — so let’s not quickly squashed to avoid any of the first half. Texas Southern simply had
quibble over names and go confusion with the 16 games The Spartans still led by six too much pace for a deliberate
straight to the opening-night re- that began the tournament in points with four minutes left. Mount St. Mary’s squad in a
view: earnest Friday. Then the house fell in. The matchup of No. 16 seeds. The
Pretty, pretty good. Only one First Four team has Bruins’ Jaime Jaquez Jr., who win was the Tigers’ 10th
In the finale pitting two of col- also made it all the way to the Fi- finished with 27 points, banged straight.
lege hoops’ marquee programs, nal Four — Virginia Common- in a layup and added the game- Norfolk State won the other
UCLA outlasted Michigan State wealth in 2011 — but survivors tying free throw in regulation. battle of No. 16s, but did so
86-80 in overtime. Two other tend to punch above their Johnny Juzang hit back-to-back drenched in sweat. The Spar-
games were decided by a single weight. Four teams have made baskets to begin the extra peri- tans built a big first-half lead,
point: Drake beat Wichita State it to the Sweet 16 and 2019 od and UCLA kept its nose in squandered it and then some in
53-52, and Norfolk State marked the only year at least front the rest of the way. the second and had to close with
squeezed Appalachian State 54- one of the first four survivors The reward for winning the a 9-2 run — capped by Devante
53. In Thursday’s opener, Texas failed to win a game in the big- clash of No. 11 seeds is a short Carter’s free throws with 8.6
Southern pulled steadily away boy bracket. drive to Hinkle Fieldhouse in seconds left — to prevail.Friday, March 19, 2021 • S T R I P E S L I T E • PAGE 7
NFL investigating Houston’s Watson
Associated Press NFL spokesman Brian turbing pattern of preying on massage in December, Watson
DALLAS — The NFL said McCarthy confirmed in an vulnerable women.” “coerced” her into giving him
Thursday that it was investigat- email to The Associated Press The letter that he briefly post- oral sex. The woman did not
ing allegations that Houston that the matter was “under re- ed was from Lisa M. Friel, spe- consent and then “blacked out
Texans quarterback Deshaun view of the personal conduct cial counsel for investigations for a few minutes from fear,”
Watson sexually assaulted mul- policy.” for the NFL. It said it is her job to the lawsuit states.
tiple women after three mas- Watson’s attorney and agent “look into any allegations that The alleged assaults took
sage therapists filed lawsuits did not immediately respond to might involve a violation of the place at one of the women’s
against the star player. requests for comment Thurs- League’s Personal Conduct Pol- homes, a Houston hotel and an
In lawsuits filed this week, day. icy.” The letter went on to say office building in the city, ac-
two of the women claim that “I have never treated any that the league had “opened an cording to the suits. They state
Watson touched them with his woman with anything other investigation into these allega- that Watson connected with the
penis during massages last than the utmost respect,” the tions and to request the cooper- women over social media,
year, and the third alleges he quarterback said in a statement ation of your clients in our in- where they advertised their
forced her to perform oral sex. posted to Twitter Tuesday. vestigation.” businesses, and flew one of
Watson, 25, has broadly de- Houston police spokeswo- According to the suits, the them from Atlanta to Houston
nied that he acted inappropri- man Jodi Silva declined to com- women live in Texas, Oregon for a massage.
ately and said he looks forward ment on whether any of the al- and Georgia and work giving Each woman is suing for com-
to clearing his name. leged sexual assaults were re- massages. Two claimed that pensatory and punitive damag-
The women, who are not ported to police, saying the de- during massages in March and es, as well as court costs.
named in the lawsuits, are rep- partment does not identify August of last year Watson was Texans spokesman Omar
resented by Houston lawyer To- people who have not been sexually suggestive, exposed Majzoub released a statement
ny Buzbee, who posted a picture charged with a crime. his genitals and moved toward on behalf of the team Thursday
Thursday of a letter from the Buzbee did not immediately them in ways that caused his pe- saying it had been informed by
NFL on his verified Instagram respond to requests for com- nis to touch their hands. the NFL about its investigation.
account that said the league had ment Thursday, but wrote in The lawsuit from the third The statement said the team
launched an investigation. Buz- one of the lawsuits that “Wat- woman describes similar be- “will stay in close contact with
bee later deleted the post. son’s behavior is part of a dis- havior and alleges that during a the league” as it investigates.
Harvick reflects on 20th anniversary of emotional win
Associated Press seven days after Earnhardt’s flashed three fingers out his the two series raced at different
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The death and then Harvick was off window to honor Earnhardt. venues.
first three weeks following Dale to Las Vegas for his wedding — The rest is a bit of a blur. “Racing that much really hid
Earnhardt’s death were a it had been built into the NAS- “It was obviously a moment I me from a lot of things because
whirlwind for Kevin Harvick, CAR schedule before the sea- don’t think any of us expected, of the fact I was so busy. It real-
the driver suddenly tasked with son began — and the start of a but there are a number of ly allowed me to kind of hide
carrying a race team reeling year spent primarily in race things that obviously changed under a rock,” Harvick said.
from grief. cars and airplanes. in the weeks before that,” Har- “But 2002 was when I realized
Harvick was slated to race The standout moment of that vick said. “It took me a long the magnitude of the situation
for the 2001 championship in season came in his third Cup time to really get comfortable, we were in. Racing so much and
NASCAR’s second-tier series race when Harvick held off Jeff to really even think about things often in 2001 really covered all
but Richard Childress needed Gordon by 0.006 seconds — the that happened that day. There that stuff up.”
him to fill Earnhardt’s seat. edge of his front bumper — to were so many things that hap- Harvick spent 13 years driv-
Harvick, admittedly “young win at Atlanta Motor Speedway. pened backwards in my ca- ing for Richard Childress Rac-
and dumb” at the time, told Harvick returns to Atlanta on reer.” ing and recognizes now how
Childress he’d do both. Sunday for the 20th anniver- Harvick won two Cup races critical that 2001 season was. It
Attempting to replace Earn- sary of that victory. He says he that year and beat Kurt Busch was imperative that the organi-
hardt was an unenviable ask of wishes he “would have realized for top rookie honors. He won zation keep Earnhardt’s car on
any driver, let alone a 25-year- then how big this moment was.” another five times in the Xfinity track all season and the Atlanta
old at the start of his NASCAR His memories of that emo- Series (then called the Busch victory was a morale boost for a
career. By committing to that tional win two decades later are Series) and the championship. heartbroken crew.
frantic two-series schedule, scattered. He recalls the five- All told, he made 69 starts and “Knowing now what it meant
Harvick created a shield from car battle over the final 10 laps, crisscrossed the country, often to the sport, and just that mo-
the intense scrutiny of an emo- the fans lining the fence along borrowing planes from Chil- ment in general of being able to
tionally draining season. the back straightaway and the dress or teammate Mike Skin- carry on, was so important,”
His Cup Series debut came backward victory lap when he ner, to get between tracks when Harvick said.PAGE 8 • STRIPES LITE • Friday, March 19, 2021
Vasilevskiy’s 19 saves help Tampa prevail
Associated Press phy didn’t fight and Goodrow Oilers 2, Jets 1: Connor ing Columbus past Carolina.
TAMPA, Fla. — Andrei Vasi- was called for unsportsmanlike McDavid scored twice to close Kevin Stenlund also scored
levskiy made 19 saves for his conduct, leading to Janmark’s in on the NHL lead and host Ed- for the Blue Jackets, Oliver
10th consecutive victory, rookie goal at 2:10. monton beat Winnipeg to move Bjorkstrand assisted on all
Ross Colton broke a third-peri- Killorn pulled Tampa Bay into a tie with Toronto for the three goals, and Joonas Korpi-
od tie with his second career even with his eighth of the sea- North Division lead. salo stopped 25 shots.
goal and the Tampa Bay Light- son, taking a pass from Hedman McDavid has 20 goals — a Red Wings 3, Stars 2: Robby
ning beat the Chicago Black- and sweeping around the back goal behind Toronto’s Auston Fabbri scored three goals, one
hawks 4-2 on Thursday night. of the net for a wraparound that Matthews — and leads the in each period, and host Detroit
Victor Hedman, Alex Killorn hit the skate of Lankinen and league in points with 58 and as- held off Dallas.
and Yanni Gourde also scored banked in at 13:15. sists with 38. The Red Wings did have a set-
for Tampa Bay. Flyers 4, Islanders 3: Oskar Avalanche 5, Wild 1: The top back, losing goaltender Jonath-
Dylan Strome and Mattias Lindblom scored his second line of Nathan MacKinnon, Ga- an Bernier to an injury late in
Janmark had power-play goals goal with 2:22 left, Carter Hart briel Landeskog and Mikko the second period after he stop-
for the Blackhawks. They have made 22 saves and visiting Phi- Rantanen combined for four ped all 22 shots he faced. Tho-
lost three straight and are 1-5 in ladelphia recovered after blow- goals to help host Colorado end mas Greiss finished the game in
their last six games. ing a late, three-goal lead to beat Minnesota’s winning streak at net and had 16 saves.
The teams will complete the New York. five. Ducks 3, Coyotes 2 (OT):
two-game series Saturday. Lindblom’s shot from be- Rantanen scored twice for the Adam Henrique scored a pow-
Colton gave Tampa Bay the tween the circles beat goalie Se- Avalanche, Joonas Donskoi also er-play goal 43 seconds into
lead at 5:32 of the third period. myon Varlamov for this fourth scored, and Philipp Grubauer overtime, Jamie Drysdale had a
He raced up ice and took a pass goal this season. Travis Konec- made 19 saves. goal and an assist in his NHL de-
from Mathieu Joseph, skated in ny assisted, his third of the con- Devils 3, Penguins 2: Scott but and host Anaheim over-
alone on Kevin Lankinen, test, and the Flyers won in regu- Wedgewood made 40 saves, came a two-goal deficit to beat
pulled the puck back to his fore- lation for only the second time Jack Hughes had a goal and an Arizona.
hand and tucked a shot between in their last 10 games. assist and host New Jersey beat Trevor Zegras scored his first
the post and the pad. Bruins 4, Sabres 1: David Pittsburgh. career goal, and Ryan Miller
Hedman added an empty-net Krejci had three assists to cross P.K. Subban and Travis Zajac made 23 saves to help the Ducks
goal with 16 seconds. the 700-point threshold and vis- also scored, and the Devils won end a four-game losing streak.
Barclay Goodrow put Chica- iting Boston extended Buffalo’s their second straight at home Predators 2, Panthers 1:
go on a power play in the open- skid to 13 games. following a losing streak of 11 Calle Jarnkrok scored twice,
ing minute as he tried to engage David Pastrnak had a goal games (0-10-1) in Newark. leading visiting Nashville past
Connor Murphy in a fight for a and an assist for the Bruins, Blue Jackets 3, Hurricanes 2 Florida.
hit Murphy delivered to Erik Craig Smith, Jake DeBrusk and (OT): Seth Jones scored his sec- Juuse Saros stopped 40 shots,
Cernak the last time the two Greg McKegg also scored, and ond goal with 50.4 seconds re- allowing only Jonathan Huber-
teams met March 7. But Mur- Jaroslav Halak made 23 saves maining in overtime to lift visit- deau’s goal.
Beal, Westbrook lead Wiz past league-leading Jazz
Associated Press pointers. Dennis Schröder had 22 points, 21 in the opening quarter
WASHINGTON — Bradley Timberwolves 123, Suns points and seven assists as the alone, and host Portland swept
Beal scored 43 points, Russell 119: Anthony Edwards scored a defending NBA champions the two-game set with New Or-
Westbrook had 35 points, 15 re- career-high 42 points, Karl-An- moved past Phoenix and pulled leans.
bounds and 13 assists in his 13th thony Towns had 41 and visiting 1 ½ games behind the league- Enes Kanter had 16 points and
triple-double of the season and Minnesota rallied to stun Phoe- leading Utah Jazz with their 13 rebounds, and Carmelo An-
the Washington Wizards beat nix. sixth win in eight games. thony added 15 points. The Trail
the Utah Jazz 131-122 on Thurs- The Timberwolves still have Knicks 94, Magic 93: Julius Blazers beat the Pelicans 125-
day night. the worst record in the NBA at Randle had his third triple-dou- 124 on Tuesday night.
Washington broke a five- 10-31 but have played better ble of the season with 18 points, Hawks 116, Thunder 93:
game losing streak overall and a since the All-Star break, win- 17 assists and10 rebounds to lead Trae Young and Bogdan Bogda-
nine-game skid against Utah. ning three of five games. New York past visiting Orlando. novic each scored 23 points and
Donovan Mitchell equaled a Lakers 116, Hornets 105: Alec Burks scored 21 points to Atlanta won its seventh straight,
season high with 42 points for LeBron James had 37 points, help the Knicks improve to 21- beating visiting Oklahoma City.
the Jazz, who at 29-11 still have eight rebounds and six assists, 21. Reggie Bullock added 20, RJ The Hawks have put together
the NBA’s best record but have and host Los Angeles moved Barrett had 17 and Frank Ntiliki- the streak since Nate McMillan
lost four of six in March. Joe In- back into second place in the na 13. took charge as interim coach
gles added a career-high 34 Western Conference with its Trail Blazers 101, Pelicans and have won seven in a row for
points, including eight three- fourth straight victory. 93: Damian Lillard scored 36 the first time since 2016-17.You can also read
