Austin: US, Japan can beat 'any competitor' - Stripes Lite
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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021
Austin: US, Japan can beat ‘any competitor’
BY SETH ROBSON The alliance remains a cor- Japanese broadcaster NHK. ing to reach the Senkakus.
Stars and Stripes nerstone in addressing today’s The two countries, in the Blinken and Austin travel to
TOKYO — The United States demands and challenges as the statement, also expressed con- South Korea on Wednesday for
and Japan can “outmatch any countries work together to up- cern over human rights in Chi- talks with their counterparts in
competitor” in the years ahead, hold a free and open Indo-Pacif- na, its growing assertiveness at the defense and foreign minis-
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Aus- ic, Austin said, as he, Kishi and a sea and its new coast guard law, tries there, too.
tin told his Japanese counter- group of U.S. and Japanese gen- the report said. It’s especially meaningful
part Tuesday at the start of a se- erals and other officials met in a Blinken, meanwhile, warned that the Tokyo meetings are hap-
ries of high-level meetings. conference room at Japan’s China against using coercion pening so close to the 10th anni-
On his first international trip Ministry of Defense in the Japa- and aggression. versary of the Great East Japan
since taking over as America’s nese capital. “We will push back, if neces- Earthquake, Austin said of the
top civilian military leader, Aus- “I am confident that working sary, when China uses coercion triple disaster of March 11, 2011.
tin gave an upbeat assessment of together we can meet any chal- and aggression to get its way,” he The magnitude-9.0 earthquake,
the state of the alliance to Japa- lenge and outmatch any compet- said Tuesday according to the the most intense ever recorded
nese Defense Minister Nobuo itor in the years ahead,” the de- Reuters news agency. in Japan, created a massive tsu-
Kishi. fense secretary said. Tensions have risen this year nami that inundated the north-
Also that afternoon, Secretary Austin didn’t mention any between Japan and China over eastern coast, killing more than
of State Antony Blinken met competitors by name but, in a the disputed Senkaku islands. 19,000 people and causing a
with Japanese Minister for For- statement issued later in the day, China in February gave its coast meltdown at the Fukushima
eign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi. the allies said China’s actions guard authority to fire at boats Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The discussions were part in the pose political, economic, mili- entering waters claimed by Chi- More than 20,000 U.S. troops
U.S.-Japan Security Consulta- tary and technical challenges to na, to which Japan responded by worked alongside their Japa-
tive Committee, informally the Japan-U.S. alliance and the permitting its coast guard crews nese allies to respond to the di-
called 2+2. global community, according to to fire on foreign ships attempt- saster.
N. Korea greets new US administration with threats
Associated Press for coming four years, it had bet- (South Korean) authorities,” be- a response. The official was not
SEOUL, South Korea — In ter refrain from causing a stink fore determining whether to authorized to publicly discuss
North Korea’s first comments at its first step.” take exceptional measures the diplomatic outreach and
directed at the Biden adminis- Kim Yo Jong, a senior official against its rival, she said in her spoke on condition of anonymi-
tration, Kim Jong Un’s powerful who handles inter-Korean af- statement published in Pyon- ty.
sister on Tuesday warned the fairs, also criticized the U.S. and gyang’s official Rodong Sinmun “This is Kim Yo Jong contin-
United States to “refrain from South Korea for holding military newspaper. uing to be the tip of the wedge
causing a stink” if it wants to exercises. She also said the Challenges posed by North North Korea tries to drive be-
“sleep in peace” for the next four North would consider abandon- Korea’s nuclear arsenal and tween South Korea and its U.S.
years. ing a 2018 bilateral agreement China’s growing influence loom ally,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a
Kim Yo Jong’s statement was on reducing military tensions large in the Biden administra- professor of international stud-
issued as U.S. Secretary of State and abolish a decades-old ruling tion’s first Cabinet-level trip ies at Ewha University in Seoul.
Antony Blinken and Defense party unit tasked to handle inter- abroad, part of a larger effort to “North Korea’s latest threats
Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived Korean relations if it no longer bolster U.S. influence and coun- mean the allies have precious lit-
in Asia to talk with U.S. allies Ja- had to cooperate with the South. ter concerns about the U.S. role tle time to coordinate their ap-
pan and South Korea about She said the North would also in Asia following four years of proaches on deterrence, sanc-
North Korea and other regional consider scrapping an office former President Donald tions and engagement.”
issues. They met officials in To- that handled South Korean tours Trump’s “America first” ap- Biden’s presidency begins as
kyo on Tuesday before heading to the North’s scenic Diamond proach. Kim Jong Un faces perhaps the
to Seoul for talks on Wednesday. Mountain, which Seoul sus- A senior official from the Bi- toughest moment of his nine-
“We take this opportunity to pended in 2008 after a North Ko- den administration said Satur- year rule. His country’s battered
warn the new U.S. administra- rean guard fatally shot a South day that U.S. officials have tried economy has decayed further
tion trying hard to give off (gun) Korean tourist. to reach out to North Korea amid pandemic border closures
powder smell in our land,” she The North “will watch the fu- through multiple channels since while his summits with Trump
said. “If it wants to sleep in peace ture attitude and actions of the last month, but had yet to receive failed to lift crippling sanctions.PAGE 2 • STRIPES LITE • Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Squadron replaces pit bull morale patch
BYMATTHEW KEELER spokesman Master Sgt. Joshua mation League website, white tion with Lt. Col. Ryan Walinski,
Stars and Stripes Garcia said in an email Tuesday supremacists use a specific pit commander of the civil engi-
OSAN AIR BASE, South Ko- to Stars and Stripes. bull graphic so often that it has neer squadron, and Col. E. Jo-
rea — The civil engineer squad- The morale patch of the 51st become a white supremacist nelle Eychner, commander of
ron at Osan has replaced its pit Civil Engineer Squadron “Mon- symbol itself. One racist group, the 51st Mission Support Group,
bull morale patch because it too grels” depicted a pit bull with a Keystone United, formerly according to the wing.
closely resembled a symbol as- striking resemblance to what known as Keystone State Skin- “To prevent any inappropri-
sociated with a white suprema- the Anti-Defamation League heads, adopted it as part of its lo- ate association with that organi-
cist group, according to a wing has labeled as a racist symbol. go. zation, we have decided to cease
statement Tuesday. While the wing did not name a Gonzales, according to the use of the current Morale Patch,
Col. John Gonzales, com- particular hate group, its state- wing, said he found “that the and the unit will return to a pre-
mander of the 51st Fighter ment said the squadron’s red, similarity between the em- vious version of the Morale
Wing, ordered the change after white and black patch was simi- blems could reasonably cause Patch that bears no resem-
an internal review “on all Unit lar to a graphic used by a known confusion between the unit and blance visually, and could not
Emblems, Mottos, Nicknames and active extremist group in a known active extremist hate reasonably be considered to be
and Other Symbols” back in Oc- the United States. group.” associated with that extremist
tober and December, wing According to the Anti-Defa- Gonzales acted in conjunc- organization,” Gonzales said.
Special ops forces train Americans less
sure than allies
Mozambique troops on NATO support
BYJOHN VANDIVER gust, the State Department said. The port, BY JOHN VANDIVER
Stars and Stripes positioned in an oil-rich area in northern Stars and Stripes
STUTTGART, Germany — U.S. special Mozambique, is a cargo hub for the east STUTTGART, Germany — A majority of
operations troops have launched a mission African nation. people in allied countries want to remain in
to assist counterterrorism forces in Mozam- Mozambique’s government has appealed NATO and think the alliance protects them
bique, where there are growing concerns for international help to curb the insurgen- from aggression, but skepticism runs higher
about escalating violence by Islamic State cy, saying its troops need specialized anti- in the United Statesthan most other member
militants. guerrilla training. states, a public opinion poll found.
The two-month effort will focus on train- The arrival of U.S. commandos marks the NATO on Tuesday released its 2020 an-
ing Mozambican marines as the country entry of U.S. Africa Command into a region nual report, which included a poll commis-
tries to “prevent the spread of terrorism and where past American military efforts have sioned by the alliance on attitudes toward
violent extremism,” the U.S. Embassy in focused more on humanitarian campaigns. the 30-member security pact.
Maputo said Monday in a statement. The The new counterterrorism mission also The poll found that 62% of respondents
United States has also provided medical could serve as an opportunity for the U.S. to would vote to stay in NATO, compared to 11%
and communications equipment. distinguish itself from Russia, which has at- stating they would vote for their country to
The U.S. effort, led by Special Operations tempted to deliver similar assistance, but quit the alliance. The rest did not know or
Command Africa, comes during a time of with mixed results. had no opinion.
increased violence in Mozambique, where During the past two years, Russia has dis- The surveys of 28,635 adults in 30 NATO
nearly 670,000 people have been displaced patched fighters from the state-sponsored member countries were conducted between
by ISIS attacks in the mainly Muslim Cabo Wagner Group, which operates in various July 20 and Aug. 8, 2020, with an additional
Delgado province. countries, such as Libya, Central African 28,517 polled Nov. 5-23. The poll had a mar-
Last week, the State Department desig- Republic and Syria. But the Kremlin- gin of error of 3%, the statement said.
nated the militants as a foreign terrorist backed fighters have performed poorly in But Americans were less convinced. In
group along with a similar ISIS affiliate in parts of Africa, a March 9 analysis by the the U.S., 51 % of people polled thought NATO
the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rand Corp. think tank found. membership made an attack from an adver-
The Mozambique branch has orchestrat- It’s not clear whether U.S. forces will fol- sary less likely, while 17 % disagreed and the
ed a series of “large scale and sophisticated low the two-month mission with other rest weren’t certain. Fifty-seven percent of
attacks,” most notably resulting in the cap- means of counterterrorism support, but the Americans polled said they would vote to
ture of the strategic port of Mocimboa da embassy suggested that more types of as- stay in the alliance, while 10% would elect to
Praia near the border with Tanzania in Au- sistance could be on the way. leave.
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.Tuesday, March 16, 2021 • S T R I P E S L I T E • PAGE 3
Army pushed to deny DC’s Guard request
The Washington Post duty forces — not the National Guard.
WASHINGTON — The Army initially Unlike in the 50 states, where governors
pushed to reject the Washington D.C. gov- Fencing around control the National Guard, the D.C. Guard
ernment’s request for a modest National answers to the president, who delegates au-
Guard presence ahead of the Jan. 6 rally that
led to the Capitol riot, underscoring the deep
Capitol to be thority to the defense secretary and Army
secretary. The mayor of the District of Co-
reluctance of some higher-ups at the Penta-
gon to involve the military in security ar-
scaled back lumbia can only request that the federal gov-
ernment deploy the D.C. Guard.
rangements that day. Associated Press The thinking of Pentagon leaders before
In an internal draft memo obtained by The WASHINGTON — Amid strong bi- and during the riot is now facing scrutiny
Washington Post, the Army said the U.S. mil- partisan pushback, security officials from lawmakers who have accused the De-
itary shouldn’t be needed to help police with say they will soon scale back fencing fense Department of reacting too slowly to
traffic and crowd management, as city offi- that has circled the U.S. Capitol and the Capitol Police’s 11th-hour plea for mili-
cials had requested, unless more than cut off the entire area to pedestrian tary assistance, as rioters breached the Capi-
100,000 demonstrators were expected. and vehicular traffic since a mob at- tol in a catastrophic security failure.
The draft memo also said the request tacked the building Jan. 6. Maj. Gen. William Walker, the command-
should be denied because a federal agency Timothy Blodgett, the acting House ing general of the D.C. Guard, told lawmak-
hadn’t been identified to run the prepara- sergeant-at-arms, said Monday in a ers on March 3 that after receiving a pan-
tions and on-the-day operations; the re- memo to members of Congress that icked call from the chief of the Capitol Police,
sources of other federal agencies hadn’t been the fencing will be scaled back in two he had to wait three hours and 19 minutes be-
exhausted; and law enforcement was “far phases in response to guidance from fore the Pentagon allowed him to send his
better suited” for the task. the U.S. Capitol Police that “there available forces to the building.
The Army leadership made its position does not exist a known, credible Pentagon officials have denied that their
clear in deliberations at the Pentagon the threat” that warrants keeping the response was delayed, describing the arrival
weekend before the event, citing those rea- temporary barrier in place. of the D.C. Guard about three hours after the
sons among others, according to four people House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said call for help as a quick rollout, considering
familiar with the discussions, who like others in a letter to colleagues after Blod- that the military hadn’t been postured or
in this report spoke on the condition of ano- gett’s announcement that the Capitol asked to provide backup to the Capitol Police
nymity to discuss internal Defense Depart- Police “will continue to monitor the if needed.
ment matters. threat posture, and plans will be ad- By the time of the riot, Pentagon leaders
The Army ultimately relented after facing justed if and as needed.” had become skittish about using the military
pressure from acting defense secretary Blodgett said.the outer perimeter to support law enforcement on domestic soil.
Christopher Miller and the chairman of the fencing will be removed in the latter Last June, Milley and then-defense secre-
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, and part of March and Independence and tary Mark Esper were excoriated by law-
realizing that D.C. officials weren’t going to Constitution avenues, the two major makers and retired military personnel for
turn to the Justice Department for help in- thoroughfares that flank the Capitol, appearing alongside President Donald
stead, as the Army had wanted, the people will be opened for traffic. Trump as federal law enforcement cleared
said. An inner perimeter will be moved racial-justice protesters near the White
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy agreed to closer to the Capitol building this House using force and pepper balls.
support the request, so long as a lead agency week, providing reopened access to The Army leadership also felt strongly that
was identified and all other federal agencies nearby streets and some sidewalks. the military shouldn’t be used unless a feder-
“exhausted their assets to support these Strings of razor wire atop the fence al agency was designated to lead the activ-
events,” according to the recommendation will also be removed. ities.
he gave in a revised final memo to Miller, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows
who approved the request. told Miller and acting attorney general Jef-
Still, the Army’s initial impulse to consider Defense Department unprepared to respond frey Rosen that the Justice Department
refusing military involvement in the security rapidly when the situation got out of control. would serve as the “lead” agency, according
arrangements — even though the Guard is The draft memo, however, suggests that the to people familiar with the arrangement.
trained to assist law enforcement during Army leadership also had been disinclined to The designation pertained only to the Jus-
large-scale protests and has done so regular- get involved from the start. tice Department, the FBI, the Defense De-
ly for decades in Washington — shows the Reluctance at the Pentagon about the de- partment and the Interior Department, the
extraordinary steps officials at the Pentagon ployment of the D.C. Guard during the prep- official said, and did not cover the Capitol,
were taking to stay away from what was arations also raises questions about when it is where Capitol Police oversee security.
shaping up to be a politically toxic and vola- appropriate to use the U.S. military on do- The designation was so vague that officials
tile moment for the nation. mestic soil. While top Pentagon officials have in the D.C. government and at the D.C. Guard
In the weeks since the riot, top Pentagon emphasized that military force should be didn’t even know that the Justice Depart-
officials have emphasized that the Capitol used to support domestic law enforcement ment was functioning as the “lead agency.”
Police and federal agencies didn’t request only as a last resort, that maxim has tradi- The Justice Department declined to com-
military backup before the event, leaving the tionally been understood to apply to active- ment.PAGE 4 • STRIPES LITE • Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Nations, EU divided on AstraZeneca shot
Associated Press group of European Union nations choosing tinent, where the virus is again surging and
BRUSSELS — With coronavirus cases caution over speed, even as the head of the where the vaccination campaign has re-
rising in many places, governments faced European Medicines Agency said the peatedly stumbled.
the grimmest of dilemmas Tuesday: push agency is “firmly convinced” that the ben- The choice may be even more fraught
on with a vaccine that is known to save efits of the AstraZeneca shot outweigh the elsewhere because many countries are re-
lives or suspend use of AstraZeneca over risks. lying heavily on AstraZeneca, which is
reports of dangerous blood clots in a few Emer Cooke noted Tuesday that thou- cheaper and easier to handle than some
recipients, even as the European regulator sands of people across the EU develop other shots. The vaccine has so far played a
said there was “no indication” the shot was thromboses every year for a variety of rea- huge role in the global initiative to ensure
responsible. sons and that there were no reports of in- vaccines get to poorer countries known as
It has created a jagged divide across the creased blood clots in the clinical studies of COVAX.
globe, forcing politicians to assess the the AstraZeneca vaccine. Still, experts In addition to the EMA, AstraZeneca and
health risks of halting the shots at a time would undertake a “very rigorous analy- the WHO have said there is no evidence the
when many countries, especially in Eu- sis” and make a recommendation Thurs- vaccine carries an increased risk of blood
rope, are already struggling to overcome day, she said. clots. There have been 37 reports of blood
logistical hurdles and vaccine hesitancy Europe has the luxury to be able to pick clots among the more than 17 million peo-
among their populations. from several vaccine candidates — but the ple who have received the vaccine across
Sweden was the latest to join a swelling decision is still not an easy one on the Con- the EU and Britain, the company said.
Senate confirms 1st Native American Cabinet head
Associated Press lection means that Indigenous people — who many other places,” Schumer said.
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Monday lived in North America before the United Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo
confirmed New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as States was created — will for the first time see and a 35th-generation resident of New Mexi-
interior secretary, making her the first Native a Native American lead the powerful depart- co, thanked hundreds of supporters at a vir-
American to lead a Cabinet department and ment where decisions on relations with the tual party hosted by Native American organi-
the first to lead the federal agency that has nearly 600 federally recognized tribes are zations.
wielded influence over the nation’s tribes for made. Interior also oversees a host of other is- Her confirmation shows that tribal mem-
nearly two centuries. sues, including energy development on public bers are “visible” and being taken seriously,
Haaland was confirmed by a 51-40 vote, the lands and waters, national parks and endan- Haaland said after the vote. “And no, it should
narrowest margin yet for a Cabinet nomina- gered species. not have taken more than 200 years for a Na-
tion by President Joe Biden. “Rep. Haaland’s confirmation represents a tive person to take the helm at Interior, or even
Four Republicans voted yes: Lisa Murkow- gigantic step forward in creating a govern- be a Cabinet secretary for that matter.”
ski and Dan Sullivan, of Alaska; Susan Collins, ment that represents the full richness and di- Haaland said she was “ready to roll up my
of Maine; and Lindsey Graham, of South Car- versity of this country,” said Senate Majority sleeves” so Interior can play its part in Biden’s
olina. Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. plan to “build back better” and “responsibly
Democrats and tribal groups hailed Haa- “Native Americans for far too long have manage our natural resources to protect them
land’s confirmation as historic, saying her se- been neglected at the Cabinet level and in so for future generations.”
Homeland Security chief defends handling of border
Associated Press era policy of sending them immediately cessor, President Donald Trump, who
WASHINGTON — Faced with a rising back to Mexico or other countries. waged a broad effort to significantly cur-
number of migrants at the southwest bor- “They are vulnerable children and we tail both legal and illegal immigration.
der and criticism from all sides, the Biden have ended the prior administration’s The number of children crossing by
administration’s head of Homeland Securi- practice of expelling them,” Mayorkas said themselves rose 60% from January to
ty insisted Tuesday that the situation is un- in his most detailed statement yet on a sit- more than 9,400 in February, according to
der control as he defended a policy of al- uation at the border that he characterized the most recent statistics available. The
lowing teens and children crossing by as “difficult” but not the crisis that critics overall increase is blamed on a number of
themselves to remain in the country. have portrayed. factors, including the economic upheaval
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro The increasing number of migrants at- caused by the pandemic in Central Amer-
Mayorkas conceded that a surge in the tempting to cross the border, which is at ica and two recent hurricanes in the re-
number of children, mostly from Central the highest level since 2019 but is on pace gion. U.S. officials have also conceded that
America, is a challenge for the Border Pa- to rise to hit a 20-year peak, has become an smugglers have likely encouraged people
trol and other agencies amid the coronavi- early test for President Joe Biden as he to try to cross under the new administra-
rus pandemic. But he rejected a Trump- seeks to break from his immediate prede- tion.Tuesday, March 16, 2021 • S T R I P E S L I T E • PAGE 5
AMERICAN ROUNDUP
Woman accused of faking and Orinda helped in the 16- were moving back to Haines Police find suspicious
day search for the animal that with all their pets, including
photos of daughter’s included setting padded traps Spot’s mom and siblings. devices near church
rivals with bait. A few days later, she was told
PA DOYLESTOWN —
A Pennsylvania
Food truck owner admits Spot was in Juneau, about 6
miles from the ferry dock in the
NC BREVARD — Po-
lice in North Caroli-
na evacuated local businesses
woman is accused of doctoring
to also selling guns city. Another couple had heard after they found several sus-
Spot crying under their porch
photos and video of her daugh-
ter’s cheerleading rivals to try
to get them kicked off the
IL CHICAGO — The own-
er of a Chicago food
truck admitted he illegally sold
and took her in. They then post-
ed on social media in order to
pected incendiary devices near
a Baptist church and a county
building.
squad, officials said. guns from his mobile eatery locate her owner. Police in Brevard, a city of
The Bucks County District along with sandwiches piled The couple gave her to volun- about 7,500 in western North
Attorney’s Office charged Raf- high with salami, roast beef and teers, who donated a kennel Carolina, said they received a
faela Spone, 50, with three mis- turkey. and drove her to the airport. A call for a report of the devices
demeanor counts of cyber ha- Terry Ferguson, 56, of Wil- regional airline even flew Spot near the First Baptist Church of
rassment of a child and related lowbrook, pleaded guilty in home for free. Brevard and the Transylvania
offenses. U.S. District Court to narcotics Woman hoping to find County Community Services
Spone manipulated photos and gun-trafficking charges
from social media of three girls that included the 2015 sale of
precious family heirloom Building.
When officers responded,
on the Victory Vipers cheer-
leading squad in Chalfont to
make it appear they were
two dozen guns from the back
of his truck known as “Chica-
go’s finest Deli on Wheels.”
MN ST. PAUL — A 90-
year-old
Lake woman whose prized
Prior
they found several small de-
vices that had not detonated,
police said in a news release.
drinking, smoking and even The gun transaction was cap- family heirloom was mistaken- The area was cordoned off
nude, investigators said. tured on video by an undercov- ly sold at an estate sale is trying and local establishments were
Spone also sent messages er agent for the U.S. Bureau of to get it back. evacuated as a precautionary
with the so-called “deepfake” Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms It took Mary Lou Dosland al- measure, police said. There
pictures to the the girls and and Explosives. The guns, in- most two years to create “Win-
were no injuries.
suggested they kill themselves, cluding 10 rifles, four shotguns ter Bird Feeder,” a detailed
officials said. and an array of pistols, were al- needlepoint scene featuring a University to restore
Coyote that attacked 5 legedly stolen by a Ferguson snow-covered bird feeder and 15th-century chapel
associate from a Chicago home. more than a dozen birds. She
people captured, killed
Good Samaritans find, then had the artwork, which
came from a counted-cross- WI MILWAUKEE
Marquette Universi-
—
CA MORAGA — A
coyote that attacked
return kitten to couple stitch kit by a Danish company ty is working to restore a 15th-
century chapel where Joan of
five people, including a 3-year-
old girl, in the San Francisco AK JUNEAU — A cou-
ple has been re-
united with their 4-month-old
named Eva Rosenstand, pro-
fessionally framed.
Years later, she gave it to her
Arc once prayed.
The St. Joan of Arc Chapel
Bay Area was captured and eu-
thanized, wildlife officials said. kitten after it slipped out of son, who years after that be- has stood on the Marquette
The coyote was captured and their car on a ferry ride to Alas- lieved he packed the piece with campus since 1965, WTMJ-AM
killed, “very close to one of the ka. a box of belongings for his reported.
attack sites,” Fish and Wildlife Cassidy Timm and Blake daughter, Instead, it was sold to The structure was built in the
Capt. Patrick Foy told the San Ward lost their cat within hours someone who paid cash and early 1400s in the village of
Francisco Chronicle. of leaving on a mainline ferry could not be traced. Chasse in France’s Rhone Val-
DNA results later confirmed that began in Bellingham, Dosland placed a classified ley. Michael Maher, an associ-
it was the same coyote respon- Wash., and stopped throughout ad in the St. Paul Pioneer Press ate professor of history at Mar-
sible for several attacks since cities in Alaska, KTOO Public that read: “Family heirloom quette, said it was originally de-
last summer. Media reported. mistakenly sold at estate sale signed as a knight’s burial
California wildlife officials, Their kitten, Spot, slipped two years ago. Handsome re- chamber and Joan of Arc
the U.S. Department of Agri- through the sunroof of the cou- ward to return.” prayed in it before entering the
culture and the police depart- ple’s car, which was parked on “No one has called yet, unfor- Battle of Orleans.
ments of Lafayette, Moraga the ferry. Timm and Ward tunately,” Dosland said. — From wire reportsPAGE 6 • STRIPES LITE • Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Stanford women take top overall seed
Associated Press is seeds do not matter,” she don’t think you can get a coach played in the San Antonio area
UConn is in its normal spot said. “It’s not like you get any who has a better record in the because of the pandemic, with
with a No. 1 seed for the wom- extra points when you show up tournament than she does.” the last four rounds tipping off
en’s NCAA Tournament. Fa- at the gym.” While the coronavirus at the Alamodome.
miliar territory for Stanford VanDerveer said being caused many disruptions to the This could be one of the most
and South Carolina, too. healthy and excited to play was schedule throughout the regu- wide-open tournaments, with a
It’s a brand new day for most important. Teams basical- lar season, it looks as if most of dozen teams capable of win-
North Carolina State. And the ly will be locked down in hotels the teams in the field made it to ning the title. There were five
Huskies, while used to their po- except to head to practice or the tournament healthy. No. 1 teams in The Associated
sition in the bracket, are facing games as part of the stringent Stanford, which will open Press women’s basketball poll
some uncertainty after coach COVID-19 safety protocols. against Utah Valley, had quite this year, including the Husk-
Geno Auriemma tested posi- Auriemma’s Texas arrival the odyssey this season be- ies, who finished the season at
tive for the coronavirus. will be delayed. He will remain cause of the coronavirus. It had No. 1.
N.C. State is a No. 1 seed for in isolation for 10 days and can to play on the road for nine The national semifinals take
the first time, joining Stanford, rejoin the team on March 24. weeks after Santa Clara County place on April 2, and the cham-
South Carolina and Connecti- The other members of UConn’s health officials announced they pionship game will be held
cut on the top lines for the San travel party have tested nega- were prohibiting all contact April 4.
Antonio-themed regions for the tive for COVID-19. sports in late November. Tennessee continued its
women’s tourney. The Cardinal Auriemma will miss the The Cardinal, who are look- streak of making the NCAA
earned the overall No. 1 when Huskies’ opening game against ing for their third national Tournament all 39 years. Join-
the field was revealed Monday High Point — one of four first- championship, are the top seed ing High Point as NCAA roo-
night. timers in the NCAAs — and a in the Alamo region. The He- kies are Stony Brook, Utah Val-
“The No. 1 seed is a is a great potential second-round match- misfair, Mercado and River ley and Bradley.
honor, obviously,” N.C. State up against either Syracuse or Walk are the other region Notre Dame’s run of 24
coach Wes Moore said. “Y’all South Dakota State. names. straight NCAA appearances
know me, I’d rather just stayed “I’m an innocent bystander For the past few years, earn- came to an end. The Irish were
a No. 2 and laid low.” right now. I’m going to sit back ing one of the top 16 seeds one of the first four teams out
Stanford coach Tara Van- and watch them do their would put a team at home in of the tournament. They were
Derveer downplayed being the thing,” he said. “(Assistant the tournament’s first two joined just outside the field by
top choice. coach Chris Dailey) is unde- rounds, but that’s not the case Houston, DePaul and Oklaho-
“What I really tell our team feated in tournament play. I this March. Every game will be ma.
Six of top eight men’s seeds are seeking first title
Associated Press teams on the top two seed lines of them won it all. lier. You can tell by their seed
If you’re tired of watching the are seeking a first national title. But don’t assume Gonzaga we didn’t base that off the NET,”
same old powerhouses, this is an Ohio State is the only No. 2 seed would have been better off los- selection committee chairman
NCAA Tournament for you. that has already won one. You ing during the regular season to Mitch Barnhart said. “I don’t
Duke, Kentucky and Louis- have to go all the way down to take the pressure off. It’s been think there’s a perfect metric
ville didn’t qualify. UCLA, Mi- third-seeded Kansas before even longer since a team won out there. I think if everybody
chigan State and Syracuse bare- you’ll find a team with multiple the national title with exactly was looking for the perfect met-
ly did. North Carolina is a No. 8 championships. one loss. The last team to do that ric, you wouldn’t have a commit-
seed. Here are a few more things to was N.C. State (30-1) in 1974. tee that looked at it through the
The four No. 1 seeds are Gon- watch in this NCAA Tourna- prism of different lenses.”
zaga, Baylor, Illinois and Michi- ment:
Weighing the numbers
gan. Those programs have com- The NET rankings raised New arrivals
bined for only one national Chasing history some eyebrows this season. Col- Hartford and Grand Canyon,
championship — Michigan’s in Gonzaga (26-0) is trying to be- gate finished No. 9, but when it the two first-time participants in
1989. The last time the top four come the first undefeated na- came to the tournament seed- this tournament, have their
seeds had only one title between tional champion since Indiana ings, the Raiders were treated work cut out for them. Hartford,
them was in 1990, when Michi- went 32-0 in 1976. Since then, the way a Patriot League team is which won the automatic bid
gan State, UNLV, Connecticut four teams have entered the usually treated. They are a No. from the America East Confer-
and Oklahoma were atop the re- NCAA Tournament undefeated: 14 seed. ence, is a No. 16 seed and will
gions. Out of that foursome, only Indiana State in 1979, UNLV in Loyola Chicago is ranked 10th face Baylor in the first round.
Michigan State had won a cham- 1991, Wichita State in 2014 and in the NET, but received a No. 8 Grand Canyon, which won the
pionship prior to that year. Kentucky in 2015. Three of those seed. WAC Tournament, is a No. 15
This year, six of the eight reached the Final Four, but none “Colgate is a little bit of an out- seed and takes on Iowa.Tuesday, March 16, 2021 • S T R I P E S L I T E • PAGE 7
Source: Fitzpatrick to sign with Washington
Associated Press ter stints with the St. Louis Loomis comes on the heels of sive back Jalen Mills also is
Washington has agreed to Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Buf- Drew Brees’ decision over the headed to Foxborough for four
sign veteran quarterback Ryan falo Bills, Tennessee Titans, weekend to retire and provides years and $24 million. In addi-
Fitzpatrick, according to a per- Houston Texans, New York Winston a chance to compete tion, the Patriots announced de-
son with direct knowledge of the Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Taysom Hill to be New Or- fensive lineman Carl Davis also
move. and Miami Dolphins. leans’ next starter under center. had re-signed for undisclosed
The person spoke to The As-
sociated Press on condition of
Broncos exercise option Pats focus on defense terms.
anonymity Tuesday because to re-sign LB Miller with four signings Bucs re-sign Barrett,
the deal cannot be official until The Denver Broncos have ex- The Patriots took a step back David, Gronkowski
the new league year starts ercised star linebacker Von on defense last season. It’s Sackmaster Shaq Barrett, fel-
Wednesday. Miller’s 2021 option. prompted Bill Belichick to focus low standout linebacker La-
Fitzpatrick — or “FitzMagic” The move engages the final a lot of attention — and money vonte David and Rob Gronkow-
— gives Washington more expe- season of the six-year, $114.5 — on that side of the ball at the
ski will remain in Tampa Bay.
rience at football’s most impor- million contract Miller signed unofficial start of free agency.
Just as he had done several
tant position after it released in 2016 in the aftermath of his A person familiar with the
times in New England, Tom
Alex Smith. The team now has Super Bowl 50 MVP perform- deal said Monday the Patriots
Brady reworked his big-ticket
Fitzpatrick, journeyman-turn- ance. have agreed to sign edge rusher
ed-playoff standout Taylor contract last week to free up
It also guarantees him $7 mil- Matt Judon to a four-year, $56
Heinicke and coach Ron Rivera million deal — including $32 money in free agency. The Buc-
lion of his $17.5 million base sal- caneers used it to keep David,
favorite Kyle Allen under con- million guaranteed — for the
ary. and on Monday, the first day of
tract at quarterback. the former Baltimore Ravens
Washington also has the 19th Winston returns to standout who totaled 15 ½ sacks “legal tampering” before the
pick in the draft and could use in earning back-to-back Pro NFL’s business year begins on
Saints with 1-year deal Wednesday, the 28-year-old
one of its first few selections on Bowl selections in 2019 and
a QB of the future. Fitzpatrick The New Orleans Saints are 2020. Barrett agreed to a four-year,
would be in the mix for the pre- bringing back quarterback Ja- New England also came to $72 million contract with $36
sent on what’s expected to be a meis Winston on a one-year con- terms with free agent defensive million guaranteed, agent Drew
one-year deal. tract. tackle Davon Godchaux on a Rosenhaus confirmed. Later in
Fitzpatrick is joining his ninth The move announced by two-year, $16 million deal with the day, Gronk agreed to return
different NFL team at age 38 af- Saints general manager Mickey $9 million guaranteed. Defen- for his 11th season with Brady.
Indiana fires Miller after going 67-58 over 4 seasons
Associated Press Code, a Clemson point guard in Friday in Indianapolis. the worst seasons in the history
Indiana athletic director Scott the 1990s who later worked with McCaffery’s annual base sala- of the program, athletic director
Dolson fired coach Archie Miller Nike and Adidas, was among 10 ry of $2.3 million for the next two Jamie Pollard announced.
after four mediocre seasons. individuals arrested in 2017 for seasons will remain unchanged. The school said in a statement
Miller was 67-58 with the Hoo- their alleged plan to get top pro- DePaul fired coach Dave that Pollard and Prohm met in
siers. His teams never made the spects to sign with managers Leitao on Monday six years into person Monday night and that
NCAA Tournament. who would handle their finances his second tenure in another ef- Pollard would have additional
Miller’s $10.3 million buyout once they turned professional. fort to lift a once-proud program. comment Tuesday.
was one of college basketball’s Iowa coach Fran McCaf- The Blue Demons went 5-14
priciest but in a fiscal year fery signed a four-year contract overall in a season that started Brewers’ slugger Braun
where the COVID-19 pandemic extension through 2027-28 on about a month late because of mulls retirement
cost the athletic department mil- Monday after leading the eighth- COVID-19 issues. They finished
Ryan Braun visited the Brew-
lions, Dolson says he raised ranked Hawkeyes to the Big Ten last in the Big East for the fifth
ers’ spring training site Monday
enough money privately to pay Tournament semifinals and straight year at 2-13.
and said he hasn’t picked up a
for the coaching change. their highest NCAA Tournament Minnesota fired Richard
bat since the end of the 2020 sea-
In other college basketball seeding since 1987. Pitino on Monday after the coach
son. The 2011 NL MVP became a
news: The Hawkeyes are 21-8 and compiled a 54-96 regular-season
A former point guard sen- finished third in the Big Ten reg- record over eight years in the free agent when the Brewers de-
tenced to prison in 2019 for his ular season at 14-6. They’ve been Big Ten and had only three con- clined to exercise a $15 million
role in a college basketball brib- ranked in the top 15 every week ference finishes higher than 10th mutual option in his contract last
ery scheme has a book coming this season and peaked at No. 5 place. October. “I’m strongly leaning in
out next year. last week. The team is a No. 2 Iowa State and men’s bas- the direction of being done as an
Merl Code's “Black Market” seed in the NCAA Tournament ketball coach Steve Prohm have active player,” the 37-year-old
will be published in March 2022. and will play Grand Canyon on agreed to part ways after one of Braun said.PAGE 8 • STRIPES LITE • Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Harden, Irving lead Nets past rival Knicks
Associated Press The Bucks pulled away late after let- 12 apiece.
NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving scored 34 ting a 26-point third-quarter lead slip to Hornets 122, Kings 116: Terry Rozier
points, James Harden welcomed himself five midway through the fourth. scored 26 points, Gordon Hayward add-
to New York’s basketball rivalry with his Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 37 ed 25 and Charlotte overcame a 15-point
10th triple-double of the season, and the points after sitting out Saturday to rest a deficit in the second half and extended
Brooklyn Nets beat the Knicks 117-112 on sore left knee. Russell Westbrook had 23 its winning streak to four games with a
Monday night. points and a season-high 17 assists. victory over visiting Sacramento.
Harden finished with 21 points, 15 re- Washington has lost four in a row. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 29
bounds and 15 assists in his first game Lakers 128, Warriors 97: LeBron points, while Richaun Holmes had 17
against the Knicks since arriving in James had a triple-double with 22 points, points and 15 rebounds.
Brooklyn two months ago and turning the 11 assists and 10 rebounds, leading inju- The Hornets (20-18) trailed the entire
Nets into one of the NBA’s best teams. ry-depleted Los Angeles to a win at Gold- way until Hayward came up with the
The Nets agreed to the deal that en State. play of the game — a steal and thunder-
brought Harden to Brooklyn on Jan. 13, Montrezl Harrell backed up James’ ous dunk — with 1:33 left.
playing short-handed that night at Madi- fourth triple-double of the season by Spurs 109, Pistons 99: Dejounte
son Square Garden in a 116-109 victory scoring 27 points off the bench on 11- Murray had 19 points and 10 rebounds to
over the Knicks. That made them just of-14 shooting as the Lakers won the sea- lead a balanced attack as San Antonio
7-6, but they are 20-7 since Harden’s ar- son series with Golden State. won at Detroit.
rival, including 19-4 when at least two of Clippers 109, Mavericks 99: Kawhi The Pistons’ leading scorer, Jeremi
their three superstars play. Leonard scored 22 points, Marcus Mor- Grant, left the game in the third quarter
Jeff Green scored 20 points as the Nets ris Sr. added 14 in a rare start and Los after falling hard on his hip while trying
won for the 13th time in 14 games, even Angeles won at Dallas. to drive between Drew Eubanks and Ru-
with Kevin Durant sitting out the last 12 Luka Doncic had 25 points, 16 assists dy Gay.
of them with a strained left hamstring. and 10 rebounds for the Mavs, and Kris- Nuggets 121, Pacers 106: Nikola Jok-
Julius Randle had 33 points, 12 re- taps Porzingis scored 22 points. ic notched his 35th double-double with
bounds and six assists for the Knicks. Paul George scored 15 as seven Clip- 32 points and 14 rebounds, leading host
Bucks 133, Wizards 122: Giannis An- pers finished in double figures. Ivica Zu- Denver over travel-weary Indiana.
tetokounmpo had 31 points, 15 rebounds bac had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Nico- Michael Porter Jr. and Will Barton
and 10 assists for his third consecutive las Batum, who sat while Morris made each scored 20 points for the Nuggets.
triple-double to lead Milwaukee past his third start of the season, had a couple Suns 122, Grizzlies 99: Devin Booker
Washington for its fourth consecutive of big three-pointers and scored 14. Reg- scored 27 points, Chris Paul added 18 and
victory. gie Jackson and Patrick Patterson scored host Phoenix rolled past Memphis.
Pens beat Bruins, Malkin reaches 1,100th point
Associated Press have four wins in their last 13 It was the Panthers’ first short- holm, Dillon Dube and Andrew
PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Mal- games. Jaroslav Halak made 22 handed goal this season. Mangiapane each had a goal and
kin scored on a power play for his saves in his fourth straight start. Predators 4, Lightning 1: Calle an assist, and host Calgary
1,100th career point, leading the Flyers 5, Rangers 4 (OT): Ja- Jarnkrok had a short-handed earned its third straight win un-
Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-1 de- kub Voracek scored 3:47 into goal and had three assists, help- der new coach Darryl Sutter.
feat of the Boston Bruins on Mon- overtime, sending visiting Phila- ing Nashville to the road win. Noah Hanifin also scored, Mi-
day. delphia to the win. Pekka Rinne stopped 38 shots kael Backlund had two assists
Malkin is the third Russian- Claude Giroux, Joel Farabee and picked up his 14th career as- and Jacob Markstrom stopped 28
born player to reach 1,100 points and Ivan Provorov each had a sist in the Predators’ first victory shots. Sutter replaced Geoff
in the NHL, joining Alex Ovech- goal and an assist, and James van against Tampa Bay in six meet-
Ward, who was fired March 4.
kin and Sergei Fedorov. Malkin Riemsdyk also scored for the ings this season. Mattias Ekholm
Canadiens 4, Jets 2: Tyler Tof-
has eight goals on the season and Flyers, who won for the third had a goal and an assist, and Eeli
foli had two goals for visiting
also had an assist while extend- time in eight games. Voracek also Tolvanen and Viktor Arvidsson
Montreal, including an empty-
ing his point streak to eight had two assists, and Carter Hart also scored.
games. finished with 20 saves. Golden Knights 2, Sharks 1: netter in the final minute.
Tristan Jarry made a season- Panthers 6, Blackhawks 3: Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone Canucks 3, Senators 2 (OT):
high 42 saves in the Penguins’ Aleksander Barkov scored a tie- each had a goal and an assist to J.T. Miller scored in overtime for
sixth straight win. Sidney Crosby breaking short-handed goal in help Vegas beat visiting San Jose. visiting Vancouver, and Thatch-
had a goal and two assists, and the third period, sending host Marc-Andre Fleury, making er Demko made 44 saves.
Jake Guentzel and Evan Ro- Florida to its fourth consecutive his 16th start in 17 games, fin- Miller got his eighth of the sea-
drigues also scored. win. ished with 23 saves to improve to son at 1:40. Jayce Hawryluk and
Matt Grzelcyk scored a power- Barkov poked in a loose puck 14-5-0 this season. Tanner Pearson scored in regula-
play goal for the Bruins, who from right in front with 6:34 left. Flames 4, Oilers 3: Elias Lind- tion for the Canucks.You can also read
