e Edition Edition SUNNY 68 • 56 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 | theworldlink.com Follow us online: facebook.com/theworldnewspaper twitter.com/TheWorldLink instagram.com/theworldlink Bandon Marina and the full moon Amy Moss Strong, The World The full moon shines over the Bandon Marina on the Fourth of July. Jordan Cove approval not a ‘greenlight’ JILLIAN WARD The World COOS COUNTY — On Mon- day, the Trump administration approved the Jordan Cove liquid natural gas terminal. But this does not mean the project has the green light to move forward, at least not until it gets permits from the state of Oregon. Energy Secretary Dan Brouil- lette signed an order for the proj- ect, which would send its LNG exports to Asia from Coos Bay, and stated that the Jordan Cove Energy Project “encapsulates what the Trump administration has been working hard on for the past three years — providing reliable, affordable, and clean- er-burning natural gas to our allies around the world.” However, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley’s office clapped back, stating in an email to The World that “We need real infrastructure plans that will create real jobs, boost our economy and spur exports, without undermining our economic future, environment, and public health.” Ray Zaccaro, from Merkley’s office, went on to write that the Monday announcement “fails that test.” “Climate chaos is already wreaking havoc on our fisheries and burning up our forests, and adding more fossil fuel pollution for decades to come will only make things worse,” Zaccaro wrote. “Senator Merkley will continue to fight for jobs and an economy that helps working Oregonians while combating the climate crisis and protecting our resources and health.” Allie Rosenbluth, campaign director with community activist organization Rogue Climate, said that the approval from the federal administration did not come as a surprise. “It’s just another rubber stamp … giving the façade that the project is moving forward,” Rosenbluth said. “However, (federal approval) has no impact on whether or not Jordan Cove is moving forward. The project still cannot build because it lacks per- mits from the state … Its federal and local permits are (also) being challenged by the state, local tribes, affected land owners and community groups like Rogue Climate.” Rosenbluth pointed out that Monday held victories for groups standing against pipelines across the nation, starting with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline which was canceled after five years of delays. “… The energy company saw it wasn’t a viable project,” she said. “And then yesterday, the Dakota Access Pipeline was or- dered by a federal court to drain the oil from the pipeline in the next 30 days and shut down the Courtesy of Jordan Cove Energy Project Jordan Cove LNG terminal conceptual drawing - what the plant could look like, view from the northeast of the corridor, including processing facility and the marine slip. Trump pushes for schools to reopen (AP) - President Donald Trump launched an all-out effort pressing state and local officials to reopen schools this fall, argu- ing that some are keeping schools closed not because of the risks from the coronavirus pandemic but for political reasons. “They think it’s going to be good for them politically, so they keep the schools closed,” Trump said Tuesday at a White House discussion on school plans for the fall. “No way. We’re very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools.” The White House’s roundtable gathered health and education leaders from across the nation who said schools and colleges are ready to open this fall and can do so safely. They argued that the risks of keeping students McConnell eyes virus aid as evictions, benefits cuts loom WASHINGTON (AP) — An eviction moratorium is lifting. Extra unemployment benefits are ending. Parents are being called to work, but schools are strug- gling to reopen for fall as the COVID-19 crisis shows no signs of easing. With Congress bracing for the next coronavirus aid package, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is outlining Republi- can priorities as earlier programs designed to ease Americans through the pandemic and eco- nomic fallout begin to expire. He is eyeing $1 trillion in new aid. “This is not over,” McCon- nell said during a visit to a food pantry Monday in Louisville, Kentucky. The GOP leader’s next virus aid package is centered on lia- bility protections, a top priority for Republicans seeking to shield doctors, schools, businesses and others from coronavirus-relat- ed lawsuits brought by patrons claiming injuries during reopen- ings. McConnell is also considering a fresh round of direct payments, noting they are especially helpful for those earning $40,000 a year or less. He wants the liability shield to run for five years, retro- active to December 2019. “Liability reform, kids in school, jobs and health care,” he said. “That’s where the focus, it seems to me, ought to be.” Democrats have proposed a far more ambitious aid approach in the $3 trillion House-passed coronavirus rescue package, setting the outlines of a robust debate over how best to help Americans as COVID-19 cases surge in hot spots nationwide, threatening public health and economic livelihoods. Congress is away for a two- week recess, but the contours of the debate are taking shape before lawmakers resume ses- sion July 20. Deadlines for many programs expire by the end of the month. McConnell’s earlier decision to hit “pause” on new relief has infuriated Democrats, especially as state and local governments clamor for aid to prevent worker layoffs. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a state- ment Tuesday that McConnell “has created needless uncertainty and pain for millions of fami- lies who are still reeling from the public health and economic crises.” Schumer said, “Senator McConnell ought to be working across the aisle to prevent mass evictions, a new hunger crisis, and the layoff of more essen- tial state and local government employees — all things that will happen if Republicans continue to delay action or act stingily.” The earlier rounds of aid, including the sweeping $2 trillion coronavirus aid package approved in March, were the big- gest in U.S. history. And while aid was approved almost unan- imously, it is now dividing the parties. Many Republicans view the outlay as excessive, and they want to avoid another round of big-ticket spending. Democrats argue that more aid is needed, and their bill includes new work- er health and safety protocols to ensure a safe reopening. While the two sides share many common goals in boosting public health research toward treatments and a vaccine, the difference in the economic aid to Americans is stark. For example, Republicans mostly oppose the $600 weekly boost to unemployment benefits, arguing it’s a disincentive to work because some employees earn more by staying home than they would on the job. Demo- crats say it’s a lifeline for strug- gling Americans trying to make ends meet. Democrats also provide more money in their bill to prevent evictions: $100 billion in rental assistance and $75 billion for homeowners paying mortgages. The $2 trillion coronavirus aid package’s 120-day federal evic- tion moratorium on certain rent- als expires at the end of July. The Democrats’ bill would extend it through March 2021. Democrats are wary of the lia- bility protections being proposed by Republicans. Instead, their bill includes other priorities, such as funding to shore up the struggling U.S. Postal Service, which they see as another lifeline for Americans, and to provide $50 monthly stipends toward broadband services for house- holds with laid-off or furloughed workers to stay connected online. Elk Creek Road closing for repairs The World NORTH BEND — Elk Creek Road (28-11-29.0), east of Myrtle Point, is closed for up to three months beginning July 7 as the Bureau of Land Management completes road repairs. The BLM will replace four culverts between milepost 0.4 and 2.8. While through traffic is prohib- ited, users can access the area via a detour on Big Creek Road (29-11- 28.0) off Highway 42 near Bridge. Once on Big Creek Road, travel 1.64 miles and veer to left onto Elk Creek Extension (28-10-31.0). Af- ter 3.5 miles, Elk Creek Extension ends and turns into Elk Creek Road (28-11-29.0). A map of the detour is available at https://www.blm. gov/office/coos-bay-district-office. Active haul is occurring in the area and drivers should watch for log trucks on these roads. Once complete, the culvert replacements will improve public access and enhance fish habitat in the area, according to a BLM press release. The culverts are in danger of failing and are being replaced through the BLM’s deferred main- tenance program. Three of the four culverts cross fish bearing streams and replacing the aging pipes will provide fish access to an additional 1.2 miles of high-quality stream habitat. Please see LNG, Page A2 Please see Schools, Page A2
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Bandon Marina and the full moon
Amy Moss Strong, The World
The full moon shines over the Bandon Marina on the Fourth of July.
Jordan Cove approval not a ‘greenlight’JILLIAN WARDThe World
COOS COUNTY — On Mon-day, the Trump administration approved the Jordan Cove liquid natural gas terminal.
But this does not mean the project has the green light to move forward, at least not until it gets permits from the state of Oregon.
Energy Secretary Dan Brouil-lette signed an order for the proj-ect, which would send its LNG exports to Asia from Coos Bay, and stated that the Jordan Cove Energy Project “encapsulates what the Trump administration has been working hard on for the past three years — providing reliable, affordable, and clean-er-burning natural gas to our allies around the world.”
However, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley’s office clapped back, stating in an email to The World that “We need real infrastructure plans that will create real jobs, boost our economy and spur exports, without undermining our economic future, environment, and public health.”
Ray Zaccaro, from Merkley’s office, went on to write that the Monday announcement “fails that test.”
“Climate chaos is already wreaking havoc on our fisheries and burning up our forests, and adding more fossil fuel pollution for decades to come will only make things worse,” Zaccaro wrote. “Senator Merkley will continue to fight for jobs and an economy that helps working Oregonians while combating the climate crisis and protecting our resources and health.”
Allie Rosenbluth, campaign director with community activist organization Rogue Climate, said that the approval from the federal administration did not come as a surprise.
“It’s just another rubber stamp … giving the façade that the project is moving forward,” Rosenbluth said. “However, (federal approval) has no impact on whether or not Jordan Cove is moving forward. The project still cannot build because it lacks per-mits from the state … Its federal and local permits are (also) being challenged by the state, local
tribes, affected land owners and community groups like Rogue Climate.”
Rosenbluth pointed out that Monday held victories for groups standing against pipelines across
the nation, starting with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline which was canceled after five years of delays.
“… The energy company saw it wasn’t a viable project,” she
said. “And then yesterday, the Dakota Access Pipeline was or-dered by a federal court to drain the oil from the pipeline in the next 30 days and shut down the
Courtesy of Jordan Cove Energy Project
Jordan Cove LNG terminal conceptual drawing - what the plant could look like, view from the northeast of the corridor, including processing facility and the marine slip.
Trump pushes for schools to reopen
(AP) - President Donald Trump launched an all-out effort pressing state and local officials to reopen schools this fall, argu-ing that some are keeping schools closed not because of the risks from the coronavirus pandemic but for political reasons.
“They think it’s going to be good for them politically, so they keep the schools closed,” Trump said Tuesday at a White House discussion on school plans for the fall. “No way. We’re very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools.”
The White House’s roundtable gathered health and education leaders from across the nation who said schools and colleges are ready to open this fall and can do so safely. They argued that the risks of keeping students
McConnell eyes virus aid as evictions, benefits cuts loom
WASHINGTON (AP) — An eviction moratorium is lifting. Extra unemployment benefits are ending. Parents are being called to work, but schools are strug-gling to reopen for fall as the COVID-19 crisis shows no signs of easing.
With Congress bracing for the next coronavirus aid package, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is outlining Republi-can priorities as earlier programs designed to ease Americans through the pandemic and eco-nomic fallout begin to expire. He is eyeing $1 trillion in new aid.
“This is not over,” McCon-nell said during a visit to a food pantry Monday in Louisville, Kentucky.
The GOP leader’s next virus aid package is centered on lia-bility protections, a top priority for Republicans seeking to shield doctors, schools, businesses and others from coronavirus-relat-ed lawsuits brought by patrons claiming injuries during reopen-ings.
McConnell is also considering a fresh round of direct payments, noting they are especially helpful for those earning $40,000 a year
or less. He wants the liability shield to run for five years, retro-active to December 2019.
“Liability reform, kids in school, jobs and health care,” he said. “That’s where the focus, it seems to me, ought to be.”
Democrats have proposed a far more ambitious aid approach in the $3 trillion House-passed coronavirus rescue package, setting the outlines of a robust debate over how best to help Americans as COVID-19 cases surge in hot spots nationwide, threatening public health and economic livelihoods.
Congress is away for a two-week recess, but the contours of the debate are taking shape before lawmakers resume ses-sion July 20. Deadlines for many programs expire by the end of the month.
McConnell’s earlier decision to hit “pause” on new relief has infuriated Democrats, especially as state and local governments clamor for aid to prevent worker layoffs.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a state-ment Tuesday that McConnell “has created needless uncertainty
and pain for millions of fami-lies who are still reeling from the public health and economic crises.”
Schumer said, “Senator McConnell ought to be working across the aisle to prevent mass evictions, a new hunger crisis, and the layoff of more essen-tial state and local government employees — all things that will happen if Republicans continue to delay action or act stingily.”
The earlier rounds of aid, including the sweeping $2 trillion coronavirus aid package approved in March, were the big-gest in U.S. history. And while aid was approved almost unan-imously, it is now dividing the parties. Many Republicans view the outlay as excessive, and they want to avoid another round of big-ticket spending. Democrats argue that more aid is needed, and their bill includes new work-er health and safety protocols to ensure a safe reopening.
While the two sides share many common goals in boosting public health research toward treatments and a vaccine, the difference in the economic aid to Americans is stark.
For example, Republicans mostly oppose the $600 weekly boost to unemployment benefits, arguing it’s a disincentive to work because some employees earn more by staying home than they would on the job. Demo-crats say it’s a lifeline for strug-gling Americans trying to make ends meet.
Democrats also provide more money in their bill to prevent evictions: $100 billion in rental assistance and $75 billion for homeowners paying mortgages. The $2 trillion coronavirus aid package’s 120-day federal evic-tion moratorium on certain rent-als expires at the end of July. The Democrats’ bill would extend it through March 2021.
Democrats are wary of the lia-bility protections being proposed by Republicans. Instead, their bill includes other priorities, such as funding to shore up the struggling U.S. Postal Service, which they see as another lifeline for Americans, and to provide $50 monthly stipends toward broadband services for house-holds with laid-off or furloughed workers to stay connected online.
Elk Creek Road closing for repairsThe World
NORTH BEND — Elk Creek Road (28-11-29.0), east of Myrtle Point, is closed for up to three months beginning July 7 as the Bureau of Land Management completes road repairs. The BLM will replace four culverts between milepost 0.4 and 2.8.
While through traffic is prohib-ited, users can access the area via a detour on Big Creek Road (29-11-28.0) off Highway 42 near Bridge. Once on Big Creek Road, travel 1.64 miles and veer to left onto Elk Creek Extension (28-10-31.0). Af-ter 3.5 miles, Elk Creek Extension ends and turns into Elk Creek Road (28-11-29.0). A map of the detour is available at https://www.blm.gov/office/coos-bay-district-office. Active haul is occurring in the area and drivers should watch for log trucks on these roads.
Once complete, the culvert replacements will improve public access and enhance fish habitat in the area, according to a BLM press release. The culverts are in danger of failing and are being replaced through the BLM’s deferred main-tenance program. Three of the four culverts cross fish bearing streams and replacing the aging pipes will provide fish access to an additional 1.2 miles of high-quality stream habitat.
Please see LNG, Page A2
Please see Schools, Page A2
eEditionEdition
The World
COOS BAY — High levels of bacteria and fecal coliform were identified in wastewater effluent at the Empire Treatment Plant on Monday.
According to a press release from the City of Coos Bay, the levels of enterococcus bacteria and fecal coliform mean that the city’s wastewater con-tract operator must now complete necessary report-ing with the Department of Environmental Quality and the Oregon Emergency Response System. Signs will also be posted at the beach access near the outfall on the west end of Fulton Avenue, “warning people of the potential high bacteria limits,” the release said.
Before shellfish can be harvested, the release recommended that the public first check with the
Department of Agriculture and/or Coos County Public Health for updates.
The bacteria and fecal coliform “are indicators of the presence of fecal mate-
rial in water and, therefore, of the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and protozoa,” the release said.
The contract operator is
currently investigating the cause of the incident, the release added.
For more information, contact Public Works at 541-269-8918.
Advertise Your Business for $20 per week. 2 Days in The World, 1 Day in The Link and 5 Days a Week in The World Online! Call today to get your custom ad started
project because the Trump administration’s environ-mental review was so poor that they have to restart all over again … It shows the Administration can’t skimp on environmental reviews and expect them to move forward.”
Rosenbluth also mentioned the Keystone
Pipeline, which received a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that it did not have the water quality permits needed to build the project and “will be delayed another year,” she said.
“I think all of those (are) huge wins for com-munities and show that just because the federal administration is trying to greenlight a project does not mean it will get built,
especially when com-munities stand against the project for so many years,” she said.
Meanwhile, on Tues-day it was announced that a group of impacted Or-egon landowners — rep-resented by the Niskanen Center — filed a motion asking the Washington D.C. Circuit Court to “in-validate FERC’s approval of the Pacific Connector Pipeline and Jordan Cove
LNG facility,” read a press release from the Niskanen Center.
It added that the landowners also asked the court for a “stay” — or pause — on FERC’s approval of the project.
“If the Court rules in favor of the landowners, Pembina — the pipeline and facility’s propo-nent — will not be able to start condemnation actions against landown-
ers’ properties,” read the release.
According to the release, the motion goes on to argue that FERC’s approval of the pipeline “violated the Natural Gas Act by approving a pipeline that will only export gas and permit-ting Pembina to exercise eminent domain violates the Takings Clause of the U.S. Constitution ….”
The release added that
allowing Pembina to proceed would also result in “irreparable damage to the landowners’ homes and properties through activities such as tree and crop clearing. In addi-tion, the project poses a heightened public health risk for landowners, many of whom are elder-ly, by exposing them to pipeline workers during a surge of COVID-19 cases in Oregon.”
LNGFrom A1
at home outweigh any risks tied to the coronavi-rus, saying students need access to meal programs and mental and behavioral health services.
“We want to reopen the schools,” Trump said. “Everybody wants it. The moms want it, the dads want it, the kids want it. It’s time to do it.”
But that bright outlook was met with skepticism by some beyond the White
House. The president of the nation’s largest education union said Trump is more interested in scoring points for the November election than in keeping students safe.
“Trump has proven to be incapable of grasping that people are dying — that more than 130,000 Amer-icans have already died,” said Lily Eskelsen García, president of the National Education Association. “Educators want nothing more than to be back in classrooms and on college campuses with our stu-
dents, but we must do it in a way that keeps students, educators and communities safe.”
At the White House event, Trump repeated his claim that Democrats want to keep schools closed for political reasons and not health reasons. The Republican president made the same claim on Twitter a day before, saying: “They think it will help them in November. Wrong, the people get it!”
Trump offered no evi-dence for the allegation, which has been criticized
by health experts who say politicizing the issue will make it harder to work toward reopening schools. Jennifer Nuzzo, of Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19 Testing Insights Initiative, said she was “deeply troubled” by the claim.
“When you make it about politics and just peo-ple trying to score points and get elected, I mean, I really think it’s a disservice to how incredibly import-ant this issue is,” Nuzzo said in an interview. “And it really distracts from what
I think we need, which is real solutions and a plan in order to make this happen.”
Whether schools and colleges should open this fall and how has been a topic of growing debate as the coronavirus con-tinues to surge in parts of the United States. Trump applauded Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his state’s recent order to open public schools this fall. And Trump attacked Harvard University for its decision to hold instruction online for the fall term.
“I think it’s ridiculous, I
think it’s an easy way out and I think they ought to be ashamed of themselves, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said Tuesday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent mixed signals on the issue, saying students should return to the class-room but also noting that virtual classes present the lowest risk of COVID-19 spread. Speaking at Trump’s event, however, the agency’s director said unequivocally that it’s better for students to be in school than at home.
SchoolsFrom A1
Contributed
Empire Treatment Plant.
High levels of bacteria, fecal coliform at treatment plant
218 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 5 new deaths in OregonThe World
PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed five more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 220, the Oregon Health Authority reported Tuesday.
Oregon Health Author-ity also reported 218 new confirmed and presump-tive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, bringing the state total to 10,605.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday are in the following counties: Benton (2), Clackamas (18), Colum-bia (2), Coos (4), Crook (1), Douglas (3), Hood River (3), Jefferson (2), Josephine (3), Klamath (1), Lake (1), Lane (15), Lincoln (1), Linn (1), Malheur (7), Marion (23), Morrow (2), Multnomah (52), Polk (6), Umatilla (20), Union (5), Wallowa (1), Wasco (2), Washing-ton (27), Yamhill (16).
Oregon’s 216th COVID-19 death is a 93-year-old man in Mult-nomah County who tested positive on June 25 and died on June 30 at Prov-idence Portland Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.
Oregon’s 217th COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old woman in Yamhill County who tested positive on June 23 and died on June 30 at Willamette Valley Medi-cal Center. She had under-lying medical conditions.
Oregon’s 218th COVID-19 death is a 56-year-old woman in Linn County who tested positive on May 27 and died on July 5 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. She had underlying medical con-ditions.
Oregon’s 219th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Mar-ion County who tested positive on June 14 and died on July 6 at his resi-dence. He had underlying medical conditions.
Oregon’s 220th COVID-19 death is a 62-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on June 10 and died on July 6 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying medical conditions.
OHA investigating workplace outbreak
An outbreak of 22 cas-es of COVID-19 has been reported at Columbia River Processing (TCCA) in Morrow County. The cases include all people linked to the outbreak, which may include household members and other close contacts to an employee. The outbreak investigation started on June 16, but the initial case count was below the threshold for public disclosure.
State and county public health officials are work-ing with the business to address the outbreak and protect the health of the employees.
COQUILLE POLICE LOGJuly 3
7:28 a.m., criminal tres-passing in the 500 block of N. Central Blvd.
11:07 a.m., criminal trespassing at Coastal Cof-fee, 505 N. Central Ave.
5:34 p.m., foot patrol in Sturdivant Park.
9:09 p.m., public assist at the Hwy. Deli.
10:10 p.m., lost dog reported in the 800 block of E. 11th St.
10:11 p.m., illegal fire-works on E. Second Street and Folsom.
10:19 p.m., loud noice reported in the 200 block of Baxter St.
July 44:12 p.m., person stop
in the area of N. Dean and E. 12th.
4:28 p.m., juvenile problem at Coquille Valley Elementary School.
5:56 p.m., menacing reported in the area of N. Folsom and E. Eighth Street. Arrested Nicholas Braque on a charge of do-mestic menacing, unlawful use of a weapon and felon
in possession of a firearm. Braque was lodged in the Coos County Jail.
10:09 p.m., illegal fire-works reported in the area of W. 10th and Knott.
11:28 p.m., illegal fireworks reported at Ninth and Folsom.
July 5 (log unavailable)
July 68:43 a.m., criminal
trespassing reported in the 500 block of N. Central Ave. Subject previous-ly trespassed was out at location. Arrested Pius
Hilsendager on a charge of criminal trespass II. Hilsendager was cited in lieu of custody.
2:24 p.m., person stop, flagged down by subject, assisted public at River Edge RV Park, 47 S. Cedar St.
2:50 p.m., driving com-plaint at Highway 42 and W. Central Blvd.
4:34 p.m., mental sub-ject in the 300 block of N. Gould St.
8:58 p.m., abandoned vehicle at Sturdivant Park on Highway 42S.
eEditionEdition
DEAR ABBY: Three years ago, I found out my husband had sexually abused one of his nieces. He took a lie detector test, failed it and confessed. Learning the truth was devastating, and I felt like a fool for having believed him.
We have two children together, both teenaged boys. I had to give my boys the bad news about what their father had done and the reason I could no longer be with him. He had to move out because he was restricted from being with minors. There were so many changes.
Then came the news that their father was arrested and sentenced to six years in prison. I was emotionally drained. I have always been honest with my boys and have never kept anything from them. Because I’ve had to give them so much bad news, I have tried my best to give them the happiest times that I could. Soon after, he was sent away.
I received word that when he gets out, he will be deported to Mexico. This is something I haven’t told my boys yet. They are talking about having a life with their father. When he gets out, they will both be adults. My youngest talks about living with him. When they find out, they will be heartbroken.
They have been doing so well. We’ve come a long way, and we’re finally in a happy place. I don’t know how or when to tell them. Should I do it now or wait until closer to his release date? I’m just over the sadness. -- EMOTIONALLY DRAINED
DEAR EMOTIONALLY DRAINED: Hang onto your happiness because you deserve all of it that is coming your way. You and your sons have been put through an ordeal not of your making. I see no reason to burden them further with this unhappy news until closer to the time of your husband’s release. By then they will be older and better able to adjust to what it will mean if they choose to live with or spend time with their dad.
DEAR ABBY: I am an older woman who is not very attractive. I didn’t inherit good looks. This bothers me because all my women friends are married or have been in relationships.
People say looks don’t matter, but they are mistaken. The first thing someone sees is your face and physical presence. I keep myself neat and nicely groomed, but I’m not pretty. What do I do to lift myself from this depression? I’m ashamed of my face. -- FACING IT IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR FACING IT: Everyone has strong points that make them unique. My mother used to say that the most effec-tive cosmetic is a smile. You might have better luck if you focus less on what you think you don’t have and start concen-trating on what you DO have to offer.
Not everyone is a beauty contest win-ner, and they manage to couple up and have healthy relationships with the op-posite sex (and sometimes the same sex). Do you have a special talent, a pleasing personality or a good sense of humor? You appear to have a serious case of low self-esteem.
The solution to your problem might be as simple as widening your circle of acquaintances by getting involved in ac-tivities you enjoy. But before doing that, it might be in your interest to talk with a licensed mental health professional for help in becoming less critical of yourself.
-------------------------------Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van
Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable -- and most frequently requested -- poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -- Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.
DEAR ABBYBy Abigail Van Buren
Heartbreak awaits sons when dad is released from prison
Groups denounce Facebook over hate speechFacebook keeps telling
critics that it is doing everything it can to rid its service of hate, abuse and misinformation. And the company’s detractors keep not buying it.
On Tuesday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg met with a group of civil rights leaders, including the organizers of a growing advertising boycott over hate speech on Facebook. One of those leaders, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, said Facebook’s executives offered little but cheap talk that skirted major commitments to new rules or actions that would curb racism and misinformation on its platform.
“We’ve watched the conversation blossom into nothingness,” Johnson said. “They lack the cul-tural sensitivity to under-stand that their platform
is actually being used to cause harm. Or, they understand the harm their platform is causing and they’ve chosen to take the profit.”
The NAACP was one of several groups that sent Facebook a list of 10 de-mands for policy change. Those included hiring a civil rights executive; ban-ning private groups that promote white supremacy, vaccine misinformation or violent conspiracy theories; and ending an exemption that allows politicians to post voting misinformation.
Such calls have the support of big-name com-panies like Coca-Cola and Unilever who have yanked their Facebook ads in recent days. But nothing concrete will change for Facebook’s 2.6 billion users.
In a statement following the meeting, Facebook
largely reiterated its existing policies against voter and census interfer-ence, also noting the white supremacist groups it has banned and other recent changes.
“This meeting was an opportunity for us to hear from the campaign orga-nizers and reaffirm our commitment to combating hate on our platform,” the statement read. “We know we will be judged by our actions not by our words and are grateful to these groups and many others for their continued engagement.”
Facebook did agree to install a civil rights vice president, but didn’t say how long that would take, Jessica J. González — the co-CEO of Free Press, a group behind the boycott — told The Associated Press.
President Donald Trump frequently skirts
Facebook’s posting rules, yet faces no consequences, dismaying both civil rights leaders and some of Face-book’s own employees. The president made sever-al misleading claims about mail-in-voting in May and June posts, including one that pushed a far-fetched theory that foreign coun-tries plan to print millions of bogus ballots. Trump also used the platform to threaten violence against racial injustice protesters in Minneapolis when he wrote “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” in a May post.
The posts have gone unchecked on Facebook. Twitter, meanwhile, has fact checked, removed or obscured some of Trump’s controversial tweets.
“When a politician, no matter who that politician is, when he makes a post that says ‘shoot the loot-ers,’ it is not only racially
insensitive, it could incite violence across the coun-try,” Johnson said.
Last month, Facebook announced it would begin labeling rule-breaking posts — even from poli-ticians — going forward. But it is not clear if Trump’s previous contro-versial posts would have gotten the label.
On Wednesday, Face-book will release the final results of its own “civil rights audit” of its U.S. practices.
The audit was led by former American Civil Liberties Union executive Laura Murphy, who was hired by Facebook in May 2018 to assess its per-formance on vital social issues.
More than 900 com-panies have joined the ad boycott, which runs through the end of July, although some companies plan to withhold their ad
dollars for longer. In a Facebook post
Tuesday, Sandberg em-phasized what she called the company’s years of effort to “minimize the presence of hate” on Facebook and the billions of dollars it has spent “to find and remove hate — as well as protect the integrity of our platform more generally.”
Facebook’s 2019 revenue was more than $70 billion, nearly all of it from advertising.
Facebook’s inaction will only encourage companies to continue their boycott of advertising on the site for longer, said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.
“The list is growing ev-ery day,” Greenblatt said of companies joining the boycott. “It’s unfortunate to go back to them and say we haven’t seen the progress we expected.”
Businesses with ties to lawmakers received federal coronavirus aid
WASHINGTON (AP) — At least a dozen lawmakers have ties to organizations that received federal coro-navirus aid, according to newly released government data, highlighting how Washington insiders were both author and beneficiary of one of the biggest gov-ernment programs in U.S. history.
Under pressure from Congress and outside groups, the Trump adminis-tration this week disclosed the names of some loan recipients in the $659 billion Paycheck Protection Program, launched in April to help smaller businesses keep Americans employed during the pandemic. Con-nections to lawmakers, and the organizations that work to influence them, were quickly apparent.
Among businesses that received money was a Cali-fornia hotel partially owned by the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as a shipping business started by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s family. Chao is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Car dealerships owned by at least three Republican House members — Reps. Roger Williams of Texas, Vern Buchanan of Florida and Mike Kelly of Pennsyl-vania — received money. So, too, did fast-food franchises owned by Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., a law firm owned by the husband
of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and the former law firm of Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., which employs his wife.
Money also flowed to a farming and equipment business owned by the family of Rep. Vicky Hart-zler, R-Mo., and a regional casino company led by the husband of Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev.
Members of Congress and their families are not barred from receiving loans under the PPP, and there is no evidence they received special treatment. Loans were granted to Democrats and Republicans alike, something President Don-ald Trump’s campaign was quick to highlight when records showed donors to his campaign coffers were among the earliest benefi-ciaries.
Hundreds of millions of dollars also flowed to polit-ical consultants, opposition research shops, law firms, advocacy organizations and trade associations whose work is based around influencing government and politics.
While voting, lobbying and ultimately benefiting from legislation aren’t illegal, advocates say the blurred lines risk eroding public trust in the federal pandemic response as Con-gress begins debating yet another round of coronavi-rus relief.
“It certainly looks bad and smells bad,” said Aaron
Scherb, a spokesperson for Common Cause, a watch-dog group whose education arm was also approved for a loan through the program. Members of Congress should not be allowed to vote on bills in which they can personally benefit, he said.
As of June 30, the Trea-sury Department program had handed out $521 billion to industries including man-ufacturing, construction, restaurants and hotels.
Treasury identified just a fraction of the total borrow-ers Monday, naming only companies that got more than $150,000. Those firms made up less than 15% of the nearly 5 million small companies and organiza-tions that received assis-tance.
Many of the lawmakers connected to loan awards emphasized they weren’t part of the application process.
A spokesperson for Pelosi said her husband, Paul, is a minority inves-tor in the company that owns the El Dorado Hotel in the wine-country town of Sonoma, Calif. Paul Pelosi has a 8.1% stake in the company, valued at $250,000 to $500,000, Pelosi’s office said.
“Mr. Pelosi is a minor, passive investor in this company,” said the Demo-cratic speaker’s spokesper-son, Drew Hammill. “He was not involved in or even aware of this PPP loan.”
The firm, EDI Associates, is listed as a recipient of a loan between $350,000 and $1 million.
New York-based Foremost Maritime Co., founded by Chao’s parents and run by her sister, was cleared for a loan valued between $350,000 and $1 million. McConnell, a Re-publican seeking reelection in Kentucky, said Tuesday: “Neither my wife, nor I, have anything to do with that business and didn’t know anything about it.”
The Shaheen & Gordon law firm in Dover, New Hampshire, got a loan of $1 million to $2 million. The firm is owned by Jeanne Shaheen’s husband, William Shaheen. A title company partially owned by William Shaheen got a $160,000 loan and a half dozen companies he partially owns or another relative owns got loans, below $150,000.
Ex-deputy pleads guilty to misconduct for photos
MEDFORD (AP) — A former Jackson Coun-ty sheriff’s deputy has pleaded guilty to a charge of official misconduct in Jackson County Circuit Court.
Roger Campbell, 39, pleaded guilty Tuesday to the misdemeanor charge, the Mail Tribune reported. The charge stemmed from evidence uncovered in Oc-tober 2019 that Campbell had taken sexually explicit photos of himself while in uniform in his patrol car and sent them to an acquaintance.
An Oregon State Police examiner was investigating the woman’s phone in an unrelated case and found the photos of Campbell taken May 5, 2019, ac-cording to Jackson County District Attorney Beth Heckert.
State police subpoenaed the records for Campbell’s phone but detectives found it had been wiped clean. Heckert said the action
could have resulted in an evidence tampering charge if Campbell had not plead-ed guilty to the misconduct charge.
Heckert said when she contacted the Oregon De-partment of Public Safety Standards and Training to notify them of Campbell’s criminal case, she learned he had already signed a stipulated order nullify-ing his police certificates from the state. He will not be able to work as a law enforcement officer in Ore-gon again, she said, though it’s not impossible that Campbell could be hired as a law enforcement officer in another state.
Campbell’s attorney, Peter Carini, declined to comment.
Judge Lorenzo Mejia sentenced Campbell to 11 months bench probation, which means he will not be supervised by a probation officer. He will also pay a $1,300 fine rather than doing community service.
7 protestors in Portland face federal charges
PORTLAND (AP) — The U.S. Attorney in Oregon announced federal charges Tuesday against seven protesters who are accused in court papers of defacing a federal court-house and assaulting feder-al officers during protests in Portland, Oregon against racial injustice and police brutality.
The protesters are charged with offenses ranging from disorderly conduct to destruction of federal property and assaulting a federal officer and were released pend-ing trial after a brief court hearing Monday.
The protester facing the most charges, 19-year-old Rowan Olsen, has plead-ed not guilty. His federal public defender, Susan Russell, did not immedi-ately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Protesters in Portland have demonstrated for 40 consecutive nights follow-ing the death of George Floyd and are increasingly focusing their actions on
federal properties in the city’s downtown core, including the Hatfield Federal Courthouse.
Court papers filed Monday allege Olsen used his body to hold the doors to the courthouse shut to prevent federal officers from coming out to confront demonstrators and caused the glass to shatter. Other protesters then threw fireworks inside the court-house and at federal offi-cers, starting a small fire in the entryway, according to court papers.
A sworn affidavit in-cluded in court filings says that during an interview after his arrest, Olsen said he was not near the courthouse door and said a Federal Protective Service officer smashed the glass with a fist.
Four of the seven people arrested are from the Portland metropolitan area. One is from Oceanside, California, one from Seat-tle and one from Eugene, Oregon.
Demonstrators are
also accused of shining laser beams in the eyes of federal officers, assault-ing officers with a shield and destroying a security camera.
U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said in a state-ment that U.S. Marshals Service deputies and officers from the Federal Protective Service, Home-land Security Investiga-tions, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have all been on duty protecting the courthouse.
In the affidavit, Federal Protective Service spe-cial agent David Miller said his agency, the U.S. Marshal Service and other federal agencies he did not identify have been working in Portland to protect the federal courthouse and other federal properties.
Protesters began tar-geting federal facilities in Portland on May 28, Miller said, and the field office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “was targeted by a Molo-tov Cocktail.”
Sports Leagues roll the dice against virusTIM DAHLBERGAssociated Press
There’s plenty of activity outside ballparks on both sides of the country, with people lining up by the hundreds in nervous anticipation of what the next few days might bring.
There’s some activity inside, too, but for how long nobody knows.
Baseball is struggling mightily to get going, as each day brings more turmoil to a summer camp unlike any players have ever ex-perienced. Some are testing pos-itive, others are dropping out and everyone is increasingly anxious about what the next day — and the next test — might bring.
Even as the MLB’s 60-game schedule was officially unveiled, the chances of the abbreviated season actually beginning — much less finishing — remain so random that no self-respecting Las Vegas bookie would even entertain taking a bet on it.
That likely didn’t matter that much to those in their cars out-side parks like Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Tropicana Field in Florida, which are doing double duty as community test centers. As players tossed balls and stretched not far away, they waited patiently in long lines of cars for the COVID-19 tests that, for some, could literally mean the difference between life and death.
The jarring juxtaposition should give everyone pause. Because while the games haven’t even begun, the virus is already winning.
And so far it’s not even a contest.
That’s clear from reports from almost every MLB camp, where each new positive test is greeted by more wringing of hands and furtive glances toward the club-house door. Atlanta star Freddie Freeman is out with the virus, Mike Trout is concerned about making it through a season and David Price decided the risk of coming back was not worth the reward with his new team, the Dodgers.
The season is supposed to
start in a little over two weeks, but every day brings new worry and new danger. With no bubble, players can’t be sure of anything, and a problem in testing over the weekend that forced some teams to temporarily shut down training made them trust MLB even less.
They may not totally trust their teammates, too, and with good reason. Cleveland is keeping outfielder Franmil Reyes away from training camp after he was seen on social media attending a weekend holiday party without a mask, and with some 1,800 play-ers in the majors, the reality is not all are going to be as cautious as they should be.
“If we can’t really nail the
easy part — which is right now, just our players — we have a big problem,” Chicago’s Kris Bryant said. “I go home every day and I just think, what if I were to get it and bring it home. It would be awful. There’s so much that could go wrong.”
Those playing in bubbles are just as worried. NBA players are warily packing for extended days in Florida, where the virus is in full bloom and the unknown will be exacerbated by the fact that for up to three months they won’t be able to hug their children, kiss their wife or have any family interaction that doesn’t happen on FaceTime.
Please see Dahlberg, Page B2
Seager emerges as leader for MarinersSEATTLE (AP) — When
the games start, Kyle Seager doesn’t intend to be wearing a mask all the time.
For now, in the early days of summer camp for the Seattle Mariners, the veteran third baseman has it on all the time. At the plate. In the field.
It’s not enjoyable. But for him it’s necessary. Both per-sonally and to be an example.
“It’s just for the practice purposes and make sure we do our part to make sure we can get to these games and make sure we can get this thing rolling and get this thing off the ground,” Seager said on Tuesday. “There’s been issues, obviously. we all understand about the virus and we get that you’ve got to protect ourselves and your teammates and we don’t want this thing to spread. So if we can control it and if wearing a mask helps that and we can get this season rolling then that’s what I think we want to do.”
On a rebuilding ball club with plenty of younger faces floating around that he doesn’t fully recognize yet, Seager is one of the few Mariners that needed to have an extensive conversation about how return-ing to baseball would affect his family at home.
He has three young kids. His
son Crue has been a regular clubhouse fixture for years hanging out with his dad and teammates after games.
“He’s pretty upset about the no ice cream after games,” Seager said.
But coming back for the shortened 60-game season that begins on July 24 in Houston wasn’t a simple decision for Seager. It came after several discussions with his wife Julie and ultimately the decision to have the entire family join him in Seattle after spending the past few months in North Carolina.
“That’s real. It changes things with families, it changes things when you start thinking about something other than yourself. So those are those are real concerns,” Seager said. “Me and Julie talked about it you know kind of weighed the pros and cons. We had quite a few discussions about whether if I do play do they come up to Seattle, do they stay there, how do the arrangements and everything work. So those were those were all legit discussions and they’re legit concerns.”
While Seager’s primary job is being Seattle’s everyday third baseman and a holding down a spot in the middle of the batting order, he’s also been a voice in the socially-distant clubhouse of
keeping the Mariners as healthy as possible. Manager Scott Servais noted that as safe as the team feels inside its bubble at T-Mobile Park, it’s how players and staff act away from the field that will likely determine if Se-attle can avoid having the virus infiltrate the clubhouse.
“It’s something that a few of our veteran players are talking about a lot to their teammates, about how they need to take it serious because a lot of those veteran guys do have families already. And they still want to go home and see their kids and do those things,” Servais said.
When the truncated season does begin, Seager will be try-ing to rebound from two subpar seasons. He hit a career-low .221 in 2018 and last season started the year on the disabled list and was limited to 106 games. He still finished with 23 home runs, but hit only .239.
Several years ago, Seager built a batting cage in a barn on his property in North Carolina. He’s hoping the regular work during the layoff will lead to a fast start.
“I was able to get up in the mornings go get a full workout in,” Seager said. “I was able to hit, throw into the cage which isn’t as great as being on field obviously, but I was able to make do pretty good.”
CHARLES ODUMAssociated Press
As baseball nears the two-week countdown to the start of its delayed season, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep more players, including Boston Red Sox projected opening day starter Eduardo Rodriguez, off the field.
On Tuesday, one day after Major League Baseball released its 60-game schedule, there was continued evidence of the diffi-culties caused by the pandemic.
The San Francisco Giants sus-pended workouts at Oracle Park as they awaited the results of weekend tests for the coronavi-rus. The Chicago Cubs’ workout was delayed.
Oakland left-hander Jake Diekman, who has ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune condi-tion, said teams having to call off workouts because of delays in test results “just can’t happen.”
“I know they’re trying their hardest, but I don’t know if that’s good enough for right now,” Diekman said Tuesday. “It’s a little worrisome. Say we go on a 10-day road trip and we only get results one time. That’s not very good with 45 or 50 people in a clubhouse at one time.”
Giants manager Gabe Kapler said one missed day wouldn’t put his club behind. He said he expects the testing process to improve.
“I feel as confident today as
I did yesterday,” Kapler said. “I understand that there are going to be hiccups along the way. ... I think more than anything I just maintain a level of empathy for everybody that’s working really hard to get our camp up and running but also across the league and for all the clubs that are working really hard to put their players in a position to have success. Nobody expected this to be easy and everybody is doing the best that they can.”
The Giants already have had prospect Hunter Bishop and pitcher Luis Madero test positive.
Rodriguez, who broke out in 2019 as a star, and Red Sox prospect Bobby Dalbec tested positive for the virus.
Rodriguez had not reported to camp after informing the team that he had been around relatives who had been ill. Dalbec, a third baseman, also is home and is asymptomatic.
Manager Ron Roenicke said it is “just unfortunate” the positive test could jeopardize Rodriguez’s chanc-es to start on opening day. Rodri-guez had career-best numbers with 19 wins and a 3.81 ERA in 2019.
Also, the Kansas City Royals announced right-hander Brad Keller and first baseman Ryan O’Hearn had positive tests and gave the team permission to announce the results.
Keller, 24, said he has “minor symptoms that remind me more
of an allergy attack.”The threat of an infection was
enough for the Cleveland Indians to keep outfielder Franmil Reyes away from camp. Reyes was told to stay home after he was seen on social media attending a weekend holiday party without wearing a mask.
It was an example that off-field activities can affect a player’s status.
Manager Terry Francona said Reyes would be re-tested “when it’s appropriate.”
Francona said Reyes could have exposed himself and his teammates to the virus by not practicing social distancing or wearing a mask. Francona said he has used the incident as a teaching point for other players. He said Reyes has apologized.
“This is not to poke at Fran-mil,” Francona said, adding Reyes is “a wonderful kid and I don’t ever want that to be dis-puted. But we have gone around to the other players and talked to them about it.”
The Cubs’ workout was delayed a few hours as the team awaited test results. On Monday, Cubs slugger Kris Bryant criti-cized the lack of frequency of the tests and delays in getting results.
Manager David Ross said Tuesday’s delay “isn’t a huge deal” and seemed bigger ”with what’s been going on with some teams the last day or so.”
More positive tests, canceled workouts add to baseball unease
Jimmie Johnson cleared to race this weekend
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has twice tested negative for the coronavirus and will race Sunday at Kentucky Speedway.
Johnson missed the first race of his Cup career when he tested positive last Friday. He was tested after his wife received a positive result.
Hendrick Motorsports said Johnson tested negative on Monday and Tuesday and will return to the No. 48 Chevrolet at Kentucky. NASCAR confirmed Wednesday that Johnson has been cleared to return.
“It’s been an emotional journey and I’m so happy to be back,” he tweeted.
Johnson’s streak of 663 consec-utive starts — most among active drivers — was snapped when he didn’t race Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Justin Allgaier replaced him at the Brickyard 400 and finished 37th after an early multi-car crash on pit road.
Johnson is the only NASCAR driver to test positive for the coronavirus since the series resumed racing on May 17. He is scheduled to retire from full-time NASCAR competition at the end of this season.
“My family is so grateful for the incredible love and support we’ve received over the last sev-eral days,” he said. “I especially want to thank Justin Allgaier for stepping in for me at Indy and being a true pro. I’m excited about getting back to business with my team this weekend.”
Johnson never experienced any symptoms; his wife, Chani, was tested after suffering from what she thought was routine seasonal allergies. When she received her positive result, Johnson and their two young daughters were tested. Their daughters were negative.
Hendrick Motorsports had four crew members tested for COVID-19 after Johnson’s diagnosis and all four received negative results. The No. 48 team will have its regular personnel roster for Sunday’s race.
Missing the Brickyard 400 dropped Johnson to 15th in the driver standings, 46 points above the cutoff for playoffs.
Even before Johnson’s diag-nosis, Hendrick Motorsports had implemented strict protocols that include daily health screenings for employees working at team facilities. The organization works in split work schedules with stringent face covering and social distancing requirements. Hen-drick has also increased its level of disinfecting and sanitizing all work areas.
Muirfield set for 2 tourneysDOUG FERGUSONAssociated Press
Muirfield Village will look the same to those watching at home, minus the grandstands and thou-sands of spectators spread across the course Jack Nicklaus built.
The challenge for the PGA Tour is to make it feel differ-ent to the players who will be in Dublin, Ohio, the next two weeks.
For the first time in 63 years, two PGA Tour events are being held on the same golf course in consecutive weeks. First up is the Workday Charity Open, a tour-nament that didn’t even exist six weeks ago until the John Deere Classic chose to cancel this year without fans and the tour plugged the gap in the schedule with a big assist from San Francisco-based Workday.
Then it’s onto the Memorial.It’s one thing to keep one of
the elite courses on the PGA Tour from getting chewed up from 157 players this week and the 120-man field next week. It’s another to present a different test for two tournaments meant to be entirely different.
The plan is for one to be a little more gentle, the other to be a little tougher.
“I think this week we’re going to have to be a little bit cautious with the golf course, certainly out of respect to Mr. Nicklaus and the Memorial Tournament being next week,” said Gary Young, the PGA Tour rules official overseeing the Workday Charity Open.
The rough that frames the gen-erous fairways is to be topped off at 3 1/2 inches, and then thicker and higher for the Memorial. The greens are to be running around 11 on the Stimpmeter this week before increasing to 13 and beyond for the Memorial, just the way Nicklaus likes it.
Tees will be moved around, especially on the par 3s, to keep the turf from being divot-filled. Slower greens should allow offi-cials to use pin positions closer to some of the ridges, which would be impossible with faster green speeds.
One possibility is a front right pin position on the par-3 fourth, with a bunker to the right and a green that moves left.
Young also anticipates the tee being moved forward on the 14th hole — just as it was for one session in the 2013 Presi-dents Cup — allowing players to try to drive the green with water to the right, which also comes into play with anything left because the green slopes toward the water.
“I just think it’s going to give us a chance to really highlight the golf course being played in two different ways,” Young said.
MLS resumes season tonight, minus one teamANNE M. PETERSONAssociated Press
Major League Soccer is about to resume its season — in a state that has seen a huge spike in coronavirus infections, with one team absent because of a COVID-19 outbreak, and with plenty of worry about what will happen next.
The MLS is Back tournament starts Wednesday in Florida. The league’s teams are sequestered in resorts for the duration of the World Cup-style tournament, which will be played without fans at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World.
FC Dallas withdrew from the tournament on Monday after 10 players and a coach tested pos-itive for the virus. On Tuesday, Nashville SC’s status was thrown into doubt with five confirmed positive tests.
“It’s a strange time, because on one hand you’re focused to get ready for this tournament, and get pumped up and get excited about it because the the tournament sounds a lot of fun, World Cup-style,” Real Salt Lake veteran Kyle Beckerman said. “But then on the other hand you’re thinking, ‘Is this even go-ing to happen?’ So there’s mixed
emotions going on.”The tournament kicks off with
a match between Orlando City and expansion Inter Miami, a nod to the host state. Nashville was supposed to play Chicago in the second game on Wednesday night, but it has been postponed.
Additionally, Toronto FC’s opening game against D.C. United was moved from Friday evening to Sunday morning. Toronto was supposed to depart on Friday, but additional testing meant the Reds didn’t arrive until Monday.
MLS shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic on March 12, after the league’s teams had each played two regular-season games.
Commissioner Don Garber said that despite the disappointment about Dallas, the case shows that the league’s extensive testing in its so-called bubble is working.
“We knew when we created this tournament that we would experience some impact of some of the coronavirus,” Garber told The Associated Press. “We’re all learning to live with COVID-19 and to adapt to the pandemic and to ensure that we’re taking care of each other and taking care of ourselves and following the health and safety protocols
as closely as possible. We also knew that when we launched this tournament, there would be an element of risk.”
Also troubling are the rising cases in Florida. On Tuesday, the state reported 7,347 new infections and 380 new hospitalizations.
Portland Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese said it’s im-portant to be vigilant.
“I think MLS has worked very hard to try to create a safe environment,” Savarese said. “But nevertheless, we still have to continue to make sure that we take always as a priority the health of the players, and making sure that they’re safe.”
While there are legitimate concerns, most of the teams are looking forward to getting back on the field and the feeling of a bit of normalcy.
“We are proud of Major League Soccer, and we want to show our game to the world,” Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja said. “We’re committed to that.”
OPTING OUT LAFC captain and reigning
league MVP Carlos Vela opted out of the tournament, choosing to remain home with his preg-nant wife and their young son.
Vancouver’s Fredy Montero
and Lucas Cavallini also decided not to go for personal reasons. Cavallini revealed that two fam-ily members had died because of COVID-19.
“I would love to be out on the field with my teammates fighting with everything I have to play for this club and community in Or-lando. Unfortunately COVID-19 has had a very big impact, taking away two beloved members of my family. I feel that it is best that I remain home to support my loved ones at this challenging time,” he said in a statement.
The Whitecaps’ Andy Rose also decided not to go because his wife is expecting a baby. Real SL defender Nedum Onuoha opt-ed out because of the time apart from his family.
DALLAS DISAPPOINTMENT Dallas coach Luchi Gonzalez
spoke to reporters on Tuesday, a day after the team withdrew from the event. He said players felt hurt and hopeless in the moment — but they also knew there was going to be risk.
“I don’t think there was going to be a right or wrong moment (for the tournament). I think it needed to happen and there’s no regrets,” Gonzalez said. “I’m not sorry I’m having this experience
with these players, because I know it’s a good learning lesson for the league, for the game and for all the other teams.”EARLY STARTS
Because of the heat and hu-midity in the Orlando area during the summer, some games will be played at 9 a.m. That means routines will have to be adjusted, like big pregame meals.
“Never have I ever coached a 9 a.m. real game, so that will be an experience,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said. “At the same time, I think that we’re going to obviously readjust the way we do things. Maybe wake up a little bit earlier, try to fuel the body a little bit differently, probably the night before and earlier that day.”THE SKINNY
The 25 teams (following Dal-las’ withdrawal) are divided into six groups for the preliminary round. Each team will play three group-stage games over 16 con-secutive days. The results in the group stage will count toward the regular season. The winner of the final match on Aug. 11 will get a place in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League. The teams are playing for a $1.1 million prize pool.
Blackhawks to keep nicknameCHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks say they
will continue to use their team name because it honors a Native American leader who has been an inspiration to generations.
“The Chicago Blackhawks name and logo symbolizes an important and historic person, Black Hawk of Illinois’ Sac & Fox Nation, whose leadership and life has inspired generations of Native Americans, veterans and the pub-lic,” the NHL team said in a statement Tuesday.
“We celebrate Black Hawk’s legacy by offering ongoing reverent examples of Native American culture, traditions and contributions, providing a platform for genuine dialogue with local and national Native Ameri-can groups. As the team’s popularity grew over the past decade, so did that platform and our work with these important organizations.
“We recognize there is a fine line between respect and disrespect, and we commend other teams for their willingness to engage in that conversation. Moving forward, we are committed to raising the bar even higher to expand awareness of Black Hawk and the important contributions of all Native American people. “
Under renewed pressure to change their name, the NFL’s Washington Redskins announced a “thorough re-view” of the issue. In baseball, the Cleveland Indians are also looking into it while the Atlanta Braves declined.
Meanwhile, NHL players will be gathering in two Canadian cities to play a postseason almost nobody is clamoring for. And in a few weeks, NFL training camps are supposed to open, even as the league remains tight-lipped about just how players will be protected in a sport where contact is king.
The events of the last few days make you wonder why they’re even trying. The virus has already caused the Dallas FC team to pull out of the ill-named MLS is Back Tournament after 10 players tested positive, forc-ing them into quarantine in Orlando. Carlos Vela, the league’s MVP, said he wouldn’t play for the LAFC
in the tournament, and the Nashville team is likely also out because of a rash of positive tests.
Meanwhile, golf has backed off a plan to have fans attend the Memo-rial tournament in Ohio next week because of the burgeoning number of COVID-19 cases.
I wrote a few weeks back that the rush by sports leagues to return was both wishful and dangerous. Nothing has changed since then, except that the num-ber of cases has skyrock-eted and there are massive outbreaks in the very spots some of the leagues want to resume play.
They’re rolling the dice, and it could prove deadly.
Just a few days into baseball’s attempted re-start, the odds already are against them.
Memorial has one of the strongest fields each year, largely out of respect for Nicklaus, an affinity for Muirfield Village and its place on the calendar. In non-pandemic years, the Memorial is two weeks before the U.S. Open.
The Workday Charity Open, a one-time event with the John Deere return-ing in 2021, didn’t do too badly. The field features five of the top 10 in the world, with Jon Rahm at No. 2 and getting another chance to replace Rory McIlroy (not playing) atop the world ranking. Also playing is Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Reed.
Cantlay is the defending champion at Muirfield Village, just not this tour-nament.
“The more weeks we can play at Muirfield Vil-lage, I’m in,” Cantlay said. “I like the golf course, so we can play there every week as far as I’m con-cerned.”
The last time the PGA Tour had back-to-back tournaments on the same golf course was in 1957, five years before Nicklaus turned pro. The All Amer-ican Open and the World Championship of Golf was played at Tam O’Shanter in Illinois. That was the case for 10 straight years, while there was another instance of consecutive events at Preston Hollow in Dallas, a one-time deal to celebrate the centennial of Dallas.
