The Full Belmonte, 3/18/2023
International court issues war crimes warrant for Putin
By MIKE CORDER and RAF CASERT
“THE HAGUE (AP) — The International Criminal Court said Friday that it has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.
It was the first time the global court has issued a warrant against a leader of one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
The ICC said in a statement that Putin ‘is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of (children) and that of unlawful transfer of (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.’
The move was immediately dismissed by Moscow — and welcomed by Ukraine as a major breakthrough.
Its practical implications, however, could be limited as the chances of Putin facing trial at the ICC are highly unlikely because Moscow does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction or extradite its nationals.
But the moral condemnation will likely stain the Russian leader for the rest of his life — and in the more immediate future whenever he seeks to attend an international summit in a nation bound to arrest him.
‘So Putin might go to China, Syria, Iran, his ... few allies, but he just won’t travel to the rest of the world and won’t travel to ICC member states who he believes would ... arrest him,’ said Adil Ahmad Haque, an expert in international law and armed conflict at Rutgers University.
Others agreed. ‘Vladimir Putin will forever be marked as a pariah globally. He has lost all his political credibility around the world. Any world leader who stands by him will be shamed as well,’ David Crane, a former international prosecutor, told The Associated Press.
The court also issued a warrant for the arrest of Maria Lvova-Belova, the commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation. The AP reported on her involvement in the abduction of Ukrainian orphans in October, in the first investigation to follow the process all the way to Russia, relying on dozens of interviews and documents.
ICC President Piotr Hofmanski said in a video statement that while the ICC’s judges have issued the warrants, it will be up to the international community to enforce them. The court has no police force of its own to do so.
The ICC can impose a maximum sentence of life imprisonment ‘when justified by the extreme gravity of the crime,’ according to its founding treaty, the Rome Statute, that established it as a permanent court of last resort to prosecute political leaders and other key perpetrators of the world’s worst atrocities — war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Still, the chances of Putin or Lvova-Belova facing trial remain extremely remote, as Moscow does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction — a position it vehemently reaffirmed Friday….” Read more at AP News
Genetic data links raccoon dogs to covid origin; WHO seeks China cooperation
By Joel Achenbach and Mark Johnson
“The protracted and rancorous debate over the origin of the covid pandemic has added a small but potentially significant data point: A sample taken in a Wuhan market in early 2020 showed genetic traces of both the coronavirus and a raccoon dog, according to scientists who have analyzed newly obtained data from China.
Like so many elements of the mystery, the new data, first reported by the Atlantic, falls short of proving how, where and when people first became infected with the virus. But it boosts the theory that the pandemic started through natural spillover from animals rather than emerging from a laboratory, a theory favored by some researchers.
The director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Friday renewed his call for China to share scientific data on the origin of the pandemic….” Read more at Washington Post
Wyoming governor signs measure prohibiting abortion pills
FILE - Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon gives the State of the State address to the Wyoming Legislature on March 2, 2021, inside the state Capitol in Cheyenne, Wy. Late Friday, March 17, 2023, Gordon signed a bill prohibiting abortion pills in the state and also allowed a separate measure restricting abortion to become law without his signature. (Michael Cummo/The Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP, File)
“CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signed a bill Friday night prohibiting abortion pills in the state and also allowed a separate measure restricting abortion to become law without his signature.
The pills are already banned in 13 states with blanket bans on all forms of abortion, and 15 states already have limited access to abortion pills. The Republican governor’s decision comes after the issue of access to abortion pills took center stage this week in a Texas court. A federal judge there raised questions about a Christian group’s effort to overturn the decades-old U.S. approval of a leading abortion drug, mifepristone.
Medication abortions became the preferred method for ending pregnancy in the U.S. even before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the ruling that protected the right to abortion for nearly five decades. A two-pill combination of mifepristone and another drug is the most common form of abortion in the U.S….” Read more at AP News
Donald Trump claims he will be arrested Tuesday in Manhattan probe, calls for protests
“Former President Donald Trump said he expects to be arrested Tuesday in connection with an investigation conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney's office and is calling for protests ahead of his possible indictment.
‘THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!’ he wrote on Truth Social Saturday morning.
Trump is under investigation for a $130,000 payment he made just before the 2016 election to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels about an earlier affair. The former president has denied wrongdoing, and federal investigators ended their own inquiry into the payments in 2019….” Read more at USA Today
Officials are preparing security in case of Trump indictment
By COLLEEN LONG and JENNIFER PELTZ
“Michael Cohen says 'Trump needs to be held accountable'
Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen gave a second day of testimony before a Manhattan grand jury investigating hush money payments made on the former president’s behalf.
NEW YORK (AP) — Law enforcement officials in New York are making security preparations for the possibility that former President Donald Trump could be indicted in the coming weeks and appear in a Manhattan courtroom in an investigation examining hush money paid to women who alleged sexual encounters with him, four law enforcement officials said Friday.
There has been no public announcement of any timeframe for the grand jury’s secret work, including any potential vote on whether to indict the ex-president.
The law enforcement officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said authorities are just preparing in case of an indictment. They described the conversations as preliminary and are considering security, planning and the practicalities of a potential court appearance by a former president….” Read more at AP News
Judge Rules Trump Lawyer Must Testify in Documents Inquiry
The ruling found that the government had met the threshold for the crime-fraud exception, which allows prosecutors to get around attorney-client privilege if they believe a crime has been committed.
By Alan Feuer and Maggie Haberman
“A federal judge has ruled that prosecutors overseeing the investigation into former President Donald J. Trump’s handling of classified documents can pierce assertions of attorney-client privilege and compel one of his lawyers to answer more questions before a grand jury, two people familiar with the case said on Friday.
In making her ruling, the judge, Beryl A. Howell, found that the government had met the threshold for a special provision of the law known as the crime-fraud exception. That provision allows prosecutors to work around attorney-client privilege when they have reason to believe that legal advice or legal services have been used in furthering a crime.
The New York Times reported last month that prosecutors had asked Judge Howell to apply the crime-fraud exception to the grand jury testimony of M. Evan Corcoran, a lawyer who has represented Mr. Trump since last spring, as the documents investigation began heating up. Mr. Corcoran in recent months appeared before the grand jury and asserted attorney-client privilege while declining to answer certain questions.
Attorney-client privilege is a bedrock legal principle designed to protect private communications between lawyers and those they represent. Judge Howell’s ruling, issued under seal, that the crime-fraud exception applies in this case is important because it places the imprimatur of a federal judge on prosecutors’ contention that Mr. Corcoran’s legal work may have been used in the commission of a crime….” Read more at New York Times
Trump Failed to Follow Law on Foreign Gifts, House Democrats Say
A report by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee documented instances of the Trump White House failing to report gifts that Donald J. Trump had received from abroad and others that remain missing.
“Several gifts given by foreign countries to Donald J. Trump during his presidency are unaccounted for in government records, according to a report released on Friday by Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, which detailed ways in which the Trump White House had failed to follow the law in how it handled gifts.
The missing items included a $3,040 driver and $460 putter given to Mr. Trump by Shinzo Abe, the prime minister of Japan at the time, and ‘a larger-than-life-sized painting’ of Mr. Trump given to him by El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, according to the report.
A box decorated in silver patterns that a union activist in Egypt had given to Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is also missing, the report said. The box was valued at $450.
The Trump White House, the report said, failed to properly document more than 100 gifts valued at more than $250,000 — including about $48,000 from Saudi Arabia — that had been given to Mr. Trump; his wife, Melania; Mr. Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump. Those gifts were turned over to the government and ultimately accounted for in records but were never publicly reported, as required by law….” Read more at New York Times
Prosecution Completes Testimony in Proud Boys Jan. 6 Sedition Trial
The government’s two-month-long presentation included more than 20 witnesses and used some legal theories that tested the boundaries of conspiracy law.
By Alan Feuer and Zach Montague
“After more than two months of testimony, prosecutors in the Proud Boys sedition trial called their final witness on Friday, ending a lengthy presentation based on hours of violent videos, reams of encrypted text messages and legal theories that have repeatedly tested the boundaries of conspiracy law.
While the government was waiting until Monday to formally rest its case, the conclusion of its jury presentation was a signal moment in the trial — one of only three so far in which allegations of sedition have been brought in connection with the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
The proceeding, in Federal District Court in Washington, has already run much longer than expected, with a prosecutor complaining to the judge this week that the two sides had been ‘burning so much of the jury’s time’ with constant arguments about the proper use of evidence and witnesses.
From well before the trial began, prosecutors faced a dilemma. Videos collected from the police, surveillance cameras and the rioters themselves clearly showed that a large group of Proud Boys led by some of the defendants was exceptionally violent on Jan. 6, taking the lead in pushing through barricades, assaulting officers, riling up the crowd and ultimately breaching the Capitol….” Read more at New York Times
Michigan Democrats score legislative victories
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
“Michigan Democrats are working to rapidly pass major legislation afterwinning control of the state legislature for the first time in almost 40 years.” [Vox] [NPR / Colin Jackson]
“This week, Democrats ended Michigan’s right-to-work law that allowed workers union benefits without paying union dues, and repealed the state’s archaic abortion ban.” [Vox] [Jacobin / Luke Savage]
“Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also signed an expansion to the state’s civil rights laws, banning discrimination against gender identity and sexual orientation.” [Vox] [Detroit Free Press / Clara Hendrickson]
“Meanwhile, state Senate Democrats passed sweeping gun safety legislation following the mass shooting at Michigan State University in February. The House could bring up the bill next week; Whitmer is expected to sign it.” [Vox] [Associated Press / Joey Cappelletti]
“Michigan is one of 17 states held completely by Democrats. Republicans, however, control more legislatures and hold more state government trifectas than Democrats nationwide.” [Vox] [MSNBC / Michael A. Cohen]
Much of US braces for harsh cold weekend weather ahead of spring; California gets 12th atmospheric river
Wind chills could reach below 30 degrees in parts of the Midwest and a late-season freeze threatens early crops in the South
“It'll be bitterly cold in much of the U.S. this weekend but spring is just around the corner.
On Saturday, arctic cold will blast the upper Midwest from the Dakotas and Minnesota down to Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin, as well as parts of Montana and Wyoming.
Frigid temperatures will target the East and the South on Sunday, while the 12th atmospheric river this season will start moving into California….” Read more at USA Today
'Shelves have been left barren': Florida teachers sue DeSantis' government over school library regulations
“The Florida teachers union and other groups are suing the state education department, saying the way it interpreted a new law about school library books goes further than the law intended, leading to censorship and book bans.
A Florida law passed last year requires more transparency about what materials schools use to teach students. The new law requires districts to catalog every book on their shelves and create a formal review process for complaints. Some parents have asked for certain books to be removed from schools because of the new law.
‘This legislation aims to preserve the rights of parents to make decisions about what materials their children are exposed to in school,’ Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at the time.
But the union and advocacy groups say the state regulation oversteps the intent of the law by pulling classroom libraries into its umbrella.
How have Florida school districts responded?
Florida school districts have responded in a range of ways:
In one district, teachers draped their classroom library bookshelves with sheets.
In another, the school district tapped into federal COVID relief funds to buy books deemed ‘appropriate’ and offered teachers the chance to replace their classroom libraries.
In yet another, the district came under fire for pulling a children’s book about famed baseball player Roberto Clemente. The book was later reinstated after the news spread across the nation and a review determined the book met state standards.
What do critics say?
‘As a result of the rules, teachers and school librarians or library media specialists have been compelled to self-censor out of fear of losing their job – or worse, being subjected to criminal allegations – simply for trying to provide a safe learning environment for all students,’ the Florida Education Association and other groups suing said in a statement. ‘Classroom and school library shelves have been left barren, students are unable to find books reflective of a diverse range of interests and from an inclusive list of voices, and parents have been silenced.’
Florida is hardly the only state where books in schools and libraries are under a microscope. One analysis last year found that books were banned at least 2,500 times by more than 130 school districts across 30-plus states.
Part of a 'full-fledged' movement: Schools banned books 2,532 times since 2021.
What does the state say?
The Florida Department of Education said it does not comment on active litigation.
Last week, however, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statement about debunking the ‘book ban hoax’ in his state. ‘Myth,’ the statement read, ‘Florida schools have been directed to ‘empty libraries’ and ‘cover classroom books.'
‘Fact: School districts are required to report the number of books removed from schools based on legislation passed in 2022. Of the 23 districts that reported removing materials, the most removed were tied at 19 in Duval and St. Johns Counties – not even close to a whole classroom library.’
Earlier this week, the Florida Legislature advanced a measure that would make it more difficult for teachers unions and those representing health care workers to organize and keep members.” [USA Today]
“Chinese leader Xi Jinping will travel to Russia Monday on his first state visit since the invasion of Ukraine, just days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin for war crimes. Beijing called the trip ‘a journey of friendship.’
Turkey and Hungary both signaled they plan to ratify Finland’s entry into NATO, bringing the military alliance a step closer to welcoming its 31st member.
While two brutal weeks for banks have mostly scuttled hopes in markets that a US recession can be avoided, investors appear unconvinced the stress portends a genuine financial crisis.
President Emmanuel Macron bypassed a parliamentary vote to push through his unpopular pension reform that will raise the French retirement age and has sparked nationwide protests.
Delve into these and more of our best stories in this edition of Weekend Reads. — Karl Maier [Bloomberg]
A woman passes a burning building following Russian shelling in Kostyantynivka, Ukraine, on Wednesday. Photographer: Sergey Shestak/Getty Images
Russian attacks continue in wake of Putin arrest warrant
A damaged restaurant is seen after Russian shelling hit in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Saturday, March 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko)
“KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Widespread Russian attacks continued in Ukraine following the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights.
Ukraine was attacked by 16 Russian drones on Friday night, the Ukrainian Air Force said in the early hours of Saturday. Writing on Telegram, the air force command said that 11 out of 16 drones were shot down ‘in the central, western and eastern regions.’ Among areas targeted were the capital, Kyiv, and the western Lviv province.
The head of the Kyiv city administration, Serhii Popko, said Ukrainian air defenses shot down all drones heading for the Ukrainian capital, while Lviv regional Gov. Maksym Kozytskyi said Saturday that three of six drones were shot down, with the other three hitting a district bordering Poland. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the attacks were carried out from the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov and Russia’s Bryansk province, which borders Ukraine….” Read more at AP News
Slovakia to donate 13 MiG-29 warplanes to Ukraine
Country becomes second Nato member after Poland to make such a pledge
“Slovakia will donate 13 MiG-29 warplanes to Ukraine, its prime minister has said, making it the second Nato member to announce such a shipment in 24 hours, after a similar move by Poland.
It remains to be seen how much the jets will help Ukraine stop Russia’s assaults and break its defensive lines in the counteroffensive expected this spring. Ukraine has asked for modern Typhoons and F-16s; the MiGs it is getting are 30 years old.
Slovakia’s prime minister, Eduard Heger, told a news conference on Friday that his government was ‘on the right side of history’ as he announced it would hand over its fleet of 13 Soviet-era MiGs.
Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, said four would arrive in Ukraine in the coming days but did not state the total it was planning to send…..” Read more at The Guardian
Ukraine will soon get more MIG-29 fighter jets like these Photographer: Omar Marques/Getty Images Europe
“The Arctic Is Where NATO and Russia Are Flexing Military Muscle
As Putin’s war in Ukraine rages thousands of kilometers to the south, in the remote Arctic there is a close watch on Russia’s military activities. Natalia Drozdiak and Danielle Bochove report from an increasingly important region for energy, trade and security — one where Russia, the US, China and others are vying for greater control.” [Bloomberg]
“A salary topping $100,000 a year can feel like a mark of success, but if you live in New York City, that’s worth just $36,0000 after taxes and accounting for the steep cost of living. That’s according to SmartAsset, a consumer-focused financial information provider. The city tops the company’s list of most expensive in the US, followed by Honolulu, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Memphis, Tennessee, is where you keep the most of your take-home pay, SmartAsset contends, though the median salary is about $44,000 compared with a little over $70,000 in New York. And for that $1 million laying around, experts offered some ideas where to invest amid the banking turmoil. Music royalties maybe?” [Bloomberg]
“Volkswagen unveiled an affordable electric vehicle for the masses, with Europe’s largest carmaker targeting an opening left by Tesla. VW has struggled to keep pace with Tesla’s EVs and needs to halt sales declines in China, where domestic manufacturers led by BYD have stepped up their game. In the US, the Biden Administration took the next step in rolling out more EV charging, unveiling two grant programs that will dole out $2.5 billion for stations nationwide.” [Bloomberg]
GPT-4: ‘Memory of a goldfish’
Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
“Open AI's new GPT-4 has a glaring flaw, shared by other advanced AI language systems: it can't recall much at all.
‘These multibillion-dollar programs, which require several city blocks’ worth of energy to run, may now be able to code websites, plan vacations, and draft company-wide emails in the style of William Faulkner,’ The Atlantic's Jacob Stern writes.
‘But they have the memory of a goldfish.’
How it works: ChatGPT, the earlier version of OpenAI's product, uses roughly 4,000 words of contextual clues to answer your questions.
For example, if you ask the AI, ‘Make me a vegetarian grocery list for two weeks of meals,’ wait for the response, and then ask, ‘Now make it vegan,’ it understands you're referring to that grocery list.
But if you tell the AI your name, then paste in 5,000 words of nonsense, and ask it your name again, it can't remember.
GPT-4 can handle around 8,000 words of context, and OpenAI has an unreleased version that can deal with 32,000 words, The Atlantic notes.
Why it matters: AI has a long-term memory problem. And engineers aren't just trying to help machines remember more things, they're trying to figure out how to teach machines what they need to remember and what they can forget.” [Axios]
16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson topples No. 1 seed Purdue
Fairleigh Dickinson players celebrate beating Purdue 63-58 after a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Friday, March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
“COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fairleigh Dickinson became the second No. 16 seed in history to win an NCAA Tournament game, stunning top-seeded Purdue 63-58 behind 19 points from Sean Moore and a relentless, hustling defense on Friday night.
The shortest team in the tourney, the Knights (21-15) showed no fear in swarming 7-foot-4 All-America center Zach Edey from the start. FDU’s players were quicker and more composed than the Big Ten champion Boilermakers (29-6).
Five years ago, UMBC showed the way for the little guys by overwhelming Virginia in the first 16-over-1 victory after numerous close calls over the years. Still, No. 16s had a 1-150 record against No. 1s and were 1-151 overall before FDU’s shocker.
The Knights will now meet Memphis or Florida Atlantic on Sunday for a Sweet 16 berth in the East Region and a trip next week to play at Madison Square Garden in New York — just a short drive from the private school’s campus in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Fairleigh Dickinson didn’t even win the Northeast Conference Tournament, falling by one point in the title game to Merrimack, which couldn’t participate in the NCAA Tournament because of an NCAA rule that bars it from the postseason because it’s still completing its four-year transition from Division II.
FDU held Purdue scoreless for more than 5 1/2 minutes down the stretch and moved ahead by five on a 3-pointer by Moore — who is from suburban Columbus — with 1:03 left. The Knights held on from there, becoming the second straight double-digit seed to send the Boilermakers home. Purdue was a 3 seed when it lost to 15 seed Saint Peter’s, another small New Jersey school, in the Sweet 16 last year.
Edey finished with 21 point and 15 rebounds in what may have been his final college game, but the Knights consistently denied him the ball in the second half. He didn’t attempt a shot in the final nine minutes.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 66, MEMPHIS 65
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Nicholas Boyd drove into the lane and made a floater with 2.5 seconds left, and Florida Atlantic beat Memphis in a rugged, back-and-forth game for the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
Coach Penny Hardaway’s Tigers (26-9) had the ball and a one-point lead with 19 seconds left, but a steal by Brandon Weatherspoon and a subsequent jump ball — Hardaway argued his team had called timeout before the tie-up — gave the Owls (32-3) a chance, and Boyd converted.
Giancarlo Rosado scored 15 points to lead ninth-seeded FAU, which advanced to face a surprising opponent, No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson, in the second round.
Kendric Davis scored 16 points despite being hobbled by a second-half leg injury for eighth-seeded Memphis. DeAndre Williams added 13 points while playing most of the second half with four fouls for the Tigers, including a tip-in that put his team ahead 65-64 with 34 seconds left.
KENTUCKY 61, PROVIDENCE 53
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Oscar Tshiebwe pulled down 25 rebounds, the second-most in the tournament since 1973, and Kentucky beat Providence.
Antonio Reeves scored 22 points and Jacob Toppin had 18 for the sixth-seeded Wildcats (22-11), who advanced to face Kansas State Sunday in the East Region.
Eleven of Tshiebwe’s rebounds came on the offensive glass — a big factor in the Wildcats staying in control as both offenses grinded to a halt after halftime.
With the two-time Associated Press All-American grabbing just about every loose ball, Kentucky finished with a 48-31 rebounding advantage, controlling the offensive glass (plus-10) and dominating in second-chance points, 18-2.
Ed Croswell scored 16 points for Providence (21-12), which shot just 36.2% while making 5 of 24 3-pointers.
KANSAS STATE 77, MONTANA STATE 65
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Markquis Nowell had 17 points and 14 assists and No. 3 seed Kansas State held off 14th-seeded Montana State for its first NCAA Tournament win since knocking off Kentucky in 2018 to reach the Elite Eight.
Now the two Wildcat programs will meet again in a rematch on Sunday in the second round.
Nowell and fellow third-team Associated Press All-American Keyontae Johnson, who had 18 points and eight rebounds, proved too much for the Bobcats to handle. Nae’Qwan Tomlin added 13 points for Kansas State (24-9).
RaeQuan Battle had 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting for Montana State (25-10), which had its eight-game win steak snapped.
MICHIGAN STATE 72, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 62
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Joey Hauser scored 17 points and No. 7 seed Michigan State clamped down defensively on No. 10 seed Southern California in the second half.
Coach Tom Izzo’s Spartans (20-12) will face Marquette on Sunday in the East Region for a spot in the Sweet 16.
Tyson Walker and Jaden Akins added 12 points apiece for Michigan State, which held USC to 34% shooting in the second half.
Joshua Morgan scored 14 and Kobe Johnson 13 to lead the Trojans (22-11), who were knocked out in the tournament’s first round for the second straight year.
MARQUETTE 78, VERMONT 61
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Kam Jones scored 18 straight points for Marquette in the second half, and the second-seeded Golden Eagles beat No. 15 seed Vermont for their first NCAA Tournament victory in a decade.
Jones finished with 19 points. Oso Ighodaro scored 14 points and David Joplin added 12 as Marquette (29-6) pulled away in the last 10 minutes. Marquette won its first NCAA Tournament game in a decade and advanced to face Michigan State on Sunday.
Dylan Penn, Matt Veretto and Robin Duncan each had 11 points for Vermont (23-11), whose 15-game win streak was snapped.
Jones made a 3-pointer early in the second half to begin an 18-6 spurt during which he scored all of Marquette’s points as the Golden Eagles pulled ahead 63-46.
MIDWEST REGION
XAVIER 72, KENNESAW STATE 67
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Jack Nunge blocked Terrell Burden’s driving attempt at a go-ahead layup in the final seconds, and Xavier dug out of a 13-point hole against surprising Kennesaw State.
Souley Boum hit four clinching free throws in the final 2.6 seconds for the third-seeded Musketeers (26-9), who ran off 15 unanswered points as part of a game-ending 24-6 run. That was enough to turn away the 14th-seeded Owls (26-9) in the program’s first-ever March Madness game.
Xavier moves on to face Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Xavier led 68-67 when Burden — who’d been successful all day with dribble penetration — turned into the paint past Jerome Hunter and appeared to have a path to the rim. The 7-foot Nunge moved over and swatted the ball into the backboard.
Jerome Hunter scored 24 points to lead the Musketeers, while Boum had 17. Nunge had 10 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Burden and Chris Youngblood each scored 14 points to lead Kennesaw State.
PITTSBURGH 59, IOWA STATE 41
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Nelly Cummings scored 13 points and No. 11 seed Pittsburgh held sixth-seeded Iowa State to 23% shooting.
Jamarius Burton added 11 points and Greg Elliott had 10 for coach Jeff Capel’s Panthers, who stormed to a 22-2 lead after Iowa State missed its first 11 shots. Things didn’t get much better for the Cyclones, who had three stretches in which they missed at least eight consecutive shots.
Pitt (24-11), which edged Mississippi State in the First Four, moves on to play third-seeded Xavier on Sunday.
Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes each had 12 points for Iowa State (19-14).
MIAMI 63, DRAKE 56
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Nijel Pack scored 21 points, including the go-ahead jumper and a pair of free throws in the final minute, and No. 5 seed Miami rallied past 12th-seeded Drake.
The Hurricanes (26-7) scored the final 10 points. Norchad Omier added 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Hurricanes, who were held to a season low in scoring. Wooga Poplar had 15 points.
Miami will face fourth-seeded Indiana in the second round.
Darnell Brodie had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead Drake (27-8). The Missouri Valley Conference tournament champions were outscored 16-1 over the final 4:29 and 10-0 in the last 2:28. The Bulldogs missed their last seven shots from the field and were scoreless the final 3:24.
INDIANA 71, KENT STATE 60
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Trayce Jackson-Davis did it all with 24 points, 11 rebounds, five blocked shots and five assists as Indiana defeated 13th-seeded Kent State to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.
The fourth-seeded Hoosiers (23-11) advanced to play fifth-seeded Miami Sunday for a trip to Kansas City for the Midwest Region semifinals.
Jackson-Davis became the first player since blocks became an official NCAA statistic in 1985-86 to have at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and five assists in an NCAA Tournament game, according to OptaSTATS.
Sincere Carry scored 15 points to lead the Golden Flashes (28-7), who had won six straight heading into tournament.
Race Thompson matched a season high with 20 points for the Hoosiers on 8-of-11 shooting.
WEST REGION
SAINT MARY’S 63, VCU 51
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Mitchell Saxen had 17 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, and Saint Mary’s beat ailing VCU.
Alex Ducas also scored 17 points as the fifth-seeded Gaels (27-7) advanced to the second round for the second straight year. Logan Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and reserve Augustas Marciulionis scored 13 points. Saint Mary’s will face UConn on Sunday.
Ace Baldwin led 12th-seeded VCU (27-8) with 13 points, but he appeared to sprain his right ankle on his landing after taking a jumper with just over 14 minutes left in regulation. The Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year went to the locker room for treatment and missed about five minutes as VCU expanded its lead from four points to nine.
UCONN 87, IONA 63
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Adama Sanogo scored 10 of his 28 points in the first five minutes of the second half as fourth-seeded UConn took control and beat Iona.
The Huskies (26-8) advanced to play fifth-seeded Saint Mary’s on Sunday after losing in the first round under coach Dan Hurley the last two seasons.
Coach Rick Pitino’s Gaels (27-8) had their 14-game winning streak snapped. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions led by two at halftime but didn’t have the depth to keep up with one of the Big East’s best for 40 minutes.
Walter Clayton Jr. led Iona with 14 points.
GONZAGA 82, GRAND CANYON 70
DENVER (AP) — Slow-starting Gonzaga finally started playing like a title contender, then wore out Grand Canyon behind 28 points and 10 rebounds from Julian Strawther.
Zags senior Drew Timme brought his sweatband and handlebar moustache back to March Madness and finished with 21 points, six rebounds and three blocks for the third-seeded Bulldogs (29-5), who haven’t lost a first-round game in the tournament since 2008.
Next up for Gonzaga is a game Sunday against TCU.
Like almost every Zag outside of Strawther, Timme was bottled up and frustrated in the first half, then came out of halftime and looked like a different player. After trailing by as many as seven, Timme’s three-point play gave Gonzaga a 48-40 lead early in the second half.
Ray Harrison led the 14th-seeded Lopes (24-12) with 20 points and Chance McMillian had 16.
TCU 72, ARIZONA STATE 70
DENVER (AP) — JaKobe Coles hit a floater from the lane with 1.5 seconds left and No. 6 seed TCU rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to beat 11th-seeded Arizona State.
Coles took a pass Mike Miles Jr. from near the top of the 3-point circle, dribbled once and let go of the game-winner. Arizona State’s desperation heave at the buzzer missed.
Miles, playing on a hyperextended right knee, finished with 26 points for the Horned Frogs (22-12). They advanced to play Gonzaga.
DJ Horne had 17 points for Arizona State (23-13).
SOUTH REGION
BAYLOR 74, UC SANTA BARBARA 56
DENVER (AP) — Caleb Lohner scored a season-best 13 points in just 18 minutes, and No. 3 seed Baylor beat UC Santa Barbara.
Adam Flagler led the Bears with 18 points, and LJ Cryer scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half.
Baylor (23-10) overcame a one-point halftime deficit and advanced to play Creighton on Sunday.
Miles Norris led the 14th-seeded Gauchos (27-8) with 15 points. Ajay Mitchell added 13.
CREIGHTON 72, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 63
DENVER (AP) — Ryan Kalkbrenner scored a career-high 31 points and sixth-seeded Creighton overcame an abysmal 3-point shooting day to fend off No. 11 seed North Carolina State.
The 7-foot-1 Kalkbrenner did a little bit of everything for the Bluejays, which included hitting a big 3-pointer on a day the team finished 3 of 20 from long range. Kalkbrenner had six dunks and seven rebounds, and N.C. State big men D.J. Burns Jr. and Ebenezer Dowuona were hampered by foul trouble.
Next up for the Bluejays (22-12) is third-seeded Baylor in the second round.
Terquavion Smith led the Wolfpack (23-11) with 32 points.” Read more at AP News
Women’s NCAA Tournament Day 1 takeaways: South Carolina wins (again) as top seeds roll
“It’s finally here.
The 2023 women’s NCAA Tournament kicked off Friday with a tight, overtime finish between a No. 8 and No. 9 seed, and yet another win by top-seeded South Carolina. The Athletic has you covered with takeaways from the biggest games of the day:
Top seeds roll, as expected
In the history of the women’s NCAA Tournament, only once has a No. 1 or No. 2 seed lost in the first round (top-seeded Stanford to No. 16 seed Harvard in 1998). In women’s college hoops, these top-two seeds usually roll through the first two rounds of the tourney. Combined, they’ve gone 312-31 through the first and second rounds.
So, it was no surprise that the top-seeded teams were able to throw on cruise control in their first-round wins Friday.
Overall No. 1 seed South Carolina got things started off with a 72-40 win over No. 16 seed Norfolk State, which was making its first tournament appearance in more than two decades. The Gamecocks have now won 39 straight games dating back to the start of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, and they’ve only lost two of their last 69 games.
No South Carolina starter played more than 23 minutes as Dawn Staley got all 14 players into the game. Zia Cooke and Laeticia Amihere paced the Gamecocks with 11 points apiece while Aliyah Boston pulled down nine rebounds. It was the ninth time this season that South Carolina held its opponent to 40 or fewer points.
Other highlights from the top two seeds?
Iowa cruised to a 95-43 win over Southeastern Louisiana. Caitlin Clark and Monika Czinano combined for 48 of the team’s 95 points in front of a sold-out crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Freshman Hannah Stuelke, who will be an important part of the Hawkeyes’ depth this postseason, was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor, finishing with 13 points and five rebounds.
No. 1 seed Virginia Tech beat Chattanooga 58-33 in a defensive battle, holding the Mocs to 29 percent shooting from the floor. Chattanooga coach Shawn Poppie had a good game plan for the Hokies considering he spent the previous six seasons as an assistant on Kenny Brooks’ Virginia Tech staff. Georgia Amoore had a strong night, finishing with 22 points and five 3s. However, no other Hokie hit a long-range shot as the rest of the Virginia Tech roster went 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Additionally, Maryland — the No. 2 seed in South Carolina’s region — had four of its five starters finish in double digits as the Terrapins took down Holy Cross 93-61. It was the fifth time this season the Terps crossed the 90-point threshold.
No. 1 seed Stanford was without its leading scorer and rebounder Cameron Brink for the first round, but the Cardinal had no problem taking care of business against Sacred Heart, 92-49. Stanford had five players in double figures, led by Haley Jones’ 17 points, and the Cardinal decisively won the battle on the glass, 57-28. — Chantel Jennings
Alissa Pili scored a career-high 33 points as Utah set a program mark for NCAA Tournament points with a 103-78 victory against Gardner-Webb. The No. 2 seed Utes committed 18 total turnovers, and the No. 15 seed Bulldogspulled within 10 in the third quarter. But Pili scored 13 straight points to help put the Utes ahead by 15 heading into the fourth quarter. They poured it on to end the game on their home court by controlling the paint, where they scored 58 points.
Pili shot 12 of 17 and made 9 of 11 free throws, adding eight assists and eight rebounds to her stat line. She frequently found forward Jenna Johnson, who added 20 points. — Shannon Ryan
Michigan’s experience shows as it snaps UNLV’s 22-game win streak
Michigan forward Emily Kiser has been in this situation before. In fact, since arriving on campus in 2018, she’s been part of every NCAA Tournament that has taken place.
‘It helps you just having that calmness,’ she said Thursday.
The Wolverines have made five consecutive tournament appearances. And after Friday’s 71–59 win over No. 11 UNLV, they have advanced to the round of 32 each time.
On Friday, Kiser led the way on both ends. She scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, logged six assists and added three steals. She also played a key role defending star Lady Rebels center Desi-Rae Young, who finished with just 11 points.
The Wolverines’ balanced attack was on display more broadly. Senior guard Maddie Nolan had 18 points, senior guard Leigha Brown scored 17 and sophomore guard Laila Phelia finished a basket shy of a double-double, ending up with eight points and 11 rebounds. UNLV entered the tournament on a 22-game win streak and was a possible double-digit Cinderella. But the veteran Wolverines clamped down on them early, allowing just nine first-quarter points, and forcing 11 first-half turnovers. Now, it is Michigan who seems poised to play spoiler in the round of 32. A possible matchup with No. 3 LSU awaits. — Ben Pickman
South Florida outlasts Marquette in overtime
On a day in which the Bulls couldn’t buy a bucket from range, had trouble connecting on passes and didn’t lead until 1:21 to go in the fourth quarter, it was USF’s defense that came up huge in their first-round overtime win over Marquette. Over the final 15 minutes of the game, USF held the Eagles to just three made field goals and 16 percent shooting from the floor.
Double-double machine Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu steadied the Bulls as the team as a whole struggled offensively. She finished with 13 rebounds and 22 points on 89 percent shooting.
It wasn’t the kind of team performance that inspires a ton of confidence in terms of a potential upset over No. 1 South Carolina on Sunday, especially if the Bulls can’t get their 3-point shooting back on track. — Chantel Jennings
Princeton makes Ivy League history
Princeton became the first Ivy League team to advance to the second round in consecutive seasons with a dramatic 64-63 victory against No. 7 seed NC State. Senior Grace Stone hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds left to move the No. 10 seed Tigers to Sunday’s game against No. 2 seed Utah.
Princeton’s stellar defense kept NC State from scoring in the final 5:41 of the game, including denying the Wolfpack from getting a shot off on their last possession. Stone and Kaitlyn Chen paced the Tigers with 22 points apiece. The win created a historic moment for Princeton athletics, which boasts the men’s and women’s teams in the second round for another Ivy League first. — Shannon Ryan
First-quarter explosion sets tone in Arizona’s win
More than two weeks had passed since the Wildcats’ last game, a 73–59 loss to UCLA in the Pac-12 tournament. A long layoff for some teams, but for Arizona, “this year, in particular, it was good,” coach Adia Barnes said Thursday, ahead of her team’s round of 64 matchup against West Virginia. Looking plenty rested, the No. 7 Wildcats tied a season high with 28 first-quarter points, and led by double digits over the No. 10 Mountaineers after 10 minutes of play. Arizona never trailed in its 75-62 victory, playing like a team eager to extend its season.
Barnes said afterward that her group wanted to be ‘intentional’ about feeding its bigs. Senior forward Cate Reese scored 25 points on efficient 10-of-19 shooting from the field. Senior forward Esmery Martinez notched a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double.
Senior guard Shaina Pellington added 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, despite picking up a fourth foul with 7:44 to play in the third quarter and the Wildcats leading by only five. Arizona still has room for improvement — it shot just 2-of-12 from three — but it’s on to the round of 32, where it will await the winner of No. 2 Maryland and No. 15 Holy Cross. — Ben Pickman [The Athletic]
Lance Reddick, ‘The Wire’ and ‘John Wick’ star, dies at 60
By MARK KENNEDY
Lance Reddick has died at age 60. The character actor specialized in intense authority figures on TV and film, including ‘The Wire,’ ‘Fringe’ and the ‘John Wick’ franchise. (March 17)
“NEW YORK (AP) — Lance Reddick, a character actor who specialized in intense, icy and possibly sinister authority figures on TV and film, including ‘The Wire,’ ‘Fringe’ and the ‘John Wick’ franchise, has died. He was 60.
Reddick died ‘suddenly’ Friday morning, his publicist Mia Hansen said in a statement, attributing his death to natural causes. No further details were provided.
Wendell Pierce, Reddick’s co-star on ‘The Wire’ paid tribute on Twitter. ‘A man of great strength and grace,’ he wrote. ‘As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class.’ ‘John Wick — Chapter Four’ director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves said they were dedicating the upcoming film to Reddick and were ‘deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss.’
Reddick was often put in a suit or a crisp uniform during his career, playing tall, taciturn and elegant men of distinction. He was best known for his role as straight-laced Lt. Cedric Daniels on the hit HBO series ‘The Wire,’ where his character was agonizingly trapped in the messy politics of the Baltimore police department.
‘The Wire’ creator David Simon praised Reddick on Twitter: ‘Consummate professional, devoted collaborator, lovely and gentle man, loyal friend. Could go on, but no, I can’t go on. This is gutting. And way, way, way too soon.’…” Read more at AP News
Taylor Swift rewards fans with 44 songs at epic opening concert of The Eras Tour
“GLENDALE, Ariz. – When Taylor Swift says she’s going to bring the eras of her career to the stage, believe her.
Not since the most vigorous days of Bruce Springsteen and his legendary live concerts has a mainstream artist packed so much music into one show. On Friday night at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix, Swift kicked off The Eras Tour with a staggering 44 songs presented over a span of three hours and 15 minutes.
But more than just a roll call of her ubiquitous smash singles and fan-beloved album cuts, Swift’s show is as ambitious as a Broadway musical. Numerous moving set pieces, squads of dancers and backup singers, a quick-change costume parade, confetti, pyro, synchronized blinking wristbands and a gorgeous curved video screen to blanket her always-smiling visage to those in the farthest rafters complemented her songs, while her multifaceted band perched unobtrusively on a corner of the stage.
True to its title, The Eras Tour indeed covered every facet of Swift’s career, from a low-key rendition of her 2006 debut single, “Tim McGraw,” to the set-closing “Karma” from her current “Midnights” album. (Only her 2010 “Speak Now” album received a single representation, the lovely “Enchanted.”)
Swift commented early in the concert that she knew her fans – about 70,000 of them on this night – went through “considerable effort” to attend the show, and through her singing, dancing, storytelling, sweating and strutting both on the main stage and the lengthy catwalk, she rewarded them mightily
he Eras Tour spans the country for 51 more dates through August, including a second round in Glendale on Saturday. As spunky as Swift is at 33, this is a grueling show that will require enormous stamina for the next five months.
But if any artist can achieve the level of perfection she demands of herself, it’s Swift….” Read more at USA Today
The Cure Says Ticketmaster Will Issue Refunds After Fee Complaints
The band said it wanted to make its North American tour “affordable for all,” but after tickets went on sale this week, fans said that fees had ratcheted up the price.
“The Cure’s frontman, Robert Smith, said on Thursday that Ticketmaster will provide $5 and $10 refunds to fans who purchased tickets for the band’s North American tour after the band complained to the company about high fees.
In recent months, Ticketmaster faced increased criticism from ticket buyers as well as from members of Congress who accused its owner, Live Nation Entertainment, of being a monopoly that hinders competition and harms fans.
Mr. Smith said on Twitter that Ticketmaster would provide the refunds. ‘Ticketmaster have agreed with us that many of the fees being charged are unduly high,’ he wrote….” Read more at New York Times
Mary Hilton, Champion of Cloth Diapers, Dies at 85
Owner of a large laundry service battled Procter & Gamble’s Pampers and advised parents on baby care
Mary Hilton ran a large diaper-laundry business based in Michigan.PHOTO: HILTON FAMILY
“Around the time that Procter & Gamble Co. was introducing Pampers in the early 1960s, Mary Hilton and her husband, William Hilton, had a different idea: They decided to go into the business of laundering cloth diapers.
For the next 40 years, Ms. Hilton fought a valiant rearguard action against P&G and other makers of disposable diapers. Based in Kalamazoo, Mich., her family-owned company at its peak in the mid-1990s had about 10,000 customers in three states and more than 150 employees. Ms. Hilton, who took charge of the company after her husband died in 1978, became one of the biggest operators in a mostly mom-and-pop business and a spokeswoman for diaper-cleaning trade groups….” Read more at Wall Street Journal
Jim Gordon, Top Rock Drummer With a Troubled Life, Dies at 77
He was an elite studio musician who played with A-list artists and helped write the Eric Clapton hit “Layla." But his life was shattered by mental illness and a murder conviction.
“Jim Gordon, a talented but troubled drummer who was ubiquitous in the recording studios of the 1960s and ’70s and who, as a member of Eric Clapton’s band Derek and the Dominos, helped write the romantic ballad “Layla” — but who suffered from schizophrenia and spent nearly 40 years in prison, convicted of murdering his mother — died on Monday in a prison medical facility in Vacaville, Calif. He was 77….” Read more at New York Times
Sam Neill, star of 'Jurassic Park,' reveals he's being treated for stage 3 blood cancer
“Sam Neill is undergoing chemotherapy treatment after getting diagnosed with stage three blood cancer.
The ‘Jurassic Park’ actor, 75, revealed his diagnosis in an interview with The Guardian, published Friday.
According to The Guardian, Neill discovered he had swollen glands in March 2022 while in Los Angeles promoting ‘Jurassic World Dominion.’ Weeks later, he started chemotherapy for stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a blood cancer.
Though his first round of chemo didn't seem to work, Neill said he started a ‘very expensive’ chemotherapy drug, for which she signed a contract with the drug company agreeing that, if he survived after four months on the drug, the rest of the treatment would be free….” Read more at USA Today
Penguins with newly perfect vision
”It sounds like a set-up to a joke: What do you call a penguin who needs eyeglasses? We may never know, because these three elderly king penguins in Singapore don’t need spectacles – they’ve been fitted with custom-made lenses to restore their eyesight after vets removed their cataracts. It’s likely the first time such a procedure has been performed on king penguins.
The king penguins, all over 20 years old, at Singapore’s Jurong Bird Park underwent cataract surgery after their keepers noticed their eyes looked cloudy and the birds had trouble seeing. To improve their vision, veterinary ophthalmologists created special ‘intraocular lens implants’ for each penguin (flippers make taking out contacts impossible, probably). After a recovery period in which the penguins were on strict protocol to avoid their usual dips in the pool, the vets noticed the gang grew more responsive and active after receiving their new lenses. Now they have bragging rights among the bird park’s sizable penguin population that they made history. Congrats, my tuxedoed friends.” [CNN]
A Disney princess inspires
”Disney's live-action remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’ is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. But for Issac Bailey, it's also set to be a family celebration: His niece, Halle Bailey of the musical duo Chloe x Halle, is playing Ariel and will officially join the pantheon of Disney princesses. In a piece for CNN Opinion, Issac Bailey wrote about the immense pride he feels for his niece, particularly seeing her Ariel immortalized as a doll. ‘For maybe millions of little girls, Black girls and others, the 'Ariel' doll ... means joyous representation,’ he wrote. ‘For me, it represents the culmination of an American story that hasn't fully been told.’ He went on to tell the story of his ancestors who survived slavery and his immediate family who've experienced segregation, poverty and other arms of institutional racism. But seeing Halle thrive and become the Little Mermaid herself and an idol to young people has moved him more than he expected. The Baileys' extended family will celebrate the release of ‘The Little Mermaid’ with a fish fry, he said, ‘because even while continuing the fight to make things better for us all, there are times we should stop and let ourselves be in awe of what we’ve overcome.’
Raise a glass to...
... “some history-making Oscar winners! Last Sunday, Ruth E. Carter became the first Black woman to win multiple Oscars when she scored her second Academy Award for costume design. (She won both of her statues for her intricate Afrofuturist work on Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ series.) ‘Naatu Naatu,’ the jubilant earworm from international hit ‘RRR,’ is the first tune from an Indian film to win best original song at the ceremony. And Michelle Yeoh is now the first Asian woman to win the Oscar for best actress. She’s determined to share her success with other Asian performers: ‘For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof to dream big and dreams do come true.’
A bright idea
“Ah, yes, the dreaded white short – anyone with a period knows what I’m talking about. The fear of unintended stains can be mortifying and distracting – and Ireland’s women’s rugby team (pictured above) had finally had enough. The team permanently switched its uniform shorts from white to navy after players raised concerns that, should they get their period during a match, it would distract them from gameplay. ‘Our hope is that it will help women at all levels of rugby feel more comfortable on the field so they can get on with performing at their best in the game that they love,’ Ireland center Enya Breen said. It’s a decision other traditional sports leagues and tournaments are slowly getting on board with: Wimbledon announced last year that it would allow women to wear dark undershorts underneath their required white attire. Now that the only stains they’ll end up with are those from grass and mud, players can keep their focus trained on the game they love.”