The atlanta journal constitution december 26 2016

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016 $2.00

CLOUDY

High: 64 Low: 56 20% chance of rain Tuesday: Showers, 72/56 Wednesday: Cloudy, 67/53 Thursday: Showers, 62/54 Details on the back of Metro

NATION & WORLD, A2

SPORTS, C1

LOOKING BACK AT LIFE OF SINGER GEORGE MICHAEL

WHY PEACH BOWL WEEK IS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR

METRO, B1

HOW ACCLAIMED NEW MOVIE CAME TOGETHER IN ATLANTA

DEADLY AIR TRAGEDY

CHANGING SPACES

Cause sought in Russian plane crash 92 feared dead as jet plunges into Black Sea; terrorism not ruled out.

By Vladimir Isachenkov and Veronika Silchenko Associated Press

Harriet Sessoms, 82, a new resident of Lenbrook Senior Community, hugs Bernadette Morris, an independent contractor with Changing Spaces, after Linda Kaplan (right), Changing Spaces’ co-owner, introduced Sessoms to her new home at the community in Atlanta in October.

DAVID BARNES / DAVID.BARNES@AJC.COM

Making downsizing easier for seniors

SOCHI, RUSSIA — Backed by ships, helicopters and drones, Russian rescue teams searched Sunday for victims after a Russian plane carrying 92 people to Syria crashed into the Black Sea shortly after takeoff. Investigators said they were looking into every possible cause for the crash, includ-

ing a terror attack.

All 84 passengers and eight crew members on the Russian military’s Tu-154 plane are believed to have died when it crashed two minutes after taking off at 5:25 a.m. in good weather from the southern Russian city of Sochi.

The passengers included dozens of singers in Russia’s world-famous military choir.

More than 3,000 rescue workCrash continued on A4 ALSO INSIDE » Military choir known as Russia’s ‘singing weapon,’ A4

Alexandra, a friend of Alexander Razumov, a member of Alexandrov Ensemble, mourns in Moscow on Sunday. PAVEL

Team helps with emotional, physical tasks of moving.

By Helena Oliviero holiviero@ajc.com

M

orethanayearago, Mary Ann Oakley hired a college student to begin the difficult process of downsizing from a large, two-story brickhomeinnorthDeKalb County to a small, two-bedroom condo in Atlanta.

For six weeks, the college student helped Oakley, a retired attorney, clean out closets full of linens and sort through boxes of papers in the basement. They made countless trips to Goodwill and shelters for women to donate many of their items. But then the college student went back to school.

And in late 2015 when it eventually came time to pack up and move, Oakley, now 76, realized she and her husband, Dr. Godfrey Oakley, visiting professor of epidemiology at the Rollins School

of Public Health at Emory University, had barely made a dent in preparing to move from their house of 25 years. As Mary Ann Oakley, who has limited mobility, scanned her house — cabinets full of dishes, boxes brimming with photographs and papers, and furniture in every room of a house of more than 3,500 square feet – she felt overwhelmed.

“I remember looking around my house thinking, how in the world am I going to get rid of all Changing continued on A11

COUNTY GOVERNMENT

CEO May led DeKalb in time of crisis Interim leader hopes successor can focus on governing, not scandal.

By Mark Niesse mark.niesse@ajc.com

The sign outside county government headquarters in Decatur never listed Lee May as DeKalb’s CEO. Though he did the job for almost four years, it was never

GOLOVKIN / AP

POLITICS

Despite election success, Georgia’s GOP is broke State party has more debt than cash on hand; some officials are raising sharp questions.

By Greg Bluestein gbluestein@ajc.com

DeKalb continued on A11

The Georgia GOP should be flush with cash. Republicans control every branch of Georgia government and all the trappings of power that come with it. But the party’s finances are still in the tank — and that could have big implications in the fight over the organization’s future.

Federal financial disclosure data filed after the election show the party had about $126,000 in cash on hand and roughly $227,000 in debt — a far cry from the millions of dollars the state’s dominant political party once commanded.

SPORTS, C4-C5

METRO, B1

NATION & WORLD, A3

Transformational sports figures like Muhammad Ali, Gordie Howe, Arnold Palmer and Pat Summitt passed away in 2016.

If schools hope to enlist parents in prying students away from their devices, they’re going to have to unplug mom and dad first.

Israel’s reaction to a resolution opposing Jewish settlements in occupied territory underscores how bitter the dispute is.

DeKalb County CEO Lee May has served as the stopgap chief executive since 2013.

really his.

He was always the stopgap chief executive for a county in crisis, appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal in July 2013 after CEO Burrell Ellis was indicted.

Legaciesofthe sportslegends

Though he never shook the interim title, May said he left his mark as an executive who helped stabilize a county government shaken by criminal prosecutions, corruption scandals and loss of residents’ trust.

He hopes DeKalb’s newly elected CEO, Mike Thurmond, has a much less tumultuous term.

“We’ve been getting more and more of these ethical and

Kidsnotonlyones addictedtotechgizmos

HumbledNetanyahu lookstoTrump

Election victors are usually in the pole position to refill their campaign coffers after the votes.

And Georgia Republicans have had a string of successes, sweeping every statewide office in 2010 and 2014, cementing U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s victory and delivering Donald Trump a 5-point win in November.

And yet the party’s financial fortunes have fallen since 2010, when it had about $2 million in the bank. And while the bank account has recovered from a nadir of just $11,403 in December 2015, some Republican officials are raising sharp questions.

GOP continued on A12

INDEX

Deaths Classifieds

B5 D4

Comics Crossword

D6 D3

Volume 68, Number 361

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

MORE OF TODAY’S TOP NEWS GEORGE MICHAEL 1963-2016

Singer continually courted controversy George Michael had great vocal range, brushes with law.

By Nekesa Mumbi Moody and Gregory Katz Associated Press LONDON — George Michael, who rocketed to stardom with WHAM! and went on to enjoy a long and celebrated solo career lined with controversies, has died, his publicist said Sunday. He was 53.

Michael died at his home in Goring, England. His publicist, Cindi Berger, said he had not been ill. No other details were released.

He enjoyed immense popularity early in his career as a teenybopper idol, delivering a series of hits such as “Wake Me up Before You Go-Go,” “Young Guns (Go For It),” “Last Christmas,” and “Freedom.” As a solo artist, he developed into a more serious singer and songwriter, lauded by critics for his tremendous vocal range. He sold well over 100 million albums globally, earned numerous Grammy and American Music Awards, and recorded duets with legends like Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Luciano Pavarotti and Elton John.

Throughout his career, his drug use and taste for risky sex brought him into frequent brushes with the law, most famously in 1998 when he was arrested for public lewdness in Los Angeles. Yet he managed to turn the incident into fodder for a popular song that poked fun at his behavior, and his acknowledgment of his homosexuality at that time made him even more popular with his fans.

Michael, with startling good looks and an easy stage manner, formed the boy band WHAM! with his school friend Andrew Ridgeley in the early 1980s. Helped

George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of the British group WHAM!, who started collaborating as schoolmates, perform in April 1985 during a concert in Beijing. AP 1985

British singer George Michael performs at “Concert of Hope” to mark World AIDS Day at London’s Wembley Arena in 1993. The singer’s publicist on Sunday said Michael has died at the age of 53. GILL ALLEN /ASSOCIATED PRESS 1993

by MTV, which was an emerging music-industry force at the time, the cheerful duo easily crossed the Atlantic to become popular in the United States with Michael, as lead singer, usually the focal point.

He started his solo career shortly before WHAM! split, with the release of the megahit single “Careless Whisper,” making a seamless transition.

Critics generally viewed his WHAM! songs as catchy but disposable pop and gave his solo efforts far higher marks.

His first solo album, 1987’s “Faith,” sold more 20 million copies, and he enjoyed several hit singles including the raunchy “I Want Your Sex,” which was helped immeasurably by a provocative video that received wide airplay on MTV. The song was controversial not only because of its explicit nature, but also because it was seen as encouraging casual sex and

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promiscuity at a time when the AIDS epidemic was deepening. Michael and his management tried to tamp down this point of view by having the singer write “Explore Monogamy” on the leg and back of a model in the video.

At the time, Michael had not disclosed his homosexuality, and much of his chart success was based on his sex appeal to young women. His look was raw and provocative, with tight jeans, tight T-shirts, black leather jackets and designer stubble, and his videos pushed the accepted limits with many lingerie-clad models vying for Michael’s attentions on screen.

But Michael’s situation changed abruptly in 1998 when he was arrested for lewd conduct in a public toilet in Los Angeles after being spotted by a male undercover police officer.

The arrest received international media attention,

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SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka claiming world’s tallest artificial Christmas tree $80,000 cost criticized by church as ‘waste of money.’

By Bharatha Mallawarachi Associated Press COLOMBO, SRI LANKA — Sri

Lanka unveiled a towering Christmas tree, claiming to have surpassed the world record despite constructions delays and a shorter-thanplanned finished product.

The 238-foot artificial tree in capital Colombo is 18 meters 59 feet taller than the current record holder, organizers said. The tree’s steel-and-wire frame is covered with a plastic net decorated with more than 1 million natural pine cones painted red, gold, green and silver, 600,000 LED bulbs and topped by a 20-foot-tall shining star.

The tree costs $80,000 and was criticized by the

Catholic Church as a “waste of money.” The church suggested that the funds better be spent on helping the poor.

Hundreds of port workers and volunteers struggled for four months to put up the tree in time for the holidays. Work was suspended for six days in early December after Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith — representing the island nation’s 1.5 million Catholics — lambasted the project. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe responded to the criticism by saying the tree was not being built with public money, but with

donations from individuals and private firms.

T h e G u i n n e s s Wo rl d Records is yet to confirm if this is the tallest artificial Christmas tree. Currently, the record is held by a Chinese firm that put up a 55-meter (180-foot) tree-like tower of lights and synthetic foliage, ornaments and lamps in the city of Guangzhou last year.

Sri Lankan organizers said they wanted the tree to help promote ethnic and religious harmony in the Buddhist-majority island nation, where a long civil war ended in 2009.

and seemed for a brief time to jeopardize Michael’s stature as a top recording artist.

But instead of making excuses for his behavior, he went on to release a single and video, “Outside,” that made light of the charges against him and mocked the Los Angeles police who had arrested him.

Like all of his efforts at the time, it sold in prodigious numbers, helping him put the incident behind him.

The arrest also prompted him to speak openly about his sexual orientation.

These years represented the height of Michael’s commercial success, which at times was marred by a protracted legal dispute with his record company Sony.

He remained a strong musical force throughout his career, releasing dozens of records and touring to adoring crowds despite a growing number of run-ins with police, many of them

stemming from a series of driving-under-the-influenceof-drugs incidents, including several crashes.

Michael was an admitted user of marijuana and prescription sedatives and several times was found slumped over his car’s steering wheel after using both at the same time.

His driver’s license was finally revoked for five years in 2010 after he drove his Land Rover into the side of a photo shop.

He was also arrested a second time in public toilets — this time in North London in 2008 for drug use, an incident that prompted him to apologize to his fans and promise to get his life in order.

He also offered an apology to “everybody else, just for boring them.”

A year earlier, he had told a television interviewer that his problems stemmed from a self-destructive streak and his attention-seeking nature.

He said at a press conference in 2011 that he felt he had let young people down with his misbehavior and had made it easier for others to denigrate homosexuals.

Despite these personal setbacks, Michael’s musical performances remained strong even as his material moved farther from the teen tunes that first brought him to stardom.

The Telegraph newspaper in 2011 described a London concert appearance as an impressive event, calling his voice, “A rich, soulful instrument, it’s capable of serious emotional heft, expertly matching the confessional tone of his own material.”

Michael, with strong Greek-Cypriot roots, was born Georgios Panayiotou in England. He and schoolmate Ridgeley formed a ska band called the Executive when they were just 16, before moving on to form WHAM! “I wanted to be loved,” said Michael of his start in the music field. “It was an ego satisfaction thing.”

Michael was active in a number of charities and helped raise money to combat AIDS, help needy children, and support gay rights.

He had a long-term relationship with Kenny Goss, but announced in August 2011 that the two had broken up.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

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MORE OF TODAY’S TOP NEWS ISRAEL

BRITISH ROYALS

Humbled Netanyahu places hopes in Trump

Queen Elizabeth II misses service

Israeli prime minister blasts U.S. action on U.N. vote.

By Kirsty Wigglesworth and Gregory Katz Associated Press

By Josef Federman Associated Press

SANDRINGHAM, ENGLAND —

JERUSALEM — The Israeli gov-

ernment’s furious reaction to the U.N. Security Council’s adoption of a resolution opposing Jewish settlements in occupied territory underscores its fundamental and bitter dispute with the international community about the future of the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that there is nothing wrong with his controversial policy of building Jewish towns in occupied areas that the Palestinians, with overwhelming world support, claim for their state.

But Friday’s U.N. rebuke was a stark reminder that the rest of the world considers it a crime. The embattled leader is now placing his hopes in the incoming administration of Donald Trump, which is shaping up as the first major player to embrace Israel’s nationalist right and its West Bank settlements.

In a series of statements, Netanyahu has criticized the Obama administration for letting Resolution 2334 pass Friday by abstaining, using unprecedented language that has turned a policy disagreement into a personal vendetta.

“From the information that we have, we have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed,” Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Sunday.

In turning his anger toward Israel’s closest and most important ally, Netanyahu has underplayed the embar-

Bad cold kept monarch, 90, from Christmas event.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the Obama administration for allowing a U.N. Security Council anti-settlement resolution to pass. DAN BALILTY / ASSOCIATED PRESS

rassment that all 14 other nations on the Security Council voted in favor of the measure. Those votes came from countries that Netanyahu loves to boast of cultivating relations with, including Russia and China and nations across the developing world.

“This is the same prime minister who told us dozens of states are on board with us,” former Prime Minister Ehud Barak told Channel 2 TV on Saturday. “I looked for Russia, China, England, France. Where are all the friends that were meant to stand with us?”

The resolution marked a sharp international rebuke of Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank and east Jerusalem — territories captured in the 1967 Mideast war and claimed by the Palestinians as parts of a future independent state. Some 600,000 Israelis now live in the two areas, complicating any partition of the land between Israel and

a future Palestine.

Netanyahu routinely dismisses international criticism of the settlements, saying that the dispute with the Palestinians goes back to long before the 1967 war.

He also notes that when Israel dismantled its Gaza settlements in 2005, Hamas militants responded by firing rockets and subsequently seizing control of the territory from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

With Friday’s resolution, however, the world sent a strong message that it rejects these arguments. The resolution said the settlements have “no legal validity” and constitute a “flagrant violation” of international law. It also urged all states to distinguish between Israel and “the territories occupied since 1967.”

In the short term, the resolution is largely symbolic. It did not include talk of sanctions or any other punitive measures against Israel.

“The importance of the resolution is to remind Israel, at least at the rhetorical level, that the international community is not completely happy, to say the least, with the ongoing status quo,” said Arie Kacowicz, a professor of international relations at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Riad Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, said Netanyahu was being disingenuous by calling the resolution anti-Israel.

“This resolution is about settlement activities, the twostate solution and ending the occupation,” he said. “Netanyahu, by his statements and his actions, is isolating Israel for the sake of settlements.”

Malki said the Palestinians hoped the resolution would bolster their case at the International Criminal Court, which has launched a preliminary investigation into the settlements.

A bad cold kept Queen Elizabeth II from attending the traditional Christmas morning church service near her Sandringham estate in rural Norfolk, England, raising some concerns about her health.

It’s extremely rare for Elizabeth, now 90, to miss the service, which is a cornerstone of the royal family’s Christmas celebrations and brings the monarch into contact with locals who gather outside for a glimpse of her.

“The Queen continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist with her recovery,” Buckingham Palace said. “Her Majesty will participate in the royal family Christmas celebrations during the day.”

Those festivities included a gala lunch. In past years, the royal family would often go for extended walks in the countryside.

Elizabeth has been in generally good health and has maintained an active schedule in the past year despite traveling less often. Recently she stepped down as patron

for about 20 charities and groups to lighten her work load.

Her husband, 95-year-old Prince Philip, has also cut back on his public schedule and his charitable works in the past few years. He was also suffering from a severe cold earlier in the week, the palace said.

Philip did attend the Sunday morning Christmas service, waving to well-wishers on his way out of the church in a car.

Prince Harry spent time talking to locals after the church service and stopped to pet a dog. There was no sign of his girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle, who recently visited him in London.

Elizabeth and Philip were joined in Sandringham by other senior royals including Prince Charles. Prince William and his wife, Kate, along with their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were celebrating Christmas with Kate’s parents at their home in Bucklebury, a village west of London.

The queen used her annual pre-recorded Christmas Day message to praise British Olympic and Paralympic athletes and others who inspired her. The traditional message of goodwill was televised throughout Britain and much of the Commonwealth.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II prerecorded her Christmas Day message.

YUI MOK / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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FROM PAGE ONE RUSSIAN PLANE CRASH

Military choir known as ‘singing weapon’ Russian ensemble lost most of its singers in crash.

By Vladimir Isachenkov Associated Press MOSCOW — The Russian

Russian rescue workers carry a body from the wreckage of the crashed plane at a pier just outside Sochi, Russia, on Sunday. Russian ships, helicopters and drones are searching for bodies after a plane carrying 92 people crashed into the Black Sea. The plane was taking the Alexandrov Ensemble, a military choir, to perform at Russia’s air base in Syria when it went down shortly after takeoff. VIKTOR KLYUSHIN/AP

Crash continued from A1

ers on 32 ships — including over 100 divers flown in from across Russia — were searching the crash site at sea and along the shore, the Defense Ministry said. Helicopters, drones and submersibles were being used to help spot bodies and debris. Powerful spotlights were brought in so the operation could continue all night.

Emergency crews found fragments of the plane about 1 mile from shore. By Sunday evening, rescue teams had recovered 11 bodies and Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said fragments of other bodies were also found.

Asked if a terror attack was a possibility, Sokolov said investigators were looking into every possible reason for the crash. Several experts noted factors that suggested a terror attack, such as the crew’s failure to report any malfunction and the fact that plane debris was scattered over a wide area.

The plane was taking the Defense Ministry’s choir, the Alexandrov Ensemble, to perform at a New Year’s concert at Hemeimeem air base in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia. Those on board also included nine Russian journalists and a Russian doctor famous for her work in war zones.

Russian President Vladimir Putin went on television to declare Monday a nationwide day of mourning.

“We will conduct a thorough investigation into the

reasons and will do everything to support the victims’ families,” Putin said.

The Black Sea search area — which covered about 4 square miles — was made more difficult by underwater currents that carried debris and body fragments into the open sea. Sokolov said the plane’s flight recorders did not have radio beacons, so locating them on the seabed was going to be challenging.

The Tu-154 is a Soviet-built three-engine airliner designed in the late 1960s.

More than 1,000 have been built, and they have been used extensively in Russia and worldwide. The plane that crashed Sunday was built in 1983, and underwent factory check-ups and maintenance in 2014 and this year, according to the Defense Ministry.

Magomed Tolboyev, a decorated Russian test pilot, said it was clear that all on board had died in the crash.

“There is no chance to survive in such situation,” he said, according to the Interfax news agency.

Before Sokolov spoke to reporters in Sochi, senior Russian lawmakers had ruled out a terror attack, arguing that the military plane was under reliable protection.

Security is particularly tight in Sochi, the Black Sea city that hosted the 2014 Winter Games and is regularly visited by Putin, who often receives foreign leaders at his residence there.

But some experts said the crew’s failure to report a malfunction pointed at a possible terror attack.

“Possible malfunctions ...

certainly wouldn’t have prevented the crew from reporting them,” Vitaly Andreyev, a former senior Russian air traffic controller, told RIA Novosti.

Vadim Lukashevich, an independent aviation expert, told Dozhd TV that the crew’s failure to communicate an equipment failure and the large area over which the plane’s fragments were scattered raises the possibility of an attack.

Alexander Gusak, a former chief of a SWAT team at the main domestic security agency, the FSB, told Dozhd that Russian airports are still vulnerable to terror threats despite security cordons.

“It’s possible to penetrate them. It’s a matter of skills,” he said.

Russian planes have been brought down previously by terror attacks.

In October 2015, a Russian plane carrying mostly Russian tourists back from vacation in Egypt was brought down by a bomb over the Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people aboard. Officials said the explosive device was planted in the plane’s luggage compartment. The local affiliate of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility.

In August 2004, two Russian planes were blown up in the skies over Russia on the same day by suicide bombers, killing 89 people. A Chechen warlord claimed responsibility.

In the last year, the Russian military has repeatedly flown Russian singers and artists to perform at Hemeimeem, the main hub for the Rus-

military choir that lost most of its singers in a plane crash Sunday is often described as the Kremlin’s “singing weapon.”

The Alexandrov Ensemble, sometimes referred to as the Red Army choir, was founded in the 1920s.

It won global Conductor fame with Valery its patriKhalilov was among those otic repertoire killed. during Soviet times, but in recent years has sought to cater to modern audiences. Many of its performances have gone viral, including a rousing rendition of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” by singers in full military dress at the opening of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Sixty-four members of the ensemble, including director Valery Khalilov, were heading from Sochi to Russia’s air base in Syria to perform a New Year’s concert for troops when their plane crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday.

All 92 people on board are presumed dead.

“It’s difficult to grasp the scale of that tragedy,” Moscow city’s culture department head Alexander Kibovsky said in televised remarks. “They were raising pride for our culture,

sian air campaign in Syria.

Syrian President Bashar Assad was among numerous foreign leaders who sent their condolences to Putin, saying he received news of the crash “with deep grief and sadness.”

In recent years, Russian airlines have replaced their Tu-154s with more modern planes, but the military and other Russian government agencies have continued to use them. While noisy

The Alexandrov Ensemble choir performs during a concert in Moscow. A Russian plane with 92 people aboard, including the well-known military band, crashed into the Black Sea on its way to Syria on Sunday, minutes after takeoff from the resort city of Sochi, the Defense Ministry said. The Tu-154, which belonged to the ministry, was taking the Alexandrov Ensemble to a concert at the Russian air base in Syria.

ASSO CIATED PRESS

our country, across the entire world.”

As word of the crash spread Sunday, people placed bouquets of flowers outside the ensemble’s Moscow headquarters.

“We all loved this ensemble,” said Moscow resident Mark Novikov. “We valued it. They are our brothers, our friends, our colleagues.”

The 186-member ensemble includes a band and a dancing troupe along with the choir that had about 70 singers. Viktor Yeliseyev, head of the rival choir of the Russian National Guard, said most of the Alexandrov Ensemble’s singers were on the plane.

Among the few who stayed back was soloist Vadim Ananyev, whose wife just delivered a baby and pleaded with him to remain at home to help.

The couple has three small

and fuel-guzzling, the plane is popular with crews that appreciate its maneuverability and ruggedness.

“It’s an excellent plane, which has proven its reliability during decades of service,” veteran pilot Oleg Smirnov said.

Still, since 1994, there’s been 17 major plane crashes involving the Tu-154 that have killed over 1,760 people in all. Most resulted from human error.

children.

“I feel as if I were hit over the head,” he said. “I still can’t believe it. They are telling me now I was born with a silver spoon.”

The Interfax news agency said another member of the choir was denied access to board at the last minute because his foreign passport has expired.

The choir was founded in 1928 by composer and conductor Alexander Alexandrov, and after his death in 1946 was led by his son, Boris Alexandrov. Alexandrov, who headed the choir for more than 40 years, made it famous worldwide.

Pavel Kogan, the director of Moscow State Academic Symphonic Orchestra, described the choir as “a symbol of the country.”

“It was impossible to imagine what happened, even in a nightmare,” he said.

In the latest previous deadly crash of a Tu-154, a plane carrying Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others crashed in April 2010 while trying to land at a military airport in Smolensk in western Russia, killing everyone on board. Investigations by both Polish and Russian experts blamed pilot error in bad weather, but Polish authorities have launched a new probe.

OIL PIPELINE

Other water sources along pipeline at risk ‘I think it’s important to note that it isn’t a matter of if there’ll be eventually some kind of leak or rupture of the pipeline; it’s a matter of when, and so we certainly want to be vigilant and have measures in place.’

Pipeline crosses more than 200 water bodies.

By David Pitt Associated Press DES MOINES, IOWA — A Native American tribe’s fight over its water source has grown into an international cause, with all attention focused on the Dakota Access pipeline’s route in southern North Dakota. But contractors on the project, which passes through three other states, have been drilling under and through rivers that are equally critical water sources for hundreds of thousands of people.

One city managed to avoid the situation — Bismarck, N.D., the center of government in the oil-rich state and home to 67,000 people. Others, including Des Moines, Iowa, didn’t, despite protests that led to arrests.

At issue is whether a breach in the $3.8 billion project, being built by Dallas-based parent company Energy Transfer Partners, will affect drinking water, given that it crosses more than 200 water bodies, including the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. While utility officials in Iowa acknowledge it’s likely there will be an issue in the future, they’re confident a leak won’t affect the quality of the water.

“I think it’s important to

Bill Stowe

CEO of Des Moines Water Works

Pipe was laid early this month under the Des Moines River (seen here), and the pipeline route also crosses the Raccoon or its tributaries at three locations upstream from Des Moines, a city of more than 200,000 residents. MICHAEL ZAMORA / THE DES MOINES REGISTER VIA AP

note that it isn’t a matter of if there’ll be eventually some kind of leak or rupture of the pipeline; it’s a matter of when, and so we certainly want to be vigilant and have measures in place,” Des Moines Water Works CEO Bill Stowe said.

Energy Transfer Partners counters that the 1,170-mile pipeline will be safe, with devices placed throughout to track pressure, temperature, density and flow that will be monitored around the clock

by people who can remotely shut off oil flow. Such emergency valves are on either side of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, ETP spokeswoman Vicki Granado said.

Pipe was laid early this month under the Des Moines River, and the route also crosses the Raccoon or its tributaries at three locations upstream from Des Moines, a city of more than 200,000 residents.

Stowe, whose utility has a half-million customers, said

there is a plan to deal with an oil leak, and he works with the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure regular inspections and appropriate flow-stopping measures.

He’s more concerned about more commonplace water threats: spills from tanker trucks carrying anhydrous ammonia or petroleum products, as well as farm wastewater spills, sewage leaks and other contaminants.

The Dakota Access pipeline also crosses beneath the

Mississippi River, which is a source of water for about 4,000 people in the southeast corner of Iowa and close to a water-treatment plant for the city of Keokuk, Iowa.

The utility’s officials voiced concerns to the Iowa Utilities Board, telling them that a preferred a route would be south of the city’s intake, but the route wasn’t changed. A leak could reach the intake within an hour.

In North Dakota, an early plan had the Dakota Access pipeline crossing the Missouri River 10 miles north of Bismarck, but the government rejected it in September 2014 because of the poten-

tial drinking water supply threat, the number of water and wetland crossings and proximity to homes, documents show.

Instead, it was run near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, which depends on water from Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir. The tribe took ETP to court over the water threat as well as threats to cultural artifacts, and an encampment protest on federal land swelled to thousands at one point.

On Dec. 4, the Army decided to keep ETP from drilling under the river and look at alternate routes — preventing the completion of the pipeline for now.

Protesters also tried to stop the pipeline from crossing the Des Moines River, confronting workers. But they weren’t successful.

Carolyn Raffensperger, executive director for the Iowa-based environmental group Science and Environmental Health Network, noted the frustration she felt while watching the drilling and pipe installation. She has filed legal challenges and criticized the regulatory process for pipeline permitting, saying the layers of bureaucracy makes it difficult for citizens to be heard in any significant way.

“The problem is a very little bit of oil can make a very big mess,” she said. “We don’t want to drink any oil.”

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WORLD PHILIPPINES

Powerful typhoon slams into Philippines Storm expected to hit close to nation’s capital today.

By Jim Gomez Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A

powerful typhoon slammed into the eastern Philippines on Christmas Day, spoiling the biggest holiday in Asia’s largest Catholic nation, where a governor offered roast pig to entice villagers to abandon family celebrations for emergency shelters.

Typhoon Nock-Ten was packing maximum sustained winds of 114 miles per hour and gusts of up to 158 mph when it made landfall Sunday night in Catanduanes province, where fierce winds and rain knocked down the island’s power and communications, officials said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

After Catanduanes, the typhoon, which had a 300mile rain band, was expected to barge westward across the mountainous southern plank of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon and blow close to the capital, Manila, on Monday, before starting to exit toward the South China Sea. Nock-Ten may weaken after hitting the Sierra Madre mountain range in southern Luzon.

Heavy rainfall, destructive winds and battering waves were threatening heavily populated rural and urban regions, where the Philippine weather agency raised typhoon warnings, stranding thousands of people in ports as airlines canceled flights and ferries were prevented from sailing. Officials warned of storm surges in coastal villages, flash floods and landslides, and asked villagers to evacuate to safer grounds.

Christmas is the biggest holiday in the Philippines, which has Asia’s largest Roman Catholic population, making it difficult for officials to get people’s attention to heed the warnings.

With many refusing to leave high-risk communities, some officials said they decided to carry out forced evacuations.

In the past 65 years, seven typhoons have struck the Philippines on Christmas Day, according to the government’s weather agency.

Gov. Miguel Villafuerte of Camarines Sur province, which is in the typhoon’s expected path, offered roast pig, a popular Christmas delicacy locally called “lechon,” in evacuation centers to entice villagers to move to emergency shelters.

“I know it’s Christmas ... but this is a legit typhoon,” Villafuerte tweeted on Christmas Eve. “Please evacuate, we’ll be having lechon at evacuation centers.”

Camarines Sur officials had targeted about 50,000 families — some 250,000 people — for evacuation by Saturday night, but the number of those who responded was initially far below expectations.

In Catanduanes province, Vice Gov. Shirley Abundo said she ordered a forced evacuation of villagers, saying some “are really hardheaded, they don’t want to leave their houses because it’s Christmas.”

“We need to do this by force, we need to evacuate them now,” she told ABSCBN television.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, which helps oversee government response during disasters, said only about 4,200 people were reported to have moved to six evacuation centers by Sunday morning in the Bicol region, which includes Camarines Sur. “It’s difficult to force celebrations when our lives will be put at risk. Please prioritize safety and take heed of warnings by local government units,” welfare official Felino Castro told The Associated Press by phone.

Food, water and other emergency supplies had been pre-positioned in areas expected to be lashed by the typhoon, Castro said. His department was to activate an emergency cluster com-

prising the military, police, coast guard and other agencies Sunday to oversee disaster-response plans.

In the farming town of Guinobatan in Albay province, which is near Nock-Ten’s path, more than 17,600 villagers moved to evacuation

shelters without hesitation because of fears of a repeat of a typhoon several years ago that unleashed smoldering mudflows from nearby Mayon Volcano, leaving hundreds dead, the town’s mayor, Ann Ongjoco, said by phone.

Josefina Nao, who evacuated to a Guinobatan school with her six children, grandchildren and siblings, said that Sunday was one of her bleakest Christmas holidays, but that poor people like her did not have much choice.

She said it was tough to rep-

licate Christmas away from home, adding that town officials tried to cheer evacuees by distributing holiday food such as spaghetti.

“We live in a flood-prone community near a river where many had been swept to their deaths by floodwa-

ters during typhoons,” the 60-year-old Nao said by phone from a classroomturned-storm shelter that was void of any Christmas lights or decorations. “I wish it was a merrier Christmas, but this is our best option because we’ll all be safe together.”

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NATION & WORLD MUSEUMS

IRAQ

Displaced Iraqi Christians go home for ‘Mass of defiance’ 300 driven from town in 2014 by Islamic State.

By Hamza Hendawi Associated Press

A visitor at the American Museum of Natural History in New York experiences ‘AR Shark,’ a prototype augmented reality program that overlays CT scan data on a Mako shark model. AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

BARTELLA, IRAQ — For the

300 Christians who braved wind and rain to attend Christmas’s Eve Mass in their hometown, the ceremony evoked both holiday cheer and grim reminders of the war raging around their northern Iraqi town, and the distant prospect of moving back home.

Displaced when the Islamic State group seized their town, Bartella, in August 2014, the Christians were bused into town from Irbil, capital of the self-ruled Kurdish region where they have lived for more than two years, to attend the lunchtime service in the Assyrian Orthodox church of Mart Shmoni.

Torched by IS militants, church-supervised volunteers recently cleaned it up after government forces retook Bartella as part of an ongoing campaign to liberate the nearby city of Mosul and surrounding areas in Nineveh province. But the church is still missing its icons, electrical wiring hangs perilously from its ceiling and most light fixtures are gone.

The headless statue of a late patriarch stands in the front yard, its pedestal surrounded by shards of glass.

On Saturday, women joyously ululated when they stepped into the marble-walled church. Almost everyone held a lit candle.

Many took photos with their mobile phones. A handful of gas heaters were brought in, but they did little to warm the place on a wet and windy December day.

For many of them, the sight of their hometown in almost complete ruin was shocking. Only a few homes in the once vibrant town of some 25,000 people stand unscathed. Most have been damaged by shelling or blackened by fire.

On one street wall, IS’s black banner remains visible under the white paint.

Next to it, someone wrote: “Christ is the light of the world. Bartella is Christian.”

“Our joy is bigger than our sadness,” said university student Nevine Ibrahim, 20, who was in Bartella Saturday for the first time since she, her parents and four siblings left in 2014.

Museums using technology for new experiences A soldier from the U.S. Army stands guard next to a defaced Christian statue during Christmas Day Mass at Mar Hanna church in Qaraqosh. The predominantly Christian towns of Bartella and Qaraqosh on the outskirts of Mosul were recently liberated from ISIL as part of the Mosul offensive. CHRIS MCGRATH PHOTOS / GETTY IMAGES

A young girl dressed in a Santa outfit takes part in a Christmas Mass held for internally displaced people from Christian towns of Bartella and Qaraqosh. “Our joy is bigger than our sadness,” said university student Nevine Ibrahim, who fled the town with her family in 2014.

They found their house badly damaged. Everything they owned was gone.

“I don’t think we can return. The house can be fixed but the pain inside us cannot,” she said, seated among three of her siblings.

“Who will protect us?”

Halfway through the service, conducted in Assyrian and Arabic, it became something of a wartime Mass.

Roughly a dozen U.S. military servicemen and a 100man contingent from the Iraqi military led by several top generals descended on the church in a show of solidarity.

Unlike their Americans counterparts, the Iraqi troops came armed. Iraqi soldiers — with one wearing a skull-face balaclava— searched people coming into the church. Inside, soldiers frisked anyone moving close

to the Iraqi generals, who arrived in some two dozen armored SUVs and Humvees.

The distant thud of explosions could be heard after Mass. But none of that seemed to dampen the worshippers’ joyous spirit.

The soldiers photographed each other and took selfies.

Many of them held lit candles, and the congregation warmly applauded when Bishop Mussa Al-Shamani thanked the Iraqi military for “liberating” Bartella.

The Christians of Nineveh are members of an ancient and once-vibrant community. They enjoyed protection under Saddam Hussein, but their numbers rapidly dwindled after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq toppled the regime of the late dictator in 2003.

Since 2003, Sunni militants have targeted Christians

and their churches, terrorizing the community and forcing many of its members to flee to the West, neighboring nations or the northern Kurdish region. IS’s onslaught across northern Iraq in 2014 devastated the unique communities of Christian-majority towns like Karamlis, Bartella and Qaraqosh — all in the Nineveh plains. Of the estimated 1.5 million Christians who lived in Iraq on the eve of the U.S.-led invasion, about 500,000 are left.

“This is the Mass of defiance,” A ssyr ian pr ie st Yacoub Saady told the congregation at the end of the service. “We, the Christians, are the oldest component of this country. We are staying put and no power can force us to leave.”

His words, however, were more hopeful than realistic. The Bartella Christians attending Saturday’s Christmas Mass spoke of the community’s woes and their slim hopes of returning home.

With the central Baghdad government strapped for cash because of low oil prices and the spiraling cost of the war against IS, it is unlikely that monetary compensation will be dispensed to residents who lost their homes, or that large scale reconstruction will be undertaken in Bartella anytime soon.

Residents also have deep security concerns, arising mostly from the Iraqi military and security forces’ meltdown in the face of IS’s blitz across northern and western Iraq in the summer of 2014.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Pope’s Christmas wish: peace, hope 40,000 crowd into St. Peter’s Square for ‘Urbi et Orbi.’

By Frances D’Emilio Associated Press VATICAN CITY — Decrying the suffering in Syria, Pope Francis on Sunday wished Christmas peace and hope for all those scarred by war and terrorism, which he said is sowing “fear and death in the heart of many countries and cities.”

Some 40,000 tourists and Romans calmly endured long security lines to enter St. Peter’s Square to see the pope on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he delivered the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and to the world”) Christmas message and blessing.

Francis spoke sorrowfully of the suffering caused by the Syrian war, especially in Aleppo, pressing the international community to help negotiate a solution.

He urged Israelis and Palestinians to “write a new page of history, where hate and revenge give way” toward building a future of understanding and harmony.

He also cited the “brutality of terrorism” in Iraq, Libya and Yemen.

I n N i ge r i a , t h e p o p e

Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for “to the city and to the world”) Christmas day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Sunday. ALESSANDRA TARANTINO / ASSOCIATED PRESS

lamented, “fundamentalist terrorism exploits even children,” a reference to child suicide bombers. He expressed hope that dialogue would prevail over “the mindset of conflict” in both South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The heavy security at the Vatican reflected apprehension in much of Europe, which is reeling from extremist attacks. Last week, 12 people died in Berlin when a Tunisian man who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group plowed a truck through a crowd at a Christmas market. He was killed a few days later in a shootout near Milan.

“Peace to all those who have been injured or have suffered the loss of a loved one due to the brutal acts of terrorism that have sown fear and death in the heart of many countries and cities,” the pope said.

Referring to the meaning of Jesus’ birth, Francis said: “Today this message goes out to the ends of the Earth to reach all peoples, especially those scarred by war and harsh conflicts that seem stronger than the yearning for peace.”

His Christmas message also recalled Colombia, which has seen his personal intervention try to end Latin America’s longest running conflict, and Venezuela, where

a papal envoy has tried to facilitate talks between the government and the opposition as Venezuelans endure widespread food and medicine shortages.

Francis expressed concern over tensions on the Korean peninsula, and over Myanmar, which he said should “consolidate efforts to promote peaceful coexistence.”

During Christmas Eve Mass in the basilica, Francis said Jesus’ birth, in a humble stable, calls to mind how some children today must hide in underground bomb shelters, live on the street, lie on the bottom of overcrowded smugglers’ boats, are given weapons instead of toys or aren’t allowed to be born at all.

Throughout his papacy, Francis has denounced the Islamic extremist violence that has driven Christians from Mideast communities that date to Christianity’s foundations. He has also demanded that Europe in particular do more to welcome refugees.

Reflecting the pope’s concern for migrants, refugees and others on society’s margins, Bologna’s archbishop celebrated a Christmas Eve Mass for the homeless in a waiting room of that Italian city’s main train station.

Officials looking to broaden public access to exhibits.

By Ula Ilnytzky Associated Press NEWYORK — Museums are always looking for ways to make their exhibitions more exciting. Now, new technologies are making that easier.

From 3-D scanning and 3-D printing, to virtual reality and special apps, these technologies are being applied in a multitude of ways. Still other technologies are being tested and developed as museums seek to ever broaden public access.

“Where we used to have one way of visiting and experiencing a museum, people now expect a variety of ways,” said Catherine Devine, chief digital officer at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. “It’s about exploring technologies.”

A look at some of the ways museums are integrating and developing technologies to engage their audiences:

Navigating a big collection

You can get lost in the giant American Museum of Natural History. Explorer, a new app, uses hundreds of Bluetooth hotspots to navigate visitors around its halls to artifacts that may interest them the most.

“Instead of saying ‘turn at West 14th Street,’ it says ‘turn left at the huge mosquito, go through the green sign,’” said Devine. “From the app’s point of view, you don’t have to say where you are. Whenever you raise your phone, the thing you’re immediately in front of is at the top of the app.”

Devine said the app can also can customize visitors’ tours. If a person selects “Really Big,” for example, the app might take them to the museum’s mammoth blue whale. Once there, layers of information are added, including animation, videos and fun facts like comparing the whale’s weight to 1.6 million slices of pizza.

3-D printing and scanning

Museums are still exploring the many and varied applications of 3-D printing and 3-D scanning for their programing, research and gallery experience. Some are already using the latest 3-D printing technology to make replicas of historical artifacts to give visitors a new way to interact with the object without damaging the original.

3-D scanning tools also allow for detailed analysis of fragile specimens.

An example of that is an exhibition traveling around the country called “Mummies: New Secrets From the Tombs” organized by Chicago’s Field Museum.

It used a medical CT scanner to “unwrap” the mummies. Museum-goers can peek under the wrappings by manipulating large tabletop computer scans placed alongside the delicate specimens to see their clothes, hairstyles and the jewelry they took to their graves.

“The real power of 3-D scanning is that you have so many different potential outcomes,” said Adam Metallo, who, with Vincent Rossi, leads the 3-D digitization team at the Smithso-

The reconstructed face of an Egyptian mummy known as the Gilded Lady is on display at a museum in Los Angeles. AP

nian’s 19 museums and nine research centers.

You can make an exact replica of something for display or create a digital model for a touchscreen interactive that people can view outside the museum.

“We’re interested in leveraging the technology to kind of take down the walls and provide unprecedented access,” said Rossi.

Virtual reality

Virtual reality, which utilizes special head gear to create the effects, can transport visitors to places they could never reach, like inside the human body or the bottom of the sea.

At the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, visitors can explore a space shuttle and walk through the nuclear disaster site in Chernobyl with a virtual reality headset.

At a recent special event at the American Museum of Natural History, young visitors tested out virtual reality goggles that “shrank” them to the size of a beetle for a close-up view of the weevil’s anatomy.

Virtual reality also extends museums’ reach beyond their walls: With just a smartphone and a Google Cardboard low-tech headset viewer, students can go on a virtual museum field trip from anywhere in the world.

Roboguides

“Telepresence robots” — screens mounted on two long poles on wheels — use videoconferencing technology similar to Skype to connect visitors to expert information not quite available from a tour guide.

The American Museum of Natural History tried it out recently at a special event inside its Northwest Coast Indians Hall to beam an indigenous member of the remote Haida Gwaii community into the museum to talk with visitors.

And in the not-so-distant future, museum patrons will be able to ask questions to their smartphones about what to see and do during their visit.

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NATION & WORLD HEALTH

The liver gets thrown off by unhealthy patterns of sleep or by changes in diet or alcohol consumption.

To keep your liver’s clock consistent this holiday season, avoid extreme behaviors, researchers say.

Liver’s function can be disrupted by holidays The organ won’t celebrate extra food, booze, less sleep.

Steph Yin ©2016 The New York Times

Over the holidays, many of us will drink, stay up past bedtime, eat an extra slice of pie and sleep in. Fun as they are, these activities can tamper with our circadian rhythms, the feedback loops that sync our body’s functions to our external environment.

The liver, which helps regulate your body’s metabolism, gets thrown off by unhealthy patterns of sleep or by changes in diet or alcohol consumption. If you’re experiencing indigestion or your energy levels are low after too many holiday parties, your liver could be out of sync.

In recent years, more and more research in the field of chronobiology, the science of biological rhythms, suggests the importance of maintaining a consistent schedule for the sake of your liver, which has a clock of its own.

Circadian rhythms are important for helping the liver anticipate the body’s demands throughout the day, such as stockpiling energy after meals and releasing it when we sleep, said Felix Naef, a professor of quantitative biology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.

Recent studies have examined how alcohol affects circadian rhythms. This year, researchersreportedthatnight shift workers given two to four glasses of wine each day for a week had altered circadian rhythms and “leakier” intestinal linings than day workers, which could put them at risk of alcoholic liver disease.

Dr. Garth R. Swanson, a gastroenterologist at Rush

University Medical Center in Chicago and an author of the study, said he believes this risk applies to any drinkers who frequently shift their circadian rhythms by more than two hours.

“People don’t have to be working night shifts for months or years,” he said.

“You could potentially put yourself at risk just by doing a series of bad behaviors for a relatively short amount of time.”

Other studies in mice have implications for understanding the liver’s cycles.

Last month, Naef and a team of researchers reported finding more than 500 proteins in mice liver cells that shift in abundance over the course of the day. These proteins ultimately help the liver filter blood and process fats and sugars. When they are thrown off their tight schedules, the liver might lag in important processes such as detoxification and digestion.

Our daily liver cycles are molded by an interplay of sleep, food and alcohol. Sleep affects the master clock in our brain. Like most other bodily organs, the liver is partly governed by this central rhythm.

But the liver also has its own internal clock, which can be affected by food and alcohol.

In studies with mice, John Y.L. Chiang, a professor of biochemistry at Northeast Ohio Medical University, has found that even short-term

‘Light is the most powerful way to reset our internal clock.’

Lei Yin

University of Michigan

MARY ALTAFFER / ASSOCIATED PRESS

changes in either sleep or diet can affect the liver’s ability to contribute to fat digestion. Chronic disturbances, he said, may lead to fat accumulation in the liver, which can cause “many different problems: fatty liver disease, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and even cancer.”

Alcohol can also knock a mouse’s liver rhythms out of whack, said Shannon M. Bailey, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.Herteamfoundthat feeding mice moderate levels of alcohol for a month significantly disrupted the functioning of their liver clocks.

To keep your liver’s clock consistent this holiday season, avoid extreme behaviors, said Lei Yin, an assistant professor of physiology at the University of Michigan.

That means maintaining your central circadian rhythm with a regular sleep schedule. You can stay up a little later, but try to avoid doing so more than two hours past your normal bedtime. A helpful tip is to go on a walk in the mornings.

“Light is the most powerful way to reset our internal clock,” Yin said.

It also means staying cognizant of how food and alcohol affect your liver’s timers.

Try to stick to normal mealtimes. And it’s fine to drink a little, but avoid binge drinking, which is defined as more than four or five drinks in two hours.

In the short term, sticking to these guidelines might ease your transition back to reality, once the holidays are over. In the long term, maintaining a regular schedule and drinking less can safeguard your metabolism and prevent disease.

New Year’s resolutions, anyone?

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NATION & WORLD IN BRIEF CHICAGO

At least 27 shot, 7 fatally, in Chicago At least 27 people were shot, seven fatally, in a 48-hour period in Chicago over Christmas weekend, according to the Chicago Police Department. It was the latest bloody chapter in a city besieged by gun violence. Killings and shootings, already an all-too-common hazard in the city, have skyrocketed since last year, when the numbers were already high. The rise in violence is fueled in part by gangs, whose disagreements range from neighborhood turf wars to disputes over girlfriends. This weekend, one of the victims was an 18-year-old Hispanic man who was shot multiple times in the neck and back while he was driving in the Gage Park neighborhood, on the city’s southwest side, at 1:30 a.m.

Christmas Day. Officer Jose Estrada, a spokesman with the Chicago Police Department, said Sunday that the total number of homicides this year was 745, an increase from 476 last year.

MACEDONIA

714 voters hold key for election result Residents of the northwestern Macedonian village of Tearce voted Sunday in an election rerun that could tilt the national election result.

The rerun involved a single polling station with 714 registered voters in the village, 31 miles from the capital of Skopje. The rerun was ordered after complaints about voting irregularities from the opposition Social Democrats. Only 307 votes separate the country’s two main rivals nationally. Former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski’s conservative VMRO-DPMNE party won 51 seats in the 120-member parliament, while the Social Democrats claimed 49, leaving both needing a coalition partner to form a government.

FROM WIRE REPORTS

heavy,

EARLY AMERICA

Scholars aim to dispel myths about settlers Effort comes as Pilgrims’ 400th anniversary nears.

By William J. Kole Associated Press BOSTON — Fake news, quad-

ricentennial edition: America’s early settlers were all pious. The native people were savages. Freedom and liberty were available to all from Day One. As the U.S. gears up to mark the 400th anniversary of its roots as a nation, leading scholars from around the globe are teaming up to dispel myths and challenge long-held assumptions about how the country was settled.

Their group, New England Beginnings, is using phone apps and searchable online archives to help set the record straight about the early 1600s — and fill in some important knowledge gaps.

“All many people know is that the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth in 1620, Boston was started in 1630, and then in 1776 we had a revolution,” said Rose Doherty, president of the Partnership of Historic Bostons, a group devoted to the 17th-century history of the city and the much-older Boston in Lincolnshire on the east coast of England.

Doherty’s organization is among 19 prominent groups that comprise New England Beginnings. Others include the American Antiquarian Society, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Rhode Island’s Tomaquag Museum, Britain’s History of Independence Project and the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum in the Netherlands.

Together, they see an opening as the U.S. prepares in 2020 to mark the 400th

anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620.

“There’s a lot of attention being paid right now to how you distinguish between real news and fake news. But this is something historians grapple with all the time,” said Francis Bremer, a professor emeritus of history at Pennsylvania’s Millersville University and the coordinator of New England Beginnings.

A key focus, Bremer said, is presenting a much more complete and accurate picture of how the early settlers interacted with Native Americans.

Underscoring the gulf between how natives and white Americans see history, on every Thanksgiving since 1970, members of New England tribes have gathered in downtown Plymouth for a solemn National Day of Mourning observance that recalls the disease, racism and oppression the settlers brought.

“It’s an important part of the story that’s really taken a back seat for a long time.

You just can’t bury history,” said Paula Peters, a writer and activist and a member of Massachusetts’ Wampanoag tribe. “People don’t know how quickly it became repressive for the Wampanoags. Ship after ship after ship arrived, and they came with laws and deeds. You really have to put yourself in the moccasins of the people who were enduring that.”

‘They were a very complicated people full of paradoxes and subtleties.’

Peggy Bendroth

Congregational Library and Archives

Peters’ pet peeve: “This myth of the friendly Indians and the grateful Pilgrims who met in Plymouth by the grace of God and everyone lived happily ever after.”

New England Beginnings is turning to technology to remedy such misapprehensions — and highlight the crucial role the 1600s played in shaping what would become the U.S. One member, the Boston-based Congregational Library and Archives, has launched a new app — “Puritan Boston Tests Democracy” — that sheds light on colonial hypocrisy. (Example: The settlers’ first legal guarantee of individual liberty adopted in 1641 also condoned slavery.)

Another member, the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, is preparing an online edition of Plymouth Gov. William Bradford’s history, “Of Plymouth Plantation,” with notes reflecting Native American perspectives. A third, the Massachusetts Historical Society, soon will release a searchable online version of “The Winthrop Papers,” a trove of material on early New England.

Scholars hope they can finally turn the page on folklore suggesting that all 102 Mayflower passengers were Pilgrims (only about 40 were) or that Puritan piety was as omnipresent as the Almighty (the word “fornication” peppers many early accounts).

“There’s a very human record in church documents of people getting in fights, abandonment, sexual abuse,” said Peggy Bendroth, director of the Congregational Library and Archives.

“They were very complicated people full of paradoxes and subtleties,” she said. “It was just as much of a struggle for them as for us.”

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FROM PAGE ONE DeKalb continued from A1

other investigations behind the county,” May said. “As quickly as we can get that in our rear-view mirror, we can just focus on governance and working on behalf of the people.”

Before May became the county’s CEO, he was a 38-year-old commissioner representing southeast DeKalb.

Afterward, he was the easiest person to blame for the county’s problems, including numerous allegations of government incompetence and fraud.

“He was faced with many unfortunate issues with honesty and integrity,” said Liane Levetan, who was DeKalb’s CEO from 1993 to 2000. “He has done as good a job performance as possible. ... He was thrust into a situation that maybe he didn’t expect to be in.”

May lists many changes during his tenure that he says strengthened DeKalb.

Government employees received raises this year.

Property tax rates went down slightly. He quashed a purchasing card scandal by restricting their use by officials.

He supported overhauls of DeKalb’s Board of Ethics, as well as the county’s auditing process, purchasing policies and economic development board.

“It’s not that he achieved every goal, but he acquitted himself well by being accessible, open and transparent,” Thurmond said. “He’s prepared for the county to move to the next level on this journey of restoring trust and

Interim Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County Government Lee May says: “People don’t care about what you say. They care about what you do.” EMILY JENKINS/ EJENKINS@AJC.COM

DeKalb County Commissioners (from left) Nancy Jester, Jeff Rader, Gregory Adams, Larry Johnson, Sharon Barnes Sutton, Mereda Davis Johnson and Kathie Gannon are shown during a DeKalb County Commission meeting at the DeKalb County Government Administration Building earlier this month. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

confidence.”

Several of May’s key proposals didn’t come to pass.

He fell short on efforts to build a soccer practice field for Atlanta United, construct a new government building and raise sales taxes to pay for repaving hundreds of miles of pothole-filled roads.

Despite failing to achieve those goals, May said he laid the groundwork for success.

Land near the DeKalb Jail that would have been used for the soccer complex has been cleared and can be redeveloped. The county will still need a government building at some point. And the sales tax proposal will be reconsidered next year.

His biggest regret is that he couldn’t build consensus among DeKalb commission-

ers, who frequently deadlocked on spending and construction decisions.

Commissioner Nanc y Jester, who at one point called on May to resign following a report on government corruption, said she was disappointed he was slow to recognize the severity of countywide problems with high residential water bills. But she praised him for choosing competent department directors.

“He grew into the role,” Jester said. “Over the last couple of years, I think he’s made some good decisions that will pay dividends later.”

One of May’s defining moments came when he ordered a sweeping investigation to expose misconduct and restore public con-

fidence.

The effort backfired when the investigators, Mike Bowers and Richard Hyde, targeted May for hindering the investigation. He denies that accusation, though he did stop the inquiry as its costs approached $1 million.

The investigation’s report last year said May should step down, alleging he received a loan from an aide in violation of the county’s charter. The aide, Morris Williams, and contractor Doug Cotter are now facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing $4,000 in public money after the county paid to repair damage from a raw sewage backflow in May’s home.

May denied taking a loan or any other wrongdoing.

He has said he was the vic-

tim of a scheme to defraud the government.

“I’ve tried to operate — in this world of chaos and turmoil — with the highest level of integrity that I could,” May said. “Even when people feel skeptical about politics and politicians and government, I wanted them to be confident in the leader they had serving them.”

May is preparing to move from politics to the pulpit.

He’s working to start up Transforming Faith Church, where he will serve as pastor for a small flock that will initially gather in a local high school.

He’s already quoting Bible verses from the books of James (“Faith without works is dead”) and Romans (“Do not conform to the pattern

of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”), saying he hopes to lead his church by example.

“People don’t care about what you say. They care about what you do,” said May, who has a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University. “That’s the same thing that God desires for us, and that’s how we want to operate as a church and even in politics.”

May, who was first elected to the DeKalb Commission in a 2006 special election to succeed U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, said he wants to be remembered for guiding the county through a time of uncertainty.

“DeKalb County needs a restart,” May said. “If we could almost forget some of the things in the past and say the slate is clean, now we can work together. ... The best is yet to come for the future of DeKalb County.”

Changing continued from A1

of this stuff?” Oakley said.

She said she knew she needed help – professional help. She hired a senior move manager.

Oakley enlisted the help of Changing Spaces Move Managers, co-owned by Linda Kaplan and Holly Mitchell, two former advertising executives, who got the idea for the company through personal experiences.

“Our parents needed to downsize, and they needed a lot of help,” said Kaplan.

“It wasn’t just the logistics of packing and moving; it turned out that some of the tougher issues were helping them manage emotions and preserve memories that were somehow connected to their possessions, and of course imagining a new way of living in a smaller, simpler space,” said Kaplan. “We know moving is stressful.

And we felt like we had the expertise and experience to help others with a muchneeded service.”

Kaplan, Mitchell and their team helped the Oakleys with every step of the moving process from measuring the new floor plan and helping determine what pieces of furniture would best fit in the new space to helping the couple declutter every room of the house, pack, unpack and set up in their new home.

Moving is daunting for any age, but for those who have lived in one house for many years, perhaps decades, purging things accumulated over time can be particularly emotional and stressful.

Senior movers help with issues that come with downsizing, including selling and donating items, as well as deciding what to keep and what to purge. They can help seniors select their favorite things — such selecting a handful of homemade cards and drawings from their children and tossing the rest, or deciding to keeping the teacup and saucer from grandma, but donating the rest of the set. Senior movers can also help digitize photographs and other memorabilia, and put photos into a photo book. And senior move managers also help when adult children don’t live near their parents or don’t have time to help sort through belongings.

Mary Kay Buysee, the executive director of the nonprofit National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) said membership

Independent contractors with Changing Spaces move the belongings of Harriet Sessoms into Lenbrook Senior Community. Their team helps with the physical and emotional task of downsizing.

Marian Walls (left), an independent contractor with Changing Spaces, Linda Kaplan, Changing Spaces’ co-owner, and Kerima Bello, an independent contractor with Changing Spaces, organize family photographs for their client, Harriet Sessoms, in Atlanta. DAVID BARNES PHOTOS / DAVID.BARNES@AJC.COM

has grown from about 20 in 2002 to more than 1,000 members today. There are about 10 senior move manager companies in metro Atlanta. Buysee estimates most senior move managers in this area charge between $60 and $80 per hour. The cost of a move can range from less than $1,000 to several thousand dollars, depending on the size of the move and level of assistance required.

Buysee said the rising demand stems from the growing aging population.

By 2030, the elderly will account for one-fifth of the total U.S. population. The proportion of Georgia’s population that is 60 and older is growing more rapidly than other age groups of the population. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that more than 20 percent of Georgia’s population will be 60 and older by the year 2030, an increase of nearly 34 percent from 2012.

Much like the wedding planning industry of a generation ago, Buysee said senior move management has emerged from a little-known role to a trusted resource for thoughtful planning of a major life-changing event. She said adult children, while well-intentioned, may not have the time or expertise to help their parents downsize. And through NASMM, move managers can also coordinate a move from one city to another, working with move managers in other states.

Senior movers also problem solve. When Carol and Bob Nemo of Atlanta were getting ready to downsize, the seniors lamented not

being able to take with them Bob’s collection of 3,000 beer bottles. They weren’t just any beer bottles, but instead bottles from his travels around the globe. And Bob had organized them by country and alphabetically, and proudly displayed in his home office. They couldn’t just toss them in recycling.

So Kaplan and Mitchell called various pubs and restaurants around town to see if they had any interest, but none wanted them. Then Kaplan and Mitchell had an idea: take photographs of Bob’s favorite bottles and then have a photograph blown up into a huge, six-foot-tall poster, and hang it on the wall in Bob’s small office in his new home. (And then the bottles were recycled.)

“It’s perfect,” said Carol Nemo. “The photograph looks great on the wall – and takes up no space.”

Roger Kurth, owner of Senior Transition Services, worked in housing sales for many years, but then during the housing crisis in 2009, started looking for a new line of work. He had been hearing stories at church and in his community about seniors who were anxious and ill-equipped to downsize and move from a home of decades to a smaller place.

“This was an area of senior services that was underserved,” said Kurth whose company includes its own moving trucks, and while based in Snellville, works throughout the state.”Our goal is to take the stress out of moving.”

On a recent afternoon, Harriet Sessoms, an 82-yearold widow, covered her

mouth in surprise when she stepped inside her new home, a two-bedroom condo in Atlanta. Just one day after moving trucks showed up at her nearby, large house, she slowly stepped inside a condo completely set up — her floral couch, wooden rocking chair, landscape paintings on the wall, dishes arranged in the china cabinet. Even her closet was organized with all of her clothing hanging and folded, organized by colors. Not a single box, or slip of packing paper.

(Mitchell and Kaplan take photos of the insides of cabinets, closets and dressers, so if they help unpack after the move, they can re-create the placement of things.)

Sessoms lit up when she saw a wooden framed mirror, in her family for generations, hung close to her front door. She walked into the guest bedroom and saw a portrait of her late husband, Walt, on the wall in a guest room.

Sessoms’ daughter, Kay, said she made a few trips to help her mom move, helping her donate books and clothes, and whittling through her things. Kay said the hardest thing for her mother to get rid of was anything with handwriting. Her mother, she said, bought about 10 photo albums to organize letters and photos.

Other things like furniture, books and holiday decorations were easier to let go of, she said.

“Living out of state, I can only do so much,” said Kay. She said having the help from Changing Spaces was “a blessing. There is no other way to describe it.”

TIPS FOR DOWNSIZING FROM CHANGING SPACES, CO-OWNED BY LINDA KAPLAN AND HOLLY MITCHELL IN ATLANTA

■ If possible, create a floor plan first for where you are moving. Decide what furniture you would like to take and make sure it will fit. Choosing pieces that have good storage (chests instead of tables) helps when downsizing.

■ When sorting, work on one area at a time. For some that might be a room, others might need a smaller goal of a dresser or even one drawer at a time to help you focus. Working with a family member or move manager will often speed up the process.

■ Separate items into bins with labels and into categories: keep, sell, donate, trash. Keep only what you truly love or need. Do not keep an item just because someone you love gave it to you. You will still love the person without keeping the item, and besides, someone else might truly love or need it.

Changing Spaces likes to use the full-stick Post-it notes in different colors for each category.

■ For collections that you don’t have room for, choose only your favorite. Take pictures of the rest.

Keep a teacup and saucer on your shelf to remind you of granny. You don’t have to keep the whole set.

■ Convert your hundreds of photos to a digital frame. Many pictures can be displayed, and you are preserving them as well.

■ Safety is a top priority. Think long and hard about taking throw rugs, glass tables and too much furniture which could end up being a tripping hazard.

■ Don’t stop the purging. Properly dispose of expired medicines, pantry items and clothing you’ve not worn in a year. As you buy something new, dispose of something. Watch for recycling days organized by non-profits for electronics, shredding and hard to recycle items. You can check keepatlantabeautiful.org for some of these days.

■ Less is more. The items you really love will be seen in a new light and showcased in a space with less clutter. You will love them all the more. Having less in your living space is calming and freeing.

One day earlier, there were 70 boxes, but a team of five women worked for several hours to get everything just right. The place was bright, cheerful.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Sessoms. “It feels like home already.”

Mary Ann Oakley is comfortable in her new two-bedroom condo. She was happy some of her existing furniture, including a comfy beige couch and bookcases, fit nicely in the new space. She

said there was only one piece of furniture she felt particularly strong about — a mahogany corner cupboard, which her mom had custom-made in 1948. Oakley remembers the cupboard in her dining room as a child, which later became a fixture in her homes over the years.

It now stands in her living room. Without senior movers, Oakley said, “It either would not have happened or I would probably be on a funny farm or nuts.”

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THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

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FROM PAGE ONE GOP continued from A1

“ The G eorgia GOP i s broke,” said Alex Johnson, who is running for a third time to lead the organization. “We cannot advocate fiscal responsibility while spending more than we take in. We must lead by example if we expect to raise money and remain solvent.”

Even more galling to Republicans: The state Democratic Party, which has recently suffered from its own fundraising problems, was in a healthier financial position. A filing in October showed it had nearly $400,000 in cash and virtually no debt.

State Republican Party Chairman John Padgett, who was first elected in 2013 and won’t run again next year, has leaned on former U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston to help restock the GOP coffers. An event featuring ex-Texas Gov. Rick Perry in June was one of the top draws, but others, including a planned “Second Amendment celebration” in late 2015, were scrapped.

Padgett’s supporters point to the November election results, noting that Isakson and nearly every other GOP incumbent won smashing victories.

“Clearly, we have the infrastructure, grass-roots support and, yes, finances to grow the party, promote conservative principles, win elections and protect our red-state status for years to come,” Georgia GOP spokesman Ryan Mahoney said.

Lawsuits and legal questions

Several pending lawsuits seeking hefty judgments have complicated the party’s fundraising efforts.

Former G eorgia GOP employee Qiana Keith filed a lawsuit claiming that one of the organization’s employees humiliated her and referred to her with a racial slur.

And Padgett was targeted with another complaint alleging he has reneged on more than $340,000 in outstanding legal fees owed to his

former law firm that were incurred in defending himself against Keith’s lawsuit.

“There is nothing wrong with the Republican Party in Georgia; there is a lot wrong with the Georgia GOP organization,” said Harry Abrams, a member of the state GOP committee. “I’m telling people if they’ve got a candidate you’re interested in, contribute directly to the candidate. Because only God knows what the state is doing with it.”

The Georgia GOP’s financial disclosure shows that it spent $17,000 in 2016 on legal fees with Dentons, the powerful law firm with many Republican clients. It owes more than $200,000 to the law firm of the party’s general counsel, Anne Lewis.

The legal expenses and other financial problems have frustrated some longtime party activists. Nathaniel Darnell, a state GOP committee member, posted a lengthy dispatch on Facebook claiming that party leaders were “chronically irresponsible” with party funds.

“It is disgusting that these people (and other cowards on the state executive committee) stood idly by and watched the state GOP burn like this under their watch,” he wrote.

The party’s often-testy relations with state leaders — most notably Gov. Nathan Deal — also haven’t helped.

Party activists snubbed Deal in 2011 when they

‘We cannot advocate fiscal responsibility while spending more than we take in. We must lead by example if we expect to raise money and remain solvent.’

Alex Johnson

Georgia Republican Party

C A

elected Sue Everhart to another term as party chairwoman over the governor’s handpicked candidate. And they fell apart when many grass-roots activists called for a formal rebuke of the governor after his vetoes of “religious liberty” and campus gun measures — one district even called for a censure.

Deal didn’t attend the party’s convention this summer, citing an event with high school valedictorians at the Governor’s Mansion.

Chip L ake, a veteran Republican strategist, said the organization’s problems send a message to the party’s next leader: Don’t “stick a finger in the governor’s eye.”

He and others also warn that rivals, such as independent expenditure committees that can work on behalf of candidates and target their opponents, further diminish the party’s role.

“While you always want your state party to be in a strong financial position, I’m not so sure it matters as much as it used to with the emergence of independent political committees,” Lake said. “Many of these independent committees come in and play the role that, 10 to 15 years ago, the state party would have played.”

Johnson and other candidates lining up to replace Padgett in 2017 are dreaming up new ways to strengthen the party.

Michael McNeely, the party’s vice chairman and a contender for the top job, vowed to be a strong financial steward. Several others scouting the race, including grass-roots organizer Scott Johnson and GOP operative John Watson, are also likely to jump in.

Rusty Paul, the mayor of Sandy Springs and a former GOP chief, said the next leader must be able to raise cash while also uniting different factions of the fractious party.

“We need the full conservative coalition working together to ensure the GOP keeps its competitive advantage into the foreseeable future,” said Paul, who supports Watson for the job.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

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A13

OPINION From the left

READERS WRITE State, feds should address traffic woes Kyle Wingfield’s opinion column about the evolution of transportation planning in this state (“GOP transit plan for metro Atlanta continues to move down the track,” Opinion, Dec. 15) contained an excellent description of the problem and the players.

However, this is not about MARTA versus the suburbs. ... This is about traffic congestion in a metro area that spans 50 miles in all directions (half of the state’s population).

It is obvious that the only way to address this problem is from the state level and/or the federal level (when including the Interstate system). The Georgia DOT can complete the design and building of the network of tolled lanes next to crowded metro highways, and Georgia’s GRTA agency can procure and operate the metro-wide fleet of transit buses that will use this new bus/vanpool express lane system. Financing can come from the state level

STEVE BREEN / CREATORS SYNDICATE

From the right

(gas tax), the federal level (the infrastructure spending of the new administration), and tolls from auto drivers who use the express lanes.

JOEL SMITH, STOCKBRIDGE

Russian excuse does not pass smell test Various news organs publish that the Russians could not penetrate the RNC computers, though they tried, as they could DNC computers. The same organs report Julian Assange has several times stated that WikiLeaks did not get information from the Russians, but rather got it from insiders within the Democrat camp. Russia would rather have a proven incompetent, very much left-leaning, unethical, and dishonest person serving in the Office of the President than one finds in the person of Mr. Trump.

The Russian influence excuse to suggest why Hillary Rodham Clinton lost the election just does not pass the smell test.

MIKE MICHAUD, MARIETTA

How to submit an Opinion column: Submissions should be 750 words or less. Email opinion articles to Editorial Editor Andre Jackson, andre.jackson@ajc.com. Columns submitted may be published, republished and made available in the AJC or other databases and electronic formats.

Letters for“Readers Write” should be no longer than 150 words and must include a phone number for verification. They may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in print or other formats. Emailed letters are preferred. Send to: letters@ajc.com.

The AJC is dedicated to continually bringing you the best in opinion columns and guest articles on issues that matter to you. Find the latest at www.myajc.com/s/opinion/

MICHAEL RAMIREZ / CREATORS SYNDICATE

BALANCED VIEWS FROM THE LEFT

FROM THE RIGHT

Trump’s phony populism just bait for an epic scam

Farewell to a talk radio host who truly pushed policy

Paul Krugman

He writes for the New York Times.

Authoritarians with an animus against ethnic minorities are on the march across the Western world. They control governments in Hungary and Poland, and will soon take power in America. And they’re organizing across borders: Austria’s Freedom Party, founded by former Nazis, has signed an agreement with Russia’s ruling party — and met with Donald Trump’s choice for national security adviser.

But what should we call these groups? Many reporters are using the term “populist,” which seems both inadequate and misleading. I guess racism can be considered populist in the sense that it represents the views of some non-elite people. But are the other shared features of this movement — addiction to conspiracy theories, indifference to the rule of law, a penchant for punishing critics — really captured by the “populist” label?

Still, the European members of this emerging alliance — an axis of evil? — have offered some real benefits to workers. Hungary’s Fidesz party has provided mortgage relief and pushed down utility prices.

Poland’s Law and Justice party has increased child

benefits, raised the minimum wage and reduced the retirement age.

France’s National Front is running as a defender of that nation’s extensive welfare state — but only for the right people.

Trumpism is, however, different. The campaign rhetoric may have included promises to keep Medicare and Social Security intact and replace Obamacare with something “terrific.”

But the emerging policy agenda is anything but populist.

All indications are that we’re looking at huge windfalls for billionaires combined with savage cuts in programs that serve not just the poor but also the middle class. And the white working class, which provided much of the 46 percent Trump vote share, is shaping up as the biggest loser.

True, we don’t yet have detailed policy proposals. But Trump’s Cabinet choices show which way the wind is blowing.

In other words, the movement that’s about to take power here isn’t the same as Europe’s far-right movements. It may share their racism and contempt for democracy, but European populism is at least partly real, while Trumpist populism is turning out to be entirely fake, a scam sold to working-class voters who are in for a rude awakening. Will the new regime pay a political price?

Well, don’t count on it.

This epic bait-and-switch, this betrayal of supporters, certainly offers Democrats a political opportunity. But

you know that there will be huge efforts to shift the blame. These will include claims that the collapse of health care is really Obama’s fault; claims that the failure of alternatives is somehow the fault of recalcitrant Democrats; and an endless series of attempts to distract the public.

Expect more Carrier-style stunts that don’t actually help workers but dominate a news cycle.

Expect lots of fulmination against minorities. And it’s worth remembering what authoritarian regimes traditionally do to shift attention from failing policies, namely, find some foreigners to confront. Maybe it will be a trade war with China, maybe something worse.

Opponents need to do all they can to defeat such strategies of distraction.

Above all, they shouldn’t let themselves be sucked into cooperation that leaves them sharing part of the blame. The perpetrators of this scam should be forced to own it.

Mona Charen

She writes for Creators Syndicate.

On Dec. 19, radio host Charlie Sykes completed his last broadcast in Milwaukee. His last hours on the air were adorned with encomia from some whom his show had helped to incubate: Reince Preibus, Scott Walker, Ron Johnson and Paul Ryan, among many others. For 23 years, Wisconsinites got the Charlie Sykes catechism: free markets, rule of law, school reform, free speech (and anti-political-correctness) and strong families.

Along with five other conservative talk radio hosts, and with the help of the Bradley Foundation (whose headquarters are in Milwaukee), Sykes helped to create a climate of opinion in Wisconsin that led to actual pol-

FROM THE LEFT

FROM THE RIGHT

Monday

Paul Krugman

Mona Charen

Tuesday

Mary Sanchez

Ross Douthat

Wednesday

Jay Bookman

Thomas Sowell

Thursday

Nicholas Kristof

Kyle Wingfield

Friday

E.J. Dionne Jr.

Pat Buchanan

Saturday

Gail Collins

Charles Krauthammer

Sunday

Jay Bookman Leonard Pitts

Kyle Wingfield George Will

icy results. Long before the “blue wall” crumbled in the 2016 electoral map, Charlie Sykes had been scaling the ramparts of Wisconsin’s entrenched liberal fortresses.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing; there were election setbacks. “After 2008,” he recalled, “I told people that conservatives were going to be invisible for a while. But, with time, our ideas would be back.” It didn’t take long. In 2010, Republican Scott Walker won the governorship, and improbably enough, egghead Ron Johnson defeated Russ Feingold for the U.S. Senate. Paul Ryan was a frequent guest on Sykes’ air as well as on a Sunday TV show Sykes hosted. Ryan honed his message on the Charlie Sykes show.

When many conservative talk radio hosts were finding that denouncing Republicans got more purchase than conservative reform ideas, Sykes stuck with substance. He beat the drum for Act 10 in Wisconsin, which limited collective bargaining by public employee unions and got state budget outlays under better control. A donnybrook followed. The 14 Democratic members of the state senate actually fled the state to Illinois to prevent the senate from voting, and the state capital was the scene of sit-ins and drum circles. Sykes provided pungent and lively analysis. He was there, manning the microphone, during Gov. Scott Walker’s recall fight in 2012 as well.

While Sykes was driv-

ing the discussion, Wisconsin adopted far-reaching school-choice programs, became a right-to-work state and eliminated the prevailing wage for most public works projects (saving taxpayers money). On a recent show, one of his last, Sykes reported to listeners about attending a Bernie Sanders speech.

Ticking off Sanders’ juvenile proposals and incomplete understanding of basic economics, Sykes described Sanders’ call for a minimum-wage increase to $15 per hour for maids who clean toilets in hotels and fast food workers.

In April, Sykes made national news when Donald Trump, clearly unaware that Sykes was a stalwart anti-Trumper, appeared for an interview.

“I hoped it would be a firewall,” Sykes reflects now, “but it turned out to be a speed bump.”

Trump’s victory and the changes in the audience he felt during the campaign left Sykes feeling “excommunicated” from the church of Republicanism (though he had decided before the election to give up his daily show). He’s writing a book and thinking through what happened. “I figured conservatives would be in the wilderness for a while after the election,” he notes. “I didn’t realize it would be on a small, desert island.”

We shall see. The Trump presidency may be the train wreck for conservative principles that many feared, or it may veer in a genuinely conservative/ reformist direction.

A14

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

TOPSTORIESOF2016

Monday Dec. 26, 2016

A BONUS SECTION FOR OUR SUBSCRIBERS NO. 6

Juno probe achieves orbit around Jupiter

The Juno team celebrates at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., in July after receiving data indicating that NASA’s Juno mission had entered orbit around Jupiter. NASA / JPL-CALTECH

Solar-powered craft traveled nearly 1.8 billion miles from Earth.

Editor’s note: This story was published on Tuesday, July 6.

By Alicia Chang Associated Press

Soaring over Jupiter’s poles, a NASA spacecraft arrived at the solar system’s largest planet on a mission to peek beneath its dense clouds.

The final leg of the five-year voyage ended July 5 when the solar-powered Juno spacecraft fired its main rocket engine and gracefully slipped into orbit around Jupiter. Mission controllers celebrated after Juno sent back radio signals confirming it had reached its destination.

“We’re there. We’re in orbit.

We conquered Jupiter,” Juno chief scientist Scott Bolton declared in a jubilant post-mission briefing.

Excitement about the mission had been building in the scientific community — NASA’s website already has a countdown — and is just now spreading to the general public. Juno even has its own Twitter account (@NASAJuno) with nearly a quarter-million followers.

In the weeks leading up to the encounter, Juno snapped pictures of the giant planet and its four inner moons. Scientists were surprised to see Jupiter’s second-largest moon, Callisto, appearing dimmer than expected.

The spacecraft’s camera and other instruments were switched off for arrival, so there weren’t any pictures at that key moment.

Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have promised close-up views of the planet when Juno skims the cloud tops during the 20-month, $1.1 billion mission.

The fifth planet from the sun and the heftiest in the solar system, Jupiter is a gas giant — a ball of hydrogen and helium — unlike rocky Earth and Mars.

With its billowy clouds and colorful stripes, Jupiter is an extreme

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, seen in an image taken by the Voyager 1 probe in 1979, is shrinking, according to recent observations by the Hubble Space Telescope. Juno’s mission aims to find out why. NASA

world that likely was the first to form. Unlocking its history may hold clues to understanding how Earth and the rest of the solar system developed.

N a m e d a f t e r Ju p i t e r ’s cloud-piercing wife in Roman mythology, Juno is only the second spacecraft designed to probe Jupiter.

Galileo, launched in 1989, circled Jupiter for nearly a decade, beaming back splendid views of the planet and its numerous moons. It uncovered signs of an ocean beneath the icy surface of the moon Europa, considered a top target in the search for life outside Earth.

Juno’s mission: to peer through Jupiter’s cloud-socked atmosphere and map the interior from a unique vantage point above the poles. Among the lingering questions: How much water exists? Is there a solid core? Why are Jupiter’s southern and northern lights the brightest in the solar system?

“We’ve got to go down and look at what’s inside, see how it’s

built, how deep these features go, learn about its real secrets,” said Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in Texas.

Bob Bonadurer, director of theater and planetarium at the Milwaukee Public Museum, is excited to learn about our planetary neighbor.

According to Bonadurer, people don’t realize how important the gas giant is to Earth.

“Jupiter protects us from big cosmic collisions by taking hits and flinging things out of our solar system with its gravity. Without it, things would be much more chaotic. We need to understand how that works.”

Incredibly high pressures and temperatures within Jupiter make the elements inside do some physically weird things. Specifically, scientists think the brutal conditions inside Jupiter force hydrogen into a fluid state, called “metallic hydrogen,” which is capable of conducting electricity.

By studying the charged particles and gravitational pull in the

COUNTING DOWN THE TOP 10 STORIES OF THE YEAR

upper atmosphere, NASA will be able to determine whether metallic hydrogen is responsible for Jupiter’s powerful magnetic field. It should also reveal how deep the planet’s characteristic orange and white bands extend and if a solid core might be hidden at the center.

There’s also the mystery of its Great Red Spot. Recent observations by the Hubble Space Telescope revealed the centuries-old monster storm in Jupiter’s atmosphere is shrinking.

The trek to Jupiter, spanning nearly 1.8 billion miles, took Juno on a tour of the inner solar system followed by a swing past Earth that catapulted it beyond the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Along the way, Juno set the record for distance traveled by a solar-powered spacecraft, beating Europe’s comet-chasing Rosetta probe. A trio of massive solar wings sticks out from Juno like blades from a windmill, generating 500 watts of power to run its nine instruments.

In the coming days, Juno will turn its instruments back on, but the real work won’t begin until late August when the spacecraft swings in closer. Plans call for Juno to swoop within 3,000 miles of Jupiter’s clouds — closer than any previous mission — to map the planet’s gravity and magnetic fields and learn about its interior makeup.

Juno braved a hostile radiation environment to reach Jupiter. Engineers prepared by housing the spacecraft’s computer and electronics in a titanium vault. Even so, Juno over the course of its mission is expected to get blasted with radiation equal to more than 100 million dental X-rays.

Like Galileo before it, Juno, set to work until 2018, will meet its demise when it deliberately dives into Jupiter’s atmosphere and disintegrates — a necessary sacrifice to prevent any chance of accidentally crashing into the planet’s potentially habitable moons.

Find a new top story each day here in your ePaper.

10. U.S. begins to experience effects of Zika virus

7. Team USA delivers record-breaking Olympic performance

4. Coming Wednesday

9. Wildfires plague Southeastern states

TODAY: 6.Juno probe orbits Jupiter

8. Hurricane Matthew rakes East Coast

5. Coming Tuesday

2. Coming Friday

3. Coming Thursday 1. Coming Saturday

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Monday Dec. 26, 2016

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A RE VIE W O F IM AGE S T H AT M A D E T HE NE WS

NO-NO-NO: Wearing his own Santa hat, Ridley Wyatt Matthew Aubuchon clings to his mother rather than visiting Santa Claus at the Victor Valley Rescue Mission’s Christmas Toy Giveaway. The event was Tuesday at the San Bernardino County Event Center in Victorville, Calif. JAMES QUIGG / THE DAILY PRESS

HOLIDAY CHEER: Members of the Detroit Pistons Entertainment Team perform during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Wednesday in Auburn Hills, Mich.

IN MEMORIAL: Europe’s largest menorah is lit up at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Thursday. This year’s Hanukkah celebration was dedicated to the victims of the attack at the Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz.

GREGORY SHAMUS / GETTY IMAGES

MAURIZIO GAMBARINI / DPA

THAT’S NO SLED: Police officer Marco Chira, dressed in a Santa Claus costume, performs tricks on his moving motorcycle outside the government palace in downtown Lima, Peru, on Tuesday. An annual holiday ritual, the capital’s traffic cops dress as Santa and his helpers. MARTIN MEJIA / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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MOURNING IN GERMANY: A woman lights candles in the shape of hearts among flowers and candles left by mourners at a makeshift memorial near the site where two days before a man drove a heavy truck into a Christmas market in an apparent terrorist attack Dec. 21 in Berlin. Authorities initially arrested a Pakistani man whom they believed was the driver of the truck, though they later released him. The man authorities hold responsible for the attack was fatally shot in Italy.

Among the dead were a Polish man with a gunshot wound who was found on the passenger seat of the truck. Police have said they believe that the truck, which belongs to a Polish trucking company, was hijacked the morning of the attack.

SEAN GALLUP / GETTY IMAGES

SURVEYING DAMAGE: Firefighters look at a toppled Christmas tree after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed 12 people in Berlin on Monday. MICHAEL SOHN / ASSOCIATED PRESS KEEPING WATCH: A German police officer stands next to a merry-go-round in the Christmas market in Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday, one day after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring dozens. All of Europe was on heightened alert after the suspect in the attack escaped. He was later killed in Germany.

MICHAEL PROBST / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Monday Dec. 26, 2016

PHOTOEXTRA

SA3 Cox Media Group

A RE VIE W O F IM AGE S T H AT M A D E T HE NE WS TERRORISM IN TURKEY: A gunman identified as police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas gestures after fatally shooting Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday.

“God is greatest. Do not forget Aleppo!

Do not forget Syria!

Do not forget Aleppo!

Do not forget Syria!”

Altintas was heard shouting in video of the incident.

Authorities later shot and killed Altintas.

The assassination, an embarrassing security failure in the Turkish capital, forced Turkey and Russia to confront a new crisis tied to the Syrian conflict.

BURHAN OZBILICI / ASSOCIATED PRESS

ACCUSED ARSONIST: Accused arsonist Andrew McClinton is led from the Greenville Municipal Courthouse under heavy security after his arraignment Thursday in Greenville, Miss. McClinton is charged in the burning of an African-American church that was spray-painted with the words “Vote Trump.” BILL JOHNSON / THE DELTA DEMOCRAT-TIMES

WINTRY RIDE: A horse-drawn buggy crosses Route 414 on Monday in snowy Romulus, N.Y. JULIO CORTEZ / ASSOCIATED PRESS

FROZEN: Extreme cold conditions cause ice accretions to cover a lighthouse and pier on the shoreline of Lake Michigan on Monday in St. Joseph, Mich. ROBERT FRANKLIN /SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

SA4 Cox Media Group

PHOTOEXTRA

Monday Dec. 26, 2016

A RE VIE W O F IM AGE S T H AT M A D E T HE NE WS DEEPSOUTH GREETING: Presidentelect Donald Trump is greeted by the Azalea Trail Maids after arriving at the airport for a rally at LaddPeebles Stadium on Dec. 17 in Mobile, Ala. EVAN VUCCI / ASSOCIATED PRESS

FIVE AT A TIME: This photo released by Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix shows the Baudinet family’s five newborns, who became the first set of quintuplets born at the St. Joseph’s Nursery Intensive Care Unit’s 121-year history. Margaret Baudinet gave birth Dec. 4 to four girls and one boy. The quintuplets, who remain in the intensive care unit, have been taken off ventilators and can now breathe on their own and are being bottle-fed.

CONTRIBUTED BY DIGNITY HEALTH ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER

HONEYMOON IN PARIS: Rodrigo and Nancy of Mexico pose for a photographer under the Eiffel Tower as they honeymoon in Paris on Dec. 16. CHRISTOPHE ENA / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Monday, December 26, 2016

B METRO

GRIDLOCK GUY DRIVERLESS CARS: HOW ATLANTA IS GETTING READY B3

News: metronews@ajc.com | Delivery: ajc.com/customercare or 404-522-4141

GEORGIA POLITICS

Diversity comes to Henry County

Political transformation is latest indication of Southside’s sea change.

By Tammy Joyner tjoyner@ajc.com

Once a sleepy, mostly-white bedroom community south of Atlanta known for its NASCAR races, Henry County woke up Dec. 9 — the day after its runoff election — to a racially and politically transformed government.

In January, the county’s top prosecutor will be African-American and so will half of the six-member county commission, including the first black female chair.

The change in Henry’s government is a result, some observers say, of grass-roots efforts that began four years ago when some of the county’s African-American residents decided to seize upon their growing presence and influence.

Over coffee and dinner, black clergy, NAACP officials and com-

munity activists talked about the lack of diversity in Henry’s political and judicial system. With the exception of Commissioner Bruce Holmes, elected in 2010, African-Americans had little representation in Henry government.

“We had to change it,” said businesswoman and community activist Vivian Thomas, also a Henry NAACP officer. “We’re paying personal taxes and sales taxes. We could not sit back and work as hard as we do and be totally submissive to a govern-

ment where we’re not represented at all.”

The trio of new black elected officials — Darius Pattillo, June Wood and Dee Clemmons — not only bring more racial diversity to Henry government but a political twist as well. Wood, the new female chair, is a conservative Republican. Pattillo is the first Democrat to serve as district attorney in more than 20 years. Democrat Clemmons holds the traditionally Republican District 2 seat.

District 2 is home to the Atlanta

Motor Speedway, the county’s airport and other economic gems.

“The county’s changing. There’s been some demographic shifts not just racially but politically,” Pattillo said.

Henry ’s activism reflects widespread political change taking place across the southern end of metro Atlanta. In November, voters in Fulton County approved the formation of the city of South Fulton, a new city of just under Diversity continued on B4

MARIETTA

MAKING A MOVIE

2 officers honored for saving man from burning car Marietta police officers receive 2016 Governor’s Safety Award.

By Ben Brasch ben.brasch@ajc.com

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer (center) and Janelle Monáe star in “Hidden Figures.” The movie, filmed in metro Atlanta, depicts the contributions African-American women made to NASA. 20TH CENTURY FOX

How Atlanta-filmed ‘Hidden Figures’ became a movie Atlanta’s Janelle Monáe is thrilled with script, compelling character.

By Jennifer Brett jbrett@ajc.com

Atlanta R&B artist and actress Janelle Monae was thrilled when she first read the script for “Hidden Figures.” Then, she was crestfallen for a moment.

The character she was reading for, Mary Jackson, was complex and compelling. A skilled mathematician and aerospace engineer, Jackson worked alongside her equally brilliant friends, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan, who, like other African-American women in the 1960s, were employed in a segregated wing of NASA as the United States raced to catch up with the Soviet Union’s outer space ambitions.

“When I was reading the script, I was just excited that someone was portraying an African-American woman in a different light — not just a maid,” Monae said. She paused for a second and added, “I thought it was fiction.”

Her experience underscores the title of the movie, starring Taraji P. Henson as Johnson and Octavia Spencer as Vaughan. Spencer, who earned an Oscar for her role as a maid in “The Help,” has been nominated for a Golden Globe in

Author Margot Lee Shetterly knew a lot of NASA workers when she was growing up, but had never heard about the African-American women who worked there in the 1960s.

the category of best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a motion picture for the film.

The “Hidden Figures” soundtrack, composed by Pharrell Williams along with Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch, is up for a best original score Golden Globe.

The movie is set in Hampton, Va., but was filmed in metro Atlanta, at locations including downtown Canton, East Point and the Morehouse College campus. It has racked up a slew of award nominations, including the Screen Actors Guild and NAACP Image Awards, and is generating

Oscar buzz. The story of how it came together is nearly as compelling as the movie itself.

“Our family grew up in Hampton,” said Margot Lee Shetterly, author of the nonfiction book on which the movie is based.

“We knew a lot of the people in the community who worked at NASA. It was sort of no big deal.

In Hampton, there is NASA, there are the shipyards, the military. It was just kind of a normal thing that a lot of those people were African-American, and a lot were women, and some were both.”

Shetterly studied finance at the University of Virginia and worked on Wall Street for a while before transitioning to various internet media projects. She and her husband were living in Mexico, where they ran an English language magazine, when the idea for the book blossomed during a trip back home several years ago.

Talk turned to the “computers,” as the women were known back then, whose meticulous calculations were vital in sending astronaut John Glenn, who died in early December at age 95, into orbit.

“How did I not know about this?” Shetterly recalled wondering. “My mom was like, ‘Hey, let’s call up Katherine Johnson and go over to her house.’ That’s where I heard the name Dorothy Movie continued on B2

Two Marietta police officers tried to stop a vehicle early one May day, but it sped off only for them to later find it on fire with the driver still inside.

They yanked the man out of the vehicle, which by that time was engulfed in flames.

And now they’ve been honored by the governor.

Gov. Nathan Deal rewarded officers Jayson Duncan and Enrique Mallen with the 2016 Governor’s Safety Award, the Marietta Police Department said.

On May 7 about 2:30 a.m., the officers saw a suspicious vehicle driving around Roosevelt Circle. They drove up behind it and found that the tag did not match the vehicle’s make and model.

They tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver sped off south on I-75.

The officers didn’t chase the

Gov. Nathan Deal, officer Jayson Duncan (center) and officer Enrique Mallen. CONTRIBUTED BY MARIETTA POLICE DEPARTMENT

driver and instead exited off the interstate onto South Marietta Parkway. That’s when they noticed the vehicle had gotten into an accident with a tractor trailer and was on fire.

Officers got the driver out even though he was “actively resisting,” and arrested him.

“These two officers represent a high standard to which MPD holds itself to,” the agency said.

HIGHER EDUCATION

HBCU students carry more debt, study finds 25 percent of bachelor’s degree recipients borrow $40K or more.

By Christopher Quinn cquinn@ajc.com

Graduates from historically black colleges and universities carry more debt than students at other schools, according to a study. A report from the United Negro College Fund explains why and asks for better policies to reduce debt.

Students who attend historically black colleges and universities take out student loans at higher rates and graduate with

substantially higher debt than peers at non-HBCUs, according to a study from the United Negro College Fund’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute.

Students borrow at greater rates and borrow larger amounts, seek loans from more costly sources and encounter more obstacles repaying loans.

In 2012, about 25 percent of HBCU bachelor’s degree recipients borrowed $40,000 or more.

That compares with about 6 percent of other students.

For federal loans only, an average HBCU student carries $26,266 in debt, compared with $14,881 College debt continued on B2

If kids are addicted to smartphones, tech gizmos, so are parents yet they express concerns about their kids’ media use while also believing that they are good role models for their kids,” said James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense.

Despite their own media habit, 78 percent of parents contend they’re positive role models for their kids on the appropriate use of media.

The finding of “The Common Sense Census: Plugged-In Parents of Tweens and Teens” won’t surprise anyone who’s attended an event at their local middle or high school. You can see the bright screens of parent iPhones

Maureen Downey Get Schooled

If schools hope to enlist parents in prying students away from smartphones and computers, they’re going to have to unplug mom and dad first.

It won’t be easy because adolescents and teens aren’t the only ones with a strong attachment to media and technology.

Parents spend more than nine hours a day watching television, movies and videos, playing video games, listening to music, using social media, reading either print or electronic books and using digital devices for other purposes

at concerts, football games and plays. I was at a playground in Nashville in September, and at least half the parents were interacting with their phones more than their kids.

Parents of American tweens (age 8–12) and teens (age 13–18) allot most of their media time to personal interests, not work assignments.

The study found parents use about an hour-and-a-half of screen media for work. In the course of a day, 91 percent of parents said they watched TV/ DVDs/videos.

Get Schooled continued on B2

A new study finds parents spend more than nine hours a day watching television, movies and videos, playing video games, listening to music, and using social media and digital devices.

such as browsing websites and playing games.

That was the startling finding of a recent survey by Common

Sense Media. “These findings are fascinating because parents are using media for entertainment just as much as their kids,

Bill Torpy is off. His At Large column will return soon.

Read past Torpy columns at myajc.com

B2

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

METRO IN BRIEF GWINNETT COUNTY

Man shot by officers treated at hospital Gwinnett County police shot a man after they responded to an “aggravated domestic call” Saturday in Buford, a spokesman said.

The situation was in the 1400 block of Castleberry Drive, Sgt. Rich Long said.

Stephan Richardson, 23, was shot several times by officers after he confronted them with a knife in a threatening manner, the GBI said Sunday in a news release.

Richardson was still being treated at Gwinnett Medical Center on Sunday, GBI spokesman Bahan Rich said.

The officers were not injured.

The GBI is investigating, which is standard procedure in police-involved shootings.

STEVE BURNS

ATLANTA

Man walks up to car, fatally shoots driver A witness told Atlanta

police a man walked up to a car on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and fatally shot thedriverSaturdayafternoon.

The man in a black Buick Lacrosse was hit in the head and in the chest, Atlanta police spokesman Sgt. Warren Pickard said.

His identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Immediately after the shooting, a suspect was caught on camera fleeing the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, text information to 274637 or visit crimestoppersatlanta. org. Tipsters can also remain anonymous and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000.

ELLEN ELDRIDGE

ATLANTA

Record company, rapper aid homeless A local record company and rapper partnered with other volunteers to hand out free clothing and toiletries

‘It’s good to be out here doing good in the community.’

Scotty ATL

Atlanta rapper

in Atlanta on Christmas Eve. Atlanta rapper Scotty ATL was at Hurt Park in northeast Atlanta on Saturday helping those in need, Channel 2 Action News reported.

“The good in the hood, you know what I’m saying,” Scotty ATL told Channel 2.

“It’s good to be out here doing in the community as rappers, artists, as chefs.”

Organizers say they try to give back throughout the year, but especially during the holidays. ELLEN ELDRIDGE

GWINNETT COUNTY

Woman hit by car in Gwinnett County A pedestrian was in critical condition at Gwinnett Medical Center after being

struck by a vehicle Sunday morning.

The incident happened on Lawrenceville Suwanee Road in Gwinnett County.

Lawrenceville police found the woman lying in the road when they responded to a report of a suspicious person about 6:40 a.m., Gwinnett police spokesman Sgt. Rich Long said.

She matched the description of the suspicious person, but her identity is unknown.

The driver who hit the pedestrian was located by police and no charges are pending, Rich said.

The injured woman is described as a 5-foot 5-inch black woman with a light complexion. She is believed to be between 20 to 30 years old. She was wearing green marine sweatpants, a black coat and a green scarf.

She has a tattoo on her left collarbone of “ixvmcm.”

Anyone with knowledge as to the victim’s identity are asked to contact Gwinnett police at 770-513-5100 or via 911. ELLEN ELDRIDGE

Get Schooled Movie continued from B1

continued from B1

Only 19 percent of parents use e-readers, which may hint at why so many kids say they don’t read for fun.

The sur vey may also explain why so many parents resist cellphone bans in schools; parents see their own phones as integral to their lives and likely believe phones are also vital to their children’s well-being.

In fact, parents view technology as enriching their children’s lives in many ways rather than restricting it; Specifically, 44 percent said social media helps their children’s relationships with friends.

More than nine out of 10 said technology positively supports their children with schoolwork and education; 88 percent said it assists their kids in learning new skills and 77 percent said it increases exposure to other cultures.

Parents expressed some misgivings with their children’s media habits; half believe social media hurts children’s physical activity.

And parents are “moderately” or “extremely” worried about kids spending too much time online (43 percent), over-sharing personal details (38 percent), accessing online pornography (36 percent), and being exposed to violent images or videos (36 percent).

Differences surfaced in usage patterns among parents by ethnicity, income and education.

African-American parents devote an hour-and-a-half more to personal screen media than Hispanics, who dedicate about two and a half hours more to personal screen media than white parents.

Lower-income parents give more time to personal screen media than middle-income parents who, in turn, spend more time than higher-income parents.

The more educated the parent, the less time in front of screens. Those with a high school degree or less racked up the most time with personal screen media, compared with parents with at least some college, who invest more time than parents with an undergraduate degree or higher.

When I was at the playground in Nashville, I witnessed a boy urge his mom to stop looking at her phone so she could steady him on the monkey bars. Tugging, yelling and whining didn’t work, so the child lunged to grab hold of the first bar by himself, missed it and fell to the ground.

This time, the mom didn’t ignore his cries, but pulled him from the pine straw and admonished, “You shouldn’t have tried that by yourself.”

In good advice for all parents, the boy responded: “Then please stop playing with your phone and play with me.”

Vaughan. ( Johnson) said she was the smartest person she ever met. I was like, I need to check out this Dorothy Vaughan, whose name I’d never heard.”

The book and movie projects took off at a joint gallop.

“I was thrilled just to find a publisher,” Shetterly said. Her agent, Mackenzie Brady Watson, not only landed a book deal, but got the material in front of producer Donna Gigliotti, whose cinematic hits have included “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Shakespeare in Love” and “The Reader.”

“She called me up and was like, ‘Listen: We are doing this movie.’ I was coming from seeing Katherine Johnson and pulled over in the Food Lion parking lot,” Shetterly recalled. “I was like, ‘What? I don’t have a book yet and you want to option a movie?’”

The rest, as with the book and movie, is history. The movie, awash in critical acclaim, is exhilarating. At an advance screening at the Atlantic Station theater a few weeks ago, the packed audience alternately cried, laughed, applauded and talked back to the screen.

“Shake her hand!” the woman sitting next to me

Janelle Monáe (left), Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer star in “Hidden Figures.” 20TH CENTURY FOX

instructed a white male actor during a pivotal scene. Without giving away any spoilers, we can reveal that he did, and our neighbor exulted, “Yes!” When we interviewed Shetterly (whose sister, Lauren Colley, works at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution), she had seen “Hidden Figures” three times already and had two more screenings on the books.

“It means a lot to me to say I love this movie,” she said. “Katherine Johnson does, too, and the families of the other women.”

Vaughan died in 2008, Jackson in 2005.

“I wanted them to have their moment in the sun,” Shetterly said. “This is not a quiet little movie where meek little people have things happen to them. This is a blockbuster Hollywood movie with big charismatic stars front and center. That’s the kind

of thing you don’t get when you’re a female lead, particularly a black female lead.”

Like Monae, she’s experienced a range of range of feelings throughout the process.

“A lot of times, it comes with a mix of emotions: bewilderment, shame. This story’s been hidden from us,” Shetterly said.

“It’s really complicated,” she said. “The work was classified. They weren’t able to talk about it. ‘Loose lips sink ships,’ the Cold War. These women were there. We’re the ones who didn’t see them.”

She’s been gratified by the book and movie’s reception and leaves the theater each time feeling hopeful.

“When you come down to it, it illustrates one of the things we all want to believe about America,” she said.

“When you need the right person for the job, you will find them.”

Black bear numbers higher than thought Associated Press MACON — Researchers now

estimate that the black bear population in Middle Georgia is nearly twice as big as previously thought.

The University of Georgia has been conducting research since 2012 by using a model that estimates the number of bears in an area based on hair collected

from snare traps, the Telegraph newspaper of Macon reported.

Bobby Bond, a Georgia Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist, said the latest estimate of 458 bears is based on the most sophisticated model used to date.

The state had previously estimated the region’s bear population at 240.

Q&A on the News Q: In reading the article

about the grand jury in Henry County, how do you get appointed to the grand jury or elected? Is this a political appointment? Can a normal citizen work on the grand jury? —Jim Dillon, Atlanta A: Grand juries in Georgia are made up of U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old and who have been a resident of their current county for at least six months.

Grand jurors are selected from a “statewide master jury list,” according to the state’s “Grand Jury Handbook.”

Elected local and state officials are not eligible to serve on a grand jury. Also, people who have held an elected position (local or state) within the previous two years, aren’t eligible, the handbook states.

Grand juries are convened to determine if “there is probable cause to believe the individual has committed a crime and should be put on trial,” the U.S. Federal Courts website, uscourts. gov, states.

If a grand jury finds there is probable cause, it will return an indictment.

College debt continued from B1

for students at other colleges and universities. “ S t u d e n t l o a n s h ave become one of the primary ways students pay for college, but for students at HBCUs — many of whom are first-generation college students or who disproportionately come from low-income families and have less access to financial resources — the reliance on student loans is far greater,” said Dr. Brian K. Bridges, who leads the research institute. Growing college debt has been a

“After that, the person will stand trial,” the website for the Northern District of Georgia states.

Q: What happened to the cost-saving project of consolidating some of the smaller post offices with larger neighboring ones?

—Tony V. Parrott, Fayetteville A: Post office closures weren’t included in the U.S. Postal Service’s Network Rationalization Initiative, which was announced in 2011.

Mail processing centers were the focus of the plan, a “multi-year effort to balance mail processing infrastructure costs against current and anticipated mail volumes to successfully rightsize the postal processing network,” a USPS spokesman told Q&A on the News in an email.

Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column; Katie Tiller contributed. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-2222002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).

problem that has affected everything from depressing home purchases by recent graduates to deflating the economy as more of graduates’ money goes to paying off debt. Many top HBCUs are private and often expensive. For example, a year at Spelman College in Atlanta can cost about $40,000 for a student living on campus, according to Spelman’s website. The report asks policy makers to reduce the complexity of qualifying for federal student aid eligibility; make available more grants in aid; help provide work study based on need; and reduce cost of federal loans.

Daily Law Journal legal notices NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Pursuant to the Georgia Self-Service Storage Facility Act, Ga. Code Ann. §§ 10-4-210 et seq., the undersigned will conduct a public auction on January 10th, 2017 of the below-listed units.

Each of the below units generally contain the following: furniture, clothing, tools, and other household/business items.

PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 20454 1790 Woodberry Avenue East Point, GA 30344 (404) 767-9412 1/10/2017 9:30AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: A003 - Harry, Mary A021 - Simpson, Larry B011 - Williams Jr, Burnell B044 - Johnson, Jacinta B045 - Philpot, Dionntae B053 - Mcadoo, Anita C021 - Smith, Quatrece C034 - Whipple, Romoand C051 - Simpson, John C106 - Pittman, Donald C117 - Burson, Jemia C146 - ODOM, HARRELL C161 - Green, Jamaica C185 - Sheats, Bobbi C193 - Benton, Wava C202 - Brown, Catherine

legal notices C229 - Gullatt, Winona C233 - Abbott, Tabatha C235 - Walker, Sidney C239 - Chapman, Swanzetta C244 - Liston, Bonnifer C263 - Tate, Latisah C272 - Corry, Jarvis C283 - Parks, Maude C293 - Bernard, George D011 - Cotton, Alicia D019 - Flint, Gregory D026 - Jeanpierre, Brandon D027 - Thrasher, Dandrea D054 - Rockmore, Fredrick D070 - Wright, Tyrand D087 - Tucker, Ziahlita E005 - Lowe, Levester E009 - Spooner, Angela E026 - Gilliam, Alicia E036 - Brady, Patricia E041 - James, Cheryl E085 - High, Jannie F017 - Griffin, Shirtera F033 - Reid, Sherdarrel P002 - Evans Jr., Anthony; Concession trailer- 2014

0000074959-01

legal notices

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

B3

COUNTY BY COUNTY RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS

Mimi’s Cafe issues statement

By Tyler Estep tyler.estep@ajc.com

A popular Mall of Georgia-area restaurant failed its health inspection this week, with improperly stored foods and dirty containers among the reported violations.

Mimi’s Cafe in Buford, received a 56/U on a recent inspection.

According to the report, chicken was improperly stored “behind” salmon and shrimp and above hamburger patties in one of the restaurant’s coolers. “Cantaloupe, [a] sliced boiled egg, [and] pancake mix” were all being kept at unsafe temperatures, officials said, and steaks were seen improperly thawing “under running water.”

“Observed several containers stacked as clean with food debris,” the report said.

The restaurant was also cited after the inspector found “back up in hand sink in bar area, backing up onto floor from underneath sink.”

A few days later Mimi’s Cafe released a statement through a public relations spokesman: “We are cooperating fully with the health department and took immediate action to correct all violations. While by law a re-inspection must be unannounced, we welcome it with confidence.

Internally, we have provided food safety training to the entire management team and all team members. In addition, we have retained highly respected third party to provide additional training as well as the health department itself. Food safety is our top priority and we will continue to be proactive to ensure this does not happen again.”

MIMI’S CAFE

1880 Mall of Georgia Blvd., Buford Score: 56

Take to task

New item-Atlanta

One of the biggest items we receive is water leaks, This week, we received a complaint about another one.

“This water main at 3353 Wood Valley Road has been leaking for over a month. Despite numerous calls from concerned neighbors and police, the water continues to flow. We are told it has been reported and the city has 30 days to get it fixed. Meanwhile we are in a drought and thousands of gallons of water are being lost daily due to this leak,” wrote Linda Trower.

We sent the issue to the city and will keep you updated.

Days on list-6 Who’s looking into it: City of Atlanta Department of Public Works Commissioner Richard Mendoza, 404-330-6240, rmendoza@atlantaga.gov

Update-Atlanta

An old problem has resurfaced, and a resident hopes something can be done soon before more injuries occur.

“Some months ago I e-mailed you about the dangerous steps at Frankie Allen Park in Buckhead.

Fairly promptly the steps were closed. However months have passed and no repair. Today, I fell on the bank taking (a) picture. It is dangerous without the steps,” wrote David Hubert.

Hubert said that he had no idea by trying to get the steps repaired I would, in effect, create a greater hazard by people having to climb the banks.

“These steps serve a very active and often full parking lot. There is no near ingress or egress now except the banks.

There are city employees there most every day as there are six ball fields, tennis courts, and

QUESTIONS OR TIPS?

Information about restaurants is taken from public records and reflects scores from the latest Health Department inspections.

■ Search restaurant inspections database: www.ajc.com/restaurantdatabase ■ Read past scores: www. ajc.com/inspectionsarchive ■ Keep up on restaurant reviews and food news: atlantarestaurants.blog. ajc.com.

Linda Trower hopes this gushing water leak can soon be fixed in Atlanta. CONTRIBUTED BY LINDA TROWER

WHAT’S BROKEN NEAR YOU?

We want tips from across metro Atlanta. Call us at 404-526-2546 or send email to fixit@ajc.com

other facilities.”

We sent the item to the city to see if the repair can be expedited.

Days on list-6 Who’s looking into it: City of Atlanta Department of Public Works Commissioner Richard Mendoza, 404-330-6240, rmendoza@atlantaga.gov

New item-Atlanta

A worn out traffic line is causing problems for a resident.

“The solid line on Peachtree Road NE from Matheson Drive to Maple Drive is completely worn away and it is quite unsafe. I have

nearly been run into three times in the last few weeks while driving south bound in the left lane.

It has become a real safety hazard and needs to be repainted,” wrote Charles Stephens.

We sent the item to Atlanta officials in hopes that a paint crew can soon fix the issue.

Days on list-6 Who’s looking into it: City of Atlanta Department of Public Works Commissioner Richard Mendoza, 404-330-6240, rmendoza@atlantaga.gov JOHN THOMPSON FOR THE AJC

North Avenue could play key role as city prepares for driverless cars

Here are other recent inspection scores for area restaurants.

LAURA BERRIOS FOR THE AJC

Peachtree Corners OKs trail contracts

What’s not working around metro Atlanta

ACROSS METRO ATLANTA

Cobb County ■ Caper’s, 1635 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw. 90/A ■ Figo Pasta, 2941 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta. 81/B ■ Ken’s Corner Grill, 2934 Atlanta Road, Smyrna. 93/A DeKalb County ■ Beijing House, 6035 Peachtree Road, Doraville. 81/B ■ Café Lily, 308 W. Ponce De Leon Ave., Decatur. 93/A ■ Donnie’s Country Cookin, 3300 Clairmont Road, Atlanta. 90/A Fulton County ■ Austin Grill, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta. 100/A ■ Brookwood Grill, 880 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. 100/A ■ Dee Thai Restaurant, 10945 State Bridge Road, Alpharetta. 99/A Gwinnett County ■ Antoneta’s Italian Restaurant, 2700 Braselton Highway, Dacula. 95/A ■ Breakers Korean Grill and BBQ, 3505 Gwinnett Place Drive, Duluth. 85/B

Today’s news GWINNETT

Doug Turnbull The Gridlock Guy

The notion of driverless cars or autonomous vehicles appears more and more often in headlines.

Uber is experimenting with (and sometimes failing with) the technology. More and more high-end cars have some iteration of the liberating feature. Clark Howard is all about it!

But autonomous vehicles still seem like machines one would see meandering Google’s campus in Silicon Valley, not shuffling up and down a crowded urban highway. As the private sector furiously innovates self-driving cars, the local government is getting equally prepared.

Faye DiMassimo heads the city of Atlanta’s TSPLOST management and also the RENEW Atlanta project. RENEW Atlanta’s menu of projects is large and varied, but the biggest piece involves vast improvements on North Avenue in Midtown.

“It’s a highly congested corridor, anchored on once side by Georgia Tech and on the other end by Ponce City Market,” DiMassimo says in a fourth-floor conference room in RENEW’s auspices in Atlanta’s City Hall. She says that by the time of the North Avenue project’s ribbon-cutting in September, it will be a smart corridor. “The signals will be

smart, the lighting will be smart,” and, she says, the pavement will have markings and sensors that can talk to each other ( just as self-driving cars can) and talk with the traffic signals to make vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic (namely near the Beltline) move more safely and efficiently.

Once “smart” North Avenue is open, the project’s next phase is even more innovative.

“We got 13 proposals from around the world to host an autonomous vehicle demonstration there!”

DiMassimo, the former Cobb DOT head whom Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed hired a year ago, visited such a demonstration in Pittsburgh. She says that Uber and other demonstrators sent autonomous vehicles down alleyways, in inclement weather, and in other various scenarios. The machines performed well.

Safety, not simply convenience, is the No. 1 reason that government on all levels is interested in autonomous cars. When DiMassimo and other planners studied data on North Avenue, they found, “There are a lot of rearend accidents in that corridor and that’s because the traffic flow is not always smooth, people get impatient, and are driving distracted. Autonomous cars don’t do that.”

The USDOT is actively seeking proving grounds for these cars and DiMassimo and RENEW have submitted North Avenue as one. And the interest in the iconic Atlanta road’s upgrade has drawn international attention.

The city of Atlanta applied for the Safer Roads Challenge — a worldwide innovation initiative

— and the North Avenue project was the only North American site chosen. DiMassimo says officials with huge tech firms like IBM chose a place in China, one in Spain ... and this one in Midtown.

The biggest concerns, DiMassimo says, with autonomous vehicle technology are the speed of implementation (can infrastructure and technology keep up?) and the susceptibility of the cars or infrastructure to hacking. Grants and interest from USDOT and the Safer Roads Challenge help strengthen Atlanta for self-driving vehicles.

Preparation exists outside of the North Avenue project. DOT officials say that the reversible lanes and managed lanes they are building around town are being made with autonomous vehicles in mind. The early years of those innovative automobiles might see them traveling in their own lanes.

Mark Arum has talked about self-driving cars frequently in this space. The idea is not that far down the line and different layers of both the government and the private sectors are working together to help bring it to fruition.

The Peachtree Corners City Council approved two contracts recently needed to extend the multi-use trail from Technology Park Lake to Medlock Bridge Road. Two key pieces of property along the trail have been recently acquired. The city is working with the management of the Recall property to acquire trail rights through that site. The remaining segment of the trail runs through the Colonial Pipeline easement.

The City Council approved an $89,000 contract with Lord Aeck Sargent, the city’s architectural and design firm, to complete construction drawings for this phase of the project. The additional design work will require survey work to provide the landscape architects with the exact locations of existing utilities, topography, and details needed to prepare the construction plans.

As a result, the city approved an additional $27,800 contract with TerraMark, the city’s on-call surveyor, for the work.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

COBB

Townhomes, offices OK’d near stadium A mixed-use development was approved recently by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners in The Battery next to SunTrust Park, including an office building and 285 townhomes.

Pollack Shores Development, owned by Genuine Parts Co., will develop 9.5 acres on the east side of Herodian Way between Circle 75 Parkway and Crescent Parkway.

Representing Pollack Shores Development, attorney John Moore said the existing office building will be the regional headquarters for Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors (builders of SunTrust Park among an array of other projects) since Genuine Parts has moved its headquarters to nearby Wildwood.

In opposition, attorney Elaine Smith, representing townhome owners at Waterford Place and Towns of Crescent Park, requested denial or limiting this request to 150 units and three stories.

Information: BrasfieldGorrie. com.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

FULTON

College Park approves services contract The College Park City Council recently approved the contract between the City of College Park and Bleakly Advisory Group to provide redevelopment advisory services for the south side of College Park in the Old National Highway and Godby Road area, among several other measures.

The city council also approved: ■ the establishment of a body worn camera policy for the city of College Park police department to include nationally recognized best practices to develop proper oversight, guidelines for maintenance, video storage, discipline and exceptions for camera usage.

■ the renewal of the yearly Motorola service agreement for maintenance, repair, and software updates of E911 dispatch and police/fire radio systems. Police chief Keith Meadows said this is a yearly maintenance agreement to service all the radios at a cost of $42,810.24.

Leslie Johnson for the AJC

GRIDLOCK UPDATES

Mark Arum is off this week.

Doug Turnbull is the PM drive airborne anchor for Triple Team Traffic on News 95-5 FM and AM-750 WSB and writes his own traffic blog and hosts a podcast with Smilin’Mark McKay on wsbradio.com.

FORSYTH

Commissioners OK mixed-use project Commissioners approved a plan to rezone roughly 57 acres near Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Brannon Road from agricultural and business district to master planned district for 75 residential lots and 218 attached units and commercial buildings. Twothirds of the project is planned as age-restricted.

No less than 20 percent of the development must be devoted to green space and no more than 10 percent of the residential units can be rentals.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

B4

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

METRO HERE IS A LOOK AT HENRY COUNTY’S THREE NEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS

Notorious cop killer finally pleads guilty Man, 67, already was serving life prison sentence.

By Joshua Sharpe joshua.sharpe@ajc.com

JUNE WOOD ■ Title: Chair of the Henry County Board of Commissioners ■ Age: 53 ■ Residence: Unincorporated Henry County with a McDonough address.

■ Background: Civil engineer who graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She started her career at Alabama Power Co. in plant construction. She held several management positions in customer service, sales and marketing and worked with the Georgia Public Service Commission in external relations. She managed Georgia Power’s customer service division which was based in Henry County.

She retired in 2013 from Georgia Power’s Community and economic development department as an external affairs manager for the metro south region.

■ Community work: Served as chair of Henry’s Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She also chaired the Southern Crescent Technical College Board of Directors.

■ Family: Married with two children and five grandchildren.

■ Key priorities: Public safety, transportation and high-paying quality jobs.

DARIUS PATTILLO ■ Title: Henry County district attorney ■ Age: 40 ■ Residence: Ellenwood (Henry County side) ■ Background: Undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia; deputy chief assistant district attorney in DeKalb County; Assistant District Attorney of the Year in 2009; criminal justice instructor at Georgia Piedmont College; volunteer high school mock trial coach and judge; motivational speaker at local public schools.

■ Family: Married with two children.

■ Key priorities: Focus more on crimes against women and children and create a pre-trial diversion program to help first-time non-violent offenders in Henry.“The DA should try to reduce crime by keeping kids out of the system,” Pattillo said.

Diversity continued from B1

HENRY COUNTY: AT A GLANCE

2000 2010 Population: 119,341 203,922 Whites: 80.2 percent 52.5 percent African-American: 14.7 36.3 percent Hispanic: 2.3 percent 5.8 percent Asian :1.8 percent 2.9 percent Other:1.1 percent 2.5 percent Total Minority population in Henry County in 2016: 53.3 percent Metro Atlanta* Population Whites African-American Hispanic Asian Other * 20 counties

4.22 million 60.3 percent 28.3 percent 7.0 percent 3.3 percent 1.1 percent

COBB

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GWINNETT DEKALB

Atlanta FULTON

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285 20

85 CLAYTON

ROCKDALE

Stockbridge

85 19 FAYETTE

McDonough 75

Henry Co.

BUTTS

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SPALDING

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N 10 miles

ROBERT CALZADA / STAFF

going to go over and shake things up and do amazing things,” James said. Pattillo’s opponent, Matthew McCord, dropped out Sept. 13, essentially clearing Pattillo’s path to the DA’s office. Pattillo plans to start a pre-trial diversion program to keep non-violent, first offenders out of the system.

■ Wood, a retired Georgia Power executive, built a reputation by working with county and legislative leaders to get more transportation money and a tech school in the county. Wood, also chaired the chamber of commerce. “She’s a hard worker,” said Sen. Rick Jeffares, a Henry native who met Wood when he was cit y manager of Locust Grove and she was at Georgia Power. “I expect to see her at the Capitol. I expect to see her helping us with GDOT projects and trying to move some GDOT projects forward.” Wood defeated a black woman Democrat to succeed Tommy Smith, who did not seek reelection.

■ Clemmons represents the district that is the economic engine of Henry County. “She has all the (county’s economic) assets and she’s just the person to help that district and

county to the next level,” said Commissioner Bruce Holmes, the county’s lone black commissioner until November when Clemmons was elected to replace Brian Preston who resigned over residency issues. The former teacher and business owner said her district is mostly relative newcomers - people who’ve lived in the area 15 years or less. Among the items on the Spelman grad’s to-do list: making the 200-acre Civil War-era Nash Farms Battlefield “the Central Park of the South” and dealing with the district’s various development projects.

They join commissioners Gary Barham, retired public works director for the city of McDonough, and Blake Prince, owner of an engineering and land-surveying firm. Both are Henry natives.

Johnny Wilson, a Republican and retired lieutenant with the Henry Fire Department who ran unopposed in November, will take office in January as District 1 commissioner. “ T h e s e p e o p l e h av e invested their time and resources. So they’re committed,” said longtime resident Dana Lemon. Lemon heads her family’s 57-yearold business W.D. Lemon & Sons Funeral Home in McDonough. She’s also a board member of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

“There are some values these leaders bring that the county has been wanting. It has been asking for it and needing it,” Lemon said.

“These are college-educated professionals who are experienced and involved and committed to the community.”

For the NAACP’s Thomas, the new leadership is a sea change in attitude from 12 years ago when she sat in a meeting of about 75 of the county’s influential movers and shakers. Thomas was one of about a half-dozen

Fred Dalton Brooks, the notorious jail escape artist, kidnapper, robber and killer, finally pleaded guilty to a 1976 DeKalb County murder.

The 67-year-old pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and armed robbery in the death of James Earl Carter, who worked at a Tucker meat-packing plant, the district attorney’s office said.

Judge Gail Flake sentenced Brooks to 10 years in prison.

The sentence ultimately might not make much of a difference. Brooks was already serving life for kidnapping and armed robbery and has another life sentence awaiting him in Mississippi for killing a police officer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.

The guilty pleas in the DeKalb case, which came in mid-December, were in the retrial over the March 1976 death of Carter, a 39-year-old

2016 218,240 46.7 percent 40.4 percent 6.7 percent 3.4 percent N/A

5.26 million 50.1 percent 31.6 percent 11.2 percent 4.8 percent 2.2 percent

SOURCE: ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION

NEWTON

100,000 people, mostly African American. Nearby Fayette County is settling into its new district voting system which helped install the first black commissioner in the county’s nearly 200-yearold history.

Now Henry is seeing similar governmental changes as a result of socioeconomic changes that have occurred in the county since 2000.

The lure of Henry’s smalltown charm, good schools and affordable housing made it one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, attracting an influx of affluent, college-educated professionals, many of them African-American. Earlier this year, Stockbridge was named among the top 10 best U.S. cities for AfricanAmericans.

Since 2000, Henry’s population soared from 119,341 to just under 220,000 today, making it the eighth largest county in Georgia. Collectively, African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians now make up more than half of the county’s population. In 2000, minorities were less than 20 percent of Henry’s population.

As Henry grew, more homes, businesses and amenities followed. Sprawling logistic centers and warehouses sprang up in Locust Grove. The county became home to Southern Crescent Technical College. Instead of one golf course, there are now a half-dozen. . A $300 million live-work-play development called Jodeco Atlanta South is slated to be built just off I-75 south near Stockbridge.

The growth has brought its share of headaches such as traffic and trying to keep police officers from leaving for better-paying jobs. And yielded big-ticket solutions.

Soon after the new leadership takes office in January, the county’s $221 million traffic remedy, the I-75 South Metro Express Lanes will open to help ease the traffic-choked interstate that is the main corridor to Florida.

The new leadership recognizes the county’s growth-related challenges and brings diverse experiences: ■ Pattillo, who grew up in southwest Atlanta, has distinguished himself as a trial lawyer who has handled some of DeKalb County’s most serious cases, according to his boss DeKalb County DA Robert D. James. “There won’t be anybody who comes before him that he won’t be able to understand what they’re going through. He’s

DEE CLEMMONS ■ Title: Henry County commissioner District 2 ■ Age: 47 ■ Residence: Lake Spivey (Henry County side) ■ Background: Spelman graduate and business consultant who specializes in after-school care and child programs.

■ Family: Married with two children.

■ Key priorities: Public safety and addressing infrastructure challenges: “We have a lot of two-lane roads in a county with nearly a quarter of a million people.”

Tucker Hormel meat packing plant guard. The Georgia Supreme Court earlier this year tossed Brooks’ 2014 murder conviction. The court said the trial court erred by allowing the jury to hear about the time Brooks killed a Mississippi state trooper in 1983.

DeKalb prosecutors were going for another murder conviction when they agreed to the reduced plea.

Carter was found at the plant with his hands tied and seven bullet wounds in his back one day in March 1976.

Authorities believe Brooks was one of two men who killed Carter while trying to steal money from vending machines at the plant.

Brooks confessed to the crime in 2012 in hopes that authorities would agree to move him from a maximum security unit in Jackson. Serving life for kidnapping and robbery, he’d been moved to the secure unit after an escape. He’s escaped numerous times from jail across Georgia.

He later claimed he falsely confessed to Carter’s killing.

That, according to his plea, was false.

black people in attendance.

“It was boldly stated we do not want Henry to end up like Clayton County,” she recalled. People were referring to the racial and political metamorphosis and in-fighting Clayton was going through at the time.

“That statement made me work so hard to represent who we are in our presentation, in my dress, in my character and leadership role. We are people who know what we’re doing. That became a mission.”

The grass-roots effort led to a more integrated staff in the county’s government administration office, as well as two African-American school board members, a black-majority representation on the Stockbridge City Council and a black city council member in Hampton, Thomas said.

Despite the latest political change, some in the community worry that Henry’s status-quo power structure will remain intact.

Some say they were surprised by one of the fliers Wood distributed during her bid for commission chair. It showed her with the Henry County Republican delegation to the state legislature — all white men — standing behind her. Wood concedes the flier was “unorthodox” but she makes no apologies for it.

“I had to demonstrate I am a Republican,” she said.

“The message was and still is ‘Yes, there is a black individual who has conservative values’ and that delegation (of men) is the group I’ve been working with over the last eight years that has helped us get the technical college funding and transportation funding for the county.”

But Wood insists “I have a reputation of bringing people together for common goals.”

Andrea Hance, Texas Shrimp Association executive director, shows a turtle excluder device on board a shrimp boat at the Brownsville Shrimp Basin. AP 2014

Rules would keep sea turtles from shrimp net deaths Proposed federal changes involve escape grates.

By Patrick Whittle and Janet McConnaughey Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — More shrimp fishermen would have to use nets equipped with turtle escape hatches to prevent sea turtle deaths under proposed new federal rules released in December.

The National Marine Fisheries Service wants to require more shrimp fishermen to use turtle excluder devices.

The devices are metal grates that allow turtles to escape the boats’ nets.

The new rules would apply mostly in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, home to a major part of America’s largest shrimp fishery in the Gulf of Mexico.

“This will allow the fishery to continue to operate and produce seafood, and it will aid our path down the recovery of the sea turtle population,” said Roy Crabtree, Southeast regional administrator for the fisheries service.

Shrimp fishermen, many of whom are already subject to similar rules, have long been preparing for more turtle protections, said Acy Cooper, president of the Louisiana Shrimp Association. He said his association wants to scrutinize the proposal before taking a position on it.

Cooper and others in the shrimp business have voiced concerns that the turtle excluder devices could be difficult to operate safely on smaller boats that work in inshore waters.

“We know it’s coming, it’s just a matter of time,”

Cooper said. “We want to make sure it doesn’t affect the guys, and we also want to make sure of the safety aspect of it.”

Dec. 15 was the deadline for the federal government to propose regulations to protect turtles under a settlement with the conservation nonprofit Oceana. The proposal will be subject to a public comment process through mid-February.

Oceana sued the government in April 2015, arguing that the government estimates more than 500,000 sea turtles get caught in shrimp nets each year, and more than 53,000 of them die.

The group said that new rules would save as many as 2,500 endangered and threatened sea turtles every year by extending the requirement of turtle excluder devices to about 5,800 boats currently exempted from using them.

Oceana campaign director Lora Snyder called the rules “decades in the making” and cited the growing number of restaurants that refuse to sell unsustainable seafood as evidence that it’s also a smart business move.

The rules “would dramatically improve the survival and recovery prospects of sea turtle populations, as well as protect the livelihoods of thousands of American shrimp fishermen who lose markets and profits due to the ‘red-listing’ of their products,” she said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agreed in September to draw up new rules for turtle excluder devices: metal bars set 4 inches apart on a vertical slant to deflect anything bigger to an opening at the top of the net.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

A S Turner & Sons Funeral Home; THURMAN, Robert Bill Head Funeral Home; WINFREE, Delores Bill Head Tucker Chapel Funeral Home; MARTIN, Francis Cox Brothers Funeral Home; CRAWFORD, Lois Family Placed; LESLIE, James Floral Hills Funeral Home; MOSS, Dr. C. Wayne Greener Pastures Funeral Home; FRANCIS, Ansel Gus Thornhills Funeral Home; ARMOUR, Hazel Haugabrooks Funeral Home; GRESHAM, Bobby Henry Funeral Home; WATKINS, Tom Joiner Anderson Funeral Home; LEE, Elise Meadows Mortuary; BROOKS, Eutha Northside Chapel Funeral Directors; BOWER, Dr. Thomas Northside Chapel Funeral Directors; PARSONS, Charles Sandy Springs Chapel; FOWLER, John Tom M Wages Funeral Home; ARENBURG, Laurie West Cobb Funeral Home; AMANDOLIA, John Willie A Watkins Funeral Home; CLAY, Virgil Willie A Watkins Funeral Home; LANGHAM, Novella Willie A Watkins Funeral Home; MILNER, Ralph Willie A Watkins Funeral Home; PORTER, Willie

AMANDOLIA, John Albert Age 81, of Austell, passed away Dec. 21, 2016. Services Dec. 27, 11AM, at Burnt Hickory Baptist Church. West Cobb Funeral Home, Marietta, GA.

ARENBURG, Laurie Carlton

Passed away Dec. 23, 2016. Private Service. Tom M. Wages Funeral Services, Snellville, GA.

ARMOUR, Hazel Ms. Hazel Armour. Service December 27, 2016, 1 p.m., Instate 11:00 a.m., Traveler’s Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 2112 Rex Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Pastor Arthur L. Powell officiating.

Interment Forest Hills Memorial Garden. Visitation 7-8 p.m., Dec. 26, G.T. Chapel. Ensemble at residence 12 p.m. Survived

by One loving daughter Alexandria Armour Violenes, Sons-inlaw Darriel Violenes, grandson Julius "JuJu" Violenes, seven sisters, four brothers and a host of family friends and loved ones. Gus Thornhill’s Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Gus Thornhill Jr Dr., East Point, GA, 404-768-2993-4.

BOWER, Dr. Thomas Lyn Dr. Thomas Lynn Russell Bower, 74, of Roswell, GA passed away peacefully at home on December 19, 2016 surrounded by his loved ones.

Dr. Bower was born in Washington D.C and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Bower received his undergraduate degree from The University of Tulsa in 1964, medical degree from Tulane Medical School in 1968, was licensed by the American Board of Anesthesiology in 1975 and eventually went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from The University of San Diego School of Law where he was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. A decorated veteran and Major in the Airforce, Dr. Bower served the country as an Anesthesiologist in Vietnam. Dr. Bower practiced medicine for several years, locally at Crawford Long Hospital.

After Dr. Bower retired he served as a Deputy Sheriff in Fulton County. In addition to his many accomplishments he was a Certified Financial Planner, benefactor member of the NRA, licensed scuba instructor and a blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu. Dr. Bower was preceded in death by his father Frank Bower, mother Mary Estella Bower, brother Brent Bower and beloved cat Chunky Bower. Dr. Bower is survived by his loving wife Belinda Bower, sister Jane Waters, stepchildren Steven Hanley and Jessica Self, son-in-law Michael Self, nieces Jane Ann Brock, Kristy Bower and Katie Bower, and grandchildren Michael Self and Jackson Self.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday December 28, 2016 at Northside Chapel Funeral Directors at 3:30PM. The family will receive guests an hour prior to the service at 2:30PM. Northside Chapel Funeral Directors is located at 12050 Crabapple Road, Roswell, GA 30075.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Dr. Thomas Bower’s name to Atlanta Lab Rescue, The Foundation for Fighting Blindness or Good Mews.

BROOKS, Eutha Mae Celebration of Life for Mother Eutha M. Brooks will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, First Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, 2165 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy., Atlanta, Ga. Dr. E.L. Jones, Pastor. Interment Lincoln Cemetery, Atlanta, Ga. Visitation Monday, December 26, 4-8 pm. Meadows Mortuary, Inc., 419 Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta, Ga. 30316, 404-522-7478.

CLAY, Virgil Mr. Virgil Clay, of Lithonia, GA., passed December 23, 2016.

Willie A. Watkins Historic West End Chapel 404-758-1731.

CRAWFORD, Lois Searcy Mrs. Lois Searcy Crawford passed December 17, 2016. Funeral Service Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 12 Noon at True Church of the Living Faith, 701 Hamilton E. Holmes Dr., N.W. Interment Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Viewing 1:00-6:00 P.M. Monday, December 26, 2016. Cox Brothers - (404) 524-5646.

FOWLER, John John Fowler, 79, of East Point, GA, passed away on December 20, 2016 in Dunwoody, GA. Memorial Service will be 11:30am Thursday December 29th at Sandy Springs Chapel 136 Mount Vernon Hwy. NW Sandy Springs, GA. 30328. John Fowler was born 6-24-37 to John and Roberta Fowler. He went to school at Russell High School and went on to graduate from Georgia State University. He was self-employed for most of his life, owning several properties and also running his own Real Estate appraisal business. He was a veteran and served in the Air Force. He served on East Points City Council for many years taking care of the city and its citizens. John Fowler is preceded in death by Parents John Fowler, Roberta Fowler, and Sister Anita Claire Fowler Price. John Fowler is survived by Children Couley Fowler, Will Fowler, Leah Turner and Andy Stevenson. Grandchildren, Abby Hennington, Travis Stevenson, Brittany Fowler and Zack Fowler. Great-Grandchildren, Jack Hennington and Charlie Hennington. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to East Point Historical Society Inc. The family of John Fowler wishes to extend our sincere thanks to John Quattrocchi for all you’ve done for our father.

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

LESLIE, James Madison

PARSONS, Charles

Died 17 December 2016 Jim was born 25 November 1950, in Madison, Florida. At the age of seven, he moved to the Atlanta area with his family. He grew up in Sandy Springs attending Sandy Springs High School, but graduated from Madison High in Florida, before being drafted. He served as an MP in Pukhet, Thailand, where he fell in love with most things Thai and its people. Upon his return to the US, he attended the University of Georgia to become a Landscape Architect. Early in his career, Jim worked at Heery Architects & Engineers, until he founded his own practice.

In 1988 his daughter Robin and Leslie Design Associates were born. Three years later, the business landed several Olympic contracts and Jim’s son Christopher was born. Jim suspended the award-winning Leslie Design Associates after 10 years of operation and moved his family to Bermuda to take up the position of chief landscape architect at the Bermuda Government. He enjoyed five years in Bermuda, after which he returned to the States. Between 2003 and 2014 he held various positions in Maine, Bermuda, Florida, China and India before re-establishing Leslie Design Associates.

Jim met his wife, Naruewan (Mon), on one of his many trips to Thailand. They married in June of this year. Jim is also survived by his mother Claire (Catledge) Leslie, his children Robin and Christopher Leslie, Judy (sister) and Jack Coates, Carolyn (sister) and Mikel Purcell, his former wife Janneke Kaars Sijpesteijn, Mon’s two daughters Feem and Foy, her grandson Fok and Jim’s many nieces and nephews.

Jim will be remembered in a memorial service to be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, 27 December at Wat Buddha Bucha, 3094 Rainbow Drive, Decatur GA 30034-1610.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation by sending a check to Drepung Loseling Monastery, Inc.1781 Dresden Drive, Atlanta, GA 30319, with the caption ‘In Memory of James M. Leslie’.

Charles (Charlie) Albert Parsons passed away December 22, 2016. He was born to Louise Sommer and Charles Parsons on April 10, 1945. The Parsons family moved to Miami where he graduated from Coral Gables High School in ‘63. Later, he graduated with an Industrial Management degree from Georgia Tech in ‘68. After working for Control Data in Austin, TX, he returned to Georgia Tech for a master’s degree in Information and Computer Science and graduated in ‘72. He spent the next 25 years with IBM in Raleigh and Atlanta, then on to JD Edwards followed by becoming and independent consultant.

Age 76, of Woodstock, passed away Dec. 15, 2016. Services Dec. 27, 11AM, at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.

Greener Pastures Funeral Home.

GRESHAM, Bobby Funeral Services for Mr. Bobby Gresham will be held 1 PM Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church 4211 Fairplay Rd Madison, GA Rev. G.C. Brown, Pastor, Interment Church Cemetery. He is survived by wife, Elizabeth Gresham; son, Anthony Collier; 2 sisters, Imogene Terry and Annie L. Thompson; 3 grandchildren, 1 great child; host of nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. Haugabrooks Funeral Home 404.522.8217.

LANGHAM, Novella Mrs. Novella Langham, of Atlanta, GA., passed December 22, 2016. Willie A. Watkins Historic West End Chapel 404-7581731.

LEE, Elise Of Atlanta, passed away Dec. 22, 2016. Visitation Dec. 28, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home, Statesboro.

Charlie is survived by his wife of 47 years, Rosalyn Parsons, and was a longtime member of Mt. Bethel UMC; children, Brandon and Kimberly Parsons; sister, Ann (Jim) Moore; sister, Ellen (David) Hartley; nieces and nephews, Brad (Amy) Moore, Cindy (Bjorn) Nelson, Jennifer (Shane) Blankenship and Lindsay (Brett) Ritenour; Sister-in-law, Joyce (Robert) Starr, Bob and John (Catherine) Starr.

Memorial service will be held at Mt. Bethel UMC in Marietta, GA, Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 11:00 am. He was an Eagle Scout and remained close with his scouting friends. In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to Mt. Bethel UMC Boy Scout Troup 1011, located at 4385 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068.

PORTER, Willie Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Willie Ray Porter will be 10:00 AM, Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at Shaw Temple A.M.E Zion Church, 775 Hurt Rd, SW; Smyrna, 30082 with Pastor Eldrend Morrision, officiating. Interment GA National Cemetery. Viewing at church one hour prior to funeral time. Willie A. Watkins Douglasville Chapel. 770.489.6751.

MARTIN, Francis Francis W. (Frank) Martin, age 94, of Lawrenceville, Ga. passed away Thursday morning, December 22, 2016 at home after a lengthy illness. He was born in Shubuta, Mississippi on October 8, 1922 to his parents William Ernest Martin and Ester Thoma. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, and his son-in-law, Jerry Brown. He is survived by his spouse, Earline B. Martin of 61 years, his son, William Earl Martin (Aida) and two daughters Linda Brown and Sandy Hall (Paul). Five grandchildren Joseph and Jennifer Harding, Anthony Hall (Nicki), Kelley Law (Travis), Tiffany Long (Keith) and six great grandchildren. Brother-in-law Jimmy Beason (Nancy) and Sister-in-law Chastine Huff. Several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Frank was a charter member of Colonial Woods Baptist Church which he loved very much and held several positions in the church. Before his illness, he did a lot of work around the church and really enjoyed it. Frank retired from Atlanta City Schools after 27 years. He was one person that really enjoyed his job. His hobbies were fishing, gardening, working in the yard and building stuff. He liked to tell jokes and make people laugh and he could think up the jokes to tell. His funeral will be Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 1:00 pm in Colonial Woods Baptist Church. Burial will follow in White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Duluth with Military Honors by the U. S. Army. In lieu of flowers, make donations to the Building Fund at Colonial Woods Baptist Church, 37l Lester Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30044. The family would like to thank Dr. Aldemar Montero, his staff, Encompass Hospice Service and friends that helped out during Frank’s illness.

Condolences may be left at www.billheadfuneralhome.com.

The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5 until 8 pm in the Bill Head Funeral Home and Crematory, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel. 770-564-2726.

MILNER, Ralph Graveside Services Celebrating the Life of Mr. Ralph Milner, of Decatur, GA.; Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 11:00am at Kennedy Memorial Gardens, 2500 River Rd., Ellenwood, GA.; Rev. Douglas E. Stowers, Officiating; NO PUBLIC VIEWING; He is survived by a sister, Eugenia Prather; nieces, Gwendolyn Mayfield and Tracey Chism; nephews: James Mahone, Derrick Mahone, Walter Milner, Jr., Ralph Milner, II and a host of other relatives and friends. Willie A. Watkins Historic West End Chapel. 404-758-1731.

THURMAN, Robert Lee Robert Lee Thurman of Stone Mountain passed away on October 26 at the age of 84. Mr. Thurman was born on March 18, 1932 in Atlanta. He had 35 years of service with AT&T, beginning as a linesman and ending his career in 1988 as a project manager, who oversaw the installation of fiber optic lines that came to make up the first fiber optic cable network in the Southeastern Region. He also served for over 9 years in the United States Armed Forces, where he acted as a communications specialist and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class. His service included active duty in 19511952 and concluded with 3 years with the 48th Military Police Company of the 48th Armored Division of the US Army National Guard. He was a member of the Pioneers Volunteer Network and the American Legion, Post 66. Mr. Thurman was a member of Decatur Presbyterian Church for over 50 years, where he was a Deacon, former member of the Chancel Choir, and was President of the Newton Morris Class for many years.

He was an avid golfer, who in later years enjoyed playing at Little Mountain Golf Course.

Dr. Todd Speed will officiate at the graveside internment of his ashes at 10 am on December 28 at Decatur Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 11 am at the Decatur Presbyterian Church. Mr. Thurman is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mimi Thurman of Stone Mountain, daughter, Heather Thurman and son-in-law, Craig Schiller of Wiesbaden, Germany, son, James Thurman of Zurich, Switzerland, grandson, Callum Schiller and granddaughter, Cara Schiller. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Decatur Presbyterian Church. A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home, 2773 North Decatur Road, Decatur.

WATKINS, Tom Colonel William Thomas Watkins, USAF Reserves (Ret), age 66, of Grayson, died December 22, 2016.

Funeral arrangements by Henry Funeral Home, Lithonia, 770-482-4411, henryfuneral.com.

MOSS, Dr. C. Wayne Dr. C. Wayne Moss, 81, noted CDC scientist on the forefront of Legionnaire’s research died December 11, 2016 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Dr. Moss is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marian Corbett Moss, children Rick and Sherrie Jeffers, Barry and Mary Moss, Gary Moss, Scott and Susan Roberts, and his grandchildren Sarah Cribbs, John and Amanda Moss Blankenship, James Cribbs, Alisha Moss, Rachel Roberts, Lee Jeffers, Daniel Cribbs, BJ Moss, Brian Roberts, Cameron Moss, Joseph Cribbs, and great granddaughter Chloe Mundy. He is also survived by sisters Jeanette Newsome and Shelby Webb and his brothers R.E. Corbett and Dr. Richard Corbett.

Dr. Wayne Moss was a very determined man. By his hard work in the tobacco fields of North Carolina, he was able to go to North Carolina State University for his B.S. degree. While in college, he met Marian Corbett Moss and was married in 1958 with four children to follow. He graduated from N.C. State University with his PhD in Microbiology and Biochemistry in 1965. After graduation, he worked for the Centers for Disease Control as a research microbiologist serving as head of his department. He retired from the CDC in 1994. During his career, he traveled the world extensively giving speeches on over 300 original research publications. He worked on Legionnaire’s Disease, Campylobacter, TB and co-authored books on the Identification of Unusual Pathogenic Bacteria. Dr. Moss also served in the U.S Army Artillery Division as a 2nd Lieutenant.

After retirement, he enjoyed many precious memories traveling and spending time with his family to help raise the grandchildren and great grandchild. He also supervised construction on homes for three of his four children. Wayne will be remembered by his family as the stronghold of the family, a spiritual leader, a peacemaker, and a man who enjoyed making others laugh.

A memorial service officiated by Buddy Hoffman, Senior Pastor of Grace Fellowship Church, will be held at 12p.m. on Friday, December 30, 2016 at Floral Hills Funeral Home in Tucker, GA. The service will be followed by a reception for friends and family. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Grace Fellowship Church, Snellville, GA. Those who wish to send condolences to the family may do so via the link at www.floralhillsfuneral.com Floral Hills Funeral Home and Cremation Services 770-491-3021

FRANCIS, Ansel Hart

B5

WINFREE, Delores Kneece Delores Kneece Winfree, 86, passed away to our Lord and Savior on the beautiful morning of December 22. She was preceded into Heaven by her loving husband, Ernest C. Winfree. She is survived by her only son, Stephen Kneece Kendrick; daughter-in-law, Yvonne Kendrick; granddaughters, Julie Michelle Hutchens and Ashley Nicole Homan; sonin-laws, Alvin Hutchens and Dr. Chris Homan; great grandsons, Tucker Hutchens, Cameron Homan and Cooper Hutchens.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Bill Head Funeral Home Duluth Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Alzheimer’s Association are registered.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.billheadfune ralhome.com.

Bill Head Funeral Homes & Crematory Duluth Chapel (770)4762535.

B6

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

Weather

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

In partnership with

wsbtv.com●

TODAY IN METRO ATLANTA

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Showers Rain 20%

Mostly Cloudy Rain 10%

Showers Rain 30%

Breezy Rain 0%

Partly Cloudy Rain 20%

Cloudy Mostly cloudy sky, cooler. A few showers.

Rain 20% LOW

72 67 62 49 51 56 53 54 34 32

HIGH

56 59 64 56 7 a.m. Noon 5 p.m. 10 p.m.

GEORGIA

TODAY

Blue Ridge Clayton Dalton Ellijay Rome

Hi/Lo/Sky

58/52/r 54/49/r 61/56/cd 58/52/r 63/58/cd

61/40/ts 65/41/ts 63/40/ts 63/41/ts 67/43/ts

TODAY

Athens Augusta Columbus Gainesville Macon Marietta Peachtree City

Hi/Lo/Sky

58/52/r 61/52/cd 70/60/r 59/52/r 65/55/r 63/53/r 62/52/r

68/53/cd 72/53/cd 75/56/cd 64/48/r 73/56/cd 68/48/r 70/51/cd

TODAY

Hi/Lo/Sky

Albany Brunswick Mt. Vernon Savannah Valdosta Waycross

Allatoona Blackshear Blue Ridge Burton Carters Chatuge George Harding Hartwell Jackson Lanier Nottely Oconee Russell Seminole Sinclair Thurmond Weiss West Point

TOMORROW

Hi/Lo/Sky

Coastal Plain City

Lake

TOMORROW

Hi/Lo/Sky

Piedmont City

ALMANAC

76/59/cd 73/61/cd 73/58/cd 75/59/cd 81/60/cd 77/60/r

Temperature Hi/lo Sun* 74/51 Norm Sun 52/35 Year ago Sun 75/63 Rec. high 75 (2015) 0 (1983) Rec. low * as of 4 pm yesterday

Today’s pollen forecast

Mod.

Full

840.0 ft.

237.0 ft.

1687.0 ft.

1865.0 ft.

1072.0 ft.

1926.0 ft.

190.0 ft.

521.0 ft.

660.0 ft.

530.0 ft.

1071.0 ft.

1777.0 ft.

435.0 ft.

475.0 ft.

77.5 ft.

339.8 ft.

330.0 ft.

564 ft.

635 ft.

TOMORROW

Hi/Lo/Sky

74/60/cd 71/60/cd 68/58/cd 70/58/cd 78/61/cd 74/60/pc

Low

SOUTHEAST

LAKE LEVELS

Mountains

City

High

Yesterday

Change

824.95 ft. -0.31 ft.

236.4 ft. +0.21 ft.

1666.83 ft.+0.03 ft.

1865.08 ft.+0.02 ft.

1063.47 ft. +1.44 ft.

1917.29 ft. +0.02 ft.

187.65 ft. +0.1 ft.

517.75 ft. -0.22 ft. na na 528.51 ft. +0.03 ft.

1060.44 ft. -0.01 ft.

1759.53 ft. +0.04 ft.

434.43 ft. +0.25 ft.

473.99 ft. +0.73 ft.

77.18 ft.

-0.03 ft.

337.55 ft. -0.15 ft.

319.45 ft. -0.4 ft.

558.31 ft. -0.15 ft.

628.23 ft. +0.09 ft.

Precipitation Rain Sun* 0.00 in.

Max. hum. 100% Rain Dec. 3.19 in.

Rain 2016 37.89 in.

Normal 49.00 in.

City

Asheville Baton Rouge Birmingham Charleston, SC Charlotte Chattanooga Columbia, SC Daytona Beach Greensboro Greenville, SC Jackson Jacksonville Key West Memphis Miami Mobile Montgomery Naples Nashville New Orleans Orlando Panama City Pensacola Raleigh Richmond Shreveport Tallahassee Tampa W. Palm Beach

Hi

TODAY Lo Sky

54 80 70 68 54 65 59 81 52 58 76 77 82 76 83 74 75 86 70 78 83 78 74 55 57 76 78 84 81

Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic Grasses Trees Weeds

V. High

Absent Low Low

UNITED STATES

TOMORROW Hi Lo Sky

49 cd 63 cd 62 cd 58 cd 49 cd 58 r 52 cd 66 pc 48 cd 51 r 63 cd 60 cd 75 pc 52 r 72 pc 61 cd 60 cd 67 pc 51 cd 63 cd 66 cd 62 cd 60 cd 51 cd 49 cd 60 r 61 cd 67 cd 73 pc

65 77 68 74 67 66 72 80 67 68 70 79 81 59 82 73 74 83 54 75 83 76 74 69 70 65 78 81 81

City

Austin Baltimore Boston Buffalo Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Dallas Dayton Denver Detroit Houston Indianapolis Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Minneapolis New York City Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland, OR Sacramento Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco Seattle St. Louis Washington D.C.

39 r 62 cd 47 r 59 cd 44 cd 43 r 59 cd 64 pc 44 cd 50 cd 53 r 60 cd 74 pc 40 ts 71 pc 57 cd 58 cd 67 pc 33 r 62 cd 66 cd 61 cd 57 cd 47 r 43 r 56 ts 59 cd 64 cd 71 pc

51

101

151

201

Today’s UV forecast National Weather Service 0

3

6

8

11

IN THE SKY

Dec 29 New

Jan 5 First Q

Jan 12 Full

Jan 19 Last Q

Sun Moon Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn

0

TOMORROW Hi Lo Sky

72 64 50 40 40 49 44 68 41 52 40 76 44 56 54 71 33 56 61 71 47 46 55 36 66 54 46 53 64

61 cd 35 r 33 r 28 pc 25 pc 27 r 29 cd 54 pc 34 r 26 pc 27 cd 63 cd 28 s 37 pc 42 pc 49 s 21 cd 36 r 37 r 47 s 29 r 36 r 32 s 25 cd 50 pc 43 pc 38 r 33 pc 41 r

WORLD City

TODAY Lo Sky

49 57 62 37 62 77 66 47 44 52 44 79 52 63 47 59 74 31 31 74 34 52 84 60 82 40 86 55 50

43 r 41 s 45 pc 19 sn 53 r 66 r 51 s 39 r 35 s 34 r 36 s 59 pc 41 pc 38 s 31 s 34 s 49 s 29 i 29 cd 48 s 31 pc 30 pc 54 pc 40 s 74 sh 26 cd 71 pc 54 cd 35 r

TOMORROW Hi Lo Sky

49 60 57 37 56 79 62 44 47 46 39 66 45 66 45 61 74 37 34 74 36 45 81 60 82 31 83 62 36

©2016, The Weather Company, LLC For Atlanta Journal-Constitution For The the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

L New York 49/47

H

Washington D.C. 53/49

Las Vegas 49/35

H

Denver 42/18

Kansas City 46/34

Louisville 73/44

Los Angeles 63/46

Low Rise 7:40 a.m.

5:09 a.m.

10:31 a.m.

11:06 a.m.

1:43 a.m.

6:28 a.m.

Hi

Amsterdam Athens Baghdad Beijing Beirut Buenos Aires Cairo Copenhagen Dublin Frankfurt Geneva Hong Kong Jerusalem Kabul London Madrid Mexico City Montreal Moscow New Delhi Oslo Paris Riyadh Rome San Juan Seoul Sydney Tokyo Toronto

Minneapolis 35/19

75

Moderate

58 r 45 cd 39 cd 36 r 29 r 42 cd 37 r 45 cd 45 r 18 pc 36 r 65 r 35 r 35 pc 45 r 46 pc 19 cd 47 s 46 cd 44 pc 43 r 38 r 29 s 11 cd 47 pc 40 s 39 r 35 r 49 cd

Helena 25/15

Today’s air quality forecast Georgia Clean Air Campaign 0

TODAY Lo Sky

78 51 39 50 57 67 63 71 61 42 58 77 65 49 69 63 35 49 50 63 60 39 51 26 62 52 42 67 53

H

Seattle 42/39 Portland 39/38

Hi

Atlanta 64/56

Set 5:36 p.m.

3:58 p.m.

9:14 p.m.

10:19 p.m.

1:09 p.m.

4:28 p.m.

Dallas 71/45 Honolulu 83/71 Anchorage 28/9

New Orleans 78/63

Cold Warm Stationary

Snow Rain Thunder

Miami 83/72

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C2

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

FANS EXTRA

Some of baseball’s oldest pitchers have been Braves.

ON THE BEATS

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT HAWKS

Still not consistent, but signs promising

FROM MYAJC.COM MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM’S MIKE CHECK BLOG

How the Falcons can get No. 2 seed THE PLAYOFF PICTURE

By Chris Vivlamore cvivlamore@ajc.com

Here we go again.

The Hawks are coming off an improbable victory on the road. The latest is a 109-108 victory over the Nuggets on Friday in which the Hawks trailed by eight points with 1:43 remaining.

The Hawks have won four consecutive road games — at Milwaukee, Toronto, Oklahoma City and Denver. Each victory came in unlikely fashion. They were down by 20 to the Bucks. They defeated the Raptors less than two weeks after losing by 44 on the same court. They avenged a home loss to the Thunder by winning without center Dwight Howard. The win over the Nuggets also came without Kyle Korver, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Howard.

Yet, there is a problem.

Each of the first three road wins was followed by a loss at home, including the well-below-.500 Magic and Timberwolves.

“It means a lot,” said Paul Millsap after making two free throws with six seconds left to clinch the win over the Nuggets. “But it means nothing if we don’t take it to the next game. … We’ve got to put two games together in a row. We haven’t been able to do that in a while.”

It’s a familiar refrain.

The Hawks took the muchneeded victory to climb to 15-15 heading into the holiday break. The short break ends with a rematch with the Timberwolves today.

“Until we can figure out to play with consistency and bring the energy and focus every night, execute every night, we’re going to be a .500 team,” Korver said after the loss to the Timberwolves.

“That’s just our reality.”

Even through the uneven stretch — the Hawks are 6-13 since a hot start to the season — coaches and players believe the team is headed in the right direction. They are close, they believe, to putting a winning streak together.

Dennis Schroder and Millsap have carried the team of late. Schroder has scored in double-figures in 15 consecutive games and his averaging 21 points during that stretch. Millsap is averaging 20.8 points over the past nine games. The duo made seven of the Hawks’ nine straight free throws to end the victory over the Nuggets. Millsap hit the most important two to win the game and pulled down the final rebound when Wilson Chandler missed a drive in the finals seconds.

“Nothing,” Millsap said of what he was thinking as he stepped up with the game on the line. “Nothing at all.

I cleared my mind, got up there and just shot two routine free throws. They went in.”

The Hawks makeshift lineup also had three other double-digit scorers against the Nuggets in Mike Muscala (13), Thabo Sefolosha (12) and Kris Humphries (10).

All 10 players who entered the game scored.

“Proud of the way our guys stuck with it, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “…We made free throws.

Thabo gets a big rebound.

Dennis gets a big rebound. A lot of plays that are winning plays. Paul to make two big free throws with the game on the line. It’s just a big win going into the Christmas break.”

With the break over, the Hawks have a chance to win two straight games for just the second time since Nov. 15-16.

The search for consistency resumes.

Michael Cunningham My Opinion

The Falcons methodically dispatched the Carolina Panthers Saturday afternoon. It got better for the Falcons when the Tampa Bay Bucs lost to the New Orleans Saints, making the Falcons NFC South champions. Then it turned into a perfect day for the Falcons when the Cardinals beat the Seattle Seahawks after Arizona had blown a 13-point lead in the final four minutes.

That left the Falcons (105) with the second-best record among NFC division leaders, ahead of the Seahawks (9-5-1), and with a real chance to earn the No. 2 NFC seed for the playoffs.

The simplest way for that to happen is for the Detroit Lions (9-5) to lose at the Dallas Cowboys tonight and then the Falcons beat the Saints next weekend. That would clinch No. 2 for the Falcons, who would get a bye and then play host to any NFC contender except the top-seeded Cowboys (122).

But let’s say the Lions beat the Cowboys on Monday and the Green Bay Packers next weekend, and the Falcons beat the Saints. In that case the Falcons and Lions each would be 11-5 and champions of their respective divisions with a 9-3 NFC record, 4-1 record in common games, and no headto-head meeting. Under that scenario, the fourth tiebreaker for seeding among teams from different divisions applies: strength of victory.

That’s where it gets complicated.

Strength of victory is the combined winning percentage of the opponents each team has beaten and that won’t be known until after the final weekend.

After Saturday’s games, the combined winning percentage for vanquished Falcons opponents was .469 (61-69-1) and for

DALLAS COWBOYS (12-2) Remaining schedule: vs. Detroit tonight, at Philadelphia on Jan. 1.

Division record: 3-2. Conference record: 8-2.

The Cowboys have a Texas-sized home-field advantage this postseason.

NEW YORK GIANTS (10-5) Remaining schedule: at Washington on Jan. 1.

Division record: 3-2. Conference record: 7-4.

The Giants got the help they needed without having to wait for Week 17.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (8-6-1) Remaining schedule: vs. New York Giants on Jan. 1.

Division record: 3-2. Conference record: 6-5.

Not eliminated, but still game back of Green Bay for second wild-card berth.

Eliminated: Philadelphia (6-9).

NFC NORTH DETROIT LIONS (9-5) Remaining schedule: at Dallas on Monday night, vs.

Green Bay on Jan. 1.

Division record: 3-2. Conference record: 7-3.

The Lions can win the division with a victory at Dallas and vs. Green Bay. They also are in the running for a wild card.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-6) Remaining schedule: at Detroit on Jan. 1.

Division record: 4-1. Conference record: 7-4.

The Packers now sit in the second wild-card spot, but one more win makes them champions of the North.

Eliminated: Chicago (3-12), Minnesota (7-8).

NFC SOUTH ATLANTA FALCONS (10-5) Remaining schedule: vs. New Orleans on Jan. 1.

Division record: 4-1. Conference record: 8-3.

The Falcons not only have a division title but will have a chance at a first-round bye with a win against the Saints.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-7) Remaining schedule: vs. Carolina on Jan. 1.

Division record: 3-2. Conference record: 6-5.

The Bucs are on the outside looking in and need lots of help.

Eliminated: New Orleans (7-8), Carolina (6-9).

NFC WEST SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-5-1) Remaining schedule: at San Francisco on Jan. 1.

Division record: 2-2-1. Conference record: 5-5-1.

First-round bye might be bye-bye for the Seahawks.

Eliminated: Arizona (6-8-1), L.A. (4-11), San Francisco (2-13).

beaten Lions opponents it was .391 (52-81-1).

A victory over the Cowboys would help Detroit’s strength of victory while beating the Saints (7-8) wouldn’t do much for the Falcons’ strength of victory. However, the Saints and Packers are two of the three common opponents between the Falcons and Lions and so those wins would cancel each another out. The Rams are the other common opponent that the Falcons and Lions both beat, so a Los Angles victory also wouldn’t benefit either the Falcons or Lions.

According to the computer simulations run by fivethirtyeight.com prior

to Sunday’s games, if the Lions and Falcons both win out then the Falcons would have a 95 percent chance of earning the No. 2 seed.

Like I said, the strength of victory tiebreaker gets complicated but the Falcons appear to be in prime position to win it over the Lions.

Right now the Falcons and their backers should be pulling for the Cowboys to beat the Lions tonight (even though Dallas already has clinched home field in the NFC playoffs).

If that happens, then all the Falcons would need to do is beat the Saints to earn the NFC’s No. 2 seed.

Plenty on line tonight in Stafford’s return Former Georgia star in Dallas hometown with eye on playoffs.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Mat-

thew Stafford doesn’t dwell on Detroit’s loss to his hometown Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs two years ago.

The Lions quarterback focuses on the good memories as he prepares for another homecoming tonight, knowing his team can clinch a postseason berth with a victory.

“I really like coming home and playing in Dallas,” the former Georgia Bulldog said.

“It’s where I grew up. I played a lot of football in the state of Texas and in Dallas in my life. It’s a lot of fun going home, seeing friends and family, but at the same time just trying to win a ballgame against a really good team.”

The Cowboys (12-2) have clinched the NFC East title and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Dallas did it without playing thanks to Philadelphia beating the Giants on Thursday.

Detroit (9-5) got a similar boost on Christmas Eve with Tampa Bay’s loss to New Orleans.

The Lions can’t clinch the NFC North. That will have to wait until the finale at home against Green Bay. But they’re in the playoffs for the second time in three seasons under coach Jim Caldwell if they beat Dallas for the third straight time in the regular season.

Caldwell said before the Bucs lost that none of the scores would affect his team’s approach.

“That’s the short answer,” he said. “We’re going to go out and prepare like we normally prepare and play like we normally play.”

Stafford will play at the $1.2 billion home of the Cowboys a little more than a week after his high school, Dallas Highland Park, celebrated on that field after winning its first state title since Stafford led the way 11 years ago.

Highland Park’s quarterback is John Stephen Jones, grandson of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. While Highland Park binds Stafford and the Jones family, the quarterback said he doesn’t know the younger Jones and hadn’t reached out to his dad, Cowboys executive vice president

ON THE AIR

Grayson Allen sure picked a lousy week to take college sports on a bad trip down memory lane.

The Duke junior has NBA-caliber talent, but the lingering instincts of a playground bully. His nasty habit of taking down opponents even as they’re going by him finally came full circle.

After Allen was hit with a technical foul and benched for tripping Elon guard Steven Santa Ana — the third time he pulled the same stunt in a year — Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski reluctantly did the right thing.

He announced Thursday that Allen has been suspended indefinitely.

But even that small measure of justice required Coach K to do a little reflecting of his own. First, he put Allen back in Wednesday night’s game, handily won by the Blue Devils 72-61, then defiantly told reporters in a postgame news conference

8 p.m.

NBA FSSE

that he wouldn’t be bullied into punishing Allen just to satisfy others’ expectations.

What Krzyzewski couldn’t h av e k n o w n a t e i t h e r moment was that Allen’s latest trip was looping endlessly on Twitter and television, reinforcing what other images and headlines have made all too apparent about the state of big-time college sports in the last few weeks: It’s as out of control as ever. If you have doubts — and a strong stomach — go find the 2-year-old, but-justreleased video of Oklahoma football player Joe Mixon punching a woman in the face in 2014. Or read the stories about how Minnesota’s football team pledged to boycott an upcoming bowl game to protest the suspensions of 10 players in connection with a sexual assault investigation; or how other players are voluntarily snubbing their teams’ bowl games to prepare for next year’s NFL draft.

While we’re at it, let’s not forget the comically dubbed

“Wakyleaks” scandal at Wake Forest.

To be fair, the incidents vary widely in consequence and have only so much in common. But at the core of each is a serious lapse in judgment by college-age kids and the grown-ups who are supposed to be in charge.

Their sense of entitlement has only swelled in proportion to the dollars flowing into the coffers of every bigtime college program.

Money keeps flowing into big-time college sports and the pockets of coaches and administrator because they’ve effectively become a minor-league system for the NFL and NBA. And they’re doing it largely on the backs of kids whose “schoolwork” is so demanding that many will never be able to take advantage of the scholarship that gets thrown in with it.

If that no longer outrages the rest of us, at least those same coaches and administrators can spare us the lecture about how much they care.

of personnel Stephen Jones.

“Obviously proud and happy for him and the team, but my relationship with the Jones family is just very limited,” Stafford said. “We know each other, obviously live in the same area, but that’s about it.”

The last time he was on that field, Stafford had to watch one of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo’s signature celebratory moments — face down on the turf, arms outstretched in exuberance after throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter in the Cowboys’ 24-20 win.

The loss dropped Stafford to 0-2 in the playoffs, but he’s 2-0 against Dallas in the regular season, averaging 364 yards per game.

One of the best moments for the No. 1 overall pick in 2009 was leading the Lions 80 yards in 50 seconds, capped by his 1-yard sneak with 12 seconds remaining for a 31-30 win over the Cowboys in 2013. Detroit had trailed by 10 points in the final four minutes.

“Anybody wants to play better because they’re from somewhere around there or because it’s the holidays, that’s a good reason to play good, we’re all for it,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. “We’re all for our guys playing better. So whatever it takes we’re good with.”

Stafford didn’t play in the Cowboys’ retractable roof stadium in high school because it opened four years after he graduated. His Jonesowned “home” field was old Texas Stadium, and he remembers playing there as a 15-year-old sophomore.

Now, the 28-year-old Stafford credits those days for helping him handle being a walk-in starter as a top recruit for Georgia, and again after he was drafted by the Lions.

“Playing against Ennis and a bunch of really good football teams, a bunch of cameras on you after the game,” Stafford said. “I think that kind of puts you in the spotlight early and lets you understand what it’s all about.”

Now it’s about clinching the playoffs with his Lions.

TV today Basketball

College sports fall into gutter again

Matthew Stafford can clinch a playoff spot with a victory.

By Schuyler Dixon Associated Press

COMMENTARY

By Jim Litke Associated Press

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

Football

Nuggets at Clippers

11 a.m.

St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Miss. State

ESPN

2:30 p.m. ESPN

Soccer

Pacers at Bulls Hawks at Timberwolves

10: 30 p.m. NBA

Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland vs. Boston College

5 p.m.

ESPN2

Independence Bowl: N.C. State vs. Vanderbilt

8:15 p.m.

ESPN

Lions at Cowboys

7:25 a.m. NBCSN

Premier: Crystal Palace at Watford

9:55 a.m. NBCSN

Premier: Sunderland at Manchester United

10 a.m.

CNBC

12:10 p.m. NBCSN

Premier: West Brom at Arsenal Premier: Manchester City at Hull

Radio Today Football

11 a.m.

680 AM

St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Miss. State

8:15 p.m.

1380 AM

Lions at Cowboys

Calendar ■ FALCONS – Sunday vs. Saints, 4:25 p.m. (Fox). 92.9 FM ■ GEORGIA BASKETBALL – Thursday at Auburn, 7 p.m. (ESPNU); Jan. 4 vs. South Carolina, 7 p.m. (ESPNU); Jan. 7 vs. Missouri, 1 p.m. (SEC).750 AM, 95.5 FM Women: Wednesday vs. Western Carolina, 2 p.m.

■ GEORGIA FOOTBALL – Friday vs. TCU (at Liberty Bowl, Memphis), noon (ESPN).

750 AM, 95.5 FM ■ GEORGIA STATE BASKETBALL – Wednesday vs. Massachusetts, 2 p.m.; Saturday at Georgia Southern, 12:30 p.m.; Jan. 7 vs. South Alabama, 2:15 p.m. 1160 AM, 1340 AM, 88.5 FM Women: Saturday at Georgia Southern, 10 a.m.

■ GEORGIA TECH BASKETBALL – Wednesday vs. North Carolina A&T, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. North Carolina, noon; Jan. 4 at Duke, 7 p.m. (ESPN2). 680 AM, 93.7 FM, 98.9 FM Women: Thursday vs. Princeton, 7 p.m. 91.1 FM ■ GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL – Saturday vs. Kentucky (at TaxSlayer Bowl, Jacksonville), 11 a.m. (ESPN). 680 AM, 93.7 FM, 98.9 FM ■ GLADIATORS – Tuesday vs. Stingrays, 7:05 p.m.; Thursday vs. Everblades, 7:05 p.m.; Friday vs. Everblades, 7:35 p.m. 97.7 FM ■ HAWKS – Today at Timberwolves, 8 p.m. (FSSE); Wednesday vs. Knicks, 7:30 p.m.

(FSSE); Friday vs. Pistons, 8 p.m. (FSSE). 92.9 FM ■ KENNESAW STATE BASKETBALL – Wednesday vs. Mercer, 7 p.m.; Saturday vs.

North Georgia, noon; Jan. 2 at Tennessee State, 7 p.m.

Women: Jan. 2 vs. Wofford, 2 p.m.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

C3

COLLEGE BASKETBALL ACC MEN

SEC MEN

Krzyzewski upbeat Kentucky freshmen despite early troubles only sure thing in SEC Challengers to Duke likely include Heels, Louisville, Virginia.

Only 3 teams from conference reached last NCAA tourney.

By Aaron Beard Associated Press

By Steve Megargee Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — Duke started the year as the nation’s topranked team and ACC favorite. Yet as the start of league play arrives, little has gone to plan for the fifth-ranked Blue Devils.

And that could make for an interesting race for the ACC regular-season crown with North Carolina, Louisville and Virginia lurking.

It’s been a challenge for the Blue Devils (12-1) to keep their freshman class healthy, with Jayson Tatum (sprained foot), Marques Bolden (lower leg injury), Harry Giles (knee procedure) missing multiple games. And that has meant coach Mike Krzyzewski’s visions of “hellacious, fiveon-five” battles in practice haven’t materialized.

Then there’s junior guard Grayson Allen, suspended after tripping an Elon player last week — the third incident for him in the past 12 months. Duke’s next game its league opener next weekend at Virginia Tech, and Krzyzewski said Thursday that Allen “won’t play until I feel good about the entire situation where he is at.”

“Overall our guys have done great,” Krzyzewski said after the Elon win. “But we’re more in October mode than December, because the mistakes we make now are public or against teams that really can beat you. When you play exhibitions and stuff like that in October and early November, they don’t show up as much.”

The Tar Heels (11-2), returning veterans from last year’s team that won the ACC title and made it to the NCAA final, have looked like Duke’s strongest contender. They won the Maui Invitational and lost a 103-100 thriller against Kentucky, and they soon could have versatile swingman Theo Pinson — possibly the team’s top perimeter defender — back from preseason foot surgery.

UNC opens ACC play at Georgia Tech next weekend.

“Last year around this time, we started buying into the defensive end,” junior

As the Southeastern Conference prepares to begin league competition, this much seems clear: Kentucky’s freshman class is as good as advertised.

But there are plenty of questions surrounding the rest of the league as it tries to bounce back from a 201516 season in which the SEC earned only three NCAA Tournament invitations.

Only two SEC teams are in the Top 25: No. 6 Kentucky and No. 22 South Carolina. The Gamecocks could fall out of the rankings after Wednesday’s 62-60 loss to Clemson , which marked the first time the Tigers ever had beaten a ranked nonconference opponent on the road.

Other teams have shown promise but still have questions to answer as the SEC prepares to start league play Thursday.

“I think the league is really competitive,” Florida coach Mike White said. “We’ve come up on the short end in a few big games, but we’ve been really competitive, I think, against some of the best teams in the country.”

This year marks the first time the SEC has played conference games as early as December since the 199192 season.

As usual, much of the attention involving the SEC surrounds Kentucky, which starts four freshmen and a sophomore. One Kentucky freshman (Malik Monk) leads the SEC in scoring, while another (De’Aaron Fox) tops the conference in assists.

Monk set a Kentucky freshman single-game scoring record by collecting 47 points in a 103-100 victory over No. 8 North Carolina .

That 47-point outburst represented the highest single-game total by an SEC freshman since LSU’s Chris Jackson had 55 against Ole Miss on March 4, 1989.

Just where these newcomers rank among previous Kentucky freshman classes during John Calipari’s coaching tenure remains uncertain.

The suspension of Grayson Allen after a tripping incident has added to the uncertainty at Duke. It is not yet known when he will return. CHUCK BURTON / ASSOCIATED PRESS

point guard Joel Berry II said, “so hopefully when we come back from break we can pick it up on the defensive end a little bit more.”

Here are other things to watch as ACC play begins: Louisville’s early test: There’s no questioning the pre-conference resume of the Cardinals (11-1), who have beaten Purdue and Kentucky with their only loss coming against Baylor in the Battle 4 Atlantis title game .

They get a chance to ease into ACC play. Louisville’s league opener comes Wednesday against Virginia, followed by a nonconference game against Indiana then a trip to Notre Dame.

Coach Rick Pitino referred to it as a “gauntlet” after the UK win . No argument here.

Virginia’s search: Virginia (10-1) dismissed Memphis transfer and interior scoring threat Austin Nichols from the team in November, and that could make things tougher for an offense with one double-figure scorer (London Perrantes at 10 per game).

It also could make the Cavaliers even more reliant on their calling-card defense.

Surprise team? Last year, Syracuse went from 9-9 in ACC play to the Final Four.

Could North Carolina State have its own March surprise?

There’s touted freshman point guard Dennis Smith Jr. (18.9 points), and the Wolfpack recently added five-star freshman Omer Yurtseven after the Turkish 7-footer sat out the first nine games in an NCAA eligibility dispute.

Picked sixth in the preseason, N.C. State (10-2) has five double-digit scorers and room to grow.

Stumbling Orange: Syracuse was picked to finish fifth in the league, but the Orange are struggling on the eve of league play. Syracuse (7-5) is coming off a 33-point home loss to St. John’s.

Bids pursuit: ACC coaches routinely talk about getting 10 teams into the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the league tied its record with seven bids, got an NCAA-record six in the Sweet 16 and two in the Final Four.

The league has six ranked teams, including Florida State. And 12 of the 15 teams had started 9-3 or better as of Thursday, giving the league a deep well of bid contenders — assuming they keep winning.

“We are pleased we are 12-1,” FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said, “and now let’s get the party started.”

Kentucky shooting guard Malik Monk, a 6-foot-3 freshman, leads the SEC in scoring, averaging 21.4 points per game. TIMOTHY D. EASLEY / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ke n t u c k y h a s s o m e impressive wins but also lost at home to No. 2 UCLA and at No. 10 Louisville .

“They have to go through these kinds of growing pains, and then I’ve got to be able to see what I have to do as a coach,” Calipari said after the Louisville game.

Here are some things to watch as the SEC gets ready to tip off league competition: E A R LY T E S T S F O R AGGIES: Texas A&M shared the SEC regular-season title with Kentucky last season.

The Aggies should know in a hurry whether they’re good enough to contend for a league championship again.

After hosting Tennessee on Thursday in their SEC opener, the Aggies travel to Kentucky and South Carolina in their next two games.

The good news for Texas A&M is that it plays in the SEC and not the Pac-12. All three of the Aggies’ three losses thus far have come against Pac-12 schools (No. 23 Southern California, UCLA and No. 18 Arizona).

AUBURN RESURGENCE: Auburn has taken a major step forward in the third year of Bruce Pearl’s coaching tenure.

The Tigers beat both Oklahoma and Connecticut over

the last week to improve their record to 10-2, their best start since 2002-03. Auburn is one win away from matching its victory total from last season, when the Tigers finished 11-20.

HOW GOOD ARE THE GAMECOCKS?: Last season, South Carolina raced to 15-0 start but played a weak nonconference schedule, which proved costly when the Gamecocks missed the NCAA Tournament.

South Carolina started well again this year against a tougher nonconference slate that includes wins over Michigan and Syracuse.

But the Gamecocks also lost their leading scorer and rebounder when Sindarius Thornwell was suspended earlier this month. There hasn’t been any indication when Thornwell might return, and his absence makes South Carolina a much different team.

FRESHMAN FOCUS: Kentucky isn’t the only SEC team relying heavily on freshmen.

Auburn’s three leading scorers are freshmen Danjel Purifoy, Mustapha Heron and Jared Harrper.

True freshmen and redshirt freshmen have accounted for nearly half of Tennessee’s scoring thus far.

C4

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

SPORTS DEATHS 2016

LEGACIES OF THE LEGENDS

Notable sports deaths of year include icons Ali, Palmer, Howe and Summitt Associated Press

Mighty sequoias fell in sports in 2016, transformational figures who reshaped the games and the culture — from Muhammad Ali to Gordie Howe, from Arnold Palmer to Pat Summitt.

And there was loss much too soon. The famous poem “To an Athlete Dying Young” tells of a runner and his town, and how “shoulder-high we bring you home.” So it was with the Miami Marlins and 24-year-old pitcher Jose Fernandez, killed in a boating accident.

Along the way, other lives lit up sports across the years: Baseball said goodbye to Ralph Branca, the Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher who spent a lifetime discussing his high-inside fastball that Bobby Thomson hit for “The Shot Heard ’Round the World;” Monte Irvin, 96, the New York Giants Hall of Famer who was part of the first wave of top black players; and Joe Garagiola, the famously mediocre catcher who brought a comic’s touch to the broadcast booth.

Basketball lost Jim McMillian, the Columbia forward who helped the Los Angeles Lakers team of Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West win the 1972 crown; Dwayne “Pearl” Washington, the Syracuse dynamo who sent Big East basketball soaring in the 1980s; and Nate Thurmond, a force at center who could anchor any Warriors team of any era.

Gone in boxing was Aaron Pryor, a relentless fighter who dueled with Alexis Arguello in the 1980s. In football, it was Buddy Ryan, the pugnacious defensive master who coached two NFL teams and was coordinator for the dominant 1985 Chicago Bears; Dennis Byrd, the Jets lineman who went on to walk after being paralyzed in a 1992 game; and Dennis Green, who coached Minnesota and Arizona and was the NFL’s second black head coach.

Hockey mourned Andy Bathgate, the high-scoring New York Rangers right wing and 1959 NHL MVP. Skiing remembered Bill Johnson,

On May 25, 1965, heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali stands over fallen challenger Sonny Liston, shouting and gesturing shortly after dropping Liston with a short hard right to the jaw in Lewiston, Maine. Ali, a three-time world champion, died June 3 at age 74. JOHN ROONEY / ASSOCIATED PRESS

the American downhiller who backed up his big talk with Olympic gold in 1984.

Soccer is now without Johan Cruyff, whose wizardry made the freewheeling Dutch of the 1970s the envy of the sport. Joao Havelange, who built FIFA into a global gold mine and a breeding ground for widespread corruption, died at 100.

Bud Collins and Craig Sager will be remembered for their sports journalism and their fashion choices.

Collins, in newspapers and on TV, brought insight, wit and heart to tennis, his passion matched only by

his wardrobe’s pinks and prints. Sager, a broadcaster bedecked in sports jackets that spilled out of a psychedelic dream, worked NBA sidelines with diligence and humor, and made a gallant last stand against leukemia.

Muhammad Ali, 74

On that last ride, the one through his hometown, the windshield of the hearse was covered with so many strewn flowers the driver could barely see the road let alone the throngs lining the streets.

Continued on C5

This Feb. 19, 1976, photo shows Arnold Palmer teeing off with “Arnie’s Army” behind him at the Los Angeles Open. Known as “The King,” Palmer died Sept. 25 at age 87. AP

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

C5

SPORTS DEATHS 2016 Muhammad Ali was back where it all began, in Louisville, Kentucky, where he launched a career that would shake up the country and the world like no athlete before or after him.

He was a three-time heavyweight champion, an audacious mix of speed, dazzle and brute force — a stark counterpoint years later to the shuffling man with a whisper slowed by Parkinson’s and countless punches.

His fights with Joe Frazier were an epic trilogy.

He shouted and preened.

He reminded us he could “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” He proclaimed himself The Greatest. He did it with wit and guile, boasts and taunts, in prose and rhyme, and always with a wink. He understood the needs of the marketplace and the showmanship that goes with ticket sales.

Ali fought everywhere — Germany, Malaysia, the Philippines, Zaire. He said they would know him in an Asian rice paddy, and who would doubt him?

Ali lost prime years as a fighter, refusing military induction during the Vietnam War. He spoke up when that was not in fashion. He changed his religion and his name. He became a flash point for a country on edge.

Time softened the rancor.

By the end, he was a national monument, a global ambassador. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he stood, shakily, with torch in hand at the cauldron. Even then, like a butterfly, he could take flight.

“The man who has no imagination,” he once said, “has no wings.”

Gordie Howe, 88

He was as elemental to the game as ice.

Gordie Howe came out of the hard Saskatchewan prairie and presided over his sport for five decades.

No one disputed his singular place in the game. He was Mr. Hockey.

Even Wayne Gret zky acknowledged the preeminence of No. 9 of the Detroit Red Wings, and it was no coincidence Gretzky wore No. 99.

Howe joined the NHL just after World War II, and before he was done finished with 801 goals and 1,850 points — records Gretzky would go onto break. He led the Red Wings to four Stanley Cups and was MVP six times.

Legions of Canadian kids grew up wanting to be Gordie Howe. He was a player with vision, grit and a shot that would pulverize goalies, although that wasn’t the

Tennessee’s Pat Summitt (above, celebrating her eighth national title in 2008) is the NCAA’s all-time winningest basketball coach. She died June 28 at age 64.

“Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe (above, with the Detroit Red Wings in 1956) set records that stood decades. The 23-time all-star died June 10 at age 88. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS

only way he hurt opponents.

Sticks and checks and fists were the flip side to his majesty on the ice.

“He was as strong as a moose and knew every angle,” Hall of Fame linemate Ted Lindsay said.

Family was paramount, and when he left the NHL at 45 to join the renegade WHA, nothing gave him more pleasure than to play beside sons Mark and Marty. This Methuselah with a slap shot came back to the NHL at 52.

“He was,” former Flyers captain Bobby Clarke said, “the ultimate professional hockey player.”

Arnold Palmer, 87

His was a life well played.

When golfers today look around at the big prize money on offer, the television coverage all over the world, the sponsorship plums to be plucked and the place golf holds in the sports conversation, they can take a 3-iron from their bag, hold it aloft and thank Arnold Palmer .

“He was The King of our sport and always will be,” Jack Nicklaus said.

Palmer never much cared for the regal honorific. His

roots were in western Pennsylvania, and with sinewy wrists, a whip of a swing, a swaggering glint in his eye and a cigarette never far from his fingers he carried an entire sport into a new age.

Palmer and TV came along at the same time. They did quite nicely. It was a happy marriage.

Long before the mania of Tiger Woods swept the sports landscape, Palmer put it all in motion.

“If it wasn’t for Arnold, golf wouldn’t be as popular as it is today,” Woods said.

Palmer won seven majors and 62 PGA tournaments, and his rivalry with Nicklaus gave golf its juice.

Palmer had a daring game, a gambler’s instinct and a connection to the gallery that liberated golf from its country-club enclaves. And he was fortified by “Arnie’s Army,” his band of volunteers, ready for the commander to walk the fairway.

Pat Summitt, 64

When she was 38 and deep into a pregnancy, Pat Summitt insisted on making a recruiting trip to Pennsylvania. After all, she had a

job to do.

But the timing was off for the Tennessee basketball coach. Her water broke while she was making her recruiting pitch. A frantic ride to the airport followed, although Summitt was the calmest one around.

The plane was prepared to stop in Virginia. But Summitt, who bleeds Volunteer orange, wouldn’t hear of it.

Damned if her child would be born anywhere but Tennessee. And so he was.

Her stare could crack steel.

Her authority was unchallenged. She coached 38 years at Tennessee. Even Peyton Manning, when playing football for the school, sought her advice.

She became the first NCAA coach to reach 1,000 wins.

Her showdowns with UConn counterpart Geno Auriemma became the sport’s signature rivalry.

She moved women’s basketball into big-time arenas.

And when the conversation turns to the game’s greatest coaches — man or woman — her name is part of it.

Her coaching — and her life — was cut short by early onset dementia. Her leg-

Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez died Sept. 25 in a boating accident at age 24. The two-time All-Star was NL Rookie of the Year in 2013 and had a 38-17 career record.

acy, as President Barack Obama noted, was not in the championships but in her example and her call for young women to “practice hard, play harder and live with courage on and off the court.”

Jose Fernandez, 24

Maybe these are the images to remember: the succession of batters flailing at his pitches; his Cuban grandmother in the stands and watching him pitch for the first time; the unrestrained exuberance of him pounding the dugout railing, the joy of baseball, pure and simple.

But other images are just as indelible for Jose Fernandez , the Miami Marlins right-hander with so much skill and promise: his No. 16 carved into the pitching mound dirt; the tearful leadoff home run by teammate Dee Gordon in the Marlins’ first game after his death; the trumpet’s haunting notes of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

Fernandez arrived in Miami accompanied by a riveting story. On his fourth attempt to flee Cuba, at age 15, he jumped into the water

to save his mother after she fell overboard.

And as the sea proved a starting point on his way to stardom, so it was the finish.

On a September night after a game, Fernandez and two friends died when their boat crashed at high speed into rocks near Miami Beach. The medical examiner would rule alcohol and cocaine were in his system.

Fernandez spent four seasons in the majors. He was twice an All-Star and had a 38-17 record. He was NL Rookie of the Year in 2013.

He had a live arm, a winning smile, an entire community behind him and a future possibly pointed to Cooperstown.

He and his girlfriend were expecting their first child.

She was joined in her grief by all of baseball.

“Sadly,” Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said, “the brightest lights are often the ones that extinguish the fastest.”

Contributing to this report were AP sports writers Tim Dahlberg, Doug Ferguson, Larry Lage, Steve Megargee, Tim Reynolds and Steven Wine.

C6

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PEACH BOWL WASHINGTON

In-state talent boosting Huskies’ hopes Petersen convincing players to stay, play for Pac-12 school.

By Dan Raley For the AJC

Trey Adams fills up space like few others in college football. He stands 6-foot8, weighs 309 pounds. He’s sculpted rather than lineman fat.

He is Washington’s left tackle, but he looks and runs like a gigantic tight end. He has NFL written all over him, and he is only a sophomore.

A year ago, Adams and his teammates thumped Southern Mississippi in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. On Saturday, the fourth-seeded Huskies (12-1) will face No. 1 and unbeaten Alabama (13-0) in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, at the Chickfil-A Peach Bowl in the Georgia Dome.

Adams walks and talks with a bit of a swagger as he considers the postseason upgrade.

“We’re not going to, no offense, a little Dallas bowl,” he said. “We’re going to a big bowl. If you want to be the best, you have to play the best. This feels like it was meant to be.”

As much as anyone, Adams represents the dramatic change in talent level and matching attitude at Washington wrought by third-year coach Chris Petersen. For nearly a decade, a number of homegrown players similar in regard to the blue-chip lineman from Wenatchee, Wash., sidestepped a Husky football program in continu-

Peach continued from C1

events will claim the “Battle for Bowl Week” belt, a 30-pound wrestling-style championship belt.

“After players have had practice and films and meetings and everything, we’re going to give them a little levity with these events,” Stokan said. “We don’t have banquets.”

In each of the past six years, Peach Bowl officials point out, the team that won the “Battle for Bowl Week” belt also won the football game. Hearing that, Petersen

Safety Budda Baker, sacking Arizona State’s Manny Wilkins on Nov. 19, originally committed to Oregon before Huskies coach Chris Petersen convinced the Washington native to stay home and play. OTTO GREULE JR. / GETTY IMAGES

‘If you want to be the best, you have to play the best. This feels like it was meant to be.’

short of a miracle worker in restocking the Huskies’ football talent pool. In the 10 seasons before his arrival in Seattle, Washington supplied 14 NFL draft picks; Alabama practically matches that in a solitary draft. Only two first-rounders emerged from the Pac-12 school during the downturn — quarterback Jake Locker to the Titans and cornerback Marcus Trufant to the Falcons. In 2008, no Huskies football player was drafted in any round.

In his first two seasons, Petersen has supplied six NFL picks from his Washington rosters, including three first-rounders in 2014

ous disarray and went elsewhere to win championships and prepare themselves for possible pro careers. Jonathan Stewart to Oregon. Max Browne to USC. Myles Jack to UCLA. David DeCastro and Joshua Garnett to Stanford.

The exodus of elite players from a talent-rich state was nonstop.

That’s no longer the case.

The Crimson Tide might make the following observation once the ball is snapped Saturday: Hey, a lot of these Washington players look just like us. Confident. Competitive. Complete package.

Free safety Budda Baker grew up a few miles from

Husky Stadium, as a teammate of Jack’s at suburban Bellevue High School. Baker originally committed to Oregon. He was a big USC fan as a kid, greatly admiring Trojans breakaway running back Reggie Bush. He had no interest in Washington at all.

Petersen convinced Baker to reverse course and stay home. The defensive back

became a first-team All-Pac-12 choice for the Huskies as a sophomore. He is a persistent All-American selection as a junior. He’ll likely be in the NFL next season.

“Of course, they’ll want to see what we’re about,” Baker said of the Crimson Tide. “We’ve got All-Americans on this team, too.”

Petersen has been nothing

joked he needs to change the Huskies’ practice schedule to include the belt events.

Among other activities planned is one that Stokan calls “the best thing in the bowl business” — a combined visit by the two teams Tuesday night to Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where they are scheduled to hear from civil-rights icons U.S. Rep. John Lewis and the Rev. C.T. Vivian.

On Wednesday, the teams will visit patients at Scottish Rite and Egleston children’s hospitals and will tour the College Football Hall of Fame. That will end the Peach Bowl’s lineup of

activities for the players.

After that, it’s all football for them, except perhaps for any distracting questions that surface during the hour each team will spend on the field of the Georgia Dome on Thursday morning for the College Football Playoff ’s media day. About 500 media members are expected.

Both teams expect to have large contingents of fans in Atlanta by week’s end, although Alabama’s obviously will be larger, given the difference in travel distance.

“Atlanta is a great city. It’s also, geographically, a little ways away for our fans,” Washington Athletic Director

‘After players have had practice and films and meetings and everything, we’re going to give them a little levity with these (bowl) events.’

Trey Adams,

Washington offensive lineman, on playing No. 1 Alabama

Peach Bowl president and CEO Gary Stokan

Jennifer Cohen said. “And they’ve really stepped up, but Husky fans have stepped up all season long for us.”

Each school received an allotment of 12,500 tickets to sell and another 500 for its band.

“Alabama came back to us on the first day and needed another 5,000 tickets to sell,”

Stokan said. “They probably needed a lot more than that, but that was their request.

And we just didn’t have any tickets. Nice situation for us to be in.”

Approximately 38,000 tickets were sold locally by the bowl before the start of the season, including 29,000 through annual renewals.

alone, with more draftees expected in April. The program feels different. Husky Stadium is remodeled, home to a respected coach now and a college football destination again.

“I’m proud to be able to take this program back to where it once was,” said Kevin King, a senior cornerback and solid pro prospect.

All-Pac-12 selections, or the lack of them, proved to be an even more telling example of the football famine in Seattle. Washington didn’t have a first-team, all-conference pick in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 or 2009. It had only five first-teamers chosen throughout the decade before Petersen arrived.

None were linemen, offense or defense. Few battles in the trenches were won.

Thisseasonalone,Petersen has welcomed nine first-team All-Pac-12 choices — the most in school history. That gives the coach 14 overall in his brief tenure at Washington.

Even more encouraging, just one of the Huskies’ current all-league first-teamers is a senior (offensive guard Jake Eldrencamp), though a couple of those underclassmen might decide to leave early for the NFL. Either way, the program should retain its competitiveness next year and beyond.

Adams said he’s ready to mix it up with Alabama in Atlanta, eager for an extended run in the spotlight.

“It’s good vs. good,” he said of facing the Tide. “Obviously it’s going to be a challenge. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hopefully we’ll do it again next year.”

Another 7,300 tickets went to the playoff organization, the conferences of the participating teams, ESPN, sponsors and hospitality package provider PrimeSport.

While the game carries higher stakes than a typical bowl for the teams, it also has elevated importance for the Peach Bowl organization.

“This will be the most significant college football game ever played in Atlanta — until next year when we host the national championship game in Atlanta,” Stokan said. “Everything we have done as a bowl over our 49-year history is to get ready for this game.”

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F> )+4 ) +44 4 G G I I 0 0 B) B ) 0 0 4EBB B) 4E B ) .. .. +0 B) B) ) 0 ) 0 > > 2 = =F+ F+0( 0( G) G)2> 2> >B >B 4* 4* C*42 C* 42+0 +0B B == 2F 2F = B B 4) 4) 0 0 E E== ==I =I 20 E

E0 0 31 ) ) .4 .4 > > . . / / ? 0 0 ( ( F F . .

F F . . 0 0 +B +B>> $=> $=>BB / ,2 / ,2== 4=2 4=2 >4 >42= 2=B> B> ) ) / /4+ 4+20 20** >)+4 >) +4 >+ >+0 0 31@ 31@'7 '7 )+> ) +> B+ B+/ / =F =F+0 +0( ( G G 0B 0B 4 4 +0 B) B) . 0 . 0

2= 2= >4 >4+0 +00+ 0+0( 0( 0 0 / / -+0 +0( ( )+> ) +> >) >)2B 2B 2F 2F = )2/4>20 20 2 B)

. ( .

(E E <> <> >B >B 0 0 = =>7 >7 9 ) ) -+ -+ + > >4 >4 + + . . : :

=

=20 20

/ / >> > + > + 2 ) )++ > B / B // / B B 77 9 B 9 B G G >> 0 0 F F == +0 +0 2E 2 E B7 B7: : 2.

2 . 0 0 B B B B ) ) 20 20 . . >B >B ) 0 ) 0 E EBB F+ F+0 0 E= E= 0 0BB G)2 G) 2 . . . ... > 2 > 2= = => => G+ G+B) B) C@ 42+0 42 +0B> B> .2> .2>BB )+> )+> . . 0 0 2/ 2/** +0( +0 ( 2" 2" > = > = 0 0 0 0 2E 2E. . 0 0<B ( BB 2" ( 2" >) >)2B 2B > B+ B+/ / H H4+ H4+= = 7 7 E= E = 0B 0B .B .B ) G G >> 2 2E E. .

I + ) + ) = =

" " => =>20 2077 9 G G >> B= B=I+ I+0( 0( B2 / / - - /2F /2 F : : ) > > + + 77 9 9 + + 0 0<B .. ..

20 /I 2G 2G07 07: :

/

/ >> > 2 > 2= = C3 C3 42+ 42+0B 0B>> G G+B +B) ) > > >2 >20* 0*)+ )+() () 3C = = 2 2E0 E0 > > =F+ = F+0( 0(

D& D& 42+ 42+0B 0B>> 0 0 F+

F+0 0 2

2F 2F > > 2= 2= DK 2 2== B) B) F>

F> G) G)2 2 G G = = 2 2G0 G0 C* C*33 +0 +0 B) B) +0 +0 . .>>

2= 2= >B2 >B2=/ =/+0 +0( (

- B2 >B >BE0 E0 == ==+2 +2=> => B B / / B) B B) B G2 G20 0 ?C ?C ( / ( / > > E E=+ =+0( 0( B) B) = (E = (E. . == > > >2 >20 0 E EBB / / E4 20 20 F+ F+ B2 B2=I =I >) >)2= 2=BB 2 G G+0 +00+ 0+0 0( B) + B) +== > > 20 20 >B >B= = +( +()B )B B+ B+B. B. 7 7 )2/ ) 2/4> 4>20 20 > > 2= 2= D' D' = I = I/2 /20 0 = = 0 0 33@ @ 0 0 E== E ==I I 3& 20 20 ' 2 33 >) >)22 22B* B* +0( +0 ( 2 2== B) B) == ==+2 +2=> => G) G)2 2 ) ) B) B ) += += G+ G+00 00+0 +0( ( >B > B = = >B24 >B 244 4 B > > F F 0 0 0 0 .. .. B2 1*33 ( 1* ( +0 +0>B >B >B >B = =0 0 2 20 0 = =** 0 0 B B / />7 >7 9; B 9; B .+ .+F +F E4 E4 B2 G) G) B B F F = F =I*

20 G 20 G 0B 0B +B B2 B2 : :

/ / >> > + > + 7 7 ) ) B B / />> G+.

G+... / / BB ( ( +0 +0

07

07 3@ +0 .+ .+ 2 2=0 =0+ + 0 0 B) B) 0 0 02BB ( 02 ( +0 +0 E0 E0. . >> >> B) B) I I / / - - +B

- B2 B) B) +0 +0 . .>> 9B) 9B)= = * * 8E .

8E .: : B) B) BB G2 G2E. E.

B) B) $= $=>B >B +0 . . ( (E E )+ )+>B >B2= 2=I7 I7 %

> + > + ) ) ) )2/ 2/ > > > > 2= 2= D? 42+0 42 +0B> B> = = E> E> / / = =BB / /

B+ B+ = = -+ -+0( 0( C* C*42 42+0 +0B B == G+B G+B) ) '? > > 2 20 0 >> . . B BB = = 2 2>B >B20 20 . G .

G . . B . .

0 0 B) B)

.B .B** + >> + B )2 )2>B >B G G 2 2==-77 ) ) 0+ 0+ ->> G+4 G+4 2E 2EBB . B .

B 0+ 0+0 0 *4 *42+ 2+0B 0B $ $ +B +B G+ G+B) B) 0 33 33*D *D =E =E0 0 ++0 0 .+ .+BB BB. . /2 /2== B) 0 B) 0 /+0 /+0EB EB E EBB / / == B 0>G 0 >G = = G+ G+B) B) )+ )+>> >) >)2B 2B 0 0

F = F F =I I = = . . I I 0 0 . 2 2== 2= 2= = / / + +( ( 0 0>+ >+F F 4.

4.

I> B B ==G G = = 77

= = 2G 2G == 0 0 .. ..I I .I0 .

I0II- ) ) ) ) 3@ 3@ 42+ 42+0B 0B>> 2== B) 2 B) .B .B+ + > > G) G)2 2 G2 G20 0 2 2== B) B) $ BB) ) B+/ B+/ +0 +0 >+H >+H ( ( / / >7 >7 2>B 2 >B20 20 B B G G 2 2==- 2 2== B) B) 2E 2 E=B =B) ) >B >B= = +( +()B )B B+ B+/ / 77 =/

=/ . .2 2 0B 0B)2 )20I 0I ) )

D1 42 42+0 +0B> B> 0 0 = ==+ =+ - 2 2> > > 2= > 2= D& 2 2== B) B) 0 0+ + -> -> G) G)2 2 = = DD* DD*D1 *D1 +0 B) B) + +== *= = 2 2== &3 ) )==+> +>B/ B/ > > 4 44 4 = = 0 0 >7 >7 % # #

# # & && &

= = E> E> . . = =+ + ( ( ) ) > > * * >20* >2 0*)+ )+() () CC 42 42+0 +0B> B> B2 . .

0 0B 0 0B20 20+2 +2 4 4 >B >B F+>+ F+ >+B+ B+0( 0( )+ ) + ( (27 27 G)

G)+

20 20 = =

D& D& 42+0 42 +0B> B> 3K 3K = = 2 2E0 E0 > > 0 0 2 2E E= >>+ > >+>B >B> > 0 0 2 20I 0I ==- - == ) ) 3C 42 42+0 +0B> B> 0 0

+( +()B )B > >>+ >+>B >B>> 2== B) 2 B) 4 4E= E=>7 >7 )+ ) + ( (2 2 = = .. ..+ + =2 =2/ / DK*4 DK *42+ 2+0B 0B $ $ +B +B B2 . .

I B)= B) = 42+ 42+0B 0B>> /+ /+ G G I B)= B)==2E E() B) B) B)+ B)+= = 8E 8E = =B B == EB EB 2E. 2E.

02BB >E 02 >E>B >B + +0 0 B) B) 4E 4E>) >) B B -+ -+0( 0( +B>> B)+ +B B)+= = >B >B= = +( +()B )B .2 .2>> >>77 GI G I 0 0

. .

B) B) E E.. ..>> G+B) G+ B) D' 42 42+0 +0B> B> ++0 0 .E .E + +0( 0( 3K +0 B) B) $0 $0 .. 8E 8E = =B B =7 =7 +

+// //I I EB. E B. = =

31 31 42+ 42+0B 0B>7 >7 % # #

" "

% $ % $

& & E E>> >> . ... >B >B** =22 = 22- ) ) C3 42 42+0 +0B> B> 3& > >>+ >+>B >B>> 0 0 > > F F 0 0 = = 2 2E0 E0 > > B2 . .

)2>B )2 >B -. . )2 )2/ / + +BI BI B2 +B +B>> B)+= B) += >B >B= = +( +()B )B G+ G+07 07 >B

>B = =22 22- ) ) 3K > >>+ >+>B >B>> +0 B) B) > > 20 20 ) . ) . . .B) B)2E 2E() () ) .. .. >) >)2= 2=BB 2

2/ 2/+0 +0( ( B) B) $=> $=>BB )E )E0 0 = = 4.

4.

I = B2 > 2= > 2= B . . > >BB 'K 'K 42+ 42+0B 0B>> +0 +0 2E 2 E= >B >B= = +( +()B )B ( ( / / >7 >7 B F B F 0 0 / />>

DD DD 42+0 42 +0B> B> 0 0 0 0 > > 0B 0B = = > 2= > 2= DK 2 2== B) B) ) )E0 E0 =7 =7 %

&" & " E

E2.

2.

0( 0( ) ) 3C 3C 42+ 42+0B 0B>> 0 0 3D 3D = = 2 2E0 E0 > > 2 2== B) B) )2 )2>B >B

-

- => =>77

! "

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) ) + +BB BB> > E= E=() () B B .* .* =>> =2 = =2

0 0 2 2 B B). ).+> +> =( =(** =<> =+ =<> =+() ()BB =/ =/ 0 0 0B 0B20 20+2 +2 =2G = 2G0< 0<>> . . B =/ =/ B2 B) B)

2=B 2 =B) ) B+B B+B. . 77 2 B 2 B). ).+> +> =( =( = = >) >)22 22- 2" 2" 4 += 4 += 2 +0 +0B B = = 4 4B+ B+20 20>> B2 B) B)==2G BG2 BG G2 . . B B2 B2E E ) ) 2 2G0 G0> > +0 +0 . .E E ** +0( +0 ( '*I '*I = = >B >B=+ =+- - B2 = =2G 2G0 0 G+B) G+ B) 1 > > 20 20 > > = = / / +0 +0+0 +0( ( B2 .+ B B) B) B B . . = =>> B2 C3* C3*D? D? F+ B2 F+ B2=I =I 2F 2F = B) B) .B .B+/ +/2= 2=

F

F 0> 20 E E0 0 I I 0+ 0+() ()B7 B7 =2G = 2G0 0 E( E()B )B 2 2 B B). ).++ >* =(

=( = =<> <> 4 4 >> >> ,E ,E>B >B >) >)2= 2=BB 2 B) B) (2 (2 . . .+0 .+0 0 0 >B >B= = B B ) )

B) B) . ... +0B +0B2 2 B) B) 0 0 J20 J20

G+B) G+ B) )+ )+>> . . B ) 0 ) 0 B2 4 4 G+.

G+ . 2 2E E=B =B) ) 8E 8E = =B B == 0 0 (+ (+F +F +BB + BB> > E= E=() () 53 53K K*& *&66 +B> +B> > > 2 20 0 +F+ + F+>+ >+20 20 ) ) / /4+ 4+20 20>) >)+4 +4 +0 B)= B) = I I = =>7 >7 ) )

F 0> B2 B222- B) B) . .

20 I I. .

E

E>J >J J JII-<> <> 3K 3K*I *I = =

E=> E =>BB E4 E 4 B) B ) /+ /+ . . G+ G+B) B) 3 3 3 3 = = / / +0 +0+0 +0(7 (7 EBB 2 E 2 B B). ).+> +> =( =( = = ./ ./..I . .

B) B) B B . . => => ?& I I = = >> +0 +0 3K 4.

4.

I> B) B) . . >B >B ' 2/ 2/+0 +0( ( > = =2G 2G0 0 2 2E E() ()BB B)= B)=2E 2E() () 4 += 4 += 2 B B -. . => => B2 > >>E >E= = B) B)

B B . . => => 2 B)+ B)+= = >B >B= = +( +()B )B 4.

4.

I2" = =B) B)77 9 +( 9 +()B )B 2 2= = G G G 0B 0B 2EB 2E B :: = =2G 2G0 0 > + > + 9G 9G > + > +

; B ;

B<> <> ( ( BB B) B) ( ( / / *G *G+0 +00+ 0+0( 0( B2E B2 E ) ) 2 2G0 G0 0 0 ( ( BB 2E 2EBB 2 ) = ) = 7< 7<:: ) )

F 0> 5 5 **?6 G G = = 2# 2#** + . + ..I .I . .+/ +/+0 +0 B B G) G) 0 0 2

2

. .

2 2<> <> 4 4 >> >> 0 0 = = /+ /+ $ $ . .

G >> +0B G +0B = = 4B 4B 20 B) B) $0 $0 ..

4.

4.

I7 ) ) B B . . = =>> ) ) F G20 >+H >+H >B= >B = +( +()B )B 0 0 0 0 2 2E E=* ( / ( / .2 .2>+ >+0( 0( >B >B= = - B2 .* .* B+/2 B+ /2= = 77 2 B 2 B). ).+> +> =( =( = = !+ !+0+ 0+>) >)

G+B) G+ B) D? D?1 1 I I = = >> 4 > 4 >>+ >+0( 0( 0 0

B)= B) = B2 B2E E ) ) 2 2G0 G0>> B2 2F 2F =*

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/ == =F =F+0 +0 == ==+> +>20 20 > B) B) 20.

20.I I 4.

4. I I => => G+ G+B) B) 2 2E E= >B= >B = +( +()B )B > > > >20 20>> G+B G+B) ) B . . > >BB 3KK 3K K = = 4B 4B+2 +20> 0>77

<

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0> > > +BI +BI 4E 4E0 0 BE BE B B

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C8

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

COLLEGE FOOTBALL Tech

TODAY’S BOWL GAMES ST. PETERSBURG BOWL

Miami, Ohio vs. Mississippi St., 11 a.m., ESPN Records: Miami, Ohio (6-6, Mid-American Conference); Mississippi State (5-7, SEC) Line: Mississippi State by 14½.

What’s at stake: Miami is the first team in NCAA history to rebound from losing its first six games and finish the regular season 6-6.

Mississippi State has had a disappointing season by its recent standards.

Key matchup: Miami’s defense against Mississippi State dual-threat QB Nick Fitzgerald, who has rushed for 1,243 yards and 14 touchdowns while throwing for 2,287 yards and 21 TDs. Fitzgerald broke Dak Prescott’s school single-season rushing record for a quarterback.

Players to watch: Miami, Ohio: QB Gus Ragland has thrown for 1,274 yards and 15 TDs. WR James Gardner averages a team-leading 16.5 yards per reception with 40 catches for 658 yards and five TDs. Mississippi State: Fitzgerald is the focal point of the Bulldogs’offense. Once the ball leaves the QB’s hands, though, it’s often bound for WR Fred Ross, who has 68 catches for 873 yards and a SEC-leading 12 TDs.

QUICK LANE BOWL

Maryland (6-6, Big Ten) vs.

Boston College (6-6, ACC), 2:30 p.m., ESPN.

Records: Maryland (6-6, Big Ten), Boston College (6-6, ACC) Line: Maryland by 2½.

What’s at stake: A winning record. The team that comes out on top will be over .500, a fact the victors can point to with pride. Both teams were 3-9 last season.

Key matchup: In a game featuring two stingy

Georgia continued from C1

I will get better. I just felt good about it.”

This time last year, Ridley wasn’t even on Georgia’s radar screen. And not just because he wasn’t on the team. But within a few weeks he was a Bulldog.

When the coaching change happened, Ridley was still widely known as Cavin – no L – the younger brother of Alabama’s then-freshman star receiver Calvin Ridley. New Georgia head coach Kirby Smart hired a new receivers

defenses and low-scoring offenses, ranking 92nd or lower in scoring, special teams may prove to be pivotal. Maryland’s Adam Greene made just 8 of 13 field goals and missed an extra point this season. Mike Knoll made 11 of 12 field goals for Boston College and missed an extra point.

Players to watch: Maryland: QB Perry Hills.

The senior completed a Big Ten-best 66 percent of his passes and ranked second in pass efficiency. He threw 10 touchdown passes and just three interceptions.

Boston College: DE Harold Landry. The junior is the only player in the Quick Lane Bowl on the AP’s All-America team, earning secondteam honors. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder tied for the national lead with 15 sacks.

INDEPENDENCE BOWL

Vanderbilt vs. N. Carolina St., 5 p.m., ESPN2 Records: Vanderbilt (6-6, SEC); NC State (6-6, ACC) Line: N.C. State by 5½.

What’s at stake: Vanderbilt wants to keep momentum from a late-season surge that included victories over Mississippi and Tennessee. N.C. State is in a similar position after an upset win in the regular-season finale over North Carolina.

Key matchup: N.C. State’s DE Bradley Chubb vs. Vanderbilt’s improved offense: The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Chubb leads the nation with 21 tackles for a loss, including 9½ sacks. Vanderbilt’s offense scored 83 points in its final two games.

Players to watch: N.C. State: RB Matt Dayes.

The 5-foot-10, 203-pound senior has 1,119 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.

Vanderbilt: LB Zach Cunningham. The firstteam AP All-American leads the SEC with 119 tackles.

coach, James Coley, who had been the offensive coordinator at Miami and thus knew about the younger Ridley.

Coley helped get Ridley on Georgia’s radar screen, and he not only committed but enrolled early. He also asked to be called Riley, partially to be out of his brother’s shadow.

But he continued to seek out his older brother’s advice, especially as Georgia went through a rough season, and Ridley’s playing time was sporadic.

“He told me to just to keep grinding. Keep pushing,” Ridley said. “It may not look as

bright as you want it right now, but I promise you it’s going to get better if you keep grinding.” When Ridley arrived at Georgia last January, he admitted it was a bit of a “wow” moment, seeing that the rest of the 2016 class was still six months or more from arriving. But he soon realized it gave him a heads up.

“You get a chance to learn the plays, you get a chance to catch footballs with the new starting quarterback,” he said. “Not all the other guys are coming in to do this. So I really took advantage of it.”

continued from C1

our thoughts and everything and just still remain at peace with it.”

A chapter will close in Burden’s life Dec. 31 when the Yellow Jackets play Kentucky in the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. It will be the final game of Burden’s career and the conclusion of a year that has been an uplifting rejoinder to a most painful 2015.

“I’m extremely happy for him,” coach Paul Johnson said.

In May, Burden earned his degree in business management and began his pursuit of a master’s in building construction in the fall.

He completed his third season as a starter and for the first time earned All-ACC honors from both coaches and media. He played 11 of 12 games and, compared to the previous two seasons, made it through with little damage to his body.

Perhaps most satisfyingly, after Tech’s disastrous 3-9 season in 2015, he played a significant role in helping the Jackets correct their course.

Behind his blocking and leadership of a young offensive line, Tech re-established its run-game authority, improving week to week and finishing the regular season with seven consecutive games in which it averaged 5.3 yards per carry or more. In Johnson’s tenure, the previous long was five games (2011).

“It’s been a blessing,” Burden said. “I love each and every one of my teammates. They’ve been with me through the worst part and through the best part.

It’s been an amazing season for me.”

Burden offered his leadership at the midway point of the season, when Tech was 3-3 after having lost three games in a row. The taste of the 2015 season was still fresh.

“We were like, we’re not going back to what we were the previous year,” Burden

Freddie Burden played a big role for the Jackets this year.

said. “That’s just something we talked about all summer, since last year. We’re not doing that.”

In the second half, the Jackets went 5-1. Tech ended a two-game losing streak to Duke and upset then-No. 14 Virginia Tech (Burden sat out, breaking a 35-game start streak) and Georgia (Burden threw a block on A-back Qua Searcy’s last-minute touchdown plunge). He has a piece of the Sanford Stadium hedges in his apartment.

Before the game-winning drive, Burden said, “I remember I went out there, me and Justin (Thomas) were telling all the guys, ‘Keep calm, keep your composure and we’ll win this thing.’”

A year ago, Burden was mourning the loss of his father, who spent the final 10 months of his life at Piedmont Hospital awaiting a heart transplant. Burden made near-daily trips to see him, even during the season.

Grinding through a difficult semester, he was trying to get by on four or five hours of sleep and was at the same time playing with a thumb injury that required surgery after the season, not an inconsequential affliction for a center.

On top of that, the Jackets tumbled from preseason ACC title contenders to the team’s worst season since 1994.

In the midst, Burden earned widespread respect for his attitude and determination in the face of such adversity. While playing an anonymous position and hardlyastar,hehasresonated with Tech fans.

“People admire him,” said Tech business professor Bill Todd, who taught a healthcare management class Burden took that trying semester. “I know I do because of the way he managed that whole process.”

A year later, nothing can

replace his father Willie, who starred at N.C. State, had a Hall-of-Fame career in the CFL and at the end of his life taught sports management at Georgia Southern.

Burden said he thinks about him daily.

“It was rough,” he said.

“It still is rough.”

Burden, though, said he feels his presence, often before games, which was the time when he called his father at the hospital for a word of encouragement.

“It’s like, I know you’re here with me, so I have no worries,” Burden said.

He will leave Tech with his degree and a trove of memories.

Pregame pep talks from te am chaplain Derr ick Moore. Weekly meals at Zaxby’s with teammates Patrick Gamble and Rod Rook-Chungong (Burden orders the chicken finger plate with hot honey mustard). The trip to Ireland for the season-opening win over Boston College.

The laughs and barbs traded in the offensive-line meeting room. His daily chats with locker neighbor Niko Anderson. The support of former teammates such as Errin Joe and Beau Hankins who walked alongside him through his valley.

Burden is rated the No. 15 prospect for centers for the upcoming draft by cbssports. com. He said he was considering accepting an invitation to the College Gridiron Showcase game in January.

“He’s got his degree and hopefully he’ll get a chance there at the next level to see if he can play, and if not, he’s going to be ready to go in the work force and be very successful,” Johnson said.

Burden said that he plans to complete his master’s in building construction and eventually pursue a career in a related field.

In his last days as a Jacket, Burden was trying to enjoy the moment and home in on Kentucky. A chapter will close and another one will begin.

Said Burden, “Just thankful for the opportunity.”

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

C9

SPORTS SCOREBOARD FOOTBALL NFL

East W L T Pct PF y-New England 13 2 0 .867 406 Miami 10 5 0 .667 349 Buffalo 7 8 0 .467 389 N.Y. Jets 4 11 0 .267 245 South W L T Pct PF y-Houston 9 6 0 .600 262 Tennessee 8 7 0 .533 357 Indianapolis 7 8 0 .467 387 Jacksonville 3 12 0 .200 298 North W L T Pct PF y-Pittsburgh 10 5 0 .667 372 Baltimore 8 7 0 .533 333 Cincinnati 5 9 1 .367 298 Cleveland 1 14 0 .067 240 West W L T Pct PF x-Oakland 12 3 0 .800 410 Kansas City 10 4 0 .714 319 Denver 8 6 0 .571 299 San Diego 5 10 0 .333 383 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF y-Dallas 12 2 0 .857 366 x-N.Y. Giants 10 5 0 .667 291 Washington 8 6 1 .567 386 Philadelphia 6 9 0 .400 340 South W L T Pct PF y-Atlanta 10 5 0 .667 502 Tampa Bay 8 7 0 .533 337 New Orleans 7 8 0 .467 437 Carolina 6 9 0 .400 353 North W L T Pct PF Detroit 9 5 0 .643 301 Green Bay 9 6 0 .600 401 Minnesota 7 8 0 .467 289 Chicago 3 12 0 .200 269 West W L T Pct PF y-Seattle 9 5 1 .633 329 Arizona 6 8 1 .433 374 Los Angeles 4 11 0 .267 218 San Francisco 2 13 0 .133 286 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division Thursday’s Games Philadelphia 24, N.Y. Giants 19 Saturday’s Games New England 41, N.Y. Jets 3 Jacksonville 38, Tennessee 17 Washington 41, Chicago 21 Green Bay 38, Minnesota 25 Cleveland 20, San Diego 17 Atlanta 33, Carolina 16 Miami 34, Buffalo 31, OT Oakland 33, Indianapolis 25 New Orleans 31, Tampa Bay 24 San Francisco 22, Los Angeles 21 Arizona 34, Seattle 31 Houston 12, Cincinnati 10 Sunday’s Games Pittsburgh 31, Baltimore 27 Denver at Kansas City, late Today’s Game Detroit at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 1 New England at Miami, 1 p.m.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Green Bay at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Carolina at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Dallas at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Chicago at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

New Orleans at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

N.Y. Giants at Washington, 1 p.m.

Seattle at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.

Kansas City at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.

Arizona at Los Angeles, 4:25 p.m.

Oakland at Denver, 4:25 p.m.

NFL Injury report PA 236 345 348 399 PA 304 361 372 376 PA 303 294 305 425 PA 361 274 258 386 PA 258 274 364 318 PA 374 353 416 385 PA 285 364 297 361 PA 269 356 350 455

Today DETROIT LIONS at DALLAS COWBOYS — LIONS: DNP: RB Theo Riddick (wrist), CB Darius Slay (hamstring), C Travis Swanson (concussion). LIMITED: DE Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder), LB DeAndre Levy (knee). FULL: S Rafael Bush (back), DT Haloti Ngata (quadricep), QB Matthew Stafford (finger/right hand), DT Khyri Thornton (illness). COWBOYS: DNP: CB Morris Claiborne (groin), DT Tyrone Crawford (shoulder, hamstring), LB Justin Durant (elbow), DE Demarcus Lawrence (back), QB Mark Sanchez (not injury related), T Tyron Smith (back, knee), DT Cedric Thornton (ankle).

LIMITED: DE Jack Crawford (foot), LB Sean Lee (knee). FULL: WR Dez Bryant (back), S Barry Church (forearm), G Ronald Leary (back), S J.J. Wilcox (thigh).

Sunday’s summary Steelers 31, Ravens 27 Baltimore Pittsburgh

3 3 11 10 — 27 7 0 3 21 — 31 First Quarter Pit—Grimble 20 pass from Roethlisberger (Boswell kick), 7:12.

Bal—FG Tucker 41, 5:50.

Second Quarter Bal—FG Tucker 38, :18.

Third Quarter Bal—S.Smith 18 pass from Flacco (S.Smith pass from Flacco), 13:26.

Pit—FG Boswell 36, 9:35.

Bal—FG Tucker 46, 1:28.

Fourth Quarter Bal—FG Tucker 23, 14:18.

Pit—Bell 7 run (Boswell kick), 11:41.

Pit—Bell 7 pass from Roethlisberger (Boswell kick), 7:16.

Bal—Juszczyk 10 run (Tucker kick), 1:18.

Pit—Brown 4 pass from Roethlisberger (Boswell kick), :09.

A—66,276.

Bal Pit First downs 22 23 Total Net Yards 368 406 Rushes-yards 26-122 22-127 Passing 246 279 Punt Returns 2-25 0-0 Kickoff Returns 1-19 3-59 Interceptions Ret. 2-42 1-0 Comp-Att-Int 30-44-1 24-33-2 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-16 0-0 Punts 3-36.3 3-45.7 Fumbles-Lost 2-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 7-95 4-45 Time of Possession 34:37 25:23 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Baltimore, Dixon 12-57, West 10-27, Campanaro 1-23, Juszczyk 2-15, Koch 1-0. Pittsburgh, Bell 20-122, Rogers 1-6, Roethlisberger 1-(minus 1).

PASSING—Baltimore, Flacco 30-44-1-262.

Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger 24-33-2-279.

RECEIVING—Baltimore, Pitta 8-75, S.Smith 7-79, Wallace 4-21, Perriman 3-32, West 3-28, Juszczyk 2-10, Waller 1-11, Boyle 1-5, Dixon 1-1. Pittsburgh, Brown 10-96, Rogers 4-84, James 4-49, Bell 3-15, Grimble 1-20, Ayers 1-9, Hamilton 1-6.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.

Saturday’s late summary Texans 12, Bengals 10 Cincinnati Houston

0 3 0 7 — 10 0 0 3 9 — 12 Second Quarter Cin—FG Bullock 43, :00.

Third Quarter Hou—FG Novak 25, 9:05.

Fourth Quarter Hou—FG Novak 22, 13:31.

Cin—LaFell 86 pass from Dalton (Bullock

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SCHEDULE BOWL Celebration New Mexico Las Vegas Camellia Cure New Orleans Miami Beach Boca Raton Poinsettia Potato Bahamas Armed Forces Dollar General Hawaii St. Petersburg Quick Lane Independence Heart of Dallas Military Holiday Cactus Pinstripe Russell Athletic Foster Farms Texas Birmingham Belk Alamo Liberty Sun Music City Arizona Orange Citrus TaxSlayer Peach Fiesta Outback Cotton Rose Sugar Championship

LOCATION Atlanta Albuquerque Las Vegas Montgomery, Ala. Orlando New Orleans Miami Boca Raton San Diego Boise, Idaho Nassau Fort Worth Mobile, Ala. Honolulu St. Petersburg Detroit Shreveport, La. Dallas Annapolis, Md. San Diego Phoenix Bronx, N.Y. Orlando, Fla. Santa Clara, Calif.

Houston Birmingham, Ala. Charlotte, N.C. San Antonio Memphis, Tenn.

El Paso Nashville, Tenn.

Tucson, Ariz.

Miami Gardens Orlando Jacksonville Atlanta Glendale, Ariz.

Tampa Arlington, Texas Pasadena, Calif.

New Orleans Tampa

Falcons continued from C1

“This team is amazing, man,” Tialavea said after the 33-16 victory. “I don’t think anyone knows how much we care for each other. You say ‘brotherhood’ all the time, and it is a brotherhood, but it’s a lot deeper than that. I love these guys and respect them a whole lot and to have them celebrate with me was such an honor.”

On most teams, Tialavea might be fill in for a few plays as a blocker and never see the ball. The Falcons promoted him from the practice squad because they were short on tight ends after Jacob Tamme went on injured reserve and starter Austin Hooper was sidelined with a knee injury.

But that’s not the way it’s worked with the Falcons

DATE Dec. 17 Dec. 17 Dec. 17 Dec. 17 Dec. 17 Dec. 17 Dec. 19 Dec. 20 Dec. 21 Dec. 22 Dec. 23 Dec. 23 Dec. 23 Dec. 24 Today Today Today Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Thursday Friday Friday Friday Friday Friday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Jan. 2 Jan. 2 Jan. 2 Jan. 2 Jan. 9

PREGAME.COM LINE kick), 10:45.

Hou—Blue 24 run (kick blocked), 8:41.

A—71,836.

Cin Hou First downs 15 17 Total Net Yards 294 250 Rushes-yards 19-50 24-95 Passing 244 155 Punt Returns 7-15 4-32 Kickoff Returns 4-107 0-0 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-0 Comp-Att-Int 28-41-1 18-29-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 3-24 4-21 Punts 8-45.8 8-46.4 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 6-60 3-25 Time of Possession 28:54 31:06 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Cincinnati, Burkhead 12-42, Hill 7-8. Houston, Blue 21-73, Savage 1-11, A.Hunt 1-6, Prosch 1-5.

PASSING—Cincinnati, Dalton 28-41-1-268.

Houston, Savage 18-29-0-176.

RECEIVING—Cincinnati, Core 8-39, LaFell 6-130, Uzomah 5-28, Burkhead 4-25, Boyd 2-25, Hewitt 1-8, Wright 1-8, Erickson 1-5.

Houston, Fiedorowicz 4-42, Blue 4-17, Hopkins 3-43, Fuller 3-39, A.Hunt 2-28, Mumphery 2-7.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—Cincinnati, Bullock 43.

BASKETBALL College Scores and Schedule

Sunday’s Games FAR WEST Hawaii 60, Southern Miss. 46 Utah 74, Stephen F. Austin 66

Today’s Game FAR WEST Morgan St. at Loyola Marymount, 8 p.m.

Tuesday’s Games EAST Northwestern at Penn St., 3 p.m.

Cornell at Syracuse, 7 p.m.

SOUTH Illinois at Maryland, 5 p.m.

Howard at VCU, 7 p.m.

Lander at South Carolina, 7 p.m.

Covenant at Tennessee St., 8 p.m.

SMU at Memphis, 9 p.m.

MIDWEST Rutgers at Wisconsin, 7 p.m.

Michigan St. at Minnesota, 9 p.m.

SOUTHWEST Kent St. at Texas, 7 p.m.

FAR WEST Eastern New Mexico at New Mexico St., 9 p.m.

CS Bakersfield at UC Santa Barbara, 10 p.m.

FAVORITE

OPENTODAY O/U UNDERDOG Monday St. Petersburg Bowl At St. Petersburg, Fla. Mississippi St 11 14 (58½) Miami (Ohio) Quick Lane Bowl At Detroit Maryland +2 2 (43½) Boston Collge Independence Bowl At Shreveport, La. NC State 4 6 (45) Vanderbilt Tuesday Heart of Dallas Bowl At Dallas Army 9½ 11 (48½) NorthTexas Military Bowl At Annapolis, Md. Temple 12 11½ (41) Wake Forest Holiday Bowl At San Diego Washington St. 4½ 10 (61) Minnesota Cactus Bowl At Phoenix Boise St. 9½ 7 (67) Baylor Wednesday Pinstripe Bowl At New York Pittsburgh 3 5½ (65½)Northwestern Russell Athletic Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Miami 1½ 2½ (57) WestVirginia Texas Bowl At Houston TexasA&M 2½ 2½ (57) Kansas St Foster Farms Bowl At Santa Clara, Calif.

Utah 12 7 (54½) Indiana Thursday Birmingham Bowl At Birmingham, Ala. South Florida 11 10 (62) South Carolina Belk Bowl At Charlotte, N.C. VirginiaTech 6 7 (61) Arkansas Alamo Bowl At San Antonio Colorado 4½ 3 (62) Oklahoma St

NFL

Today OPENTODAY O/U UNDERDOG 7 6½ (45) Detroit Sunday atTENNESSEE 3 3 (41) Houston Buffalo 5 6 (45) at NYJETS at CINCINNATI OFF OFF(OFF) Baltimore atWASHINGTON 5 8 (44) NYGiants at DETROIT OFF OFF(OFF) Green Bay at INDIANAPOLIS 7 6 (49) Jacksonville at PHILADELPHIA OFF OFF(OFF) Dallas at MINNESOTA 6½ 6 (40½) Chicago atTAMPABAY 3½ 5 (48) Carolina at PITTSBURGH OFF OFF(OFF) Cleveland atATLANTA 6½ 6½ (56) New Orleans New England 6 7 (44½) at MIAMI Arizona 7½ 6½ (41)at LOSANGLES at SAN DIEGO OFF OFF(OFF) Kansas City Seattle 9 9½ (44½) at SAN FRAN at DENVER OFF OFF(OFF) Oakland FAVORITE at DALLAS

GEORGIA LOTTERIES SUNDAY, DEC. 25 Cash 3 Midday: 0-5-7 Cash 3 Evening: 7-2-5 Cash 4 Midday: 5-1-8-6 Cash 4 Evening: 5-6-4-0 (Saturday) Georgia Five Midday: 5-4-9-1-4

Georgia Five Evening: 4-98-7-9 Fantasy 5: 8-19-26-30-39 (Saturday) Power Ball: 28-38-42-5152 Powerball 21 Power Play 2X (Saturday)

On the Web: www.ajc.com/lottery By phone: 1-800-GALUCKY Please verify numbers with Georgia Lottery Corp. before claiming a prize.

TIME

TV

11 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

5 p.m.

Noon 3:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

10:15 p.m.

2 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

9 p.m.

2 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

9 p.m.

Noon 2 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

8 p.m.

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this season. If their game plan calls for use of multiple tight ends, then that doesn’t change even if one of them is new to the active roster.

Tialavea was the third tight end on third-and-goal in the first quarter. When Carolina’s defense forced Ryan to scramble, Tialavea alertly broke from the back of the end zone to the front to receive the TD pass from Ryan. Another Falcons tight end, Joshua Perkins, scored the first points of the game with a 26-yard catch in the first quarter.

“They aren’t playing like (number) four and five tight ends,” Ryan said.

That’s been a theme this season for the Falcons’ offense. All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones is the top threat but, unlike last season, other players have made important plays when Jones had quiet

College Football

TEAMS Grambling 10, N.C. Central 9 New Mexico 23, UTSA 20 San Diego State 34, Houston 10 Appalachian State 31, Toledo 28 Arkansas State 31, Central Florida 13 Southern Mississippi 28, Louisiana-Lafayette 21 Tulsa 55, Central Michigan 10 Western Kentucky 51, Memphis 31 BYU 24, Wyoming 21 Idaho 61, Colorado State 50 Old Dominion 24, Eastern Michigan 20 Louisiana Tech 48, Navy 45 Troy 28, Ohio 23 Hawaii 52, Middle Tennessee State 35 Miami (Ohio) vs. Mississippi State Maryland vs. Boston College N.C. State vs. Vanderbilt Army vs. North Texas Temple vs. Wake Forest Minnesota vs. Washington State Boise State vs. Baylor Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern West Virginia vs. Miami Indiana vs. Utah Texas A&M vs. Kansas State South Florida vs. South Carolina Arkansas vs. Virginia Tech Oklahoma State vs. Colorado Georgia vs. TCU Stanford vs. North Carolina Nebraska vs. Tennessee South Alabama vs. Air Force Michigan vs. Florida State LSU vs. Louisville Kentucky vs. Georgia Tech No. 1Alabama vs. No. 4 Washington No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Ohio State Florida vs. Iowa Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin USC vs. Penn State Auburn vs. Oklahoma Semifinal winners

days and when he missed two games because of injury.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, this season Ryan is 270 for 364 (74 percent) for 3,300 yards with 29 TDs and three interceptions when throwing to targets other than Jones. In 16 games last season Ryan was 271 for 396 (68 percent) for 2,720 yards with 13 TDs and 11 interceptions when not throwing at Jones.

The Jones-heavy attack has evolved into one in which Taylor Gabriel, salvaged from the waiver wire before the season, leads the Falcon with six touchdown receptions.

“I think it shows (Ryan) really trusts his training and knows that (with) his teammates here, the standard doesn’t change,” Quinn said.

“And I think it goes deeper than that with the personnel staff to keep finding the

right answers, the right guys.

Then for the coaching staff, how to feature them and having that balance together, I think is an important thing.”

Certainly having so many players contributing in meaningful ways probably helps the Falcons form what they say is strong team chemistry. Tialavea got his moment to experience it in Carolina.

Before the game, in a message posted to his Twitter account, Tialavea wrote that two years ago he was working two jobs and sleeping on the floor at the home of a family friend in Utah. The Falcons signed him to the practice squad during last season and again this year after releasing him from the active roster following training camp.

“I’m really proud of him,” Ryan said of Tialavea. “He’s earned it.”

With 493 career home runs, former Brave Fred McGriff belongs in the Hall of Fame. But just 20.9 percent of voters last year thought so. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Schultz

continued from C1

those statistics morphed into cartoons during the steroid era.

Roger Maris’ longtime record of 61 homers in the 1961 season now ranks seventh on the list behind mutant totals put up by Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, who turned themselves into chemistry experiments, then took a sledgehammer to records when baseball’s owners, union leaders and and commissioner were desperate for improved TV ratings and revenue streams. The message: Check your conscience at the door.

Bonds, McGwire and Sosa have yet to smudge the Hall walls. Bud Selig was just given a pass. So I think I know what’s coming around the bend.

And so, I’m done. This will be my final year of voting for the Hall of Fame.

It’s a deeply flawed voting system. There are too many voters. But the bigger issue is the lack of direction from the Hall on how voters should view past PED users. Votes will always swing on a person’s beliefs and potential biases. But being given a directive like, “You should (or should not) take XYZ about PEDs into consideration” would add some clarity to the system.

Should all steroid users be voted in? Should none of them? What if they were going to be all-time greats regardless? What if there’s no physical proof of use, just testimony?

What if they deny, deny, deny, yell at accusers, seek to ruin others’ lives, then suddenly one day break down in tears for Bob Costas and admit it all (McGwire)?

But voters are given nothing. So we have this debate every year. I’m tired of waiting. With Selig being voted in by a special committee, it has added another layer of frustration for me.

This vote has changed from something I embraced to something I dread. I voted this year because, frankly, I mailed my completed ballot last week before starting to type this column, then realized I was at the end.

Originally I was just going to give you my yeas and nays and remind you of the recent words of Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who said he opposed Bonds and Clemens going into the Hall of Fame: “I feel bad for the guys trying to make judgment calls, as the writers do, and not having the full information or the right to know who did what. ... It’s a character issue. If you can’t play the game at a level where you have put yourself at risk to say, ‘I’m either good enough or not,’ that to me has crossed the line, where I can’t have a lot of respect for you.”

I’ll continue to celebrate those who I believe deserve to be celebrated.

I will go to Cooperstown should my bosses ask me to cover the induction of Braves past. I just won’t be part of the voting process.

Below is my final ballot.

VOTED YES Lee Smith (15th year on ballot): I’ve voted for Smith every year. But too many voters seem to view closers and designated hitters like football

voters view kickers — like part-timers. Smith pitched for 18 seasons, ranks third on the all-time saves list (holding the career record from 1993-2006 until being passed by Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera), led the majors four times and made seven All-Star teams. It’s his final year of eligibility.

Tim Raines (10): This also is his last year of eligibility but, at 69.8 percent last year (75 is required) he has a good chance this time. How a seven-time All-Star, four-time stolen base champion (fifth alltime) and former batting title champ hasn’t made it before is beyond me.

Edgar Martinez (8): I doubt he’s going to make it — the DH thing — but two batting titles, five Silver Sluggers, seven AllStar Games and a career slash line of .312/.418/.515 over 18 seasons says Cooperstown to me.

Fred McGriff (8): 493 home runs, two home run titles, 1,550 RBIs, five AllStar Games, three Silver Sluggers and a career .886 OPS is a great argument.

But I was one of only 92 who voted for him last year (20.9 percent).

Jeff Bagwell (7): It’s the first time I’m voting for him. The credentials have never been an issue: 2,314 hits, 449 homers, 1,529 RBIs, MVP. It always has been about “steroid suspicion.” My previous stance: Wait until their final year of eligibility before voting yes, allowing time for all potential evidence to come out. But I reversed field this year in the belief enough time has passed.

Curt Schilling (5): I’ve gone back and forth on Schilling. It has nothing to do with his politics or that he praised as “awesome” a T-shirt endorsing the lynching of journalists on Twitter. He never won a Cy Young (but was a sixtime All-Star). His career 216 wins and 3.46 ERA aren’t overwhelming. But he had 3,000-plus strikeouts and was one of the greatest postseason pitchers ever: 11-2, 2.23, three World Series, two postseason MVPs. Mike Mussina (4): Probably more like the Hall of Very Good but he’s in my top 10 on ballot with 270 wins, five Gold Gloves and seven All-Stars.

Trevor Hoffman (2): See: Lee Smith. Second on the all-time saves list (601) with seven All-Stars.

Billy Wagner (2): See: Smith and Hoffman. Sixth on the all-time saves list (while playing mostly for Houston) and seven AllStars.

Vladimir Guerrero (1): One of the great underappreciated players of his generation. Career slash line: .318/.379/.553. Also 449 homers, 477 doubles, one MVP, nine All-Stars, eight Silver Sluggers.

NO PED suspicion: Barry Bonds (5), Roger Clemens (5), Sammy Sosa (5), Gary Sheffield (3), Manny Ramirez (1), Ivan Rodriguez (1).

Other nos: Larry Walker (7), Jeff Kent (4), Casey Blake (1), Pat Burrell (1), Orlando Cabrera (1), Mike Cameron (1), J.D. Drew (1), Carlos Guillen (1), Derrek Lee (1), Melvin Mora (1), Magglio Ordonez (1), Jorge Posada (1), Edgar Renteria (1), Arthur Rhodes (1), Freddy Sanchez (1), Matt Stairs (1), Jason Varitek (1), Tim Wakefield (1).

C10

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Monday, Dec. 26, 2016

D LIVING

HONORS LIN-MANUELNAMED ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR D4

News: livingnews@ajc.com | Delivery: ajc.com/customercare or 404-522-4141

WILDLIFE

IN BRIEF

RELATIONSHIPS

Why women should let men make the first move

CHARITY

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Stations fundraise for Children’s Healthcare The second annual Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta radiothon earlier this month brought in pledges of $231,888.

That’s about 9 percent less than the $255,000 collected in 2015.

The four Cumulus stations involved – Q100, Rock 100.5, NewsRadio 106.7 and Kicks 101.5 – ran the marathon from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., an hour shorter than last year, when it ended at 7.

Each station had staff in the lobby of Scottish Rite for set hours during the day, starting with Q100’s Bert Show, followed by Rock 100.5’s Bailey & Southside, then the NewsRadio team of Cheryl White, Rob Stadler and Shannon Burke and closing with Cadillac Jack and Dallas McCade at Kicks 101.5.

For many years, Star 94 hosted careathons there.

Star used to do it for three straight days and during the prime Steve & Vikki years of 2005 to 2007, the station raised a whopping $1.2 million each year. By its final year in 2014 at Star, that total had shrunken to $88,000.

So for Children’s, this new radiothon is a far bigger fundraiser than it had been in the waning years with Star.

As a non profit, Children’s relies heavily on individual donors. Donations are accepted at giving.choa.org.

By Nedra Rhone nrhone@ajc.com

“She is most likely looking for a cub,” says Stephanie Braccini, Zoo Atlanta’s curator of mammals, who is getting ready to weigh Ya Lun, the frisky one, before sending her in to see her mother. The keepers weigh the cubs before they nurse and after they nurse, which is the only way they can know how much milk the infants are receiving.

“This is my second set of twins,” said keeper Jen Andrew, lifting Ya Lun into an acrylic bin on top of a digital scale. Andrew first volunteered at the zoo in 2009, and joined the staff in 2011.

Her first set of twins were Mei Lun and Mei Huan, born to Lun

Georgia native @KelliAmirah’s epic tweets chronicled the roller coaster ride of a burgeoning relationship and served as a cautionary tale for any woman thinking of hooking up with her Uber driver.

In 38 tweets, we learn that Kelli, who attends college in Washington, D.C., is attracted to her Saturday night Uber driver. She leaves her phone charger in the car to create a reason to call him. The driver never answers, so she files a lost item report through Uber.

When she finally meets up with the driver to get her charger, she decides to ask him out. He tells her to send him a text. It turns out he’s married and Kelli is left questioning why he didn’t just say that from the start.

Dawn Maslar aka the Love Biologist, has the answer.

In her book, “Men Chase, Women Choose,” (HCI, $16), Maslar shares the science behind love relationships including why it is best to let a man make the first move.

“A man has a biological impetus to spread his seed. There was that split second where (the driver) is like, ‘Well, maybe…’ but he had a crisis of conscience and he texted her back. It could have gone the other way. He could have waited until after they hooked up to say he was married and she would have been hurt,” Maslar said. “She could have indicated her interest and not asked him out because that could have had unintended consequences.”

For anyone who has experienced those unintended consequences, Maslar’s book offers some insight.

Maslar, a biology professor, was frustrated with relationship books that were based on anecdotal information. As a scientist, she wanted something more.

“There are a lot of rules out there, but I wanted to understand what was the science behind the rule,” said Maslar, whose TEDx talk has received more than 5 million views.

Why should women not call a man? Why do rules like waiting three dates or 90 days to have sex exist? Why is love at first sight generally a myth? It turns out, there is a scientific answer for all of these questions.

Maslar said there are four phases of love, each of which impacts the male and female brain in different ways. Understanding the dynamics of each phase, can make the whole love thing a little bit easier, she said.

But not going through the phases

Pandas continued on D4

Move continued on D4

RODNEY HO

FREE AND CHEAP

Simo with Thomas Wynn & The Believers. Dec. 29. $10 in advance. Smith’s Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-875-1522, www. smithsoldebar.com.

Peach Drop. Dec. 31. Free.

Underground Atlanta, 50 Upper Alabama St., Atlanta.

Marietta Ball Drop. 2 p.m. Dec. 31. Free. Marietta Square, 4 Depot St., Marietta.

Mariettacalendar.com.

Duluth Ball Drop. Ring in 2017 with a firework show and the rise of Duluth’s icon outside of City Hall. Before the midnight celebration, bounce on inflatables or take a trip down a giant snow slide.

Georgia native and country singer Craig Campbell will also perform. 7 p.m. Dec. 31.

Free. City Hall, 3167 Main St., Duluth. Facebook.com.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade. 9 a.m. Dec. 31. Free Baker Street and Peachtree Street. Chick-fil-apeachbowl. com.

Dear Abby D3 Comics D6

Puzzles Television

D3 D2

Twin giant panda cubs Xi Lun (left) and Ya Lun were born Sept. 3 at Zoo Atlanta, the second set of panda twins born at the zoo and the only panda twins in the U.S. They received their names at their 100 Day Naming Celebration on Dec. 12. PHOTOS BY HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Zoo Atlanta panda twins learning to walk

The 9-pound cubs appear to be gaining muscle control.

By Bo Emerson bemerson@ajc.com

A visit to the giant panda nursery at Zoo Atlanta helps explain why brand-new twins Ya Lun and Xi Lun aren’t yet making their public bows.

The 9-pound cubs appear to have no more muscle control than a pair of fur-covered bean bags, and are still struggling to get their feet underneath their football-shaped bodies. Curtsying would be difficult.

Siblings being siblings, you can

MORNING SHOWS

count on Sister Number One to help out Sister Number Two when she tries to stand up.

Just kidding.

Big sister is no help at all. On a recent afternoon, as Xi Lun swims toward a crouching position, Ya Lun drops a WWF suplex on her, squashing the already very-squashable bear cub back to earth.

On a back wall of the nursery, a television monitor shows their mother, Lun Lun, who is past a set of double doors, crunching bamboo in her own den. The sound of the branches swishing and crackling over the tinny speakers is punctuated by a grumbling sort of happy growl. Then Lun Lun raises her voice slightly.

TELEVISION

Katie Couric to return Local TV year in review: Amanda as ‘Today’ fill-in co-host Davis, ‘Stranger Things,’ CNN

By Jill Vejnoska jvejnoska@ajc.com

Katie Couric will spend a week co-hosting the “Today Show” in early January. The splashy move will return Couric to the highprofile morning perch where she first found fame and reunite her with her longtime on- and off-air buddy, Matt Lauer.

Couric will spend the week of Jan. 2 filling in for current “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, who is on maternity leave — further igniting the morning show ratings wars. Starting in 1995, “Today” was No. 1 for an unparallelled 852 consecutive weeks before finally being deposed by “Good Morning America” in 2012. Couric was cohost for much of that time, leaving in 2006 to serve as anchor of the CBS Evening News. The lead has been going back and forth of late, with “Today” drawing more total viewers the week of Dec. 12, its third victory over “GMA” in the past six weeks.

Couric’s fill-in role inevitably also will get some tongues wagging about whether she’s angling for a more permanent “Today” perch. It seems highly unlikely

she’d depose the well-liked Guthrie, who extended her contract with NBC earlier this month. But stranger things Katie Couric have happened in the world of m o r n i n g T V, where Couric’s 2006 departure from “Today” set off a chain of events that eventually led to Ann Curry getting the co-host gig in 2011 — then losing it a year later in an excruciatingly tearful way that was televised live.

“Good Morning America,” meanwhile, has had its own highprofile drama as a result of its recent attempts to remain No. 1 in the ratings. Last May, when it was suddenly announced that “Live with Kelly and Michael” co-host Michael Strahan was leaving that popular syndicated program for a fulltime gig on “GMA,” many people — including a blindsided Ripa — cried foul. Strahan left “Live” much sooner than planned and Ripa has since conducted an extended and seemingly quite enjoyable series of “auditions” of potential co-hosts.

By Rodney Ho rho@ajc.com

This was a busy year for anchor changes at Atlanta TV broadcast stations, a big year for CNN, and a breakthrough year for local TV production.

Here’s a quick summary of the major goings on in local television in 2016: Fox 5 shifts: The popular WAGA-TV/Fox 5 morning show “Good Day Atlanta” saw two major anchor changes this year. Veteran newscasters Gurvir Dhindsa and Karen Graham departed. Fox 5 hired Alyse Eady from Little Rock, Ark., and Constance Jones from Miami as replacements. Anchor Lisa Rayam also departed, but officially nobody has taken her job full time.

Amanda Davis travails: The former Fox 5 anchor departed after 26 years in 2013 after a DUI arrest. She was about to return last year on the WGCL-TV/CBS46 “Just aMinute”commentaryteamwhen she was arrested again for DUI. She entered rehab and received probation. In May, CBS46 aired a three-part special about her

Amanda Davis starts at CBS46 as a new morning anchor Jan. 2. CBS46

alcoholism. Earlier this month, she was named the new morning anchor on the channel, but was arrested yet again. This time, there was no alcohol: It was a suspended license she forgot to reinstate. She got that straightened out and will be anchoring for the first time in four years on Jan. 2.

Angry departure: Davis’ morning anchor predecessor at CBS46, Gloria Neal, left in November before her two-year contract was over. She posted a Facebook Live

video earlier this month saying her departure was “most unfortunate and inexplicable.” She added: “For those who know what’s in the works for me, legally or otherwise, then you know that. We will let that process take its course.”

She later took the video down.

Channel 2 Action News changes: Popular 4 p.m. anchor Erin Coleman moved to Philadelphia earlier this year to be closer TV continued on D2

D2

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

LIVING Monday television “Every Brilliant Thing”8 p.m. HBO — Jonny Donahoe performs in a one-person play about a man who came of age with a suicidal mother.

“Cake Wars”9 p.m. Food — The Rose Bowl game is celebrated by four bakers trying to score a win with their college football-theme

cakes.

“Street Outlaws”9 p.m.

Discovery— The 405 racers head to Memphis to compete against JJ“Da Boss.”

“America’s Next Top Model”10 p.m. VH1 — The judges choose signature looks for each model.

“Booze Traveler”9 p.m.

››››Excellent ››› Good ›› Fair › Poor (N) = new episode designated where space allows. Channels

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Travel — Jack Maxwell is inspired by a Russian man’s story about the“greatest drink ever,” so he travels across Siberia on a quest for this special libation.

RODNEY HO

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Happy New Year, Char- Rudolph’s Shiny New The Great American Ch. 2 Ac- (:35) JimYear Animated. Baby Baking Show “Choco- tion News my Kimmel WSB lie Brown New Year is lost in time. late Week” Nightbeat Live ABC Gotham The Mad (:01) Lucifer Two young Fox 5 News at 10:00 Fox 5 News Fox 5 News % (N) Edge (N) Edge (N) WAGA Hatter searches for his L.A. transplants are poisoned.

FOX sister.

Fox Theater: The Independent Lens “Meet the Patels” BrainFit: 50 Ways to Grow Your ( Ravi Patel attempts to find a mate. Brain With Daniel Amen, MD and GPB Legend Lives On The (N) Tana Amen, RN PBS Atlanta theater.

Hairspray Live! Tracy Turnblad fights segregation.

11 Alive Tonight + News To- Show-J. WXIA night (N) Fallon NBC Criminal Minds Fixation Criminal Minds “Drive” Criminal Minds “The Criminal Minds “Hos. WPXA on medical experimen- Corpses are discovered Bond” Victims in truck tage” Women who were tation. in public places. stop restrooms. held captive for years.

ION “Surviving Christmas” › (2004, Comedy) Ben Last Man Last Man Pawn Seinfeld 1 Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate. A Standing Standing Stars “Air “The Maid” WPCH lonely man celebrates the holiday with strangers.

Mail” Midsomer Murders (8:52) (:40) Whitechapel Dis- The Fixer (:18) The > Fixer PBA Investigating the murder Midsomer covery in a gallery.

PBS of a couple. (Part 1 of 2) Murders Despertar Contigo (N) Vino el Amor (N) El color de la pasión Noticias Noticiero B (N) 34 Atlan- Univisión: WUVG ta-Edicion Edic UNI Law & Order: Special Law & Order: Special 11Alive News at 10 (N) Corrupt Forensic D Crimes Files “Nice WATL Victims Unit “Savant” Victims Unit “Harm” Threads” MNT Kevin Can Man With Kevin Can Man With Scorpion “Fish Filet” CBS46 Late N a Plan Wait a Plan Sylvester’s life is threat- News at Show-ColWGCL Wait ened.

11pm (N) bert CBS Duplantis Ron Carp. Kenneth Copeland U WDTA R. Parsley Joni: Table Marcus and Joni The Place Kay Thom Voice ...

Lauderdale Pageant Y WATC This Day Robison Duplantis “Love Comes Softly” ›› (2003) Graham Ø WHSG the Bible GregLau Franklin iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2016 The Whose 2 Broke 2 Broke Two and a Two and a µ Line Is It Girls Girls (Part Half Men Half Men WUPA concert event in New York.

Anyway?

2 of 2) CW

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(:03) The First 48 A&E Leah Remini: Scientol- Leah Remini: Scientol- To Be Announced ogy and the Aftermath ogy and the Aftermath ABCFAM (7:00) “How to Train “Shrek Forever After” ›› (2010, Children’s) Voic- The 700 Club Your Dragon” ››› es of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy.

Second Ponce Peachtree Grow SkyBox AIB Metro Faith Bronner AIB (:36) Breaking Bad “Bit (:40) Breaking Bad (:44) BreakAMC Breaking (:32) Breaking Bad Bad “Grilled” by a Dead Bee” “Down” ing Bad River Monsters: Legendary Locations “Deadliest Amazon Encounters” (N) River Monsters AP “Hook” ››› (1991, Children’s) Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts.

Jumanji BBC “Set It Off” ››› (1996, Action) Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox. Centric Live: Bell Biv BET Desperation drives four women to bank-robbery.

Devoe Vanderpump Rules “No Timber Creek Lodge Watch VanderBRAVO Vanderpump Rules “The Sociopath Test” Show” (N) “Resting Chef Face” (N) What pump Rul Shark Tank Shark Tank American Greed CNBC Shark Tank Anderson Cooper 360 CNN Anderson Cooper 360 The Legacy of Barack Obama COM South Park South Park South Park South Park South Park South Park “Just Friends” ›› CSPAN (7:59) Public Affairs Events Heather Hendershot New Better CSPN2 Commun Astrophysicists Discuss Welcome Street Outlaws “Street Fast N’ Loud: Demoli- Street Outlaws “Street DISC Street Outlaws: Full Throttle “One” (N) Mission” (N) tion Theater (N) Mission” “The Smurfs” › (2011, Children’s) (:40) (:05) K.C. Liv and Best Stuck in DISN Hank Azaria, Neil Patrick Harris.

Bunk’d Undercover Maddie Friends the Middle (6:00) “Forrest Gump” “Forrest Gump” ›››› (1994) Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise.

E! (:15) NFL Football Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys.

Matthew Stafford and the Lions visit SportsCenESPN the Cowboys in a crucial showdown of NFC division leaders. (N) (Live) ter (N) SportsCenter Special SC Top Plays E:60 Outside ESPN2 Football Hannity (N) The O’Reilly Factor FNEWS The O’Reilly Factor (N) The Kelly File (N) FOOD Cake Wars A celebration Cake Wars “Rose Bowl” Chopped The chefs rec- Chopped The chefs use of the iconic series.

(N) reate the taco. farm-fresh ingredients.

UFC Reloaded Sports Live Sports FS1 FSSE NBA Basketball Atlanta Hawks at Minnesota Timberwolves. Postgame NBA Basketball UFC Countdown (N) World Poker FSSO (7:00) UFC Reloaded FX HALL HGTV HIST HLN LIFE MSNBC MTV NBCSN NICK OXGN SPIKE SYFY TBS TCM TLC TNT TOON TRAV TRUTV TVLAND TVONE USA VH1 WE WGN-A

PAY

“Jack Reacher” ›› (2012, Action) Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Robert Du- “Jack Reacher” ›› vall. A former military investigator probes a sniper attack.

(2012) Tom Cruise.

“A Royal Christmas” (2014) Lacey Chabert.

“A Christmas Melody” (2015) Mariah Carey.

Love It or List It “Marty Love It or List It “Aman- House Hunters Tiny House Tiny House & Shannon” da & Grif” Hunters Int’l Hunters Hunters American Pickers “Con- American Pickers Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn crete Jungle” “Risks and Rewards” Stars (N) Stars (N) Stars Stars Primetime Justice Forensic Forensic Forensic Forensic Forensic Forensic “The Holiday” ›› (2006, Romance-Comedy) Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, (:02) Project Runway: Jude Law. Two women from different countries swap homes at Christmas. Junior All In With Chris Hayes Rachel Maddow Show The Last Word 11th Hour Hardball Teen Mom 2 Teen Mom 2 (N) Teen Mom 2 Teen Mom 2 Behind the Behind the Behind the Behind the Premier League Match of the Day (N) SpongeBob SpongeBob Lip Sync Battle Full House Full House Friends Friends Snapped Snapped Snapped Snapped Cops Cops “At- Cops Cops Cops Cops Cops “Indi- Cops lanta” anapolis” “Insidious” ››› (2010) Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne. Parents “Doom” ›› (2005, Science Fiction) must protect their comatose son from malevolent forces.

The Rock, Karl Urban.

(7:57) The (:24) The (8:51) The (:18) The (:12) The (:39) The (:06) The (:33) The Detour Detour Detour Detour Detour Detour Detour Detour “The Omega Man” ›› (1971, Science Fiction) “The World, the Flesh and the Devil” ›› (1959) Charlton Heston, Anthony Zerbe, Rosalind Cash. Harry Belafonte, Inger Stevens, Mel Ferrer.

My 600-Lb. Life “Lau- My 600-Lb. Life “Lupe’s Story” Lupe makes a po- My 600-Lb. Life “Anra’s Story” tential lifesaving move. gel’s Story” “Man of Steel” ›› (2013, Action) Henry Cavill, Amy Adams.

“Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” King of Hill King of Hill Cleveland Burgers Amer. Dad Amer. Dad Family Guy Family Guy Delicious Delicious Ice Hotels- Im. Booze Traveler (N) Delicious Delicious Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Fameless Greatest Greatest Greatest (:12) The Andy Griffith Everybody Everybody Everybody Everybody The King of The King of Show Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond Queens Queens Fatal Attraction Fatal Attraction Fatal Attraction Fatal Attraction WWE Monday Night RAW (N) (Live) (:05) “Last Vegas” ›› (2013) Michael Douglas.

Love & Hip Hop (N) Stevie K. Michelle America’s Next Model Love & Hip Hop CSI: Miami CSI: Miami CSI: Miami CSI: Miami Cops Cops Cops Cops Rules Rules Rules Rules

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TV continued from D1

to home and landed a job at an NBC affiliate. Weekend anchor and reporter Wendy Corona took over at WSB-TV. Other departures: Erica Byfield and Lori Geary.

11Alive buyouts and a major retirement: WXIATV/11Alive lost three veteran reporters who took a buyout this spring: Keith Whitney, Donna Lowry and Kevin Rowson. Lowry found a new job as director of communications for Cobb County Schools. Rowson landed a public affairs specialist gig at the FBI. Whitney is still pondering. Venerable evening anchor Brenda Wood said she is retiring in February after 20 years at the station. Shiba Russell, who came from New York this summer and worked briefly in mornings, is taking over.

Weather Channel news: Sam Champion moved off the morning show and is now doing a weekly weather show out of New York. Jim Cantore celebrated his 30th anniversary at the channel.

And veteran meteorologist David Schwartz passed away from cancer.

HLN refocuses on hard news a n d away f ro m Atlanta: HLN added a new show out of Los Angeles (“Michaela” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), one from New York (“On the Story With Erica Hill” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) and another from New York at 8 p.m. (“Primetime Justice With Ashleigh Banfield”).

Atlanta-based Nancy Grace left voluntarily in October after 12 years. This leaves just one key anchor — Robin Meade — at CNN Center in Atlanta. Meanwhile, the network continues to air copious repeats of “Forensic Files.”

Massive CNN ratings: CNN, which is still ostensibly headquartered in Atlanta, celebrated its most-watched year in its history thanks to the contentious and colorful presidential campaign.

It ranked No. 8 among all cable networks. (Fox News was No. 1.) Not everything was peachy. A group of current and former employees filed a class-action lawsuit against CNN, Turner Broad-

Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” shot in Atlanta, was a surprise summer hit. Season 2 is set for 2017. NETFLIX

Oprah Winfrey (left) is executive producer and plays a recurring character on OWN’s drama “Greenleaf,” shot in Atlanta. Here, she is seen with actress Lynn Whitfield.

OWN

casting and parent company Time Warner for racial discrimination in December.

Zombie peak? “The Walking Dead,” produced largely in and around Senoia and Tyler Perry’s Fort McPherson studios, continues to be the most popular scripted drama among 18- to 49-yearolds for a fifth year in a row.

But its popularity appears to have peaked. A “Who did Negan kill?” cliffhanger in the spring fueled massive ratings in October for the Season 7 return. Unfortunately, the gory deaths of Glenn and Abraham was followed by a major dropoff in viewership as the season dragged along.

Netflix embraces Atlanta: Netflix generated a surprise summer hit with Atlanta-filmed “Stranger Things.” The 1980s-era drama, featuring Winona Ryder and a bunch of cute pre-teen kids, paid homage to “Stand By Me,” “The Goonies” and “Poltergeist,” to name a few. And, though Netflix doesn’t release ratings, the show generated a

massive amount of buzz and critical acclaim. Upcoming in 2017: Atlanta-produced drama “Ozark,” starring Jason Bateman.

Donald Glover’s gamble pays off: The quirky “Community” actor, who grew up in Stone Mountain, has spent years trying to create a show about the hip-hop scene in Atlanta.

FX finally bit and called it “Atlanta.” The results have been gratifying: solid viewership, award nominations galore and love from critics, who found his combination of off-beat humor and off-kilter dialogue intriguing and unique.

Oprah! Oprah! Oprah!

Oprah Winfrey debuted her first non-Tyler Perry drama on OWN: “Greenleaf,” a family drama based in a black church. It was shot in Atlanta, but set in Memphis. “Atlanta is the shooting capital of the world now,” Winfrey said in an on-set interview in the spring. “We love those tax breaks, hey hey! And we love the South! I just love Southern people! I just do.”

11:30

(:05) “Panic Room” ››› (2002, Suspense) Jodie “Phone Booth” ›› (2002) Colin Far- (:25) “TradFoster, Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam. rell, Kiefer Sutherland. ers” (2015) (:05) “Joy” ›› (2015) Jennifer Lawrence. A single (:15) Pete Holmes: FacHBO Every Brilliant Thing (N) mother builds a business dynasty. es and Sounds Michael Jackson’s Journey from (:35) “The Hateful Eight” ››› (2015) Samuel L. Jackson.

SHOW Motown to Off the Wall Bounty hunters and a prisoner encounter four strangers.

(10:50) “The Object of STARZ (7:20) “Wild Hogs” › “Sweet Home Alabama” ›› (2002, Ro(2007) Tim Allen. mance-Comedy) Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas. My Affection” ›› “Sleeping With Other People” ›› (:45) “The Architect” (2016) Parker Posey. A cou- “6 Days, 7 TMC (2015) Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie. ple hire an uncompromising modernist architect. Night” CMAX

12/26/16

CELEBRITIES

Trebek pays tribute to cancerstricken ‘Jeopardy!’ champion

By Elahe Izadi Washington Post

“Jeopardy!” contestant Cindy Stowell completed her remarkable run during Wednesday night’s episode, winning six games and $103,801 in prize money.

The 41-year-old Austin, Texas, science content developer, who competed while battling Stage 4 cancer, died shortly before the first of her seven episodes aired.

“For the past six ‘Jeopardy!’ programs, you folks have been getting to know

the talented champion Cindy Stowell. Appearing on the show was the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition for that lady,” host Alex Trebek said at the conclusion of the episode.

“What you did not know is that when we taped these programs with her a few weeks ago, she was suffering from Stage 4 cancer, and sadly, on Dec. 5, Cindy Stowell passed away. So from all of us here at ‘Jeopardy!,’ our sincere condolences to her family and her friends.”

Staffers sent advance copies of the first three episodes

to Stowell while she was in the hospital and expedited her prize money, according to a release from the show.

Stowell said she planned to donate her winnings to fund cancer research, a pledge which has inspired TV viewers around the country to contribute as well.

Over the course of six episodes, Stowell triumphed, including coming back from deficits. A trivia buff, she successfully passed the online test for the show in early 2016, and was invited to an in-person audition.

FX’s comedy “Atlanta” stars (from left) William Tyree Henry, Donald Glover and Keith Stanfield. FX

DILBERT

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

ACROSS 1 Furtive summons 5 Closes with force 10 See 13-Down 14 “It’s __ you”: “Your call” 15 Sultan’s group 16 Carrier to Tel Aviv 17 React to a bad pun, perhaps 18 BP merger partner 19 Longfellow’s “The Bell of __” 20 Fabric with a slight sheen 23 Clay pigeon sport 24 Tee shots into the hole 25 Sophisticatedsounding hair treatment product 32 Slacks holder-upper 35 Baker’s verb 36 Like old apples 37 “Norma __” 38 Fills with dismay 41 Word in a bride’s bio 42 The three monkeys’ taboos 44 Guernsey greeting 45 Completely, after “from” 46 Coffee sweetener 50 Apple or pear 51 “Spider-Man” actor Willem 55 Plowed ground for crop-raising 60 Classic clown 61 African country whose name is contained in the name of its southern neighbor 62 Internet destination 63 It’s a long story 64 Porthole view 65 Flair 66 Cubicle furnishing 67 Smells awful 68 Once-sacred snakes

D3

SUDOKU

DAILY CROSSWORD

HOW TO PLAY

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively. The easiest puzzles appear on Monday with difficulty increasing throughout the week.

PREVIOUS SOLUTION

Happy Birthday

© 2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Gail Grabowski and Bruce Venzke

DOWN 1 Tire inflators 2 Frighten, as a horse 3 Like old bread 4 Most stylish 5 Former Iranian despot 6 Unconvincing, excuse-wise 7 Ex-slugger and Fox Sports analyst, familiarly 8 Major tourist draws 9 Kiss 10 “I have no clue” 11 Voice above tenor 12 Rural building with big doors 13 With 10-Across, “Open sesame” sayer 21 Early Beatle Sutcliffe 22 Bears and Grizzlies 26 Sound system part 27 Bigwig 28 Tests of knowledge 29 Huff and puff 30 Butterlike spread 31 Command from a bailiff

32 Uncle Remus rabbit’s title 33 Nesting site, perhaps 34 Mariner Ericson 38 Often ___: about half the time 39 Singer Rawls 40 Nautical journal 43 Long kiss 45 Shrinking Asian lake 47 Key with one sharp 48 Plot mechanism

49 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

Say further Totally tanks Ready in the keg Blissful regions Deal with adversity Commando weapons “A Death in the Family” author James Tropical hardwood Sea eagles Crib or cot

Actor Donald Moffat is 86. Actor Caroll Spinney (Big Bird on TV’s “Sesame Street”) is 83. “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh is 71. Country musician Bob Carpenter (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 70. Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk is 69. Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith is 62. Humorist David Sedaris is 60.

Rock musician Lars Ulrich is 53. Actress Nadia Dajani is 51. Rock musician J is 49. Country singer Audrey Wiggins is 49. Rock singer James Mercer is 46. Actorsinger Jared Leto is 45.

Actress Kendra C. Johnson is 40. Rock singer Chris Daughtry is 37. Actress Beth Behrs is 31. Actress Eden Sher is 25. Pop singer Jade Thirlwall is 24.

Previous Puzzle Solved

DOONESBURY

GARRY TRUDEAU

PRICKLY CITY

SCOTT STANTIS

DAILY BRIDGE CLUB: BY FRANK STEWART “How was Christmas at your house?” I asked Unlucky Louie as the club’s penny game began.

“Fine,” he said tersely.

“It’s that special oncea-year holiday feeling,” Cy the Cynic told me, “the one that comes from having a maxed-out credit card and a zero bank balance.”

Louie was today’s South, trying to recover some of his Christmas expenses, and he and North bid boldly to four spades. West led a trump, and Louie won with the ace, took the A-K of hearts, led a club to dummy’s ace and returned a third heart.

East ruffed and the defense also got a club, a diamond and another trump. Down one.

Louie has the makings

of 10 winners. He can win the first trump in his hand and lead a diamond: three, queen, king. If East returns a heart, Louie wins, goes to the ace of trumps and leads the jack of diamonds, pitching his club loser. His fourth heart goes on the high 10 of diamonds, and the defense gets only three tricks in all.

Q J 8 5, A J 8 5, you would bid 3NT. As it is, bid three spades to show spade tolerance and a preference for suit play.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ A 6 ♥ 8 5 4 ◆ Q J 10 5 ♣ A 8 7 5. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two clubs, he bids two diamonds, and you raise to three diamonds.

Partner then bids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner lacks four cards in hearts but has club shortness and game interest. With J 6, Q 10 4,

It’s time to talk turkey to freeloading relatives

HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY: BY HOLIDAY MATHIS ARIES (March 21-April 19). Instead of wanting something from another person, want something for that person. This subtle shift of intention in your wanting will make a powerful difference in your ability to persuade.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). As it happens, it only takes a small action to advance the plot of a certain delightful storyline of your life. The very specific gesture you make will change or reinforce the way someone feels about you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Ask any ballerina; balance requires core strength.

Core strength is also needed in your dance through life. You’ll get it in character-building moments. To flail and fall is human. To pop back up, divine.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The felicitous circumstance of the day is that what you want wants you right back. You still have to take action to get it, though.

The first action will be to communicate delicately but clearly.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There are some really tricky aspects to the day, but you’ve been known to surmount much bigger challenges. When you put your mind to it, you usually amaze yourself, and today will be no different.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Go forward, even if you have to go alone. You’ll take only a few steps solo, really. It won’t be long before you’re joined by one who sees the significance of your journey. This person may even hold your hand.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’re too busy looking at what you have to notice what you may have missed. Good. Stay that way. It’s the way to grow your love and appreciation into a very interesting future.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You take the responsibility of growing your own brain very seriously. These days, the job may require that you let go of some dearly held beliefs you’ve had for a long time.

They may have been comforting, but they are limiting, too.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Why should you get hooked into other people’s bad moods that have nothing to do with you? Thought of the day: Ignoring provocation is not defeat; it’s actually productivity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Whether you’re being paid for the work or not, you’ll benefit from setting clearly defined objectives. Decide how you will know you’ve arrived at the goal, and then choose the actions that will get you there.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). What was lost and longed for has been found! It’s one of the most satisfying emotions of all — sweet relief. Celebrate first, and then put into place the safety measures to prevent future loss.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It’s a good day to ignore the bad habits of those close to you. Your refusal to pay attention will free you up for a truly wondrous block of time in which you can focus on what fortifies you.

IF TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: Big projects will move forward. A higher degree of teamwork will be necessary to make things happen in 2017. As if on cue, new members sign up to help in February.

You’re the glue of your social network, and you can expect to also be the frequent host. Libra and Cancer adore you. Your lucky numbers are 50, 21, 3, 36 and 42.

Jeanne Phillips Dear Abby

Dear Abby: It has happened again, another stressful, unpleasant Thanksgiving for me. My husband has out-of-town relatives who fly in using frequent flier miles. They get picked up from the airport on arrival and returned to the airport for departure. They spend a week here eating, drinking and being entertained.

NEVER ONCE have they offered to buy any food, help with meals or take us out for dinner. If we go out for a meal, it is always our treat.

They brag nonstop about how much money they are saving, and they could well afford to be gracious. This has been happening for 15 years.

They invite themselves.

I do NOT enjoy their company. My husband is aware of how I feel, but has asked me to tolerate them because they are the only blood relatives he’s in contact with outside of our family.

I am left to do the laundry and cleaning after they

leave. They have a nice vacation, and I feel used and abused. How can I get rid of them and still keep peace in the family? — Fed Up With Freeloaders Dear Fed Up: If your husband insists on entertaining these users because of his blood relationship, you should allow him to do it. If you’re feeling magnanimous, welcome them warmly and tell them you’re sorry you can’t spend more time with them, but you are leaving to visit: your grown children, your parents, your dear old school chum(s).

Perhaps when your husband has to shoulder all of the responsibility for those awful people, he will realize the extent to which he is being used and find the courage to tell them what he expects of them the next time they visit. You have suffered enough.

Dear Abby: My fiance and I have been planning our wedding for two years.

Both of us are working our butts off at two jobs to pay for all the elaborate details. It will, after all, be the most beautiful day of my life.

My fiance’s sister just got engaged and I’m happy for her. But now she’s talking about having her wedding “around the same time as ours” to make it convenient for our distant relatives. My

concern is that they’re going to “steal our moment.”

I feel very hurt, but I’m not sure how to approach her because I don’t want to cause conflict. It would make so much more sense for them to be married the following year. On the other hand, it’s their prerogative to do it whenever they want. Am I being unreasonable? — Unreasonable in New Hampshire Dear Unreasonable: Every bride — or almost every bride — fantasizes that her wedding day will be the most beautiful day of her life. Whether or not your fiance’s sister has her wedding around that time will not detract from yours in the slightest — and it shouldn’t be a contest anyway.

Frankly, the idea of sparing the relatives the expense of traveling to a second wedding makes sense. However, if you cannot accept this, then perhaps you should consider postponing your wedding for another year.

Look at the bright side: If you do, you will have 12 months of extra income, and your wedding can be even more elaborate.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

D4

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

LIVING ENTERTAINMENT

Lin-Manuel Miranda named AP Entertainer of the Year

By Mark Kennedy Associated Press

D4

Winning a Pulitzer Prize and a clutch of Tony Awards in a single one year would be enough for anyone. Not Lin-Manuel Miranda. Not in 2016.

The “Hamilton” writercomposer picked up those honors and also earned a Golden Globe nomination, won the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History, wrote music for a top movie, and inspired a best-selling book, a best-selling album of “Hamilton” covers and a popular PBS documentary.

A new honor came Wednesday when Miranda bested Beyonce, Adele and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, among others, to be named The Associated Press Entertainer of the Year, voted by members of the news cooperative and AP entertainment reporters.

“There’s been more than a little good luck in the year itself and the way it’s unfolded,” Miranda said after being told of the honor. “I continue to try to work on the things I’ve always wanted to work on and try to say yes to the opportunities that I’d kick myself forever if I didn’t jump at them.”

Miranda joins the list of previous AP Entertainer of the Year winners who in recent years have included Adele, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence, Lady Gaga, Tina Fey and Betty White.

The animated Disney juggernaut “Frozen” captured the prize in 2014, and “Star Wars” won last year. (By the way, Miranda wrote one of the songs in “The Force

“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, foreground, gestures during his final performance curtain call in New York. Miranda, who was everywhere in popular culture this year, was named The Associated Press Entertainer of the Year, voted by members of the news cooperative. EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION VIA AP

Awakens.”)

When he hosted “Saturday Night Live” in October, he somewhat tongue-in-cheek acknowledged the rarity of having a theater composer as host, saying: “Most of you watching at home have no idea who I am.”

They surely must by now.

Miranda was virtually everywhere in popular culture this year — stage, film, TV, music and politics, while engaging on social media as he went. Like a lyric he wrote for Alexander Hamilton, it seemed at times that the non-stop Miranda was working as if he was “running out of time.”

Julio D. Diaz, of the Pensacola News Journal, said Miranda “made the whole world sing, dance and think.

Coupled with using his prestige to become involved in important sociopolitical issues, there was no greater

or more important presence in entertainment in 2016.”

Among the things Miranda did this year are asking Congress to help dig Puerto Rico out of its debt crisis, getting an honorary doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, performing at a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton on Broadway, lobbying to stop gun violence in America and teaming up with Jennifer Lopez on the benefit single “Love Make the World Go Round.”

He and his musical “Hamilton” won 11 Tony Awards in June, but perhaps his deepest contribution that night was tearfully honoring those killed hours before at an Orlando nightclub with a beautiful sonnet: “Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love, cannot be killed or swept aside,” he said. “Now fill the world with music, love and pride.”

Pandas

Move continued from D1

of love can short-circuit your relationship.

“Love at first sight is norepinephrine,” Maslar said.

“That feeling of butterflies and sweaty palms is similar to adrenaline. Its job is saying that something important has walked in the room and you should pay attention, but it isn’t love yet.”

So what should we make of the stories about the elderly aunt and uncle who met, fell in love at first sight and have lived happily ever after for 50 years? Maslar said these stories are possible, but not probable. It is more likely that the love-atfirst-sighters will fall out of love within two years.

Once you’ve decided to take a chance on attraction and start dating, you’re on the road to falling in love.

But take caution, women and men fall in love differently.

“Sex can cause a woman to fall in love quicker because of oxytocin. She could be stuck on a guy for t wo years,” said Maslar. Then her

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continued from D1

Lun and father Yang Yang in 2013. The older twins moved to China last month, in keeping with the zoo’s arrangement with the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which maintains ownership of panda parents and offspring.

The newest twins, born Sept. 3, are the sixth and seventh offspring of Lun Lun and Yang Yang. Until now, their keepers have been delivering them to their mother, one at a time. As they grow more mobile, they will be able to find Lun Lun on their own, and the 240-pound Lun Lun will be more comfortable introducing them to a new environment, such as the exhibit area.

Currently the cubs are off limits to all visitors, to reduce their exposure to viruses and bacteria. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was given unusual access to photograph and observe the cubs. Both reporter and pho-

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Curator of mammals Stephanie Braccini (left) and Keeper II Jen Andrew hold twin panda cubs Xi Lun (left) and Ya Lun at Zoo Atlanta, as they prepare to weigh the cubs, which happens several times a day. PHOTOS BY HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

tographer were required to wear sterile gowns over their clothes and booties on their shoes. (The public can get a look at the pandas by way of the Panda Cam at www. zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_ cam.)

On Dec. 13 both cubs were introduced to Lun Lun at the same time. This was a first.

Lun Lun took it in stride, as if to say, “I knew there were

two of them all along.”

Though they haven’t been introduced to solid food, both cubs are cutting new teeth. Braccini, herself the mother of a 2-year-old, says that Lun Lun is not too troubled, despite the fact that she is breast-feeding a bear with a mouthful of teeth.

“She seems to be taking it better than I did,” says Braccini.

brain will readjust and she’ll see the relationship for what it really is.

This is where the Dawn three date Maslar and 90 day rules come into play. A woman should probably wait for a man to fall for her before she falls into bed with him or she risks him never falling in love with her at all.

Still, commitment can be a challenge for a man, said Maslar. Research shows that when a man falls in love and commits, his testosterone level drops.

“If he has something he wants to do in his life — start a business, get a degree — he may not want to zap his power. He needs to be in a safe place and with safe person. If a woman is too aggressive, he will be reluctant to make that commitment,” Maslar said.

When or if you finally fall in love — the phase that has inspired music, poetry and more — enjoy it, because you’ve got about two years

before you have to face reality.

“Just because you fall in love does not mean it is going to be a relationship,” Maslar said. Once your brain comes down from the love high, you won’t feel the same about your SO. “If we look at the number of divorces in any year of a relationship, the highest number is at about year two,” Maslar said. “I think maybe if people understood that, it could help them.”

Couples who remain happy for the long haul seem to have one thing in common, said Maslar.

“They practice positive illusion in the other. They look at the good side. They keep replaying those memories and thinking about what they love about the person,” she said.

The biggest lesson, she said, is that love — real love — is something that must be practiced.

“It goes from being something selfish that you are looking for to something you are giving to someone else selflessly,” she said. “It is hardest to make a decision to love another person.”

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Bissell Carpet Shampoorer and Steamer , $100.00 (678)447-8278

cemetery lots/ mausoleums Westview cemetery lots - 4 beautiful in sold-out Monument section C 322, valued at 11,600, $5000 (678)779-1922 TWO BURIAL PLOTS IN Floral Hills Memory Gardens, Tucker, GA. In the Garden of the Christus. Asking $7000/both 770-536-7217

computer accessories/srvcs Dell Computer with 15" Monitor and keyboard, $250. (678)447-8278 Windows 7 - Intel Core i3 - 2 core 4 logica= CPU 3.4 Ghz RAM 4 gb

electronics/ tv/audio DVD MOVING SALE - need to downsize media room.

Hundreds of DVD’s, many unused and still in original packaging. All genres (popular classics, John Wayne, James Bond, etc). Want to sell all DVD’s together - great for starting or adding to your movie collection.

Best offer.

Please email gaconcertgypsy@gmail.com.

furniture

MATTRESS BED TWIN $110, FULL $130, QUEEN $150, KING $180.

IN PLASTIC. FREE DELIVERY! 770-912-8660 .

real estate sales for sale in gwinnett

jewelry WATCHES: BREITLING & many others.

From $20 - $5000 infobydewitt.com/watches 770-519-2587

miscellaneous Investors wanted for an exciting biodome tropical zoo to be built near the Mall of Georgia in Buford. Please email reptilewranglerken@gmail.com for info. Project estimates 10-14% return in 3-5 years.

> Find it in the

Classifieds!

for sale out of area ATTENTION DEVELOPERS & INVESTORS almost 20 acres to develop on Lake Hartwell, some lake lots, close to GA. 1 owner for 28 years.... $650,000 Call 864-979-0527 NO BROKERS.

Desks Chairs, Tables, Files, Etc. Office Furniture Warehouse Closing.

200 Chairs $5 & up. 50 Desk $50 & up.

Work Stations & Panels, Etc. Delivery Available. 770-455-7592

Searching for your

Dream Car?

Ellenwood 4 bdrm, 2.5 bath, carpeted. $134,900. Lease Purchase. $1095/mo.

LR, DR, big kitchen, den, w/fplc, rec rm. $3995 can move you in. Rent credits.

Owner 404-428-5624

FULTON Buckhead-2 bedroom 2 Bathroom Apartment Rentals-Fully Loaded! Free On-Site Gym Membership w/Residency-Gym side pool and deckWasher and Dryer Included-Condo Finishes w/Stainless Steel Appliance Package-Pets Welcome-BLOWOUT SPECIAL $1349 (AVAILABILITY LIMITED) 404-239-0391

HAPEVILLE - SPECIAL! $100 1ST MONTH RENT. $1 APPLICATION. 1BR $540; 2BR $655.

Laundry; Cable Ready; LG Kitchen 404-768-4462 I.P.C.

medical/ health

for sale in henry

Christmas: Remembering Jesus.

Affirmations 4 the Christian Soul.com Computer download - CD, MP3, Bluetooth. $7.99 for all.

services directory A DIVORCE FROM $300

Major Credit Cards accepted Atty. John Leopard 404-636-1616

REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS Divorce, Wills & Est Plan.

Chamblee/Tucker Rd. Atty James Drew 770-621-9494

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

dogs/supplies/ services

merchandise

AKC English Bulldog, $3500 (678)2839484 All puppies carry blue and tri. Will be ready in time for Valentine’s Day and come with age appropriate shots, microchip, and 1 month of flea and heartworm preventative. Please call, email, or text for more information. aimeeboud@icloud.com

miscellaneous

French Bulldogs AKC reg, $3,000$3,500 home raised, we welcome visitors, 1 male and 1 female, both fawn color, ready to go home now, shots and wormed (706)466-1200 call or text , we are facebook under French Bulldogs & Frenchtons

www.votestarlightmckinney2016.com

AKC Yellow Labrador Retrievers Puppies, $500.00 (404)406-1840

musical instruments PIANO

COLLECTOR Sacrificing Many Fine Baby Grands, Steinway, Baldwin, etc. Upright Pianos at A Fraction Of Their Values. 770-926-8951

tickets/ entertainment NFL Falcons@Panthers Two Tixs: Sect 125 Row 19 Seats 9-10 plus Parking Pass, $310.00 (919)593-2590 (919)5980587

POODLE STANDARD PUPS CKC, 12 wks old. Smart, loving, great temperament. Females. $775ea.

706-969-2760

Yellow (Blonde) Labrador Puppies 6 weeks old. AKC REGISTERED. Both male & female available, $500 (770)684-6080 (770)401-7948

Golden Retrievers, white, AKC, 1st shots. Just great for Christmas! $800 each. Will hold until Christmas. 770652-3366

cats/supplies/ services

Great Dane/Great Pyrenees hybrid cross puppies known as Great Pyredanes. $550. Please visit my website www.thesweetbriarkennel.com You may also call or text 256-572-3465 or email sweetbriar@tds.net

AMERICAN BULLDOG PUPS NKC , 3-M, 6-F DOB 10/28/2016 Ready for Christmas. Bred for quality , temperament, protection.$800/ up 678-292-3011 AKC Registered Labrador Puppies.

Black male and female. Yellow male and females. $450 (478)230-6084 (478)697-0574

Mini Australian Shepherd AKC Puppies Ready 11-26, All colors. $600-$800. 678-858-9037

DOODODLES NON-SHEDDING & NON-ALLERGENIC F1B’S Ready For Christmas. References, $1000. Many Colors. 864-592-0005

pets - animals

$200 off Any Puppy or Kitten!

Petland Pets Make Life Better!

840 Ernest W. Barrett Pkwy Kennesaw Or vist www.petlandkennesaw.com

Mini Aussie Poo Beautiful Females, Up To Date On Shots & Worming, Health Guarantee, $800 Cash. Will Hold For Christmas. 770-616-0205

Rare Italian Spinoni Puppies ready 12/13/16. Orange & brown roans available 4 males and 3 females born 10/25.

This is a rare hunting breed that leads an active lifestyle both for hunting or as a family pet. Breeder is a veterinarian - all vaccines, preventatives & deworming current. Tails docked and dewclaws removed. (478)607-0045

Golden Doodles F1B Pups Available Dec 19th. Cream, $950. Red Female, $1200. UTD Shots & Worming. CKC Registered. Call or text 256-996-9359. baxtercreekkennels.com

dogs/supplies/ services

MALTIPOO PUPS 1 female 12 wks.

All shots, deworming UTD. 4 males, 1 female, ready on 12/24/16. $650 Call 678-523-0810

POODLE. Slashing prices for Christmas.

Red, apricot. Older pups, ready, potty trained. $800 & up 478-230-6110 www.barkingbaby4u.com

GERMAN SHEPHERD AKC pups Ready 1/10/2017, black & black sable, 1st shots, 1st worming, farm raised. $800 cash 770-316-4110 Commerce

SIAMESE KITTENS CFA Reg, Champion Bloodlines, Health Certificate, Shots & Dewormed. Lilac Point & Blue Point Available. $950. 205-243-7765

dogs/supplies/ services MALTESE/MALSHI/MALTI POO. Slashing prices for Christmas. Tiny teacups & toy. Ready now. Taking dep. $800 + up. 478-230-6110 barkingbaby4u.com

DACHSHUNDS Miniature $500 Baby dolls, 4-F, will be ready for Christams. Lifetime warranty. UTD on shots.

Parents on premises. 404-966-4393

German Shepard Puppies! Must See! Beautiful Black and Tan. Over 10 Years of Breeding Top Quality AKC Unlimited Registered Puppies. Great with Kids.

First Shots and Dewormed. Serious Buyers Only! D.O.B. 11/11/16. $600 Male or Female. Taking $100 Non-Refundable Deposit Now. Ready to Go 8 Weeks From DOB. For More Information, Call Ricky @ 334-421-2851

HAVANESE Pups. Home raised, AKC, best health guarantee www.noahslittleark.com 470-592-1022

Akita pups boys & girls 3 to 9 months, AKC regristable various colors $500 & up, (706)374-1338 (404)281-4939 Labradoodle pups, ready to meet your family, 10 wks old, male & female. 1st shots & wormed. $600. 470-272-0525 Labradoodles , F1B. Taking deposits.

Spay/neuter incl. Chocolate/black.

More info & photos on website: www.dazydoodles.com Toy Labradoodle Multi-generational.

Male, Ready now 2 vaccines,dewormed,will mature at 1820lbs., $1200 (256)375-4089 MALTESE CKC Male Pups Beautiful fluffy snow white angels, tiny, shots, healthy teddy bears, personality plus, shed free. $600-800 CASH 678-457-7454

D5

REAL ESTATE AREA CLASSIFICATIONS

Pug/Chihuahua Mixed Ready For Christmas. Wonderful Pets. $200. 706-968-0039

Shih Tzu pups X/tiny. All shots. Papers, health guar. Rare colors. $750 Marietta 770-527-7295 www.familyshihtzu.com Christmas Sheltie Puppies! AKC. Two females & one male. Parents on site.

Will be ready on 12/19/2016. Can hold until Christmas. $850 (706)581-6435

Yorkie/Bichon Mixed Wonderful Pets Will Be Around 15lbs. Ready For Loving Homes. $250. 706-968-0039

antique/classic/ collectible

Yorkie/Chihuahua Mixed (Chorkie) Beautiful Puppies Looking For Loving Homes. $250. 706-968-0039

automotive

YORKIE/DACHSHUND (DORKIE) Beautiful Puppies Looking For Loving Home. $250. 706-968-0039

automotive

YORKIE micro teacup to toy baby doll vet checked up to date shots wormings price 700 to 1500 , please call 770735-2550 or 706-299-3542.

1932 PIERCE ARROW SPORT PHAETON.

, THE ULTIMATE PARADE AND TOURING CAR. RETRO-ROD WITH OLDS V8 , AUTOMATIC, POWER STEERING , BRAKES ETC. SUPER RARE 32 PIERCE BODY AND MODERN RUNNING GEAR. 137 INCH WHEEL BASE WOOOOW JUST PAINTED DEMASK MAROON AND TEXAS SAND. LOOKS AND DRIVES GREAT. ONE OF A KIND, BOOK VALUE $75,000-$153,000. SELLING FOR ONLY $69,900. CALL 770 882 4605

antique/classic/ collectible

Yorkie/ Yorkshire Terrier. Slashing prices for Christmas. Tiny teacup, small toy, ready now. $800 & up 478-2306110 www.barkingbaby4u.com

Looking for your

Dream Home?

MERCEDES BENZ SL560 1987 CHRISTMAS $PECIAL $12,900 FABULOUS NEW PAINT. NEW GERMAN LEATHER. 112K MILES. APPRAISAL AT 25K-44K. YOU WON’T BELIEVE UNTIL YOU SEE IT. 770-882-4605

> Find it in the

Classifieds!

NEED INVESTORS?

Reach Over 1,000,000 PROSPECTS in Our Classified Section

404-577-5772

CLICK ON ajccars.com

ajcclassifieds.com

Up for sale 2000 Subaru Impreza AWD, 87,450 mi, $1500, 1 owner Automatic, 4 Cyl, 2.5L, Coupe, Silver/Gray. Call mornings/text anytime: (502) 252-1795 DODGE Daytona 1986 Turbo Z CS (Carroll Shelby) black & gold. Needs work. 770-815-6047 TOYOTA Previa 1993, silver ext., grey int., automatic, 2WD, minivan, 262,000 mi., high miles but looks good and runs well, great transportation vehicle for small contract person, $1,499 Call Jose (678)205-4910 HONDA 2003 Civic 4 door. auto, PS, PB, AC, AM-FM CD, moonroof, gas saver.

32 MPG Looks & Runs great. Very dependable. $3250 CASH 404-512-7270 PONT 2007 Grand Prix 4 door, V-6, auto, PS, PB, AC, AM-FM CD, fully loaded.

Low mi, very reliable. First $4250 takes it. MUST SEE! 404-396-8019

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1989 4 cyl., automatic, heat/ air, cruise, title, runs good. $1,900. 678-760-4319

auto dealer directory 1

19 411 985

575 DULUTH

DECATUR

AUDI GWINNETT

678-250-9672 www.audigwinnett.com

STIVERS SUBARU

85

3180 Satellite Blvd.

1950 Orion Dr.

404-248-1888

19 278

176

2

www.stiversatlantasubaru.com

75

29

20

400 KENNESAW

MORROW

HENNESSY BUICK GMC 7261 Jonesboro Rd.

85

20

770-729-4952

285

JIM ELLIS VW

20

950 Barrett Pkwy

770-370-4900

20

www.hennessybpg.com

www.jimellisvwkennesaw.com

75

3

675 85

ATLANTA

138

21

20

138

BUFORD

ALM MALL OF GEORGIA

19

JIM ELLIS BUICK GMC

4228 Buford Dr.

5862 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.

678-765-3800

770-234-8155

www.almmallofga.com

jimellisbuickgmcatlanta.com

4

NEWNAN

SOUTHTOWNE MOTORS 695 Bullsboro Dr.

7

GWINNETT

GWINNETT PLACE FORD

10

CHAMBLEE

CURRY HONDA

13

ROSWELL

RICK CASE HYUNDAI

DULUTH

RICK CASE MAZDA

MARIETTA

LUXURY MOTORS 1701 Cobb Pkwy

5525 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.

www.southtowne.com

www.gwinnettplaceford.com

www.curryhondaga.com

www.rickcasehyundai.com

www.rickcasemazda.com

www.mariettaluxurymotors.com

5

8

11

14

17

23

ATLANTA

JIM ELLIS CHEVROLET

5900 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.

404-418-6877

MORROW

ALLAN VIGIL FORD

6790 Mount Zion Blvd.

770-451-2700

MARIETTA

ED VOYLES HONDA 2103 Cobb Pkwy.

770-224-7063

UNION CITY

2493 Pleasant Hill Rd.

22

3230 Satellite Blvd.

770-253-3131

11446 Alpharetta Hwy.

16

678-408-4133

ATLANTA

KIA OF UNION CITY

RBM OF ATLANTA

4084 Jonesboro Rd.

7640 Roswell Rd.

678-213-5200

NEWNAN

ALM NEWNAN

40 International Park

770-457-8211

678-364-3673 www.allanvigilford.com

www.edvoyleshonda.com

www.kiaofunioncity.com

770-964-4900

770-390-0700

770-767-0000

6

9

12

15

18

24

www.jimellischevrolet.com

ATHENS

ATHENS CHEVROLET 4110 Atlanta Hwy.

706-621-4250 www.athenschevy.com

WOODSTOCK

HENNESSY HONDA 8931 Highway 92

770-924-9000

www.hennessyhonda.com

877-419-9994

DULUTH

RICK CASE HYUNDAI 3180 Satellite Blvd.

770-450-0558

rickcasehyundaiatlanta.com

DULUTH

RICK CASE KIA

3180 Satellite Blvd.

770-462-2104

www.gwinnettplacekia.com

www.rbmofatlanta.com

UNION CITY

www.almnewnan.com

ROSWELL

NISSAN OF UNION CITY

ALM ROSWELL

770-964-4900

678-292-2000

4080 Jonesboro Rd.

www.nissanofunioncity.com

891 Mansell Rd.

www.almroswell.com

D6

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

CREDIBLE. COMPELLING. COMPLETE.

MUTTS PATRICK MCDONNELL

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE STEPHAN PASTIS

LUANN GREG EVANS

PEANUTS CHARLES SCHULZ

GARFIELD JIM DAVIS

BREWSTER ROCKIT: SPACE GUY! TIM RICKARD

LIO MARK TATULLI

ZITS JERRY SCOTT & JIM BORGMAN

WUMO MIKAEL WULFF & ANDERS MORGENTHALER

BLONDIE DEAN YOUNG & JOHN MARSHALL

CRANKSHAFT TOM BATIUK & CHUCK AYERS

CURTIS RAY BILLINGSLEY

RHYMES WITH ORANGE HILARY PRICE

BABY BLUES JERRY SCOTT & RICK KIRKMAN

OVERBOARD CHIP DUNHAM

GET FUZZY DARBY CONLEY

JUDGE PARKER WOODY WILSON & MIKE MANLEY

BEETLE BAILEY MORT, GREG & BRIAN WALKER FAMILY CIRCUS BIL KEANE

NON SEQUITUR WILEY

ONE BIG HAPPY RICK DETORIE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

FL02

st a

t n

1647_ATMET

SECTION B

USA TODAY —

IN MONEY

IN LIFE

12.26.16 How retailers lock in loyalty

THE STARS’ BIG ‘SING’ ALONG

ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT

AFP/GETTY IMAGES

‘Swamp’ likely to win vs.

Trump

Presidents try to overhaul federal government — and largely fail Donovan Slack @donovanslack USA TODAY

The pop star’s death shocked the entertainment community.

“I am in deep shock,” Elton John wrote on Instagram. “I have lost a beloved friend — the kindest, most generous soul

WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump frequently pledged during the campaign that he would slash the size of the federal government and rein in spending, once proclaiming “we will cut so much, your head will spin.”

But the bombastic business titan is about to come face to face with Washington, that “swamp” he wants to drain.

And both non-partisan specialists and others who have tried before suggest the odds are not in his favor.

Most presidents in modern times have mounted an effort to streamline the federal bureaucracy, and all have largely failed. President Obama in 2012 proposed merging parts of six agencies and cutting more than 1,000 federal jobs.

Congress wasn’t having it.

“It worse than died, it was assassinated on the Hill,” said Donald Kettl, University of professor and Maryland author of Escaping Jurassic Government: Restoring America’s Lost Commitment to Competence.

Likewise, President George W. Bush put forth a “Management Agenda” to overhaul the bureaucracy, and Bill Clinton pushed a “Reinventing Government” plan. “In each case, executive branch efforts to remanagement were form viewed with skepticism (by Congress),” John Kamensky, deputy director of Clinton’s initiative, and Jonathan Breul, a budget management adviser during both administrations, wrote in a paper about lessons learned. “As a consequence, few pieces of significant legislation were enacted.”

President Ronald Reagan in 1984 convened a commission of private-sector executives and experts who offered more than 2,000 recommendations to reduce waste, improve management and restructure the government. The so-called Grace Commission said the changes would save taxpayers $424 billion over three years.

v STORY CONTINUES ON 2B

v STORY CONTINUES ON 2B

BORIS GRDANOSKI, AP

SANTA SELFIES

People dressed in Santa Claus costumes take a selfie before the start of a Santa Claus race in Macedonia’s capital of Skopje on Sunday. More than 400 people dressed as Santa Claus participated in the race through downtown. For complete holiday coverage, go to usatoday.com.

This is an edition of USA TODAY provided for your local newspaper. An expanded version of USA TODAY is available at newsstands or by subscription, and at usatoday.com.

For the latest national sports coverage, go to sports.usatoday.com

USA SNAPSHOTS

©

Winter eye protection

Only

53%

of Americans wear sunglasses during the winter even though the sun’s rays are harmful year-round.

NOTE Snow reflects 80% of sun’s UV radiation.

SOURCE American Optometric Association survey of 1,000 adults MICHAEL B. SMITH AND JANET LOEHRKE, USA TODAY

Singer George Michael dies at 53 Charttopping British pop star known for personal struggles

Elysa Gardner and Andrea Mandell USA TODAY

George Michael, the British singer, musician and founding member of Wham!, died over the Christmas holiday, his publicist confirms to USA TODAY. He was 53.

“It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period,” read a statement sent to USA TODAY by Michael’s London-based publicist, Connie Filippello. “The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage.”

The BBC was the first to report Michael’s death. The news outlet said police stated there were no suspicious circumstances.

2012 AP PHOTO BY FRANCOIS MORI

George Michael was topselling artist in the 1980s.

ANDREW HARNIK, AP

Some are optimistic Donald Trump can get more done than his predecessors to improve bureaucracy.

“For all their talk about getting rid of this or that, the truth is that they don’t want to get rid of any of it.”

Kenneth Baer, former associate director of the White House Office of Management and Budget

Immigrants help gird USA’s sluggish population growth Births not as robust; 8 states tally net loss Jessica Durando and Alan Gomez USA TODAY

The U.S. population this year showed the slowest growth since the Great Depression, and would have been even slower had it not been for an increase in immigrants, according to the 2016 U.S. Census Bureau report.

Nationally, the U.S. population grew only by 0.7% to 323.1 mil-

lion. That slowdown is due to an increase in deaths among Baby Boomers and a drop in births among younger generations, resulting in eight states losing overall population during the year.

The only saving grace for many communities, especially in the Northeast, was immigration. In 34 states, international arrivals outpaced domestic arrivals (people who move from one state to another). Three states — Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island — would have lost population if not for international arrivals. New York’s loss of 1,894 people could have been staggering without the 118,478 foreigners

GIVE AND TAKE ON PEOPLE TALLIES Top 10 states in percentage growth: % State chg.

1. Utah 2.03% 2. Nevada 1.95% 3. Idaho 1.83% 4. Florida 1.82% 5. Wash.

1.78% 6. Oregon 1.71% 7. Colorado 1.68% 8. Arizona 1.66% 9. District of 1.61% Columbia 10. Texas 1.58%

Bottom 10 states in percentage growth % State chg.

42. N. Mexico 0.03% 43. Kansas 0.02% 44. New York -0.01% 45. Miss.

-0.02% 46. Pa. -0.06% 47. Wyoming -0.18% 48. Conn.

-0.23% 49. Vermont -0.24% 50. Illinois -0.29% 51. W.Va. -0.54%

NOTE Includes D.C. SOURCE Census Bureau

who moved to the state.

Overall, the nearly 1 million immigrants who entered the country in 2016 were down from previous years, but still made up 45% of the nation’s population growth. That figure could drop considerably under Presidentelect Donald Trump, who vowed to slow down legal and illegal immigration under his administration starting next month.

“The population is aging, the Baby Boomers are aging, but international migration has been fairly consistent,” said Randy Capps, director of research for U.S. programs at the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute. “If we

really did curtail immigration substantially, that would really slow population growth quite a bit.”

The rise in the immigrant population came almost entirely through legal immigration. The federal government grants about 1 million green cards a year, and the immigrant population in the U.S. grew by nearly 1 million, according to the Census data.

Illinois lost more people than any other state (37,508), and West Virginia saw the biggest percentage drop (-0.54%). Other states losing population: Connecticut, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wyoming.

2B

USA TODAY MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

In Trump vs. ‘swamp,’ odds favor swamp v CONTINUED FROM 1B

“Absolutely nothing came of it.

Absolutely nothing,” said Paul Light, New York University professor and author of 25 books, including Thickening Government: Federal Hierarchy and the Diffusion of Accountability.

Light said the last successful major overhaul of the federal government was in the 1950s. He said there are a mix of forces fighting to keep the status quo, not the least of which is Congress.

“All duplication and overlap flows downhill from Congress,” Light said. “Committees create these different programs, and they don’t want to do anything about it.”

Kenneth Baer, who was associate director of the White House Office of Management and Budget when Obama made his push, said there’s no incentive for members of Congress to cut anything.

“For all their talk about getting rid of this or that, the truth is that they don’t want to get rid of any of it,” he said.

The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has been issuing annual reports since 2011 on wasteful spending, and has identified hundreds of fixes that could save taxpayers billions of dollars.

The GAO report this year said the IRS could be collecting $385 billion more in taxes annually, and millions could be saved by reducing overlapping programs. Food safety, for instance is overseen by 12 different agencies. Eight agencies administer more than 100 programs supporting individuals suffering from mental illness.

Of 544 fixes recommended by GAO in the past five years, 244 have been completed.

Orice Williams Brown, a GAO managing director who helped coordinate this year’s report, said that because eliminating programs is so difficult, Congress often just layers new ones on top.

“There really wasn’t an appetite to step back and say, ‘Let’s put aside what we currently have, and let’s think about what we would do if we were starting over today,’ ” Williams Brown said.

Some people are optimistic about Trump’s chances of improving the bureaucracy, particularly given his Cabinet picks so far, which include executives from the private sector and members of Congress. His pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., is a deficit hawk.

“In my view, they are better positioned than the members of prior administrations, high-ranking members of prior administrations, to come in and start getting to work right away,” said Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste, a group founded by the leaders of Reagan’s commission.

Corrections & Clarifications USA TODAY is committed to accuracy. To reach us, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones at 800-8727073 or e-mail accuracy@usatoday.com.

Please indicate whether you’re responding to content online or in the newspaper.

Israel summons U.S. ambassador in protest Oren Dorell @orendorell USA TODAY

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned U.S. Ambassador Daniel Shapiro and 10 other ambassadors to Jerusalem on Sunday to protest a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank.

The United States had abstained from the vote Friday rather than issue a veto, as it has in previous anti-Israel votes before the Security Council. Netanyahu accused the Obama administration of playing a major part in the measure’s conception and passage.

“From the information that we have, we have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “This is, of course, in complete contradiction of the traditional American policy that was committed to not trying to dictate terms for a permanent agreement, like any issue related to them in the Security Council, and, of course, the explicit commitment of President Obama himself, in 2011, to refrain from such steps.”

DAN BALILTY, AP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, arrives for a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security advisor for strategic communications, denied on Friday that the U.S. played any role in drafting the resolution.

“The notion that we were somehow involved in drafting this is just not true,” Rhodes told reporters in a conference call.

President-elect Donald Trump had urged Obama to veto the resolution and later condemned the U.N. and Obama for allowing the measure to pass.

The U.N. resolution passed against a backdrop of a stalled peace process, a Middle East facing a widespread terrorist threat, accelerated expansion and development of Jewish settlements on land Palestinians want for a future state and terrorist incitement among Palestinian leaders.

The Obama administration has repeatedly exhorted Israel to refrain from continued settlement construction or to block planned projects.

Battled record label after success v CONTINUED FROM 1B

and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans.”

Few teen idols have made critics eat their words more handily than Michael did back in his late-’80s heyday, when the former Wham! frontman emerged as one of the most successful and admired singer/songwriters of that decade. But in the years that followed, Michael made news more frequently for his professional struggles and personal scandal, even as he continued to record and tour profitably and inspire younger acts.

Born Georgios Panagiotou in North London — his father was a Greek immigrant — Michael met another aspiring musician, Andrew Ridgeley, while both were attending secondary school in Hartfordshire. By 1982, they were recording together as the bubblegum duo Wham!, and within two years they would be among the world’s most popular acts, with hits such as Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Freedom becoming staples of the early MTV era.

One song from Wham!’s American breakthrough album, Make It Big, was credited to Michael as a solo artist when it was released as a single: the ballad Careless Whisper, which reached No. 1 in

In 2004, the Radio Academy declared that his music had been played on British radio more than that of any artist between 1984 and 2004. the U.K., the USA and other countries. That feat, and subsequent well-received solo turns, including a duet with Aretha Franklin (1987’s I Knew You Were Waiting for Me), led many to suspect that Wham!’s frontman had abilities and ambitions beyond making girls scream.

Michael’s first solo album, 1987’s Faith, confirmed that. With six top-five singles — among them the title track, the then-controversial I Want Your Sex and the rhapsodic Father Figure — Faith dominated the charts for much of 1988, and has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide to date.

But Michael’s solo debut, which earned the 1989 Grammy Award for album of the year, was more than a commercial milestone. Faith’s artful blend of pop, funk and blue-eyed-soul textures made it the first album by a Caucasian artist to reach the top position on Billboard’s R&B chart.

Michael’s intense creative in-

volvement — he wrote all the songs, most independently, and also produced — helped reshape the template for pop acts of his ilk. Even Michael Jackson hadn’t been quite so autonomous, collaborating with Quincy Jones and others on his ’80s megahits.

If Faith clearly demanded a new level of respect, some viewed Michael’s behavior in its wake as arrogant and self-defeating. He refused to actively promote a much-anticipated follow-up album, 1990’s Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, refusing to appear in its music videos; for the hit single Freedom 90, he memorably tapped a bevy of supermodels, among them Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell, to lip-sync the lyrics. Listen yielded other hits, notably the chart-topping Praying for Time, but didn’t approach the success of its predecessor. Michael sued his label, Sony Music, for not sufficiently supporting him, and a Vol. 2 was abandoned amid legal battles.

Michael continued to release albums, but in the USA, at least, he got more attention for his tabloid exploits. Longstanding questions about Michael’s sexual orientation came to the fore in 1998, when he was arrested for lewd behavior after revealing himself to a man who turned out to be a police officer, in a public

John Zidich

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restroom in Beverly Hills.

Michael would later make light of the incident, and became more open about his homosexuality.

Having lost a partner, Brazilian designer Anselmo Feleppa, to a cerebral hemorrhage in 1993, Michael began a long-term relationship a few years later, with Texas-born businessman Kenny Goss. The singer, whose charity work dates back to his participation in the 1984 Band Aid single Do They Know It’s Christmas?, also raised money for AIDS research and terminally ill children.

There would be other run-ins with the law for Michael, who between 2006 and 2010 was arrested several times in London for possession of drugs and driving under the influence. He was hospitalized in 2011 in Austria for pneumonia after postponing a series of concerts.

In 2004, the Radio Academy declared that Michael’s music had been played on British radio more than that of any artist between 1984 and 2004.

That year, Michael told USA TODAY that he “was kind of glad that my success level went down in America. I got more of a life, got to enjoy being in America, with less attention than I was used to in Europe. But now I’m strong again. I feel ready to take on the world.”

No survivors on Russian plane crash Day of mourning for 92 victims, including 64 members of the Red Army Choir

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

Last week, the Israeli government agreed that Amona, an outpost that Israel’s Supreme Court said was illegal and must be dismantled, would be moved to another location on the same West Bank hilltop.

The solution averted a likely confrontation Sunday with Jewish extremists but is considered by settlement opponents to be just as illegal.

Netanyahu summoned ambassadors from 10 of the 14 countries that voted in favor of the resolution and have embassies in Israel: Britain, China, Russia, France, Egypt, Japan, Uruguay, Spain, Ukraine and New Zealand, according to Reuters.

The U.S. action was widely panned by U.S. lawmakers.

Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was “very disappointed by the United States’ acquiescence to a one-sided, biased resolution at the United Nations Security Council.”

“This resolution places the blame for the current impasse in negotiations entirely on Israel, asking nothing of the Palestinians,” Engel added.

Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. allowed the measure to pass because it would “preserve the possibility of the two state solution.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a day of mourning after a Russian military plane carrying the world-famous Red Army Choir to Syria crashed into the Black Sea on Christmas morning minutes after taking off from the coastal town of Sochi.

All 92 aboard apparently died, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov arrived in Sochi on Sunday to convene an investigative mission, according to the Tass News Agency.

The minister said all possible causes are being considered, including a terror attack, according to The Associated Press.

While officials said they did not believe the crash was caused by terrorism, Russian broadcaster MKRU reported that security

MAXIM SHIPENKOV, EPA

Mourners visit a memorial outside the home stage of the Alexandrov Ensemble, also known as the Red Army Choir, in Moscow on Sunday. Sixty-four members died in a plane crash. cameras nearby recorded a bright flash near the plane before it went down.

Viktor Ozerov, head of the defense affairs committee at the upper house of Russian parliament, downplayed the possibility of terrorism, according to the AP. The Tu-154 was operated by the military, so the crash may have stemmed from a mechanical problem or a crew error, Ozeroy said

The plane disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off from Sochi, AP reported. The crash site is less than a mile from the shore.

The plane, which belongs to the Russian Defense Ministry, was carrying 64 members of the Russian army’s official choir, also known as the Alexandrov Ensemble, to a military base in Syria for a New Year’s concert, accord-

ing to Turkey’s Daily Sabah.

Russian forces have helped the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad gain the upper hand against rebel groups in the country’s nearly 6-year-old civil war.

Last week, the rebel stronghold of Aleppo in northern Syria, the country’s commercial capital, was recaptured by Syrian government troops. It was a major defeat for the rebels, who had held eastern Aleppo for most of the war.

The Russian Army choir, established in 1928, for decades presented a human face of the Soviet Union’s military by traveling the world during the Cold War to perform Russian folk songs and spiritual music.

Also on board was humanitarian activist Elizaveta Glinka, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to state-owned broadcaster RT. Glinka was a “social and political activist, but she was outside any politics, above any politics,” Zakharova said.

Recovery crews pulled several bodies from the water as drones, divers, helicopters and ships searched for the remains of other passengers, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

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USA TODAY MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

Pot sales run high for holidays As a stocking stuffer, product shows it’s become mainstream Trevor Hughes @trevorhughes USA TODAY

DENVER It appears Santa was stuffing stockings with a little extra green this holiday season: marijuana.

Pot shops report the average purchase was up 21% in the week before Christmas, according to the marijuana-software firm Baker, which runs store customerservice systems. The most popular items: marijuana-infused edibles like brownies or cookies.

Also near the top of the list are vaporizers, pipes and other smoking accessories, Baker reported.

The company said the data holds true across the states where it serves medical and recreational stores: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.

That there’s a rush in sales around Christmas is no surprise.

The biggest sale days of the year traditionally come around Thanksgiving’s “Weed Wednesday” and “Green Friday,” said Baker’s CEO, Joel Milton, although April 20, known as 4/20, remains the biggest marijuana sales day nationally. Other big sales days tend to come on Fridays before federal holidays, according to an analysis of Washington state sales dates by New Frontier Data.

“Holiday gift-giving is a perfect example of this once-taboo product making its way into the mainstream retail environment,” Milton said. “We have a feeling people will like cannabis gifts a lot more than a traditional … box of chocolates.”

Colorado’s biggest marijuana retailer, Native Roots, has seen significant increases in edibles sales at its ski-town stores.

The company has 17 locations, and those stores near resorts tend to draw significant numbers

PHOTOS BY TREVOR HUGHES, USA TODAY

“We have a feeling people will like cannabis gifts a lot more than a traditional … box of chocolates.”

Joel Milton, CEO of marijuana-software firm Baker

of tourists, said CEO Josh Ginsberg.

Edibles are a popular option to smoking marijuana because they’re discreet and can be more comfortable for empty-nest Baby Boomers trying cannabis for the first time in years.

Native Roots stores were selling holiday bundles, starting with

T-shirts like this one are popular Christmas gifts and a must-buy for tourists, marijuana store owners say.

the $40-$45 “Stocking Puffer,” which included a small amount of marijuana and some joints, and expanding to the “Mary Cannabis,” which included marijuanainfused candy and other items, and topping out with the “O’Chronic Tree” at nearly $300.

“We also see a huge increase in our apparel sales,” Ginsberg said.

“People want something that says dispensary, that says Colorado.

They want something that says they went into a dispensary on their ski vacation.”

Next Christmas could be even bigger: Voters last month legalized recreational cannabis in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada, and stores in at least some of those states could be up and running next year.

Marijuanainfused candies known as edibles are among the top sellers around Christmas, according to store managers and cannabisindustry experts.

IN BRIEF FAMILY WATCHES AS SINKHOLE CONSUMES HOME FRASER , MICH .

JENNIFER GRAYLOCK, WIREIMAGE

Hillary Clinton speaks at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event June 10. Planned Parenthood, which had endorsed Clinton, received a flood of donations following Clinton’s loss.

Election spurs donations to ‘progressive’ charities Voters appear to seek ways to fight Trump through pocketbooks Eliza Collins USA TODAY

Many Americans unhappy with the Nov. 8 election results are using their wallets to push back against President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises.

According to data released by the charitable giving platform Bright Funds, donations made to “progressive organizations” through the group increased 1,901% the week after the election over the previous week. Donations rose 1,146% over the nine weeks before the election.

Donors gave $18,906.60 to the organizations using Bright Funds between Nov. 9 and 16, the group said.

The organization defined a “progressive organization” as a charitable organization that took a partisan stance during or after the election. Planned Parenthood, the Urban Justice Center and the Natural Resources Defense Council were some of the organizations that received donations.

Bright Funds is just one way to donate to an organization and many donations were given through other platforms or to organizations directly.

Planned Parenthood saw a flood of donations directly to them as well.

“We’ve seen an unprecedented outpouring of support, with more than 315,000 people donating since the election — a quarter of whom pledged to be monthly supporters, recognizing the longterm work that is needed. Tens of thousands more are pledging to make sure access to health care is protected,” Cecile Richards,

“We’ve seen an unprecedented outpouring of support, with more than 315,000 people donating.”

Sue Albu and her husband awoke to sounds of popping at about 4 a.m. ET Christmas Eve. Two hours later, she had trouble opening the doors in her house. Its frame had begun to shift. Her home was sinking into the ground. “I mean, it was just trying to grab what we could to salvage it,” Albu said.

Her house, on the corner of 15 Mile Road and Eberlein Drive, was partially collapsed late Saturday. The sinkhole is endangering other structures and forced the closure of the 15 Mile Road in both directions.

Homeowners on Albu’s street quickly evacuated while authorities cut power for several hours to almost 900 customers to allow electrical services to be rerouted.

By Saturday afternoon, the shingles on Albu’s house would buckle, and the gutters were bent.

Two neighboring homes also were ordered evacuated.

BELL RINGER RECEIVES SPANISH SHIPWRECK COIN

SEBASTIAN, FLA . A Salvation Army bell ringer received a coin with ties to a fleet of Spanish galleons sunk in 1715 off the coast of Vero Beach.

Longtime volunteer Jim Bessy received the gold Spanish escudo worth several thousand dollars from a donor who wished to re-

main anonymous. He said the donor handed him the coin for safekeeping Thursday so it wouldn’t get mixed up with the other coins in the kettle.

Bessy then turned over the coin Friday to Salvation Army Lt. Jay Needham in Vero Beach.

When Needham, in his first year as Salvation Army corps officer in Indian River County, began researching the coin on the Internet, he said he was amazed to learn of its history. The coin is in a plastic case, marked with the words “1715 Fleet 1 Escudo.”

POPE CALLS FOR PEACE, END TO TERRORISM

Christmas Day celebrations included a call by Pope Francis for peace and an end to terrorism, as well as a traditional holiday meal for hundreds of U.S. soldiers in Iraq fighting the Islamic State.

Pope Francis wished Christmas peace for people scarred by wars and for those who have lost loved ones to terrorism. He spoke at the Vatican before an estimated 40,000 people in St. Peter’s Square and to a global audience.

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II, 90, did not attend the Christmas morning church service near her Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, because of a bad cold. Her absence from the service, a ritual, has raised concerns about the health of Britain’s longest-serving monarch.

REFINERY EXPLODES IN ISRAEL

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America

president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in an email to USA TODAY. And out out of the new donations, $82,000 were made in Vice President-elect Mike Pence’s name. As governor of Indiana, Pence has backed some of the most restrictive abortion regulations in the country and was the first lawmaker to float the idea of taking federal funding from the organization in 2011 when he was a member of Congress.

JACK GUEZ, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Workers watch fire billowing from a fuel tank at a refinery in the northern Israeli coastal city of Haifa on Sunday. Firefighters finally brought it under control after about 10 hours.

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USA TODAY MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

Judge warns VW diesel owners

Sure, they’re sweet to you now, but their real goal is total domination

Don’t strip vehicles before attempting company buyback

Ray Fisman and Tim Sullivan

Special for USA Today

During a recent ride with ride-hailing service Lyft, one of us struck up a conversation with the driver, Victor, about how he liked his job. His enthusiasm seemed genuine.

He talked the entire way to the airport about the glories of Lyft — about how it cared about its drivers and wasn’t just transactional, like its competitor, Uber. Lyft paid more, for instance. But only if you logged nearly a full-time job’s worth of hours. So, Victor was working for Lyft exclusively and reaping the benefits.

Lyft had Victor right where it wanted him. It had turned him into a “single homer,” as economists who study platform businesses would call him — a person who uses one service exclusively.

It’s where every platform business — services that connect users on two or more sides of a market, such as Facebook (users and advertisers), Apple’s iPhone (users and content producers), and Amazon (sellers and buyers) — would like to have each of us: locked in, and at their mercy.

Lyft doesn’t pay more than Uber out of the goodness of its heart. Nor is that why credit cards offer cash back. No company wants to be your friend.

Each is trying to keep you captive on their app, site or card.

Platforms’ search for ascendancy in any category involves a “virtuous” cycle of ever-more customers, making your platform ever more attractive than alternative options. Think of the telephone: One is useless for making calls, two are only slightly more useful, but a few million and you have a network that everyone wants to join.

Amazon is your go-to e-commerce destination only if it really is the Everything Store BOSTON

Nathan Bomey @NathanBomey USA TODAY

A federal judge warned Volkswagen owners not to strip parts out of their diesel vehicles before attempting to sell them back to the automaker through the its emissions settlement.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer’s warning came after reports on the automotive blog Jalopnik of a Cincinnati man who “completely stripped“ his 2010 Golf before attempting to qualify for the buyback.

The man ripped out the “doors, seats, hood, bumpers, hatch and a big portion of the interior” before trying to turn in his vehicle, according to Jalopnik. VW rejected his attempt to qualify for the buyback, which would have been worth $14,897 to $15,557 for the typical 2010 VW Golf diesel.

Volkswagen Group agreed in June to the nearly $15 billion settlement with the U.S. government, California regulators

AUDI AG

Variants of this 3.0-liter TDI turbocharged diesel engine were used in some VW, Audi, and Porsche models.

and consumers over 2009-2016 model-year 2-liter diesel cars that violated emissions standards. Owners qualify for buybacks or a free fix and compensation, assuming VW can deliver a repair authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency. The 2-liter buybacks ranged from $12,500-$44,000, adjusted for mileage. Owners of 2-liter models who qualify for and receive a free repair will receive $5,100-$9,852 in payouts.

The judge also confirmed a class-action group of consumers has reached a settlement in principle with VW for owners of 3-liter, 6-cylinder diesel vehicles, including crossovers and SUVs, that also violated emissions standards. That $1 billion deal — reached by the Justice Department, EPA and California Air Resources Board — will deliver buybacks for the 20,000 owners of the 2009-2012 Volkswagen Touareg and 2009-2012 Audi Q7, as well as a free fix and payouts for 63,000 owners of 2013-2016 3-liter diesel models.

FRIDAY MARKETS INDEX

NEWS MONEY SPORTS Don’t let platforms like LIFE Amazon own your soul AUTOS TRAVEL

CLOSE

Dow Jones 19,933.81 x Nasdaq composite 5,462.69 x S&P 500 2,263.79 x T-note, 10-year yield 2.54% y Oil, light sweet crude $53.02 x Euro (dollars per euro) $1.0452 x Yen per dollar 117.26 y

CHG

14.93 15.27 2.83 0.01 0.07 0.0019 0.34

SOURCES USA TODAY RESEARCH, MARKETWATCH.COM

USA SNAPSHOTS©

Victims of elder abuse

40% of caregivers confirm that their elder has experienced financial abuse more than once.

SOURCE Allianz Life Study of 1,000 caregivers JAE YANG AND PAUL TRAP, USA TODAY

JOHN LOCHER, AP

Because of competition, Uber and Lyft have to offer deals to lure customers. Airbnb’s dominance means it doesn’t have to.

AFP/GETTY IMAGES

and indispensable to merchants precisely because it’s your go-to e-retailer.

Sometimes, though, consumers should spread their business around, despite the allure of free shipping or 1% cash back. Consider the case of Amazon a little more deeply. It’s not trying to be “nice” by offering Prime two-day delivery, offering 35 days of Black Friday discounts or neat new gadgets such as the voice-activated Echo. It’s trying to lock you in.

Despite its $300 billion-plus valuation, the company goes through streaks of making slim or even no profits. Yet it continues to invest in efforts such as Prime.

Why? Because once it has enough of us locked in, Amazon is going

to raise prices (in fact, it already loyalty to one platform can bring. has raised them for free-ship- Or second, each of us can do our ping minimums). part to make sure Amazon and Because once a platform is others never get to the point of indispensable to both sides of a ubiquitous domination. It might transaction — to the providers of introduce a bit of hassle and ina service and the purchasers — convenience into your life, but you have a license to print money. only a tiny bit. But by taking on But it’s even more insidious this challenge, you’ll be doing the than that. Once a platform van- job anti-trust authorities, in an quishes its competition, it’s near- ideal world, might take care of on impossible for a our behalf — ensurstart-up to come in ing consumers and Once a and challenge its workers, rather platform is dominance. than the owners of We see the home- indispensable capital and algosharing platform rithms — get a piece to both Airbnb exploiting of the surplus that’s sides of a its dominance alcreated by new ready. It doesn’t ofbusiness ideas. transaction, fer sweet discounts Option one preyou have to lure customers or sents us with a prethosts because it ty dire picture of a license to doesn’t have to. It’s the future print money. what twice as big as the might look like. nearest competitor, And option two HomeAway, so even without a comes with very little downside, discount it provides more value, it’s easy to do and can also help us given the greater choice offered to overcome our inertia to find to both hosts and guests. ourselves better deals.

So we, as participants in platforms’ fight for world domina- Ray Fisman is the Slater family profestion, have two alternatives. First, sor in behavioral economics, Boston University, and Tim Sullivan is the you can succumb, paying a little editorial director for Harvard Business more for the convenience that Review Press.

8 stocks lead march to Dow 20,000 Goldman Sachs is tops with 14% gain since 19,000 Matt Krantz @mattkrantz USA TODAY

The dream of Dow 20,000 is nearly a reality. A handful of stocks led the march.

Eight stocks in the Dow Jones industrial average, including Goldman Sachs, Travelers and UnitedHealth, added 40 or more points to the market measure apiece — making them the biggest contributors to the much-awaited feat. These eight together added 611 of the 1,000 points needed to break 20,000, since hitting 19,000 on Nov. 22.

The Dow is constructed in a way that stocks with the highest per-share dollar values contribute the most points.

It’s not just points, but dollars, too. These big winners added $92 billion in market value to investors’ pockets — nearly half of the $215 billion in market value added by all 30 Dow stocks since the market first closed above 19,000.

“No matter your view of whether prices are expensive or inexpensive, a new record level for the market is to be celebrated,” says Michael Farr, CEO of

TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Wall Street has seen the Dow Jones industrial average rally from 10,000 in March 1999 to 19,934 on Friday. money management firm Farr, Miller & Washington.

Stocks that gained the most in part reflect investors’ hopes for the government’s direction after the surprise election of Donald Trump as president. But being so near a record 1,000-point move, which is a less impressive 5.3% climb, also highlights what investors are looking for: uMore profits for financials. Trump’s campaign promise to reduce government regulation and borrow money to finance government-led infrastructure plans has helped banks and other financial firms. Goldman Sachs is the biggest winner since the Dow hit 19,000, single-handedly delivering a 14% gain to $240.97 a share, which translates into 204 Dow points. Goldman’s contribution to the Dow is more than twice that of the second-largest

contributor in terms of Dow points, United Health. Financials are expected to benefit from fewer rules that inhibit the types of loans they can make. Additionally, rising long-term interest rates are seen as a benefit as bank customers must pay more for loans.

Two other financials are among the eight best Dow stocks, including insurer Travelers and JPMorgan Chase, making the sector the one with the majority of big winners. “Financials have taken the baton and run with it,” says Ryan Detrick, market strategist at LPL Financial. uGains from all corners.

Unlike other market rallies in history that left large groups of sectors or stocks behind, the march to 20,000 has lifted almost all stocks. Just three Dow stocks — credit card processor Visa, Walmart and drugmaker Merck —

have slipped since Dow 19,000.

And even Merck is down just 3.5% to $59.56. Merck’s slip has cost the market measure less than 15 Dow points since it hit the 19,000 mark. uEnergy, industrials pick up steam. It has been some time since energy and industrial stocks have participated in the rally, but they’ve been big players since Dow 19,000. Three of the biggest winners from those two sectors, including Chevron in energy and Boeing and 3M among industrials. Oil prices have risen roughly 12% since the Dow hit 19,000.

President-elect Trump is likely to enact rules to help industrial and energy companies.

In the longer term, the Dow’s rally from 10,000 in March 1999 to 19,934 shows that while some stocks have disproportionately benefited since the election, others haven’t as much. Apple, with its 9,120% gain since Dow 10,000, has been the biggest winner among current Dow members in that time frame. But since Dow 19,000, Apple’s 32-point contribution and 4.2% gain ranks it outside the top eight. Health insurer UnitedHealth continues to be a big winner. The company’s stock rose 2,400% since Dow 10,000 — second best since then — and also added 74 Dow points since 19,000.

“Remember the rule of buying low. This isn’t low or anywhere near low. So, be happy, be optimistic, but be careful,” Farr says.

5B

USA TODAY MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

TECH

Pinterest: Diversity more important than ever Social network cites progress hiring blacks, Hispanics Jessica Guynn USA TODAY

SAN FRANCISCO At Pinterest’s weekly staff meeting after the presidential election, co-founders Ben Silbermann and Evan Sharp and diversity chief Candice Morgan got up and reiterated the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The high-tech industry is appealing to a global marketplace, where women and minorities increasingly wield economic power.

Yet concern had spread among women and people of color alienated by Donald Trump’s campaign that tech companies would shrink from diversity efforts in the changing political climate, reversing the small gains Silicon Valley has achieved so far.

Pinterest executives say changing the demographics of the industry never has been more

important. “Evan and I 2014. They showed huge, have always believed growing populations that building diverse largely have been left out teams is essential to of the tech economy’s building great products. rapid wealth and job Diverse teams come gains. In sharp contrast with a broader set of exwith tech’s varied users, periences, which means the industry is dominatthey often have new pered by white and Asian PINTEREST spectives and ideas,” Silmen. Underrepresented Pinterest bermann said. minorities comprise a The San Francisco diversity distinct minority among start-up has been at the chief Candice Silicon Valley tech comforefront of making a Morgan panies, including Pinterpublic commitment to est. They make up 6% of hiring more women and under- employees vs. the 22% of employrepresented minorities since one ees in non-tech firms in the area, of its former engineers issued a according to the Equal Employcall to action in 2013. Tracy Chou ment Opportunity Commission. uploaded a spreadsheet to the Pinterest, which describes itcode-sharing platform Github self as “the world’s catalog of and challenged tech companies to ideas,” is a digital pinboard that make public the number of private investors have valued at female engineers in their ranks. $11 billion. Its executives say they Leading tech companies from must build a diverse workforce to Google to Facebook stepped for- thrive. So they responded in July ward, reporting diversity statis- 2015 by setting ambitious goals to tics on an annual basis, starting in hire more women and minorities

and, in a rare move, it shared those goals — a vow to remake the company’s demographics in the public eye.

This month, the company offered a status report on its progress. Its overall demographics have not budged much. Some goals were met; a key one wasn’t.

Pinterest didn’t achieve the 30% hiring rate it set for women in engineering roles and has now decreased that goal to 25% for 2017 because it was too aggressive. The company had a 22% hiring rate for women in engineering roles in 2016, it said.

Pinterest says it more than doubled the number of people in the company from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds to 7%.

It increased the hiring rate of engineers from underrepresented ethnic groups to 9% from 1%, surpassing its goal of 8%.

The number of underrepresented ethnic minorities who are new engineering graduates rose to 9% from 2% in 2015. About 20% of engineering interns in 2016 came from underrepresent-

ed ethnic groups, up from 4% in 2015. Overall, Pinterest increased the hiring rate for people from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds in non-engineering roles to 12% from 7%.

“You look around and you really see it. I’ve had many people remark to me how amazing it is to see that diversity in the faces around the office and in the building,” Morgan said.

Nearly half the company is white and 41% is Asian. Underrepresented minorities made progress but remain a tiny fraction of the Pinterest workforce.

African Americans account for 2% in engineering, 2% in tech and 3% in business. No African Americans held leadership roles.

Hispanics fare slightly better: 4% overall, 3% in engineering, 2% in tech, 5% in business, 4% in leadership roles. Leadership at Pinterest is 70% white, 22% Asian.

Morgan says Pinterest didn’t make as much progress as it would like but that it learned a great deal that will help boost efforts to increase diversity in 2017.

Got a new smartphone?

Here’s what to do with your old one Brett Molina

@brettmolina23 USA TODAY

5

into a remote control. Not only can you change channels on your TV, but you activate any Bluetooth gadget in your home, including speakers, smart lamps and security devices. The best part: You don’t have to aim your tablet at anything, you just have to be within the Bluetooth’s range.

Kim Komando

access to YouTube, Vimeo and Flickr, so you can easily upload your online content, including home videos, and watch them on your TV. But with your tablet, you don’t have to use these services.

For example, if you have an iPad and Apple TV, you can use Airplay to project your tablet’s display on the big screen. Just swipe upward from the bottom, and you’ll see the Airplay icon. If you don’t have Apple TV, or you’re not near a Wi-Fi signal, you can find a VGA adapter and plug your iPad directly into the set.

For Android users, there’s another option: You can use an app called AllCast, which will connect your Android to many different services, including Amazon TV, Apple TV and Roku, among others.

THINGS YOUR TABLET CAN DO

It’s hard to believe the first iPad was released in 2010. We use tablets for entertainment, work and even to pay for a mocha at the local cafe. The device that once looked like science fiction is now a staple of American homes. But most of us don’t realize how many different ways we can use our tablets. Switch around a few settings or download the right app and you can perform all kinds of digital magic tricks. Here are five things you didn’t know your tablet could do.

@kimkomando Special for USA TODAY

1Desktops

USE YOUR COMPUTER FROM YOUR TABLET

are a double-edged sword: They’re powerful and have large screens, but they also tend to sit in one place. What happens when you’re on the road, and you need to nab some files off your desktop back at home or the office?

It’s not a problem if your tablet and PC or Mac is loaded with Splashtop. Simply download and install the free Splashtop Streamer software on your computer, get the app for either iPad or Android, create an account and then log into both target devices for instant remote access. You can be holding your tablet on a beach in Maui, but the display shows your desktop just as if you were sitting in front it back home in Minnesota.

The app costs $9.99, and an annual subscription costs $16.99 — a great way to go for travelers.

2

TRANSFER FILES WIRELESSLY FROM YOUR TABLET TO YOUR COMPUTER

Have you ever emailed a file, such as a photo or a document, to your Mac from your iPhone or iPad, even as you sit right in front of your Mac? Yes, I’ve done it, too.

That’s because using email to move files around works pretty well as long as your file is small enough to be attached.

There’s a better way to move files among your gadgets or even among your friends’ devices. Apple AirDrop is a built-in app that lets you seamlessly move files between nearby desktop Macs and iOS gadgets like iPad, iPhone or iPod touch using a Bluetooth connection.

This is particularly handy for iPad owners, who can start AirDropping in a matter of seconds.

To enable AirDrop on an iPad, swipe up on the Home screen to access the Control Panel. From here, you can set AirDrop to receive from Contacts Only, Everyone, or Off. Newer Mac computers also have this ability, and you can find AirDrop in Finder.

Not to be outdone, Android tablets have a nearly identical

system in a third-party app called Airmore. You can move music, movies, photos, and apps from your Android tablet to any compatible device, along with your call logs and text messages.

3 Tablets are designed to be intuTURN YOUR TABLET INTO A POWERFUL TV REMOTE

itive, and sometimes they’re even more intuitive than a time-tested gizmo like a TV remote. With the right system in place, you can replace your remote entirely. Some tablets are designed with television in mind. The Galaxy Tab, for example, has a built-in IR transmitter, which you can use as a universal TV remote. As with your old-fashioned remote, you’ll have to aim the Tab directly at the TV. iPads and Androids don’t have an IR transmitter, but if you’re feeling handy, you can buy an external transmitter that attaches to the audio jack, just like your ear buds.

There’s a more sophisticated way to control your television from a distance. You can invest in a Harmony Home Hub or the Bluemoo, which are designed to turn your smartphone or tablet

SPENCER PLATT, GETTY IMAGES

4 Many smart TVs already give you SHOW YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON YOUR TV

5 Professional musicians tend to carry electronic guitar tuners.

TUNE YOUR GUITAR

But if you’re a weekend strummer who wants a quick tune-up, or you want a backup device during your concert tour, look no further than Guitar Tuna, a free app for iOS and Android.

Using your iPad or Android tablet’s built-in mike, Guitar Tuna is fast, accurate and easy to use.

What’s more, it works with all popular string-based instruments, from guitars and basses to ukuleles and mandolins. The app also has advanced tools, like a metronome, guitar learning tools and alternative guitar tunings.

For daily tips, visit Komando.com.

Whether it’s as a gift or just to treat yourself, getting a new smartphone is awesome.

Once you’ve adjusted settings, downloaded apps and imported your contacts, you might be left with one last question: what do I do with my old smartphone?

There are two big steps you must take before doing anything that’s not keeping it or stuffing it in a drawer: back up the device’s data, then erase and restore the device to what it was when it first came out of the box.

The backup will save you the trouble of inputting all those contacts into your new smartphone.

Erasing and restoring your old phone will prevent anyone from getting access to any data such as contacts or social media accounts. OK, now that the phone is back in default form, let’s review your choices: uGift it: Maybe your husband or wife want a new phone, but aren’t hung up on having the latest model; or you have a small child and want them to have their own device. For adults, it’s simple: give them the phone and they can replace their old phone. Giving your old phone to kids is good, too, since you don’t need to have the phone connected (making it a Wi-Fi only device) and you can tailor the experience using parental controls and other settings to best manage the experience, especially if it’s for a younger child. uTrade it in: There are plenty of places you can accomplish this (through your wireless carrier, the phone maker themselves or through third-party sites such as Gazelle or Amazon). But do your homework. The price you get will vary depending on several factors, most importantly the condition of your smartphone. uSell it: If you’re hoping to make a little extra off that old smartphone, you could try to sell it through eBay or Craigslist. The benefit here is you might be able to snag a little more cash for your phone depending on condition. uKeep it: Thanks to a variety of apps, smartphones can tackle a lot of clever roles, such as security camera, remote, digital photo frame, digital camera or something as simple as a dedicated entertainment device. uRecycle it: If you managed to get by with an old smartphone sporting a busted touchscreen or too many scratches and dents, you could recycle it. Some device makers including Apple and carriers such as Verizon offer programs where you can recycle your smartphone. The Consumer Technology Association offers a handy list of retailers supporting recycle programs near you.

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USA TODAY MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

PERSONAL FINANCE

Don’t ‘anchor’ yourself to minimum credit card payments Research shows it’s costing U.S. consumers millions of dollars in needless interest

Robert Powell

Special for USA TODAY

Do you carry a balance on your credit cards from month to month? Do you pay just the minimum or near-minimum due on your monthly statement?

You’re not alone. In fact, three in 10 card holders (113 million credit card accounts) do just that, and it’s costing them millions of dollars in needless interest payments, according to new research published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Jialan Wang, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois, is one of the research co-authors along with ....

WHAT’S GOING ON?

For starters, something called “anchoring” is to blame for card holders paying just the minimum, according to the co-authors of the research, Benjamin Keys, an assistant professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Jialan Wang, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois.

In the world of behavioral finance, anchoring is a bias toward salient — but sometimes irrelevant — cues, Keys and Wang say.

And in the case of credit card statements, the big cue is the “minimum amount due.”

According to Keys and Want, the minimum payment — which typically represents 1% to 2% of the outstanding credit card balance — is

... Benjamin Keys, an assistant professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Powell is editor of Retirement Weekly and contributes regularly to USA TODAY, “The Wall Street Journal” and MarketWatch. Got questions about money? Email Bob at rpowell@ allthingsretirement.com.

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

the amount needed to stay in good standing with the lender and avoid any late fees or trigger higher interest rates.

And what’s interesting to note, Keys and Wang say, is that the minimum payment is based on a formula that is applied to millions of accounts that might not be related to how much a customer can afford to pay or how much they would need to pay to get out of debt. In fact, the researchers estimate that some 9% to 20% of credit card holders could afford to make higher payments on their credit card debt.

By way of history, in the 1970s, the minimum amount due on credit card balances was much more like 5% of the balance, which, the authors say, led borrowers to pay off their debts much faster. And this change in the minimum amount due on balances from 5% then to 1% or 2% now has had “important implications for how much outstanding debt households have,” the authors say. Of note, credit card debt in the U.S. totaled $665 billion in 2015.

To be fair, some consumers may be making near-minimum payments because they are struggling with financial difficulties and cannot afford to pay more.

However, the researchers say a significant number of consumers aren’t sure how much to pay, are strongly influenced by the required minimum and could save a significant amount of money by paying more each month.

“Paying more would speed up the repayment period and sharply reduce the cumulative interest paid,” Keys and Wang say.

The researchers also say a sizable fraction of credit card holders — young and old, rich and poor — make relatively small payments and thus incur interest each month. “This behavior isn’t isolated to a small part of the credit card population,” Keys and Wang say.

“It’s surprisingly universal.”

THE CHALLENGE OF CREDIT CARD DEBT

To be fair, it’s somewhat understandable that consumers anchor to the minimum amount due on their monthly credit card statement.

“Credit card debt is challenging for households because there’s no set schedule for how to pay it back in a timely fashion,” Keys and Wang say. “This makes it very different from a mortgage, auto loan or student loan, which tend to have a fixed amortization schedule — a 30-year mortgage or 10-year student loan, for example — and a predictable repayment date.”

In contrast, the researchers say it would take more than a decade for a consumer with just $2,000 in credit card debt to pay it off by making only the typical minimum payment, and that would

entail thousands of dollars in interest costs.

What’s more, most consumers continue to spend on their cards, making it even more difficult to figure out how much they should repay, Keys and Wang say. “Our research suggests that many consumers could be paying down more on their credit card debt,” they say. “Tools and techniques that help them set and achieve repayment goals could save consumers billions of dollars per year in interest costs.”

So, what are some of the tools and techniques that you can use to save money each year in interest costs?

Researchers say it would take more than a decade for a consumer with just $2,000 in credit card debt to pay it off by making only the typical minimum payment, and that would entail thousands of dollars in interest costs. uAnchors away. According to Keys and Wang, credit card holders should resist, when making financial decisions, the urge to “anchor” to an easily available benchmark and instead carefully choose the repayment amount that best meets their goals. “Instead of anchoring to the minimum payment on their credit cards, consumers should pay down as much as they can on high-interest debts given their budgets to minimize their interest costs.” uTry the 36-month plan.

Credit card holders — because of the CARD Act of 2009 — also learn on their statements what payment is required to pay off their balance in 36 months. According to Keys and Wang, 1% of credit card holders adopted this alternative suggested payment, and that resulted in $62 million in interest savings per year. However, the savings could have been $2 billion per year if all anchoring consumers had adopted the new suggested 36-month payment. uCreate a monthly budget.

Keys and Wang say consumers ought to create a monthly budget and allocate any money that isn’t being used for immediate needs, 401(k) matching contributions or their emergency fund toward paying down their debt.

Tools such as Mint, Chase Blueprint and ReadyForZero can help consumers create a budget, pay down debt faster and reduce interest costs.

“For many households, the interest rate on the credit card is their highest-cost debt, so they should make it a priority to pay it back,” Keys and Wang say.

Unsatisfied receivers, gifters:

Watch out for return policies Courtney Jespersen l NerdWallet

You might find yourself trudging through a congested shopping center the day after Christmas carrying bags full of pants that are too short and sweaters that aren’t your style. But the crowds and the heavy load might not be your biggest frustrations. Before you embark on your post-holiday mall trip, beware of the following: RETURN WINDOWS

It’s wise to bring misguided gifts back sooner than later.

Kmart is allowing shoppers until Jan. 31 to return items purchased from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24. But it applies only to items that typically have a 30-day return window. Some are excluded, including those sold by third-party sellers, floor care equipment, vacuums and major home appliances. Don’t assume your product qualifies for a retailer’s extended window. Look online to see which deadline fits your gift.

DOCUMENTATION

To avoid a wasted trip, arrive armed with ID, your receipt or packing slip and

all packaging and parts of the product. Sometimes tags must be attached, too. Most stores require a gift receipt and/or order number to process the return. Macy’s, for instance, sends back gifts returned by mail that are missing an invoice or gift receipt.

REIMBURSEMENTS

If you’re returning a gift you purchased, you might receive a refund to your card, a store credit or cash. For instance, Best Buy will reimburse you for most returned items the same way you paid. But if you paid more than $800 in cash or more than $250 by check or a debit card without a major credit card logo, you’ll be mailed a refund check within 10 business days.

WARRANTY LOOPHOLES

The Better Business Bureau warns that warranties sometimes exempt stores from liability for damaged products.

Send those items directly to the manufacturer for a replacement.

FINAL SALE ITEMS

Some products can’t be returned at all.

At Wet Seal, lingerie, swimwear, jewelry and clearance purchases aren’t eligible for return or exchange. At Steve Madden, purchases of clearance items and jewelry are final. Tory Burch won’t accept anything that has been worn, altered or washed.

If you’re unsure of a retailer’s return policy, call customer service or look it up online before you make a trip to the

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

store or post office in vain.

Jespersen is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website.

Email: courtney@nerdwallet.com.

Twitter: @CourtneyNerd.

NerdWallet is a USA TODAY content partner providing general news, commentary and coverage from around the Web. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

USA TODAY MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

LIFELINE

SPORTS LIFE AUTOS SECRETS TRAVEL TO SUCCESS

7B

MOVIES

ROYALS REPORT CHRISTMAS WITH THE MIDDLETONS Prince William and Duchess Kate celebrated Christmas with the Middleton family in Buckleberry, Berkshire. The festivities included a trip with children Princess Charlotte, 1, and Prince George, 3, to their first Christmas Day church service at St Mark’s in Englefield.

AND ANIMAL MAGNETISM IN ‘SING’

M

SAMIR HUSSEIN, WIREIMAGE

HOW WAS YOUR DAY? GOOD DAY ‘FULLER HOUSE’ FANS The house will apparently get even fuller. Netflix announced over the weekend that a third season of the ‘Full House’ spinoff will debut in 2017. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream now.

atthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson really did burst into songs for Sing (in theaters now ). Director Garth Jennings says it had to be the A-list actors’ own vocals for the animated movie about animals who compete in a singing competition: “There’s much more rooting interest knowing the actors are really doing this.” USA TODAY’s Patrick Ryan and Bryan Alexander reveal the stories behind the performances: REESE WITHERSPOON (AS ROSITA)

TODD PLITT, FOR USA TODAY

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY (AS BUSTER MOON)

NETFLIX

HOW WAS YOUR DAY? GOOD DAY KACEY MUSGRAVES The country singer got a new sparkly accessory for Christmas: an engagement ring. Musgraves, 28, wrote on Instagram that fiancé Ruston Kelly “got down on one knee in my little pink childhood home” in Texas to propose on Saturday. “I finally know what everyone means when they say ‘you just know.’ ”

GETTY IMAGES

Carly Mallenbaum

USA SNAPSHOTS©

A little birdie told us 2016’s most tweeted-about musician hashtags:

1. #Exo 2. #Jimin 3. #Prince SOURCE Twitter rankings of hashtags Jan. 1-Nov. 14 by unique user

SING PHOTOS BY NORMAN JEAN ROY/ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT

SCARLETT JOHANSSON (AS ASH)

Johansson is a recording pro, having released two alternative-rock albums. But she went hard core as the punk porcupine, especially on the original anthem Set It All Free.

“That may be a musical departure for me, personally, but it’s the perfect representation of Ash’s experience.” Her studio secret was “lots of Throat Coat (tea) and gusto and letting go of my inhibitions.”

Johansson also gave the full version of Call Me Maybe: “I mean, it’s certainly catchy.”

TORI KELLY (AS MEENA)

Voicing the gung-ho koala who hosts a singing competition to save his struggling theater, McConaughey tears into Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe. Not pretty, but fun.

“I said, ‘Look, nothing’s written for me to sing, but if you come up with something, I’d love to give it a shot,’ ” McConaughey says. In the recording booth, Jennings asked about Call Me Maybe. “I’d heard the song, obviously,” McConaughey says. “So I said, ‘Leave the recording (going) and I’ll do it over and over 20 times and we’ll pick one out of there.’ ”

As the overstressed housewife with 25 piglets, Witherspoon belts out three pop showstoppers: Katy Perry’s Firework, Bananarama’s Venus and Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off. But the actress wasn’t entirely confident in her singing, despite winning an Oscar as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line.

“I ran into Katy when I was recording Firework and Taylor when I was recording Shake It Off, and explained to both of them that they should brace themselves for my version,” Witherspoon says. “You sound really good in your car or your shower, but then you have to actually go into the recording booth and it’s hard to sing those songs.”

Her trick to nailing the vocals? M&M’s. “It just gives me a sugar rush.”

TARON EGERTON(AS JOHNNY)

The American Idol star surprised herself as the shy elephant with killer pipes who does a stunning version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and a breathy Happy Birthday. But Kelly reached personal vocal heights for Stevie Wonder’s classic Don’t You Worry ’Bout A Thing. “I didn’t think I could hit those notes. I was stretching my vocal ability.”

Chalk it up to studio coaching, technique and lots of car practicing. (“I feel hidden from people there.”) It paid off: “When I found out Stevie Wonder heard it and loved it, I freaked out.”

Egerton, the Welsh star of Kingsman: The Secret Service, showed surprising vocal ability, earning the part of soulful gorilla Johnny after an Otis Reddingfilled audition for Jennings. Singing Stay With Me “really stretched me,” Egerton says. “Sam Smith’s falsetto is really insane, but I gave it a go.”

Johnny brings the house down with I’m Still Standing by Egerton’s hero Elton John. Like Johnny, Egerton doesn’t play the piano (“I wish”), but he can nail Can’t Help Falling In Love on his ukulele.

TERRY BYRNE AND VERONICA BRAVO, USA TODAY

Director and star Washington builds a powerful ‘Fences’ Denzel Washington’s key to directing Fences is unleashing the full prowess of his powerhouse cast of thespians — himself included.

MOVIE The knockout adREVIEW aptation (eeeg out BRIAN of four; rated PG-13; TRUITT in theaters now ) of August Wilson’s 1983 play is paced by standout performances from its entire cast, not only Washington and Oscar contender Viola Davis but also character actor Stephen Henderson and newcomer Jovan Adepo. It’s a Shakespearean family drama set against 1950s suburban Pittsburgh, with everything orbiting one tragic African-American patriarch.

Troy Maxson (Washington) is a garbage man with a personality big enough to fill any room or backyard. He’s motormouthed,

casually misogynistic to his wife, Rose (Davis), and has tales for days.

“You got more stories than the Devil’s got sinners,” his best friend Jim Bono (Henderson) tells Troy, a one-time baseball player in the Negro Leagues who never made it to the majors and spent time in jail for murder.

Washington gives Troy a playful style and an empathetic nature when dealing with his mentally challenged brother Gabriel (Mykelti Williamson), though even early on hints at a self-centered darker side. Troy gets promoted to trash-truck driver — the first black man at his company to do so — but as his life starts to look up, he’s harder on those in his family he thinks are disrespecting him. Most of his ire is aimed at son Cory, a college

football prospect, and tension rises to a violent boil when Troy pulls him off his school team.

Fences smartly doesn’t mess with Wilson’s great screenplay, which offers a nuanced look at race relations of the time. Troy makes waves in crossing the color barrier on the job, yet in many ways keeps his loved ones from reaching their dreams: He tells Cory that discrimination will keep him from being a sports star, but there’s some jealousy there.

Davis plays the dutiful wife for the first half, but she gets her moment to shine later, as Rose confronts Troy in an intense scene where the actress explodes with such raw, rapturous emotion you can’t keep your eyes off her. Rose is never the same, and neither is the movie as the aftermath shakes every player to the core.

DAVID LEE, PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Tension and jealousy boil between Cory (Jovan Adepo) and his father, Troy (Denzel Washington), in Fences.

Washington filmed Fences as a play rather than a movie — the production is mostly limited to the Maxsons’ home and yard, where Troy is forever building a literal as well as metaphorical fence. While not a conventional cinematic experience, it does create a sense of forced intimacy among its characters that becomes more combustible as the story progresses.

But with the level of acting talent involved, Fences could have been filmed in the parking lot of a pet store and still been just as effective.

Washington has put together a troupe that crafts a retro story that’s still completely relatable, no matter one’s race, and brilliantly plays a protagonist that finds the sweetest spot between lovable and loathsome.

8B

USA TODAY MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

MUSIC

5

essential tracks from Kid Cudi’s ‘Passion, Pain, & Demon Slayin’

Kid Cudi performs at the 2015 Lollapalooza festival at Chicago’s Grant Park. His new album, Passion, Pain, & Demon Slayin’, is out now.

His new album, coming at the end of a troubled year, doesn’t dispatch his demons

Maeve McDermott @maeve_mcdermott USA TODAY

Kid Cudi needed some good news.

The rapper has spent 2016 in the spotlight; the troubles began with a series of high-profile rants against Kanye West, Drake and other rappers and ended with him entering rehab for depression.

The artist’s outburst and subsequent hospitalization wasn’t the only time a high-profile rapper sought help this fall. In 2008, Cudi and his former collaborator Kanye West made it OK for rappers to make music about their feelings, even their depression, on West’s 808s & Heartbreak. In a cruel twist of fate, both sought treatment this year for their mental health, with West entering the hospital in November for exhaustion.

Even as he was headed into darkness, Cudi had one bright spot ahead: the release of Passion,

Pain, & Demon Slayin’ (eegE out of four), his new album that he wrote and mostly produced himself. Stretching over an hour and a half, broken up into four mini-movements and featuring guest spots from Andre 3000, Pharrell Williams, Travis Scott and Willow Smith, the album takes its passion and pain seriously, showing Cudi grappling with his depression, not quite slaying his demons yet.

Along with his frank treatment of his mental health, another constant in Cudi’s career has been his ambitious recording projects; which sometimes, like his 2015 alt-rock album Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven, descend into selfindulgence. Like many other high-profile rap albums this year, Passion’s long run time is its weakest point; its symphony-like structure stretches at least one movement too long.

But there’s plenty to celebrate in Passion’s contemplative downtempo rap and colorful psychR&B, showing Cudi returning to, and expanding, the spacey production that first made him famous on his 2009 debut, Man on the Moon. As his past year has shown, the singer is still chasing the Pursuit of Happiness he sang about on his eerily prescient breakout hit. On Passion, he has accepted that “you could try and numb the pain, but it’ll never go away,” as he repeats to himself on Passion track Swim in the Light. Thankfully, he’s still swimming.

Ready to listen? Start with these five tracks: STEVE C. MITCHELL, AP

ILLUSIONS This is classic Kid Cudi, tracing his lifetime of nightmarish hallucinations over spare production, struggling to banish “the demons in my head.”

MICHAEL HICKEY, GETTY IMAGES

DOES IT While Cudi spends much of Passion in his monotone singing voice, he switches gears on Does It with sung-spoken verses full of braggadocious lyrics, proving he’s not quite finished talking trash.

BY DESIGN featuring Andre 3000: This song is the better of Passion’s two features from the former Outkast member as he does his best approximation of Cudi’s flow over hints of steel drums.

ROSE GOLDEN featuring Willow Smith: The combination of Cudi and Smith is Passion’s most logical pairing, featuring the spiritual artists’ church-like chants about the universe’s higher power.

SURFIN’ featuring Pharrell Williams: Passion’s final track is its most celebratory, thanks to production by Pharrell as Cudi ends the album with a message of resilience: “I ain’t ridin’ no waves / Too busy making my own waves, baby.”

MOVIES

The Force is strong in this ‘Star Wars’ movie ranking Brian Truitt USA TODAY

Unless you’ve been held captive by a Wampa, crash-landed a TIE Fighter on Jakku or were eaten by the Sarlacc — we see you there, Boba Fett, keep hope alive — it’s probably not news that there’s a Star Wars movie out.

For everybody who hasn’t seen the Death Star onscreen enough, Rogue One is the flick for you.

Nerds and civilians alike are again busting out their Star Wars tapes and DVDs, special editions or original recipe, and rewatching the seven previous films to get jacked up for the first standalone Star Wars movie and eighth chapter in this galactic saga. And fourth prequel if we’re being technical.

We’re no different. We binged them again, too, and these are the rankings you’re looking for, y’all — including Rogue One.

1Empire is like a Star Destroyer — ‘THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK’ (1980)

full of great scenes: Vader’s reveal to Luke about being the kid’s father; Luke training with Yoda and each kinda getting ticked off; Han and Leia’s “I love you/I know” exchange before he gets frozen in carbonite. It’s the chapter that takes a cool sci-fi fairy tale with Arthurian overtones and sends it on its way to being a masterwork of storytelling.

2The original remains the real ‘STAR WARS’ (1977)

LUCASFILM

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in Star Wars.

“Let me look on you with my own eyes” to Luke before dying.

5

‘ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY’ (2016)

LUCASFILM

Darth Vader. deal mostly because of all the great moments. Luke looking out over the horizon of Tatooine and knowing his destiny lies beyond.

Han explaining that hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster. Leia being brave as she faces the destruction of her planet. We don’t need to know much about their history to quickly fall in love.

3 Director J.J. Abrams gets danger‘THE FORCE AWAKENS’ (2015)

ously close to recycling old material, but instead he uses those

familiar motifs to set the stage for an exciting third trilogy and crafts arguably the best final shot ever in a Star Wars film.

4 What makes this movie so special ‘RETURN OF THE JEDI’ (1983)

are all the satisfying conclusions.

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) says goodbye to Yoda in a touching moment; and Leia (Carrie Fisher) finding out about her sibling connection to Luke is emotional but not cloying. Check yourself for a pulse if you’re not getting chills when Vader says

For its maiden standalone voyage, Star Wars brass blended the old (the Rebel Alliance freaking out about the construction of the Empire’s mighty Death Star) with something new (a war movie digging into the battlefields on land and in space with insurgents rising up against “the Man”).

The results are a mixed bag: Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) heads up armed misfits to steal the Death Star plans, though a snarky droid ends up being the best character in the bunch. (For the record, K-2SO is way cooler than C-3PO.)

6 It’s no coincidence that the pre‘REVENGE OF THE SITH’ (2005)

quel that’s closest to the original trilogy in tone, story and theme is

the best one. Anakin finally has his full turn to the Dark Side, though it’s a little whiplash-y how quickly he goes from broody, anti-authoritarian kid to childkilling, baddest man in the galaxy.

7 There are so many sleek special ‘ATTACK OF THE CLONES’ (2002)

effects that you miss the spitand-gum filmmaking of Lucas’ originals. Also, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman have zero chemistry as lovers Anakin and Padmé. All that said, Clones isn’t a bad film and it’s pretty good whenever Ewan McGregor’s ObiWan Kenobi is around.

8 George Lucas’ prequels get a bad ‘THE PHANTOM MENACE’ (1999)

rap and, well, they kind of deserve it. What basically is a two-hour trailer for the rest of Anakin Skywalker’s story is kind of a mess — he was immaculately conceived?

And as for Jar Jar Binks … yeah.

QUOTE OF THE DAY I MISSED IT, AND I WAS REAL UPSET. ... THIS YEAR, I’M GOING TO TRY AND GET OUT THERE WITH THEM AND TRY TO HELP WIN ANOTHER GAME AND KEEP GOING FORWARD.” Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, after the Texans clinched the AFC South, ensuring his first playoff appearance. He missed last year’s game with a foot injury.

KEVIN JAIRAJ, USA TODAY SPORTS

SPORTSLINE FIRST WORD Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season filled with peace & cheer in the New Year!”

Wizards guard John Wall, extending his holiday wishes to all in a tweet.

TWEET OF THE DAY @AdamSchefter Here’s how unique Derek Carr injury is: Since playoffs began in 1933, no QB with 12+ regular-season W’s has failed to start postseason game.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter, on Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who suffered a broken leg in the AFC West leaders’ win Saturday.

BRIAN SPURLOCK, USA TODAY SPORTS

LeBron James celebrates a dunk with Kyrie Irving during the Finals rematch Sunday. Irving’s late jumper sealed the Cavs’ win.

CARR (4) BY KELLEY L. COX, USA TODAY SPORTS

NUMBER OF THE DAY

$300,000

Approximate value of the custom-engraved, personalized bottles of Louis XIII cognac that defensive end Olivier Vernon gifted to his Giants teammates, coaching staff and other organization members, as reported by, among others, ESPN’s Darren Rovell and NJ.com’s Dan Duggan.

VERNON BY JEFF HANISCH, USA TODAY SPORTS

ALMOST LAST WORD Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! So grateful to wake up to my family! So happy I get to do what I love on this holiday!!! #iLoveThisGame Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert, tweeting about how his Dec. 25 started and would unfold hours later in a home game against the Warriors.

LAST WORD “IT’S BEEN UP AND DOWN ALL YEAR AND THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES THESE KIDS COULD HAVE QUIT AND THEY STUCK TOGETHER, NOT ONLY FOR THE SENIORS, BUT FOR THE FANS AND THE SUPPORTERS OF WARRIOR FOOTBALL.” Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich, after the Rainbow Warriors blew out Middle Tennessee to win the Hawaii Bowl, their first postseason victory since 2006, and finish the season 7-7.

Edited by Joe Rayos

USA SNAPSHOTS

©

Always on court Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson will play his

400th consecutive game Monday night, the longest active streak in the NBA.

SOURCE NBA ELLEN J. HORROW AND JANET LOEHRKE, USA TODAY

JAMES AND IRVING SAVE CHRISTMAS IN CLEVELAND AJ Neuharth-Keusch @tweetAJNK USA TODAY Sports

CLEVELAND One hundred eighty-nine days had passed since the Cleveland Cavaliers completed the most historic comeback in NBA Finals history, climbing out of a 3-1 hole to knock off the defending champion Golden State Warriors in dramatic fashion.

At Quicken Loans Arena on Christmas Day, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving picked up right where they left off.

Forget the fact the Cavaliers were without starting shooting guard J.R. Smith, who is expected

to miss the next 12 to 14 weeks with a thumb injury. And forget the fact that the Warriors’ newest addition, Kevin Durant, put on an MVP-type performance, finishing the game with 36 points and 15 rebounds. James and Irving weren’t going to let the Warriors steal Christmas in Cleveland.

Irving, who caught fire in the fourth quarter after struggling offensively for the majority of the game, hit the eventual winning jumper over Klay Thompson with 3.4 seconds left — a brutal reminder to Dub Nation of the lastminute, go-ahead three he hit in Game 7.

Irving had 25 points, 10 assists and seven steals, and James finished with 31 points and 13 re-

bounds, helping the Cavs overcome a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 109-108 victory in a heavyweight bout that lived up to all 189 days of hype.

“He’s just a killer on the court,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said of Irving after the game. “We put the ball in his hands at the end of the game to go one-on-one against Klay, who’s a great defender.”

“The kid is special,” James said.

“It was never in doubt.”

Though this was a statement victory that marked the Cavs’ fourth consecutive win against the Warriors, there was no sense of satisfaction after the game, nor was there talk of a Finals rematch.

“It’s Dec. 25th,” Irving said.

“We’ve got a ways before we even start considering the carryover or anything else like that. It’s just a Christmas Day game, another classic with a great team. It’s exciting. It’s just all respect when we go out there and play. Just high-level players making highlevel plays.”

“The competition is what you live for,” James said. “It’s always fun when you get an opportunity to play on Christmas, and it’s even that much more fun to be home. It lived up to what everybody wanted it to.”

The teams won’t have to wait quite as long to see each other again, as they’re set to face off Jan. 16 in Oakland.

Cowboys’ Elliott out in front for MVP Tom Pelissero

tpelissero@usatoday.com USA TODAY Sports

If the national panel that selects the NFL’s recognized MVP award is seeing this season the same way as the league’s top evaluators, the vote is going to be divided — and could potentially produce a rare rookie winner.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was the MVP pick last week in a USA TODAY Sports poll of high-ranking executives representing 12 NFL teams who discussed their votes on the condition of anonymity because they’re not allowed to comment publicly about other teams’ players.

In the USA TODAY Sports poll taken before Week 16 started, Elliott received five votes. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady received three, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan two and Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr one. The other vote was split among Brady, Carr and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

That’s not overwhelming support for Elliott. Those making the case against him point out he’s running behind the NFL’s best offensive line, is surrounded by passing game weapons who can give him favorable matchups and

STEW MILNE, USA TODAY SPORTS

Despite missing four games, Tom Brady has put up MVP numbers, including 22 touchdown passes and two interceptions. arguably isn’t even the most impressive rookie on his team, with quarterback Dak Prescott playing a more challenging position at a high level.

But those who back Elliott make a strong case, too. His 1,551 rushing yards are 327 more than the next closest player. Nobody has more runs of 20-plus yards (13). He’s averaging 5 yards per carry, has scored 14 total touchdowns and is the driving force behind the Cowboys’ turnaround from 4-12 last season to 12-2, in line for the No. 1 seed with two games to play.

“He’s changed their team,” one NFL general manager told USA TODAY Sports. “They’ve had that offensive line for a couple years now. He’s come in there and

dominated games. He’s running over people and smashing people.

He’s a dominant force.”

Fifty media members (I’m one of them) will vote by Jan. 4 for awards given out by the Associated Press, which began awarding the MVP in 1961 and has never given it to a rookie. (Cleveland Browns fullback Jim Brown did win what was then called NFL Player of the Year in his rookie year in 1957.)

There’s still time for things to change. Brady, a two-time MVP, has been playing catch-up since his four-game Deflategate suspension expired. He has made the most of it, passing for 3,278 yards and 25 TDs with two interceptions as the Patriots have won 10 of 11 games to wrap up a record

eighth consecutive AFC East title.

“His numbers, touchdown-topick ratio — who does that? If you’re talking about the ‘most valuable player,’ he’s it,” said a GM who voted for Brady. “Ezekiel will get his at some point, but you’ve got three all-pros blocking for you, you’ve got a quarterback that’s (playing well) — that makes it easy living as a back.”

One hole many poke in Brady’s case is that the Patriots went 3-1 without him. But he keeps winning with less around him on offense than Elliott — a task that got tougher when all-pro tight end Rob Gronkowski had seasonending surgery a few weeks ago.

Ryan is having by far his best season (34 TD passes, seven interceptions, 115.5 passer rating).

Rodgers, another two-time MVP, has been spectacular in the Packers’ five-game winning streak, which has given them a shot to rally from a 4-6 start for the NFC North title.

There’s really no wrong choice.

But considering it’s been almost six decades since a rookie was voted the NFL’s top player and a running back has won MVP just once (Adrian Peterson in 2012) since Shaun Alexander and LaDainian Tomlinson went-backto-back in 2005 and ’06, perhaps the most notable aspect of this race is so many keen eyes think Elliott is the right choice.

FOLLOW NFL REPORTER TOM PELISSERO

@TomPelissero for breaking news, insight and analysis.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

GIVEN TIME, HUSKIES COULD UPSET Washington’s Petersen master of preparation Dan Wolken

@danwolken USA TODAY Sports

Between the road game environment they’ll face at the Georgia Dome, the questions about their schedule and the overall dominance of the team they’re facing, there are plenty of reasons to dismiss the Washington Huskies’ chances of upsetting top-ranked Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

They’re new on the national scene, a team that has been completely remade in three short years and delivered a Pac-12 title ahead of schedule.

But as good as No. 4 Washington has been this season, it is a decided and deserved underdog, the kind of program that made a quick leap from 7-6 to 12-1 and might need to take one or two swings at this Playoff deal before being able to fight in Alabama’s weight class.

But Washington seemingly has one factor in its favor. Starting with his very first team at Boise State, which upset Oklahoma in a legendary Fiesta Bowl, head coach Chris Petersen’s reputation for getting teams to peak after a long layoff has reached almost mythical proportions.

Besides the Oklahoma win, Boise State under Petersen beat TCU in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl as 1 7 ⁄2-point underdogs and scored season-opening victories against three ranked teams in Oregon, Virginia Tech and Georgia.

Though Boise State’s success against those teams wasn’t much of a surprise after a while, it was a program that relished playing the name-brand programs and beating them regularly when Petersen had multiple weeks to prepare.

“He’s just really good — three days, two days, one day, six months — I think he’s just really good,” said Washington receivers coach Bush Hamdan, who was a backup quarterback at Boise SEATTLE

JENNIFER BUCHANAN, USA TODAY SPORTS

Washington coach Chris Petersen and quarterback Jake Browning went 12-1 this season.

State for the Oklahoma upset.

“We felt we belonged in the big game, and we were just ecstatic to get an opportunity to showcase who we were on a national stage.”

Spend a few days around the Huskies, and that rallying cry sounds familiar, particularly in this situation against college football’s gold-standard program.

Washington players and coaches readily admit they have never faced anything like what they will see in Atlanta. But they also believe they belong in this game and will do what is necessary to give themselves a chance.

“It’s not so much about Alabama,” receiver John Ross said.

“It’s about who we are and how well we prepare and the things we’ve been doing because we’ve created something special this whole season.”

Much of that focus goes back to Petersen, whose reputation for being taciturn and evasive in public comments around big games plays into the narrative that

“Coach Pete is a very disciplined, detailed coach. So now when you have more time to be detailed and prepared, that’s probably right in his wheelhouse.”

Huskies co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake

there’s something mysterious behind the curtain.

More than likely, that’s just what Petersen wants his opponents to think. Maybe the special sauce is simply an amplification of what his staff does anyway: grinding through tape, fine-tuning game plans, working on fundamentals.

“It comes back to our preparation, and everybody knows Coach Pete is a very disciplined, detailed coach,” co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake said. “So now when you

have more time to be detailed and prepared, that’s probably right in his wheelhouse.”

But the idea that Washington will come out against Alabama with a totally different offense and a bag full of gadget plays?

That seems unlikely; in fact, Petersen’s reputation for trickery is somewhat overwrought.

There’s no doubt the Oklahoma game is largely remembered for three creative plays that helped Boise State win: a hookand-lateral that tied the score on fourth-and-18 with 18 seconds

left, a halfback pass for a touchdown in overtime and a Statue of Liberty for the winning two-point conversion.

Thus, Petersen’s renown for always having something up his sleeve was born and became part of every subsequent opponent’s scouting report.

“I don’t think we’ve run that many this year compared to some other years, but they get all the attention,” offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith said. “When they work, they’re great; when they don’t, people feel like we’re wasting time. It’s part of our package, but we run regular plays way more than trick plays.”

And Washington is adamant that its success against Alabama largely will be based on the same sort of balanced approach that worked so well the entire season.

“We’ll probably have some tweaks here and there like we do every other week,” quarterback Jake Browning said. “But you can’t let a good team get you out of your rhythm that got you there.”

For Petersen, there are undeniable advantages to having nearly a month to prepare.

“You don’t have to rush to make decisions like you would normally on a game week where you have a day and a half to say, ‘OK, this is what we’re doing and we’re going with it,’ ” Lake said.

“Now you can sit back and go, ‘You know what, let’s really think about this.’ ” For Washington’s staff, which has largely been together since Boise State, the approach has stood the test of time. Petersen is 6-3 in bowls and 9-3 in season openers.

Washington might not have the same amount of elite talent or physical size as Alabama, but its preparation will be second to none, which is enough to engender hope around here that the Peach Bowl can indeed be won in the face of significant odds, the kind of odds this staff has faced — and beaten — before.

“I think Coach Pete always has a good plan,” Smith said. “We do have a little more time to prepare, but so do they. I don’t know the exact science on why we’ve had some success (off long layoffs), but it’s been working.”

Boise State fans still cheering for Petersen Washington coach’s legacy lives on in Idaho Dan Wolken

@danwolken USA TODAY Sports BOISE A few minutes before noon on a quiet December day, a group of schoolchildren walked through the Allen Noble Hall of Fame, bypassing trophy cases and grainy pictures to see what most of them really came to see.

The day before, it was someone from Thailand who had come to visit Boise State football’s famous blue turf, which was notable because it was the 37th country represented since retirees Don Moe and Dave Croft persuaded the school in May to allow them to give tours Monday through Friday.

“A lot of people have it on their bucket list,” Moe said.

It’s absurd, in a sense, that people would make a point to visit Idaho or go out of their way just to see a football field; not Alabama’s or Notre Dame’s, mind you, but the field belonging to a program that has never won or even played for a national championship and became part of the national conversation only a decade ago.

It underscores, however, what a dramatic impact Chris Petersen had during his 13 years at Boise State, the last eight of which he was head coach and led the program to 92 wins and four top-10 finishes before going to Washington, finally saying yes to a Power Five job after years of saying no.

The consequences of that deci-

sion have been profound on both programs. Petersen took his philosophy, much of his Boise State staff and a few recruits and transformed the Huskies, getting them into the College Football Playoff in his third season. They will play Alabama on Dec. 31 in the Peach Bowl as heavy underdogs in a scenario reminiscent of the Jan. 1, 2007, Fiesta Bowl, where Petersen’s team stunned Oklahoma and became college football’s perpetual Cinderella.

Boise State, meanwhile, has settled back into the kind of program it was before Petersen: consistently good but without realistic aspirations of achieving much more than a Mountain West Conference title (which, for the record, it failed to do the last two years).

“I’m accustomed to Coach Pete and his style, so it’s harder for me to adapt, I guess,” said Torry McAlvain, the president of a construction company and Boise State booster who remains part of Petersen’s small circle of personal friends. “It’s different. That’s all I can say. It’s different.”

But even while the fortunes of the two programs have gone in opposite directions since Petersen’s move, there is no lingering bitterness here three years later.

While Boise State football remains almost the sole focus of the local sports community, there has been at least a passing interest in Washington’s rise. And when the Huskies play Alabama, there’s no doubt who the majority of Boise State fans will be rooting for.

“People would love for Coach Pete to win a national championship,” said Travis Hawkes, a local businessman who fortuitously opened a Boise State merchandise store a few months before the 2006 season. “It’s good for

Boise State that he’s been so successful. I think it indicates how good Boise State really was. This shows it wasn’t just getting up for one game or a fluke or because of the schedule. This indicates Boise State was the real deal. The talent was the real deal. The system was the real deal, and he can replicate that with success at Washington.”

While that logic makes perfect sense in a vacuum, it’s rare in the ecosystem of college sports, where fan behavior is largely tied into the facade that their school is a utopia that no player or coach would aspire to leave behind. And often it’s hard to blame them.

Though some Boise State fans were initially upset that Petersen didn’t coach the Hawaii Bowl after taking the Washington job and that a handful of Boise State recruits switched to the Huskies, it has largely become a non-issue.

In fact, when Washington played at Boise State to open the 2015 season in a game scheduled years before Petersen’s departure, fans cheered him during pregame introductions.

“I suppose there could be somebody still mad, but I don’t know them and I don’t want to know them,” said Milford Terrell, a former Idaho State Board of Education member and Boise State booster, who claims to have been the first to give Petersen the Coach Pete moniker the day he was elevated from offensive coordinator to head coach.

From the moment he won the Fiesta Bowl to complete a 13-0 debut season, Petersen had suitors across the country. He rebuffed each of them to stay at Boise. From Southern California to Mississippi State to Stanford, there was constant speculation that he would follow Houston Nutt (Arkansas), Dirk Koetter

KIRBY LEE, USA TODAY SPORTS

Chris Petersen’s 92-12 record at Boise State has left him with favored status among school supporters, even three years after leaving for Washington.

(Arizona State) and Dan Hawkins (Colorado) to power conference jobs.

But each time he said no.

As Boise State became more successful, Petersen erected walls — literally and figuratively — to put distance between himself and the public. The indoor practice facility built in 2006 had locks on its doors, ending the days of longtime ticketholders such as Moe dropping by to bring coffee and shoot the breeze with assistants.

Many schools contractually have their coach do a weekly radio show from a local restaurant as part of a marketing deal; Petersen did his from a private studio on campus. He also ended the weekly tradition of a Monday luncheon at which groups of Boise State supporters could hear him and ask questions.

Instead, Petersen formed a group called the Coaches Club; he would appear at a handful of events and grant access to some practices for a $5,000 donation a year.

“He looked at things like, ‘How does that make us better?’ ” Hawkes said. “Having a coach’s

show at a sports bar doesn’t, but showing up to the Coaches Club six times a year got him $500,000 he could give to his assistants.”

Hawkes, a life-long Boise resident and graduate of the university, understands that the run Petersen guided will probably never be matched. Like everyone else, he felt the immediate depression that hovered over the community for a time after he was gone and wishes the magic carpet ride had continued forever. But he also understands how much Petersen gave the program and raised the entire school’s profile, all the while turning down so many lucrative offers to coach elsewhere rather than jumping at the first opportunity to leave.

“He was nothing but an outstanding coach, gentleman and citizen,” McAlvain said. “There’s no hard feelings because he left.

They feel like they’re a part of him because he was here so long, and they’re excited for him now.

In the coaching industry there’s always something better. I knew eventually, one day, there was no way we could keep him in Boise, Idaho. He had too much talent.”

FOOTBALL 1994 winner saw Heisman as more curse than coup

kids laugh and trying to figure out where their hurts are and where they’re misunderstood,” Hawkins said. “Sometimes, I think he was misunderstood, too.”

Brent Schrotenboer

The Heisman Trophy isn’t easy to tote around and doesn’t exactly fit in the storage bins of an airplane. So Salaam had to find another place for it as he made his way back to Colorado from New York, where he won the award decisively in December 1994.

He placed it on the seat next to him on the airplane.

“It had its own seat in first class with a blue blanket over it,” said Plati of CU. “Made it look like E.T.” It was an unforgettable time in an unforgettable season. Salaam was barely 20 but burst to fame while becoming just the fourth player in major-college football history to gain at least 2,000 yards rushing in a season. He slashed for big gains behind his blockers all season, helping the Buffaloes finish No. 3 nationally with an 11-1 record, with the defeat coming against Nebraska, the eventual national champion.

In one game, a 27-26 win at Michigan, he rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns before throwing a key block on the final play, when his quarterback, Kordell Stewart, launched a winning Hail Mary touchdown pass to Westbrook as time expired. A week later, Salaam rumbled for 317 yards to help CU beat Texas 34-31 on a hot day in Austin.

On his final regular-season college play, he raced downfield for a 67-yard run in a win at home against Iowa State, giving him 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns for the season. His teammates swarmed him in the end zone and lifted him up.

About 20 years later, the sparks of those college years still burned. About two years ago, he ran into Shelley Martin, who lived in the same dorm as Salaam at CU during their college days.

The relationship blossomed the last two years, said Martin, his girlfriend.

“I don’t want our pain to be in vain,” she wrote in an email. “Still in disbelief and hurt. … Hoping he will be coming through the door, pick me up. … Never this pain I have felt.”

In early 2015, Salaam helped organize a “Ski for Heisman” event in Aspen that brought about 30 inner-city teens to the slopes with law enforcement officers. The idea was to improve relations with police and at-risk youth.

Reid, who helped raise funds for the event, remembers CU alumni and fans in Aspen asking Salaam for photographs and autographs. They didn’t care about the length of his NFL career or how famous he did or didn’t become after leaving CU. “One night, the kids were back in their rooms, and we were just hanging out,” Reid said. “I remember saying to him, ‘You don’t get it. You don’t have a grasp of how people hold you and what they think of you.’ ” According to Reid, Salaam responded by asking if these people really knew who he was.

“Holy crap!” Reid said he told Salaam. “They know who you are, dude!”

“He didn’t have an ego,” Reid said. “I just think he was there for the right reasons and he was oblivious to himself being a superstar or someone who people held in high regard.”

More people now wish they had told him about how much they loved him. But they didn’t know he didn’t know. And he wasn’t showing he needed it.

“It’s about holding on to pain and not letting people know what’s really going on,” said Alaji, his brother. “They’re gladiators.

They’re strong people. … Whenever something goes wrong or they hurt, they would never let the world know until almost like it’s too late.”

Salaam’s father said if there was anything that should be said or written about his son it was this: “He was a team player. That means together each achieves more. Not by yourself.”

As for the Heisman, Salaam’s father said it was only a football award and didn’t define his son’s life.

“It is very damaging to hear some of the reports coming out, like he had a long, slow fall from grace,” he said. “The Heisman Trophy is an award given for football. There is no long, slow fall.

It’s a football award. You can’t put anybody on a pedestal like that.”

‘HE DIDN’T HAVE AN EGO’

@schrotenboer USA TODAY Sports

BOULDER , COLO. Before he committed suicide this month at 42, Rashaan Salaam often seemed to struggle with 45 pounds of extra weight on his back.

That’s roughly how much it measured on the scale — the Heisman Trophy. The trophy seemed to burden him before he won it, in the fall of 1994.

“I’m scared,” he said then. “I really don’t want to win it, because I know how much pressure is put upon me.”

After Salaam won it, that view only seemed to get worse.

He described it like a curse, an impossible set of expectations that followed him everywhere.

The stiff-armed statue bedeviled him in other strange ways, too.

In 2011, a family member sold Salaam’s Heisman ring for more than $8,000, according to Salaam’s brother.

The trophy itself is also missing, according to an official at the University of Colorado, where Salaam played from 1992 to 1994.

Two Heisman Trophies are awarded to the annual winner — one to the player, the other to the player’s school. Colorado keeps one of Salaam’s Heisman trophies on display here, but the whereabouts of Salaam’s personal Heisman are a mystery. His father said he didn’t know where it was, and his brother said he last heard it was in storage but he wasn’t sure.

“The Heisman is currently lost — the family (or Salaam) loaned it to someone for display and it was supposed to be sent back to his mom, but it never showed up,” CU sports information director Dave Plati told USA TODAY Sports.

Ultimately, even the time and place of his shocking death seemed to be shadowed by the trophy. He didn’t choose to die at home, where he lived in Superior, Colo. Instead, he picked a quiet park about 12 miles away in Boulder, just a short hike up the Boulder Creek path from the football stadium where he galloped his way to the Heisman as a Colorado running back.

He died Monday night, Dec. 5, the same week of the year he otherwise might be preparing to go to the annual Heisman Trophy presentation in New York. This year’s Heisman ceremony was Dec. 10. He didn’t plan to go.

“Rashaan had previously indicated to us that he would be unable to attend the Heisman this year,” Heisman Trophy coordinator Tim Henning told USA TODAY Sports.

Perhaps no one will ever understand why Salaam felt compelled to kill himself.

Family members and friends described hints of depression hidden beneath his giving personality and beaming smile.

His brother said Salaam had symptoms associated with football head trauma, including memory loss.

But there was one memory he would not forget, and it defined his life, for better or worse. He won the Heisman, arguably the most prestigious individual award in American sports.

That was a huge blessing for him, giving him fame and popularity and a marketing campaign he used to help underprivileged kids.

Yet it sometimes felt like a hex.

And he never quite got over it. He also often failed to grasp just how many people loved him for it.

THE QUIET PLAN

This is where he died — at a neighborhood park at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, a quiet place with towering trees and a playground, next to a creek that flowed by the campus and stadium where he made his name.

The clues indicate he planned it all out. He chose a secluded area away from visible traffic. A note was found, his mother, Khalada, told USA TODAY Sports the next day. Its contents have not been disclosed.

“It was a very short, private note,” said his brother, Jabali Alaji. “But it explained a lot. ... I’ll never reveal exactly what it said.”

The cause of death has not been officially released. But multiple people indicated to USA TODAY Sports that Salaam shot

ISAIAH J. DOWNING, IUSA TODAY SPORTS

A mourner greets Rashaan Salaam’s mother, Khalada, during funeral services for the 1994 Heisman Trophy winner in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 9. Rashaan Salaam committed suicide Dec. 5.

CLUES IN SALAAM DEATH POINT TO HEAVY BURDEN himself. His mother, who had possession of Salaam’s trophy after he won it, declined to comment further.

Salaam gave no apparent advance notice of his final act. Two people told USA TODAY Sports they spoke with Salaam by phone in the hours before his death: Alaji and Tim James, a safety on Colorado’s 1990 national championship team who became friends with Salaam in later years.

Alaji and James said Salaam gave no hint of his fatal plans.

Alaji described it as a “very positive conversation” and said he and Salaam “made plans for the future.”

James said he spoke with Salaam for about 90 minutes, and the topics included CU’s successful football season this year. At the end of the call, James said, he urged Salaam to answer the phone when he called him, because Salaam had shown a tendency in recent months for being unresponsive to text messages and phone calls.

Likewise, former teammates had trouble reaching him, including Blake Anderson, a former CU receiver. John Reid, a partner in Salaam’s charitable endeavors, also wondered where he was.

“Some of the volunteers were wanting to know if we were going to plan a winter program this year for the kids,” said Reid, who collaborated with Salaam to send at-risk teens on a ski trip to Aspen in 2015. “We kept calling him.

He had sort of gone into seclusion. Blake was actually calling me and asking if I had heard from him. I said, ‘No, have you heard from him?’ ” They didn’t know. Nobody really knew. Outwardly, Salaam could flash his famous smile and give the appearance of happiness.

“He was just that type of infectious personality, so happy,” former Colorado receiver Michael Westbrook said. “I guess he was just really good at hiding and concealing anything that was hurting him.”

It was easy to conceal if he kept to himself, alone in his condo down the Boulder turnpike in Superior. It appeared to be a comfortable place for a young, single adult, a one-bedroom unit in a clean, gated community with a view of the Flatiron Crossing shopping mall.

Less than a week after his death, his family and friends gathered to empty it out. Alaji said he looked but found no bottles of alcohol or pills.

He said he spoke with his brother regularly and that Salaam had “all the symptoms” of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is associated with football head trauma.

“He had the symptoms the whole time,” Alaji said. “Maybe he was in denial. He was too prideful to go out here and say, ‘I physically need help.’ ” At Salaam’s funeral service in Boulder, his father, Sultan Salaam, described his son as having

USA TODAY SPORTS

Salaam emerged as the winner from a strong field of Heisman contenders in 1994 and was a firstround NFL pick in 1995.

had a “mental breakdown.”

About a week later, at a memorial for Salaam in his hometown of San Diego, he expressed anguish to a crowd of friends and family.

“Open the door!” he said. “Love your family. Talk to your family.

Real talk. Do not joke. Do not play. Life is serious.”

Afterward, Sultan Salaam said the circumstances that led to his son’s death are unclear and might never be known.

“It could be concussions,” he said. “It could be something else.”

TRAIL OF DESPAIR

Of the eight top vote-getters for the 1994 Heisman Trophy, three are dead.

Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips finished eighth and died in January after hanging himself in prison at 40. Thirdplace finisher Steve McNair, a quarterback for Alcorn State, was killed in 2009 at 36, victim of a murder-suicide in which his girlfriend fatally shot McNair before killing herself.

This eerie trail of despair also extends to the NFL, where Salaam played for the Chicago Bears and took handoffs as a rookie in 1995 from quarterback Erik Kramer, who struggled with depression and shot himself in the head last year but survived.

In retrospect, Salaam’s mother seemed prophetic in 1994 when she told a reporter that her son was reluctant about winning the Heisman because, she said, “He seems to think some of the guys who won it in recent years haven’t done that well and that there might be some kind of negative thing attached to it.”

It’s called the Heisman curse — a spotty correlation between some trophy winners and their lack of success in subsequent bowl games or the NFL. Salaam experienced no such curse in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, scoring three touchdowns in a 41-24 win. He also rushed for 1,074 yards and was named NFC rookie of the year for the Bears in 1995.

Instead, the Heisman represented unwanted pressure for Salaam, who often seemed more content being a face in the crowd among teammates or hanging out with friends from San Diego or Colorado. He deflected praise to his offensive linemen so often in 1994 that it seemed he wanted

them to have the trophy instead.

“It was always about the teammates,” former CU safety Chris Hudson said of Salaam’s outlook.

After injuries cut short his NFL career, Salaam still described the Heisman as a burden in his post-playing life, James said.

“He just thought it was a curse, the Heisman was a curse, and he didn’t live up to the expectations in his mind,” James said. “It just didn’t pan out for him in his mind. He struggled with that.”

It was a matter of perspective.

He didn’t find glory and immense wealth in the NFL, but not many do. His first contract was for four years and $3.8 million. After the NFL, he co-founded a company called the Art of War that helped promote mixed martial arts events in China. That didn’t make him wealthy, either, but longtime friend Greg Morrissey said Salaam was financially comfortable.

Morrissey described Salaam as “everyone’s best friend” and questions whether Salaam’s outlook would have changed if his NFL career was more successful.

The Heisman “can be a plus or it can be a negative,” Morrissey said. “Injuries happen and things come up. To be that young, to go in that league, to have success as a rookie, a 1,000-yard rusher and three years later be out of the league, and a Heisman Trophy winner? That’s a hard deal, man.”

In recent years, Salaam moved back from San Diego to Colorado, where the community embraced him. He served as grand marshal of the CU homecoming parade in 2014 and started working with atrisk kids.

“When you give that much of yourself away, when you need something one day, there’s not much (of yourself to) hold on to,” said Shannon Clavelle, another former CU teammate. “It’s spread out so much.

“But he loved doing that. That’s what he was about.”

Salaam spent time with kids through a charity called SPIN, which stands for Supporting People in Need.

Riley Robert Hawkins, who founded the SPIN organization, said he sensed Salaam had regrets that his football career came to an end after parts of four seasons.

Kids helped him get away from that.

“He loved Colorado and he loved CU, and he loved making