Richland Chronicle January 19th, 2021

CHRONICLE Richland

Vol. XLVII Issue 10 January 19, 2021

A student publication

North Texas vaccine rollout in full swing

Pg. 3

• Inauguration embraces theme of ‘America United’

Pg. 2

• Student yearns for the return of live music

Pg. 5

• Editorial: Reluctant saviors deliver the election

Pg. 6

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2 LOCAL/NATIONAL

January 19, 2021

Lawsuit settled, Dallas College moves forward Angela Ly Managing Editor A Dallas County judge has denied a lawsuit questioning the legality of a Dallas College bond package approved by voters in 2019.

The lawsuit challenged the election process, overseen by Dallas County Elections, which was supported by 71% of voters.

“While the bond package is of vital importance to our community, it is no more important than protecting the ability of Dallas County voters to express their will to meet the current and long-term needs of our community,” Dallas College Chancellor Joe May said in a press release issued Jan. 6.

The lawsuit was filed by former GOP Dallas County sheriff candidate Kirk Launius against Dallas College Trustee Diana Flores in her capacity as presiding officer and chair of the district, according to documents filed in Dallas County. It alleged voting irregularities and asked the judge to void the results of the election. The lawsuit froze bond funds despite significant voter support.

Now Dallas College can move ahead with plans for industry-aligned workforce projects that include new facilities; notably the new downtown technology hub for Dallas College’s El Centro campus, new

development at Richland Campus, resources and technology extending student access and mixed-use retail and restaurants tying the college to the surrounding communities and local businesses in Dallas County. These developments, however, were unable to take flight until the lawsuit was settled.

“That’s delayed us, but what really has bothered me more than even the delaying of the project is the fact that 70% of the voters who supported this have effectively had their voices silenced,” May said in a transcript of his State of the College address on Jan. 12. “In other words, they went to the polls to make something happen, and a few people said ‘No, we don’t want that to happen, therefore we’re going to override. We’re going to try to undermine your vote that you cast.’”

Dallas College Board of Trustees Chair Monica Lira Bravo supported the court’s decision saying the “meritless claims” in the lawsuit served to “disenfranchise tens of thousands of Dallas County voters who supported the bond proposition.”

May said this legal challenge draws similarities to the recent national efforts to override the presidential election, despite court rejections of dozens of lawsuits.

“Unfortunately, as I just mentioned, this bond underscores a larger issue that we’re seeing today throughout our society. At its core was this: We had policymakers in control

trying their hardest to maintain that control at all costs, even if it means threatening liberties and rights we all enjoy,” May said.

Reflecting upon the “horrifying images of insurrection on the grounds of our U.S. Capitol” May said, “It was like looking at photos and video clips from another country.”

“I couldn’t imagine seeing this type of assault come down in our nation’s capitol all in the name of disrupting such a sacred process protected under the Constitution. It gets down to the right to vote and the right for those votes to be heard and counted,” May said.

“Regardless of political affiliation, we have to acknowledge the act for what it was. That was an act of domestic terrorism. Those involved should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

According to May, the lawsuit did not tarnish the reputation of Dallas College but it did delay its progress in addressing the needs of the community.

“The lawsuit didn’t discredit Dallas College but it did seek to intentionally create major delays and impact efforts to transform lives and communities through higher education,” May said. “All of these projects, many of them cutting edge and forward thinking in their own right, would have been well within the developmental stages by this point. In other words, we would have been down the road to making them reality.”

Photo courtesy Brent Barnard

The El Centro Campus of Dallas College.

May referred to the bond package as being of “vital importance” to meet and serve the current and long-term educational needs of students, employers and the community. The suit “in no way dampened [Dallas College’s] resolve and commitment to providing the needed resources to ensure that our students are receiving the best possible education that aligns with our rapidly changing economy,” May said.

Performers unite for the inauguration Nabeela Iqbal/Angela Ly

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Staff Writer/Managing Editor The inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be a star-studded affair that takes place beginning at 10:30 a.m. (CST) Jan. 20. The event traditionally takes place, on the stairs of the West Front of the U.S. Capitol overlooking the National Mall. It’s the same spot where an aggressive, pro-Trump mob attacked on Jan. 6.

The theme for the inauguration is “America United” and will reflect “the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America, brings the country together and creates a path to a brighter future,” according to a press release sent to The Associated Press.

The ceremony will kick off with a virtual parade followed by the swearing-in ceremony and the inaugural address in which President Biden will lay out his plans for the future.

Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem and

Jon Bon Jovi, left, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato and others will perform at Biden’s presidential inauguration.

poet Amanda Gorman, 22, will read her poem “The Hill We Climb.” Jennifer Lopez is also expected to perform, according to AP. Biden will then receive a traditional military escort to the White House to be followed by a “virtual parade across America,” which will feature performances from communities across the country.

Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and their wives will be present. They will be joined by Vice President

Mike Pence and his wife. President Donald Trump, however, will not participate in the ceremonial transfer of power. He will join three former U.S. presidents who have turned a cold shoulder to their successors.

The inauguration will take place under heavy security. Some 25,000 National Guard troops have been deployed and the Capitol, White House and National Mall are sealed off to the public, according to AP. The FBI issued warnings to the governors of all 50 states out

Photos The Associated Press

of caution that protests may take place at the state capitols the day of the inauguration.

Amid the pandemic and mounting security threats, officials are urging the public to watch the events on television from home.

Tom Hanks will host the national primetime special “Celebrating America” that evening beginning at 7:30 p.m. (CST). The program will be televised on all of the major networks and will feature performances by Foo Fighters, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Bruce Springsteen and others.

January 19, 2021

LOCAL/NATIONAL 3

Texas vaccine hubs deliver more than 1.3 million shots

Photos The Associated Press

Clockwise from top left: Betty Wahlstedt receives vaccine from pharmacist Jeffery Smith; Clay Jenkins apologizes to those waiting for vaccine at Fair Park; A Dallas County Health and Human Services employee checks the temperature of a resident at COVID mega-vaccination center at Fair Park; Arlington firefighter Andrew Harris gives shot to Barbara Alexander as Gov. Greg Abbott looks on.

The U.S. death toll from COVID19 has surpassed 400,000 as of Jan. 19. In Texas, some 300 fatalities are reported daily with 32,860 deaths due to the virus to date, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Dallas County reported a cumulative total of 208,991 confirmed cases with 1887 deaths according to Dallas County Health and Human Services.

Photo Credit Avi S. Adelman/PhotographerOnBoard.com

Trump is impeached a second time, trial is next Design Editor The House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump for the second time, making Trump the first U.S. president to be impeached twice in a single term of office. At issue was the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters in which five people were killed. The single article of impeachment, for “incitement of insurrection,” was approved by the House Jan. 14.

Unlike his first impeachment, 10 Republicans joined the Democrats in the decisive 232-197 vote to impeach the president.

According to The Associated Press, it was “the most bipartisan impeachment of a president in U.S. history.”

The case now goes to the Senate for a trial.

Lawmakers may choose to convict Trump and have him permanently removed from holding future office. Although the Senate’s next actions are still uncertain at press time, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said the Senate trial will take place after the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. McConnell, who has commonly sided with Trump, says he is open to considering convicting the impeached president and told senators the conviction would be a “vote of conscience,” according to AP. If the trial occurs after Trump leaves office, it will be the first of its kind. The House impeachment occurred just one week after the Jan. 6 Capitol takeover. Democrats have

included an instance on the day of the riot where he addressed a crowd in Washington, D.C. and encouraged them to take “lawless action at the Capitol.”

The article also condemned the president’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and highlighted a phone call where Trump threatened Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, to find enough votes to change the Georgia election results in his favor. The article also concluded that Trump’s actions have “gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government.”

Republicans have lost their majority in the Senate after losing the Georgia runoff

elections, but the Trump’s fate remains in limbo, as the Constitution requires a twothirds majority of the Senate to convict him in a Senate now evenly-split between Democrats and Republicans. No U.S. president has been convicted by the Senate. Some Republican senators are considering voting for conviction, with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey both suggesting that Trump should have resigned. Other GOP senators have also criticized Trump but continue to refuse to vote to convict him.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said the impeachment was a “bad, rushed, emotional move” that could create further tension.

Photo The Associated Press

Nancy Pelosi shows the signed article of impeachment against Trump on Capitol Hill.

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Barbara Gandica Martinez

voiced concerns that delaying the Senate trial would overshadow the start of Biden’s presidency, according to AP. The mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol Jan. 6 in order to obstruct the certification of the Electoral College vote from the 2020 general election, which Trump lost to Biden. The riot was fueled by conspiracy theories and Trump’s rhetorical claim that the election was “stolen” and that was due a second term.

Apparently inspired by falsehoods, the mob stormed the Capitol building while Congress was in session, endangering the lives of the vice president, speaker of the house and the president pro tempore of the Senate, the three people in the line of succession after the president. Five people were killed in the attack on Congress, which is at the heart of the American democratic system according to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The House passed a single article of impeachment which charges Trump with inciting an insurrection. The article notes that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution states that no elected official “shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” By supporting the mob on Jan. 6, the House states that Trump had broken his oath of office.

In the article of impeachment, the House pointed to the fact that Trump had “repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the presidential election results were the product of widespread fraud” prior to Jan. 6. This

4 ENTERTAINMENT

January 19, 2021

“Greyhound”– Tom Hanks is a captain yet again, this time on his first mission in the midst of World War II. This one was made for Apple TV.

A-

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” – The late Chadwick Boseman is the disruptive, aggressive trumpet player for Viola Davis’s “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey. Available on Netflix.

“News of the World” – Hanks (again!) is an orator spanning the lower part of the country while also looking after a young girl whose parents were murdered in the Old West. Available as Premium Video on Demand.

“Soul” – This inventive Disney musical deals with a musician who accidentally passes away due to no fault of his own. Available on Disney+.

“I’m Your Woman” –This great tale, is like a throwback to 70s-era films. Lead Rachel Brosnahan amazes from start to finish in this dynamic, gritty tale. Available on Amazon.

A-

RichlandStudentMedia.com

A-

A-

A-

Photos Courtesy IMDb

“She says we can’t come in without a mask!”

Staff Cartoon Jerry Weiss

Photo Courtesy IMDb

Andrew Garfield, left, and Jesse Eisenberg star in the film “The Social Network.”

‘The Social Network’ explores the origins of social media platforms Ricky Miller

Entertainment Editor Even though “The Social Network” is a 2010 release, the events that occur mirror the current state of America. For starters, the character of Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg, Oscar nominee for Best Actor) is in the news especially with President Donald Trump being impeached for the second time.

My entire editorial staff here at the Richland Chronicle wanted me to do a piece on this movie since it is very apropos given the way in which social media is being covered here in the United States.

I find it ironic that Trump got banned from Twitter since he used that apparatus as his own playpen. That has nothing to do with Facebook, part of what “The Social Network” delves into.

“The Social Network” won three Oscars for Aaron Sorkin’s deftly handled screenplay, best film editing by cutters Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, in addition to best score for composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Of significance is also the introduction of Nine Inch Nails into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Reznor is the lead singer of that band.

At first glance, “The Social Network” would seem that this intriguing tale would be user-friendly, but under the hands of a master storyteller such as director David Fincher, all bets are off. What started off as a college prank turned into a field day with all those involved facing issues of libel, false claims and hearsay.

Every cast member gives fluid and dynamic turns, especially Eisenberg as the aforementioned Zuckerberg, who just wants credit for the work he put into Facebook.

What is really cool is to witness all the great performances that came out of this movie.

Rooney Mara is very calm and subtle as one of Zuckerberg’s ex flames, Erica Albright. Armie Hammer plays a dual role as the Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler. Also involved were Andrew Garfield’s character and Timberlake.

His character was the one who could see the big picture at the end. Why settle for millions, “when you can settle for a billion,” he said.

I distinctly remember the hype when this flick came out. The studio, Warner Bros. had big faith in it. The Oscar count (eight nominations) was high on this one, which nabbed three golden statuettes.

Since 2010, everyone involved has been quite successful. Eisenberg had a significant part as the egomaniacal Lex Luthor in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” Mara worked with Fincher again on the American remake of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and Timberlake’s career has been steady as all get out. Hammer headlined the bust that was “The Lone Ranger” in 2013 and was in the Oscar-winning “Call Me by Your Name” in 2017.

“The Social Network” is worth the time and effort for an engaging movie going experience. I already own the special edition Blu-ray but I’m sure there are ways of accessing it on demand.

Grade: A-

January 19, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT/BRIEFS 5

It was better live Staff Writer

We all used to take it for granted; meeting up with friends, catching a favorite band, maybe grabbing some merch. A simple night out.

With a COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon, many are looking forward to returning to somewhat everyday life. However, the return of this unadulterated pleasure is becoming harder and harder as live music venues across the country are facing closure. Coupled with most musical acts not returning to touring until the latter half of 2021, at the earliest, the chances of many music venues reopening decreases by the day.

Live music venues were among the first businesses affected by COVID-19, shuttered by social-distancing measures. While 90% of businesses have reopened to varying degrees, most outlets that rely on ticket sales have not. The ones that have are open to minimal capacity. Depending solely on food and beverage sales is not enough with minimal crowds and overhead costs remaining the same.

The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), a lobbying effort to “preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent live performance venues and promoters in the U.S.,” according to its website, estimates the economic loss to live theaters stands at around $10 billion in wages and revenue nationwide.

The Dallas music scene has felt the sting of closures with high-capacity venues like Gas Monkey Live closing its doors in May and new venues like the HiFi canceling its grand opening. While some local stages have started

to book acts, with social distancing measures in place, most crowds, entertainers and promoters are staying away for the time being.

The potential risk is too significant for most.

“The numbers don’t work under these constraints. When you book a show as a promoter, you have a lot of overhead, deposits on venues, liability insurance, advertising, paying the bands. With the crowd numbers allowed now, the money isn’t there for the risk,” Hugo Rubiano, a local Dallas music promoter said. “We’ve all seen the superspreader events like Sturgis or [the] Trump rallies. It is just ethically questionable and not worth the liability as a promoter.”

While seeing favorite performers live might not be a possibility for now, there are other options. Many musicians have taken to streaming their performances live via social media, online radio or through apps like Spotify, Apple Music and websites such as Live Now and Veeps for a premium.

Save Our Stages was a three-day, virtual, livestreamed music festival produced by NIVA in October. The event featured musical acts such as The Foo Fighters, Rise Against and The Roots. It raised more than $1.8 million to help support independent music venues and is part of an extensive national effort to bring attention to the issue.

The Save our Stages Act is part of the larger updated Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. The $10 billion, bipartisan measure is designed to help alleviate the potential long-term cultural and economic impact of COVID-19 on live entertainment venues nationwide. The legislation passed the House,

News Briefs

Dallas College remote through Feb. 14 With cases of COVID-19 on the rise throughout North Texas, Dallas College will remain in remote operations through Sunday, Feb. 14. The announcement was made by Chancellor Joe May in a campus-wide email to Dallas College employees on Jan. 14. “With the limited distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines having begun in North Texas for specific groups, we remain optimistic about our return to full in-person operations soon,” May said.

The anticipated return to campus will involve half of each department’s employees who will rotate one week on campus and the next off, using an A/B schedule.

“Please know that we remain in constant contact with local and federal health officials and closely monitor the ongoing situation.

Should changes to our plans be necessary, we stand ready to adjust accordingly and keep you informed,” May said.

Dallas names street after Botham Jean The Dallas City Council unanimously approved the renaming of a stretch of street after Botham Jean, a Black man who was shot and killed by a white Dallas police officer who said she mistook his apartment for her own.

The vote Jan. 13 to rename the stretch of South Lamar Street “Botham Jean Boulevard” came after more than 90 minutes of public testimony.

Amber Guyger shot Jean, who was 26, in his apartment after returning home from her shift.

Guyger, now 32, testified at her trial that she thought he was an intruder in her apartment, which was on a different floor of the apartment building.

Botham Jean Boulevard will run between Interstate 30 and the South Central Expressway. The stretch of road will be renamed within 60 days and will cost an estimated $20,000.

Photo Courtesy The HiFi Dallas

The opening of The HiFi Dallas music venue has been delayed due to the pandemic.

and minority leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) co-sponsored the bill stating, “Our live entertainment venues are the beating hearts of every community and in need of dedicated assistance.”

For many performing arts venues and their communities, the question now is whether they can recover from the damage that has

already been done.

The Save Our Stages Act passed as part of the COVID-19 Relief Bill. The National Independent Venue Association is working with the Small Business Administration on the distribution of resources. More information is available at www.SaveOurStages.com

Guyger, who was fired after shooting Jean, was convicted of murder in his death and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Jean’s family has a pending federal lawsuit against her and the city.

Capitol rioter planned to ‘take hostages’ A retired Air Force officer who was part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 carried plastic zip-tie handcuffs because he intended “to take hostages,” a prosecutor said in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth Jan. 14.

The prosecutor argued that Brock should be detained, but Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton said he would release Brock to home confinement.

The 53-year-old is charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Security tight at state capitol More than 100 Texas troopers in riot gear stood outside the state Capitol as a new legislative session got underway in Austin Jan. 12.

The extraordinary show of state police and National Guard members follows the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and new FBI warnings of armed protests nationwide ahead of the presidential inauguration.

An internal FBI bulletin warned of plans for armed protest at all 50 state capitols and in Washington, D.C. in the days leading up to the presidential inauguration.

Guns banned in luggage to DC flights Airlines and airports are stepping up security before the presidential inauguration. Delta, United, Alaska, American and Southwest airlines are prohibiting passengers flying to the Washington area from putting guns in checked bags through Jan. 23.

The moves follow the riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump and politically tinged confrontations on some flights.

American Airlines is also reinstating a ban on serving alcohol on flights to and from the Washington area through Jan. 21.

Unemployment claims skyrocket The number of people seeking unemployment aid soared the first week of January to 965,000, the most since late August, offering evidence that the resurgent virus has caused a spike in layoffs.

The Labor Department issued the latest figures for jobless claims, which remain at levels never seen until the virus struck in March.

-The Associated Press

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Dave Freeman

6 EDITORIAL

January 19, 2021

CHRONICLE Richland

STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Design Editor Entertainment Editor Online/Special Projects Online/Special Projects

Dara Jones Angela Ly Barbara Gandica Martinez Ricky Miller Damon Craig Ryan Bingham Duff

ON THE COVER Pharmacist Michelle Ng prepares a dose of the COVID-19 vaccination for distribution at a senior living facility in Plano on Jan. 11.

Photo: The Associated Press

BACK COVER Photos The Associated Press

President Donald Trump’s refusal to concede caused an unprecedented attack on the Capitol and some Republicans to finally push back.

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The sore loser, sedition and reluctant saviors

The aftermath of the 2020 presidential election has been like no other. We have become more privy to the workings of the Electoral College. After the vote tally ends, the individual electors vote in their respective states on Dec. 14. The Certificates of the Vote are signed and documents are delivered to the president of the Senate, secretary of state, the archivist of the U.S. and the judge of the U.S. district court in the district where they met.

On Jan. 6, Congress counts the electoral votes in a joint session to certify a winner.

In each election cycle, long after the first Tuesday in November when the general election takes place, the work of the Electoral College has taken place virtually invisible to voters – until now. In years past, the night of the presidential election or soon thereafter, the Electoral College votes are determined by each state as the polls close and are called by various news organizations. Take for example, the 2016 election when Hillary Clinton, who was expected to win that night, lost the Electoral College vote and conceded to Donald Trump. This made for an orderly process and Trump was sworn in as president after all of those steps took place.

However, because Trump hates to lose, according to his ex-wife Ivana Trump in a Nov. 9, 2020 interview with People Magazine, we have watched him fight with all his might.

He has filed multiple lawsuits for recounts to overturn results, badgered state election officials, most notably in a recorded phone call to the Georgia attorney general and has continuously alleged a “rigged election” despite losing to Biden by a much larger margin than Clinton lost to him. Given that Trump has vigorously alleged voter fraud for a year, it was not surprising that he refused to concede the election. Trump continued to promote an alternate reality in which he won the election.

His false claims are nothing new. When Barak Obama was president, Trump claimed that Obama was actually not born in the United States and that his birth certificate was not real. Trump repeated this so often, many people accepted it as fact. Obama’s birth was certified by Hawaii state officials. Period.

What is not in doubt is Trump’s unwavering charisma and determination to believe his own narrative, so it wasn’t surprising, then or now,

that he gathered a following. Those followers, who believe his baseless claims of voter fraud, were inspired to raid the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Being a U.S. citizen comes with the protection of free speech. What we choose to do with it varies based upon one’s moral compass.

Trump’s compass is clearly broken. He emboldened right-wing extremists to overtake the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to avoid joining the list of presidents who were not granted a second term. His behavior is reminiscent of an adolescent throwing a fit in objection to sharing toys, but with deadly results.

The attack on the Capitol while Congress was in session was not just an invasion of a government building. It was an attack on the nation’s institutions and tenets of democracy.

The people have spoken, and Joe Biden will be our president on Jan. 20.

There has been a surprising emergence of elected officials treading the line of sedition in their opposition to the role of government.

Enter Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who initiated the objection to the Electoral College certification by filing a lawsuit to overturn the election results in the four swing states, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Paxton has been under FBI investigation for several years. His top staff quit in September accusing the Republican of bribery and abuse of office on behalf of a donor, according to The Associated Press. The Texas solicitor general, who opposed his election lawsuit, resigned Jan. 13.

Given these facts, perhaps Paxton could be written off as just another corrupt politician, but soon after, other politicians joined in. Texas’ own junior senator, Ted Cruz, offered to serve as the trial attorney and 17 other state attorneys general jumped on the lawsuit bandwagon. One hundred and twentysix Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, many of them from Texas, signed a statement supporting the lawsuit. This is something that has never happened before.

That our elected officials continue to spew propaganda about the election results, which have been upheld by state and federal courts, counted and recounted by state election officials, is outrageous. There is no proof that the election was somehow rigged or otherwise

corrupted. These unfounded allegations were rejected by 60 courts.

As citizens who treasure orderly elections, whether they sway our way or not, such extreme legal wrangling in which one state seeks to overturn the election results in another state, is concerning. Thankfully the Supreme Court, which included three of Trump’s appointed justices, said the case had no merit.

Following the Supreme Court decision, many breathed a sigh of relief and brushed off concerns that that Biden’s certification might be contested in the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6. Yet Trump continued to claim fraud and relentlessly challenged Vice President Mike Pence to dispute the election.

As the certification got underway, eight Senators and 139 representatives were expected to challenge the results in Arizona and other swing states when a seditious mob overran the Capitol in an incident that left five people dead and caused Congressmen and senators in both chambers to flee to safety for several hours.

A visibly shaken Congress reconvened after the insurrection and finished the work of government. In the end, Pence, Trump’s loyal partner of four years, was democracy’s reluctant savior when he certified the election of Biden.

Now America waits and watches to see if the Senate will convict the president in the second act of this second impeachment drama.

Republicans, too, wait to see if the Party of Lincoln will break into two separate parties.

Their motives will vary, whether inspired by integrity, political aspirations, a genuine belief that the election was stolen, pressure from their constituents or, perhaps, darker motives.

Will other reluctant saviors join Pence and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the lone Republican Senator who voted to hear the testimony in Trump’s first impeachment trial? Will they join the 10 Republican representatives who voted to impeach Trump a second time on Jan. 14?

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been quoted as saying the Republican Party needs to eject Trump in order to survive. Will the Republican Party finally embrace the facts and start walking in truth? For the sake of our democracy, we hope they do.

Abraham Lincaoln’s call for unity Photos Illustration: Barbara Gandica

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STUDENT MEDIA STAFF David Acosta Reagan Davis Dave Freeman Nabeela Iqbal Jalen Jordan Isjina Luckett Ritchie Manalastas

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ISSUE DATES March 16 January 19 March 30 February 2 April 13 February 16 April 27 March 2 May 11 STUDENT MEDIA AWARDS Student Organization Community Service Award, 2019 Student Organization of the Year, 2019 CMA Pinnacle Two-Year TV Station Award, 2018 CMA Two-Year Radio Station Award, 2018 ACP Newspaper Pacemaker Winner Award, 2016 ACP Best of Show Award, 2015 ACP Photo Excellence Award, 2015 CMA Newspaper of the Year Finalist, 2014 1st Place – TCCJA Overall General Excellence, 2014 2nd Place – Pinnacle College Media Award, 2014 1st Place – TIPA Sweepstakes, 2005 3rd Place – TIPA Online, 2005 & 2006 Over 270 Texas college journalism awards since 2000

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Editorial Policy The Chronicle is the official student-produced newspaper of Richland College. Editorials, cartoons, columns and letters are the opinions of individual students and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other individual student writers, editors, advisers or the college administration. © Richland Chronicle 2020

January 19, 2021

Sports Briefs Mavs extend their losing streak Kyle Lowry flirted with a triple-double on Jan. 18 and the Toronto Raptors shut down Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić for a 116-93 victory.

Lowry had 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and Pascal Siakam scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half as the Raptors pulled away for their third straight victory.

Dončić, who was coming off a 36-point, 16-rebound, 15-assist triple-double in the Mav’s 117-101 loss to Chicago on Jan. 17, scored 15 points on 4-for-11 shooting and added seven rebounds and nine assists.

“I thought he was frustrated,” Raptors defender Stanley Johnson said. “When you’re tearing up the league like he is and then someone does what we did, it’s frustrating.”

Rick Carlisle, coaching a Dallas team missing four players, was ejected in the first quarter.

The game was tied 47-47 after the first half.

The second half was all Raptors.

“It was nice to play well pretty much the entire second half,” said coach Nick Nurse, who mixed up the defense of Dončić. “We

worked hard to limit his touches somewhat.”

Boucher and Norman Powell (17 points) led an early fourth-quarter rally that put the game away. The Mavs take on the Pacers next in a home game from American Airlines Center Jan. 20. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.

Brady, Bucs head to NFC title game The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will try to advance to the second Super Bowl in franchise history with quarterback Tom Brady. The New Orleans Saints, however, might have to ponder life without quarterback Drew Brees.

Brady’s best game in three tries against New Orleans kept the Buccaneers moving on in the NFL playoffs. Their offense turned three of four Saints turnovers into touchdowns and Tampa Bay beat New Orleans 30-20 in the divisional round of the playoffs Jan. 17.

That game will take place in Green Bay next week, where the 43-year-old Brady will try to advance to his 10th Super Bowl in a showdown with Packers All-Pro QB Aaron Rodgers.

“We worked hard to get to this point. Two road playoff wins is pretty sweet,” Brady said.

“We’ve got to go beat a great football team we know pretty well. Aaron’s playing incredible.”

Meanwhile, the Brees era in New Orleans could be over after 15 seasons. Under contract for one more year, Brees declined to say whether he’s retiring. After he’d changed in the locker room, he walked back onto the field and watched his four children play, at one point sharing a long embrace with his wife, Brittany.

“I appreciate all that this game has given to me,” Brees said. “There are obviously so many

incredible memories.”

Chiefs and Henne hold off Browns The Kansas City Chiefs lost Patrick Mahomes to a concussion and were in danger of losing the game against the Cleveland Browns Jan. 17. Then their defense and Chad Henne, along with a gutsy call by Andy Reid kept their hopes of a Super Bowl repeat alive. The Chiefs held off the Browns 22-17 to advance to their third straight AFC championship game.

With their star quarterback reduced to a spectator, the oft-forgotten bunch opposite Mahomes’ high-powered offense forced the Browns to punt in the waning minutes. Then, his 35-year-old backup showed some moxie with a 13-yard third-down scramble and audacious fourth-down completion to Tyreek Hill — when go-for-broke Reid decided to go for it. That gave the Chiefs (15-2) a first down with just over a minute left and allowed them to run out the clock.

Mahomes completed 11 of his first 12 passes and led the Chiefs to back-to-back touchdowns to start the game. The teams swapped field goals, with Harrison Butker breaking the Chiefs playoff record with a 50-yarder into the wind, the Browns marched for what could have been a momentum-swinging score heading into halftime. But just when Rashard Higgins tried to stretch over the goal line, the Chiefs’ Daniel Sorensen arrived to deliver a hit, popping the ball into the end zone for a touchback — the call stood after a video review.

The entire complexion of the game changed early in the third quarter. The Browns held the Chiefs when Mayfield threw an interception

SPORTS 7 and Butker missed a field goal. Then, Mayfield led them briskly the other way, capping a 77-yard drive with a TD throw to Jarvis Landry. Mahomes was tackled around the head with 7:27 left in the quarter and left crumpled on the turf near midfield. Mahomes stumbled as he tried to get to his feet and was evaluated for a concussion in the locker room.

The momentum finally turned, the Browns began to lean heavily on their vaunted run game, which had produced just 18 yards in the first half. Nick Chubb converted on fourth down with a hard run, then Hunt followed another fourth-down conversion on the same drive by hitting the end zone against his former team to make it 22-17 with 11:07 to go.

It remained with Cleveland when Karl Joseph picked off Henne in the end zone a few minutes later, but the Chiefs stuffed Chubb on first down, forced an incompletion and ultimately made Cleveland punt.

Henne’s gutsy scramble and Reid’s equally daring fourth-down call kept the Browns from having another chance.

The Chiefs face the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 24.

Ph

-- The Associated Press

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