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www.newstrib.com | Thursday, September 26, 2019 | 75 cents
Keeping up with the Claw
Whistleblower: White House tried to ‘lock down’ call details Part of complaint says Trump wanted help to investigate Biden By Eric Tucker and Mary Clare Jalonick ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITERS
WASHINGTON (AP) — A secret whistleblower complaint at the center of an impeachment inquiry alleges that President Donald Trump abused the power of his office to “solicit interference from a foreign country” in next year’s U.S. election. The White House then tried to “lock down” the information to cover it up, the complaint says. The 9-page document was released Thursday ahead of testimony to House investigators from Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence. The whistleblower complaint is at least in part related to the July phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in which Trump prodded Zelenskiy to investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden. The White House released a rough transcript of that call on Wednesday. “In the days following the phone call, I learned from multiple U.S. officials that senior White House officials had intervened to ‘lock down’ all the records of the phone call, especially the official word-for-word transcript of the call that was produced as is customary by the White House situation room,” the complaint says. The anonymous whistleblower says that despite his or her not being present for the call, multiple White House officials shared consistent details about it. The document, with its precise detail and clear narrative, will likely accelerate the impeachment process and put more pressure on Trump to rebut its core contentions and on his fellow Republicans to defend him. The complaint also provides a road See LOCK Page A2
TONIGHT
Stacy Gerbitz, manager at Sportsmans Tap in La Salle, pours a raspberry flavored White Claw behind the bar. The beverage is the top-selling hard seltzer on the market right now, but high demand has caused a shortage of the drink nationwide. NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/ SCOTT ANDERSON
Hard seltzers are booming, but supplies are limited By Brett Herrmann NEWSTRIBUNE REPORTER
For about three weeks, they couldn’t get it from the distributor. Bartenders at Sportsmans Tap in La Salle had to turn down anyone ordering the increasingly popular White Claw because it just wasn’t available. “If I ordered 20 cases a week, we’d probably go through it,” said Sportsmans Tap manager Stacy Gerbitz. The hard seltzer, currently at the peak of its popularity, is not readily available to everyone. Earlier this month, White Claw president Phil Rosse told CBS News the company is working around the clock to increase supply and total capacity heading into 2020. But in the meantime, distributors have been
receiving limited supplies since Sept. 2018 because demand has outweighed what the company can produce. “We put in an order and we’re happy with what we get. But you get what they give you,” said Patti Hall, owner of Rudy’s Liquors in La Salle. “People do stock up because they like it.” Hall had stacks of White Claw available in the store after a recent shipment came in. Gerbitz said bar owners tend to be second in line for the product because they don’t order in such high volumes. And bar owners can’t buy from places like Rudy’s, Hy-Vee and Walmart and resell at their establishment. Their alcohol has to come from distributors. “They get it first because they are the big accounts,” Gerbitz
said. “I’m just trying to make a exception of Blue Moon, this living.” summer and became a top-25 brand among malt beverages WHY SO MUCH DEMAND? and beers. White Claw has only been Ian Trevier of Ladd said the on the market since 2016 when perceived healthier benefits of it was introduced by Mark the drink initially sparked his Anthony Brands. Initially, it did interest. not explode in sales. Hall said “I started to drink them for they had it available at an event the low calorie part, but then at Rotary Park in La Salle early started to actually like them for on to little fanfare. their taste,” he said. “Although, “No one really wanted it,” she they give the world’s worst hangsaid “It did take a little while to overs. So, I have a love hate relacatch on.” tionship with them.” But catch on it has. Nielsen Gerbitz described the taste of data, reported in July, show hard the beverages as “radio static.” seltzer sales had already climbed White Claw has flavors such 283% over the year before and as raspberry, ruby grapefruit, White Claw made up about 55% mango and black cherry, but of hard seltzer sales during the those flavors — and the taste of week around the Fourth of July alcohol — are not prominent in holiday. White Claw reportedly the beverage. A majority of hard outsold all craft beers, with the See CLAW Page A2
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IV WOMAN MAGAZINE Meet three ADs who are breaking the mold
L-P wants to save lives with free screening for students Sudden cardiac death kills over 60 young adults in the U.S. each week By Ali Braboy NEWSTRIBUNE REPORTER
Ten minutes. That’s the amount of time it could take to save the life of a young area student. This school year, La SallePeru Township High School students will be able to benefit from a free cardiac screening if they so desire.
The screening is made possible through Young Hearts For Life — is a cardiac screening program that’s screened over 220,000 students for conditions that cause sudden cardiac death, according to the website. Sudden cardiac death kills more than 60 young adults in the U.S. each week, the website says. “Recently there was a death of
a junior high student in our area while playing a sport,” said high school board member Carol Alcorn on Wednesday night at the monthly board meeting. Alcorn was talking about Karl Soliman, a 12-year-old Mendota Holy Cross student, who died in December while playing basketball. The community mourned the death of the boy who was a
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multi-sport athlete. “It’s been a concern for coaches, parents and staff,” Alcorn said, and now the district has found an organization willing to provide screenings at no cost to the district. L-P will provide the location and volunteers (who will be trained by the organization’s staff). See L-P Page A4
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