CORONAVIRUS UPDATES… The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. has reached 28,259,987 and the nation’s death toll stands at 502,660, according to figures released last night by Johns Hopkins University… The White House announced yesterday that the number of vaccines shipped out is rising by a million to 14.5 million doses per week. Meanwhile, executives from vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna told Congress they expect to provide the U.S. with 220 million doses by the end of next month.
BIDEN SPEAKS WITH TRUDEAU… In their first bilateral meeting yesterday, President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed a “partnership roadmap” and agreed to work closely together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Speaking via video conference from the White House, Biden noted that the U.S. has “no closer friend than Canada.” The relationship between the two countries had chilled under the Trump administration and more recently by Biden’s move to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline and Canada’s difficulty in obtaining coronavirus vaccines from plants near the U.S.-Canada border.
TWO MORE BIDEN NOMINEES CONFIRMED… The Senate yesterday approved the return of former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to the same position in the Biden administration and also confirmed Linda Thomas-Greenfield as ambassador to the United Nations. Department of Interior secretary nominee Deb Haaland and Health and Human Services pick Xavier Becerra were questioned by members of separate committees at confirmation hearings. The Senate Judiciary Committee heard a second day of testimony on Merrick Garland’s nomination for attorney general and is expected to vote next week.
OFFICIALS SAY CAPITOL ATTACK COORDINATED… Security officials told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee yesterday that they believe the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was a “coordinated attack.” Former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger and former House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving, as well as Metropolitan Police Department acting chief Robert Contee, agreed with the statement that White supremacist and extremist groups were involved. After hearing Sund testify that the request for National Guard assistance was delayed and cost “critical moments” that left police to fight the insurrection themselves, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said it “laid bare the clear need to reform the Capitol Police Board.”
OFFICERS CLEARED IN DANIEL PRUDE’S DEATH… A New York grand jury has voted not to indict any of the seven Rochester police officers involved in the death of 41-year-old Daniel Prude last March. Police responding to the report that Prude was suffering a mental-health crisis arrested him and leaned on his head, back and feet for restraint. Video shows one officer leaning on Prude’s head for more than 2 minutes as Prude stops moving and speaking. Prude died a week later in a hospital of complications from “asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint,” according to an autopsy report. The Monroe County Medical examiner ruled the death a homicide and said Prude’s “excited delirium” and ingestion of low levels of PCP played a factor.
ENTERTAINMENT
GERARD DEPARDIEU FACING CHARGES… French actor Gerard Depardieu was charged in December with rape and sexual assault after authorities revived a 2018 investigation that was initially dropped, the Paris prosecutor’s office revealed yesterday. Depardieu was reportedly not detained when he was handed the preliminary charges on December 16. French media reports claim the charges relate to allegations made by an actress in her 20s. An initial inquiry against the star was dropped in 2019 because of lack of evidence, but was later revived.
MANDY MOORE A MOM… Singer and actress Mandy Moore has given birth to her first child. She and her husband, musician Taylor Goldsmith, welcomed son August Harrison. The couple married in November 2018 and announced in September that they were expecting a son. Moore currently plays Rebecca Pearson in the NBC romantic family drama “This is Us.”
SPORTS
NBA SCOREBOARD…
CLEVELAND 112 – Atlanta 111… Lamar Stevens’ dunk off a drive with 4.1 seconds left carried the Cavaliers past the Hawks and ended their 10-game losing streak. Collin Sexton scored a game-high 29 points. Jarrett Allen grabbed 14 rebounds to go with his 13 points.
Detroit 105 – ORLANDO 93… The Pistons topped the Magic to snap their three-game skid. Rookie Saben Lee came off the bench to score 21 points and lead all scorers.
BROOKLYN 127 – Sacramento 118… Bruce Brown scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Nets dealt the Kings their eighth straight loss. James Harden racked up 29 points, 11 boards and 14 assists.
Golden State 114 – NEW YORK 106… The Warriors took control with a big third quarter and held off the Knicks. Stephen Curry pumped in a game-high 37 points.
Philadelphia 109 – TORONTO 102… The 76ers jumped out to a 19-point lead after the first quarter and held off the Raptors. Tobias Harris scored 23 points to lead six players in double figures. Joel Embiid had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
DALLAS 110 – Boston 107… Luka Doncic’s 3-pointer at the buzzer sent the Mavericks past the Celtics. Doncic finished with 31 points and 10 boards. Jalen Brunson delivered 22 points off the bench.
MILWAUKEE 139 – Minnesota 112… Giannis Antetokounmpo lit it up for 37 points and the Bucks rolled past the Timberwolves. Bryn Forbes added 23 points off the bench. Five other players scored in double figures.
DENVER 111 – Portland 106… Jamal Murray scored 19 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Nuggets got past the Trail Blazers. Nikola Jokic poured in 41 points.
L.A. CLIPPERS 135 – Washington 116… The Clippers ended the Wizards’ five-game winning streak with a blowout win. They got 32 points from Kawhi Leonard and 31 from Paul George.
TODAY’S NBA SCHEDULE…
Golden State is at Indiana…
Atlanta hosts Boston…
Houston is at Cleveland…
Miami hosts Toronto…
Minnesota is at Chicago…
New Orleans hosts Detroit…
San Antonio is at Oklahoma City…
Phoenix hosts Charlotte…
the L.A. Lakers are at Utah
NBA NEWS… The NBA has announced reserves for next month’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. James Harden and Kyrie Irving will join Brooklyn Nets teammate and All-Star captain Kevin Durant at the showcase. Other selections from the Eastern Conference were: guard Jaylen Brown and forward Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons; and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevicas. Center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell of the league-leading Utah Jazz were voted in with fellow Western Conference selections: Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard; LA Clippers forward Paul George; Lakers forward Anthony Davis; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.
NHL SCOREBOARD…
Buffalo 4 – NEW JERSEY 1… Victor Olofsson’s sixth power-play goal highlighted the Sabres’ win over the Devils. Sam Reinhart assisted on two goals. Linus Ullmark made 41 saves at goal.
Pittsburgh 3 – WASHINGTON 2 (OT)… Kasperi Kapanen’s one-timer 1:43 into overtime lifted the Penguins over the Capitals. Kapanen also assisted on Jake Guentzel’s tying goal in the third period.
Chicago 6 – COLUMBUS 5 (SO)… The Blackhawks outlasted the Blue Jackets after both teams blew two-two leads. Alex DeBrincat netted the lone goal in the shootout. Patrick Kane scored a goal and had three assists.
OTTAWA 5 – Montreal 4 (SO)… Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris scored in the shootout to send the Senators past the Canadiens. Brady Tkachuk tied the game with his second goal midway through the third period.
Nashville 2 – DETROIT 0… Goalie Pekka Rinne made 24 saves and the Predators blanked the Red Wings. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist.
Edmonton 4 – VANCOUVER 3… The Oilers erased a 3-0 deficit to upend the Canucks. Tyler Ennis netted the go-ahead goal at 13:25 of the third period. Dominik Kahun found the net twice.
TODAY’S NHL SCHEDULE…
Carolina is at Tampa Bay…
Florida hosts Dallas…
the N.Y. Rangers are at Philadelphia…
Toronto hosts Calgary…
Anaheim is at Arizona…
Colorado hosts Minnesota…
Los Angeles is at St. Louis
TOP 25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD…
No. 2 BAYLOR 77, Iowa State 72…
MICHIGAN STATE 81, No. 5 Illinois 72…
KANSAS STATE 62, No. 7 Oklahoma 57…
No. 8 VILLANOVA 81, St. John’s 58…
No. 10 West Virginia 74, TCU 66…
No. 14 TEXAS 75, Kansas 72 (OT)…
Georgia Tech 69, No. 16 VIRGINIA TECH 53…
Mississippi 60, No. 24 MISSOURI 53
TIGER WOODS INJURED IN CRASH… Tiger Woods is reported to be “awake and responsive” following surgery to correct serious leg injuries he suffered in a single-vehicle accident in Los Angeles yesterday morning. Firefighters and paramedics had to extricate the 45-year-old Woods from the vehicle after it rolled several times. The 15-time golf major champion suffered “open fractures affecting the tibia and fibula bones” in his lower right leg and a rod has been inserted. Injuries to his foot and ankle have been stabilized with screws and pins.
Bob Sarber 