CORONAVIRUS UPDATES… The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. has reached 35,763,970 and the nation’s death toll stands at 616,829, according to figures released last night by Johns Hopkins University… The nation’s top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said durning an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” yesterday that he “hopes” that the Food and Drug Administration will give COVID-19 vaccines full approval by the end of the month. The vaccines are being administered under emergency use authorizations. Public health officials hope full approval would spur new vaccine mandates in private businesses.
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSES SENATE HURDLE… The Senate last night voted to advance the $1 trillion infrastructure bill. The 68-to-29 vote ended debate on the final infrastructure legislation. Republican Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee had held up the vote despite its ate being assured. A final vote is expected tomorrow morning.
FORMER AG TESTIFIES BEFORE SENATE PANEL… Former acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen provided the Senate Judiciary Committee about what had occurred at the Justice Department during the waning days of the Trump administration, committee chairman Dick Durbin said yesterday. Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said during an appearance on CNN’s “Face the Nation” that Rosen provided seven hours of testimony on a bipartisan basis. The panel also heard from Richard Donoghue, who became acting deputy attorney general in late December 2020.
DIXIE FIRE BECOMES CALIFORNIA’S LARGEST EVER… The Dixie Fire in northern California is now the largest single wildfire in state history. Officials say the blaze has consumed more than 700 square miles across four counties and is less than a quarter contained. At least 400 homes and other structures have been destroyed. Smoke from the fire, along with the many other fires in the American West, has brought unhealthy air to parts of Colorado and Utah.
FATAL COP SHOOTING… One Chicago police officer was fatally shot and another was critically wounded during a routine traffic stop on Saturday night, officials said yesterday. Police say a vehicle occupied by two men and a woman began shooting at the officers after getting pulled over. The fallen officers has been identified as the first female officer shot to death in the line of duty since 1988.
ENTERTAINMENT
ACTRESS MARKIE POST DIES… Actress Markie Post, who is known for her roles in “Night Court,” “The Fall Guy” and “Hearts Afire,” died on Saturday after a nearly four-year battle with cancer. She was 70. Post launched her career on game shows and then began landing recurring roles on a wide range of television shows. In 1998, she appeared as the Cameron Diaz character’s mother in “There’s Something About Mary.”
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE… “The Suicide Squad” took in $26.5 million to debut atop the weekend box office. Last week’s champ, “Jungle Cruise,” slipped into second place with $15.6 million. “Old” dropped to No. 3 after taking in $4.1 million. “Black Widow” made $4 million to finish fourth. “Stillwater” capped the top five with $2.8 million.
SPORTS
MLB SCOREBOARD…
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PHILADELPHIA 3 – N.Y. Mets 0… Zack Wheeler (10-6) struck out 11 in a complete-game shutout of the Mets. Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper hit solo homers.
CINCINNATI 3 – Pittsburgh 2… The Reds scored all three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and held off the Pirates. Tyler Mahle (9-3) allowed two runs on six hits and struck out 10 in seven innings.
ATLANTA 5 – Washington 4… Two-run homers by Ozzie Albies and Adam Duval powered the Braves past the Nationals. Max Fred (9-7) allowed a run on six hits over seven innings.
San Francisco 5 – MILWAUKEE 4… Tommy La Stella singled home a tie-breaking run in the top of the eighth inning and the Giants made it stand in edging the Brewers. Brandon Belt’s two-run homer tied the game in the seventh. Darin Ruff homered with the bases empty in the first.
COLORADO 13 – Miami 8… C.J. Cron blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning and added a grand slam in the fourth to lead the Rockies in their pounding of the Marlins. Dom Nuñez homered with a runner aboard.
SAN DIEGO 2 – Arizona 0… Blake Snell (6-4) limited the Diamondbacks to two hits over seven innings and fanned 13. Jake Cronenworth singled home a run and homered for the Padres.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay 9 – BALTIMORE 6… Brett Phillips’ grand slam capped a six-run top of the eighth inning for the Rays. Phillips also homered with a runner aboard in the sixth. Austin Meadows had a couple of hits, including a solo homer.
Seattle 2 – N.Y. YANKEES 0… Yusei Kikuchi and three Mariners relievers combined on a six-hitter as the Mariners blanked the Yankees. Kyle Seager’s RBI double in the top of the eighth inning broke a scoreless tie.
TORONTO 9 – Boston 8… The Blue Jays rallied from five runs down to upend the Red Sox. George Springer blasted a go-ahead three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. Vladimir Guerrero homered with a runner aboard. Teoscar Hernández went 3-for-4 and knocked in two runs.
CLEVELAND 7 – Detroit 5… Bradley Zimmer connected for a tie-breaking two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Indians came from behind to top the Tigers. Owen Miller also went deep for Cleveland.
Minnesota 7 – HOUSTON 5… Jorge Polanco’s three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning proved to be the difference in the Twins’ win over the Astros. Miguel Sanó smacked a two-run shot.
OAKLAND 6 – Texas 3… James Kaprielian (6-4) allowed just two runs on three hits over six innings and the Athletics doubled up on the Rangers. Seth Brown homered or Oakland. Sean Murphy doubled home two runs.
INTERLEAGUE
Kansas City 6 – ST. LOUIS 5… Nicky Lopez singled home Jarrod Dyson with a tie-breaking run in the top of the ninth inning and the Royals hung on to edge the Cardinals.
L.A. DODGERS 8 – L.A. Angels 2… Albert Pujols and Cody Bellinger belted two-run homers as the Dodgers breezed past the Angels. Walker Buehler (12-2) surrendered a run on four hits over six innings.
Chi. White Sox 9 – CHI. CUBS 3… The White Sox jumped out to a 7-0 lead after 1-1/2 innings and never looked back in trouncing the Cubs. Tim Anderson homered to lead off the game. Eloy Jiménez went 3-for=4 with a pair of homers and five RBIs. Andrew Vaughn homered and drove in three runs.
TODAY’S MLB SCHEDULE…
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Milwaukee (Freddy Peralta, 8-3) is at the Chi. Cubs (Alec Mills, 5-4)…
San Diego (Joe Musgrove, 7-7) hosts Miami (Zach Thompson, 2-4)aaa
AMERICAN LEAGUE
the Chi. White Sox (Lucas Giolito, 8-8) are at Minnesota (Beau Burrows, 0-0)…
Kansas City (Carlos Hernandez, 3-1) hosts the N.Y. Yankees (Jameson Taillon, 7-4)
INTERLEAGUE
Cincinnati (Luis Castillo, 6-10) is at Cleveland (Sam Hentges, 1-4)
Bob Sarber 