Alaska’s Murkowski breaks from GOP pack ahead of trial

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, thinks the pending Senate trial of impeached President Donald Trump should be a serious, sober affair in which senators acting as jurors consider evidence with an open mind. Imagine that. She told an Anchorage TV station she refused to be a partisan “rubber stamp.”

Murkowski said she was “disturbed” to learn that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he planned “total coordination” with Trump’s attorneys during the trial. Alas, she appears to be the only Republican lawmaker willing to say this aloud.

The Senate may be under Republican control, but it should never be under White House control, no matter who occupies the Oval Office.

It’s a sad commentary on the polarization of U.S. politics since 1974, when Republican President Richard Nixon faced impeachment over his attempts to impede an investigation into a break-in by operatives of his re-election campaign at the Democratic National Committee’s office at the Watergate building in Washington. Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tennessee, led congressional attempts to get to the bottom of the serious allegations against Nixon.

No similar Democrat emerged in 1998 and 1999, when Democratic President Bill Clinton was impeached by the House but cleared by the Senate for lying about having a sexual relationship with an intern. But at least Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Connecticut, blasted Clinton, saying, “Such behavior is not just inappropriate. It is immoral and it is harmful.”

The House has made its case against Trump. If that isn’t persuasive to senators, they’re not compelled to try to make it more so. But if they think the House has raised questions that demand answers about Trump’s behavior, they should try to answer them, regardless of what the White House wants.

Murkowski’s comments lack such moral clarity. But at least one GOP senator has a conscience.

 

 

Armed congregants kill gunman at Texas church

WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas (AP) — A gunman who killed two people during a Texas church service was fatally shot within seconds by armed congregants, said Texas officials, who hailed the state’s gun laws that allow weapons in places of worship.

More than 240 parishioners were in the West Freeway Church in the Fort Worth area town of White Settlement at the time of the shooting on Sunday, authorities said.

Parishioner Isabel Arreola told the Star-Telegram that she sat near the gunman and that she’d never seen him before Sunday’s service. She said he appeared to be wearing a disguise, perhaps a fake beard, and that he made her uncomfortable.

She said the man stood up, pulled a shotgun from his clothing, opened fire and was quickly shot by two congregants who were part of a volunteer security team.

“I was so surprised because I did not know that so many in the church were armed,” she said.

Tiffany Wallace told Dallas TV station KXAS that her father, Anton “Tony” Wallace, was one of the victims killed in the attack. She said her father was a deacon at the church and had just passed out communion when the gunman approached him.

“I ran toward my dad and the last thing I remember is him asking for oxygen and I was just holding him, telling him I loved him and that he was going to make it,” Wallace said.

Wallace said her father was rushed to a hospital but he did not survive.

“You just wonder why? How can someone so evil, the devil, step into the church and do this,” she said.

At a press conference Sunday night, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the gunman was killed within six seconds of opening fire. Patrick hailed the state’s gun laws, including a measure enacted earlier this year  that allowed licensed guns in places of worship, unless the facility bans them.

“Two of the parishioners who were volunteers of the security force drew their weapons and took out the killer immediately, saving untold number of lives,” Patrick said.

Britt Farmer, senior minister of the church, said, “We lost two great men today, but it could have been a lot worse.”

Officials have not released the names of the victims or the gunman. FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno said they’re working to identify the gunman’s motive, adding that he is “relatively transient” but had roots in the area.

DeSarno also said the gunman had been arrested multiple times in the past but declined to give details.

An elder at the church told the New York Times  that one of those killed was a security guard who responded to the shooter, calling him a dear friend.

“He was trying to do what he needed to do to protect the rest of us,” said the elder, Mike Tinius.

“It’s extremely upsetting to see anyone committing violence,” he said.

Tinius said he didn’t know the gunman and that the shooting appeared to be random.

A woman who answered the phone at the West Freeway Church of Christ told the AP she could not answer any questions and that she was told to direct inquiries to authorities.

In a livestream of the church service, the gunman can be seen getting up from a pew and talking to someone at the back of the church before pulling out a gun and opening fire. Parishioners can then be heard screaming and seen ducking under pews or running as papers fly to the floor.

Two people with minor injuries that were sustained while ducking for cover were treated at the scene, MedStar Mobile Healthcare spokeswoman Macara Trusty said.

Gov. Greg Abbott asked the state to pray for the victims, their loved ones and the community of White Settlement, about 8 miles west of Fort Worth.

“Places of worship are meant to be sacred, and I am grateful for the church members who acted quickly to take down the shooter and help prevent further loss of life,” Abbott said in a tweeted statement.

It is not the first deadly shooting to take place at a church in Texas. In November 2017, Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire on the congregation at a church in Sutherland Springs, killing more than two dozen worshippers, before taking his own life. And in 1999, a gunman killed seven people in Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth before detonating an explosive device and killing himself.

Sunday’s shooting in Texas was also the second attack on a religious gathering in the U.S. in less than 24 hours. On Saturday night, a man stabbed five people as they celebrated Hanukkah in an Orthodox Jewish community north of New York City.

SECOND-SEED JUBILATION

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes kept scrounging around the Kansas City sideline for a score update from New England, and all the Chiefs quarterback learned was that Tom Brady had thrown a touchdown pass and an interception against Miami.

That news blackout was by design.

Andy Reid didn’t want anybody to know what was transpiring in Foxborough, where the Chiefs needed the Dolphins to spring a big upset Sunday for any hope of a first-round playoff bye. Instead, the Chiefs’ coach wanted Mahomes and Co. to focus on beating the Chargers, a game they needed for the outcome in New England to have any consequence.

“There was no scoreboard at all that had any number of stats or anything like that,” Mahomes said. “Then I saw that Brady had a touchdown and an interception and I was trying to add that together to figure out what the score was.”

In the end, the two scores that mattered went Kansas City’s way: The Chiefs beat the Chargers 31-21 behind big games from Mecole Hardman and Damien Williams, and the Dolphins rallied to stun the Patriots 27-24 in the closing seconds.

“I knew when the fans started to go crazy,” Mahomes said with a smile. “It’s basically a win, that’s what it is. You win the first round of the playoffs and you get to play a home game. We’re excited for that.”

Mahomes had 174 yards passing and a touchdown in a relatively low-key performance, but his supporting cast picked up the slack. Hardman returned a kickoff 104 yards for a touchdown, Williams ran 84 yards for another score — and finished with 124 yards rushing and two TDs on just 12 carries — and the Chiefs (12-4) turned in another defensive gem.

Now, the Patriots have to play next week and the Chiefs can set their sights on the divisional round of the playoffs.

“The extra week off, it’s great to have this time of year. You work hard for that,” Reid said. “I’m proud of our guys for pushing through here today, because that’s hard to do. You don’t know the scores and you have to have the right mindset coming into this. The Dolphins were a 16-point underdog or whatever it was coming into this, but it’s a great example of why you’re playing. If you’re on that field, you go 100 miles an hour and play your heart out.”

The Chargers (5-11) made it stressful for Kansas City in the fourth quarter, though, driving for a touchdown that got them within 24-21 with 5:23 to go. But the Chiefs answered with an eight-play, 77-yard scoring drive that allowed them to wrap up their sixth straight win overall and 11th victory in 12 meetings with their longtime division rival.

They held Philip Rivers to 281 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions in what could be the veteran quarterback’s final game for the Chargers. His contract is up after this season, and while Rivers has said he would like to play next year, nobody is quite sure whether that will happen in Los Angeles.

“There’s a lot of questions that have to be answered,” Rivers said. “It’s not just, ‘Am I back?’ And we’ll win 12 games. We’re far from that being, ‘Check that box and we’re good.’ That would be inaccurate. There’s a lot of question marks moving forward. As those get answered and how those get answered along with my personal question will clear up a lot of things.”

The Chiefs’ offense has long been the headliner, but it has been their revamped defense under coordinator Steve Spagnuolo that has carried them on their current win streak. They had not allowed a touchdown the past two games, and Kansas City stretched that to 10 consecutive quarters when it forced a punt on the Chargers’ initial possession.

The streak finally ended when Rivers found Keenan Allen in the end zone early in the second quarter — a drive that proved doubly costly for the Chiefs. Safety Juan Thornhill (knee) and cornerback Bashaud Breeland (illness) left the game.

The Chiefs regained the lead late in the half. Mahomes zipped a 30-yard strike to Hardman that set up a 24-yard TD pass to Demarcus Robinson, giving them a 10-7 advantage heading into the locker room.

The back-and-forth continued in the second half. And it happened in a flash.

Mahomes threw just his fifth interception of the season, and second in two games against Los Angeles, and the Chargers punched into the end zone three plays later for a 14-10 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Hardman showed why he was voted a Pro Bowl return specialist, skirting the sideline for a TD return that restored the Chiefs’ lead.

The Chiefs scored almost as quickly when they got the ball back.

Williams took the first-down handoff and angle to his left, then turned up field. Three defenders converged on him but none of them wrapped him up. The oft-injured running back made a nifty pirouette, found the open field and sprinted the rest of the way with Tyreek Hill by his side for the 84-yard touchdown.

“We had two guys try to make the play,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said. “I think they ran into each other and fell off the ball carrier, but we had some guys slow down. The pursuit slowed because they thought someone else made the play.”

At that point, eyes shifted to cell phones and scoreboards for the outcome in New England.

They remained there as the AFC West champions put away another win over the Chargers, and the Dolphins wrapped up an improbable victory over Bill Belichick’s bunch to shake up the playoff pecking order.

“We don’t plan on slowing down,” Reid said. “We’re going to keep our foot on the pedal and keep rolling.”

Strong second half leads KU past Stanford

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — When Udoka Azubuike had a rare quiet day on the offensive end, he kept after it on the boards, and Kansas turned to its perimeter game to finally pull away.

Isaiah Moss made three straight 3-pointers during a decisive second-half stretch and finished with 17 points off the bench, and No. 5 Kansas overcame an inconsistent performance on both ends to beat Stanford 72-56 Sunday.

“Both teams were so inept offensively that I’m sure it was a hard game for a lot of people to watch the first half, but we did defend and rebound,” Kansas coach Bill Self said.

Azubuike grabbed 13 rebounds as the Jayhawks (10-2) held a big advantage on the boards, but he took just two shots to score two points and committed five turnovers while playing with foul trouble. Kansas’ second-leading scorer at 14.0 points per game missed all five of his free-throw attempts in a sub-par day with several NBA scouts in the stands.

Kansas bounced back from just its second defeat — the team’s two losses are by a combined three points — 56-55 at Villanova on Dec. 21 in spite of 21 turnovers.

It was certainly a strange outing for Azubuike considering the senior center, 7-feet and 270 pounds, had seven dunks against Stanford when the Jayhawks last played the series in Northern California two years ago, a 75-54 victory. He had his team’s first 10 points in that matchup and 24 in all. On Sunday, he didn’t take his first shot until 8:45 remaining in the first half despite his significant size advantage in the paint.

Kansas instead kept letting it fly from long range early, beginning 1 of 5 on 3-pointers before making 6 of 8 from deep over the final 20 minutes.

“Having our bench guys combine to make seven 3s, that’s something that we welcome,” Self said.

Ochai Agbaji and Devon Dotson added 14 points each as Kansas won its fourth straight meeting with Stanford. That leaves Stanford coach Jerod Haase winless against his former school as the programs conclude a four-year agreement. Haase said the series is over for the time being.

“We’re trying to build up the schedule and put ourselves in the best position possible,” Haase said. “It’s good to get national exposure and play a national brand like Kansas, but I also feel like we’re building a foundation here that we will be a national brand for Stanford basketball moving forward as well.”

Oscar da Silva scored 19 points for Stanford (11-2) in front of a lively, towel-waving crowd at Maples Pavilion, where the large contingent of Jayhawks fans cheered loudly when Kansas took the floor and continued all afternoon.

The cold-shooting Cardinal had lost just once previously and by a single point to Butler on Nov. 26. They were off to their best start since also starting 11-1 in 2008 but haven’t been 12-1 since winning 26 consecutive games to begin the 2003-04 season.

Kansas jumped to a 7-0 lead before Stanford’s timeout at the 15:29 mark of the first half and missed its initial 14 shots — missing seven 3s — and went scoreless over the first 13 possessions with four turnovers. Oscar da Silva got the Cardinal on the board at last with a pair of free throws at the 12:11 mark.

“I felt like they helped us out in the first half a little bit by not knocking down shots,” Jayhawks guard Marcus Garrett said.

Stanford finally made its first field goal at 8:12 when Isaac White scored on a follow-up jumper moments after Kansas had an 0-for-5 possession.

The Jayhawks also began the game with a 12-4 rebounding advantage with 5-0 edge on second-chance points.

But 14 first-half turnovers hurt as Stanford pulled within 28-18 at halftime.

“In simple terms we have to reduce our turnovers,” Haase said.

Diarra lifts Wildcats over Tulsa

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Cartier Diarra finished with a career high 25 points to lift Kansas State over Tulsa in a 69-67 thriller on Sunday night.

Xavier Sneed scored 18 in the win over the Golden Hurricane, but the Wildcats struggled from the field all game shooting 38% from the floor.

It was the first time this season that Tulsa was defeated when the opponent was held to under 40% from the floor.

Lawson Korita topped the Golden Hurricane (8-5), who ended a three-game road trip and nonconference play, with 12 points.

Overall, the Golden Hurricane were balanced in the box score with every player who checked in recording a bucket but fell just short in the game. Tulsa managed to post a higher shooting percentage than Kansas State shooting 43% from the floor.

The Golden Hurricane (8-5) bench led by 10 points from Darien Jackson scored 24 points to help keep Tulsa in the game.

“I think out strength is in our numbers and I thought out guys came in a sprayed the ball around a little bit and we’ve got a number of guys who can score so it was good to see,” Tulsa coach Frank Haith said.

Diarra hit a crucial 3-pointer in the late seconds of the game and finished with a team-high seven assists and five rebounds.

“Players make good coaches,” Weber said. “The other Xavier Sneed got a much better look and it didn’t go in, This time Cartier makes a step back three and it helps us get a win,” said Kansas State coach Bruce Weber.

Sneed had an opportunity to win the game for the Wildcats the last time out but the Wildcats fell short.

Diarra shot 8 of 16 from the floor, including 6 of 11 from 3-point range, as the Wildcats (7-5) collectively shot 38% from the floor and 34% from distance.

The Wildcats struggled in the early moments of the game but managed to bounce back with several 3s.

Tulsa dominated the paint outscoring the Wildcats 32-20, but the Wildcats outrebounded the Golden Hurricane 40-36.

“We did a better job as the game went on and protected the paint,” Weber said.

The Wildcats still struggled inside but big man Makol Mawien got into the mix with three crucial blocks.

Gilgeous-Alexander, Paul carry OKC to win in Toronto

TORONTO (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came home to Canada and matched his career high by banking in the winning basket.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points, Chris Paul had 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Toronto Raptors 98-97 on Sunday night for their sixth win in seven games.

“It feels good but all of it, honestly, wouldn’t have meant anything if we didn’t win,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That was the best feeling, knowing that we came out of here with a win.”

Nerlens Noel added 13 points and Darius Bazley had 11 to help the Thunder win their fifth straight in Toronto. Oklahoma City has won 11 of 15 overall.

“With a team like us that’s fighting night in and night out to stay above .500, it’s a great feeling,” Paul said. “They’re the defending champs, they know how to win close games, and we pulled this one out.”

Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet each scored 20 points and Serge Ibaka had 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Raptors. Toronto lost for the third time in four games.

Patrick McCaw scored 13 points and Terence Davis had 11 for Toronto.

Gilgeous-Alexander made the go-ahead basket on a jump shot with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter, then grabbed the rebound on a missed 3-pointer by VanVleet.

“He’s been excited to come back,” Paul said about his third-year teammate. “Everybody here in Canada, know you all got a real one.”

Born in Toronto and raised in nearby Hamilton, Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 32 points three times in his past five games.

“This one might be the best one so far,” he said.

Lowry said he was impressed with Gilgeous-Alexander, who has scored 20 or more in six straight games.

“He played like he was home tonight,” Lowry said. “Honestly, he’s been playing unbelievable. His confidence, his patience, his pace has been great.”

Thunder coach Billy Donovan said he’s seen Gilgeous-Alexander mature as an offensive threat during his recent run.

“He’s finding his areas where he can score,” Donovan said. “He’s figuring out, inside of our offense, when there’s good times to really go attack and be aggressive.”

Gilgeous-Alexander’s winning basket was the sixth straight scoring play to change the lead in a tight final quarter. The lead changed 20 times in the game, including nine times in the fourth, and the teams were tied on 10 occasions.

Injuries reported in Wichita air plant explosion

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — More than a dozen people were injured Friday when a nitrogen line ruptured at the Beechcraft aircraft manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kansas, causing part of the building to collapse, authorities said. 

Daniel Wegner, deputy fire chief for Sedgwick County, said the explosion happened at around 8 a.m. at the facility, which is in the eastern part of the city. John Gallagher, the county’s EMS director, said 11 people were taken to hospitals and four were treated at the scene. No one was killed, but one person has potentially serious injuries, he said. 

Wegner said the explosion happened when a 3-inch (7.6-centimeter) liquid nitrogen line ruptured. The rupture was contained, but gas continued to vent, although it posed no risk to nearby residents, officials said. 

“The plant closed or shut down for the holiday season so the numbers that would have been here, were not, so it was a skeleton crew,” Wegner said. 

The cause of the blast is under investigation. 

James Fromme, a chief for the Wichita Fire Department, said there were no reports that anyone was still trapped in the building. 

Stephanie Harder, a spokeswoman for Beechcraft’s parent company, Textron Aviation, said the structure where the explosion happened is part of a complex of buildings and houses the business’ composite manufacturing and experimental aircraft. 

“Difficult day. Difficult news,” she said.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office, OSHA and the local lodge of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers didn’t immediately respond to phone messages. 

The explosion comes at a difficult time for the aircraft industry in Wichita, which is a major sector of the Kansas economy. 

Boeing announced that it would suspend production of its troubled 737 Max jetliner in January, forcing the state to consider helping to pay workers at Spirit AeroSystems, which produces the jet’s fuselages. And earlier this month, Textron Aviation announced that it would lay off an unspecified number of workers, most of them in Wichita.

The plant is in the legislative district of Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican.

“I am praying for those who are injured and my staff and I will be in close contact with community and state leaders as investigators work to learn more,” Wagle said in an emailed statement.

Sen. Moran: Trump wants to soften blow over 737 Max

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran says President Donald Trump has given him assurances that Trump will try to soften the economic blow for Kansas from the suspension of production of the troubled Boeing 737 Max jetliner.

Boeing has announced plans to suspend 737 Max production in January, and Spirit AeroSystems is suspending its production in Wichita of fuselages. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has said the state may have to help pay Spirit workers.

Moran told The Wichita Eagle that in a Sunday phone call, Trump said he’d purchased an airplane in Wichita and knew the importance of aviation to the city.

Moran said Trump indicated that he would “see if there were ways that he and the administration could be of help.”

Moran emphasized that he does not want politics to play any role in when to return the 737 Max to service because the safety of passengers is paramount.

Spirit has 12,500 workers in Wichita, and the Max makes up the majority of its business. The company hasn’t announced immediate layoffs.

Moran said he’s reached out to smaller subcontractors who make parts for Boeing and Spirit. He said he’s also contacted the Defense Department in an effort to get more military work for Wichita’s manufacturers.

Russia launches hypersonic weapon

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s defense minister reported to President Vladimir Putin that a new hypersonic weapon of intercontinental range became operational today following years of tests.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed Putin that the first missile unit equipped with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle entered combat duty, the Defense Ministry said.

Putin unveiled the Avangard among other prospective weapons systems in his state-of-the-nation address in March 2018, noting that its ability to make sharp maneuvers on its way to a target will render missile defense useless.

The Russian leader described the Avangard’s creation as a technological breakthrough comparable to the 1957 Soviet launch of the first satellite.

Earlier this week, Putin emphasized that Russia is the only country armed with hypersonic weapons. He noted that for the first time in history Russia is now leading the world in developing an entire new class of weapons, unlike in the past when it was catching up with the United States.

The military said that the Avangard is capable of flying 27 times faster than the speed of sound.

Russian media reports indicated that the Avangard will first be mounted on Soviet-built RS-18B intercontinental ballistic missiles, code-named SS-19 by NATO. It is expected to be fitted to the prospective Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile after it becomes operational.

The Defense Ministry said last month that it demonstrated the Avangard to a team of U.S. inspectors as part of transparency measures under the New Start nuclear arms treaty with the U.S.

The U.S. has mulled new defense strategies to counter hypersonic weapons developed by Russia and China.

U.S. officials have talked about putting a layer of sensors in space to more quickly detect enemy missiles, particularly the hypersonic weapons. The administration also plans to study the idea of basing interceptors in space, so the U.S. can strike incoming enemy missiles during the first minutes of flight when the booster engines are still burning.

The Pentagon also has been working on the development of hypersonic weapons in recent years, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in August that he believes “it’s probably a matter of a couple of years” before the U.S. has one. He has called it a priority as the military works to develop new long-range fire capabilities.

Ag woes drag Kansas income growth

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Personal income growth in Kansas is below the national average largely because of troubles in agriculture.

Kansas farmers face an expanding drought and low commodity prices, though a break in an ongoing tariff dispute may bring those prices up. Agriculture makes up about 40% of the state’s economy, with industries related to agriculture and food production worth about $65 billion annually.

Kansas Public Radio reports that the state’s personal income has grown by 1.6% since late 2007, when the Great Recession started. The national rate is 2.1%.

“Farmers have bills to pay,” Kansas Wheat Commission CEO Justin Gilpin said. “Ultimately, what we need to do is hopefully see commodity prices somewhat bottom out here and get trade going.”

The blow to farmers has been softened by a total of $732 million in federal trade-bailout money in 2019 alone.

But agriculture’s troubles in Kansas also come with problems for another major sector of the state’s economy, aviation. Boeing plans to halt production of its troubled 737 Max in January and Kansas may start paying workers at Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems, which makes their fuselages.

Joanna Biernacka-Lievestro of the Pew Charitable Trusts said the Kansas farm industry was “the biggest drag on personal income growth over the past year.

While all states have seen their economies grow since the Great Recession, Kansas had the eighth-worst personal income growth in the nation over the last year. Biernacka-Lievestro said the Midwest “lags the country in total personal income growth over the past year.”

Kansas Department of Agriculture Economist Peter Oppelt said low commodity prices mean farmers take home less money while costs keep rising for seed, fertilizer and labor.

“If the farming sector is not doing well, those farmers aren’t going to go out and buy a new truck or they may not eat out as much at a restaurant,” Oppelt said. “The rest of that community is going to feel the effects.”

A nearly two-year-old trade fight with China has led to tit-for-tat tariffs affecting U.S. agriculture exports. Gilpin said he hopes it’s temporary pain as the U.S. started forging a truce with China in mid-December. Farmers also might benefit from the impact of renegotiated deals with Japan and Korea.

The U.S. House also recently gave President Donald Trump a big bipartisan victory by approving a renegotiated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, and the Senate is expected to consider it after the holidays. They are the two top destinations for Kansas crops.