Marine Corps officer arrested for assault in Jan. 6 riot

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May 13, 2021

An active duty Marine Corps officer seen on camera scuffling with a police officer and helping other members of the pro-Trump mob force their way into the Capitol on Jan. 6 has been charged in the riot, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Maj. Christopher Warnagiris, 40, of Woodbridge, Virginia, is the first active duty service member to be charged in the insurrection, the Department of Justice said. Warnagiris, who has been stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico since last summer, was arrested Thursday in Virginia, prosecutors said.

He faces charges including assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and obstruction of justice.

Warnagiris was ordered released after a brief appearance before a federal judge in Virginia. An email seeking comment was sent to the federal public defender’s office, which represented Warnagiris at his initial appearance, but there was no immediate response.

Warnagiris, who was wearing a dark jacket, military green backpack and black and tan gloves, pushed past police officers standing guard outside Capitol doors and forced his way into the building, according to court documents. He then appeared to use his body to keep the door partially open and helped pull others inside, authorities said.

A U.S. Capitol Police officer, who moved between Warnagiris and the crowd outside, tried to pull the door shut while Warnagiris fought to keep it open, court documents say. The officer told the FBI that he had tried to push Warnagiris out of the way and the man shoved him back, authorities said.

A former coworker who recognized Warnagiris in photos reported him to the FBI in March, court documents say. The next day, FBI agents went to his military command and showed pictures to someone he works with, who identified the man in the photos as Warnagiris.

The Marine Corps said in a statement that “there is no place for racial hatred or extremism” in its ranks.

“Those who can’t value the contributions of others, regardless of background, are destructive to our culture, our warfighting ability, and have no place in our ranks,” it said.

More than 400 people have been charged so far in the siege. Among them are four members or reservists of the National Guard and about 40 military veterans, according to the Justice Department.

The charges against the rioters range from misdemeanor offenses, such as disorderly conduct in a restricted building, to serious conspiracy cases against members and associates of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers extremist groups.

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Associated Press reporters Michael Balsamo and Lolita Baldor contributed to this report from Washington.

Everton’s European qualification bid hit by draw at Villa

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The Associated Press

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May 13, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, England — Everton’s Europa League qualification hopes were dealt a blow by a limp 0-0 draw at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Thursday.

Everton still climbed to eighth but is two points behind fifth-placed West Ham. Ben Godfrey and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were denied by Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, while Tyrone Mings wasted a rare opening for the hosts.

Villa captain Jack Grealish ended his three-month injury layoff as a second-half substitute. Villa remains 11th with three games to go.

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

New Washington state law makes drug possession a misdemeanor

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The Associated Press

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May 13, 2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday signed a measure overhauling the state’s approach to drug possession, after the Washington Supreme Court struck down its previous law as unconstitutional.

The new law reclassifies possession of controlled substances, including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, as a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail. The previous law, before being struck down by the court, had made it a felony.

Before signing the bill, Inslee said the measure will “help reduce the disparate impact of the previous drug possession statute on people of color.”

“It moves the system from responding to possession as a felony to focusing on the behavioral health response, which is a much more appropriate and successful way to address the needs that underlie drug abuse,” Inslee said.

In addition to changing the classification, under the new law, police would divert a defendant’s first two offenses to treatment before the case even made it to a prosecutor, and if a defendant’s case ever reached a prosecutor, the prosecutor would be able to divert as well.

The provisions making drug possession a misdemeanor expire in two years — reverting to current law. The provision gives lawmakers time to re-evaluate how the state’s new policies are working and potentially figure out a long-term strategy for drug policy.

Oregon this year became the only other state to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of all types of drugs and increase access to treatment. Washington’s measure likewise aims to greatly expand treatment services and outreach, including to homeless people with severe behavioral health issues.

It says regional “recovery navigator” teams, similar to the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program developed in Seattle and now operating in several counties, will be set up to help provide “continual, rapid, and widespread access to a comprehensive continuum of care” to “all persons with substance abuse disorder.”

The state Supreme Court’s decision came in the case of Shannon Blake, a Spokane woman who had received a pair of jeans from a friend that had a small bag of methamphetamine in a pocket. A 5-4 majority said the state’s drug possession law was unconstitutional because it did not require prosecutors to prove that a defendant knowingly possessed drugs.

Troy Ryan to coach Canada’s women’s Olympic hockey team

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The Associated Press

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May 13, 2021

CALGARY, Alberta — Troy Ryan has been named head coach of Canada’s women’s hockey team for the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

“It is an honor and privilege to be entrusted with this leadership opportunity,” Ryan said Thursday in a statement.

Ryan has Olympic experience. He was an assistant for Laura Schuler at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, where Canada lost the final to the United States in a shootout. He also was an assistant coach to Perry Pearn at the 2019 world championship in Finland, where Canada took bronze, and was named Canada’s head coach for the world championships in both 2020 and 2021. Those tournaments were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ryan’s assistants will be Kori Cheverie, Jim Midgley and goaltending coach Brad Kirkwood. Doug Derraugh will serve in a coaching staff support role through the 2020-21 season.

“With limited time for competition, our coaching staff has bonded quickly, which is what we need in both short-term and long-term competition,” said Gina Kingsbury, Hockey Canada’s director of women’s national teams.

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MacIntyre shoots 66 to share lead at British Masters

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The Associated Press

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May 13, 2021

SUTTON COLDFIELD, England — Robert MacIntyre started with five straight birdies and finished with another two to shoot a 6-under 66 Thursday and take a share of the lead after the second round of the British Masters.

MacIntyre was level with fellow Scotsman Calum Hill (70) and English veteran Richard Bland (69) on 7-under 137, with three players a shot behind — including 2018 winner Eddie Pepperell.

MacIntyre’s run of birdies ended with a bogey on the sixth hole at The Belfry after hitting his tee shot into the water. He finished with eight birdies and two bogeys.

“I was in free flow,” MacIntyre said of his flying start. “I hit a couple close but the putter was working. For me it felt beautiful.”

At 48, Bland is twice MacIntyre’s age but still looking for his first European Tour title at the 478th attempt.

“It would mean everything, especially at my age,” Bland said. “Of course we’re all here to win and if I could do that at such an iconic event as the British Masters, that would be all your Christmases coming at once I think.”

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Vavic gets ready for Tokyo in water polo as dad awaits trial

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The Associated Press

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May 13, 2021

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Marko Vavic was in Mexico when it happened. He had just flown to Cabo San Lucas to spend spring break with a group of friends.

When Vavic woke up, there were several text messages on his phone. That was how Operation Varsity Blues barreled into his life.

Vavic’s father, Jovan, who coached Southern California’s vaunted water polo programs to a combined 16 national championships, had been indicted in a college admissions bribery scandal that ensnared TV stars, businesspeople and athletic coaches across the U.S.

It was a massive earthquake at the center of American water polo in California.

“Everyone was texting me like, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ And I don’t know what’s going on,” Marko Vavic said. “Basically found out, I called my mom and my brother and sister and checked the internet. That’s pretty much how I found out.”

Two years later, Jovan Vavic is awaiting a November trial after pleading not guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges, and Marko Vavic is pushing for a spot on the U.S. team for the Tokyo Olympics.

They barely talk about the legal cloud hovering over Jovan.

“We’re a family. We stick together,” Marko Vavic, 22, told The Associated Press in his first public comments about his father’s legal situation. “It’s not like, ‘Forget about me.’ We’re fighting through it together.”

Jovan Vavic was in Hawaii with the Trojans’ women’s team when he was arrested on March 12, 2019. Reaction was swift to the federal investigation dubbed Operation Varsity Blues.

Jovan Vavic was fired by USC that same day. Fresh off winning the national title, Marko Vavic was told by the school he was ineligible to play pending an investigation into a possible infraction.

“I can’t play college water polo, but other than that, it’s been a little funky not having my dad around at school,” Marko Vavic said. “I mean, I grew up with him there. But other than that, it hasn’t really affected me so much. Obviously it’s a frustrating situation to have, and it’s just taking forever to go through the process with court.”

Stephen Larson, one of Jovan Vavic’s attorneys, declined to make his client available for an interview. Larson said in an email that Vavic “is innocent of these convoluted charges,” and he is looking forward to being vindicated at trial.

According to a superseding indictment, filed in federal court in Boston in October 2019, Jovan Vavic is accused of accepting $250,000 in bribes in exchange for designating two prospective students as water polo recruits, facilitating their admission to USC. Prosecutors say neither student played the sport competitively.

The indictment also alleges that Rick Singer, the admissions consultant at the center of the scheme, made private school tuition payments for Vavic’s children in exchange for the coach’s commitment to designate Singer’s clients as recruits in the future.

The accusations have put Marko and his younger brother, Stefan, in a precarious position with USC. Marko is playing professionally for Roma Nuoto in Italy, but he is forgoing a salary in order to protect the possibility of returning to the Trojans. Stefan, 20, has yet to play for the school.

Marko said they are in contact with USC and have spoken with the NCAA, but basically nothing has changed since his father was first indicted.

“I would like to know more about what’s going on,” he said. “I would like to know that they’re digging into it at least so that I can play. Not that I just have my hopes for nothing or at least, if it’s a no, tell me it’s a no, not just a maybe for (two) years.”

Marko and Stefan share a page in the school’s most recent media guide and are listed on the roster on the USC website. Next season’s schedule likely will begin in September.

Asked about the brothers’ eligibility and when there might be a resolution, a spokeswoman for the school declined to comment, citing student privacy laws. An NCAA spokeswoman told the AP it “cannot comment on current, pending or potential investigations.”

Water polo has bonded the Vavic family for years. Jovan Vavic played professionally in his native Montenegro in the former Yugoslavia before moving to Southern California in 1984. Marko Vavic grew up going to his father’s USC games, watching and playing around with Stefan.

Their older brother, Nikola, and sister, Monica, also played for the Trojans, with Nikola scoring 254 times on his way to four national championships, and Monica collecting a program-record 291 goals and winning the 2013 NCAA title.

Jovan Vavic was known for his hard-nosed approach with his players, and Marko Vavic said he benefited from his father’s experience with his older siblings.

“I was Round 3, so he had it down by the time he got to me,” Marko said. “My brother, definitely it was harder for him, and sister. I think by the time he got to me he knew what he was doing.

“He was really, really hard on me, but it definitely made me a better player. Definitely understood the difference between being a coach and being a dad.”

Marko Vavic scored 108 times over his first two seasons at USC, but the 6-foot-5 attacker is known more for his defensive ability. He has been playing on the right side with the national team, so he is working on shooting from a different position after spending much of his time on the left growing up.

The family influence, U.S. coach Dejan Udovicic said, is unmistakable.

“You know Jovan is a warrior and he’ll do everything to win for his team, for his program, and Marko has that line, that warrior line, never give up, which is great,” he said.

Asked if Marko has been weighed down at all by Jovan’s legal situation, Udovicic said he is doing “more than fine.”

“If he’s my son, I would be proud of how he’s handling the situation,” he said. “It’s not easy. I understand that. It’s not easy at all. But he (finds) a way to motivate himself and I am seeing a good vibration from his side. Not just last couple months, I am seeing that a year and a half, three years.”

Even after everything that has happened, Marko wants to go back to USC. He wants to play again with his friends on the team, and he wants to win another NCAA title.

That’s only the beginning. He wants to make multiple trips to the Olympics and play at the top level of water polo in Europe. He thinks he is only getting started.

“I have some big tournaments and games I want to win,” he said.

Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap

More AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/olympic-games and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

US to play at Kansas City, Kansas, in CONCACAF Gold Cup

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The Associated Press

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May 13, 2021

MIAMI — The United States will play its three group stage matches of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Americans open Group B play July 11 against the qualifying winner from among Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guatemala and Guyana, the Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Football said Thursday.

The U.S. plays Martinique on July 15 and closes the first round against Canada on July 18.

U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter says he will allow top players to skip the tournament and will go with what is in effect his junior varsity roster.

If the U.S. wins Group B, it would play a quarterfinal at Arlington, Texas, on July 25

The semifinals will be in Austin, Texas, and Houston on July 29 and the final at Las Vegas on Aug. 1.

CONCACAF said it will announce after the group stage which pairing will be at each semifinal site.

Berhalter will use his top players for the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Honduras at Denver on June 3 and the championship or third-place place on June 6, against Mexico or Costa Rica. Top players will return for the start of World Cup qualifying on Sept. 2.

Defending champion Mexico opens Group A at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 10 against the winner of qualifying among Trinidad and Tobago, Monserrat, Cuba and French Guyana. Mexico plays Curaçao on July 14 and El Salvador on July 18, both at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Acuña leaves Braves game with apparent left ankle injury

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The Associated Press

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May 13, 2021

ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. has left Thursday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays with an apparent left ankle injury.

Acuña, who led off the game with his 12th homer, the most in the major leagues, suffered the injury when trying to beat out a grounder to third base in the seventh.

Acuña was initially called safe before a review overturned the call. He hopped down the right field line before collapsing onto the outfield grass. After being checked by a trainer on the field, Acuña was able to walk back to the dugout.

Acuña was the second Braves outfielder to leave the game. Cristian Pache left the game with right hamstring tightness. Pache also was hurt trying to run out a grounder in the second inning.

The Braves had no immediate announcement on Acuña’s injury.

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Devils see bright future despite missing playoffs yet again

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The Associated Press

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May 13, 2021

The New Jersey Devils were one of the NHL’s youngest teams this past season, and many times they played like it.

Using 11 rookies at times over the course of Lindy Ruff’s first season as coach, the Devils made mistakes and showed their inexperience in missing the playoffs for the third straight year and eighth time in nine seasons.

While the 19-30-7 record was disappointing, the Devils showed promise. They grew from hockey infancy in general manager’s Tom Fitzgerald’s rebuilding effort to walking, although it was unsteady at times. The goal for next season will be to run. There are signs they can.

A stronger Jack Hughes, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2019, took major steps in his second season. Rookie Ty Smith showed the potential to be a top defenseman. Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha had career seasons with 17 goals apiece and Yegor Sharangovich had a surprising 16 as a rookie. Mackenzie Blackwood showed flashes of being a No. 1 goaltender, but his game (14-17-4) suffered after a COVID-19 outbreak sidelined the team for two weeks in late January.

The really encouraging sign was the team played hard almost every game despite having contests almost every other night after returning from its pandemic pause.

Hughes, who had 11 goals goals and 20 assists in the 56-game season, said Devils fans should be excited about next season.

“I’m not saying we’re going to make the playoffs or anything, but I’m going to say we need to start to win games and play meaningful hockey down the stretch,” he said. “Next year we’re going to really focus throughout the year so in Games 80, 81 and 82, we want to be playing meaningful hockey and trying to get into the playoffs.”

Blackwood understands some Devils fans might be skeptical after seeing the franchise come up short most of the past decade.

“Even when we were losing, we’re in close games with the best teams,” Blackwood said of being in the tough East Division. “Give the young players a year or two of developing and growing and it’s going to be scary team.”

The Devils should also benefit if center Nico Hischier, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, can stay healthy. The new captain had six goals and five assists in a season where he was limited to 21 games because of a broken leg in the preseason and a fractured sinus in a game.

With its playoff hopes ended early, New Jersey traded forwards Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac and defensemen Sami Vatanen and Dmity Kulikov at the deadline.

“You’ve got to learn from your struggles and you can’t repeat the struggles,” Ruff said Wednesday. “So let’s learn from some of those big mistakes. Let’s get better at the areas in the game that we really feel can push us into a place where we want to be, competing for the playoffs by the end of the year.”

BACKUP GOALTENDING

The Devils thought they would go into the season with two top goaltenders in Blackwood and Corey Crawford, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason from Chicago. However, Crawford announced his retirement before the start of the season.

The backup job fell to Scott Wedgewood, Aaron Dell and Evan Cormier. While they have some good games, they combined for a 5-13-3 record.

FREE AGENCY

The Devils don’t have any big decisions to make in protecting free agents. Defenseman Ryan Murray might be the best of the bunch. He was one of two regulars who finished the season on the plus side at plus-4 in 48 games. Fellow defense Connor Carrick and Matt Tennyson also are unrestricted.

SALARY CAP

New Jersey has roughly $11 million of salary-cap space available. They need a goal scorer, a solid defenseman and a backup goaltender. The only had four goal scorers in double figures.

EXPANSION DRAFT

New Jersey might lose one of its young, fast players in the draft to Seattle or Fitzgerald might expose defensemen Will Butcher and/or P.K. Subban and his $8 million salary.

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Rock legend Alice Cooper to auction off Andy Warhol artwork

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The Associated Press

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May 13, 2021

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — An Andy Warhol canvas found years ago in the garage of rocker Alice Cooper could become the highest selling artwork ever in Arizona.

The music legend, who has a home in metro Phoenix, announced Thursday that he would auction off “Little Electric Chair.”

It will be up for bidding on Oct. 23 at an auction organized by the Larsen Gallery in Scottsdale. The gallery estimates it could fetch anywhere from $2.5 million to $4.5 million.

The red acrylic and silkscreen on canvas was part of Warhol’s “Death and Disaster” series between 1964 and 1965. The pop artist often collected images from newspapers and magazines to use as inspiration for his work. Among them were images of the electric chair.

According to Cooper, the artwork was a birthday gift in the ’70s from a girlfriend who was friends with Warhol.

Cooper also plans to make the canvas available for public viewing.

The gallery owners say they will donate part of any commission to Cooper’s nonprofit, Solid Rock, which works to bring music, dance and other forms of art to teens.

Cooper is known for outrageous makeup and performances and such hits as “School’s Out.”