Jill Colvin And Zeke MillerAssociated PressWASHINGTON — For Mike Pence, a second term for President Donald Trump would have been a 2024 ticket to Republican frontrunner status.But with Trump’s loss — after Pence spent the last four years as his most loyal soldier and the past year doggedly campaigning on his behalf — the vice president is contending with a far less certain future. The situation is made even more complicated by Trump’s refusal to accept defeat and private flirtations with running again himself four years from now.It’s a balancing act for Pence. He cannot risk alienating...…Jill Colvin And Zeke MillerAssociated PressWASHINGTON — For Mike Pence, a second term for President Donald Trump would have been a 2024 ticket to Republican frontrunner status.But with Trump’s loss — after Pence spent the last four years as his most loyal soldier and the past year doggedly campaigning on his behalf — the vice president is contending with a far less certain future. The situation is made even more complicated by Trump’s refusal to accept defeat and private flirtations with running again himself four years from now.It’s a balancing act for Pence. He cannot risk alienating...WW…

Joseph DitsSouth Bend TribuneSOUTH BEND — Dr. Peter L. Yu was doing what he’s done for three decades at Memorial Hospital on Oct. 22, making rounds to see patients, when he fainted.Taken to the emergency room, the initial test for COVID-19 came back negative as he was admitted to the care of his colleagues.On the next day, a second test came back positive. But Yu, a passionate and generous doctor with a jolly nature, told an old classmate from medical school in the Philippines on the phone, “I’ll be out of here soon.”His condition wavered. Pneumonia took grip. So did kidney failure from his...…Joseph DitsSouth Bend TribuneSOUTH BEND — Dr. Peter L. Yu was doing what he’s done for three decades at Memorial Hospital on Oct. 22, making rounds to see patients, when he fainted.Taken to the emergency room, the initial test for COVID-19 came back negative as he was admitted to the care of his colleagues.On the next day, a second test came back positive. But Yu, a passionate and generous doctor with a jolly nature, told an old classmate from medical school in the Philippines on the phone, “I’ll be out of here soon.”His condition wavered. Pneumonia took grip. So did kidney failure from his...WW…

Johnny Magdaleno Indianapolis StarSouth Bend TribuneTwitter has banned replies, retweets and likes on a Valentine’s Day-themed tweet from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita that implied the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.The social media giant took punitive measures against Rokita a day after the state’s top lawyer published a meme on his personal account with floating red hearts and the text “You stole my heart like a 2020 election.” Below the text is a cartoon-like portrait of Donald Trump.A banner now appears towards the bottom of the tweet saying that the meme contains a...…Johnny Magdaleno Indianapolis StarSouth Bend TribuneTwitter has banned replies, retweets and likes on a Valentine’s Day-themed tweet from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita that implied the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.The social media giant took punitive measures against Rokita a day after the state’s top lawyer published a meme on his personal account with floating red hearts and the text “You stole my heart like a 2020 election.” Below the text is a cartoon-like portrait of Donald Trump.A banner now appears towards the bottom of the tweet saying that the meme contains a...WW…

Chris SikichIndianapolisIndiana Sens. Mike Braun and Todd Young on Monday denied a report by journalist Carl Bernstein of Watergate fame that they hold President Donald Trump in contempt.Bernstein first levied the accusation that senators have disdain for the president in an appearance last week on CNN. He didn’t go into great detail about who felt that way.“Many if not most of these individuals from what I have been told were happy to see Donald Trump defeated in this election as long as the Senate could be controlled by the Republicans,” Bernstein said. “They’ve experienced Donald Trump...…Chris SikichIndianapolisIndiana Sens. Mike Braun and Todd Young on Monday denied a report by journalist Carl Bernstein of Watergate fame that they hold President Donald Trump in contempt.Bernstein first levied the accusation that senators have disdain for the president in an appearance last week on CNN. He didn’t go into great detail about who felt that way.“Many if not most of these individuals from what I have been told were happy to see Donald Trump defeated in this election as long as the Senate could be controlled by the Republicans,” Bernstein said. “They’ve experienced Donald Trump...WW…

Jeff ParrottSouth Bend TribuneAs soon as this weekend, Beacon Health System, like an increasing number of communities around the country, could take delivery of a refrigerated truck to store the bodies of the growing number of people dying from COVID-19, a Memorial Hospital doctor confirmed Friday.The system was still discussing how to share the truck between Memorial and its other two hospitals, Elkhart General and Community Hospital of Bremen, if needed, said Dr. Dale Patterson, Memorial’s vice president of medical affairs.Memorial’s morgue has room for four bodies, while Elkhart General...…Jeff ParrottSouth Bend TribuneAs soon as this weekend, Beacon Health System, like an increasing number of communities around the country, could take delivery of a refrigerated truck to store the bodies of the growing number of people dying from COVID-19, a Memorial Hospital doctor confirmed Friday.The system was still discussing how to share the truck between Memorial and its other two hospitals, Elkhart General and Community Hospital of Bremen, if needed, said Dr. Dale Patterson, Memorial’s vice president of medical affairs.Memorial’s morgue has room for four bodies, while Elkhart General...WW…

SOUTH BEND — In the face of pending litigation, the body tasked with filling judicial vacancies in St. Joseph County this week resubmitted a list of five candidates to succeed recently retired superior court judge Jane Woodward Miller.Normally, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb would appoint one of the candidates to fill the open seat. But the governor is currently under an injunction stemming from a lawsuit filed by one of the nominating commission’s own members.The lawsuit, filed by Joseph Grabill, claims two members of the St. Joseph Superior Court Judicial Nominating Commission were ineligible...…SOUTH BEND — In the face of pending litigation, the body tasked with filling judicial vacancies in St. Joseph County this week resubmitted a list of five candidates to succeed recently retired superior court judge Jane Woodward Miller.Normally, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb would appoint one of the candidates to fill the open seat. But the governor is currently under an injunction stemming from a lawsuit filed by one of the nominating commission’s own members.The lawsuit, filed by Joseph Grabill, claims two members of the St. Joseph Superior Court Judicial Nominating Commission were ineligible...WW…

Mike BerardinoSouth Bend TribuneSOUTH BEND — Halfway through the regular season, missed tackles remain a glaring issue on defense for Notre Dame football.While coordinator Al Golden has a scoring defense (13.0 points per game) that is tied for 14th with two-time national champion Georgia, the Irish have dropped from sixth last season to 85th this year in tackling efficiency, according to Pro Football Focus.After missing 99 tackles in 13 games last year, an average of 7.6 per game, this year’s defense already has 60 missed tackles (10.0 average) and is on pace for a 31% year-over-year...…Mike BerardinoSouth Bend TribuneSOUTH BEND — Halfway through the regular season, missed tackles remain a glaring issue on defense for Notre Dame football.While coordinator Al Golden has a scoring defense (13.0 points per game) that is tied for 14th with two-time national champion Georgia, the Irish have dropped from sixth last season to 85th this year in tackling efficiency, according to Pro Football Focus.After missing 99 tackles in 13 games last year, an average of 7.6 per game, this year’s defense already has 60 missed tackles (10.0 average) and is on pace for a 31% year-over-year...WW…

Mike BerardinoSouth Bend TribuneSOUTH BEND — Redshirt freshman Josh Burnham is set to make his first start for Notre Dame football at 25th-ranked Louisville with Jordan Botelho required to sit out the first half due to a targeting ejection last week at Duke.Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on ABC.Burnham will share time at the Vyper spot with sophomore Junior Tuihalamaka in Saturday night’s first half, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said Thursday in his video update.“Those guys have been playing well all season in their opportunities,” Freeman said. “I’m excited to see what they...…Mike BerardinoSouth Bend TribuneSOUTH BEND — Redshirt freshman Josh Burnham is set to make his first start for Notre Dame football at 25th-ranked Louisville with Jordan Botelho required to sit out the first half due to a targeting ejection last week at Duke.Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on ABC.Burnham will share time at the Vyper spot with sophomore Junior Tuihalamaka in Saturday night’s first half, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said Thursday in his video update.“Those guys have been playing well all season in their opportunities,” Freeman said. “I’m excited to see what they...WW…

Tom NoieSouth Bend TribuneLOUISVILLE, Ky. — Seated aboard the Notre Dame football charter as it prepared to taxi a Raleigh-Durham International Airport runway early Sunday morning, Irish graduate student linebacker Marist Liufau was spent. He had just spent the previous three-plus hours on the field of Wallace Wade Stadium chasing Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, and anyone else who carried the football. He battled blockers. He played 57 of a possible 70 snaps. He made six tackles. He pulled himself from pileups and sidestepped collisions. He ran off the field; he ran on the...…Tom NoieSouth Bend TribuneLOUISVILLE, Ky. — Seated aboard the Notre Dame football charter as it prepared to taxi a Raleigh-Durham International Airport runway early Sunday morning, Irish graduate student linebacker Marist Liufau was spent. He had just spent the previous three-plus hours on the field of Wallace Wade Stadium chasing Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, and anyone else who carried the football. He battled blockers. He played 57 of a possible 70 snaps. He made six tackles. He pulled himself from pileups and sidestepped collisions. He ran off the field; he ran on the...WW…

John FineranTribune CorrespondentSOUTH BEND — When Notre Dame hockey opens its 2023-24 season this weekend against visiting Clarkson, it appears youth is going to be served.Coach Jeff Jackson, the dean of Division I men’s hockey coaches at the youthful age of 68, expects his 19th Fighting Irish could use as many as eight freshmen or newcomers as they try to rebound from a disappointing 16-16-5 record which kept them out of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2014-15 season.“We’re going to have seven, potentially eight freshmen in the lineup,” said Jackson, who has taken Notre...…John FineranTribune CorrespondentSOUTH BEND — When Notre Dame hockey opens its 2023-24 season this weekend against visiting Clarkson, it appears youth is going to be served.Coach Jeff Jackson, the dean of Division I men’s hockey coaches at the youthful age of 68, expects his 19th Fighting Irish could use as many as eight freshmen or newcomers as they try to rebound from a disappointing 16-16-5 record which kept them out of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2014-15 season.“We’re going to have seven, potentially eight freshmen in the lineup,” said Jackson, who has taken Notre...WW…