Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 116

High School State track: North Salinas’ Adams advances to the finals in the 200 and 400

CLOVIS — No statement was needed. That’s not to suggest Clara Adams didn’t serve notice that this is a business trip for the North Salinas sprinter.

Perserving some energy for Saturday’s CIF State track and field 400-meter finals, the sophomore went out hard, built a comfortable lead, then eased up a bit over the final 60 meters in winning her heat in Friday’s trials at Buchanan High in Clovis.

Later in the evening, when temperatures dipped into the mid 70’s, Adams sizzled the track in the 200 with a career best of 23.71 to win her heat with the second fastest overall time.

“I’m good and I’ve got energy,” Adams said.

Clocking a modest 54.14 seconds in the 400, Adams will go into Saturday’s final seeded No. 2 behind Madison Mosby of St. Mary’s Academy, who clocked 53.97.

“Basically, I just had to win my heat,” Adams said. “My race felt relaxed with no stress. I ran hard, but comfortable. I did everything I wanted to do. When you win your heat, you don’t have to worry about being in the finals.”

Adams, who came into the meet ranked No. 1 in the state after shaving nearly a second off her best time last week, is expected to be in Lane 4 for the finals, with Mosby in Lane 5.

Having rewritten her county record in the 400 twice this spring, Adams shattered the Central Coast Section final record last week with a mark of 53.23.

“There are so many emotions running through my head right now, all positive,” Adams said. “I feel nerves. I’m excited, anxious. This is the finals. I have a chance to win this race.”

With the 100 meters no longer a part of Adams’ resume, she blistered the track in the 200, dipping under 24 seconds for the first time in winning her heat in 23.71.

As a result, the 16-year-old will go into the finals with the second fastest time behind Keelan Wright of Chaparral, who won her heat in 23.58. Adams’ time is also the second fastest in county history, behind Monterey’s Sani Roseby’s mark of 23.52, set in 1999.

“The 200 was so exciting,” Adams said. “My start was amazing. I could feel it. I was chasing around the curve, probably in second or third. But I felt good. When I came off the curve, that’s when I started getting everybody.”

Adams, who did not make the 200 finals last year, has a chance to become just the second sprinter in county history to podium in two sprints, as Roseby was a champion in the 100 and a third place finisher in the 200 in 2000.

“I felt like I did everything right,” Adams said. “Oh, there’s still room for improvement, particularly my finish. Breaking Sani’s record is in the back of my mind. It’s possible. But I’ve got time. Right now, the focus is just on the finals.”

Believing he would need a personal best to have a shot at the finals in the 800, Carmel distance ace Mack Aldi dipped under 1:53.0 for just the second time this year, clocking 1:52.75.

“I was in a good spot,” Aldi said. “With around 300 meters, I tried to flow with the group and got boxed in the last 200. Each time I made a move, I got kicked or trapped. With 100 meters left, the gap was too much.”

A two-time state meet qualifier in the 800, Aldi finished 16th overall, as all 12 qualifiers broke 1:52.0 in the trials. Aldi’s school record mark is 1:52.50.

“I feel like I mentally checked out the last 100 after being trapped,” Aldi said. “In my head, I told myself I’m not going to qualify. I am not sure I would have qualified. But I could have run a better time. It is gnarly that all 12 were under 1:52.0.”

Not only was this Aldi’s last high school race, but a decision to run in college has not been made, as he plans to take some time off and reassess his future.

“I’m a little burnt out on running,” Aldi said. “I’ve loved what it’s done for me. It might be time to put most of this passion I’ve had the last four years into something else in my life.”

Ozzy Godoy dipped under 39 seconds for the second straight week in the 300 intermediate hurdles for Palma, clocking 38.67 to finish second in his heat.

However, as times dropped in the final two heats, the junior hurdler will use the experience as a growing tool going into next spring after finishing 14th in the state. All nine qualifiers for Saturday’s finals dipped under 38 seconds.

A Gabilan Division champion in the 300 hurdles, 110 high hurdles and pole vault, Godoy’s career mark of 38.29 in the intermediate hurdles is the third fastest time in county history.

Having erased last year’s disappointment of failing to reach the state meet in the triple jump by a half-inch, Emma Beck could not improve upon her season best of 38-2, sailing 36-11 at the state trials.

Beck, who met the automatic qualifying mark with a jump of 37-11 at the section finals last week, was the first female athlete from Salinas to advance to the state meet since DaVina Brown qualified in 2016 in the discus.

Having used a massive two-foot personal record in the shot put last week to advance to the state meet, Angela Ayozie uncorked the iron ball 37-6 Friday to finish 17th in the state for Alvarez.

A two-time state meet qualifier in the event, Ayozie unleashed the shot put 39-10 in last week’s Central Coast Section finals to finish third.

Kekoa Williams went out at 6-foot-4 in the high jump for Stevenson and won’t extend his season into Saturday’s finals.

The senior multi-sport standout advanced to the state meet with a mark of 6-6 at the CCS finals. Earlier this year, Williams set a school record with a jump of 6-8.

Harrison, bullpen snap SF Giants’ losing streak with win over Marlins

Kyle Harrison has created quite the conundrum for the Giants.

Harrison turned in a fine start Friday night as San Francisco beat the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park, 2-0, tossing five scoreless innings with five strikeouts and allowing one lone hit. The command was a tad shaky, evidenced by three walks, but his four-seam fastball exhibited great life. Camilo Doval, pitching in front of his mother, Rosa, for the first time as a professional, recorded his first save as San Francisco’s re-minted closer.

The Giants envision that Harrison will be a starter for years to come. His last two starts validated that he is plenty capable. But with Justin Verlander on the mend, Harrison is likely headed right back to the bullpen.

“Today felt really good, especially with the low pitch count about a week ago, trying to build that slowly,” Harrison told reporters in Miami. “But I’m feeling great. So, I’m going to go out there, do what they need, do what I need to do for these guys and I’ll be ready for the next one.”

Verlander, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right pectoral soreness on May 22 (retroactive to May 19), threw a bullpen around 40 pitches when the Giants played the Detroit Tigers. If Verlander is healthy, he would be eligible to be activated when San Francisco returns home to play the San Diego Padres.

Harrison, 23, cannot control his role. What he can control is how he performs when his name is called. So far, he’s performed well in both roles. As a reliever, he’s allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings (3.38 ERA). As a starter, he has a crisp 2.00. Against the Marlins, he affirmed why he’s deserving of more starts.

As he is wont to do, Harrison heavily relied on his four-seam fastball. Harrison generated 10 whiffs with his heater, one shy of his career-high of 11. Those whiffs were likely a product of his rediscovered velocity.

Harrison’s average four-seam fastball clocked in at 95.3 mph against the Marlins, the highest average velocity he’s ever had with his fastball in a start in his major-league career. This comes after Harrison averaged 94.7 mph with his four-seam fastball against the Washington Nationals, which becomes the second-highest average velocity in a single start.

“His last couple starts in Triple-A were great, and he’s been really good, whether it’s in the bullpen or starting with us,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said.

Harrison departed with a 2-0 lead thanks to Wilmer Flores’ RBI single, one that capped off an 11-pitch plate appearance against Cal Quantrill, and Matt Chapman’s solo homer. That left the bullpen with four innings to cover, and San Francisco’s relievers got themselves into and out of trouble.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Marlins put runners on first and second with two outs against Tristan Beck, but recently-demoted closer Ryan Walker put out the fire by generating a first-pitch groundout by Dane Meyers.

The following inning, Miami put runners on second and third with two outs against left-hander Erik Miller, prompting Melvin to summon Tyler Rogers. The submariner maintained the Giants’ lead by striking out Agustín Ramírez looking with a perfectly-placed sinker on the outside corner.

Related Articles Kurtenbach: The SF Giants desperately need offense. Buster Posey should look at these four trade-deadline targets SF Giants take 3-0 lead, but can’t hold it and are swept by Tigers Bob Melvin ejected, Logan Webb hit around in SF Giants’ loss to Tigers SF Giants’ Willy Adames kills rallies in 3-1 series-opening loss in Detroit SF Giants take series in D.C. as Ray continues excellent stretch

The eighth inning featured yet another fire that needed to be extinguised. With Miller, Rogers and Walker having already been used, Melvin gave the eighth inning to Spencer Bivens, who typically pitches in lower leverage situations.

Bivens, like Beck and Miller before him, got two outs but departed with runners on first and second. Doval, back in the closer role, bailed out Bivens by getting Connor Norby to fly out and end the eighth inning, then recorded his sixth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.

“It’s something that I dreamed about,” Doval said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. “That’s very important for me, and I’m just very happy.”

Doval, whose ERA on the season is now 1.09, has now gone 20 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run.

Chinese student struck a chord emphasizing humanity during Harvard commencement speech

By MICHAEL CASEY

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A day after her emotional speech at Harvard University’s commencement, Yurong “Luanna” Jiang kept running into classmates who praised her message that people should see everyone’s common humanity rather than demonize others for their differences.

Related Articles Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Trump told her he would not pardon men convicted in kidnapping plot The Department of Energy axes $3.7 billion in clean energy project grants FACT FOCUS: Trump’s claims about remedial math at Harvard don’t add up Trump’s education secretary threatens to pull funding from NY over its Native American mascot ban PBS suing Trump administration over defunding, three days after NPR filed similar case

“We’re starting to believe those who think differently, vote differently or pray differently — whether they’re across the ocean or sitting right next to us — are not just wrong. We mistakenly see them as evil. But it doesn’t have to be this way,” she said in her address, which drew wide applause.

“The message itself, if I have to put it into one sentence, will be humanity rises and falls as one,” Jiang told The Associated Press on Friday. “We are living in a very difficult time. There’s a lot of divisions in terms of ideas, ethnicities, identities. This is a time where we can use a little bit more moral imagination and imagine ourselves being connected with one another.”

The 25-year-old Jiang’s speech never directly mentioned the Trump administration nor its multi-pronged attack on the nation’s oldest and richest university. But she said the turmoil beyond their campus and its impact on her classmates was on her mind as she delivered her speech.

“Students can be very emotionally charged because they care deeply about a lot of issues,” said Jiang, who comes from China and graduated with a masters degree in public administration in international development. “When you are emotionally charged and activated, it’s very easy to demonize another person.”

She said the relentless attacks from the Trump administration on the school’s funding and threats to detain and deport people studying in the U.S. on student visas have left her unsettled, adding huge uncertainty to her future plans.

“In terms of the plan going forward, I would say everything is up in the air at this point,” Jiang said, who had hoped to remain in the United States for a few years but now is open to working in international development overseas. “At this point, it’s difficult to say what will happen.”

Yurong “Luanna” Jiang, center, who delivered a speech at her Harvard University commencement, takes a selfie with her college friends Cynthia Luo, right, and Helen Ji, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Yurong “Luanna” Jiang, who delivered a speech at her Harvard University commencement, raises her fists while talking with friends, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Yurong “Luanna” Jiang, who delivered a speech at her Harvard University commencement, smiles while embracing her friend Helen Ji, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Yurong “Luanna” Jiang, who delivered a speech at her Harvard University commencement, poses at a gate to Harvard Yard, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Show Caption1 of 4Yurong “Luanna” Jiang, center, who delivered a speech at her Harvard University commencement, takes a selfie with her college friends Cynthia Luo, right, and Helen Ji, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Expand

This week, the Trump administration asked federal agencies to cancel about $100 million in contracts with the university. The government already canceled more than $2.6 billion in federal research grants, moved to cut off Harvard’s enrollment of international students and threatened its tax-exempt status. Then it widened the pressure campaign, suspending visa applications worldwide and threatening to deny U.S. visas to thousands of Chinese students nationwide.

These actions resonate with Jiang and her classmates — about 30% of Harvard’s students are international, and China has among the highest numbers.

“The anxiety is real,” said Jiang, who knows two international students from China who are weighing whether to travel for work in Kenya and Rwanda.

“Because of the uncertainty of their visas, they are facing a very tricky situation,” she said. “They can either go abroad, go to Kenya and Rwanda to do their internship and work on poverty alleviation and public health but risking not being able to make it back to campus safely. Or they can stay on campus and do their internships remote.”

“It’s pretty heartbreaking,” she continued. “They wanted to help humanity and, to see them entangled in politics they didn’t choose, is hard.”

Jiang, who went to high school in the United Kingdom and earned her undergraduate degree at Duke University, said there should be more, not fewer, academic exchanges between China and the United States.

“Humanity is facing a lot of crisis,” she said. “There are conflicts. There is climate. There are a lot things that not only one country can tackle. China and the U.S. are the two most powerful economies or countries in the world. They have to work with each other to be able to combat the problems or the issues that affect every single human being.”

Jiang also defended the importance of international students at Harvard, recalling how 60% of the students stood up at the Kennedy School of Government commencement when the dean, Jeremy Weinstein, asked how many came from outside the United States. Then he asked if they had learned something from their international classmates, and most everyone stood.

“A lot of us clapped and cheered. A lot of us were in tears,” she said, as Weinstein told them to “look around, this is your school.”

Without international students, it would be a challenge for Harvard to achieve its mission, Jiang said. Campus culture depends on its globally diverse student body, studying and hanging out together.

“Harvard wants its students to go and change the world and you can’t change the world without understanding the world,” she said. “You can’t understand the world without truly having a personal connection with people from all sorts of countries.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Trump told her he would not pardon men convicted in kidnapping plot

By ISABELLA VOLMERT

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says President Donald Trump would be going back on his word to her if he pardoned two men who are serving prison sentences for leading a 2020 plot to kidnap her.

Related Articles Chinese student struck a chord emphasizing humanity during Harvard commencement speech The Department of Energy axes $3.7 billion in clean energy project grants FACT FOCUS: Trump’s claims about remedial math at Harvard don’t add up Trump’s education secretary threatens to pull funding from NY over its Native American mascot ban PBS suing Trump administration over defunding, three days after NPR filed similar case

Whitmer, a Democrat, told Michigan Public Radio on Thursday that Trump asked her about a month ago how she would feel if he pardoned the two men.

“I said, ‘I think it would be the wrong decision,’” Whitmer recounted. “I would oppose it and he said, ‘OK, I’ll drop it.’”

Whitmer, a possible 2028 presidential candidate, recounted the conversation one day after Trump said he was considering a pardon for the men, saying, “I will take a look at it. It’s been brought to my attention.”

The Republican president said he followed the men’s trial and “it looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job.” He said the men “were drinking and I think they said stupid things.”

The U.S. Justice Department’s new pardon attorney also said this month he would take a “hard look” at pardoning Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox.

Croft, 49, and Fox, 42, were portrayed as leaders of the kidnapping scheme. They were convicted of conspiracy in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2022. Croft, a trucker from Delaware, was also found guilty of a weapons charge.

Croft was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison, while Fox, a Grand Rapids man, got a 16-year term. They are being held at a prison in Colorado — the most secure in the federal system.

Whitmer later told an audience following a speech at the Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference that she plans to talk to Trump again about the pardoning matter.

“We have an ongoing dialogue now … very different from the first term,” she said about Trump and turned to smile at the audience.

A spokesperson said the White House cannot confirm nor deny any upcoming actions.

“The White House does not comment on the President’s private meetings, and any speculation about future pardons is just that—speculation,” principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields said in a statement.

Whitmer and Trump clashed publicly during his first term, with Trump referring to her as “ that woman from Michigan.” She has blamed Trump for the political anger that motivated the plot to kidnap her right before the 2020 presidential election.

Whitmer also hinted Thursday at anger over the possibility of pardons, saying she was disappointed to hear the news he was considering it.

“No one should hesitate to condemn political violence,” she said, noting the arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence and the assassination attempt on Donald Trump last year.

Whitmer has faced scrutiny from some Democrats for taking a more collaborative approach to the Trump administration in his second term.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat who has criticized Whitmer for working with and appearing with Trump, said releasing the convicted men is “no laughing matter.”

“The reward you get for cozying up to Trump is him threatening to pardon the terrorists who plotted to kidnap and murder you,” she said on social media.

Whitmer’s collaboration with Trump has come with several awkward moments for her this year, including when she was unexpectedly in the Oval Office during a press conference as Trump ordered the Justice Department to investigate two former members of his previous administration who had publicly criticized him.

Their new dynamic also led to some wins for her administration, including securing new jets at a military air base in Michigan and a commitment from Trump to fund a project to protect Lake Michigan from invasive carp.

The Department of Energy axes $3.7 billion in clean energy project grants

By ALEXA ST. JOHN

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday he canceled nearly $4 billion in project grants, in another massive blow to clean energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts in the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Related Articles Chinese student struck a chord emphasizing humanity during Harvard commencement speech Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Trump told her he would not pardon men convicted in kidnapping plot FACT FOCUS: Trump’s claims about remedial math at Harvard don’t add up Trump’s education secretary threatens to pull funding from NY over its Native American mascot ban PBS suing Trump administration over defunding, three days after NPR filed similar case

The grants, largely awarded during former President Joe Biden’s final few months in the White House, were primarily for programs to capture carbon emissions and store them underground. Other targeted efforts span cleaner cement, natural gas and more.

Some of the 24 canceled awards include $500 million to Heidelberg Materials US, Inc.; $375 million to Eastman Chemical Company; $95 million to Nevada Gold Mines, LLC; and $270 million to Sutter CCUS, among others, according to a list provided by the Department of Energy. Sublime Systems, which lost an $87 million grant, was “surprised and disappointed,” the company said in a statement.

“Today’s action is bad for U.S. competitiveness in the global market and also directly contradictory to the administration’s stated goals of supporting energy production and environmental innovation,” said Conrad Schneider, a senior director at the Clean Air Task Force. It “undercuts U.S. competitiveness at a time when there is a growing global market for cleaner industrial products and technologies.”

The news was a swift follow-up to plans the Energy Department announced earlier this month to review 179 funded projects, totaling over $15 billion, that were awarded by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations created under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.

It is part of Wright’s pledge to ensure “responsible” spending — aligning with the government’s broader efficiency and cost-cutting measures, such as those recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency, which has significantly impacted federal research, workers and agencies.

“While the previous administration failed to conduct a thorough financial review before signing away billions of taxpayer dollars, the Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment,” Wright said in Friday’s statement.

Moreover, the announcement marks the latest of the administration’s attacks on clean energy, broadly, and its effort to slash federal support for projects addressing climate change.

The Trump administration has taken an ax to Biden-era environmental ambitions, rolled back landmark regulations, withdrawn climate project funding, and instead bolstered support for oil and gas production in the name of an “American energy dominance” agenda.

Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, called the news “shortsighted.”

Carbon capture has been a controversial climate solution, as skeptics say it enables the continued burning of fossil fuels oil, coal and natural gas that emit planet-warming greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide — and distracts from the need to cut ties with those energy sources altogether. Though investment in the technology has grown, it also remains challenging to scale.

Industry decries the news

Organizations quickly decried the secretary’s actions, stressing that the cancelations don’t align with the administration’s goals to bolster domestic manufacturing or energy independence.

Jessie Stolark, the executive director of the nonpartisan Carbon Capture Coalition, said the news “is a major step backward” for carbon management technologies, which are “crucial to meeting America’s growing demand for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.”

“These projects are not just reducing pollution, they are keeping the U.S. on the cutting edge of manufacturing technology,” said Mike Williams, senior fellow on the energy and environment team at public policy and advocacy group the Center for American Progress. “Canceling these important projects will raise energy prices for consumers and sacrifice thousands of high-quality union jobs, all because the president wants to curry favor with Big Oil.”

Evan Gillespie, partner at decarbonization organization, Industrious Labs, said the move dismantles the economy and the future of American manufacturing and its workforce.

“Killing these projects means more emissions, more pollution, and more people getting sick,” he said.

Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.

Read more of AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-env...

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

FACT FOCUS: Trump’s claims about remedial math at Harvard don’t add up

By MELISSA GOLDIN

As the White House moves to revoke Harvard University’s certification to enroll foreign students — escalating a battle between the administration and the oldest and wealthiest college in the U.S. — President Donald Trump is falsely claiming that Harvard offers “remedial mathematics” on topics such as simple addition.

Related Articles Chinese student struck a chord emphasizing humanity during Harvard commencement speech Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Trump told her he would not pardon men convicted in kidnapping plot The Department of Energy axes $3.7 billion in clean energy project grants Trump’s education secretary threatens to pull funding from NY over its Native American mascot ban PBS suing Trump administration over defunding, three days after NPR filed similar case

He most recently took aim at the school’s math offerings during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office on Wednesday for Interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host who was formerly a county prosecutor and elected judge, in response to a question from a reporter about how the “confrontation” with Harvard will end.

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

CLAIM: “Harvard announced two weeks ago that they’re going to teach remedial mathematics, remedial, meaning they’re going to teach low grade mathematics like two plus two is four. How did these people get into Harvard? If they can’t, if they can’t do basic mathematics, how did they do it?”

THE FACTS: Harvard does not offer a remedial math class covering basic arithmetic. Asked whether Trump was referring to a specific class, a White House spokesperson provided information about Mathematics MA5, which was introduced in the fall of 2024 as a new format for an existing course that offers extra support in calculus. The original course — Mathematics MA — is still offered.

“Harvard College does not offer any so-called remedial math classes,” said James Chisholm, a spokesperson for the university’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which encompasses its undergraduate program.

He added: “Math MA5 is a college-level calculus class. It is simply a new format of Math MA, the introductory freshman calculus course that has been taught at Harvard for decades.”

Students in Mathematics MA and MA5 have the exact same homework, exams and grading structure, according to Chisholm. The only difference is that the former meets three days a week and the latter five days a week. They are both prerequisites for higher-level math courses.

One question on a sample exam Chisholm provided asks students to write a formula for determining the total number of cases during a hypothetical epidemic after a certain amount of days.

The Harvard Crimson reported in September that Director of Introductory Math Brendan Kelly said Mathematics MA5 is “aimed at rectifying a lack of foundational algebra skills among students” created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A course description notes that its “extra support will target foundational skills in algebra, geometry, and quantitative reasoning.”

Harvard Extension School, the university’s continuing education program aimed at working adults, offers a precalculus course. Most students need only register to attend. Those who want to pursue a degree must first successfully complete two or three courses in their chosen field of study. Those earning a certificate or taking a single course must only meet certain enrollment requirements, such as English proficiency.

Harvard College undergraduates, who must apply to the university and be admitted under its rigorous admission standards, are not allowed to cross-register for Harvard Extension School classes.

“Harvard Extension School is 100% distinct from Harvard College and the two have nothing to do with each other in terms of curriculum or students,” said Chisholm.

Harvard’s Rising Scholars Program, an invite-only opportunity for incoming Harvard College students from “high schools that offered them limited college-level academic enrichment opportunities” offers a summer course for students who need an additional foundation on topics such as precalculus and algebra.

“The important point on Rising Scholars is it’s more about the incoming student’s high school than the individual student’s ability,” said Chisholm.

Harvard has also offered an Emerging Scholars Program to similarly support freshmen enrolled in introductory calculus who are interested in fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in an effort to “correct systemic inequalities in math and science K-12 education that have affected our college students for many years.”

The median math score for the most recently enrolled undergraduate class at Harvard College was 790 out of 800 on the SATs and 35 out of 36 on the ACTs. The average high school GPA was 4.2.

“There is no university in America that is as difficult to earn admission to as Harvard — no matter your demographics,” said Brian Taylor, managing partner at the college counseling service Ivy Coach. “President Trump’s math in this case simply doesn’t add up.”

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.

Missing hiker rescued at Garrapata State Park

CARMEL — Around 16 hours after being reported missing, a 69-year-old woman was rescued in Garrapata State Park after falling from a trail Wednesday afternoon.

At about 8 p.m. Wednesday, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and California State Parks were notified of a hiker that had not returned from a trip to Garrapata State Park’s Soberanes Trail. The family reported the woman routinely hikes the area and had set out for the trail around 2 p.m.

After the hiker did not return home, the family began searching around 6 p.m. and located her parked car near the trail entrance. The family also reported the missing hiker has medical conditions which put her at risk.

Once they were notified, Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, California State Parks and Monterey County Urban Search and Rescue began their search for the hiker. The search lasted until about 2 a.m. before being suspended for the night.

The search continued at 7 a.m. when Search and Rescue Teams from Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties joined the mission. CalFire drones, a CHP helicopter and a California Rescue Dog Association K9 team also joined the search efforts.

The missing hiker was located around 12:30 p.m. A search team was calling out her name and heard the woman’s faint voice responding. She had minor injuries after falling off the main trail.

The hiker was extracted via CHP’s H-70 helicopter and transferred to a ground ambulance which transported her to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Trump’s education secretary threatens to pull funding from NY over its Native American mascot ban

By PHILIP MARCELO

MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (AP) — New York is discriminating against a school district that refuses to get rid of its and could face a Justice Department investigation or risk losing federal funding, President Donald Trump’s top education official said Friday.

Related Articles Chinese student struck a chord emphasizing humanity during Harvard commencement speech Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Trump told her he would not pardon men convicted in kidnapping plot The Department of Energy axes $3.7 billion in clean energy project grants FACT FOCUS: Trump’s claims about remedial math at Harvard don’t add up PBS suing Trump administration over defunding, three days after NPR filed similar case

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, on a visit to Massapequa High School on Long Island, said an investigation by her agency has determined that state education officials violated Title VI of the federal civil rights law by banning the use of Native American mascots and logos statewide.

The department’s civil rights office found the state ban is discriminatory because names and mascots derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as the “Dutchmen” and the “Huguenots,” are still permitted.

McMahon described Massapequa’s chiefs mascot as an “incredible” representation of Native American leadership as she made the announcement backed by dozens of students and local officials in the high school gymnasium.

“The Trump Administration will not stand idly by as state leaders attempt to eliminate the history and culture of Native American tribes,” the former longtime CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment said.

McMahon said her department will give the state ten days to sign an agreement rescinding its Native American mascot ban and apologizing to Native Americans for having discriminated against them and attempted to “erase” their history.

JP O’Hare, a spokesperson for the New York education department, dismissed McMahon’s visit as “political theater” and said the school district was doing a “grave disservice” to its students by refusing to consult with local tribes about their concerns.

“These representatives will tell them, as they have told us, that certain Native American names and images perpetuate negative stereotypes and are demonstrably harmful to children,” he said in a statement.

Representatives from the Native American Guardians Association, who voiced support for keeping the chief mascot at Thursday’s event, also don’t speak on behalf of local Indigenous residents, despite claims from school officials, said Adam Drexler, a Massapequa resident and member of the Chickasaw Nation.

“They’re Native Americans for hire,” he said, noting the group is based in North Dakota. “They have no tribal authority.”

FILE – Chiefs signs and logos are displayed Massapequa High School in Massapequa, N.Y., Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, center, joined by local elected officials speaks during a visit to Massapequa High School, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Massapequa, N.Y. (Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday via AP)U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, front right, visits Massapequa High School, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Massapequa, N.Y., along with local elected officials. (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo)U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, at dais, speaks during a visit to Massapequa High School, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Massapequa, N.Y., along with local elected officials. (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo)Show Caption1 of 4FILE – Chiefs signs and logos are displayed Massapequa High School in Massapequa, N.Y., Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)Expand

Meanwhile the National Congress of American Indians, considered the country’s oldest and largest Native American advocacy group, reaffirmed its long-standing opposition to the use of unsanctioned Native American imagery.

“These depictions are not tributes — they are rooted in racism, cultural appropriation, and intentional ignorance,” the organization said in a statement ahead of McMahon’s appearance.

Trump ordered the federal education department to launch an inquiry into the Massapequa mascot dispute last month, making the coastal suburb an unlikely flashpoint in the enduring debate over the place of Indigenous imagery in American sports.

Located about 40 miles east of Manhattan, the town has for years fought a state mandate to retire Native American sports names and mascots.

But its lawsuit challenging the state’s 2023 ban on constitutional grounds was dismissed by a federal judge earlier this year.

State education officials gave districts until the end of this school year to commit to replacing them or risk losing education funding.

Schools could be exempt from the mandate if they gained approval from a local Native American tribe, but Massapequa never sought such permission, state officials have said.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Trump ally who joined McMahon on the visit, echoed the sentiments of residents who support keeping the mascot. The Massapequa chief, he said, is meant to “honor” the town’s Native American heritage, not “denigrate” it.

“They’re trying to change our culture, and we’re not having it,” Blakeman said Thursday.

The town is named after the Massapequa, who were part of the broader Lenape, or Delaware, people who inhabited the woodlands of the Northeastern U.S. and Canada for thousands of years before being decimated by European colonization.

But indigenous residents on Long Island have called Massapequa’s mascot problematic as it depicts a Native American man wearing a headdress that was typically worn by tribes in the American Midwest, but not in the Northeast.

The cheery mascot also obscures Massapequa’s legacy of violence against Native Americans, which includes the site of a Native American massacre in the 1600s, Native American activists have said.

Massapequa, which is roughly 90% white, has long been a conservative bastion popular with New York City police and firefighters.

Trump visited the town last year to attend the wake of a New York City police officer and has made frequent visits to Long Island as it has shifted Republican.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld, Hollywood’s Baldwin brothers and the Long Island’s alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer are also among Massapequa High’s notable alums.

Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.

Horoscopes May 30, 2025: Idina Menzel, preparation is the route to happy endings

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jennifer Winget, 40; Rory Bushfield, 42; Idina Menzel, 54; Wynonna Judd, 61.

Happy Birthday: Get your facts straight and your ducks in a row this year. Preparation is the route to happy endings. Figure out what you want and feel passionate about, and tilt your thoughts and time in that direction. Having a strategic plan will make your life easier. A little charm and physical action will influence others to get on board with your plans and set you up for success. Your numbers are 9, 14, 23, 31, 38, 42, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Simplify your life. Less baggage means spending more time with those you love and doing what you enjoy. It’s up to you to make the physical changes yourself. Waiting for things to fall into place will satisfy your imagination, but following through will get you where you want to go. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You need a diversion that snaps you into action and motivates you to put your attributes to work for you in new and exciting dimensions. Refuse to let frustration set in when you only need to realign your focus on something meaningful. A change will bring back hope for a brighter future. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You can talk your way to a brighter future. Whether you are a student, a teacher or simply someone trying to convince others to see things through your eyes, let your charm lead the way. Updating your surroundings will be uplifting and lower your overhead. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Keep moving. Idle time is the enemy. Shared expenses will cause problems if you cannot agree on a split or what’s worthwhile and what isn’t. Avoid vulnerability by getting what you want in writing. Money and emotions won’t mix and will likely cost you if you don’t know what you want. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Size up your current routine and how it affects your life. A balance between work and play is necessary for your vitality and attitude. Positivity comes from doing what’s best for you, so take the initiative to pursue the people, places and pastimes that bring you the most purpose in life. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Interaction is in your best interest. Listen to all sides of a story or situation, or offer, digest and refine information until it makes sense and pays tribute to what’s meaningful to you. Don’t waste time building someone else’s dream when you have your heart’s desire to fulfill. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Be creative, step outside your comfort zone and see what’s new and exciting. It’s time to expand your awareness, friendships and direction to satisfy your needs and to build a life you desire. Personal growth, partnerships and new beginnings will lead to opportunity and a unique lifestyle. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Refuse to get sucked into something that means more to someone else than it does to you. You may crave change, but first, you must deal with emotional baggage. Ask yourself if you are running toward or away from something or someone. Get your feelings and emotions in check before you implement change. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The sky is the limit. Jump into action; wheel and deal until you are satisfied with the outcome. Domestic improvements will improve your day if you are willing to meet in the middle and work something out with the people who mean the most to you. Opportunity knocks, and romance is looming. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): List what’s working and what isn’t. A challenge will diminish by tweaking your lifestyle, surroundings and the boundaries you set with those who influence your decisions. Start with the basics and do whatever improves your personal life first. Emotional stability will result in confidence to progress in other aspects of your life. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Address personal finances, how you earn your living, your overhead and ways to combat excess and ease stress. Put a cap on spending and consider how to use your skills to implement additional income. Get those you love onboard or socialize; you’ll attract someone who wants to share expenses with you. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Mingle, network and meet and greet, but refuse to let anyone talk you into something you don’t need or want. You cannot buy love or let your emotions cost you mentally or financially. Discipline, ingenuity and using your unique talents and skills will be your best route forward. Distance yourself from fast talkers. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are witty, charismatic and funny. You are creative and outgoing.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes.2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others.3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals.4 stars: Aim high; start new projects.5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

CCS DV baseball finals: Monterey succumbs to top seed Menlo

SAN JOSE — Finding your identity means understanding your strengths. Attention to detail meant growing pains for a program with six and sometimes seven underclassmen in the lineup.

Yet, Monterey came into the postseason battle-tested, confident it could rise to the occasion after going 5-2 in its last seven one-run battles.

“I don’t think anyone thought we’d be in this position a month ago,” Monterey baseball coach Michael Groves said. “I told the kids we have been beaten up. We’ve gone through the Gabilan Division. But we are battle-tested and resilient.”

Finding itself in another one-run meeting seemed fitting. Leaving the bases loaded in the sixth inning, however, was costly as the Toreadores fell 5-4 Thursday to top seed Menlo in the Central Coast Section Division V finals at Excite Park in San Jose.

“This is a team where you’re teaching every second of every practice and game,” Groves said. “They’re learning skills that they have not really practiced. Little things like cuts off, taking an extra base. Those are the things you learn with time over practice.”

Of the 18 players that Groves — who has 800 plus wins and 39 postseason appearances — had on his playoff roster, only three were seniors.

Monterey was one of four teams from the Gabilan Division playing for a section title, joining Hollister (DII), Carmel (DIII) and St. Francis of Watsonville (DIV).

“I feel like we missed an opportunity tonight,” Groves said.

Monterey, which was chasing its fifth CCS title — all in the last 22 years, reached the finals after knocking off Lincoln 6-2 and Harbor 4-1. It came into the battle riding a season high three-game winning streak.

The last time the Toreadores (12-18) and Menlo (21-8) played was in a tournament in 2013, with the Knights holding on for a 7-6 win.

Champions of the Peninsula Ocean Division, the Knights have won seven CCS titles. They’ll go into the State Northern California playoffs riding a nine-game winning streak.

Starring a 5-1 deficit in the sixth inning, the Toreadores manufactured runs with the aid of two hits batsman and a sacrifice fly by Luke Miramontes to close to within a run.

“We loaded the bases in the sixth and cut the lead to one with one out,” Groves said. “Getting that big hit has been a problem all year. We’ve been manufacturing runs all year. We are still learning how to hit line drives. I think eight of our outs were flyouts.”

The Toreadores, who never led in the game, tied it at one when Miramontes — who pitched them into the title game with a gem against Harbor and is one of Groves’ three seniors — singled home a run in the third inning.

Getting the leadoff batter on in each of the first four innings, Menlo pushed across three runs in the third and another in the fourth to build a 5-1 cushion.

Jacob Mewborn collected two hits for Monterey, while Mateo Marotta-Gallegos and Patrick Adams each drove in runs.