Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 124

Most books pulled from Naval Academy library are back on the shelves in latest DEI turn

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — All but a few of the nearly 400 books that the U.S. Naval Academy removed from its library because they dealt with anti-racism and gender issues are back on the shelves after the newest Pentagon-ordered review — the latest turn in a dizzying effort to rid the military of materials related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Based on the new review, about 20 books from the academy’s library are being pulled aside to be checked, but that number includes some that weren’t identified or removed in last month’s initial purge of 381 books, defense officials told The Associated Press.

A few dozen books at the Air Force libraries — including at the Air Force Academy — also have been pulled out for review, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process is still ongoing.

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The back-and-forth on book removals reflects a persistent problem in the early months of the Trump administration, as initial orders and demands for an array of policy changes have been forced to be reworked, fine-tuned and reissued because they were vague, badly defined or problematic.

The reviews and changes at military libraries and to websites, social media accounts and more are part of the Trump administration’s far-reaching efforts to purge so-called DEI content from federal agencies.

The Pentagon earlier this month issued a detailed directive to all military leaders and commands to pull and review all library books addressing diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by Wednesday. The order contained more specific search words than earlier guidance and verbal orders from Defense Department leaders, and officials said it resulted in dramatically fewer banned books than initially thought.

The Navy said in a statement Wednesday that it reviewed the library collections at all of its educational institutions to ensure compliance with the directives, noting that materials have been “identified and sequestered.” The Army and Air Force also have reviewed their collections.

All of the services’ libraries had to provide their new lists of books to Pentagon leaders. Now additional guidance will be given on how to cull those lists, if needed, and determine what should be permanently removed. The review also will “determine an appropriate ultimate disposition” for those materials, according to a Defense Department memo.

The May 9 memo — signed by Timothy Dill, who is performing the duties of the deputy defense undersecretary for personnel — did not say what will happen to the books or whether they will be stored away or destroyed.

The libraries at the military academies and those at other schools and commands had to remove educational materials “promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology” because they are incompatible with the Defense Department’s core mission, the memo said.

A temporary Academic Libraries Committee set up by the department is overseeing the process, and it provided a list of search terms to use to determine which books to pull and review.

Those search terms included: affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender and white privilege.

The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, removed 381 books from its library in early April after being told by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office to get rid of those that promote DEI.

The purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou’s famous autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

Others included “Memorializing the Holocaust,” which deals with Holocaust memorials; “Half American,” about African Americans in World War II; “A Respectable Woman,” about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and “Pursuing Trayvon Martin,” about the 2012 shooting of a Black 17-year-old in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling.

The Navy on Wednesday could not confirm which books have been returned to the library or if Angelou’s book or the others will remain pulled from shelves.

About two weeks after the Naval Academy purge was ordered, the Army and Air Force libraries were told to go through their stacks to find and remove books related to DEI.

Throughout the process, leaders of the military services sought more detailed guidance on which books had to go because the initial order to the Naval Academy was verbal and vague. Dill’s memo provided that additional guidance.

Similarly, directives to reenlist troops forced out for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and to remove transgender service members from the military have had to be clarified over time.

Defense leaders have had to provide additional guidance and wording to address questions from the services on how to legally and accurately implement the orders. And in several cases, orders had to be refined and reissued.

Kurtenbach: The SF Giants go as Logan Webb goes. That makes his loss to the Royals seriously concerning

SAN FRANCISCO — How long can the Giants keep this up?

They have a middling offense and defense (both ranked 18th by FanGraphs’ metrics), which seem to be fading further by the day. Their big, flashy, and super-expensive free-agent signing, Willy Adames, is 12 percentage points worse than a league-average hitter and is the single worst defensive shortstop in the game (he had another error Wednesday.) They’re striking out nearly as often as the Chicago White Sox. Justin Verlander is yet to register a win as a Giant and is going on the shelf with a pectoral injury. On top of that, manager Bob Melvin has already made a rotation change that had nothing to do with injury.

And yet the Giants are stalking the pace of the league-ruining Dodgers in the National League West and have one of the best records in baseball, even with a loss to the Royals on Wednesday.

Yes, so many signs point to regression — and not the fun kind — for the Giants as the season progresses into the summer months.

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So how long can this continue? The better question might be “what Logan Webb will the Giants have for the remainder of the season?”

Because if the Giants have the Cy Young Award worthy-Webb we saw in his first 11 starts, San Francisco stands a chance of keeping this good thing going. A top-of-the-line starter like Webb is the foundation on which playoff teams are built.

But if the Webb we saw Wednesday is more of the norm moving forward, the Giants’ future looks far bleaker.

To be more specific, it looks a lot more like the last few years — .500ish.

The Giants really needed that elite Webb in the rubber match against the Royals ahead of a nine-game, three-city road trip. If his newfound strikeout prowess wasn’t going to show up, his ability to induce weak contact and work late into games would work.

But neither was on display. Webb pitched only four innings and surrendered 10 hits and six runs (three earned) while striking out only five and allowing 11 hard-hit balls.

Every pitcher — even the best — is entitled to a rough outing, but Webb picked a bad time for arguably his worst start of the campaign.

“You can’t put that on his shoulders to give us seven innings every time, but there is an expectation on a day like this, when we’re going to have several guys [in the bullpen] that aren’t going to be available, knowing that he’s on the mound and he wants to be out there for a significant period of time and can throw over well over 100 pitches,” Melvin said before the contest.

Webb did not live up to expectations.

The Royals weren’t just sitting on Webb’s sinker. They mashed that, yes — making contact with 100 percent of sinkers in the zone while averaging 96 miles per hour of exit velocity — but they were also able to square up his sweeper, which he couldn’t locate Wednesday, and his changeup, which he threw 30 percent of the time, a stark increase from recent contests.

And when he was chased after 77 pitches, it left the back-end of the bullpen to clean up the mess.

The Giants lost 8-4.

Bivens was also hit hard, giving up two runs in the fifth and extending the Royals lead to a six-run margin that put the game out of reach for even the scrappy, clutch Giants.

One game and one series does not define a team or a player, but Wednesday felt informative.

The Giants are now 10-9 in May, despite winning three games against the Rockies and sweeping the A’s last weekend.

It’s all very Zaidi-era coded: a steady and oftentimes aggravating brand of meh.

Is that a terrible surprise? The roster is, largely the same as last year’s. The power of friendship and good vibes the Giants started this season with can only last long — baseball is a grind and we’re all about to enter the thick of it.

The Giants’ upcoming road trip will be a litmus test for this team.

If there was ever a time to kick it back into that higher gear, it’s these nine upcoming games.

The Nationals are young and feisty, but beatable. The Tigers might have the best record in baseball, but the Giants should avoid their ace Tarik Skubal — arguably the best pitcher in baseball. Finally, the Marlins are better than people think, but that doesn’t mean they’re good.

This could be a real palate-cleanser of a trip for a team that needs to reassert itself as something to be recognized in the National League.

But these could also be the nine games that wipe out the final bits of the team’s early-season momentum, pushing the Giants into serious on-the-fly changes — uncharted territory for first-year director of baseball operations Buster Posey.

With the team’s rotation in flux, Webb might pull two starts on that trip. They can’t look like Wednesday’s.

Because now more than ever this season, the Giants are relying on their ace.

And if Webb has, indeed, leveled up his form, then the Giants can make the case that they, too, are a better team than in years past.

Even as the Giants arrow tilts down, this seems like the more likely outcome. Webb’s success this campaign wasn’t fools gold. it was the byproduct of a new approach — and a new pitch (a cutter) — against lefties, and that steady diet of weak contact the Giants could always rely on him to provide. (Save for Wednesday.)

But baseball is a cruel and fickle game. What if Webb’s early-season success proves to be short-lived? What if he’s lost the feel for that sweeper — a pitch he was throwing more than a quarter of the time going into Wednesday’s start — and teams are sitting on the sinker (.298 expected batting average against)?

That means another long, mediocre summer for the Giants.

And I don’t know about you, but I’m not interested in another one.

 

 

Double trouble for SF Giants: Logan Webb gets roughed up, Verlander goes to IL

SAN FRANCISCO — Ace pitcher Logan Webb took the brunt of the punishment Wednesday as the Giants fell 8-4 to the Kansas City Royals to conclude a nine-game homestand.

The Giants took another body shot after the game when it was revealed starting pitcher Justin Verlander will go on the injured list and miss at least two starts with a pectoral irritation.

Verlander was affected by the injury in his previous start against the Athletics, throwing four innings, topping out at 93 miles per hour and struggling with his location, walking five batters.

San Francisco Giants trainer Dave Groeschner watches Justin Verlander throws in the outfield, Wednesday morning, May 21, 2025, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The injury, Verlander said, was unelated to a nerve injury in his neck that cost him two months of the 2024 season.

“I think it’s something that hopefully is easy to deal with and I should be back pretty quickly,” Verlander said. “I think I was borderline being able to pitch, but they didn’t want me to go out and risk injury. They’re saying, just give yourself a blow. Take the 15 days and get this thing behind you.”

The Royals (28-23) took two of three in the series, with the Giants (29-21) missing a chance to go 10 games over .500 before going on a nine-game eastern swing to Washington, Detroit and Miami.

The Giants had solo home runs from Matt Chapman in the third inning, his ninth of the season, and Patrick Bailey in the fourth, his first, before a home crowd of 29,064. Heliot Ramos hit a two-run home run in the ninth, his ninth of the season, to account for the last two runs.

Longtime catcher Salvador Perez, playing first base for the Royals, hit a two-run home run in a three-run fourth inning that chased Webb.

Webb gave up a season-high 10 hits in his four innings, with his record falling to 5-4. The first eight hits off Webb were singles, before Bobby Witt Jr.’s run-scoring double and Perez’s two-run opposite field homer in the fourth. At that point, the Giants trailed 6-1.

It was Webb’s shortest outing of the season — he’s gone five innings three times — and it came on a day when the bullpen was depleted and manager Bob Melvin had to be hoping for at least seven innings. In Webb’s three previous starts he went seven innings twice and then eight innings against the Athletics. It was the first time since Sept. 13, 2024 that he failed to reach the fifth inning.

“I thought they had a good approach,” Webb said. “I think going in I knew it was going to be kind of a grindy game because that’s a team I don’t necessarily match up with.

“They’re pretty good against two-seams (fastballs), they don’t chase a ton, they make a lot of contact. I thought the momentum was good after yesterday then I go out there and give up three straight hits to start.”

Kansas City’s hit parade started immediately with a ground single by Maikel Garcia, another ground single by Witt and a run-scoring single by Vinnie Pasquantino before Webb recovered to strike out the next three hitters.

Michael Massey started things in the second with a one-out single, followed by another by No. 9 hitter Kyle Isbel. Garcia’s second single drove in the second run, with Witt lining to right for a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Webb righted himself with an 11-pitch scoreless third — even though he gave up two more singles — before the lead expanded in the fourth.

First baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. mishandled the ball on a grounder to first by Isbel to lead off the inning, followed by a would-be double play on a comebacker where Webb couldn’t get the ball out of his glove. Instead, he recorded only an out at first.

Pasquantino struck out before Perez homered to right for a 6-1 lead. All three runs were unearned due to the inning-opening error.

“He got some balls up,” Melvin said. “That’s a pretty good hitting team. I give them some credit. It was just kind of an off day for Logan.”

The Royals, after roughing up Webb, didn’t let up when Spencer Bivins entered to start the fifth. Drew Waters doubled, Freddy Fermin singled and Massey singled in a run. Following a sacrifice, Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 8-2.

Bivens threw two more scoreless innings, with Jordan Hicks pitching the eighth and Erik Miller the ninth.

It was a bullpen game for the Royals , who opened with Daniel Lynch IV (1 1/3 innings), followed by Jonathan Bowlan (1 1/3), Steve Cruz (two), Taylor Clarke (two), Angel Zerpa (one) and ex-A’s reliever Lucas Erceg (one). Bowlan (1-0) was credited with the win.

Rotational plans

Melvin wasn’t ready to say how the rotation will shake out minus Verlander. The Giants have already made one move, replacing Hicks with Hayden Birdsong. He reiterated the injury does not appear to be serious.

“I don’t think it’s really good bad,” Melvin said. “It didn’t feel horrible, but he wasn’t in position to make his next start. Looking at our bullpen usage and where we are it made sense to make sure he’s 100 percent the next time around.”

One possibility is left-hander Kyle Harrison, who has responded well to a relief role — similar to Birdsong — since being promoted from Triple-A Sacramento.

“I’m super excited about some of these young guys that will get opportunities,” Webb said. “I’m real excited about Harry.”

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Ramos on a tear

After going 2-for-5 with a home run, Ramos extended his on-base streak to 14 games and his hitting streak to seven games. Since April 26, Ramos is slashing .397/.467/.679 with 17 runs scored, four doubles and six homers.

Defensive lapses

With a throwing error by shortstop Willy Adames, the misplay by Wade and Webb’s issues getting the ball out of his glove, it was a rare sloppy game defensively for the Giants, who have prided themselves on being a solid defensive team.

“That’s not typically how we play,” Melvin said.

San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames can’t catch a wide throw from the catcher as Kansas City Royals’ Michael Massey steals 2nd base in the second inning, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman is greeted by Jung Ho Lee after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey is greeted by LaMonte Wade Jr. after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey tags out Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)Show Caption1 of 4San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames can’t catch a wide throw from the catcher as Kansas City Royals’ Michael Massey steals 2nd base in the second inning, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)Expand

 

 

 

 

A healthy Brock Purdy talks about his record-setting contract from 49ers

SANTA CLARA — Of course Brock Purdy did not make a grand entrance with dollar bills raining from the ceiling and E-40’s “Niner Gang” anthem bumping as walk-up music.

Instead, Purdy shuffled into Levi’s Stadium auditorium with a red 49ers’ hoodie complemented by black sweatpants and white sneakers from Adidas, his loyal brand since his 2022 arrival as the NFL Draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant.”

The face of the 49ers’ franchise, essentially from December 2022 through at least the next six seasons, also came with neatly parted hair and nary a whisker around his 25-year-old smile.

Purdy, minus any entourage or even the 49ers’ hierarchy, met the media Wednesday to humbly and graciously discuss the richest contract in team history, a five-year extension worth up to $265 million.

Brock Purdy speaks during a press conference about his new contract at Levi’s Stadium Auditorium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

“I always had faith. They started with a very respectable first offer, and from there the communication with my agent was great,” Purdy said. “There was no drama involved. All those moments added up to where I had faith it’d get done and these guys had my back.

“Last week we knew we were at the number and just had to get a couple of things figured out in the language of the contract. And it was a go.”

It was on the Olympic Club’s Lake Course when he learned about the much-anticipated, long-promised deal. His agent, Kyle Strongin, texted him the news, prompting Purdy to gladly accept general manager John Lynch’s FaceTime call.

Purdy was playing alongside his wife, Jenna, as well as center Jake Brendel and his wife, Zan. Brendel relayed in a Wednesday text message that both he and his quarterback were playing well “but once we got the good news, our minds were on other things.” They finished the round after turning to a scramble format to speed up their celebration.

Now Purdy can afford membership to the Olympic Club and any other trappings befitting the NFL’s seventh-highest paid quarterback. He can also splurge on a bass-fishing boat he’s been eyeing.

Pleasantries aside, are the 49ers going to write checks that Purdy’s body can’t cash?

His establishment as a franchise quarterback hasn’t come without injury issues, though he proclaimed himself 100 percent healthy midway through the 49ers’ offseason program, with organized team activities starting next week.

Brock Purdy speaks during a press conference about his new contract at Levi’s Stadium Auditorium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

Purdy has missed only two starts since assuming the 49ers’ quarterback throne Dec. 4, 2022, when he replaced an injured Jimmy Garoppolo (who replaced an injured Trey Lance months earlier in the home opener).

Not quite two years ago, Purdy was just starting to throw with a surgically repaired elbow. An InternalBrace procedure fast-tracked his return from an ulnar collateral ligament tear in the 2022 season’s NFC Championship Game at Philadelphia. His recovery went so well, he broke the 49ers’ single-season record with 4,280 passing yards and delivered them tantalizingly close to a Super Bowl triumph before falling in overtime to Kansas City.

Purdy added to his medical file last season, with a right-shoulder injury forcing him to skip the Nov. 24 loss at Green Bay. On Dec. 30 against the Lions in the 49ers’ home finale, he suffered a right-elbow “contusion with nerve inflammation,” thus benching him through the ensuing season finale at Arizona.

“My body feels great, really healthy and 100 percent,” Purdy said. “I’m just finding ways to get better with the new guys running routes and watching the film and applying that to the field.”

Two months ago, a wave of nearly 20 free agents left the 49ers in an exodus Purdy said he’s still trying to comprehend. Top-tier talent still surrounds him — running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, left tackle Trent Williams — but Purdy explained the stark contrast from a year ago.

“This year we didn’t make the playoffs and had time away to decompress and do some real reflection,” Purdy said. “Last year, there was the Super Bowl, then I got married, and it just went so fast, then boom, we were on to the next season.

“Man, I was itching to come back (a month ago), with the energy and mindset of guys,” Purdy added. “There’s a new kind of re-energized feeling around the facility.”

Brock Purdy speaks during a press conference about his new contract at Levi’s Stadium Auditorium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

Purdy’s durability and resiliency repeatedly have been tested since his first start on Dec. 11, 2022, when he sustained a rib fracture en route to a win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Purdy rallied up in the nick of time to make his first road start four days later in Seattle, and he won his first seven starts overall until that injury-marred loss at Philadelphia.

That remarkable 2023 season didn’t pass without more health issues. He was put in the NFL’s concussion protocol following the flight back from a Week 7 loss at Minnesota (he started the next game six days later, a loss to Cincinnati). Come December, Purdy found himself coping with his first nerve stinger to his neck and shoulder region, an injury that sidelined him for only a few snaps in his native Arizona but a similar injury forced him out of the ensuing game, a Christmas night loss to Baltimore.

Those NFL health hurdles are just part of one of the league’s most improbable success stories. Purdy acknowledged Wednesday he’s reflected on his path from third-string freshman quarterback at Perry High in Chandler, Ariz., to being the 49ers’ third-string rookie quarterback.

“There’s just been a process to this whole thing in life and that’s what I’m trying to wrap my head around,” Purdy said. “As a kid, you see all these guys on TV – Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady – and you want to be that one day. For me, what I’ve realized is it doesn’t happen overnight. You have to go through good, bad, tough times, the hard workouts, all the the things to get there, and how you respond to adversity. Man am I grateful to stay the course.

“This is just my story. I haven’t tried to live out anybody else’s story. It’s just been where God has had me and I’m all in on it,” Purdy added. “I’m extremely grateful to be in this position. It fires me up more than anything to get better and help this organization win.”

Included in the contract are $165 million in guarantees through the first three seasons. There also is a no-trade clause, to which he said: “It’s important, yes, but also that’s something my agent and I discussed with what other quarterbacks around the league have. But to me, was it a determining factor? No. Everything else the contract entails we’re extremely excited about.”

As for not re-setting the market or making more than the six quarterbacks ahead of him, Purdy insisted he wanted to work with the 49ers and surround himself with great players in a great locker room.

Purdy believes the 49ers are “happy” as well with a contract that was finalized Tuesday, and he thanked the team’s hierarchy: the York ownership, coach Kyle Shanahan, Lynch, and contract negotiators Paraag Marathe and Brian Hampton.

Said Purdy: “For them to have my back and believe in me to lead this franchise and organization, I really appreciate them all. So, with that being said, let’s go.”

NOTE: The 49ers finalized their preseason schedule: Aug. 9 vs. Denver, 5:30 p.m.; Aug. 16 at Las Vegas, 1 p.m.; Aug. 23 vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 5:30 p.m. All games will be broadcast on KPIX-5.

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Crews continue to remove undamaged batteries from Vistra building

Officials from Vistra gave an update on the Moss Landing battery fire recovery efforts during the weekly county briefing Wednesday, detailing the ongoing battery removal process and emphasizing safety and environmental protection.

Vistra is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the remaining “accessible batteries” from the Moss 300 building that burned down in January.  So far, this process only includes batteries that were not damaged by the fire. Crews are working to decharge them and plan to be able to transport the off the site this summer.

As for the damaged batteries, officials say they cannot begin to remove them until the building structure stabilization is complete, which will not happen until after the undamaged batteries are removed.

“Safety is our number one priority,” said David Yeager, Vistra director of project development. “We’ve been working over the last few months to design a battery removal procedure which prioritizes worker safety, community needs, environmental protection and battery stability.”

The Environmental Health Bureau revealed its new GIS dashboard Tuesday, aimed at improving transparency regarding air, water and soil quality data.

Initial community sampling results showed no immediate threats to public health or agriculture according to bureau officials, but continued testing is planned for previously inaccessible natural areas near the site of the January fire.

“Ultimately, the County of Monterey is the lead,” said Ric Encarnacion, director of the Environmental Health Bureau. “All of our state partners are consulting with us to ensure that we have the right resources, that we’re putting out the right information, and that all the interpretations are done right.”

Despite assurances from officials, concerns remain regarding elevated air and soil results reported in the aftermath of the battery fire. County officials reiterated that ongoing monitoring is critical and that affected residents should consult medical professionals with health concerns.

“All this information is for the sake of transparency,” Encarnacion said. “With regards to people’s health and their concerns, this is definitely our priority.”

Federal judge orders pretrial detention for man accused of stealing Kristi Noem’s purse

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal magistrate judge on Wednesday ordered the pretrial detention of a man charged with stealing a purse from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem while she dined at a restaurant under the protection of Secret Service agents.

U.S. Magistrate Matthew Sharbaugh concluded after a hearing that the suspect, Mario Bustamante Leiva, must remain jailed because he poses a flight risk.

Bustamante Leiva, a 49-year-old a native of Chile, pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud, robbery and aggravated identity theft.

Video captured Bustamante Leiva taking Noem’s purse while she dined at a restaurant in Washington, D.C., on April 20, investigators said. Bustamante Leiva also is charged with stealing purses from two other people at other restaurants earlier last month.

Prosecutors didn’t argue that Leiva poses any danger to the public. One of his attorneys, Ubong Akpan, said purse snatching is “not the most serious case that we have in the federal courts.”

“He didn’t even speak to anyone or touch a complaining witness,” she told the magistrate.

Sharbaugh said the charges are serious, but he acknowledged that the amount of money that Leiva is accused of stealing is relatively small compared to other federal fraud cases.

A Secret Service agent’s affidavit said Bustamante Leiva used Noem’s stolen credit cards to buy over $200 in food and alcohol at a different restaurant. But the indictment says that the amount of that unauthorized charge was just over $15.

The agent’s affidavit doesn’t name Noem, but the information in court records matches details of the theft from her. In a statement, Noem referred to the suspect as a “a career criminal who has been in our country illegally for years.”

Authorities said there was no evidence Noem was targeted because of her position.

A prosecutor, Benjamin Helfand, said Leiva has a history of skipping court dates for similar offenses, doesn’t have any ties to Washington and appears to be “almost transient.”

Akpan said Leiva has ties to New York and New Jersey. Akpan said a language barrier could explain why Leiva missed a recent court date after his arrest in a theft case in New York.

Police and federal agents arrested Bustamante Leiva on April 26. He and a second suspect, Cristian Montecino-Sananza, were indicted last Thursday. Montecino-Sananza isn’t charged in the count related to the theft of Noem’s purse. The affidavit said Bustamante Leiva appeared to be “acting in concert” with a second suspect during one of the other thefts.

Investigators said they identified Bustamante Leiva as a suspect in the thefts after he used a stolen gift card to make a purchase at a motel. He was shown a photo of Noem and told investigators that he didn’t know who she was, according to the affidavit. Investigators said they recovered Noem’s purse and wallet from his motel room.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an immigration detainer against Bustamante Leiva.

The case against him is assigned to U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who was nominated by Republican President Donald Trump.

$365M slated for solar projects in Puerto Rico will be diverted to power grid, sparking outcry

By DÁNICA COTO

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday that $365 million originally slated for solar projects in Puerto Rico will be diverted to improve the island’s crumbling power grid, sparking an outcry just days before the Atlantic hurricane season starts.

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The funds had been hanging in limbo in recent weeks, with the Department of Energy missing a recent deadline to finalize contracts worth $365 million that would see battery-operated solar systems installed at health clinics and public housing units in Puerto Rico.

The money had been set aside for that purpose under the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden.

“That money was spring loaded to flow now,” said Javier Rúa Jovet, public policy director for Puerto Rico’s Solar and Energy Storage Association.

Grantees that include the nonprofit Hispanic Federation had said the funds were urgently needed to provide stable power to people including those on dialysis as major outages continue to hit Puerto Rico.

The Department of Energy said in a statement that the money would now be used “to support technologies that improve system flexibility and response, power flow and control, component strength, supply security, and safety.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Energy told The Associated Press that the money would used for things including upgrading aging infrastructure, clearing vegetation from transmission lines and dispatching baseload generation units. The department said it has final authority over how the funds will be used, adding that the solar projects were not scheduled to be constructed until 2026.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement that redirecting the funds would ensure that “taxpayer dollars are used to strengthen access to affordable, reliable and secure power, benefiting more citizens as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González praised the move in a statement, saying it would help all 3.2 million residents on the island instead of “a few customers.”

“Puerto Rico is facing an energy emergency that requires we act now and deliver immediate solutions. Our communities, businesses, and healthcare facilities cannot afford to wait years, nor can we rely on piecemeal approaches with limited results,” she said.

González previously came under fire as her support for investing $1 billion of federal funds in solar projects across Puerto Rico appeared to fade.

A spokeswoman for the governor did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment and details.

A spokeswoman for Josué Colón, the island’s so-called energy czar, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Dwindling power generation

Rúa Jovet noted that there are currently at least $16 billion in unspent funds from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency meant to improve Puerto Rico’s electric grid, adding that the $365 million should be used for its original purpose.

“There is nothing faster and better than solar batteries,” he said. “We should all be moving as fast as we can on generation.”

Officials in Puerto Rico already have warned that there will be a shortage of generation this summer. In addition, the Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, and it is predicted to be above average, with nine anticipated hurricanes, four of them major.

Many in Puerto Rico worry that any storm, regardless of how small, could knock out the grid given its fragile state.

Puerto Rico already was hit with island-wide blackouts on Dec. 31 and April 16.

The diversion of funds come as González criticizes the work of Luma Energy, which oversees transmission and distribution of power on the island, and Genera PR, which oversees generation.

The two private companies were contracted by the previous administration as Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority struggled to restructure more than $9 billion in public debt, with mediation still stalled.

‘Elections have consequences’

Under Biden, there was a push for more renewable energy projects in Puerto Rico, where crews are still rebuild the power grid after Hurricane Maria hit in September 2017 as a powerful Category 4 storm. But the grid was already weak before the storm hit given a lack of maintenance and investment for decades.

Rúa Jovet said the Department of Energy’s decision is an ideological one supported by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Elections have consequences,” he said.

Of the $1 billion allocated for solar projects in Puerto Rico under Biden, $450 million already has been granted to install solar rooftop and batteries in thousands of homes located in rural areas or whose occupants have medical needs.

Overall, roughly 117,000 homes and businesses on the island currently have solar rooftops.

More than 60% of energy in Puerto Rico is generated by petroleum-fired power plants, 24% by natural gas, 8% by coal and 7% by renewables, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Fact or fiction: Did 49ers overpay Purdy? Is their “reset” a harbinger of a down 2025?

The serious bean counting is over with the 49ers reportedly coming to agreement on a three-year contract extension with linebacker Fred Warner.

Brock Purdy got the drama-free offseason he desired to the tune of a reported maximum of five years and $265 million. George Kittle received a new deal befitting his status as the best player in the NFL at his position and a future Hall of Famer.

Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams are healthy and got their deals in place last season. Deommodore Lenoir got his bag o’ cash last November, when the 49ers wisely locked him up before the price skyrocketed past the five years and maximum of $92 million he reportedly received.

There’s a new draft class that, on its face, looks intriguing, although you never truly know whether making a major contribution is realistic until the regular season is underway. Last year’s draft class was one of the few bright spots in a dismal 2024 season that ended in a 1-7 tailspin.

So all is right with the world. Or at least the 49ers’ corner of the world. The bummer summer of a year ago has receded into the background.

Time to separate fact from fiction with organized team activities looming on May 28.

Fact: Coach Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch were telling the truth

There’s a segment of the media and fan base that has looked askance at Shanahan ever since he said “Brock’s the real deal” in his rookie year. And wondered if Lynch was on the level when not only he but owner Jed York said they were arranging their roster in a way that would accommodate a Purdy mega-deal.

And why not? Purdy saved the jobs of Shanahan and Lynch after it became clear Trey Lance was in no way qualified to be the third pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Fiction: Purdy’s deal will hamstring the 49ers when it comes to a supporting cast

Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel pointed out on the Fox Sports studio show “The Facility” that Purdy’s deal accounts for 18.98 percent of the salary cap — 14th overall among quarterbacks. Unless you’re of the opinion that Purdy is not one of the best 14 quarterbacks in the NFL, that’s a good deal and leaves plenty of room for roster maneuverability.

There are still moves the 49ers can make should they desire. They’re not “cap-strapped,” which is mostly an excuse teams use when they don’t want to spend money.

Getty ImagesChristian McCaffrey (23) breaks loose against Buffalo before a PCL strain ended his season that night on Dec. 1.

Fact: Think Purdy is overpaid? Underpaid? Get over it

As long as Purdy’s contract doesn’t cause a ripple effect on the roster financially — and it doesn’t — the obsession with how much money he is making is a wasted exercise.

The answer to how much an athlete is worth is pretty basic. An athlete is worth whatever a team is willing to pay. End of story.

Fiction: Purdy’s no-trade clause ties him to the 49ers for the length of the deal

No-trade clauses doesn’t mean there can’t be a trade. All Purdy would have to do is say yes. It’s simply another negotiating chip. If things went south and the 49ers wanted to trade Purdy, he’d surely accept a deal as long as it put some more money in his pocket either through a deal or a restructured contract with a new team. Players don’t stay where they’re not wanted.

Fact: McCaffrey needs to be at peak form for Purdy to be at peak form

With apologies to second-year running back Isaac Guerendo and rookie Jordan James, one of the biggest keys to getting Purdy back to his 2022-23 form is a rebound season for McCaffrey.

McCaffrey’s season was torpedoed by a mysterious bilateral Achilles tendinitis condition that even he doesn’t seem to understand, and then a PCL strain when he was finally looking like himself. Maybe the 49ers throw McCaffrey the ball a little more and run him a little less, but there’s a decent chance he can return to form.

For all the time McCaffrey missed with the Carolina Panthers and recently with the 49ers, he’s avoided major surgical procedures. No Achilles or ACL tears. He’s the closest thing to a Steph Curry presence in terms of his sphere of influence on others, and Purdy benefits most of all.

Fiction: The 49ers roster purge has left them bereft of talent to recapture the NFC West

The 49ers were a 6-11 team a year ago and it wasn’t all because of injuries. The players they lost in almost every instance, whether via free agency or outright release, were expected losses.

The draft additions of Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins and D.J. West will be an upgrade over Leonard Floyd, Maliek Collins and whoever else the 49ers trotted out along with Nick Bosa.

Shanahan and Lynch are simply giving lip service to the dearly departed when they talk about all that they lost. They made calculated business decisions based on health outlook and performance. They wanted to get younger around Purdy, McCaffrey, Williams, Kittle, Bosa, Warner and Lenoir. That’s a seven-player foundation that is playoff worthy provided the coaching staff does its job developing players over the last two drafts.

Shanahan and Lynch reportedly made a last-ditch effort to bring back linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who probably did them a favor by taking a reset in Denver based on a cold analysis of his health history and his fearless and inspirational style of play. But inspiration doesn’t count for much on the injured list.

DraftKings Sportsbook even favors the 49ers over the Rams in the divisional race.

Fact: A last-place schedule is no guarantee of success

After the 2022 and 2023 seasons, how many teams do you think looked at their schedule in 2024 and figured the 49ers would be one of their toughest games?

Related Articles 49ers announce Purdy’s extension: ‘We had no idea how special he would become’ Kurtenbach: The 49ers learned their lesson and corrected last season’s biggest error Brent Jones catches overdue spot in 49ers’ Hall of Fame 49ers make All-Pro Fred Warner the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker 49ers mailbag: Financing a future Super Bowl run with Purdy extension, Warner up next

All of them.

Fact is, they weren’t tough on opponents, especially in the second half of the season.

Teams expected to be also-rans become surprise contenders every year at about the same rate as those expected to have championship aspirations are brought down by injuries, coaching or a roster that simply isn’t fit together properly.

You want to see a classic Shanahan sneer? Continually bring up the 49ers’ “easy” schedule. He knows better.

Fiction: The 49ers will move on from place kicker Jake Moody

If Moody comes back healthy and has a good training camp, he’ll retain the job over newly signed Greg Joseph. Joseph is a veteran fallback in case Moody implodes. It probably wasn’t the greatest of ideas to rush Moody back after just three games with a high ankle sprain on his kicking foot.

Horoscopes May 21, 2025: Rob Riggle, participate with kindness, not anger

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Tony Romo, 45; Rob Riggle, 55; Andie MacDowell, 67; Iggy Pop, 78.

Happy Birthday: Participate with kindness, not anger. Only change what’s necessary, and hold on to what’s meaningful. Trust your instincts and work privately on self-improvement and positively impacting those you encounter. Be the one to start a movement and make a difference. Let go of insecurities and replace them with strength, courage and willpower; much can and will be accomplished. Put your energy to good use. Your numbers are 4, 16, 21, 25, 34, 42, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep an open mind, and your ideas will flow and prospects flourish. Cold calls and positioning yourself for success will broaden your scope and encourage you to find new outlets for your skills. A change in how you earn and handle your money looks promising. 4 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Uncertainty is the enemy. When in doubt, ask questions, research and look for a way to revise issues to suit your needs. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, so don’t give up or give in; follow your heart and make things happen. A change of attitude will broaden your perception. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Listen carefully; the information you receive will reveal what’s possible and what isn’t. Go directly to the source when something appears questionable. It’s up to you to get your information straight before making decisions that affect your next move. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and do things differently. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Say no to excess and yes to a healthy lifestyle. Learn from your mistakes, and consider what’s important to you. Brainstorm and discover a unique way to use your talents. Finding your niche in a fast-paced world requires ingenuity. Don’t be afraid to try something new. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Push forward with thought, planning and curiosity. It’s never too late to change, upgrade or expand your circle of friends. Your thirst for knowledge will lead to serious considerations and adventure. Live in the moment, reach for the stars and choose simplicity over excess, and see what transpires. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s up to you to bring about change. Dig in; discipline and determination will help you reach your goal and leave a lasting impression on those you encounter. Opportunity knocks, but take nothing for granted or let others decide for you. Engage and control the outcome. Self-improvement is favored. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Shake things up and see what happens. Your ability to move mountains with your charm, connections and shows of appreciation will contribute to your success. Speak up and share your innovative ideas, and the input you receive will fortify your chance to show off your skills, insight and eligibility to succeed. 5 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Put emotions aside and focus on self-improvement and changes that make your life less chaotic. Network or take on a project or activity that challenges you to look and feel your best. Walk away from people and situations you have no control over, and concentrate on what’s in your best interest. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Think before you spend, and you’ll avoid falling short. Generosity won’t buy you what you want. Take better care of your home and physical well-being, and forego taking on more than you can handle. You’ll make the best impression if you finish what you start and live up to your promises. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Establish your position and what you want to achieve, and you will open communication with people who can offer insight into what you can and cannot do to achieve your goal. Knowledge and making key connections to those in a position to help will get you where you want to go. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Channel your energy wisely. The temptation to squander your time or cash will leave you at a loss. Consider how you can accomplish the most and situate yourself accordingly. Emotions will surface, leading to heated discussions if you aren’t careful. A practical attitude and concentrating on your goal will pay off. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Work alone. Letting others interrupt or talk you into unnecessary spending and add-ons will complicate your goals. Changing your surroundings will offer inspiration. Working at a cafe or library or improving your space will help you be more productive. Put personal and health care first. Please don’t overdo it or take a risk. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are instinctual, proactive and dedicated. You are resourceful and expressive.

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.

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Hayden Birdsong leads SF Giants to 3-2 win over Royals in return to rotation

SAN FRANCISCO — It’s almost Memorial Day, and Hayden Birdsong became only the sixth pitcher to start a game for the Giants when he toed the rubber at Oracle Park on Tuesday night. Just one other team, the Angels, lasted longer without deviating from their Opening Day rotation.

The 23-year-old right-hander never planned to work in relief but took the opportunity that was given to him out of spring training, pitched well enough to merit a promotion to the rotation and kept it up in his first start of the season, leading the way to a 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.

“I was a little antsy when I woke up this morning, like, ‘I’ve got to start today,’” Birdsong said. “It wasn’t like, ‘OK, I’ll go to the field and maybe I’ll throw.’ I was excited. After that first inning, I was like, ‘OK, this is what I need to do.’”

Birdsong has only himself to blame for the one unearned run he allowed but otherwise breezed through five innings, scattering five hits while striking out four and walking none, to earn the win. He had a 2.31 ERA in 11 relief appearances and lowered that mark to 1.91.

“His ERA’s lower than 2 now,” manager Bob Melvin said. “So, not really a surprise.”

Birdsong handed a 3-1 lead over to Randy Rodríguez, Kyle Harrison and Camilo Doval, who bridged the gap to the ninth inning, which Ryan Walker retired in order to earn his ninth save of the season with his third straight 1-2-3 outing.

Possessing four pitches and a 6-foot-4 frame, Birdsong has the build and the arsenal of a starting pitcher and had been one exclusively up until Melvin gave the fifth rotation spot to Landen Roupp. Asked if he believed he could stick in the rotation longterm, Birdsong said, “I plan on it.”

“He showed last year what he’s capable of doing in stretches,” Melvin said. “He was really good. We feel like he’s going to be a starter for the Giants for a long time.”

Birdsong started 16 games as a rookie last season, going 5-6 with a 4.75 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 72 innings, but hadn’t gone more than three innings out of the bullpen this season so was operating under a workload restriction.

When he made the decision to replace Jordan Hicks in the rotation, Melvin guessed Birdsong would have somewhere around 75 pitches in him and was comfortable enough allowing his pitch count to go slightly beyond that to record the final out of the fifth.

If there has been a knock on Birdsong, it has been his ability to command his arsenal. He averaged a walk more than every other inning as a rookie but landed 54 of his 80 pitches for strikes.

“I had more energy in the fourth and fifth than I thought I would,” Birdsong said. “It was ideal that I could have my pitch count and actually get through five and have a chance to get a win.”

Things went haywire for a brief moment in the third, after Drew Walters smacked a leadoff single.

The Giants had already caught one runner stealing, erasing Maikel Garcia on a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play in the second, and Birdsong attempted to hold Walters close to the bag. He picked over, but the ball hit the dirt in front of LaMonte Wade Jr. and skipped to the warning track.

Walters advanced to second, and Birdsong seemed flustered. He missed high and outside, then buried a pitch in the dirt that allowed Walters to make it to third. That put him in position to score the first run of the game when Birdsong, back in the zone, generated a can of corn from the next batter, Kyle Isbel.

“There were some misses from him today that were kind of big,” Melvin said. “But when he needs to make a pitch he does.”

The Royals pulled within one run in the seventh, making it a 3-2 game, when the speedy Bobby Witt Jr. beat out a dribbler to first base that allowed Hunter Renfroe to score from third. Renfroe led off the inning with a pinch-hit double off Harrison, and Witt won the footrace to the first base bag against Doval, but Patrick Bailey got him attempting to steal second and Doval got Vinnie Pasquantino looking to end the inning.

Birdsong punched out four batters, getting two to chase his changeup as it darted below the strike zone and two more to swing through fastballs in the upper 90s above the letters. The heater was Birdsong’s weapon of choice against Witt, last year’s runner-up for the American League MVP, winning their first battle with a 98.4 mph fastball at the top of the strike zone.

Witt went down swinging a second time chasing another high fastball, one from Rodríguez at 96.4 mph, to lead off the sixth. Rodríguez fired two more heaters past Salvador Pérez and Maikel Garcia to strike out the side, lowering his ERA to 0.87 and his punchout count to 30 with just two walks in 20⅔ innings.

Notable

With his former college teammate on the mound, Matt Chapman received a rare day off. He and Michael Lorenzen attended CSU Fullerton together in 2012 and 2013, when the Royals starter was still a two-way player (with J.D. Davis on the roster, as well).

It was the first time Chapman had been held out of the lineup in 49 games this season and only the ninth game he has missed since joining the Giants before last season. Melvin said it “wasn’t as hard as it usually is” to convince the ironman to take the day off. “I think he deserved it.”

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Chapman has faced Lorenzen seven times, reaching base three times on a pair of singles and a walk but gave way to Casey Schmitt, who lined an RBI single in the fourth inning to give the Giants their first lead of the game, 2-1, in his second game back from a 28-game absence with a strained oblique.

Schmitt drove in Willy Adames, who got the Giants on the board with a 387-foot triple into the right-center field alley that scored Heliot Ramos. Ramos reached to start the inning when Lorenzen ran a sinker too far inside and nicked his jersey.

The Giants chased Lorenzen the following inning, after Jung Hoo Lee extended the lead to 3-1 with an RBI single as the third straight batter to reach to begin the fifth. Lee singled home Mike Yastrzemski, who singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on an errant throw by the first baseman, Pasquantino.

Up next

RHP Logan Webb (5-3, 2.42) starts the 12:45 p.m. series finale, which also wraps up a nine-game homestand. The Giants are then off Thursday they get acclimated for an 11-day stay in the Eastern Time Zone with nine dates in Washington, D.C., (May 23-25), Detroit (May 26-28) and Miami (May 30-June 1).