Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 211

Traffic stop leads to firearms arrest in Monterey

A traffic stop turned into a firearms arrest in Monterey after police tracked down a teenage boy violating traffic laws.

Jeffrey Vandervort Sr, 44, was arrested on several charges including felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance according to a press release from the Monterey Police Department.

The investigation into the household started a few weeks ago when a Monterey police officer tried to make a traffic stop Jan. 23 after seeing someone riding an electric bike on the sidewalk near Alvarado Street and Munras Avenue. The rider didn’t pull over and fled on the e-bike, driving the wrong way against traffic on Del Monte Avenue at Alvarado Street and again on East Franklin and Tyler streets.

Police say at one point the rider nearly hit a pedestrian and drove through the Custom House Plaza.

Multiple other police officers attempted to turn on their lights or flag him down to stop, but the rider did not stop.

The Monterey Police Department started an investigation and said they identified the driver as a 15-year-old male and got a search warrant.

On Wednesday, Monterey police served the warrant at a residence in the 500-block of Casanova Avenue in Monterey. Police found what they believed to be the e-bike that fled from them weeks earlier and impounded it.

While serving the warrant, police found several unsecured firearms and determined that one of the people living at the house had a prior prison sentence and wasn’t allowed to have firearms.

A loaded handgun was found inside the closet of a child’s bedroom, and another handgun was unsecured in the hallway closet, according to police.

Vandervort was booked into the Monterey County Jail and his bail was set at $30,000.

Anger, chaos and confusion take hold as federal workers face mass layoffs

By JILL COLVIN, BRIAN WITTE, MIKE HOUSEHOLDER and MICHELLE L. PRICE, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Workers all over the country responded with anger and confusion Friday as they grappled with the Trump administration’s aggressive effort to shrink the size of the federal workforce by ordering agencies to lay off probationary employees who have yet to qualify for civil service protections.

While much of the administration’s attention was focused on disrupting bureaucracy in Washington, the broad-based effort to slash the government workforce was impacting a far wider swath of workers. As layoff notices began to go out agency by agency this week, federal employees from Michigan to Florida were left reeling from being told that their services were no longer needed.

Demonstrators rally in support of federal workers outside of the Department of Health and Human Services, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Many of those impacted say they had already accepted the administration’s deferred resignation offer, under which they were supposed to be paid until Sept. 30 if they agreed to quit. That left some wondering how many others who signed will nonetheless be fired.

“This has been slash and burn,” said Nicholas Detter, who had been working in Kansas as a natural resource specialist, helping farmers reduce soil and water erosion, until he was fired by email late Thursday night. He said there seemed to be little thought about how employees and the farmers and ranchers he helped would be impacted.

“None of this has been done thoughtfully or carefully,” he said.

The White House and Office of Personnel Management, which serves as a human resources department for the federal government, declined to say Friday how many probationary workers, who generally have less than a year on the job, have so far been dismissed. According to government data maintained by OPM, 220,000 workers had less than a year on the job as of March 2024.

Demonstrators rallying in support of federal workers spread Valentine’s Day themed messages for them outside of the Department of Health and Human Services, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

OMP has given agencies until 8 p.m. Tuesday to issue layoff notices, according to a person familiar with the plan who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The probationary layoffs are the latest salvo in the new administration’s sweeping efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce, which are being led by billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency. Trump, in an executive order Tuesday, told agency leaders to plan for “large-scale reductions” after their initial attempt to downsize the workforce — the voluntary buyout – was accepted by only 75,000 workers.

The layoffs begin

At the Department of Veterans Affairs, the firings have included researchers working on cancer treatment, opioid addiction, prosthetics and burn pit exposure, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, said Thursday.

Dozens were fired from the Education Department, including special education specialists and student aid officials, according to a union that represents agency workers.

Demonstrators rally in support of federal workers outside of the Department of Health and Human Services, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1,300 probationary employees — roughly one-tenth of the agency’s total workforce — are being forced out. The Atlanta-based agency’s leadership was notified of the decision Friday morning, according to a federal official who was at the meeting and was not authorized to discuss the orders and requested anonymity.

The new Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Friday that her agency had invited Musk’s DOGE team with “open arms” and that layoffs “will be forthcoming.”

“Clearly, it’s a new day,” Rollins said at the White House. “I think the American people spoke on November 5th, that they believe that government was too big.”

Workers impacted

Andrew Lennox, a 10-year Marine veteran, was part of a new supervisor training program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He said he received an email “out of the blue” Thursday evening informing him that he was being terminated.

“In order to help veterans, you just fired a veteran,” said Lennox, 35, a former USMC infantryman who was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

Demonstrators rally in support of federal workers outside of the Department of Health and Human Services, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Lennox had been working as an administrative officer at the VA since mid-December and said he “would love nothing more” than to keep working.

“This is my family, and I would like to do this forever,” he said.

In a post on its website, the VA announced the dismissal of more than 1,000 employees, saying the personnel moves “will save the department more than $98 million per year” and be better equipped to help vets.

“I was like: ‘What about this one?’” Lennox said

David Rice, a disabled Army paratrooper who has been on probation since joining the U.S. Department of Energy in September, also learned Thursday night that he had lost his job.

Rice, who has been working as a foreign affairs specialist on health matters relating to radiation exposure, said he’d been led to believe that his job would likely be safe. But on Thursday night, when he logged into his computer for a meeting with Japanese representatives, he saw an email saying he’d been fired.

“It’s just been chaos,” said Rice, 50, who had just bought a house in Melbourne, Florida, after he got the job.

Rice said he agrees with the Trump administration’s goal of making the government more efficient, but objects to the random, scattershot approach being taken.

Fired despite agreeing to the buyout

Some of those impacted had already signed the buyout agreements offered by the administration that were supposed to protect them from dismissal.

Detter, 25, who had worked for the Agriculture Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, said he had accepted the buyout because he knew that, as a probationary employee, he’d likely be first on the chopping block if he didn’t accept.

But late Thursday night, Detter received an email saying he had been laid off effective immediately, even though he had received “completely positive” evaluations during his time on the job.

He said the decision left him feeling “disrespected” and a “a little bit helpless.”

“You’re just kind of a pawn in a much bigger struggle that Elon Musk — in particular, I feel like — is his kind of battle he’s decided to take on to shrink the government,” Detter said.

Detter said two of the four employees in the Kansas county where he worked were laid off even though they were already struggling with their workload helping farmers manage their land to prevent soil erosion and water pollution, a program that was created in the wake of the 1930s Dust Bowl to help keep America’s farmland healthy and productive.

Challenging the administration

The National Treasury Employees Union and a group of other unions filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging what they call unlawful terminations.

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Terminating probationary employees who have gone through extensive training “will have a devastating impact on agency missions and government operations,” NTEU President Doreen Greenwald wrote in a Thursday letter to union members. She said many federal agencies are already “severely understaffed due to years of frozen or slashed budgets that prevented them from replacing retiring employees.”

Labor activists and government workers rallied outside the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington Friday morning, to protest the cuts.

“They’re picking us off, one by one,” said one federal contractor who has not yet lost her job, but who, like others, declined to identify herself for fear of reprisal. “First, it’s the probationary workers, then we’re next,” she said.

Will the cuts reduce the deficit?

The layoffs are unlikely to yield significant deficit savings. The government spends about $270 billion annually compensating civilian federal workers, according to the Congressional Budget Office, with about 60% going to workers at the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs.

Even if the government cut all of those workers, it would still run a deficit of over $1 trillion.

But Trump’s mass layoffs of federal workers could come back to bite him in the economic data. The monthly jobs reports could start to show a slowdown in hiring, if not turn negative at some point after the February numbers are released.

The last time the economy lost jobs was in December 2020, when the United States was still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Overall, it doesn’t seem that DOGE has managed to actually cut spending substantively yet – instead they’ve just created chaos,” said Martha Gimbel, executive director of the Budget Lab at Yale University. She noted that employers that rely on government grants and contracts would also show declines in hiring, if not worse.

“Given everything that is happening in the federal government, it is very plausible that job growth could turn negative at some point,” Gimbel said. “But it may take a few more reports for the impact to show up.”

It’s already showing up for many workers who’ve been fired, and some of them say the people they serve will soon feel the impact, too. Rice, the disabled paratrooper working on radiation exposure at the Department of Energy, said the work he was doing made a difference.

“We’re just out here trying to do something that we actually believe in, that matters,” he said. “I really believe that we’re actually out there helping people.”

Colvin and Price reported from New York, Witte from Annapolis, Maryland and Householder from Detroit. Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein, Josh Boak, Will Weissert and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington and Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report.

First responders make 12-hour rescue during atmospheric river

First responders prepare to carry a hypothermic hiker to an ambulance. (Photo courtesy of Monterey County Sheriff’s Office)

A hiker was rescued from a trip gone awry, during the atmospheric river that hit the Central Coast on Thursday.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team along with Cal Fire, Big Sur Fire, Urban Search and Rescue and California State Parks completed a nearly 12-hour rescue missing during “blustery weather conditions” after a hiker reported becoming hypothermic while hiking in Andrew Molera State Park east of Highway 1.

The Sheriff’s Office was notified around noon Thursday that someone had sent out an SOS signal from a GPS device, indicating that they needed help and were at risk of freezing.

The multi-group of departments searched for the person for about 8 miles, climbing about 4,000 feet.

The storm-driven rain made visibility challenging causing the search to last longer, and be more difficult, than expected. First responders found the person around 5:30 p.m. They requested a helicopter, but the adverse weather conditions forced the helicopter to turn around before reaching the rescuers.

First responders then carried the person back down the trail and transferred them to an ambulance at about midnight, 12 hours after the rescue began.

“Monterey County has one of the best Search and Rescue teams in the state of California who are always ready to go out and help those in need of rescuing in our backcountry,” said Sheriff Tina Nieto in a press release. “It is still important to remind our residents and guests to be aware of their abilities when setting out on hikes. Always carry proper supplies and utilize appropriate clothing and consider weather conditions. The weather conditions on Feb. 13, were not favorable for hiking, making this situation dangerous, not only for the public, but for our rescuers as well.”

(Photo courtesy of Monterey County Sheriff’s Office)

 

Alisal Union superintendent retiring at school year’s end

SALINAS – After six years leading the Alisal Union School District, Superintendent Jim Koenig is stepping down at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

Koenig, 73, was chosen to lead the 12-school district in 2019. He previously served as the district’s chief business official and later rose to associate superintendent of Business Services. He is retiring after a nearly 20-year career in education.

“This is a decision I’ve been thinking about for a while,” said Koenig. “I’ve been working for a long time and I still love my job … this is the best job I’ve ever had. It’s time to move onto the next phase of my life.

“It wasn’t a decision I made suddenly. It’s something I’ve been thinking about and talking to my wife about for the last three or four years,” he said.

Superintendent Jim Koenig is stepping down to retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year. (Photo courtesy of Alisal Union School District)

Recently 73, Koenig wants to prioritize his health going forward as well as spending more time with family. He’s planning on doing lots of traveling and catching up with loved ones in the next year.

Koenig stepped into his role shortly before COVID-19 forced schools to switch to remote learning.

“I’m really proud of how we dealt with the pandemic,” he said. “The district really changed directions overnight … I think we did a terrific job with it.”

An Army veteran, Koenig spent 28 years working mostly in field artillery after graduating from West Point. He also did a three-year stint at the Pentagon, where he worked on the Army staff during the first Gulf War.

“The experience that I had dealing with a myriad of different backgrounds and leading those people and being led by those people, just really stood me in good stead for what I’ve been doing since I left the service,” he said.

The board of trustees issued guidelines for the new superintendent search at its Dec. 10 meeting. The hope is to select Koenig’s successor by the end of March.

“They’re going to look at the things I’ve done and say ‘I wouldn’t do this … I would do this differently,’ that’s just the way it goes and I’ve accepted that, but they need to have a plan.” That plan should be rooted in improving student performance, said Koenig.

In 2022, 29% of fourth graders at the district met or exceeded state standards compared to 44% statewide. By the time those same students reached sixth grade, 37% met or exceeded standards, shrinking the gap with their peers to just over 8.4%.

“Student performance was really inhibited by the remote instruction during the pandemic,” explained Koenig. “We’ve been making steady progress … I’m a little bit disappointed that the pace of recovery has been slower than I would have liked, but we have made progress.”

This slow recovery is reflected statewide, with many districts trailing behind or just starting to return to pre-pandemic testing scores.

The district has made significant progress at its sites, with a focus on modernizing its schools.

In the past few years the district reconstructed Alisal Community and Fremont Elementary, its two oldest schools. Koenig and his colleagues campaigned door-to-door in 2016 to persuade voters to pass the $70 million Measure M which supported the reconstruction.

“Those have been two wonderful projects and I think the kids who go to Fremont and Alisal Community are going to appreciate those schools for years to come.”

He’s also proud of the completion of the Buckhorn Early Learning Center, which was first proposed in 2001 by the city of Salinas and other agencies. The district committed to building the center in 2015 and celebrated its ribbon cutting earlier this month. The center will serve 90 children with two dedicated classrooms for students with special needs.

“That was a much harder project than I thought it would be,” said Koenig. “It’s a terrific facility. It’s going to really be a boon to the preschool kids in East Salinas so I’m very happy about that.”

In his last few months at the district, Koenig said he will be busy and focused on making sure the district is set up for success in the next school year. That includes putting the budget together, recruiting teachers, planning summer school and the next school year calendar.

Koenig has high hopes for the direction of the district and the future of its students.

“I hope the district is producing the next Pelé, the next justice for the Supreme Court, the next president. I want our kids to just have unlimited opportunities,” he said.

“We talk to them about (how) they can do whatever they want to do, to set the bar high and then shoot for that. What I’m hoping for the district is that it will provide everything these kids need to achieve their dreams.”

Low number of monarch butterflies concerns experts

Conservationists are concerned that western monarch butterflies may be teetering on the brink of collapse as the latest Western Monarch Count reveals a devastating decline. The 28th annual survey, conducted by the Xerces Society on Jan. 30, recorded the second-lowest overwintering population since the count began in 1997, deepening fears for the species’ survival.

Despite the stark numbers, experts urge the public not to lose hope. “I really want to spread the word that we should not give up right now,” said Isis Howard, a conservation biologist with the Xerces Society. In 2020, the monarch butterfly population dropped to an alarming low, with fewer than 2,000 butterflies counted across California. However, the following year, their numbers rebounded to over 200,000, showing that recovery is possible. Still, their future depends on favorable conditions.

This winter’s mid-season count — conducted at 257 sites by 400 volunteers — tallied just 9,119 monarch butterflies, a stark contrast to the 1980s, when millions overwintered along the California coast. The all-time low was recorded in 2020, when fewer than 2,000 monarchs were counted statewide.

Some of the largest clusters this season were found in Santa Cruz County, with 1,406 monarchs at Lighthouse Field State Park, 1,400 at Natural Bridges State Park and 645 at Moran Lake. However, in Pacific Grove, a historically significant site, the count plummeted to just 228 monarchs from 15,960 recorded in 2022 according to the data by Xerces Society. In January 2024, volunteers discovered several hundred dead and dying monarch butterflies near the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary, a key overwintering site for the species.

Why are monarchs in decline?

The western monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is one of North America’s most iconic insects, known for its extraordinary migration from summer breeding grounds to overwintering sites in California and Mexico. During the spring and summer, the adult monarchs spend their 2–5 week lifespan mating and slurping the nectar on flowers, with females searching for milkweed upon which to lay their eggs. Over 3-5 generations of western monarchs are produced during this time, with the final fall generation migrating to overwintering sites in Mexico and California where they live for 6-9 months.

Once numbering in the millions, western monarch populations have declined by over 95% in California and 80% in Mexico, according to the Xerces Society. Over the past 40 years, their numbers have fluctuated wildly — from a few hundred thousand to a few thousand — making long-term trends difficult to predict.

Experts cite climate change, habitat loss, and pesticide use as the primary drivers of decline. However, pinpointing the exact causes of year-to-year fluctuations remains a challenge.

In January 2024, volunteers found several hundred dead and dying butterflies near the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary. According to the Xerces Society, tests confirmed that monarchs in Pacific Grove were exposed to multiple pesticides, including lethal levels of man-made pyrethroid insecticides, likely from an unreported local source.

“The problem is that we do not know what the numbers mean,” said Arthur Shapiro, professor emeritus of evolution and ecology at UC Davis. Scientists also don’t fully understand where they’re wintering and breeding, which may be shifting due to climate change.

Shapiro suspects that changes in seasonal temperature and daylight alignment — especially nighttime temperatures — are disrupting monarchs’ migration patterns.

How you can help

In 2020, the monarch population fell to an all-time low, but the following year, numbers rebounded to over 200,000, proving that recovery is possible. However, scientists emphasize that their future depends on widespread conservation efforts.

“As of December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing monarchs as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act,” said Emma Pelton, a senior conservation biologist at Xerces. “The good news is there are a lot of ways for people to help monarch conservation.”

According to the Xerces Society, scientists attribute the decline of western monarch butterflies to factors such as widespread pesticide use and the loss of both breeding and overwintering habitats. By identifying local species of milkweed and nectar plants, and sharing this information with friends, people can contribute to monarch conservation. Joining community science projects like the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper and making donations to the Xerces Society are other effective ways to help. Individuals can also adopt a local overwintering site, volunteer, and advocate for its protection.

Despite their recent struggles, monarchs have proven resilient. Given the right conditions, they can rebound. However, action is needed now. “People should not give up, because these species are bouncing around in uncharted territory, but we really need all hands on deck,” Howard said. “One of the special things about monarchs is that everyone has a role to play in monarch conservation.”

Best mobile hot spot

Which mobile hot spot is best?

Adventure is out there, but Wi-Fi often isn’t. If you want to explore the great outdoors while still maintaining your blog or keeping up with new episode releases, a mobile hot spot may be the right fit for you. Unlike the standard data connection provided by your smartphone, hot spots provide a Wi-Fi connection for multiple devices. The hot spot option on your smartphone does this too, but dedicated hot spot devices produce internet for your household even when your phone is dead or you’re away from home. Both cellphone hot spots and mobile hot spot devices run off data from your cellphone carrier.

What to know before you buy a mobile hot spotWireless carrier

Before you purchase a hot spot, consider what wireless carrier you already use. Most mobile hot spots utilize GSM networks, like AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon and Sprint use CDMA networks, so if those are your carriers, be sure your hot spot device is compatible.

Users and devices

Most hot spots support around five devices at a time. If you have a big family or many devices that need to access the internet simultaneously, you can find models that can support up to 15 devices, but you’ll pay more for it. Consider how many devices you expect to use with your hot spot and buy one that can keep up.

What to look for in a quality hot spotPay as you go

Nearly all carriers have month-to-month data plans that don’t require a contract. If you’re not sure how often you will need your hot spot or for how long, these plans may be a good option for you. If you do choose to go this route, make sure both your device and carrier support it.

USB 3.0

Some mobile hot spots have USB ports, which allow you to plug your laptop or another device into the hot spot directly instead of connecting over Wi-Fi. Another benefit to USB 3.0 is it ensures high-speed charging for your hot spot device.

LTE speeds

Most quality networks run off LTE speeds, which are the fastest commonly available. But some old devices run off 3G, which would be painfully slow for your internet needs. Double-check that your device runs off LTE before making a purchase.

How much you can expect to spend on a hot spot

Mobile hot spots range from $50-$200, depending on the carrier and coverage. You can get what you need for a simple hot spot from AT&T or T-Mobile for $50-$100. Verizon and Sprint hot spots, which have a few more bells and whistles, are usually $100-$150. You’ll be spending $200 or more if you need a global hot spot device, meaning it works in any country. Now, you will still need to ensure that the data plan you’re using works internationally as well, but a global hot spot is worth the money for world travelers.

Mobile hot spot FAQQ. Can I use a mobile hot spot as my home’s primary internet connection?

A. In short, sort of. If you only plan to connect a few devices, then a mobile hot spot is a great option, but these devices can’t run a whole home-worth of the internet. It works well as a primary internet source for full-time travelers, who probably don’t have quite as many devices that need internet anyway.

Q. Will I need to buy a new SIM card for my mobile hot spot?

A. More than likely. Subscriber Identity Module cards used to be used only for some carriers and devices, but now they’re necessary for any mobile device reliant on a carrier data plan. Though you will need to purchase a SIM card for your hot spot directly from your wireless provider to ensure connection, that buy will only cost you $20 or so.

Q. Will a mobile hot spot get better reception than my smartphone?

A. Probably not. Mobile hot spot devices draw from the same towers as your cellphone, so your reception will typically be the same on both. If a superior connection is vital for your needs, you can purchase a booster to increase your reception.

What’s the best mobile hot spot to buy?Top mobile hot spot

Netgear Nighthawk M1 4G LTE

What you need to know: This high-quality hot spot is reliable, versatile and fast.

What you’ll love: Equipped with high-speed 4G LTE, connects up to 20 devices, colorful LCD, 20 hours of battery life, USB ports and Ethernet ports, this hot spot device optimized for AT&T and T-Mobile has all the bells and whistles.

What you should consider: It is not the cheapest option, and the display isn’t a touch screen.

Top mobile hot spot for the money

GlocalMe G4 Pro 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

What you need to know: For travelers, this mobile hot spot will provide the fastest and most reliable connection in more than 140 countries.

What you’ll love: It utilizes a 4G LTE connection to supply internet for up to 10 smart devices at once and has a convenient large touch screen and 1.1 GB global data.

What you should consider: Some users reported that the battery life could be improved.

Worth checking out

RoamWi-Fi R10 Portable 4G Mobile Hotspot

What you need to know: Great for travel, this global mobile hot spot offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands.

What you’ll love: Working in more than 160 countries, this device uses a GSM network and has a push-button setup. It comes with several U.S. data plans and 1 GB of global data and uses up to five simultaneous connections.

What you should consider: Somewhat limited, it cannot get better than 4G/LTE and 150Mbps.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Best dive watch

Which dive watch is best?

Are you a scuba diver looking for a watch that can keep up with your underwater adventures? It needs to be not only reliable but also equipped with the features and functions you need for your next excursion.

Dive watches boast water resistance up to 100 meters. As part of their rugged design, you’ll find most styles feature secure wristbands as well as crack- or scratch-resistant watch crystals. To facilitate use in low-light conditions, dive watches are also equipped with backlit faces, luminescent hands, and other illumination details.

What to know before you buy a dive watchWater resistance

To be classified as a dive watch, the watch must be water-resistant to a depth rating of at least 100 meters (300 feet). With that said, that’s the bare minimum, and most divers gravitate to dive watches with a depth rating of 200 to 300 meters. Many experienced divers invest in performance dive watches, as they offer depth ratings up to 500 meters.

Band and casing material

Considering dive watches are exposed to extreme conditions and subjected to rugged wear, it comes as no surprise that they’re designed to last. Their watch bands are made of lightweight yet durable materials such as stainless steel, silicone, rubber, resin, or sometimes titanium. The casings are usually made of stainless steel or titanium, both of which are corrosion-resistant.

What to look for in a quality dive watchRotating bezel

Dive watches are equipped with rotating bezels, as they help you keep track of your dive time. Simply rotate them to set your marker over the minute you begin the dive. If you’re concerned about the bezel shifting during underwater activity, rest assured that they’re unidirectional for this reason.

Screw-down crown

The crown is a tiny knob used to wind the watch, change the time, or set the date. The vast majority of dive watches have a screw-down or screw-in crown, as they prevent water from seeping inside the watch.

Illumination details

It’s not unusual to dive in low-light conditions, which is why most dive watches have luminescent digits and hands. Some dive watches also have backlit watch faces, which can be set to glow indefinitely or are turned on with the press of a button. There are also some dive watches that have reflective detail around the bezel or band.

Depth gauge

Select watches help you track your dives with a depth gauge. While you’ll end up spending more on this feature, keep in mind the investment is also one in convenience. After all, if your watch doesn’t have a depth gauge, you’ll need to carry a separate gauge — when you’re trying to travel with as few items as possible.

How much you can expect to spend on a dive watch

Dive watches with a depth rating of 100 meters or less typically cost between $20-$50. Styles with a depth rating of 200-300 meters, many of which are stainless steel, cost between $100-$500. High-end styles featuring a depth rating of 500 meters can cost up to $1,500.

Dive watch FAQAre there any smart dive watches?

A. There are, however given their technology and advanced design, you’ll spend as much as $2,000 on them. Given their high prices, many divers who invest in smart dive watches often get them covered under their homeowners or renters insurance policies.

Can my dive watch be repaired if it breaks?

A. It depends on the nature of the damage. Contact the manufacturer to see what they’re capable of fixing at the corporate level with their watchmakers. To expedite repairs, some manufacturers will defer you to an approved local vendor.

What’s the best dive watch to buy?Top dive watch

PHOIBOS Automatic Men’s 300m Wave Master PY010R Diver Watch

What you need to know: This beautiful, high-end dive watch has an antireflective coating and is perfect for snorkeling or scuba diving.

What you’ll love: It uses Swiss quartz movements, so it’s very precise. It works very well, even in harsh weather conditions. It’s also very durable and has a stainless steel wristband.

What you should consider: It’s a bit bulky.

Top dive watch for the money

Casio MDV106 Series | Unisex Analog Watch

What you need to know: Despite being practical and affordable, this watch features a high-end design.

What you’ll love: It’s water-resistant to 656 feet. The black stainless steel case and resin band are durable.

What you should consider: It can feel a bit heavy or cumbersome during underwater activity.

Worth checking out

Invicta Men’s Pro Diver Collection Chronograph Watch

What you need to know: It has a rugged design with features geared toward intense aquatic activities.

What you’ll love: This watch is water-resistant to 200 feet. It has a classy design and is scratch-resistant.

What you should consider: There’s only one color option. It doesn’t have as many features as other dive watches.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Horoscopes Feb. 14, 2025: Simon Pegg, walk with a swagger and command attention

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Drew Bledsoe, 53; Simon Pegg, 55; Meg Tilly, 65; Terry Gross, 74.

Happy Birthday: Move confidently; walk with a swagger and command attention. Be objective, dissect every bit of information you receive and propose a plan regardless of who is with you. Change begins with you, but first, establish what you need to maintain equilibrium. You can make the most of what you already have, so save yourself the agony that comes with debt. Your numbers are 6, 17, 22, 28, 30, 36, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Make unique plans for two or participate in an event geared toward mingling with people of interest. Refuse to let anger or jealousy put you in an awkward position. If you are fun, everyone will want to engage with you. Show interest in what others say or do and see what transpires. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Set a course and refuse to feel you must veer off track to please others. Follow your heart, share your feelings and confidently execute your plans. Put your time, energy and expertise into something that can help you advance or network with people who are well-connected and can help you fine-tune your prospects. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You want to simplify your life, not make it spin out of control. Do whatever it takes to keep the peace without letting anyone take advantage of you. Getting together with an old friend will bring back memories and feelings buried for a long time. Engage in heartfelt conversations. 2 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Skip forward and chase your dreams from morning to night. A warm and welcoming approach to dealing with others will encourage whoever you deal with to let down their guard and be open to you regarding feelings and intentions. Your high energy and enthusiasm will match the same fever pitch as someone who challenges you. 4 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Make learning a priority. Scour the internet for information to help you gain ground. Put your energy, skills and experience to use as you embark on a new adventure. Love is in the stars. Let someone you care about know how much; it will brighten your day. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Look around you, be critical and change whatever is holding you back. Consider what makes you happy and what it will take to sprinkle joy into your everyday routine. Life is about choices, and although you may not reach your expectations in one motion, you can make incremental improvements over time. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Look at the big picture. Don’t limit yourself or what you can do. Whether it’s a personal or professional goal you are trying to achieve, set yourself up for success. Reach out to experts, and consider making a move that stations you closer to the people, places or opportunities you need to access. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Get in the game and have some fun. Socializing, participating and stretching your mind will encourage you to explore an exciting adventure. An aggressive attitude will help you reach your goal when you engage in challenging activities that satisfy you mentally, physically and emotionally. Make romance and love a priority. 4 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Put your emotions on the back burner and focus on how best to spend your time, money and talents. Pick up the pace and delve into physical fitness, smart living and opportunities leading to a better lifestyle and greater prosperity. It’s up to you to make things happen. 2 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Update essential documents, investments and promises. Discuss plans with those affected by your choices, and bring about worthwhile changes that help you fulfill your obligations and make you feel good about what you achieve and contribute. Base your decisions on what’s necessary, not desired, and follow through. 5 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put your feelings aside and look at the real issues. Communication will help you sort through your concerns and encourage those you are dealing with to meet you halfway. If you are willing to try, you will make an impression and win approval. Focus on your goal and forge ahead. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Listen carefully. Keeping your feelings and intentions private is essential until you better understand how others will react. Focus more on putting things in place and mapping out a comfortable path. Consider what makes you happy and shift your attention to whatever entertains and stimulates your mind. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are clever, proactive and unpredictable. You are friendly and helpful.

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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Warriors hold on to head into All-Star break with win over Rockets

A night after Steve Kerr admitted he should have sent double-teams at Kyrie Irving sooner, the Warriors had a much more pointed game plan to beat Houston.

Golden State dared Houston to shoot jumpers, mixing in zones and sagging off their shooters to negate the young Rockets’ elite athletes. They prevented the Rockets from getting in transition by muscling their way to the foul line and taking care of the ball. And they kept Houston from dominating the boards by committing to gang rebounding.

The strategy was sound, and built a 24-point lead. Then, when their big advantage evaporated as their tank emptied, the Warriors had just enough to close out the Rockets.

Brandin Podziemski (18 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals) and Moses Moody (10 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks) set the tone and the Warriors’ veterans came up big down the stretch in a 105-98 victory.

Steph Curry dropped 27 points and the Warriors (28-27) held the Rockets under 100 points and to below 40% shooting. They can rest their heavy legs at home for the All-Star break, which is coming to the Bay Area for the first time since 2000.

To cap a six-game road trip, the Warriors arrived in Houston at 3 a.m. for the second game of a back-to-back. Despite the quick turnaround after a deflating loss to the short-handed Mavericks, the Warriors had all their healthy players available.

The Warriors shook up their starting lineup, replacing Buddy Hield — who’s had one of the worst shooting seasons of his career — with Podziemski. Podziemski started alongside Curry, Moody, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green in a small-ball lineup.

Golden State’s 33rd distinct starting-five matches Philadelphia for the league-high, an indicator of how much searching Kerr has done all year.

It was the first time all five starters scored in double figures this season. But no matter who Kerr tapped to start, the rest disadvantage was always going to send the Warriors on an uphill climb in Houston. One of the oldest teams in the league, Golden State needed its young players — and their fresher legs — to step up.

Moody answered the call. He swatted two shots, took a charge on Alperen Sengun and scored six quick points to prevent the Warriors from sleepwalking through the first quarter. Podziemski also snared a pick-six steal and scored 14 quick points, lifting his veterans on both ends.

The Warriors, knowing Houston is a weak outside shooting team, stifled the Rockets with zone defense and took an early 38-22 lead.

Moody tipped home a missed 3, reaching double-digit points for the 13th time in his last 15 games. His and Podziemski’s energy jolted Golden State and bided time for Curry to find his legs. He dropped 12 points in the second quarter — including a four-point play — helping the Warriors to a 14-point halftime edge.

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Butler hit his first 3-pointer as a Warrior and Curry matched him to give the Warriors their biggest advantage of the night, 74-53.

With that 21-point lead, Moody appeared to injure his shoulder on a drive, but still dove on the floor to pick up a loose ball. It was the type of energy required to overcome the adverse circumstances.

Still, the Warriors started to leak oil to end the third quarter. Fatigue appeared to set in. Houston closed on a 13-1 run in the last four minutes, trimming a 24 point lead in half.

Houston finally broke through on the glass and took advantage of Golden State’s bench units. Kerr called a timeout three minutes into the fourth quarter with a seven-point lead. Nine minutes is a lot of time to run out the clock. You can’t play prevent defense in basketball.

Curry drilled a 3 to stem a Houston surge with seven minutes left and Podziemski euro-stepped his way into the lane for a tough bucket. The Warriors couldn’t rebound out of their zone defense, but clung to a lead nevertheless.

Curry set a back-screen for Butler, freeing the new Warrior for a wide open bucket by leveraging his gravity to put Golden State back up nine. Podziemski snatched a steal and Green, sensing the moment, nailed a 3 from above the break.

The young guys’ fresh legs built the lead, and the veterans brought it home.

Kevin Durant excited to return Bay for All-Star Game weeks after Warriors’ trade buzz fell flat

By JANIE McCAULEY

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Before making his way to the bus after games, Kevin Durant always takes a few extra moments to say his goodbyes to all the special familiar faces and old friends as he leaves San Francisco again.

The Phoenix star cherishes every return visit to Chase Center, and playing in the All-Star Game this weekend in front of so many Bay Area fans who still love and appreciate all he accomplished for the Warriors will mean the world.

“For sure, this is my home, I got murals up in the concourse, whatcha mean?” Durant said with a smile. “I’ve been saying this since I left here, this is always going to be a part of my DNA, this is in my blood. Finally somebody’s listening to me but it always felt like home. Since I left here it’s always been that.”

Durant, though, realizes there may be some Warriors fans who resent that he didn’t want to be traded back to Golden State before the recent NBA trade deadline. He issued a plea to those folks.

“For a couple of days, I know it’s going to be hard, but for a couple of days, you can forget about how I left the Warriors or how I came to the Warriors or me not wanting to go back to the Warriors and just appreciate the weekend,” Durant said. “Appreciate the players that’s there and hopefully people can get off that (expletive) and just appreciate basketball.”

Sure, Durant wishes Suns teammate Devin Booker had been selected to join him in San Francisco for the All-Star festivities in his 15th career selection.

Fresh off reaching 30,000 career points Tuesday night, the 36-year-old Durant will have plenty of reasons to celebrate. He became the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000, joining LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain. Julius Erving also hit the mark when combining his points scored in the NBA and ABA.

“He’s probably the most incredible shot maker I’ve ever been around,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said after Durant’s milestone. “Gone against him a lot of nights, too, so it’s nice to be on his side. The way he can rise up and shoot over people, his height, his ballhandling, he’s just, if not the most incredible shot maker, I’m not sure who is. It’s just great to be around him every day.”

And Durant certainly will find a way to dazzle the crowd. He spent some of the best days of his career playing for these passionate fans. Durant owns a 3-2 record at Chase Center, where he is averaging 22.4 points and shooting 39.8%. His scoring high was 31 points in a 109-105 loss Dec. 28.

His most recent visit, Jan. 31, featured a good-natured and entertaining back-and-forth of trash talk with former Seattle SuperSonics star Gary Payton. Payton was in a seat just beyond courtside opposite Golden State’s bench while watching son Gary Payton II.

They gestured, they debated about their respective NBA eras and scoring abilities — to which GP reminded KD, “I was a point guard, you’re a scorer.”

“I was like, ‘check my footage, man, I do it all,’ ” Durant said of his retort.

It all started last summer with Team USA when Durant told Payton he was too small to guard the two-time Finals MVP.

“It’s always good when I run into an older player, especially the 90s,” Durant said. “If you play in the 90s they feel like that’s the golden years of the NBA so I try to let them know, especially GP, I try to let them know what it would have been like if you’d have been on the court with me because they tend to talk down on the mentality of our era of players. GP is a great sport about it, one of my favorite players, somebody I look up to and have major respect for.”

These are the kinds of light-hearted moments Durant counts on to help him get through the tougher stretches, such as constant speculation on whether Phoenix would trade him ahead of last week’s deadline.

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Even without Payton there to keep things interesting, Durant will see plenty of people in the seats still deeply grateful for all the veteran forward helped Golden State accomplish.

He spent three seasons on the Warriors from 2016 through ’19 and guided them to a pair of championships starring alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

Coach Steve Kerr had the chance to coach Curry, Durant and the U.S. team to an Olympic gold medal last summer in Paris — a special run for all of them being back together.

“Just his ability to get his shot off against any defense, any defender, nobody’s ever had that kind of skill at that size,” Kerr said of Durant. “So, incredibly unique package and I think he loves to play basketball more than anything, he just loves the game. He works so hard at it. That’s what I enjoyed the most when we had him here was watching him after practice just go through his routine, and it’s mesmerizing.”

So as KD comes back through town this time, count on him soaking it all in with the world watching.

Albeit brief reunions, they are meaningful and memorable nonetheless — just like his brash exchange with Payton.

“Hell yeah it’s going to be a homecoming,” Durant said. “It’s like I’m coming back home. Three years here, it was a huge part of my life, so yeah, it’s a homecoming.”