Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 231

PHOTO: Cloudy skies expected for the weekend

High School boys’ basketball: Carmel exhibiting patience in its development

CARMEL – You don’t replace a 6-foot-6, 285-pound double-double machine, who was also the league’s Most Valuable Player. You just don’t.

Losing three-time all-league basketball standout Jackson Lloyd a year early after he enrolled in January at the University of Alabama on a football scholarship was a blow – but not unexpected for Carmel High.

Neither was the potential of seven other players arriving late because of an extended football season that cost them six weeks of basketball. Yet, four games into the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Gabilan Division season and the Padres have a share of first place.

“We had a rotating group of guys over the summer, but not a full commitment for various reasons,” Carmel coach Kurt Grahl said. “It was great for others getting better at basketball. But we weren’t as cohesive as a group in this system.”

Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem when you have the entire month of November to install an attack and build chemistry. Except seven players did not show up until Dec. 15.

As a result, implementing a new system has been slow due to half of Grahl’s squad helping the school’s football program to a 15-0 season and a state title.

“We had some practices in November where we had eight guys, four from the varsity and four from the JVs,” Grahl said. “And those JV kids were not starters. There was a disparity of talent. It was challenging.”

Whether it was by design or not, the defending Gabilan Division co-champions played just two games before the cavalry arrived in mid-December — a corps of players that were a part of last year’s 25-win team that reached the State Division III tournament.

And while most have had less than 10 practices to get reacquainted with basketball, the rhythm from the reigning Central Coast Section Division IV champions is starting to come into focus.

The Padres have won three straight games since falling to Oakwood of Morgan Hill and occupy a share of first place in the Gabilan Division with three other teams — two of which they have beaten — going into Friday’s battle with Alisal.

“We knew what we had,” Grahl said. “We understood it was a process, and we can’t speed up the process. We had to temper our expectations. We’ve had maybe three healthy practices.”

The Padres still aren’t fully intact. Ashton Rees, the Herald’s MVP on offense in football, has not been cleared to return yet because of a toe injury.

Grahl estimates that all-league guard Simeon Brown has had five practices, as he was slow to heal from a 15-week football season.

“Everyone assumed when football was over that all the football guys rolled out there Monday,” Grahl said. “That was not the case. We had guys that were injured and needed rest.”

And there was also the restructuring of the offense with the loss of Lloyd, whose presence in the paint was vital in Carmel’s run to a league and section title.

“We as a staff recognized early, we’re not going to try and replace who Jackson is and what he does,” Grahl said. “But we still have talent. It’s a different skill set of talents. We had to change and mold what we do to what those talents are.”

What the Padres have become is a more athletic and explosive unit on the court, ignited by three-year starting guard Warren Blut, the lone non-football player in the starting lineup.

Blut, who produced a pair of 30-plus-point games early in the season, is more of a distributor who runs the Padres’ offense, with an understanding of when he needs to score.

“I do feel like a leader of the team,” Blut said. “I can score if needed. But that’s not my primary role. My focus is getting more players involved, running our offense efficiently.”

That is still a work in progress as Grahl has purposely been slow in integrating his football crew onto the court in terms of minutes.

“The football guys have ridden a wave for almost six months,” Grahl said. “Two days later, they have a basketball coach barking at them. We don’t need to learn it all at once.”

Grahl’s philosophy and new look offense seems to be picking up steam, as Carmel is 7-2 overall with the core intact, avenging one of its losses to Aptos.

“We’re still improving,” Blut said. “But we’re much better than we were last week. Our goal is to be peaking for the playoffs. We want to be playing our best basketball in February.”

With Brown and Hudson Rutherford beginning to find their rhythm, the Padres have seen as many as four different players produce double digits in the scoring column.

Brown is averaging 16 points a game in the Gabilan Division, including a season-high 23 in a win over Pacific Grove. Rutherford is coming off a 17-point effort against Monterey.

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise since arriving has been the effort of 6-foot-4 Brooklyn Ashe, another football player, who worked on his game on the hardwood over the summer.

“What I take pride in is seeing a kid no one knows, who’s working on fundamentals,” Grahl said. “That’s what Brooklyn did last year. He’s given us a presence in the paint.”

Roughly 80 pounds lighter than Lloyd, Ashe isn’t being asked to be his replacement. Yet, the senior has recorded three double-doubles, with 10 or more rebounds in six games.

“We don’t have the same rim protection,” Blut said. “But Brooklyn has really stepped up. And we got other guys willing to work hard that are key pieces to this team that no one knows about.”

Two of them include Ty Arnold and Dylan Hinds – two more football players – who come off the bench and provide quality minutes without the Padres skipping a beat.

“Ty and Dylan have been outstanding on defense,” said Grahl, who has guided Carmel to three CCS titles. “Both are playing a lot of minutes for us. They bring defensive toughness.”

The biggest challenge in replacing Lloyd were the double teams he commanded. That in turn opened up the perimeter. Now, it’s about creating shots when not in transition.

“Opposing guards are now getting out on the perimeter and challenging our shots,” Grahl said. “We have to do different things to create those different looks.”

And then there is the finishing aspect of playing 32 minutes. Carmel built an 18-point lead over Monterey late in the game last Wednesday before seeing it cut to eight.

“Instead of a good solid win, where we executed and played hard, you have this taste in your month that we have a lot more work to do,” Grahl said.

What Grahl is beginning to see is the chemistry on the court returning, the flow of the game looked more natural in wins over Pacific Grove and Monterey.

“Even though we ground out wins against Palma and Menlo-Atherton, it felt clucky,” Grahl said. “We were missing that flow. I’ve seen flashes of late where we were moving the ball, finding the open guy. Guys are rotating better. We’re not having as many breakdowns.”

Grahl is constantly reminding his players what the long-term goals are, that the sacrifices will pay dividends in the postseason. To a degree, Carmel is still in preseason mode as seven players sharpen their skills.

“If we stick to the process, we have to understand it takes time,” Grahl said. “It’s about trusting the process. If we’re doing things right, it will pay off.”

Pro soccer: Monterey Bay F.C. inks goalie

SEASIDE — Monterey Bay F.C. will have a goalie signed and in camp when practice begins Monday after inking Samuel Gomez to one year deal with an option for 2026.

Goaltending was a strength for the Union last season, with two goalies combining to lead the United Soccer League Championship in saves.

Both, however, did not resign, leaving the franchise without a netminder until Friday.

“I am beyond excited for this opportunity to join Monterey Bay FC,” Gomez said. “I have a great feeling about this season, and I am looking forward to being a part of a lot of special moments this year. I can’t wait to meet all of the fans soon.”

The 25-year-old St. Louis native spent last season with St. Louis CITY2 in the MLS NEXT Pro. In 2023, he was the Ohio Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year for Southern Illinois University.

Gomez finished fifth in the nation in shutouts at Southern Illinois with 10, with 85 saves in 28 starts, posting a .844 save percentage. He was a part of two state high school championship teams and was the Missouri Class 3 Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017

 

Appeals court upholds dismissal of some charges against Trump, others in Georgia election case

By KATE BRUMBACK, Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia appeals court has upheld the dismissal of some of the charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in the Georgia 2020 election interference case, as the future of the case remains uncertain.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee in March quashed six counts in the indictment, including three against Trump, but he left in place other counts. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis appealed that ruling to the Georgia Court of Appeals, which on Friday upheld McAfee’s ruling.

The indictment accused Trump and more than a dozen other people of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn Trump’s narrow 2020 presidential election loss in Georgia. But the future of the case is up in the air — the Georgia Court of Appeals last month removed Willis from the case and even if that ruling is overturned, it seems unlikely that a criminal prosecution against Trump could proceed once he’s inaugurated as president for a second time on Monday.

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Willis has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse the ruling removing her and her office from the case. Trump’s lawyers argued in a court filing Friday that the Georgia Supreme Court should not hear that appeal.

A spokesperson for Willis on Friday declined to comment on the Court of Appeals ruling.

The six dismissed counts charged the defendants with soliciting public officers to violate their oaths. One count stems from a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, on Jan. 2, 2021, in which Trump urged Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes.”

Another of the dismissed counts accused Trump of soliciting then-Georgia House Speaker David Ralston to violate his oath of office by calling a special session of the legislature to unlawfully appoint presidential electors.

McAfee said the counts did not allege sufficient detail regarding the nature of the violations. The Court of Appeals agreed, finding that “the indictment fails to include enough detail to sufficiently apprise the defendants of what they must be prepared to meet so that they can intelligently prepare their defenses.”

The Georgia Court of Appeals last month ruled that Willis and her office could not continue to prosecute the case because of an “appearance of impropriety” created by a romantic relationship she had with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had hired to lead the case.

Willis has asked the state Supreme Court to reverse that ruling, arguing in a court filing earlier this month the Court of Appeals was wrong to disqualify her “based solely upon an appearance of impropriety and absent a finding of an actual conflict of interest or forensic misconduct.” Lawyers for Trump argued in a filing Friday that the lower appeals court got it right and that Willis’ “disqualification is mandated because it is the only remedy that could purge the taint of impropriety.”

If the state Supreme Court declines to take the appeal or upholds the Court of Appeals ruling, it will be up to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to find another prosecutor to take over the case. That person could continue on the track that Willis has taken, decide to pursue only some charges or dismiss the case altogether.

Are the kids craving sunny days? Here are some vacation ideas

Lynn O’Rourke Hayes, FamilyTravel.com

Plan for a sunny getaway in the new year. Here are five ideas to consider.

JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa (Aventura, Florida)

Related ArticlesTravel | 6 reasons I prefer cruises when I travel with family Travel | 17 tips for having a great cruise down the Nile River in Egypt Travel | Greece hotel pools set to switch to seawater on drought-hit islands Travel | Top 10 new theme park attractions in the world for 2025 Travel | How to avoid the online booking fees charged by some discount airlines This South Florida resort, set within 300 sun-drenched acres, provides a welcome sanctuary for guests as well as more than 40 species of tropical birds, botanical fauna and the chef’s herb and tropical fruit garden. However, the kids will be more interested in the Tidal Cove Waterpark. It’s a five-acre fun zone composed of a 60-foot tower with seven water slides, a 4,000-square-foot kids pool with an aquatic play area, and a triple Flow Rider simulation pool, among the first of its kind in the country. The 42-foot-wide surf simulation machine incorporates elements of surfing, bodyboarding, skateboarding, skimboarding, snowboarding and wakeboarding. The mega-water feature connects with a lazy river, a zero-entry pool and 25 luxury cabanas for privacy and relaxation.

For more: www.jwturnberry.com

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa (Ko Olina, Hawaii)

If you want to mix a little magic into your sun-filled holiday, the Aulani island paradise might be right for your crew. Mickey Mouse and his well-known pals are on hand for character memory-making moments, inducing smiles all around. The 351-room hotel blends the vision of Disney Imagineers with the history and natural beauty of the island. Families can take advantage of the kids club, swimming and boogie boarding, snorkeling, paddle boarding, spa time and simply relaxing under Hawaiian skies.

For more: www.disneyaulani.com

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (Scottsdale, Arizona)

A family stay at this Arizona desert resort is full of fun surprises, beginning at the kids check-in desk. In a destination where visitors can rely on 333 days of sunshine each year, your gang will want to swipe on the sunscreen and waste no time before digging toes in the sand at the Sunset Beach pool or joining the festivities at the Sonoran Splash pool, where water slides, music, games and dive-in movies up the fun factor. Kids can fish in the lagoon, play golf or spend the day at the Trailblazers Kids Club where activities include ping pong, learning about desert wildlife, making s’mores in a solar oven and recreational games. Parents will appreciate the Lifestyle Cuisine menu for adults and children that focuses on providing healthy choices.

For more: www.fairmont.com/scottsdale; experiencescottsdale.com.

Curtain Bluff (Antigua)

Put Curtain Bluff, a laid back but luxurious Relais & Chateau resort in Antigua, on your can’t miss list. It’s an enchanting, all-inclusive experience that offers extensive water sports including water-skiing, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, paddle-boating and sailing. When you are ready for some time on terra firma, head to the pickleball court or stretch out in a yoga class. While the kids enjoy the Cee Bee camp activities, relax in a hammock you’ll find tucked within the palm trees or spend an afternoon at the spa where open-air massages provide a perfect end to a sports-filled day.

For more: www.curtainbluff.com

La Quinta Resort & Club (La Quinta, California)

Visit this 45-acre desert oasis for a hefty dose of sunshine and nonstop sporting opportunities. Long a getaway spot for Hollywood hot shots, the Palm Springs area playground is well-known for top-notch golf and tennis. If your clan is inclined to indulge in a multisport vacation, book tee times on any of the five award-winning golf courses, play tennis, hike or spend time in and around the 41 climate-controlled pools in the complex. Thanks to the addition of eight pickleball courts, you can learn the game or perfect your skills. The resort’s staff of certified pickleball professionals will be on hand to offer lessons, clinics or simply encouragement.

For more: www.laquintaresort.com

©2024 FamilyTravel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Too early to prep the garden for spring? Nope

By JESSICA DAMIANO, Associated Press

As I write this, snow is falling outside my suburban New York window, and I feel like I just stored my gardening tools and patio umbrella for the season. And yet, with the winter solstice in the rearview mirror, it’s already time to start preparing for spring.

Testing Seeds

This morning, I sorted dozens of seed packets by their expiration dates. Seeds are typically considered “fresh” within a year of packaging, but can be perfectly fine for longer. We just can’t be sure without testing them for viability.

So, I’ll fold a few into a wet paper towel and place it in a plastic bag. In about 10 days, I’ll compute the percentage that sprouted to get an idea of how much excess I should sow to attain the number of desired plants. If less than 50% of them sprout, I’ll likely ditch the pack and start new seeds.

If I don’t do this now, the nurseries currently filling my mailbox with catalogs may run out of my favorite seeds before I realize I need them, and my procrastination will haunt me all summer.

Being prepared for early planting

I brought my grow lights up from the basement and will plug them in to ensure they’re still glowing. If necessary, I’ll pick up or order replacement bulbs so as not to delay the seed-starting whim that’s on track to catch me by surprise when I’m in my pajamas on a random morning six to eight weeks from now. I’ll grab a bag of sterile seed-starting potting mix while I’m at it.

Caring for equipment

I also need to sharpen my pruning shears, which weren’t as sharp as I would have liked last year.

And lawnmowers should undergo annual maintenance. Bringing yours in for service now will keep you from getting caught in a spring backlog that may keep you waiting until your grass resembles shag carpeting.

This January 10, 2025, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a gardener’s hand scrubbing dirt and rust from a trowel. (Jessica damiano via AP)

The unpredictable fall weather took my poor plants and me by surprise this year, seemingly holding onto summer’s heat until a millisecond before overnight temperatures dropped below freezing. There simply wasn’t time to properly clean hand tools, which were needed far longer than usual, before stashing them in a quick and chaotic rush.

Now, I can clean off dirt and rust, then, at my leisure, lightly coat my beloved trowel in oil to prevent corrosion.

And because of winter’s late and sudden arrival, I didn’t get to turn off my outdoor water supply. I realized this last week when I turned on the hose to rinse away a “gift” left on my walkway by my Havanese, Miguel, and instead was soaked by an erratic spray launched directly from the bib, or outdoor faucet. Yes, it was cold.

If, like me, you were caught off-guard and then distracted with holiday preparations, inspect hoses, drip systems and sprinklers for damage now so that your spring plants don’t go thirsty while you scramble to troubleshoot.

Sure, you could procrastinate until spring, but ticking off garden-related chores over winter bestows a favor on your future self. And who knows? He or she may pay you back next fall.

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.

For more AP gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening.

‘Severance’ review: In Season 2, more of the same

Taking the idea of work-life balance to extremes, the sardonic and surrealist thriller “Severance” on Apple TV+ envisions a dystopian corporate world in which employees of a company called Lumon Industries have a chip implanted in their brains that severs their memory in two. At work, their “innie” version has no knowledge of their life or even personal history outside the office; they are simply “at work” all the time. Their “outie” is just as clueless about anything that transpires under the fluorescent lights of their cubicles. They might as well be two different people.

What a premise! If half of your life is intolerable, simply free yourself from it.

It’s a trap, of course. Part of you is permanently stuck in an experience you hate. It’s especially pernicious because alarming things are happening in that basement at Lumon and each person’s outie is ignorant of the malevolence and misery their innies are living non-stop. Season 1 ended three years ago on a cliffhanger, with the innies staging a rebellion and discovering disturbing truths about their outies. Season 2 picks up in the aftermath.

The innies are still at Lumon. After some damage control, the company attempts to restore the status quo for Mark (Adam Scott), Helly (Britt Lower), Dylan (Zach Cherry) and Irving (John Turturro). These workers may have a smidge more information about their circumstances now, but most of it remains as fuzzy as the green carpet of their office space.

Mark initially sought out severance as a reprieve from the grief over his dead wife, but is she not dead at all but imprisoned somewhere at Lumon? Can the lovely and skeptical Helly, whose outie is Helena, the cold-blooded daughter of the company’s owner, be trusted once her backstory is relayed to the group? Will she and Mark act on their mutual attraction? What’s going on with their unnervingly serene manager Milchick (Tramell Tillman) and his new assistant Miss Wong (Sarah Bock), who is not an adult but a child in knee socks?

Tramell Tillman in Season 2 of “Severance.” (Apple TV+)

Their respective outies, who remain siloed off and unaware of one another, are flailing too, just as discombobulated by the slivers of information that have come to light about their innies.

At the core of it all is the biggest question: What is Lumon’s endgame?

“Severance” frames this last one to suggest a larger conspiracy. But I have doubts the show will be able to give a satisfying answer in the end. I could be wrong! But the exploitation of workers is so cynically and depressingly straightforward that it doesn’t need a complicated explanation. Regardless, both the innies and outies are seeking answers and, bit by bit, they hatch plans to uncover the truth.

A three-year pause between seasons is not how you build anticipation, but my frustration with the show lies in the format itself. Though “Severance” has a concept that’s equal parts creepy and compelling, boosted by terrific performances and distinctive production design, the core idea is a movie idea. There just isn’t enough story for a nine-episode series (bumped to 10 episodes for Season 2), which happens to be an issue with numerous other streaming shows as well, and increasingly some films (including “Wicked” and the decision to extend it into two parts).

So how do you stretch a movie-length premise into a series? Creator Dan Erickson slows the pacing way down and employs stall tactics that masquerade as world-building. “Severance” doubles down on this in Season 2, repeating the same beats and themes over and over again, such as the difficulty of imagining a different life for yourself. Or why people do things that go against their self-interest and are susceptible to the lure of a cult. How our perceptions of identity can be malleable depending on the surroundings or circumstances. Having a terrible job where empty, pandering nonsense is handed down by corporate headquarters. The pointless theater of workplace evaluations and workplace retreats. All interesting ideas! None of which are necessarily deepened over the show’s running time.

I’m sure plenty of viewers will say: I liked Season 1, so repeat away! Fair enough. But that’s not a story extending out because it has places to go. Atmosphere — of which “Severance” has plenty — will only take you so far. A show can not hinge on vibes alone, though “Severance” is giving it a try.

“Severance” Season 2 — 2.5 stars (out of 4)

Where to watch: Apple TV+

Nina Metz is a Tribune critic.

Biden sets record by commuting sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted on nonviolent drug charges

By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced Friday that he was commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, using his final days in office on a flurry of clemency actions meant to nullify prison terms he deemed too harsh.

The recent round of clemency gives Biden the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued. The Democrat said he is seeking to undo “disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.”

“Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” Biden said in a statement. “This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.”

The White House did not immediately release the names of those receiving commutations.

Still, Biden said more could yet be coming, promising to use the time before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated Monday to “continue to review additional commutations and pardons.”

Friday’s action follows Biden’s commutations last month of the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the pardoning of 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. That was the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.

All of this comes as Biden continues to weigh whether to issue sweeping pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly targeted by Trump’s administration. Though presidential pardoning powers are absolute, such a preemptive move would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power.

Last month, Biden also commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. Trump has vowed to roll back that order after his term begins.

Biden also recently pardoned his son Hunter, not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses.

If history is any guide, meanwhile, Biden also is likely to issue more targeted pardons to help allies before leaving the White House, as presidents typically do in some of their final actions.

Just before midnight on the final night of his first term, Trump, a Republican, signed a flurry of pardons and commutations for more than 140 people, including his former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black and ex-members of Congress.

Trump’s final act as president in his first term was to announce a pardon for Al Pirro, ex-husband of Fox News Channel host Jeanine Pirro, one of his staunchest defenders. Al Pirro was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion charges and sentenced to more than two years in prison in 2000.

Horoscope Jan. 17, 2025: Michelle Obama, listen to alternatives and find what works best for you

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Zooey Deschanel, 45; Michelle Obama, 61; Jim Carrey, 63; Steve Harvey, 68. [image error]Zooey DeschanelHappy Birthday: Size up situations, relationships and your long-term plans. Listen to alternative offers, and mix and match what works best for you. Distance yourself from negativity and those who use emotional manipulation to put demands or guilt on your shoulders. Use your intelligence, be creative and embrace what excites you most. The choice is yours; live by your standards, and the results will far outweigh giving in to peer pressure. Your numbers are 9, 13, 26, 33, 35, 42, 49. ARIES (March 21-April 19): A tight-lipped attitude will help you exceed your expectations. Let what you do surprise others and put you on a pedestal. Use intelligence to outsmart anyone trying to manipulate or make you look bad. Quick reactions will compromise your integrity and your position. A methodical attitude will help you outshine competitors. 3 stars TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take control and create sustainable opportunities. Hide until you have completed all the details and are prepared to present. Offering to help someone prematurely will result in providing more than you can afford. Put more time and effort into positive changes at home, and build your dream from the ground up. 5 stars GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Inch your way toward whatever you want to pursue. Haste makes waste and will be difficult to replenish. Participate in events that offer insight into lifestyle changes that allow you to expand your imagination and pay attention to how you look and feel. A minimalist attitude will ward off indulgence. 2 stars CANCER (June 21-July 22): Get ready to take flight. You’ll accomplish plenty if you are organized and equipped to conquer. Set a budget and a time guide, start a dialogue with loved ones, share the experience and get ready to enjoy the ride. Romance is on the rise, and self-improvement will pay off. 4 stars LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Think big, get involved and do your part to improve your life experiences. Refrain from letting what others do daunt you. Instead, align yourself with those with shared interests and forge ahead. Life is short, and satisfying your needs is up to you. A physical challenge will raise your enthusiasm and expectations. 3 stars VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Let your passion rise to the surface and be open and honest regarding your feelings, aspirations and long-term goals. Sign up for events or attend social functions, and you’ll gain insight into how to tap into what’s new and exciting. Romance, happiness and personal growth are in the stars. 3 stars LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An open mind will lead to new beginnings. Dig deep, search for answers and consider how to harness personal growth and a lifestyle that satisfies your needs. Monitor and rid yourself of tedious people and pastimes holding you hostage. Love it or leave it. 3 stars SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Mental or physical journeys will broaden your awareness of what’s possible. A disciplined attitude will help you manufacture what’s required to bring about positive change. Developing something you enjoy doing will point you in an exciting professional direction. Do whatever it takes to turn your talent into a cash cow. 4 stars SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Square off and get ready to stand your ground and fight for your rights. Refrain from letting anyone outmaneuver you mentally or physically. Think standing up and focus on reflexes you can count on to carry you to the finish line. Opportunity begins with you and reasonable expectations. 2 stars CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): High energy and channeling your every move toward getting the desired results will pay off financially. You’ve got your finger on the pulse of what’s trending, and presenting your game plan will draw positive attention. Positive change is within reach, and networking will help connect you to the right people. 5 stars AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You may think forcing a change will help you get your way quickly, but underestimating whoever you are dealing with will cost you time and money. Rethink your strategy, review details explicitly and leave no room for error. Slow, methodical moves are your ideal passage forward. Focus, and inch onward. 3 stars PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Draw on the talent around you. Listen, formulate your plan and cap your budget. Get out of the fast lane and onto the road that leaves no stone unturned. Opportunity begins with being inquisitive and checking out every option, regardless of how unconventional. Attend events that cater to creative thinking. 3 stars Birthday Baby: You are intelligent, compassionate and insightful. You are unique and generous. 1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold. Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

Fire at Moss Landing battery plant spurs evacuations, road closures

MOSS LANDING — Highway 1 was closed and evacuations were ordered in the community of Moss Landing and the Elkhorn Slough area after a major fire erupted Thursday afternoon at a battery storage plant in Moss Landing in northern Monterey County.

The fire, which was raging out of control Thursday night, sending up huge flames and clouds of hazardous black smoke, was reported around 3 p.m. at the plant, located on Highway 1, Monterey County spokesman Nicholas Pasculli said.

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“It’s imperative that residents heed the evacuation order and take the direction of law enforcement and fire personnel,” Pasculli  said. “This is a situation where we take the idea of protecting life and property very seriously. We implore people to heed the evacuation order and to go to a safe location.”

Evacuations of about 1,500 people were ordered for areas of Moss Landing south of Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Boulevard and Elkhorn Road to the ocean, he said.

Pasculli said the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has called other agencies in the county to help with the emergency.

A fire rages out of control at the Vistra battery storage plant, one of the world’s largest, in Moss Landing, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

“It’s a major incident,” he said. “All the resources in the county and our neighboring jurisdictions have been deployed to assist with this incident.”

The facility, owned by Vistra Energy, a Texas company, is one of the largest battery storage plants in the world. It holds tens of thousands of lithium batteries, which are used to store electricity from solar power and other sources generated during the day for use at night. Such battery storage plants are a key part of California’s efforts to shift most of its electricity generation to renewable sources.

“There’s no way to sugarcoat it. This is a disaster, is what it is,” Monterey County Supervisor Glen Church told KSBW-TV. “This is extremely disconcerting.”

Church said the fire was “contained” inside a concrete building whose roof had collapsed.

“We don’t think there’s any real threat of it extending outward and getting beyond where it’s in,” he said. “There are a lot of batteries in there, and it’s burning pretty much inside that facility.”

A fire rages out of control at the Vistra battery storage plant, one of the world’s largest, in Moss Landing, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

The plant is located on the site of a now-shuttered 1950s-era PG&E Moss Landing natural gas plant visible for its huge smokestacks near Moss Landing Harbor. The first phase was completed in 2020, and it was expanded to 750 megawatts in 2023. Vistra sells the electricity stored there to PG&E, which also owns a separate 182-megawatt battery storage plant on the north side of the site that has 256 Tesla “Megapack” battery packs. That facility did not appear to be burning by 8 p.m.

Personnel at the Vistra plant called the North Monterey County Fire Protection District for assistance after a fire was detected in the 300-megawatt Phase I energy storage facility, company spokesperson Jenny Lyon said in an email to this news organization.

All personnel were safely evacuated, according to Lyon.

“Our top priority is the safety of the community and our personnel,” she said, “and Vistra deeply appreciates the continued assistance of our local emergency responders.”

Lyon said the cause of the fire has not been determined, but an investigation will begin once it is extinguished.

Lithium battery fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish. They burn at high temperatures and can emit toxic gases that can cause respiratory problems, skin burns and eye irritation.

The facility has been the site of other fires before.

Fires broke out at the Vistra plant on Sept. 4, 2021, and Feb 14, 2022. Investigations showed that they were caused by a malfunction in a fire sprinkler system, which released water and caused several of the units to overheat.

Then in September 2022, a fire broke out at the PG&E Elkhorn battery plant. Police closed Highway 1 for 12 hours. An investigation found it was caused by an improperly installed vent shield on one of the 256 units, which allowed rainwater to get in and short out the batteries. There were no injuries to firefighters, PG&E employees or the public.

Afterward, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring battery storage plants in California to draw up emergency response plans with local fire departments and increase fire safety.

“Increasing the state’s battery storage is essential to reaching our clean energy goals,” said State Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, who wrote the bill, in an interview last year. “But we also have to ensure that these facilities have safety systems in place to protect the health and well-being of workers and surrounding communities.”

Last summer, after two fires occurred at San Diego County battery storage facilities, San Diego County supervisors required county officials to draw up tighter rules that would restrict battery storage plants near homes, schools and other facilities. And when Vistra proposed building a large battery plant in Morro Bay, citizens there approved a measure on the November ballot that they hoped would block its construction.

Battery storage has increased sevenfold in the past five years in California, from 1,474 megawatts in 2020 to 10,383 megawatts this past summer. A megawatt is enough electricity to run 750 homes.

Thursday night, the Castroville Recreation Center, located at 11261 Crane St., was serving as a temporary evacuation point for people forced to leave their homes.

Highway 1 is closed in both directions between Highway 183 and Struve Road. There is no estimated time to reopen the roadway.

Smoke and flames are seen from Castroville as a fire at the Vistra battery storage plant burns in Moss Landing, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)A fire rages out of control at the Vistra battery storage plant, one of the world’s largest, in Moss Landing, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.