Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 25

49ers’ ultimate combo remains Purdy-to-Kittle entering opener at Seahawks

SANTA CLARA – Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ newly minted quarter-billionaire, bought a riverfront home this offseason 15 minutes from George Kittle’s pad on Nashville’s outskirts. Routes were run, passes thrown, receptions made, and weights were lifted in Kittle’s workout barn.

All their sweat equity is about to pay off, after years of already impressive dividends. No combination is more paramount for Sunday’s season opener in Seattle, which has been their personal playground in past visits.

“We’ve gotten a lot of looks and reps together over the years, and obviously over the offseason we trained together, which is great,” Purdy said Thursday, “but the minute we step out on the field, it’s just us playing ball — two guys who absolutely love the game.”

The Purdy-to-Kittle combination got magnified even more Thursday as running back Christian McCaffrey was limited by a calf injury, a year after Achilles tendinitis shelved the multi-threat running back for two months.

Purdy is 3-0 in Seattle, and of his 12 completions there to Kittle, four resulted in touchdowns, including a pair last season as well as Purdy’s two scoring strikes in his 2022 road debut.

“We’ve had success in Seattle together, yes. But every single game is different,” Purdy said. “More than anything, I trust (No.) 85 and know he’ll be that consistent tight end we need, and I’ll consistently throw him the ball.”

San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) and San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) converse from the sideline after Purdy’s interception by Los Angeles Rams’ Darious Williams (24) in the fourth quarter of an NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Overall, no one has caught more of Purdy’s touchdown passes than Kittle. Their 20 scores are two shy of the Steve Young-to-Brent Jones battery in 49ers quarterback-tight end lore.

Mind you, Purdy and Kittle are far behind the NFL’s best-ever such pairings: Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski hooked up for 90 touchdowns, one more than Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates.

Kittle is much more than a safety blanket for a still-young quarterback, one who just cashed in with a $265 million extension before his upcoming fourth NFL season.

“I was really excited to throw routes with Brock the entire offseason,” Kittle said. “It was really fun for me, just being on the same page and that transitioned really well into training camp. Between us two, I don’t think we had a bad day.”

Call it chemistry, call it trust, call it a connection that was on full display on Purdy’s first snap of training camp, when he found Kittle open down the right sideline for a 30-yard catch (and would-be touchdown).

“Purdy is a damn good quarterback,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said in camp. “The young man layers the ball as good as anybody in football. He’s very good with processing, gets the ball in and out of his hands, and Kittle makes it easy because he’s got unbelievable route-running abilities to create separation.”

Kittle’s 538 career receptions are third-most in 49ers history, behind only Jerry Rice (1,281) and Terrell Owens (592).

San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws to San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Of Kittle’s 538 career catches, 236 have come on passes from Jimmy Garoppolo (see: Garoppolo/Kittle ’20 campaign T-shirts). Purdy accounts for 156 of Kittle’s receptions, followed by Nick Mullens, 62; C.J. Beathard, 54; Brian Hoyer, 18; Brandon Allen, six; Josh Dobbs, three; Sam Darnold, two; and, Trey Lance, one.

“It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is,” Saleh added. “He’s going to work relentlessly with that quarterback and with himself to put himself in position to be a playmaker and credit to Purdy. He gets him the ball when he needs to get it to him.”

While Purdy has connected with Kittle for 20 touchdowns, the next-most are 10 touchdowns to both Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel, then nine to Brandon Aiyuk, seven to Jauan Jennings, four to Kyle Juszczyk, two to Ricky Pearsall and one apiece to Ronnie Bell and Eric Saubert.

Sunday at Lumen Field, Kittle and McCaffrey again figure to serve as top targets, although Pearsall is coming off a stellar training camp, and Jennings is suiting up after missing all of August with calf and contract issues. Aiyuk is out at least the first four games recovering from last October’s knee injury.

“Hopefully we just start fast and get the ball rolling. It’ll be really fun for us,” Kittle said.

Kittle and Purdy have more fun up their sleeves when it comes to the Iowa-Iowa State college rivalry, with their alma maters facing off Saturday. Purdy had to wear the Iowa mascot’s head in 2023 after losing a bet with Kittle, who in turn had to don Purdy’s Iowa State helmet last year.

“We do have something good. He’s trying to weasel his way out of it because he says he does his press conferences at the podium and he thinks he needs to be the face of the franchise, all professional,” Kittle said. “But a bet is a bet, and he should be wearing an Iowa helmet next Thursday.”

PRACTICE REPORT

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Every player on the 53-man roster participated in practice, including the three who were out Wednesday — left tackle Trent Williams (rest), wide receiver Jordan Watkins (ankle) and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee).

Jennings (calf), guard Dominick Puni (knee) and running back Jordan James (finger) were limited.

NO TWO-WAY KITTLE

While rookie Travis Hunter is poised to play both wide receiver and cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the football-loving Kittle has no aspirations to pull double duty.

“The only defensive position I could play is outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense,” he said. “I was first-team all-state safety (in high school), but that was 80 pounds ago, so I’m not going to do that. No, I want nothing to do with that. I play enough offense as it is. Best of luck to (Hunter) and to see what he can do will be fun to watch.”

SALEH ON SAM

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said “you’d expect” the Seahawks to come out with a run-oriented attack but he’s also aware of Sam Darnold’s potential in the pass game. When Saleh got his first head-coaching gig with the Jets four years ago, Darnold exited after three subpar seasons as their No. 3 overall pick.

“Studying his tape, he’s very confident. He is a playmaker. Last year he proved he could be a good decision maker also,” Saleh said. “He took care of the ball and got it to his playmakers. The scheme fits him. … He’s improved greatly. Even though I didn’t coach him with the Jets, the background of when I arrived to what you see is very different.”

How to watch the 49ers’ season opener vs. the Seahawks on Sunday

The San Francisco 49ers are kicking off the season against the Seattle Seahawks at 1:05 p.m. PDT on Sunday, Sept. 7 at Lumen Field in Seattle.

The Niners are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 6-11 season a year ago, as injuries derailed their hopes of another playoff push. After remaking their roster — particularly the defense — over the offseason with primarily young faces, they open the season with a familiar NFC West foe in the Seahawks, who brought in former 49er Sam Darnold to quarterback the offense.

San Francisco’s main drama this training camp has been the Jauan Jennings saga after he requested a raise — or a trade — just before the team convened in July. He returned to practice on Monday after missing more than a month of practices with a calf injury and, later this week, received new incentives in his contract.

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How to watch on local TV

FOX is broadcasting the game in California; in the Bay Area, tune in to KTVU-TV (channel 2) with an antenna or a cable TV provider. You can also log in to the FOX Sports app or website with your cable TV subscription credentials.

How to stream

DirecTV Stream includes Fox in its local channel lineup. Subscriptions currently start at $49.99 per month.

FuboTV offers a free trial and $10 off the first month; after that, it is $55.99 per month.

Hulu+Live TV is a premium service with all the local channels and starts at $82.99 per month.

NFL+ is a mobile app that streams all local and primetime games. Plans start at $6.99 per month or $39.99 a year.

YouTube TV costs $82.99 per month, but it’s currently on sale for $49.99 per month for the first two months.

How to watch outside the Bay Area

If you are outside the local coverage area, you have some options.

NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV broadcasts all the games on Sunday afternoon outside of the matchups showing in the local market. If you are a Niners fan living in another state, this is a good option. New users can get the service at the starting price of $34.50 a month for eight months or $276 for the year.

NFL+ Premium carries live audio of all regular-season NFL games, and video only after the game has concluded. You have the choice of full or condensed replays on a computer, phone or tablet only for $14.99 per month.

Horoscopes Sept. 5, 2025: Rose McGowan, be specific about what you want to achieve

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kat Graham, 36; Carice van Houten, 49; Rose McGowan, 52; Michael Keaton, 74.

Happy Birthday: Take care of personal, financial and emotional matters promptly. Refuse to let the changes unfolding around you deter you from doing what’s best for you. Disconnect from those traveling in the opposite direction, and you’ll find it easier to make your way forward without conflicts or interference. Be specific about what you want to achieve to ensure you don’t waste valuable time and money on nonproductive plans and people. Your numbers are 5, 12, 23, 33, 37, 39, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Share your vision, and participate in events that can help you make a difference to a cause you believe in. Spending time with someone you love or engaging in social activities will give you a sense of belonging and hope for a better future. Put more energy into exploring the possibilities of a lifestyle change or commitment. 4 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look over your options, but don’t feel pressured to decide. Discuss concerns, alternatives and new possibilities, and you’ll find the path that leads to positive change and inner peace. Say no to those imposing emotional postures to make you uneasy, and you’ll gain respect and control of whatever situation you face. Avoid unhealthy situations. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Learn something new and add it to your qualifications. You stand to prosper if you are willing to adopt what’s new and trending into your line of work. Attend networking events, and you’ll discover all sorts of perks and additions you can incorporate into your routine to make yourself visible to those who need your services. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Simplify your life. Refuse to let discord or anger take over and ruin your day. A physical outlet will help you avoid stewing over something you have no control over. Lighten up, relax and enjoy a walk in the woods. It’s time to get back to basics and let your mind and body breathe easily. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Engage in projects that add to your comfort and entertainment. Home improvements, spending time with loved ones and physical changes that boost your confidence are all remedies for success. Free yourself from living in the past and holding on to what is holding you back. Live, love and be happy. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Keep asking questions until you are satisfied with the answers. Trust will be broken if you are gullible or let someone do things for you. Step out of your comfort zone to ensure you get what you deserve in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Set boundaries with those who try to cross the line. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Recap what’s happening and refrain from making a hasty decision. You’ll know instinctively when a change is right for you; don’t rely on outside influences to dictate what you do next. Trust your instincts and ask for what you want in writing. Avoid unnecessary expenses and those who ask for too much. 5 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Keep your thoughts and plans to yourself. Emotions will fluctuate throughout the day. Remain calm, examine every angle and take a rational approach to counter any obstacles that may arise. Consider what you want to achieve, and demonstrate discipline and ingenuity in turning your plans into a concrete reality. Protect your heart from emotional manipulation. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Look for the good in everyone and everything. How you approach others will make a difference in the outcome. Don’t expect everyone to agree with you. If you take a compromising position and a positive attitude, negotiations will fall into place. Criticize less, take a closer look at yourself and make positive improvements. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Be honest with yourself when it comes to money, health and legal matters. It is best to take a realistic approach to life and utilize your strengths to accommodate your needs. Refuse to spend on unnecessary goods or on someone you want to impress. Use your sharp wit and charm to reach your goal. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Let your emotions lead the way and your energy play out fairly and with positive intentions. A change to your surroundings, lifestyle or attitude will give you the boost you need to shine brightly when dealing with others. Put your energy where it counts, and the rewards will be forthcoming. Romance is in the stars. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Use reason when dealing with your peers, and you’ll gain acceptance. Refuse to let the changes others make set you off or push you in the wrong direction. Give others the freedom you expect in return, and make choices that will benefit you but not harm them. Being upfront, vocal and open to compromise will pay off. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are attentive, detailed and expansive. You are dedicated and imaginative.

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.

Christian McCaffrey limited at 49ers practice with calf issue

SANTA CLARA — Christian McCaffrey surfaced on the 49ers’ practice report Thursday after being limited by a calf issue in practice.

A red flag from the Red and Gold? That is the initial instinct, because …

McCaffrey’s debut on the report relives 49ers’ nightmares from a year ago, when he surprisingly got scratched from their season opener and missed two months with Achilles tendinitis.

McCaffrey, the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has looked back in superstar form as a steady presence in practice from the spring through training camp. He went through his routine warmups on Thursday, complete with high-knee activation sprints, before the media window closed after roughly 20 minutes.

McCaffrey did not speak to the media Thursday during his usual scheduled time. The 49ers open their season Sunday in Seattle against the Seahawks (1 p.m., Fox).

A team spokesman offered no further comment beyond the daily practice report, though the hope is McCaffrey’s health is nothing to panic about, yet.

San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) hands the ball off to San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) during practice at the 49ers training camp at the practice facility at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that McCaffrey’s absence in last season’s last-place spiral was “really tough on him, tough on us.” The 49ers stashed McCaffrey out of three practices or full-team drills early in camp, but otherwise he was full-go and their No. 1 asset.

“I knew Christian was back just once he told me he was healthy,” Shanahan added Wednesday. “It’s not like we were thinking he wouldn’t come back from it. You know, you hope that stuff, the arthritis and everything goes away. Which it usually does. He was telling us that early in the offseason, so I felt pretty good about it.

“Christian’s not a liar. So, I didn’t think he was,” Shanahan added. “Then we saw him early in OTAs, he looked like the guy we’ve always known and he’s continued that.”

Brock Purdy and George Kittle both spoke after practice about how great McCaffrey has looked and neither indicated that he may have suffered a setback.

“There’s some kind of aura he has every time he is out there,” Purdy said. “Having him back, there’s nothing better.”

San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) walks the sideline in the fourth quarter of their NFL preseason game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 30-23. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

McCaffrey, for a second straight year, is one of the 49ers’ eight captains. His on-field impact is arguably the true steward of the 49ers’ offense.

Added Purdy: “It’s been awesome just going through camp with all the reps we’ve gotten, what he can do, what he brings to our offense, you know, running the ball and the defense not knowing if he’s going out for a pass.”

Said Kittle: “He seems very excited. He’s been excited since OTAs, he’s been excited since the season ended. I’m very, very much looking forward to being able to block for him and run routes next to him again.”

General manager John Lynch raved about McCaffrey’s health before practice, telling KNBR-680: “Obviously, our bellcow and one of the better players in the league is Christian. Having him healthy is just a godsend for our team. He looks tremendous.”

McCaffrey did not participate in any of the three preseason games, which is normal considering he has not had a preseason carry since 2019.

After facing the Denver Broncos in an Aug. 7 joint practice, McCaffrey said: “I feel great, man. Every day, I don’t take it for granted. I’ve been through a lot as far as injuries go in my career, and I’ve had to come back from a lot.”

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News GroupSan Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) runs on the field during practice at the 49ers training camp at the practice facility at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Last year, McCaffrey was shelved for the final few weeks of training camp with what initially was dubbed a calf strain, and despite returning to practice, he was scratched 90 minutes before kickoff of the 49ers’ season-opening win against the New York Jets, in which Jordan Mason excelled in his place. McCaffrey returned for a four-game stretch before injuring his posterior cruciate ligament on a hard fall in snowy Buffalo, ending his season as the 49ers lurched to a 6-11 finish.

The 49ers bolstered their depth behind McCaffrey by trading last month for Brian Robinson Jr., a three-year starter with Washington. Robinson spoke with McCaffrey as they warmed up on the side Thursday before team drills.

Robinson officially was acquired Aug. 24 for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick. A third-round pick out of Alabama, the 6-foot-1, 228-pound bruiser rushed for 797 yards, 733 and 799 yards in three seasons (37 starts, 41 games, 15 touchdowns) with Washington.

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“B-Rob is an impressive looking guy,” Lynch added on KNBR. “What’s been impressive is how quickly he’s taken to what we do. It’s a nice issue to have, how we’re going to deploy all our weapons. That position group is going to be a strength of our team.”

The 49ers’ other running backs are second-year speedster Isaac Guerendo and rookie Jordan James, who had a knee issue early in training camp then required surgery on a fractured pinkie a couple of weeks ago.

None possesses McCaffrey’s credentials, including the NFL rushing crown in 2023 when he ran for 1,459 yards while also totaling 564 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns (14 receiving).

Last year, McCaffrey didn’t score in his four-game cameo, totaling 202 rushing yards (50 carries) and 146 receiving yards (15 catches); he averaged a season-best 7.6 yards per carry in the Dec. 1 loss at Buffalo before sliding down for a 5-yard loss and exiting in the second quarter with his knee injury.

Every player on the 53-man roster participated in practice, and the only others limited were wide receivers Jauan Jennings (calf) and Jordan Watkins (ankle), guard Dominick Puni (knee), defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and running back Jordan James (finger).

Three Seahawks did not practice Thursday: cornerback Tariq Woolen (illness), wide receiver Dareke Young (hamstring) and guard Anthony Bradford (back); limited were linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (knee) and wide receivers Jake Bobo (concussion) and Cody White (shoulder).

Trump admin ditches Biden-era plan to make airlines pay compensation for flight disruptions

By RIO YAMAT

The Trump administration said Thursday it is abandoning a Biden-era plan that sought to require airlines to compensate stranded passengers with cash, lodging and meals for flight cancellations or changes caused by a carrier.

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The proposed rule would have aligned U.S. policy more closely with European airline consumer protections. It was proposed last December in the final weeks of then-President Joe Biden’s administration, leaving its fate in the hands of his Republican successor.

In a document posted Thursday, President Donald Trump’s Transportation Department said its plan to scrap the proposed rule was “consistent with Department and administration priorities.”

Industry trade group Airlines for America, a vocal critic of the proposal, said it would have driven up ticket prices for consumers.

“We are encouraged by this Department of Transportation reviewing unnecessary and burdensome regulations that exceed its authority and don’t solve issues important to our customers,” the group said Thursday in a statement.

The proposed rule sought compensation starting at $200 when a flight is canceled or significantly delayed because of a mechanical problem with the plane or an airline computer outage. Compensation as high as $775 was proposed for delays of nine hours or more.

Airlines already promise some level of customer service when they cause flight cancellations or severe delays, but passengers usually have to ask for help at the airport, and airline promises don’t carry the weight of federal rules.

Biden’s Transportation Department was also considering free rebooking on the next available flight, including flights on rival airlines, as well as meals and lodging when passengers are stranded overnight. Many of the largest U.S. airlines already promise that kind of help when a delay or cancellation is their fault.

Trump will seek ‘Department of War’ rebrand for Pentagon

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and CHRIS MEGERIAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Friday to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War, his latest effort to project an image of toughness for America’s military.

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The Republican president can’t formally change the name without legislation, which his administration would request from Congress. In the meantime, Trump will authorize the Pentagon to use “secondary titles” so the department can go by its original name.

The plans were disclosed by a White House official, who requested anonymity ahead of the public announcement, and detailed in a White House fact sheet.

The Department of War was created in 1789, the same year that the U.S. Constitution took effect. It was renamed by law in 1947, two years after the end of World War II.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth posted “DEPARTMENT OF WAR” on social media after the executive order was initially reported by Fox News.

Trump and Hegseth have long talked about changing the name, and Hegseth even created a social media poll on the topic in March.

Since then, he has hinted that his title as defense secretary may not be permanent at multiple public events, including a speech at Fort Benning, Georgia, on Thursday. He told an auditorium full of soldiers that it “may be a slightly different title tomorrow.”

In August, Trump told reporters that “everybody likes that we had an unbelievable history of victory when it was Department of War. Then we changed it to Department of Defense.”

When confronted with the possibility that making the name change would require an act of Congress, Trump told reporters that “we’re just going to do it.”

“I’m sure Congress will go along if we need that,” he added.

The move is just the latest in a long line of cultural changes Hegseth has made to the Pentagon since taking office at the beginning of the year.

Early in his tenure, Hegseth pushed hard to eliminate what he saw as the impacts of “woke culture” on the military by not only ridding the department of diversity programs but scrubbing libraries and websites of material deemed to be divisive.

The result was the removal and review of hundreds of books in the military academies, which ended up including titles on the Holocaust and a Maya Angelou memoir. It also resulted in the removal off thousands of websites honoring contributions by women and minority groups.

“I think the president and the secretary have been very clear on this — that anybody that says in the Department of Defense that diversity is our strength is, is frankly, incorrect,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told reporters in March.

Hegseth has also presided over the removal of all transgender troops from the military following an executive order from Trump through a process that some have described as “dehumanizing” or “open cruelty.”

US immigration officers raid Georgia site where Hyundai makes electric vehicles

By RUSS BYNUM

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — U.S. immigration authorities on Thursday raided the sprawling site where Hyundai manufactures electric vehicles in southeast Georgia, conducting a search that shut down construction on an adjacent factory being built to produce EV batteries.

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The operation targeted one of Georgia’s largest and most high-profile manufacturing sites, touted by the governor and other officials as the largest economic development project in the state’s history. Hyundai Motor Group began manufacturing EVs a year ago at the $7.6 billion plant, which employs about 1,200 people.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Lindsay Williams confirmed that federal authorities were conducting an enforcement operation at the 3,000-acre site west of Savannah. He said agents were focused on the construction site for the battery plant.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that agents executed a search warrant “as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes.” It did not say whether anyone was detained or arrested.

Georgia State Patrol troopers blocked roads to the Hyundai site. The Georgia Department of Public Safety confirmed they were dispatched to assist federal authorities.

Video posted to social media Thursday showed workers in yellow safety vests lined up as a man wearing a face mask and a tactical vest with the letters HSI, which stands for Homeland Security Investigations, tells them: “We’re Homeland Security. We have a search warrant for the whole site.”

“We need construction to cease immediately,” the man says. “We need all work to end on the site right now.”

President Donald Trump’s administration has undertaken sweeping ICE operations as part of a mass deportation agenda. Immigration officers have raided farms, construction sites, restaurants and auto repair shops.

The Pew Research Center, citing preliminary Census Bureau data, says the U.S. labor force lost more than 1.2 million immigrants from January through July. That includes people who are in the country illegally as well as legal residents.

In addition to making electric vehicles at the site facing Interstate 16 in Bryan County, Hyundai has also partnered with LG Energy Solution to build the battery plant. It’s slated to open sometime next year.

The joint venture, HL-GA Battery Company, “is cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities,” the company said in a statement. “To assist their work, we have paused construction.”

Operations at Hyundai’s EV manufacturing plant weren’t interrupted, said plant spokesperson Bianca Johnson.

“This did not impact people getting to work,” Johnson said in an email. “Production and normal office hours had already begun for the day” when authorities shut down access.

Immigrant pleads guilty to being in US illegally after judge allegedly helped him evade agents

By TODD RICHMOND

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An immigrant who allegedly evaded federal agents with the help of a Milwaukee County judge pleaded guilty Thursday to being in the U.S. illegally.

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Federal prosecutors charged Eduardo Flores-Ruiz in April with reentering the country illegally after being deported. He faces up to two years in prison when he’s sentenced and agreed to be deported whenever he is released, according to a summary of the plea deal he reached with prosecutors.

Online court records did not list a sentencing date. His attorney, Martin J. Pruhs, didn’t immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press on Thursday afternoon seeking comment.

According to court documents, Flores-Ruiz first entered the United States illegally near Nogales, Arizona, in January 2013. He was arrested the next day and deported. He subsequently returned to the U.S. without permission and was charged this past March in Milwaukee with misdemeanor domestic battery.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents learned Flores-Ruiz was in the country after the Milwaukee County jail submitted his fingerprints to federal databases. Agents traveled to the county courthouse on April 18, planning to arrest him as he appeared for a hearing in the case.

Judge Hannah Dugan, who was presiding over the battery case, learned that agents were in the building looking for Flores-Ruiz. According to an FBI affidavit, witnesses heard Dugan say something to the effect of “wait, come with me” to Flores-Ruiz and his attorney before showing them out a courtroom door typically used only by deputies, jurors, court staff and in-custody defendants. Flores-Ruiz made his way outside the building, but agents captured him following a foot chase.

The FBI arrested Dugan in April and a federal grand jury indicted her weeks later on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. The state Supreme Court suspended her from the bench after her arrest.

Dugan has argued that she was acting in her official capacity as a judge and is therefore immune from prosecution. She’s set to stand trial in December and faces up to six years in prison if convicted on both counts.

Dugan’s arrest and indictment intensified a clash between President Donald Trump’s administration and local authorities over the Republican’s sweeping immigration crackdown. Democrats accused the Trump administration of trying to make an example of Dugan to blunt judicial opposition to the crackdown.

Flores-Ruiz still faces three misdemeanor counts of domestic battery in Milwaukee County. He is set to stand trial in that case on Oct. 13.

Trump-backed plan to redraw Missouri congressional districts draws opposition at first hearing

By DAVID A. LIEB

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri residents denounced a plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts on Thursday as Republican lawmakers pressed ahead with President Donald Trump’s strategy to bolster Republicans in next year’s congressional elections.

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Dozens of people turned out for the first public hearing on a plan that would split up a Kansas City congressional district to give Republicans a shot at winning seven of Missouri’s eight U.S. House seats. Republicans already hold six of those seats.

“Kansas City does not want to be divided. We deserve representation and a voice,” said Kristen Ellis Johnson, an attorney from Kansas City who came to the Capitol with her husband and daughter. “You are dividing the urban-dwelling, liberal-leaning population to purposely change those votes.”

Missouri is the third state to join an emerging national battle between Republicans and Democrats seeking advantage in the way U.S. House districts are drawn.

At Trump’s prodding, Texas redrew its U.S. House districts last month to give Republicans a chance at winning five additional seats. California countered with its own revised map aimed at giving Democrats a shot at winning five more U.S. House seats. The California plan still needs voter approval in November.

The stakes are high because, nationally, Democrats need to gain just three seats in the 2026 elections to take control of the House. And, historically, the party of the president usually loses congressional seats in midterm elections, as happened during Trump’s first term in office.

Kansas City district would be merged with rural areas

Missouri’s revised congressional map, as proposed by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, would target a seat held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver by stretching it from Kansas City eastward to encompass rural Republican-leaning areas.

Members of the Missouri House Democratic caucus, Rep. Mark Sharp, left, Rep. Ashley Aune, second from left, Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, top right, and Rep. Kem Smith, bottom right, listen as Rep. Dirk Deaton, R-Seneca, center, and sponsor of a bill that would redraw the state’s U.S. House districts, testifies during a committee hearing on the bill, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

While lawmakers heard public criticism in Jefferson City, some opponents held a press conference in Kansas City near the point where three of the newly proposed districts would intersect. Edgar Palacios, president and CEO of the Latinx Education Collaborative, wore black to the event to decry the redistricting proposal.

“It feels like that, we are at a funeral — a funeral for democracy in Missouri,” Palacios said. “This gerrymander runs directly against everything we fight for. It says loud and clear, `Your voice, your community, your vote does not matter.’”

Ashley Sadowski, a mother whose 7- and 11-year-olds are students in Kansas City Public Schools, said the proposed map could have repercussions beyond who wins elections.

“This means that I would drive from my home in one congressional district to my son’s middle school in another congressional district,” she said. “This does not make sense.”

“Politicians are denying our children the unified voice they deserve in D.C,” Sadowski added.

At the legislative hearing, lobbyist Shannon Cooper said Kansas City government opposes the revised map because having a single person represent most of the city in the U.S. House has helped bring federal jobs and projects to the region.

A person lifts a sign as Missouri lawmakers hold a committee hearing to consider redrawing the state’s U.S. House districts Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Some rural residents also said they didn’t want to be combined into the same district as Kansas City.

“If they do that, people in Kansas City will not get their needs met in Congress. It totally dilutes their vote,” Glenda Bainbridge, a resident from rural Odessa, told The Associated Press as she waited her turn to testify against the bill.

Only one person spoke in favor of the new map at the hearing. A leader for Missouri Right to Life said the revised districts could help send another anti-abortion lawmaker to Washington, D.C.

Missouri redistricting process facing legal challenge

State Rep. Dirk Deaton, who’s sponsoring the redistricting legislation, said the proposed map would split fewer counties and cities among multiple districts than the current congressional districts.

Missouri state Rep. Dirk Deaton, R-Seneca, sponsor of a bill that would redraw the state’s U.S. House districts, looks into the crowd behind him as he testifies during a committee hearing on the subject Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

“It is an improvement. It is a reform of our current congressional map,” Deaton said.

He didn’t publicly disclose demographic data showing the racial makeup of the newly proposed districts. The Republican lawmaker said he didn’t have data on the estimated partisan composition of voters.

State Rep. Mark Sharp, of Kansas City, the ranking Democrat on the redistricting committee, denounced the plan as a “morally corrupt” attempt to push Cleaver “into an early retirement.”

Cleaver has said he would challenge the new map in court if it passes.

Ranking minority member Missouri state Rep. Mark Sharp, D-Kansas City, listens as lawmakers hold a committee hearing to consider redrawing the state’s U.S. House districts, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

The Missouri NAACP has already filed a lawsuit in state court seeking to halt the special session. It argues that Kehoe’s call for a special session is unconstitutional because no extraordinary circumstance exists to justify it. It also asserts that the Missouri Constitution prohibits redrawing congressional districts without new census data or a ruling invalidating the current districts.

Under Missouri’s current map, only one district has been even moderately competitive. Republican U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner won her suburban St. Louis seat with about 55% of the vote in each of the past two elections. Cleaver won reelection in both 2024 and 2022 with over 60% of the vote, and most of Missouri’s other districts had even larger victory margins.

Associated Press reporters Heather Hollingsworth and Nicholas Ingram contributed from Kansas City, Missouri.

Trump’s promised immigration crackdown in Chicago could last about six weeks, suburban official says

By SOPHIA TAREEN

CHICAGO (AP) — The Trump administration has informed Chicago-area officials that its promised immigration enforcement surge will operate seven days a week for about six weeks, according to the mayor of a suburb that houses an immigration processing center.

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Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson said in a letter to the village’s roughly 8,000 residents this week that the Trump administration told village officials that a two-story building used to temporarily hold immigrants before they’re detained or deported will serve as the “primary processing location” for the expected operation.

She said local leaders were told the operation will run for approximately 45 days, but she didn’t say when it might start.

Officials in the village just west of Chicago declined to elaborate Thursday, saying they were focused on the safety of residents, police and businesses.

“We will defend the constitutionally protected right to peaceful protest and will accept no interference with that right,” said LeTisa Jones, the village administrator. “Simultaneously, we will reject any illegal behavior that puts Broadview police officers’ safety or the safety of local businesses and residents at risk.”

President Donald Trump has targeted Chicago and other Democrat-led cities for expanded federal intervention. His administration has said it will step up immigration enforcement in the Windy City, as he did in Los Angeles, and would deploy National Guard troops to help fight crime. In addition to sending troops to Los Angeles in June, Trump deployed them last month in Washington, D.C., as part of his unprecedented law enforcement takeover of the nation’s capital.

Although details about the promised Chicago operation have been sparse, local opposition is already widespread and is building in the suburbs. State and city leaders have said they plan to sue the Trump administration.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks with kindergarten student at Prairie Oak Elementary School at 1427 Oak Park Ave. in Berwyn, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, Pool)Area residents received a letter that this ICE processing facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview, Ill., shown on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, will be the main processing center for President Donald Trump’s immigration operation in the Chicago area, expected to last more than a month. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld)Gov. JB Pritzker speaks with reporters after visiting Prairie Oak Elementary School in Berwyn, Ill., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, Pool)Local residents hold up signs as Gov. JB Pritzker speaks with reporters after visiting Prairie Oak Elementary School in Berwyn, Ill., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, Pool)Gov. JB Pritzker speaks with reporters after visiting Prairie Oak Elementary School in Berwyn, Ill., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, Pool)Show Caption1 of 5Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks with kindergarten student at Prairie Oak Elementary School at 1427 Oak Park Ave. in Berwyn, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, Pool)Expand

Activists, church groups and schools in the nation’s third-largest city have been preparing for the operation, during which the Department of Homeland Security intends to use a naval station north of Chicago for logistical support.

In Chicago, organizers postponed a downtown Mexican Independence Day festival scheduled for later this month because of fears in the community about the planned immigration crackdown. They did not set a new date.

In suburban communities, officials also tried to quell concerns.

“We understand that these developments have created anxiety and uncertainty for many in our community,” read a statement from the city of North Chicago and Lake County. “While these developments may feel unsettling, please know this: you are not alone.”

Others issued reminders of Illinois’ sanctuary laws, which are among the strongest in the country and generally bar local police from cooperating with federal immigration agents.

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, a frequent critic and target of Trump, visited a school Thursday in Berwyn, a largely Latino suburb of roughly 55,000 people, to assess the impact of the expected operation.

The Broadview processing center, which draws frequent protests, has been under fire recently for allegations that immigrants have been held for days instead of hours and forced to sleep on floors. The complaints led four Democratic members of Illinois’ congressional delegation to attempt an unscheduled visit to the site in June.

DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement didn’t immediately respond to Thursday requests for comment.