Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 281

Management continues to evolve at Laguna Seca

LAGUNA SECA >> For all of the new construction, resurfacing and racing that occurs on and around the track, management changes at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca also happen quickly. The wheels of business just take a little longer.

Last week, Friends of Laguna Seca and A&D Narigi Consulting, LLC jointly announced the management agreement between the parties will terminate on Dec. 31. A&D Narigi had acted as the day-to-day management company since the Friends of Laguna Seca had formally assumed management this past summer.

Last May, Lauri Eberhart, who ran Charlotte Motor Speedway for three years and served as lead counsel of Speedway Motorsports and Charlotte Motor Speedway for more than a decade, became CEO of Friends of Laguna.

The nonprofit organization, which began in 2016, signed a 55-year concession agreement lease to manage Laguna Seca Recreation Area, succeeding  A&D Narigi.

Laguna Seca opened in 1957 and was run until Jan. 1, 2020 by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP). They were succeeded by A&D Narigi.

“I have put a lot of time and effort into Laguna Seca Recreation Area and WeatherTech Raceway, and I am extremely proud of my teams’ efforts, which have yielded impressive results, as well as my personal and professional commitment to its future these past five years,” said John Narigi, president of A&D Narigi Consulting, LLC, in a prepared statement.

Narigi additionally commented that the termination of the management agreement “is the best step forward for Laguna Seca and for Friends of Laguna Seca to execute its long-term vision for the facility.”

Eberhart, who visited Laguna Seca many times before assuming her new responsibilities, said during a telephone interview with The Herald that she had several ideas for changes at Laguna Seca.

“Yes, I do have something in my mind that I would like to see, but we have to do a full assessment of what’s there, what we can use, what we can’t use,” she said.
“There are a lot of permitting issues we have to work through and deed restrictions we have to work through. I don’t want to put anything out there. But it would be something on par with the (international) events at the Monterey Aquarium or in Carmel-By-The-Sea. That’s the three-to-five-year plan.”

Earlier this month, the International Race of Champions (IROC) and WeatherTech Raceway announced the series will be part of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca next Aug. 13-16.

After nearly a two-decade absence, the IROC circuit returned last season. It’s never been held at Laguna Seca and not on the West Coast since 2002.

The new event, the “Unser Family Cup” exhibition race will feature authentic IROC race cars, with many piloted by past IROC competitors from NASCAR, Formula One, IMSA, INDYCAR, and Trans-Am racing.

A  Formula One exhibition has also been added to the Motorsports Reunion. It will showcase cars through the ages, from the earliest years to contemporary with modern technology. It celebrates the top racing series’ 75th anniversary.

“Since 2020, A&D Narigi, LLC has done a great service to Monterey County and Laguna Seca Recreation Area, including WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, in returning the operations of the facility to profitability and in the many improvements made to the park during the past few years, including the new racing surface and Mission Foods Bridge,” said Ross Merrill, president of the Friends of Laguna Seca in a statement. “Friends will take over management of Laguna Seca while retaining all existing employees. We are looking forward to a bright future for Laguna Seca under our new operating structure.”

The raceway recently has made several upgrades including a Turn 3 hospitality structure, restrooms and shower upgrades, landscaping improvements and a remodel of the pit row suites.

In December 2023, a group called the Highway 68 Coalition filed a lawsuit against Monterey County, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors and the Friends of Laguna Seca. It alleged nuisance issues for local residents, including increased noise and traffic, during racing events an on track days.

A settlement of the lawsuit was announced in March, with Friends of Laguna Seca reiterating in a press release the “long-term plans of Friends of Laguna Seca to conduct a previously planned sound impact assessment at the racetrack and carry out appropriate sound mitigation measures, all as part of being a good neighbor to the surrounding community.”

WeatherTech Raceway officials also recently released next season’s motorsports schedule. The year begins May 2-4 with the Laguna Seca SpeedTour (Trans Am) and continues through GRIDLIFE Laguna, Sept. 26-28. The IndyCar Grand Prix of Monterey is scheduled July 25-27.

When asked about additional plans for the facility, Eberhart said: “Anything is possible. What we are going to do is take a look at the physical plant. We are going to assess the property and the facilities. We are going to assess the schedule. We are going to take a look at everything.

“As a nonprofit, we have to make sure we are making as much money as possible to invest in the facility. And we have an obligation to make sure we have the highest and best use of the facility. But everything is on the table.”

Marina gas station canopy collapses, rainy weather continues

The holiday week is forecast to be a little rainy, but clearer than the recent weather over the weekend.

A gas station canopy fell in Marina Monday morning, crushing two cars in the process.

The Marina Fire Department reported that a gas station employee’s vehicle and a customer’s vehicle were smashed under the structure. No injuries were reported at the scene, and both the employee and customer were inside of the store when the canopy collapsed.

The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, though high winds were reported in the area according to the Marina Fire Department.

The wind is expected to calm down on Tuesday and Wednesday, but there is still a chance for rain.

The rain will continue Tuesday during the day, mainly before 4 p.m. Otherwise the forecast is cloudy with a high near 57. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected.

On Wednesday the forecast is sunny with a high near 61 and a low around 42. The same is expected on Thanksgiving Day with a high near 61 and a low around 45 degrees.

The National Weather Service Bay Area reported that between Monday and Wednesday the Monterey Peninsula can expect about an inch of rain and noted that there is some uncertainty in the number. It could be as little as half an inch or as much as an inch and a half of rain.

Clipboard: Bouyea making a case to get back into the NBA

Re-signed by the San Antonio Spurs in training camp and assigned to their G-League team in Austin, Jamaree Bouyea is tearing up the league through six games.

The 6-foot-2 Palma graduate and Marina native is leading Austin in scoring at 19.2 points a game and in steals at 3.0, while logging a team-high 37.4 minutes a night.

Bouyea, who honed his basketball skills with Seaside’s Finest as a youth, is second on the team in assists at 4.5 and blocks at 1.5, while pulling down 4.3 rebounds from his guard position.

Undrafted out of the University of San Francisco in 2022, Bouyea spent the end of last season with San Antonio and played with its Summer League team.

In his first two professional seasons, Bouyea has spent time in the NBA on 10-day contracts with the Miami Heat, the Washington Wizards, the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio.

In 14 career NBA games, the 25-year-old is averaging 2.6 points and 1.1 rebounds in 11 minutes on the hardwood.

Bouyea was named to the NBA G-League All-Rookie Team in 2023 at Sioux Falls and was a second-team G-League selection.

Prior to leading USF to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 25 years, Bouyea took Palma to its first state title appearance in 24 years in 2016.

Laporte racking up minutes

Makenzi Laporte has started all four games this year for the Chico State women’s basketball team, leading them in minutes played at 30.8 a game.

The former Salinas High four-sport standout shares the team lead in assists with nine, while averaging 13.5 points and 4.3 rebounds a contest.

The senior forward has shot 75 percent from the field in two games this winter, dropping in a season-high 19 points last week against Menlo.

In 60 career games for the Wildcats, Laporte has scored 604 points, pulled down 323 rebounds, has 74 assists and 40 steals.

Laporte is also a member of the Chico State women’s golf team, finishing 30th last year at the CCAA championships.

The Herald’s Athlete of the Year in 2021, Laporte was an all-leaguer in golf and basketball at Salinas High and played softball and lacrosse.

Dale brothers gearing up

Jasper and Wyley Dale have been key components off the bench for the nationally-ranked UC Irvine water polo team, which took part last weekend in the Big West Championships.

Despite missing three games with a concussion, the 6-foot-8 Wyley has produced 16 goals in 26 matches for UC Irvine, which is ranked No. 8 in the nation.

The 6-foot-6 Jasper has served as a distributor as well as a scoring threat, producing 11 goals and nine assists, giving him 20 points on the season.

The Anteaters went into last weekend’s Big West Championships having won nine of their past 10 matches, improving to 18-8 overall.

Listed as a utility player, Jasper has compiled points in 11 matches this year, collecting a season-high three goals against Whittier.

A member of the U.S. Youth National team in 2019 and 2023, Wylie has scored 27 goals in two seasons at UC Irvine.

The Stevenson graduates are both former Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division Most Valuable Players in water polo, with Jasper winning the award in 2021 and Wylie in 2022.

Montano should get NFL consideration

Abraham Montano has established himself as one of the more complete kickers in college football at New Mexico State, leading the team in scoring with 57 points.

The left-footed kicker has converted 13-of-16 field goal attempts with two of his misses being from beyond 50 yards.

Montano, who kicked a career-best 57-yard field goal earlier this year, is a perfect 17-of-17 in extra points and has 25 touchbacks among his 38 kickoffs.

A former Alisal High soccer standout, Montano’s leg strength and accuracy this fall should put him on NFL teams’ radar.

Owner of a school record 50-yard field goal at Hartnell College, Montana spent two years at Fresno State before entering the transfer portal and going to New Mexico State.

Montano was a part of Alisal’s Northern California Division II title team in soccer in 2018, earning all-Gabilan Division first-team honors.

CSUMB fall sports all-conference

Jennifer Limon was named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Defender of the Year for the Cal State Monterey Bay’s women’s soccer team.

The first player from the Otters to earn the prestigious award, Limon was also a first-team selection for CSUMB, which made its first CCAA tournament appearance in school history.

Teammate Danielle Castro was a second-team selection, while Nylah Mirshafiei, Audrey Reyna, Tiger Rendon and Evelyn Sandoval were honorable mention picks.

Hugo Vargas-Rios and Mason Ward were both named to the CCAA first team for the Otters men’s soccer team.

Jack Blickenstaff, Janos Kommerling and Soledad High graduate Alexis Sanchez were second-team selections, while Kane Ritchie earned honorable mention honors.

Jackie Wahl closed a chapter for the Otters volleyball team, earning second-team honors in the CCAA. Teammate Ruby Ennis was an honorable mention selection.

Coaches needed

Marina is looking for a varsity boys volleyball coach and a varsity baseball coach. Go to www.edjoin.org/MPUSD.

Seaside is looking for head coaches for varsity baseball, softball and boys and girls swimming. Contact athletic director Steven Vasquez at stvasquez.mpusd.k.12.ca.us

Salinas is looking for head coaches in boys’ volleyball and field hockey. Go to https://salinashscowboysathletics.com

Officials needed

Peninsula Sports Incorporate is looking for high school and middle school officials for all sports this season. Varsity officials are paid $100 a game. There is an immediate need for officials in the winter for boys’ and girls’ basketball, soccer and wrestling. Training is provided. Call Tom Emery at (831) 241-1101.

 

PHOTO: Sunset beach fun

Sergio Gonzalez, M.D., named to lead Kaiser Permanente Salinas clinic

SALINAS – Kaiser Permanente, the healthcare system which is expanding its reach and opening a clinic in Salinas after the first of the year, has named a physician leader for its new facility on Davis Road.

Gonzalez

Sergio Gonzalez, M.D., a family medicine physician with wide experience in Monterey County, will lead physicians and medical staff at Kaiser Permanente’s new medical offices located at 1930 N Davis Rd., in Salinas, starting Jan. 2.

Nearly a year ago, Kaiser Permanente announced that it would be expanding access to care by bringing its integrated coverage and medical services to northern Monterey County.

Gonzalez, a board-certified family medicine physician, joined Kaiser Permanente in 2014 and currently provides care to babies, children, adults and seniors in the San Jose area, according to a press release from the healthcare system. He is trained in obstetrics and has held numerous leadership positions at Kaiser Permanente over the years. He is on the faculty for Kaiser Permanente’s Family Medicine Residency program, teaching medical students and training family medicine physicians for the future.

“I know the health care needs of this community and I am committed to ensuring our clinical teams in Salinas provide high-quality, culturally-sensitive care to improve the health and well-being of the members and patients we serve,” said Gonzalez in the release.

He added that he is looking forward to his new role in Salinas as Kaiser Permanente expands into the northern Monterey County community.

In his new role, Gonzalez will oversee more than 70 care providers, including physicians and medical staff. The Salinas medical offices will offer a range of medical services including primary and specialty care, pediatrics, OB/GYN care, mental health care, laboratory, radiology and pharmacy services.

Gonzalez was born in Mexico and, at the age of 9, moved with his family to Santa Monica. He graduated from the University of California Los Angeles with a degree in physiological science and received his medical degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine. He received his medical training at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas where he worked as an attending physician at Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas – a federally-qualified health center that serves farmworkers and the agriculture community.

Since earlier this year, Kaiser Permanente has been converting a more than 30,500-square-foot retail building in north Salinas into a medical facility on a 2.68-acre site with about 100 parking spaces.

Kaiser Permanente will open its medical office in Salinas at the Boronda Crossing shopping center, on Davis Road, after the first of the year, staffed by Kaiser Permanente physicians. Hospital-based care and services will be offered through Watsonville Community Hospital, an award-winning, public, non-profit community health care provider, which Kaiser Permanente has partnered with since 2017.

Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health plans, serving 12.5 million members, according to its website. It was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Oakland. It comprises Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and its subsidiaries, and the Permanente Medical Groups. It has 40 hospitals, 614 medical offices, about 24,600 physicians, nearly 74,000 nurses and more than 220,000 employees. Kaiser Permanente’s annual operating revenue in 2023 was $101 billion.

49ers: Brock Purdy throws without pain, while it’s wait-and-see for Bosa, Williams

Quarterback Brock Purdy threw without pain Monday and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan will wait until midweek to evaluate the progress of edge rusher Nick Bosa and left tackle Trent Williams as the team determines whether they’ll play next weekend in Buffalo.

It remains to be seen who will and won’t be available when the 49ers embark on a cross-country trip to face the AFC East-leading Bills, currently 9-2 and the No. 2 seed in the conference.

The 49ers are expected to get a practice lift with the activation of linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who will begin his 21-day window off injured reserve after offseason Achilles surgery after being injured in the Super Bowl.

Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who worked with the scout team last week as he works through his grief following the loss of his 23-month-old daughter, may also begin getting work again with the first team.

Are things actually looking up for the 49ers?

One thing for sure is that the 49ers are looking up at everybody else in the NFC West but are still only a game out of first place with Seattle and Arizona at 6-5 and the 49ers and Rams at 5-6. It’s clear to Shanahan that any pathway to the playoffs would be as a division title rather than as a wild card, where Washington holds the final spot at 7-5.

“You look at the whole NFC picture and if you don’t win the division, 10-7 is not guaranteed to get in as a wild card by any means this year,” Shanahan told reporters during his weekly conference call. “That is why the Seattle game was so tough, and that’s why last night was even worse.

“We know exactly what the playoff situation is, but really all that matters is this week when you do need to go on a run and put a lot of wins to even think of that, then you’d better be thinking of only one thing – and that’s Buffalo.”

Shanahan believes the 49ers will show up to practice with a proper sense of urgency.

“We’ll come back Wednesday fully understanding the situation we’re in and coming back ready to fight because that’s all we can do right now is just fight our butts off,” Shanahan said. “And I’ll be very surprised that not every guy in this building when I see them Wednesday isn’t ready for that exact mindset that we’re going to need to pull off what we feel we can.”

Should Purdy be unable to go, Shanahan said Brandon Allen would get a second start at quarterback after he played Sunday in Green Bay. Shanahan’s review on Allen was mostly positive, although two fumbles (he lost one) were a problem.

Here’s how the wounded are faring with the 49ers meeting Monday to assess their health and the myriad mistakes, missed tackles and penalties that proved costly in Green Bay:

Purdy: He didn’t exactly come out smoking Monday, but it appeared to be a step in the right direction with his sore shoulder. Purdy had two MRIs last week that revealed no structural damage, including one after practice Thursday when he aborted his plan to throw because of pain in his shoulder.

“He threw lighter today to see if the rest did help, and the rest did help him,” Shanahan said. “We’ll let him rest all the way until Wednesday and we’ll take the exact same course. Hopefully it responds better this week than it did last week with the rest.”

Bosa/Williams: Bosa stayed behind to rehab his hips and obliques, while Williams, in hopes of playing went to Green Bay with an ankle bone bruise but was scratched.

“They’re in the same boat as Brock,” Shanahan said. “We’ve had MRIs, we understand it, just waiting to see how they respond. They didn’t respond great last week. Hopefully it turns a better corner than it did last week.”

Greenlaw: If all goes according to plan, Greenlaw will practice for the first time this season Wednesday. After 21 days, Greenlaw must either be put on the 53-man roster or finish the season on I.R. General manager John Lynch said last week on KNBR-680 radio spot that he would expect Greenlaw to use most of the 21 days before being put on the active roster.

Ward: The veteran corner spent last week working with the scout team and could get back on the field in Buffalo.

“He’ll get out there Wednesday and see how it goes,” Shanahan said. “that’s not something I’m pushing him on. Trying to go his speed. and I know how he talked last week and hopefully he’ll take another step forward this week.”

Defensive lineman Kevin Givens: Hasn’t played or practiced since Week 7 with a groin injury but will put that injury to the test Wednesday in practice.

Guard Aaron Banks, wide receiver Jacob Cowing, defensive lineman Jordan Elliott: All are in the concussion protocol.

Guard Dominic Puni (shoulder) and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (knee): Both are awaiting the result of MRIs which will determine practice availability this week.

Guard/center Jon Feliciano: The 21-day practice window expired Monday on Feliciano, who was rehabbing a knee injury. He was not activated and will spend the rest of the season on injured reserve.

If Brock Purdy is unable to go, Brandon Allen would get another start when the 49ers visit Buffalo Sunday.

FRED AND DEEBO

With the 49ers missing so many key players, the need for star veterans such as linebacker Fred Warner and wide receiver Deebo Samuel to step up was acute. Neither had anything approaching his best game.

Warner had nearly as many missed tackles (four) as actual tackles (six), none of them for losses.

“I think Fred’s still playing at a high level,” Shanahan said. “I know he’s got high standards so when he has something like that it’s going to stick out, but Fred’s still playing like one of the best players in the league.”

As for Samuel, he had two dropped passes. Including one on what might have been Allen’s toughest throw into a tight window that wound up being intercepted. Samuel had an 82-yard kickoff return erased on a hold by Eric Saubert that the 49ers disputed (Saubert’s kept both hands in, but replays showed two fist fulls of jersey).

Samuel has five receptions for 43 yards in the 49ers’ last two losses and one carry for minus-1 yard. He has 34 receptions for 511 yards and one touchdown this seaosn.

Shanahan noted the two drops as crucial but said he believes Samuel has the requisite burst to remain a threat and that the 49ers simply didn’t have the ball enough against Green Bay.

“We really weren’t able to stay on the field consistently enough to get any player going,” Shanahan said.

SNAP JUDGMENTS

72: Safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha and middle linebacker Fred Warner played every defensive snap.

49: When Allen at quarterback and Jaylon Moore at left tackle play every snap (along with Colton McKivitz, Puni and Jake Brendel) then you know there’s a problem with injuries. And Allen and Moore were the least of their problems.

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44: Leonard Floyd played 61 percent — about his usual number — even without Bosa in the lineup. With 3 1/2 sacks in his last two games, he’s a half-sack behind Bosa for the team lead.

33: Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. played 67 percent of the snaps — the same as Samuel — and did not have a pass thrown his way.

21: Robert Beal Jr. played a season-high number of snaps in Bosa’s absence at defensive end and did not appear on the stat sheet for having a tackle or an assist.

9: Running back Jordan Mason has played 14 snaps in three games since McCaffrey’s return and has six carries for 26 yards.

4: Tashaun Gipson was promoted to the 53-man roster but still hasn’t played on defense in three games at safety. He had four special teams snaps against Green Bay. 

Is the world more dangerous than ever for travelers? A global risk expert weighs in

By TravelPulse (TNS)

While 2024 was a year that brought about significant, continued post-pandemic recovery for the travel industry, it was also a period of time marked by instability in some locations around the world.

From attacks on the rail lines during the Paris Olympics to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, not to mention the war in Ukraine, the global travel realm in 2024 was fraught with challenges.

It is against this backdrop that the international security and medical services provider Global Guardian recently released its 2025 Global Risk Map.

Published annually, the map is meant to help travelers better understand the current global risk landscape. In order to develop its guidance, experts at Global Guardian assess a long list of country-specific security risk factors and indicators, including crime, health, natural disasters, infrastructure, political stability, civil unrest and terrorism.

For 2025, Global Guardian’s assessment results underscore the reality that disruption globally and domestically continues to increase, and now more than ever travelers need to be prepared when exploring the world.

As part of the latest assessment, Global Guardian highlighted a handful of specific global regions that are at particular risk of destabilization over the next year and beyond.

Here’s a closer look at those regions, along with insights from Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner, who recently spoke with TravelPulse at length about the risks travelers may face in 2025.

Here are the regions at risk of destabilization in 2025:

Middle East/North Africa

Israel’s existential battle against Iran is set to continue into 2025, says the Global Guardian report.

“In July 2024, Israel assassinated Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) safehouse in Tehran, and Iran has pledged revenge,” the report explains.

“This comes as Iran and its web of regional proxies took their war on Israel out of the shadows and into the open following October 7, 2023, with seven live fronts.”

Global Guardian also predicts that Israel’s regional war will shift from Gaza to the West Bank and Lebanon in the year ahead, heightening tensions with Hezbollah, while Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean will persist.

The report adds that as “we enter 2025, Israel may assess that its strategic window to prevent a nuclear Iran is rapidly closing and choose to act.”

The ongoing civil war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is also of concern, according to Global Guardian’s risk analysis. The conflict “has created a dire humanitarian situation with ethnically motivated violence on the rise,” says the report.

Latin America

Some of the areas of concern in the Latin American region include Venezuela and Mexico, according to Global Guardian.

The risk in Venezuela is tied to the country’s long-standing territorial dispute with neighboring Guyana, says the report.

“Since 2019, the U.S. Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from U.S. Embassy Caracas and suspended all operations,” explains Buckner. “Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela. Shortages of gasoline, electricity, water, medicine, and medical supplies continue throughout much of Venezuela. Simply put, Venezuela is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Western travelers and should be avoided.”

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In Mexico, meanwhile, the problems include drug cartel-related violence and theft, among other issues, says the report.

Mexico recently inaugurated its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and like her predecessors she will face challenges “reining in cartel violence, corruption, extortion, theft and kidnapping,” says the report.

“As such, security continues to be a top concern in Mexico’ ” says the report, which categorizes Mexico as “high risk” when it comes to travel for 2025.

Countries classified as high risk experience regular conflict, criminal activity or civil unrest — and have not effectively managed those risks.

The Global Guardian report also suggests there may be heightened risks in Mexico now that Donald Trump has been reelected U.S. president.

“Bilateral relations between the U.S. and Mexico could dramatically deteriorate. Trump has promised a mass deportation operation, which could sour relations between the U.S. and Mexico, increasing risks to businesses operating in Mexico,” the report adds.

Asked to comment on Mexico’s high-risk designation, Buckner stressed that the situation in the country is extremely nuanced, adding that it’s a vast oversimplification to call the entire country high risk.

“There are pockets of Mexico that are wildly safe and wonderful to visit and people shouldn’t hesitate to go,” Buckner told TravelPulse. “And there are also pockets that are unsafe and dangerous.”

The good news, added Buckner, is that Mexico’s new president is focusing a great deal of effort and energy on addressing the problems surrounding drug cartels, which are the source of a great deal of the risk.

Buckner was quick to add however, that as long as there’s demand for drugs, the drug cartel situation is likely to remain problematic.

“The U.S. is driving the drug demand — we consume more drugs then the rest of the world,” explained Buckner. “It’s really overly simplified to paint Mexico as the bad guy, because if there wasn’t demand, we wouldn’t need the supply. But the demand is real and violence comes with that.”

Representatives for Global Nexus, a government and public affairs consultancy that advises travel and tourism companies and interests in Southern Mexico, told TravelPulse that while drug-related violence has been known to occur, it involves members of the drug cartel targeting each other, they’re not targeting tourists.

“There is an ongoing battle between small drug vendors who use the beach to sell product to tourists hanging out on the beach,” explained Ruben Olmos, Global Nexus president and CEO, in reference to the Quintana Roo region, which is popular with tourists. “There have been cases where gunfire has been exchanged between these groups. They are targeting themselves. They are fighting over ‘This is my beach’ and they initiate a shootout.”

However, added Olmos, that the U.S. State Department’s risk categorization for Quintana Roo (which is separate from the Global Guardian risk assessment) has not changed.

Located on the State Department’s Mexico page, the risk assessment for Quintana Roo remains in the “Exercise Increased Caution” category, which is below the top risk categories of “Do Not Travel” and “Reconsider Travel.”

The Exercise Increased Caution designation means “Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security,” explains the State Department’s website.

Olmos also pointed out that Mexico is the only country that has a map on the U.S. State Department website that covers every single state in the country, providing details for travelers about which states are safest.

Sub-Saharan Africa

In June 2024, thousands of young people took to the streets in Kenya to protest a controversial tax bill. The protesters were met with heavy-handed policing, including the use of live fire and mass arrests, says the Global Guardian risk report.

Despite the local security response, protests continued. The success and tenacity of the Kenyan movement has triggered similar protests or dissent in other countries including Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and Nigeria, says Global Guardian.

That is just a portion of the risk Global Guardian sees for Sub-Saharan Africa over the course of 2025.

“With multiple conflicts escalating across the continent, aging leaders leaving behind unclear successions, and entrenched regimes with dissipating legitimacy, Sub-Saharan Africa now looks much like the North African and Arab world in the early 2010s,” says the report. “While the dynamic unfolding in Africa might not yet merit the label of “African Spring,” a significant change to the continent’s political status quo is coming.”

A complete list of extreme and high-risk designations

Several countries received an extreme or high-risk designation on the new Global Guardian risk map for 2025, including more than a few that are popular with leisure travelers or tourists.

Extreme risk countries are those that Global Guardian says are “actively engaged in conflict, while also experiencing severe criminal activity and civil unrest.These countries are insecure; state institutions are too weak to manage militant groups or large-scale disasters.” They include Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Lebanon, Mali, Niger, Somalia, Ukraine, West Bank, Gaza and Yemen.

The current list of high-risk countries, which are countries that experience regular conflict, criminal activity or civil unrest and have not effectively managed those risks, includes Bangladesh, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Libya, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan, Uganda, Venezuela

Officials from the Jamaica Tourist Board provided a statement to TravelPulse in response to Global Guardian’s designation of the country.

“Last month, Global Guardian, a private security provider, released its 2025 Global Risk Map, which included Jamaica, amongst other destinations,” said the Tourist Board. “It is important to note that the crime rate against visitors is notably low at 0.01% and the majority of Jamaica’s tourism product remains unaffected.”

The country’s tourism officials added that Jamaica has welcomed 3 million visitors this year and boasts a high repeat visitor rate of 42%.

“The island is consistently ranked among the top destinations for international travel and visitors continue to come with confidence to enjoy all that Jamaica has to offer,” the statement adds.

When it comes to Jamaica, Buckner offered similar comments to those of Mexico, noting that the situation is impacted by drug-related violence and the experience on the ground is nuanced and cannot be painted with a broad brush.

“In the same vein as Mexico — Jamaica can be a wonderful place to visit,” says Buckner. “There are pockets of beauty and low crime and as long as you are careful, it’s a very low threat.”

Bottom line on travel risks for 2025

Buckner, a retired Army colonel, maintains that the world is indeed a more risky place heading into 2025. The challenges in the Middle East and Ukraine are at the forefront of the instability, but are hardly the only cause for concern.

“Israel has now gone to Gaza and cleaned out Hamas, they’re now moving north into Lebanon, and we are convinced Israel will strike Iran,” Buckner said during an interview that took place prior to Israel’s strike on Iran. “If that occurs you are going to see violence across the Middle East.”

“But there are over 100 conflicts across the globe,” continues Buckner. When you combine that reality with other challenges the world is currently grappling with, including the destabilizing influences of climate change, there are plenty of risks for travelers to bear in mind when planning a journey for the coming year.

He wraps up by offering a few tips for travelers, a check-list of sorts, to work through when planning or considering travel to a specific country in 2025:

— If you don’t know who to call or how you are going to negotiate if someone is kidnapped, you shouldn’t go there.

— Consumers need to read the fine print on travel insurance because it does not cover war zones, terrorism or natural disasters, says Buckner. And travelers are often surprised and find out too late that these types of events are not covered.

— If you get stuck or stranded, if you don’t know who you are going to call to get you out of that situation, know what organizations locally or internationally are available to help you.

©2024 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Horoscopes Nov. 25, 2024: Christina Applegate, pour your energy into your health and financial wellness

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Katie Cassidy, 38; Jerry Ferrara, 45; Christina Applegate, 53; Bruno Tonioli, 69.

Happy Birthday: Take the initiative and pour your energy into your health and financial wellness. Step outside your comfort zone and utilize new connections and insights to add stability and security to your life. Living within your means and fixing instead of replacing possessions that need extra attention will help you budget your bank accounts and encourage you to take better care of yourself. Your numbers are 3, 12, 17, 22, 29, 37, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Refuse to let uncertainty disrupt your plans. Reflect on similar events, and you’ll devise a system or strategy that gives you the freedom to move forward. Build a future based on what you know, and progress and expansion will follow. An unexpected situation will offer a unique change. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Slow down, accumulate your thoughts and digest the possibilities that depend on how you press forward. The desire to expand your ideas and take a risk will backfire. Take a moment to rethink your strategy. Today, it’s better to observe than to react. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Someone will offer hype and hope, but more is needed. Listen to the sales pitch; follow the dots closely, and you’ll soon see where they lead. Take what validates you and set your game plan. It’s best to follow your heart and take control. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Give your emotions a rest and let logic take over. Discover what moves you creatively and start a project that allows you to use your imagination and skills to explore moneymaking opportunities. It’s time to promote and sell what you have to offer. Trust and believe in yourself. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be open to learning rather than to doing the work for someone else’s benefit. Let your talent shine through, and don’t hesitate to present what you can do to those in a position to help you flourish. Attending and networking at conferences and trade shows will encourage new contacts and possibilities. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Establish your position, and don’t limit your budget. Someone will be happy to dismantle your plans or to lead you in a direction that benefits them more than you. Focus on what’s best for you and incorporate whatever is necessary to help you reach your goal. Romance and self-improvement are favored. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Discovering, learning and applying the latest technology to your work will raise standards and turn you into a role model everyone looks to for guidance. A mental or physical journey will offer insight and new dimensions to your goal. 3 starsSCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A change of routine will soothe your soul. Look before you leap, and then embrace what comes your way. Implement ideas that engage your brainpower to step up and offer food for thought. Engage in conversations that let your imagination flourish and encourage you to pursue your dreams. 4 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Increase your investments and put more thought and time into raising your standards and daily routine. A healthy outlook and regimen will boost confidence and encourage a positive outcome. Be open regarding your intentions and replenish any relationship or work ethic that requires a jump-start. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A change at home will help you unleash your creativity and embark on something that improves your life by increasing functionality. A uniform approach and organized surroundings will help you see clearly and diminish any uncertainty you harbor. Don’t give in to someone’s negativity. Follow your heart. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Dig in and get things done. Refuse to let what others do or say dictate how you proceed. Change only what isn’t working for you. Concentrate on what you do best and apply it to what needs doing. Your leadership ability will shine through and help you gain respect. 5 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Refuse to let the negativity you face drag you down. Distance yourself from anyone trying to lead you astray, tempt you with excessive behavior or discourage you from taking the path that brings you peace of mind and stability. Attend events that resonate with you, and you’ll meet someone special. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are energetic, proactive and sensitive. You are understanding and flexible.

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.

Kurtenbach: 49ers’ ugly history is repeating itself

For months, it has hung over the 49ers.

Call it a hangover, a letdown, or karmic retribution, but 12 weeks into the season, they haven’t been able to shake it.

In fact, it just keeps getting worse.

The Niners have put some duds on the board this lost campaign, but none of their underwhelming performances quite compare to Sunday’s 38-10 loss to the Packers in Green Bay.

Is the Niners’ season technically over at 5-6? No.

But it is spiritually over.

It might have been over before it started: The 2020 vibes emanating from this team since the Super Bowl loss in February have been unmistakable.

Now, they’re undeniable. The Niners are just repeating unfavorable history at this point.

When San Francisco came out of the midseason bye at 4-4, the team had one rule for the second half: Don’t lose back-to-back games.

Do that, and your fate will fall out of your hands. And fate would never be on the Niners’ side this season.

Well, the Niners lost that second straight game Sunday. It took them three weeks post-bye to provide the death knell to a cursed campaign.

And, my goodness, Sunday’s loss was an embarrassment from start (a near-fight pregame) to finish (Deebo Samuel refusing to talk to the media afterward).

Need we go over what happened between those points?

Yes, the 49ers stepped onto the Lambeau Field turf without their three most important players—quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder), defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique, hip), and left tackle Trent Williams—but San Francisco continued to play the same brand of flawed football that has marred this season.

Green Bay didn’t even play particularly well Sunday. Packers quarterback Jordan Love — looking for deep-shot touchdowns instead of controlling the ball with a lead — messed around and offered the Niners a handful of opportunities to make Sunday’s contest a competitive game.

The 49ers refused, adamantly, to take advantage. This team insists on making it hard on itself.

And in a game where a Niners win would only come by the smallest of margins, they turned in a self-sabotaging performance for the ages, not only failing to take the Packers’ well-wrapped gifts at the start of the holiday season, but also missing tackles at a record-setting rate, committing nine penalties — including three on special teams — and turning the ball over three times.

Yes, that’s the performance the Niners delivered when only a clean game would do (and even that probably wouldn’t have been enough to win).

There was a moment halfway through the second quarter Sunday, with the Niners already down 10-0 and pinned deep in their own territory, that San Francisco’s defense had back-to-back 12-men-on-the-field penalties.

Yes, the Niners were so disorganized that they were called for a 12-man penalty, which wiped out an end-zone interception. Then, after a long stoppage, they huddled and came out with too many men again.

Let that futility sink in for a moment.

This is an unserious football team, folks.

And the Niners had to hone that level of failure over the last few months. Playoffs? Super Bowl? Get real. Sunday’s performance is what they’ve been working towards all season. The loss to the Packers was their showcase event.

So stop listening to anyone who suggests there’s a better form of football lying dormant with this team. Ignore the idea that if this team “just gets healthy,” they’ll finally look like a quality operation.

It’s a lost year — a byproduct of this war of attrition they call professional football. It stinks, sure, but it can’t be totally unexpected, either.

And I know what happens next. You might have erased it from your memory, though. I don’t blame you — it happened in 2020, after all.

Outside of there not being a worldwide pandemic, the circumstances at hand for the Niners are shockingly similar to those of 2020. The battered-and-bruised Niners went into their nationally televised Week 13 game against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills with a 5-6 record and a misplaced belief that if they could get back to .500 on the season, everything would be OK.

They were smoked — Allen worked them over — and the Niners admitted defeat and limped to the season’s finish line.

Can you guess who the 5-6 Niners play next in Week 13?

Let me put it this way: It’s not Brandon Allen.

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It has been suggested that history doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.

This might as well be a homonym.

So let’s learn the lesson from the past:

In a season defined by sinking play and lowered expectations, let’s skip the part where we pretend there’s something left for these Niners.

August malaise has turned into November agony, and it’s only going to get worse in December.

So, if the Niners can land an ounce of luck this season, let it be for their draft position in April.

49ers’ blowout loss to Packers went far beyond which players were missing

No Brock Purdy, no Nick Bosa and no Trent Williams.

Not that it mattered with the amount of mistakes the 49ers made Sunday, desecrating Lambeau Field with penalties, turnovers and missed tackles in a 38-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The 49ers could have had all three of their big names as well as Charvarius Ward, Javon Hargrave, Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Aiyuk and the 2023 vintage Christian McCaffrey in the lineup and been hard-pressed to even keep it close with the kind of performance they put forth in falling to 5-6.

It was a day the 49ers needed to be buttoned up, execution-oriented and mistake-free to beat a Packers team on their home field that is 8-3 and bound for the playoffs on a day in which they were without some of their most important players.

Instead, it was a clinic in how to take a game that could have been competitive and make it an embarrassing blowout loss — the third-worst point spread defeat since coach Kyle Shanahan arrived in 2017.

Quarterback Brandon Allen, subbing for the sore-shouldered Purdy, had an interception that went off the hands of Deebo Samuel and lost a fumble. He was 17 of 29 for 199 yards and a 3-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle. But given the circumstances, Purdy or No. 3 quarterback Josh Dobbs would have met a similar end result.

The 49ers simply couldn’t get out of their own way, which served as a magnifying glass into a team that is crippled by injuries but also seriously flawed as they trudge toward the end of a season where 9-8 might be a pipe dream.

“I’m not really concerned with how many guys we missed today because we didn’t play good enough,” 49ers Shanahan said. “But when are missing some guys, you have to be better and when you have those penalties and don’t stop the run and had those three turnovers in the second half, that’s how you get embarrassed.”

Penalties? How about nine for 77 yards. Previously error-free rookie guard Dominick Puni had three of them. A holding penalty on Eric Saubert erased an 82-yard kickoff return by Deebo Samuel to open the second half, and Ricky Pearsall had a 20-yard punt return erased on a holding call by Nick McCloud. The defense put 12 men on the field twice near the goal line — getting snookered by Green Bay’s substitution tactics that left Shanahan livid.

Quarterback Brandon Allen (17) recovers his own fumble in the first half of a 38-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Stopping the run? Josh Jacobs had 91 yards by halftime and finished with 106 on 26 attempts with three touchdowns. The last time the 49ers gave up 100 yards in the regular season was 103 yards to quarterback Justin Fields of the Bears on Oct. 31, 2021. The last time a running back broke 100 was Jonathan Taylor of Indianapolis a week earlier. That was 55 games ago.

(Note: Aaron Jones of Green Bay had 108 yards against the 49ers in last year’s divisional round playoff game).

By the time the game was over, Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur had seized a big part of the Shanahan belief system — that rushing attempts equal success — as the Packers ran the ball 42 times for 169 yards and had a 36:43 to 23:17 advantage in time of possession.

The 49ers, playing from behind, ran the ball 16 times for 44 yards.

“We knew the challenge their running backs gave us going into the game and we just didn’t execute,” linebacker Fred Warner said.

The 49ers halted their own momentum at every turn and when the score was 17-7 at halftime it seemed as if it could be considerably worse. This wasn’t a 10 a.m. body clock time for the 49ers either, but rather an afternoon slot time that should have prevented their first-half sleep-walking session.

By the count of Fox statisticians, the 49ers had 10 missed tackles by the end of the first quarter, had 15 at halftime and reached 20 before the end of the game.

“That’s about as bad as it can get, probably the worst I’ve been a part of,” Warner said. “Even then, it was 17-7, a 10-point game, had everything in front of us. We just didn’t make the plays when we needed to.”

Warner will get no argument from Shanahan, who watched as the Packers converted all three 49ers second-half turnovers — Allen’s interception and lost fumble and a lost fumble by McCaffrey — into touchdowns.

“I thought we got out of our gaps a number of times, we had way too many missed tackles,” Shanahan said. “Them being able to control the clock in the first half was one of the worst I’ve been a part of. I thought we stepped it up in the second half, especially in the run game. It gave us an opportunity to get back in the game, and to have those three turnovers that led to 21 points, you combine that with the penalties, that’s how you get embarrassed like that.”

On a day when the 49ers needed their healthy stars to shine, it didn’t happen other than Kittle, who had six receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. Samuel has been a rumor of late, and it was just his luck that his kickoff return that could have provided momentum went for naught.

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Samuel caught one pass for 21 yards and didn’t run the ball from scrimmage. McCaffrey had 11 rushes for 31 yards with a long of nine and caught three passes for 37 yards as he works his way back from bilateral Achilles tendinitis.

Asked where the 49ers would find a way keep fighting, McCaffrey set his jaw.

“Three’s always a fight,” McCaffrey said. “Each day you’ve got to wake up, look yourself in the mirror and get better whether you win or lose. Speaking for me personally, that’s what I’m going to do.”

No doubt McCaffrey means it, but the 49ers have been well-meaning all season and it hasn’t done much to change an injury-riddled, mistake-filled season.

“We had all the confidence in the world with who we were going into the game with,” Warner said. “With the result of the game it’s going to look like we thought we didn’t have a chance. That wasn’t the case at all. We were confident. We came in ready to go . . . you’ve got take it on the chin, take it like a man and move on.”