Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 296

Special counsel Smith asks court to pause appeal seeking to revive Trump’s classified documents case

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith asked a court Wednesday to pause prosecutors’ appeal seeking to revive the classified documents case against President-elect Donald Trump in light of the Republican’s presidential victory.

Smith’s team has been evaluating how to wind down the classified documents and the federal 2020 election interference case in Washington before Trump takes office because of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.

The case accusing Trump of hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate had been seen as the most legally clear-cut of the four indictments against Trump, given the breadth of evidence that prosecutors say they had accumulated. That included the testimony of close aides and former lawyers, and because the conduct at issue occurred after Trump left the White House in 2021 and lost the powers of the presidency.

But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July, ruling that Smith was illegally appointed by the Justice Department. Smith had appealed her ruling to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals before Trump’s presidential win last week over Vice President Kamala Harris.

Related ArticlesNational Politics | Republicans win 218 US House seats, giving Donald Trump and the party control of government National Politics | Matt Gaetz once faced a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department he could now lead National Politics | Pennsylvania Senate contest headed toward a recount, and possibly litigation National Politics | What to know about Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s pick to serve as attorney general National Politics | Speaker Mike Johnson wins GOP nomination to remain in job, faces full House vote in new year Prosecutors asked the 11th Circuit in a court filing Wednesday to pause the appeal to “afford the Government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.” Smith’s team said it would “inform the Court of the result of its deliberations” no later than Dec. 2.

The judge overseeing the federal case in Washington accusing Trump of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election canceled all upcoming deadlines in the case last week after Smith’s team made a similar request.

Smith is expected to leave his post before Trump takes office, but special counsels are expected to produce reports on their work that historically are made public, and it remains unclear when such a document might be released.

Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker contributed from Washington.

Pennsylvania Senate contest headed toward a recount, and possibly litigation

By MARC LEVY

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania between Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey and Republican David McCormick is headed for a statewide recount, as counties continued Wednesday to sort through outstanding ballots and the campaigns jousted over which ones should count.

The Associated Press called the race for McCormick last week, concluding that not enough ballots remained to be counted in areas Casey was winning for him to take the lead.

A noon deadline passed Wednesday for Casey to waive his right to a statewide recount and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s top election official, Secretary of State Al Schmidt, a Republican, announced that preliminary results had triggered a legally required statewide recount.

As of Wednesday, McCormick led by about 28,000 votes out of more than 6.9 million ballots counted — inside the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law.

Counties must begin the recount no later than Nov. 20 and must finish by noon on Nov. 26. It largely involves running paper ballots through high-speed scanners, a process that former election officials say might not change the outcome by more than a few hundred votes.

”It is an infinitesimal number, compared to the overall vote totals,” said Jeff Greenberg, a former Mercer County elections director.

Meanwhile, McCormick was in Washington this week, attending Senate orientation and caucus meetings to pick a new leader after Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate in last week’s election that saw Donald Trump win the White House.

Casey hasn’t conceded and, while Republicans pressure him on social media, his campaign manager said in a statement Wednesday that “McCormick and his allies are trying to disenfranchise Pennsylvania voters.”

Adam Bonin, a lawyer representing the Casey campaign in Philadelphia, said Republicans were aggressively and systematically challenging the provisional ballots of registered Democrats, delaying the vote counting process.

“What we are seeing this year is more organized, more disciplined, more directed and more comprehensive than what we saw in 2020,” Bonin said.

McCormick’s campaign consultant, Mark Harris, said large Democratic-controlled counties were dragging out the process by not adding the results of processed ballots to vote totals.

The McCormick campaign was challenging provisional ballots that it is allowed to challenge under the law, Harris said.

“This is clearly an effort to use lawfare to chip away at our lead,” Harris said. “This is not going to work. Dave McCormick is the senator-elect and will be the senator.”

Related ArticlesNational Politics | Republicans win 218 US House seats, giving Donald Trump and the party control of government National Politics | Matt Gaetz once faced a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department he could now lead National Politics | Special counsel Smith asks court to pause appeal seeking to revive Trump’s classified documents case National Politics | What to know about Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s pick to serve as attorney general National Politics | Speaker Mike Johnson wins GOP nomination to remain in job, faces full House vote in new year Counties, meanwhile, were busy Wednesday processing tens of thousands of provisional ballots and hearing challenges to some of them by lawyers for Casey, McCormick and the state parties. A provisional ballot is typically cast at a polling place on Election Day and is separated from regular ballots in cases when elections workers need more time to determine a voter’s eligibility to vote.

Litigation is possible. For instance, Bucks County’s Democratic-majority election board voted to count more than 400 mail-in ballots that lack a correct handwritten date on the outer envelope — something that Republicans are challenging and have opposed repeatedly in court.

Bucks County’s decision is in line with various decisions in state and federal courts that have deemed it unconstitutional or illegal to throw out such ballots. But higher courts — including the state Supreme Court most recently on Nov. 1 — have blocked those decisions, with litigation still pending.

Follow Marc Levy at twitter.com/timelywriter.

What to know about Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s pick to serve as attorney general

By MEG KINNARD

In picking Rep. Matt Gaetz as his nominee for attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump is looking to install a fierce loyalist who has been seen as divisive even within his own party.

Not one of the top names seen as a likely pick for the job, Gaetz’s selection was first pushed out on Trump’s social media network instead of a more formal announcement from his transition team as with most of his choices.

Here are some things to know about Gaetz.

He’s had legal issues of his own

The House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations that Gaetz was part of a scheme that led to the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl.

In June, the committee gave an unusual public update on its review, which it said also included whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.

The committee announced that it was no longer reviewing four other allegations involving the congressman, including that he shared inappropriate images or videos with colleagues on the House floor or that he accepted a bribe or converted campaign funds to personal use.

Gaetz has categorically denied all the allegations, which he has blamed on former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a longtime nemesis, though the probe began before McCarthy and Republicans took the majority in the House.

In 2023, the Justice Department ended a sex trafficking investigation with no charges against Gaetz.

He’s been loyal to Trump and echoed his attacks on the ‘deep state’

Having just won his fifth term representing much of the Florida Panhandle, Gaetz, 42, has been a frequent defender of Trump on cable news.

He traveled to New York earlier this year when Trump stood trial in his hush money case. He shared a photo of himself and other congressional Republicans standing behind Trump. His caption echoed the language Trump once used to address the extremist Proud Boys: “Standing back, and standing by, Mr. President.”

At Trump’s June debate with President Joe Biden, Gaetz was front and center in the spin room, talking up Trump’s successes. After Biden’s exit from the race, Gaetz was among those who helped Trump prepare for his subsequent debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, in which the former president made false claims about Haitian migrants eating people’s pets and other animals — claims that Gaetz, among others, had spread online.

Just hours before Trump announced his nomination, Gaetz wrote a post on X that echoed Trump’s frequent claims that he has been unfairly targeted by the justice system.

“We ought to have a full court press against this WEAPONIZED government that has been turned against our people,” Gaetz said. “And if that means ABOLISHING every one of the three letter agencies, from the FBI to the ATF, I’m ready to get going!”

If confirmed as attorney general, Gaetz would have oversight over both agencies.

He has roiled other Republicans

Gaetz has been a staunch defender of Trump but at times has irked fellow Republicans, including in last year’s leadership debate in the House chamber.

In early 2023, Gaetz was among a group of hard-right conservatives to oppose McCarthy’s bid for House speakership, forcing McCarthy to wait through 15 ballots of voting before earning the spot. And it was Gaetz who orchestrated the vote that ultimately to McCarthy’s ouster.

McCarthy has accused Gaetz of having him pushed out to stop the ethics complaint against him.

He’s an attorney

Gaetz earned a degree from the William & Mary Law School in 2007, going on to work for a firm in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

The Florida bar briefly suspended his license in 2021 due to unpaid fees, but the association’s website on Wednesday listed him as a member in good standing.

He may have a tough road to confirmation

Most Republicans dodged direct answers about whether they supported the incoming president’s pick. The GOP will have a 53-seat majority in the new Senate and would be able to rely on Vice President-elect JD Vance to break a 50-50 tie, allowing for a handful of defections.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he didn’t know Gaetz “other than his public persona, so we’ll handle it like any other nomination.”

“I’m not going to prejudge any of these,” Cornyn said, suggesting that the Senate look closely into the House Ethics Committee probe.

Related ArticlesNational Politics | Republicans win 218 US House seats, giving Donald Trump and the party control of government National Politics | Matt Gaetz once faced a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department he could now lead National Politics | Special counsel Smith asks court to pause appeal seeking to revive Trump’s classified documents case National Politics | Pennsylvania Senate contest headed toward a recount, and possibly litigation National Politics | Speaker Mike Johnson wins GOP nomination to remain in job, faces full House vote in new year South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, also a member of the Judiciary Committee, called Gaetz “a smart, clever guy” but posited that “he’ll have to answer some tough questions in the hearing, and we’ll see how he does.”

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one of Trump’s few Republican critics in Congress, said she was shocked to hear of Gaetz’s nomination, adding that, “I’m sure that there will be many, many questions raised at Mr. Gaetz’s hearing if in fact the nomination goes forward.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, another Trump critic, said that, “as far as I am concerned,” Gaetz was not a serious candidate.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, appeared to express doubts about the nomination, saying Gaetz will have “his work cut out for him” to win enough votes for confirmation.

“I’m sure it will make for a popcorn-eating confirmation hearing,” Tillis said.

Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri, Stephen Groves and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington, and Michelle L. Price in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed.

Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina, and can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP.

KNBR shakeup: Tom Tolbert, John Lund out at San Francisco’s longtime sports talk radio power

Tom Tolbert, the former Warriors player who became a Bay Area afternoon sports-talk radio staple for nearly three decades, and popular mid-day co-host John Lund are out at KNBR.

Tolbert was fired by the sports station on Wednesday shortly before the start of his regularly scheduled slot 2-6 p.m. slot with Adam Copeland and did not appear on the air. The station didn’t announce the reason for their absence, though SFGATE reported that Tolbert will be back on the air Thursday for a final show.

Barrett Media was first to report on Tolbert and Lund’s departure. Producer Danny Dunn was also let go by KNBR.

KNBR program director Mike Hohler confirmed Tolbert’s dismissal Wednesday evening. Tolbert did not immediately return a request for comment.

Tolbert, 59, is a Southern California native who played college basketball at Arizona under Lute Olson and was a teammate of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. Tolbert played seven seasons in the NBA, including three (1989-92) with the Warriors. He retired after playing the 1994-95 season with the Chicago Bulls and a year later was hired by KNBR. During his radio career he’s also worked on Warriors broadcasts as well as handling NBA analyst duties on local and national TV.

For the first 15 years at KNBR, Tolbert was teamed with station heavyweight Ralph Barbieri to form the “The Razor and Mr. T” afternoon drive-time show. Since Barbieri’s departure in 2012, Tolbert’s co-hosts included Lund, Rod Brooks, Ray Ratto, Larry Krueger and Copeland.

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“Another blow to radio. So sorry to share this. Tolbert is a legend who I always admired. “Razor & Mr T” were part of the fabric of SF radio. Just sad times for the industry,” former KNBR host Damon Bruce wrote on the social media platform X.

Lund was co-hosting the popular “Papa and Lund Show” with Greg Papa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The departures of Tolbert and Lund come nearly a year after KNBR made a series of on-and off-air moves, including letting go of longtime morning co-host Paul McCaffrey and evening host F.P. Santangelo. Bruce was let go in March of 2022.

Justice delos Santos contributed to this report.

49ers’ Deommodore Lenoir cashes in with contract extension after humble beginnings

SANTA CLARA — As a rookie cornerback, Deommodore Lenoir cost the 49ers their last practice of rookie camp because he inadvertently posted video of himself on social media jamming a receiver too aggressively during a non-contact practice.

A fifth-round draft pick out of Oregon, Lenoir saw the clip actually made SportsCenter and was instantly worried about his fate.

“I was like, ‘This is bad. I might be cut,’ ” Lenoir said Wednesday on the occasion of signing a five-year contract extension reportedly worth a maximum of $92 million.

Lenoir remembers then-assistant Cory Undlin asking him why he’d posted it, and Lenoir said he didn’t realize he had. Five minutes later Undlin called him back and said, ‘You’re good.’ “

The 49ers were stripped of their last practice of the May session, and later the organization was hit with a $100,000 fine and Shanahan himself was docked $50,000 for too much contact in organized team activities.

As far as Shanahan is concerned, it was Lenoir who got him fined. At least that’s what he tells him.

“First time I ever got mad at him,” Shanahan said. “But I was really excited about it despite that it took away from my kid’s college tuition. It showed we had the right kind of dude. He’s always been like that.”

After an inconsistent rookie season in 2021, Lenoir took a big leap in his second season. For the past two years, he’s been a standout at both nickel corner and as an outside cornerback. Still only 25, Lenoir is physical enough at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds to mix it up with linebackers and athletic enough to cover the NFL’s top receivers.

“He’s exactly what we want as a Niner,” Shanahan said. “The style of play, how good he’s become, just how much he loves football . . . he’s the same dude every day. I know we were pumped, the guys were pumped. It’s huge.”

Born as the ninth child in a family of 12, Lenoir said he was overtaken by emotion when he learned a deal had been struck Tuesday night.

“I burst into tears,” Lenoir said. “I’m finally able to change my family’s life for generations so it’s a blessing.”

Hoping to be a Day 2 draft selection, Lenoir lasted into Day 3 and the fifth round until he saw an area code pop up on his phone he was not familiar with. It was John Lynch, calling Lenoir to tell him he was a 49er.

“There was a 408 number calling,” Lenoir said. “I didn’t know which team it was because I thought the 49ers were in San Francisco.”

Defensive end Nick Bosa, himself a recipient of the 49ers’ financial largesse before the 2023 season (five years, $170 million), said recently he considered Lenoir somewhat of an “airhead” at first but quickly became a fan.

“Sometimes rookies, you need to tell ’em a few times to get things right,” Bosa said. “The generations below you, you kind of laugh at sometimes. But he’s great and he’s matured a lot.”

Said linebacker Fred Warner: “Being lock-down on the outside and being able to get it done on the inside is something you don’t see a lot in the NFL and so he’s getting paid like it.”

Lenoir, born and raised in Los Angeles, saw no reason to wait as Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk did to wring every dollar out of a negotiation.

“I’ve been a West Coast guy my whole life,” Lenoir said. “The camaraderie within the team, the players, my brothers, my family, I knew it was a place I could see myself long term.”

The biggest offseason expense will be quarterback Brock Purdy, who still has one year and $1.1 million left on his original rookie deal as the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. He won’t be playing out his deal any more than Bosa and Aiyuk did before receiving lucrative extensions.

Eligible to receive a contract extension for the first time, Purdy’s pay will go from a salary of $985,000 this year to more than $50 million for next season.

Guard Aaron Banks (65) is scheduled for unrestricted free agency after his 2024 contract expires.

49ERS NOT UNDER CONTRACT IN 2025

LG Aaron Banks: Second-round draft pick is making $3.066 million in the final year of his 2021 rookie deal.

CB Charvarius Ward: Reaches a void year next year and re-enters the market after signing three-year, $40.5 million in 2022.

LB Dre Greenlaw: Whenever the clock starts for Greenlaw to get back in action after tearing an Achilles in Super Bowl LVIII, he’ll be watched closely for the burst that earned him a two-year, $16.4 million extension before the 2023 season.

S Talanoa Hufanga: Making $4.95 million in last year of rookie deal. If Hufanga (wrist) doesn’t play return this season he’ll have played in 12 of the 49ers’ last 34 games.

LB De’Vondre Campbell: Signed to a one-year deal worth $5 million because of Greenlaw’s injury. Coming off his two best games after a rough start.

Others: CB Isaac Yiadom, QB Brandon Allen, CB Rock Ya-Sin, G Jon Feliciano, CB Ambry Thomas, RB Elijah Mitchell, LB Curtis Robinson.

WARD’S RETURN

Ward is getting closer to returning following the death last week of his 23-month-old daughter Amani Joi, although Shanahan did not have a specific timetable.

“He’s told us sooner than later and hopefully he’ll be in a a good place to come back,” Shanahan said.

Lenoir said he communicated with Ward once his deal was reached.

“I talked to Mooney, I talked to him last night. He was excited for me,” Lenoir said. “I was telling him can’t wait to have him back so we can get this thing on the road. He was in good spirits, he was happy for me.”

BOSA, KITTLE, INJURIES

Bosa (hip) and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) were among those who did not practice Wednesday. Bosa said the injury limited him against Tampa Bay but he hopes to be good to go by the end of the week. Shanahan said he wasn’t overly concerned about either in terms of availability to face Seattle Sunday.

Also not practicing were punter Mitch Wishnowsky (back), Ward (bereavement), tackle Trent Williams (ankle/rest) and tackle Kevin Givens (groin). Wide receiver Chris Conley (hamstring) was limited, as were Feliciano (knee) and Christian McCaffrey (Achilles).

Shanahan said McCaffrey suffered no setbacks after playing 56 of 64 snaps against Tampa Bay and that the “limited” designation was simply one of maintenance.

PUNTER INSURANCE

The 49ers signed punter Pat O’Donnell to the practice squad while Wishnowsky deals with a back injury.

O’Donnell is a nine-year veteran who kicked eight seasons for the Chicago Bears and last worked for the 2022 Green Bay Packers; he has a career average of 39.2 net yards per punt, which is better than Wishnowsky’s career-low mark this season of 36.3.

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Wishnowsky ranks 31st in the NFL with just 31 punts, but 11 of them pinned inside 20 (one blocked; no touchbacks).

The 49ers also signed running back Patrick Taylor Jr. to the practice squad and released running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Taylor was waived to make room for McCaffrey. Taylor has played in eight games and has seven carries for 25 yards and has 77 snaps on special teams.

Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill was released to make room for O’Donnell.

$63M awarded to improve rail between Monterey, Santa Barbara counties

SALINAS – Grant funding in the amount of $63 million from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program of the California State Transportation Agency, has been awarded to provide rail improvements along the Union Pacific Coast Line between Monterey and Santa Barbara counties.

The funding was awarded to the Facilitating and Accelerating Service Transformations on the Central Coast Program, or FAST Central Coast Program, according to the Transportation Agency for Monterey County.

The FAST Central Coast Program is a collaborative effort of the Coast Rail Coordinating Council involving the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, and the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency.

The Coast Line is a railroad line between Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, roughly along the Pacific Coast. It is the shortest rail route between Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

The grant award provides funding for several coordinated projects along the coast rail line between Monterey County and Santa Barbara County to increase ridership, reliability and train frequency. The coordinated projects include the King City Multi Modal Transportation Center which will establish a new rail station in downtown King City, including railroad siding upgrades and a staging area for National Guard service members connecting between the rail station and Fort Hunter Liggett, crossover and siding improvements near San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles stations that will improve train reliability and operational flexibility for increased train service along the Central Coast, and the Ortega Siding which will be built between Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, enabling a seventh Pacific Surfliner roundtrip and improving overall corridor efficiency for both freight and passenger rail.

The King City multimodal transit project will include a new Amtrak stop near Pearl Street east of First Street, according to the city in a previous report. Passenger service was provided in King City until the mid-1940s.

The design includes the relocation of the Pearl Street crossing to Broadway Street to provide access to the proposed facility. The grant will bring the total funding programmed and/or reserved for the project to approximately $52,875,000, which is projected to be enough to fund Phase I which is designed to accelerate access to passenger rail service and includes the rail platform, railroad crossing, new rail siding and parking area. Phase II will consist of the station building. The project is currently in the design process and the city is seeking approvals from Union Pacific.

“The funding is a transformative opportunity for King City by offering access, economic opportunity, and critical support for our military,” said Mayor of King City and TAMC Board Member Mike LeBarre in a press release. “We look forward to celebrating this monumental achievement when it’s completed.”

All rail improvements are expected to be completed by 2029 and will be advanced in partnership with the California Department of Transportation in a manner consistent with the network vision established in the State Rail Plan and included in ongoing Corridor Identification and Development Program efforts being advanced along the Central Coast.

A sizeable portion of the matching funds for this project is provided by Senate Bill 125 funding, with over $14 million committed to deliver this suite of projects.

The State of California Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program was created to fund transformative capital improvements that modernize California’s intercity rail, bus, ferry and rail transit systems to achieve the following policy objectives including reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, expand and improve transit service to increase ridership, integrate the rail service of the state’s various rail operations, including integration with the high‐speed rail system and improve transit safety.

More than $4.8 billion has been invested since 2023 to transit and passenger rail projects from competitive Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grants.

Montage Health, MCOE work toward fentanyl awareness

Montage Health and the Monterey County Office of Education have partnered up to combat youth fentanyl use. The partnership will help inform students, educators and parents about the dangers of fentanyl as well as dispersing life-saving overdose prevention medicine.

In 2014, Montage Health launched its Prescribe Safe program, geared toward addressing opioid addiction in the county. In 2018, Monterey County had the second-lowest opioid-related death rate in the state. Since then, overdose deaths increased dramatically and 2023 had more overdose-related deaths than the year before.

“At Montage Health, we recognize that the fentanyl crisis requires a comprehensive, community-wide response,” said Dr. Steven Packer, president/CEO of Montage Health in a news release regarding the partnership. “This partnership with the Monterey County Office of Education will allow us to extend our reach into schools, ensuring that educators, students and families are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to prevent overdoses and save lives.”

The Prescribe Safe program and its subsequent partnerships are funded by grants from the Montage Health Foundation. Since its inception, the program has partnered with over 65 local businesses to address opioid addiction and the rise of fentanyl in the drug market and in counterfeit medications.

Since the partnership with the county office of education was formalized this summer, 3,770 students across 29 student assemblies and events have learned about the problem and 632 boxes of naloxone, a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, have been distributed.

“We are committed to protecting our students and school communities from the devastating effects of fentanyl,” said Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Deneen Guss in the news release.

Through the partnership, school staff will receive training on fentanyl risks and naloxone, guidance on awareness education, prevention and advocacy and widespread school outreach. Fentanyl use and overdose trends among Monterey County youth will also be tracked through the program going forward.

Other outreach efforts include fentanyl awareness posters that have been distributed at school sites, a new resource webpage on the Monterey County Office of Education as well as a new resource “Tools for schools” webpage on Montage Health’s website.

This partnership follows a May report by the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury that investigated the fentanyl crisis among county youth and the effectiveness of awareness education in the county. The report recommended the Prescribe Safe/MCOE partnership be formalized to continue to effectively address the issue, which did happen this summer.

The report cited a Rand Survey from February which found more than 40% of people know someone who died from a drug overdose. The report also pointed to 2022 data that showed drug overdoses were the second-leading cause of death for youth 15-24 to explain the need for more widespread fentanyl education and prevention efforts in the county.

The report also recommended MCOE develop “a training program and resources for district personnel to implement peer-to-peer and youth leadership programs” by Dec. 31 as well as create wellness spaces to “support students with their mental health and/or drug awareness” by Nov. 30. In MCOE’s response to the report, Guss wrote both of these programs were in the process of being implemented.

“By working alongside Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program,” said Guss, “we can raise awareness, educate our youth and make lasting impacts to safeguard their health and well-being.”

Trump makes a victor’s return to Washington to meet with Biden and GOP lawmakers

By WILL WEISSERT and LISA MASCARO, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is making a victor’s return to Washington.

President Joe Biden will welcome him to the White House on Wednesday for an Oval Office visit that is a traditional part of the peaceful handoff of power — a ritual that Trump himself declined to participate in four years ago.

Trump also planned to meet with Republicans from Congress as they focus on his Day 1 priorities and prepare for a potentially unified government with a GOP sweep of power in the nation’s capital. His arrival amid Republican congressional leadership elections could put his imprint on the outcome.

It’s a stunning return to the U.S. seat of government for the former president, who departed nearly four years ago a diminished, politically defeated leader after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol but is preparing to come back to power with what he and his GOP allies see as a mandate for governance.

Ahead of the visit, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Republicans are “ready to deliver” on Trump’s “America First” agenda.

After his election win in 2016, Trump met with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office and called it “a great honor.” But he soon was back to heaping insults on Obama, including accusing his predecessor — without evidence — of having wire-tapped him during the 2016 campaign.

Four years later, Trump disputed his 2020 election loss to Biden, and he has continued to lie about widespread voter fraud that did not occur. He didn’t invite Biden, then the president-elect, to the White House and he left Washington without attending Biden’s inauguration. It was the first time that had happened since Andrew Johnson skipped Ulysses S. Grant’s swearing-in 155 years ago.

Biden insists that he’ll do everything he can to make the transition to the next Trump administration go smoothly. That’s despite having spent more than a year campaigning for reelection and decrying Trump as a threat to democracy and the nation’s core values. Biden then bowed out of the race in July and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him.

President Joe Biden walks out of the Oval Office to speak in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

In the wake of the election, the president has abandoned his dire warnings about Trump, saying in a speech last week, “The American experiment endures. We’re going to be okay.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is committed to “making sure that this transition is effective, efficient and he’s doing that because it is the norm, yes, but also the right thing to do for the American people.”

“We want this to go well,” Jean-Pierre added. “We want this to be a process that gets the job done.”

Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan echoed that sentiment, saying the administration will uphold the “responsible handoff from one president to the next, which is in the best tradition of our country.”

Wednesday’s visit is more than just a courtesy call.

“They will go through the top issues — both domestic and foreign policy issues — including what is happening in Europe and Asia and the Middle East,” Sullivan told CBS of Wednesday’s meeting. “And the president will have the chance to explain to President Trump how he sees things … and talk to President Trump about how President Trump is thinking about taking on these issues when he takes office.”

Traditionally, as the outgoing and incoming presidents meet in the West Wing, the first lady hosts her successor upstairs in the residence — but Melania Trump isn’t expected to attend.

After his 2016 meeting with Obama, Trump also visited lawmakers on Capitol Hill and will be doing the same Wednesday — not far from where a mob of his supporters staged a violent January 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol to try and stop the certification of Biden’s election victory.

When Trump left Washington in 2021, even some top Republicans had begun to decry him for his role in helping incite the Capitol attack. But his win in last week’s election completes a political comeback that has seen Trump once again become the unchallenged head of the GOP.

It’s not the first time Trump has returned to the Capitol area since the end of his first term, though. Congressional Republicans hosted Trump over the summer, as Trump was again solidifying his dominance over the party.

His latest visit comes as Republicans, who wrested the Senate majority from Democrats in last week’s elections and are on the cusp of keeping GOP control of the House, are in the midst of their own leadership elections happening behind closed doors Wednesday.

The president-elect’s arrival will provide another boost to Johnson, who has pulled ever-closer to Trump as he worked to keep his majority — and his own job with the gavel.

The speaker said he expects to see Trump repeatedly throughout the week, including at an event later that evening, and at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida “all weekend.”

It’s unclear whether Trump will also visit the Senate, which is entangled in a more divisive closed-door leadership election in the three-way race to replace outgoing GOP Leader Mitch McConnell.

Trump’s allies are pushing GOP senators to vote for Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who had been a longshot candidate challenging two more senior Republicans, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, for the job.

Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

Horoscopes Nov. 13, 2024: Jimmy Kimmel, turn an innovative idea into a lifestyle change

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Gerard Butler, 55; Jimmy Kimmel, 57; Whoopi Goldberg, 69; Joe Mantegna, 77.

Happy Birthday: Turn an innovative idea into a lifestyle change. List the pros and cons you face daily, consider what makes you happy and map out a plan that points you in a direction that eliminates negativity and leaves more time and space for what makes you feel good about life. Stop wasting time; utilize the added discipline you receive from Saturn this year to help you reach your target. Your numbers are 5, 13, 23, 27, 35, 44, 49.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Use your intelligence to outmaneuver anyone trying to exploit you. Don’t be naive or give anyone the power to make choices for you. Scour all avenues for opportunities and create what you deem best. Get a second opinion if you don’t like what someone offers as a diagnosis or plan. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put your energy where it counts. Make comfort and convenience your goals. Set high standards and research your options to determine the most efficient and affordable way to move forward with your plans. Change begins with you; promote your best offer and clarify what you want in return. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take care of business yourself. If you depend on others, you will be disappointed in the results. Use your intelligence, knowledge and resources to help navigate your way forward. Go through the proper channels to forgo delays. A trip, meeting or conference will encourage positive change. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Let your mind wander, but keep your money and possessions safe. Emotional spending is apparent if you buy into someone else’s dreams or succumb to a manipulative sales pitch. Back up, be more introspective and consider how your skills, attributes and talents can benefit you. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do it yourself. Relying on others to do things for you will lead to regret and faulty results. Keep your thoughts to yourself when dealing with business matters or associates. Pressure tactics will backfire, leaving you in the lurch. Keep life simple and stick to the truth. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Communication is necessary to ensure things get done correctly. You are overdue for a change, but first, you must take care of loose ends. Once you have all your ducks in a row, reward yourself with a pick-me-up that makes you feel good about your appearance and accomplishments. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Dealing with people from different backgrounds will require open-mindedness. Offer alternatives and be willing to meet halfway if that’s what it will take to get things done. Stick to the truth and verify the information you receive before you pass it along. An innuendo someone makes will be misleading. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Initiate change. Reset your schedule to ensure you have time to alter your preferences to suit your needs. Stay on top of money matters. Be sure to ask for a written estimate before you sign a contract. Research can help prevent making a costly mistake. Trust your intuition. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make a motion to do something that requires one of your talents and intelligence or that offers the opportunity to explore new possibilities and outlets. Let your passion rise and push you to do all that is required to make your dreams come true. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Keep your emotions hidden from those trying to find your weak link. Put your energy into achieving your goals and fend off interference by keeping a low profile and making every move count. Strategy, discipline and hard work will pay off. Do what you do best. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A creative outlet will spark your imagination and encourage you to turn something you love doing into a moneymaking operation. Jump-start your energy with excitement and enthusiasm; it will help build the momentum and support you need to reach your goal. A joint venture looks promising. 4 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Refuse to let someone else’s uncertainty slow you down. Don’t hesitate to do your best and implement a change that stimulates personal growth or self-improvement. Use your imagination and creativity to outmaneuver anyone competitive. A financial gain or contract looks promising. Romance is on the rise. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are disciplined, innovative and forthright. You are enthusiastic and dependable.

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.

Photos: The Warriors and their fans give Klay Thompson a fitting homecoming

Related ArticlesGolden State Warriors | Steph Curry steals the show for Warriors in emotional Klay Thompson homecoming Golden State Warriors | Splash Brothers take — and give — their best shots in Klay Thompson’s first game against Steph Curry and the Warriors Golden State Warriors | Klay Thompson showered with love during pregame celebration in return to Chase Center Golden State Warriors | Golden State Warriors | Klay Thompson’s return a chance for closure between the Warriors and their franchise legend San Francisco — For Klay Thompson’s anticipated homecoming, the Warriors brainstormed ideas to celebrate one of the most revered athletes in Bay Area history. They settled on giving away captain’s hats to every fan, and playing a tribute video for Thompson before he gets announced last in pregame warmups.

It’s an emotional night for a franchise that has been through so much in the “Golden era.” Thompson still is that important to the Warriors organization, and it showed.

Former Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson acknowledges staff lined up with Captain Klay hats as he arrives with the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) runs on to the floor for warmups before their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) makes a shot during warmups before their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) reacts as he watches a tribute video in his honor before their game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Fans with Captain Klay hats hold up signs in honor of Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) before their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) and Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) hug one another before the tipoff of the NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) reacts as he watches a tribute video in his honor before their game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.  (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) and Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) hug one another before the tipoff of the NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.  (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) lays up a three-point basket in front of Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody (4) in the third quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) drives to the hoop against Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins (22) in the third quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) dribbles past Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) and Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) fight on a rebound in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) drives to the hoop against Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins (22) in the third quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) gestures after making a three-point basket against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield (7) makes a basket against the Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford (21) and Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) disagree with the referee’s call after an offensive foul on Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) dribbles against Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) in the third quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) and Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) hug one another after their Warriors 120–117 win at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)