Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 325

Harris’ interview with Fox News is marked by testy exchanges over immigration and more

By ZEKE MILLER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in a combative first interview with Fox News on Wednesday, sparring on immigration policy and shifting policy positions while asserting that if elected, she would not represent a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency.

Harris’ interview with Fox’s Bret Baier marked her first foray onto the network, which is popular with conservative viewers, as she looked to broaden her outreach to GOP-leaning voters with less than three weeks until Election Day. Her nearly-30 minute sit-down with Baier repeatedly grew heated, with the two talking over each other, as he pressed her on immigration and her changing policy stances since her first run for president in 2020.

When Baier kept talking as Harris tried to respond to his challenges on immigration, Harris told him, “May I please finish. … You have to let me finish please.”

Harris tried repeatedly to pivot the conversation to attacking Donald Trump. But she also had plenty to say about herself.

A week after saying she couldn’t think of any move made by Biden that she would have done differently, Harris asserted that “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency.”

Harris did not offer specifics, but said, “Like every new president that comes into office, I will bring my life experiences, and my professional experiences and fresh and new ideas.”

Asked to clarify her assertion that she wants to “turn the page,” though Democrats currently hold the White House, Harris said she is running on “turning the page from the last decade in which we have been burdened with the kind of rhetoric coming from Donald Trump.”

On immigration, Harris expressed regret over the deaths of women who were killed by people who were detained and then released after crossing into the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration, but she criticized Trump for his role in blocking a bipartisan immigration bill earlier this year that would have boosted border funding.

“I am so sorry for her loss, sincerely,” Harris said after Baier played footage of the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray blaming Biden and Harris for her daughter’s death.

Harris indicated she no longer supports decriminalizing crossing the border illegally, as she did in 2019.

“That was five years ago and I am very clear that I will follow the law,” she said. She gave the same answer about proposals to allow those in the U.S. illegally to get driver’s licenses and subsidized healthcare.

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She also sought to focus Fox viewers on Trump’s talk of “the enemy within” and threats to punish political rivals.

Baier challenged Harris over her attestations to Biden’s mental stamina after his disastrous debate with Trump in June that forced his exit from the 2024 presidential race and her elevation to the top of the ticket. She again defended Biden, but added, “Joe Biden is not on the ballot and Donald Trump is.”

Trump’s campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Harris was “angry, defensive, and once again abdicated any responsibility for the problems Americans are facing.” She added, that if “Kamala can’t handle the pressure of an interview with Fox News—she certainly can’t handle the pressure of being president of the United States.”

Pushing back against Baier’s line of questioning at times, Harris at one point told her interviewer, “I would like if we could have a conversation that is grounded in a full assessment of the facts.”

49ers forced to relive film of Super Bowl LVIII — including fateful fourth-and-1 vs. Chiefs

SANTA CLARA — Coach Kyle Shanahan conceded Wednesday there’s a certain amount of post traumatic stress that comes with reviewing the game film of last Feb. 11 in Las Vegas, but it was a necessary step for the 49ers to go back in time and review how and why they lost 25-22 in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII.

With that behind them, the 49ers (3-3) began preparations to host the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.

“It’s definitely a little emotional, but at this point it’s just a game so we’re just looking at the tape, trying to learn from it,” defensive end Nick Bosa said. “A lot of similarities from last year. A few new guys, but a really good defense and the offense obviously has No. 15 (Patrick Mahomes) back there, so always dangerous.”

Linebacker Fred Warner, with a deadpan lilt to his voice, said of the film session, “It’s been fun to go back and relive that, see where we went wrong and try to fix it this time around.”

And while the 49ers are viewing the loss critically in its totality, they’ll never forget the fleeting moment when they were one outstanding defensive play away from leaving Allegiant Field with their first Super Bowl championship since the 1994 season.

Here’s a recap:

The 49ers, after stalling at the 9-yard line, settled for a 27-yard field goal by Jake Moody to take a 22-19 lead.

Isaiah Pacheco was stuffed for no gain on third-and-1 at the Kansas City 34 by Javon Hargrave and Oren Burks, bringing up fourth-and-1 with 6:05 to play. A stop by the 49ers would have meant an ending unlike any in Super Bowl history.

Mahomes lined up in the shotgun, with tight end Travis Kelce motioning right to left. The ball was snapped, and Mahomes play-faked to Pacheco, who was running in the same direction, while Kelce reversed his pivot and went left to right.

As Bosa crashed from the outside, Mahomes ran around him on a zone read and gained eight yards and a first down — the key play in a game-winning touchdown drive that ended in a 3-yard pass to Mecole Hardman. Mahomes was tackled by Warner, whose eyes may have been with Kelce on the play, and safety Logan Ryan.

“You want to be great in those critical situations to ultimately win the game, but there are little plays throughout the entire game you could have said, `Aw, that was the one. That could have won it,’ ” Warner said. “You’ve got to look at all of ’em.”

Bosa was a little more expansive.

“Yeah, that was tough because we have calls that can negate that,” Bosa said. “They ran the zone read a few times and we didn’t find an answer to it. I definitely thought he was going to keep it, but I’ve got to do my job, especially in a big moment like that. But we definitely have a plan for the zone read this time. Hindsight is 20-20.”

Shanahan said defending fourth-and-1 is “50-50” and that may be generous considering who the Chiefs had at quarterback.

“It’s one of the tougher spots in football,” Shanahan said. “You want to start out with sneaks. You’ve got to defend the edges, you’ve got to defend the dive, every rollout pick play . . . you can’t defend every play. They got us in a good situation and they ran their quarterback and we had one guy on him, had a chance to stop it, but it’s not an easy stop.”

Shanahan wasn’t willing to pin the loss on a single play, even one that could have brought the 49ers their sixth Lombardi Trophy.

“There are other plays that are worse, but that’s your opportunity,” Shanahan said. “You get a stop for one yard and it’s over and you know you’re Super Bowl champs. It’s hard when it comes to that.”

Nick Bosa (97) pursues Patrick Mahomes (15) in the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss to Kansas City in on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.

Pearsall update

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, in a friendly and informal chat with reporters in the locker room, said he’s feeling ready to roll and is not sure what the 49ers’ activation plans are for him.

After practicing Monday for the first time since surviving an Aug. 31 gunshot wound through his chest, Pearsall looked smooth and joyful in Wednesday’s warmups that included work as a wide receiver and punt returner.

The 49ers can activate him off the reserve/non-football-injury list ahead of Sunday’s game, and his three-week evaluation window closes Nov. 4, after the bye.

Shanahan said everyone was excited to see Pearsall practice Monday and then break down the team huddle, when he was “out of breath” having to talk right after a two-minute drill.

Walking wounded

Running back Jordan Mason (shoulder) and wide receiver Deebo Samuel (wrist) were limited and wearing blue non-contact jerseys at practice.

Wide receiver Jauan Jennings came out of the Seattle game with a hip injury and didn’t practice, nor did place kickers Moody (ankle) and Matthew Wright (shoulder, back). The 49ers have yet to place Moody on injured reserve, perhaps hoping he can make it back within four weeks of the injury.

Defensive tackle Maliek Collins did not practice with a knee injury while veteran defensive end Leonard Floyd got a veteran’s day off. Safety Malik Mustapha (ankle) and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee) were limited.

Kicking conundrum

The 49ers signed former Green Bay kicker Anders Carlson to the practice squad as insurance in case Wright can’t go against the Chiefs. Wright, like Moody, was injured making a tackle on a kickoff return — plays that wouldn’t be necessary with a touchback.

Only one of Wright’s kickoffs against Seattle was a touchback. Laviska Shenault ran one back 97 yards for Seattle to spark a comeback from a 23-3 deficit to 23-17. Carlson had just a 43 percent touchback percentage last season with Green Bay.

Shanahan, however, is not inclined to bring aboard a heavy-footed kicker to simply get touchbacks.

“That could always be a possibility, but that does take a toll on the roster big time,” Shanahan said. “If you ever had one injury at the wrong spot, that would be a big regret. But that is an interesting decision, but probably something we won’t do.”

Chiefs’ red zone woes

Stop if you’ve heard this one before. One of the most creative offensive minds in football, who also happens to have a mobile quarterback who can strike with either spontaneity or efficiency, can’t seem to find the end zone from the red zone.

After going 3-for-5 scoring touchdowns from the 20 or closer against Seattle, the 49ers improved their touchdown percentage to 44.4 percent (12-for-27) and rank 25th in the NFL after being No. 1 last year at 68 percent.

Kansas City, meanwhile, is ranked 29th at 38.9 percent (7-for-18), and Mahomes is saying some of the the same things Brock Purdy has espoused for weeks as the 49ers look to avoid point-blank field goals and score more touchdowns.

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Before the bye, the Chiefs offense gained 594 yards, but was just 2-for-7 in the red zone. Mahomes lamented a missed opportunity in Week 3 against Atlanta when he didn’t make a back-shoulder attempt and Kansas City wound up not scoring.

“You’ve got to pick and choose when to take those chances,” Mahomes told reporters Wednesday. “Obviously with our defense you don’t want to necessarily put the ball in harm’s way when you’re in the red zone. But when you get the opportunity to and you can throw a ball where it might be him or nobody and the guy can make catch, that’s something I’ll work on as the season goes along.”

While Purdy has found tight end George Kittle for touchdowns of 7, 12, 4, 10 and 9 yards, Kelce, Mahomes’ top target, has yet to score a touchdown.

 

A federal judge halts an Alabama program that purged thousands of legal voters

By SAFIYAH RIDDLE

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday halted a program that made thousands of legal voters in Alabama inactive, restoring active registration status for both American-born and naturalized citizens ahead of the November elections.

U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco ruled in favor of the Department of Justice and civil rights groups and issued a preliminary injunction against a voter purging program launched by the Republican Secretary of State Wes Allen in August. The state’s top election official originally touted the program as a way to begin the “process” of removing “noncitizens registered to vote in Alabama.”

The Department of Justice and a coalition of immigration and voting rights groups sued Allen, arguing in court that the program violated a federal law barring the systemic removal of names from voter rolls 90 days before a federal election.

Affirming that argument, Manasco said Secretary of State Allen’s office “blew the deadline for the 2024 general election, with real consequences for thousands of Alabamians who the secretary now acknowledges are in fact legally entitled to vote.”

The decision comes less than a week after the Department of Justice filed a similar suit in Virginia.

Under the August initiative, the secretary of state’s office identified 3,251 potential noncitizens registered to vote using foreign national numbers collected by state agencies on both unemployment benefits and driver’s license applications. He then instructed local board of registrars to make those voters inactive, which doesn’t immediately remove them from the voter rolls but does require the resident to provide additional verification before voting.

The list was also given to the Alabama Attorney General for “possible criminal prosecution.”

Approximately 2,000 of the 3,251 voters who were made inactive were legally registered citizens, according to testimony from the secretary of state’s chief of staff Clay Helms on Tuesday.

More than 900 of the initial 3,251 voters proved they were legal voters by September, according to Helms’ testimony. On Tuesday, less than a month before the election, another 1,000 were reactivated after the secretary of state’s office doublechecked driver’s license information from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Helms said. Those voters were sent registered voter cards with polling information.

At least 159 people from the list were “disqualified” after the purge in August, meaning they will be removed from the voter rolls.

Some were legal voters who submitted removal forms by accident or based on confusing instructions from local election officials, according to court documents.

“A few” of those disqualified indicated on voter removal forms that they were noncitizens, according to Helms’ written testimony.

Robert Overing, an attorney for the defense, said Secretary Allen’s office had “no sense” of how many legal voters would be caught up in the program.

Manasco said Allen’s decision to refer thousands of these innocent voters to the attorney general for potential criminal investigation caused “irreparable harm.”

The injunction ordered the secretary of state to educate county officials and poll workers, publish a press release and send letters updating the recently reactivated voters.

Manasco ruled that Secretary Allen is still allowed to remove ineligible voters ahead of the upcoming election as long as it is not part of the program, and on an individual basis.

In the hearing Tuesday, lawyers for the secretary of state emphasized that none of the inactive voters were removed from the voter rolls.

“There is not a systematic removal because there is no removal,” argued Robert Overing, an attorney for the Secretary of State.

Overing argued that the program was only a “slight inconvenience” for legally registered voters who could still vote, so long as they verified their status with an additional form.

Related ArticlesNational Politics | Harris’ interview with Fox News is marked by testy exchanges over immigration and more National Politics | Jimmy Carter, at age 100, casts his 2024 ballot by mail National Politics | Trump and Harris offer new details about policies and strategy in dueling interviews National Politics | Elon Musk commits $70 million to boost Donald Trump National Politics | EVs have a ‘Republican problem’ with divide deepening ahead of election Attorneys with the Department of Justice and civil rights groups both argued that voters didn’t receive enough information about how to reactivate their registration status in August and continue to be confused by the inconsistent information issued by the secretary of state’s office.

“The program has injected chaos and uncertainty into the November 2024 election and created the risk of disenfranchisement,” Kathryn Huddleston, an attorney for the Campaign Legal Center, said Tuesday.

Manasco said the preliminary injunction would not extend beyond the November vote, adding she ruled narrowly on the fact that the program occurred within 90 days of the upcoming election.

Allen declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. But a statement he gave to The Associated Press said, “it is my Constitutional duty to ensure that only American citizens vote in our elections.”

Michelle Canter Coen, senior counsel and policy director for the Fair Election Center, said Wednesday’s decision sends a clear message around the country.

“When a state sends out a message like this, it has harmed the whole electorate,” Canter Coen said. “This is a victory for naturalized citizens and legal voters.”

Riddle reported from Montgomery. Riddle is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

County officials give public updates on new vacation rental ordinances

The new restrictions and guidelines for vacation rentals in Monterey County, specifically for the inland area, went into effect Monday. County officials organized webinars and attended county meetings to get the word out to the public.

Commercial vacation rentals will not be allowed in inland Carmel Valley residential zones or the coastal areas of Big Sur, Carmel Highlands and Moss Landing’s residential zones.

All vacation rentals in the inland area will be required to operate under a license at a $965 cost, which must be renewed annually. A use permit will also be required for commercial vacation rentals which will be renewed every seven years with an initial fee of $5,500. Vacation rentals will be required to register for the Transient Occupancy Tax and have a business license.

Unpermitted vacation rentals must comply with the new regulations by April 14 next year, by making an application or ceasing operation. Existing vacation rentals must comply with the new regulations upon expiration of their current permit or within seven years, whichever is later.

New regulations in the coastal zone of unincorporated areas of Monterey County are scheduled to go into effect within a year after being submitted and certified by the California Coastal Commission.

“For now, the coastal regulations are maintained in the status quo,” said Taylor Price, a Monterey County Housing and Community Development associate planner.

The county defines a vacation rental as the use of residential property for transient lodging, where the term of occupancy is 30 days or fewer. The process is akin to an Airbnb reservation, but typically handled by a homeowner. Limited vacation rentals are considered three times or fewer a year, while commercial vacation rentals rent more than three times a year and are subject to more stringent regulations.

“We’re trying to ensure that there are clear instructions for everyone to follow,” Price said.

Application materials and a list of commonly asked questions can be found at https://comry.us/VacationRentals.

Rep. Panetta lauded for ‘bridging divides,’ being a ‘Friend of Agriculture’

MONTEREY – California’s District 19 Congressional Representative, Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, has recently been recognized by two groups for his work and leadership – as one of Capitol Hill’s top “bridgers” by the Bridge Pledge group and a “Friend of Agriculture” by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Panetta’s Bridge score was 99.65, placing him at the top of the list of the nonpartisan organization’s analysis.

Bridge Pledge is a citizen movement to systematically reduce measurable political divisiveness by unifying cross-partisan voters to choose candidates based on their ability to govern as free agents and independently from their parties, according to the organization. As a swing bloc, even a modest sized citizen voting alliance can wield outsized power to elect the most pragmatic and collaborative problem solvers – “bridgers” – from any party, to better represent common interests.

The top 10 U. S. House of Representatives who garnered high Bridge Pledge scores for their ability to collaborate, build coalitions, deliver consensus solutions, and bridge divides in America. (Bridge Pledge)

The Bridge Grade is an aggregate score that combines public data sources to assess members of Congress’ – including Panetta’s – ability to collaborate, build coalitions, deliver consensus solutions and bridge divides in America. Panetta was rated by the nonpartisan group’s analysis and earned him the highest score among United States Representatives in the 118th Congress.

But the analysis also revealed that 70% of the departing lawmakers this year are “bridgers,” leaving a concerning gap in coalition-building leaders, says the Bridge Pledge.

“For the most part, the people in the 19th Congressional District are sick and tired of the political divisiveness that they see on the news every day,” said Panetta in a press release “That’s why, they demand and deserve, a U.S. Representative who is willing to work with anybody to get stuff done in the U.S. Congress.”

Panetta added that although he appreciates this recognition of his bipartisanship, he also knows well that that’s just the foundation upon which he must continue to deliver federal services, investment and legislation for his constituents in California’s 19th Congressional District.

Panetta currently serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on the Budget, where he says he works to forge bipartisan coalitions to the nation’s tax code, security and fiscal health. He also serves as a Chief Deputy Whip and is on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.

The “Friend of Agriculture” award by the American Farm Bureau Federation was awarded to Rep. Panetta for his support of farmers in the U.S. Congress.

The American Farm Bureau Federation gives the award to members of Congress who are nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus and approved by the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors. Rep. Panetta accepted the award while meeting with the executive directors from each of the county Farm Bureaus that he represents including Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Luis Obispo.

County representatives thanked him for his strong support for the region’s agriculture, specifically Panetta’s efforts to pass the new Farm Bill, funding for natural disaster relief, and funding for water resource infrastructure improvement. The representatives also thanked Panetta and his staff for their accessibility to County Farm Bureaus and their continued willingness to learn about the concerns and issues agriculture continues to face.

“It is of great benefit to have a strong advocate for farming and ranching with Congressman Panetta,” said Monterey County Farm Bureau Executive Director Norm Groot in a press release. “Even though the district was realigned in Monterey County, Mr. Panetta continues to hold strong with his support of local farming and ranching, both through legislative efforts and his engagement with federal agencies.”

Panetta previously passed into law policies to ensure specialty crop health, developed a strategy on mechanization, fostered organic research, empowered veteran farmers and provided greater certainty in agricultural trade.

Panetta successfully secured significant federal investment to support COVID-19 protections for farmers and farm workers, programs for socially disadvantaged producers, agricultural research, pest management and food safety.

He recently co-led the introduction of the Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act which would provide an additional $14 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist agricultural producers impacted by losses caused by natural disasters in 2023. Panetta continues to advocate for a Farm Bill that supports the farmers and rural economy of California’s 19th Congressional District with provisions to improve producers’ ability to recover from natural disasters.

Lowriding is more than just cars. It’s about family and culture for Mexican Americans

By FERNANDA FIGUEROA and MELISSA PEREZ WINDER

CHICAGO (AP) — For Luis Martinez, competing in lowriding bike and car competitions is about more than glory and bragging rights. The lowrider clubs in the Chicago area have become like one big family and a source of mutual support.

“It just starts with the metal,” said Martinez, who got his introduction to lowrider culture when his mother took him to a flea market. He had his first bike when he was 12.

“To me, it’s about expressing my art and what I can do with my own hands,” Martinez told The Associated Press as he polished a shiny red bike at his home in Mishawaka, Indiana.

A movement of expression with origins in Mexican American and Chicano communities, lowriding is an aspect of Latino history in the U.S. in which people show their pride, honor family and uplift culture. But misrepresentation of the culture in entertainment and media has often associated the lowriding’s “low and slow” motto with gang culture.

Still, decades since its emergence, and as the Hispanic U.S. population increases, lowriding has experienced a boom, as evidenced by an increase in car shows and conventions nationwide.

Lowriding involves the customization of a vehicle — from the tires to the sound system — with vivid designs and colors. Unlike hot rods or muscle cars, which are often modified to have big tires and move at high speeds, the lowrider community modified the cars and bikes to go “low and slow,” said Alberto Pulido, the chair of the Ethnic Studies department at the University of San Diego.

“It was a way to speak to an identity, a presence and it was done with few resources,” said Pulido, who also directed the award-winning documentary, “Lowriding: Everything Comes From the Streets.”

“Our community didn’t have a lot of money,” he said. “They might have had a little bit expendable income to buy a car but then they were kind of on their own to create their vehicles. We call that Chicano ingenuity.”

Lowriding blends Latino and American cultureHugo Cardenas and Araceli Martinez, wearing Zoot suits of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, dance while attending a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)

According to Pulido, lowriding originated in the Southwest, although there are disputes about where exactly it first appeared. Pulido said lowriders in Los Angeles would like to make the claim they were the first, while those in San Diego want their undeniable influence in the culture acknowledged.

The culture can be traced to post-World War II, when veterans were coming home with an expendable income. And with the growth of highways and freeways in California, people wanted to modify their vehicles, Pulido said.

Today, conventions attract enthusiasts from all over the U.S. Last month, what was once a small showcase with only 40 lowriders at Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, grew to over 300 lowriders from clubs across the U.S.

Hector Gonzalez, of the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee, said the car clubs help members travel to all the showcases in the nation. In the ’70s and ’80s, lowrider clubs became a representation of the community and offered mutual aid such as ride-sharing and food donations when the local government could not or would not, Gonzalez said.

“It is something that gets passed on from generation to generation,” said Gonzalez, who, like most lowriders, was introduced to the community with a bike at the young age of 13. He has passed on his love for lowriding to his own children, nephews and cousins

“Kids grow up seeing the cars, they pick it up and they carry on the tradition,” Gonzalez said.

Lauren Pacheco, co-founder and co-curator of the Slow and Low Chicago Low Rider Festival, described lowriding as a global, multibillion-dollar phenomenon of self-expression and innovation.

“It’s a marvel of mechanical innovation,” Pacheco said. “It is the beautiful artistry in the creative practice of muralism, storytelling and upholstery.”

Within the last decade, lowrider conventions have grown so much that they’ve made their way to Japan. In Nagoya, Japanese lowriders have modified their cars, created clubs and even come to events at Chicano Park in San Diego.

Lowrider community sheds gang culture stereotypeA family looks at vintage cars during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)

Appreciation for lowriding has increased in recent years, enthusiasts say. But that was not always the case.

In the beginning, lowriding was associated with harmful stereotypes about Latinos as gangsters, Pulido said. Because the culture involved predominantly Latino participants, lowriding became racialized and that overshadowed the artistic and community service aspects of the movement.

The 1979 thriller-drama “Boulevard Nights” also helped to perpetuate the lowriders as gangsters trope. The film’s main character, Raymond Avila, played by Richard Yñiguez tried to avoid getting lured into the violent street gangs of East Los Angeles. Lowriding vehicles and the lowrider “cholo” aesthetic was featured throughout the film.

While the perception of lowriding has since gotten better, Pulido said he has been to lowriding car shows where police immediately show up.

Martinez, the Indiana lowrider, said lowriding misconceptions grew in the Chicago area because the community members were tattooed in ways often associated with gang affiliation. Pacheco said the Chicago festival works to dispel those misconceptions.

“We really try not to create a space that glamorizes or romanticizes gang culture,” she said. “It’s really a celebration of creativity and innovation and family.”

Lowriding culture becomes a booming industry

Gonzalez, the Texas lowriding showcase organizer, said the culture’s focus on wheels, hydraulic systems and accessories, has helped lowriding become a booming industry.

In El Paso, people have opened small businesses orientated to the lowriding community. In the last couple of years, at least 25 new businesses opened, including body shops, upholstery shops and apparel shops, Gonzalez said.

“It has become a mainstream business,” he said. “Back in the 70s and 80s, it was more of a local thing. Everybody helping each other do things on their own. Now there’s just all kinds of opportunities to purchase things and have things done to your vehicle.”

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Martinez said he would buy the parts he needed from a man in his neighborhood, who would buy in bulk from Lowrider magazine. He said the unfortunate thing about lowriding becoming so big is parts are now mass produced from China instead of being Mexican made.

Lowriding carries family legacy

But lowriding is not just about the often pricey task of modifying cars, Pulido said. It is about building a community that is always there for each other, throughout generations, he said.

“We have grandparents that are lowriders and then their kids and their grandkids are in tune already,” Pulido said.

It’s a legacy that Sonia Gomez wants for her 8-year-old son, Daniel Marquez. His late father, Alberto Marquez, had been a member of a Chicago area lowrider club. Too young to drive the car left to him by his father, Daniel has a lowriding bike that is more of a memorial to his dad.

“The bike is what he’s doing to build it up,” Gomez said.

The family will do an ofrenda, a display often associated with Mexican Dia de los Muertos celebrations, when local lowriding festivals are held. As part of the ofrenda, Daniel takes an image he has with his father on a lowriding bike and places it next to his actual bike, which he named “Wishing on a Star.”

“We would either go on a (lowriding) cruise with my uncle, or we would go to actual car shows,” Daniel recently recalled, while sitting at the driver’s seat of his dad’s lowriding car parked in the driveway of their home in Frankfort, Illinois.

“My mom would be there,” he said pointing to the passenger seat. “And I’d be back there all squished.”

The Associated Press received financial support from the Sony Global Social Justice Fund to expand certain coverage areas. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Recent hurricanes highlight importance of trip protection

Patrick Clarke | (TNS) TravelPulse

Two devastating hurricanes thrashed the Southeast with high winds and heavy rainfall in the past couple of weeks, reminding travelers of the importance of protecting their travel investment with a solid insurance plan.

Unlike auto, renters and other insurances, Americans aren’t forced to invest in travel insurance, but the benefits can be immense.

This peak Atlantic hurricane season only serves as a reminder.

Related ArticlesTravel | Want to visit La Jolla beaches? Now’s the time Travel | TSA PreCheck adds 2 airlines to its roster Travel | Family travel 5: Explore the US on a scenic, educational road trip Travel | Gender plays significant role in selecting travel destinations, study shows Travel | Pickleball travel destinations to dink away from home After all, travelers can secure a reassuring travel insurance policy for just a small percentage of their total trip cost. According to NerdWallet, the average cost of travel insurance in 2024 is between 6% and 7% percent of your total trip expenses.

Still, tropical storms and hurricanes are extremely fluid and it’s never wise to wait until a troubling forecast to pay for protection. It’s often too late after a storm has been named or identified.

However, travelers can purchase a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) policy that will provide added flexibility in the event of trip cancellations or disruptions.

The only thing worse than missing out on your dream vacation or having it impacted is having to foot the bill for an underwhelming experience. That’s where travel insurance comes in to quickly reimburse you for those expenses so you can plan for the next getaway uninhibited.

If you’re not sure where to begin, consider reputable or even an award-winning travel insurance provider that is constantly evolving by launching new tools to make purchasing the right policy, filing claims and more even easier.

“If you’re planning a getaway this year, we recommend adding a travel insurance plan to your packing list,” said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. “Whether it’s a flight delay or lost luggage, a travel insurance policy may reimburse you for covered losses associated with a covered travel delay or baggage loss that could otherwise spoil a cherished trip.”

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

Horoscopes Oct. 16. 2024: Naomi Osaka, use your energy

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Naomi Osaka, 27; John Mayer, 47; Kellie Martin, 49; Tim Robbins, 66.

Happy Birthday: Keep your emotions and ego under wraps when dealing with domestic or professional matters. Anger solves nothing, but insight and ingenuity will put you in a position of power and help you navigate your way through ups and downs this year. Use your energy to take advantage of a new way to use your skills and promote unique opportunities. Keeping up with what’s trending will put you in a leadership position. Your numbers are 4, 17, 23, 29, 31, 38, 45.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Pick and choose who you allow in your circle. Surround yourself with upbeat, positive individuals, and you’ll find it easier to manifest these traits in yourself and through your actions. Attitude will make a difference in how situations unfold. Positive input will attract good results. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take charge before someone else steps in and takes over. Utilize your strengths and diminish your weaknesses to avoid interference. Put your energy where it will have the most significant impact. Dominate from top to bottom with confidence, kindness and patience, and you’ll gain trust and loyalty. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look on the bright side, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you or your good nature. Trust yourself to get things done instead of relying on someone who talks big but accomplishes little. Anger and arguments will waste valuable time best spent tending to your agenda. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Participation will lead to personal growth, new friends and honing your skills. You have plenty to gain if you promote yourself with confidence and finesse. Refuse to let your ego turn into negativity or false accusations. Get the facts, deal with matters quickly and move along. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Proceed with caution; too much too fast will backfire. Gather information, consider your options and leave no room for error. Knowledge and experience are your best routes forward. Get the facts, put a plan in place and have the courage to follow through until you are satisfied with your results. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You know the rules and how to play the game, so don’t waffle now when it’s time to forge ahead with vim and vigor. A change is within reach and will add to your required momentum to reach your goal. Turn on the charm and enjoy the ride. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put your energy into something that will help you get ahead. Raise your qualifications or skills, or share your vision with someone in a position to help promote you. It’s best to create opportunities instead of waiting for them to come to you. Follow your heart. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’re in the driver’s seat; formalize your case, ask for what you want and confidently push forward. Set a budget you can live with and refuse to let anyone talk you into spending or offering more than you can handle. Truth, trust and timing form your ticket forward. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take time for self-improvement, personal growth and mapping out a path that leads to happiness and peace of mind. Dedication, understanding and knowing who is and who isn’t on your side are the markers that determine your success. Don’t be afraid to do your own thing. Act accordingly. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You know the ropes, so don’t let emotions kick in and disrupt your plans. Put a budget in place to accommodate what you want to achieve, and don’t look back. Your tenacity and insight will unnerve anyone trying to outmaneuver you or get in your way. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Participation will lead to discovery and opportunity. Adjust investments, and put your energy into something that encourages fitness, routine and a healthy lifestyle. Turn your attention to well-thought-out functional changes. Don’t be a bystander; own the spotlight and make things happen. 4 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Play fair and watch for anyone who displays untrustworthiness. Live within your means and put a greater onus on health, fitness and diet. Nurture what and whom you love, and make romance a priority. Travel, expanding your interests and knowledge, and personal growth are favored. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are opportunistic, charismatic and energetic. You are intuitive and curious.

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.

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3 takeaways as Wiggins returns for Warriors in preseason matchup with Lakers

After getting sick in training camp and working back for two weeks, wing Andrew Wiggins returned for the Warriors.

And he instantly played stout defense, often guarding LeBron James and helping the Warriors limit the Lakers to 35.8% shooting overall in a 111-97 blowout win.

In the team’s penultimate preseason game, in Las Vegas against the Lakers, Wiggins started alongside Steph Curry, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Golden State likely would have preferred to test out the supersized unit earlier in the preseason, but better late than never.

After that starting group, the Warriors built a double-digit lead and maintained a healthy cushion for most of the game. As the regular season opener creeps closer, both teams ramped up the minutes, with just about every regular playing at least 20 minutes.

The Warriors showcased their depth, overcoming the absence of two rotation players seamlessly to remain undefeated in the preseason.

Although it was an exhibition game on a neutral court, Tuesday night was the first meeting between Steph Curry and James since they teamed up at the Olympics. Steve Kerr, who coached them on Team USA, described their summer experience as a “bromance” when meeting with reporters pregame.

Curry got the upper hand, registering 16 points, six assists and five rebounds in the Warriors’ win. Moses Moody added a team-high 21 points off the bench, continuing his strong preseason.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ fifth straight preseason victory.

The jumbo starters

In five preseason games, the Warriors have used five distinct starting lineups. Part of that is due to Wiggins’ extended absence, but the team is committed to testing out various combinations regardless.

This one, in particular, was eye-catching. Wiggins was the 6-foot-7 shooting guard, with the 6-foot-8 Kuminga on the wing in addition to two non-shooting big men. On paper, that’s probably not enough shooting to take attention off of Curry. But it’s a whole lot of athleticism and size.

But the unit didn’t pop off the page. Like the previous four starting-fives, the Warriors played about even with the Lakers’ starters, exiting with a two-point deficit after roughly six minutes.

The biggest beneficiary of the combination was Kuminga. Twice, the fourth-year wing took on Anthony Davis at the rim and scored. Even against Davis, an elite defender, Kuminga had no problem getting downhill.

Later in the quarter, Kuminga ran his lane hard and got rewarded by Curry for an easy transition dunk. He also drove baseline and dropped off an assist to Jackson-Davis for a dunk.

“The key is JK and Wiggs running the floor,” Kerr told reporters postgame. “It puts a lot of pressure on teams. So they set a good tone tonight, the way they got downhill. With or without the ball, they were going. I really liked the way both those guys played and the impact that they made with their athleticism and force.”

In his first seven minutes, Kuminga registered eight points, three rebounds and two assists. He finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three dimes in perhaps his most well-rounded preseason performance yet. Early in the second half, he even stood up James in the post on defense.

Wiggins, meanwhile, struggled offensively in his preseason debut, but the touch around the basket and on jumpers should come around.

“He’s starting a good 10 days behind everybody else, and that’s tough,” Steve Kerr told reporters pregame. “But the conditioning that he came into camp with before he got sick will allow him to come back quickly.”

It wouldn’t be shocking if the Warriors tried out their small lineup in their preseason finale, replacing Jackson-Davis with either Melton or Podziemski.

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The Warriors were missing their second and third best guards, as Melton and Podziemski were unavailable.

Melton, who had issues with his back all last season, had his mid-back tighten up Tuesday morning, so the team sat him out of caution. Podziemski, who broke his nose in Sunday’s preseason contest, hasn’t gotten his fitted facemask quite yet.

Their absences left the second unit bereft of an organizer. It showed in some clunky half-court possessions, but the bench units — with Kyle Anderson, Gary Payton II, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody and Kevon Looney — pushed the ball in transition to make up for it.

Anderson played point forward, a natural position for him. And Moody continued to knock down shots, hitting a pair of tough 3-pointers (plus a wide-open one) to give the Warriors a second-quarter lead.

Moody found success offensively at all three levels, and even distributing at times. He ended the third quarter with a buzzer-beating midrange, working the two-man game with Looney as the clock wound down. The Warriors won Moody’s minutes by 18.

“He’s gotten so much better in so many ways,” Kerr told reporters postgame when asked about Moody. “We’ve always loved his character, his work ethic. But I think this is the most confidence he’s played with. He’s going to play a big role for us. But so are a lot of other guys. We’re sitting in that coaches room every day saying, ‘How do we play all these guys?’ Because they all deserve to play. I’ve asked all of them to play their hardest, make it difficult for us. And they’re all doing that.”

And even without Melton and Podziemski, two of the team’s most prolific outside shooters, the Warriors had no issues creating looks from deep; they hoisted 45 in all.

How much can the Lakers unleash Davis?

The Warriors did a fairly good job last year defending Anthony Davis, though his splits against Golden State were deflated by a game in which he left early.

They looked like they had no answer for the Lakers center in Vegas.

Davis hit seemingly every difficult shot in the post, over every defender the Warriors threw at him. And when Green tried to creep over to double team him, Davis found Jaxson Hayes for an alley-oop.

The nine-time All-Star posted 24 points and 12 rebounds on 10-for-14 shooting in just 26 minutes.

The biggest question for the Lakers this year will be how much new head coach JJ Redick can unlock Davis — particularly on offense. He has all the talent in the world, and has reached peaks as high as just about anyone in the league, but it’s time for him to take over as Los Angeles’ nightly engine with James entering his 22nd season.

The Lakers won 47 games last season with a good bill of health from Davis and James. All they did in the offseason, essentially, was get a year older.

So the key becomes Davis. He looked fantastic against the Warriors, so if that’s any indication, the Lakers could very well be in the playoff mix.

Patrice Vecchione, Walkabout Town: Walking (and writing) as a way of life

With gratitude to Rancho Jacona’s Guadalupe Vanchailk

If you live in New York City or in another of many cities, walking is a way of life. In Manhattan, at least it used to be. I’ve not lived there since I was 8 and that was more than a few years ago. How clearly, I recall my mother grabbing my little girl hand, looking both ways across a wide avenue, and saying, “Come on! Let’s make the light.” I’m certain my patent leathers didn’t touch the asphalt from one sidewalk to the next. The last time I was there and my feet were sturdy, by day’s end, I clocked over 10 miles without even trying. Rural dwellers too are known to be walkers, but suburban ones, not so much, not from necessity, anyway.

Recently, I spent a week at a country retreat center about 30 minutes north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, not far from the San Ildefonso Pueblo. There 20 people joined me for a writing retreat, offered through the Osher Program at Cal State Monterey Bay. I’ve been leading these nearly-annual retreats for many years. We’ve gone to Bell Valley in Mendocino, Cave Creek in Arizona, a center outside of Santa Barbara, and in 2015, we traveled also to New Mexico, that time to Taos and Abiquiu. During my previous New Mexico retreat, we got caught in a late spring snowstorm, reveling in the surprise and beauty of it. This time, there was no snow, though, upon arrival, we were greeted by a sudden, drenching rainstorm. Both times, I was taken by the sky’s presence is, how much bigger it appeared to be in a place with fewer trees, less cluttered by close-together buildings and an abundance of paved roads.

The gates become a familiar sight at New Mexico’s Rancho Jacona when you’re at a writing retreat. (Patrice Vecchione — Herald Correspondent)

Set between the Sangre de Chisto and Jemez mountain ranges, Rancho Jacona (rancho meaning a gathering of houses) is comprised of 12, mostly small, adobe houses — casitas — some having been built in the 1700s, that dot the 35-acre property, bordered to the north by the Pojoaqua River. The property straddles both sides of a country road. We stayed on one side of that road and held our classes there, but meals were served in a large house less than a quarter of a mile up and across the road.

Because our workshops met each morning and evening, that meant a bit of going back and forth. Those of us able-bodied enough walked back and forth a couple of times each day while others had to drive. And for the regular readers of this column, you know, due to my pesky left foot, I’m not exactly able-bodied, but my last surgery being nearly three months behind me, most times I was able to get to and fro without getting behind the wheel. And when hungry for dinner, everyone found their pace a little brisker than the way back.

I noticed that by virtue of being in an unfamiliar place and doing this frequent back and forth by foot, whether in pain or not, my five, actually, six senses became more alert, more in tune to the environment. I became excited by all there was to experience: breeze rustling through the cottonwood trees, the loamy scent of heat beginning to bake the red clay earth each morning, nighttime crickets aplenty singing in unison, and loudly, also loud was the bleating of the baby goat who was accidentally separated from her mother. There the roosters crow but not only in the morning. Each day I plunged into the unheated swimming pool. OK, “plunged” is a wishful exaggeration, but I did slowly immerse myself and spend about 30 minutes going back and forth until I forgot the water was cold and then out into the heat of the afternoon. Had I not been moving in the elements, I don’t think I’d have been as attentive to it all as I got to be.

Writing creatively, I’ve come to realize is kind of like walking. You begin in one place, take in the sights and sounds along the way, and end up somewhere you couldn’t have known the particularities of upon setting off. And though writing is a solitary endeavor, doing it in community provides a kind of energy, a sixth sense. One person’s creativity has the capacity to infiltrate another’s hesitancy. All these heads bowed, pens writing fast as possible or slowly forming one word then the next feeds us. Having done this work with both adults and children for nearly 50 years, it never ceases to invigorate and delight me. Together we write what we likely wouldn’t have written alone.

The point is to write at a writing retreat, although the walking can help. (Patrice Vecchione — Herald Correspondent)

The act of stepping out into the air, of one leg extending ahead of me before my foot touches down on the reliable but new ground enlivened me, rekindling the desire to be surrounded by the beautiful unpredictable, and that was true whether walking on the country road alone or beside curious-hearted writers. It makes feeling propelled forward not just an emotional thing but one that’s kinesthetic. At my age, it’s expected that I’d spend much of my time looking backward and though that does entice me, still, I’m on a forward trajectory, one grateful step at a time either here at home or in new and inviting places.