Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 33

Horoscopes Aug. 29, 2025: Lea Michele, put your energy into helping yourself

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lauren Collins, 39; Lea Michele, 39; Carla Gugino, 54; Rebecca De Mornay, 66.

Happy Birthday: Check to see who’s watching this year. Someone can alter how your life unfolds if you are too accommodating or unaware of your surroundings or the intentions of those you encounter. Keep your money, ideas and personal issues to yourself, and put your energy into helping yourself, rather than making others richer or better positioned than you. Trust your gut and do what’s best for you. Your numbers are 6, 17, 22, 28, 31, 35, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Create a space that suits your needs. Invest in yourself and your surroundings, and utilize everything you’ve got physically, intellectually and financially to build a strong foundation for the life you want to live. This will put your mind at ease and center your confidence. Mix business with pleasure, and you’ll gain momentum and allies. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Protect your home, health and reputation. Refuse to let anyone use emotional manipulation to take advantage of you. Walk away from pressure tactics or situations that have the potential to turn hostile. You’ll gain the most if you avoid conflicts. Focus on home improvement and self-rejuvenation. A creative project will ease stress. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Pay attention to what others are doing, and it will boost your interest and your imagination. Take the initiative to reach out, connect and become a part of something that excites you. Utilize your intelligence and physical abilities to garner support. How you present yourself and what you contribute physically will make a difference. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Keep your private life to yourself. The less you share, the more mysterious you’ll appear, giving you an edge when dealing with anyone trying to outdo you. Avoid indulgent people, excessive situations and unreasonable demands. Be blunt about what you will and won’t tolerate. Take control, and you’ll gain insight and respect. 5 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Rethink your every thought, move or interaction. Center yourself and refuse to let your emotions dictate what happens next. A state of calm will allow you to position yourself for whatever comes your way and deal with circumstances as they unfold. Be smart and make the gains that matter. Strength begins with believing in yourself. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You will make strides if you participate in something new and exciting. A little flash and charisma will carry you forward and attract those who have something to offer. High energy will take you to victory and give you the wherewithal to improve your life, current situation or prospects. Self-improvement will pay off. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Pay attention to where your money goes. You’ll gain ground if you fish for higher positions and advancement using your imagination and insight to talk your way to the top. Don’t sit at home procrastinating when getting out and having face-to-face talks will bring the most effective results. Apply charm and pressure. Romance is favored. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): It’s not what you do or say; it’s how you turn your dreams into a reality. Push for what you want, and be relentless when dealing with those who oppose you. Know what’s best for you, and stick to your course of action until you’re satisfied with the results. Take responsibility and make things happen. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Stick close to home, iron out any confusion or conflict you face and rationalize how you want to move forward. Use your voice, wisdom and physical ability to emphasize your position and expectations, and you’ll weed out the people who are best suited to tag along on your adventure. Be true to yourself. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Consider what it takes to get to the next level. Whether you’re dealing with physical, mental or financial challenges, understanding your attributes and how to apply them will lead to success. Assess, refine and implement change. Expect to face opposition from someone close to you. Don’t overreact; consider suggestions, but do what’s best for you. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Money and health matters will require attention. You have plenty to gain by staying on top of what transpires instead of letting someone represent you or what you want. An emotional situation will turn into an opportunity if you are willing to take the time to sort through the debris. With clarity comes success. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Sit tight, dream on and refuse to let someone lure you down a path that’s not in your best interest. Take note of what makes you feel good about who you are and what you do, and concentrate on manifesting your dreams into a reality. A networking event will lead to opportunities. Explore the possibilities. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are courageous, strong and intentional. You are proactive and persistent.

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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High School football: Two-point conversation catapults Monterey past Christopher

GILROY – Trial by fire was not the intent. Injuries and illnesses, though, left Monterey with little choice but to insert five sophomores into its starting defensive unit.

The baptism came early as the Toreadores football team surrendered 14 points in the first quarter Thursday to Christopher, before the butterflies disappeared and adjustments were made.

“At one point, we had two guys on the field defensively that took a varsity snap last year,” Monterey coach Alex Besaw said. “And it showed in many ways. We had kids on the field that were JV players as of Monday.”

Once the offense shook off the cobwebs and the defense tightened the reins, Monterey showed a knack for the dramatic — leaving Christopher in a state of disbelief for the second straight year in a season opener.

Aided by a 73-yard drive in 1:20 to get to within a point with 21.1 seconds left, quarterback Bronson Gulley found Kai Vaughn on a two-point conversion to give Monterey a stunning 22-21 win over the host Cougars.

“A lot of the time, you just need reps and experience,” Besaw said. “I saw the confidence grow throughout the night. We tried to talk through things during the game. It took a while to adjust to the flow of the game.”

Last fall Christopher failed to hold a lead late in the fourth quarter to eventual state champion Carmel, falling 35-31 — its only regular season loss.

Even before Gulley connected with Dekota Ordonio for a 1-yard touchdown to get Monterey to within one point, Besaw already had a play called for the two-point conversion.

“I got ahead of myself,” Besaw said. “I called the play before we got into the end zone. I’m not messing around. I thought we had all the momentum. I knew what play we wanted to run. There was no question we were going for two.”

Whether the play worked or not, it served notice to his youthful squad that Besaw believed in them, another confidence building move by the fourth-year coach, who is 4-0 in season openers.

“We’re so young,” Besaw said. “We made a lot of mistakes. But it didn’t rattle the kids. We have little experience in making in-game adjustments. I’m so proud at how we battled back.”

The 6-foot-6 Gulley, who threw two touchdown passes in five starts last season, finished with three scoring tosses, connecting with Vaughn on scoring strikes of 67 and 3 yards to erase a 14-point deficit by halftime.

Yet, it was Gulley’s leadership and maturation as a quarterback that was on display late in the fourth quarter when he engineered a length-of-the-field drive in a little over a minute to put the Toreadores in a position to win the game.

“Where he (Gulley) gives himself an advantage is he’s a mature kid that is extremely coachable,” Besaw said. “He carries that with him all week in practice. His physical abilities are coming along with that. It’s still a process for him to believe he can do it.”

Some of that maturity Besaw spoke about was on display when Gulley shook off an early interception, finishing with over 200 yards through the air and three touchdown passes.

What aided the Toreadores passing attack was an emerging ground game as tailback Ethan Bonilla — one carry last year — piled up 127 yards on 21 carries, while Vaughn finished with seven catches for 131 receiving yards.

After giving up 14 points in the first 11 minutes, the Toreadores defense used three turnovers to shut down Christopher, including a pick in the final seconds by Israel Johnson to seal the win.

“We stepped up when it mattered the most on defense,” Besaw said. “We bent a little. I don’t know if Chris Keim and Xavier Martin came off the field tonight on defense.”

Monterey will host Seaside next Saturday in the Battle of the Bay before engaging in an eight-game Gabilan Division schedule this fall.

“It’s a good win for our program,” Besaw said. “But I reminded the kids it will only get tougher from here. We have no other option but to get better.”

Stevenson 43, Rancho San Juan 6: Starring at a six-point deficit to open the game, the Pirates ran off 43 consecutive points on the road in the earliest season opener in school history.

Owners of seven straight regular season wins dating back to last season, Stevenson was bumped to the Mission Division South this year after winning its second Santa Lucia Division title in three years.

“The kids played high IQ football,” Stevenson coach Kyle Cassamas said. “Having so many returning players helped us. We had a game with live bullets and we showed up. But we still have a lot of room to grow.”

Suiting up a roster of just 24 players, Cassamas expects those numbers to improve by the time the Mission Division season kicks in.

Rancho San Juan, who has dropped 17 straight games dating back to 2023, took the opening drive and put the Pirates on their heels with a touchdown. It took 15 quarters last year before it produced a touchdown.

“They came out with a good game plan and ran the ball,” Cassamas said. “It caught us off guard. We made adjustments. We were able to settle down rather quickly.”

The Pirates offense had an immediate answer, producing points on their first five possessions as quarterback Fin Mink completed 21-of-26 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns.

Mink, who threw for 1,998 yards and 20 touchdowns last year, connected three times with Derek Diniz, while finding Barak De la Rosa for six. Diniz finished with 115 receiving yards, while Tono Borgamini rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

“We didn’t punt the ball until the fourth quarter,” Cassamas said. “We did a great job passing the ball. We had a ton of penalties that we have to clean up. But we protected the ball and forced turnovers.”

Defensive lineman Alex Wang put together a monster game, recovering a fumble for the Pirates, while Cody Thatcher and Zryan Morgan each had six tackles and two sacks. Brooks Andrade solidified the linebacking unit with five tackles.

The best bread maker

The best bread maker for your kitchen

Not only does homemade bread taste better, it’s great to be able to make your own loaves when you can’t get to the store. Baking bread, however, can be a hassle — unless you have a quality bread maker to simplify the process.

With a bread maker, you just add the ingredients, adjust the settings as appropriate, press “start,” and in a matter of hours, you’ll have freshly baked bread. We’ve researched the latest advances to bring you the best bread makers.

What you need to know before buying a bread maker

There’s no point in buying a bread maker if the loaves it makes aren’t big enough to feed your family for even a day, so always check the loaf size. The majority of bread makers on the market today produce two-pound loaves, which are about the size of average store-bought loaves. However, you can find smaller models for those who don’t eat much bread or slightly bigger models for large families.

All decent bread makers should feature at least a handful of preset programs for different types of bread, such as white, whole grain, and gluten-free. You should also get to choose between light, medium, and dark crust colors, according to your preference. It’s nice to have the option to knead and prove dough without baking it, plus the ability to add mix-ins, like seeds or dried fruit, after the first rise. Bread makers are designed to make your life simpler, so they should be easy to use, with clearly marked programs and buttons for things like crust color.

With most bread makers, the kneading paddles stay in place during baking, which gives you a small yet annoying hole in your finished loaves. To avoid this, look for models with collapsible kneading paddles or ones that allow you to remove the paddles before baking.

You can find some basic bread makers for less than $50, while the most high-tech models can cost over $500.

Best bread maker FAQQ. Are bread makers easy to clean?

A. Most bread makers have removable nonstick pans and kneading paddles, so it’s easy to take them out of the machine to clean them. Although many manufacturers state their loaf pans and paddles are dishwasher-safe, the nonstick coating will last longer if you wash them by hand with a nonscratch sponge or cloth.

Q. How long does it take a bread maker to produce a cooked loaf?

A. Sometimes you’re prepared to wait, but other times you want your bread ready as quickly as possible. You can find bread makers with rapid settings that produce a loaf in around two to two-and-a-half hours. Standard settings, however, tend to take between three and five hours, depending on the proofing and baking times for the setting you’re using.

Best bread makersTop bread maker

Neretva Bread Maker

What you need to know: This stellar bread machine offers a wide range of features.

What you’ll love: It comes preloaded with 15 customized programs, including those for sugarless options, which most other bread makers lack. The dual-paddle design ensures bread is kneaded evenly.

What you should consider: Some users had difficulty navigating the controls.

Top bread maker for the money

KITCHENARM 29-in-1 SMART Bread Machine

What you need to know: This affordable model boasts a lot of features and bread options for the money.

What you’ll love: It has 29 automatic programs and 21 bread recipes. It also has cake, jam and yogurt options. It allows you to save custom settings. It has three loaf sizes and three crust color options.

What you should consider: The menu requires scrolling through all 29 options, which can be time-consuming.

Worth checking out

KBS Pro Stainless Steel Bread Machine

What you need to know: This bread machine provides all the features people love for making bread at home.

What you’ll love: It has 17 preset baking programs and a large capacity. It also has a 15-hour delay timer. It’s also very quiet. The detachable fruit and nut dispenser deposits add-ins into the dough as needed.

What you should consider: The learning curve is a bit steep.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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Trump proposed getting rid of FEMA, but his review council seems focused on reforming the agency

By GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA

Four days after starting his second administration, President Donald Trump floated the idea of “ getting rid of ” the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages federal disaster response. But at a Thursday meeting, the 12-person review council he appointed to propose changes to FEMA seemed more focused on reforms than total dismantlement.

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FEMA must be “reformed into an agency that is supporting our local and state officials that are there on the ground and responsive to the individuals that are necessary to help people be healed and whole through these situations,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, who co-chairs the council. But, she added, FEMA “as it exists today needs to be eliminated.”

However, the meeting in Oklahoma City offered hints of what types of reforms the council might present to Trump in its final report. Members mainly focused on conventional and oft-cited opportunities for change, such as getting money faster to states and survivors and enhancing the capacity of local emergency managers.

But some moves by the administration in the last several months have already undermined those goals, as mitigation programs are cut and the FEMA workforce is reduced. Experts also caution that no matter what the council proposes, changes to FEMA’s authority and operations require Congressional action.

A Republican-dominated council

President Donald Trump created the FEMA Review Council through a January executive order instructing the group to solicit feedback from a “broad range of stakeholders” and to deliver a report to Trump on recommended changes within 180 days of its first meeting, though that deadline has lapsed.

The 12-person council is co-chaired Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and vice-chaired by former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. It is made up of elected officials, emergency managers and other leaders mostly from Republican states.

Trump “believes we should be in a disaster-response portfolio and footprint,” Noem said at Thursday’s meeting, “but the long-term mitigation should not be something that the federal government is continuing to be involved in to the extent that it has been in the past.”

Noem attended virtually, citing efforts toward “bringing some peace to the streets of Washington, D.C.”

Members on Thursday presented some findings collected in listening sessions conducted in multiple states and with Native tribes. Much of the discussion touched on the need to get money to states more quickly and with more flexibility. Trump and Noem have both supported the idea of giving states federal block grants quickly after a disaster instead of the current reimbursement model.

Members have spent “hours, maybe even days, exploring ways to accelerate local recovery through direct funding for public and individual assistance,” Guthrie said.

Making plans beforehand

Several members emphasized improving preparedness and mitigation before disasters hit.

“Mitigation saves lives, it protects property, it reduces cost of future disasters,” said Guthrie, but added that more responsibility should fall on individuals and state and local governments to invest in mitigation.

States like Texas and Florida have robust, well-funded emergency management agencies prepared for major disasters. Members acknowledged that if other state and local governments were to take on more responsibility in disasters, they still needed training support.

Methods for governments to unlock recovery dollars without relying on federal funds also came up, such as parametric insurance, which provides a rapid payout of a previously agreed-upon amount when a triggering event occurs.

The meeting focused less on individual survivor support, but Bryant brought up the need to reform — and protect — the National Flood Insurance Program, calling it “vital.” That program was created by Congress more than 50 years ago because many private insurers stopped offering policies in high-risk areas.

The rhetoric around FEMA is evolving

The conversation signaled a departure from some of the more aggressive rhetoric Trump and Noem have used in the past to describe their plans for FEMA. As recently as June, Trump suggested “ phasing out ” the agency after the 2025 hurricane season.

Michael Coen, who held FEMA posts under three presidential administrations, said after three council meetings, recommendations remain vague.

“Council members provided their perspective but have not identified the challenge they are trying to solve or offered a new way forward,” Coen said.

Coen also cautioned that any significant changes must go through Congress. Lawmakers in July introduced a bipartisan reform bill in the House. The so-called FEMA Act echoes some of the council’s priorities, but also proposes returning FEMA to a Cabinet-level agency.

“Most current proposed FEMA legislation strengthens FEMA,” said Coen.

Actions sometimes contradict words

Some of the administration’s actions so far contradict council members’ emphasis on expediency, mitigation and preparedness.

Noem now requires that she personally approve any DHS expenditure over $100,000. That policy led to delays in the Texas response, according to several reports, though Noem and acting administrator David Richardson have refuted those claims.

The administration halted a multibillion-dollar program for climate resilience projects, and Trump stopped approving hazard mitigation funding requests for major disasters. FEMA abruptly canceled or moved online some local preparedness trainings this spring, though many later resumed.

On Monday, more than 180 current and former FEMA staff sent an opposition letter to the FEMA Review Council and Congress, warning that the agency is so diminished that a major climate event could lead to catastrophe.

At least some of the staff were put on paid administrative leave until further notice on Tuesday.

Trump fires Democratic member of Surface Transportation Board ahead of huge rail merger decision

By JOSH FUNK

President Donald Trump has fired one of two Democratic members of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to break a 2-2 tie before the body considers the largest railroad merger ever proposed.

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Board member Robert E. Primus said on LinkedIn that he received an email from the White House Wednesday night terminating the position he has held since he was appointed by Trump in his first term. The vacancy would allow Trump to appoint two additional Republicans to the board before its decision on the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger though the Senate would have to confirm them.

Primus was the only board member to oppose Canadian Pacific’s acquisition of Kansas City Southern railroad when it was approved two years ago because he was concerned it would hurt competition. He was named Board chairman last year by former President Joe Biden and led the board until Trump, after his election, elevated Board member Patrick Fuchs to Chairman.

This follows Trump’s previous firings of board members at the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Reserve, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which are all supposed to be independent agencies.

“Robert Primus did not align with the President’s America First agenda, and was terminated from his position by the White House,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said. “The administration intends to nominate new, more qualified members to the Surface Transportation Board in short order.”

Primus said he doesn’t think the firing is valid because the White House didn’t offer any cause for it, and he plans to fight. He also rejected their explanation for the move because he has long tried to encourage railroads to serve every industry better and help them grow, but he has already been removed from the STB website.

“I’ve been pro growth across the board in terms of encouraging growth in the freight rail network, which in turn will grow our national economy. So if that’s not being in line with America first, then I don’t know what America he’s saying is first,” Primus said to The Associated Press.

He said the firings at all these agencies threaten their independence and credibility. Primus said in his tenure the STB always strove to be impartial and apolitical.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who serves on the Commerce Committee, said it’s clear that “Donald Trump is trying to stack the deck so the federal government rubberstamps the merger as a huge favor for Wall Street and wealthy railroad owners.” She said Primus has been a fair regulator who worked hard to make sure railroads delivered for their customers and focused on safety.

Every rail worker union and the nonprofit Rail Passengers Association also quickly condemned the firing.

“The explanation provided for this decision — that his position has been “eliminated” — is nothing short of outrageous. Appointed bodies established through federal code are not designed to be erased at the whim of powerful corporate interests,” said the SMART-TD union that represents concductors. “This action is unprecedented, unlawful in spirit, and reeks of direct interference from hedge funds and the nation’s largest rail carriers.”

The board is set to consider Union Pacific’s $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern in the next two years before deciding whether to approve the nation’s first transcontinental railroad and reduce the number of major freight railroads in the U.S. to five.

Primus said the biggest problems in the industry are the lack of growth and poor service after all the deep cuts railroads have made over the last decade in the interest of efficiency and improving profitability. He hasn’t taken a position on the UP-NS deal, but he doesn’t think mergers will necessarily improve competition.

“We don’t need to merge to increase competition. We need to understand that we have to grow,” he said.

Graduate programs to ‘conclude’ at MIIS in 2027

Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey has announced it will be “concluding” its graduate programs in Monterey in 2027.

Middlebury President Ian B. Baucom made the announcement to the school community on Thursday afternoon.

“The Board of Trustees on Wednesday, August 27, convened a special meeting and approved my recommendation that we conclude residential graduate programs and the online degree programs described below at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey,” Baucom said in an email to the community. “We will complete these programs and operations based in Monterey over the next two years.

Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey has announced it will be "concluding" its graduate programs in Monterey in 2027. (David Timonera - Monterey Herald Correspondent)

“First and foremost, we are committed to supporting our currently enrolled students, including those starting this fall, so that they may successfully complete their degrees by June 2027, with a full array of on-campus resources, including career services. We also are working to support faculty and staff to provide the smoothest possible transition over the next two years.”

Middlebury’s James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, which is based in Monterey and not included among the Institute’s academic degree programs, will continue to operate under the Middlebury umbrella in multiple locations including Monterey; Washington, D.C.; Middlebury, Vermont; and Vienna, Austria according to a press release from the school.

Summer programs currently held in Monterey — including School of the Environment, Bread Loaf School of English’s short program and the English Language School, will continue to be housed at the Monterey campus at least for 2026.

“To be clear, this was a financial decision and not a reflection on the quality of our programs,” Baucom said in the statement. “We are incredibly grateful to all of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni who continue to exemplify the mission of MIIS.”

The school said it has experienced a steep decline in enrollments and applications following the pandemic. This has left MIIS’s programs operating with significant deficits for the past several years, according to the press release.

The school was founded as the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies in 1955. It later became known as the Monterey Institute of International Studies according to the school’s website. In 2010, Middlebury College of Vermont, which was founded in 1800, formally acquired the Institute following a five-year affiliation agreement. Middlebury is known for its leadership in language instruction, environmental studies, international programs and innovations in experiential learning.

In 2015, the Institute was renamed as the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. It has several buildings scattered in and near downtown Monterey. The school has about 700 graduate students and 500 staff and faculty members.

“The City of Monterey will continue to support MIIS during this transition,” said Monterey City Manager Hans Uslar in a press release from the city. “… we hope the students, faculty, and administration can look back at their time at MIIS fondly and will always consider Monterey home.”

 

Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey has announced it will be "concluding" its graduate programs in Monterey in 2027. (David Timonera - Monterey Herald Correspondent)

Cowboys trade Micah Parsons to Packers as 49ers rivals complete blockbuster deal

Micah Parsons is headed to the Green Bay Packers after a blockbuster trade, leaving the Dallas Cowboys following a lengthy contract dispute.

The Packers gave up first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, along with three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, to get the two-time All-Pro edge rusher, who agreed to a contract extension with Green Bay.

A person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press that the Packers are giving Parsons a record-setting, four-year contract worth $188 million, with $136 million guaranteed. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he offered Parsons more guaranteed money. The person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the terms weren’t announced, said that wasn’t accurate.

Parsons becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

“I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control,” Parsons wrote in a statement he posted on X. “My heart has always been here, and still is. Through it all, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the process.”

Jones declined to discuss Parsons’ deal with agent David Mulugheta. Instead, Jones spoke directly to Parsons and insisted they had agreed on the parameters of a new contract.

“I really like Micah. … He’s a great player,” Jones said. “There’s no question I could’ve signed him in April. We all know to have agreements, all parties have to agree. I did make Micah an offer. It wasn’t acceptable and I honor the fact that it wasn’t done the way he wanted to do it through an agent. There’s not an ounce of vindictiveness. There’s no bad feelings on my part.

Jones, who is also the team’s general manager, insisted he made a deal that helps the team win now, citing the need to improve the run defense.

“We did think it was in the best interest of our organization not only for the future but for this season as well,” Jones said. “We gained a Pro Bowl player in an area where we had big concerns, on the inside of our defense.”

With Parsons, the Cowboys were 29th against the run last season and never higher than 16th. Dallas was 1-3 in the playoffs with Parsons, who had one sack in those four games — the last one on Tom Brady.

“This gives us a better chance to be a better team than we have been the last several years since Micah has been here,” Jones said. “Not any negative on Micah, but we’re trying to get better, to stop the run and stay in the hunt.”

The Packers and Cowboys face off in Week 4 in Dallas.

The 26-year-old Parsons has 52 1/2 sacks, recording at least 12 in each of his four seasons while making the Pro Bowl each year.

Parsons provides a massive boost for a franchise that has reached the playoffs five of the past six years but hasn’t made it to the NFL championship game since Aaron Rodgers led them to their fourth Super Bowl title 15 years ago.

Parsons bolsters a defense that was inconsistent at getting to opposing quarterbacks last season, when the Packers went 11-7 and lost to Philadelphia in the NFC wild-card round. The Packers had 45 sacks last season to tie for eighth place in the NFL, but more than half of those sacks came in just four games.

In seven of their 17 games, the Packers had no more than one sack.

Green Bay ranked 16th in pressure rate, which calculates the number of hurries, knockdowns, and sacks for each team divided by an opponent’s drop-back attempts.

Now, the Packers add one of the game’s elite pass rushers while the Cowboys lose their best player because of a power struggle with Jones.

Even with Parsons, who missed four games because of injury last season, Dallas finished 28th in defense, and the team went 7-10. The Cowboys have a healthy Dak Prescott returning but this is a devastating blow for the defense.

The Packers haven’t had anyone get 12 sacks in a season since Za’Darius Smith had 12½ in 2020.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke on Wednesday about the philosophy of taking a “big swing” to land a superstar.

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“I think every opportunity that’s out there to help your football team, we’ve always taken a look at try to see how it affects us right now, how does it affect us in the future and make the best decision we can,” Gutekunst said. “Sometimes we’ve been right, sometimes we’re wrong. Sometimes we’ve taken risks that really worked out for us. Sometimes it didn’t.

“Sometimes we didn’t take risks, and we look back and wish we had, and sometimes, you know, as (former general manager) Ted (Thompson) used to say, you know, God helps those that can’t help themselves a little bit sometimes. So sometimes the best deals you make are the ones you don’t, you know. And so you just kind of, I think you weigh everything, and you weigh what is in the moment and what is in the future as well.”

The Packers, who once signed Reggie White in free agency, just took their biggest swing in decades. White helped a Green Bay team led by Brett Favre win a Super Bowl and reach another on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Cowboys and the Packers are two longtime rivals of the 49ers, but San Francisco does not play either team in the regular season this year. San Francisco opens the 2025 season on Sept. 7 in Seattle against the Seahawks.

DC Man seen throwing sandwich at agent charged with misdemeanor after grand jury declines indictment

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man captured on camera hurling a sandwich at a federal agent in D.C. has been charged with a misdemeanor offense after prosecutors failed to convince a grand jury to return a more serious felony indictment, according to court papers filed Thursday.

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The move is a blow to the Trump administration, which had highlighted the felony assault case against Sean Charles Dunn to show it would aggressively prosecute violence against law enforcement — even after Trump pardoned Jan. 6 rioters who brutally attacked officers with poles and other makeshift weapons.

The White House had spotlighted Dunn’s case with a dramatic social media video of his arrest by federal agents. And Washington’s top federal prosecutor, Jeanine Pirro, also touted the felony charge in another social media video, saying into the camera: “So there, stick your subway sandwich somewhere else.”

Dunn is now charged with simple assault, which carries up to one year behind bars. Misdemeanor charges don’t require prosecutors to go to a grand jury. The felony assault charge calls for up to eight years behind bars. Dunn’s attorney didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment.

It’s so rare for a grand jury not to return an indictment that there’s an old saying that prosecutors could convince a grand jury to “indict a ham sandwich.” But grand juries have declined to return indictments a handful of times in recent weeks in Washington — a potential sign of residents’ frustration with the ongoing law enforcement operation that has led to federal charges in many cases that would typically be handled in local court.

A video of Dunn throwing the sandwich at the chest of the agent who was patrolling the nation’s capital went viral in the first days after Trump’s Aug. 11 order for federal agents and troops to flood Washington. Authorities say he also pointed a finger in an agent’s face and swore at him, calling him a “fascist.”

“Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” Dunn shouted, according to police.

Dunn tried to run away but was apprehended, police said. He was initially released and later arrested by federal agents on the felony assault charge. It was later revealed that he had been working as an international affairs specialist in the Justice Department’s criminal division, though he was swiftly fired by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

In another recent case, prosecutors in Washington acknowledged that three grand juries had voted separately against indicting a woman accused of assaulting an FBI agent outside the city’s jail in July, where she was recording video of the transfer of inmates into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Rebuffed by the grand juries, Pirro’s office is pursuing a misdemeanor assault charge against Sydney Lori Reid instead.

Willy Adames homers twice as SF Giants walk off Cubs for series sweep

SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames touched home twice by his own accord and was the first person to meet Christian Koss as he dove across the plate.

The Giants’ shortstop homered twice, drove in three runs and made a mad dash from the dugout railing as soon as it became clear Koss would score from second base on Jung Hoo Lee’s line drive into right field in the bottom of the ninth Thursday afternoon.

The throw from Owen Cassie wasn’t close, and the Giants got to celebrate a rare 4-3 walk-off win, as well as a three-game sweep of the Cubs that came with even more scarcity. It was the Giants’ first walk-off win since the start of July, their first sweep since the beginning of June, and the first time any team has broken out the brooms against the Northsiders all season.

“It feels like old times,” manager Bob Melvin said.

Melvin’s club had been on the wrong side of five sweeps since they took all three games from the Braves during the first week of June. They won nine games on their final at-bat through the season’s first three months but none since Patrick Bailey’s inside-the-park homer during the first week of July. Their playoff hopes have taken such a hit that the manager laughed at a pregame question about their slim chances that remain, seven games back entering the day.

All of a sudden, though, the Giants are making some noise.

Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after he hit a single to score the winning run against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning at Oracle Park on Aug. 28, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Their sweep of the Cubs comes on the heels of taking two of three from the team with MLB’s best record in Milwaukee and extends their win streak to five games.

“We just went and beat the two best teams in the NL Central two series in a row, so yeah, it feels good,” said starter Logan Webb, who allowed a pair of solo home runs but exited the game after seven innings with the score tied at 3 with an assist from Adames.

Adames ranged into the hole to his right, contorted his body in the air, and fired a strike to Rafael Devers at first base to retire Nico Hoerner for the first out of the seventh inning, prompting Webb’s most exuberant reaction of the day. Adames’ do-it-himself double play in the first inning also helped Webb escape down only 1-0 after three of the Cubs’ first four batters reached base on soft ground balls that found holes.

The shortstop’s biggest contributions came at the plate, more specifically on a pair of letter-high fastballs on the outer half of the plate from Shota Imanaga. Adames deposited both into the left-field bleachers, the first answering the Cubs’ run in the top of the first and the second following a solo shot from Michael Busch that briefly put the Cubs ahead 3-2 in the top of the sixth.

It was the fourth time this season Adames has homered multiple times in one game, the most by a Giants player since Barry Bonds in 2004. As a team, the Giants have homered in 11 consecutive games dating back to Aug. 17, their longest streak since they went deep 12 games in a row from Sept. 5-17, 2021.

“We’re just going out there and having fun, without thinking that, here, the ball don’t fly,” Adames said. “That’s what people say. The ball don’t fly as much (at Oracle Park), but it still goes out. You’ve just got to change that mentality and be yourself. I feel like the guys are doing that.”

Adames’ big day followed Devers’ offensive show of force Wednesday night, going 4-for-4 with a walk, two homers and a double while driving in five runs and scoring four times in a 12-3 rout. Devers reached base safely in his first two trips to the plate Thursday before going down swinging on a splitter from Imanaga to lead off the sixth inning, snapping his personal on-base streak at seven plate appearances.

“These are guys we signed for quite some time here, and we expect to produce,” Melvin said. “These are guys that we expect to be in (the middle of the lineup) for years to come. The way Rafi’s swinging right now, we try to get him up there as much as we can in the two-hole. And Willie’s been kind of the homer guy for a little bit now.”

Adames has contributed five of the Giants’ 22 total homers over the 11-game stretch. Six more and he would become the first Giants player since Bonds to slug 30 in one season. Harder to quantify, he might be closing in on the record for smiles, too.

“That’s one of the reasons we signed him, not only his production on the field but also his enthusiasm,” Melvin said. “It rubs off.”

If there was a challenger to Adames in enthusiasm, it might be Lee, who has played a central part in previous walk-off celebrations and got to have the tables turned on him Thursday. He spoiled a 99 mph fastball from Daniel Palencia one pitch before sending a slider screaming into right field.

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Soon enough, Lee was being swarmed by his Giants teammates while the 32,187 in attendance chanted his name in unison.

It was Lee’s first career walk-off hit, but he had some idea of what to expect, which informed his next move.

“I was trying to run away from the boys because, No. 1, the water in the dugout is really cold,” Lee said through team interpreter Justin Han. “No. 2, I’m usually the guy who beats up the guys when somebody hits a walk-off. So I thought it was going to be a little bit of revenge.”

Lee’s lower half received the brunt of the celebration. His jersey escaped intact, to the delight of clubhouse manager Brad Grems.

“I tried,” Adames grinned. “I guess I didn’t try hard enough. Brad told me he was happy I didn’t rip it off.”

Matt Chapman #26 throws Gatorade on Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants after they beat the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park on Aug. 28, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Is 49ers’ young defense ready as NFL evolves ‘back to the run game’?

SANTA CLARA – Nick Bosa sagely gave pass-rushing tips to rookie Mykel Williams off to the side as Thursday’s practice began, just over a week until the 49ers’ season starts.

That combination punch – the Bosa-Williams merger and their sack-seeking technique – very well could lead their defensive front’s resurgence.

But before the 49ers can chase down quarterbacks, their new cast of defenders must rediscover the franchise’s standard of first stopping the run, especially at run-oriented depots in Seattle and New Orleans to start the season.

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is aware of that. He’s sensed a shift in the NFL, from pass-happy offenses back to old-school ground games churning out three yards and a cloud of synthetic turf pellets.

“Teams are going more to running. You kind of feel that,” Saleh said Thursday. “All of us on defense are sitting back playing two-shell (with deep safeties). … I do think these coordinators are starting to get back to running the football and establishing that, to get people from playing two-shell. It does seem the evolution is going back to the run game.”

The 49ers gave him a rude awakening in that last year, when Saleh began his fourth and soon-to-be-final season as the New York Jets coach. Coach Kyle Shanahan dialed up 38 runs for 180 yards in a 32-19 win. “It was like a punch in the mouth in Week 1 last year,” Saleh recalled.

The 49ers kept 11 defensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster. They’ve made no secret that front four (front five?) is key to a franchise turnaround from last season’s last-place funk.

The defensive line, like too many other units, was not at full strength for Thursday’s practice. Kalia Davis and Yetur Gross-Matos were in the opening D-line drills.

But this rebooted line did have Williams, Alfred Collins, and C.J. West – three of their top five draft picks – lining up and looking like capable starters, along with Bosa, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, and pass-rush specialist Bryce Huff. Williams, Collins and West all missed time with injuries to hinder their growth since the NFL Draft.

“Remember when Nick Bosa missed his rookie training camp and turned out all right? It’s probably more of an outlier, right?” Saleh said. “It’s never ideal. They’re rookies. They’re going to have bumps. We’ll have to coach our butts off. The good news is that it’s a really cool group of young men, deliberate in their approach.”

Saleh is bracing for growing pains, acknowledging that the interior defensive line offers cruel initiations to rookies in terms of blocking combinations and “the strongest people they’ve ever gone against.”

Opponents ran for 124.6 yards per game, and the 49ers allowed five 100-yard rushers in the final seven games.

“I’d like to say we have an idea of the way it’s going to look and how we rotate our guys. But that can change after Week 1,” Saleh added. “We’re going to roll out the dice (next) Sunday and see how it works. “

RECEIVER ROULETTE

Six quick notes on the wide receiver wild ways:

— Marquez Valdes-Scantling debuted and officially was signed to the practice squad, two days after the Seattle Seahawks released him despite a $3 million guaranteed deal in the spring.

— The receiver who did get added to the 49ers’ 53-man roster was Russell Gage Jr. He got cut Tuesday and worked out on the side Thursday while recovering from a knee sprain in camp.

— Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ No. 1 wide receiver by both production and default, appeared to require treatment on a foot/heel blister after warmups. It didn’t appear to be anything serious, but anything related to this unit is cause for concern.

— Jauan Jennings remains out of view and has not practiced since July 27. General manager John Lynch did not add much onto Wednesday’s comments about Jennings’ calf and trade-request denial, but Lynch did say on KNBR 680-AM: “Hopefully this thing has a resolution and he’s back on the field and will be rolling. There’s a couple issues at play and those things settle themselves.”

— Jordan Watkins (ankle) worked out on the side, as did Jacob Cowing, who went on Injured Reserve on Wednesday and is out at least the first four games.

— Kendrick Bourne, a 49er from 2017-20, is scheduled to visit as a free agent Monday, then check out the Washington Commanders on Tuesday, with a framework for a deal in place at either spot, NFL Network reported.

VALDES-SCANTLING’S CHOICE

Wedged between the lockers of Bosa and Williams is that of Valdes-Scantling, a deep-threat wide receiver who was surprised Tuesday when the Seahawks cut him, after they guaranteed him $3 million in the spring to come over from the New Orleans Saints with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Once adrift, Valdes-Scantling chose between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the 49ers, the latter of whom pursued him in 2022 after his rookie contract expired with the Packers and again after his 2022-23 Chiefs tenure.

“I have a good relationship with Aaron Rodgers over there, and he wanted me back,” Valdes-Scantling said. “It was a toss-up, a 50/50. I had to weigh my options, see what I wanted to do, and see what would be better in my career at this point. I was excited about it.”

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The 49ers’ allure went beyond playing in an offensive system similar to what Valdes-Scantling was in with the 2024 New Orleans Saints and the 2025 Seahawks. Another was “being able to get on the field right away,” Valdes-Scantling said, alluding to the 49ers’ receiver attrition by injury and suspension.

As for catching Brock Purdy’s long ball, Valdes-Scantling said: “He’s lighting it up for a reason. He’s been really good since he got in the league, he’s led a bunch of categories, he’s very efficient, and he throws a good football. I’m excited.”

MORE TRANSACTIONS

Quarterback Adrian Martinez, formerly of the New York Jets, debuted in the 49ers’ rotation behind Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. Martinez was signed to the practice squad, as was running back Sincere McCormick.

Defensive tackle Evan Anderson cleared waivers and is expected to rejoin the 49ers on their practice squad.