Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 356

49ers’ Deebo Samuel joins McCaffrey on sidelines with calf strain

When Christian McCaffrey went down, the 49ers could take solace in the fact that they had another versatile and dynamic weapon in Deebo Samuel.

For the next two games, the 49ers will be without both as Samuel reported to work with a calf strain that coach Kyle Shanahan said would likely keep him out two weeks.

That means the 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams on the road and then host the New England Patriots without both McCaffrey and Samuel. It’s a body blow to a team that has struggled to get into the end zone in their first two games of the season.

“Injuries from the game, just one new one — Deebo ended up having a calf strain,” Shanahan said as he opened his conference call Tuesday with local writers. “He’ll probably miss a couple of weeks. That’s it.”

That’s it?

Samuel led the 49ers with eight receptions for 110 yards with a long of 28 in Sunday’s 23-17 road loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He also had two carries which lost 10 yards. He is the 49ers’ leading receiver through two games with 13 receptions for 164 yards.

With McCaffrey out with Achilles tendinitis for at least three more games and possibly more, part of the plan was to feed Samuel, both in the receiving game and the run game. For the time being, that’s not possible.

“He told me he thinks he did it on the third to last play, they had a blitz in the red zone, he caught the hot route breaking in, he says he thinks he did it on that play,” Shanahan said.

Since McCaffrey arrived in 2022, it will be the first time Shanahan has coached a game with both players sidelined.

“Always when you lose real good players it’s tough, but it happens all over the league,” Shanahan said. “It’s a huge part of this league and a huge part of this game. Gotta deal with it.”

The 49ers’ next opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, learned they have lost wide receiver Cooper Kupp with their other top wide receiver Puka Nacua already on injured reserve. The Rams have a number of other injuries to key players who won’t face the 49ers including cornerback Darious Williams, guard/center Jonah Jackson, guard/center Steve Avila, swing tackle Joe Noteboom and safety John Johnson III.

The 49ers could use a return to form for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who missed all of training camp because of a contract dispute. Aiyuk has six catches for 71 yards through two games and has been targeted 10 times with no touchdowns.

Aiyuk told reporters afterward he felt he was at about “85 percent,” although Shanahan believed that figure had to do with play snaps more than effectiveness. He thought there were plays for Aiyuk that simply didn’t work out against the Vikings and their heavily blitzing defense.

“There were a number of times he had a real good chance to get the ball and a couple of times protectections broke down, one time someone busted a route the same way and it covered up,” Shanahan said. “He had a chance to get about four big passes and other factors happened.

“It’s a team game. There are 11 guys out there that are involved to get him the ball and he did some opportunities when he should have, but not everything went right.”

Jauan Jennings, who will step into the No. 2 receiver role behind Aiyuk, has seven receptions for 101 yards and five first downs through two games.

The 49ers have an open roster spot from placing McCaffrey on injured reserve and Shanahan said it would be determined over the next few days how best to fill it.

Other receivers who will get added work with Samuel out include Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell and Jacob Cowing. Rookie Isaac Guerendo, a rookie third-round draft pick, could pick up additional carries in back of lead back Jordan Mason as well as Patrick Taylor Jr.

Guerendo played one snap against Minnesota and got one carry and was stopped for no gain.

Andrew Van Ginkel (43) of Minnesota pressures Brock Purdy (13) on one of many blitzes by the the Vikings Sunday.

Safety dance

Rookie fourth-round pick Malik Mustapha got 31 snaps at safety in place of George Odum, with the switch coming not long after Odum was victimized on the Vikings’ 97-yard touchdown play from Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson.

“Our plan was to get him in,” Shanahan said. “I don’t know if it was the third or fourth. We had planned it all week, wanted to do it in the first game, never did. It had nothing to do with that play.”

It’s also possible that Talanoa Hufanga, a 2022 All-Pro, could make his debut after rehabbing from a torn ACL last season.

“He’s looking good,” Shanahan said. “He’s had two weeks, had a real good week last week, so hopefully he can get in and play this week and have three good practices.

The six sacks

The 49ers surrendered six sacks of quarterback Brock Purdy, and while Shanahan acknowledged some protection breakdowns, he believes that number to be deceiving.

“When you see six sacks you assume it’s real tough day on the O-line, but I credit that more to the whole offense,” Shanahan said. “A few were definitely on them, not all six of them. Everyone’s got to do better, but that number six is a little unfair to them.”

Along those lines, Shanahan wasn’t going to single out left tackle Trent Williams, playing his second game on short rest after a contract holdout.

“I think Trent played decent,” Shanahan said. “There are things he’d like to have back, but I didn’t see him get tired or fatigued or anything like that. I don’t relate anything to that, it’s just about the game yesterday.”

Flummoxed by Flores

While Purdy appeared more indecisive than usual faced with Minnesota’s blitzing defense designed by coordinator Brian Flores, Shanahan said it was a system the team had prepared for all week.

“They either blitz, or they back off and play zone,” Shanahan said. “It’s one or the other. They mix it up. They did it for 17 games last year and now they’ve done it two games this year. I thought we ran the ball a lot better than a lot of teams have, made some good explosives in the pass game.

“We just struggled to keep the chains moving on third down and when you end up turning the ball over twice and have a punt blocked, that’s the difference.”

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Snap judgements

70–The number of offensive snaps for the 49ers. Every offensive lineman took every snap in a game in which the 49ers gave up six sacks.

54–The number of defensive snaps for the 49ers. Warner, Ji’Ayir Brown and Deommodore Lenoir took every snap. Charvarius Ward had 53 snaps.

46--The number of snaps for edge rusher Nick Bosa, the most of any of the defensive lineman.

26–Snaps taken by defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos in his 49ers debut. Had no tackles, one quarterback hit.

20–The number of special teams snaps taken by linebacker Curtis Robinson, who did not play a down on defense.

4–The number of defensive snaps for rookie second-round draft pick Renardo Green, who didn’t get any snaps on defense in Week 1.

 

 

Gang member from King City to be sentenced for two first-degree murders

A gang member plead guilty to two murders using a firearm and is slated to receive 70 years to life in prison.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced that Eliazar Ayron, 22, from King City, plead guilty to two counts of first-degree murder while using a firearm to benefit the Sureno criminal street gang.

Ayron, along with three other Sureno gang members, including Raul Lucas who was sentenced to 58 years to life in 2022 for this case, drove to Sussex Way in King City where they ambushed the victims as they exited the vehicle in front of their house. The victims were shot multiple times and killed.

King City street cameras captured the license plate of the vehicle involved with the murders. The vehicle was matched with a residence in Salinas, and a search warrant was served, where police found one of the weapons used in the shooting.

Ayron fled the police jurisdiction after the murders, but a task force from numerous jurisdictions assembled and successfully caught him nine months later in a rural and remote area in Groveland, California.

Ayron is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 4.

Monterey Council to vote on higher citations for illegal short-term rentals

The Monterey City Council will vote on Tuesday whether to exclude short-term rentals from the $1,000 cap on administrative citations.

The current citation structure calls for progressively increasing fines for repeat violations, and is intended to discourage both persistent offenders and those who profit from noncompliance, according to Tuesday’s agenda. The second violation is supposed to be 50% higher than the first fine, and the third is supposed to be double the original fine.

However, state law imposes a $1,000 cap on fines levied by a city legislative body.

City staff are proposing an increase for short-term rentals specifically, because they say it would better deter the practice as a whole.

For example, according to city staff, during Classic Car Week illegally renting out units can be a lucrative business and owners can make anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000 per stay. City staff says a $1,000 fine might not be appropriate, or even a deterrent against the practice, if the people committing the crimes are still making a profit.

The Monterey City Charter does not establish or limit any maximum penalty amounts and allows for the city to make and enforce all laws regarding municipal affairs as long as it does not exceed State Law.

According to city staff, the city should be able to pass the higher citations with few restrictions, but any fines must comply with the Eight Amendment, meaning they cannot be “grossly disproportional” to the offense.

The ordinance would add a new subsection to the city code, clarifying that the state’s $1,000 limit does not apply to Monterey’s administrative fines and the Council will be responsible for setting the fine amounts. Staff will also consider legal factors to ensure fines are fair before recommending any amounts exceeding $1,000.

The Monterey City Council will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday, at Monterey City Hall, 580 Pacific St. The meeting will be available via Zoom at https://monterey-org.zoomgov.com/j/16...

Water district loses appellate court battle over fees

MONTEREY – A ruling by a state appellate court against the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District could have what is being described as a minor impact on the district’s water supply efforts.

The California Sixth District Court of Appeals sided with the Monterey Peninsula Taxpayers Association late last week in a lawsuit that claimed a fee charged to ratepayers should have been halted years ago.

The legal issues are complex and involve many moving parts, but basically the district is charging two separate fees – a “users fee” that was collected as a pass-through on California American Water Co.’s bills and a “water supply fee.” The taxpayers association sued, arguing that based on the water district’s own ordinance, the water supply fee should have been sun-setted when the user fee was also being charged.

State regulators in 2011 ordered a halt to the user fee, so the district created the water supply fee that was collected through property taxes. The water district sued the regulator – California Public Utilities Commission – and after the case meandered through Superior Court, then the Sixth District Court of Appeal and finally to the California Supreme Court, the district prevailed and kept the user fee.

Since then, the district has been collecting both the user fee and the water supply fee, primarily to fund projects that would increase the water supply to the Peninsula, like the Pure Water Monterey recycling project as well as the expansion of that project that’s due to come online next year.

In the lawsuit against the district that was filed in Monterey County Superior Court in September 2021, taxpayers association attorneys argued the ordinance the water district established to institute the water supply fee included a clause saying if the user fee was reinstated, then the water supply fee would be sun-setted. Following the state Supreme Court ruling, the user fee was re-established, but the water supply fee remained.

“When the district won their (Supreme Court) case and reenacted the user fee they chose to ignore their own ordinance and in effect ‘double dipped,’” said Rick Heuer, president of the taxpayers association.

Monterey County Superior Court Judge Carrie Panetta, who heard the original lawsuit in March of last year, ruled in favor of the association.

“The Petition for Writ of Mandate is granted solely on the basis that the continued collection of the Water Supply Charge, after the User Fee was reinstated and collected on the Cal Am bill, violated the (water district) ordinance’s Sunset Provision,” Panetta wrote in the ruling summary. “The District is ordered to cease the imposition and collection of the Water Supply Charge by the amount of the User Fee.”

The water district appealed to the appellate court but the court last week upheld Panetta’ decision in favor of the association.

Heuer said on Monday there are still issues to be settled, a fact Dave Stoldt, the general manager of the water district, agrees with. Regardless of how the outstanding issues are settled, Stoldt said any revenue loss would have a minor effect on water supply projects. Revenue that would go for the Pure Water Monterey Expansion is already locked up by debt the district has already issued as well as receiving grant money.

The effect it could have is on the cost of labor for the crews who maintain water supply projects like the Aquifer Storage and Recovery program that banks excess winter flows in the Carmel River.

“We might have to tighten our belts a bit,” Soldt said.

The first order of business for the water district is to determine whether or not to appeal to the state Supreme Court, request a hearing with the appellate court or accept the ruling. The district’s board of directors met Monday evening in a closed session to discuss its options.

The state Supreme Court takes up less than 5% of petitions, selecting ones that have statewide ramifications.

Many of the issues argued to the appellate court were “too challenging to make a judge understand our point of view,” Stoldt said Monday. “If we do pack it in, then we will need to begin discussions with opposing counsel. Tonight we will talk about whether or not we’ll be throwing in the towel.”

That could be where the real work begins. One of the questions that will need to be negotiated is how or even if the district refunds the money collected by what Heuer describes as “ill-gotten gains.”

The appellate court ruled that the district must stop collecting the fee. There was nothing decided about returning some of that revenue to ratepayers, Heuer said, adding that the association’s lawsuit did not address a refund. He estimated roughly $10 million has been collected since the association sued.

Stoldt said the question of whether it refunds from revenue sequestered following the association’s lower court ruling, or whether it refunds from last year is still up in the air.

“But we hope they do the right thing,” Heuer said. “If they don’t refund, we’ll be back in court again.”

Clipboard: Carmel’s Iandoli commits to West Texas A&M for Stock Horse

Elizabeth Iandoli has committed to compete next fall for the reigning Stock Horse Division I national reserve collegiate champion West Texas A&M University.

The sport has competition in four basic stock horse disciplines – reining, working cow horse, stock horse pleasure and stock horse trail.

The Carmel High senior’s focus in college will be on cow boxing and reining, where she is required to rein in the cow with her horse in a discipline-type drill, boxing the cow along the fence, turning it in both directions before roping it.

Iandoli got the attention of prospective colleges, competing in competitions in California and Arizona in the American Quarter Horse Association.

While the sport is growing at the college level, there are very few scholarships as just 16 teams from 10 states took part in the national championships last season.

Iandoli trains with Clifford Horse Training in Carmel Valley. Her older brother Bo is currently playing baseball at Regis University in Denver.

Flores playing pro baseball

Former King City High and Hartnell College slugger Marc Flores has extended his baseball career into his 30s, playing for Gastonia in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound first baseman has had a revival of sorts, hitting .289, with 12 home runs and 57 runs batted in through 69 games.

Drafted by the Chicago White Sox out of Hawaii in 2014, the left-handed swinging Flores’ best professional season came in 2019 in Mexico when he hit 32 homers and drove in 103 runs.

Over 10 seasons playing professionally in another country or the minor leagues, Flores is hitting .289 with 121 homers and 421 runs batted in, along with 400 walks.

Flores was an all-leaguer in football, basketball and baseball at King City, earning all-state honors at Hartnell in baseball in 2012.

Dale brothers producing goals

Brothers Jasper and Wyley Dale have played in all four matches for the nationally-ranked UC Irvine water polo team this fall.

Jasper is currently tied for fifth on the team in points with six, having produced two goals and assisted on four others.

The 6-foot-8, 250-pound Wyley is tied for sixth on the team in goals with three.

A member of the 2023 USA Youth National Team, Wyley produced 11 goals as a freshman last season, drawing 17 exclusions.

Jasper, who is in his third season at UC Irvine, came into the fall with 12 goals, 11 assists and 13 steals in his collegiate career.

Both are Stevenson graduates, where Jasper was the Gabilan Division Player of the Year in 2021, with Wyley earning the honor in 2022.

Finley playing at Stephen F. Austin State

Redshirt sophomore Joey Finley is part of the defensive line rotation for the Stephen F. Austin State football team.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Palma product picked up his first tackle for the Lumberjacks, who are 1-1 on the season.

Finley put together an all-state season in his one season at MPC, compiling 15 sacks to earn a scholarship to Stephen F. Austin, a Division I program in Texas.

Finley was a three-sport standout at Palma, earning all-county honors in football. He also played basketball and baseball.

Nominations for MPC’s Distinguished Awards wanted

Nominations for the Lobo Legends Celebration are now being accepted for the awards event, which will be held March 15.

The event will honor achievements from Monterey Peninsula College alumni, retirees and rising stars who have made a significant contribution to the college and the broader community.

There are four categories for the awards event – distinguished alumni and alumni athletes, along with newly added distinguished retiree and rising star class.

Nomination forms are available on the MPC Foundation website at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOOvDqBpZA8zzgcz5_noTApAV1SYHmtZ-M_l2P3B61aWly3A/viewform

Coaches needed

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

Soledad is looking for a boys and girls wrestling coach. Contact athletic director Nick Twitchell at aztecathletics@soledad.k.12.ca

Officials needed

Peninsula Sports Incorporate is looking for high school and middle school officials for all sports this season. Varsity officials are paid $100 a game.

There is an immediate need for officials in the fall for football, flag football, volleyball, water polo and field hockey. Training is provided. Call Tom Emery at (831) 241-1101.

Seaside’s Finest

Seaside’s Finest is holding fall basketball workouts for boys and girls Mondays and Wednesdays at MPC. The program is designed to prepare athletes for the upcoming basketball season. Also offered will be speed and strength workouts. Contact Jason Hieb at 831-915-5362 or http://seasidesfinest.leagueapps.com

 

Kurtenbach: The SF Giants can’t afford another season of Farhan Zaidi, and they know it

Last season, a disastrous September cost Giants manager Gabe Kapler his job.

A head had to roll, and Kapler’s was deemed both big and round enough to be a viable sacrifice.

Will another disastrous September bring the same fate to Farhan Zaidi?

Because it’s looking like another sacrifice is needed.

And Zaidi’s head should be next on the chopping block.

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As of Monday morning, the Giants are six games under .500, a comical 9.5 back of the third wild card spot in the National League, and closer to the last-place Rockies than the first-place Dodgers in the division.

If this isn’t a calamity, I don’t know what is. These guys stink.

And no one should have faith that Zaidi is the man who can fix the problem he created.

It doesn’t even sound like Zaidi has faith he can turn this thing around.

When it comes to the roster, the buck stops with the head of baseball operations. And yet he’s still out gaslighting the fanbase, trying to find any angle that can give him enough plausible deniability to avoid scrutiny and, perhaps, a full-on fan mutiny.

A few weeks ago, Zaidi said the team’s trade deadline moves were about “creating opportunities for young players.” That’s why he claimed he traded veterans Jorge Soler and Alex Cobb for scrap metal.

(Actually, scrap metal might prove more valuable.)

But then, on a Thursday KNBR hit, when asked about what lessons were learned from this disaster of a season, Zaidi offered this:

“I think the thing we gotta ask ourselves as we build up this team is ‘Do we need more veteran depth?’”

Does this man hear himself?

Does he really think this stuff will help him avoid a vote of no confidence?

Either way, the dissonance screams incompetence.

Even if this is all a byproduct of clumsy communication, the last time I checked, someone in Zaidi’s position is required to be a good communicator, not only with the fan base but also with free agents and the players on the roster.

Perhaps I’m the slow one, but the Giants’ rough free-agency sales pitches are making more sense.

How many strikes is this against Zaidi now?

Last time I checked, you only get three before you’re out in baseball.

Zaidi is under contract, in full, for one more season, he confirmed on Thursday.

And the groundwork for replacing him might already be set. Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reported that Buster Posey, not Zaidi, took the Matt Chapman contract extension over the finish line after ownership (which includes Posey) “became so frustrated by the lack of immediate progress between Zaidi and agent Scott Boras after talks began in August.”

Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?

The Giants’ organizational issues cannot solely be placed on Zaidi’s shoulders. Those above and below him on the pecking order have to wear this failure of a season, as well. An ownership group that wants to “somewhat break even” and Bob Melvin’s bizarre management are part of the problem, too.

However, the fact remains that Zaidi puts the team together, and six years into his tenure, he only has one winning season to his name. And worse yet, he’s running a franchise with no overt direction.

Zaidi couldn’t spin this product, even if he had the oratory capabilities.

There’s a concept in business called the Peter Principle. It suggests that one is promoted until they reach a level of incompetence.

There’s little doubt in my mind that Zaidi has a role in baseball. No one works the bottom end of a roster — spots 20 to 26 — better. But that’s the role of a No. 2, and he’s the Grand Poobah.

He’s the Peter Principle personified.

What more does Giants ownership need to see?

Why bother keeping Zaidi around for what would be a lame-duck 2025?

A clean slate offseason would be the right move — take this rickety building down to the studs. Sadly, there’s no way that the Giants’ ownership would make such moves. A rebuild would undoubtedly jeopardize that all-important bottom line, so the concept won’t even be entertained.

But sustained mediocrity won’t do any entertaining, either.

And that’s all you’ll get with Zaidi.

California schools caught in crossfire of national Title IX battle

New federal sexual harassment and discrimination regulations extending protection to gender identity went into effect in August, but a legal battle more than 1,500 miles away is preventing hundreds of California K-12 schools and universities from enacting policy changes.

Since the Biden administration announced the changes to the 1972 Title IX law, federal judges have issued injunctions blocking the regulations in 26 states. While California is not among the states challenging the new rules, at least 98 K-12 schools and 687 colleges and universities in the state have been impacted by an injunction issued by a federal court judge in Kansas.

That’s because the injunction blocks schools from applying the new regulations if they have a student who is a member of any of the three conservative organizations listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit — Moms for Liberty, the Young America’s Foundation and Female Athletes United. The organizations have sought to stop further LGBTQ+ and gender legislation in schools and classrooms.

The order has led to division and confusion among Bay Area schools as they scramble to decide whether to move forward with any changes.

Amy Brandt, a San Francisco-based education attorney, said schools were “blindsided” by the short notice regarding enactment of the new protections.

“It’s created this significant concern and confusion more than anything for the schools or districts who have one or multiple schools or colleges listed on the preliminary injunction,” Brandt said. “So at one school, the Department of Education cannot enforce the 2024 regulations, but at the (others) they can and will.”

Most of the objections to the new rulings announced in the spring focus on a change to the definition of sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Some conservative groups are calling it a “radical rewrite” of Title IX that oversteps the Biden administration’s authority.

“Changing the definition of sex to include gender identity and sexual orientation — the Department of Education doesn’t have the right to do that,” said Tiffany Justice, co-founder of the parental rights advocacy group Moms for Liberty and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “We also believe that … these new regulations would force children and teachers to use the pronouns that a child wants to be used rather than biological fact. And we refuse our children to be compelled to lie in schools.”

The new regulations also expand protections for pregnant students, eliminate a requirement for colleges to hold live hearings with direct cross-examination and extend the scope of protections to include off-campus and international incidents.

They further direct schools to use a lower “preponderance of evidence” standard to determine whether sexual harassment, assault or discrimination occurred — meaning the evidence is enough to conclude that discrimination more likely than not took place.

Groups opposed to the new rules have said the changes remove the protections and equal opportunity for which women have fought for decades. They say the redefinition of sex to include gender identity will bar schools from preventing transgender students from participating in sports, especially in female sports.

“The rule flips Title IX on its head,” said the conservative women’s advocacy group, Independent Women’s Voice. “It strips protections for women and girls — robbing women of equal opportunity, privacy and fairness. It cheats female athletes out of their trophies, roster spots, playing time and resources and gives them to men.”

Last month, the Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration’s emergency request to allow the unchallenged parts of the 2024 regulations to go into effect while litigation continues, leaving Bay Area schools in limbo as they decide how to move forward.

Dublin Unified, Fremont Unified, Oakland Unified, Palo Alto Unified, San Francisco Unified and East Side Union High school districts all have high schools listed as being impacted by the injunction.

Fremont Unified said schools listed under the injunction — including American High — are following the 2020 regulations while all others are following the new 2024 regulations.

But Dublin Unified said the district is moving forward with updating its Title IX policies, despite the injunction on Dublin High. The district introduced its revised sexual harassment and discrimination policies under the new regulations at its board meeting this week.

Regardless of whether schools choose to implement the 2024 regulations, they could be vulnerable to lawsuits on both sides, said Brandt, the education attorney.

At the college and university level, at least nine California State University campuses, including San Jose State University, and six University of California campuses — including Santa Cruz and Berkeley — are impacted by the injunction. Santa Clara University and Stanford University also are included in the injunction.

San Jose State University said it is legally required to comply with the 2020 regulations until the “legality of the new regulations is resolved by the court.” In the meantime, the university said it has issued an interim nondiscrimination policy as a bridge until the injunction is lifted. The interim policy prohibits harassment on the basis of sex or gender, including gender expression, identity and pregnancy.

In a statement to the Stanford community, Patrick Dunkley — the university’s vice provost for institutional equity, access and community — said the university has decided to hold off on making any changes to its policies and procedures.

UC Berkeley said its existing systemwide sexual violence and harassment policy goes “above and beyond” the 2020 regulations by including protections against all forms of sex-based harassment, including on the basis of gender identity, expression and pregnancy.

“We are already well-positioned to respond to and address any concerns from our community, regardless of the status of the injunction or 2024 regulations,” the university said.

Brandt said it’s unclear if or when the 2024 regulations will go into effect nationwide, especially if Trump wins the election.

“I think there are a lot of questions about whether the Kansas Court has jurisdiction over California schools,” Brandt said. “But I imagine if there’s a change in political party in the presidential election, I predict we would see another change to Title IX regulations.”

Horoscopes Sept. 16, 2024: Amy Poehler, become the heartbeat

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Nick Jonas, 32; Alexis Bledel, 43; Amy Poehler, 53; Mickey Rourke, 72.

Happy Birthday: Focus on something meaningful. Make your life purposeful and fulfilling, and you will make a difference. Be smart with your money and stick to the rules. Put contracts in place and practice what you preach. Rise above what you don’t like and put more thought and love into what matters to you. Become the heartbeat and make your dreams come true. Live, love and laugh. Your numbers are 6, 11, 23, 27, 32, 38, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Create opportunities. Waiting for things to happen isn’t your first choice. Be the one to initiate what you want and take credit for your achievements. Life is about living, dreaming and writing your script. Fuel your fire. Show and express your true feelings. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Communicate, gather information and discover what you need to know to bring about positive change. Consider trends and how to use your skills, knowledge and experience to secure your position and prospects. Align yourself with forward-thinking associates. Take a stance and make a difference. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A change of pace will help you recognize what you’re missing. Rethink your routine and lifestyle, and replace what isn’t working for you anymore. Happiness begins with the choices you make. Be good to yourself, and initiate the changes that offer peace of mind. Put yourself first. 2 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Sign up for something that makes you feel alive. A healthy attitude and pouring your energy into doing and being your best will help you say no to temptation and unnecessary excess. It’s time to take better care of your emotional well-being. Look and do your best. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Consider how to get the most out of your day. Consider how to use what you have to your advantage and to rid yourself of what you no longer use or need. Trust your instincts; you’ll discover an outlet that eases stress and encourages a healthier lifestyle. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Choose your words wisely and put your energy into something that matters to you. Let your hope for a better future guide you to make a difference. Life choices that offer peace of mind will outweigh the stress the wrong path provides. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An open mind will help you diminish negativity and encourage you to see the possibilities. Engage in what excites you, and you’ll learn from your experiences. Give your best, and you’ll receive what you require to turn your hopes and wishes into a reality. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Size up what’s possible and do whatever it takes to reach your goal. Home improvements will spark your imagination and encourage you to resolve concerns regarding money or health issues. Take responsibility and create opportunities. Use your skills to propagate and promote what you have to offer. 5 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep moving. Participate in activities that stir your soul and prompt you to find solutions and to change things that concern you. Don’t let anyone lead you astray or deter you from doing what’s right and best for you. Create opportunities, and you’ll get positive results. 2 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Go over your expenses, assets and liabilities and find a way to cut corners or make your life easier. Put your heart and soul into what you do; it will pay off. Use your intelligence and expertise to make a difference to the outcome. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your objective is to pay attention to where your money goes. Talk to an expert or someone you trust, and do your due diligence regarding investments, budgets and lifestyle changes that can save you money. Be open to suggestions, but take responsibility for your actions and reaching your objective. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Rethink your journey and take the path that simplifies your life. Too much of anything will drag you down. Focus on what’s important to you and the people who improve your life. Put your energy into contributing something worthwhile and making a difference. Take responsibility for your happiness. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are intelligent, efficient and innovative. You are adaptable and far-reaching.

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.

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2024 Emmy Awards: The complete list of winners

By Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — The 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards arrived on Sunday.

The awards, presented by the Television Academy, honored the best of the 2023-2024 TV season. The 76th edition of the ceremony came just months after the 75th edition, which was held in January after being delayed by the dual Hollywood strikes.

Here are the winners, including several previously announced at the Creative Arts Emmys.

Comedy series

“Abbott Elementary”

“The Bear”

“Curb Your Enthusiasm”

Winner: “Hacks”

“Only Murders in the Building”

“Palm Royale”

“Reservation Dogs”

“What We Do in the Shadows”

Drama series

“The Crown”

“Fallout”

“The Gilded Age”

“The Morning Show”

“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Winner: “Shōgun”

“Slow Horses”

“3 Body Problem”

Drama lead actress

Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”

Carrie Coon, “The Gilded Age”

Maya Erskine, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Winner: Anna Sawai, “Shōgun”

Imelda Staunton, “The Crown”

Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”

Drama lead actor

Donald Glover, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Walton Goggins, “Fallout”

Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”

Winner: Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shōgun”

Dominic West, “The Crown”

Idris Elba, “Hijack”

Limited series

Winner: “Baby Reindeer”

“Fargo”

“Lessons in Chemistry”

“Ripley”

“True Detective: Night Country”

Limited series / TV movie lead actress

Winner: Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country”

Brie Larson, “Lessons in Chemistry”

Juno Temple, “Fargo”

Sofía Vergara, “Griselda”

Naomi Watts, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Limited series / TV movie lead actor

Matt Bomer, “Fellow Travelers”

Winner: Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”

Jon Hamm, “Fargo”

Tom Hollander,“Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Andrew Scott, “Ripley”

Directing for a drama series

Hiro Murai, “First Date,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Winner: Frederick E.O. Toye, “Crimson Sky,” “Shōgun”

Saul Metzstein, “Strange Games,” “Slow Horses”

Stephen Daldry, “Sleep, Dearie Sleep,” “The Crown”

Mimi Leder, “The Overview Effect,” “The Morning Show”

Directing for a comedy series

Randall Einhorn, “Party,” “Abbott Elementary”

Lucia Aniello, “Bulletproof,” “Hacks”

Winner: Christopher Storer, “Fishes,” “The Bear”

Ramy Youssef, “Honeydew,” “The Bear”

Guy Ritchie, “Refined Aggression,” “The Gentlemen”

Writing for a limited or anthology series or movie

Winner: Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”

Charlie Brooker, “Joan Is Awful,” “Black Mirror”

Noah Hawley, “The Tragedy of the Commons,” “Fargo”

Ron Nyswaner, “You’re Wonderful,” “Fellow Travelers”

Steven Zaillian, “Ripley”

Issa López, “Part 6,” “True Detective: North Country”

Writing for a drama series

Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner; “The End,” “Fallout”

Francesca Sloane, Donald Glover; “First Date,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks; “Anjin,” “Shōgun”

Rachel Kondo, Caillin Puente; “Crimson Sky,” “Shōgun”

Winner: Will Smith, “Negotiating With Tigers,” “Slow Horses”

Peter Morgan, Meriel Sheibani-Clare; “The Ritz,” “The Crown”

Limited series / TV movie supporting actor

Jonathan Bailey, “Fellow Travelers”

Robert Downey Jr., “The Sympathizer”

Tom Goodman-Hill, “Baby Reindeer”

John Hawkes, “True Detective: North Country”

Winner: Lamorne Morris, “Fargo”

Lewis Pullman, “Lessons in Chemistry”

Treat Williams, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Talk series

Winner: “The Daily Show”

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

“Late Night With Seth Meyers”

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”

Writing for a comedy series

Quinta Brunson, “Career Day,” “Abbott Elementary”

Meredith Scardino, Sam Means; “Orlando,” “Girls5eva”

Winner: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky; “Bulletproof,” “Hacks”

Christopher Storer, Joanna Calo; “Fishes,” “The Bear”

Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider; “Brooke Hosts a Night of Undeniable Good,” “The Other Two”

Jake Bender, Zach Dunn; “Pride Parade,” “What We Do in the Shadows”

Directing for a limited or anthology series or movie

Weronika Tofilska, “Episode 4,” “Baby Reindeer”

Noah Hawley, “The Tragedy of the Commons,” “Fargo”

Gus Van Sant, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Millicent Shelton, “Poirot,” “Lessons in Chemistry”

Winner: Steven Zaillian, “Ripley”

Issa López, “True Detective: North Country”

Writing for a variety special

Winner: Alex Edelman, “Alex Edelman: Just For Us”

Jacqueline Novak, “Jacqueline Novak: Get On Your Knees”

John Early, “John Early: Now More Than Ever”

Mike Birbiglia, “Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and The Pool”

“The Oscars”

Scripted variety series

Winner: “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”

“Saturday Night Live”

Limited series / TV movie supporting actress

Dakota Fanning, “Ripley”

Lily Gladstone, “Under the Bridge”

Winner: Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”

Aja Naomi King, “Lessons in Chemistry”

Diane Lane, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Nava Mau, “Baby Reindeer”

Kali Reis, “True Detective: Night Country”

Reality competition program

“The Amazing Race”

“RuPaul’s Drag Race”

“Top Chef”

Winner: “The Traitors”

“The Voice”

Comedy lead actress

Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”

Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”

Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”

Winner: Jean Smart, “Hacks”

Kristen Wiig, “Palm Royale”

Maya Rudolph, “Loot”

Drama supporting actress

Christine Baranski, “The Gilded Age”

Nicole Beharie, “The Morning Show”

Winner: Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”

Greta Lee, “The Morning Show”

Lesley Manville, “The Crown”

Karen Pittman, “The Morning Show”

Holland Taylor, “The Morning Show”

Comedy supporting actress

Carol Burnett, “Palm Royale”

Winner: Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”

Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”

Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”

Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”

Meryl Streep, “Only Murders in the Building”

Comedy lead actor

Matt Berry, “What We Do in the Shadows,”

Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”

Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”

Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”

Winner: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, “Reservation Dogs”

Drama supporting actor

Tadanobu Asano, “Shōgun”

Winner: Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”

Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”

Jon Hamm, “The Morning Show”

Takehiro Hira, “Shōgun”

Jack Lowden, “Slow Horses”

Jonathan Pryce, “The Crown”

Comedy supporting actor

Lionel Boyce, “The Bear”

Paul W. Downs, “Hacks”

Winner: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”

Paul Rudd, “Only Murders in the Building”

Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary”

Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”

Television movie

Winner: “Quiz Lady”

“Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie”

“Red, White & Royal Blue”

“Scoop”

“Unfrosted”

Guest actor in a drama series

Winner: Néstor Carbonell, “Shōgun”

Paul Dano, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Tracy Letts, “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”

Jonathan Pryce, “Slow Horses”

John Turturro, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Guest actress in a drama series

Winner: Michaela Coel, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Claire Foy, “The Crown”

Marcia Gay Harden, “The Morning Show”

Sarah Paulson, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Parker Posey, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Guest actor in a comedy series

Winner: Jon Bernthal, “The Bear”

Matthew Broderick, “Only Murders in the Building”

Ryan Gosling, “Saturday Night Live”

Christopher Lloyd, “Hacks”

Bob Odenkirk, “The Bear”

Will Poulter, “The Bear”

Guest actress in a comedy series

Winner: Jamie Lee Curtis, “The Bear”

Olivia Colman, “The Bear”

Kaitlin Olson, “Hacks”

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “Only Murders in the Building”

Maya Rudolph, “Saturday Night Live”

Kristen Wiig, “Saturday Night Live”

For a complete list of Emmy nominees, go to Emmys.com.

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Sam Darnold got aggressive to beat the 49ers and Brock Purdy at their own game

A 39-yard field goal by Will Reichard didn’t account for the margin of victory, but to Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold the points were crucial in a 23-17 win over the 49ers.

Brock Purdy, who shared a quarterback room with Darnold last season had just gotten the 49ers on the board with a 7-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle to cut the Vikings lead to 10-7 with 1:53 to play in the half.

To make matters worse, the drive came after Fred Warner intercepted a Darnold pass to get the 49ers going.

But instead of killing the clock and ignoring Darnold’s penchant for interceptions, Minnesota stayed aggressive. Darnold hit Jalen Nailor with an 18-yard pass on first down. He later threw a 16-yard strike to Justin Jefferson on third-and-13, shrugging off an earlier sack by Nick Bosa.

Finally, Darnold had an 18-yard scramble up the middle and slid to the turf with three seconds left to set up the Reichard field goal and a 13-7 lead at halftime.

“I saw it first-hand the entire year last year, how much momentum the Niners get when they score at the end of the half,” Darnold told reporters. “We were getting the ball in the second half, but that momentum can carry that team to a win most of the time. For us to get a two-minute drive at the end was big-time for us.”

Darnold and Purdy both had their moments, but it was Darnold who came up big in the biggest moments. He finished 17-for-26 for 268 yards and two touchdowns, including a 97-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson and a 6-yard strike to Nailor. He had 32 yards on five scrambles.

Purdy was 28-for-36 for 319 yards and the one touchdown to Kittle, one interception and a lost fumble when the ball slipped out of his hands and led to a Minnesota touchdown.

While Darnold was talking up his successes, Purdy was lamenting the one that got away when the 49ers failed to score on a fourth down at the 2-yard line. The 49ers had driven 83 yards in 15 plays and had a first-and-goal at the 5 with 45 seconds left in the quarter.

With first-and-goal at the 4, Purdy threw incomplete to Brandon Aiyuk and Jordan Mason lost a yard to the 5. On third down, Purdy threw short to George Kittle for three yards to the 2.

Coach Kyle Shanahan went for the touchdown and Purdy, looking directly into a blitz, had a ball intended for Jauan Jennings deflected that fell incomplete. Minnesota got the ball, setting the stage for Darnold’s 97-yard strike to Jefferson.

“We felt we could have scored in that drive and I loved the aggressiveness Kyle had going for it on fourth-and-2,” Purdy said. “They had a zero blitz, one guy came free, they got a hand on it, tipped the ball. It was a good defensive play and I was just trying to give J.J. a shot. The ball was where it’s supposed to go against man (coverage), I thought I had it and it got tipped.”

After watching Darnold all year backing up Purdy, Shanahan believed it would be more of a challenge than Aaron Rodgers was a week ago, given his age (40) and that the quarterback was coming back a less mobile version of himself after a torn Achilles.

“It didn’t surprise me. Knew we were up for a challenge,” Shanahan said. “Sam’s a hell of a quarterback. He’s got a lot of arm talent and we knew scrambling-wise it was going to be a different challenge today. He got us on a few scrambles. We knew we had a challenge with him.”

Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell will make a world of difference for Darnold, given his offensive expertise.

.@jalennailor in the back of the end zone for 6!!

: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/dmxULYwABg

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 15, 2024

“He’s really good with the scheme, he knows how to scheme up the big-time players on defense and he’s got a lot of good players and a good O-line,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said. “You can feel it when you’re playing a good coach.”

O’Connell said the Vikings have gotten what they hoped out of a quarterback who signed for a one-year, $10 million contract and was a placeholder for first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. That is, until McCarthy had an ACL tear and was ruled out for the season.

“Against his former team, at that position, on your quarterback journey, when everybody decides that you cannot play, we always believed in him and it was awesome to watch him do that today,” O’Connell said. “I’m really proud of Sam Darnold.”

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Purdy, now 18-5 as a regular-season starter for the 49ers, stayed in character. He accepted responsibility and while he conceded Christian McCaffrey’s absence is significant, Purdy wasn’t about to use it as an excuse.

“It’s as simple as executing,” Purdy said. “We’ve got the players, we’ve got the scheme, we’ve got what it takes. It’s knowing where my answers are at and getting the ball into guys’ hands and getting first downs. It’s all of that.

“It’s football, man. Just because you’ve got good players and a good scheme doesn’t mean the other team is going to give it to you.”