Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 38

Horoscopes Aug. 22, 2025: Kristen Wiig, let your colorful nature shine through

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: James Corden, 47; Kristen Wiig, 52; Ty Burrell, 58; Tori Amos, 62.

Happy Birthday: Let your colorful nature shine through. The more entertaining you are, the more attention you’ll receive. Stand up for your rights and be the one to make a difference in your group. Focus on unique ideas and using your skills, tools and gifts to implement the changes vital to your success. Persistence, persuasion and participation will get you where you want to go. Give your all, and you’ll receive high returns. Your numbers are 4, 11, 18, 22, 31, 39, 45.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Crank it up and make things happen. Plan your actions and execute them with force and precision. If you plan to make a difference, don’t hold back. Indulgent activity won’t bring about positive change, but intelligent acts of kindness and consideration of others will help you reach your destination without malice. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Monitor events carefully. If you let situations, conversations or your emotions spin out of control, it won’t be easy to press replay and start over. Instead of testing others, focus on yourself, your needs and what’s necessary to achieve the lifestyle you desire. Personal growth is your best option, not trying to change others. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Avoid detours. Connect the dots, go directly from Point A to Point B, and maximize your chance to get the most out of your day and the experience you desire. Something someone says will make a difference in how you think, what you do and the steps you take to enhance your life. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Put your energy into something creative. What you discover will help you explore new possibilities at home or in the workplace. Distance yourself from people and situations that trigger your emotions. Simplicity, discipline and common sense will help you be decisive and penny-wise. Change begins within and can jump-start your ambition. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Refuse to contribute to someone else’s glory. It’s up to you to take care of yourself and achieve the goals that best suit your needs. Step into the spotlight, and you’ll gain ground and a following that’ll help you reach your pinnacle. Speak directly, enforce your plans and don’t stop until the results meet your expectations. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Only change what’s necessary. Take a backseat and observe what’s unfolding around you, and you’ll gain insight into what’s needed to maintain your course of action and get positive results. Refuse to let anyone talk you into something you don’t need or want. Take control instead of being controlled. Personal gain and growth are apparent. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Participate, be the one to bring about change and make a difference. Use your intelligence and voice to plant seeds and gain support. A passionate approach to life, love and happiness will encourage you to recognize and let go of what isn’t working for you and to embrace what offers positive results. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Emotions will fluctuate as you react to what’s happening around you. Listen, question and act on facts and what will help you achieve your goal. Update your appearance and socialize, and you’ll attract new friends or lovers. A creative project will bring out the best in you. Your discipline and hard work will pay off unexpectedly. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t skip a beat; learn as you go, and conquer whatever comes your way. Use your energy in positive ways and turn your back on negative influences, rhetoric or nonsense. Change comes from within. Be observant and make moves that accommodate your needs. Think creatively, make domestic improvements and follow your heart. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take time out to do something for yourself. Pampering yourself, establishing a schedule, and engaging in activities and events that stimulate your mind and encourage you to enhance your skills, knowledge and interests will change your perspective on the meaning of life. Avoid impulsive reactions. Choose peace over discord. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Pay attention to how you look, feel and present yourself to others. A commanding demeanor will draw attention and position you for advancement. Change is within reach, and pushing for what you want will play in your favor. Don’t hold back when you have so much to gain by sharing your thoughts. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Pay attention to an emotional roller coaster ride that transpires as you engage in discussions that warrant choices, compromise and serious decisions. Anger is never the answer; however, a show of appreciation and a willingness to compromise will bring you closer to your goal. Preparation will be your ticket to success. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are compassionate, informative and gracious. You are proactive and accommodating.

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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FACT FOCUS: A look at RFK Jr.’s misleading claims on US dietary guidelines and Froot Loops

By MELISSA GOLDIN

The food pyramid that once guided Americans’ diets has been retired for more than a decade, but that has not stopped President Donald Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from regularly criticizing the concept.

He often highlights the pyramid, misrepresenting dietary standards and criticizing health initiatives of the Biden administration. Such claims were featured in a video aired Tuesday, before his appearance on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime.”

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

KENNEDY: “The dietary guidelines that we inherited from the Biden administration were 453 pages long. They were driven by the same commercial impulses that put Froot Loops at the top of the food pyramid.”

THE FACTS: The original food pyramid did not mention any specific products. But at the very top, it recommended that oils, fats and sugar be consumed “sparingly.” Grains such as bread, cereal, rice and pasta were on the bottom tier, where six to 11 portions a day were recommended. The current dietary guidelines are 164 pages long, not 453. They were released in December 2020 during Trump’s first term, along with a four-page executive summary.

A scientific report used to develop the dietary guidelines is published every five years by an advisory committee. The latest report, released in December by the Biden administration, is 421 pages long. Trump’s first administration released an 835-page scientific report in July 2020 that informed the current guidelines.

“The dietary guidelines include several documents, including a scientific report which summarizes the scientific evidence supporting the dietary guidelines,” said Laura Bellows, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell University. “It can be long due to the comprehensive nature of the document. That said, these findings are distilled down into concise guidelines that are foundational to the creation of consumer information and educational materials.”

Experts said that Froot Loops, a breakfast cereal, would have fallen into multiple categories under the pyramid concept, offering vague guidance to consumers.

“It’s a bit trickier than just one grouping,” Bellows said in an email. She said Froot Loops “would fall more in foods that we should ‘moderate’ … but does contribute to the grain group.” The cereal is high in sugar, she added, but does have fiber and other key nutrients.

The Agriculture Department introduced an updated pyramid guide in 2005 that incorporated new nutritional standards. It retired the pyramid idea altogether in 2011 and now uses the MyPlate concept, which stresses eating a healthy balance of different foods based on factors such as age and sex.

MyPlate recommends making half of the grains one eats in a day whole grains and cutting back on added sugars. Similar to the food pyramid, this puts Froot Loops, which has whole grains and added sugars, in both categories.

“MyPlate, not the Food Pyramid, has been the visual graphic for the US Dietary Guidelines since 2011,” said Bellows. “So, referring to the ‘top of the pyramid’ is a dated reference.”

Kennedy’s other criticism of Froot Loops has focused primarily on its manufacturer’s use of artificial dyes to enhance its color. He has made getting rid of artificial colors in foods an important part of his “Make America Healthy Again” plan.

Asked for comment on Kennedy’s remarks, the Health and Human Services Department said work is on track to release the final 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The agency said Kennedy is committed to ensuring those guidelines “are grounded in gold-standard science and reflect a clear focus on healthy, whole, and nutritious foods.”

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.

Kurtenbach: The 49ers aren’t ready and it’s hard to see that changing

SANTA CLARA — For a second-straight summer, the 49ers wasted their training camp.

Because with two-and-a-half weeks to go before their season opener against the Seahawks, there’s only one viable verdict one could reach on the state of this team: They’re not ready.

Can they find a way to change that between now and Sept. 7? Perhaps.

But that’s what the Niners said they would do this time last season, and while, yes, they did win their season-opening game against the Jets, does any win against the Big Green Losing Machine truly count? After that, the Niners only won five more games all season.

At least last year’s team had a bad mix of a Super Bowl hangover and the Pat Riley-dubbed “disease of more.” A raw egg and a couple of Advil weren’t going to wash that away. But at least those were viable excuses.

What’s the excuse for this Niners team’s inability to execute simple things — on both sides of the ball — in this year’s training camp?

Injuries?

Yeah, the line for the trainer’s room is longer than the latest TikTok-famous pop-up restaurant’s. The Niners have shuttled in defense linemen, offensive linemen, running backs, wide receivers, and now quarterbacks to get through practices. (The latest: the Niners signed quarterback Nate Sudfeld on Tuesday, he practiced Wednesday, and was so bad they cut him and brought in another quarterback, Tanner Mordecai, for Thursday’s practice.)

But at the same time, this is football — every team is dealing with injuries. And you can’t argue the Niners weren’t asking for this — the team’s roster is built on two types of players: it’s almost exclusively sage veterans and rookies.

You know, the two kinds of players that get injured most frequently in the NFL.

It’s as if the Niners’ front office looked at the disaster that was the 2024 season and decided to double down on all the problems. Apparently, the issue was that they didn’t fully commit to the stars-and-scrubs model. (But hey, at least they saved a bit of cash.)

It’s left the Niners in a position where they’re now stacking bad practices on bad practices. Wednesday, in the final practice before the team’s preseason finale Saturday against the Chargers, a good portion of the Niners’ 11-on-11 play involved players going to ground at the end of every snap.

There were also bad drops and hospital balls, visionless runs and defensive brain farts. The bad play seemed to compound with every rep. And no, this wasn’t just one bad day in the sun.

This is the byproduct of playing so many kids and journeymen at one time. I drop my kids off at daycare in the morning, only to see the Niners run daycare in the afternoon.

And again, it’s by design. The team’s made 19 draft picks over the last two years, and 17 — perhaps even 18 — will be held onto after next Tuesday’s cuts. (Jarrett Kingston, a 2024 6th round pick, was waived after last year’s training camp. Seventh-round pick in 2025 Junior Bergen, a wide receiver and punt returner might be on the roster bubble.) This, plus future Hall of Famers, is the foundation of the team.

It’s left a football team where a good number of players are out there trying to figure out how to make it in the NFL on the fly. And that’s a tough gig that not all of them are suited to fill.

And I doubt these final two weeks ahead of the Seahawks game are when it all collectively, magically clicks into place for them.

This is not what the Niners envisioned when they set the goal of hitting the ground running in the 2025 season, which features three division games in the first five weeks.

One excuse you’ll hear from defenders is that San Francisco won’t be as desperate for the kids to play if some of their established, but injured, players return to the fold for Week 1.

And that’s true. The problem is that there are more than a handful that will be cutting it close to kickoff. You can’t count on them at the moment. You probably can’t prepare with him in the days preceding the game. They’ll be coming into an NFL regular-season game cold.

But what’s the alternative? The Niners were running Robbie Chosen as a first-team wide receiver on Thursday. The Niners signed him Aug. 3 as a camp body, but so many other bodies have gone down in the meantime that he’s worked his way to the top of the depth chart.

Skyy Moore, who was acquired via a trade on Wednesday, won’t knock him off that spot. There’s a reason Kansas City gave him away for next to nothing. Only Jauan Jennings (calf injury) can take that spot, and he should be considered questionable at best for Week 1.

Maybe the Niners need to make another trade (or two) at receiver.

Related Articles Super Bowl or bust? Get back to 49ers’ Trent Williams in late January 49ers’ GM Lynch, Ricky Pearsall address injury issues at wide receiver What are 49ers’ most troubling injury concerns headed into Week 1? 49ers trade for Chiefs WR Skyy Moore The 49ers have a big problem at wide receiver. Here are three reasonable solutions

There’s also a legitimate possibility the Niners will be starting rookie guard Connor Colby against the Seahawks. He was supposed to be a project seventh-round pick, perhaps even a practice-squad player, but with Dom Puni’s knee injury and the poor play of Nick Zakelj this preseason, he’s now No. 1 on the right-guard depth chart. Opposite him at left guard will be Ben Bartch, whose injured elbow has a massive metal brace on it. I’m sure Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy — one of the best defensive tackle duos in the league — won’t feel the need to attack either Colby’s questionable technique or Bartch’s injured elbow…

I can go on and on with issues like this, but suffice it to say the Niners’ actual, playable roster doesn’t look anything like the one the team expected as they head into a road division game.

And the state of this roster is undercutting another point of optimism for this team — the idea that they have great coaches who can maximize whatever roster they have.

I do think the Niners have solid coaches, but clearly there’s a limit. These men aren’t miracle workers, and right now, this team needs miracles.

As it stands, only two players have exceeded expectations in camp.

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall should have carried big expectations after a strong finish to 2024, but he’s been so outstanding that he has to qualify as a surprise.

And outside of that, only rookie safety Marquese Sigle has played his way into a starting role. He’s been a revelation.

Otherwise, this depth chart is full of promotions by default.

Sadly, you can’t win games by default in the NFL regular season. At least not until Week 13, when the Niners play the Browns.

Maybe the optimists are right. This might all be too doom and gloom for late August. Maybe this team does have enough talent to win. Perhaps its superior coaching will shine through.

But if that’s true, the Niners are also engaging in some world-class brinksmanship for a second-straight year.

Remind me again how that worked out?

Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be released from jail Friday. Here’s what to know

By BEN FINLEY

A U.S. magistrate judge is expected to order the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from a Tennessee jail Friday while he awaits trial on federal human smuggling charges.

Related Articles FACT FOCUS: A look at RFK Jr.’s misleading claims on US dietary guidelines and Froot Loops Supreme Court lets Trump administration cut $783 million of research funding in anti-DEI push Vance pitches Trump’s sweeping new law as a ‘working families’ tax cut’ in swing-state Georgia Trump blames renewable energy for rising electricity prices. Experts point elsewhere Judge says former Trump lawyer Alina Habba has been unlawfully serving as US attorney in New Jersey

The release will provide the closest thing to freedom Abrego Garcia has felt since he was wrongfully deported to a notorious El Salvador prison in March, making him a face — if not the face — of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies.

Abrego Garcia’s lawyers stated in a court filings Tuesday that a private security firm will take Abrego Garcia from Tennessee to Maryland when he’s freed.

But Abrego Garcia’s liberty before trial could be short-lived. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may detain him once he arrives in his adopted state of Maryland and could try to deport him again.

Depending on who’s telling his story, there are two very different versions of Abrego Garcia.

Trump and his administration cast him as an MS-13 gang member and a tireless smuggler of migrants across the country. Abrego Garcia’s attorneys portray him as a family man and construction worker who was arbitrarily deported and then vindictively charged to save political face.

As Abrego Garcia’s story takes yet another turn, here’s what to know:

‘Well-founded fear’

Abrego Garcia, 30, grew up in El Salvador and fled at 16 because a local gang extorted and terrorized his family, court records state. He traveled to Maryland, where his brother lives as a U.S. citizen, but was not authorized to stay.

Abrego Garcia found work in construction and met his future wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura. In 2018, he moved in with her and her two children after she became pregnant with his child. They lived in Prince George’s County, just outside Washington.

In March 2019, Abrego Garcia went to a Home Depot seeking work as a laborer when he and three other men were detained by local police, court records state. They were suspected of being in MS-13 based on tattoos and clothing.

A criminal informant told police that Abrego Garcia was in MS-13, court records state, but police did not charge him and turned him over to ICE.

A U.S. immigration judge denied Abrego Garcia’s subsequent asylum claim because more than a year had passed since his arrival. But the judge granted him protection from being deported back to El Salvador, determining that he had a “well-founded fear” of gang persecution there, court records state.

Abrego Garcia was released and placed under federal supervision. He received a federal work permit and checked in with ICE each year, his lawyers said. He joined a union and was employed full-time as a sheet metal apprentice.

‘Audacity to fight back’

In February, the Trump administration designated MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization. In March, it deported Abrego Garcia to the prison in El Salvador, violating the U.S. immigration judge’s 2019 order.

Abrego Garcia later claimed in court documents that he was beaten and psychologically tortured, while El Salvador President Nayib Bukele denied the allegations.

The Trump administration described its violation of the immigration judge’s 2019 order as an administrative error. Trump and other officials also doubled down on claims Abrego Garcia was in MS-13.

Vasquez Sura filed a lawsuit to bring her husband back. Following mounting political pressure and a Supreme Court order, the Trump administration returned Abrego Garcia to the U.S. in early June. But it was to face the human smuggling charges.

The smuggling case stems from a 2022 traffic stop for speeding, during which Abrego Garcia was driving a vehicle with nine passengers. Police in Tennessee suspected human smuggling, but he was allowed to drive on and wasn’t charged with anything.

Abrego Garcia has pleaded not guilty to the smuggling charges filed in June. The case relies on the testimony of cooperating witnesses, some of whom have requested or received help with immigration and criminal matters, according to pre-trial testimony.

Abrego Garcia’s lawyers on Tuesday filed a rarely used motion to dismiss the case based on “vindictive and selective prosecution.”

“This case results from the government’s concerted effort to punish him for having the audacity to fight back,” his lawyers wrote.

The government’s response is due in court by Tuesday.

Deportation fears realized

U.S. Magistrate Barbara Holmes in Nashville ruled in June that Abrego Garcia has a right to be released from jail while he awaits trial, determining that he’s not a flight risk or danger to the community.

Holmes discussed at a court hearing conditions of release that would require Abrego Garcia to stay with his brother in Maryland. He would also have electronic monitoring and be placed on home detention.

But Abrego Garcia has remained in jail at his attorneys’ request for about 11 weeks over fears that ICE would immediately try to deport him. Those fears were confirmed in federal court in Maryland, where Abrego Garcia’s wife is suing the Trump administration.

Thomas Giles, an assistant director for ICE, testified last month that Abrego Garcia would be detained as soon as he’s freed. He added that Mexico or South Sudan may be willing to accept Abrego Garcia, but the Trump administration hadn’t decided on anything yet.

U.S. officials have argued that Abrego Garcia can be deported because he came to the U.S. illegally and because a U.S. immigration judge deemed him eligible for expulsion in 2019, just not to his native El Salvador.

Judge provides some protections

Despite the fears of deportation, Abrego Garcia’s attorneys have asked Holmes to finally release him from jail in Tennessee. A stay of release that they had requested expires Friday.

In a filing Thursday, Holmes wrote that she will enter an order regarding Abrego Garcia’s pretrial release on conditions. The order was not published as of Thursday afternoon.

Abrego Garcia’s expected release comes after a federal judge in Maryland provided some protections for him.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who is overseeing the lawsuit, has prohibited ICE from immediately detaining Abrego Garcia when he’s released in Tennessee.

In a late July order, Xinis required that any removal proceedings begin in Baltimore. That’s where they should have begun when the Trump administration wrongfully deported him to El Salvador, Xinis wrote.

Xinis also ordered that ICE provide three business days notice if it intends to initiate removal proceedings. The time will give Abrego Garcia and his attorneys the opportunity to raise any credible fears of persecution or torture in the country to which ICE plans to send him.

Xinis wrote that the Trump administration has “done little to assure the Court that absent intervention, Abrego Garcia’s due process rights will be protected.”

If ICE wanted to return him to El Salvador, it would have to reopen his 2019 case before an immigration judge, Xinis wrote. And that would require formal notice and “an opportunity to be heard.”

Xinis acknowledged that Abrego Garcia may be ordered to appear in Baltimore for immigration proceedings, which “may or may not include lawful arrest, detention and eventual removal.

“So long as such actions are taken within the bounds of the Constitution and applicable statutes, this Court will have nothing further to say,” Xinis wrote.

Concours d’Elegance announces shift of dates in 2028

PEBBLE BEACH — The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the climax of Classic Car Week on the Monterey Peninsula, announced Thursday it is moving to a week earlier than its traditional third Sunday in August show starting in 2018.

According to a press release from the Concours, the change of dates to the second week in August is scheduled through 2030. The primary motivation for the move is that many of the nation’s schools are starting earlier, restricting attendance at the Concours for many families the release said.

“Parents want to share their love of cars with their kids, and we want to make that more possible,” said Sandra Button, the Concours chairman. “When we look at the calendars for Pebble Beach, for other Concours, and for other local large events, a simple move forward by one week lessens the conflict for many.

“Of course, we want to get the word out early because so many other events and businesses make plans in relation to the Concours.”

A Concour spokesperson said it will be up to other Classic Car Week events if they will change their dates accordingly.

The Concours will take place on Aug. 16, 2026; Aug.15, 2027; Aug. 13, 2028; Aug. 12, 2029; and Aug. 11, 2030.

The first Pebble Beach Concours was held Nov. 5, 1950, and then was held in the spring and early summer in ensuing years.  It first jumped to August in 1967 and was held most often on the fourth Sunday for years. It then moved forward to the third Sunday of
August in the 1990s.

SF Giants continue to slide, drop three of four to Padres

SAN DIEGO — The Giants were already clinging to their paper-thin playoff hopes when they flew south to San Diego for a four-game series against the Padres.

As things stand, San Francisco will spend the next five weeks playing out the string.

With a sloppy 8-4 loss on Thursday at Petco Park, the Giants have lost 10 of their last 12 games. They’re 61-67, a season-low six games below .500, and their odds of making the playoffs are less than one percent. Those odds could further dwindle by weekend’s end following their three games against the Milwaukee Brewers, the best team in the majors.

To top it off, right-hander Landen Roupp may be done for the season after sustaining an ugly left knee sprain on Wednesday.

The Giants, who are 6.5 games back of the National League’s final wild card spot, have yet to be mathematically eliminated. With 34 games remaining, the math isn’t in their favor.

“What are we, five, six games out of the wild card?” said third baseman Casey Schmitt, who committed a crucial error in the Padres’ six-run fifth inning. “It’s not crazy. Crazy things have happened, and we’re still definitely in it. We just gotta pull ourselves together and get back out there.”

A quick glance at Thursday’s box score would suggest that this loss was largely on Justin Verlander, who allowed a season-high seven runs over 4 1/3 innings and dropped to 1-10 on the season. That’s the worst single-season record after 11 decisions in Giants franchise history.

Most of those runs allowed, though, followed a two-error sequence that paved the way for the Padres’ six-run fifth inning.

“It’s one of the more frustrating games of my career, especially with the kind of season I’ve had,” said Verlander, who pitched seven shutout innings in his last start. “You’re kind of scratching and clawing to find a way out of it. You feel like you’ve finally found something to grasp onto, then you have a game — an inning — like that. Being tested, for sure.”

Through three innings, the Giants positioned themselves to at least salvage a series split. Verlander retired the first nine batters he faced, and rare shoddy defense from right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. paved the way for San Francisco to take a 2-0 lead.

That lead was short-lived. San Diego tied the game at two apiece in the fourth, then landed its haymaker by taking advantage of San Francisco’s uncrisp defense to plate six runs and take an 8-2 lead.

With runners on first and second and no outs, the Padres’ Freddy Fermin laid down an excellent bunt to the infield’s left field. Schmitt barehanded the ball and fired to first, but the throw sailed wide and allowed a run to score.

Jake Cronenworth, the runner on first, planned on stopping at third. That changed when right fielder Luis Matos failed to cleanly gather the ball, giving Cronenworth a window to waltz into home. Rafael Devers and Willy Adames would hit back-to-back homers in the sixth, but the deficit was too much to overcome against the Padres’ elite bullpen.

“It looks terrible,” manager Bob Melvin said. “When you’re not hitting and you play defense, it looks awful. Two errors on one play. You look at Justin’s line, he certainly did not pitch to that line. His stuff the first couple innings was just as good as we’ve seen it.”

For Schmitt, who’s been replacing the injured Matt Chapman, the misplay was his fourth error in his last four games. Schmitt partially attributed his recent rash of injuries to rust, noting he hasn’t consistently played the hot corner since June.

With Chapman expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday, Schmitt will soon slide back over to second base.

“It’s not really an excuse,” Schmitt said. “It is what it is, and we get back out there tomorrow.”

One of San Francisco’s lone bright spots on Thursday afternoon was rookie right-hander Joel Peguero. Along with throwing two scoreless innings in his debut, Peguero touched 102.1 mph on a sinker to usurp Jordan Hicks for the hardest-thrown pitch by a Giant this season.

“I’m going to be real, I was crying a little as they were singing the national anthem,” Peguero said. “Like, ‘You’re here now. You waited 10 years.’”

Adames clarifies conversation with Melvin

On Wednesday, a video clip gained traction on social media of Adames energetically talking to Melvin in the Giants’ dugout, the implication being that Adames was upset with his manager.

Adames said on Thursday that he was telling Melvin about his conversation with Wednesday’s home plate umpire, which happened right before the beginning of the video clip that made waves.

Cal State Monterey Bay welcomes new and returning students

SEASIDE — Roughly 3,100 new and returning students and their families spent this week moving in for Cal State Monterey Bay’s fall semester – one that’s set to look much different than previous years.

On Wednesday and Thursday, thousands of excited students moved into their housing for the year, supported by volunteers in blue shirts dubbed the Otter Welcome Team. Whether they were settling into life in first-year dorms, North Quad, Promontory or East Campus apartments, the excitement levels were the same.

CSUMB will have about 3,900 students living on campus this fall, the bulk of which came to campus this week.

“Move-in day is one of the most exciting days of the year,” said President Vanya Quiñones. “It’s when you see people with brand new comforters and all of these new things, but also the hope and the face of people as they’re so excited to to start their new life at CSUMB.”

The campus is set to be upgraded in many ways this year, ranging from new dining options, an expanded Basic Needs hub, more mental health counselors and clinicians, a commuter lounge and five new printing kiosks throughout campus. MyCSUMB, a new student dashboard, is also set to be rolled out soon, which will allow students to check their course materials, student account balances and keep up with campus events in one app.

Cal State Monterey Bay President Vanya Quiñones helped welcome roughly 3,100 students moving into campus for the fall semester this week. (Photo courtesy of Brent Dundore-Arias)

The move-in process also got some tweaks this year, including having trucks filled with bins that could be rented out for an hour to help speed up the process. There was an increased amount of volunteers helping lead the way and even providing help unloading cars, too.

“It’s much quicker, easier and faster,” said Jade Love, who spent Thursday moving in her second-year student. “This year seems like everything went by way faster so it’s a lot better and has improved a lot.”

With boxes and trash being discarded left and right, volunteers were also tasked with making sure sustainability was being practiced Thursday.

“We’re trying to make people sustainability-aware on campus,” said Sukoshi Moana, part of the school’s Safety, Risk and Sustainability department and move-in volunteer. Moana was stationed by the big landfill and recycling bins outside of the North Quad apartments to help families sort their trash into the right bin. “That’s one of the biggest things we want to do, is make students aware that CSUMB has a sustainability plan on campus.”

Move-in days were split up between students staying in different parts of the campus. This year marks the highest number (76%) of first-year students living on campus. First-years, who typically stay in Area 1 residential dorms, were welcomed Wednesday. Parents were also hosted by Quiñones during a parents and family reception Wednesday night, where university leaders gave them advice and answered any questions they had.

“You can see the hesitation that they’re leaving their kids behind,” said Quiñones. “It’s not just a transition for the students coming to the university, it’s also the transition of the parents dropping their (children) here, and that is really also a place where everybody needs support.”

Even for returning students, the excitement of a new semester doesn’t seem to get old.

“I’m very excited and I’m definitely looking forward to being in a new space and spend a good year making more friends,” said fourth-year psychology major Andrea Aguiar Perez.

Although her second year at CSUMB is also her last, Aguiar Perez has some wisdom for new students finding themselves away from home for the first time.

“Definitely communicate with the people around you, it’s the most important thing that I’ve learned. Especially with roommates, the first day in, make sure everybody is comfortable and can bring up something they have an issue with,” said Aguiar Perez. “It’s a new space, but it’s also a place where you kind of have to learn how to be a grown up.”

The incoming class represents the diversity of the university as well as California, according to Quiñones. The class is about 57% female and 38% male with the majority (44%) being Latino followed by 30% white, 7% Asian and nearly 5% Black students.

The top majors are marine science (19.5%), business (14.5%), psychology (13%) and biology (10.3%). About 47% of the class are first-generation college students.

“Move-in day is like a mark of a beginning for the families (and) for the students,” said Quiñones, “for the university it’s the beginning of our relationship with the student, so it’s a really important day.”

Pacific Grove council raises halted, likely a matter for voters in 2026

PACIFIC GROVE – The Pacific Grove City Council voted unanimously to repeal the ordinance that would have given the council its first pay raise in over 25 years.

The council directed staff to bring back an ordinance on Sep. 3 to formally repeal Ordinance No. 25-007, which raised council stipends from $420 to $966 per month and the mayor’s from $700 to $1,610. The May ordinance was automatically suspended after a referendum petition qualified in July.

Following the repeal, staff will later return with an agenda report outlining potential dates for a public vote on council pay. The measure could appear on the ballot in June or November 2026, or during a standalone special election.

Public comment on Wednesday was divided, with some residents saying the council stipend is more symbolic than compensation, while others argued it should reflect the time and responsibility required.

Pacific Grove resident and former mayor Bill Kampe said the job requires more time than many realize.

“It’s completely understandable that every city on the Peninsula took immediate action and raised their salaries to catch up for 26 years of cost of living,” Kampe said. “The job is far more than people realize, it’s not just these meetings, it’s prep time, council liaison roles, state-level meetings and you’re always on duty when you’re on the street.”

Councilman Paul Walkingstick noted that Pacific Grove recently voted to move to a by-district election system, and the city already struggles with gathering a diverse group of candidates to run, either from different classes or different neighborhoods.

“I’m backing this so we can get more people on the city council and provide more opportunities for people to run,” Walkingstick said. “In order to help attract working class people, people who still have to pay their bills, they still have kids to watch, they still have financial responsibilities, this would help alleviate some of those costs.”

Councilwoman Tina Rau said the repeal and ballot approach ensures fairness going forward.

“I do agree with the state and the reason why they did it,” Rau said. “I feel like it’s the right thing to do for the people coming behind us and I hope it does pass.”

The May ordinance marked the first pay adjustment for council members in more than 25 years. State law limits annual increases to 5% per year since the last raise for cities under 35,000 in population, but Pacific Grove used its authority as a charter city to bypass the cap and make the larger increase effective immediately.

With Wednesday’s vote, the matter now shifts toward a possible 2026 ballot measure where voters will decide whether to approve higher stipends for the mayor and council members.

Supreme Court lets Trump administration cut $783 million of research funding in anti-DEI push

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration can slash hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of research funding in its push to cut federal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, the Supreme Court decided Thursday.

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The high court majority lifted a judge’s order blocking $783 million worth of cuts made by the National Institutes of Health to align with Republican President Donald Trump’s priorities. The high court did keep Trump administration guidance on future funding blocked, however.

The court split 5-4 on the decision. Chief Justice John Roberts was along those who would have kept the cuts blocked, along with the court’s three liberals.

The order marks the latest Supreme Court win for Trump and allows the administration to forge ahead with canceling hundreds of grants while the lawsuit continues to unfold. The plaintiffs, including states and public-health advocacy groups, have argued that the cuts will inflict “incalculable losses in public health and human life.”

The Justice Department, meanwhile, has said funding decisions should not be “subject to judicial second-guessing” and efforts to promote policies referred to as DEI can “conceal insidious racial discrimination.”

The lawsuit addresses only part of the estimated $12 billion of NIH research projects that have been cut, but in its emergency appeal, the Trump administration also took aim at nearly two dozen other times judges have stood in the way of its funding cuts.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer said judges shouldn’t be considering those cases under an earlier Supreme Court decision that cleared the way for teacher-training program cuts. He says they should go to federal claims court instead.

But the plaintiffs, 16 Democratic state attorneys general and public-health advocacy groups, argued that research grants are fundamentally different from the teacher-training contracts and couldn’t be sent to claims court. Halting studies midway can also ruin the data already collected and ultimately harm the country’s potential for scientific breakthroughs by disrupting scientists’ work in the middle of their careers, they argued.

U.S. District Judge William Young judge in Massachusetts agreed, finding the abrupt cancellations were arbitrary and discriminatory. “I’ve never seen government racial discrimination like this,” Young, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, said at a hearing in June. He later added: “Have we no shame.”

An appeals court left Young’s ruling in place.

Horoscopes Aug. 21, 2025: Hayden Panettiere, remain motivated and ready to take on whatever comes your way

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Hayden Panettiere, 36; Usain Bolt, 39; Carrie-Anne Moss, 58; Kim Cattrall, 69.

Happy Birthday: You are sitting on a wealth of knowledge and experience that can help you win a position of importance. Whether you are offering insight, gaining experience or dispensing wisdom, this year will bring about a positive transformation in your life. Remain motivated and ready to take on whatever comes your way, and progress will follow. A unique approach to learning and teaching will yield significant benefits. Your numbers are 5, 17, 24, 28, 32, 36, 41.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Participation is essential if you want to receive valid input on what to do next. Conversations with experts will help you verbalize your thoughts and enable you to support your plans with facts, figures and a hopeful vision for a better future. Refuse to let anyone use emotional manipulation to undermine your plans. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Avoid stubbornness and arguments with those who can affect your personal or professional life. Listen, gather information and look for a path that offers the most maneuverability to test what you want to pursue. Listen carefully, and you’ll decipher who is looking out for your best interests and who is trying to exploit you. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Parlay something you love to do into something tangible. You’ve got the passion, wherewithal and connections to take what you enjoy doing to the next level. A home improvement, office or designated workout space can significantly enhance your life. Focus your energy on research and expanding your knowledge, skills and interests rather than indulging in behavior that is not beneficial. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Think big, but budget wisely. Keep a record of what you eat, drink and spend. Too much of anything can be detrimental, physically, emotionally and financially. Put greater emphasis on common sense and taking better care of yourself, your home and your relationships. Trust your instincts, nurture special connections and treat yourself well. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Give and get. Take the good with the bad and turn it into something unique. Don’t pay for the mistakes of others or agree to participate in someone else’s journey if it might cost you. Stick to what you know and do best, and do your own thing. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Participate in something that enhances your outlook, appearance or relationships with others. Keep tabs on your finances and use your skills constructively to ensure you enhance your popularity with those who can help you reach your goal. Your power comes from living up to your promises. Trust and stick to those who share your values. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take the high road. Don’t let temptation win or anyone put you in a vulnerable position. Stay calm, and use your intelligence and intuition to make choices that are quick, precise and effective. Procrastination is the enemy, and lucidity and action are the path to victory. Put your energy where it brings the highest return. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Keep an open mind, listen and let your charm overpower your emotional need to say or do something disruptive. You can’t change others, but you can spare yourself the grief of trying. Channel your energy into something constructive. Concentrate on what will help you achieve your goal. Avoid no-win situations. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take pride in where and how you live. Make adjustments that suit your lifestyle and help you perform at your best. Look for opportunities that offer a chance to learn and explore new possibilities. Make the most of your time and utilize your skills diversely; your efforts will capture the attention of someone special. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t get angry when action is necessary. Assess the situation and take the steps to achieve optimal results. Say no to anyone trying to limit your success. Work independently and refrain from sharing your plans with anyone who may interfere. Direct your energy acutely, set aside your ego and do your best. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Pull everything together. Your ability to envision the results will give you leverage in a situation that commands attention, skills and presentation all at once. Rise to the occasion, and you’ll bring about positive changes that will surprise you as well as those you encounter. A partnership or agreement will lead to monetary gains. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): An event offering insight into a novel way to use your skills will encourage you to add upgrades that help you stand out in a competitive situation. Your charm and contributions will lead to new connections that offer promise for a better tomorrow. Personal gains, growth and opportunities are within reach. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are interesting, passionate and creative. You are helpful 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.

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