Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 59

PHOTOS: Protesters (peacefully) ‘rage against the regime’ in Monterey

On Saturday, upwards of 500 peaceful protesters gathered at Windows at the Bay according to event organizers. The event was part of the nationwide 50501 Movement’s “Rage Against the Regime” National Day of Action. Protestors gathered to"oppose growing authoritarian threats to democracy, due process, bodily autonomy and local communities," according to a press release. The demonstration garnered support from cars passing by, honking, cheering and giving thumbs up to the protestors. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)On Saturday, upwards of 500 peaceful protesters gathered at Windows at the Bay according to event organizers. The event was part of the nationwide 50501 Movement’s “Rage Against the Regime” National Day of Action. Protestors gathered to"oppose growing authoritarian threats to democracy, due process, bodily autonomy and local communities," according to a press release. The demonstration garnered support from cars passing by, honking, cheering and giving thumbs up to the protestors. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)On Saturday, upwards of 500 peaceful protesters gathered at Windows at the Bay according to event organizers. The event was part of the nationwide 50501 Movement’s “Rage Against the Regime” National Day of Action. Protestors gathered to"oppose growing authoritarian threats to democracy, due process, bodily autonomy and local communities," according to a press release. The demonstration garnered support from cars passing by, honking, cheering and giving thumbs up to the protestors. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)On Saturday, upwards of 500 peaceful protesters gathered at Windows at the Bay according to event organizers. The event was part of the nationwide 50501 Movement’s “Rage Against the Regime” National Day of Action. Protestors gathered to"oppose growing authoritarian threats to democracy, due process, bodily autonomy and local communities," according to a press release. The demonstration garnered support from cars passing by, honking, cheering and giving thumbs up to the protestors. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)On Saturday, upwards of 500 peaceful protesters gathered at Windows at the Bay according to event organizers. The event was part of the nationwide 50501 Movement’s “Rage Against the Regime” National Day of Action. Protestors gathered to"oppose growing authoritarian threats to democracy, due process, bodily autonomy and local communities," according to a press release. The demonstration garnered support from cars passing by, honking, cheering and giving thumbs up to the protestors. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)On Saturday, upwards of 500 peaceful protesters gathered at Windows at the Bay according to event organizers. The event was part of the nationwide 50501 Movement’s “Rage Against the Regime” National Day of Action. Protestors gathered to"oppose growing authoritarian threats to democracy, due process, bodily autonomy and local communities," according to a press release. The demonstration garnered support from cars passing by, honking, cheering and giving thumbs up to the protestors. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)On Saturday, upwards of 500 peaceful protesters gathered at Windows at the Bay according to event organizers. The event was part of the nationwide 50501 Movement’s “Rage Against the Regime” National Day of Action. Protestors gathered to"oppose growing authoritarian threats to democracy, due process, bodily autonomy and local communities," according to a press release. The demonstration garnered support from cars passing by, honking, cheering and giving thumbs up to the protestors. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Show Caption1 of 7On Saturday, upwards of 500 peaceful protesters gathered at Windows at the Bay according to event organizers. The event was part of the nationwide 50501 Movement’s “Rage Against the Regime” National Day of Action. Protestors gathered to"oppose growing authoritarian threats to democracy, due process, bodily autonomy and local communities," according to a press release. The demonstration garnered support from cars passing by, honking, cheering and giving thumbs up to the protestors. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Expand

SF Giants fall back below .500 with blowout loss to New York Mets

NEW YORK — The good vibes lasted only a day.

The Giants dropped back below .500 with a 12-6 blowout loss to the New York Mets on Saturday evening at Citi Field. San Francisco (55-56) has now lost 11 of their its 14 games to begin the second half and are currently 6.5 games back of the San Diego Padres the final NL Wild Card spot.

Tyler Rogers, who appeared in 392 games for the Giants, faced his old teammates as he made his Mets debut. Rogers allowed a single to Heliot Ramos on a grounder that bounced off first base but pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

Rogers wasn’t the only player on Saturday who had success against his former team. Dominic Smith, who spent the first six seasons of his major-league career, hit a two-run homer of Kodai Senga, his third home run of the season. On Friday night, Smith drove in the winning run in the top of the 10th with a single up the middle.

Despite the homer, Smith made a curious defensive mistake in the bottom of the fourth.

With runners at first and third with one out, Francisco Lindor laid down a push bunt right at Smith. Brett Baty, the runner on third, immediately broke home. If Smiht threw to the plate, the Giants would’ve likely gotten the out. Smith instead tried to throw to second, but held onto the ball because no one was covering the base. Smith turned back to first for the force out, but Lindor was already crossing first. The Mets took a 5-4 lead, a lead they’d never relinquish.

“It’s home that we need to be going on the play, and Dom knows,” Melvin said. “He thought maybe he could turn a double play, and he wasn’t going to get Lindor. The play’s right in front of him. We should’ve made a play at home.”

“It was bunted pretty hard at me, so I was trying to get a double play there,” Smith said. “I had an opportunity to get him at the plate. I chose the opposite route and we didn’t get an out there.”

Kai-Wei Teng was roughed up by New York’s potent offense, allowing five earned runs over 3 1/3 innings with three walks to four strikeouts. Three of those runs came in the first when Pete Alonso eviscerated a three-run homer, bringing himself within two home runs of tying Darryl Strawberry’s record of 252 for the most in franchise history.

With Landen Roupp still on the injured list, Melvin said he envisions that Teng will receive another start. Prior to being called up, Teng had a 0.52 ERA with 31 strikeouts over 17 1/3 innings over his last four appearances for Triple-A Sacramento.

“I was bit upset and frustrated because I didn’t actually settle the tone,” Teng said through team interpreter Andy Lin. “I gave up a few runs in the first inning, so it led up to the team not having a great start.”

Added Melvin: “The first inning was a little bit of a problem for him. Recovered pretty well and pitched much better in the next couple innings. We were looking two times around the lineup for him and then we were going to go lefty at the top. He came up a little short of that and gave up another run, but there was some good.”

Following Teng’s departure, the Mets continued attacking the Giants’ bullpen. Spencer Bivens allowed two runs during his lone inning of work on a pair of RBI singles from Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor, while Tristan Beck allowed five runs over two innings that put the game out of reach.

Outfielder Grant McCray bolstered his case to receive more playing time in right field following the trade of Mike Yastrzemski, totaling a single, a triple and an RBI. Shortstop Willy Adames hit a two-run homer, his 17th of the season, in the top of the ninth as the Giants trailed by eight runs.

“He’s got a lot of ability,” Melvin said. “It’s about harnessing that a little bit.”

DACA recipients will no longer be eligible for ACA health coverage

Young California residents who arrived in the U.S. as children without legal permission are reeling in the wake of a new policy stripping them of health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The policy, announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in June, reclassifies recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — an Obama-era program that has offered hundreds of thousands of immigrants across the country temporary relief from deportation and work authorization — as not “lawfully present,” thereby disqualifying them from eligibility for ACA benefits starting Aug. 31. It countermands a Biden-era rule that enabled many DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers, to enroll for the first time starting last November.

“The decision is deeply unfair to hard-working, tax-paying individuals in California who trusted that they would have health insurance for 2025, only to have it stripped away eight months later,” said Jessica Altman, the executive director of California’s ACA marketplace, Covered California.

According to Altman, out of over 150,000 DACA recipients currently residing in California, about 2,300 have enrolled in the ACA since they became eligible. She said it had been difficult to convince more to enroll given “broader uncertainty about whether this expansion would stand.”

“We hoped we would have had more time, a period of years to build on that outreach, to build trust and get more of the eligible DACA recipients enrolled,” she said. Now, she said, that progress had unraveled.

In the wake of the policy reversal, Covered California has launched an extensive effort to ensure that every affected DACA recipient knows about the policy. In addition, it is working with community organizations to find alternative coverage options.

“This is not something that Covered California wants to be doing,” Altman said. “This is not aligned with our values or mission, but we must comply with federal regulations.”

Mariam Arif, the communication director of SIREN, a nonprofit organization providing legal services to immigrants in Santa Clara County, said she is worried many of those affected might fall through the cracks.

“Losing access to ACA coverage would force many DACA recipients to go without essential health care or pay out-of-pocket costs they simply cannot afford, at a time when access to care has never been more critical,” she said.

“It’s really not about the cost, it is about cruelty,” she said. DACA recipients “contribute billions in taxes annually, including to Medicare and Social Security, which they will not be able to access. So we think it’s extremely cruel.”

According to Altman, most of the DACA recipients who enrolled in the ACA were driven by “what drives any other California enrollee.” These, she said, include workers in the gig economy, those who retire before the age of 65, and those who work part-time hourly jobs without significant benefits.

“They don’t have access to stable health benefits through their job, and they’re not eligible for Medi-Cal,” she said.

While the change only affects a fraction of California’s DACA recipients, both Altman and Arif warned that broader rollbacks could follow. Altman in particular pointed to new federal budget policies that would strip funding from several “lawful immigrant groups” as well.

“Refugees, asylees, and humanitarian parolees will no longer be eligible for financial support from the federal government starting in 2027, so that’s something we’re very closely tracking,” she said.

Arif agreed, and said that the cuts were part of a “broader agenda to dismantle federal protection, and actually target immigrant communities specifically.”

For now, Altman advises those affected by the policy to be on the lookout for calls and emails from Covered California, which might provide them with alternative pathways to affordable health care.

“Unfortunately, DACA recipients are used to a lot of changing policies at the federal level that impact their lives in so many ways, and this is just another example where we’re going to be sending you messages, and we’re going to be calling you,” she said. “You may have options, and we’re going to do everything we can to help you find them.”

And for now, Arif advised DACA recipients to continue to “stay strong.”

“Keep up hope, because there’s a lot of actions being taken right now, and hopefully something positive comes out of this,” she said.

Panetta proposes bill to add protections for immigrant crime victims, witnesses

As the Trump administration continues its aggressive immigration crackdown, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, has introduced new legislation to protect undocumented immigrant survivors and witnesses of crimes cooperating with law enforcement.

Advocates and public officials say the feds tough stance on immigrants already has led to a chilling effect on the reporting of criminal incidents.

While the Trump administration’s enforcement efforts initially focused on the deportation of serious criminals, Panetta said that the scope of its policy agenda has widened to include anyone undocumented — even those granted temporary protected status, causing apprehension and distrust.

Panetta’s bill, known as the Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act, would remove the cap on U and T visas — designed for victims and witnesses of qualifying crimes — and allow applicants access to work permits and prevent them from being deported as they await processing.

“This bill would not only allow us to secure justice in courtrooms, it would provide safety and security to our communities,” Panetta said at a press conference outside San Jose City Hall Thursday. “It would strengthen that trust in our democracy that’s needed now more than ever.”

Along with following through on the campaign promise to conduct the most considerable mass deportation effort in history, the Trump administration has targeted changes to the issuance of visas in the name of protecting Americans or national interests.

The Republican-controlled Congress has also massively increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s budget for more agents, detention centers and sweeps, triggering mass panic in the immigrant community.

Panetta said the Trump administration has eyed eliminations of the U and T visa programs, which he said already had an arbitrary cap of 10,000 and 5,000, respectively, and created a multiple year processing backlog. If that happens, he warned of the direct impacts to public safety because more victims and witnesses to crimes would not come forward.

That fear has also been prevalent in Santa Clara County, where 40% of its population is immigrants and law enforcement officials have begun to see challenges with the reporting of crimes.

“We receive dozens of requests for immigration legal services on a daily basis,” said Jeremy Barousse of the Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice & Empowerment. “It’s the No. 1 requested service at our agency, and many of those requests are for individuals seeking some form of relief after falling victim to a crime.”

After Trump’s victory in the November election, San Jose and Santa Clara County public leaders have taken several steps to protect the immigrant community, including allocating more money for legal services amid the threat of immigration sweeps.

Despite their support, local politicians acknowledged it was not enough to offset the impacts — another reason they have come out en masse to champion the bill Panetta has brought forward.

On Thursday, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan reiterated the city’s police department’s stance that its officers will not ask about immigration status and that trust was paramount for public safety because victims and witnesses needed to be able to ask for help without fear.

“They are here to protect everyone in our community and enforce our local laws, and it’s just common sense that we’re all safer when everyone feels comfortable reporting crimes and being a witness and adding to the evidence needed to prosecute those (committing crimes) in our community,” Mahan said.

San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph echoed those comments and noted that the department already had begun to see a decline in reported incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault, and calls for service for disturbances.

Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney Terry Harman noted that nearly half of U-visa applicants were female victims of sexual assault or domestic violence and that there had been a 50% increase in applications over the last five years. Like the San Jose Police Department and Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office, Harman said prosecutors’ primary focus was on justice, not immigration status.

“We do not want anyone who has been harmed or who has witnessed someone else being harmed to remain silent because of fear of being deported,” Harman said. “We care about people being held accountable for committing crimes against others. We care about making sure that dangerous people don’t hurt anyone else.”

While immigration reform remains a contentious issue, the potential impacts on various sectors, including agriculture and medical services in underserved areas, suggest that legislation may not be voted on strictly along party lines, as evidenced by the recent introduction of bipartisan visa reform bills at the federal level.

Panetta was optimistic he could gain support for the bill, noting that in the working groups he is a part of in Washington, legislators from both sides of the aisle were already talking about developing legislation in a bipartisan fashion.

“You have numbers at the border dropping and therefore it shouldn’t be the political issue that this President has used to get into office,” Panetta said. “Therefore, it’s an opportunity to actually focus on common sense immigration reform, not just with U and T visas, but also protecting our immigrants who have been here, who contribute here, who are working here and deserve that right to stay here because of their lack of criminal record and the fact that they’re a part of this community.”

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Am I liable for my cousin’s actions?

Question: I was working with my cousin when she was taking care of her father’s trust. I am a Registered Investment Advisor and she engaged me to invest the funds during the time it took her to administer the estate. She has finished her work, but the beneficiaries are now suing her. It looks like she may have helped herself to some of her father’s funds and cheated some of the beneficiaries out of their fair share. I had no knowledge of her actions, and my only involvement was to invest the monies which, as it happens, did very well for the time I handled them. The beneficiaries that filed the lawsuit are telling me that I am liable for her actions and say I may be pulled into the suit. I did nothing wrong! Can I be held liable?

Answer: You should discuss this with an attorney or your professional liability insurance carrier to be sure you are sheltered but, according to the California Probate Code, the answer is no, you are not liable. When a third person such as yourself deals with a trustee or assists the trustee in the conduct of transactions, if the third person acts in good faith and for valuable consideration, the third person is fully protected. I am assuming the trust paid you fees for your services and it sounds like you did a good job and acted in good faith.

If the suit moves forward, however, you will, most likely, be subpoenaed for a deposition and also as a witness if it goes to trial. Your attorney can help you prepare for these stressful events.

Question: My father named me as his trustee to step in when he dies or if he becomes incapable of handling his finances. Unfortunately, we are at that point. He continually forgets to pay bills, and he hasn’t finished his taxes for last year. I don’t know what else is slipping through the cracks but I am worried. He also sometimes writes checks and forgets that he has written them. Dad has a new “friend,” and he has been giving her fairly large checks. He told me they are loans but when I asked him if she signed a promissory note, he said he would not ask her to do that. Can I just step in and take over? I want to protect both my father and his assets and I feel somewhat responsible.

Answer: Wow, you are presenting a ton of red flags and I don’t blame you for being concerned. Yes, it sounds like you need to take some action to protect your father and his assets. I would recommend that you discuss your concerns with him and suggest that it is time for him to resign as trustee and let you step in. If he is unwilling to resign, you need to read the trust and see what it takes for him to be declared incapable of continuing as trustee.

Most trusts have specific provisions for this kind of determination. Some will state that two licensed physicians must write a letter stating that they have determined that he lacks the capacity to handle finances or make other decisions in his own best interests. Some trusts state that certain individuals can make this determination, and these individuals usually consist of family members or friends.

If the trust does not lay out how incapacity is determined, you may need to go to court to have him declared incompetent and removed as trustee. The court option can be extremely stressful for all so consider this as your last option.

Speak with an attorney and have them review your father’s estate planning documents. Your attorney can best guide you in this matter. You are, unfortunately, entering what will most likely be some of the toughest days of your life. It is extremely difficult to care for a parent in this situation. Work with a good attorney and consider speaking with a counselor or psychologist to keep a handle on your own mental wellbeing.

Liza Horvath has over 30 years experience in the estate planning and trust fields and is the president of Monterey Trust Management, a financial and trust Management Company. This is not intended to be legal or tax advice. If you have a question call (831) 646-5262 or email liza@montereytrust.com 

49ers camp: Guerendo, Juszczyk hurt in practice; top pick Williams loving camp

SANTA CLARA — Running back Isaac Guerendo and fullback Kyle Juszczyk each left Saturday’s practice after sustaining injuries, with no preliminary word from the 49ers on the severity of either.

Guerendo, the 49ers’ top backup to Christian McCaffrey, had his right shoulder tested by the 49ers’ medical staff after exiting a kick-return drill. He showed good range of motion but did not return for full-team drills in what’s been an otherwise active camp without missing any days.

Juszczyk got injured in a one-on-one drill while being pursued on a 20-yard pass route by linebacker Dee Winters. Juszczyk stayed on the sideline as he peeled off his cleat and sock for inspection of his lower right leg and heel.

General manager John Lynch came over to check on Juszczyk and walked with him and trainers to the weight room. McCaffrey and George Kittle also caught up to Juszczyk to inquire about his health, and Juszczyk exchanged a seemingly “all-OK” hug with Kittle.

Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said Guerendo has been in the mix for return duties and he was unsure of how he got hurt.

The 49ers’ running back corps had its depth severely tested a year ago, starting with McCaffrey’s absence the first two months because of Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey has appeared fully fit this camp on a limited workload, with him resting from Sunday and Thursday practices this past week.

Rookie Jordan James (knee) has been out since Tuesday, prompting Thursday’s signing of veteran rusher and returner Ameer Abdullah. The 49ers’ only other running backs are Patrick Taylor Jr. and undrafted rookie Corey Kiner.

WILLIAMS’ FIRST CAMP

Defensive lineman Mykel Williams is loving his first training camp, and the 49ers are loving what they’re seeing out of their top draft pick. Said Williams: “I love it. Football is my job now. It’s something you dream of since you were 10 years old or as a kid the first time you pick up a ball.”

The 49ers, as they vowed upon drafting him No. 11 overall, are using WIlliams both as a first-team defensive end who can slide inside on obvious passing downs. “There’s no discomfort in it,” said Williams, adding that “things happen faster in the middle than they do on the edge, so you have to speed up your hands and your feet.”

Williams confirmed that prior to training camp, he asked to borrow left tackle Trent Williams’ private jet for a summer getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. “My pops told me a while ago: ‘Closed mouth don’t get fed.’ I had to take it upon myself,”  Mykel Williams said. Both players did spend time together in Cabo but they left on different days — on different planes.

HEALTH UPDATES

Kept out of Saturday’s session, presumably to rest, were defensive end Nick Bosa, right tackle Colton McKivitz and defensive tackle Kevin Givens. Cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. was excused for personal reasons.

Still out of practice were wide receivers Jauan Jennings (calf) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring), and cornerbacks Deommodore Lenoir (hip) and Renardo Green (hamstring). Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and offensive lineman Andre Dillard did individual conditioning as they appear close to coming off the Physically Unable to Perform list.

PERFECT PURDY 

Brock Purdy completed all nine of his passes in the 11-on-11 session, including two 20-yard completions over the middle to a high-pointing Ricky Pearsall. Purdy wore a bandage on the outside of his lower right leg but did not appear hindered.

Third-string reps were split by Tanner Mordecai and Carter Bradley, the latter of whom got intercepted by Siran Neal.

KICKER COMPETITION

The kicking competition between Jake Moody and Greg Joseph rolled on Saturday, with Moody accounting for the day’s lone miss on a 48-yard attempt. After they rotated through their four kicks apiece, they worked on a side field on both field-goal attempts and directional kickoffs.

“There’s not a ton of separation there. Both rebounded from days they could have kicked better,” Boyer said. “They kicked pretty solid today. It’s a matter of who’s going to execute when the game comes.”

C.J. COMPARES TO D.J.

Rookie defensive tackle C.J. West said he’s “heard a couple of times through the wind” that he compares to NFL veteran D.J. Jones, who got his start with the 49ers and will return this coming week with the Denver Broncos for a Thursday joint practice and Saturday preseason opener. “I actually watched a lot of tape on him back in college,” West said. “… When in college, you look to see who you fit like in the NFL and what role you may play. Watching games, I’d say, ‘Man, I look a lot like that guy — same frame, same height, arm length and playing style.’ … It’d be awesome to have a chat with him but my main focus is to just get better in practice.”Related Articles Eight things that have caught my eye after eight 49ers’ practices 49ers’ Brock Purdy adores his baby daughter — and Nick Bosa’s pass rush NFL expected to sell media assets to ESPN for an equity stake Bay Area radio legend Greg Papa announces cancer diagnosis Will Steph Curry be the Bay Area's last first-ballot Hall of Famer?

HOLDER QUESTIONS

Ever wonder why backup quarterbacks got replaced by punters as a holder for the placekicker, and how important that holder-kicker relationship is for confidence?

“That started quite awhile ago because the time for backups quarterbacks to work with specialists would be before or after, when we can work together whole time as a specialist group,” Boyer said.

The 49ers’ special teams overhaul included adding long snapper Jon Weeks and punter Thomas Morstead, a pair of 39-year-old veterans. “The snapper and holder are extremely important. That whole operation is huge to a kicker’s success,” Boyer added. “You see that over time with people who work together for a while. You see that right away with people who haven’t. There’s time to get adjusted. The more you work together and hang out and like each other and especially work together, that’s huge, for sure.”

210 fall athletes to watch over 70 days

Alejandro Esquivel, Alvarez football: Brought up to play safety last season as a sophomore for the Eagles, Esquivel is projected to be the quarterback this fall.

Showcasing a constant drive to learn with a high football IQ, Esquivel sparkled over the summer in 7-on-7 events, establishing himself in the off-season as a leader and captain.

Lillian Mettler, Carmel field hockey: Not only did Mettler earn playing time as a freshman, but the goalie was credited with 50 saves in just eight starts.

Mettler recorded two shutouts and averaged just under seven saves a match between the pipes for the Padres, showcasing a fearless approach in goal.

Daniel Garcia, Soledad football: Another sophomore that started last year as a freshman for the Aztecs at linebacker, Garcia recorded a season high 11 tackles against Carmel.

Earning all-league honors last year, Garcia will anchor the defense, averaging nearly eight tackles a game, while recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass. He could also see time at fullback.

What are America’s best cities for sober traveling?

“It’s not just about ordering mocktails!”

That’s what Time Out magazine wants you to remember about sober traveling. While some folks prefer booze-soaked debauchery or ayahuasca retreats, other vacationers like to experience a fantastic hiking trail, a world-class museum or a transformative yoga class, and remember everything just fine the next day.

Based on research from Missouri treatment center Sana Lake Recovery, which considers things like access to nature, gyms, music venues and even AA meetings, Time Out has named the “10 best cities for sober travel in the U.S.” Two places in California make the list, Oakland (2) and San Francisco (10), with their Bay Area perks like “more than 300 hiking trails, 120 fitness studios and 33 different museums to stimulate your travel.” Oh, and “five mocktail bars and two gorgeous, restored movie palaces (the Fox and the Paramount) where you can take tours or see live shows.”

Here is where else in America you might want to visit in 2025, should you love to be alert and living the sober life:

Time Out’s 10 best cities for sober travel in the U.S. in 2025:

1 St. Louis, Missouri

2 Oakland, California

3 Portland, Oregon

4 Minneapolis, Minnesota

5 Seattle, Washington

6 Colorado Springs, Colorado

Sun rays break through the redwoods during a hike along French Loop Trail at the Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, April 21, 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

7 Tucson, Arizona

8 Miami, Florida

9 Tampa, Florida

10 San Francisco, California

Source: https://www.timeout.com/usa/news/these-are-the-10-best-cities-for-sober-travel-in-the-u-s-070225

For ‘mama bear’ parents, access to their college kids’ medical and student records can be a waiver away

When Jennifer Hughes’ son was in a mountain biking accident last year, she was prepared to go into full “mama bear” mode, overseeing his medical care and insurance details.

But the Chicago-area mom ran into repeated roadblocks — federal privacy laws — that turned an already stressful time into a nightmare.

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Her son, Vance Hughes, had recently turned 18, meaning she no longer had unfettered access to his medical records or his health insurance and financial information.

“It really got me thinking, ‘Gosh, what are we going to do if something happens when he’s at college and he needs our support? Will we be able to give it to him legally?’” Jennifer Hughes said. “I know it sounds crazy, but that was a concern.”

Hughes’ fears were quelled by a company with a name that resonated: Mama Bear Legal Forms. For under $100, college-bound kids can sign privacy waivers, granting their parents access to their medical records and educational information, including grades.

Technological advances have increasingly given parents the ability to track their children’s locations and technology usage. Mama Bear taps into a market of parents accustomed to this vigilance who realize their access changes when their kids turn 18 and are subject to medical- and student-privacy laws.

Mama Bear’s website provides a bundle of health and financial power-of-attorney forms, a release waiving the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, which prevents parents from accessing their child’s educational records once they turn 18, and a release waiving the student’s federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, medical-privacy rights.

Representatives of the Nebraska-based company did not respond to interview requests.

Mama Bear, which is not a law firm and doesn’t offer legal advice, markets itself as a solution for anxious parents to “feel confident knowing you can support your college-bound child.”

“It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind,” said Ruth Epps, a Littleton mom whose son at the University of Colorado Boulder signed Mama Bear legal forms.

Chatter about Mama Bear’s services pops up every few weeks in CU-related Facebook groups, where parents crowdsource questions about their children’s dorm-room assignments, ask where they can order soup for a sick kid, and find out which classes are best.

Parents on Facebook wrote that their social media feeds were filled with Mama Bear ads and posts wanting to know more from families who have used the services. Others replied that the company’s offerings felt like the answer to a problem they didn’t know they had yet.

It was a problem Hughes knew intimately. The professional blogger at mommyevolution.com said her son’s mountain biking accident opened her eyes to an issue that hadn’t been on her radar.

Vance Hughes is headed to CU Boulder this fall to study psychology — and ski in his downtime.

When his mom approached him about signing the Mama Bear documents to give her access to his health, financial and educational records, he said it was a no-brainer.

He knew the trouble his mom had been through dealing with his insurance after his biking accident and wanted to prevent that headache while allowing his parents more control over his medical decisions should an emergency happen again.

“The biggest thing for me is my mom can still hold my hand and help me through my formative years of becoming an adult as long as I need help in the future,” Vance Hughes said. “I don’t see the harm in it.”

Vance Hughes said he has a great relationship with his mom. He couldn’t imagine her using her new legal access to pry into his life willy-nilly.

“She’ll probably only look if I’m really, really struggling, and that will allow her to be like, ‘What can I do to help you?’” he said.

Jennifer Hughes agreed. Her son knows she wouldn’t misuse her new power, she said, and she knows he would willingly discuss his grades without her having to snoop.

“You think about your kid being an adult, but he’s still your kid, and they may need your assistance,” she said. “It’s not about making sure you keep a thumb on them. It’s that in case of an emergency, you can support them in the best way they need. He’s going to college to be his own person, and this is a great place for him to start learning how to adult.”

‘A one-size-fits-all approach’

Jennifer Hendricks, a CU Boulder law professor and co-director of the Juvenile and Family Law Program, wasn’t as sold on Mama Bear Legal Forms.

It wasn’t so much the medical directive or health care power of attorney that concerned her, although she noted it was more likely a parent would need those forms for themselves than for their children.

What worried Hendricks was what she described as fear-based marketing and a potential overreach in signing away students’ FERPA and HIPAA rights.

These forms go beyond allowing parents to have a say if a medical emergency strikes, she said. They could inform mom and dad that their child is talking to a therapist, taking birth control or going to the health center for a nasty hangover, Hendricks said.

“What I’m seeing is really infantilizing the adult children by having the mom prepare everything and then just say ‘sign this,’” Hendricks said.

Colorado-based family law attorney Rich Harris said he’s had conversations with his own family about whether they should consider some of these legal forms for their college-aged children. He advised talking to legal experts rather than outsourcing to a one-size-fits-all internet option.

“There’s a trend in these do-it-yourself legal form companies,” Harris said. “I’ve been cautioning people for years to be very, very careful about them because they purport to give you a one-size-fits-all approach for a super low fee and offer very little legal customization.”

Plus, Hendricks said, there are existing, free medical and university release forms allowing students to decide which parts of their lives their parents can access. For example, university FERPA waivers allow parents and kids to sign off on parents having access to their students’ financial information — useful for parents who are paying their kids’ tuition or handling financial aid forms.

“Parents have been trained to have a real sort of dystopian level of surveillance over their children, and this is a company trying to make money off of profiting off that anxiety and the need to monitor and surveil rather than to prepare their child to be an adult,” Hendricks said. “The company is playing on this fear that something terrible could happen and you won’t be able to help your kid.”

‘A gradual roll into adulthood’

Epps, the Littleton mom, felt her fear realized after her son got sick while at CU Boulder. He didn’t know how to advocate for himself when he went to the doctor, she said, and he didn’t say much when she asked how his appointment went. She tried to call the university to learn more, but was told she couldn’t access his medical information.

Epps’ son ended up developing pneumonia and needed to come home to get better, missing about a month of school, she said.

“Now that he has Mama Bear in place, I can talk to anyone,” she said. “Which would hopefully prevent something like that from happening in the future. I would have known had they said his oxygen levels are low that things were bad.”

Yet Epps would not define herself as a “mama bear.” Instead, she said she hails from the “suck it up, buttercup” line of parenting.

However, when she saw Mama Bear all over her social media feeds, she said it felt like the answer to anxieties that ramped up after her son’s sickness.

“I cannot recommend enough that people do it because you will have no authority, and it happens the day they turn 18,” Epps said. “There’s no grace period. There’s no, ‘Oh, let’s help you get used to this.’ It’s 18, and you’re cut off.”

Epps said she doesn’t track her son’s grades, but that it’s a nice feature to have just in case. Plus, she said the whole thing is a good deal because it doesn’t expire until her son revokes it, meaning she doesn’t have to pay some kind of annual fee.

She said she didn’t have much of a conversation with her son about the paperwork.

“I think I just said ‘sign this,’” she said. “I just don’t think they understand, to go from having someone who makes all of your medical appointments for you and manages your prescription drugs to being completely alone — they don’t understand that it’s so sudden. We’re covering his tuition and living expenses, so there’s a gradual roll into adulthood. It’s not like that for this. They’re so strict about privacy laws.”

Horoscopes Aug. 2, 2025: Kevin Smith, motivate yourself to finish what you start

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Hallie Eisenberg, 33; Sam Worthington, 49; Kevin Smith, 55; Mary-Louise Parker, 61.

Happy Birthday: You’ll accomplish the most this year if you work quietly behind the scenes, where you have the least interference. Allowing your emotions to stand between you and achieving your objective isn’t an option. Direct and motivate yourself to finish what you start and to ignore negativity, unreliable sources and those trying to sabotage your efforts. Learn from your mistakes, and you’ll outmaneuver anyone who gets in your way. Your numbers are 7, 19, 21, 28, 35, 42, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Concentrate on health, finances and paperwork. Taking care of business will ease stress and encourage you to do something that brings you joy. Reaching out and helping someone or addressing a cause that concerns you will get you in touch with fascinating insight and information that can improve how you do things. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Consider your professional options and scan the market to figure out how to utilize your skills to suit your financial and personal needs. A change may not be something you relish, but it may be in your best interest. Soothe your emotions by heading in a direction that puts your mind at ease. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Get into the mainstream where the action is, and see for yourself. Knowing right from wrong, truth from fiction and what’s best for you will help you make better choices and make a difference in your community. Don’t waste time or money on scammers or those trying to make gains at your expense. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Ask questions, and refrain from agreeing to something you cannot deliver. Focus your energy on home improvements and addressing issues that make life difficult. Address matters openly and listen to suggestions, but ultimately, do what satisfies your needs. Put health first; if you look and feel your best, you’ll exceed your expectations. Romance is favored. 5 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): It’s up to you to create opportunities that help achieve your vision. Waiting for someone to do things for you will be your downfall, as it gives others the chance to upstage you. Your intelligence, connections and skills will get you closer to your goal, and it will soothe your soul. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Set high standards and live according to what you need and want when dealing with relationships, lifestyle and long-term goals. Refuse to let someone’s playful attitude infringe on what’s important to you. Don’t accommodate others; only change what works for you, and you’ll maintain respect and freedom of choice. Romance requires sharing aspirations. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Think before you act. Too much of anything will drag you down. Avoid the temptation to indulge in excessive behavior. Don’t put your reputation on the line or participate in something that has the potential to turn sour or cost you. Pay more attention to your surroundings, and be grateful for what you have. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Participate in something that concerns you. Standing up for your rights and helping a cause that matters to you will connect you to people who can help you bring about positive change. Force isn’t the answer, but showing up to support your beliefs can make a difference. A choice will lead to confusion. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Put more time and effort into your surroundings. Maintaining a cost-efficient and functional home will give you the incentive to share your space with friends and family. Consider hosting or entertaining an event that can help you generate extra cash or build connections. A personal promise or commitment is apparent. Share your plans. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Verbalize your feelings and agenda. Take the initiative to share your dreams and plans with someone who matters to you. The input you receive will help you determine how to balance the needs of those you love with your own needs, while still remaining true to yourself. Love and romance are in the stars. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’ll find yourself going back and forth. Follow the path that feels best for you. Refuse to let anyone railroad you into something you don’t want to do. It’s time to take responsibility for your happiness. Turn something you enjoy doing into a lucrative pastime. Express your thoughts, and you’ll get support from loved ones. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Stop guessing; when in doubt, ask. Don’t be shy or reluctant to infringe on others for answers. Knowing how others think or feel will make your choices easier. Don’t deny yourself the happiness you deserve. Speak up, share your feelings and make romantic plans. A new look will boost your confidence. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are quick-witted, friendly and accommodating. You are sensitive and intense.

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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