Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 63

Tsunami advisory issued for coast following quake in Russia

SAN FRANCISCO – The Bay Area and Central Coast are under a tsunami advisory following a magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Russia’s Far East, according to the National Weather Service.

The advisory extends from the Sonoma coastline to the Big Sur coastline and includes San Francisco and San Pablo bays, the weather service said in a bulletin Tuesday.

Estimated arrival times Wednesday include 12:15 a.m. in Monterey and 12:40 a.m. in Santa Cruz and San Francisco. Peak wave heights of less than a foot are expected.

The weather service urged people in the advisory area to move off the beach and out of harbors and marinas, noting that “dangerous currents and waves are possible.”

“Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami,” the weather service said.

In the bulletin, the weather service described a tsunami as a series of waves carrying a large mass of water. The first wave might not necessarily be the largest.

While there was no call to evacuate boats and docks at the Berkeley Marina, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is offering rooms to berth holders at a discounted rate of $75, the Berkeley Police Department said in a message late Tuesday. The law enforcement agency also reminded people to ensure their boats are tightly secured.

The earthquake happened around 4:25 p.m. PDT off the coast of Kamchatka. The Russian areas nearest the epicenter reported damage and evacuations, but no serious injuries, according to The Associated Press.

Alaska, Hawaii and other coasts south toward New Zealand all received tsunami warnings.

The first wave hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on Russia’s Kuril Islands in the Pacific, the AP reported. The local governor said residents were safe and staying on higher ground until the threat of a repeat wave was gone.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami measuring 1.3 feet was detected in Tokachi, on the southern coast of Hokkaido, the northernmost of the country’s main islands, according to the AP.

In Honolulu, warning sirens blared and people moved to higher ground, the AP reported. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the earthquake had generated a tsunami that could cause damage along the coastlines of all the Hawaiian islands.

Tsunamis are rare but can be deadly. In 1964, a magnitude 9.2 earthquake in Alaska triggered waves that killed 17 people on the West Coast, including 11 in Crescent City, near the California-Oregon border. Waves caused by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004 killed 230,000 people. And in 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake in Japan generated waves that killed nearly 16,000 people.

The 2011 quake also caused a tidal surge along the Northern California coast that killed a man in Crescent City and caused $25 million in damage at the Santa Cruz Harbor.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

SF Giants drop fifth straight game as mistakes continue piling up

SAN FRANCISCO — Heliot Ramos, again, found himself in no man’s land.

In the bottom of the first, with Willy Adames on first and Ramos on second, Matt Chapman skied a popup that went about 40 feet. Chapman was automatically out as the infield fly rule was called. Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes let the ball fall to the grass.

Ramos, still a live runner, ended up about 25 feet from second base when the ball touched crass. Hayes picked up the ball, hesitated for a beat, then fired to second base. Nick Gonzales applied the tag. Two days after a baffling mistake on Sunday Night Baseball, Ramos was on the wrong end of a rare infield fly rule double play. The inning was over, and so was the rally.

The sequence wasn’t just emblematic of Ramos’ blunders specifically. It encapsulated this team’s subpar play generally.

Ramos’ gaffe was the defining lowlight on a night where the Giants mustered two lone hits as they lost 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night at Oracle Park. They haven’t just lost five straight. They haven’t just dropped 11 of their last 13 games. They don’t just have the worst record in baseball since acquiring Rafael Devers.

For the first time since March 29 — the second game of the season — the Giants have a .500 record: 54 wins, 54 losses. They were swept by the New York Mets this weekend. They could very well be swept by the Pirates on Wednesday. As Thursday’s trade deadline looms, they’re staring right at the possibility of possessing a sub-.500 record for the first time all season.

“We’ve had meetings,” said manager Bob Melvin. “We’ve had team meetings, we’ve had all kinds of meetings. It’s going out there and fighting a little harder and winning a game and having a little more resolve, which we’ve shown this year. We just have not done it here recently.”

The resolve that Melvin references has seldom been present over the last month-and-a-half.

Their offense, even with Devers, remains below average. The rotation is in such bad shape with Landen Roupp injured and Hayden Birdsong in Triple-A that they called on top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt. Since acquiring Devers, their 13-23 record and 133 runs scored are both the worst marks in all of baseball.

Ramos is far from the sole reason that the Giants are sliding out of contention. His mistakes, fairly or not, are becoming the defining moments of this extended skid.

“It was just a mental error,” Ramos said. “Just trying to do too much, overthinking it. I messed up. There’s nothing I can say about it. It’s been happening a lot. I’m just trying to get better … Just trying to work on it, even on my defense. I know it hasn’t been the best. I don’t want to mess it up. I don’t know what to do. All I’m doing is working every day, trying to fix everything.”

Added Melvin: “Look, the guy plays hard. He comes to play every day. At times his defense hasn’t been its best, and I think it kind of snowballs on you a little bit and maybe start overthinking some stuff. There’s some clarity. But he comes up and he fights every at-bat. The other portions of the game he’s having a tough time.”

Ramos, who has been worth -7 defensive runs saved entering Tuesday, opened up about his struggles in the field.

He admitted that he’s thinking about not messing up, which he knows is the wrong thought to have.

He shared that he’s never struggled defensively to this degree and it’s getting in his head.

He understands that he has to let the mistakes go, but knows it’s easier said than done.

“It’s just a mental battle, you know,” Ramos said. “When I started the season, I felt like I’m the best out there. I’m doing great on defense, I’m trying to catch the ball, get to the ball, take the right route. Then, whenever you make a couple errors — because they happen, it’s not like they never happen — when they’re back-to-back, I just get in my head and I feel like it costs us the game. It just feels like, ‘Damn, I have to get better. I just have to get better.’ I put that pressure on myself.”

When Melvin was asked if Ramos needs a day off, the Giants’ manager pointed out the Catch-22: Ramos might be struggling, but he’s still one of their best hitters and this team needs all the offense it can get.

“It’s tough to give him a day. It’s tough to DH him too,” Melvin said. “We have a couple guys that DH right now. Just got to power through it.”

“It’s whatever Bob wants,” Ramos said. “Obviously, I’m not the manager. I don’t know what he wants to do. Whatever he wants, whatever is best for the team, it is what it is.”

San Francisco still had eight innings to produce offense following Ramos’ mistake, but Adames’ solo homer ended up being the team’s lone run of the night. Ramos drew one of his two walks in the bottom of the third to put runners on second with one out, but Devers followed up by hitting into an inning-ending double play.

The Giants’ inability to score runs left Justin Verlander with another no-decision despite a solid performance. Verlander allowed one lone run on a solo homer by Liover Peguero, striking out seven batters and generating 13 whiffs. Curiously enough, Verlander did not stick around to speak with reporters following the loss.

The Giants had another very odd sequence in the top of the eighth, one that led to the Pirates scoring two runs and taking a 3-1 lead.

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With runners on first and second, Hayes grounded a ball to second baseman Casey Schmitt. Reliever Tyler Rogers raced to the bag and looked towards second base, appearing to think that Schmitt threw the ball to second for the force out. Schmitt, instead, threw to first. Rogers wasn’t looking for Schmitt’s throw and the ball whizzed past him, deflecting off Hayes. It went down as a single that loaded the bases.

Pittsburgh didn’t waste the opportunity and took a 3-1 lead. Former Giant Joey Bart gave the Pirates the lead with an RBI single to left field, then Peguero drove in his second run of the night on a groundout.

As the Giants stare down the possibility of going winless this home stand, Melvin’s message to his team was simple.

“Win a game tomorrow,” Melvin said. “That’s all we can do. We can’t get it all back at once. Can’t win five games in one day. We have to win one. That’s the message.”

SF Giants’ Miller, Roupp continue progressing from elbow injuries

SAN FRANCISCO — Left-hander Erik Miller took another step towards recovering from his left elbow strain on Tuesday, throwing his second bullpen since going on the injured list earlier this month.

Miller threw exclusively fastballs at about 75% effort during his 20-pitch bullpen session this past Saturday, but he incorporated his full gamut of pitches during his bullpen session on Tuesday.

“It’s obviously something you want to mess around with,” Miller said of his injury. “I’m just happy that I took a couple weeks off and it’s feeling pretty good.”

Manager Bob Melvin said the team will see how Miller feels following the bullpen, then determine the next steps from there. Miller, who hasn’t pitched in a game since July 2, hopes to make several rehab appearances before returning given how long he’s been sidelined.

“My preference is to throw at least two — maybe even three — (rehab outings) because, at that pint, it would have been over a month since throwing in game,” Miller said. “At this point in the year, it’s too important to try to knock the rust off up here. Whether it’s Sacramento or San Jose, we haven’t thought that far ahead, but I’d like to throw a couple.”

Miller, 27, has been an integral part of the Giants’ bullpen, posting a 1.50 ERA (3.92 FIP) over 30 innings. In Miller’s absence, Newark native Joey Lucchesi and Matt Gage have served as Melvin’s left-handed options out of the bullpen. Lucchesi has a 1.65 ERA and hasn’t allowed a run in July, while Gage hasn’t allowed a run since joining the Giants.

“Both of them have done a great job,” Melvin said. “Gage even opened for us, did a nice job against a pretty good top of the (New York Mets’) lineup. He’s pitched well, and so has Lucchesi. Lucchesi’s done multiple innings for us and faced righties.”

Along with Miller, right-hander Landen Roupp threw off flat ground for the first time since being placed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation.

Roupp, who was placed on the injured list on July 25 (retroactive to July 23), will travel to Arizona to continue his rehab once the Giants travel to the East Coast for their two-city road trip against the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Giants expect Roupp’s injury to be on the minor side, and it’s possible he spends the minimum amount of time on the injured list.

“He hasn’t been out too long, so hopefully, we can get him back sooner than later,” Melvin said of Roupp, who has a 3.11 ERA over 20 starts.

Melvin pays respects to Sandberg

Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who spent 15 seasons of his major-league career with the Chicago Cubs, died on Monday at the age of 65.

“What a great player and what a great guy and how he would give back to the game,” Melvin said. “I think there were heavy hearts everywhere in baseball. Certainly last night and certainly today.”

Sandberg, known for his combination of power, speed and defense, finished his career with nine Gold Glove Awards, 282 home runs and 344 stolen bases. His list of accolades also includes the 1984 NL MVP, seven Silver Slugger Awards and 10 All-Star selections.

“You just felt like whenever the wind was blowing out at Wrigley and he was up, there was a good chance it was going to be a homer,” Melvin said.

Giants sign former Dodgers top prospect

Catcher Diego Cartaya, who was once considered one of baseball’s best prospects with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has signed a minor-league contract with the Giants, per Daniel Álvarez-Montes.

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Cartaya, 23, was considered the top international prospect of his class when he signed with the Dodgers out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old in 2018. MLB Pipeline still considered Cartaya as a top-20 prospect as recently as 2023, but he struggled in the upper levels of the minors.

In January, the Twins traded for Cartaya after he was designated for assignment by the Dodgers. On July 23, Minnesota released Cartaya after he had a .353 OPS over 20 games with the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate.

ICE says detained Maine police officer overstayed visa. The chief says he cleared a federal check

By PATRICK WHITTLE, Associated Press

OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine (AP) — The chief of police in a Maine resort town has called for an investigation into the arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of one of its officers, who the chief said was federally approved to work in the country in May.

ICE arrested Old Orchard Beach Police Department reserve officer Jon Luke Evans, of Jamaica, on July 25. The agency said Evans was illegally present in the U.S. and unlawfully attempted to purchase a firearm.

ICE said in a Monday statement that Evans had legally entered the U.S. in September 2023 and violated the terms of his admission by overstaying his visa. But Old Orchard Beach Police Chief Elise Chard said in her own Monday statement that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had verified that Evans was authorized to work in the U.S. in May of this year.

The Old Orchard Beach Police Department and ICE officials did not respond to requests for a status update about Evans’ case. It was unclear on Tuesday if he had access to an attorney.

This image provided by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows Jon Luke Evans. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) via AP)

ICE and Chard presented different accounts of Evans’ employment by the town. Chard said the department was notified by federal officials that Evans was legally permitted to work in the country and his authorization document would not expire until 2030.

Chard said the town submitted information via the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify Program. E-Verify is an online system launched in the late 1990s that allows employers to check if potential employees can work legally in the U.S. Some large private employers use it, but most do not.

She said the department is “distressed and deeply concerned about this apparent error on the part of the federal government” and will investigate to determine what steps it can take to ensure the town’s compliance in the future. She said the department would also conduct an internal review of the circumstances of the case.

“The Old Orchard Beach Police Department was never officially informed about Evans’ detention, and the department officially learned the details of the matter in a news release issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” Chard said.

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ICE said in a statement that Evans admitted to its officers that he attempted to purchase a firearm for his employment as a police officer with the town. That triggered an alert to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which coordinated with ICE to make the arrest, the agency said in a statement.

Evans was scheduled to depart the U.S. in October 2023 but never boarded his departing flight, the statement says.

“We have a police department that was knowingly breaking the very law they are charged with enforcing in order to employ an illegal alien,” Patricia H. Hyde, the acting field office director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston, said in a statement.

Old Orchard Beach is a popular summer vacation destination in Maine, beloved for its boardwalk, beach and downtown amusement park. It is a highly seasonal community that is most active in the summer, when it swells with visitors and requires a larger police presence than the slower, colder months.

Maine is one of about a dozen states that allow noncitizen residents to work in law enforcement, Chard said. They are part-time, seasonal employees who are assigned a variety of tasks, including community policing and beach patrol by foot and bicycle, she said.

Evans passed physical and medical checks, and a background check, Chard said. He also underwent the standard course of training before being deployed on duty, she said.

Democrats try again to revive the Voting Rights Act but face long odds

By MATT BROWN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats reintroduced a bill Tuesday to restore and expand protections enshrined in the Voting Rights Act of 1965, their latest long-shot attempt to revive the landmark law just days before its 60th anniversary and at a time of renewed debate over the future administration of American elections.

Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia unveiled the measure, titled the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, with the backing of Democratic leaders. The bill stands little chance of passage in the Republican-led Congress, but it provides the clearest articulation of Democrats’ agenda on voting rights and election reform.

The legislation would reestablish and expand the requirement that states and localities with a history of discrimination get federal approval before changing their voting laws. It would also require states to allow same-day voter registration, prevent voters from being purged from voter rolls if they miss elections and allow people who may have been disenfranchised at the ballot box to seek a legal remedy in the courts.

“Democracy is the very house in which we live. It is the framework in which we get to fight for the things that we care about,” Warnock said. “These last seven months have reminded us that we ought not take any of it for granted. We are literally in a fight for the life of the republic.”

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Warnock was joined by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, as well as Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Alex Padilla of California. The senators were flanked by dozens of activists, including voting rights advocates, environmental campaigners, faith leaders and union organizers.

The reintroduction comes at a precarious moment for the Voting Rights Act. The enforcement mechanisms of the law have been removed or hampered by two decades of court rulings and lapsed congressional reauthorizations. And an unusual push by Republicans in several states to redistrict congressional maps five years ahead of schedule has also raised questions about the effectiveness of the law in protecting voters.

State lawmakers have enacted dozens of laws in recent years that voting rights activists argue restrict access to the ballot, especially for people of color, poorer communities and people with disabilities.

Schumer promised that Democrats would “fight fire with fire” to protect voting rights.

And Warnock warned of “an authoritarian movement that is afoot right now in our country,” before denouncing a special session called by the Texas legislature to redistrict the state’s legislative and congressional maps. President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are backing the effort, which they hope will net the GOP several seats in the House of Representatives and help them hold the House majority.

Democrats first introduced the updated Voting Rights Act in 2021, when the party had unified control of Congress. The bill came in response to several years of states enacting restrictive voting laws following the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, which struck down the section of the Voting Rights Act that required some states to seek federal approval for legislative maps and election policies.

The bill passed the House twice in that Congress but failed to pass the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate. Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama reintroduced a House version in March.

The bill is named after John Lewis, the longtime Democratic congressman and civil rights activist who died in 2020. Warnock represents Lewis’ home state, while Sewell represents Selma, Alabama, the city where Lewis organized during the Civil Rights movement and was bludgeoned by state troopers during a peaceful protest on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, known as Bloody Sunday.

A picture of Lewis was positioned behind the senators as they spoke about the bill. Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat, said that Lewis’ “stare is unrelenting. He’s going to hold us accountable.”

This version of Miso Sea Bass is from a student’s cookbook

By Cathy Thomas | Correspondent

From childhood days, medical needs motivated Lucy Guldjian to master cooking skills, to experiment with healthful ingredients and culinary techniques. Guldjian grew up in Huntington Beach and is a junior at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. Her cookbook, “Lulu and Chloe’s Cookbook” memorializes some of her favorite recipes, each formula highlighting nourishing ingredients that she loves. The title plays homage to her loving dog, her maltipoo named “Chloe.”

Her 12 favorite recipes fill the pages of her book, highlighting everything from appetizers to desserts. Her sea bass recipe utilizes some of her favorite ingredients: white miso paste, and toasted sesame oil, plus agave syrup and a smidgen of coconut sugar.

Miso Sea Bass

Yield: 2 large servings or 4 small servings

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup white miso paste

1 teaspoon coconut sugar

1/2 teaspoon pink salt

2 tablespoons agave syrup

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

Two 8-ounce portions boneless, skinless Chilean sea bass

DIRECTIONS

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl place miso paste, coconut sugar, salt, agave syrup, and sesame oil; stir to combine.

2. Pat sea bass dry with a paper towel and place it on a small, rimmed baking sheet. Spoon miso mixture on top of sea bass. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes; baking times vary depending on thickness of the fish. Fish is done when it is a consistent opaque color throughout.

Award-winning food writer Cathy Thomas has written three cookbooks, including “50 Best Plants on the Planet.” Follow her at CathyThomasCooks.com.

Civil rights agency sued over handling of transgender worker discrimination complaints under Trump

By CLAIRE SAVAGE, Associated Press

Legal groups sued the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Tuesday, claiming it is unlawfully refusing to enforce federal workplace protections for transgender workers.

Led by Acting Chair Andrea Lucas, a Republican, the federal agency charged with enforcing laws against workplace discrimination has moved swiftly to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring two unchangeable sexes. Under Lucas’s leadership, the EEOC has dropped several lawsuits on behalf of transgender workers, stalled progress on some new cases, and subjected others to heightened scrutiny. The lawsuit also alleges that the agency halted payments to state and local civil rights agencies for investigating gender identity discrimination claims.

“For over 60 years, the EEOC’s mandate has been to protect workers from discrimination, not to pick and choose who is deemed worthy of protection based on political interference,” said Skye Perryman, the president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which alongside the National Women’s Law Center brought the case on behalf of Maryland LGBTQ+ advocacy group FreeState Justice.

“The Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful effort to erase protections for transgender people is cruel, and a violation of the law and the Constitution,” Perryman continued in an emailed statement.

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The EEOC declined to comment on the lawsuit, and instead referred The Associated Press to the Department of Justice. The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lucas, who is named in the lawsuit filed in Maryland U.S. District Court in Baltimore, has said that one of her priorities as Acting Chair would be “defending the biological and binary reality of sex and related rights.”

Last month she defended her decision to drop several lawsuits on behalf of transgender workers during her June 18 Senate committee confirmation hearing, saying her agency is not independent and must comply with the president’s orders.

“It was impossible to both comply with the president’s executive order as an executive branch agency, and also zealously defend the workers we had brought the case on behalf,” she said.

However, Lucas acknowledged that a 2020 Supreme Court ruling — Bostock v. Clayton County — “did clearly hold that discriminating against someone on the basis of sex included firing an individual who is transgender or based on their sexual orientation.”

Plaintiffs argue that although the Bostock precedent “cemented protections for LGBTQ+ workers that the EEOC had already recognized for years” the agency has now “foreclosed transgender workers from the full set of charge investigation and other enforcement protections available to cisgender charging parties and categorically refuses to fully enforce the laws protecting against workplace sex discrimination tied to gender identity.”

The lawsuit, which cites two Associated Press reports detailing EEOC actions related to LGBTQ+ workers, alleges that the EEOC’s “Trans Exclusion Policy” violates Supreme Court precedent, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fifth Amendment’s Equal Protection guarantee, and the Administrative Procedure Act.

“Instead of serving its critical role to prevent discrimination in the workplace, the EEOC, under Andrea Lucas’ leadership, is actually promoting discrimination,” said Gaylynn Burroughs, Vice President for Education and Workplace Justice at NWLC, in an emailed statement about the lawsuit. “Transgender workers deserve to be protected against harassment, and the EEOC is obligated to do so under law. But the Trump administration seems hellbent on bullying transgender people in every possible way and ensuring that they are pushed out of all forms of public life, including their workplaces, so we’re taking the administration to court.”

The Associated Press’ women in the workforce and state government coverage receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Crème fraîche creates a creamy broth in this steamed clams recipe

By Christopher Kimball | Milk Street

A big bowl of steamed clams and juicy-crisp corn is summer eating at its finest. The combination is fresh, sweet and briny, almost like a chowder made for eating with your fingers.

In this recipe from our cookbook ” Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the Year,” we finish the clams and corn with a small measure of crème fraîche (or whole-milk yogurt); the briny-sweet liquid released by the clams becomes a subtly creamy broth that’s as delicious as the clams themselves. Fennel perfumes the broth with anise-like notes.

Scrub the clams well before cooking and be sure to dispose of any with cracked or damaged shells. Give any clams with open shells a gentle tap and toss if they do not close within a few seconds.

If you can, use corn kernels cut from freshly shucked ears (you’ll need two good-size ears to get the 2 cups kernels called for in the recipe), but frozen corn works in the off-season. When buying corn, look for bright green husks and supple silk, and avoid ears small brown holes in the husk. To easily remove kernels from the cob, place the ear flat on the cutting board and slice, rotating as needed.

Serve with oyster crackers, or with crusty bread for mopping up the broth.

Steamed Clams with Corn, Fennel and Crème Fraîche

Start to finish: 30 minutesServings: 4

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil1 medium fennel bulb, halved, cored and thinly sliced1 medium yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced2 teaspoons fennel seedsKosher salt and ground black pepper2 cups corn kernels2 pounds hard-shell clams (about 1½ inches diameter), such as littleneck or Manila, scrubbed¼ cup crème fraîche OR plain whole-milk yogurt

Directions:

In a Dutch oven, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the fennel, onion, fennel seeds and a pinch of salt, then cook, stirring, until the vegetables are lightly browned. Stir in the corn and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and add the clams. Cover and cook over medium, stirring once or twice, until the clams have opened. Stir once more, then remove and discard any clams that haven’t opened. Off heat, stir in the crème fraîche and ½ teaspoon pepper. Season with salt.

Optional garnish: Hot sauce OR chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley OR lemon wedges OR a combination

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more recipes, go to Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street at 177milkstreet.com/ap

Summer peppers contribute to a lighter, brighter potato salad

By Lynda Balslev | TasteFood

A confetti of summer peppers brings sweet and spicy heat to this potato salad. It’s a lighter no-mayo salad, which relies on olive oil and white balsamic vinegar to bind the ingredients. White balsamic vinegar is made from Trebbiano grapes. The juice of the grapes is cooked at a low temperature and aged for no longer than one year. It contrasts to dark balsamic vinegar, which is made from the same grape. However, the juice is reduced and then aged for at least 12 years to achieve a rich, caramelized flavor and a dark, syrupy consistency. White balsamic vinegar is distinctively lighter and fruitier, which lends itself well to dressings, fruit and salads.

The potatoes can be left unpeeled in this recipe. The skins will provide additional texture and nutrients to the salad. It’s important to toss the potatoes with the vinegar and oil while still warm to allow them to absorb the liquid and flavors as they cool. If white balsamic vinegar in unavailable, you can substitute a high-quality white wine vinegar and add 1 teaspoon of sugar.

Peppery Potato Salad

Active Time: 30 minutesTotal Time: 30 minutes, plus cooling and chilling timeYield: Serves 6

2 pounds Yukon gold potatoesKosher salt1/4 cup white balsamic vinegarExtra-virgin olive oil2 garlic cloves, grated2 teaspoons dried mustard, such as Colmans1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for sprinkling4 green onions, white and green parts thinly sliced1 poblano pepper, stemmed and seeded, finely chopped1 small red bell pepper, stemmed and seeded, finely chopped1 to 2 Jimmy Nardello peppers, stemmed and seeded, finely chopped1/2 small red onion, finely chopped1 cup chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as Italian parsley, mint, dill, chivesPinch of sugar (optional)

Quarter the potatoes and place in a large pot. Cover with cold water and add 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork or skewer, about 20 minutes. Drain and cool in a colander for 5 minutes, then transfer to a large bowl.

While the potatoes cool, whisk the vinegar, 2 tablespoons oil, the garlic, mustard, 1 teaspoon salt and the black pepper in a small bowl. Add to the potatoes and stir to thoroughly combine, breaking up any large chunks of potatoes. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow the potatoes to absorb the dressing.

Add the green onions, all peppers and red onion to the potatoes, then add 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil and stir to thoroughly combine. Stir in the fresh herbs and taste for seasoning. You may want to add a little more salt or a pinch of sugar, depending on the sweetness of the peppers.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to develop. Garnish with additional black pepper and serve chilled or at room temperature.

Lynda Balslev is an award-winning writer, cookbook author, and recipe developer based in northern California. Visit TasteFood at TasteFoodblog.com.

Horoscopes July 29, 2025: Josh Radnor, spontaneity will help you

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Munro Chambers, 35; Jason Belmonte, 42; Josh Radnor, 51; Martina McBride, 59.

Happy Birthday: Take the guesswork out of how you proceed; research how to do things right the first time. Putting your energy to good use will capture attention, but it will also attract competition. Spontaneity will help you zigzag your way ahead with finesse. Traveling, learning and letting go of the past to make room for the future will lead to self-reliance, dedication and a transition forward. Your numbers are 6, 13, 21, 27, 35, 42, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): It’s up to you to take the lead in the conversation if you want to have a significant impact on how things unfold. Refuse to let emotions interfere with what’s important to you; stubbornness will not work in your favor, but a positive attitude and suggestions will help you win the support you need to get your way. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Be careful what you share with associates. Personal information can put you in a vulnerable spot if you are too revealing. The best change you can make is in how you approach your responsibilities and consistently go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure you outshine anyone trying to bring you down. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Learn from experience, and it will help you avoid the confusion and uncertainty someone is trying to instill in you. Do your research, and don’t be afraid to speak up when you have the facts to back your words. Discipline and hard work will pave the way to a brighter future. 2 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Overreacting will cost you. When in doubt, sit tight, say little, observe and consider how to utilize your energy to move forward. Opportunity comes from using your talents skillfully to segue into a higher position. Home improvements will come at a cost. Do as much of the work as you can to save money. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take the initiative, explain your intentions and act with clarity and precision. Do your due diligence, learn as you go, ask questions and seek help to ensure you accomplish the most in the least amount of time. A friendly gesture or kind word will help you get the response you need to advance. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A change may entice you, but first, ensure you have the necessary funds, time and energy to accommodate what’s required to achieve your goal. Not everyone will play fair. Be mindful of who you trust and what you share. A risk can result in injury or insult if you aren’t careful. Take the safe route. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Simplicity is the key to getting things done and reducing stress. Overreacting will lead to additional problems, questioning and someone trying to take advantage of you. Avoid excess and indulgent behavior, as well as taking on responsibilities that don’t belong to you. Map out your schedule and stick to it. Choose self-improvement over criticizing others. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look for an opportunity to discover what others have to offer that you can incorporate into your plans. Expanding your vision will require additional input and energy on your part. Ensure you are well-prepared for the task before embarking on it. Scrutiny is necessary to avoid mistakes. Watch, transform and conclude. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Refuse to let the little things upset you or hold you back. Embrace what life has to offer; apply your skills, and the impact you have will help you spin in a positive direction. Utilize your talents to dazzle others with your insight and the ease with which you handle matters. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stop pondering over what to do next; do what’s necessary and keep moving. The point is to stay busy and avoid criticism. It’s up to you to build your opportunities on solid ground. Taking on too much or pushing forward without proper inspection and verification will lead to complications and redoing work. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Share your thoughts and feelings with those who affect your life emotionally or financially. Concentrate on doing the best job possible and displaying what else you can offer that positions you for advancements. A change is on the way that provides a unique blend of learning, location and financial assistance. Romance is favored. 5 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Seek out opportunities, and you can find them today. Get out, participate, socialize, network and look for people and situations that motivate you to expand your interests, qualifications and goals. Put your energy and discipline behind your dreams, and you’ll discover something or someone that extends your vision. Avoid taking physical risks. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are curious, inviting and dedicated. You are protective and emotional.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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