Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 67

Webb’s recent struggles continue as SF Giants thumped by Mets

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ starting rotation, in manager Bob Melvin’s words, is “in flux.” Hayden Birdsong was demoted. Landen Roupp is injured. With two vacant rotation spots, the straits are so dire that the team may use a rare bullpen game on Sunday. They’ll likely need to get creative on Monday, too.

Logan Webb took the mound at Oracle Park on a frigid Friday night with an opportunity to spell the relievers, to keep them rested for the looming tasks at hand. Specifically, the bullpen’s multi-inning relievers. He has proven himself capable, more often than not, of pitching deep into ballgames.

Webb, instead, turned in his worst start of the year as the Giants (54-50) lost 8-1 to the New York Mets. He pitched four innings, tied for the fewest he’s pitched in a single start this season. He allowed six runs, tied for the most he’s allowed in a single start this season. For Webb, it was the low point of one of the worst stretches of Webb’s career.

“It’s never going to be the same all the time,” Melvin said. “Just a touch stretch for him.”

Webb has not looked the part of a two-time All-Star in recent outings. Over his last three starts, Webb has allowed 16 earned runs over 15 1/3 innings (9.39 ERA). That’s the most earned runs that Webb has allowed over a three-start stretch in his major-league career, usurping the previous high of 15 earned runs. During this stretch, Webb’s ERA has jumped from 2.62 to 3.38.

“If I knew, I would’ve fixed it by now,” Webb said when asked if he identified anything from this stretch. “It’s just not good.”

Webb shot down any notion that he’s been affected by his workload over the last several seasons, saying he feels fine physically and he gets paid to pitch.

The right-hander’s poor start was especially uncharacteristic because of his inability to hold runners. Webb had only allowed four steals all season entering play, a significant improvement considering he allowed 20 in ’23 and 21 in ’24. On Friday night, New York’s Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Tyrone Taylor each swiped a bag.

Webb theorized that Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson, formerly the Giants’ first base coach, picked up on a tell that allowed New York to time him up.

“It might’ve been something I’m doing when I go into my stretch where it makes it known,” Webb said. “Antoan’s a good first base coach. I remember we did it here when he was here. But I could be doing something where he knows that I’m going home. I know I’ve done something in the past like that, so I know I just have to fix it.”

Webb only threw 81 pitches through four innings, but Melvin said there was no consideration for having him throw the fifth inning.

With the bullpen covering five innings, it becomes all the more imperative for Robbie Ray to cover innings on Saturday and keep his relievers rested for Sunday’s impending bullpen game. Ray, a fellow All-Star, is coming off one of his worst starts of the season, allowing five runs and walking five batters over 4 1/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays.

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The Mets began the night by plating two runs in the first inning against Webb. Nimmo and Lindor led off the game with a double and single, respectively, setting the table for the heart of New York’s order to drive them in and take an early 2-0.

Webb tossed a scoreless second after Willy Adames’ RBI groundout in the bottom of the first sliced the deficit to 2-1, but allowed a solo homer to Lindor on a high-and-inside fastball that brought the Mets’ lead to 3-1. New York landed its haymaker against Webb in the fourth by scoring three runs, the dagger being Nimmo’s two-run single that put San Francisco in a 6-1 hole.

The Giants had many opportunities to cut into the deficit but finished the night 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

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Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit against Chicago ‘sanctuary’ laws

CHICAGO (AP) — A judge in Illinois dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit Friday that sought to disrupt limits Chicago imposes on cooperation between federal immigration agents and local police.

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The lawsuit, filed in February, alleged that so-called sanctuary laws in the nation’s third-largest city “thwart” federal efforts to enforce immigration laws.

It argued that local laws run counter to federal laws by restricting “local governments from sharing immigration information with federal law enforcement officials” and preventing immigration agents from identifying “individuals who may be subject to removal.”

Judge Lindsay Jenkins of the Northern District of Illinois granted the defendants’ motion for dismissal.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he was pleased with the decision and the city is safer when police focus on the needs of Chicagoans.

“This ruling affirms what we have long known: that Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance is lawful and supports public safety. The City cannot be compelled to cooperate with the Trump Administration’s reckless and inhumane immigration agenda,” he said in a statement.

Gov. JB Pritzker welcomed the ruling, saying in a social media post, “Illinois just beat the Trump Administration in federal court.”

The Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security and did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The administration has filed a series of lawsuits targeting state or city policies seen as interfering with immigration enforcement, including those in Los Angeles, New York City, Denver and Rochester, New York. It sued four New Jersey cities in May.

Heavily Democratic Chicago has been a sanctuary city for decades and has beefed up its laws several times, including during Trump’s first term in 2017.

That same year, then-Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican, signed more statewide sanctuary protections into law, putting him at odds with his party.

There is no official definition for sanctuary policies or sanctuary cities. The terms generally describe limits on local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE enforces U.S. immigration laws nationwide but sometimes seeks state and local help.

SF Giants’ Roupp placed on injured list as starting rotation takes another hit

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ rotation took a hit when the team optioned Hayden Birdsong to Triple-A Sacramento following the worst start of his career. On Friday, they took another blow — one the team believes is only temporary.

San Francisco announced that right-hander Landen Roupp was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Wednesday) with right elbow inflammation, leaving San Francisco with two open spots in its starting rotation. While the injury puts the Giants in a bind, manager Bob Melvin told reporters the Giants consider the injury to be minor.

“I think we caught it at the right time,” Melvin said.

Right-handed reliever Tristan Beck was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move.

Roupp underwent an MRI that revealed no structural damage, and the right-hander said he’s “not too worried” about the elbow injury. The plan is for Roupp to pause throwing for a week, and Melvin said the team is confident Roupp will miss the minimum amount of time on the injured list.

The 26-year-old starter said he started feeling the discomfort after his start against the Dodgers on July 12. On Tuesday, his first start of the second half, the elbow “tightened up on me a little bit more” against the Atlanta Braves. Roupp pitched five scoreless innings against Atlanta, but Melvin pulled Roupp after 86 pitches because of the elbow ailment. Roupp didn’t believe the elbow injury affected his stuff against the Braves, most feeling the discomfort in between innings.

With Birdsong in Triple-A and Roupp on the injured list, Melvin described the rotation as “in flux.” Logan Webb and Robbie Ray were  set to pitch on Friday and Saturday, respectively, against the New York Mets. Meanwhile, Justin Verlander is slated to pitch on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. That leaves Sunday and Monday to be determined.

Melvin said the Giants are considering a bullpen game for Sunday, depending on how Friday and Saturday unfold. Following Sunday’s game the Giants will likely make a roster move before Monday’s game against the Pirates to get a fresh arm on the team. Melvin said left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, the Giants’ top pitching prospect, could be a candidate to be called up. Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng has also pitched well recently, posting a 0.46 ERA over his last four starts with Triple-A Sacramento.

“We do have a pretty extensive ‘pen right now with Beck being here, too,” Melvin said. “We did just have the off day. We’ve got Robbie and Webby going, so hopefully, it’s more in-house on Sunday.”

Roupp had emerged as the No. 3 starter in the Giants’ rotation behind All-Stars Webb and Ray, posting a 3.11 ERA over 101 1/3 innings. Roupp was only six innings away from matching the 107 1/3 innings he threw in the minors in 2022, the most he’s totaled in a single season as a professional.

While the injury will sideline him for two weeks at the minimum, Roupp believes the time off could help him down the stretch.

“It’s not how I wanted it to go, but I think it will help me in the long run pitching into October,” Roupp said. “I’d rather be out there pitching than down for two weeks, but in the big picture, it could definitely help me.”

Roupp’s injury, even if it ends up being minor, highlights the Giants’ need to add starting pitching at the upcoming July 31 trade deadline.

The Giants lost rotation depth last month when they traded left-hander Kyle Harrison and right-hander Jordan Hicks (as well as two prospects) to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for three-time Rafael Devers, who will make his second career appearance at first base on Friday. Devers provided San Francisco with a much-needed impact bat, but that deal has left the Giants with a lack of immediate rotation options.

“It feels like every team goes through it, and sometimes when it rains, it pours a little bit,” Melvin said. “We do have some guys we like in Triple-A as far as the depth goes. We’ll see where that goes, and we’ll see what the deadline brings.”

Democrats and advocates criticize Trump’s executive order on homelessness

By JANIE HAR and CHARLOTTE KRAMON

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Leading Democrats and advocates for homeless people are criticizing an executive order President Donald Trump signed this week aimed at removing people from the streets, possibly by committing them for mental health or drug treatment without their consent.

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Trump directed some of his Cabinet heads to prioritize funding to cities that crack down on open drug use and street camping, with the goal of making people feel safer. It’s not compassionate to do nothing, the order states.

“Shifting these individuals into long-term institutional settings for humane treatment is the most proven way to restore public order,” the order reads.

Homelessness has become a bigger problem in recent years as the cost of housing increased, especially in states such as California where there aren’t enough homes to meet demand. At the same time, drug addiction and overdoses have soared with the availability of cheap and potent fentanyl.

The president’s order might be aimed at liberal cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, which Trump views as too lax about conditions on their streets. But many of the concepts have already been proposed or tested in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic mayors have worked for years to get people off the streets and into treatment.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for cities to clear encampments even if the people living in them have nowhere else to go.

Still, advocates say Trump’s new order is vague, punitive and won’t effectively end homelessness.

Newsom has directed cities to clean up homeless encampments and he’s funneled more money into programs to treat addiction and mental health disorders.

His office said Friday that Trump’s order relies on harmful stereotypes and focuses more on “creating distracting headlines and settling old scores.”

“But, his imitation (even poorly executed) is the highest form of flattery,” spokesperson Tara Gallegos said in a statement, referring to the president calling for strategies already in use in California.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has also emphasized the importance of clean and orderly streets in banning homeless people from living in RVs and urging people to accept the city’s offers of shelter. In Silicon Valley, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan recently pushed a policy change that makes a person eligible for jail if they reject three offers of shelter.

Trump’s executive order tasks Attorney General Pam Bondi and the secretaries for health, housing and transportation to prioritize grants to states and local governments that enforce bans on open drug use and street camping.

Devon Kurtz, the public safety policy director at the Cicero Institute, a conservative policy group that has advocated for several of the provisions of the executive order, said the organization is “delighted” by the order.

He acknowledged that California has already been moving to ban encampments since the Supreme Court’s decision. But he said Trump’s order adds teeth to that shift, Kurtz said.

“It’s a clear message to these communities that were still sort of uncomfortable because it was such a big change in policy,” Kurtz said.

But Steve Berg, chief policy officer at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, called parts of the order vague. He said the U.S. abandoned forced institutionalization decades ago because it was too expensive and raised moral and legal concerns.

“What is problematic about this executive order is not so much that law enforcement is involved — it’s what it calls on law enforcement to do, which is to forcibly lock people up,” Berg said. “That’s not the right approach to dealing with homelessness.”

The mayor of California’s most populous city, Los Angeles, is at odds with the Newsom and Trump administrations on homelessness. Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, opposes punishing sweeps and says the city has reduced street homelessness by working with homeless people to get them into shelter or housing.

“Moving people from one street to the next or from the street to jail and back again will not solve this problem,” she said in a statement.

Kramon reported from Atlanta. She is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Monterey city manager announces retirement at end of year

MONTEREY – This year will be the end of an era for Monterey, as long-time City Manager Hans Uslar announced plans to retire in December after nearly three decades with the city.

In a press release Tuesday, the city announced Uslar would continue working through the end of the year, helping the city find a successor and trying to help with some final financial decisions before he leaves.

Uslar said he feels it’s time to relax more and enjoy time with his family and friends after serving the city for so many years.

“It’s the end of my active work life,” Uslar said. “I’ve had a great career in the city of Monterey, and I’ve worked all my life. Now I just want to take some time out and relax, enjoy the next phase of my life.”

Born and raised in Germany, Uslar made a bold leap in 1997 when he moved to America and started looking for work while learning English. He responded to a classified ad in the Monterey Herald, and was hired as a management analyst for the city. That job started a journey that would lead him through multiple leadership roles in public works and ultimately to his appointment as city manager in 2018.

“I am grateful I got this opportunity,” Uslar said. “I was lucky the public works director picked me at the time, and I was able to show off my skillset. Those first six months were quite an adventure, going through the process of recruitment, all in a strange language for me to speak.”

During his tenure, Uslar championed major initiatives such as the city’s Fiscal Health Response Plan, housing and rental assistance programs, the acquisition of the Old Capitol Site, and pandemic response efforts. Under his leadership, the city strengthened its financial reserves and sustained the Presidio of Monterey’s operations contract.

Internally, Uslar focused on staff morale and professional development.

“Our city employees represent the very best of public service,” Uslar said. “I have always been deeply honored to work alongside such an exceptional team.”

What he’ll miss most, he said, are the relationships.

“You see their (city employees) kids growing up. I just spoke today to an employee whose son is now getting a Ph.D. in molecular biology. I’ve known them since he was a child,” Uslar said. “I’ll miss being part of a big organization.”

He has received an outpouring of support through emails and on social media from people wishing him well and making kind comments.

Uslar says he intends to remain on the Monterey Peninsula after retirement.

He is focusing on tackling the city’s structural budget deficit before stepping down.

“Our team is working together to provide proposals to the city council, so by the time the new city manager comes in, a lot of those questions have been addressed,” Uslar said.

The Monterey City Council is expected to begin recruiting his successor in the coming weeks. Uslar said he looks forward to “a smooth and effective transition.”

House ethics panel tells Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to pay more for Met Gala attendance

By STEPHEN GROVES and LISA MASCARO

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee on Friday told Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to make additional payments for her attendance at the 2021 Met Fashion Gala, where she drew attention for wearing a dress adorned with the message “tax the rich.”

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The ethics panel, which found the New York Democrat had underpaid for some of the services and clothing for the event, also issued reports Friday on unrelated ethics allegations against Reps. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick or Florida and Henry Cuellar of Texas.

In a 31-page report on the allegations against Ocasio-Cortez, the Ethics Committee said she had tried to comply with House rules on accepting gifts but failed by “impermissibly accepting a gift of free admission to the 2021 Met Gala for her partner and by failing to pay full fair market value for some of the items worn to the event.”

As a guest of Vogue, Ocasio-Cortez and her partner received tickets to the gala valued at $35,000, as well as customized clothing, hair and makeup styling and a hotel room to prepare for the high-society event.

The congresswoman worked with an attorney to comply with House ethics rules and paid for most of the goods and services with personal funds, but the ethics panel found “the payments were significantly delayed and some payments fell short of fair market value.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Aurora James attend The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

In a statement, Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff, Mike Casca, said: “The Congresswoman appreciates the Committee finding that she made efforts to ensure her compliance with House Rules and sought to act consistently with her ethical requirements as a Member of the House. She accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts, as she’s done at each step in this process.”

Rep. Mike Kelly

The House Ethics Committee issued a formal reproval Friday of Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., following a yearslong investigation into an insider-trading allegation over his wife’s purchase of stock in a steel company in his Butler-area congressional district.

The panel also said Kelly and his wife, Victoria Kelly, should divest of any stock in the company, Cleveland-Cliffs, before the congressman takes any further official actions related to it.

FILE – Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., speaks during a hearing on the Secret Service’s security failures regarding the assassination attempts on President-elect Donald Trump, Dec. 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

While the committee said it “did not find evidence” that Kelly “knowingly or intentionally caused his spouse to trade based on insider information,” its report also said it “did not receive full cooperation from Mrs. Kelly and was therefore unable to determine whether her stock purchase was improper.”

However, the report said, “Representative Kelly’s failure to acknowledge the seriousness of the alleged misconduct” and of the investigation itself was a violation of the code of official conduct. The committee did “not find a clear violation” of conflict of interest.

The congressman said in a statement Friday, “My family and I look forward to putting this distraction behind us.”

Kelly noted the investigation has “unnecessarily” lasted for nearly five years, and in the time since the Cleveland Cliffs Butler Works plant faced an uncertain future.

“Throughout this process, I have fought for the 1,400 workers at the plant, I’ve spoken with these workers, and they appreciate the hard work we have done to fight for those jobs and for Butler,” Kelly said.

The investigation was launched after a July 2021 referral regarding allegations the congressman’s wife may have purchased stock based on confidential or nonpublic information he had learned during official duties.

The Ethics Committee staff reviewed more than 25,000 pages of documents, the report said, and interviewed people including the congressman. It found Kelly had advocated for so-called Section 232 tariffs for the product the plant produced even after Mrs. Kelly held stock in Cleveland-Cliffs.

“He took several actions to specifically benefit Cleveland-Cliffs during the time his wife had a direct financial interest in the company,” it said.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

The House Ethics Committee announced Friday it had unanimously voted to reauthorize an investigative subcommittee to examine allegations involving Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

In May, the Office of Congressional Ethics referred several allegations to the House Ethics committee, including claims Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat, accepted campaign contributions tied to official actions and requested community project funding for a for-profit entity.

FILE – Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., speaks at an event, July 7, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

The south Florida congresswoman has previously faced scrutiny over her campaign activities and the use of her congressional office. And earlier this year, a Florida state agency sued a company owned by her family, alleging it overcharged the state by nearly $5.8 million for pandemic-related work and has refused to return the funds.

In a statement, Cherfilus-McCormick underscored that the ethics panel had not reached any final decision and that the further review does not mean she made any violations.

“I fully respect the process and remain committed to cooperating with the Committee as it works to bring this inquiry to a close,” she said.

Rep. Henry Cuellar

The House Ethics Committee also reauthorized its investigation into Rep. Henry Cuellar over whether he engaged in multiple illegal abuses of his office. The committee launched its investigation into the Texas Democrat last year after the Justice Department indicted Cuellar on numerous federal charges, including bribery, conspiracy and money laundering.

FILE – U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, speaks during a campaign event, May 4, 2022, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

The committee said in its reauthorization that lawmakers are “aware of the risks associated with dual investigations” and cautioned that “the mere fact of an investigation into these allegations does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.”

Cuellar’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti and Matt Brown contributed.

Judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship restrictions in third ruling since high court decision

By MICHAEL CASEY

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from ending birthright citizenship for the children of parents who are in the U.S. illegally, issuing the third court ruling blocking the birthright order nationwide since a key Supreme Court decision in June.

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U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin, joining another district court as well as an appellate panel of judges, found that a nationwide injunction granted to more than a dozen states remains in force under an exception to the Supreme Court ruling. That decision restricted the power of lower-court judges to issue nationwide injunctions.

The states have argued Trump’s birthright citizenship order is blatantly unconstitutional and threatens millions of dollars for health insurance services that are contingent on citizenship status. The issue is expected to move quickly back to the nation’s highest court.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement the administration looked forward to “being vindicated on appeal.”

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who helped lead the lawsuit before Sorokin, said in a statement he was “thrilled the district court again barred President Trump’s flagrantly unconstitutional birthright citizenship order from taking effect anywhere.”

“American-born babies are American, just as they have been at every other time in our Nation’s history,” he added. “The President cannot change that legal rule with the stroke of a pen.”

Lawyers for the government had argued Sorokin should narrow the reach of his earlier ruling granting a preliminary injunction, saying it should be “tailored to the States’ purported financial injuries.”

Sorokin said a patchwork approach to the birthright order would not protect the states in part because a substantial number of people move between states. He also blasted the Trump administration, saying it had failed to explain how a narrower injunction would work.

“That is, they have never addressed what renders a proposal feasible or workable, how the defendant agencies might implement it without imposing material administrative or financial burdens on the plaintiffs, or how it squares with other relevant federal statutes,” the judge wrote. “In fact, they have characterized such questions as irrelevant to the task the Court is now undertaking. The defendants’ position in this regard defies both law and logic.”

Sorokin acknowledged his order would not be the last word on birthright citizenship. Trump and his administration “are entitled to pursue their interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, and no doubt the Supreme Court will ultimately settle the question,” Sorokin wrote. “But in the meantime, for purposes of this lawsuit at this juncture, the Executive Order is unconstitutional.”

The administration has not yet appealed any of the recent court rulings. Trump’s efforts to deny citizenship to children born to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily will remain blocked unless and until the Supreme Court says otherwise.

A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a ruling earlier this month prohibiting Trump’s executive order from taking effect nationwide in a new class-action lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Joseph LaPlante in New Hampshire had paused his own decision to allow for the Trump administration to appeal, but with no appeal filed, his order went into effect.

On Wednesday, a San Francisco-based appeals court found the president’s executive order unconstitutional and affirmed a lower court’s nationwide block.

A Maryland-based judge said last week that she would do the same if an appeals court signed off.

The justices ruled last month that lower courts generally can’t issue nationwide injunctions, but it didn’t rule out other court orders that could have nationwide effects, including in class-action lawsuits and those brought by states. The Supreme Court did not decide whether the underlying citizenship order is constitutional.

Plaintiffs in the Boston case earlier argued that the principle of birthright citizenship is “enshrined in the Constitution,” and that Trump does not have the authority to issue the order, which they called a “flagrantly unlawful attempt to strip hundreds of thousands of American-born children of their citizenship based on their parentage.”

They also argue that Trump’s order halting automatic citizenship for babies born to people in the U.S. illegally or temporarily would cost states funding they rely on to “provide essential services” — from foster care to health care for low-income children, to “early interventions for infants, toddlers, and students with disabilities.”

At the heart of the lawsuits is the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1868 after the Civil War and the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision. That decision found that Scott, an enslaved man, wasn’t a citizen despite having lived in a state where slavery was outlawed.

The Trump administration has asserted that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore not entitled to citizenship.

“These courts are misinterpreting the purpose and the text of the 14th Amendment,” Jackson, the White House spokeswoman, said in her statement.

Associated Press reporter Mark Sherman in Washington contributed.

Kaiser Permanente to stop gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19

Kaiser Permanente, the largest health care provider in California, will halt gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19 as of August 29.

Kaiser, which covers roughly one in four Californians — and 4.9 million throughout Southern California — follows Stanford Health and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) in pruning back previously available treatments or closing previously existing care programs outright.

California has protective laws around health care that extend to youth from other states seeking services in the “sanctuary” of the Golden State. Yet, the threat of federal funding cuts ingrained in an executive order by President Donald Trump to ban gender-affirming care for those under 19 nationwide have prompted some of the leading institutions in the nation that offer hormone treatments, surgery and mental health resources for young transgender people to stop some procedures.

A statement issued by Kaiser listed the pressures faced by hospitals providing care to transgender kids since January, when Trump took office. These include actions by federal agencies to restrict funding and curtail access to gender-affirming care, hospital inquiries by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service, regulatory changes to coverage and broader oversight by agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission. Most recently, the U.S. Department of Justice issued subpoenas to doctors and clinics providing gender-affirming care as part of its federal investigations.

“As the legal and regulatory environment for gender-affirming care continues to evolve, we must carefully consider the significant risks being created for health systems, clinicians, and patients under the age of 19 seeking this care,” wrote Kaiser, adding that the decision had been a difficult one, made “after significant deliberation and consultation” with internal and external experts as well as physicians in the network.

“We will remain a voice and advocate for safe, high-quality, and evidence-based care for transgender patients,” the statement concluded.

But the network declined to respond to this news organization’s questions about how much federal funding was on the line, how many surgical procedures it provided last year, how many patients will be affected by the decision and what will happen to anyone already in the middle of their physical transition.

Nurses represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), the country’s largest nursing union, criticized Kaiser’s decision.

“This is preemptively giving in to government overreach in health care,” said Lady Rainsard, a registered nurse in plastic surgery at Kaiser San Francisco. “Gender-affirming care is safe and effective. As nurses, we always follow the precautionary principle, and we always advocate for our patients.”

The union, representing 25,000 nurses in Kaiser’s system, believes that capitulating to what it views as government overreach is a greater risk to patients than continuing to provide gender-affirming health care, regardless of age.

The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for young people who identify as LGBTQ+, surveyed over 18,000 LGBTQ+ people aged 13-24 nationwide in 2024, including 1,801 respondents from California, 65% of whom identified as transgender, nonbinary or questioning; 39% of this population had seriously considered suicide and 14% of them had made an attempt.

Past research by Kaiser’s own research and evaluation department found transgender and gender-nonconforming kids aged 3-17 to be up to 13 times more likely to have mental health challenges than their counterparts, manifesting in attention deficit disorders in those under 10 and depression in those over 10.

However, some state legislatures, such as in North Dakota, have stated risks of social alienation and policy blocking access to care are a myth, though LGBTQ+ youth there reported similar negative experiences as Californians did to The Trevor Project. The state, as Tennessee recently was, is awaiting ruling on litigation filed by plaintiffs charging that restrictions to gender-affirming care violate the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing a constitutional right to equal protection under the law.

State-by-state rollbacks to transgender rights are becoming a trend in the wake of the executive order. And according to the Pew Research Center’s polling results in February, 56% of people across the country supported making gender-affirming care for minors illegal, while 53% opposed insurance coverage for gender transitions for people of any age.

The latest standards published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Care, Standards of Care no longer set forth a minimum age for the “constellation of procedures” that align a person’s physical features with their gender identity but offer complex guidelines for timing based on global clinical examples ranging between a minimum age of 16 through the mid-twenties.

Some Bay Area locales, such as the County of Santa Clara, have begun building alternate funding infrastructures that reduce dependency on the federal government’s support to self-enforce the provision of care held up by state law.

Kaiser said all other gender-affirming care treatment remains unaffected and that care teams are still meeting with regulators clinicians, patients, their families and the community to find a responsible way to move forward forward.

But Sydney Simpson, a registered nurse in interventional radiology at Kaiser San Francisco feels that this is not enough and that Kaiser should have held fast because of the deeper implications of caving in to Trump’s agenda.

“No one should have to fear coming to a hospital. But when corporations preemptively comply with these restrictions, they enable and empower political attacks on health care for vulnerable populations,” she said.

Horoscopes July 24, 2025: Elisabeth Moss, sign up for something you enjoy doing

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Elisabeth Moss, 43; Anna Paquin, 43; Jennifer Lopez, 56; Kristin Chenoweth, 57.

Happy Birthday: Sign up for something you enjoy doing. It’s time to engage in pastimes that connect you with people who share your interests. Positioning yourself for success will pay off and help you recognize your worth. A change, update or expansion to the skills you have and enjoy using will encourage opportunities that can help you fulfill your goals. Romance is in the stars. Your numbers are 4, 17, 22, 26, 31, 37, 46.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Target your market and attend events that offer the most value. Taking your ideas to the top or developing what you do best yourself will encourage financial gain and interesting proposals. Don’t expect everyone to be on your team. When someone opposes you, don’t get angry; up your game. Actions speak louder than words. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Preparation, organization and focus will help you overcome distractions. An energetic approach to managing your business will ensure you enjoy downtime with friends and family. It’s time to liberate yourself from people and pastimes that weigh you down instead of picking you up. Prioritize health, diet and saving money. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A positive attitude can change your life. Put a smile on your face. Offering help can lead to new friendships, opportunities and fresh beginnings. You’ll meet with opposition and negativity if you possess a disgruntled demeanor. It’s up to you to choose how you want things to unfold. Be nice and prosper. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You may need backup if you take on too much today. Rethink your schedule and how to achieve your goals more effectively. There isn’t much room for error. Timing and budget are crucial when trying to meet demands. Focus on the most straightforward way to get from start to finish. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): An open mind will lead to knowledge and new possibilities. Learn as much as you can and apply it uniquely throughout your day; something good will happen. Engage in talks that satisfy your personal and professional needs. Love is predominant, and acting on impulse will charm someone special. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take on a challenge, and do something to fix what concerns you. Actions speak louder than words; if you want others to listen, you must go beyond the call of duty. Be prepared to face opposition and organize a strong resistance to ensure you effectively convey your point and gain ground. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Make what you do count. Relying on bulldozing your way forward isn’t likely to work. Start by enlisting those who share your views and build a strong foundation to help carry your agenda forward. Intelligent maneuvers will far surpass the use of force. Lasting change begins with unity, discipline and ingenuity. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Review all your options before you proceed. Expect to encounter some tough candidates along the way who are spouting half-truths and making innuendos that can make or break your plans. Don’t be too accommodating or frivolous with your ideas if you want to come out on top. Clarity and backup plans are necessary. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A financial plan will ease your mind and help you save for something that will improve your life. Refuse to let anyone treat you poorly or use force to get you to do things their way. Separate from the crowd and do what’s best for you. Romance and personal gains are apparent. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A change of heart will heighten awareness regarding which path is best for you at this moment in time. Don’t spend too much time pondering what you can and cannot do. You must seize the moment and act positively to rectify anything that isn’t going your way. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sign up; it’s time to stop pontificating and start doing. What you embrace will feed your soul and offer a multitude of opportunities to connect with people you find uplifting and are fundamentally in sync with. Effective communication, physical gestures and self-presentation can help open doors that lead to positive lifestyle changes. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Save nothing for later. If you don’t take advantage of what comes your way, someone else will scoop it up. Distance yourself from unhealthy competition, and focus on your goals, what you can do and achieving inner peace. Review every angle and pursue what makes you feel alive and ready to conquer the world. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are playful, charming and innovative. You are organized and aggressive. 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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