Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 71
July 20, 2025
College women’s soccer: Hartnell’s Martinez lands at Oregon State
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Her confidence shaken from the sting of facing a barrage of shots on goal during her senior season in high school, thoughts of giving up soccer swirled through Samantha Martinez’s mind.
Never mind that the netminder saved 238 shots over 18 matches, or she was named the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Cypress Division Defensive Player of the Year on a winless team in 2023. Martinez was also working before school at 5 a.m. to help with finances.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue soccer,” the former Hartnell College goalie said. “I wasn’t confident in myself. I was so used to being scored upon in high school.”
Being convinced by former Hartnell women’s soccer coach and current athletic director Ivan Guerrero to not give up on herself was a career-changing decision.
At Hartnell, goalie Samantha Martinez regained her confidence and earned a scholarship to Oregon State. (Courtesy photo)Not only did one season at Hartnell restore her confidence in an All-America campaign, but it landed Martinez a scholarship to Oregon State.
The sophomore, who expected to be returning for her second season at Hartnell this fall, arrived in Corvallis this week to begin training.
“I didn’t see this coming,” said Martinez, who is one of four goalies on the Beavers’ roster. “This was so unexpected. I kind of had to make up my mind really fast.”
Martinez reshaped her career between the pipes last fall for Hartnell, allowing just two goals in 12 conference matches, posting 10 shutouts for the Coast Conference champions.
“I struggled my first few weeks at Hartnell to find that confidence,” Martinez said. “I had trauma from my senior year. My coaches were real supportive. I slowly started to regain my confidence.”
Over the course of 23 matches, including a pair of playoff games, the St. Francis of Watsonville graduate allowed an average of 0.6 goals on the season.
“I came here with the thought of playing two years,” Martinez said. “I loved my first season at Hartnell. This all happened so fast. I didn’t even have time to visit the campus.”
Instead, Martinez took a virtual tour online after talking to the coaches at Oregon State, who had contacted Guerrero about their interest in his goalie.
“To get recruited by a Power 4 Conference from a JC is so hard,” Guerrero said. “I knew she was a diamond in the rough. Part of my job is to create a platform for our athletes.”
Having never been to Oregon until the Fourth of July weekend, Martinez stayed open-minded about the opportunity in front of her, getting full support from her parents.
“When I first talked to my parents, they said you’ll love it there,” Martinez said. “They were sad when they dropped me off on Monday. But they left me in a good place.”
For someone who spent last season working a 5 a.m. job before coming to practices, the 18-year-old is not afraid of sacrifices, embracing the challenges that await.
Captain practices (no coaches) in July at Oregon State are divided into three sessions, with the first being a 6 a.m. workout that includes speed work and weight training.
“What the coaches told me was confirmed when I met the girls,” Martinez said. “I’m grateful for the support I’ve received.”
Martinez will start the year playing behind a senior goalie, with two others in competition for a role on the Beavers, who remain in the Pac 12.
“I just have to keep competing and working,” Martinez said. “It’s a big jump. I’m going to work my butt off and keep establishing myself and improving. I’m open-minded to learning. Right now I’m competing for a spot.”
In conversations with the coaching staff, Martinez got a good and honest vibe about what they liked about her and what they see in her going forward.
“Coach said most of my saves were secure,” Martinez said. “And footwork is really important to them. Coach liked how I was able to play with my backline.”
One of the things Guerrero conveyed to Martinez on her arrival to Hartnell last fall was to enjoy the competitive nature of the sport and relish the moment of getting to still play a game.
“Soccer is a child’s game,” Guerrero said. “A goalkeeper’s mistake gets magnified 100 times more on the field. At the end of the day, remember how hard you work. We do this because we like to compete.”
The 5-foot-7 Martinez was a highlight reel when called upon last season for the Panthers, who at one point were ranked No. 10 in the nation.
“They expect her to make an immediate impact and compete for a job,” Guerrero said. “Sammy is very technical. She’s not just a goalie. She’s a soccer player. Don’t be surprised if she gets on the field this year.”
As the season progressed, Martinez delivered game-changing saves, including a pair in overtime in a win over Consumes River in the playoffs.
“I made back-to-back saves in the first overtime,” said Martinez, who collected five straight shutouts at one point, finishing with 15 on the season. “At that point, I said I know what I’m doing.”
SF Giants climb back into series finale, but are swept away in Toronto
Too little, too late.
That’s how it went for the Giants Sunday in absorbing a three-game sweep at the hands of the A.L. East-leading Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center.
Trailing 7-2, the Giants (52-48) climbed within a run with a four-run sixth inning but ultimately fell 8-6 in losing their fifth straight game, including two losses to the Dodgers heading into the All-Star break.
“We finally swung the bats better, gave ourselves a chance at the end but gave up too many runs in the middle,” Giants manager Bob Melvin told reporters. “I don’t think there’s any silver lining in this one. We got swept in a series to start the second half and it’s not what we were looking for.”
The last two wins for the Blue Jays came against Giants’ All-Star starting pitchers, Robbie Ray and Logan Webb. Toronto, in command in their division at 58-41, tied a franchise record with 10 straight wins at home.
Ray fought with his command and didn’t get out of the fifth inning, falling to 9-4. Jose Berrios (6-4) was the winning pitcher, getting help from four relievers. Yariel Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his second save.
Toronto got home runs from Vladimir Guerrero (No. 13), George Springer (No. 17) and Addison Barger (No. 14). Matt Chapman homered for the Giants in the sixth, his 13th of the season.
Chapman knocked out Berrios in the sixth with an opposite-field two-run home run to right to bring the Giants within 7-4. Chapman’s blow drove in Rafael Devers, who hit a single off the fence in right at 106 mph.
Getty ImagesMatt Chapman (26) is greeted by third base coach Matt Williams after hitting a two-run home run for the Giants in the sixth inning at Rogers Centre.Brett Wisely hit a run-scoring single against Braydon Fisher to get the Giants within 7-5. Fisher was removed in favor of Justin Bruihl, with Jung Hoo Lee hitting a single to center to bring home Wisely to make it 7-6. Lee, attempting to take second on a throw to the plate, was called out on appeal at second base after over-sliding the bag.
“It’s the right play and he’s safe if he doesn’t slightly come off the bag,” Melvin said.
A two-out rally by Toronto in the sixth resulted in an RBI single by Guerrero against Tyler Rogers to put the Blue Jays up 8-6.
The Giants scratched out a run against Berrios in the fifth inning on Andrew Knizner’s run-scoring single to get within 3-2, an inning in which there was a chance for more.
Chapman singled to deep short to open the inning, and Dominic Smith walked — the first walk drawn by the Giants 22 innings into the series. Wisely was ruled out in a nine-pitch at-bat that resulted in an infield fly for an automatic out on a play in which second baseman Leo Jimenez lost in the sun.
Knizner singled in a run, but Berrios finished a 29-pitch inning without giving up another run, getting Lee to hit into a force play and striking out Heliot Ramos.
Toronto wasted no time in getting that run back and then some, with Springer unloading a home run to left field off Ray. Two batters later, after a double by Bo Bichette, Ray was done after 4 1/3 innings in favor of Spencer Bivens. Ray gave up five hits, five earned runs and walked five with three strikeouts. He threw 95 pitches, 51 of them strikes.
It was Ray’s first game in Toronto since winning the Cy Young Award in 2021 with the Blue Jays.
“We know Robbie pretty well,” Toronto manager John Schneider told reporters. “He threw a lot more off-speed than we were accustomed to seeing with the change-up and curve ball and he’s still a really good pitcher. We were just kind of hunting in the middle and trying to hit some mistakes.”
Alejandro Kirk reached Bivens for a single on a pitch outside the strike that drove home Bichette, with Barger breaking it open with a two-run home run into the second deck in right field for a 7-2 lead.
With Ray struggling to find the strike zone early and his pitch count climbing, Toronto scored two runs in the third inning on a line-drive double to left with two out by Bichette.
Ernie Clement was aboard with a one-out hustle double to left, with Guerrero joining him on the bases after drawing a walk with two outs. Bichette then hit a 98 mph line drive that temporarily froze Ramos. Ramos then took a step in before the ball sailed over his head, with Clement and Guerrero both scoring.
“It’s a hard hit ball right at him, a ballpark maybe you’re not used to,” Melvin said. “Sometimes you can lose it. I think he just misread it.”
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That snapped an 0-for-10 streak by the Giants in the series with runners on base. Devers was next, and he smoked a Berrios pitch at 106.5 mph directly at shortstop Bichette, with Ramos making it back to first. Willy Adames followed by grounding into a double play.
The Blue Jays evened things up with one out in the first when Guerrero hit a 420-foot blast to center field at 105.4 mph. It came on an outside curve that Ray elevated and put in harm’s way.
BRAVES UP NEXT
Hayden Birdsong, who was skipped over for his last start before the All-Star Game to squeeze in another for Ray against the Dodgers, starts against Atlanta on Monday in his first outing since July 6. Birdsong is 4-3 with a 4.11 ERA and went five innings in a win over the A’s two weeks ago, so he’s had plenty of rest. He’ll be opposed by Bryce Elder (3-6, 5.65) at 4:15 p.m. (PDT).
Landon Roupp (6-6, 3.27) opposes Davis Daniel (0-0, 1.80) on Tuesday at 4:15 p.m. with Justin Verlander (0-8, 4.99) taking another run at his first win as a Giant in a Wednesday matinee (9:15 a.m.) against Spencer Strider (4-7, 3.59).
The Giants return home on Friday for three games against the Mets and three against the Pirates.
California has sued this Trump administration way more than the last one. Here’s where cases stand
Six months after President Donald Trump took the oath of office, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has unleashed a torrent of litigation against his administration.
Bonta, the Democrat who leads the state Department of Justice, has filed or joined a whopping 34 lawsuits against the Republican administration on behalf of California. That’s four times as many such lawsuits as those by Bonta’s predecessor and fellow Democrat, Xavier Becerra, at this point in Trump’s first term.
As Gov. Gavin Newsom positions himself as leader of the Democratic resistance to Trump, and hints that he’ll run for president in 2028, Bonta’s lawsuits are the tip of the spear in California’s battles with the Republican administration. In courts, the state has sparred relentlessly with the feds over everything from climate action and funding for schools to birthright citizenship and its “sanctuary” policy for immigrants without legal status.
“Our position is, we will sue the Trump administration any time he breaks the law, violates the Constitution and hurts the people of California,” Bonta said in an interview with Bay Area News Group. “If he stops breaking the law, we stop suing.”
This winter, California lawmakers seeded Bonta’s department with $5 million specifically to pursue lawsuits against the Trump administration and then doled out another $14 million in the current budget that’s largely expected to carry the crusade through June 2026. With the money, the Department of Justice expanded its legal team, adding 20 more attorneys to work on these cases, a spokesperson said.
The vast majority of these cases are unresolved. But in one early success with a potentially massive windfall, litigation filed by New York, California and other Democratic states led a judge to block the federal government from freezing all federal grants, $168 billion of which was due to California. In another case, a judge blocked the Trump administration from withholding $300 million for electric vehicle chargers in California — money that Congress had already approved.
Elsewhere, Bonta sued unsuccessfully to block Trump’s tariffs, which were expected to hammer California’s economy. The attorney general also attempted to halt the deployment of U.S. Marines to Los Angeles and argued that Trump’s federalization of the California National Guard last month was illegal. Those cases are ongoing but didn’t stop Trump’s moves to quash unrest.
This week alone, Bonta filed three more lawsuits challenging federal funding freezes and new rules that are expected to drive declines in health care coverage.
Bonta is on track to quickly outpace the 122 lawsuits Becerra filed against Trump during his first term, which began in 2017. Asked how those ended, a department spokesperson, Nina Sheridan, referred to a CalMatters analysis that found California won 23 of those cases and lost four. The vast majority were still tied up in the courts at the end of the administration.
Democrats praise Bonta’s campaign in the courts, including U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat representing San Jose who chairs California’s congressional delegation. She condemned Trump for “unconstitutional and outrageous” attempts to cut or condition federal funding and said Democrats in Congress have filed briefs in support of court challenges.
Even a top critic of California Democrats, Republican Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher, sees some value in Bonta’s crusade.
“Should we fight for our fair share of funding? Of course,” he said.
But Gallagher is no fan of Bonta, and he said there’s another dimension to the attorney general’s litigation machine.
“I think his primary motivation is political, to be seen as a fighter against Trump,” Gallagher said.
If Bonta seeks to advance his political career, his path to higher office is unclear. He was expected to run for governor in 2026 but announced last winter that he wouldn’t. The elephant in the room: former Vice President Kamala Harris has said she’ll decide whether to run for governor by the end of the summer, and her entrance would reshape the race.
On litigation, Bonta’s office is working closely with other Democratic attorneys general, including Letitia James of New York, who have taken turns in leading roles. Republicans so far have stayed on the sidelines of the legal battles, which initially played out in blue-state district courts in California, New York and elsewhere. Of the 34 lawsuits against Trump in which California is involved, Bonta’s office is leading about one-third.
The fast pace, Bonta said, is a response to the federal administration’s “flood the zone” tactics. Trump officials have attempted to reshape vast sectors of American policy and governance at a breakneck speed.
“It has been a much more energetic presidency than his first term,” said Thad Kousser, a political science professor at UC San Diego. “Much of that energy has gone toward taking actions that, at least under current judicial precedent, might seem unconstitutional.”
Bonta started California’s volley of litigation quickly after Trump was sworn in on Jan. 20 and signed more than 25 executive orders in a Washington, D.C., stadium filled with cheering supporters.
Among the orders was Trump’s unprecedented effort to curb birthright citizenship. The next day, California joined a federal lawsuit with New York, San Francisco and a slew of Democratic states to block it from going into effect, arguing that it violated the Fourteenth Amendment.
Since that first lawsuit, Bonta has announced an average of more than one lawsuit a week.
“We’ve been busy,” he said.
Trump’s birthright citizenship order — which would fundamentally remake the notion of citizenship in the U.S. — had not yet gone into effect. Initially, three federal judges temporarily blocked Trump’s order.
Then, in June, the Supreme Court decided that lower judges generally can’t issue injunctions that apply nationwide. That means Bonta’s office will have to participate in other states’ lawsuits if California is to benefit from judicial orders secured by other attorneys general. The decision isn’t expected to drive a major change in strategy for Bonta, who has quickly signaled that he is willing and able to take the Trump administration to court time and time again.
210 fall athletes to watch over 70 days
Alan Mejia, Alvarez football: Evolving into an impact player last season for the Eagles, the 6-foot-3, 238-pound Mejia collected a team high 111 tackles.
An edge rusher, Mejia had seven sacks for Alvarez, while recovering two fumbles. The senior also blocked a punt, returning it for a touchdown.
Drew Molinari, MPC football: Starting all 11 games last year for the conference champions, the Palma graduate recorded 26 tackles from his safety position for the Lobos.
Molinari, who won a state title with Palma in 2023 and a State American Division title last fall with MPC, also intercepted two passes, returning one 82 yards.
Nicholas Fisher, Monterey field hockey: In just eight games, Fisher collected 10 goals and two assists, finishing second on the team in points.
The incoming senior is expected to be the focal point of the offense for the Toreadores. Blessed with a hard slap shot, Thompson’s dribbling skills enable her to create her own shots on goal.
Jamaree Bouyea Basketball Camp
Seaside’s Finest will host the second annual Jamaree Bouyea Elite Skills Basketball Camp on July 26 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at MPC. Fee is $100 a player. Camp is limited to 75 spots. Go to luvonefourndation@gmail.com.
Bouyea, who led Palma to a spot in the state title game in 2016 and spent last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, will focus on skills and fundamentals in the day-long camp. A tee-shirt and lunch will be provided.
Bouyea, who played at the University of San Francisco, has had stints in the NBA with the Miami Heat, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs.
How to stream SF Giants’ series finale against Blue Jays
The Giants’ series finale against the Blue Jays won’t be available on Bay Area television, so fans can only stream the action online.
Sunday’s interleague matchup in Toronto is this week’s Roku MLB Sunday Leadoff game, just like the Giants’ loss last week to the Dodgers before the All-Star break.
Those who have Roku devices can watch the game by navigating to the Sports section from their home screen menu or putting “MLB Leadoff” into the search bar.
The game is still viewable if you don’t have a Roku device, though. The Roku Channel is available on Amazon Fire Stick and some smart TVs, as well as smartphones. Anyone using a regular browser can watch on TheRokuChannel.com. No login is required to watch the game.
Those with an MLB.TV or MLB Extra Inning subscription should also be able to see the game on those platforms.
Related Articles SF Giants climb back into series finale, but are swept away in Toronto SF Giants lose second straight game in Toronto, this time with Logan Webb on mound SF Giants’ top prospect Eldridge returns to Sacramento’s lineup from hamstring injury Verlander roughed up, offense shut out as SF Giants open second half with loss SF Giants call up left-hander Matt Gage ahead of first game of second halfAccording to MLB, the full game will be available via replay on The Roku Channel and on Roku devices six hours after final pitch.
The Giants have lost their first two games out of the break. The Blue Jays jumped on Justin Verlander early Friday night while San Francisco was shut out, then ace Logan Webb broke down in the sixth inning on Saturday.
All-Star Robbie Ray will take the mound for the Giants, who have lost four in a row. Jose Berrios will start for the Blue Jays. Entering Sunday, the Giants are 1.5 games behind the Padres for the National League’s final wild-card spot and six games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.
33 summer book recommendations featuring some of 2025’s best novels and more
Summertime means vacations — and vacations mean books. (And sunscreen and cold drinks. But mostly books.)
The season is traditionally a busy one for publishers, who often release some of their most exciting titles over the next few months. This summer is no exception: July, August, and September will see the publication of page-turning fiction and fascinating nonfiction.
Whatever your tastes, you’re bound to find something in these 33 books worth buying from your favorite local store and taking to the beach (or just your backyard) with an iced beverage in hand.
“I Want to Burn This Place Down”
Author: Maris Kreizman
What It’s About: The debut book from culture blog pioneer and Literary Hub columnist Kreizman is the funny and angry account of her disillusionment with the Democratic Party (among other U.S. institutions) and her move further to the left over the past several years.
Publication Date: Out now
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“Cry for Me, Argentina: My Life As a Failed Child Star”
Author: Tamara Yajia
What It’s About: Los Angeles-based comedian Yajia grew up in both Argentina and the U.S., and she worked as a child actress before reaching her teen years. Her book chronicles not only the misadventures of growing up in an oddball family, but also creative endeavors that include joining a band and putting on her own one-woman show.
Publication Date: Out now
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“Archive of Unknown Universes”
Author: Ruben Reyes Jr.
What It’s About: Southern California native Reyes had a very good 2024. His debut book, the short story collection “There Is a Rio Grande in Heaven,” was published to glowing reviews and was a finalist for the California Book Award and the Story Prize. His first novel follows two young people who use a device that can look into alternate versions of lives to discover the truth about their Salvadoran families.
Publication Date: Out now
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“Wanting”
Author: Claire Jia
What It’s About: The debut novel from Los Angeles author Jia, who also writes for television and video games, follows Lian, a woman in Beijing whose life is changed when her longtime friend, Wenyu, comes back to China after spending a decade in California. Wenyu lets Lian in on a long-kept secret that throws Lian’s life into disarray.
Publication Date: Out now
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“Sunburn”
Author: Chloe Michelle Howarth
What It’s About: Irish author Howarth’s novel, set in a small town in the early 1990s, tells the story of Lucy, a young woman who chafes against the expectation that she’ll marry a man and have kids. She develops romantic feelings for her best friend, Susannah, who doesn’t want to keep their relationship a secret.
Publication Date: Out now
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“Make Your Way Home”
Author: Carrie R. Moore
What It’s About: Moore, the inaugural writer-in-residence at the Steinbeck Writers’ Retreat, makes her book debut with this short story collection that tells the story of Black men and women searching for home in various locations across the American South.
Publication Date: Out now
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“The Payback”
Author: Kashana Cauley
What It’s About: Television writer Cauley’s first novel, “The Survivalists,” was a hit with critics. She brings the same insight and dark humor to her new one. Partially set in the Glendale Galleria, the novel follows Jada, a recently unemployed woman on the run from the “Debt Police” who teams up with two friends in an attempt to take down her student loan company.
Publication Date: Out now
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“No Body No Crime”
Author: Tess Sharpe
What It’s About: The latest novel from California-raised author Sharpe (“The Girl in Question”) tells the story of Mel Tillman, a rural private investigator who goes searching for her long-lost friend Chloe — a woman who she fell in love with as a teenager, and with whom she killed a boy who had been terrorizing them. She does find Chloe, but that leads to a whole new mess of trouble, and the two are forced to go on the run.
Publication Date: Out now
ALSO SEE: 17 must-read summer romance novels
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“The Dance and the Fire”
Author Daniel Saldaña París, translated by Christina MacSweeney
What It’s About: Saldaña París, who writes fiction, poetry, and essays, is one of Mexico’s most exciting and acclaimed writers. His latest novel follows three high school friends — once members of a love triangle — who reunite in Cuernavaca as wildfires threaten the city.
Publication Date: July 29
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“Black Genius: Essays on an American Legacy”
Author: Tre Johnson
What It’s About: Journalist and educator Johnson’s book is a reflection on the innovations of brilliant Black creators, artists, and everyday people. He tackles subjects including fashion inspired by 1990s street art, and the comedy of pioneering performer and author Dick Gregory.
Publication Date: July 29
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“Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of ‘Born to Run’”
Author: Peter Ames Carlin
What It’s About: Journalist Carlin told the story of alternative-rock legends R.E.M. in his last book. In his newest one, he returns to a favorite subject: Bruce Springsteen, about whom he wrote a book, “Bruce,” in 2012. The new one tells the story behind the recording of the Boss’s classic 1975 album. (Fans who prefer the stark, acoustic Bruce might also want to read Warren Zanes’ book about the making of “Nebraska,” and see the movie based on it, which opens in October.)
Publication Date: Aug. 5
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“Moderation”
Author: Elaine Castillo
What It’s About: Bay Area native Castillo made literary waves with her debut novel, “America Is Not the Heart,” in 2018. Her new novel introduces readers to Girlie Delmundo, a virtual reality moderator whose life becomes complicated when she falls for her company’s co-founder.
Publication Date: Aug. 5
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“We Should All Be Birds”
Author: Brian Buckbee with Carol Ann Fitzgerald
What It’s About: Montana author Buckbee was reeling from the loss of a loved one and from a mysterious illness that left him unable to read or write because of agonizing headaches. His life is changed when he encounters an injured baby pigeon and nurses it back to health. Buckbee wrote the memoir with help from his fellow author Fitzgerald.
Publication Date: Aug. 5
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“Blessings and Disasters: A Story of Alabama”
Author: Alexis Okeowo
What It’s About: New Yorker staff writer Okeowo, who won the 2018 PEN Open Book Award for “A Moonless, Starless Sky: Ordinary Women and Men Fighting Extremism in Africa,” returns with a book about her family and her home state — it’s an innovative mix of memoir and journalism.
Publication Date: Aug. 5
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“Songs for Other People’s Weddings”
Author: David Levithan with songs by Jens Lekman
What It’s About: The new novel from Levithan (“Boy Meets Boy”) follows a wedding singer whose girlfriend has gone to New York to work, leaving him unhappy and confused. The book contains original songs by Swedish indie-pop singer Lekman.
Publication Date: Aug. 5
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“Putting Myself Together: Writing 1974 –”
Author: Jamaica Kincaid
What It’s About: The latest offering from Antiguan American author Kincaid (“The Autobiography of My Mother”) collects her nonfiction writing over the past 50 years, including pieces about her move to New York at the age of 16 and her interest in gardening.
Publication Date: Aug. 5
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“Open Wide”
Author: Jessica Gross
What It’s About: “Hysteria” author Gross’s latest is a surreal, darkly comic novel about an awkward radio host who becomes obsessed with a surgeon and former soccer player she meets at a party, and is determined to do whatever it takes to get close to him.
Publication Date: Aug. 5
ALSO SEE: 12 new books to send restless readers on a summer road trip
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“Hotshot: A Life on Fire”
Author: River Selby
What It’s About: Selby, who has written essays on fire preparation for this newspaper, had a challenging early life, surviving homelessness, drug abuse and sexual assault. Their life changed when they were hired as a “hotshot” wildland firefighter; this memoir tells the story of life on the job and examines how climate change and colonization have forced the world to enter a new, terrifying era.
Publication Date: Aug. 12
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“Seduction Theory”
Author: Emily Adrian
What It’s About: “Everything Here Is Under Control” author Adrian returns with a novel about two married creative writing professors whose marriage is rocked by infidelity. It’s one of the summer’s most anticipated novels.
Publication Date: Aug. 12
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“If You Don’t Like This, I Will Die: An Influencer Memoir”
Author: Lee Tilghman
What It’s About: Better known as “Lee From America,” Tilghman was a wellness influencer with a large following and a steady income. But she was hiding something: Her constant need for attention and likes was hurting her to the point that she entered a mental health facility. This book tells the story of her decision to give up her carefully curated online life.
Publication Date: Aug. 12
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“Rehab: An American Scandal”
Author: Shoshana Walter
What It’s About: Pulitzer Prize finalist Walter’s new book is an exposé of how the U.S. fumbled its response to the opioid crisis by focusing on punishment over rehabilitation. She tells the story of four real people in the book, including a woman in a Los Angeles suburb who started investigating for-profit rehab programs after her son died in a sober living home.
Publication Date: Aug. 12
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“To Lose a War: The Fall and Rise of the Taliban”
Author: Jon Lee Anderson
What It’s About: New Yorker staff writer Anderson is a veteran of war-zone reporting. His latest book collects his pieces about Afghanistan, covering the period before the September 11, 2001, terror attacks to the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Publication Date: Aug. 12
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“What We Left Unsaid”
Author: Winnie M. Li
What It’s About: The third novel from Li, following the well-received “Dark Chapter” and “Complicit,” follows the three estranged Chu siblings on a road trip to visit their ailing mother; their voyage takes them on Route 66 and to the Grand Canyon.
Publication Date: Aug. 19
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“Where Are You Really From”
Author: Elaine Hsieh Chou
What It’s About: California author Chou delighted readers with her 2022 debut, the funny and sweet novel “Disorientation.” She’s following that up with this short story collection that spans genres, including one about a mail-order bride from Taiwan who is shipped to California in a cardboard box.
Publication Date: Aug. 19
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“The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything: How Carbon Dioxide Made Our World”
Author: Peter Brannen
What It’s About: Brannen, the science journalist and “The Ends of the World” author, explains how carbon dioxide is more important than most of us realize. While it’s true that the chemical compound is contributing to climate change, it also has made the world a livable place for billions of years.
Publication Date: Aug. 26
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“Mercy”
Author: Joan Silber
What It’s About: Silber is one of America’s most underappreciated fiction authors. In her new novel, her first since “Secrets of Happiness” in 2021, she tells the story of Ivan, a man living in 1970s New York who is haunted by his decision to leave his best friend in a hospital emergency room after the two experiment with heroin.
Publication Date: Sept. 2
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“Wrecking Ball: Race, Friendship, God, and Football”
Author: Rick Bass
What It’s About: Bass is a double threat, known for his beautiful fiction and incisive nonfiction about the natural world. His latest is a departure: a chronicle of his unlikely stint playing semi-pro football in Brenham, Texas, in his sixties.
Publication Date: Sept. 2
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“Mother Mary Comes to Me”
Author: Arundhati Roy
What It’s About: Roy’s debut novel, “The God of Small Things,” was a literary sensation when it was published in 1997. Her latest book — its title inspired by the Beatles’ “Let It Be” — is a memoir about her relationship with her mother, Mary Roy, the Indian women’s rights activist who died in 2022.
Publication Date: Sept. 2
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“The Shadow of the Mammoth”
Author: Fabio Morábito, translated by Curtis Bauer
What It’s About: The latest book from Mexican poet Morábito to be translated into English is a short story collection that touches on themes such as loneliness, imagination, and deception. Morábito’s first story collection, “Mothers and Dogs,” also translated by Bauer, is also worth seeking out.
Publication Date: Sept. 2
ALSO SEE: 33 new books you’ll want to read this summer from independent publishers
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“The Belles”
Author: Lacey N. Dunham
What It’s About: The debut novel from Dunham is a perfect fit for readers into the dark academia genre. The book tells the story of Deena Williams, who attends a private college in 1951 and joins an alliance with five other students. Deena has a secret past, though, that she fears might be revealed.
Publication Date: Sept. 9
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“Kaplan’s Plot”
Author: Jason Diamond
What It’s About: Diamond is the author of the critically acclaimed nonfiction books “Searching for John Hughes” and “The Sprawl”; his debut novel follows Elijah Mendes, who moves back to Chicago to care for his ailing mother. He discovers that his family owns a Jewish cemetery, which leads him to explore their secret history, bringing him closer to his mother.
Publication Date: Sept. 16
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“The Wilderness”
Author: Angela Flournoy
What It’s About: Flournoy’s majestic debut, “The Turner House,” was a finalist for the National Book Award. Her new novel, 10 years in the making, follows five Black women navigating their sometimes messy lives over the course of 20 years.
Publication Date: Sept. 16
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“Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice”
Author: Rachel Kolb
What It’s About: Stanford-educated Kolb made history as the first signing deaf Rhodes scholar at Oxford University. In her memoir, she writes about learning American Sign Language and spoken language, and how people express themselves and communicate with one another.
Publication Date: Sept. 16
Related Articles Ivy Pochoda finds ‘Ecstasy’ in the horror of a bloody Greek classic Book Review: ‘Algospeak’ shows just how much social media is changing us Fans say new romance bookstores and online groups are giving the genre some overdue respect Column: Of fighting and surviving, ‘Baddest Man’ is a soaring biography of Mike Tyson Column: Where are the shows about regular people fighting back?Doulas, once a luxury, are increasingly covered by Medicaid — even in GOP states
By Lauren Sausser, Katheryn Houghton, KFF Health News
As a postpartum doula, Dawn Oliver does her best work in the middle of the night.
During a typical shift, she shows up at her clients’ home at 10 p.m. She answers questions they may have about basic infant care and keeps an eye out for signs of postpartum depression.
After bedtime, she may feed the baby a bottle or wake the mother to breastfeed. She soothes the infant back to sleep. Sometimes, she prepares meals for the family in a Crock-Pot or empties the dishwasher.
She leaves the following morning and returns, often nightly, for two or three weeks in a row.
“I’m certified to do all of it,” said Oliver, of Hardeeville, South Carolina, who runs Compassionate Care Doula Services. It takes a village to raise a child, as the adage goes, but “the village is not what it used to be,” Oliver said.
Doulas are trained to offer critical support for families — before delivery, during childbirth and in those daunting early days when parents are desperate for sleep and infants still wake up around the clock. While doulas typically don’t hold a medical or nursing degree, research shows they can improve health outcomes and reduce racial health disparities.
Yet their services remain out of reach for many families. Oliver charges $45 an hour overnight, and health insurance plans often don’t cover her fees. That’s partly why business “ebbs and flows,” Oliver said. Sometimes, she’s fully booked for months. Other times, she goes several weeks without a client.
That may soon change.
(Dreamstime/TNS) (Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS)Two bipartisan bills, introduced in separate chambers of the South Carolina General Assembly, would require both Medicaid, which pays for more than half of all births in the state, and private insurers to cover the cost of doula services for patients who choose to use one.
South Carolina isn’t an outlier. Even as states brace for significant reductions in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade, legislatures across the country continue to pass laws that grant doula access to Medicaid beneficiaries. Some state laws already require private health insurers to do the same. Since the start of 2025, Vermont lawmakers, alongside Republican-controlled legislatures in Arkansas, Utah, Louisiana and Montana, have passed laws to facilitate Medicaid coverage of doula services.
All told, more than 30 states are reimbursing doulas through Medicaid or are implementing laws to do so.
Notably, these coverage requirements align with one of the goals of Project 2025, whose “Mandate for Leadership” report, published in 2023 by the conservative Heritage Foundation, offered a blueprint for President Donald Trump’s second term. The document calls for increasing access to doulas “for all women whether they are giving birth in a traditional hospital, through midwifery, or at home,” citing concerns about maternal mortality and postpartum depression, which may be “worsened by poor birth experiences.” The report also recommends that federal money not be used to train doctors, nurses, or doulas to perform abortions.
The Heritage Foundation did not respond to an interview request.
Meanwhile, the idea that doulas can benefit babies, parents, and state Medicaid budgets by reducing costly cesarean sections and preterm birth complications is supported by a growing body of research and is gaining traction among conservatives.
A study published last year in the American Journal of Public Health found that women enrolled in Medicaid who used a doula faced a 47% lower risk of delivering by C-section and a 29% lower risk of preterm birth. They were also 46% more likely to attend a postpartum checkup.
“Why wouldn’t you want somebody to avail themselves of that type of care?” said Republican state Rep. Tommy Pope, who co-sponsored the doula reimbursement bill in the South Carolina House of Representatives. “I don’t see any reason we shouldn’t be doing that.”
Pope said his daughter-in-law gave birth with the assistance of a doula. “It opened my eyes to the positive aspects,” he said.
Amy Chen, a senior attorney with the National Health Law Program, which tracks doula reimbursement legislation around the country as part of its Doula Medicaid Project, said lawmakers tend to support these efforts when they have a personal connection to the issue.
“It’s something that a lot of people resonate with,” Chen said, “even if they, themselves, have never been pregnant.”
Conservative lawmakers who endorse state-level abortion bans, she said, often vote in favor of measures that support pregnancy, motherhood, and infant health, all of which these doula reimbursement bills are intended to do.
Some Republicans feel as if “they have to come out in favor of that,” Chen said.
Health care research also suggests that Black patients, who suffer significantly higher maternal and infant mortality rates than white patients, may particularly benefit from doula care. In 2022, Black infants in South Carolina were more than twice as likely to die from all causes before their 1st birthday as white infants.
That holds true for women in rural parts of the country where labor and delivery services have either closed or never existed.
That’s why Montana lawmakers passed a doula reimbursement bill this year — to narrow health care gaps for rural and Indigenous communities. To that end, in 2023, the state enacted a bill that requires Medicaid to reimburse midwives for home births.
Montana state Sen. Mike Yakawich, a Republican who backed the Democratic-sponsored doula reimbursement bill, said pregnant women should have someone to call outside of a hospital, where health care services can be costly and intimidating.
“What help can we provide for moms who are expecting? My feeling is, it’s never enough,” Yakawich said.
Related Articles Keeping animals of all sizes, from cats to horses, cool during record heat Vested interests. Influence muscle. At RFK Jr.’s HHS, it’s not pharma. It’s wellness A million veterans gave DNA to aid health research. Scientists worry the data will be wasted Research finding opens the door to a viral link to Parkinson’s disease New study could help doctors address diabetes, prediabetesBritney WolfVoice lives on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana, about two hours from the closest birthing hospital. In early July, she was seven months pregnant with her fourth child, a son, and said she planned to have a doula by her side for the second time in the delivery room. During WolfVoice’s previous pregnancy, an Indigenous doula named Misty Pipe brought cedar oil and spray into the delivery room, rubbed WolfVoice’s back through contractions, and helped ensure WolfVoice’s husband was the first person their daughter saw.
“Being in a hospital, I felt heard for the very first time,” WolfVoice said. “I just can’t explain it any better than I felt at home. She was my safe place.”
Pipe said hospitals are still associated with the government forcibly removing children from Native American homes as a consequence of colonization. Her goal is to help give people a voice during their pregnancy and delivery.
Most of her clients can’t afford to pay for doula services out-of-pocket, Pipe said, so she doesn’t charge anything for her birth services, balancing her role as a doula with her day job at a post office.
“If a mom is vulnerable, she could miss a prenatal appointment or go alone, or I can take time off of work and take her myself,” Pipe said. “No mom should have to birth in fear.”
The new state law will allow her to get paid for her work as a doula for the first time.
In some states that have enacted such laws, initial participation by doulas was low because Medicaid reimbursement rates weren’t high enough. Nationally, doula reimbursement rates are improving, Chen said.
For example, in Minnesota, where in 2013 lawmakers passed one of the first doula reimbursement bills, Medicaid initially paid only $411 per client for their services. Ten years later, the state had raised the reimbursement rate to a maximum of $3,200 a client.
But Chen said it is unclear how federal Medicaid cuts might affect the fate of these state laws.
Some states that haven’t passed doula reimbursement bills, including South Carolina, might be hesitant to do so in this environment, she said. “It’s just a really uncertain time.”
©2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Horoscopes July 20, 2025: Carlos Santana, progress comes with change
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Julianne Hough, 37; Judy Greer, 50; Josh Holloway, 56; Carlos Santana, 78.
Happy Birthday: A change will motivate you to shift your energy in a way that brings the highest return. Don’t ignore the fundamentals necessary to incorporate what matters to you most into your everyday routine. Feeding yourself experiences that positively impact how you live and spend your time will become the building blocks for a healthy lifestyle. Progress comes with change and new beginnings. Your numbers are 9, 17, 22, 24, 36, 38, 44.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Articulate, pontificate and make yourself heard. Taking a proactive stance will help you deal with situations more effectively. Don’t hesitate to take an opportunity to speak your mind at a public forum. It’s in your best interest to do your part. It’s best to distance yourself from domestic problems you cannot change. 4 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Gather information and facts to convince others to see things your way. Armed with knowledge, not force or a stubborn attitude, will help you more than pressure tactics. Open discussions and a willingness to adjust what requires the Midas touch will help you gain both respect and recognition. 3 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If you change, others will follow. Set the pace and lead the way. Give your all, but don’t jeopardize your health or physical well-being. Home improvements will be uplifting and save you time and money. A quest for knowledge will take you on a worthwhile journey that points you in a promising direction. 3 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Handling contracts and medical and financial issues yourself will help you gain insight into your options and encourage you to get the best outcome possible. Knowledge is priceless and crucial in decisions that have a lasting impact. Explain your intentions and offer incentives when dealing with opposition. Live by your word and honor your promises. 4 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Research and make a change that will enhance your life, meaningful relationships and how you extend a helping hand to a matter that concerns you. Be part of the solution and do what’s best for you. It’s up to you to protect your rights and create opportunities. Choose charm over intimidation. 2 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A tactful approach to whatever you do will ward off opposition. Refuse to let your emotions swing or jealousy set in if someone opposes you. Stand tall and face competitive situations with intelligence, a positive attitude and plenty of enthusiasm. Avoid situations that could compromise your health and well-being. Don’t share your secrets. 2 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Jump into action, take control and make things happen. Use your flair, enthusiasm and connections to spread the word and to make a difference. Learn as you go, keep things in perspective and take pride in checking facts and honoring the truth. Romance is favored, but injury and health risks prevail. Proceed with caution. 5 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Explore the possibilities, travel, attend venues that interest you, expand your mind and try new things. It’s up to you to embrace life instead of waiting for things to come to you. Take the initiative, be a good listener and test the information you receive for yourself before incorporating something new into your routine. 3 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The choices you encounter will confuse you. Consider what you want to do and what you must do, and plan a schedule that helps you manage your responsibilities so you can move on to more enjoyable pastimes. A positive attitude will draw attention and help you gain the support required to achieve your goal. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look for financial opportunities, but be leery of joint ventures or shared expenses. Develop a strategy that fosters better relationships and transparency, and you’ll ease your mind while gaining respect and trust from those you interact with today. Don’t feel you must pay for someone else’s mistake or try to buy love. 3 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Hosting an event or accepting an invitation will lead to interesting encounters and consideration regarding something that will encourage you to do what makes you look and feel good about yourself, your life and your direction. Embrace the possibilities, and enjoy the people you meet along the way. Romance is favored. 5 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Look at and consider everything you encounter that interests you, but refuse to commit until you can verify facts and figures. Immerse yourself in the possibilities and consider what you expect to gain from whatever you sign up for. Keep in mind that your happiness is your responsibility. 2 stars
Birthday Baby: You are discreet, accommodating and unique. You are concise and honorable.
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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