Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 94

SF Giants’ frustrations extend beyond loss to Marlins after three batters plunked

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ frustrations on Wednesday night were twofold.

There was, of course, the 8-5 loss. They pushed the game to extras with two runs in the bottom of the ninth only for the Miami Marlins to counter with four runs in the 10th inning against closer Camilo Doval. They’re now facing the possibility of being swept at home by one of baseball’s worst teams.

Losses happen. But the Giants are also displeased with the bevy of beanballs they’ve absorbed in recent days.

With Casey Schmitt, Jung Hoo Lee and Dominic Smith getting plunked tonight, the Giants have been hit nine times in their last nine games. Schmitt, who’s already filling in for an injured Matt Chapman, had to undergo an X-ray on his wrist after absorbing an errant fastball. While it came back negative, he may have additional testing on Thursday.

None of the deckings, both tonight and in recent days, appear to have been intentional. Regardless, the Giants are plenty perturbed.

“I feel like the game finds a way to even itself out,” said Logan Webb, who allowed two runs over six innings. “It will.”

He continued: “It’s starting to get frustrating how many guys are getting hit. I think as pitchers, we have to do a better job of protecting those guys.”

The plunkings of Smith and Schmitt, as frustrating as they were, vitalized a lethargic offense in the bottom of the ninth.

San Francisco entered the ninth trailing 4-2, their only runs coming on Mike Yastrzemski’s leadoff homer and Christian Koss’ sacrifice fly, but the Marlins’ Calvin Faucher gifted the team a free rally by hitting Smith and Schmitt, then walking Lee to load the bases with no outs.

Smith didn’t have much of a reaction after getting hit in the foot by a curveball. Schmitt, by contrast, was visibly frustrated after taking a 95.2 mph sinker to the left wrist, violently slamming his bat to the ground and directing words at Faucher as he briskly walked it off.

With no outs and the bases loaded, Willy Adames sent a deep drive to left field. On a warm afternoon day, Adames’ drive may have had a walk-off grand slam. On a frigid San Francisco night, Adames settled for a sacrifice fly that cut the deficit to 4-3. Smith scored from third, Schmitt advanced to third and Lee moved up to second.

Patrick Bailey followed Adames by tying the game at four apiece with an opposite-field single to left field. Schmitt easily scored, and third base coach Matt Williams aggressively waved home Lee to try to win the ballgame.

Left fielder Kyle Stowers charged hard and fired a 97.3 mph throw to the plate. The throw arrived in plenty of time and catcher Nick Fortes applied the tag to Lee, who was out by several feet. Following Christian Koss’ line out, the game headed to extras.

For Williams, it was his second aggressive send in as many days. In the bottom of the fifth on Tuesday, Williams sent home Rafael Devers on Heliot Ramos’ double down the left-field line, and Devers was thrown out by several feet at the plate.

San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) is tagged out at home plate by Miami Marlins’ Nick Fortes (4) in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey (14) sits on the ground after Miami Marlins’ Otto Lopez (6) scored a run in the 10th inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Christian Koss (50) makes a catch for an out on a foul ball hit by Miami Marlins’ Otto Lopez (6) in the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Miami Marlins’ Connor Norby (1) steals second against San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) in the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers (16) is walked against the Miami Marlins in the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Miami Marlins’ Otto Lopez (6) slide safely into home plate against San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey (14) in the 10th inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) hits a single against the Miami Marlins in the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) throws against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) is hit by a pitch against the Miami Marlins in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Christian Koss (50) hits a sacrifice fly against the Miami Marlins in the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski (5) heads to second base after hitting a solo home run against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Christian Koss (50) tags Miami Marlins’ Liam Hicks (34) out at second base in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Show Caption1 of 12San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) is tagged out at home plate by Miami Marlins’ Nick Fortes (4) in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Expand

Manager Bob Melvin defended Williams’ aggressive send of Devers on Tuesday, noting that San Francisco’s offense had been struggling and that the team needed to take a risk. Melvin again sided with Williams on Wednesday.

“We’re trying to win a game there,” Melvin said. “Give him credit. … It wasn’t hit that deep and he charged hard to get it. Had to get it perfectly and make a good throw. Look, we’re trying to win a game there.”

Stowers’ throw to the plate was accurate enough to nab Lee. San Francisco’s hitters can only hope that the pitches from opposing hurlers are accurate enough to go over the plate.

The recent stretch of hit batsmen began with the Giants’ final game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles when Dustin May hit both Heliot Ramos and Logan Porter. Back home, the beanballs have not subsided.

San Francisco’s hitters have been hit seven times in their last eight games at Oracle Park. During this home stand, Ramos has been hit three times while Schmitt, Smith, Lee and Wilmer Flores have been hit one apiece. Ramos is one of eight players in all of baseball who has been hit at least 10 times.

Ramos understands the advantage of pitching inside; an inside fastball is far more uncomfortable than one over the middle of the plate. Still, Ramos put it plain: pitchers shouldn’t throw inside if they don’t know how to do it properly.

“It’s annoying,” Ramos said. “They probably don’t want to hit us, but at the end of the day, you don’t want to get hit. Nobody wants to get hit. It is pretty irritating, for sure. We’re not the team that’s going to start something because we’re not like that, but at the same time, it is pretty frustrating, for sure. It doesn’t feel good.”

Added Schmitt: “I don’t think it’s intentional at all, but it’s definitely not a fun thing to have to go through, especially when you’ve gone through it before. I’ve gotten hit in the face, I fractured my wrist. I’ve had these injuries up there so it’s annoying and frustrating to get these things.”

When Melvin was asked if there’s anything the Giants can do in response to their hitters being plunked, he responded, “Not something I certainly want to speak about, but obviously, we need, in situations, to protect our guys too.”

Ramos didn’t use the word “retaliate” but did say, “At the end of the day, you always have to send a message.”

“There’s a lot of unwritten rules that a lot of people got away from,” Ramos said. “Those rules are what keeps the feel of the game. At one point, it’s going to happen. We just have to do what we have to do. We have to support (pitchers), too. We have to score runs for them and back them up too so they can protect us.”

The Giants already understand the stakes of Thursday’s series finale, one that caps off a nine-game home stand. If they win, they avoid being swept. Given what transpired tonight, Webb is hoping for “a little bit of an edge.”

San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers (16) heads to the dugout after grounding out against the Miami Marlins in the 10th inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

2025 NBA Draft: Who are best players available for Warriors in second round?

SAN FRANCISCO – Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe flew off the board at the top of the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday. 

But there is still plenty of talent available for the Warriors when their No. 41 selection rolls around on Thursday evening. 

From a Stanford standout to a high-flying small forward, among others, general manager Mike Dunleavy should have a bevy of candidates to choose from. 

Of course, finding a contributor who can help the team led by Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green contend for a fifth title of the Curry era is something of a long shot.

“I think we have to be realistic about what it is, but sure, we’re going to analyze this thing, look at it, and try and find the best player we can find that’ll be able to contribute to this franchise,” Dunleavy said. “That’s the goal.”

But the Warriors have a track record of picking gems late. Quinten Post was the No. 52 pick last season and became a rotation big as a rookie.

Here’s seven players who could still be available for Golden State:

Maxime Raynaud, PF, Stanford: The 7-1 center was one of the most productive players in the country. He was the only player in the nation to average over 20 points and more than 10 rebounds last season. Versatile offensive player but an iffy defender. 

Chaz Lanier, SG, Tennessee: A high-volume 3-point shooter who averaged 18 points per game for the Vols. Has solid size at 6-5 and decent athleticism, which gives hope that he can improve his defense for a Warriors team that needs shooting prowess. 

Johni Broome, PF, Auburn: The SEC Player of the Year has great passing chops and plays with energy while being a high-volume rebounder. His shaky shot and below-average athleticism leaves a lot to be desired though. 

Sion James, SF, Duke: Built like a tank at 6-5, 220 pounds and is a 40% 3-point shooter. Does not have a great handle or wiggle with the ball, but he if his senior-year improvement as a shooter is not a mirage, then the Blue Devil is the prototype for a 3-and-D wing. 

Adou Thiero, PF, Arkansas: One of the best athletes in the draft and would be a swing for the fences by Dunleavy. Despite playing in college for three seasons, Thiero is still very much an unfinished product as a bouncy forward who is still figuring out the finer points of the game. 

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Rocco Zikarsky, C, Australia: Is 7-3 and 260 pounds, a true titan in a sport full of them. Has a 9-7-inch wingspan and knows how to use it on the offensive glass and as a shot-blocker. Foot speed could be an issue when asked to switch on the perimeter, but size will always be an asset. 

Koby Brea, SG, Kentucky: Arguably the best shooter in the country over the past two seasons, shooting 47% from long range on a steady diet of both spot-up and movement threes. His 6-7 size can help mask his below average athleticism and defense on the wing for a team that needs shooting. 

SF Giants’ CEO Larry Baer says Barry Bonds statue ‘on the radar’

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants currently have five statues standing outside of Oracle Park: Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry. A sixth appears to be on the horizon.

On Wednesday morning, Giants CEO Larry Baer told 95.7 The Game’s “The Morning Roast” that a statue of franchise legend and MLB home run king Barry Bonds is “on the radar.”

“Barry is deserving of a statue and I would say, should be next up,” Baer said. “We don’t have the exact location and the exact date and the exact timing, but you’re saying things that we’re totally in sync with. You probably notice, Barry’s around a lot, more recently this year and last year as well. He has great relationships across the team. … It’s coming. All I can say is it’s coming.”

Bonds, whose father, Bobby was a Giants star and had Mays as a godfather, played 15 seasons with the Giants from 1993 until his retirement following the 2007 season. Bonds, who starred at Serra High in San Mateo, was a 12-time All-Star with the Giants and won five of his seven MVP awards while representing San Francisco, including four straight from 2001-2004.

Baer did not say when the statue would be built, nor did he say where the statue would be located. It would be plenty appropriate for the Giants to place a potential statue somewhere near McCovey Cove given that Bonds was responsible for 35 Splash Hits, the most of any player in Oracle Park history.

As far as a potential pose, arguably the most iconic image of Bonds is him raising both of his arms when he broke Henry Aaron’s all-time home run record in 2007.

The Giants retired Bonds’ No. 25 in 2018. Bonds hit 160 of his 762 home runs at Oracle Park, the most of any venue.

Homemade green black olive tapenade is delicious on tomato salad

By Cathy Thomas | Orange County Register

Tapenade, that scrumptious Provençal-style olive spread, is a dish that successfully captures the sunny flavors of the Mediterranean. Although most markets stock a store-bought version, it’s fast and easy to make at home, especially if you have a food processor and use pre-pitted olives.

This Green Black Tapenade can be prepared up to a week in advance and stored, airtight, in the refrigerator. One delicious way to show it off is to use it in a tomato salad. Toss 1 1/2 pounds tomatoes (cut into wedges if medium or large, halved if cherry tomato sized) with 1/2 cup Green Black Tapenade, 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves (cut into thin strips), and 3 cups baby greens. Taste the dish and add salt if necessary. Drizzle with some extra-virgin olive oil.

Green Black TapenadeYield: 1 1/2 cups

INGREDIENTS3 medium cloves garlic, peeled

2 tablespoons drained capers

4 anchovy fillets

Leaves from sprig of fresh thyme

1 cup pitted black olives, kalamata preferred

1 1/4 cups pitted mild green olives, such as Castelvetrano

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

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DIRECTIONS1. With the food processor running, drop garlic into feedtube to mince it. Add capers, anchovies and fresh thyme leaves; process until minced, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

2. Add olives and olive oil; pulse until olives are finely chopped but not pureed.

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

Federal judge orders US Labor Department to keep Job Corps running during lawsuit

By CATHY BUSSEWITZ

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction to stop the U.S. Department of Labor from shutting down Job Corps, a residential program for low-income youth, until a lawsuit against the move is resolved.

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The injunction bolsters a temporary restraining order U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter issued earlier this month, when he directed the Labor Department to cease removing Job Corps students from housing, terminating jobs or otherwise suspending the nationwide program without congressional approval.

Founded in 1964, Job Corps aims to help teenagers and young adults who struggled to finish traditional high school and find jobs. The program provides tuition-free housing at residential centers, training, meals and health care.

“Once Congress has passed legislation stating that a program like the Job Corps must exist, and set aside funding for that program, the DOL is not free to do as it pleases; it is required to enforce the law as intended by Congress,” Carter wrote in the ruling.

Department of Labor spokesperson Aaron Britt said said the department was working closely with the Department of Justice to evaluate the injunction.

“We remain confident that our actions are consistent with the law,” Britt wrote in an email to The Associated Press.

The Labor Department said in late May that it would pause operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers by the end of June. It said the publicly funded program yielded poor results for its participants at a high cost to taxpayers, citing low student graduation rates and growing budget deficits.

The judge rejected the department’s claims that it did not need to follow a congressionally mandated protocol for closing down Job Corps centers because it wasn’t closing the centers, only pausing their activities.

“The way that the DOL is shuttering operations and the context in which the shuttering is taking place make it clear that the DOL is actually attempting to close the centers,” Carter wrote.

The harm faced by some of the students served by the privately run Job Corps centers is compelling, the judge said. Carter noted that one of the students named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit lives at a center in New York, where he is based.

If the Job Corps program is eliminated, she would lose all the progress she’s made toward earning a culinary arts certificate and “will immediately be plunged into homelessness,” the judge wrote. That’s far from the “minor upheaval” described by government lawyers, he said.

As the centers prepared to close, many students were left floundering. Some moved out of the centers and into shelters that house homeless people.

“Many of these young people live in uncertainty, so it takes time to get housing and restore a lot of those supports you need when you’ve been away from your community for so long,” said Edward DeJesus, CEO of Social Capital Builders, a Maryland-based educational consultancy which provides training on relationship-building at several Job Corps sites. “So the abrupt closure of these sites is really harmful for the welfare of young adults who are trying to make a change in their lives.”

The National Job Corps Association, a nonprofit trade organization comprised of business, labor, volunteer and academic organizations, sued to block the suspension of services, alleging it would displace tens of thousands of vulnerable young people and force mass layoffs.

The attorneys general of 20 U.S. states filed an amicus brief supporting the group’s motion for a preliminary injunction in the case.

Monet Campbell learned about the Job Corps’ center in New Haven, Connecticut, while living in a homeless shelter a year ago. The 21-year-old has since earned her certified nursing assistant license and phlebotomy and electrocardiogram certifications through Job Corps, and works at a local nursing home.

“I always got told all my life, ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do that.’ But Job Corps really opened my eyes to, ‘I can do this,’” said Campbell, who plans to start studying nursing at Central Connecticut State University in August.

The program has been life-changing in other ways, she said. Along with shelter and job training, Campbell received food, mental health counseling, medical treatment and clothing to wear to job interviews.

“I hadn’t been to the doctor’s in a while,” she said. “I was able to do that, going to checkups for my teeth, dental, all that. So they really just helped me with that.”

Campbell said she and other Job Corps participants in New Haven feel like they’re in limbo, given the program’s possible closure. They recently had to move out for a week when the federal cuts were initially imposed, and Campbell stayed with a friend.

There are 123 Jobs Corps centers in the U.S., the majority of them operated by private organizations under agreements with the Department of Labor. Those private jobs corps centers serve more than 20,000 students across the U.S., according to the lawsuit.

Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho contributed to this report.

Faith leaders and families sue to block Texas’ new Ten Commandments in schools law

By JIM VERTUNO

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A group of Dallas-area families and faith leaders have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a new Texas law that requires copies of the Ten Commandments be posted in every public school classroom.

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The federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims the measure is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of church and state.

Texas is the latest and largest state to attempt a mandate that has run into legal challenges elsewhere. A federal appeals court on Friday blocked a similar law in Louisiana. Some families have sued over Arkansas’ law.

The plaintiffs in the Texas lawsuit are a group of Christian and Nation of Islam faith leaders and families. It names the Texas Education Agency, state education Commissioner Mike Morath and three Dallas-area school districts as defendants.

“The government should govern; the Church should minister,” the lawsuit said. “Anything else is a threat to the soul of both our democracy and our faith.”

Ten Commandments laws are among efforts, mainly in conservative-led states, to insert religion into public schools. Supporters say the Ten Commandments are part of the foundation of the United States’ judicial and educational systems and should be displayed.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Ten Commandments measure into law on June 21. He also has enacted a measure requiring school districts to provide students and staff a daily voluntary period of prayer or time to read a religious text during school hours.

The Texas Education Agency did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Abbott, who was Texas attorney general in 2005 when he successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court to keep a Ten Commandments monument on the state Capitol grounds, defended the state classrooms law in a social media post on Wednesday.

“Faith and freedom are the foundation of our nation,” Abbott posted on X. “If anyone sues, we’ll win that battle.”

Opponents say the Ten Commandments and prayer measures infringe on others’ religious freedom, and more lawsuits are expected. The American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have said they will file lawsuits opposing the Ten Commandments measure.

Under the new law, public schools must post in classrooms a 16-by-20-inch or larger poster or framed copy of a specific English version of the commandments, even though translations and interpretations vary across denominations, faiths and languages and may differ in homes and houses of worship.

The lawsuit notes that Texas has nearly 6 million students in about 9,100 public schools, including thousands of students of faiths that have little or no connection to the Ten Commandments, or may have no faith at all.

The Texas Education Agency did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The law takes effect Sept. 1, but most public school districts start the upcoming school year in August.

Make chickpeas the star of the show with citrus, honey

By Christopher Kimball | Milk Street

The Greek island of Ikaria has a wealth of vegetable dishes, many of which call for lavish amounts of legumes, often braised with tomatoes in olive oil.

Citrus and sugar — typically in the form of honey — also make frequent appearances, a sweet-savory hallmark of the cuisine that is used to transform otherwise simple dishes.

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During our trip to the island, Greek cooking expert Diane Kochilas introduced us to an ultra-simple yet remarkably delicious dish of chickpeas layered with tomatoes, herbs, orange and honey that is baked for a couple hours to meld and concentrate the flavors.

In this recipe from our cookbook ” Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the Year,” we simmer canned chickpeas on the stovetop with many of the same ingredients. It’s ready in under an hour, with the same rich, complex flavors found in the original.

Don’t forget to reserve some of the chickpea liquid before draining. The liquid lends the dish body and flavor that water cannot.

The dish is best when made with a strong, dark honey, such as buckwheat, but a milder variety works, too. Orange blossom honey is a good option, as it echoes the citrus notes of the orange zest and juice. Serve with crusty bread and some briny feta alongside.

Greek-Style Braised Chickpeas with Tomatoes and Orange

Start to finish: 45 minutesServings: 4

Ingredients:

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to serve2 tablespoons tomato paste2 tablespoons honey, dividedThree 15½-ounce cans chickpeas, drained, ¼ cup liquid reserved28-ounce can diced tomatoes1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced3 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced5 bay leaves1 sprig fresh rosemary1 teaspoon grated orange zest, plus ¼ cup orange juiceKosher salt and ground black pepper1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano½ cup lightly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Directions:

In a large Dutch oven over medium, combine the oil, tomato paste and 1 tablespoon of the honey. Cook, stirring often, until the tomato paste begins to brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas, then stir in the tomatoes with their juices. Bring to a simmer over medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes.

Stir in the onion, garlic, bay, rosemary, orange juice, ¾ teaspoon each salt and pepper, and the reserved chickpea liquid. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened, 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove from the heat, then taste and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the oregano and orange zest. Transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with parsley, then drizzle with the remaining honey and additional oil.

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

Senate struggle over Medicaid cuts threatens progress on Trump’s big bill

By LISA MASCARO

WASHINGTON (AP) — One key unsettled issue stalling progress on President Donald Trump’s big bill in Congress is particularly daunting: How to cut billions from health care without harming Americans or the hospitals and others who provide care?

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Republicans are struggling to devise a solution to the health care problem their package has created. Already, estimates say 10.9 million more people would be without health coverage under the House-passed version of the bill. GOP senators have proposed steeper reductions, which some say go too far.

“The Senate cuts in Medicaid are far deeper than the House cuts, and I think that’s problematic,” said GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.

Senators have been meeting behind closed doors and with Trump administration officials as they rush to finish up the big bill ahead of the president’s Fourth of July deadline. Much of the package, with its tax breaks and bolstered border security spending, is essentially drafted. But the size and scope of healthcare cuts are among the toughest remaining issues.

It’s reminiscent of the summer during Trump’s first term, in 2017, when Republicans struggled to keep their campaign promise to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, only to see the GOP splinter over the prospect of Americans losing health coverage. That legislation collapsed when then-Sen. John McCain famously cast a thumbs-down vote.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is determined to avoid that outcome, sticking to the schedule and pressing ahead with voting expected by the end of the week.

“This is a good bill and it’s going to be great for our country,” Thune said, championing its potential to unleash economic growth and put money in people’s pockets.

The changes to the federal health care programs, particularly Medicaid, were always expected to become a centerpiece of the GOP package, a way to offset the costs of providing tax breaks for millions of Americans. Without action from Congress, taxes would go up next year when current tax law expires.

The House-passed bill achieved some $1.5 trillion in savings overall, a large part of it coming from changes to health care. The Medicaid program has dramatically expanded in the 15 years since Obamacare became law and now serves some 80 million Americans. Republicans say that’s far too high, and they want to shrink the program back to a smaller size covering mainly poorer women and children.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Republicans are “trying to take away healthcare from tens of millions of Americans.” Democrats are uniformly opposed to what they call the “big, ugly bill.”

Much of the health care cost savings would come from new 80-hour-a-month work requirements on those who receive Medicaid benefits, even as most recipients already work.

But another provision, the so-called provider tax that almost all the states impose to some degree on hospitals and others that serve Medicaid patients, is drawing particular concern for potential cuts to rural hospitals.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said several senators spoke up Wednesday during a private meeting indicating they were not yet ready to start voting. “That’ll depend if we land the plane on rural hospitals,” he said.

States impose the taxes as a way to help fund Medicaid, largely by boosting the reimbursements they receive from the federal government. Critics decry the system as type of “laundering” but almost every state except Alaska uses it to help provide the health care coverage.

The House-passed bill would freeze the provider taxes at current levels, while the Senate proposal goes deeper by reducing the tax that some states are able to impose.

“I know the states are addicted to it,” said Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan. But he added, “Obviously the provider tax needs to go away.”

But a number of GOP senators, and the hospitals and other medical providers in their states, are raising steep concerns the provider tax changes would decimate rural hospitals.

In a plea to lawmakers, the American Hospital Association said the cuts won’t just affect those who get health coverage through Medicaid, but would further strain emergency rooms “as they become the family doctor to millions of newly uninsured people.”

“And worse, some hospitals, especially those in rural communities, may be forced to close altogether,” said Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the hospital group.

The Catholic Health Association of the United States noted in its own letter that Medicaid provides health insurance coverage for one in five people and nearly half of all children.

“The proposed changes to Medicaid would have devastating consequences, particularly for those in small towns and rural communities, where Medicaid is often the primary source of health care coverage,” said Sister Mary Haddad, the group’s president and CEO.

Trying to engineer a fix to the problem, senators are considering creating a rural hospital fund to help offset the lost Medicaid money.

GOP senators circulated a proposal to pour $15 billion to establish a new rural hospital fund. But several senators said that’s too high, while others said it’s insufficient. Collins has proposed the fund be set at $100 billion.

“It won’t be that big, but there will be a fund,” Thune said.

Hawley, who has been among those most outspoken about the health care cuts, said he’s interested in the rural hospital fund but needs to hear more about how it would work.

“Getting the fund is good. That’s important, a step forward,” Hawley said. But he asked: “How does the fund actually distribute the money? Who will get it to hospitals? … Or is this just going to be something that exists on paper?”

He has also raised concerns about a new $35 per service co-pay that could be charged to those with Medicaid that is in both the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Mary Clare Jalonick and Joey Cappelletti contributed to this story.

Brighten up your summer grill with spice-roasted vegetables

By Lynda Balslev | TasteFood

For your next backyard barbecue, let the vegetables shine. Fire up the grill and bring vibrant Mediterranean flavors to your table with this grilled vegetable platter. A colorful array of charred summer vegetables, basted with a spice-infused olive oil, sits atop a fluffy bed of couscous. It’s as visually striking as it is satisfying — perfect for summer gatherings.

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A colorful selection of zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers and onions take on the smoke and char from the grill, while lemony couscous soaks up their juices. It’s endlessly adaptable; swap in other vegetables based on what’s in season or in your fridge. Serve it warm as a hearty vegetarian main dish or chilled as an al fresco salad.

There are a few extra steps that put this dish over the top. The spice-infused oil seasons the couscous and bastes the vegetables, while a leafy gremolata provides freshness and garnishes the platter. Roasted chickpeas are an optional addition and a source of protein to make a satisfying main dish.

Roasted Vegetable Couscous

Active time: 40 minutesTotal time: 40 minutes, plus time to roast the chickpeas, if usingYield: Serves 4 to 6

Spiced oil:1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil1 garlic clove, grated1/2 teaspoon ground cumin1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika1/2 teaspoon ground coriander1/2 teaspoon kosher salt1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Couscous:1 1/2 cups couscous1 1/2 cups water3/4 teaspoon kosher salt1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1 cup canned chickpeas (optional), drained, blotted dry2 to 3 red or orange bell peppers, seeded, cut into 3/4-inch strips2 carrots, peeled, sliced on the diagonal, 1/4 inch thick2 small yellow onions, sliced crosswise, 1/2 inch thick1 medium eggplant, halved lengthwise, then sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick half moons1 large zucchini, sliced on the diagonal, 1/2 inch thick

Gremolata:1 cup mixed chopped Italian parsley leaves, cilantro leaves and mint leaves1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted, coarsely chopped if large

Whisk the oil ingredients in a bowl.In a medium saucepan, combine the couscous, water and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then remove from the heat and cover the pan. Let stand until the liquid is absorbed and the couscous is tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of the spiced oil and the lemon zest and fluff with a fork.

Roast or grill the chickpeas, if using: Place the chickpeas in a bowl and toss with 1 to 2 teaspoons of the spiced oil. To oven roast, spread on a baking sheet and roast in a 425-degree oven until golden brown and crisp, about 25 minutes, shaking the pan once or twice. To grill, spread on a griddle or cast-iron skillet and grill over indirect medium-high heat until golden brown and crisp.

Combine the vegetables in a large bowl. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the spiced oil and stir to thoroughly coat.

Arrange the vegetables on the grill over direct medium-high heat. Grill until the vegetables are charred and tender, turning as needed, 6 to 10 minutes, depending on the vegetable.

Combine the gremolata ingredients in a bowl.

To assemble, stir half of the gremolata into the couscous. Spread the couscous on a serving platter or in a wide shallow serving bowl. Arrange the vegetables over the couscous. Scatter the chickpeas over the vegetables and garnish with the remaining gremolata. Serve warm 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 June 25, 2025: Linda Cardellini, focus on your peace of mind

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Busy Philipps, 46; Linda Cardellini, 50; Ricky Gervais, 64; Carly Simon, 82.

Happy Birthday: Use your insight and experience to avoid excess. Refrain from taking on responsibilities that don’t belong to you or denying yourself the freedom to follow your heart and what makes you happy. Give more thought and time to making your life less stressful, and sign up to participate in activities and events that contribute to better health and peace of mind. Change is up to you. Stop dreaming and start doing. Your numbers are 9, 14, 23, 28, 32, 40, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Get up and get moving. Turn up the dial and let your creative imagination lead the way. Innovation and discipline combined will help you navigate your way throughout your day. Go with the flow and see what unfolds. Opportunities will surface if you attend events that motivate you. Distance yourself from indulgent manipulators. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Adjust your surroundings to meet your needs. If that means moving or clearing a space to accommodate something you want to exploit, do so without skipping a beat. You’ll feel much better and gain a clear vision once your goals are underway. Set boundaries and a budget to ensure success. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Refuse to let anyone talk you out of your cash. Spur-of-the-moment decisions will leave you in an awkward position. Be a good listener and walk away from those using pressure tactics to manipulate you into something that gives you reason to pause. Communication is a two-way street. Know when to say no. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Keep an open mind, but don’t believe everything you hear. Agreements are likely to fall short of your expectations. Be direct and know your value before negotiating a deal that can affect your livelihood or earning ability. You’ll gain respect if you stand up for yourself and your rights. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Communication is your path to change. Listen, ask questions and formulate a plan regarding how you choose to move forward. It’s up to you to lay the foundation for your happiness and to take responsibility for your life. Don’t let others lead you astray; follow your heart and believe in yourself. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Use your energy wisely. Expand your mind, interests, qualifications and connections. Branch out and see what others are doing, and it will spark your creativity, offering insight into how to set yourself up for success. Once you know your worth, it will be easier to negotiate your way forward personally, financially and professionally. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take a breather, sit back and rethink what’s important to you. When uncertainty sets in, you are best to reevaluate your direction and consider your options. Take a walk down memory lane and revisit your aspirations. It’s never too late to pursue what makes you happy. Clear a space at home and get started. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A lifestyle change will be energizing. Whether it’s a physical move, going back to school, a professional change or spending more time with someone you love, whatever you choose will lead to personal growth and peace of mind. Romance is in the stars, and sharing feelings will encourage new beginnings. 5 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Stick close to home and do your best not to overspend or overindulge. Too much of anything will lead to trouble. Look out for your best interests and the concerns of friends or family members. Take care of matters succinctly to avoid penalties. Choose to act rather than make excuses. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Prioritize partnerships, places and pastimes. Consider the costs before you sign up for something that exceeds your budget. Refuse to let anyone coerce you into something you don’t relish. Concentrate on looking and feeling your best, spending time with those you love and respect, and having fun. Romance is in the stars. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Pay attention to how you earn your living, what’s new and exciting in your line of work and how you can position yourself for success. Take an innovative approach to how you market yourself. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you; it’s your job to create your path to victory. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Doors will open if you knock. Don’t hesitate to pursue your goals and approach those in a position to help you advance. In every aspect of life, there is a silver lining. Pursue love, learn something new, travel, network and, most of all, live in the moment and make things happen. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are protective, nostalgic and benevolent. You are extraordinary and admired.

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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