Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 99

SF Giants fall to Red Sox in Rafael Devers’ first game against former team

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants believe that, in time, Rafael Devers will look the part of a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger. They do not doubt the ability. But for now, they must wait.

In his first game against his former team, Devers went hitless in five at-bats in his first game against as the Giants fell to the Boston Red Sox, 7-5, on Friday night at Oracle Park. San Francisco has lost three of its first four games since Devers made his debut, as well as six of its last eight overall.

The 28-year-old received a standing ovation in his first plate appearance of the night. Along with the Giants fans rising to their feet, a smattering of Red Sox fans saluted their former star. Some Boston fans, though, elected to remain seated. The 28-year-old could not appease the crowd, grounding out for the second out of the inning.

After flying out at the warning track in his second plate appearance of the night, Devers stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fifth and seventh innings following a pair of singles from Heliot Ramos. Devers couldn’t capitalize with Ramos on base, grounding out in the former inning and flying out in the latter frame.

In Devers’ fifth and final plate appearance of the night, he struck out swinging on a 101.8 mph four-seam fastball from Aroldis Chapman.

“His at-bats always feel pretty good,” said manager Bob Melvin. “It’s a matter of time before he does some damage.”

Devers’ first meeting with the Red Sox was devoid of drama for the most part, but there was a very mild skirmish after the final out was recorded.

After Wilmer Flores popped out to end the ballgame, he and Chapman exchanged words as Flores headed back to the dugout. Some members of the Giants’ bench spilled onto the field, but tensions didn’t escalate further and the episode concluded after about 30 seconds.

For all the theatrics, Flores’ explanation was simple: Flores thought Chapman said something to him and wanted to know what Chapman said.

“That’s why I tried to ask him if he said something because I don’t know,” Flores said.

The brief brouhaha was the end to a night that saw the Giants go 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, Hayden Birdsong allow five runs (four earned) over 4 1/3 innings and Christian Koss ground into two double plays with the bases loaded. As for the game itself, it was a seesaw battle that didn’t exactly feature crisp baseball.

The Giants took the lead in the bottom of the first when Red Sox second baseman David Hamilton muffed Flores’ weakly-hit line drive to drive in a run and give San Francisco a 1-0 lead. They scored two more in the second when Koss grounded into his first bases-loaded double play, then Mike Yastrzemski singled on a comebacker that Boston starter Hunter Dobbins couldn’t corral. Despite how it looked, San Francisco had a 3-0 lead.

Boston tied the game with a two-run homer from Hamilton in the third, then an RBI single from Ceddanne Rafaela in the fourth. San Francisco re-took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with Koss’ second double play with the bases loaded.

Things got ugly for the Giants in the top of the fifth inning. Roman Anthony drove in a run with a single, then advanced to second base when Jung Hoo Lee overthrew the cutoff man. The Red Sox took advantage of Lee’s mental error with the help of Christian Koss’ fielding error. Abraham Toro followed Anthony by hitting a grounder that slipped underneath Koss’ glove, allowing Anthony to score and giving Boston a 5-4 lead.

San Francisco got one of those runs right back in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single from Wilmer Flores to drive in Heliot Ramos. Ramos likely would’ve been out by several feet if Rafaela made a good throw, but Rafaela’s throw skipped home on several bounces, allowing the Giants to tie the game at five apiece.

Rafaela avenged the poor throw the next inning with a booming 424-foot home run to left-center field on a hanging curveball by right-hander Sean Hjelle. The 24-year-old donned Boston’s Wally the Green Monster helmet, and Boston had a 6-5 lead. Wilyer Abreu padded the lead in the seventh with an RBI single in the seventh, extending Boston’s lead to 7-5.

Mike Yastrzemski had an opportunity to, at the minimum, tie the game in the bottom of the eighth when he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded, but Yastrzemski struck out swinging on a slider in the dirt from Garrett Whitlock.

SF Giants’ Rafael Devers says time with Red Sox is ‘in the past’

SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers made one point abundantly clear ahead of the Giants’ three-game series against his former team Friday: He was not interested in talking about the past.

Did Devers want to leave the Boston Red Sox? “That’s in the past. Those are not decisions that I control.”

Is there anything that the Red Sox could’ve done to repair the disconnect between Devers and the team? “That’s in the past. I really don’t want to talk about it. I want to concentrate on what’s in the future for me.”

Did the Red Sox disrespect Devers in the process? “I don’t want to talk about the past. I just want to concentrate now on my new team and my new teammates.”

On nearly 10 occasions, Devers offered some form of “I don’t want to talk about the past” or “I want to concentrate on the future” when speaking with Boston and local reporters through Giants interpreter Erwin Higueros. For all his deflecting, Devers picked his spots to pull back the curtain. Chiefly, when he was asked when was the last time he was this happy.

“It’s been a long time,” said Devers, who is 3-for-11 in his first three games as a Giant heading into Friday’s series opener. “I don’t know how to explain it. But the feelings here, yes, I have been happy and feel very relaxed now.”

Was there anything Devers wishes he did different?

“Nothing,” Devers said. “I feel that I put up good numbers over there. I always gave my 100%.”

Devers also provided further rationale on the matter of first base. The 28-year-old said on Tuesday that he’d play first, a position he’s never played in the majors or minors. His willingness to play first in San Francisco starkly contrasted his unwillingness to do so in Boston after starting first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury.

Boston’s request in May for Devers to play first base was preceded by previous tensions during spring training. When the Red Sox signed All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman in February, Devers said he did not want to move off third base to accommodate the team’s new addition. Devers eventually acquiesced and became the team’s designated hitter.

So, why was Devers, who signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract with the Red Sox in 2023, willing to play first base with San Francisco but not Boston?

“I would say I have put up good numbers over at Boston and I do feel I’ve earned some respect,” said Devers, who had a career .859 OPS with 215 home runs over nine seasons with Boston. “If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes I would have played (first base).”

Devers has yet to appear in a game at first base, and manager Bob Melvin said the team wants him to get comfortable at first before he plays the position during a game. With Devers still learning, it’s very unlikely his debut at first base comes this weekend against his old team.

Melvin said Devers is “not quite there yet,” noting that Devers will need to learn other responsibilities — cutoffs, relays, bunts — along with with fielding and throwing. Melvin said “he’s not sure” when asked if this home stand could be a possibility.

“There’ll kind of be an ‘ah ha’ moment where he feels better about it, but until you’ve actually played a game, it’s tough to realize what you’re up against,” Melvin said. “When he gets out there, there’s going to be some uncomfortable games until he gets up to speed at the position.”

“I will adapt. I just need to practice, practice, practice. When the time comes, I will let the manager know,” Devers said.

Luckily for Devers, former Giants first baseman and current special assistant Will Clark is in San Francisco this weekend to help Devers learn the position. Clark has worked frequently with top prospect Bryce Eldridge, and Devers will be his new protégé.

“There’s a lot of knowledge there,” Melvin said of Clark. “Great timing that he’s here this weekend to be able to work with him. He’s very eager to help.”

There have been reports in recent days that Devers took exception to rookie Kristian Campbell, who mainly plays second base, taking grounders at first base following Casas’ injury. Campbell, himself, refuted the report. When Devers was asked if he’d also say the report was false, Devers responded that he “didn’t say anything like that.”

As far as third base, Devers said there was never any talk of him playing the hot corner.

“That never came up,” Devers said. “We have one of the best third basemen in the league (in Matt Chapman) and we know when he comes back that is his position.”

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Devers had the opportunity to see several former teammates on Thursday since Boston had an off-day, admitting that it’s “strange” to be playing his old team less than a week after the trade. Melvin said there’s “a little bit more of a spotlight” on the series given the timing of the trade, but added that Devers “seems pretty comfortable.”

“It’s just all about playing baseball,” Melvin said. “Just trying to minimize the distractions. For all of us, it’s a series against a good team. For him, there’s a little more into it. … He tends to minimize things. I’m sure he wants to just move on from this series is my guess. Something he has to deal with for a couple days.”

Added Red Sox manager Alex Cora: “It’s awkward. This happened five days ago. A guy who’s been there since 2017 when he was first called up, all the way to his last game against New York, he produced. If you look at the list of homers in the franchise, 500 base hits, the World Series ring. There’s a lot of stuff Rafi did for us that we’re going to miss. We’re very proud of him. To see him here it’s going to be different.”

Regarding his current club, the Giants enter Friday ranked 17th in runs scored (315) and 22nd in OPS (.686). Chapman, whose .812 OPS ranks second on the team, will miss most of the remainder of the first half due to right hand inflammation and is currently wearing a splint. The Giants have only scored six runs since Devers entered the fold, but San Francisco’s new All-Star believes the offense will improve.

“There’s a reason why they brought me here,” Devers said. “We’re going to improve, our offense is going to get hot and we’re going to start winning games.”

Unlike Devers, left-hander Kyle Harrison and right-hander Jordan Hicks, who were part of Boston’s return package, will not have the opportunity to face their former team. Hicks is still on the 15-day injured list as he recovers from right great toe inflammation while Harrison was optioned to Triple-A upon being traded.

“We expect big things out of him, just like they did,” Cora said of Harrison. “A special fastball. We saw it last year at one point, so we’re excited about that.”

Verlander placed on paternity list

The Giants placed right-hander Justin Verlander on the paternity list prior to Friday’s game and recalled infielder Brett Wisely from Triple-A Sacramento.

On Wednesday, Verlander returned from the injured list and started against the Cleveland Guardians, his first appearance since May 18. In his first start back, Verlander allowed four runs (three earned) over 4 2/3 innings with six strikeouts to one walk.

Verlander is expected to make his next start.

This season, Verlander has a 4.45 ERA over 11 starts with 47 strikeouts over 56 2/3 innings.

Trump says Gabbard was ‘wrong’ about Iran and Israeli strikes could be ‘very hard to stop’

By WILL WEISSERT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was “wrong” when she previously said that the U.S. believed Iran wasn’t building a nuclear weapon, and he suggested that it would be “very hard to stop” Israel’s strikes on Iran in order to negotiate a possible ceasefire.

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Trump has recently taken a more aggressive public stance toward Tehran as he’s sought more time to weigh whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility. Buried under a mountain, the facility is believed to be out of the reach of all but America’s “bunker-buster” bombs.

After landing in New Jersey for an evening fundraiser for his super political action committee, Trump was asked about Gabbard’s comments to Congress in March that U.S. spy agencies believed that Iran wasn’t working on nuclear warheads. The president responded, “Well then, my intelligence community is wrong. Who in the intelligence community said that?”

Informed that it had been Gabbard, Trump said, “She’s wrong.”

In a subsequent post on X, Gabbard said her testimony was taken out of context “as a way to manufacture division.”

“America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly,” she wrote. “President Trump has been clear that can’t happen, and I agree.”

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard leaves U.S. Capitol after a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Monday, June. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Still, disavowing Gabbard’s previous assessment came a day after the White House said Trump would decide within two weeks whether the U.S. military would get directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran. It said seeking additional time was “based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future.”

But on Friday, Trump himself seemed to cast doubts on the possibility of talks leading to a pause in fighting between Israel and Iran. He said that, while he might support a ceasefire, Israel’s strikes on Iran could be “very hard to stop.”

Asked about Iran suggesting that, if the U.S. was serious about furthering negotiations, it could call on Israel to stop its strikes, Trump responded, “I think it’s very hard to make that request right now.”

“If somebody is winning, it’s a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing,” Trump said. “But we’re ready, willing and able, and we’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens.”

The president later added, “It’s very hard to stop when you look at it.”

“Israel’s doing well in terms of war. And, I think, you would say that Iran is doing less well. It’s a little bit hard to get somebody to stop,” Trump said.

Trump campaigned on decrying “endless wars” and has vowed to be an international peacemaker. That’s led some, even among conservatives, to point to Trump’s past criticism of the U.S. invasion of Iraq beginning in 2003 as being at odds with his more aggressive stance toward Iran now.

Trump suggested the two situations were very different, though.

“There were no weapons of mass destruction. I never thought there were. And that was somewhat pre-nuclear. You know, it was, it was a nuclear age, but nothing like it is today,” Trump said of his past criticism of the administration of President George W. Bush.

He added of Iran’s current nuclear program, “It looked like I’m right about the material that they’ve gathered already. It’s a tremendous amount of material.”

Trump also cast doubts on Iran’s developing nuclear capabilities for civilian pursuits, like power generation.

“You’re sitting on one of the largest oil piles anywhere in the world,” he said. “It’s a little bit hard to see why you’d need that.”

San Diego clergy visit federal immigration court to bear witness during crackdown on migrants

By GREGORY BULL

SAN DIEGO (AP) — About a dozen religious leaders from the San Diego area visited federal immigration court Friday to serve as witnesses to “what goes down” as some cases arising from the Trump administration’s migration crackdown are heard, an organizer said.

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Some migrants have been arrested at the court by federal immigration officers. The Rev. Scott Santarosa, a Jesuit priest who was lead organizer of the group, said the purpose of the visitation “is more than anything just to provide some sense of presence.”

“People are longing for people of faith to walk with vulnerable migrants,” added Santarosa, the pastor of San Diego’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. “Our goal is not trying to prevent arrests — but we can witness it.”

The visit was preceded by a Mass at San Diego’s Catholic Cathedral with bishops and other clergy — including Bishop Michael Pham, the top-ranking official in the group and one of the first bishops to be appointed by Pope Leo XIV after his election as pontiff — offering prayers for refugees and migrants on World Refugee Day. Pham himself is a refugee; he came to the United States unaccompanied as a boy from Vietnam.

Bishop Michael Pham, center, speaks with Pastor Scott Santa Rosa, right, as an inter-faith group gets ready to enter a federal building to be present during immigration hearings Friday, June 20, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Bishop Michael Pham, center, leads an inter-faith group as they stand in the lobby of a federal building to be present during immigration hearings, Friday, June 20, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A woman prays during Mass before a group of interfaith leaders, led by Bishop Michael Pham, enter a federal building to be present during immigration hearings, Friday, June 20, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Bishop Michael Pham leads Mass before heading an interfaith group to a federal building to be present during immigration hearings, Friday, June 20, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Show Caption1 of 4Bishop Michael Pham, center, speaks with Pastor Scott Santa Rosa, right, as an inter-faith group gets ready to enter a federal building to be present during immigration hearings Friday, June 20, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Expand

The idea for the court visit started during a diocese-wide call to plan events for World Refugee Day, in addition to each church holding a Mass to pray for migrants and refugees, Santarosa said.

The priest said he hopes that visiting the court helps migrant communities — both more recent arrivals and those without legal status to be in the country who have lived in the San Diego area for decades.

“They’re feeling like people just want them to disappear,” Santarosa said, adding that a woman told him, in Spanish: “Father, we feel as if we were hunted, as if we were animals.”

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Monterey hosts ribbon cutting ceremony for rainbow crosswalk

MONTEREY — Community members and city officials gathered Friday to celebrate the new rainbow crosswalk in downtown, completed in time for the Monterey Peninsula Pride celebration.

Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson, Assistant City Manager Nat Rojanasathira and board members of Monterey Peninsula Pride met at the intersection of Alvarado and Pearl streets Friday, joined by several community members, city leaders and Monterey Peninsula residents for the unveiling.

“This wasn’t a straight path to get here, there were really some challenges along the way,” said Williamson. “The reason this is so important is queer visibility, and if this can save one queer person’s life, this (crosswalk) has done its job.”

Monterey Peninsula Pride members, who raised more than $10,000 in 24 hours for the crosswalk’s creation and maintenance, thanked the community for their support and announced the crosswalk would be the starting point for the Monterey Peninsula Pride parade on June 28.

“It was an entirely humbling experience to have so many of you show up and uplift our organization and our community as a whole,” said Nick Zafiratos, communications officer for Monterey Peninsula Pride.

The city’s public works department finished the project earlier in the week, and the crosswalk is fully functional. For many in attendance, the unveiling was more than a photo opportunity; it was an affirmation of identity, community and belonging.

Rainbow crosswalks have been a symbol of inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community in cities across California for more than a decade. (Photo by Kyarra Harris/Monterey Herald)

“I’ve been watching and supporting the crosswalk for a while and it’s so exciting seeing all the amazing people who helped,” said Aliah Ibarra of Monterey. “I was surprised by the pushback, but I knew there would be support from the community. There’s acceptance and community here from all levels.”

The city council first heard about the rainbow crosswalk proposal during a special meeting last month. The meeting lasted more than four hours, due to dozens of public comments both for and against the crosswalk.

City Manager Hans Uslar also made a clear declaration that none of the council members brought the project idea forward and that city staff believed the crosswalk followed Monterey’s values of inclusion and community.

During the next council meeting, June 3, several people spoke out against public comments made during the special meeting. In the end, the council voted 4-1 to pass the rainbow crosswalk on the condition that it was privately funded, and a policy on how crosswalk projects can be brought to the council in the future was created.

“I’m always surprised at the pushback, but the gentle coverups really get to me,” said Meganne Yeoman from Pacific Grove. She and her family have “been following the project and just wanted to support it. It’s important to us and we have queer people in our family. Everyone should be welcomed.”

Monterey Peninsula Pride was prepared to pay for the crosswalk out of their general funding, but after an outpouring of support and donations from the community, organization leaders say they now have enough funding to maintain the crosswalk, and use their own funding to host the Pride parade without cutbacks.

“It was a privilege to advocate for the crosswalk,” said Mel Zaragoza, board co-chair of Monterey Peninsula Pride. “I’m humbled by the community support, and the people that came to speak up with us. It was a brave thing to do. After that, we were able to raise $10,000 in 24 hours to create visibility and maintain this beautiful crosswalk.”

The Monterey Peninsula Pride Parade will begin June 28 at 11 a.m. on Polk Street and will continue on toward Pearl Street and down Alvarado Street. It will culminate at Custom House Plaza for the celebration portion from noon to 3 p.m.

Caltrans works to replace iconic Castroville sign over Merritt Street

CASTROVILLE – The iconic “Castroville – The Artichoke Center of the World” sign over Merritt Street in Castroville is the focus of a Caltrans Clean California Beautification project, which has started working to replace it with a newly designed structure.

The California Beautification program started in 2021 and is a $1.2 billion multiyear initiative aimed at removing trash, improving community aesthetics, engaging underserved communities, and creating thousands of job opportunities across California.

Work on the foundations of the new structure will resume on Preston Street on Monday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Activities planned next week include the placement of structural support posts, the pouring of concrete foundations and the installation of temporary bracing, followed by a concrete curing period.

The structure was first installed over Merritt Street (Highway 183) in the mid-1930s, coinciding with the realignment of Highways 1 and 156 through Castroville.

As work continues on the new sign, full overnight closures of the intersection of Merritt and Preston streets are currently scheduled for June 30, July 1, and July 2 from 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Overnight road closures will expedite removal of the existing sign and the installation of the overhead section of the new arched structure and will seek to minimize traffic delays. The overnight closure previously planned for Monday has been canceled. The project is scheduled to be completed the first week in July with a ribbon-cutting celebration anticipated for July 10.

The $488,000 project to replace the “Castroville – Artichoke Center of the World” sign was made possible by Gov. Newsom’s Clean California program led by Caltrans.

Another Clean California Beautification project in Castroville has recently revitalized the Highway 156 Geil Street Pedestrian Overcrossing with colorful new murals, landscaping and safety improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists. The project cost $940,000 and a celebration is anticipated this fall.

The Clean California Beautification program in its first three years has hauled away more than 2.6 million cubic yards of litter, hosted more than 500 free dump days in communities throughout the state, collected 12,000-plus mattresses, collected 50,000 tires, enlisted nearly 60,000 community clean-up volunteers, and created over 18,000 jobs, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation, or experiencing housing insecurity.

The program’s first three years included a surge in the number of cleanup crews collecting trash on public highway rights-of-way, according to the Governor’s office. But an equally important goal of Clean California has been to extend a zero-litter philosophy beyond the public highway system into every local community and instill renewed pride.

In July 2024, the Governor’s office reported that 94 of 312 projects had been completed, and another 171 were expected to be finished by July 2025. In one example, Kern County, a year ago this month celebrated the completion of a major parks project in the underserved community of Lost Hills that benefited from a $2 million Clean California local project grant. It included five new state-of-the-art play facilities, installation of ADA-compliant sidewalks, a sports field, running track, and community centers.

Clean California has also invested in community engagement and education to extend the anti-litter revolution well into the future. It has resulted in Adopt-A-Highway participation leaping by 50% from about 3,000 to 4,500 stretches of state roads being adopted and cleaned up by the public.

For more information, visit https://cleanca.com/.

Monterey County nonprofit formed to continue cold case investigations

Since 2020, nearly 30 closed cases have been solved by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Task Force. Now that federal funding for the task force is winding down, a group of volunteers is gearing up to help the work continue.

The newly established nonprofit Cold Case Project of Monterey County was formed to continue funding technology required for local law enforcement agencies to investigate cases that have long gone cold.

“We understand the really good work that they’re doing and how effective being able to access and avail yourself of the new technology is to these cold cases,” said Ann Kern, board president. “So when we heard that there would be no availability of funds, we literally just put our heads together and said ‘how are we going to keep the good work going?’”

Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni established the task force five years ago as a commitment for the county’s various law enforcement agencies to work to solve cold cases. The force received a $535,000 grant in 2022 from the U.S. Department of Justice to fund critical forensic work including DNA analysis. The three-year grant is now running out with all funding resources exhausted or appropriated.

To continue the work, Kern and an all-volunteer team have come together to fund investigations. The nonprofit is open for donations from an established fund through the Community Foundation for Monterey County and is already accepting requests from local agencies who need help funding their work.

With more than 600 unsolved homicides, 38 long-term missing persons cases, over 50 cases of unidentified remains and dozens of unsolved sexual assaults in Monterey County, those behind the Cold Case Project believe there is still much work to be done and closure to be served.

“These are people who are loved, these are people who had family members, were members of the community,” said Kern.
”People remember, and we want people to realize that we haven’t forgotten either about these loved ones.”

Since the task force was established, 19 cases have been solved and 10 human remains have been identified.

“The only issue is that it’s really prohibitively expensive,” said Kern. The nonprofit’s message to local agencies is simple: “If you’ve got good evidence, let’s not let that cost be the reason why a case doesn’t get solved.”

The lowest private laboratories have quoted agencies is around $7,500 for DNA testing that led to the identification of human remains. The cost to investigate whole cases, which can involve multiple rounds of DNA analysis and genealogy testing can cost upwards of $30,000.

The task force helped solve the case of Anne Pham, a 5-year-old girl kidnapped and murdered while walking to school in 1982. Police working the case found a partial pubic hair on Pham’s clothes but could not properly test its DNA. With the help of modern-day technology and genealogical testing (which cost around $30,000), Pham’s murder was solved 43 years later.

Robert Lanoue, a then 29-year-old Army member stationed at Fort Ord, was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for Pham’s murder.

“It is challenging to put together the pieces of these very intricate puzzles, and the newest technology now is allowing us to breathe life into some of these cases where all the leads had already been run down,” said Kern.

The task force also helped identify 69-year-old Jurn Norris as the perpetrator in the 1979 murders of Helga DeShon and Uicha Malgieri, two young women married to men stationed at Fort Ord.

While he was a suspect at the time, DNA testing did not exist and physical evidence was inconclusive, so Norris was never arrested. Even though Norris was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial, the task force’s investigation helped close the nearly 45-year-old cold case and bring closure to the community.

“People seem to be intrigued by cold cases,” said Kern. “They seem to connect with this topic, and we’re hoping to reach people, whatever amount of resources they have, we’re hoping that they will join us in really working toward bringing resolution to these cases in Monterey.”

More information about the Cold Case project can be found at https://www.coldcasesmonterey.org/.

Court blocks Louisiana law requiring schools to post Ten Commandments in classrooms

By SARA CLINE and JACK BROOK

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A panel of three federal appellate judges has ruled that a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in each of the state’s public school classrooms is unconstitutional.

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The ruling on Friday marked a major win for civil liberties groups who say the mandate violates the separation of church and state, and that the poster-sized displays would isolate students — especially those who are not Christian.

The mandate has been touted by Republicans, including President Donald Trump, and marks one of the latest pushes by conservatives to incorporate religion into classrooms. Backers of the law argue the Ten Commandments belong in classrooms because they are historical and part of the foundation of U.S. law.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ order stems from a lawsuit filed last year by parents of Louisiana school children from various religious backgrounds, who said the law violates First Amendment language guaranteeing religious liberty and forbidding government establishment of religion.

The mandate was signed into law last June by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.

The court’s ruling backs an order issued last fall by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles, who declared the mandate unconstitutional and ordered state education officials not to take steps to enforce it and to notify all local school boards in the state of his decision.

Law experts have long said they expect the Louisiana case to make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, testing the conservative court on the issue of religion and government.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar Kentucky law violated the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress can “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” The high court found that the law had no secular purpose but served a plainly religious purpose.

In 2005, the Supreme Court held that such displays in a pair of Kentucky courthouses violated the Constitution. At the same time, the court upheld a Ten Commandments marker on the grounds of the Texas state Capitol in Austin.

Horoscopes June 20, 2025: Nicole Kidman, be smart, plan your actions

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Alisan Porter, 44; Nicole Kidman, 58; John Goodman, 73; Lionel Richie, 76.

Happy Birthday: Your passionate approach to life, love and matters that concern you will forge its way to the forefront this year. Guidance on your part will be necessary if you want to make a difference without suffering consequences. Be smart, plan your actions and prepare to execute your agenda with finesse and no room for failure. Recognize your target’s weakness, and proceed with relentless precision. Your numbers are 3, 13, 23, 29, 34, 37, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Listen, observe and be cautious regarding what you agree to do. Excess is the enemy; ignore those trying to talk you into something that costs you financially, emotionally or physically. Focus on health, helping a meaningful cause and connecting with people striving for self-improvement. Take the safe route. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take a complimentary position when networking. Showing interest will encourage others to share their secrets with you. Learn, grow and expand your interests to meet the demands you want to pursue. A partnership or romantic connection will enhance your life and encourage domestic changes. A disciplined approach to work will attract attention. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Strive for completion. Leaving things unfinished will eat away at you, causing stress and anxiety. Lighten the load, free yourself and move on to more enjoyable pastimes. Rewards are within reach if you follow the proper protocol and clear the way. Pamper yourself and get together with people who lift your spirits. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Refuse to let uncertainty trick you into being a follower. When in doubt, ask questions and see what resonates with your soul. Taking the road less traveled is OK if it brings you peace of mind and helps you move forward. When you spin your wheels and do nothing, you waste time. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Refuse to let your emotions interfere with your decisions. Mix creativity with discipline and a good work ethic, and you’ll achieve and learn something about yourself from the experience. Don’t succumb to boredom; fulfill your life by following your intentions. Follow the path that makes a difference. Offer your time, not your money. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): An energetic approach to work, life and getting ahead will help you advance. Refuse to let the changes others make distract or push you onto a path that leads nowhere. A direct approach will help you gain momentum and attract the attention you need to get ahead. Live life your way. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stop second-guessing. Keep an open mind, but refuse to be a part of something for the wrong reason. Trusting your instincts and having confidence in yourself and what you can offer is essential. Refuse to let laziness prevail when ingenuity, structure and hard work are necessary to reach your goal. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Be aware of the rules before you engage in something new. If you are an actor, prepare; if you are a bystander, watch and learn. Change begins with you. The choices you make can hinder or help you. Be discreet, observant and direct. What you learn will guide you to a better place. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Time is on your side, and rushing will only lead to mistakes. Take the time to deal with your life and improve it before you take on outside issues that don’t concern you. Getting your house in order first will offer peace of mind and leverage when it is time to fight someone else’s battles. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Get your facts straight before you start a conversation with someone prepared for battle. Expect to face temptation and misinformation from someone trying to convert your way of thinking or to push you into second-guessing your beliefs. Don’t let anger set in when knowledge and experience are necessary. Use reality over manipulation. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Concentrate on finishing what you start and avoiding people trying to distract you for their benefit. Partnerships will require thought and proper handling to avoid emotional manipulation. Learn when to say no, and you’ll gain respect and self-confidence. Pay attention to where your money goes. 4 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Keep social activities and entertainment within budget. Too much of anything will lead to regret. Focus on personal gain, and fine-tune your style to meet the criteria necessary to get ahead. Distance yourself from users and abusers, and focus on doing what is best for you. Love yourself, and you’ll attract the right people. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are prevalent, direct and changeable. You are enticing and stylish.

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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Appeals court lets Trump keep control of National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An appeals court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to keep control of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles following protests over immigration raids.

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The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found Trump acted illegally when he activated the soldiers over opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The deployment was the first by a president of a state National Guard without the governor’s permission since 1965.

In its decision, a three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded it was likely Trump lawfully exercised his authority in federalizing control of the guard.

It said that while presidents don’t have unfettered power to seize control of a state’s guard, the Trump administration had presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for doing so, citing violent acts by protesters.

“The undisputed facts demonstrate that before the deployment of the National Guard, protesters ‘pinned down’ several federal officers and threw ‘concrete chunks, bottles of liquid, and other objects’ at the officers. Protesters also damaged federal buildings and caused the closure of at least one federal building. And a federal van was attacked by protesters who smashed in the van’s windows,” the court wrote. “The federal government’s interest in preventing incidents like these is significant.”

It also found that even if the federal government failed to notify the governor of California before federalizing the National Guard as required by law, Newsom had no power to veto the president’s order.

Trump celebrated the decision on his Truth Social platform, calling it a “BIG WIN.”

He wrote that “all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done.”

Newsom issued a statement that expressed disappointment that the court is allowing Trump to retain control of the Guard. But he also welcomed one aspect of the decision.

“The court rightly rejected Trump’s claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court,” Newsom said. “The President is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.”

The court case could have wider implications on the president’s power to deploy soldiers within the United States after Trump directed immigration officials to prioritize deportations from other Democratic-run cities.

Trump, a Republican, argued that the troops were necessary to restore order. Newsom, a Democrat, said the move inflamed tensions, usurped local authority and wasted resources. The protests have since appeared to be winding down.

Two judges on the appeals panel were appointed by Trump during his first term. During oral arguments Tuesday, all three judges suggested that presidents have wide latitude under the federal law at issue and that courts should be reluctant to step in.

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks after U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer granted an emergency temporary restraining to stop President Trump’s deployment of the California National Guard, Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the California State Supreme Court building in San Francisco. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

The case started when Newsom sued to block Trump’s command, and he won an early victory from U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco.

Breyer found that Trump had overstepped his legal authority, which he said only allows presidents can take control during times of “rebellion or danger of a rebellion.”

“The protests in Los Angeles fall far short of ‘rebellion,’” wrote Breyer, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton and is brother to retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

The Trump administration, though, argued that courts can’t second guess the president’s decisions and quickly secured a temporary halt from the appeals court.

The ruling means control of the California National Guard will stay in federal hands as the lawsuit continues to unfold.