Daily Republic: Friday, December 23, 2022

Tribune ConTenT A

WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly passed the mammoth fiscal 2023 spend ing package in a burst of activity on the floor Thursday after finally nailing down an amend ments deal it took all day Wednesday and into the morning to hammer out.

The vote was 68-29 in support of the 4,155-page legislation. It includes the dozen annual spending bills for every federal agency, supplemental aid for the war in Ukraine and natural disaster victims, and a series of unrelated policies ranging from retirement savings incentives to driftnet fishing regulations.

“This is one of the most significant appropriations packages we have done in a very long time,” Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said before final passage. “The range of people it helps is large and deep.”

The package includes $858 billion in defense spending, a nearly 10% increase over the previous fiscal year, and

$787 billion in nondefense spending, close to an 8% increase. It also would provide roughly $85 billion in supplemental funding for Ukraine and disaster relief.

Senate passage paves the way for the House to clear the legislation ahead of government spending running out at midnight Eastern time on Friday.

The House planned to take up the measure Friday as early as 9 a.m., Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, announced hours after the Senate vote.

House leaders initially had hoped to clear the bill

Williams takes

“I get to work with these dynamic women,” Williams said.

FAIRFIELD — When the clock strikes noon Jan. 2, Wanda Williams will become the first elected Black woman to serve on the Solano County Board of Supervisors – and the board will have its first female majority.

“Women power in the house,” Williams said during a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony held Wednesday at the county Events Center. Napa County Superior Court Judge Monique Langhorne, a former Vallejo resident, administered the oath.

Both Brown and Hannigan, in interviews, noted the significance of both a female majority and having a woman of color elected to the board.

“The significance for me, really, and I’m not saying men don’t, but women are more (involved) in the family and the home,” said Brown, and pointing to issues such as mental health and medical care.

She is hopeful the new alliance, one Williams openly notes is more liberal, will focus greater attention on family issues.

school board, city council, board of supervisors or the statehouse, where Williams’ former Suisun City council colleague, Lori Wilson, now serves as an assemblywoman.

Former Supervisor Duane Kromm, addressing the crowd, noted the Suisun council, the Fairfield council, for the first time, and the Board of Supervisors, also a first, each has a female majority.

Hannigan also noted that with Williams, the county board looks more like the whole of the county.

Todd r. H Ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Solano County gets a small taste of the $69 million for Bay Area projects that are listed in the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriation Package passed Thursday by the U.S. Senate.

The House of Representatives must vote for final passage before it goes to President Joe Biden for consideration.

Sen. Alex Padilla released a statement that shows of the 42 Bay Area projects, four have direct or indirect benefit to Solano County.

Marin Clean Energy will receive $2 million for its electric vehicle charger program in Solano, Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties. MCE also will receive

$500,000 for its energy storage program.

Additionally, California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo will get $1 million for microgrid improvements.

“This funding will support installation of a modular comprehensive academic microgrid system on the California State University Maritime Academy campus to serve basic and emergency energy needs by increasing use of renewables. The microgrid will also be used for academic research and for outreach programs targeted at the local community,” the Padilla press release states.

Finally, $1 million also will go to Solano County

Williams had just introduced Supervisors Monica Brown and Erin Hannigan.

Hannigan said Williams’ election further opens the pipeline for other women to be elected to public boards, whether that be a

“We set policy; we distribute resources; we should be representative of the people we serve,” Hannigan said.

Williams also acknowledged

FAIRFIELD — The rate of Covid infections continues to climb, but Solano County health officials described the rate as “slight” in the context of a winter surge.

“We are seeing a relatively slow uptick (in cases) even in the midst of a surge,” Dr. Bela Matyas, the county public health officer, said in a phone interview Thursday.

Moreover, the outcomes tend to be mild, with relatively low hospitalizations and virtually no Covid-related deaths.

In fact, since March, there have only been eight deaths, all residents 75 or older, Matyas said. That is the most susceptible age group.

All of that, he said, has contributed to a decline in the rate of booster vaccines being administered, just 50 since the last update Dec. 15. That

takes the total to 184,027.

The county also continues to see a reluctance, for a host of reasons, of parents to get their children vaccinated. There have been 2,612 children 6 months to 4 years (11.6%) who have received shots, and 15,232 children 5 to 11 (41%), the county reported.

The number of positive tests for the coronavirus since

Todd r. H Ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

Todd r. H Ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

Rodriguez star Leroy Bryant signs with Washington B1

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

Wanda Williams, second from left, recites the oath of office while being sworn in as Solano County supervisor during a ceremony at the Solano County Events Center in downtown Fairfield, Wednesday.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/TNS

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., at the U.S. Capitol Building, Wednesday.

Rest in peace, Fairfield Mayor Harry T. Price

Like many Fairfielders, I was shocked and saddened to hear that Mayor Harry T. Price died last week.

He was a fixture of the local community and I, along with many other locals, will miss him. I last talked to Mr. Price after the candidate’s forum at the council chamber a few months ago.

When I sat down and thought about it, I’ve introduced Mayor Price a number of times at many different community events. Mayor Price was definitely deep in his wheelhouse when he was giving a speech, reading an official proclamation with the appropriate “whereases and therefores” and cutting a grand opening ribbon.

Just a few of the times that come to mind are at the Pink Fest 1 and 2 benefit concerts for Vacaville cancer nonprofit Pink Lemonade, at multiple Relay for Life events at Armijo High School and at the Red Carpet Galas at the Downtown Theatre.

But my fondest memories are when I asked him to come to Solano Christian Academy when I used to work there. We had a Winter Gala one year where we invited several prominent members of the community to breakfast, and afterward he pinpointed local resources the school could mine in the community. His personal favorites were when I asked him to come during I Love to Read Week. He would positively be beaming as he conveyed a story aloud to the students and watched them become engaged in it through

the learned magic of reading.

My favorite time when he came to Solano Christian Academy was the first day of school in 2015 where we had the theme, “Back to School with the SCA Superheroes.” We invited cosplayers who depicted comic book superheroes like Spider-Man, Thor, Captain America and others, and also had real-life superheroes like the fire chief, police chief, military members and the mayor.

After a rousing chapel session, they all officially opened the school year by holding a red ribbon while the kids counted down and then Mayor Price sliced it with a flourish to excited applause.

More than once when I introduced Mr. Price I jokingly said he was like McDonald’s Mayor McCheese, except that he was missing a top hat and a sash. I also kidded him about the size of the shears he used to cut those red ribbons. While they were oversized – like hedge trimmers – in Daily Republic microfilm I’ve seen pictures of absolutely ginormous scissors his predecessors used that could have belonged to the Jolly Green Giant.

The most poignant moment where I remember Mayor Price speaking was on that absolutely horrible day that Matt Garcia died. There was a vigil in the quad area between City Hall and the council chamber and Police Department. It was a sweltering day and the crushing weight of the loss was

what comforted by the presence of other locals sharing in that sudden, brutal time of grief, and Mayor Price talked about Matt’s goal to one day be the mayor and declared him so.

Another thing that deepens my sorrow at Mayor Price’s death is that I knew he had been an outstanding English teacher at Vanden – being named Solano County Teacher of the Year in 1986. I had wanted to interview him for a column about Vanden I have been meaning to do for years now and once again, I waited too long.

I am saddened he is gone, but grateful to have known him and that he left a positive mark here through his public service to Solano County’s seat.

Other locals shared remembrances of Mayor Price on Facebook:

Hazel Lim: Rest in peace, Mayor Price. You were an iconic fixture of our community and you’ll be missed.

Jill Zuerner: Before his long term as Fairfield mayor, he was a much beloved English teacher at Vanden. I was in one of his first classes and always remembered his kindness. Rest in peace, Mr. Price.

Tom Giugni: RIP Harry. He loved Fairfield and was a great supporter of Boy Scouts.

Victor Watson: One the kindest people I’ve ever met! He was a family friend since the early 1970s. He will be missed.

Frances Rodgers: Wonderful man and such a kind

person. He’s forever the mayor in my book.

Loni Howard: My dad was a custodian at Vanden – Mr. Howard. He was a friend of Mr. Price. Mr. Price gave my dad’s eulogy.

Barbara Norris: He was a great supporter of the arts in Fairfield. “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Fairfield freelance humor columnist and accidental local historian Tony Wade writes two weekly columns: “The Last Laugh” on Mondays and “Back in the Day” on Fridays. Wade is also the author of The History Press books “Growing Up In Fairfield, California” and “Lost Restaurants of Fairfield, California.”

Tony Wade Back in the day

Courtesy photos

A collage of photos with Fairfield Mayor Harry T. Price.

Suisun marks Hanukkah with 2nd Annual Menorah ceremony

Suisun City fireworks sales fizzle in 2022, down 23% from 2021

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

SUISUN CITY — A report on the sale and use of fireworks in the city showed that sales were down nearly 23% this year.

The City Council is required each year to set the policies for the sales and use of what are known as “safe and sane” fireworks. Failing to do so could cost the city “$74,172 to fund the 2023 Fourth of July Celebration, as well as $21,388 for fire prevention, fire education, fire investigation, and fire code enforcement associated with fireworks use,” a staff report to the council states.

The 2023 policy allows for nonprofits to sell fireworks from noon June 28 to

9 p.m. July 4.

The report, prepared by Fire Marshal Jose Colin, shows the Wahiawa Kajukenbo booth at Highway 12 and Marina Boulevard experienced an 8% decrease in sales

from 2021, $35,649.72, to 2022, $32,997.49. Similarly, Suisun America Little League at the Sunset Center had sales of $26,633.08 this past summer, down 13.9% from the $30,351.34 in

2021 sales. Finally, Crystal/Rodriguez Music Boosters, located in the Walmart parking lot, sold $14,541.51 in 2022, down 71.7%from$24,975.84in2021.

Overall, the 2022 sales were reported at $74,172.08, down 22.6% from $90,976.90, the report states.

The application period for groups interested in selling fireworks is Jan. 2 to Feb. 3.

In other action Tuesday, the council: n Affirmed the necessity of the development impact fees and accepted the annual report on those fees: Fire Facilities & Equipment Fee; Municipal Facilities & Equipment

City spells out steps for Suisun council candidate application process

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

SUISUN CITY — A town hall-style meeting will be held Jan. 17 to consider applicants for the vacant position on the City Council.

Up to seven candidates will be selected, before the council on Jan. 24 whittles that number down to three, and on the same night, makes a final selection.

The vacancy was created when Alma Hernandez was elected to the mayor’s post.

“We do have some wiggle room, and can call a special meeting if we need to,” Vice Mayor Princess Washington said Wednesday in a phone interview.

The deadline to make an appointment is Feb. 6. If that is not met,

the council would have no choice but go to a special election, which could not be done until November.

Applications are due to the City Clerk’s Office by 5:30 p.m. Jan. 10. Any registered voter is eligible to apply, but council candidates from the Nov. 8 election –Charles Lee Jr., former Councilwoman Jane Day and Katrina Garcia – would be given automatic spots among the seven finalists if any choose to apply.

Application materials are available at www. suisun.com.

“We are seeking candidates who have a passion for Suisun City and who share our council’s vision of making Suisun City an even greater city. Please join

See Council, Page A4

Suisun council renews waterfront business district

R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

SUISUN CITY — The City Council on Tuesday renewed the Main Street-Waterfront Business Improvement District, commonly referred to as the Historic Waterfront Business Improvement District.

“The district is a nonprofit organization created at the request of downtown merchants to promote improved business conditions and marketing of downtown Suisun City . . . (The) district

See District, Page A4

FAIRFIELD — Registration has opened for the 10th annual Solano County Science and Engineering Fair.

The event “aspires to provide an opportunity for students to develop inquiry and problem-solving skills, ignite a passion for science and engineering and explore STEM-related fields. Careers in science, technology, engineering and math have grown substantially since 2010, creating a STEM worker shortage in the U.S,” the

WASHINGTON

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic file

Fireworks are for sale at a fireworks stand along Marina Boulevard in Suisun City, June 30.

Todd

levies assessments on those businesses

ABOVE: Rabbi Chaim Zaklos lights the menorah during the 2nd Annual Menorah ceremony in Suisun City, Thursday.

LEFT: Mayor Alma Hernandez lights the shamash candle during the 2nd Annual Menorah ceremony on the Suisun City waterfront at Suisun City Hall, Thursday.

Aaron Rosenblatt/ Daily Republic photos

Iris F. Merwin

Iris F. Merwin was born June 23, 1938, to Gisli Fridriksson and Augusta Hermanssdottir in Reykjavik, Iceland. She came to the United States after graduating from Bifrost College in 1960.

Iris met her husband Paul in San Francisco and was married at the Navy Chapel on Treasure Island on July 29, 1961. She then traveled with her Navy husband and moved as far west as Hawaii and as far east as London, England. After the Navy, Iris and her family settled down in the Bay Area.

Iris was a great mother to three boys, Rob, Ken and Steve, as well as a loving and supportive wife with a wonderful sense of humor to Paul. She was active in sports and became good at tennis, playing at a 3.5 level. Iris was also skilled in needlepoint, cooking and painting with oils and watercolor.

She will be dearly missed as she was beloved by many.

Iris is survived by her husband of 62 years, Paul; son, Robert, son, Kenneth and his wife, Jen, son, Stephen and his wife, Ashley; grandson, Dillon, and ‘honorary’ twin grandchildren, Travis and Trevor.

Arrangements under the care of Bryan-Braker Funeral Home, 707-425-4697.

Pervis Lamoine Leewright

May 31, 1938 — Nov. 23, 2022

We are saddened to announce the passing of Mr. Pervis Lamoine Leewright. Pervis was born at home to William Purvis Leewright and Etta Marie Leewright in Sulfur Springs, Texas, in 1938. He left us on Nov. 23, 2022, passing comfortably in his sleep.

Pervis was born the fourth of five children. He is survived by his younger sister, Sue; son, David; grandchildren, Kristen and Kevin; and his great-grandson, Keith, now 16 years old.

VETERAN

The Leewright family moved from Texas to San Diego, California, in 1942 and on to Suisun Valley in 1946. Pervis attended Armijo High School, graduating in 1956 and served the next two years in Korea in the U.S. Army.

After returning home to Fairfield, California, in 1958, Pervis met and married Donna Lewis of Vacaville.

Pervis spent most of his working career as a foreman in the packaging department of Basic Vegetable in Vacaville. Pervis also served as a Vacaville police reserve officer after graduating Solano College with an AA degree in Criminal Justice.

As a young man, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and the great outdoors. In later years, he spent most of his time motorcycling with friends and family, riding to Florida in 2001 and Sturgis in 2003. Pervis was also very active with his local clubs, serving as Sergeant-at-Arms in the Vacaville Moose Lodge for many years. He was also an active member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iron Steads of Vacaville, and ABATE.

His laughter and love of life will be greatly missed.

Viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., with funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, at BryanBraker Funeral Home, 1850 W. Texas St. Fairfield. Graveside service will be at 12:30 p.m. at the Suisun Fairfield Cemetery, 1707 Union Ave., Fairfield, California.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Ronald McDonald House in Sacramento.

Arrangements under the care of Bryan-Braker Funeral Home, 707-425-4697.

Lorraine Francis Wesner Nov. 11, 1930 — Dec. 9, 2022

Lorraine Francis Wesner (English), 92, passed away at home on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. Lorraine was born in Oakland, California, on Nov. 11, 1930. She was raised on Abernathy Lane in Fairfield on the family fruit farm.

She met her husband, John Wesner, on the farm. They were married in 1948 until his passing in 1998.

Lorraine worked for Avon in her younger years and then was a homemaker. She loved cooking, knitting and drawing. She enjoyed gardening and nature very much. But most of all, she loved her animals, usually more than people.

She is survived by her sister, Shirley English of Oregon; brother, Bob English of Fort Bragg; son, Ed Wesner; daughter, Penny Wesner; granddaughters Patty and Paige (David); and four loving great-grandchildren.

Funeral service for Lorraine will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, at Bryan-Braker Funeral Home, 1850 W. Texas St. She will be laid to rest at Fairmount Memorial Park in an interment ceremony following her service.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you please make a donation to a local animal shelter in her honor.

Marcia Ellen Moore

June 6, 1952 — Nov. 25, 2022

Marcia Ellen Moore was born in San Francisco, California, to Kenneth and Everly Moore.

Marcia proudly joined the Marine Corps in Jacksonville, Florida, on Sept. 11, 1972. Marcia was a licensed bail bonds agent in Sacramento for over 10 years. She also obtained her Licensed Vocational Nurse degree.

She is survived by her daughter, Jamie (Andrew) Paulsen; sisters, Teri (Fernando) Castro, Patricia Jetter; brothers, Larry (Jo Ann) Wilkey, Robert (Lisa) Wilkey; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her father, mother; and daughters, Irene Bashline and Johnnie Mae.

Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon. Celebration of life will follow at Fraternal Order of Eagles, 77 Marina Center Blvd., Suisun City, California.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Fraternal Order of Eagles Cancer Fund, 77 Marina Center Blvd., Suisun City, CA 94585.

Asa Jackson Nov. 10, 1931 — Dec. 8, 2022

Asa Jackson, 91, of Fairfield, California (2015-2022), and Albany, California (1965-2015), passed away peacefully on Dec. 8, 2022, in her sleep.

The SGI Bay Area community lost a pivotal member. Asa was a devoted SGI member and she loved to help those in need. She will be remembered for her delicious, traditional Japanese food, gorgeous flower arrangements and Japanese crafts.

She will leave a tremendous gap in the lives of those who knew and loved her and will be sorely missed.

She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Jackson, Joyce Jackson and Helen Jackson; and her grandchildren, Naymon Frank, Miya Frank, Marin Gibson, Alyssa Brouwers, Kathryn Jackson and Jessica Jackson.

She is predeceased by her husband, Robert Jackson; and her sons, Ricky Jackson and Russell Jackson.

She will be laid to rest with her husband at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.

Dodd introduces bill to force UC schools to return native artifacts

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Legislation was introduced Wednesday that would require University of California schools to allocate sufficient funds to meet repatriation requirements for Native American remains and cultural items.

“Although the university system is required to return these items to tribes, it has not always done so in a consistent and timely manner,” Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, said in a statement released by his office.

“My bill would help

Suisun

Fee; Off-Site Street Improvements Program Fee; Park Improvement Program Fee; and Police Facilities & Equipment Fee. A copy of the report will be available at the Finance Department by Dec. 31. There were no changes to the fee amounts.

n Approved a threeyear, $234,000 contract with Superior Building Services for janitorial services for the Joseph A. Nelson Community Center, two nights per week; the Police Depart-

restore dignity to generations of indigenous Californians by ensuring campuses allocate the necessary funding to complete the repatriation process and by holding them accountable to get it done,” Dodd said.

No details were included about what that level of funding should be, or from where the funds would come.

An audit released in November shows only UC Davis and UCLA have repatriated the majority of their Native American collections, and that Berkeley, Riverside, San Diego and Santa Barbara “have

ment, four nights per week; City Hall, four nights per week; and the Marina bathrooms, three days per week.

n Sitting as the Successor Agency, approved the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule for fiscal year 2023-24 to be submitted to the county auditor-controller, administrative officer and the Solano County Oversight Board for approval. There was one addition to the report: $156,232 Marina Maintenance Projects to Marina Construction Loan Annual Payment. The costs include $110,248 for annual maintenance and inspection of the floating concrete dock system; $33,960 for Marina Har-

not reviewed all Native American remains and cultural items in their possession,” the Dodd statement said.

The statement further asserts that University of California campuses have possessed hundreds of thousands of Native American artifacts, and their return is essential to the cultural beliefs of the tribe, including the safe passage to the afterlife.

“Tribes are committed to do right by our people: past, present and future,” Robert Smith, chairman

customized clock including installation; and $12,024

of the Pala Band of Mission Indians since 1990, said in the statement.

He called it “confounding” that a state law is needed to compel the University of California to return the remains and artifacts.

“We have met our obligations to honorably lay our people to rest,” Jesus Tarango, chairman of the Wilton Rancheria said in the statement. “The UC campuses need to meet their obligation to return our ancestors and cultural items to their rightful resting places.”

From Page A3

within the district area for use in various marketing and improvement activities, as determined beneficial by the district board,” the staff report to the council states.

The current assessments for the three zones within the district were not changed. The types of improvements and activities to be funded include:

n The acquisition, construction, installation or maintenance of any tangible property with an estimated useful life of five years or more including, but not limited to, the following improvements: benches; trash receptacles; decorations; signage; facade improvements; and permanent landscaping.

n Activities such as promotion of public events which benefit businesses in the area and which take place on or in public places within the area; furnishing of music in any public place in the area; activities which benefit businesses located and operating in the area, including but not limited to commercial shopping and promotional programs; and trash cleanup.

The district recently terminated its trash cleanup contract due to costs, and is working with the city to find an alternative solution.

The city is required to hold a public hearing and consider renewing the dis-

Council

From Page A3

us and be a part of finding ways to improve the lives of our residents,” Mayor Alma Hernandez said in a statement released by the city on Thursday.

That automatic bids, however, do not apply to mayoral candidate James Berg, or to Larry Brumfield, who ran unopposed for the short-term mayor’s post.

It turned out his tenure lasted 12 minutes. However, he will go down as the first Black man to serve as mayor. Lori Wilson, now an assemblywoman, was the first African-American to hold the post.

“But I do hope (they) apply,” Washington said of Berg and Brumfield.

The vice mayor strongly supports the process the council approved at its Tuesday meeting.

“I think it is actually the best way to keep it fair because we are allowing

trict each year. In other action, the council:

n Recognized La Cabana as Business of the Year. It was founded in 1990, and is located at 325 Main St.

n Approved a $55,000 professional services agreement with Planwest Partners to complete a Municipal Services Review. The cost is fully borne by Sacramentobased Buzz Oates Inc. with regard to plans for two logistics centers.

n Approved a $20,000 contract amendment with David Wade and Associates to process the development application for the Highway 12 Logistics Center Project. It takes the contract to $92,600. This total cost is fully borne by the developer/ applicant Buzz Oates Inc.

n Approved a $33,000 contract amendment with David Wade and Associates to process the development application for the Suisun Logistics Center Project. It takes the contract to $133,100. This total cost is fully borne by the developer/applicant Buzz Oates Inc. Councilman Mike Hudson dissented.

n Approved a $33,000 amendment to the professional services agreement with First Carbon Solutions to prepare an Environmental Impact Report for the Suisun Logistics Center Project. It takes the contract to $326,319. This total cost is fully borne by the developer/ applicant Buzz Oates Inc.

anyone who is interested to apply,” Washington said. She said the other benefit is that the city will have a pool of names of people who are interested in serving the community, and may be willing to be part of other commissions.

A questionnaire has been developed for applicants to complete. It addresses such things as their backgrounds in public service, their vision for the city and top priorities.

Councilman Mike Hudson also noted that some kind of conflict of interest element should be included, similar to the forms candidates file to disclose their financial interests.

The candidate responses will be available prior to the town hall, allowing the public to submit questions for all the candidates or directed at an individual, Washington said.

From Page A3

Solano County Office of Education said in a statement.

SCOE said the fair competition is open to students in third through 12th grades. Applications are due by 3 p.m. Feb. 24. Visit www.solanocoe.net/ sciencefair to apply.

For more information, contact Lilibeth Pinpin, director of Innovative Programs and Student Success, at lpinpin@solanocoe.net call 707-399-4439.

bormaster building

for Marina fish station replacement of garbage disposal.

ARMY

MARINE CORPS VETERAN

DODD

Bay Area air district hires exec from US EPA

FAIRFIELD — The Bay Area Air Quality Management District board has hired Philip Fine as the new executive officer.

He starts his duties Feb. 21. He was given a three-year contract with an annual salary of $370,000, the district reported in response to a Daily Republic inquiry.

Fine comes to the air district from the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency where he served as principal deputy associate administrator for policy.

Among his duties was serving as the environmental justice officer, which included implementation of President Joe Biden’s Justice40 initiative, the district said in a statement.

The Justice40 Initiative sets the goal of 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal spending go to “disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.”

Fire councils seek sponsors, vendors for Wildfire Safety Expo

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Sponsors and vendors for an April 15 WildFire Safety Expo are wanted.

The Green Valley and Pleasants Valley fire safety councils are hosting the event, which is “designed to engage, equip and educate people of all ages on wildfire/fire preparedness and safety.”

“We are looking for vendors who can provide a variety resources, information, goods and/or services related to wildfire preparedness and fire safety. This includes vendors who sell products and/or services related to home hardening, defensible space, fire alarms, evacuation planning, fire/ disaster preparedness, insurance and so forth,” the fire councils announced

in a statement.

Vendor registration forms can be found at www.eventbrite.com/e/ vendor-registration-forwildfire-safety-expo-tickets-494271568567. Use PromoCode “ExpoEarlyBird” to get a 10% discount if registered by Jan. 15.

Sponsorships are needed to help defray the cost of the event, with benefits given to sponsors depending on sponsorship level, which range from $100 to $2,000. If you are interested in being a sponsor, contact Rochelle Sherlock at Rochelle@ PotentiateLLC.com or at 707-718-5637.

The expo is slated for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Planning Committee is comprised of Sherlock, Grant Kreinberg, David Stevens, Rose Loveall, Revalee Hemken and Jenn Smith.

‘Critical incident,’ ‘mass casualty’ training set at Wood

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

VACAVILLE — The city is hosting a two-day critical incident training Wednesday and Jan. 4 at Will C. Wood High School. Students, 14 or older, will serve as volunteer crisis actors.

“Residents and businesses in the area can anticipate seeing several police and fire vehicles and apparatus in the area representing the city of Vacaville and surrounding agencies,” the city said in a statement. “Each exercise is designed to prepare

public safety personnel to respond to critical incidents that may occur on school campuses.”

The Vacaville School District, the Public Health Division of the Solano County Health and Human Services, Medic Ambulance, Kaiser Permanente and other agencies will participate in the exercise “to create training scenarios as realistic as possible,” the city said.

Included in this training will be an active shooter “mass casualty . . . incident to simulate a draw on area resources.”

The spending includes climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, remediation and reduction of legacy pollution, and the development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure.

Fine “brings broad air quality experience” and “a proven track record of building consensus” across numerous stakeholders “including community

and environmental organizations, elected officials, government organizations and industry,” district board Chairman John Bauters said in the statement.

“His focus and commitment to diversity, inclusion and environmental justice will enhance the agency’s ability to engage communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution to improve air quality and public health in the Bay Area,” Bauters said.

Prior to the EPA, Fine

served 15 years at the South Coast Air Quality Management District in Southern California.

He most recently served as the deputy executive officer for the Planning, Rule Development & Area Sources Division.

Prior to this role, Fine’s responsibilities at South Coast included oversight of ambient air monitoring, laboratory services, quality assurance and source testing.

Fine received his doctorate from the California

Institute of Technology in environmental science and engineering, and his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

The Bay Area Air Quality District represents all or parts of the nine Bay Area counties, including the Fairfield and Vallejo areas of Solano County.

tRibune content agency

LOS ANGELES —

Federal drug agents in Los Angeles have seized 38 million deadly doses of fentanyl this year – enough to kill every resident in L.A., Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, officials estimated.

Agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency field office have confiscated 7 million fentanyl pills and more than 1,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2022 – accounting for 10% of the drug seized across the country, according to the agency.

“As people prepare to celebrate the holidays and gather with friends and family, let us be mindful of the fentanyl threat that is destroying fami-

lies across the nation and leaving empty seats at the dinner table this year,” said DEA Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner. “Los Angeles is a major transshipment hub for fentanyl and other drugs and we continue to see massive amounts of addictive drugs flooding our neighborhoods. These seizures represent our tenacious efforts to make our communities safer and our ongoing commitment to save lives.”

The amount of fentanyl seized in the Los Angeles area was more than double the amount confiscated in 2021, according to the DEA.

Nationwide, the DEA seized about 379 million deadly doses of the powerful opioid.

Hutchinson says she was urged not to reveal Trump Jan. 6 outburst in SUV

tRibune content agency

The White House aide who testified that former President Donald Trump had an angry outburst at his security detail on Jan. 6, 2021 was urged in advance not to bring up the episode by a lawyer linked to the then-president’s legal team.

Cassidy Hutchinson recalled in closed-door questioning by the House Jan. 6committee released on Thursday that Stefan Passantino, a former Trump White House ethics lawyer, advised her to claim she could not recall details of the episode.

Hutchinson, an aide to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, was a star witness in the committee’s televised hearings over the summer. In the transcripts, she testified that Passantino and other Trump allies floated potential job offers amid her appearances for depositions, which she saw as efforts to keep her loyal. She also described a number of encounters with various White Houseassociates giving her unsolicited advice on dealing with the committee.

In one exchange, she said that Ben Williamson, a top aide to Meadows, told her that Meadows, along with Williamson’s attorney, had told him that “I don’t recall” is an

acceptable answer to give the committee because the committee doesn’t know what you can and can’t recall. Reached by phone Thursday, Williamson said he had no comment.

But the most controversial part of Hutchinson’s testimony was about how she was told Trump reacted angrily when his security detail refused to take him to the Capitol on Jan. 6. The incident came after Trump had just delivered a fiery address urging his followers to march on the building as Congress prepared to certify the victory of Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Hutchinson told Passantino she heard from Tony Ornato, a long-time Secret Service agent who was working at the time as deputy chief of staff to Trump, that the former president had lunged for

the steering wheel of the SUV he was in, and had even tried to wrap his hands around the neck of of one agent.

Hutchinson testified that Passantino told her, “No, no, no, no. We don’t want to go there. We don’t want to talk about that.”

She said she asked “what if they do ask me about that?”

“They have no way of knowing that. Nobody ever would,” he said.

“I said, ‘But if I do recall something, but not every detail, Stefan, can I still say I don’t recall?”

“And he had said, ‘Yes.’ ” Hutchinson told the committee, on Sept. 14.

Trump, in a social media post during the hearing, denied the incident took place.

Ornato told the panel he didn’t remember the conversation.

But the panel asserted in the summary of its 17-month investigation that it “has significant concerns about the credibility” of Ornato’s testimony.

Hutchinson said Passantino advised her not to engage with the panel again unless there were a second subpoena of her, offering, “Trump world will not continue paying your legal bills if you don’t have that second subpoena.”

Hutchinson said that while she had had

strong suspicions, Passantino had never given any indications until that night that the funding for her legal representation “was coming from Trump world.”

Hutchinson also testified that Passantino and other Trump allies floated potential job offers amid her appearances for depositions, which she saw as efforts to keep her loyal.

“We’re gonna get you a really good job in Trump world,” she testified that Passantino told her in one exchange. “You don’t need to apply to other places. We’re gonna get you taken care of. We want to keep you in the family.”

She later replaced Passantino with lawyers from Alston & Bird, including former Trump Justice Department official Joseph “Jody” Hunt.

Passantino has taken a leave of absence from law firm Michael Best & Friedrich“given the distraction of this matter,” he said Wednesday in a email.

“I represented Ms. Hutchinson honorably, ethically, and fully consistent with her sole interests as she communicated them to me,” Passantino said. “I believed Ms. Hutchinson was being truthful and cooperative with the committee throughout the several interview sessions in which I represented her.”

Winter storm upends US holiday travel

tRibune content agency

A monstrous once-ina-decade winter storm is battering a huge swath of the central United States with snow and frigid temperatures, making a mess of highways and canceling thousands of flights as the holiday travel season peaks.

Blinding snow squalls and dangerous cold have gripped the region as an estimated 112.7 million people are set to travel at

least 50 miles from home through Jan. 2, according to AAA. The storm and deep freeze even triggered warnings from the White House.

“This is not like a snow day, you know, when you’re a kid. This is serious stuff,” President Joe Biden said in a Thursday briefing, calling it “dangerous” and threatening. “If you all have travel plans, leave now. Not a joke.”

More than 3,600 flights through Saturday have

been scrubbed around the U.S. already, with the majority of Thursday’s cancellations in Chicago and Denver, according to airline tracking service FlightAware. As the storm moves east, travel disruptions are set to strike New York’s LaGuardia Airport, where 191 Friday flights have already been scrapped. Several airlines have waived fees for those looking to rebook.

Amtrak also canceled some trains in the

Midwest and northern New England.

The arctic front, expected to continue for the rest of the week, is perhaps most remarkable for its sheer size. Snow, blizzard, freezes and flood warnings and advisories stretch from Washington state to Maine and down to the Gulf of Mexico. Frigid temperatures reach as far south as Texas, with Dallas forecast to drop to 10 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday night.

LA feds seize enough fentanyl doses to kill everyone in 7 counties

Crash involving truck blocks all traffic on Grizzly Island Road

a truck towing a trailer crashed and overturned along Grizzly Island Road near Rush Ranch, Wednesday. no one was injured but the crash blocked traffic in both directions

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

Andrew Harnik/Pool/Abaca Press/TNS file

Cassidy Hutchinson appears before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.s. Capitol at the Capitol, June 28.

Federal judge Benitez blocks Newsom’s foolish gun law

Politicians, being egocentric by nature, sometimes do foolish, even childish, things in their insatiable hunger for attention.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom did a foolish thing last summer when he persuaded the Legislature to pass Senate Bill 1327, which would have subjected makers of guns prohibited by state law to civil lawsuits. It essentially stripped them of their right to defend themselves by making them liable for court fees.

It was patterned on a 2021 Texas law (Senate Bill 8) that made anyone “who aids or abets” an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy subject to private lawsuits with similar restrictions on mounting a defense.

Newsom more or less admitted that SB 1327 was a stunt aimed at marshalling opposition to the Texas law. The bill even has language that repeals itself if and when the Texas law is overturned in court.

Litigation on the Texas law is underway. This month, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that a lawsuit challenging the law can proceed.

Meanwhile, however, California gun rights groups mounted a legal challenge to SB 1327, and this week, U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez, who has issued other pro-gun rights decisions in recent years, blocked the law’s enforcement. His order came with some sharp criticism for making it virtually impossible for targets of lawsuits to defend themselves.

“This court concludes that the purpose and effect of (SB 1327) is to trench on a citizen’s right of access to the courts and to discourage the peaceful vindication of an enumerated constitutional right,” he wrote. “Because the state fee-shifting statute undermines a citizen’s constitutional rights, it is this court’s role to declare its invalidity and enjoin its threat.”

Newsom had once described Benitez as a “wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby and the National Rifle Association” after one of the judge’s previous gun control rulings, but after this week’s decision, he effusively praised Benitez.

“I want to thank Judge Benitez,” Newsom said in a statement. “We have been saying all along that Texas’ antiabortion law is outrageous. Judge Benitez just confirmed it is also unconstitutional. The provision in California’s law that he struck down is a replica of what Texas did, and his explanation of why this part of SB 1327 unfairly blocks access to the courts applies equally to Texas’ SB 8. There is no longer any doubt that Texas’ cruel antiabortion law should also be struck down.”

It should be struck down for the same reasons – that it unconstitutionally limits the right to defend oneself against a lawsuit. But whether it will be is not certain.

There are a few differences in the two laws and one big difference in the underlying issues of abortion rights and gun rights. The Supreme Court, in overturning Roe v. Wade, explicitly declared there is no constitutional right to abortion while the “right to bear arms” is specifically mentioned in the Bill of Rights.

Given that difference, and the Supreme Court’s obvious distaste for severely restrictive gun laws, it’s entirely possible California’s law will be permanently blocked while the Texas law survives, at least in some form.

Whatever the outcome, however, the SB 1327 saga is an exercise in political oneupsmanship that makes a mockery of the legislative process. Passing a law in California with the declared intent of shaming a law in Texas while putting Californians in legal jeopardy is political malpractice.

Newsom and the legislators who voted for SB 1327 should be ashamed of themselves. They should be spending their time on California’s many serious problems, not trying to tell Texas what it should be doing.

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. For more columns by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary.

Preaching to choir vital to keep children safe

During a recent presentation to a room full of youth workers and parents, one person responded that I was “preach ing to the choir.” This was not the first time I’ve heard such a dismissive response.

In my experience, this usually comes from burnedout educators who seem to believe they can’t learn from anyone who is not in a classroom environment on a regular basis. Instinctively, I responded to a heckler from my experience as a standup comedian.

“Well, sir! Maybe the choir needs to be preached to. That’s part of the problem with the congregation these days. The choir don’t think the word applies to them anymore.” It wasn’t quite a drop-the-mic moment, but the awkward silence made it a “sit down and shut up” moment for that person.

Parents and youth workers need to continue learning and embracing the constantly changing youth culture and environment. Parents should be aware of their children’s social identity. It is wise for a youth worker or parent to understand youth culture. The more in tune you are with your youth, the more you can help them navigate through the troubled terrain of adolescence. By assuming to understand the modern youth culture with no true

sense of understanding, many parents take the authoritative approach, which begins to tear at the threads of trust.

Staying connected helps you maintain a healthy relationship with your child.

How can we become more aware of modern youth culture and therefore more connected with your child’s social network? By simply listening. This will allow and encourage pleasant conversations with a child where they will feel comfortable talking about issues that are relevant to them.

Ask questions about their friends, what activities they participate in at school or the modern fashion trends. You will be surprised to discover how disconnected you are. It’s also a great opportunity to get to know your child a bit better. Resist the urge to interrupt your child when they say something you don’t agree with. If you are curt or demeaning to them, they will shut down on you, and good luck getting them to ever open up to you again.

Having said that, there is also a time when you need to diligently redirect them if you see a critical need to do so. Be selective as to what matters need to be immediately addressed and what can be revisited later.

Your children are still very fragile. Remember, there is a time to correct

and a time to connect.

Being ignorant to your child’s social environment could be devastating. My mother basically destroyed my reputation by being ignorant to the youth fashion trends of that era and flat-out cheap. She bought me a pair of generic athletic shoes. They were a brand called Pro-Keds that had a logo with two stripes. So in order to fit in and not get embarrassed by my classmates, I would take a sharpie and draw a very convincing extra stripe so they would look like Adidas. Of course I would keep moving so no one could get a good look my homemade Adidas.

It was one of the most stressful and potentially embarrassing experiences of my youth. A fine example of how just being a little more attentive to your child’s social environment could prevent a great deal of emotional stress and social anxiety.

Don’t underestimate how serious adolescent depression can be due to peer pressure, teasing or cyberbullying. We are experiencing an alarming rate of teen suicides nationwide.

Monitor your child’s self-esteem and reinforce their positive attributes with compliments or acknowledgments.

Deon D. Price is an author and youth life skills coach who lives in Fairfield. He can be reached at www.deondprice.com or thisyouth generation@gmail.com.

Here’s what the Fed should do next on inflation

The debate over U.S. monetary policy is in a new phase. There is no longer any question the Fed allowed itself to fall way behind the curve in the second half of 2021 and early 2022, calling its credibility into question. It is equally clear, as its critics urged, the Fed has since moved aggressively to contain inflation by raising rates and quantitatively tightening. After these steps, along with the president’s releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and some good luck, the Fed has regained its credibility as an inflation fighter.

Unfortunately, all major reductions in inflation in the past 70 years have been associated with recessions. It should come as no surprise many economists, including me, expect a recession to begin in 2023. Historical experience as encapsulated in the proposition known as the Sahm Rule demonstrates whenever U.S. unemployment rises by more than half a percent within a year, it goes on to rise by 2%. So, if recession comes it is very likely to lift unemployment to the 6% range.

What should the Fed do next? The choices from here get harder, not easier, as both the risk of a severe recession and enduring inflation make policymaking more challenging. Chair Jerome H. Powell was right in his Dec. 14 news conference to emphasize there is no basis for confident economic prediction.

Some of the most stridently made arguments are also the silliest. Doves are wrong to argue the Fed should obviously pause in raising rates since inflation expectations are low. Hawks who suggest the Fed must keep raising rates until they substantially exceed past inflation neglect the fact that inflation is coming down – much less the possibility the economy could face a Wile E. Coyote moment in 2023, in which demand collapses.

This could occur as small and medium businesses hit a wall of highinterest refinancing, as markets suddenly focus on what a recession would do to corporate profits, as consumers’ Covid-era savings are depleted, or as businesses that have been clinging to their workforces realize they’re no longer necessary.

Alternatively, oil prices could spike or geopolitical risks could increase. In all these scenarios, policymakers will wish monetary policy was not highly contractionary.

The Fed is seeking to balance the risk of stagflation caused by entrenched inflation expectations with the risk of dangerous downturn. It is being supported by the administration, which is doing an exemplary job of respecting the Fed’s independence. My instinct is the Fed’s approach of stepping more gingerly as the situation becomes more problematic is appropriate.

It is unlikely we will have a

recession so severe as to drive the underlying inflation rate below the 2% target. Hence, overshooting on inflation reduction is not the primary risk, and the Fed is right to emphasize its inflation objective going forward.

This judgment is supported by another consideration. There has been a transitory element in inflation’s recent deterioration caused by bottlenecks in sectors such as used cars. As these bottlenecks ease, and prices return to normal, there will be a transitory deflationary impact hitting the statistics. This must not be confused with enduring resolution of the inflation problem.

Wage inflation is now running at 5% or more, and labor markets remain exceptionally tight. Until wage inflation declines significantly or we get clear evidence of a productivity acceleration, there is no basis for assuming any low rates of inflation observed will be sustained if monetary policy is eased.

Some suggest a 2% inflation target is not appropriate in current circumstances, especially given the costs of meeting it. Powell was right, in my view, to firmly reject this idea. I doubted at the time that setting a numerical target for inflation was a good idea, but now is not the time to switch course. A shift now even to a 3% target, let alone a higher one, would set the stage for a stagflationary decade. The 3% target would devolve to a floor, as policy eases, with the economy turning down and 3% in sight.

A year ago, the policy imperative was altering a monetary policy that was way behind the curve. Today, the greatest low-hanging fruit for policy improvement lies in steps the rest of the government outside the Fed can undertake. These include tariff reductions, measures to accelerate permitting for energy projects urged by Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W. Va.), measures to contain health care and college tuition costs, and procurement practices focused on buying at minimum cost.

Fiscal policy will need to respond

if and when recession comes. There will not be room for massive, acrossthe-board efforts. But now is the time to put in place carefully targeted measures to refund child tax credits, strengthen unemployment insurance and be ready to pull forward federal spending on maintenance and replacement cycles to periods when overall demand is soft.

It is a tribute to the 2010 DoddFrank financial regulations that so much monetary tightening has taken place with so little market trauma. But regulators need to be alert to issues of liquidity in a number of markets and to the very substantial divergences that have opened in recent months between public market valuations and the value at which many assets are being carried on private balance sheets. They also need to be conscious of the possibility that well-intentioned regulatory safeguards will interfere with liquidity in key markets.

The rest of the world will suffer greatly if the United States does not control inflation and rates ultimately rise far above current levels, as occurred in the early 1980s. Even recent increases in rates and the dollar along with geopolitical dislocations are creating serious problems for many developing countries. The United States should be leading global efforts to resolve sovereign debt problems more quickly and to catalyze much higher lending levels from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Managing inflation and the risk of recession in a way that ensures a soft landing is likely not possible. But managing these risks with maximum care is profoundly important as a foundation for the long-term investment policies that will drive the inclusive prosperity that almost all Americans desire.

Lawrence Summers is a professor at and past president of Harvard University. He was treasury secretary from 1999 to 2001 and an economic adviser to President Barack Obama from 2009 through 2010.

Dan Walters

Deon D. Price

Lawrence H. Summers

(707) 427-1386

Willis, Moore about to be ‘kooky unhinged’ grandparents

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore are about to take on new roles: grandparents.

The former couple’s eldest daughter, Rumer Willis, took to Instagram Tuesday to share the happy news in an announcement the whole family took part in.

The younger Willis, 34, and boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas shared some black-and-white photos of the Vista Kicks singer kissing the expectant mother’s belly.

Willis quickly received support from her mom, 60, as well as sisters Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 28. The trio all shared the same posts, with variations on the “Ghost” star’s caption: “Entering my hot kooky unhinged grandma era,” wrote Moore.

“Thank you @rumer willis and @derek richardthomas for cocreating my new best friend,” added Scout.

Willis’ stepmom, Emma Heming Willis –with whom the “Die Hard” star, 67, shares two younger daughters – also shared the photos on her own page.

“Baby news is happy news!!!” wrote the “Red 2” actress, 44. “Congratulations @rumerwillis and @derekrichardthomas We are elated over here!” Bruce Willis has not yet posted about his impending grandfatherdom, but it’s a happy development after a dark start to the year.

The family announced in March that he would be “stepping away” from acting due to aphasia, which affects one’s ability to communicate.

Zits Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

Pearls Before Swine Stephan Pastis

Dilbert Scott Adams

Baby Blues Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott

Baldo Hector Cantú

My sister leaks secrets to my motherin-law despite requests for her to stop

Dear Annie: I’m writing to you because I need advice on my relationship with my older sister. I’m in my 50s, and she’s eight years older. She and her husband have no children. My husband and I have a son and daughter, both young adults. Our parents and brother have all passed, so it’s just the two of us now in our immediate family.

My dilemma is that my sister has started calling my mother-in-law and “chatting” with her. My family is often the topic of their conversations.

Unfortunately, many things that I have told my sister in confidence have been shared with my husband’s mom. And vice versa. I feel like I have lost two of my closest friends to each other.

I have asked my sister not to discuss me or my kids with my MIL, but she continues to do so. I ask her to just talk about her own life and not to share my news – but it’s to no avail. She has told her things I have asked her to keep between us. I’ll find out and she’ll say, “What’s the big deal?”

The big deal to me is that I feel like I can’t trust her anymore. We used to be able to talk about anything, and now I feel like I need to edit what I say to her. I have expressed this to her, and she acts like she understands. She will apolo-

gize, but within a week or two, she will do the same thing again. She doesn’t see that she’s crossing boundaries. Or maybe she doesn’t care. For example, I might discuss a health concern with her, but not my mother-in-law, because I don’t want to worry her. Well, you can see where this is heading! Trust is diminished across the board. What can I do? I really feel lost. — Frustrated Little Sister

Dear Frustrated Little Sister: Frustrating, indeed! If you have spelled it out for your sister as clearly as you spelled it out for me in this letter, she really should understand and act accordingly.

At the risk of sounding trite, talk is cheap. Until your sister proves through her actions that she is worthy of your trust, stop sharing details with her that you don’t want your MIL to know also. Perhaps your sister will then see the consequences of her actions and take steps to improve.

Dear Annie: Two years ago, I got involved with a man I work with. We love each other, but the problem is that he is the same age as my parents. We’ve kept our relationship quiet because we live in a very small community and know what people would say about us. He’s a wonderful, caring, funny guy and the only one I’ve

Horoscopes

ARIES (March 21-April 19).

Someone seems to pick up what you're throwing down even when no one else does. You're now getting a sense of destiny intertwined. Tonight features the giving and receiving of compliments.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You could overcomplicate things by trying to give more and differently than what is necessary. All together now: "All you need is love. Love is all you need." – The Beatles

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You will drop ideas like seeds. They will not take root immediately and will likely travel on. Whatever was keeping you from maximum enjoyment will be dissolved by your excellent attitude.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You tend to take the lead in unknown situations. If you're not sure how to proceed, save yourself some time by checking to see if anyone else knows more than you do. If not, you'll figure it out as you go.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).

Contrary to what Copernicus proposed in the 16th century, the planets do not orbit in perfect circles around the sun. Though imperfect, their journey is consistent and predictable, kind of like your orbit of a certain loved one.

by Holiday Mathis

Today’s birthday

Refusing to let life steer you from your purpose, you embrace your role as the architect of your future. You’ll get new building materials in 2023. More highlights: You’ll see a place you’ve been curious about for years, and you’ll dive into a new relationship with your heart and mind completely open. Leo and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 12, 4, 44 and 38.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).

Social scientists have proved that untrained people typically don't read emotional expressions as accurately as they think they do. You'll do better than most because you try harder to understand people's feelings.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).

Engaging, entertaining people are said to have a lot of personality. There are instances when it helps, and other times when toning it down seems like the smart thing to do. You'll be a genius at matching the tone you're in.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).

ever really fallen for. I’m not thrilled about keeping this a secret, and I’m not sure what will happen when he’s old and I’m still young.

Marriage isn’t even on the table, and I can’t see us living together, at least not right now. Part of me says I should let him go and look for someone else, but I’m afraid if I do, I’ll regret it. He really does make me happy. I don’t want either of us to get hurt, and the thought of losing him breaks my heart. I feel like I’m hitting a wall; we can’t go forward, but I don’t want to go back. What do you think? Should I throw this fish back in the pond or keep him and be grateful for what I have? — Reeling in This Romance

Dear Reeling: It’s long been said that age is just a number. You and your boyfriend clearly care for each other a great deal. I wouldn’t even call the age difference a “problem,” but simply what it is – something that differs between you two.

If your relationship is ultimately healthy, loving and fulfilling, I would encourage you not to set those limitations for yourselves. Worrying about what may or may not happen in the future only makes the present less enjoyable. Until you actually have a reason to worry or a problem to solve, I would treasure the connection you have with this man and relish the journey you are on together.

Ask yourself why you want to do a thing or have a thing. The answer will open up more options to you. There are more ways than one to go about your goals. An expedient route will save you much hassle.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21). Your plan hinges on your ability to influence someone's opinion or change their mind. People won't respond to direct persuasion though. Casual and subtle moves are more effective than direct influence.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19). Focus on the task and not on the amount of time it takes to complete it. Executing a task is not inherently stressful but once you add in the pressures of a deadline, it changes everything.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 18). There's someone in your life who needs your emotional warmth and focus and could even be healed by it. Even so, you are the one who will benefit most from the exchange.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Someone is thinking about you intently. Although it feels nice to know that you are being considered, you should also know that the other person sees you not as you are, but as he or she expects you to be.

Bridge

by Phillip Alder

committing yourself in the key suit. This deal is a relatively simple example of the genre.

The SLM put the North-South cards on the board and paused for a minute or so before continuing.

South might well have opened one no-trump because he had no accurate rebid if partner had responded one spade. However, then there would have been no story.

Opposite North’s actual single raise, South was thin for his jump to game. He hoped that the opponents’ silence presaged favorable suit breaks.

West led the spade ace, East signaling with the queen to show the queen-jack. West continued with two more rounds of the suit.

South ruffed, drew trumps and paused to assess the situation. Clearly, he had to find the diamond queen to make his game. But who held the key queen?

THAT ELUSIVE SCARLET QUEEN

There are times (the Senior Life Master explained to his Saturday morning students) when you have a crucial guess to make in a suit. Perhaps you are faced with a two-way finesse. It is best to delay the decision for as long as possible. Find out as much as you can about the other suits before

Sudoku

South led the club king. When West won with the ace, the final piece of the jigsaw had fallen into place. West had shown up with 11 points: the spade ace-king and the club ace. How could he have the diamond queen as well, when he couldn’t open the bidding?

South won the club return in the dummy, cashed the diamond ace, finessed in diamonds through East and claimed his contract.

COPYRIGHT: 2022, UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE

by Wayne Gould

THAT ELUSIVE SCARLET QUEEN

There are times (the Senior Life Master explained to his Saturday morning students) when you have a crucial guess to make in a suit. Perhaps you are faced with a two-way finesse. It

Annie Lane Dear Annie

Crime logs

FairField

MONDAY, DEC. 19

2:40 a.m. — Battery, 1700 block of VERMONT STREET 7:07 a.m. — Battery, 2400 block of WATERMAN BOULEVARD 7:44 a.m. — Hit-and-run with injury, 2300 block of FAIRFIELD AVENUE 8:05 a.m. — Reckless driver, AIR BASE PARKWAY 8:39 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 1900 block of DOVER AVENUE

9:54 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 1600 block of KIDDER AVENUE 11:41 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 3900 block of SHAKER RUN CIRCLE 11:49 a.m. — Battery, 500 block of VINTAGE VALLEY DRIVE 11:59 a.m. — Battery, 1700 block of ELM STREET 12:38 p.m. — Forgery, 2900 block of CASCADE CIRCLE 1:24 p.m. — Forgery, 1900 block of GRANDE CIRCLE 2:11 p.m. — Battery, 1300 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD 2:25 p.m. — Vehicle burglary, 200 block of EAST ATLANTIC AVENUE 2:26 p.m. — Forgery, 2500 block of HILBORN ROAD 2:37 p.m. — Embezzlement, 1300 block of GATEWAY BOULEVARD 2:38 p.m. — Indecent exposure, 1900 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 3:06 p.m. — Vehicle theft, 800 block of THETFORD PLACE 3:16 p.m. — Vehicle theft, 800 block of THETFORD PLACE 3:30 p.m. — Forgery, 1000 block of WEBSTER STREET 4:05 p.m. — Reckless driver, JACKSON STREET 4:33 p.m. — Forgery, 4900 block of RIDGEFIELD CIRCLE 4:50 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, HILBORN ROAD 4:55 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 4400 block of CENTRAL WAY 5:08 p.m. — Residential burglary, 300 block of MADISON STREET 5:58 p.m. — Reckless driver, OLIVER ROAD 7:16 p.m. — Reckless driver, PEABODY ROAD 7:45 p.m. — Forgery, 1200 block of HARTFORD CIRCLE TUESDAY, DEC. 20 2:02 a.m. — Indecent exposure, NORTH TEXAS STREET 7:07 a.m. — Reckless driver, WESTBOUND HIGHWAY 12 9:39 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 2700 block of PEPPERTREE DRIVE 10:13 a.m. — Fight with a weapon, 1900 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 10:19 a.m. — Vandalism, 1300 block of OLIVER ROAD 11:39 a.m. — Vandalism, GATEWAY BOULEVARD 12:46 p.m. — Forgery, 1400 block of WOOLNER AVENUE 12:58 p.m. — Reckless driver, FAIRFIELD AVENUE 1:15 p.m. — Battery, 1300 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD 1:31 p.m. — Battery, 1700 block of ENTERPRISE DRIVE 1:41 p.m. — Vandalism, 1700 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 2:08 p.m. — Commercial burglary, 1800 block of WALTERS COURT 3:04 p.m. — Vehicle theft, 1300 block of WEST TEXAS STREET 4:51 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, KENTUCKY STREET 5:27 p.m. — Trespassing, 1300 block of EMPIRE STREET 5:32 p.m. Sexual assault, 2200 block of SILVER FOX CIRCLE 6:21 p.m. — Forgery, 3200 block of LAGUNITA COURT 6:55 p.m. — Trespassing, 300 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD 7:30 p.m. — Vandalism, 4400 block of CENTRAL WAY 7:33 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, COOLIDGE STREET 7:49 p.m. — Reckless driver, CEMENT HILL ROAD 10:11 p.m. — Vehicle theft, 2700 block of PEPPERTREE DRIVE 10:31 p.m. — Trespassing, 1400 block of WOOLNER AVENUE

have

information on any crime or criminal, Solano Crime Stoppers Inc. wants your help. Solano Crime Stoppers Inc. will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. All tips are anonymous and confidential. We need your help! Call 707-644-7867.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21 1:17 a.m. — Fight with a weapon, 1000 block of EAST TABOR AVENUE 2:23 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 1800 block of DOVER AVENUE 4:34 a.m. — Fight with a weapon, 4400 block of CENTRAL PLACE 5:18 a.m. — Grand theft, SUMMERSET DRIVE 6:29 a.m. — Forgery, 1000 block of WEBSTER STREET 7:12 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 1300 block of PHOENIX DRIVE 8:09 a.m. — Assault with a deadly weapon, CHESTNUT DRIVE 10:37 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 1400 block of WOOLNER AVENUE 10:41 a.m. — Grand theft, 4700 block of SUMMERSET DRIVE 10:52 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 1300 block of WEST TEXAS STREET 10:56 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 1300 block of WEST TEXAS STREET 11:34 a.m. — Forgery, 2800 block of ESTATES DRIVE 11:46 a.m. — Grand theft, 4500 block of CRIMSON CLOVER DRIVE 12:22 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, MANCHESTER LANE 12:56 p.m. — Forgery, 200 block of ROGER STREET 1:21 p.m. — Trespassing, 200 block of EAST ALASKA AVENUE 2:56 p.m. — Sexual assault, 1200 block of DANA DRIVE 3:04 p.m. — Trespassing, 2400 block of WATERMAN BOULEVARD 3:09 p.m. — Grand theft, 4600 block of CENTRAL WAY 3:36 p.m. — Residential burglary, 600 block of EAST TABOR AVENUE 3:45 p.m. — Vehicle burglary, 1300 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD 4:07 p.m. — Sexual assault, 1800 block of SALISBURY DRIVE 4:35 p.m. — Battery, BALBOA COURT 4:35 p.m. — Robbery, 2700 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 6 p.m. — Vehicle theft, 2700 block of BRADBURY WAY 6:04 p.m. — Reckless driver, CHADBOURNE ROAD 6:35 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 2700 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 8:09 p.m. — Forgery, 3100 block of OLYMPIC ROAD 9:29 p.m. — Grand theft, 1300 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD 10:11 p.m. — Robbery, 1300 block of GATEWAY BOULEVARD

SuiSun City

MONDAY, DEC. 19 4:41 a.m. — Grand theft, 200 block of LONG STREET 2:50 p.m. — Fraud, 500 block of SHRIKE COURT TUESDAY, DEC. 20 7:23 a.m. — Trespassing, YOSEMITE WAY WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21 10:08 a.m. — Burglary, 400 block of KINGS WAY 10:40 p.m. — Grand theft, 300 block of CANVASBACK DRIVE

From

Thursday night but then determined it would not be ready for floor action in their chamber before midnight, the Maryland Democrat said.

Most of the amendment attempts were unsuccessful, but several were tacked on:

n A Bill Cassidy, R-La., amendment to attach a bipartisan bill he co-authored with Bob Casey, D-Pa., that would put in place protections for pregnant workers against workplace discrimination. The amendment was adopted on a 73-24 vote.

n An amendment from Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., to require employers to provide employees with space in the workplace and time off to pump breast milk. It was adopted 92-5.

n A Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., amendment to provide $1 billion to the World Trade Center Health Fund for first responders who got sick after the 9/11 cleanup effort and extend the program to 2027. It was adopted on a 90-6 vote.

n An amendment proposed by Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., to provide $6 billion in compensation payments to a fund for victims of state-sponsored terror, from 9/11 families to families of victims of the 1983 Marine barracks

Projects

From

for its electronic health records system upgrade.

“This funding will support a new Electronic Health Record System that will allow Solano County to consolidate all of its medical, dental and behavioral health records,” the statement said.

The Board of Supervisors in late September allocated $2.7 million in federal pandemic relief funding toward the same project for the Family Health and Community Medical centers.

In other projects with Solano connections, Leaven Kids will get $147,000 to expand its services in Contra Costa and Riverside counties. The organization was founded in Solano County to help youth in underserved neighborhoods with after-school and other programs.

There are 200 proj-

bombing in Beirut. It was adopted, 93-4.

n An amendment from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, to extend pay and benefits for Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis –who is serving time in a Japanese prison for killing two people in a 2021 car crash – was adopted by voice vote.

n An amendment from Lee and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to modify the underlying bill’s boost to merger filing fees, which was adopted 88-8.

n A proposal from John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., to give state and local officials more flexibility in how they spend coronavirus relief dollars. It was adopted by voice vote.

n A Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., amendment to authorize the administration to use the seized assets of Russian oligarchs to provide aid to the Ukrainian people. It was adopted by voice vote.

It wasn’t immediately clear how long it would take to package up all the amended paperwork for transmittal to the House. And even after the House clears the bill, it will take time for the measure to be enrolled for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s signature, the last step before it’s ready to go to the White House.

So with Christmas fast approaching, the Senate passed, by voice vote, a stopgap measure that would extend current funding through Dec. 30. The latest enacted continuing resolution is set to expire at midnight Friday.

House Appropriations

ects, totaling $428 million, spread across California, Padilla reported. The full omnibus appropriation package is $1.7 trillion.

Additional highlights in appropriations package include: n $425 million for existing Capital Infrastructure Grant projects for transit agencies such as BART, Caltrain and LA Metro. The funds are to be used to complete transit projects already under construction.

n More than $4 billion in emergency relief for agricultural producers and ranchers impacted by drought, wildfires, extreme heat and freeze incidents in 2022.

n $8 million for spacebased wildfire detection technologies through NASA.

n A $7 million increase for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fire weather activities, including the establishment of a fire weather testbed to help test and develop new technologies to monitor and forecast severe weather

from 36 to 33, the county reported, with three in intensive care units. That was the same as last week.

The number of Covidrelated deaths held at 441.

Chair Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said she didn’t think that would be necessary, however. And she expressed confidence the omnibus wouldn’t face any hurdles in the House.

“We’re going to pass it. It’s going to happen,” DeLauro said.

Thursday’s passage followed drama Wednesday night when a dispute over an amendment related to Trump-era border restrictions during the public health emergency delayed passage.

Republicans wanted a simple majority vote on Lee’s amendment to bar the Biden administration from ending the Title 42 pandemic-era asylum restriction policy, claiming it was germane to the underlying spending bill. Democrats sought a 60-vote threshold.

Democrats allowed consideration of Lee’s amendment with a simple majority threshold in exchange for a vote on an amendment proposed by Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., that, in addition to blocking funds for ending Title 42, would appropriate $8.7 billion for border security and migrant care.

Both amendments were defeated in a bit of procedural and political theater, enabling the spending bill to advance without being weighed down by controversy when it arrives in the House. The vote on Sinema-Tester was 10-87, enabling border state and other Democrats to comfortably back that proposal instead of Lee’s.

that can cause wildfires.

n $5 million, a 66% increase, for enhanced weather prediction and research on atmospheric rivers. Atmospheric river storms provide half of California’s annual precipitation and cause nearly 90% of flood damage in the state. This program funds observations, modeling and analysis of the ocean atmosphere system in order to improve forecasts and prepare communities to better mitigate atmospheric river storm damage while retaining more water for dry years.

n Language that will allow the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to move forward on construction of a seawall and other permanent structures on federal land managed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

n $3.63 billion for Homelessness Assistance Grants, a 13.1% increase that represents the highest ever funding level for this program.

n $285 million, a 21%

The latter amendment then was rejected, 47-50. Lee wrote on Twitter after the vote that the Sinema-Tester amendment is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing to mislead the American people to believe Dems are doing something to secure our borders.” He added that it “merely provides them cover to vote against my extension of Title 42 protections.”

The Senate’s passage of the legislation came the day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed a joint meeting of Congress, thanking lawmakers for their support and pleading for more as Ukraine continues to fend off Russia’s invasion. The bill includes nearly $47 billion in new military, economic and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Republicans praised the measure’s higher level of defense spending and smaller increase on the nondefense side as a win in negotiations, and highlighted the retention of the Hyde amendment, that blocks federal funding for abortion in most cases, and flat-funding the IRS.

Democrats also highlighted priorities in the package, including the first funding increase for the National Labor Relations Board in over a decade, increased clean energy funding in the Energy-Water bill and more funding for affordable housing.

With Senate passage complete, the measure heads over to the House.

increase, for the Registered Apprenticeship Program to expand apprenticeship opportunities, including in traditionally underrepresented fields.

n Increases the maximum Pell Grant award by $500 to $7,394 for the 2023-24 school year.

n $8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program, a 30% increase that will help the program serve more than 130,000 additional children.

n $1.5 billion for Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health, a 50% increase. The agency is tasked with accelerating innovation in health and medicine by investing in high-risk, high-reward research projects.

n More than $1 billion in funding for the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and $500 million for the newly formed National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Program (9-8-8).

Dec. 15 was 695, of which 669 were from the actual seven-day period: a daily case rate of 95.57, up from 89 the previous week. The 10-day rate is at 98, up from 96.2.

The number of residents who are hospitalized with positive tests went

Fairfield added 165 cases since last week, taking its total to 31,117. Vallejo had 242 cases for a new pandemic count of 35,043. Vacaville is at 28,953 with 176 new cases, the county reported.

Suisun City (8,037) added 43 cases; Dixon

tion dictate her decisions.

And, “don’t leave your faith at home. Bring it with you,” Davis said.

(5,444) added 31; Benicia (4,744) added 27; Rio Vista (1,625) added 11; and there were no new cases reported in the unincorporated area, keeping the total at 230, the county said.

Matyas has previously indicated Covid-19 case counts are likely much higher with the use of in-home testing, results of which are not generally reported to government agencies and in many

employed by the Solano Land Trust.

She added the need to safeguard Suisun Valley as well.

cases are not shared with medical providers if medical treatment is not needed. He has also said the availability of vaccines and changes to personal behavior have slowed the disease throughout the Bay Area.

The number of monkeypox cases is still 42, and the county has had no flu cases reported from the area hospitals, Matyas said.

Ruth Forney, who when appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to the Solano County board, became the first Black woman to serve. Osby Davis, who also spoke at the ceremony, was the first Black man to serve on the county board.

Davis called the ceremony a “special and historic occasion.”

He directed most of his comments toward Williams, telling her to “do what you believe is right” and never let the next elec-

Faith and religious conviction was a big part of the ceremony, and Williams acknowledged her own Christian beliefs, saying she would never have been able to get through the deaths of her two sons and other challenges without her faith. Moreover, she believes her faith is the foundation to her call to public service.

But she also noted some policy priorities.

“I will defend Travis Air Force Base, agriculture and open spaces,” said Williams, who is

Williams then challenged those in the room to get involved and be part of the solution to the issues facing the county.

In an interview prior to the ceremony, Williams said she was humbled by the situation. She called it “monumental” and “historic” and an “opportunity to be an example” to other women and women of color.

In her remarks after her oath, she had her nieces stand, and said she hopes she can inspire other young girls.

Other speakers included Vacaville Councilman Mike Silva, who said when he first met Williams, he met her “as a mother,” and said from that compassion Williams serves. Verneal Brumfield, the vice chairwoman of the Solano County Democratic Central Committee, and Marilyn Farley, a former Fairfield councilwoman, also expressed their strong belief in her character.

They said she had lived her life in preparation for this time.

“When opportunity knocked on her door, she was prepared to answer,” Brumfield said.

Vanden boys finish strong at Tarkanian Classic event

M att Miller MMILLER@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD —

The Vanden High School boys basketball team took on four teams from four different states this week and came away from Las Vegas with three victories at the Tarkanian Classic.

Vanden beat Valley of Nevada 74-62 Monday, lost to Augusta Christian of Georgia 76-65 Tuesday, beat Upper St. Clair of Pennsylvania81-69Wednesday and concluded with a 62-59 win over Springville of Utah Thursday. Vikings head coach Micheal Holloway said all four teams have won state division championships at least once in the past three years.

Vanden was competing in the 16-team Ballers TV division.

"That's what makes this tournament so special," Holloway said. "We had four games in four days and had to play at the highest level. I think they answered the bell and competed. I'm

extremely proud of this group and they also had to fight through sickness."

Holloway said Tyler Thompson averaged 20 points a game and "proved he is one of the best players in California." Elijah Lewis and Justiz Wilson averaged 13 points apiece throughout the tournament.

"The defense showed great and the offense proved we can be one of the best teams around," Holloway said.

The Rodriguez boys were also in the Ballers TV division and came away with a 2-2 record. The Mustangs were edged out by Cimarron of Nevada 74-73 Monday, beat Sheldon of Oregon 46-37 Tuesday, lost to Clark of Nevada 55-42 Wednesday and closed out the tournament Thursday with an 81-73 win over Valley of Nevada.

The Vanden girls competed in the premiere Diamond division

Solano College’s women’s team wins BVC debut

Daily r epublic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

ROCKVILLE —

The Solano Community College women’s basketball team opened up Bay Valley Conference play Wednesday night with a 62-47 win at Napa Valley.

Julia Wright led the Falcons with a doubledouble of 17 points and 11 rebounds. Jaslyn Woods scored 15 points and pulled down five rebounds. Melody Rafan added 12 points.

Solano held an edge in each quarter. The Falcons raced out to a 16-9 first quarter lead and increased the margin to 28-18 at halftime.

Vacaville High School graduate Suraya Lloyd led Napa Valley with 11 points and eight rebounds. Rose Jamison of Rodriguez had 12 points and six rebounds.

Solano improved its record to 6-7 overall. The Falcons plays next at Thursday at Laney.

Men’s team falls short in overtime

ROCKVILLE —

The Solano Community College men’s basketball team was outscored 8-2 in overtime as the Falcons fell at nearby Napa Valley 98-92 in the Bay Valley

Rodriguez football star Leroy Bryant signs with Washington

M att Miller MMILLER@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Leroy Bryant sat in a hotel room in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning and signed a national letter-of-intent to play football for the University of Washington, a school he has been committed to since June.

“It feels like a dream,” said Bryant, the standout Rodriguez High School senior. “I’m excited to get down there in June and get to work. I decided that Washington really cared about me as a person. I appreciated the way they treated me and treated my family. I love the school and the coaching staff.”

Bryant said he had offers from 18 schools that included Utah, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona, Colorado and some schools in the Mountain West Conference. He was in Las Vegas for his brother’s basketball tournament when it was time to complete his paperwork on signing day for college football.

The cornerback, wide receiver and returner was named the Daily Republic’s Player of the Year and earned all-region recognition on offense and defense. He was also the co-Monticello Empire League Player of the Year.

Bryant caught 58 passes his senior year for 837 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for a touchdown. He intercepted three passes on defense and proved to be one of the MEL’s best lockdown corners.

The recruiting website 247Sports had Bryant as the 45th best cornerback in the nation and the 35th overall prospect in California. He was rated the 80th best prospect in California by ESPN and the No. 59 prospect in the state by Rivals.com.

“I’m a kid who is willing to work as hard at practice as in games,” Bryant said. “My man-to-man coverage has gotten really good. I’m also really good at help coverage.

I’m also a student in the classroom.”

Bryant was happy to have his decision settled before his senior year. He said it helped him “focus on going out and having a great senior season.”

Bryant has been a standout basketball player at Rodriguez but took his senior year off to focus on getting ready for summer camp in Seattle. He only started playing tackle football his sophomore year.

“Nobody deserves this more than him,” Rodriguez head coach Myles King said. “I am so happy for Leroy and his family. I’m always happy to help my players reach their goals. It’s a great day in Rodriguez Mustang football history.”

Washington had a strong recruiting class with 20 commits, and was is considered the 27th best overall class, according to 247Sports. The Huskies are 10-2 this season on the field heading into Thursday’s matchup against Texas at the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.

49ers priority is to keep these 10 healthy into playoffs

Jerry McDonalD BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

SANTA CLARA —

Kyle Shanahan isn’t a big believer in resting players too much going into the playoffs even though the 49ers were the first team to stake their postseason claim.

Shanahan thinks teams that do that run the risk of not being sharp when “the tournament” begins.

And the 49ers’ players aren’t all that excited about taking snaps off either.

“I hope guys aren’t asking for plays off,” tight end George Kittle said Wednesday. “Maybe if we’re winning by 25 in the fourth quarter, sure. But I hope we’re pedal to the medal and out there trying to win football games.”

At the same time, it’s imperative that the 49ers (10-4) get a number of their players through their final three games healthy enough to be full-go the weekend of Jan. 14 for a home game against an opponent to be determined at Levi’s Stadium.

The 49ers host the Washington Commanders (7-6-1) Saturday at Levi’s Stadium, and conclude the regular season with a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Jan. 1 and finish up at home against the Arizona Cardinals.

Even if Jalen Hurts doesn’t play with a shoulder injury, the Eagles (12-1) aren’t likely to lose at Dallas and at home to

Getting to No. 2 is another matter, with Minnesota (11-3) looking vulnerable enough to lose at least once against the Giants, at Green Bay and at Chicago. But that still won’t get the 49ers a bye.

But the difference between No. 2 and No. 3 isn’t a big enough deal to sell out completely over the last three games in terms of utilization of personnel.

The 49ers are expecting wide receiver Deebo Samuel and running back Elijah Mitchell back. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remains on the roster, possibly as a life preserver in case they needed someone in place of Brock Purdy in the Super Bowl.

With that in mind, a subjective ranking of 10 players the 49ers

cannot afford to lose before chasing Super Bowl LVII:

1. QB Brock Purdy: Hard to believe, isn’t it? The final pick in the draft is Mr. Indispensable because he plays the most important position in professional sports and has shown an ability to manage the 49ers through the Trey Lance-Garoppolo crisis. Maybe Purdy can’t do it, but there’s a reason Josh Johnson has played with so many teams.

2. DE Nick Bosa: He is the closer the 49ers need a postseason run, and if that means playing fewer snaps over the next three weeks and missed opportunities to add to his league-leading total of 15 1/2 sacks, so be it.

3. RB Christian

both New Orleans and the New York Giants to give the 49ers a shot at the top seed and a first-round bye should they win out.

Can Giants salvage their offseason after debacle?

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic file

Rodriguez High School senior Leroy Bryant, left, hits Vanden’s Sean Davis during a game in Fairfield, Oct. 29.

Bryant signed a national letter-of-intent Wednesday to play football at the University of Washington.

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group file

49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy stands on the sidelines after throwing a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Dec. 11.

CALENDAR

Friday’s TV sports

Basketball College Men

• Diamond Head Classic, Semifinal, ESPN2, 4 p.m.

• Diamond Head Classic, Semifinal, ESPN2, 7 p.m.

• Diamond Head Classic, Consolation Semifinal, ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.

NBA

• Memphis vs. Phoenix, ESPN, 7 p.m.

• Washington vs. Sacramento, NBCSCA (Vacaville and Rio Vista), 7 p.m.

Football College

• Independence Bowl: Louisiana vs. Houston, ESPN, Noon.

• Gasparilla Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Missouri, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday’s TV sports

Football NFL

• Seattle vs.Kansas City, 2, 40, 10 a.m.

• Washington vs. San Francisco, 5, 13, 1 p.m.

• Philadelphia vs. Dallas, 2, 40, 1:25 p.m.

College

• Hawaii Bowl: Middle Tennessee State vs. San Diego State, ESPN, 5 p.m.

BASKETBALL

NBA

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Boston 22 10 688 Brooklyn 20 12 625 2 Philadelphia 18 12 600 3 New York 18 14 563 4 Toronto 14 18 438 8 Central Division W L Pct GB Milwaukee 22 9 710 Cleveland 22 11 667 1 Indiana 16 16 500 6½ Chicago 13 18 419 9 Detroit 8 26 235 15½ Southeast Division W L Pct GB Miami 16 16 500 Atlanta 16 16 500 Washington 12 20 375 4 Orlando 12 21 364 4½ Charlotte 8 24 250 8 WESTERN CONFERENCE Northwest Division W L Pct GB Denver 19 11 633 Portland 17 15 531 3 Utah 18 16 529 3 Minnesota 16 16 500 4 Oklahoma City 14 18 438 6 Pacific Division W L Pct GB Phoenix 19 13 594 L.A. Clippers 19 14 576 ½ SACRAMENTO 17 13 567 1 GOLDEN STATE 15 18 455 4½ L.A. Lakers 13 18 419 5½ Southwest Division W L Pct GB Memphis 19 11 633 New Orleans 19 12 613 ½ Dallas 16 16 500 4 San Antonio 10 21 326 9½ Houston 9 22 290 10½ Wednesday’s Games Brooklyn 143, GOLDEN STATE 113 SACRAMENTO 134, L.A. Lakers 120 Cleveland 114, Milwaukee 106 Philadelphia 113, Detroit 93 Chicago 110, Atlanta 108 Indiana 117, Boston 112 Toronto 113, N.Y. Knicks 106 Orlando 116, Houston 110 Dallas 104, Minnesota 99 Oklahoma City 101, Portland 98 L.A. Clippers 126, Charlotte 105

Thursday’s Games New Orleans 126, San Antonio 117 Washington at Utah, (N) Friday’s Games Washington at SACRAMENTO, 7 p.m. San Antonio at Orlando, 4 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Detroit at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m. Minnesota at Boston, 4:30 p.m. Milwaukee at Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m. Toronto at Cleveland, 4:30 p.m. Chicago at N.Y. Knicks, 4:30 p.m. Indiana at Miami, 5 p.m. Dallas at Houston, 5 p.m. New Orleans at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m. Portland at Denver, 6 p.m. Memphis at Phoenix, 7 p.m. Charlotte at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s Games No games scheduled Sunday’s Games Memphis at GOLDEN STATE, 5 p.m. Philadelphia at N.Y. Knicks, 9 a.m. L.A. Lakers at Dallas, 11:30 a.m. Milwaukee at Boston, 2 p.m. Phoenix at Denver, 7:30 p.m.

HOCKEY

NHL

Warriors limp back home after meager effort on long road trip

M adeline K enney BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

NEW YORK — There’s not much the Warriors can take away from their meager 1-5 road trip.

Sure, there were some bright spots. Jordan Poole showed how good he can be when he plays a patient two-way game and was rewarded with a career-high 43 points in Toronto on Sunday. Three nights later in Brooklyn, James Wiseman and Patrick Baldwin Jr. also walked away with new career-highs in scoring (30 and 17 points, respectively) on a night when the younger guys played better, though that ultimately didn’t stop another 30-plus-point spanking.

But after being crushed by a combined 68 points on back-toback nights in New York, coach Steve Kerr admitted that the depleted team might’ve hit its lowest point of the season.

“(Former NFL coach) Bill Parcells said you are what your record is,” Kerr said Wednesday night after a frustrating 143-113 loss to the Nets. “Bad road trip and we are 15-18, so we’re a below.500 team and we got to kind of find a way to reverse it.”

The Warriors were plagued with the same problems on this road trip that Kerr has been harping on them about all season. They were sloppy with their execution of the game plan and got caught playing with frenetic energy, which resulted in jumbled offense. The Warriors have committed an average of 19.5 turnovers over the last eight games, which has impacted their ability to get back and defend on the other end of the court. And opponents have made them pay. Brooklyn, specifi-

cally, turned 21 Warriors turnovers into 36 points.

Defensive mishaps led to good-look 3s for opponents, who knocked them down at a 44.3% clip during this trip.

“We’re starting to hit rock bottom,” Kerr said. “Injuries, whatever it is, schedule fatigue, you take it on the chin. So the whole key is how we respond to that and there’s no doubt our guys will respond.”

The Warriors are facing an uphill battle as they return back to the Bay for a pivotal eightgame homestand, their longest of the season. It’s still unclear when Stephen Curry will return after partially dislocating his left shoulder on this trip. Andrew Wiggins also remains sidelined with a strained thigh muscle, though the Warriors are hopeful he could be back in the lineup at some point during their upcoming homestand.

Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green’s timelines are also murky as they’re both under the weather, with Green entering the league’s health and safety protocols Tuesday.

Golden State entered Thursday sitting 1 1/2 games back from a play-in spot and 3 1/2 games out from making the playoffs outright. But even as they return to Chase Center, a place they’ve dominated this season (12-2), the Warriors’ schedule isn’t getting any easier.

Five of their next eight opponents own a .500-orbetter record, beginning Sunday with the Grizzlies, tied for first in the Western Conference, and ending Jan. 10 with the Suns, who are one game behind Memphis.

The players are also feeling an increased sense of urgency.

PF PA Tampa Bay 6 8 0 429 247 288 Carolina 5 9 0 .357 276 314 New Orleans 5 9 0 357 286 315 Atlanta 5 9 0 .357 306 333 West W L T Pct. PF PA xz-SAN FRAN 10 4 0 714 338 210 Seattle 7 7 0 .500 355 355 Arizona 4 10 0 .286 292 372 L.A. Rams 4 10 0 286 230 320

– clinch division

– Clinched Playoffs Week 16 Thursday’s Game Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets, (N) Saturday’s Games SAN FRANCISCO at Washington, 1:05 p.m. Atlanta at Baltimore, 10 a.m. Detroit at Carolina, 10 a.m. Buffalo at Chicago, 10 a.m. New Orleans at Cleveland, 10 a.m. Seattle at Kansas City, 10 a.m. N.Y, Giants at Minnesota, 10 a.m. Cincinnati at New England, 10 a.m. Houston at Tennessee, 10 a.m. Philadelphia at Dallas, 1:25 p.m. Vegas at Pittsburgh, 5:15 p.m. Sunday’s Game Green Bay at Miami, 10 a.m. Denver at L.A. Rams, 1:30 p.m. Tampa Bay at Arizona, 5:20 p.m. Monday’s Game L.A. Chargers at Indianapolis, 5:15 p.m.

After Correa debacle, who could Giants target to salvage offseason?

Shayna Rubin BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

SAN FRANCISCO

—

Carlos Correa wouldn’t have fixed all the Giants’ problems. But the freeagency leap could have been a catalyst to bring more talent to a Giants team mired in mediocrity, and perhaps get a few more fans back at Oracle Park.

But after a disagreement over a medical issue, Correa’s camp and agent Scott Boras reversed course and escaped at the midnight hour on Tuesday, coming to terms on a 12-year, $315 million deal with the spend-happy New York Mets. Now the Giants are left with egg on their face, not only with raised questions about the future of this franchise, but without many options to bolster their roster for the 2023 season.

Can the Giants make any moves this offseason that move the needle? Or will they continue to postpone a marquee offseason until they luck out and finally land the elusive big fish?

Here are some ways they could try to salvage this offseason:

Piece together some middle infield help

Correa is one of baseball’s best overall players. No one left on the freeagent market can fill that void. They do have some budgeted money to spend to add depth to a roster that doesn’t look much different from the disappointing 2022 group – save for the additions of Mitch Haniger and Sean Manaea.

They’ll need another player with Brandon Crawford presumably back at shortstop along with David Villar, Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores as their

depth up the middle.

Among the players available on the market is Jean Segura, primarily a second baseman with a 1.7 WAR. Segura, 32, isn’t a star player, but he might be the best hitter available. He batted .277 with a .336 OBP and a .723 OPS.

Most of the other options are equally underwhelming. They could sign 34-year-old Elvis Andrus, who was a strong infield defender in his prime years but doesn’t pose a power threat at the plate. Or they could return 35-yearold Donovan Solano, who batted .284 with the Reds last season on top of a .280 average he hit with the Giants in their 107-win 2021 season.

Maybe the Giants feel shortstop/third base prospect Casey Schmitt earned a call-up and can contribute this season. The 23-yearold is known for his strong glove and ascended from High-A to Triple-A last season batting .293 with a .854 OPS between the three teams.

Trade for infielders or outfielders

President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi

said after a quiet trade deadline last season that teams weren’t particularly interested in their underperforming minor league prospects. There is a world where the Giants flip this disastrous offseason into somewhat of an opportunity. They could trade some big-name prospects, or even a few minor ones, for some big-league talent. Maybe even a star.

Former Giants prospect Bryan Reynolds requested a trade from the tanking Pittsburgh Pirates. The Giants would likely need to part ways with some or one of their prized prospects –shortstop Marco Luciano, pitcher Kyle Harrison, outfielders Luis Matos and Grant McCray or Schmitt. That asking price could be similar for Minnesota first baseman Luis Arraez, under team control for the next three seasons.

The Orioles are reportedly open to trading Jorge Mateo, a middle infielder who likely wouldn’t command a huge return. His defensive performance was 11 outs above average last season, ranked sixth among MLB shortstops. But he hasn’t found himself at the plate, batting .221 with Balti-

more last year.

The Red Sox and third baseman Rafael Devers don’t look particularly close on a contract extension with the 26-year-old reaching free agency in 2024. The Giants haven’t been able to put together compelling or competitive trade packages for a star of Devers’ caliber, but Boston may be taking calls if it feels Devers will walk.

On the outfield market, they could make a call across the Bay Bridge for outfielder Ramón Laureano, who has struggled with injuries and had core surgery last offseason. But Laureano is an athletic outfielder with a cannon for an arm who has demonstrated some power at the plate. The A’s are looking for big league-level players in trades, particularly pitchers. They may also make an awkward call back to Boras, Correa’s agent, about outfielder Michael Conforto, who is coming off of shoulder surgery entering his age-30 season.

Try again next year

Details emerging from this Correa debacle paint the Giants as risk-averse to a fault, yet desperate to make a splash. They want to get antsy fans back on their side but can’t catch the fish to lure them back in. This isn’t the first time ownership has come up short landing a big free agent or trade: Jon Lester, Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge a few weeks ago.

But maybe they can just try again next year. Every team with some spending money will be in on Ohtani once he becomes a free agent next offseason. Including the Giants, presumably.

Google lands Sunday Ticket package for YouTube TV

TiMeS

loS a ngeleS

In a move that further deepens the tech industry’s move into streaming live televised sports, the NFL has awarded the rights to its Sunday Ticket package to Google.

The NFL and the Mountain View-based company announced Thursday that the package, which gives viewers access to out-of-market network TV broadcasts of the league’s Sunday afternoon games, will be offered as a subscriber product through its YouTube TV streaming service starting in the 2023 season.

“For a number of years we have

been focused on increased digital distribution of our games and this partnership is yet another example of us looking towards the future and building the next generation of NFL fans,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

The league did not reveal the price for the rights, although reports put the annual figure for Google at $2.5 billion – an increase of $1 billion over what current rights holder satellite TV provider DirecTV is paying. Around 2 million DirecTV subscribers currently shell out $300 a year for Sunday Ticket, which the company has offered since 1994.

Google said Sunday Ticket will be available as an add-on service for YouTube TV subscribers. The company did not reveal if the annual price will change.

It will also be offered as a stand-alone service on YouTube’s PrimeTime Channels. The company did not reveal any details whether pricing will change.

Amazon, Apple and the Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN – which wanted Sunday Ticket for its ESPN+ streaming service – were the other contenders.

Apple already has Major League Baseball games.

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group/TNS file

The Warriors’ Jordan Poole celebrates a basket and a foul against the Indiana Pacers in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Dec. 5.

David Berding/Getty Images/TNS file

Carlos Correa (4) of the Minnesota Twins celebrates reaching second base on two errors by the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning of a game at Target Field in Minneapolis, April 22.

Indigenous people slam ‘Avatar’ (again) for tropes, inaccuracies

The WashingTon PosT

The release of “Avatar: The Way of Water” has put the series’ creators under hot water yet again, as Indigenous people criticize what they call the movie’s glamorization of colonialism and racist depiction of Native people and culture.

When the original “Avatar” came out in 2009, the science-fiction fantasy’s robust 3D effects and stunning visuals drove it to become the highest-grossing film of all time. After 13 years and an estimated $250 million budget, die-hard fans had high expectations for director James Cameron’s second installment, which debuted Friday.

But Indigenous critics say the problematic pitfalls of the first “Avatar” movie reappear in the sequel, namely in its portrayal of the Na’vi, the movie’s alien species inspired by several Native tribes around the world. The oceanic Na’vi clan that’s central to the second film was heavily influenced by the Maori, the Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand.

Cheney Poole, 27, from Christchurch, New Zealand –known as Otautahi, Aotearoa, in the Maori language – calls the film’s portrayal “just another example of the same very upfront and apparent romanticization of colonization.”

“It very much romanticizes the idea of what not only Maori are going through but many Indigenous cultures around the world and almost downplays the suffering,” both from the past and present, Poole said.

Cameron, who could not be reached for comment, in 2012 called “Avatar” a “science fiction retelling of the history of North and South America in the early colonial period.” He said in a recent interview with Unilad that he was listening to marginalized groups and sought to make improvements with the second film.

“The people who have been victimized historically are always right. It’s not up to me, speaking from a perspective of White privilege, if you will, to tell them that they’re wrong,” Cameron said.

The plot of the first movie,

in which White human outsider Jake Sully infiltrates the Na’vi to save them from a corporation trying to exploit environmental resources from their land of Pandora, raised concern from Indigenous groups. Cameron told Unilad he believes the new movie was able to “sidestep” that “White-savior motif.”

Lailatul Fitriyah, who researches decoloniality as an assistant professor at Claremont School of Theology, said she had no interest in watching the “Avatar” sequel, after she recently watched the first movie for the first time. Fitriyah said she was appalled that Jake became a Na’vi in that film, playing into what she called a colonialist trope that a foreigner can easily “go Native” by looking the part and learning what’s implied to be a primitive culture.

The second movie was not much better, thought Mana Tyne, a 19-year-old from Queensland, Australia, who is Maori. In it, Jake is now a Na’vi clan leader, and Tyne was offended by how the film reduces ta moko, a type of tattoo that is culturally significant and readable for Maori people, to “abstract, meaningless shapes” that “serve more as an aesthetic” on the characters’ faces and bodies in the movie.

“I would love to see more Maori people and culture represented on screen in cinema, but I want to see Maori people playing them,” Tyne said. “I don’t want to have to sacrifice the significance of our practices that have already lost so much through colonialism.”

Film critics have given “Avatar: The Way of Water” mixed to positive reviews, and audiences have turned out, albeit less than projected. The film raked in $134 million in North America over the weekend, tying it with “The Batman” for the year’s fourth-highest domestic debut, and earned an additional $300 million abroad.

But the mere visibility of Native characters, Poole said, especially when crafted with tropes, doesn’t help address the trauma real Native people have faced in the same way that an authentic portrayal of Native people would.

“We still have elders in our community that bear scars from being beaten in school for speaking their native language,” Poole said.

Autumn Asher BlackDeer, an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver, said the “Avatar” movies also add to the monolithic portrayal of Native people commonly used in media. The Na’vi are mystical and solemn noble savages, she said, with stereotypically angular cheekbones and long hair in braids. They also have a physical characteristic BlackDeer’s tribe, Southern Cheyenne, is known for – pronounced noses.

She said that because the movies draw from multiple Indigenous tribes, it can imply that all Native people are the same. It’s a harmful stereotype that has been furthered by “Pretendians,” non-Native people who might use generic Native clothing or accessories to appear Indigenous, BlackDeer said.

“I’m so tired of hearing Indigenous stories from a White perspective,” she said. “We don’t need Hollywood big-budget movies. We could tell our own stories.”

Johnnie Jae, who is part of the Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw tribes, called it racist and harmful for “Avatar” filmmakers to glorify colonialism and peddle Native tropes for entertainment when Indigenous people worldwide have safeguarded land, water and biodiversity before their White counterparts joined the fight for climate justice.

But Jae, 42, also noted that because Native people and perspectives are diverse, not all will share her aversion for the movies, which have somewhat increased visibility for Indigenous people and issues.

“It’s hard to kind of acknowledge all of these different nuances without vilifying each other or making it or playing against each other,” Jae said. “We have to acknowledge the problematic representation. But in the same vein, we can possibly acknowledge what was done right, because that’s how we make progress in making the media better.”

Bridge

by Phillip Alder

six. How should South continue?

2. Propose an auction with West the dealer. These answers will be given on Friday, Jan. 27. The others will be on Jan. 28.

3. What more successful opening leads did West have?

4a. Look only at the West hand, ignoring the other three given hands. Partner opens one heart. What would be your bidding plan? 4b. Partner opens one no-trump (15-17). What would be your bidding plan?

5a. Look only at the North hand. West opens one no-trump (15-17). What would you do? 5b. East raises to three no-trump. What would you lead?

6a. Look only at the East hand. Partner opens one heart. What would you respond? 6b. North opens one spade. What would you do?

HO, HO, HO, HERE IS A HAPPY QUIZ

I wish all of my readers have a merry time over the holiday period. To while away a few quiet moments, here is my annual competition.

1. South is in four spades. West leads the diamond jack: queen, ace, two. East shifts to the spade three: jack,

Sudoku

Bridge

7a. Look only at the South hand. What would you open as dealer? Would the vulnerability make a difference? 7b. East opens one no-trump (15-17). What would you do?

Mail your entry to Phillip Alder, c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. Or email it to phillip@bridgefor everyone.com. The deadline is Jan. 15, 2023

by Wayne Gould

HAPPY

HERE IS

20th Century Studios/The Washington Post

Kate Winslet, left, as Ronal, and Cliff Curtis, as Tonowari, in a scene from “Avatar: The Way of Water.”

‘Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story,’ by Bono Singer, songwriter and social activist Bono narrates his own memoir, a book that will appeal chiefly to his fans. He begins his story with his open-heart surgery and ends it with his birth and a song of praise to the Lord. The intervening 20 hours cover the soul-scarring death of his mother when he was 14, his difficult relationship with his father, the formation, ascent and adventures of U2, his marriage – now 40 years strong – the inspirations for his various songs, his dreams and his indefatigable promotion of various causes. His book reminds you that you can admire a man for his virtuous deeds – and Bono’s are heartfelt, extravagant and legion – but still find his grandiose selfpresentation, penchant for specious profundities (“the greatest deceit is authenticity”) and monumental wordiness wearing at this length. Still, the audiobook excels over the print version in presenting Bono’s voice, not only reading in a moderate Dublin accent, but singing substantial portions of his songs.

(Random House Audio, Unabridged, 20 1⁄2 hours)

‘The Philosophy of Modern Song,’ by Bob Dylan

Although the audiobook lacks the print version’s arresting photographs and a bit of the text, it still has the genuine article in Dylan’s husky, stuffynosed voice unrolling great swaths of lowdown, hardscrabble hokum and off-kilter exegesis. In his mind, Webb Pierce’s 1953 “There Stands the Glass” concerns a soldier’s war crimes in Vietnam, “The Street Where You Live,” stalking a harlot, and “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” a swindler “responsi-

ble for bringing poison and pestilence into the homes of millions.” A feeling of apocalyptic devastation pervades the work. Ten celebrities add their voices to Dylan’s in covering the old troubadour’s engagement with – or intrusion upon – 66 of his favorite songs and their singers.

Among the big names here, Jeff Bridges, Sissy Spacek and Rita Moreno are best suited to expounding Dylan’s views of the songs they cover, while the most comical is Helen Mirren bringing her fastidious, cut-glass accent to bear on “Pump It Up” and “Money Honey.” Listening to this book puts one in mind of Dylan’s verdict on Elvis Costello’s work: “Too many thoughts, way too wordy. Too many ideas that just bang up together.”

(Simon & Schuster, 6 2⁄3 hours)

‘Chuck Berry: An American Life,’ by RJ Smith

RJ Smith’s sympathetic, high-octane biography of Chuck Berry shows the great musician “dragging country music into the boogie-woogie woods” and ushering in what became rock ‘n’ roll. Born in St. Louis in 1926, Berry was a key player in a transformative chapter in American social and cultural history. Musical genius, innovator and “a prophet of Black mobility,” Berry was also a difficult man, sometimes shockingly so when it came to sex, money and retaliating against a racist society. Except for a rather goofy rendition of British accents, actor Phil Morris’s narration dovetails perfectly with Smith’s flamboyant style. His voice is alive with restrained excitement and energy, while his rendition of Berry’s speech, manner, and even his shout and laugh are truly superb. This is a wonderful, rousing performance.

(Hachette, 14 hours)

SUBSCRIBE. CALL 707-427-6989.

FF

Zits Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

Pearls Before Swine Stephan Pastis

Dilbert Scott Adams

Baby Blues Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott

Baldo Hector Cantú and Carlos Castellanos

An angel (Cary Grant) comes to Earth to help a clergyman and his wife raise money for a new church in “The Bishop’s Wife.”

K atherine a. Powers THE WASHINGTON POST

Bankman-Fried released on $250M bond in FTX fraud case

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

NEW YORK — Sam

Bankman-Fried was released on a $250 million bail package after making his first U.S. court appearance to face fraud charges over the collapse of FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange he co-founded.

Shackled and wearing a blue suit, BankmanFried appeared Thursday before a magistrate judge for the bail hearing in Manhattan federal court. He did not enter a plea, which will take place later before the judge presiding over his case.

The bail package includes a $250 million personal recognizance bond secured by his parents’ house in California. Its terms require him to stay with them and submit to electronic monitoring.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein said that the risk that Bankman-Fried would flee was small and said he presented no danger to the public in terms of future financial crimes.

Bankman-Fried, 30, was charged in an indictment unsealed Dec. 13 by Manhattan federal prosecutors with orchestrating a yearslong fraud in which he used billions of dollars of FTX customer funds for personal expenses and high-risk bets through the exchange’s sister trading house, Alameda Research.

FTX’s collapse reverberated across an already-embattled cryptocurrency industry, prompting calls for further regulation as well as accountability for those who led the exchange. It was a stunning downfall for Bankman-Fried, a leading industry figure who was once estimated to be worth more than $25 billion and had emerged as major political donor.

In numerous media interviews following FTX’s November bankruptcy filing, Bankman-Fried has tried to argue the exchange’s collapse was due to management

missteps, rather than intentional fraud.

That defense may be harder to maintain after Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced Wednesday night that two of BankmanFried’s closest associates, former Alameda Chief Executive Officer Caroline Ellison and former FTX Chief Technology Officer Gary Wang, had pleaded guilty to fraud and were cooperating with the prosecution.

Bankman-Fried’s New York court appearance caps a roughly weeklong drama over his return to the U.S. to face trial. Arrested Dec. 12 in the Bahamas at the request of U.S. authorities, he initially indicated he would fight extradition.

After he was denied bail in Nassau and sent to the notorious Fox Hill prison, Bankman-Fried changed his mind. But his return to the U.S. was delayed amid confusion in the Bahamas Magistrate’s Court until he finally left the island on a U.S. government-chartered flight Wednesday night.

Williams announced Ellison and Wang’s pleas while Bankman-Fried was in the air.

Ellison pleaded guilty to seven offenses, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in an agreement she signed Dec. 19. Wang pleaded guilty to four charges. They face decades in prison on those counts but will almost certainly receive leniency recommendations from the government based on their cooperation.

Legal experts have said the money being transferred to Alameda is very hard to explain as mismanagement rather than fraud, and his former associates’ testimony could be devastating for Bankman-Fried. Confronted by such witnesses, defendants in other cases have tried to turn the tables and cast them as the true bad actors.

3 big questions to ask when your flight is canceled or delayed

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

If you’re one of the thousands of inconvenienced flyers, here’s what you need to ask about hotel rooms, meals and taxis if your flight gets canceled or delayed.

Getting a refund from an airline during periods of severe weather and subsequent disruptions is difficult, said Paul Hudson, executive director of passenger advocacy group FlyersRights.

“The airlines always want to blame everything on the weather,” Hudson said. “If they blame it on the weather, they don’t have to be responsible for refunds or accommodations if people are stranded.”

Can I get a refund?

Federal law gives airlines a narrow set of circumstances for which they have to refund a passenger the cost of a ticket. If an airline cancels or overbooks a flight, passengers can get their money back and sometimes even extra compensation.

But weather and mechanical issues don’t qualify for federal refunds. And when staffing issues are caused by weather delays as they were this week, the later delays don’t trigger auto-

matic refunds either.

The same goes for compensation for hotels, meals and transportation.

“Some problems, like bad weather, air traffic delays and mechanical issues, are hard to predict and often beyond the airlines’ control,” the website for the U.S. Department of Transportation says.

American does provide compensation such as hotels for “cancellations or delays that were caused by controllable issues” such as maintenance problems, American Airlines spokeswoman Andrea Koos said. It also gives meal vouchers for nonweather-related delays of more than three hours.

Nationwide, weather has been responsible for about 29% of all delays during the past five years, accounting for roughly 256,000 hours of delays, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Maintenance issues and air traffic control delays are the other major factors that cause planes to arrive late.

Pilot unions have argued that major problems plaguing the airline industry over the last several months are a result of carriers scheduling too many flights after running reduced operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That means there are

fewer pilots around to make up for pilots sidelined by bad weather.

Who determines why a flight is delayed?

When flights are delayed or canceled, passengers are often left at the mercy of airlines, both for getting to their destinations and for getting compensation.

Airlines are responsible for reporting the reason for flight delays and cancellations to the U.S. Department of Transportation. That means airlines get to determine who gets vouchers for hotels, meals and transportation.

Airlines, including American, will often direct passengers to apply for a refund online, which could take days or weeks to get resolved.

Hudson recommends complaining on social media. “You can also go on Facebook and social media and they carefully monitor those accounts,” Hudson said. “Sometimes you will get better results.”

Suing the airline or complaining to the Department of Transportation are the only alternatives left, but suing an airline can be expensive, and a complaint can often take years to resolve. Hudson still pushes pas-

sengers to file official complaints if there is a problem because those complaints are sometimes key in helping regulators determine when to pass new rules.

Where can I find out the rules for flying?

All U.S. airlines outline the rules for refunds, delays and cancellations, overbooking and other customer issues on their websites. These “contracts of carriage” or “conditions of carriage” should outline what happens in the event of a delay.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines’ rules say, “If you decide not to fly because your flight was delayed or canceled, we’ll refund the remaining ticket value and any optional fees.”

Dallas-based Southwest, which flies out of Dallas Love Field, has similar rules for delays, cancellations and diverted flights.

But Hudson also says that in the event of delays, passengers can try taking their tickets to another carrier, which will sometimes honor the ticket and then charge the other airline later. However, that usually doesn’t work with ultra-low-cost carriers such as Frontier and Spirit.

Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News/TNS file

The flight status board for southwest Airlines at Dallas Love Field was filled with red cancellation labels after a winter storm moved through Dallas-Fort Worth in February.

Eagles will start Gardner Minshew against Cowboys

tribune Content agenCy

PHILADELPHIA —

The last few days have been a whirlwind for Gardner Minshew.

The Eagles backup quarterback was in Mississippi on Tuesday, delivering a speech during his former coach Mike Leach’s funeral service.

In the moments he didn’t spend honoring the coach he credits for much of his success, he was preparing for the Dallas Cowboys.

He studied plays and talked to his coaches over the phone, going through the game plan on his own while the team worked.

By Thursday, Minshew

49ers

From Page B1

McCaffrey: If Samuel and Mitchell come back at something close to 100 percent, it lessens McCaffrey’s importance slightly. But let’s face it, the 49ers wouldn’t be a realistic Super Bowl contender without the Oct. 20 trade that brought McCaffrey from Carolina. Second, third- and fourth-round draft picks next year and a fifth the following year seems like a bargain in a win-now mode.

4. TE George Kittle: The physicality of Kittle is essential to the 49ers’ identity. And it appears that Kittle has become a security blanket of sorts for Purdy. As good as Kittle is as a blocker, it seems to pick up both sides of the ball when he’s breaking tackles as a receiver.

5. LT Trent Williams: The anchor of the 49ers’ offensive line, and possibly the best player at his position in the NFL, Williams played hurt last season in the playoffs and was still pretty good. They’d rather have him at full strength this time around.

6. DT Arik Armstead: Armstead has been back for three games and has been so good it’s amazing the 49ers won four straight games without him. Armstead pushes the pocket in the middle and it causes

Solano

From Page B1

Conference opener.

Jonathon Cobbs led the Falcons with 26 points and also had 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one blocked shot. Jacob Ebert scored 19 points to go with six rebounds and four assists. Jacques Jones contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Isaiah Randle also scored 15 points.

was named the Eagles’ starter for Saturday’s game in Dallas after Jalen Hurts was ruled out with a sprained shoulder.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said that Hurts made a concerted effort to return from the injury sustained against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but that Minshew would get the nod.

“It’s looking like it’s going to be Gardner,” Sirianni said of the quarterback switch. “Jalen did everything he possibly could to get his body ready to go, and at the end of the day, he’s not going to be able to do it. He tried like crazy.”

a ripple effect across the defensive line and only enhances Bosa’s charge from the edge.

7. NB Jimmie Ward: Ward fancies himself a safety and he’s a good one – probably better than either of the 49ers’ starters in Pro Bowl strong safety Talanoa Hufanga and free safety Tashaun Gipson. But Ward has been playing extremely well of late and Shanahan believes Ward gets more chances to to make plays as a slot corner than as a safety.

8. MLB Fred Warner: The defensive signal caller as well as the unquestioned leader of the 49ers’ topranked defense. He is their Ronnie Lott in terms of an emotional heartbeat.

9. OLB Dre Greenlaw: Rated behind Warner only because Warner calls the defensive signals, Greenlaw is having a breakout season. He can cover the fastest receivers, bring down the big backs and tight ends on the spot. Good news for both linebacker spots – if the 49ers lost either, Azeez Al-Shaair is a pretty good backup.

10. WR Brandon Aiyuk: Assuming the 49ers get Samuel back to go along with McCaffrey, that gives the 49ers two potent targets for Purdy. Aiyuk, however, is the closest thing the 49ers have to a conventional No. 1 wideout and has shown a willingness to be a good blocker in the run game.

Cameron Joseph, an Armijo graduate, led Napa with 24 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Vanden’s Antoine Thaxton also had 16 points and five rebounds.

Napa grabbed the halftime lead at 48-41 before Solano grabbed the edge 49-42 in the second half to tie the score at 90-90 to send the game into overtime.

Solano fell to 2-10 overall. The Falcons will be back in action Thursday at Alameda.

orado 75-63 Wednesday and lost the finale to Skyridge of Utah 70-62.

Sharks forward changes leagues, but not his plans for Christmas

Curtis Pashelka BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

SAN JOSE – C.J. Suess initially had planned this week to fly from Abbotsford, British Columbia – where the San Jose Barracuda was playing – to his home state of Minnesota to spend Christmas with his mother and sister, and other friends and family members.

Suess’s travel plans changed, at least to some degree, after he was unexpectedly recalled to the Sharks on Monday.

Tomas Hertl had just been suspended for two games for high-sticking Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm, and the big club needed another forward on the roster.

Oddly enough, Suess had just been reassigned to the Barracuda, the Sharks AHL affiliate, the day before.

“I hadn’t flown out yet, but I was headed out to Abbotsford and got a call, pretty much saying that Hertl was out,” Suess said. “So, got brought back up. It was a quick little stint.”

Nevertheless, Suess (rhymes with crease), still has plans to fly home and be with his family this weekend, as the Sharks do not skate again until Tuesday when they play the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Suess was a healthy scratch for Thursday night’s Sharks game

with the Minnesota Wild.

Suess, 28, was raised by his mom, Cheryl Suess, and sister, Cheree. In 2017, prior to his senior year at Minnesota State-Mankato, the forward changed his last name from Franklin to his mom’s last name.

“I wouldn’t have anything without them,” Suess said of his family. “My mom has kind of given up a lot to get me to this point. I changed my name when I was in my senior year of college. That was just giving thanks for everything she’s done for me.

“Every time I can get back to see her and family and friends, I’m more than happy to go back and spend time.”

Suess, a fifth-round pick by the Winnipeg Jets in 2014, has had a challenging few years injury-wise

since he turned pro in 2018 as he had played just four NHL games before this season.

In 2018-19, Suess needed shoulder surgery and was only able to play 26 games with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. The next year, he only played 57 games in a season that was shortened by the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2020-2021, Suess played 31 games with the Moose but was never recalled and when he was promoted to the Jets the following year, he broke his thumb in January after just three games. The Jets did not give Suess a qualifying offer in the summer, and he became an unrestricted free agent.

Now, Suess, in his fifth full professional season after he signed a two-way

contract with the Sharks in July, is on an NHL roster over the Christmas break for the first time. Besides the extra money that comes with playing in the NHL – Suess has a $775,000 salary with the Sharks and $160,000 with the Barracuda – the promotion is a somewhat significant moment for a player who’s had to overcome adversity.

Now the goal is to stay with the Sharks.

Suess has played only one game with the Sharks so far this season – on Dec. 7 at home against Vancouver. Although there’s a chance he could get sent back to the Barracuda after Christmas, Suess might have other opportunities this season if there are more injuries or if other players are moved March 3 trade deadline.

“Ultimately, this is where I want to stay,” said Suess, who signed in San Jose as a free agent because of the opportunities he might receive with the organization.

“Through my first few years I kind of had some setbacks and I really haven’t given myself that opportunity to kind of get up here and stay,” Suess said. “So whether it’s injuries or Covid for two years, it’s kind of been shortened throughout. I kind of was ready for a change and some opportunity here.”

No decision on Team USA for Durant

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NEW YORK — Nets star Kevin Durant says it’s too soon to make a decision whether to represent Team USA in the Paris Olympics.

“I’m definitely not going to make [a decision right] now,” Durant said after the Nets’ victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. “I would say it’s too early right now. They respect my timeline and where we are in a season. We are always in constant communication on what we want to do going forward. So, I’ll have that conversation when it’s time, but for right now, I don’t know.”

But that’s not going to stop Team USA from recruiting the superstar

forward who captained the American team to a gold medal in the Summer Olympics in 2021.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who took over head coaching duties of Team USA from Gregg Popovich in December 2021, said he’d begin trying to convince Durant to play for Team USA as soon as he saw him at Barclays Center.

“I know [Team USA managing director] Grant [Hill] and [assistant director] Sean Ford have talked to him, and I will most likely pull him aside tonight, so that would be nice,” Kerr said pregame. “He’s been so dominant with Team USA and he’s a guy who just loves to play, so we’re hoping he decides to keep going.”

Hill and Kerr were waiting for Durant outside the Nets’ interview room while he was speaking to reporters.

Kerr suggested, jokingly, no regular-season or playoff workload for Durant would deter the star forward from playing well into the summer.

The next event on the international basketball calendar is the 2023 FIBA World Cup this summer held in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

Durant is averaging just under 37 minutes per game and led the NBA in total minutes played before the Nets began to manage his workload in their Dec. 10 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

From Page B1

and came away with a 2-2 record. The Vikings beat Democracy Prep of Nevada 67-57 Monday, lost to Cour D'Alene of Idaho 64-33 Tuesday, rolled by George Washington of Col-

The Rodriguez girls were beaten by Spring Valley of Nevada 74-73 Monday, lost to Mountain Vista of Colorado 52-44 Tuesday, fell to Arbor View of Nevada 36-34 Wednesday and were beaten by Canon City of Colorado 34-25 Thursday.

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group/TNS file

San Jose Sharks’ CJ Suess (53) waits for a face off against the Vancouver Canucks in the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Dec. 7.

Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew goes through practice at the NovaCare Complex, Wednesday.