Santa Barbara News-Press: July 17, 2023

Budget blues

Feds borrowing over $5B per day as programs face insolvency - A2

‘Swan Song’

nEWS-PRESS EXCLUSiVE

Case against homeless woman expected to be dropped

Rebecca Brand says District Attorney’s Office is not moving ahead with prosecution of woman Ms. Brand says assaulted her

By DAVE MASON

NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

The court case against Nellie Gackowska — a homeless woman Rebecca Brand says took her cellphone and assaulted her with it on Christmas Eve outside Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant in Santa Barbara — is expected to be dismissed today at Santa Barbara County

Superior Court.

Ms. Brand told the News-Press Sunday that Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Branch is dropping the case. A motion is expected to be heard sometime this morning before Judge Michael Carrozzo at the courthouse in Santa Barbara.

During an exclusive News-Press interview, Ms. Brand said Deputy District Attorney

Branch told her Friday afternoon that the District Attorney’s Office decided against moving forward with the case. Ms. Brand said a victim/witness advocate and an investigator sat in on the meeting.

The District Attorney’s Office is closed on Sundays and was unavailable for comment, but the News-Press is following today’s court

Please see DROPPED on A4

Santa Barbara County Fair celebrates 130th year

Rebecca Brand stands outside Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant in December. She said she saw the front window shatter when a rock was thrown on Christmas Eve.

Gov. Newsom threatens Temecula school board for rejecting new social studies textbook

By LIAM HIBBERT NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

The 130th annual Santa Barbara County Fair was this past week as families from around the county made it out to see the various attractions.

The fair took place on the Santa Maria Fairgrounds from Wednesday through Sunday. Featuring everything from small roller coasters to concerts, fair food and petting zoos, the event attracted thousands of people each day.

“It’s been really fun, this is my tenth year, it’s

Sunday afternoon

hard not to love the fair,” said Cooper Haws, who shows cattle. “It’s cool to see how raising them from young animals to compete in fairs, to see that satisfaction. When you put in the work, to see that pay off.”

Tucked away from the entrance was the animal section of the fair, featuring barns full of turkeys, goats, pigs and other farm animals. For people like Mr. Haws, the county fair offers more than just entertainment and a chance to talk to locals,

By KENNETH SCHRUPP THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) - In response to the Temecula Unified School Board’s decision not to adopt a controversial social studies textbook in May of 2023, Governor Newsom challenged the board’s decision and threatened it with legislative consequences if it does not reverse course.

The school board, which banned “critical race theory” in December of 2022, detailed how it did not “ban” a book, but instead decided not to adopt a new social studies curriculum, and that an alternative curriculum compliant with state standards is being presented on July 18, 2023. Furthermore, the school board also stated claims by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond that “the school district is slated to begin the school year on August 14, 2023 without enough textbooks for every student” is “categorically false.”

Gov. Newsom, on the other hand, contends, “radicalized zealots on the school board rejected a textbook used by hundreds of thousands of students and now children will begin the school year without the tools they need to learn.”

Doubling down against the school board’s ability to determine its own curriculum, Gov. Newsom said, “If the school board won’t do its job by its next board meeting to ensure kids start the school year with basic materials, the state will deliver the book into the hands of children and their parents — and we’ll send the district the bill and fine them for violating state law.”

Democratic leaders across California joined Gov. Newsom in challenging the school board’s decision, including Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (DSan Diego) and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas).

Mahershala Ali stars in a movie about a man trying to do what’s right for his family - B1

Gov. Gavin Newsom

Above, the Ferris wheel towers above the carnival late

at the front of the Santa Barbara County Fair at Santa Maria Fairpark. At right, young riders take flight on one of the gravitydefying rides at the fair.

Fire department rescues girl

SANTA YNEZ — The Santa

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

Barbara County Fire Department on Saturday rescued an 11-year-old girl who injured her leg when she fell 10 feet onto loose rocks in the Nojoqui Falls trail area.

Pain clinic which ordered unnecessary procedures settles for $11 million

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - The U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, along with the California Division of MediCal Fraud and Elder Abuse, and the Oregon Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has reached a settlement with Dr. Francis Lagattuta proprietor of Lags Spine & Sportscare Medical Centers, Inc., to resolve allegations of “knowingly” submitting false claims to Medi-cal and Medicare from March 2016 through August 2021.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta commented, “Billing for services that providers know are unnecessary undermines the quality of care that patients receive, and increases the costs to the MediCal program. I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their partnership in this effort to hold Dr. Lagattuta to account. My office remains committed to pursuing justice against those who seek to abuse the Medi-Cal system for their own benefit.”

Lags operated in the Central Valley and Central Coast of California and in Oregon, through Dr. Lagattuta’s pain management clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and a physician-owned laboratory.

The allegations claim that Dr. Lagattuta provided many medically unnecessary procedures and billed the programs for reimbursement in violation of state and federal False Claims Acts..

Tuesday’s announcement of the $11,267,114.43 settlement, plus interest, reasonable expenses, attorneys’ fees, and costs, will disburse to California $2.7 million and to Oregon $130,000. The United States will receive around $8.5 million.

The agreement excludes Dr. Lagattuta from all Federal healthcare programs for a period of 5 years.

One of the violations uncovered in the four year investigation, conducted by the California Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA), the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and the U.S. Department of Justice, found that Dr. Lagattuta through his large network of Lags Medical Clinics, systemically ordered skin biopsies,

As a matter of procedure, Dr. Lagattuta required every patient to have epidermal nerve fiber density testing performing “punch biopsies” of skin. He set quotas that “every provider does 2-3 ‘punch biopsies’ a day period” or 250 biopsies per week and told Lags Medical providers to resign if they refused to perform skin biopsies.

“Thousands of Medi-Cal patients trusted Dr. Lagattuta to take away their pain,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Instead he exploited their trust by carrying out arrays of unnecessary tests and billing for them over the objections of the doctors he employed.”

Sixteen percent of all Lags Medical patients covered by Medicare, Medi-Cal, and Oregon Medicaid received multiple biopsies.

The case was brought by “whistleblower” Steven Capeder, a former director of marketing and operations at Lags.

Sacramento hosts Homeless World Cup to change perceptions of homelessness

By KENNETH SCHRUPP THE

CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) - In a bid to change perceptions on and encourage rehabilitation of the homeless, Sacramento, California is hosting the 2023 Homeless World Cup, a soccer tournament with national teams of players from around the world who have been homeless within the past year. The event, which runs

The event, which runs from July 11 to July 15, 2023 is returning from a three-year post-pandemic hiatus and has drawn teams representing 30 nations playing in men’s, women’s and coed teams.

vehicle to

Fire medics transported her in a utility-terrain vehicle to a landing zone, where she was put into a Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit helicopter and taken to Santa Barbara Cottage

Hospital, according to Capt. Scott Safechuck, public information officer for the fire department. Call time was 2:13 p.m.

Feds borrowing over $5 billion per day as programs face insolvency

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Budget groups continue to release dire forecasts for the explosive growth of the U.S. national debt.

The U.S. Treasury reported a $1.4 trillion deficit so far nine months into fiscal year 2023.

“Three-quarters into the fiscal year and we’re borrowing an astounding $5.1 billion per day,” said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. “If that isn’t a sign that we need a wake-up call, maybe it should be the fact that the deficit for this fiscal year is now larger than all of last year’s deficit – and there’s still three months to go.

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office released a report earlier this year projecting the national debt will be nearly twice as large as the U.S. economy in 30 years.

“By the end of 2023, federal debt held by the public equals 98 percent of GDP,” the report said. “Debt then rises in relation to GDP: It surpasses its historical high in 2029, when it reaches 107 percent of GDP, and climbs to 181 percent of GDP by 2053.”

CBO also reports that deficits will likely rise as well.

“In CBO’s projections, the deficit equals 5.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, declines to 5.0 percent by 2027, and then grows in every year, reaching 10.0 percent of GDP in 2053,” the report said. “Over the past century, that level has been exceeded only during World War II and the coronavirus pandemic.”

As The Center Square previously reported, the cost of interest payments on the national debt will exceed the cost of U.S. funding for national defense within a decade. In fact, federal spending trends show interest payments on the national debt will soon be the largest expense of the federal government.

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office released a report earlier this year projecting the national debt will be nearly twice as large as the U.S. economy in 30 years.

The CRFB said in a report released last week that “by 2051, spending on interest will be the single largest line item in the federal budget, surpassing Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and all other mandatory and discretionary spending programs.”

Lawmakers have raised concerns about this issue but a dramatic cut in spending to pay down the debt is far from getting traction.

“The federal government borrowed $2 trillion over the past 12 months. That’s $63,000 per second,” said Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz. “It’s delusional to think our debt doesn’t matter when America’s working class suffers the consequences.”

Ms. MacGuineas also said that the trust funds for Medicare, Social Security and highways “will face insolvency” within a decade.

“With unsustainable borrowing, rising interest costs, and looming insolvency of the trust funds that support some of our nation’s most valued programs, the outlook for our fiscal health has been in decline for far too long,” she said. “We need to turn the tide and work towards further reducing deficits and putting the national debt on a downward, sustainable course.”

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— Dave Mason

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT

An injured 11-year-old girl in the Santa Ynez area was transported in a utility-terrain

a landing zone for a helicopter that took her the rest of the way to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Four more Texas counties declare invasion at southern border

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – The judges and commissioners of four more Texas counties have declared an invasion at the southern border: Frio, Karnes, La Salle and Medina.

The judges of these counties also joined a new coalition led by newly elected Atascosa County Judge Weldon Cude in an effort to urge other counties to declare an invasion and defend the sovereignty of Texas.

Judge Cude was among 87 judges who were newly elected in November. Prior to his election, Atascosa County was among the first to issue a disaster declaration in 2021 and declared an invasion in 2022.

When Judge Cude came into office in January, he couldn’t understand why more counties hadn’t declared an invasion, he told The Center Square in an exclusive interview.

“Why wouldn’t you declare an invasion?” Judge Cude asked. “If you have people from all over the world coming into your county by bus, plane, or smuggling people and drugs, why wouldn’t you declare an invasion?

“It’s important when you have millions coming across your southern border. What is it – if it isn’t an invasion?”

Prior to being elected county judge, Judge Cude was elected to serve for six terms as county commissioner representing a majority Hispanic population in a rural area south of San Antonio that largely votes Republican.

At an orientation for judges in February, he met newly elected Kinney County Judge John Paul Schuster, who described the crisis his county was facing. He and Judge Schuster then started reaching out to other judges, and now four more counties have declared an invasion.

They also formed a coalition with other judges in contiguous counties “to promote the common goal of safety, security, and wellbeing of their residents” and to “support each other to stop the ongoing crisis by all legal means.”

With the signing of a new resolution, the judges and

New coalition forms to encourage other counties to declare invasion

commissioners of Frio, Karnes, La Salle and Medina declared an invasion.

The movement to declare an invasion was led by Kinney County, which first issued a disaster declaration April 21, 2021. Since then, over 50 counties have issued disaster declarations citing the border crisis.

Next, Kinney, Goliad and Terrell counties declared an invasion July 5, 2022. They were soon followed by Edwards and Presidio counties. By January 2023, at least 42 counties had declared an invasion. On the one year anniversary of declaring an invasion, officials from Kinney, Goliad and Terrell counties called on other counties to also declare an invasion. Officials from the four new counties signed the same resolution, entitled, “A resolution calling for additional measures to secure the border, stop the invasion at the border, and protect our communities.”

It states that the U.S. Constitution “outlines the chief responsibility of the Federal Government to ‘insure domestic tranquility’ and ‘provide for the common defense.’” It cites

Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, which states, “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government and shall protect each of them against invasion.” It also cites Article IV, Section 7 of the Texas Constitution, which gives the governor of Texas the legal authority as commander in chief to “have power to call forth the militia to execute the laws of the state, to suppress insurrections, and to repel invasions.”

The resolution also states that “cartels exploit weak and unsecure borders for their own power and profit, to the detriment of our communities” and “act as paramilitary, narco-terrorist organizations that profit from trafficking people and drugs into the United States.”

It also affirms that Gov. Greg Abbott is using “legal authority vested by the Texas Constitution to secure the border,” and the “ongoing border security crisis is not acceptable, and has

resulted in a security threat and humanitarian disaster with overwhelming consequences to residents in the state of Texas.”

“Our counties are in a crisis,” Judge Cude told The Center Square. “We absolutely have a right to defend ourselves under the U.S. and Texas Constitution and will. And we 100% support Gov. Greg Abbott and Operation Lone Star.”

So far, the 46 counties that have declared an invasion include: Atascosa, Burnet, Chambers, Clay, Collin, Ector, Edwards, Ellis, Fannin, Franklin, Frio, Goliad, Hamilton, Hardin, Harrison, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Jasper, Johnson, Karnes, Kinney, La Salle, Lavaca, Leon, Liberty, Live Oak, Madison, McMullen, Medina, Montague, Navarro, Orange, Parker, Presidio, Shackelford, Somervell, Terrell, Throckmorton, Tyler, Van Zandt, Waller, Wharton, Wichita, Wilson, and Wise.

Atascosa County Judge Weldon Cude in front of the historic Atascosa County courthouse, Jourdanton, Texas, June 12, 2023. Bethany Blankley for The Center Square

“Why wouldn’t you declare an invasion?” Cude asked. “If you have people from all over the world coming into your county by bus, plane, or smuggling people and drugs, why wouldn’t you declare an invasion?

“It’s important when you have millions coming across your southern border. What is it – if it isn’t an invasion?”

Prior to being elected county judge, Cude was elected to serve for six terms as county commissioner representing a majority Hispanic population in a rural area south of San Antonio that largely votes Republican.

At an orientation for judges in February, he met newly elected Kinney County Judge John Paul Schuster, who described the crisis his county was facing. He and Schuster then started reaching out to other judges, and now four more counties have declared an invasion.

They also formed a coalition with other judges in contiguous counties “to promote the common goal of safety, security, and wellbeing of their residents” and to

Bipartisan bill bans JROTC programs at Chinese Communist Party-linked schools

By LAUREN SCOTT THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen.

Ted Cruz, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a measure that would prohibit the Department of Defense from establishing or maintaining a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at any private school operated by entities linked to the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Communist Party, or the People’s Liberation Army.

U.S. Reps. Mike Waltz, RFla., and Chrissy Houlahan, DPa., introduced the Deterring Egregious State Infiltration of Schools’ Training Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to a news release.

Sen. Cruz says that the Chinese

HOMELESS

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Sen. Ted Cruz says that the Chinese Communist Party spends billions of dollars to control what Americans see, hear, and believe.

Communist Party spends billions of dollars to control what Americans see, hear, and believe, according to the news release. This is not the first measure Sen. Cruz has taken to stop the influence of the CCP.

“The CCP used Confucius Institutes to target college campuses across America, and I passed legislation in 2017 to deny Defense Department funding to schools that hosted Confucius Institutes, and today there are only a handful left,” Sen. Cruz said in a tweet. “Today, they are using similar methods to target the next generation of Americans

in schools, and the DESIST Act is an important step in continuing our effort to combat the CCP’s influence whenever it appears in our schools.”

As a former Air Force officer through ROTC, Rep. Waltz knows the influence these types of programs have on military leaders.

“I thank Senator Cruz for his leadership on this issue in the Senate and look forward to working with him on a bipartisan basis to protect the integrity of our military institutions and thus improve our national security,” Rep. Waltz said.

“support each other to stop the ongoing crisis by all legal means.”

With the signing of a new resolution, the judges and commissioners of Frio, Karnes, La Salle and Medina declared an invasion.

The movement to declare an invasion was led by Kinney County, which first issued a disaster declaration April 21, 2021. Since then, over 50 counties have issued disaster declarations citing the border crisis.

Next, Kinney, Goliad and Terrell counties declared an invasion July 5, 2022. They were soon followed by Edwards and Presidio counties. By January 2023, at least 42 counties had declared an invasion. On the one year anniversary of declaring an invasion, officials from Kinney, Goliad and Terrell counties called on other counties to also declare an invasion. Officials from the four new counties signed the same resolution, entitled, “A resolution calling for additional measures to secure the border, stop the invasion at the border, and protect

our communities.”

It states that the U.S. Constitution “outlines the chief responsibility of the Federal Government to ‘insure domestic tranquility’ and ‘provide for the common defense.’” It cites Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, which states, “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government and shall protect each of them against invasion.”

It also cites Article IV, Section 7 of the Texas Constitution, which gives the governor of Texas the legal authority as commander in chief to “have power to call forth the militia to execute the laws of the state, to suppress insurrections, and to repel invasions.”

The resolution also states that “cartels exploit weak and unsecure borders for their own power and profit, to the detriment of our communities” and “act as paramilitary, narco-terrorist organizations that profit from trafficking people and drugs into the United States.”

It also affirms that Gov. Greg

Abbott is using “legal authority vested by the Texas Constitution to secure the border,” and the “ongoing border security crisis is not acceptable, and has resulted in a security threat and humanitarian disaster with overwhelming consequences to residents in the state of Texas.”

“Our counties are in a crisis,” Cude told The Center Square. “We absolutely have a right to defend ourselves under the U.S. and Texas Constitution and will. And we 100% support Gov. Greg Abbott and Operation Lone Star.”

So far, the 46 counties that have declared an invasion include: Atascosa, Burnet, Chambers, Clay, Collin, Ector, Edwards, Ellis, Fannin, Franklin, Frio, Goliad, Hamilton, Hardin, Harrison, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Jasper, Johnson, Karnes, Kinney, La Salle, Lavaca, Leon, Liberty, Live Oak, Madison, McMullen, Medina, Montague, Navarro, Orange, Parker, Presidio, Shackelford, Somervell, Terrell, Throckmorton, Tyler, Van Zandt, Waller, Wharton, Wichita, Wilson, and Wise.

from July 11 to July 15, 2023 is returning from a three-year post-pandemic hiatus and has drawn teams representing 30 nations playing in men’s, women’s and coed teams in a modified, fast-paced tournament setting. Played on fields the same size as a tennis court in teams of four, the event’s games are designed to train recently homeless individuals the power of hard work, routine and engaging in team environments.

With over 100,000 individuals from across the world trying out for the roughly 500 player positions in this year’s tournament, the Homeless World Cup is an international phenomenon.

But against the backdrop of the Homeless World Cup’s success is the state of homelessness in Sacramento, where the tournament is being held, and California as a whole, where there are more than 170,000 homeless individuals. By some estimates, homelessness in Sacramento increased 68% between 2020 and 2022, a situation that continues to worsen despite growing attempts at providing aid and support.

According to recent reports, California spent $17.5 billion on homelessness programs from 2018 to 2022, with homelessness increasing 13% from the start of Gov. Newsom’s tenure. Even with the added resources, homelessness remains a major challenge in California.

The day after the start of the tournament, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper shared several updates on Sacramento homelessness and the department’s Homeless Outreach Team. During one five-day deployment in May, the Homeless Outreach Team reached out to 198 local homeless individuals to provide them with assistance and services, with only one accepting help.

“Homelessness is the number one issue in California,” Sheriff Cooper said. “The folks that want help, we’ve helped. In the last four years, we’ve spent $17.5 billion on homelessness and it has gotten worse.”

With over 100,000 individuals from across the world trying out for the roughly 500 player positions in this year’s tournament, the Homeless World Cup is an international phenomenon.

Homelessness increased in Sacramento by an estimated 68% from 2020-2022

‘Everybody wants to ride the rides’

FAIR

Continued from Page A1

but also an opportunity to show their animals, potentially sell them and make some money.

“On showdays we’re prepping all day. We’re up here at six or seven a.m., but it’s so much fun to be up here,” said Mr. Haws.

“Today’s been pretty good, very busy. Everybody wants to ride the rides,” said Kalela Thompson, who ran one of the ring toss booths near the massive Hyperdrive ride. Over the whirring sound of the swinging roller coaster and intermittent screams and shouts from its customers, Mrs. Thompson said that it can be hard to compete with such a major attraction.

“Come play my game, I don’t get enough people over here. I do this job because I like interacting with people,” she said, smiling.

The fair was open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and noon noon to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, offering entertainment from the earlier parts of the day well into the evening.

Upon entrance to the

A variety of prizes await people at the carnival’s games.

fairgrounds, guests quickly found the concert stage where various singers, dancers and other types of artists performed their routines for the crowds, often with multiple performances throughout the day.

“Lots of good energy this afternoon. A little slow at first but it picked up really fast,” said dancer-singer Kaowonder. Dressed in light-up red shoes and black leather pants, the LAbased artist put on multiple shows Saturday afternoon under the intense Santa Maria sun. “Great energy today, especially at the end. Now, I rest and get back out there in about an hour and a half and do it again.”

The fair also featured plenty of food, a live auction for farm animals and a whole host of smaller attractions waiting to be discovered.

email: lhibbert@newspress.com

Prosecutors anticipated trouble obtaining conviction on potentially mentally ill homeless woman

DROPPED

Continued from Page A1

action. A follow-up story will be in Tuesday’s edition.

“Elizabeth Branch said it (the prosecution) is not going to go forward because the phone was returned before the time of the report,” Ms. Brand said.

But Ms. Brand said Ms. Gackowska intended to keep the phone and returned it only after Ms. Brand told her there was a tracker on it. She said Ms. Gackowska went into a nearby sushi restaurant and put Ms. Brand’s phone on a counter.

And Ms. Brand said she contended that the report of a crime was, in fact, being made when she used her phone to call 9-1-1 after seeing glass shatter from the window of Rudy’s Restaurant.

“She clearly, in my estimation, wanted to steal the phone because of the evidence I had gathered on the phone,” Ms. Brand said.

To be clear, Ms. Brand did not say she saw Ms. Gackowska throw a rock or that she had evidence of

Ms. Gackowska throwing a rock. But she has said and continues to say Ms. Gackowska took her phone and bruised her thigh in an attack. Ms. Brand emailed the News-Press a photo of what she described as bruising on her thigh and said Ms. Gackowska caused that bruising.

Ms. Brand also told the NewsPress Sunday that the District Attorney’s Office isn’t pursuing the matters of the alleged assault or the alleged effort to illegally interrupt a 9-1-1 call.

“They said they had looked into the lesser charges, but they were still letting off with no charges,” Ms. Brand said.

Ms. Brand also said Ms. Branch told her that, “Her defense will likely have a doctor’s report saying she’s mentally ill, yet she’s refusing a plea deal for mental health because she says she doesn’t need any mental health services.”

Ms. Brand said Ms. Branch told her that she didn’t believe a Santa Barbara jury would convict a defendant who came in with a report of mental illness.

“I disagreed with her

adamantly,” Ms. Brand said. “I think we are tired of street people intimidating us from enjoying the city.

“Increasingly, people give me stories of similar things that have happened to them,” Ms. Brand said. “It’s maddening that the street people are taking over and that they refuse to prosecute the street people.”

Ms. Brand, a Santa Barbara resident, told the News-Press she feels disillusioned with the criminal justice system.

Ms. Brand testified in May in Judge Carrozzo’s court that Ms. Gackowska injured her, bruising her thigh.

Ms. Gackowska was charged with second-degree robbery and grand theft from a person for allegedly taking Ms. Brand’s iPhone Pro from her against her will. Both charges are felonies, but the robbery charge is a serious, violent felony.

Ms. Brand was standing on Christmas Eve outside Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant, 3613 State St., when someone threw a rock that shattered the front window of Rudy’s. Ms. Brand said she did

not see who threw the rock, but did see Ms. Gackowska and a man standing there.

email: dmason@newspress.com

REBECCA BRAND Rebecca Brand emailed this photo to the News-Press and said it shows bruising on her thigh. She said the bruising was caused by an attack with a cellphone.

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Passengers scream with delight as this ride takes them up and down.

The fair featured plenty of food, a live auction for farm animals and a whole host of smaller attractions.

Life theArts

‘Swan Song’ explores cloning

Mahershala Ali stars in movie about a man trying to do what’s right for his family

CALENDAR

The calendar appears Mondays through Saturdays in the “Life & the Arts” section. Items are welcome. Please email them a full week before the event to Managing Editor Dave Mason at dmason@ newspress.com.

TODAY

9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily: The Sistine Chapel Art Exhibition runs through Sept. 4 at the Santa Barbara Mission, 2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara. Tickets start at $25 for adults, $18 for children, and $22 for seniors, military and students. Each ticket also includes admission to the mission museum. To purchase, go to santabarbaramission.org/sistinechapel-omsb or stop at the museum’s gift shop.

COURTESY PHOTO Boogie Knights, above, will perform 1970s hits during the New Year’s Eve Disco Boogie Ball at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez. And the Spazmatics will play hits from the ’80s. Tickets cost $50.

The calendar appears Mondays through Saturdays in the “Life & the Arts” section. Items are welcome. Please email them a full week before the event to Managing Editor Dave Mason at dmason@newspress.com.

By DAVE MASON

“Swan Song” tells the story of Cameron (Mahershala Ali) who agrees to be cloned after he learns he has a terminal illness.

Cameron realizes his clone can continue to be the husband and father that his family needs.

That sounds logical and practical, but it’s emotionally complicated, and Mr. Ali’s performance makes “Swan Song” worth your time.

The good, but not great, movie — it’s a bit clinical at times — is streaming on Apple+.

Director and writer Benjamin Cleary presents a good story, showing the happy life Cameron, a talented artist, has with his wife, Poppy, a talented singer and pianist (Naomie Harris).

When Cameron is diagnosed with a terminal illness, his physician, Dr. Jo Scott (Glenn Close), gives him the option of cloning himself so his family doesn’t lose a husband and father. The option remains as long as Cameron doesn’t tell anyone he’s dying.

Please see SWAN SONG on A4

TUne In

“Swan Song” is streaming on AppleTV+.

The Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara. The concert is presented by Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara.

Father Joe Schwab is hosting personal tours that delve into the theological and philosophical perspectives of Michelangelo’s art. Groups of 10 or more can contact Donna Reeves for a private tour at development@ sboldmission.org.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Road, has reopened its recurring summer exhibit, “Butterflies Alive!” Featuring a variety of butterflies, this experience allows guests to walk through a garden while nearly 1,000 butterflies flutter freely around them. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. The exhibit, which runs through Sept. 4, is included in museum admission. Members are always admitted free. For others, prices vary from $14 to $19. For more information, visit sbnature.org/butterfliesalive.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The James Castle exhibit is on display at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is free from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information, see sbma.net.

JULY 20

6 to 7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department’s free concert series is taking place every Thursday night in July from 6 to 7:30 p.m. People can bring blankets, chairs, picnics, family and friends to the Concerts in the Park at the Great Meadow in Chase Palm Park, 323 E. Cabrillo Blvd. July 20 is the date for Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries, the ’50s and ’60s Rock band. For more information, visit santabarbaraca.gov/concerts.

8 p.m. The Jerry Douglas Band will perform bluegrass and folk music at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Tickets cost $35 and $45 for general admission and $106 for VIP tickets, which include premier seating and a preshow reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. To purchase, go to lobero.org.

8 p.m. PCPA will perform “Bright Star” at the Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang. To purchase tickets, go to pcpa.org.

JULY 21

7 p.m. PCPA will perform “American Mariachi” at the Marian Theatre at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. Tickets start at $25. To purchase, go to pcpa.org.

7:30 p.m. The Cowboy Junkies will perform their country music and folk rock at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Tickets cost $55 and $65 for general admission and $106 for VIP tickets, which include premier seating and a pre-show reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. To purchase, go to lobero.org.

8 p.m. PCPA will perform “Bright Star” at the Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang. To purchase tickets, go to pcpa.og.

AUG. 11

8 p.m. Blake Lynch, aka Nurse Blake, will perform his healthcare-related standup comedy at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $48.50 to $93.50 at granadasb.org. The $195 VIP package includes perks such as a photo opportunity with Nurse Blake.

Dave Mason

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

—

NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

PHOTOS COURTESY APPLE TV

Mahershala Ali stars as Cameron and Cameron’s clone Jack in “Swan Song.”

Cameron (Mahershala Ali), who’s dying, sees a clone as someone who can continue to be a husband for his wife Poppy (Naomie Harris).

At left, Cameron (Mahershala Ali) and Kate (Awkwafina) are two terminally ill people who are being cloned so their loved ones are not left without them. Above, Dr. Jo Scott (Glenn Close) works to prepare Cameron and Jack for integrating Jack into Cameron’s family.

More movies, more aliens

IMAGES COURTESY UCSB ARTS & LECTURES

The free movie series at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse’s Sunken Garden will continue Friday with “Mars Attacks!” The rest of the movies there are “The Fifth Element” on July 28, the 2009 “Star Trek” movie on Aug. 11, “Guardians of the Galaxy” on Aug. 18 and “Nope” on Aug. 25. All screenings are at 8:30 p.m. On the day of each movie, you can claim your space as early as noon with your blanket and/or chairs. The series is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures.

Registration continues at Hancock College

Allan Hancock College is encouraging students to register now for fall classes, which start on Aug. 14 at the college’s Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center.

This fall, the college is offering hundreds of credit classes to help students “find their fit” and achieve their goals of graduating with a degree or certificate, transferring to a four-year university or starting a career.

“It’s a great time for students to enroll at Hancock,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers. “Whether they are just starting their college journey or continuing it, we are here to ensure they earn a quality education and get the services and support they need to succeed.”

That support includes the Hancock Promise, which provides the first year of classes at the college tuition-free for

Concerts continue in Santa Barbara park

students who enroll at Hancock immediately after graduating from any high school located in the Allan Hancock Joint Community College District. In addition to the Promise, Hancock also offers a variety of support services and programs for all students including financial aid, free textbooks, free bus passes, free tutoring and more. This fall, the college will also continue its Lompoc Valley Center degree programs. Students can pursue degrees from four areas of study that can be completed exclusively at the LVC, allowing Lompoc residents to earn a two-year degree in their community without commuting to the college’s Santa Maria campus.

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department’s free concert series is taking place every Thursday night in July from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

People can bring blankets, chairs, picnics, family and friends to the Concerts in the Park at

Available LVC degree programs include business administration, math and science, social and behavioral sciences, and psychology.

In addition to credit classes, Hancock Community Education is offering dozens of free noncredit fall classes, including English as a second language, citizenship, workplace preparation, GED classes, basic skills courses, green gardening and landscaping, and more.

To learn more about fall credit and noncredit classes and to register, visit https://www. hancockcollege.edu/fall/. email: news@newspress.com

the Great Meadow in Chase Palm Park, 323 E. CabrilloBlvd.

This Wednesday is the date for Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries, the ’50s and ’60s Rock band. July 27 will be capped off by Mezcal Martini, a Latin jazz group. For more information, visit santabarbaraca.gov/ concerts.

— Liam Hibbert

phd/animal/home.sbc.

BUNS is based at Santa Barbara County Animal

• Companion Animal Placement Assistance, lompoccapa.org and facebook. com/capaoflompoc. CAPA works regularly with Animal ServicesLompoc.

• K-9 Placement & Assistance League, k-9pals.org. K-9 PALS works regularly with Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation, sbcanimalcare. org. (The foundation works regularly with the Santa Maria Animal Center.)

• Santa Barbara County Animal Services in Goleta: countyofsb.org/

• Santa Barbara Humane (with campuses in Goleta and Santa Maria), sbhumane.org.

• Santa Maria Animal Center, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home. sbc. The center is part of Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society/DAWG in Buellton, syvhumane.org.

• Shadow’s Fund (a pet sanctuary in Lompoc), shadowsfund.org.

• Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals in Lompoc: vivashelter. org.

— Dave Mason

NEWS-PRESS STAFF REPORT

This fall, the college is offering hundreds of credit classes to help students “find their fit” and achieve their goals.

Diversions

Thought for Today

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

— Mahatma Gandhi

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

HOROSCOPE

By Horoscope.com

Monday, July 17, 2023

Aries: Get your chores done early, Aries, so you have time to play tonight. Plan a romantic getaway with a loved one. Let your imagination carry you to a whole new realm of pleasure. This is a great day to explore your artistic nature and begin to manifest some of the ideas that have been rattling around in your head for a while.

Taurus: This is an excellent day to tell people exactly how you feel, Taurus. Your emotions are more stable than usual, so open up and speak from the heart. Listen. What you learn will be valuable for the future, so pay attention. Keep an eye on what is real, but let your heart explore all the possibilities.

Gemini: Today may be tough, Gemini. Does it seem like nothing fits into place? Are you trying to be someone you’re not? If things don’t seem to be working out, don’t press the issue. You’re better off waiting for a time when you feel more confident about who you are and where you’re going.

Cancer: Enjoy yourself, Cancer. You have a lot to be grateful for, so give thanks. Take pride in all you’ve accomplished so far and share your joy with others. Let go of the reins and sit back comfortably for a while. You’ve worked hard for a reason - to enjoy life.

Leo: This may be one of those days when you don’t know which way to turn. For some reason, you just can’t make a decision, so you keep going around and around. Stop and rest. Get out and walk for a while until your head stops spinning.

Virgo: Romance is coming your way as long as you stay levelheaded about the situation. Take care of the daily tasks and then let your heart soar. You have a strong connection to your emotions. Trust your instincts and let your heart take control. Be realistic about your relationships with others, but push the boundaries once they’ve been established.

Libra: Your emotions may be reserved, Libra. Take a break from the spunk and fire and

simply lay low. This is a good time to sit back and receive. Don’t make any sudden moves. Just let the energy of the day take you where it will. The closer you can get to your inner nature and feminine energy, the closer you will become to a romantic partner or family member.

Scorpio: Family issues play an important role in your day, Scorpio. Speak from the heart and tell your kin how much they mean to you. In general, you might feel reserved with your energy. Don’t feel like you have to make any great strides right now. It’s more a time in which you can enjoy what you’ve worked for.

Sagittarius: You may be undecided about a loved one today, Sagittarius. Something may urge you to act yet you want to lay low. There’s an important next step that you must take now. Carefully think the situation through before you make a move. In fact, this day would best be spent gathering data on the issue.

Capricorn: Today is a great day to move forward, Capricorn. Your emotions are stable, leaving your heart free to take off to the clouds. Daydream. Now might be a good time to make plans with a romantic partner. Solidify your relationship and confirm your commitment to one another. If you’re single, this is a good time to set a plan in motion that will put you one step closer to your greatest fantasy.

Aquarius: There’s a conservative feeling to the day that asks you to get serious and take care of business. This may not be such a bad idea. This grounded atmosphere can help you move into a deeper relationship with someone special. Let your creativity shine, and try to do more listening than talking.

Pisces: There is a conflicting push/pull aspect to today that may leave you feeling unsure about how to proceed. On the one hand, you may feel like you want to plan things out and get your emotions stabilized so you can function at full capacity. On the other hand, something may be pulling you into the clouds.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency Monday, July 17, 2023

When you make a mistake (and every monkey falls out of a tree occasionally), look where you slipped, not where you fell.

Today’s South played at four hearts.

(Three notrump would have been a fine spot but tough to reach.) South won the first club with the queen, drew trumps and tried a diamond to dummy’s queen. East took the king and returned a club.

Declarer won and had to attack the spades. He led low to dummy’s jack, losing to East’s king, and ducked the spade return, hoping West had held the doubleton ace. Alas, down one.

HIGH CLUBS

South fell when he tried to find a lucky lie of the spades, but he slipped earlier. After South draws trumps, he can take two more high clubs, pitching a diamond from dummy, and then lead the ace and queen of diamonds. The defender who wins is endplayed. He must lead a diamond or a club, letting South discard a spade and ruff in dummy, or break the spades to South’s advantage.

Learning from your mistakes is a route to improvement. DAILY QUESTION

You hold:

Q 6 Q 5. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart,

he bids two clubs and you try 2NT. Partner then bid three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has a good hand with six diamonds and four clubs. With a minimum, he would have rebid two diamonds to limit his strength. Partner expects you to bid again, but to persist with 3NT with shaky stoppers in the majors would be wrong. Raise to four diamonds. North dealer

vulnerable

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3-by-3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. that means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box. Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday-Saturday and on the crossword solutions page in Sunday’s Life section.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers to previous CODEWORD

How to play Codeword

Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great way to test your knowledge of the English language. Every number in the codeword grid is ‘code’ for a letter of the alphabet. Thus, the number 2 may correspond to the letter L, for instance. All puzzles come with a few letters to start. Your first move should be to enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the number 2, your first move should be to find all cells numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the letter S off the list at the bottom of the grid.

Remember that at the end you should have a different letter of the alphabet in each of the numbered boxes 1- 26, and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the codeword grid.

PUZZLE

County attorney calls on Abbott, Patrick to prioritize border security in next special session

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – With the second special legislative session coming to a close, a border county attorney is once again asking Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to call another special session to create a state agency specifically tasked with focusing on border security.

Gov. Abbott has said he would consider calling a special session to revisit the 50 bills he vetoed solely because the legislature couldn’t agree on a property tax relief package, which lawmakers passed during that second special session. The governor also has said a special session is forthcoming to pass school choice legislation.

Another bill likely to be added to a special legislative session is one that enhances penalties for stash houses. Gov. Abbott previously listed this issue in the first call for the first special legislative session and it went nowhere. While the House passed it, the Senate instead advanced a range of border security measures. None of the bills went anywhere.

Last month, Gov. Abbott signed a handful of border security-related bills after they passed with bipartisan support in the regular legislative session. The legislature also allocated for the next two years nearly $5 billion in funds to keep Operation Lone Star enforcement operations going and build the Texas border wall. However, the signature border security bill in the House, HB 20, which Speaker Dade Phelan tagged as a legislative priority, couldn’t get passed in the House. And some of the strongest border security legislation to ever pass the Senate in the regular and first special session were also killed in the Republican-controlled House. With Gov. Abbott likely to soon schedule a third special legislative session, Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith is calling on him

to prioritize border security and create a state agency to specifically secure the border.

Mr. Smith first made the request in a letter to the governor and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on May 31. He shared copies of the letters with The Center Square, saying he hasn’t received a response.

“The border crisis touches each and every Texan, irrespective of where they live in our state,” Mr. Smith wrote to Gov. Abbott. “For Texans living on the border, words cannot adequately describe the conditions on the ground. Our homes are being broken into in the middle of the night. The main streets of our small towns are now the place of highspeed car chases with cartel operatives. Walking outside on our own property after dark is no longer safe. Texans who reside on our border no longer enjoy the comfort and safety of their own home. The violence and lawlessness occurring along the southern border is not sustainable for any sovereign state.”

Creating an effective Texas agency tasked solely with border security would enable the state to potentially hire former Border Patrol agents and maximize on the ground operations to repel unlawful entry, Mr. Smith argues.

“As the [Texas] Border Czar [Mike Banks] demonstrated in Brownsville recently, preventing unlawful entry is key to our success,” he said, noting Banks implemented tactics he used during his 25-plus-year career with the Department of Homeland Security.

“Obtaining this same level of experience and knowledge through any existing state agency is impossible,” Mr. Smith added. “Mr. Bank’s experience and leadership enabled him to utilize the TMD and DPS to effectively stop all illegal crossings that would have continued to occur under prior strategies employed by DPS.”

Lt. Gov. Patrick has previously said that

Oregon’s Department of Justice forms new division focused on children

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is placing greater focus on the needs of Oregon’s most vulnerable children. This month marked the start of the Child Advocacy and Protection Division.

It is a new division within the Oregon Department of Justice that will provide legal representation for the Oregon Department of Human Services when ODHS has taken action to protect a child who has been abused, neglected or abandoned.

“Now that we have taken over this important legal work in every county in the state, my goal is for us at the Oregon Department of Justice to put an even greater focus on the needs of Oregon’s children,” Ms. Rosenblum said.

CAP will supplant the Child Advocacy Section, one of the largest sections which operated under the Civil Enforcement Division. Instead, CAP becomes a division of its own with 1,418 employees, 100 lawyers, and 92 support staff bringing the number of divisions within the department to 10. It is the second child focused division, the other being the Child Support Division.

“This is a big deal for the state - and a long time coming,” Ms. Rosenblum commented. “This reorganization will be deeply consequential.”

Joanne Soouthey, a 20-year veteran of the department, has been named Director of the new CAP division. Prior to becoming director she served as Chief Counsel for the Child Advocacy Section within the Civil Enforcement Division.

“She is a highly capable, compassionate and missionfocused lawyer manager and leader,” Ms. Rosenblum said. “ She will be joined by Rahela Rehman as Deputy Director…Their team, and the work of the new Division, are in good hands.”

Many years of planning went into creating a full division solely devoted to providing “vigorous court representation and comprehensive legal advice to” the Department of Human Services in all 36 counties, the release said.

CAP’s lawyers and staff will operate from 6 regional offices located in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Medford, Bend and Pendleton.

Foster home Certification and licensing matters requiring legal counsel or representation will fall under CAP’s purview. Directors of the Oregon Department of Human Services and Child Welfare will also be advised by CAP’s leadership.

a border protection unit should fall under an existing agency like DPS. Mr. Smith addressed this in his letter to Lt. Gov. Patrick, saying, “While DPS is very effective in performing criminal interdiction within the state of Texas, Governor Abbott’s state mission centers upon the securement of the Mexican border itself. The simple truth is that the command structure and mission training of DPS is not suitable to undertake the task of securing the actual border.

“Touting the high number of arrests and drug seizures occurring within the interior of the state only gives evidence of our failure to secure the actual border and preventing [criminal actors and crime] from traveling into the interior of Texas.”

“You can pass all kinds of border protection laws but unless you have the agency and personnel to enforce them, they’re meaningless,” Mr. Smith told The Center Square.

“The magnitude of this crisis cannot be overstated,” he said. “The tools that are created to confront this border crisis will ultimately determine the fate of Texas.”

Mr. Smith was sworn into office on the same day as President Joe Biden. Mr. Smith says his life and the lives of those in his county have never been the same. He first led the counties in issuing a disaster declaration on April 21, 2021, and the county was the first to draft a declaration of invasion, which former Kinney County Judge Tully Shahan signed on July 5, 2022. Since then, over 50 counties issued disaster declarations and over 40 issued invasion declarations, with some overlap. Brad Coe, the sheriff of Kinney County, responsible for covering 16 miles of shared border with Mexico, says his deputies are doing everything they can to defend the county. But, he told The Center Square, they are witnessing an invasion of single, military age men.

Barrio Azteca gang member sentenced to 10 years for holding migrants hostage

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - Alfredo

Ochoa-Munoz, 37, of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, a member of the Barrio Azteca gang has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on 3 counts of hostage taking and conspiracy to take a hostage.

The United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico Alexander M.M. Uballez and Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, Francisco B. Burrola revealed the sentence in Albuquerque.

Court records disclose that on February 17 Border Patrol agents at the I-10 checkpoint located between Las Cruces and Deming, stopped a vehicle driven by Michael Ryan Ratliff with the immigrants in tow. When the group was detained for questioning the immigrants revealed they had been held against their will at two trailers in Vado, New Mexico. Those trailers were rented by Ricardo Barrientos-Noriega.

The immigrants informed Border Patrol that they had crossed illegally and had been picked up between Feb. 5 and Feb 17 by a driver who stole their phones and placed them Mr. OchoaMunoz’s custody at which time they were told by Mr. Ochoa-Munoz, Mr. Barrientos-Noriega, and a third codefendant, Luis Roberto Arturo MezaMarin, that they were being held for ransom and were not allowed to leave until their families had paid up.

Payments were demanded by another Aztecas gang member Eduardo Sarellano-Garcia, a.k.a. “Padrino,” on pain of death, injury and continued detainment. Having received payment from the families, Mr. Ratcliff was transferring the immigrants “to their next destination.”

Mr. Ratcliff was arrested at the checkpoint. All three immigrants were subsequently able to guide the agents to the trailer locations where they had

Quaid to address Republican CLub

GOLETA — Michele R. Weslander Quaid, author of “Change Your Stars,” will discuss “A Republic, If You Can Keep It” at the Santa Barbara Republican Club luncheon July 22.

The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Timbers Roadhouse

SWAN SONG

been held against their will.

Mr. Ochoa-Munoz, Mr. Meza-Marin and Mr. Barrientos-Noriega were arrested when agents went to the trailers. At his swearing in ceremony last year, Mr. Umbalez said, “The people of New Mexico deserve dignity, safety and the evenhanded application of swift and certain justice…We will confront this challenge together, using all tools and every resource in pursuit of community safety.”

These latest convictions following investigations conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Border Patrol appear to do just that.

Mr. Meza-Marin 33, and Mr. Barrientos-Noriega 24 both of Mexico have pled guilty to conspiracy to take a hostage and three counts of hostage taking and are incarcerated while awaiting sentencing.

Mr. Ratliff, 33, of Corinth, Texas was sentenced to 12 months in prison or time served, whichever was longer, and three years of supervised probation for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and three counts of transporting illegal aliens.

Mr. Sarellano-Garcia, who ordered the ransoms, was indicted by a federal grand jury. A report by AP revealed that mass abductions of migrants have become the modus operandi for Mexican gangs.

Continued from Page B1

The doctor and her team can pass on Cameron’s memories to his clone, temporarily named Jack (and, of course, played by Mr. Ali). The idea is that one day, Jack will show up at the family’s home with Poppy (pregnant with their second child) and 8-year-old son Cory (Dax Rey), believing Jack is Cameron. By this point, Jack’s memory of being a clone will be erased, and he will think he’s Cameron.

The original Cameron, meanwhile, is living his final months at his doctor’s retreat in the woods, where he gets to know Kate (Awkwafina), an ill woman living her final weeks with a clone replacing her in the world. The

COURTESY PHOTO

Restaurant, 10 Winchester Canyon Road, Goleta.

To attend, you must reserve a seat and pay by July 19. Ms. Weslander Quaid’s book “Change Your Stars” will be available for purchase at the event. Cost is $35 per person. For any questions, call Mary Widiner at 805-637-8595.

— Liam Hibbert

genuine

scenes between Jack and Cameron are intriguing, and Ms. Close does her usual great job of making her character genuine. It’s great seeing the interaction of Cameron or Jack with Poppy, but the movie’s best scenes are with Cameron and Kate. Awkwafina and Mr. Ali are two talented actors who bring out the best of each other in their scenes, and “Swan Song” would have been a better movie with more conversations between Cameron and Kate.

In addition, while there is some conflict between Cameron and Jack, the cloning is too perfect. “Swan Song” would have been a better movie with more differences between Cameron and Jack.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Awkwafina and Mr. Ali are two talented actors who bring out the best of each other in their scenes, and

Michele R. Weslander Quaid

“Swan Song” would have been a better movie with more conversations between Cameron and Kate.

Glenn Close, as usual, succeeds in making character

A report by AP revealed that mass abductions of migrants have become the modus operandi for Mexican gangs.