Santa Barbara News-Press: March 23, 2023

Special Olympics

UCSB hosts more than 600 athletes, coaches and volunteers for Gary Cunningham Tournament - A3

‘Natural Interpretations’

Federal Reserve rate hike is 9th since March 2022

By CASEY HARPER

THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – The Federal Reserve announced a key interest rate hike Wednesday, the ninth time it has done so since early 2022 in its effort to combat rising inflation.

The rate got a quarter-point increase to 0.25% to 0.5% on March 17 of last year; the latest hike moves it to a range of 4.75% to 5%, according to the central banking system’s website. Another hike, perhaps a final one in this trend according to

Landlords question changes to evictions ordinance

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

For weeks, Santa Barbara tenants who have been evicted or are on the verge of being ousted have appealed to the City Council for help in protecting them and their rights against landlords they say want them gone so they can raise the rent for new tenants taking their place.

On Tuesday, it was the landlords’ turn.

The landlords who showed up at the Santa Barbara City Council meeting insisted that they were following the rules laid out in the city’s tenant protection ordinance, that no loopholes were being exploited and that no “clarifications” needed to be made.

Several questioned why they were there in the first place.

“This is a tenant-centric disaster for property owners in Santa Barbara,” Paul Burns said.

The idea of requiring landlords to show “good faith” instead of just “intent” is unfair, he said, because “it’s not that clear what good faith means. It’s subject to interpretation.”

He was especially concerned about the proposal that any rental unit removed from the housing market must be permanent. “Now a landlord could remove it and then three years later decide to rent it again.”

“Permanently means forever,” he said. “It constrains the owners’ property rights. It’s a bludgeon in the hands of the city attorney against landlords.”

The real issue facing the city, he said, is “the incredible dearth of affordable housing.”

Frederick Lang agreed “good faith” is not an objective standard. “Do not make me a criminal because you interpret my motivations,” he said. “Basically it comes down to you can’t make somebody a bad person because you think you don’t like what they’re doing.”

Susan Horn said the council should ask to see the data “to see if this actually needed. Who do you believe, the tenant or the landlord?”

She complained that tenants are not satisfied with explanations of why they have to go or being paid a relocation fee. “They believe they should be let back in at the same rate.”

Please see EVICTIONS on A2

policymakers, could move it to 5.1%.

“Recent indicators point to modest growth in spending and production,” the Federal Reserve Board of Governors said in a statement. “Job gains have picked up in recent months and are running at a robust pace; the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains elevated.”

Government reports say 311,000 jobs were added in February, and unemployment rose from 3.4% to 3.6%.

Inflation has soared in the last two years, making everyday goods and services more expensive for Americans.

The Feds’ key interest rate was 1% to 1.25% when the impact of COVID-19 slammed the country in early March 2020, and the rate dropped to 0 to 0.25% on March 16, 2020. In the next two years, stimulus and relief funds flowed into the economy as businesses struggled amid lockdowns and mandates; the rate stayed low until inflation took off last spring. Some experts feared that the recent bank collapses would make the economy too frail to withstand the rate hike, which are aimed at lowering inflation at a cost to economic growth.

“The [Federal Reserve] should pause on Wednesday,” Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square, wrote on Twitter ahead of the news. “We have had a number of major shocks to the system. Three US bank closures in a week wiping out equity and bond holders. The demise of Credit Suisse and the zeroing of its junior bondholders.” Because of the recent economic scares, others called for an actual decrease in interest rates. The Federal Reserve seemed to acknowledge those concerns in its announcement.

“In assessing the appropriate stance

County sees end of storm

But cold temperatures persist during the first week of spring

of monetary policy, the committee will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook,” the group said. “The committee would be prepared to adjust the stance of monetary policy as appropriate if risks emerge that could impede the attainment of the committee’s goals. The committee’s assessments will take into account a wide range of information, including readings on labor market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and financial and international developments.”

Man pleads not guilty to sexual acts charges

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Carpinteria man has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges that he allegedly engaged in sexual acts with a child under 10, dating back to 2015.

Luis Antonio Ibarra-Delgadillo, 37, entered the not guilty pleas at his arraignment on Monday. He is scheduled to return to court on March 27 to set a date for a preliminary hearing.

The first count charges him with committing sodomy with a child 10 years old or younger between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2015.

The second count charges him with attempted oral copulation with a child under 10 during the same period.

The third count charges him with committing a lewd or lascivious act upon a child under 14 during the same period. The charge contends it was the first time the defendant touched the child with lewd intent.

And the fourth count also charges him with committing a lewd or lascivious act upon a child under 14, again during the same period. The charge alleges it was the last time he touched her with lewd intent.

Detectives from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mr. Ibarra-Delgadillo, aka Anthony Ibarra, on March 9 for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with a child under 10, sheriff’s officials said in a March 20 press release, the same day he was arraigned. He was arrested without incident after an extensive confidential criminal investigation, and he is currently being held without bail at the Main Jail in Santa Barbara.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The rain that has deluged Santa Barbara County over the last few days continued Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.

The flood watch ended Wednesday morning. There was a heavy downpour Wednesday between 7 and 8 a.m. in the Santa Barbara area, but by 8:30 a.m., the rain had stopped. There was the possibility of precipitation after the News-Press went to press Wednesday night. But the National Weather Service says there’s no chance of rain today in Santa Barbara County.

The storm’s over, but keep your jacket handy. The weather service’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies today throughout the county, with a low of 47 degrees and a

Based on their investigation, detectives believe there may be additional survivors of alleged sexual assault by Mr. Ibarra-Delgadillo who have not been identified. The Sheriff’s Office would like to encourage anyone with knowledge of additional alleged crimes associated with him to contact Detective Swank by phone at 805-681-4150. If you would like to be anonymous, you can submit information online at sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip or by calling 805-681-4171.

Sheriff’s detectives coordinate closely with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office’s Victim-Witness Program to ensure the needs of survivors are not overshadowed by the focus on the investigation and prosecution of the accused. Victim advocates are available to ensure that survivors are kept informed and supported throughout the criminal justice process.

Survivors have the option of contacting the Victim-Witness Assistance Program directly at 805-568-2400 or toll free at 855-840-3232.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind survivors that they can also find support services through its community partner, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault. Services offered by STESA include a confidential 24-Hour hotline, legal and medical advocacy and accompaniment, and counseling. You can reach a STESA advocate at any time by calling 805-564-3696.

For more information, go to sbstesa.org. email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

Holly Hungett exhibits paintings at Architectural Foundation - B1

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Waves crash ashore Goleta Beach past the still-closed Goleta Pier Wednesday afternoon, several hours after the rain stopped.

Water flows under the Mission Creek Bridge in Santa Barbara. Please see STORM on A4

California announces new actions for storm response and recovery

By TOM JOYCE THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square)California has endured its 12th atmospheric river since late December, and the state said it is taking swift action to respond.

“We’re continuing to mobilize an all-hands-on-deck response to protect Californians during this latest round of devastating storms,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a press release. “With communities from San Diego to Siskiyou County reeling from recent storms, the state is working closely with federal and local partners to provide immediate relief and support the ongoing recovery.”

Since late February, Gov. Newsom declared a state of emergency in 43 counties, and President Joe Biden has issued a Presidential Emergency Declaration, authorizing federal assistance to assist in storm response and recovery efforts, per Gov. Newsom’s request.

The governor’s office said it is working to maximize federal aid to storm-impacted areas. It also said that state and county officials are conducting preliminary damage assessments and figuring out the total financial losses endured.

They want to see if California meets the federal Major Disaster Declaration requirements.

The state got a Major Disaster Declaration earlier this year in response to severe storms that started last December.

In response to the storm’s impacts, the state is taking various actions for assistance and recovery.

More than 4,000 California Department of Transportation

More than 4,000 California Department of Transportation crew members are working 24/7 in shifts to keep roads open and respond to emergency situations.

City receives $7.35 million in sales tax revenue

SANTA BARBARA — The city of Santa Barbara received $7.35 million in sales tax revenue during the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2022, which is 0.7% below the same quarter last year and 5.4% above budget.

This result reflects a flattening in economic activity, following the post-pandemic pent-up demand from the previous year and higher inflation.

The city has collected $14.9 million through the December quarter, which is the second quarter of the city’s fiscal year.

For fiscal year 2023, the city’s sales tax revenue budget is $26.6

crew members are working 24/7 in shifts to keep roads open and respond to emergency situations; the department has also expedited its road repair process and put equipment at “critical locations to prepare for flooding, slides, and heavy snow,” according to the release.

Meanwhile, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has 33 active crews statewide, including five damage inspection teams and two incident management teams to help in the process. Plus, they will be using two fire engines, one helicopter and a mobile communications center in the effort.

The California National Guard has three helicopters deployed for the situation: one to support heavy lift operations regarding the Pajaro River levee breach and two for search and rescue missions in Northern California; plus, the guard has deployed 125 troops and 48 high-water vehicles across seven countries to help in the flood and rescue operations, and 58 more in Tulare, Mono, and Placer counties helping with snow and debris removal.

Plus, the state will use personnel and resources from the Emergency Medical Services Authority, Department of Water Resources, Department of Social Services, Department of Food and Agriculture, Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), and State Water Board in its response effort.

The governor’s office urges Californians to take these steps to keep themselves and their communities safe during the storm:

• Visit CalAlerts.org to sign up for local wireless emergency alerts.

• Pack a go-bag with important items for each member of your household, including pets, in case you’re evacuated.

• In the instance that it’s safer to shelter in place, add items to a stay box to prepare for at least 3 days without electricity.

• Please stay off roads and out of mountain areas to allow for first responders to clear roads and get communities back open.

• If told to evacuate, do so immediately.

million.

The city of Santa Barbara collected $1.65 million in Transient Occupancy Taxes for February 2023. Although TOT revenues in February 2023 were about 3.2% below the monthly budget, year to date they remain at a healthy level of approximately 15% over budget.

The city has collected $20.6 million through February, the eighth month in the city’s fiscal year. Santa Barbara’s adopted TOT budget for all funds is $28.3 million, of which $23.6 million is budgeted in the General Fund. The city’s TOT tax rate is 12%, of which 10% goes to the city’s General Fund and the remaining 2% goes to the Creeks/ Clean Water Fund.

— Neil Hartstein

Colorectal cancer rises among younger patients

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month.

In light of that, Sansum Clinic is highlighting the alarming statistics surrounding this type of cancer. Current statistics show an increase in cases among those under age 50, while the overall rate of colorectal cancer is dropping.

“Colorectal cancer is a term used to describe cancer in the colon or rectum. It is two entities because the anatomy is different. Typical patients have one or the other,” Dr. Cristina Harnsberger, a Sansum Clinic fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon, told the NewsPress.

Statistics show that approximately 153,000 patients will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the United States this year, and 10% of those diagnosed will be younger than 50.

While the overall rate of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer has been dropping since the 1980s due to screenings, the number of people younger than age 55 diagnosed with colorectal cancer nearly doubled from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019, according to the American Cancer Society.

Experts say colorectal cancer is on track to become the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50.

In the U.S., colorectal cancer is the third most commonlydiagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths overall.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are now 106, 970 new cases of colon cancer and 46,050 new cases of rectal cancer. Screenings and colonoscopies, though, are making a difference.

“The decrease overall is because more people are being screened,” Dr. Harnsberger told the News-Press. “A colonoscopy detects and prevents cancer.

The cancer can be prevented by removing small polyps before they develop into cancer.

“The rate is increasing, especially those between (ages) 20-50 increasing steadily since the mid 90s,” she said. “Because

of the increased rate of this type of cancer in those under 50, the recommended screening age has been moved down from age 50 to 45.”

The News-Press asked Dr. Harnsberger about what is causing this increase in colorectal cancer in those under 50. She said this is an area of “active research” and that the cause remains undetermined.

Signs of colorectal cancer include rectal bleeding, change in frequency and consistency of bowel movements, and abdominal pain or anemia.

Dr. Harnsberger advised against ignoring symptoms.

“A colonoscopy is a safe test and the best test for diagnosing and preventing colon and rectal cancer,” she added.

Factors that can place an individual more at risk include obesity, diabetes, smoking or heavy alcohol use. Additionally, genetic syndromes that can place an individual more at risk — Lynch syndrome is one example — are more common in younger patients.

“There are a number of pathways by which colorectal cancer can develop,” Dr. Harnsberger said.

“One is chromosomal instability, which is when the cells lining the colon can develop mutations that cause them to grow abnormally, which usually manifests as a small polyp,” she explained. “As more mutations develop, it has the ability to invade and spread into many types of mutations in the cells.

“Another way is when the repair mechanisms for mistakes in the cells don’t function properly, when the machinery of the cells develop problems and cells with mistakes are allowed to grow.

“A third way is through inherited genetic syndromes, which accounts for about 10%, and Lynch syndrome accounts for less than 5%,” said Dr. Harnsberger.

Hannah Andrews, a genetic counselor at the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center in Santa Barbara, told the News-Press that Lynch syndrome is a genetic change, harmful variant or mutation. She said it’s a hereditary condition that increases the risk of certain types of cancer.

“The general population has a 4% chance of developing colorectal cancer,” she said.

“Those with Lynch syndrome have a 20-60% lifetime chance of developing colorectal cancer.”

“When we evaluate an individual personal or family history to see if Lynch syndrome is likely, we look for certain features,” she said, citing the inclusion of individuals diagnosed with cancer at an early age or colon cancer before age 50.

“We also look for a diagnosis for multiple types of cancer or for multiple people diagnosed with colon cancer,” said Ms. Andrews. She said genetic counselors can assist patients by looking at their family history and doing risk assessments. “If you have questions, speak with your healthcare provider to see if it would be helpful to meet with a

Emergency ordinance approved by City Council

EVICTIONS

Continued from Page A1

Teresa Patino questioned what loopholes council members believe they’re closing by passing the emergency ordinance. “If there’s a bad actor, go after them under city law,” she said, “You’re opening up a can of worms.” Council members and the tenants who spoke Tuesday said no one was pointing a finger at the landlords in the room, or saying all landlords are culpable. Tenants complain that their particular landlords use plans for substantial renovations as an excuse to make them leave, then end up doing nothing or only making cosmetic changes.

The tenants again pressed the council to pass the emergency ordinance requiring landlords to show “good faith,” including taking out work permits to actually do the demolition or substantial renovations.

“We wholeheartedly support the staff recommendation to satisfy the original intent of the just cause ordinance,” Nadia AbuShanab said.

She said she’s heard stories of people being evicted after a private landlord says he’s going to do renovations, and then puts in a new sink, or paints a cabinet, or installs new landscaping. “They could easily have

remained in the unit while the work was being done,” she said.

Many tenants couldn’t be there, she said, “because they’ve already been displaced and are out of town. The law is absolutely being circumvented by bad actor property owners.”

Councilmember Alejandra Gutierrez suggested more needs to be done to define “good faith” on the part of landlords.

“We need something a lot stronger,” she said.

“Based on experiences in my district, I don’t want a property owner who owns a complex of 30 units who says he wants to remodel and get permits, but then just sits on it.

“I don’t want to see those types of scenarios,” she said. “People who need housing need it right away.”

Assistant City Attorney Dan Hentschke, however, said “good faith” can be defended in court.

“If you do something in good faith, you’re doing it for the right reason,” he said. “If you’re not doing it because you’re out to hurt the other person, if you’re not doing it for the right reason, then it’s not good faith.”

In the end, council members approved the emergency ordinance, which took effect immediately upon adoption, saying they believed the stories the tenants have shared.

Council members said that more needs to be done to prevent “bad actors” from evicting

tenants without truly showing just cause.

“This is a very real problem affecting very real people,” Councilmember Kristen Sneddon said.

She and other council members insisted that all they were doing by passing the emergency ordinance was cleaning up the language contained in the original ordinance.

The only landlord concern that some council members resonated to was requiring any landlord who permanently removes a unit from the rental housing market to also permanently remove the other units on the same parcel.

Assistant City Attorney Hentschke said the goal was to prevent a “piecemeal” approach that removes one unit but not the others.

But the landlords and some council members agreed it would be unfair to owners of buildings with three or four units to make them permanently give up the income they would make from the other units just because one is withdrawn.

They also questioned whether units removed from the market could be temporarily withdrawn and then put back on the market. Staff was asked to look into the matter further and report back to the council.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

genetic counselor.”

The treatment for colon cancer is quite different from the treatment for rectal cancer.

“The treatment for colon cancer is surgery, if there is no sign of it having spread,” Dr. Harnsberger told the News-Press. “Potentially there is chemo afterward, but no

radiation.”

She explained rectal cancer requires a treatment involving radiation and chemotherapy. “Then more chemotherapy and only then surgery, and usually there are two separate surgeries.” email: kzehnder@newspress.com

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Dr. Cristina Harnsberger, left, and Hannah Andrews.

Statistics show that approximately 153,000 patients will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the United States this year, and 10% of those diagnosed will be younger than 50.

Special Olympics teams compete at UCSB

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

The Special Olympics of Santa Barbara held its 23rd Divisional Basketball Tournament, also known as the Gary Cunningham Tournament, this week for teams coming from all over Southern California.

The event took place Sunday at the UCSB Thunderdome and involved more than 600 athletes, coaches and volunteers.

The basketball competition was started in the late 1990s by Anita Ho and has always been

Santa Barbara chapter hosts Gary Cunningham Tournament

played at the UCSB Thunderdome. Since then, there have been many supporters of the competition. From the very beginning, law enforcement and the Law Enforcement Torch Run have been supporters and partners of the Special Olympics and this tournament, participating in the Opening Ceremony and awarding medals to participants. Local sponsors of this year’s tournament included Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, George Ben Page Foundation, La Centra Sumerlin Foundation and the Ann Jackson Foundation.

FYI

To get involved with Special Olympics of Santa Barbara as a volunteer or supporter, or to learn how to become an athlete with Special Olympics of Santa Barbara, visit sosc.org/santabarbara. Special Olympics of Santa Barbara is looking for interns at its office.Those who are interested can contact Tim Philibosian at tphilibosian@sosc.org or 805-884-1516.

In 2020, the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has not been a competition since then, until this year. On Sunday, more than 20 teams participated in the tournament. In addition to Santa Barbara, they came from Santa Ynez, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Simi Valley, Conejo Valley, Burbank, Bakersfield and Santa Clarita.

Tim Philibosian, the Special Olympics of Santa Barbara sports manager, shared two of his favorite highlights from Sunday’s activities.

The first one was the Parade of Athletes. “The Parade of Athletes opened the event, where each team was announced to thunderous applause, and then they proceeded to walk in front of friends, family, and supporters while high-fiving community leaders, firefighters and members of law enforcement,” he told the News-Press. “It was so powerful

Utah Attorney General blasts ESG policies in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank collapse

By TOM JOYCE

THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - Utah Attorney General Sean

D. Reyes thinks Environmental Social Governance (ESG) policies mandated by President Joe Biden were a factor in the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB).

Mr. Reyes sent a letter to Treasury Secretary

Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, FDIC Director Martin Gruenberg, and acting Comptroller of Currency Michael Hsu, arguing that premise. Mr. Reyes and 15 other state attorneys general want President Biden to “halt the politicization of the banking industry through climate-related regulations and instead focus the regulatory agencies on true risk management,” according to a press release from Mr. Reyes’s office. According to Investopedia, “ESG investing refers to a set of standards for a company’s behavior used by socially conscious investors to screen potential investments.”

“SVB’s failure is a warning sign that the administration’s environmental activism in its financial regulation not only ignores real financial risk but increases it,” Attorney General Reyes said in the release. “The administration should refocus regulation on true risk and stop pressuring financial institutions to meet impossible net-zero targets.”

The letter argues that the bank failure happened because President Biden “preferred regulatory posture increased SVB’s exposure to the actual risks that contributed to SVB’s failures.”

It said SVB’s focus on the cleantech industry and underinvestment in traditional energy infrastructure put billions of investment dollars at risk.

Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes and 15 other state attorneys general want President Biden to “halt the politicization of the banking industry through climaterelated regulations and instead focus the regulatory agencies on true risk management,” according to a press release.

“Financial regulation that promotes environmental activism and ignores true financial risk puts our nation’s entire financial system in jeopardy,” the release from Mr. Reyes’s office said.

The attorneys general also expressed concern about the Biden administration’s political motivations to give SVB a bailout.

“[It] suggests that your actions were motivated only by a desire to save the cleantech industry on which the administration is relying to deliver the country its promised climate agenda,” the attorneys general wrote. “But even if that is not the case, your focus on climate change has created that perception, which weakens the financial system generally and undermines faith that financial regulators are solely focused on the economic health of our banking system, as opposed to furthering favored political agendas.”

California considers charging Google, Facebook a ‘journalism usage fee’

By RIA ROEBUCK

THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - California

State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) has proposed a bill that would require media platforms like Google and Facebook, to pay news publishers a “journalism usage fee” if they use local news content alongside advertising.

Assemblymember Wicks said, “These dominant digital ad companies are enriching their own platforms with local news content without adequately compensating the originators.

It’s time they start paying market value for the journalism they are aggregating at no cost from local media.”

But fees paid as required by the bill do not go to journalists who produce the work, instead the bill requires 70% of collected funds to be used for investment in journalism jobs. This legislative subsidy in AB886, the California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA), will be up for consideration this session.

A statement released by Wicks’ office notes that preserving local news providers was more important than “who pays and who gets paid.”

“The rise of digital media and technology has transformed the way we access our news and entertainment. It’s also had a devastating impact on print publishing industries,” a report by the Census Bureau stated. “Many Americans may not remember the last time they stopped by a newsstand to pick up a magazine

or newspaper.”

“The CJPA provides a lifeline for news outlets – large, small and ethnic – by directing a portion of the ad dollars back to the print, digital, and broadcast media that bear the entire cost of gathering and reporting local news while Big Tech bears none,” said Assemblymember Wicks.

The released statement noted “..community news outlets have been downsizing and closing at alarming rates. By driving more digital ad revenue to local outlets and requiring investments in journalism jobs, AB 886 will produce a more stable news ecosystem, especially in smaller and ethnic communities. “

Assemblymember Wicks’ fight to preserve news outlets that are already in decline may be short-lived. The Pew Research Center notes that while TV remains the number one source of news, it is quickly losing ground to the younger generation who prefer to get news online. Data revealed that platforms have attracted consumers who prefer to read the news, than watch it. The decline may well be an indication that some community outlets no longer have a market for their product and consumers have moved on to other sources for their news.

The bill has found support with the News/Media Alliance (NMA) a Washington D.C based non-profit, which lists “new revenue streams” as one of their focus areas. “We applaud California

to see our athletes come back in-person and see the joy and excitement on their faces!”

Additionally, Mr. Philibosian noted that the final games of the tournament were some of the most thrilling minutes of basketball.

According to Mr. Philibosian, the Santa Barbara All Stars and the Santa Clarita Makos were both undefeated and playing for the gold medal in the last game of the day. Juan Alamand from the Santa Barbara All Stars hit a shot to tie it with less than two minutes left.

In the end, Santa Clarita ended up winning the medal. “It was so incredible to see the drive, passion and teamwork from both programs, especially when

the teams lined up for handshakes at the conclusion of the game!”

exclaimed Mr. Philibosian.

An athlete who participated in the event, Ben Watts, shared his experience with the News-Press. “It’s been four years since the UCSB tournament because of the pandemic. It’s good to be back.”

The event was seen as a success, and the Special Olympics of Santa Barbara is looking forward to bringing more events to the community in the future.

For its next event, Special Olympics of Santa Barbara is going to hold a Polar Plunge April 22 at Leadbetter Beach.

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

Assemblymember Wicks for introducing this legislation and for recognizing the critical importance of high-quality journalism to ensuring informed and engaged communities. We hope Congress takes note and follows suit by reintroducing legislation at the federal level as well to give news publishers across the U.S. the same ability to be fairly compensated by the dominant tech platforms,” News/Media Alliance Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Danielle Coffey said.

CJPA also has the support of the California News Publishers Association (CNPA) which “carries a torch for the California newspaper industry.”

“Big Tech has become the de facto gatekeeper of journalism and is using its dominance to set rules for how news content is displayed, prioritized, and monetized,” Emily Charrier, CNPA Chairsaid. “Our members are the sources of that journalism, and they deserve to be paid fair market value for news they originate.”

“Studies have shown that communities without local journalism suffer consequences ranging from declining civic engagement and lower voter turnout to higher taxes and increased public corruption,”

Assemblymember Wicks noted.

“In that sense, legislators from virtually every corner of the state have a vested interest in ensuring that quality local journalism is preserved. AB 886 is an important step in that direction.”

COURTESY PHOTO Juan Alamand from the Santa Barbara All Stars plays at the Gary Cunningham Tournament at UCSB.

The event took place Sunday at the UCSB Thunderdome and involved more than 600 athletes, coaches and volunteers.

Supreme Court rules deaf Michigan student can

By SCOTT MCCLALLEN THE CENTER

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a deaf former student can pursue monetary damages against a Michigan school district that allegedly failed to provide an adequate education.

Storm leads to high surf, road closures

STORM

sue school high of 65 in Santa Barbara; a low of 46 and high of 58 in Lompoc; and a low of 47 and high of 57 in Santa Maria. Santa Ynez is expected to experience a low of 47 and a high of 59, and Cuyama is the coldest spot with a low of 41 and a high of 53.

The National Weather Service predicts sunshine throughout the county on Friday, except for Cuyama, which won’t be sunny until Saturday.

Nine-year-old Miguel Perez, the plaintiff, left Mexico with his family and enrolled at Sturgis Public School District in 2004. Mr. Perezwas assigned to a classroom aide and was never given a sign language interpreter - only aides who were either unqualified or absent.

For 12 years, Sturgis allegedly awarded Mr. Perez inflated grades and advanced him from grade to grade despite his actual progress, until just months before his anticipated graduation in 2016 when Mr. Perez’s parents were informed he was only eligible to earn a certificate of completion rather than a diploma.

Mr. Perez’s parents sued the Michigan Department of Education in 2017, saying the Sturgis School District had violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act.

The lawsuit says Sturgis “failed to provide him with a free and appropriate public education.”

According to a SCOTUS amicus brief submitted by professors Mark C. Weber and Bernard P. Perlmutter in support of the plaintiff:

“Sturgis moved to dismiss the ADA claim, arguing that the IDEA hearing officer did ‘not have jurisdiction’ over non-IDEA issues or claims.…

The hearing officer agreed, dismissing Miguel’s ADA claim as ‘outside [her] jurisdiction…. With only Miguel’s IDEA claim remaining, the parties settled.

The settlement provided Miguel and his family with equitable relief, including sign language instruction, but it neither included compensatory damages nor released Miguel’s ADA claim.”

The Perez family subsequently sought additional compensatory damages for emotional distress under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act laws. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the additional relief due to the IDEA issues being resolved without a hearing.

However, the nation’s top court unanimously agreed in favor of Mr. Perez. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in an eight-page opinion that the case “holds consequences not just for Mr. Perez but for a great many children with disabilities and their parents.”

Justice Gorsuch said the court did not decide on two other issues advanced in briefs and arguments. “The statute’s administrative exhaustion requirement applies only to suits that ‘seek relief … also available under IDEA,” Justice Gorsuch wrote. “And that condition simply is not met in situations like ours, where a plaintiff brings a suit under another federal law for compensatory damages - a form of relief everyone agrees IDEA does not provide.”

Justice Gorsuch wrote that “[N]othing in that provision bars his way. The judgment of the Court of Appeals is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”

DEATH NOTICES

CISNEROS, Roberto G., 86. Rosary is set for 7 p.m. March 30 at Welch-Ryce-Haider, 15 E. Sola St., Santa Barbara. Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 31 at Our Lady of Sorrows, 21 E. Sola St., Santa Barbara.

A low of 47 and a high of 67 are expected for Santa Barbara, and it’ll be colder elsewhere. The weather service predicted both Lompoc and Santa Maria will see a low of 39 and a high of 59, while Santa Ynez experiences a broader temperature gap with a high of 61 and a low of 39. Cuyama will remain cold with a low of 37 and high of 51.

Between 4 p.m. Tuesday and 4 p.m. Wednesday, rain totals were 1.14 inches in Goleta, 0.43 inch in Santa Maria, 0.39 inch in Lompoc, 0.21 inch in New Cuyama and 0.14 inch in Santa Ynez. Those numbers are from the National Weather Service.

Whatever the rain amounts, the storm’s impact was still seen hours after it ended.

During Wednesday afternoon, the Goleta Pier remained closed while dramatic waves crashed against Goleta Beach.

Elsewhere, “Highway 1 is closed from Solomon Road to Black Road in the Santa Maria area,” Alexa Bertola, public information officer for Caltrans District 5, told the News-Press in an email.

For the latest road closures go to quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

No evacuation orders were issued during the storm, but the weather did lead to the closure of Jalama Road in Lompoc.

“The Shelter in Place for Jalama Road has been canceled,”

the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management reported Wednesday afternoon at its website (readysbc.org). “Jalama Road is closed to the public until further notice.

Residents are advised to take caution in the area and to avoid traveling on the road in large/ oversized vehicles.

“New damages should be reported to the County Lompoc Road Yard during normal business hours by calling 805-737-7773,” the Office of Emergency Management said. “If you encounter a lifethreatening hazard or have an

emergency, call 9-1-1.”

This year’s storms have left a positive impact on the county’s reservoirs.

As of Wednesday, Gibraltar was at 101.1% capacity, and the elevation was at 1,400.22 feet.

Lake Cachuma was at 97.3 %, and the elevation was at 751.21 feet. Jameson was at 100.9% capacity, and the elevation was at 2,224.34 feet.

Twitchell was at 56.7% capacity on Wednesday, and the elevation was at 624.07 feet.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

California legislators request audit of billions in state homeless spending

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE

SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

CENTER

(The Center Square)

- “Our

residents deserve to know how (homelessness) dollars are getting there and how they are being invested. What’s working and what’s not, and I think we need to know that as well. Adding transparency will help both the state and local jurisdictions work together to figure out how to best spend these dollars going forward,” Senator Dave Cortese told the Joint Legislative Committee.

In a bipartisan request, California’s Senators Dave Cortese (D - San Jose), Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R - San Bernardino) and Roger Niello (R - Sacramento) and Assemblymembers Evan Low (D - Silicon Valley), and Josh Hoover (R - Sacramento) asked the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to authorize an audit of public funds intended for the relief of homelessness throughout the state.

“We would like to know how the state and cities use state, federal and local funds to address the homelessness crisis and how effective the investment of public funds has been to date,” the joint letter read.

Sen. Cortese presented his request at a regular session of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, on March 22, 2023. He stressed the urgency of the audit now, so that any necessary change of direction can be taken before “the funds are out the door.” Audit

2023-102 of State and Local Government Homeless

Funding was approved unanimously in a 12-0 vote.

The audit was initiated last year by Sen. Cortese after seeing the urgency of the homeless crisis in San Jose following a visit to the Columbus Park encampment.

“We’ve all seen homeless encampments, but what I saw was far worse than a tent city, it was a public

health disaster. Rodents were running around your feet, massive piles of trash, tons of broken RVs and abandoned cars, cars turned upside down with people living inside. These homeless encampments are not safe, they’re not humane, we all know that. They’re actually brutal,” Sen. Cortese said in his presentation.

The request for an audit asks the State Auditor to review San Jose and another municipality of the auditor’s choosing looking into the use of state and federal funding to identify a number of things: How many homeless received shelter and services?; Has the state’s investment been effective?; How much have the cities received in state and federal funding?; Have the cities identified potential sites for both permanent housing and temporary housing?; as well as a number of other things.

California’s 2021 budget allocated $12 billion to alleviate homelessness over two years, but the state has spent $23 billion over the last five years, as was revealed at the audit request. San Jose, represented by Sen. Cortese, has seen a steady rise in its homeless population from 4,350 residents in 2019 to 7,000 in 2022, a fraction of the estimated 10,000 unhoused individuals.

Additionally, a recent study by United Way noted “the need for more effective solutions to address youth homelessness in this area, particularly for young people of color,” in the city of San Jose, when it was named as the city with the highest unhoused population of adults aged 18 to 24 years.

The audit will review if the City of San Jose, the third largest city of the state, has effectively used designated funding and federal stimulus money to impact homelessness through Project Roomkey and Project Homekey, and address public safety and health issues, such as rodent infestations and the accumulation of trash, at local encampments.

by 10 people in an urban environment.

An excavator operates from a near-island at Goleta Beach.

People cross State Street in downtown Santa Barbara during a drizzle.

Life theArts

CALENDAR

‘Natural Interpretations’

Holly Hungett exhibits paintings at Architectural Foundation

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

‘Natural Interpretations,” a solo exhibition of acrylic and gouache paintings by Holly Hungett, will be on view from Saturday through May 20 at the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara, 229 E. Victoria St.

An opening reception will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. All are welcome.

In this series of semi-abstract landscapes, Ms. Hungett works within self-imposed constraints — limited colors or monochromatic and muted palettes. Her work relies on strong compositional structure.

Painting primarily on location, Ms. Hungett relies on her connection to the environment for inspiration.

“I am primarily a plein-air painter. I love to be outside in all conditions feeling the air, wind, smells and sounds,” said Ms. Hungett. “My interest now is how to capture the emotional feeling of the day and how to interpret that into my painting.” She reduces the number of shapes and eliminates extraneous details to create engaging and calming images. For the viewer, these paintings offer a moment of respite from our overstimulated world. The influence of her yoga and meditation practice of more than 30 years is evident in this work.

FYI

“Natural Interpretations” will be on display Saturday through May 20 at the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara, 229 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. For more information, email info@afsb.org or visit www.afsb.org.

“I love color and shape. When painting landscapes, I am interested in simplifying forms and colors to help connect to the innate feeling of belonging to the earth. I am looking to create a sense of harmony and quiet through my color and shape choices,” Ms. Hungett said. “If I am working at my home studio, I most often paint from my sketches made on location rather than photos.

“My drawings retain an emotional connection to the place and the day more than photos can reveal. Often the forms and colors are painted from memories of walking and being present on the land. Whether I am painting landscapes, figures or still life, my interest lies in abstraction and discovering the essential elements of design and composition.”

Noted Santa Barbara artist and teacher Libby Smith commented: “Holly Hungett is a painter who likes to experiment. She changes media, subject matter, points of view and pushes personal boundaries. I like that.”

Garrett Speirs, another revered Santa

Barbara artist and teacher, added: “Holly Hungett’s work is a wonderful balance between the specific and the general. Her work captures the essence of her subject without feeling overly beholden to her topic. Her color palette is both rich and subtle.”

An active member of Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment, Goleta Valley Art Association and Abstract Art Collective, Ms. Hungett has participated in group and solo exhibitions since 2003. Her works enrich private collections in California, Washington, South Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Poland and Australia.

She received her bachelor’s degree from the Maine School of Art in Portland, Maine, in 1981 and her master’s of fine arts from UCSB in 1987. Starting in 1995, she taught yoga at Santa Barbara City College’s Adult Education program for 25 years.

A local resident with her husband since 1986, Ms. Hungett previously lived in Northern California and Maine. Her father’s work took her to Australia, South America and New Zealand while she was growing up.

“Much of where I grew up was rural. That personal history affects my interests and artistic expression,” she said. “I have practiced yoga, movement and healing body work for over 25 years. This also has informed my art work and my sensitivities.”

email: mmcmahon@newspress.com

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 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Entangled: Responding to Environmental Crisis,” runs through March 25 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. The museum is open from 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays and college holidays. For more information, call 805565-6162 or visit westmont. edu/museum.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Coast artist and London native Annie Hoffman’s exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in Colour” will be displayed through Feb. 28 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. For more information, visit anniehoffmann.com.

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“SURREAL WOMEN: Surrealist Art by American Women” is on display through April 24 at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, www.sullivangoss. com.

Noon to 5 p.m. “Clarence Mattei: Portrait of a Community” is on view now through May at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 E. De la Guerra St. Admission is free. Hours are currently from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, visit www.sbhistorical.org.

7:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, March 23-26 at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo, in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater.org. An artist reception will follow the March 23 performance.

MARCH 24

7:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

COURTESY PHOTO Tenor Matthew Greenblatt stars in “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas. The Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform the musical tonight through Sunday at Center Stage Theater. A story on “The Light in the Piazza” will appear in Friday’s News-Press.

COURTESY IMAGES

Repose,” acrylic on panel. “A Slice of Paradise,” acrylic on paper.

“My interest now is how to capture the emotional feeling of the day and how to interpret that into my painting,” said artist Holly Hungett.

“Crash,” acrylic on panel.

“Confetti Fields,” acrylic on birch panel.

Santa Barbara Restaurant Week set for April 14-23

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The fifth annual Santa Barbara Restaurant Week is returning April 14 - 23.

Organizers describe the 10-day event as a chance to experience the best of Santa Barbara’s food scene at a fraction of the cost.

For more than 20 years, restaurant week founders Tim Zagat and Joe Baum orchestrated a four-week celebration of New York’s finest food. Their focus was making the area’s best dining experiences accessible to all, and the event became such a hit that cities around the globe soon followed suit.

In spring 2018, the Santa Barbara Restaurant Week founders brought the restaurant week concept to the American Riviera, showcasing the best of Santa Barbara’s more than 450 restaurants and eateries.

Restaurateurs are invited to attend an open registration event from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

Craig Lucas, at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo, in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater. org.

MARCH 25

1 to 3 p.m.: “Holly Hungett: Natural Interpretations” will open with a reception with the artist at the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara’s gallery, 229 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. The exhibit will run through May 20. The gallery is open 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and weekdays by appointment. For more information, call the foundation at 805-965-6307 or go to www.afsb.org.

4 p.m. Actor Max McLean will perform “C.S. Lewis on Stage: Further Up & Further In” at The

Montesano Market & Deli, 1150 Coast Village Road, Montecito. They will learn more about the event there and get all the marketing materials. Drinks and charcuterie boards will be served.

Restaurateurs are asked to RSVP by email leslee@ sbrestarurantweeks.com.

From April 14 – 23, each participating restaurant will offer a prix-fixe menu that includes a $35 2-course lunch and $45 and $55 3-course dinner option. Throughout the week, tasting rooms will offer special wine tasting experiences. For a full list of participating restaurants, tasting rooms and hotels, go to www. sbrestaurantweeks.com.

Santa Barbara Restaurant Week is presented by Santa Barbara Uncorked, LLC and sponsored by Jordano’s Foodservice and Pacific Beverage Co. email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to granadasb.org.

7:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater. org.

MARCH 26

2:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater.org.

— Dave Mason

Onion sprouts

Onion sprouts are one of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat. These delicious sprouts are grown and brought to the weekly Saturday Santa Barbara, Sunday Camino Real, Tuesday Santa Barbara, Wednesday Solvang, and Thursday Carpinteria farmers markets thanks to Ojai Microgreens.

Delivering a wonderful onion aroma and slightly nutty, sweet, and mild onion flavor throughout, they are excellent in a sandwich, salad or any other common uses for fresh sprouts.

Onion sprouts are a source of vitamins A, B, C, D and E, as well as calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium and chlorophyll.

This week I worked my onion sprouts into a chicken Caesar and Onion Sprout Wrap, the Fix of the Week, below. Price is $3.50 per 2 ounces.

with a cone at the top. I find this variety sweeter than many of the other cabbage offerings.

It’s ideal for any general cabbage use such as slaws and salads, added to soups and stews, or shredding for your tacos. The leaves tend to be a little lighter and more tender than more tightly packed standard green cabbage. These leaves are a light green in color.

This cabbage is available at the Saturday Santa Barbara, Tuesday Santa Barbara and Wednesday Solvang farmers markets from select growers, Price averages $3 per pound. Certified organic is available.

Conehead cabbage

Conehead cabbage is recognized by its elongated shape that is more boubous at the base,

Golden raisins

These jumbo plump golden raisins from the Peacock Family Farm at the Saturday Santa Barbara farmers market have been finding their way into my morning oatmeal lately. They’re also ideal for incorporating into baked goods or adding to grain bowl preparations or chicken salad recipes, and they deliver a nice burst of sweet flavor and soft gooey texture. Produced from their farm’s annual harvest of green seedless Thompson grapes, they can be found while in stock throughout the year. Raisins are most notably a good source of iron, potassium, copper, vitamin B6 and manganese. Price averages $10 per pound.

Fix of the Week

Ireally enjoy fresh sprouts and microgreens whenever I can get my hands on them.

At our local farmers markets, we have a few select local producers of both, but when it comes to the most expansive selection, Ojai Microgreens has the most diverse selection. From pea and daikon shoots to clover and red rose radish sprouts, Ojai Microgreens offers a well-rounded selection that greatly varies in both texture and flavor.

When talking about sprouts and microgreens, many tend to use those names interchangeably. And while they are produced from the same types of seeds, it is both the growing method and overall time from germination to harvest that sets them apart.

Sprouts are germinated in water and take anywhere from a few days to a week before harvest.

Microgreens, however, are grown in a soil, or some type of medium, and they’re harvested a week or two after being started. Sprouts are smaller in length, much narrower in width and consist of only stems and roots. There’s no leaf production. Microgreens, however, have the roots, stem and a prominent leaf fanned open. Both sprouts and microgreens are a nutritionally dense food source. They’re excellent tossed in salads, added to sandwiches, or used as a delicious decorative topper to an array of appetizers.

One of my favorite types of sprouts over the past few weeks is Ojai Microgreens onion sprouts. With a sweet mild onion aroma and flavor, they deliver a nice tender crunch. More delicate in texture than the clover and alfalfa style sprouts, these sprouted

onion seeds are recognized by the small black caps at the top end.

This week I prepared a delicious chicken Caesar wrapped filled with grilled chicken lettuce, shredded carrots, sliced red onion and a hefty portion of onion sprouts. Rolled in a little avocado for a creamy consistency, this is a great quick grab and go lunch to enjoy anywhere.

Sam Edelman is general manager of the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association and host of “Farm to Table,” which airs live 9 a.m. Thursdays on KZSB AM 1290.

CHICKEN CAESAR AND

ONION SPROUT WRAP

6 ounce chicken breast, grilled and diced.

2 cups remain style lettuce, shredded.

½ cup shredded carrot.

Caesar dressing.

2 large tortillas (I prefer spinach tortillas for these).

1 medium ripe-firm avocado, sliced.

¼ cup red onion, sliced thin.

1 ounce onion sprouts.

In a mixing bowl, combine chicken, lettuce and carrot. Toss with Caesar dressing until evenly coated. Slightly warm your tortillas on each side so it’s easier to roll. In each tortilla, add equal amounts of the chicken Caesar salad mixture, followed by the avocado, red onion and sprouts. Roll the ingredients in, fold in the sides of the tortilla and finish rolling until fully wrapped. Secure the wrap with a toothpick if needed.

Yield: 2 Wraps

FARMERS MARKET Sam Edelman

SAM EDELMAN PHOTO

Diversions

Thought for Today

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Thursday, March 23, 2023

ARIES — Today may have some crazy emotional ups and downs, Aries. There seems to be an intense cloud seeping into every part of your day. Don’t try to fool people. They will see right through you. Bursts of positive energy will pop out of nowhere to remind you of your more important purpose.

TAURUS — This day will be filled with many exciting surprises for you, Taurus. Approach it with gratitude and you will be amazed at the number of things that just naturally seem to flow your way. Your generous heart will be rewarded in unexpected ways. Old friends are likely to show up. Open yourself up to conversations.

GEMINI — There’s a larger trend operating in your life, Gemini. It’s asking you to break the rules and enter a new realm - a new mindset or way of living. Today that trend comes into focus, as emotional outbursts call attention to the changes. Your heart may want to go one way while your brain wants to go another.

CANCER — Pour yourself a comforting cup of tea today, Cancer. Take a hot shower or a long bath. In short, pamper yourself. You may be picking up on the extra tension of the people around you. Be conscious of this and make a mental note to strip away the garbage that others dump on you. You’re a sensitive individual.

LEO — It may be that people are a bit upset by some of your recent actions or words, Leo. The offhand remark you made a couple weeks ago is catching up to you. What you may consider friendly, lighthearted sparring may actual do a bit of damage to someone’s sensitive emotions, especially today. Think before you speak.

VIRGO — This is an exciting day for you, Virgo. You can accomplish quite a bit. Your intuition is especially acute and your sensitivity is strong. Computers might irritate you today. It’s possible to get all worked up if your laptop crashes. Save your work often. Keep in mind that it’s just a machine. Don’t let it get the better of you.

LIBRA — You might be a bit jittery, even without caffeine, Libra. Sudden actions may cause people to freak out, since people will be on edge in general today anyway. Save the surprises for another time. If you need to tell your boss that you’re going on vacation for a little while, now isn’t the time. There’s a rough edge to the astral energy. Relax to soothe your soul.

SCORPIO — Things may be coming at you from all angles today, Scorpio. Sooner or later you will be forced to take action. It may seem like the walls of the room are slowly caving in. The pressure is building and the air is getting stagnant. Go out for a run. Exercise will help you release some of that pressure you feel.

SAGITTARIUS — You may be excited about an idea today, Sagittarius, but unfortunately no one else may be. You spring up with enthusiasm only to smack into a brick wall. One side of you may be communicative and witty while the other is confused. The two sides aren’t really connecting well, so perhaps you should just lay low.

CAPRICORN — Much of today will be a continuation of yesterday, but with perhaps a bit more intensity for you, Capricorn. There’s an added buzz in the air, like static on a radio. This background noise may not provide the best environment to work in, but you should be able to navigate with no problem. Tune out the chatter and move on.

AQUARIUS — Today is one of those days when you might feel like four people have a hold of each of your limbs, Aquarius. The people are tugging and you’re getting stretched in every direction. Someone wants you to go there, someone wants you to come here. Take some time out for yourself and clearly state your needs to others.

PISCES — There’s an emotional intensity inside you today that’s squirming to find a way out, Pisces. Sudden outbursts are likely, so take care to hold your temper in check. Surround yourself with good friends who can support your erratic feelings. Don’t be clingy. Seek friends who are thoughtful listeners, not permanent crutches.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Thursday, March 23, 2023

There is no expert consensus on whether to open 1NT with, or despite, a five-card major. Experts decide case-by-case and may consider factors such as suit quality and ease of rebidding.

One deal proves nothing, but in today’s deal from a team match, one South opened 1NT and played there. West led a diamond, and the defense took five diamonds. South claimed the rest, plus 120.

In the replay, South opened one heart, North raised and South had a shot at game. West led a diamond again. East took the ace and returned the ten, winning. When he led a third diamond, South ruffed in dummy and drew trumps, but eventually he lost two spades to go down.

GOOD CLUBS

At Trick Three, South must pitch a spade from dummy. If West shifts to a spade, South takes the ace, cashes the A-K of clubs and ruffs a club. When the suit luckily breaks 3-3, he can draw trumps ending in dummy and discard two spades on the good clubs.

Do you think this deal makes a case for opening one heart as South?

QUESTION

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

You hold:

Q 10 5. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one

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 through Saturday.

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 enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the bottom of the grid.

Remember that at the end 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

spade, he bids two clubs and you return to two diamonds. Partner then bids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your hands appear to mesh well. You have a maximum for your bidding, and all of your honors lie in partner’s suits. He has extra strength to bid a third time despite your weak preference. Bid five diamonds or five clubs. Partner may hold

“Success is the sum of small efforts - repeated day in and day out.” — Robert Collier