Santa Barbara News-Press: March 22, 2023

Breach in personal Medicare data

Rep. McMorris Rodgers joins colleague in letter demanding answers - A3

Fishing derby at Lake Cachuma

Neal Taylor Nature Center to host annual event - B1

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023

SB City Council amends tenant protection ordinance

Members vote to clarify existing law

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

After hearing passionate arguments by both tenants and landlords on both sides of the issue, the Santa Barbara City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to amend the city’s tenant protection ordinance by clarifying the definition of what constitutes a no-fault just cause eviction.

The current ordinance delineates various reasons a landlord can use to evict tenants for no-fault just cause, and the proposed clarifications would affect all of them by requiring landlords to demonstrate “good faith” when evicting a tenant instead of just announcing their “intent” to carry out whatever they say they want to do.

Three of the reasons permitted are the intention of landlords to live in the unit themselves, or have their families live there; to

Erratic storm

Santa Barbara County experiences rain, wind, thunder, hail, sunshine and calm weather

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER

WRITER

Santa Barbara County was deluged with rain on Monday night and into the morning with spurts of rain Tuesday afternoon.

Dramatic winds in Santa Barbara on Tuesday morning brought three large trees down — one across the southbound onramp to Highway 101 at Carrillo Street in Santa Barbara, the other across Loma Vista Avenue in the same city and the third across all lanes of State Route 192 in Carpinteria.

As the day approached noon, patches of blue sky and sunshine appeared in Santa Barbara, then the weather became quiet and

settled into a gray gloom until a 15-minute downpour in the middle of the afternoon. Then the weather was calm again.

For a few hours.

As evening approached, a quick downpour of hail suddenly slammed Santa Barbara. The noisy weather was followed by something even more dramatic: thunder and lightning.

Then as quick as it began, that show was over. Sunlight sneaked through the gray clouds on a day marked by an erratic storm.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, rainfall totals were Lompoc: 0.66 inch; New Cuyama: 0.12 inch; Goleta: 0.86 inch; Santa Maria: 0.25; Santa Ynez: 0.2 inch. That’s according to the National Weather

Service.

Moderate to heavy rain, thunderstorms and mountain snow are expected to continue through today, as a strong storm moves across the region. Strong winds, capable of causing potential damage, are possible as well.

Dry and cool conditions are expected Thursday through Monday, according to the weather service.

On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department increased staffing including extra water rescue personnel and heavy equipment.

“Wind coupled with soil saturation have increased 9-1-1 calls for trees/down power lines,” said Capt. Scott Safechuck, the

department’s public information officer in a tweet. “Always assume that down power lines are energized and can energize the adjacent area when the ground is wet. Look up, look down, and look around. Use caution, stay clear, and call 9-1-1.”

Capt. Safechuck said the fire department recommends the following safety tips: Drive safely, insure tires have good tread, and stay away from creeks, rivers and embankments.

“We haven’t had too many road closures today due to the storm,” Alexa Bertola, public information officer for Caltrans District 5, told the News-Press in an email.

“This morning, there was a

on A4

Yellen says more bank bailouts could be coming

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Tuesday that more bank bailouts could be coming.

COURTESY PHOTO

role in aiding hurting financial institutions.

Secretary Yellen made the comments as part of her prepared remarks at the American Bankers Association meeting in Washington, D.C. Her comments come after the federal government stepped in to shore up collapsing regional banks in recent days, raising concerns about the economy and the federal government’s

Secretary Yellen referenced the “swift response” to help those banks with federal funds. She said, though, that the efforts “were not focused on aiding specific banks or classes of banks.”

“Our intervention was necessary to protect the broader U.S. banking system,” she said.

Secretary Yellen raised eyebrows with her next statement.

“And similar actions could be warranted if smaller

institutions suffer deposit runs that pose the risk of contagion,” Secretary Yellen said, reportedly signaling that similar action for other banks could be coming. She also tried to restore confidence in the economy.

“The situation is stabilizing, and the U.S. banking system remains sound,” she said.

President Joe Biden has repeatedly emphasized that taxpayers will not be on the hook for bank bailouts.

Critics, though, have cast

Please see BAILOUTS on A4

permanently withdraw the unit from the rental housing unit; or to satisfy a government order that the unit needs to be vacated.

The only issue before the council Tuesday involved the proposed demolition or substantial renovation of a unit. Tenants have told the council that their landlords often say they intend to make renovations but then don’t do them, or if they do, they make only cosmetic changes.

Like they’ve done before, tenants urged the council to pass the emergency measure to prevent landlords from using renovating a unit as an excuse to evict their tenants, so they can then raise the rent for new tenants taking their place.

Landlords, however, insisted that there are no loopholes in the law that need to be closed. They said there are always “bad actors” and those are the ones

NEWS-PRESS EXCLUSIVE

Man pleads no contest to felony theft charges

Nathanael Santiago Reyes, 27, to be sentenced in case involving catalytic converters

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

One of two men charged with stealing catalytic converters in Buellton earlier this month has pleaded no contest to two felonies and is scheduled to be sentenced today to two years in state prison Defendant Nathanael Santiago Reyes, 27, of El Monte, appeared in court on March 15 to confirm a date for a preliminary hearing and instead entered a nocontest plea to charges of felony evading and felony receiving stolen property, Deputy District

Attorney Nick Harmon told the News-Press.

“As part of the plea agreement, the remaining count (felony conspiracy) was dismissed against him,” the prosecutor said. His co-defendant, Bryan Arciniega, 32, of Los Angeles, was in court on March 15, too, and waived his right to a preliminary hearing within 10 court days, so a preliminary hearing tentatively set for the next day was vacated.

“He is set to return to court on April 5 for preliminary hearing

Please see CONVERTERS on A2

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies recover these catalytic converters from the vehicle of suspects in Buellton.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen

School workers strike in Los Angeles

By BENJAMIN YOUNT THE CHALKBOARD REVIEW

(The Center Square) — More than 500,000 students were out of class in the nation’s second largest school district Tuesday as cafeteria workers, custodians and other Los Angeles school workers went on strike after negotiations faltered Monday.

Members of SEIU Local 99, which represents school workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District, went on the picket line at 4:30 a.m. as the union seeks higher pay and more hours for part-time work as well as better working conditions, as reported by Chalkboard Review last week.

“Despite our invitation for a transparent, honest conversation that perhaps would result in a

meaningful solution that would avoid a strike, we must formally announce that all schools across the LAUSD will be closed to students tomorrow,” tweeted Alberto Carvalho on Monday night.

United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents 30,000 teachers in the district, has asked its members not to cross the school workers’ picket lines. The teachers union is also in negotiations with the district.

On Monday, SEIU Local 99 said that it was prepared to enter into mediation with the district, but the union claims the district went public with the information before giving its bargaining team the ability to decide what to do.

“This is yet another example of the school district’s continued

disrespect of school workers,” said Max Arias, the executive director of SEIU Local 99, in a news release. “We are ready to strike.”

“We want to be clear that we are not in negotiations with LAUSD,” Mr. Arias added. “We continue to be engaged in the impasse process with the state.”

The union has previously said it wants a 30% pay raise for workers as well as a $2 an hour “equity wage adjustment.” The district on Monday offered a 23% pay increase plus a 3% cash bonus as well as full health insurance benefits for those who work more than four hours a day, according to a report from CNN. SEIU Local 99 maintains that the district’s use of low-wage, parttime employees has caused labor shortages and that the average pay

for school workers in the district is $25,000 a year.

LAUSD is offering student supervision at 154 schools and parks and recreation centers.

On its website, the district says students can use online resources to get homework during the strike. The district is also offering three days worth of “grab and go” style breakfast and lunches to students.

On Friday, the district filed for an injunction against the union, claiming that a strike would be unlawful. On Sunday, the California Public Employment Relations Board did not grant the request for injunctive relief.

Chalkboard Review provided this article to The Center Square, which in turn provided it to the News-Press.

Newsom proposes mental health ballot initiative

By TOM JOYCE THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — Gov.

Gavin Newsom has a plan that he thinks will improve mental health while reducing homelessness and substance abuse in California, and he wants to leave it to the voters in 2024.

The California governor asked lawmakers to create a 2024 ballot question that will, among other things, build residential facilities where 12,000 people could live each year and receive treatment for mental health and substance abuse problems.

“We have to address and come to grips with the reality of mental health in this state and our nation,” Gov. Newsom said at a

news conference in San Diego on Sunday. “The question is, ‘What can we do more and do better?’ “

The plan would use two different funding mechanisms. It would use general obligation bonds, raising between $3 billion to $5 billion to construct the housing and facilities necessary to complete the venture.

Additionally, it would reform the state’s Mental Health Services Act — a 1% tax on income exceeding $1 million that funds mental health services in the state.

Under Gov. Newsom’s proposal, he wants the measure to fund at least $1 billion each year in “local assistance for housing and residential services for people experiencing mental illness and substance use disorders

and allowing MHSA funds to serve people with substance use disorders,” according to a news release from his office.

“This is the next step in our transformation of how California addresses mental illness, substance use disorders, and homelessness – creating thousands of new beds, building more housing, expanding services, and more,” Gov. Newsom said in the release. “People who are struggling with these issues, especially those who are on the streets or in other vulnerable conditions, will have more resources to get the help they need.”

State Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman, D-Stockton, will introduce the measure into the state Legislature.

TRAFFIC, CRIME & FIRE BLOTTER

Lompoc shooting investigated

LOMPOC — The Lompoc Police Department received a call at 8:42 p.m. Sunday regarding a shooting that occurred in the 400 block of West Ocean Avenue.

When officers arrived, an individual was located with a wound, and officers applied life-saving measures until emergency medical services arrived.

California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, criticized Gov. Newsom’s plan, saying the state must require homeless people with mental illness and drug addiction to get treatment before it starts funding any new programs. “And after that, he should reduce the taxes, fees and regulations that have made it nearly impossible for Californians to afford housing, electricity, and all other everyday costs,” Assemblymember Gallagher told Fox News. “Until then, no splashy announcement will actually change the failed status quo.” California had 171,000 homeless people last year, according to federal estimates. The state has 30% of the country’s homeless population.

Officers said they learned that one unknown Hispanic male had shot the individual, but two Hispanic males fled the scene after the shooting. The wounded individual was flown to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, where he was treated and kept for observation with a non-life-threatening injury.

Anyone with information about this shooting is encouraged to call the Lompoc Police Department. This case remains under investigation.

— Katherine Zehnder

Ballard School Board to discuss parental rights

BALLARD — The Ballard School Board will discuss a parental rights policy during the 3:30 p.m. board meeting today at Ballard Elementary School, 2425 School St. During last month’s meeting, Rebecca Smith requested that the parental rights policy be

put on the agenda. This policy was sparked by an incident that occurred in Ballard’s fourthgrade classroom, which was previously covered by the News-Press. This item was set to be discussed during the March 15 meeting, but was postponed due

to Tracey Cassidy, board president, not being present. For more about the district, see ballardschool.org/board-members.

— Katherine Zehnder

City of Santa Maria to pass out kitchen pails

SANTA MARIA — The Santa Maria Utilities Department is offering free kitchen pails for Santa Maria residents at a distribution event on March 25.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Preisker Park, 330 Hidden Pines Way). The distribution will be at the park’s southeast corner, near the all-inclusive playground.

ORDINANCE

Continued from Page A1

the city should go after rather than make wholesale changes in the law.

Several council members, however, said they supported the emergency ordinance, which took effect immediately upon adoption, because it’s not a brand new law but only reflects the council’s original intention when it passed the tenant protection law, which, according to Councilmember Mike Jordan said, “clearly allows the possibility of bad actors.

“We’re just making good on an ordinance that’s already been passed,” he said.

Councilmember Kristen Sneddon agreed. “We need to clean up the language as we intended.”

She said it’s evident that there are loopholes in the ordinance that are being exploited “and are being done to the detriment of the

CONVERTERS

Continued from Page A1

setting,” Prosecutor Harmon said.

Mr. Arciniega remains charged with conspiracy to commit grand theft of personal property and receiving stolen property, both felonies. He also is charged with bringing or sending drugs into the Main Jail in Santa Barbara, another felony.

Like Mr. Reyes, Mr. Arciniega pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment.

Prosecutors allege the pair collected gloves, a hydraulic jack and multiple reciprocating saws

The kitchen pail is a convenient way to collect food waste before depositing it in the outdoor organics container. This event is being held for the city’s solid waste customers who may be unable to visit the department during regular business hours. Limit is one pail per household, while supplies last. Verification of address is

residents, and that the emergency ordinance and its clarifications are needed.

“This is a very real problem and affecting very real people,” Councilmember Sneddon said. The landlords, she said, are basically accusing the tenants of lying when they cry about being evicted for no just cause. “I’m as uncomfortable with that as I would be saying all landlords are bad landlords.”

While Mayor Randy Rowse voted for the emergency ordinance, he said the council only has listened to tenant anecdotes. “I don’t hear any real numbers. Are there illegal things going on? Yes. But most of the testimony, while true — they’re doing things that are already illegal.

“What went on here today is cleaning up language responsible to the original language the council put forward.”

In addition to requiring landlords to show good faith, the emergency ordinance would

with metal blades, drove to the Santa Ynez Valley, identified victim vehicles and used tools to access catalytic converters. The stolen catalytic converters had a value exceeding $950.

They were arrested on March 5 after deputies responded around 5 a.m. to the 500 block of Sertoma Way in Buellton for a report of thefts of catalytic converters in progress.

While they were on their way, a sheriff’s dispatch relayed that the suspects were seen fleeing the area in a Fiat. Deputies spotted a vehicle matching that description near McDonald’s in Buellton. When deputies attempted to

required. For more information, visit www.cityofsantamaria.org/ residentialorganicsrecycling or call the Utilities Department at 805-925-0951, ext 7270.

— Katherine Zehnder

WENDY McCAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . Co-Publisher

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require them to take out permits to do the work, not just say they’re going to do it. In addition, it would require them to give advance written notice to tenants that they have to vacate before the work begins, and explaining why they cannot do the work while the tenants are still there.

The law already requires landlords to give tenants at least 30 days early notice that they will have to vacate.

The council voted to ask staff to do further work on three issues: the amount of time landlords have to give written notice to tenants before renovations begin; landlords being able to relet a unit after taking it off the market; and a requirement that when one unit is permanently removed from the rental market, that all units on the same parcel be removed as well, a particular sticking point among some council members.

The council heard strong debate Tuesday from both tenants and landlords. More than 20 people

stop the vehicle, the suspects fled, and the driver, later identified as Mr. Reyes, entered the opposing lanes of traffic, driving southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 101, officials said.

In the interest of public safety, deputies discontinued their pursuit of the vehicle and shared the suspect and vehicle description with the California Highway Patrol, who located the vehicle further south on the 101 in the southbound lanes. CHP tried to stop the vehicle, and the driver again entered the opposing lanes and the pursuit was terminated, officials said.

spoke during the public comment period.

Tenants described it as a battle for the soul of the community.

Landlords, however, insisted the problem remains undocumented. They urged the council to wait and not rush to make changes for a problem that doesn’t exist.

Quite a lot of discussion Tuesday dealt with what the term “good faith” means.

Assistant City Attorney Dan Hentscke told the council the emergency ordinance would not change anything for landlords acting in good faith.

“Any good landlord should not have any problem complying with any of the requirements of the law we’re proposing,” he said. “You have to do it for the reason you say you’re doing it. You can’t have ill intent. You can’t play ‘hide the ball’ or be doing it for a malicious reason.”

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Law enforcement set up a spike strip on Highway 101 near Las Varas Canyon, where officers successfully disabled the vehicle that was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes.

After a short foot pursuit, Mr. Reyes was taken into custody at 5:28 a.m.

Mr. Arciniega was successfully tracked by a sheriff’s K9 unit to his hiding place in a palm tree and apprehended at 6:30 a.m. Deputies recovered two catalytic converters from the suspects’ vehicle.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

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Data of 254,000 Medicare beneficiaries at risk after breach

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Hundreds of thousands of Americans’ personal information is at risk after Medicare’s data was breached.

Now lawmakers want answers.

House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., sent a letter demanding a range of documents and communications from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Lawmakers said that in October, Healthcare Management Solutions, a subcontractor to ASRC Federal Data Solutions, which works for CMS, suffered a ransomware attack. CMS “determined with high confidence that the incident potentially included personally identifiable information and protected health information for some Medicare enrollees.”

“However, it was not until December 1, 2022, that CMS made the determination that the data breach constituted a ‘major incident,’ as defined in the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014,” the letter said.

Lawmakers blasted CMS, saying they dragged their feet in response to the hack.

“In other words, bad actors had access to Medicare beneficiaries’ information for two months before CMS determined this ransomware attack was a ‘major incident,’ triggering a legal obligation to inform Congress of such incident,” the letter said. “The compromised information potentially includes the following personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI): name, address, date of birth, phone number,

Social Security Number, Medicare beneficiary identifier, banking information, including routing and account numbers, and Medicare entitlement, enrollment, and premium information.”

CMS said in December it was sending a letter to notify those affected and investigating the matter.

“The safeguarding and security of beneficiary information is of the utmost importance to this agency,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “We continue to assess the impact of the breach involving the subcontractor, facilitate support to individuals potentially affected by the incident, and will take all necessary actions needed to safeguard the information entrusted to CMS.”

Here’s an excerpt from the CMS letter:

“After careful review, we have determined that your personal and Medicare information may have been compromised. This information may have included the following: name; address; date of birth; phone number; Social Security number; Medicare Beneficiary Identifier; banking information, including routing and account numbers; Medicare entitlement, enrollment, and premium Information.

“No claims data were involved in this incident.”

This isn’t the only time Americans’ data has been mishandled by the federal government in recent years. Lawmakers are still pressuring the Internal Revenue Service for answers after it leaked the tax information of thousands of Americans to a nonprofit journalism group.

Lawmakers are investigating that leak but so far have gotten few answers.

Casey Harper works at The Center Square’s Washington, D.C., bureau.

2022 was bust for many pension plan investment returns

By TOM GANTERT THE CENTER SQUARE MANAGING EDITOR

(The Center Square) — Municipal pension plan investment returns were a “wild roller-coaster ride” in 2021 and 2022 with boom or bust results over that two-year period.

Many cities reported recordsetting returns in 2021 as high as 33.7% only to find negative returns in 2022. The swing meant billions of dollars to many municipalities’ pension funds.

Truth In Accounting released its annual Financial State of Cities 2023 report in February.

The city of San Francisco was ranked as the second best of the

75 major cities reviewed.

That’s largely because the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System (SFERS) investment returns were 35% in 2021 and brought in $9.4 billion in investment income.

Truth In Accounting said that influx of money turned the system’s $5.4 billion in underfunding to $2.6 billion overfunded and was a major reason the city moved from 67th to second in one year.

The city of Los Angeles went from 44th best city in 2021 to fourth best city in 2022 based on the strength of strong investment returns. The Los Angeles Fire and Pension System had 32.6%

returns on investments in 2021 and went from $2.6 billion underfunded to $2.7 billion overfunded.

But the more recent rates of return have been reversed, according to Truth In Accounting.

The Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension had investment returns of -7.2% in 2022.

And municipal pension systems around the country incurred similar results.

The Atlanta Firefighters’ Pension Plan experienced the biggest swing in two years that Truth In Accounting could uncover, reporting an unrealized gain of 33.28% in 2021 and a loss of 14.72% in 2022.

State attorneys general push for action from Kia, Hyundai on stolen cars

California among 23 states signing letter to car companies

By BENJAMIN YOUNT THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — Wisconsin’s attorney general wants Kia and Hyundai to do something about their cars that keep getting stolen.

Attorney General Josh Kaul, along with attorneys general from 22 other states including California, on Monday sent a letter to Kia and Hyundai pressing them for solutions.

“Alarmingly high rates of theft of these vehicles have been sustained over a long period of time. Your consumers continue to be harmed as a result, and worse yet, the thefts contribute to an erosion of public safety as they are frequently accompanied by reckless driving and the commission of other crimes, further endangering our communities,” the letter states.

“While your companies are reported to have taken some steps to address this crisis, it hasn’t been enough, and it hasn’t been

done fast enough.”

Attorney General Kaul said most of the cars stolen in both Milwaukee and Madison over the past two years have been either Kia or Hyundai models.

“In 2020 there were 895 thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles in Milwaukee. In 2021, there were 6,970.2 While thefts slightly declined in Milwaukee in 2022, there were still six Hyundai and Kia vehicles being stolen every day as of the end of September of last year,” the letter added. Thieves have figured out a way to start some Kia and Hyundai models without a key. The letter states the software upgrade from Kia and Hyundai is a start, but it is late and not enough.

“The recent announcement of a customer service campaign – not a recall – which combines warning stickers, longer alarms and a software upgrade, is positive news but less than is called for under the circumstances,” the attorneys

general wrote. “Our concerns with the adequacy of the newly announced measures are informed by your companies’ slow response and lack of acceptance of responsibility for the crisis over the past few years.”

Kaul and the other attorneys general want Kia and Hyundai to provide steering wheel locks.

“Kia and Hyundai need to step up to address the scourge of theft of vehicles they manufactured without anti-theft immobilizers,” Attorney General Kaul said. “These companies must act swiftly to reduce further harm from the high rates of theft of Kias and Hyundais.”

In addition to Wisconsin, attorneys generals from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and Utah co-signed Kaul’s letter.

USDA set to give $2.2 billion to minority farmers by end of 2023

By TOM GANTERT THE CENTER SQUARE MANAGING EDITOR

(The Center Square) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking the first steps in handing out $2.2 billion to farmers, ranchers or forest landowners who experienced discrimination with USDA farm lending programs.

The Inflation Reduction Act that was signed by President Joe Biden in August 2022 authorizes the spending.

But the USDA isn’t ready to say just who will get the money.

“Future details concerning the application period for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners seeking financial assistance

through this new program will be announced once the national administrator and vendors for the four regional hubs are selected and prepared to begin the application process,” the USDA told The Center Square in an email.

“These funds are yet another stepping stone in the long march toward justice and an inclusive, equitable USDA.

Through this program and a neutral, comprehensive financial assistance process, USDA will acknowledge wrongs of the past and open up avenues that provide farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who have experienced discrimination by USDA the opportunity to be

heard,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a media release.

The USDA said it would like to start making payments to eligible farmers by the end of 2023.

“Whether this is the best way to go about facilitating minority farm owners and operators to be successful is not clear to me,” said Vincent Smith, a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics at Montana State University. “Is this the best use of funds? Whether it is the most efficient way to go or it is an administration symbolically saying we are trying to help minorities is a completely different question.”

The state of Minnesota had four pension systems that saw big returns in 2021 but followed by losses in 2022.

The Minnesota Correctional Fund (+30.2%/-6.4%), the Minnesota General Employee Fund (+30.3%/-6.2%), the Minnesota Police and Fire Fund (+30.3%/-6.2%) and the Minnesota Volunteer Firefighter Fund (+20.6%/-13.1%) all had big gains in 2021, followed by losses in 2022.

Pension systems prepare for big swings in investment returns by having a smoothing effect, which means they project an average return — usually between 6% and 8% — over a certain number of years.

COURTESY PHOTO

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers

House committee demands answers from Mayorkas on catch-and-release policies

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — The U.S. House Judiciary Committee is demanding that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas provide information about the department’s catch-and-release policy through which it’s released millions of foreign nationals into the country.

The policy has been struck down by a federal judge in a lawsuit brought by Florida, ruling it’s illegal.

Secretary Mayorkas has claimed that through the policy, “the vast majority” of those applying for asylum claiming “credible fear” passed an initial screening by federal agents. Those who claim credible fear say they’d be in imminent danger if they were forced to return to their home countries.

In an interview with CNN last month, Secretary Mayorkas said, “The vast majority of those individuals have not sought to evade law enforcement, but have actually surrendered themselves to law enforcement and made a claim for relief under our laws … And so they make their claims, and the initial threshold for those claims under the law is lower than the ultimate asylum standard.”

However, in a letter to Secretary Mayorkas, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, told Mr. Mayorkas, “DHS’s own data contradict your statements. Only a fraction of the illegal aliens DHS personnel apprehend receive a credible fear screening prior to being released into the country.”

According to federal data for last December, for example, more than 140,000 of the 172,116 Title 8 apprehensions resulted in individuals being released into the U.S., but only 5,001 were referred for credible fear screenings. A similar pattern is reported in other months.

“Because of contradictory data posted on various DHS websites, however, it is impossible to know the extent of DHS’s catch and release

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tree down across all lanes of State Route 192 between Cravens Lane and Ocean Oaks Road in the Carpinteria area, but it’s since reopened. The Carrillo onramp was closed on southbound Highway 101 in Santa Barbara due to another downed tree this morning. That has also reopened.

“Our maintenance crews are patrolling our roads all day long, ready to respond to potential downed trees, slides and flooding,” Ms. Bertola said.

The News-Press went to press Tuesday night when the rain was expected to continue to fall across Santa Barbara County.

The forecast from the National Weather Service calls for a 90% chance of rain today in Santa Maria and Lompoc and an 80% chance in the Santa Barbara area. Lows in the county are expected to be around the mid-40s and the highs in the mid to upper 50s.

The forecast for Thursday in Santa Barbara is partly cloudy with a low of 45 and a high of 64 with a 10% chance of precipitation at night (early morning hours on Thursday) and 0% chance during the day.

In Lompoc, the forecast for Thursday is partly cloudy with a low of 48 degrees and a high of 59 degrees, with a 20% chance of rain at night (early Thursday morning) and a 0% chance during the day.

In Santa Maria, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 45 and a high of 58 degrees, with a 20% chance of precipitation at night (again that’s early Thursday morning) and 0% chance during the day.

The rains have benefitted local reservoirs. As of Tuesday, the Gibraltar capacity was at 100.8%, with its elevation at 14,000.17 feet. Lake Cachuma capacity was at 97% with elevation at 751.13 feet. Jameson capacity was at 100.5% with elevation at 2,224.20 feet.

Twitchell capacity was at 55.4% with elevation at 623 feet.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

BAILOUTS

Continued from Page A1

doubt on those comments.

“The deposit insurance fund doesn’t have anywhere near enough liquidity to cover depositors,” E.J. Antoni, an economist at the Heritage Foundation, told The Center

USDA

Continued from Page A3

The professor said it is “unequivocal” that access to many USDA programs with funds has had a much lower participation rate involving minorities.

Antony Davies, an associate professor of economics at Duquesne University, said it

policies,” Rep. Comer said. Instead of referring the majority who were released for credible fear screenings, Rep. Comer argues, Secretary Mayorkas’ “policy in most circumstances is to simply release illegal aliens into the country.”

The committee requested the Department of Homeland Security provide all documents and communications on how many people were released into the U.S. This includes how many were processed under Title 8 who claimed they planned to apply for asylum and how many were referred to a credible fear screening.

Among them, the committee asked for data on how many received a positive credible fear determination and how many were detained during their pending asylum applications, were paroled into the U.S., released with a notice to appear, released on recognizance,

or released with instructions to report to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further processing (notice to report). The committee also asked how many received a negative credible fear determination.

It also asked for documents and communications about how many were processed under Title 8 who didn’t claim asylum and how many of them were removed from the U.S., paroled into the U.S., released with a notice to appear, released on recognizance, or released with a notice to report.

The committee also asked for all documents and communications on how many were processed under Title 8 who were referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution for a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326, which governs illegal entry and reentry into the U.S.

The request was made after more than 1.6 million people were apprehended or reported evading capture by law enforcement after illegally entering the U.S. this fiscal year to date. Despite Secretary Mayorkas claiming the border is closed and secure and CBP reports it’s making progress on less apprehensions being reported, the committee says it’s investigating “the Biden administration’s creation of and failure to resolve the worst border crisis in American history.”

U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell for the Northern District of Florida Pensacola Division ruled the Biden administration’s “catch-and-release” policy “effectively turned the Southwest Border into a meaningless line in the sand and little more than a speed bump for aliens flooding into the country by prioritizing ‘alternatives to detention’ over actual detention and by releasing more than a million aliens into the country – on ‘parole’ or pursuant to the exercise of ‘prosecutorial discretion’ under a wholly inapplicable statute – without even initiating removal proceedings.”

He also said the administration’s collective policies “were akin to posting a flashing ‘Come In, We’re Open’ sign on the southern border.”

STEKETEE, Jeremy Paul C.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Jeremy by his own hand on February 18, 2023.

Jeremy was born on March 22, 1980, in Santa Barbara, California to Paul Steketee and Donna Gingrich, where he joined older brother Joshua, and later a sister Jennifer joined the family. He lived his entire life in Santa Barbara. He did high jump at Dos Pueblos, setting a school record and going to the Easter Relays. He later returned to DP to coach high jump. He went on to study Geology at UCSB where he received the Department Field Award.

Jeremy was smart, funny, generous, thoughtful, kind and loving. He cared about people, animals and nature. He enjoyed disc golf, camping and backpacking. As a young child he would find heart-shaped leaves and rocks, taking them home to family as a token of his love, a habit he continued the rest of his life. He would often bring home a homeless person to feed them a hot home-cooked meal.

Jeremy is survived by his wife Marie and her daughters Jennifer and Suezzan, and grandkids. He is also survived by his children, Orion and Aurora and their mother, his mother Donna Steketee-Asten (Michael Asten), brother Josh and niece Sophie Steketee, sister Jen and niece Sara Aswad, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father Paul, and grandparents, Marvin and Connie Steketee, and Donald and Barbara Gingrich.

Jeremy was an organ donor, and the family takes some solace in knowing that our tragic loss has provided miracles for other families.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in his name to a Suicide Prevention or Mental Health Association.

Hug your loved ones and let them know how much they’re loved.

Obituary notices are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and also appear on our website www.newspress.com

To place an obituary, please email the text and photo(s) to obits@newspress.com or fax text only (no photos) to (805) 966-1421. Please include your name, address, contact phone number and the date(s) you would like the obituary to be published. Photos should be in jpeg format with at least 200 dpi. If a digital photo is not available, a picture may be brought into our office for scanning. We will lay out the obituary using our standard format. A formatted proof of the obituary and the cost will be emailed back for review and approval.

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Fast winds make palm trees lean Tuesday on Anacapa Street.

Square. “If it did, the Federal Reserve would not have had to announce an emergency lending fund to meet the demand for liquidity.”

There is also dispute over the term “bailout.”

“There is no way around the reality that taxpayers are on the hook here,” Mr. Antoni added, as The Center Square

was unclear why the USDA was involved in a discrimination program.

“What I don’t understand is why the USDA is having to determine who suffered this discrimination,” he said. “We have laws regarding discrimination in lending. And we have a legal system that is designed to, and is expert in, determining whether the law has been broken, who has been

previously reported. “When the FDIC runs out of cash, it simply goes to the Treasury for more, as we saw in 2009.

“There’s three ways to pay for that. First, the FDIC can increase its insurance premiums charged to banks. But those fees that finance the FDIC are passed entirely on to customers. The second option is for the

harmed, and the magnitude of that harm.”

Dr. Smith said the legal system can get expensive.

“There are always other avenues, the question is how expensive are those avenues for those who have been disadvantaged,” Dr. Smith said.

“These are not people who have deep pockets. The legal system can take care of X, Y,

Treasury to just give the money to FDIC instead of loaning it, in which case the taxpayer is directly responsible for it. Lastly, the Fed can finance the expense by just printing the money, which causes inflation, which is a hidden tax.”

Casey Harper works at The Center Square’s Washington, D.C., bureau.

Z, but in practice, access to effective representation requires substantial funds.”

The $2.2 billion program was announced in October.

The USDA stated advocates for the program claim that the USDA denied loans and credit to minority farmers for decades that led to a large loss of landownership, specifically among black farmers.

COURTESY PHOTO

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

Life theArts

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023

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 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 805-565-6162 or visit westmont.edu/museum.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Storytelling: Native People Through the Lens of Edward S. Curtis” is on display through April 30 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, visit sbnature. org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Interlopings: Colors in the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements” is an exhibit that runs through March 12 at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The exhibit features weavings dyed with pigments from non-native plants on Santa Cruz Island. The weavings were created by artists Helen Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt. For more information, see sbbotanicgarden.org.

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.

Something’s shy

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Anglers of all ages are encouraged to enter the Neal Taylor Nature Center’s 26th annual Fish Derby

April 15 and 16.

The event, which will be held rain or shine, is the major fundraiser for the Neal Taylor Nature Center, a nonprofit located at 2265 State Route 154 at Lake Cachuma.

The registration fee for adults is $35 if postmarked by April 1, $40 after April 1 and $45 on-site from April 14 through 16. Youth registration for ages 4 through 15 years old is $10.

Registration forms are available at Cachuma Lake Park entry gate, store, marina, Nature Center and local businesses.

To receive information and

a registration form in the mail, leave your name and address on the hotline 805-693-8381 or visit www.troutderby.org.

This year’s fishing derby will again include prize categories for multiple types of fish such as crappie, bass, catfish, trout and carp.

Cash prizes amounting to more than $5,000 plus thousands of dollars worth of merchandise prizes will be awarded in many categories and to anglers of all ages. Certain prizes are designated for children and for teens.

Among the prizes are $599 for heaviest trout, bass, crappie, catfish and carp caught and $300 for second heaviest of each; $100 for the Neal Taylor Young Angler Award and $50 for the Dutch Wilson Prize for fish caught by the oldest angler.

Cash prizes of $50 will be

awarded for first catches by anglers 15 or younger and $100 for a “Visit the Nature Center” drawing.

Cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 for first, second and third heaviest fishes will be awarded to girls and boys ages 11 to 15.

Other prizes of $25 each will be given to five 10-year olds who are first to make the leaderboard. Rods and reels will be awarded to the 10 top 10-year-olds who are first to make the leaderboard. All anglers 16 and older must have a fishing license, which can be purchased at the marina.

The derby fishing begins at 6 a.m. April 15 and ends at noon April 16. Contestants must fish in Lake Cachuma during the tournament hours and may fish from shore at any time during the derby including Saturday night. A flare will be fired at the harbor to start the derby on Saturday and to

end it on Sunday.

Due to the threat of quagga mussels, Lake Cachuma has a 30day quarantine and inspection of all boats except those with a Lake Cachuma tag and kayaks/ canoes. Check for updates to the inspection protocol at www. sbparks.org.

Other activities during the event include visits to the Neal Taylor Nature Center, where knowledgeable docents and volunteers will show visitors the exhibits on plants, animals, and other topics. There are many hands-on objects for children to experience.

Children’s activities will take place 1 to 3 p.m. April 15 on the lawn in front of the Nature Center.

Raffle tickets for valuable prizes can be purchased throughout the fish derby. The winning tickets will be drawn during the awards program, which begins at 1 p.m.

April 16 at the Fireside Theater. Ticket holders need not be present to win the raffle.

A Books and Treasures Sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 15 at the Nature Center. Proceeds benefit the center.

One-and-a-half hour wildlife cruises on the lake, led by the park naturalist, are $18 for adults and $12 for children 5-to-12 and seniors 62 and older. Reservations are required by calling the Naturalist office at 805-688-4515.

To make reservations for cabins, yurts, individual campsites or full hook-up sites go to www. sbparks.org/reservations or call 805-686-5050. For other camping information, call 805-686-5054.

For up-to-date information, call the Fish Derby Hotline 805- 6938381 or visit www.troutderby.org. email: mmcmahon@newspress. 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.

MARCH 23

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 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 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

Managing

And that’s a good thing at annual derby at Lake Cachuma

At left, some of the fishing derby’s action is on the land, where a variety of activities take place for kids. At right, Marqueda Bacon is thrilled with the prizes she won at the fish derby.

COURTESY PHOTOS

At left, Josh Porraz stands happily as the winner of the Young Angler Award at the Neal Taylor Nature Center’s Fish Derby. Another of the center’s derbies will take place April 15 and 16 at Lake Cachuma. At right, a youth proudly holds the catch.

Dos Pueblos Mock Trial team places second in state

Dos Pueblos High School’s Mock Trial team won second place in the state finals over the weekend.

In Sunday’s championship round, the Dos Pueblos defense team was narrowly edged by the prosecution team from Menlo School in San Mateo County.

There are more than 300 mock trial teams from across California that compete for county championships to earn a coveted berth in the state tournament.

This year’s state finals took place in downtown Los Angeles.

At the competition, Dos Pueblos senior Jacob Molina was named an Outstanding Attorney for defending the fictional robbery and battery case of People v. Franks. After each round, the teams chose a most valuable year from the opposing team. MVP awards went to Theo Evans, Mackenzie Kelly, Amelia Mendro, and Molina.

The Dos Pueblos Mock Trial team competed at the state level after winning the Santa Barbara County competition earlier this month, edging out crosstown rivals San Marcos High School.

The Dos Pueblos Mock Trial team also celebrated a thirdplace finish at the Empire Mock

Trial invitational tournament in Baltimore, earlier this school year.

“To say we are proud of these students is an understatement,” said Dr. Hilda Maldonado, Santa Barbara Unified School District superintendent.“We know the teachers and coaches work hard to teach the lessons learned through this competition, like critical thinking, public speaking, and law. These skills will serve these students well throughout their life. They make SB Unified proud.”

Attorney coach Lisa Rothstein noted that the team had shown resilience. “We coaches are consistently amazed by this group of students. They’ve survived two COVID seasons and come out stronger. They’ve written, rewritten, argued, objected to, and practiced this case until I imagine they were reciting the definition of hearsay in their dreams. We are fortunate to have inherited a great mock trial legacy at Dos Pueblos, and this team is proud to continue that tradition of excellence.”

Dos Pueblos has enjoyed a long history of success in this competition. The team has won three state titles since the competition began 42 years ago

and has earned a trip to the final championship round a record eight times.

Senior Edo Barel, one of the team captains, said he was surprised when he heard his team was headed to the championship round. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as shocked as I was at that moment. We were already happy to win (the county) competition, but I’m so proud of us for taking second place at State. The experience is something I’ll never forget, and I got to have it with the best teammates in the world,” said Barel.

The varsity mock trial team captains are Edo Barel, Amelia Mendro, Jacob Molina, Maxfield Steele and Io Zhu. Additional team members are seniors Mackenzie Kelly, Elyssa Crutchfield, Koi Liechti, Daniel Nickolov, Rachel Lenchner; juniors Charlotte Choi, Anastasia Li, Tobin Bohley, Alok Thakrar, Victoria Chen; sophomores Liam Avolio, Theo Evans, Sienna Valentine and firstyear student Jonathan Yang. The team is coached by teacher advisor Hannah Krieshok and attorney coaches Christine Voss, Lisa Rothstein and Lina Somait.

— Staff reports

SPRING SAVINGS

BLINDS DRAPES

Santa Maria High School juniors explore universities

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS

Santa Maria High School juniors recently spent three days touring eight universities, including San Diego State University, UC San Diego and USC.

During their visits, the juniors talked with former Santa Maria High School students attending UC San Diego and USC. The students asked a variety of questions about their majors and experiences.

This was the second tour for Santa Maria students as they also explored campuses, ranging in size from 3,000 students to 40,000 students and staff, from March

8-10.

The students reported that it was inspiring to see a few SMHS alumni attending and thriving in university and college environments, according to college and career counselors Erica Martinez and Christy Reasner.

“Thank you for bringing me along on the trip. I learned a lot about college and all the career paths,” said student Cory Klomp in a news release.

“I really enjoyed this trip! It was informative to help me get a view of each campus. It also helped me see the different campuses, the environment, the people,

and everything around it,” said student Mariana Lopez. “I really enjoyed that there was an SM alumnus to talk to at USC because it made me feel that he also came from this city and has gone to USC so that means it is possible for me as well,” said student Alexis Vargas-Rodriguez. Cecilia Grimaldo, the counselor for the 11th grade at Santa Maria High School, described the trip as a success. “The best part was seeing students visualize themselves in the campuses we visited and realizing that their dream can become a reality.” email: kzehnder@newspress.com

La Paloma Cafe adds weekday lunch service

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

La Paloma Cafe is now open for lunch on some weekdays, starting today.

Lunch is now served between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays at the restaurant at 705 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara.

Executive Chef Jeremy Tummel has created a menu inspired by Baja California and the barbecue traditions of Santa Maria.

Chef Tummel is presenting his signature Burnt Ends Bowl with barbecued beef brisket and tritip, pinquito beans, red chili rice, jack cheese, cilantro slaw and dark coffee barbecue sauce.

Other entrees include the Chicken Bowl with pulled Mary’s chicken baked with queso fresco and herbs, green chili cheese hominy casserole, red rice and red chili sauce.

There’s also the BBQ Pork Bowl with pinquito beans, red chili rice, pepper jack, Caesar slaw and hot mustard barbecue sauce.

For an extra $1, any of the entrees can be prepared as a burrito.

There are also Crispy Fish Tacos with shredded white cabbage, pico de gallo, chipotle crema and black beans. You can also choose the Wagyu Tri-Tip Torta with horseradish sauce.

The lunch menu also features starters such as Paloma Guacamole with chips and radish and Vegetable Pozole Verde and salads such as the Ranchero Salad and Power Salad.

Beverages and cocktails by Jorge Báez include La Paloma’s Bloody Maria with tequila, tomato, horseradish, dijon and celery salt, and Bloody Mary with the same ingredients except it’s vodka instead of tequila.

My Tia features rum, mezcal, lemon and cava. Spiked Horchata includes Cruzan rum and housemade horchata.

For more information, go to www.lapalomasb.com or call the restaurant at 805-966-7029.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Santa Maria resident on Dean’s List

Jordan Rullamas of Santa Maria has been named to the Champlain College Dean’s List for the fall semester. Students on the Dean’s List have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, not-for-profit, private college in Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Montreal, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland.

— Katherine Zehnder

Shelters seek homes for pets

Local animal shelters and their nonprofit partners are looking for homes for pets. For more information, go to these websites:

• Animal Services-Lompoc, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home. sbc.

• Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Goleta, asapcats.org. ASAP is kitty corner to Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter in Goleta, bunssb.org. BUNS is based at Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Companion Animal Placement

Assistance, lompoccapa.org and facebook.com/capaoflompoc.

CAPA works regularly with Animal Services-Lompoc.

• 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/ phd/animal/home.sbc.

• 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.

The Dos Pueblos High School Mock Trial team gathers after winning second place in the state last weekend.

STAFF WRITER

COURTESY PHOTO

Juniors from Santa Maria High School recently visited USC as part of a field trip to various universities.

— Dave Mason

ALI BECK PHOTO Crispy Fish Tacos are part of the new weekday lunch menu at La Paloma Cafe in Santa Barbara.

Diversions

Thought for Today

“You exist only in what you do.” —

Federico Fellini

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

ARIES — Inner transformation is likely to make a big difference in your communications right now, Aries. Your relationships could improve because you’re more open and honest without being too blunt.

You seem to have a greater understanding of the needs and desires of those closest to you.

TAURUS — Increased enthusiasm for your favorite project may take you in a new direction, Taurus. You could even decide to change careers in order to devote yourself more fully to doing what you’ve discovered you love the most.

Your physical, emotional, and spiritual health should be very good right now.

GEMINI — If you’re in a committed relationship, expect to feel a new sense of mutual purpose and make some new friends. If you aren’t involved, Gemini, love could come into your life today. You may just think it’s about time, but changes in you are attracting interesting people.

CANCER — Positive emotions like love, enthusiasm, or optimism that have been repressed for years could surface today, bringing a new sense of joy and anticipation for the future, Cancer. This could involve activities that you enjoyed as a child. Don’t feel silly if you want to ride a merry-go-round or go to the circus.

LEO — Group activities like rallies or festivals could take place in your neighborhood today. You may attend, Leo, and you could learn some new concepts that give impetus to your spiritual growth. You may run into some old friends you haven’t seen for a while. Talking with others could start your mind in a new direction.

VIRGO — The development of a talent that you’ve neglected could have surprising results, Virgo. You could find that it’s just what you need in order to expand your horizons and catapult you into whatever situation you want to be in. This could lead to an increased income. You’re changing inside, and these changes are mostly positive.

LIBRA — A period of great inner transformation and powerful upheaval in your outer life is coming upon you now, Libra. A part of you wants to welcome it and charge ahead, while another part holds back, possibly out of fear or lack of selfconfidence. While resistance can delay the change, it can’t stop it. It might be best to continue forward in spite of misgivings. Hang in there!

SCORPIO — Your intuition should be growing by leaps and bounds. Today you may get psychic messages from everywhere, both personal and universal. This can be a bit overwhelming, Scorpio, particularly if you aren’t used to it, but don’t fight it. It’s a symptom of your inner growth.

SAGITTARIUS — A number of new and exciting relationships could appear in your life now, some of them showing promise of becoming close. Old ones seem to be fading. This can make you a little sad, Sagittarius, but it’s a process that you can’t stop. As you change inside, so your relationships change.

CAPRICORN — Rewards from hard work and dedication could finally be in the offing, Capricorn. You experience the warm feeling that comes from deep satisfaction and knowing that you deserve everything wonderful that’s happening. You will want to bask in your happiness with your loved ones.

P AQUARIUS — Educational or spiritual growth on your part is likely to attract new friends who could become close companions. There could even be a new romantic partner in the bunch. This comes from the expansion of your mind, Aquarius. The new people should share your interests and turn into companions on your quest for enlightenment.

PISCES — An increase in your financial status could lead to changes in your household. You might choose to redecorate or purchase new furniture or move to a better place. A household member might move out. Although it seems illogical, Pisces, the changes in your surroundings reflect the transformations taking place within you.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

“I thought I had a serious problem today,” a club player told me. “We were running late for the afternoon duplicate. My wife dashed in from Target and grabbed something from the fridge for lunch. She mistakenly gobbled down some leftover cat food.

“She seemed okay, but on the second round she started licking her dress, and then she booted this 3NT. East won the first heart with the king and returned a heart. My wife took the queen and cashed the A-K of diamonds.

“When East discarded, my wife tried the A-K and a third spade. The suit broke 3-3, but West took two diamonds and led a club. My wife never got dummy’s ace of hearts and won only eight tricks.”

NINE LIVES

South didn’t need nine lives to make 3NT. She lands on her feet by leading a low spade from dummy at Trick Five, keeping communication to take all nine of her winners.

“Is your wife all right now?”

“Seems so. To be safe, I called our vet.”

“What did he say?”

“Said if my wife starts meowing, bring her in.”

You open one

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

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 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

diamond, and your partner responds one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: In some bidding styles, to raise a major-suit response absolutely guarantees four-card support. A more flexible and effective style allows a raise with three-card support in a suitable hand. I would surely raise to two spades here (and would also raise if the response had been one heart). South dealer N-S vulnerable