mercurynews--2020-10-08--With the map looking ‘grim,’ Republicans edge away from Trump

By Laurie Kellman and Alan Fram | Associated Press WASHINGTON — Vulnerable Republicans are increasingly taking careful , but clear , steps to distance themselves from President Donald Trump , one sign of a new wave of GOP anxiety that the president ’ s crisis-to-crisis reelection bid could bring down Senate candidates across the country .
In key races from Arizona to Texas , Kansas and Maine , Republican senators long afraid of the president ’ s power to strike back at his critics are starting to break with the president — particularly over his handling of the pandemic — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
GOP strategists say the distancing reflects a startling erosion of support over a brutal 10-day stretch for Trump , starting with his seething debate performance when he did not clearly denounce a white supremacist group through his hospitalization with COVID-19 and attempts to downplay the virus ’ s danger .
Even the somewhat subtle moves away from Trump are notable .
For years , Republican lawmakers have been loath to criticize the president — and have gone to great lengths to dodge questions — fearful of angering Trump supporters they need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate in the balance , GOP lawmakers appear to be shifting quickly to do what ’ s necessary to save their seats .
“ The Senate map is looking exceedingly grim , ” said one major GOP donor , Dan Eberhart .
Republican prospects for holding its 53-47 majority have been darkening for months .
But recent upheaval at the White House has accelerated the trend , according to conversations with a half-dozen GOP strategists and campaign advisers , some of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision to rush to fill the Supreme Court vacancy with conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett has not swung voters toward the GOP as hoped .
Several noted internal polls suggested Republican-leaning , undecided voters were particularly turned off by the president ’ s debate performance and his conduct since being diagnosed with the coronavirus .
It wasn ’ t clear that these voters would cast a ballot for Democrat Joe Biden , but they might stay home out of what one strategist described as a feeling of Trump fatigue .
Public polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by smaller numbers in key battleground states .
“ I think a lot of Republicans are worried that this is a jailbreak moment , and people who have been sitting on the fence looking for a rationale to stick with the president are instead abandoning the ship , ” said Rory Cooper , a Republican strategist and frequent Trump critic .
To be sure , Trump has a history of political resilience .
In fact , Wednesday marked the anniversary of the release of the “ Access Hollywood ” tape , in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans quickly abandoned him then , and his poll numbers sunk , but he still won weeks later .
Trump ’ s behavior this week hasn ’ t prompted that sort of GOP rebuke .
On Monday , as he returned from the hospital , a still-contagious Trump paused for a photo op at the White House , removed his mask and later tweeted that people should not fear the virus that has killed more than 210,000 Americans .
“ I couldn ’ t help but think that sent the wrong signal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose tight race is among a handful that could cost Republicans control of the Senate .
“ I did not think that it set a good example at all.
” Collins began airing an ad this week that urges voters to vote for her “ no matter who you ’ re voting for for president.
” In Arizona , another endangered Republican , Sen. Martha McSally , struggled when asked whether she was proud to serve under the president during her Air Force career .
“ I ’ m proud that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like cutting your taxes , ” McSally replied during a debate against Mark Kelly , one of multiple Democrats who have bested their Republican incumbents in fundraising .
Democrats have long considered Maine and Arizona , along with Colorado and North Carolina , top targets in their effort to gain the four seats they need to win Senate control .
( It ’ s only three if Biden wins the White House . )
But the race for Senate majority has been widening into reliably Republican states , now including Iowa , Alaska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , meanwhile , Democrat Cal Cunningham ’ s recent sexting scandal has complicated his drive against Republican incumbent Thom Tillis .
Trump won the state by 14 percentage points in 2016 .
Still , a major Republican political committee aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell began spending nearly $ 10 million on TV and radio ads this week attacking Graham ’ s Democratic opponent , Jaime Harrison .
Donors have not given up on trying to hold the Senate .
As Trump ’ s fundraising has plateaued in recent months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are supporting House and Senate candidates .
The massive influx of new money for House and Senate committee will enable them to flood competitive races with advertising that embraces conventional Republican themes .
( The South Carolina TV ad by the Senate Leadership Fund shows pictures of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and says , “ Liberal Jaime Harrison is their guy , not ours.
” ) The intention is to extend a lifeline to candidates who otherwise would have relied on the president ’ s political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican strategists with direct knowledge of the House and Senate campaign plans .
Still , there ’ s little doubt Republican senators ’ fortunes are linked to the president and his volatile political instincts .
In the highly partisan environment , ticket-splitting — voting for one party for president and another for Senate , say — has become increasingly rare .
In 2016 , Republican Senate candidates lost in every state Trump lost and won where Trump won .
One GOP adviser said most Republican candidates are not running ahead of Trump in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support drops , their support usually does , too .
Even in red states , Republicans are starting to make clear they aren ’ t following Trump when it comes to the pandemic .
Sen. John Cornyn told the Houston Chronicle editorial board on Monday that Trump “ let his guard down ” and said his diagnosis should be a reminder to “ exercise self-discipline.
” • Putin hedges his bets with US election message • San Jose ’ s District 6 council runoff : A battle for the future of single-family zoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee Roger Marshall borrowed Trump ’ s slogan for a “ Keep Kansas Great ” bus tour on Tuesday , but not his health advice .
“ Of course , I think everyone should respect the virus , ” said Marshall , a doctor .
“ I ’ m really encouraging everyone to wear a mask when they can , to keep their physical distance , wash their hands , all those types of things.
” Marshall was quickly reminded of his party ’ s competing forces .
As he spoke , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared to be a opponent of wearing masks , yelling , “ Stop telling people that !
” Associated Press writers David Sharp in Portland , Maine , John Hanna in Topeka , Kan. , Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix , and Brian Slodysko in Washington contributed to this report .

By Laurie Kellman and Alan Fram | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Vulnerable Republicans are increasingly taking careful, but clear, steps to distance themselves from President Donald Trump, one sign of a new wave of GOP anxiety that the president’s crisis-to-crisis reelection bid could bring down Senate candidates across the country.
In key races from Arizona to Texas, Kansas and Maine, Republican senators long afraid of the president’s power to strike back at his critics are starting to break with the president — particularly over his handling of the pandemic — in the final stretch of the election. GOP strategists say the distancing reflects a startling erosion of support over a brutal 10-day stretch for Trump, starting with his seething debate performance when he did not clearly denounce a white supremacist group through his hospitalization with COVID-19 and attempts to downplay the virus’s danger.
Even the somewhat subtle moves away from Trump are notable. For years, Republican lawmakers have been loath to criticize the president — and have gone to great lengths to dodge questions — fearful of angering Trump supporters they need to win. But with control of the Senate in the balance, GOP lawmakers appear to be shifting quickly to do what’s necessary to save their seats.
“The Senate map is looking exceedingly grim,” said one major GOP donor, Dan Eberhart.
Republican prospects for holding its 53-47 majority have been darkening for months. But recent upheaval at the White House has accelerated the trend, according to conversations with a half-dozen GOP strategists and campaign advisers, some of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose internal deliberations.
The strategists noted the decision to rush to fill the Supreme Court vacancy with conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett has not swung voters toward the GOP as hoped. Several noted internal polls suggested Republican-leaning, undecided voters were particularly turned off by the president’s debate performance and his conduct since being diagnosed with the coronavirus. It wasn’t clear that these voters would cast a ballot for Democrat Joe Biden, but they might stay home out of what one strategist described as a feeling of Trump fatigue.
Public polling shows Trump trailing Biden nationally but typically by smaller numbers in key battleground states.
“I think a lot of Republicans are worried that this is a jailbreak moment, and people who have been sitting on the fence looking for a rationale to stick with the president are instead abandoning the ship,” said Rory Cooper, a Republican strategist and frequent Trump critic.
To be sure, Trump has a history of political resilience. In fact, Wednesday marked the anniversary of the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape, in which Trump boasted of sexually assaulting women. Republicans quickly abandoned him then, and his poll numbers sunk, but he still won weeks later.
Trump’s behavior this week hasn’t prompted that sort of GOP rebuke. On Monday, as he returned from the hospital, a still-contagious Trump paused for a photo op at the White House, removed his mask and later tweeted that people should not fear the virus that has killed more than 210,000 Americans.
“I couldn’t help but think that sent the wrong signal,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, whose tight race is among a handful that could cost Republicans control of the Senate. “I did not think that it set a good example at all.”
Collins began airing an ad this week that urges voters to vote for her “no matter who you’re voting for for president.”
In Arizona, another endangered Republican, Sen. Martha McSally, struggled when asked whether she was proud to serve under the president during her Air Force career.
“I’m proud that I’m fighting for Arizonans on things like cutting your taxes,” McSally replied during a debate against Mark Kelly, one of multiple Democrats who have bested their Republican incumbents in fundraising.
Democrats have long considered Maine and Arizona, along with Colorado and North Carolina, top targets in their effort to gain the four seats they need to win Senate control. (It’s only three if Biden wins the White House.) But the race for Senate majority has been widening into reliably Republican states, now including Iowa, Alaska, Kansas and Montana. In North Carolina, meanwhile, Democrat Cal Cunningham’s recent sexting scandal has complicated his drive against Republican incumbent Thom Tillis.
Even South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, is suddenly scrambling.
Trump won the state by 14 percentage points in 2016. Still, a major Republican political committee aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell began spending nearly $10 million on TV and radio ads this week attacking Graham’s Democratic opponent, Jaime Harrison.
Donors have not given up on trying to hold the Senate. As Trump’s fundraising has plateaued in recent months, it has spiked for Republican outside groups that are supporting House and Senate candidates.
The massive influx of new money for House and Senate committee will enable them to flood competitive races with advertising that embraces conventional Republican themes. (The South Carolina TV ad by the Senate Leadership Fund shows pictures of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and says, “Liberal Jaime Harrison is their guy, not ours.”)
The intention is to extend a lifeline to candidates who otherwise would have relied on the president’s political operation for support, according to two Republican strategists with direct knowledge of the House and Senate campaign plans.
Still, there’s little doubt Republican senators’ fortunes are linked to the president and his volatile political instincts. In the highly partisan environment, ticket-splitting — voting for one party for president and another for Senate, say — has become increasingly rare. In 2016, Republican Senate candidates lost in every state Trump lost and won where Trump won.
One GOP adviser said most Republican candidates are not running ahead of Trump in polling their states. And when his support drops, their support usually does, too.
Even in red states, Republicans are starting to make clear they aren’t following Trump when it comes to the pandemic.
Sen. John Cornyn told the Houston Chronicle editorial board on Monday that Trump “let his guard down” and said his diagnosis should be a reminder to “exercise self-discipline.”
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Judge Chutkan: Trump’s right to free speech ‘not absolute’ National News | A conservative case for disqualifying Donald Trump in 2024 In another GOP bastion, Republican Senate nominee Roger Marshall borrowed Trump’s slogan for a “Keep Kansas Great” bus tour on Tuesday, but not his health advice.
“Of course, I think everyone should respect the virus,” said Marshall, a doctor. “I’m really encouraging everyone to wear a mask when they can, to keep their physical distance, wash their hands, all those types of things.”
Marshall was quickly reminded of his party’s competing forces. As he spoke, he was briefly interrupted by a woman who appeared to be a opponent of wearing masks, yelling, “Stop telling people that!”
Associated Press writers David Sharp in Portland, Maine, John Hanna in Topeka, Kan., Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix, and Brian Slodysko in Washington contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-10-08--‘SNL’ cancels musical act over COVID-19 rules violation

LOS ANGELES – Morgan Wallen is no longer this week ’ s “ Saturday Night Live ” musical guest .
The rising country star posted an emotional Instagram video from a New York City hotel room — where he was preparing to go on the weekly show — that he had received a call from the show informing him that he would no longer be able to play the Oct. 10 show because of COVID-19 protocols at “ SNL.
” He said he has not tested positive for COVID-19 , but “ my actions from this past weekend were pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term goals and my dreams , ” he said , referring to TikToks in recent days that showed Wallen socializing in Alabama without a mask at a crowded bar and a house party .
“ I respect the show ’ s decision because I know I put them in jeopardy , and I take ownership for this .
I ’ d like to apologize to SNL , to my fans , to my team for bringing me these opportunities , and I let them down , ” he said .
“ And on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have some growing up to do , ” he added .
“ I think I lost myself a little bit .
I tried to find joy in the wrong places and , I don ’ t know , it ’ s left me with less joy , so I ’ m going to try to work on that .
I ’ m going to take a step back from the spotlight for a little while and go work on myself .
I wish I could have made country music and my fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision once again.
” Wallen said that “ SNL ” chief Lorne Michaels gave him “ a lot of encouragement , ” and told Wallen that the show would “ find another time to make this up.
” Wallen acknowledged the scrutiny he has faced in the wake of the surfaced TikToks , but said that the notes of encouragement he has received “ haven ’ t gone unnoticed either.
” No new musical guest has been announced to play in Wallen ’ s place .

By Elaine Low | Variety.com
LOS ANGELES – Morgan Wallen is no longer this week’s “Saturday Night Live” musical guest.
The rising country star posted an emotional Instagram video from a New York City hotel room — where he was preparing to go on the weekly show — that he had received a call from the show informing him that he would no longer be able to play the Oct. 10 show because of COVID-19 protocols at “SNL.”
He said he has not tested positive for COVID-19, but “my actions from this past weekend were pretty short-sighted, and have obviously affected my long-term goals and my dreams,” he said, referring to TikTok videos in recent days that showed Wallen socializing in Alabama without a mask at a crowded bar and a house party.
AI.com reported that the videos were taken Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where Wallen “got up close and personal with fans” while celebrating the University of Alabama Crimson Tide’s football victory over Texas A&M.
“I respect the show’s decision because I know I put them in jeopardy, and I take ownership for this. I’d like to apologize to ‘SNL,’ to my fans, to my team for bringing me these opportunities, and I let them down,” he said.
“And on a more personal note, I think I have some growing up to do,” he added. “I think I lost myself a little bit. I tried to find joy in the wrong places and, I don’t know, it’s left me with less joy, so I’m going to try to work on that. I’m going to take a step back from the spotlight for a little while and go work on myself. I wish I could have made country music and my fans proud this Saturday, but I respect the decision once again.”
Wallen said that “SNL” chief Lorne Michaels gave him “a lot of encouragement,” and told Wallen that the show would “find another time to make this up.”
Wallen acknowledged the scrutiny he has faced in the wake of the surfaced TikToks, but said that the notes of encouragement he has received “haven’t gone unnoticed either.”
SNL” resumed performing from the set with a live studio audience this past weekend when it was hosted by Chris Rock, with musical guest Megan Thee Stallion.
Comedian Bill Burr is set to host this weekend, and as of Thursday morning a new musical guest had not been announced.


mercurynews--2020-10-08--Boom-or-bust Oakland A’s keep season alive, but can they win a series of slugfests?

After spending recent postseasons counting the bangs on a trash can , the Houston Astros were prepared to spend the final innings of Game 3 of the American League Division Series counting down the outs on the scoreboard at Dodger Stadium .
The Astros no longer hold an illegal advantage gained from stealing signs , but against the Oakland A ’ s , they didn ’ t need extra help to gain a huge edge .
After dominating the first two games of this week ’ s best-of-five series , the Astros took a 7-4 lead into the sixth inning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boom-or-bust A ’ s exploded to keep their season alive .
It took Oakland five home runs , including a game-tying , three-run blast from Chad Pinder in the top of the seventh , but the A ’ s clawed all the way back to win 9-7 and force a Game 4 against an Astros team that has nearly exhausted its pitching depth .
The Astros were nine outs from upsetting the A ’ s and advancing to the AL Championship Series .
But an Oakland team led by an unlikely hero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a series that ’ s been defined by the long ball .
Stars George Springer and Carlos Correa carried the sixth-seeded Astros to two wins at the beginning of the week with multi-homer games , but the A ’ s were able to withstand a shaky outing from starter Jesús Luzardo and the worst performance of reliever Yusmeiro Petit ’ s season because they peppered the outfield bleachers with home runs of their own .
Closer Liam Hendriks channeled his inner Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers with three innings of lights-out work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the win , but the A ’ s were able to extend the series because their lineup suddenly turned into the Bash Brothers .
“ That ’ s the thing : Once our backs are against the wall , suddenly everything changes , ” Hendriks said .
All four A ’ s starting infielders — Pinder , shortstop Marcus Semien , second baseman Tommy La Stella and Matt Olson — homered .
Oakland also received a solo shot from left fielder Mark Canha , who entered the day hitless in the series .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliant on winning with home runs during the regular season , but the circumstances of the ALDS have made hitting the ball in the air a necessity at Dodger Stadium .
With warm weather in Los Angeles and each game of the series taking place during the day , the ball is carrying — particularly to right-center field — in ways that ’ s turned the ballpark into a bandbox .
The A ’ s appeared outmatched in the first two games against the Astros ’ best pitchers , but when manager Dusty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ball for Game 3 , Oakland feasted .
“ You ’ re living on the edge of your seat when the ball is flying like that , ” Baker said .
One of the Astros ’ best set-up men , Enoli Paredes , was unavailable Wednesday after pitching three innings in the first two games , so right-hander Josh James stayed on the mound for the seventh after working a scoreless sixth .
Pinder only hit two home runs during the regular season , but he was slotted into the third slot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a three-run shot into the first rows of the right-field seats to tie the game with his second homer in as many days .
“ I got a text this morning that I was at third base , hitting third , ” Pinder said .
“ That does give you confidence , like all right , everybody believes in you , everyone knows what you can do .
And once that first pitch starts you ’ ve got to lock it in.
” The season-saving victory for Oakland moved teams that have hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18-0 in this year ’ s postseason , highlighting the value power provides in October .
The A ’ s must win two more elimination games to overtake the Astros and assert themselves as the new AL West power .
But they may not have to face Houston right-hander Zack Greinke .
After losing 2019 aces Gerrit Cole to free agency and Justin Verlander to season-ending elbow surgery , the Astros expected Greinke to serve as an anchor for the pitching staff this postseason .
Baker said Wednesday that a recent MRI revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ailing right elbow , but it remains unclear if he ’ ll be ready to pitch either of the next two games and whether he ’ ll be effective if he does take the mound .
• Oakland A ’ s remain confident on brink of elimination : ‘ This team thrives on situations like this ’ • Analysis : The Oakland A ’ s haven ’ t been unlucky .
The Houston Astros are the better team .
• Oakland A ’ s adjust to new reality of postseason baseball at hitter-friendly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right where they want to be — as underdogs “ We ’ re a little thin , ” Baker admitted .
“ Whoever starts tomorrow we need some innings out of them , as many innings as possible to limit our bullpen action.
” The A ’ s have starters Frankie Montas , who will start Thursday , and Mike Fiers available for the next two days while the Astros will likely need rookie Cristian Javier to pitch Thursday .
The rookie right-hander was impressive in 10 starts this season , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 54 1/3 innings .
Seven A ’ s hitters have now homered in the postseason , giving a team that was missing production from several key offensive players hope that Wednesday ’ s win was a turning point .
In a series where every player is now a power threat , Oakland no longer needs to be convinced they can out-slug the Astros .
The A ’ s proved they can win with power in Game 3 .
They ’ ll need it to survive again .

After spending recent postseasons counting the bangs on a trash can, the Houston Astros were prepared to spend the final innings of Game 3 of the American League Division Series counting down the outs on the scoreboard at Dodger Stadium.
The Astros no longer hold an illegal advantage gained from stealing signs, but against the Oakland A’s, they didn’t need extra help to gain a huge edge. After dominating the first two games of this week’s best-of-five series, the Astros took a 7-4 lead into the sixth inning of Wednesday’s elimination game before the boom-or-bust A’s exploded to keep their season alive.
It took Oakland five home runs, including a game-tying, three-run blast from Chad Pinder in the top of the seventh, but the A’s clawed all the way back to win 9-7 and force a Game 4 against an Astros team that has nearly exhausted its pitching depth.
The Astros were nine outs from upsetting the A’s and advancing to the AL Championship Series. But an Oakland team led by an unlikely hero in Pinder proved it could out-slug Houston in a series that’s been defined by the long ball.
Stars George Springer and Carlos Correa carried the sixth-seeded Astros to two wins at the beginning of the week with multi-homer games, but the A’s were able to withstand a shaky outing from starter Jesús Luzardo and the worst performance of reliever Yusmeiro Petit’s season because they peppered the outfield bleachers with home runs of their own.
Closer Liam Hendriks channeled his inner Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers with three innings of lights-out work to close out the game and earn the win, but the A’s were able to extend the series because their lineup suddenly turned into the Bash Brothers.
“That’s the thing: Once our backs are against the wall, suddenly everything changes,” Hendriks said.
All four A’s starting infielders — Pinder, shortstop Marcus Semien, second baseman Tommy La Stella and Matt Olson — homered. Oakland also received a solo shot from left fielder Mark Canha, who entered the day hitless in the series. The A’s weren’t reliant on winning with home runs during the regular season, but the circumstances of the ALDS have made hitting the ball in the air a necessity at Dodger Stadium.
With warm weather in Los Angeles and each game of the series taking place during the day, the ball is carrying — particularly to right-center field — in ways that’s turned the ballpark into a bandbox. The A’s appeared outmatched in the first two games against the Astros’ best pitchers, but when manager Dusty Baker was forced to hand Jose Urquidy the ball for Game 3, Oakland feasted.
“You’re living on the edge of your seat when the ball is flying like that,” Baker said.
One of the Astros’ best set-up men, Enoli Paredes, was unavailable Wednesday after pitching three innings in the first two games, so right-hander Josh James stayed on the mound for the seventh after working a scoreless sixth.
Pinder only hit two home runs during the regular season, but he was slotted into the third slot in the order Wednesday and delivered with a three-run shot into the first rows of the right-field seats to tie the game with his second homer in as many days.
“I got a text this morning that I was at third base, hitting third,” Pinder said. “That does give you confidence, like all right, everybody believes in you, everyone knows what you can do. And once that first pitch starts you’ve got to lock it in.”
The season-saving victory for Oakland moved teams that have hit more home runs than their opponents to 18-0 in this year’s postseason, highlighting the value power provides in October.
The A’s must win two more elimination games to overtake the Astros and assert themselves as the new AL West power. But they may not have to face Houston right-hander Zack Greinke. After losing 2019 aces Gerrit Cole to free agency and Justin Verlander to season-ending elbow surgery, the Astros expected Greinke to serve as an anchor for the pitching staff this postseason.
Baker said Wednesday that a recent MRI revealed no structural damage to Greinke’s ailing right elbow, but it remains unclear if he’ll be ready to pitch either of the next two games and whether he’ll be effective if he does take the mound.
“We’re a little thin,” Baker admitted. “Whoever starts tomorrow we need some innings out of them, as many innings as possible to limit our bullpen action.”
The A’s have starters Frankie Montas, who will start Thursday, and Mike Fiers available for the next two days while the Astros will likely need rookie Cristian Javier to pitch Thursday. The rookie right-hander was impressive in 10 starts this season, but he also gave up 11 home runs in 54 1/3 innings.
Seven A’s hitters have now homered in the postseason, giving a team that was missing production from several key offensive players hope that Wednesday’s win was a turning point. In a series where every player is now a power threat, Oakland no longer needs to be convinced they can out-slug the Astros.
The A’s proved they can win with power in Game 3. They’ll need it to survive again.


mercurynews--2020-10-08--Here’s how The Marsh in SF is managing to host 56 shows this week

You ’ ve got to hand it Stephanie Weisman , founder and artistic director of The Marsh theaters in San Francisco and Berkeley .
At a time when the pandemic has left most live venues dark or on a limited virtual schedule — she is thinking BIG .
Witness The Marsh ’ s latest offering : a five-day solo performance festival featuring streaming shows by 56 entertainers from around the world .
Running through Oct. 11 , the MarshStream International Solo Fest delivers performances from such Marsh favorites as Marga Gomez , Lynne Kaufman , Steve Budd ( whose show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What They Said About Sex ” — sounds particularly fascinating ) , and Don Reed , among many others .
The performances — divided into San Francisco and Berkeley venues — range from inspiring or cautionary autobiographical tales to bitingly funny or insightful rants on such timely topics as politics , dating , feminism , race , and Russian stereotypes .
Details : Through Sunday , Oct. 11 ; individual shows are free but donations encouraged ; festival pass is $ 25 and grants access to any performance on demand for a @ @ @ @

You’ve got to hand it Stephanie Weisman, founder and artistic director of The Marsh theaters in San Francisco and Berkeley. At a time when the pandemic has left most live venues dark or on a limited virtual schedule — she is thinking BIG. Witness The Marsh’s latest offering: a five-day solo performance festival featuring streaming shows by 56 entertainers from around the world.
Running through Oct. 11, the MarshStream International Solo Fest delivers performances from such Marsh favorites as Marga Gomez, Lynne Kaufman, Steve Budd (whose show streaming at 8 p.m. Oct. 8 — “What They Said About Sex” — sounds particularly fascinating), and Don Reed, among many others.
The performances — divided into San Francisco and Berkeley venues — range from inspiring or cautionary autobiographical tales to bitingly funny or insightful rants on such timely topics as politics, dating, feminism, race, and Russian stereotypes.
Details: Through Sunday, Oct. 11; individual shows are free but donations encouraged; festival pass is $25 and grants access to any performance on demand for a week; themarsh.org.


mercurynews--2020-10-08--Frankie Montas will pitch Game 4 for Athletics; Astros’ Baker doesn’t name starter

Frankie Montas will start his first career postseason game Thursday in yet another elimination scenario for the A ’ s as they try to even their American League Division Series against the Houston Astros .
A ’ s manager Bob Melvin announced Montas as the Game 4 starter Wednesday after the A ’ s rallied in Game 3 to keep their season alive , winning 9-7 .
Melvin ’ s counterpart , Dusty Baker , declined to name a starter for Thursday afternoon with his team leading the series 2-1 .
Montas was the A ’ s Opening Day starter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his effectiveness , leading to concerns over whether he would be a candidate for Oakland ’ s postseason roster .
The right-hander made the decision much easier for the A ’ s when he struck out 13 hitters over six strong innings on the final day of the regular season against the Seattle Mariners .
When he ’ s on , Montas has one of the most overpowering arsenals of any pitcher on the A ’ s staff .
Oakland pitching coach Scott Emerson believes he ’ s one of the most well-rounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he struggles , Montas typically has issues with command and has trouble finding the strike zone .
• Boom-or-bust Oakland A ’ s keep season alive , but can they win a series of slugfests ?
• What the Athletics and Astros are saying after Oakland ’ s Game 3 comeback • Athletics 2B La Stella leaves Game 3 vs. Astros after taking pitch to elbow Montas was in consideration to start Game 3 of the wild-card series against the White Sox .
But the A ’ s opted for veteran Mike Fiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bullpen .
He actually fared better than Fiers in the series-clinching win as he tossed two innings of one-run ball in relief .
That success moved Montas ahead of his counterpart on the depth chart and made him the clear choice to start Game 4 .
Given Fiers ’ struggles against Chicago , there ’ s no guarantee A ’ s manager Bob Melvin would have him start Game 5 if the A ’ s are able to extend the series behind Montas .
The A ’ s could also choose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short rest and make Fiers available in relief over each of the next two days .
Baker ’ s options may be fairly limited for Game 4 .
He noted in naming Jose Urquidy his Game 3 starter that Zack Greinke was suffering from some soreness .
Staff ace Justin Verlander is on the injured list after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier this season .
Other pitchers on the ALDS roster who started games this regular season include Josh James and Cristian Javier , but James pitched an inning-plus Wednesday and gave up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Javier pitched an inning in relief Monday , so turning around to start a Thursday game may prove difficult .
Luis García may be Baker ’ s man if Greinke can ’ t pitch , unless the Astros choose to remove Greinke from the roster to bring in a fresh starter .
If Houston goes that route , Greinke would not be eligible for the Astros ’ roster in the next round , provided they advance .
García , a rookie , started one game for the Astros this year among five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 .
He was added to the ALDS roster after being left off the wild-card team .
In a potential Game 5 , Baker would have those options plus Game 1 starter Lance McCullers , who would also be operating on short rest .

Frankie Montas will start his first career postseason game Thursday in yet another elimination scenario for the A’s as they try to even their American League Division Series against the Houston Astros.
A’s manager Bob Melvin announced Montas as the Game 4 starter Wednesday after the A’s rallied in Game 3 to keep their season alive, winning 9-7.
Melvin’s counterpart, Dusty Baker, declined to name a starter for Thursday afternoon with his team leading the series 2-1.
Montas was the A’s Opening Day starter, but he battled injuries that limited his effectiveness, leading to concerns over whether he would be a candidate for Oakland’s postseason roster. The right-hander made the decision much easier for the A’s when he struck out 13 hitters over six strong innings on the final day of the regular season against the Seattle Mariners.
When he’s on, Montas has one of the most overpowering arsenals of any pitcher on the A’s staff. Oakland pitching coach Scott Emerson believes he’s one of the most well-rounded starters in the American League. When he struggles, Montas typically has issues with command and has trouble finding the strike zone.
Montas was in consideration to start Game 3 of the wild-card series against the White Sox. But the A’s opted for veteran Mike Fiers and chose to use Montas out of the bullpen. He actually fared better than Fiers in the series-clinching win as he tossed two innings of one-run ball in relief. That success moved Montas ahead of his counterpart on the depth chart and made him the clear choice to start Game 4.
Given Fiers’ struggles against Chicago, there’s no guarantee A’s manager Bob Melvin would have him start Game 5 if the A’s are able to extend the series behind Montas. The A’s could also choose to bring budding ace Chris Bassitt back on short rest and make Fiers available in relief over each of the next two days.
Baker’s options may be fairly limited for Game 4.
He noted in naming Jose Urquidy his Game 3 starter that Zack Greinke was suffering from some soreness. Staff ace Justin Verlander is on the injured list after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier this season.
Other pitchers on the ALDS roster who started games this regular season include Josh James and Cristian Javier, but James pitched an inning-plus Wednesday and gave up Chad Pinder’s game-tying home run. Javier pitched an inning in relief Monday, so turning around to start a Thursday game may prove difficult.
Luis García may be Baker’s man if Greinke can’t pitch, unless the Astros choose to remove Greinke from the roster to bring in a fresh starter. If Houston goes that route, Greinke would not be eligible for the Astros’ roster in the next round, provided they advance.
García, a rookie, started one game for the Astros this year among five appearances after making his MLB debut Sept. 4. He was added to the ALDS roster after being left off the wild-card team.
In a potential Game 5, Baker would have those options plus Game 1 starter Lance McCullers, who would also be operating on short rest.


mercurynews--2020-10-08--Oakland revives city law that requires contractors to disclose historic ties to slavery

OAKLAND — As lawmakers around the state are exploring potential ways to pay reparations for slavery , Oakland has revived and says it ’ ll enforce a seemingly forgotten city law that requires certain city contractors to disclose any historic ties to slavery .
The ordinance , approved by a city council 15 years ago , also creates a fund of reparations money that ’ s supposed to be disbursed to help residents in the city ’ s poorest neighborhoods .
But it doesn ’ t force companies to put any money into the fund .
It applies to contractors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city and to textile , tobacco , railroad , shipping , rice or sugar companies that do business with the city .
Those businesses must complete affidavits confirming they searched company records for evidence that they had or hadn ’ t “ bought or sold people subjected to slavery , used people subjected to slavery as collateral , provided loans to purchase people subjected to slavery , insured such transactions or the people subjected to slavery during the slavery era and/or provided related or other services to aid and abet such transactions.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ name of enslaved people and slaveholders in company records and any evidence of business transactions that profited from slavery , according to a memo from City Attorney Barbara Parker , who brought the issue to the City Council on Tuesday night along with council members Larry Reid and Loren Taylor .
Although the ordinance was approved in 2005 , there ’ s no record that it was ever implemented , according to Parker ’ s memo .
There also isn ’ t any accessible form for contractors to submit or any public information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complying with the ordinance .
“ The City Attorney ’ s Office has also heard reports that the City Administrator may have waived the requirements of the Ordinance for certain contractors , but that has not been verified , ” the memo says .
The resolution passed by the City Council on Tuesday to revive the ordinance requires the city administrator to immediately prepare an affidavit form for contractors and to tell the council by the end of the year how the process is going , according to Chief Assistant City Attorney Maria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishment of a fund to support education and economic development in “ economically depressed ” Oakland neighborhoods .
City contractors or others could contribute to the fund , but won ’ t be required to .
By March 31 , the city administrator will have to draft guidelines for how the city would use the fund , subject to the council ’ s approval .
The city administrator will also have to create regular annual reports about the fund and the disclosure affidavits .
It ’ s unclear how many Oakland vendors would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city attorney ’ s memo reports that an initial search yielded at least nine : JP Morgan Chase , New York Life Insurance , Wachovia Bank , Brown Brothers Harriman , Barclays , AIG , Aetna , Bank of America and Wells Fargo .
Other cities have implemented similar disclosure policies and funds , including San Francisco , but according to that city ’ s 2017 disclosure report — the most recent one available on its website — no firms have contributed to the fund , even after the city issued letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became the first state to require a study of how it can provide reparations to Black residents and descendants of slaves .
A nine-member task force has been created to come up with recommendations for what reparations could look like and who might receive them .
Though California was a free state when it joined the union in 1850 , slave owners were allowed to bring enslaved people to the state .
City officials across the country have begun proposing measures to explore reparations , as well .
Bee told council members that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of the “ important first steps ” of addressing its impacts .
This ordinance “ shows ways wealth has been accumulated on the backs of those who were enslaved , ” Bee said .
Taylor said the city should have enforced its ordinance upon its initial enactment but now has a chance to do so .
“ Implementation is going to be important , ” he said .

OAKLAND — As lawmakers around the state are exploring potential ways to pay reparations for slavery, Oakland has revived and says it’ll enforce a seemingly forgotten city law that requires certain city contractors to disclose any historic ties to slavery.
The ordinance, approved by a city council 15 years ago, also creates a fund of reparations money that’s supposed to be disbursed to help residents in the city’s poorest neighborhoods. But it doesn’t force companies to put any money into the fund.
It applies to contractors that provide insurance or financial services to the city and to textile, tobacco, railroad, shipping, rice or sugar companies that do business with the city. Those businesses must complete affidavits confirming they searched company records for evidence that they had or hadn’t “bought or sold people subjected to slavery, used people subjected to slavery as collateral, provided loans to purchase people subjected to slavery, insured such transactions or the people subjected to slavery during the slavery era and/or provided related or other services to aid and abet such transactions.”
The affidavit has to include the name of enslaved people and slaveholders in company records and any evidence of business transactions that profited from slavery, according to a memo from City Attorney Barbara Parker, who brought the issue to the City Council on Tuesday night along with council members Larry Reid and Loren Taylor.
Although the ordinance was approved in 2005, there’s no record that it was ever implemented, according to Parker’s memo. There also isn’t any accessible form for contractors to submit or any public information showing whether or how city contractors are complying with the ordinance.
“The City Attorney’s Office has also heard reports that the City Administrator may have waived the requirements of the Ordinance for certain contractors, but that has not been verified,” the memo says.
The resolution passed by the City Council on Tuesday to revive the ordinance requires the city administrator to immediately prepare an affidavit form for contractors and to tell the council by the end of the year how the process is going, according to Chief Assistant City Attorney Maria Bee.
The ordinance also mandates the establishment of a fund to support education and economic development in “economically depressed” Oakland neighborhoods. City contractors or others could contribute to the fund, but won’t be required to.
By March 31, the city administrator will have to draft guidelines for how the city would use the fund, subject to the council’s approval. The city administrator will also have to create regular annual reports about the fund and the disclosure affidavits.
It’s unclear how many Oakland vendors would be subject to the ordinance, but the city attorney’s memo reports that an initial search yielded at least nine: JP Morgan Chase, New York Life Insurance, Wachovia Bank, Brown Brothers Harriman, Barclays, AIG, Aetna, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
Other cities have implemented similar disclosure policies and funds, including San Francisco, but according to that city’s 2017 disclosure report — the most recent one available on its website — no firms have contributed to the fund, even after the city issued letters in 2015 asking for donations.
California became the first state to require a study of how it can provide reparations to Black residents and descendants of slaves. A nine-member task force has been created to come up with recommendations for what reparations could look like and who might receive them.
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Hair relaxers have been linked to cancer among Black women, litigation says. ‘Nobody cares except us.’ California News | Contra Costa DA attempts to block publicization of new racist texts by Antioch cops Though California was a free state when it joined the union in 1850, slave owners were allowed to bring enslaved people to the state.
City officials across the country have begun proposing measures to explore reparations, as well.
Bee told council members that fostering transparency about the history of enslavement is one of the “important first steps” of addressing its impacts.
This ordinance “shows ways wealth has been accumulated on the backs of those who were enslaved,” Bee said.
Taylor said the city should have enforced its ordinance upon its initial enactment but now has a chance to do so.
“Implementation is going to be important,” he said.


mercurynews--2020-10-07--What the Athletics and Astros are saying after Oakland’s Game 3 comeback

The Oakland A ’ s have extended their postseason run at least one more day .
They defeated the Houston Astros 9-7 Wednesday in Game 3 of their American League Divisional Series , staving off elimination to narrow the Astros ’ lead in the series to 2-1 .
Here ’ s what the A ’ s and Astros said after the game : On Pinder home run and the momentum shift : “ That was more like an earthquake than a shift .
Off the bat , the way it ’ s carrying today , you think maybe .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you had a pretty good idea that it had a chance to go out .
He ’ s got tremendous power to all fields.
” On Hendriks : “ I just had to get him in the game .
I just couldn ’ t let him sit out there and wait .
We had to shut them down , the part of the order that was coming up .
( TBS analyst Jeff ) Francoeur was asking before the game , ‘ Would you use him for three ?
’ and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about three.
’ But with his pitch count as manageable as it was , really wasn ’ t that tough a decision once I talked to him in between innings.
” On the catcher ’ s interference call : “ We didn ’ t have it , but I ’ m not sure if he called it right away or if Tucker influenced him .
We thought it was a foul tip , that ’ s what we heard.
” On the Laureano blooper : “ Sometimes they don ’ t look great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the course of the game .
Maybe not 110 off the bat like some of the others.
” On La Stella : “ Unbelievable how it missed the pad completely and hit him right on the elbow … He got an x-ray , no fracture , no break , so we ’ ll see how he ’ s doing tomorrow.
” On starter tomorrow : “ Montas ’ ll start tomorrow .
Shoot , we live another day and you ’ ll take it.
” On sacrifice flies rather than home runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tooth and nail to try to come back .
The game had i don ’ t know how many lead changes.
” On his outing : “ I felt pretty good throughout my whole outing .
Made two mistakes , which were pretty costly , but glad we were able to pull it out.
” On Hendriks : “ We wouldn ’ t be here without him and we ’ re glad to have him on our side.
” On Pinder HR : “ It feels like every time we make a comeback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it.
” On mindset Game 3 vs. Game 2 : “ As Pinder said earlier we knew this was going to be a dogfight and as you can tell , it is.
” On Montas going Game 4 : “ We ’ re extremely confident .
That ’ s my boy so i got his back no matter what .
I know he ’ s going to go out there and do his thing.
” On plan for the at-bat : “ Get something up in the zone early in the count .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get something up , try to elevate the ball.
” After he hit it : “ I didn ’ t know but I saw him drifting a bit and the ball has been carrying here a bit .
I hit it good enough for a sac fly but it just kept carrying.
” Before the HR : “ Right before that inning Ramon got everybody up and said this wasn ’ t it.
” On Ramon : It was in between innings .
“ You could kind of just feel when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was kind of getting down again , just getting that flatline feeling again and Ramon wasn ’ t having any of that.
” On Hendriks : “ That was incredible .
Again , Liam has been lights out for us the past two years .
That ’ s not easy to do .
That ’ s not easy to do two ups , but to do three ups and shut it down like that… Liam has time and time again just closed the door in big situations .
That ’ s the guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inning .
It just happened to be the seventh , eighth and ninth today.
” On his mentality : “ I ’ m more along the lines of calming myself down .
Really just trying to focus on what i ’ m doing at the plate … trying not to make the moment bigger than it is.
” On Ramon ’ s speech : “ He got my heartrate up and I had to calm it down before I got up there .
Good thing I had two batters before I got up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m doing everything I possibly can in the training room .
Treatment every morning and stuff postgame just trying to keep it where it is .
There have been times this series where I ’ ve been jammed up and had to try to leg it out and just got what I got.
” On hitting third : “ I got a text this morning that I was third base , hitting third .
That does give you confidence , like all right , everybody believes in you , everyone knows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that first pitch starts you ’ ve got to lock it in.
” On Liam Hendriks ’ mentality : “ You see that look in his eye and you don ’ t want to say anything to pull him out of that .
You kind of let him do his things… You do that with pitchers .
You know the ones that you pat ‘ em on the butt , but you let Liam go compete.
” • Boom-or-bust Oakland A ’ s keep season alive , but can they win a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitch Game 4 for Athletics ; Astros ’ Baker doesn ’ t name starter • Athletics 2B La Stella leaves Game 3 vs. Astros after taking pitch to elbow On pitching three innings : “ ( Melvin ) told me to be ready early , so apparently I was ready early .
I go down at my normal time and got a call when I was down there with Diek in the sixth inning … You got ta wrench that ball out of my hand , I don ’ t want to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home run : “ That ’ s the thing : once our backs are against the wall , suddenly everything changes … The reaction from the bullpen was exaltation.
” On the team ’ s mentality : “ It ’ s been special .
When we start getting a little chippy or chirpy in the dugout or in the bullpen , that ’ s when things start to happen.
” On availability for Game 4 : “ I threw less pitches than I did last time , I just happened to double my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think I ’ ll be ready to go tomorrow.
” On shadows : “ Grossman came in after his at-bat with Scrubb and said ‘ Hey Liam , just go right after them .
You can ’ t see anything.
’ ” On connection to Grant Balfour : Everyone says ‘ oh you ’ re Australian so you ’ re a little crazy , ’ and I take offense to that .
I ’ m a lot crazy.
” On Reddick smashing his bat after strikeout : “ I may give it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the series before I text him because that might be a little bit of a low blow.
” On the loss : “ It ’ s tough to take , but we got to come back and win tomorrow… That ball was flying out there.
” On pitching getting thinner : “ We ’ re a little thin .
Whoever starts tomorrow we need some innings out of them , as many innings as possible to limit our bullpen action.
” On not knowing who his starter tomorrow is : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you know , life is tough .
Sometimes you don ’ t know about tomorrow , sometimes you ’ d like to know about tomorrow today , but you don ’ t. ” On if he ’ s worried : “ We ’ re still in the lead .
This team has been here before .
These guys don ’ t seem really worried about it .
We got beat today .
We made some mistakes , and hopefully we don ’ t make those mistakes tomorrow.
” On amount of home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be crazy from the beginning .
You can tell from the way the ball ’ s jumping .
… the way that ball is carrying , you can tell , their team was flirting with that wall all day .
Even balls that they missed was going all the way to the wall .
You ’ re living on the edge of your seat when the ball is flying like that.
” On if he was looking forward to Game 4 : “ No , not really .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but you ’ re trying to win today .
Obviously you don ’ t want to go through your whole bullpen , but you ’ re thinking about today ’ s game today , and tomorrow we ’ ll think about that game.
” On playing with shadows : “ It ’ s extremely tough .
… You want the lead going into the eighth or ninth because you know you ’ re not going to be able to see .
You want to get a big lead early before the shadows set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s dangerous as hell… My mother was in insurance , and she said most accidents happen at dusk .
I found that to be true.
” What he did between outings : “ It ’ s tough but , you know , people want to be put in that situation .
You always feel like you ’ re the right man for the job .
No matter how long it ’ s been , you go out and compete .
Today , I got beat .
Tomorrow is another day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball carrying the way it was : “ I have to see what pitches they are hitting and throw my best stuff .
But I don ’ t have anything to say — they played well .
We have another game tomorrow that we have to win.
” “ I felt comfortable out there .
I didn ’ t have any problem with the strike zone , I wasn ’ t throwing a lot of balls .
They just made a lot of contact and with the way the ball is flying it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a must-win : “ I think every time we take the field we want to consider as that .
We want to go out there and play well and win .
We didn ’ t do that today .
Brand new day tomorrow when the clock strikes midnight .
We ’ ll show up tomorrow .
I thought we put together some good at-bats today , and I thought we looked good offensively .
Sometimes you don ’ t win .
”

The Oakland A’s have extended their postseason run at least one more day.
They defeated the Houston Astros 9-7 Wednesday in Game 3 of their American League Divisional Series, staving off elimination to narrow the Astros’ lead in the series to 2-1.
Here’s what the A’s and Astros said after the game:
Athletics manager Bob Melvin
On Pinder home run and the momentum shift: “That was more like an earthquake than a shift. Off the bat, the way it’s carrying today, you think maybe. But as soon as Tucker kept going back, you had a pretty good idea that it had a chance to go out. He’s got tremendous power to all fields.”
On Hendriks: “I just had to get him in the game. I just couldn’t let him sit out there and wait. We had to shut them down, the part of the order that was coming up. (TBS analyst Jeff) Francoeur was asking before the game, ‘Would you use him for three?’ and I go ‘I don’t know about three.’ But with his pitch count as manageable as it was, really wasn’t that tough a decision once I talked to him in between innings.”
On the catcher’s interference call: “We didn’t have it, but I’m not sure if he called it right away or if Tucker influenced him. We thought it was a foul tip, that’s what we heard.”
On the Laureano blooper: “Sometimes they don’t look great but they end up being huge hits through the course of the game. Maybe not 110 off the bat like some of the others.”
On La Stella: “Unbelievable how it missed the pad completely and hit him right on the elbow … He got an x-ray, no fracture, no break, so we’ll see how he’s doing tomorrow.”
On starter tomorrow: “Montas’ll start tomorrow. Shoot, we live another day and you’ll take it.”
On sacrifice flies rather than home runs: “We’re just fighting tooth and nail to try to come back. The game had i don’t know how many lead changes.”
Jesús Luzardo
On his outing: “I felt pretty good throughout my whole outing. Made two mistakes, which were pretty costly, but glad we were able to pull it out.”
On Hendriks: “We wouldn’t be here without him and we’re glad to have him on our side.”
On Pinder HR: “It feels like every time we make a comeback, me and Petit are together watching it.”
On mindset Game 3 vs. Game 2: “As Pinder said earlier we knew this was going to be a dogfight and as you can tell, it is.”
On Montas going Game 4: “We’re extremely confident. That’s my boy so i got his back no matter what. I know he’s going to go out there and do his thing.”
A’s third baseman Chad Pinder
On plan for the at-bat: “Get something up in the zone early in the count. Guy has good stuff but just want to get something up, try to elevate the ball.”
After he hit it: “I didn’t know but I saw him drifting a bit and the ball has been carrying here a bit. I hit it good enough for a sac fly but it just kept carrying.”
Before the HR: “Right before that inning Ramon got everybody up and said this wasn’t it.”
On Ramon: It was in between innings. “You could kind of just feel when we got into the dugout that the energy was kind of getting down again, just getting that flatline feeling again and Ramon wasn’t having any of that.”
On Hendriks: “That was incredible. Again, Liam has been lights out for us the past two years. That’s not easy to do. That’s not easy to do two ups, but to do three ups and shut it down like that… Liam has time and time again just closed the door in big situations. That’s the guy we want out there in the ninth inning. It just happened to be the seventh, eighth and ninth today.”
On his mentality: “I’m more along the lines of calming myself down. Really just trying to focus on what i’m doing at the plate … trying not to make the moment bigger than it is.”
On Ramon’s speech: “He got my heartrate up and I had to calm it down before I got up there. Good thing I had two batters before I got up there.”
On hamstring issue: “I’m doing everything I possibly can in the training room. Treatment every morning and stuff postgame just trying to keep it where it is. There have been times this series where I’ve been jammed up and had to try to leg it out and just got what I got.”
On hitting third: “I got a text this morning that I was third base, hitting third. That does give you confidence, like all right, everybody believes in you, everyone knows what you can do. And once that first pitch starts you’ve got to lock it in.”
On Liam Hendriks’ mentality: “You see that look in his eye and you don’t want to say anything to pull him out of that. You kind of let him do his things… You do that with pitchers. You know the ones that you pat ‘em on the butt, but you let Liam go compete.”
A’s closer Liam Hendriks
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On Pinder’s home run: “That’s the thing: once our backs are against the wall, suddenly everything changes … The reaction from the bullpen was exaltation.”
On the team’s mentality: “It’s been special. When we start getting a little chippy or chirpy in the dugout or in the bullpen, that’s when things start to happen.”
On availability for Game 4: “I threw less pitches than I did last time, I just happened to double my innings and outs. Yeah, I think I’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”
On shadows: “Grossman came in after his at-bat with Scrubb and said ‘Hey Liam, just go right after them. You can’t see anything.’”
On connection to Grant Balfour: Everyone says ‘oh you’re Australian so you’re a little crazy,’ and I take offense to that. I’m a lot crazy.”
On Reddick smashing his bat after strikeout: “I may give it a day, I may give it til the end of the series before I text him because that might be a little bit of a low blow.”
Astros manager Dusty Baker
On the loss: “It’s tough to take, but we got to come back and win tomorrow… That ball was flying out there.”
On pitching getting thinner: “We’re a little thin. Whoever starts tomorrow we need some innings out of them, as many innings as possible to limit our bullpen action.”
On not knowing who his starter tomorrow is: “It’s tough. But, you know, life is tough. Sometimes you don’t know about tomorrow, sometimes you’d like to know about tomorrow today, but you don’t.”
On if he’s worried: “We’re still in the lead. This team has been here before. These guys don’t seem really worried about it. We got beat today. We made some mistakes, and hopefully we don’t make those mistakes tomorrow.”
On amount of home runs: “I knew it was going to be crazy from the beginning. You can tell from the way the ball’s jumping. … the way that ball is carrying, you can tell, their team was flirting with that wall all day. Even balls that they missed was going all the way to the wall. You’re living on the edge of your seat when the ball is flying like that.”
On if he was looking forward to Game 4: “No, not really. It’s in the back of your mind, but you’re trying to win today. Obviously you don’t want to go through your whole bullpen, but you’re thinking about today’s game today, and tomorrow we’ll think about that game.”
On playing with shadows: “It’s extremely tough. … You want the lead going into the eighth or ninth because you know you’re not going to be able to see. You want to get a big lead early before the shadows set in … It’s dangerous. It’s dangerous as hell… My mother was in insurance, and she said most accidents happen at dusk. I found that to be true.”
Astros reliever Josh James
What he did between outings: “It’s tough but, you know, people want to be put in that situation. You always feel like you’re the right man for the job. No matter how long it’s been, you go out and compete. Today, I got beat. Tomorrow is another day, another opportunity.”
Astros pitcherJose Urquidy
On pressure with the ball carrying the way it was: “I have to see what pitches they are hitting and throw my best stuff. But I don’t have anything to say — they played well. We have another game tomorrow that we have to win.”
“I felt comfortable out there. I didn’t have any problem with the strike zone, I wasn’t throwing a lot of balls. They just made a lot of contact and with the way the ball is flying it favored the hitters.”
Astros third baseman Alex Bregman
On if tomorrow is a must-win: “I think every time we take the field we want to consider as that. We want to go out there and play well and win. We didn’t do that today. Brand new day tomorrow when the clock strikes midnight. We’ll show up tomorrow. I thought we put together some good at-bats today, and I thought we looked good offensively. Sometimes you don’t win.”


mercurynews--2020-10-07--Ex-DC cop charged with making bogus fundraiser for Oakland federal officer allegedly killed by Booga

Ex-DC cop charged with making bogus fundraiser for Oakland federal officer allegedly killed by Boogaloo Boys

OAKLAND — The U.S. Attorney ’ s office has charged a former special police officer with creating a bogus fundraiser claiming to raise funds for the funeral of Patrick Dave Underwood , the Federal Protective Services officer shot and killed at his post last May .
Dominic Deandre Gregory , 27 , was charged with wire fraud for allegedly trying to raise $ 90,000 in bogus online fundraisers for Underwood ’ s funeral .
The criminal complaint alleges Gregory tugged at potential donors ’ heartstrings , claiming falsely to be a member of the slain officer ’ s family and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife and children in the typo-ridden GoFundMe solicitations .
“ We are asking for help to raise money for our dear brother funeral ( sic ) and his wife , ” one posting read .
“ He was a great man who didn ’ t deserve that to happen to him his partner.we ( sic ) are gon na miss you so much Mr underwood ( sic ) We thank you for your service.
” The fundraisers were created days after Underwood was shot and killed inside a security booth outside the Ron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people allegedly associated with the so-called Boogaloo movement — Steven Carrillo , a U.S. Air Force sergeant , and Robert A. Justus — have been charged with murdering Underwood in what the FBI has described as an assassination plot aimed at law enforcement officers .
Despite his lofty fundraising goals , Gregory raised just a measly $ 470 , the complaint alleges .
When GoFundMe was notified about the situation , the company issued refunds to all the donors .
The complaint also alleges that this was not Gregory ’ s first attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , he allegedly created four other pages meant to capitalize on notable deaths .
“ Two of the campaigns claimed connections to publicized deaths of individuals in Toronto and Washington , DC , ” the complaint alleges .
“ One campaign claimed to be raising money for medical supplies related to the Coronavirus pandemic .
“ The final campaign claimed to be seeking donations to rebuild a restaurant in Minneapolis , Minnesota , that was destroyed during riots.
” At the time of the postings , Gregory was a special police officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison , though Gregory ’ s defense would likely cite his service record and lack of criminal convictions to ask for significantly less time .
He has been freed on $ 25,000 bond as he awaits a resolution in his case , prosecutors said .
• Facebook says it will remove calls for ‘ militarized ’ poll watchers • Former library employee accused of stealing $ 1.3 million in printer toner • Suspects charged with dealing millions of stolen goods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay Area Meanwhile , the case against Carrillo and Justus is headed for its first major development : federal prosecutors are expected to make a recommendation of whether to pursue the death penalty in both defendants .
Justus , the alleged driver , gave a statement to the FBI saying Carrillo briefly held him at gunpoint on May 29 , when they met at the San Leandro BART station and drove to Oakland looking for police to shoot .
Carrillo , the alleged shooter , was arrested a week later after he allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Damon Gutzwiller in a shootout , also injuring two other officers .
Authorities say he and Justus met shortly before Underwood ’ s killing on a Facebook group associated with the Boogaloo Boys , a loosely structured right-wing group that believes in a second Civil War is looming .

OAKLAND — The U.S. Attorney’s office has charged a former special police officer with creating a bogus fundraiser claiming to raise funds for the funeral of Patrick Dave Underwood, the Federal Protective Services officer shot and killed at his post last May.
Dominic Deandre Gregory, 27, was charged with wire fraud for allegedly trying to raise $90,000 in bogus online fundraisers for Underwood’s funeral. The criminal complaint alleges Gregory tugged at potential donors’ heartstrings, claiming falsely to be a member of the slain officer’s family and making references to Underwood’s nonexistent wife and children in the typo-ridden GoFundMe solicitations.
“We are asking for help to raise money for our dear brother funeral (sic) and his wife,” one posting read. “He was a great man who didn’t deserve that to happen to him his partner.we (sic) are gonna miss you so much Mr underwood (sic) We thank you for your service.”
The fundraisers were created days after Underwood was shot and killed inside a security booth outside the Ron Dellums Federal Building in Oakland. Two people allegedly associated with the so-called Boogaloo movement — Steven Carrillo, a U.S. Air Force sergeant, and Robert A. Justus — have been charged with murdering Underwood in what the FBI has described as an assassination plot aimed at law enforcement officers.
Despite his lofty fundraising goals, Gregory raised just a measly $470, the complaint alleges. When GoFundMe was notified about the situation, the company issued refunds to all the donors.
The complaint also alleges that this was not Gregory’s first attempt at crowdfunding fraud; in April and May, he allegedly created four other pages meant to capitalize on notable deaths.
“Two of the campaigns claimed connections to publicized deaths of individuals in Toronto and Washington, DC,” the complaint alleges. “One campaign claimed to be raising money for medical supplies related to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The final campaign claimed to be seeking donations to rebuild a restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that was destroyed during riots.”
At the time of the postings, Gregory was a special police officer stationed in Washington D.C., authorities say.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, though Gregory’s defense would likely cite his service record and lack of criminal convictions to ask for significantly less time. He has been freed on $25,000 bond as he awaits a resolution in his case, prosecutors said.
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Hair relaxers have been linked to cancer among Black women, litigation says. ‘Nobody cares except us.’ Crime and Public Safety | Contra Costa DA attempts to block publicization of new racist texts by Antioch cops Meanwhile, the case against Carrillo and Justus is headed for its first major development: federal prosecutors are expected to make a recommendation of whether to pursue the death penalty in both defendants. Justus, the alleged driver, gave a statement to the FBI saying Carrillo briefly held him at gunpoint on May 29, when they met at the San Leandro BART station and drove to Oakland looking for police to shoot.
Carrillo, the alleged shooter, was arrested a week later after he allegedly killed Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller in a shootout, also injuring two other officers. Authorities say he and Justus met shortly before Underwood’s killing on a Facebook group associated with the Boogaloo Boys, a loosely structured right-wing group that believes in a second Civil War is looming.


mercurynews--2020-10-07--ALDS Game 3: Oakland A’s keep season alive with thrilling comeback victory

Game 3 of the American League Division Series had three dramatic lead changes in a roller-coaster ride of an afternoon as the A ’ s kept their season alive with a 9-7 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium .
Chad Pinder ’ s 360-foot blast in the seventh was the shortest of the 18 home runs in the series but was by far the most impactful .
The three-run shot to right erased a 7-4 deficit and gave Oakland the momentum needed to see another game .
Pinder , an anchor in the A ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was just hoping to get something in the air to capitalize with runners on the corners and fewer than two outs .
Something to break through a false barrier that ’ s kept the A ’ s from hitting with runners in scoring position throughout the ALDS .
To his surprise , the opposite field knock drifted just far enough over the right field fence , beyond an outstretched Kyle Tucker ’ s glove , to in essence salvage the A ’ s season .
The ball has been carrying through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some motivating words in the dugout gave the home run the nudge it needed .
When the A ’ s dugout deflated following yet another Astros lead reclamation in a big fifth inning , Ramón Laureano took exception .
“ Ramón was having no part of that , ” Pinder said .
With “ Laureano-level intensity , ” he re-instilled their fight with a speech .
“ This ain ’ t over .
This ain ’ t out last game .
And we aren ’ t going to let it be our last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between innings .
“ We ’ ve been through too much , had too many good things happen through the season to leave here and get swept.
” Pinder thrives when he can calm himself in big moments ; Lucky he had Marcus Semien and Tommy La Stella , who both singled to set the table batting before him .
It both set the table and allowed an opportunity to simmer down .
But he was in a zone .
“ ‘ You struck a chord with me , man , ” ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I just got chills thinking about it , ” Pinder said .
“ That was a pivotal moment for us , for sure .
I just keep getting chills all over my body because that ’ s huge .
We needed someone to step up.
” Until then , Oakland looked to be falling on the bad end of another Home Run Derby in Los Angeles .
It started like the others had , with the A ’ s taking an early lead .
This one came on the back of four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started the slugfest with a 415-foot shot to center that put Oakland in front 1-0 in the first .
The Astros , the designated home team for the first time in the series , claimed the advantage in the bottom of the first .
José Altuve hit a solo shot to tie the score and then , with runners on the corners , La Stella ’ s weak throw from second on a potential inning-ending double play made it 2-1 .
The A ’ s feasted a little on Houston starter José Urquidy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mark Canha , Matt Olson and Marcus Semien notched solo home runs to give the A ’ s a 4-2 edge .
A ’ s starter Jesús Luzardo had been rolling , getting ahead in counts and holding the Astros scoreless through three innings .
Houston caught up to him in the fifth inning .
The rally started with a leadoff walk to Yuli Gurriel .
Aledmys Diaz followed and worked back from an 0-2 count to drill a fastball over the left-field fence to tie the score 4-4 .
With reliever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Houston taught the A ’ s a lesson in hitting with runners in scoring position , stringing together four hits from the heart of the order for a 7-4 lead .
The fifth-inning rally was a snapshot of how this series had gone for the A ’ s : Petit allowed four earned runs in 21 2/3 innings during the regular season .
Houston put up four against him in one inning this series , including three Wednesday .
It looked as if the bullpen couldn ’ t mask the offensive deficiencies much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their opportunities to bust the game open in their favor .
• Boom-or-bust Oakland A ’ s keep season alive , but can they win a series of slugfests ?
• Frankie Montas will pitch Game 4 for Athletics ; Astros ’ Baker doesn ’ t name starter • What the Athletics and Astros are saying after Oakland ’ s Game 3 comeback • Athletics 2B La Stella leaves Game 3 vs. Astros after taking pitch to elbow After Semien ’ s home run in the fourth , Oakland loaded the bases with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the A ’ s first single of the game .
Khris Davis , batting cleanup for the first time since July , couldn ’ t get all of a fastball in the zone and flied out .
After Olson walked to load the bases , Canha popped out to extinguish a prime opportunity .
With nine outs remaining and fate looking destined to repeat itself , it was only right that the steadiest hand right the A ’ s ship to keep the season afloat .
Pinder ’ s return from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s end has been one of the more crucial comebacks of the year .
The 28-year-old utility man ’ s made himself an irreplaceable leader with considerable pop in his bat and excellent defensive prowess despite never settling into a consistent role .
His two-run RBI single in Game 3 of the wild card series not only was the A ’ s only hit with runners in scoring position that series , but provided the winning runs in the do-or-die series .
His at bats have been so good , that manager Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these last two games .
“ He ’ s getting a great opportunity right now and taking advantage of it in a time when , usually you aren ’ t afforded these types of opportunities , ” Melvin said .
“ I can ’ t say enough about him .
He ’ s been fantastic.
” With nine outs remaining , it was only right that one of the A ’ s struggling most at the plate step up in another way .
Laureano ’ s inspired speech lit up the offense when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for good .
Laureano clearly amped himself up , too .
His first hit of the series was a bloop double that set up the go-ahead scoring opportunity in the eighth .
The A ’ s pushed two runs on a pair of sacrifice flies from Sean Murphy and Pinder .
Oakland closer Liam Hendriks was warming in the bullpen , ready to protect the lead his team almost couldn ’ t get .
“ It was exaltation , ” Hendriks said of the bullpen reaction to Pinder ’ s home run .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballgame…We trust our bullpen over everything.
” Hendriks had to whip out his “ Hercu-Liam ” alter ego to keep the Astros from adding to their run total , tasked with shutting down Houston over the final three innings .
He did just that .
After not throwing more than 30 pitches in any outing in the regular season , Hendriks threw 49 in Game 2 of the wild card series and got the save in Game 3 .
Wednesday , he escaped a game-tying threat in the eighth by striking out pinch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heater .
“ He ’ s a guy that swings first pitch , especially against me , ” Hendriks said .
Hendriks finished off the game by retiring Springer , Altuve and Brantley in order in the ninth to complete a 37-pitch outing and a season-saving win .

Before Chad Pinder hit the home run to save the A’s season, before Liam Hendriks nailed down the victory with three innings in relief, Ramón Laureano had something to say Wednesday.
Something that fired Pinder up before his three-run homer tied the score in the seventh inning and sent the A’s on their way to a 9-7 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Dodger Stadium.
“This ain’t over,” Laureano told his teammates. “This ain’t our last game. And we aren’t going to let it be our last game. We’ve been through too much, had too many good things happen through the season to leave here and get swept.”
Game 3 had three dramatic lead changes in a roller-coaster ride of an afternoon.
Pinder’s 360-foot blast in the seventh was the shortest of the 18 home runs in the series but was by far the most impactful. The three-run shot to right erased a 7-4 deficit and gave Oakland the momentum needed to see another game.
An anchor in the A’s clubhouse despite no defined position, Pinder was just hoping to get something in the air to capitalize on having runners on the corners and nobody out. Something to break through a barrier that kept the A’s from producing in this series when opportunities arrived.
To Pinder’s surprise, his opposite-field drive drifted just far enough to clear the right-field fence, beyond an outstretched Kyle Tucker’s glove, and keep the A’s alive.
Pinder thrives when he can calm himself in big moments. It helped that Marcus Semien and Tommy La Stella singled to set the table before Pinder stepped into the batter’s box.
But Pinder could still hear Laureano’s words.
“‘You struck a chord with me, man,” Pinder told his teammate after the win.
When Pinder later spoke in a video conference with reporters, the third baseman added, “I just got chills thinking about it. That was a pivotal moment for us, for sure. I just keep getting chills all over my body because that’s huge. We needed someone to step up.”
Until then, Oakland seemed destined for the short end of another round of Home Run Derby.
Game 3 started as the previous two games had, with the A’s taking an early lead. This one came courtesy of four solo home runs. La Stella started the slugfest with a 415-foot shot to center that put Oakland in front 1-0 in the first.
The Astros, the designated home team for the first time in the series, claimed the advantage in the bottom of the first. José Altuve hit a solo shot to tie the score and then, with runners on the corners, La Stella’s weak throw from second on a potential inning-ending double play made it 2-1.
The A’s feasted a little on Houston starter José Urquidy, who was hanging his breaking balls. Mark Canha, Matt Olson and Semien notched solo home runs to give the A’s a 4-2 edge.
Then, deflation.
A’s starter Jesús Luzardo had been rolling, getting ahead in counts and holding the Astros scoreless through three innings. Houston caught up to him in the fifth.
The rally started with a leadoff walk to Yuli Gurriel. Aledmys Diaz, who followed, worked back from an 0-2 count to drill a fastball over the left-field fence to tie the score 4-4.
With reliever Yusmeiro Petit summoned to the mound, Houston taught the A’s a lesson in hitting with runners in scoring position, stringing together four hits from the heart of the order for a 7-4 lead.
The fifth-inning rally was a snapshot of how the series had gone for the A’s: Petit allowed four earned runs in 21 2/3 innings during the regular season. Houston put up four against him in one inning this series, including three Wednesday.
It looked as if the bullpen couldn’t mask the offensive deficiencies much longer. The A’s had opportunities to bust the game open in their favor but failed.
After Semien’s home run in the fourth, Oakland loaded the bases with a walk and Pinder’s single — the A’s first single of the game. Khris Davis, batting cleanup for the first time since July, couldn’t get all of a fastball in the zone and flied out. After Olson walked to load the bases, Canha popped out to extinguish a prime opportunity.
But the A’s eventually found some magic.
Nine outs from elimination, it was only right that the steadiest hand right the A’s ship. Pinder’s return from a hamstring strain at the end of the regular season has been one of the more crucial comebacks of the year. The 28-year-old utility man’s made himself an irreplaceable leader with considerable pop in his bat and excellent defensive prowess despite never settling into a consistent role.
His two-run single in Game 3 of the wild-card series not only was the A’s only hit with runners in scoring position that series, but also provided the winning runs in the do-or-die game. His at-bats have been so good that manager Bob Melvin had to have him batting third these past two games.
“He’s getting a great opportunity right now and taking advantage of it in a time when usually you aren’t afforded these types of opportunities,” Melvin said. “I can’t say enough about him. He’s been fantastic.”
And as it turned out, Laureano even amped himself up. His first hit of the series was a bloop double that set up the go-ahead scoring opportunity in the eighth. The A’s pushed across two runs on a pair of sacrifice flies from Sean Murphy and Pinder.
Hendriks, who entered in the seventh with the score tied 7-7, had to whip out his “Hercu-Liam” alter ego to keep the Astros from adding to their run total.
He did just that.
After not throwing more than 30 pitches in any outing in the regular season, Hendriks threw 49 in Game 2 of the wild-card series and got the save in Game 3 of that series.
Wednesday, he escaped a game-tying threat in the eighth by striking out pinch hitter Josh Reddick on a 98 mph heater.
“He’s a guy that swings first pitch, especially against me,” Hendriks said.
Reddick broke his bat in frustration.
Hendriks finished off the game by retiring George Springer, Altuve and Michael Brantley in order in the ninth to complete a 37-pitch outing and a season-saving win.


mercurynews--2020-10-08--Second female Santa Cruz County jail guard accused of illegal inmate relations

SANTA CRUZ — A second Santa Cruz County corrections officer in nearly a month ’ s time has been arrested and accused of having illegal relations with an inmate .
Jenna Baldwin , 35 , was taken into custody around 6:30 p.m. Sunday and booked into the same facility where she is alleged to have committed her crimes .
Baldwin , who has since been released from custody , was initially held on suspicion of sexual activity with an inmate , assault by a public officer and bringing contraband into a detention facility .
Based on a tip related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Main Jail inmate , the department began investigating Baldwin in May , according to department spokeswoman Ashley Keehn .
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff ’ s Office hired Baldwin in 2008 .
She no longer works for the agency , according to an agency release .
• Police : California man stabs twin 9-year-old daughters to death before killing himself • Man arrested with child porn after exiting Hong Kong-San Francisco flight gets 5 years in federal prison • Hired to look after aging East Bay couple , caretaker allegedly stole more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disneyland trip , other expenses Similarly , in an unrelated investigation , 31-year-old county corrections officer Jessica Smith was arrested Sept. 3 on suspicion of sexual activity with an inmate , assault by a public officer and unauthorized computer access .
The internal investigation into Smith began in July and concluded that the guard had inappropriate relations with an incarcerated person serving their sentence through the Sheriff ’ s Supervised Release as part of the Custody Alternative Program .
Smith , initially placed on administrative leave pending the completion of an internal investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Office , Keehn said .
She has yet to answer one misdemeanor and two felony charges in the case , with an arraignment in Santa Cruz County Superior Court delayed until Tuesday .
“ These two cases are not related , they are being investigated separately , ” Keehn wrote in response to an emailed Sentinel inquiry .

SANTA CRUZ — A second Santa Cruz County corrections officer in nearly a month’s time has been arrested and accused of having illegal relations with an inmate.
Jenna Baldwin, 35, was taken into custody around 6:30 p.m. Sunday and booked into the same facility where she is alleged to have committed her crimes. Baldwin, who has since been released from custody, was initially held on suspicion of sexual activity with an inmate, assault by a public officer and bringing contraband into a detention facility.
Based on a tip related to an improper relationship with a Santa Cruz County Main Jail inmate, the department began investigating Baldwin in May, according to department spokeswoman Ashley Keehn.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office hired Baldwin in 2008. She no longer works for the agency, according to an agency release. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Man shot, killed by Colorado cop was holding a marker, not a weapon
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Similarly, in an unrelated investigation, 31-year-old county corrections officer Jessica Smith was arrested Sept. 3 on suspicion of sexual activity with an inmate, assault by a public officer and unauthorized computer access. The internal investigation into Smith began in July and concluded that the guard had inappropriate relations with an incarcerated person serving their sentence through the Sheriff’s Supervised Release as part of the Custody Alternative Program.
Smith, initially placed on administrative leave pending the completion of an internal investigation, no longer works for the Sheriff’s Office, Keehn said. She has yet to answer one misdemeanor and two felony charges in the case, with an arraignment in Santa Cruz County Superior Court delayed until Tuesday.
“These two cases are not related, they are being investigated separately,” Keehn wrote in response to an emailed Sentinel inquiry.