OAKLAND — A shooting in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood Saturday night left a man severely wounded, according to police.
The shooting occurred just before 7 p.m. Saturday evening in the 1700 block of Fruitvale Avenue, police officers stated.
The man who was wounded was transported to a local hospital and was reported to be in grave condition, according to Oakland police.
The shooting occurred after the man became involved in a confrontation with a group of men. One of the men involved in the confrontation shot the victim.
The victim was reported by police to be a man in his 30s and is believed to be an Oakland resident, police said. The victim’s name wasn’t released.
The motive for the shooting wasn’t immediately disclosed. No detailed information was immediately available regarding the suspect.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department detectives who are investigating the case at 510-238-3426.
The debate over renting vs. owning has long posed a challenge for households in California. Arguments have morphed in recent years as home prices and mortgage rates soared beyond the increasing rents. To illustrate the complexities, we’ve created a hypothetical rent vs. buy scenario to track housing finances over a 30-year period. However, the math doesn’t account for the intangibles: the flexibility of renting compared to the stability of owning.
HOW MONTHLY COSTS COMPARE
Key in any housing calculation is monthly cost. Our example estimates California house rent today at $4,000 a month vs. buying a $900,000 house with a 10% down mortgage at 6.5% plus property taxes, insurance, association fees, and repairs. The scenario assumes costs grow with historical inflation and the mortgage rate is lowered twice by a half-point through refinancing.
RUNNING THE TAB
Homeowners need to repay their mortgage plus cover a range of additional costs. So renting’s total costs run cheaper for nearly two decades. But owning ends up costing slightly less over time. Here’s cumulative costs by year, in thousands of dollars.
THE BOUNTY: Ownership’s edge
Owning’s true financial benefit arises from the increasing value of the home. Assuming historical gains of 5% per year, the owners gets a $3.8 million asset after 30 years. The renter, who hypothetically invested the $90,000 down payment in the stock market, would accumulate $929,000. Here’s investment value by year, in thousands of dollars.
WHERE IT GOES
Look at the slices of 30 years of housing expenditures, rent vs. own. The renter just pays the landlord. Owner costs go to principal and interest on the mortgage, property taxes, home insurance, association fees, and repair and maintenance costs. Note: Interest payments and property taxes can be tax deductible.
A HISTORY LESSON
Look at the past 30 years of historical returns for three key factors in this rent vs. buy calculation, using 10-year moving averages for rent (California Consumer Price Indexes); home values (federal California index) and stocks (Standard & Poor’s 500).
Unfathomable, unaffordable
California’s long-running and steep affordability crunch makes the rent vs. buy debate a moot argument for many people. Housing costs throttle numerous California family budgets. The state’s flock of high- paying jobs pushes up housing costs well past what more typical paychecks can easily afford. That’s true for households considering renting or buying.
Stagnant ownership
Stubbornly high ownership costs have kept California’s share of people living in homes they own relatively stable, except for a temporary surge in the early 2000s when mortgages were too easily obtained. Those risky loans played a key role in the Great Recession, as borrowers defaulted in huge numbers.
Housing afforability index
It’s tough to be a California homebuyer. The estimated number of Californians earning the statewide median income who could comfortably purchase a single-family home is falling sharply, according to a California Association of Realtors index. The Golden State share of qualified buyers is significantly below the national norm.
Housing-cost stresses
The 2024 edition of Census housing data details how California’s cost of shelter varies between renters and homeowners — with or without mortgages on the property.
But because renters typically earn less than owners, it’s more likely that their housing costs exceed 50% of their household incomes, an extreme level of financial stress.
Big housing worries
A statewide survey last year asked “How often do you worry about the cost of housing for you and your family?” Those who said “every day” or “almost every day” …
Between setting up a nursery and packing a go bag, some parents may find themselves stressing over what to name a new baby. Yes, there is Google and a plethora of baby name books at public libraries. But now, parents have the option of hiring a baby name consultant. Taylor Humphrey of Woodside, California, has been in the industry for a decade and has had a hand in naming thousands of babies. It all started on Instagram. Humphrey said she has had a “lifelong love of baby names,” which turned into posts on her grid exploring the etymology, numerology and spiritual meaning of names. She said expecting parents started sending her messages through the social media app.“It was happening so frequently that eventually I decided that I was going to turn this into a business,” Humphrey said. Her pricing starts at $1,500 and can run up to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on what parents are looking for. The base package includes a name report and several consultations over the phone or video call. “I work with parents who are currently trying to conceive, and they may be facing an IVF journey. I work with a lot of pregnant parents,” Humphrey said. “I’ve had a few frantic parents who are like, ‘We’re at the hospital and they’re not letting us leave. We’ve got to sign the birth certificate. What do we name our baby?’”Her clients are primarily wealthy families. Her reach extends from the Bay Area to Nebraska and even some international clients. Lauren Williams of Omaha, Nebraska, reached out to Humphrey a month before her son was due in 2023. She and her husband both had meaningful family names they were considering, but could not seem to come to an agreement on what to name their son. They thought Humphrey might be able to help them merge ideas. Humphrey did help them come up with some new name combinations as well as some names that were not already on their list, but were similar. Humphrey also told the Williams family to be patient in picking a name.“I think the most helpful or important thing that she told me in the long run was, ‘Do not name your baby until they are born and you see them.’ So, we went with that advice,” Williams said. The Nebraska parents ended up welcoming Carter Allen Williams into the world in September 2023. “Having her support has been important because otherwise it’s a really stressful decision,” Williams said. She and her husband are now expecting a baby girl in the next few weeks and have once again hired Humphrey to help them pick a name. “Generally speaking, I’m there to kind of mirror back to them and reflect what I hear them saying,” Humphrey said. “Names are so deeply personal, and they really are going to be your child’s legacy.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SAN FRANCISCO —
Between setting up a nursery and packing a go bag, some parents may find themselves stressing over what to name a new baby.
Yes, there is Google and a plethora of baby name books at public libraries. But now, parents have the option of hiring a baby name consultant. Taylor Humphrey of Woodside, California, has been in the industry for a decade and has had a hand in naming thousands of babies.
It all started on Instagram. Humphrey said she has had a “lifelong love of baby names,” which turned into posts on her grid exploring the etymology, numerology and spiritual meaning of names. She said expecting parents started sending her messages through the social media app.
“It was happening so frequently that eventually I decided that I was going to turn this into a business,” Humphrey said.
Her pricing starts at $1,500 and can run up to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on what parents are looking for. The base package includes a name report and several consultations over the phone or video call.
“I work with parents who are currently trying to conceive, and they may be facing an IVF journey. I work with a lot of pregnant parents,” Humphrey said. “I’ve had a few frantic parents who are like, ‘We’re at the hospital and they’re not letting us leave. We’ve got to sign the birth certificate. What do we name our baby?’”
Her clients are primarily wealthy families. Her reach extends from the Bay Area to Nebraska and even some international clients.
Lauren Williams of Omaha, Nebraska, reached out to Humphrey a month before her son was due in 2023. She and her husband both had meaningful family names they were considering, but could not seem to come to an agreement on what to name their son. They thought Humphrey might be able to help them merge ideas.
Humphrey did help them come up with some new name combinations as well as some names that were not already on their list, but were similar. Humphrey also told the Williams family to be patient in picking a name.
“I think the most helpful or important thing that she told me in the long run was, ‘Do not name your baby until they are born and you see them.’ So, we went with that advice,” Williams said.
The Nebraska parents ended up welcoming Carter Allen Williams into the world in September 2023.
“Having her support has been important because otherwise it’s a really stressful decision,” Williams said.
She and her husband are now expecting a baby girl in the next few weeks and have once again hired Humphrey to help them pick a name.
“Generally speaking, I’m there to kind of mirror back to them and reflect what I hear them saying,” Humphrey said. “Names are so deeply personal, and they really are going to be your child’s legacy.”
STANFORD — Walker Eget passed for 473 yards and three touchdowns, including a score early in the fourth quarter that gave San Jose State a 12-point lead, but the Spartans’ hopes of defeating Stanford for the second year in a row were dashed in a 30-29 loss on Saturday night at Stanford Stadium.
It was the third time in four games SJSU’s fate was decided in the final seconds. The Spartans (1-3) missed a pair of field goal attempts in the final 90 seconds of their season-opening 16-14 loss to Central Michigan, and held off Idaho 31-28 a week ago on Denis Lynch’s field goal as time expired.
San Jose State Spartans’ Leland Smith (1) catches a long pass against the Stanford Cardinal’s Collin Wright (6) in the first half of a football game at Statanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Saturday night, the Spartans allowed nine points in the final 5:54 in the Bill Walsh Legacy Game, including Stanford’s go-ahead touchdown with 19 seconds remaining.
SJSU led 29-21 on Lynch’s 31-yard field goal with 7:51 remaining and had a chance to hold off the Cardinal on the final drive. The Spartans had the Cardinal stalled near mid-field on 4th and 10, but allowed a 34-yard pass to keep the drive alive. Stanford’s go-ahead score came four plays later.
San Jose State had just enough time to run three plays but didn’t get beyond it’s own 46 yard line.
SJSU has a chance to defeat Stanford in back-to-back seasons for the first time since they won three three in a row from 1998-2000. The Spartans won 34-31 last year in San Jose.
Saturday night, SJSU almost entirely abandoned the run against Stanford, running just 12 designed run attempts for 32 yards. Eget had 19 yards on scrambles.
San Jose State Spartans’ Kyri Shoels (4) celebrates his touchdown with a teammate afteer scoring against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a football game at Statanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
The gameplan coming in was to attack the Cardinal secondary that has struggled against the pass and it allowed for the Spartans to have three receivers over 100 receiving yards: Danny Scudero (135 yards on 11 catches), Kyri Shoels (147 yards on 10 catches) and Leland Smith (101 yards on six catches).
Lynch, coming off his winning kick the previous week against Idaho, made his first two attempts against Stanford, but then missed attempts from 28 yards and 22 yards before converting his fourth-quarter kick.
The Spartans led 20-14 at halftime and had sacked Stanford quarterback Ben Gulbranson four times by intermission, but were unable to stop the Cardinal from scoring on its final three drives of the game. Gulbranson passed for 444 yards and two touchdowns.
The Spartans open Mountain West play on Friday night against New Mexico (3-1, 0-0 MW) at CEFCU Stadium.
“Whose idea was it to put me on after Gregory Porter?” remarked the gifted bassist, who was following the remarkable vocalist on the festival’s big Jimmy Lyons Stage on Friday at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. “I remember one time going on after Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. It was wrong. It did not end well for me.”
Indeed, Porter was a tough act to follow, as he delighted the audience at this outdoor stage with a 75-minute set that was full of dynamic vocal work, winning personality and, in general, numerous reasons why this Sacramento-born artist — who was raised in Bakersfield — is considered one of the best in the game.
Porter’s high-flying set, no doubt, will be the one the most people will be talking about from Day 1 of the festival. Yet, McBride — one of the top instrumentalists and band leaders in all of jazz today — also delivered the goods during his own 75-minute set with his versatile band Ursa Major.
And, really, each of those great acts accounted for just two of a number of reasons why the 68th annual Monterey Jazz Festival — which was co-founded by music critic Ralph J. Gleason and radio DJ Jimmy Lyons in 1958 — got off to such a good start. Other artists that delivered winning Day 1 performances included saxophonist-vocalist Grace Kelly and Latin jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez.
Yet, we should be clear upfront about one thing:
Monterey Jazz remains, however, a festival in transition.
It’s still recovering from its pandemic woes and trying to find its footing in the post Tim Jackson-era, after the longtime artistic director stepped down from his position following the 2023 festival. Jackson’s position was quickly filled by acclaimed composer Darin Atwater, but that tenure proved to be very brief — with Atwater and Monterey Jazz parting ways after just one festival (2024).
Bruce Labadie, an extremely savvy booker known for his work with San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, the Mountain Winery, Villa Montalvo and too many other Bay Area arts organizations to mention, has since stepped in as interim artistic director and has done a superb job with what he’s had to work with.
Yet, that hasn’t stopped people from noting — and complaining — that the 2025 edition is a downsized version of the festival, with fewer sets of live music, fewer stages and fewer marquee names on the bill than what fans were accustomed to seeing prior to the pandemic.
And while all of that is true, it certainly hasn’t stopped both fans and artists from enjoying being back in Monterey.
“I love how y’all get down at the Monterey Jazz Festival,” remarked Grace Kelly, looking out at the crowd midway through her energetic set on the Dizzy’s Den stage on Day 1. “We’ve got people in cowboy hats dancing in the aisles”
Growing up as a musical prodigy, the 33-year-old artist has certainly performed at some impressive venues and big occasions over her still-young career. For starters, she performed at 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama at age 16 and as a soloist with the Boston Pops — playing an original composition — at just 14. Since then, she’s played the Hollywood Bowl, spent time as a member of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” house band and released more than a dozen albums.
Yet, she was still thrilled to be making her debut in Monterey — at the longest continuously run jazz festival in the world — on Friday.
“Thank you everyone for coming out,” said Kelly, who proved to be an equally entertaining vocalist, saxophonist and frontwoman during her Monterey Jazz set. “It’s the start of a great weekend.”
Opening day would reach its crescendo — as McBride alluded to — with the performance by Porter, who was opening the festival’s main arena stage for this 68th edition.
Porter sounded brilliant as he melded jazz, pop, R&B, Motown and gospel into his own distinct vocal approach — one that has twice won him a Grammy in the best jazz vocal album category. He’d highlight both of those winning albums (2013’s “Liquid Spirit” and 2016’s “Take Me to the Alley”) during his set, while also taking time to tell stories and joke around with the crowd.
“It’s wonderful to look out on this crowd and see so much wisdom,” Porter said to a mixture of groans and guffaws from the crowd. “Hey, nobody is calling you old.”
The 2025 Monterey Jazz Festival is set to continue through Sunday. Fans can expect to see performances by supremely talented vocalists Ledisi and Dianne Reeves, as well as bluesmen J.C. Smith and Mr. Sipp, on Saturday. Sunday’s expected highlights include New Orleans favorites Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Latin jazz great Pete Escovedo.
Records: Cal 3-1 overall, 0-0 in ACC; Boston College 1-2 overall, 0-1 in ACC
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA
TV: ACC Network
Radio: 810 AM
Series history: Boston College leads 1-0. The Eagles won 21-15 at home in Cal’s 1986 season opener.
Cal storylines: Playing their ACC opener, the Bears hit the road for the second week in a row and make the first of three cross-country treks for conference games. They play at Virginia Tech on Oct. 24, at Louisville on Nov. 8 . . . Coach Justin Wilcox said the Bears he could make lineup changes, especially on the offensive and wide receiver . . . Linebackers Cade Uluave (8.5) and Luke Ferrelli (8.3) are the sixth- and seventh- leading tacklers, respectively, in the ACC . . . Starting safety Isaiah Crosby, starting edge Ryan McCulloch and kicker Abram Murray are listed as out on the ACC’s availability report.
Boston College storylines: The Eagles are Cal’s second straight opponent coming off a bye. They lost 30-20 at Stanford in their most recent game . . . Second-year coach Bill O’Brien is 8-8 at BC, but 7-1 at home. He was 15-9 in two seasons (2012-13) as head coach at Penn State before posting a record of 54-48 over six-plus seasons (2014-20) with the NFL’s Houston Texans . . . The Eagles lead the nation in passing yards (393.7 per game), with Alabama transfer and redshirt sophomore Dylan Lonergan quarterback throwing for 330.3 yards per outing to go with nine touchdowns and just one interception. Lonergan’s favorite targets are WR Lewis Bond (NCAA-leading 9.67 receptions per game) and tight end Jeremiah Franklin . . . BC will play without injured starting CBs Syair Torrence and Amari Jackson and LB Dave Crouch is questionable.
Stats that matter: Cal’s 34-0 loss at San Diego State marked the first time in first-year offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin’s 18 seasons as a head coach or OC — spanning 218 games — that his team suffered a shutout defeat . . . BC is fourth in the ACC in scoring offense (42.0 points) and Cal is fourth in scoring defense (16.5) .. . The Bears (105.3 yards) and BC (73.3) rank second-to-last and last in the ACC in rushing yards per game.
SAN FRANCISCO — In his first season as a San Francisco Giant, shortstop Willy Adames has been named the 2025 Willie Mac Award winner.
Since its inception in 1980, the Willie Mac Award, named after Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, goes to the most inspirational Giant in a given season. The award is voted on by players, coaches, fans, training staff and clubhouse staff.
The past winners who were in attendance on Friday included third baseman Matt Chapman (2024), designated hitter/first baseman Wilmer Flores (2022) and former catcher and current president of baseball operations Buster Posey (2012).
“He’s the same guy every day,” said manager Bob Melvin. “He loves playing baseball. Even now, he doesn’t want days off. He wants to keep playing. It’s enthusiasm, it’s support for his teammates, it’s energetic, it’s every day — almost as advertised from what I’ve heard before (he signed).
“And now you look up and you see the numbers, too, the numbers are there as well after a slow start, which can be difficult in a new place. I’m very impressed with Willy Adames.”
Entering Friday, Adames led all Giants in FanGraphs’ WAR (3.7). Over a team-high 157 games, Adames was hitting .225/.318/.415 with 28 home runs, 84 RBIs, 91 runs scored and 12 steals.
Adames had a rocky start to his tenure in San Francisco after signing a seven-year, $182 million deal this offseason, the largest contract in franchise history at the time. By the end of May, Adames’ .620 OPS was the lowest mark among the Giants’ qualified hitters. Adames also rated out as a below-average defender as well, worth -3 outs above average through two months.
The turning point of Adames’ season arrived in early June. On June 8, Adames was given his first off day of the season. On June 9, Adames spent the Giants’ team off day meditating in the mountains of Colorado, which “made me go back to my roots.”
“That (day) put me in a better spot mentally. Since that day, I was like, ‘Just be yourself,’ ” Adames said. “It’s been better. It’s been going in the right direction even though we haven’t been playing the best ball as a team. We’re moving forward.”
Adames has been one of the best players in baseball since receiving that mental respite. Since June 10, Adames ranks 10th among all players in the majors in FanGraphs’ WAR, posting an .840 OPS with 23 homers and 58 RBIs during that span.
The 30-year-old shortstop entered Friday two homers away from becoming the first Giant to hit 30 homers in a single season since Barry Bonds in 2004. His 28 home runs as a shortstop are the second-most in the majors, trailing only the New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor (31).
“He took it hard that the offensive numbers weren’t there early on, but again, he’s picked it up and he’s on the verge of hitting 30 homers,” Melvin said.
After Starbucks announced it would be shutting hundreds of stores, its website is listing dozens in the Bay Area as being closed as of Sunday, Sept. 28.
To check if a store is on the closure list, go to the Starbucks store locator online, find your desired outlet and click the information icon to check whether it will be open beyond this week.
As of Sept. 26, the following stores were slated for a Sept. 28 closure:
MORGAN HILL — Two Colombian nationals were arrested Wednesday morning on suspicion of stalking a woman in Morgan Hill, police said.
On Tuesday, the victim called police to report a man had knocked on the door to her home around 8:10 a.m. and then tried to force open a side gate, according to the Morgan Hill Police Department. He was not successful and walked away from the area.
Surveillance cameras at the victim’s residence were knocked out during the incident, leading the victim to believe the suspect had used a Wi-Fi jammer, police said.
Just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, the same victim called police to report she was being followed by a white Chevrolet sedan that had been parked outside her home, according to police. Officers stopped the car and detained both occupants without incident.
The passenger was identified as the same man from Tuesday’s incident, police said. Both he and the driver were arrested and booked into Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of criminal conspiracy, stalking, prowling, vandalism and providing a false name.
The investigation “remains active and ongoing,” police said.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Sgt. Sean Bayard at 408-607-3032 or sean.bayard@morganhill.ca.gov.
Anime fans can identify the signs of a shonen show. “Shonen” is a genre that’s geared toward boys and has a wide-eyed male protagonists who gain a surprising power. That’s echoed in shows such as “My Hero Academia” or “One Piece.” It’s a formula that’s perfect for video games, and it’s one that’s in the DNA of the “Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection.”
The upcoming title brings the action-role playing series to a new generation of fans. The “Star Force” series is a follow-up to the “Mega Man Battle Network” franchise, but those unfamiliar with either can jump in without knowledge of the prior entries.
ADVENTURES AWAIT The games follow the adventure of Geo Stelar and his EM ally, Omega Xis, as they battle threats to the planet. These enemies come in the form of EM viruses and other alien entities that exist in an invisible world that can only been seen using a device a called Visualizer.
Like the previous entries, the “Star Force” series maintains its mix of card-based gameplay, in which players choose a card from a series to use as attacks, and employs them in a 3-by-5 grid, in which players move left to right blasting at enemies while using their card abilities. It’s an approach that will be novel for beginners but will be old hat to veterans of the “Mega Man Battle Network” games.
Players battle on a 3 by 5 grid in the “Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection” games. (Capcom)
IMPROVEMENTS From what I’ve played, the visuals look drastically improved compared to the original Nintendo DS version, with sharper sprites and art. The graphics hold up while the gameplay is novel for those who haven’t tried a “Mega Man Battle Network” game. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try the online component, which was a key feature of the Nintendo DS games.
The major element making the game more accessible is that the “Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection” has all the shonen tropes that will make it easy to jump into. The formula makes it predictable, but it will hit the spot for gamers looking for an anime experience that will last through a three-game package: the original “Mega Man Star Force” which comes in three variations a la “Pokemon” — “Pegasus,” “Leo” and “Dragon;” “Mega Man Star Force 2,” which has two variations — “Zerker x Ninja” and “Zerker x Saurian” and “Mega Man Star Force 3,” which has two variations — “Black Ace” and “Red Joker.”
“Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection” is scheduled to be released in 2026 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One and PC.
OAKLAND – A three-alarm blaze broke out Wednesday night at a home in East Oakland, according to fire officials.
The fire was first reported around 9:10 p.m. in the 2100 block of 34th Avenue, the Oakland Fire Department said in social media post.
About 55 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and keep it from spreading to nearby homes. The blaze was placed under control at 9:37 p.m., according to fire officials.
EAST PALO ALTO – A private East Palo Alto school was locked down and searched Tuesday after a caller threatened to “shoot up” the campus, according to authorities.
The East Palo Alto Police Department said it received the call at 2:30 p.m. and immediately dispatched officers to The Primary School in the 2000 block of Clarke Avenue.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the school was secured and searched,” police said. “Once the area was deemed safe, children were safely released to their parents.”
No injuries were reported.
The incident is under investigation, police said. No arrests were announced Tuesday.
The Primary School is a private, tuition-free school developed in partnership with community organizations and health care providers, according to its website. It is funded through the California State Preschool Program and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-321-1112.
BRENTWOOD – A student was arrested on suspicion of bringing a gun to school Tuesday in Brentwood, police said.
Around 8:15 a.m., staff members at Adams Middle School were alerted to a report of a student with a firearm concealed in their backpack, the Brentwood Police Department said in a news release.
Staff members contacted the police department and a school resource officer was dispatched to the campus.
An investigation determined the firearm was real, police said. The student was arrested and taken to juvenile hall.
Police said they are working closely with the school, the Brentwood Union School District and the student’s parents to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We take any report of a weapon on campus extremely seriously and are thankful for the students who reported their concerns, along with the swift response from school staff,” police said.
“Based on our investigation, this is an isolated incident,” police added.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 925-809-7911.
By PAUL WISEMAN, BARBARA ORTUTAY and PIYUSH NAGPAL, Associated Press
The Trump administration’s abrupt decision to slap a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas has stunned and confused employers, students and workers from the United States to India and beyond.
Since announcing the decision Friday, the White House has tried to reassure jittery companies that the fee does not apply to existing visa holders and that their H-1B employees traveling abroad will not be stranded, unable to re-enter the United States without coming up with $100,000. The new policy took effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Sunday.
Despite the effort at reassurance, “there’s still some folks out there recommending to their H-1B employees that they not travel right now until it’s a little clearer,” Leon Rodriguez, a partner at the Seyfarth law firm who was director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Obama administration.
Other questions remain, some of them basic. “What actually is the process for paying this $100,000,” Rodriguez said. “Usually, when an agency is going to charge a fee, there’s a whole process. There’s the creation of forms for collecting that fee. … At this point, we don’t actually know what that process will be like.”
“Key questions remain, such as whether the new fee will apply to universities and nonprofit research organizations, employers that Congress has exempted from the annual limit on H-1B visas,” said Bo Cooper, partner at the immigration law firm Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy.
Here’s a look at what the H-1B visa program is and what the Trump administration is doing to it.
What are H-1B visas and who uses them?
Created by the 1990 Immigration Act, they are type of nonimmigrant visa, meant to allow American companies to bring in people with technical skills that are hard to find in the United States. The visas are not intended for people who want to stay permanently. Some eventually do, but only after transitioning to different immigration statuses.
An H-1B allows employers to hire foreign workers who have specialized skills and a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent. They are good for three years and can be extended another three years, suggesting that there are now “around 700,000 H-1B visa holders in the country and another half a million or so dependents,” economist Stephen Brown of Capital Economics wrote in a commentary Monday.
At least 60% of the H-1B visas approved since 2012 have been for computer-related jobs, according to the Pew Research Center. But hospitals, banks, universities and a wide range of other employers can and do apply for H-1B visas.
The number of new visas issued annually is capped at 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for people with a master’s degree or higher. Those visas are handed out by a lottery. Some employers, such as universities and nonprofits, are exempt from the limits.
According to Pew, nearly three-quarters of those whose applications were approved in 2023 came from India.
What did Trump do?
The White House announced the $100,000 fee. The application fee is currently $215, plus other relatively nominal processing charges. It took effect barely 24 hours later.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the fee would be applied annually, for a total of $600,000 over the maximum number of renewals allowed. The White House clarified Saturday that it was a one-time fee and said it would not apply to current visa holders.
Trump also rolled out a $1 million “gold card” visa for wealthy individuals.
The moves are certain to draw lawsuits charging that the president was improperly sidestepping Congress with a dramatic overhaul of the legal immigration system.
Why target H-1B visas?
Critics say they undercut American workers, luring people from overseas who are often willing to work for less than American tech workers do. Staffing companies such as Tata Consultancy Services often supply Indian workers to corporate clients.
“To take advantage of artificially low labor costs incentivized by the program, companies close their IT divisions, fire their American staff, and outsource IT jobs to lower-paid foreign workers,” the White House said in its proclamation Friday.
In a 2020 report, the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute found that 60% of the H-1B positions certified by U.S. Labor Department are assigned wages below the median for the job.
Brown at Capital Economics wrote that “it is hard to disagree with the administration’s argument that the program needs reform.”
Giovanni Peri, director of the Global Migration Center at the University of California, Davis, said that abuses of the program — such as bringing in mid-level coders to replace higher-paid Americans — do occur but are relatively rare.
Most H-1B visa holders, he said, really are highly skilled workers who are hard to find. “Most of these people come in, and they have helped the productivity of firms; they have helped innovation,” Peri said. “They have complemented the work of Americans, and they have allowed growth.’’
What impact will the H-1B crackdown have?
Brown said that many tech firms can probably afford to pay $100,000 to bring in skilled workers.
“Nonetheless,″ he wrote, “the upfront fee will clearly be too high for many companies to stomach. Last year, the healthcare, retail and accommodation & food services sectors accounted for a quarter of H-1B visas between them, and firms in those sectors will probably find it harder to afford the fee.″
The higher fee — along with other Trump administration attempts to curb immigration — is likely to reduce the U.S. labor supply and push wages higher, Brown said.
Foreign workers like Alan Wu are worried – and stunned by the speed with which Trump disrupted the H-1B process. “Can you release some policy which impacts tons of people just like that?” said Wu, who is working in Indianapolis as a data scientist for a pharmaceutical company.
He is working legally on his student visa after earning a doctorate. He’s failed to win the H-1B lottery for two consecutive years. And he’s now rethinking his plan to live permanently in the United States, where he’s lived for more than a decade. “I am definitely concerned about my job now that the cost and risk of hiring a foreigner is so high,” he said.
Navneet Singh, who runs a consultancy “Go Global Immigration” in India’s Punjab state, said changes to H-1B visa policies are likely to significantly impact future migration to the U.S., particularly from India.
“Trump is trying to suffocate new immigrants who are skilled, so that they won’t take the jobs away from the average American. But by doing so, they will be making (U.S.) production expensive,” Singh said.
He said the new policy is likely to create advantages for competitors in other countries. “Countries like France, Netherlands, Germany and Canada are set to gain from this move,” he added.
Some Indian students aspiring to pursue higher studies in the U.S. are disappointed. “It feels like a door closing,” said one aspiring student who requested anonymity.
What businesses will be hurt the most?
Greg Morrisett, dean and vice provost at Cornell Tech, said startups and small businesses are likely to be the most affected by the fees since there’s “no way they can” pay them. Cornell Tech, for instance, has launched about 120 startups and the “vast majority” have students coming from overseas. The result? “They’ll pick up and move to Europe or Asia, wherever they can find,” he said.
“The big tech companies will likely move a lot of operations and things into other countries. We saw this when, for example, you know, Ireland made it really attractive from a tax perspective. All of a sudden all the headquarters move to Ireland,” Morrisett said.
And startups, he added, “the next Amazon, the next Google will give up here and go somewhere else and then we won’t have that advantage in the next generation of tech leadership.”
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Barbara Ortutay reported from Oakland, California, and Piyush Nagpal from New Delhi, India.
Justin Verlander allowed six runs (four earned) on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings as the Giants (77-80) lost 6-5 to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night at Oracle Park, falling 3.5 games behind the Mets and Reds for the final NL wild card spot with five games remaining.
San Francisco can be mathematically eliminated on Tuesday if they lose and the Mets win. New York currently owns an 80-76 record and is tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the third and final NL wild card spot. If the Giants lose on Tuesday, the best they could finish 81-81. If San Francisco and New York both finish with 81 wins, the Mets own the tiebreaker after taking four of six games.
For Verlander, this outing was a departure from his recent run of excellence. Over his last five starts entering play, Verlander allowed just three runs over 31 innings (0.87 ERA) with 28 strikeouts. When Verlander faced the Cardinals earlier this month, he tossed six shutout innings with six strikeouts to no walks in a no decision.
Verlander’s four-seam fastball velocity was noticeably down against the Cardinals. On the season, Verlander’s average four-seam clocks in at 94.0 mph. On Monday, Verlander was down to 92.3 mph. Melvin said the 42-year-old might be “a little bit on fumes right now,” and Verlander agreed that he felt “a little lethargic on the mound.”
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Justin Verlander #35 rubs up a new ball after giving up a two-run home run to St. Louis Cardinals’ Iván Herrera, #48 scoring Lars Nootbaar #21 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
“We’ve been cracking the whip pretty hard,” Verlander said. “It’s been that time of the year. That takes its toll. Generally, I’ve been feeling pretty good. This is the first one where I felt like I was a little lethargic. Just have to make sure I focus on my recovery this next time through and hopefully refresh.”
Verlander added: “Today, for whatever reason, went out to the bullpen and started doing my stuff and just kind of feel like you’re moving underwater a little bit. It just doesn’t feel as fresh as it does sometimes. It’s not the only time that ever happens. It’s one of those things you go out there and try to grind and make the best of it. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen for me today.”
Verlander would be in line to start against the Colorado Rockies in the final series of the year, and the right-hander said he would want to make a start regardless of whether the Giants are still in contention.
“As long as I feel okay physically — which I have,” Verlander said. “It’s my job.”
Heliot Ramos began the scoring in the bottom of the first with his fifth leadoff home run of the season, joining Bobby Bonds as the only right-handed hitter in Giants franchise history to have at least five leadoff homers in a single season. Rafael Devers also hit his 33rd home run of the season, a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.
San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos #17 gestures as he crosses the plate after hitting a solo home run off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy #36 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The Cardinals scored a run apiece in the third and fourth following Ramos’ homer, but the Giants scored three runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead on an RBI single from Patrick Bailey and a two-run single from Ramos. St. Louis responded to San Francisco’s three-run fourth with a four-run fifth, knocking Verlander out of the game in the process.
Two of those runs were the product of Iván Herrera’s two-run shot that landed in the Giants’ bullpen. The two other runs followed an error by second baseman Casey Schmitt, who fumbled the transfer on a softly-hit grounder from Pedro Pagés with the infield in and a runner on third.
If Schmitt made the throw and recorded the out at the plate, Verlander would’ve had an opportunity to finish the fifth inning. Instead, Melvin went to his bullpen and Verlander’s night was over.
“I’ll tell you what, he still competes,” Melvin said. “He’s on his way to potentially pitching his way out of that inning. We ended up making an error, and at that point in time, it was time to go get him with the pitches he had. You could see he was ratcheting it up another level like we’ve seen him a bunch here, and then unfortunately, we let a run in.”
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman #26 tags out St. Louis Cardinals’ Thomas Saggese #25 as he gets caught in a rundown in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos #17 gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy #36 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy #36 throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants left fielder Heliot Ramos #17 and center fielder Drew Gilbert #61 chase down an RBI single hit by St. Louis Cardinals’ Alec Burleson #41 in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
St. Louis Cardinals’ Jordan Walker #18 is congratulated by Victor Scott II #11 after scoring on an RBI double by José Fermín #15 in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
St. Louis Cardinals’ Jordan Walker #18 is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring on an RBI double by José Fermín #15 in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt #10 hits a single off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy #36 in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman #26 heads to third base after a single by Casey Schmitt #10 in the fourth inning of their MLB game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Jerar Encarnacion #59 strikes out against St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy #36 in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey #14 scores past St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés #43 on an RBI single by Heliot Ramos #17 in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos #17 scrambles back to first base in the fourth inning of their MLB game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
St. Louis Cardinals’ Iván Herrera #48 celebrates his two-run home run off San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Justin Verlander #35 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Justin Verlander #35 leaves the game in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
St. Louis Cardinals’ Iván Herrera #48 is congratulated by Alec Burleson #41 after hitting a two-run home run off San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Justin Verlander #35 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
St. Louis Cardinals’ Iván Herrera #48 celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Justin Verlander #35 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers #16 tosses his bat as he watches the flight of his solo home run off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy #36 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers #16 bat as he celebrates his solo home run off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy #36 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey #14 tries to get to the bag after stretching a single as St. Louis Cardinals second baseman José Fermín #15 makes the play the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. Bailey was out on the play. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tristan Beck #43 throws against the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Bryce Eldridge #78 heads to first base after being walked by St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Kyle Leahy #62 in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman José Fermín #15 makes the play to first base to throw out San Francisco Giants’ Jerar Encarnacion #59 in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher JoJo Romero #59 and St. Louis Cardinals’ catcher Pedro Pagés #43 celebrate their 6-5 MLB win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
St. Louis Cardinals lef fielder Lars Nootbaar, #21 center fielder Victor Scott II #11and right fielder Jordan Walker #18 celebrate their 6-5 MLB win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman José Fermín #15 relief pitcher JoJo Romero, #59 catcher Pedro Pagés #43 and Thomas Saggese #25 celebrate their 6-5 MLB win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
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San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman #26 tags out St. Louis Cardinals’ Thomas Saggese #25 as he gets caught in a rundown in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Chanting “no new taxes” in front of the Santa Clara County Government Center on Monday, a small coalition of residents spoke out against Measure A — a proposed five-eighths-of-a-cent sales tax increase to counteract the estimated billion dollars annually in lost federal revenue to the county.
Santa Clara County voters will decide on Nov. 4 whether to approve the general sales tax, which county officials say is critical to preserving access to health care and other services that largely rely on revenues from Medicaid. In July, Republicans in Congress cut one trillion dollars from the federally funded health insurance program over the next decade via the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” One in four residents in the county rely on Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California.
But the coalition, which is led by former Saratoga Councilmember Rishi Kumar, argues that taxes already are too high and that an increase to the sales tax rate would hurt seniors and families. The local sales tax rate is currently 9.125% countywide, and the 0.625% increase would put Campbell, Milpitas and San Jose at a 10% sales tax rate or higher. County officials, though, say the sales tax would sunset after five years.
Kumar, who is also running for county assessor this November, criticized the county for buying “private hospitals that were bleeding red” in recent years.
“We are no longer a county operation, we are a healthcare operation that is actually running a county,” Kumar said. “That’s not justified at all.”
Santa Clara County has the second-largest county-owned health care system in the state, operating four hospitals and 15 clinics. The county most recently purchased Regional Medical Center in East San Jose after its former owner, HCA Healthcare, announced it would close the hospital’s trauma center — a move that would have left much of the East Side without access to lifesaving care.
County Executive James Williams said in a statement that Santa Clara Valley Healthcare operates two of three trauma centers in the county and handles 80% of all trauma cases.
“Our hospital and health care system is under direct threat because of the federal government’s actions to cut funding for public hospitals and strip access to care for thousands of patients” he said. “County governments are charged with taking care of people, and our residents rely on the county’s system of emergency and specialized care, which saves lives and keeps our community healthy and safe.”
Instead of raising taxes, Kumar is calling on the county to audit its spending.
“We need to apply some of the corporate efficiency to Santa Clara County,” he said.
Dan Stegnik, the secretary for the No on Measure A campaign, said the proposed tax increase comes at a time when families are forced to choose between buying groceries or filling their car with gas.
He also is worried about how the money from the tax hike — estimated to be $330 million annually — will be spent. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve a spending plan for the revenue at a later date, though a large chunk is expected to go toward health care-related expenses.
“It’s a general tax, not a dedicated tax,” Stegnik said. “The money isn’t allocated to anything and can be used for any purpose including building buildings and even buying cars.”
Several current and former elected officials who were not in attendance at Monday’s press conference also signed onto the coalition to oppose the measure, including Cupertino Mayor Liang Chao, former Assemblymember Kansen Chu, former Palo Alto Mayor Lydia Kou, and former Monte Sereno mayors Liz Lawler and Rowena Turner.
Chao in a statement said that almost every current and former mayor in the county that she’s spoken with agrees that sales tax revenues are not the right way to fund local hospitals. The increase, she said, is also unfair to some communities — like those living in the El Camino Healthcare District — whose property taxes go in part to support the hospital.
“In just a decade, the county’s health spending has more than doubled, from $2.2 billion to over $6.1 billion,” she said. “By contrast, Los Angeles County — with five times the population — spends about $14 billion, far less per person. Until Santa Clara County provides a credible, sustainable plan, it is not right to ask residents to throw more money into a broken system.”
DEAR JOAN: We live in an urban area of San Jose, and sometimes at night hear the hooting of an owl of some sort. Recently we heard that repeated hooting, but interspersed with a call that I can only describe as more like a peacock!
Several hoots, followed by a sort of “waahh” then more hoots. I checked on Bird.net, which told me it’s a great horned owl and that females can make more unusual calls such as the one we heard. Is that true? And, we didn’t know that great horned owls live in urban areas!
— Malcolm Smith, San Jose
DEAR MALCOLM: That’s absolutely true. Great horned owls don’t have the repertoire of a song bird, but they do have some range.
The call of the great horned owl is described as hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo, and the female will often add in a one syllable call that is more guttural.
Young owls make a high-pitched demanding squawk when telling their parents they’re hungry. When angry or threatened, the owls make a rapid clicking sound with their beaks.
We have all sorts of wildlife living largely unnoticed in our suburban jungle, which is why it’s important to not do things that might harm them.
DEAR JOAN: One of our cats is a challenge to pill and I have found a different solution that works for us. We have a pill syringe.
We place a pill in the syringe and open our cat’s mouth and with the syringe shoot the pill to the back of the mouth. If you get the pill past the hump of the tongue, the cat has to swallow the pill. The plus to this method is you can’t accidentally put your fingers between the cat’s teeth.
— Scott Gerken, Bay Area
DEAR SCOTT: I’m all for avoiding a cat’s teeth. Thanks for the tip.
DEAR JOAN: Your recent column on a cat not willing to allow flea medication resonated with me.
I needed to figure out a way to trim my cat’s claws without taking her to the vet every time. My cat loves wet food so I put her food into her bowl and immediately grab the trimmer and get to work. I pick up each paw, separate the toes and nip off the sharp ends.
I had to acclimate her to this by rubbing her toes while she scarfed her tasty food. I then started gently getting the trimmer near the claws until I had success. It took about a week but now it’s pretty easy to do.
The wary cat in your column might also benefit from having very tasty kibbles while “mom” gently rubs the spot where flea medication will eventually be applied.
— Celia (and Mimi the cat), Santa Cruz
DEAR CELIA AND MIMI: What a great tip. Thank you.
DEAR JOAN: My technique with my dog is to grind the pill with a mortar and pestle until it is broken down, like fine sand. Then I mix it into wet pet food really well. Usually works really well.
— Steve Kessler, Bay Area
DEAR STEVE: Excellent idea, although I’d check with my vet to see that it’s OK to do that. Some medications are supposed to be given whole.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
SAN JOSE — Racheal Kundananji scored in the second half to pull Bay FC into a 1-1 draw with Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League on Sunday night.
Bay (4-10-7) earned its second straight draw but has not won since June 7 and remained below the playoff line. Gotham (8-6-7) is unbeaten in its last five league matches and is third in the league standings.
“An excellent game from us today, a little unfortunate that we didn’t get a goal there at the end,” said Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya, who earlier this month announced he’ll resign at season’s end. “But I thought it was an exciting game on both halves. Just [am] proud of the team, they came out with so much desire and fight.”
Esther Gonzalez fed a short pass to Rose Lavelle who sent the ball to the opposite post to put Gotham up in the 36th minute at PayPal Park.
Kundananji tied it for Bay in the 68th with a smash from atop the box that arced up before falling into the side netting.
Bay FC defender Brooklyn Courtnall celebrated a career milestone in the match as she made the first start of her young career. The University of Southern California product made her club debut in last week’s match at Orlando, and made four appearances off the bench for the North Carolina Courage this season prior to joining Bay FC on loan last month.
Jaedyn Shaw made her first start for Gotham, a week after she made her debut and scored in a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Wave. Shaw was acquired earlier this month from the North Carolina Courage for an NWSL record $1.25 million in intraleague transfer funds.
Bay FC plays its second straight home match next Saturday when the Utah Royals visit PayPal Park.
“The most important day of the year is going to be Monday and what everybody looks like walking through that door,” he said.
The team’s three double-digit victories to start the season were swallowed up by a flood of disappointing play Saturday night in front of 31,369 fans at Snapdragon Stadium.
While Wilcox praised the Aztecs (2-1), he couldn’t have been more critical of the Bears (3-1).
“Our level of detail, the fundamentals, the execution was very, very poor, obviously. We’ve got to learn a lot,” he said. “You don’t get to just wipe it and forget it. You also can’t wallow in your own self-pity.”
It added up to Cal being shut out for the first time since a 35-0 loss at No. 12 Utah on Oct. 26, 2019 when injuries forced the Bears to start a third-string quarterback who’d never played in a college game. It hadn’t happened in a non-conference game since a 45-0 road loss to No. 5 Nebraska on Sept. 11, 1999.
The Bears trailed 13-0 at halftime, then allowed the Aztecs to score a pair of defensive touchdowns in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
“We’re going to own it,” linebacker Cade Uluave said. “We got punched in the mouth — that’s obvious. We’re going to reflect, get better, hit the reset button and get going again.”
Next up is a road trip to Boston College on Saturday to open the ACC schedule. There are bolts that need tightening before then.
Frederick Williams III #54 of California looks on as Aug. Salvati #56 and Jared Badie #31 of San Diego State celebrate after a stop during their game at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Too many mistakes
The Bears committed ill-timed penalties, including one that erased an interception by safety Isaiah Crosby in the end zone, and back-to-back false starts to push the offense just out of field goal range.
There was much more.
“We played very poorly,” Wilcox said. “You can’t turn the ball over, we had penalties, drops, missed tackles, special teams. All losses are awful. I don’t know how to rank a loss. They’re all terrible. We have to do something about it.”
Coming off a 27-14 win over Minnesota, the shortcomings in this one perhaps felt worse, Wilcox suggested, because “we have shown we can play much better than that.”
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele #3 of the California Golden Bears tries to get a pass off under pressure from the San Diego State Aztecs defense during the first half of a game at Snapdragon Stadium on Sept. 20, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Freshman QB has first setback
Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who played beyond his years the first three games, looked very much like a 19-year-old freshman in this one. He completed seven of his first eight passes, before he was late with a fourth-down pass to tight end Landon Morris in the back of the end zone, an incompletion that prevented the Bears from scoring to cap a 19-play drive on their first possession.
After his sharp beginning, Sagapolutele was just 10 for 30 the rest of the game, including interceptions on consecutive passes in the third quarter, one of them a 97-yard pick-six.
“Everything starts with me. I didn’t come out firing, wasn’t hitting the throws I needed to hit. I wasn’t doing my job,” said Sagapolutele, who repeatedly blamed himself for the defeat. “We’ve just got to attack practice harder, take it day by day. It’s going to be a big one for us to learn from. We’re a better team than we were today.”
Wilcox wouldn’t let Sagapolutele shoulder all the responsibility.
“He’s a very talented young man. We have to help him,” Wilcox said. “There will be a lot of lessons to learn for Jaron, and a lot of other guys. Not just Jaron.”
Said Uluave, “Jaron is a hell of a player and we have his back.”
Losing the line of scrimmage
The Bears continue to struggle running the ball. Their three running backs totaled 81 yards on 25 carries, but a chunk of that production came after the game was out of reach. In three games against FBS opponents, the trio is averaging a combined 3.8 yards per carry.
Asked how concerned he is with line play, Wilcox said, “They won the line of scrimmage. They ran it better than we did. The whole game’s a concern.”
The most highly anticipated player matchup of the 2025 Laver Cup — world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz vs. top-ranked American Taylor Fritz — kicked off the night session on Saturday in front of a jam-packed house of tennis fans at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Despite being the world No. 5, Fritz was the heavy underdog in this match, given his head-to-head record with the Spaniard — 0-3, with just one set won — plus Alcaraz having won six majors, including the U.S. Open earlier in September.
Yet, somehow, Fritz managed to pull off the big upset — and notch one of the signature victories of his career — as he beat Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2 and pushed Team World to a 7-3 lead in this Laver Cup competition. (The first team to score 13 points wins the cup.)
The match definitely lived up to the advance hype, with these two top 5-ranked right-handers drawing huge rounds of applause from the crowd for their numerous circus shots, thunderous forehands and stellar court coverage.
Yet, there was one moment when the crowd was louder than at any other point in the evening — and, for that matter, the whole tournament thus far — and it didn’t actually occur during the Alcaraz-Fritz match. Instead, it happened during the pre-match warmups/introductions segment, when the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry and Laver Cup co-founder Roger Federer — two of the most beloved athletes in the history of professional sport — walked out onto the court to do the coin toss.
As Fritz kicked off the match on serve, it initially looked like the same old script might play out. In the three previous matches that they’ve played (all victories for Alcaraz), the Spaniard would break the big American in his first service game. So, really, it was no surprise when Alcaraz had two chances to break in that first game.
Yet, Fritz then began writing a whole new script — erasing a 15-40 deficit — to capture the game. Alcaraz then won game 2, with an ace down the “T,” with Fritz returning the favor to take game 3.
Fritz had two break chances in game 4 — up 15-40 — but he’d only need one, as he mixed power forehands with a soft dropshot and, finally, an overhead lob that Alcaraz could only sail back into the net.
Both players would then hold their serves, taking the match to 5-2, leaving Fritz the opportunity to serve out the set in the ninth game. At that point, the crowd seemed firmly in Alcaraz’s corner, chanting “Let’s go Carlos” in a fashion that would make you think that this Laver Cup was being held in Barcelona rather than Fritz’s home state. Yet, none of that derailed Fritz as he closed out the set 6-4.
The two players — who also squared off on Friday night in a doubles match that went in Team Europe’s favor — kept up the high level of tennis early in the second set. Then, at 2-2, Fritz would make his move and secure three chances to break in the fifth game. An Alcaraz ace erased the first chance, but Fritz broke through on the second try, following a furious rally and a dropper from Alcaraz that fell short.
Fritz would solidify the break in a tense service game, which ended with an overhead smash, and then go on to break the Spaniard yet again during a surprisingly loose, un-Alcaraz-like service game.
Then Fritz was suddenly — and most would say surprisingly — serving for the match at 5-2. And he’d get the job done in 1 hour and 11 minutes, not only collecting up a true statement win for himself but also putting Team World in the driver seat to perhaps win the Laver Cup on Sunday.
Team World 7, Team Europe 3.
The Laver Cup continues through Sunday. For more information, visit lavercup.com.
