###

The folks working to recall three of Blue Lake’s five city councilmembers from office worked right up to Saturday’s deadline in their signature-gathering efforts. Their goal? To get autographs from at least 30 percent of the city’s registered voters — somewhere around 252 signatures — in support of recalling each of those officials: Councilmember Kat Napier, Mayor John Sawatzky and Mayor Pro-Tem Elise Scafani.

Did they succeed? Maybe just barely, but we won’t know for sure until after the petitions are reviewed and the signatures verified as valid by staff at the Humboldt County Elections Office.

Some of the pro-recall organizers brought their collected signatures in to City Hall shortly before noon today, according to recently appointed Interim City Manager Jill Duffy. Elissa Rosado, one of the main organizers of this three-pronged recall effort, then conducted a side-by-side count with Duffy, tallying the number of signatures for each of the three councilmembers.

The final tally: 268 signatures in favor of recalling Napier, 276 for Scafani and 266 for Sawatzky. 

Will that be enough? Tough to say! When it comes to signature gathering, most folks suggest collecting a cushion of at least 15%-20% above the target amount, since some percentage will invariably be found invalid for one reason or another, whether it’s duplication, lapsed voter registration, failure to match the signature on file with the Elections Office or ineligibility due to, say, living outside city limits.

Here, the recall proponents have given themselves a buffer of less than 10 percent for each of the three officials. Maybe that will be enough in a community where most folks know each other personally. 

As a reminder, each recall effort must take place independently from the others, per state law, though they can occur simultaneously. Duffy said she dropped the paperwork off at the county Elections Office this afternoon. Humboldt County Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes must now work to verify the signatures, a process he expects to complete by the end of the week, according to Duffy.

“That will determine whether or not the special election will then proceed,” she said.

Since there is no countywide election this year, Blue Lake would need to conduct a special election on its own. Per state election code, if petitions are successful then Blue Lake’s City Council must call an election within 14 days. That election could then be scheduled between 88 and 125 days after it’s called. (The deadline is longer if it’s possible to sync up with a general election.)

If there are indeed enough signatures to trigger special elections for all three Blue Lake officials, and if those elections are successful in recalling them, it would put Blue Lake in uncharted legal territory, as recently reported by former North Coast Journal News Editor Thadeus Greenson. With only two councilmembers left, there would be no way to form the quorum necessary to make any binding decisions. Nobody’s quite sure how replacements would be chosen.

###

PREVIOUSLY

• With the City Manager’s Abrupt Exit, Blue Lake Residents Mount Recall Effort Against Three Council Members
• Blue Lake City Council Finalizes Separation Agreement With Former City Manager Mandy Mager, Appoints Finance Manager Dani Burkhart as Acting Replacement
• SERVED: Three Blue Lake Council Members Were Handed Recall Notices at Tonight’s Meeting
• Blue Lake City Council Approves Nine-Month Timeline to Reach Compliance With State Housing Law
• BREAKING: Blue Lake City Councilmember Christopher Firor Abruptly Resigns
• State Threatens Blue Lake With Hefty Fines and Legal Action for Failure to Adopt a Compliant Housing Element
• Blue Lake’s Ex-Mayor Wants Most of the City Council Recalled, But First She Wants Them to Appoint Her to Join Them.
• Under Pressure From the State, Blue Lake City Council Adopts an Updated Housing Element; PLUS: New Councilmember Appointed
• Duffy Aims to Calm Turmoil in Blue Lake; City May Have Violated Open Meeting Law Again, Expert Says

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On August 1, 2025, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) patrol deputies initiated an investigation into a theft from a vehicle reported in the 200 block of F Street, Blue Lake, occurring the previous night. The investigation revealed that three suspects used the victim’s stolen credit cards at multiple businesses across Humboldt County.

Following a thorough investigation, HCSO deputies identified all three suspects involved. Two individuals have been arrested and charged as follows:

• Michael Dwayne Vanwert, 41, of Eureka, was arrested for violations of California Penal Code sections 666.1 (petty theft with prior convictions), 484g (fraudulent use of a credit card), 182(a)(1) (conspiracy), and 1203.2 (probation violation).
• Crystle Dawn Angel, 35, of Eureka, was arrested for violations of California Penal Code sections 487 (grand theft), 459.5 (shoplifting), and 182(a)(1) (conspiracy).

If these names sound familiar, it is because both individuals were previously arrested for similar crimes just a few months ago. The third suspect has been identified, and efforts to apprehend them are ongoing.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to pursuing all individuals involved in this incident and protecting the rights and privacy of Humboldt County residents. Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268- 2539.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On July 26, 2025, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) patrol deputies assisted numerous fire agencies with the “RedFire” which occurred in a wooded area just northeast of the town of Redway. Cal Fire investigators on scene determined that this fire was human caused and was directly related to the large population of people who illegally live in the camps on this piece of private property. Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of all fire agencies involved, the fire was contained, preventing a larger-scale incident. However, as fire season progresses, such incidents pose an increasing risk to rural communities like Redway.

Since the fire, HCSO patrol deputies, in collaboration with the private property owner and Cal Fire law enforcement personnel, have contacted numerous individuals residing on this property, advised them that they were trespassing, and needed to vacate. These individuals were given time to vacate prior to enforcement and offered information on available resources to assist with their transition.

On August 3, 2025, HCSO patrol deputies and Cal Fire law enforcement conducted a follow-up inspection to ensure compliance with the vacate order. All encampments were found to be vacated, with the exception of one individual. Eva Markowitz, 35, of Redway, was arrested for violating California Penal Code 602(o) (Trespassing).

HCSO patrol deputies will continue to monitor these camps and make sure that public safety is prioritized.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268- 2539.

###

###

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

###

It’s late at night, and you badly need a ride. Your cellphone’s battery is dangerously low.

Should a ridehailing company such as Uber or Lyft be able to charge you more because its artificial intelligence programming thinks you’re desperate since it knows your phone is about to die?

Not if Hayward Democratic Sen. Aisha Wahab has her way.

Her Senate Bill 259 would prevent retailers from using artificial intelligence to jack up prices using the information stored on customers’ phones. That could include the phone’s battery life, whether it’s an older model, what apps are installed, what time of day it is, where its user is located and where they live.

“Our devices are being weaponized against us in order for large corporations to increase profits, and it has to stop,” Wahab told the Assembly Judiciary Committee last month.

Wahab’s bill to limit surveillance pricing that’s coasting through the Legislature is the latest example of California lawmakers trying to reign in the explosion of AI technology this year. Their 29 other legislative proposals this year include a ban on using algorithmic systems to set rent prices and a measure to protect people from automated discrimination by AI models that make critical decisions about a person’s employment, education, housing, health care, finance, criminal sentencing and access to government services.

Wahab’s measure has been an easier sell than some of the other AI proposals that have already failed thanks, in part, to it being billed as part of Democrats’ post-election pledges to cut costs for Californians.It also has the backing of the state’s influential labor unions, which tend to get their way in the Legislature.Its labor supporters include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the California Labor Federation. In total, those labor groups have donated at least $8.5 million to lawmakers in the last 10 years, according to CalMatters Digital Democracy database.

‘A high-tech assault on working people’

The unions argue that using algorithms and AI to generate higher prices for customers is inherently discriminatory and should be illegal.

Ivan Fernandez, a lobbyist with the California Labor Federation, called the practice of surveillance pricing a “high-tech assault on working people” during a hearing before the Assembly privacy committee in June. He argued that people are already struggling to afford the high cost of living in California, and companies should not be able to “use our data to squeeze every cent they can.”

“Using data such as a person’s geolocation or their phone battery to determine how much to upcharge them for a good or service further exacerbates this issue of affordability for our affiliate members and for workers,” Fernandez said.

On the other side are business and tech groups that also have donated heavily to legislators but tend to get their way less often than labor does.

Opponents include the California Chamber of Commerce and the Silicon Valley lobbying organizations TechNet and Chamber of Progress. The 17 groups opposed to the measure have given at least $11.7 million to legislators since 2015, according to Digital Democracy.

The opposition argues that the bill is unnecessary under California’s existing data privacy laws, would stifle innovation, cut into tech company profits and lead to higher prices.

“The bill would unfairly cause companies to overhaul their pricing models and strategies at significant cost, to the detriment of both the businesses themselves and their consumers,” wrote Ronak Daylami, a policy analyst with CalChamber, in an opposition letter to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. That committee voted 10-4 to send the bill to the Assembly floor.

CalChamber spokesperson John Myers declined to comment further.

So far, the bill has faced little resistance from lawmakers. Only Republicans have voted against it as it easily passed the California Senate and as it made its way through the Assembly.

“This overregulation is impeding how we do business and how people want to do business,” said Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, a Republican who represents the Huntington Beach area, during an Assembly judiciary committee hearing. “I just believe that the market resolves these issues.”

A few Democrats, such as assemblymembers Chris Ward of San Diego and Lori Wilson of Suisun City, asked about enforcement and also some exceptions for “legitimate uses” of geolocation data, but Wahab has mostly received kudos.

“It’s modern-day redlining,” Assemblymember Liz Ortega, a Democrat who represents the Hayward area, told the Assembly privacy committee, referring to racist lending practices that relegated Black and other non-white families into less safe and less desirable neighborhoods prior to the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Proponents of SB 259 argue that without additional guardrails, companies could use consumers’ data to engage in similarly racist price discrimination.

“It was not OK then, and it’s not OK today,” Ortega said.Notwithstanding her concerns about equitable pricing, Ortega’s support for the union-sponsored proposal isn’t surprising. She is the former statewide political director for one of AFSCME’s local unions. Since 2023, she voted with AFSCME and its affiliate unions’ positions on legislation 100% of the time in 127 opportunities, according to Digital Democracy. She’s also received $77,800 in campaign donations from AFSCME and its affiliates.

Testing Newsom’s tech loyalty

As she pitched her proposal, Wahab has frequently referred to herself as “a former tech worker in Silicon Valley” and leaned on her experience working with tech companies as a business IT consultant. Yet she is also strongly aligned with labor and unions, voting their way more than 90% of the time. Since 2021 she has received nearly $50,000 in campaign contributions from the California Labor Federation and AFSCME, according to the Digital Democracy database.

Wahab painted the companies in her former industry as profit-hungry villains that unscrupulously use Californians’ personal data to pad their bottom lines.

State Sen. Aisha Wahab speaks during a press conference at the Capitol Annex Swing Space on April 15, 2024. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Wahab pointed to a ProPublica report that exposed the test prep company Princeton Review charging higher prices for online SAT tutoring to customers in zip codes that had a high percentage of Asian residents, even in neighborhoods with low median incomes.

“You are being discriminated against based on your perceived socioeconomic status,” Wahab told CalMatters.

She also cited reporting from SFGate that alleged hotel booking platforms would upcharge users whose devices showed they were browsing from the Bay Area, sometimes up to $500 a night more than users in other parts of the country.

And she highlighted a report from the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog that alleged ridehailing apps such as Uber and Lyft charged higher prices to riders whose phone batteries were low – a claim that the companies deny.

“Suggestions that our systems manipulate pricing unfairly or discriminate are simply false and not supported by evidence,” wrote Zahid Arab, a spokesperson for Uber, in an emailed statement. Shadawn Reddick-Smith, a representative for Lyft, said in an emailed statement that the company “does not base fares on battery percentage.”

At least one expert on tech says the critiques from business groups that the bill would stifle innovation and lead to profit losses are inaccurate, specious and “wildly overblown.”

“Industries have built a business model around systematically violating our privacy in ways that we do not want, and generally do not consent to,” said David Evan Harris, a former research manager at Meta and a lecturer at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. “People shouldn’t have to be misled into consenting to things.”

Robert Boykin, a representative for the trade group TechNet, noted that California’s privacy law already gives consumers “meaningful rights,” such as the ability to opt out of the sale of precise geolocation and protection from discrimination should they choose to do so.

He said the law also allows companies to offer customers “benefits like loyalty programs and pricing discounts, as long as they’re tied to the value of the data and meet strict standards.”

Wahab’s measure is likely to be heard by the full Assembly when lawmakers reconvene from their summer recess in mid-August. It could end up on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk soon after.

The governor has a friendlier relationship with tech companies than the Legislature does. Last year, Newsom vetoed a handful of bills that sought to regulate AI. They included bans on self-driving trucks and weaponized robots as well as a comprehensive measure compelling testing of AI models.

In July, Newsom convened a panel of California tech executives to identify inefficiencies in state government operations, a nod to Trump’s deployment of Tesla CEO Elon Musk to remake the federal bureaucracy. He reportedly even sent “burner” phones to nearly 100 tech executives so they could contact him confidentially.

Tara Gallegos, a Newsom spokesperson, told CalMatters the governor’s office does not comment on pending legislation.

###

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

###

The public can now search internal affairs documents and other police-misconduct records from nearly 700 California law enforcement agencies through a database created by UC Berkeley and Stanford University.

The Police Records Access Project database, which contains roughly 1.5 million pages of records from 12,000 officer-misconduct and use-of-force cases, is being jointly published today by CalMatters, The Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and KQED.

The database is the first of its kind in the nation and will allow the public to search for particular types of misconduct or uses of force. It will also allow police departments to better research potential job candidates and can help researchers identify policing trends.

“The creation of a public facing database is critical for all of the stakeholders in the criminal legal system: whether public defenders, innocence organizations, prosecutors, police departments or academics,” said Barry Scheck, co-founder of the Innocence Project and a professor at Yeshiva University‘s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Seven years in the making

The database took seven years to produce. It was compiled by journalists, data scientists, lawyers and civil liberties advocates working with the Berkeley Institute for Data Science, UC Berkeley Journalism’s Investigative Reporting Program and Stanford University’s Big Local News.

The ACLU Foundation of Southern California, California Innocence Coalition, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, UC Irvine law school’s Press Freedom Project and UC Berkeley law school’s Criminal Law & Justice Center also collaborated on the project.

The project began after California legislators approved a series of laws aimed at improving law-enforcement transparency. Senate Bill 1421, approved in 2018, and SB 16, approved in 2021, granted public access to use-of-force and other misconduct records.

However until now, those records were only available by filing a specific request to an individual agency.

“This living database makes the transparency and accountability aims of SB 1421 a reality,” said Tiffany Bailey, senior staff attorney at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, which will contribute an additional 200,000 records to the database from its own efforts to obtain public records.

“Critically, families who have lost loved ones in California will now have direct access to the information they need to seek meaningful accountability that has too often been denied.”

The documents in the database were released by law enforcement agencies, district attorneys offices and other organizations and were redacted in compliance with California’s public records laws. The database does not include crime scene photographs, audio recordings or videos.

Police Records Access Project team members further redacted personal information about sexual assault and domestic violence victims.

The team used emerging technologies such as generative AI to collect, organize and vet the records and build the database.

Money for the project came from the state, with additional funding from the Sony Foundation and Roc Nation.

It’s time! The final rankings are in! We will cut right to the chase and start with the Top 10 Best Baseball Ballpark Experiences. Then we will chronicle those who didn’t make it and why. Next, we will list the Top 10 rankings for Game Atmosphere, Ballpark Cuisine, Club Hospitality and memorable moments. And, finally, we will review the final baseball game of the trip in Seattle. Curiously, this is not the last dispatch for the Sprint Across America. The final story will appear next week when we complete our national park tour.

Top 10 Best Baseball Ballpark Experiences

We start with the best of the best. These ballparks delivered, and delivered very well, in all aspects of the ballpark experience. Game atmosphere was weighted as half the final ranking, ballpark cuisine was one-third, and club hospitality was one-sixth.

No. 10: Cleveland Guardians / Progressive Field on June 26, 2025

PREVIOUSLY:

All dispatches from the Sprint can be found at this link.

Getting in the ballpark before the gates open, which was afforded us thanks to the Concourse Credentials the Guardians issued to us, was such a blessing. It allowed us to talk to concessions workers during their less-busy prep time, giving us inside details on why Froot Loops make such a great hot dog condiment or why they just had to bring back the spaghetti-and-meatballs pizza. We could also casually peruse Heritage Park where all the great Cleveland baseball moments and players are documented. Once the gates opened, we joined the many who flocked to Terrace Hall, a premium space open to everyone. There we discovered “Bam Bam” Turkey Legs in this two-level meeting and eating space. One level is inside, and one level is outside. We were also able to crash the members-only Carnegie Club where we got to see how the upscale folks experience a ballgame with their roasted lamb and penne pasta with meatballs. It was our most productive pre-game session at any ballpark. The stadium has an open view of the downtown skyline in the outfield, including the Rocket Arena – home of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers – tucked into the left field corner. Our seats were between home plate and the first-base dugout. Most stadiums have the concessions on the inside concourse where fans have to leave the seating area. Progressive Field features concessions that are open to the field as well as the concourse area. The field side is the “grab and go” side. It gave a more open feel to the park in general. The Cleveland fans only had one chance to become engaged in the 6-0 loss to Toronto – when it was time to sing “Hang On Sloopy” in the middle of the eighth, adding their signature “O.H.I.O” to the chorus. We came away from the game almost feeling pampered because everyone was extremely nice. Staff personnel, concession workers, ushers, and fans. Everyone just wanted to help. A disappointing afternoon for the home fans but an exceptionally enjoyable game for us.

No. 9: Baltimore Orioles / Camden Yards on June 12, 2025

We applaud the designers of Camden Yards who set the standard in 1992 for what a baseball stadium should be. Twenty-one ballparks have been built since then, and it’s a tribute to the Orioles that Camden Yards is still in the conversation for best ballpark in baseball. “It’s been 33 years, and it’s still gorgeous,” said longtime Orioles fan Larry Williams. “How can you not like this stadium?” The Orioles made many good, key decisions when building Camden Yards. The first brilliant idea was to build it downtown near the inner harbor. The result was that an industrial neighborhood that had seen better days was transformed into a commercial and residential hub once the park was completed. The second brilliant idea was to leave alone a large railroad building, a warehouse, that stood on the stadium property. This brick warehouse became a key element of the stadium’s identity – towering over the right field stands. It is iconic, second only to Fenway’s Green Monster for easily recognizable ballpark features. The warehouse is now incorporated into the outfield concession area with team stores and offices. The depth and quality of food at Camden Yards is among the best in baseball – No. 2 in our rankings: Crab cakes, Drunken Crab Soup, a footlong Chesapeake sausage, Boog’s BBQ, Ribeye Cheesesteak, Crab Mac Dog, Crab Mac, and a variety of loaded fries. Our seats are excellent, in the field level section, 17 rows from the field, just to the right of home plate. The field level section has only eight seats per row. Very nice change. The norm has been 16, which makes for a lot of standing up and down for all the people (sometimes just one guy) who keep leaving to buy concessions or visit the restroom. The O’s fans didn’t have a lot to cheer about as the visiting Tigers and their ace Tariq Skubal shut them down in a 4-1 game. But we had a lot to cheer about with the layout and design of the stadium, and the friendliness of the fans and staff.

No. 8: Philadelphia Phillies / Citizens Bank Park on June 10, 2025

Games at Citizens Bank Park are definitely enhanced by the presence of perhaps the most famous mascot in professional sports, the Phillie Phanatic. The Phanatic is actively involved in pregame and during the game. During pregame he mugs with those getting special presentations, and he serves as catcher for all the ceremonial first pitches (four this game). It is not too far to say he is the ambassador for the team. And, of course, he is known for various shenanigans during the game while dancing on top of the dugout or roving the stadium in a quad runner while shooting t-shirts into the stands from a cannon-like launcher. Kids can imitate his launch-skills In the right field concourse area called The Yard. It includes a wiffle ball field with a dugout and bullpen, a 30-foot climbing wall, a hot-dog launcher where kids try to hit a target, and a concessions area just for kids. It was easy to enjoy the Burnt End Cheesesteak from Bull’s BBQ – one of seven cheesesteak options in the park – in our seats three rows from the field just off first base. There was the usual “vigorous, full-rounded melody of disparagement,” as was once written about the Philadelphia fans propensity for booing. They couldn’t be blamed as the Phils dropped this one 8-4 to the Cubs, the team’s 10th loss in 12 games. Regardless of outcome, the Phillies game event staff took care of those of us that were there for the baseball. Stadiums have LED signage all over the stadium. Big screens, little screens, and a ribbon that spans the entire stadium. Most of the time the signage shows game information and advertising. However, when an attempt is made to increase fan participation, messages will take over every square inch of the signage to “GET LOUD” OR “MAKE NOISE.” It is a pet peeve of mine that in these promotional moments at all the stadiums, fans cannot see any game information. No balls and strikes. No number of outs. No line score. This is the case at every stadium – except this one! At Citizens Bank Park, some of the LED panels permanently display the game information no matter what other information is being displayed. Definitely worth some extra credit in the rankings. Thank you, Philadelphia Phillies!

No. 7: Seattle Mariners / T-Mobile Park on August 1, 2025

The decibel level says it all – 84.8 during a walk-off home run for the loudest moment in any ballpark all summer. Louder than all the explosions in the very impressive postgame fireworks show. Seattle Mariner fans have T-Mobile Park on fireworks alert as they anticipate two winning months to send them into the 2025 postseason. All of this newfound excitement has come because of aggressive moves by the team at the trade deadline that included bringing back Geno Suarez in a trade with the Diamondbacks. “The biggest difference Suarez will make is in the clubhouse,” said Mariners fan Tyler Huling. “A lot of the players are excited to have a familiar face back, and it puts faith back in the ownership and management that they have the players best interests in mind.” That familiar face has also been hitting a lot of home runs, putting the Mariners in position to be only the second team ever to have two players hit more than 50 home runs in a season. The last team with such a pair of sluggers, the 1961 New York Yankees, won the World Series in five games. Our seats were 26 rows up, down the left field line – the perfect place to try to get a hot dog floating on a parachute during the Hot Dogs from Heaven promotion at the top of the eighth inning. Nobody else does anything like this. The fans loved it, including this fan! Another hot dog highlight was the Godzilla Hot Dog with its wasabi relish and thinly sliced jalapeno. It is our choice as the second-best hot dog in all of baseball. And nowhere else in Major League baseball can you buy toasted grasshoppers.

No 6: Milwaukee Brewers / American Family Field on June 29, 2025

In Milwaukee you have already enjoyed a great day at the ballpark before the gates even open. Brats and burgers are grilled by thousands in the parking lot near permanent structures with awnings and picnic tables called Party Pavilions. Families are playing corn hole and tossing around footballs and baseballs hours before first pitch. “Tailgating – this is all we know,” said Brewers fan Russ Potratz of Omro, Wisc., as he tended to his grill cooking brats and burgers at his tailgate. Once inside, the great food continues, although the park doesn’t offer specialty brats, probably realizing it can’t match the tailgate quality. Try one of Topped Dog’s three specialty hot dogs, and you will have a new favorite hot dog. Or get the Loaded Mac and Cheese at Blue’s Egg for the best loaded mac and cheese in baseball. The Brewers do things a little bit bigger than other teams. Their Famous Racing Sausages became popular in the early ‘90s and inspired other teams to follow suit. Perhaps the next most notable is the Presidents Race at Nationals Stadium. With all the other crazy mascot races out there, the Brewers upped the ante with 10 mascots – five sausages and five mini sausages in a relay race. Very entertaining as the mini sausages were about six years old and didn’t quite comprehend what a relay race was. Another area where they do things bigger is the seventh-inning stretch. Everyone sings “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” A few other stadiums sing a second song. But the Brewers add “God Bless America” and “Roll Out the Barrel.” We had great seats – 13 rows from the field between home plate and the first base dugout – to enjoy the food, the mascot race, the songs, and the game. The fans were excited to see their team take a 2-1 lead into the ninth, and to stand and cheer wildly with two outs in the ninth. But a home run dampened the enthusiasm and the Brewers eventually lost in extra innings. For us, it was two bonus innings to enjoy a great day of brats, burgers and baseball.

No. 5: Pittsburgh Pirates / PNC Park on June 8, 2025

We are family! It turns out that wasn’t just a hype-theme song for the 1979 Pirates, a team that won a World Series title. When you’re at PNC Park, you are treated well. “Pittsburgh fans treat you like family,” said Pirates fan Dominic Noel, citing his personal experience which also captured the essence of our experience. This is one of three ballparks where there was an overabundance of kindness from stadium workers and fans. (Tampa Bay and Cleveland were the others.) And when you’re with family, you eat well – whether it’s the Haluski Cannonballs or Manny’s BBQ. Family also gets you great seats, and ours were right behind home plate, about 20 rows up. It rained all morning, so ushers with towels were out in droves, drying seats as fans arrived. Exceptional work by the grounds crew got things ready, and the game managed to get squeezed in between two thunderstorms. What a view! PNC Park is set along the shore of the Allegheny River. Most of the newer downtown stadiums offer an excellent view in center field of their respective cities. PNC has the best view of any of them with spectacular skyline scenery from center field to right field, featuring more than 30 buildings and a bridge. Ace Paul Skenes kept the visiting Phillies bats in check, and a run in the bottom of the eighth gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead. But the storms returned in the ninth inning. As fans scrambled to put their rain gear back on, one Pirate fan had a statement for all the surrounding Phillies fans. “Just put it over your head because you’re embarrassed to be swept by the Pirates.” Indeed, Pittsburgh held on for the 2-1 win to sweep the 3-game series against the Phillies, its first sweep of Philadelphia since 2015.

No. 4: NY Mets / Citi Field on June 14, 2025

Mets fans are in it for the long haul. A play might not go their way. An inning might not go their way. A game might not go their way. An entire series might not go their way. But Mets fans do not waver. “Being a Mets fan is the utmost pleasure and the utmost pain at the same time,” said Michael Hernandez. “This year I have confidence in what the team owners have planned. I love being a Mets fan and everything that goes with it. Good or bad.” There is a lot of good that goes on at Citi Field. The Mets fans stand up and cheer after every hit by the home team. Every hit! Citi Field has a gigantic videoboard, the largest in Major League Baseball. It is 17,400 square feet – three times larger than the one the Mets used to have. You can chow down on chilled fresh main lobster rolls, upscale burgers from Adam Richman’s Burger Hall of Fame, and a jerk meatball bowl or braised brisket bowl from the Coca-Cola Corner. We enjoyed the good (the food and atmosphere) and the bad (the Mets lose) at this game from seats that were just eight rows from the field, just off first base. Citi Field is also a place where commitments that stretch beyond being a Mets fans come into play. During an in-between-innings contest with a fan, the in-game host asked the female contestant to identify the difference between two almost identical pictures of the Ms. Met mascot. She correctly noticed that in one photo, Ms. Met had on a diamond ring. The in-game host said, “Now let’s look at the scoreboard to see what you’ve won.” On the scoreboard were the words “Jessie, will you marry me?” Then the scoreboard showed her soon-to-be fiancé on his knee with the ring. She said yes! Nice prize to win at a Mets game – for both of them! We cannot review the Mets game without once again thanking Josh Lederman who works in Communications with the Mets. He facilitated our escape from New York when we were stuck with tens of thousands of protesters in Manhattan. Josh directed us to the 59th Street Bridge for a path to the game.

No. 3: Houston Astros / Daikin Park on May 14, 2025

I’m amazed at how much we loved the train in left field. It runs on a track along the left field wall and punctuates every big moment for the Astros – blasting its whistle after home runs, big moments and, of course, victories. The celebratory effect is enhanced when fireworks erupt simultaneously from the scoreboard. The train has a conductor and carries a load of oversized baseballs. The train is a tribute to Union Station which is next to where the park is built; in fact, the Union Station building serves as the main entrance to the ballpark. And the view under the train! Large see-through panels offer views of the downtown Houston skyline. Both the train and skyline view draw you in, creating an intimate atmosphere. Our tickets were 35 rows behind the first-base dugout. Come hungry to this park because the Chicken and Waffle Sandwich and the Mac Daddy Dog are beyond delicious. The fans are high energy and noisy. Every Astros milestone was met with raucous cheering, engine and horn noises from the train, flashing lights and booming fireworks. Home runs, defensive gems, an eighth-inning rally, all in a comfortable air-conditioned environment with the retractable roof closed. It looked like the Royals might come away with a victory, but the Astros rallied in the eighth with three consecutive hits with one out. Jeremy Pena, who was 4-for-4, got the go-ahead single for his second RBI of the game. Cue the train, the flashing lights and the fireworks! We left this game fully satiated.

No. 2: San Francisco Giants / Oracle Park on April 27, 2025

Oracle Park was already buzzing 90 minutes before first pitch. Part of the reason was it was youth baseball and softball day, and kids of all ages were actively engaged in the outfield family-friendly area that includes two large slides. A newspaper promotion had a long line where Giants swag was being traded for online subscription commitments. The center field food kiosk was bustling with fans getting their Crazy Crab’z Sandwiches and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls. From your seat you can see San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, and the city skyline. Our seats were four rows from the field. McCovey Cove lies beyond the right field wall where home runs are recorded as “splash hits,” and fans in kayaks paddle around throughout the game, waiting for their chance at a game-used souvenir. Favorite son Bruce Bochy – who managed the Giants to three World Series titles – was in town as the visiting manager of the Texas Rangers. The game did not disappoint, a 2-2 battle going into the bottom of the ninth. It ended in a frenzy when Heliot Ramos hit a dribbler toward third that the pitcher fielded, then tossed down the right field line. Ramos ran to second, then slowed down. Third-base coach Matt Williams waved him to keep coming. After a quick glance over his shoulder, Ramos started running again toward third base. He dove safely into third and the ball ricocheted into left field. Ramos got up and stumbled toward home plate where his remaining available energy got him just to the point of collapsing on home plate for the game-winning run. A walk-off “Little League” home run! The sold-out crowd roared its approval. All-in-all, a perfect day for baseball.

No. 1: Minnesota Twins / Target Field on July 8 2025

The Twins were clinging to a 2-0 lead, and the Twins fans were getting annoyed with the presence of so many visiting Cubs fans. A strike out by either side was met with equal measure of groaning and cheering. Things shifted, however, in the top of the eighth inning when the Cubs threatened with a leadoff single followed by a walk. Reliever Griffin Jax struck out the next two batters swinging, and a line out ended the threat. The Twins faithful let the visiting fans know whose house they were in. It was as if every Twins fan cheered twice as loud as usual just to make a point. And they were just getting started. The bottom of the eighth was a slaughter, with Twins fans getting louder with each run scored and the Cubs fans getting quieter. Here’s how the inning played out: walk, home run, home run, double, wild pitch, single, home run. The electricity alone generated during the eighth inning might be enough to put the Twins in the running for best baseball ballpark experience. Add to the mix the amazing ballpark cuisine – four of our Top 20 favorites (Sweet and Sour Fried Pork, Kramarczuk’s Brat Sampler, Homestand Burger and Dugout Dill Pizza) came from Target Field – and you have the ballpark with the best food in baseball. I still can’t believe I had the best hamburger of my life at a ballpark. And while that was probably enough to get them the top ranking, add to it the No. 1 team in club hospitality, and the Twins end up far ahead of everyone else. Nina Zimmerman, Twins communications manager, treated us like we were from Sports Illustrated. She arranged for us to have premium seats, met us personally, set up a stadium tour, and suggested to the local FOX affiliate that we might make an interesting pregame story. The ballpark also has a great view of the Minneapolis downtown skyline; the Metro Light Rail conveniently ends right next to the stadium; game staff posts entertaining and interesting player notes during the game; and Winnebago Industries sponsors an interactive area just beyond right field that features mini golf, cornhole, and lawn chairs. It’s like an indoor tailgate section. The Twins and Target Field are the total package. Light up the Minnie and Paul sign. Twins win!

The Rest of the Best Baseball Ballpark Experiences

First category: Near Misses

It was a razor-thin decision for who made the Top 10 and what three teams were left out. All three of these teams gave us great experiences. “Near Misses” are the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.

Second category: Triple Positives

These teams delivered in all three areas. They just weren’t quite as good as the rest of the teams ahead of them. (For those of you who have memorized previous rankings, we upgraded the Royals to “positive” for club hospitality after having many other experiences afterward with which to compare.) “Triple Positive” teams are Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals. Well done, and thank you!

Third category: Something Amiss

Two out of three areas were positive with these teams. But one area was not. The Rays are the highest rated team of this category because their non-positive area, ballpark cuisine, was more the fault of the Yankees – owners of the ballpark they play in – then their own club. The “Something Amiss” teams are comprised of the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies. An honorable mention goes to the Chicago White Sox – the only game where a fan offered to buy me a beer.

Final category: Cellar Dwellers

These teams had some sort of fatal flaw that kept them at the bottom. One of them was even ranked No. 1 in a Top 10 category. Another had a Top 20 ballpark cuisine item. Ultimately, however, there was too much negative to overcome the positive. The cellar dwellers are the NY Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Boston Red Sox and Sacramento-Las Vegas-bound Athletics.

Next, we break down the various categories of Game Atmosphere, Ballpark Cuisine, and Club Hospitality and give a Top 10 ranking for each.

Top 10: Game Atmosphere

There were many ways to land in the Top 10 for game atmosphere. A great game always helps because it gets the fans involved at a high level (Pirates, Astros, Giants, Mariners, Red Sox). Something no one else has lends some great atmosphere, such as a moving train (Astros), a splash home-run count (Giants), the largest scoreboard in baseball (Mets), a crazy-good mascot (Phillies), hot dogs from heaven (Mariners), ivy-covered outfield walls (Cubs), a wide-open skyline to downtown (Pirates) or a Green Monster (Red Sox). Loyalty regardless of outcome also plays a factor (Blue Jays, Twins, Mets). The Red Sox have the best game atmosphere because they hit on all cylinders – great fan involvement, unique ballpark features, and a carnival atmosphere throughout, beginning hours before the game on Jersey Street.

10. Chicago Cubs / Wrigley Field

9. Toronto Blue Jays / Rogers Centre

8. Minnesota Twins / Target Field

7. Pittsburgh Pirates / PNC Park

6. Philadelphia Phillies / Citizens Bank Park

5. NY Mets / Citi Field

4. Houston Astros / Daikin Park

3. San Francisco Giants / Oracle Park

2. Seattle Mariners / T-Mobile Park

1. Boston Red Sox / Fenway Park

Top 10: Ballpark Cuisine

If you perused the Top 20 ballpark cuisine items in Week 12, it will not surprise you who made this Top 10. Most of these teams had multiple items in the Top 20 list of ballpark food, or their signature dish was good enough to land them a spot. The Twins take the No. 1 status for great individual dishes, and many of them. The Orioles, Astros and Padres were not far behind, joining the Twins with general excellence across the board. The Diamondbacks had the best single item – Filthy Mac Fries – good enough to land in the Top 5.

10. NY Mets / Citi Field

9. Atlanta Braves / Truist Park

8. San Francisco Giants / Oracle Park

7. Pittsburgh Pirates / PNC Park

6. Milwaukee Brewers / American Family Field

5. Arizona Diamondbacks / Chase Field

4. San Diego Padres / Petco Park

3. Houston Astros / Daikin Park

2. Baltimore Orioles / Camden Yards

1. Minnesota Twins / Target Field

Top 10: Club Hospitality

This area was more than just how they treated us as small-market media correspondents. It was also how they treated their fans in general. But, to be fair, it was more about how they treated us. Were we celebrated as writers or regarded as pesky gnats buzzing around for their attention? The Top 10 embraced us and took care of us. All teams that issued us credentials made the list (Rangers, Astros, Rays, Guardians and Twins). All teams that issued us amazing seats are on the list (Pirates, Angels, Rays, Guardians, Mets and Twins). All teams that met us personally are on the list (Braves, Rays and Twins). All teams that gave us special treatment that helped us contact other teams are on the list (Padres and Rays). And, of course, there was the live interview on their FOX affiliate (Twins). Notice any cross over? Frankly, the Twins should be No. 1 and No. 2. Thank you to the professionals in media relations and communications that this list encompasses, the ones who recognize the little guy has work to do, too, and needs some help to get it done.

10. Texas Rangers / Global Life Field

9. Pittsburgh Pirates / PNC Park

8. Atlanta Braves / Truist Park

7. Houston Astros / Daikin Park

6. Los Angeles Angels / Anaheim Stadium

5. San Diego Padres / Petco Park

4. Tampa Bay Rays / Steinbrenner Field

3. Cleveland Guardians / Progressive Field

2. NY Mets / Citi Field

1. Minnesota Twins / Target Field

Top 10: Memorable Moments

We saw some very unusual things in our 30 games. Here are the Top 10. For more details, see the stories earlier in the series that feature that ballpark.

10. Ten mascots in one race (American Family Field, Week 10)

9. Sean takes a selfie with our phone before taking our picture (Wrigley Field, Week 10)

8. Grounds crew member gets trapped in the tarp (Great American Ball Park, Week 7)

7. Marriage proposal during a fan contest (Citi Field, Week 8)

6. Two outfield assists in the same inning by the same outfielder (Comerica Park, Week 9)

5. Riley Green’s two-homer ninth (Anaheim Stadium, Week 2)

4. Three first-pitch homers in our first six games (Dodger Stadium, Anaheim Stadium, Chase Field, Weeks 1 and 2)

3. Three outs with no strikes and no bat contact (Wrigley Field, Week 10)

2. 21 runs scored and a complete-game shutout (Coors Field, Week 3)

1. Walk-off “Little League” home run (Oracle Park, Week 1)

Game #30: Rangers versus Mariners at T-Mobile Field in Seattle, August 1

It is an exciting time to be in Seattle. The only Major League team to never get to the World Series made a series of big moves this week to try to finally get there. The biggest prize was third baseman Geno Suarez, a former Mariner who returned in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks. At the time of the trade, Suarez was fifth in the major leagues with 36 home runs and tied for the MLB lead with 87 RBI. His bat is added to a lineup that already has Cal Raleigh, the MLB leader in home runs with 41. The team had already traded for slugger Josh Naylor, also from the Diamondback, and left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates. “The biggest difference Suarez will make is in the clubhouse,” said Mariners fan Tyler Huling. “A lot of the players are excited to have a familiar face back, and it puts faith back in the ownership and management that they have the players best interests in mind.” The Mariners and Diamondbacks were curiously knit together back in the 2001 season when Seattle won an MLB best-ever 116 games in the regular season in the American League, and Arizona finished with the third best record in the National League (92 wins). Greatness is not forged in the regular season, however, as the Mariners lost in the AL championship series to the New York Yankees, and the Diamondbacks – with former Mariner pitcher Randy Johnson as their ace – streaked through the playoffs, defeating the Yankees in seven games to win the World Series title in just their fourth season of existence. The Mariners, who have been around since 1977, have made the playoffs just once since that 2001 season. Raleigh and Suarez are on pace to top 50 home runs each. Only one time in Major League history has one team had two players each hit more than 50 home runs. That was the 1961 Yankees with Roger Maris (*61 home runs) and Mickey Mantle (54 home runs). The Yankees won the World Series that year in five games.

Game atmosphere: Positive

Fireworks. Mariners fans now anticipate fireworks more often, and the two games since they picked up Suarez have provided plenty of explosions, just not from the players they expected. J.P. Crawford was the chosen one for this game as he launched a 375-bomb for a 2-run walk-off homer in the ninth inning, sending the 40,000 in attendance into a frenzy in the 4-3 win. They pushed the decibel level to 84.8, the loudest outburst of any fans anywhere on this trip. Suarez and Raleigh’s bats may have been quiet this night, but it did not matter. With all the recent roster adjustments, Mariner fans are confident there is a win trying to burst out before the game is over. It’s an exciting time to be a Mariners fan, but they still have perspective. “I like our chances of making the playoffs,” Huling said. “After the playoffs are set, it’s really anybody’s game.”

The retractable roof at T-Mobile Park was open for this game, giving fans on the first-base side a great view of the Seattle skyline. … One of the best in-between inning entertainment promotions we’ve seen occurred in the top of the eighth inning: Hot Dogs from Heaven. Hot dogs in parachutes are launched into the air from the upper deck and float to the lower decks. I never thought I would get a sore neck from watching hot dogs fall from the sky with the hope one would float near me. Perhaps the Israelites never would have complained if they had kosher hot dogs from heaven instead of manna from heaven. … A fan’s homemade sign I liked: “What this place needs is more Cal bell.” (Remember, their best home run hitter is Cal Raleigh.) … They sing the intelligible portion of the song “Louie, Louie” after the seventh-inning stretch, adding “Let’s Go Mariners” to the refrain. It went something like this: “Louie, Louie. Oh, no, me gotta go. Let’s go Mariners.” … Their mascot race is the Salmon Run between four different types of fish, mostly salmon. This one was won by King Salmon. … They also had a fan play the Spot Big Foot contest where they had to find Big Foot amongst the crowed. I didn’t pay attention to what they won when they zeroed in on Sasquatch in the left field bleachers. … The park offers free Wi-Fi throughout the stadium.

Ballpark cuisine: Positive

T-Mobile gets a positive rating for its wide range of offerings, although we were disappointed that it was more quantity than quality. A big exception was the Godzilla Hot Dog from Sumo Dog – plenty of quantity and quality. It’s a footlong hot dog loaded with a tasty array of flavors in perfect portions. It is constructed well so that, even with all the piled-on fixings, it does not fall apart when you eat it. Here are the ingredients (don’t try to say them in one breath): footlong all-beef hot dog, beef chili, Togarashi cheese sauce, wasabi relish, pickled peppers, spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce, furikake, minced onion, jalapeno and nori. The jalapeno was thinly sliced so that it did not overpower everything. The Togarashi sauce was tasty, and the chili was spread underneath the dog so that it did not fall out. This specialty hot dog hits No. 2 on our list of best hot dogs in baseball.

There is a vendor with a crab sandwich but it is no Crazy Crab’z sandwich. The bread was seasoned well but the crab was virtually without flavor, making it more of a tomato sandwich. Another vendor sells the King’s Court Turkey Leg but it is a shadow of the Bam Bam Turkey Leg sold in Cleveland. This one is smaller and is smoked but not marinated in any sauce.

Sadly, we were unable to try Moto Pizza’s crab pizza. We got to them 59 minutes after the gates opened, and they were already sold out. It was a special recognition night for season ticket holders, and they entered the gates 30 minutes earlier, and it seems they made a run on the 2,000 crab pizzas that were available. For the record, its ingredients are Dungeness crab, a Moto cheese blend, parmesan, butter, dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, and thyme.

Other food options include Cajun fish and chips, clam chowder in a bread bowl, pulled pork mac and cheese, and grasshoppers. Yes, you read that correctly. Toasted grasshoppers are sold at Edgar’s Cantina. “I ate a different insect In Thailand,” said Insecta-foodie Karla Hemmelgarn. “My buddy said Edgar’s at T-Mobile has grasshoppers. You can’t get that anywhere else in town. It’s a little extra protein.” Karla let me try one from her $10 purchase. She summarized it perfectly. “It’s crunch and flavor.” Nothing wrong with a little crunch and flavor. The crunch was all grasshopper but the flavor was the chili-lime salt with which they are seasoned.

Club hospitality: Positive

The team provided tickets 26 rows from the field, between third base and left field. VIP Parking was also provided.

Game details: Mariners win 4-3. Attendance 40,984. Time of game: 2:43.

Helpful tips: Bag policy – clear bags only, no larger than 12”x6”x12”. One-gallon, clear plastic zip-top bags are also allowed. Purses no larger than 4.5”x6.5” are allowed. Backpacks are not allowed. … Sealed, clear plastic water bottles up to 32 oz. are allowed as are empty plastic reusable bottles of 32 oz. or less. Outside food is permitted in single-serving sizes. … There is limited parking available in the stadium garage. SpotHero offers parking with prices ranging from $10 (almost a mile walk to the stadium) to $100 (half a mile walk to the stadium). Park and ride on the Link light rail to save money with a small investment of time. There is free parking at Lynnwood City Center and Angle Lake stations and travel time is 49 minutes each way from Lynnwood and 35 minutes each way from Angle Lake to the stadium. Adult fares are $3.

You don’t see that every day: The postgame fireworks show at T-Mobile was the most we have ever been entertained by fireworks. They were choreographed to Broadway showtunes, and multiple launch points were combined with fireworks generated directly from the stadium rim. In addition, a QR Code scanned by thousands of fans put their phones into the show, synchronizing the flashlight function of the phone with the fireworks. It was spectacular and a fitting way to end The Sprint.

###

Tom Trepiak is the former sports information director at Humboldt State and a member of the Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics Hall of Fame.

Levi Parker Rice
October 9, 1982 – July 9, 2025

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Levi Parker Rice, beloved father, cherished friend, and one-of-a-kind spirit, who left us on July 9, 2025. He was 42 years old.

Levi was born at Eskaton Lassen Memorial Hospital in East Susanville and spent his youth growing up in Janesville. But it was in Humboldt County that he found his true home. After moving here as a young adult, he graduated from Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) in 2008 and remained a proud Humboldt resident 22 years. Born with a spark that never truly dimmed, Levi was a man of many layers — adventurous, creative, deeply nerdy in the most endearing way, and brave enough to take risks when others hesitated. His earlier years were marked by a kindness that left lasting impressions and a curiosity that led him to explore the world in both big ways and small ones — through the thrill of nature, the joy of stories, and the comfort of a garden in bloom.

Levi had an unshakable connection to the outdoors. Whether hiking through dense forests, wandering along quiet rivers, or simply sitting beneath the stars, he found peace and purpose in the natural world. He reveled in the quiet beauty of a sunrise, the scent of fresh earth, and the freedom of a wide open trail. Nature was not just a place for him — it was a sanctuary, a source of inspiration, and a reminder of life’s simple wonders. It was here, among the trees and the breeze, that he truly felt at home.

He was a loving and steadfast father to three children — two daughters and one son — who knew him as a pillar of support, a guiding light, and someone who always showed up, no matter what. Whether he was baking something warm and delicious, planting seeds in the backyard, or getting wonderfully lost in a fantasy novel, an old movie, or a video game that brought him joy, Levi brought magic into the everyday.

Along with his three children, Levi is survived by the mother of his children. Though separated, they remained on good terms and shared a deep, enduring bond rooted in mutual love and respect.

He worked hard, never asking for praise, and gave of himself fully to the people and passions he cared about. He even wrote stories of his own — vivid, heartfelt, imaginative works that, though sadly lost, live on in the memories of those who knew his gift for storytelling.

His laugh — loud, uncontainable, contagious — could light up a room. His smile, always genuine, reminded everyone around him of the warmth and beauty in life. He taught us all the value of presence, creativity, and being unapologetically oneself.

Levi’s life was shaped by adventure, resilience, and love. He wouldn’t claim to be perfect, but he was genuine — and in that honesty, he gave others permission to show up as their true selves. He will be remembered for his deep love of music and adventure, his compassion, his ability to connect with others, and the care he took to make people feel seen, heard, and loved. Above all, he was fiercely loyal to those he held close.

An ash spreading ceremony was held at Trinidad Beach, where some of Levi’s ashes were laid to rest alongside those of his mother, Marcelle Rice, in the presence of close family and friends. A memorial and celebration of life followed on Sunday, July 20th, honoring the love, laughter, and legacy he leaves behind. Rest easy, Levi. You are deeply missed, eternally loved, and forever remembered.

###