Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates could rejoin Dodgers’ bullpen this weekend

• June 5, 2025

LOS ANGELES — A Dodgers’ bullpen that has been decimated by injuries could get some much-needed reinforcements this weekend with the likely activations of veteran right-handers Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates.

Kopech, who has been sidelined all season because of a shoulder impingement, and Yates, who went on the 15-day injured list because of a right hamstring strain on May 18, both threw 15-20 pitches to hitters in simulated innings before Wednesday night’s game against the New York Mets.

“Kirby was good – he threw strikes, did his usual thing and felt good coming out of it,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “Michael’s stuff was good … we’ll see how they feel [on Thursday], and we’ll have a decision on this weekend.”

Yates, who signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Dodgers in January, went 3-2 with a 4.34 ERA in 22 games, striking out 31 and walking six in 18⅔ innings, before suffering his hamstring injury.

Kopech, acquired in a trade-deadline deal from the Chicago White Sox last summer, provided shut-down relief in the final two months of 2024, going 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA and six saves in 24 regular-season games.

The hard-throwing right-hander was a workhorse in the postseason, throwing nine innings over 10 playoff appearances in which he allowed three earned runs and five hits, struck out 10 and walked seven batters.

But that heavy workload took a toll. Kopech was sidelined all spring by forearm inflammation and opened the season on the injured list because of his shoulder.

Kopech was healthy enough to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment in early May, but he was erratic and ineffective over nine games for Triple-A Oklahoma City in which he gave up 11 earned runs and eight hits, including two homers, struck out 11 and walked 10 in 6⅓ innings, for a 15.63 ERA.

“The reports were that the stuff was good, but certainly, the line wasn’t good or consistent,” Roberts said. “I think the thought is, with his track record, the heightened focus of being here, that’s kind of our thought about his potential activation.”

Right-hander Evan Phillips, who closed games for much of the 2023 and 2024 seasons, underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery, and right-hander Blake Treinen, the team’s top reliever during last season’s World Series run, has been out since April 19 because of a forearm sprain.

Reliever Luis Garcia suffered a right-adductor strain in Cleveland last week and was placed on the injured list, and Brusdar Graterol is still recovering from shoulder surgery that has sidelined him all season.

Top-line starters Blake Snell (shoulder inflammation), Tyler Glasnow (shoulder inflammation) and Roki Sasaki (shoulder impingement) are also on the injured list.

“I’m very confident we’re going to get these guys back,” Roberts said of his key starters and relievers. “I just don’t know when, and then once we get them back, we have to make sure we keep them back.”

EDMAN OUT

Utility man Tommy Edman, who earned MVP honors in last October’s National League Championship Series victory over the Mets, aggravated a right ankle injury this week and was not in the lineup for a second straight game on Wednesday.

Edman, who missed 16 games in late April and early May because of the injury, played the final three innings of Tuesday night’s 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Mets, but Roberts planned to rest him Wednesday night.

The switch-hitting Edman was listed as day-to-day. The Dodgers summoned outfielder Estuery Ruiz to Los Angeles as a taxi squad member in case they have to put Edman back on the IL.

“We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can so it doesn’t get worse,” Roberts said of Edman. “Once you’re sore, you’re compromising things, so we want to keep the soreness down and the strength up. He feels a lot better today than he did [on Tuesday]. We’ll see where we go with it [on Thursday].”

REHAB REPORT

Emmet Sheehan, who underwent Tommy John surgery with an internal brace procedure in May of 2024, is scheduled to make his second rehab start for Oklahoma City on Saturday.

The right-hander, who went 4-1 with a 4.92 ERA in 13 games – 11 of them starts – for the Dodgers in 2023, allowed two hits over three scoreless innings, struck out five and walked none in his first start on Sunday.

UP NEXT

Mets (LHP David Peterson, 4-2, 2.69 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Landon Knack, 3-2, 4.58 ERA), Thursday, 1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County scores and player stats for Wednesday, June 4

• June 5, 2025

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

Scores and stats from Orange County games on Wednesday, June 4

Click here for details about sending your team’s scores and stats to the Register.

The deadline for submitting information is 10:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday.

WEDNESDAY’S SCORES

BASEBALL

CIF STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Round I

DIVISION I

Patrick Henry 2, Santa Margarita 0

DIVISION II

Rancho Bernardo 4, Fountain Valley 2

SOFTBALL

CIF STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Round I

DIVISION IV

University 5, Marquez 3

​ Orange County Register 

Trump announces travel ban affecting a dozen countries set to go into effect Monday

• June 5, 2025

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and FARNOUSH AMIRI, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is resurrecting the travel ban policy from his first term, signing a proclamation Wednesday night preventing people from a dozen countries from entering the United States.

The countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

In addition to the ban, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, there will be heightened restrictions on visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

“I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,” Trump said in his proclamation.

Ten of the 19 countries under the bans and restrictions are in Africa, nine of those from majority Black African countries. Several of those, including Sierra Leone, Togo, and Equatorial Guinea, are not known for hosting armed groups that pose a major threat to the West.

The list results from a Jan. 20 executive order Trump issued requiring the departments of State and Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence to compile a report on “hostile attitudes” toward the U.S. and whether entry from certain countries represented a national security risk.

During his first term, Trump issued an executive order in January 2017 banning travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.

It was one of the most chaotic and confusing moments of his young presidency. Travelers from those nations were either barred from getting on their flights to the U.S. or detained at U.S. airports after they landed. They included students and faculty as well as businesspeople, tourists and people visiting friends and family.

The order, often referred to as the “Muslim ban” or the “travel ban,” was retooled amid legal challenges, until a version was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

The ban affected various categories of travelers and immigrants from Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Libya, plus North Koreans and some Venezuelan government officials and their families.

Trump and others have defended the initial ban on national security grounds, arguing it was aimed at protecting the country and not founded on anti-Muslim bias. However, the president had called for an explicit ban on Muslims during his first campaign for the White House.

​ Orange County Register 

Chargers sign edge rusher Bud Dupree to contract extension

• June 5, 2025

The Chargers signed Bud Dupree to a two-year contract worth as much as $6 million in May 2024, with the goal of adding experience, leadership and skill to their stable of standout edge rushers.

The team announced Wednesday it had signed him to a one-year contract extension for identical reasons.

Dupree’s new deal is reportedly worth up to $6 million for the 2026 season.

It became all the more important to retain Dupree after the Chargers released veteran edge rusher Joey Bosa earlier this year. Bosa, who had played each of his nine seasons in the NFL with the Chargers dating to his draft year of 2016, signed a one-season contract worth as much as $12.6 million with the Buffalo Bills.

Dupree, 32, spent six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, two with the Tennessee Titans and one with the Atlanta Falcons before signing with the Chargers last year. He had six sacks and one interception in 17 games last season, playing a depth role beyond Bosa, Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu.

​ Orange County Register 

Update: Pea-sized hail forecast with thunderstorms to hit Yosemite Wednesday – gusts to hit 40 mph

• June 5, 2025

The National Weather Service issued an updated report at 4:21 p.m. on Wednesday for strong thunderstorms in effect until 4:45 p.m. for Yosemite.

The storms are packing wind gusts of up to 40 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches).

“At 4:21 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm 14 miles south of Kennedy Meadow, or 15 miles south of Sonora Pass, moving south at 10 mph,” states the NWS Hanford CA. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”

The alert is for Paradise Meadow.

According to the NWS, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.”

When lightning looms: Expert safety tips for thunderstorms

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the NWS. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To protect yourself during a thunderstorm, take these recommendations into consideration:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
• Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s a clear indication of nearby lightning.
• Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.
• These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
• Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you’re in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
• Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning.
• Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.

Navigating rainy roads: Safety tips for wet weather

Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding if prolonged or if there is excessive runoff. Excessive runoff can be a result of saturated ground and/or rainfall intensity. Follow these recommendations from the NWS to stay safe in heavy rain:

Beware of swollen waterways:

Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

On wet roads, slowing down is paramount. Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer lanes.

Prioritize visibility

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.

When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.

​ Orange County Register 

Congressional letter obtained by AP outlines drastic job cuts expected at Voice of America

• June 5, 2025

By DAVID BAUDER and AAMER MADHANI, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration appointee overseeing the Voice of America has outlined job cuts that would reduce employment at the state-run news organization from over 1,000 people to 81.

The Voice of America, which has delivered news to countries all over the world for the better part of a century, has been largely silent for two months following an executive order by President Donald Trump. He believes Voice of America, and similar organizations like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, have reported with a liberal bias.

Most of VOA’s employees have been on administrative leave since mid-March amid reports that layoff notices were forthcoming.

Kari Lake, who has been overseeing the U.S. Agency for Global Media for Trump, outlined planned employment changes in a letter Tuesday to U.S. Sen. James Risch that was obtained by The Associated Press. Lake said Trump had directed the agency “to reduce the performance of its statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.”

Some VOA employees are fighting for the organization’s survival in court, and one of them — White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara — said Wednesday that it was absurd to think the staff could be cut to the levels Lake is suggesting.

“You can’t make staff this size produce content for a global audience of 360 million weekly,” Widakuswara said. “It’s comical if it weren’t so tragic. We’re not just losing our jobs and journalism, we are abdicating our voice and influence in the world.”

In April, a federal judge ruled that the administration illegally shut down VOA. But an appellate panel later said that a lower court did not have the authority to order that employees be brought back to work, keeping the agency in limbo.

In court papers filed last week, lawyers for Widakuswara and fellow plaintiffs said the administration made a cursory attempt to indicate that VOA was operational by broadcasting five minutes of content to three provinces in Afghanistan on May 27.

The Washington-area building where Voice of America has been operating has been put up for sale, while a lease has been canceled for a new building that the news operation was to move into, the court papers said.

Lake’s letter says the administration wants to keep 33 jobs overseen by her agency that broadcasts news to Cuba, along with two positions each to provide services to China and Afghanistan and in Farsi, the official language of Iran.

Lake announced last month that the pro-Trump news outlet One America News Network had agreed to provide a feed of its newscasts to VOA and other state-run services that broadcast in other countries. It’s not clear whether any OAN feeds have been used yet.

Bauder reported from New York.

​ Orange County Register 

Army leaders defend parade and border spending as Congress presses for answers

• June 5, 2025

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Army leaders on Wednesday defended spending as much as $45 million to add a parade to the service’s 250th birthday celebration on June 14 in Washington, saying it will help boost recruitment, as Congress members argued that the money could be better spent on troops’ barracks or other priorities.

Members of the House Armed Services Committee also said they are concerned that the Defense Department is shifting about $1 billion from a variety of accounts — including base housing — to cover the costs of shoring up the defense of the southern border.

Spending for the parade has become a flashpoint since it comes at a time when the Trump administration is slashing funding for personnel and programs across the federal government, including the Defense Department.

While the Army has long planned for a festival on the National Mall to celebrate its 250th birthday, the parade was just recently added. President Donald Trump has long wanted a military parade in the city, after seeing an elaborate one in France on Bastille Day during his first presidential term, and June 14 is also his birthday.

U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., questioned whether the additional cost of the parade was appropriate since all the military services are facing 8% budget cuts, and said perhaps it could be used to improve troops’ quality of life or warfighting capabilities. He prodded Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll on what he would prioritize if Congress wrote him a blank check for $45 million.

Driscoll replied that he thinks the parade offers a chance to tell the public about the Army. “I believe very specifically that telling that story will directly lead to a recruiting boom and will fill up our pipeline for the coming years,” he said.

At the same time, he and Gen. Randy George, chief of staff of the Army, told lawmakers that the service has now met its recruiting goal for the year — with 61,000 recruits. Army officials have predicted for months that they would hit the target early after making a series of changes to recruiting programs, recruiters and policies over the past several years.

That prompted Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., to ask why the parade was needed for recruiting if it’s already surging.

Driscoll said the Army believes the parade “will empower an entire new generation of America’s youth to catch the spirit to serve their nation.”

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc., defended the parade spending, saying “you cannot put a price tag on patriotism.”

House members on both sides of the aisle pressed the Army about a recent request to shift money from across the budget to support the southern border. The biggest concern, they said, is that it takes money away from base housing, which has been plagued with persistent problems, including mold, rodents and raw sewage in barracks.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., agreed the nation needs a strong border, but said lawmakers worked for the past year on a broad effort to address the housing problems. “I feel like a decision was made that undermined this whole effort that we spent the last year doing.,” he said.

Pressed on the issue by Carbajal, George acknowledged that redirecting the money has an impact on the barracks.

“If we took $1 billion out of barracks, we would be able to fix less barracks,” he agreed, but also said, ”“You have to make choices, congressman.”

​ Orange County Register 

Domoic acid algae bloom is over, says Marine Mammal Care Center as it releases 4 sea lion pups

• June 5, 2025

The Marine Mammal Care Center, which has been struggling for nearly four months to keep pace with a toxic algae bloom that sickened and killed animals all along the California coast, celebrated the release of four sea lion pups back to the ocean Wednesday while also marking the end of the algae bloom.

Care Center officials said recent testing of ocean water showed no more signs of the domoic acid algae bloom that devastated marine life for 14 weeks.

“We had this toxic algae bloom that lasted 14 weeks, the longest ever on record — the one before that was in (2023) at 8 1/2 weeks,” Marine Mammal Care Center CEO John Warner told CBS2 during a morning event to release the four sea lion pups. “The length of time, the toxicity of the algae, the multi-toxin algae event and just the mortality rate of this year’s event was by far the worst we’ve seen ever in Southern California.”

The four pups released by MMCC near the Venice Pier on Wednesday morning did not suffer from the toxic algae, but two were malnourished and two others had shark bites. But they were treated by the center at a time when it was overwhelmed with marine life sickened by the bloom. Hundreds of animals such as sea lions, pelicans, whales and dolphins fell prey to the illness, known as domoic acid toxicosis.

“Watching elephant seal pups return to the ocean today was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we show up for each other — across species, agencies, and communities. We were especially happy to see Sprinkles and Brownie, and all of the pups, go back home where they belong,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement. “The Marine Mammal Care Center has done extraordinary work under incredibly challenging conditions, and LA County will continue to show up for them — and for the wildlife and coastline we all share.”

Authorities said consumption of the toxin can cause seizures, aggressive behavior, lethargy, dehydration, vomiting and even death in a variety of marine mammals, dolphins and seabirds. Multiple incidents were recorded in recent months of animals such as sea lions acting particularly aggressive toward beachgoers. Other animals were seen lying listlessly on beaches.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion brought by Horvath to provide $100,000 to the Marine Mammal Care Center to support its response to the bloom.

The motion noted that the organization had cared for at least 410 marine mammals so far in 2025 as of early May, but its annual budget only accommodates 300 animals.

Authorities said center staff wound up treating more than 500 animals during the first several months of the year, while fielding thousands of calls on its hotline about sick animals.

‘This motion delivers critical support to the frontline responders rescuing and caring for these animals, while also helping us prepare for a future where these events will be more frequent and more severe due to climate change,” Horvath said in a statement when the funding motion was approved last month. “We must act urgently and continue to invest in solutions to protect both public health and our coastal ecosystem.”

In an telephone interview with City News Service, Warner noted the naturally occurring bloom is exacerbated by human impacts such as climate change. January’s wildfires also contributed to this year’s bloom, he added.

“The fire retardant, we were told, is basically fertilizer that would feed the algae, similar to the way it would feed your lawn,” Warner told CNS. “Algae is a type of plant, and a fertilizer material, nitrate, a rich organic material is food for plant life, including algae.”

He also highlighted a “preparedness campaign” — a plan made in partnership with the county to support the MMCC’s work.

“The bloom is now in the rear view mirror. But we have to be prepared for these blooms to keep coming,” said Warner, noting that the blooms could happen again in the same calendar year.

“We need to make sure that we are prepared — that we have the capacity to respond in a timely manner and in a thorough manner, not only because the animals deserve it … but for public safety and the public health of visitors to the beach,” he added.

Warner encouraged visitors and residents to stay away from animals who may be experiencing symptoms as a result of the toxin. He noted that some people will get close to those animals for pictures, and others might try to help.

According to Warner, animals experiencing seizures should not be placed in the water because it could result in them drowning. Warner said it’s best to contact the MMCC hotline at 1-800-39-WHALE, or find a lifeguard who will know what to do.

“The message is, ‘We love our wildlife, but we don’t want to love them to death,’” Warner said.

​ Orange County Register