States absorb big increases in Medicaid for sicker-than-expected enrollees after COVID-19 pandemic

• February 8, 2025

By MARC LEVY

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — States are absorbing substantial increases in health care costs for the poor, as they realize that the people remaining on Medicaid rolls after the COVID-19 pandemic are sicker than anticipated — and costlier to care for.

In Pennsylvania, state budget makers recently unveiled the scale of that miscalculation, with Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro proposing an increase of $2.5 billion in Medicaid spending in the next fiscal year.

That amounts to a roughly 5% increase in overall state spending, mostly driven by the cost to care for unexpectedly sick people remaining on the state’s Medicaid rolls.

Costs went up partly because some people put off medical treatment during the pandemic, Shapiro’s administration said. As a result, their conditions worsened and became costlier to treat.

“The delays in health care access have had a significant impact on this population — a lack of access to general and specialty care; delayed procedures; avoidable hospital stays and emergency department visits; development of comorbidities; and a lack of preventative medicine as a whole,” Shapiro’s administration said.

The Alliance of Community Health Plans last fall asked the federal government to review Medicaid reimbursement rates in Pennsylvania and a handful of other states that it said were unrealistically low and relying on outdated claims data that showed a relatively healthier population of Medicaid enrollees.

The alliance’s members — typically nonprofit insurers that have hospital systems and state Medicaid contracts — in several states were “facing an existential threat” from low reimbursement rates, said Dan Jones, the alliance’s senior vice president for federal affairs.

Analysts say that pandemic-era protections that prevented states from disenrolling people from Medicaid had helped to cloak the relative sickness of those who would remain enrolled after states began reevaluating recipients’ eligibility.

Federal pandemic aid ended just as the average cost per recipient began rising.

“Over the course of last year, I heard that from states and from Medicaid directors and others that they were worried about it,” said Edwin Park, a research professor for the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.

All states are seeing higher-than-expected per-Medicaid beneficiary costs, Park said.

Surveys from KFF last fall found that most responding states expected a Medicaid budget shortfall — a big change from prior surveys — and that most states reported seeking federal approval to increase reimbursement rates because enrollees were sicker than anticipated.

In Indiana, lawmakers last year imposed cutbacks after the state found that it had underestimated its Medicaid costs by nearly $1 billion.

In Pennsylvania, the $2.5 billion projected Medicaid cost increase will be a big pill to swallow in a state with a slow-growing economy and a shrinking workforce that is delivering relatively meager gains in tax collections.

Tax collections are projected to rise by less than $800 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, and Republican lawmakers are wary about spending down the state’s roughly $10.5 billion surplus for fear of depleting it within a few years.

Pennsylvania’s Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Martin, R-Lancaster, said the pandemic amounted to a “pause button” on improving the efficiency of the state’s Medicaid program because billions in federal aid helped pay for it.

President Donald Trump’s first administration reshaped Medicaid by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Martin said he’ll be interested to see whether the new Trump administration will give states more flexibility to put cost-saving limits on the program.

“These are big chunks of the budget that have impacts on your ability to do everything else on both sides, the federal side and the state side,” Martin said.

Follow Marc Levy on X at: https://x.com/timelywriter

​ Orange County Register 

Postal supervisor in Costa Mesa admits stealing more than $300,000 in checks and gold, currency

• February 8, 2025

A U.S. Postal Service Supervisor from the Costa Mesa Post Office has admitted to stealing more than $250,000 in checks and $40,000 worth of gold coins and currency from the U.S. mail, federal prosecutors announced on Friday, Feb. 7.

Joivian Tijuana Hayes, 36, of Compton pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail matter by a postal service employee and one count of unlawful transfer, possession and use of means of identification.

Hayes, as part of her plea deal, admitted to stealing mail from the Costa Mesa Post Office on Adams Avenue beginning in early 2024, including checks she forged and deposited in her own bank accounts.

That includes at least 20 checks worth approximately $284,000, prosecutors said, and $3,000 in postal money orders. At times while depositing the money at an ATM, Hayes was caught on security footage wearing a blue t-shirt with the USPS logo.

A search of Hayes’ residence turned up multiple gold coins and bills of U.S. currency that people had sent through registered mail. Those items reportedly included a $1 bill dating back to 1917 that had a sticky note on it listing its value as $675, prosecutors said, as well as a $100 bill from 1914 valued at $4,500 and a $10 Confederate States of America bill.

Federal agents during the search of Hayes’ home also found various gold pieces — including one worth $1,600 — and a U.S. Treasury check for $2,599, according to the plea deal.

Hayes is scheduled to return to federal court for sentencing on May 23.

​ Orange County Register 

19 states sue to stop DOGE from accessing Americans’ personal data

• February 8, 2025

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE, Associated Press

Nineteen Democratic attorneys general sued President Donald Trump on Friday to stop Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department records that contain sensitive personal data such as Social Security and bank account numbers for millions of Americans.

The case, filed in federal court in New York City, alleges the Trump administration allowed Musk’s team access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system in violation of federal law.

The payment system handles tax refunds, Social Security benefits, veterans’ benefits and much more, sending out trillions of dollars every year while containing an expansive network of Americans’ personal and financial data.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, was created to discover and eliminate what the Trump administration has deemed to be wasteful government spending. DOGE’s access to Treasury records, as well as its inspection of various government agencies, has ignited widespread concern among critics over the increasing power of Musk, while supporters have cheered at the idea of reining in bloated government finances.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office filed the lawsuit, said DOGE’s access to the Treasury Department’s data raises security problems and the possibility for an illegal freeze in federal funds.

“This unelected group, led by the world’s richest man, is not authorized to have this information, and they explicitly sought this unauthorized access to illegally block payments that millions of Americans rely on, payments for health care, child care and other essential programs,” James said in a video message released by her office.

James, a Democrat who has been one of Trump’s chief antagonists, said the president does not have the power to give away American’s private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.

Also on the lawsuit are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

The suit alleges that DOGE’s access to the Treasury records could interfere with funding already appropriated by Congress, which would exceed the Treasury Department’s statutory authority. The case also argues that the DOGE access violates federal administrative law and the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine.

It also accuses Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of changing the department’s longstanding policy for protecting sensitive personally identifiable information and financial information to allow Musk’s DOGE team access to its payment systems.

“This decision failed to account for legal obligations to protect such data and ignored the privacy expectations of federal fund recipients,” including states, veterans, retirees, and taxpayers, the lawsuit says.

The Treasury Department has said the review is about assessing the integrity of the system and that no changes are being made. According to two people familiar with the process, Musk’s team began its inquiry looking for ways to suspend payments made by the U.S. Agency for International Development, which Trump and Musk are attempting to dismantle. The two people spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

Separately, Democratic lawmakers are seeking a Treasury Department investigation of DOGE’s access to the government’s payment system.

Also, labor unions and advocacy groups have sued to block the payments system review over concerns about its legality. A judge in Washington on Thursday temporarily restricted access to two employees with “read only” privileges.

Associated Press writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

12 of the best investing books, from deep dives to lighter reads

• February 7, 2025

By James Royal, Ph.D., Bankrate

As you’re learning how to invest, one of the best strategies for advancing quickly is to learn from the masters. Rather than repeating the same old mistakes of new investors, it’s useful — and it saves money — to gain the insight and wisdom of the experts. For the cost of a book, you could save thousands of dollars by making smart investing decisions and avoiding dumb ones.

Below are some of the best investing books. Some are deep dives that have stood the test of time and continue to reward new readers with the wisdom of investing masters. Some are lighter reads that tell more recent stories from other voices and offer different perspectives.

Deep dives: Investing books that zoom in

1. “The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing”

“The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham is like a shorter, more readable version of Graham’s other famous book, “Security Analysis” (co-authored with David Dodd). Graham is considered the father of value investing, an investing style where practitioners are looking to buy $1 for $0.75 or less, and he was a key mentor for legendary investor Warren Buffett, who contributed to a later edition. Here Graham shows you how to think sensibly about investing and how to avoid the mistakes of so many inexperienced investors.

First published in 1949, “The Intelligent Investor” has many versions from decades past, but recent editions with editor Jason Zweig offer modern commentary that provides perspective on more contemporary events.

Amazon rating: 4.7 stars

Notable quote: “To achieve satisfactory investment results is easier than most people realize; to achieve superior results is harder than it looks.”

2. “You Can Be a Stock Market Genius: Uncover the Secret Hiding Places of Stock Market Profits”

“You Can Be a Stock Market Genius” by Joel Greenblatt is a modern classic, and it showcases how to find stocks that are hidden by superficial events, such as spin-offs. First published in 1997, it’s become a relatively quick favorite of current investors due to its easy-to-read style, practical examples and humor. Yes, humor! In his inimitable prose, Greenblatt gives you all the details on how to uncover these hidden gems.

For example, using the book’s approach, readers would have been able to track PayPal, before it spun off from parent eBay in 2015, and then proceeded to return 400 percent to investors over the next five years.

Amazon rating: 4.5 stars

Notable quote: “Even after you learn where to look for new ideas, the notion that you can cover even one-tenth of these special corporate events is a pipe dream.”

3. “Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits and Other Writings”

This classic investing book is another focused on practical examples that show readers how to find attractive stocks that could earn them seriously huge returns. Author Philip Fisher is a giant in the investing world, and he reveals many of his secrets in this book, including the qualities to look for in an attractive business.

First published in 1958, “Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits” still offers so much wisdom that contemporary readers continue to cite Fisher’s work today. One of Fisher’s classic techniques is called the scuttlebutt method, in which he advises investors to see what a company’s rivals say about it, in order to assess the company’s competitive position.

Also worth noting, Warren Buffett says that his own investing approach is a combination of Benjamin Graham’s and Fisher’s — it’s hard to receive higher praise than that!

Amazon rating: 4.6 stars

Notable quote: “Even in those earlier times, finding the really outstanding companies and staying with them through all the fluctuations of a gyrating market proved far more profitable to far more people than did the more colorful practice of trying to buy them cheap and sell them dear.”

4. “Beating the Street”

“Beating the Street” is another gem, and it showcases in plain English — and with a no-nonsense style — how to pick winning stocks. It’s written by Peter Lynch, the longtime fund manager for Fidelity’s Magellan fund, and one of the most highly regarded investors on the planet. Lynch runs you through some of his own investments at the fund, and shows you where he succeeded and even where he failed, with a kind of ego-less good humor that feels rare on Wall Street.

Originally published in 1992, this book follows up on Lynch’s bestseller “One Up on Wall Street,” and shows you how to use your experience in daily life to find winning stocks. For example, if you see friends start to buy a new product, its producer could be an attractive stock purchase, and this approach has been called the Lynch method for finding stocks.

Amazon rating: 4.6 stars

Notable quote: “My diaries are full of such missed opportunities, but the stock market is merciful — it always gives the nincompoop a second chance.”

5. “Margin of Safety: Risk-Averse Value Investing Strategies for the Thoughtful Investor”

“Margin of Safety” by Seth Klarman is something of a legend in the world of investing books. Klarman, now a billionaire, published the book in 1991, and it’s remained a holy grail since then. That’s because the book is scarce — it’s never been reprinted, and sellers regularly ask more than $1,000 a copy. The book details Klarman’s conservative, value-based approach to investing, using the principle of margin of safety. That is, he advises you to buy an asset at such a sufficiently low price relative to its probable worth that it would be hard to lose money.

Amazon rating: 4.4 stars

Notable quote: “Successful investors tend to be unemotional, allowing the greed and fear of others to play into their hands.”

6. “Investing in REITs”

If you’re interested in investing in real estate in the public stock market, then you’ll want to read Ralph Block’s “Investing in REITs.” REITs are real estate investment trusts, and they’re among the most popular kinds of stocks because of their typically large dividends and attractive long-term record of returns. This book is quite popular among REIT investors and those learning the field, and it’s already on its fourth edition, after first being published in 1998. Block distills his decades of investing in REITs into the key qualities you need to look for in the sector.

Amazon rating: 4.4 stars

Notable quote: “REITs give you the steady and predictable cash flow that comes from owning and leasing real estate, but with the benefit of a common stock’s liquidity.”

Lighter reads: Investing books that zoom out

1. “The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success”

“The Outsiders” is a fantastic read, even if you’re only somewhat interested in investing. That’s because author William Thorndike narrates the stories of eight unconventional CEOs — Katharine Graham of The Washington Post, Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway and Bill Anders of General Dynamics to name a few — who go against the grain and create outstanding returns for their shareholders. It’s all about how rational decision-making, despite conventional wisdom, leads to excellent outcomes. While not solely about investing, “The Outsiders” may be the most engaging for readers of all kinds because of its style. It also may be the best book to start with if you’re first learning about investing.

Amazon rating: 4.6 stars

Notable quote: “When their stock was cheap, they bought it (often in large quantities), and when it was expensive, they used it to buy other companies or to raise inexpensive capital to fund future growth.”

2. “Get Good With Money: 10 Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole”

Former preschool teacher Tiffany Aliche was cruising along financially and had even built a nest egg — until bad investing advice and a recession wiped out her savings and left her in debt. Aliche turned her finances around and began sharing what she had learned as a financial educator.

In the bestselling “Get Good With Money,” Aliche outlines how she set herself up for future success through comprehensive financial planning and building wealth. Aliche also highlights the supporting characters in investing. That is, all the things that can make investing more feasible and allow you to put more money into the market, such as budgeting, raising your credit score and paying off debt.

If you’re looking for a 10,000-foot view with a good dose of investing, this book may be for you.

Amazon rating: 4.8 stars

Notable quote: “Financial wholeness doesn’t stabilize just one aspect of your financial life but all aspects of your financial life.”

3. “The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns”

In “The Little Book of Common Sense Investing,” mutual fund trailblazer and Vanguard founder John Bogle makes the case for why index funds are the simplest, most effective way to build wealth. First published in 2007, Bogle uses real-world examples to discuss returns and investor sentiment over time and builds the argument for investing in index funds, which offer instant diversification with low costs. Bogle updated the book in 2017 to include new chapters on retirement investing and asset allocation.

Amazon rating: 4.7 stars

Notable quote: “Index funds make up for their lack of short-term excitement by their truly exciting long-term productivity. The TIF (traditional index fund) is designed to be held for a lifetime.”

4. “The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness”

Award-winning author Morgan Housel lays out 19 short stories in “The Psychology of Money” that delve into how people think about money and how their thinking impacts their wealth. Housel explores how investing and personal finance decisions are often guided by more than just math — and how a patient investor with no professional training can out-invest a finance professional. If you have a good grip on foundational investing concepts or want to explore the behavioral side of investing, this book is a solid choice.

Amazon rating: 4.7 stars

Notable quote: “The fascinating thing about these stories is how unique they are to finance. In what other industry does someone with no college degree, no training, no background, no formal experience, and no connections massively outperform someone with the best education, the best training, and the best connections? I struggle to think of any.”

5. “The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life”

Compiled from letters written to his daughter, author JL Collins shares his investing experiences and advice in his bestselling book “The Simple Path to Wealth.” In the book, Collins — who has been called the godfather of the financial independence movement — explains how the stock market works, analyzes traditional investing advice, offers his take on investing and details the mechanics of investing. A revised edition comes out this spring.

Amazon rating: 4.7 stars

Notable quote: “Stop thinking about what your money can buy. Start thinking about what your money can earn.”

6. “The Little Book that Still Beats the Stock Market”

“The Little Book that Still Beats the Stock Market,” which is also by Joel Greenblatt, explains how investors can outperform market averages by applying a formula that seeks out solid businesses when their stocks are being sold at bargains. But don’t let the jargon intimidate you. Greenblatt first explores basic market principles and then reveals the formula for value investing using middle-school math and plain language. This book is a great option for those looking to take their investing skills to the next level or those who want a shorter take on value investing.

Amazon rating: 4.5 stars

Notable quote: “Choosing individual stocks without any idea of what you’re looking for is like running through a dynamite factory with a burning match. You may live, but you’re still an idiot.”

Bottom line

Reading about investing is one of the highest-return activities you can do. Not only can you learn about how to approach investing smartly from some of the world’s best investors, you can avoid some of the pitfalls that can sink you early on in your journey. As Warren Buffett famously said, “Rule No. 1 is never lose money. Rule No. 2 is never forget Rule No. 1.”

©2025 Bankrate online. Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

The ‘fabric’ of the Lakers are showing their value

• February 7, 2025

LOS ANGELES — Maybe if it was earlier in the season, the Warriors’ mid-game strategy against the Lakers on Thursday would’ve led to a successful comeback.

Before Gabe Vincent’s role on the team increased. Before the acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith. Before Jarred Vanderbilt’s return to the floor.

But there Vincent was, not backing down when getting tangled up with Draymond Green late in the second quarter, with Finney-Smith by his side.

“They just tried to pick up their physicality,” Vincent said. “They had other players that started [to] chirp and they started to make a few plays and their physicality picked up.”

And there Vanderbilt was, face-to-face with Kevon Looney after Looney’s hard foul against Vanderbilt after his offensive rebound and putback attempt after the Warriors cut the Lakers’ 26-point second-quarter lead to seven midway through the third.

“Personally, I love physicality,” Vanderbilt said. “So I love when those [types] of nitty-gritty games and I feel like we [were] up big in the first half and they upped the physicality on us to try to change the game a little bit.”

Maybe if the Lakers hadn’t turned a corner in the season like they have, they would’ve allowed the Warriors’ uptick in physicality to completely turn the game in Golden State’s favor.

But that didn’t happen – with the Lakers relinquishing most of their lead, but never trailing in the second, beating the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena for their fourth consecutive victory, eighth win in nine games and 10th victory in 12 games.

“I love how we responded,” Vanderbilt said. “We [were] able to fight back and bring that level of physicality. That’s what it’s about, hard-fought games. We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game and we [were] able to pull out with a win.”

Those moments, among others, helped make it evident as to why the Lakers wanted to ensure they kept the “fabric of the team”, as coach JJ Redick put it to describe Vincent, Vanderbilt, Finney-Smith and Rui Hachimura, together coming out of the NBA’s trade deadline Thursday.

Because they provide the Lakers with characteristics that they need – toughness; scrappiness.

“Rob and I have had a number of conversations about that group of players and we feel like culturally, they are the fabric of the team,” Redick said. “And they help us on the court, they help us in the locker room, they help us in their spirit. They are professional. They are consistent. Those are the guys you want to coach and we value all of those guys a lot.”

More often than not, those values aren’t fully reflected in a traditional box score.

But on Thursday, some of it was.

Vincent knocked down five 3-pointers, the most he’s made in a game as a Laker, while also being one of the main defenders against Warriors star Steph Curry.

Finney-Smith added seven points, three rebounds and two steals in 33 minutes, the most he’s played since the Lakers acquired him at the end of December.

Vanderbilt added five points, 14 rebounds (four offensive) and three assists in 21 minutes – the most playing time he’s received since returning to the floor in the Jan. 25 road win over the Warriors.

‘Those two guys specifically, they breathe life into me on the defensive end a lot,’” Vincent said of Finney-Smith and Vanderbilt. “Whether it’s their communication or their effort that they’re putting forward. There’s a number of inspiring plays that happen within 48 minutes, whether it’s a box out or rebound, a loose ball. And those two guys, they embody the small plays that are winning plays that we need. So they’re inspiring guys every single night.”

Hachimura had a game-best individual plus/minus of plus-12 to go with his 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

“That’s our job,” Vanderbilt said. “To be the glue guys, to be the dogs, to be the enforcers, whatever it takes. Obviously we got two great stars, three great stars. They lead the pack for us. So everybody else has got to fill in, do the dirty work and fill in the holes. That’s our job.”

PACERS AT LAKERS

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV/radio: ESPN, Spectrum Sportsnet/710 AM

​ Orange County Register 

How to watch the 2025 Super Bowl

• February 7, 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs are less than a week away from trying for a historic Super Bowl three-peat, while the Philadelphia Eagles are the only remaining team that can stop them.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are back in the NFL title game — which will be on Sunday in New Orleans — after beating the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in a thrilling AFC championship game. They’ll face Philadelphia and star running back Saquon Barkley, who ran for three touchdowns as the Eagles beat the Washington Commanders 55-23 in the NFC title game.

The upcoming Super Bowl is a rematch of two years ago, when the Chiefs edged the Eagles 38-35 in Glendale, Arizona. Last year, Kansas City beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in Las Vegas. No team has ever won three straight Super Bowls.

Here are a few more things to know as the Super Bowl approaches:

What time is the Super Bowl?

It will start at roughly 6:30 p.m. EST on Feb. 9.

What channel is the Super Bowl on?

The game will be aired on Fox. Kevin Burkhardt will be the play-by-play announcer with former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as the analyst. This is Brady’s first Super Bowl as an announcer. He won seven titles as a player. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi are also part of the broadcast team.

What are the streaming options for the Super Bowl?

Some of the options include Fubo, NFL+ and Tubi.

Who is the Super Bowl favorite?

The Chiefs are favored by 1 1/2 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Who is performing at the Super Bowl halftime show?

Kendrick Lamar will be the headliner for the halftime show.

The rap megastar, who has won 17 Grammys, said he’s looking forward to bringing hip-hop to the NFL’s championship game, where he performed as a guest artist with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Eminem in 2022.

Lamar will be joined on stage by Grammy winner SZA — his former Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate. The singer appeared on Lamar’s recent album “GNX” and was featured on a couple of songs including “Gloria” and “Luther,” which also features sampled vocals from Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn.

The duo’s previous hits include the Oscar-nominated “All the Stars” and “Doves in the Wind.” Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show.

Who is singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl pregame will have some Louisiana flavor: Jon Batiste will hit the stage to sing the national anthem, while Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle are slated to perform “America the Beautiful.”

Ledisi will perform “ Lift Every Voice and Sing ” as part of the pregame performances.

The national anthem and “America the Beautiful” will be performed by actor Stephanie Nogueras in American sign language. Otis Jones IV will sign “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and the halftime show will be signed by Matt Maxey.

The pregame performers are all Louisiana natives.

​ Orange County Register 

Driver gets 6 years for deadly hit-and-run at Laguna Hills hotel

• February 7, 2025

A Mission Viejo driver who fled from a deadly collision in the parking lot of a Laguna Hills hotel was sentenced on Friday, Feb 7, to six years in prison.

Andrew Austin Arbuckle was convicted last year of hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury related to a July 16, 2020 crash that killed 22-year-old Fabio Castro at The Hills Hotel on La Paz Road.

Castro — a horse groomer who lived in Atascadero — was staying at the hotel while taking part in a horse show in San Juan Capistrano. Arbuckle struck and killed Castro while dropping someone off at the hotel, according to court records.

Witnesses saw a grey or silver Chevrolet pickup truck drive over what they initially thought was a speed bump but that turned out to be Castro’s body.

Arbuckle’s girlfriend told police that when he arrived at her home the night of July 16 Arbuckle had told her that he had hit something and that someone had stepped out in front of him, according to prosecution filings. He also told her, using an obscenity, that he was finished, prosecutors said.

The girlfriend also reportedly told investigators that the afternoon of July 16, prior to the fatal collision, she had been bartending and had served Arbuckle and his friends several buckets of beer. Surveillance footage at the bar the girlfriend worked at showed Arbuckle having four drinks over the course of two hours, prosecutors wrote in court filings, and cell phone records also tied Arbuckle to the vicinity of the hotel at the time of the hit-and-run.

According to a sentencing brief filed by the defense, Castro was either walking or riding a bike across the parking lot toward the entrance of the hotel when he was struck by the pickup.

Arbuckle later testified that he had thought he hit a speed bump, the defense attorney said.

​ Orange County Register 

Dolly, the oldest rhino in the US, has died at a Tennessee zoo at age 56

• February 7, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The oldest rhinoceros in the United States has died at a Tennessee zoo. Dolly was 56 years old.

In a social media post Thursday, Zoo Knoxville said Dolly was euthanized after her mobility declined significantly in recent days despite receiving old-age medical care for some time. The decision was made by Dolly’s veterinary team with the help of specialists from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.

The experts determined there were no treatment options left that could maintain Dolly’s quality of life, the zoo’s post said.

“This is an emotional time for everyone who has cared for and loved Dolly,” Bill Street, president and CEO of Zoo Knoxville, said in the post. “She was a remarkable animal, and her impact on this zoo and the people who have met her is immeasurable. Our priority was her comfort and dignity, and we take comfort in knowing she was surrounded by the people who knew her best.”

Dolly was born in 1968 in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in South Africa. She was one of the first white rhinos at the Knoxville zoo, where she had lived since 1976. The southern white rhino raised 10 calves throughout her life and could be fiercely protective of them, in addition to being stubborn, the zoo said.

“But in her retirement years, Dolly has softened considerably. She fills her days with grazing and good naps in the sand,” the zoo’s website says.

The median life expectancy for southern white rhinos is 36.5 years, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Though white rhinos are the most common of the rhino species, their numbers are still shrinking. According to the zoo, there were about a half-million rhinos worldwide at the start of the 20th century. Today, there are only 27,000 rhinos, about 17,000 of which are southern white rhinos.

Some 10,000 rhinos in Africa and Asia have been illegally killed for their horns in the last decade, the zoo says.

​ Orange County Register