A new review has raised more questions about a $780,000 loan from a Baton Rouge company to a state official who helped oversee a program designed to plug abandoned oil wells.
The loan — used to help Johnny Adams and his wife, East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council member Laurie Adams, buy a house — was one of several “concerning” financial arrangements that led state government to terminate its agreement with the Louisiana Oilfield Restoration Association earlier this month, according to records.
The 171-page report, done for the state natural resources department, states LORA misrepresented how it was spending money and how much it had. It found the company paid questionably high fees to separate companies that share the same ownership.
It also details the $780,000 loan that LORA made through Chromos Wealth Solutions, a company with the same owners as LORA and registered to the same address — to Johnny Adams, who has since resigned from his post as assistant commissioner of conservation
The report states Johnny and Laurie Adams used a “prohibited transaction” to provide collateral to secure the loan. And it says the loan did not include adequate terms to ensure repayment and the mortgage wasn’t filed in court as it should have been.
John McLindon, an attorney representing the Adamses, said the report doesn’t prove any wrongdoing, arguing the money borrowed was properly secured by significant assets and didn’t have to be filed in court.
“The vast majority of this report focuses and comments on LORA. The small portion of the report that discusses John Adams confirms
ä See REPORT, page 7A
LSU President Tate heading to Rutgers
Interim leader set before nationwide search begins
BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
LSU President William Tate IV is departing for Rutgers University in New Jersey, officials said Monday, a major shake-up that comes as Louisiana’s flagship public university celebrates record enrollment and research growth but also threats to its federal funding.
“LSU, its students, faculty, staff, and supporters are all incredible and inspirational. You will forever stay in my heart.”
WILLIAM TATE IV LSU president
Tate took the helm of LSU in 2021, becoming the first Black president of that university or any in the Southeastern Conference. Last year, Tate received a threeyear contract extension and a raise. He would have earned a $500,000 bonus if he stayed on until his contract ended.
After he steps down on June 30, LSU’s Vice President for Agriculture Matt Lee will serve as interim president while the university conducts a national search for a permanent president, LSU officials said.
On Monday, Rutgers’ governing board appointed Tate as the public university’s new president beginning July 1. The board chair called Tate “a scholar, an innovator and a transformative force,” while New Jersey Gov Phil Murphy called him “the ideal leader and educator for the job.”
“It’s an honor to be in this position,” Tate told the Rutgers board Monday, adding that he would not be there “if it was not for an opportunity at LSU.”
In a statement shared by LSU, Tate said it was “a distinctly difficult decision” to leave the university he’s led for the past
ä See LSU, page 5A
Legislature considers bill to allow abortion drug lawsuits
Lawmakers seek to target medical providers
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
Pregnant women in Louisiana and some of their family members
would be allowed to sue anyone who helps provide drugs meant to induce an abortion under a proposal being considered by the Legislature
It’s part of a larger effort by antiabortion lawmakers to limit the use of drugs such as mifepristone and misoprostol for abortions in Louisiana. Supporters say the legislation would provide more tools to pursue out-of-state doctors who prescribe
drugs for abortion, which is illegal in Louisiana. But opponents are worried it could lead to messy litigation weaponized against pregnant or previously pregnant women House Bill 575 would give the mother of an unborn child, the biological father and grandparents
legal standing to file a civil lawsuit against “any person or entity who performs, causes, or substantially facilitates an abortion regardless of whether the abortion resulted in the death of the unborn child.”
ä See ABORTION, page 7A
BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS
Ship underway less than 5 minutes before crash
The Mexican navy tall ship that struck the Brooklyn Bridge had departed less than five minutes before its masts crashed into the historic span, according to a timeline laid out by investigators Monday Less than a minute before the Cuauhtemoc training vessel sped backward into the bridge on Saturday, a radio call went out asking for help from any additional tugboats in the area.
Brian Young, the National Transportation Safety Board’s chief investigator of the deadly crash, said the ship had reached 6 knots by the time is struck the bridge, which is roughly 6.9 mph. The call asking for assistance from other nearby tugboats was made approximately 45 seconds before the crash.
Officials didn’t say where the call asking for assistance from other boats came from.
It also remains unclear whether a mechanical problem, weather or any other issues played a role NTSB officials said they have not yet been granted permission to board the ship and they have not yet interviewed the captain or the tugboat and harbor pilots who were on the scene during Saturday’s crash.
“This is a start of a long process. We will not be drawing any conclusions. We will not speculate,” said NTSB member Michael Graham.
First aid trucks enter Gaza Strip
But allies threaten Israel with sanctions, urge more
Many crew members on the tall ship have flown home from New York, officials said Monday BY
Train strikes family on railroad bridge, killing 3
FREMONT Ohio
Two women and a 5-year-old girl died after a train struck the family members while they were on a railroad bridge over a northern Ohio river, authorities said Monday Crews equipped with sonar had been scouring the Sandusky River through the night before they found the girl’s body Monday near the bridge, said Fremont Mayor Danny Sanchez.
The family from Fort Wayne, Indiana, had been on a fishing trip along the Sandusky River, and they were on the bridge Sunday night when the train came onto the span, Sanchez said. A 1-year-old girl was rescued and was in critical condition, city officials said Monday
It’s not clear whether the train hit all four or whether some may have jumped or were thrown into the river to avoid the locomotive, Sanchez said.
The details of what happened were still under investigation, Sanchez said.
The railroad bridge is not meant for pedestrians and was marked with no trespassing signs, the mayor said. He said he did not think the family was fishing off the bridge at the time the train approached.
City officials identified the victims as Ram Masan, 50; O Ny Zar, 34; and Intisar Mi, 5; all of Fort Wayne. The two women who died were a mother and her adult daughter the mayor said.
Man avoids jail for trying to sell stolen gold toilet
LONDON A man who tried to help a burglar cash in from the theft of a golden toilet valued at $6.4 million was spared jail on Monday after a British judge said he had been taken advantage of by the thieves.
Frederick Doe, 37, also known as Frederick Sines, was given a suspended sentence at Oxford Crown Court for his role in helping to sell the 18-carat gold fully functioning toilet which was taken in 2019 from Blenheim Palace — the country mansion where British wartime leader Winston Churchill was born.
“Those responsible for this audacious heist, five individuals could be seen on CCTV, were clearly intent on disposing of their ill-gotten gains quickly,” Judge Ian Pringle told Doe. “You foolishly agreed to assist.”
The toilet was part of a satirical art installation, titled “America,” by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, whose work of a banana duct-taped to a wall was sold in 2024 for $6.2 million at auction in New York. The toilet weighed just over 215 pounds.
TIA GOLDENBERG, SAMY MAGDY and WAFAA SHURAFA
Associated Press
TEL AVIV Israel The first few aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday following nearly three months of Israel’s blockade of food, medicine and other supplies, Israel and the United Nations said, as Israel acknowledged growing pressure from allies including the United States.
Five trucks carrying baby food and other desperately needed aid entered the territory of over 2 million Palestinians via the Kerem Shalom crossing, according to the Israeli defense body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza, COGAT.
The U.N. humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, called it a “welcome development” but described the trucks as a “drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed.”
Food security experts last week warned of famine in Gaza. During the latest ceasefire that Israel ended in March, some 600 aid trucks entered Gaza each day
Fletcher said an additional four U.N. trucks were cleared to enter Gaza. Those trucks may enter Tuesday, COGAT said.
Fletcher added that given the chaotic situation on the ground, the U.N expects the aid could be looted or stolen, a growing problem as resources became increasingly scarce.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his decision to resume “minimal” aid to Gaza came after allies said they couldn’t support Israel’s new military offensive if there are “images of hunger” coming from the Palestinian territory
Shortly after Israel announced the first trucks entered Gaza, the U.K., France and Canada issued a sharply worded joint statement calling the aid “wholly inad-
equate.” They threatened “concrete actions” against Israel, including sanctions, for its activities in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and called on Israel to stop its “egregious” new military actions in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the joint statement and called it “a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7.”
Israel over the weekend launched a new wave of air and ground operations across Gaza, and the army ordered the evacuation of its second-largest city, Khan Younis, where a massive operation earlier in the 19-month war left much of the area in ruins.
Israel says it is pressuring Hamas to release the remaining hostages abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war Hamas has said it will only release them in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.
Netanyahu repeated Monday that Israel plans on “taking control of all of Gaza.”
He has said Israel will encourage what he describes as the voluntary emigration of much of Gaza’s population to other countries — something that Palestinians have rejected.
In a video statement, Netanyahu said Israel’s “greatest friends in the world” had told him, “We cannot accept images of hunger mass hunger We cannot stand that. We will not be able to support you.”
The Trump administration, which has voiced full support for Israel’s actions and blames Hamas for deaths in Gaza, has expressed growing concern over the hunger crisis. President Donald Trump — who skipped Israel on his trip to the region last week — voiced concern, as did Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Netanyahu’s video statement appeared aimed at pacifying anger in his nationalist base at the decision to resume aid. Two far-right governing partners have pressed Netanyahu not to allow aid into Gaza.
President aims to unite GOP before key votes on tax cut bill
BY KEVIN FREKING, LISA MASCARO and LEAH ASKARINAM Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump will look to build momentum for his sweeping tax cut and immigration bill on Tuesday, taking a trip to Capitol Hill to address House Republicans as they try to work out their differences before a planned floor vote later this week.
Trump will attend the GOP’s weekly conference meeting, according to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet made public
Republicans can afford only a few defections to get the bill through the House, and it’s clear differences remain. Some deficit hawks are insisting on quicker cuts to Medicaid and green energy programs before giving their full support. Others are seeking a large increase in the state and local tax deduction.
Trump has been pushing hard for Republicans to unite behind the bill, which would enact many of his campaign promises. The bill carries his preferred title, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
House Republicans narrowly advanced the sprawling 1,116-page package in a rare weekend vote late Sunday, but just barely as GOP leaders promise more negotiations ahead.
“The bill does not yet meet the moment,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a leader of the House Freedom Caucus, in a social media post immediately after the late-night session. “We can and must do better before we pass the final product.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday it’s “absolutely essential” that Republicans unite and pass the bill so that Trump can deliver on the
agenda.
Leavitt said Americans gave Republicans a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to “course correct our country” and “there is no time to waste.”
Republicans criticizing the measure argued that the bill’s new spending and tax cuts are front-loaded in the bill, while the measures to offset the cost are backloaded. In particular, they are looking to speed up the new work requirements that Republicans want to enact for able-bodied participants in Medicaid. They also want to more quickly end tax breaks for green energy projects being used nationwide
Majority Leader Steve Scalise said on CNBC Monday that work requirements for some Medicaid beneficiaries would begin in early 2027, a big change from the 2029 start date that is currently in the bill.
Scalise, R-Jefferson, said GOP leaders are looking to give the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr Mehmet Oz, the time he needs to implement the work requirements, but would be “moving that date up dramatically.”
Late last week, the House Budget Committee failed to advance the package when four conservative Republicans objected. But it was able to do so Sunday on a vote of 17-16, with the four holdouts voting “present” to allow it to move ahead, as talks continue.
Speaker Mike Johnson, who met late Sunday with lawmakers ahead of voting, indicated he wants to impose the work requirements “as soon as possible” but acknowledged it may take states longer to change their systems.
“There will be more details to iron out and several more to take care of,” Johnson, R-Benton, said outside the hearing room.
Justices let Trump strip protections from Venezuelans
350K with Temporary Protected Status could face deportation
BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans, potentially exposing them to deportation.
The court’s order, with only one noted dissent, puts on hold a ruling from a federal judge in San Francisco that kept in place Temporary Protected Status for the Venezuelans that would have otherwise expired last month. The justices provided no rationale, which is common in emergency appeals.
The status allows people already in the United States to live and work legally because their native countries are deemed unsafe for return due to natural disaster or civil strife.
The high court’s order appears to be the “single largest action in modern American history stripping any group of noncitizens of immigration status,” said Ahilan Arulanantham, one of the attorneys for Venezuelan migrants.
“This decision will force families to be in an impossible position either choosing to survive or choosing stability,” said Cecilia Gonzalez Herrera, who sued to try and stop the Trump administration from revoking legal protections from her and others like her
“Venezuelans are not criminals,” Gonzalez Herrera said.
“We all deserve the chance to thrive without being sent back to danger,” she said.
The ramifications for the hundreds of thousands of people affected aren’t yet clear, Arulanantham said.
Mariana Moleros, her husband and their daughter left their native Venezuela in September 2005 after receiving death threats for their open political opposition to the socialist govern-
ment. They came to the United States hoping to find peace and protection and requested asylum, but their application was denied. They were temporarily granted TPS but now they live in fear again — fear of being detained and deported to a country where they don’t feel safe.
“Today we are all exposed to being imprisoned in Venezuela if the U.S. return us,” said Moleros, a 44-year-old Venezuelan attorney who lives in Florida. “They should not deport someone who is at risk of being assassinated, torture and incarcerated.”
A federal appeals court had earlier rejected the administration’s request to put the order on hold while the lawsuit continues. A hearing is set for next week in front of U.S. District Judge Edward Chen, who had paused the administration’s plans. In a statement, Homeland Security called the court’s decision a “win for the American people and the safety of our communities” and said the Biden administration “exploited programs to let poorly vetted migrants into this country.”
“The Trump administration is reinstituting integrity into our immigration system to keep our homeland and its people safe,” said spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said she would have rejected the administration’s emergency appeal. The case is the latest in a string of emergency appeals President Donald Trump’s administration has made to the Supreme Court, many of them related to immigration and involving Venezuela. Earlier this month, the government asked the court to allow it to end humanitarian parole for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, setting them up for potential deportation as well.
Displaced Palestinians flee Monday from Khan younis, Gaza, amid the ongoing Israeli military offensive in the area.
Trump: Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talkstostart
Presidentspeaks to Putin, Zelenskyy in separate calls
BY ZEKE MILLER, JOSH BOAK and KATIE MARIE DAVIES Associated Press
WASHINGTON Russiaand Ukraine will “immediately”begin ceasefire negotiations, PresidentDonald
Trump said Monday after separate calls with the leaders of both countries meant to spur progress toward ending the three-year war The conversations did not appearto yield amajor breakthrough. It was not clear when orwhere any talks might take place or who would participate. Trump’sannouncement camedays after the firstdirect engagement between Russian and Ukrainian delegations since 2022. Those negotiations on Friday in Turkey brought abouta limited exchange of prisoners but no pause in the fighting Aheadofthe calls,the White House said Trump had grown “frustrated” with both leaders over the continuing war.Vice President JD Vance said Trump would press Russian President Vladimir Putin to see if he was truly interested in stopping the fighting, and if not, that the U.S. could disengage from tryingtostop theconflict. Trump later told reporters that he believedPutin was serious
aboutwantingpeace.
“Theconditions for that will be negotiated betweenthe two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of anegotiation that nobody elsewould be aware of,” Trump said in asocialmedia post
Trump said the call with Putin was “excellent,” adding, “If it wasn’t,I wouldsay so now, rather than later.”
Trump has struggled to enda war that beganwith Russia’sinvasion in February 2022, asetback for his promises to quickly settle theconflict once he wasbackin the White House, if not before he took office.
“He’sgrown weary andfrustrated with both sides of the conflict,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday before thecalls. “He has made it clear to both sides that he wants to seea peaceful resolution andceasefire as soon as possible.”
The Republican president is banking on theideathathis force of personality and personal history with Putin will be enough to break any impasse over apause in the fighting. He dangledthe prospect of reduced sanctions and increased
trade withRussiashouldthe war end. After the call, Putin saidRussia was ready to continue discussing an endtothe fighting aftera “very informative andvery frank” conversation withTrump.Putin said the warring countries should“find compromises that would suit all parties.”
Moscow, he said,will“propose and is ready to workwith” Ukraine on a“memorandum”outlining the framework for“apossible future peace treaty.”
Butindicating that littlehad fundamentally changed about his demands, Putinsaid: “At the same
time, Iwould like to note that, in general, Russia’s position is clear The main thing for us is to eliminate the root causes of this crisis.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that he reaffirmed to Trumpthat Ukraine is readyfor afull and unconditional ceasefire. He urgedthe international community to maintain pressure on Moscow if it refuses to halt its invasion.
“Ukraine doesn’tneed to be persuaded —our representatives are readytomake real decisions. What’sneeded is mirrored readiness from Russia for such resultoriented negotiations,”Zelenskyy
said.
RussianpresidentialadviserYuri Ushakov,who previously served as Russianambassador to theU.S., described the conversation as friendly,with Trumpand Putin addressing each other by their first names.
“Trump said, ‘Vladimir,you can pick up the phone at any time, and Iwillbehappy to answer andspeak with you,’”hesaid.
Ushakov also said Trump and Putin could meet face-to-face at some point, but no timeline wasset. Putinand Trump also talked about aRussia-U.S. prisoner exchange,whichUshakov said was “inthe works” andenvisioned Moscow and Washington releasing nine people each. Ushakov did notoffer any other details.
Speaking before thecall, Vance said Trump could walk away from trying to end the war if he feels Putin isn’tserious about negotiation. “I’d say we’re more thanopen to walking away,” Vancetoldreporters before leaving Romeafter meeting with Pope Leo XIV.Vance said Trump has been clear that the U.S. “is not going to spin its wheels here. We want to see outcomes.”
Zelenskyy, whospoke to Trump one-on-one before the Putin call and then jointly with Europeanleaders after,told reporters that he emphasized to Trumpthat no decisions should be made about Ukraine without involving Kyiv.Healso said that he discussed the potential for “serious sanctions” on Russia.
Democratic representative chargedafter skirmish at ICEcenter
Official:Case droppedagainst Newark mayor
BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER,
ERIC TUCKER and MIKE CATALINI Associated Press
WASHINGTON Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver is beingcharged with assault after askirmish with federal officers who arrested the Newark mayor outside an immigration detentioncenter,New Jersey’stop federal prosecutor announced Monday Interim U.S. Attorney
Alina Habba onsocialmedia announced the charge of assaulting,impeding or interfering with lawenforcement, but court papers providing details were notimmediately released or publicly available online At thesame time, Habba announced that her office was dismissing amisdemeanor case brought against Newark MayorRas Baraka, who was arrested afterheattempted tojoin McIver and two othermembers of New Jersey’s congressional delegation inspecting the facility in their oversight capacity.Habba said the de-
cision was reached “for the sake of moving forward”and said she hasinvited the mayor to tour the Delaney Hall detention center and will join him herself.
“The citizens of New Jerseydeserve unified leadership so we can get to workto keep ourstate safe,” Habba said in astatement
McIver’sattorney, PaulFishman, the former U.S. attorney forNew Jersey, issued astatement calling the decision to charge McIver “spectacularly inappropriate,” saying she went to DelaneyHall “todoher job” and shehas the responsibil-
Singer says Sean Combsthreatened herlifeafter shewitnessed beating
BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRYNEUMEISTER Associated Press
NEWYORK— Singer Dawn Richard told jurors at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial on Monday that the hip-hop mogul threatened to kill her if she told anyone she saw him physically abusing his longtime girlfriend.
Richard testified that Combs made the threat the day after she witnessed the Bad Boy Records founder punch and kick Casandra “Cassie” Ventura after taking aswing at her with a skillet. Richard said he told her and another woman who saw the attack that “we
could gomissing” if they didn’tstayquiet. AssistantU.S. Attorney Mitzi Steiner asked Richard what she took “we could go missing” to mean. “That we could die,”Richard responded, saying she was shocked because all of this happenedjustasshe was beginning to record with Diddy —Dirty Money, amusical trio withCombs and another R&B singer. Richard disclosed the alleged threat as shereturned to thewitness standtokick off thesecondweek of testimony in Combs’sex traffickingand racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court. Combs, 55, is accused of exploiting his entertain-
ment power broker status to abusewomen, including Cassie, throughthreats and violencefor twodecades from 2004 until hisarrest last September.Hehas pleaded not guilty. Hislawyers arguethat prosecutors compiled proof of domestic violence, but not thefederal crimes he’scharged with.
Before day’send,Cassie’s bestfriend of 17 yearsand aformer personal assistant to Combs testifiedthatshe felt trapped as prosecutors tried to uncover proof that Combs was operating a criminal racketeering organization that relied on employees to help him control Cassieand other women in his life.
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ity as amember of Congress to oversee U.S. Immigration andCustoms Enforcement’s treatment of detainees “Rather than facilitating that inspection, ICE agents chose to escalatewhat should have been apeaceful situation intochaos,” Fishman said. “This prosecution is an attempt to shift theblame for ICE’sbehavior to Congresswoman McIver.Inthe courtroom, facts— not headlines —will matter.”
Anearly two-minute clip released by the Homeland Security Departmentshows
McIveronthe facilityside of achain-link fencejustbefore thearrest of themayor on the street side of thefence. She and uniformed officials go through the gate and she joins others shouting “surround the mayor.” The video shows McIver in atightly packed group of people and officers. At one point herleftelbowand then her right elbow push into an officerwearinga dark face covering and an olive green uniform emblazoned withthe word “Police” on it McIver and the two other Democrats —Bonnie Watson
Coleman and Robert Menendez Jr.—have denied any wrongdoing and had accused federal agents of escalating the situation by arresting the mayor “There’snovideo that supportsmebodyslamming anyone,” McIver said in a recent CNN interview.“We were simply theretodoour job. It was avery tense situation. It unfortunately did not have to be like that. They created that confrontation. They created that chaos andthenultimatelywentto arrest the mayor.”
Trump
Zelenskyy
McIver
SPUTNIK PHOTO By VyACHESLAVPROKOFyEV
RussianPresidentVladimir Putin speaks Mondaytojournalists at the Sirius Park of Science and ArtoutsideSochi,Russia, after his phone call withPresident Donald Trump.
Hundreds join manhunt after N.O. jailbreak
BY JULIA GUILBEAU Staff writer
As a small army of law enforcement agents nabbed their fourth New Orleans jail escapee on Monday, a federal official warned it could take months to round all five remaining men up — an outcome that an expert said is almost all but certain.
After 10 New Orleans inmates broke out in a blockbuster escape, officials from at least eight local, state and federal agencies have joined in an intricate investigation focused on sifting through tips from the public, following those leads and interviewing friends and family of missing inmates, several of whom were jailed for violent crimes, officials said.
Authorities made some headway Monday evening, recapturing Gary C. Price, the 21-year-old charged in May with attempted murder, after tracking him down in New Orleans East But Antoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald, Leo Tate, Derrick Groves and Corey Boyd are still at large.
“It may drag into next month.
To be honest with you, it may drag into July,” said U.S. Deputy Marshal Brian Fair “But we’re hoping to make some headway sooner rather than later.”
More than 200 law enforcement personnel have joined in the manhunt, which is now being led by Louisiana State Police. Among the other agencies involved are
the FBI, the New Orleans Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, Orleans Parish Levee Board Police and New Orleans Harbor Police.
Fair said that authorities remain confident that all of the prisoners still on the run will be recaptured.
History is in their favor. In the U.S., the vast majority of escaped inmates are recaptured quickly, according to one study
More than 90% of escapees are returned to jail within a year Of those returned inmates, 82% were recaptured within a week, accord-
ing to Bryce Peterson, a senior scientist at CNA’s Center for Justice Research and Innovation who coauthored a 2023 study on escapes and recaptures.
More than 99% of inmates are recaptured within six months.
What makes New Orleans’ most recent jailbreak challenging though, Peterson said, is the lag time before anyone knew those prisoners were missing. Almost eight hours elapsed between the brazen escape and a morning headcount by jailers that turned up the breach.
Still, given their notoriety, Peterson expects the inmates to have
difficulty remaining hidden.
“For what we’re seeing here in New Orleans, it would be highly unlikely for them to either remain on the lam for a long time or to be able to just move to another state and restart their life,” Peterson said.
The search has been split into teams, with different agencies assigned to individual escapees. The manhunt is said to have stretched across state lines.
“With the extra amount of escapees, it does make it more difficult, because a bunch of information is flowing in,” Fair said. The U.S. Marshal Services’ New Orleans Task Force, responsible for fugitive investigations in the city, is working through tips called in by the public, he said.
Fair declined specifics about the investigation, citing risks to the search.
Peterson said it is generally common for law enforcement to start their search with family members of the inmate or witnesses in the accused’s case.
Agencies are known to utilize specializes tools to assist with their investigations, such as facial recognition cameras and even heat-sensing technology, as in the 2023 case of a Pennsylvania escapee who was recaptured after a 13-day manhunt.
Facial recognition helped police nab the first recaptured escapee, Kendell Myles, 20, who was awaiting trial on accusations that he carjacked and shot a man in Uptown New Orleans after escaping from youth detention
Robert Moody, 21, was arrested about 7:30 p.m. in the 3500 block of Second Street in Central City
Dkanen Dennis, 24, was detained shortly afterward in the 6200 block of Dale Street in New Orleans East.
Despite the intense focus and scrutiny that New Orleans’ most recent jailbreak has wrought, Peterson said escapes are a much more common phenomenon — one that often goes unnoticed by the public.
“There’s hundreds if not thousands of escapes that happen every single year in the United States,” Peterson said, adding that a majority happen at minimumsecurity prisons.
According to Peterson’s 2016 study violence or other criminal acts committed in escape incidents typically occur during the breakout itself.
Recorded violence in the community, which accounted for everything from a fight to murder, occur with less than 1 in 10 of the escapes that Peterson and his coauthors scrutinized.
However, the Orleans Parish jail escape “has the elements that make it more inherently dangerous to the community,” Peterson said, citing the fact that many of the escapees were in the Orleans jail for murder or other violent felony charges.
“So of course, the longer they’re out of custody, the more opportunity there is for them to commit violence,” Peterson said.
Both Peterson and Fair encouraged residents to continue being vigilant. Anyone with tips can call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or (877) 903-7867 or texting TELLCS to 274637. The FBI can be reached at (800) 225-5324. Staff writer John Simerman contributed to this story
four years. He previously was the provost at the University of South Carolina for less than a year
“LSU, its students, faculty, staff, and supporters are all incredible and inspirational,” he said. “You will forever stay in my heart.”
Several other top LSU administrators have recently stepped down, including Provost Roy Haggerty whom Tate hired early on as his de facto second in command. Gov Jeff Landry suggested on Monday that Tate also had been considering leaving LSU for awhile.
“Thisisevidentlysomething that President Tate has been looking at for sometime,” he said in a statement. “I thank him for his service and wish him well at Rutgers!”
Tate arrived at LSU at a precarious moment for the university, as it grappled with the fallout of the COVID pandemic and accusations that it mishandled sexual assault allegations.
He quickly made it a goal to expand LSU’s research activity and five focus areas for research: food production, health, the coast and climate change, defense and energy The gambit appeared to work. The university led a coalition that nabbed a U.S. National Sci-
ence Foundation grant last year worth up to $160 million — the largest ever awarded by the federal agency And it recently announced that research activity at LSU surpassed $540 million last academic year, a record amount that was nearly $200 million higher than in 2020.
LSU has also shattered enrollment records during Tate’s tenure, reaching nearly 42,000 students last fall across its eight campuses and online. The university has heavily recruited students from other states as a way to broaden its pool of high-achieving applicants, raise revenue and boost the school’s national profile.
Some Louisiana lawmakers have raised concerns that local students will be crowded out, but Tate has argued that out-of-state students, who pay higher tuition, help subsidize financial aid for Louisiana residents while expanding the state’s future workforce.
“What I always say is we’re the biggest in-migration tool in the state of Louisiana,” he said last month.
Meanwhile, Tate had to navigate dramatic policy shifts after Landry, a hardright Republican, became governor last year and President Donald Trump returned to office this year
Landry and Republican lawmakers prodded the state’s public universities to dismantle programs that promote diversity, equity
and inclusion, or DEI, and to end what Landry called the silencing of conservative voices on campuses. Last year LSU removed some diversity messages from its website and renamed its “inclusion” office.
Those pressures have intensified under Trump, who has sought to slash highereducation funding, crack down on campus protests and eliminate diversity programs.
Earlier this year, Tate enacted a universitywide hiring freeze and other belttightening measures, citing “unpredictable and unprecedented federal funding changes.” The university also has had to make offers to graduate students contingent on adequate funding.
“That’s a very precarious situation because you’re talking about the most talented students in the country,” Tate said last month. “You’re basically telling them they have a conditional opportunity to go to our school.”
Despite the challenges, Tate has maintained the support of LSU’s Board of Supervisors, even after Landry replaced most of its members.
“We are saddened by President Tate’s departure but grateful for the deep and meaningful impact his leadership left on the LSU enterprise over the last four years,” board Chair Scott Ballard said in a statement “We wish him well on his
journey and will always consider him a Tiger.”
Tate’s interim successor will step in July 1.
Lee, who is also dean of LSU’s agriculture college, oversees agriculture research and education at the college and the university’s AgCenter He previously held several leadership positions at LSU, including interim executive vice president
and provost. With a doctorate in sociology from LSU, Lee is a criminologist and public health expert specializing in rural crime and community development. Prior to LSU, he was on the faculty at Mississippi State University, where he was affiliated with the Rural Health, Safety, and Security Institute.
“Matt’s long-term commit-
ment to LSU, paired with his research and leadership expertise, made him the obvious choice to lead the LSU enterprise through this transitional phase,” Ballard said, adding, “I can’t imagine a better person to steer us through this time.”
Email Patrick Wall at patrick.wall@theadvocate. com.
SouthernGlazer’sopens
Geismar operation
Southern Glazer’s, the largest wine and spirits distributor in the country,has opened anew distribution center in Geismar
About 120 peoplework at the 375,000-square-foot distribution center at 6602 IndustrialDrive. It consolidated operations at Southern Glazer’sLafayette and St. Rose distribution centers into one location that will service the entire state.
The center will allow Southern Glazer’stoserve all of its Louisiana customers with next day delivery,Ron Flanary,senior vice president of national operations said in astatement.
Southern Glazer’sisthe 10th largest private company in the U.S., with 24,000 employees and $26 billion in revenue for 2024 according to Forbes.
The company distributes 8,600 brands with3,000 trucksinits fleet, according to acompany fact sheet. And it orchestrates 7.1 million customer deliveries annually to more than 250,000 customers.
Capital Onecompletes
$35B Discoverpurchase
Capital One finalized its $35.3 billion purchase of Discover on Sunday,completing acredit card mega-mergerannouncedmore than ayear ago. Nothing will immediately change for Discover customers, according to anews release issued Sunday by Capital One.
In fact, people with Capital One credit cards will likely see theearliestimpacts.Previously, Capital One has partnered with Visa and Mastercard, which are almost universally accepted. However,those cards are expected to switch to Discover. Though Discover has expanded its reach, particularly in the U.S., it is still not accepted in all the places that take Visa and Mastercard.
“At this time, Capital One and Discover customer accounts and banking relationships remain unchanged,” Capital One said in anews release. “Customers will be provided with comprehensive information in advance of any forthcoming changes.”
Capital One and Discover announced the deal in February 2024, with Capital One purchasing all outstanding shares of Discover stock for aslight premium. CBS News CEO quits as Trump suit deal looms CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon said Monday that she is resigning after four years, the latest fallout at thenetworkas its parent company considers settling alawsuit with President Donald Trump over a“60 Minutes” interview with his former political opponent.
McMahon, who has led both the network news division and news for the CBS-owned stations, said in an email message to staff that “it’sbecomeclear that thecompany and Idonot agree on the path forward. It’stime to move on and for this organization to moveforward with new leadership.”
McMahon hasmade clearshe opposessettling with Trump justlike“60 Minutes”executive producer Bill Owens, who quit last month.
McMahon is aNew Orleans native who graduated from LSU in 1996 withabachelor’s degreein mass communication.
Trump has sued CBS, alleging it edited an interviewwith 2024 Democratic opponent Kamala Harris last fall to benefit her.CBS News hasdeniedthat. CBS’ parentcompany,ParamountGlobal, is in talks to potentiallysettle Trump’slawsuit. At the same time, ParamountGlobal is seeking administration approval of a merger with Skydance Media. In addition to the tussle with Trump, Paramount’scontrolling shareholder,Shari Redstone, has expressed unhappiness over some network coverage of Israel’swar in Gaza,including a“60 Minutes” piece this winter. Paramount began supervising“60 Minutes” stories in new ways, including asking former CBS News President Susan Zirinskytolook over some of its stories before they aired.
AAA predicts over 45 million people —1.4 millionmore than last year —will venture at least 50 miles from their homes overMemorial Dayweekend,with the vast majority going by car.The holiday’sprevious domestictravelrecord wasset 20 years ago.
HITTING THEROAD
Despiteeconomicconcerns,Americans areset on gettingawayfor Memorial Dayweekend
BY JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press
DALLAS Whether it’sa road trip to anearbylakeorjumping on a plane to explore abig city,Americans are expected to get away in recordnumbersover thelong Memorial Day weekend even as economicand technical worries rattle the U.S. travel industry
Over 45 million people —1.4 million more than last year will venture at least 50 miles from their homes betweenThursday andMonday,with thevast majority going by car,auto cluborganization AAA predicts. The holiday’sprevious domestic travel record was set 20 years ago.
AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said the analysts who prepared the forecast weren’tsure when theystartedtheir research if concerns about theeconomy would cause fewer U.S. residents to plan getaways for the unofficial start of summer,but it doesn’tseem to be the case.
“People are still feeling pretty good about travel,” Diaz said, addingthat some households and individuals may just opt tospend
less money on their trips.
Like last year,about 87% of travelers are driving to their Memorial Day destinations, AAA said. About 39 million people, or 1million morethan last year,are expected to takeroad trips, which Diaz noted many familiesfind easier and cheaper than flying.
“You leave whenever you want,” she said. “You can pack as much as you want in the car,make stops along the way.”
AAA’s fuel tracker shows motorists can expect to pay less for gasoline this year; the average price in LouisianaonSunday was $2.72 for agallon of regular gas compared with $3.13 ayear ago.
Rentingavehicle andstaying in ahotel also may cost less, accordingtothe most recent Consumer Price Index.
In 2024, theFriday beforeMemorial Day was amongthe record-setting days for thenumber of airline passengers screened at U.S. airports. While airports shouldbebusyagain this Friday, the outlook forair travel this year is unclear
Air safetyhas been on the minds of travelers after the dead-
ly midair collision in January of a passengerjet anda U.S. Army helicopter aboveWashington, D.C. In recent weeks, flight delays and cancellations stemming from an air traffic controllershortageand equipment failures at afacility that directs aircraft in and out of the Newark, New Jersey,airport have also madesomepeople wonder whethertoget on aplane.
Most major U.S. airlines said they planned to reducetheir scheduled domestic flights this summer,citing an ebb in economy passengers booking leisure trips. BankofAmerica reported this monththatits credit card customers were spending less on flightsand lodging.
Butananalysis by aviation data providerCirium of Memorial Day weekend tickets bought through online travel sites found an increaseofabout3%acrosstwo dozenU.S.airportscompared with last year
Bookings were down 10% for flightsatWashington Dulles International Airport and down9% forflights at NewarkLiberty InternationalAirport,according to Cirium’sdata.
Value drifts for U.S. dollar
BY STAN CHOE AP business writer
NEW YORK Afterrecoveringfrom
an initial jolt, U.S. stocks, bonds and the value of the U.S. dollardrifted througha quietMonday following the latest reminder that the U.S. government maybehurtling toward an unsustainable mountain of debt. The S&P 500 edged up after Moody’sRatings became the last of the three major credit-rating agencies to say theU.S.federal governmentnolonger deserves atop-tier “Aaa” rating. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq composite also inched up.
Moody’spointed to how the U.S. government continuestoborrow more and more money to pay for its expenses, with political bickering making it difficult to either rein in Washington’s spending or raise its revenueinorder to getits ballooning debt under more control. They’re serious problems, but nothing Moody’ssaid is new,and criticshavebeen railing against Washington’s inabilitytocontrol its debt formanyyears. Standard & Poor’slowered itscredit rating for the U.S. government in 2011. Because theissuesare so well knownalready,investors have likely alreadyaccountedfor them, according to Brian Rehling, head of global fixed income strategy and other analysts at Wells Fargo Investment Institute. They’re expecting “limited additional market impact” following the initial reactions to the Moody’s move.
The move by Moody’sessentially warns investors globally not to lend to theU.S.government at suchlow interest rates, andthe yield on the 10-year Treasury briefly jumped above 4.55% early Monday morning. That number shows how much in interest the U.S. government has to pay in order to borrow money for10years,and it wasupsharply from4.43% late Friday. But it later regressed to 4.45% as more calm returned to the market.
Theyield on a30-year Treasury bond briefly leaptabove 5% before likewise receding, up from less than 4% in September
Thedowngradeaddstoalong list of concerns that have already weighed on the market. Chief among them is President Donald Trump’strade war, whichitself has forced investors globally to question whether the U.S. bond market and the U.S. dollarstill deserve their reputationsassome of the safest places to park cash during acrisis.
The U.S. economyseemstobe holding up OK so far despite the pressures of tariffs, and hopesare high that Trump will eventually relent on his tariffs after striking trade dealswith othercountries.
That’sa major reason the S&P 500 has rallied back within 3% of its alltime high after falling roughly 20% below that market last month. But big companies have been warning recently they’re uncertain about the future.
BY MICHELLECHAPMAN Associated Press
Biotechnology company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is buying 23andMe for $256 million, two months after the genetic testing company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
In March 23andMesaid that it was looking to sell “substantially all of its assets” through acourtapproved reorganization plan. Its co-founder andCEO Anne Wojcicki also resignedfromthe toppost, but remained as aboard member 23andMehas faced an uncertain future for some time. Beyond battles to go private, the company struggled to find aprofitable business model sincegoing public in 2021. Privacy concerns related to customers’ genetic information
havealsoemerged,notably spanning from a2023databreach— alongwith questions around what new ownership could mean for users’ data.
The proposed transaction with Regeneronincludes23andMe’s personal genome serviceand total health andresearch services It does not includethe Lemonaid Health subsidiary,atelehealth services providerwhich 23andMe plans to wind down.
“Webelieve we can help 23andMe deliverand build uponits mission to help people learn about their own DNA and howtoimprove their personal health, while furthering Regeneron’sefforts to improve the health and wellness of many,” Regeneron co-founder, boardco-chair and Chief Scientific Officer GeorgeYancopoulossaidin
astatement. Regeneron said Monday that it will comply with 23andMe’s privacy policies andapplicable law, processall customer personal data in accordancewith the consents, privacy policies and statements, termsofservice,and noticescurrentlyineffect and have security controlsinplace designedtoprotect such data.
“Weare pleased to have reached atransaction that maximizes the value of the business and enables the mission of 23andMe to liveon, while maintaining critical protections around customer privacy, choice and consent with respect to theirgenetic data,” said Mark Jensen, chair and memberofthe special committee of 23andMe’s board. Regeneron will be keeping all of 23andMe’semployees, Jensen
added. As part of the court-supervised sale process, 23andMe required all bidders to guarantee that they will complywith its privacypolicies and applicable law
Regeneron said that its proposed deal aligns with 23andMe’sprivacy statement, but that acourt-appointed, independent consumer privacy ombudsman will also examine the transaction and any potential impact on consumers’ privacy.The ombudsman will presenta report to the court by June 10. Acourt hearing to consider approval of the transaction is currently scheduled for June 17. The deal, which still needs approval from the U.S.Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri,isexpected to close in the third quarter
ORLANDOSENTINELFILE PHOTO By WILLIE J. ALLEN JR.
what we have already said: John had an arm’s length transaction with Chromos Wealth Solutions,” McLindon said in an email.
McLindon called the transaction a bridge loan, adding that it was paid off early and with full interest. He and the Adamses declined to be interviewed.
Relationships in question
The new report sheds more light on matters revealed in a search warrant acted upon last year by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office and subject to an ongoing probe by the Legislative Auditor’s Office.
The report dives into LORA’s operations under a 2019 agreement with the natural resources department. LORA agreed to collect mandatory fees from well operators in exchange for paying to plug abandoned “orphan” wells. The agreement called for LORA to save $5 million in reserve funds for plugging wells and addressing future environmental hazards
That 2019 agreement bears signatures from Johnny Adams as notary and Laurie Adams as a witness. At the time of the agreement, Johnny Adams was responsible for the Office of Conservation’s legal services. He was later promoted to assistant commissioner
Johnny Adams was suspended with pay in October last year after sheriff’s deputies began investigating possible malfeasance in office related to the loan.
The recent report by Natural Resources Trust Authority Director John C. Shiroda questions the relationship between Johnny Adams and LORA.
A June 2022 email included in the report shows Johnny Adams directing state employees to develop procedures for LORA on plugging wells.
“I am unsure as to why Assistant Commissioner Adams was directing staff and using State resources to develop and provide procedures for LORA, as LORA had been chosen to establish the program and had already plugged wells,” Shiroda wrote.
A ‘red flag’ loan
Johnny Adams provided Shiroda with a copy of the promissory
Continued from page 1A
It would prohibit the father from bringing suit, however, “when the father impregnated the mother of the unborn child through an act of rape, sexual assault, or incest.”
Plaintiffs would have up to 10 years after the termination of the pregnancy to sue.
And they would be entitled to recover statutory damages of “not less than one hundred thousand dollars,” as well as punitive damages and damages for monetary losses and for pain and suffering.
The legislation defines the phrase “substantially facilitates” as “administering, prescribing, dispensing, distributing, marketing, advertising, promoting, or selling an abortion-inducing drug.” It would exempt from liability pharmacists who were filling prescriptions legally, licensed Louisiana health care providers who were trying to save the life of a mother or child during delivery and mental health professionals and advocates, so long as they weren’t promoting abortion.
The pregnant woman herself would also be exempt from liability
The measure, which advanced out of the House last week, is sponsored by Rep Lauren Ventrella, R-Central, and would be called the Justice for Victims of Abortion Drug Dealers Act.
Ventrella said the bill will allow the family members listed “to pursue an action against a medical provider who prescribes abortion drugs in violation of Louisiana law.”
Last year lawmakers added mifepristone and misoprostol to the state’s list of controlled dangerous substances. They also created the crime of “coerced criminal abortion,” when someone gives a pregnant woman an abortion-inducing drug without her consent.
This year’s legislation is needed, Ventrella said, be-
note for the loan he and his wife received to help them buy their current home. Shiroda concluded that “this financial agreement has multiple red flags.”
The couple used six separate financial accounts as collateral for the $780,000, the investigator found, three of which were individual retirement accounts.
That presents a problem, Shiroda wrote, because IRAs are effectively useless as collateral for a loan
“IRAs are protected by federal law from being seized to satisfy most debts,” he wrote. “A pledge of an IRA for a mortgage is considered a ‘prohibited transaction’ by the IRS.”
If the couple were to default on the loan, no one would be able to seize those funds, according to the report, which is why they are prohibited.
But the IRS never had a chance to catch it, Shiroda wrote, because a “collateral mortgage” — a formal record of the loan — was not filed in local courts, which also may have made the loan illegitimate.
“We cannot find a record of the mortgage having been recorded in either East Baton Rouge Parish or
cause there’s a “loophole” in state law that allows outof-state doctors to prescribe abortion drugs for pregnant women in Louisiana.
Ventrella referenced the case of New York Dr. Margaret “Maggie” Carpenter, who earlier this year faced indictment by a West Baton Rouge Parish grand jury and felony charges for prescribing abortion drugs that resulted in the termination of a Port Allen teenager’s pregnancy
That case against Carpenter is at a standstill because New York Gov Kathy Hochul has blocked Louisiana’s attempts to extradite her
“The overall purpose of this legislation is to send a message that we in the state of Louisiana are pro-life,” Ventrella said of this year’s effort. “And if doctors to come to our state and harm our people and our unborn children who we do recognize as life, then they need to think twice about coming into our state.”
Attorney General Liz Murrill is backing House Bill 575.
“There are activists who are intent on sending these pills to people through the mail,” Murrill said during a public hearing on the measure. “This bill provides for civil liability and allows another mechanism — it is another tool in the toolbox for people who are harmed by somebody who is intent on violating our laws.”
But during debate over the legislation on the House floor, some lawmakers raised concerns.
Rep. Candance Newell, D-New Orleans, asked Ventrella about the possibility of a mother’s medical records being subpoenaed during court proceedings.
Ventrella, who is an attorney, said it was unlikely that a mother’s medical records would be subject to a subpoena if she’s not a party to the litigation
“The judge is not gonna rule that medical records should be brought into the suit if there’s not a need for them,” Ventrella said.
Ascension Parish for the Promissory Note. A collateral mortgage must be recorded to be valid and enforceable, therefore the pledge was invalid,” he wrote.
If the mortgage had been recorded properly in the courts, “it is probable that the IRS would have flagged this,” Shiroda said.
But McLindon, the attorney for the Adamses, contends the nature of the deal makes Shiroda’s “red flags” irrelevant.
“Because the collateral was not Real Estate, it did not need to be recorded at the Clerk of Court’s office,” McLindon said in an email.
LORA’s president is Van Mayhall III, according to the report. Mayhall is also listed in state business filings as an officer of Chromos, along with Andrew Berthelot. Berthelot served as LORA’s treasurer and chief financial officer, according to Shiroda’s report.
Johnny and Laurie Adams’ two children were employed by two companies owned by the same people as LORA from 2022-23, according to state investigators. Mayhall and Berthelot did not respond to requests for comment.
But David LaPlante, of the Baton Rouge public relations firm Har-
“That’s why we elect good judges in this state.”
Newell, also an attorney, said she was worried the new rules could invite frivolous lawsuits
Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R-Metairie, called herself a “pro-life legislator” and noted that she “voted to criminalize the selling of these abortion pills.”
But said she was concerned about the prospect of “multiple other family members getting involved.”
Hilferty gave the example of a woman who had multiple miscarriages through no fault of her own, and said circumstances like that could “pull this woman and her medical records into a potential lawsuit.”
“That’s where my fear would be,” she said.
Ventrella responded: “You can’t just go suing people because you think somebody killed your unborn child. Frivolous lawsuits every day are dismissed.”
Rep. Brian Glorioso, RSlidell, an attorney who described himself as “pro-life,” said he was worried the law would create a situation of absolute liability, in which a plaintiff is not required to prove the defendant is at fault to collect damages.
“This bill is so legally atrocious that it is hard for me to go into all the reasons,” said state Rep. Mandie Landry D-New Orleans. “This is a plaintiff’s attorney dream bill, because you don’t have to prove anything.”
She described a hypothetical example where a woman’s ex-boyfriend — or his mother — decides to hire an attorney to sue his former girlfriend over an allegedly terminated pregnancy
Landry asked her colleagues: “How is he going to prove it was his, because it’s gone? The evidence is gone.”
The House approved the bill on 59-25 vote, with 20 members absent during the vote. The legislation will be considered by the Senate next.
ris, Deville and Associates, issued a brief statement on LORA’s behalf about the report and the termination of the agreement with state.
“LORA is proud of the good work it has done and will continue to do everything it can to support our operators during this transition,” LaPlante said.
Like Johnny Adams, Mayhall is also an attorney, according to the Louisiana State Bar membership directory Berthelot is a registered certified public accountant, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Wells and money outstanding
LORA made multiple investments with Chromos, according to the report, while the two companies are owned and run by the same people.
That opened up a scenario in which Berthelot and Mayhall may have used their positions to benefit themselves, Shiroda wrote, even though they were supposed to be managing the money on behalf of the state and oil companies.
“There could also be ‘self-dealing’ since Mr Berthelot and Mr Mayhall are fiduciaries for the funds held by LORA for the benefit of the State and operators via
the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for the issuance of a financial security, and appear to be dealing for their own personal interest,” he wrote.
Financial statements included in the report show that, in total, LORA loaned about $2.39 million to companies run by people who were also officers at LORA.
Those questionable practices — including LORA’s “lack of basic financial controls” — might have been avoided if the company had allowed the state to exercise more oversight, Shiroda wrote.
“Had LORA allowed the Louisiana Legislative Auditor to conduct regular audits since the inception of the pilot program, I believe that many of the issues that I uncovered may have been discovered earlier,” Shiroda wrote.
Shiroda stated that it is difficult to determine the legitimacy of LORA and Chromos’ investments.
“LORA was paying excessive investment management fees for self-directed investments with no written investment policy to firms and individuals that are not licensed or insured for investment services,” he wrote.
Johnny Adams resigned from his position in March, according to the natural resources department. Earlier this month, the agency terminated the agreement and demanded money from LORA for work the company had not completed, said natural resources spokesperson Patrick Courreges.
Of the 175 wells for which LORA took financial responsibility, more than 120 had still not been plugged by the end of 2024, according to state records.
In the termination letter, state officials said LORA’s current liability for work still due is about $28.3 million, much more than the $7.4 million the company reported having available at the end of 2024.
The department of natural resources, under new leadership since LORA was formed, cited “serious irregularities” in the original agreement. The agency said there was no adequate bidding process and the agreement was never submitted to the department’s finance team for approval.
The Legislative Auditor’s Office said Monday it is still actively investigating the matter and declined to comment further Email Patrick Sloan-Turner at patrick.sloan-turner@ theadvocate.com.
FILE PHOTO By GERALD HERBERT
Structures deteriorate at an orphan well site in the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge in Lottie.
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Boardopposes St.Georgeschooldistrict
BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
After two months of fruitless behind-the-scenes discussions, the East BatonRougeParish School Board isformally opposing, at least in current form, legislation to create aschool district to match the city of St. George.
The board on Monday voted narrowly in favor of aresolution opposing the legislation, saying,
Entergy wins access battle
Public Service Commissionends yearslongdebate
BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer
Entergy successfully beat back an effort Monday to invite more competition into Louisiana’spower sector,capping ayearslongfight with petrochemical companies that have raised concerns abouta spate of planned projects settocost billions.
The Louisiana PublicService Commission, which regulates power companies in most of thestate, ended the long-running debate Monday in a4-1 vote.
The commission has spent years debating whether to allow full —ormore realistically, limited —“retail access” in the power sector. The petrochemical companies supportingithave saidthat if they’re allowed to get more power without going through Entergy,they could save everyone money
Agroup representing some of Louisiana’sbiggest petrochemical companies warned at the meeting that Entergy is set to heap huge rate increases on customersinthe coming years. Entergy is retiring aseries of power plants builtinthe 1960s and ’70s at the same time that it’s courting power-hungry data centers andasthe state’spetrochemical sector grows.
ButEntergy countered that inviting in other providers would hurt the state’sability to attract newcompaniesseekinglow-cost power from existing utilities AndRepublican Commissioner Eric Skrmetta accused the other electricproviders pushing for more access to the market of greed, saying they would cost regular residents money if big companies were allowed to exit the Entergy system.
The commission’sstaff hasn’t yetdone afull data analysisto see whether that’strue.Lane Sisung, consultant for the PSC, said the docket being debated hinges on whetherindustrial customers could go around Entergy withoutcosting othercustomers moremoney.Ifthe docket had been allowed to go forward,staff would have collected data over thecoming months to evaluate whether costs would rise for other customers. “I can’tsit here today and give youananswer one way oranother,” Sisung said.
Former Commissioner Craig Greene, aBatonRouge Republican who stepped down last year,set thedebate in motion in 2019,whenhe
ä See ENTERGY, page 2B
as written it “would place unfair burdens on the remaining students and residents of the East BatonRouge Parish school system.”
Four of the nine board members were notreadytosupport theresolution, though theysaid they shared many of thesame concerns.
“I believe changes are coming andthatthisresolutionispremature,” said boardmember Emily
Soulé.
Board Vice President Mike Gaudetsaid he sat in twomeetings with the authors of the bills, anddespite promises, no amendments to the bill so far have been submitted.
“If we don’tdoitnow,there is no time to express ourviewson this,”Gaudetsaid.
“We’re trying to getour views to be given serious consideration,” he added.
The resolution offers two areas where the St.George legislation falls short: n Thelegislation’sfailure to cover St. George’sshare of an estimated$359 million in retiree healthinsurance costs that have accrued through the years, an unfunded liability“created with the full knowledge and voice of the representatives of the voters of St. George through their duly elected Board members.”The
legislation would create alegacy fund but only forpeople who retire from EastBaton Rougeand then are hired by St. George, a fund with “little to no value whatsoever”tothe parishschool system, according to the resolution. n Aprovision mandating in perpetuitythatEastBaton Rouge and St. Georgeenroll students in each other’srespective magnet programs. The resolution argues thatthe provision “usurps forever theability”ofbothschool
SPORTSTANDOUTS
39th Star of Stars honors BR-area athletes,coaches
BYREED DARCEY Staff writer
What separates the good athletes from thegreat ones at the highest level? As Eddie Kennisonconsidered that question, he stifled some tears. The answer, perhaps the key to his high school, collegiate and professional success,struck anerve.
“Here’show Ibelieve you separate yourself from anyone else,” Kennison said, “and it’ssimply my personal motto It says aman or aperson. …”
Then theformer LSU football and track star,a52-year-old Lake Charles native who played13seasons in the NFL, paused. He needed to collect his thoughts before he could continue with his Monday evening Q&A at L’Auberge Casino and Resort, where The Advocate held its 39th Star of Starsevent forBaton Rouge-area high school athletes and coaches.
“Sorry,I’m getting emotionalbecause Iloveitsomuch,” Kennison said.“It’s what you do and how you prepare, when no one is watching.”
Twoofthe night’shonorees took that advice to heart.
Aman and woman who died in separate crashes on Friday were acouple and parents of achild,an
official said Alexus Lee, 25, of Baton Rouge, died shortly after 2a.m.Friday in East Baton Rouge Parishas shewas drivingnorthonLa. 67, nearLemon Road. HerToyota Highlander went off the left side of the road, struck aculvert and overturned,State Police said. Almost two hours later,John Collins, 35, of Clinton, was traveling south on La. 67 near Idlewild Road when hisChevrolet Camaro failedtocompleteacurve,ran
off the left side of the road and struck atree.
“I knew them very well; they were wonderful people,”said District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla, whorepresents the20th Judicial District comprised of East and West Feliciana parishes. “They were acouple and had achild.”
Some have theorizedthatCollins was going to check on Lee when he crashed, butD’Aquilla said he could not confirm that Adual funeral will be at 11 a.m Wednesdayatthe East Feliciana STEAM Academy in Clinton, where Lee was ateacher Email Ellyn Couvillionat ecouvillion@theadvocate.com.
Aman shot and killed his ex-girlfriend Monday morning shortly after she called police for help, the East BatonRouge Parish Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies initially responded to acall from the woman, Kayelyn Ford, about 3:30 a.m. at her home in the 9800 block of Hooper Road in Central. She told deputies that she thought her ex-boyfriend was using an old keytoaccessher apartmentinthe Tanglewood Apartments complex. Court records show Ford received aprotective orderagainst Brandon Bell, 24, in April. Deputies searched theresi-
dence, and when they didn’tlocate anyoneinside, Ford told them that she and afriend would stay somewhere else for the time being. Minutes after deputies left the apartment, Bell emergedfrom anearby wooded area and ambushed Ford as she was leaving herapartment, authorities said. He shot and killed her and then shot himself,the Sheriff’sOffice said in anews release.
Authorities said Bell stole his grandparents’ vehicle in Ascension Parish and used it to travel to Ford’shome. Ford,22, was pronounced dead at the scene. Bell wastransported to ahospital.
PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS
Athletes of the year Elijah Haven, left, The Dunham Schoolquarterback, and Shaila Forman, aSouthernLab basketball player, hold their awardsMonday at The Advocate’sStar of Stars SportsAwards program.
CRIME BLOTTER staff reports
LeRoux guitarist Tony Haselden dies at 79
Musician leaves legacy of songs
BY JOHN WIRT
Contributing writer
Tony Haselden, the songwriter and guitarist who wrote and sang on LeRoux’s biggest national hit, “Nobody Said It Was Easy (Lookin’ for The Lights),” has died following a long illness. He was 79.
A native of South Carolina, Haselden died Friday in Thibodaux. He attended high school in Thibodaux and graduated from Nicholls State University with a psychology degree. In 1978, Haselden shelved plans to attend graduate school in Atlanta after singer-guitarist Jeff Pollard and keyboardist Rod Roddy invited him to join LeRoux. That same year, LeRoux released its major label album debut, “Louisiana’s LeRoux.”
Although “New Orleans Ladies,” a song on LeRoux’s first album, is the band’s most famous song on the Gulf Coast, the Haselden-written “Nobody Said It Was Easy” was LeRoux’s highest charting national hit, rising to No. 18 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1982. Following LeRoux’s temporary breakup in the 1980s, Haselden moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue songwriting in the country music capital.
“Tony had a great career in Nashville,” said Mark Duthu, LeRoux’s longtime percussionist. “Everybody loved him there.”
During his nearly 50-year writing career, Haselden wrote hundreds of songs, recorded by LeRoux and such country stars as Shania Twain, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Shenandoah, Keith Whitley Shelby Lynne, Collin Raye, Billy Ray Cyrus, Michelle Wright, Martina McBride and Doug Stone.
“Tony was extremely respected in Nashville,” said Jim Odom, Haselden’s LeRoux bandmate and co-writer “He’s famous for writing clever lyrics. Funny in an intelligent way His songs always have a twist in them. He was so good at writing lyrics that took you on a ride, a journey.”
Od om c omp li men ted
Haselden’s guitar playing, too, featured on LeRoux’s recordings
STARS
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one of the most coveted football recruits in the country won the Boys Athlete of the Year award, becoming the first sophomore to take home one of those honors since 2000. Southern Lab basketball star Shaila Forman, a senior who recently led the Kittens to their third Division IV select title in four seasons, was named Girls Athlete of the Year Haven collected over 3,000 yards and over 50 total touchdowns on the way to the Tigers’ runner-up finish in the Division III select playoffs.
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“He is not expected to make it,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
BRPD: Suspect in beating death takes own life
The suspect wanted in the beating death of a woman took his own life Sunday night, Baton Rouge police said Monday Casey Warren, 37, was wanted in the death of Elissia Thomas, 31, who died Sunday morning at a home in the 12100 block of Gerald Drive. Warren died of a self-inflicted gun wound outside the Baton Rouge city limits, police said.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation into Warren’s death, police said, but Baton Rouge police are still investigating the death of Thomas.
Forman averaged 22 points, five rebounds and two assists per game while she led Southern Lab to its second consecutive Louisiana High School Athletic Association title. She was named MVP of the Division IV select title game, the Advocate’s All-Metro MVP and — for the second time in three years — the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 1A MVP
Before she shined as a senior, Forman first had to spend a year rehabbing the season-ending knee injury she suffered as a junior The wait, however, was worth it. Especially because she worked hard — behind the scenes, away from the crowds just to make a
ENTERGY
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argued that offering customers more options could reduce costs Commissioner Davante Lewis, a Democrat was the only member who voted to keep the docket open, saying he wanted to see the commission evaluate all of its options
“I have not drawn any large conclusions in this docket because we simply don’t know what we don’t know,” Lewis said. “Now, we’re being asked to stop our work because of what it might find.”
Entergy had asked the commission to consider ending the docket earlier this year
The vote Monday clears the way for Entergy to continue as the dominant electric provider for Louisiana’s massive industrial sector, which consumes
Safe Place” and Haselden’s “Nobody Said It Was Easy,” reached the charts. A second RCA album, “So Fired Up,” followed in 1983.
and the studio sessions he produced in Nashville
“You could always count on him to come with something you weren’t expecting when it came to guitar parts,” Odom said.
A prolific career
LeRoux, an offshoot of Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown’s band, formed in Baton Rouge in 1977. The group released its self-titled album debut in 1978 via major label Capitol Records, followed by 1979’s “Keep the Fire Burning” and 1980s “Up,” also on the Capitol label.
LeRoux’s 1981 release, “Last Safe Place,” issued by RCA Records, became its highest-charting album Three songs from the latter project, “Addicted,” “Last
In LeRoux’s most commercially successful years, the band’s national TV appearances included “Solid Gold,” “The Midnight Special” and “Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert.” During its eight years of national touring, the band shared stages with the Allman Brothers, Wet Willie, Journey Kansas, Heart, the Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, ZZ Top and many more A greatest hits album, 1996’s “Bayou Degradable: The Best of Louisiana’s LeRoux,” inspired LeRoux’s return to performing. In 1997, the group filmed a special for Louisiana Public Broadcasting, “Louisiana’s LeRoux & Friends: Rockin’ the Nottoway.” The band resumed recording as well, its releases including “Brother to the Blues,” a Grammy-nominated 2006 project with Houma blues artist Tab Benoit.
Haselden and his wife Julia, left Nashville in 2008 to be closer to family in Thibodaux.
In the wake of Haselden’s death and LeRoux co-founder Leon Medica’s death last year the band will continue to perform.
“Tony would be upset if we stopped playing music,” Odom said.
In addition his wife, he also is survived by daughter Casey and son-in-law Peyton Lloyd.
Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. com
return to her sport’s largest stage even possible.
“A lot of times I had to wake up and get up for myself at 6 in the morning and get ready for physical therapy,” Forman said. “I had to find that push within myself because everybody don’t know what goes on behind closed doors and don’t know how to push through.
“I’ve been through a lot and showing that just because the work goes on behind the doors don’t mean that it’s not gonna go unnoticed.”
Next season, Forman will continue her playing career at Lamar Haven, the No. 1 sophomore quarterback in 247Sports’ composite recruiting rankings, will
huge amounts of electricity and creates huge amounts of emissions
The Louisiana Energy Users Group, which represents petrochemical companies seeking the ability to buy power from other providers, was the main driver of the push to invite in competition. It has long said that if the commission doesn’t evaluate other options, both commercial and residential users will be stuck with huge Entergy bills in the coming years as the company adds billiondollar, gas-fired power plants to its inventory driving up rates. The group is partly animated by a desire to more quickly build clean energy to make their products more attractive overseas.
“Entergy is pursuing unprecedented spending and rate increases,” said Randy Young, head of LEUG. Skrmetta, who sided with Entergy, launched into a lengthy
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districts “to manage and operate their respective school systems in a manner they deem appropriate” and, if enacted, could be altered only by returning to the Legislature. Instead, the school system says it’s open to a transition period where students could stay for a time in their current schools.
The two St. George school bills are on the agenda of the House Education Committee’s meeting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday
The opposition resolution approved Monday asks that committee and full House “delay any action on this bill until appropriate amendments can be made to address the above issues.”
Senate bills 25 and 234, sponsored by Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-St. George, and Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, have already advanced easily through the Senate.
SB234 is enabling legislation laying out the details of the proposed school district. It requires a simple majority to pass.
SB25, a proposed constitutional amendment, needs support from two-thirds of the Legislature. If lawmakers approve it, voters across the state would get a chance to cast ballots on April 18 to decide whether to add the St. George district to the state constitution. The amendment would need to pass with a majority vote of the entire state and the entire parish affected, in this case, East Baton Rouge. The parish School Board is careful to say in its resolution that it does not oppose the proposed public vote to create the new St. George school district. The vote in favor of the opposition resolution was 5-1, with three board members abstaining:
For: Board members Gaudet, Dadrius Lanus, Cliff Lewis, Carla Powell-Lewis and Shashonnie Steward. Against: Board member Mark Bellue. Abstain: Board members Patrick Martin V, Nathan Rust and Soulé.
If it comes to fruition, the new St. George school system would be the fifth public school district in East Baton Rouge Parish, joining Baker, Central and Zachary Its boundaries would match those of the city of St. George. In 2012 and 2013, similar legislation to create what was to be called the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School System died in the House. But with St. George now a reality after a bitter, yearslong incorporation effort, the prospects of forming a companion school district are substantially stronger
begin his junior year in search of the state championship that eluded him and his Dunham team in 2024.
If Haven and his teammates succeed, then everyone will see it.
What they won’t see is all the behind-the-scenes work required to realize that goal.
“That’s something I definitely stand by,” Haven said, “my work ethic and what I do when no one’s watching. Honestly, it’s just a great honor This is a testament to my hard work and the ability to God has given me.”
Email Reed Darcey at reed darcey@theadvocate.com.
attack on a group of power companies who have backed a lobbying campaign to evaluate more options. The companies, including Calpine, Constellation and NRG, want more opportunities to enter Louisiana’s market and formed Amplify Louisiana, which has run TV ads encouraging the PSC to continue looking at retail access. Exelon, which previously owned Constellation, was implicated in a bribery scheme in Illinois several years ago.
“These are top-tier corporate tycoons who want to come to Louisiana and operate outside the law,” Skmretta said. Gordon Polozolo, a representative of Amplify, argued that there was no harm in simply evaluating whether the commission could find a better path forward for industrial customers.
“If the commission ultimately finds the status quo is fine, keep the status quo,” he said.
Lanus was the most outspoken in opposition, saying he could not understand why any board member wouldn’t support the resolution, that St. George leaders need to be held to account.
“All you have to do is pay your fair share,” he said. “This is not right.”
Gaudet likened St. George’s breakaway effort to a divorce, which he said it’s entitled to seek, but he said the proposed settlement is not fair
“This divorce settlement is like where I get to keep all the assets and you get to keep all the liabilities,” Gaudet said.
It would not be the first time. Baker, Central and Zachary were allowed to gain educational independence without being obliged to pay so-called legacy costs. Bellue and Rust said while they agreed with many of their colleague’s concerns, they felt left out.
“This entire board has not collaborated on this document,” Rust said.
Bellue, the only member to vote no, said the resolution as written does not reflect the way it was described to him and that it’s too long.
“There are very few legislators that are even going to read this,” Bellue said.
Email Charles Lussier at clussier@theadvocate.com.
PHOTOS By PATRICK DENNIS
Natalie McGlinchey, left, of The Brighton School, accepts her Girls Special Olympics Athlete of the year award Monday from Advocate sports writer Robin Fambrough at The Advocate’s Star of Stars Sports Awards program.
Live Oak student Caleb Lee, left, accepts his Boys Special Olympics Athlete of the year award from Robin Fambrough.
PROVIDED PHOTO By MARK DUTHU
Tony Haselden, a songwriter and guitarist with LeRoux, died Friday following a long illness. He was 79.
Legier,Bernice
St.Frances CabriniCatholic Church in Livoniaat11am.
Cane, Patricia Roy
Patricia "Pat" Roy Cane, 72, abeloved residentof Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefullyon May 15, 2025, after being surrounded by dozens of family members and friends. Born on September 13, 1952, in Marksville, Louisiana to her parents, the late John and Laura Roy, Pat was ashining example of resilience. Pat's journey began with akeen mind anda passion for numbers, which led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the then -called University of Southwestern Louisiana. Her pursuit of knowledge didn't stop there; she later achieved aMaster's Degree in Accounting from Louisiana State University showcasing her tenacity andmeticulous nature. She passed the exam to become aCertified Public Accountant and worked fervently in accountingever since.
Adevoted wife, Pat married Steven "Steve" Cane on November 7, 1975. Pat was by Steve's side until his passing in 2011. Throughout her life, Pat was known for her independence, generosity, and unwavering Catholic faith. She loved animals, especially cats, and was adevoted mom to many cats over the years. She enjoyed taking care of her cats, video chatting with her granddaughter, reading, and watching the wildlife in her back yard. She had many friends and neighbors for whom she would do anything. Pat is survived by her daughter, Nicole Cane Kenworthy (Jeremiah) and granddaughter, Stephanie "Stevie" Kenworthy,sisterin-law, Cheryl Roy, sister, Cheryl Walton (James), brother, Wayne Roy (Susan), numerous nieces and nephews, and even more numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Steven Cane, and brother, John Roy. Services willbeheld at St. Jean Vianney Churchat 16166 S. Harrell's Ferry Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Visitation for family will be 9:00 -9:30 a.m., followed by visitation for family and friends until 11:00, with amass to begin at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that charitable donations be made to the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (https://caaws.org/animal -shelter-donations/).
Family and friends are welcomed to gather at Pat'shouse following the services to share stories and celebrate her life.
Davis, Thomas Allen Thomas Allen Davis, born in BatonRouge on June 2, 1953,died on May 13,2025.Tommy was precededindeath by his father, Sumpter B. Davis, Jr his mother, Blanche Thomas Davis, adaughter, Haleyand abrother, Sumpter B. Davis III. He is survived by daughter Leslie, brotherCharles, sisters-in-law Glynisand Kay and by friends.May he rest in peace.
Former East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Melvin L. "Kip"Holden passed away on Wednesday,May 14, 2025, atThe Carpenter House of Baton Rouge,atthe ageof 72. He was born on August 12, 1952, in New Orleans, LA to the unionofCurtis L. Holden, Sr. and Rosa Mae Rogers Holden. He wasone of five children.
He was agraduate of ScotlandvilleHigh School, and he later went ontoreceive post graduate degreesfromLSU and SouthernUniversity.
He was an Adjunct Professor of Law at Southern University Law Center, a PublicInformation Officer for the B.R. Police, and a reporter for WBRZ-TV, WWL-Radio, and the News DirectoratWXOK-Radio. Additionally, heserved as amemberofthe East Baton Rouge MetroCouncil, the LA House of Representativesand the LA State Senate before becoming Mayor-President.
He workedtorevitalize downtown BatonRouge, create an arts and entertainment district and marketBaton Rouge to the film industryand so much more.
He is survivedbyhis wife, Lois Stevenson Holden, and five children, Melvin L. "Kip" Holden, II Angela S. Jackson, Monique L. (Jovon) HoldenCotton, Myron A. Holden, and Brian M. Holden; two sisters, Evelyn JoanHolden,and Brenda Faye Holden; three aunts;fouruncles; six grandchildren; fourgreat grandchildren; foursisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law;and ahost of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Funeral Services are scheduled forThursday, May22, 2025, at 11:00a.m. atGreaterKing David BaptistChurch, 222 Blount Road, B.R.,LA70807 with Rev. Dr. John E. Montgomery, II presiding.Visitationwillbeheldfrom 8:00 a.m. until 10:45a.m.at the church prior to service.
OnWednesday, May21, 2025, his body will liein state from 4:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m.,atCity Hall, 222 St LouisStreet, B.R., LA 70802. Following abrief ceremony inside the lobby, City Hall willbeopen to the public topay respects until8:00 p.m.
In lieuofflowers, memorialdonations can be made to some of Kip's favoritecharities: Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area, BigBuddy Program, and the Greater Baton Rouge FoodBank Servicesentrusted to Hall Davis& SonFuneral Services,9348ScenicHwy B.R., LA 70807.
Moran,Edrie CarrierBollich
Edrie CarrierBollich Moran passed awayonFriday, May16, 2025, in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana whilein hospice care. She was born September 14, 1940, in Mowata,Louisiana.
She graduated fromEunice High and St.Landry Business College.
She is precededindeath by her parentsAlvaand Beatrice Carrier and brothers, Miltonand Johnny Carrier. She is survived by her husband, Thomas G. Moran and her children Steven Bollich, Kent Bollich and wife Anna, Suzan Bollich and Donna Westwood; grandchildrenLauren Ellisor, Alissa Grassmuck, Brandon Bollich, Katelin LeBleu,BrittanyLeBleuand 11 great-grandchildren.
She worked as achurch secretary and retired from Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Baton Rouge. She was alongtime memberofthe Catholic Daughters,abereavement minister and aEucharistic Minster. Edrielovedher family,friendsand the Lord,not expelling her belovedhusband, Tom.
Relatives and friends are invitedtoattenda Funeral Mass at St. Lawrence CatholicChurch in Mowata,LouisianaonThursday, May 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. AVisitation willbeheldat Resthaven Funeral Home in Baton Rouge,11817 Jefferson Highway, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., witha rosary to be recited at 3:00 p.m., and at ArdoinFuneral Home in Eunice,Louisiana on Wednesday,May 21, 2025, from6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with arosaryto be recited at 7:00 p.m. Interment willbeatSt. Lawrence Catholic Church Cemetery
Familyand friends may signthe online guestbook or leavea personalnote to
thefamily at www.resthav enbatonrouge.com
Harold DeanPugh, 71, of Albany, Oregon passed away unexpectedly on May 12, 2025. Dean, as he was known to his family and friends,was born in Baton Rouge, Louisianain1954 to Jasper A. Pugh and Clara (Day) Pugh.Deanwas preceded in deathbyhis father Jasper (2011), his mother Clara (1959), and hisstepmother Marvine (Brand) (2002). Deanissurvivedbyhis wife of 42 years Sharon, his three sons Aiden, Brent (Juli), and Jackson (Carolyn), grandsons Phillipand Jackson Jr. (called JJ), and brothers Garry (Cindy), Daryl, Byron, Galen(Tammy), and Oren.
Deanspent his childhoodyears in Baton Rouge, Louisianaand attended LouisianaState University where he obtainedhis BS in ForestResources Production and Management. Employment opportunities brought him to Portland, Oregon, where he met his future wife Sharon. Their life path followedjob changes, including several years in Many, Louisiana and Beaumont,Texas before returning to Portland. Deanretired from Louisiana-PacificCorpora-
tion,inthe Manufacturing Information Technology Groupin2016 and in the years that followed enjoyed hisleisure, especially time with his immediate andextended family. In his youngeryearsheloved hunting, starting in Louisiana with squirrels anddeer and later in Oregon with elk. He, Sharon andthe kids enjoyed frequentcampingtrips in the scenic Oregon countryside. He took pleasure hosting outofstatefamilyand friends so they couldsee whyhewas so fond of his adopted home state.
Thefamilyisplanning a private memorial service at theirfavorite wilderness campground wheremany fond memorieswere formed. Dean wasa lifelong loverofthe outdoors andinhis memory,the familysuggests planting a tree in hismemory or contributionstoa forest restoration organization, such as: SOUL(Sustaining Our Urban Landscape)New Orleanshttps://soulnola.or g/about/ Arbor DayFoundation www.arborday.org
Patsy Lucille Watson. Patsy, 82, abeloved daughter, sister,aunt, and greataunt, passedawayonSaturday, May17, 2025, due to heartfailure. She was born in Natchez,Mississippi,the 5th of 9children Patsy nevermet astranger andbroughtjoy to everyonearoundher with her
warm hugs and infectious smile. Sheloved herMomma, Elvis, and Floyd Brown Patsy loveda familygatheringand always made sure everyonehad enough to eat and aclean kitchen. Patsy is survived by her sistersJudi Jarreau,and Suzie Dendy(Billy Joe); nieces, RobynneBroussard (Craig), and Christy Wallace(Johnathon); greatnieces, Pacee Wallace, Savannah Broussard andIsabellaBroussard; greatnephews, TalanWallace, Taylor Broussard and Austin Broussard; and numerousother nieces, nephews, great-nieces, andgreat-nephews.Patsy waspreceded in death by herparents, Captain William O. Watson and Lucille TaylorWatson; siblings, William O. "Billy" Watson Jr., Betty Henderson, Jimmy Watson, Sammy Watson, Robert Watson, and Mike Watson; Pallbearers will be Johnathon Wallace, Talan Wallace, Craig Broussard, Micheal Pecue,Jerry Falgoust, andWilliam O. Watson IV.HonoraryPallbearers are Shane Blouin and Donald Henderson. Visitation will be held at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy. Baton Rouge,LA 70816, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. untilFuneral Service at 2:00 p.m. Entombmentwill follow in ResthavenGardens of Memory, rightnext to hermomma anddaddy. Thefamilyextendsheartfelt thanks to the compassionate caregivers at Lane Memorial Hospital and Oakwood Village Assisted Living for their kindness, love,and support. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave apersonal note to thefamilyatwww.resthavenbaton rouge.com
'Pat'
Pugh, Harold Dean
Watson, PatsyLucille
Holden, MelvinL.'Kip'
OUR VIEWS
Abrazen jailbreak, outrageand asearchfor answers
Outrage doesn’tbegintodescribe the reaction from NewOrleaniansand people aroundthe state to theshocking mass breakout from theOrleans Justice Center,run by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Tenmen —including five charged with either murder or attempted murder —madewhatappeared to be an easy escape from the 9-year-old facility early Friday morning, slipping out of aloading dock in full view of avideocamera,dodging late-night Interstate 10 traffic and disappearing into the city’sneighborhoods hours before their absencewas detected.Asofthis writing, just four have been recaptured. The big question before us —how on earth could such athinghavehappened? —is actually aseries of smaller questions that demand answers: Why did nobody seethe escape or evenrealize it had happened for so long? With the loneemployee chargedwith watching the unit on ameal break, theinmates were able to tamper with alocked cell door and then get out through ahole behind atoilet shortly after midnight Friday,and thenscalean outerwalljustoverahalfhourlater,according to theSheriff’sOffice and the New Orleans Police Department. Their absence, incredibly,wasn’tdiscovereduntil 8:30 a.m. during aroutine headcount. Why did the Sheriff’s Office waituntil9:30 a.m. to notify state and local federal partners, 10:30 a.m. to notify NOPD and 10:50 a.m. to alert the public?
If the inmates indeed hadhelp from theinside —asboth Sheriff Susan Hutson and theevidence suggest —how many employees were involved? Andwhatisthe sheriff, who is planning to runfor reelection this fall, doing to make sure heremployees are on the right side of the law?
How does the fact that some prisoners awaiting trial and sentencing serve long stints atthe jailaffect overall security? What role did chronic overcrowding and understaffing play?
It’snot as if there hadn’tbeen warningsbefore. Issues including laxsecurity checks havebeen documented by federal monitors overseeing the consentdecree meanttocorrect rampantproblems at thejail. Hutson herself has pointedto malfunctioning locks and difficulty in hiring and properly paying qualifiedemployees.
Those long-simmering challenges have brought us to an all-hands-on-deck moment.
We appreciate Gov.Jeff Landry,AttorneyGeneral Liz Murrill, theCity Council and all theother officials who arestepping up, offering resources, proposing policy changes anddemandinganswers.
We also urge everyone involved to keep accusatory political rhetoric to aminimum,particularly while the situation remains dangerous.
It’sashame that this black eye comesasNew Orleanshas been making significant progress in reducing crime, in no small part becausestate and local authorities have put aside their differences and pursued the common goal of keepingthe city, itsresidents and itsvisitors safe. After the disgraceful events of late last week, we need that now more than ever
LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR
GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence
TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters arenot to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.
Region on vergeofeconomictransformation
There are moments in a state’seconomic life when the winds shift —not just towards growth,but transformation. In Donaldsonville, that moment is unfolding now. Within the RiverPlex MegaPark, Hyundai Steel and CF Industries are breaking ground on two multibillion-dollar facilities, Louisiana is staking its claim as aglobal leader in clean industrial production. Hyundai’s$5.8 billioninvestmentwill bring ultra-low carbonsteel production to Ascension Parish, while CF Industries, in partnership
with Japan’sJERAand Mitsui, is investing $4 billionto build the world’slargest lowcarbonammonia facility.Other industries have planned investment in Ascension that will only add to these investmentnumbers.
Ascension Clean Energy is another $7 billioninvestment in Louisiana’sclean industrial production. Together these projects represent morethan $16 billioninnew investment, hundreds of high-paying jobs, and anew era for globalexportsfor the Gulf Coast. What sets these projects apart isn’tjust scale,itis
Catholic High golf team shares special moment with fan
When my wife was able to stay at home, Iwould go to someofthe Catholic High golf matches to support theteam. The team was the runner up for thestate championship to Byrd High in Shreveport on several occasions. On May 6, theBears came through and won the statechampionship narrowly defeating Byrd High School. Coach Davis called mewith thenews of their big win when he got homethat night.The next afternoon, he showed up at myhouse with thetrophy,the coaches and the team for aphotoopfor me to share the momentwith them.What aclass act.
ERNESTGREMILLION Baton Rouge
Auto inspectionsdolittle to reduce accidents
Henry Bradsher recently complained in aletter about seeing so many expired auto safety inspection stickers and suggested fines would be asource of incomefor local/state government.The safety inspections themselves areasource of income for the state government but do not reduce auto accidents. Many studies have shown there is little or no evidence thatsafetyinspection reduce accidentsinthe states, like Louisiana, thatrequireauto safety inspections.
GORDON HOLCOMB Baton Rouge
purpose. These facilities are designed from the ground up to meet the rising demand for cleaner,lower-emission material around the world. They will use cutting-edge technology to dramaticallyreduce emissions that will position Louisiana as aglobal player in the shifting landscape of energy and emerging industrial markets. In addition to keeping Louisiana relevant, and in keeping with Louisiana’stransformation, these investments will bring life-changing salaries to the Capitol region. Many thanks to the River Parishes
Community College and the entire Louisiana Community College and Technical College System forramping up tailored training programsthat will equip the local residents forthese high-tech/high-wage careers that are generational opportunities. What wasonce potential is now progress. This is Louisiana stepping into anew era, primed for global competition. The momentum is real. Louisiana has just upped the ante, and the world is watching.
DESIREE LEMOINE campaign manager,Industry Makes
Consultants’ port recommendationsmisrepresented
My company,Martin Associates, conducted the “Cargo Market Analysis and Strategy for the Lower Mississippi River Ports”for the World Trade Center New Orleans.
Ihave read several letters to the editor that suggest that the report dismisses thedevelopmentofa downriver container terminal, such as the Louisiana International Terminal. In fact, the report strongly recommends the development of adownriver terminal. The following excerpt is directly from our report, “Without moving the container terminal downriver,the LMR port region will be blocked from serving the majority of the world container fleet and will clearly not be able to penetratecurrent potential markets, as well as expand market reach though theintermodal access to themidwestern discretionary container market.
“When developing thecontainer terminal down river,access to the six Class Irailroads will be critical. While it has been demonstrated that penetration intothe central andupper midwesterndiscretionary container
market is challenging foranLMR container port given the current local limited local market, the ability to attract lower time sensitive containers moving into the midwestern states from Asia will be an important marketing tool for the growth of adownriver terminal. It has further been shownthat an LMR port to serve awest bound container market such as Dallas forTranspacific cargo is at acompetitive disadvantage compared to intermodal service via Los Angeles/Long Beach and truck service via Houston.
“With the development of anew terminal downriver,the existing Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal will be available to serve container markets served by smaller vessels such as the Central American container market, as well as utilize the area forproject cargo, and cargo requiring outside storage.”
Hopefully this will clarify the recommendations of the report regarding the development of adownriver terminal. JOHN MARTIN owner,Martin Associates
We need asocietalshift to return to American values
No matter our ZIP code, how we got to America, our color, our preferences, there is aconcerning movement away from empathy and compassion to one of division, hostility and alack of understanding among individuals and communities. To foster abetter society,wemust get back to caring forall lives and embrace theteachings of Jesus. We must resist theprejudices of an authoritarian strongman approach and instead movetowards ademocracy that nurtures and supports its citizens with diversity,equity and inclusion. This shiftinperspective can lead us back to the American values that inspired the Civil Rights Movement, social justice reform, and overall prosperity foreveryone.
SCOTT LEBLEU Lafayette
COMMENTARY
Jailbreakhas leaderspointing fingers
I’m not going to lie
Iknew the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and the cityjail have had ongoing maintenance and staffing issues before and since former Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s 18-year tenure, but it wasn’tuntil Iattended one of the sheriff’s millage town hall meetings in Algiersthat Irealized how bad things are.
Iwatched as the sheriff andher team gave anumber of reasons the millage should be renewed, including areferencetojaillocks that don’twork. The description,the detail was unnerving. Lots of locks meant to keep inmates in weren’t doing the job.
How’d thathappen?
Sheriff Susan Hutsonsaid it’s because the office doesn’thave enough moneyand the millage renewalwould help. I’m gladvoters passed the measure by twovotes, but is this amatter of howthe officespends the money it has?
Louisiana had one of if not the largest jailbreaks in history Friday and we all have reason for concern.
TenOrleans Justice Center inmates escaped. Four havebeen recaptured.
STAFF PHOTO By BRETTDUKE
Orleans ParishSheriff Susan Hutson speaks to members of the mediaFriday after 10 inmates escaped theOrleans Justice Center early that morning
That leaves six out there, somewhere, as of early Monday afternoon. With aseven-hour head start, oneormore of them could be in northern Louisiana, western Texas or even MiamiorNew York City by now.
In thedark of the night, sometime after midnight, agroup of Orleans Parish jail inmates managedtohidetheirtoiletwalland security bar dismantlement, starting their fast-break to the outside about1 a.m They jimmied acellblock door that clearly needs repair then ran off to freedom through an unguardeddelivery door,running like hell for I-10 and wherever they could go asfast as they could —withoutanyone seeing them.
WHO was responsible forwatching the outside cameras?
How’d that happen?
Just abouteveryone hasseen the photos andvideos released by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’sOffice.
Theyweren’t wearing the orange jumpsuits inmates usually wear during their stay at thejail. They were wearing street clothes and sneakers. Ican’t tell whether any of them hadNike Air Jordans, Converse ChuckTaylors or Dollar General discount sneaks.
How’d that happen?
It’snot thefirst suchjailbreak There have been quite anumber, even from this “new” jailthat wasn’t supposed to see escapes. The jailbreakhas shaken Hutson andall of theOrleans Parish, Louisiana andfederal justice andlaw enforcementofficials whowork hard to maintain lawand order while keeping ourcommunities safe.
Deputiesrealizedthe inmates were gone during aroutine 8:30 a.m. headcount check.The sheriff was notified about9a.m. The public andthe news media were notified after 10 a.m.
How did any of this happen?
Though it was alate start, Hutson immediatelyopenedan
UNO’sResearch Park gives fitting tributeto BobLivingston
Bob Livingston is finally starting to get his due.
investigation,suspending at least three OPSO employees.But taking no responsibility. The New Orleans Police Department joined the investigation andthe search The Louisiana State PoliceTroop NOLA joined. Other parish, state andfederal law enforcementpartners added theirears, eyes and skills. No real justificationsyet. Hutson andLouisianastate correctionsofficials owe us more explanations. The recaptured inmates were sent to Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. For whatever reason, dozens of other inmates were moved elsewhere after the jailbreak, relieving pressure on the understaffedOPSO. If they could move them that quickly,why couldn’tthey move them in the days andweeksbeforethis happened?
Sundaynight,Gov.JeffLandry opened his investigation,ordering Attorney General LizMurrill to conduct ajailaudit andtolook at whyOrleans Parish criminal courts are slowtobring cases to conclusions,inferring that those charged are guiltyand need to be in prison.
Last time Ichecked,wehavea U.S.Constitution guaranteeing fair trials, even for thosechargedwith violent crimes. Prosecutorsalone cannotdetermine howquickly a
casemoves through thesystem. Defense attorneys have aright to askfor continuances or delays as apartofconstitutionallegal guarantees.Judgescontrol thedockets Lordknows while Iexpect the guiltytobepunished, Idon’t want to seeaninnocentpersonconvicted In 2024, theDistrictAttorney’s Officeconducted 145 jury trials. Howmanydid theLouisiana AttorneyGeneral’s Officeconduct? One, andthatresulted in ahung jury There areseveral investigations. Hutson’s. Landry’s. NOPD’s.State Corrections. Andthe New Orleans CityCouncil andits Criminal JusticeCommittee areholding a special meeting to look at thejailbreak Tuesday. U.S. DistrictJudge Lance Africkhas been responsible forthe federaljailconsent decree since2013. How’dithappenthatthese things weren’tfixed?
Auditsand investigationsare necessary,but Landry made this apolitical matter when he blamed Hutson, DistrictAttorneyJason Williams,CriminalCourt Chief Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier andothers. That’snot agood way to seek cooperation andresolutions.
Email Will Suttonatwsutton@ theadvocate.com
Behold,Trump,the artful dealmaker, working hismagic on Putin
On Monday,the longtime former congressman was told that the Universityof New Orleans will name the East Campus of the UNO Research Park in his honor Granted, I’m biased, because Livingston is my formerboss; but just about anyone of good sense would say this recognition is richly deserved.
Livingston, who chaired the House Appropriations Committee from 1995 through 1998 and served on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee for 14 years, spent tremendoustime and effort for eight years to consolidate the U.S. Navy’snationwide information systems into two buildings, 100,000 square feet each, at UNO’sResearch and Technology Park.
The direct funding for the projectamounted to $220million, and aUNO study shows the ongoing, operationaleconomic impact to Louisiana has topped another $350 million. This wasn’tjust some sort of local“pork” spending; instead, it met an urgent nationalneed. (About which, more momentarily.)
This project was typical for Livingston, who (while cutting federalspending overall) arguablybrought home more money to Louisiana than anyone in the state’shistory
Even as he did, in almost every instance his modusoperandi —asI saw personally in five years on his Capitol Hill staff —was notjust to lard up spending bills with purely localprojects. Instead, he would identify existing funding streams or demonstrably national needs and then match those streams or needs with Louisiana’scapabilities.
If the federal government was building interstate highways, Livingston made sure sound barriers protected nearby neighborhoods from roadway noise.
Because grant money already existed for urban transportation and historic preservation, Livingston directed it, withassiduouspersonal attention, to expandNew Orleans’ streetcar lines. As flood protection already was anational priority,Livingstonworked to use it not just against storm surge but to stem urban flooding in southeast Louisiana.
Avondale Shipyards, the Naval Air Station in Belle Chasse,
Former U.S. Rep. Bob Livingstonspenttremendous time and effort for eight yearstoconsolidate the U.S. Navy’snationwideinformation systems into twobuildings, 100,000 square feet each, at the University ofNew Orleans’ Research and TechnologyPark.
TheNational WWII Museum, the Mandeville seawall, Formosan termiterelief, the Big BranchNationalWildlife Refuge and the hurricane air reconnaissance flights from neighboring Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi: Allowed much of their success, or even their very existence, to Livingston’swork. Thesame went for other Louisiana interests beyond his district,such as funding for Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City
TheNavyinfo-tech headquarters at UNO,though, stands out.Toquote from the UNO resolution honoring Livingston, “Following the 1990-91 Desert Storm Gulf War, theNavy identifiedcritical deficiencies in its abilitytotimely and effectively deploy active duty and reserve personnel due to hundreds of disjointed information systems and disconnected data bases.”
In other words, this was a major problem for national defense. Livingston, seeing this problem and already being a champion of the Naval Reserve headquarters in New Orleans, sprang into action. As there was an unambiguous national need and alocal capability, Livingston matched them up. If the Navy needed to consolidate its infosystems anyway,bygosh, that consolidation should occur in Louisiana.
ThroughLivingston’swork on the Appropriations Committee, so it was.
“The valuable work being done at the tech park at UNO would not even exist if not for Bob Livingston’svision and tenacity,” saidHouse Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who represents the same First Congressional District Livingston
did. In other states, all sorts of buildings and projectsare named for members of Congress. In Alabama, there’sa running jokethat universities may have trouble finding enough studentstofill all the college buildings named after former Sen. Richard Shelby Here in Louisiana, thename of the recentlydeceased Sen. BennettJohnston already graces awaterway,aSouthern University at Shreveport video-conferencing room and a Tulane University quadrangle, among other things.
To be sure, manyofusare wary of naming too many things after politicians.It’sour taxpayer money,not their own, that they are distributing. I long have thought there should be arule of thumb that no project secured with taxpayer funds should be named after a pol until at least ten yearsafter thepol’sretirement. There shouldn’tbeincentives for lawmakerstouse tax dollarsto feed theirown egos. Then again, once thepolitician is long out of power, if local committees wantto surprise him (as was thecase here) withanhonor for exemplarypublic service —and when, indeed, the work being honored was admirable and noteworthy —then it’s great to see recognition come due. Bob Livingston was aforce for good government nationally,and aforce for the good of Louisiana. The UNO campus shouldn’tbethe lastthing his name adorns
QuinHillyer can be reached at quin.hillyer@theadvocate. com.
So this is “the art of the deal.” The author of the book with that title is illustrating the subtleties of dealmaking in negotiations about Ukraine. First, flatter the person with whom you are negotiating, calling him a“genius,” “savvy” and “very smart.” Disregard Franklin D. Roosevelt’s1940 warning that“no man can tameatiger into akitten by stroking it.” Donald Trump began his charm offensive at a2018 meeting with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. There Trump accepted Putin’sdenial of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Trumpthereby repudiated U.S. intelligence agencies, which he has subsequently called “our ‘intelligence’ lowlifes.”
Second, emphasize that your diplomacy is uninfected by normative judgments about the origins of the conflict.Contrast yourself with finicky people who moralize against using violence to redraw European borders. On Feb. 22, 2022, when (Trumphas subsequently said) Ukraine “started” awar against Russia,Trump saw on television many Russian tanks (rolling defensively?): “I said, ‘This is genius.’ …Putin declares abig portion of the Ukraine …asindependent. Oh, that’swonderful …Isaid, ‘How smartisthat?’ He’sgoing to go in and be apeacekeeper.…That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. Therewere more tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re going to keep the peace, all right.”
Third, signal eagerness to end the conflict.You can do this, as Trump did, by vowing to end it “before I even take office,” or “on day one,” or “within 24 hours,” whichever comes first. To further underscore your eagerness to settle, and hence your willingness to settle on almost any terms, select as your vice president someone who says: “I don’treally carewhat happens to Ukraine.” Then have him tell aEuropean securityconferencethat the biggest threat to European security “is not Russia.” (Whatis? Europe’sinternal rot.)
Fourth, appoint as your chief peace negotiator Stephen Witkoff. He has amind so open that amazing thoughts stride in: “I don’tregard Putin as abad guy” and “It wasgracious of him to accept me,tosee me.” Having never spent aday in diplomacy,Witkoff can amiably negotiatewith that gracious scamp Putin, forgiving his fibs about pausing attacks during Easter,and against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Witkoff’s othercredential is praise from one of the president’schildren. Donald Trump Jr.says Witkoff “is
aborn winner.” Areal estate dealmaker,Witkoff will see the problem of ending the warthrough the lens of areal estate transaction, disregarding international law,history, nationalism, ethnicity,religion and other distracting facts.
Fifth, begin negotiations about Ukraine’s dismemberment and survival without the involvement of Ukrainian negotiators. They are unhelpfully biased —against their nation’sdismemberment, and for their nation’ssurvival.
Sixth, make Ukrainians malleable by telling their president, in the Oval Office, that “you should have never started” the war. And call the president a“dictator,” at the risk of reinforcing Russia’sdemand for “de-Nazification” of Ukraine Seventh, streamline the negotiations by eliminating contentious topics that require negotiating.
Promise U.S. acceptance of Putin’s 2014 seizure of Crimea, and U.S. acceptance of Russian possession of the approximately 20% of Ukraine it has seized. Promise that Ukraine will neverbeamember of NATO, and therefore will remain vulnerable to athird Russian invasion (2014, 2022, whenever) at Putin’s convenience.
Eighth, when Putin responds to this rain of unilateral U.S. concessions by continuing to rain destruction on Ukraine, flexthe American eagle’srazor-sharp talons. On Truth Social, Trump artfully pleaded: “Vladimir,STOP!” Putin launched ballistic missiles; Trump fired back not only asalvo of CAPITAL LETTERS but also an exclamation point. Putin must be shaken, not having foreseen quite this level of U.S. escalation.
In Foreign Affairs, Alexander Gabuev, of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, writesthat “Putin has made confrontation with the West the organizing principle of Russian life.” Social media are the sinews of America’snegotiating strength.
Ninth, an artful dealmaker will issue severe warnings. Trump says that if Putin protracts the negotiations, the United States might walk away.Tountrained minds, this might seem to proclaim minimal U.S. interest in the outcome, encouraging Putin to prolong the war,and pressuring Ukraine to make concessions quickly,lest the eventual deal get worse as timegoes by If, however,dealmaking is an art, perhaps the dealmaker’sartfulness can be understood only by connoisseurs. What, however,ifthere is an asymmetry? What if Trump wants to get to “yes” but Putin wants to get to Kyiv?
EmailGeorge Will at georgewill@ washpost.com.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD
Quin Hillyer
Will Sutton
George Will
H
Retired Saints quarterbackDrewBrees startsthe “Who Dat” chant before the startofthe game against thePhiladelphia Eagles at the Caesars SuperdomeonSept. 22.
Shoulder burden
BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer
When he first heard that Derek Carr had ashoulder injury,Drew Brees didn’t hesitate to reach out.
Brees, after all, knew athing or two about overcomingsuch an ailment. He offered to be asounding board,and Carr made sure to reply.The two had formed afriendship overthe last few years, with their bond of being the quarterback for the New OrleansSaints serving as the bridge. But less than amonthlater,Brees found out the 34-year-old Carrchose to retire from the NFL after 11 seasons. And, like practically everyone else,the former Saints great didn’t see Carr’s
BY STEVE REED AP sports writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Everything Scottie Scheffler did Sunday was expected. When the pressure was on, he hit the fairways he needed to hit. He landed the approach shots he needed to land. And, of course,hemade clutch putts he needed to make.
It’swhat everyone has come to depend on from theworld’s No. 1player, afine-tuned, almost mechanical approach to the game. It was all expected, even predictable —right up until the celebration.
That’swhenScheffler,ina rare display of pure emotion, took off his hat and slammed it into the green on the 18th hole after winning the PGA Championship by five shots over Bryson DeCham-
decision coming.
“Obviously,a bit surprising, just being so early in his career,” Brees said.
BreessaidSaturdaythathethought Carr’sbest football was ahead of him, pointing to his own experience of “enteringyourprime” in your early 30s. But Brees addedthatheunderstands if the severity of Carr’sinjury factored intohis choice, comparing it to AndrewLuck’s shocking retirementfrom 2019.
“Look, there’slife after football,”Brees saidatthe opening of SurgeEntertainment,his latest business venture in Metairie.“There’sthat secondchapter.It seemslike(Carr andhis family)really putdownroots in Vegas. Iknowhe’sgot aspirations to perhaps build aschool,a church,pastor that. He’s obviously very
involved in the church, his community
“Soattimes,you just feel called to do otherthings. And football wasthat unique chapter in your life, but there’sso much moreafter football. It seemed like he was ready to take that nextstep.”
With Carr no longer playing forthe Saints, Brees weighed in on the current quarterback situation. He praised rookie Tyler Shough, but he made clear he’s looking forward to seeing acompetition unfold for thestartingjob Brees called theSaints’ forthcoming battle “pretty unprecedented.”And that’s notanexaggerationfor afranchise that hasnot started arookie quarterback to open the season since 1971.
ä See SAINTS, page 4C
beau, HarrisonEnglish andDavis Riley at Quail Hollow He followed with ahard slap of
hands withhis caddie, Lafayette native TedScott, and aquick hug, reminiscent of adefensive line-
New-look interior crucialfor LSUwomen
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
This offseasonhas brought the LSU women’sbasketball team as muchroster turnover as it’sever experienced in the four years since coach KimMulkey took over the program In 2022, after her first season in charge, nine players moved on.
This time,eight players left theTigers because they either exhausted their eligibility or decided to transfer.LSU so far has added eight newcontributors —five freshmen and three transfers to replace the ones it lost. The latest to sign is Class of 2025 freshman Meghan Yarnevich, a6-foot-2 forward whocommitted to the Tigers last week after she backed off of apledge to Georgia. Mulkeyand her staff caught two big fish in the transfer portal (MiLaysia Fulwiley andKateKoval), then watched another (former Wisconsin star Serah Williams) take thebaitofa different top program (UConn). Now LSU can begin imagining how its revamped supporting cast will coalesce around its tworeturning stars, Flau’jae
man celebrating aquarterback sack or abasketball player enjoying ahigh-flying dunk.
Ashort while later Scheffler was asked to hoist the 27-pound Wanamaker Trophy,and he thrust it so hard in the air that the top started to fly off. So much forScottie Scheffler being arobot.
The raw emotion he displayed Sunday reflects theburning competitiveness that resideswithin his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame.
Whenaskedafterwardifhe views himself as having acompetitive fire, Scheffler laughed and said, “Yeah.”
The calm, even-keeled demeanor on the course often hasovershadowed that part of him, thatburning fire within that has driven the Texan to greatness.
Scheffler neverhas been known as being intense, andhenever seems to get too high or too low
Evenwhen he was falsely arrest-
ed at last year’sPGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky,hedidn’tlash out at thepolice. He accepted what happened as amisunderstanding in the heat of avery confusing moment —in asituation in which other professional athletes might have fiercely sought to protect their image.
That’swhy the ferocity with which he spiked his hat on 18, and the intense facial expressions in the moments afterward, stood out.
One thing is for sure: Sunday wasn’tpar for the course for Scheffler
“Just alot of happiness,” Schefflersaidlater of hisreaction. “I think, you know,just maybe thankful as well. It wasalong week. Ifeltlike thiswas as hard as Ibattled for atournament in my career.This was apretty challenging week.”
Schefflerdidn’tswing the club
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILEPHOTO CHUCK BURTON Californiaguard KaylaWilliams drives against Notre Dame forward Kate Koval, right, during the quarterfinalsofthe AtlanticCoast Conference Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., on March7
ä See LSU WOMEN, page 3C
Hollis O’Neal,MD
Stars coming into their own
BY CLIFF BRUNT AP sportswriter
OKLAHOMA CITY — Two years ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves met in the play-in tournament to determine which would get the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Now, they’ll face off for a trip to the NBA Finals. Minnesota won that play-in game in 2023, but that was in Minneapolis. Oklahoma City has home court in this series and will host Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday
The Thunder earned the top seed in the playoffs after posting a franchise-best 68-14 record in the regular season. Minnesota is seeded sixth, but the Timberwolves closed the regular season by winning 17 of 21 games. The teams are 2-2 against each other this season, with each claiming a win on the other’s home floor
This is Oklahoma City’s first trip to the conference finals since 2016. The Timberwolves reached the Western Conference finals last season and lost to the Dallas Mavericks.
“Certainly last year’s experience helps a ton, and that’s what really this is all about — layering these experiences on top of each other so you can draw from them time and again and gain confidence,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said.
The ascent of both teams has coincided with the rise of their superstars — Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points in a Game 7 victory over the Nuggets in the conference semifinals and has averaged 29.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.4 assists in the playoffs Edwards is averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists in the postseason.
Neither player has reached the NBA Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander said Oklahoma City’s approach won’t change just because the team has reached new ground.
“Just trying to be where our feet are in the moment, see what’s in front of us and try to attack it, come out on the right end of it,” he
said “I think that’s why we’ve gotten this far in the season and we’re going to continue to do so.”
‘Legend killer’
Pro wrestling star Randy Orton has recognized Edwards as the “Legend killer” for sending some of the league’s royalty packing early the past two years.
Orton, who has long had the gimmick in World Wrestling Entertainment for defeating and sometimes embarrassing older stars, acknowledged Edwards on a post that has garnered more than 11 million views on X. In a cartoon of the two, Orton is handing Edwards a gold chain with a large pendant shaped into the words “Legend killer.”
Edwards has earned the recognition. Last year, his Timberwolves knocked out Kevin Durant’s Phoe-
nix Suns in the first round and Denver’s Nikola Jokic in the second. This year, it’s been Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic in the first round and Golden State’s Stephen Curry in the second.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a two-time
finalist for MVP who put Jokic out this season, could be next Family matters
Gilgeous-Alexander will have to face Minnesota’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker, his cousin and teammate on the Canadian national team.
“If you know how close we are, he’s literally like my second brother,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“He’s been through every stage of life with me, picking up a basketball to going to prep school to making the NBA. Like we’ve gone through every situation together For us, for both of us to be where we are is special.
“To compete against each other
is even more special. But I am trying to take his head off for sure.”
Randle’s rhythm
The Timberwolves took a while to adjust to the arrival of Julius Randle, and vice versa, but after finding his groove down the stretch of the regular season, the veteran power forward has reliably provided an old-fashioned power game in the paint and some well-timed 3-pointers throughout the playoffs.
This is his third postseason appearance in 11 years in the NBA and first trip to the conference finals. Randle said Finch has made the transition easier
“He’s done an amazing job of allowing me to use all my tools,” Randle said. “I don’t necessarily want to just be a scorer or a rebounder or whatever it is. He puts me in positions to be multiple different things, many different things, on any given night He’s really opened up my game.”
San Francisco LB Warner gets lucrative extension
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers locked up another core player with a lucrative extension, agreeing to a three-year extension with All-Pro Fred Warner that makes him the highestpaid off-ball linebacker in NFL history
A person familiar with the deal said the sides reached an agreement on the contract worth $63 million that keeps Warner locked up through the 2029 season.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hadn’t announced the deal.
ESPN first reported the extension and said it includes more than $56 million in guaranteed money
Braves remove pitcher Strider from injured list
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves reinstated right-handed pitcher Spencer Strider from the injured list on Monday Strider, a former Major League Baseball strikeouts leader in 2023, has made only one start this season because of a right hamstring injury that occurred during a warm-up session in mid-April. Strider’s next start will be just his fourth since the beginning of the 2024 season. He was limited to two starts in 2024 by elbow surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament injury
He made his first start in a year on April 16, a 3-1 loss at Toronto, before hurting his hamstring. He pitched a simulated game last week, after which he said he felt ready to return.
Check-swing challenge to get tested in minors
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball will experiment with a technology system to challenge checked swing calls in the Class A Florida State League starting Tuesday Using a Hawk-Eye system, a checked swing call can be challenged by either the team at bat or on defense. The decision will be made based on whether the bat head is ahead of the knob by more than 45 degrees — matching the first-base line for a right-handed hitter and the third-base line for a left-handed hitter Short of 45 degrees will be called a no swing. A team will be allowed to make a challenge until it has one unsuccessful challenge. The team on defense can still ask the plate umpire to check a non-swing call with the first-base umpire for right-handed batters and third-base ump for left-handed batters without using a challenge.
Cabrera rallies to win first senior major title
BY KYLE HIGHTOWER
AP sportswriter
BOSTON The past 72 hours since the Boston Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs have been a vortex of emotions, conversations and lack of sleep for Brad Stevens. The team’s president of basketball operations is fully aware there are a lot of questions for him and the front office as the Celtics embark on an offseason that will be replete with challenges that were both expected and unexpected entering this season
He also wants to make it clear that they don’t plan to rush any decisions that lie ahead for the team.
“I know there will be a lot of questions about what’s next,” Stevens said during his seasonending news conference on Monday. “At the end of the day I think that will all be driven by the same thing that’s always driven us and that’s ‘How do we get ourselves in the mix to compete for championships best?’ I think that will get more clarity as we take a deep breath, get a little more sleep than we have the last three nights.” Those three sleepless nights have included coming to terms with the end of their run as reigning NBA champions, star Jayson Tatum’s devastating torn Achilles tendon injury and impending rehabilitation that will take up most of next season, and upcoming payroll decisions and potential roster moves that will affect how competitive Boston is in the immediate future With Boston’s payroll for next season on track to come in around $225 million, next year’s tax bill would be at almost $280 million
The combined potential $500 million total price tag would be a league record under the restrictive Collective Bargaining Agreement. It is unclear whether the team’s incoming ownership will want to keep paying those hefty penalties after agreeing to a purchase in March expected to have a final price of a minimum of $6.1 billion. “The north star is to have a championship contender, right?
So you have to do what’s best to give yourself the best opportunity to do that when you can do that,” Stevens said. “And so, we just have to decide how feasible that is on any given year and make sure we are making the decisions accordingly.”
Stevens mostly declined to provide detail about what will go into that process, saying he would have more to say on it around the NBA draft. But he did acknowledge that it’s unclear whether socalled championship windows are becoming smaller because of the current CBA.
“That’s a good question. I don’t know,” Stevens said. “I think certainly it is more challenging in certain circumstances for sure.”
He also was clear that even though other factors like Jaylen Brown managing what Stevens confirmed is a partially torn meniscus in his right knee, or Kristaps Porzingis dealing with “post-virus syndrome” didn’t prevent Boston from avoiding becoming the sixth straight reigning champion not to make it out of the second round the following season.
“I’d rather talk about the CBA and all that crap,” Stevens joked. “The reality is we blew the first two games (against New York), and that’s why we put ourselves in a tough spot.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Angel Cabrera has gone from first-time PGA Tour Champions winner to first time senior major champion. The big Argentine won the rainy Regions Tradition with a birdie on the last hole. Cabrera shot a 64 to rally from three shots behind against Jerry Kelly Kelly shot 68 and would have needed eagle on the last hole to force a playoff. Cabrera and Kelly were tied for the lead with a few holes left when they had to stop because of darkness. The final round had been delayed by heavy rain.
Cabrera is a two-time major champion the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 2007 and the Masters in 2009. He joins Miguel Angel Jimenez as the only multiple winners on the PGA Tour Champions.
Former Nuggets coach Malone to work for ESPN
NEW YORK — Michael Malone, who was fired by the Denver Nuggets with three games remaining in the regular season, will join ESPN for its coverage of the Western Conference finals.
The series beginning Tuesday night matches the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who eliminated Malone’s former team in seven games in the second round. Malone led the Nuggets to their first NBA title in 2023 and is the franchise’s career leader in wins. But they made the surprising decision to part ways with him and general manager Calvin Booth in the final week of the regular season. Malone will work on the “NBA Countdown”
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABBIE PARR
Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards goes for a shot against Golden State’s Buddy Hield, left, and Pat Spencer in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday in Minneapolis.
MICHAEL CONROy
Changing his M.O.
Pacers coach Carlisle less old school than he used to be
BY MICHAEL MAROT AP sportswriter
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers
coach Rick Carlisle still prefers brutal honesty to nuance
He doesn’t sugar-coat mistakes, doesn’t fear taking his critiques public and doesn’t shield players from high expectations. It’s not who he is and these young Pacers embrace it.
Yes, after winning nearly 1,000 regular-season games, one NBA title and surviving 23 up-and-down seasons as an NBA head coach, Carlisle has seemingly found the perfect fit in a locker room that views a tough, demand coaching through a more genteel prism.
“A savant,” two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton dubbed Carlisle during Indiana’s semifinal series. “When it comes to adjustments and getting the best out of guys, we follow his lead, and his intensity come playoff time is easy to follow When we have a game like (the Game 3 loss to Cleveland), he sets the tone with our energy, practice, film or whatever.”
Carlisle is back in his third Eastern Conference finals not because he stuck to his old-school philosophy, but because he figured out how to adapt to the league’s new ways. Instead of routinely calling plays from the bench or complaining when opponents produce 40-point quarters, the 65-year-old Carlisle trusts Haliburton and the Pacers ball-handlers on the floor and now understands high-scoring quarters are just part of today’s game — even if he doesn’t like it.
The transition hasn’t come without some rough edges such as the sideline clash between Carlisle and All-Star guard Rajon Rondo in February 2015.
“I would literally give him (Rondo) my play sheet, and he would make calls.” said Milwaukee coach
LSU WOMEN
Continued from page 1C
Johnson and Mikaylah Williams. What role is right for Fulwiley? No question is more compelling than the one surrounding her surprise defection from her hometown South Carolina team to its rival in Baton Rouge.
But just as much intrigue lies in the LSU frontcourt, especially after Mulkey and her staff fell short in their pursuit of Williams.
Is Koval ready to start at center? Who will begin games in the post alongside her — highly touted freshman Grace Knox or experienced East Carolina transfer Amiya Joyner? And can combinations of those projected contributors replace the all-important rebounding production the Tigers received last season from Aneesah Morrow and Sa’Myah Smith?
Most of the questions hinge largely on the development of Koval, a 6-5 center from Ukraine who enrolled at Notre Dame in 2024 as one of the top recruits in the country. She’s the tallest strongest player on the Tigers’
ä Pacers at Knicks, 7 P.M WEDNESDAy TNT
Doc Rivers, who coached Rondo in Boston. “I remember Rick calling me and the last thing I told him was ‘Rick, I may have created a monster, I don’t know You’re going to have let him help you on the floor.’ It was like 24 hours later you see them getting into it on the sideline because Rondo didn’t want to call that play.”
The two patched things up later But in the decade since, things seem to have changed.
Center Myles Turner, who grew up in Dallas, said he believes Carlisle has given the players more freedom to work their magic on the court. New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson also saw that side of Carlisle during his first five pro seasons in Dallas.
Brunson and Carlisle will meet for the second straight year in the playoffs Wednesday night in Game 1 at New York
“Different personnel, but that’s just coach Carlisle. With the personnel he has he’s going to adapt and going to play with whatever their personnel’s strengths are,” Brunson said Monday “What he’s been able to do there (with Indiana) in a short time is special.”
Carlisle’s coaching principles are the result of a 40-plus year resume that reads like a basketball history lesson.
He was teammates with Ralph Sampson, Larry Bird and the late Bill Walton. As a coach, he worked with stars such as Reggie Miller, Chauncey Billups, Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic and Brunson and endured the pain of playoff losses with some of the game’s biggest names — Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant.
Carlisle won a championship with the 1985-86 Boston Celtics,
roster and the top candidate to anchor both the starting and closing lineups.
“Having recruited (Koval) out of high school,” Mulkey said in an April news release, “we are very aligned in our vision for her personal development and the impact she can have on our program. Tiger fans will love the skill, physicality and passion that Kate will bring with her to Baton Rouge.”
Koval started the first 10 games of last season, then moved to the bench after Fighting Irish starter and 2025 WNBA draftee Maddy Westbeld returned from a foot injury
As a starter, Koval tallied 7.9 points 8.2 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 43% from the field. Once she lost her spot in the starting lineup, those numbers dipped as her playing time declined. She saw 29 minutes per game across the season’s first 10 contests, then played only 13, on average, across its last 22.
Koval figures to find more consistent court time on an LSU team that will need her to rebound and protect the rim. The good news for Mulkey and
Team Penske is rocked by another cheating scandal
BY JENNA FRYER AP auto racing writer
INDIANAPOLIS As the latest round of Team Penske cheating allegations swirled through Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the president of the IndyCar team stood outside the garage to address the illegal modifications discovered on two of its cars.
him,” Boles said. “Nothing means more to Roger Penske than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. This is something that I think he’s going to have to address at some point in time.”
one of the greatest teams in league history, and in 2010-11 as the Mavericks coach. And in between he dealt with the fallout from one of he NBA’s biggest black eyes, the 2004 brawl between Indiana and Detroit.
But Carlisle never shied away from a challenge, and he managed to navigate the NBA’s everevolving world long enough that he’ll head into next season as the league’s second-winningest active coach, behind Rivers, and needing seven victories to become the 11th member of the 1,000-win club.
“I think all of us have had to change,” Rivers said. “Where Rick has been always good, in my opinion, he just coaches the team he has, and I think he realized early on with Haliburton, this may be one of those teams where ‘I just have to wind them up and let them go.’ I think that’s why he’s a sensational coach.”
And Haliburton & Co. have taken full advantage.
A year ago, they ended a franchise-worst nine-game skid in the playoffs, won their first postseason series and reached the conference finals for the first time in a decade.
This year, they won 50 games and earned home-court advantage for the first round for the first time since 2013-2014. Now the Pacers are four wins away from reaching the NBA Finals for the second time and to nobody’s surprise, Carlisle is back on the bench for this run, too.
“He let’s players go out there and create,” Turner said. “I think that helps, especially this time of year because in the playoffs everybody scouts, everybody knows your plays and whatnot So you’ve got to freelance more.
“I think his experience with different personnel, different guys in this league, he knows how to adapt.”
her staff is that the former highprofile recruit excelled in both of those areas in the limited action she saw for the Fighting Irish. Only six high-major post players blocked shots at a higher clip last season, per Bart Torvik, than Koval, who also cleaned the offensive glass at a rate on par with ones posted by freshmen such as Duke’s Toby Fournier, South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards, North Carolina State’s Tilda Trygger and UConn’s Sarah Strong — all key contributors on teams that reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Koval swatted away 3.8 shots per 40 minutes last year Only one ACC player who appeared in at least 10 games Florida State star Makayla Timpson — recorded blocks at a higher rate.
A frontcourt featuring Koval, Joyner and Knox has size, athleticism, versatility and untapped potential. But can it help LSU become one of the nation’s best rebounding and defensive teams like each of Mulkey’s last three squads?
After an offseason of heavy turnover, that’s a question the Tigers can answer only after a new season begins.
Lurking over Tim Cindric’s shoulder was a random race fan wearing what appeared to be a Team Penske branded shirt. It was not: Like Josef Newgarden and Will Power’s cars for the Indianapolis 500, the shirt had been modified. It read: “Team Cheaters” with the Penske logo bar
That’s what rival teams have been saying since the commotion Sunday on pit lane, when the two Penske cars were pulled off the grid and returned to the garage moments before the fast 12 shootout.
Perception isn’t necessarily reality, but Roger Penske has a serious perception problem now that his team has been swept up in scandal for the second time in just over a year The first time, it was the discovery last April that the Penske drivers had access to the push-to-pass system when they should not have been able to use the extra horsepower boost. On Sunday during the second day of qualifying for the 109th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” it was discovered that Newgarden and Power’s cars had an illegally modified part. They were disqualified from making a four-lap run, and IndyCar a day later hammered Team Penske: Newgarden, the two-time reigning race winner, was dropped to 32nd in the field and Power was moved to last.
IndyCar stripped both cars of points earned in qualifying, fined both teams $100,000 and suspended the strategists for the remainder of the month. It means Cindric and team managing director Ron Ruzewski will miss the Indy 500 for a second consecutive year
This is a nightmare for Penske, who owns the three-car team, IndyCar, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 — the race he values more than any other event in the world. Penske has a record 20 Indy 500 victories.
“What a shame this cloud will continue to hover over our great race until everything is fully resolved,” McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown told The Associated Press.
Defending Roger Penske
The penalties were decided by new IndyCar President Doug Boles, who in February was given the title in addition to his job as president of the speedway He was the one to inform Penske, via phone call, before they were announced Monday
Boles also tried to lessen Penske’s role in what has transpired.
“I don’t think Roger Penske understands some of the things that might be going on. I get the optics challenge, and it’s definitely something we should think about,” Boles said. “While (issues) roll up to Roger at the end of the day, I think they are certainly below him. There are things that happen that don’t ever get to Roger
“I can tell you that Roger Penske would not condone this. In fact, I had a chance to talk to Roger, and I can tell that this is devastating to
Team Penske said it accepts the penalties and was “disappointed by the results and the impact it has on our organization We will make further announcements later this week related to personnel for the upcoming Indianapolis 500.”
Boles is adamant the cars were legal in Saturday’s inspection and he had heard nothing about the Penske cars potentially having an illegal modification until it all unfolded. Rivals are claiming otherwise, offering photos that show the modifications as recently as at last month’s open test.
The AP and Indianapolis Star went to the IMS Museum on Monday and found Newgarden’s 2024 winning car that is on display It had the same illegal modification. What others are saying
“The biggest problem I see is there’s a bit of a theme going on here and it’s just a bad look, right?” said six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, who believes IndyCar needs an independent governing body without any Penske employees.
Dixon’s boss, Chip Ganassi, was one of many who complained to IndyCar inspectors and Penske executives that the cars were illegal on Sunday The next day, he remained disappointed in the drama that is now overshadowing the biggest race in the world, one that is sold out for the first time since 2016.
“All the teams in the sport have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the sport, none more than the Penske team,” Ganassi told AP Newgarden is attempting to become the first driver to win the Indy 500 in three consecutive years, but no driver has won after starting on the last row Power, meanwhile, is in a contract year and Team Penske has maintained it wouldn’t begin discussions on an extension until after the 500.
What comes next
Penske, who places tremendous value on his reputation and strong belief that “effort equals results,” is now having his integrity questioned. Boles and Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles had a Monday meeting with the rest of the owners that Brown described as contentious.
“I’m very concerned, as are my fellow team owners, to find that Team Penske has been found with a multi-car major technical infringement for the second time in two seasons,” Brown told AP “In racing you can sometimes have mechanics who make miscalculations and you can sometimes have manufacturing issues that can all lead to honest mistakes. I don’t believe that’s what happened here or last year, which raises questions over the integrity of the decision-making within that team.”
LSU women’s golf falls short in bid to advance to NCAA match play
Staff report
CARLSBAD, Calif. — The LSU women’s golf team’s comeback bid Monday to qualify for match play at the NCAA Championships for the second straight year fell just short. The Tigers, who started the final round in 13th place at the Omni La Costa Resort’s North Course, put together a 1-over par 289. That left No. 12-seeded LSU in a tie for 10th with South Carolina at 17-over 1,169, two strokes back of eighthplace Virginia. “(Sunday) we played the back nine 3-under par to get into this
position and today we played the back nine 3-over to fall a few short,” LSU coach Garrett Runion said. “I’m proud of the way they fought to make it interesting. There’s a lot of teams that would love to be in our spot.” Senior Elsa Svennson struggled to a final-round 81 that saw her tumble from a tie for fourth going into Monday to a tie for 30th at 3-over Freshman Rocio Tejedo led LSU Monday with a 1-under 71 and tied for 34th at 4-over For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner talks to coach Rick Carlisle against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 4 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series on May 11. Penske
Loomis: Can’t ‘complain’ about prime-time snub
BY MATTHEW PARAS AND LUKE JOHNSON Staff writers
Mickey Loomis is entering his 24th season as the general manager of the New Orleans Saints, but this is the first season of his tenure in which the Saints are not scheduled to play in prime time
“That’s what the league thinks of us,” Loomis said. “That’s fine.”
Speaking to reporters Monday at the Saints’ annual Hall of Fame celebrity golf tournament, Loomis said the team “can’t really complain” about the lack of prime-time games after the Saints finished 5-12 in 2024.
But the shift is abrupt for a franchise that regularly played night games in the Drew Brees era. And even after the quarterback’s retirement in 2021, the Saints still were featured fairly regularly in marquee slots.
“It surprised me,” Loomis said. “Yeah, I think it surprised me a little bit.”
Loomis said he likes the Saints’ schedule otherwise. And he said that New Orleans could use the lack of prime-time games as motivation. When the Saints last failed to have a night game in 2000 New Orleans surprisingly went 10-6 in coach Jim Haslett’s first season “We have to go out and perform and earn those opportunities,” Loomis said.
This year, the Saints are also entering a new era They hired coach Kellen Moore in February and drafted quarterback Tyler Shough in April ahead of Derek Carr’s retirement. Carr retired in May with a shoulder injury
“I’ve been around a long time, so there haven’t been many things I haven’t seen,” Loomis said when asked whether Carr’s retirement was one of the “unique” situations he’s dealt with in the NFL. “You have inju-
ries that come up and things that you might not think are that serious at one time that end up becoming serious.
“From that aspect, I would say, it’s not rare. But it doesn’t happen very often. Listen, there are curveballs in this game all the time, and it’s one that we have to deal with.”
Rattler not rattled
After news broke last month that Carr was dealing with a shoulder injury that left him with an uncertain future, Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler figured the team would take another quarter-
NFL owners to talk tush push, playoffs
BY SCHUYLER DIXON AP pro football writer
The fate of the tush push will be up for discussion again along with the NFL’s history of giving division champions with mediocre records home field in the playoffs.
There will be a new topic as well when NFL owners gather Tuesday and Wednesday at the headquarters of the Minnesota Vikings after the league issued a proposal that would allow its players to participate in flag football when the sport makes its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.
“There’s more work to be done there,” NFL executive Jeff Miller said when the flag football proposal was released last week. “It will certainly be an important topic of conversation. I would expect it to be an engaging and robust conversation on that topic.”
Philadelphia’s famous play has been a topic of conversation for years, reaching a new level when owners agreed to consider a proposal from Green Bay to ban a short-yardage scheme that has helped the Eagles win one Super Bowl — this past season — and reach another Owners were set to vote last month but instead tabled the topic for more discussion of a play where Jalen Hurts takes the snap on a quarterback sneak while two or three players line up behind him to try to push him past the first down line or into the end zone.
The Eagles began using the play in 2022. Buffalo was among several teams that started using it, but no team has matched Philadelphia’s success rate.
“There are definitely some people that have health and safety concerns, but there’s just as many people that have football concerns,” NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said last
month. “So I wouldn’t say it was because of one particular health and safety video or discussion. It was much more about the play, the aesthetics of the play, is it part of what football has been traditionally, or is it more of a rugby play?”
It has been a virtual guarantee that Philadelphia uses the play on fourth-and-1, and sometimes even when needing 2 yards on fourth down.
“There’s no data that shows it isn’t a very safe play, or else we wouldn’t be pushing the tush push,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said.
Detroit has proposed getting rid of a playoff system where division champions get the top four seeds in each conference regardless of record.
The original proposal by the Lions had the teams in each conference seeded one through seven based on their records, with all four division champs still guaranteed postseason berths. There also has been discussion of leaving the wild-card round alone and reseeding for the divisional playoffs.
The current system has led to quite a few situations were wild-card teams with much better records were forced to play a fourth-seeded division champion the road.
Last season offered an example, when Minnesota finished a game behind the Lions at 14-3 in the NFC North and had to play at the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams LA rolled to a 27-9 victory
During the 2010 season, New Orleans was the defending Super Bowl champion with an 11-5 record but didn’t win the NFC South. The Saints had to visit NFC West champ Seattle, which finished 7-9 but had one of the best home-field advantages in the league. The Seahawks won 41-36.
back in the draft.
Fast forward a month: Carr retired, the Saints did draft a potential successor in Shough and Rattler is firmly in the competition to take over the reins as the starting quarterback.
It wasn’t surprising to me,” Rattler said to reporters Monday at the golf tournament. “I knew with Derek possibly retiring we needed another guy But you can’t control that.”
Rattler is one of three young quarterbacks whom the team is intending to have compete for the starting job at training camp this summer, along with Shough and
third-year player Jake Haener All three have been drafted by the Saints in the last three years. Those three will take their first on-field steps toward competing for that job this week when the Saints hold a voluntary OTA (organized team activity) practice, though Moore — who will be the team’s play-caller — said Monday that this week will be more about the process than the results for his young quarterbacks.
“There’s not much competitiveness,” Moore said. “We will do some seven-on-seven, but a lot of it is their understanding, taking it from the classroom to the field
for the first time. Most of the decision-making factors will come in training camp and preseason football.”
New Orleans also signed undrafted rookie Hunter Dekkers after a rookie minicamp tryout, giving the team four quarterbacks with a combined total of 267 NFL pass attempts in its quarterback room Rattler handled the bulk of that work last year, his rookie season, when he started six games and completed 130 of his 228 attempts with four touchdowns and five interceptions.
As for the competition, Rattler said, “You can’t put too much pressure on yourself. It’s Year 2, a great opportunity ahead of me. I’ve just got to keep working, keep my head down and give it what I’ve got.”
Brees’ wish
If it were up to Brees, the Saints would add a veteran quarterback to be a mentor next season, given the age of the rest of the group.
“I’ve always been a believer that, especially for young quarterbacks, it’s great to have a veteran quarterback as well that’s in the room that has some experience, that knows how to prepare, that knows how to develop a process (that) can help you,” Brees said over the weekend. “Also, (he can be) somewhat of a buffer between you as the starting quarterback and the coaching staff, because honestly, you need that You definitely need that.
“We’ll see how that plays out. If there was one other thing to do, it would be go out and get a veteran guy who could not only push the young guys but also be a great resource for them.”
Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com
Eagles give coach Sirianni extension
BY DAN GELSTON AP sports writer
PHILADELPHIA Nick Sirianni
already won a Super Bowl this year The Philadelphia Eagles rewarded Sirianni on Monday with a multi-year contract extension to pair with that championship ring.
Sirianni has navigated the Eagles through some personal slings — everything from his supposed frosty relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts to his dubious sideline interactions with fans — to lead the franchise to four playoff appearances in four seasons and two trips to the Super Bowl. Sirianni led the Eagles to the title in this past season’s Super Bowl when they routed the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans.
“As an organization, we have always strived to create a championship culture of sustained success,” Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said. “Nothing is more important to fostering such an environment than having tremendous leadership. Nick has embodied everything we were looking for in a head coach since we hired him four years ago. His authentic style of leadership, football intelligence, passion for the game, and growth mindset have helped to bring out the best in our team. I am excited for what the future holds for the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Terms of the contract announced Monday were not revealed. Sirianni had one year left on his existing five-year contract he signed when he was hired ahead of the 2021 season.
Sirianni is 48-20 in the regular
SAINTS
Continued from page 1C
Among Shough, second-year passer Spencer Rattler and thirdyear signal-caller Jake Haener, the Saints don’t have a quarterback on the roster who has won an NFL game as a starter
“(Coach) Kellen Moore has proven to be a great developer of quarterbacks where he’s been over the last six years,” Brees said. “I think we all really respect the system and his way of coaching and developing. I’m sure he’s excited to mold these young guys. I’m really excited to see what this offense looks like.”
As for Shough, Brees likes what he has seen. Brees admitted he hasn’t done a deep dive of the quarterback’s college film,
from football intelligence, emotional intelligence, managing of people, hiring of assistant coaches, growth mindset at all times. These are all the things that we embody, appreciate and are a big contributor to the culture we have. So everything that I had hoped for early on, identifying Nick as the next head coach has come to pass and great to work with and he has a growth mindset, he’ll get better.”
Sirianni succeeded Doug Pederson in January 2021 following a 4-11-1 season, less than three years after Pederson and backup QB Nick Foles led the team to the franchise’s first Super Bowl title Sirianni was the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts for the previous three seasons.
season with the Eagles. He also led the Eagles to the Super Bowl in the 2022 season where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles rebounded from a 2-2 start to finish the 2024 season on a 16-1 run, counting three playoff wins.
Sirianni, who turns 44 next month, is the first coach in NFL history to earn four playoff appearances, two conference titles and a Super Bowl within his first four seasons as head coach.
Lurie hinted at the NFL owners’ meetings in early April that a new deal for Sirianni was on deck this offseason.
“Everything that I had hoped for with Nick, he embodies,” Lurie said. “Whether it’s connection, intelligence in so many ways,
but said his experience with coach Jeff Brohm at Louisville and his history of overcoming adversity were “impressive.”
Shough played for three different schools (Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville) and dealt with three season-ending injuries before having a standout year that led the Saints to draft him with the 40th overall pick.
“Honestly (there’s) a lot of similarities to Taysom Hill,” Brees said, referring to his former teammate who is still with the Saints. “Taysom Hill is one of these guys coming out of college who spent four or five years in college and had some major injuries. But man, whenever he played, he played really, really well. Look, we’ll see how this thing shakes out.
“I’m not giving anybody the job right now I know we went out and drafted Tyler Shough in
Sirianni began his NFL coaching career as offensive quality control coach in Kansas City in 2009. He also served as an assistant quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach during four seasons with the Chiefs.
Sirianni held the same positions during five seasons with the Chargers from 2013-17.
Lurie and Eagles general manager Howie Roseman stuck with Sirianni following the team’s collapse in the 2023 season. The Eagles started 10-1 and had a second straight Super Bowl in sight. The Eagles instead limped to a 1-5 regular-season finish before they suffered a wild-card loss to Tampa Bay
The Eagles hired new offensive and defensive coordinators for 2024 but retained their faith in Sirianni.
the second round, but I’m sure Haener and Rattler have something to say about that. Competitions bring out the best in everybody.”
Brees also has seen the way Shough appears to be integrating into New Orleans. The rookie’s first meal in the city was at Drago’s, and he already got a flat tire when driving over a pothole.
“It’s extremely important (to get to know the city),” Brees said, “especially if you plan on being here for a long time. I think it’s a must. Look, I think from everything I’ve seen, he’s doing everything the right way
“And now for him, he’s got his sight set on being the starting quarterback on this team — just like the other two guys are.” Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
Saints coach Kellen Moore, left, chats with New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars, right, and Saints general manager Mickey Loomis during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital on April 29. Loomis is entering his 24th year leading the Saints.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By CHRIS SZAGOLA Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, center and teammates run the tush push play against the Washington Commanders on Jan. 26 in Philadelphia.
AP PHOTO By MATT ROURKE
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni looks on during the team’s rookie minicamp in Philadelphia on May 2.
Anderson, center,takes theball
SevenLSU players honoredbySEC
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
Seven LSU baseballplayers were named to All-SEC teams, including two on the All-SEC first team, the SoutheasternConference announced Monday Sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson and junior right-hander Zac Cowan cracked theAll-SEC first team. Junior right-handerAnthony Eyanson, junior JaredJones, freshman Derek Curiel and junior DanielDickinson weresecondteamselections. Additionally,freshman righthander CasanEvans and Curiel made the All-SEC freshman team, and Anderson was picked for the SEC all-defensive team. Anderson made the first team afterleading the conferencein strikeouts in SEC play and posting a3.96 ERA in 10 starts. Cowan joined himthanks to a2.93ERA against the SEC in 302/3 innings Eyanson had a2.83 ERA with 86 strikeouts in 571/3 innings against the SEC en route to becoming a second-team selection. Jones had
SECBASEBALLAWARDS
Player of the Year: WehiwaAloy, Arkansas Pitcher of the Year: Liam Doyle, Tennessee Freshman of the Year: Dylan Volantis,Texas Newcomer of the Year: AceReese, Mississippi State Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Ryan Prager, Texas A&M Coach of the Year Jim Schlossnagle, Texas All-SEC First team C: Rylan Galvan, Texas C: LukeHeyman, Florida 1B: Andrew Fischer, Tennessee 2B: Gavin Kilen, Tennessee 3B: AceReese, Mississippi State 3B: Slate Alford, Georgia SS: Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas OF:Ike Irish, Auburn OF:Charles Davalan,Arkansas OF:Kade Snell, Alabama DH/Util: Kuhio Aloy, Arkansas SP: Liam Doyle, Tennessee SP: Kade Anderson, LSU SP: Kyson Witherspoon,Oklahoma SP: Zach Root,Arkansas RP: Dylan Volantis, Texas RP: ZacCowan, LSU RP: Carson Ozmer, Alabama Second team
C: Easton Carmichael, Oklahoma 1B: Jared Jones, LSU 1B: Cam Kozeal, Arkansas 2B: Chris Rembert, Auburn 2B: Daniel Dickinson,LSU 3B: LukeHill, Ole Miss SS: Justin Lebron, Alabama OF:Hunter Ensley,Tennessee OF:Derek Curiel, LSU
seven home runs, Curiel earned a .825 on-base plus slugging percentage, and Dickinson held a.315 batting averageinconference play
Evans crackedthe all-freshman team with Curiel thanks to ateamleading 2.30 ERA against the SEC in 311/3 innings.
Uhlman:Tulanethrowing everything at Game 1
BY GUERRYSMITH
Contributing writer
Tulane baseball coach Jay Uhlman knows his pitching-starved, two-time reigning American Athletic Conference Tournament championship program absolutely needs to win Game 1ifitistocontinue devouring the competitionin Clearwater,Florida.
To thatend, thefifth-seeded Green Wave will bypass normal opening-game starter Luc Fladda in favor of dominant closer Michael Lombardi when it faces fourth-seededFlorida Atlantic on Tuesday morning at BayCare Ballpark (8 a.m., ESPN+).
The Owls tattooed Fladda for eight runs on nine hits in 11/3 innings on May 2atTurchinStadium. No one has done anything remotely like that to Lombardi, a fire-baller who boasts a1.45 ERA while yielding only 16 hits in 31 innings with awhopping 56 strikeouts.Infour starts covering 111/3 innings, he has whiffed 15 batters and allowed five hits. Riding Lombardi early is arisk worth taking with fellow first-team All-AAC pitcher Trey Beard(7-0, 2.93) on the mound for Florida Atlantic. “Winning Game1 is really what it’sgoing to come down to, and that’swhere the singular focus will be,” Uhlman said. “It will be all hands on deck, and we’ll do everything possible to win that game.”
Despite having by far the worst conference ERA (8.07)inthe eightteam field, the Wave is confident it can piece together enough pitching behind Lombardi to three-peat as long as it avoids the loser’s bracket. Uhlman trusts relievers Tay-
ler Montiel (4-2, 4.06) and Carter Benbrook (2-1, 3.62). The last time Fladda (4-6, 6.53) pitched in the postseason, he shutout Nicholls for eight inningsina2024 regional victory.Another starter, Trey Cehajic (5-2, 5.06), blankedthree teams through fiveinnings of an up-and-down year and performed admirably against top-seeded Texas-SanAntonio, Tulane’s potential second-game opponent, in aroad victory
The hitters have to do their part, too, at avenuewhere theWave has averaged 10.4 runswhile going 8-1 in the past two seasons.
“I believe we can do it,” said second-team All-AAC designated hitter Gavin Schulz, asenior who was asizzling 15 for 29 (.517) at BayCare Ballpark during that span. “We’re trying to extendthe season and show these newguys on ourteam what Wave ball really means going toour second home in Clearwater.I’m very excited and ready for some magic to happen.”
Jason Wachs wasnot around for those championships, but he could play abig role this time afterhitting.376inleagueplayand earning unanimous selection to the coaches All-Freshman team on Monday. He will try to setthe toneasthe first batter in the entire tournament.
“Wejust need to play ourbrand of baseball,”hesaid. “The (veterans) tellmeit’sadifferentanimal in Clearwater.They always come prepared and knowthey have the best chance to win every year That’sthe same approach we have this year.”
Second baseman Connor Rasmussen, who joined Lombardi as afirst-team All-AAC pick, touted
BY NOAH TRISTER AP baseball writer
Clayton Kershaw madehis season debut Saturday,and although his performance over four innings was forgettable, he still added another accomplishment to his illustrious career Kershawnow hasplayedin18 seasons for the Dodgers, tying thefranchise record held by outfielder Zack Wheat and shortstop Bill Russell. ShoheiOhtani and Mookie Betts may have taken over as the team’sbig stars, but Kershaw’srole in helping Los Angeles become apowerhouse should not be understated. And like Russell, Kershaw has never played for any other major-league team. That makes his tenure in Los Angeles even more special. Here’salist of each team’s longest-tenuredplayer who spent hiswhole career with that franchise in that city.Onlycurrent teams —intheir current locations —are included. So the Athletics are left out, and so are stars like Mel Ott, who spent 22 seasons with the Giants before they moved to San Francisco.
n Baltimore Orioles: Brooks Robinson (23 seasons)
n Boston Red Sox: Carl Yastrzemski (23)
n Chicago Cubs: Cap Anson (22)
n St.Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial (22)
n Detroit Tigers: Al Kaline (22)
n ChicagoWhite Sox: TedLyons (21)
n Kansas City Royals: George Brett (21)
n Pittsburgh Pirates: Willie Stargell(21)
n ClevelandGuardians: Mel Harder (20)
n MilwaukeeBrewers:Robin Yount (20)
n San Diego Padres: Tony Gwynn (20)
n Houston Astros: Craig Biggio (20)
n New York Yankees: Derek Jeter (20)
n Cincinnati Reds: Dave Concepcion and Barry Larkin (19)
n Atlanta Braves: Chipper Jones (19)
n New York Mets: Ed Kranepool (18)
n Los Angeles Dodgers: Bill Russell and Clayton Kershaw (18)
n Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Schmidt (18)
n SeattleMariners: Edgar Martinez (18)
n Colorado Rockies: Todd Helton (17)
n Washington Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman (16)
n Minnesota Twins: Tony Oliva and Joe Mauer (15)
n Los AngelesAngels: Mike Trout (15)
n San Francisco Giants: Jim Davenport and Matt Cain (13)
n Toronto Blue Jays: Garth Iorg (nine)
Lowe(eight)
n Arizona Diamondbacks: Brandon Webb, Kevin Ginkel and Merrill Kelly (seven)
n Miami Marlins: Jesús Sánchez (six)
Feastorfamine
There are three pitchers with 6-0recordsinthe major leagues right nowentering playMonday night.One is formerCyYoung Award winner Robbie Ray of the Giants. Another is prized free agent acquisition Max Fried of the Yankees. The third? Reliever Jorge Lópezofthe Nationals, whois somehow 6-0 despite a6.86 ERA and the Nationals standing with a 21-27 record.
This isn’tacase of López constantly giving up leads and then having his teammates rescue him offensively.Infour of his six victories, he produced ascoreless outing, and he allowed one run in the other two. The reason his ERA is so high is because he’salready had three outings allowing at leastthreeruns —and didn’t pick up adecision in any of them. In theliveballera,the most wins apitcherhas received in a season with an ERA over 6.00 while pitching exclusively in relief —isseven. Bob Kline went 7-2 with a6.80 ERA forthe Senators andA’s in 1934; George Frazier went 7-8 with a6.39 ERA for the Cubs in 1985; and Curt Leskanicwent 7-5 with a6.23 ERA forthe Rockies in 1996.
Trivia time
Which twoplayers spent their entire 21-year careers withone team butdid notmakethe list above? One of them played for a team that is no longer in that city Theother was with afranchise thathad anotherplayerwith an even longer tenure.
Line of theweek
Wilmer Flores homered three times and drove in eight runs to lead theSan FranciscoGiantsto a13-5win over theAthleticson Fridaynight. Flores is hitting .258 with just 12 extra-base hits, but he leads the majors with 42 RBIs.Flores is hitting .395 with runners in scoring position. Comeback of theweek
The Rockies won awild 14-12 gameSaturday,and it wasn’t even at Coors Field. Colorado had a3.2% chance of winning, according to Baseball Savant, when it fell behind 11-6 in the bottom of the fifth. Then the Rockiesscored four runs in the sixth and three in the seventh on the way to their eighth win of the season. The next day? Arizona beat Colorado 1-0.
Trivia answer
Tulane’sunderstanding of what it takes to win in this tournament setting. He was on the other end of it as the on-deck batter for East Carolina when the Pirates lost the championship game to the Wave in 2023, and he was directly involved with six hits in Clearwater lastseason after transferring to Tulane. Rasmussen, Schulz, Matthias Haas, Lombardi and 2024 AAC Tournament MVPJackson Linn started every gamethere ayear ago.
“Wehaveanexperienced group,” Rasmussen said. “Wehave guys who have played in multiple regionals,and mostteams across the country can’tsay that. We know how to win in thepostseason and fight when your back’sagainst thewall. We’reexcited togodown there and do that again.”
The last college baseball team to winthreeconference tournaments in arow was UL from 2014-16, but the Cajuns were the top seed in the Sun Belt twice in that span.Tulane, theNo. 7seed in 2023 and the No. 3 seed ayear ago, hopes to enter uncharted territory as athree-time long-shot champion.
“We’re going to compete our butts off,” Lombardi said. “We’ll go outthere andleaveeverything on the field.”
Lagniappe
If Tulane wins Tuesday,itwill play thewinner of Texas-San Antoniovs. Rice on Thursday at noon. If it loses, it will face the UTSARiceloser at noon Wednesday in an elimination game. …Tanner Chun joinedWachs as an All-Freshman pick, giving the Wave five players on the all-league team for the second consecutive year
n Texas Rangers: Rusty Greer (nine)
n Tampa BayRays: Brandon
SCHEFFLER
Continued from page1C
all that well for thefirst 21/2 days in Charlotte,but he playedthe back nine on Saturday and Sunday just aboutaswell as anyone has On Saturday,Scheffler went 5-under par on thefinalfive holes to take controlofthe tournament andcarrieda three-shotlead into thefinal round
Most probably thought it was over. But Scheffler struggledwith his swing and made threeuncharacteristic bogeys on the front nine Sunday,allowing twotime major champion Jon Rahm to pull into atie at 9under It didn’tlast long.
Scheffler ate asandwich as he made the turn at 2-over par for theday,then proceeded to drill hisdrive downthe middle of the fairway on the par-5 10th hole. He followed it with an approach shot to within40feetofthe cup. He two-puttedfromthere for birdie and never trailed again. Scheffler really didn’tneed to do muchafter that point. From there, it wasn’tamatter of Schefflerrunning away with thetournament as muchasit was others running away from him. By the time he walkedupthe 18thfairway,hewas leading by
Walter Johnson spent his whole 21-year career with the WashingtonSenators,who arenow the MinnesotaTwins. Cal Ripken Jr played21seasonsfor theOrioles, twoshy of Robinson’smark.
six shots before closing with a safe bogey on the 18th for the five-shotwin.
“The last five holes(Saturday), that’swhere Ireallykindofput myself ahead in the tournament,” Schefflersaid. “I mean, the back nine today was pretty special as well. But (Saturday) theway Ifinishedoff that round, Ithink it wasreally important formetohave alead to play with today.” The two-time Masters champion joined Seve Ballesterosas theonlyplayers to win each of their first three majors by three or morestrokes. It wasalsohis 15th career PGA Tour win, marking theshortest span between wins No. 1and No. 15 by anyone notnamed Tiger WoodsorJack Nicklaus. Scheffler is nowhalfwaytothe career Grand Slamwith the two he still needs —the U.S. Open andBritish Open —still to come this year
But we learned acouple of things about ScheffleronSunday He’smore human than maybe we thought, and there is something burning within. He may never reach the expressive levelofTigerWoods’ iconic fistpumps, but you can’t fake thetypeofemotion Scheffler displayedatQuail Hollow And with that type of drive and thatlevel of skill, there’snotelling whatSchefflerwill accomplish.
STAFF PHOTO By HILARySCHEINUK
LSU starting pitcher Kade
from first baseman Jared Jones, center,asthird baseman Michael Braswell looks on beforepitchingagainst Purdue-FortWayne on Feb.14atAlex Box
Not your garden variety
Gauraisasuperstar in pollinator gardens. Here’s howtomakeit thrive in your yard
Lots of people want to plant gardens that attract and nurture bees, butterflies and other pollinators Fortunately,many plants that are pollinator magnets also provide beauty and interest. Even better? Anumber of native plants, which are pros at handling our challenging Louisiana growing conditions, are beloved by pollinators.
One plant that meets all these criteria is gaura. It’s such agreat plant that the LSU AgCenter has named it a Louisiana Super Plant for 2025.
Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri) is aperennial that consists of dense foliage at its base and tall, wispy spikes of flowers that move with the breeze —which is whyit’s sometimes called wandflower Another nickname for gaura is bee blossom, anod to itssuperstar status in the world of pollinator plants.
Because gaura is native to Louisiana, it thrives in our heat and humidity with few maintenance requirements
Like most plants, gaura needs regular watering when it’s first planted. Once established, though, gaura is remarkably drought-tolerant thanks toa prominent taproot that reaches deep into the soil to providethe plant with moisture.
LSU AGCENTERPHOTO By OLIVIA
McCLURE
Gaura has dense foliageatits base and tall, delicate stems that bear small flowers. Steffi Dark Rose gaura featurespink flowers on shorter plants.
Gaura can reach 2to4feet tall and 1to2feet wide. It has an upright growth habit. It can tolerate partial shade but should be planted in full sun for maximum flower power and pollinator visits. Blooms, which measure about an inch across, appear from early spring to midsummer.Plants can become abit leggy in the summer,and trimming back this excessgrowth and spent flowers can encourage asecond round of blooming in the fall. There are many gaura cultivars out there—including shorter plants with pink blooms such as Bellezaand Steffi Dark Rose. Whirling Butterflies has white flowersand hints of pink on taller stems. Many unnamed, wild gauras have tall bloom spikes as well. In its natural setting, gaura is known for readily reseeding itself and spreading. But popular cultivars you’re likely to find at the garden center don’treseed as much —aplus for those hoping to keep atidy
See GAURA, page 2D
LIVING
TheWagersboughttheir
OUTSIDE &INSIDE
Theglory of ascreened-in porch: ‘Thisroomisanextension of ourhouse’
BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer
Ascreened-in porch delivers on serenity and curiosity, whether porch-sitters are watching birds, flowersorthe neighbors.
Formany,acup of coffee on a screened-in porch hearkens back to aslower and simpler time.
Whetherit’svisiting with aneighbororafamily member,the conversation seems sweeter when accompanied by nature’ssights and sounds. In Louisiana, the bestpart of ascreened-in porch is enjoying theviews withoutpests likeflies andmosquitoes
Patented in 1868, the original windowscreen became popular in the 1870s to keep out dust and pests. By the late 19th century,the screenedin sleeping porch came alongto maximize cool air in the summer eveningsbyincreasingair circulation. As central air conditioning became moreavailablebythe 1950s, the sleeping porch was no longer needed for many families. The screened porchspace transitioned into aplace of leisureand relaxation instead of sleeping. Over time,the screen materials have improved to be moreweather
‘It’ssuch aprivate place. And what Ilove, too, about it is that youcan be
resistant. Screenedporcheshave waxedand waned in popularityin home building, but theycontinue to provide an outdoor extension of living space for families
Extensionofthe home
Judy Wagerand herhusband bought their homeonthe LSU Lakes four years agowhen they relocated from Memphis. The home was designed by A. Hays Town, an architect famousfor his South-
ern style. Wager fell in love with the home the first time she saw it. Built in 1951, the house’sscreenedin front porch covers the width of the home.
“When Isaw that this was an A. Hays Town house, Ithought, ‘Oh my gosh, it just really ticks all the boxes,’”Wager said. Last year,the Wagers hadthe screens replaced andthe frames
PORCH, page 2D
BY HANNAH LEVITAN Staff writer
sion agentAnna Timmerman said. The most common flowers,though,includeswamp mallows, Louisiana iris, coreopsis, rudbeckia and Texas
hibiscus. Forexperienced or entrylevel gardeners, Timmerman said plant-lovers can choose from avariety of flowers at their
garden shop. But before heading over,she recommends
inquire about certainflowers, since it’sthe only way gardencenters know to order them from wholesale nursery growers. Gardeners can easily have up to 60 different flower species in their gardens, Timmermansaid. That’sbecause of the variability in native plants. “Wecan kind of push the envelopes in our gardensand
STAFFPHOTOSByJAVIER GALLEGOS
Cookingwithout plastic
Dear Heloise: Ilove to cook with fresh food, and Iamnot afan of plasticsinmykitchen. They are totally unnecessaryand not healthy
n Hint
1: Save your taller thin glass jars for spring onions or herbs like cilantro or parsley
Rinse them, pat the tops dry,and put the bottoms in their jar with just enough watertohydrate them. They willlast for longer n Hint 2: Instead of wrapping or bagging cut onions, fruits and citrus, cut just what you need and set the remaining of it face down on aceramicorglass prep dish. It will keep well.
chop.Yuck! —Jean Wight, via email
Two-in-one hint
Hints from Heloise
Dear Heloise: Idon’teat much bread. To keep it from spoiling, Iwrap sets of four slices in a paper towel, place them in aquart-sized plastic bag, andput them in the freezer.When Ineed bread, Ipullout one bag out, thaw it, and store it in therefrigerator
No onewants to attend agraduationceremony
Ionly use wooden cutting boards that are well-cleaned because the synthetic materials in the marketed cutting boardsactually become apart of what you
Thereare some household tasks thatIonly do every few months. Iwriteeach of them on asmall sticky note and put them in my desk calendar on the dates they are due to be done. Once completed,I move the sticky note to the next date. —Donna, in Iowa
Send ahint to heloise@heloise. com.
TODAYINHISTORY
By The Associated Press
Today is Tuesday,May 20, the 140th day of 2025. There are 225 days left in the year
Todayinhistory
On May 20, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act, which was intended to encourage settlements west of the Mississippi River by making federal land available for private ownership and farming. About 10% of the land area of the United States (270 million acres) would be privatized by 1934.
On this date: In 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, aboard theSpirit of St. Louis on his historic solo flight to France.
In 1932, Amelia Earhart departed from Newfoundlandinan attempt to become the first woman to fly solo acrossthe Atlantic. (Becauseofweather and equipment problems, Earhart landed the following day in Northern Ireland instead of her intended destination, France.)
In 1956, the United States exploded the first airborne hydrogenbomb over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.
In 1961, aWhite mob attacked abusload of Freedom Riders in Montgomery, Alabama, prompt-
NATIVE
Continued from page1D
landscapes alittle and get away with planting alot of different ecotypes into the garden,” Timmerman said.
But if you’re just getting started, the best native options include coreopsis, crimson-eyed rose mallow, cardinal flowers and rudbeckias. These are relatively easy to find in garden centers and require little maintenance. Some are even drought-tolerant. Tips on planting native flowers
Usually,most garden stores offerapalette of native flowers for customers to choosefrom. Experts can also provide valuable gardening advice, especially regarding the best flowers to plant together
But the most important thing to consider, Timmermansaid, is timing.
“If you’re gardening natives, especially from the seed, you want to mimic what’shappening in nature, so that’swhen the seed heads are drying out in the fall,” Timmermansaid. “They’re dropping over the winter,getting cold exposure and then they germinate in the spring, so fall is really the best time to seed alot of our natives.”
But transplanting flowers, a process of rerooting them, can be done anytime in the spring or fall, since they are not in the early stages of growth. They tendto do well over winter because of their adaption to the climate. Before planting, consult your local gardening expert about proper soil type and drainage.
If you don’thave agreenthumb, Timmerman recommendsbeginnersplant tickseed(coreopsis)
GAURA
Continued from page1D
ingthe federal governmentto send in U.S. marshals to restore order
In 1969, U.S.and South Vietnamese forces captured Ap Bia Mountain,referred to as “HamburgerHill” by theAmericans, following one of thebloodiest battles of theVietnamWar In 1985, Radio Marti, operated by theU.S. government,began broadcasting. Cuba responded by attemptingto jamits signal. In 2015, fourofthe world’s biggestbanks —JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup’s banking unit Citicorp,Barclaysand the Royal BankofScotland—agreed to paymore than $5 billion in penalties andplead guilty to rigging thecurrencymarkets
Today’sBirthdays: Japanese baseball star Sadaharu Oh is 85. Singer-actorCheris79. Actor-comedianDaveThomas is 76. Sen. Mike Crapo,aRepublican from Idaho, is 74. Political commentator Ron Reagan is 67. Musician Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Go’s) is 67. Actor Bronson Pinchot is 66. TV personality TedAllen is 60. Actor Mindy Cohn is 59. Actor Timothy Olyphant is 57.Former racing driverTonyStewart is 54. Rapper Busta Rhymes is 53. Actor Matt Czuchry is 48. Actor-singerNaturi Naughtonis41. CyclistChris Froome is 40. Country musician Jon Pardi is 40.
and coneflowers (rudbeckia), which are good for entry-level planters. They are lowmaintenance andrequire little effort.
“Always shop small, independent local garden centers, if possible,” Timmerman said. “Most of them will set aside anative plant sectionintheir nurseries, especially in theNew Orleans area.”
Snow’s impact
Eventhough Louisiana’srare snowfall in January was tough on tropical plants, natives did well duetothe additional atmospheric nitrogen from thesnow
“Snow contains alot of air by volume,soit’skindoflike laying athickblanket over our gardens anditdoescontain some atmospheric nitrogentoo,soit’slike a little boost in freefertilizer,”Timmerman said.
Many native plants, especially perennials, can grow further north, allowing them to adapt to a range of environments and tolerate colder weather
The snow’sinsulative qualities allowed native plants to thrive more than tropical plants,Timmerman said.
Benefits of native species
According to Timmerman,incorporating native species into your garden has numerous ecological benefits.
“They attract alot of pollinators andbeneficial insect species that helpusinour garden, doing some naturalpest control and boosting our production,” she said.
Native flowers can fit into any landscapeorgarden and integrate well.
For those interested in attracting hummingbirdsand butterflies to their yards, consider planting coral honeysuckleorTexas star hibiscus.Timmerman recommends these for school gardens.
Dear Miss Manners: My son is graduating withhonors from a very selective university. My husband wantstoinvite family from bothsides to attend, which would require everyone to travel out of statetoavery expensive city Initially,wewere going to host anice party after the ceremony.Now it’scompletely off, due to volatilityinmyhusband’s job.Hestill wants to invite everyone, but let them know we can’thouse them or provide any celebration outside of the graduation ceremony Ithink this is incredibly ill-mannered, and that we should just have our immediatefamily there. Ifind it offensive toask family members to pay for airfare, expensive hotels and food while we provide nothing. Some relatives would likely inviteusto eat at anice restaurant, at their expense, to celebrate. They can afford this, but it’s not their place. Through theyears, we have known someofour relatives to look down on us. Ifeel horrible; I’m not trying to makemyhusband’slife harder,ormost importantly,disappoint my son. He already expressed his desire to
have abig party,and now we have to tell him it’soff.
formygraduation announcements. I’dlike to use Ms., but what exactly does it stand for? Please let me know which is mostappropriate.
Gentlereader: Here is another argument against inviting the extended family to agraduation: Graduation ceremonies can be meaningful to the graduates and their immediate families, but you will perhaps forgive Miss Manners for saying that they are not sources of general entertainment. Even if thereare mesmerizing speakers, which is not always the case, mostofthe ritual consists of watching strangers walk across a stage. When issuing invitations, one is supposedtoconsider the possible enjoyment one is offering the prospective guests. In this case, it is so minimalthat anyone without a deep emotional attachment to your sonwould be foolish to accept.
As for your son himself,surely he is grown-up and intelligent enough to have sympathy forthe family’sfinancial constraints, rather than resentment.
Dear Miss Manners: I’ma37-yearold woman who hasnever been engaged, married or hadchildren I’ll be graduating soon,and am not sure which title, MissorMs., to use
Gentle reader: It stands for“Ms.” It is so useful that Miss (sic) Manners cannot understand the prejudice somepeople have against it. Asmall history lesson: Centuries ago, the all-purpose female honorific was Mistress, and it was as devoid of marital status as Mister So those who object to Ms. being too new aterm are quite wrong. Mistress wasabbreviated as Ms. It wasonly later that the word acquired separate versions —Miss and Mrs. —todenote marital status. Abad idea. Worse, theterm “mistress” pickedupaless-than-respectable meaning. Femaledesignations tend to do that, while male ones do not —“sir” as opposed to “madam,” for example.HostilitytoMs. seemsan example of that prejudice.
Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.
PORCH
Continuedfrom page1D gardenappearance.
Gaura can usually survive Louisiana winters, and its foliage is sometimes evergreen. New stem and leaf growthon some cultivars is avibrant shade of red. Gaura and other Louisiana SuperPlants have been thoroughly vetted by AgCenter scientists. Plantsthatearn this title are both toughand attractive. To learn more about theprogram, visitwww.LSUAgCenter.com/ SuperPlants.
repainted, but they kept it periodappropriatewiththe original terrazzo floors and amix of midcentury furniture.
“This room is an extension of our house. The views are just amazing,”Wager said. “Because not only do we have the garden, but we have the lake and thebeautiful trees.”
While manypeople think of screened-in porchesasaway to keep theannoying parts of nature out, Wagerviews herporch as away to be with nature but not disturb it.
“It’ssucha private place,” said Wager.“Andwhat Ilove, too, about it is thatyou can be apart of nature without intruding in on the animals.” An escape from therealworld
Amy Jones and her husband purchased their raised home in 2017 after it flooded in 2016. They were nearing their closing date when the home flooded, and they took their name out of the hat. Then six months later,aRealtor calledand asked if they were still interested. Planning on starting from scratch anyway,the couple agreed, bought the homeand gutted it.
One thing that drew them to the rebuild was the screened-in front porch. Jones says the space is ideal for relaxationand entertainment Located at theend of Hoo Shoo TooRoad, the only thing the family hears are the birds and the Amite River passing by “Becausewe’re araised house, it’salmost like atree house for us,” she said. “I’m up in the oak trees and looking down on our big lawn, andit’sthe most peaceful andtranquil place to escape from the real world. It just feels like you’re out looking at nature, in with thebirds andthe squirrels —and it’samagical place.”
With awicker sofa, aporch swing, rocking chairs anda couple tables, Jones has ample room for accommodatingher large family,which includes12kids and22grandchildren. They all fit on the porch for holidays and family reunions. They
spend their Christmasevenings on the porchincandlelight andalso use the front porch as the perfect venue for guitar sessions andsing-a-longs Slow dancing on the screened porch and sitting cozy during rainstorms are pastimes that both Jones and Wager share. For Wager, she hasevenfound solace during a hurricane.
“During thehurricanethatwe hadlast year,itwas so crazy because Icame outhereand Ifelt protected.Itreally is alovely time to watch just about everything and still be protected from the elements,” saidWager Must-haveelements
Billy Como of Como’sHome Improvementisa 20-year veteran carpenterinBaton Rouge who installs about five screened-in porches ayear.Hesaysa screened-in porch’sbestfeaturesare obvious —shade andnobugs.
Como says thatceiling fans are amust-have in ordertocirculate theair,cool offthe area andhelp control mildew.Headded that insulatingthe roof drastically helps with the heat. Porch overhangs may help with heat reduction, but not much, says Como.Overhangs helpout morewith water diversion than providing shade. The ideal size of an overhang is between 12 and 16 inches to keep the water from hit-
ting the porch structure.
When it comes to orientation, porches that face east and west will get either morning or evening sunlight, which isn’tashot as midday sun. North and south-oriented porches will get middaysunlight and lots of heat.
Thetypeofflooring in ascreenedin porch can also help with cooling. Comosays that flooring depends on the aesthetic preference and porch height —ifa porch is low enough, concrete flooring is cooler and doesn’tlet bugs or humidity linger under the porch. However, if ahouse is 6inches above ground level, the porch will need to be supported by pier and beam, which opensupmore optionsfor flooring. In termsofsizing, if ascreenedin porch is too small, the space can feelclaustrophobic. Como recommends aporch that is about160 square feet.
Como built ascreened-in porch forhis own house that includes removableglass windowsthat canbe changed dependingonthe season and the weather
“Wedoalot of alot of things outside,” Como said. “Weusually eat our breakfast out there and sit out there in the evenings. My wife grows plants out there. It gave us a whole new dynamic to our home.” Email Joy Holdenatjoy.holden@ theadvocate.com.
Judith Martin MISS MANNERS
STAFF PHOTOSByJAVIER GALLEGOS
Last year,the Wagers had the screens replaced and the frames repainted,but theykeptitperiod-appropriate withthe original terrazzo floors andamix of midcenturyfurniture.
Abunnytopiarysits nearbyaside table in the Wagers’ screened-in porch.
TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Clear a space to accommodate something you enjoy doing. Declutter and rethink your spending habits and what's important to you. Spend time nurturing relationships dear to your heart and consider a lifestyle geared toward promoting health and happiness
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Interact with people you respect and trust to tell you the truth. Participate in events that can expand your outlook and offer a different perspective regarding how you use your attributes to your advantage.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Set high standardsanddon'tbudgeregardlessofwhat others do or say. The future looks bright if you follow your heart and do what excites you. Express yourself through action.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Put your head down and push forward. Refuse to let anyone interfere with your plans or throw you off guard with their lofty dreams. Don't let your generosity be your downfall; it's time to prioritize your needs.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Simplify matters by refusing to overload your plate to please others. Rethink your lifestyle and how it represents your needs, and revamp your routine to ensure you refuel.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Sift through information. Broaden your horizons and set your sights on what matters to you. A cause will heighten your awareness and motivateyoutodosomethingthatmakes you feel good about yourself.
scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Decipher how to have the most impact and put your plan in action. Direct communication is the best route forward. Don't lose sight of your long-term goals.
sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Hold on to your morals, beliefs and money. Refuse to give anyone the right to take advantage of you or tempt you with nonsense or false prospects. It's your turn to stand up for your beliefs.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Review your budget and put a financial plan in place that willhelpyouachieveyourobjective. Life is too short to take risks for someone else. An innovative approach involving discipline and hard work will pay off.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Expand your interests and make room for new beginnings. Show off your skills. Take the time to fine-tune your life to suit your desires.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Useyourenergy wisely. Miscalculation will set you back. Take the time to rethink your plans. Trust your gut to lead you in the right direction.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Revamp your resume to suit your plans. Seek out skills and knowledge that can help you head in a direction that motivates you. Invest time and money in what matters to you most.
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
nea CroSSwordS La TimeS CroSSword
THewiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS
By PHILLIP ALDER
Aristotle said, “All humanactions have one or moreofthese seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason,passion, desire.”
At the bridge table, you desire to make or break the contract, using reasoning and various habits —hopefully all good. Andsometimes you have to go forany chance that you have.
In thisdeal, Westhas to decide what to dowhendefendingagainstoneno-trump. He leadshis fourth-highest diamond. South takes East’s nine with his king and plays thespade queen. West ducks, but is inwithhisaceattrickthree.Whatshould West do now?
An aggressive Eastwould havemade athree-club weak jump overcall on the first round. Then South would probably have made anegative double, giving North aheadache. Thewinning action would have been to pass, which would have netted 100 or 300.
IfEasthadbalancedoveroneno-trump withatwo-clubbid,Southwouldpresumably have continued with two spades, which would have probably ended down oneafter the diamond-nine lead from East. Who has the diamond jack?
It must be South —donot be fooled by his falsecard at trick one. Eastwas playing third hand high and the best he could do was thenine. Similarly,South has the
By AndrewsMcMeel Syndication
Each Wuzzle is aword riddle whichcreates adisguised word,phrase, name,place, saying,
Previous answers:
InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four lettersbythe addition of “s,”
diamond ace, giving South 10 high-card points.So,ifWestleadsanotherdiamond, South must take at least nine tricks. The only chance for the defense is to run the clubs. West must shift to his club king andcontinue
Baton Rouge as RTAapplication #20220450 for the purpose of encouraging private investment and restoration of property By Planning Director RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to amend that certain contract for professional legal services with Michael Hebert of Becker &Hebert, LLC for the legal representation of the City-Parish concerning Annexation petitions in the matter entitled “Norman Browing, et al vs. City of Baton Rouge et al,” No. 693,763 to increase the contract by $30,000 for a total compensation amount not to exceed $80,000. This matter may be discussed in executive session. By Parish Attorney
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to amend that certain contract for professional legal services with Phillip E. Foco of Bienvenu, Bonnecaze, Foco, Viator &Holinga for the legal representation of officer Youssef Hamadeh of the BatonRouge City Police, relative to the matter entitled, “Raheem Howardvs. City of Baton Rouge, et al” No. 3:19-CV-0079 to increase the contract by $25,000 for atotal compensation amount not to exceed $75,000. *This matter may be discussed in executive session. By Parish Attorney
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to enter into aCooperative Endeavor
Agreement with the State of Louisiana for the State to provide funding in the amount of $220,000 for Juvenile Services Operational Expenses, from fundingprovided in Act 4ofthe 2024 Regular Legislative Session. (BS 9114). By Juvenile Services and Mayor-President.
ORDINANCE
Amending the 2025 AnnualOperating Budget so as to appropriate $944,440 for expenses supported by the General Fund, including repairs to the River Center related to the January 2025 winter storm event. The source of funding is General Fund Fund Balance-Budget Stabilization. (BS 9113). By Finance Director
RESOLUTION
Authorizing settlement ofthe matter entitled “Lorenzo Gage vs. CityParish of East Baton Rouge,etal,” Suit no. 24-297-EWD-SDJonthe docket of the U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, in the amount of $22,500.00; and appropriating $22,500.00for such purpose. *This matter may be discussed in Executive Session. (Attorney of record is HowardElliott, Jr.). By Parish Attorney
RESOLUTION
Amend the 2025 Pay Plan for the Classified, Unclassified, Non-Classified, Contract, Fire, and Police Employees of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East BatonRouge, adopted by Ordinance #19433, dated 12/10/2024, so as to make the following changes effective January 11, 2025 (retroactive to pay period beginning January 11, 2025). Amendment to the Classified &Unclassified Appendix I: (26) Critical Retention/Hiring of Head Start Employees, an optional special recruiting rate is allowable up to step 17 for the Teacher Series, if recommended by the Director and approved by the Human Resources Director.Teacher Classifications are identified as follows: Teacher (9.5 Months), Teacher Advanced, Teacher Advanced (9.5 Months),Teacher Aide, Teacher Aide (9.5 Months). (30) Critical Retention/Hiring of Human Development and Services Employees, an optional special recruiting rate is allowable up to the established step for Human Development andServices Classifications, if recommended by the Director and approved by the Human Resources Director.Human Development and Services Classifications and established steps are identified as follows: Assistant Program Administrator -Head Start (Step12), Case Manager (Step 17), Case Manager (9.5 Months) (Step 17), Content Area Specialist (Step 11), Content Area Specialist (9.5 Months) (Step 11), Head Start Center Supervisor (Step 14), Head Start Center Supervisor (9.5 Months) (Step 14), Head Start Practice-Based Coach (Step 11), Kitchen Supervisor (Step 14), Kitchen Supervisor (9.5 Months) (Step 14), Program Administrator -Head Start (Step 14), Program Administrator -HIV/AIDS (Step 12). Add new pay grade and salary range: 1196, $30,120 -$51,278, 1206, $31,627 -$53,842, and 1216, $33,208 -$56,533. Pay grade increase: Case Manager,job code 2336, current pay grade 1140, $29,219 -$49,743, new pay grade 1190, $37,291$63,487; Case Manager 9.5M, job code 2338, current pay grade 1146, $23,600 -$40,177, new pay grade 1196, $30,120 -$51,278; Content Area Specialist, job code 2290, current pay grade 1160, $32,215 -$54,842, new pay grade 1200, $39,157 -$66,662; Content Area Specialist 9.5M job code 2288, current pay grade 1166, $26,019 -$44,296, new pay grade 1206, $31,627 -$53,842; Head Start Center Supervisor,job code 2284, current pay grade 1170, $33,825 -$57,585, new pay grade 1210, $41,114 -$69,994; Head Start Center Supervisor 9.5M, job code 2282, current pay grade 1176, $27,320 -$46,511, new pay grade 1216, $33,208 -$56,533; Head Start Practice-Based Coach, job code 2286, current pay grade 1130, $27,828 -$47,376, new pay grade 1200, $39,157 -$66,662; KitchenSupervisor,job code 1552, current pay grade 1080, $23,202$37,120, new pay grade 1110, $25,271 -$42,971; Kitchen Supervisor 9.5M, job code 1550, current pay grade 1086, $18,740 -$29,982, new pay grade 1116, $20,411 -$34,707; Teacher,job code 2272, current pay grade 1130, $27,828 -$47,376, new pay grade 1170, $33,825 -$57,585; Teacher 9.5M, job code 2270, current pay grade 1136, $22,476 -$38,265, new pay grade 1176, $27,320 -$46,511; Teacher Advanced*, job code 2276, current pay grade 1150, $30,680 -$52,231, new pay grade 1190, $37,291 -$63,487; Teacher Advanced 9.5M, job code 2274, current pay grade 1156, $24,780 -$42,186, new pay grade 1196, $30,120 -$51,278; Teacher Aide*, job code 2260, current pay grade 1100, $24,092 -$40,924, new pay grade 1130, $27,828 -$47,376; Teacher Aide 9.5M, job code 2258, current pay grade 1106, $19,459 -$33,054, new pay grade 1136, $22,476 -$38,265. *Theseclassifications have Substitute Worker Classifications that will be adjusted accordingly.ByHuman Development and Services Director and Human Resources Director. RESOLUTION
Amend the 2025 Pay Plan for the Classified, Unclassified, Non-Classified, Contract, Fire, and Police Employees of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East BatonRouge, adopted by Ordinance #19433, dated 12/10/2024, so as to make the following changes effective May 31, 2025. Add new classification: Content Specialist –Disability,job code 2285, pay grade 1200, $39,157 -$66,662; Content Specialist –Education, job code 2287, pay grade 1200, $39,157 -$66,662; Content Specialist –ERSEA, job code 2289, pay grade 1200, $39,157 -$66,662; Content Specialist –Mental Health, job code 2291, pay grade 1200, $39,157 -$66,662; Content Specialist –Nutritionand Health, job code 2283, pay grade 1200, $39,157 -$66,662; Head Start Kitchen/Building Support, job code 1541, pay grade 1080, $23,202 -$37,120; Head Start Kitchen/Building Support 9.5M, job code 1539, pay grade 1086, $18,740 -$29,982. Amendment to the Classified &Unclassified Appendix I:
Amend the 2025 Allotment of Positions for the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, adopted by Ordinance #19434, dated 12/10/2024, so as to change the allotment of the Department of Human Development &Services, effective May 31, 2025. Human Development and Services/Head Start Centers add: (1) Case Manager 9.5M, job code 2338, (1) Content Specialist -Disability,job code 2285, (2) Content Specialist -Education, job code 2287, (1) Content Specialist -ERSEA, job code 2289, (1) Content Specialist -Mental Health, job code 2291, (5) Head Start Kitchen/Building Support, job code 1541, (6) Head StartKitchen/ Building Support9.5M,job code 1539 and delete: (7) Building Attendant, job code 1540, (5) Building Attendant 9.5M, job code 1536, (1) Clerical Specialist, job code 2014, (9) Clerical Specialist 9.5M, job code 2012, (7) Content Area Specialist,job code 2290, (1) ERSEA Specialist, job code 2295, (5) Head StartCenter Supervisors 9.5M,job code 2282, (5) Kitchen Supervisor 9.5M,job code 1550, (28) Teacher Advanced 9.5M,job code 2274, (31) Teacher Aide 9.5M,job code 2258. Human Development and Services/Child Care Food Program add: (1) Content Specialist -Nutrition and Health, job code 2283, (17) Head StartKitchen/Building Support9.5M job code 1539 and delete: (20) Cook 9.5M, job code 1546, (1) Nutrition Supervisor,job code 2298. By Human Development and Services Director and Human Resources Director ORDINANCE
To amend the 2025 Annual Operating and Capital Budget for Emergency Medical Services to appropriate $671,000 from Emergency Medical Services Fund- Fund Balance Unassigned to provide funding for the purchase of forty (40) Getac-V410 devices ($200,000), sixty (60) Sapphire IV Medical Pumps ($135,000), forty (40) Portable Radios (190,000), forty (40) Ambulance Modems ($90,000), and 10 Drive Camreplacement devices ($56,000). By Emergency Medical Services Director
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President, on behalf of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and the City of Baton Rouge, to execute and grant aPredial Servitude Agreement with and in favor of D.K.A. Eight, L.L.C.asthe grantee and owner of the dominant estate, for the purpose of constructing, using, and maintaining aparking lot and landscaping in compliance with parish zoning and permitting requirements on land owned by the CityParish as grantor and owner of the servient estate. By Parish Attorney
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to enter into and execute ahousing loan agreement between the City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge, and Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation for the Winchester Crossing—Phase Iproject. Thisinitiative involves the construction of four (4) housing units, with atotal allocation of $587,420.00 in HOME funds. Thisauthorization also includes the execution of all documents necessary to facilitate and administer the agreement. By CommunityDevelopment Director
RESOLUTION
Receiving areport from the administration and holding adiscussion on the federal government mandate regarding pay of Head Start teachers and the potential for $3 million in grant funds at risk. By Councilman Darryl Hurst.
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to accept agrant awardfromthe American Heart Association in the amount of $2,500.00 for the purchase of afreezer which is needed for the Center to have asuccessful feeding program providing mealstothe under served in the communityon Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. By Director,Charles R. Kelly CommunityCenter
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor President to amend asubrecipient contract with Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana in the amount of $134,219.00, and extend the contract period till August 31, 2025, for atotal awarded amount of $1,283,034.00, which includes allfunding under the Ryan White Ending the HIV Epidemic Program, and authorizing the execution of all documents in connection therewith. By Human Development &Services Director
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to amend asubrecipient contract with Family Services of Greater Baton Rouge for an increase in the amount of $94,275.00, and extend the contract period till August 31, 2025, for a total amount of $851,897.00, awarded under the Ryan White Ending the HIV EpidemicProgram, and authorizing the execution of all documents in connection therewith. By Human Development &Services Director
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to execute asubrecipient contract with the Capitol City Family Health Center in the amount of $129,250.00 under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, for the grant period March 15, 2025 through February 28, 2026 and; and authorizingthe execution of all documents in connection therewith. By Human Development &Services Director
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to execute asubrecipient contract with FamilyService of Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of $159,000.00 under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, for the grant period March 15, 2025 through February 28, 2026, and authorizing the execution of all documents in connection therewith. By Human Development &Services Director
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to execute asubrecipient contract with HIV/AIDSAlliance for Region 2inthe amount of $213,783.00 under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, for the grant period March15, 2025 through February 28, 2026, and authorizing the execution of all documents in connection therewith. By Human Development &Services Director
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to execute asubrecipient contract with Our Lady of the Lake, Inc in the amount of $83,517.00 under the Ryan White HIV/AIDSProgram, for the grant period March15, 2025 through February 28, 2026; and authorizing the execution of all documents in connection therewith. By Human Development &Services Director
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Parish Attorney’sOffice to institute expropriation proceedings and/or to take such other actions as may be required in connection with the acquisition of land necessary for the Magnolia Woods at BairdDrainage Improvement Project,Being Project No.19-DRCI-0023. By Parish Attorney
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to execute an amendment to Contract Number 800006337, effective July 31, 2024, between the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, on behalf of the Office of Community Development,and EDR Construction, LLC. The amendment willincrease the contract amount by $100,000.00, for anot-to-exceed total of $531,250.00, and authorizethe executionofall related documents. By CommunityDevelopment Director
RESOLUTION
Authorizingthe Mayor-President to execute an agreement between the City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge, on behalf of the Office of Community Development,and LaHouse Research and Education Center LSU AgCenter,for the term of June 1, 2025, through July 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $93,943.00. Thisagreement is funded under the Lead Hazard Capacity Building Grant and includes authorization for the execution of all related documents. By Community Development Director
RESOLUTION
Aresolution
RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the Mayor-President to
RESOLUTION
Authorize
Rouge and the East Baton Rouge Sewerage Commission with the City of St. George andthe St. George Transition District. By Environmental Services Director RESOLUTION
Rescinding anddirecting the clerk of courttocancel the NoticetoAttend recorded on September 27, 2024, at Original59ofBundle 13334, and andthe Decision andOrder recorded on February 14, 2025, at Original 116 of Bundle 13356 In The Matterof“City Of Baton Rouge vs. ONYX Square, LLC” –Condemnation Proceeding No. 11474 (1350 Sora St., Lot
RESOLUTION
Rescinding
RESOLUTION
By: Environmental Services Director CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS
Gregory DewayneFranklin 1886 74th Ave., Lot 28, Sq. 16, BankAddition Subdivision (Act of Cash Sale Recorded on 11/23/2022 At ORIG 250/BNDL 13227. Contains
Carolyn Higginbotham andRalph Carter 2005 Fairchild St.,Lot 3, Sq. 2, Jordan Terrace Subdivision -Council District 2-Kenney Chunbo Ni aka Bob Ni 4364 SycamoreSt. Lot 18, Sq. 16, Schorten Place Subdivision -Council District 5-Hurst G2
-Council District 7-Harris
The EstateofMary Woods Earls 1223 N37th St. (Duplex w/ addresses 1221 &1223 N37th St.), Lots 34, 35, and36, Sq. 24, Eden Park Subdivision -Council District 7-Harris
Simply Heating &Air Plus, LLC 1775 N46th St., Lot 27, Sq. 28, Greenville Extension Subdivision -Council District 7-Harris
RooseveltThompson andWilhelmenia Green Thompson 2065 WBelfair Dr Lot 259+ (Lots 259 &260) Belfair HomesSubdivision -Council District 7- Harris Christopher James Shankle 5119 Fairfields Ave., Lot 13, Sq. 12, East Fairfields Subdivision -Council District 7- Harris George Colemanand Geneva Coleman 1768 N39th St., Lot 113, Park Addition Subdivision -Council District
-Coleman
Patricia Ann Blakes andThe EstateofIsaac HenryMason 2515 Huron St. (House &Any andAll Outbuildings)Lot C, Sq. 98, Suburb Istrouma Subdivision -Council District 10 -Coleman
Wilbert Jackson, Josie Booker Jackson,Bruce Jackson,Graylin Jackson &ShirleyMae Williams Jackson 335 Louise St., Lot 26, Sq. 2, J ohnstown Subdivision, (AKA Lot 26, Sq. 0, Johnstown, or Lot 26, Johnstown No.2) -Council District 10 -Coleman
RERO AcquisitionsV,L.L.C.& RSB DevelopmentGroup, LLC 2618 Lobelia Ave., Lot 15, Sq. 1, StandardHeights Subdivision -Council District 10 -Coleman
Nathan Thomas Gray,Jr. andNathanThomasGray,III
2244 Sherwood St. (House andAll Structures), Lots 14 and15, Sq. 24, Garden City Subdivision -Council District 10 –Coleman
