The Times-Picayune 05-20-2025

“It maydragintonextmonth.Tobehonest with you, it maydraginto July But we’re hoping to makesome headway sooner rather than later.”

BRIAN FAIR,

U.S. deputy marshal

MANHUNT

More than 200law enforcementpersonnel from local, stateand

BY JULIA GUILBEAU Staff writer

federalagenciesjoinintricate investigation

As asmall army of law enforcement agents nabbed theirfourth NewOrleans jail escapee on Monday,afederal official warned it could take months to round all five remaining men up —anoutcome that an expert said is almost allbut certain After 10 NewOrleans inmates broke out in ablockbuster escape, officials from at leasteight local, stateand federalagencies 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 jailedfor violent crimes, officials said Authorities made some headwayMonday evening, recapturing Gary C. Price,

the 21-year-old charged in Maywithattemptedmurder,after tracking himdown in New Orleans East. ButAntoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald, Leo Tate, DerrickGrovesand Corey Boyd are still at large. “It may drag intonext month. To be honest with you, it may drag into July,” said U.S. Deputy Marshal BrianFair “But we’rehoping to make some headway sooner rather than later.”

More than200 law enforcement personnelhavejoinedinthe manhunt, whichis nowbeing led by Louisiana State Police. Among the other agencies involvedare the FBI, the New Orleans Police Department, U.S. DepartmentofHomeland

Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, OrleansParish Sheriff’sOffice, Orleans Parish Levee Board Police and New OrleansHarbor Police. Fairsaidthatauthorities remainconfident thatall of theprisoners stillonthe run will be recaptured. History is in their favor.Inthe U.S., the vast majority of escaped inmates are recaptured quickly,according to one study More than 90% of escapeesare returned to jailwithin ayear. Of those returned inmates, 82% were recaptured within aweek,accordingtoBryce Peterson, asenior scientist at CNA’sCenter for Justice Research and Innovation who co-authored a2023 study on escapes and recaptures.

LSU president heading to Rutgers

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

LSU President William Tate IV is departing for Rutgers University in New Jersey,officials said Monday,amajor shake-up that comes as Louisiana’sflagship public universitycelebratesrecordenrollment and research growth but also threats to its federal funding.

Tate took the helm of LSU in 2021, becoming the first Black president of thatuniversity or any in the Southeastern Conference.Lastyear, Tate received a three-year contract extension and araise. He wouldhaveearneda $500,000bonus if he stayedonuntil his contract ended.

After he stepsdown on June 30, LSU’sVice President for Agriculture Matt Lee will serveasinterim president while the university conducts anational search for apermanent president, LSU officials said.

On Monday, Rutgers’governing board appointed Tate as the public university’snew president beginning July 1. The board chair called Tate “a scholar,aninnovator and a transformative force,” while New Jersey Gov.Phil Murphy called him “the ideal leader and educator forthe job.”

“It’sanhonor to be in this position,” Tate toldthe Rutgers board Monday,adding that he would not be there “if it was not foranopportunity at LSU.”

In astatement sharedbyLSU, Tate said it was “a distinctly difficult decision” to leave the university he’s ledfor the past four years. He previously was the provost at the University of South Carolina forless than ayear

DA says fearfullawyers have fled state

BY JOSEPH CRANNEY Staff writer

TwoOrleansParish attorneys whohelpedsecure recent convictions against an escapee from the Orleans Parish jail have fledthe statealong with their families, fearing for their safety after last week’s jailbreak, District Attorney Jason WilliamssaidMonday As amanhunt forseven of the escaped prisoners entered its fourth day —and one man,Gary Price, was recaptured late Monday —Williams saidhewas “personally afraid” for his own safety.Williams triedthe

second-degree murder case against escapee Derrick GrovesinOctober, along with thetwo other lawyers who left Louisiana over the weekend. “Wewere asking for alife sentence for this man,” Williams said during anewsconference. “And he is now at large.” Williams declined to identify the lawyers whofled, their rank or say if they’ve been given police protection. Groves’ case was agang-related double killingthathad to be retriedtwice.Beforeheand nine

ä See LAWYERS, page 4A ä See MANHUNT, page 4A

ArchdioceseOKs deal to continue production of ClarionHerald

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

The Archdiocese of NewOrleans has finalized adeal with a Wisconsin company that will take over printing and publishing The Clarion Herald, ensuringafuture for the Catholic newspaper nearly ayear after local pastors voted to stop funding it.

LPi, a52-year-old company that prints church bulletins for 5,200

Catholic parishes around the country andnewsletters for some 900 charitable nonprofit organizations, will takeoverpublication of the local archdiocesan newspaper beginning in July

The move comes nearly ayear afteracommitteeoflocal Catholic pastors voted to eliminatethe two main sources of funding for the newspaper,both of which come directly from parish coffers: 1% of weekly collections anda$15 fee

assessed to each Catholic school family in thearchdiocese.

The archdiocese will continue to ownthe paper andwill provide the editorial content.

“It will be alot of the same content —verylocal andfocusedon formation as well as local news andfeatures,” said archdiocese spokesperson Sarah McDonald.

page 5A ä Fourth escapeerecaptured. PAGE 4A

Together,those sources made up abouthalfofthe $1 millionannual budget of the Clarion Herald, whichhas been theofficialCatholic newspaper for thecity’s500,000 faithful since the1960s. Underthe termsofthe arrangement, LPi will print thepaper at no cost tothe archdiocese, covering the expense through the sale of adsand taking acommission.

While the arrangement will keep theClarion Herald alive, the new version of the publication will be different. For one thing, the size of the publication will shrink from

that of atabloid newspaper to that of anewsletter or bulletin, roughly 8.5 inches by 11 inches, though the page count will remain at 24. Also, The Kids Clarion section of the paper will no longer be available in the print edition, though it will appear in anew digital version that thearchdiocese hopestogrow through LPi’sonline platform. Thebiweeklycirculation,

Louisiana State Police troopers transporta recaptured inmate after Friday’s jailbreak.

Williams

PHOTO PROVIDED By LOUISIANA STATEPOLICE

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.

Many crew members on the tall ship have flown home from New York, officials said Monday

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.

PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA

First aid trucks enter Gaza Strip

But allies threaten Israel with sanctions, urge more

BY 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.

“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.

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 government. 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.

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Displaced Palestinians flee Monday from Khan younis, Gaza, amid the ongoing Israeli military offensive in the area.

Trump: Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks to start

President speaks to Putin, Zelenskyy in separate calls

BY ZEKE MILLER, JOSH BOAK and KATIE MARIE DAVIES Associated Press

WASHINGTON Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations, President Donald 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 appear to yield a major breakthrough. It was not clear when or where any talks might take place or who would participate. Trump’s announcement came days after the first direct engagement between Russian and Ukrainian delegations since 2022. Those negotiations on Friday in Turkey brought about a limited exchange of prisoners but no pause in the fighting Ahead of the 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 trying to stop the conflict. Trump later told reporters that he believed Putin was serious

about wanting peace.

“The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of,” Trump said in a social media post

Trump said the call with Putin was “excellent,” adding, “If it wasn’t, I would say so now, rather than later.”

Trump has struggled to end a war that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, a setback for his promises to quickly settle the conflict once he was back in the White House, if not before he took office.

“He’s grown weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday before the calls. “He has made it clear to both sides that he wants to see a peaceful resolution and ceasefire as soon as possible.”

The Republican president is banking on the idea that his force of personality and personal history with Putin will be enough to break any impasse over a pause in the fighting. He dangled the prospect of reduced sanctions and increased

trade with Russia should the war end.

After the call, Putin said Russia was ready to continue discussing an end to the fighting after a “very informative and very frank” conversation with Trump. Putin said the warring countries should “find compromises that would suit all parties.”

Moscow, he said, will “propose and is ready to work with” Ukraine on a “memorandum” outlining the framework for “a possible future peace treaty.

But indicating that little had fundamentally changed about his demands, Putin said: “At the same

time, I would 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 Trump that Ukraine is ready for a full and unconditional ceasefire. He urged the international community to maintain pressure on Moscow if it refuses to halt its invasion.

“Ukraine doesn’t need to be persuaded our representatives are ready to make real decisions. What’s needed is mirrored readiness from Russia for such resultoriented negotiations,” Zelenskyy

said.

Russian presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov, who previously served as Russian ambassador to the U.S., described the conversation as friendly with Trump and Putin addressing each other by their first names.

“Trump said, ‘Vladimir, you can pick up the phone at any time, and I will be happy to answer and speak with you,’” he said.

Ushakov also said Trump and Putin could meet face-to-face at some point, but no timeline was set.

Putin and Trump also talked about a Russia-U.S. prisoner exchange, which Ushakov said was “in the works” and envisioned Moscow and Washington releasing nine people each. Ushakov did not offer any other details.

Speaking before the call, Vance said Trump could walk away from trying to end the war if he feels Putin isn’t serious about negotiation.

“I’d say we’re more than open to walking away,” Vance told reporters before leaving Rome after 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, who spoke to Trump one-on-one before the Putin call and then jointly with European leaders after, told reporters that he emphasized to Trump that no decisions should be made about Ukraine without involving Kyiv He also said that he discussed the potential for “serious sanctions” on Russia.

Democratic representative charged after skirmish at ICE center

charge of assaulting, impeding or interfering with law enforcement, but court papers providing details were not immediately released or publicly available online.

of moving forward” and said she has invited the mayor to tour the Delaney Hall detention center and will join him herself.

gress to oversee U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s treatment of detainees.

BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER,

ERIC TUCKER and MIKE CATALINI Associated Press

WASHINGTON Democratic Rep.

LaMonica McIver is being charged with assault after a skirmish with federal officers who arrested the Newark mayor outside an immigration detention center, New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor announced Monday Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba on social media announced the

At the same time, Habba announced that her office was dismissing a misdemeanor case brought against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was arrested after he attempted to join McIver and two other members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation inspecting the facility in their oversight capacity Habba said the decision was reached “for the sake

“The citizens of New Jersey deserve unified leadership so we can get to work to keep our state safe,” Habba said in a statement. McIver’s attorney Paul Fishman, the former U.S. attorney for New Jersey, issued a statement calling the decision to charge McIver “spectacularly inappropriate,” saying she went to Delaney Hall “to do her job” and she has the responsibility as a member of Con-

“Rather than facilitating that inspection, ICE agents chose to escalate what should have been a peaceful situation into chaos,” Fishman said. “This prosecution is an attempt to shift the blame for ICE’s behavior to Congresswoman McIver In the courtroom, facts — not headlines — will matter.”

A nearly two-minute clip released by the Homeland Security Department shows McIver on the facility side of a chain-link fence just before the arrest of the mayor on the street side of the fence. She and uniformed officials go through the gate and she joins others shouting “surround the mayor.” The video shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people and officers. At one point her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a dark face covering and an olive green uniform emblazoned with the 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

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Trump

Zelenskyy

SPUTNIK PHOTO By VyACHESLAV PROKOFyEV

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks Monday to journalists at the Sirius Park of Science and Art outside Sochi, Russia, after his phone call with President Donald Trump.

McIver

Pricenabbedafter 4daysonthe lam

BY KASEY BUBNASH Staff writer

Afourth manwas arrested fourdays after he and nineother inmates at the New Orleans jail broke free and fled, prompting a citywide manhunt and state-led investigations into the jail’soperations and the local criminal justice

LAWYERS

Continued from page1A

others escaped Friday,Groves, 27, had remained in the jail awaiting sentencing and transfer to astate prison.

Several family members of one of Groves’ shooting victims have also fled the state, WWL-TV reported.

U.S. District Judge Lance Africk, who oversees the jail’sconsent decree, held aclosed-door meeting Monday with top state andlocal officials, including Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. Africk declined aTimes-Picayune reporter’s request to observethe meeting at the U.S. Eastern District court

In the afternoon, Williams gathered reporters for alengthy challenge to Gov.Jeff Landry,who suggested on Sunday that the jailbreak wasaresult of a“progressive criminal justice system” in New Orleans. Williams called the comments “factually dishonest,incorrect and disingenuous,” though Williams alsocast blame on Orleans ParishSheriff Susan Hutson, afellow Democrat.

Hutson, whotookoffice in 2022, faces several early opponents in her reelection campaign in November.They include former longtime New Orleans police Officer Michelle Woodfork,who Williams has backed in the race since February Hutson, as was the case Sunday did not appear or speak publicly Monday.ASheriff’s Office spokesperson didn’treturn amessage seeking comment Monday In harm’sway

Williams centered his remarks on the safety risks facingwitnesses who testified in Groves’ trial last fall, along with the prosecution team that brought the case.

MANHUNT

Continued from page1A

More than 99% of inmates arerecapturedwithinsix months.

What makes New Orleans’ most recent jailbreak challenging though,Peterson said,is the lag timebefore anyone knew those prisoners were missing. Almost eight hourselapsed between the brazen escape and amorning headcount by jailers that turned up the breach. Still, given theirnotoriety,Peterson expects the inmates to have difficulty remaining hidden.

“For what we’re seeing here in New Orleans, it wouldbehighly unlikely for them to either remain on the lam for along 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 statelines.

“With the extra amount of escapees, it does make it more difficult, because abunch of information is flowing in,” Fair said. The U.S. Marshal Services’ New Orleans Task Force, responsible for fugitive investigations in the city,isworking through tips called in by the public,hesaid.

Fair declined specifics about the investigation, citing risks to the search. Peterson said it is generally common for law enforcement to starttheir search with familymembers of the inmate or witnesses in the accused’scase Agencies are known to utilize specializestools to assist with their investigations,such as facial recogni-

system Gary Price, 21, was captured in New Orleanson Monday,Louisiana State Police announced at 7p.m. Monday.

Policesaid Price will be takentoa statefacilityout of theNew Orleansarea and booked with additional countsof simpleescape and possession of a

Schedule II drug. Price was initially jailed on a May6 countofattempted firstdegree murderalong with six domestic offenses lastmonth, including aggravated seconddegree battery,aggravated assault withafirearm and domestic abusebattery.Hehadn’tentered apleabefore he escaped thejail lastweek.

Six inmates are still on the lam: Antoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen, JermaineDonald, LeoTate, Der-

rick Groves and Corey Boyd. Escapees Kendell Myles, Robert Moody and Dkenan Dennis were arrested on Fridayand over the weekend. The men fled from the jail about 1a.m. Friday,after breaking through acelldoor and sliding through ahole in the wall behind atoilet as alone guard took ameal break. Jail staff didn’tdiscover theirabsence until aheadcount at 8:30 a.m. Tips on thewhereaboutsofthe

PoydrasStreet on Monday

“Thelawyerswho tried that case with me,the witnesses whowere brave enough to comeforward and stare Derrick Groves down in that courtroom, the next of kin, who sat in that courtroom knowing what he didtotheirfamily members we’re all the ones in harm’sway, not Jeff Landry,” Williams said.

The governor on Sundayhad blasted “progressive promises” made by Williamsand Hutson, who both were electedamid anational wave of policingreformsafter the 2020 killingofGeorge Floyd in Minnesota.

“New Orleans handed the jail keystothose whovowed to keep criminals outofjail,” Landry said. He made similar comments ina FoxNews appearance Monday afternoon.

Williams countered with his office’smurder clearance rates, which hover around 85%, which he described as“all-time high.”

“For what we’reseeing here in New Orleans, it wouldbehighly unlikely for them to either remain on thelam for along time or to be able to just move to another state and restart their life.”

BRyCE PETERSON, asenior scientist at CNA’s Center for Justice Research andInnovation

tion cameras and even heatsensing technology, as in the 2023 case of aPennsylvania escapee who was recaptured after a13-day manhunt.

Facialrecognition helped police nab the first recaptured escapee,KendellMyles, 20, who wasawaitingtrialonaccusationsthat he carjacked andshot aman in Uptown New Orleans afterescaping from youthdetention.

Robert Moody, 21, was arrested about 7:30 p.m. in the 3500 block of Second Street in Central City.DkanenDennis, 24,was detained shortly afterward in the6200 block of DaleStreet in New Orleans East.

Despite theintense focus and scrutiny that New Orleans’ most recent jailbreak haswrought, Peterson said escapes are amuch more common phenomenon —one that often goesunnoticed by thepublic.

“There’shundreds if not

Prosecutors held 154 trials last year,accordingdata publishedby the Louisiana SupremeCourt. In 2019, prosecutors held 48 trials, thedata shows.

Pointing to Groves’ case, Williams said “it’snot on the DA’s

Office to go pick them up in avan anddrive them up to (the Louisiana State Penitentiary at) Angola,” after someone is convicted.

“That’s thestate’sresponsibility, by law,” Williams said. At thetime of the escape, anumber of state Department of Public Safety and Corrections inmates were being held at the New Orleanslockup, Williams said. He said 20 such inmateshavesince been transferred to other “state facilities.”

Williams described Orleans Parishasone of thebusiest courtrooms in the state, despitebacklogs.

“Tosuggest that justiceisnot being served, because of thevol-

thousands of escapes that happen every single year in theUnited States,”Peterson said, adding thata majority happen at minimum-security prisons.

According to Peterson’s 2016 study,violence or other criminal acts committed in escape incidentstypically occurduring thebreakout itself.

Recorded violence in the community,which accounted for everythingfrom a fight to murder,occur with lessthan 1in10ofthe escapes that Peterson and his co-authors scrutinized.

However,the Orleans Parish jail escape“has the elementsthat make it more inherently dangerous to the community,” Peterson said, citingthe fact that many of the escapees were in the Orleans jailfor murder or other violent felony charges.

“Soofcourse, the longer they’re outofcustody,the more opportunity there is forthemtocommit violence,” Peterson said.

Both Petersonand Fair encouraged residentsto continue being vigilant. Anyone withtips can call Crimestoppers at (504) 8221111 or (877) 903-7867 or texting TELLCS to 274637. The FBI can be reached at (800) 225-5324.

StaffwriterJohnSimermancontributed to this story

ume of cases that we have,that is factually dishonest, incorrect and disingenuous,” he added. ALandry spokesperson didn’t return amessage seekingcomment.

Placingblame

Williams also ratcheted up his attacksonHutson. He detailed what he described as the Sheriff’sOffice’sfailures to preserve evidence against five of the escapees who had picked up additional chargeswhile they were in custody, all relating to contraband or jail violence. Landry had suggested Williamshad brushed those cases aside.

In each of those cases, however, it was the Sheriff’s Office that couldn’tproduce video or other physical evidence necessary for making any charges stick,Williams said Monday Williams also distributed aletter

remaining fugitives could be rewarded with $20,000 per inmate if an arrest is made.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously by calling (504) 822-1111 or 1-877-903-STOP or texting TELLCS to 274637, or onlineatp3tips.com/tipform.aspx. The FBI can be reached at 1(800) Call-FBI or fbi.gov/neworleansfugitives.

Email KaseyBubnash at kasey bubnash@theadvocate.com.

his officesenttoHutson on April 8thatsaidthatthe Sheriff’sOffice had erroneously released an inmate, apparentlyasanoversight, and that theman remained“on therun.” ASheriff’s Office spokesperson didn’tanswer aquestion about that case.

State Rep. Aimee Freeman, DNew Orleans, took matters astep further on Monday as the first elected official in the state who called forHutson to resign.

“Ratherthantakeaccountability,(Hutson has) pointed fingers elsewhere,”Freeman said in a statement.“Leadership matters, andright now, the people of New Orleans deserve better.”

Dual investigations

Murrill, who also calleda news conference Monday,struck amore constructive tone with reporters outside the New Orleans federal courthouse.

She wasamongthose who met with Africk, along with the Sheriff’s Office, the corrections department andlawyersrepresenting plaintiffs in the jail’sdecade-old consent decree. Murrill said the group outlinedthe goalsoftwo inquiries into the jailbreak that Landry has called for.

One investigation, ledbyMurrill’soffice, should address “deficiencies or factors that might have contributed(to the escapes), or could contribute to any problems in the future,” she said.

Asecond inquiry from the corrections department will function more like an inspection of thejail’s present conditions, Murrill said.

“Nobody wantedthis to happen,” Murrill said. “Wecan look back at what the situation was and what it is nowand we can correct that problem going forward, and Ithink that is themostconstructive thing for me to be doing in this process.”

Staff writer JillianKramercontributed to this report.

STAFFPHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill talks with the media in front of the Hale BoggsFederal Building on

PHOTO PROVIDED By LOUISIANA STATEPOLICE Louisiana State Police troopers

La. bill would 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.” 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.”

Continued from page 1A

“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

PRODUCTION

Continued from page 1A

meanwhile, will be reduced to 30,000 from 37,000.

And the paper will no longer be an independent affiliate of the archdiocese, with its own editor and small staff of writers and photographers. Instead, McDonald and her communications department will take over editorial duties, retaining one dedicated Clarion Herald staff writer

“It will look a little different than it does today with a bulletin format but the content will be the same,” said Matt Inkmann, vice president of ad sales for LPi.

The changes to the Clarion Herald are the latest signs of financial pressure the nation’s second-oldest diocese faces more than five years after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection amid a growing number of clergy sex abuse claims.

As the church tries to raise money to settle those claims, which are expected to cost more than $150 million, it is shrinking its footprint by closing and consolidating parishes and selling its nursing homes and surplus real estate.

Though the Clarion Herald has not technically been part of the bankruptcy case, much of its funding comes from the church parishes. Also, like other church affiliates, it is controlled by Archbishop Gregory Aymond, the sole member of the nonprofit corporation that oversees the newspaper With parishes facing their own financial challenges and the likelihood that they will

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.”

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 Science 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 tu-

be asked to contribute to any potential settlement, a council of two dozen pastors known as the Presbyteral Council voted last July to cease funding for the newspaper as of June 30.

The decision was independent of the bankruptcy, McDonald said.

The Clarion Herald has been battling cost pressures for years amid declining print readership, waning church attendance and a shrinking New Orleans population. After Hurricane Katrina the paper did away with mailing weekly issues to readers’ homes. After COVID, it replaced the weekly print run with a biweekly schedule.

Earlier this spring, longtime editor Peter Finney Jr., 68, announced he would re-

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, because there’s a “loophole” in state law that allows out-of-state doctors to prescribe abortion drugs for pregnant women in Louisiana.

VentrellareferencedthecaseofNew YorkDr 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 prolife,” 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

ition, 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 university-

tire at the end of June.

The Clarion Herald is the latest of countless print publications, religious and secular, to downsize or shutter altogether over the past two decades, as online content has continued to replace traditional newspapers and magazines.

Between 2006 and 2020, the number of Catholic newspapers in the U.S. declined nearly 40%, according to the Catholic Media Association.

Despite the industry challenges, LPi has become a niche player in the Catholic publishing world and has aimed to achieve economies of scale by providing parishes and dioceses with the communications services they can no longer afford to provide on their own.

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.”

Concerns over legal provisions

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. “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 miscar-

wide hiring freeze and other belt-tightening 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.

riages 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, R-Slidell, 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.

“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.

“Matt’s long-term commitment 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.”

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.

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.

Biden’s sudden cancer diagnosis all too common

BY CARLA K. JOHNSON Associated Press

Former President Joe Biden’s office said Sunday that he has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer and is reviewing treatment options with his doctors.

Biden, 82, was having increasing urinary symptoms and was seen last week by doctors who found a prostate nodule. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and the cancer cells have spread to the bone, his office said in a statement.

of metastatic prostate cancer could come as quite a surprise.”

Here are some things to know about prostate cancer that has spread. What is the prostate gland?

“It’s a very common scenario,” said Dr Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center Men can “feel completely well and a diagnosis

Guidelines recommend against prostate cancer screening for men 70 and older so Biden may not have been getting regular PSA blood tests, Smith said. What’s more, while the PSA test can help flag some cancers in some men, it does not do a great job of identifying aggressive prostate cancer, Smith said.

When caught early, prostate cancer is highly survivable, but it is also the second-leading cause of cancer death in men. About one in eight men will be diagnosed over their lifetime with prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society

The prostate is part of the reproductive system in men. It makes fluid for semen. It’s located below the bladder and it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out through the penis.

How serious is Biden’s cancer?

Biden’s cancer has spread to the bone, his office said That makes it more serious than localized or early-stage prostate cancer

Outcomes have improved in recent decades and patients can expect to live with metastatic prostate cancer for four or five years, Smith said.

“It’s very treatable, but not curable,” he said.

What are the treatment options?

Prostate cancer can be

treated with drugs that lower levels of hormones in the body or stop them from getting into prostate cancer cells. The drugs can slow down the growth of cancer cells.

“Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy,” Smith said.

What is a Gleason score?

Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using what’s known as a Gleason score. The scores range from 6 to 10, with 8, 9 and 10 prostate cancers behaving more aggressively Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive. Should older men get screened?

Screening with PSA blood tests can lead to unnecessary treatment with side effects that affect quality of

life. Guidelines recommend against PSA screening for men 70 and older

The PSA test looks for high levels of a protein that may mean cancer but can also be caused by less serious prostate problems or even vigorous exercise.

For men aged 55 to 69 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says screening “offers a small potential benefit of reducing the chance of death from prostate cancer in some men.” The task force adds that “many men will experience potential harms of screening, including false-positive results that require additional testing and possible prostate biopsy; overdiagnosis and overtreatment; and treatment complications, such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction.”

Is late-stage diagnosis more com-

mon in older men? Yes. Of all men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2017 and 2021 whose cancer staging was recorded, men 75 and older were more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease compared to those younger than 75. One in five men 75 and older with prostate cancer were diagnosed with cancer that had metastasized, compared to just 6.3% of men under 75, according to an AP analysis of federal data from the U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group.

Between 2017 and 2021 90,551 men were diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer, representing around 8.8% of prostate cancer diagnoses. More than 40% of them were 75 or older AP data journalist Kasturi Pananjady contributed to this report.

Thousands recover from storms as more threaten central U.S.

BY BRUCE SCHREINER Associated Press

LONDON, Ky.

— Thousands of people from Texas to Kentucky cleaned up Monday from severe weather that killed more than two dozen people and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings in four days as another round of tornadoes struck the central U.S.

At least four tornadoes were confirmed in Oklahoma and Nebraska on Monday evening, according to a preliminary report from the National Weather Service.

In Wilburton, in southeast Texas, the city’s Facebook page reported a tornado on the ground and heading its way “Take cover now!” the post warned residents.

In northern Texas, softballsized hail was confirmed, according to Scott Kleebauer, meteorologist with the service’s Weather Prediction Center

Earlier Monday in St. Louis, where officials estimated a Friday tornado damaged 5,000 buildings and may cost well over $1 billion, the

A volunteer goes through the remains

mayor warned that federal assistance could take weeks Kentucky has been hardest hit by the storms. A devastating tornado late Friday into early Saturday damaged hundreds of homes, tossed vehicles, left many homeless, and killed at least 19 people, most of them in southeastern Laurel County In London, Kentucky, where the devastation was centered, the small airport became a beehive of cleanup work after it took a direct hit from a tornado. Small

aircraft stored there had large dents in them and even wings ripped open. Officials were using it as a base to get water food, diapers and other supplies out to the community

“We have 1,001 things going on. But we’re managing it. And we’re going to get it all cleaned up,” said London Mayor Randall Weddle.

Officials in Kansas and Texas also were evaluating damage from late Sunday storms.

The risk of severe storms

moves into Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee on Tuesday, the weather service said.

The Kentucky storms that killed 19 people were part of a weather system that caused seven deaths in Missouri and two in northern Virginia, authorities said.

Lonnie Nantz hid in a hallway with his wife, two daughters and a grandson as the one-story brick home they bought near London in 1977 was destroyed around them. They were trapped in rubble for about 20 minutes in the midnight darkness before they were rescued unharmed.

“I don’t know why this happened. I’ve tried to live a good life all my life. I’ve still got the faith,” said the 77-year-old Nantz, who went to church as always on Sunday

London city worker Ashley Taylor was back on the job Monday loading doughnuts to take to a hospital and

dispatch center even though there was a tarp on her roof.

She was lucky the houses across her street were destroyed late Friday night.

She survived the storm with nine other people and three dogs in the crawl space of a neighbor’s home.

“We prayed like never before and just thankful for everything God did for us,” Taylor said.

In surrounding Laurel County, first responders mourned one of their own.

Fellow firefighters found the body of Laurel County Fire Major Leslie Leatherman on top of a woman he was shielding from the storm’s fury as he answered calls during the worst of the storm. The woman was yelling for help and they were in a field across from a destroyed subdivision.

The injured woman turned out to be Leatherman’s wife and officials aren’t sure if he knew who he was protecting in the darkness and chaos,

the fire department said on social media.

Forecasters on Sunday night issued a tornado emergency for Greensburg, Kansas, where 12 people were killed and 90% of the town was destroyed in May 2007 by a 1.5-mile wide tornado with winds of 205 mph. The city was spared this time. Power was out but residents were safe after the “storm scare,” Greensburg officials

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

NEW YORK — 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 a swing at her with a skillet. Richard said he told her and another woman who saw the attack that “we could go missing” if they didn’t stay quiet. Assistant U.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 happened just as she was beginning to record with Diddy — Dirty Money, a musical trio with Combs and another R&B singer. Richard disclosed the alleged threat as she returned to the witness stand to kick off the second week of testimony in Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court Combs, 55, is accused of exploiting his entertain-

ment power broker status to abuse women, including Cassie, through threats and violence for two decades from 2004 until his arrest last September He has pleaded not guilty His lawyers argue that prosecutors compiled proof of domestic violence, but not the federal crimes he’s charged with. Before day’s end, Cassie’s best friend of 17 years and a former personal assistant to Combs testified that she felt trapped as prosecutors tried to uncover proof that Combs was operating a criminal racketeering organization that relied on employees to help him control Cassie and other women in his life.

and more than 5,000 homes were affected by an EF3 tornado with winds up to 150 mph that slammed areas north and west of downtown Friday. Spencer has estimated that damages will exceed $1.6 billion.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TIMOTHy D EASLEy

of a home Monday in London, Ky

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Bill seeks to toughen camera law

Measure would pave way for malfeasance charges

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

A state senator that passed new rules on traffic enforcement cameras last year said Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration is violating that law, and has proposed a bill that would make it easier for prosecutors to charge Cantrell and other top city officials with malfeasance in office.

Entergy wins access battle

Public Service Commission ends yearslong debate

BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

Entergy successfully beat back an effort Monday to invite more competition into Louisiana’s power sector, capping a yearslong fight with petrochemical companies that have raised concerns about a spate of planned projects set to cost billions.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission which regulates power companies in most of the state, ended the long-running debate Monday in a 4-1 vote.

The commission has spent years debating whether to allow full — or more realistically, limited “retail access” in the power sector The petrochemical companies supporting it have said that if they’re allowed to get more power without going through Entergy they could save everyone money

A group representing some of Louisiana’s biggest petrochemical companies warned at the meeting that Entergy is set to heap huge rate increases on customers in the coming years. Entergy is retiring a series of power plants built in the 1960s and ’70s at the same time that it’s courting power-hungry data centers and as the state’s petrochemical sector grows.

But Entergy countered that inviting in other providers would hurt the state’s ability to attract new companies seeking low-cost power from existing utilities. And Republican Commissioner Eric Skrmetta accused the other electric providers 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’s staff hasn’t yet done a full data analysis to see whether that’s true. Lane Sisung, consultant for the PSC, said the docket being debated hinges on whether industrial customers could go around Entergy without costing other customers more money If the docket had been allowed to go forward, staff would have collected data over the coming months to evaluate whether costs would rise for other customers.

“I can’t sit here today and give you an answer one way or another,” Sisung said.

Former Commissioner Craig Greene, a Baton Rouge Republican who stepped down last year, set the debate in motion in 2019, when he argued

ä See ENTERGY, page 2B

The traffic camera rules passed in 2024 by state Sen. Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe, require municipalities to sign revenue-sharing agreements with school authorities before collecting camera-induced speeding fines, but Cantrell announced in August 2024 that the city would collect fines and hold them in escrow without agreements in place. The city has yet to finalize agree-

ments with the Orleans Parish School Board, the Archdiocese of New Orleans and a handful of other private school governing bodies affected by 60 school zones, even as roughly $2 million has accrued in school zone camera fines over the last year. Cathey is now advancing Senate Bill 99, which specifically defines violations of the traffic camera law as a crime of malfeasance.

“Whether it’s Orleans or Lafayette or Shreveport, the mayor is the one that signs a contract to enter into an agreement with a company,” Cathey said in an interview, referring to contractors that run the cameras. “If you are doing that and disobeying the law, you’re guilty of malfeasance in office.”

Malfeasance is when public officials intentionally perform their duties in an unlawful manner, or refuse to perform their duties. It is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up $5,000

Only the finest

Cathey’s bill defining malfeasance to include the traffic law has already passed the Senate, and on Monday passed a House committee. Cathey said he expects a House vote this week or next. The Cantrell administration did not respond to questions on Monday about Cathey’s malfeasance bill and the legality of the school zone cameras. Cathey’s 2024 bill stipulates that municipalities and school

Jay Batt dies at 64

N.O. businessman formerly served on City Council

BY JOHN POPE Contributing writer

J. Batt

Jay Batt a New Orleans businessman who represented District A on the City Council for four years, died in his sleep Sunday night. He was 64. No cause of death has been established, but Batt had suffered from diabetes most of his life, according to Bill Kearney IV, a close friend. Batt served on the council through Hurricane Katrina as the federal levee failures swamped the city After losing reelection in 2006, he became active on a number of boards and in neighborhood associations, including service on the Sugar Bowl Committee, where he was president, and as president of the board overseeing New Orleans City Park. His death represents “a profound loss,” said City Council member Helena Moreno in a statement. “Jay Batt genuinely cared for our city, and even after leaving public office, he always stood ready to assist city

leaders.”

His brother, actor Bryan Batt, described him as “a true friend, a wonderful father and husband, and a great brother.”

“Our parents raised two completely different children,” he said, “but we remained very close.”

“He was an all-around nice guy,” said Suzanne Haik Terrell, who preceded Jay Batt in the District A seat. “He worked hard to please everyone and do what was best in the community.”

She served with Jay Batt on the Louisiana State Museum board. “He was very educated and well versed on the matters there,” Terrell said “He always knew what was up.”

Born John August Batt Jr., he was the grandson of Harry J. Batt Sr., who founded the Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park. When the elder Batt retired, his sons, Harry J. Batt Sr and John A. Batt, operated the Lakefront park until it closed in 1983. Jay Batt, a lifelong New Orleanian, graduated from the Isidore Newman School, Tulane University, where he earned an undergraduate degree, and the University of New Orleans, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration, specializing in finance. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity

St. Tammany animal shelter issues

‘mayday’ Adoption fees waived to make space after 28 dogs rescued in Folsom

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

An influx of 28 dogs seized from an alleged dogfighting operation in Folsom has pushed the St. Tammany Parish Animal Shelter beyond its critical capacity limits and prompted the shelter to issue a “mayday” for help. Authorities seized the dogs — mostly pit bulls and arrested a mother and son last week in with what the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office said was a training facility for dog fighting. Not only were the dogs severely malnourished, according to the Sheriff’s Office, they’re aggressive and can’t be housed with other dogs, said St. Tammany Parish Animal Services Director Rob Bremer

The seized dogs won’t be adopted out. But they have created a critical space shortage at the Lacombe shelter, he said. Bremer said the no-kill shelter

has a 120-dog capacity but typically houses many more than that. “We’re already sitting at 155 to 160 per month, which is manageable,” he said. But the additional dogs have tipped the balance, he said. “We had to shut down an entire kennel (to house the confiscated dogs),” Bremer said.

The shelter posted urgent Facebook messages seeking people interested in adopting or fostering. Like during other “maydays” the shelter has issued in the past, adoption fees are being waived to spur additional interest, Bremer said.

“We always have animals for adoption, but occasionally we get pushed to the brink,” he said. “We’re always one confiscation away from being tipped over the balance.”

Anyone interested can visit the shelter’s website, which has information on adoptions as well as photos of available pets. The shelter can also be contacted at (985) 809-0183. In a news release, the Sheriff’s Office said a nearby resident flagged a deputy down on May 12 to report a case of possible animal abuse in the 12000 block of South Hay Hol-

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Rickie Pellegrin wears his finest pressed crawfish shirt Monday at the funeral for Louisiana legend Al ‘The Crawfish King’ Scramuzza.

The Rev. Joe Palermo, back right, of St. Francis Xavier Church, stands next to Scramuzza’s casket while saying a closing prayer at Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans. Scramuzza, who died at 97, proclaimed himself the emperor of crawfish thanks to his Seafood City business that he ran for 43 years on North Broad Street.

NOLA STyLE

Streamers and sparksflyin celebration during theTulane University Unified Commencement at Caesars Superdome in New OrleansonSaturday.

Electric scooter rider dies in crash

BYJONAHMEADOWS Staff writer

A25-year-old Gretna man died from injuries suffered in acrash with apickup truck while ridinganelectric scooter in BelleChasse, State Police said Sunday Herby Louis-Jeune was riding the scooter in the right lane on southbound La. 23 near LStreet about 12:30 a.m. Sunday when “for reasons still under investigation,” Louis-Jeune was hit by aFord F-250 that was also headed south, according to State Police.

Louis-Jeune died at the scene.

State troopers reported they did not see any signs the person behind the wheel had been impaired while colliding with the scooter, which had no lights, on the four-lane divided highway that has aspeed limit of45 mph.

Police said the driver of thetruck remained on scene and volunteered to provide abreath sample, which indicated aresult under the legal limit for driving.

AState Policespokesperson said Louis-Jeune was not wearing ahelmet, which is not legally required for those17orolder

CAMERA

Continued from page1B

authorities split camera fines in school zones. The law leaves it up to cities and schools to decide who gets what and forbids camera enforcement until an agreement is in place. Cathey said New Orleans isn’tthe only jurisdiction violating the law,which also limitscamera useto one hour before and after school and lays out procedures for contesting fines.

“I actually had amayor in avillage in my district that said, ‘I don’tcare what the law says. There’snothing you can do to me; I’m going to continue to do whatever Iwant to do.’ And so I said, ‘OK, well then Iguess we’ve got to put some teeth in it,’ ”Cathey said on the Senate floor ahead of the April 28 vote.

Continued from page1B

Girl,9,diesdaysafter beingshot

Victim takenoff life support

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

A9-year-old girl whowas shot in the head while fleeing agunfight in Algiers diedFriday after being takenoff life support, the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Officeconfirmed Monday.

Lee’Lani Brooks was playing outside just before 2p.m.May 12 near the2900 blockofLawrence Drive

when gunfirerang out. She rantosafety upstairs and was in the process of picking up hersiblings when shewas shot in the headbya straybulletthat had traveled through a window,according to police.

Lee’Lani was placed on lifesupport after the shooting and declared brain dead. Friends and neighbors have described herasafun child who enjoyed playing outside often.

“Mybaby Lee’lani was

asweet, vibrant, andfun 9-year oldchild wholoved and was loved by everyone around her,” wrote Letisha Johnson, whoidentified herself as Lee’Lani’smother on aGoFundMe page. “She was aleader andensuredall her younger family memberswereprotected. Hersmile is unforgettable, and herpersonality was infectious.”

NewOrleans police said 19-year-old Evans Rogers andanotherpersonhad opened fire on threemen in the 1600 block of Eliz-

ardi Boulevard. The three menbegan firing back, and Rogers fled up General Meyer Boulevard, police said.

Rogers was arrested by U.S. marshals on May 13 following afour-hour standoff at the La Quinta Inn andSuitesinTerrytownoncounts of attemptedsecond-degree murderand illegal use of a weapon.

TheNew OrleansPolice Department said Monday an upgraded murdercount for Rogers is pending.

Trashtruck tips over on I-10 on-ramp

Staff report

Agarbage trucktipped over and appeared to be stuck on the railing of an Interstate10 on-rampin New Orleans on Monday morning.

The entrance ramp from South Carrollton Avenue to I-10 West remained blocked at 1p.m. Monday as crews respondedtothe scene.

TheNew Orleans Police Department responded to areport of an accident at the on-ramp at 9:30 a.m., a policespokesperson said.

Policesaid it was aonevehicle accident andreportednosignificantinjuries.

The Republic Services truckwas leaning against ahorizontal guardrail, and also appeared to have struck avertical support beam.

on Monday

It was not immediately clearwhatcaused the wreck.

Asenior Cantrell administration official, Tom Mulligan, resignedshortly after the city announced it would turn on school zone cameras withoutschool agreements in placelast year.Mulligan, who was thedeputy mayor for the Office of Business and External Services,cited the policy in his resignation letter as one of the reasons he wasleaving. “I continue to believe we must execute(agreements) before turning the cameras on,” Mulligansaidin the letter Mulligandeclined to commentonMonday The current bill previously banned alltrafficcameras outsideschool zones, but has beenamended to allow red light enforcement cameras. Cathey said redlight cameras are acceptable becausecameravendors allow motorists to view photographicand video

He servedonthe council from2002 to 2006, the lone Republican in the heavily Democratic city of New Orleans, representinga district thatincludedthe Lakeview and Carrollton neighborhoods.Jay Batt also operated several businesses.Heand two partners had 13 Jos. A. Bank franchises, as well as aRuth’sChrisSteak House in Asheville, North Carolina, and shopping centers in North Carolina and Tennessee, Kearney said. Jay Batt was a“larger-

Department of Transportation andDevelopment

footage of violations.

Thebill, while supported by theLouisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, drew opposition from police chiefs and other local officials from across thestate at the committee meetingonMonday

Citing sharp declines in crash statistics from their jurisdictions with the installation of camera enforcement, they insisted the cameras effectively change driver behavior and are not —asCathey and his supporters allege —justa cash grab.

The cameras areespecially useful whilecity police departments everywhere struggle to fill their ranks, said TomDark, chief administrative officer for Shreveport “Wedonot have the physical ability to send officers to run radar anywhere. Radar has become aspecial

employeeswere on the scene to attempt to move the overturned garbage

operation,” Dark said.

Shreveport MayorTom Arceneaux said he supported Cathey’sbilllastyear butfears thelatest oneis aprecursor to an outright ban on traffic cameras. Thereare 11 different school governing authorities with schoolsinspeed zones, andworking on agreements with each one has been time consuming, said AustinWilty,who succeeded Mulligan as deputy mayor

The City Council in Januarypassed an ordinance requiring the city to receive 60% of school zone fines go to thecity,with the restgoingtothe schools in those zones. Wilty said theOrleans Parish School Board, which is the governing authority for more than half the schools in the city’s school zones, has agreed to the60-40 split, but finer details of an agreement are still being worked out

than-life jovial spirit,” Kearney said. “He was aconnector.Hebrought people together.” Jay Batt was aformer chair of theOrleansParish Republican Executive Committee and was deputy chair of the party’sState Central Committee. He also was aformer leader of theOrleans ParishBoardof Supervisors and aformer memberofthe Planning and Technical Committee of the CityPlanning Commissionand the Delgado Foundation. The Louisiana House of Representatives held amomentofsilence on Monday in his honor In addition to his brother survivors include his wife,

Continued from page1B

that offering customers more options could reduce costs.

Commissioner Davante Lewis, aDemocrat,was the only member who voted to keep the docket open, saying he wanted to see thecommission evaluate all of its options

“I have not drawn any large conclusions in this docket becausewesimplydon’t know what we don’tknow,” Lewissaid. “Now,we’rebeing asked to stop our work because of whatitmight find.”

Entergy had asked the commission to consider ending the docket earlier this year

The vote Monday clears theway forEntergy to continue as the dominant electricproviderfor Louisiana’s massive industrial sector,which consumeshuge amountsofelectricity and creates huge amounts of emissions

The LouisianaEnergy Users Group, which represents petrochemical companies seeking the ability to buy power from otherproviders, was the main driver of the pushto invite in competition. It has long said that if the commission doesn’tevaluate other options,both commercial and residential userswill be stuck with huge Entergy bills in the coming yearsasthe company adds billion-dollar,gas-fired power plants to its inventory, driving up rates. The group is partly animated by adesire to more quickly build clean energytomaketheir products more attractive overseas

“Entergy is pursuing unprecedented spending and rate increases,” said Randy Young, head of LEUG. Skrmetta,who sided with Entergy, launchedintoa lengthy attack on agroup of power companies whohave backed alobbying campaign to evaluate more options.The companies,includingCalpine, Constellationand NRG, wantmore opportunities to enter Louisiana’smarket and formed Amplify Louisiana, which has run TV ads encouraging the PSC to continue looking at retail access. Exelon, which previously owned Constellation, wasimplicated in abribery scheme in Illinois several years ago.

“These are top-tier corporate tycoonswho want to come to Louisiana and operate outside the law,” Skmretta said.

Gordon Polozolo, arepresentative of Amplify,argued that therewas no harm in simply evaluating whether thecommission could find a better path forwardfor industrial customers.

truck. New Orleanspolice officerswerealso on the scene to direct traffic.

“I’m confidentwe’revery close on being able to route that one to council,” Wilty saidinaninterview last week.

The School Board declined to make anyone available foraninterview and didnot respondtowritten questions in time for publication.

Council memberJoe Giarrusso,who sponsored the 60-40 split ordinance, said he understands thetrickiness of negotiating with so manydifferent school authorities, but it ought to have been done by now

“Afterwepassedthe ordinance in January that mandatedthe splitbe60% to the city and 40% to the corresponding school, my expectation is that it would have moved faster,” Giarrusso said.

Email BenMyers at bmyers@theadvocate. com.

Andrée Wood Batt; and two daughters, BaileyBatt Kelleher,ofNew Orleans, and Kelly Manning Batt, of Washington, D.C. LakeLawn Metairie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements,which are incomplete.

Contact JohnPope at pinckelopes@gmail.com.

“If the commission ultimately finds the status quo is fine, keep thestatusquo,” he said.

SHELTER

Continued from page1B

low Road. Deputies found the 28 dogs as well as training equipment and medicine often associated with dog fighting.

Bremerwas uncertain what will ultimately happen with the confiscated dogs as their owners’ case makes its way through the legal system. The dogs can’tbeadopted out, he said. “Butwestill have to provide carefor them,” he said.

“It’snot their fault,” Bremersaid about the confiscated dogs.“That’sthe worst thing about it.”

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STAFFPHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Atruck tipped overonto the railing of the Interstate 10 on-ramp at Carrollton Avenue

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

NewOrleans Area Deaths

Carlone,Jemi

Ellis Jr., David

Rouchell, Yvonne

Schneider,Roslyn

Williams,Craig

Young Jr., Irvin

NewOrleans JacobSchoen

Rouchell, Yvonne

Lake Lawn Metairie

Schneider,Roslyn

Majestic Mortuary

Williams,Craig

Young Jr., Irvin

St Tammany

EJ Fielding

Ellis Jr., David

West Bank Mothe

Carlone,Jemi

Obituaries

Jemi LynneCarlone of Belle Chasse,Louisiana passedpeacefullyonthe morningofFriday, May 16th, 2025 at 55 yearsof age, surrounded by her family. Jemi is survived by herdevoted husband of 25 years, Walt Carlone. She hastwo daughters, Kaylee &Kendall Carlone. Sheis survived by hermother, NancyLaHaye, andpre‐cededindeath by herfa‐ther,James LaHaye.She wasveryclose to her cousinsand hersister-inlaw. From herearliestdays, Jemi hastouched count‐less lives— shapingminds liftingspirits,and nurtur‐inghearts. Herlegacyre‐mainswithinthe sportof softball andwithinthe ed‐ucationsystem, twothings sheloved dearly.She at‐tended BelleChasse High School,where shebegan hercareer as arenowned fast-pitcherand washon‐ored to have hernumber retired. Ultimately,she earned afullscholarship to play at Northwestern State University,where shestill holdsa record formostin‐ningspitched in asingle game.Jemi’sheart eventu‐ally ledher back to her alma mater, Belle Chasse High School,where her lightcontinued to shineas an educator andasa coach. Sheservedover30 yearsasaneducator, with hercrowningachievement becomingprincipal of BCHS.She ledher school with wisdom,compassion, andstrength, andwas proudtobea pioneerin educationstatewide as Presidentofthe Louisiana AssociationofPrincipals. Herfavoritepassion by far wastotraveland seethe world. Aboveall,she loved herfamily, andwas proud to be awife, mother,and daughter.Memorialser‐vice will be held at Our Lady of PerpetualHelp Church,8968 LA-23, Belle Chasse,LA70037, on Satur‐day, May24th, 2025. Visita‐tion will be held from 9:00 am -11:45 am.Funeral mass will follow at 12:00pm.Inlieuof flowers, Jemi requesteddonations of mesh school bags, filled with an approved list of school supplies, to be droppedoff at thePlaque‐minesParishSchool Board office,1484 Woodland Hwy,

Belle Chasse,LA70037. Do‐nationswill be accepted between 9:00 am-4:00 pm on thefollowing dates: May23rd, May27th, May 30th. More detailsondona‐tionscan be found at www ppsb.org.

EllisJr.,David John

DavidJohnEllis,Jr., belovedhusband,father, andfriend, passedaway peacefully duetocompli‐cationsofMultipleSclero‐sisonMay 16, 2025, at the ageof73. Born aboard the U.S.N.S. C.G. Morton naval ship on November 24, 1951, David’slifebegan on the open seas andwas marked by aquiet strength,deep loyalty, andanunwavering devotion to his family.He livedinKenner, LA for many yearsbeforehe made hishomeinAbita Springs, LA,where he shared 44 wonderfulyears of marriage with hisloving wife,Linda Ellis. Together, they builta life full of laughter,resilience, and love.David wasa proud anddevoted father to his twodaughters,Michelle Mardis andStacy Dronet, who were thelightsofhis life.Hewas preceded in deathbyhis parents, Dr DavidJ.Ellis andBillieEllis andhis sister,Sharyn Duda.Heissurvivedbyhis soulmate of 44 years, Linda Ellis, hischildren, Stacy Dronet (Patrick)and Michelle Mardis (Bill) and also survived by 6grand‐children,Macie Hebert MackenzieDronet, Kayden Ellis, Berkeley Mardis,Ben‐nett Mardis andMcKinley Mardis andhis siblings,Bill Ellis(Tara), SusanBerghan (Tom)and Pamela Allison (Michael). Davidwillbere‐membered forhis quiet presence,his steady guid‐ance,and thelovehegave so freely. Hislegacylives on in theheartsofthose who knew andcherished him. Relativesand friends of thefamilyare invitedto attend theMassofChrist‐ianBurialonThursday, May22, 2025 at 11:00 am at EJ Fielding FuneralHome, 2260 West 21st Avenue Covington, LA andthe visi‐tation will beginat9:00am untilservice time.Inter‐ment will follow in PinecrestMemorialGar‐dens andCemetery. E.J. Fielding FuneralHomehas been entrustedwithfu‐neralarrangements. Please sign theguestbook at www.ejfieldingfh.com In lieu of flowers, thefam‐ilyasksthatdonations be made to theMultipleScle‐rosisFoundation, in honor of David’smemory.

Yvonne C. Rouchell, 96, of RiverRidge,Louisiana passedawayonMay 7, 2025. Shewas born to Nicholas Clesiand Yvonne ClesionMarch 22, 1929. Yvonne wasprecededin deathbyher loving hus‐band of 69 years, William. Sheissurvivedbyher chil‐dren:William J. Rouchell, Nikki Brocato(Humberto), SusanRanlett (Dave),four grandchildren, AmyRo‐mano,NickRomano, Paul Brocato(Katie),SeanBro‐cato (Aneta),and three greatgrandchildren,Adri‐

anaBrocato,Dominic Bro‐cato,and Giovanni Bro‐cato.Yvonne will be re‐membered forher love of familyand devotion to her Catholic faith.A private servicewas held on Friday, May16, 2025atJacob Schoen &Son FuneralDi‐rectors.

Schneider, Roslyn M.

Roslyn M. Schneider passed away with her familybeside her on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at theage of 81. She was borninNew Orleans to thelate Angelina A. Marshall and John J. Marshall, Jr. Roslyn attended Soule Business College after high school. She ownedUptowner Antiques, Inc and Uptowner BeautySalon with her husband, Jimmy She was agreat partner in life and in business, and togethertheyexperienced many wonderful European buying tripsfor theantiqueshop. Throughthe business and trips,she and Jimmy mademany longlasting foreign and local friends.Friends that Roslyn cherished Rosl al in

fan and lovedthe New Orleans Saintsand New Orleans Pelicans. She also lovedwatching tennis all year long. Roslyn is survived by her husband of 61 years, James M. Schneider; her daughter, Gretchen S. Burghardt; her sons, ChristianM.Schneider (Kirsten) and Marshall A. Schneider; grandchildren, LexieAguillard, Grace Schneider, Eugenie Burghardtand Madeline Burghardt; and brother, John J. Marshall, III (Daleen). She was preceded in deathbyher grandson, ChristianJ.Schneider and her parents. The family wouldliketogivespecial thankstoMaria, Tanya, Carla, Dr. Phillip Denoux, Theresa, and Dr. George Therapondos for thecare they provided. Relatives and friends are invitedtoattend a Memorial Mass for Roslyn at LakeLawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA on Friday, May 23, 2025. Avisitation will beginat9:00AM untilthe Mass begins at 11:00AM. Interment willfollow in Metairie Cemetery.Inlieu of flowers,pleaseconsider adonationtoVolunteersof America'sAdoption Program or Second HarvestFoodBank

Craig“Casper”Williams, veteranofthe United States Army passedaway on Sunday,April 27, 2025 at theage of 71. He hada gentle,joking, kindhearted spirit,and aloveofani‐mals andadventure Belovedoldestson of Eve‐lynWilliams-Crockett and thelateAlonzoCrockett (U.S.ArmyVet). Grandson of thelateErnestine and FrankWilliams. Father of DomoniqueTousaint (JonathanLong).Brother of Pamela,Darryl, Rhonda, Lynell,Ledean(Marvin Arnold), andthe late Her‐bert L. Crockett. Also sur‐vivedbya host of grand‐children,nieces, nephews, otherrelatives andfriends He will be sadlymissedby all. Relativesand Friendsof thefamilyare invitedtoat‐tend theFuneral Serviceon Wednesday, May21, 2025 at 10:00am at Majestic Mortuary 1833 Oretha C. HaleyBlvd. NOLA 70113. Visitationwillbegin at 9:00am.Burialwillbeheld at SoutheastLouisiana Vet‐eransCemeteryata later date.Due to COVID-19, everyone attendingisen‐couraged to wear masks andadheretosocialdis‐tancing. Professional Arrangements entrustedtoMa‐jestic Mortuary Service,

IrvinP.Young Jr., alife‐long resident of NewOr‐leans, LA,passedawayon May12, 2025. Irvinleaves behind hismother, Hilda Young;three sisters, Denise Y. Williams,Pearlie Y. L’Herisse,and Sandra Y. Perry (MarkPerry); anda host of nieces,nephews, greatnieces, great nephews, cousins, rela‐tives, andfriends.A Memo‐rial CelebrationofIrvin's life will be held on Thurs‐day, May22, 2025, at 10:00am at Majestic Mortu‐ary, locatedat1833 Oretha Castle HaleyBlvd.,New Or‐leans, LA 70113. Dueto COVID-19, everyone attend‐ingisencouragedtowear masksand adhere to social distancing.Professional Arrangements entrustedto Majestic Mortuary Service, Inc. (504) 523-5872.

When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe

Young Jr., IrvinP

Rouchell, Yvonne C.

Williams,Craig 'Casper'

Carlone, Jemi Lynne

OPINION

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 attemptedmurder—madewhatappeared to be an easy escape from the 9-year-old facility early Fridaymorning, 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 theunit on ameal break, the inmates 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’sOffice wait until9:30 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 had help 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 rampant problems 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 LizMurrill, the City Council and all theother officials who arestepping up, offering resources, proposing policy changes and demanding answers 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.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

After the disgraceful events of late last week, we need that nowmore than ever TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE YOUR VIEWS

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.

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 thedevelopment of adownriver container terminal, such as the LouisianaInternational Terminal. In fact, thereport strongly recommends thedevelopment of adownriver terminal.

The following excerpt is directly from our report, “Without moving thecontainer terminal downriver,the LMRport region will be blocked from serving themajority 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 challengingfor an LMR container port given the current local limited local market,the ability to attract lower time sensitive containers moving into themidwestern states from Asia will be an important marketing tool for thegrowthofa downriver terminal. It has further been shownthat an LMR port to serve awest bound

container market such as Dallas for Transpacific 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 wellasutilize the area for project 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

Judgeunfairlycriticizedfor doingher job

The recent coverage surrounding Judge Nandi Campbell of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court presents adistorted and incomplete narrative. Criticism over her bench trial acquittals ignores critical legal context and undermines judicial independence. Every defendant has a constitutional right to waive ajury and opt for abench trial. Judge Campbell presides over these trials only when defendantsknowingly and voluntarily make that choice. She does not seek out these cases —she respects the law and the rights of those before her Judge Campbell’scourtroom has been recognized for itsefficiency,not delay She begins proceedings

Juries

It is time that we no longer trust that juries can determinethe extent of mental illnessincluding schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress syndrome based on “expert” testimony. Neither should we expect juries to alwaysbeable to distinguishfirst-degree murder from second-degree murder or manslaughter

Mostcrimes have extenuating circumstances which

promptly and works diligently to keep cases moving, avoiding the backlog thatplagues muchofour court system. The Metropolitan Crime Commission, which now questions her rulings, has also praised her docket management. Acquittals do not reflect misconduct;they reflect constitutional duty.Judges must acquit if the state fails to meet itsburden of proof beyond areasonable doubt —nomatterhow serious the allegation or visible the injuries. Judge Campbell does not create the evidence; she evaluates it according to the law

The fact thatmany defense attorneys request bench trials before her is not evidence of bias —it’s

are seldom black or white. Is aperson with an IQ of 80 intellectually challenged whereas aperson with an IQ of 81 is not?

confidence in herfairness. Attempts by outside groups to shame herfor lawful rulingsbetray theprinciple that judgesmustbeimmune from political pressure. Judge Campbell hasnot been sanctioned or accused of ethicsviolations. Her rulingsalign withthe Constitution, notheadlines. Selective anecdotes andstatistics without full contextdonot show wrongdoing —they show ajudge doing herjob Attacking ajudge for upholding constitutional rights erodes public trust in ourcourts. Judge Campbell is notbeing criticized for failing thelaw; sheisbeing criticized forfaithfully following it BARRYRANSHI NewOrleans

of criminal justice

We need asocietal shiftinAmerica

No matter our ZIPcode, how we got to America, ourcolor, ourpreferences, there is aconcerningmovement away from empathyand compassion to one of division, hostilityand alack of understanding amongindividuals andcommunities. To foster abetter society,we mustget back to caring forall livesand embrace the teachings of Jesus. We mustresist theprejudices of an authoritarianstrongman approach and instead move towardsademocracy that nurtures andsupports itscitizenswithdiversity,equity andinclusion. This shift in perspective can lead us back to the American valuesthatinspired theCivil RightsMovement, social justice reform, andoverall prosperity foreveryone.

SCOTT LEBLEU Lafayette

The solution is simple. Juries should only determine if theperson committed the criminal act. For seriouscrimes, committees of rotatingexperts can evaluate the person who committed acrime and determine the bestcourse of action for the accused and the welfare of the community.They could also determine if ayoung person would be better served in a facility for juveniles. Probation should not depend on the feelings and opinions of others but should be determined by acomputer program that predicts the likelihood of recidivism

JAYWIERIMAN NewOrleans

The Advocate’s“May Day” cartoon from Walt Handelsman’sisthe perfect epitaph for the Trump administration. Unfortunately it’snot funny It should be reprinted weekly to remind everyone to the abyss in which the country has been plunged.

PAUL CONZELMANN Lafayette Cartoonissadly accurate

COMMENTARY

Jailbreakhas leaderspointing fingers

I’m not going to lie

Will Sutton

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. Look againatwhathappenedas inmates enlargeda hole behind a toilet wall andjimmied ajaildoor 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

Quin Hillyer

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.

George Will

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

SPORTS

Retired Saints quarterbackDrewBrees startsthe “Who Dat” chant before the startofthe game

thePhiladelphia Eagles at the Caesars SuperdomeonSept. 22.

Shoulder burden

Breesrelates to Carr’s injury whileexcited to seeQBcompetition

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 overcoming suchanailment. He offered to be asoundingboard, 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 Orleans Saintsserving 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’tsee Carr’sdecision coming.

“Obviously,a bit surprising, just being so earlyinhis career,” Brees said.

BreessaidSaturdaythathethought

Wave aims for thirdAAC tourney titleinrow

BYGUERRYSMITH

Contributing writer

Tulane baseball coach Jay Uhlmanknows his pitching-starved, two-time reigning American Athletic Conference Tournamentchampionshipprogram absolutely needs to winGame 1ifitistocontinue devouring the competition in Clearwater, Florida. To that end, the fifth-seeded Green Wave will bypass normal opening-gamestarter Luc Fladda in favor of dominantcloser Michael Lombardi whenitfaces fourth-seeded Florida Atlantic on Tuesday morning at BayCare Ballpark (8 a.m ESPN+).

TheOwlstattooedFladdafor eightruns on nine hits in 11/3 innings on May 2atTurchin Stadium. No one hasdone anything remotely like that to Lombardi, afire-baller who boastsa1.45 ERA while yielding only 16hits in 31 innings with awhopping 56 strikeouts. In four starts covering111/3 innings, he has whiffed 15 batters and allowed fivehits.

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 other things. And footballwas that unique chapter in your life, but there’sso much more after football. It seemed like he wasready to take that next step.”

With Carr no longer playing for the 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.

Among Shough, second-year passer Spencer Rattler andthird-year signalcaller Jake Haener,the Saints don’thave aquarterback on the roster who has won an NFL game as astarter

“(Coach) Kellen Moorehas proven to be agreat developer of quarterbacks where he’sbeen over the last six years,” Brees said. “I thinkweall really respect thesystem andhis way of coaching and developing. I’m sure he’sexcited to mold these young guys. I’mreally excited to

Riding Lombardi early is a risk worth taking withfellow first-team All-AAC pitcherTrey Beard(7-0, 2.93) on themound for FloridaAtlantic. “Winning Game 1isreally

what it’sgoing to come down to, and that’swhere thesingular focus will be,”Uhlman said. “It will be all hands on deck, and we’ll do everything possible to win that game.”

ä Tulane vs. Florida Atlantic, 8A.M.TUESDAy,ESPN+ ä See SAINTS, page 4C

Despite having by farthe worst conference ERA (8.07) in theeight-team field, the Wave is confident it can piece together enough pitching behind Lombardi to three-peat as long as it avoids the loser’sbracket.

Uhlman trustsrelievers Tayler Montiel (4-2, 4.06) and Carter Benbrook (2-1, 3.62). The last time Fladda(4-6, 6.53) pitched in thepostseason, he shut out Nicholls for eight innings in a2024 regionalvictory.Another starter, Trey Cehajic (5-2, 5.06), blanked threeteams through five innings of an up-and-down year and performedadmirablyagainst top-seeded Texas-SanAntonio, Tulane’spotential second-game opponent, in aroad victory Thehitters have to do their part, too, at avenue where the Wave has averaged10.4 runs while going 8-1 in the past two seasons. “I believe we can do it,” said second-teamAll-AAC designated hitter Gavin Schulz, aseniorwho was asizzling 15 for 29 (.517) at BayCareBallpark duringthat span.“We’re trying

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

This offseason has 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 the Tigers because they either exhausted their eligibility or decided to transfer.LSU so far has added eight newcontributors —five freshmen and three transfers to replacethe ones it lost.The latest to sign is Class of 2025 freshman Meghan Yarnevich, a6-foot-2 forward whocommitted to the Tigers last weekafter she backed off of apledge to Georgia. Mulkeyand herstaffcaught twobig fish in the transfer portal (MiLaysia Fulwileyand Kate Koval), thenwatched another (former Wisconsin star Serah Williams)takethe bait of adifferent top program (UConn).

Now LSU can begin imagining how its revamped supporting cast will coalesce around its tworeturning stars, Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams. Whatroleisright forFulwiley? No question is more compelling than the one surrounding her surprise defection fromher 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 toutedfreshmanGrace Knoxorexperienced East Carolina transferAmiya Joyner? And can combinations of those projected contributors replace the all-important rebounding production the Tigers received last season fromAneesah Morrow and Sa’Myah Smith?

Most of the questions hinge largely on the development of Koval, a6-5 center from Ukraine whoenrolled at Notre Dame in 2024 as one of the top recruits in the country.She’sthe tallest, strongest player on the Tigers’ 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 alignedinour vision forher personal development andthe 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 startedthe first 10 games of last season, then moved to thebenchafter Fighting Irish starter and2025 WNBA draftee MaddyWestbeldreturned from afoot injury

As astarter,Koval tallied 7.9points, 8.2 rebounds and3.5 blocksper game while shooting 43% from the field. Once she lost her spot in the starting lineup, those numbers dipped as her playing time declined. Shesaw 29 minutes per game across theseason’s first10contests, then played only 13, on average, across its last 22. Kovalfigures to find moreconsistent court time on an LSU team that will need her to rebound and protect the rim

The good news for Mulkey and her staffisthatthe formerhigh-profile recruitexcelled in both of those areas in the limited action she saw forthe Fighting Irish.

Only six high-major post players blocked shots at ahigher clip last season, per Bart Torvik, than Koval, who also cleaned the offensive glass at arate on par with ones posted by freshmen such as Duke’s Toby Fournier,South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards, North Carolina State’sTilda Trygger and UConn’s Sarah Strong —all key contributors on teams that reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Koval swattedaway 3.8shots per40 minutes last year.Only one ACC player who appeared in at least 10 games— Florida State star Makayla Timpson recorded blocks at ahigher rate. Afrontcourt featuring Koval, Joyner andKnoxhas size,athleticism, versatility and untapped potential.But can it helpLSU becomeone of thenation’s best rebounding and defensiveteams like each of Mulkey’slast three squads? After an offseason of heavy turnover, that’saquestion the Tigers can answer only after anew season begins.

STAFF FILEPHOTO By SOPHIAGERMER

Tulane pitcherMichael Lombardi throws the ball during agame against TexasSouthernatTurchin Stadium on April 2, 2024.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

against

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

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

BY KYLE HIGHTOWER

AP sportswriter

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.”

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

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Angel Cabrera has gone from first-time PGA Tour Champions winner to first time senior major champion.

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.

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” pregame and halftime studio show

ASSOCIATED

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MICHAEL CONROy

Myles Turner talks to coach Rick Carlisle against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 4 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series on May 11.

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

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,

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.”

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.

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

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 within the team.

“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 some-

thing 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 him,” Boles continued. “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.”

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. 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.

Asked last week about Power’s future with the team, Cindric told AP: “Well, if he wins the 500, that would make for a much easier conversation.”

Pacers-Knicks renew a rivalry with memorable moments

BY BRIAN MAHONEY

NEW YORK The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks have faced each other eight times in the postseason. Those matchups have produced some memorable NBA moments involving Reggie Miller, Spike Lee and others. With the teams set to meet again in the Eastern Conference finals beginning Wednesday a look at some of those notable highlights

Headbutt

The first playoff meeting between the teams came in the first round of the 1993 postseason. The Knicks led 2-0 and were trying to complete a sweep of the best-offive series when guard John Starks believed Reggie Miller was getting away with fouling him and became frustrated. As they ran downcourt face-to-face exchanging words, Starks leaned in and headbutted Miller Starks was ejected and the Pacers went on to win the game. Choke!

The Knicks were up 70-58 af-

ter three quarters in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference finals, seemingly on their way to a 3-2 lead in the series. Miller then scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to rally the Pacers to a 93-86 victory, taunting Knicks superfan Spike Lee on the sideline by making a choke signal. The Knicks would win the next two games to reach the NBA Finals.

8 points, 9 seconds

Miller’s flurry to steal Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals remains one of the most memorable and improbable comebacks in NBA history The Knicks led 105-99 before Miller hit a 3-pointer with about 16 seconds left after Indiana inbounded from the sideline. He then stole Anthony Mason’s inbounds pass, dribbled backward and fired in another 3 to tie the game. Starks then missed two free throws, Patrick Ewing missed a follow shot and Miller grabbed the rebound and was fouled, hitting both free throws to make it 107-105 with 7.5 seconds left

“Mason choked and threw it to me I hit a 3 and we almost cost us the game when Sam (Mitchell)

made that foul, but John Starks choked and we came up big,” Miller said in his postgame interview with NBC on the court.

LJ’s 4-point play

The highlight play of New York’s run to the 1999 NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed came in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers. With the Knicks trailing 91-88, Larry Johnson made a 3-pointer as he was fouled by Indiana’s Antonio Davis with 5.7 seconds remaining. Johnson hit the free throw to complete the fourpoint play and the Knicks held on to win 92-91.

A record romp

The Pacers had one of the best offenses in NBA history in 2023-24 and used it to carve up the Knicks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pacers shot 67.1% from the field, an NBA playoff record, in their 130-109 victory in Madison Square Garden. Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 26 points, then wore a sweatshirt with a picture of Miller making the choke sign to Lee at MSG to his postgame news conference.

Indiana Pacers center

Penske

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BILL KOSTROUN Indiana Pacers guards Reggie Miller, right, and Mark Jackson taunt New york film director and avid Knicks fan Spike Lee after Miller scored eight points in the last nine seconds to help the Pacers rally for a playoff win on May 7 1995, at Madison Square Garden in New york

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-

center and teammates run

tush push play against the Washington Commanders on Jan. 26

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 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

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

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, 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

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, 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

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 the second round, but I’m sure Haener and Rattler have something to say about that. Competitions bring out the best in everybody.”

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.

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.

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,

the

in Philadelphia.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT ROURKE Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni looks on during the team’s rookie minicamp in Philadelphia on May 2.

LSU

Kade Anderson, center,takes theball from first baseman

Michael Braswell looks on beforepitchingagainst Purdue-FortWayne on Feb.14atAlex Box Stadium.

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

StoicSche

BY STEVE REED

AP sports writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Everything Scottie Scheffler did Sunday was expected. When the pressure was on, he hit the fairwaysheneeded tohit. He landed the approachshots he needed to land. And, of course, hemade clutch putts he needed to make.

It’swhat everyone has come to depend on from the world’s No. 1player,afine-tuned, almostmechanical approach to the game. It was all expected, even predictable —right up until the celebration.

That’s when Scheffler,ina rare display of pure emotion, took off hishat and slammed it into the green on the 18th hole after winning the PGA Championship by fiveshots over Bryson DeChambeau, Harrison English and Davis Riley at Quail Hollow

He followed with ahardslapof hands with his caddie, Lafayette native TedScott, and aquick hug, reminiscent of adefensive lineman celebrating aquarterback sack or abasketball player enjoying ahigh-flying dunk.

Ashort while later Scheffler was asked to hoist the 27-pound WanamakerTrophy,and he thrust it so hard in the air that the top started to fly off. So much for Scottie Scheffler being arobot.

The raw emotion he displayed Sunday reflects the burning competitiveness that resides within his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame.

When asked afterward if he views himself as having acompetitive fire, Scheffler laughedand said, “Yeah.” Thecalm,even-keeled demeanor

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)

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

COMMENTARY

on the course often has overshadowed that part of him, that burning firewithin that has driven the Texantogreatness

Scheffler never hasbeen known as being intense, and he never seems to get too high or too low

Even when he was falsely arrested at last year’sPGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky,hedidn’tlash out at the police.Heaccepted what happened as amisunderstanding in the heat of avery confusing moment— in asituationinwhich other professional athletes might have fiercely sought to protect theirimage.

That’swhy the ferocitywith which he spikedhis hat on 18,and the intense facial expressions in the moments afterward, stood out.

One thing is forsure: Sunday wasn’t par for the course for Scheffler

“Just alot of happiness,”Scheffler saidlater of his reaction. “I think, youknow,just maybe thankful as well.Itwas along week. Ifeltlike this was as hard as Ibattled for atournament in my career.Thiswas apretty challenging week.”

Scheffler didn’tswingthe club all that well for thefirst 21/2 days in Charlotte, but he played theback nine on Saturdayand Sunday just aboutaswell as anyone has.

On Saturday,Schefflerwent 5-under par on the final five holes to take control of thetournament andcarried athree-shot lead into the final round

Mostprobablythought it was over But Scheffler struggled with his swing and made three uncharacteristic bogeys on the front nine Sunday,allowing two-time major champion Jon Rahm to pull intoa

OF:Robbie Burnett, Georgia*

OF:Jace LaViolette, TexasA&M*

DH/Util: Ryland Zaborowski, Georgia

SP: Samuel Dutton, Auburn

SP: AnthonyEyanson, LSU SP: Brian Curley,Georgia

SP: RileyQuick, Alabama

RP: Jake Clemente, Florida

RP: Mason Morris, Ole Miss RP: Sawyer Hawks, Vanderbilt

*Ties Freshman All-SEC team

Tyler Bell, Kentucky

Kyle Branch, Oklahoma Derek Curiel,LSU Casan Evans, LSU Hayden Federico,Ole Miss Chase Fralick, Auburn Brodie Johnston, Vanderbilt Aidan King, Florida Brendan Lawson, Florida Chris Rembert, Auburn

Bub Terrell, Auburn Dylan Volantis, Texas

All-Defensive team

C: RylanGalvan, Texas

1B: Kimble Schuessler, Texas

2B: Ethan Mendoza,Texas

3B: BobbyBoser,Florida*

3B: Eric Guevara, Auburn*

3B: Brodie Johnston, Vanderbilt*

SS: Justin Lebron, Alabama

OF:RJAustin, Vanderbilt

OF:Hunter Ensley,Tennessee

OF:Will Gasparino, Texas P: Kade Anderson, LSU *Ties

Evans crackedthe all-freshman team with Curiel thanks to ateamleading 2.30 ERA against the SEC in 311/3 innings.

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)

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 apitcher hasreceivedin aseason 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.Floresishitting .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

tie at 9under It didn’tlast long.

Schefflerate asandwichashe made theturn at 2-over par for theday,thenproceededtodrill his drive down themiddle of the fairway on the par-5 10th hole. He followed it with an approach shot to within 40 feet of thecup. He twoputted from therefor birdie and never trailed again.

Scheffler really didn’tneed to do much after that point

From there, it wasn’tamatter of Scheffler running away with the tournamentasmuch as it was others running away from him.

By the time he walkedupthe 18th fairway,hewas leading by six shots before closing with asafe bogey on the 18thfor the five-shot win.

“The last five holes(Saturday), that’swhere Ireally kind of put myself aheadinthe tournament,”

Scheffler said. “I mean, the back nine today was prettyspecialas well. But (Saturday) the way Ifinished off that round, Ithink it was really important for me to have a lead to play withtoday.”

The two-time Masters champion joined Seve Ballesteros as theonly playerstowin each of theirfirst threemajors by three or more strokes.

It was also his 15th career PGA Tour win, marking the shortest span between wins No. 1and No.15 by anyone not named Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus.

Scheffler is now halfway to the career Grand Slam with the two he still needs—the U.S. Open andBritish Open —still to comethis year

But we learned acoupleofthings about Scheffler on Sunday He’smore human than maybe we thought, andthere is something burning within.

n Toronto Blue Jays: Garth Iorg (nine)

n Texas Rangers: Rusty Greer (nine)

n Tampa BayRays: Brandon

TULANE

Continued from page1C

to extendthe season and show these new guys on our team what Wave ball really means going to oursecond home in Clearwater I’m veryexcited andreadyfor some magic to happen.

Jason Wachswas notaround for those championships, but he could play abig rolethis time after hitting .376 in league play andearning unanimous selection to the coaches All-Freshman team on Monday.Hewill try to set thetoneasthe first batter in theentire tournament.

“Wejust need to play our brand of baseball,” he said. “The (veterans)tellmeit’sa different animal in Clearwater. Theyalwayscome preparedand know they have the best chance to winevery year.That’sthe same approach we have this year.”

Second baseman Connor Rasmussen,who joinedLombardi as afirst-team All-AAC pick, touted Tulane’sunderstanding of what it takestowin in this tournamentsetting. He was on theother endofitasthe on-deck batter forEast Carolina when the Pirates lost the championship game to the Wave in 2023, and he was directly involved with six hits in Clearwater last season after transferring to Tulane.

Walter Johnson spent his whole 21-year career with the WashingtonSenators,who arenow the MinnesotaTwins. Cal Ripken Jr played21seasonsfor theOrioles, twoshy of Robinson’smark.

Rasmussen, Schulz,Matthias Haas, Lombardi and 2024 AAC Tournament MVP Jackson Linn startedevery game there ayear ago.

“Wehaveanexperienced group,” Rasmussen said. “We have guys who have played in multiple regionals, and most teamsacross the country can’t saythat. We knowhow to win in the postseason and fight when your back’s against thewall. We’re excited to go down there anddothatagain.”

The last college baseball team to win three conference tournaments in arow wasULfrom 2014-16, but the Cajuns were the topseed in the Sun Belt twicein thatspan. Tulane,the No.7 seed in 2023 andthe No. 3seeda year ago, hopes to enteruncharted territory as athree-time longshotchampion.

“We’re goingtocompete our butts off,”Lombardi said. “We’ll go outthere andleaveeverything on the field.”

Lagniappe

If Tulane wins Tuesday,itwill play the winnerofTexas-San Antonio vs. Rice on Thursday at noon. If it loses, it will face the UTSA-Rice loser at noon Wednesday in an elimination game. …Tanner Chun joined WachsasanAll-Freshman pick, giving the Wave fiveplayers on the all-league team for the secondconsecutive year

STAFF PHOTO By HILARySCHEINUK

starting pitcher

Jared Jones, center,asthird baseman

New brew

Anew coffee shop is opening on St.CharlesAvenue that will offer THC-infusedtreats

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

For an Italianate-style home at the edgeofNew Orleans’ Central Cityand theLower GardenDistrict,rebirth comesnaturally Since it was built around 1850, the ornate two-story structure on St. Charles Avenue has juggledmultiple identities, starting as acottage-style residence beforeconvertinginto acommercial space,according to the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans.

In the mid-20th century,the building at is located at 1724 St. Charles Ave. was hometoan automobile company thatsold Packard Clippers,the iconic sailboat-like car of the time. A clothing store eventually filled the space, followed by an art gallery.Then atattoo shop.

And now,its first floor will soon transform into High Grinds, acoffee shop that will also offer THC beverages and products. The concept was created by married couplesScott and Beth Galante, and Billy Ross and Jennifer Thornton all attorneys —along with Derek Domingue, who worksinthe spirits and THC industry High Grinds is slated to open the first week of July.

“At the core of the business, we want it to be high-end coffee,” Scottsaid about the menu, which is still in the works.

Followingnationaltrends

Opening abusiness that specializes in two national trends —both of which are especially popular in New Orleans —requires afinger on the pulse of pop culture. After researching business concepts across the nation, Bethsaid that THC beverages being sold in coffee shopenvironments have been popular in other states and cities.

“Wewanted to try and offer something that New Orleans just didn’treally have much of yet,”she said. While New Orleans has few businesses that match the visionofHigh Grinds, thecity has seen arising popularity in coffee and THC,like the rest of the UnitedStates.

CONNECTING THROUGH THESCREEN

Film series at NOMA brings audiencestogether forathought-provoking,curated experience

BY LESLIE CARDÉ

Contributing writer

If you long for the days when watching amovie was acommunal experience— with audiences laughing, crying and cheering along in theaters —here’ssome good news.

STAFF PHOTO By POET WOLFE High Grinds, acoffeeshop that will sellTHC products, is located at 1724 St. Charles Ave. BY

A2025 report by the National Coffee Association found that 66% of Americans drink coffee every day,a 7% increasesince 2020. Meanwhile, cannabis topped alcohol as adailydrug of choice for Americans for the first time after more states legalized recreationaland medical use. In 2022, 17.7 million people reported usingcannabis every day or nearly every day,while 14.7 million reported consuming alcohol with the same frequency,according to the journal Addiction.

“It’salot of soccer moms who consume these products …A lot of retired, older people, and alot of people who Ilike to call

Besthoff Sculpture Garden, along with Aperol spritzers. Most importantly,witheach film, there’sa conversation afterward withkey people involved in each production.”

First film is sold out

On Wednesday,the New OrleansMuseumofArt will kickoff aseries that will bring 150 people together to watch four classic films over afour-week period. The viewings,however,will come with atwist.

“We’re doing this in conjunction with Café NOMA, where the Brennan’s-owned restaurant at the museum will havespecial food and drinks to accompanythe films,” explained Susan Taylor,the Montine McDaniel Freeman director of NOMA

“For instance, our secondfilm screening is ‘Cinema Paradiso’ which will be shown in NOMA’s

Thefirst filminthe Producer’sChoice Film Series —alreadysold out—will be “The Talented Mr.Ripley,” and the conversation will be between actor Jude Law (oneofthe stars of the film) andthe co-president of production for theformer MiramaxFilms, producer Meryl Poster, who is curating this seriesfor the museum

In her16-year role at Miramax Films, Poster oversawmore than 60 films. She was executiveproducer of the AcademyAwardwinning “Chicago” andthe AcademyAward-nominated “The Cider House Rules” as well as “Chocolat.” Her intimateknowledge of some of the world’smost critically ac-

claimed films is the reason that NOMA’s Taylor reached out to Poster to curate this series. She asked that they initiallybefilms Poster had worked on.

“I wantedtoinclude films which people have apassion for,” recounted Poster,now president and founderofSuperb Entertainment.

“All the films have apainterly quality, andbythat, Imean their lighting and composition meanyou could take scenes from these moviesand turn them into paintings They are visually stunning.”

Styleand substance

These four filmsare atributeto films that have both style and substance.Theyalsohavea psychological component to them.

Whetherit’s“TheTalentedMr. Ripley” whichinvolves identity theft and murder, and probes the bounds of sociopathy,or“The Wings of the Dove” which explores

ä See FILM, page 2D

Teenagebullfighting enthusiast celebrates victories

Mirnesa Junuzovic, center, leads her team and her bull, Cobra, toward the arena prior to the startof the bullfights in Bijelo Polje, Bosnia.

ELDAR EMRIC Associated Press

KAKANJ,Bosnia Like most girls her age, Bosnian teenager Mirnesa Junuzovic splits her days into free time andtimereservedfor school and house chores. How shespends the former,however, makes her unique. The 15-year-old Junuzovic takes daily,hourslong walks with her bull, Cobra, andtrainsthe beast for traditional bullfights that have been organized in the country for morethan two centuries.

“Wewalkfor three or more hoursevery day, Italktohim and call him by different nicknames that Ihavefor him,”Junuzovic said,adding:“Ican alwaysanticipate when he is going to rush or scrape at the ground.” Junuzovic believesthatshe and Cobrashare aspecial bond and insists that while they train and walk through thefields andforest around her rural homeonthe outskirts of Kakanj, thebullsometimes uses its horns to move tree

PROVIDED PHOTO

Actor JohnnyDepp and producerMeryl Poster talk between takes on the set of the award-winning film,‘Chocolat.

Cookingwithout plastic

Dear Heloise: Ilove to cook with fresh food, and Iamnot afan of plasticsinmykitchen. They are totally unnecessary and 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 water to hydrate them. Theywill lastfor longer n Hint 2: Instead of wrapping or baggingcut 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.

I’m consideringmaking my currentemail inactive and creatinganother one butonly giving it to necessary people, like friends,family and doctor’soffices. Have agreat day! —Vickie, in Richmond,Virginia Reusingenvelopes

No onewants to attend agraduationceremony

Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: Another way to reuse paperisbyusing the backs of themany envelopes that are received in the mail to takenotes on.Most of them do not have any printing on the backs, so it is agood way to conserve paper —Carolyn, in Dayton, Ohio

Cloggedspray-paint can

Ionly use wooden cutting boards that are well-cleaned because the synthetic materials in the marketed cutting boards actually become apart of what you chop. Yuck! —Jean Wight, via email Unsubscribingtoemails

Dear Heloise: In response to Steve, in California, regardingunsubscribing to emails, Ihaveunsubscribed to more emailsthanIcan count, and nothing ever changes

Anytime we make an online purchase, we are giving our email to yet another company or mailing list, and the unwanted emails increase with each click

Ialso believe that when the link takes me to another site where Ihave to enter my email, I’m only confirming that the email is alegitimateperson’s and not abogus or inactive email. It’sextremelyfrustrating.

Dear Heloise: Yourecently printed aletter from Charlie M. regarding how to clear aclogged nozzleonacan of spray paint. Theanswer is to keep thenozzle from clogginginthe first place. After each use,make apractice of turning the can upside down andcontinue to sprayawayfrom the projectfor afew seconds until the paint clears thenozzle

This way,it’sready for subsequent use.Overtime, should the buildup accumulate due to inadequate clearing, then you might try removing and soaking the nozzleasyou suggested.

Otherwise, just makeapractice of clearingthe nozzle after each use. This procedure also workswhen using spray adhesive. —BillKing, Oxford, Ohio

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 MississippiRiverby makingfederalland available for private ownership and farming. About 10% of the land areaofthe United States (270 million acres) would be privatized by 1934

On this date:

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Fieldon 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 1948, Chiang Kai-shek was elected as the first presidentof the Republic of China (Taiwan).

In 1956, the UnitedStates exploded the first airborne hydrogenbomb over BikiniAtoll in the Pacific.

In 1961, aWhite mob attacked abusload of Freedom Riders in

FILM

Continued from page1D

the corruption of love by greed, these are films that make you think.

Although “CinemaParadiso” is apoignant tribute to childhood,it is also the story of lost love and the transformative power behind the magic of cinema. As for the whimsical “Chocolat,” at its heart, the film’spremise is about the courage to embracechange.

Making senseofa film

Montgomery,Alabama, prompting the federal government to send in U.S. marshals to restore order

In 1969, U.S.and SouthVietnamese forces capturedApBia Mountain,referred to as “HamburgerHill” by theAmericans, following one of thebloodiest battles of theVietnam War.

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.Formerracing 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.

had ashort amount of time, just hours, to convince him to go with aslicked backponytail.

“Andthen there wasthe story of Anthony Minghella (director and screenwriter of “The Talented Mr.Ripley”) when he cast Law as one of theleads.

“I asked him how he knew if Jude couldsing, andhis answer to me was that if Jude was agood enough actor,hecould act singing.”

“When you leave amovie theater with friends, you have this debrief moment of making sense of what you saw,” said Charlie Tatum, NOMA’s director of marketing and communications.

“So,we’ve pairedthesefilms with amore formalized, deeper conversation,” he said. “It’sabout connectingwith fellow filmgoers, and even getting some of your questions about afilm answered by the principals involved with them.” Producer Poster tells inside stories about the behind-the-scenes adventures involved in making movies.

“Johnny Depp arrived onthe set of ‘Chocolat’ with akind of crazy hairstyle that first day of shooting,” said Poster.“Ihated the way it looked, all wild. We

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 state to avery expensive city Initially,wewere going to host anice party after theceremony.Now it’s completely off, due to volatility in my husband’sjob. He still 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 memberstopay for airfare, expensive hotels and food while we provide nothing. Somerelatives

COFFEE

Continuedfrom page1D

What’s next?

For this spring series, apartfrom “Cinema Paradiso” in the sculpture garden, the remaining films willbescreened in NOMA’s Lapis Center for theArts.

“But we will soon be thinking aboutour next series of films in the fall,” said Taylor.“We’ll be contemplatingatheme,and how we can leverage this next installment

“Meryl will again curate it, but we will expand past the films she’sproduced. We want to create aconversation around these features.

“So, joining the conversation could beafilm historian, an actor,acritic, an academic, or adirector.Anything that getspeople talking.”

For acomplete schedule of the series, and to buy tickets, go to noma.org.

Contact Leslie Cardé at lesliecardejournalist@gmail. com.

would likely invite us to eat at a nice restaurant, at theirexpense, to celebrate. They can afford this, but it’s not their place. Through the years, we haveknownsome of our relatives to look downon us. Ifeel horrible; I’mnot trying to makemyhusband’slifeharder,ormost importantly,disappoint my son. He already expressed his desire to have abig party,and now we have to tell him it’soff. Gentle reader: Here is another argumentagainst inviting theextended family to agraduation:Graduation ceremonies can be meaningful to the graduates and their immediate families, but you will perhaps forgive Miss Manners forsaying that they are not sources of general entertainment. Even if there are mes-

the pastries on themenu, some of theTHC products will be madeby local companies.

Alookinside

California sober,”saidDomingue, referencing individuals who have quitconsuming drugs andalcohol with exceptions like cannabis.

Domingue, the manager of the coffee shop, describedthe THC industry as a“growing market”because itsproducts are often viewed as an alternativetoalcohol with fewer calories and no hangovers. Beverages, gummies, mushrooms, tinctures, and lotions infusedwith THCare some of the products thatHigh Grinds plans to sellwith “a big focus on wellness (benefits),” Dominigue noted. Like

While themenuofHigh Grinds is areflection of twocurrent national trends, the building itself shiesaway from modernity,but not completely.Scott described the interior design as “Victorian-style modern.

“We’re trying to blend the modern while respecting the history of thebuilding” Beth added.

Detailed medallionscover the ceilings, encircling ring chandeliers with Edison-style light bulbs hanging near thecoffeebar.Huge windows surround one of the seating areas, allowing natural light to

merizing speakers, which is not always the case, mostofthe ritual consists of watching strangers walk across astage. When issuing invitations, one is supposed to consider the possible enjoyment one is offering the prospective guests. In this case, it is so minimalthat anyone without a deep emotional attachment to your son would be foolish to accept. As foryour son himself,surely he is grown-up and intelligent enough to have sympathy forthe family’sfinancial constraints, rather than resentment.

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.

pour in andstrikethe deep blue walls, acolor that was chosen from the city’shistorical palette. By theentrancedoor,amodest staircase leads to the second floor that is just as vast as the first and will be used as an officespace for Scott and Billy’slaw firm

But there will be someelements of contemporary style,with a quartz surface that willsoon cover the coffee bar and gold-rimmed tables of the seating area near the window

“Wewantthis to be timeless,”

Beth said Wednesday as rain patteredonthe roof of the century-old building.

Email Poet Wolfe at poet.wolfe@ theadvocate.com.

BULLFIGHTING

Continuedfrom page1D

branches and shrubs out of her way

Whensomebodyelse approaches him, Junuzovicinsisted, “his whole demeanor changes” and he starts snorting.

“But he never acts like that with me,” she rushed to say. “Heknows that Itake care of him. He is just likea human, exceptthat he cannot talk.”

Bullfights withoutblood

Bullfights in Bosniaare relatively mellowand bloodlessaffairsresemblinga natural clash for dominance between male bulls in the wild. Almostevery weekend during the summer months, rodeo-like corrals are set up in forest clearings or meadows around the country.

Thousands of people gather around these enclosures in village fair-like settings to watch bull-onbull fights in whichanimals push each other andclashhorns until one of them admits defeat by turning their tail and fleeing. The clash often lasts just afew minutes.

Before bulls enterthe arena, inspectors check theirhornsand even cut off the tips if theyare too sharp. They also check theanimals’ anti-doping testresultsand make sure the bulls clashheads only if they want to.

Among the village folkinBosnia, thelove of bulls and bullfighting is installed in children at an early age. Attending the fights is often embraced as afamily activity

“This is apart of our tradition. We love it,” explained Muriz Spahic,who drove for more than45 milestowatch bulls fighting last Sunday outside the village of

Bijelo Polje in central Bosnia.

“My grandpa loves it, he is here with us today,I love it, my child loves it,” he said, “Wegotothe fightstogether.”

Acommunity event

In between the fights, the spectators fire up grills, roast meat, drink and dance to blaring folk music. Fighting bulls of Bosnia have traditionally been trained by men, but women started joining thefray several years ago. Still, women in this field arerareand Junuzovic, whostarted training bulls at the age of 12, remains the youngest of thetrainers.

Some of her school friends look down at her hobby andinsistthatit is “stinky,” she said. But those who shereally cares about are “very supportive.Theycall to congratulate me every time we win.” Bulls fight in different weight classes and Cobra, who weighs more than 1,360 pounds, is among the“lightweights.”

Cobra’swinning streak, which beganeight fights ago, continued in Bijelo Polje,where he scored his ninth victory of the 2025 bullfighting season.

The other bull “quit,” because he “was unprepared,” Junuzovic said. Around half of the scheduled battles overall end with one of the animals leaving the ring without even trying.

“Still, we won andevery victory counts,” she said with abig smile.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOS By ARMIN DURGUT

An aerial viewofbulls fighting during the bullfight competitions in Bijelo Polje, Bosnia, on May11.

Aman prepares hisbullprior to the startofthe bullfights

Poster

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

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.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

ToDAy's cLuE: G EQuALs K

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon dooneSbUrY

bIG nAte

Sudoku

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

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER

Aristotlesaid, “All humanactions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions,habit, reason, passion, desire.”

At the bridge table, you desiretomake or break thecontract, using reasoning and various habits—hopefully allgood. Andsometimesyou have to go forany chance thatyou have.

In this deal, West has to decide what to dowhendefendingagainstoneno-trump He leads his fourth-highest diamond. Southtakes East’s nine with his king and plays thespade queen. West ducks, but is inwithhisaceattrickthree.Whatshould West do now?

An aggressiveEastwould havemade athree-club weak jump overcall on the first round. Then South wouldprobably have made anegative double, giving North aheadache. The winning action would have been to pass, which would have netted100 or 300.

IfEasthadbalancedoveroneno-trump withatwo-clubbid,Southwouldpresumably have continued with two spades, which would have probably ended down oneafter thediamond-nine lead from East. Who has the diamond jack?

It mustbeSouth— do not be fooled by his falsecard at trickone. East wasplaying thirdhand high and the best he could do was the nine. Similarly, South has the

wuzzles

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed

ToDAy’s WoRD WoEFuLLy: WOH-fuh-lee: With sadness or grievance.

Average mark 16 words

Time limit 25 minutes

Can you find 22 or morewords in WOEFULLY?

high-card points.

leadsanotherdiamond, South must take at least nine tricks.

chance forthe defense is to run the clubs.West mustshift

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

ken ken

InstructIons: 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner. HErE is a

Well

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

Scrabble GramS

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe iS roSe

animal crackerS

DuStin

Drabble

Wallace the brave

breWSter rockit

luann