The Times-Picayune 05-28-2025

HouseOKs Landry-backedinsurance bill

Opponentssay measurewilldrive insurers outofthe state

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Over the strong objectionsofInsurance Commissioner TimTempleand the insurance industry,the Housedeferred to Gov.Jeff Landry and gave final passage to abill Tuesday that he says will make it harder for insurance companies to raise rates.

Temple objects because he says the measure, House Bill 148, will allow the insurance commissioner toreject rate increases without justification. That, he adds, will discouragecompanies from investing in Louisiana, and the

reduction in competition will make it harder to keep ratesdown—the opposite of what Landry says.

Allstate and State Farmofficials met privately with the governor to express theiropposition to aprovision added in the Senate late May 21 that will re-

quireinsurancecompaniestoreveal rate-settinginformation that has been secret National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, which represents 38% of the insurance market share in Louisiana, wroteinaletter to the governor Tuesday that theprovision is so bad that it will outweigh any of themeasures passed this year and last year by Landry and legislators that they saidwould hold down property and car insurance rates.

The bill is “likely to decrease compe-

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N.O. officialsplanfor busy 2025 hurricaneseason

Katrina’s legacy and aseriesofmorerecent explosivehurricanesare guiding preparedness

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

As New Orleans officials bracefor yetanother potent hurricaneseason, stockpiling supplies and holdingbriefings withfederal and state partners, the20thanniversary of Hurricane Katrina is loominglarge —underscored by lessons drawn from recent, explosive storms in the GulfofMexico.

Officials fromMayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration, local and state lawenforcement andfederal agencies on Tuesday laid out howNew Orleans is preparingfor what forecasters say will be another particularly active season, highlightinghow Katrina has changed the calculus.

“It’snot lostonmethat the lessons that we’ve learned from Katrina have shaped howwe prepare, respond and recover,” Collin Arnold, New Orleans’top emergency official, said during abriefing Tuesday on thecity’shurricane plan. “It’s theheart, 20 years later,ofhow we prepare forhurricanes.”

At thecore of thecity’splan is anetwork of sitescomprised of recreation centers, libraries and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center,said Arnold, the city’s Homeland Security andEmergency Preparedness director,onTuesday. Officials are ready to spring into action to stock those sites with supplies from anew emergency warehouse in the light-industrial area along Earhart Boulevard.

City officials are still hammering outdetails about who will be eligible to seek shelter at those facilitieswhenastorm hits, andatwhat phase of astorm’sarrival they should head there.

Landrysays legislation passed Tuesdayby the House will makeitharder for companies to raise car insurance rates.

80 hours amonth of work to qualify

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

Tucked inside the “big, beautiful bill” recently advanced by theU.S. House is afirst-everfederal work requirement for Medicaidrecipients. Starting at theend of 2026, the legislationwould require thatmostchildless adultsdocument 80 hours amonth of work, school or volunteering before they can enroll in the government health insuranceprogramfor people with limitedincomes.

The Congressional Budget Office projects the change would save about$280 billionoversix years. In Louisiana, however,itcould also knock 139,000 to 158,000 adults off Medicaid in the first

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BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

Elected officials homed in Tuesday on the timelineofevents that ledtoanabrupt order of forced blackouts on Sunday in Louisiana, prompting Entergy and Cleco to cut the lights to 100,000 residents in the NewOrleans area amid hot, latespring temperatures.

Regulators had previously pinned the outages, in part,onthe unexpected shutdownofRiver Bend,a nuclearplant northofBaton Rouge. But Entergyand federal officialssaidTuesday that

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Gov. Jeff

STAFF FILE

PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Second crypto investor charged in kidnapping

NEW YORK A second cryptocurrency investor surrendered to police Tuesday in the alleged kidnapping of a man who said he was tortured for weeks inside an upscale Manhattan townhouse by captors seeking the password to his Bitcoin account.

William Duplessie, 32, faces charges of kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a weapon, according to police.

His arrest comes four days after the victim a 28-year-old Italian national — escaped, bloodied and barefoot, from a lavish townhouse where he said he had been severely beaten, drugged, shocked with electrical wires and threatened with death for nearly three weeks.

On Friday morning, crypto investor John Woeltz, 37, was taken into custody Trump set to pardon reality TV couple

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he’s planning to pardon TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, famous for “Chrisley Knows Best,” a reality show that followed their tightknit family and extravagant lifestyle that prosecutors said was boosted by bank fraud and hiding earnings from tax authorities.

The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents. They were also found guilty of tax evasion, obscuring their earnings while showcasing a luxurious way of living that authorities said included high-priced cars designer clothes, real estate and travel.

Prosecutors said the couple walked away from their responsibility for repayment when Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy and left $20-plus million in unpaid loans. Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, and Todd Chrisley got 12 years behind bars.

Japan to use Fukushima soil on flowerbeds

TOKYO Japan said Tuesday it plans to use some slightly radioactive soil stored near the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant on flower beds outside Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s office to show it is safe to reuse. The soil was removed from across the Fukushima prefecture as part of decontamination work following the 2011 nuclear disaster and has since been in interim storage. Some of it has since reached levels safe enough for reuse, officials say Using the soil at Ishiba’s office in Tokyo is aimed at reassuring the public it is safe. The government said that it plans to reuse the soil for flower beds and other purposes within the grounds of government agencies.

Japan is stuck with large volumes of the dirt, chopped trees and other debris collected during intensive decontamination work. It has 14 million cubic meters of dirt and other materials — enough to fill 11 baseball stadiums — stored at a sprawling outdoor facility straddling the towns of Futaba and Okuma, near the Fukushima plant.

Cholera outbreak kills over 170 in a week

CAIRO A new cholera outbreak in Sudan has killed 172 people and sickened more than 2,500 over the past week, authorities said Tuesday as a leading medical group warned that the country’s existing health facilities were unable to cope with the surge of patients. The bulk of the cases were reported in the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman, but cholera was also detected in the provinces of North Kordofan, Sennar, Gazira, White Nile and Nile River, health officials said.

According to Joyce Bakker, the Sudan coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, the alarming spike began in mid-May, with teams treating almost 2,000 suspected cholera cases in the past week alone. On Saturday Sudan’s Health Minister Haitham Ibrahim said the increase in cholera cases just in the Khartoum region has been estimated to average 600 to 700 per week over the past four weeks.

Troops fire warning shots at food center Palestinians overwhelm new Gaza aid site

BY MOHAMMED JAHJOUH and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

MUWASI, Gaza Strip — Chaos erupted on the second day of aid operations by a new U.S.-backed group in Gaza as desperate Palestinians overwhelmed a center distributing food on Tuesday, breaking through fences. Nearby Israeli troops fired warning shots, sending people fleeing in panic.

An AP journalist heard Israeli tank and gunfire and saw a military helicopter firing flares. The Israeli military said its troops fired the warning shots in the area outside the center and that “control over the situation was established.”

At least three injured Palestinians were seen by The Associated Press being brought from the scene, one of them bleeding from his leg.

The distribution hub outside Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah had been opened the day before by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been slated by Israel to take over aid operations. The U.N. and other humanitarian organizations have rejected the new system,

saying it won’t be able to meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million people and allows Israel to use food as a weapon to control the population. They have also warned of the risk of friction between Israeli troops and people seeking supplies.

Palestinians have become desperate for food after nearly three months of Israeli blockade pushed Gaza to the brink of famine.

Palestinians at the scene told AP that small numbers of people made their way to the GHF center Tuesday morning and received food boxes. As word spread, large numbers of men, women and children walked for several miles from the sprawling tent camps along Gaza’s Mediterranean coast. To reach the hub, they had to pass through nearby Israeli military positions.

By the afternoon, hundreds of thousands were massed at the hub.

Videos show the crowds funneled in long lines through chain-link fence passages. Two people said each person was searched and had their faces scanned for identification before being allowed to receive the boxes. Crowds swelled and turmoil erupted, with people tearing down fences

and grabbing boxes. The staff at the site were forced to flee, they said The AP journalist positioned some distance away heard gunfire and rounds of tank fire. Smoke could be seen rising from where one round impacted. He saw a military helicopter overhead firing flares.

“There was no order, the people rushed to take, there was shooting, and we fled,” said Hosni Abu Amra, who had been waiting to receive aid. “We fled without taking anything that would help us get through this hunger.”

“It was chaos,” said Ahmed Abu Taha, who said he heard gunfire and saw Israeli military aircraft overhead. “People were panicked.”

Crowds were seen running from the site. A few managed to secure aid boxes — containing basic items like sugar, flour, pasta and tahini — but the vast majority left emptyhanded.

In a statement, GHF said that because of the large number of Palestinians seeking aid, staff at the hub followed the group’s safety protocols and “fell back” to allow them to dissipate, then later resumed operations.

5 killed, 19 injured in plant explosion in China

By The Associated Press

BEIJING A huge explosion rocked a chemical plant in China’s eastern Shandong province around noon Tuesday, killing at least five people and injuring 19, according to local emergency management authorities. Another six people were missing.

It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion.

The blast was powerful enough to knock out windows at a warehouse more than 2 miles away, according to a video shared by a resident, who declined to give his name out of concern about retaliation.

The resident said his home shook. As he went to the window, he saw a column of smoke from the site 4 3 miles away

Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co is located in an industrial park in the city of Weifang. It manufactures pesticides as well as chemicals for medical use, and has more than 500 employees, according to corporate registration records.

Local fire officials sent more than 230 personnel to the scene, according to state broadcaster China Central Television.

A student at a school about 1,000 yards away from the plant told state-run news site The Paper that he heard one explosion and saw dirt-yellow smoke, tainted with redness, rising from the plant. He said there was a funny smell, and all students were given a mask and told not to remove it.

A staffer at the local environment bureau told The Paper that a team was dispatched to the scene to monitor potential pollution but had yet to report back.

The blast came less than two weeks after the National Ministry of Emergency Management held a workshop on preventing and controlling risks in

the chemical industry as Beijing urged officials at chemical industrial parks to boost their capabilities in “managing hazardous chemicals.”

Last year, the chemical plant was cited for “safety risks” at least twice, but in September it was praised by the Weifang Emergency Management Bureau for relying on party members to effectively manage workplace risks. Specifically, party members at Gaomi Youdao identified more than 800 safety hazards in the first eight months of 2024 and rectified all of them, the bureau said. Workplace safety has improved over the years in China but remains a stubborn problem. The National Ministry of Emergency Management recorded 21,800 incidents and 19,600 deaths in 2024.

Russia seizes 4 border villages

BY KATIE MARIE DAVIES Associated Press

Russian forces have taken four border villages in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, a local official said Tuesday, days after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had ordered troops to establish a buffer zone along the border Sumy borders Russia’s Kursk region, where a surprise Ukrainian incursion last year captured a pocket of land in the first occupation of Russian territory since World War II. The long border is vulnerable to Ukrainian incursions, Putin said, and creating a buffer zone could help Russia prevent further cross-border attacks there. Meanwhile, a Russian bombing campaign that had escalated in recent days slowed overnight, with far fewer Russian drones targeting Ukrainian towns and cities.

Moscow’s invasion has shown no signs of stopping despite months of intense U.S.-led efforts to secure a ceasefire and get traction for peace talks. Since Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Turkey on May 16 for their first direct talks in three years, a large prisoner exchange has been the only tangible outcome, but negotiations have brought no significant breakthrough.

The U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said Putin has not yet delivered a promised memorandum that the Russian leader told U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on May 19 would outline the framework for a possible peace agreement.

The Kremlin has also ruled out the Vatican as a venue for negotiations, he said. “We would have liked to have it at the Vatican and we were pretty set to do something like that, but the Russians didn’t want to go there so I think Geneva may be the next stop,” Kellogg told the Fox News Channel.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said his country also was ready to host another round of peace talks.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA

Palestinians carry boxes Tuesday containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed organization approved by Israel, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

PROVIDED PHOTO

rises Tuesday from an explosion at a chemical plant in China’s eastern Shandong province.

“Wewill let you know when these facilities will be stooduptorespond to the needs on the ground,” Cantrell said, adding that the Smoothie King Center may also serve as astagingpoint for disaster response. Plans for the approaching hurricane season are forming amid anotherlayer of uncertaintyclouding the world of emergency management: President DonaldTrump’s sweepingchanges to federal funding, which include his efforts to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency,which historically funnels infusionsofcash to states in the wake of disasters.

Officials sought to assure residents Tuesday that, as thecity sees it, not much so far has changed. “Weare still talking to the same people and making the same preparations. It’snow the public’sturn to do the same,” Arnold said.

The details officials provided on Tuesday build on plans developed last year,whenNew Orleans previewed asimilar networkof support shelters by saying it would prepare sites to house “vulnerable” residents, such as the elderly and people with disabilities, during storms.

That framework marks adeviation from years of disaster planning after Katrina. Memories of deprivation insidethe Superdome after that storm, which struck New Orleans 20 years ago this August, long discouragedcity officials from even considering opening so-called “refuges of last resort” during future catastrophicstorms.

But even as New Orleans itself has mostly avoided widespread structural damage and flooding

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tition by discouraging insurers from devoting capital to the state,” said the letter

Another group, the Insurance Council of Louisiana, also expressed its opposition, echoing the mutual insurance companies in aletter to Landry

“House Bill 148 will significantly discourage needed insurance capitalthat would have otherwise come into the Louisiana marketplace,” wrote Rodney Braxton, executive director of the Insurance Council of Louisiana. “While this bill may come out of good intentions, the likelihood is that it will cause bad outcomes.”

Landry has turned aside those objections, saying that giving the commissioner broader authority willprovide aneeded check on the insurance companies. He plans to sign it and several pro-industry bills Wednesday at the Governor’sMansion.

Landry has said that if rates continue to rise after the bill becomes law, he plans to blame Temple. The other measures the governor plans to sign will reduce lawsuits and payouts and, ultimately,rates, say supporters of those bills. Tuesday’svotes in the House were aforegone conclusion following extensive maneuvering by Landry be-

during recent activehurricane seasons,which included 2020’s Laura, Delta andZeta, 2021’sIda and 2024’sFrancine,officials began weighing how to tweak their response.Last year,the city identifiedthe Convention Center as apotential refuge forthe first time in years. Recreation centers, librariesand other public spaces where residentscould go to charge their phonesand escape power-outageinducedheat have also been abig part of past response efforts.

City officials also bought an Earhart Boulevard warehouse last year for $7 million, using it to stock huge pallets of emergency supplies including water,food and medicine at the location near the Convention Center

That warehouse is “up and humming along” inpreparation for the

2025 season, Arnold said Tuesday. Medical supplies,cots, rescue equipment and “a lotmore” have been added tothe facility amid recent upgrades, he said.

Cantrell on Tuesday laudedthe warehouse purchase as “a long time coming” and acentral part of thecity’sfutureemergency planning.

City officials have succeeded in some cases in setting up recreation centers and other facilities as swiftly as 12 hours after storms made landfallinrecentyears, Arnold said. Still, he urged residents to preparesupplies for 72 hours in theevent they must fleetheir homes due to ahurricane.

Katrinaremembered

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association is predicting

13 to 19 named stormsthis Atlantic HurricaneSeason,whichruns from June 1toNov.30.

Of those, six to 10 are likely to become hurricanes. Three to five areexpected to becomepowerful hurricanes with strengthsofCategory 3ormore.

Someelements of planning announced Tuesdayare newerthan others. Other advice, like Arnold’s directive to pack 72 hoursofsupplies, are old hurricane preparedness mainstays.

So was adirective from New Orleans Fire Department Chief RomanNelson, whoreminded residents on Tuesday to check generators andcarbonmonoxide detectors are working properly

Still, as the two-decade anniversary of Katrina nears on Aug. 29 adate that also marks Ida’sfourth

anniversary —reminiscence formed acommon theme of officials’ announcements on Tuesday Council memberOliver Thomas, who was an at-large member of the councilwhenKatrina struckand is nowrunning formayor,reflected on lessons learned. He recalled howbadly communicationhad gone among official agencies after the floodwaters poured in.

“Essential personnel couldn’treally speak to each other,” he said. “As we gatheredinthe emergency office, communicationcouldn’t happen.”

Thomas also recalledhow illprepared the federal government hadbeen,inhis words,savefor one agency: troops from the storied 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army.

Cantrell, too, reflected on how the storm served as something of an entry point forher career in public service.

After Katrina submerged her Broadmoor neighborhood in 7feet of floodwater,Cantrell madeher name as acommunity organizer, rallying neighbors to her side to prevent the areafrombeing razed. Hersuccess, andthe grassroots brandshe built in theprocess, fueled herlater service on the City Council and then her barrier-busting first run formayor in 2017.

Cantrell, whohas avoided criminal charges from asputtering federal probe but has nonetheless faced aslew of scandals in her second term, including multiple volatile feuds with the City Council, described the long list of agencies represented at Tuesday’snews conference as another example of apolitical career in whichshe has made collaboration aguiding principle.

“We’ve comealongway,” she said, “but we’ve come along way together.”

hind thescenes. The saga of what became HB148 began with House Bill 576 by Rep. Robby Carter,D-Greensburg. Carter’s billwouldhave allowed the insurance commissionerto block “excessive” rateincreases without relying on hard data from his department’sactuaries. Landry testifiedinthe committee room forthe measure, theonly time he did so for abill duringthe legislative session. Butafter the Insurance Committee approved HB576, the Republican-led House initially refused to advanceitbecausesomany Republicans opposed it. Carter is aDemocrat, and he has fought the insurance industry Rep.Brian Glorioso, RSlidell, came to the governor’srescuebyoffering to amendHB148, which at that point was arelatively innocuous measure sponsored by Rep. Jeff Wiley,R-Gonzales, with language fromCarter’s bill.The House approved HB148, 68-34, but nearly half the Republicans voted against it, an atypical development inachamber where Landry has normally held near absolute sway HB148 then passed over to theSenate for consideration. It seemed likely to stall untilLandry swung intoaction, repeatedly pressingSenate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, and Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, the insurance committeechair andaclose friendofHen-

ry’swho has traditionally aligned with the insurance industry

Late Wednesdaynight, Talbotasked the Senate to pass HB148 but only after amending it by copying the confidentiality language from aHouse bill sponsored by Rep.Roger Wilder,RDenham Springs

In an unusualmove,Henry and Talbot did not inform WilderorWileyoftheir plans, the two legislators said.

The Senate approved the amendedversionofWiley’s HB148 and sent it to the House to concur with the Senate’schanges

In another unusual move, Glorioso handled HB148 rather than Wiley

He gave ashort explanation, two House members askedbrief questions, and the House approved it, 7616, with only Republicans opposed. Landry gaineda muchbigger marginthan when it was passed in the House previously.Republican sources saidfewer members wanted to oppose Landry on abill that they knew would pass.

The House also gave final passage Tuesday to House Bill 431 by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, a measure that the insurance industryand its legislative advocates saidwas badly needed.

HB431 would bardrivers responsible for at least 51% of an accident from receiving adamageaward to cover

their injuries. Under current law,adriverresponsible for, say,51% of the accident can collect apaymentequalto 49% of the overall damage award.

The House also gave final passage to House Bill 436 by Rep. GabeFirment, R-Pollock. It would prohibitundocumented immigrants injuredincar accidents from collecting general damages. Landry is also expected to

sign House Bill 434, which would reducepayouts to uninsured motors injured while driving, andHouse Bill 450,whichwould require someone who sued over injuries in acar accident to show that theinjuries actually occurred during the accident.

The insurance industry is still pushing to winapproval of Senate Bill 231, which haspassedthe Senate and is awaiting action before the House Civil LawCommittee. It would allowlawyersfor insurance companiestotell jurors how muchpeople injured in wrecksactually pay in medical bills. Under current law,jurors hear the total amount billed, regardless of what the plaintiffpaid. Email TylerBridges at tbridges@theadvocate. com.

year —one of the largest per capita losses of any state, accordingtoa study from the Urban Institute, aWashington, D.C.-based thinktank that conducts economic and social policy research.

Roughly 1.6million Louisianans, or one-third of the population,currently relies on theprogram.

Proponents such as House Speaker Mike Johnson say the mandate will curb fraud, restore the “dignity of work,” and ensure taxpayers aren’tfundingcoverage for able-bodied adults who can support themselves. Criticsargue that most adults on Medicaid already work or qualifyfor exemptions. They fear the new rule would sweep eligible people off the rolls for missing monthly paperwork, resulting in higher uncompensated-carecosts for hospitals.

Thebillpassed theHouse on anarrow vote and now heads to the Senate,where health policy analysts expect the work requirement to survive.

“IfI hadtobet on it,I would say that this is probably something that that we will see implemented,” said Kevin Callison, ahealth policy economist at Tulane University Louisiana expanded Medicaid in 2016, one of the few Southern statestodo so, which added roughly 640,000 low-income adults to the rolls. Before theexpansion,nondisabled adults werelargely barred unless their income fell below 24% of the federal poverty line, or about $6,400 ayear for afamilyofthree. The expansion raised the eligibility to 138% of poverty, or $20,800 fora single adult today As aresult, Louisiana relies on Medicaidmorethan almost any other statefor basic health care. Still, Louisiana politicians have voiced support for the new restrictions. “A lot of what they’re pro-

posing is reasonable,” said U.S.Sen. Bill Cassidy, aBatonRouge Republican and physician

People who areinschool, working or volunteering at least 80 hours permonthare exempt, as are those who are pregnant or disabled,” Cassidy said. “That leaves the affectedgroup “a pretty small population.”

Cassidyalso said hospitals couldretroactively enroll patients in emergencies for up to 90 daysbefore admission,so acutecare would not go uncovered.

But the politically popular idea hasn’t translated to savings or higher employment in other states, whichshow that large numbers of eligiblepeople lose coverage for missed paperwork,employment rates barely budge andhospitalsabsorb higher uncompensated-care costs.

”It sounds good to say if people are able to work, they shouldwork,” Callison said.

“But from apractical standpoint, it just doesn’t seem to do what you wantittodo.”

To examinehow awork requirement might play out, Louisiana can look next door at Arkansas,whichtied Medicaid to work in 2018.

Beneficiaries could skip reportingfor uptothree months before their coverage was revoked, and the stateactivelyexempted people whenever payroll or medical recordsshowed they alreadymet the crite-

ria.

Still, by early 2019, 18,000 people had lost coverage and state labor data showed no employmentbump. Surveys found that most people who were dropped never understood the online reporting system, accordingtoaHarvard study

The Arkansasrequirement was short-lived; a federal judge ruleditwas unlawful in April 2019.

Butifthe requirement had remained in place statewide,the averageArkansas hospital’suncompensatedcare costs would likely have risenbyabout $1 million a year,roughly a10% jump, according to studyfromThe Commonwealth Fund.

In 2023, Georgia started a“PathwaystoCoverage” program, which allowed lower-income residents who would not normally qualifyfor Medicaidtoget coverage if theycomplete 80 hoursa month of professional, academic or community activities.The state spent more than $86 million on consultants and software but enrolled only about6,500 adults in the first 18 months, well below the100,000the stateprojected. If Louisiana had to implement such asystem, that could mean less moneyfor paying for medical care, saidCaroline Meehan, executive director of the CommunityProvider Association of Louisiana.

“Wecould expect to see similar things here, of coveragelossesand notnecessarilyanuptickinwork,” Meehan said. “When you addlayers of bureaucracy and reporting, people sort of inevitably fall through thecracks.”

About 69% of adults on MedicaidinLouisiana do

work, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. A lot of people at risk of losing coveragewould likely be pushed offfor paperwork issues or missing anotice in the mail, notbecause they don’tmeet work requirements, saidDr. Isolde Butler, chiefmedical officer at CrescentCare in New Orleans.

Butler routinely sees what happens when coverage lapses. Patients who lose theirinsurance skipprescriptionsfor blood-pressure pills and wind up with expensiveheart problemsin emergency rooms.

Hospitalswill foot thebill for uncompensated care, which will getpassedonto privately insured people to offset that cost, said Butler

“We’re stillgoing to pay forthis,” Butler said. “We’re just goingtopay in adifferent way.

Forpeoplewho work in Louisiana’s hospitalityor tourismindustry, thework requirementcould hitespecially hard. In busy seasons

around Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, servers or musicians might easilytop 80 hours. Come late summer,their income can flatline. Peggy Honoré, who heads the NewOrleans Musicians’ Clinic, said the nature of work for many patients would mean complicated reportingfromseveral sources of income. “A lotofthemhavemultiple jobs,” Honoré said. “Theyare self-employed kind of things —they could be doing contracting work, they could be doing painting.”

The state deals with employment dips resulting fromhurricanes,and also ranks near the bottom for households with broadband access, which could interfere withdocumenting hours.

Senate committees begin looking at the bill in June. Ahandful of GOP members have voiced unease with deep Medicaid cuts, but Johnson is urging colleagues to keep the bill intact.

This National Cancer Research Month, we’rehighlighting TheLSU LCMC Health Cancer Center,which is constantly drivingadvancementsincancerresearchwithacommitment to both local and global impact. Initiatives like the Gulf South ClinicalTrialsNetwork,led

andisdedicatedtoimproving

equitable access forall

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREENIKHINSON

President DonaldTrump, left, and House SpeakerMikeJohnson, R-Benton, speak to reportersonMay 20 after departing aHouse Republican conference meeting.

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

The Louisiana Legislature on Tuesday passed a ban on kratom, an herbal substance that critics describe as a public health scourge, but which others say has the potential to treat chronic pain and mental health issues.

The House passed Senate Bill 154 by a vote of 87-6. Having already passed the Senate, it now requires Gov Jeff Landry’s signature to become law

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Jay Morris R-West Monroe, criminalizes the possession and distribution of kratom, which is derived from a southeast Asian tree. Though it passed the House with broad bipartisan support, it sparked a lengthy debate that at times became testy and emotional.

Two representatives Rep. Ber-

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River Bend was shut down because of a leak on May 21. That left the grid operator, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, with several days to plan for the lower supply of electricity.

The timing has raised more questions about why Louisiana was forced into a “load shed” event that caused widespread outages well before peak summer demand for electricity

Officials are asking Entergy and MISO officials to answer questions publicly about what happened next Tuesday at a City Council meeting and at a Public Service Commission hearing next month, in a bid to figure out how the looming power deficit was not caught earlier Entergy is also expected to face questions about its long-standing lack of transmission in south Louisiana that has created “load pockets” where it’s difficult to import power

The River Bend nuclear plant shut down May 21 after operators noticed a leak, which they identified two days later as the result of a faulty valve in the reactor’s cooling system, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Entergy fixed the valve over the weekend before bringing the plant back online Monday

The plant did not unexpectedly trip offline over the weekend, as has been previously reported, said Victor Dricks, spokesperson for the NRC.

But the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, a nonprofit that operates the electric grid across a wide swath of the U.S., did not give Entergy or Cleco advance warning that power demand was set to outstrip supply A New Orleans City Council member said Tuesday that Entergy reported getting only three minutes notice Sunday before being forced to “shed load,” or proactively turn off the lights for tens of thousands of people to avoid catastrophic damage to the electric grid.

If regulators and Entergy

yl Amedee, R-Gray, and Rep. Peter Egan, R-Covington — attempted to amend the bill so that pure kratom leaf products would still be legal, while those created in labs to have amplified levels of the compound 7-hydroxymitragynine would be illegal.

That compound is present at low levels in the dried kratom leaf. Critics of a total ban have said it is that substance that carries the most abuse potential.

As it made its way through the legislative process, the kratom bill drew lots of testimony — much of it conflicting. Sheriffs called it a public safety problem and said it was costing lives. Researchers said it had the potential to treat addiction. Healthcare providers said they were seeing more patients addicted to kratom products.

Kratom users said the substance had saved their lives by treating

had known about the looming power deficit, regulators and advocates say they could have taken steps to prevent forced blackouts.

Some industrial plants have contracts that require them to ramp down power during such emergencies, allowing the utility to free up 280 megawatts of capacity in the Entergy system as of 2023. Other customers also could have been required to conserve energy.

Two days after the outages, it remains unclear how other factors might have been at play Higher than forecast temperatures could have contributed, but Logan Burke, head of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, noted that Entergy and Cleco were required to shed 600 megawatts of power, a huge amount that makes it unlikely bad weather forecasts can totally explain it.

“The question is, what else do we not know about?” Burke said, noting it’s unknown whether non-nuclear power plants or transmission lines were out of service during the event.

“I can imagine MISO missing 100 megawatts,” Burke added. “600 is just hard to fathom where that’s coming from.”

MISO said that “unplanned” outages of generators and transmission structures contributed to the power losses. But neither MISO, nor Entergy and Cleco, have provided more information about which generators and transmission lines were down.

A MISO communication shared with The Times-Picayune shows the grid operator was aware of a “planned outage,” then another unit went down, though the communication does not specify which units. Entergy had a separate nuclear plant, Waterford, that was down for scheduled maintenance, which is normal in the spring.

“Operating conditions over the weekend required us to take our absolute last resort action to maintain reliability in our South Region — a temporary, controlled load shed,” MISO spokesperson Brandon Morris said Tuesday “We will conduct a thorough assessment of the event

chronic pain and mental health problems. But one family testified that their son struggled with kratom addiction so badly it pushed him to suicide.

Those views came to a head on the House floor In presenting his amendment, Egan spoke of receiving “hundreds of emails” and “lots of calls” from people who said kratom was helpful to them.

“I am certainly for eliminating toxic, dangerous substances from gas stations, but the naturally occurring leaf-based kratom is consumed by an estimated 300,000 Louisianans,” he said “These are not bad people. These are not people that we should be criminalizing.”

Rep. Debbie Villio, R-Kenner, who presented the bill, pushed back hard against the amendments.

“Rep. Egan was so wrong He was wrong about most everything

and provide additional information once complete.”

Entergy had taken its Waterford plant down for scheduled maintenance well ahead of the event so it could fix it up ahead of peak summer demand, spokesperson Brandon Scardigli. He said Entergy had been monitoring warmer than usual temperatures, but its own models did not show the need for load shedding. He said MISO uses a different model with a broader view of system conditions.

And while River Bend was offline, he said Entergy made that outage known to MISO for its modeling several days before.

“While the River Bend generating unit was offline during the event, it had been out for several days before the event, and its outage was accounted for in the generation that Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans made available to MISO and in MISO’s own modeling,” Scardigli said.

Federal energy regulators began encouraging the creation of grid operators like MISO decades ago as a way to make sure the market for wholesale electricity was fair and reliable. MISO was formed as a nonprofit in the late ‘90s and has grown to operate the grid and wholesale electric markets — across a wide swath of middle America.

In 2013, under pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice amid its investigation into alleged anticompetitive practices, Entergy joined MISO, creating a new region called MISO South.

Employees in a cavernous facility in Carmel, Indiana, MISO’s headquarters, sit in front of a huge array of screens showing information about the electric grid in its territory They plan for which power plants dispatch power onto the grid to make sure electricity flows smoothly and at the right levels.

Another grid operator, the Southwest Power Pool, was doing similar work last month when operators identified “instability” on the grid and ordered SWEPCO to shed power causing black-

he said, quite frankly,” she said. Kratom, she argued, “is a public risk and it is causing drug addiction. It is causing death.”

Nearing tears, Villio gestured to the Lubrano family, who stood on the side of the House floor They had testified in committee that their son, David Lubrano Jr., died by suicide rather than face kratom withdrawal.

“I beg you to stand with me and tell those people their loss was not in vain,” she said. But Amedee said kratom was a natural plant. She spoke of a mom who had used kratom to help treat her college-aged son for opioid addiction.

“If we pass this bill making that illegal, that mom will go to jail because that mom is not going to stop and allow her child to go back to the condition he was in when he was hooked on opioids,” she said.

outs for 30,000 people in the Shreveport area.

Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, a Republican who is one of five statewide utility regulators in Louisiana, has long opposed Entergy’s participation in MISO, arguing the utility could get a better deal elsewhere.

Skrmetta said he believes there was enough power and transmission in the region when MISO ordered the load shed over the weekend. He said MISO should have known ahead of time that River Bend was down.

“They plan it a day ahead two days ahead,” Skrmetta said. “There’s absolutely no reason for MISO to call this unlessMISOmadeamistake.”

Commissioner Davante Lewis, a Democrat representing New Orleans, said he was initially told a plant unexpectedly went offline, leading him to believe River Bend tripping offline was the source of the problem.

After NRC’s confirmation that River Bend went down much earlier, Lewis said a “misforecast” along with

State Rep Jason Hughes, D-New Orleans, also came to the floor to push back against Amedee’s amendment.

Pure leaf kratom “is still highly addictive,” he said, adding that if the state keeps kratom legal because it is a natural plant, “we’re setting a precedent that we need to make marijuana legal.” Deaths have been associated with kratom use in rare cases, and those deaths have usually involved other substances, according to the FDA. Under SB154, possession of less than 20 grams of kratom would carry a $100 fine. Those in possession of more than 20 grams would face up to 6 months in a parish jail or a fine of up to

generators and transmission lines being out appears to be the root of the problem.

Lewis said he remains concerned about how Entergy’s inability to import power using long-range transmission might have played a part.

“The forecasting was off somewhere,” he said.

Council member JP Morrell, chair of the City Council’s utility committee, said he expects to get answers from MISO and Entergy during their meeting next week.

Morrell said he’s particularly concerned about the lack of advance warning from MISO that demand was outstripping supply, as well as who decided which parts of Entergy’s territory would have the lights turned off.

“If we knew as early as Wednesday of last week that generation was going to be a problem, it would have given regulators the ability to curb demand to avoid the brownout,” Morrell said.

He added that while Louisiana is not yet in summer peak electricity demand, lots of power companies do their maintenance this time

of year, which can cause supply issues.

Entergy has long had issues with some of its nuclear plants, including Grand Gulf, the source of years of litigation over alleged mismanagement. A report by the Union of Concerned Scientists published Tuesday found River Bend was the most problematic nuclear plant in the U.S., when measuring regulatory violations.

Entergy told the NRC, which oversees nuclear plants, that it noticed an unidentified leak in River Bend’s cooling system last week. Nuclear plants have a series of pipes circulating water to cool down the reactor. Entergy identified a faulty valve in one of those systems, and the leak reached a threshold — two gallons per minute over a 24hour period that required operators to shut the plant down and fix it.

Entergy welded the valve over the weekend and brought the plant back online Monday As of Tuesday morning, it was operating at 80% capacity, Dricks said.

WhiteHouse targets Harvardcontracts

BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE and COLLIN BINKLEY Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Trump administration askedfederal agencies Tuesday to cancel contracts with Harvard University worthabout $100 million, intensifying the president’sclash with the nation’soldest and wealthiest university

The governmentalready has canceled more than $2.6 billion in federal research grants for theIvy League school, which has pushed back on the administration’s demandsfor changes to several of its policies.

Aletter sent Tuesday from the General Services Administration, which oversees contracting and real estate for the federal government, directed agenciestoreview contracts with the university and seek alternates.

The New York Times first

reported on the letter President DonaldTrump hasrailed against Harvard, callingita hotbedofliberalism and antisemitism. The school filed alawsuit April 21 over theadministration’scalls forchanges to theuniversity’s leadership, governanceand admissions policies.Since then, theadministration has slashed the school’s federalfunding, moved to cutoff enrollment of international studentsand threatenedits tax-exempt status.

The administrationhas identified about 30 contracts across nine agencies to be reviewed for cancellation, according to anadministration official who was not authorized to speak publicly and provided details on the conditionofanonymity The contracts total roughly $100 million,accordingtoa senior administrationofficial, whospoke on the condi-

tionofanonymity to describe internaldeliberations.The contractsinclude executive trainingfor Departmentof Homeland Security officials, researchonhealth outcomes related to energy drinks and a contract forgraduate student research services.

Agencies with contracts that are deemed critical are beingdirectednot to halt them immediately, but to devise aplantotransition to a different vendor other than Harvard.

The letter applies only to federal contracts with Harvard and notits remaining research grants.

Trump laid into Harvard on social media over theweekend, threatening to cut an additional $3 billion in federal grants andgive it to trade schools across the United States.Hedid notexplain which grantshewas referring to or how they could be reallocated.

King Charles: Canada faces unprecedenteddangers

BYROB GILLIES

Associated Press

OTTAWA, Ontario King Charles III said Canada is facing unprecedentedchallenges in aworld that’s never been more dangerous as he opened the Canadian Parliament on Tuesday with aspeech widely viewedas ashow of support in the face of annexation threats by U.S. President Donald Trump. Thekingisthe headof state in Canada, which is a member of the Commonwealth of former colonies. Trump’srepeated suggestion that Canada become the 51st state prompted Prime MinisterMark Carney to invite Charles to give aspeech from the throne outlining the Liberal government’spriorities for the new session of Parliament

“Wemust face reality:

Since the Second World War, our world has never been more dangerous and unstable. Canada is facing challenges that, in our lifetimes, are unprecedented ”Charles saidinFrench, one of Canada’sofficial languages.

He added that“many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world aroundthem.”

Theking reaffirmed Canada’ssovereignty,saying the “True North is indeed strong andfree.”

Trump seemed to respond to theking’svisit later Tuesday, writing thatifCanada becomesthe “cherished 51st State”itwon’thave to payto join hisfuture GoldenDome missile defense program.

“It will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain aseparate, but unequal,Nation,

butwillcostZERODOLLARS if theybecome our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!,” Trump posted on social media.

It’srarefor the monarch to deliverthe speech fromthe throne in Canada. Charles’ mother,the late Queen Elizabeth II, did it twice. The king noted thatithad been nearly 70 years since hismother first opened Parliament The visit to Canada was Charles’first as king and his 20th overall.

“Canada hasdramatically changed: repatriating its constitution, achieving full independence and witnessing immense growth. Canada has embraced its British, French and Indigenous roots andbecome abold, ambitious, innovativecountry that is bilingual, truly multicultural,” the monarch said.

BY REBECCA SANTANA and LINDSAYWHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to halt an order allowing migrantstochallenge their deportations to South Sudan, an appeal thatcamehours after thejudge suggested the administration was “manufacturing” chaos and said he hoped that “reason can get the better of rhetoric.”

JudgeBrianMurphyfound the White House violated a court order with adeportationflight bound for the chaotic African nation carrying peoplefrom other countries whohad been convicted of crimes in the U.S. He said thoseimmigrants must get areal chance to raise any fears that being sent there could put themindanger

The federalgovernment argued that Murphy has stalled its efforts to carry outdeportations of migrants who can’tbereturned to their home countries. Finding countries willing to take them is “a delicate diplomatic endeavor” and the court requirements area major setback, Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in an emergencyappeal asking the court to immediately halt his order Murphy said he had given the Trumpadministration “remarkable flexibilitywith minimaloversight” in the case andemphasized thenumerous times he attempted to work withthe government,according to an order publishedMonday night

This is the latest case where federal judges weighing in on the legality of the Trump administration’s

sweeping agenda have used forceful, sometimes even scathing, language to register their displeasure. The Trumpadministrationhas accused judges of thwarting thewill of votersbystopping or slowing the WhiteHouse agenda. In ahearing last week calledtoaddress reports that eightimmigrantshad been sent to South Sudan, Murphy said the menhadn’t beenabletoarguethatthe deportation could put them in danger Butinstead of ordering the government to return the mentothe U.S. for hearings —asthe plaintiffs wanted he gave the government the optionofholding the hearings in Djibouti, where the plane hadflown on itsway to South Sudan, as long as the men remained in U.S. governmentcustody.

THE CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO By CHRISyOUNG

Canadian Prime Minister MarkCarney, left, speaks with King Charles on Tuesday in Ottawa

Salesforce to buy

Informatica in $8B deal

Salesforce is buying AI-powered cloud data management company Informatica in an approximately $8 billion deal. Informatica’sshareholders will receive $25 per share, apremium of about 11% from Friday’sclosing price of $22.55. The transaction willgiveSalesforce access to Informatica’s datamanagementcapabilities.

Informatica wastakenprivate in 2015 by private equity firm Permira and the CanadaPension Plan Investment Board for about $5.3 billion. It went public again in 2021.

“Joining forces with Salesforce represents asignificant leap forwardinour journey to bring data and AI to life by empowering businesses with the transformative poweroftheirmost critical asset —their data,” Informatica CEO Amit Walia said in astatement Tuesday.“We have ashared vision for how we can help organizationsharness the full value of their data in the AI era.”

Robin Washington, president and chief operating andfinancial officer at Salesforce, said the acquisition will look to take advantage of Informatica’scapabilities quickly,particularly in areas such as the public sector,lifesciences, health care and financial services. Both companies’boards have approved the deal, which is expected to close early in Salesforce’sfiscal 2027.

Consumer confidence rebounds after tariff fears

WASHINGTON Americans’views of the economy improved in May after five straight monthsofdeclines sent consumer confidence to its lowest level since the onsetofthe COVID-19 pandemic, largely driven by anxiety over theimpact of PresidentDonald Trump’stariffs.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose 12.3 points in May to 98, up from April’s85.7, its lowest reading since May 2020. Ameasure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market jumped 17.4 points to 72.8, but remainedbelow 80, which can signal arecessionahead.

The proportion of consumers surveyed saying they think aU.S recession is coming in the next 12 months also declined from April. Trump’saggressive and unpredictable policies —including massiveimport taxes —have clouded the outlook for theeconomy andthe job market,raising fears that the American economy is headed toward arecession. However, Trump’stariff pullbacks, pauses andnegotiations with sometradingpartners may have calmed nerves for the time being.

U.S. eyes control in Nippon-U.S. Steel deal

U.S. Sen. David McCormick said Tuesday that an arrangement that will allow Japan-based Nippon Steel to invest in U.S. Steel will guarantee an American CEO, amajority of boardmembers from the United States and U.S. government approval over certain corporate functions

The Pennsylvania senator spoke on CNBC,four days after President Donald Trumpsuggested that an agreementona “partnership” wasathand to resolve Nippon Steel’snearly $15 billion bid to buy iconic American steel-maker U.S.Steel that has been blocked on national security grounds. Followinghis statementFriday, TrumponSunday told reporters that U.S. Steel will be “controlled by the United States, otherwise Iwouldn’tmake the deal” and that “it’saninvestment and it’s apartial ownership, butit’ll be controlled by the U.S.A.” McCormick described theU.S. government’sveto as a“golden share” and suggested that the idea was Nippon Steel’sproposal Nippon Steel has yet to say anythingabout whether it is willing to accept the concept described by Trump and McCormickin place of its bid to buy the company

Lawmaker lookstopreserveCleco jobs

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

committee meeting.

As talk swirlsamong utility regulators and state lawmakers aboutapotential sale of Cleco the 90-year-old company that provideselectricity to nearly 300,000 customers across 24 Louisiana parishes —one legislator is pushing to safeguardthe utility’sjobsincentral Louisiana State Rep. Mike Johnson,a Pineville Republican, hasfiled ameasure in the legislature askingthe Louisiana Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities,torejectany deal that doesn’tpreserve Cleco’scurrent staffing levels at itsheadquarters in Pineville.

Johnson’sHouse Concurrent Resolution11mightseem premature. There’s no deal on the table to sell the utility,atleast notone that hasbeen publicly announced.

But there are severalsigns adeal could be in thenot-too-distant future. When Cleco’scurrent owner, MacquarieInfrastructure and Real Assets, purchasedthe utility in 2016, theysaid they planned to sell their majoritystakeinadecade or so. That deadline is now approaching, prompting speculation about what’snext for the utility

More telling, Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis said last week thatCleco representatives have told him that they informed their employees earlier this spring that asale is possible. He said he didn’thave details on any potential deal. Cleco declinedtocomment through itsspokesperson, Jennifer Cahill.

Johnson said he is unaware of any specific deals to sell thecompany,though he isn’twaiting to makehis case.

“Cleco has been and remains one of the biggest employers in our area,” Johnson said at aHouse committee hearing earlierthis month. “I don’twantthemtosell thecompany unless they preserve those jobs.”

Johnson’sHCR11 asks thePSC to approve asale“if andonly if themore than 450 nonservice jobs and 100% of all service jobs are retained” at Cleco’sheadquarters in Pineville.

The measure, anonbinding resolution, passed in theHouse andis awaiting action in the Senate.

As part of its approval of Cleco’s sale in 2016,the PSCrequiredthe new owners to agree to 77 commitments. That included keeping the utilityheadquartered in Pineville and maintaining its existing salariesand benefits forits 1,200 employees.

“Wedid all this last time. Ican’t 100% commit saying we’re going to do it again, but Idon’tsee us not puttingthese same conditions,” Brandon Frye, executive secretary of the PSC, said during the

The PSC considers 18 factors when deciding whethertoapprove asale. One of those factors is whether the transaction will be “fair and reasonable” to the utility’semployees.

Lewis said, “My priority is ensuring that the customers of Cleco have reliable, affordable power sources and that will include ensuring they have thepersonnel necessary to do that.”

While Macquarie provideda timeline on itsdecisiontosellits majority stake, Cleco’sminorityowners, British Columbia InvestmentManagement Corp. and John Hancock Financial, didn’tmake similar commitments.

“It’sreally hard to knowwhatthe possible risks are, just yet, without having any idea who might buy it,” said Logan Burke,executive director of the Alliance forAffordable Energy,aconsumer advocacy group.

Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate.com.

BAGGED &TAGGED

Finalboarding call at Southwestas airlineabandons acherished luggage perk

BY MICHELLECHAPMAN AP business writer

Tuesdaywas thelast day to book aflight on

Southwest Airlines without being hit with afee to check bags afterthe airline abandoned adecades-long luggage policy that executivesonce described as key to differentiating the budget carrier from its rivals.

Theairline announced thechange in March, sayingatthe time that the newpolicywould start with flights booked on Wednesday

Southwest saiditwill be charging $35 for a first checkedbag and $45 for asecond checked bag. Weightand size limits will apply for bags.

Southwest hadbuilt years of advertising campaigns around itspolicy of lettingpassengers check up to two bags for free. Under its new policy,people who haven’teither reached the upper tiers of itsRapid Rewards loyalty program, bought abusinessclassticket or hold the airline’scredit cardwill have to pay for checked bags.

Southwestwill continue to offer twofree checked bags to Rapid Rewards A-List preferred members andcustomers traveling on Business Selectfares, and one free checked bag to A-List members and other selectcustomers.Passengers with RapidRewards credit cards willreceive acredit forone checked bag.

People who don’tqualify for those categories will be charged to check bags. The airline said in March that it also would roll out anew,basicfareon itslowest-priced tickets when the changetakes effect.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILEPHOTO By ERIN HOOLEy

Southwest Airlines had built years of advertisingcampaigns around itspolicy of lettingpassengers check up to twobagsfor free. Under itsnew policy, peoplewho haven’teither reached the upper tiers of its Rapid Rewardsloyalty program, bought abusiness class ticket or holdthe airline’s credit card will have to payfor checked bags.

seats next year

The airline also said last year that it would charge customers extra formore legroom and offer red-eye flights.

These aren’t the only changes at Southwest.

The Dallas airline previously announced that it was leaving behind another Southwest tradition, the open-boarding systemithas usedfor more than 50 years. Southwest expects to begin operating flights with passengersinassigned

The airline estimated in September that chargingbag fees would bring in about $1.5 billion ayear but cost the airline $1.8 billion in lost business from customers who chose to fly Southwest because of itsgenerousbaggage allowance. Another policy that will take effect on Wednesday is Southwest requiring passengers to keep theirportable chargersinplain sight while using thembecause of concerns about thegrowing number of lithium-ion battery fires.

Southwest has struggled recently and is under pressure from activist investors to boost profits and revenue. The airline reached atruce in October with hedge fund Elliott Investment Management to avoid aproxy fight, but Elliott won several seats on the company’sboard.

The airline announced in February that it was eliminating 1,750 jobs, or 15% of its corporate workforce, in the first major layoffs in thecompany’s53-year history

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK Wall Street’srollercoaster ridecreatedbyPresident DonaldTrump’s trade policies whipped back upward on Tuesday, this time because of adelay for his tariffs on the European Union.

The S&P 500 leaped2%inits first trading since Trump saidSunday that the United States will delaya 50%tariffongoods coming from theEuropean Union until July 9 from June 1. The European Union’s chief tradenegotiator later said on Mondaythat he had“goodcalls” withTrump officials and theEU was “fully committed” to reaching atrade deal by July 9.

The Dow Jones Industrial Averagejumped 740points,or1.8%, andthe Nasdaq composite rallied 2.5%. Theymore thanrecovered

their losses from Friday, when Wall Street’srollercoaster droppedafterTrump announced the tariffs on France, Germany and the other 25 countries represented by theEuropean Union.

Such talks give hope thatthe United States can reach adeal with one of its largest tradingpartners that wouldkeepglobalcommercemovingand avoida possible recession Trumpdeclaredasimilar pauseon his stiff tariffs for products coming from China earlier this month, which launched an even bigger rally on Wall Street at the time. “Wefocus on actions over words,” Jean Boivin and other strategists at BlackRock Investment Institute said, “as economic constraintsspur policy rollbacks.” Caution still remains on Wall Street, of course,even if the S&P 500 hasclimbedback within 3.6% of

its record after fallingroughly20% below the marklast month.

Aworry is that allthe uncertainty caused by on-again-off-again tariffs coulddamagethe economy by pushing U.S. households and businesses to freeze theirspending andinvestments. Surveys have already shown U.S. consumers are feeling worse aboutthe economy’sprospects and where inflation may be heading because of tariffs

On Tuesday,though, optimism ruled. Thestock market’sgains accelerated after areport released by the Conference Board said confidence amongU.S.consumersimproved by more in Maythaneconomists expected

It was the first increase in six months, and consumers’ expectationsfor income, business and the jobmarketinthe short term jumped sharply,though it still remains be-

low the level that typically signals arecession ahead. About half the surveyresults came after Trump paused someofhis tariffs on China. The rise in confidence waswidespread, covering differentage and income groups, according to the Conference Board.

On Wall Street, Nvidia rallied 3.2% andwas the strongest single force driving the S&P 500 higher ahead of itsprofit report coming on Wednesday.It’sthe last to report this quarter among the“MagnificentSeven” BigTech companies that have grown so large that their stock movements dominate therest of themarket.

Nvidia has been riding atidal wave of growth created by the frenzy around artificial-intelligence technology,but it is also facing criticism that itsstock price hasshot too high.

Witness says Combs kidnapped her in ’11

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

NEW YORK A former top aide to Sean “Diddy” Combs testified Tuesday that the hip-hop mogul threatened to kill her during her first day on the job and waved a gun as he kidnapped her years later in an angry rush to find and kill rapper Kid Cudi

Capricorn Clark’s account of Combs’ volatility and violence launched the third week of testimony at his Manhattan federal sex trafficking trial.

Prosecutors called Clark, the former global brand director for Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment, to support a charge that he led a twodecade racketeering conspiracy that relied on beefy bodyguards, death threats and the silence of frightened staff to ensure he got what he wanted.

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to an indictment alleging he abused his longtime girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, and others. If con-

victed, he could face 15 years to life in prison.

Clark’s tearful testimony came days after Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, testified that Clark called him from a car outside his home in December 2011 and told him Combs had forced her to accompany him to Cudi’s house.

Combs was angry Cudi was dating Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, Clark said Clark, referring to Combs as “Puff,” said he came to her home holding a gun and demanded she get dressed because “we’re going to kill Cudi.”

Her voice shaky, Clark recounted how they rode in a black Cadillac Escalade to Cudi’s Los Angeles home, where Combs and his bodyguard entered the residence while Clark sat in the SUV and called Cassie.

Clark testified she told Cassie that Combs “got me with a gun and brought me to Cudi’s house to kill him.”

Clark said she heard Cudi in the background asking,

“He’s in my house?” She said she told Cassie, “Stop him, he’s going to get himself killed.” Cassie told her she couldn’t stop Cudi, she recalled.

Combs returned to the Escalade and asked Clark who she was talking to, she said, then grabbed the phone and called Cassie back.

They next heard Cudi driving up the road, Clark said. Combs and his bodyguard got back in the SUV and chased after Cudi, finally giving up when they passed police cars that were heading to Cudi’s house.

After the break-in, Clark said, Combs told her she had to convince Cudi “it wasn’t me.”

“If you don’t convince him of that I’ll kill all you,” he said, punctuating his threat with an expletive, Clark said.

Clark said she and Cassie then went to Cudi’s home, telling jurors: “We needed to talk to him. We needed to make sure he wasn’t going to make a police report about Puff.”

PRESS PHOTO By JON SUPER

ASSOCIATED

Scooters lie Tuesday at the site where a 53-year-old British man plowed a minivan into a crowd of Liverpool soccer fans Monday

Driver arrested in attack at Liverpool soccer parade

BY KWIYEON HA and BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press

LIVERPOOL, England — A

53-year-old British man who injured 65 people when his car rammed into a crowd of Liverpool soccer fans celebrating their team’s Premier League championship was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said Tuesday

The driver was also being held on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving on drugs, Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said. The incident late Monday afternoon turned a jubilant

parade into a tragedy that sent 50 people to hospitals for treatment of their injuries. Eleven remained hospitalized Tuesday in stable condition

The wounded included four children, one of whom had been trapped beneath the vehicle with three adults.

Police had closed off much of the area to traffic, but the driver is believed to have maneuvered around a road block by following an ambulance that was rushing to treat a person suspected of having a heart attack, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said.

Merseyside Police said they were not treating the

incident as terrorism and were not looking for other suspects The force has not identified the arrested driver Police in Britain usually do not name suspects until they are charged.

Detectives were still working to piece together why the minivan plowed into crowds packing a narrow street just after the players of Liverpool Football Club had celebrated its championship with an open-topped bus parade.

The incident cast a shadow over a city that has suffered twin tragedies linked to the soccer team and led to widespread expressions of shock, sadness and support.

Escape of ex-chief known as ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ has residents on edge

BY JEFF MARTIN Associated Press

As law officers search Arkansas’ rugged Ozark Mountains for a former police chief and convicted killer who escaped prison this weekend, the sister of one of his victims is on edge.

Grant Hardin, the former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape and became known as the “Devil in the Ozarks.”

Hardin escaped Sunday from the North Central Unit — a medium-security prison also known as the Calico Rock prison — by disguising himself and wearing a “makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement,” state prison officials said in a statement.

“That was not a standard inmate uniform, not a standard correctional uniform,” said Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections. “There’s nothing inside the prison that looks like that, so that’s one of the challenges we’re going through to find out what that was and how he was able to get that or manufacture it.”

Champion said that the decision to house Hardin in a medium-security facility weighed the “needs of the different facilities and inmates” and “assessments” of his crimes.

Hardin’s escape happened days after 10 men fled a New Orleans jail by going through a hole behind a toilet. Eight of those fugitives have since been captured.

Cheryl Tillman, whose brother James Appleton was

killed by Hardin in 2017, said she and other relatives are alarmed by Hardin’s escape since they were witnesses in his court proceedings.

“We were there at his trial when all that went down, and he seen us there, he knows,” she told The Associated Press on Tuesday Authorities are using canines, drones and helicopters to search the rugged northern Arkansas terrain, Champion said

“Everything we’ve got, we’re using,” he said The search area has expanded as the hours have gone on, though Champion didn’t discuss exact details of the search area.

“Where this facility is located, the topography does provide challenges,” he said. “At the same time, it kind of limits where he is able to get.”

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Issues found with jail water system

Sheriff’s Office notes ‘urgent infrastructure vulnerabilities’

shut the water off because inmates had intentionally clogged the toilet with jail garments.

BY JOSEPH CRANNEY Staff writer

Ten days after inmates escaped the New Orleans jail through a hole behind a disconnected toilet, officials acknowledged more water leaks and shut-offs that persisted at the lockup over Memorial Day weekend, leading to reports of inmates languishing without showers or sleeping next to toilets piled with urine and feces.

N.O.

‘Houdini’ is among last on the run

BY JOHN SIMERMAN, MISSY WILKINSON and KASEY BUBNASH Staff writers

The tattoos of chess pieces etched onto Antoine Massey’s cheeks and forehead should make him stand out in a crowd But nearly two weeks after he and nine other inmates at the New Orleans jail squeezed through a hole in the wall and fled on May 16, only 32-yearold Massey and 27-year-old Derrick Groves are still on the run.

While Groves, with multiple murder and manslaughter convictions under his belt, is among the most high-profile escapees it’s Massey’s long criminal history and several breaks from police custody that have earned him a reputation as an escape artist and strategist Matt Dennis, who runs a prominent ankle monitoring outfit in New Orleans, strapped Massey with a monitor that he promptly severed a few years ago.

“Antoine Massey is a Houdini,” Dennis said. “He literally put the ankle monitor on, went straight to a location and cut it off.”

He was captured again hours later, said Dennis, of the Assured Supervision Accountability Program This month’s jailbreak marked a fifth for Massey, if you include his twice cutting off ankle monitors, Dennis said.

Massey first escaped juvenile detention. Then, in 2019, he broke out of the Morehouse Parish Detention Center in Collinston, about 20 miles outside Monroe, with another inmate They ran through a hole in the fence and escaped in a rental car that pulled up nearby, a Morehouse Parish sheriff’s official said.

Massey was put on an ankle monitor that he violated before he reached Dennis’ outfit, he said Dennis said he has reason to suspect Massey was a ringleader in the mass escape, along with a recent scam he said he’s identified in the jail involving CashApp payments. Dennis has said he believes Massey likely left the jail the morning of the escape with money for food and a hotel — and a plan for his time on the lam.

“I believe (Massey) is the ringleader, and Groves was enlisted because he’s criminally violent,” Dennis said. “(Groves) is going to be the one who scares everybody Everybody in the world is going to be looking for Mr Groves.”

A jail worker accused of helping the inmates escape, 33-yearold Sterling Williams, told

The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office in a statement late Monday said the “serious plumbing issues” only resulted in a few temporary shut-offs, denying any extended outages. Repairs to leaks “have been scheduled,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

A spokesperson declined to say Tuesday how many inmates had gone without showers or couldn’t flush toilets.

The Sheriff’s Office also said the problems revealed “urgent in-

A video posted to social media Monday appeared to show a phone call with someone locked up over the weekend, telling a family member, “It’s unlivable.” WWL-TV reported Monday that the issues had also led to a number of fights inside the jail, though officials haven’t confirmed that.

frastructure vulnerabilities,” but didn’t say what those were, or if they related to the building’s security Before 10 inmates escaped May 16, a jail maintenance worker had shut off the pod’s water, allowing the men to move a toilet fixture without it flooding. Police have since arrested that worker, Sterling Williams, as an accomplice, while his lawyer insists he only

A Sheriff’s Office spokesperson declined to answer a question Tuesday about the latest causes of what the agency described as “significant” leaks in the water system.

“This matter further highlights Sheriff Hutson(’s) continued advocacy for additional funding to implement systemic improvements and modernize the Orleans Justice

MAKING A SPLASH

Dedicated in 2006 to the memory of Felice McMiler, a community activist, musician and crossing guard, the splash park was recently renovated, opening in time for summer. The park will be open

2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays; and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 31

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

A New Orleans judge has ruled that the beneficiaries of the Wisner Trust Fund can no longer lay claim to its proceeds, overturning a centuryold agreement that has been the subject of a bitter battle between Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the City Council. Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Kern

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

Massey

Ginnia Jackson, 4, is fitted with goggles by her father, Cory Porter

Parts of ambulance lawsuit may be dismissed

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

A federal magistrate judge is recommending the dismissal of some parts of a federal classaction lawsuit against Acadian Ambulance for a cybersecurity breach.

Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst, U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana in Lafayette, made the recommendations May 19 on Acadian Ambulance’s motion to dismiss a consolidated amended class action lawsuit over a 2024 data breach of customers’ and employees’ personal information.

A cybercriminal organization, Daixin Team, allegedly stole as many as 2.9 million Acadian customers’ and employees’ personal information, including Social Security numbers, birth dates and medical records, and sought a ransom. When Acadian refused to pay, Daixin Team claimed it published the information on the dark web where it could be used by identity thieves.

The plaintiffs allege Acadian was negligent, breached an implied contract, breached its fiduciary duty and violated the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and consumer protection laws. They also sued for declaratory judgment and equitable relief and asserted jurisdiction under the

Another arrest made in Tangipahoa jail escape

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

A 37-year-old man has been arrested in connection with Thursday’s escape from the Tangipahoa jail, the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday

The Sheriff’s Office said it arrested Dameon Booth, 37, for principal to simple escape and aggravated escape, after he was found late Friday with Tra’Von Johnson, 22, who had escaped the jail on Thursday Booth also had outstanding warrants for burglary and theft cases, the sheriff’s office said.

On Thursday, Johnson left through a back door of the jail that staff had left open and climbed over the jail’s fence with the help from another man incarcerated there, Trevon Wallace, 28. Wallace, who went back inside the jail, was charged with principal to simple escape and has also been charged with criminal damage to property due to destructive behavior in his new cell, the sheriff’s office said. He has since been transferred to Livingston Parish jail. Johnson and Booth were found together in Amite on Friday evening. Johnson has since been transported to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where he will await his trial for his alleged role in a 2022 home invasion in the Hammond area that killed a man and injured the man’s child.

This was the second time Johnson escaped the jail in Amite. The first time was in May 2024, when he was one of four people who escaped He was found within 24 hours in that instance.

Sheriff Gerald Sticker has placed four jail workers on administrative leave in connection with the escape. Johnson’s absence went unnoticed for six hours, until an anonymous caller called the jail to question whether he was still in custody.

The anonymous caller was not involved with the escape the Sheriff’s Office said in Tuesday’s news release.

HANO

Continued from page 1B

The move comes after Willman, who took over as director of the housing agency in late January raised alarm bells about conditions at the agency’s Gentilly office at a board meeting in April. That office, which has housed the agency for more than three decades has dealt with consistent leaks during storms and air conditioning outages, Willman said. Her staff showed photos of what they said was asbestos, algae and rust on outer walls and pipes.

unjust enrichment be dismissed.

Class Action Fairness Act. Acadian filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit for lack of CAFA subject matter jurisdiction, lack of standing and for otherwise failing to state claims.

In Acadian Ambulance’s favor

Acadian won on some of its arguments. Whitehurst wrote that the theoretical value of one’s personal information, as determined in other cases, doesn’t have an inherent monetary value or create an economic loss The individual, she wrote, is instead compensated in ways like damages for invasion of privacy “Thus, absent any factual allegations showing how plaintiffs might quantify the diminution in value of personal information,” the court finds in favor of Acadian.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeal rejected the loss of time as a concrete injury, she wrote, and would probably consider plaintiffs’ allegations that they spent additional time after the breach dealing with increased spam email and text messages, another victory for Acadian Ambulance.

Whitehurst also ruled against the plaintiffs, writing that they lack standing to seek injunctive relief based on just the prospect of future cyberattacks rather than a concrete injury that is imminent and substantial She also recommended the plaintiffs’ claims for

JAIL

Continued from page 1B

Center to support those who live and work within them,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement “Our residents deserve dignity and safety; our staff deserves a reliable workplace.”

The Sheriff’s Office said the problems started late Saturday when crews shut the water off to an unidentified portion of the jail because of a “significant leak” in a wall. It’s unclear exactly when the shut-off occurred, though the Sheriff’s Office said it was restored by midday Sunday More leaks “within the walls” came Monday, requiring another

COUNCIL

Continued from page 1B

private management board full control over the city’s portion.

The council argued the money legally belongs to the city and that disbursement of public funds should be more transparent. The board and Wisner heirs raised the question of land ownership, claiming they hold a stake in the land under a 1929 settlement and are entitled to the money because of it.

Wisner trust attorneys did not immediately return requests for comment on the ruling.

All seven council members praised Reese’s ruling Tuesday, calling it a victory for the city and the intent of the original 1914 trust

“When Edward Wisner originally created this trust in 1914, his wish was to support the livelihood of New Orleans for generations to come,” City Council President JP Morrell said in a statement. “With today’s judgment, this wish can finally be honored despite the efforts of greedy heirs to circumvent Mr. Wisner’s laudable aim.”

At issue is millions in revenue generated by 38,000 acres of oil-rich land in Jefferson, St. John the Baptist and Lafourche Parishes that has historically been split among the city, Tulane University, the Salvation Army, Wisner descendants and Charity Hospital — now owned by LSU.

Collectively, they receive 40% of the trust proceeds

The board initially rejected Willman’s proposal to enter lease negotiations for the new space, with some board members raising concerns that the downtown high-rise building would be less accessible for HANO’s clients and arguing that the agency should explore other options. But at a special meeting last Thursday, the board unanimously approved the move, and intends to ratify the lease agreement at an upcoming meeting, HANO said in a statement. The agency will also open satellite offices around the city “for the convenience of our residents,” officials said in a statement Tuesday. Agency

The plaintiffs allege Acadian breached its fiduciary duty The court, Whitehurst wrote, doesn’t need to decide this issue because the plaintiffs’ allegations don’t support whether Acadian’s alleged conduct was “intentional or grossly negligent.”

“The allegations do not show that Acadian intentionally, willfully or recklessly” allowed the cyberattackers into its computer system, she wrote.

Whitehurst also recommended the plaintiffs’ claims for breach of confidence and Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act be dismissed.

Against Acadian Ambulance

Whitehurst reviewed various prior court decisions and types of injuries plaintiffs have alleged when considering Acadian Ambulance’s motion to dismiss the case for lack of standing. Some of the plaintiffs, she wrote, allege they suffered present injuries.

For example, one plaintiff alleged unauthorized individuals used her stolen information to obtain health insurance and file tax documents, Whitehurst wrote. Another alleged his bank account was shut down for more than two months while he was traveling because of the data breach and another alleged someone charged $500 on his debit card.

temporary shut off, the Sheriff’s Office said. Nearby construction by the Sewerage & Water Board caused an unrelated drop in water pressure, too.

“We are committed to minimizing the impact on residents and ensuring timely restoration,” the Sheriff’s Office said, though they didn’t say when restoration would occur Inmates inside the jail have provided more dire accounts.

One inmate’s family member, who spoke to WWL-TV said the conditions were “inhumane,” and that inmates hadn’t been given drinking water

In the video posted to social media that captured an inmate’s account, an unidentified inmate said, “We can’t drink the water

Whitehurst agreed that publication of an individual’s personal information on the dark web constitutes a present injury, even if the only injuries are fear and emotional distress.

The federal magistrate judge also found that CAFA jurisdiction is appropriate in the case because more than 7,000 people were affected by the data breach, which meets a jurisdictional threshold.

The Acadian employees and clients, she wrote, have shown their damages are traceable to Acadian’s alleged inadequate cybersecurity.

“The cyberattack would not have happened but for Acadian’s alleged security failures,” Whitehurst wrote. “Whether any plaintiffs suffered identity theft or fraud from some other data breach is an issue for trial on the merits after discovery.”

The plaintiffs, she wrote, adequately alleged a concrete injury The allegations and specific allegations of injuries, along with the timing of the filing of the complaint one month after the cyber breach, are sufficient at this early stage to show causation, she wrote.

Federal Judge David Joseph is assigned to the case.

Email Claire Taylor at ctaylor@ theadvocate.com.

We can’t take showers We can’t brush our teeth.”

They said they had slept for three nights beside dry toilets full of excrement.

“They’re trying to make us lock down in our cells with p*** and s***,” the inmate can be heard saying. “They’re treating us like animals in here.”

The Sheriff’s Office said in its statement Monday that inmates during the water shut-offs were given “a continuous supply of drinking water ice, and hygiene support.” The agency declined to elaborate Tuesday

The jail has an on-site warehouse stocked with supplies in case of hurricanes or other emergencies, including palettes of bottled water

The New Orleans City

May 20.

throughout the country, compared to roughly one-third funneled to the city

The terms of that arrangement were set to end in 2014, and despite an appellate court’s ruling backing the expiration date, it continued under former Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Cantrell’s decision to extend those terms several years later spurred the council’s suit, which included a restraining order to prevent the beneficiaries from further draining the trust.

The Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal initially dismissed the suit, challenging the council’s authority to sue and be sued.

The Louisiana Supreme Court reversed the appellate court’s ruling last year, solidifying the council’s right to sue the mayor

leaders did not say when the satellite offices will open, how much it will cost to establish and operate them, or how many of HANO’s staff will work there. “I want the staff to feel good about coming to work and focus all their attention on the agency’s mission and the assignment placed before them,” said Willman in a statement.

The move comes as Cantrell’s administration has dealt with facilities issues at public buildings throughout the city, including government offices, police stations and libraries. Last month, city officials announced a plan to move Department of Public Works employees out of crumbling trailers on North

Continued from page 1B

investigators in initial interviews that it was Massey who threatened to “shank” him if he refused to cut water to the cell.

Surveillance footage shows Williams standing in the open door of the pod where the inmates escaped, talking to Groves, Massey and another unidentified inmate, according to court documents. Williams told investigators that Groves tried to take his phone and to persuade him to bring CashApp information to his cousin in the next pod over, according to the documents.

Though an attorney for Williams has since argued that inmates clogged a toilet in the cell, forcing Williams to shut off the water, investigators said in court documents that his actions are ultimately what allowed inmates to pull a toilet off the wall and crawl through a hole behind it to freedom.

A history of domestic violence

Massey’s long criminal history dates back to 2009 and includes violent felony convictions of armed robbery, aggravated flight from an officer and felon in possession of a firearm. He was also sentenced on charges of theft, simple criminal damage to property and twice on tampering with electronic monitoring equipment.

Massey awaits trial in New Orleans for domestic abuse and theft of motor vehicle, and he’s wanted for a rape and kidnapping in St. Tammany Parish, officials said.

Massey’s latest arrest came after what police described as a harrowing fight in November with a girlfriend that left her with a bruised and bloodied face, raspy voice, eyes swollen shut and trouble swallowing.

The same woman has since been arrested and accused of helping Massey after the jailbreak. She was booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center Saturday on counts of principal to aggravated escape and obstruction of justice, according to jail records.

The Times-Picayune does not identify alleged victims of domestic violence.

In 2024, the woman told officers the couple started arguing at her house in Slidell when Massey went through her purse and found paperwork from a protection order violation report she’d previously filed against him, according to court documents.

When Massey confronted her he beat, strangled and forced her into her car, driving her against her will down dark roads in New Orleans East and other areas, telling her “I’m about to kill you,” according to court documents. When they spotted a police car near the McDonald’s on Elysian Fields, the woman told investigators she jumped out the car and tried to flag the officer down, but Massey caught her and dragged her back to the car, where he strangled her until she lost consciousness.

Later that same morning, Massey brought the woman to his sister’s house, where, after becoming enraged that she was being too loud, he ripped the braids from her head, leaving blood all over the walls, according to court documents.

as an independent body as reflected in the city’s Home Rule Charter The council later filed a petition demanding nearly 70 defendants pay back an estimated $40 million.

Reese’s ruling does not address repayment of the funds, but it marked the 2020 agreement as null and void.

In response to the ruling, the city issued the following statement Tuesday:

“The city of New Orleans will continue to work with the Wisner Trust using best practices and demonstrating that when we make community investments in our people, that investment serves as a force multiplier to support the citizens of New Orleans.”

Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@ theadvocate.com.

Broad Street. Willman said in April that the cost of the new office would come out to around $100,000 less per year than what the agency currently spends to maintain its Touro Street office, which it owns. The leased space is intended as a temporary measure while the agency seeks federal approval and funding to build a new permanent office next to the agency’s Marrero Commons apartments, on the site of the former B.W Cooper complex, Willman said.

Email Sophie Kasakove at sophie.kasakove@theadvocate. com.

She eventually escaped hours later and flagged down a passing car. Her own car was recovered abandoned in the 7000 block of Martin Road.

Days later, Massey was found in Texas with a Mercedes that was stolen from a party in New Orleans East, court documents say Still on the run

The wake of the historic jailbreak, which has spurred a handful of arrests and a multiagency manhunt, eight of the escapees have been captured and rebooked.

On Monday, Lenton Vanburen Jr. was arrested in Baton Rouge and Leo Tate Sr and Jermaine Donald were apprehended by Texas law enforcement in Walker County north of Houston.

Corey Boyd, Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis and Gary Price were caught before that. They are being held without bail at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

More than a dozen people have been arrested on suspicion of aiding the inmates during or after their escape.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Council meets at City Hall in New Orleans on

CajunTikTokstardraws crowdoutside Rouses

‘Stalekracker’ givesjambalaya demonstration

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

It was ahot day in Acadiana, and Justin Chiasson was at work —greeting aline of people with a wide smile and beads of sweat lining his forehead.

He’sused to performing in the Louisiana elements, amongplenty of heat, humidity and the

as Chiasson cooks up something delicious for his social media following of over10million fans.

Chiasson is known as Stalekracker on TikTok and other platforms, where he produces cooking videos for the typeoffood you’d find downatthe camp —deer sauce piquante, pastalaya, three meat chili, seafoodgumbo and other Cajun outdoor kitchen specialties.

He was at Rouses Market in Youngsville recently fora meet andeat,taking picturesand signing jars of his Cajun TwoStep seasoning before serving up apot of chicken and pork jambalaya.

“It’slooking moist, y’all. Whoall likes that word?” he asked, grabbing apaddle to make sure the rice wasn’tsticking to the bottom.Chiasson’sjambalaya tastedlike his brand —authentic, well cooked and seasoned, withjust enough

spice to linger on thetaste buds.

Anditwas moist, but not sticky, with rice cooked allthe way through —just like jambalaya for acrowd should be.

Chiasson’s content is full of jokes,asides on Cajun cooking and culture, brand sponsorships and plentyofdrinking whilechopping vegetablesand preparing game and it’srefreshingly long-form in an era when most food videos are two minutes or under.Herecently took viewers through his process forfryinga wild turkey,and at 18 minutes long it’sfull of Stalekracker’s brandofBoudreauxand-Thibodeauxstylehumor,with enoughinstruction to replicate the meal at home.

It’s an introduction to Cajun cooking and lifestyle in the

style of TV chef andhumorist

Justin Wilson, who introduced anational audiencetosouth Louisiana cooking on his public broadcast showsover 40 years ago.

“I want to be entertaining,”he said at Friday’smeet and eat. “But mostofall, Iwant to help get your kids back into thekitchen.They think that food comes fromMcDonald’s.”

In Stalekracker’sworld, food should be fresh,lovingly(but nottoo seriously) prepared, and served on acracker.That’swhere his social media monikercomes from —Chiasson’shabit of putting everything, from chili to cracklings, on acracker

Then youthrow it back, yell “that’s money,dude,”and dig in.

Companysaysitwill permanentlyshut82-year-old well

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer

An 82-year-old oil well that broke loose last month and spewed oily water into thefragilecoastal marsh of Plaquemines Parish will be permanently shut and sealed off, the owner-operator said Passed from successive owners foryears,the Garden Island Bay oil well first drilled in late 1942was cappeda decade agoand held in reserve in hopes of future production, stateoil and gas records show Meanwhile, U.S. Coast Guard officials saidthey decided against apreviously plannedcontrolledburnfor cleanup of the roughly weeklong release. Theagency also has more than doubled the amount of money it has pulled from afederal cleanup fund, up from $10 million to $24 million. Originally described by the owner-operator as a “blowout,”anoily water mix began sprayinginto the air from Spectrum OpCo LLC’s well on April 26 and wasn’t stopped until May4after crews were able to dig their waythrough the shallow coastal waters to the well. The cause of theuncontrolled release remains under investigation, the well’s owners said. Located inside thePass-

a-Loutre State Wildlife ManagementAreanear themouth of the Mississippi River,the releasehas highlighted Louisiana’scontinuing struggle withaging oil and gasinfrastructure whose owners are nolonger around or without fundsto manage their responsibilities.

While filling state revenue coffers andspurring economic activity,generations of oiland gas drillinghas also left thousands of orphan wells in need of closure on the taxpayer’sdime.

Idle wells

In addition, otherwells, like Spectrum’s Well 59, areinanidled status from which state regulators say it can be hardtoforceoperators to decideeither to bring back into productionorto close permanently without inadvertently creating even more orphan wells left for thestate to handle.

Well 59 is one of240 wells in this middle-groundstatus thatthe parent of operator Spectrum OpCo bought last year in abankruptcy sale andtook off the hands of formeroperator-owner Whitney Oil and Gas.

That means more than 82% of thetotal 292 wells purchasedfor $3.9 million in the bankruptcyproceedingare in the same statusas Well 59 —“shut in productive-future utility,” state oil andgas recordsshow

ButSpectrum OpCoofficials said in astatement thatWell 59 would besoon permanently closed through what’sknownas plugging

andabandonment. Among other steps, this process usually involves filling a portion of the well bore with concrete.

“Whileremaininginclose collaboration with responders, Spectrum OpCo is focusing itsefforts on preparing for and executing the Well 59 plugging andabandonment program. Specificsof thatoperation will be shared at alater date,” company officials said in astatement.

The CoastGuardtook commandofthe response on May 1, allowing it to tap dollars from theOil Spill Liability Trust Fund. The fund is financed primarily with a 9-cents-per-barrel tax on domesticand importedcrude oil.

Though in astate wildlife management area, Well 59 is located in an area along the coastwith sizable pockets of past oil-and-gas drilling, state well mapping records show

Coast Guard andstate oil spillofficials had planned acontrolled burn on May 14 to continue removing oiled vegetation but decidedagainst that plandue to high winds and concerns for workers andthe environment.

‘Would be safer’

“While in-situburning remainsa valuable toolinoil response underthe right circumstances,inthis case, it was determinedthatalternative strategies would be safer,” CoastGuard officials said in astatement.

Coast Guard officials added that agencies involved

in the response “quickly pivotedtocutting and removal of oiled vegetation to ensure that transferable oil was no longer athreat to wildlife and theenvironment.”

Coast Guard officials said workers were using other methods also, including onthe-water oil recovery. Through Friday,crews recovered 171,738 gallons of oily water mixture.Coast Guard officialshavenot been abletosay how large the oil spill is and suggested

theymay notbeable to

“At this time, theexact volume of oilreleased is still under investigation and based on the incident specificsitwill be challenging to ascertainthe precise amount,” Coast Guard officialssaid.

Coast Guard and Spectrum OpCo officials have reported relatively minor discernibleimpacts on wildlife,ascrews observed throughmid-May four oiled birds andone alligator.

Spectrum OpCooffi-

cials said three of thefour oiled birds were able to be collected and one has been rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

“While we are pleased with thesafeand effective response showcased since Spectrum personnel identified the discharge on April 26th, we sincerely regret the incident and its potential impact on our surrounding communities,” Spectrum officials said.

Justin Chiasson stirs apot of jambalaya

STAFF PHOTOSByLESLIEWESTBROOK

Justin Chiasson, aTikTok chef whogoes by the name Stalekracker,stirs a pot ofjambalaya on Friday at Rouses Supermarket in youngsville.

Bourgeois, Carlen

Brumfield, Leon GautierJr.,Austin

Gibson, Joan

Gill, Kathleen

Bankston, John Godfrey, Margaret KleinschmidtJr., Eugene

Larkin,Bill

Lugo, Pauline

Moreau,John

Newton, Michael

Perret, Leon

Bourgeois, Carlen

Brumfield, Leon

GautierJr.,Austin

KleinschmidtJr., Eugene

Godfrey, Margaret

Larkin,Bill

Perret, Leon

Bankston, John

Gill, Kathleen

Moreau,John

Gibson, Joan

Bankston,JohnCedric

John Cedric Bankston, 70, born andraisedinNew Orleans,LApassedaway onMay 17,2025inMandev‐ille, LA.Heisprecededin death by hisparents,Edgar EmmettBankstonand Au‐dreyVigierBankston, brothers, EdgarBankston, Michael Bankston andsis‐ter,MaxineBaker.Healso leavesbehindhis loving wifeofalmost32years Helen Higa Townsend Bankston, andchildren, Johnnie Gros (Mark), Melissa Godwin (Gregory), Joshua Bankston (Madeleine),Alex Bankston, andstepson, Michael Guinta.Heisalso survivedbyhis sixbeauti‐ful grandchildren, Enrique Figueroa, Katelynn Bankston(Randi),Michael Mulle’, Jose’, Evan,and Ethan Godwin alongwith nieces, nephews, and manyother relatives. John spent most of hislifeinthe New Orleansareawhere heeventuallytook over his dad’s electrical contract‐ing business. He wasnot justa master electricianto his customersbut also be‐cameclose friendswith manyofthem. Hiskind, caringnatureofwhathe loved to do showed in every jobhedid.Hewas one of thebestinthe busi‐nessand remained so for about 50 years. He spent the last 18 yearslivingin Mandeville, LA.Although Johnworkedsohard, he alsoalwaysmadetimeto spend with hiswife. They weresomuchinloveand alwaystried to do every‐thing together.Healso adoredhis children and grandchildren,always makingtimetomakespe‐cialeverlasting memories withthemall.Heloved to fish,travel, learnabout cars, andhad quitethe gun collection. Therecannotbe enoughemphasisonhow muchthisman will be missed. He wasthe most kindhearted,lovingman thatsomanywerelucky enoughtohaveintheir lives.The Bankston family expressestheir deepest

gratitudetothe outstand‐ing care provided by Tradi‐tions Health Hospice. Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend thefuneral service at E.J. Fielding Fu‐neral Home,2260 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433 at 2:00 p.m. on May 31, 2025 with visitation be‐ginning at 12:00p.m.until service time.Interment will takeplace followingthe service at PinecrestMemo‐rialGardens,2280 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433. E.J. FuneralHome has been entrustedwith the funeralarrangements. Pleasesignthe guestbook atwww.ejfieldingfh.com

Bourgeois, Carlen McCloskey

Carlen McCloskeyBour‐geois,67, of Metairie, Louisiana,passedawayon May 22,2025, aftera coura‐geous andinspiring battle withcancer. Carlen Mc‐Closkey Bourgeoiswas bornonMay 13,1958, to Charles andDorothy Mc‐Closkey in NewOrleans Louisiana.After graduating fromDominican High School in 1976, shewenton tostudy voiceatLouisiana State University in Baton Rouge.Carlenfound her truecalling in theHuman Resources profession for the non-profit, private, and federal government sec‐tors, finallyserving 20 years with the Transporta‐tionSecurityAdministra‐tionfromits creation till her retirement in 2023. In 1984, Carlen metPhiland after a“WhenHarry Met Sally”relationship, they wed in 1994, going on to havetwo beautifuldaugh‐ters, Moiraand Erin.Carlen was predeceasedbyher mother, Dorothy; father, Charles;and younger brother,Charlie.Carlenis survivedbyher six younger siblings:Vaune Laure,Mary, John, Emily, and Michael. Carlen and Philwishtothank theteam atLSU GynecologicOncol‐ogy Department andthe staff of SoutheastHome Healthand Southern Grace Hospice forthe dedicated and loving care they pro‐vided to Carlen on this dif‐ficult journey. Carlen and Philwould also like to thank family andfriends for theirundying love and support.God blessyou all. Relatives andfriends are invited to attend theVisi‐tationatGardenofMemo‐riesFuneralHome& Ceme‐tery, 4900 AirlineDrive, Metairie, LA 70001 on Thursday,May 29,2025 from7:00pmuntil 10:00 pm and also on Friday,May 30 2025 starting at 10:00am followedbya FuneralMass at11:00 am.Burialwillim‐mediately follow.Inlieuof flowers, youmay donate to the LSUGynecologicOncol‐ogy Department at https:// give.lsuhealthfoundation. org/gynone.Onlinecondo‐lencesmay be offeredat www.gardenofmemorie smetairie.com.

Brumfield,LeonGeorge

Leon George Brumfield, lovinglyreferredtoas “Buck”“Buckwheat”or Pops”, passedawayearly Sundaymorning May18, 2025 at the ageof93. Buck was born on February 10, 1932 in NewOrleans.Hus‐bandofthe late JoyceRa‐gusaBrumfieldand sur‐vived by hischildren: Daniel(Maureen), Terri (Kai),Kelly andChristo‐pher. He is also survived by his 11 grandchildrenand 10 great-grandchildren.He was preceded in deathby his parents, 5siblings, and great grandchildren Zachary andJude. He re‐tired from Entergy(NOPSI) after 35 yearsofservice and also served in the NavyReserves. Hisgreat‐est passioninlifewas to besurrounded by family, friends andanythingTu‐lane. He loved fishing, hunting, shrimping, spend‐ing time at theCampwith friendsplaying cardsand

hismonthly Casino trips. The familywould like to extendtheir heartfelt thankstoGeorge, Robbie, Charlie,Candace andAlice fromCompassus who took exceptional care of Pops Serviceswillbeheldon Saturday, May31, 2025 at the Garden of Memories FuneralHomewithvisita‐tionfrom10am- 12 pm fol‐lowed by aMassofChrist‐ian Burial.Festive/Tulane attireencouragedincele‐bration of hislife. To order flowersoroffercondo‐lences, please visitwww gardenofmemoriesmetairi e.com.

GautierJr.,Austin Edward

Austin Edward Gautier Jr.,age 84, of Metairie Louisiana,passedawayon Friday, May23, 2025. He is precededindeath by his parents,the late Austin E. Gautier Sr.and LeonaAn‐dersonGautier,and hissis‐ter,SandraA.Gautier.He was marriedtohis beloved wifePatricia(Patsy) Court‐ney Gautierfor 63 years, who also preceded himin death.His children survive him:AustinJ.Gautier (Cassie) andKeriG.Mc‐Cutchan (Mark).Austin was theproud grandfather ofSandraC.Gautier (Jon), Braeden A. McCutchan (Emily),Adeline R. Gautier, and BryceC.McCutchan Hewas also theloving uncle to thelatePatrick C. Uli.Austinwas raised in New Orleansand resided inMetairiefor over fifty years.Heservedinthe UnitedStatesMarineCorps and wasstationed at Camp Lejeune,North Carolina and Twentynine Palms, California. He retiredfrom Coastal Cargoafter work‐ing many yearsinthe stevedoring industry in New Orleans. He wasde‐voted to hisfamily, andhis greatestjoy wasspending timewiththe love of his life, Patsy, andtheir two children, Austin andKeri. Austinadoredhis four grandchildren andwas endlesslyproud of each of them. He wasanavid sportsfan andloved LSU football, andbaseball, the New OrleansSaints, NASCAR, andgolf. He loved totraveland fondly re‐memberedtrips to Alaska and Hawaii.Hewas a parishioner of St.Ann Church in Metairie.Heleft anindelible impression on everyonehemet,and he willbedeeply missed. Visi‐tationwillbeheldatLeitzEagan FuneralHome, 4747 VeteransMemorialBlvd. Metairie, Louisiana, on Fri‐day,May 30, 2025, from 9:00 to11:00 a.m. AMassof Christian burial will follow at11:00 a.m. In lieu of flow‐ers,the familyasked that MassesbesaidinAustin's honor.Entombmentwill followatWestlawnMemo‐rialPark, 1225 WhitneyAv‐enue,Gretna, Louisiana.

Daughter of thelateMar‐guerite andEdwardO'Brien Sr. Sister of JoyceO'Brien Dunn, Patricia O'BrienDur‐rett, thelateBetty O'Brien Chandler, Edward O'Brien Jr.,the late Eileen O'Brien Hite, andKathleen O'Brien Jowers. Sister-in-lawof Carol O'Brienand Thomas Hite. Sheisalsosurvived bymanyniecesand nephews.Servicesfor Ms JoanwillbeheldatGrace FuneralHomeinCovington, Louisiana on Saturday May 31, beginningat10:00 a.m followed by aMemor‐ial Mass at 12:00 p.m. Bur‐ial will be held privatelyat a laterdate.

Gill,KathleenFlorence

Kathleen Florence Gill, age 79, of Covington, Louisiana,passedawayon May 15, 2025, at Ochsner FoundationHospitalin New Orleans. Shewas born onJuly9,1945, in NewOr‐leans,Louisiana.She is survivedbyher sister,Pa‐triciaGillofNatalbany, Louisiana;her best friend MaryAlice BlyofCoving‐ton,Louisiana;her nephews andfamilies,Ben Booth(Angie) of Haughton Louisiana,JerrodBooth (Lori)ofMinden, Louisiana, and Paul Booth(Jaime) of Madison,Mississippi;and manyother relativesand friends.She waspreceded indeath by herparents Ben andEldriaGillofNatal‐bany, Louisiana; herinfant son;and hersister, Bar‐baraGillBoothofHomer Louisiana.Kathy wasa graduateofSoutheastern HighSchool in Hammond, Louisiana andalsoat‐tendedSoutheasternUni‐versity.Duringand after her marriage,she livedin Natalbany,Louisiana, working forfamilybusi‐nesses. Shealsoworkedin accountingatLSU EyeCen‐ter in NewOrleans andat Southeast Hospital in Man‐deville Louisiana. Laterin life, shebecameanLPN and worked at East Jeffer‐son Hospital in Metairie, Louisiana.After Hurricane Katrina,she retiredfrom EastJefferson Hospital and moved to Covington, Louisiana.Kathy wasa kindand gentle person, and shewillbemissedby everyonewho knew her. In lieuof flowers, contribu‐tions in memory of Ms.Gill may be made to anychar‐ity of your choice.A pri‐vatememorialservice will beheldata laterdate. E. J. FieldingFuneralHomeof Covington,Louisiana,is honored to be entrusted withMs. Gill’s funeral arrangements. Herfamily invites youtoshare thoughts, memories,and condolences by signingan onlineguestbook at www ejfieldingfh.com

Margaret Anne Hines Godfrey passedaway in NewOrleans on May 22, 2025 at theage of 80. Margaret, thedaughterof Dr. MerrillOdomHinesand Margaret Davis Hines, was anativeNew Orleanian She is survivedbyher hus-

band, Jarrell E. Godfrey,Jr., herson William Herbert Hill, Jr.(Jeannette),her daughterMcLaurin Hill Files (Patrick), herson Jackson HinesHill(Jamie), herstep-son Jarrell E. Godfrey III,her stepdaughter Lauren G. Kalanson (Jack), herstepson John S. Godfrey (Soyna) and herbeloved grandchildrenand stepgrandchildren: Elizabeth, Margaret, Marie, Josephine, Annelise,and Edwin, and Brice,Olivia, Drew,Nell, andJohn Pleasant. Margaret is predeceased by herparents as well as herbrother MerrillOdom Hines, Jr.She wasa graduate of Vanderbilt University exploringher love of plants andnaturewith afocus on botany. Margaret found herlove of reading and learningatLouise S. McGehee School in New Orleanswhere she made lifelongfriends. Shewas devoted to herhusband, family, andfriends andan active memberofher communityincluding herlifelong involvementwiththe Episcopal Church,both in NewOrleans and Saint Joseph,Louisiana, where she served on the vestry for Christ Episcopal Church.Fondofentertaining, Margaret lovedsharinggoodfood withgood companyasa loyal wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Sheenjoyedboth quiettrips to visit with familyand more adventuroustravels with herhusband. Over theyears, Margaret doted on her many cats, dogs, andother pets, spendingtimebreedingand training her labradorretrievers. Her familyand friends will miss andremember her love of asharedlaugh,her fabulouscooking,the support she providedduring difficult times, andher strength of character. Afuneralservice will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church,1329 Jackson Ave, NewOrleans,onJune2 at 11:00 am. Avisitation will begin at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowersthe familyasks that donationsbemade to Trinity Episcopal Church in NewOrleans,Ochsner New Orleans, or Louise S. McGehee School in New Orleans

Kleinschmidt Jr., Eugene Francis

Eugene FrancisKlein‐schmidt,Jr.,71, of Slidell, Louisiana,passedawayon April 25, 2025, in Slidell. Eu‐genewas born in NewOr‐leans,Louisiana,toEugene Francis Kleinschmidt,Sr. and Gloria Flathers Klein‐schmidt on October31, 1953. Throughout hischild‐hood, he traveled across the countrywithhis family and livedinvarious cities, including NewOrleans,At‐lanta,Memphis,Los Ange‐les,Chicago,and Balti‐more. He graduatedfrom HinsdaleSouth High School in 1972. He attended DuPageCollege andWest‐ernIllinoisUniversity. Eu‐

gene movedtoMetairie, LA, in 1977 whenEugene, Sr. passedaway. He mar‐riedElaineDouglas,and theyshare twochildren, EugeneFrancis Klein‐schmidt III andAmanda KleinschmidtHufft.He later marriedRobyn Ny‐bergin2012. He graduated fromLoyolaUniversitywith a Bachelor of Business Ad‐ministrationin1987 and was PresidentofBaptist HospitalCreditUnion.He was aSubwayfranchise ownerfor over 31 years with4 locationsinNew Or‐leans andthe Northshore and retiredin2023. His passion wasplaying base‐ball, which he played throughouthis childhood and wasa part of many adult baseball clubs. He is precededindeath by his parents,EugeneFrancis Kleinschmidt, Sr andGlo‐ria Flathers Kleinschmidt Eugeneissurvivedbyhis wife, RobynNybergKlein‐schmidt;her twochildren and onegrandchild; his children, Eugene Francis KleinschmidtIII and AmandaKleinschmidt Hufft (Gantt);grandchil‐drenHayleeand (unborn) BensonKleinschmidt, Charlotte andTheodore Hufft;his siblings,David G. Kleinschmidt, Sr., Kenneth J.Kleinschmidt, andLinda Kleinschmidt; andnieces and nephews. Aprivate Celebration of Life will be heldonFriday, May30, from1 to 4pm.

BillB.Larkinpassed away at hishome in MetairieonMay 25, 2025, at theage of 94. He was born on September7,1930, in NewOrleans,Louisiana. He workedasa barberfor over twenty years and then switchedtoproperty management whichhe workedinfor 50 years. He wasa longtime parishioner of St.Edward the Confessor Church,where he served as an usherfor many years. He was aonetime member of the KnightsofColumbus. He wasa loving husband, father, and friend. He will be remembered for his generousspirit,willingness to help others,and hisradiantsmile. Billwas preceded in death by hisparents, Thomas J. andMercedes Ricaud Larkin, andbrother John Roger Larkin. He is survived by his wife of nearly 75 years, Anne Porter Larkin;sons, Mark B. Larkin (Kristin VeltropLarkin)and Bryan J. Larkin (CherylPercy Larkin). Relativesand friends are invited to attendfuneral servicesatLake Lawn MetairieFuneral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd in NewOrleans,onThursday, May29, 2025. Visitation will begin at 1PMwith aMass to follow at 2PM. Billwill be laidtorest in AllSaints Mausoleum immediately

Godfrey, Margaret AnneHines

Larkin, Bill B.

following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, please consider adonation to St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, 4921 W Metairie Ave Metairie, LA 70001. To view and sign the family guestbook,please visit lakelawnmetairie.com

Lugo, Pauline C.

Pauline Ann Lugo (née Cosgrove), age76, passed away peacefullyonMay 18,2025, in Birmingham, Alabama. Born on January 3, 1949,inNew Orleans, Louisiana, Pauline lived a life grounded in faith, family, and service. Sheislovingly remembered by her sons, Ramon Lugo III and Troy A. Lugo; their wives, Shonna Lugo and Whitney Lugo; and her grandchildren, Mason Lugo, Raleigh Lugo, Cason Lugo, and Lawson Lugo. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews and their children who were touched by her warmth.

AMemorial Service will be held on May 31, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Riverside Baptist Church, 9220 JeffersonHwy. Her legacy is one of unwavering faith, deep love for family, and aheart open to others. May her memory bring comfort to all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make adonation to Riverside Baptist Church 501(c)(3)to help families in need.

Moreau,JohnRaymond

John RaymondMoreau, age 86, of Mandeville Louisiana,passedawayon Friday,May 16, 2025. He

wasbornonAugust3, 1938, in NewOrleans Louisiana.Heissurvived byhis children,JohnRay‐mondMoreau, II, andhis wifeSharon, Steven Paul Moreauand hiswife Brenda, PamMoreauLind‐say,and CarlaMoreau; grandchildren,Brent Dou‐glass, Kimberly Moreau Ja‐cobs, Morgan Moreau Mc‐Cann, JefferyMoreau, Matthew Moreau,Tristan Moreau, andConnerLind‐say;and great-grandchil‐dren, FrankieAdams, Amber Douglass, Zachary Douglass, Jacob Adams, Clark Jacobs,Margot Ja‐cobs, Finley Moreau,Mira Moreau, Theo Moreau OliviaDouglass, andXan‐der Douglass; brother, David “Genie”Moreau; and manyextendedfamily members andfriends.He was preceded in deathby his loving wife of 58 years, Josie HelenBurguières Moreau; parents, Forest L. Moreau andJessieMay SparksMoreau; daughter AngelaMoreauDouglass; sons-in-law,James “Steve Douglassand CaseyLind‐say;and siblings,Pearl,Ed‐ward, Katy,Joy Ann, Eu‐gene, andBob.Johngrew upinthe Gonzales, Louisiana area.Hewas a proud veteran of the UnitedStatesAir Force and receiveda bronze star in 1971 before retiring in 1975 with20years of honorable service includingin the Vietnam War. He attended WilliamCarey University and theUniversityof SouthernMississippi,both inHattiesburg,Mississippi, graduatingwitha Master ofBusinessAdministration withanemphasisinac‐countingfromUSM in 1976 and earninghis designa‐tionasa certified public accountant.Hethen workedasanaccounting professor at McNeese State University in Lake Charles,Louisiana for25 years until hisretirement in2006. He is lovingly re‐memberedasbeing an avidLSU fan andalways being “fullofshenani‐gans”.Later in life,heen‐joyed gardeningand trav‐eling.Inlieuof flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Moreau maybemade tothe Wounded Warrior Project at support.wound‐edwarriorproject.org. An evening wake will be held onWednesday,May 28, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00p.m.atE.J Fielding FuneralHome, 2260 West 21st Avenue,Covington, Louisiana.Relatives and friends arealsoinvited to attendthe funeralmasson Thursday,May 29,2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St.Charles BorromeoCatholicChurch 13396 RiverRoad, Destre‐han,Louisiana,withvisita‐tionbeginning at 10:00a.m IntermentwillfollowinSt. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Cemetery.E.J Fielding FuneralHomeof

Covington, Louisiana, is honored to be entrusted withMr. Moreau’s funeral arrangements. Hisfamily invites youtoshare thoughts, memories,and condolences by signingan onlineguestbook at www ejfieldingfh.com

Newton,Michael Edward 'Mike'

BornMay 7, 1944, in Santa Monica,CA, Michael "Mike" Edward Newton had an extraordinary penchant for theesotericand an unrivaled abilityto share alaugh. Always the kind-hearted spirit, he was known to be agenerous friend, an honest confidant, and an occasional purveyor of badjokes.

Mike embarked on his academic journey at Saint Monica's High School,then pursueda BA degree in Economics at (LMU) Loyola University of LosAngeles, graduatingin1966. He pursued aPhD at Georgetown University in the 1970s. His thirst for continuingeducation, lead himtoa certificate at (CMU) Carnegie Mellon University and coursework at (UTC) the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the1980s. In retirement,heattended OLLI-UAClasses at the University of Arizona with his wife Professionally, Michael workedasanEconomic

Forecaster with aspeciality in Utilitiesfor governmental agencies, the Appalachian Regional Commission(ARC19661980) in Washington, DC, and theTennessee Valley Authority (TVA 1980-1994) in Chattanooga. He left for theprivate sector making economic predictions for Citizen's Utilities(19942000) in Kingman, AZ,and Louisiana Gas &Service in Harvey.Herounded out his career at AEPCO(20002012), in Benson, AZ Mike had apenchantfor venturing off thebeaten path to explore quirky attractions and obscure museums. His fascination with science, art,and history often manifested during road trips. Theseinterestsled himtoenjoy Music De Camera and Astral Project concertsacross NOLa. He and Suzanne to take coursesonthe histor of Louisiana. Mike and Suzanne were ardent fans of British dramasand mysteries,leading them to be members of WWNO, WYES and WLAE.

Though he departed this world on May 3, 2025, at his home in Tucson, hislegacy is one of kindness,curiosity, and awonderfulsense of humor that won't soon be forgotten. Mike leaves behind hisson, Peter; brother, James; sister, Marylin Berger; and numerous nieces and nephews who will miss both his wisdom and witticisms.

and successfulbusinessman, diedpeacefullyinhis

The Times-Picayune

home May19, 2025, shortly aftercelebratinghis 101st birthday. Aman of many talents and apurveyor of joy, Leon wasbornonMay 3, 1924, to parents Cecilia Usner Perret andJoseph Delery Perret.Belovedhusbandofthe lateJoyce Sconza Perret and brother of thelateJoseph Perret Jr, Emelda Randazzo,Robert Perret,Elaine Sconza, and PaulPerret. Survivedby siblings Vera Vujnovich andKenneth Perret Leon graduatedfromSt. Aloysius High School before enlisting in theArmy AirCorpduringWorld War II. Hismilitarytraining spanned aviation,navigation,munitions,ambulance driving, andworkingwith weather balloons. After the warended, Leon returned home to marrythe love of hislife, JoyceSconza,in 1946. Together,theyraised six childreninthe Gentilly Woodsneighborhood, wheretheyhad many lifelongfriends.The Perret childrenincludePamela Perret (Richard Puderer, deceased), Kathy Perret (John Dufrene), Leon Perret Jr (Sandy), Suzanne Motl (Richard), Lauren Poynot (Billy), and Jeannine Harris(Alan). Familywas thecornerstone of Leon and Joyce's lives.Their legacyincludes 13 grandchildren, Steven Sturges, Benjamin Puderer, Ryan Orchard, Jaime Bretzmann(Doug), Lindsey Sabella (Danny), Leon Perret III (Bess), Rachel Ledet(Lenny), Kathleen Meeker, Megan Couvillion (Ryan)Melissa Estess (Hunter),ErinMotl, Meredith Budgeon (Mark), and Joseph Poynot (Carrie), and 18 great grandchildren. As along-time,devoted parishionerofSt. Clement of Rome Churchin Metairie, Leon wasalso an active member of the KnightsofColumbus and Alhambra, receivingthe prestigiousOrder of St

Louis forhis faithfulservice.Known for hisgentleness, loyalty, andwork ethic, Leon also hada gift of entertaining. He was a joke-teller,avidreader,entertainer, andloved to sing old songs from childhood talentshows withhis family. He embodied celebration andcommunity, holdinga particular fondness for Mardi Gras as aformer King of theKrewe of Pegasusand riderinthe KreweofMid Cityparades. An entrepreneur and communityleader,Leon wasthe owner of Perret's Men'sWearonRoyal Street in NewOrleans and Perret's Army Surplus in Kenner.Hewas acherished businessmentor to familymembersand friends andenjoyedwatchingthe evolution of theretailindustry.

In hislater years, Leon waswidowedand founda second love in Leda Sobon whotook great careofhim in hisfinal days. As his lovingcompanion, thefamily is greatly appreciative of hertime, attention, and love Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, May29, 2025, at St.ClementofRome Church,Metairie.Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. andfuneralmass followsat11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please considercontributions to St.Jude's Children's Hospital, Feedthe Children, or yourlocal food bankinhonor of Leon's generousspirit To view andsignthe online guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.co m st sand ent, he pp

Perret,LeonEmile

LeonEmile Perret of NewOrleans, prolificstoryteller,entertaining singer,

OUR VIEWS

It’s time to unite behind Louisiana International Terminal plan, andget it built

Most everyone agreesthatbuilding alargescale shipping terminal downriverfromthe Crescent City Connection is vital to ourarea’s ability to service the huge shipsthatcan’t fit under the bridge, and thus compete forcontainer traffic with Mobileand other major ports

There’sbeen ongoing and oftenemotional disagreement, however,over where theterminal should locate and which port should runit.

Last month, Gov.Jeff Landry threw the weight of his office behind the Port of New Orleans’ proposedLouisianaInternational Terminal in St. Bernard Parish on the Mississippi River’seast bank, andnot an alternative on awest bank site ownedbythe Plaquemines Parish port authority.Landry appointed GNO Inc. CEO Michael Hecht, whosuccessfully coordinated infrastructure projectsahead of the February Super Bowl, to play asimilarrole in construction of the terminal and anew tollroad linking it to Interstate 10

We agree that the Port of New Orleans’proposalisthe better of the solutionsfor anumber of reasons, includingthe location’saccessto existing roads and raillines as wellasprivate funding that the Port of New Orleanshas secured. We urge allparties to find away to work together to make it areality

We say this with full understandingthatsome St.Bernard residentsfear that themulti-billion dollar project will be disruptive, and who have foundthemselves downstreamfromhuge decisions madeinNew Orleansinthe past.

But we also seemuch tolike in the Louisiana International Terminal, for the parish as well as the regional and state economies.

The terminal will bring 4,300 jobs once it’s fully up and running, according to one study, and millions in new tax revenuethatcan help meet local needs.

And there will be infrastructure improvements, most notablyathird major routeout of the parish to be financed bytolls through a public-private partnership. This would notonly keep trucks servicing theport outoflocal traffic and help alleviate clogs thatalreadyannoy residents going about their everydaybusiness; it also would help ease evacuations whenhurricanes threaten.

In appointing Hecht, Landry wrotethat“successful execution of LIT is essentialto thefuture of trade in Louisiana, thevery reason we were founded…Just as with the SuperBowl, LIT has many stakeholders and aneutralthird party,working for the best interestsofLouisiana, may be helpful in order to expediteprogress.”

As Hecht described it, his assignmentincludes helping to work throughissuesinvolving road and rail routes,workingwithfederal and legislative players on issues such as permit approvals,funding and tariffs, and“telling the economic development story”intermsofjobs and services for St. Bernard

It will take those things to smooth over the hard feelings and buildtrust,and to expedite what promises to be agame-changerofa project for Louisiana.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com. TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

OPINION

More barriers to voter registration aren’t needed

The League of Women VotersofNew Orleansencourages participation of new citizens in the electoral process and conducts weekly voter registration at the naturalization ceremonies at the USCIS. House Bill 554 would require theOMV to create arestriction code for noncitizens to be displayed on their driver’slicense or state ID card and send letters advising noncitizens of criminal penalties should they try to register tovote. Noncitizens who are here legally may obtain adriver’slicense or state ID. Some noncitizens have applied for and are on thepathtofull citizenship. These new citizens are among theprospective voters that LWVNO serves. HB554 raises manyquestions. Settingupthe code would cost money when election funds are needed to educate all voters on the many new voting laws passed in recent years. The restriction code would be displayed on ID documentsina visible way that could create stigma and doubt about noncitizens’ status. Let-

tersthreatening penalties forregistering to votecould cause fear and confusion, especially if received after the person has acquired citizenship and theright to vote.

New citizens might have to pay fora new license or ID withoutthe restrictivecodes. The mechanism by which theOMV would be updated by USCIS of the citizen’sstatus is not clear There are cybersecurity concerns about the storage of citizenship data at the OMV andthe possibility that erroneous mailings could be sent to new citizens who are eligible to vote.

In sum, HB554 is an unnecessary barrier to voting that will add cost and administrative burden on OMV without significantly adding to the election security. It feeds the narrative that immigrants are less entitled to the protection of our law and implies, without evidence, that there is fraud and rampant noncitizen voting.

SYLVIA FINGER voter services chair,League of WomenVoters, NewOrleans

Lastmonth, we had theopportunity to visit Preschool Learning Center to celebrate Dental Day We taught studentsoral hygiene techniques and applied fluoride varnish to their teeth.

Because of their socioeconomic statusand location in New OrleansEast, these students are less likely to have access to apediatric dentist. Children without this access are much more likely to develop tooth decay —the most common preventable disease in childhood. Tooth decay is present in two-thirdsofLouisiana’sthird graders, making it five times morecommon than asthma andfour times more common than obesity

Dental caries are more than acosmetic problem.Achild withtooth pain cannot get adequate sleep or nutrition to grow and learn to their full potential. Decay can impact their physical and mental health. To restore caries often requires general anesthesia for kids. Anesthesia itself confers greater risks for negative impacts on neurological growth.

In addition to regular flossing, brushing and twice-yearly visits to thedentist, topical fluoride is one of the pillars of cavity prevention. Drunk throughout the day,fluoridated water has cavity-protective and antibacterial effects. There is no evidence that fluoride at 0.7 parts per million confers any detriment to children or anyone else.

The morefrequently fluoride touches teeth in aday,the better —additional fluoride makes adifference. It is the sameprinciple behind addingiodine to our salt, vitamin Dand calcium to orange juice and folic acid to cereals —inthe correct doses, these naturally occurring vitamins and minerals have healthbenefits. If our politicians choose to remove fluoride from our drinking water,we expect to see high rates of dental disease in our early learning population. Children and families will suffer.

HANNAH DUGGAN

pediatrician ELISE MCCOLLUM dentist

In ournation, Mayisknown as WaterSafetyMonth. In southern Louisiana,May is the unofficial start of summer, meaning family gatherings andcelebrations around the water Unfortunately,those celebrations can quickly become dangerous without proper water safety education. Last summer alone, ourmetro regionlostmultiple young lives to drowning. Drowning is still the leading accidental cause of death in childrenages1-4 and the second leading cause of death in children 5-14. The risk of fatal drowning is particularly high among minority communities andchildren with special needs. Childrenwith autism spectrum disorder are 160times more likely to succumb to fatal drowning due to their susceptibility to wandering, high anxiety,lack of communicationskills and an affinity for water

Our mission at the YMCA of Greater New Orleans is to help parents understand thateducating themselves andtheir childrenabout safety in andaround water is oneof the most important life lessons they can provide

We believe knowing some basic water safety skills can make adifference.The YMCA of GNO has made it ourmission to help serve allcommunity members, including childrenwith autism andotherdiverse abilities. Each year,through community outreach,weteach over 2,000 childrenwater safety and swimming lessons. We start with children as young as 6months of age with varying programs thatare designedto best fit your needs. These classes can provide themwith anew,exciting way to keep active, gain confidenceand meet new friends during the summermonths. All kids deserve to have fun in the water; the YMCA can help thembesafein it, too.

TAYLOR OELKING executivedirector,Community Aquatics yMCA Greater NewOrleans

Shatteredlives,torncommunities: N.O. jailbreakisn’t like themovies

madecanoe.

Iamnot that Willie Sutton. Even though I(sortof) share aname with the infamous bank robber,I’ve never been arrested. Ivisited jails and prisons.Bychoice. I’ve never spent anight in one. So Ihad no opportunity to escape. And I’m not sureI would’ve been any good at devising and carrying outan escape plan.

I’ve gotten my share of parking and speeding tickets. I’ve been stopped for traffic violations. Ican’ttell you how many times a policeofficer hasasked me what Iwas doing somewhere,what’smybusiness thereortold me Ishould be moving along. I’ve been stopped andquestioned because Ilook likesomebody the police were looking for Tall Black man. Somewhat athletic in my younger years. Often bearded. Often with acap. Often in jeans and sneaks.Sometimes with sunglasses. Sometimes with ahoodie Maybe Icould’ve been that“somebody.” But why stop me when Iwas going into my own place with groceries and akey? Why stop me when Iwas wellgroomed, suited and booted? Wearinga two- or three-piece suit. Starched shirt. Sharp tie. Florsheim wingtips. We know why Willie Suttondidn’thave to worry about any of that. That Sutton —AKA “Slick Willie” and “Willie the Actor” —made no bones about his profession. He was a career criminal. He lovedhis work. He stole about $2 million duringhis bank robber days. But he paid aprice forit. He spent more than half of his adult life behind bars. Not only was he aman

Will Sutton

of manydisguises —hence “The Actor” —hewas slick enough to escape notonceortwice, butthrice. Not manyhave escaped that many times, I’m sure. There’ssome indication that at least one of the 10 men who escaped from the Orleans Parish jail had escaped ajail before. AntoineMassey is still being sought.Iguess expertise comes with study and practice. While it’s rare in New Orleans and Louisiana for groups of inmates to escapefrom jails and prisons, it happens In 2008, eight violent criminals escaped from the Curry County Adult Detention Center in New Mexico. They climbed pipes and cut ahole in the roof. The escape made the TV show “America’sMost Wanted.” The last escapee wasn’tcaught until 2012 —in Mexico In 2010, three inmates escaped from the Avoyelles ParishSheriff’s Office in Mansura. They went on acrimespree with robberies, akidnapping and a murder.They werecaught two weeks later

Earlier this year,more than 4,000 prisoners escaped from aprison in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yes, 4,000. Not all escapes make books or movies. Not all prison escapemovies are based on real-life events.Those of us of acertain age certainly remember SidneyPoitier and Tony Curtis in 1958’s “The Defiant Ones.” Black and White prisoners hadtoworktogether to get away despite their issues.

Clint Eastwood starred in “Escape from Alcatraz,” amovie based on the real-life 1962 escape by three inmates who escaped in part by using ahome-

“The Shawshank Redemption” (1994) wasn’tbased on atrue story; it was based on multiple escapes. Now that eight of the 10 escapees have been captured, all law enforcementare on the lookout for Massey and Derrick Groves, who remained at large as of early Tuesday afternoon. They are considered armed and extremely dangerous. This is aserious public safetyissue, but in New Orleans, we often have fun with our frequent woes. There are escape T-shirts, escapee parties and lotsofescape memes. Now we have escapee pools. People are bettingonwhich of the two will be thelast captured.

This unfortunate jail escapeisa made-for-television movie already The last two evading arrest may be hoping for weeks, monthsoryears without capture. Butthis story isn’t likely to have aHollywood ending. There are some political prison break movies that have afight-the-power theme. Butmost don’tend well for the protagonists.

Andfor those caught up in thehunt —the friends, neighbors and loved ones who may have been asked to aid these men —the consequences will be life-changing. Far too manyBlack men arestill being stopped for not much morethan being Black

These escapees have been pursued based on things they’re accused of doing, but how manyothers are getting caught up in thedragnet? They may not get top billing, but manylives and communities have been affected by this drama.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

Souter’s subtle reasoningdefied ‘liberal’and ‘conservative’ labels

George Will

Acelebrity,said historian Daniel Boorstin, is someone known for his or her well-knownness.David H. Souter, who died on May 8at85, was theanticelebrity.Hecame to Washingtontoserve almost 20 years on theSupreme Court (1990-2009), then returned, at 69,to New Hampshire, trailing clouds of anonymity. He is remembered in Washingtonasodd: enjoying solitude, indifferent to publicity —what was wrong with him? Conservatives remember him as adisappointment. Nominatedby President George H.W.Bush to replace liberal Justice William J. Brennan Jr., Souter was supposed to cement aconservative court majority.

He did not. His legacy should, however,include athoughtful hesitancy when flinging about the adjectives “liberal” and “conservative” regarding justices He wastoo deferential (and illiberal) in approving federal campaign regulations by which governmentrationspolitical speech about the government’s composition. He was too permissive (and illiberal) in approving local governments’ coercive use of eminent domain to transfer individuals’ private property to facilitate private commercial interests. If, however, conservative critics fault him for joiningthe court’s majority in invalidating anti-sodomy laws, does conservatism stand for conserving the majority’s right to criminalize deviations from itscultural preferences, and perhaps diminishing equal protection of the laws?

Justices should be judged not byresults —the social policyconsequences of particular decisions —but by how the justices exemplify the subtlenuances of judicial reasoning.Consider Souter’s2010 Harvardcommencement address about judging, illustrated by the 1954 Brown v. Board ofEducation decision overturning the “separate but equal” justification for school segregation, and the 1971 Pentagon Papers case. In 1896, when the court affirmed separate but equal segregated railroad cars, the majority regarded thelaw as

race-neutral. Fifty-eight years later, theConstitution’slanguage had not changed.What had?

The 1896 justices, Souter said, remembered law-sanctioned slavery.To them, “the formal equality” of identical railroad cars “meant progress.”The 1954 justices, “without therevolting backgroundofslavery” to makeitlook acceptable, saw ameaning in school segregation that the 1896 justices did not.

Thejudicial perception of meaning, Souter said,“comes from the capacity to see what is not in some simple, objectivesense there on the printed page” ofthe Constitution.(As is, for example, theconstitutional fact that apresident must be at least 35 years old.) Souter said the 1954 justices were guilty of impermissible “activism” only if you believe the constitutionally determinativefacts always “lie there waitingfor an objective judge to view them.”

In 1971, the government tried to prevent publication (by The New York Timesand The Washington Post)of classified documents the publication of whichwould,the government argued, threaten national security,jeopardize attempts to negotiate peace and prevent all foreign governmentsfrom

trusting ours. The newspapers argued that the First Amendment’s finality settled the issue: No law shall abridge press freedom

The government lost thecase, but thecourt accepted its basic argument, which was: When construing aportion of the Constitution, the totality of the document can be germane. It guarantees press freedom —but also grantsthe government the authority, responsibilityand appropriatepower to provide for thenation’ssecurity and enable the president to conduct foreign and military policy

The Constitution, Souter said, serves Americans’ desire for two excellent things, security and liberty,that are not always clearly and cleanly compatible. In this case, Souter said, these “paired desires” clashed, and the court had to decide which had “the better claim, right here, right now.”

The court did not say theFirst Amendment’s facially absolute “no law” permitted no exceptions. It did say that there can be circumstances in which exigencies justify government restraint of publications. The court said only that in this case thegovernmentfailed to demonstrate asufficient exigency

Souter asked his 2010 listeners: Did the1971 court abuse its power? No, he said, achoice had to be made, theConstitution did not makeit, so thecourt had to do it.“So much,” he said, “for thenotion that all of constitutional law lies there in theConstitution waiting for ajudge to read it fairly.”

Constitutional law is substantially judge-made rules (what is “equal protection”ofthe laws? a“reasonable” search? a“cruel and unusual” punishment?). Rules that, Souter argued, judges cannot avoid making. These “turn into” rules as, over time, the court copes with cases. No single theory of proper constitutional interpretation (originalism, textualism, etc.) can satisfy thehunger for simplicity,clarity and finality. Each requires Souter’swell-known trait:judiciousness.

Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com.

NewOrleans’ history is filled with outsized political characters who, despite their shenanigans, lefttheir marks on the city.Inthis age of social media, however,few pols dare to carry on that tradition. That’swhat set former City Council member Jay Batt apart from others of his generation —hefearlessly celebrated his penchant forhijinks. He also got things done. Jay died in his sleep on May 18 at the age of 64. His sudden passing shocked the thousands whoknew and loved him His funeral over the Memorial Dayweekend —when manyofhis friends had already left townfor long-anticipated vacations —drew a record crowd at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, staffers there told Batt family members.

Of course it did. Aguy whose funeral ended not with amournful hymnbut with Barry White’s“You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” is not someone whose send-offyou wanna miss.

In hishallmark way, Jay wasquintessentially New Orleans. Wildly irreverent but never mean.Lovably flawed, passionately loyal. Irrepressibly joyful, generous and empathic. As apolitical candidate, Jay was an opponent’sdream —hehad multiple arrests for public intoxication, and he worehis misspent youth as abadge of honor.After one arrest (which followed along lunch at Antoine’swith someofhis Newmanhigh school buddies), he used his jailhouse phone call to order pizza. His younger brother,actor Bryan Batt, noted in his eulogy that Jay’swifeAndrée convinced him to tampdown his antics, but Jay never suppressed his joie de vivre. He remained “a larger-than-lifeicon of adapper gentleman,” Bryan said.

True dat. Jay wasawalking billboard forhis 13 Jos. A. Bank clothing stores, but with his own sense of style. Best pal Bill Kearney offered alist of Jay’s fashion do’sand don’ts: “Blue jeans are forcowboys. If you must dress casually,that is what khakis are for. Black tie meansthe tie is black and either the jacket or cummerbund —not both —should be plaid. Pink and green do not clash; in fact, they look adorable together —on women ANDmen.”

Brother Bryan said the list of Jay’santics would makeaterrific Netflix miniseries, including one episode that “sticks out in particular.” When Bryan landed arole on Broadway in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” their mom hosted aluncheon at the Russian TeaRoom. Jay arrived “fashionably late and rather tipsy,” Bryan said. “After several attempts to tame the beast, the maître d’ started to escort him out, to which Jay loudly announced, ‘I’ve been thrownout of better places than …no, actually,this is the BEST place I’ve ever been thrownout of!’”

Bryan also remembers Jay as afiercely supportive big brother —tinged with humor

“When Icame out to Jay,I was worried about how to tell my good ol’ boy big brother,” Bryan told me. “He finally said, ‘Are you gay?’ When Isaid, ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘Oh, thank God! Ithought you were gonna tell me you’re not gettin’ any!’”

As the City Council’sonly Republican, Jay madeapoint of reaching out to his Democratic colleagues. He hosted Friday afternoon open houses in his City Hall office. Of course, “open house” meant“open bar” as well.

Every Friday wasthe Friday before Mardi Gras forJay,but when problemsarose, he turned solemnasAsh Wednesday

After Hurricane Katrina, he met with more than 70 individual members of Congress and challenged anyone whoquestioned New Orleans’ need forfederal funding.

“While aproud Republican, Jay wasreally about people,” said Kearney.“Unfortunately, that is lost on our elected officials in today’spolitical dynamic.”

One of Jay’sfinest moments on the council was the courageous stand he took to help Stuart Hall School forBoys build the campus it needed. He supported the school’srequest to demolish two buildings, even though he knew it would cost him politically

For that and other decisions, Jay lost his bid forreelection. He took rejection in style, throwing himself into civic endeavors. He served on the Sugar BowlCommittee, including along stint as president, and as president of the board overseeing NewOrleans City Park.

Jay lefthis markonNew Orleans. He filled every room he entered because he madeithis mission to bring the fun—inapurposeful way Bringing joy and laughter washis first, his last, his everything. Mission accomplished. Rest in fun, Jay Clancy DuBosisaretired political columnist forGambit, TheTimes-Picayune andThe Advocate.

Clancy DuBos

ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILE PHOTO

U.S. Supreme CourtJustice David Souter

NewOrleans Forecast

SPORTS

Perfectendings numbered?

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. Steve Sarkisian remembers how things used to be. In 2003, he was quarterbacks coach at Southern Californiawhen the Trojans were locked in athree-team battle with LSU and Oklahoma for the two spots in the BCS national championship game at the Sugar Bowl. The Sooners got inon the strength of the BCS computer rankings despite getting routed 35-7 by KansasState in the Big 12 championship game. The Tigers got in over the Trojans. Why?Because in literally what was the last game of the 2003 regular season, Hawaii —which

lost61-32 to USC earlier in the season —lost 45-28 to BoiseState. Thattamped down USC’sstrength of schedule just enough to let the Tigers slide pastthe Trojans and into the Sugar Bowl. The storydidn’tend there. LSU beat Oklahoma 21-14 in New Orleans while USC beat Michigan 28-14 in the Rose Bowl.The Tigers claimed the BCS national championship, but the Trojans finished No. 1inThe Associated Press poll. It will likely go down as the last split collegefootball national title ever Threeseasons later,there was astandalone BCS national championship game,

followed by the creation of the fourteam College Football Playoff after the 2014 season. Last year brought aCFP expansion to 12 teams, the same number as in 2025. The only major difference is the CFP will go with straight seeding instead of giving byes to the top four conference champions Talk of expanding the CFP to 14 or even 16 teamsistop of mind along the sugarwhite sands fronting the Sandestin Hilton, the site this week of the annual Southeastern Conference spring meeting. The SEC and the BigTen, partners in trying to bend all of college athletics to their collective will, are

Time to pony up

Rodgers ‘noise’not deterring Steelers QB

BY WILL GRAVES AP sports writer

PITTSBURGH Mason Rudolph hasbeen in the NFL for more than half adecade now.And like any quarterback that has figured out away to stick around, he’sgotten pretty good at guessing where the pressure might be coming during agiven play

During the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first workout of voluntary organized team activities,that pressure didn’tcomefromany of theyellow-clad defenders on thepractice field, butfrom someonewho wasn’tthere.

Yes, Rudolph is well aware of Pittsburgh’svery public courtship of Aaron Rodgers. It took all of 90 seconds for Rudolph to be asked about Rodgers on Tuesday.Rudolph just shrugged his shoulders.

He’sbeen here before. Many, many times during theroller coaster that was hisfirst stint with theSteelers from 2018-23, when he evolved from perennial backup to afterthought to unlikely season saver

“That’snothing newtome,” Rudolph said Tuesday.“There’s been constant noise.Thatisthe nature of the NFL. So Ihave been used to that for along time now. (I can) do nothingbut be thebest Ican be and help our team get better thisspring.”

BY GUERRYSMITH

Aday after his career ended one win shy of athird consecutive American Athletic Conference Tournament championship and NCAA regional bid, departing Tulane senior Gavin Schulz offered athree-word plan for the program to approachits sustained success of the past. Provide more scholarships. At aschool where yearly tuition will rise to $96,000,hesees no way the Green Wave baseball team can compete at thehighest level if it sticks with theprevious NCAA limit of 11.7scholarships divided among everyone. If aproposed Housevs. NCAA settlement is finalized and becomes official for 2025-26 as expected, roster sizeswill be reduced to amaximum of 34 players, but all 34 will be permitted to be on fullscholarship Schulz is looking for ahappy medium between those two numbers at Tulane.

“(Athletic director) David Harrisneeds to definitely find a way to get more scholarshipsthe way this tuition is increasing,” he said.“It’s goingtobehard to compete with programsand get solid players to Tulane when theyare on a50% scholarship andstill have to pay 50 grand.

“I hope they do stepupwith the rule changes. Ithink we should go all in for it.I don’tsee why not, especially if you want to see this program get back to the glory days.”

Nothing is official yet, but Harris said in aphone interview earlier this month an increase was under consideration after consulting with coach Jay Uhl-

man, and “we have to figure out the right combination of things (that) can get you theresult you want to get.”

Tulane last received an atlarge bid to the NCAA Tournamentin2016 and has gottenonly three at-large invitations since arun of nine regionals in arow under former coach Rick Jones from 1998-2006. For the thirdstraight season,

the Wave was nowhereclose to onewhen it arrived in Clearwater,Florida, last week for the AAC Tournament. Once there, it almost earnedanautomatic spot as it hadin2023 and2024 under Uhlman, going 3-0atBayCare Ballpark while setting aprogram recordwith nine straight tournament wins before falling 8-2 to East Carolina in the championship game

“Wehad agood run,”said Schulz, who went8for 18 and made the all-tournament team for the third time in his career “Wecameupshort obviously, which is veryunfortunate, but forthe returners coming back and the new guys, thatcan be alittle fuel to the firefor next season.”

Theproblem forTulane this season was pitching. Picked third in the AAC coaches preseason poll,itfinished fifth at 13-14 whilecompilingthe thirdhighest ERA(6.36) in school history behind 1990 (6.72) and 2023 (7.08). The Wave likely will lose its three most effective pitchers, with Michael Lombardi (2.14 ERA) expectedtogohigh in the draft; Carter Benbrook (3.55) out of eligibility; and AAC all-tournament selection

The well-liked Rudolph returnedtoPittsburgh on atwoyear deal in March after an uneven season in Tennessee. At thetime, Rudolph was one of two quarterbacks on the roster as Justin Fields left for the New York Jets and the Steelersopted nottobring back Russell Wilson. Pittsburgh has since taken a flier on former OhioState star Will Howardinthe draft, all the while ostensibly keeping one seat open in the quarterback room for Rodgers, whovisited the team facility in early spring but left withoutsigning adeal that still is on the table. The 41-year-old has remained publicly noncommittal, though he saidonJoe Rogan’spodcastlast week that there arepeople close

Tayler

STAFF FILEPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tulane infielder Gavin Schulz slidessafely into firstbase during agame againstUNO on March 25 at Maesri Field. Schulz saidTulane needs to take advantageofincreasedscholarship limitsfor baseballifaproposed Housesettlement is finalized before next season.

TULANE BASEBALLWRAPUP

Scott Rabalais

Djokovic rolls despite weather

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer

PARIS Novak Djokovic experi-

enced the lowest of lows — pulling out of the French Open after tearing the meniscus in his right knee — and the highest of highs — winning a long-sought Olympic gold medal for Serbia at Roland-Garros last year This trip to the site went smoothly, once he got going.

Other than some first-set interruptions by and lengthy discussions about, the windy, wet weather, the 24-time major champion was unbothered during a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory over 98th-ranked Mackie McDonald of the United States at Court Philippe-Chatrier in the first round.

“He makes it seem like a video game, almost, for him,” said McDonald, a 30-year-old Californian who played college tennis at UCLA and twice has been to the fourth round at Grand Slam tournaments. “He’s able to just do so much. I don’t even think he was playing his best tennis or his highest level. But if I pushed him to a different point, he would bring it up.”

One example: When McDonald earned his first break points, getting to love-40 at 3-2 in the second set, Djokovic came up with three big serves, a 120 mph (193 kph) ace, a 123 mph (199 kph) ace and a 122 mph (197 kph) service winner. Djokovic compiled 32 winners — 18 more than McDonald — and just 20 unforced errors in a match that eventually was played with the lights on and the retractable roof closed.

“I’m a competitor, and losing stings,” McDonald said, “but playing Novak on that court is something I’ll remember.”

Before Djokovic, who just turned 38 and won his 100th career title last weekend, walked onto the playing surface, he was identified by the stadium announcer by his total number of Slam trophies, the three he’s won at the French Open, and the Summer Games gold he won “here in Paris.”

“I still remember last year’s Olympic Games It was the last time I was here,” Djokovic said afterward. “The emotion is very

strong.”

The medal that means so much to him?

“I don’t have the medal with me. But I have a picture of the medal in my bag,” he said “The medal is with my father My dad likes trophies more than I do, so I gave him mine.”

Other events

Once Coco Gauff found her rackets a relatively important piece of equipment for a tennis player all was well for her in the first round. Gauff showed up on court, opened her bag and peered inside to find it was missing her rackets. The start of the warmup was delayed, but then everything went Gauff’s way, and the 2023 U.S. Open champion got past Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2. Unseeded American Alycia Parks, ranked 52nd in the world, beat No. 14 seed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in the women’s last match of the day Muchova was the runner-up to Iga

Swiatek at Roland-Garros in 2023.

Other winners included the No. 3 seeds, Jessica Pegula and Alexander Zverev, and 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva, but 2021 U.S Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who was seeded 11th, lost to Cam Norrie 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5 across nearly four hours.

Other seeded men were sent home when 18-year-old João Fonseca dispatched No 30 Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, and when No. 16 Grigor Dimitrov quit while leading American qualifier Ethan Quinn two sets to one. This is the fourth consecutive major tournament at which Dimitrov retired.

Frenchman Gael Monfils rallied from two sets down and beat Hugo Dellien of Bolivia 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) 6-1, in a match that lasted more than three hours.

Monfils was injured on the fifth point of the match when he fell and crashed into a side billboard. The 38-year-old Monfils was mov-

ing to his right as he returned a shot into the net He scraped his hands trying to break his fall and required a few minutes of medical treatment before play resumed.

Monfils, ranked 42nd in the world and with a history of right knee and leg injuries, was a point away from breaking the 90thranked Dellien’s serve and ended up losing the game and going behind 3-0 in the first set.

After dropping the second set, Monfils battled back and, helped by a 19-2 advantage in aces, advanced to the second round.

Who is playing at Roland-Garros on Wednesday?

The second round begins on Day 4, with a schedule that includes defending champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz, 2024 runnerup Jasmine Paolini and two-time finalist Casper Ruud.

Swiatek meets 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu in the day session’s last match in the main stadium.

French Open picks humans over technology

Djokovic thinks call on line judges poor

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer

PARIS For Novak Djokovic, this is a relatively easy call: He, like many players, thinks the French Open is making a mistake by eschewing the electronic line-calling used at most big tennis tournaments and instead remaining old school by letting line judges decide whether serves or other shots land in or out.

Plenty of sports, from soccer and baseball to the NFL, are replacing, or at least helping, officials with some form of high-tech replays or other technology Tennis, too, is following that trend, except at Roland-Garros, where competition continues through June 8. Even the longest-running and most tradition-bound of the majors, Wimbledon, is gasp! abandoning line judges and moving to an automatic system this year. The WTA and ATP added machine-generated rulings this season for tour events on red clay, the surface at the French Open But Grand Slam hosts can do what they want, and the French tennis federation is keeping the human element.

The French Open is pushing back against modern technology Djokovic, the 24-time major champion scheduled to play his first-round match in Paris on Tuesday, understands why folks might prefer the way to keep things the way they were for more than a century in his sport. He gets why there could be an inclination to shy away from too much change

A line judge makes a call as Russia’s Anastasia Pavliuchenkova plays China’s Zheng Qinwen during the French Open at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Sunday.

in a world now drowning in cell phones and streaming and social media.

“You don’t want to give everything away to the technology, right? But if I have to choose between the two, I’m more of a proponent of technology It’s just more accurate, saves time, and (means) less people on the court” said Djokovic, 38, who was disqualified from the 2020 U.S. Open for inadvertently hitting an official with a ball hit out of frustration between games.

That edition of the tournament in New York only placed line judges on its two largest courts, while others used an electronic setup, a nod to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australian Open got rid of all line judges in 2021, a first at a tennis major; the U.S. Open did the same later that year The French Open remains a

holdout and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.

Futhermore, don’t expect electronic line-calling at Roland Garros in the near future.

“Unless the players are unanimous and come to us and say, ‘We won’t play if there isn’t a machine’ then I think we’ve got a great future ahead of us to maintain this style of refereeing,” French federation president Gilles Moretton said, while boasting of the quality of his country’s officials.

Players don’t sound that adamant, although they tend to echo the opinion of 2023 U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff, who is 21: “I mean, I don’t know if it’s like the ‘Gen Z’ in me, but I think if we have the technology, we should use it.” Still, there is some charm to be found in the choreography of players insisting a call was wrong

Florida forward Condon forgoes NBA to return

Florida forward Alex Condon has withdrawn from the NBA draft and will return to school for his junior season, significantly boosting the Gators’ chances of repeating as national champions. Coach Todd Golden said last week he was “cautiously optimistic” the 6-foot-11, 230-pound Australian would be back for another season. He got the news Tuesday, a day before the deadline for players to withdraw from draft consideration.

Condon averaged 10.6 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds last season. He also blocked 49 shots. He notched seven double-doubles, scored in double figures 18 times and grabbed at least 10 boards 10 times.

Nuggets guard Westbrook has surgery on right hand

Denver Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook said he was having surgery Tuesday to fix two breaks in his right hand that he suffered during the season.

The 36-year-old Westbrook is coming off a season in which he helped the Nuggets extend the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the second round of the playoffs before being knocked out. Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists in the regular season. Westbrook signed a two-year deal last summer, with a player option next season that would be worth $3,468,960.

He has played for the Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington and Houston since spending 11 seasons with the Thunder

EA Sports names WRs Williams, Smith for cover Alabama’s Ryan Williams and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith are the cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 26, the videogame developer announced Tuesday The electric sophomore wide receivers were picked for the second edition of the franchise’s reboot Last year’s game was the first in 11 years and was among the best-selling video games in 2024. Williams and Smith are posed together on the standard cover, while the deluxe edition also includes other players, coaches, mascots and former cover stars Reggie Bush, Tim Tebow and Denard Robinson. The ’26 edition will test if the franchise still has the same staying power it had when it was released annually in the early 2000s.

Indy 500 draws biggest TV number in 17 years

and chair umpires climbing down for a closer look at a ball mark on the clay Watch a day of TV coverage from Paris and odds are good that dance will take place — probably more than once.

“That’s what makes clay special, in a way — that you can always review the shots. Obviously, you can’t deny that electronic line-calling is the future, and everything is moving towards AI and artificial intelligence,” said Stefanos Tsitsipas, the runner-up to Djokovic at Roland-Garros four years ago. “But me, personally, I wouldn’t mind playing on clay with maybe the judgment of a human instead of a robot.”

Some tennis players resort to taking photos of ball marks. No matter the form of officiating, there invariably are times when athletes perhaps eyesight or faith strained by heat-of-themoment tension and an eagerness to be correct just won’t agree with a call.

That, in turn, can lead to extended arguments and sometimes a scene seen recently: A player grabs a cell phone from the sideline to snap a photo of a mark in a bid to prove, and win, a point. Aryna Sabalenka, a three-time Slam champ and No. 1 women’s player, and Alexander Zverev, a three-time major finalist, did just that, although they weren’t the first. Back at the 2013 French Open, Sergiy Stakhovsky put down his racket and took a picture of where a ball had landed during a loss to Richard Gasquet; Stakhovsky said then he’d done it before.

“Linespeople mess up sometimes,” said 2023 Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul. “Automatic line-calling is going to mess up probably less.”

Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 had its biggest television audience in 17 years.

Alex Palou’s victory averaged 7.05 million viewers on Fox, according to Nielsen. That is the largest audience since 2008, when Scott Dixon’s win averaged 7.25 million on ABC. That was also the first year of a combined open-wheel series The viewer numbers peaked at 8.44 million for the race’s conclusion from 4:15-4:30 p.m. EDT This is the first year that Fox has the IndyCar package. IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway had a long relationship with ABC from 1965 until 2018 while NBC aired the prestigious race from 2019 through 2024. It was a 40% increase from last year when the race averaged 5.02 million on NBC.

McIlroy’s Memorial absence a surprise for Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus said Tuesday he was surprised Rory McIlroy decided to skip the Memorial for the first time since 2017 and that he hasn’t spoken to him since McIlroy won the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam.

Nicklaus was short with his answers on McIlroy, not wanting to make his absence a bigger deal at the tournament that is celebrating its 50th year McIlroy is playing the RBC Canadian Open next week ahead of the U.S. Open. He had played the Memorial and Canadian Open back to back every year since 2021. Nicklaus has not spoken to him since then, but he did write up a letter of congratulations, as he does for all major champions. McIlroy is a member at Nicklaus’ home course The Bear’s Club.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHRISTOPHE ENA

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts as he plays Mackenzie McDonald of the U.S. during the French Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris on Tuesday

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON

Enright completes journey from cancer to MLB

BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter

CLEVELAND Nic Enright thought

he would be caught up in the emotions of finally making it to the majors this past weekend.

Compared to everything he has dealt with the past three years since being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, the 28-year-old Cleveland Guardians right-hander was able to take everything in stride.

Enright threw two scoreless innings and struck out three for Cleveland on Sunday in a 5-0 loss to Detroit.

He was called up on Saturday after Hunter Gaddis was placed on the bereavement list.

“I remember feeling calmer and much more at peace than I thought I would,” Enright said Monday before the Guardians’ 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“After I finished warming up and when I jogged in, we stopped for a minute to play ‘God Bless America.’” he added. “I used that time to just kind of think of everything that had gone on these last couple of years, all the obstacles that I’ve been through, everything that I and my parents have overcome And then when the song fin-

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola throws during a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 14 in Philadelphia.

ished, I was like, ‘All right, let’s go play baseball.’”

Enright received his cancer diagnosis in December 2022 after experiencing tightness in his neck. He was surprised about the diagnosis before going through some of the symptoms — such as getting itchy at night, experiencing night sweats and eczema on his elbow — and discovering he had all of them.

Enright has been undergoing treatments before and after each season, including four rounds of immunotherapy at the end of last season. He will have four more rounds of immunotherapy at the end of this season.

Cleveland selected Enright in the 20th round of the 2019 amateur draft out of Virginia Tech.

The Miami Marlins took him in the Rule 5 draft two weeks before his cancer diagnosis in 2022.

“There were some dark days, and that’s when I leaned on all those people around me,” he said.

“The biggest thing was not letting cancer control me and not letting it dictate how I was going to live my life.”

Enright returned to the Guardians organization in 2023. He missed most of last season due to a right shoulder strain but went

2-1 with a 1.06 ERA in 16 appearances with Triple-A Columbus. He missed the first three weeks of this season due to a lat muscle injury When Enright returned, he allowed only two earned runs in nine innings with one save in nine appearances with Columbus.

Enright made the majors after a 17-11 record and 3.13 ERA in 156 minor league games, including two starts.

He is wearing No. 59 with Cleveland, the same number worn by Carlos Carrasco for 12 seasons. Carrasco was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2019 and returned to pitch for Cleveland later that season.

Coincidentally, Enright’s big league debut came in Detroit when the Tigers were hosting Strikeout Cancer Weekend.

“You can’t draw it up. It’s just one of those cool things,” manager

Stephen Vogt said “Just to see all that he’s persevered through different organizations, coming back to Cleveland and getting to make his major league debut with the Guardians. It was a really special day for Nic and his family and really fortunate we were there to watch it.”

Enright said he has received plenty of text messages the past

Nola’s return from sprained ankle slower than expected

BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies right-

hander Aaron Nola said his return from the injured list with a sprained right ankle was progressing slower than expected and that he probably needed to make a minor league rehabilitation start.

“Taking a little bit longer than I thought it would,” Nola said ahead of Tuesday’s game against Atlanta. “Since I’m here, I want to get it right to where I don’t really feel anything and to go 100%.” Nola is 1-7 with a 6.16 ERA in nine starts.

The Phillies chose to put Nola on the 15-day injured list on May 16 to avoid another injury cropping up while he was favoring the

ankle. The 31-year-old veteran allowed 12 hits, nine runs and three homers — all career highs — in a 14-7 loss on May 14 against St. Louis.

The former LSU player, who signed a $172 million, seven-year contract ahead of the 2024 season, was injured on May 8 during pregame agility drills when the Phillies played Tampa Bay at Steinbrenner Field.

Nola said he tried to pitch through the injury over his last two starts.

“I thought it would be good after a couple starts,” Nola said. “It would progress and kind of ease off on its own. But it didn’t really, so I’m on the IL.” In 11 seasons with Philadelphia, Nola is 105-86 with a 3.78 ERA.

The Phillies led the NL East at

34-19 and had a nine-game winning streak snapped Sunday against the Athletics.

Nola is eligible to be activated on Friday He will instead throw a bullpen session later this week and, if the ankle feels better, could head out to the minor leagues for a start. Nola did not throw a planned bullpen last Saturday because of soreness.

“Hopefully, Thursday it feels really good and I can get on the mound and throw a decent amount,” Nola said.

Nola was drafted seventh overall by Philadelphia in 2014 and has been one of the most durable pitchers since his 2015 big league debut. Aside from a 10-day stint on the COVID injury list in 2021, Nola hadn’t missed a start since 2017.

couple days, but one of the more meaningful ones came from Boston’s Liam Hendriks, who recently returned to the majors for the first time in two years after battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma and recovering from Tommy John surgery Even though Enright has reached a couple of significant milestones, he doesn’t want

to just debut,” he said. “The goal is to come up here, take the

every time my name is called and do everything I can to help this team win games.”

Loyola’s historic season ends in NAIA World Series

Staff report

The Loyola of New Orleans baseball team’s season came to an end Monday at the NAIA World Series in a 9-8 loss to Cumberlands (Kentucky). Loyola (42-18) fell behind 9-0 after two innings but battled back to make it a one-run game in the eighth in Lewiston, Idaho.

The Patriots started the elimination matchup by scoring four runs in the first inning and added five in the second for a 9-0 lead.

The Wolf Pack, who set a program record for wins in a season, fought back in the top of the third, starting with a leadoff walk by Jaxon Buratt. Brandon Mooney then singled, advancing Buratt to second before Myles Liggans walked to load the bases.

A wild pitch brought Buratt home, leaving Mooney and Liggans in scoring position. Nicholls State transfer Garrett Felix then singed to center, scoring Mooney and advancing Liggans to third. After Landon Manson walked to load the bases again, Cole Romero

TULANE

Continued from page 1C

Montiel (3.53) eligible for medical school and the MLB draft.

Tulane ranked second in the AAC in runs and batting average during league play The key will be retaining freshmen outfielders Jason Wachs, who hit a team-best .335, and Tanner Chun, who started 48 games.

Junior second baseman Connor Rasmussen, who led the Wave with 45 RBIs, also could leave if he gets drafted.

“In this era of the transfer portal, it’s going to be really difficult every year,” Uhlman said a few minutes after Sunday’s loss. “You are going to have a lot of turnover Our cost of education isn’t getting cheaper so

walked to force Liggans home for Loyola’s third run.

Carter Holstein, who came on in relief in the third, struck out the first two batters he faced and got the final out on a fielder’s choice to hold Cumberlands scoreless. He then pitched a 1-2-3 fourth. Cole Romero led off the Loyola sixth with a triple to center field Buratt grounded out, scoring Romero to make it 9-4. Holstein kept the Patriots scoreless in the sixth, then Caden Durand entered in the seventh and earned three outs, including a double play A Buratt single led off the eighth before a Liggans’ single put two runners on base. Felix then drove in Buratt, and Manson singled to bring Liggans home, cutting the deficit to 9-6. Anthony Fernandez doubled to score both Manson and Felix to get the score within one in the eighth inning at 9-8. Cumberlands kept Loyola off the board in the ninth to earn the win. In other action, top-seeded LSUShreveport (56-0) beat Hope International (California) 6-3.

we have our built-in obstacles like everybody else does. We are going to continue to do the best we can to create a culture that young people want to be a part of because they are going to get coached and developed and get a great education and experience while they’re at it.” One thing Uhlman made very clear in Clearwater is that he will make no staff changes. He defended pitching coach Anthony Izzio emphatically after Tulane held UTSA’s AAC record-setting offense to three runs on Saturday for its second win in three days against the regular-season champion.

“As much as people want to badmouth our pitching, coach Izzio’s done a tremendous job for three years here,” he said. “Without his contributions, we wouldn’t be in this position.”

AP PHOTO By MATT SLOCUM

LSU coach Kelly: LBs Weeks, Perkins are both ready to go

BY SCOTT RABALAIS

Staff writer

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — Two key starters on the LSU defense have been cleared for full offseason activity, coach Brian Kelly said here Tuesday during the Southeastern Conference spring meeting Senior linebacker Harold Perkins and junior linebacker WhitWeeks both missed spring practice — Perkins while recovering from a knee injury in September against UCLA and Weeks from a broken fibula in the Texas Bowl. But now they are in a “great position” to start doing work in advance of preseason practice, Kelly said.

“Conditioning, change of direction, they’re clear to do all of the movements that are required by our players,” Kelly said.

coach Kim Mulkey described the process that led former South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley to transfer to the Tigers in April.

Mulkey said Fulwiley did not visit any schools, including LSU.

“She knew where she wanted to go when she got in the portal,” Mulkey said after emerging from a women’s basketball coaches meeting. “She just liked our style. She likes Mikaylah (Williams) and Flau’jae (Johnson) and wanted to come. I’m like, ‘OK.’ ”

Mulkey said she was not concerned about being able to spread the ball around enough in what will be one of the nation’s most talented backcourts.

rently on its roster, includ-

ing a total of three transfers.

Asked whether the Tigers were done in the portal, Mulkey said: “Not necessarily.” She indicated LSU is still considering adding another post player Sark on Arch

Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian was asked whether he will try to insulate starting quarterback Arch Manning from Newman in New Orleans from intense expectations entering the 2025 season.

Manning is widely rated as the favorite for the Heisman Trophy, just ahead of LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier

Falcons QB Penix finding voice as leader in 2nd year

BY RICK FARLOW

The Associated Press

BRANCH,

FLOWERY

Ga. As Michael Penix is entering his first full season as the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback, he is learning what it takes to be a leader in the NFL.

Penix got some experience as a team leader on Tuesday when the Falcons held their first organized team activities.

The Falcons began Phase 3 of the offseason by getting out on the field and doing individual drills and a few noncontact team periods.

“I’m excited,” Penix said after two hours of voluntary outdoor practice. “We get to be out there against the defense and work real football. I can’t wait for this season.”

Penix, who was drafted eighth overall by Atlanta in 2024, started the Falcons’ final three regular-season games and completed 58 of 100 passes for 737 yards with three touchdown passes and three interceptions in those starts. Kirk Cousins led the Falcons to a 6-3 start last season but lost his job after struggling with interceptions.

Penix described his growth over his first full offseason knowing he is the starting quarterback.

“The one thing that I want to point (to) is just connecting with the guys,” Penix said. “I feel like I’ve done a lot better with connecting with everybody around the team.

“Not just offensive guys but defensive guys as well. Whether that’s just around the facility eating lunch or going out and playing golf with some of them. Don’t ask about my golf game.”

Second-year Falcons coach Raheem Morris said

Penix is “finding his voice” as a leader

“When you take over that quarterback spot, there’s a certain humility about playing the position,” Morris said. ”Then (comes) a certain confidence about playing the position. Eventually it turns into a little bit of an arrogance about playing the position where it’s non-negotiable. We’re not there yet. I don’t think we will be for a little bit, but I think he’s at the mode of where he’s starting to get that confidence to be able to figure out how to get to that point.”

Wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who also is in his second year with the Falcons after signing a threeyear contract ahead of the 2024 season, said Penix has done a good job of undertaking a leadership role so far

“I think he’s been doing well owning that he’s the guy and that he’s (going to) be the guy,” said Mooney, a former Tulane star “He’s doing a good job showing up every day He’s more quiet and can play around a little bit but he’s really just a chill guy.” Penix had a recent conversation with former quarterback Matt Ryan, a 2024 Falcons Ring of Honor inductee.

“I spoke to Matt Ryan and had a good conversation with him (about) learning how to be a pro each and every day and how his process went,” Penix said. “I feel like he definitely gave me some good things. Obviously he knows this is my second year coming into it (and) this is my first year starting. He talked to me about his times during that time and how he got to where he ended up.” Morris said he did not see Cousins around the facility on Tuesday

The coach added that Perkins and Weeks may transition a bit slower into football activities such as summer drills, but that he expects them to be full-go by the start of preseason practice. Perkins required surgery after tearing his ACL against the Bruins on Sept. 21. Weeks needed surgery to repair his fibula and a dislocated ankle after being carted off the field Dec. 31 against Baylor Weeks led LSU and was second in the SEC with 125 total tackles.

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

pushing for a 16-team model with four guaranteed qualifiers per league.

What would such a model mean for conference championship games is one the biggest questions among a host of unknowns currently facing college athletics, whose sands are shifting more than the dunes outside the Hilton’s pricey hotel rooms.

One thing Sarkisian feels confident about: the expanded playoff will mean the end of the undefeated season in college football. Yet another way the game, which now pays its star players millions and crowns its champion with a playoff, is mimicking the NFL.

“Last year we played 16 games,” the Texas coach said Tuesday, “and that was just to get to the (CFP) semifinals. I don’t think we’ll ever see an undefeated national champion again. If someone does go 16-0, put up a statue to that team.”

Ohio State won last year’s title with a 14-2 record that did not include a trip to the Big Ten championship game. Four of the previous five national champions — including 15-0 LSU in 2019 were unbeaten, but that was with the old four-team

Mulkey on Fulwiley LSU women’s basketball

CFP format.

“It’s difficult because of the quality of the opponents you play,” Sarkisian said. “It’s so difficult to stay healthy that long.” Sark said he thinks the CFP will start to resemble the NCAA Tournament in baseball, citing that No. 1 overall seed Vanderbilt struggled through its first 20 SEC games at 11-9 before taking off late in the season.

“I think you’re going to see teams more and more with two, three, maybe even four losses that get in (the CFP),” he said.

LSU coach Brian Kelly agreed, saying the stringent test of playing in the SEC should be taken into account when determining the CFP field, whether it’s 12, 14 or 16 teams.

“I think we’re all of the opinion that your strength of schedule should be part of how you’re evaluated when it comes to selection,” Kelly said. “We all believe that in our conference, that if a team loses one or two games, or even three, that they should still be part of this process.

“The reality of it is, over a long period of time in the SEC, you’re going to get banged up. You’re going to get nicked up. You’re going to have a loss. That’s a lot more difficult with the schedule we play to go unscathed. Doesn’t mean you’re not as good of a

“Great players want to play with other great players,” Mulkey said. “Shots and balls go around. I don’t worry about that.”

Mulkey said she and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley didn’t discuss Fulwiley’s transfer during the hourslong coaches meeting, which was chaired by Staley LSU has 13 players cur-

team.”

Georgia coach Kirby Smart wasn’t eager to follow Sarkisian down his path of logic, and for an all together unsavory reason

“I’d like to say yes” there will be fewer undefeated teams, Smart said. “But not because of the schedule and length of schedule. It would be because of the portal and a lack of depth and more parity The way things go, in the next 6-10 months you could end up with haves and have-nots out there. Ultimately a team could drive prices and go buy a championship. You’re talking about a super team. You could see that.”

That could be affected by the issue looming over everything: the so-called House settlement, a courtordered ruling that will determine, among other things, revenue sharing between schools and their student-athletes. A ruling was expected last week but was still pending as of Tuesday

No one knows still at this late hour, with revenue sharing expected to begin July 1, how it will all shake out.

But for certain, college football isn’t going back to anything resembling 2003.

For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate. com/lsunewsletter

“Part of the idea for Arch coming to the University of Texas is to build that brand, get that exposure,” Sarkisian said. “It’s not all negative.

“But at the end of the day I want to make sure he enjoys his experience. Here’s a lifelong dream to be the starting quarterback at Texas. Part of that is exposure, part of that is putting up some guardrails.”

STEELERS

Continued from page 1C

to him who are currently battling cancer Until Rodgers makes a decision, his status figures to dominate the conversation surrounding a team that has undergone significant roster changes elsewhere since getting drilled at Baltimore in the opening round of the playoffs. All of it — including acquiring two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf, who was not on the field Tuesday but has been a regular at the team facility in recent weeks — will remain in the background until there’s some finality about Rodgers. It makes for a challenging work environment, though one that Rudolph might be uniquely qualified to navigate. The Steelers drafted him in 2018, only to have veteran Ben Roethlisberger keep him at arm’s length. Rudolph got an extended look in 2019 when Roethlisberger was injured, only to be benched for undrafted rookie free agent Devlin “Duck” Hodges. The former Oklahoma State star was promised a chance to compete for the starting job in 2022 after Roethlisberger retired, only to serve as the third wheel behind Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett.

Rudolph remained undaunted He authored an improbable success story in 2023 when he came off the bench late in the season to bring Pittsburgh’s moribund offense to life and lead the Steelers to the playoffs. His reward at the time? Nothing. Pittsburgh didn’t make an effort to keep him, opting to sign Wilson and trade for Fields instead. Rudolph spent 2024 in Tennessee, where he went 1-4 as a starter Yet when the Steelers approached him about a twoyear deal just after free agency began, Rudolph didn’t hesitate to return.

“It’s obviously good to be wanted,” said Rudolph, who called Pittsburgh “a special place.”

Though OTAs are voluntary, Rudolph had no plans to miss a snap while trying to familiarize himself with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system and reconnecting with old friends such as tight end Pat Freiermuth.

“He’s a smart football player, smart quarterback,” Freiermuth said.

“So he’s picking up the system and running with it.

So it’s been great to work with him and have him ask me some questions about the offense and what Art’s thinking.”

The Steelers have not given Rodgers a firm deadline, though coach Mike Tomlin

said earlier this spring that he’d like to have his roster set by the time training camp opens in late July While there is an informal nature to OTAs, Freiermuth called the time spent together “very important” from a team development standpoint. Longtime defensive captain Cam Heyward isn’t so sure, pointing out that he skipped all of OTAs last year and ended up making the All-Pro team for the fourth time.

“I think any player, you know what you need,” Heyward said. “You know what’s required of you as you progress toward training camp.”

For Rodgers, that might be focusing on the people closest to him. For Rudolph, it means soaking in every opportunity he’s given. Maybe he’s a placeholder for Rodgers Maybe he’s the starter in Week 1. A year ago, the idea he’d one day return to Pittsburgh seemed remote. And yet here he is, wearing his familiar No. 2 while being in a very familiar position: an option. Maybe not the top option, but one nonetheless.

“I’ve got a lot of great friends and teammates here, a lot a comfortability with Mike T and the staff,” Rudolph said. “Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this team and this offense?”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BRyNN ANDERSON Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix runs drills during practice Tuesday in Flowery Branch, Ga.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU linebacker Whit Weeks drops the ball while celebrating a big tackle against Oklahoma in the fourth quarter on Nov 30 in Tiger Stadium. Weeks had surgery to repair his fibula and a dislocated ankle after being injured against Baylor on Dec. 31.

STAFF FILE PHOTO

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins, who had knee surgery in September, shoud be fully ready to practice in August.

Williams, Holmgren give Thunder potent sidekicks

BY DAVE CAMPBELL AP sportswriter

MINNEAPOLIS With Oklahoma City clutching a four-point lead, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drove into the lane and smacked into triple coverage — doing the splits as he stopped and desperately tried to find a safe place for the ball.

Somehow, as he lost his balance and fell toward the court, he found space to fling it between the legs of Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels — and straight to a wide-open Jalen Williams behind the arc with 1:21 to go. Swish. Game. Maybe even the series.

The Thunder saw that sevenpoint lead shrink back to one in the closing seconds, but they staved off the late push with a parade to the free-throw line and pulled out a 128-126 victory in Game 4 that gave them a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals

Even the NBA MVP needs a wing man, and Gilgeous-Alexander has two. Williams and Chet Holmgren were so good in their own ways that a 40-point, 10-assist, nine-rebound performance by GilgeousAlexander on Monday night was somehow overshadowed.

Williams had 13 of his 34 points in the first quarter to give the Thunder the scoring to match their tenacious start after a 42-point loss in Game 3. He shot 13 for 24, including 6 for 9 from 3-point range and pitched in three of the team’s 14 steals.

“From start to finish, he picked his spots great, he was aggressive, stepped into everything,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He was who he is. He’s gotten all these awards this year for a good reason, and he proved it tonight.

“He’s a really good basketball player It’s crazy to think he’s so young and what he has already achieved.”

Holmgren had nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter He went 9 for 14 from the floor, grabbed four of his seven rebounds on the offensive end and blocked three shots — including a highlight-reel rejection of McDaniels in the final minute in a

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams gestures after making a 3-pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Monday in Minneapolis.

five-point game

After McDaniels followed his hard drive right with a slick spin move to beat him to the basket for a left-side layup attempt, Holmgren never lost his footing despite the change in direction and swiftly slid to his right before a perfectly timed jump to swat the ball without fouling as the clock dropped under the 40-second mark.

“On both ends of the floor, he affects the game at such a high level,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “And it’s crazy because he’s out there just running around right now We rarely call plays for him. He rarely gets anything set for him. He’s just out there playing off of feel and affecting the game at a high level, whether it’s making open shots, blocking shots, offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding. He’s just a winning player.”

Though the Timberwolves regained possession after a charging foul on Gilgeous-Alexander, precious more time went by before

ä Minnesota at Oklahoma City, 7:30 P.M.WEDNESDAy ESPN

they scored again on a 3-pointer by McDaniels with 23 seconds left.

Gilgeous-Alexander helped ice the game at the free-throw line, and Williams eventually grabbed a desperation inbounds pass by the Timberwolves from half-court with 0.3 seconds left Holmgren, the second overall pick in the 2022 draft who missed his rookie season with a foot injury and 50 games this season following a pelvic fracture from a hard fall, happily left his hometown with a statement performance that put the Timberwolves within one win of reaching the NBA Finals.

“When you have really good players that the other team needs to stop, they’re going to have to help recover from somewhere,” Holmgren said. “So just understanding that we have to make them pay for that and just try to be aggressive, try to make the right play, too. It’s not always score.

Sometimes it’s make the extra pass, sometimes it’s find the next action, whatever it is, just try to leave fingerprints on the game and make winning plays.”

Despite playing in one of the league’s smallest markets, the trio already has its own commercial, a humorous spot for AT&T highlighting the importance of communication when they all show up for a red-carpet event in the exact same outfits.

The camaraderie isn’t an act.

“We’re all really cool with each other, to be honest,” said Williams, the 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft who made his first All-Star team this season. “Off-the-court chemistry seeps into on the court. We’ve just grown up together Obviously Shai’s a little bit older than us, but we’ve been through a lot of experiences in a short amount of time that have either forced us to trust each other or grow apart, and we’ve grown closer to each other

“That’s just kind of how we play — live and die by trusting each other, and whatever happens from there happens.”

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

Jade Neves is an LHSAA state champion golfer from Sacred Heart whose busy time of her sports calendar begins to ramp up this week.

The 15-year-old rising sophomore will compete in the 54-hole American Junior Golf Association’s New Orleans Classic that runs from Wednesday to Friday at Bayou Oaks in City Park.

This is the time of year when successful high school golfers can get challenged not only by competing against other high-level golfers from around the country, but also while playing on courses with longer tee distances.

“You can see how some of them hit it really far,” Neves said. “It’s cool to see that.”

Neves posted a 3-under 109 over 27 holes to finish first in Division II and help Sacred Heart win its first golf state championship since 2019 this month at Les Vieux Chenes in Lafayette.

The AJGA’s New Orleans Classic this week has 51 boys and 27 girls registered from 17 states, including Louisiana, plus one golfer each from Canada and China.

The boys will play on a course that measures 7,104 yards and the girls on a course that measures 6,077 — both longer distances than what Neves and other high school golfers face with their school teams.

Neves noted how she commonly might use a wedge on her approach shots while playing in a high school tournament. But summertime tournaments against other golfers from

outside the state have her using more of the longer irons in her bag.

“It definitely changes how quick you can get to the greens,” said Neves, a two-time LHSAA state winner after winning the Division II title two years ago as a seventh grader

Neves is not a newcomer to playing junior golf tournaments against older players from around the country She played in the New Orleans Classic last season and finished seventh.

Asked what she remembered about the tournament last year, Neves said how she three-putted the final hole and finished with a 2-over 218 — missing a chance at earning a three-way tie for third.

Neves holds herself to high standards whenever she steps onto the golf course.

“Jade has a plan,” said Sacred Heart golf coach Jennifer Caro, who noted how Neves “is extremely mature for a young age like that.” Neves began playing golf by following her father, Mike, on the course at a young age. She played her first tournament at 7 years old.

“Jade’s dream is to play at a big Division I school, graduate and play on the pro tour,” said Amy Neves, Jade’s mother, who played tennis in college at Pepperdine.

Mike Neves was a standout high school football and basketball player from Pocatello, Idaho.

Other New Orleans area high

WNBA says it can’t verify fans made racist remarks

Press

ByTheAssociated

NEWYORK The WNBA says it cannot substantiate claims that racist fan behavior took place during a game in Indianapolis between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever earlier this month.

The league said its investigation included gathering information from fans, team and arena staff, as well as an “audio and video review of the game.”

“We appreciate the quick action by the league and the Indiana Fever to take this matter seriously and to investigate,” Chicago Sky CEO and president Adam Fox said in a statement. “This process demonstrates the league’s strong stance on stopping hate at all WNBA games and events, and we will continue to support those efforts.”

The WNBA, according to a person familiar with the investigation, was looking into claims that racist comments were directed toward Chicago’s Angel Reese by fans during the loss to WNBA rookie of the year Caitlin Clark and the Fever. Indiana won the game handily, 93-58. Reese, who is Black, and Clark,

who is White, were meeting for the seventh time in their ongoing — and much-talked-about rivalry Clark later said she did not hear any racist remarks during that game, but acknowledged that it was loud in Indiana’s arena throughout the game.

“It’s super loud in here, and though I didn’t hear anything, I think that’s why they’re doing the investigation,” Clark said earlier this month. “That’s why they’re looking into it. That doesn’t mean nothing happened, so I’ll just trust the league’s investigation, and I’m sure they’ll do the right thing.” Both teams had issued statements supporting the investigation, as did the WNBA players association. The Sky were playing in Phoenix on Tuesday The WNBPA did not issue any immediate comment after the league’s announcement.

“We appreciate the swift and thorough process undertaken by the WNBA to investigate these allegations, which were not substantiated,” Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines said Tuesday in a statement distributed by the Fever

PHOTOSByCHRIS GRANGER Chef Ashwin Vilkhu conceived

TASTE MODERN OFTHE

SBY IAN MCNULTY Staff writer

affron NOLA brought something new to the New Orleans dining scene with its worldly,upscale visionofIndiancuisine. Asasecond restaurantfrom itschef, Ashwin Vilkhu, slowly took shapejust across thestreet, many Saffron NOLA regulars surmised it would be amore casual counterpart for Indian flavors.

But The Kingsway goes in amuch different direction,one that no other restaurant possibly could

That’s because it flows from a family narrative in hospitality and cuisine over two continentsand two generations, nowreimagined and calibrated for an elevated modern dining.

Brie, Champagne and crabmeat soup is poured at the table to starta tasting menu dinner at The Kingsway restaurant.

Salt-baked

Thenew restaurant is acontemporary,upscale Asian restaurantwith its own take on the chef tasting menu. The Kingsway is now serving dinner in its soft openingphase. Across afour-courses tasting menu, some dishes are distinctly Chinese,others are Vietnamese, and some are family creations. Vilkhu compares the overall style to thefood of Singapore, acrossroads of Asian cuisines, rather than afusion of them. The through line is his own family “Allofthis come frommy memories,” he said. “It’sanhomage to memory.”

THEKINGSWAY

4201 Magazine St., dinner Tuesday to Saturday l Reservations via OpenTable.com.

assessed thecity’s changing dining scene— what was outthere,what was possible. He wanted to bring something unique, something that would contributetothe modern culinary landscape.

Adifferent tastingmenu

Plans for The Kingswaywere first announced three years ago. The concept evolved as the project progressed and as Vilkhu

Tasting menurestaurants have become afixtureofthe highest level of fine dining, as embodied locally today at Emeril’sRestaurant. The Kingswayapproach is more flexible than most. This is a tasting menu with options built in. The basic format is afour-course menu for $92, with some extra supplements available and an optional wine pairing. Each course has achoice of three to four dishes.Inthis way, onetable can assemble abroad sample across the

ä See KINGSWAY, page 2D

BYIAN McNULTY

writer

The herbed snapper is part of the tasting menuatThe Kingsway

By The Associated Press

Today is Wednesday,May 28, the148th day of 2025. There are 217 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, which forced nearly 50,000 Native Americansto relocate to designated territories west of the Mississippi River

On this date:

In 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, made up of free Black men,left

Boston to fightfor the Union in the Civil War. In 1892, theSierra Club was founded in San Francisco by naturalist JohnMuir. In 1918, American troops fought their first majorbattle during World WarIastheylaunched an offensiveagainstthe Germanheld French village of Cantigny; theAmericanssucceeded in capturingthe village. In 1959,the U.S. Army launched Able, arhesus monkey,and Baker, asquirrelmonkey,aboard aJupiter missile for asuborbital flight

which both primates survived.

In 1972, burglars working on behalf of the Nixon White House broke intothe Democratic National Committee headquarters in theWatergate Hotel in Washington,D.C., installing surveillance devices on telephones and taking photos of DNC documents.

In 1987, to theembarrassment of Soviet officials, Mathias Rust, ateenage West German amateur pilot,landed aprivateplane near Moscow’sRed Square without authorization. (Rust was held by the Sovietsuntil he was pardoned and

The Kingswaydiningroom feels likea blendofScandinavian

KINGSWAY

Continued from page1D

full range. Dishes arerefined,and portions are substantial.

The cocktails, from beverage director Colin Williams, are creative and composed (see ariff on theRamos gin fizz with Thai tea elements, the “special delivery,” or an exceptionallysmoothespresso martini with tea-infused vodka).

Eventually,The Kingswaywill serve an alacarte menu at thebar, with some dishes from thetasting menu and different renditions of others.

High-end touches abound. Many dishes arefinished at thetable with their sauces. Waiters can wheel over acart for traditionalChinese teaservice. Pressed table linenis ironed just before dinner

While modern in concept andvision, Vilkhu developed The Kingsway by delving into the past Ajourney in cuisine

His parents Pardeep and Arvinder Vilkhu moved from New Delhi to the U.S. when Ashwin was just 6 months old. His mother developed acareer as apsychologist, while Arvinder continued the hospitality career he had started at finehotel restaurants in India.InNew Orleans, he became general manager of the PickwickClub, oneofthe city’sold-line social clubs, aposition he held for more than 30 years. In the 1990s, the couple started acatering company on the side, called SaffronCaterers. This evolved intoaone-night-a-week restaurant called Saffron, which drew adevoted following to its Gretna stripmalltotastenew ideas around Indian cuisine, with strong Louisiana influences. As Ashwinjoined the family busi-

ness, Saffron NOLA evolvedinto afull-fledgedUptown restaurant, openingin2017.

The Kingsway takes its name from the street in Gretnawhere thefamily once lived, Kingsway Drive East, in aneighborhood bordered by fields and nearby shipping canals.

“It was avery modest home, but because of my dad and his training, andmymom’s ideas abouthospitality, it was always filled with food and they were always entertaining,” Ashwin said. “Welearned alot about hospitality growing up there.”

An Asiantasting menu

The Kingsway menu is likeno other because of its origins, and its modern execution.

For instance, adish called “ABC” (for almondboneless chicken) and the scallion lambeach come from his father’shistory working in hotels in India in the early 1980s.

TheTaj Hotel brand had some of the best restaurants in the country, and they had adirective to hire chefs from the countries of the cuisines beingserved. That meant Arvinder worked under numerous Chinese chefs, and thesedishes are based on those memories and their way with building flavor and texture in adish.

Asoup made with brie, crabmeat andtouch of curryleaf andchile oilisone from Arvinder’srepertoire, givingahintofwhathome cookingwas likeinthe Vilkhu household.

Another dish,salt-baked shrimp, is based on asignature for the long-gone Gretna restaurant, Kim Son, aVilkhu family favorite. Between the black pepper and oil, the crunch of cabbage andonion against the crispy battered shrimp,the flavor is transporting. Rawtuna, pounded thin, is

dabbed withachile sauce the chef has been cultivating over the courseoffive years. Vietnameseinspiredherbedsnapperwitha delicate dashi andanizakaya steak with adeeply umami mushroom sauce are other directions this tastingthe menucan take.

On themenu, desserts read straightforward. But order “chocolate cake” and you get alandscape of balanced flavor and texture that draws the spoon for the next swipe like amagnet.

Magazine makeover

The Kingsway design both expanded and thoroughly remade its building, which long agowas acorner store before it became arestaurant in 2012 with the first iteration of the Vietnamese café Magasin (now located down the block)

The dining room has two distinct areas,eachsimultaneouslyelegant andrelaxing,feeling like ablend of Japaneseand Scandinavian styles.It’sall soft surfaces and gentle curves between the glowing bar and verdant plants, under ample noise baffling measures. City buses sail past outside almost without asound.

Upstairs,there’s spacefor a lounge,and additional dining areas to be developed later

An aperture of thekitchen pass gives apartial view into thekitchen from the bar,and behind that kitchen there’sa commissary area, the hub for the family’scatering business, which will also support Saffron NOLAacross thestreet

The Kingsway is very different from SaffronNOLA. But they are both family restaurants, so the connections are everywhere, and thefamily story continues.

Email Ian McNulty at imcnulty@theadvocate.com

freed thefollowing year.)

In 2013, calling it perhaps the biggest money-laundering scheme in U.S. history,federal prosecutors charged sevenpeople with running what amounted to an online, underworld bank, saying that Liberty Reserve handled $6 billion for drug dealers, child pornographers, identitythieves and other criminals around the globe. In 2021, officialsannounced that the remainsofmore than 200 children, some as young as 3years old, had been found buriedonthe site of what was once Canada’s largest

WALIIMO

Continued from page1D

or meet afriend downtown for lunch, while getting an inside viewonabudding piece of the city’sculinary culture. You’re also supporting an importantprogram for the culinary scene with your lunch dollars.

What is Waliimo?

Aready-made restaurant space is partofthis culinary school, and each class of students has achance to make it their own They worktogether to conceive produce and then run their own on-campus restaurant.

Butfirst they have to pitch it, as if to investors forareal restaurant. In April, Ijoined apanel of other judges drawnfrom NOCHI staff and local chefs and restaurant operators tasked with assessing the proposals. We watched as five groupsofstudents presented different ideas.

Therewas one channeling dockside St.Tropez, anothertook in a tour of the Mediterranean, there was aHawaiian-Mexican mashup idea that seemed to have franchise opportunity written all over it and onemore concept was built around flavors from the British Isles (I’m still thinking of the potential for haggis bites, one dish idea from that proposal).

Students presented, and were questioned on, aspects of the conceptranging from food sourcing and budgeting to the graphics they createdformarketing.Theconcept has to makesense forthe space and thelocation, thetimeofyear and thecurriculum goals of NOCHI. Andithas to work for lunch.

In the end, the collective judgment of thepanel gave highest marks to Waliimo. And with that, students whohad been once been competing against fortheir own ideas came togetherasa cohort to bring this one into being.

What we tried

ThebestEthiopian mealsI’ve had have alwaysbeen communal servings, with platters lined with injerabread and arrayed with differentdishes, andyou can eat this was at Waliimo too, or you can pickindividual appetizers and entrees from the menu. We started with the appetizer platter, dubbed“Waliimo style,” which brings tastes of three dishes: alentil hummus, that beet and shrimpkitfo mentioned above and the star of the platter,fata, like adip crossed with astew, made from tomatoes cooked down with barbere, the essential, aromatic, multi-spice seasoning of the Ethiopian kitchen.

All of this calls forinjera.It hadtoberight. Iwas impressed by how Waliimo’skitchenhandled this cornerstone of the cuisine, andlearned that studentsgot some coaching fromthe chefs

indigenous residentialschool,in Kamloops, British Columbia Today’sbirthdays: Former NewYork City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is 81. Singer Gladys Knight is 81. Musician Billy Vera is 81. Musician John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is 80. Country singer-songwriter Phil Vassar is 63. Singer-actor Kylie Minogue is 57. Actor Justin Kirk is 56. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is 54. TV personality Elisabeth Hasselbeck is 48. Actor Jake Johnson is 47. Singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat is 40. Actor Carey Mulligan is 40.

at Addis NOLA, the Bayou Road Ethiopian restaurant, to fine-tune their preparation. The bubble-marked bread absorbs flavors, gives asourflavor abit like rye bread and still sits light on the belly.You can keep swiping away at the flavorful food without feeling too full.

Next we split amainentrée of lambtibbs which were presented as kebabs of ground lamb, grilled on skewers, and served over a bed of collard greens and amellow Ethiopian cheese, and still moreofthe lovely injera. NOCHI has adedicated baking and pastryartsprogram,and dessert is always abig part of these pop-ups. Waliimo has many,sowe doubled down. The chai-flavored panna cotta has arefreshing peach sorbet and the caramelized himbasha is a dessert Iwould seek out anywhere in town, tasting like adense bread pudding with acrisp shell, finished pistachio ice cream and chocolate sauce poured with tableside. Howitworks,who it serves Waliimo is atemporary restaurantthatfunctions like aconventional one. Youmake areservation fortheweekdaylunchtimeseatings online.Thepop-upchargesrealrestaurantpricestoo;appetizersare$9 to $14, entrees are $19 to $24.

All of the staffare culinary students, from the cooks to the receptionist at the door,the servers andthe bartender (yes,you can ordercocktails, or mocktails —I liked the berbere lemonade with tequila and alemon slice lid). Studentsrotate through different roles as the pop-up continues, so your waiter on one visit will be working in the kitchen next, while thecooks willworkthe tables in turn. It’s ademanding undertaking, part of aprogram designed to give students alot of training and experience in ashort span. NOCHI offersadifferentapproach for career building in hospitality,with an accelerated curriculum in asingle-semester certificate program.The aim is to provide an accessible, affordable jump-start in the field and help morepeople rise in management and other higher positions. Many students attend NOCHI with scholarships supported by donors, and proceeds from popups like Waliimo benefit those scholarships.

STAFF PHOTO By IAN McNULTy Caramelized himbasha is one of the desserts servedatthe Waliimo pop-up.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

n Laureled Alums

On arecent Saturday evening in the US FreedomPavilion: The Boeing CenterofThe NationalWWII Museum, Tulane University held its annualAlumni Awards Gala, honoringadedicated dozen. The 2025 dinner-awards gala was produced in partnershipwith the university’sA.B. FreemanSchool of Business, Celia ScottWeatherhead School of Public Health &TropicalMedicine, andSchool of Medicine. The top threesponsorcategorieswerePlatinum:The Times-Picayune|The Advocate and Nola.com; Silver: Melba’sand Phelps, Christopher K. Ralston,L’99; and Bronze: William T. Basco Jr ,A&S ’88 and Millibeth E. Currie, NC ’89, and Stanley J. Cohn,A&S ’78,L ’81

Guests smiled uponentering the huge event space. A brace of party models were onhand to offerChampagne from their “hoop” skirts. One modelsportedablue bustier and,all green, afull skirt, elbow-length gloves, jewelry and aprofusionoffeathersforming amassive collar.The reverse colors bedeckedthe second young woman.Green andblueare colors associatedwith the university,asiswhite,which appearedwith greenery in thecenterpiece roses.Many of thetables were covered in greenlinens. Furtherfeatures werethe giant screens that flanked the lecternatopthe stage; souvenirphotos; and the spirited music ofthe museum’sVictory band. Black tie was the optional dress code.

Ahalf- hour reception produced around of salutations among the attendees, who figured as alumni,and friends and families of the honorees.Aseated dinner ensued, along withthe program. Fairly promptly at 7p.m., Tulane Alumni Association President Jennifer Mills,NC’01, and Lori A. Hurvitz,associate vice presidentofAlumni Relations, opened the formalities withwords of welcome. Thefirstthreehonorees,all recipients ofthe Outstanding Alumni Award from their schools, were Andrew E. Friedman, B’99, A.B. Freeman School of Business; Paulin Basinga,PHTM ’06 and’09, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; and Joseph E. Bavaria,M.D., E’79, M’83, Tulane MedicalAlumni Association. They were presented, in turn, by Paulo Goes, business school dean; Thomas LaVeist,PHTM dean; and Lee Hamm,dean of the School of Medicine.

The Robert V. Tessaro Young Alumni Volunteer Award wentto AndrewA.Pritzker,and the GOLD Professional Achievement Award to Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez,each SLA ’14. The alum association’s August Martin,E ’93,PHTM ’00, presented both awards. An honoree of 2024, Charlotte B.Travieso, NC ’64, presented the Bobby Boudreau Spirit Award to Andrew L. Plauche Jr ,A&S ’69, L’72. Millibeth Currie, TAAvice president, presented the Scott Cowen Serviceand the Community Builder awards to Jane L.Wolfe,SLA ’12,and to Ruth Janelle Nguyen,SoPA’21. President Jennifer Mills was the presenter of the InternationalAward forExceptional Achievement andthe LisaJackson Professional Achievement Award to Daniel G. Bausch,M.D., F’94, PHTM ’94, and to Angela O’Byrne,A’83.

The final two recognitions, theDistinguishedAlumni and the Dermot McGlinchey Lifetime Achievement awards, thehighlights of an evening of many,went to John D. Georges,B’83, and to Myrna L. Daniels,NC ’52. Tulane UniversityPresident MikeFitts madethe presentations. John Georges is the CEO of Georges Enterprises, which currently operates morethan 50 businesses, including The Advocate. He further purchased the Gambit as well as The TimesPicayune and Nola.com,combining it with TheAdvocate. The honoree’scommunityand civic work has been, and continues to be, extensive Myrna Daniels, aretired speech pathologist, hasthree generations of Tulanians in her family,and three graduates of the School of Medicine. Myrna, aBrooklyn, New York, native, and her latehusband, John H. Daniels, aToronto architect, developer and founder of Daniels Corp., one of Ontario’slargest real estate companies, established along legacy of philanthropy.Her recentgifts to the university will fund geriatric initiatives andresearch. As did the other 11, she expressed gratitude forher awardand thanks to the university for her education. She concluded with“ILove NewOrleansand Tulane.”

After the well run program, attendees sought out the honorees for congratulations; headed to thedessert barfor thesuite of sweets; andnodded to the Victory band thatadded conclusive noteworthiness to the2025 AlumniAwardsGala. Elsewhere, and on theUptown Tulane campus at alater date, the Dedication of Richardson Memorial Hall —after the renovationand expansion of the 115-year-oldbuilding —drew hundreds at the invitation of the Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment. In addition to President Mike Fitts, theVIPs during theceremony were theabove Angela O’Byrne, chair of the dean’sAdvisory Council; Robin Forman,senior vice president for Academic Affairs and university provost; Analiese De Saw, master of architecture candidate, and president of theTSABE, graduategovernment,and Iñaki Alday, theRichard Koch Chair and TSABE dean. Areception followed the outdoors ceremony that was embellished by aplethora of green and blue balloons. Hours later,and within the building, aseated dinner welcomed select guests, who dined mostsatisfactorily on spring berry salad, beef short ribs and jumbo Gulf shrimp, and, afterward in thelobby, French macaroons.

n Treats to Eat

Marqueed “An Edible Evening,”the garden party under the starsbenefitted Edible Schoolyard NewOrleans at FirstLine Schools. Guests assembled within the transformedSamuel L. Green Charter School campus, wherethe garden chic aesthetic includedburlap-drapedtables,twinkle lights, avariety of potted plants, more than 100floral and herbbouquets fromESgardens, andwallslined with joyful student portraits.The outdoor area, whichincluded more food andbeveragetables, wastented and lighted. Attendees were thrilled to walk among the many types of localplant life. Manysipped the Manolito signature cocktail.

Nell Nolan SOCIETY

nnolan@theadvocate.com

PHOTOSByMARy STROUT

Vernal Vibes!

n Balmy Bash

The invitation riveted the eye. On ashocking pink background,and with designs of aflamingo and a palm frond, “Party NThe Palms”was scripted. That was the come-on forthe annual Newman N’Spiration fundraiser,which opted for abreezy,tropical style format. Centered under a brilliantly illuminated tent on KolbField, and with ambient decorationsoftropical plants, along with decorative large white/natural palm trees lent by school parents GlennyBeahm and Anna Schaefer, ’01, of Angle Events, 320 supporters ate, drank and caught up with one another The logo design was by school parent Hallie Lanier Boh,’93, while the decorations were created and organized by parents Sarah Webb,Rachelle Sanchez and Brett Lapeyre (with husbands Davis,Alfredo ’02, and James ’00). For the food and beverages, thanks tappedDickie Brennan&Co. Catering; Sazerac and Goldring Family Foundationand parents Walton and Jeff (’85) Goldring;and Cure, for the specialty rum cocktail created by parent Neal Bodenheimer,’95.

Special features weremyriad and included an auction, the Rolex Rafflesponsored by Lee Michaels (parents Vanessa and Chad Berg), and Key Event sponsorships, including support from Karen and Perry ’90 Eastman, Molly and Graham Wogan ’02, Paula and Mark Hennessy,the Goldrings and the Bergs.

To co-chair the event, Karen Eastman, Molly Wogan, Marley LeBourgeois and BetsyLaborde (with Perry,Graham, Michael and Gary) huddled. Assisting them were the auction’s AmyCasbarian and Katy Stafford Finger ’97(with Chris and Rick), as well as entertainment chair Anne Mizrahi ’04 (with Jon). All of this delighted head of school Dale M. Smith and wife Dara, NewmanParents Association President JenniferBurck and associate president Brian Yellin ’02 (with spouses Christian and Megan), and NPAboard members Kyle Walker, Lynn Swanson and John Lalla. The musical inspiration was by The Bayou Royals, wholured scores to the floor foracoronation of mighty dance moves.

Patrons assembled for an hour,and the mainevent pack for hours more. Special gratitude went to TheMurphy Foundation, Presqu’ileWinery,the Ruth U. Fertel Foundation Miggyand JayMonroe, Chartwells, and, as individuals, Cathyand Hunter Pierson. The cuisine was provided by 28 generous food service partners and featuredsuchdishesasshrimp remoulade withgreen tomato chow chow,boudin balls, and phospiced chicken lettuce wraps.Presqu’ile Wines andother libationscomplemented thefood Raffleexcitement generated action for 10

Reed,Tifferney White,Elisabeth Gentry, Carol

another annual attraction was the Market

program that “teaches students to

Showing their support were Randy Fertel,

coveted packages. Lady Luck tapped Jeanne Krieger, Mark Stein, Stephanie

Starr, Diana Archuleta, Raquel Engolio, RachelSwan and Kate MacMullan as winners. Yet

Table, which featured student-madeproducts forsale to support the

makehealthy connections to food, nature and community.”

Suzanne and Brad Leckert,Elizabeth and Keith Crawford, Koneca and Charles West,Alison Hartman, Katherine and StormAinsley,Adrienne and JayAltman, Karin Giger, Marianne and Alan Mumford,Tina Shannon,Dr. Allisyn Swift, Dominique Burns and family,and, from FirstLine, CEO SabrinaPence,development committee chair Patrick Kiernan,and school directors AvaLee, Carrie Bevans, Dione Singleton,and Glenda Baylis. Planting the seeds of dancing were Margie Perez andTetrad, as well as DJ Otto, who spun the beats duringthe Late Wave.

Joseph Bavaria, AndyPlauche

Janelle Nguyen, AndrewFriedman, Angela O’Byrne

AndrewPritzker,Paulin Basinga

John Georges, Myrna Daniels, MikeFitts, Jennifer Mills

Rachelle Sanchez, Sarah Webb

MarleyLeBourgeois, Betsy LaBorde,Karen Eastman, Molly Wogan DaleSmith, Jennifer Burck, Fred Hill

Amy Casbarian, Brett Lapeyre AvaLee, Glenda Baylis,Dione Singleton, CarrieBevans

Sabrina Pence, Charles West, Shanda Gentry

Shannon Cian, Patrick Kiernan Suzanne Leckert,Dominique Burns

GEMInI (May 21-June 20 — A vibrant approach will help you seal any deal you want to make. Speak up, bring about change and start implementing plans thatcontributetoyourmental,emotional and physical well-being.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) When your mind wanders and temptation mounts, return to reality. Too much of anything will cost you emotionally, financially or physically For now, research the possibilities, but wait to take action.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Verify facts, get what you want in writing and refrain fromtakingonmorethanyoucanhandle. Self-improvement, physical fitness and distancing yourself from bad influences will be in your best interest

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Keep your thoughts to yourself, your money in your wallet and your reputation safe from anyone trying to undermine or take advantage of you. Focus on what benefits you.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 22) Keep your emotions under wraps and proceed with intelligence, a solid plan and the courage to say no. Proper preparation and clear goals will help you navigate past anyone trying to outmaneuver you.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Stay on top of matters involving work, money and reputation. Anger won't go over well with superiors. Use your knowledge, experience and connections to ensure you have the support you need.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Contracts, property investments and financial

issues will involve challenges. Leave nothing to chance, get a second opinion andpreparetowalkawayifyoudon'tlike what you see or hear.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Be a good listener and give yourself time to ponder what's being said or done before joining forces with anyone. When uncertainty surfaces,considermovingforwardalone or looking elsewhere for a better deal.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Direct your energy at your target and fire away. Self-preservation and determination go together and will ensure that you come out a winner.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Give yourself a chancetobreatheandrejuvenate.Assess your situation, consider your options and expand your plans to include what will benefit you most emotionally and financially. Temptation is apparent ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Pay attention to money matters. Make room for something you want to pursue or purchase, but consider the implications and costs involved. Be realistic and honest with yourself and the people you encounter.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Think before you act. If you respond to something too quickly, you'll make a mistake. Assess your feelings, stress and overall health, and consider the changes you can make that will benefit your life.

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

FAMILY CIrCUS

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

toDAy's cLuE: y EQuALs V

CeLebrItY CIpher

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon

bIG

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER

Warren Buffett said, “I don’t look to jump over seven-foot bars; I look around for one-foot bars that I can step over.”

At the bridge table, if you have the necessary values, sometimes you have to jump. But at least you can do it while staying firmly anchored in your chair.

With that huge hint, it should not be hardtoworkoutwhatSouthshouldrebid in today’s deal, after opening one heart and hearing partner respond one spade. South should rebid three hearts, which shows at least a six-card suit and typically seven winners. This usually equates to 15 or 16 high-card points (perhaps an excellent 14 or an uninteresting 17). This hand is a maximum, but that does not hurt occasionally.

The play in four hearts should not be so tough. After West takes three club tricks and shifts to a spade, South wins the fourth trick with his king, draws trumps, unblocks the diamond ace, crosses to the spade ace, and discards his last spade on the diamond king. As a defensive point, how should East card so that West knows he can cash three club tricks?

There are actually two solutions. A few pairs lead the queen from ace-kingqueen, partner being asked to give a countsignal.Here,therefore,Eastwould play first the six, then the three, to show an even number. Alternatively, if West starts with the club ace, East would play his three to deny the queen, the honor touching the two promised by West’s lead. Then West should continue with the club queen and East should signal remaining count, playing the four to say that he has an odd number left. © 2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD = gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters 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 words are not allowed.

toDAy’s WoRD — sAccHARIn: SAK-uh-rin: A crystalline compound used as a calorie-free sweetener.

Average mark 24 words Time limit 40 minutes

Can you find 32 or more words in SACCHARIN?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD — REVEILLE

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard

Scrabble GramS

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.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer 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

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe iS roSe

DuStin

Drabble

TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTELEGALS

recommendationsfor thebestapproach to designing the new facility to meet theCity’sworkflow,general public, and service delivery needs. Such rationale reportistobeprovided based on research of similar communities’facilities and best practices. Rough estimated construction costsshall be provided for each conceptual plan/rendition provided At least one public meetingwill be conducted to present to the public conceptual plans/renderingstogather public input.

Project may require environmental clearance documentation/ services to meet LA-OCD and HUD requirements

Kenner will seek forrecommendationsfor improvements to reduce the risks fromdamagefromfuturedisasters, incorporation of energy efficient componentsand modern information technology practices

Current rough estimated total budget forthe entireproject is $4.4M. Kenner reserves theright to reduce thescopeof work of the project to accommodate available funding.Due to limited funds,project may have to be split into phases Kenner will be lobbying forStateand Federal funds forthe project, as it progresses.

Kenner will only enter intoanAgreement/Contract witha firm or person submitting aStatement of Qualificationsasthe prime firm/person/consultantfor theproject. Kenner will not be entering into an Agreementwith sub-consultantsspecified in the Statement of Qualifications.

Sub-consultants do play afactorintothe Evaluation Criteria of the Statement of Qualifications. Kenner reserves theright to select one or more persons or firms forthis project.

Kenner is an EqualOpportunity Employer.Weencourage small and minority owned firmsand women’s business enterprises to participate in this solicitation

Agreements will only be executedafter afundingsourceis established andproperapprovals are received fromentities involved with the financing of theproject.

COMPENSATION

Compensationwill be on an hourly ratebasis or a fixed lump sum fee basis per individualworktask, or acombination of both depending on scope and complexityofwork. Forhourly rate agreements and tasks, amaximum limitation amount shall be establishedinthe agreement.Kenner reserves the right to dictatethe methodofpayment.

For hourly rate agreements/tasks, theconsultant shall be compensated on thebasis of areasonable certified and itemized salarycost plusanacceptable fee to cover overhead cost and profit. Kenner reserves theright to establish maximum direct andpayable hourly rates based on personnel classifications.

Compensationfor Designand Construction Administration Services (Basic Services) is to be provided on alumpsum fee basis based on thefollowingschedule/componentsof payments:

Preliminary Phase– 25% of lumpsum fee Design Phase –50% of lump sumfee

Bidding Phase –5%oflumpsum fee Construction Phase– 15% of lumpsum fee Record Drawing Phase –5%oflump sumfee

Duties included/covered under each of thephases mentioned above shall be negotiated withthe selected firm/personand shall be mutually agreeable to bothparties

As aminimum, this project is expected to require the following supplemental services,which mayrequirethe use of sub-consultants: ► Surveying Services ► Geotechnical Services

► TrafficEngineering Services

► Environmental Clearance Services

► LandscapeArchitectural Services

► Electrical Engineering Services forSite Lighting Requirements

Notes: oThe need forany additional supplementaryservices required forthis project (other than theones presented above) will be considered with proper justification

oProject will not require Resident Inspection andTesting of Construction Materials Services. Kenner reserves theright to select proper firmsfor these services at proper time.

oSupplementary Services work tasks can be performed by qualified personnelwithin the firm/person stafforvia the use of sub-consultants.

oThe preparation of adesign rationale report will be required forthis project. Paymentfor such reportistobe made on alumpsum or hourly ratebasis. Kennerreserves the right to establishmethod of payment.

oAll sub-consultantslisted in theSOQ submitted by the firm/personmust submit aStatement of Qualifications (SOQ) in Professional Services Evaluation Committee Format.

All fees shall be negotiated with theperson/firm and shall be mutually agreeable to bothparties

In the event that Kenner and person/firm cannot reach an agreement on project (professional services) fees, Kenner reserves the right to select another person/firm forthe project.

All costs associated withthe project shall be subject to the approval of theMayor, Kenner Council and any entities involved with the financingofthe project

“MINIMUM” REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTION

•The personsor firms under consideration shall have a least one principal who is alicensed/registered architect or professional engineer in theStateofLouisiana. A subcontractor/sub-consultant may not be used to meet this requirement.

•The personsor firms under consideration shall have a professional in charge of theproject who is alicensed registered architect or Civil Engineer in theState of Louisiana with aminimumof five (5) years of experience. Professional experience indicates architectural/ engineering work performed with aProfessional Architectural/Engineering license. Asubcontractor/subconsultant maynot be used to meet this requirement.

•The personsor firmsunder consideration shall have at least one (1) employee who is alicensed, registered architect andCivil Engineer in theStateofLouisiana, with aminimumof five (5) yearsofexperience in theplanning and design of local governmentfacilities. Personnel envisioned beingrequiredfor this project is as follows: ► Architect ► Electrical Engineer ► Mechanical Engineer ► Structural Engineer Professional architectural/engineering experience indicates architectural/engineering work performed with aProfessional Architectural/Engineering license. Asubcontractor/subconsultant may

risks fromfuturedisasters and be implemented underFEMA’s Hazard Mitigation 406 and Alternative Procedures 428 Plan – 15 points maximum

All firms(including sub-consultants) must submit aStatement of Qualifications(SOQ) in Professional Services Evaluation Committee Format. Interested firmsmustsubmit one (1) original, (5) copies andadigital copy on a flash drive forthis Statement of Qualificationstothe Office of Finance, Cityof Kenner, 1610 ReverendRichardWilson Drive, Building D, Kenner, LA 70062 no later than JUNE 24, 2025 BY 10:00 A.M. Packetscan also be submitted electronically viawww centralauctionhouse.com.Nosubmittalswill be accepted after this deadline. Any inquiries regarding this SOQ should be sentinwriting to Fincontracts@kenner.la.us no later than five (5) working days before deadlinesubmission. Kenner reserves theright to reject anyand all submissions.

Michael J. Glaser Tamithia P. Shaw Mayor Director,Office of Federal City of KennerProgram Compliance City of Kenner SOQ No. 25-6905 MAY21, 28 AND JUNE 4, 2025 ADV.THE ADVOCATE

PUBLIC NOTICE

The CityofKenner(Kenner) is soliciting thesubmittal of Statement of Qualifications(SOQ’s) from persons or firms interested andqualified to provide professional mechanical andelectrical engineering services for installation of a generatoratthe CityofKennerFoodBank.

GENERAL INFORMATION

TheCity of Kenner FoodBank located at 317 OxleyStreet, Kenner,LA70062 provides food and resources to those eligible individuals and families seeking assistance in the CityofKenner.The cityapplied and was awarded agrant, as asubgrantee of JeffersonParish,through theGovernor’s Office of Homeland Securityand Emergency Preparedness (hereinafterreferredtoas“GOHSEP”) to installa250kw diesel generatorwith weatherenclosure fuel tankand transfer switch.

Within theproject site, thereare two(2) exterior refrigeration units and an enclosed garbagereceptacle area.

Persons or firmsmustbefamiliar with GOHSEP and/or FEMA rules and regulations,asKenner will be receiving financial assistance fromboth agencies. Therefore, the project will be subject to all applicable Federal rules and regulations

Plans andspecificationswill be subject to review and approval by GOHSEP,FEMA, Kenner’s Planning/Code Enforcement/ Public Works Departments, and theStateFire Marshal’s Office andKennerFire Department.

Persons or firms selected will be required to prepare engineered designs, inclusive of conceptual plans/renditions withrecommendationsfor thebest approach to the installation of thegeneratortomeet theCity’sworkflow general public, and service deliveryneeds. Such rationale reportistobeprovided based on research of similar communities’ facilities and best practices. Rough estimated construction costs shall be provided foreach conceptual plan/ renditionprovided

Project may require environmental clearance documentation/ services to meet GOHSEP and/or FEMA requirements.

Kenner will seek forrecommendationsfor improvements to reduce therisks fromdamagefrom future disasters, incorporation of energyefficient componentsand modern informationtechnology practices

Current roughestimated total budget forthe entire project is $157,000. Kenner reserves therighttoreduce thescope of workofthe project to accommodateavailable funding.

Kenner will only enter intoanAgreement/Contract with a firm or personsubmitting aStatement of Qualifications as the prime firm/person/consultantfor theproject. Kenner will not be entering into an Agreement withsub-consultants specified in theStatement of Qualifications.

Sub-consultantsdoplay afactorintothe Evaluation Criteria of theStatement of Qualifications. Kenner reserves theright to select one or more persons or firmsfor this project

Kenner is an EqualOpportunity Employer.Weencourage small and minorityowned firms and women’sbusiness enterprises to participateinthis solicitation.

Agreements will only be executed after afunding source is establishedand proper approvals are received fromentities involved withthe financing of theproject.

COMPENSATION

Compensationwill be on an hourly ratebasis or a fixed lump sumfee basis per individualworktask, or acombinationof bothdepending on scope and complexity of work. For hourly rate agreementsand tasks, amaximumlimitation amount shall be established in theagreement. Kenner reserves the right to dictate themethod of payment.

For hourly rate agreements/tasks,the consultantshall be compensated on thebasis of areasonable certified and itemized salary cost plusanacceptable fee to cover overhead costand profit. Kenner reserves theright to establish maximumdirect andpayable hourly rates based on personnel classifications.

For fixed fee work, thefee shall be negotiated with the firm by theappropriate JeffersonParishDepartment and shall be mutually agreeable to bothparties

All fees shall be negotiated withthe person/firm and shall be mutually agreeable to bothparties

In theeventthat Kenner and person/firm cannot reach an agreementonproject (professionalservices) fees, Kenner reserves theright to select another person/firm forthe project All costs associated withthe project shall be subject to the approval of theMayor,Kenner Counciland any entities involved withthe financing of theproject.

“MINIMUM” REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTION

The persons or firms under consideration shall have at least one (1) principal who is alicensed,registered professional engineer in theStateofLouisiana. Asubcontractor may not be used to meet this requirement.

Thepersons or firmsunder consideration shall have a professionalinchargeofthe Project who is alicensed, registered professionalmechanical or electrical engineer in theState of Louisiana withaminimum of five (5) years’ experience. Asubcontractor may not be used to meet this requirement.

Thepersons or firmsunder consideration shall have one (1) employee who is alicensed,registered professional mechanical or electrical engineer in theState of Louisianain

forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit:

916 N TONTIST NEWORLEANS LA 70119 LOTS:1 AND2 SQUARE:294 SECOND MUNIC‐IPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 909085 WRIT AMOUNT:

$119,538.55

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 24 LOGS LEGAL GROUPLLP 504838-7535 AMYR.ORTIS

SUBDIVISION WRIT AMOUNT: $269,111.29

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 8 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYG YOUNG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025 APR23-MAY282T $90.36

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025

APR23-MAY282T $90.36

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBERS48144816 SHALIMAR DR,CITYOF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:WILM‐INGTON SAV‐INGS FUND SO‐CIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UAL CAPACITY,BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR CSMC 2022NQM3 TRUST, A DELAWARE STATUTORY TRUSTVERSUS DRANCORP LLC ANDDAMIAN RANDOLPH CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-4575

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 4814-4816 SHAL‐IMAR DR NEW ORLEANS, LA 70126 LOT3 -SQUARE F 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1316328 SHALIMAR SUB‐DIVISION WRIT AMOUNT: $114,374.20 Seized in the

abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order.NoPer‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 25 LOGS LEGAL GROUPLLP 504838-7535 EMILYA MUELLER

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025

APR23-MAY282T $96.71

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1310 MAZANT ST CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:HOME BANK,N.A VER‐SUSIMAGINE DEVELOPERS LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-9842

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictof theCity on May29, 2025, at 12:00o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 1310 MAZANT ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70117 LOTX -SQUARE 534

3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1390372 WRIT AMOUNT: $207,092.11

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 18 NEWMAN, MATHIS,BRADY &SPEDALE A PROFESSIONAL LAWCORP504837-9040 WAYNEA.MAIO‐RANA,JR.

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 &

5/28/2025

APR23-MAY282T $89.30

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 13134 DWYERBOULE‐VARD,THISCITY, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:U.S BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEEFOR ASSETBACKED FUNDING CORPORATION ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006 HE1 VERSUS JAMES EDWARD BATISTE, JR. A/K/AJAMES E. BATISTE, JR. A/K/AJAMES BATISTE, JR. A/K/AJAMES EDWARDS BATISTE, JR. ANDJANIE BRADFORD BATISTEA/K/A JANIEB.BATISTE A/K/AJANIE BATISTE

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-10935

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 13134 DWYERBD

NEWORLEANS, LA 70129 LOT: 29, SQUARE:6 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 865426 WRIT AMOUNT:

$75,852.63

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 22

LAWOFFICES OF HERSCHEL C. ADCOCK,JR. LLC (225) 756-0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐

cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025

APR23-MAY282T $98.30

VERSUS ROBERT A. DUBOIS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-8344

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 2622-2624 MAR‐TINLUTHER KING BD NEW ORLEANS, LA 70113 LOT9 -SQUARE 388 1STMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1432527 WRIT AMOUNT: $254,857.15

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 27 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYG YOUNG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025 APR23-MAY282T $90.36

NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2623 GOVERNOR NICHOLLS STREET THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:LOAN FUNDER LLC, SE‐RIES 38191 VER‐SUSCLAUDIAS HOUSE CLEANING,LLC ANDTELMA TO‐NIOLO CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR

S Case No: 2024-9245 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty

SQUARE 344, LOTR SECOND MUNIC‐IPAL DISTRICT ACQ MIN:1395397 WRIT AMOUNT: $219,005.00

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

BT 30

THELAW OFFICE OF KYLE S. SCLAFANI LLC KYLE SCLAFANI

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025

APR23-MAY282T $89.83

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBERS48144816 SHALIMAR DR,CITYOF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:WILM‐INGTON SAV‐INGS FUND SO‐CIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UAL CAPACITY,BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR CSMC 2022NQM3 TRUST, A DELAWARE STATUTORY TRUSTVERSUS DRANCORP LLC ANDDAMIAN RANDOLPH CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-4575

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 4814-4816 SHAL‐IMAR DR NEW ORLEANS, LA 70126 LOT3 -SQUARE F 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1316328 SHALIMAR SUB‐DIVISION WRIT AMOUNT: $114,374.20

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 25 LOGS LEGAL GROUPLLP 504838-7535 EMILYA MUELLER

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025

APR23-MAY282T

$96.71

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2000 S. CLAIBORNEAV, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:U.S BANK TRUST COMPANY, NA‐TIONAL ASSOCI‐ATION, AS TRUSTEE FORVELOCITY COMMERCIAL CAPITALLOAN TRUST2023-1 VERSUS J. PAUL HOLDINGS LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-5743

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 2000 SCLAI‐BORNEAVNEW ORLEANS, LA 70125 LOTA -SQUARE 397 4THMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1423416 WRIT AMOUNT: $294,000.00

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 26 MCCABE LAW FIRM,LLC 504782-3436 RYAN M. MC‐CABE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025

APR23-MAY282T $91.95

TITLED:NATHAN PSTEIN VERSUS SARAHE JOHNS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2018-12306

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit:

Acertain lotof ground,to‐gether with all thebuildings, improvements thereon, andall of the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes,ap‐purtenances, andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Orleans, State of Louisiana, in that part thereof knownasthe SEVENTHDIS‐TRICT, SQUARE 337 thereof, bounded by Nel‐son, Eagle, South Claiborne, and Gen. Ogden Streets, desig‐natedbythe Letter“C” on survey by W. J. &G.J Seghers, dated February 14, 1923, annexed to an actbefore Ignatius E. Usonian, Notary Public,dated September25, 1925, andac‐cordingto which,saidlot measures 37 feet,7 inches frontonNelson Street,by a depthof150 feet,9 inches and6 lines, be‐tween equal andparallel lines. Theabove de‐scriptionand measurements arealsoin ac‐cordance with thesurvey made by Sterling Mandle Land Surveyor, datedFebruary 17, 1972, acopy of which is an‐nexedtoanact of purchase be‐fore Curtis Allen Hennesy, Notary Public,dated February 2, 1972 registered in theConveyance RecordsofOr‐leansParish, Louisianain COD705, Folio 530, andwhich survey further indicatedthat said Lot“C” commences at a distance of 75 feet,2 inches from the corner of Nel‐son, andGen OgdenStreets. Improvements thereonbear MunicipalNo. 8826 28 Nelson Street

WRIT AMOUNT: $223,071.47

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 3803 3805 STATEST DRIVE, THIS CITY, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:FREE‐DOMMORT‐GAGE CORPORA‐TION VERSUS LUIS OCHOA CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-1389

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order.NoPer‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED

SusanHutson Sheriff,

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLOFTHE BUILDINGSAND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALLOFTHE RIGHTS,WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES ANDADVAN‐TAGESTHERE‐UNTO BELONG‐INGORIN ANYWISEAP‐PERTAINING SITUATED IN THESIXTH DIS‐TRICTOFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, PARISH OF OR‐LEANS, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT PART THEREOF KNOWNAS STATESTREET DRIVE, BLOOM‐INGDALE, BOUNDEDBY STATESTREET FONTAINEBLEAU DRIVE, VIN‐CENNESPLACE (LOWER LINE OF BLOOMING‐DALE), SOUTHTONTI STREET AND SOUTHCLAI‐BORNEAVENUE, ACCORDINGTO SURVEY MADE BY GILBERT, KELLY &COUTURIE, INC.,DATED FEB‐RUARY14, 1979. SAID LOTIS DESIGNATED AS LOT72AND PART OF LOT73, ANDCOM‐MENCES AT A DISTANCE OF 311 FEET 2 INCHES 2LINES FROM THEIN‐TERSECTION OF STATESTREET AND FONTAINEBLEAU DRIVE, AND MEASURES THENE45FEET FRONTON STATESTREET DRIVE, AWIDTH IN THEREAROF 45 FEET 0 INCHES 1LINE, ANDDEPTH ON ITS SIDELINE NEARER TO FONTAINEBLEAU DRIVEOF88 FEET 10 INCHES ANDA DEPTH ON ITSOPPO‐SITE SIDELINE OF 89 FEET 7 INCHES BEING COMPOSED OF THEWHOLD OF ORIGINAL LOT72AND ONE HALF OF ORIGI‐

NALLOT 73; SUBJECTTO RESTRICTIONS, SERVITUDES RIGHTS OF WAY ANDOUTSTAND‐INGMINERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AF‐FECTINGTHE PROPERTY

WRIT AMOUNT:

$266,508.19

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at the moment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 12 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318 388 1440 CANDANCE A. COURTEAU

The N.O. Advo‐cate Date (s):

4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025

APR23-MAY282T $137.48

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1 ROSEDOWN COURT, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:U.S BANK TRUST NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATION, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR RCAF ACQUISI‐TION TRUST VERSUS DAMON SMOTHERS AKADAMON B. SMOTHERS AND CHAUNA B. JONES

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-10664

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLBUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, SITU‐ATED IN THE FIFTHDISTRICT OF THECITYOF NEW ORLEANS, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT THEREOF KNOWNASENG‐LISHTURN SUBDIVISION, PHASEIII, ON A PLAN OF SUBDI‐VISION PRE‐PAREDBYJJ KREBS& SONS,INC DATEDJANUARY 14, 1991, ANDIS REGISTEREDIN COBINSTRU‐MENT #49302. AC‐CORDINGTO

SAID PLAN SAID LOTISDESIG‐NATEDASLOT SIX(6) ANDIS BOUNDED BY OAKALLEY DRIVE, ROSE‐DOWN COURT, ENGLISHTURN DRIVE ANDA 52.50 FOOT DRAINAGE SERVITUDE AND IS MORE PAR‐TICULARLYDE‐SCRIBEDAS FOLLOWS: LOT6 MEA‐SURES185 FEET FRONTON ROSEDOWN COURTWITHA DEPTHAND FRONTONOAK ALLEYDRIVE OF 224.05 FEET,A WIDTHINTHE REAR ALONG THELINE SEPARATING LOT6 FROM LOTS 4AND 5 OF 206.21 FEET,AND ADEPTH ALONG THE SIDELINESEPA‐RATING LOT 6 FROM LOT7 OF 213.13 FEET; SUBJECTTO RESTRICTIONS, SERVITUDES, RIGHTS OF WAY ANDOUTSTAND‐INGMINERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AF‐FECTINGTHE PROPERTY

WRIT AMOUNT:

$443,771.44

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 3 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318 3881440

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025 APR23-MAY282T $133.24

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 4610 CARDENAS DR, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:UMB BANK,NA‐TIONAL ASSOCI‐ATION, NOTIN ITSINDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUTSOLEY AS LEGALTITLE TRUSTEEFOR LVSTITLE TRUST XIII VERSUS BRANDON MAGEE

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-7415

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit:

4610 CARDENAS DR NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70127

LOT 12 -SQUARE 3 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1166536 CORONADO HEIGHTSSUBDI‐VISION WRIT AMOUNT: $87,187.14

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 2 LAWOFFICESOF HERSCHEL C. ADCOCK,JR. LLC (225) 756-0373

DENNISF WIGGINS

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025

may 28-jul2-2t $93.10

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 3081 BOYD ST,CITY OF NEWOR‐LEANS, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:GIT‐SITSOLUTIONS LLC, NOTINITS INDIVIDUAL CA‐PACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEEOFGIT‐SITMORTGAGE LOAN TRUSTBB‐PLC1 VERSUS LOUISDAVIS,SR.

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-1760

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 3081 BOYD ST NEWORLEANS LA 70131 LOT 47 -SQUARE 2 5THMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 944655 WRIT AMOUNT: $185,254.33

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of

Orleans

RB 3

DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025 may28-jul2-2t $90.89

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 5530 SAMOVAR DRIVE, THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:U.S BANK TRUST NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATIONNOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UALCAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR RCF2ACQUISI‐TION TRUST VERSUS DURELL DEVINHARK‐LESS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-10441

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit:

5530 SAMOVAR DR NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70126 LOT: 15, SQUARE:C THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQ MIN:1275702 WILLOW TREE SUBDIVISION WRIT AMOUNT: $181,506.33

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 9 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 CANDACEA COURTEAU

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025 may28-jul2-2t $93.10

WILLIAM, JR.,IN HIS CAPACITY AS ADMINISTRA‐TOROFTHE SUCCESSIONOF DONALD E. WILLIAMS,SR. A/K/ADONALD E. WILLIAMS,SR. A/K/ADONALD WILLIAMS,SR. A/K/ADONALD E. WILLIAMS A/K/ADONALD WILLIAMS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-1398

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 1200-02 MILTON ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70122 LOTS 24A,26A AND27A 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1022245 WRIT AMOUNT:

$105,502.41

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff,

Parish of Orleans RB 23 THELAW OF‐FICESOFHER‐SCHELC.AD‐COCK,JR.,L.L.C (225) 756-0373 DENNISF.WIG‐GINS,JR.

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025 may28-jul2-2t $96.18

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND,BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NO.1619 GEN‐ERAL PERSHING STREET,CITYOF NEWORLEANS IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:US BANK TRUST NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATION, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR VRMTGASSET TRUSTVERSUS DIONEDUHON A/K/ADIONE DUHON MCPHAIL CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2022-1828

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 1619 GENERAL PERSHING STREET PART OF LOT24 ANDLETTERF

SQUARE 416, SIXTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, ACQUIRED MIN 1064037 WRIT AMOUNT: $197,243.25

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 7 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 CANDACEA COURTEAU

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025 may28-jul2-2t $93.10

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 530 S SCOTTST, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:WILM‐INGTON TRUST, N.A.,NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CA‐PACITY,BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEEOF MFRA TRUST 2014-2VERSUS PORCHE ENTER‐PRISELLC AND MORRIS PORCHE

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-9146

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 530 S SCOTTST NEWORLEANS LA 70119 LOT22- SQUARE 736 1STMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1396278 WRIT AMOUNT: $221,938.95

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 4 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYG YOUNG TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025 may28-jul2-2t $90.89

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 4965 SANDALWOOD STREET,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:FREE‐DOMMORT‐GAGE CORPORA‐TION VERSUS BARBARAANN JONESAND KIM MARIEJONES AS INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRA‐TORS OF THE SUCCESSION OF WALTER LEE JONESAND REBECCAFAIR‐FAXJONES

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2022-5492

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 4965 SANDAL‐WOOD STREET LOT23, SQUARE 18, THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT LAKELAND ACRESADDI‐TION SUBDIVI‐SION ACQUIRED MIN 1253843 WRIT AMOUNT: $142,734.82

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐

trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 1100 MERRILL ST NEWORLEANS, LA 70114 LOT: 15, SQUARE:3 FIFTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1407256 SOUTHLAWN SUBDIVISION WRIT AMOUNT: $116,409.56

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check,Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

NUMBER 2709 FRANKFORTST, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED: WELLS FARGOBANK, N.A. VERSUS THEUNOPENED SUCCESSION OF ANDUNKNOWN HEIRSOFERIN HERBERT A/K/A ERINHERBERT CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR T FO R PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-00652

sonalChecks. FACEMASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans RB 21 THELAW OF‐FICESOFHER‐SCHELC.AD‐COCK,JR.,L.L.C (225) 756-0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

on May29, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 3435 LOUISIANA AVENUE PARK‐WAY LOTA,SQUARE D, SIXTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQUIRED MIN 1290658 WRIT AMOUNT: $318,750.00

CITY,INTHE MATTER ENTITLED:THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKATHE BANK OF NEWYORK AS TRUSTEEFOR THE CERTIFICATE HOLDERSOF CWABSINC ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES SERIES 2004-2 VERSUS WEBB SIMMONSJR. ANDATHENA WLLIAMS SIM‐MONS

y Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

veyofGilbert,Kelly & Couturie,Inc Surveying andEngineering, dated September25,

S Case No: 2024-3956

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans GH 10 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025 may28-jul2-2t $89.30

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL PUBLIC NOTICE

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 2709 FRANK‐FORT ST NEW ORLEANS, LA 70122 LOTB -SQUARE 5296 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1086743 WRIT AMOUNT: $85,379.00

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐

ADVERTISEMENT

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025 may28-jul2-2t $89.83

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND,BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NO.3435 LOUISIANAAV‐ENUE PARKWAY, CITY OF NEWORLEANS, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:TVC FUNDINGIV, LLC VERSUS LA PKWY 2LLC CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR

S Case No: 2023-1802

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

BT 4 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ELIZABETH CROWELLPRICE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 4/23/2025 & 5/28/2025

APR23-MAY282T $87.71

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT PORTION OF GROUND BEARINGMU‐NICIPALNO. 4950 ST.ROCH AVENUE,THIS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2022-5253

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 4950 ST.ROCH AVENUE LOTS 13, 14 AND 15, SQUARE 56, THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, GENTILLY TER‐RACE ACQMIN: 747973 WRIT AMOUNT: $112,152.48

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

GH 8 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 CANDACEA COURTEAU

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025 may28-jul2-2t $93.54

PUBLIC NOTICE 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURTFOR THEPARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOFLOUISIANA NUMBER:855-068 DIVISION:F SUCCESSION OF WILFREDO ENRIQUE ROSALES NOTICE OF INTENT TO SELL IMMOVABLE PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE WHEREAS, thecourt ap‐pointedAdministratrix, Eleonora Orellana,ofthe aboveestatehas made an applicationtothe courtfor thesaleofthe followingimmovable property hereinafterde‐scribed: ACERTAIN LOTOF GROUND,together with allthe buildingsand im‐provements thereon, and allofthe rights,ways, servitudes,appurte‐nances andadvantages thereuntobelonging or in anywiseappertaining, situated in theThird Dis‐trictofthisCity, in Square 388, bounded by St.ClaudeAvenue,Touro Marias andFrenchman Streets, designated by theLetter“K” on a sketch of H. L. Gilbert, Surveyor,dated Septem‐ber9,1924, andmeasure thirty-two feet,four inches andtwo lines (32’4”2”’) frontonSt. Claude Avenue,thirtytwo(32’)feet in therear, by adepth on theside‐line towards TouroStreet of onehundred and thirty-three feet,eleven inches andfourlines (133’11”4”’),and adepth on thesidelinetowards FrenchmenStreet of one hundred andtwentynine feet,two inches andone line (129’2”1”’).SaidLot K commences at adis‐tanceofone hundred fifty-onefeet,six inches andseven lines(151’6” 7”’) from thecornerofSt. Claude Avenue and FrenchmanStreet.All in accordance with asur‐

Many Americansare fortunate to havedental coverage fortheir entire working life, through employer-provided benefits.Whenthose benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to putoff or even go without care. Simply put —without dentalinsurance, there may be an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.

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work canwear out Even if you’ve had quality dental work in thepast, you shouldn’ttakeyourdental health forgranted.Infact, yourodds of having adentalproblem only go up as you age.2 Treatment is expensive— especially theservicespeople over 50 oftenneed.

Consider these national average costs of treatment. $222 fora checkup .$190 for afilling. $1,213 fora crown.3 Unexpected bills likethis can be arealburden especially if you’re on afixed income.

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estate,thatany opposition to thepro‐posedsalemustbe filed within seven(7) days from thedateofthe last publicationofthisnotice. Atty.: LoganH.Green‐berg;4038 OakBend Lane;Madisonville, LA 70447; (844) 999-9912; logan@sunriselawgroup. com 142609-may27-28-2t $97.20

PUBLIC NOTICE CIVILDISTRICTCOURT FORTHE PARISH OF ORLEANS STATEOFLOUISIANA NO.: 2023-00689 DIVISION “E-7 SUCCESSION OF JOHN HENRYHALL, JR. AND NO.: 2024-05527 DIVISION “I-5 SUCCESSION OF PATRICIA BATESHALL NOTICE NOTICE IS GIVEN that JANIACELESTINE,Admin‐istratrixofthe Succes‐sionsofJohnHenry Hall Jr.and Patricia Bates Hall, hasmadeanappli‐cation to theCourt for theprivate sale of the decedents’ interest in theimmovableproperty herein described, to-wit: ONECERTAIN LOTOF GROUND,togetherwith allthe buildingsand im‐provements thereon, and allofthe rights,ways, privileges,servitudes, advantagesand appurte‐nances thereuntobe‐longing, or in

Barcelo, Jr C.E. datedJune 9, 1955, re‐visedNovember12, 1956, revisedFebruary6,1957, in Square No.8,bounded by LauradaleDrive,Mag‐ellanStreet,SauxLane andCopernicusStreet which said lotisdesig‐natedasLot No.2 on the said plan of subdivision andsurveybyJ.J Barcelo, Jr andaccord‐ingthereto andaccord‐ingtoa survey by WilliamMaier,C.E dated October6,1958, said Lot No.2 commences at a distance of 67.46 feet from thecornerofLau‐radale Driveand Magel‐lanStreet andmeasures thence 67.46 feet fronton LauradaleDrive,the same in width andfront on Saux Lane,inthe rear by adepth of 75 feet be‐tween equaland parallel lines; andaccording to survey by Gilbert, Kelly i d d