The Advocate 06-13-2025 by The Advocate

Israel launches attack on Iran

Officialssay nuclearand military sitestargeted

BY JON GAMBRELL and JOSEF FEDERMAN Associated Press

JERUSALEM Israelattacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted thecountry’snuclear program and raised the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It

appeared to be the most significantattack Iran has faced sinceits 1980s war with Iraq, with multiple sites around the country hit Theleader of Iran’sparamilitary Revolutionary Guard wasfeared dead, Iranian state television reported, adevelopment that would be amajor body blow to Tehran’s governing theocracy and an im-

mediateescalation of thenations’ long-simmering conﬂict. Thereport offered few details about what happened to Gen.Hossein Salami but said that another top Guard ofﬁcial,aswellastwo nuclear scientists, werealso feared dead.

Israeli leaders said theattack was necessarytohead off what

theydescribed as an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, and they warned of a reprisal that could target civilians in Israel. In Washington,the Trump administration, which earliercautioned Israel against an attack amid continuing negotiations, said thatithad not been involved in the attack and warned Iran against retaliations against U.S. interests or personnel

Multiple sites in the capital were hit in the attack, whichIsraeli Prime MinisterBenjaminNetanyahu saidtargeted both nuclear and military sites. Also targeted were ofﬁcials leading Iran’snuclear program andits ballistic missile arsenal.

Theassault came amid warnings from Israel that it would not permit Tehran to build anuclear

ä See ISRAEL, page 9A

Pharmacy bill killed on last dayofsession

Governor says he will call legislatorsbackoverissue

Rep. Dustin Miller,D-Opelousas, wavesasRep.Michael Echols, R-Monroe, thanks

264 during the finalminutes of the 2025 legislativesession on Thursday

BY ALYSE PFEIL

and MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writers

With just an hour left in the regular session, the Louisiana Senate on Thursday killed acontroversialbill that would have barred companies from owning both pharmacy beneﬁts managers and pharmacies.

That decision defied Gov.Jeff Landry,who said he would call the Legislature back in for aspecialsession to address theissue.

“Yes we will have aspecial to lower

prescription drugs for our citizens. It’sthatimportant!” Landry said in astatement through aspokesperson. It was notclear when Landry might issue that call.

Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie,saidsenatorshad concernsabout the rapid pace at which House Bill358 was being considered —itonlyemerged fromaconferencecommittee with the language addressing PBMs on Wednesday afternoon.

ä See PHARMACY, page 5A

for

ä Attorneygeneralinvestigating CVS overmass text messages lobbying against pharmacylegislation. Page 6A

ä Legislature approves$51 billion budget on final dayofsession Page 7A

ä Landrynames newheadof Department of Transportation and Development. Page 7A

ä Compromise reached on measure forcleaning up drilling sites. Page 2B

DA:Massage parlor owners remain elusive

Wednesdaycrackdown was highest profile raid since2022

BY AIDAN MCCAHILL Staff writer

Afterasweeping raid on nine massage parlors acrossEastBaton Rouge Parish this week, District Attorney Hillar Moore said it remains unclear whether the owners will ultimately be held accountable forfacilitating prostitution.

What is clear,Moore said, is that thenine businesses were only the worst offenders among dozens of massage parlors that Baton Rouge business owners and residents havelongcomplained about.

Shortly after undercover sheriff’s deputies entered the locations Wednesdaymorning, local firefighters arrived andbegan citing fire code violations, ﬁnding beds wheremanyofthe masseuses slept. Meanwhile, ofﬁcials from the Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy began demanding licenses.

“None of them had alegitimate license,” Moore said.

“Thereare so many impediments to making adecent caseagainst them, and they know that.(Meanwhile) thosewho are already suffering themost —they are not as protected as theowner who is making the money.”

HILLAR MOORE, EastBaton RougeParish district attorney

About 10 a.m., law enforcement started executing warrants for prostitutionand pandering, both misdemeanors. It was the result of a monthslong investigationled by theEastBaton Rouge Parish Sheriff’sOffice, assisted by a laundry list of federal and state agencies, from the St. George Fire Departmenttothe state Attorney General’s Office, FBI andHomeland Security Investigations. It wasthe highest-profile crackdown on theindustry in the city since2022, when the Sheriff’s Office arrested three people forrunning aprostitution ring out of five local massageparlors though thenetworkallegedly spanned into Lake Charles, Lafayette and Broussard.Atthe time, 43-year-old ringleader Johnny Wang wasfound traveling from Houston to Baton Rouge weekly to collect money,while his wife launderedthe

ä See MASSAGE, page 8A

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Miller

his work on House Bill

At least 4 dead in San Antonio after heavy rains

SANANTONIO Heavy rains in San Antonio rapidly flooded roads, swept away submerged cars and sent some people scrambling up trees to escape fast-rising waters Thursday while ﬁreﬁghters made dozens of rescues across the nation’s seventh-largest city

At least four people died and two were still missing, authorities said. The deaths all occurred in the northeast part of the city, where authorities found over a dozen vehicles in the water Photos and video showed smashed and overturned vehicles submerged in a creek.

Some of the people rescued in that area said they were swept off an interstate access road by “sudden fast rising water,” San Antonio Fire Department spokesperson Joe Arrington said in an email. He said ﬂoodwaters swept vehicles into a creek and carried them downstream.

Crews were bringing in search dogs Thursday afternoon to help find missing people, Arrington said. By afternoon, crews could be seen pulling heavily damaged vehicles out of the creek. Calls for water rescues began before sunrise, ofﬁcials said. Two women and two men were found dead, according to police Chief William McManus, who did not have their ages.

“There were several people that were caught in that water that had climbed up into trees and we did do a couple of rescues out of trees and some rescues out of vehicles,” said ﬁre department spokesperson Woody Woodward.

Texas governor deploys National Guard troops

AUSTIN, Texas Texas Gov Greg Abbott said Thursday he has ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops, along with more than 2,000 state police, to help local law enforcement manage protests against President Donald Trump and the ongoing federal immigration raids.

Abbott’s announcement did not detail where the troops were sent, but some were seen at a protest Wednesday night in downtown San Antonio near the Alamo. That protest drew hundreds of demonstrators but did not erupt into violence. More protests are planned on Saturday in San Antonio and across Texas in cities such as Houston, Austin and Dallas as part of the national “No Kings” movement.

Protests earlier this week in Austin and Dallas led to brief clashes with police who used chemical irritants to disperse the crowds. About a dozen were arrested. The Republican Texas governor’s move stands in sharp contrast to California Gov Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, who has publicly clashed with Trump over his decision to deploy National Guard and Marine personnel in Los Angeles.

Nigerian leader denies one-party plan

ABUJA, Nigeria Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday denied that there were plans to turn Africa’s largest democracy into a one-party state, pushing back against claims that he’s using state mechanisms to convince high-profile opposition politicians to defect to the governing party

Several governors and federal lawmakers have left opposition parties in recent months to join Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress party Abdullahi Ganduje, the governing party’s chairman, has also said there was “nothing wrong” with Nigeria becoming a one-party state, angering many in a region threatened with shrinking democratic space.

In his Democracy Day address to federal lawmakers, Tinubu said that he would be “the last person” to advocate for Nigeria to drop its multiparty structure and adopt a one-party system.

“At no time in the past, nor any instance in the present, and at no future juncture shall I view the notion of a one-party state as good for Nigeria,” he said Dozens of youths meanwhile, staged protests in the nation’s economic hub of Lagos, where they accused the government of bad governance and profiting off state resources at the expense of millions of citizens.

Air India crash kills 241 aboard

BY AJIT SOLANKI and RAJESH ROY Associated Press

AHMEDABAD, India — An Air India plane

bound for London crashed in a residential area of Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff Thursday, killing 241 people on board, the airline said. One passenger who was thrown from the plane survived.

An unknown number of people on the ground were killed in the crash, including medical students in a college hostel when the plane hit the building and burst into ﬂames, said Vidhi Chaudhary, a top state police ofﬁcer in the northwestern city

“Most of the bodies have been charred beyond recognition,” she said.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah conﬁrmed that he met the sole survivor at the hospital. A doctor said he had examined the survivor, whom he identiﬁed as Vishwashkumar Ramesh.

“He was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body,” Dr Dhaval Gameti told The Associated Press. “But he seems to be out of danger.”

Another medic said Ramesh told him that immediately after the plane took off, it began descending and suddenly split in two, throwing him out before a loud explosion.

Black smoke billowed from the site where the plane crashed near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city of more than 5 million and the capital of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state Fireﬁghters doused the smoking wreckage of the plane, which would have been fully loaded with fuel shortly after takeoff, and adjacent multistory buildings with water Charred bodies lay on the ground and parts of the fuselage were

scattered around the site Indian army teams were assisting civil authorities to clear debris and help treat the injured.

A video on social media showed the jet slowly descending as if it were landing. As soon as it disappeared from view behind rows of houses, a giant fireball filled the sky The AP was able to verify the video by matching up the flight path of the plane from the runway with the crash site and the nearby residential area.

At the crash site, the tail cone of the aircraft with damaged stabilizer ﬁns still attached was lodged near the top of one of the buildings.

In a social media post, Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words” and said “my thoughts are with everyone affected.”

Sambit Patra, a lawmaker from Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said Gujarat’s former chief minister, Vijay Rupani, was among the dead.

Divyansh Singh, vice president of the Federation of All India Medical Association, said at least ﬁve students from the medical college were killed on the ground and 50 others were injured. Singh said some of them were in critical condition and many people are “feared buried in the debris.”

Air India confirmed in a statement posted on X that 229 passengers and 12 crew members were killed in the crash.

The only survivor was a British national of Indian origin. The ﬂight bound for London Gatwick Airport had 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian aboard.

“Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones,” the airline said.

Homeland Security pledges to carry on immigration crackdown

BY KRYSTA FAURIA, OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem pledged Thursday to carry on with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown despite waves of unrest across the U.S.

Hours later a judge issued a temporary restraining order directing President Donald Trump to return control to California over National Guard troops he deployed to assist with immigration enforcement and controlling disturbances.

The federal judge’s order, which takes effect at noon Friday, said the Guard deployment was illegal and both violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded Trump’s statutory authority The order applies only to the National Guard troops and not Marines who were also deployed to the LA protests.

“Today was really about a test of democracy, and today we passed the test,” Gov Gavin Newsom, who had asked the judge for an emergency stop to troops helping carry out immigration raids, said in a news conference after the decision.

The White House had no immediate comment, but the federal government immediately ﬁled an appeal with the Ninth Circuit court. On Wednesday

the Trump administration called Newsom’s lawsuit a “crass political stunt endangering American lives.”

It was not immediately clear how the decision would change the situation on the ground. But Newsom said the Guard troops will be redeployed to “what they were doing before Donald Trump commandeered them.”

The developments unfolded as cities nationwide braced for major demonstrations against Trump over the weekend, and their leaders pleaded with residents to protest peacefully

Noem said the immigration raids that fueled the protests would move forward, saying agents have thousands of targets.

“This is only going to continue until we have peace on the streets of Los Angeles,” she said during a news

Hegseth: Pentagon has contingency plans to invade Greenland

BY LOLITA C. BALDOR and TARA COPP Associated Press

WASHINGTON Defense

Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon has developed plans to take over Greenland and Panama by force if necessary but refused to answer repeated questions at a hotly combative congressional hearing Thursday about his use of Signal chats to discuss military operations.

Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee repeatedly got into heated exchanges with Hegseth, with some of the toughest lines of questioning coming from military veterans as many demanded yes or no answers and he tried to avoid direct responses about his actions as Pentagon chief.

In one back-and-forth, Hegseth did provide an eyebrow-raising answer Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., asked whether the Pentagon has developed plans to take Greenland or Panama by force if necessary

“Our job at the Defense Department is to have plans for any contingency,” Hegseth said several times. It is not unusual for the Pentagon to draw up contingency plans for conﬂicts that have not arisen, but his handling of the questions prompted a Republican lawmaker to step in a few minutes later

“It is not your testimony today that there are plans at the Pentagon for taking by force or invading Greenland, correct?” said Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio. As Hegseth started to repeat his answer about contingency plans, Turner added emphatically “I sure as hell hope that is not your testimony.”

“We look forward to working with Greenland to ensure that it is secured from any potential threats,” Hegseth responded.

Time and again, lawmakers pressed Hegseth to answer questions he has avoided for months, including during the two previous days of hearings on Capitol

Hill. And frustration boiled over “You’re an embarrassment to this country You’re unfit to lead,” Rep. Salud Carbajal snapped, the California Democrat’s voice rising. “You should just get the hell out.” GOP lawmakers on several occasions apologized to Hegseth for the Democrats’ sharp remarks, saying he should not be subject to such “ﬂagrant disrespect.” Hegseth said he was “happy to take the arrows” to make tough calls and do what’s best.

Questions emerge

Hegseth’s use of two Signal chats to discuss details of the U.S. plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen with other U.S. leaders as well as members of his family prompted dizzying exchanges with lawmakers. Hegseth was pressed multiple times over whether or not he shared classiﬁed information and if he should face accountability if he did.

Hegseth argued that the classification markings of any information about those military operations could not be discussed with lawmakers. That became a quick trap, as Hegseth has asserted that nothing he posted — on strike times and munitions dropped in March was classified. His questioner, Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and Marine veteran, jumped on the disparity

“You can very well disclose whether or not it was classiﬁed,” Moulton said. “What’s not classified is that it was an incredible, successful mission,” Hegseth responded. A Pentagon watchdog report on his Signal use is expected soon. Moulton asked Hegseth whether he would hold himself accountable if the inspector general ﬁnds that he placed classified information on Signal, a commercially available app. Hegseth would not directly say, only noting that he serves “at the pleasure of the president.”

conference that was interrupted by shouting from U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who was forcibly removed from the event.

Newsom has warned that the military intervention is part of a broader effort by Trump to overturn norms at the heart of the nation’s democracy He also said that sending Guard troops on the raids has further inflamed tensions in LA, where large and sometimes volatile protests have broken out since the crackdown began nearly a week ago.

So far the protests have been centered mostly in downtown near City Hall and a federal detention center where some immigrants are being held. Much of the sprawling city has been spared from the protests.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ETHAN SWOPE

A man shouts into a megaphone outside City Hall during protests over federal immigration enforcement raids on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By AJIT SOLANKI

The tail of an airplane is seen stuck in a building at the site of an airplane crash in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state on Thursday.

Declassified files: RFK metwithCIA after trip to Soviet Union

BY DAVID KLEPPER and JOHN HANNA Associated Press

WASHINGTON The CIA released nearly 1,500 pagesof previously classiﬁed documents relating to New York

Sen. Robert F. Kennedyand his 1968 assassination on Thursday,detailing the spy agency ’s work to investigate his killing as well as previously unknown contacts between him and the agency Kennedy metwith the CIA following a1955tour of the Soviet Union, relaying his observations to the spyagencyasa voluntary informant, the documents show The newly available material comprises 54 documents, including memos about the agency’s workto investigate whether RFK’s killer had anyforeign ties, as well as the response to his killingbyforeign powers. The recordsalso included documents about the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as the attempted assassination of Alabama Gov.George Wallace in 1972.

One internal CIA memo detailed how the agency unsuccessfully sought to

poisonCubanleader Fidel Castro in 1960and 1961. It worked with a“high-ranking” Mafia figure in Las Vegas who “controlled all of theice-making machines on theStrip.”

Another internal CIA memo from December 1973 reportedonaconference at Georgetown University for agroup promoting assassinationconspiracytheories One speaker was “longwinded andtechnical.”

“Beards and long hairprevailed,”the memo said,a reminder of the clean-shaven, crew-cutnorm for government employees at thetime.

PresidentDonald Trump hadordered therelease of documents relating to the assassinationsofRFK, President John F. Kennedy and Martin LutherKingJr. Morethan 10,000 pages of records pertaining to RFK’s assassinationwere released in April.

Therecordsreleased Thursday also included documents about the JFK and King killings, some produced after RFK’sdeath and dealing with conspiracy theories.

Kennedy,aDemocrat, was fatally shot on June 5, 1968,atthe Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after giving aspeech celebrating his victoryin California’spresidential primary.His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, was convicted of ﬁrst-degreemurderand is servinglife in prison.

GovernorsdefendpoliciesbeforeHouse panel

BY JOEY CAPPELLETTI and DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press

WASHINGTON As President Donald Trumpspars with California’sgovernor over immigration enforcement, Republicans in Congress called otherDemocratic governors to the Capitol on Thursday to question them over policieslimiting cooperation withfederal immigration authorities.

Membersofthe House Committee on Oversight andGovernment Reform sat in front of large, fullcolor posters showing men who they said were in the country withoutlegal permission when they were arrested for crimes in Illinois, Minnesotaand New York home of the governors testifying before the committee.

Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer began thehearingbyintroducing thefamily of ayoung woman killedina hit-andrun trafﬁc crash in Illinois, suggesting its sanctuary policieshad facilitated the illegal presence of thedriver of the other vehicle.

“Sanctuary policesdonot protectAmericans,they protectcriminalillegal aliens,” Comer said.

Republicanlawmakers clashed repeatedly with the Democratic governors, often recounting descriptions of violentcrimesallegedly committedbyimmigrants in theU.S. illegally who were not previously detained by local police. The daylong hearing turned into ayellingmatch at multiple moments,withcommittee

members talking over the top of each other andveering off topic in theirquestions.

At one point, Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexicointerjected to denounce the“theatrics.”

“Welcome everyone to the Oversight realityTVshow,” Stansbury said. “I know Mr Trumploves himself some good TV,and today is not disappointing.”

There’snolegal deﬁnition of asanctuary jurisdiction, but theterm generally referstogovernments with policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.Courts previously have upheld the legalityofsuch laws

But Trump’sadministration hassuedColorado, Illinois, New York andseveral cities —including Chicago andRochester,New York asserting their policies violatethe U.S. Constitution or federal law Illinois, Minnesota and New York also were among 14 statesand hundreds of cities and counties recently listed by the Department of Homeland Security as “sanctuary jurisdictions defying federal immigration law.” Thelistlater was removed from the department’swebsite after criticism that it errantly included some local governments that supportTrump’s immigration policies

As Trumpstepsupimmigration enforcement,some Democratic-led stateshave intensiﬁed theirresistance by strengthening state laws restrictingcooperationwith immigration agents.Follow-

ing clashes between crowds of protesters and immigrationagents in LosAngeles, Trump deployedthe NationalGuard to protect federal buildings andagents, andCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom accused Trump of declaring “a war”onthe underpinnings of American democracy

“As we speak, an American city has been militarizedoverthe objections of their governor,” NewYork Gov. KathyHochulsaid. “At theoutset, Ijustwanttosay that this is aﬂagrant abuse of power.”

Some of the most fiery exchanges involved Hochul and Republicans from her homestate. Republican Rep.EliseStefanik, who has been named as apotential 2026 gubernatorial candidate in New York, described instances in which she said people were raped, molested andburnedalive by immigrants who had entered or remained in the U.S. illegally

“You are not advocating on behalf of these victims, you are shielding illegals,” Stefanik said to Hochul while interrupting the governor’s attempted responses.

Hochul said the crimes were“horriﬁc” and “heartbreaking” and insisted “we cooperatewith ICE; we cooperate with law enforcement” in criminal cases.

Republican Rep. Nick Langworthy of New York laterimplied thatHochul’s policies were partly to blame for thedeath of University of Georgia student LakenRiley, who was killed last year by aVenezuelan

man who hadenteredthe

U.S. illegally.According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the man had been arrested by New York policein2023but was released before ICE could ask NewYork officialsto hold him.

Pressed further by other Republican questioners, Hochul expressed sympathy for Riley’sfamily but said“this has nothing to do with ourcivil enforcement of the laws.”

Gubernatorialorders prohibitNew York ofﬁcials from inquiring about or disclosing aperson’simmigration status to federal authorities, unless required by law.

Hochul said lawenforcement officers still can cooperate with federal immigrationauthorities when people areconvictedof or under investigationfor crimes. Since she took office in 2021, Hochul said the state has initiated the transferofmorethan 1,300 incarcerated noncitizens to ICE at the completion of their state sentences.

“What we don’tdoiscivil immigration enforcement —that’sthe federal government’sjob,” Hochul said. The House Oversight Committee has long been apartisan battleground, andinrecentmonths it has turned itsfocus to immigration policy.Thursday’s hearing follows asimilar one in March in whichthe Republican-ledcommittee questioned the Democratic mayors of Chicago, Boston, Denver andNew York about sanctuary policies.

Houseapprovescutting funding forNPR,PBS andforeign aid

BY KEVINFREKING

Associated Press

WASHINGTON— The House narrowly voted Thursday to cut about $9.4 billionin spending already approved by Congress as President Donald Trump’sadministration looks to follow through on work doneby the Department of Government Efﬁciency when it was overseen by Elon Musk.

The package targets foreign aid programsand the Corporation forPublic Broadcasting, which provides money for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Serviceas well as thousandsofpublic radio and television stations around thecountry.The vote was 214-212.

Republicans are characterizing the spending as wasteful and unnecessary, but Democrats say the rescissions are hurting the United States’ standingin theworld andwill lead to needless deaths.

“Cruelty is the point,” Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said of the proposed spending cuts.

The Trump administration is employing atool rarely usedinrecent years that allows the president to transmit arequest to Con-

gresstocancel previously appropriated funds.That triggersa 45-day clock in which the funds arefrozen pending congressional action. If Congress fails to act within that period, then the spending stands.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, your taxpayer dollarsare no longerbeing wasted,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, saidafter the vote. “Instead, they are being directed toward priorities that truly benefit the American people.”

Thebeneﬁt for the administrationofa formal rescissions request is that passage requires only asimple majority in the 100-member Senate instead of the 60 votes usually required to getspending bills through that chamber.Soifthey stay largelyunited, Republicanswill be abletopass the measure without any Democratic votes.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the Senate would likely not take the bill up until July and after it hasdealtwith Trump’sbig tax and immigration bill. He also said it’s possiblethe Senatecould tweak the bill

The administration is likening the firstrescissions

package to atest case and saysmore could be on the way if Congress goes along. Republicans, sensitive to concerns that Trump’s sweeping tax andimmigration bill wouldincreasefuture federal deﬁcits, are anxious to demonstrate spending discipline, though the cuts in the package amount to just asliver of thespending approved by Congress each year.Theyare betting the cutsprove popular with constituents who align with Trump’s“America ﬁrst” ideologyaswellasthose who view NPR and PBSashaving aliberal bias.

Four Republicansvoted against themeasure —Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, NicoleMalliotakis of New York and Mike Turner of Ohio. No Democrats voted for the measure. The bill looked like it was in dangerofgoing down, but two lawmakers—Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska and Nick LaLota of New York changed their votestoyes, allowing it to advance to the Senate.

LaLota hadanextensive conversation with Johnson on the House ﬂoor as Johnson could be seen trying to winhim over.Afterward, LaLota called it “private

discussions” to make sure “my constituentswill get what they need.” Bacon said he was reassured by House Republican

leadership that PBS would receiving funding for next year.Hesaid he wasalso toldthatfunding forthe U.S.-ledglobal response to

HIV,known as PEPFAR, will not be affected.

“Because of these reassurances, Ivoted yeson H.R. 4,”Bacon said.

Ukraine: Russia’s military casualties top1million in war

BY ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine Thenumber of Russian troops killedor woundedinUkrainehas topped 1million, military ofﬁcials in Kyiv said Thursday, describing the huge price that Moscow has paid for its 3-year-old invasion.

The claim by the General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces, which came on aholiday celebrating Russia’ssovereignty,isinline with Western intelligence estimates.

President Vladimir Putin marked Russia Day by hosting aKremlin meeting with soldiers decorated for their service in Ukraine, but neither he norany other ofﬁcials commented on the Ukrainian claim.

The U.K. Defense Ministry also said in astatement posted Thursday on Xthat Russia has suffered over 1 million casualties, including roughly 250,000 killed since it launched the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

On June 3, the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington said Russia likely would hit the mark of 1millioncasualties this summer in what it called “a stunning and grislymilestone.” Russia last reported its military casualties early in the war when it acknowledged that about 6,000 soldiers had been killed. Earlier this year, the General Staff of the Russian armed forcesclaimed that Ukrainian military losses had topped 1million

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last spokeofUkrainian military losses in February, when he said in an interview that 45,100 troops had been killed andabout 390,000 injured.

Themutualclaimsofthe other side’slosses couldn’tbe independently veriﬁed.

Russia launches strikes

The casualty estimates came as Russian forces pummeled Ukraine with drones and other weapons, killing threepeopleand injuring scores of others despite internationalpressuretoacceptaceaseﬁre According to theUkrainian air force, Russia launched 63 drones and decoys at Ukraine overnight.Itsaid that airdefenses destroyed 28 drones while another 21 were jammed.

Ukrainian police said two people were killed and six were injured in the past 24 hours in the easternDonetsk

region, the focusofthe Russianoffensive. One person was killed and 14 others were also injured in thesouthern Kherson region, which is partly occupied by Russian forces, police said.

The authorities in Kharkiv, Ukraine’ssecond-largest city,said18people,including four children, were injured by Russian drone attacks overnight.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor TerekhovsaidRussian drones targeted residential districts, educational facilities, kindergartens and other civilian infrastructure.

“Kharkivisholding on People are alive. And thatis the most important thing,” Terekhovsaid.

Russia haslaunched waves of dronesand missiles in recent days,witharecord bombardment of almost 500 dronesonMondayand awave of 315 drones and seven missiles overnighton Tuesday

Courtrevives lawsuitfromfamily whosehomewas raided by FBI

BY LINDSAYWHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON An Atlanta family whose home was wrongly raided by the FBI will get anew day in court, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday

The decision revivesa lawsuit ﬁled after apredawn 2017 raid in which armed members of an FBI SWAT team smashed in afront door and set off aﬂashbang grenade, pointing guns at acouple and terrifyinga 7-year-old boy before realizing they were in the wrong house.

The FBI team quickly apologizedand left forthe right place,with the team leader later saying that his personal GPS device had led him to the wrong address. ButTrina Martin and her then-boyfriend, Toi Cliatt, and her son were left with lastingtrauma and a damaged home.

Martin and Cliatt fileda lawsuit against the federal government accusing the agents of assault and battery,false arrest and other violations. While the governmentistypically im-

mune from lawsuits, they are allowed in somecases. Congress changed thelaw specifically to allow suits over wrong-house raids aftera pair of themmade headlines in the 1970s, their lawyers said.

But lower courts tossed out the case.

Public interest groups from across the political spectrumurged thejustices to overturn the ruling from the11thU.S.Circuit Court of Appeals, saying it severely narrows the legal pathfor peopletoﬁle law enforcement accountability cases againstthe federal government.

Thehigh court rulednarrowly,reversingthe appeals court on one of the issues in the case. The justices said it was wrong to toss out the case based on the Supremacy Clause,which says federal laws supersedestate laws when the two conﬂict. The federal lawatthe center of this case actually refers back to state law, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote. While the government is typically immune from lawsuits,itallows those claims in some situationsthat

would create liability under state law

“Congress hasentered the field andexpressly bound thefederal government to accept liability under state tort law on thesame terms as a‘privateindividual,’ ” Gorsuch wrote. That means there’sno need to involve the SupremacyClause,and the caseshould move forward, thejustices said. The ruling sends thecase back to the 11thCircuit, which will continue to weigh other questionsraised by the case.

One of those questionsis when the government can be held liable for mistakes made by lawenforcement ofﬁcers in the line of duty.

In aconcurrence joined by Justice KetanjiBrown Jackson, JusticeSonia Sotomayorsuggested that raids on wronghouses likely aren’tthe kind of mistakes thatare immune from liability

Lawyers at the nonproﬁt Institute for Justice said they’relooking forwardto “continuing theﬁght.”

In abrief telephone interview, Martin said she was ecstatic.

BY MARCIA DUNN AP aerospace writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. A charteredspaceflight for India, Poland and Hungary’sfirst astronauts in decades has been delayed indefinitely because of leak concerns at theInternational Space Station.

NASA said Thursday that it wants to monitor the cabin pressure on the Russian side of theorbiting lab before accepting visitors.

Ofﬁcials stressed that the seven astronauts currently at the space station are safe andthatother operations up there aren’taffected.

SpaceX was supposed to launch four private astronautsthis week on a14-day space station mission, but badweather andSpaceX

rocket trouble delayedthe ﬂight. Then the station leak issue croppedup.

The RussianSpace Agency has beendealing with cracks and air leaks in its stationcompartments for more than ﬁve years —“a top safety risk,” according to NASA’s Office of Inspector General. Recent repairs resulted in what NASA calls “a new pressure signature.” Additional details were not immediatelyavailable

The three Russians aboard the space station recently inspected the inside walls of the aging Zvezda service module, whichlaunched in 2000,as well as aconnecting tunnel. They sealed someareas and measured the current leak rate

“Following this effort, the segment now is holding pressure,” NASA said in an online update

Theprivate mission’s delayprovidesextra time for NASA and the Russian Space Agency“to evaluate the situation” and determine whether morerepairs areneeded

The chartered ﬂight was arranged by the Houston company Axiom Space, and was to be Axiom’s fourth trip to the space station withpaying customers since2022.

“This is the right thing to do,” Axiom Space’s executive chairman KamGhaffarian said in awritten statement. “Wewill continue to work withall of our partners to ﬁnalize anew launchdate.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EVGENIy MALOLETKA

Smokerises after aRussian air strikeonKyiv, Ukraine, on June 6.

“There’salegislative process for areason,” Henry said. “That amendment did not have one ounce of public testimony through the process.” Henry pointed out that the bill would not have taken effect until 2027 anyway,had it passed, which meant the Legislature could simply vote on the bill next year

“I don’tknow why you wouldcall aspecial session for abill that doesn’ttake effect until 2027,” Henry said What thebills do

Rather than approve the governor’spreferred policy change, the Senate passed alast-minuteresolution asking for astudy on the impact of prohibiting PBM ownership of pharmacies, a practice known as “vertical integration.”

And the Legislature passedabill that would set new rules for how those companies can operate, requiring them to pass more of their savings on prescription drugs to consumers and barring them from requiring customers to use their drugstores.

Theseriesof political maneuvers and votes came after aferocious, last-minute lobbying battle between some of the country’s largest PBMs —including CVS, whichsent abarrageoftext messages to customers urging opposition to the bill —and Landry, who publiclypressuredlegislators to restrict the PBM giants.

ing the value of community pharmacy.”

In thehours before the session’s 6p.m. deadline, Landry and other PBM criticstook tosocial media to pressurelegislators.

Landry,who for days had been publicly urging the Legislature to pass theprohibition, said in apost on X hours before the end of the session that he could quickly calllawmakers back into a special session should they reject themeasure.

Donald TrumpJr.,the president’sson, weighed in on the political battle20minutes later witha post on X: “Louisiana, it’stime to pass HB358 and end the charade thatcostshard-working Americans so much money when buyingprescription drugs.”

The House onWednesday approved the bill on an 88-4 vote. But the Senate did not bring it up for avoteThursday.

Instead, its members passed without opposition SenateResolution 209, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Talbot, RRiverRidge, asking the Louisiana DepartmentofHealth to study the ideaofimplementingthe rules sought in HB358.

“Todayisa giant leap forward, and we keep ourpromise to you to fixthese problems. We’renot done. Ithink we’re just beginning, but this opens a big door for us to go through.”

REP.MICHAEL ECHOLS R-Monroe

HB358would have banned companiesfrom owning both pharmacy benefit managers andpharmacies. Supporters argue doing so would stop bigcompanies frompushingout independent pharmacies.

PBMs act as middlemen between pharmacies,health care plans and drug manufacturers to negotiate lower drug costs, but critics say they have too much power over the drug market, drive out competition and limit where people can get their prescriptions ﬁlled.

CVS, which owns both aPBM and anationwide chain of drug stores, said the bill would have forced it to close its 119 stores in Louisiana, affecting about 1 million patients across the state and 22,000 patients who receive high-cost specialty drugs that smaller pharmacies could ﬁnddifﬁcult to handle.

“Our focus remains on serving the people of Louisiana: lowering drug costs, providing access to care and helping improve health,” said CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault after the Legislature adjourned. “Welook forward to working productively with policymakersto continue to make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible and promot-

The House ul timately unanimously ap p ro v ed House Bill 264 by Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monroe, which establishes new rules fo r PBMs.In additiontorequiring more moneygotocustomers,the bill requires them to disclose more information to the state.

On theHouse ﬂoor,Echols said HB264 includes “stronger oversight tools,” protects consumers, enhances transparency and addresses “heinous practices” by PBMs

“Today is agiantleap forward, and we keep our promisetoyou to ﬁx these problems,” Echolssaid.

“We’re not done. Ithink we’rejust beginning, but this opensabig door for us to go through.”

Talbot said HB264 was a sign that “the big pharmacies are on notice now.” And he saidthe Senatemay be open in the future tobanning vertical integration.

“It ain’tover,”Talbot said. Controversyatthe end

Debate over HB358 exploded in the lasttwo days of thesession

The bill was originally designed to allow pharmacy technicians to access pharmacy recordsand systems remotely.But on Wednesday afternoon, it emerged from aconference committee— where lawmakers from each chamber meet behind closed doors to work through disagreements— to add the provision about pharmacy and PBM ownership

CVS has blasted thatprocess,sayingthe state was making amajor change to pharmacy laws at the last minutewithno public hearings.

Supporters argued the restriction on PBMswould stop bigcorporations from having an unfair advantage thathas led to the closure of independent pharmacies.

Independent pharmacies have been getting reimbursed lessand less every year “because the PBMs want to make their own pockets fatter,” Rep.Dustin Miller,D-Opelousas, sponsor of HB358, said on the House ﬂoor Wednesday “I think it’s time that we tell PBMs youhave to choose: You’re either aPBM or you’re apharmacy in Louisiana,” Millersaid.Lawmakersinfavor the change saidthey weren’t forcing any pharmacies to close.

ButThibault said, “It’s not possible to operate aPBM in all states but one.”

“PBMs serve employers with people in multiple states. Youcan’thave a state-by-state PBM,sowe don’thaveachoice,” she said.

Arkansas passed asimilar bill earlierthis year.CVS has ﬁled alawsuit seeking to block it from takingeffect.

Patients react

On Thursday, asteady trickle of customers picked up prescriptions as usual at stores on Magazine and Prytania streets.

After amorning of doctors’ appointments, Cynthia Marshall, 72, stopped to pick up aprescription after seeing thetext. She hadn’thad achancetolearn more about the bill, but said there were alternatives if the store did close.

“Wewould probablyjust go to Walgreens,”said Marshall, whoisretired from administrativework for a law ﬁrm.

But that Walgreensis small, Marshall pointed out, and she was concerned about it taking on the patient load of closed stores.

Alongwiththe textcampaign, CVS stores across Louisiana hung colorful “Save ourStore” posters at their entrances, and some locationseven passed out ﬂyers to customers.

Jordan Hefler,ofBaton Rouge, stoppedata CVS store Wednesday to return an item and said thecashier handed hera “Saveour Store” ﬂyer containing aQR code. The employeeurged her to sign apetition.

Hefler wasinitiallyconfused andworried about CVS stores closing, because she shops at them for household itemsand uses coupons. She looked into the issue and realized it was more “complicated” and “probably not as immediate as it was made to sound,” she said.

Some CVS patrons said they hadnot heard of the news, and weren’ttoo worried about it

AllenHall, of Watson, uses the pharmacy at the DenhamSprings CVS and said Thursday he had not received any texts from CVS or heard about possible closures.

“If theyshut down, I’ll just go somewhereelse,” Hall said outside the store.

Email AlysePfeilatalyse. pfeil@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Senators gather around amonitortowatch as state Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monroe, answers questions on House Bill264 during the final minutes of the 2025 legislativesession on Thursday.

La.attorneygeneral investigatingCVS texts

Controversycontinues over pharmacy benefitmanagers

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

Louisiana Attorney GeneralLiz Murrillsaidshe is investigating CVS after the company sent mass text messages to customers urging them to tell their legislators to oppose abillonpharmacy beneﬁts managers.

House Bill 358,which stirred ferocious debate in the waning hours of the legislative sessionbut did not pass, would have barred companiesfrom owning both pharmacy benefits managers and drugstores.

Supporters said that would have stopped big companies from squeezing independent pharmacies out of the market and keeping too much of the savings they get on prescription drugs.

PBMs are meant to act as middlemen betweenpharmacies, health care plans and drug manufacturers to negotiate lower drug costs.

CVS, which owns both the drugstore chain and aPBM, Caremark, said the bill would have forced it to close 119 pharmacies in Louisiana. The company launched alobbying blitz on Wednesday that included amass text message campaign tellingcustomers thebill could force their drugstore to close and asking them to contact theirlegislator

The text messages infuriated many lawmakers,who accused the company of scaretactics.

In anote distributed to legislators on the floorThursday,Murrill pointed out that CVS manages the drug plans for state employees through theOffice of GroupBenefits

“My ofﬁce will be investigating whetherCVS improperly appropriated to its own use the personal information of OGB members and will take legal action if it did,” the note said. “This is not

an appropriate useofpersonalinformationobtained throughastate contract.”

In anews conference Thursday afternoon, though, Murrill said her investigation was “broader than just the OGB contract.” Shesaid shewould examinewhether CVS engaged in “unfair and deceptivetrade practices by improperlyusing people’s personal information in a waythattheydid notpermit.

MurrillannouncedonX that shewas sendingCVS a cease-and-desist letter and civil investigativedemands.

Gov.Jeff Landryalso spoke out againstCVS’ lobbying action in apost on X,

“Abusing patients’sensitive informationtopush a political message is completely unethical and manipulativeand wewill notstand forit,” the post said

AmyThibault,a CVS spokesperson,issued a statement saying thecompany’scommunications with itscustomers, patientsand community members were “consistent with thelaw.”

“This bill came together yesterday with no public hearing,” Thibault said.“We believe wehave aresponsibility to inform ourcustomersofmisguidedlegislation that seekstoshuttertheir trusted pharmacy, and we acted accordingly.”

Thibault referred to the fact that the PBM legislation came through anamendment to abill that originally set rules for remote work for pharmacy technicians.

That amendmentwas proposedwhile the bill wasin aconference committee, a closed-door process where agroup of Houseand Senate members meet to hash out agreements on bills when one chamber has rejected the other’samendments.

Lawmakers on Thursday expressed consternation

at theidea that CVShad usedcustomerinformation to sendout lobbyingtexts. StateRep.Beryl Amedée, R-Gray,saying she found it “disturbing.”

“I’mgoing to assume that somewhere in the tremendous amount of fine print that comes whenyou sign up foranythingthese days, that they have covered their potential liability here, but I still think that’soutside the boundariesofwhatcustomersexpected when they gave theirphone numberstoget prescription updates,”she said. “I’m very disappointed in CVS because themessaging that they did send out was untrue and Iconsider it propaganda.”

Lawmak ers shared screenshotsoftexts that CVS sent to constituents.

One said HB358 would “prohibit CVSSpecialty from serving youand thousands of other patients who receive specialtyprescription drugs.”

“You will lose accessto your pharmacy team, pharmacy supportive services, and you will need to be serviced by an alternatespecialtypharmacy provider, it said.

The textincluded alink for customerstosend messages to their elected ofﬁcials.

“I’vebeen getting comments from my constituents and friends, and they’re terriﬁed, and it ain’tright,”said stateRep.Michael Bayham, R-Chalmette.

Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann@ theadvocate.com.

SHIPPINGNOW!

STAFF FILE PHOTOByDAVID GRUNFELD

Louisiana AttorneyGeneral LizMurrill saidThursday she is investigating CVS overmass texts sent to customers lobbyingagainst pharmacy benefitmanager legislation.

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

On the last day of the regular session, the Louisiana Legislature settled two major debates: Abill that would have banned companies from owning both pharmacy beneﬁt managers and drugstores died, while lawmakers passed a measurerequiring app stores to age verify users and obtain parental permission before minors download apps.

Lawmakers also resolved questions surrounding next year’sbudget, giving $43.5 million to aprogram that helps families payfor their kids to go to private school, adding $1.2 billion in one-time spending on items suchas improvements to roads and bridges and raising the rate the statepays sheriffs to house state inmates, among other decisions.

All of those measures still require Gov.Jeff Landry’ssignature beforebecoming law

Thursday’sdecisionsmarkedthe end of atwo-month session where battles aroundinsurance often took center stage. The Legislature passed anumber of measures that beneﬁt insurance companies in the courtroom, but it also passed abill giving the insurancecommissioner more authority to reject rate increases.

Lawmakers alsovoted to overhaul the Department of Transportation and Development, set new court deadlines for prisoners seeking to have their sentences changed andgive pregnant women the right to sue providers ofabortion drugs, among many other measures.

In avideo end-of-session address, Landry described the sessionasavictory,citing changes to insurance law and the DOTD, among other items.

“In one session, we tackled some of the toughest issues that have plagued our state for decade,” he said.

Appstoresand PBMs

In the waning days of thelegislative session, one issue took center stage: how to deal with pharmacy benefit managers, companies meant to actasmiddlemen be-

tween drug companies, healthcare plans and pharmacies to negotiate lower drug costs.

Criticssay PBMs pocket too much of the savings for themselves.

Moved by such concerns, the House on Wednesday debated whether to pass House Bill 538, which would have banned companies fromowning both pharmacy beneﬁt managers anddrugstores.

Thechamber overwhelmingly approved the measure.

Butamidheavy lobbying from Landry,who backed themeasure, and CVS, whichopposed it, theSenate declined to take up thebill, let-

ting it die in the hours before the Legislature adjourned.

CVS had said such alaw would have forcedittoclose 119pharmacies in Louisiana and prevented Louisianans from accessing their specialtypharmacy service.

Lawmakersinstead passed House Bill 264, which would bar pharmacy beneﬁt managersfrom steering customers to their own pharmacies. It would also require that discounts they negotiategoto employers and consumers.

HB264 also requires pharmacy beneﬁt managers to report more details of their activities to government regulators to ensure

Landry namesnew DOTD head

CPRA director

Ledettotakeover department

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

The same weekthat the LouisianaLegislature approved aplan to overhaul the state Department of Transportation and Development, Gov.Jeff Landry announced major leadership changes at thetransportation agency Glenn Ledet,executive directorofthe Coastal Protection and RestorationAuthority,will take the helm as DOTD secretarybeginning Monday. Ledet, an engineer with experience working at consulting ﬁrms,had been in the job at CPRA for over a year,replacing Bren Haase after he left that job last

summer

“I look forward to workingalongside the agency’s dedicatedteam and partners throughout the state to strengthenLouisiana’s transportation network,” Ledetsaidina statement.

“Together, we will focuson deliveringefﬁcientand safe infrastructure.”

Landry’sannouncement says Ledet has worked at “nationallyrenownedengineering,planning and construction management ﬁrms, where he led strategic growth, business development, and operations efforts.”

Current DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue will become the agency’sexecutive counsel.

“Joe has done an outstanding job in one of the most thankless roles in state government,” Landrysaid in astatement. “Louisiana’s roadsand infrastructure

are in dire need of reform, and Joe worked every day to move DOTD forward despitethe challenges.”

Landry named Donahue secretary in January2024 and in May thatyear orderedhim to craft aplanto reformand rehabilitatethe beleagueredtransportation department. That led to an agency review by aprivate ﬁrm,a formal improvement plan,and ultimatelyapackage of bills the Legislature passedthis week to overhaul DOTD.

Eric Dauphine will takeon adeputy secretary position at DOTD.

Dauphine is currently adistrictadministrator based in Lafayetteatone of nine regional ofﬁces.He has worked at DOTD for 26 years, including variousengineering roles.

Email AlysePfeilatalyse. pfeil@theadvocate.com.

that they are following the law

Asecond issue,which had drawn attention from Google and Meta, was resolved morequietly: Lawmakersunanimously voted to pass House Bill 570, which would require appstorestoage verify users.

If auser is under 18, the app store must link their account to aparent account, which in turn would need to sign off on any app downloads.

The Senate amendedHB570 to requireall appstores to do the same, but that amendment was removedbefore the ﬁnal vote on the bill.

Apps that werealready legally

required to age verify must continue to do so, said state Rep. Kim Carver,R-Mandeville,the bill’s sponsor.Thatincludes social media platforms with more than5 million users, he said.

Thebudget

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved amendments the Senate madetothe variousbills that layout state government’sbudget with no drama and mostly on unanimous votes.

Total state spending forthe next ﬁscal year comes to roughly $51 billion, said state Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee. Roughly half that money comes from federal funds.

Perhapsthe biggest budgetdebate of the session was how much funding to give theLAGATOR program, which will give money to families to help them payfor private school. Landry pushed for $93.5 million.

Though the House originally acceptedthatamount, theSenate stripped out $50 million, leaving $43.5 million. Senate President Cameron Henry said that was the amount promised all along. The House accepted that amendment.

TheSenatealsoopted to pull $1.2 billionfromthe RevenueStabilization Trust Fund, astate savings account that consists of extra corporate taxes, to fund one-time expenses.

The money hasbeen allocated for roads and bridges, economic development incentives to attract businesses, andimprovements to college campuses, amongother initiatives.

And underthe budgetplan, local jails, which house about half of state inmates, will receive three more dollars aday to do so.That brings the daily rate to $29.39, according to state Sen. GlenWomack,R-Harrisonburg, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee. Sheriffs hadpressedthe Legislature to increase that rate, saying the current payments weren’tsufﬁcient to cover the costs.

Email MeghanFriedmann at meghan.friedmann@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier,R-Eunice, bangsthe gavel, signaling the close of the 2025 legislative session on Thursday.

Ex-wildlifeofficialpleadsnot guilty in federalcourt

Montoucet indicted in kickback scheme involving contract

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

Jack Montoucet, former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, made his ﬁrst appearance Thursday in federal court in Lafayette after being indicted in May in a kickbackschemeinvolving astatewide department contract.

Appearing before federal Magistrate JudgeCarol Whitehurst,Montoucet,77, pleaded not guilty to five charges contained in the indictment.

If convicted, he couldface time in prison and up to $1 million in ﬁnes.

Montoucet wasreleased Thursday on a$15,000unsecured bond and ordered to surrenderhis passport, restrict his travel to the United States and turn in any weapons he owns.

The former state legislator was appointed to head thedepartmentbyformer Gov.John Bel Edwards in January 2017. Montoucet resigned abruptly in April 2023 aday after The Times-Picayune |The Advocate identiﬁed him as the high-ranking department ofﬁcialimplicated in the scheme.

MASSAGE

Continued from page1A

proceeds through L’Auberge Casino.

Despite law enforcement efforts, the massage parlors —often blending legitimate servicesalongside prostitution —appear to be growing and are increasingly linked to human trafficking, experts say The Human Trafficking Institute estimates that up to 9,000 of the businesses are operating in the U.S., with tens of thousands of women —many low-income immigrants lured by false job promises —forcedto work off debts. Forbes reports the industry now generates around $4.5 billionin revenue each year

Many parlors operate in plain sight, with blackout curtains, late-night hours, and in the case of those in Baton Rouge, advertising their illicit services online.

Some of the challenges to curb the practice were evidentafter Wednesday’s raids.

None of the owners was present,because most cometocollect themoney at night, Mooresaid. Building criminal cases against them, he added, is oftena long and arduous process.

“Thereare so many impediments to making adecent case against them, and

Afederal grand jury in Lafayette indicted Montoucet in Mayonone count of conspiracy to commit bribery andwire fraud, three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Whitehurst said if convicted hecould face: n Up to fiveyearsin prison,a$250,000 fineand three years of supervised release on theconspiracy charge. n Up to 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines andfive years of supervised release on each of the three wire fraudcharges n Up to 20 years inprison, $500,000 infines or two times thevalue of the in-

theyknow that,” he said. “(Meanwhile)those whoare already suffering the most —they are not as protected as the owner who is making the money.”

Although victim counseling services and interpreters wereoffered,Moore said none of the 11 women arrested was willing to cooperateorimmediately clarify whether theywere there by choice. Adding to their difﬁculties, nine ofthe women were foundtobein the country illegally and were quickly detained by Immigration andCustoms Enforcement.

“It’shard, because these girls thatare potential witnessesmight be deported back home,” Moore said.

Meanwhile, the owners couldbeanywhere in the country,hesaid, andprosecutors are now relying on analysis ofcellphones,laptops and business records to build their case.

Moore said he is also considering using astate statute that would allow local governmentstotakeaction against properties deemed anuisance.

The crackdown comes at atime when Louisiana lawmakers are looking to impose stricter regulations and oversight on massage parlors. The same day as theraid, Senate Bill 221, spearheaded by Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, was sent to Gov.Jeff Landry’s

volved property andfive years of supervisedrelease on the conspiracy to commit money laundering charge. The indictmentalleges Montoucet andDusty Guidry,ofYoungsville,at thetime an appointee to the LouisianaWildlife and Fisheries Commission, set up a scheme to give astate contract to DGL1, acompany run by Lafayette businessman Leonard Franques, to provide online educational courses that sportsmenused to resolve citations from departmentagents.

Franques provided kickbacks in exchange for special treatment in securing the contract, authorities

desk for signature. The law would require criminal background checksonowners, mandate the Louisiana Massage Boardtoinvestigatecomplaints of illicit activity within10daysand prohibitsleepingquarters in the establishments. It passedbothchambers withoutasingle dissenting vote.

Still, decisions by the Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy rarely lead to actual closures, Wednesday’sparlors beingaprime example, Moore said.

“Despite the issuance of cease anddesist orders,license revocations and other administrative sanctions by the board,the businesses investigated by law continued to operate without licenses,” aspokesperson for the massage therapy boardsaid.

Moore said he hoped landlordswould take more responsibility for tenants operating withoutalicense, and said he was looking to work with Mizell to develop legislationthat would give themassage boardmore authority to punish businessesowners, including steep fines,asset seizures and jail time.

“Wewill be seeking legislation to put teeth in cease and desist orders,” he said.

Email Aidan McCahill at aidan.mccahill@ theadvocate.com.

said. At least $122,508 was held as akickback for Montoucet, to be paid after he left ofﬁce, according to the

indictment.

The indictment alleges that Montoucet, Guidryand Franques agreedthatafter Montoucet’sretirementfrom the department, they would hire him andpay his kickbacksasa purported“signing bonus” in ordertoconceal the truenature of thefunds. Franques pleadedguiltyin January in federal court for his role in the scheme after being indicted in December Guidrypleaded guilty in 2023 forhis role in the scheme andanother involving the 15th Judicial District Attorney’sOfﬁce in Lafayette. Franques also was involved in that scheme.

AssistantDistrictAttorney Gary Haynes pleaded not guilty in October in the case involving the District Attorney’sOfﬁce.

Email Claire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate.com.

Jack Montoucet, formersecretaryofthe Louisiana Department

Lafayette onThursday.

ISRAEL

weapon, though it remains unclear how close the country actually is to achieving that.

Netanyahu said in an address on YouTube that the attacks willcontinue “for as many days at it takes to remove this threat.”

The attack followed increasing tensions that led the U.S. to pull some diplomats from Iraq’scapital and to offer voluntary evacuations for the families of U.S.troops in the wider MiddleEast

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel took “unilateral action against Iran” andthat Israel advised the U.S. that it believed the strikeswerenecessary for its self-defense.

“Weare notinvolvedin strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio saidina statement released by the White House that warned Iran against targeting U.S. interests or personnel

The attack comes as tensions have reached new heightsover Tehran’srapidly advancing nuclear program.

The Board of Governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency for the ﬁrst time in 20 years on Thursday censured Iran over its refusal to work with its inspectors. Iran immediately announced it would establish athird enrichment site in the country and swap out some centrifuges for moreadvancedones.

ciesalso assess Ira not have aweapons at this time.

Benchmark Brent spiked on news of th rising nearly 5%.

“Weare not involved in strikes against Iran, and ourtop priority is protecting American forces in the region.”

MARCO RUBIO United States secretaryofstate

There are multiple assessments on how many nuclear weapons Iran could potentially build, should it choose to do so. Iran would need months to assemble, test and ﬁeld any weapon, which it so

IsraeliDefenseM Israel Kat that his carried attack, saying targeted “In the of thes rael’sp attack Iran,m drone against and its population expected diately,” he saidi ment

Thestatement ad Katz “signed aspeci declaringaneme situation in the home

“It is essential to instructionsfrom frontcommandand ties to stay in protected

EBRsettles case with protesters

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER

Staff writer

Nearly nine years afterthe fatal Baton Rouge police shootingof Alton Sterling, the last wrongful arrest lawsuit by protesters jailed during the massive demonstrations that ensued has cometoa close.

TheEastBaton Rouge Parish

MetroCouncilapproved paying a total of $625,000to10people who said officers arrested themon false grounds. The case was heard in federal court in Baton Rouge last year but ended in amistrial when jurors were unable to decide whether the protesters’ rights were violated. The settlement ends the lawsuit short of aretrial.

The plaintiffs were among thousands of people who took toBaton Rouge’sstreets in July 2016 in the days after Sterling,a Blackman, wasshot by aWhiteBaton Rouge Police Department officer responding to acomplaint of aman withagun outside astore on North Foster Drive.

MacArthur Justice Center attorneyJim Craig represented the

10 people whose caseﬁnally concluded Wednesday,eight years after it was ﬁled in 2017. Most are Baton Rouge residents described by Craig as “everyday people” unjustlyarrested on falsecharges while peacefully protesting outside BRPD headquarters on Airline Highway and Goodwood Boulevardfour days after Sterling’s death.

AscensionplannersOK PelicanPoint expansion

Development draws residentobjections

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

The Ascension Parish Planning Commission recently approved amasterplan revision for the 907-lot Pelican Point development, allowing up to 1,174 lots in the neighborhood

The council unanimously approved the plan despite severalresidentsstrongly objecting to it, with one commissioner abstaining and another recording himself as absent.

The Wednesday night decision followed a11/2-hour meeting attended by more than 70 people, with thosewho spoke raising concerns about increased trafﬁc, noise and ﬂooding. Many of them lived in The Greens, aneighborhood for people 55 and older inside Pelican Point

Barbara Bourgeois said she was concernedabout trafﬁc, especially in emergency evacuation scenarios.She asked the committee to withhold approval untilthere was anew,alternate evacuation route, road improvements and afull risk assessment of the proposed Air Products plant nearby

“The Greens is hometo270 older adults with an average ageof75. …We have residents on oxygen, in wheelchairs, using walkers or canes,” she said. “Around 65 women live alone, widowed or divorced, withlittle or no nearby family. For us,emergency access isn’ta convenience. It’sa matteroflife and death.”

Trafﬁc and drainage impact studies for thewholecommunity were completed for theplan.DougDiez,the Pelican Point developer,responded to concernsby saying that any preliminary plats would have to come back for approval.

“This is an overall, revised master plan. This isn’ta ﬁnal,”hesaid. “This was

an overall trafﬁc impact study for the entire development anddrainage impact. Each section that we’re going to design is going to have recommendationsthat’s going to be required to uphold.”

Shaun Sherrow, the parish’s consultingengineer,said thestudies were conducted by the parish and an independent consultant,withtrafﬁccountsconducted in April2024 when school was in session. He said thetrafﬁc study included projected three-year growthand theadditional lots during its evaluation.

“Theyaccounted for morethan just thesefuture lotswhen they did the analysis,” Sherrow said.

Others feared achange to thenature of the community.Don Bailey pointed to the proposed rezoning of an area directly bordering The Greens tomixed-use whichwould open it up for commercial purposes.

“There werereally no incidents. There wasn’tanything burning. There was no looting. There was no mass disrespect of orders. We’re not talking anarchists here,” CraigsaidinaninterviewWednesday. “We’re talking about everyday people whowere just outraged.” A7-4 vote on the settlement

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

In Louisiana, it can cost up to $550 to seal many criminalrecords. Statelaw allows LouisianaState Policetocharge $250 per arrest, while sheriffs and district attorneys can each collect $50 per arrest. Theclerk of court can also charge up to $200 as aprocessing fee.

Whilethe lawspeciﬁes thosefeesare optional, the state andagenciesacrossthe capital regionchargethem.

Attorneysatthe Southern University Law Center say that expense can be asignificant barrier to employment for many Louisiana residents who can’tafford to have their criminal records expunged and removed from publicview. Recentresearchhas underscored that hurdle, with one study findingthatjob applicants with criminal records were 50% less likely to receive an interview request or job offer than those with identicalapplications but no criminalbackground. This weekend, afree event at the Ascension Parish courthouse in Gonzalesaimsto alleviate that burden. Hosted by the Southern University Law Center and supported by local officials, the event will have attorneys on-site to help residents of Ascension, Assumption and St. James parishes expunge theircriminal records.

According to the National Conferenceof StateLegislatures,roughly77million Americans —or1in3adults —have acriminal

BLOTTER staff reports

Authoritieshaveidentifiedtwo people who werefound dead Thursday morning in aBaton Rouge home in what officials say was a murder-suicide. East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’sdeputies were dispatched to ahome in the 9300 block of Boone Drive about 10:30 a.m.after afamily memberfound the bodies of Donald Buller,85, and his wife Leah Buller, 79,insidethe residence, said CaseyRayborn Hicks, spokespersonfor the Sheriff’s Office. Evidence indicates that Donald Buller shot his wife before turning the gun on himself, Hickssaid. No further details were immediately available Thirdarrestmade in I-10 shooting that killedtwo Athird arrest has been made in the Interstate 10 shooting in AscensionParish on Sunday that killed two people and injured a third, authorities said.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Cars maneuver La.44near the main entranceofthe Pelican Point community in Gonzales on Thursday. The Ascension Parish Planning Commission recently approvedamasterplan revisionfor the 907-lot Pelican Point development,allowingupto 1,174 lots.

Compromise reached on drilling sites bill

SB244 and the then newly added legacy language, suggesting the oil and gas industry was being “hypocritical” in its opposition to the measure.

Measure would allow state regulators a strong hand 2025

BY DAVID J MITCHELL Staff writer

A bill that had divided Gov Jeff Landry and Louisiana’s oil industry before a compromise was reached has received Senate approval, likely assuring the measure on cleaning up old drilling sites becomes law

At the time, however, Landry’s comments were aimed at defending changes that would have nulliﬁed long-standing oil lease language that has protected past oil drillers from having to pay for cleanup, known as indemniﬁcation.

partment of Energy and Natural Resources ofﬁcials’ attempts to create a balanced piece of legislation that modernized the department.

hours after the new rules cleared the Senate Wednesday that the new law, if signed by the governor, would face court challenges.

The lawyer, Victor Marcello, said the oil industry has been after this change for years and now will have the court fight that they’ve been seeking.

cleanup standards. Under the changes, however, the sides would present their cleanup plan to the department. Once the department decides, the court must accept the plan unless one side can prove by “clear and convincing evidence,” a higher burden of proof, that another plan is appropriate.

The governor called removing this indemniﬁcation language the “crux” of the legacy issue, though critics argued it would have been an unconstitutional change to decades of oil leases.

Landry

The heavily amended bill approved by the Senate on Wednesday would give state regulators a strong hand in determining court-ordered cleanups of old oil ﬁeld sites. Known as “legacy” lawsuits, the class of litigation has sought to clean long-standing contamination and leftover surface infrastructure from decades-old drilling sites across the state.

But the oil industry and some large landowner advocates have argued these suits, which number more than 600, have hindered new drilling from companies worried they could be drawn into paying for the problems of their long-gone predecessors.

The proposed changes, which had been stalled in a Senate committee under a different bill, House Bill 694, were amended into Senate Bill 244, sponsored by Sen. Bob Hensgens, R-Abbeville. His bill received the key Senate nod Wednesday

In a recent House committee hearing, Landry threw his weight behind

In the version of SB244 that the Senate adopted, the “anti-indemniﬁcation” language that Landry supported was stripped out through an amendment adopted on the House ﬂoor Sunday

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, which had said it was talking with Landry about the anti-indemnity provision, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

‘Greater good’

Originally aimed at reorganizing the state Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Hensgens’ more than 200-page measure has been layered with multiple amendments not only tweaking the departmental changes but also addressing the legacy suits, carbon capture and other issues like Baton Rouge’s groundwater district.

Hensgens told his Senate colleagues Wednesday before they voted that his bill and its many amendments were his and state De-

Power outage planned in Plaquemine on Father’s Day

Staff report

Around 6,000 electrical customers in Plaquemine will experience a sixhour planned power outage starting at midnight and lasting through 6 a.m. Sunday The outage was coordinated between the city and Entergy to allow the utility company to change out equipment at a substation

“This power outage WILL affect ALL City of Plaquemine utility customers,” a city release posted on

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Taron Parker, 18, of Gonzales, was booked into the Ascension Parish jail on two counts each of firstdegree murder and attempted firstdegree murder and single counts of illegal use of weapons, assault by drive-by shooting and aggravated damage to property, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Thursday Kavis Octave Jr 17 and Jakiryn Johnson, 19, both of Gonzales, were previously arrested on the same counts The Sheriff’s Office said in an online post that Parker’s arrest was the final one in the case.

The two victims of the shooting, Jermaine “Trey” James, 18, and Dantrell Gibbs, 20, both of Donaldsonville, died in the hospital this week from their injuries.

A third shooting victim had injuries that were not life-threatening.

The violence began Saturday night at a Gonzales Waffle House, after a fight broke out involving a group of people who had gone there after a graduation party After the altercation, a white GMC Sierra reportedly followed the victims in a vehicle traveling westbound on I-10. Authorities said multiple suspects in the Sierra opened fire on the other vehicle, striking the three people inside.

Third suspect arrested in drive-by shooting

Baton Rouge homicide detectives have arrested a third suspect connected to a drive-by shooting that took the life of Teressa Calligan in September

Robert Lewis, 19, was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Thursday afternoon, marking the latest arrest in the monthslong investigation. He was already being held in the Parish Prison and facing a slew of unrelated charges including ﬁrst-degree murder

Lewis’ arrest follows Wednesday’s booking of Roger Parker, 20, who had also already been in custody in a drive-by shooting that killed an 8-year old Earlier in the week, authorities also arrested David Catherine, known locally as rapper “RealBleeda,” who has been linked to the “Bleedas” street gang and previ-

“Each group found provisions that aligned with their interests, as well as elements that presented challenges unique to their perspective. Every suggestion was carefully evaluated, thoroughly debated and, where possible, integrated into the bill, aiming to serve Louisiana’s greater good,” Hensgens said.

The Senate had previously approved the bill but had to concur after amendments were added in the House. The second Senate vote happened without a dissenting vote or a single question from the ﬂoor

State Rep. Jacob Landry R-Erath, the sponsor of the original legacy bill, HB694, and of the amendment that took out the anti-indemnity language, said he wanted to streamline cleanup and reignite lagging oil drilling.

Rep. Landry said the changes would prevent “big pockets” from continuing long ﬁghts in court and create certainty for landowners in addressing their cleanup problems.

In hearings this spring, some landowners, however, aired worries the changes would diminish their rights under preexisting lease contracts, also potentially an unconstitutional change.

One prominent plaintiff’s attorney, whose ﬁrm has handled many of the legacy suit,s promised only

INITIATIVE

Continued from page 1B

Facebook said.

The planned outage comes weeks after Entergy faced criticism for unexpected mass blackouts in New Orleans triggered by high temperatures on Memorial Day weekend.

The city said the blackout date was selected out of two options to give residents the maximum time to prepare. Customers outside Plaquemine will not be affected.

A spokesperson for Entergy Louisiana said the outage is for “resiliency upgrades.”

ously drew attention from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill after a controversial TikTok video showed him dancing alongside local middle school students. All three men face charges of ﬁrst-degree murder related to Calligan’s death.

In September Calligan was driving alone on Airline Highway at Greenwell Street. Police said a car pulled up alongside her and fired several shots, leading Calligan to crash into an East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy unit and several other vehicles that were in trafﬁc.

Calligan was a 41-year-old cybersecurity specialist, and a wellknown volunteer at The Walls Project, a nonproﬁt where she ran a teen coding program. “(Calligan) certainly wasn’t involved in anything that would have warranted — not that that’s ever warranted — but certainly never even come close to touching that world, you know,” Casey Phillips, the founder and executive director of The Walls Project, said following her death.

Police: Man accused of helping murder suspect

A man who authorities say helped a suspect in a Baton Rouge murder case avoid apprehension has been arrested in St. John Parish, police said.

Paul Thomas, 34, was arrested Tuesday at his job site by U.S. marshals and members of the St John Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce, Baton Rouge police said in a news release. He was then transported to Baton Rouge and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Thursday on a count of accessory after the fact of second-degree murder, according to the release.

Police said Thomas helped Joshua Mancusi-Ungaro, 19, of Denham Springs get out of Baton Rouge after the fatal shooting of 40-year-old Kevin Dale Evans in his residence on Geronimo Street on April 7.

Mancusi-Ungaro was arrested April 16 and booked on a count of second-degree murder and illegal use of weapons in Evans’ death.

Last month, Hazel Mancusi-Ungaro, 37, was arrested in the case on a count of accessory after the fact of second-degree murder Joshua Mancusi-Ungaro is her nephew

“It’s ridiculous, but they’ve wanted to convince a court that it’s constitutional, which we’ll have to see what happens,” Marcello said ‘Read this whole bill?’

Hensgens said various lawyers have offered opinions on the constitutionality of that change. Bolstering the bill’s constitutionality, Hensgens argued, is language delaying implementation until Sept. 1, 2027, for new cases of oil ﬁeld damage.

The language also keeps the old procedure in place for preexisting cases and gives landowners with old damage who haven’t sued yet 26 months to bring their case under the old rules.

Under the new proposed rules, once a court establishes that an operator is on the hook for cleanup, the state Department of Energy and Natural Resources must determine the most feasible plan and use cleanup standards already built into state law, though it can consider exceptions sought by landowners. Currently, the various sides present their plans in court for a jury to determine. Often plaintiffs pursue cleanup above these state standards because, they argue, their contracts implicitly require this higher level. Those leases mostly predate the adoption of the state

In an effort to contain other costs, the bill would set non-remediation damages, after economic losses, to 300% of the fair market value of oil field properties before they were damaged, Hensgens said.

The bill would also limit attorneys’ fees and costs that defendants who are found liable would have to pay plaintiffs and would let defendants not found liable to be entitled to attorneys’ fees from plaintiffs.

As SB244 matriculated through the ﬁnal days, legislators and advocates tracking the bill complained that too many different matters were being improperly added and that the changes were coming too late in the process for transparent debate.

One exchange about the legacy changes between Reps. Jacob Landry and Matthew Willard, DNew Orleans, on the House floor Sunday highlighted these concerns.

“You read this whole bill?” Willard asked his House colleague. “Yeah, I did,” Rep. Landry responded.

“Two hundred something pages? You read the whole bill?” Willard pressed.

“Uh, yep. Not the whole bill, but the part that I did,” Rep. Landry clariﬁed

“OK, thank you,” Willard answered.

record An expungement seals those records from access to the public, helping remove barriers to those looking for jobs.

Marla Dickerson, vice chancellor of innovation and strategic partnerships and initiatives at the law center said she views the expungement initiative “as workforce development for the state of Louisiana.”

“We really wanted to be able to give individuals an opportunity to live the life that they wanted to live, to become productive members of society to walk into the path of the jobs that they wanted to be in, and also, possibly, to help create generational wealth for their families,” she said.

‘The process has changed my life’

The event is planned for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the courthouse jury room on East Worthey Street in Gonzales. State Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie; Sen. Ed Price, D-Gonzales; and 23rd Judicial District Court Judge Keyojuan Gant-Turner assisted in obtaining funding and a location, Dickerson said.

She emphasized the session was intended for “anyone who has been impacted in some way by the justice system.”

“The event is for anyone who

DEVELOPMENT

Continued from page 1B

“We are particularly concerned about the broad range of uses permitted under mixed zoning, including bars and microbreweries, entertainment complexes, ﬁlm and music studios, bed-and-breakfasts (and) child care,” he said. “These types of businesses typically bring higher trafﬁc volume, large

BUILDING

Continued from page 1B

with TIEK BYDAY, has said the goal is to restore the building using state historic tax credits and bring it up to code, while making the restaurant feel like it has always been there.

Fleur de Lis opened in 1946, and its rectangular pies had a loyal following. The restaurant was a throwback — it didn’t accept credit cards, and the menu was limited to pizzas.

The new Fleur de Lis will use the same recipes and keep the same limited menu.

“We’re going to stick to the original very successful plan,” Batson said. “The restaurant had been there for 80 years.”

There will be some improvements. An outdoor patio will be added, and the bathrooms and

has a criminal background record,” she said. “It is for individuals who have been arrested, for those who have been charged and their charges have been dismissed. It’s for individuals who have been convicted.”

Residents within the 23rd Judicial District Court who want to participate need to bring certain documents with them Saturday

Those are:

n A driver’s license

n A certified copy of minutes n A certified copy of the bill of information n A background check from the Louisiana State Police headquarters. The 23rd Judicial District session is the 14th such event the Southern Law Center has held across the state over the past three years, and they already have made a significant impact. Terri Mayes, the managing attorney for the expungement initiative, said the organization has filed nearly 900 expungements since the program began.

Louisiana residents who participated in past expungement events shared their views in a Southern Law Center YouTube video last year In it, Annette Williams said “the process has changed my life.”

“Because like I said earlier, I can apply for jobs I can get jobs.

I can talk to other people who may be going through the same things I went through,” she said.

crowds, extended hours of operation, none of which are compatible with the quiet, residential nature of The Greens.”

Commissioner Mark Villa, president of one of the homeowners’ associations at Pelican Point, spoke as a private resident and abstained from voting. He suggested a few changes, including asking the commission to limit the commercial development along La. 44 until ongoing trafﬁc studies of the road were completed

kitchens will be brought up to code. And the limited menu of beer and wine will be upgraded to give customers a chance to enjoy higher quality drinks with their pizza, he said. Batson said the plan is to spend about $700,000 to upgrade the restaurant. The business closed indeﬁnitely over Fourth of July weekend in 2022, and the owners blamed the shutdown on a shortage of staffing The husband-and-wife team, Pam and Murray Rushing, operated Fleur de Lis; Pam is the granddaughter of original owners Annie Distefano and Joseph Guercio. The restaurant, furnishings, name and recipes were originally put up for sale in March 2023 with an asking price of $4.5 million. Beau Box took over the listing for the building in September and lowered the asking price to $1.1 million.

PROTESTERS

Continued from page 1B

passed it through the council. Laurie Adams, Denise Amoroso, Dwight Hudson and Brandon Noel voted against it

The civil complaint accused the BRPD of conducting a “conspiracy to deny members of the Black community of Baton Rouge their right to grieve” and of using preprinted affidavits to arrest Craig’s 10 clients and others for impeding trafﬁc. None of the 10 ended up being prosecuted.

While the settlement may close a legal chapter for Baton Rouge, deeper racial issues remain unresolved, said District 6 Metro Council member Cleve Dunn Jr., who — not yet in ofﬁce — joined the protests following Sterling’s death.

“That was a trying time for our community,” Dunn said. “I saw ﬁrsthand some of the issues that have been alleged and some of the issues that we have settled since I’ve been on the council.” Dunn said he was happy to see the plaintiffs be compensated for having their constitutional rights violated. But he added that using taxpayer money to compensate unjustly arrested people will not lead to any systemic change.

“I don’t truly think that the actions of law enforcement violating citizens’ constitutional right will change until those law enforcement officials themselves are held accountable,” Dunn said. “These settlements should not be coming out of the cityparish general fund.” Instead, Dunn said, a more effective way would using the police union’s funds, officer retirement funds or pensions, or even placing the financial accountability directly on the officer involved.

“I don’t think the patterns and the negative practices will change until they are held accountable themselves. Because right now, when they do something, the liability is on the cityparish, which is ultimately the taxpayer,” he said.

Craig said that for his clients, “this settlement is not mostly about money.”

“It’s about the recognition that they were damaged by unjustiﬁed actions of the police department,” Craig said. “Money is the way we measure harm in this society, and so that’s what we have.”

LOTTERY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025

PICK 3: 3-1-4

PICK 4: 7-3-2-8

PICK 5:

Google Cloud outage disrupts internet services

NEW YORK Popular online services across the globe were disrupted Thursday due to ongoing issues at Google Cloud

Tens of thousands of users of Spotify, Discord and other platforms began noticing issues with their services early in the afternoon, according to Downdetector, which tracks outages.

Outage reports for music streamer Spotify in particular peaked around 2 p.m. before dropping off, and some users began saying their access was restored.

Google’s Cloud status page said an incident with their systems affected clients in the U.S. and abroad. The company also posted that services are starting to recover after its engineers identified and began to mitigate the issue.

“We have identiﬁed the root cause and applied appropriate mitigations,” Google Cloud said. It added that there is no estimate for when the issue would be fully resolved.

Switch 2 sales hit a record within 4 days

Nintendo says it sold more than 3.5 million of its new Switch 2 gaming consoles within the ﬁrst four days since its release — breaking a record for the company In a Wednesday announcement, Nintendo said that this marks the “highest global sales level” for any of its hardware it’s sold within that window of time. The Japanese gaming company officially launched the Switch 2 on June 5. Fans of the console’s eightyear-old predecessor have been clamoring for an upgrade for years. Throngs of gamers stood in long lines outside stores for the Switch 2’s release around the world last week — less than two months after a chaotic rush for preorders quickly sold out.

Nintendo is counting on the Switch 2 to boost sagging sales. In addition to a larger screen and new games, the console has added social features aimed at luring new players into online gaming.

Nintendo has said it expects to sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles for the ﬁscal year through March 2026. The 3.5 million sold in the first four days includes the Nintendo Switch 2’s Mario Kart World Bundle, as well as the Switch 2’s Japaneselanguage and multi-language systems sold in Japan. The Switch 2’s baseline price of $449.99 is signiﬁcantly higher than the original Switch’s $299 price tag.

Long confirmed as IRS commissioner

Former U.S. Rep Billy Long of Missouri was confirmed on Thursday to lead the Internal Revenue Service, giving the beleaguered agency he once sought to abolish a permanent commissioner after months of acting leaders and massive staffing cuts that have threatened to derail next year’s tax filing season. The Senate confirmed Long on a 53-44 vote despite Democrats’ concerns about the Republican’s past work for a firm that pitched a fraud-ridden coronavirus pandemic-era tax break and about campaign contributions he received after President Donald Trump nominated him to serve as IRS commissioner While in Congress, where he served from 2011 to 2023, Long sponsored legislation to get rid of the IRS, the agency he is now tasked with leading. A former auctioneer, Long has no background in tax administration Long will take over an IRS undergoing massive change, including layoffs and voluntary retirements of tens of thousands of workers and accusations that then-Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency mishandled sensitive taxpayer data. Unions and advocacy organizations have sued to block DOGE’s access to the information.

BUSINESS

Wall Street ticks closer to record

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK U.S. stock indexes ticked higher on Thursday following another encouraging update on inﬂation across the country

The S&P 500 rose 0.4% to pull back with 1.6% of its record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 101 points, or 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.2%.

Oracle pushed upward on the market after jumping 13.3%. The tech giant delivered stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, and CEO Safra Catz said it expects revenue growth “will be dramatically higher” in its upcoming ﬁscal year

Stocks broadly got some help from easing Treasury yields in the bond market following the latest

update on inflation. Thursday’s said inﬂation at the wholesale level wasn’t as bad last month as economists expected, and it followed a report on Wednesday saying something similar about the inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling.

Wall Street took it as a signal that the Federal Reserve will have more leeway to cut interest rates later this year

The Federal Reserve has been hesitant to lower interest rates, and it’s been on hold this year after cutting at the end of last year, because it’s waiting to see how much President Donald Trump’s tariffs will hurt the economy and raise inﬂation While lower rates can goose the economy by encouraging businesses and households to borrow, they can also accelerate inﬂation.

Besides the inflation data, a

separate report on jobless claims also helped to weigh on Treasury yields. It said slightly more U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week than economists expected, and the total number remained at the highest level in eight months. That could be an indication of a rise in layoffs across the country

“We believe that were it not for the uncertainty caused by the tariffs, the combined information coming from the inﬂation and labor-market data would have compelled the Fed to have resumed cutting its policy rate by now,” according to Thierry Wizman, a strategist at Macquarie.

The Fed’s next meeting on interest rates is scheduled for next week, but the nearly unanimous expectation on Wall Street is that

it will stand pat again. Traders are betting it’s likely to begin cutting in September, according to data from CME Group.

Trump’s on-and-off tariffs have raised worries about higher inflation and a possible recession, which had sent the S&P 500 roughly 20% below its record a couple months ago. But stocks have since rallied nearly all the way back on hopes that Trump will lower his tariffs after reaching trade deals with other countries.

Many of Trump’s tariffs are on hold at the moment to give time for negotiations, but Trump added to the uncertainty late Wednesday when he suggested the United States could send letters to other countries at some point, “saying this is the deal. You can take it or you can leave it.”

Average mortgage rate falls modestly

Home borrowing costs remain elevated

BY MATT OTT AP business writer

WASHINGTON The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage fell modestly for the second straight week but home borrowing costs remain elevated.

The long-term rate inched back to 6.84% from 6.85% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday A year ago, the rate averaged 6.95%.

Mortgage rates are inﬂuenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inﬂation. The key barometer is the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.38% at midday Thursday down from 4.58% just a few weeks ago.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has remained relatively close to its high so far this year of just above 7% set in midJanuary The 30-year rate’s low point this year was in early April when it brieﬂy dipped to 6.62%.

High mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers and reduce their purchasing power That’s helped keep the U.S. housing market in a sales slump that dates back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from the rock-bottom lows they reached during the pandemic.

Last year, sales of previously occupied U.S. homes sank to

their lowest level in nearly 30 years. Sales fell last month to the slowest pace for the month of April going back to 2009.

Rising mortgage rates have helped dampen sales during what’s traditionally the peak period of the year for home sales. Last week, mortgage applications rose for the ﬁrst time in four weeks, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Mortgage applications jumped 13% from the previous week as rising inventory lured more buy-

ers, the group said. Applications are up 20% from a year earlier Other recent data suggests sales could continue to slow in the coming months. An index of pending U.S. home sales fell 6.3% in April from March and declined 2.5% from April last year, the National Association of Realtors reported two weeks ago.

There’s usually a month or two lag between a contract signing and when the sale is finalized, which makes pending home

sales a bellwether for future completed home sales.

Economists expect mortgage rates to remain relatively stable, with forecasts calling for the average rate on a 30-year mortgage to remain in a range between 6% and 7% this year

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, declined to 5.97% from 5.99% last week. The average a year ago was 6.17%, Freddie Mac said.

Nvidia chief: AI ‘greatest equalizer,’ Europe risks falling behind

BY THOMAS ADAMSON and KELVIN CHAN Associated Press

PARIS Will artiﬁcial intelligence save humanity — or destroy it?

Lift up the world’s poorest — or tighten the grip of a tech elite?

Jensen Huang the global chip tycoon widely predicted to become one of the world’s ﬁrst trillionaires offered his answer on Wednesday: neither dystopia nor domination. AI, he said, is a tool for liberation

Wearing his signature biker jacket and mobbed by fans for selfies, the Nvidia CEO cut the ﬁgure of a tech rock star as he took the stage at VivaTech in Paris.

“AI is the greatest equalizer of people the world has ever created,” Huang said, kicking off one of Europe’s biggest technology industry fairs.

Huang’s core argument: AI can level the playing ﬁeld, not tilt it.

Critics argue Nvidia’s dominance risks concentrating power in the hands of a few But Huang insists the opposite — that by slashing computing costs and expanding access, “we’re democratizing intelligence” for startups and nations alike. But beyond the sheeny optics,

Nvidia used the Paris summit to unveil a wave of infrastructure announcements across Europe, signaling a dramatic expansion of the AI chipmaker’s physical and strategic footprint on the continent.

In France, the company is deploying 18,000 of its new Blackwell chips with startup Mistral AI. In Germany, it’s building an industrial AI cloud to support manufacturers Similar rollouts are underway in Italy, Spain, Finland and the U.K., including a new AI lab in Britain. Other announcements include a partnership with AI startup Perplexity to bring sovereign AI models to European publishers and telecoms, a new cloud platform with Mistral AI, and work with BMW and Mercedes-Benz to train AI-powered robots for use in auto plants.

The announcements underscore how central AI infrastructure has become to global strategy — and how Nvidia, now the world’s most valuable chipmaker, is positioning itself as the engine behind it. As the company rolls out ever more powerful systems, critics

warn the model risks creating a new kind of “technological priesthood” — one in which only the wealthiest companies or governments can afford the compute power, energy, and elite engineering talent required to participate. That, they argue, could choke the bottom-up innovation that built the tech industry in the ﬁrst place. Huang pushed back “Through the velocity of our innovation, we democratize,” he said, responding to a question. “We lower the cost of access to technology.”

As Huang put it, these factories “reason,” “plan,” and “spend a lot of time talking to” themselves, powering everything from ChatGPT to autonomous vehicles and diagnostics.

But some critics warn that without guardrails, such all-seeing, selfreinforcing systems could go the way of Skynet in “The Terminator” movie — vast intelligence engines that outpace human control.

To that, Huang offers a countermodel: layered AI governance by design. “In the future,” he said, “the AI that is doing the task is going to be surrounded by 70 or 80 other AIs that are supervising it, observing it, guarding it, ensuring that it doesn’t go off the rails.” He likened the moment to a new

industrial revolution. Just as electricity transformed the last one, Huang said, AI will power the next and that means every country needs a national intelligence infrastructure. That’s why, he explained, he’s been crisscrossing the globe meeting heads of state.

“They all want AI to be part of their infrastructure,” he said. “They want AI to be a growth manufacturing industry for them.” Europe, long praised for its leadership on digital rights, now ﬁnds itself at a crossroads. As Brussels pushes forward with world-first AI regulations, some warn that over-caution could cost the bloc its place in the global race. With the U.S. and China surging ahead and most major AI ﬁrms based elsewhere, the risk isn’t just falling behind — it’s becoming irrelevant. Huang has a different vision: sovereign AI. Not isolation, but autonomy — building national AI systems aligned with local values, independent of foreign tech giants

“The data belongs to you,” Huang said. “It belongs to your people, your country your culture, your history, your common sense.”

But fears over AI misuse remain potent — from surveillance and deepfake propaganda to job losses and algorithmic discrimination.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MIKE STEWART

sign announces the sale of a new home Jan. 16, 2024, in Kennesaw, Ga.

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Obituaries

Banta, Dennis Joseph

Dennis Joseph Banta, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully at hishome on June 4, 2025, in Denham Springs, Louisiana,atthe age of 85. Dennis lived an extraordinary life filled with adventure,hard work laughter, and most of all—a deep and abiding love for his family.

Born on January 11, 1940, in Plaquemine, Louisiana, Dennis was a graduate of Plaquemine High School, Class of 1958

He continued his education at Louisiana State University, earning aBachelorof Science degree in Geography. WhileatLSU, he met his wife, Jean Jackson and began apartnership that would last more than 61 years. After graduating from LSU, Dennis enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, attended Officer Candidate School and then Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, eventually becoming ahelicopter rescue pilot. His five years of service were marked by courage and astrong sense of duty. These are qualities that would remain with him throughout his life. After completing his service in the Coast Guard, Dennis and Jean began a journey that took them to various cities across the country, as Dennis pursued acareer in boating and shipyard companies. Everywhere he went, Dennis brought asenseofpurpose and honesty,and he built alegacy groundedin integrity, mentorship, and love.

Affectionately known as "Dee Dee" by his family, Dennis was aman who lived true to himself. He

had arare giftfor making others feelseen, heard, and valued. He was a steady presence,a storyteller,and asourceofwisdom to allthat knew him. Whether offering guidance or justbeing present, Dennis had away of leaving people better than he found them. Dennis is survived by his devotedwife, Jean Jackson Banta;his lovingchildren, Elizabeth "Betsy" Banta Moore (David) and Dennis Bradford Banta (Amy); and his cherishedgrandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth MooreGoodwin (Will), Kathryn Anne Moore,MorganElizabeth Banta,Molly Bradford Banta, and Duke McKneely Banta.Heisalso survived by his sister, Joyce Banta Case(Billy), sisterinlaw JuneJackson Weber and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends who willmiss him deeply. Visitationwillbeheld from 3:30pm-4:30pmat Brandon Thompson Funeral Home, Denham Springs, on Sat.,June 14. The service will begin at 4:30pm. Honorary pallbearers will be Duke Banta, Terrell Brown, BillyCase, Will Goodwin, Tommy Kleinpeter, David Moore,Scott Weberand DavidWild Dennis Banta'slifewas one well-lived—a life markedbyservice, generosity, love, and enduring relationships. Hislegacy livesoninthe family he cherished and the countless lives he touched. In lieu of flowers, donationsinmemoryofDennis may be madetotwo charities: Launch Therapy Center ( launchpeds.com )at1310 S. Range Ave. Denham Springs,La70726 or Tunnels to TowersFoundation at www.t2t.org

It is with sadnessthat we announce the passing of James "Jim" FredBourgeois on June 6, 2025. Jim was aretired fieldtech who lovedtospend his time on his boat. Jimwas preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and KathleenBourgeois. Jimis survived by his extended family and devoted friends. He wasloved very much for his warmth and laughter.May he restin peace

Chisholm, LindaPrather

"I willsing to the Lord allmylife: Iwillsing praise to my God as long asI live." Psalm104:33

Linda Chisholm's singing was an act of worshiptothe God she lived forand loved. On June 9, 2025,her Godcalledher hometobewith Him. Linda was known forher kindness and generosity.Those who knew her best and loved her willmiss her greatly.

Linda was precededin death by herparents, Har-

ry and Norma Jean Prather;her husband, William Chisholm;her son Ronnie Chisholmand her granddaughter,Hannah Marie.Those of us left behind to miss her include: her sister, Rebecca "Becky" Schenk (Chris); her sister-in-law, Susie Prather; her childrenAnissa Hoover(Aldon) and William Chisholm (Toni); grandchildren, JonHoover (Rosie), Leigh Mistrot (Ronald), KyleChisholm, Jessica Galloway (Dalton), Haley Roy(Chad), McKenzie, Nathan and Tim Hoover. She also had 6 greatgrands with 2onthe way. Many morefriendsand family were impacted by Linda'slife andare sad at her passing.But thereis hope! In IThessalonians 4:13-18, Paul tellsusthat we willsee thosewho have "fallen asleep"inJesus again if we are faithful to Christ. Be faithful! Serviceswilltake place at DenhamSpringsChurch of Christ on Saturday June 14, 2025 with visitation from11:00 AM -1:00 PM and service beginning at 1:00 PM.Burial willfollow in Evergreen Memorial Park.

LanceB.Cropper, born February8,1942 in Plaque‐mine, passedawayon Wednesday,June 11, 2025 atthe ageof83atWest Towne.Hewas aresident ofBrusly. Lanceretired fromDow Chemical as a MaterialControllerafter 31 years.VisitingwillbeatSt. Johnthe BaptistCatholic Church in Brusly,onMon‐day,June 16, from 10:30 a.m.until Rite of Christian Burialat12p.m con‐ductedbyDeaconBob Mc‐Donner. Entombment will followinthe church mau‐soleum. Lanceissurvived byhis wife of 37 years, MargaretTuminello Crop‐per;children, BrianCrop‐per,Devin Cropperand wifeKelli,Terri T. Gauthe and husband Tod, Amanda T.Pitre,William “Billy”Tul‐lierIIand wife Michelle; grandchildren,DanielCrop‐per,Devyn Cropper, Bri‐anna Dugas(Clayton),Kar‐lie Gauthe (Christian), Tod GautheII(Casey),Tyler Tul‐lier, TrentTullier (Maddie) TateTullier,and Macie Pitre;great-grandchildren NathanDugas,Claire Dugas,ColtonGautheand Wrenley Tullier; sister, Maureen C. Perry andhus‐bandCleve;sister-in-law, SylviaMelancon. Lance was preceded in deathby his father,ClarenceCrop‐per;mother, MaudeCecil Falcon; brothers,Lawrence Melanconand Clarence J. Cropper. Lancewas afor‐mer member of theSt. JohnFather’sClub. He loved Cruisin’ on theCoast and hisantique cars.The familywould like to extend a specialthank youto Bridgeway Hospicenurse, Haley andall thestaff at WestTowne.Memorialdo‐nations maybemadeto Bridgeway Healthcare and Hospice.Pleaseshare memoriesatwww.wilbert services.com.

Stephanie“Steph” Dab‐ney departed this life on Friday, May30, 2025, at Our Ladyofthe Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge,LA. Shewas 53, a nativeand resident of Labadieville, LA.Visitation onFriday, June 13, 2025, at Williams &SouthallFuneral Homefrom2:00pmto4:00 pm. Visitation on Saturday June 14, 2025, at St.Paul Baptist Church from 8:00 amtoreligious services at 10:00 am.Interment in Mt ZionBaptist Church Ceme‐tery. Arrangements by Williams &SouthallFuneral Home, 5414 Hwy. 1, Napoleonville,LA70390, (985) 369-7231. To sign the guest book or offercondo‐lences, visitour websiteat www.williamsandsouthall funeralhome.com.

Clarence "CJ"Joseph Savoie Daigle, 82, anative of NewOrleans, LA and resident of BelleRose, LA, passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. CJ was adevotedhusband,father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend.A proud graduateofLouisiana StateUniversity, he earned his degree in Engineering and went on to serveas Chief Engineerand later Plant Manager at Savoie Industries Sugar Factory foranimpressivefortythreeyears. CJ was deeply involvedinhis community and professional field. He was amember of the American Sugar Cane League, aThird Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, and an active participant in theDonaldsonville Elks Club. He served as aBoardDirector of SavoieIndustries, which laterbecame Lula-Westfield, forthirty-seven years, and was also adedicated board member of Foti Finance forover four decades. Afaithful parishionerofSt. Jules Catholic Church, CJ gavegenerously of his time and talents. He served as aEucharistic Minister, achoirmember, was involvedinthe maintenance committee and a volunteer forthe Allons Manger festival.For fifty plus years, he attended Manresa House of Retreats. In his free time, CJ lovedbeing surrounded by his family.Healso enjoyed golfing,hunting,and fishing.Known forhis caring nature, he consistently put theneeds of others before

hisown.Ifsomethingwas broken, everyoneknewCJ wasthe onetofix it.CJ's life wasa testament to service,love, and dedication.His legacylives on through themanylives he touched and thestrong foundation he helped build in both hisfamilyand his community. He leaves behind to cherish hismemory hisloving wife of sixty-two years, Patsy Grisaffe Daigle;three sons, Tim Daigle (Dawn), Dr. Bryan Daigle (Dodi)and John Daigle (Jennifer); nine grandchildren; Dr.Seth Daigle (Carley), Sera Daigle (fiancé Hayden), Sophie Daigle,Hayes Daigle, Chase Daigle,Landon Daigle,JohnRobertDaigle andAubreeDaigle; two great grandchildren, Addison and MadelineDaigle; six siblings, WilfredDaigle (Glenda), Dickie Daigle (Kate),Raymond Daigle (Wing), Barbara Batulis (Bryan), Michael Daigle (Celeste) and Dr. Robert Daigle (Julie).Heisprecededindeathbyhis parents, Dr.Julius andMildred Daigle.A visitation will be held at St.Jules Catholic Church in Belle Rose, LA, on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 9am until Rosary at 11:30am then Mass of Christian Burial at 12pm. Conductingthe service will be Fr. Thomi Thomas. Interment to follow in the church mausoleum. The familywould like to extend theirthanks to CJ's loving caretakers, Tiffanie Ollis andEthel Anderson andhis special nurse,KristieLeJeunefor theircare andsupport throughout his time of need.The pallbearers will be Dr.SethDaigle, Hayes Daigle,Chase Daigle,Landon Daigle,JohnRobert Daigle,Wilfred Daigle,Paul Grisaffe andHayden Richard.Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Daigle,Dr. Robert Daigle Dickie Daigle,Raymond Daigle andBryan Batulis.

Freeman,Carolyn Marie Visitation services for Carolyn MarieFreeman will beheldFriday, June 13, 2025 at Hour of Prayer Min‐istry,5211 Ford St.A public visitationwillbeheldfrom 5:00p.m.until 7:00 p.m. Graveside services will be heldSaturdayJune 14, 2025 atSouthernMemorialGar‐dens. Gravesideservices willbegin at 11:00 am.Pro‐fessional services en‐trusted to CharlesMackey FuneralHome.

Hogg, Mae

MaeHogg passedaway Friday, June 6, at her home surrounded by her children andgrandchildrenasthey sangher favorite hymn "In theGarden". She was94 yearsold BornVerliaMae KennedyMay 7, 1931, to Wallace andMyrtle KennedyinBarrineauPark, Florida, shemoved with her family to Alabama, Mississippi,and Arkansas.

In Little Rock, Arkansas, shemet thelove of her life,Med Hogg, and thetwo marriedaftera brief courtship as Medwas being transferredwest Shesaid, "Wehoneymooned allthe way to Phoenix."Mae and Med were married72yearsat hisdeathin2020. They were honored by theLouisiana Family Forumfor being oneofthe longestmarried couplesin thestate Sheand Medmoved fromPhoenixtoSt. Louis then to New Orleans, and finally to Baton Rouge in 1959. Along the waythey hadfivechildren: Tommy, Judy, Jimmy,Trudy, and Johnny. Avivacious, joyous woman, Maenever met a stranger.God wasalways first in Mae's life,and she lovedtelling peopleabout Jesus. At herwitness, many peoplecametobelieve in Jesus. At her prayers,many peoplewere healedand had relationshipsrestored. People woulddropinher home for prayerand counsel, and shealways graciously welcomed them.

Herhome was filled with singing,scripture,and prayer. She was amember of the former FloridaBoulevard Baptist Church,and continued monthlyBible studies, prayermeeting, and lunch with theAlpha Class Sunday School ladies for decades, hosting thegatheringfor the last four years. She wasa Prayer WarriorwithFranklin Graham'sministryOperation ChristmasChild and was activeinWomen Praying forWomen. Shewas regularlyfeaturedonher son Jim'sradioprogram "Sunday MorninginHogg Heaven" where shewould offer wisdom and prayer Mae's passion was her family.Each child felt likethe favorite.She always wanted thedetails of whatwas happeningin theirlives. CalledMae Maebyher grandchildren andgreat grandchildren, shelavished love on each one andprayed foreach one daily.She wasa wonderfulhomemaker and a fabulous cook, famousfor MaeMae's Perfect Pound Cake.She and Med kept a vegetablegarden formany years, and sheenjoyed pickingand preparing home grown vegetables. Shealsogrewbeautiful flowers and treasuredthe rose gardenher husband plantedfor her Maeand Medenjoyed travelingand cruising. They toured Europe, theMediterranean, Canada, Hawaiiand muchofthe continental USA. They celebrated their50th anniversary at acastle in Scotland.Her favorite trip of allwas to the Holy Land. Hercareer life was varied.She began as a Mary Kay Consultant,then wasa real estateagent jewelry storemanager, andfinally helped her husbandinhis home-based transportationconsulting business. Maeisprecededin death by herparents; husband; son,Tommy Hogg; grandson, Evan Kennedy Mills; sisters, Norma Letort, Alma Roberts,Ola Ruddick,Glenda Legg; and brother,James Wallace Kennedy. Sheissurvived by her childrenand their spouses, Judy Mills, Jim andLinda Hogg, Trudy and Tom Kiggans, Johnand Lauren Hogg; andher grandchildrenRebekah Owens (Sean), Matthew Kiggans (Leighanne),Mary Margaret Parker(Tyler), Daniel Kiggans (Carlee), AustinHogg (Diana), Gabrielle Hogg, and James Linden Hogg; sister, Bobbie

Dabney,Stephanie 'Steph'

Cropper, LanceB

Daigle,Clarence 'CJ Joseph Savoie

Bourgeois, James Fred

Sanford, along with ahost of great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Saturday, June 14, at 10:00atJefferson Baptist Church,9135 Jefferson Highway,Baton Rouge, LA

The servicewill beginat 11:00. Theburial will take place immediatelyafter at GreenoaksMemorial Park, 9595Florida Boulevard, BatonRouge, LA.

"Many daughters havedone well, but thou excellest them all. Proverbs 31:29

Laurence Jackson, John Jacksonand Barbara Jackson. Viewing at Sunrise Baptist Church, 966 Maryland Ave., Port Allen, LA 70764 on Saturday, June 14, 2025

9:00 am until Celebration of Life at 11:00 am.

Odessa Reed “Dessa Lovincy passedawayon Saturday, June 7, 2025,at her daughter’s residencein Houma,LA. Shewas 92, a nativeand resident of Belle Rose, LA.VisitationonFri‐day,June13, 2025, at Williams &SouthallFuneral Homefrom3:00pmto5:00 pm. Visitation on Saturday, June14, 2025, at Virginia Baptist Church from 8:00 amuntil religiousservices at10:00 am.Interment in the church cemetery ArrangementsbyWilliams & Southall FuneralHome, 5414 Hwy. 1, Napoleonville, LA70390, (985)369-7231. To signthe guestbookor offercondolences,visit our website at www.william sandsouthallfuneralhome. com.

Milam, DorothyMae Lawrence 'MissDot'

DorothyMae Lawrence Milam,age 94, of Zachary, Louisiana,passedaway peacefullyather home on Friday, June 6, 2025. Born onJanuary 31, 1931, in Shaw, Mississippi,she spent herearly yearsinthe Greenvillecommunity, where shewas surrounded byfamilyand friends. It was there, in Greenville, thatshe metthe love of her life,JohnVernon Milam,Sr.,and together theybegan abeautiful journey of faith,love, and family. DuetoJohn’swork inroadconstruction, they lived andraisedtheir fam‐ily in variousplacesacross South Louisiana. Eventu‐ally, they putdownrootsin Zachary,where they spent the rest of theirlives to‐getherinthe home where Dorothy remained until her passing.A womanofdeep and abidingfaith,Dorothy was adevoted member of Galilee BaptistChurch in Zachary.Her kind spirit steadydevotion, andlove for theLordwereevident inall shedid.She enjoyed reading herBible,sewing, crocheting, watching Hall‐markmoviesand game shows,and cooking—espe‐cially cornbreadand turnip greens. Shewas theloving wifeofthe late John Ver‐non Milam, Sr with whom she shared 67 beautiful years of marriage.To‐gether,theybuilt astrong,

faith-centeredfamily. Dorothy is survived by her fourchildren: Shirley Milam Snodgrass, Carolyn Milam Warren andhus‐bandTommy, Sandra Milam Howard andhus‐bandDennis, andJohnV Milam,Jr. andwife Melanie.She wasthe cher‐ished grandmotherof17 grandchildren,including EricDavid Warrenand Lau‐ren BrookeMilamwho pre‐ceded herindeath,and great-grandmother of 22 great-grandchildren,all of whombrought immense joy to herlife. Sheisalso precededindeath by her son-in-laws,JosephR Snodgrass andStevenR Geiger, as well as hersib‐lings Laverne, Jenny, James,and David. Dorothy willbe remembered most for herunwavering love for her family,her gracious and gentle nature,and her dedicationasa wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.Her legacyoffaith andlove continues in each of them Visitationwillbeheldat Charlet FuneralHomein Zachary on Friday,June 13 2025, from 4:00 PM until 7:00PM, and againonSat‐urday,June 14,2025, from 9:00AMuntil theservice at 11:00 AM,conducted by Dr Eddie Davis. Burial will fol‐low at Azalea Rest Ceme‐teryinZachary.Pallbear‐ers will be hergrandsons In lieu of ﬂowers, memorial donations maybemadeto the LouisianaBaptist Chil‐dren’sHomeorSt. Jude Children’sHospital.To share condolencesand memories, visitwww.Cha rletFuneralHome.com.

Nelson,Vincent Melvin 'Buddy'

VincentMelvin“Buddy” Nelsondepartedthislife onSunday, June 8, 2025, at Thibodaux Regional Med‐icalCenter. He was74, a nativeofBelle Rose,LA and resident of Bertrandville,LA. Visitation onFriday, June 13,2025, at Williams &SouthallFuneral Homefrom4:00pmto6:00 pm. Visitation on Saturday, June 14,2025, at FirstIsrael Baptist Church from 10:00 amtoreligious services at 11:00 am.Rev.Thomas Wesleyofﬁciating. Inter‐ment in St.Benedict Catholic Church Cemetery ArrangementsbyWilliams & Southall FuneralHome, 5414 Hwy. 1, Napoleonville, LA70390, (985) 369-7231. To signthe guestbookor offercondolences,visit our website at www.william sandsouthallfuneralhome com.

Ragusa,Patricia Thomas 'Patti'

We mourn the Loss, but Celebrate the Extraordinary LifeofPatricia Thomas Ragusa.Born 8/ 18/1944 in Baton RougeDied peacefullyinher home, 6/6/2025 Patti attendedDufrocESinBaton Rouge and Graduated from Baton Rouge High School Patti was the First in her

Family to earn aCollege Degree and Graduated LSU in 4years with abachelor's in education PattiWorked throughout College to pay forbooks, supplies and tuition. Her parents, Elias and LucilleThomas, helped with tuition, as well. When her father had adebilitating stroke, Pattiand her mother soldAvonmakeup,door-to-door,tohelp support the family of 7. Pattiwent on aBlind-Date with Ben PRagusa, Jr, arranged by mutual friends. She eventuallymarried Ben on July30, 1966 at St AgnesCatholicChurch, by her cousin, Fr. NickMartrain. Pattienjoyed Teaching 4thGradeatWyandot Elementary in theEast BatonRouge Parish School System. Benand Patti bought aYellow 1966 Mustang witha 289 and 4speed for her to travelto and fromwork. Benhad to gether aseatcushionso she couldreach theclutch. After Jeffrey was born, Patti Found her True Calling as aFull-TimeMother. Her passionfor Education continued as she helped her childrenexcel in scholastics, leading themboth to CollegeDegrees.She also was activeintheir schools and even was theCCD Director at St.Thomas More School in Baton Rougeduring the1970's. Pattialso tutoredstudentswho needed help and was instrumental in many childrenachieving High School Diplomas and GED's. After morethan20-years in Atlanta, Pattiand Ben returnedtoBaton Rouge to start anew business and take care of Patti's ailing mother. For almost 30 years, oldfriendshipswere re-kindled and new ones forged while her family grew around her in Baton Rouge. The past 3decades haveseenthe birthoffive grandchildren with two marriages and aflourishing business family, as well.Patti is preceded in death by her parentsElias Thomas, LucilleMartrain Thomas, and her Brother Kenneth Wayne Thomas. The Joy of Her Life was Family!Husband: Ben, of almost 59 years. Children: Jeffrey (56) and Stephanie (54) Grandchildren: Madeline (28), Elizabeth(28), Jeffrey Jr (27), Tricia(25), & Megan (23). Siblings: Kenneth (deceased) Gail, E.J., and Darla. An Elegant Lady Has Found Her Reward with Her Lord and The Blessed Mother. AMass of ChristianBurial willbe held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM followedbya committal service at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

Rougon,Donald Percy'Don'

Donald"Don" Percy Rougonwas bornFebruary 7, 1962, in BatonRouge, LA, theson of thelatePercy V. Rougon and Louise Rougon. Alovingand dedicated husband,father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather, he died Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the ageof83. He was married to Sadie Lindsay Oliverof Baton Rouge,LA. Don grew up in Rougon, LA,surrounded by sugarcane farmland on property passed down by his French ancestorsfrom Rougon, France. He graduated from RougonHighSchool and helpedhis relativesinThe RougonStore as ateenager and laterearneda BS degree in Industrial Technology fromLSU.

He was employed44 years at Ethyl Corporation, which laterbecame Albe-

marle Corporation, and then Shaw. He retiredfrom theEngineering Department in 2009. Don was an excellent craftsman and theneighborhoodhandyman. His workshop was oftenfilled with curious children friends, and family who had no idea what kind of equipment they were actually looking at.A metal lathe,drill press, or wood planermight be running late intothe evening or all weekend long. And when themachines were not running,hewas drafting plans with penmanship that rivaledthat of an architect.Hecreated the Ross Downing (originally Oliver Downing)logoyou see on cars in South Louisiana today in his natural cursive

He took pride in everythinghemadeand was always willing to fix things—whether for friends, family,orneighbors. It may have takena long time, buteverything he didwas completedwith absolute precision: from shooting aperfect shot fromthe hip to rebuilding car engines, dancing with his wife,waterskiing, or caring for animals. He wouldvisit theworkshops of others and clean up their toolsand work on their brokenequipment.

He shared all of these passions with his children, grandchildren, and anyone willing to payattention. He adored LSUfootballand inheritedhis father's four tickets—hisfather having been aprofessor at LSU. Those seats brought cherishedmemories for his children and later his grandchildren, and remain in thefamily today.

Don was adevout Catholic. He wore ascapulararound his neck, never missed Mass on Sundays, and livedhis faith with quiet devotion

He is survivedbyhis wife, Lindsay; his children, JosephMajorRougon and daughter-in-lawBecky FelderRougonofDenham Springsand VirginiaLindsay RougonofOxford,MS; his grandchildren, Hunter JosephRougonand Christine Ridenour, Hannah RougonBowlin and husband BradyBowlin, Bazil Major Chavis, and Ruby MaudeChavis;and greatgrandchildrenCohenGurrola,Jamison Rougon, Lochlan Rougon, Graham Bowlin, and Landry Bowlin. He is also survivedby his sister, Lynn Rougon Barr, and her husband,

Michael Barr,and nieces Michelle Barr andAnne Barr

The familywishesto thank Dr.Burke J. Brooks, Dr.Hussain at Ochsner Hospital, Dr.Sultan &staff at LaneMemorialHospital, andall caregivers at the Lodge at LaneinZachary, LA. Visitation will be held on June 13 at OurLady of Mercy Catholic Church in Baton Rouge,LA, at 1p.m., followed by amemorial celebratory Mass at 2p.m., with FatherJeffBayhi officiating. Those attending theservice are asked to wear purpleand gold. Pallbearers are Hunter Rougon,BazilChavis, Parish Oliver,Garett Spring, andCharlesValluzzo.Honorary pallbearers are MitchRichardson, Charles Grey, Johnnie Seal, Tooley Townes, Jackie Grantham, ChrisChoppin, andGary Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to: Hospice of Baton Rouge,9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810.

Anative of NewOrleans andlong life residentof Batchelor, La anda United States AirForce Veteran passedawayMay 28, 2025 at theage of 74. Visitation servicesFriday June 13, 2025 at A. Wesley's Faith Center152 Hwy3050 Morganza,La70759 from 3pm to 5pm. Religiousservices Saturday June 14, 2025 at St.Mary Missionary Baptist Church9067 La 1, Lettsworth,La9am till 11am. Conducted by Rev. Lionel Davis Sr.Interment Mt.Salem Mason1 cemetery along with AirForce Military Honors. Louis is survived by hisdaughter Lisa Smith Braggs (Darryl) of NewRoads; son Terrance Smith of Batchelor La; sistersLinder Smith Dixon (Hebert)ofMorganza, La &Sonia Williams Thomas (Tommy) of TalledegaAl. John Wayne Williams (Gayle) of Houston Tx; auntArleneWells

(Leroy)ofInnis, La; uncle Woodrow Williams Sr (Mary) of Houston, Tx. Professionalservicesentrusted to A. Wesley's Funeral Home

Taylor, Fred Fred Taylor,75, of Prairieville,LA, formerlyof Chicago,IL, passedaway peacefully on Wednesday, May28, 2025, at OurLady of theLake Regional MedicalCenter. Born in Chicago, Fred honorablyservedinthe U.S. Army andwas discharged in 1969. He dedicated 33 years to theUnited States Postal Service, retiringin2004 as aSupervisor. Fred wasprecededin death by hisparents, RuthaHampton,Archie Taylor Sr., andJames Bynum, as well as fivesiblings. He is survivedbyhis belovedwife,JoAnn Taylor;daughters;and grandchildren.

Acelebration of Fred's life will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at HopefulTriumphBaptist Church,38584 LA-22, Darrow, LA 70725. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM, followedbya funeral service at 11:00 AM.Burial will followimmediately after the service

Jackson, Joyce Marie 'Granny'

Joyce Marie

Smith, Louis 'Big Lou'

Lovincy, Odessa Reed 'Dessa'

OPINION

Problems at UNOstemfrombad oversight

The budget crisis at the University of New Orleans has been all over the news, but from the view of faculty and staff at UNO, the narrative of the crisis is far from complete While administrators, members of the Board of Regents and University of Louisiana System supervisors point to drops in enrollment as the main driver of our current crisis, we workers are more familiar with the long-term issues that have widened our budget gap. As members of the United Campus Workers union, we know that staff and faculty engage with students on adaily basis, and many have served the institution for years or decades —much longer than administrators and state board members. Our deep institutional knowledge allows us to understand the management practicesand misguided policies that landedthe University in its currentpredicament —practices that areoften overlooked in reporting about the situation at UNO.

McCullin GUEST COLUMNIST

Any decrease in studentsisasymptom of the bigger problem: mismanagement by the state and higher administration.

Our university is apublic institution, overseen by public bodies charged with stewarding crucial processes like budgeting and management.

From ourperspective, the mismanagementofUNO shows howoversight from these public ofﬁcers, especially those at the UL System Board of Supervisors, hasbeen woefully lacking for years.

Forexample,years of understafﬁng in ofﬁces such as the bursar and registrar has left students without needed guidance, hurting enrollment and revenue generation. At the sametime, administrators have prioritized less essential aspects of the university,including maintaining a Division Iathletics department. Similarly,theyengaged in exorbitant spending on external contracts that have locked the UNO communityintobad deals,

making the budget situation even worse. They refuse to hire full-time faculty to replace those who have retired and cut courses from the schedule days before each term begins, causing whiplash for students.

All this has occurred while enrollment tumbled and retention suffered from alack of staff in crucial ofﬁces —trends that for years went unaddressedbyUL System administrators charged with providing oversight.

For years, the administrative mismanagement at UNO has made the successful enrollment and retention of students nearly impossible, and the UL System Board of Supervisors hasfailed to carry out its ﬁduciary duty to ensure campus administrators were proper stewards of the institution.

These root causes of UNO’s difﬁculties are still not being adequately addressed, even in this time of crisis.

The administration’sresponse hasfocused primarily on reducing the numberofdeans, department chairs and adjunct faculty and combining colleges to bring down operating costs. These reductions in middle management

‘Debanking’isareal problem, andthe fix must come from D.C.

At the start of the session, lawmakers were considering legislation aimed at combating “debanking”— the alleged practiceofﬁnancial institutions cutting off banking services to individuals or businesses based on political or religious beliefs. Thankfully and with credit to our lawmakers, they are looking to federal lawmakers to address this issue It is important that we protectLouisianans against this type of ﬁnancial discrimination, but as our lawmakers recognized, change needs to come from Washington, which can address the government overreach at the root of the issue.

only overload personnel who teach and run essential functions that directly serve students.

Recent staff layoffs and ongoing furloughs have further hamstrung the university’sdayto-dayoperations, reducing the numberofworkers available to help students gain access to ﬁnancialaid, advising, study abroad and English language training for international students.

Faculty and staff have been made to pay the price for the errors and irresponsibility of past administrators and the UL System Board of Supervisors, and therehas been no accountability for their failure to uphold the ﬁduciary responsibilities associated with one of the University of Louisiana System’smost crucial institutions.

The University of New Orleans plays an essential role in southeast Louisiana. Our universitytrains and prepares abroad swathofthose who will become local engineers, business leaders, artists, musicians, teachers, lawyers and research professionals.

For decades, the school has maintained programs that cultivate New Orleans’ iconic music,

arts, hospitality,tourism and culture communities, even in the face of massively dwindling state investment. The students and workers at UNO deserve responsible management and accountability for the campus and system leaders who put us in this situation.

UNO’sfuture is intimately tied to New Orleans’ socio-economic success. It is too valuable to allow those who have mismanaged it to walk away without being held responsible.

The UNO and New Orleans community deserve enhanced investment by the state and sufficient oversight of their public university.Wehope that, after years of negligence, our public officials will step up to fulfill this essential duty

Roberto E. Barrios is Doris ZemurrayStoneChairofLatin Americanand Caribbean Studiesand professorof anthropology.JenaMcCullin is assistant director of data management. Both are members of theUniversity of NewOrleans Organizing Committee, United Campus Workers —Southeast, AFL-CIO.

TheU.S.mustquickly move to endUkraine war

It is very challenging at times to understand the current administration’s foreign policy.

Scott Wilfong GUEST COLUMNIST

sense piece of legislation aimed to remove “reputational risks” in the regulatory supervision of bank customers, marking the ﬁrst substantial step from Washington in reeling in illicit debanking. The House of Representatives also introducedits companion version of theFIRM Act with bipartisan support, showing signiﬁcant attention fromfederal leadersto solvethisissue.

Astrong federal standard, in addition to theFIRM Act, will ensure banksserve customers fairly andconsistently,allowing ﬁnancial institutions to uniformly serve their clients withoutfear of regulatory persecution.

While well-intentioned,House Bill 418 by Rep. Roger Wilder III, RDenham Springs, wouldhave further increased government intervention in the ﬁnancial sectorand contributed to aconfusing patchwork of state-level regulations thatwouldcause headaches for Louisiana residents and our banks. HB418 would havebeen a disaster for small businesses andcustomers alike. Make no mistake —debanking is real and needs to be addressed.President Donald Trump himself has called for asolution, but the cause is government overreach, not discriminatory big banks. While I’m glad ourLouisiana lawmakers are listening,weneed to look to Washington on debanking reformrather than muddythe waters here To put an end to unintended consequences of state activity on anational issue like debanking and ensuring access to banking services, federal policymakers must enact anational standard that codiﬁes into lawthatbanks are prohibited from denyingservices for religious or political reasonswhile adding clarity and consistency to the regulatory process Louisiana’sown U.S. Sen. John Kennedy cosponsored theSenate’s Financial Integrity and Regulation Management (FIRM) Act,acommon-

This would also hold those truly responsible for debanking accountable: overzealousfederal regulators. These unelected,holdover bureaucrats under theObama and Biden administrations were responsible for what is nowknown as Operation Choke Point, which infamously pressured banks to cut ties with legally operating businesses that were politically disfavored,including those in the crypto industry. TheTrumpadministration andCongress are hard at work scaling back the tentacles of government abuse andweneed to continue to let them lead on this effort.

Ourneighbors in Texas were consideringsimilar legislation this session to address debanking, but instead, Republican state Sen. TanParker issued aresolution pushing fora congressional solution.Louisiana also has the opportunity to lead on this issue by encouragingWashington toestablish clear,uniﬁedrules that bar ideologicaldiscrimination in banking, provide justiﬁcation for service denials and hold rogue regulators accountable when they cross the line.

Thankyou,Louisiana lawmakers, for looking to Washington and legislation likethe FIRM Act to reel in government overreach on this issue.

Scott Willfong is abusiness owner in Baton Rouge.

Our vice president articulates ahistorically wrong isolationistapproach,yet the administration is actively involvedin trying to solve numerous international conﬂicts.

In addition to apotential nuclear agreement with Iran, ahistoric meeting with the newSyrian president whowas once adesignated terrorist and efforts to bring home innocenthostages still held in Gaza’stunnels, there are ongoing efforts to negotiate acease-ﬁre andlong-term peace between Ukraine and Russia.

This thankfullydoes not seem likeisolationism.

Iamlooking forwardto spending part of my summer in Ukraine, where I help send Ukrainianyouth to U.S. summer camps.

Three years intothis effort, Ihaveseen with my own eyes howthese kids —onlydaysremoved from beinginbomb shelters —are able to just be kids again.

We will also discuss an interesting initiative to help disabled Ukrainian military men and women recover through the use of sports. And, through the help of generous donors, we are sponsoring more than 60 Ukrainian athletes’ attendanceatthe Maccabiahin Israel, the second-largest sporting event in the world with over 10,000 global Jewish athletes. It can be easy to get dispirited given the11 yearsofconﬂict in Ukraine, which began with Rus-

sia’s unlawful takeover of Crimea in 2014 and the brutal 2022 invasion and bombardment of the entire nation. YetIcontinue to be an optimist and am still hopeful a just and long-term peace is possible. To achieve this, Iamhoping President Donald Trump’seyes will open to the fact that Russia —not Ukraine —isthe sole obstacle to peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is aliar who cannot be trusted and a war criminal responsible for rapes, beheadings and, worst of all, the unlawful kidnapping of nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children.

Putin refuses to stop the brutal war that he started, and feels there is no need to reverse course given America’scurrent unwillingness to take more assertive action.

Most Americans continue to support assistance to Ukraine.

It is time our president understands that America First does not mean walking away from our longtime allies and abandoning our democratic principles in order to appease abrutal autocrat.

Have we not learned from history that appeasement is always alosing proposition?

But indeed, there is a strategic pathway to get Putin to negotiate in good faith.

U.S. ofﬁcials should demand that Putin immediately cometothe diplomacy table —orelse the United States will: join European allies in boost-

ing foreign aid to Ukraine, especially with munitions manufactured in the U.S.; impose additional sanctions on Russia’senergy industry; fast-track Ukraine’s entry into NATO and the European Union; put satellite defense systems over Ukraine; and support NATO providing air support to guard Ukrainian airspace.

Merely getting to adeal with Russia should not be the only goal. Rather,it must be ajust and sustainable deal, with security guarantees, so that Ukraine is not attacked yet again in the future by Russia.

Ihave seen the courage of the Ukrainian people (and the horrors of the war) with my owneyes, and it is imperative we assist Ukraine in regaining its freedom and sovereignty Some maycall the above naive and unattainable, but it is imperative that the United States, along with our European allies, stay uniﬁed, put collective pressure on Russia and bring acessation to the current conﬂict.

America is still greatly admired and respected by people from around the world, and it is well time we demonstrate that American values include compassion and support for acountry in great need. My belief is that peace and prosperity are still dreams worth ﬁghting for In the words of the great basketball coach Jim Valvano, “Don’tgive up. Don’t ever give up.”

ArnieFielkowisaformer NewOrleans City Council president and former CEO of theJewish Federation of Greater NewOrleans.

ROOM FOR DEBATE ICE RAIDS

Efforts by the Trump administration to round up illegal immigrants at jobsites and courthousesnationwide have sparked protests around the country. In Los Angeles, most notably, protesters attempted to block Immigrations and Customsagents from conducting arrestsinrecentdays.Theconflict has led to anearlya week of unrest as President Donald TrumpcalledupNational Guard troops and Marinesand sent them to Los Angeles against the wishes of Gov. Gavin Newsom, whosayslocal policecan handle the protests and federal troops only enflametensions. Butthe ICEraids have also prompted alarger debate about how farlaw enforcement can go as the UnitedStatesseeks to deportimmigrants. Here are twoperspectives:

Secret police descending on SmallTown, America

GREATBARRINGTON, Mass.— Maybe they really were immigration ofﬁcers, just as they claimed. Or maybe they werea ragtag vigilante group, arbitrarilysnatching brownlooking people off the street.

“It could have been like aband of the Proud Boys or something,” said Linda Shaﬁroff, recounting the agents who showed up outside her ofﬁce in masks and tacticalgear andrefused to show IDs, warrants or even the names of any criminals they were supposedlyhunting.

spect it even to seewhat agency it was for.

“It couldhave been from Cracker Jacks,” sherecalled.

In LosAngeles standoff over ICE, Trumpisright

Throughout therioting in her city, Los Angeles Mayor KarenBass has frequently lashed outatPresident Donald Trump’sdecision to sendNational Guard and active-duty troops to protectfederal buildings and keep thepeace.

Catherine Rampell

As unrest and military troops overtake Los Angeles, terrifying scenes are also unfolding in smallercommunities around the country.They, too, are being invaded by what resemblesa secret police force, often indistinguishable from random thugs.

When the business owners repeatedly askedthe agentstoprove who they were, the agents said they didn’tneed to show identiﬁcation andaccused their interlocutors of promoting lawlessness. “You want people driving drunk in here?” one of them asked, according to acellphone video. Shaﬁroff replied: “I don’twant people driving drunk. Ihave asked forIDs.”

The gardener was eventually put in the back of an unmarked car and driven away.Shaﬁroff, who described theincident as partofthe new “police state,” said she hassince heard through mutual acquaintances that theman is being detained in an immigration facility, perhaps near Boston.

Shafiroff and businesspartnerSarah Stiner own aboutique home-design and construction firm in Great Barrington, a New England town largely populated by artists, aging hippies and affluent secondhome-owners. On May 30, around 11a.m., six armedagents showed up outside the women’soffice. The agents were dressed as though they had parachuted into awar zone, rather than asmall town where the crosswalks are painted in rainbows.

The paramilitary-resembling group approachedaHispanic man who was outside the design office, picking weeds. The man did not work for Shafiroffand Stiner’sdesign firm, but rather for alocallandscaping company.(The women say their employees are all citizens or otherwise have documents proving they’reherelegally.) Neither Shafiroff nor Stiner knew the gardener’sname, but they said they had seen him aroundbefore and that he seemed friendly They were also incensed by what looked like an extralegal abductionunfolding in their parking lot.

“These guys had guns hanging all over them,” said Shaﬁroff, but they otherwise had no conformity to their dress. “None of them had the same lettersonthe front of their vests. Some of them didn’tevenhave letters, but it said ‘Police’across theback. …One had light-colored jeans and sneakers on, and one had on aRed Sox hat.” The agentsarrivedinunmarkedcars, some with out-of-state plates.

The women asked to see IDs or warrants, or even the names of the alleged criminals these agents were there to trackdown. They refused. One brieﬂyﬂashed abadge, Stiner recounted, butwould not let her in-

The business partners, who have receivedthreatsinthe days after the incident as aresultofcoverage by local newspapers, hadgood reason to question who these cloaked agentswere

It’seasy to buy tactical gear online. And aroundthe country,bigots and criminals have alreadybegun taking advantage of chaotic,maskedimmigration raids to further theirown ends. Civilians have impersonated ICE agents while committing robbery (Pennsylvania),kidnappings (Florida, South Carolina), sexual assault (North Carolina)and other forms of public intimidation(Washington state, California)

Some Democratic leadershave demanded that ICE agents showtheir faces and present identification when carrying out enforcement actions,sothey can at leastbe differentiated from anonymous hooligans. Republican lawmakers have fiercely opposedsuch efforts, claiming thatasking federal officials to identify themselves would putagents in “extreme danger.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump ordered the arrest of protesterssimply forwearing masks.“MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests,” he posted onsocial media on Sunday.“What do these people have to hide, and why???”

This seems like areasonable question to ask of federal law enforcement ofﬁcers. America,after all, is not supposed to have asecretpolice force. And our country’shistory of roving bands of maskedmen rounding up undesirables is along, ugly one.

Email Catherine Rampell at crampell@ washpost.com. She is on X, @crampell.

“It makes me feel like our city is actually atest case,” Bass told reporters Monday,“atest case for what happens when the federal government moves in and takes theauthorityaway from thestate or away from local government.”

Of course, Bass was referring to theTrump’s administration’s decision to enforce immigration law, which set off protests and then rioting in theso-called “sanctuary city” of Los Angeles. That, Bass believes, is an example of the federal government “taking away” authorityfrom state and local governments. The only problem is,the state and local governmentsdonot have any authority to enforce immigration law. The sole power to do that lies with the federal government.Bass can look it up. So can Gov.Gavin Newsom of California

The federal government’ssupremacy in such matters haslong beenestablished, but arelatively recentSupreme Courtcase that some might remember was Arizona v. United States. In that case, the state of Arizona —actually the Republican ofﬁcials at the topofstate government —said to then-President Barack Obama: You’renot enforcing immigration law,sowewill. And Obama said: No, you won’t

The casewent to court. Obama argued that thefederal government has thesole power to enforce immigration law,including thepower nottoenforce immigration law if thepresident so chooses. It’snot your decision, Obama toldArizonaofﬁcials. Obama won, and that was that.

Now,adozen years later,the problem at the root of the unrest in California is that state andlocal ofﬁcials appear to believe they can have their own immigration law.But thelessonofArizona v. United States is that they can’tdothat. It is apretty simple story.And in this case, it means that U.S. Immigrationand Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is able to enforce federal immigrationlaw in Los Angeles,inCalifornia and all across the country

Bass andNewsomalso seem to think thatthe president should not be able to send the National Guard to LosAngeles when the governor has not requested it. Newsom hasjust ﬁledsuit against President Trump over the issue. But he andthe mayor are, unfortunately for them, on the wrong side of thatquestion, too. Yes, usually when apresident sends the NationalGuard, it is at the request of astate’s governor.But notalways. In 1965, during the Civil Rights era, President Lyndon Johnson wanted to send the National Guard to Alabama to protect participants in the Selma to Montgomery march. Alabama Gov.George Wallace did notwantthat. Johnson wonthe argument because he was president of the United States. Now,Trump cansend the Guard to LosAngeles because he is president of the UnitedStates. That’slaw andhistory.But Bass and Newsom arealso on the wrong side of the politicsofimmigration. Arecent CBS News poll found that 54% of those surveyedapproved of the “Trump administration’sprogram to deport immigrants illegally in the United States.” More people also said the deportations aremaking people saferthannot,although fewerliked Trump’smethods. The big picture is that Trump has alot going forhim in the immigrationstandoff, andBassand Newsom— andtheir party —donot.“The chaos in Southern California could have been designedin alab to exploit Democratic weak spots, combining the issues of illegal immigration, crime andpublic disorder,” writes moderate Democratic analyst Ruy Teixeira.“Democrats do nothave to cheer on everyICE raid, but theyhavetobe seen to prioritize law and order and not deny the reality on the ground of violent protests.” Everyone should hope that the violenceand disordercometoanend soon in LosAngeles. But the Trump administrationwill continue to deport people, especially criminals, who areinthe United Statesunlawfully.And leaders like KarenBassand Gavin Newsom, and otherDemocratsaround the country, will continue to resist. There is more conﬂicttocome.

Byron York is on X, @Bryon York.Email him at byronyork@yorkcomm.com.

Byron York

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByDAMIAN DOVARGANES

Protesters gatherinLos Angeles to denounce U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations on Tuesday

Angela M. WatkinsTriggs departed this life on Thursday,May 22,2025, in New Orleans, LA.She was 59, anativeand resident of Thibodaux,LA. Visitation onSaturday, June 14,2025 atWilliams& Southall Fu‐neral Home,1204 Cleveland St.,Thibodaux,LAfrom 9:00amtoreligious ser‐vices at 11:00 am.Inter‐mentinMoses Baptist Church Cemetery.Arrange‐ments by Williams & SouthallFuneral Home 1204 ClevelandSt.,Thibo‐daux, LA,(985) 447-2513. To signthe guestbook and offercondolences,visit our website at www.william sandsouthallfuneralhome. com

Williams, Demetrice S. 'Metrice'

accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized under the leadership of Dr. John E. Montgomery II at Greater King BaptistChurch. She was afree-spirited, loving, caring and thoughtful person, that loved pitching in and helping others, especially children, reach their God-given full potential in life.

Demetrice was agradu-

ate of Istrouma High and Delta College. She loved taking her kids and nieces and nephews to the parades, localevents, and the library

Demetrice had many self taughtskills, and was known to many for styling and braiding hair, creating clothing, and decorating.

Demetrice is survived by her daughtersJalyn B. Butler and Zori S. Williams, herdad Willie T. Henderson, sisters Denita A. Williams-Glover (George) CijiWilliams,Danielle Henderson of Katy,TX.,brother Ralphel D. Williams, godsisterLa'Toris K. Duncan, auntsBerthaW.Anderson, Theresa H. Gibbs, Florence G. Hudson, and Vaughn Davis,all of Baton Rouge, Annette Hudson of Matteson,IL, Norma PitreofNew Orleans,LA, uncles James Hudson(Penny) of Chicago, IL, Raymond Williams, Donald Hudson (Betty) of Baker, LA, John Hudson (Valvetta) of Baton Rouge, Roderick Hudson of Grand Prairie, TX. and ahost of nieces and nephews, great -niecesand great nephews, cousins, and many loving relatives and friends.

Demetrice was is precededindeath by James L. Williams,BerniceHudson Williams, paternaland maternalgrandparents James and Elnora Hudson and Bernard and Corine Williams, uncles Dan, Richard(Odell),Burnell Williams, Norman Hudson, and Aunt Daisy Williams. A visitation willbeheld from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on 2025-06-14 at New Light MissionaryBaptist Church, 650 Blount Rd. ACelebrationofLifewill be held from 10:00AMto 11:30AMon 2025-06-14 at NewLightMissionary Baptist Church, 650 Blount Rd. Aburial willbeheld from 11:30 AMto12:00PM on 2025-06-14 at Heavenly Gates Mausoleum, 10633 Veterans Memorial Blvd.

Williams, JamesL

James L. Williams, aresident of Brusly, LA was born on October 13, 1930 in Sorrento, LA to theunion of thelate Rudolph and CeliaWilliams. He confessed Christ as his Lord and Savioratanearlyage. He departedthis life on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, peacefully at hishome.

He is survivedbyhis children, Darnell Williams, Warren Williams, Derrick Williams and Edith Jenkins; grandchildren; greatgrand children; greatgreat grandchildrenand ahost of otherrelativesand friends. He is preceded in death by his wife, ElleyB Williams; parentsand siblings. Family and friendsof

James are invited to attend theVisitation on Friday, June 13, 2025 at Hall's CelebrationCenter at 9348 Scenic Highway, Baton Rouge, LA from3:00 pm to 5:00pm. Visitation willresume on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Israelite Missionary Baptist Church, 644 South RiverRd. Brusly, LA from 9:00 am to thetime of the Funeral Service at 11:00 am. Interment,Israelite Baptist Church Cemetery. Officiating,Rev.Daniel Johnson. ServicesEntrusted to HallDavis and Son Funeral Service. www.halldavisandson.com

Watkins-Triggs,AngelaM

Demetrice

Diversiﬁed CWSﬁeld allays fears of atakeover

BY ERIC OLSON AP sportswriter

OMAHA, Neb Six conferences andanindependent will be representedatthe College World Series, and none of the teamswere among the ﬁnal eight in Omahaa year ago. In 2024, the SEC and ACC had fourteams apiece in the CWS, and all the talkwas that college baseball would forevermorebe dominated by the schools in those conferences that invest the most in the sport in scholarships, NIL and, startingsoon,direct paymentstoplayers.

Someone forgot to tell that to Murray State, among others

The CWS opens Friday with the SunBelt Conference’sCoastal Carolina (53-11) playing the Big 12’sArizona (44-19)ina rematch of the 2016 ﬁnals won by the Chanticleers. No. 8nationalseed Oregon State (47-14-1), an independent until the Pac-12 ramps up again in 2026-27, meets theACC’sLouisville (40-22) in the second game. Saturday’sgamesmatch theBig Ten’s UCLA (47-16) against MissouriValleyConference upstart Murray State (44-15), and an all-SEC battle between No. 3Arkansas (4813) and No. 6LSU (48-15) Chanticleers coach Kevin Schnall was Gary Gilmore’sassistant in 2016, and he said he neverbelieved apower conference takeover in baseball was inevitable. His team’s23-gamewinning streak isthe longest in history by ateam entering aCWS “Why has Coastal been so successful for25 years? Well, Gary Gilmore was able to teach us how to assemble aroster,” Schnall said. “It’s not about putting togetherjust thebestplayers. Youhave to put together the best team. Sometimes money doesn’talwaysbuy that.”

The money is about to getbigger. The House v. NCAA settlement will mandate roster limits, likely 34 in baseball,and allow schools to award as many scholarships

CO LL EG EW OR LD SE RIE S

FLAME ON

Pitchers throwing heat no longer an anomalyin collegebaseball

OMAHA, Neb When Ronnie Rantz was pitching for LSU back in the early 1990s, he remembers the electricity that would crackle through thedugout when one of the Tigers saw theother team had apitcher who could throw 95 mph.

“Everyone would be on thetop step or turn andpay attention,like in those oldE.F.Huttoncommercials,” said Rantz, who pitched for LSU’s1991 and1993 College World Serieschampions. The aura, then as perhaps now,was always more than thereality,hesaid.

n KEYPIECE: Freshman pitcher Evansversatile option forLSU, 4C n Alookatthe CWS field, 5C

“Guys didn’tjust consistently do that,” said Rantz, who owns the Baton Rouge Rougarou minor-league baseball team and is CEO/president of the Louisiana SportsHall of Fame Foundation. “There were guys who

would touch 95 mphbut wereliving at 90-91. Now they’re throwing 94, 95, 97. They’re living at 95.” Flame-throwing pitchers whoconsistently can hit 100 or even 101 or 102 mphonthe radar gun have proliferated throughout college baseball in the last couple of years, to the point where it seemsthey’re capturing the imagination of fans even morethan the guys whocan blast tape-measure homeruns.

Yes, it dazzles the mind to see LSU’s Jared Jones belt a452-foot homer to center ﬁeld to beat Tennessee, like he did earlier this season. But it also got thecrowdbuzzing to see Chase Shores throw three consecutive pitches of 100, 100 and 101 mphtoblow away

Olavetrade rumors catchﬂak from Saints

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

“Man, it’sall rumors, man,” Olave said.

“You see in theNBA, some of the top players be in trade rumors. Everybody be in trade rumors during theoffseason. Ilove it here, man. Ilovethe front ofﬁce. Ilove my coaches. I’m excited to be here, and Iwant to be

If Chris Olave bothered to search his name on socialmedia this offseason, the New Orleans Saints wide receiverwould not have had to dig hard toﬁnd it mentioned in atrade rumor. Practically anytimeOlave wasbrought up, some NFL team —oratleast its fans —salivatedoverthe idea of acquiring the 24-year-old. It seemed not to matter thatthe Saints had no interest in dealingarguably their best player.Why let that pesky fact get in the way of Olave photoshopped in a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey? Olave not only heardthe buzz but he also laughed about it.

here forever,sothis is where Iwant to be.”

As Olavefinishedhis sentence, it was pointed out to him that in the NBA, those players are actually traded sometimes. It is much rarertosee NFL dealscome together,particularlyinvolving aplayerof Olave’scaliber.Whentheydohappen, the reasons typically come downtoaclub hitting the reset buttonorwanting to avoid paying astar.Think of lastyear’s Marshon

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

Scott Rabalais

LSUpitcher ChaseShores STAFFFILE PHOTOBy MICHAEL JOHNSON

AP FILE PHOTOByBEN MCKEOWN Louisville’sEddie King runs to firstbase during agame on April 11 in Raleigh, N.C.

AP PHOTO By GERALD HERBERT Saints wide receiverChrisOlave runs drills during minicamp on Wednesday.

RACING

12:25 p.m. F1: Practice ESPNU

3:55 p.m. F1: Practice ESPNU BEACH VOLLEYBALL

7p.m. AVPLeague:Week 3—Day 1CBSSN COLLEGE BASEBALL

1p.m. CWS:Arizona vs.Coast.CarolinaESPN

6p.m. CWS: Louisville vs.Oregon St. ESPN MEN’S COLLEGE TRACKAND FIELD

7p.m.NCAA Out.Champ.—Day2ESPN2

BROADCASTHIGHLIGHTS

noon U.S. Open, 2ndrd. NBC

2p.m. Meijer LPGA Classic, 2nd rd. Golf HORSE RACING

noon America’s Dayatthe Races FS2 MLB BASEBALL

1p.m. Pittsburgh at ChicagoCubs MLBN

6:10 p.m. N.y.yankees at Boston MLBN

6:05 p.m. L.A.Angels at Baltimore APPLE TV+

8:40 p.m. San DiegoatArizona APPLE TV+

9p.m. San Fran. at L.A. Dodgers MLBN

U.S. OPEN

7:30 p.m.Finals: OKC at Indiana, Gm. 4ABC MEN’S SOCCER

9:30 p.m.MLS: San Jose at Portland FS1 WOMEN’S SOCCER

9p.m.Orlando at BayFCPrimeVideo TENNIS

4a.m.ATP QuarterfinalsTennis WNBA

6:30 p.m. Chicago atAtlanta ION

9p.m.Dallas at LasVegasION IN BRIEF FROM STAFFAND WIRE

Mets RHP Senga to IL with ahamstring strain Mets right-handerKodai Senga, the major-league ERA leader,will be placed on the injured list after suffering aright hamstring strain in Thursday’s4-3 win over the Washington Nationals.

“He’sgoing to get an MRI tomorrow,we’llsee the severityof it,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But he’sgoing to be on (the) IL here. So we’ve just got to wait and see what we’re dealing with.” Senga allowed just two runners in the ﬁrst 51/3 innings before racing to cover ﬁrst on CJ Abrams’ grounder to Pete Alonso.

Spauntames fierce Oakmontwith66

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

OAKMONT,Pa. J.J. Spaun played asurprisingly steady hand

Thursday amonga wild mix of rare shots and some shockers at Oakmont, playing bogey-free on America’stoughest course fora 4-under 66 and aone-shot lead in the U.S. Open.

Patrick Reed made an albatross —only the fourth in the U.S. Open since it started tracking such records in 1983 —byholing out from 286 yards on the par-5 fourth, but he finished with atriple bogey Shane Lowry made the ﬁrst eagle on the par-4 third hole at Oakmont. He shot a79.

Scottie Scheffler made more bogeysinone round (five) than he usually makes in atournament and had his highest start (73) at a U.S. Open.

Former LSU golfer Sam Burns was tied for second in the afternoon at 3under through 14 holes

He closed his round witha bogey, doublebogey,bogey and bogey to ﬁnish with a2-over 72.

Through all that high entertainment, Spaun went out in themorning with hardly afuss and nary a bogey He matched the low opening round in U.S. Opens at Oakmont —Andrew Landry alsoshot 66 the last time here in 2016 —and it was no mystery.Good putting never fails at any U.S. Open, and Spaun holed ﬁve par putts ranging from 7feet to 16 feet to go along with four birdies.

“I didn’treally feel like I’m going to show abogey-freeround 4 under.Ididn’treally knowwhatto expect, especiallysince I’ve never played here,” said Spaun, playing in only his second U.S. Open.“But yeah, maybe sometimes nothaving expectations is the best thing, so I’ll take it.” Oakmont lived up to its reputation with ascoring average of 74.6 despite acoursestill relatively soft from rain and moderate wind that didn’tstick around for long. And oh, that rough.

Just ask Rory McIlroy,although he chose nottospeak for theﬁfth straight competitive round at a major since his Masters victory

He hadtohack out three times on thefourth holetoget it back to the fairway,and thenheholed a30-foot putt for amostunlikely bogey. He shot 74.

“Even fora guy like me, Ican’t getout ofitsomeofthe times, depending onthe lie,” Bryson DeChambeausaidafter a73. “It was tough. It was abrutal test of golf.”

As the ﬁrst round was headed for aconclusion— more than 13 hours of golf —only10playersmanaged to break par.That’sone fewerthan the opening round in 2016.

Schefﬂer,the heavyfavorite as theNo. 1playerinthe worldwho hadwon three of his lastfourtournamentsbyacombined 17 shots, made a6-foot birdie putt on his second hole. Then he found the Church Pew bunkers on the third

and fourth holes, made bogey on both andwas neverunderthe rest of theday

“I made some sillymistakes out there, but at the same time, Imade somekey putts andsome good momentum saves in my round,” Scheffler said. “But overall just need to be alittle sharper.“ Spaun, whostarted hisround by chipping in fromankle-deep rough just right of the10th green, was walking down the 18thfairway when aspectator looked at the group’sscoreboardand said, “J.J. Spaun. He’s 4under?”

The emphasis was on the number, notthe name. But some of thenames were surprising, starting with Spaun. He lost in aplayoff at The PlayersChampionshiptoMcIlroy that helpedmovehim to No. 25 in the world, meaning he didn’thave to go through U.S.Open qualifying for the ﬁrst time.

Thriston Lawrence of South Africa,who contendedatRoyal Troonlastsummer, hadsix birdiesinaround of 67.

Andperhaps Brooks Koepka can count as asurprise because the ﬁve-time major champion has not contended in amajor since winning thePGA Championship in 2023, and he missed the cut in the Masters and PGAChampionship this year

He looked like the Koepka of old, muscling his wayaround Oakmont,limiting mistakes and closing with two birdies for a68 that left him in agroup with the SouthKorea duo of Si WooKim andSungjaeIm.

“It’snicetoput agoodround together.It’sbeen awhile,” Koepka said.“It’sbeen so far off but now it’s starting to click. Unfortunately,we’re about halfway through the season, so that’snot ideal, but we’re learning.”

Both teamsreset forGame4 of NBAFinals

BYTIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

INDIANAPOLIS— TheIndiana Pacers aren’tcelebrating. The Oklahoma City Thunder isn’t panicking. The NBA Finals scoreboardis what it is —Pacers 2, Thunder 1 —going into Game 4ofthe best-ofseven title seriesonFriday night. Everybody cancount to four,and everybodycan seethatIndiana is in abetter position right now than Oklahoma City

Butthe Pacers know ifthey were to partake in such thinking, that would be dangerous.

“There’snothing to get excited about right now,” Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton said. “We’re still along way away.”

An even-keeled approach,for certain. TheThunder is going about business the same way

“I just think we stay pretty emotionally even in all of the differentexperiences,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “You really see that when we win. Ithink if you’re going to get high on the wins, then the natural opposite of that is to get low on the losses This team doesn’treallyswing violently between those twothings. Never has.”

Indiana grabbed control of the series on Wednesdaynight in a 116-107 win, agame in which the Pacers’ bench —led by Bennedict Mathurin’s27 points in 22 minutes and T.J. McConnell’s10points, ﬁve assists andﬁve steals in 15 minutes —outscored Oklahoma City’s reserves 49-18.

The Thunder starters were more than fine in Game 3: Oklahoma City opened the game with a15-6 run, then started the third quarter

—with the starters all on the ﬂoor —with an 8-0burst.Add up those 7minutes of play,and it was Thunder23, Pacers 6. Add up the other 41 minutes of thegame, and it was Pacers 110, Thunder 84.

“It’sgot to be akiller edge to beat these guys,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’regoingto be an underdogineverygame in this series It’sadaunting challenge.Anythingless than atotal grit mindset,wejust don’thave a chance.”

If Oklahoma City ﬁnds away Friday, it goes home with a2-2 series tie and two of the ﬁnal threegames of the series set to be played in its building. Aloss, andit’s3-1 —the sort of hole thatfew teams in NBA history haveescaped.

“I think justthe competitive

greatness for this team has to be at an all-timehigh,”Thunder guard AlexCaruso said. “Tobeable to go on theroad andwin agameis adifficult thinginthe playoffs, but especially staring 3-1 down in the face. Yougot to really getyour mind right and get ready for the preparation that it’sgoing to take to go outthere andcompete for 48 minutesand getthe win.”

Turner update Myles Turner,who had five blocks for Indiana in Game3,including two against Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren with about2 minutes left —ﬁrst a3-pointer and then a6-footer on the same possession —isdealing with an illness. Turner waswith the Pacers for film on Thursdayand then was

ä ThunderatPacers, 7:30 P.M. FRIDAy,ABC

sent home. It seemslike Indiana expect that he will play in Game 4.

Bounce-backThunder

Indiana hasn’tlost back-to-back games in three months. Oklahoma Cityhasn’t done so in two months.

The Thunder is 6-0 after losses since earlyApril, 5-0 after losses in these playoffs.

“There’s amaximum four games left in the season,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’swhat you worked the whole season for.It’swhat you worked allsummer for.Tome, the way Isee it, yougot to suck it up, getitdoneand try to get awin.” Haliburton’s free throws

In ﬁve games against Oklahoma Citythis season, Haliburton has beenfouledinthe act of shooting just once —inthe ﬁrst half of a Thunder-Pacers game on March 29.

He has not taken afree throw in this series. He’sthe first player to log at least 109 minutes in the first threegames of afinals and not takeasingle free throw since Miami’sMario Chalmers in 2012— also against the Thunder A2-1 lead,again

In this current 16-team playoff format that dates back to 1984, Indiana is thesixth team to have a 2-1 lead in all four of its postseason series.

The others were the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2020, Boston in 2008, Detroit in 2004 and San Antonio in 2003.

Allﬁve of those teams went on to win the NBA title.

According to Mendoza,Senga said he felt his hamstring grab one stride before he made aleaping grab of Alonso’shigh throw

Brewerspitcher

Civale says he stillwants to start MilwaukeeBrewers right-hander Aaron Civale is moving to a bullpen role for the ﬁrst time in his seven-year career His next move could be outof Milwaukee entirely One day after the Brewers announced they were shifting him to the bullpen to make room for flame-throwing prospect Jacob Misiorowski in the rotation, Civale said he wants to continue starting, even if that meansgetting traded.

“We’re exploring opportunities formetoget back into arotation,” Civale said Thursday Misiorowski’sarrival gave Milwaukee asurplus of starting pitchers. Civale (1-2, 4.91 ERA) was theodd man outwhenthe Brewers opted to go with Misiorowski FreddyPeralta (5-4,2.69),José Quintana (4-1, 2.66), Quinn Priester (4-2, 3.65) and Chad Patrick (36, 3.25).

Bengalsrookie defender leaves minicamp early Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart’shold-in escalated to aholdout on Thursday as he did not attend the ﬁnal day of the team’smandatory minicamp. Stewart has expressed concern over language in the contract that the Bengals have presented him and hasn’tsigned his rookie deal yet. He had been participating in meetings and off-field activities withthe team butwas just aspectatoratpractices.OnThursday, he went astep further and left the team facility before the end of the summer program.

“He wasn’there today,sowejust focus on the guyswho arehere,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. The Bengals selected Stewart with the 17th overall pick in the draft.

Judge denies Vols hoops playerZeigler a5th season

Afederal judge on Thursday deniedTennesseepoint guard Zakai Zeigler’srequest for apreliminary injunction allowing him to play a ﬁfthseason of Division Ibasketball in ﬁve years.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Crytzerlistened to argumentsin ahearing June 6inKnoxville and entered her denial Thursday morning. She wrote that Zeigler failed to demonstrate he wouldsucceedon his argument that the NCAA keeping him from playing aﬁfth season of Division Ibasketball is aviolation under the Sherman Act.

Thetwo-time Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year asked for an injunction when he sued the NCAA on May 20 over itsrules limitinghim to four seasonsina ﬁve-year windowasan unlawful restraint of trade.

Six-hole stretchpowers Leeto first-round lead

BELMONT,MICH. Mi Hyang Lee of SouthKorea played asix-hole stretch in 6under and shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Meijer LPGA Classic. Grace Kim of Australia wasa shotback,ayear after losing to Lilia Vu in aplayoff that also included 2015 championLexiThompson Fellow Australian Karis Davidson, AkieIwai of Japanand Sofia Garcia of Paraguay were two strokes behind at 66 in the final event before themajor KPMG Women’sPGA Championship next week in Texas. Playing in themorning on the tree-lined course, Lee birdied Nos. 5-8, parred the ninth and eagled the 10th after surprising herself by reaching thegreen in two on the par-5 hole.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByCHARLIE RIEDEL

J.J. Spaun watches his tee shot on the seventh hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club on ThursdayinOakmont, Pa

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MICHAEL CONROy OklahomaCityThunder forward Chet Holmgren is fouled by Indiana Pacers centerMyles Turner during thesecond half of Game 3ofthe NBAFinals on WednesdayinIndianapolis.

Saints QB sinks shot to earn team golf outing

BY MATTHEW PARAS and LUKE JOHNSON Staff writers

Kellen Moore liked what he saw from the ﬁrst two days of mandatory minicamp, so before Thursday’s scheduled practice, the New Orleans Saints coach issued a challenge to his players during the team’s morning meeting.

The mission: If someone could make a 3-pointer on the ﬁrst try, Thursday’s practice would be scrapped in favor of a team outing.

Hunter Dekkers a fourth-string quarterback, made it. And so practice was off.

Moore rewarded players with a golf outing to Five O Fore Golf and Entertainment, choosing to bond on the ﬁnal day of minicamp rather than hitting the practice ﬁeld.

“We had two really good days of practice on Tuesday and Wednesday; I thought our guys really attacked it,” Moore said. “They were longer practices, heat. I thought these guys knocked it out of the park So we chose to go to Five O Fore golf and spend some time as a team It’s been awesome.”

Moore’s decision isn’t that out of the ordinary: NFL coaches occasionally will

pull the plug on the third day of the three-day camp as a reward for the hard work performed throughout the offseason.

Moore also has emphasized team bonding since taking over the Saints. He took the group on a paintball outing last month and also spent a day focusing on community service last week.

Earlier Thursday, Moore had the Saints begin the day with a 3-point competition that pitted the offense against the defense. After the offense won the shootout, the coach upped the ante by telling his team it could have the day off if the next shot went in.

With Juwan Johnson serving as the offense’s captain, he nominated Dekkers who played basketball in high school — for the shot. And if Dekkers missed would the Saints have practiced?

“There might have been a few more shot opportunities, hopefully,” Moore said with a smile. “I’m really glad he was the ﬁrst guy, made it, and we didn’t have to go down that road.”

Road trip

California, here they come — again.

For the second straight year, the New Orleans Saints are headed west for a portion of training camp, Moore said Thursday The team will practice at UC Irvine from Aug. 6-15, with the Saints also set to play a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers while there.

This year’s stay will be significantly shorter than last year’s trip, as New Orleans practically held all of camp out west in 2024 while the team’s cafeteria was undergoing construction.

“It’s a really good opportunity for us just to change, put the guys in a little bit of a different environment,” Moore said. “Those guys will spend a lot of time together naturally when you kind of go on a longer road trip, and so we feel like that’s a great opportunity for our team to connect.”

Moore said he believes in creating a “different environment” for a portion of camp, whether that’s holding joint practices with a team or taking an extended road trip.

The Saints initially eyed joint practices with the

Chargers during that week, but Moore said they did not materialize.

Versatile rookie

While he was at the University of Texas, Vernon Broughton mostly lined up as a threetechnique defensive tackle — meaning he lined up over the outside shoulder of the offensive guard.

But one of the things that drew the Saints to him was that Broughton did a lot of other things, too. And as they’ve brought him up to speed at the NFL level, the Saints have been checking out what Broughton can give

them as a defensive end in their new 3-4 alignment.

“We can move him around,” Saints defensive line coach Bo Davis said. “He grew into being able to do that (at Texas), and the thing about him is he just wants to play.” Davis spent two seasons at Texas and has seen Broughton’s versatility firsthand. His comfort with Broughton’s ability to give New Orleans snaps at multiple positions is part of what made the team willing to select Broughton with the No. 71 overall pick in the draft this spring.

According to Pro Football Focus, Broughton played 57% of his snaps as a threetechnique defensive tackle in 2024, 8% as a nose tackle, and the other 35% either lined up directly over

so I’m

Honorable Mention Nate Alario, John Curtis; Thomas Allen, Benton; Lytton Arledge, West Monroe; Lenny Cline, Archbishop Rummel; Tanner Conley, Fontainebleau; Trey Davis, Higgins; Tristan Dehart, Terrebonne; Connor Donnelly, Jesuit; Davis Emonet, Catholic; Parker Franks, Neville; Troy Green, Slidell; Owen Galley, Sam Houston; Kanyon Grifﬁn, Acadiana; Hunter Guillot, Thibodaux; Mason Hickman Mandeville; David Griep, Ruston; Brock Laird, Natchitoches Central; Lucas Lawrence, Catholic; Noah Lewis, Catholic; Lawton Littleton, Barbe; Carson Malasovich, Northshore; Chase Marcotte, Destrehan; JP Moak, Ruston; Wes Oats, Pineville; Gavin Panks, Covington; Brayden Rachal, Alexandria; Tyler Roark, West Monroe; Tyler Roach, Ruston; Logan Rogers, H.L. Bourgeois; Koa Romero, Hahnville; Aidan Ryan, Covington; Andrew Sharp, Captain Shreve; Slade Shove-Knox, Sulphur; Connor Smith, Northshore; Austyn Taylor, Pineville; Abel Thetford, Parkway; Brody Trosclair, Thibodaux; Bryce Wilson, Chalmette; Zach Wilburn, Byrd.

Live Oak pitcher Pruitt gets

Written for the LSWA State champions from Sam Houston claimed two of the top honors for baseball and softball on the Class 5A allstate teams selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Pitcher Kaitlyn Mire was voted Outstanding Player on the softball squad after leading Sam Houston to its Division I nonselect title. Chad Hebert was selected as baseball Coach of the Year after leading the Broncos to a Division I nonselect title. Live Oak’s Sawyer Pruitt was selected as the Outstanding Player on the baseball squad, while Benton’s Kelsey Baker of Division I nonselect quarterfinalist

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

Lattimore trade between the Saints and the Washington Commanders, or the Steelers’ acquisition of wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks this offseason.

The Saints aren’t there with Olave. Sure, certain fan bases might have seen Derek Carr’s retirement as an excuse for New Orleans to cut bait with Olave, but the Saints were much more concerned with getting the wide receiver back in the fold after his last season was cut short because of a concussion.

The bigger question now is whether a contract extension is in store.

New Orleans picked up Olave’s ﬁfth-year option in April, locking him in for a projected $15.5 million in 2026. But Olave is eligible for an extension, and the NFL has seen teams reach deals with fourth-year players entering similar situations.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said, referring to the trade rumors involving Olave. “We feel really really good about Chris. He’s had an excellent offseason, he’s had an excellent career so far, and he’s going to have an excellent future.”

There may be legitimate reasons for the Saints to wait on an extension. For one, there’s Olave’s concussion history The 2022 ﬁrstrounder has had ﬁve documented concussions since 2020, including two last year Olave said he was cleared by specialists in December and

Benton was picked as the Coach of the Year for softball. Mire, a sophomore, pitched all but two-thirds of an inning during a 30-2 season that included a 28game winning streak for Sam Houston. She pitched a three-hitter in the state finals against Dutchtown. She had a 1.63 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 180 innings. With Hebert as coach, Sam Houston went 37-8 and won a baseball state championship for the first time since 2001. It is the second title in school history Pruitt, a UL signee, led Live Oak to a No. 1 playoff seed and a runner-up finish to Sam Houston. The District 5-5A MVP

“We feel really, really good about Chris. He’s had an excellent offseason, he’s had an excellent career so far, and he’s going to have an excellent future.”

KELLEN MOORE, Saints coach

that he’s not worried about his future, but the reality is his history may warrant a wait-and-see approach At the same time, Olave has been a very productive player when available and those guys tend to get paid. He has the fourth-most receiving yards of his draft class, even after missing 12 games in three seasons. And he began his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.

If the Saints are interested in securing Olave’s future, getting a deal done this offseason likely would beneﬁt them in the long run to avoid letting other deals set the market. In Olave’s draft class, Atlanta’s Drake London, the Jets’ Garrett Wilson and Dallas’ George Pickens are among the other wideouts in line for a new contract. From the 2021 draft, seven players who were drafted in the first round received extensions before or during their fourth season That list includes three wide receivers: Philadelphia’s DeVonta Smith (three years, $75 million), Miami’s Jaylen Waddle (three years, $84.8 million) and Baltimore’s Rashod Bateman (two years, $12.9 million).

A year before that, only four first-rounders received an extension under the same criteria but that list notably includes

Saints guard Cesar Ruiz. In Ruiz’s case, New Orleans declined his ﬁfth-year option and instead signed him to a four-year, $44 million extension.

Complicating matters, the wide receiver market has exploded over the last two offseasons. New contracts for Justin Jefferson (four years, $140 million), CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136 million) and Brandon Aiyuk (four years, $120 million) reset the market. Then this offseason, Ja’Marr Chase (four years, $161 million) became the league’s highest-paid receiver, while Metcalf (four years, $132 million) cracked into the top ﬁve at his position.

Eight receivers, in all, have a contract that carries an annual average value (AAV) of at least $30 million per year Another 13 have an AAV of more than $20 million.

Among those, the most comparable deal for Olave might be the four-year $115 million deal signed by Tee Higgins — the 26-year-old who still received nearly $28.8 million annually from the Cincinnati Bengals despite missing 10 games over the last two seasons.

The Saints also must determine whether Olave is a player their new coaching staff wants to build around. On that front, the wide receiver already has impressed. Moore has raved

9-2 with a

about Olave’s football intelligence, recalling a pre-draft meeting he had in which Olave accurately drew up plays taught to him hours earlier

But until a deal is done, trade speculation — no matter how unfounded likely will continue.

But even that’s a compliment in its own way

“People want good players, and so they’re always chasing to ﬁnd ways to get good players on their team,” Moore said. “And we feel like we’ve got a good one in him.”

Benton’s Baker became interim coach just before the

Noticeisherebygiven pursuanttoArticle 7, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B) thatapublic hearing of

Systemin East BatonRouge Parish will be held at its regular meeting placeinthe School Board Conferenceroom of the School Board Office,locatedat11576 Sullivan Road, City of Central, LA 70818 on Monday, July 14, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. to consider levying additional or increased millage rateswithout further voterapproval by adopting the adjusted millage ratesafter reassessment and rolling forwardtorates not to exceed the prior year’s maximum. Theestimatedamountoftax revenues to be collectedinthe next year from the increased millage is $9,053,084 and the amountofincrease in taxes attributable to the millage increase is $941,059.

GRUNFELD

LSU’sRose sets meet record in 800

BY TOYLOYBROWN III and REED DARCEY Staff writers

Michaela Rose kissed herhand, pointed to the sky and pounded her chest after crossing the ﬁnish line.

TheLSU middle distance star’selation at HaywardField in Eugene, Oregon, on Thursdaycame after she did what most expectedofthe 10-time All-American.Rose advanced to the 800-meter ﬁnal by putting up atimeof1:58.95 at theNCAA outdoor track and ﬁeld championships.

Thesenior’stimewasn’tjust the fastest in the semifinals but also ameet record, topping Wisconsin’s Suzy Favor’s timeof 1:59.11. She will compete in the final on Saturday The Tigers 4x100 relay team was an automatic qualifierfor the final after finishing second in its heat. Junior Machaeda Linton, freshman NasyaWilliams,sophomore Aniyah Bigam and sophomore Tima Godbless finished with atime of 43.30, which wasthe 10th fastest. Godbless had acoupleofmore events left on the day.Inthe 100 semifinal, she advancedafter putting up the fourth-best time of 10.91. About an hourlater,she ran in the 200 but was 0.004 seconds worse than the ninth-best finisher with atime of 22.584, just barely missing out on the final.

Junior Ella Onojuvwevwo saved her ﬁnest performancefor Eugene as she ran apersonal-best 50.31 in the 400, the third fastest mark.

In the women’spole vault final, senior Johanna Duplantis finished 11th after posting apersonalbest 14 feet and 43/4 inches. In the javelin final,sophomore Trinity Spooner finished23rdwitha throw of 151-1.

The ﬁnal event of the day was the women’s4x400relay,which didn’t complete competitionbefore press time.

LSUset forACC/SEC event

The LSU women’sbasketball team’snonconference schedule will includeanopponent from the ACC for the third year in a row Thistime, the Tigers willface Duke on Dec. 4inside Cameron Indoor Stadium as part of the annual ACC/SEC Challenge.

Last season, their ﬁfthunder coach Kara Lawson,the Blue Devilsﬁnished in thirdplace in the ACC, won their conference tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight,where they lost aclose game toeventual national runner-up South Carolina.

LSU has won both games it has played so farinthe cross-conference challenge. In 2023, the Tigers defeated VirginiaTech in arematch of the Final Four matchupthey won to reach the national title game aseason earlier.Then in 2024 they beat Stanford in an overtimebattle.

Both Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams will return to LSU for the 2025-26 season. Threeother returners,ﬁve freshmen andthree transfers —including former South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley —are set to join them.

LSU hasn’tfaced Duke since they met in thesecondround of the 2010 NCAA Tournament

Both of theTigers’ previous ACC/SEC Challenge games were played inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

MenfaceBostonCollege

Coach Matt McMahon andthe LSU men’sbasketball team’s 2025-26 scheduleisroundingout.

The latest addition for the Tigers is agame against Boston College set for Dec. 3aspart of the ACC/SEC Challenge,it was announced Thursday.This first-ever game between the programs willtake place in the ConteForuminChestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Boston College finishedlast season 12-19 overall and went 4-16 in the ACC.

In the two years of the ACC/ SEC Challenge, the SEC leads the series 21-9. Both LSU and Boston College are 1-1. The Tigers beat Florida State 85-75 at home last season in thechallenge. Boston College fell 73-51 to South Carolina at home.

LSU ﬁnished last season14-18 overall and 3-15 in the SECin the third season of McMahon’s tenure

COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

READYTOROLL

RHPEvans is a crucial, movable chesspiece forLSU

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

OMAHA,Neb.— Jay Johnson had a decisiontomake.

Would he pitch Casan Evans?

Evans,LSU’stop freshman pitcher, hadyet to appear in theBaton Rouge super regional despiteplaying amajor rolein saving the Tigers’ season the week before in the Baton Rouge regional.

Sunday was only Game 2of the super regional. But if the score was tight, wouldthe LSU coach turn to Evans to close out the game and send theTigers to Omaha? Or wouldhesave Evansand use himfor only a decisiveGame3?

“Managing asuper regional andmanagingthe pitching staff is very unique,” Johnson said. “It’slike when you get to theend of the regional, youwanttowin thegame at handand in front of you. But you also have to have aplan for game seven of the regional, game three of the super regional.”

In theend,Johnson’s decision was an easy one.LSU blew out West Virginia 12-5 to advance to Omaha. The Tigers reached the College World Serieswhileproviding Evans ample rest, even if he was ready to pitch.

“I startedwarming up my body in the bullpen,” Evans said after LSU’sOmahaclinching win over West Virginia, “but was never close to gettinghot.”

Evans almost certainly will pitchthisweek as LSUguns foraneighthnational championship.It’sjourney in Omaha begins Saturday night against left-handedace Zach Root and Arkansas (6 p.m., ESPN). The only question that remains for Evansiswhatrole he will servefor the Tigers.

“I don’treally know what my role is going to be thisweek,” Evanssaid Thursday during LSU’smedia availability session. “Sowhatever coach Johnson

RABALAIS

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aWest Virginia batter during an outingtoclose last week’sNCAA super regional at Alex Box Stadium Does Shores thinkabout throwing gas on opposing batswhile on themound?

“I think aboutthrowing strikes,” he said Thursday after the Tigers’ practice at Charles Schwab Field,home of theCollege World Series. “I am aperfectionist. Ifaced four batters, struck outthree, so Iguess if we’re talking aboutperfect,I would liketohavestruck out all four.”

Pitchers have hittriple digits in themajor leagues for along time.Nolan Ryan was doing it 50 years ago with theCalifornia Angels,but he was therarity Now,teams in theCWS with blazing fast-ballers like Shores are therule,not theexception. He and teammate Jacob Mayers can both hit 100-plus.Arkansas, which faces LSUonSaturday in ablockbuster CWS opener (6 p.m., ESPN), has three 100 mphhurlers: Christian Foutch, Carson Wiggins andGage Wood.

“I’ve said it all year,” Arkansas coach DaveVan Hornsaid, “the arms in ourleague have been amazing.I remember the week down atLSU, they kept running guys at us throwing99, 100 mph.

It was something else.

“We’ve got afew guys who can bring it. So doeseverybody else. Isee it stayingthe same. And Ithink 97 (mph) is goingtobe normalinﬁve years,maybe even more.”

Youmight think there’snoway collegehitters can catch up with a99, 100 mphfastball streaking across theplate likeameteor

Butthere are hits to be had, in large part because of technology —reams of data at the ﬁngertips of thetop programs.

“On the hitter’sside, they’re better trained,” Rantz said. “The pitching machines,analytics,

asks me to do, I’m going to do.

If it’s to start or coming in the middle of the game or close, I’ll be ready for it.”

Conventional wisdom suggests Evanswillstart theTigers’ third game in Omaha, if they don’t drop their ﬁrst two. The Texas native hasstarted three games this season and hasthe stamina to fill therole, throwing109 pitches in relief in Game7 of the Baton Rouge regional.

That outing againstLittleRock was his best of the season and easily hismost important one. He allowed just one earned run in sixinnings while striking out 12 batters —including nine in a row —tohelp LSU come back from a5-1 deﬁcit.

“He pitches the best in the big-time moments. That’sareally great trait to have,” LSU

sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson said about Evans. “He gets to learn from this. He’sa freshmanincollege.And learning from theseexperiences,being able to playinOmaha is abig deal for the future of LSU.”

Evans hadn’tpitched formore than two weeks before he threw in the regionalfinale. Hislatest outing before that was a 27-pitchinning of relief against South Carolina.The week prior, he threw 87 pitches in astart vs. Arkansas. LSU has changed Evans’ role throughout the second half of the season. It’saresponsibility that Anthony Eyanson said isn’t easy for afreshman to assume.

“I thinkabout if Iwas afreshmantrying to do that, it would be really tough,” the LSU junior right-hander said. “So he’sobvi-

College World Series At CharlesSchwabField-Omaha, Neb. (Doubleelimination; x-if necessary) Friday’s games Game 1: Coastal Carolina (53-11)vs. Arizona (44-19),1 p.m. Game 2: Oregon State (47-14-1)vs. Louisville (40-22),6p.m. Saturday’s games Game 3: UCLA (47-16)vs. Murray St. (4415), 1p.m. Game 4: Arkansas(48-13) vs.LSU (48-15), 6p.m Sunday’s games Game 5:

simulators. Youcan say,‘Rantz is pitching a2-2 count to arighthanded batter’and overlay one video after another.You have the datathat says he throws afastball 73% of the time or aslider 23% of the time.”

From his perspective, LSU coach Jay Johnson said: “The only reason we have achance or Arkansas has achance is two things. Number one, we both have talented players on the position-player side. Andnumber two, you kind of get accustomed to seeing this elite pitching. And themore you see something, the moreyou get alittle more comfortable with it. Idon’tknow if ‘comfortable’ is theword, but I thinkit’sthe beautyofplaying in

our league, which is really tough at times.”

Perhaps the biggest exception to thepower-pitcher rule in Omaha this year is the biggest Cinderella in the ﬁeld. Murray State, aNo. 4seed that came out of the Ole Miss regional and toppled Duke in aroad super regional, doesn’thave aShores or Foutch.

Its liveliest arm belongs to bullpen ace Graham Kelham,who Murray State coach Dan Skirka said topsout at astill rapid, if increasingly quaint-sounding, 94 mph.

Playingonthe level the Racers do in themid-major Missouri Valley Conference, Murray State doesn’teven try to pull in the ﬂamethrowers. Skirka said Murray State’semphasis is on quality over speed.

“You’ve still got to throw strikes,”Skirka said. “So, in recruiting, we like to get kids who are strike throwers. We feel we can develop them after that, develop another one or two pitches.”

It never hurts, of course, if one or two of those pitches go really fast.

For more LSUsports updates, sign up for ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

ously very talented, very great, works hard, andhe’llbeagreat player in the future.”

How Johnson utilizesEvans will come down to the situations LSU ﬁnds itself in over the next handful of days. Will Evans pitch in atight second game in Omaha to keep the Tigers in the winner’sbracket? If LSU won its ﬁrst two matchups, would it be prudent to start Evans in the Tigers’ third gameorsave him for ado-or-die fourth game?

These are all questions Johnsonwill have to answer eventually

“He’ll be ready to roll, and the makeup and the toughness and the ability to adapt and athleticism, allthose things, he’ll be ready to go,” Johnson said. “And Ifeel like he’llbeina great spot.”

CWS

Continued from page1C

as there areroster spots.Mostprogramsare not expected to max out scholarships in baseball, but many will at least double the longstanding limit of 11.7.

Division IBaseballCommittee chair Jay Artigues, athletic director at Southeastern Louisiana,said high-performing mid-majors aren’t necessarily at adisadvantage because of how they tend to build their rosters. The outlook for them is not doom andgloom, he said.

“The Arkansases, theLSUs and the Georgias of the world, they’re going to have the premier 18-, 19-year-olds in the country,noquestion about it,” Artigues said. “They can’tget oldbecause their18- and 19-year-olds aresigning (pro contracts) after that thirdyear.Now where amid-major can compete against them is having agood 22or 23-year-old. Youput agood 22-, 23-year-old against areally good 18-year-old, it evens the ﬁeld.

“I think the mid-majors that are having successare allolder.You look at what Southern Miss did this year,they’re afourth-, ﬁfth-year team.That’swhy they’re kicking the crap out of some P4 teams.” Louisville coach DanMcDonnell said he thought at least onemore ACC teamwould join his in Omaha, but he can’thelp but be happy for Murray State to make it considering he playedsecondbaseonthe Citadel’s1990 CWS team. It was his greatest baseball experience, he said, and as far as he’sconcerned the more players who can experience the CWS, the better American Baseball Coaches Association executive director Craig Keilitz said the diversity of this year’sCWSﬁeldisgoodforthesport.

“I’m probably surprised as alot of people as this proliferation of money has followed its way down, to say it might notbepossible,” he said. “But Ithink it’sabsolutely remarkable. I think it’sgoing to be interesting. I think it’s goingtobehighlywatched andfollowed. Idon’tthink we could have scripted it anybetter.”

STAFF PHOTO

HILARy

STAFFPHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU right-handed pitcher Casan Evans works in adrill during practiceahead of the CollegeWorld Series on Thursday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb

CWSTEAM CAPSULES

COASTAL CAROLINA (53-11)

Coach:Kevin Schnall (53-11 in 1yearat Coastal Carolina and overall).

RoadtoOmaha:Won Conwayregional:beat Fairfield 10-2, beat East Carolina 18-7, beat East Carolina 1-0.WonAuburnsuperregional: beat Auburn7-6 in 10 innings, beatAuburn 4-1.

2025 record vs. CWS teams:0-0. Last CWS appearance:2016. All-time recordinCWS:6-2 in one appearance (won national title in 2016).

Batters:CCaden Bodine (.329, 5HRs,41 RBIs), 1B ColbyThorndyke(.301, 4, 40),2B BlakeBarthol (.274, 12, 50), SS Ty Dooley (.292, 6, 36), 3B Walker Mitchell (.292, 4, 45), LF Sebastian Alexander (.328,10, 53),CFWells Sykes (.293, 3, 36), RF BlagenPado (.273, 8, 30), DH Ty Barrango(.247, 2, 19)

Pitchers:RHP Cameron Flukey (7-1, 3.35 ERA), RHP Jacob Morrison (11-0, 2.11), RHP Riley Eikhoff (6-2, 2.90), LHP Hayden Johnson (4-0, 3.43), RHP Ryan Lynch (2-1, 0.59,8 saves), RHP MatthewPotok (4-1, 2.55), LHP Dominick Carbone (6-0, 2.61), RHP Darin Horn(5-1, 2.96), RHP LukeJones (4-2, 3.51), RHP Scott Doran(1-0, 4.15).

MLB alumni:Mickey Brantley,Tommy La Stella KirtManwaring,Taylor Motter,DaveSappelt Zach Remillard, Luis Lopez Shorthops:Chanticleers have the nation’s longest activewinning streakat23games Since the NCAA Tournament went to its current format in 1999, no teamhas entered theCWS with so manyconsecutivewins. Schnall was an assistant on GaryGilmore’s national championship-winning teamin2016. He succeeded Gilmore, whoretiredafterlast season, and is in his 22nd season on the staff over twostints. The 53 wins are the most in the nation. Sun Belt Conferenceregularseason and tournament champion. Coastal batters have been hit by 170 pitches, most in the nation.

ARIZONA(44-19)

Coach:Chip Hale (152-93 in 4years at Arizona andoverall).

Road to Omaha:Won Eugene regional:beatCal Poly 3-2, beat Utah Valley14-4, beatCal Poly 14-0.WonChapel Hill super regional: lost to North Carolina 18-2, beat NorthCarolina 10-8, beat North Carolina 4-3. 2025 record vs. CWS teams:0-1. Last CWS appearance:2021.

MURRAY STATE(44-15)

Coach:Dan Skirka (209-150 in 7seasons at Murray State and overall).

Road to Omaha: WonOxford regional: beat Ole Miss 9-6, beat Georgia Tech 13-11, lost to Ole Miss 19-8, beat Ole Miss 12-11.WonDurham super regional: lost to Duke7-4, beat Duke199, beat Duke5-4. 2025 record against CWS teams:0-0. Last CWS appearance:None. All-time record in CWS:0-0.

Batters:C Will Vierling (.316, 10 HRs, 52 RBIs), 1B LukeMistone (.340, 4, 53), 2B Dom Decker (.361, 0, 48), SS Conner Cunningham (.257, 7, 38), 3B Carson Garner (.281, 17, 59), LF DanTauken (.257, 11, 76), CF Jonathan Hogart (.339, 22, 65), RF Dustin Mercer(.356, 0, 39), DH Nico Bermeo (.305, 1, 7).

Pitchers:RHP Nic Schutte (8-4, 4.85 ERA), RHP Isaac Silva(9-2, 5.09), RHP Kane Elmy (6-2, 4.45), RHP Reese Oakley(3-0, 5.64),LHP DylanZentko(4-1, 4.38), RHP Graham Kelham (4-1, 4.40, 9saves), RHP Jacob Hustedde (2-0, 5.09), LHP Ethan Lyke(2-1, 4.64), RHP Jack Wajda (2-3, 5.56).

MLB alumni:Jack Perconte,Kirk Rueter, Pat Jarvis.

Shorthops:Only the fourth No. 4regional seed to reach the CWS,joining FresnoState (2008 national champion), StonyBrook (2012) and Oral Roberts (2023). This is the Racers’ fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2003. The 44 wins are aprogram record. 10.8 runs per game in NCAATournamentranks second. Hogarthas hit anation-leading eight of his22homers to lead off agame. Kelham has recorded four savesand one win over his last five appearances, andhis nine savesare a programrecord.

UCLA (47-16)

Coach:John Savage (723-479-2 in 21 seasons at UCLA; 811-563-3in24seasons overall).

Road to Omaha:Won Los Angeles regional: beat Fresno State 19-4, beat Arizona State 115, beat UC Irvine 8-5.WonLos Angelessuper regional: beat UTSA 5-2, beat UTSA 7-0. 2025 record vs. CWS teams:0-1. Last CWS appearance:2013. All-time recordinCWS:9-9 in 5appearances (won 2013 national title).

BRACKET1

All-time record in CWS:43-32 in 18 appearances (won national titles in 1976, 1980,1986, 2012).

Batters:C Adonys Guzman (.318, 8HRs, 42 RBIs), 1B Tommy Splaine (.290, 5, 25), 2B GarenCaulfield (.262, 8, 43), SS Mason White (.332, 19,72), 3B Maddox Mihalakis(.278, 5, 35),LFEaston Breyfogle(.248, 5, 31) or TJ Adams(.167, 0, 7), CF Aaron Walton(.320, 14, 49),RFBrendan Summerhill (.358, 4, 34), DH Andrew Cain (.245, 6, 22).

Pitchers:RHP Owen Kramkowski(9-6, 5.48 ERA), RHP Raul Garayzar (2-0, 2.81), RHP Smith Bailey(3-3, 4.01), RHP Tony Pluta (3-0, 1.26, 14 saves),RHP Garrett Hicks (5-0, 5.61), RHP Julian Tonghini (4-2, 4.26), RHP CaseyHintz (7-4, 5.53),RHP Michael Hilker Jr.(2-1, 6.45), RHPHunter Alberini (1-0, 3.48), RHP Matthew Martinez (3-0, 4.42), RHP Collin McKinney(0-2, 3.98), LHP Eric Orloff (1-0, 5.14).

MLB alumni:KennyLofton, J.T. Snow,Tony Clark, RonHassey, Scott Erickson, Dan Meyer, Trevor Hoffman, Nick Hundley,JackHowell, CaseyCandaele,TerryFrancona, Gil Heredia, Hank Leiber,Craig Lefferts, JoeMagrane,Mark Melancon.

Shorthops:The Wildcats are back in Omaha for the first time since going0-2 in the 2021 CWS under currentLSU coach JayJohnson. Dawson Netz, whomade relief appearances in both games, is agraduate manager Hale played on Arizona’s1986 championshipteam.

LOUISVILLE (40-22)

Coach:Dan McDonnell (791-357-1 in 19 years at Louisville and overall).

Road to Omaha:Won Nashville regional: beat East Tennessee State 8-3, beat Vanderbilt 3-2, beat Wright State 6-0.WonLouisville super regional: beat Miami 8-1,lost 9-6 to Miami, beat Miami3-2. 2025 record vs. CWS teams:1-0. LastCWS appearance:2019. All-timerecordinCWS:4-10 in 5 appearances.

Batters:CMatt Klein (.327, 5HRs,30RBIs), 1B Tague Davis (.286, 18, 50), 2B Kamau Neighbors (.250, 0, 16), SS Alex Alicea (.310, 1, 24), 3B JakeMunroe (.345, 12, 58), LF Zion Rose(.315, 12, 63) or EddieKing (.362, 17, 60), CF Lucas Moore (.353, 5, 48), RF Garret Pike (.294, 4, 39) or King,DHRose or Pike.

Pitchers:RHP Patrick Forbes (4-2,4.36 ERA), RHP Tucker Biven(3-0, 4.19), LHP Ethan Eberle (6-2, 4.34), RHP Brennyn Cutts (3-1, 4.89), LHP JustinWest (2-2, 6.12), LHP Wyatt Danilowicz (0-1, 2.25), RHP Jack Brown (5-5, 6.69), LHP Ty Starke(1-0, 8.50), RHP Jake Schweitzer (4-2, 2.15).

MLB alumni:Adam Duvall,Will Smith,Adam Engel, Nick Solak, Chad Green,SeanGreen, Reid Detmers,Tyler Fitzgerald, Kyle Funkhouser, Matt Koch.

Shorthops:Cardinalsare 5-1 in the NCAA Tournament after entering regionals coming off

BRACKET2

By VASHA

Murray State outfielder Dustin Mercer doubles in arun against Ole Miss during theirregional game on May30inOxford,Miss. The Racers playUCLA at 1p.m.Saturday

Batters:C Cashel Dugger (.276, 3HRs, 25 RBIs), 1B Mulivai Levu (.319, 12, 85), 2B Phoenix Call (.258, 3, 31), SS Roch Cholowsky (.367,23, 73), 3B RomanMartin(.320, 9, 58), LF Dean West (.315, 4, 40), CF Payton Brennan (.304, 6, 39), RF AJ Salgado (.313, 12, 52), DH BlakeBalsz (.246, 1, 24).

Pitchers:RHP Michael Barnett (12-1, 4.09), RHP Landon Stump(6-1, 4.54), RHP Wylan Moss (2-1,2.47), RHP Jack O’Connor (3-0, 1.80),RHP August Souza (0-0, 5.40), RHP Easton Hawk (1-1, 4.84), LHP Chris Grothues (4-1, 4.94), RHP CalRandall (2-1, 3.09), LHP Ian May(7-3, 5.00).

MLB alumni:ChrisChambliss,Todd Zeile, Jeff Conine, BobbyGrich, Chase Utley, EricKarros, Brandon Crawford,TroyGlaus, Jackie Robinson, DonSlaught, EricByrnes, Shane Mack, Mike Magnante, Matt young,Gerrit Cole,Trevor Bauer Shorthops:Bruinswere BigTen regularseason co-champions in their first season in the league. Their.372 batting averageinthe NCAA Tournament ranks first. UCLAmore than doubled its wintotal from 2024, when it went 19-33. Cholowsky is the Big Tenplayer of theyearand defensiveplayerofthe year Cholowsky’s23home runs are the most by a Bruins playersince Forrest Johnson in 2000.

lossesinsix of sevengames Kingisonatear, having gone 12 for22(.545) with twohomers, threedoublesand eight RBIs in six tournament games Moore leads thenation with 51 stolenbasesand has been caught stealing just once Athumbinjuryhas forced Alicea, aswitch hitter, to bat left-handed exclusively since the startofMay Biven movedfrom the closer’srole to weekendstarter in May. He has received ano-decision in all four starts but allowedjust five earned runs over 171/3 innings.

OREGON STATE(47-14-1)

Coach:Mitch Canham (223-101-1 in 6years at Oregon State and overall) Road to Omaha:Won Corvallis regional: lost to Saint Mary’s6-4, beat TCU 7-2, beat Saint Mary’s20-3, beat Southern California 14-1, beat Southern California 9-0.WonCorvallis superregional: beat Florida State 5-4 in 10 innings, lost to Florida State 3-1, beat Florida State 14-10. 2025 record vs. CWSteams:1-0. Last CWSappearance:2018. All-time record in CWS:21-12 in 7 appearances(wonnational titles in 2006, 2007, 2018).

Batters:C Wilson Weber (.333, 12 HRs, 57 RBIs), 1B Jacob Krieg(.251, 13, 35), 2B AJ Singer (.309, 3, 39), SS AivaArquette (.354, 18, 65), 3B TrentCaraway(.270, 12, 47), LF GavinTurley(.346, 19, 66), CF Canon Reeder (.303, 8, 35), RF Easton Talt (.265, 7, 35) or Carson McEntire (.263, 4, 10), DH Tyce Peterson (.282, 5, 19).

Pitchers:RHP Dax Whitney(6-3, 3.66 ERA), LHP Ethan Kleinschmit (8-4, 3.54), RHP James DeCremer (3-0, 5.34), LHP Nelson Keljo (3-2, 3.74), RHP AJ Hutcheson (3-0, 4.00), RHP Kellan Oakes (4-0, 3.60), RHP Laif Palmer (2-0 2.12), RHP WyattQueen (3-1, 3.35), RHP Eric Segura(8-2, 4.76), RHP Zach Kmatz(2-0, 4.21). MLB alumni:JacobyEllsbury, Michael Conforto Darwin Barney, Bob Forsch, StevenKwan, AdleyRutschman, Ken Forsch,Trevor Larnach, MatthewBoyd, Drew Rasmussen. Shorthops:The Beavers surpassed 100 home runs for thesecond consecutiveseason.The 103 arethe second-most in programhistory, trailing the2024 club’s118. Five homeruns in Game3ofthe super regional were apostseason programrecord. The Beavers are5-1 in elimination gamesthis postseason. Talt has walked 62 times, the fifth-most in thecountry EricOlsen,APsportswriter

MLB alumni:Joe Adcock, DJ LeMahieu,Aaron Hill,AlbertBelle,Todd Walker,Ben McDonald, Alex Bregman, Brad Hawpe, Ryan Theriot, Russ Springer,Kevin Gausman, Jason Vargas,Warren Morris,Austin Nola, Paul Byrd,Aaron Nola, Mark Guthrie,Paul Skenes,Dylan Crews. Shorthops:Tigerswent2-1 this season against Arkansas, their opening opponent The Tigers have the second-highest NCAA Tournament winning percentage(.708, 182-75).

ARKANSAS (48-13)

LSU (48-15)

Coach:Jay Johnson (185-77 in 4seasons at LSU; 502-249 in 13 seasons overall).

Road to Omaha: WonBaton Rougeregional: beat LittleRock7-0, beat Dallas Baptist 12-0, lost to LittleRock10-4, beat Little Rock 10-6. WonBaton Rougesuperregional: beat West Virginia 16-9, beat West Virginia 12-5. 2025 record vs. CWS teams:2-1. LastCWS appearance:2023. All-timerecordinCWS:46-29 in 19 appearances (won national titles in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2023).

Batters:C Luis Hernandez(.272,9 HRs, 30 RBIs), 1B JaredJones(.328, 20, 70), 2B Daniel Dickinson (.312, 12, 48), SS StevenMilam (.290, 11, 55), 3B MichaelBraswell (.201, 2, 17) or TannerReaves(.266, 3, 12), LF Derek Curiel (.347, 7, 52), CF Chris Stanfield (.309, 1, 28), RF Josh Pearson (.297, 7, 32) or JakeBrown (.315, 8, 44), DH Ethan Frey(.340, 13, 49).

Pitchers:LHP KadeAnderson (10-1, 3.58 ERA) RHPAnthonyEyanson (11-2, 2.74),RHP Jaden Noot (2-1,4.26), LHPDJPrimeaux (0-0, 3.86), RHPWilliamSchmidt (7-0,4.73), RHP Mavrick Rizy (0-0, 4.74), LHPCooper Williams (0-1, 1.83), RHPChaseShores (5-3, 5.24), RHP Casan Evans (4-1,1.90), RHPZac Cowan(3-3, 3.09).

Coach:DaveVan Horn(931-470 in 23 seasons at Arkansas; 1,516-710 in 38 seasons overall). Road to Omaha:Won Fayetteville regional: beat North Dakota State 6-2, beat Creighton 12-1, beat Creighton 8-3.WonFayetteville super regional: beat Tennessee4-3, beat Tennessee11-4. 2025 record vs. CWSteams:1-2. Last CWSappearance:2022. All-time record in CWS:18-22 in 11 appearances. Batters:CRyder Helfrick (.320, 14 HRs, 36 RBIs), 1B ReeseRobinett (.276, 2, 12), 2B CamKozeal (.346, 15, 62), SS Wehiwa Aloy (.348, 20, 64), 3B Brent Iredale (.289, 14, 56), LF CharlesDavalan (.355, 14, 59), CF Justin Thomas (.278, 9, 35), RF Logan Maxwell(.360, 13, 35), DH Kuhio Aloy(.330, 13, 70).

Pitchers:LHP Zach Root (8-5, 3.59 ERA), RHP Aiden Jimenez (4-1, 3.66), RHP Gage Wood (3-1, 5.02), RHP BenBybee (3-0, 4.38), RHP SteeleEaves (1-0, 1.86), LHP Colin Fisher (3-0, 4.62), RHP Gabe Gaeckle(4-2, 4.76), LHP Parker Coil (3-0, 1.27), LHP Landon Beidelschies(4-0, 4.92), RHP Will McEntire(10, 2.59), RHP DylanCarter (6-0, 2.18). MLB alumni:Kevin McReynolds, Eric Hinske, Jeff King,AndrewBenintendi, LesLancaster TomPagnozzi, RyneStanek, BlakeParker,Drew Smyly, Cliff Lee, Dallas Keuchel, Colin Poche JalenBeeks,RobertPerson,TimLollar Short hops:The No.3 Razorbacks arethe highest remaining national seed. Wehiwa Aloyisthe SECplayerofthe year.His first name means “prizedone”inHawaiian. He leads the team with20homersand is among seven Arkansas players withdouble-digit homers. EricOlsen,APsportswriter

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BEN MCKEOWN

Arizona’sTommy Splaine, right, celebrates withEaston Breyfogle after scoring arun against NorthCarolina in their super regional game SaturdayinChapel Hill, N.C.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

HUNT

THEYOUNG DYLAN

Looking at the life of the iconic singersongwriterinEngland during his 1965 tour, his last asanacoustic artist, “Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back” also features some of his most famous songs. Catch the film at 2p.m.Sunday at the Manship Theatre. $11.50. manshiptheatre.org

THINGS

Life from the road

TommyPrine’s time from gift shop sales clerk to touring performer

BY JOHN WIRT

Contributing writer

Tommy Prine’supcomingtwo nights of headlining at the Red Dragon Listening Room coincide with the music venue’sﬁnal month of regular operation. Owners Chris and Liz Maxwell announced their retirement in February Prine, the singing, songwriting son of the late John Prine, previously performed at the Red Dragon with his band. He’ll play solo there June19-20, presenting intimate performances of the kind that made the Red Dragon, which opened in 2002, anationally known destination for singer-songwriters.

PROVIDED PHOTO By WHIZZBANG BOOKING AND MANAGEMENT

Tommy Prine, 29, became a professional musician after his father John Prine’sCOVID-19related death in 2020.

“I love it,” Prine said of the unconventional Red Dragon, a100seat venue where the seating includes couches andthe stage is decorated with guitars. “We had areally goodtime whenI brought theband through last time, but Idolove playingsolo. Ifeel like I’m playing for people in aroom rather than playingat acrowd.” Prine, 29, became aprofessional musician after his father’sCOVID-19-related death in 2020.

ä See PRINE, page 2D

TOMMY PRINE/ BARRYHEBERT

7p.m.Thursday

TOMMY PRINE/ STEVE JUDICE

8p.m. Friday, June 20 l Red Dragon Listening Room, 2401 Florida St. l $50 l facebook. com/reddragonlisteningroom and tommyprine.com

OLD GLORY’S LEGACY

Gather the family forFlagDay at the Old State Capitol at 10 a.m. Saturday. Join the General PhilemonThomas Chapter of the Sons of the AmericanRevolution at the free celebration of the American flag There will be inspiring talks, activities and patrioticfun. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org

THINK PINK

Apowerful newexhibition, “PINK. Out Is In!” explores the historicand

ROYAL ROCKERS

VeteranbandHeart dealingout hits on tour stop in Louisiananextweek

BY JOHN WIRT Contributing writer

Next yearisthe 50thanniversary of Heart’s debut album.

In the decades since “Dreamboat Annie” introduced the PaciﬁcNorthwest band led by sisters Ann and NancyWilson, Heartsurvivedband and family drama, serious illness, thepublic’s changing musical taste and the male-dominated music businessofthe 1970s and beyond. Heart brings its“RoyalFlush”tourto the Raising Cane’sRiverCenter Arena on Wednesday, the eveoflead singer Ann Wilson’s75th birthday

ä See HEART, page 2D

HEART

7p.m.Wednesday l Raising Cane’s RiverCenterArena, 275 S. RiverRoad, Baton Rouge l $30-$128 l raisingcanes rivercenter.com and heart-music.com

Love on thehorizon in Sullivan

Abrielle Decuir,left, is Ado Annie and Jonathan Thomas is Will in Sullivan Theater’s production of ‘Oklahoma!’

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Oklahomaisayear away from becoming an ofﬁcial state in the Wild West, cowboys are at odds with farmers,and an intense love triangle is brewing on thehorizon as the wind comes sweeping down theplain. But amidthese conflicts, the curtain will rise

PHOTO By JACKIE HAXTHAUSEN

PROVIDED PHOTOByCRISS CAIN

‘OKLAHOMA!’

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday, June 13, the 164th day of 2025. There are 201 days left in the year

Today in history:

On June 13, 1971, The New York Times began publishing excerpts of the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret study of America’s involvement in Vietnam since 1945, that had been leaked to the paper by military analyst Daniel Ellsberg.

Also on this date:

In 1942, during World War II, a four-man Nazi sabotage team arrived by submarine on Long Island, New York, three days before a second four-man team landed in Florida. (All eight men were arrested within weeks, after two members of the ﬁrst group defected.)

In 1966, the Supreme Court ruled in Miranda v. Arizona that criminal suspects had to be informed of their constitutional rights to remain silent and consult with an attorney In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall to become the ﬁrst non-White justice on the U.S. Supreme Court

In 1983, the U.S. space probe Pioneer 10, launched in 1972, became the ﬁrst spacecraft to leave the solar system as it crossed the orbit of Neptune In 1996, the 81-day-old Freemen standoff in Montana ended as the 16 remaining members of the anti-government group left their ranch and surrendered to the FBI.

PRINE

Continued from page 1D

“I’d been a writer and guitar player my whole life, but for a long time, it was just for me,” he said.

Prine performed songs for friends during his high school years, but he didn’t play one of his original songs for his parents — one of whom was among the world’s great songwriters — until some years later

“They were excited when I showed them some songs and told them I was writing all the time,” he remembered. “My dad encouraged me, but my parents were never, like, you need to do one thing or another.”

Prine’s famous father sometimes offered songwriting advice.

“It was kind of cryptic, usually a metaphor that I couldn’t decipher until recently,” Tommy Prine recalled.

Writing remained a fulfilling but private pursuit for the younger Prine for many years.

“I found it healing and a good use of my time,” he said. “But when my father passed, it started pouring out of me. It poured out of me enough to make a full album.”

Prine was working at the Country Music Hall of Fame gift shop when he tentatively let it be known he was available for gigs.

“Word got around in the listening rooms and the clubs,” he said “It snowballed into what we’ve got going on now I never had to stop. I’m super grateful for it.”

Two of Prine’s friends — singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly and Grammy-winning recording engineer Gena Johnson — coproduced his album debut, 2023’s “This Far South.”

“They heard the songs that I

In 2000, the ﬁrst meeting between leaders of North Korea and South Korea since the Korean War began as South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung met North Korean leader Kim JongIl in Pyongyang.

In 2013, the White House said it had conclusive evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government had used chemical weapons against opposition forces seeking to overthrow him.

In 2022, the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was told that Donald Trump’s closest campaign advisers, top government ofﬁcials and even his family were dismantling his false claims of 2020 election fraud ahead of the insurrection, but the defeated president was becoming “detached from reality” and clinging to outlandish theories to stay in power

Today’s birthdays: Actor Malcolm McDowell is 82. Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is 81. Actor Stellan Skarsgård is 74. Actor Richard Thomas is 74. Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Weaver is 74. Actor-comedian Tim Allen is 71. Actor Ally Sheedy is 63. Sportscaster Hannah Storm is 63. Musician Rivers Cuomo (Weezer) is 55. Actor-comedian Steve-O is 51. Actor Ethan Embry is 47. Actor Chris Evans is 44. Actor Kat Dennings is 39. Fashion designers and former actors Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen are 38. Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson is 35. Actor Kodi Smit-McPhee is 29.

was working on and were, like,

‘Hey, buddy You should give this a shot.’ All those things tied together and resulted in where I am now So much has happened. I’ve changed so much and had so many experiences.”

Prine’s Red Dragon performances will feature songs from ‘This Far South’ and newer compositions.

“I love the new songs,” he said.

“They’re in the direction of ‘This Far South,’ but with more maturity and purpose and clarity. ‘This Far South’ is biographical, in a way, because it’s about experiences in my life. These new songs are not so much about experiences as about how those experiences changed me.”

Prine’s transition from gift shop sales clerk to touring singersongwriter has been a revelatory journey

“I ﬁgured out who I am over the past ﬁve years, just by hitting the road and playing music,” he said.

“It introduced me to some of the best people I’ve ever met. I’ve had opportunities that I dreamed of when I was a kid The decision to write my thoughts and feelings and share them, along with traveling, has opened up the world for me.”

a cowboy named Curly McLain, played by Thomas Jackson, who sees only love on the horizon as he anticipates a meetup with farm girl Laurey Williams, played by Callie Ancelet.

This is also the beginning of inevitable conﬂict, which eventually places Laurey on the arm of brooding farmhand Jud Fry, played by Matthew Walker, thereby putting her in a tailspin as to whom she should choose as a husband.

That’s when the 15-minute cowboy ballet will happen, pointing Laurey to the right decision.

And what will be her decision? Well, a visit to Sullivan Theater will solve that mystery Biggest so far

In the meantime, Taylor Wingate, the show’s director, is staging a cast of 24 in nine performances in Sullivan Theater’s biggest production to date.

“I think they wanted to sort of test themselves here at the Sullivan and see that can they put on this large of a production,” Wingate said. “This is the biggest choreographed show that they have put on yet, so it was really, I think, to test the limits of the space.”

“Oklahoma!” premiered on Broadway in 1943. Its story is based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play, “Green Grow the Lilacs,” which is set in farm territory outside the town of Claremore in Indian territory

The story revolves around romance on the rugged terrain, not only within the aforementioned love triangle but also between a cowboy named Will Fry and his ﬂirtatious ﬁancée Ado Annie.

However, the crown jewel of this show isn’t so much found in its characters but in the 15-minute dance break, which wordlessly maps out scenarios of Laurey’s love life.

“It’s kind of a deep dive into what Laurey is wanting, because she can’t decide,” choreographer Hope

HEART

Continued from page 1D

“That’s going to be a gig for Ann’s birthday this year,” Nancy Wilson said. “There’s going to be some extra fun afoot that evening.”

Heart has many hits to fill the two sets it’s performing on tour

The band’s catalog includes two No 1 hits, nine Top 10 songs and a total of 29 Billboard Hot 100 singles Heart’s album sales have reached 35 million.

Creating music and performing it are sides of the same coin for the guitar-brandishing Nancy Wilson.

“When you can be a musician, it’s a gift, a beautiful expression a conversation to have with yourself,” she said “And playing on stage is magical, powerful stuff that happens on the spot, in real life.”

But unwelcomed stuff happens on stage, too. Last year at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Heart’s debut at the world-famous event — Wilson met musical turbulence as she played the intro to one of the band’s signature hits, “Crazy On You.”

“Something with the guitar strings was amiss,” she recalled.

“I tried to correct it and play at the same time. I thought, ‘Oh, great. We’re at the Jazz Festival and I look like a novice up here.’

But people were, like, ‘Wow It’s not prerecorded! She made a mis-

Carline said. “In the storyline, you see this struggle of she doesn’t really know what she wants, so she buys these Egyptian smelling salts, and they send her into this deep sleep.”

The dance plays out as she sleeps, with part of the story depicting what would happen in her life if she marries Curly, and what would unfold if she weds Jud.

The dream also foreshadows some things to come.

“I won’t go into that, because that would be giving too much away,”

Carline said. “But Laurey wakes up from her dream, and she knows the right decision to make.”

A strong-willed woman

Was the decision really that hard for Laurey to make? Well, Ancelet points out that her character is highly independent.

The year, after all, is 1806, a time when society readily dismissed the notion of independent women.

“She’s also super strong-willed,

take! She’s really playing!’ They were rooting for me.”

Heart’s Jazz Fest appearance at the Fair Grounds Race Course joined the band’s list of especially memorable gigs at landmarks such as Royal Albert Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Radio City Music Hall and the Hollywood Bowl.

“It was particularly sweet to play at the Jazz Fest,” Wilson said. “Ann, in particular, loves New Orleans and all things Deep South, swampy and Cajun. We love the ambience and the romance of Baton Rouge and New Orleans and that whole part of the world.”

Heart has another New Orleans connection. In 2013, the Wilsons released their duet with Aaron Neville of Charles Brown’s rhythm-and-blues classic “Please Come Home for Christmas.”

“It was an honor to be in the same room with Aaron,” Wilson said. “We love, love him and his voice. And the stuff he did with Daniel Lanois was amazing (the madein-New Orleans Neville Brothers album ‘Yellow Moon’).”

Before the studio collaboration with Neville, the Wilsons also recorded their remake of his 1967 hit, “Tell It Like It Is.” The 1980 single became Heart’s highest charting song up to that time.

Neville is among the 1960s stars who inspired the Wilsons.

“Our older sister, Lynn, had a big box of singles that we played,” Nancy Wilson said. “ ‘Tell It Like It

and she works on the farm with her Aunt Eller and Jud,” Ancelet said. “She’s such a romantic at heart, which I really love about her She’s such a dreamer and I think her biggest internal struggle throughout the show is the struggle between her dream and reality She lost her parents, and reality with Curly terriﬁes her because things can be taken away from you when they become real.”

Then again, Curly sometimes exacerbates the situation by letting his ego get in the way

“I think Curly has a lot of charm in a lot of different ways,” Jackson said. “I think that he’s a pretty selfaware person, though he does get wrapped up in his own emotions. He’s someone that’s used to getting what he wants, though not in any kind of malicious way He has an upbeat attitude, and he’s head over heels for Laurey But I think the issue that we run into with Curly is when he doesn’t get that instant gratiﬁcation and get exactly what he wants.”

As for Jud, he bears the ominous burden of being the story’s villain. Yet he’s not really a villain as much as a guy who’s had some bad breaks in life.

“While I think Jud has this deep longing I don’t think he has the social skills to get there,” Walker said. “But being a farmer who is working 10 hours a day, I’d assume he doesn’t have a lot of time for talking amongst the town. He’s deﬁnitely a loner at the end of the day.”

Favorite numbers

And while the story plays out, expect to hear such Broadway classics as “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” Jackson’s and Ancelet’s favorite song from the production.

Of course, as Curly, Jackson also likes “Oh What a Beautiful Morning,” just as Walker’s favorite is his character’s solo, “Lonely Room.”

But all agree that the title song, “Oklahoma,” is fun for everyone in the cast.

Email Robin Miller at romiller@ theadvocate.com.

Is,’ Jackie Wilson’s ‘Say You Will,’ stuff like that. So, Aaron Neville is part of the real roots of rock that we come from.”

Breaking out of Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington, Heart leapt to rock stardom in 1976. Although the early ’80s saw some years off the charts, the band topped its ’70s success with a hot streak of pop hits in mid- to late-’80s. Unlike Heart’s in-house composed ’70s recordings, the Wilsons’ comeback was aided by such hitmaking tunesmiths as Diane Warren and Bernie Taupin (Elton John’s lyricist).

“We’ve had a couple of different life spans,” Wilson said. “The average rock band disappears after ﬁve years, but we doggedly put on the costumes and worked with the outside writers, what everybody was doing in the ’80s to survive.”

More Heart- and Heart-related projects are happening documentary films, Ann and Nancy Wilson’s music projects apart from Heart and the management company founded by Nancy Wilson. The younger Wilson sister’s Roadcase Management specializes in young talent.

“Music is our life,” she said. “I feel so grateful to have done art and music my whole life. Helping the next generation is the least I can do.”

Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. com.

PROVIDED PHOTO By JORDAN HEFLER Matthew Walker stars as Jud in Sullivan Theater’s production of ‘Oklahoma!’.

FRIDAY

ORIGINAL MUSIC

GATHERING: La Divina Italian Café, 6 p.m.

KAITLYN WALLACE: Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 6 p.m.

KEEPIN’ TIME BAND: T’Quilas, Zachary

6 p.m.

PECAN PRALINES: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6 p.m.

RACHAEL HALLACK & ERIC CANTRELLE: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 6 p.m. THE ROUX TONES: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

SHAUN MILEY: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

UNITED WE JAM: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

THE FLORIDA STREET

BLOWHARDS: Curbside Burgers, 7 p.m.

JOEY HOLAWAY: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m.

DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: VFW Post 3784 (Choctaw), 7 p.m.

JOVIN WEBB: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

THE LONGNECK

SOCIETY: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

PHIL CHANDLER: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m.

88 REASONS WHY: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 8 p.m.

SUGAR SHAKER: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 9 p.m.

CARTER HAMPTON: Jack’s Place, Port Allen, 9 p.m. CHRIS PRYOR & THE MAIN EVENT: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

CORNERPOCKET: Churchill’s, 9 p.m.

JEREMY T. DANIEL

BAND: Spanky’s Daiquiris, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

JOEL COOPER & SCOTT JORDAN: The Vineyard, 9 p.m.

RYAN FORET & FORET

TRADITION: Southern Rhythm, Deham Springs, 9 p.m.

SAM FORSHEY BLUES

BAND: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

THOMAS CAIN/I-10

BOUND BAND: The Texas Club, 9 p.m.

DOWNFALL: Sheri’s Daiquiris, Satsuma, 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

RACHAEL HALLACK & ERIC CANTRELLE: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.

MUDDY WATER MUSIC FEST: Various locations, downtown, noon OPEN JAM SESSION: The Smokey Pit, 4 p.m.

BRITTON MAJOR: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5:30 p.m.

KAITLYN WALLACE: La Carreta-Bluebonnet, 6 p.m.

PAPO Y SON MANDAO: Pedros-Juban, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

SOUTH OF CENTRAL: Pedro’s-Siegen, 6 p.m.

is I-10 Bound Band. Tickets start at $21.

FRIDAY

SUMMER SKETCHES: FAMILY

DRAWING CLASS: 10 a.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. A relaxed drawing class for all ages and skill levels. Materials provided. $20 per nonmember child; $25 per nonmember adult; free for members. lasm.org.

MOVIES ON THE PLAZA: 7 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. at 7 p.m. A family-friendly movie on the big screen in the outdoor plaza. Bring lawn chair or blanket. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Free admission. ebrpl.com.

FRIDAY NIGHT LECTURE:

7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., BREC’s Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Road. Skygazing tips, physics phenomena, space programs and famous events are covered. For ages 14 and older Free. hrpo.lsu.edu. Also, evening sky viewing from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

SATURDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MAR-

KET: 8 a.m. to noon, Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org.

techniques. Free.

TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 18303 Perkins Road. Collect your team and jockey for ﬁrst place. loom. ly/y-CKtQ4.

WEDNESDAY

STONE SOBER: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

THE LEE SERIO BAND: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

RHETT ANTHONY: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m.

ALLISON COLLINS: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

CAKE MIXX: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

CHRIS OCMAND: Pizza Art Wine, 7 p.m.

BRYCE BROUSSARD: Tiger Tavern Daiquiris, Gonzales, 7:30 p.m.

WILL WESLEY: The Basin Music Hall, 8 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

BUBBA PLAUCHÉ: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m.

DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: Backstreet Lounge, 8 p.m.

I-10 BOUND BAND: Southern Rhythm, Denham Springs, 8 p.m.

BEN RAGSDALE: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9 p.m.

BLUE CRAB REDEMPTION/PARADIGM: The Texas Club, 9 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC BAND & ZYDECO MIKE: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

ESSENTIALL GROOVE: Churchill’s, 9 p.m.

I-10 BOUND BAND: Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill, Denham Springs, 9 p.m.

JOHN RUIZ JR.: The Vineyard, 9 p.m.

SPANK THE MONKEY: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY

JUSTIN BURDETTE

TRIO: Superior Grill MidCity, 11 a.m.

ROBERT CALMES: Cocha, 11 a.m.

JERRID KELLY: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs 6:30 p.m.

JOSH MARTIN: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.

WILLIE STONEMORE: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 11 a.m.

HALF PRICE BAND: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 3 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

MONDAY

ACOUSTICRATS: Phil Brady’s, 6 p.m.

JEFF BAJON PROJECT: Superior Grill MidCity 6 p.m

TUESDAY

CHRIS LEBLANC DUO: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m

EDDIE SMITH: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

CHRIS LEBLANC: Mason’s Grill, 5:30 p.m.

CHRIS OCMAND: BLDG 5, 5:30 p.m.

MIKE HOGAN: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 5:30 p.m.

GARRETT REMSON DUO: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

ASHTON GILL: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC W/HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7 p.m. AN EVENING WITH HEART: Raising Cane’s River Center Arena, 7 p.m.

ANDY PIZZO TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7:30 p.m.

DIXIE ROSE’S ACOUSTIC CIRCLE: Teddy’s Juke Joint, Zachary

8 p.m

EDDIE SMITH BAND: La Daiquiris, 8 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: Brickyard South, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

KYBALION: El PasoSherwood, 6 p.m.

OPEN MIC W/AMANDA JO HESS: Istrouma Brewing, St. Gabriel, 6 p.m.

2 DOMESTIC 1 IMPORT: The Tunnel, 6 p.m.

ALLISON COLLINS TRIO: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

CLAY PARKER & JODI

JAMES: La Divina Italian Café, 6 p.m.

DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

DRAMA KINGS: Pedros-Juban, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

HANNA PK: Thai Kitchen, 6 p.m.

OPEN MIC W/KIM

MOLLERE: Zilantro’s Mexican Grill, 6 p.m.

CAM PYLE: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

JOEL COOPER: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

THE BISHOP ELLIS TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7 p.m.

THE STARDUST BOYS: The Brakes Bar, 7 p.m.

BACKSTREET: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 7 p.m.

TOMMY PRINE/ BARRY HEBERT: Red Dragon Listening Room, 7 p.m.

BRITTON MAJOR: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC: Icehouse Tap Room, 8 p.m.

BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s, 9 p.m.

HEATH RANSONNET: The Vineyard, 9 p.m.

LA GROOVE: Churchill’s, 9 p.m. OUTLYING

SATURDAY

KENNY ACOSTA: Big J’s Side Porch, Clinton, 7 p.m.

KEITH FRANK & THE SOILEAU ZYDECO BAND: Ballrooms at Paragon Casino, Marksville, 7 p.m.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s music listed? Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper

FAMILY HOUR STARGAZING:

10 a.m., Irene W. Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S River Road. Learn about the stars and constellations in the local nighttime sky, followed by an all-ages show. lasm.org.

GREATER BATON ROUGE

MODEL RAILROADERS:

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Republic of West Florida Historical Museum, 3406 College St. Jackson. Electric trains of all sizes will be running on ﬁve different layouts. Free admission and parking. greaterbrrailroaders.com.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

BASF’S KIDS’ LAB: 11 a.m.,

1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Explore the science of chemistry during 45-minute hands-on workshops for scientists ages 6-12 and their accompanying adults. This month’s theme: “Rainbow Connection!” lasm.org.

SUNDAY

YOGA UNDER THE STARS:

noon, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Relax and recharge with yoga under the dome, led by Leslie Emden. $25, nonmembers; free, members. lasm.org.

TUESDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 3 p.m.-6 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org. BATON ROUGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNUAL MEETING: 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Symphony ofﬁces, 233 St. Ferdinand St. Achievements made throughout the ‘24-’25 season will be discussed along with a look at the next season. Public invited. brso.org. GREENWAY CIVIL RIGHTS KICKOFF MIXER: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Charles R. Kelly Community Center, 3535 Riley St. Learn more about a new public art trail in Beauregard Town honoring local civil rights heroes and historic moments. www thewallsproject.org/. FLEX AND FLOW YOGA: 6:30 p.m., Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar, 315 North Blvd. Rotating instructors and a variety of

COSMIC CRAFTS UNDER THE DOME: 1 p.m., Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Watch a planetarium show, then do a themed hands-on craft activity. Part of the LASM’s Beat the Heat Summer Series. Included in paid admission. lasm.org.

TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 27350 Crossing Circle, Suite 150, Denham Springs. Collect your team and jockey for ﬁrst place. loom.ly/y-CKtQ4.

THURSDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. facebook.com/ redstickfarmersmarket.

READ & CREATE: 1:30 p.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Story time followed by a themed craft perfect for little learners. Included with admission; free for members. lasm.org. WEEKLY SOCIAL BIKE RIDE: 7 p.m., Geaux Ride, 521 N. Third St., Suite A. Free. https://fareharbor.com.

TRIVIA NIGHT: 7 p.m., Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar, 315 North Blvd. Test your trivia skills with your friends and family Free.

ONGOING ART GUILD OF LOUISIANA: Independence Park Theatre, 7800 Independence Blvd. Upcoming workshops at Studio in the Park, 2490 Silverest Ave., are as follows: Larry Downs — Drawing 3: Putting It All Together, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays, June 5-26; Roberta Loﬂin — Watercolor Basics — Focus on Perspective with City Scenes, 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays June 7-28. (225) 773-8020 or artguildlouisiana.org.

CAPITOL PARK MUSEUM: 660 N. Fourth St. “Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend,” through Jan. 10. (225) 3425428 or louisianastatemuseum.org.

CARY SAURAGE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER SHELL GALLERY: 233 St. Ferdinand St. “PINK. Out is In!,” through June 30, with closing reception 6 p.m.-8 p.m. June 27. Featuring work by local LGBTQIA+ artists. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. artsbr.org. ELIZABETHAN GALLERY: 680 Jefferson Highway. Spring group show. Call (225) 9246437 or follow the gallery’s Facebook page.

to 4 p.m. Sunday. brec. org/facility/MagnoliaMound. OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION: 502 North Blvd. Open for tours. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Free admission. oldgovernorsmansion.com. OLD STATE CAPITOL: 100 North Blvd. “America’s Sacred Freedoms in the First Amendment,” yearlong exhibit. Free admission. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org. USS KIDD VETERANS

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK

Catch Baton Rouge-based country recording artist Thomas Cain at 9 p.m. Friday at The Texas Club in Baton Rouge. Sharing the bill

GEMINI (May21-June 20) Review thepossibilitiesand moveforward one step at atime. Enjoy each moment as it comes. It's time to breathe, smell the flowers and be grateful for what you have.

CANCER(June 21-July 22) Keep the momentum growing. The moment you slowdown or give someone the chance to step in and take charge, you'llhave regrets. Opportunityrequiresaction if youwish to be aforerunner in your field.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Be careful: Too much,too soon will be costly. Put a halt on your plans until you have all your ducks in arow. Precision, timing and execution areessential to fulfilling your destiny. Don't rely on others or take shortcuts.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Ashift in how you handle financial and medical affairs is necessary. Get out intothe mainstream and discover what's meaningful to the masses.Knowing what's necessaryand what'sfruitless will save you time.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) First and foremost,behonestwith yourself.Keep your situation in perspective. Refuse to letlaziness or self-pity setinwhen your creativity, charm and confidence will carrymuch more weight.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Do youwant to bulldoze your way forward or gain

support incrementally? Think big, but fine-tune your game plan to fityour budget, time and skills. Make sure you have adequate support linedup.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec.21) Look for something that moves you. Walk away from annoyances while seeking out people who areinterested in your pursuits. Taking on too much or not communicating will threaten your home life

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Get out, venture into themainstream andget abetter view of trends.Attend conferences,networking functions and exhibitswhere you can share your thoughts and skills. Romance is favored.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Deal with your emotions beforethey get you in trouble. Applying pressure will make you look bad. Take an approach that offers insightand assistance to others.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Uncertainty will hold you back. Approach someone who can offera financial perspective regarding your plans,and you'll gain insight intohow much your plans might cost. Time is on your side

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

And erneSt

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

LAGoon

bIG nAte

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placingpuzzle basedona9x9 grid with several given numbers The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increasesfrom Monday to Sunday

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS CurTiS

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER

Ludwig Mies van derRohewas an architect who worked first in Germany, thenintheUnitedStates.Hesaid,“Architecturestartswhenyoucarefullyputtwo bricks together.” Oneguesses that plans might have beendrawnfirst.However,abridgecontract will have more chance of success if declarer has two ways to get homeand is able to trythemboth —asinthis deal. South is in sixspades.West leads the club queen: four, eight (encouraging, showing the king), ace. What are declarer’s two primary chances to bring home 12 tricks?

South hastwo potential losers: one diamond andone club. He starts with only 11 top tricks: seven spades, one heart, twodiamonds and oneclub. A12th winnercan be established if either the diamondfinesseisworkingortheheartsare dividing 4-3.

Since the finesse, if it loses, wouldbe instantly fatal (the defenders wouldcash aclub trick),itshouldbetried secondif it is needed.

Declarer must play on hearts immediately. He cashes his heart ace, leads amiddle spadetodummy’s10(happy to see both opponents follow suit), ruffs aheart high, plays amiddle spade to dummy’s jack, and ruffs another heart high. When the suit breaks 4-3, South leads the spade three to dummy’s four, ruffs another heart, plays adiamond to theace, and discards adiamond or aclub on theheart jack If hearts break 5-2 or 6-1, South would draw trumpsand runtrumps, planning to rely on thediamond finesse (but also havingared-suitshow-upsqueezeifEast has thelong hearts). ©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase,name, place,saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIOns:

tODAY’s WORD unDERcut: UN-der-kut: To cut away the underpart.

Average mark 27 words

Time

Canyou find 37 or more words in UNDERCUT?

YEstERDAY’s

wuzzles

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

andRecorderofthe ParishofEastBaton Rouge,State of Louisiana,asLOT NUM‐BER 232, said subdivision, saidlot having such measurementsand di‐mensionsand beingsub‐jecttosuchservitudes asare more particularly shown on said subdivi‐sionmap;subject to re‐strictions, servitudes rights- of-way andout‐standingmineral rights ofrecordaffecting the

TERMS OF SALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHAppraisement and accordingtolaw SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton

SHERIFF'SSALE

a.m.onJuly16, 2025, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:CRYSTALQ JOHNSON ANDDARIUSC MENDENHALL ONE(1) CERTAINLOT OR PARCELOFGROUND, to‐getherwithall thebuild‐ingsand improvements thereon,situatedinthat subdivision of theParish ofEastBaton Rouge, State of Louisiana, known as WEST SHER‐WOODFOREST, FOURTH FILINGand beingdesig‐nated on theofficial sub‐division mapdated May 11, 1962; on file and of recordinthe office of the Clerk andRecorderfor saidparishand stateat Original44, Bundle 5206 asLOT NUMBER ONE HUNDREDTHIRTY-SIX (136) said subdivision, saidlot having such measurementsand di‐mensionsasshown on saidmap;subject to re‐strictions, servitudes rights-of-way andout‐standingmineral rights ofrecordaffecting the property.

TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHOUT Appraisement and accordingtolaw SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish

ADVERTISED DATE June 13, 2025 July 14, 2025 $227.04

ING, LOCATEDINSECTION 24, TOWNSHIP 4SOUTH RANGE 2EASTANO SEC‐TIONS 19 &41, TOWNSHIP 4 SOUTH, RANGE2 EAST EASTBATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND BEING DESIGNATED AS BS LOT "JK2", C.ONT10.00 ACRES ON AMAP ENTI‐TLED"MAPSHOWING EX‐CHANGEOFPROPERTY OFTHE JESSEL. KELLY TRACT.INTOLOT JK-1 & JK-2, LOCATEDINSEC‐TION24TOWNSHIP 4 SOUTH,RANGE 2EAST & LOCATED IN SECTIONS 19 & 41, TOWNSHIP 4 SOUTH,RANGE 3EAST, GREENSBURGLANDDIS‐TRICT,EASTBATON ROUGE PARISH LOUISIANA FORTHOMAS KELLY"DATED AUGUST 10, 2018, MADE BYS. BRETT FITZGERALD,PLS WHICHMAP IS RECORDEDATORIGINAL 372, BUNDLE 12907, IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK ANDRECORDER FOR EAST BATONROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA; SAID LOT HAVING SUCH BEAR‐INGS ANDDIMENSIONS ANO.BEING SUBJECTTO SUCHSERVITUDE'S,AND BUILDINGLINERESTRIC‐TIONS OF RECORD AND ASSHOWN ON SAID MAP. MUNICIPALLYKNOWN AS 23060 CARSON ROAD PRIDE,LA70770. TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHOUT Appraisement and accordingtolaw Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish ADVERTISED DATE June 13,2025 July 14, 2025 $283.18

SHERIFF'SSALE

SuitNo: (17) 760142

U.S. BANK NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATION vs KEVIN BROWN A/K/AKEVIN L. BROWN BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,April 08 2025 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly16, 2025, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:KEVIN BROWN A/K/A KEVINL.BROWN One certainlot or parcel ofground,togetherwith all thebuildings andim‐provementsthereon,and all of therights, ways, privileges, servitudes appurtenances andad‐vantagesthereuntobe‐longing or in anywiseap‐pertaining, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge,State of Louisiana,inthatsubdi‐visionknown as AUTUMN RUN,and designated on the official plan thereof, on file andofrecordin theoffice of theClerk

SHERIFF'SSALE SuitNo: (17) 760218 WELLS FARGOBANK,

CHRISENTERY A/K/A HENRY CHRISENTERY AND THEUNOPENEDSUC‐CESSION OF ANDUN‐KNOWN HEIRSOF SHIRLEY TAYLOR CHRISENTERY A/K/A SHIRLEY TAYLOR CHRISENTERY A/K/A SHIRLEY T. CHRISENTERY A/K/A SHIRLEYCHRISEN‐TERY

BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,April 11 2025 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly16, 2025, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:THE UN‐OPENEDSUCCESSIONOF AND UNKNOWNHEIRS OF HENRY CCHRISENTERY, A/K/A HENRYC CHRISENTERY A/K/A HENRY CHRISENTERY AND THEUNOPENEDSUC‐CESSION OF ANDUN‐KNOWN HEIRSOF SHIRLEY TAYLOR CHRISENTERY A/K/A SHIRLEY TAYLOR CHRISENTERY A/K/A SHIRLEY T. CHRISENTERY A/K/A SHIRLEYCHRISEN‐TERY One(1) certainlot or par‐cel of ground,together withall thebuildings and improvementsthereon and allthe rights,ways, privileges, servitudes advantagesand ap‐purrtenancesthereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge,State of Louisiana,inthatsubdi‐visionknown as New Dayton, anddesignated onthe ofﬁcial plan thereof,on

SuitNo: (17) 760578 FEDERALHOMELOAN MORTGAGECORPORA‐TIONVSSIDNEYVALYAN BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,April 29 2025 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly16, 2025, via anonlineauction site at offerfor sale at public auction thefollowing de‐scribed mortgagedprop‐ertybelonging to:SIDNEY VALYAN Acertain lotorparcelof ground together with all the buildingsand im‐provementsthereon situ‐atedinthe Parish of East Baton Rouge, Stateof Louisiana,being desig‐nated as LOTTWENTY (20),Block 2, of Eaton Place Subdivision. Said Lot measuring100.00 feet frontingonBartlett

SHERIFF'SSALE

SuitNo: (17) 760607 VANDERBILT MORTGAGE AND FINANCEINC VS DE‐SHANA TSELMON 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSEIZURE AND SALE issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,May 08 2025 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onWednesday,June 25, 2025,

ADMINISTRA‐TRIXOFTHE SUCCESSION OFJOHNCUSHMAN BROWN,JR. BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,April 21 2025 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly16, 2025, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:MARGARET MIXON BROWNA/K/A MARGARETELIZABETH MIXON BROWNINDIVIDU‐ALLYAND AS THEINDE‐PENDENT ADMINISTRA‐TRIXOFTHE SUCCESSION OFJOHNCUSHMAN BROWN,JR. One(1) certainlot or par‐cel of ground,together withall thebuildings and improvementsthereon, situatedinthe Parish of EastBaton Rouge, State ofLouisiana,inthatsub‐divisionknown as CEDAR MILLRUN SUBDIVISION, and beingdesignatedon the official mapon file and of record in theof‐fice of theClerk and Recorderfor theParish ofEastBaton Rouge :Parish, Louisiana, as LOT NUMBER NINETY (90) saidsubdivision,saidlot havingsuchmeasure‐ments anddimensions asindicated on theoffi‐cialmap thereofon file and of record in theOf‐fice of theClerk and Recorderfor theParish ofEastBaton Rouge, Louisiana,and such other servitudes andre‐strictionsasmay be of record; subjecttorestric‐tions,servitudes, rightsof-wayand outstanding mineral rights of record affecting.the property

TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHOUT Appraisement and accordingtolaw SidJ,Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish ADVERTISED DATE June 13, 2025 July 14, 2025 $278.07

thehonorable court aforesaid,inthe

cause,dated,May 05 2025 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly16, 2025, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales,

auction the

mortgaged

be‐longing to:MARYTATE WILSONA/KIA MARY LOUISETATEWILSON AND ALANAWILSON WELLS TWO(2) CERTAINPIECES ORPORTIONSOF GROUND, together with all thebuildings andim‐provementsthereon,and all therights, ways,privi‐leges,servitudes, appur‐tenancesand advan‐tages thereuntobelong‐ing or in anywiseapper‐taining,situatedinthe ParishofEASTBATON ROUGE,State of Louisiana,inthatsubdi‐visionknown as SUBURB PROSPERITY, anddesig‐nated on theofficial plan thereof,on file andof recordinthe office of the Clerk andRecorderofthe ParishofEastBaton Rouge,State of Louisiana,asLOT NUM‐BER ELEVEN (11) ANDLOT NUMBERTWELVE(12) SQUARENUMBERNINE‐TEEN (19),saidsubdivi‐sion; said lots having suchmeasurementsand dimensionsand being subject to such servi‐tudes as aremorepartic‐ularlydescribed on said subdivision map; subject torestrictions, servi‐tudes,rights-of-way and· outstanding mineral rightsofrecordaffecting the property

TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHAppraisementand accordingtolaw SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish

ADVERTISED DATE June 13,2025 July 14,

SHERIFF'SSALE SuitNo: (17) P113190 ASCENSIONOAKSNURS‐ING& REHABILITATION CENTER, LLCvsJAMES MCHUGHAND MICHELLE ARNOTT BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofFieri Fa‐ciasissuedout of the honorable courtafore‐said, in theabove enti‐tledand numbered cause,dated,January 28 2025 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly16, 2025, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public

andof recordinthe ofﬁcesof the clerkand recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge,State of Louisiana,aslot number one (1), square sixteen (16),saidsubdivision saidlot having such measurementsand di‐mensionsand beingsub‐jecttosuchservitudes asare more particularly described on said subdi‐visionmap

SuitNo: (17) 762296 FLAGSTAR BANK,N.A.vs MARLONASHLEYCOREY JR BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,May 08 2025 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly16, 2025, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:MARLONASH‐LEY COREYJR. Onecertain lotorparcel ofground,together with all thebuildings andim‐provementsthereon,and all therights, ways,privi‐leges,servitudes, appur‐tenancesand advan‐tages thereuntobelong‐ing or in anywiseapper‐taining,being situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge,State of Louisiana,inthatSubdi‐visionknown as PARK VISTA,and designated on the official plan thereof, on file andofrecordin the office of theClerk and Recorder of the ParishofEastBaton Rouge,State of Louisiana, as LOTNUM‐