The Times-Picayune 06-24-2025 by The Advocate

LSUBASEBALL CHAMPS RETURN TO BATONROUGE

‘TOTAL CEASEFIRE’

IN QATAR

Iran’sarmycommander-in-chief Gen. Amir Hatami, center,accompanied by high-ranking army commanders, speaks Monday in avideocall withtop commandersofthe army in Zolfaghar central headquarters, Iran, as portraitsofthe laterevolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, left, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hang on the wall. Iran launched amissile strike Mondayagainst aU.S.base in Qatar in response to the U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

BY DAVID RISING, JON GAMBRELL and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates— President Donald Trump said thatIsraeland Iran had agreed to a“complete and total ceaseﬁre” soon after Iranlaunched a limited missile attack Monday on aU.S. military base in Qatar,retaliatingfor the American bombing ofits nuclear sites. Iran said that as longasIsrael stopped its attacks early Tuesday morning, it would halt theirs.

Israel did notimmediately acknowledge any ceaseﬁre, but there were no reports of Israeli strikes in Iran after 4a.m. Heavy Israeli strikes continued in Tehran andother cities untilshortly before that time.

“As of now,there is NO‘agreement on any ceaseﬁre or cessation of military operations,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in apost on X. “However,provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against theIranian peoplenolater than 4a.m Tehran time, we have no intentionto continue our response afterwards.

His message was posted at 4:16 a.m. Tehran time. Araghchiadded: “Theﬁnal decision on the cessation of ourmilitary operations willbemade later.”

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By CARLOS BARRIA PresidentDonald Trumpspeaks Saturday from the East Room of the White House in Washington after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites. Trumpannounced Mondaythat Israel and Iran had agreed to aceasefire.

Trump posted on TruthSocial that the 24-hour phased-in ceaseﬁre will begin about midnight Tuesday Eastern time.

He said it would bring an “Ofﬁcial END”

to thewar The Israeli military declined to comment on Trump’sstatement and the ofﬁce of Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to amessage seeking comment.

Speaking on Iranianstate television, an overnight anchor repeatedly referred to a“Trump-claimed” ceaseﬁre, without saying whether Tehran accepted it. The anchor noted: “Simultaneously with Trump’sclaim of aceaseﬁre, the Zionist enemy targetedseveral points in the cities of Tehran, Urmia and Rasht, including aresidential area in the capital.”

Israel’s military put out awarning earlier that District 6inTehran could be struck.

Early Tuesday, Iran,mirroring the language and maps of the Israelimilitary, put out awarning telling people in Ramat Gan it would target “military infrastructure” there.

Iran’sattack Monday indicated it was preparedtostep back from escalating tensions in thevolatileregion.The U.S. was warned by Iran in advance, and therewere no casualties, said Trump, whodismissed theattack as a“very weak response.”

Qatarcondemned the attack on Al ä See CEASEFIRE, page 4A

Henry questions program oversight

Lawmaker sees ‘conflict’ in department operating LA GATOR

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

After abruising ﬁght over funding, Louisiana’s newLAGATOR program is settostartgiving families tax dollars to pay for private education. But now anew question hascome up: Who should run the program?

The state Department of Education oversees the program, which in the coming days will give about 6,000 familiesaccess to state money they can use to pay for private school tuition or homeschool expenses. On Friday, alegislative budgetcommittee approvedthe contract for aprivate company that theEducationDepartment hired to manage the program’sday-today operation. But state Senate President Cameron Henry,R-Metairie,askedduring the budget hearing whether there is an “inherent conﬂict” in putting the Education Department —which is responsible for the state’spublic schools —incharge

La.Senate puts the brakes on severalbig bills

Stalledmeasures shed lighton legislativepolitics

BYJAMES FINN Staff writer

tivism after Hurricane Katrina but has since petered into aseries of scandals, legal troubles and frequent trips outside hercity While Cantrell’spolitical clout has eroded,the City Council has emerged as anewly powerful player,changing laws to increase its authority and oversight Yeteven as thecouncil assumes a new level of control over the day-to-day functions of local government,residents don’tseem to blame its members for the frustrations theyharbor towards city services. N.O. voters’discontent

Weary of grindinglyslow road repairs, adysfunctional drainage system, erratic water bills and acity government viewed as inept at responding to those entrenched problems, New Orleanians largely blame one person: Mayor LaToya Cantrell. New Orleanians’ discontent with Cantrellreachedanew low this month. Acitywide poll foundthatjust27% of residents approve of her performance, the lowest mark of Cantrell’spolitical career,which took off on aswell ofac-

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

With less than two hours to go in the legislative session, all eyes wereonthe Louisiana Senate.

Aday earlier, the House had passed on an 88-4 vote abill to ban companies from owning both pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacies, aprospect that had initiated aflood of lobbying texts from CVS and ignited afiery debate in the House.

Now,itwas up to the Senate to decide whetherHouse Bill 358 by state Rep. Dustin Miller, D-Opelousas, would pass. In the end, the Senate didn’t bringitupfor avote. Sen. Kirk Talbot,R-RiverRidge,took to the

STAFF FILEPHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

NewOrleans MayorLaToyaCantrell mingles before anewsconference on May12atthe State Capitol. Acitywide poll found that only 27% of residents approve of Cantrell’sjob performance.

PHOTO PROVIDEDByIRANIAN ARMy PRESS SERVICE

Henry

7 dead, 1 missing in Lake Tahoe capsize

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Div-

ers searched a section of Lake Tahoe on Monday for one person still missing after seven others were killed when a boat capsized during a powerful weekend thunderstorm that whipped up high waves, authorities said.

Ten people were onboard the 27-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel when it flipped Saturday near D.L. Bliss State Park on the lake’s southwest edge, U.S. Coast Guard ofﬁcials said.

Two people were rescued immediately and taken to a hospital in unknown condition Six bodies were recovered later Saturday and a seventh body was found Sunday evening, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce.

The intensity of the thunderstorm surprised even forecasters, who had predicted some rain but nothing like the sudden squall that lashed the southern part of the lake about 3 p.m., said meteorologist Matthew Chyba, of the National Weather Service ofﬁce in Reno, Nevada.

Eight-foot waves on Tahoe is “pretty signiﬁcant,” Chyba said. “They were really rocking the lake.”

Camera releases first shots of universe

NEW YORK The largest digital camera ever built released its ﬁrst shots of the universe Monday — including colorful nebulas, stars and galaxies

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located on a mountaintop in Chile, was built to take a deeper look at the night sky, covering hidden corners. Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy, it will survey the southern sky for the next 10 years.

The observatory’s ﬁrst look features the vibrant Trifid and Lagoon nebulas located thousands of light-years from Earth. A gaggle of galaxies known as the Virgo Cluster were also captured, including two bright blue spirals.

The observatory hopes to image 20 billion galaxies and discover new asteroids and other celestial objects.

Man trying to get dog gets stuck in chimney

BRISTOL, Conn Firefighters had to rescue a man who got stuck in the chimney of a Connecticut parks building while trying to retrieve his dog from a bathroom when the doors automatically locked for the night.

Police were called Sunday morning to Rockwell Park in Bristol for a burglary complaint and were told by parks employees that someone was in the chimney Fireﬁghters responded to the scene and got the man out after having to remove parts of the chimney and building, causing $5,000 to $10,000 worth of damage, police said.

The Bristol man, who was not injured, was arrested and charged with burglary, trespassing and criminal mischief. He was released on bond and ordered to appear in court on July 7.

Dutch municipalities targeted by hackers

THE HAGUE, Netherlands ProRussian hackers launched a series of denial-of-service attacks Monday on several municipalities and organizations linked to a NATO summit this week in the Netherlands, the Dutch government announced.

The National Cybersecurity Center said in a statement that many of the attacks were claimed by a pro-Russian hackers group known as NoName057(16) “and appear to have a pro-Russian ideological motive.” It did not elaborate.

The cybersecurity center said it was investigating the attacks that ﬂood a site with data in order to overwhelm it and knock it ofﬂine, and was in contact with “national and international partners.”

Mich. pastor thanks God, security team

100 worshippers

were in church where shooting was thwarted

BY ED WHITE and HOLLY RAMER Associated Press

WAYNE, Mich. — A pastor said Monday that the “hand of God” prevented a mass shooting at his Detroit-area church when an armed man was struck by a pickup truck and fatally shot by security staff before he could enter and attack more than 100 people.

The day after the thwarted attack, the leader of CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne praised the actions of the security team, which has been in place for more than 10 years. The Rev Bobby Kelly said he had met the gunman three times in the past.

“I can’t say for sure what wasinhisheartorinhismind because he’s never threatened me in any way,” Kelly said. “This young man was deﬁnitely struggling mentally Hethoughthewashearing from God. We had some conversations about that.”

Children from the church’s vacation Bible school were leading Sunday’s worship and were finishing a song when the congregation heard gunﬁre outside Kelly, who was poised to start his sermon, initially thought the noise was coming from a construction crew A member of the security team rushed in and

told everyone to get out

A livestream video shows people carrying children or directing them to get down and move away

Kelly said a church member arriving late had spotted Brian Browning driving recklessly and called out to the gunman as he exited his car wearing a tactical vest and carrying a rifle and a handgun. The church member struck him with his pickup truck.

Browning, 31, began ﬁring as he approached the church, striking one person in the leg. At least two staff members shot him, Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong said.

“He is a hero,” Kelly said of the pickup driver “I think that was the Lord leading him to do that. He hit this individual with his car, drove right on the grass because he was shooting at the building at the time. And that cer-

tainly helped the team to be able to respond.”

Browning did not have any previous contacts with police but may have been suffering a mental health crisis, police said.

The “heroic actions of the church’s staff members” saved many lives, Strong said Sunday night.

Police found additional riﬂes, handguns and a large amount of ammunition during a search of Browning’s house nearby in Romulus.

Browning’s mother occasionally attended the church services but was not there on Sunday The pastor said he spoke to her after the shooting.

“To console her, to let her know that she shouldn’t feel guilty about his actions and that we still are there for her as well,” Kelly said. “She is a grieving mom right now because of this tragedy.”

EU finds ‘indications’ Israel breaching Gaza agreement

BY SAM MCNEIL and ELLA JOYNER Associated Press

BRUSSELS The European Union said there are “indications” that Israel’s actions in Gaza are violating human rights obligations in the agreement governing its ties with the EU — but the block was divided Monday over what to do in response.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas presented a review of Israel’s compliance with to foreign minsters of the 27-member bloc in Brussels on Monday, leading at least one country to openly propose suspending the agreement.

“There are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement,” according to the review by the EU’s diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service, a copy of which was seen by The Associated Press.

The review detailed allegations by the International Court of Justice and agencies of the United Nations that Israel had likely broken international humanitarian law in Gaza on multiple levels by cutting off life-saving food and supplies, targeting journalists, and attacking densely populated areas with “weapons with wide area effects.”

Suspending ties would require a unanimous decision, which is likely impossible to obtain from countries like Austria, Germany and Hungary that tend to back Israel.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Monday in Brussels that Berlin is against suspen-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

VIRGINIA MAyO

Supporters of Palestinians protest outside a meeting of EU foreign ministers Monday at the European Council building in Brussels.

sion of the agreement.

Other actions — such as ending visa-free travel to Europe for Israelis, sanctioning Israeli settlers in the West Bank or halting academic partnerships — could be pushed if a “qualiﬁed majority” — 15 of the 27 nations representing at least 65% of the population of the EU — agree.

Kallas said that trade from the parts of the occupied West Bank with “violent settlers” does not “benefit of the trade relationship the beneficial trade relationship that we have between Israel and European Union.”

Countries like the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain have been vocal in their support for the Palestinians in Gaza as Israel battles Hamas.

“When all the focus is on Iran and the escalation regarding Iran, we should not forget about Gaza,” said Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, who led the charge for the review

The EU review “clearly

Mideast nations condemn bombing

Syrian church death toll rises to 25

BY GHAITH ALSAYED and KAREEM CHEHAYEB Associated Press

DAMASCUS,Syria The death toll from a suicide bomb attack on a church in Syria at the weekend has risen to 25, state media said Monday

The attack Sunday on the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox church during a Divine Liturgy in Dweil’a, near Damascus, was the ﬁrst of its kind in Syria in years, and comes as Damascus under its de facto Islamist rule is trying to win the support of minorities.

The Interior Ministry and witnesses said a gunman entered the church and opened ﬁre on the congregation before detonating an explosive vest.

State news agency SANA, citing the Health Ministry, said 63 other people were wounded in the attack. The Rev Fadi Ghattas said some 350 people were praying at the church.

The United States, the European Union and governments across the Middle East condemned the attack, decrying it as a terrorist attack.

showed that Israel has violated Article 2 of this agreement, which concerns respect for human rights,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. “Consequences will have to be drawn at the next foreign affairs ministers meeting in July,” he said.

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 251 hostages. About 56,000 Palestinians have since been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and little relatively aid has entered since Israel ended the latest ceaseﬁre in March.

Outrage over Israel’s actions in Gaza has grown in Europe as images of suffering Palestinians have driven protests in London, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid and Amsterdam.

Spain has canceled arms deals with Israel and called for an arms embargo.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno on Monday called for suspending the EU-Israel agreement.

“The time for words and declarations is behind. We had enough time,” he told the meeting. “And at the same time, Palestinians in Gaza have no more time to lose. Every day, babies, women, men are being killed. This is the time for action.”

Manuel Albares also called for an embargo on EU countries selling weapons to Israel and for the widening of individual sanctions on anyone undermining the proposed twostate solution.

“Europe must show courage,” he told journalists.

As President Ahmad alSharaa struggles to exert authority across the country, there have been concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on the church, but the Interior Minister has blamed the extremist Islamic State group.

Syrians decried the attack, many seeing it as a blow to stability in the country after 14 years of war Syrian Christians have appealed that the attack is not just a threat against them but to everyone in the country regardless of their religious afﬁliation.

“It is deﬁnitely an attack on civil peace and coexistence in this country,” said Wassim Boutros, who lives in Damascus.

Wajiha umm Mohammed said that she and her daughter were devastated to learn that one of their friends was killed in the attack.

“All our lives, we’ve been Christians and Muslims together living side by side,” umm Mohammed, a Muslim, said. “We’ve never let anything divide us, and we won’t start now.” She called for more government action to protect minorities.

“These terrible acts of cowardice have no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving,” Tom Barrack, U.S. special envoy for Syria and ambassador to Turkey, said in a post on X. “We continue to support the Syrian government as it ﬁghts against those who are seeking to create instability and fear in their country and the broader region.” Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry in a statement afﬁrmed Riyadh’s rejection of “the targeting of places of worship, the intimidation of innocent civilians, and the innocent bloodshed.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ED WHITE

The Rev. Bobby Kelly, of CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Mich., speaks to reporters Monday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By OMAR SANADIKI

to witnessLandry

signing‘MAHA’bill

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Health and Human Ser-

vices Secretary RobertF Kennedy Jr will visit Baton Rouge on Friday with Gov.Jeff Landry for abill-signing event, Landr y spokesperson Kate Kelly said Monday. Landry will sign Louisiana legislation that is aligned with Kennedy’s“Make America Healthy Again” initiative, according to the website forProtect Louisiana Values, agroup that backs Landry’spolicy agenda,at 11 a.m. at PenningtonBiomedical Research Center

The event dubbed asa “MAHA LA ofﬁcial bill signing” is also meant to celebrate the “start of ahealthier Louisiana,” according to the website.

Kelly on Monday declined to provide additional details about Kennedy’svisit.

Sen. Patrick McMath, RCovington,saidthe ceremony is for Senate Bill 14, which he sponsored during the regular legislative session that concluded earlier this month. This spring, McMath saidhe worked with Kennedy and the Trump administrationto

craft themeasure. He also won vocal, public supportfrom the governor, who for years has been a Kennedy ally SB14 reshapes how schools, food manufacturers andrestaurants addressnutrition and ingredient transparency. It hasfourmajor components:

n Schools in Louisiana will not be allowed toserve certain artiﬁcial colors and additivesinbreakfasts and lunches beginning in the 2027-28schoolyear

n Food manufacturers sellingproducts in Louisiana that containcertainartiﬁcial ingredientswill have to include aQRcode on packaging beginning in 2028. The code will leadtoa webpage with information aboutthe ingredients and awarning that they could be harmful.

n Restaurantsand food businesses usingseed oils will have to ﬂag that forcustomers beginning in 2028

n Beginning in January, certain health careproviders in theareas of family medicine,internalmedicine, pediatrics and obstetrics andgynecologywill have to completeatleast onehour of training on nutritionand metabolic health every two years.

Staff writer Emily Woodruff contributed to this report

BY JULIE WATSON Associated Press

SAN DIEGO AU.S. Marine Corps veteran said he was shocked to see avideo on social media of his father,a landscaper in Southern California,being beaten by masked U.S. BorderPatrol ofﬁcers as he was pinned to the ground during an immigration arrest

The Saturday arrest of Narciso Barranco, who came to the U.S. from Mexico in the1990s but does not have legal status, is the latest to capture widespread attention as the crackdown on immigration by President Donald Trump’sadministration draws scrutiny and protests

Witnessesuploadedvideos of the arrestinSanta Ana, acityinOrange Countybetween San Diego and Los Angeles. No footage shows theentire incident from start to ﬁnish as agents struggledwithBarrancooutside an IHOPrestaurant.

Barranco was taken to afederal immigrationdetention centerindowntown Los Angeles where he is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Marine veteran Alejandro Barranco said hisfathercalledhim Sunday and told him that he was in alot of pain.

“He just started crying,” Alejandro Barrancosaidofhis 48-year-old father

The Department of Homeland Security said Narciso Barranco refused to comply with commands and swung his weed trimmer at an agent.The agents “took appropriate action and followed theirtraining to use theminimum amount of force necessary to resolve the situation in amannerthatprioritizes the safety of thepublicand our

PROVIDED PHOTO

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Alejandro Barranco, left, and hisfather,Narciso Barranco

ofﬁcers,”the email statement added.

Alejandro Barranco said his father did not attack anyone, had no criminal record and is kind and hardworking. He said the agents’ useofforce was unnecessary and differed greatly from his military training for crowds and riotcontrol. He aidedthe U.S. military’sevacuation of personnel and Afghan allies from Afghanistan in 2021.

“It’s uncalled for, not appropriate or professional in the waythey handled that situation,” Barranco said.“It looks like he’s putting up resistance on the ground but that’sanatural human reaction andIthink anybody would do thattodefend themselves when they are being beaten on theground by four men.”

Santa Ana City Council member JohnathanHernandezsaidhewillbe asking for an investigation into the ofﬁcers’ actions. “I foundthe videotobehorrifying,” he said.

DHSposted avideo in which NarcisoBarrancoisseen running with the trimmer in theair as agents try to corral him. At onepoint,anagent sprays him with pepper spray,and Barranco moves thetrimmer between him and the agent but it does not touch him. Be-

hind him,another ofﬁcer has his gun drawn as he crossesa busy intersection. In other video footage, Barranco is seenrunning through the intersection still holding his long trimmer upright as atruckmoves to block his path.He’s then seen darting to another lane and triestoopena car door before agents tackle him. As he screams and yells, cars honk and one motorist shouts: “Leave him alone, bro.”

An agenttellsBarrancotogivehim his hand as he lies prone. Video footage fromanother angle shows an ofﬁcer hitting Barranco repeatedlyon the head and neck as he screams and moans andmoves around. Anothermotorist is heard yelling in Spanish “why are you hitting him?”

The department said in an email that Barranco “swung aweed whacker directlyatanagent’sface. He then ﬂed through abusy intersection and raised the weedwhacker again at the agent.” It added that Barranco wasoffered medical care but declined.

AllthreeofBarranco’ssonswere born in theUnited States and eventually joined the U.S. military.Alejandro left the Marine Corps in 2023. His two brothers are active-duty Marines.

“Wejoined the Marine Corps because we love our country and want to give back,” he said. “Our parents taught us to be appreciative,bethankful of our country,about being patriots.”

His fatherwas worriedabout immigrationofficialsarresting himand the family hadlooked intohis optionsbut Alejandro Barranco said his dad never found the time to tend to the matter as he focused on his landscaping business. In fact, the first thing he said to his sonwhentheyspoke afterthe arrest wastocheck on his landscaping client to make sure no mess had been left when he dropped everything and fled fromagents, Alejandro Barrancosaid.

Report:Abortions rose in 2024 becauseoftelehealthprescriptions

BY GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press

The number of abortions in the U.S.rose againin 2024, with women continuing to ﬁnd ways to get them despite bans and restrictions in many states, accordingto areport out Monday

Thelatestreport from the WeCount project of the Society of Family Planning, which supports abortion access, was released aday beforethe thirdanniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and ended nearly 50 years of legal abortion nationally for most of pregnancy

Currently,12statesare enforcing bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy,with limited exceptions, and four have bans that kick in at or about six weeks into pregnancy —often before women realize they are pregnant

While the total number of abortions has risen gradually over thosethreeyears, the number has dropped to near zero in some states, while abortions using pills obtained through telehealth appointments have become more common in nearly all states.

Pills are used in the majorityofabortionsand arealso prescribed in person.

Belowhistorichighs

Thelatest survey,released

Monday, tallied about1.1 millionabortions nationally last year,orabout 95,000 amonth.Thatisupfrom about 88,000 monthlyin 2023 and 80,000 amonth betweenApril and December of 2022. WeCount began after Roewas overturned, andthe 2022 numbersdon’t include January through March, when abortions are traditionally at theirhighest. Thenumber is stillwellbelowthe historic peak in the U.S. of nearly 1.6milliona yearinthe late 1990s.

The Society of Family Planning relies primarily on surveys of abortion providers and uses estimates.

Pillsaccount for1in4

WeCount found that in the months before theDobbs rulingwas handed down, about 1in20abortions was accessed bytelehealth

But duringthe last three months of 2024, it wasupto 1in4

The biggestjump over that timecame in themiddle of 2023, when laws in some Democratic-controlled states took effect with provisions intended to protect medical professionals who usetelehealth to prescribe pills to patientsinstates where abortion is banned or where there are laws restricting telehealth abortion.

WeCount found thatabout half ofthe telehealth abor-

tions lastyear were facilitated by theshield laws. The number of telehealthabortionsalsogrew for those in states without bans.

WeCount is theonly nationwide public source of information about the pills prescribedtowomen in states with bans. Onekey caveat is that it is not clear how many of theprescriptionsresult in abortion.Some women may change their minds, accessin-person abortion or be seeking pills to save for future use.

The WeCount data could help explain data from a separate surveyfromthe Guttmacher Institute, which found the numberofpeople crossing state lines for abortion declined last year Anti-abortionefforts

Anti-abortion efforts are zeroing in on pills, along with barring federal funds for Planned Parenthood and undoing ballot measures thatprovidedfor abortion access.

Threestates have sued to trytoget courts to limit telehealth prescriptions of mifepristone, oneofthe twodrugs usually used in combination for medication abortions.President Donald Trump’sadministration last month told ajudge it does not believe the states have legal standing to makethat case.

The U.S. Supreme Court

lastyear found that antiabortion doctors and their organizations didn’thave standing, either Meanwhile, officials in Louisiana are using criminal laws,and there is an effort in Texastouse civilpenalties against aNew York doc-

tor accused of prescribing abortion pills to women in theirstates. Louisianalawmakers have also sent the governor abill to further restrict access to the pills.

SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said on acall with

reporters Mondaythatit’s apriority for her group to keep pushing U.S. Health Secretary RobertF.Kennedy Jr.and other ofﬁcials to investigate thesafety of abortion pills —and to require that they be dispensed only in person.

Kennedy

Udeid Air Base as “a ﬂagrant violation” of its sovereignty, airspace and international law.Qatar said it intercepted all but one missile, thoughit wasnot clearifthat missile caused any damage.

Iran said the volley matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated areas.

Those comments, made immediately after the attack, suggested Iran wanted to deescalate with the United States, something Trump himself said after the strikes early Sunday on Iran.

Qatar Maj. Gen. Shayeq Al Hajri said 19 missiles were ﬁred at the base that is home to the Combined Air Operations Center,which provides command and control of air power across the region, as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest such wing in the world. Trump said 14 missiles were ﬁred, 13 were knocked down and one was “set free” because it posed no threat.

Iran announced the attack on state television, with a captioncallingit“amighty and successful response” to “America’saggression.”

Just before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “Weneither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leaveinvasion to the great Iran without answer.”

Earlier reports that amissile was launched at abase housing American forces in Iraq were afalse alarm, a senior U.S. military ofﬁcial said. The ofﬁcial, who spoke on conditionofanonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly,said debris from amalfunction-

SENATE

Continued from page1A

daistointroduce Senate Resolution 209, which urged the Louisiana Departmentof Health to study the impact of legislation such as House Bill358. That signaledMiller’sbill was dead.

HB358 was not the only piece of legislation that passed the House, only to meet itsend in the Senate. Anumber of bills, andone major budget measure,all stalled or were killed by the upper chamber

“The House does their job as diligently as they can, but sometimes throughthe process, by the time it gets to us, people have had more chance to look at it,and they’ve foundsomething in it that they didn’tlike or didn’t realizethatwerein it, and it stays on the Senate calendar,” said Senate PresidentCameron Henry, R-Metairie.

Talbot said it is natural for the legislativeprocess to slow down once it reaches the Senate,partly because senators represent awider

tackstargeted theIsraeli cities of Haifaand TelAviv, according to Iranian state television. Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem, possibly from air defense systemsinaction, and Israel’sMagen David Adom emergency rescue servicesaidthere hadbeen no reports of injuries.

In Israel, at least 24 people have been killedand more than 1,000woundedinthe war. Israeli strikes on Iran have killedatleast 974 people and wounded 3,458 others, according to the Washington-basedgroup Human Rights Activists.

ing Iranianmissile targeting Israel had triggered an alert of an impending attack on the Ain al-Assad base

Symbolic targets

On the 11th dayofthe conﬂict, Israeland Iran traded airstrikes that have become areality for civilians in both countries since Israel started thewar to targetTehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.

Iran struck Israel with abarrage of missiles and droneswhile Israel said it attacked “regimetargets and government repression bodiesinthe heart of Tehran.”

But Israeli ofﬁcials insisted they did not seek the overthrow of Iran’s government, their archenemy since the country’s 1979 IslamicRevolution.

Thelatest strikesunfolded only hoursafter Trump himself mentionedthe possibility of regime change a day after inserting America into thewar with itsstealthbomber strike on three Iranian nuclearsites “If the current Iranian Regime is unabletoMAKE IRAN GREATAGAIN, why wouldn’tthere be aRegime change???” he asked on his Truth Socialwebsite.

WhiteHouse presssecretary KarolineLeavitt later

array of constituents.

“Senatorsrepresent almostthree times the size of aHouse district.They represent—inmostcases, if notall —a larger, more diverseconstituency,” he said.

Jay Dardenne,aformer senator,lieutenant governor,secretaryof stateand commissioner of administration, said the Senate has long “been the placewhere ideasthathavesailedout of the House die.”

“It’s not that unusual,” he said.

Still,the pattern caused frustration among some House members.

“Nomatterwhatthe bill, it’sdisappointing when a bill doesn’tget throughthe entireprocessdue to the amount of work andtime spentoneachpieceoflegislation,” Rep.Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge,said in astatement. “I wouldsay most legislators feel that way.”

What billsstalled Chenevert sponsored House Bill 685, which would have banned diversity,equity and inclusion initiatives in stategovernment. After it

described Trump as “simply raising aquestion.”

TheU.S.strikes over the weekendpromptedfears of a wider regionalconﬂict.Iran said theU.S. had crossed “a verybig red line” withits riskygambit to strike with missiles and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.

Israel aims to winddown thewar in the coming days, but that willdepend on the Iranians,anIsraeli official said on condition of anonymitytodiscuss high-level internaldeliberations.The ofﬁcial spoke before Trump’s announcement about aceaseﬁre.

Israel’s preferredoutcome is for Iran to agree to aceasefireand reenter negotiations withthe U.S. over its nuclear program, theofficial said. But Israel is prepared for the possibility of an extended low-intensity war of attritionorperiodof“quiet for quiet,” in which it would closely monitor Iran’sactivities and strike if it identifies new threats

Newchapter of war

Before the ceasefire announcement,the Israeli military warned Iranians it would continue to attack militarysites around Tehran as itsfocus shiftedtoinclude symbolic targets. The mili-

sparked abruising debateon theHouse ﬂoor,the proposal withered away in the Senate without getting acommittee hearing.

Also this year,after the House voted to cut sales and income taxes,the Senate Revenue &Fiscal Affairs Committee killedthe proposals.Senators saidthey were wary of potentially creating abudget hole in future years.

Meanwhile,House Bill 283, aproposal to place acap on state spending,passed theHousebut gotstuck in theSenate Finance Committee.

“It’s unfortunatethat they didn’tcare enough about it to hear it,but Isuppose they have their reasons,”said state Rep. Phillip Tarver, R-LakeCharles,who sponsored that measure.

In another example, the House adoptedGov.Jeff Landry’srequest to include $93.5 million to fund LA GATOR, aprogramthat helps families pay for private schools. Butthe Senatethen took $50 million out—Henry said $43.5 million was the amount legislators had previously agreed to, and his members were worried the

tary issued thewarning on the social platform X, though Iranians are struggling to accessthe outside world due to an internet shutdown.

In Tehran,Israel hitthe headquarters of the military force that suppressed recent protests and blew open agateatEvin prison. That facilityisknown for holding political activists. Iranian statetelevision shared black-and-white surveillance footageofthe strike at the facility known for holdingdualnationals and Westerners often usedby Iran as bargaining chips in negotiations withthe West Evin also hasspecialized unitsfor political prisoners run by theparamilitary, all-volunteer Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The facility is the target of both U.S. and European Union sanctions. Therewere no immediate reportsofcasualties in Iran or signiﬁcant damage.

Iranian state television aired footage it said was shot inside Evin,with prisoners under control. However,the Washington-basedAbdorrahman BoroumandCenter for HumanRights in Iran said manyfamilies of detainees “have expresseddeep con-

program’scost could grow out of control.

Landry’soffice didnot comment on the Senate’s role in halting thelegislation

Building aconsensus

Oneman has themost say in what happens to abill once it reaches the Senate: SenatePresident Henry

“Nothing that we do is in avacuum. Nothing is asole decision by me that we’re going to do something or not do something. We have an enormous amount of meetings among thesenators,” Henry said.

But in deciding what happens with abill, senators say Henryseekstobuild aconsensus among members.

“He has taken the position and treated the role in away wherehewantstobuild a consensus amongsenators and pass legislation where we can getbroad support,” said stateSen. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge.

That courtesy also extends acrossthe aisle, according to stateSen.GeraldBoudreaux, D-Lafayette.

Boudreaux said Henry meetsregularly with the Senate Democratic Caucus

cern aboutthe safetyand condition of theirlovedones” in the prison.

According to an Israeli ofﬁcialfamiliar with thegovernment’sstrategy,Israel is targeting these sites to put pressure on the Iranian administrationbut is not actively seeking to topple it.

The ofﬁcial spoke on condition of anonymitytodiscuss internal government deliberations.

The Israeli military also confirmed it struck roads around Iran’s Fordoenrichment facility to obstruct access to the site. The undergroundsite wasone of those hit in Sunday’sattack by the United States. The Israeli military did not elaborate.

In Vienna,the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdogsaidheexpected there to be heavy damage at the Fordo facility following Sunday’sU.S. airstrike there with sophisticated bunkerbuster bombs.

Several Iranian officials, including Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesmanBehrouz Kamalvandi, have claimed Iran removed nuclear material from targeted sites ahead of time.

Iran pressesonattacking Iran said itsMondayat-

andkeeps hisdooropen for individual members to meet with him

“Thatgiveshim agauge, it giveshim apulse of what the membership wants,” Boudreaux said.

Overall, Boudreauxsaid, Henry “represents what the Senate is supposedtobe— the upper chamber,more deliberate.”

“I say that very respectfully” to the House, he added, noting that it is much easier to gradually build consensus in the 39-member Senate than in the 105-member House.

Pharmacy bill

When it cametopharmacy beneﬁt managers, senators hadtodecide whattodo withjust one day left in the session.

They stood in the middle of an aggressive lobbying push. Landry and Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, both pushed for the Senate to pass HB358, which would have banned PBMs andpharmacies from having thesame ownership, a concept known as vertical integration.

Meanwhile, CVS, which owns the PBM CVS Care-

The group, which has provided detailed casualty ﬁguresfromIranianunrest such as the protests surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, said of those killed, it identiﬁed 387 civilians and268 security force personnel.

TheU.S. has evacuated some250 American citizens andtheir immediatefamily members from Israel by government, military and charter flights that began over the weekend, aState Department ofﬁcial said. There are roughly 700,000 American citizens, most of them dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, believed to be in Israel.

RussianPresident VladimirPutin, wholeads one of Iran’sclosest allies, said Mondayaftermeeting in Moscow with the Iranian foreign minister that they had explored “how we can get out of today’ssituation.” Putin called the Israeli and American attacks on Iran an “absolutelyunprovoked aggression.”

Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Abby Sewell in Beirut, Elise Mortonin London, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Ella Joyner in Brussels, Edith M. Lederer at the UnitedNations and Stephanie Liechtenstein in Vienna contributed to this report.

mark and its ownchain of drugstores,toldlegislators it would have to close 119 pharmacies in Louisiana if HB358 passed. Ultimately,the Senate did notcallthe bill up fora vote Members were concerned that themeasure hadnot had public input, Henry said. The PBM legislation came through an amendment to a bill that originally set rules forremotework for pharmacy technicians. That amendmentwas proposedwhile thebillwas in aconference committee, a closed-door process where agroup of House and Senate members meet to hash outagreements on bills when one chamber has rejected the other’samendments. “It needed afull vetting, and it didn’thave that, so we can waituntil next year and do that,” Henry said. Landry has promised to call theLegislature into a special session to banvertical integration of PBMs and pharmacies.

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

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByBAZ RATNER

People enter asynagogue’sbomb shelter Mondayasair raid sirens warnofincoming Iranian strikes in Haifa, Israel

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By VAHID SALEMI

Amotorcycle drives Mondayinaquiet square in downtown Tehran, Iran.

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JUNE

U.S. stocks rally, oil price tumbles

U.S. stocks rallied, and the price of oil tumbled Monday on hopes that Iran will not disrupt the global ﬂow of crude, something that would hurt economies worldwide but also its own, following the United States’ bunker-busting entry into its war with Israel.

The S&P 500 climbed 1%, coming off a week where stock prices had jumped up and down on worries about the conﬂict potentially escalating. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 374 points, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.9%

The price of oil initially jumped 6% after trading began Sunday night, a signal of rising worries as investors got their first chance to react to the U.S bombings. But it quickly erased all those gains and swung to a sharp loss as the focus shifted from what the U.S military did to how Iran would react. By late Monday, the price of a barrel of benchmark U.S. oil had dropped 7.2% to settle at $68.51 after briefly topping $78 That brought it nearly all the way back to where it was before the fighting began over a week ago, when it was sitting just above $68.

The losses accelerated sharply after Iran announced a missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which the U.S. military uses. Iran’s retaliation did not seem to target the ﬂow of oil. The fear throughout the Israel-Iran war has been that it could squeeze the world’s supply of oil, which would pump up prices for it, gasoline and other products reﬁned from crude N.Y. seeks to build new nuclear power plant

New York’s governor on Monday proposed the construction of the state’s ﬁrst new nuclear power plant in decades Gov Kathy Hochul directed the state’s power authority to develop an advanced, “zeroemission” facility in upstate New York that she hopes will help create a clean, reliable and affordable electric grid for the state.

She said the state power authority will seek to develop “at least” one new nuclear energy facility with a combined capacity of no less than one gigawatt of electricity That would increase the state’s total nuclear capacity to about 4.3 gigawatts.

The Democrat, speaking at the Niagara County Power Project in Lewiston, said the state needs to secure its “energy independence” if it wants to continue to attract large manufacturers that create good-paying jobs as it deactivates aging fossil fuel power plants.

Acknowledging critics of nuclear power, she pledged that the new facility or facilities would be safer than their predecessors.

“This is not your grandparents’ nuclear reactor,” Hochul said “The new plan will be a model of 21st-century nuclear design with safety at the forefront, automatic safety systems to enhance the containment, and rigorous environmental standards.”

U.S. home sales in May barely move

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes edged higher in May, as stubbornly high mortgage rates and rising prices made homebuying less affordable even as the inventory of properties on the market continued to increase.

Existing home sales rose 0.8% last month from April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.03 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Monday Sales fell 0.7% compared with May last year The latest home sales fell topped the 3.95 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet The national median sales price rose 1.3% in May from a year earlier to $422,800, an alltime high for May

$400M project planned for Ascension

Linde unit will support proposed ammonia facility

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

Industrial gases and engineering company Linde announced plans Monday to build a $400 million air separation unit on Ascension Parish’s west bank.

The unit will be the largest in the Mississippi River corridor and will supply oxygen and nitrogen to the proposed CF Industries “Blue Point” ammonia production facility, according to an announcement from Louisiana Economic Development. LED said the Linde unit will create 15 direct new jobs.

Sean Durbin, Linde’s executive vice president for North America, said the project will enable the

company to strengthen its industrial gas infrastructure, increase manufacturing capacity and contribute to efforts to lower the carbon output of ammonia production.

The news follows similar announcements for the area, including a separate ammonia plant and a Hyundai steel mill touted by President Donald Trump and Gov Jeff Landry Welcomed by local leaders, including Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy Sullivan and council member Oliver Joseph, residents living near the selected sites have pushed back against the plans. Many fear ammonia leaks similar to the one at the Donaldsonville CF Industries plant in 2022, which forced a local primary school’s temporary evacuation.

The Linde unit is expected to begin construction in 2026 and start up in 2029.

A $4 billion CF Industries ammonia facility that the Linde unit will supply is planned for a large tract

of land near the unincorporated community of Modeste. The plant, which is expected to use carboncapture and sequestration technology, will create 103 direct new permanent jobs with an average salary of $110,000. In LED’s announcement, Parish President Clint Cointment said the plan signaled a “powerful afﬁrmation” of the west bank’s “industrial future.”

“With three major announcements in just four months, we’re witnessing a commitment to revitalize a rural area that’s long been overlooked. The west bank is rising — this is just the beginning,” Cointment said.

The company is expected to seek an industrial tax exemption from the state, which waives 80% of property taxes for up to 10 years.

Along with the Linde and CF Industries projects, Hyundai and Texas-based Clean Hydrogen

Works have announced multibillion-dollar investments in the area.

Recent public hearings have shown mixed reactions by locals. Elected officials, including Sullivan and Joseph, have supported the plans because of the jobs they’ll bring.

Residents living near the sites have raised concerns about pollution, safety and whether jobs will go to area residents.

To assist the development, the Ascension Parish Council passed a resolution last month allowing the parish government to look into creating a property buyout plan for residents near the facilities. Some of those residents, who have owned their land for generations, say they have no plans to leave.

Linde has facilities in Geismar, St. Charles Parish, Vidalia, Lake Charles and Sulphur, along with a pipeline network across the southern portion of the state In 2024, it reported sales of $33 billion.

BY BERNARD CONDON AP business writer

NEWYORK Elon Musk promised in 2019 that driverless Tesla “robotaxis” would be on the road “next year,” but it didn’t happen. A year later, he promised to deliver them the next year, but that didn’t happen either Despite the empty pledges, the promises kept coming. Last year in January, Musk said, “Next year for sure, we’ll have over a million robotaxis.”

Would you settle for 10 or 12?

Musk appears to be on the verge of making his robotaxi vision a reality with a test run of a small squad of self-driving cabs in Austin, Texas, that began Sunday Reaching a million may take a year or more, however, although the billionaire should be able to expand the service this year if the Austin demo is a success.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, nor the challenges.

While Musk was making those “next year” promises, rival Waymo was busy deploying driverless taxis in Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin and other cities by using a different technology that allowed it to get to market faster It just completed its 10 millionth paid ride.

Boycotts related to Musk’s politics have tanked Tesla’s sales. Rival electric vehicle makers with newly competitive models have stolen market share. And investors are on edge after a $150 billion stock wipeout when Musk picked a social media ﬁght with a U.S. president overseeing federal car regulators who could make the robotaxi rollout much more difficult. The stock has recovered somewhat after Musk said he regretted some of his remarks.

Tesla shareholders have stood by Musk over the years because he’s deﬁed the odds by building a successful standalone electric vehicle company — self-driving car promises aside — and making them a lot of money in the process. A decade ago, Tesla shares traded for around $18. The shares closed Monday at $348.

Musk seemed jubilant Sunday morning, posting on X, “The @Tesla_AI robotaxi launch begins in Austin this afternoon with customers paying a $4.20 ﬂat fee!”

The test is beginning modestly enough.

BY BLAKE PATERSON

Tesla is remotely monitoring the vehicles and putting a person in the passenger seat in case of trouble. The number of Teslas deployed will also be small — just 10 or 12 vehicles and will pick up passengers only in a limited, geofenced area.

Musk has vowed that the service will quickly spread to other cities, eventually reaching hundreds of thousands if not a million vehicles next year

Some Musk watchers on Wall Street are skeptical.

“How quickly can he expand the ﬂeet?” asks Garrett Nelson, an analyst at CFRA. “We’re talking maybe a dozen vehicles initially It’s very small.”

Morningstar’s Seth Goldstein says Musk is being classic Musk: Promising too much, too quickly

“When anyone in Austin can download the app and use a robotaxi that will be a success, but I don’t think that will happen until 2028,” he says. “Testing is going to take a while.”

Musk’s tendency to push up the stock high with a bit of hyperbole is well known among investors.

In 2018, he told Tesla stockholders he had “funding secured” to buy all their shares at a massive premium and take the company private. But he not only lacked a written commitment from ﬁnanciers, according to federal stock regulators who ﬁned him, he hadn’t discussed the loan amount or other

details with them.

More recently, Musk told CNBC that Tesla was experiencing a “major rebound” in demand. A week later an auto trade group in Europe announced sales had plunged by half Musk has come under ﬁre for allegedly exaggerating the ability of the system used for its cars to drive themselves, starting with the name Full Self-Driving is a misnomer The system still requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road because they may need to intervene and take control at any moment. Federal highway safety regulators opened an investigation into FSD last year after several accidents, and the Department of Justice has conducted its own probe, though the status of that is not known. Tesla has also faced lawsuits over the feature, some resulting in settlements, other dismissed. In one case, a judge ruled against the plaintiffs but only because they hadn’t proved Musk “knowingly” made false statements.

Musk says the robotaxis will be running on an improved version of Full Self-Driving and the cabs will be safe.

He also says the service will be able to expand rapidly around the country His secret weapon: Millions of Tesla owners now on the roads. He says an over-the-air software update will soon allow them to turn their cars into driverless cabs and start a side business while stuck at the ofﬁce for eight hours or on vacation for a week.

Gallo

to the incredible people who show up every day give their best, and take pride in their work,” said David Gallo, chairman of Gallo Mechanical. “We’re proud of the team we’ve become and excited for what we’ll achieve together next.”

Citation Capital, founded in 2023, invests in family-owned and founder-owned businesses. Its portfolio includes snack maker Cibo Vita and Aptive Environmental, a pest-control business.

“Gallo represents the kind of standout, resilient, founder-led business Citation invests

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERIC GAy

in Austin, Texas.

of LA GATOR, which theoretically could help some families abandon the public system in favor of private schools.

“You’re doing very well” at improvingpublic education, Henry told state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumleyduring the hearing, noting the state’sdramatic improvement on anational test.

“Do you see aconflict,” Henry asked, “in that you’re also navigating aprogram that takes kids out of the system that you’re working so hard to improve and puts them into private schools?”

POLL

Continued from page1A

Poll numbers, strategists say,suggest the council’s efforts to cull Cantrell’straditional levers of power have been well-received: The survey performed in late May by Faucheux Strategies found that 47%ofresidents approve of the council’s work.

“Rather than themayor being the mostvisiblepolitical actor,the council is now front and center,” said Ed Chervenak, apolitical scientist and pollster at the University of New Orleans.

Cantrell pushed back this week on criticism of her leadership in arare statement, calling it “disrespectful” and “insulting” at aU.S Conference of Mayorsevent and suggesting that it is being levied because she is a Black woman leaderinthe Deep South.

As an election ramps up to decide her successor,the eventual winner will need to differentiatethemselves as sharply as possible from the perceived failures of Cantrell’sadministration, political operatives said. And while the council’srising proﬁle could boost ambitions of two members who are running for the city’s top ofﬁce, it could alsomake them vulnerable to political attacks.

“It givesyou goodexperience to be mayor,” saidRon Faucheux, an analystwhose firm performedthe May poll. “But theother sideof that coin is that you’re part and parcel of the citygovernment that has so frustrated residents.”

The two leading candidates according to polling and fundraising tallies are City Councilmembers: councilVice President Helena Moreno and District Ecouncil member Oliver Thomas. ArthurHunter, a former longtime Criminal District Court judge, is also seeking the Mayor’s Ofﬁce.

Thecouncil’s strategy

The council’sclasheswith the mayor have occupied much of the last four years

One of Louisiana’s most powerful state lawmakers, Henry ledacharge this year to scalebackthe newly launchedLAGATOR program, arguing that the state cannot afford to payfor tens of thousands of students to attendprivate schools.Despite intense pressure from privateeducation advocates and Gov.Jeff Landry, who wanted nearly $94 million for the program, the Legislature ultimately allocated just under$44 million

During the legislative sessionthatended this month Brumleywas frequently calledon to testify about LA GATOR, which was established by abill thatLandry championed andthe Legislaturepassed by awide margin last year.OnFriday, Henry suggested that overseeing the controversial program could bea distraction for the state’s top educationofﬁcial.

“I getthe strange feeling youprobably spend more

time discussing this thanyou do the numerous other roles that you have,” Henry told Brumley In an interviewMonday, Brumleydismissed the idea thatthere is aconﬂict in having asingle agency manage public schools and aprivateeducationprogram. He noted that the state Education Departmentalready offers some guidance to homeschool families and conducts some oversight of private day cares and preschools thatreceive public funding.

His goal is to help parents ﬁnd the best school fortheir children, regardless of what type of school theyprefer, Brumley said.

“I’ve always wanted familiesinthe driver’sseat to pickthe school that makes the mostsensefor their children,” he said.

Henry also asked during the hearing if any other agency was equipped to oversee LA GATOR, adding

thatthe stateDepartment of Treasurymight be an option. Last year,people involved in crafting the LA GATOR bill had discussed putting thestate treasury in charge of theprogram, but the ﬁnal billgavethatresponsibility to the Education Department and the state boardofeducation.

In an interviewMonday, stateTreasurer John Fleming said that no one had contacted his ofﬁce about overseeing LAGATOR,but added thathis agency “stands ready to help out”ifasked.

Fleming said he thinks it’s valid to questionwhether overseeingpublicschools and LA GATORcreates “potentialconﬂicts of interest.” For example, because thestate superintendent of educationisultimatelyresponsiblefor public schools’ performance, thatperson might hesitatetosendmoney to private schools if doing so could undermine thepublic

legislatorwho hasserved on thecouncil since2018, said heraspirations for the city’stop ofﬁce crystallized “inthe last coupleofyears” as she grew increasingly frustrated with the administration’sinabilitytocarry out what she said were basic city functions, such as remediating blighted propertyor ﬁxing broken streetlights.

She said the council became increasingly responsible for areas outside its typical legislative duties.

“Due to thefact that we’ve had afailureofleadership by this administration, the council at timeshas had to overstep that (legislative) role in order to takeon more of those operational responsibilities,” Moreno said.

system, Fleming suggested.

He said that was less of an issue with Brumley,because he is “somebody who does believe in private sector education.”

“But future directors of education, maybe not so much,” Flemingsaid, “particularlyif they arejustdead-setagainst the ideaofpublic money going to private schools.”

What’s next forLAGATOR

While lawmakers this year debated how muchmoney to give LA GATOR, theyrepeatedly put off approving a contract extensionfor Odyssey,aNew York-based company hired to manage the program.InApril, Landry lashed outatlawmakers over the delay,saying it was hurting families.

On Friday,the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budgetapprovedthe oneyear contract extension, which is worth up to $1.9 million.The company will

cape, through social mediaand public meetings, exempliﬁes how the panel hassteppedinatmoments when Cantrell hasseemed absent, she said.

The council notched wins in thelatest state legislative session, too —anarena where state lawmakers and lobbyists said Cantrell didnot mount much of an agenda this year.(Cantrell’s lobbyist said state lawmakers were morehesitant to move New Orleans-related legislation because of the upcoming overhaul in the city’sleadership through the municipal elections.)

be paid about $144 per participating student, plus some additional money forservices such as creating training videos to show families howtonavigate anew online portal that will allowthemto use their LA GATOR grants to pay tuition or purchase things like laptops or private tutoring.

Brumley said he expects the company only to receive about $1.2 millionbecause fewer students will participate than initially projected He added that he hopes LA GATOR remains under the purview of his agency, which has overseen its development over thepast year “Right now,” he said, “this is probably thebestplace for the program to be for a successful launch.”

Email Patrick Wall at patrick.wall@theadvocate. com.

concerned that voters might view her as aligned with the performance of city government due to her tenure on thecouncil,Morenoemphasized that she wasinspired to runout of frustration with what shecalledCantrell’sinaction.

“There has been this leadership void from the top,” she said. “People have been looking forsomeone, or something, to stepinto that role.That’sbeen the council.”

of her administration. The panel changed citylaws to increase its authority, convinced voters to give it say over the appointments process and sued her administrationonmultiple occasions. Its members have also leveled adrumbeat of criticism at her administration in public hearings.

While the approach has lifted the council’sprofile, analysts said Morenoand Thomas, the two council candidates running for mayor, maystill needtoconvince voters that their experience atop city government won’t translatetoanother four years of dysfunction.

“If an outsider candidate can take advantage of the dissatisfaction with government and pin thaton thecouncil, that could be a successful strategy,”said Karen Carvin Shachat, a political operative who has worked on mayoralcampaigns in NewOrleans for several decades butis not presently working forone.

Hunter isbest positioned to carry that message, Faucheux and Carvin Shachat said. But Faucheux noted that the retired judge has less money than hisopponents and notched just 9% support in the citywidepoll.

“I’m not acareer politician,” Hunter said in aprepared statement provided afterthe digitalpublication of this story

“I’m alifelong public servant who knows how the sys-

temworks buthasn’tbeen compromised by it.Voters are tired of excuses and want real solutions to public safety, NORD, trashpickup, and crumbling roads. Ihave aproven track record of bringing people together to deliverreal results andaccountability.”

But Faucheux noted that the retired judge hasless money than hisopponents andnotched just 9% support in the citywide poll.

Nearlyhalfofsurveyed voters said theywould vote for Moreno.Thomas came in second with22%.Another 22% said they have not madeadecision.

Meanwhile,Thomas and Moreno see their respective experience as among their biggest selling points. Hunter and acampaign representative didnot respond to multiple interview requests.

Thomas described how thecity cut itsviolent crime rate while he wasonthe council in the late 1990s, and recalled that the struggling New Orleans Recreation Development Commission “worked better then.”

Thomas served on thecouncilfor 13 yearsbeforehe served athree-year prison term for abriberycharge. He wasagainelected to the council in 2021.

“You want amayor who understandsthe system,” Thomas said. “No oneunderstands the system better than me.”

Moreno, aformer state

A‘leadership void?’

The recent poll was conducted days after New Orleans’ brazen May 16 jailbreak. Cantrell’slow marks probably stem in part from herquiet response to that affair,said Carvin Shachat.

The council’s“engagement” following the es-

Analysts said Thomas, who has votedmoreconsistently with Cantrell’sadministration thanmostother council members, will likely have to quell doubts that he is viewedasanally of the mayor’s. Thomas ﬁrmly rebukedthatcritique in an interview

“Peoplesee me and(DistrictD council member) Eugene Green as alliesof the mayor,” he said. “We’re really allies of the people.” Askedwhethershe was

Afew fringe candidates arerunning, including former 911 call center manager Tyrell Morris, counselor Ricky Twiggs and business owner Renada Collins. But even the major candidates acknowledge that the race’s winning message must be one of change. Moreno has that word plastered across her campaign website.Hunter pledges to ﬁx acity in trouble. And Thomas promises local government will once again “work foreveryone.” Email James Finn at jﬁnn@theadvocate.com.

Brumley

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRISGRANGER

NewOrleans City Council member Oliver Thomas, left, and Council Vice President HelenaMoreno, right, taketurns asking questions to PoliceSuperintendentAnne Kirkpatrick about the Newyear’sDay French Quarter terrorist attack duringacouncil meetingonJan. 8atCity Hall.

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TIGERS! RIGE Congrats

CHAMPIONS IN BASEBALL. CHAMPIONS IN HEALTHCARE.

Coroner’sOffice againontrial

Overdose victimnot identified forweeks

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

For the second time this year, Orleans Parish CoronerDwight McKenna’soffice is on trial over allegations his ofﬁce abandoned its duty to identify bodiesand notify next of kin, adding to the distress of families searching formissing loved ones.

NOPD fires sergeant accusedof kidnapping chemist

Termination comes almost5 years afterincident

BY MISSY WILKINSON

Staff writer

Aveteran New Orleans police of-

ﬁcer was ﬁred last month, nearly five years after he entered the homeofacrime lab chemist with two other officers and detained him without awarrant, after the chemist expressed doubts about the accuracy of the lab’sdrugtesting.

Sgt. Michael Stalbert’sdismissal was dated May 17 andcame with settlement talks slated for this Wednesday in federal court over a lawsuit that the chemist, Karl Von Derhaar,ﬁled against Stalbert and other NewOrleans PoliceDepartment ofﬁcers.

“It took 41/2 years to punish this person for literally kidnapping me,” said VonDerhaar,who worked forthe crimelab from 2018 to 2020, when he sayshewas coerced into resigning. “They allowed him time to retirewith his full pension. It feels like less of apunishment and more ofa reward.”

TheNOPDdid notreturn arequest for comment. Stalbert’s attorney,TheodoreAlpaugh, declined to comment Monday Before his termination,Stalbert accruedatleast sixsuspensions andfour letters of reprimand since joining the NOPD in 1998, records show.Most of those penalties related to alleged lapses in professionalism, performance of duty and moral conduct.

The NOPD’sPublic Integrity Bureau launched its investigation into VonDerhaar’streatment after he notiﬁed the Ofﬁce of the Independent Police Monitor,among others. NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson in March 2021 upheld allegations against Stalbert for unauthorized entry into an inhabited dwelling, unprofessional conduct and abuse of power ‘Wellnesscheck’

VonDerhaar said he enjoyed the work at the crime lab, though he complained of unsanitary conditions, poor ventilation and spider infestations, along with an absence of written procedures

“It was kind of like the Batcave without Batman or the advanced equipment,” he said.

VonDerhaar claims that Stalbert ordered him to stop runninga test to determine if aplant was illegal marijuana or hemp. Instead, Von Derhaar asked to take twoweeks’ leave. The next day,onSept. 3, 2020, Stalbert and lieutenants Darryl Watson and Kim Williams showed

Jan Risher is on vacation. Her column will returnnext week

Thetrial that openedMondayinvolves the office’sfailure to identify 42-year-old Justin Smith, whodied of adrugoverdose in June 2023 and wasn’tidentified until his father,Sidney Smith, visited the morguewith photos of hisson more than three weeks later.Sidney Smith had filed a missing person report withthe New Orleans Police Department and previously visited thecoroner to obtain

aprotective custody order,without knowing thathis son’sbodywas in the same building. ACivil District Court judge in March found McKenna’s ofﬁce liablefor “reckless and outrageous misconduct”for another misidentiﬁcation that led afamily astray for months. Allegations in that trial, like thecurrent one, have highlighted thecoroner’s lack of written proto-

colsfor death investigations. State law puts the onus on the Coroner’s Office to fingerprint unidentified bodies andtakeadditional steps when there are no fingerprint matches. Thecoronermustalso “make every reasonable effort to notify next of kin,” accordingtothe law In both cases, however,McKenna and his chief investigator,Brian Lapeyrolerie, blamedthe failures on theNOPD, which conducts fingerprint identificationsatthe coroner’s request.

Lapeyrolerie acknowledged the coroner’slegal duty during five hoursoftestimonyonMonday,but he said thecoroner for decades has relied on theNOPDtotake ﬁngerprints andsearch formatches with special equipment at police headquarters. NOPD headquarters, then located on South Broad Street, wasshut down at the time Justin Smith died

See TRIAL, page 2B

separation.

FUNDINGBOOST

Maurepas Swamp diversionplan awarded$60Mgrant

BYJOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer

The dying Maurepas Swamp between Baton Rougeand New Orleans is anotherstep closer to being revitalizedthankstoa $60million grant, the last major funding needed to construct thenearly $500 million project within oneofthe largestforested wetlands in thecountry

The project, ledbythe state’sCoast-

al Protection and Restoration Authority,aims to reunitethe swamp with theMississippi River after more than 80 years of separation. The diversion project, which broke ground in December,isalso one of thebiggest investments theRESTOREcouncil that allocates settlement dollars fromthe 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster has funded.

In thedecades since thelevee system disconnected the swamp from theriver, theMaurepasecosystem of cypress trees and migratory birds along Interstate 10 has seriously dwindled. The project is expected to replenisharound 45,000 acres of wetlands over thenext 50 years, protect-

ing residents in four nearby parishes from storm surge while reviving a formerly popularﬁshing and wildlife spot.

“Thisisagame changer for the people and economy of the region,” said CPRA Chair Gordon “Gordy” Dove. “Bringing the river back into the MaurepasSwamp means healthier wetlands, stronger protection for local communities and aboostfor the local economy.It’sabout making sure future generations canlive, work and thrive here.”

Beyond the swamp restoration, the project also has an additional

ä See SWAMP, page 2B

Lifeguards

Mayor citesissues with payrollsystem

BY JONI HESS and COURTNEYLUCIUS Staff writers

NewOrleans’ municipal ﬁnance department has failed to timely pay thecity’ssummer lifeguards, thelatestexample of snags in city payroll procedures that havelong frustrated vendors and employees.

Officials with Mayor LaToya

Cantrell’sadministration last week said they’re “workingdiligently” to resolve payroll issues that have left many New Orleans Recreation Development Commission lifeguards without paycheckssince thesummer season began May31. Multiplelifeguards told WWL

Louisiana that they had yet to receive theirpaychecks aftertwo weeks of work. It wasnot clear on Friday what led to thedelays, city spokesperson LeatriceDupre said Thecommissionhas nearly 100 lifeguards stationed across its 13 open publicpools and has struggled in the past to recruit and maintain enough staff to reach its goal of 150. The lack of availableemployees, to which recreation ofﬁcials have attributed to anationwide lifeguardshortage, hasled to abrupt pool closures that have disappointed eager swimmers in the hot summermonths.

But the issue of delayed payments is “beyond NORD’scontrol,” the commission’sspokesperson

Womanfound dead inside home afterman shoots at deputies

BY WILLIESWETT Staff writer

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’sOffice on Monday identified awoman found dead inside aMandeville-areahome Friday afternoon,aswellasthe man who died afterfiring agun at responding sheriff’s deputies. Coroner’sOffice spokesperson James Hartman said the woman, AmberAllen, 32, and the man, Richard Skyels, 33, both died from gunshot wounds. Allen’sdeathwas classifieda

homicide, Hartman said, while Skyels’ death wasclassified a suicide.

On Friday,St. TammanyParish Sheriff’s Office deputies went to ahome on Jasmine Street in response to areport of awoman being shot. When deputies got there, aman later identified as Skyels exited the homeand began shooting in the deputies’ direction, the Sheriff’sOffice said. Deputies tried to get Skyels to put downhis weapon, but he continuedtofire the gun, the Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies returned fire, according to the Sheriff’sOffice. Skyels was brought to ahospital, where he later died. Allen’sbodywas found insidethe residence after the exchange of Coroneridentifiestwo killed in

See ID, page 2B

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Anearly $500 millionproject aims to reunite the Maurepas Swamp withthe MississippiRiver after more than 80 years of

Federalraidshuts down Algiersstrip mall

Lawenforcement detainsseveral men

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

Federal agents along with state and local police converged Monday on an Algiers retail strip, placing several people in handcuffs and shuttering atire shop and restaurant in the shadow of the Crescent City Connection.

The nature of the raid in the 1700 block of Gen. De Gaulle Drive was not immediately clear.Authorities were seen detaining several people in handcuffs before noon. How many face arrest was uncertain.

The FBI’sNew Orleans Field Office confirmed its agents participatedin“courtapproved lawenforcement activity” but referred questions to Louisiana State Police State Police Sgt. Kate Stegall conﬁrmed the agency was involved in “an investigation in the area” but declined to provide immediate details.

A“notice of pending forfeiture” from Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams’ ofﬁce was posted on atemporary fencethat police erected in front of Gabe’s, the closed-down restaurant. A spokespersonfor Williams’ofﬁce didnot immediately respondtoa request for comment.

Albert Morris, whose father owns thepropertynearthe former Fischer public housing development, said he was seekingdetailsonMonday’saction and didn’tknowwho or

LIFEGUARDS

Continued from page 1B

Emily Oliver said.

Thecity’sChief Administrative Ofﬁce issues payments to cityemployees. That ofﬁce has failed to issue checks on time in the past, drawing criticism. In 2023,more than 50 teens working in the commission’ssummer job training camp were forced to wait until September for stipends that were supposed to be disbursed throughout thesummer Commission CEO Larry Barabino Jr.blamed those delays on incomplete employee applications, data input errors and inaccurate bank account information.

The city has also struggled to pay vendors on time, such as when the longtime contractor for the low-barrier homeless shelter pulled out after the city accumulated millions in owed back payments.

ALouisianaLegislativeAuditor’sOfﬁce report released last year found that the city’ssystem of paying its vendors is riddled with deﬁciencies and suggested it may deter companiesfrom doing business with the city “Year after year,it’sunacceptable and ridiculous that summer employees face issues being paid on time,” said City Council Vice President Helena Moreno, who is running for mayorthis year.“These hardworking young people deserve better and even though there were assurances this wouldn’t happen, the ball was dropped again.”

Policedetain and questionseveral men in the 1700 block of General De Gaulle DriveinNew Orleans on Monday. Dozensoflaw enforcement officers from the NewOrleans Police Department, Louisiana State Police and the FBIswarmed the buildings,a tire shop and restaurant, and detained many whowere present.

howmanypeople werebooked.

“What we have is really awhole bunchof nothing. I’m notreally sure what’s going on. Iknow it’s messing up my tenants,” he said “They shut downthe restaurant as well as the tire shop. They also did thebuildingbehind the restaurant and the car wash as well.”

TRIAL

Continued from page1B

because of an air conditioning failure, and the detective who took his ﬁngerprintstold Lapeyrolerie that an analysis was temporarily unavailable. The ofﬁce took no further steps to identify the body.Whether it was required to do so is the central question of thetrial.

Plaintiff lawyer Richard Trahant, whoalsotried the earliercase, questioned why Lapeyrolerie didn’tseek assistancefrom law enforcement in aneighboring jurisdiction or from theLouisianaState Police.

“There’snot aplan B. There wasn’t in this case, andtherenever is,” Trahant saidinhis opening statement on Monday.

Lapeyrolerie’sanswers to that and similar questions have varied in sworn depositions and on the witness standinbothcases. In an April deposition, he said he didn’tthink theofﬁce needed to make anychanges as a result of the Smith case. On Monday, he said consulting other agencies for ﬁngerprinting, and written protocols requiring it when necessary,would be “helpful.”

Lapeyroleriealso testiﬁed in the earlier case that written protocols could help the office, but he said Mondaynone hadbeenimplemented.

The coroner’slawyer,Charles Ciaccio, said theNOPD ﬁngerprinting shutdown in the Smithcase was unprecedented, suggesting the coroner wasunderstandably caught off guard

“This was aﬁrst-time event. It had neverbeenexperiencedbefore,” Ciaccio said.

In the earlier case, the NOPD misspelled Benjamin Pfantz’slast name

Ayear ago, asimilar action closed a24-hour tireshopinthe 1200block of NorthClaiborneAvenuethatwas deemed aconduit for drug trafﬁckingand other crimes. That seizure came under acampaign to shutter retail operations suspected as crime hot spots, under astate law thatallows it

In 2023, the federal Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, Firearms andExplosives NewOrleans police,State Police and other agencies homed in on an Iberville grocery as alocus forillegal ﬁrearmsand narcotics sales in another seizure involving Williams’ofﬁce, policeand the ATF.

Sidney Smithstands in 2023 in the

whohad died weeks earlier

as “Peantz” after fingerprinting his body,and themisspelledlast name didn’tturn up in the coroner’spublic records searches. Nothing else was done to verify the identification, despite several calls to the morgue by Pfantz’smother with the correct name Theerrorwas finally discovered eight months afterPfantz’sdeath Hisbodyhad been crematedby then, againsthis family’swishes Judge Kern Reesedetermined the coroner’sinactionviolatedits legal obligation. The coroner is appealing the decision. McKenna, who wasn’tincourt on Monday and didn’tattend the Pfantz trial, said in aWDSU interview last month that New Orleans has “never had abetter Coroner’sOffice.”

“We’ve never misidentiﬁed abody Maybe it takes alittle longer to get it right, but it’sbetter to get it right than to get it wrong,”McKenna said. McKenna ﬁled athird-party lawsuit against the city of NewOrleans

and the NOPD in the Smith case, claiming the air conditioningoutage caused the delay in identifying Justin Smith. Cityattorneysreplied in a legalﬁling that McKenna’sofﬁce had falselypinned its own legal duties on the PoliceDepartment.

“The failureofthis office to make any effort beyond fingerprint identification of adecedentwhen theyare both taskedwith andprovided additional meansisreckless, flagrant and outrageous,” the city saidina filinglast month. “The Coroner’s duty to the peopleofOrleansParish is clearly established by statuteand is not beingmet.”

Lapeyrolerie on Monday disagreed with someofMcKenna’s public comments about theSmith case. In an August 2023 written statement to the media, McKenna saidthe ofﬁce was“forced to wait” for the NOPD equipment to be repaired.

“I don’tthink we were forced,” Lapeyrolerie conceded underquestioning by Trahant.

ing, though advocates argue it is necessary to address Louisiana’s land losscrisis.

Continued from page1B

up in uniform at hisFillmorearea apartmentfor a“wellness check.” Stalbert “entered the residenceand begantolook around,” according to the PIB investigation. VonDerhaar said he phoned an NOPD officer friend.

“He waslike, ‘Call the cops,’” VonDerhaar said. “And I’m like, ‘They are the cops. Who am Isupposed to call?’”

The three ofﬁcers surrounded him, telling him he needed to cometothe Public Integrity Bureau foradrug test. The officers failed to authorize an “administrative reasonable suspiciondrugtest” through proper channels, the investigation found.

When he refused the test, Von Derhaar says the ofﬁcers kept himuntil he signed aresignation form that he triedtorescind the next day

The department sustainedallegations against Williams for professionalism, performance of duty,neglect of duty and abuse of her position. She has since left the NOPD. Watson was clearedofmisconductfrom the incident, records show Diggingintorecords

VonDerhaar’sown research later found that Stalbert was amongthe department’shighest earners. He turned to Skip Gallagher,achemistry instructor at University of New Orleans, showing him police body-worn camera footage as well as what he’d learned about Stalbert’s earnings.

“When Ipulled the data, Iwas like, ‘Wow,’ ”Gallagher said. “’This is true.’” Gallagher said his analysis of Stalbert’stimesheets over eight years uncovered incidents of double dipping. His analysis turned up similar alleged excesses by dozens of other high-earning NOPD ofﬁcers, sparking afederal criminal investigation. The scandal exposed agap in payroll systemsthat confounded the city’s abilitytocatch timesheetfraudsters, despite reforms meantto root out corruption in the police off-duty detail system “Stalbert has one of the longestdisciplinary recordswithin theNOPD.The NOPD should have realized this longago and dismissed him,”Gallagher said. “When someone like Karl steps up and does something, that takessomeguts. Andyou are often punished forit.”

Along with $25,000 in back pay,Von Derhaar is seeking damages for illegal seizure, false arrest, humiliation and mental anguish, his lawsuit states.

Staff writer John Simerman contributed to this story

Continued from page1B

gunﬁre.

cost-sharing benefit. TheU.S. Army Corps of Engineers will use some of the restoredarea around 9,000 acres —tooffset environmental damage caused by the construction of thenearby West Shore Lake Pontchartrain leveeproject. This is the first time that the Army Corps hasagreed to use astatecoastal project for itsrequired mitigation. The total cost of the West Shore project is estimated at $3.7 billion. The roughly $500millionfor Maurepas is the best estimate of what will be needed for the diversion itself and the first fewmiles of the levee that overlapswith the channel, CPRA project manager Brad Miller said. This will come from amix of state and settlement funds. The estimated cost of the swamp restoration itself is estimated at around $300 million. Slated for completion in 2028, the finished 5.5-mile channel will bring water from the river into the swamp, with the infrastructure tying into the levee. The diversion will release relatively low amountsofriver water during the springtime at up to 2,000 cubic feetper second, levels mimicking the annual flooding that occurred

Though the Sheriff’s Office said deputies returned fire after Skyels shot at them, the Coroner’sOffice said his death was from aself-inflicted gunshot. No deputieswere injured. Per protocol, the deputies involved in theshooting will be on paid leaveasthe Sheriff’s Office’s investigation continues, said Lt. Suzanne Carboni, aSheriff’s Office spokesperson.

Openings of theBonnetCarre Spillway have also been controversial since they haveled to algae blooms andother environmental harms in the Lake Pontchartrain Basinand along the Mississippi coastdue to the influx of fresh water and nutrient pollution. But thepowerful diversion is an important ﬂood control measure for the region, redirecting water at arate up to 125 timesthatofthe Maurepas project if necessary

Thedepartment’sMajor Crimes Unit is leading theinvestigation, Carboni said. The initialcalltothe Sheriff’s Office came from someonewho wasnot at the residence or in the area, Carboni said, but who suggested they check on adomesticincident at the residence.

before the levees were built Dove stressed that the Maurepasproject is “a very small diversion,” in contrast to theBonnet Carre Spillway or the MidBarataria Sediment Diversion,

whose construction has now been suspended. Dove opposes the Mid-Barataria coastal restoration project in its current formlargely because of the harmful effectsit would have on commercial ﬁsh-

“The River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project exemplifies the large-scale, sciencebased restoration thatthe council was created to deliver,” said Mary Walker,executive director of the RESTORE Council. “It reflects strong stateand federal collaboration,and we’re excited to see it moving toward completion.”

As the project brokeground last year,the state’s oldest coastal advocacy nonproﬁt also began planting scores of bald cypress and water tupelo trees in the swamp. Over the next three years, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana will plant 4,500 trees on top of the8,000 it has plantedsince 2015.

Email Josie Abugov at josie abugov@theadvocate.com.

The Sheriff’s Ofﬁce has not released other details, saying the investigation is continuing. Citingthe ongoing investigation, the agency said in response to a public records request Monday that it would not release video of the shooting from deputies’ body cameras.

Email Willie Swett at willie swett@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

bedroom of his son, Justin Smith,

NewOrleans Area Deaths

Abadie,Rene Blanchard, Gale Canizaro, Joseph Cohn, Brigette Cooks,Robin Goldvarg,Sofya Jemison, Michael Johnson Jr., Howard Keen,Richard Leone Jr.,Angelo

Muldrey, Barrie

Pierce, Susan

Sullivan,Michael

NewOrleans Boyd Family

Cooks,Robin

Lake Lawn Metairie

Canizaro, Joseph

Cohn, Brigette

Goldvarg,Sofya

Jemison, Michael

Keen,Richard Leone Jr.,Angelo

St Bernard St Bernard

Johnson Jr., Howard

St Tammany

EJ Fielding

Pierce, Susan

West Bank Mothe

Blanchard, Gale

Obituaries

Rene Gerard Abadie of Hammond,Louisiana passedawayonThursday June 19,2025, at theage of 77. Rene wasbornon Wednesday, October8, 1947, in NewOrleans to the late MauriceAbadieSr. andHelen Wilson Abadie Born andraisedinthe Irish Channel, Rene wasproud to have begunhis life of faith throughhis serviceas an altarboy,startingatthe ageof9,atSt. Mary’s As‐sumption Catholic Church in NewOrleans.Crossing theburialgrave of Father Seelos everymorning to open thechurch doorsand servemassfor thenuns in thechapel, Rene wasoften credited as “altar boyof theyear.”Heattended Holy Redeemer Seminary in Lacombe, Louisiana, graduatedfromthe Univer‐sity of NewOrleans in 1969 while servingasa sac‐ristan,and earned amas‐ter’sdegreeinjournalism from Louisiana StateUni‐versityin1972. He wasa proudveteran of the United States Army,where he worked in public rela‐tions. Rene continuedhis career in public relations, predominantlyinthe med‐ical ﬁeld, as themedia re‐lationssupervisoratTu‐lane MedicalCenter, assis‐tant director of public rela‐tionsatTouro Inﬁrmary, at theAmericanCancerSoci‐ety, andat theLouisiana StateMedical Society. He spentthe last 18 yearsof hiscareer at Southeastern LouisianaUniversityasthe director of theuniversity’s Communicationsand Cre‐ativeServices. Rene wasa devotedhusband,father, andgrandfather,beloved by hisfamily, friends, and anyone who hadthe op‐portunitytomeet him. A manoftremendousfaith, Rene wasa devoted Catholic whoembraced his beliefswitha sinceritythat inspired thosearound him. He wasanactiveparish‐ionerand dedicatedEu‐charisticMinisterofHoly GhostCatholicChurch in Hammond,alsoserving the Hispanic Mass at Holy GhostCatholicChurch.In addition,Renewas also a member of Emmanual Prayer Group. Rene’s legacy is oneoflove, com‐passion, andunwavering faith.His kindness and good-naturedsense of

humor will be remembered by allthose who knew him. Rene hada profound im‐pact on thelives of those around him, leavingbehind amemorycherished by family andfriends alike. Rene is survived by his wife of 54 years, Cecelia Farace Abadie;two sons, DominicAbadieand wife Liz, andDavid Abadie and wife Elise; grandchildren, Madeline,David Evan, Daniel,Audrey, andLily; sister, Yvonne Abadie; brothers-in-law, Thomas J. Spitzfaden,and Dominick Farace;sister-in-law,Bon‐nieAbadie; andnumerous cousins, nieces,and nephews. In addition to his parents, Rene waspre‐cededindeath by his brother, Maurice“B.C.” Abadie Jr andsister, Jeanne Abadie Spitzfaden Family andfriends will be received at Harry McK‐neely& SonFuneralHome, 2000 N. MorrisonBlvd, Hammond, Louisiana70401 on Thursday,June 26, 2025 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm Visitation will continue at St.Anthony of Padua Catholic Church,4640 CanalSt.,New Orleans, Louisiana70119 on Friday, June 27, 2025 from 1:00 pm until theFuneralMassbe‐gins at 2:00 pm.Entomb‐ment will follow at Green‐wood Cemetery Mau‐soleum in NewOrleans, Louisiana. In honorof Rene's spirit of giving,do‐nationsmay be made lieu of ﬂowerstoany pro-lifeor veterans charity. Arrange‐mentshavebeen entrusted to Harry McKneely& Son FuneralHomeand Crema‐tory of Hammond andPon‐chatoula.Anon-line guest book is availableatwww harrymckneely.com.

Blanchard, Gale Joseph

Gale Joseph Blanchard, 85, aresidentofNew Al‐bany,passedawaypeace‐fully earlySaturdaymorn‐ing, April19, 2025, at Bap‐tist Memorial Hospital in UnionCounty. Born August 12, 1939, in Marrero, Louisiana, Mr.Blanchard wasthe sonofthe late Anatoleand Theresa Bourge Blanchard. Agrad‐uate of West Jefferson High School in Louisiana, he wasa barber forsixty yearsuntil hisretirement four yearsago. On January 16, 1960, he marriedhis belovedwife, Carmen Ro‐drigue,who precedes him in death. Laterinlife, they movedtoNew Albany, where he became afaithful member of St.Francis Catholic Church.Mr. Blan‐chard'sservice will be held in Louisiana, stillthe family askthatyou continue to sharethe storiesmade with such akindand self‐less man. He will be re‐membered most as avery devotedhusband andfa‐ther as well as averyloved manbyhis community They ﬁnd comfortinknow‐ingthatheisnow peace‐fully restingashis memory livesonin thegenerosity he shared,the love he gave,and thecountless liveshetouched.Memories will be cherishedbytwo daughters, EydiePullman (James)ofNew Albany, andDonna Fasullo(Tony) of Marrero, Louisiana,one son, DavinBlanchard of Marrero, Louisiana, eleven grandchildrenand seven‐teen great-grandchildren. He is preceded in deathby hislovingwife, Carmen andhis parents. Family andfriends areinvited to attend theMemorialVisi‐tation foratMothe Funeral Home,2100 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Harvey, LouisianaonSaturday, June 28, 2025 from 9AM until 11AM. AMemorial Mass will be held forGale andCarmenBlanchard at thefuneral home on Satur‐dayat11AM. Intermentwill be in OurLadyofPrompt Succor Cemetery,West‐wego, Louisiana. Family andfriends areinvited to sharethoughts, fond mem‐oriesand condolenceson‐line at www.mothefunera ls.com

father, grandfather, entrepreneur, and pillarof theNew Orleans business community, passedaway peacefully at home on June 20, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.Hewas eighty-eight years oldand liveda life full of extraordinary accomplishmentsand quiet miracles

He is survivedbyhis beloved wife of 64 years Sue EllenMattina Canizaro his beloveddaughters JoellenTheresa Canizaro and Jill Canizaro Randle (Keith), his belovedgrandson Ryan JosephLopiccolo (Kaitlin), and his beloved greatgrandsons Hunter GraysonLopiccolo and Beau Corte Lopiccolo who lovingly called him "Granddaddy."Heisalso survivedbyhis beloved brothers and sisters Anna Rose Canizaro Bacas (the lateBuddy), Vito Joseph Canizaro,Jr. (Joyce), Roy Thomas Canizaro (Kim) and Vita Margaret Canizaro along with many belovedniecesand nephews. He is also survivedbyhis brother-in-law David"Bubba" Mattina (Sharon) and sister-in-law Kathy Wright Canizaro (the late Marion). Additional survivors also includeJill and Keith's children and grandchild:Hamilton Randle, KateRandle Ross (Derek) and baby Louise Ross.

Mr.Canizaro was preceded in death by his belovedmother and father Dr. Vito JosephCanizaro and Gilda Melone Canizaro of Biloxi,Mississippi, his belovedson VitoJoseph Canizaro,IV, his beloved sister Gilda Canizaro Butler Henson and belovedbrothersMarionFrancis Canizaro and Horace John Canizaro

Mr. Canizaro was born on March 1,1937 in Baltimore, Maryland.He was thefirst of eight children and raisedina devout Catholic family.He was educated by theHoly CrossBrothers and graduated from Notre Dame High School in Biloxi.Heattended Canisius University in Buffalo, NewYork, MississippiState University, and Spring Hill College. Mr. Canizaro was acceptedtothe University of NotreDame butwas unable to attend duetohis father's untimelypassing. His steadfast commitment to his family kepthim close to home. Aman of unwavering faith, boundless generosity,and enduring vision acrossa range of industries, Mr. Canizaro left an indelible mark on thecity where he livedand on the city where he was raised. For morethan six decades, his leadership and vision ledtohistoric progressin both NewOrleans and Biloxi.A prominent developer and banker in the City of NewOrleans that he lovedsomuch, Mr. Canizaro developedand builtmany of thebeautiful buildings that line the city's skyline. He was atrue visionary and as he stoodatthe foot of PoydrasStreetinthe late1960s, Mr. Canizaro determined it would become thegreat business thoroughfare in New Orleans. Thisvision coupled with his determination was instrumental in creating what has become known as theNew Orleans Central Business District (CBD). His buildings always reflected the utmost attentiontodetail, elegance and quality

Mr. Canizaro demanded excellence and accountabilityalways, mentoring and employing hundreds of people throughout his distinguishedlife

Some of his most recognized developmentsincludethe LL&E Tower (now BankPlus Tower) at the cornerofPoydras and O'Keefe and featured often in national broadcasts, CanalPlace Shopping Center and Office Tower, Texaco Center (now 400 PoydrasTower), the Crowne Plaza Hotel(now Le Meridien Hotel). His very first building in New Orleans was theLykes Center (nowthe Loews Hotel).

Mr. Canizaro owned numerous other office buildings, officeparks and hotels around thecountry within his real estateportfolio. He also developed and builtthe Information Technology Center Office Complex located at the University of NewOrleans Research and Technology Park

Mr. Canizaro is also the developer of TRADITION, the4,900-acremasterplannedcommunity on the MississippiGulf Coast, a project that willcreate a sustainable community with residential neighborhoods,institutions of high learning,mixed-use comi l d i l

mercial and recreational amenitiescentered on healthand wellness, education, culture and theenvironment. At buildoutof theproject, thirty-five to forty thousand residents are anticipatedtocall TRADITION home. The TRADITION Medical City is home to both William Carey University's TraditionCampus School of Pharmacy and Mississippi Gulf Coast CommunityCollege's TraditionCampus School of Nursing. In 2025, The Vito J. Canizaro Veterans AdministrationHomewas openedatTradition. Named after Mr. Canizaro's latefather, it is thelargest facilityinthe StateofMississippito serveVeterans on theGulf Coast.

In 1991, he purchased First Bank and Trust, the successor to First City Bank of NewOrleans. Subsequently he formed First Trust Corporation, a bank holding company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1998, he purchased PeoplesBank in Amite,LA and in 2005, he purchased First Bank and Trust of Mississippi, thesuccessor to Central Bank for Savings located in Winona,MS. In 2008, he merged thethree banksinto First Bank and Trust. First Bank and Trust, acommunity bank offering commercial, consumer and mortgageloans and deposit services throughout Louisiana and theMississippiGulf Coast, grew to over billion in assets. Mr. Canizaro was the former Chairmanofthe BoardofFirst Bank and Trust and its parent First Trust Corporation. In 2022, he soldthe bank and its holding company to BancPlus Corporation. Mr. Canizaro also founded Corporate Capital, L.L.C. in August 1998, aventure capital company to invest in traditional American businesses.

Mr. Canizaro's business ventures even embraced theworld of sports when he became theowner of theNew Orleans Breakers in 1983. Throughhis fearless ambitionand belief in thecity, NewOrleans became home to aUSFL team and The Breakers enjoyed many victories in the Superdome

Mr. Canizaro is a Trusteeand former Chairman of theUrban Land Institute, anational professional organization establishedin1936 with over 30,000 members worldwidedevoted to improving thequality of real estate development and its impact on theenvironment. He has been nationallyrecognized for his vision and creativity in urbanand suburbanreal estate development and has served on theHarvard UniversityGraduate School of Design's Advisory CommitteeonRealEstate Development. Mr. Canizaro has been amemberofthe Business Council of NewOrleans and the Tulane University President's Council.He was thefounder and former Co-Chairman of the Committee for aBetter NewOrleans, aprivately funded group of morethan 140 community,business and civic leaders committedtoidentifying thecritical issues and opportunities facing thecity and creatinga blueprint for the futureofNew Orleans, based on mutualtrust and consensus. Mr. Canizaro is aDirector, former President and founder of theNew Orleans chapter of Legatus, an international organizationofpracticing CatholicCEOs. He is also a formermember and Secretary of the National LegatusBoard of Directors. Additionally, Mr. Canizaro has served theArchbishop of NewOrleans as amemberofthe Archdiocese Finance Counciland as Chair of Notre Dame Seminary's Priestly FormationCampaign. He is also aTrustee Emeritus on theBoard of AveMaria UniversityinNaples, Florida, and formerly served as Chairman of AMU'sFinance Committee

Mr. Canizaro has served on avariety of boards of civic and institutional organizations and holds numerous distinctions from his membership in ahost of regional and national business, civic and arts organizations. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Lettersfrom Our Ladyof Holy CrossCollege, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Papal Honor, Order of St. Louis Medallionfor work in the CatholicChurch, Southern Dominicans' St. Martin de Porres Award,and was commissionedtothe highest rank of Councillor of St. Dominic on theadvisory board of theAngelicum i i i

University inRome. Mr. Canizaroisalso therecipientofthe 1999 Mayor's Medal of Honor,Award, Louisiana Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame Award, American Academy of AchievementNational OutstandingAchievers Award,and wasnamedthe NationalItalian-American of theYear. In 2015, Archbishop Gregory Aymond bestowed the Good Shepherd Award for hisleadership with Notre Dame Seminary, and in 2018 Mr.Canizarowas awarded an Honorary DoctorateofLettersfrom Notre Dame Seminary. In 2018, he wasalso therecipient of an Honorary Doctor of Business from William Carey Universityin recognition of his tenaciousvision, leadership and contributionstoeconomicgrowthinthe region.Tomark New Orleans' 300th anniversary in 2018, Mr.Canizarowas honored as oneofthe top 20 business iconsfor his influenceonthe city'seconomicdevelopmentand wasalso profiledinthe NewOrleans commemorative book Notable New Orleanians: ATricentennial Tribute.Mr. and Mrs. Canizaroreceived the Saint John PaulIIAward in 2023 given by theCatholic CommunityFoundation in honor of their lifetime of faithand generosity to the Catholic Church

Despite his professional accomplishments, Mr. Canizaroconsidered his greatest achievement to be hisfamily. He wasa devotedhusbandtothe LOVE OF HISLIFE and BEST FRIEND, SueEllen, aproud father to Joellenand Jill, and aproud Granddaddy to Ryan and his twosons, Hunter and Beau.His wife SueEllen wasthe light of hislifeand togetherthey hadgreat compassion for those in need.Many churches,schools, organizations and individuals benefitedfrom their generosity.

Mr.Canizaro'slifewas a testament to the Catholic virtues of faith, love,and courage with hisfaith guidingeveryfacet of his life.Hewas adevout Catholic and loved The Lordand HisBlessed Mother with all hisheart and soul. Those whoknew himremember hiswarm handshake, his resilience, hismoral clarity, and his deep belief in thepower of faith. He leaves behinda legacynot only of atransformed skyline and successful businessventures, but also that of thecountless lives he touched, uplifted, and mentored. Throughout hislife, he made meaningfulcontributionsthatcontinuetoinspire across countless communities. HisFaith wasofgreat importance and guided all hisaccomplishments, especially with theestablishment of Adoration Chapels throughout theareaand The CanizaroCenterfor Catholic Studies at Loyola University.

He often referred to his abundance of blessingsas a"Gift from God," whichis whyhecontinuously gave backtoothers.

Mr.Canizaro ("Mr. C" "JCC"or"Joe" as he was affectionately known) was lovedand respected by many and will truly be missed.

AMass of Christian Burial will be celebratedat 12:00 noon on Friday, the 27th day of June 2025, at St FrancisXavier Catholic Church.Visitationwill also be held at St.Francisbeginningat10:00 a.m. Burial

will be private at Lake LawnCemetery In lieu of flowers,the familyasks that donations be made to Catholic Charitiesofthe Archdiocese of New Orleans or theHumane SocietyofLouisiana.

SACRED HEARTOFJESUS WE PLACE OURTRUST IN THEE

IMMACULATE HEARTOF MARY WE PLACE OURTRUST IN THEE

Cohn, Brigette Cymbal

Brigette Cymbal Cohn passedawayonJune16, 2025 at theage of 85. Beloved wife of thelate Julius (J.M.) MeyerCohn, devotedmotherofLisa Cohn Noel(Rob),Jeffrey David Cohn (Shelly), stepmotherofLeslieCohn Tatar (Brett). Proud and loving grandmotherof Madelyn Claire Noel, Hannah GraceNoelMorel (Keith),RobertCharles "Chase"Noel, Jr.(Morgan), Skylar Sophia Cohn,Amelie SilmonLemon, Bryan GeoffreyTatar and Rachel Megan Tatar Almeida. Blessed with many greatgrandchildren, Oliver CharlesMorel,ReidHarper Noel, Riggs Hardy Noel, KennedyGraceAlmeida andAlastor ReiTatar Daughter of thelateJacob and Helene M. Cymbal Mrs. Cohn wasbornin Lens,France,raisedin Monroe, LA and haslived in NewOrleans/Metairie since 1961. Shewas apast presidentofTouro Synagogue Sisterhood, a past board member of Touro Synagogue,Willow Wood,the Women's Division of theJewish Welfare Fund, apast Vice Presidentofthe National CouncilofJewish Women, amember of the Isidore Newman School Parents Association,and agraduate of theLemann-Stern Leadership Council.Private gravesideserviceswere held at Hebrew Rest Cemetery #3 on June 20, 2025, officiated by Rabbi Todd Silverman of Touro Synagogue.Inlieuofflowers, the familyrequests memorial gifts to Jewish Children'sRegional Services, Touro Synagogue or acharity of yourchoice.

Abadie,ReneGerard

Cooks, RobinAnn

With deep love andfond remembrance, we an‐nouncethe passingof RobinAnn CooksonJune 9, 2025, at theage of 65. She leaves behind herdaughter SonyaHeisser-Anderson (Dion),son BryceHeisser,

Canizaro, Joseph Corte'Joe'

Joseph CorteCanizaro (Joe), adevoted husband,

See more DEATHS page

OUR VIEWS

LSU’s eighth title is worth celebrating

After the LSU Tigers baseball team won its eighth national championship Sunday in Omaha, we were glad to see 87-year-old Skip Bertman —inevery sense the creator of what is now college baseball’ssupreme powerhouse —onthe ﬁeld after the game, celebrating the longevity of what he built

The 5-3 win over Coastal Carolina further cements LSU as the greatest program in college baseball over the last 40 years. It’snot even close. After all, the Tigers were largely moribund until Bertman arrived in the mid-1980s. He took LSU to its first Men’sCollege World Series in 1986. But it wasn’tuntil Bertman’steam won its first title in 1991 that the program took off. Histeams followed that first championship with wins in 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2000. The Tigers won again in 2009 under Paul Manieri and in 2023and this year underJay Johnson. It’s fair to say that LSU’ssuccess has been one of the key drivers in the growthofcollege baseball as asport.

To be sure, Sunday’steam played afar different style than Bertman’sdid. Those great teams of the 1990s were known for their “gorillaball” approach with lineups full of mashers looking to hit one deep. This title was won with dominant pitching by Kade Anderson and AnthonyEyanson, as wellas timelyhitting, especially from Steven Milam.

The sustained success is atribute not justto Bertman, Manieri and Johnson, but to dozens of coaches, hundreds of players and, yes, thousands of fans.

We’d speciﬁcally like tooffer congratulations to that last group. In addition toproviding avocal boost throughout the ten days of the tournament —and, of course, easily outpacing the other fan bases in the consumption of JellOshots —they also took it upon themselves to rally behind Michael Braswell III, asenior third baseman who was struggling at theplate. During Braswell’sat-bats in the ﬁnals, the LSU faithful gave him multiple standing ovations and chanted his name, offering awelcome counterpoint to the cynicism and meanness that sometimes creeps intocollege sporting events. It was simply Tigerfans lifting up one of their own.

To his credit, Braswell did not let his struggles at the plate affect his play in the ﬁeld, where he was akey cog in adefense that smothered opponents.

The big win gave LSU and the stateofLouisiana abit of achance to show off, both on the ﬁeldand in thestands. Some may scoff that it’s just sports, but we believe sportsare an important expression of our cultural identity, our sense of community and our pride in our state. In that vein, we tip ourcaps tothe Tigers, to Johnson,toBertman and toall those who cheered the team on to victory.Enjoy No. 8.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

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

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

French Quarterresidents need to band together

French Quarter,wake up. If thecity takingIVWaste does not galvanize our community,Idon’tknow what will. We need to establish our own City of the French Quarter as St.George did in Baton Rouge. We produce 70% of the city’s$8 billion income. We have adistrict attorney who will not allow the police to pick up people sleeping on our streets. We have panhandlers and degenerates urinating and defecating on our streets. Does anyone with the city do anything the citizens of the Quarter want? Why are all of thepeople who do not live and work in our area running everything, even our trash collection?

Ihave seven decades of residence in the Quarter,and for theﬁrst time, I am thinking of leaving. Costs for everything, especially insurance and all, have gone nuts. Ihave aguest house which is ideal for ashort-term rental. If Ilived two or three blocks from

Let’sacknowledge

Iwas really excited to read the article marking the10th anniversary of the Laﬁtte Greenway.The Laﬁtte Greenway is not only one of the 10 best thingstohappen to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, but it also representsthe mostimportantwin for walkability in the city since then and probably beyond.

It’sbeen invaluable in not only creating diverse, vibrant public spaces along the corridor but also in connecting the French Quarter to the Lakefront (well, almost). It also conﬁrms thevalue of leadership that prioritizes community outreach, engagement and feedback.

While thearticle mentionsa few of those who were instrumental in making this areality,other key figures also deserve recognition. This includes Sophie Harris Vorhoff, atireless advocate for the project and the first executive director of the Friends of theLafitte Greenway,working alongside Nellie Catzen. It’s also important to acknowledge the vital support by then-District Acity council member Susan Guidry,whose bold leadership

where Iam—over Esplanade or Rampart —Icould offset my expenses, but not here.

The LouisianaHotel &Motel Association is amajor contributor,I am certain, behind themovement to no STRsinthe Quarter.Everything is run by bureaucratswho have no skin in the game here, onlytheir contributors. We need to self-govern with our own police, courts, trash contract and all aspects of daily living and business here.

The Supreme Court of Louisiana ruled St.George could leave Baton Rouge and be aseparate city.Why not us? If they could do it, so can we.Stop theinsanityofwhat they are doing here. If it weren’tfor the Super Bowl, we would not have decent streets or sidewalks. No one cares except to take themoney out and spend it elsewhere.

KIMHUNTER NewOrleans

included spending the necessary political capital to ﬁght forthis project —especially in light of thereported pushback from someofmyfellow Lakeview neighbors whofretted that it would create a“pathway for crime.”

(Spoiler alert:Nope.)

We also should remember vital partners like Dan Favre, whose leadership at BikeEasy coincided with that of Sophie and Nellie. His advocacy for morewalkable and bike-friendly infrastructure further helped connect the dotsofthe broader value. Similarly Geoff Coats was able to shepherd the bike-share service Blue Bikes through two different mayoral administrations and multiple efforts to restructure partnerships. Now Blue Bikes is headquartered along the Greenway and serves riders who are frequent users of the path.

Here’shoping our leadership, whether through advocacy or governmental work, will continue to ensure that the Laﬁtte Greenway and other public spaces realize their full potential.

DAVID LEE SIMMONS board member,BikeEasy

Like manybusinesspeople, Boysie Bollinger and the other owners of Good Day Farm, LLC, are visionaries: They’re thinking ahead —I speculate —tothe legalization of recreational marijuana in Louisiana. So GDF is developing aNOLA Cannabis Co. Dispensary at 1407 S. Carrollton Ave. that will already be online whenever the legislation is passed. This meansthat GDF will not only hold one of only two marijuana farming licenses issued in Louisiana, it will also control a majority stake in the distribution of their product at their dispensaries. But what does the dispensary mean for Carrollton now,especially because another GDF/NCCO store is currently under development on Bourbon Street, which is commonly associated with “adult uses?” Whatever it means, it’snot good. The Carrollton location is close to schools and churches; it’snext door to NixLibrary.GDF/NCCO’sunchallenged presence in afamily-oriented neighborhood will serve to normalize marijuana use in the form of candylike gummies and cookies. We don’t need it (medical marijuana is already available in-store or via delivery at other local outlets) and at least someofuswill publicly state that we don’twant it. The store’simpact on the neighborhood —trafﬁc, lighting and nuisance problemsrelated to drug use —cannot be good.

As forzoning, the dispensary is simply aRetail Goods Establishment, which is afully permitted use in the Historic Urban Neighborhood Mixed-Use District.

In away,the development of the NOLA Cannabis Co. location in Carrollton is very like the development of doubles-to-dorms: Awealthy investor will be capitalizing on the neighborhood’sproximity to the universities, targeting the transient student market to the detriment of the quality of lifefor long-term residents. GDF/NCCO does not belong at this location.

SUSAN JOHNSON Town of Carrollton Watch

COMMENTARY

“You don’tknow that I’mgoing to even do it. Imay do it. Imay not do it. Imean, nobody knows whatI’m going to do.”

So said the president earlier this month in one of those streamsofsemiconsciousness with whichheinforms us of his ﬂuid intentions. He was musing about intervening in Israel’swar against Iran.Asusual, the reiterated ﬁrstperson-singular pronoun was hismessage. When he knows what he wants to do, everyone, including Congress, for which governance has become aspectatorsport,will know because he will already have done it.

As this was written Thursday before the weekend U.S. airstrikes, one questionwas whether he would order bombers to deliver,asonlytheycan, the only conventional (i.e., non-nuclear) munition that can destroythe most hardened targetinIran’snuclear weapons program. There was astrongargument for doing this. It would, however, have been not only polite but prudent forthe president to make thecase to the public. And although at this stagein our institutional decayitseems quaint to say so, it would be constitutionally proper for Congressto be somehow involved.

Acouple of weekends ago, many Americans —mostly progressives, surely —staged “No Kings” protests against what progressivism has done much to produce: today’srampant presidency Their chief concerns were domestic —unilateral spending cuts, deportations, etc. Aweek is,however,forever in today’spolitics. Today,progressives, those occasional constitutionalists, are fretting about uninhibited presidential warmaking.

Last week, Barack Obama descended from Olympus in his usual lecture mode, solemnly sharing his worries about Washington tendencies“consistent with autocracies.” Obama is and was asituational Madisonian. He rewrote immigration law after repeatedly and correctly insistinghehad no legitimate power to do so. And he intervened in Libya’scivil war by wagingwar there for almost eight months without seeking congressional authorizationorcomplying withthe law (the WarPowers Resolution). Obama argued,through his lawyers, that the thousands of airstrikes that killed thousands didnot constitute“hostilities.” Harvard law professor Jack Goldsmith

termed Obama “a matchless war-powersunilateralist.” Presidents,who, unlike Congress, are alwaysondutyand can respond to crises with dispatch, are preeminent in foreign affairs. But not autonomous: Pertinent powers are shared with Congress. It is vested with the power (which it has largely sloughed off) to “regulate commerce with foreignnations.”The president is commanderinchief of thearmed forces, butCongress raises them.Presidents wagewars;Congress declares them.

The Senatemust consent to treaties the president negotiates. In his 2015 book on theframers’ creation of the presidency (“Imperial From the Beginning”),UniversityofVirginia law professor Saikrishna Prakash notes that, in the Embargo Authorization Act of 1794, Congress authorized thepresident to impose an embargo —but only for15daysand only when Congress wasnot in session.

The Justice Department’sexecutivefriendly Ofﬁce of Legal Counsel has repeatedly said that theconstitutional propriety of president-initiated military actionsmust be judged by their “nature, scope, and duration.”In“The President WhoWould Not Be King: ExecutivePower Under the Constitution” (2020),Stanford law professor Michael W. McConnell says the OLC’scriteria have legitimated unilateral presidential uses of force involving many billions of dollars and thousands of deaths

in Libya, Bosnia and Somalia:

“Even if theconstitutional text does leave some room for the President to initiate hostilities short of full-bore war on his own authority,itishard to believe that executive power can properly be stretched as far as it has in recent times. The militaryengagement in Libya …was in no sense defensive, nor was there anything sudden about it. The president consulted for months with the United Nations and European allies, but did not go to theUnited States Congress.” Prakashnotes that “‘monarch’ comes from ‘mono,” meaning ‘one’ or ‘single,’ and ‘arch,’ derived from ‘archon,’ meaning ruler.” Today’sfirst-personsingular-pronoun president said last week, “I have ideas as to what to do” and “I can go from one extreme to the other” and “I like to makeafinal decision one second before it’s due.” Congress last declared war many wars ago, on June 5, 1942, when, to clarify legal ambiguities during a world conflagration, it declared war on Hungary,Romania and Bulgaria. Today’sissue is not whether war on Iran should be formally declared but whether constitutional good manners, prudent sharing of responsibility, and adecent respect for the public and its elected representatives require acting other than monarchically

Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com.

in the Democratic primary polls.

WhereisBarack Obama? Democrats had been frustrated that their charismatic former presidenthad gonesilent on MAGA’s march of mayhem. Where is that smooth, persuasive voice?

It has risen. Obama has spoken, and Democrats would do well to take in the message.

“You could be as progressive and sociallyconscious as you wanted,” Obama sternly toldan audience in Connecticut, “and you did not have to pay aprice. Youcould still make alot of money. Youcould still hang out in Aspen and Milan and traveland have ahouse in the Hamptons and still think ofyourself as aprogressive.”

In other words, many rich liberals paid no personal price for backing candidates destinedtolose ageneral election.

Politics for them served as afashion accessory That’sthe best explanation for Obama’sabsenceinDemocratic politics —that he’d given up.There was little point in going public after Democrats lost both houses of Congress and the presidency because theirradical messages freaked out voters. Recall how,aspresident, the activist left pilloried him for,among other responsible actions, deporting undocumented criminals.

Democratic strategist James Carville hitthe nail. “The progressives never beataRepublican,” he recentlytold

aDaily Beast podcast. “Tell me when onebodyfrom that wing has ever run against aRepublican.” When interviewer Joanna Coles broughtupBernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,Carville went into orbit. “Bernie has runfor president twice. He lost twice but when Igooncable TV or podcasts like this, the entire Democratic Party is AOC andBernie (Nevada Sen.) JackyRosen doesn’texist.OK, (Arizona Sen.) Ruben Gallego doesn’texist.(Michigan Sen.)Elissa Slotkin doesn’t exist. Inever get asked aboutthem.” Coles interjects that at least Bernieand AOC are doing something “They’re clearly puttingthemselves outthere.”

So what, Carville says. “AOC represents aplus-25 Democratic district.” Sure, shehas name recognition. “Do you knowhow manytimes on Fox News AOC is mentioned in aday?” He goes on:“Every time that you see aDemocrat that is out there screaming andpoundingthe podium,ask yourself, have you everbeat aRepublican?”

Someliberals who had grown sloppy about supporting out-there politicians seem to be getting the message. The New York Times found itsfooting in an editorial warning Democrats against nominatingZohran Mamdani, ademocratic socialist, for New York City mayor.Heisnow running second to former New York Gov.Andrew Cuomo

The Times notes that Mamdani would “bring less relevant experience than perhaps any mayor in New York history.”A statelegislator from Queens, Mamdani has never run any organization,public or private, of signiﬁcant size. He thinks government should run grocery stores!

Mamdani is not much into policing —and in acity consumed with public safety. Addressing aperceived decline in quality of life is also not his thing. Buthe’syoung and charismatic and radical. Naturally,AOC and Sanders are endorsing him.

The Times happily adopted Carville’s insistence in praising the approach of pragmatic Democrats. It names former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Houston mayors Annise Parker and Sylvester Turner.Italso gave a thumbs up to ﬁrst-term mayors Mike Johnston in Denver and Daniel Lurie in San Francisco.

In thelast presidential election, New York Citywent easily for theDemocrat but less easily than in the past.The party could strengthen its foundations by ﬁnding astrong progressive to replace AOC in theupcoming midterms

Something tells us that the 44th president would quietly approve. Obama has ﬁnally spoken, and he’sspeaking the truth.

Froma Harrop is on X, @ FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@ gmail.com.

President Donald Trumpisﬁnally building his wall. And Americans will pay forit. Trumphas been walling off the United States from foreign-made goods, foreign-generated ideas, and mostsigniﬁcantly,foreign-born humans. This month, Trumpimposed anear-total ban on entry to the United States of citizens from 12 countries, plus apartial ban on nationals from nine additional countries. Recently,aleaked State Department memo said the administration might add 36 morecountries to the list.

The ostensible rationale for these bans is agrab-bag of excuses and grievances, based largely on garbage data and inconsistent metrics about purported immigration sins. One of the stated justiﬁcations forthe bans, for example, is to prevent visa overstays. But some of the countries that are mostguilty of this transgression —such as Canada, which can claim a huge share of all immigrants whooverstay their visas in the U.S. —are somehow not on the list. Countries on the naughty list do have some things in common, however: They tend to be lower-ormiddle-income, and majority non-White. For instance, Trump’sexpanded entry ban would cover mostsub-Saharan African countries. (South Africa is anotable exception.)

There is away forthese nations to be excused forhaving too much melanin or too little money

The State Department memo says Trumpmight overlook their purported failings if they are willing to accept third-country nationals kicked out of the United States. El Salvador has already blazed the trail forthis by ﬁlling awing of anotorious prison with Venezuelans sent by Trump. None of this should be surprising. Trumpand his allies have madeclear they don’twant immigrants, particularly those from what the president once referred to as “s---hole countries,” in adog whistle heard round the world. Notlong ago, alt-right inﬂuencers such as Charlie Kirk tweeted out nearly identical talking points, calling on Trumpto“ban third world immigration, legal or illegal.”

Odious as this sentiment is, it is at least more honest than other claims that Trumpand his supporters have madeabout his immigration agenda. It wasnever about “law and order” or hunting downcriminal gangbangers or making sure people came in “the right way” through the “big beautiful door” in Trump’swall. It is and always was about humiliating and discarding immigrants —regardless of their legal status or contributions to their communities, and especially if they are Black or Brown.

That’swhy,inrecent months, the administration has stripped hundreds of thousands of lawfulimmigrants of their permission to live and workhere, thereby converting “legals” into “illegals” by executive ﬁat. It’s also whyTrump paused or shut downmany orderly,legal pathways to enter the U.S. through visa programs(as students, au pairs, summer workers or refugees, forexample).

These decisions hurt not only immigrants (or would-be immigrants) themselves. They also harm America’sglobal inﬂuence, national security and the broader economy.Perhaps irreparably

Once the world’sshining city on ahill, America is now ejecting and rejecting refugees, asylum seekers and allies of our military,even though welcoming the “tempest-tost” has generated signiﬁcant softpower over the decades. Today we’re sending undesirables to foreign gulags or ﬁlthy container ships, often without due process. We have told countries whose help we will probably need in future geopolitical challenges —including manyAfrican countries already caught in the escalating U.S.-Chinese rivalry —that their citizens are barred from our soil.

Mass deportations and the chilling effect they have on immigrants’ willingness to show up to work already appear to be reflected in official economic data. Given that the administration has also recently revoked work permits formore than half amillion previously legal immigrants, these figures could get much worse soon, with dire results forsupply chains and local communities.

Higher-than-anticipated levels of immigration had contributed to the U.S. economy’sremarkable recovery coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Soon, we might see the reverse. More people might leave the United States than arrive this year forthe ﬁrst timeinhalf acentury,and huge numbers of workers working here legally might soon be forced onto the sidelines.

Afew big companies have mentioned these risks publicly,atleast in their ﬁnancial ﬁlings. But mostcorporate titans and other privatesector leaders have stayed curiously mumabout federal immigration actions, among other damaging Trumpeconomic policies.

That’sthe thing about walls: They keep the supposed barbarians out. But they also keep the real barbarism in.

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

Froma Harrop

Catherine Rampell

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CARLOSBARRIA

President Donald Trumparrives withVice President JD Vance, SecretaryofState MarcoRubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to speak from the East Room of the White House in Washington on Saturday, after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites, directly joining Israel’sefforttodecapitate the country’s nuclearprogram.

George Will

grandsonsSaadiq Fredricksand Cy Merrett, andgreat-grandchildren Atreus andMollie Fredricks. Robinalso leaves behind hersiblings ThyraWebster (Jeffery), Joel Cooks, GayleDillon (Freddie),and Michael Curry (Vickie).Robin now joinsineternal rest her mother Betty Cooks, father Philip Curry,sister’sVer‐nette Cooksand Mary Ducanalong with her brother’sBarry SmithSr. andGlenn Cooks. We invite allwho knew andloved Robintojoinusfor aCele‐brationofLifeService to honorher on Thursday, June 26, 2025, for1:00p.m at TheBoydFamilyFuneral Home locatedat5001 Chef MenteurHwy ,New Or‐leans, LA 70126. Visitation will beginat12:30 p.m. Pastor Bennie Scott, ofﬁci‐ating. Robin’slegacyof love,kindness, andre‐silience will continue to live on in allofus. Shewill be deeply missedand for‐ever remembered.Inter‐ment is private. Guestbook Online:www.anewtraditi onbegins.com (504)2820600. Linear BrooksBoyd andDonavin D. Boyd Own‐ers/FuneralDirectors

Goldvarg, 89, passed away peacefully at home on June 22, 2025 surrounded by her loved ones She was born in Belarus on July 7, 1935, spent the first half of her life in Moscow, and then immigrated to the United States as a refugee with her family in 1980. Sofya will be remembered for her unwavering strength and resilience as sheovercame adversity and hardship throughout so much of her life. Her family and loved ones will deeply miss her fierce yet gentle natureand insistence on keeping everyone who entered her home well -fed. She was adevoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her sister, Yelena, her three children Natasha, Inna, and Paul,five grandchildren, Leon, Emma, Andrew, Bella, and Eric, and one great-grandchild, Mia. A funeralservice willbeheld on Tuesday,June 24, 2025 at 1:00pm with Rabbi David Gerber officiating at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home. Interment to follow in Metairie Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gatesof Prayer Synagogue.

Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas Jemison (age 72). Michael was born on April 6th, 1953 in New Orleans, LA and passed awayathome on Wednesday, June 18th, 2025.His parents were Maurice Francis Jemison II and ElsieMae Richard Jemison. He is survived by hisloving wife of 51 years, Lydia Ziegler Jemison, and three children: Kyle Stefanie, and Rachel. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Melody, his sister, Marilyn, and brother Mark. Michael's second brother, Maurice "Reese" Jemison III, preceded him in death. Michael servedin the United States Air Force and the Louisiana Air National Guard. After his service, he received a bachelor's of science degree in psychologyand later amaster's degree in education curriculum and instruction, both from the University of New Orleans He began his career in medical research, working on breast cancer, stem cell and laser refractivetreatmentsatthe Tulane Medical Center, VA Hospital and LSU Eye Center. After receiving an alternative certification in

teaching, Michaeltaught highschoolscience for 27 yearsinJeffersonParish Teaching gave Michael the joyofhelping students learn science, andallowed him to spend summers with his children. Michael was adevoted husband and father and avoracious readerofboth fiction and non-fiction,especially war novels. He loveda hot cup of tea. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025inthe Lake Lawn MetairieFuneral Home located at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans,LA. Visitation will begin at 11:00am anda funeralmass willtake place at 1:00 pm. Burial to follow mass at the Westlawn Cemeterylocatedat1225 Whitney Avenue, Terrytown, LA. The family invites you to sharefond memoriesand condolences online at www.lakel awnmetairie.com

Johnson Jr., Howard 'Bud''HOJO'

Howard "Bud HOJO JohnsonJr. passedaway on Friday,June13, 2025 at theage of 90. Born in Jack‐sonville,Florida on Novem‐ber19, 1934. He is pre‐cededindeath by hispar‐ents AliceStrattonJones Johnsonand Howard Taft JohnsonSr.,his brother Walter WilliamJohnson, hisson Howard "Buddy Taft Johnsonlll,his late exwife Jane CadellaJohnson He is survived by his daughter AliceRose John‐sonGinart, hisson in law MichaelC.GinartJr.,his grandchildrenJohnClaude Ginart (Ashley),and Jayne CeceliaGinart(Jacob),his greatgrandchildren Averi, Michael, andBeau, his nieces andnephews Au‐gustineand JacobJohnson Jacqueline Johnson Caminita (Jack),and his greatniece Gianna Rey Caminita.His Godchild Sta‐ciePecar Dumas. Budgrad‐uatedfromFortier High Schooland Tulane Univer‐sity.Heservedinthe Ko‐rean Warinthe Army HOJO spenthis workinglife in thetirebusinessinthe GreaterNew OrleansArea. Outsideofwork, he en‐joyedgardening,swim‐ming,early mornings at iHop,Par 3and Charlie's. Budwas also avoracious reader of thrillersand his‐tory.His favorite after‐noons consistedofwatch‐ingfootball with hisfamily andpetting thedogs.Bud will be remembered forhis quietstrength, steady presence,and thesimple joys he cherished- hotcof‐fee, agood book,and time spentwithloved ones.His stories, wit, andwarmth will live on throughthe generationsheleavesbe‐hind.The family ﬁndscom‐fort in knowingheisre‐unitedwiththose he missedsodearly, andthat hislegacyofloveand re‐silience continuesineach of us.The familywould like to give aspecial thankyou to OakParkVillage in Slidellfor theirsupport andkindnessduringthis time.Relatives andfriends areinvited to amemorial visitation on Thursday June 26, 2025 from 10:00 am -12:00 noon at St.Bernard Memorial FuneralHome, 701 W. Virtue St Chal‐mette,LA. AMemorial Mass will begininthe chapel at 12:00 noon Howard willbelaidtorest with military honors in Lake Lawn Park Cemetery, NewOrleans.lnlieuof ﬂowers, thefamilyasks that youenjoy agood meal,reada favorite book, or take aquiet moment in thegardeninhis memory

Keen,Richard Floyd

RichardFloyd Keen, age 71, passedawaypeacefully on June 16, 2025in Metairie, Louisiana,after a courageous battlewith cancer. Born and raised in

camping,

Metairie,Richard was an alumnus JesuitHighSchool and Tulane University. He spent most of his life in his hometown, where he lived quietly butloved deeply.A privateand gentle soul, Richard found his greatest purpose in caringfor those closest to him. He now joins his belovedparents, Lorraine and FloydKeen, in eternal rest. Richard is survivedbyhis two younger brothers, James Keen Sr and Steven Keen. Though he had no children of his own, Richard cherished his role as an uncle, treating hisnieces and nephews—Jason, James Jr., Aubrey, Jourdan, Jeremy, Kathleen, Meghan, and Emerson—as his own. His love forthem was abundant and unwavering,and he madeithis mission to preserve every moment through his ever-present videocamera, ensuring memories were never lost Adevoted family man, Richard was always there when needed. Hisfierce loyaltyextended not only to family but to his friends, whom he cared fordeeply and withouthesitation.His kindness,quiet strength, and generosity of spirit left alasting mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him. Richard also had a deep love foranimals, especially thedogshecared forthroughout his life.His home was always opento his belovedfur babies whose companionship brought him comfort,joy, and aspecial kind of unconditional love.Hehad a lifelong appreciationfor Beatlesmusic and found joy in computer games that allowed him to build, imagine, and createentire worlds. The family extends heartfelt thankstothe doctors and care teams whose compassion and skill brought comfort and dignity to Richard'sfinal days."Here comes thesun, and Isay,it's allright."The Beatles Agraveside service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 10:30am in Hope Mausoleum, 4841 Canal StreetNew Orleans, LA.

AngeloSalvador Leone Jr.passedaway peacefully on Monday, June 16, 2025, at theage of 74. He was thebeloved husband of 32 years to Kassie N. Leone, loving father to Tara K. Leoneand Angelo"Leto LeoneIII,and proud grandfather to Jaxen Copling Angelowas preceded in death by his parents, Zita Zeledon Leone and Angelo S. LeoneSr. He is survived by his brothers Joseph "Wayne" Leone (wife Vanessa) and AllenLeone Sr.(wife Marcia), as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Alifelong resident of NewOrleans and Metairie,Angelo was known for his love of fishing and spent many cherisheddaysonthe water in his boat.Family and friends are invitedtoattend thevisitation at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. NewOrleans, LA on Thursday,June 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM with aGraveside Service to follow at Noon in Metairie Cemetery. The family invites you to share fond memories and condolences online at www.lakel awnmetairie.com

Muldrey, BarrieJohn BarrieJohn Muldrey passed away peacefully on June 16, 2025 at 80 years of age. He wasborn on March 15,1945 in Tucson, AZ to Dr. James Edward Muldrey, Jr. and Rita Kron Muldrey; he grew up in New Orleans LA and wasa graduateof JesuitHighSchool ('63) and TulaneUniversity. Barrie recently movedto Sacramento, CA to be near his son, Barry, daughter-inlaw, Ashley, and grandchildren Genevieve and Donovan. Barrieisalso survived by his three sisters, PatriciaM.Poynot, Margaret (Peg) M. Kane, and Kathleen(Joey) M. Hannigan,and ahost of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Barrieshared alifelong love of the outdoorswith allwho joined

and

Pierce,Susan Blossman

SusanBlossmanPierce passedawayinthe arms of herlovingfamilyonthe eveningofJune 17thather home after battlingbreast cancer.She wasbornin Madisonville on July 3rd, 1945, as theyoungestchild andonlydaughterofAl‐fred Rhodyand MabelPer‐rinBlossmanwiththree olderbrothers, Alfred RhodyJr(Fred), Richard Sampson(Dick), andJack Arthur Blossman.She grew up in theheart of Coving‐tonon23rdAvenue,and latermoved to Covington CountryClubEstates where shecontinued to re‐side,surrounded by family throughout herlife. She graduatedfromSSA and attended LSU. Susan’scre‐ativetalents lead herto become an interior decora‐tor. In 1971 shemarried the love of herlife, Frederick Wesley (Wes)Pierce. Sue andWes were marriedfor 51 yearsand 11 monthsbe‐fore Wespassedawayon January3rd,2023. Despite runningher business, SusanB.PierceInteriors, andserving on severalex‐ecutiveboards, Suewould tell youshe wouldonly wish to be remembered as thedevoted andloving wife andmothershe was. Wesand Suehad four chil‐dren,three daughters (SeanPerrinPierceParker*deceased(Mark), ShanePierceGlass (Melvin),Shannon Pierce Ober(James) andone son (ErinPierce).Theyloved to travel with theirfamilyand spentyears living abroad andtraveling theworld They were abeautiful ex‐ampletotheir children of marriage anda life well lived. Sueand Weswere devote Catholics, andshe believed sharingher faith with herchildrentobeone of hermostimportant priv‐ileges. Herfaith andtrust in Godsaw herthrough dif‐ﬁcult times, such as there‐cent loss of Wesand the loss of Sean Perrin at the ageof27tometastatic breast cancer.She wasal‐

ways grateful to Godfor thegoodtimes,and cele‐brated life whole heart‐edly.Eventhrough hersuf‐feringsinlife, shealways showed aspark of joy. Sue wasincrediblygenerous andloved to spread joy. Shewould beginplanning forChristmas mid-sum‐mer,and woulddevotea greatdealofthought and effort to celebratingevery occasion.She lovedtodine andwould spendhours with familyand friendsfre‐quenting herfavorite places.Sue celebrated life everyday.She cared deeply forthe comfortof others andwould go outof herway to ensure thehap‐piness of thosearound her. Suewas lovingly referred to as “Mimi” by hergrand‐children(Austin Ober,Han‐nahOberShrestha(Shiva), Lily Ober,Molly Ober, Emma Ober,Maren Glass, KathlynGlass, Laurelyn Glass, BrenynnGlass, PatrickPierce, Liam Pierce), andher great grandchildren(Agni Shrestha andAayan Shrestha), who sheloved to spoil. Shewillbesorely missedbyher familyand many friends. Sheissur‐vivedinlifebyher brothers (Fred, Dick,and Jack), her children (Shane,Shannon, andErin),aswellasall of hergrandchildren and greatgrandchildren.Inlieu of ﬂowers, Suerequested youpleaseconsiderdonat‐ingtoStJosephAbbey. Relativesand friendsare invitedtoattendthe Fu‐neralMassatSt. Joseph Abbey, 75376 RiverRoad, SaintBenedict, LA 70457 on Thursday,June 26, 2025 at 1:30 PM with visitation be‐ginningat1:00PMuntil servicetime. Intermentwill follow in St.JosephAbbey Cemetery.E.J.Fieldinghas been entrustedwiththe arrangements.Pleasesign theonlineguestbook at www.ejﬁeldingfh.com

Michael Lemay Sullivan decidedthatiswas time to go Saturday, June 9, 2025. Jane, hiswife of thirty-five years wasathis side. He wasthe son of Sharon and Gene Sullivan.Heissurvived by hisdaughter, Anaïs Sullivan Nunez (Corey), step-children, Anne Chenuau, Karen Chenuau, andPaul-André Chenuau, grandchildren Chloë, Noah,Marcel, Emma andAmelie, hisbrother, MarkSullivan andsister Bridget Sullivan Buck He spent hisprofessional career working in theoil and gas industry at George Engine andlater at Power SystemsSpecialists. Mike hadtwo passionsinaddition to hisfamily: music, especially theBeatlesand John Lennon and model trains. He wasforever designingthe perfect layout for hisimaginarytrain station andtown somewhere in France. He waskindand generous andmuchloved by hisfamilyand those whoknewhim. Keep himin yourhearts, that's where he wouldwant to be. The familywill have amemorial service later in the year to honor his life.

him

canoeing, whitewater rafting,

skiing

Sullivan, Michael Lemay

Goldvarg, Sofya

Sofya

Leone Jr., Angelo S.

Jemison,

DEATHS

SPORTS

FIRE STILLRAGES

OMAHA, Neb Jay Johnson’sbio from his ﬁrst seasonasatransfer inﬁelder at Point Loma NazareneUniversity lists his greatest sportsthrill in college up to that point:

“Beating Lassen College witha basesclearing double.” Times have changed forJohnson. The thrills have grown. Andmultiplied. Monday morning at theLSU baseball team hotel,the elevator doors parted and out walked Johnson andhis wife Maureen. Tucked under his arm wasthe

prizedheirloom they picked up during their two-week stay here —the NCAA championship trophy Johnson left asuccessful tenure at

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By NAM y. HUH

Khaman Maluach participates at the 2025 NBADraftcombinein ChicagoonMay 13.

Pels go bigand small in this mock draft

BYTIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

Arizona to come to LSU because of its tradition and its rabid fan support. He’s built on bothwith two College World Series titles in his ﬁrst four seasons, capped by Sunday’s5-3 victory over Coastal Carolina after Saturday’s1-0 win to start the CWS ﬁnal.

On Johnson’sslightly weary but clearly content face he wore agrin that you couldn’tscrub off with 24-grit sandpaper as he paused for autographs and

ä See RABALAIS, page 4C

OKLAHOMACITY The promise came three years agofrom Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti. It might have been overlooked for acouple of reasons. One, the Thunderwas awfulatthe time. Two, he was speaking Latin. “Labor omnia vincit,”Presti said afterthe 2021-22 season, quoting amotto of Oklahoma. Depending on how Presti was translating it, it could have been “hard work conquers all” or “slow work conquers all.” Eitherway,itappliestothe Thunder.Itdid the hard work slowly Anditconquered all.

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

OMAHA, Neb It didn’t take much for Jay Johnson to fall asleep Sunday night. Thenewly minted two-time national champion had just led LSU to its eighth national titleand second championship in threeyears.Asthe architect of the team that took down Coastal Carolina 5-3inGame 2ofthe College WorldSeries ﬁnal on Sunday at Charles Schwab Field, Johnson deserved somerest. He had spent countless hours constructing aroster that included12 transfers, three junior-college recruits and10freshmen.Before he ﬁnally went to bed, he wanted to meet with his team one moretime.

“Wespent 15 minutestalking about what this means. Andfor me, it’s special,” JohnsontoldThe Advocateon Monday morningbefore theteam departed forBaton Rouge. “I thinkthese guys are aworthychampion. Andthe way our society is, you have to winthat last gametoberemembered forever And Ifelt like these guys are deserving of that.”

After leaving the ballpark Sunday,the celebration forJohnson continued back at the team hotel. That’swhere the team held its brief meeting before Johnson congregated with his coaching staff and afew players. He also got to spend more time withhis family before hitting the sack around 1a.m.

“Just wentover to the ballpark this morning, and (it wasa)great moment,” Johnson said. “And excited to get back homenow and celebrate with our fans.”

Resting is rarely an option for Johnson. There’salways anext season and another team to build to get backto Omaha. Even Sunday night, Johnson was texting withplayers in thetransferportaland committed high school recruits.

“It was moremeresponding to the guys that reached out to me than anything else,” he said. Presumably, LSUwinninga second nationaltitle in threeyearsshould make building the next championship team

ä See JOHNSON, page 4C

Rod Walker

TheNew Orleans Pelicans have two picks in the first round of the NBA draft Wednesday night. The Pelicans own picks No. 7and 23 They don’thave any second-round picks in what will be the first draft of the Joe Dumars’ era. Dumars was hired in April as executive vice president of basketball operations, replacing David Griffin who was fired after six seasons.

ä NBA Draft, 7P.M.WEDNESDAy,ESPN

Dumars and his new right-hand man, senior vicepresident of basketballoperations Troy Weaver, will try to ﬁndthe pieces in this year’sdraft class to complement what is already on theroster Before Dumars and Weaver make their selections Wednesday, let’stakeour turn in thedecisionmaking chairand pick for the Pelicans in amock draft.

ä See WALKER, page 3C

The Thunder—threeyears removed from winning 24 games won84games thisseasonand is NBA champions after beating the Indiana Pacers in aseven-game NBA Finalsslugfestthatended Sundaynight with theThunder on top 103-91. Forthe rest of theNBA,this should be ascary development. Oklahoma Cityhas theMVP in ShaiGilgeous-Alexander.Heand all of Oklahoma City’s keyplayers are undercontract for next season, there’sa2024 lottery pick in Nikola Topic who didn’teven play this season because of atorn ACL, andthe Thundercurrently

has two picks in the top24inthis year’sdraftaswell. The OKC starters, right now,are 27, 26, 26,24and 23. The Thunder should be contending forawhile. “Wedeﬁnitely still have room to grow,” saidGilgeous-Alexander the MVP,the NBAFinalsMVP, theleague’sscoring champion and nowanNBA champion. “That’s thefun part of this. So manyof us can still get better.There’snot verymanyofusonthe team that are in our primeorevenclose to it. We have alot to grow,individually and as agroup. I’m excited forthe future of this team. This is agreat start, forsure.” Plenty of teams have questions going into next season. Oklahoma City isn’tone of them. Jayson TatuminBoston,Damian Lillard in Milwaukee and now Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana all

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

nal in Omaha, Neb.

LOUISIANA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky will host the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The game will be televised by NBATV.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By AJ MAST

Consummate team player

Unselfish Johnson made a name for herself at Louisiana Tech, in WNBA

BY TEDDY ALLEN Contributing writer

This is an entry in a proﬁle series of inductees for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The induction ceremony is set for Saturday in Natchitoches.

Vickie Johnson picked up a basketball as a challenge when she was 9 years old and used it to prove a point, ﬁrst in the backyard against her brother and two cousins in Coushatta, then on her way to becoming a two-time AllAmerican at Louisiana Tech, then through 13 seasons in the WNBA and a concurrent 15 overseas, and now through another 15 seasons as a WNBA coach.. Summer ball

AAU teammate Sarah Harrison Zeagler described Johnson as “polite, well-mannered, very bashful and shy and insanely talented.”

It’s that mix that vaulted Johnson, a 5-foot-9 guard with a pure all-around game and sweet baseline jumper, toward a spot in the 2025 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class.

A year later, 1982, she saw Louisiana Tech and USC, titans of the women’s college game at the time, playing on television.

“I watched with my mom and it I was thrilled, you know?” Johnson said. “I told her, ‘One day, I’m playing college basketball. I’m gonna play for the team in the blue, the team with the stars going down their jerseys.’ ”

The “team in blue” was the Lady Techsters, located about 70 miles from her home.

“Well,” said the woman everyone in Coushatta called “Mrs. Susie,” the single mom with three jobs, “if you’re gonna play for them, you’d better get back outside.”

By the time Johnson was a sophomore at Coushatta High, she committed to play for Tech

But it wasn’t the same program watched on TV in 1982. Tech fell

PHOTO By LISA BLUMENFELD

She did it with a silky grace and salty presence.

“She was as smooth a basketball player as I can remember coaching,” Barmore said. “She would roam the baseline and make that little jump shot all night. It was a beautiful thing to watch.”

Thomas Assembly Center proved to be only a launching pad.

In the 1997 WNBA Elite Draft

Johnson was the 12th player chosen. She played nine seasons with the New York Liberty and four with the San Antonio Silver Stars. She was twice an All-Star and won the league’s Sportsmanship Award in 2008, her last as a player, and has been a coach in the league since. She also was the ﬁrst WNBA player to collect 4,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in a career

A turning point of sorts goes back to a phone call she made to home after her ﬁrst three days of practice at Tech. She told her mom of Barmore, “This man is crazy. I can’t satisfy this guy.”

She was thinking of transferring to LSU.

But on that call, her mom asked her three questions:

“You wanted to go to Tech, right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“You’re at Louisiana Tech right now, right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“You signed a scholarship, a contract, right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Then stay your ass right there.”

IN BRIEF FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Rebuilding Pac-12 reaches deal with CBS

The Pac-12 struck a mediarights deal with CBS on Monday that sets up the network to broadcast a minimum of four football and men’s basketball games per season on its main network and provide a cable and streaming presence for the reconfigured league from 2026-31. Financial details of the new deal were not disclosed Conference Commissioner Teresa Gould called it a “transformational partnership” that allows the Pac-12 to grow when it starts as a remodeled league in 2026-27.

An inability to secure a media deal is what nearly cratered the league in 2023, with all but Oregon State and Washington State departing for the Big 12, Atlantic Coast and Big Ten conferences.

Orioles place catcher Handley on concussion IL

BALTIMORE The Baltimore Orioles placed catcher Maverick Handley on the seven-day concussion injured list a day after he was knocked over in a collision at the plate.

The Orioles announced the move Monday Baltimore also selected the contract of catcher Chadwick Tromp from Triple-A Norfolk. Handley was hurt in the second inning Sunday against the New York Yankees when Jazz Chisholm tried to score on DJ LeMahieu’s single to left. Outfielder Colton Cowser’s throw was up the thirdbase line and Handley moved over to ﬁeld the ball. He reached for the ball just as Chisholm ran past him. Chisholm attempted to veer inside, but couldn’t avoid the collision and Handley was spun by the contact.

Rangers call up Dunning, send Boushley to minors

BALTIMORE The Texas Rangers brought back right-hander Dane Dunning from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday after reliever Caleb Boushley was optioned to the minors.

Texas made the move before the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore, a day after Boushley threw 72 pitches.

out of the Top 25 in 1990-91 for the ﬁrst time in 13 years, then lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The next season was equally mediocre. “No question that Vickie coming to Louisiana Tech really helped put the program back on the national map,” Tech coach Leon Barmore said. “If we hadn’t signed that class — Vickie, Racquel Spurlock, Amy Brown — we would have disappeared from the national spotlight.”

As a freshman in 1992-93, Johnson helped take Tech to the NCAA regional ﬁnals. During her four

seasons, the Lady Techsters were 116-17 and finished as national runner-up in 1994.

“Vickie was the ultimate teammate,” Barmore said “She did whatever it took to win, whether that meant playing defense or scoring or just being a leader.”

Whether it was a trait developed in the backyard or through emulating her mother, Johnson’s selflessness came early

“Vickie could have played all ﬁve positions by herself,” Zeagler said. “She could see the ﬂoor everything, everywhere, like she had eyes in the back of her head.”

That’s the conversation Johnson recalls. “At the time I was devastated,” Johnson said.

The next day, Barmore told Johnson before practice that he had received a phone call overnight. It was from Johnson’s mother

“She told coach Barmore, ‘Don’t mistreat her, but stay on her Don’t cut her any slack. Let her know that this is about more than basketball; this is about life,’” Johnson said. “And that’s what he did.

“I can truly tell you that the discipline and consistency coach Barmore instilled in me during my years at Tech is what I carried with me as a player and is what I carry with me as a coach.”

NASCAR hoping tournament sparks interest

BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter

LONG POND, Pa. It’s time to bust out the brackets, pick an upset or two, and follow winners on the road — a journey over city streets, concrete and bricks to the ﬁnal four and beyond. Totally awesome, baby? Forget all the upset specials in March. NASCAR will find out soon enough if its attempt to snap out of a mid-summer malaise with its ﬁrst in-season tournament is a success with drivers and fans as it strives to boost engagement and build buzz in the staid regular season. The concept has already juiced enthusiasm in NASCAR to levels not seen since the halcyon days when Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough duked it out in the 1979 Daytona 500.

“To be really honest with you,” 2020 NASCAR champion Chase Elliott said, “I have not paid any attention to it.” Maybe a look at the matchup will get NASCAR’s most popular driver pumped.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Denny Hamlin will be the No. 1 seed in NASCAR’s inaugural In-Season Challenge tournament.The event is based on the NCAA basketball tournament and starts this weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Elliott is seeded ﬁfth against No. 28 seed Austin Dillon in the ﬁrst round of the head-to-head showdown in the race-within-the-race set for this weekend at the track better known as Atlanta Motor Speedway Here’s a refresher for Elliott and any other sports fan who missed out on the specifics of NASCAR joining the in-season tournament party, much like attempts in the NBA, NHL, and, of course throughout the world in soccer

NASCAR is set to start the engines on a five-race, bracket-style tournament called the In-Season Challenge in the midst of the summer slate, which comes with a $1 million prize to the winner The final 32-driver field was set by results of the past three races at Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono. The drivers are paired in head-to-head matchups based on seeding, with the winners advancing to the next round in a bracket format that mirrors the NCAA basketball tournaments.

Buoyed by a win at Michigan and a runner-up ﬁnish at Pocono, Denny Hamlin earned the top seed. He’ll square off — race off?

— against No. 32 seed Ty Dillon. Pocono winner Chase Briscoe is the No. 2 seed and is pitted against No. 31 seed Noah Gragson.

Chris Buescher is third, Christopher Bell fourth and Elliott ﬁfth, among notable names.

The format is single elimination with the field cut to 16 at the street race in Chicago, eight at Sonoma, four on the lone concrete track in the series at Dover and the ﬁnal two over the yard of bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Challenge is part of NASCAR’s media rights deal that

includes TNT, and the Atlantabased cable network will broadcast all ﬁve races in the tournament, starting with the 400-miler in Atlanta.

Aside from a shrug from Elliott and a few others, drivers are intrigued by the idea of increasing the stakes in each race beyond a playoff berth, trophy and the winner’s purse.

“I love it. I think it’s great,” three-time Cup champion Joey Logano said. “I think it’s placed perfectly where it is in the season. This is kind of that moment where the newness is worn off. We’re into the rhythm, we’re racing every week. It’s starting to start a little bit of, who’s going to be in the playoffs, who’s not, the cutoff line all those types of things. But it’s not really the main story quite yet.”

Stories are what sell.

“This really spices up the midpart of the season,” Logano said. So does placing a few bucks on No. 11 to win.

But as of Monday afternoon, most sports gambling sites did not offer odds on speciﬁc matchups headed into Atlanta. NASCAR is offering $1 million to a winning fan with a perfect bracket in its fantasy game.

Boushley faced 22 batters, allowing five runs and 10 hits while pitching the final four innings of an 8-3 loss Sunday at Pittsburgh. That was five days after the righthander also finished a 6-1 home loss against Kansas City, when he retired all 10 batters over the final 31⁄3 innings. He has a 5.04 ERA in 15 appearances over two stints with the Rangers this season.

Prosecutors in Franco trial seek five-year sentence

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic Dominican prosecutors have requested that suspended Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco be sentenced to ﬁve years in prison for his alleged crimes.

Franco faces charges of sexual abuse involving a girl who was 14 years old at the time.

The prosecutors said in court there is sufficient evidence to prove Franco had a relationship with the minor for four months and that he transferred large sums of money to the minor’s mother to consent to the illegal relationship.

The prosecutors also requested the minor’s mother be sentenced to 10 years in prison, arguing she sexually trafﬁcked her daughter

Arizona baseball coach gets contract extension

TUCSON, Ariz. Arizona has extended baseball coach Chip Hale’s contract four years through 2030 after he led the Wildcats back to the College World Series. Terms of the deal announced Monday were not released and must still be approved by the Arizona Board of Regents.

Hale has led Arizona to the NCAA Tournament four straight times since returning to Tucson to coach his alma mater in 2021. The Wildcats returned to the College World Series this year for the ﬁrst time since 2021.

Hale, a former manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, has led Arizona to consecutive conference tournament championships, coached six All-Americans and two first-round Major League Baseball picks.

Vickie Johnson starred in the WNBA for the New york Liberty and San Antonio Silver Stars.

Johnson

Haliburton injury casts shadow over Pacers’ future

BY MICHAEL MAROT

AP sports writer

INDIANAPOLIS Tyrese Haliburton took the Indiana Pacers to heights few thought possible after they started this season with a 10-15 record Getting back might take some time after team ofﬁcials conﬁrmed Monday that the two-time All-Star tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, an injury that could cost Haliburton all of next season

The announcement casts a pall on his historic postseason run — which included a litany of incredible plays, buzzer-beating winners and occasionally unprecedented stat lines — and it helped propel the Pacers to their second NBA Finals appearance and within one victory of the franchise’s ﬁrst championship.

“An MRI taken on Monday conﬁrmed that Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon. Surgery is scheduled later today with Dr Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York,” the team said.

Coach Rick Carlisle still believes that when Haliburton heals he will be every bit as good.

“He will be back,” Carlisle said after the 103-91 loss at Oklahoma City “I don’t have any medical information about what’s what, what may or may not have happened. But he’ll be back in time, and I believe he’ll make a full recovery.”

A healthy Haliburton certainly makes the Pacers a stronger team They likely wouldn’t have made it this far without him orchestrating three incredible rallies from seven points down in the ﬁnal 50 seconds of regulation in three weeks.

But after scoring nine points, all on 3-pointers, in the ﬁrst seven minutes of the biggest game in franchise history, Haliburton’s crash to the ﬂoor and sudden departure created a double whammy for Indiana.

Not only did they lose their leader, but Indiana also fell short in its title chase.

“We just kept battling because we wanted to make Indiana proud, make our fans proud,” three-time All-Star Pascal Siakam said. “We tried our best, but we’ve got to be strong. It’s hard to look forward into the future after you lose like this.”

But everyone else is, and the questions about Haliburton’s playing status could make this offseason murkier than expected for Pacers presi-

WALKER

Continued from page 1C

For this exercise, we used a draft simulator to make the picks leading up to the Pelicans’ picks. The simulator drafted picks 1-6, with me making the seventh pick for the Pelicans. Then the simulator drafted picks 8-22 with me making the 23rd pick. To keep it simple, we didn’t allow for any trades in this mock draft. Here it goes:

1. Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (Duke)

2. Spurs: Dylan Harper (Rutgers)

3. 76ers: Ace Bailey (Rutgers)

4. Hornets: VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)

5. Jazz: Tre Johnson (Texas)

6. Wizards: Kon Knueppel (Duke)

7. The New Orleans Pelicans are now on the clock The Pelicans were one pick away from a chance to grab Knueppel, who would have been a perfect ﬁt for the roster He’s one of the better shooters in the draft and would be a good complement to put around Zion Williamson. If Knueppel is

NBA

Continued from page 1C

have Achilles injuries and figure to miss most, if not all, of next season. LeBron James of the Lakers will be going into his 23rd season. Golden State’s Stephen Curry is turning 38 next season Kevin Durant, now of Houston, is going into his 18th season. New York is dealing with a coaching change. Oklahoma City seems to have everything in place.

“They have a lot of great

dent of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard. There are silver linings, though.

At age 25, Haliburton is young enough to return to his pre-injury form and today’s medical advances could help shorten the expected timetable of about 12 months.

Many players, including some much older than Haliburton, have shown it is possible to make a full comeback from torn Achilles tendons, and Siakam has no doubt Haliburton will join the club.

“I know there’s more coming, it’s just a tough a situation,” Siakam said.

“I think back a couple of years and basketball was just not fun, you know, and I got traded here and these guys, they just gave me a boost and playing with these guys is so incredible. I found joy with so much swagger and happiness.”

Indiana also will begin next season with a strong supporting cast intact and room to grow defensively

Nine of Indiana’s top 10 players are under contract for 2025-26, with starting center Myles Turner the lone exception.

The Pacers also have strong guard play from Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell, who can run the show, as well as emerging defender Ben Sheppard.

Aaron Nesmith and Bennedict Mathurin also demonstrated their scoring prowess in the postseason Both also showed they can defend guards and forwards, giving Indiana perhaps the toughness and ﬂexibility to overcome a Haliburton absence.

For now, though, it remains hard to fathom chasing a title with Haliburton possibly out for most, if not all, of next season.

“A lot of us were hurting from the loss and he was up there consoling us. That’s who Tyrese Haliburton is,” McConnell said. “He’s just the greatest.”

Florida’s Walter Clayton goes up high to score in Florida’s 79-65 win over LSU on Feb 22 at the Pete

Assembly Center

still here at 7, he’d be the ﬁrst choice. The simulator has Ace Bailey going third, which is where he was originally projected to go. But his unwillingness to work out for several teams could lead to him sliding How far he slides remains to be seen. If the Pelicans have a high grade on him and feel they can get past the reports that say he wants to be a star right away, perhaps they take a chance on Bailey Since he’s also not avail-

players on this team,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren all seem to enjoy playing with and off of one another, none of them caring who gets credit. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein fit seamlessly into the roles the Thunder asked them to play Luguentz Dort is a defensive machine and has come to realize that most people don’t have the ability to appreciate how good he is at that end Presti, the architect of it all, rarely speaks publicly.

able in this mock, I’ll use the seventh pick on Duke center Khaman Maluach. His size (7-foot-2), athleticism and ability to protect the rim is too good to pass up, even on a roster that already has the promising Yves Missi. Maluach is only 18, so there’s plenty of upside. Speaking of upside, there was strong consideration here for 18-year-old Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears. Don’t be surprised if he’s the pick, but I’m leaning

Same goes for Clay Bennett, the owner And coach Mark Daigneault is the calm in the eye of any storm, the perfect driver of the Thunder bus.

“There’s no guarantee you end it the way that we did,” Daigneault said. “I just wanted it so bad for them. I was just so thrilled that we were able to get that done and they get to experience this because they deserve it. The way they approach it, the professionalism, competitiveness, team-ﬁrst nature, like I said, I wanted it so bad for them.” The journey isn’t over for

Athletics celebrate groundbreaking of home in Vegas

BY W.G. RAMIREZ Associated Press

LAS VEGAS With mounds of dirt, construction vehicles and the exact location where home plate will be at the new Athletics ballpark serving as the backdrop Monday morning, team owner John Fisher stood in front of a large gathering with one message: “We are Vegas’ team.”

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, state and local government dignitaries, former Athletics greats such as Rollie Fingers and Dave Stewart and many others looked on as the team celebrated the groundbreaking of a $1.75 billion, 33,000-person capacity ballpark that is expected to be ﬁnished in time for the 2028 season.

Nevada and Clark County have approved up to $380 million in public money for the project.

“I have no doubt this is done in 2028,” team president Marc Badain said.

“You know the workforce here; they’re all here and ready to get going.

“It’s nice to see the validation a day like today brings and what the next three years will mean for the community and for the construction project and the jobs and everything else that you’re going to see as this building comes out of the ground starting as early as tonight.”

Badain went through a similar process when serving in the same capacity for the NFL’s Raiders. He was a central ﬁgure in that team’s move from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020 as well as the approval and construction of $2 billion Allegiant Stadium.

While waiting for Allegiant Stadium to be finished, the Raiders remained in Oakland for three seasons in the sta-

toward Maluach.

Back to the simulator for picks 8-22.

8. Nets: Derik Queen (Maryland)

9. Raptors: Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)

10. Suns: Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)

11. Trail Blazers: Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)

12. Bulls: Egor Demin (BYU)

13. Hawks: Collin MurrayBoyles (South Carolina)

14. Spurs: Carter Bryant (Arizona)

15. Thunder: Jase Richardson (Michigan State)

16. Grizzlies: Noa Essengue (France)

17. Timberwolves: Cedric Coward (Washington State)

18. Wizards: Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s)

19. Nets: Asa Newell (Georgia)

20. Heat: Danny Wolf (Michigan)

21. Jazz: Nolan Traore (France)

22: Hawks: Nique Clifford (Colorado State)

23. If the Pelicans can get Florida guard Walter Clayton here, you’d have to call this draft a success. A key part of the Gators winning the national title, Clayton is a great shooter at all three levels and came up big in

the Thunder It’s just starting. Presti has a war chest filled with draft picks and the team has some ﬁnancial ﬂexibility to add a piece if it so chooses. And now there’s a title to defend. Labor omnia vincit. There’s more work to do.

“We have a lot of hard work in front of us,” Presti said that day in 2022. “We have to grind in and do it. That’s what the state is about. That’s what the history of the community is about. That’s what the basketball team here is about.”

dium they shared with the A’s. But while the Raiders maintained a largely strong connection to the Bay Area even while playing as a lame-duck franchise, A’s fans were incensed about their team’s impending departure and the process involved.

That made staying in Oakland untenable for the franchise which played its final season in the dilapidated stadium last year The A’s are playing the first of at least three years about an hour away at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento, California, while they await their move to Las Vegas.

“We are a local team,” Fisher said. “And we want to start from the youngest of fans, because if you can get the kids, you can get their parents. It takes less time than you think; what really takes time is to have a winner.”

“Our goal is to continue to build upon what we have, and building a team is like building anything else. Sometimes it takes more time than you want it to. It’s like building the stadium. And we think that we have the pieces to make ourselves really successful.”

the clutch time and time again. The other player I was hoping would fall to the Pelicans here was Nique Clifford, taken one pick earlier by the simulator Most draft boards have Clayton still around at 23. If he’s there, this could be a steal even bigger than the Pelicans getting Missi with the No. 21 pick a year ago. So those are my two picks: Duke center Khaman Maluach and Florida guard Walter Clayton. The real picks come Wednesday night.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com

STAFF FILE PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS

Maravich

AP PHOTO By JOHN LOCHER A person takes a picture near construction equipment during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Athletics’ baseball stadium on Monday in Las Vegas.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIO CORTEZ

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton reacts after scoring during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in Oklahoma City.

Adoringfansgive‘electric’welcome to champs

BY TOYLOYBROWN III

Staff writer

Foam fingers rose. Pens were uncappedready for autographs In the 95-degree heat of aBaton Rouge afternoon,asea of purple and gold uncorkedaseason’sworth of joy

The nation’sbest college baseball team returned home from Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday,and the hundreds of LSU fans were more than ready to cheer for the team members.

“Electric,”LSU senior thirdbaseman MichaelBraswell said of the reception. “The best of thebest Not too many words to describe it There’snobetter place to play in college baseball,and thefans are deﬁnitely the main reasonfor that.”

LSU returned to Alex Box Sta-

JOHNSON

Continued from page1C

easier,but Johnsonrevealed Monday that LSU already has lost players because of its success this week in Omaha.

One player in the portal texted him after LSU’s Game 1win over Coastal Carolina to inform Johnson that he wasn’tgoing to visit LSU on Thursday and would be going to another school instead. Such astory is partially why Johnsonisn’tsure how this week’ssuccesswill translate on the recruiting trail.

“I was like, ‘I don’tknow if you just watched what happened,’ Johnson said, ‘that the number one pick in the draft for the second (time in three years) is going to be a pitcher from LSU, and he’s not coming back next year.’“

RABALAIS

Continued from page1C

dium with theloveofits fanson Monday,a dayafter capturing its eighth CollegeWorld Series title. The team formally will celebrate at 7p.m. Wednesday when the team has anational championship celebrationatthe same location. Plenty of admirers didn’t want to wait, flocking tothe stadium’s entrance an hour before theteam’s expected3 p.m. arrival Monday The ﬁrst person to exit one of the threepolice-escortedbuses transporting theteam was coach Jay Johnson, who pumpedboth of his ﬁsts in the airasthe adulation of the fans surroundedhim “Everythingyou dreamabout,”

Johnson is confident in what the Tigers have coming back next season.Sophomores Steven Milam and Jake Brown and freshman DerekCuriel heada position player group that couldalso bring back juniors Ethan Frey and Chris Stanﬁeld. Pitching depthis expected to be astrength with freshmen such as right-hander Casan Evans andleft-hander Cooper Williams returning. Johnson and his staff will have plenty of time to ﬁll in thepieces around those playersthis summer.Inthe meantime, it’stime to celebrate.

“I’m excited to get back homenow and celebrate with our fans,” Johnson said Monday before returning home later in the day to do just that.

Email KokiRiley at Koki. Riley@theadvocate.com.

selﬁeswith fans and hugs with LSU players’ parents. Youcould tell these are the moments that make all the work worthwhile. The hours of practice. The endless recruiting phone calls. Skipping the team dinner at aswanky Omaha steakhouse to prepare for the next day’sopponent.

“It’swhy coaching at LSUis special,” Johnson said before boarding one of the team buses bound for Omaha’sEppley Airﬁeld. “You know,very rarely in life do you get to do something that so many people care about I’m lucky to have aposition these last four years that alot of people care about and take pride in.

“Kind of the best moment of the whole thing (Sunday) was just hearing our song blasting on the (stadium) speakers and looking up in the stands and seeing all the joy on the LSU faces. They’re always behind LSU,

Johnson, atwo-time championship coach, said. “Just becausewedid it twoyears ago, we certainty don’t take it for granted.”

Junior ﬁrstbaseman Jared Jones looked like acaptain as he donned what appeared to be asailor hat as he carriedthe national trophy into the stadium. Fanscalled out to each playeron aﬁrst-namebasis.Thishappened to both thepotential No.1 pick in the MLBdraft, sophomoreKadeAnderson, andplayers whodidn’tget an at-bat in the postseason.

When freshmanleftﬁelderDerek Curiel was thefirst to sign autographs,childrenspoke to himlike they were family members asking about his dog.

“I’m just so happyweget to enjoy it with the fans now thatwe’re back in Baton Rouge,” Curiel said. “The

people who made it happen are here, so we’re super excited. This was our goal from DayOne, and we accomplished that.”

Oneofthe fans to receiveautographs fromanumberofplayers was Amanda Boulton’s youngsons andnieces, whoheldasign that said “Weﬂew from Saudi Arabia to celebrate#8.”

Boulton’sfamily is fromBaton Rougebut haslived internationally the last few years because of her husband’sjob.They’re back in Louisiana for summerbreak and needed to see the team they’re accustomed to watching at 2a.m. in the ﬂesh.The appreciation comes from more than the winning.

“You can’thelp but want to be a part of it,” Boultonsaid.“This is one of my favorite baseball teams, andwefollowedbaseballfor sev-

eral years. But these guys have just kind of wonover my heart. Ilove their attitudes, their sportsmanship

“Those are the kind of guys that I want my boys to look up to as mentors.”

As playerssignedanassortment of baseballs, bats, shirts, cards and more, theyengaged with toddlers who sometimes dropped the ball they so eagerly waited to be signed, and adults who joke about wishing aseniorlikeBraswellhad another year of eligibility

“Seeing the love and support from everybody throughout the state, throughout the city,itmeans theworld to me,” junior pitcher ConnerWare said. “Thisiswhat you cometoLSU for.”

Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com

but they were really behind this team, and Ifelt like ourplayers really deserved that.”

It’sobvious what this year’s CWStitle means for LSU as a baseball program. It’sthe Tigers’ eighthchampionship —still second-most all-time behind USC, butthe fourthsincethe Trojans won the last of their 12 titles in 1998. Since LSU’sﬁrst CWS triumph in 1991, no other program has won more than three. If the Tigers aren’tthe gold standard —orpurple-and-gold standard— of college baseball in its modern, transfer portal,lots-of-schoolsthrowing-money-at-the-sport era, thensuch standards don’texist. Whatmay be alittleless obvious is where this championship puts Johnson in the hierarchy of great coaches in the history of college baseball and LSU athletics. Youcan debate whether he is anall-time great in the same pantheon as SkipBertman, Nick Saban or Kim Mulkey,but it’s hard to argue withthe accomplishments, even though he’s coached the Tigers for only four seasons.

When it comes to championship coaches, Johnson occupies some exceptionally rare air:

•Heisthe ﬁrst college baseball coach to wintwo CWS titles in his ﬁrst fourseasonsata school.

•He’sone of three coaches to lead two different teams to Omaha(Johnson coached Arizona heretwice) andwin theCWS with at least one of those schools. AugieGarrido won titles at Cal State Fullerton and Texas, and Mike Gillespie won at USC and coached UC Irvine there

•Heisjustthe sixthcoach at LSU in all sports to win multiple national championships at the school, joining track and field coach Pat Henry (27), Bertman (five),track coaches Dennis Shaver and Sam Seemes,and men’sgolf coach J. Perry Cole (allwithtwo). What makes Johnsonexceptional?It’sthat fire that burns hotter in some coaches and athletes,that makes them want to outwork everyoneelse. Iasked him by thebus whether that fire burns just as hot after two cham-

pionships as it did before the ﬁrst one. The smile returned to his face.

“I told(the players), and they probably thought Iwas alittle weird, but Igot alittle sadthat we’re not having practice today,” Johnson said. He is atrue believerinthe power of whatBertmanbuilt at LSU with ﬁve national titles in 10 years, what Paul Mainieri kept burning with another CWS title in 2009 and atrip to the ﬁnalsin 2017. What he is nowresponsible for not just maintaining but expanding.

Johnson told astory of arecruit, who he revealed on Sunday to be current Tennessee reliever Nate Snead, who canceled a visit to LSU in 2023 because the Tigerswere still playing in the CWS. He told the same story of an unnamed recruit who did a similar thing this year

“I mean, some dude texted me immediately afterGame1was over that he wasn’tgoing to take his visit on Thursday,”Johnson said. “He’sgoing to another school. Iwas like, ‘I don’tknow if

LSUcoach JayJohnson shares a moment with left fielder Derek Curiel, left,and shortstop StevenMilam on the field Sunday after the final game of the CollegeWorld Series final in Omaha, Neb LSUdefeated Coastal Carolina 5-3 to winits eighth national title.

STAFFPHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

you just watched what happened, but the number one pick in the draftfor the second time(in three years) is going to be apitcher from LSU. He’snot coming back next year.’

Johnson refers to stafface and CWS MVP KadeAnderson, whojust pitched twobrilliant games here allowing one run in 16 combined innings. Whether or not Anderson is the No.1pick in the MLB draftlike Paul Skenes remains to be seen, but the point waswellmade.

“Ifyou can’twatch that as a testimonial that this is the place to be if you wanttobeamajorleague player and have the best baseball experience of your life, this place is not foryou,” Johnson said. “Wewon’tlower the standard on that.”

Oh, yes. The ﬁrestill burns for Johnson, all right. He’sstill after much morethan that bases-clearing double against Lassen College.

For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

LSU first baseman Jared Jones carries the championship trophyMonday at Alex Box Stadium after theTigers returned from Omaha, Neb.

STAFF PHOTOSByMICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU third baseman Michael Braswell wavesasfans cheer after the Tigers returned MondaytoAlex Box Stadium with anational titlewon Sunday

LSUcoachJay Johnson speakswith starting pitcher Anthony Eyanson and hisinfi

in Omaha, Neb

LSU relief pitcher ChaseShores throws his glove in celebration after the Tigers defeated Coastal Carolina. Shores handled the final eight outs of the season.

STAFF PHOTOSByHILARy SCHEINUK

TheLSU baseball team and staff celebrate their 5-3 win over Coastal Carolina in Game 2ofthe CollegeWorld Series finals on SundayinOmaha, Neb. LSUwon its eighth national titleand itssecondunder coach JayJohnson

LSUplayers pile onto each other after defeatingCoastal Carolina in Game 2ofthe CollegeWorld Series finals on SundayinOmaha, Neb.The Tigers finished the season 53-15.

LSUleft fielder DerekCuriel runs through first base on SaturdayinGame 1ofthe CollegeWorld Series finals between LSU and Coastal Carolina in Omaha, Neb

LSU starting pitcher AnthonyEyanson celebrates after recording astrikeoutSunday against Coastal Carolina. The victorywas Eyanson’s12thofthe season.

LSU pitcher Kade Anderson is awarded the John D.

award for Most Outstanding Playerafter

Series win Sunday

LSU first basemanJared Jones makes the catch at first base forthe out as Coastal Carolina designated hitter Dean Mihos runs to the bag on SaturdayinOmaha, Neb

NewOrleans Forecast

SCOREBOARD

Team Rebounds: 13. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 8(Holmgren 5, GilgeousAlexander 2, Caruso). Turnovers: 7(Hartenstein 2, Dort,GilgeousAlexander, Jal.Williams, Mitchell, Wallace) Steals: 14 (Caruso 3, Dort 3, Wallace3,Jal. Williams 2, Gilgeous-Alexander, Hartenstein, Holmgren). Technical Fouls:None. Indiana22262023— 91 Oklahoma City 25 22 34 22 —103

A_18,203 (18,203). T_2:40. WNBAGlance

EASTERN CONFERENCE WL PctGB New York 10 3.769

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Minnesota 8 Colorado 4, Arizona 2 San Diego 3, Kansas City2 San Francisco 9, Boston 5 L.A. Dodgers13, Washington 7 Philadelphia 7, N.Y. Mets 1 Monday’s Games Atlanta at N.Y. Mets,n N.Y. Yankees at Cincinnati,n Arizona

6:10 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (Rodón 9-5)atCincinnati (Burns 0-0),6:10 p.m. Arizona (Nelson4-2) at Chicago White Sox (Burke 3-7),6:40 p.m. Pittsburgh (Heaney 3-6) at Milwaukee (Misiorowski 2-0), 6:40 p.m. Chicago Cubs (Taillon7-4) at St. Louis (Fedde 3-6), 6:45 p.m. Philadelphia (Suárez 6-1)atHouston (Valdez 8-4), 7:10 p.m. L.A. Dodgers(TBD)atColorado (Márquez 3-8), 7:40 p.m. Washington (Williams 3-8)atSan Diego (Bergert1-0), 8:40p.m. Miami (Quantrill3-7) at San Francisco (Verlander 0-4),8:45 p.m. College baseball College World

Scottie Schefﬂer,

2, Rory McIlroy

3, Sepp Straka, 2,493. 4, Russell Henley, 2,246. 5, JustinThomas,2,222. 6, BenGriffin, 2,158. 7, J.J.Spaun, 2,097. 8, Keegan Bradley 1,702. 9, Harris English,1,700. 10, Tommy Fleetwood, 1,699. Scoring Average 1, Scottie Scheffler, 68.478. 2, Rory McIlroy 69.249. 3, Thorbjorn Olesen, 69.797. 4, Tommy Fleetwood, 69.862. 5, Keith Mitchell, 69.963. 6, Sepp Straka, 69.967. 7, J.J. Spaun, 69.977. 8, Alex Smalley,69.979. 9, Russell Henley 69.989. 10, BenGriffin, 70.047. Driving Distance 1, Aldrich Potgieter,326.6. 2, Rory McIlroy 320.6. 3, Niklas Norgaard, 319.3. 4, Jesper Svensson, 317.8. 5, Michael Thorbjornsen, 316. 6, Kurt Kitayama, 315.8. 7, Rasmus Højgaard, 314.9. 8(tie),ChrisGotterup and Keith Mitchell, 314.4. 10, AlejandroTosti 314.1. Driving AccuracyPercentage 1, Aaron Rai,74.04%. 2, Collin Morikawa, 73.08%. 3, Paul Peterson, 72.62%. 4, Ben Kohles,71.88%. 5, Takumi Kanaya,70.26%. 6, Andrew Putnam, 69.85%. 7, LucasGlover, 68.89%. 8, Brice Garnett, 68.61%. 9, Sepp Straka, 68.45%. 10, Corey Conners, 68.27%. Greens in Regulation Percentage 1, 10 tied with .00%. Total Driving 1, RicoHoey,64. 2, Alex Smalley, 71. 3, Kevin Roy,77. 4, Steven Fisk, 84. 5, ThomasRosenmueller, 85. 6, Kevin Yu,90. 7(tie), Luke List Keith Mitchell and Michael Thorbjornsen,93. 10, Isaiah Salinda, 96. SG-Putting 1, Sam Burns, .977. 2, Harry Hall, .784. 3, Brandt Snedeker, .760. 4, Sam Ryder, .749. 5, Nico Echavarria, .688. 6, Rory McIlroy 647. 7, Jacob Bridgeman, .636. 8, DennyMcCarthy, .604. 9, Cameron Young, .573. 10, Sami Valimaki, .557. Birdie Average 1, JustinThomas, 4.57. 2, SeppStraka, 4.53. 3, Scottie Scheffler, 4.46. 4(tie),Harry Hall and Keith Mitchell, 4.44. 6, Sam Burns,4.32. 7, Collin Morikawa, 4.31. 8, JakeKnapp, 4.27. 9, Danny Walker,4.26. 10, Jesper Svensson, 4.25. Eagles (Holes per) 1, AlejandroTosti,63.7. 2, StevenFisk, 67.5. 3, David Skinns, 70.2. 4(tie), CharleyHoffman and Rory McIlroy,84. 6, Antoine Rozner, 86. 7, Karl Vilips, 87.4. 8, LeeHodges,90. 9, Scottie Scheffler, 91.6. 10, CamDavis, 93.6. Sand Save Percentage 1, 10 tied with .00%. All-Around Ranking 1, Scottie Scheffler, 201. 2, Keith Mitchell, 202. 3, Alex Smalley, 254. 4, Sepp Straka,296. 5, Sam Burns, 317. 6, Keegan Bradley,326. 7,

Justin Thomas,347. 8, Rory McIlroy,357. 9, Kevin Yu,362. 10, Patrick Cantlay, 375. LPGA Tour Statistics

Through June 22 Scoring 1, JeenoThitikul, 69.43. 2, Nelly Korda, 69.57. 3, Angel Yin, 69.94. 4, Yealimi Noh, 70.11. 5, Minjee Lee, 70.12. 6(tie),Hyo Joo Kim and Somi Lee, 70.15. 8, Jin Young Ko,70.22. 9, HyeJin Choi, 70.38. 10, AyakaFurue,70.41. Driving Distance 1, Polly Mack, 289.17. 2, Julia Lopez Ramirez 287.16. 3, Auston Kim, 285.1. 4, Emily Kristine Pedersen,283.66. 5, Weiwei Zhang, 280.53. 6, Maude-Aimee Leblanc,279.24. 7, Bailey Tardy, 278.72. 8, BiancaPagdangnan, 277.9. 9, Manon De Roey,277.71. 10, ALim Kim, 277.6. GreensinRegulation 1, Haeran Ryu, .78%. 2, Rio Takeda, .77%. 3 (tie),Allisen Corpuz, Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Yealimi Noh, .75%. 6(tie), Hye-Jin Choi, Akie Iwai and Jeeno Thitikul, .74%. 9, 2tied with .73%. Putts perGIR 1, JeenoThitikul, 1.71. 2(tie),Minami Katsu, Yuka Sasoand Yahui Zhang, 1.72. 5(tie), RobynChoi and Angel Yin, 1.73. 7, Mao Saigo, 1.74. 8, 7tied with 1.75. Birdies 1, Rio Takeda, 200. 2, Celine Boutier, 193. 3, Somi Lee, 184. 4, AyakaFurue,182. 5, Minami Katsu, 177. 6, Auston Kim, 176. 7, Akie Iwai, 171. 8, ALim Kim, 170. 9, 2tied with 169. Eagles 1, Mi Hyang Lee, 9. 2(tie),Yealimi Nohand Madelene Sagstrom, 8. 4(tie), Rio Takeda and ChanetteeWannasaen, 7. 6, 8tiedwith 6. Sand Save Percentage 1, XiaowenYin 67%. 2, Jin HeeIm, .60%. 3 (tie),MadeleneSagstrom and JennyShin, .59%. 5(tie),Hyo Joo Kim, MiyuYamashita and Ruoning Yin, .58%. 8, 3tied with .57%. Rounds Under Par 1, Rio Takeda, .69%. 2, Somi Lee, .70%. 3, AyakaFurue 63%. 4, CelineBoutier 60%. 5, Hye-Jin Choi, .69%. 6, JeenoThitikul, .76%. 7, Mi Hyang Lee, .59%. 8, Minjee Lee, .66%. 9, Jin Hee

At this London museum, no onewill shushyou

BY JILL LAWLESS Associated Press

LONDON Amuseum is like an iceberg. Most of it is out of sight

Most big collectionshaveonly afraction of their items on display, with the rest lockedaway in storage. Butnot at thenew V&A EastStorehouse, where London’s Victoria and Albert Museum has opened up its storerooms for visitors to view —and in manycases touch— the items within.

The 170,000-square-foot building,bigger than 30 basketball courts, holds more than 250,000 objects, 350,000 books and1,000 archives. Wandering itshuge, three-story collections hall feels like atrip to IKEA, but with treasures at every turn.

The V&A is Britain’snational museum of design,performanceand applied arts, and thestorehouse holds aisle after aisleofopen shelves lined witheverything from ancient Egyptian shoestoRoman pottery,ancient Indian sculptures, Japanese armor, Modernist furniture,aPiaggio scooter and a brightly painted garbage can from the Glastonbury Festival.

“It’s5,000 years of creativity,” said Kate Parsons, themuseum’sdirectorofcollection care and access. It took morethan ayear,and 379 truckloads, to move the objects from the museum’sformer storage facility in west Londontothe new site.

Birds

Aheron wades through resurrection ferns growing on aliveoak on WillowStreet in NewOrleans on Wednesday.

NewOrleans neighbors embraceacolonyof yellow-crowned nightheronsand theirchicks

BY MATTHEWHAINES

Contributingwriter

At first glance, thestretchof Willow Street doesn’t appear much different from other sections of Uptown.

Neighborschat in thedriveways People and couples walk their dogs down streets linedwithold oak trees. Birds chirp as dusk setsin.

But look closer,and you’ll find people with necks cranedand ﬁngerspointing toward the treetops.

What’s going on?

“You can seethem up in that tree,” said Marianne Jouet, a 39-year-old French-immersion teacher who lives one block away Jouet is gesturing up toward a family of yellow-crowned night herons.

Getupclose to objects

In the museum’sbiggest innovation, anyone can book a one-on-one appointment with anyobject, from aVivienne Westwood mohair sweater to a tiny Japanese netsukeﬁgurine. Mostofthe items can evenbe handled, with exceptions for hazardous materials, suchas Victorian wallpaper that contains arsenic.

TheOrder an Object service offers “a behind-the-scenes, very personal, close interaction” with the collection, Parsons said as she showed off one of themostrequesteditems so far: a1954pinksilktaffeta Balenciagaevening gown. Nearby in one of the study rooms were aBob Mackie-designed military tunic worn by Elton John on his 1981 world tour and two silk kimonos laid out ready for avisit. Parsons said therehas been“a phenomenal response” from the publicsince thebuilding opened at the end of May.Visitors have rangedfrompeople seekinginspirationfor their weddings to art students and “someone last week who was usingequipment to measure the thread countof an 1850 dress.” She says strangers who have come to view differentobjects oftenstrikeup conversations.

“It’sjust wonderful,” Parsons said. “You never quite know. We have this entirely newconcept and of course we hopeand we believe and we do audience

There is an adult,solarge and colorful it could be pulledstraight from theworld of Dr.Seuss. Its wingspan is 3½ feet, and its eyes are bright red. Thebird’sgray-blue body supports ablack head with white markings and the long, yellow plume that gives the species itsname.

Asecond adult lands on the branch,presumablywithfood hunted nearby.Oncue,a nest full of brown- and white-striped hatch-

“We’ll

lings jump with excitement.

Passersby quietly observe from several dozenfeet below.Smiles adorn their faces.

“It’s such anice thing —Ifeel so lucky,” Jouet said, alongside her distracted dog, Elka. “Every evening we go on this walk and, even though we are in the middle of the city,wecan watch these huge, majestic birds.”

“Someone always comes up and asks whatwe’re looking at,” she continued, “and so it’salso areally nice way to meet your neighbors.”

Harbingers of springtime Willow Street isn’tthe only place onecan find the yellow-crowned night heroninNew Orleans(or

miss them,but we know they’ll be back. And when they return,Willow Street will be ready to welcome themhome.” CHRISTINAALBERS,neighborhood resident

‘WEHOPETOPUT THE“US”BACKINTOTHE UNITED

BY MATTHEW ADAMS FortWorth Star-Telegram (TNS)

FORT WORTH, Texas— It’sbeen 250 years sincethe start of theAmerican Revolution, and the extent to which our nation has matured into acontinent-spanning world power has, no doubt, exceeded the founding fathers’ wildest dreams. But that’snot to saythey’dbe altogether pleased with what we’vebecome, at least not according to acclaimed documentaryﬁlmmaker Ken Burns.

‘The American Revolution’ Recently, Burnswas in Dallas with co-director SarahBotsteintopreview his latestoffering, “The American Revolution,”asix-part, 12hour epic examination of our ﬁght

forindependence from Britain, which Burns believes is the mostsignificant historical event sincethe birth of Jesus Christ. The Americans’ victory,and, more important, the victory of democratic ideals, upended the old royal world order.Inthat way,Burns said after the preview screening at theWinspearOpera House, the revolution “kicked open the door” forequality notonly for the wealthy elites whosigned the Declaration of Independence but also forthose on society’s fringes, though in somecases it took time to achieve that equality Author and historian Jane Kamensky,who appears throughout

Christina Albers, left, and her neighbor,Marianne Jouet, trytospot herons nesting in the trees near their homes on WillowStreet.

STAFFPHOTOSBy CHRIS GRANGER

AP PHOTO By JOANNA CHAN

Kate Parsons, Director of Collections Care and Access, shows adress designed and made by Cristóbal Balenciagain 1954, at the V&A Storehouse in London.

By The Associated Press

Today is Tuesday, June 24, the 175th day of 2025. There are 190 days left in the year

Today in history:

On June 24, 1983, the space shuttle Challenger — carrying America’s ﬁrst woman in space, Sally Ride — coasted to a safe landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

On this date:

In 1509, Henry VIII was crowned king of England; his wife, Catherine of Aragon, was crowned queen consort.

In 1939, the Southeast Asian country of Siam changed its name to Thailand. (It reverted to Siam in 1945, then became Thailand once again in 1949.)

In 1948, Communist forces cut off all land and water routes between West Germany and West Berlin, prompting the Western allies to organize the Berlin Airlift.

In 1957, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Roth v. United States, ruled in a 6-3 decision that obscene materials were not protected by the First Amendment.

In 1973, President Richard Nixon concluded a summit with the visiting leader of the Soviet Union, Leonid Brezhnev, who hailed the talks in an address on American television.

In 1992, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, strengthened its 30-year ban on ofﬁcially sponsored worship in public schools, prohibiting prayer as a part of graduation ceremonies.

In 2010, in the ﬁrst round of the Wimbledon Championships, American John Isner won the

longest professional tennis match in history defeating Nicolas Mahut, of France, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68; the match was played over the course of three days and lasted a total of 11 hours, 5 minutes.

In 2015, a federal judge formally sentenced Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death for the 2013 terror attacks. (A federal appeals court later threw out the sentence; the Supreme Court reinstated it.)

In 2018, women in Saudi Arabia were allowed behind the wheel for the ﬁrst time as the world’s last remaining ban on female drivers was formally lifted.

In 2021, a 12-story condominium building collapsed in Surfside, Florida, killing 98 people.

In 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to remove constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place since 1973’s Roe v. Wade.

Today’s birthdays: Author Anita Desai is 88. Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro is 85. Actor Michele Lee is 83. Actor-director Georg Stanford Brown is 82. Musician Mick Fleetwood is 78. Actor Peter Weller is 78. Golf Hall of Famer Juli Inkster is 65.

Actor Iain Glen is 64. Musician Curt Smith (Tears for Fears) is 64. Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum is 63. Singer Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star) is 59.

Actor Sherry Stringﬁeld (“ER”) is 58. Actor-producer Mindy Kaling is 46. Actor Minka Kelly is 45. Singer Solange Knowles is 39. Soccer player Lionel Messi is 38. Actor Beanie Feldstein is 32. Actor Harris Dickinson is 29.

MUSEUM

Continued from page 1D

research and we think that people are going to come But until they actually did, and came through the doors, we didn’t know.”

A new cultural district

The V&A’s ﬂagship museum in London’s afﬂuent South Kensington district, founded in the 1850s, is one of Britain’s biggest tourist attractions. The Storehouse is across town in the Olympic Park, a post-industrial swath of east London that hosted the 2012 summer games. As part of post-Olympic regeneration, the area is now home to a new cultural quarter that includes arts and fashion colleges, a dance theater and another V&A branch, due to open next year. The Storehouse has hired dozens of young people recruited from the surrounding area, which includes some of London’s most deprived districts.

Designed by Diller, Scofidio and Renfro, the firm behind New York’s High Line park, the building has space to show off objects too big to have been displayed very often before, including a 17th-century Mughal colonnade from India, a 1930s modernist office designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and a Pablo Picasso-designed stage curtain for a 1924 ballet, some more than 30 feet high. Also on a monumental scale are large chunks of vanished buildings, including a gilded 15thcentury ceiling from the Torrijos Palace in Spain and a slab of the concrete façade of Robin Hood Gardens, a demolished London housing estate. Not a hushed temple of art, this is a working facility Conversation is encouraged and forklifts beep in the background. Workers are finishing the David Bowie Center, a home for the late London-born musician’s archive of costumes, musical instruments, letters, lyrics and photos that is

HERONS

Continued from page 1D

its closely related black-crowned night heron). In fact, they have several communities in the metro area.

“I

ﬁrst noticed them last spring while eating lunch outside my school on Carrollton Avenue,” Jouet said. “I grew up in France very interested in birds, and then to be here in New Orleans where herons are in the middle of the city is so cool.”

This past April, Jouet had a friend visiting and they noticed the same species of bird arriving on Willow Street.

The yellow-crowned night heron, according to local bird experts, is one of the ﬁrst species to arrive each spring. Males migrate ﬁrst, returning to nesting areas they have known from past years.

“We start to see them in late March and early April,” said David Muth, who spent 30 years employed by the National Park Service at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, as well as a decade with the National Wildlife Federation.

“They mate and they set up nests, and they do it in dense urban areas far from the predators present in Louisiana swamps and marshlands. We’ve seen these loose colonies of yellow-crowned night herons here since the early 1990s.”

Bleu, a theatre front

Storehouse.

due to open at the Storehouse in September

Museums seek transparency

One aim of the Storehouse is to expose the museum’s inner workings, through displays delving into all aspects of the conservators’ job – from the eternal battle against insects to the numbering system for museum contents — and a viewing gallery to watch staff at work.

The increased openness comes as museums in the U.K. are under increasing scrutiny over the origins of their collections. They face pressure to return objects acquired in sometimes contested circumstances during the days of the British Empire

Senior curator Georgia Haseldine said the V&A is adopting a policy of transparency, “so that we can talk very openly about where things have come from, how they ended up in the V&A’s collection, and also make sure that researchers, as well as local people and people visiting from all around the world, have free and equitable access to these objects.

“On average, museums have one to ﬁve percent of their collections on show,” she said. “What we’re doing here is saying, ‘No, this whole collection belongs to all of us. This is a national collection and you should have access to it.’ That is our fundamental principle.

Those “loose colonies,” also known as semi-colonial, are a defining feature in New Orleans’ population of both the yellow- and black-crowned night heron.

Whereas other species of herons and egrets will nest in large colonies with many thousands of birds from many species, the night heron is more likely to be found in smaller clusters.

“You’ll ﬁnd one or two nests next to each other in a tree or in neighboring trees,” Muth said, “and then you go a few houses down and ﬁnd

BURNS

Continued from page 1D

“The American Revolution,” was alongside Burns in Dallas She said the beauty of the revolution is that it reinforced the belief that we are citizens, not subjects.

“Monarchy is about looking up,” said Kamensky “Democracy is about looking sideways.”

In that respect, though, Rick Atkinson, another author and historian featured in the series, said our colonial forebears would be “shaking their heads” if they saw us today and saw the way we’ve reverted to elevating political demagogues on pedestals.

While Burns said he didn’t intend to make a statement with “The American Revolution,” he agreed with Atkinson, saying we as a nation have taken a step backward toward “superstitious peasantry” in recent years. If there’s anything Burns hopes viewers will take away from the documentary when it premieres this fall, it’s the idea that Americans should once again walk shoulder to shoulder into the future and remember that no single person should stand above any other

“We hope to put the ‘us’ back into the United States,” Burns said of the ﬁlm’s purpose, beyond presenting an accurate picture of what America and Americans were like in the revolutionary period.

Shattering U.S. mythology

Besides the thesis that the revo-

a couple of other nests. They are spread out over several blocks.”

Hatchlings arrive

Neighbors report anywhere between ﬁve and eight nests on this particular stretch of Willow Street. Similar colonies of night herons have been reported around the city, including on Esplanade Avenue near South Broad Street.

Some New Orleanians are completely unaware of the herons’ existence. Observant locals — or especially unlucky ones — begin to spot clues, however

“I was observing the Esplanade Avenue colony, and this guy with a beautiful, black BMW found out I was interested in birds and yelled to me, like, ‘Why do these birds keep (pooping) on my car?” Muth recalled. “I said, ‘Look up, man. You parked right underneath one of their nests!’”

The expansive, white splotches of excrement are one way to ﬁnd a yellow-crowned night heron nest

But come late May and early June, when the young begin to hatch, activity really begins to ramp up.

“You see the adults coming back with crawﬁsh and sometimes crabs to feed the hatchlings,” Muth said.

“You can hear the little ones and see them jumping up and down, stretching, eventually ﬂapping and balancing and learning how to use their wings.”

“It’s cool to see,” he added, “but this is also a potentially dangerous moment for some of those little herons.”

Leaving the nest … and N.O

A sign on a corner of Willow Street reads, “Baby bird season now Please drive carefully Keep cats inside.”

Christina Albers, 68, an adjunct professor at Delgado University, lives on the block She began creating signs — this one included — approximately three years ago to alert neighbors and drivers to be aware of baby herons that may have fallen from the nest.

‘THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION’

Premieres Sunday, Nov 16, on PBS and will air for six straight nights, concluding on Friday, Nov 21.The full series will also be available for streaming on pbs.org and the PBS app beginning Nov. 16.

lution was as important as the birth of Christ, the documentary was also constructed on the premise that what we think we know about the Revolutionary War is largely limited to narrow perspectives and clouded by myth. With “The American Revolution,” Burns and his collaborators attempted to set the record straight by presenting a complete and fully nuanced look at the event. You see that at the beginning of the ﬁrst episode. Even before figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin make an appearance, viewers hear from Canassatego, who was a spokesman for the confederation of Iroquois tribes years before the notion of colonial independence took hold. Elsewhere in the series, Joseph Plumb Martin, a 15-year-old militiaman from Connecticut, is a focal character These are people, as Kamensky put it, who never ended up as marble statues but who nonetheless played a critical role in establishing a new nation.

It took Burns, his co-producers and production staff 10 years to compile all the material, film the reenactment scenes and sift

“They just seem so cute and vulnerable, and we’re so lucky to have them here,” she said “They look at you like, ‘Please protect me,’ and I think the neighborhood just wants to take care of them as best we can.”

Albers said she keeps an eye out for the birds while walking. If she sees a baby heron in the street, she will try to guide it out of the road. She hopes her sign will clue drivers to stay alert for the young birds, as well.

Some ornithologists believe it was the relatively safety of New Orleans’ oak-lined streets that brought birds from nearby swamps and marshlands — with predators such as alligators — to the city

“That would make some sense,” conﬁrmed Peter Yaukey, the chair of the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences at Holy Cross University “but unfortunately there are some new predators here.”

“The house cat might be too small to threaten even a young heron,” he said, “but dogs and cars are deﬁnitely a problem for them.” On Willow Street, the bodies of two fallen birds are a reminder of how dangerous this moment in life can be.

“They haven’t only found threats in the city, though,” Yaukey said. “Communities like the one on Willow Street seem to really take pride in protecting these birds. I’ve seen examples of people rescuing fallen birds and nursing them until they are ready to ﬂy.” Soon they will be ready In late June and early July, groups of yellow-crowned night herons will begin to leave their New Orleans nests. First they will head to nearby marshlands where food is more accessible, and then they will head south to warmer areas like Central America and the Yucatan.

“We’ll miss them, but we know they’ll be back,” Albers said. “And when they return, Willow Street will be ready to welcome them home.”

through the sands of time for heretofore unrecognized characters.

As for the “bold-faced names,” as Burns put it, there was an effort to present them as real people, not idealized heroes.

George Washington, for example, was a gifted leader said Atkinson, but he was a terrible military tactician, suffering humiliating defeats before his victory at Yorktown, the battle that effectively ended the war in the Americans’ favor And those deﬁciencies are examined in “The American Revolution.”

“For all his virtues, it’s important to understand his defeats, which make him so much more interesting,” Atkinson said of Washington’s portrayal. Botstein agreed, saying people’s flaws make them relatable. Perhaps, she said, up-and-coming American heroes will see that and realize that it’s possible to mimic, at least in some ways, these imperfect icons.

The series ends with a poignant line: “The American war is over; the American Revolution is not.”

It’s that grace note that will likely resonate with viewers long after they’ve ﬁnished the ﬁnal episode

The message seems to be that the United States is and always has been a work in progress. It’s a beacon of democracy, yes. But that is predicated on a desire to ﬁght for what we believe in, Burns reminded his audience during the panel discussion.

America is, as Burns said, quoting Benjamin Franklin, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By JOANNA CHAN

A general view of the V&A Storehouse in London

Le Train

cloth painted by Prince Alexander Schervashidze, which is based on Pablo Picasso’s ‘The two women running along the beach,’ is on display at the V&A

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

A heron stretches its wings near one of the nests in the trees above Willow Street in New Orleans

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Think each move through before you act. It's OK to think big, but common sense will be necessary to complete your mission. A financial gain is apparent if you follow the rules and oversee expenditures.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) It's best to step back and take a pass when in doubt. Making a premature move will put you in a vulnerable position Trust your instincts, not what someone else claims is true.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Refuse to let what others do or say interfere with your progress. Choose the path that allows you to show off your talents and value instead of letting someone light your fuse.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Nurture partnerships; listen, respond and offer positive reinforcement, and you'll get the desired results and shift how others treat you. Domestic changes will improve your personal life.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Speak your mind, get your point across and move on to what's important to you. Changing how you handle others will help you gain respect and the support you need to reach your goal.

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Improve your surroundings, but don't go over budget. Haste makes waste, and snap decisions will cost you. Listen to reason before you sign contracts that lock you into something you cannot afford.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Pay attention to your relationships with others. Kindness will help ameliorate any uncer-

tainty or disagreements you have with someone you value. Fix up your personal space to suit your needs.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Get active, and you'll be ready to conquer the world. Refuse to let the changes others make interfere with your plans. Overspending to appease someone will not help you gain respect.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Put your feelings aside and concentrate on being and doing your best. Home improvements, networking, marketing and promoting what you offer will bring stellar results.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Keep an open mind and heart and live in the moment. Use your discipline and ingenuity to stand up and make a difference. Invest time and money in what's most important to you.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Sign up for activities that encourage better health and lifestyle choices. Be open to learning and expanding your mind and interests. A physical change will boost your confidence.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Your thirst for knowledge will lead to research and discovery. The possibilities are endless if you put a plan in place. Don't sit on the sidelines; master the art of staying ahead of the competition.

FAMILY CIrCUS

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

ToDAy's cLuE: y EQuALs s

CeLebrItY CIpher

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM SherMAn’S LAGoon

bIG nAte

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of thesudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

We are looking at transfer bids intothe majors. Why use them?

Thereare two main reasons.First,you get the stronger handtobethe declarer when the final contract is in responder’s major. Andifthe opening bidisone notrump,therespondercandescribeatwosuiterbelow three no-trump.

Look at theSouthhand. Playing natural methods, Southwouldrespond three hearts, showingfiveheartsand at least game-going values. But when North rebids three no-trump, announcing only twohearts, shouldSouth pass or rebid four clubs? He does not know Here, passing would workbadly, because thedefenders take five spade tricks. But when South bids two diamonds, transfer, and rebidsthree clubs, natural and game-forcing, what does Northdo?

If he had three hearts, he would indicatethe fit with athree-heartbid. With twohearts and stoppers in spadesand diamonds, he would bidthree no-trump. Here, though, he continueswiththree diamonds, strongly suggesting that he is worried about spades.And if Northis worried, Southisvery worried! He bids four clubs,North control-bids (cue-bids) four diamonds, South control-bids four spades (yes,aggressive, but the hands are fitting well),North uses Blackwood, and they reach six clubs. This contract makes easily,South taking four hearts, two diamonds, five clubs and one heart ruff in the dummy. ©2025 by nEa,inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

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

Previous answers:

word game

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

ToDAy’s WoRD VAGRAnTs: VAY-grents:Those who have no established residence and wander from place to place.

Average mark15words

Timelimit 25 minutes

Can you find 22 or morewords in VAGRANTS?

yEsTERDAy’s WoRD —sLuMLoRD

wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forgetGod.” Psalms 9:17

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

Sobering truth thatdeserves ourutmost attention. G.E. Dean

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard

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

Puzzle Answer ken ken

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

Well

Scrabble GramS

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe

DuStin

Drabble Wallace the brave

breWSter rockit

luann

provedbythe Jefferson ParishCouncil under Or‐dinance No.4921 adoptedFebruary16, 1961, registered in COB 524, folio 586, Parish of Jefferson,Louisiana,on February23, 1961, andin PlanBook 42, folio 50, Of‐ﬁce