White House pushes Republicans to ‘get the job done’
BY LISA MASCARO, KEVIN FREKING and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press
WASHINGTON Senators hunkered down Monday to consider proposed amendments to President Donald Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts amid challenges including the weekend announcement from one GOP senator that he won’t run for reelection after opposing the package over its Medicaid health care cuts. The grind is expected to take
all day, and it could churn into the night. Potential changes were being considered in what’s called a vote-a-rama, though most are expected to fail, with Democrats united against the Republican president’s legislation and eagerly lined up to challenge it.
“It’s time to vote,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., as the chamber opened. But later he suggested final action could slip Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, said
the “hardest choices” for Republicans are still to come. Democrats, he said, are bringing “amendment after amendment after amendment to the floor, so Republicans can defend their billionaire tax cuts and so they can try to explain their massive cuts to Medicaid to people back home.”
The day will be pivotal for the Republicans, who have control of Congress and are racing against Trump’s July Fourth deadline to
Sen. John Kennedy, R-Madisonville, speaks to reporters Monday as Republicans begin a push to advance President Donald Trump’s tax breaks and spending cuts package.
Film explores Lao food culture
New Iberia resident’s documentary details transplantation
BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer
New Iberia resident Phanat Xanamane works tirelessly to document the unique culture of the Louisiana Lao people, who settled in Acadiana and south Louisiana in significant numbers following the end of the Vietnam War.
Last week his short film, “Bayou, Buddha, and Padaek,” aired on the Library of Congress YouTube channel. This documentary produced with filmmakers Sami Haggood and Badar Hamdani, explores the transplantation and continuation of Lao foodways in south Louisiana — with an inside look at how Laotian families maintain their culinary traditions decades after coming to Louisiana.
The project was produced with a grant from the
An image from ‘Bayou,
a
of traditional
The documentary by New Iberia native Phanat Xanamane showcases the south Louisiana Lao immigrant community through the lens of food.
meet quorum
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer
After a slew of resignations, Louisiana’s Public Defender Oversight Board twice failed to get a quorum to resolve a controversy over whether five chief public defenders should get to keep their jobs as the clock ran out on their contracts.
State Public Defender Rémy Starns notified the district chiefs in February that their contracts, which end July 1, would not be renewed. The chiefs appealed to the board.
On Monday, the board was scheduled to decide whether to adopt a committee’s recommendation that the five defenders keep their jobs. But only four members attended one short of the five needed for a quorum. The same thing happened last week.
“The four of us here would like to get this matter concluded. Unfortunately we don’t have that authority without having a quorum,” said board member Paul deMahy, a former judge who chaired the panel that investigated the contract nonrenewals.
Phyllis Keaty, another board member and former judge, said she was “disappointed” the board could not reach a resolution.
Some district chiefs said they felt left in the lurch as their contracts ended without an answer from the board. It appeared they would lose health insurance coverage, shortly after one member, John Hogue, said he was diagnosed with cancer
“All this job uncertainty has taken quite a toll on our family,” Hogue said, adding that he was
See VOTE, page 4A
Governor signs controversial car insurance legislation
BY ALYSE PFEIL
PHOTO PROVIDED By THE LIBRARy OF CONGRESS
Buddha, and Padaek: Southern Louisiana’s Lao Foodways’ shows
Louisiana Lao family gathered around a table
foods.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE
Vendors sell an assortment of ethnic foods during the 2024 Lao New year Festival at the Wat Thammarattanaram Buddhist Temple at Lanexang Village in Coteau.
ä See SENATORS, page 4A
Israeli settlers rampage at base in West Bank
TEL AVIV Israel Dozens of Israeli settlers rampaged around a military base in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, setting fires vandalizing military vehicles, spraying graffiti and attacking soldiers, the military said.
Sunday night’s unrest came after several attacks in the West Bank carried out by Jewish settlers and anger at their arrests by security forces attempting to contain the violence over the past few days.
More than 100 settlers on Wednesday evening entered the West Bank town of Kfar Malik, setting property ablaze and opening fire on Palestinians who tried to stop them, Najeb Rostom, head of the local council, said Three Palestinians were killed after the military intervened. Israeli security forces arrested five settlers.
“No civilized country can tolerate violent and anarchic acts of burning a military facility, damaging IDF property and attacking security personnel by citizens of the country,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said
Jury deliberations start in Combs’ trial NEW YORK Jury deliberations got underway on Monday in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial and hit a snag almost as soon as they started. But, by the end of the day, jurors indicated they were making progress weighing complex charges that could put the hip-hop mogul in prison for life.
The first day of deliberations saw a flurry of notes from the jury and Combs and his supporters bowing their heads in prayer in the courtroom, but no verdict.
The jury of eight men and four women are sifting through seven weeks of sometimes graphic and emotional testimony about the rap, fashion and reality TV impresario’s propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, including drug-fueled sex marathons dubbed “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.”
About an hour in, the foreperson reported that a juror might be having trouble following the 61 pages worth of instructions the judge had just read to them.
“We are concerned (the juror) cannot follow your honor’s instructions,” the foreperson said in a note to Judge Arun Subramanian just after 12:30 p.m.
After the judge originally proposed asking the jury foreperson the nature of concerns about the fellow juror, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo suggested caution and that it was better to say less than more. Judge Arun Subramanian sent his response to the jury around 2 p.m. reminding the panel to deliberate and to follow his instructions on the law
The jury sent another note about three hours later asking for clarification on part of the instructions dealing with drug distribution — an allegation included in Combs’ racketeering conspiracy charge.
U.K. royal train to end 156 years of service
LONDON The Royal Train will soon leave the station for the last time.
King Charles III has accepted it’s time to decommission the train, whose history dates back to Queen Victoria, because it costs too much to operate and would have needed a significant upgrade for more advanced rail systems, Buckingham Palace said Monday
“In moving forwards we must not be bound by the past,” said James Chalmers, the palace official in charge of the king’s financial affairs. “Just as so many parts of the royal household’s work have modernized and adapted to reflect the world of today, so too the time has come to bid the fondest of farewells, as we seek to be disciplined and forward-looking in our allocation of funding.”
The train, actually a suite of nine railcars that can be hitched to commercial locomotives, will be decommissioned sometime before the current maintenance contract expires in 2027. That will bring to an end a tradition that dates back to 1869, when Queen Victoria commissioned a pair of special coaches to accommodate her travels.
A
Sheriff details killing of Idaho firefighters
Official: Suspect killed 2 responders after being asked to move vehicle
BY MANUEL VALDES and LINDSEY WASSON Associated Press
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho A man who set a wildfire and then fatally shot two firefighters and wounded another in northern Idaho was a 20-year-old transient who attacked the first responders after they asked him to move his vehicle, a sheriff said Monday Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris offered new details about the Sunday ambush at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d’Alene, a popular recreation area. He said Wess Roley was living out of his vehicle, had once aspired to be a firefighter and had only a handful of minor contacts with area police.
“We have not been able to find a manifesto,” the sheriff said, adding a motive was still unknown.
Norris said families of the victims are “in shock absolutely They’re in shock and they’re still processing it.”
Roley had set a fire using flint, and the firefighters who rushed to the scene instead found themselves in an unexpected shootout. They took cover behind fire trucks, but two died and a third was wounded during a barrage of gunfire over several hours.
Roley later killed himself, Norris said.
“We know that he was a transient here,” the sheriff said. “We know he lived here for the better part of 2024. But as far as when he got here, why he was here, why
he chose this place I don’t know.”
Two helicopters converged on the area Sunday, armed with snipers ready to take out the suspect if needed, while the FBI used his cellphone data to track him and the sheriff ordered residents to shelter in place. They eventually found Roley dead in the mountains, his firearm beside him.
Roley’s grandfather Dale Roley told KXLY-TV that his grandson was an avid hiker who worked for a tree company and was interested in forestry Outpouring of support for the victims was swift in Coeur d’Alene, a city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington. Hours after the ambush, people gathered along Interstate 90 holding American flags to pay their respects as the two fallen firefighters’ bodies were taken to the medical examiner’s office in Spokane, Washington, about 35 miles from Coeur d’Alene.
Gov. Brad Little on Monday ordered U.S and Idaho state flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the firefighters until the day after their memorial service.
“All our public safety officers, especially our firefighters, bravely confront danger on a daily basis but we have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before,” he said in a statement. “This is not Idaho. This indescribable loss is felt deeply by all those in the firefighting community and beyond.”
The Idaho House Republican Leadership said in a statement: “We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d’Alene, and shocked by such a vicious attack on our first responders. We are praying for them, the injured, their families and their colleagues.”
Judge delays Abrego Garcia’s release over deportation concerns
BY TRAVIS LOLLER and BEN FINLEY
Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kilmar Abrego Garcia will stay in jail for now over concerns from his lawyers that he could be deported if he’s released to await his trial on human smuggling charges, a federal judge in Tennessee ruled Monday
Abrego Garcia’s attorneys had asked the judge to delay his release because of what they described as “contradictory statements” by President Donald Trump’s administration over what would happen to the Salvadoran national. The lawyers wrote in a brief to the court Friday that “we cannot put any faith in any representation made on this issue” by the Justice Department, adding that the “irony of this request is not lost on anyone.”
Justice Department spokesman Chad Gilmartin told The Associated Press on Thursday that the department intends to try Abrego Garcia on the smuggling charges before it moves to deport him, stating that Abrego Garcia “has been charged with horrific crimes.”
Hours earlier, Justice Department attorney Jonathan Guynn told a federal judge in Maryland that the U.S. government plans to deport Abrego Garcia to a “third country” that isn’t El Salvador Guynn said there was no timeline for the deportation plans.
Abrego Garcia’s attorneys on Friday cited Guynn’s comments as a reason to fear he would be deported “immediately.”
Abrego Garcia, a construction worker who had been living in Maryland, became a flashpoint over Trump’s hardline immigration policies when he was mistakenly deported to his native El Salvador in March Facing mounting pressure and a Supreme Court order, Trump’s Republican administration returned him this month to face the smuggling charges,
74 killed in Gaza
Israeli forces strike cafe, fire on people seeking food
BY SAMY MAGDY and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press
CAIRO Israeli forces killed at least 74 people in Gaza on Monday with airstrikes that left 30 dead at a seaside cafe and gunfire that left 23 dead as Palestinians tried to get desperately needed food aid, witnesses and health officials said.
One airstrike hit Al-Baqa Cafe in Gaza City when it was crowded with women and children, said Ali Abu Ateila, who was inside.
“Without a warning, all of a sudden, a warplane hit the place, shaking it like an earthquake,” he said.
Dozens were wounded, many critically, alongside at least 30 people killed, said Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministry’s emergency and ambulance service in northern Gaza.
Two other strikes on a Gaza City street killed 15 people, according to Shifa Hospital, which received the casualties. A strike on a building killed six people near the town of Zawaida, according to Al-Aqsa hospital.
The cafe, one of the few businesses to continue operating during the 20-month war was a gathering spot for residents seeking internet access and a place to charge their phones. Videos circulating on social media showed bloodied and disfigured bodies on the ground and the wounded being carried away in blankets.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed 11 people who had been seeking food in southern Gaza, according to witnesses, hospitals, and Gaza’s Health Ministry
Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis said it received the bodies of people shot while returning from an aid site associated with the Israeli and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund. It was part of a deadly pattern that has killed more than 500 Palestinians around the
which his attorneys have called “preposterous.”
Abrego Garcia’s attorneys have accused the Trump administration of bringing Abrego Garcia back “to convict him in the court of public opinion” with the intention of deporting him before he has a chance to defend himself at trial.
“In a just world, he would not seek to prolong his detention further,” his attorneys wrote Friday
U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes in Nashville ruled June 22 that federal prosecutors failed to show that Abrego Garcia was a flight risk or a danger to the community
During a court hearing June 25, Holmes set specific conditions for Abrego Garcia’s release that included him living with his brother, a U.S. citizen, in Maryland. But she held off on releasing him over concerns that prosecutors can’t prevent ICE from deporting him
Acting U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire told the judge he lacks jurisdiction over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stating he has no way to prevent Abrego Garcia’s deportation.
chaotic and controversial aid distribution program over the past month. The shootings happened around 1.8 miles from the GHF site in Khan Younis, as Palestinians returned from the site along the only accessible route. Palestinians are often forced to travel long distances to access the GHF hubs in hopes of obtaining aid.
Nasser Hospital said an additional person was killed near a GHF hub in the southern city of Rafah. Another person was killed while waiting to receive aid near the Netzarim corridor which separates northern and southern Gaza, according to Al-Awda hospital.
Ten other people were killed at a United Nations aid warehouse in northern Gaza, according to the Health Ministry’s ambulance and emergency service.
One witness, Monzer Hisham Ismail said troops attacked the crowds returning from the GHF hub in Khan Younis.
“We were targeted by (the Israeli) artillery,” he said. Yo usef M ahmoud Mokheimar was walking with dozens of others when he saw troops in tanks and other vehicles racing toward them. They fired warning shots before firing at the crowds, he said.
“They fired at us indiscriminately,” he said, adding that he was shot in a leg, and a man was shot while attempting to rescue him. He said he saw troops detaining six people, including three children. “We don’t know whether they are still alive,” he said.
The Israeli military said it was reviewing information about the attacks In the past, the military has said it fires warning shots at people who move suspiciously or get too close to troops including while collecting aid.
Israel wants the GHF to replace a system coordinated by the United Nations and international aid groups. Along with the United States, Israel has accused the militant Hamas group of stealing aid and using it to prop up its rule in the enclave. The U.N. denies there is systematic diversion of aid.
line of wildland firefighters arrive Monday at the scene the day after a shooter ambushed and killed multiple firefighters responding to a wildfire at Canfield Mountain in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
Brianna O’Keefe yells as she holds a portrait of Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Wednesday during a protest outside the federal courthouse in Nashville, Tenn.
Netanyahu to head to Washington next Monday
Trump presses for ceasefire in Gaza
BY AAMER MADHANI Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next Monday, according to two U.S. administration officials.
The visit comes as the U.S. leader has begun stepping up his push on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza
The officials were not authorized to comment publicly on the visit that hasn’t been formally announced and spoke on the condition of anonymity Netanyahu’s visit comes after Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer’s visit to Washington this week for talks with senior administration officials on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other matters.
The president in public comments has signaled he’s turning his attention to bringing a close to the
fighting between Israel and Hamas, since the ceasefire to end 12 days of fighting between Israel and Iran took hold a week ago Trump on Friday told reporters, “We think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire” in Gaza, but didn’t offer any further explanation for his optimism.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier on Monday said Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership and bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end,” Leavitt added. “He wants to save lives.”
An eight-week ceasefire was reached as Trump took office earlier this year, but Israel resumed the war in March after trying to get Hamas to accept new terms on next steps
Talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over a major sticking point — whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire agreement About 50 hostages remain captive
in Gaza, with less than half believed to be alive.
The timing of Netanyahu’s visit to Washington was first reported by Axios.
Trump will embrace Netanyahu as he pushes back against skeptical questions from Democratic lawmakers and others about how far U.S. and Israeli strikes have set back Iran’s nuclear program.
A preliminary report is-
BY COLLEEN SLEVIN and MEAD GRUVER Associated Press
DENVER An 82-year-old Colorado woman who was injured in a Molotov cocktail attack on demonstrators in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza has died, prosecutors said Monday Karen Diamond died as a result of the severe injuries she suffered in the June 1 attack in downtown Boulder, Colorado, the local District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. Prosecutors have listed 29 victims, including 13 who were physically injured.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman already faced dozens of charges in state court including attempted first-degree murder, using an incendiary device, and animal cruelty because a dog was hurt in the attack. He has not been arraigned on those charges that now include first-degree murder
The Associated Press left a voicemail Monday for Soliman’s public defender in the state case. The office generally bars its lawyers from commenting on their cases to the media. A preliminary hearing to determine whether there’s enough evidence for a trial is set for July 15. Separately Soliman has
been indicted on 12 federal hate crime counts. He entered a not guilty plea to those charges in federal court on Friday Leaders of the Boulder Jewish Community Center announced in an email Monday that Diamond died June 25 and said she will be deeply missed.
“Karen was a cherished member of our community, someone whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impact on all who knew her,” executive director Jonathan Lev and board chair David Paul said.
Diamond helped at her synagogue and volunteered for several local groups, including the University of Colorado University Women’s Club and a local music festival.
Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement Monday that he was devastated by Diamond’s death, and that it will be felt deeply by the city of Boulder, the state and the Jewish community “Karen was taken from us too soon, and we mourn her loss while remembering her life and the impact she had on those who loved her,” Polis said.
Prosecutors said Diamond’s family has asked for privacy Diamond and her husband were enthusiastic volunteers since the 1990s for a local historic preservation organization, Historic Boulder Inc. The couple often helped with public tours of old homes, said Melanie Muckle, the organization’s administrator “Their generosity with their time and their talent and their kindness, I can’t overstate that,” Muckle said. During the demonstration, Soliman posed as a gardener and wore a construction vest to get close to the group before launching the attack, prosecutors allege.
Investigators say Soliman told them he intended to kill the participants at the weekly demonstration. He yelled “Free Palestine” as he threw just two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had prepared.
Prosecutors have identified 29 people who are considered victims of the attack, including 13 who were physically injured. The others were nearby and are considered victims because they could have been hurt. A dog was also injured in the attack
sued by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, meanwhile, said the strikes did significant damage to the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan sites, but did not totally destroy the facilities.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that the three Iranian sites with “capabilities in
terms of treatment, conversion and enrichment of uranium have been destroyed to an important degree.”
But, he added, “some is still standing” and that because capabilities remain, “if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again.” He said assessing the full damage comes down to Iran allowing inspectors access.
Trump in recent days has
also inserted himself into Israeli domestic affairs, calling for charges against Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial to be thrown out.
Trump’s in a social media post last week condemned the trial as a “WITCH HUNT,” and vowed that the United States will be the one who “saves” Netanyahu from serious corruption charges.
The decision by Trump to plunge himself into one of Israel’s most heated debates has unnerved some in its political class.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday approved a new half-billiondollar arms sale to Israel to resupply its military with bomb guidance kits for precision munitions.
The State Department said the sale is worth $510 million. It includes more than 7,000 guidance kits for two different types of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs.
The deal is relatively small given that the U.S. provides Israel with more than $3 billion annually in military aid. But Israel has relied on JDAMs and other related US weaponry in its war against Hamas in Gaza and its recent strikes against Iran.
Iran raises death toll from war with Israel to more than 900
By
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran raised the official death toll for its war with Israel on Monday, with official media reporting 935 people were killed in the country during the 12-day conflict
The state-run IRNA news agency did not give a breakdown between military and civilian casualties, but said of the 935 people, 38 were children and 132 were wom-
en. Its previous report last week said 627 people had been killed.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists over the weekend said 1,190 people had been killed according to data collected by the agency’s network of medical and local volunteers. Of those, it said 436 were civilians, 435 military and 319 have not yet been identified.
The group has consistently reported higher casual-
ties than the official reports from Iran. Israel relentlessly attacked Iran beginning June 13, targeting its nuclear sites, defense systems, highranking military officials and atomic scientists. In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, but those that got through caused damage in many areas and killed 28 people.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN
President Donald Trump, left, stands with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 7 at the West Wing of the White House in Washington.
The Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOT By DAVID ZALUBOWSKI
A woman places a bouquet of flowers on June 3 at a makeshift memorial for victims of an
Library of Congress American Folklife Center for the Homegrown Foodways Film series.
Xanamane often refers to himself as a “1.5 generation” immigrant, since he was a baby when he and his family were processed through a Thai refugee camp before coming to Louisiana in the early 1980s He’s spent his entire life experiencing the process of putting down roots and navigating a new culture, while maintaining the traditions that link his community back to villages of Laos.
Many of those traditions are based around food, according to Xanamane, who said Lao dishes like sticky rice and papaya salad play an important role in maintaining a cohesive cultural identity among second- and third-generation Lao immigrants in the Acadiana area.
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wrap up work. The 940-page “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” as it’s formally titled, has consumed Congress as its shared priority with the president, with no room politically to fail, even as not all Republicans are on board.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, was calling lawmakers back Wednesday for final votes, if it clears the Senate.
A new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found 11.8 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034 if the bill became law The CBO said the package would increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the decade.
The White House said it was counting on Republican lawmakers to “get the job done.”
GOVERNOR
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trial bar.”
This year, Landry’s decision left the trial bar out in the cold on that issue.
“We’re really disappointed,” said Brian Katz, president of Louisiana Association for Justice, which represents the interests of trial lawyers.
Katz said that under the new law, insurance companies will be reimbursed for the medical claims they pay on behalf of the plaintiff — but the injured person won’t be able to get compensation beyond that. He called the change “unfair,” saying plaintiffs won’t get money from the suit to pay for their insurance premiums or attorneys fees.
Katz said the call to reduce insurance rates is “typically the mantra of the people that are passing these bills that ultimately take away rights
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hopeful about his prognosis. Hogue said he planned to get on the state continuation plan. Former employees can continue getting insurance for a year if they continue paying premiums out of pocket, he said.
Hogue was the district chief of East Carroll, Madison and Tensas parishes. The other four chiefs include Michelle AndrePont, of Caddo Parish; Trisha Ward, of Evangeline Parish; Brett Brunson, of Natchitoches Parish; and Deirdre Fuller, of Rapides Parish Starns has appointed five interim chiefs to fill their positions, he said.
In February, Starns sent letters to the public defenders saying their contracts would not be renewed, without stating a reason. The five defenders have appealed to the board, arguing they were terminated without just cause and in violation of state law They also say Starns’ decision was retaliatory because all five have spoken out against his proposals. Last year, the defenders opposed a bill that gave Starns and Gov Jeff Landry more control over the pub-
“Papaya salad is like the national dish of Laos. It’s sort of what kimchi is to Korean food — just quintessential to every Laotian meal.
We’re seeing the next generation really embrace this quintessential dish and try to put new interpreta-
“Republicans need to stay tough and unified during the home stretch,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
But the outcome remains uncertain.
As the first few Senate amendments came up Monday — to strike parts of the bill that would limit Medicaid funds to rural hospitals or shift the costs of food stamps benefits to the states some were winning support from a few Republicans.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined Democrats on the rural hospitals amendment, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined Democrats on both votes.
But none of the amendments won majority support to substantially change the package.
Few Republicans appear fully satisfied as the final package emerges. Sen Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who announced Sunday he would not seek reelection after Trump
from citizens.”
“Tort reform does not reduce rates,” he said. “It’s easy to pick on lawyers, and it’s easy to pick on lawsuits, but it would be nice if it actually worked.”
Last year, Landry cited “fairness and justice” in vetoing legislation that would have reduced — but not eliminated — the money a plaintiff can collect beyond what an insurer actually pays to a medical provider
The measures the governor signed this year and vetoed last year deal with how Louisiana law handles a legal doctrine called “collateral source,” which defines how much a damage award owed by a defendant to a plaintiff can be reduced in light of payments made by third parties, like insurance companies.
This year, Landry said the law he approved aims to bring efficiency to personal injury lawsuits.
“The more efficient you make the litigation, the
lic defense system. The new state law reconstituted the public defender oversight board and took away its power to select district chiefs, giving most of that authority to Starns. More recently, the defenders spoke out against a compensation plan proposed by Starns that would cut some district chiefs’ paychecks by tens of thousands of dollars.
Starns has argued that the board does not have the authority to change his decision because he simply let contracts lapse instead of terminating them.
The board panel investigating the matter initially sided with Starns but reversed their recommendation earlier this month, after they were presented with quotes from legislators who indicated that the statute governing the state public defense system was written to protect local chiefs from arbitrarily losing their jobs.
During the meeting where the panel made its new recommendation, district chiefs argued state statute guaranteed their contracts should be renewed unless they were fired for good cause. Starns did not attend that meeting
As the case over the public defenders’ jobs came to a head in recent weeks, five board members resigned.
tions on it,” he said.
“In the second and third generations, some of the dishes are maybe dialed back a little bit as a more Americanized palette is introduced to authentic Lao cuisine But as long as they’re understand-
badgered him over his opposition to the package, said he has the same goals as Trump: cutting taxes and spending.
But Tillis said this package is a betrayal of the president’s promises not to kick people off health care, especially if rural hospitals close.
At the same time, some loosely aligned conservative Senate Republicans Rick Scott, of Florida; Mike Lee, of Utah; Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin; and Cynthia Lummis, of Wyoming — have prosed steeper cuts, particularly to health care, drawing their own warning from Trump not to go “crazy.”
Sen. Mike Crapo, the GOP chair of the Finance Committee dismissed the dire predictions of health care cuts as Democrats trafficking in what he called the “politics of fear.”
All told, the Senate bill includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, according to the latest CBO analysis, making
less you have to pay for lawyers, the lower your premiums should be,” he said during Monday’s signing. “Just because I vetoed something doesn’t mean we can’t make it better When it’s all said and done, we’re trying to work for the betterment of the people not the betterment of the trial lawyers or the insurance companies.”
Bill sponsor Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, said the measure aims to lower auto insurance premiums.
“When we limit recovery to what people actually lost, and we limit the amount of those awards,” he said, “we should ultimately lower premium costs.”
Under prior law, juries hearing personal injury cases were informed of the amount billed by a medical provider for medical treatment. That billed amount is often higher than the amount an insurance company actually pays to the medical provider
They included Freddie Pitcher Jr., Ernestine Gray, Peter Thomson, Ted Hernandez and Gerard Caswell. Landry replaced two members of the nine-person board with Jeffrey Hufft and Stephen Dwyer
The Louisiana Supreme Court appointed a third replacement named Mary Devereux, a retired judge from St. Tammany Parish, according to other board members.
Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, have yet to choose replacements for their appointees.
Also in recent weeks, the board has clashed with Starns over compensation for district chiefs. State law gives the board the power to set a compensation plan, but Starns has used a different compensation plan when writing contracts.
“I have a statutory obligation to establish and maintain in a cost-effective manner delivery of legal services, and I negotiate contracts,” Starns said during a June 16 board meeting. “I think the district defender compensation plan and all of its elements proposed by the oversight board would violate those principles. I’m not going to have contracts that have those provisions in them.”
ing the key ingredients and flavor profiles that make up the Laotian diet, it becomes a very important way for them to maintain a gateway into the broader culture.”
Xanamane’s work is largely focused on expanding that gateway for younger members of his family and community, while introducing Lao culture to the rest of Louisiana and the country His New Iberia garden business, Iberia Market Garden, is a continuation of the nursery business his family members owned after settling in the United States — and he also takes on cultural projects, like documenting the Laotian New Year Festival in Broussard.
He created the “Louisiana Lao New Year Archive,” a Library of Congress collection of interviews, photos and sounds documenting the community and activities centered around Wat Thammarattanaram, a rural Buddhist temple complex where the Laotian New Year celebration is held. The annual festival, which brings
permanent Trump’s 2017 rates, which would expire at the end of the year if Congress fails to act, while adding the new ones he campaigned on, including no taxes on tips.
The Senate package would roll back billions of dollars in green energy tax credits that Democrats warn will wipe out wind and solar investments nationwide and impose $1.2 trillion in cuts, largely to Medicaid and food stamps, by imposing work requirements, making sign-up eligibility more stringent and changing federal reimbursements to states.
Additionally, the bill would provide a $350 billion infusion for border and national security, including for deportations, some of it paid for with new fees charged to immigrants.
Unable to stop the march toward passage, the Democrats as the minority party in Congress are using the tools at their disposal to delay
Now juries will be made aware of how much was paid by an insurer for medical treatment, and a plaintiff can recover only the amount actually paid.
“That takes away what has historically been what we
thousands of people from across the country to the Lanexang Village neighborhood, features Laotian and southeast Asian food vendors by the dozens, offering everything from sugar cane juice to barbecued squid. It’s also an occasion for Lao house parties — the kind that go on all weekend — featuring tables groaning with sticky rice, papaya salad, bamboo shoot stew, grilled meats and other dishes that root the community to its foundation.
According to Xanamane’s sister, Amonelath Xanamane, raising American-Lao children is a sensitive dance between cultures She is shown on “Bayou, Buddha and Padaek” preparing khao piak sen, a Laotian chicken noodle soup with rice noodles. Her children don’t speak much Lao, she said — but, “they eat. And if you eat sticky rice, you are 50% Lao.”
“That goes for anyone,” she laughed. As long as there’s sticky rice on the table, Louisiana’s Lao community is never too far from home.
and drag out the process.
Democrats forced a full reading of the text, which took 16 hours, and now are filing dozens of amendments.
Sen. Patty Murray, of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, raised particular concern about the accounting method being used by the Republicans, which says the tax breaks from Trump’s first term are now “current policy” and the cost of extending them should not be counted toward deficits.
“In my 33 years here in the United States Senate, things have never — never — worked this way,” said Murray, the longest-serving Democrat on the Budget Committee. She said that kind of “magic math” won’t fly with Americans trying to balance their own household books.
“Go back home,” she said, “and try that game with your constituents.”
considered ‘phantom damages’ in Louisiana where the jury was awarding more money than was ever actually paid out to satisfy the medical bill,” Reese said.
“The bill that we passed this year that the governor
signed completely eliminates that phantom amount of money that was never paid out to satisfy a medical bill.”
Email Alyse Pfeil at alyse. pfeil@theadvocate.com.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE
Fong Insalyvanh prepares pandan waffles during the 2024 Lao New year Festival at the Wat Thammarattanaram Buddhist Temple in Coteau.
BY REBECCABOONE
Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students as part of adealwith prosecutors to avoid the death penalty,multiple media outlets reported Monday The news was delivered to families of the victimsin aletter from prosecutors, according to ABC News. A change of plea hearing was set for Wednesday.Kohberger’s trial had been set to begin in August. Kohberger,30, is accused in the stabbingdeaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and
KayleeGoncalves at arental home near campus in Moscow,Idaho, in November 2022. Autopsies showed the fourwereall likely asleep when they were attacked, some had defensive wounds and each was stabbed multiple times.
Goncalves’ family expressed outrage in aFacebook post:“We are beyond furious at the StateofIdaho. They have failed us. Please give us sometime. This was very unexpected.” Kohberger,thena criminaljustice graduate student at Washington StateUniversity,was arrested in Pennsylvania weeks after the killings. Investigators said theymatched his DNA to
geneticmaterial recovered from aknife sheathfound at thecrimescene.
In acourt filing, hislawyers said Kohbergerwas on alongdrive by himself around the time the four were killed.
The killings shook the smallfarming community of about 25,000 people, which hadn’thad ahomicide in about five years. The trial was moved from rural northern IdahotoBoiseafter thedefense expressed concerns that Kohberger couldn’tget afair trial in the county where the killings occurred.
In Idaho, judges may reject plea agreements, though such moves are
rare. If ajudge rejects aplea agreement,the defendant is allowed to withdraw the guiltyplea.
Earlier Monday,aPennsylvania judge had ordered that three people whose testimony was requested by de-
fense attorneys would have to travel to Idaho to appear at Kohberger’strial.
The defense subpoenas were granted regarding a boxing trainerwho knew Kohbergerasa teenager, achildhood acquaintance
of Kohberger’sand athird man whose significance was not explained. Agag order has largely kept attorneys, investigators and others fromspeaking publicly about the investigation or trial.
LOS ANGELES President Donald Trump’sadministration filed suit Monday against Los Angeles, claiming the city is obstructing theenforcement of immigration laws and creating a lawless environmentwith its sanctuary policies that bar local police from sharing information on peoplewithout legal status. The lawsuit in U.S. District Courtsays Los Angeles’ “sanctuary city” ordinance hinders White House efforts to crack down on what it calls a“crisis of illegal immigration.” It is the latest in astring of lawsuits against so-called sanctuary jurisdictions —including New York,New Jersey and Colorado —that limit cooperation with federalimmigrationauthorities The Los Angeles policy bars city resources from being used for immigration enforcement. The court filing calls the city ordinance “illegal”and asks that it be blockedfrombeing enforced.
Demonstrators protest on June 21 outsideDodger Stadium in Los Angeles against the immigration enforcement raids beingconducted in thecity
Chad Mizelle, chief of staff for U.S. Attorney General PamBondi, said in announcing the latest lawsuit that the administration will not tolerate any interference with the federal government’s crackdown “Wewill keepenforcing federal immigration law in LosAngeles, whetherornot the city’sgovernment or residents agree with it,” Mizelle said in asocial media post on theplatform X. Messages seeking com-
ment on the lawsuit were sent to the offices of Mayor Karen Bass andCity Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. Council member Hugo Soto-Martinez, aco-author of the Los Angelessanctuary law,said Monday that the citywould do everything in itspower to protect itsresidents. He said in astatement that “Trump is tearing families apart” and trying to force cities andtownsacross the country to help him carry out his agenda. “Werefuse to stand by and let Donald Trumpdeport innocentfamilies,” he added.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By DAMIAN DOVARGANES
JanRisher
LOUISIANA AT LARGE
Afeast for thesenses
The George Rodrigue Foundation’sAioli Dinner SupperClubat the Cabildo was more than ameal —itwas afeast for the senses, a step back in time and atributeto art, history and community.
The event was one in alongseries of “multicourse culinary experiences” that pop up around the state to pay tribute to Rodrigue’s 1971 landscape painting titled “The Aioli Dinner.”
The painting was Rodrigue’s first to feature people —specifically,members of the Creole Gourmet Societies. In their heyday between 1890 and 1920, the men gathered for elaborate six-hour meals at homes in and around NewIberia, Rodrigue’s hometown.
On apersonal level,Ihavea soft spot for Rodrigue.
Ihad the chance to be withhim on many occasions duringhis years in Lafayette. In fact, Iwas with him Sept. 15, 2005, in the chaos after Hurricane Katrina, when he signed the original “We Will Rise Again,” the bluedog underwater,which he used as a fundraiser for the Red Cross. The print has raised hundredsofthousands of dollars for charity.
On that day,hesaid to me, “The dog’shead is not under water.His body is, but his head isn’t.He’s reaching out for hope.”
Icouldn’thelp but thinkabout what he would say 20 years later as we approach the Katrinaanniversary
The event at the Cabildowas timed to coincide with the exhibit “Rodrigue: Before the Blue Dog,” which is open through Sept28. The whole evening at the Cabildo was ablend of looking back and looking forward. Before dinner in the Cabildo’s second-floor front gallery,we were invited to enjoy the Rodrigue and other exhibits. As much as Ienjoyedthe dinner,I appreciated the time spentinthe galleries even more.
Seeing Rodrigue’swork always brings back memories, but being in the place wheresomuchofhistory unfolded made Louisiana’s sweeping story feel so accessible. In that quiet hour,Iconnected dots Ihadn’tbefore— and felt what Ialways hope to in aLouisiana museum: adeeper sense of belonging in this complicated, beautiful state.
The dinner took place at atable, seated for 88 people, that ranthe length of the Cabildo’ssecondfloor front gallery —aroomthat hasseen its share of history.For example, 5feet from where Isat, Icould read asign that read,“Lafayette stood here.” Isat there, juxtaposing my surroundings with the scrumptious menu of corn and crab bisque, shrimp remoulade salad, an incredible grilled pork chop with tasso Marchand de vin and Creole cream cheesecake withLouisiana strawberries for dessert, preparedbychef Matt Diunizio.
In Rodrigue’spainting,the dinner’sinspiration, all of the people are wearing black and white, and in keeping with that spirit, guests to the events are asked to wear black, white or acombination thereof.
Ifelt brave and chosetoweara white cotton dress.Imade it without spilling anything until my last bite of dessert, when aLouisiana strawberry found its mark, dribbling down my dress, grazing the hem before hitting the floor
As Ibent to pick up the wayward berry from the floor,I couldn’thelp but think about the contrast —asimple accident in aroom that had seen so many monumental moments.
For centuries, the building has hosted events that changed the course of the country.In1803, the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies were held there, sealing the deal that more than doubled the size of the United States.In 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette
See RISHER, page 4B
BayouTeche chef crowned
Karlos Knotttakes home theKingofSeafood title
BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer
Chef Karlos Knott, of TheCajun Saucer in Arnaudville, took home
the 2025 King of Louisiana Seafood title on Friday Knott beat 11 other chefs from aroundthe state to win the 18th annual Louisiana Seafood CookOff presented by theLouisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing
Board. He prepared adish he called “All Roads Lead to Arnaudville,” consisting of aRoman-style pizza with butter-poached Louisiana shrimp.
“It still hasn’tsunk in that Iwas able to win this competition with the amazing chefs herethis evening. Ifound myself looking around tosee who won, and then suddenly Irealized it wasme! This is amazing,” Knott said. Knott is aformer U.S. Army Cavalry Scoutwho was stationedinGermany.During his yearsin Europe with his wife and son, Knott developed a passionfor well-crafted beer,which inspired him to start Arnaudville’sBayou Teche Brewing in 2009.
Following Louisiana’slegalization of restaurants within breweries in 2018, Knottcreated The Cajun Saucer, ablend of Italianstyle pizza with Cajun and Creole flavors.
The first duty forthe 2025 King of Louisiana Seafood is to prepare to represent the state in the 21st annual Great American Seafood Cook-OffinNew OrleansonAug 2. Additionally,Knott will serve as
ä See CHEF, page 4B
Hundreds protestICE centers
Uniontargets
‘detention
alley’
BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer
BASILE Hundreds of service, care and hospitality workers andother protesters converged Mondayontwo U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processingand detention centers in Louisiana.
Theprotest,organized by theService Employees International Union, took aim at President Donald Trump’scontinuedefforts to detain and deport those in thecountry illegally and without proper documentation
The union is calling for theimmedi-
aterelease of immigrantworkers who it claims are unjustly detained in the remote Louisiana complexes in Basile and Jena, both of which have landed the state in the center of the national immigration debate.Jena has been at the forefront of that discoursesince it wasthe facilitywhere Columbia Universitystudent Mahmoud Khalil was held for more than threemonths beforehis June 20 release.
“We’re here to standupfor immigrants and working people,”said SitiPulcheon, aStarbucksworkerand childofanimmigrant mother from Columbus, Ohio.
At the Basile facility, flanked by arusted rice mill and sheriff’s deputies with zip tie handcuffs connected totheir utility belts, hundreds of protesters and service workers from Louisianaand across thecountry arrived by bus Monday afternoon. They faced razor wire-lined
Pulcheon, aStarbucks worker and child of an immigrant
speaksduring the protest.
ä See PROTEST, page 4B
BY JASON WILLIS Staff writer
Avehicle crashed into a Lafayettetattoo parlormidday Saturdayaftercrossing allfour lanesoftraffic on Johnston Street, Lafayette policesaid
The car was traveling north on Whittington Drive andfailed to stop at astop sign, crashing intosomeone riding an electric scooter, policesaid It then continued driving across all four lanes of Johnston Street and into Be True Tattoo, demolishing the right side of the store andstriking aworker at the counter
The worker is still hospitalized as aresultofhis in-
juries, Be True TattooconfirmedinanInstagram post Saturday night. “Weask allofyou to keep him in your thoughts and prayers,” thetattoo parlor said. “Weask for patience during this time as we begintosort through the rubbleand figure outour next step. As aresult of the damage, Be True Tattoo said it will be moving to itssisterparlor,Instant ClassicTattoo, at 3302 Johnston St.,and won’t be offering piercing services in the meantime. The business also said it will host fundraising events to cover the worker’smedical bills Police said intoxication wasnot afactor.The inves-
tigation is still ongoing. TrafficonJohnston Street wasrerouted to Cajundome Boulevard for roughly an hourand ahalf as aresult of the accident
Meteorologists warn of severe consequences
BY ALEXA ST.JOHN TheAssociated Press
The NationalOceanic andAtmospheric AdministrationsaidMonday it is delaying by onemonth theplannedcutoffofsatellite data that helps forecasters track hurricanes. Meteorologists andscientists warnedof severe consequences last week when NOAA said, in themidst of this year’s hurricane season, that it would almost immediately discontinue key data collected by three weather NOAA delays cutoff for hurricane
ä See NOAA, page 4B
Knott
fence as they chanted and held signs demanding the release of detainees.
STAFFPHOTOSByLESLIE WESTBROOK
Demonstrators march, chant and hold signs during aprotest organized by the ServiceEmployees International Union on Monday at the SouthLouisiana ICEProcessing Center in Basile.
PROVIDED PHOTO Avehicle crashed into a Lafayette tattoo parlorafter crossing all four lanes of traffic, officials said.
Siti
mother from Columbus, Ohio,
Court’sdelay in districting case puts La. politicsinturmoil
In the seemingly interminable turmoil over Louisiana’scongressional districtshapesand boundaries, theU.S. Supreme Court leftLouisiana in limbo last week.Rather thanissuing a decision on the case of Louisiana v. Callais, which challenged the newly redrawn6th Congressional District, the court ordered that it be reargued during itsnext term. The result promises more politicalchaos, as Louisianans may well notevenknowwherethe district lines are for the 2026 congressional elections before the first candidate deadlineslatethis year.This outcome is unfair to voters andcandidates alike.The high court should do all it can to expedite adecision as early in its next term as possible.
Justice Clarence Thomas’ interpretation of redistricting law may notbetoeveryone’sliking, but he was right to scold his colleaguesfor delaying adecision without explanation.
In adissent from the court’sorder,Thomas noted that “Congress requiresthis Court to exercisejurisdiction over constitutionalchallenges to congressional redistricting, and weaccordingly haveanobligation to resolve suchchallenges promptly.” Because the court’s own caselaw on redistricting has been particularly convoluted for decades, Thomas wrote,“that resolutionis particularly critical here,” as“statesdonot know howtodraw maps” that comply with all the prior decisions.
Louisiana legislators clearly have struggled with just that problem, as theyhave attempted to create constitutionally acceptable districts in two drasticallydifferent waysinjust the pastfour years.
Firsttheydrewone that, justasitwas after 2010, featured only one district with amajority of Black voters. Ordered by the courts to create asecond Black-majority district basedafterthe 2020Census, they did so in time for the 2024 elections, leaving then-U.S. Rep. GarretGraves of Baton Rouge without asafeRepublican district while creating an openingfor Democrat Cleo Fields to return to Congress in the newBlackmajority jurisdiction.
To do so, though, they createdadistrict that snakes for 250 odd-shaped milesfromShreveport to Baton Rouge, leading some White voters to challenge the new districtonthe grounds that it is aracial gerrymanderthatlacks the “compactness” that othercourt decisions have required.
Louisiana thus may be stuck with twoconflicting mandates: Create asecondBlack-majority district, but without using race asthe guiding criteria. As we said, confusing.
Thomas also noted that the redistricting case is the only one in the entire 2024-2025 term that went to the Supreme Court automatically rather than at its discretion.
The practical repercussions heregobeyond even those described by Thomas, as theuncertaintycould affect the choicesthat politicians beyond the 6th District make about their future plans. That doesn’tjust affect them;italso affects the constituents theyserve.
Justices should not get sowrappedupinconstitutional theory that they forgetreal-world consequences. Let’shopethey heed Thomasand move swiftlytomitigate the political tumult they are feeding.
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.
OPINION
Anyone who has faced cancer up closeknows that it takes avillage to get through thatterrible time. When Iwas diagnosed withcancer,help camefrom all places,especially my family Since Istarted volunteering with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Ihave come to realizeanother key player in thefight against cancer: our elected officials. This is why Iattended Cancer Action Day in BatonRouge. Aftermeeting with state lawmakers, Iwas glad to learn that they support aresolutionasking Congress to avoid major cuts to the Medicaid program,and theimportance of making our voices heard at the state Capitol. Ilive in Convent,inthe heart of “Cancer Alley,”a regionsurrounded by chemi-
Ioften get perturbed after reading an opinion in The Times-Picayune |The Advocate. How can people have sucha different opinion from me? The more I think about aletter,the more irritated I get until Ibegin composing my response This happened to me after reading opinions in the June 5paper,“D-Day reminds us why we mustresistfascism,” and the June 7paper,“Second Amendment fans sit on the sidelinesamidunchecked tyranny.”
The writer of theJune 5letter was making his point that Americans must stopPresident Donald Trump because he is atyrantand afascistjust like Hitler. That is aridiculous and dangerous comparison. People need to read and understand the Constitution and not believe what theyhear from the mainstream media and repeat it. Trump is not afascist. People who push thatnarrative are tryingtospur unrest,and it is working. Look at the recent riots in L.A.where people are protesting againstICE forar-
Ihope thatmany readers learned about the tremendous value of public library services in arecent guest column. DirectorofEast BatonRouge Parish Library Katrina Stokes detailed how robust library programmingand partnerships maximize the impact of resources and direct investment in our local communities. Isee this transformative work happening every day in the spaces of our libraries, which do so muchmorethan hold books. Through partnerships with New Orleans Public Libraryand JeffersonParish Libraries, YMCA Educational Services can reach hundreds of adult learners seeking help with basic literacy,HiSET/
cal plants and plaguedbyhigh cancer rates. Iwas diagnosedwith aggressive breast cancer in August 2024 and had surgery to remove the cancerous tissue. Everything was coveredthrough Medicaid. For me, accesstoaffordable health care had long been astruggle. But now that I have Medicaid, my screenings, mammograms and treatments are all covered. Iamurging U.S. Sens. John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy to take astand in the fight against cancerand vote against these dangerous Medicaid cuts being considered in the U.S. Senate. Because of Medicaid, I’m still here with my children and grandchildren VERONICA JONES volunteer,American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
resting immigrants here illegally.Just because theliberalleft does not like our laws andinsistsonchanging them is no justificationfor violencetoward police and destruction of property
The writer of theJune 7letter said that supportersofthe Second Amendment have always espoused their right to own agun to protect themselves from government tyranny,whileTrump’sgovernment is allowing unidentified agents (i.e., ICE agents) to kidnapinnocent Brown people off the streets while rounding up illegals. He writes that this is what tyranny looks like and asks where are the Second Amendment proponents. Again, that is dangerous language. The authors of these twoarticlesare making acase for Americans to pick up their armsand use themagainst theTrump government to stopthe tyranny.Are they suggesting we have another summer of violence like we experienced in 2020?
DAVE DRANE Lacombe
GED prep, English language learning, digital literacy and workforce readiness skills. Our studentsrange from nonreaderssounding out words to seniors needing guidance to use their smartphonesto graduates moving on to career pathways (including seven graduates who walked at aceremony on June 12, all because theycould walk into alibrary for free adult education classes). Librariesare irreplaceable in the accessthey provide to people, meeting themright where they are in their lives —inall walks of life.
AMY E. LEGGETTE directorofyMCA
educational services NewOrleans
What we see today is neither conservative nor American. Being aconservative once meanthaving arespect forthe past beyond baseball caps, areverence formanners, apreference forlimited government, fealty to the Constitution and rule of law and an awareness of life’s complexity and resultant suspicion of ideology and dramatic change. President Donald Trump exhibits none of those traits. In the movie “Bridge of Spies,” the lawyer appointed to defend aSoviet spy (played by Tom Hanks) refuses the CIAagent’s demand forprivileged communications. “My name’sDonovan. Irish, both sides. You’re German.But what makes us Americans? Just one thing. One. Only one. The rule book. We call it the Constitution, and we agree to the rules, and that’swhat makes us Americans. That’sall that makes us Americans.”
The rules. Created by the Constitution. Lawsand norms. The meanstothe ends. How we decide what to do as much as what we decide to do. They really matter because they allow us without fear to vote, to criticize those in power,towrite letters to the editor,toprotest —tobe Americans. And being an American has meantthat apresident did not embody the mystical will of the people and could not do whatever he wanted in their name, that elections were accepted as legitimate, that those whovoted differently were still loyal Americans and that a president ruthlessly targeting and punishing his political opponents waswhat happened in other countries.
When aUnited States senator, Lisa Murkowski, says, ‘Weare all afraid,” that’snot America. When apresident orders the Justice Department to criminally investigate his former cybersecurity chief because he called the 2020 presidential election legitimate, that’snot America. That’sHungary and Turkey That’sautocracy.Itcan happen here.
R.J.PETRE Mandeville
ONEBIG BEAUTIFULBILL
Overthe last four years, Ihave heardfrom countless families and small businesses across Louisiana that have been struggling to make endsmeet because of record inflation caused by the out-ofcontrol government spending and radical regulations under President JoeBiden. From hardworking parents who have seen their grocery and gasoline bills skyrocket to the small business owner being crushed by crazy Washingtonregulations, Americans have had it.
ment likewehaven’tseen in years. Louisiana has alot to gain from theOne Big Beautiful Bill.
Enough is enough. That’swhy last fall, Louisiana overwhelmingly joined in the mandate that put President Donald Trump back in the White House and gave Republicans majorities in theHouse andSenate to restore American greatness and put our country back on track.
To deliver on this mandate, I have been working with my colleaguesinCongress to implement President Trump’sAmerica First agenda and get the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law
This important bill would secure our southern border by providing much-needed resources to hire more ICE and Border Patrol agents,complete construction of the border wall and invest in technology to combat theflow of fentanyl.
Most importantly,this bill would deliver on our promise to provide real relief to hardworking Louisiana families and small businesses who’ve been struggling for too long.Itwould generate economic growth, higher wagesand invest-
In 2017, Ihelped pass the historic TaxCutsand Jobs Act, which put more money in the pockets of every Louisiana taxpayer and grew our economy.It lowered tax rates, doubled thestandarddeduction and increased the Child Tax Credit for hardworking families. President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill would make this tax relief permanent If this bill does not becomelaw,Americanswill face the largest tax increase in ournation’s history.Withoutthis legislation, the average Louisiana taxpayer wouldsee a24% tax increase, more than 500,000 Louisiana familieswouldsee their Child TaxCredit cut in half, more than 250,000 small businesses would face a43.4% tax rate andthose relying on overtime andtips would continue to pay taxes on that income.
In fact, afamily of four earning about $58,000, which is the median householdincome in Louisiana, wouldsee a$1,200 tax increase each year if this bill doesn’tbecome law.Bycontrast, the Council of Economic Advisers found that same family with two childrenin Louisiana wouldrealize a$6,400 to $10,600 increase in take-home pay over thenext four years and beyond because ofthe One Big Beautiful Bill.
President Trump’s One Big BeautifulBill would not only secure this tax relief, but it would also restore American energy security
As an energy-producing state, Louisianaisespecially wellpositionedfor economicgrowth underthis bill because it requires 30 offshore lease sales in the Gulf of America over thenext15years, providing much-needed predictability fordomesticoffshore oil andgas exploration andproduction and securing good-paying jobs forour local economy.Under President Biden, we saw an all-out assault on American energywith the fewest offshore lease sales in ournation’s history
Iwas also able to secure language in the bill to increase the amount of revenue-sharing dollars Louisiana receiveseach year from offshore drilling. This provision in the bill would bring hundreds of millions of newdollars to Louisiana forour vitalcoastal restoration andhurricaneprotection projects.
We must continue to invest in flood control,coastal restoration andhurricaneprotection projects using revenue from offshore energyexploration andproduction to notonly restore ourcoast but to better prepare ourcommunities andprotect the livesand livelihoodsoffamilieswho live here
With so much at stake forLouisiana, we must deliver on themandate demanded by the American people andsendthe One Big Beautiful Bill to President Trump’sdesk to become law, andbegin another goldenage of American recovery
Steve Scalise is theRepublican majority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represents Louisiana’s1st Congressional District.
SAN FRANCISCO Followingtrips to different countries over many years, Ihave longed to return home and hear these wordsfrom an immigration officer: “Welcome back to theUnited States.” Something felt different this time. After threeweeks away —two days in Doha and the rest in Vietnam, Hong Kong and Beijing —while Iwas glad to return home, Inoticed acontrast Ihad not noticed before. We have become adirtier country.Iamnot talking about smut or vulgar language,but real dirt. Stepping off the plane in San Francisco, Inoticed the jetway carpet was stained. “Welcometo California,” asign read. Adouble meaning, perhaps.
Public toilets are dirty.Isaw toilet tissue on thefloor,overflowing papertowel bins, water poolingonbasincounters and puddles of aliquid Ishallnot further describe. Some toiletsremained unflushed.
Terminal floors are scarred and there seems to bea different atmosphere from what Ihave been used to. Once, airports were full of happytravelers. There are few smiles and less laughter,even amongchildren.Onthe way to my hotelIsaw some trash and experienced asense of drabness.
Dohalooked likeanemerald city that had just been built. My cabdriver said before 1982, it wasmostly desert.What all that oil money can do! Butitcan’tbe only aboutmoney.The streets were immaculate. There was no trash and no bins in which to put any.Perhaps, as in Singapore, there are substantial penalties for
littering, or maybe local citizens are simply proud of their country and that is reflected in the image they present. It was hot (105 degrees),but cool air was pumped up from below many sidewalks. How cool is that?
In Vietnam, while the countryside has areas of litter and decaying shops and houses, Ho ChiMinh City is mostly clean and appears prosperous.
My hotel was amodel for what theU.S. hospitalityindustry once looked like —great service, spotless common areas and rooms, excellent food and drink and a feeling that one is welcome as a guest.Here’sanirony for you: a cocktail is named “B52” and toilet fixtures are made by American Standard. Beijing, too, is clean. Granted, there are police on many corners andcameras are everywhere, recording “every moveyou make
On behalf of Louisiana’shospitals andlargest health care systems, we come together as stewards of ourcommunities’ health andwell-being. Together, we areunified in our concern over the proposedcuts to Medicaidthat are being debated in Congress. These cuts would be historic in theirdevastation and warrant our shared advocacy to protect our patients andthe care we provide thematour hospitals andclinics.
Medicaidisnot just abudget line —itisa lifeline for children, seniors, people with disabilitiesand working families.Cuts of the magnitude currently under discussion would adversely impact our collective ability to provide care, train the next generation of physicians andemploytens of thousands of people, and they would stifle the billions in economic impact we generate each year Steep cuts would force consolidationofservices,staffing reductions andclosures, reducing healthcareaccessto everyone in ourcommunities. Ourruralcommunities would especially feel the impact, as many of these hospitals are alreadyindifficult financial situations andwould likely experience asignificantreduction of services. The potential impact would be felt by everyone in thestate Our health systems arekey drivers of ourstate’s economy, enabling ahealthy workforce by supporting jobs and generating taxrevenue. Together, we employmore than 100,000 people and generate billions in annual economic impact.Hospitals account for 5.7% of totalemployment in Louisiana. Louisiana hospitals generate $38.4 billioninbusinesstransactions, $14.2 billion in annualpayroll and $1.7 billion in netstate andlocal tax collections.
The impact of provisions in theUnitedStatesSenate’sversion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Actreflectsanestimated lossofmorethan$4billion in total Medicaidfunding for Louisiana health care providers. This would negatively impact ourability to deliver care and have devastating consequences for ourstate budget. The American Hospital Association estimatesanannual job loss of 16,767 and a10-year lossoftax revenue at $50.7
I’ll be watching you.” Credit to themusical group The Police. Restrooms at Tokyo Airport are so clean they appear to have been recently installed.
Onecan find manyfaults in other nations —asone can find faults in our own. Freedoms we enjoy are suppressed elsewhere, but freedom in the U.S. seemsincreasingly to be taken as license to do whatever one wishes regardless of harm caused to one’s self, or the nation.
Seeing trash, graffiti and a sense of darkness in parts of America is the result of failure to teach certain things my generation was taught by parents and, if we misbehaved,reinforced by teachers or the school principal. We didn’tthrow trash or empty glass bottles along theroad.In fact, many grocery and other stores offered five cents forevery bottle returned. It wasn’t
million for every$1billion reductioninMedicaid spending. These economicconsequences pale in comparison to the harm thatwould be causedtoresidents acrossthe state, regardless of insurance status, who would no longer be able to getthe carethatthey need.The House version, while it presentedchallenges, is amore workable solutionthatwould help to avoid many of these effects.
We aregrateful for and stand with ourgovernor,who signed into lawa state budget which fully supports the Medicaid program, andthe state legislators who unanimously passed House Resolution 369and overwhelmingly passedSenate Concurrent Resolution 32 this June recognizing the vital role of health careservices and the vast implications of Medicaid cuts, andencouraging our federal policymakers to avoid suchreductions in Medicaid funding.
Likewise, we urge policymakers to recognize the essentialrolepublic funding plays in providing access to quality, life-saving health care for all Americans. Protecting Medicaidisnot just aboutavoiding budgetcuts; it is acommitment to oursharedvalues of community,resilience and economic vitality
We take no pleasure in having to speculate about the impact of these cuts. However, in light of the cuts being proposed, we must have honest conversations together,and with you —the communities we serve.Louisiana and our health caredelivery system areata crossroads. We face the largest cuttohealth carein ourstate’s history Will ourleadersinWashingtonchoosetoprotect the health of ourpeople, hospitals andeconomy?Weare counting on themtodoso.
Greg Feirn is CEO of LCMC Health. Pete November is CEO of OchsnerHealth.This columnisco-signed by: Rock Bordelon, president and CEO of AllegianceHealth Management; E. J. Kuiper president and CEO of FMOL Health; Randy Morris, board chairmanofthe Louisiana Rural HospitalCoalition; Rene Ragas, president and CEO of Woman’sHospital; and Paul A. Salles, president and CEO of theLouisianaHospital Association.
called recycling, but the incentive to gain somepocket money produced asimilar result.
My Dadbelonged to the Isaac Walton League, which taught responsible hunting and fishing and an appreciation forland, air and water.Conservationists, they called themselves. This was before environmentalism took hold and it seemed to me to produce better results after what Ihave described.
Pride in America once meant respecting the land “from California to the New York Island.” It wasmade foryou and me so let’sclean it up and show we care about our land as much as many other nations care about theirs. Maybe acampaign could be started under the banner “Make America Clean Again.”
Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com
Steve Scalise GUEST COLUMNIST
Greg Feirn GUEST COLUMNIST Pete November GUEST COLUMNIST
Cal Thomas
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
The U.S. Capitol, through awindowinthe Russell Senate Office Building in Washington
in Basile.
“We’re out here to bring attention to the unjust conditionsthatthese detainees (are receiving),”said David Foley,ofSIEU’s local 509, aBoston resident
“We’re here to remind the rest of the county that our neighbors arebeing picked up and kidnapped off the streets and brought across the country to facilities like these in Louisiana.”
Foley said around 500 people in total showed up across the two facilities Monday before afinal destination in NewOrleans on Tuesday.During aspeech, Foley brought up that Tufts
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aLouisiana ambassador for seafoodfor the next year
Universitystudent Rumeysa Ozturk, who ICEagents arrested off the street in March, is amemberofthe union. She was held in the Basile facility until May when after afederal judge released pending afinaldecisiononthe claim shewas detainedafter penning an op-ed MitchGonzalez, from New Orleans, said his close friend,Arely Westley,isbeing held in the Basile facility.Westley,atrans woman whoimmigrated to New Orleans from Honduras when she was 11, gave her heart and soul to her community, he said.
From programs helping LGBTQ+ youth, providing rescue animalsfor formerly incarcerated people
This was the first year theevent washostedonthe northshore in conjunction with the Tammany Taste of Summer event presented by Visit the Northshore Other competitorsfor the 2025 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off include: n Kaleb Scott, executive chef,University Club of BatonRouge;Baton Rouge n Willie Gaspard Jr., executive chef, Cypress Bayou Casino &Hotel; Charenton n Michael Kelley,executive chef,Gallagher’sGrill; Covington n Trenton Oliphant, executive chef/owner,Ben-
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visited New Orleans and stayed at the Cabildo.
The massive structure on Jackson Square was built between 1795 and 1799 duringthe city’s Spanish rule. The architect Gilberto Guillemard designed it and its neighbors, the St. Louis Cathedral and the Presbytère
The Cabildo was the heart of New Orleans’ city government for decades. Then, it became home to the Louisiana Supreme Court where in 1892, it was the site of the ruling that set the stage for Plessy vs. Ferguson,one of the most pivotal and painful chapters in American civil rights history
That’sthe magic of Louisiana —and of Rodrigue. They invite you in with beauty and flavor,then surprise you with depth. As the evening wound down and Istepped out onto Jackson Square, Ikept thinkingabout Rodrigue’swords: “The dog’shead is not under water.He’sreachingout for hope.” That line has
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satellites that the agency jointly runs with the Defense Department
The DefenseMeteorological Satellite Program’s microwavedatagives key information that can’tbe gleaned from conventional satellites.Thatincludes three-dimensionaldetails of astorm, what’sgoing on inside of it and what it is doing in the overnight hours, experts say The data was initially planned to be cut off on June 30 “to mitigate a significant cybersecurity risk,” NOAA’s announce-
ShirleyAnn Foreman, a loving mother, grandmother andaunt, passedaway on June 27, 2025, in Baton Rouge,Louisiana. Relativesand friends are invited to attenda service at DuhonFuneral Home, 900 ETexas Ave Rayne, LA 70578 on Wednesday July 2, 2025. Visitation will be held at thefuneral home beginning at 9:00 a.m. withthe service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Indian Bayou Methodist Cemetery Full obituaryatwww.du honfuneralhome.com
to fighting against abuse in ICE facilities —hesaid it’s no wonderthatshe would eventually be arecipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human RightsAward in 2024. Gonzalez said he’sable to speak withWestleydaily but only through the help of donations.
In the meantime, Westley’sdetainment hasn’t stopped her advocacy efforts, he added. She is helping other detainees understandtheir rights and create legal defenseand commissary funds.
“This is awoman who survived trafficking, homelessnessand criminalization like many trans sisters. She is asurvivor and aforce for love,” Gonzalez said.
teauxCajun-Asian Fusion; Hammond n JaylenCherry,head chef,The Depeaux; Independence n Alexis Indest, executive chef, Whiskeyand Vine; Lafayette n ChaseRaley,chefde cuisine, ParishRestaurant and Bar; Monroe n Farrell Harrison, executivechef, PlatesRestaurant&Bar; New Orleans
Theprotests in Jena and Basile are part of the SEIU’s”Justice Journey” to Louisiana’s”detention alley,”anickname coined by the data research project Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse to describe the concentration of ICE detention centers in Mississippi, Louisianaand Texas.Ofthe U.S.’s20largestdetention centers, 14 are in those three states. Louisianahas eight ICE detention facilities.
The Basile facilityis owned by for-profit company The GEO Group, Inc. It has a1,000-person capacity and only houses women.
Email Stephen Marcantel at stephen.marcantel@ theadvocate.com.
n Jared Heider,chef de cuisine, JuniorsonHarrison;New Orleans n BlakeJackson, executive chef/owner,Heron Seafood/Mae& Co.; Shreveport n Joseph Fontenot, executive chef, Creole Bagelry &Café; Slidell
Email Ja’koriMadison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.
The GeorgeRodrigue Foundation’sAioli Dinner Supper Club on May29atthe Cabildo wasmorethan ameal —itwas afeast
stayed with mefor years, and somehow,itfeltright for the night. Events like this don’t just honor an artist or a moment in history.They invite us to slow downand connect —toget to know the people across the table, to see ourselvesinthe stories on the walls and
ment said. The agency nowsays it’spostponing that until July 31. Peak hurricane season is usuallyfrommid-August to mid-October. Spokespeoplefrom NOAA and the Navydid notimmediately respond to arequest for more details about the update NOAA —which hasbeen the subject ofheftyDepartment of Government Efficiency cuts this year —said Friday the satellite program accountsfor a “single dataset in arobust suite ofhurricane forecastingand modelingtools”in theNational Weather Service’sportfolio. Theagency’s“data sources are fully capable
even in small, sweet accidents—like astrawberry on awhite cottondress. In aplace as layered and complicated as Louisiana, that sense of belonging is, itself, akind of hope.
Admissiontothe Cabildo is $11 for adults, $9 for seniors, active military/students and
of providinga complete suiteofcutting-edge data and models that ensure the gold-standard weather forecasting the American people deserve,” aspokesperson said.
But Union of Concerned Scientists science fellow Marc Alessi told The Associated PressonFridaythat detectingthe rapid intensification, and more accurately predicting thelikely path, of stormsiscritical as climate change worsens theextreme weather experienced acrossthe globe.
“Not only arewelosing theabilitytomake better intensificationforecasts, we arealso losing theabilitytopredictaccurately wherea tropical cyclone
free for children 6and under.The next Aioli Dinner Supper Club event is scheduledfor Oct. 9atthe LSUMuseum of Art in BatonRouge. For tickets or moreinformation, go to aiolidinner.com.
Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.
could be going, if it’sin itsdevelopment stages,” Alessi said. “This data is essential.
“Onthe seasonal forecastingfront, we would seethe effects,”headded, “but also on the long-term climate change front,we now arelosing an essential piece to monitoring global warming.”
Hindelang Jr., M.D., Floyd Michael
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at a10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial in St.PiusX Catholic Church in Lafayette for Floyd Michael Hindelang,Jr., M.D., age 82, whopassed away peacefullyon Saturday, June 28, 2025, at The Calcutta HouseHospice of Acadianain Lafayette surrounded by hisfamilyand lovedones. The familyrequeststhat visitation be observedin Martin& Castille's SOUTHSIDELocation on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, from 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm andwill continue on Thursday morningfrom 8:00 am until 9:30 am. A Rosary willberecitedon Wednesday eveningat6:00 pm. Reverend JamesBrady, JCL, will be theCelebrant of theFuneral Mass and officiate theservices. Entombment will be held in St.JohnCatholic Cemetery Mausoleum in Lafayette. Survivors includehis belovedwife of 56 years, SandraduBernard Gresham Hindelang;four children, F. Michael Hindelang,III,M.D., and his wife, Camille,Gretchen George and herhusband, Paul, Christopher Hindelang and hiswife Mary, and Matthew Hindelang and hiswife Jessica; fifteengrandchildren,GiannaHindelang, Margot Hindelang, Floyd M. Hindelang,IV, Rosalie Hindelang,Marie George Guion andher husband, Matt, Jacob George,Sarah George,Clare George Adeline George,Eli Hindelang,James Hindelang,Cecilia Hindelang,Naomi Hindelang,Josie Hindelang,and Samuel Hindelang;one great grandson, Jude Guion;his sisters, Janelle Schwarzenbachand Sylvia McKeeand herhusband, Craig; andmanynieces, nephews, and relatives. He waspreceded in death by hisparents, Mary Palmisano Hindelang and Floyd Michael Hindelang,
Born on November 25, 1942, in NewOrleans,Mike grew up in Gretna, LA, graduatedfromHoly Cross High School in 1960, Tulane University in 1964, and LSU School of Medicine in 1969. He served as aflightsurgeon for threeyearsinthe United States Navy and completed hisresidencyin OB/GYN in 1976 at Charity Hospital in NewOrleans Mike joined several other physiciansinthe Acadiana communityasfounding members of Women'sand Children'sHospital in 1983 and wasinprivate practice from1976 untilheretired in 2012. Mike wasa kind, caringand compassionate physician.Whenasked if he missed hispractice,he said that he didn'tmiss the stress, howeverhedid miss hispatients. Dr.Hindelang washonored to receivethe Frist Humanitarian Award by HCAWomen'sand Children'sHospital in 2011 and theChers Bebes 2019 AcadianaPro-LifeAward He served as aboard member of The DesOrmeaux Foundation andMedicalDirector for theAcadianaPregnancy Center andClinic. Mike was an avidLSU andSaintsfan. He enjoyed history, reading,telling jokes, gardening, andtravelingonspiritual pilgrimages. He wasa parishioner of St.PiusX Catholic Church in Lafayette and devoutly lived hisfaith. Patriarch andspiritual leader of hisfamily, he led by hisvirtuousexample. Mike leaves behind alegacy of love of God, family, and country. Hismarriage wasa beautifulwitnessto many. He was adored by hischildren, their spouses, and hisgrandchildren,who affectionately called him Gramps. He made it aprioritytobethere for his family, attending every special moment with a warm smileand aquiet steady support that made others feelseenand loved. He washumble, big-hearted,gentle,witty, prayerful, courageousand persevered in hisfaithtothe end.
Pallbearers will be F. Michael Hindelang,III, M.D., Chris Hindelang, Matthew Hindelang,Paul George,Jacob George,Eli Hindelang,and James Hindelang Honorary Pallbearers will be Mike Gresham and Craig McKee.
ThefamilyofMike extendstheir heartfelt appreciation to Hospice of Acadiana, Calcutta House and thephysicians, nurses, and all others involvedin hiscare. Thanks to thenumerousprayerwarriors whoprayedfor Mike and ourfamilyand for the manyactsofkindnessof familyand friends. We are forever grateful. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Floyd Michael Hindelang, Jr M.D., to Carmelite Monastery, Hospice of Acadiana, FamilyMissions Company, or The DesOrmeaux Foundation View theobituaryand guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin& CastilleSOUTHSIDE, 600 E. Farrel Road,Lafayette,Louisiana 70508, 337-984-2811
PROVIDED PHOTO
STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Demonstrators
Foreman, ShirleyAnn
Alcaraz pushed to fivesets in opener
BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP
LONDON— Carlos Alcaraz, locked in a five-set struggle at Centre Court, looked toward his coach Monday and shouted something about how Fabio Fognini 38, retiring after this season, winless in 2025 —looked as if he could keep playing until he’s50.
“I don’tknow why it’s hislastWimbledon,” Alcaraz said later,“because the level he has shown, he can still play three or four more years. Unbelievable.”
The two-time reigning champion at the All England Club needed to go through more than 41/2 hours of backand-forth shifts against the much older and less accomplished Fognini before emerging with a7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory in the first round. It wasn’tsupposed to be that tough.
Consider that the No. 2-seeded Alcaraz is 22, alreadya five-time Grand Slam champion —including his latest at the French Open three weeks ago andisona career-best 19-match winning streak.
BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer
If Garrett Nussmeier had turned pro after his first year as the LSU starting quarterback, he would have been afairly high pick in theNFL draft.Withhis potential inside aweak quarterbackclass, he might have even gone in the first round.
But as Nussmeierprayedabout the decision, what he thought he shoulddo became clear
“Coming back,I feel likeI had unfinished business,” Nussmeier said Monday in an interview with The Advocate. “I feel like the product that Iput on tape wasn’t what Iwanted it to be. Andit’snot what I wanted to leave.”
Plus, Nussmeier understood what LSUwanted to buildaroundhim.Inthe months after he announced his return, theTigers signed the No. 1transfer portalclass in thecountry,accordingto 247Sports, while retaining several key players.
Brian Kelly repeatedly has called it his
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DOUG FEINBERG NicBarlage,representingthe Cleveland Cavaliers, and WNBA commissioner CathyEngelbertlisten duringanewsconference on MondayinNew york announcingWNBAexpansion teams in Philadelphia, Detroit and Cleveland.
WNBA addingthree teamsoverfive years
BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer
NEW YORK TheWNBA is expanding to 18 teams over the next five years, with Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia all set to jointhe league by 2030. Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroitin2029and Philadelphia the season after,assumingthey get approval from the NBAand WNBA Board of Governors. Toronto and Portland will enter the league next year “The demand for women’sbas-
ketballhas never been higher,and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia to the WNBA family,” WNBAcommissioner Cathy Engelbertsaid
“This historic expansion is apowerful reflection of our league’sextraordinary momentum, thedepth of talentacrossthe game, and the surging demand for investment in women’s professional basketball. All three new teams announced Monday have NBA ownership groups.Eachpaida $250 million
ä See WNBA, page 3C
BY RODWALKER Staff writer
There have been somepretty good duos in NewOrleanssince NBA basketballreturned to the city in 2002. There was Chris Paul and David West Andthen therewas Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday But don’tforget about Joel Meyers and Antonio Daniels,the team’s television broadcast crew that will continue theirrun calling Pelicansgames this season.
ThePelicansannounced Mondaytheyhavesignedplay-by-play announcer Meyers and color analyst Daniels to multiyear contract extensions.
Meyers and Daniels have handled broadcast duties for thePelicans since 2019. This season will be theirseventh season working together
“New Orleans has become home for me, and I’m honored to continue calling gamesfor afranchise that’sonthe rise in acity Ilove,” Meyers said in astatementissued by theteam. “Wehavea special group here —onthe court andin the community —and I’m thankful to be part of the journey. Our fans areaspassionate as anyin theleague, and Ican’twait to see what’snext.”
Meyers, who has been in broadcastingfor more than 40 years, entershis 14th season with the franchise. He was named the Lou-
Consider, too, that Fognini hasnever been past the third round at the All England Club in 15 appearances and reachedthe quarterfinals at any major tournament just once —way back at the 2011 French Open. He entered Monday ranked 138th and is 0-6 this year Oh, and then there’sthis: Only twice has the reigning men’schampion at Wimbledon been beaten in the first round the following year,Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 andManuelSantana in 1967. There were times Monday when Alcaraz appeared to be something less than his best, far from the form he displayed during his epic five-set, 51/2-hour comeback victory over No. 1Jannik Sinner forthe championship at RolandGarros.
Alcaraz double-faulted nine times. He faced 21 break points. He made more unforced errors, 62, than winners, 52. He chalked someofthat up to nerves.
“Playing the first match at Centre Court,and thefirst match of every tournament, is never easy,” said Alcaraz, who beat Novak Djokovic in the
ä See ALCARAZ, page 3C
Sportscaster of theYearfor 2024 by the National Sports Media Associationfor his work on the Gulf Coast Sports &EntertainmentNetwork. Daniels —who played 14 seasonsinthe NBA, including the 2008-09 season with the then-New Orleans Hornets —joined Meyers court side in 2019. “It is atrue
STAFF FILE
PHOTOBySOPHIA GERMER
STAFF FILEPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE
2
Dolphins, Steelers trade All-Pros
Miami sends CB Ramsey, TE Smith to Steelers for safety Fitzpatrick
BY ALANIS THAMES AP sportswriter
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins are sending All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Ramsey announced the trade Monday in a post on his X account. Both his representation and the Dolphins, where he spent the past two seasons, had mutually agreed earlier this year to part ways. Neither Ramsey nor the Dolphins gave any insight into what went wrong. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said in April that Ramsey did not ask for a trade or more money, but after weeks of conversations with Ramsey’s representation, both sides agreed that it would be best to move on Fitzpatrick returns to the team that drafted him 11th overall in 2018. He had been displeased with his role in Miami and requested a trade before being sent to the Steelers in 2019.
The terms have been agreed upon and are pending physicals.
The swap of Ramsey and Fitzpatrick, both three-time All-Pros, marks the third time since at least 2002 that players who had previously been All-Pros were traded for each other, according to Sportradar
The others were star receiver DeAndre Hopkins (three All-Pros) for running back David Johnson (1) in 2020, and tight end Jimmy Graham (1) for center Max Unger (1) in 2015. Smith had one of the best years of his career in his lone season in Miami after signing a two-year
LSU punter transfers to UL-Monroe
BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer
Smith Fitzpatrick
deal as a free agent ahead of the 2024 season. The veteran tight end hoped that his career year might lead to a new contract with the Dolphins, with whom he preferred to stay He had been away from the team during its offseason program as he sought a new contract.
Instead, he’s rejoining Arthur Smith, currently the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, whom he was with in Tennessee and Atlanta.
Smith will get a one-year contract extension worth as much as $12 million for 2026, agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed.
In the aftermath of the trade, former Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert responded to the news with apparent criticism of his former team. Mostert was cut in February by Miami after his least productive season with the team in 2024, one year after making the Pro Bowl with the Dolphins.
“Hot take: Be a Pro-bowler on the Dolphins, get treated like (expletive),” Mostert wrote on X in response to the trades. “Happy for my guys though! GO BALL OUT!!”
It’s the latest in a series of retooling moves the Steelers have made this offseason in hopes that 2025 won’t end similarly as their past few seasons Pittsburgh has reached the playoffs four times in the past five seasons, only to
be quickly eliminated in lopsided fashion each time.
Since March, the Steelers have acquired two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf from Seattle, signed four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and now they’ve added two more experienced veterans in Ramsey and Smith.
Trading Fitzpatrick who emerged as one of the NFL’s premier safeties in his six seasons in Pittsburgh, likely could free up money for the Steelers to resign star linebacker TJ Watt, who is in the last year of his deal and skipped the offseason program as he seeks a new contract.
For the Dolphins, losing Smith is a huge blow to their offense, which heavily relied on the tight end in the passing game as teams limited big plays from receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Smith’s 88 receptions and 884 yards receiving last season were the most by a tight end in franchise history
The Dolphins did address a need at safety after starter Jevon Holland signed with the New York Giants in March, but they still will likely be on the hunt for a replacement for Ramsey to add a veteran to their mostly young cornerback group.
Saints writer wins 2 major awards in LSWA contest
NATCHITOCHES Luke Johnson won Story of the Year and Beat Writer of the Year leading a list of winners for the Times-Picayune, The Advocate and Acadiana Advocate at the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s annual awards ceremony held Sunday Johnson’s feature story on interim Saints coach Darren Rizzi was selected as the contest’s top story across two divisions. The same story also netted Johnson a first place in the pro features category and was a key part of his multi-story entry that won the beat writer award. Section of the Year was the other major award the Times-Picayune, The Advocate and The Acadiana Advocate claimed. Staff writers had five first-place finishes in individual Division I categories. The other individual Division I winners were: Jeff Duncan (pro column), Koki Riley (college feature), Michael Johnson (photography), Kevin Foote (college event).
Source says LSU outfielder has entered transfer portal
LSU sophomore outfielder Ashton Larson has entered the transfer portal, a source confirmed to The Advocate on Monday Larson, who started 40 games as a freshman in 2024, has decided to transfer after starting just five games this past season.
Larson hit two home runs and posted a .256 batting average in 39 at-bats for the national champions this spring. He batted .298 with three home runs and a .401 on-base percentage as a freshman, earning a 2024 All-SEC Freshman team selection in the process.
After battling for a spot in the outfield to start this season, Larson couldn’t establish a starting role after the emergence of Derek Curiel and Jake Brown. Josh Pearson and Chris Stanfield also received playing time in the outfield.
Wings trade Smith to Aces for 2027 first-round pick
LAS VEGAS The Las Vegas Aces have acquired forward NaLyssa Smith from the Dallas Wings for a 2027 first-round draft pick. The trade announced Monday ends what had been a disappointing Dallas debut for Smith, a Texas native who played at Baylor She was averaging career lows in points, rebounds and minutes for the Wings, who started 1-11 before winning four of their past six games.
After the spring semester ended, LSU redshirt senior punter and holder Peyton Todd left the team and transferred to UL-Monroe, where he will play his last college season. Todd, a native of West Monroe had gone through spring practice with the Tigers but is no longer listed on the roster LSU now has two punters: Middle Tennessee State transfer Grant Chadwick and redshirt sophomore Badger Hargett. Chadwick is expected to start after transferring to LSU this offseason. As a freshman last fall, Chadwick averaged 43.4 yards per punt, which ranked third in Conference USA. Chadwick has three years of eligibility remaining.
LSU needed to improve its punting after finishing last in the SEC at 39.56 yards per punt last season.
The Tigers used two punters during the 2024 season: Todd and Blake Ochsendorf, who had one season of eligibility left when he transferred from Louisiana Tech. Todd was LSU’s leading punter with 19 attempts for an average of 41.3 yards. He was also the holder on a field goal unit that struggled at times with its execution. Coming out of high school, Todd was the highest-rated punter in the country in the 2021 class, according to 247Sports. After graduating in December with a degree in animal science, Todd planned to attend veterinary school.
He told LSU for a post on its website that he wants to specializes in large animals to work with horses and cattle. For more LSU sports updates,
Saints to conduct nine open practices during training camp
BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer
The New Orleans Saints will conduct nine public practices during their 2025 training camp, including the opening workout on July 23 at the team’s training facility in Metairie, officials announced Monday In all, the Saints will hold 24 practices, including six workouts in Irvine, California, where the Saints will train for 10 days at UC-Irvine’s Crawford Field in preparation for their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The practices in Irvine will be closed to the public. The Saints will leave for California on Aug. 6 and return to New Orleans on Aug. 15, before their second exhibition game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Caesars Superdome on Aug. 17.
The team’s six final workouts after the Jaguars game will be closed to the public.
All bleacher seating for practices at the training facility will be covered and misted. Concession
and merchandise sales will also be available. Players will also sign post-practice autographs, weather and time permitting. Free parking is available at the adjacent Shrine on Airline complex, starting at 7 a.m. on a firstcome-first-served basis. The July 27 practice will be open to the public and feature multiple interactive and entertainment elements as part of the NFL’s “Back Together Weekend” initiative. Tickets for training camp practices are free, but their availability is limited because of daily seating capacity Season-ticket holders may reserve tickets through their account manager starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday Fans on the waiting list for season tickets may reserve tickets at 9:30 a.m. Tickets will be available to the public starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday by online registration at www.neworleanssaints.com/trainingcamp/ or on the team’s mobile app or SeatGeek app.
Smith joined the Wings from Indiana in an offseason trade. The 24-year-old was part of a major roster makeover before Dallas selected Paige Bueckers No. 1 overall in the draft in April.
Orioles place pitcher Eflin on 15-day injured list
ARLINGTON, Texas The Baltimore Orioles have placed right-hander Zach Eflin on the 15-day injured list with low back discomfort. Eflin got hurt during Saturday’s 11-3 loss to Tampa Bay He was tagged for four runs and five hits in one inning before he was replaced by Scott Blewett. The 31-year-old Eflin, Baltimore’s opening-day starter, is 6-5 with a 5.95 ERA in 12 outings part of a disappointing season for the Orioles. He also was on the IL from April 8 to May 11 with a right lat strain.
Right-hander Brandon Young was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before the opener of a threegame series at Texas.
Yankees right-hander Cruz placed on injured list
TORONTO The New York Yankees put right-hander Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list Monday because of a strained left oblique and selected righty Geoff Hartlieb from Triple-A. Catcher Austin Wells was out of the lineup for a second straight day Monday with manager Aaron Boone explaining that Wells is sidelined because of a circulation issue in one of the fingers on his left hand.
Boone said the injury was likely due to the “wear and tear of catching,” but added that Wells underwent several tests to rule out the possibility of a blood clot. As a result, Boone said Wells will likely be out until Wednesday, adding that J.C. Escarra will start behind the plate until Wells returns.
Sabalenkanot interested in fivesetsfor women
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during her first-round match against Carson Branstine of Canada at Wimbledon in London on Monday.
ASSOICIATED PRESS
By The Assoicated Press
LONDON Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka wouldn’twant women’s tennis to move to best-of-five-set matches at Grand Slam tournaments —like the men play —fearing higher injury risks.
“Probably physically I’m one of the strongest ones, so maybe it would benefit me. But Ithink I’m notreadytoplay fivesets,” Sabalenka said after hertwo-set, first-round victoryatWimbledon on Monday.“Ithink it’s too much on the woman’sbody.Ithink we’re notreadyfor this amount of tennis. Ithink it would increasethe
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2023 and 2024 finals at that arena. “I’ve been practicing pretty well. I’ve been playing on grass really well. But Wimbledon is special. It’s different.” Next for Alcarazwillbe a match Wednesday against Oliver Tarvet, a21-year-old British qualifier who plays college tennis at the University of San Diego and is ranked 733rd.
Fognini is aself-described hot head and is known for midmatch flareups, including at Wimbledon, where he was fined $3,000 in 2019 for saying during amatch that he wished “a bomb would explode at the club” and athen-record $27,500 in 2014 for aseries of outbursts. He was put on atwo-year proba-
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expansion fee, which is about five times as much as Golden State dished out for ateam afew years ago. All three teamsalso will invest more moneythrough building practice facilities and other such amenities.
“It’ssuch anatural fit thatwhen you already have this basketballrelated infrastructure, these strategies, cultures that you find to be successful, combinationsof personnel that you findtobe successful,” said NicBarlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group and the Cavaliers. “Extending that into the WNBA is just anatural next progression,especially if you have adesire to grow like we do.” Both Cleveland and Detroit had WNBA teams in the past and Philadelphia was the home for an ABL team.
“This is ahuge win forDetroit and the WNBA,” Detroit Pistons owner TomGores said. “Today marks the return of the WNBA to acity with deepbasketball roots and achampionship tradition. Detroit played akey role in the league’searly growth, and we’re proud to reignite that legacy as the WNBA ascends tonew heights.”
Detroit sports stars Grant Hill, Chris Webber and Jared Goff will have minorityownershipstakes in the team.
The Cleveland and Detroit ownershipgroups said the Rockers and Shock —the names of the previous teams— would be considered, but they’d do their due diligence before deciding on what the franchises will be called.
The Detroit and Cleveland teams will play at the NBA arenasthatcurrentlyexist,while Philadelphia is planning on anew building that will be completed hopefully by 2030.
“Wetell the city it’s going to open in 2031. We’re hoping for 2030,” said Harris BlitzerSports & Entertainment managing partner and co-founder Josh Harris, who owns the 76ers. “So we’re trying to underpromise and overdeliver But, right now it’s2031, so that we have ayear gap, you know.” Adding these three teams will
PELICANS
Continued from page1C
engage with these fans whomake this jobsorewarding on so many levels.” Andrew Lopez willreturn for hissecond season as TV sideline reporter Meyers and Daniels, or simply “Joeland A.D.” as most people call them, have gaineda large following among the Pelicans’ fan base. Fans often approach them before games to pose for pictures or seek autographs.
“They’re like folk heroes,” Peli-
tion by the Grand Slam Board in 2017 after insulting afemale chair umpireatthe U.S. Openand getting kickedout of that tournament. Such behavior wasn’t displayed Monday.And when Alcaraz pushed aforehandlongtocede the fourth set, Fognini nodded towardhis guestbox, where amember of his entourage stood to snap aphoto with acellphone. Things were picture perfectfor Fogniniatthat moment
But at the outset of thefifth— thefirsttimethe previous year’s male champwas pushed that far in the first round sinceRoger Federerin2010 —Alcaraz recalibrated.
When theSpaniard broke to lead 2-0 in that set with abackhand volleywinner, he pointed toward the stands, threwanuppercut and screamed, “Vamos!” In the next game,hesaved apair of break
give the league more natural rivalrieswithanotherteamonthe East Coast andDetroit and Cleveland near each other
“I thinkthere’ssomegreathistorical rivalries in theNBA among these cities and, Ithink that will carry over tothe WNBA,” Detroit Pistons vicepresidentArn Tellem said.“Iwouldlovenothing more to have arivalrylike we do in the NBA with Cleveland and Indiana, Philadelphia andNew York andall these great cities and, and Ithink we will.”
Engelbert said shewas impressedwiththe number of cities that bid for expansion teams, alist thatincluded St. Louis; KansasCity,Missouri;Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; Miami; Denver; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Houston.
She alsosaid that she wanted to spread out the expansion over a few yearstonot dilute the talent pool.
“Wedidn’tknow the demand would be where the demand ended up when we ran theprocess lastfall into the winter,”Engelbertsaid.
“Given theveryhighdemandand supply,wewanted to evaluate, too, because we’reverycareful about, youknow, making sure we’re balancing thenumberofroster spots, the number of teams.
“Butone thingI’m very struck by asweget into anew media deal, as the media market evolves, you know, being in these three bigbasketballcitiesisgoing to help from amediaperspective, acorporate partners perspective.”
Allthe metrics —suchasattendance, TV ratings and sponsorships —have been on the rise the last few seasons.
“You’re seeing thekey performance indicators around the business, but thenalsojust the communal impact of having a women’sprofessional sports team,” Barlage said.“Thelargestgrowingsegmentofour Cavs youth academy,which serves 60,000 kids across the state of Ohio and upstate New York, the fastestgrowing segment is girls. Youknow, it’sgrowing at a30% clip year over year in participation rates. And so for us to be able to create role models, to be able to create symbols of progress, to create havingambassadors within thecommunity representing all of these things.”
cansdirector of communications Matt Ryansaid about the two in an interview in 2024. Ryan sits court side by the duo during games, so he sees their work up close. Now he’ll get to see that chemistry continue. “They bring energy,professionalism, and an unmatched love for the game thatreflects the spirit of our organization and fan base,” Pelicans governor Gayle Benson said.“Their passion, insight and chemistry havemade them fan favorites across the GulfSouth region.”
Email RodWalker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com
points beforethe match was paused for more than 10 minutes because aspectatorfelt ill amid record-breaking high temperatures for Day 1ofWimbledon. When they resumed,Alcaraz outplayedFognini therest of the way While Alcaraz escaped,five seededmen exited on Day 1, including No. 8Holger Rune; No. 9 Daniil Medvedev, whoalsolost in the first round at the French Open; No. 16 Francisco Cerundolo; No. 20 AlexeiPopyrin; and No. 24 StefanosTsitsipas, whoquitbecause of apersistent lower-back problem after dropping thefirst twosets. No. 20 JelenaOstapenko, the 2017 French Open champ, lost, while women’swinners included No. 1 ArynaSabalenka,2023 Wimbledon winner MarketaVondrousova and 2021 U.S.Openchampion Emma Raducanu.
amount of injuries. So Ithink this is notsomething Iwould consider.”
Womenplaybest-of-three sets at all tournaments. Men play the best-of-five formatatGrand Slam tournamentsand best-of-three sets elsewhere
There’snowidespreadmovement for the change, but it’san occasional talking point —ifwomen’s tennis should move to best of five at the later stages of the major tournaments. Sabalenka was asked about the French OpenfinalinwhichCarlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in afive-setter that lasted 51/2 hours.
“For someone watching, it’s
amazing to seefive hours of great tennis,”Sabalenka said. “But I’m not really jealous to stay there for five hours as aplayer.I don’tknow how manydays they needed to recover after that crazy match.” No.2-rankedCoco Gauff expressed similar sentiments about best-of-five sets on Saturday “It would favor me just from a physicality standpoint. But Ido think it would kind of be abig change for the tour.Ithink it would be fine just keepingitlikehow it is,” the American said.
Sabalenka beat 194th-ranked Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5 in 73 minutes on Monday
TigerStadium.
NUSSMEIER
page1C
best rostersince coming to LSU. Nussmeier agrees.
“I fully believe in coach Kelly and what he wants to accomplish this year,” Nussmeier said. “I didn’twanttowatch anybody else try to make thathappen. I wanted to be the guy to spearhead thatand lead that, so it wasn’tthat hard of adecision for me.”
Now one month from preseason practice, Nussmeier has spent the offseason trying to improve. He knows he needs to use his legs moreand clean up his decisionmaking after throwing 12 interceptions. It could make adifference that, for thefirst timeatLSU, Nussmeier has afull season’s worth of game tape to review
Watching it has helped Nussmeier identify weaknesses and tells while getting deeper into the offense. Entering hissecondyear as the starter —and his fourth within the same system —hesaid he understands his job enough to focusonother decisions within a play.
“The offense, Iknowitlikethe back of my handnow,” Nussmeier said. “Thathas allowed me to go into differentareas.”
Nussmeier acknowledged he needs to runmore after appearinghesitant to scramblelast season. Thatdoes notmean goingfor 1,000 yards like hispredecessor Jayden Daniels, but Nussmeier recognized there were several momentswhenhecould have gained afew yards instead of forcing athrow.
“Definitelynot trying to be a 1,000-yardrusher,” Nussmeier said while smiling. “I mean,ifit happens,ithappens, butI don’t know howlikely that is.But no, it’sjust being able to stress the defense in different ways.”
Learning when to run and preparing his body to do it have been some of Nussmeier’spriorities the past few months. If defenses respect hisrunning ability,itwould open plays in thepassing game. He said he has trained “my lower body harderthanever” to make quicker,more explosive movements.
“Because Ididn’tdoagood enough job of taking off last year,” Nussmeier said, “they were able to cover things in away that would have left the feet open.”
As part of his training program, Nussmeier intentionally lost weight forthe first time since he enrolled at LSU.After he arrived around 160 pounds in 2021, he had to eat. Alot. Nussmeier recalled stuffing peanut butter andjelly sandwiches between meetings and before bed to gain weight.
Afterplaying last season around 200 pounds, Nussmeier got down to 194 afew months ago. He’sputting the weight back on, but in adifferent way
“It was definitely different for me to learn how to eat the correct way andmakesureI’m eating at the right times,” Nussmeier said. In his free time, Nussmeier has played golf,visited familyoutside Dallasand watched Saints practice with his dad, offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. He also has thrown to LSU’sreceivers, connecting with agroup that
includes Oklahoma transfer Nic Anderson and Kentucky transfer Barion Brown.
“It’sthe closest team I’ve ever been on, and we’re still continuingtobuild that,” Nussmeier said. “It’sall about chemistry We acknowledge that. We know that the best teamsare the closest teams.”
In 2025, theoffseason also has meant upholding his end of name, image and likeness deals. Before the Manning Passing Academy last week, Nussmeier filmed a spot for Raising Cane’swith Texas quarterback Arch Manning. And he willappear on acover of EA Sports College Football26, which releases next week, after going to aspring photoshoot at the Rose Bowl.
Nussmeier hopeslearning how to managehis time for advertisements has prepared him for being an NFLquarterback,but he has another college season to play first. He only has afew more weeks leftinhis final college offseason, then his final preseason camp. There will be alot of lasts until he has no choice but to leave for the NFL. Until then, he wants to enjoy the experience.
“I’ve been attacking with that mindsetevery single day,”Nussmeier said. “This is my last time to wake up at 6a.m.and go to a heavysquat daywith theboys and have to run 20 temposafter, you know? Ijust continue to go at it each andevery day, knowing it’s my last.”
For more LSU sports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByALASTAIR GRANT
Carlos Alcaraz of Spaincelebrates after beating Fabio Fognini of Italy during their first-round match at Wimbledon in London on Monday.
STAFF FILEPHOTO
MICHAEL JOHNSON
Nussmeier makes
PHOTO By KIN CHEUNG
Think outside thebox
Turn your yard’s lowspotinto ahighpoint with araingarden
Summer in Louisiana tends to bring afternoon downpours. Where does all thatrainwater go?
Some of it is absorbed by the ground and plants. Some pools in lowspots. And some turns into runoff, rushing into ditches, drainsand, ultimately natural waterways.
“Particularly in urban environments where we have alot of impermeable surfaces, that presents aproblem,” said Damon Abdi, an assistant professor of landscape horticulture withthe LSU AgCenter.“We have alot of runoff water that can also transport alot of contaminants.” In many situations, rain gardens offer apractical —and beautiful —solution. Rain gardens often are created in low-lyingareas that hold water after it rains. They also can be builtasa toolfor reducing stormwater runoff. They include plants that can handle periodic and evenconsistent moisture.
Think of rain gardens as corrals for rainwater. They give the water aplace to sit until it can seep into the earth. In the meantime, moisture-loving plants can get asatisfying drink and help soak up some of that water,too. This meansless water —and the debrisand pollutantsitpicks up along the way —flowing into drainage systems and waterbodies.
Better still —rain gardens can transform unsightly puddles into aesthetically pleasing landscape features. And they can even serve as refugesfor pollinators and wildlife.
Rain gardens aren’tdifficult to build. If you’d like to construct one, follow these steps:
n Identify alow sectionof your yard —orchoose alocation where you want to create one. Make sure that utilities are notburied beneath the area, and locate the garden at least 10 feet away from your home and 50 feet away from septic tanks.
n Use agarden hosetooutline the shape of your rain garden. It doesn’thave to be a perfect rectangle or circle; an irregular,natural shape can add aunique look to the landscape.
n Excavate about 4to6inches, creating ashallow bowl.
n Fill the rain garden with amedium that supports plant growth, holds ample water and drains effectively.Atypical landscape bed mix that includes pine bark and sandisa good starting point.
n Install plants that thrive in wet conditions. Hint:Plants that are native to Louisiana are good choices. Including amix of different plants can provide ä See RAIN GARDEN, page 6C
‘IT’SBEEN
ABSOLUTELY INSANE’
N.O. singerawaitsreturnto‘America’sGot
BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer
New Orleans singer Jourdan
Blueisinwaiting modeatthe mo-
ment
One might catch him singing on a French Quartercorner or performing at aprivate party.But come August, he’ll be back in Los Angeles to continue his “America’sGot Talent” journey Winning acoveted golden buzzer duringhis “AGT”auditionwhich airedMay 27 sent theLouisiana artist,23, straight past thesemifinals into thetalentcompetition series’ live shows, whichwill begin Aug. 19. Thatnight or soon after, viewerswillsee Blue sing again and hopefully continue to advance in the contest.
Throughout the live shows, it’s America’svote that will determine who stays and who goes home. The winnerwill receive $1 million and the chance to headline ashow on the Las Vegas strip. Since his audition aired, Blue’s been gettinglotsofcongratulatory calls and texts.
“A lotofeverything,”hesaid.
switched gears and contacted “AGT” about an audition. That’swhen the magic started happening.
“Yourtoneand theway that you deliveredthatsongwas not only pitch-perfect, but everything perfect, Jourdan. It really was,” judge Mel Bsaid. Judge Simon Cowell shared her enthusiasm.
“You have such adistinctive voice,” Cowell told him. “You are so cool.And youfeed off the audience.Theyloveyou andhow you made me feel just there wasactually amazing. Seriously amazing. Loved it. Loved it.”
“It’s been absolutely insane, yes.” This markshis second TV competition series. In his first in 2021, Blue reached the Top25onABC’s “American Idol”before being eliminated. Although he could give “Idol” another go-around,Bluesaid he declinedthat offerand others from “The Voice,” “Boy Band” and initially “America’sGot Talent.” However,months later,atthe urging of his online community called “Blue Crew,” thesinger
“The hair,the voice, your energy Youare arock star,” judge Sofia Vergara added.
As Blue’s girlfriend andinfant son watched from the audience, judge Howie Mandel sealed the deal forhim
“Thisisjustthe beginning,” Mandel said.
With that, Mandel walked over and hit that golden buzzer Here, Blue reflects on that night
Newpickleball, sports bar, restaurant in BR to open
Aplateofhummus servedwithgarlic &herb flatbread, cucumbers, and bell peppers and a Monkey on aStick cocktailare on the menu at Court to Table in Baton Rouge.
By
BYSERENA PUANG Staff writer
CourttoTable hasset its opening dayfor 11 a.m. Sunday, June 29. Fromthere,they’ll be openwith regular hours. The pickleball court/bar/restaurant is in the former The Shed BBQspace at 7477 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge,but the building hasgonethrough major renovations. It has11 pickleball courts, amusic stage to host regular,live en-
PHOTOS By TRAE PATTON/NBC
Louisiana singer Jourdan Blue performs ‘Breakeven’ for his ‘America’sGot Talent’ audition.
Bald judgeHowie Mandel, left, jokes around withNew Orleans singer Jourdan Blue and his long locks on the set of ‘America’s Got Talent.
LSU AGCENTERPHOTO By DAMON ABDI
This raingarden features hibiscus.
Dear Heloise: This is in response to the women complainingthat their sheets do not tuck in on the sides of the mattress.Unless they have aking-sized bed, the solution is simple.Ifthey have astandard bed, buy aqueen-sized flat sheet. If it’saqueen bed, buy a king-sized flat sheet.This is what Ido. Youcan usually find one to match the color of your fitted sheet. —Rich, via email
Sleeplessreader
towels.
Long-ago rudeness stillrankles
Dear Miss Manners: Avery long time ago, my husband and Iwere invited to dinner at arestaurant by acolleague of his. Ihad not met thecolleague or his wife before thedinner
Dear Heloise: Your sleepless readermight enjoy havinga CD playerclose to his bed witha recording of rain on it that can start with apush of abutton.He might be asleep before it ends. If I’m in bed and awake, Isimply push the button for rain. —Glenda D.,via email
Refrigerator organization
Dear Readers: Who hasamessy refrigerator? If this sounds like you, it’stime to get organized First take everything out andput it on the counter.Now you can see what you have. Then turn back to the fridge; it’stime for a deep clean! Spray the shelving, drawers and walls with asolution of 4tablespoons of baking soda mixed with water.Wipe down with a clean cloth. Get in all thetight places; cotton swabs may come in handy.Wipe drywith paper
Throw away anything you don’tneed or recognize. (This means anything fuzzy.) Combine items like two open jars of picklesorvegetables that can be groupedtogether Now it’stime to restock. Avoid overstocking the fridge; the cold air needs to circulate. Keep milk andjuices up front for easy access. Store tiny fruits like strawberries in abasket inside the fridge.
P.S. Where is the best place to store eggs? Accordingtothe American Egg Board (IncredibleEgg.org),you should keepeggsintheir original container on ashelf in thefridge, not in the door.This keeps them insulated andprotects them from crackingorabsorbing other flavors. —Heloise
Leveraging your baking
Dear Heloise: My hint, which I have done foryears when stirring cookie dough andother mixtures, is that Iput thebowl in my sink.With the leverage of it being positioned lower than my countertop, it makes it easier to stir with notasmuch effort
An aside: If I’m adding somethingand it spills over the side of thebowl, it is also easier to clean up —Sue W.,via email
Send ahint to heloise@heloise. com.
TODAYINHISTORY
diedinLos Angeles at age 80.
By The Associated Press
Today is Tuesday,July 1, the 182 day of 2025. There are 183 days left in the year
Today’shighlight in history:
On July 1, 1867, Canada became aself-governing dominion of Great Britain as the British North America Act took effect. Called Dominion Day until 1982, the national holidayisnow known as Canada Day
Also on this date:
In 1863, the pivotal, three-day Civil WarBattle of Gettysburg, resulting in aUnion victory,beganinPennsylvania.
In 1903, the first Tour de France began. (It ended on July 19, won by Maurice Garin.)
In 1944, delegates from 44 countries began meeting at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, where they agreed to establish the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
In 1963, the U.S. Post Office inaugurated its five-digitZIP codes.
In 1973, the Drug Enforcement Administration was established In 1984, the first movie rated PG-13 (“Red Dawn,” starring Patrick Swayze) debuted
In 1991, President George H.W Bush nominated federal appeals court judge Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, beginning an ultimately successful confirmation process marked by allegations of sexual harassment.
In 1997, Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule after 156 years as aBritish colony
In 2004, actor Marlon Brando
In 2015, after more than ahalfcentury of hostility, theUnited Statesand Cubadeclared their intent to reopen embassies in each other’scapitals, leading to a historicfullrestoration of diplomatic relations between the Cold Warfoes.
In 2018, LeBron James announcedthat he would be signingwith the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving Cleveland for the second time in hiscareer
In 2019,15-year-old Coco Gauff, the youngest playertoqualify at Wimbledoninthe professional era, defeated 39-year-old Venus Williams in the firstround. Today’sbirthdays: Actor-dancer LeslieCaron is 94. Actor Jamie Farr (TV:“M*A*S*H”) is 91. Dancer-choreographer Twyla Tharp is 84. Actor Genevieve Bujold is 83. Rock singer Deborah Harry (Blondie) is 80. Actor Terrence Mann is 74. Rock singer Fred Schneider (The B-52s)is 74. Pop singer Victor Willis (Village People) is 74. Actor-comedian DanAykroyd is73. Actor Alan Ruck is 69. Mysterynovelist Louise Penny is 67. Singer Evelyn “Champagne” King is 65. Olympic track champion Carl Lewis is 64. Actor Dominic Keating(TV:“StarTrek:Enterprise”) is 62. Actor Pamela Anderson is 58. Actor Henry Simmons is 55. Hip-hopartist Missy Elliott is 54. Actor JulianneNicholson is 54. Singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens is 50. Actor LivTyler is 48. Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla is 48.
RAIN GARDEN
Continued from page5C
more appeal to the garden and make it more resilient to fluctuating conditions.
At the AgCenter Hammond Research Station, Abdi and his graduate student, Brianna Slade, arestudying whether amendments such as sugar cane bagasse, expanded shale andwood chips can enhance the functions of rain gardens. Abdi and Slade selected four native species to plant in their rain garden: river birch, bald cypress, sweetbay magnolia and Virginia
The men promised they wouldn’ttalk shop, but they did —throughout the entire meal. There was no inclusion of us women. I tried to initiate aconversation with the wife, and she shut me down immediately with something along the lines of, “I’d rather listen to what themen are talking about.” Gobsmacked, Ijust shrank back
in the seat and ate my dinner.As my husbandand Iwere leaving, I told him what had happened and he (rightfully) said that we’d never do that again. Ishould have gotten over this by now,but Ifantasize about having leftthe table in someway.What should I havedone? Ididn’twant to be rude myself
sweetspire. But rain gardens can include many otherplants. “Some other native options you can consider includeLouisiana iris, Hibiscus moscheutos and dwarf palmetto—providing a range of foliage, form and flowers to enhance theinstallation,” Abdi said.“Addinginornamental grassessuchasswitchgrass or usingnativerush species can introduce vertical interest to the design. Yauponhollies come in all shapes and sizes, offering a range of evergreen options for arain garden.American beautyberry canprovide purple fruit to add interest in thefall. Native species of cannas help bring in bright,tropical flowercolors.”
Gentle reader: Are you talking about avery,VERY long time ago? Because Miss Manners remembers those days —when wives, if invited at all,were treated as table decorationstobetalked around.
But didn’twehave asuccessful rebellion against that? Apparently not successful enough, if it is now awifewho treats her guest like that. She need only have said, apologetically,“Sorry,I’m listening to them.” There is no need foryou to fantasize about reacting effectively, and yet not rudely,because you already did: first by your silence, and then by your and your husband’sresolving never to socialize with them again.
Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com.
TABLE
Continuedfrom page5C
Lit Pizza. Other business partners include managing partner Destin Thibodeaux, whowill run the more day-to-day operations, and Bob Barton and Clay Furr
Before opening, there will be some soft opening events for friends, family andlocal influencers, but reservations for courts through the online system,CourtReserve, are already filling up.
“Sunday’spretty much full,” Thibodeaux said.
In total, there are six indoor courts and five coveredoutdoor courts. One of theindoor courts, the showcourt, is inside the sports bar area. The partners plantouse it for big matches with lots of spectators or demo matches.The outdoor court facility hasbig fans forthe summerand heaters for the winter
Courts are $20 per hour anytime before 5p.m. on weekdaysor$40 per hour after 5p.m. on weekdays or on weekends.Customers can also rent paddles for $4 and pur-
BLUE
Continuedfrom page5C
and the struggles that led up to it. Just before going onstagefor the audition, you called your GrandpappyJohn. Looks like you guys are veryclose.Would you elaborate on that?
When Iwas younger,I made decisions here and there just like anybodyelsethat I’ve learnedfrom and grown from. Iended up getting myself into some trouble and ended up on my own at 16. So Ilivedonmy own andIstayed in bathrooms at my work or at friends’houses, different places. Whenmygrandpa foundout aboutthat, he immediately droveanhour-and-a-half to come and pick me up. He moved me intohis apartment, no questions asked. Iappreciatethat so much. That being said, my mom and my dad are still around. I’mvery close with them, but in thatmoment,there was nobody else for me that Iwould listentoorthat Iwould really respond well to other thanhim. AndsoI’m very thankful thathe’sinmylife. As theyears progressed, it went from me living with him to him living with me. And thenhealth problem after health problem. I took him to his appointments, and that’smybest friend.
Youperformed thesong“Breakeven” by Irish pop-rockers TheScriptfor your audition. Do you sing other genres of music, too?
Oh yeah.I sing R&B, I’ll rap, I do hip-hopaswell. I’lldocountry. Ilove soul. Any type of soulful music and stuff like that, poprock, a little bit of everything. Ijust don’t do theheavy metal. Have you had anykindofformal vocal training? No, Ihave not.It’sall self-taught.
chase balls for$3.50.
ThemenuiswhatFernandez described as “a mixed category of modernAmerican.”
“Wehave alittlebit of everythingfor everyone,” he said.
During staff training days, the smashburger and cheesesteaks have been very popular.The menu also features curated cocktails (mocktails can be made upon request) andpizzas, alongwithgluten-free options that are cooked in aseparate area in the kitchen and fried in designated fryers.
The goal is to have live music every weekend.
Barton, who went to high school withMcKernan, saidthe project is personal to him, as he is apassionate pickleball player.Heand McKernan both have kids who have settled down in Texas after growing up in the area and graduating from LSU.
Barton noted that there are many efforts in the city to get more thingstodoand livemusicin thecityfrom organizationslikethe Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber With CourttoTable, he hopesto
Now,that being said, I’ve definitely hadfriends and people who I’ve looked up to and asked questions, but I’venever actually taken lessons. Sincebeing on your own, it sounds like you’ve had some dayjobs,but thendid your street performing at night? Correct. Well, it happened one after theother.I wasn’tbalancing day jobsand singing on the street. Iactually impulsively decided to quitmyjob and never looked back, and that’swhen Istarted doing shows, street performing and pursuing social media hard. That’s where Ireally cutmyteeth and learned to do what Idonow And where in particular do youperform?
Idoalot of private events and privateshows. When Ifirst started out, Iused to do alot of bars and restaurants, but now that I’mkind of,Iguess, elevated in someway,I mainly just do street performances and then private events (weddings, parties) thatpeople reach outfor Whenever Ising on the street, which is my mainthing, it’sat Jackson Square, or I’ll sing on Bourbon Street.
So you still playBourbon Street since the New Year’sDay terrorist attack?
Ihave gone back out to Bourbon acouple of times just because there are certain goals that Ihave to meet some days. Idosocial media,but it’snot themostreliable Imean, the community’samazing. They always push forme. Thereare times that Ireally have no other choice (financially) but to go out and sing on the street. Sometimes it could be dangerous, sometimes it could be very frustrating. I’m standing there and hundreds of people not even passing aglance or anything. But, then there are other days when Igoout
be part of that initiative and growth.
“Wehope this is something that will keep kids like ours in Baton Rouge,” he said.
Mondaythrough Thursday, 9a.m. to 11 p.m Fridaythrough Saturday,9 a.m to midnight Sunday,11a.m. to 10 p.m Restaurant hours: Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m Sunday,11a.m. to 9p.m. Bar hours: Mondaythrough Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m Fridayand Saturday,11a.m. to midnight Sunday,11a.m. to 10 p.m Email SerenaPuangatserena. puang@theadvocate.com.
there, and Ireally rock it and kill it. And it’sanamazing time and experience.
If youwere going to go out to listen to a show, who would be the artist you’dwant to see?
I’ve never beentoamusic festival. I’ve neverbeen to aconcert. I’ve never seen anyone actually perform, like abig artist or anything like that. Butthe short answer is,I want somebody who’sgood at what they do.I want thepeoplewho really put on ashow, andI’veheardthat Post Malone puts on ashow.I’ve heard that Teddy Swimswill put on ashow.I’ve even heard that Harry Styles puts on ashow, andHarry Styles is not somebody that Ilisten to religiously But that’swhat Iwant at the end of theday,isI really want agreat experience. Iwant to take something away for my own. Iwant to learn something when Igothere. We have to askabout your hair,because it seems to have apersonality of its own. That’sone of the first things people reacted to whenyou walked out. Have you had long hair foralongtime? Iactually had ashaved head in July 2018. Iended up going to this military boot campfor six months. Iwas growing my hair out at the time, but you couldn’tdothe boot camp withoutshaving your head Iwas devastated the first time. As soon as Igot out of the bootcamp, Iwas like,“I’m never cutting my hair again.” Then the long hair was born.
“America’sGot Talent” airsat 7p.m. Tuesdays on NBC. Episodes also stream on Peacock the following day
Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.
Hints from Heloise
Judith Martin MISS MANNERS
LSU AGCENTER PHOTO By OLIVIA McCLURE Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is agood choicefor Louisiana rain gardens.
STAFFPHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
The Funky Pickle area features an indoor pickleball court, bar and seating for the restaurant at CourttoTable in Baton Rouge.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Keep things in perspective. Look for simple solutions instead of conjuring up far-fetched scenarios. Look at your choices, the cost involved and who to contact to get things done.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Join the conversation, participate in groups that address your concerns and make your voice heard. Clarity is the path to progress. A move or change will help define what matters most to you.
VIRGO (Aug 23-sept. 22) Ask questions, do some research and set a budget. Changing locations or visiting a place that offers insight or spurs your imagination will help you uncover how to enhance your life.
LIBRA (sept. 23-Oct. 23) Test the water before you jump into something new Taking a leap of faith will leave you scrambling, but taking baby steps will set you on a journey that will change your life.
scORPIO (Oct. 24-nov. 22) Stop spinning your wheels and trying to do too much for too many. The anger and frustration you feel have more to do with you than with the people you let take advantage of you.
sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Address issues concerning money, shared expenses, joint ventures and property. Once you are clear regarding responsibilities, it will ease stress and allow you to reinvest your time and money.
cAPRIcORn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Be careful what you wish for. You'll face opposi-
WonderWord
tion and misinformation that will require attention and patience. A romantic gesture will take care of emotional confusion.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay attention to where the money goes. Investments will pay off, and joint ventures will help you cut your overhead. Listen to your intuition and focus on upgrading your living space.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Whatyoudoand say matters. Choose your words wisely and tell the truth. Interaction is the key to knowledge and formulating how you can use your skills and connections to get ahead.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Attend events that give you a platform to share your beliefs. Stick to what's doable, and you will attract people who can help you bring your intentions to fruition.
tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Let whatever you are doing play out Personal and physical improvements in meaningful relationships will help you gain momentum, access groups and bring about positive change.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Take a cautious approach to conversations that address touchy issues. An activity that is physically and emotionally stimulating will help you expand your interests and raise your standards.
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
tODAy's cLuE: M EQuALs P
FAMILY CIrCUS
NEA, Inc., dist By Andrews McMeel Syndication
CeLebrItY CIpher
For better or For WorSe peAnUtS zItS
Sudoku
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
THewiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS
CurTiS
By PHILLIP ALDER
How responder shows amajor twosuiter opposite aone-no-trumpopening bid depends upon his high-cardcount.
Yesterday, we learned that if the uncontested auction starts one no-trump -two clubs -two diamonds -two spades, theresponder has shown five spades, fourheartsandgame-invitationalvalues. What does he do withfour spades, five heartsand thatstrength?
He responds two diamonds,a transfer tohearts,thenrebidstwospades,natural and game-invitational but nonforcing.
Here, this gives North,the opener,a problem. He knowsthat his side does not have an eight-card major-suit fit. Buthe has an excellent 16 points withthree fantastic major-suit cards. So he moves toward gamewith three diamonds (not three no-trump!), wondering if South might be able to converttothree notrumpwith aclubstopper
Here, though, South rebids three spades to show his powerful four-card suit. And Northgoes for game in the 4-3 fit.
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 BRIsLInGs: BRIZ-lings:Small European marine fish of the herring family.
Average mark14words
yEstERDAy’s WORD —GLucOsE
Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 21 or morewords in BRISLINGS? glue goes locus loge
slug sole soul
thought
the words of my mouth, and the meditationofmyheart, be acceptable in your sight, OLord,mystrength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14
loCKhorNs
marmaduKe
Bizarro
hagar the horriBle
Pearls Before swiNe
garfield
B.C.
PiCKles
hidato
mallard fillmore
Trade talks between U.S.-Canada resume
Canadian Prime Minister
Mark Carneysays tradetalks with U.S. have resumed after Canada rescinded its plan to taxU.S. technology firms.
President Donald Trump said Friday that it was suspending trade talks with Canada over itsplans to continue with its tax on technology firms, which he called “a direct and blatant attack on our country.” The Canadian government says “in anticipation” of atrade deal “Canadawould rescind” the digital services tax.
Carney’soffice said Carney and Trump haveagreed to resume negotiations. The tax was set to go into effect Monday Home Depot acquires GMS for nearly $5B Home Depot is buying specialtybuilding products distributor GMS for $4.3 billion, the second notable acquisition in alittle over ayearthatemphasizes adeliberate push by the home improvement chain into building andmaterials supply
The acquisitions arrive as booming sales from thepandemicfade and Home Depot intensifies itsfocus on professional builders.
GMSInc., of Tucker,Georgia, is adistributor of specialty building products like drywall, steel framing and other supplies used in both residential and commercial projects.
AsubsidiaryofHome Depot’sSRS Distribution Inc., the supply company it bought last year,will start acash tender offer to buyall outstanding shares of GMS for $110 per share. The total equity value of the transaction is approximately $4.3 billion. The deal is worthabout $5.5 billion, including debt
Home DepotpurchasedSRS Distribution, amaterials provider forprofessionals, for more than $18 billion including debt. SRS provides materials for professionals likeroofers, landscapers and pool contractors
Hewlett Packard gets OK in $14B Juniper deal
HewlettPackard Enterprise has reached asettlementwith the Justice Department that couldclear the way for its $14 billion takeover of rival Juniper Networks.
The Justice Department had sued to block the acquisition, saying it could eliminate competition, raiseprices and reduce innovation.
The settlement, which is subject to court approval,calls for Hewlett Packard Enterprise to divest its global Instant On campus and branch business. Hewlett Packard Enterprise will facilitate limited access to Juniper’sadvanced Mist AIOpstechnology oncethe deal closes.
“Our agreement with the DOJ pavesthe way to close HPE’s acquisition of Juniper Networks and preserves the intended benefits of this deal forour customersand shareholders, while creating greater competition in the global networkingmarket,” Antonio Neri, president and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, said in astatement.
Last year Hewlett Packard Enterprise announced that it was buying Juniper Networks for $40 ashare in adeal expectedtodouble HPE’snetworkingbusiness. Juniper provides routers,switchinggear and network security productsfrom its headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.
The Justice Department’s intervention —the firstofthe new administration andjust 10 days after Donald Trump’s inauguration—came as somewhat of asurprise at the time. Most predicted asecond Trump administration would ease up on antitrustenforcementand be more receptive to mergers and deal-makingafter years of hypervigilance under formerPresident JoeBiden’s watch.
BUSINESS
THEADVOCATE.COM/news/business
U.S. stocks continue upwardclimb
BY STAN CHOE AP business writer
NEW YORK The U.S.stock marketaddedto its record on Monday as Wall Street closed out asecond straight winning month.
The S&P 500rose0.5% in its first trading aftercompleting astunning recovery fromits springtime sell-off of roughly 20%. The Dow Jones Industrial Averageadded 275 points,or 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite gained0.5%.
Stocks gotaboost after Canada saidit’srescinding aplannedtax on U.S. technology firmsand resum-
ing talks on trade with the United States.
One of the main reasons U.S stocks came back so quickly from their springtime swoon hasbeen hope thatTrump will reach deals with other countries to lower his stiff proposedtariffs.Otherwise, the fear is that trade wars could stifle the economy andsendinflationhigher
Many of Trump’sannounced tariffs arecurrentlyonpause, and they’re scheduled to kick back into effect in alittlemorethan aweek.
The U.S.stock market being back at arecord highcould actually raise
the risk of renewed escalationson tariffs,according to strategists at Deutsche Bank led by Parag Thatte and Binky Chadha. They point to the pattern in 2018 and 2019 of rallies forthe market prompting escalationsfor tariffs, whichthendrove themarket lower and led to subsequent pullbacks on tariffs,which thensparked rallies again.
“Despite the rhetorictothe contrary,this dynamic looks alive and well,” thestrategistswrote in areport. “In our view,beyond the market reaction, if negative impacts of tariffs on growth, earnings or inflationstart to materialize, we will get
further relents.” On Wall Street, Oracle’s4%rise was one of the strongest forces liftingthe S&P500. CEOSafra Catz said the tech giant “is off to astrong start” in its fiscal year and that it signed multiple large cloud services agreements, including one that could contributeover$30 billion in annual revenue two fiscal years from now Bankstocksweresolid after the Federal Reservesaid on Friday that they are financially strong enough to survive adownturn in the economy.JPMorganChase climbed1%, and Citigroup gained 0.9%.
By The Associated Press
Atrade war.A real war with bombs dropped in the Middle East.A barrage of insults hurled by the president of the United States at the headofthe FederalReserve.
The stock market has powered through all of that in the past few months to set anew record Fridayand continued Monday.Investors who stayed their ground through avolatile stretch have beenrewarded. TheS&P 500 closed at an all-time high of 6,173.
While Wall Street can take abow —and breatha sigh of relief— there’s no let-up ahead.The pause President Donald Trumpput in effect for many tariffs expires in early July Second-quarter profit reportsand upcoming economic indicators could reveal more about theimpact of the tariffs that did go into effect. The Fed couldface atricky decision on interest rates.
Here’s alookatwhat’shappened in markets and what could lie ahead.
Tariff shock
Trump appearedinthe RoseGarden on April 2and announced steeper-than-expected tariffs on almostall U.S. trade partners.Heespecially targeted China, eventually raising theduties on imports from China to 145%. Beijing retaliated by raisingtariffs on U.S. goods to 125%.
Within just fourdays, the S&P 500 fell about 12%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average
lost nearly 4,600 points, or about 11%.
Trump shrugged off thestock market drop but he couldn’tignore the signs of trouble in thebond and foreign exchange markets. Tumbling prices for U.S. government bonds raised worries that theU.S. Treasury market waslosing itsstatusasthe world’ssafestplace to keep cash.The value of the U.S.dollaralsosank in another signal of diminishing faith in the United States as asafe haven for investors.
Time to pause
On April 9, Trump announced on social media a“90-day PAUSE” for most of the tariffs he’d announced, except thoseagainst China. The S&P 500 soared 9.5% for oneofits best days ever
In May,the administration struck atrade deal with theUnited Kingdom. Then came the biggest news: TheU.S.and Chinasaid that they were temporarily rolling back most of the tariffs they’d imposed on one another.The countrieshave indicated they’ve reached adeal, but details are scarce. Markets briefly gotspooked whenTrump threatened tariffs againstthe European Union, but he decided to hold off —until July 9—as thecountries negotiate.
Warand oil
The trade war was pushedout of the headline by areal war this month as Israel and Iran attacked each other.The price of oilspiked,
threatening to boost inflation andslowthe global economy.AU.S. strike on Iraniannuclear facilities was followed by acease-fire andoil prices dropped sharply.Relieved, Wall Street resumed its climb toward anew record. Trumpand theFed Trumpwants the Fed to lower interest rates. The Fed says it needs to see the impact of Trump’stariffsbeforeitcan act.The president has taken to regularly bashing Jerome Powell, whose term as Fed chair expires next year.According to the Wall Street Journal, Trumpcould namehis nominee to replace Powell unusually early,inanattempt to undermine him. The dramacould influence trading in the bond and foreign exchange markets, andbyextensionon Wall Street.
Thebottomline
Strong profit reports for the first quarter helped offset the pressure from tariffs. Soon, companies will report results for the quarter ending June 30. While Wall Street analysts have lowered their expectations for earnings growth forthe companies in the S&P 500, they still forecastsolid growth of 5%,according to FactSet.
The average quarterly profit growth over the past five years is 12.7%. Some companies withdrew profit forecasts amid the uncertainty created by tariffs, making forecasting even trickier
BY JAMES POLLARD Associated Press
NEW YORK GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan hadsomecomplications while fundraising on his own website last fall.
Severalfriends wantedtohelp Cadogan reach his $28,000goalas he crowdfunded for aLos Angeles area wilderness rescue team. However,they tried to donate through a lesser-known but growing wealth management tool called adonoradvised fund,oraDAF,a no-frills investing vehicle for money earmarked as eventualcharitable gifts.After cutting checks and
“It was just abit of athing,” he added. “If they were using aGiving Fund, it would take 10 seconds.”
GivingFunds areGoFundMe’s latestinaflurry of product rollouts with thepurportedgoal of moving stagnant U.S.charitable contributions beyond the2%GDP mark wheretotals have long hovered.But the for-profit company’s DAF,announced Monday,enters acrowded market of morethan a thousand providers —products often with older,wealthier clienteles that are often criticized forwarehousing gifts.
To transformthe waythat everyday users plan their donations, Cadogan willhave to widen the appeal of DAFs beyond the likes of thetechnology entrepreneur’s circles. And he wants to change public perceptions of his company as just acrowdfunding site. “We’realsohopeful thatmore
people willstart using GoFundMe for abroader set of things in their lives: not just that onefundraiser they’re supporting, notjust that onenonprofit. But they’re coming in and they’re managing their giving portfolio withusand through us,” Cadogan said. “That connects directlytoour mission,which is we want to help people help each other.”
Donor-advised funds grew popular over the last decade among ultra-high networth individuals as atax-efficient instrument for grantmaking without the hassle of amore sophisticated charitable foundation. Donors can immediately write the contribution off on theirtaxes but face no deadline for giving themoney to anonprofit.
The idea: Account holders invest money they wanted to ultimately donate, let the funds grow tax-free while they sit and give themselves time to identifythe recipients best aligned with their giving goals. There’ssincebeen arush to
court average givers. Legacy financialservices firms suchas Fidelity Charitable lowered the minimums to open accounts. Fintech startups such as Daffy contrast their flat fees with the hidden expenses they allege their competitors charge. With all that traction came IRSproposals last year to impose penalties on those who abuse DAFs and congressional legislation that would require some deadlines for disbursements. GoFundMe’s Giving Funds will have no minimum balances, zero management fees anddonations starting at $5. Users can load their DAFthrough theirbankaccounts or direct deposits for free. Credit card payments will be covered through theend of theyear and then facethe company’sstandard transactionfee of 2.2% plus 30 cents. Contributions can then be invested in achoiceofexchange traded funds from managers including Vanguard, Blackrock and State Street Global Advisors.
