The Times-Picayune 07-02-2025 by The Advocate

Trump’sspendingbillpassesSenate

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON Louisiana’sU.S.

senators voted Tuesday with their Republican Party colleaguesto narrowly pass PresidentDonald Trump’sflagship legislation, the

One Big Beautiful Bill. Thebill passed the Senate on a vote of 51 to 50,withVicePresident JD Vancecastingthe vote that broke thetie. All Democrats voted no, along withthree Republicans: Rand Paul, of Kentucky; Thom Tillis,of North Carolina; and Susan Collins, of Maine.

Both Sen.Bill Cassidy,ofBaton Rouge, and Sen.John N. Kennedy, of Madisonville, approved keeping the bill, which encompasses Trump’sdomestic agenda, on track

“Wekeep taxes low,cut taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security,extend theChild TaxCredit, fixour broken education system, supportour military,secure our border,and build abusiness environment that creates better paying jobs especially in Louisiana.”

SEN. BILL CASSIDy,

R-Baton Rouge

to be enacted July 4. Cassidy said after thevote, “We keep taxes low, cut taxes on tips, overtime, andSocialSecurity, extend the Child TaxCredit, ﬁx our

broken education system,support ourmilitary,secure our border, andbuild abusiness environment that creates better paying jobs— especially in Louisiana.”

TelevangelistJimmy Swaggart dies

in Baton RougeinFebruary1987.

Staff report

The Rev.Jimmy Swaggart, who built one of the nation’s biggest broadcast ministries in the 1980s from his Baton Rouge headquarters, died Tuesday Swaggart, who went into cardiac arrest on Father’sDay,was 90 years old

But two widely publicized incidentsinvolving Swaggartand prostitutes threatened to derail theministry.His televised confessiontothe first encounter —“I have sinned” —was seen across the country

of 200televisionstations and watched by twomillion households. His thriving church complex on Bluebonnet Boulevard consistedofmore than adozen buildings, including dormitories, televisionproduction studios andwarehouses to handlethe bundles of mail that came into theministry every day

Among its dozens of facets, the bill increases spending on border security, including completing a wall along the Mexican border,on military armaments, and extends tax breaks and creates new ones for income fromtips andovertime. Those expenses are partially paid for with spending reductions for health care, nutrition andgreen energy programs. The legislationnow heads to the U.S. House for conﬁrmation of or

ä See SENATE, page 7A

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

President Donald Trump has tapped aveteran Jefferson Parish attorneyasthe NewOrleans region’snext federal prosecutor, culminating months of talks over whoshould lead the U.S. Justice Department’ s largest Louisiana outpost.

Trump on Tuesday nominated David I. Courcelle, whose workrepresenting aseries of prominent whitecollardefendants has made him aﬁxture of Louisiana’sfederal courts, as his pick for U.S. attorneyover the 13-parish Eastern DistrictofLouisiana, according to adocument obtained by The Times-Picayune.

Courcelle must still receive Senate confirmation to officially secure the job.

Courcelle ä See COURCELLE, page 8A Houseexpected to take up measure

At itspeak, hisJimmy SwaggartTelecast was being broadcast by upward

Once called “the mostcharismatic televangelist of the20thcentury,”by1986, he was thecountry’stop-rated TV preacher

Buyerwants to turn

$250Mproject would need to be financed almost entirely from public money

BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

The owner of Plaza Tower,ano-

torious eyesore at the edge ofthe South Market District in downtown NewOrleans,has signed apurchase and sales agreement with aprospective buyer who plans to

convert the 1960s skyscraper into subsidized apartments for lowincomeseniors. Theagreement is theculmination of several monthsoftalks between the propertytrustee for the late Joe Jaeger,who hadowned the building for the past decade, and LincolnAvenueCommunities, a California-based affordable housingdeveloper that led theredevelopment of the nearby Tivoli Place Apartments at Harmony Circle last year David Garcia, apartneratLincoln Avenue, said Tuesday that the aimwouldbeto convert the 45-sto-

The nomination signals he has

ä See SWAGGART, page 6A

ry tower into about 325 residential units and to comeupwithaplan for retail and other commercial uses for the ground floor and annexspace on theHowardAvenue side of the complex. He saidapreliminaryreport from an engineeringfirm shows thatextensive remediation work will be needed to makethe buildingsafe. Theproject —estimated to cost between $250 million and $300 million —would have to be financed almostentirely by public money,which will take many

STAFFPHOTO ByDAVID GRUNFELD

The Plaza Towerindowntown NewOrleans has beenproblematicsinceit wasbuilt in the late 1960s ä See TOWER, page 8A

STAFF FILE PHOTO By STEPHAN SAVOIA

The Rev. Jimmy Swaggartpreaches at his Family Worship Center

BRIEFS

Flossie could become major hurricane

MEXICO CITY Hurricane Flossie strengthened to a Category 2 cyclone on Tuesday off the Paciﬁc coast of Mexico and could become a major hurricane before weakening later this week, forecasters said.

The National Hurricane Center said Flossie had maximum sustained winds at 110 mph and that rain was falling over parts of coastal Mexico. The hurricane was centered 180 miles west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. On Tuesday afternoon, it was on the brink of becoming a Category 3 hurricane.

The hurricane was forecast to continue strengthening and could be a major hurricane as soon as Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. A major hurricane is classified as Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

Flossie was moving to the northwest at 7 mph and was expected to generally continue that motion over the next few days. The system should move away from southwestern Mexico by Tuesday night, forecasters said. A tropical storm warning was in effect from Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula. Rainfall totals up to 6 inches were possible in some areas, the hurricane center said.

Forecasters expect Flossie to weaken starting late Wednesday Russia’s ex-defense official convicted

MOSCOW Russia’s former deputy defense minister was convicted on Tuesday on charges of embezzlement and money laundering and handed a 13-year prison sentence in a high-proﬁle case that exposed rampant military corruption widely blamed for Moscow’s military setbacks in Ukraine.

Timur Ivanov is the most visible figure in a far-ranging probe into alleged military graft that also targeted several other top officials close to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Shoigu, a veteran official who had personal ties to President Vladimir Putin, survived the purges of his inner circle and was given the new high-profile post of secretary of Russia’s Security Council.

Ivanov 49, was named deputy defense minister in 2016 and oversaw military construction projects, as well as property management, housing and medical support for the troops. He was known for his lavish lifestyle that outraged many in Moscow just as the fighting in Ukraine exposed glaring deﬁciencies in Russian military organization and supplies that resulted in battleﬁeld setbacks.

Ivanov who has been in custody since his arrest in April 2024, was convicted by the Moscow City Court of embezzling 3.9 billion rubles (about $50 million), the charges that he denied. The court also conﬁscated his assets that included prized real estate and a collection of several dozen vintage cars.

Dozens evacuated from Austria after mudslide

VIENNA — Dozens of people were being evacuated by helicopter in Austria on Tuesday after a mudslide covered homes and mountain huts in the Gschnitztal valley in Tyrol in the southwest of the Alpine country The Austrian Armed Forces used a Black Hawk helicopter to fly out around 100 people from the village of Gschnitz and three mountain huts higher up Severe thunderstorms on Monday set off a mudslide, leaving homes covered with water and debris Roads leading to the homes were no longer accessible. The Bremerhütte, Innsbruckerhütte and Tribulaunhütte mountain huts were also no longer accessible via hiking trails due to the landslides, Elmar Rizzoli, head of Tyrol’s Center for Crisis and Disaster Management, told Austria’s public broadcaster ORF Local fire department commander Lukas Braunhofer told ORF that after one of several mudslides hit the village of Gschnitz around 6 p.m. on Monday the Gschnitzbach creek also burst its banks, leading to flooding in the area Braunhofer said the mudslides did not appear to have injured anybody but caused a great deal of damage.

Ukrainian drone hits Russian plant

BY ILLIA NOVIKOV and EMMA BURROWS Associated Press

KYIV Ukraine A Ukrainian drone struck a Russian industrial plant some 800 miles from Ukraine, a local ofﬁcial said Tuesday, after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prioritized the weapon’s development and Russia pounded Ukraine with a monthly record of drones in June.

Both sides in the more than three-year war following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of its neighbor have raced to improve drone technology and enhance their use on the battlefield. They have deployed increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones, turning the war into a testing ground for the new weaponry

Ukraine is under severe strain from a Russian push at places on the roughly 620-mile front line, but analysts say its defenses are largely holding ﬁrm. With recent direct peace talks delivering no progress on U.S.-led international efforts to halt the ﬁghting, Russia and Ukraine are bulking up their arsenals.

Russia last month launched 5,438 drones at Ukraine, a new monthly record, according to ofﬁcial data collated by The Associated Press.

Ukraine stepping up drone production

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an industrial plant in Izhevsk, about 620 miles east of Moscow, killing three people and injuring 35, Alexander Brechalov, head of the Udmurtia region, said.

The plant’s workers were evacuated, he said.

The drone struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant, which produces air

defense systems and drones for the Russian military, according to an ofﬁcial with Ukraine’s Security Service, the SBU.

At least two direct hits were recorded on the plant’s buildings, the ofﬁcial said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly Ukraine has for months been using domestically produced long-range drones to strike plants, storage sites and logistical hubs deep inside Russian territory In May last year a Ukrainian drone hit an early-warning radar in the Russian city of Orsk, some 1,120 miles from the Ukrainian border, Kyiv ofﬁcials claimed.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s domestic production of drones is about to increase in response to Russia’s expanded barrages.

“The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones,” he said on Telegram late Monday

“This is extremely important,” he added. “Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities, Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures.”

Russia’s Defense Ministry said that 60 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over several regions, including 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov region and four over the Saratov region.

At the same time, four Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzia during the night, leaving more than 1,600 households without power according to authorities.

Ukraine’s air force said Tuesday that Russia ﬁred 52 Shahed and decoy drones at the country overnight.

Europe sizzles in summer heat wave

BY SAMUEL PETREQUIN and

JOSEPH

WILSON Associated Press

PARIS Europe sizzled in its ﬁrst major heat wave of the summer on Tuesday, as Barcelona recorded its hottest June in over a century and the summit of Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors.

Health warnings remained in effect in several countries. The abnormally hot weather “is exposing millions of Europeans to high heat stress” with temperatures more typical of July and August, said Samantha Burgess of the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

Spain: Record temps

Barcelona’s Fabra Observatory reported an average temperature for last month of 78 F, breaking records since the data began in 1914. It said a single-day high of 100 degrees Fahrenheit for June was recorded Monday Barcelona is usually spared the worst heat in Spain, thanks to its location between hills and the Mediterranean.

Ramón Pascual, a delegate for Spain’s weather service in Barcelona, told The Associated Press the “very intense heat wave” is clearly linked to global warming

Pascual said inhabitants of the Mediterranean region are not being helped by the rising sea temperatures, which greatly reduce any cooling effects of a nearby body of water

on a hot and sunny day at the Prague zoo,

Spain’s weather service said recent surface temperatures for the Mediterranean near the Balearic Islands are 5 to 6 degrees Celsius higher than average.

Spain’s national average for June of 74 degrees Fahrenheit was 0.8 C hotter than the previous hottest June in 2017.

Madrid was forecast to reach 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

“We’re just surviving,” said Miguel Sopera, 63. “At night it’s impossible due to the terrible heat.”

France: Closed schools

Temperatures were forecast to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit in Paris.

National weather agency

Météo-France placed several departments under the highest red alert. More than 1,300 schools were partially or fully closed.

Visitors to the Eiffel Tower without tickets were told to postpone their visits as the summit was

Trump tours Fla. immigration lockup, jokes about escapees

BY ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

OCHOPEE, Fla. — President

Donald Trump on Tuesday toured a new immigration detention center surrounded by alligator-ﬁlled swamps in the Florida Everglades, suggesting it could be a model for future lockups nationwide as his administration races to expand the infrastructure necessary for increasing deportations.

Trump said he’d like to see similar facilities in “really many states” and raised the prospect of also deporting U.S. citizens. He even endorsed having Florida National Guard forces possibly serve as immigration judges to ensure migrants are ejected from the country even faster

“Pretty soon, this facility will handle the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet,” Trump said of the Florida site known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”

The president said the moniker is “very appropriate because I looked outside and that’s not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon.”

“The only way out, really, is deportation,” Trump added

Hundreds of protesters converged outside the site a remote airstrip with tents and trailers. They waved signs calling for the humane treatment of migrants as well as the protection of the expansive preserve that is home to a few Native American tribes and many endangered animal species.

Location as a plus

The White House has delighted in the area’s remoteness — about 50 miles west of Miami and the fact that it is teeming with pythons and alligators It hopes to convey a message to detainees and the rest of the world that repercussions will be severe if the immigration laws of the United States are not followed Before arriving, Trump even joked of migrants being held there, “We’re going

to teach them how to run away from an alligator if they escape prison.”

“Don’t run in a straight line. Run like this,” Trump said, as he moved his hand in a zigzag motion. “And you know what? Your chances go up about 1%.” Alligator experts suggest it is better to dash in one direction in the rare situation when the reptile gives chase, according to a website run by the University of Florida.

Trump on his tour walked through medical facilities and other parts of the detention center then held a lengthy roundtable where Florida Gov Ron DeSantis and assorted state and federal officials heaped him with praise.

Authorities originally suggested it could house up to 5,000 detainees upon completion, but DeSantis said it would actually hold around 3,000, with some starting to arrive Wednesday The center was built in eight days over 10 miles of Everglades. It features more than 200 security cameras, 28,000-plus feet of barbed wire and 400 security personnel Trump dismissed concerns about the impact on delicate ecosystems, saying that since the airstrip was already there, authorities wouldn’t have to be “dropping dirt.”

“I don’t think you’ve done anything to the Everglades,” Trump said. “I think you’re just enhancing it.” Other, though, are appalled, including Phyllis Andrews, a retired teacher who drove from Naples, Florida, to protest Trump’s visit and called migrants “ﬁne people.”

“They do not deserve to be incarcerated here,” Andrews said Some Trump supporters showed up near the detention center as well, including Enrique Tarrio, a former leader of the Proud Boys whom Trump pardoned for his conviction related to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. He suggested Trump won last year’s election because voters wanted “mass deportation” and “retribution.”

closed until Thursday for “everyone’s comfort and safety.”

Climate experts warn that future summers are likely to be hotter than any recorded to date, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius expected every year by 2100.

Italy: A blackout

Italy’s health ministry said 17 of the country’s 27 major cities were experiencing a heat wave.

In Florence, where temperatures reached 100 Fahrenheit on Tuesday, parts of the city center experienced a blackout following a surge in electricity demand. Backup systems restored power, energy company Enel said.

Near Bologna, the 46-year-old owner of a construction company collapsed and died while repaving a school parking lot, state-run RAI reported. An autopsy was being conducted but heat was suspected.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By EFREM LUKATSKy

A Russian drone attacks a building during Russia’s massive missile and drone air attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 17.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PETR DAVID JOSEK

A polar bear cools down on a pile of ice that was brought to its enclosure

Czech Republic, on Tuesday.

Manaccused of killing2Idaho firefighters once aspiredtobeone

BY MANUEL VALDES and LINDSEY WASSON Associated Press

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho A 20-year-old man’slife appeared to have begun to unravel in the months before authorities say he fatally shot two firefighters and severely wounded athird as they responded to awildfire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Wess Roley waslivingout of his vehicle and his former roommate, T.J. Franks Jr., said he shaved off his long hair and started to “kind of go downhill.” The two lived together for about six months in Sandpoint, Idaho, until Roley moved out in January,Franks said Monday Roley,who authorities say took his ownlife after Sunday’sshootings, is suspected of killing two battalion chiefs whose firefighting careers in Idaho spanned nearly half acentury combined. The deaths of Frank Harwood, 42,with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and John Morrison, 52, with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, have left their colleagues reeling, resulting in their departments adding lawenforcementtoevery call, no matter how routine.

“I don’tknow that we’re ever going to be able to guarantee people’speace of mind, at least for awhile after an incident like this,” Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Waysaid. “Butweare taking every measure we can to ensure safety of our responders.”

Roley had set afire using flint at Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area, according to authorities.The

PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON

Acrowd gathers on anoverpass over Interstate 90 to honor the firefighters whowere killed Sunday in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Tuesday.

with Frank his

firefighters whorushed to the scene found themselves under ﬁre and took cover behind ﬁre trucks.

“Therewas an interaction with the ﬁreﬁghters,” KootenaiCounty SheriffBob Norris said. “Ithas something to do with his vehicle being parked where it was.”

Twohelicoptersconverged on the area, armed with snipers ready to take outthe suspect if needed, while the FBI used his cellphone data to track himand the sheriff ordered residentstoshelter in place.They eventually foundRoley’s bodyinthe mountains, hisfirearm beside him. He had killedhimself, the sheriff said Roley had once aspired to be aﬁreﬁghter andhad only ahandful of minor contacts with area police,Norris said. Amotivewas still unknown, he said.

He had ties to California andArizonaand was living in Idaho “for the better part of 2024,” althoughitwas unclear whyhewas there, Norris said. When Roley was living

Mantoplead guilty in Idahostudent stabbings to avoid deathpenalty

BY REBECCA BOONE and GENE JOHNSON Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to killing four University of Idaho studentsas part of adeal to avoid the death penalty,anattorney for one victim’sfamily said.

Shanon Gray,anattorney representing the family of Kaylee Goncalves,confirmed Mondaythat prosecutors informed the families of the deal by email and letter earlierinthe day, and that his clients were upset about it.

“Weare beyond furious at the State of Idaho,” Goncalves’ family wrote in a Facebook post. “They have failed us. Please give us some time. This was very unexpected.” The family of Ethan Chapin,one of those killed, supports the plea deal, said family spokesperson Christina Teves on Tuesday

The Goncalves family spoke with the prosecution on Friday about the idea of a plea deal and they explained they were ﬁrmly against it, the family wrote in another post. By Sunday,they received an email that “sent us scrambling,” and met with the prosecution again on Monday to explaintheir views about pushing for the death penalty

“Unfortunately all of our efforts did not matter.We DID OUR BEST! We fought harder then anyone could EVER imagine,” the family wrote.

Delayofchangeofplea

Achange of plea hearing was set for 11 a.m. Wednesday.The Goncalves family has asked prosecutors to delay it to give them more time to travel to Boise, Gray said Kohberger’strialwas set for August in Boise, where it was moved following pretrial publicity in rural northern Idaho Kohberger,30, is accused in the stabbingdeaths of Goncalves, Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen at arental home near

campus in Moscow,Idaho, early on Nov.13, 2022. Autopsies showed the four were alllikely asleep when they were attacked,some haddefensive wounds and each wasstabbed multiple times.

At thetime,Kohberger was acriminal justice graduate student at Washington State University,about 9 mileswest of theUniversity of Idaho. He wasarrested in Pennsylvania, where his parentslived,weeks later Investigators said they matchedhis DNA to genetic material recovered from aknife sheathfound at the crime scene.

No motive hasemerged

No motive has emerged forthe killings, nor is it clear whythe attacker spared two roommateswho were in the home.Authorities havesaid cellphone data and surveillance video shows that Kohberger visited the victims’ neighborhood at least adozen times before the killings. The murders shocked thesmallfarming community of about 25,000 people, which hadn’thad ahomicideinaboutﬁve years, and promptedamassive hunt forthe perpetrator. That included an elaborateeffort to track down awhitesedan that was seen on surveillance cameras repeatedly driving by the rental home, to identifyKohberger as a possiblesuspect through the use of genetic genealogy and to pinpoint his movements thenight of the killings through cellphonedata.

In acourtﬁling, Kohberger’slawyers said he was on along drivebyhimself around the time the four were killed In the letter to families, obtainedbyABC News, prosecutors said Kohberger’s lawyers approached them seeking to reach aplea deal. The defenseteam had previouslymadeunsuccessfulefforts to havethe death penalty strickenasa possible punishment, including arguingthat Kohberger’s autism diagnosis made him less culpable.

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK, LARRYNEUMEISTER and JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

NEWYORK The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial saidTuesday thatithas reached averdict on four of ﬁve counts against thehip-hop mogul. Butthe partial decisionremained underwraps after they were told to keep deliberating because they were stuck on the top charge, racketeering conspiracy Prosecutors, Combs’ defenseteam and Judge Arun Subramanian reasoned that

after just two days of deliberations, it was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts. So rather than taking apartial verdict, Subramaniantold the jury to continue weighing theremaining charge. Deliberationswillcontinue

Wednesday

The developments came late Tuesday afternoon, when the jury sent anote saying it wasunable to reach aunanimous verdictonthe racketeering conspiracy charge because there were jurors with “unpersuadable views” on both sides. After hearing aboutthe

note,Combsappeared morose as his lawyers explained to him whatwas happening, at one point solemnly reading apiece of paperthatattorneyMarc Agniﬁlo handed to him. The hip-hop mogul’smother and severalofhis childrenreturned to the courtroom After the jury camein for instructions and then exited the room, asubdued Combs sat in his chair for afew minutes. As he stood to leave, he faced his family andsupporters, blew akiss andtapped his heart, as he frequently has done at the start and end of each day

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

NGOs call for end to controversial Israeli-backed aid group in Gaza

BY SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

CAIRO Dozens of international charities and humanitarian groups called Tuesday for disbanding a controversial Israeli- and U.S.-backed system to distribute aid in Gaza because of recurring chaos and violence against Palestinians seeking food at its sites

The call by groups including Oxfam, Save the Children and Amnesty International was made as at least 13 Palestinians were killed from late Monday into Tuesday while seeking desperately needed food, witnesses and health official said. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 37 people Tuesday in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital. In other developments, Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, warned that his country would respond forcefully to the firing of a missile the military said originated from Yemen. Sirens sounded across parts of Israel, alerting residents to the attack and the launch of two projectiles from Gaza. All were intercepted by Israeli defense systems.

The missile launch marked the ﬁrst attack by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels since the end of the brief but intense war initiated by Israel with Iran. Katz said Yemen could face the same fate as Tehran.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media ofﬁce, vowed on the social media platform X, that Yemen will not “stop its support for Gaza unless the aggression stops and the siege on Gaza is lifted.”

The renewal of tensions came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he planned to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and other administration ofﬁcials next week

in Washington. Trump has signaled that he is ready for Israel and Hamas to wind down the war in Gaza, which is likely to be a focus of their talks.

Speaking to a meeting of his Cabinet on Tuesday, Netanyahu did not elaborate on plans for the visit, except to say he will discuss a trade deal.

Iran is also expected to be a main topic of discussion. After brokering a ceaseﬁre between those two countries, Trump has indicated that he’s turning his attention to ending the ﬁghting between Israel and Hamas.

That war has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says more than half of the dead were women and children.

The war was sparked by the October 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 251 others taken hostage. Some 50 hostages remain, many of them thought to be dead.

The bodies of 116 people killed by Israeli strikes were brought to hospitals

in Gaza over the past 24 hours, the health ministry said Tuesday afternoon. Charities and NGOs

More than 165 major international charities and non-governmental organizations called Tuesday for an immediate end to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which the U.S. and Israel backed to take over aid distribution in Gaza from a network led by the United Nations.

“Palestinians in Gaza face an impossible choice: starve or risk being shot while trying desperately to reach food to feed their families,” the group said in a joint news release.

The call by the charities and NGOs was the latest sign of trouble for the GHF, a secretive U.S.- and Israelibacked initiative headed by an evangelical leader who is a close ally of Trump.

The GHF started distributing aid on May 26, following a nearly three-month Israeli blockade that pushed Gaza’s population of more than 2 million people to the brink of famine.

In a statement Tuesday the organization said it has delivered more than 52 million meals over ﬁve weeks.

Bondi claims ‘tens of thousands’ of videos from Epstein files

BY ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press

WASHINGTON It was a surprising statement from Attorney General Pam Bondi as the Trump administration promises to release more files from its sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein: The FBI, she said, was reviewing “tens of thousands of videos” of the wealthy financier “with children or child porn.”

The comment, made to reporters at the White House days after a similar remark to a stranger with a hidden camera, raised the stakes for President Donald Trump’s administration to prove it has in its possession previously unseen compelling evidence. That task is all the more pressing after an earlier document dump that Bondi hyped angered elements of Trump’s base by failing to deliver new bombshells and as administration ofﬁcials who had promised to unlock supposed secrets of the so-called government “deep state” struggle to fulﬁll that pledge. Yet weeks after Bondi’s remarks, it remains unclear what she was referring to.

The Associated Press spoke with lawyers and law enforcement officials in criminal cases of Epstein and socialite former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell who said they hadn’t seen

and didn’t know of a trove of recordings like what Bondi described. Indictments and detention memos do not reference the existence of videos of Epstein with children, and neither was charged with possession of child sex abuse material even though that offense would have been much easier to prove than the sex trafﬁcking counts they faced.

One potential clue may lie in a little-noticed 2023 court ﬁling — among hundreds of documents reviewed by the AP — in which Epstein’s estate was revealed to have located an unspecified number of videos and photos that it said might contain child sex abuse material. But even that remains shrouded in secrecy with lawyers involved in that civil case saying a protective order prevents them from discussing it.

The ﬁling suggests a discovery of recordings after the criminal cases had concluded, but if that’s what Bondi was referencing, the Justice Department has not said.

The department declined repeated requests from the AP to speak with officials overseeing the Epstein review Spokespeople did not answer a list of questions about Bondi’s comments, including when and where the recordings were procured, what they depict and whether they were newly

discovered as authorities dug through their evidence collection or were known for some time to have been in the government’s possession.

“Outside sources who make assertions about materials included in the DOJ’s review cannot speak to what materials are included in the DOJ’s review,” spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said in a statement. Bondi has faced pressure Epstein’s crimes, highprofile connections and jailhouse suicide have made the case a magnet for conspiracy theorists and online sleuths seeking proof of a coverup. Elon Musk entered the frenzy during his acrimonious fallout with Trump when he said without evidence in a sincedeleted social media post that the reason the Epstein files have yet to be released is that the Republican president is featured in them. During a Fox News Channel interview in February Bondi suggested an alleged Epstein “client list” was sitting on her desk. The next day, the Justice Department distributed binders marked “declassified” to far-right influencers at the White House, but it quickly became clear much of the information had long been in the public domain. No “client list” was disclosed, and there’s no evidence such a document exists.

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Themostimportant things we talk aboutare their goals, theirconcernsand what help they need in those areas. We really delvedeeplyintotheir financial situation. People willask if they canretirenow.We arehonestwiththemwhenwelookatthe numbers, andwewilltellthem what wouldhappenifthey retirednow versus twoorthree yearsfromnow.I want to seehow things look for them five, 10 or 15 yearsfromnow.Weevenhaveanideaofwhattheir financial situationlooks like 30 yearsfromnow When we do ourannualorbiannualmeetings with clients, we talk aboutwhathas changedintheir lives, howmuchtheyhaveinemergency savings, what is goingonwiththeir assets,and then what adjustmentsweneedtomake. We want people to have themindset of lookingforward andbeing proactive, rather than reactionary Howdoyou help retirees preparefor unexpected expenses,suchasmedicalbills or home repairs?

That’s part of lookingattheir goalsand objectives We thinkhavingemergency moneyisanimportant elementofa person’s retirement,sowedohave them setaside moneyfor that.You neverknowwhenyou mightsuddenlyneeda newrooforanew vehicle.

When thoseunplanned events happen,you want to have thecapacitytotakecareofitwithout dipping into your income-generatingpoolofmoney What aresomeofthe biggest concerns you hear from people planning forretirement? Insufficientsavings,inﬂation, rising health care costsand debt aresomeofthe biggestones. Some people areforcedintoretirementearlier than they wouldlikebecause of health problems. That’s areal concernifsomeone is youngerthan65, sincethey generally arenot eligible forMedicare. That can mean huge medicalbills,depending on aperson’s situation. Thoseare theissuesmyselfand my team help people with everyday Howcan people startpreparing forretirement if they arestill working? If your companyhas a401(k)plan, youhaveto enroll in that as soon as youare eligible,and youmust at leastcontribute enough to get100 percentofthe companymatch.You have achoiceofwhether to do pre-taxcontributionsorafter-tax.Iwould at least blendthat, or put your owncontributionsintopre-tax andthe employer matchintoafter-tax.You need to have tax-free growth on moneywhere youcan Whyisitimportant to useaprofessional advisory ﬁrmwhenpreparing forretirement? We follow proven systemsthatwillworkwell over time.It’salsoimportant to have an advisorto serveasasoundingboard.You need to work with a professional to be able to receiveguidanceand have honest conversations.

Ourteamisalsoreallyskilled in notletting the noiseaffectthemwhenitcomes to global or national matters. People worrywhentheysee market volatilityorinstability.For ourteam, theseare things that continuallyhappen, andwedon’t make knee-jerk reactions basedonwhathappens during oneday or oneweek. Ithinkwedoa really good joboflooking at thelong-term andcalming people’s fearsand worries. Theﬁve-stepFinancial

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARIAM DAGGA

Palestinians wounded while returning from one of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution centers operated by the U.S.-backed organization, according to Nasser Hospital, are treated in Khan younis on Monday.

Four decades later, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries still operates out of Baton Rouge, offering a 24-hour TV network of current services and other programs, a nationwide radio network of 75 stations, the K-12 Family Christian Academy and a Bible college.

“Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has ﬁnished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ Today was the day he has sung about for decades. He met his beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory At the same time, we rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day,” the church posted on Swaggart’s Facebook page. “He was not just a preacher — he was a worshipper, a warrior, and a witness to the grace and mercy of God.”

Gov. Jeff Landry on Tuesday issued a statement: “Rest in peace to Rev Jimmy Swaggart. He devoted much of his life to bringing people to Christ Our prayers go out to the Swaggart family during this difﬁcult time.”

Swaggart grew up in Ferriday the son of a sharecropper He had two famous cousins — Jerry Lee Lewis, the rock ’n’ roll pioneer, and country music star Mickey Gilley Swaggart’s path toward the ministry can be traced back to his late grandmother, Ada Lewis Swaggart, who joined the Pentecostal movement and was eager to share her faith with her extended family “She taught him, and he drank it all in,” his cousin Frankie Gene Lewis recalled during an A&E biography that aired in 2001.

Swaggart was only 8 years old when, standing on a Ferriday street, he ﬁrst spoke in tongues, talking of atomic bombs and wars that had not yet happened, according to the A&E biography.

Years later, Swaggart would decide to pair music with his preaching when he set out on the back roads of Louisiana.

Old black-and-white footage of tent revivals show a young Oral Roberts preaching at the podium. Roberts became a role model for Swaggart, who would later well surpass his mentor in popularity.

Once dubbed “the Mick Jagger of religion” by TV reporter John Camp for combining gospel music

5, 2022.

and preaching, Swaggart began to attract larger and larger crowds.

In 1960, Swaggart was ordained as a full minister in the Assemblies of God church.

Swaggart continued to gain popularity, recording a gospel album every year and traveling far outside Louisiana to evangelize. After years on the road, the family bought a house in Baton Rouge in 1968, and Swaggart’s electronic church was born.

He launched a telecast in 1973 and began airing taped replays of his church services in 1975. Those services were later translated into dozens of languages.

Dana Robert, director of the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University, said Swaggart was one of “the most important televangelists in American history.”

“Jimmy Swaggart was able to harness emerging media in the

1980s and was a master at using television to grow his brand and grow his audience,” said Robert, a Baton Rouge native who went to high school with Swaggart’s son, Donnie. “He rode the global Pentecostal wave into international prominence.”

By 1979, Swaggart had outgrown his headquarters behind the former Bon Marche Mall that he had opened 10 years earlier So he started looking for a new home base.

Jimmy Swaggart World Ministries purchased more than 200 acres of land along Bluebonnet stretching from Interstate 10 to Perkins Road. The centerpiece was a 7,500-seat church, in front of which the ﬂags of 40 nations ﬂew, representing each of the countries where his services were televised.

Swaggart was not only one of the biggest private employers in Baton Rouge, but also one of the city’s

leading tourist draws. So many people came from out of state to visit his church that a 120-room hotel was built at I-10 and Bluebonnet in part to accommodate them.

At its peak in the mid-1980s the ministry was bringing in nearly $142 million annually Along with his high-proﬁle U.S and international television broadcasts Swaggart was heard on 2,000 radio stations in 145 countries, had a TV studio, a ﬂeet of luxury cars, a plane, a bible college and a $2.5 million estate on Highland Road across from the County Club of Louisiana. He led religious crusades in 40 countries, including Brazil, Russia, South Africa and the Philippines, where he would preach and sing before stadiums full of worshippers. But in February 1988, Swaggart made a tearful public confession of sin, one day after it was report-

ed that there were photos of him with a prostitute at a Metairie hotel room.

The image of the weeping pastor and his admission that “I have sinned” became a deﬁning moment of the year and was widely rebroadcast, discussed and parodied.

Three years later, as Swaggart’s ministry was recovering, scandal struck again. He was found in the company of another prostitute after the pair was pulled over by a police ofﬁcer in California.

That second fall from grace — Donnie announced that his father was temporarily stepping down for “a time of healing and counseling”— reduced the ministry to a fraction of its former size. Where thousands of people regularly attended his services, the number of worshippers was down to a few hundred.

Despite the dwindling crowd, Swaggart remained a charismatic and powerful preacher

He also tapped his extensive property holdings. Baton Rouge real estate experts speculated that Swaggart became a real estate magnate to help keep his ministry aﬂoat.

He turned a 12-story dormitory into an apartment complex. He sold properties that later became the Mall of Louisiana, Baton Rouge General’s Bluebonnet campus and Perkins Rowe. A dorm that was partially completed before Swaggart’s sex scandal was sold to be turned into the Renaissance Hotel Baton Rouge. He leased ofﬁce space to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and The Advocate.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By GERALD HERBERT

Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart speaks at the funeral service for his cousin, rock ’n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, in Ferriday on Nov

negotiation over the Senate’schanges. The House is expected to start voting on the bill Wednesday The Senate worked through the weekend to get the bill into aposture fora floor vote. Democrats and some Republicans attempted to slow passage, including arequirement to read aloud the 940-page billon the ﬂoor of the Senate, which took about 16 hours

During an all-night sessionMonday,Cassidyand Kennedy helped their Republican colleagues with more than 45 amendments that adjusted the language or challenged nearly every element of the legislation —particularly changes and spending cuts for Medicaid and food stamps.

Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, spent the time lobbying Republicans who hadn’tvoiced support.

Trump also threatened senators with primary challenges.

Tillis withdrew fromhis reelection campaign, saying he could not vote for abill that shifts so much of the cost of Medicaid to the states because his state couldn’t afford to pay the additional costs andstill provide the same level of health care Budget hawks, like Paul, oppose the measure because it will addabout $3 trillion to the national debt. More moderateRepublicans fear voter reactions to the bill’s deep cuts to health care and nutrition.

Republican majority leadership chose to use the rules under the reconciliation process that allow attaching policy language to the budget bill —provided those

Majority Leader Steve Scalise,R-Jefferson, now have to persuade House Republicans to accept the changes made in the Senate. Johnson wants to approve the bill and send it to Trump for signature byFriday.But that may not be asmooth process. Like theSenate, House Republicans have raisedissues with the legislation.Six Republicans have voiced opposition to the changes theSenate made. TheHouse approved thebill by asingle vote in May,and if four GOP representatives sayno, the bill will fail.

Republican House leadership limited their comments to ajointstatement. “The House will work quickly to pass the One BigBeautiful Bill that en-

Trump’sagenda, and we are making it law.HouseRepublicans are ready toﬁnish the joband put the One Big Beautiful Bill on President Trump’sdesk in time for Independence Day,” theleaders added. The House is scheduled to convene at 9a.m. Wednesday. TheSenate reconvenes Thursday morning, presumably ready to react to whatever the House doestothe bill.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.

Instantshade at the touchofa button

FourthofJulysafetytips

While Fourth of July is agreat waytoringinsummerwithsome patrioticfun, it also offersmanysafetyhazards,including ﬁreworks.It’salwaysbest to leaveittothe professionals,but if you’re planning on settingoff backyard ﬁreworks, remember to makesafetyaprioritybyfollowing thesetips:

• Keep abucketofwater or aﬁre extinguisher close.

•Neverlet kids handle ﬁreworks—notevensparklers.

•Light one ﬁrework at atime,and nevertry to relight adud.

• Avoid ﬁreworksifyou’vebeendrinking

Did youknowUniversity Medical Center NewOrleans,partofLCMC Health,ishome to the only veriﬁed burn center in theGulfSouth?We’re herefor youinanemergency. Ifyou getburnedthis FourthofJuly, call 911 orhead to your nearest LCMC Health emergency room.

Learn

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByJ.SCOTT APPLEWHITE

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.,center, flanked by Sen.John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip,left, and FinanceCommittee ChairMikeCrapo, R-Idaho, speakstoreportersafter passage of the budget reconciliation package of President DonaldTrump’ssignature bill of bigtax breaksand spending cuts on Tuesday.

TOWER

Continued from page1A

months to organize.

“Wewill probably spend untilthe end of theyear working through design,architecture and acosting exercise,” Garcia said. “It is still going to take abig commitment fromthe city,state and federal government.”

Plaza Tower has been problematic since it was builtinthe late 1960s. In recent years, it had become ahealth hazard to trespassers —one of whom fell to his death —and to passersbybecause of thepropensity for bitsofthe building to blow offontonearby streets.

City Hall had begun the process of trying to force the owner to demolishthe building at acost of approximately $30 million, but ofﬁcials have been cooperatingwith the owner inrecent months in an effort to help Lincoln Avenue ﬁnd away to bring it back into commercial use.

Randy Waesche, Jaeger’s trustee, said Monday that he had discussed alternative planswithother potentialbuyers but none seemed viable. Before he died, Jaeger triedtoﬁnd partners for various developments, most of whichwere amixture of hotel, residential and retail.

“Wedon’tneed anymore hotel roomsbecause most of them aren’t proﬁtable right now,and those that areon themarket are being sold

for less than what the current owner paid for them,” Waesche said.

Downtown office rents, which average around $19 or $20 a square foot,also couldn’tgenerate enough revenue tojustify a$250 million mortgage, he said.

“So, Iknewthatwhatever was going to happen was going to require the combination of state, federal and local assistance,”Waesche added.

Therequiredﬁnancing will include approximately $130 million of tax-exempt bonds issued through theLouisiana Housing Corporation.The developers will also need Low Income Housing TaxCredits, as well as stateand federal historictax credits anda payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, deal from the city.Even then, there

still will be agap of about $35 million that will need to be ﬁlledwith a “forgivable” loan from some public source, Waesche said. City ofﬁcials did not respond to requestsfor comment.

Local builder Brian Gibbs, who took thelead in getting the $166 million ﬁnancing forthe NSAEast Bank Apartments affordable housing project, will also join the Plaza Tower development group, Garcia said. Gibbs brought Lincoln Avenue in to be the operator of NSAEast Bankonceitisbuilt.

Another big hurdle forthe developers willbetomakethe building safe. Preliminary results of theengineering study,conducted by SimpsonGumpertz &Heger, showed that the building has a

sway at the top of up to 50 inches in Category 5hurricane winds.

“It sways much more thanit should, so part of the exercise is ﬁguring outwhatare ouroptions forremediation, giventhatthe building hashistoric status,” Garcia said.

The sales price for the building was not disclosed,but both buyer and seller said it was very low for aproperty of its size. “Single-digit millions,” Garcia said.

The initialcosttobuild Plaza Tower,which wasconstructed from 1964-1969, wasapproximately $18 million, which would be about $163 millionin2025 dollars.

Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

won the approval of Trumpas well as Louisiana’stwo U.S. senators, Republicans John Kennedy, of Madisonville, and Bill Cassidy, of Baton Rouge. Cassidy and Kennedy hold sway over the conﬁrmation processfor federalappointees in the state.

“I’m honoredtoreceive the nomination from PresidentDonaldJ Trumpand Ilookforwardtothe conﬁrmation process,” Courcelle said in abrief interview

The announcement followed lengthy discussion among Kennedy,Cassidy and Trump’steam over the department’sleadership during the president’ssecond term, in which Trump has set out to reshape the agency in his image, primarily through anew emphasis on immigration-related prosecutions.

Gov.Jeff Landry,aRepublican who is close to Trump, also sought to put his stamp on the selection, accordingtopeople familiarwith that process.

Shifting agency

Since taking ofﬁce, Trump has said he wants to use the Justice Department to exact revenge on his enemies while broadly overhauling the agency’shistoric list of priorities.

His appointed U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, has guttedthe department’spublic corruption,civil

rights and environmentalcrimes divisions while directing prosecutors to ﬁle cases against immigrants for illegally reentering the U.S. and thoseinvolving drugtrafﬁcking and violent crime.

In Courcelle, Trump settled on alegal bar veteran withRepublican bona ﬁdestopursue those goals acrossthe NewOrleans region —though one described by courtroom peers as an affable negotiator whomaintains relationships with both prosecutors and defenseattorneys, and with people across the political spectrum.

Courcelle is a“straight shooter,” said Matt Coman, acivil lawyer andformer assistant U.S. attorney wholed the2011 corruption case against city contractor Aaron Bennett. Courcelle defended Bennett alongside his legal mentor,the renowned JeffersonParishdefense attorney Vinny Mosca, who died in 2022.

“David is super smart yethe’s approachableand practical,” said Claude Kelly,the chief federal public defender for the Eastern District.“This is not aceremonial politicalplum, whichissooften thecase in these selections.”

Courcelle has no experience prosecuting felonycases,though he once worked as thecityprosecutorinHarahan, ajob that primarily involved charging misdemeanors. But his years working in federal court as adefense attorneyendearedhim to thoseonthe benchand the opposingsides of criminal cases.

CLAUDE KELLy, chief federal public defender for

“The lineprosecutors andjudges allknowhim andlike andrespect him,” said Mike Magner,aveteran white-collar attorney andformer federal prosecutor

Outside hisprivate practice in Metairie, Courcelle provides legal counsel for the solidly Republican parish government in Jefferson Parish

In criminal court, he most recently represented Fouad Zeton, a politically engaged business owner whosetextmessages formed the linchpin of anow-sputtering federal probe of New Orleans’ Democratic Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

Courcelle defended at least two men accusedofparticipating in the Jan. 6, 2021,riot at the U.S. Capitol, which Trump, aRepublican, was accused by Justice Department prosecutors of fomenting in aseries of chargesbrought under former Democratic President Joe Biden. (The department dropped those cases when Trump took ofﬁce).

Courcelle also represents Tulane quarterback T.J. Finley,who the team suspended in April after he was accused of stealing atruck,

but later argued he’d been the victim of ascam. He will step into the prosecutor’s ofﬁce at apivotal timefor the Justice Department.

Trump has moved to install prosecutors atop each of the nation’s94 U.S. Attorney’sOfﬁces whohebelieveswillzealouslycarry out his agenda. In some cases, the White House itself has directlyﬁred career local prosecutors viewed as failing to adequately carry out the administration’smarching orders. Somewho wereinvolved in bringing in Jan. 6-related caseshave been reassigned.

Competitiveprocess

If theSenateconfirmshim,

Courcelle will succeed acting U.S. AttorneyMichael Simpson, acareer prosecutor. Simpson held the acting job foronly afew months after beingnamed to that position in February,when the ofﬁce’s Biden-eraleader,Duane Evans, was reassigned following Trump’s inauguration. Simpson and anotherveteran prosecutor,Assistant U.S. AttorneyJordanGinsberg, hadcampaigned for the appointment in recentweeks, according to multiple people familiar with the selection process

It’s customary for new presidential administrations to sweep outU.S. attorneys from the prior administration, then to appoint an “acting” prosecutor,usually aveteran from within the ofﬁce, to lead until anominee is selected.

Once they receive Senate conﬁr-

mation, the nominees then serve until the cyclerepeats at the start of the next administration.

After Trumpwon the November presidentialelection, aslewofothers had emerged as candidates to lead the NewOrleans ofﬁce.

They included Peter M. Thomson, alocal attorney whoinstead was nominatedasinspector general of the Central Intelligence Agency; James Baehr, who got a jobasgeneral counsel at Trump’s DepartmentofVeteransAffairs; andComan,the formerprosecutor,who in the 2010s secured a corruption conviction against former New OrleansMayor Ray Nagin.

Laura Rodrigue, aconservative lawyerclose to Landry,was discussed as aleading candidate for the job but struggled to marshal support during the process, people familiarwiththe selectionhave said. Rodrigue in abrief interview Tuesday said she hadtaken herself out of consideration for the position.

TheEastern District is one of three U.S. Attorney’sOfficesin Louisiana.

In May, Trump tappedveteran BatonRouge-areaprosecutorKurt Wall to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Ofﬁcefor the Middle Districtof Louisiana, basedinthe state’s capital city.The president has yettonominate aleader for the Lafayette-based Western District of Louisiana.

Email James Finn at jﬁnn@ theadvocate.com.

Musk proposes newpolitical party

BY MEG KINNARD Associated Press

Elon Musk’sfeud with President Donald Trump —and seemingly any congressional Republicans who support the president’s massive tax cuts and spending package —has reignited, with the tech billionaire threatening to launch anew political party,and Trump suggestingMuskcould be punished for his opposition.

The dispute has laid bare not only the differences between the Republican president and one of his most vociferous one-time advocates, but alsohas reignited the possibility that the world’srichest man will —along with his billions reenter the political spending arena.

Musk reenters politicalfray

Musk —who spentatleast

$250 million supporting Trump in the 2024 presidential campaign as the main contributor to America PAC —said in May that he would likely spend “a lot less” on politicsinthe future. But his recent statements seem to indicate Musk might be rethinking that stance.

On Monday,the tech billionaire and former Department Of Government Efﬁciency chieflashed out multiple times at Republicans for backing Trump’s tax cuts bill, calling the GOP “the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” for including a provision that would raise the nation’sdebt limit by $5 trillion and calling the bill “political suicide” for Republicans.

After apost pledging to work toward supporting primary challengers for members of Congress who backed the bill, Musk responded “I will” to apost in which former Michigan Rep. Justin Amash asked for Musk’ssupport of Rep. Thomas Massie. Trump and his aidesare already targeting the Ken-

tuckyRepublican forvotingagainst the measure launching anew super PAC devoted to defeating him.

Tuesday morning, Musk replied “You’re awesome” to an Xpost from Massie recirculatingnews coverage of Musk’ssupport of him.

Musk’s back andforth Musk and Trump’spotent political alliance seemed to meet adramatic end a monthago in an exchange of blistering epithets, with Trump threateningtogo after Musk’sbusiness interests, and Musk calling for Trump’simpeachment.

Much of it has boiled down to Musk’scriticism of the tax cuts andspending bill, which he hascalled a“disgusting abomination.”Both the House and Senate versions propose adramatic rollback of theBiden-era greenenergy tax breaks for electric vehicles and related technologies.

Musk is thechief executive of Tesla, the nation’slargest electric vehicle manufacturer,and SpaceX, which has massive defense contracts.

Overnight, Trump posted on social media that Musk has long known of his opposition “against theEV Mandate,” which he called “ridiculous.” Saying that, withoutsubsidies, the Tesla CEO“wouldprobablyhave to close up shopand head back home to South Africa,”

Trump suggestedthat“Perhaps we should have DOGE takea good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”

Trump wentfurtheratthe WhiteHouse on Tuesday, responding, “I don’tknow, Imean,we’llhavetotakea look,” when asked by areporterifhewould consider deporting Musk.

“Wemight have to put DOGE on Elon,” Trump said, of the government-adjacent entity Musk once ran for him, slashingthrough federal agencies in abroadbased, cost-cutting spree. “You know what DOGE is. DOGEisthe monster that might have to go back and eat Elon.”

Anew politicalparty?

Several times, Musk has

suggested that anew political party is needed to encapsulate the viewpoints he arguesaren’trepresented by the GOP Overnight Monday, Musk repostedthe results of an unscientiﬁc poll conducted through his Xfeed early last month, asking if the U.S. needsapolitical party “that actually represents the 80% in the middle?”

Monday afternoon, Musk suggested that the“America Party” wouldbeformed if “thisinsane spending bill passes,” saying theU.S. “needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have aVOICE.”

Starting anew national party— whichwouldbe set head-to-head with existing major parties —has been done before, but recenteffortsinthatvein have struggledtocatch on. Even without such an ofﬁcial effort, Musk’sﬁnancial backing couldbeafactor in upcoming races, should he choose to contribute to candidates, either directly or through his PAC.

BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

Iran is assessing the damage and lashing out over the American and Israeli airstrikes on its nuclear sites,though Tehrankept open the possibility Tuesday of resuming talks with Washington over its atomic program

The comments by government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani also included another acknowledgment that Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz —key sites within Iran’snuclear program —had been “seriously damaged” by the American strikes. Iran’sstate-run IRNA news agency quoted Mohajerani as making the remarks at abriefing for journalists. That acknowledgment comes as Iran’stheocracy has slowly begun to admit the scale of the damage wrought by the 12-day war with Israel, which saw Israeliﬁghterjets decimate thecountry’s airdefenses and conduct strikes at will over the Islamic Republic And keeping the door open to talks withthe United States likely shows Tehranwants to avoidfurther economicpainasanother deadline over U.N. sanctions looms.

“Nodate(for U.S. talks) is announced,and it’s not probably very soon, but a decisionhasn’tbeenmade in this field,” Mohajerani said.

Iran offers deathtoll

Israeli airstrikes, which began June 13, decimated the upper ranks of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard andtargetedits arsenal of ballistic missiles. Thestrikes also hitIran’s nuclear sites, which Israel claimed put Tehran within

reach of anuclear weapon. U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency had assessed Iran last had an organized nuclear weapons program in 2003, though Tehran had been enriching uranium up to 60% —a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

On Monday, Iranianjudiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir offered asharply increased, governmentissued death toll from the war.Hesaidthatthe Israeli attacks killed 935 “Iranian citizens,” including 38 childrenand 102 women, IRNA reported.

“The enemy aimed to change the country’scircumstances by assassinating military commanders and scientists, intending to spread fear and exert pressure,” Jahangir added. However, he asserted like others up to 86-year-old SupremeLeader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—that Iran had “won” the war. Iran hasa long history of offering lower death counts around unrest over political considerations. The Washington-based Human Rights Activists group, which hasprovided detailedcasualtyfigures frommultiple rounds of unrest in Iran,has putthe death tollat1,190 people killed, including 436 civilians and 435 security force members.

The attackswounded another 4,475 people, the group said. Meanwhile, it appears thatIranianofficials now are assessing the damage done by the Americanstrikesconducted on the three nuclear siteson June 22, including those at Fordo, asite built under a mountain about 60 miles southwest of Tehran.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By EVAN VUCCI

PresidentDonald Trump,right, speaks during anewsconference withElon Musk in the Oval Office of the White House on May30inWashington.

BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Delta Utilities closes purchase with Entergy

Delta Utilities announced Tuesday it had closed on its $484 million purchase of Entergy’s natural gas business.

Ofﬁcials with both companies had said the deal would close in the second half of the year

Delta Utilities, headquartered in New Orleans, was set up by Bernhard Capital Partners. Earlier this year Delta Utilities completed the purchase of CenterPoint Energy’s natural gas distribution operations in Louisiana and Mississippi. Delta Utilities is now the leading natural gas utility in Louisiana and Mississippi and one of the top 40 natural gas providers in the U.S., said Jeff Jenkins, Bernhard founder and partner Delta Utilities has nearly 600,000 customers across the Gulf Coast, including 209,000 in New Orleans and East Baton Rouge Parish Entergy natural gas customers have been automatically transferred to Delta Utilities. However, account holders will have to reenroll in programs such as paperless billing, automatic payments, level billing and pick-a-date billing. Information on how to reenroll will be included in the ﬁrst gas bill and are available at deltautilities.com

Wall Street is split as tech drops

A mixed day of trading left the U.S. stock market split on Tuesday as Wall Street’s momentum slowed after setting record highs in each of the past two days. The S&P 500 dipped 0.1% for its ﬁrst loss in four days The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 400 points, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.8%. Drops for several darlings of the artificial-intelligence frenzy weighed on the market. Nvidia’s decline of 3% was the heaviest weight on the S&P 500. But more stocks within the index rose than fell, led by several casino companies. They rallied following a report showing better-than-expected growth in overall gaming revenue in Macao, China’s casino hub. Las Vegas Sands gained 8.9%, Wynn Resorts climbed 8.8% and MGM Resorts International rose 7.3%.

Lululemon files suit against Costco

Lululemon has ﬁled a lawsuit against Costco that accuses the wholesale club operator of selling lower-priced duplicates of some of its popular athleisure clothing.

Lululemon Athletica claims in its lawsuit ﬁled in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that Costco has “unlawfully traded” on its reputation, goodwill and sweat equity by selling unauthorized and unlicensed apparel that uses knockoff, infringing versions of its patents

Lululemon alleges that Costco is known to use manufacturers of popular branded products for its private label Kirkland brand, but that the company and the manufacturers don’t tell consumers of the connection between them for many of the Kirkland-branded products. Because of this, Lululemon claims this leads at least some shoppers to believe that Kirkland-branded products are made by the authentic supplier of the “original” products. Lululemon claims Costco doesn’t try to dispel the ambiguity.

“As an innovation-led company that invests signiﬁcantly in the research, development, and design of our products, we take the responsibility of protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights very seriously and pursue the appropriate legal action when necessary,” a Lululemon company spokesperson said in a statement

Some of the products Lululemon says Costco is making duplicates of include its popular Scuba hoodies, Deﬁne jackets and ABC pants.

BUSINESS

NOLA.COM/BIZ

Powell holds position on rate cuts

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON Federal Reserve

Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday stuck to his position that the central bank will keep its key rate on hold while it waits to see how President Donald Trump’s tariffs effect the economy, despite the steady stream of criticism from the White House, which wants lower borrowing costs.

Powell, speaking in Sintra, Portugal, at a conference hosted by the European Central Bank, also said that U.S inﬂation is likely to pick up later this summer, though he acknowledged that the timing and magnitude of any price increase from the duties is uncertain But he said the Fed will keep rates on hold while it evaluates the impact of tariffs on the U.S. economy.

“As long as the economy is in solid shape, we think the prudent thing to do is to wait and see what those effects might be,” Powell said, referring to the sweeping duties Trump has imposed this year Powell’s comments underscored the divide between the U.S. cen-

tral bank’s leader and the Trump administration. Trump has repeatedly urged the Fed to cut its key rate, which he says would save U.S taxpayers billions of dollars on interest costs on the federal government’s massive debt, and boost the economy The fight has threatened the Fed’s traditional independence from politics, though, since the Supreme Court signaled the president can’t fire the chair, financial markets haven’t responded to Trump’s criticism.

The Fed chair also said that without tariffs, the Fed would probably be cutting its key rate right now The central bank went “on hold” after it saw how large Trump’s pro-

posed tariffs were, Powell said, and economists began forecasting higher inﬂation. Powell did not rule out a rate cut at the Fed’s next policy meeting July 29-30.

On Monday the president attacked Powell again and extended his criticisms to the entire Fed governing board, which participates in interest-rate decisions.

“The board just sits there and watches, so they are equally to blame,” Trump said. The attack on the board ratchets up pressure on individual Fed ofﬁcials, such as Governor Chris Waller, who have been mentioned as potential successors to Powell, whose term ends in May 2026.

BY MICHELLE L PRICE, BERNARD CONDON AND MICHELLE CHAPMAN

Associated Press

WASHINGTON Elon Musk may ﬁnd out what happens when DOGE bites man.

The billionaire SpaceX, Tesla and X owner who catapulted his zealous embrace of President Donald Trump into a powerful position, slashing government spending, now risks sweeping cuts to his own bottom line after resuming the feud that led to their very public bitter split last month.

Musk’s renewed heckling of Trump’s big tax breaks and spending cuts bill, which passed the Senate on Tuesday, threatens to put billions of dollars of his government contracts in jeopardy if Trump retaliates. The rupture of their tenuous peace has resulted in a wobbling of the stock price of a marketmoving company and led the president to muse about deporting Musk to his native South Africa.

In a Frankenstein-style twist, as Musk volleyed fresh critiques about the cost of Trump’s signature legislation, Trump mused Tuesday about turning Musk’s Department of Government Efﬁciency back on its creator

“DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a tour of a new immigration detention center in Florida. Trump also suggested in an early morning social media post that if Musk lost his government contracts, he “would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”

Asked by a reporter later if he would deport Musk, Trump paused and said, “I don’t know We’ll have to take a look.”

In response, Musk wrote on X: “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now.” Tesla and SpaceX did not respond to messages seeking comment about their CEO.

The big bill divide Musk has called Trump’s big bill a ﬁnancial boondoggle for America that would kill jobs and bog down burgeoning industries. He’s not limiting himself to harsh assessments on social media On Monday, he threatened to reinsert himself into politics and try to oust every member of Congress who votes for the bill.

“They will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk said in one post.

BY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP business writer

NEW YORK Anne Wojcicki’s bid to buy 23andMe, the genetic testing company she cofounded nearly 20 years ago, has received the court greenlight.

That means Wojcicki’s nonproﬁt TTAM Research Institute will purchase “substantially all” of San Francisco-based 23andMe’s assets for $305 million. The transaction — which arrives more than three months after 23andMe ﬁled for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — is

In other posts, he branded Republicans “the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” and threatened to create a new political party Trump has said Musk is actually irritated by the legislation’s dramatic rollback of the Biden-era green energy tax breaks for electric vehicles and related technologies. Musk has denied this, but the rollback could hurt Tesla’s ﬁnances “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social media network. Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002, according to a biography of him by Walter Isaacson. It’s unclear if Trump would take the extraordinary step of having the government explore the rare process of removing his citizenship, known as denaturalization. Feud has high stakes for Musk Musk’s rocket and satellite company, SpaceX, is also in Trump’s crosshairs.

“No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE,” Trump said in his post.

“BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”

SpaceX has received billions of federal dollars to help send astronauts into space and perform other work for NASA, including a contract to send a team from the space agency to the moon next year But the most immediate fallout of their

feud was the tumbling stock in Tesla, down 5.3% on Tuesday Tesla stock’s performance can have an outsize impact on the stock market index funds in which millions of Americans’ 401(k)s have invested their retirement savings. The electric vehicle maker is one of the Magniﬁcent Seven, the group of companies that includes Apple and Google parent Alphabet and that account for about a third of the value of the S&P 500.

Musk’s social media outbursts come at a delicate time for his car company Tesla is just a week into its test run of its self-driving “robotaxi” service in Austin, Texas. Musk needs that test to succeed if he hopes to make good on his promise to investors that he will be able to quickly offer the service in other cities over the next few months.

One possible hurdle to that: federal safety regulators.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requested information from Tesla last week after videos began circulating on social media of a few of its autonomous cabs in Austin driving erratically including one heading down an opposing lane.

That followed a NHTSA request for data last month on how the driverless taxis will perform in low-visibility conditions, which itself followed an investigation last year into 2.4 million Teslas equipped with full selfdriving software after several accidents, including one that killed a pedestrian.

set to ofﬁcially close in the coming weeks.

“I am thrilled that TTAM will be able to build on the mission of 23andMe to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome,” Wojcicki said in a statement Monday later adding that, “the future of health care belongs to all of us.” The sale, which was approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brian C. Walsh on Friday, marks the end of a monthslong bidding war between TTAM and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals a biotech company that had previously agreed to buy most of 23andMe’s assets for $256 million in May But Wojcicki’s nonprofit later topped that offer, winning the final round of bidding held last month.

Under the deal, TTAM will acquire 23andMe’s signature “Personal Genome Service” provided through the company’s salivabased DNA testing kits — as well as research operations and its Lemonaid Health subsidiary, a telehealth services provider that 23andMe previously planned to wind down. Wojcicki had worked to take 23andMe private for some time. With the company struggling to find a profitable business model since going public in 2021, she’s maintained that it would operate better outside market pressures. But that endeavor proved to be tumultuous — notably in September of last year, when all of 23andMe’s independent directors resigned from its board citing a “clear” dif-

ference of opinion with Wojcicki on the company’s future following drawn-out negotiations. Leading up to 23andMe’s March bankruptcy ﬁling, subsequent efforts from Wojcicki to acquire the company were unsuccessful. And when 23andMe ﬁled for Chapter 11 in late March, Wojcicki resigned as CEO — noting at the time that she was stepping down to be “in the best position” as an independent bidder Now that Wojcicki’s nonprofit will acquire 23andMe, it’s unclear whether the co-founder will step back into the CEO seat But despite stepping down from the top post months ago, Wojcicki has remained on the company’s board throughout the bankruptcy process.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EVAN VUCCI

Elon Musk joins President Donald Trump during a May 30 news conference in the Oval Office of the White House.

Judgehalts dismantlingofU.S.African DevelopmentFoundation

BY REBECCA BOONE Associated Press

Afederaljudge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from dismantlinga U.S. federal agency that invests in African small businesses.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington, D.C., ruledthatTrumpviolatedfederal law when he appointed Pete Marocco the new head of theU.S. African Development Foundation, or USDAF, because Marocco wasnever confirmedbyCongress. As aresult, Marocco’sactions

—terminating most of the agency’semployees and effectively ending the agency’s grants—are void and must be undone, the judge found. Congress created USADF as an independentagency in 1980, and itsboard members must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.In2023, Congress allocated$46 million to theagencytoinvestinsmall agriculturaland energyinfrastructureprojectsand other economic development initiativesin22African countries. On Feb. 19, Trump issued an executive order that said USADF,the U.S. Instituteof

Peace, the Inter-American Foundation and the Presidio Trust should be scaled back to theminimum presence required by law.Trump also ﬁredthe agency’s board members andinstalled Marocco as the board chair

TwoUSDAFstaffers and aconsulting firm based in Zambia that worksclosely withUSADF sued on May 21,challengingMarocco’s appointment and saying the deep cutstothe agency prevented it from carrying out its congressionally mandated functions.

The staffers and consult-

ingﬁrm askedthe judgefor apreliminaryinjunction, saying Marocco’s“slash-andburn approach”threatened to reduce theagency to rubble beforetheir lawsuit is resolved. They said the Federal Vacancies Reform Act prohibited Marocco’sappointment to USADF,and that the same lawrequires that any actions done by an unlawfully appointed person must be unwound.

“Thisisavictory forthe rule of lawand thecommunities that rely on USADF’s vitalwork,”saidJoel McElvain, senior legal adviser at

Democracy Forward,the organizationrepresenting the USDAF staffers and consulting firm in their lawsuit. “We will continue fighting against these power grabs to protect USADF’sability to fulfill the mission that Congress gave it to perform.” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro hadwritten in court documents that the Federal Vacancies Reform Act doesn’t apply to USADF, andthatthe president hasthe authority to designate acting membersof theagency’sboard until the Senate confirmshis nominees. Anyclaims aboutthe

cuts themselves, Pirro said, must be handledinthe Court of Federal Claims, not the federal district court. The judge found in aseparate case that Trump had thelegal authoritytoﬁre the previous members of the USADFboard. Pirro wrote in court documents in that case that the president also has the legal authority to appoint someone to run the USADF, consistent withTrump’s policygoals, until theSenate could conﬁrm hisnominees. APjournalistLisaBaumann in Bellingham,Washington, contributed to thisreport.

BY MARGERYA.BECK

Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, aRepublicanfrom Nebraska,announced Monday he will not seek reelection next year amidanincreasingly polarized political climate.

Bacon, 61, said at anews conference at Omaha’sairport that he would not seek a sixth term representing Nebraska’ssecond district with its so-called blue dot that includes many progressive voters around Omaha.

Bacon has had to navigate an ever-thinning line between staying in his party’sand

President Donald Trump’s good graces without alienating his increasingly Democratic district. He said he is proud of his bipartisan approach in the face of bitter partisanship in Washington.

“It is disconcerting to get attacked from the right,” Bacon said.

Bacon said he believes he could win thedistrict again, but wants to spend more time with his family in Omaha.

Ithink it’stime for anew Republican to be your nominee that can do 12-14 hours a day and hold this seat,” Bacon said.

Bacon said in “this district, you got to win swing voters. It’sjusta fact of life.” But Republicanswill have agood shot at keeping the seat in 2026, he said, because he believes Democrats in the race so far appeal mainly to the hard left.

An Air Force veteran ﬁrst elected in 2016, he wonreelection in 2024. He serves on the House Armed Services Committeeand has been at the center of manydebates in Congress. He has also been chairman of the conservativecentrist Republican Main Street Caucus in the House He plans to ﬁnish his term Bacon has earned areputationasacentrist —anincreasinglyrare designation amongRepublicans as the partyhas movedfarther to the right.But he has long acknowledged that moderation is anecessary attribute for anyone seekingto represent the Omaha-centereddistrict, which is closely dividedbetween Republican and Democratic voters.

Nebraska is one of two states that doesn’tfollow a winner-take-all system of awarding Electoral College votes. Instead, Nebraska and Maine allow presidential electoral votes tobesplit

by congressionaldistrict.

Bacon’s district has seen its electoral votegotoaDemocratic presidential candidate three times —toBarack Obama in 2008, to Joe Biden in 2020 andtoKamala Harris in 2024.

The political climate is rapidly changing in Omaha, where voters recently rejected afourthtermfor Republican Mayor Jean Stothert in favor of her Democratic opponent, John Ewing.

Seeinganopportunity to ﬂip avulnerable seat in the U.S. House where Republicanshold arazor-thin margin, several Democratshave already announcedtheir candidacies. Themost widely recognizedisJohnCavanaugh, astate senator from Omaha who’sfather,John J. CavanaughIII, represented the 2ndDistrict in Congress from 1977 to 1981.

Bacon has managed to survive the district’sswing to the left by staying squarely in the middle. In hismost recent campaigns, he touted his bipartisan credentials in political ads and cited his willingnesstobuck his party to support measures such as theBiden administration’s popular 2021 infrastructure investment bill.

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Duplessis officially launches campaign

Entry shakes up N.O. mayor’s race

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Louisiana Sen. Royce Duplessis officially launched his campaign for New Orleans mayor on Tuesday, casting himself as a political outsider able to be a better change agent for the city than three other major candidates vying for its top ofﬁce. Speaking to hundreds of supporters at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center in Central City, Duplessis argued that the other major candidates’ backgrounds in city government — two are City Council members, one is a former judge show they are too attached to the city’s leadership struggles to appeal to voters’ desire for a new direction

Cantrell appeals Wisner ruling

Council baffled as rights give city more cash

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is appealing recent court rulings that give the city exclusive rights to the millions generated each year from donated oilfield land, to the astonishment of City Council members who on Tuesday criticized her for acting against taxpayers’ interest.

At a budget committee hearing, council members Joe Giarrusso, JP Morrell and Oliver Thomas said they were bafﬂed as to why the mayor would be ﬁghting to continue a century-old arrangement that gives the city only 35% of the revenue from about 38,000 acres of land around Port Fourchon donated to the city by the late philanthropist Edward Wisner The land generates roughly $9 million each year Cantrell, a defendant in the council’s 3-year-old lawsuit, is siding with dozens of Wisner’s heirs who contend they hold continuing interests in the land, despite a 2014 appellate court ruling that the previous revenue sharing agreement had expired.

The council claims the city is the sole beneﬁciary since the appellate ruling. Civil District Court Judge Kern Reese ruled in the council’s favor in a series of orders in May Council members on Tuesday called on Cantrell to switch sides and join the council as a plaintiff, especially since other defendants with claims to the land — namely Tulane University, with a 12% interest — are settling and turning over their interests to the city.

“Join us in securing this revenue and have that money inure to the benefit of everyone in the city Anything less, in my opinion, is malfeasance,” Morrell said Tulane is surrendering its interest in the Wisner land in exchange for a $20 million bond appropriation for its Charity Hospital redevelopment project. Cantrell has not objected to the agreement, and her administration is working with the council to ﬁnalize the appropriation. Another settlement with Louisiana State University, which also claims a 12% interest, is expected soon, according to Giarrusso, the council’s budget chair

“The administration has the ability to have 100% of something, and it refuses to join the council in that effort,” Giarrusso said.

While Cantrell is not impeding the settlements, she is joining dozens of Wisner’s heirs in moving to appeal Reese’s orders. The defendants are asking Reese to stay his orders while they appeal.

“I don’t know why we haven’t had at least a unity of purpose

“What I see, and what so many of you feel, is that this city is being asked to settle for choices that don’t speak for our highest hopes, to settle for leadership that doesn’t reﬂect the full promise of our people,” he

told the crowd. The campaign, which Duplessis ﬁrst announced Sunday evening in a statement on Instagram, came as a shock to political watchers and some of the other candidates.

The state lawmaker from New Orleans’ Gentilly Woods and Pontchartrain Park neighborhoods had mulled a campaign last year but said explicitly in January that he would not seek the city’s top office, citing challenges in raising campaign cash and the rigors of the state Legislature’s session. Whether Duplessis can gain trac-

tion and backing from donors, political groups and, ultimately voters remained an open question this week, political analysts said following his announcement But to many, his entry into the race seemed to show something that people who work in New Orleans politics have observed in recent weeks: council Vice President Helena Moreno, the race’s front-runner, seems not to have faced a substantial challenge from the other two major candidates, District E council member Oliver Thomas and retired Judge Arthur Hunter, according to

fundraising tallies and polls.

There was an opening for another candidate, political insiders said — and Duplessis seems to be trying to seize it

“I’m just repeating the conventional wisdom here: I think most people think Royce would be a stronger runoff candidate than Oliver,” Ron Faucheux, a veteran pollster, said this week after Duplessis got in Still, Duplessis acknowledged Tuesday that he may face fundrais-

Miss Napoleon

Adelle DuFrene becomes 1st female Bonaparte impersonator

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

Who knew Napoleon Bonaparte would look so fabulous with a red lip?

The Napoleon House’s first female Bonaparte impersonator sabered a Champagne bottle while wearing glam makeup for the second annual Pimm’s Cup Day celebration on Tuesday, and she looked lovely doing it.

Built in 1797, the Napoleon House is rumored to have been a haven for Bonaparte, but he died from stomach cancer on St. Helena Island before ever visiting. Today, the establishment is best known for its warmed muffuletta sandwiches and Pimm’s cups.

The establishment hosts several events annually with a costumed Bonaparte parading around, including Bastille Day Bonaparte’s birthday and National Pimm’s Cup Day, which is a celebration of its signature cocktail. It’s made of gin-based liqueur mixed with lemonade, ginger ale and cucumber Adelle DuFrene a server and host at the Napoleon House, had dreamed of wearing the iconic Napoleonic garb since she started the job in December, after working for the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group for eight years.

“My ﬁrst day on the job, I said ‘I want to be Napoleon because I am little, I have a French background and I’m ready to go.’” DuFrene said. “It’s almost like I put it into the universe that I was going to be Napoleon.”

The spot was already filled by the longtime impersonator of 10 years, but he had to temporarily step down due to an injury Like a natural leader, DuFrene stepped up. She rode her scooter to work wear-

ing bold red lipstick (which matched her red manicure), black eyeliner and false lashes.

DuFrene had never sabered a bottle before, so one of the bartenders taught her how an hour before the official event. She practiced on a bottle of Cava, she said, a notably cheaper bottle than what she’d saber an hour later After

training, DuFrene readied her saber at 11:40 a.m. in the main dining area.

“Un, deux, trois!” DuFrene said, striking the bottle. The room cheered, Champagne bubbled and the beautiful Bonaparte curtsied.

After the sabering, the Napoleon

See NAPOLEON, page 2B

Closures confuse families

Summer camps launched on ‘leap of faith’ but lacked full funding

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

Hundreds of New Orleans families are scrambling to ﬁnd summer camp options after programs sponsored by the Asher Institute Nola, a nonproﬁt headed by Pelicans player Zion Williamson’s stepfather, were forced to shut down Tuesday due to a lack of funding.

The institute, led by Lee Anderson, established tuition-free programs at Bricolage Academy in Treme; the Hangout Nola, a youth recreation center in New Orleans East; and the Dryades YMCA, near Central City Anderson initially told parents — and the staffers he ran out of money to pay that he was due funds from city government

that would keep the program aﬂoat. But he later said the city had never actually committed to funding his program, though he said the City Council expressed support for it.

“We’re in the process of getting everything resolved now There has been a lot of stuff going on with the City Council. They gave support. We actually thought by now we would have been able to fully fund the programs,” Anderson said Tuesday Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams also signed a letter, obtained by The Times-Picayune, that requested support for the Asher Institute from several foundations and business owners, among others. City Council members Joe Giarrusso and Oliver Thomas said they were unaware of possible commitments for the camps by city administration. Giarrusso leads the council’s budget committee. A spokesperson for Williams and for Mayor LaToya Cantrell didn’t return requests for comment Tuesday

Anderson said no businesses have committed funds to keep the programs online. When asked why he launched the programs without securing the funds, Anderson said it was a “leap of faith.”

But that leap of faith led to abrupt closures Tuesday after parents were informed Monday evening. During a meeting Anderson held at Dryades on Tuesday, program teachers demanded answers.

“We have been patient. We have asked more than once to talk to you. We have been ignored, and now we’re not getting clarity on what’s happening, and we have bills,” said teacher and camp staffer Brittany Burgess. Closed after a month

According to Williams’ letter dated two weeks shy of the camp start date, Anderson’s camps would ﬁll a “much needed gap in youth support” this summer in that the New Orleans

BY MARCO CARTOLANO Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Adelle DuFrene, dressed as Napoleon Bonaparte, reacts after sabering a Champagne bottle in celebration of National Pimm’s Cup Day at the Napoleon House in New Orleans on Tuesday.

Hundreds rally in N.O. against ICE raids

Union organizes nationwide effort

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

More than 300 people marched and rallied in Lafayette Square against ICE raids as part of a nationwide effort by Service Employees International Union members on Tuesday

“This affects all of us,” said Marisa Lopez, of Colorado, who ﬂew to Louisiana on Sunday and protested outside the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile. “We’re here to give people hope.” Service Employees International Union, a labor union representing about 2 million service workers in the U.S. and Canada, was joined by more than a dozen local partners.

Louisiana became a key stop on the tour because it is home to the nation’s second-largest forproﬁt prison system, organizers said. The state detains more than 60,000 people annually — many in privately run immigration jails, according to Nora Ahmed, legal director of the ACLU of Louisiana The protest is one of many that have been held in New Orleans and across the nation as President Donald Trump’s administration has been making good on campaign promises to ramp up deportations, many of them people who

Continued from page 1B

overstayed their visas and have been complying with the federal agencies who have been keeping tabs on them after they were allowed to stay Last month, an Iranian immigrant with no criminal record who has lived in the United States for almost 50 years was detained

ing headwinds. He has yet to ﬁle a campaign ﬁnance report for his mayoral bid. What his campaign lacks in money going forward, though, the campaign will make up for “in people power,” he said Colleagues from the state Legislature including state Reps. Shaun Mena, Candace Newell and Alonzo Knox came to support him.

On Tuesday, he sought to hammer home the message that his would be a true change candidacy He promised to address rising housing costs and pledged to allocate funding for 40,000 new affordable homes. He also said he will soon release a plan to make New Orleans “the leading port in America.” A campaign website did not include a full policy platform Tuesday night, but his campaign is expected to release one in the coming weeks.

“Some of the people who are saying that they’re best prepared to lead this city have been part of the problem for a long time,” he said. Some of the other candidates are “architects of chaos” who have “helped fracture the city.”

Sometimes, Duplessis said, leadership means “reconsidering.”

WISNER

Continued from page 1B

on this issue that actually beneﬁt the citizens of the city This one is Laurel and Hardy to me,” Thomas said.

A Cantrell spokesperson declined to comment.

Cantrell in 2020 extended a trust splitting the Wisner revenue with Tulane, LSU, the Salvation Army and Wisner’s heirs The move bafﬂed critics, since the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal ruled six years earlier the trust had expired, presumably entitling the city to sole possession of the land.

However, former Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who sought the ruling, didn’t move to dissolve the trust governing committee and claim the city’s full interest in the land, and the revenue sharing continued after Cantrell’s election. Cantrell then modiﬁed the trust to extend it indeﬁnitely, contradicting the 4th Circuit ruling.

The terms of the new trust arrangement allowed the committee’s board to meet behind closed doors. Cantrell also assumed unilateral control of the city’s portion of the revenue to divvy out as she saw ﬁt, as long as it went to charitable organizations, a stipulation of Wisner’s will.

The committee had previously met in the open and the council signed off on Wisner gifts following a public application process.

The council, asserting untested power to take legal action against the mayor, ﬁled a lawsuit in July 2022 claiming Cantrell had acted illegally against the city’s interest Judge Kern Reese granted an injunction freezing Wisner revenue while the litigation played out. The case was nearly killed in 2023, when the 4th Circuit said the council cannot sue the mayor, but the state Supreme Court overturned that decision last year

by federal agents while gardening in the front yard of her Lakeview home.

“Detention centers have proliferated, and we have largely turned a blind eye,” said Ahmed.

“Now that we see the kidnapping of our friends and neighbors, people are starting to pay attention.”

Protesters carried signs reading “Resist tyranny” and “Protect each other,” while chanting “Fight, ﬁght, ﬁght! Organizing is our right.”

“The system itself is the problem,” said Homero Lopez, legal director of Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy

NAPOLEON

Continued from page 1B

House also celebrated with a “Pimm’s O’ Clock” happy hour from 4 p.m to 6 p.m., where guests enjoyed a buy-one, get-one Pimm’s cup special. The evening also saw a Spirited Tour where guests toured the building and learned about the original owner Nicholas Girod, the ﬁrst elected mayor of New Orleans.

AMTRAK

Continued from page 1B

memories onboard the train.”

Fares start at $15 between the two cities and will be less for stops in between. There will be two train departures in both New Orleans and Mobile, one every morning and one every afternoon There will be discounts for children between the ages of 2 to 12, students, seniors, veterans, military personnel and families as well as for small and large groups, Bucich said. The trains will offer coach and business class as well as a cafe service. There will be reclining seats, free Wi-Fi and no middle seats.

Passengers will have same-day connections to trains between New Orleans and Chicago and next-day connections in New Orleans to trains to and from New York and to and from Los Angeles. Amtrak Guest Rewards members will have the chance to earn triple their travel points in celebration of the route, Bucich said. Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, a title intended to reﬂect New Orleans’ culture, will be the

At 90 degrees, the day was hot enough for a typical summer uniform of T-shirt and shorts. DuFrene was covered head-to-toe in attire appropriate for conquering Italy so she carried a handheld fan, waving herself with poise to beat the heat. When the fan wasn’t enough, she had other ideas.

“We have walk-in coolers, so I might just hang out there for a little bit,” she said. “That’s the trick. They’re nice and frosty.”

General manager Chris Montero said DuFrene is one of those

hardworking employees who is good at everything. She was a natural with the sword, he said, an accouterment Montero bought online two years ago to replace the old sword left by the Impastato family, the former owners. He didn’t know DuFrene would arrive in glamour

“It’s all kind of serendipitous,” Montero said. “I had no idea how she was going to play it. I didn’t know Adelle’s kind of fun, and I was going to let her do whatever, however she felt doing it.”

Recreation and Development Commission and other community organizations have limited capacity

It was addressed to U.S. Rep. Troy Carter; Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson; Michael Hecht of the NOLA Coalition, a collection of more than 500 businesses and nonproﬁts focused on public safety and youth services; Andy Kopplin, CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation; Sazerac Company chairman William Goldring and the Goldring Family Foundation, and Michael Williamson, CEO of the United Way of Southeast Louisiana.

Earlier this month, the NOLA Coalition announced a partnership with UNO to provide services for the city’s youth, which was also touted as a way to shore up NORD programming. Program documents obtained by The Times-Picayune show that Anderson was to provide funding, food service and program coordination for 1,000 kids over a period of eight weeks, a cost estimated around $1.5 million.

But parents and students only got a month of the program’s services.

“The Asher Institute has made the difficult decision to close camp effective today, June 30th. Unfortunately, there will be no camp for the remainder of the summer,” program leaders said in a letter to families.

Parents of children enrolled in the camps called the lack of advanced notice “disturbing.”

“I think this is ridiculous. How am I supposed to adjust for my job? Had we’d known beforehand, we could have adjusted, but to know the day of the closure makes it hard to adjust,” parent Ryan Edwards said. Hangout NOLA co-owner Ray Bender said the situation is unfortunate and that his focus, time and resources were all dedicated to the camp this summer

“The camp had to close due to a lack of payment from the sponsor It hurt us to let the families and staff down, but with no certainty of when our venue or the staff would be paid, it was a necessary decision,” Bender said.

Hangout staffers said that they received their first paychecks earlier this month, which Anderson said was paid out of his own pocket, but they are still waiting to be paid for the remainder of June. Bender said he hasn’t received any funding for use of his facility Bricolage employees said no payments had been made at all. Anderson said Tuesday that the organization is working to rectify everything soon. “We’re not certain of the time, the minute, the day, the hour or whatever We can’t give a time.”

A new nonprofit

Records show that the Asher Institute filed for nonprofit status in February with Anderson listed as a registered agent. Anderson has been widely viewed as having a significant amount of influence on Williamson’s career, serving as his personal coach, business manager and crisis management consultant. In 2023, Anderson was the central figure of a lawsuit brought by a California technology company for Anderson’s failure to repay a $1.8 million loan given to establish a marketing relationship with the NBA player

Last year, a woman working as a private chef for Williamson also ﬁled suit against Anderson in Orleans Parish Civil District Court for a breach of contract after her services were abruptly terminated. According to court records, the woman rendered services and was paid for three months of work under a verbal agreement the job would be for one year Despite numerous attempts to obtain a written contract, one was never produced, court documents say A judge dismissed the suit in the fall. Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Nicole Bucich, vice president of network development for Amtrak, announces the Mardi Gras service schedule between New Orleans and Mobile starting in August during a news conference at Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans on Tuesday.

STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

Louisiana and national organizations and community members march down Poydras Street during the Freedom Family Justice. March against ICE detentions in New Orleans on Tuesday.

STAFF PHOTO By JAMES FINN

State Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, celebrates with supporters during his mayoral campaign announcement Tuesday in New Orleans.

Lake Charles’ firstelected Blackmayor swornin

Four newCity Councilmembers

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

The city of Lake Charles of-

ﬁcially swore in its ﬁrst elected Black mayor Mondayevening before acrowd of more than 1,500 people.

Lake Charles city officials swore in newly elected Mayor Marshall Simien Jr., four new City Council members andthree incumbents Monday at the Sudduth Coliseum located insidethe Lake Charles Event Center on Lakeshore Drive.

While the swearing in is typically held in the mezzanine of the event center,city of LakeCharles Public Information Ofﬁcer Katie Harrington said they sawthe anticipation in the communityand moveditinto the coliseum. The previous venue holds around 250 people. The city estimated that 1,500 to 2,000 attendees were at Monday’sevent.

“Throughout the campaign, we

touched people, wetalked to people, we heard everything that was said, and everyone has the same visionfor our great city,” Simien said.“Theywantgoodqualityof life. They want safety. They want to be able to have agood job. They want to have aplace to lay their head,create theirmemories and raisetheir childrenthat they can be proudof, and we are doing that.”

Simien,anindependent,won the city’smayoralrunoff with 52% of the vote against two-term incumbent Republican Nicholas “Nic” Hunter,who received 48%. The margin between them was about 650votes, according to results from the Louisiana Secretaryof State’sOfﬁce.

Alawyer andpresident at Simien Law Firm, Simien served as Lake Charles City Council member for District Afrom2005 to 2013 and wasonthe PortBoard from 2003 to 2005.

While Simien is Lake Charles’ firstelected Blackmayor,the city had one Black mayorbefore whonever appeared at theballot boxfor therace. RodneyGeyen, former president of the council, served as the city’sfirst Black

has paved the way for where we are now.”

Thenew council memberswere also sworn in:

n Incumbent Ronnie Harvey Jr., District A. n DonaldFondel, District B. n Tommy Bilbo,DistrictC n Matthew “Matt” Young, DistrictD n Incumbent Stuart Weatherford, District E. n IncumbentCraigMarks, DistrictF n Matthew Vezinot, District G Simien and all seven membersofthe council began their four-year terms Tuesday.The first council meeting of the new termwill be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lake Charles City Hall.

mayor in 1999 and 2000 after formerMayor Willie Mount left ofﬁcetoserve in thestate Senate.

“It is an accomplishment that I do not takelightly,becausewhen Ilook in this room,Isee people

that I’ve seen allofmylife,” Simiensaid. “You raised me.I’m ason of Lake Charles. Ihear the voiceofmyfather from heaven and the chorus of allthose who’ve gone before us whosesacrifice

Lawsuitclaimssex abuseinjail

EBRguardaccused

of being ‘pimp’ forinmate

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

Twodeputies thatworked as guardsinthe East Baton Rouge Parish Prison have been named in afederal lawsuit allegingthey forced afemale inmate to have sex with one of the jailers.

The lawsuit, filed Sunday in the U.S. Middle District Court of Louisiana, accuses ousted sheriff’s Deputy Elijah Lee Christopher of having sex with theplaintiff on multiple occasions last year while she was awaiting trial. Christopher,25, was one of three deputies arrested and fired last year after video seized from hiscellphone showed him beating, slapping and pepper spraying handcuffed inmates, theSheriff’s Office alleged. The three men worked security at the jail when they attacked inmates on at least two separate occasions.

State prosecutors on Jan.31 formally charged Christopher with malfeasanceinofficeand three counts of simple battery, according to court records. He pleaded not guilty to thecharges during aFeb. 27 arraignment.

That criminal investigation was ignited by sexual misconduct reports against Christopherlast year that tie back to the plaintiff in the federal lawsuit.

Asearch warrant that documented the claims of sexual abuse said an investigator with the parish prison received an anonymous tip Oct. 9alleging amale prison deputy forced a 22-year-old female inmate to engage in sexual intercourse with him.

The inmate spoke to detectives and identiﬁed Christopher as her abuser.She told investigators Deputy Kristy Thornton Scott “orchestrated theassaults” by

persuading hertohavesex with Christopherinexchange for special perks, like receiving extra food andsupplies, and beingassigned as ajail trustee, according to the warrant.

Theinmatesaidshe was threatened and forced to have intercourse with Christopher about eight times betweenJuneand July,with Scott escorting her to each of their sexual encounters.

Detectives obtained asearch warrantand seized Christopher’s phone. That’swhere theyfound video footageshowing Christopher’sattacks on cuffed inmates with fellow jail deputies Noah Jenkins, 23, and Julius Conner Jr., 25, accordingto19th Judicial DistrictCourt records.

ASheriff’s Ofﬁce spokesperson on Mondaysaidthe agency conducted “a thorough criminal investigationfollowing an inmate’s allegation against adeputy.”

Ofﬁcials conﬁrmed it wasduring that investigation thatdetectivesgot thesearchwarrant for Christopher’sphone that led to the three deputies’ arrestslast year.

“While sufﬁcient evidence was notfound to support theinitial allegations,detectives did uncover evidence of battery involving that deputy and two othersagainst adifferent inmate,” Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hickssaid in a statement.

In addition to Scott andChristopher,the civil rightslawsuit names Sheriff Sid Gautreaux as adefendant and accuses the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce of liability for the plaintiff’s alleged abuse.

Theplaintiff, who was arrested in May 2024 andremainsincustody,isidentiﬁed in thefederal complaint only by herinitials to protecther identity

The lawsuit describes Scott as “the pimp”who approachedthe womanJune 10, 2024, and told her that someone likedher.The plaintiffalleges Scottpromised her more time outdoors in the springtime weather to arrange a

“date” with herand Christopher. Aweek later,the inmatewas told to go to the jail’slibrary where she alleges Christopher waswaiting. The lawsuit claims he propositioned the woman and told herhecould help herget out of jail if shehad sex with him. The plaintiff said sheagreed becauseshe wasafraidofretaliation if she angered the guard. The two hadsex in aclassroom. They hadmultiplesexualencounters over thenextthree months,according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit goes on to allege Christopher slapped the woman and pulled her hair when she refused to sell drugs to other inmates for him.Italleges he askedher to have sexwithother guards, but sherefused Hicks, the Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said agency officials publicly released the search warrant detailingsexual allegations against Christopher last year andinvestigated those claims. That investigation absolvedScottofthe allegedmisconduct, according to agency ofﬁcials.

“The second deputy namedin the civil lawsuit fully cooperated with investigators during the originalinquiry, andnoevidence wasfound to support any criminal wrongdoing on her part,” Hicks said. “Regarding the original sexualassaultcomplaint, the complainant ceased cooperating with investigators, and the investigation was suspendedpending any newevidence or furtherengagement from the complainant. Should shewishtoresume cooperation, our detectivesremain availableand willingtocontinue the investigation.

“The Sheriff’s Ofﬁce remains committedtoaccountability and transparency,asevidenced by the swift and public action taken against aformer deputywhen evidence supported criminal charges,” Hickssaid.

Email Matt Bruce at matt bruce@theadvocate.com.

“I will work hard, and Iwill make you proud, and Iwill work with thesegentlemen, as they implement my vision,” Simien said. “I make each of themproud of the people thattheyrepresent, because we are going to be one Lake Charles.”

Email Courtney Pedersen at courtney.pedersen@theadvocate. com.

LSUgreenlights newhousing phase

Next projectincludes tworesidence halls

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

The LSU Board of Supervisors greenlit the next phase of the university’smultiyear housing project, this timefor the construction of two new residence halls with 1,266 freshmanbedsatthe South Quad site near the College of Engineering and E.J.Ourso College of Business. TheSouth Quad phase, which includes additional parking andtransit options to offset the parking spots displaced by the project, is estimated to cost a maximum of $215 million and relieve some of LSU’songoing struggles with housing as enrollment increases. The dorms are scheduled to open in fall 2027, with construction starting in October

“This is to meet avery pressing need for additional ﬁrst-year housing,”Patrick Martin, LSU assistantvice president of real estate, public partnerships and compliance, said to the board Friday. Thenew SouthQuad dorms will contain650 unitsand will match “traditional LSU architecture,” Martin said. The proposaltothe board calledthe project “essential” to maintaining the freshman residencyexpectation for incoming students if enrollment predictionsare accurate.Studentswho live on campus during their ﬁrst year have higher retention and graduation rates than students who live off campus,according to the proposal.

Housing was particularly strained in 2024, when LSU offereda $3,000 bonus for incom-

ingBaton Rouge-area students if they chose to live at home with their parentsinstead of the dorms.

“Last year we had to place over 800 ﬁrst-year students in apartments that were designed for upper classstudents, which is not the ideal environment,” Martin said. According to the proposal, LSU’senrollmentincreased by almost7,000 students from 2020 to 2024, from 30,793 to 37,490, respectively Along with housing, the university has dealtwithpressure on parking. The campus has lost 2,000 parking spaces due to the construction of thenew library and information commons and reduced on-street parking, according to the proposal.

To easemounting parking problems, the South Quad phase of thehousing project will include construction of the MobilityHub in thelot across from the VetSchool, formerly known as the Hayﬁeld lot. The hub will enable more students and staff to parkfurther from the coreof campus,Martin said, by providing awell-lit, air-conditioned area with Wi-Fi to wait for transit.

South Quad is part of LSU’s multistage public-privatehousing project with RISE real estate company.Earlier phases included NicholsonGateway, SpruceHall, GreenhouseDistrict and Cedar Hall housing.

Email HaleyMillerathaley miller@theadvocate.com.

Alexander,

George

Bruce, Perry Constanzi,Amanda

DeCuir,Henrietta

Gegenheimer, Dorothea

Kidd, Ruth

Lamy,Dennis

LeBlanc, Lucille

Linden,Albert

Majoria, Mamie

SylveSr.,Richard NewOrleans

Boyd Family

DeCuir,Henrietta

Kidd, Ruth

SylveSr.,Richard St Tammany

EJ Fielding

Constanzi,Amanda

Gegenheimer, Dorothea West Bank

Mothe

Bruce, Perry

Lamy,Dennis

LeBlanc, Lucille

Linden,Albert Obituaries

George Peter Alexander, aresidentofHammond, Louisiana, passed away on Friday, June 27, 2025,atthe ageof81. Born on May26, 1944,inPoydras, Louisiana, George spent many years in St. Bernard Parish beforemoving to Hammond. He enjoyed bowling, fishing,hunting, camping, and dancingwith hiswife, leaving behind cherished memories forall who knew him. Known for his pleasant and caringnature, Georgewas adevoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend who willbedearlymissed George is survived by his belovedwifeof58 years, Bernice Latapie Alexander; his children, Brant Alexanderand Taryn Alexander Kirk; hisgrandchildren, Grace and Paige Alexander;and histwin sister,Georgie Anna Nunez. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, family members,and friends. He was precededin death by his parents, Florence St. Germain and HoraceAlexander, Sr.;his brother,Horace Alexander, Jr.;his sister and brotherin-law, Marie and William Nunez, Sr.; and his brotherin-law, Kirk Nunez. Relatives and friends areinvited to attend the visitation in the chapel of LN Hughes Funeral Services,located at 21400 SouthI-12 Service Road, Ponchatoula, Louisiana,on Wednesday,July 2, 2025, beginning at 9:00 am, followed by aCatholic service at 12:00 pm. The interment will be held in Rose Memorial Park

Cemetery in Hammond, Louisiana.

Bruce, PerryMichael

It is with theheaviestof heartsthatweannounce the passingofour beloved husband,fatherand brother Perry Michael Bruce,who wascalled hometoheavenonSatur‐day June 28th, 2025, at the age of 67, surrounded by his familyand lovedones. Perry wasa friend and mentortosomanypeople throughouthis life.His hugepersonality wasonly out-sized by theamount of loveand compassion he showedtothose who knew him.Hewas an avid sportsman who enjoyed huntingand ﬁshing, buthis favoriteactivitywas spendingasmuchtimeas possiblewithhis family and friends. Perry’s self‐lessnessextendedfar be‐yondhis family, as he was anactivememberofthe Christthe King church, dedicatingmuchofhis timeand effortstofundraising forhis parish and community.His faith car‐riedhim throughout hislife and beingabletogiveback inhis ownway wassucha comfort to himand truly strengthenedhis relation‐shipwithGod.Heissur‐vived by hisspouse, Donna,three children Heath,Gwendolyn and Andre,a grandchild,Ash‐ton,and abrother,Dickey–along with countless other friends andfamilywho loved himlikea surrogate father. He wasprecededby his parents, Louisand Rose, anda brother, Rus‐sel. Visitation will be held

at Christ theKingCatholic Church,535 DeerfieldRoad, Terrytown, from 9:30 –10:00am to be followed by a Rosary andMass. Apri‐vateinterment will be held ata laterdate. In lieu of flowers, thefamilyasks thatyou consider making a donationtoPerry’s muchloved Christ theKing Church.Mothe Funeral Homeisassisting thefam‐ily during this difficult time. Thefamilyinvites you to shareyour thoughts, fond memories and condolencesonlineat www.mothefunerals.com

Constanzi, Amanda Whitney

Amanda WhitneyCon‐stanzi, age85, of Bush Louisiana,passedawayon Sunday, June 15, 2025. She was born on February 25, 1940, in Thibodaux, Louisiana.She is survived byher children,Robert Constanzi,Cecil Constanzi (Rose), Michelle Parker (Ken),Audra Phillips (Dan), and Darrin Constanzi (Dawn);daughter-in-law Elizabeth “Libby”Con‐stanzi; grandchildren, Ryan Pierre(Kristen),Kayman Gassen(Alyssa), Katlin Gassen(Brittany), Victoria Maxwell, Hailey Maxwell, KendraConstanzi-Miley (Claudia),Darrin“D. J.” Constanzi,Jr. (Lindsey), AshleyConstanzi-Farrar (Nikki), Olivia Serignet (Troy), andSam “Billy” Constanzi,III (Chelsey); and 22 great-grandchil‐dren. Sheisalsosurvived byher brother, David Charles “Dave” Whitney; and many extended family members andfriends.She was preceded in deathby her parents, D. C. Whitney and EdithMarie DuBois Whitney; children,Melinda

Constanziand SamCon‐stanzi, Jr.; thefatherofher children, SamAlexander Constanzi,Sr.;son-in-law, Gregory Maxwell; daugh‐ter-in-law, Judy Constanzi; sister-in-law,BrendaWhit‐ney.Amandawas born and raisedinThibodaux Louisiana,and attended BrookfieldHighSchool in Brookfield, Wisconsin, be‐foremovingbacktothe New Orleansareaafter graduation. Sheworked clericaljobsinNew Or‐leans fora fewyears be‐foremeetingand marrying the love of herlife, with whomshe hadseven chil‐dren. Afterthe children weregrown, shereturned tothe workforce, working for many yearsatK-mart until her firstgrandchil‐drenwereborn. Shelater workedasanadministra‐tiveassistant at Three Riversand GreenbriarPsy‐chiatricHospitals in Cov‐ingtonuntil herretirement. Her hobbiesincludedread‐ing,genealogy,and cook‐ing,but herlifeultimately revolvedaround herfamily. She lovedspendingtime withthemand making memoriestogether. She loved them,and they loved her.She will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Ms. Constanzimay be madetothe Children’s MinistryofLee’sCreek Baptist Church.Relatives and friendsare invitedto attend thememorialser‐viceonSaturday, July 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Lee’s Creek BaptistChurch,1803 Lee’sCreek Church Road, Bogalusa, Louisiana, with visitationbeginning at 9:00 a.m.Interment will follow inSt. Joseph Cemetery,949 MenardStreet,Thibodaux Louisiana.E.J.FieldingFu‐neral Home of Covington, Louisiana,ishonored to be entrusted with Ms.Con‐stanzi’sfuneral arrange‐ments.Her familyinvites you to sharethoughts, memories, andcondo‐lencesbysigning an online guestbook at www.ejfield ingfh.com

Henrietta DeCuir en‐tered into eternalreston June 10, 2025, at age64. Rietta”was born in New Orleans,LA, on October1, 1960, to thelateHenry Morrisand DorothyButler DeCuir, Sr.Lovingmother ofErryn DeCuir,and grand‐motherofNaveahShaller‐hornDeCuir. Sheissur‐vived by abrother,Larry, Sr. (Betty), sisters, Geral‐dineJordan(Willie), Bar‐baraDavis,GloriaDeCuir and ahostofnieces, nephews,and cousins. She isprecededindeath by her parents,one sister,three brothers, aniece,two nephews,and hermaternal grandmother,Henrietta Niblett Butler.Rietta will berememberedasa loving mother, sister,and friend Thoughshe hasgonetobe withthe Lord,her spirit willcontinue to live on in the storieswetelland the lovethatbinds ourfamily together. Sheauthoreda children’sbook dedicated toher belovedlabrador, Sidney. Aformeremployee ofAcmeOysterHouse, MikeAnderson’sand the HiltonHotel NewOrleans Riverside.Asa corporate trainer of Morton’s Steak‐house,she traveled abroad toCanada, Tapei, China, HongKongand Puerto Rico. Shereceivednumer‐ous employee awards and recognition.Friends and associates areinvited to attend aHomegoing Cele‐bration on Sunday,July6 2025, from 1:00 p.m. –4:00 p.m.atthe home of Gloria DeCuir& Christal DeCuir Charbonnet, 2263 Lafre‐niere Street,New Orleans, Louisiana 70122. Come and share your memories with us. Family andfriends are invited to attend aCelebra‐tionofLifeMemorialat LukeFuneralHomeinHum‐ble,Texas on Friday,July 11, 2025, for11:00 a.m. We thankGod forHis mercy,

grace, andunconditional love. We appreciate the careatthe University Med‐icalCenter, theN.O.East Hospital, FerncrestManor LivingCenterand Founda‐tions Hospice. We also thank TheBoydFamilyFu‐neral Home,the Apostolic Church at NewOrleans,Im‐manuelCommunity Church,and the7-Day Na‐tionalIntercessoryPrayer Group.Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditionbegins com (504)282-0600. Linear BrooksBoydand Donavin D.BoydOwners/FuneralDi‐rectors

Gegenheimer,Dorothea Sheppard

Dorothea Sheppard Gegenheimer,age 75, of Covington,Louisiana, passedawayonWednes‐day,June 25, 2025. Shewas bornon October10, 1949 inNew Orleans, Louisiana. She is survived by herlov‐ing husbandof22years, Henry F. “Fred” Gegen‐heimer; children,Nicholas James Laird(Brenda), Sarah Jane Sunderman (Jarrod), andMatthew Henry Gegenheimer; grandchildren,Joseph, Es‐ther, Stella,and Wyatt; and manyextendedfamily members andfriends.She was preceded in death by her parents, JamesHarper Sheppard, Jr.and Dorothy Bernadine KeeseShep‐pard; anda sister,Judy SheppardDriskill. “Thea” grewupinNew Orleans, graduated from Alcee Fortier High School,and earneda bachelor’s degree atNorthwesternState Uni‐versity in Natchitoches She taught Kindergarten at various schoolsthrough‐out theNew Orleansarea for 13 yearsbeforetransi‐tioning to acareerinreal estate. Herlifelonghob‐biesincluded fishing, trav‐eling, bird watching,and photography.A longtime faithfulmemberofWald‐heimChurch,Theaserved the church in variousways, coordinating thechurch’s mission projects at the Methodist Children’s Home ofSoutheast Louisiana, foundingthe blessing box ministry, andserving as a memberofthe church board.She wasa loving wife, mother,grand‐mother, andfriend, and she will be dearly missed byher family, friends, church,and community.In lieuof flowers, contribu‐tions in memory of Mrs. Gegenheimer maybemade tothe Waldheim Church BlessingBox by mail to 77067 Highway21, Coving‐ton,Louisiana,70435, or in the form of canned goods, toiletries, or othernonper‐ishablesbrought to the church. Relativesand friends areinvited to at‐tendthe eveningwakeon Wednesday,July2,2025 from5:00PMuntil 8:00 PM atE.J.FieldingFuneral Home, 2260 West 21st Av‐enue, Covington, Louisiana. Relatives andfriends are alsoinvited to attend the funeral serviceonThurs‐day,July3,2025, at 11:00 AMatWaldheimChurch 77067 Highway21, Coving‐ton,Louisiana,withvisita‐tionbeginning at 10:00 AM atthe church.Interment willfollowinthe Waldheim Church Cemetery.E.J FieldingFuneralHomeof Covington,Louisiana,is honored to be entrusted withMrs.Gegenheimer’s funeral arrangements.Her familyinvites youtoshare thoughts, memories,and condolences by signingan onlineguestbook at www. ejfieldingfh.com

LA in 1963. She wasa teacher in theOrleans ParishSchool Boardfrom 1951 to 1990. Director of Ex‐erciseseniors at Bethany 1990-2005, retiredsec‐ondaryschool educator New Orleans, Exercise for Srs.Program,Dir.Youth 1963. Tchr.Orleans Parish Sch.Bd.,New Orleans, 1951-90. Dir, BethanyAARP (past pres basketball JohnMcDonogh Sr.H.S.; re‐cipient Svc. to Band award. Mem.: 1986-93 1997-2005 ﬁn. sec. 2005-), Orleans ParishSch.Tchrs.(rec. sec, retireeschpt. 1990-99, v.p. retireeschpt. 1999-2006) Sigma GammaRho (parlia‐mentarian rec. sec. 19932005, Christianaswellas anEastern star.Ruthwas proceeded in deathbyher parents Arthur Jamesand LouisePrice.The love of her life Wesley M. Kidd, two aunts; Anna Lee, Rachael Johnson, one uncle;GillMinor.She leavestocherish heronly child Wesliane Kidd-Aguil‐lardofWaukesha, Wiscon‐sin,two grandsonsTroy Paul(Ashley)ofWaukesha. Wisconsin, AnthonyJohn‐son (Ashlee) of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, threegrand‐daughters;WeslianeKidd ofWaukesha, Wisconsin, Theresa VerVooren (Will) ofWaukesha, Wisconsin, AngelaVerVoorenofMil‐waukee, Wisconsin,six great grandchildren; Cameron Paul,Tiana Kindel, Jayden Kindel,Con‐nor Kindel,Alora Johnson and WayloniKidd, onesis‐ter Lorraine Beard(Melvin godchild; Tyieka Morris Her faithful friend and caregiver BarbaraLuedtke ofWaukesha, Wisconsin littlecousinAllison Denials (Marvin)Gonzales, LA,and bonus grandkidsMaryand Leelee HigginsRound of Lake, Illinois.Familyand friends areinvited to at‐tendthe CelebrationofLife Service on Thursday,July3, 2025, for11:00 a.m. at BethayUnitedMethodist Church,4533 Mendez Street,New Orleans, LA 70126. Visitation will begin at9:00a.m.PastorCon‐stanceSaizon, ofﬁciating. Intermentwillfollowat Mount Olivet Cemetery, 4000 NormanMayer Ave, New Orleans, LA 70122 Guestbook Online:www anewtraditionbegins.com (504)282-0600. Linear BrooksBoydand Donavin D.BoydOwners/FuneralDi‐rectors

Lamy,DennisMichael

Dennis MichaelLamy passedawayonJune22, 2025, at theage of 63.He was born in Jackson, Mis‐sissippionJuly4,1961, and was along-time resident of the NewOrleans West‐bank. However, hisloveof the beachled himtolater resideinWestPalmBeach Florida.Denniswas agrad‐uateofRiver Oaks Acad‐emy andearneda degree in accountingfromLa. Tech. He wasextremely talentedinthis ﬁeldand spent hiscareerinthe ma‐rineindustry. Dennis hada loveofanimals,especially his 3cats. During his younger years, he com‐peted andwon numerous bodybuildingevents. Most ofall,Denniswas atrue example of giving.His compassionfor thoseless fortunate wasdisplayed throughouthis life.Dennis was preceded in deathby his mother,MarciaKron Lamyand brotherDaniel Patrick Lamy.Heissur‐vived by hisfatherRay‐mond, Sr sister Leslie Champagne (Michael,Sr.) brothersRaymond,Jr. (Jann),Timothy (Kathleen), and nephewsMichael Champagne,Jr. (Christine), Ryan, Rhett, Toby (Julie), L. Nick, godchildKyle(Abby), Deven-Paul, andTrevor (Connie) Lamy.Relatives

andFriends of theFamily are invitedtoattend the FuneralMassinthe Chapel ofMothe FuneralHome, 7040 LapalcoBlvd.,Mar‐rero, LA on Saturday,July5, 2025 at 1:30 PM.Visitation willbeheldfrom11AM until funeraltime. Inter‐mentprivate.Inlieuof ﬂowers, donationsmay be senttothe LouisianaSPCA.

LeBlanc, Lucille CatherineIngrassia

Lucille CatherineIngras‐sia LeBlancpassedaway onSaturday, June 28, 2025, atthe ageof93. Beloved wifeofthe late Albert J. LeBlanc forover60years MotherofWendy M. LeBlanc.Daughterofthe lateJosephand Jennie In‐grassia.Sisterofthe late Thomas, Peterand Joseph Ingrassia. Grandmotherof BrandiCharbonnet(Mar‐cel). Greatgrandmother of Alexandre Charbonnet Godmother of Sylvia Con‐tavesprie.Special cousin of PatriciaFertitta.Alsosur‐vived by nieces and nephews.She retiredfrom the JeffersonParishSchool Systemafter 20 yearsof service.She wasa native ofNew Orleans, LA anda residentofMarrero,LA. She wasdearlyloved,and she will be missedbyall who knew her. Relatives and friendsofthe family are invitedtoattend the FuneralService in the chapelofMothe Funeral Home, 2100 Westbank Expwy., Harvey,LAon Thursday,July3,2025, at 11am. Visitation will be heldonThursday morning from9am until 11am. Inter‐ment, Westlawn Memorial ParkCemetery, Gretna,LA. In lieu of ﬂowers, dona‐tions maybemadeinher memorytoSt. Jude’s Chil‐dren’sResearchHospital. Familyand friendsmay viewand sign theonline guest book at www.mot hefunerals.com.

Albert W. “Big Al”Linden entered eternalrestonFri‐day,June 27th, 2025, at 89 years of age. Belovedhus‐bandofIrisLotzLindenfor the past 66 years. Born in New OrleansonSeptember 29, 1935, to thelateAlbert W.and DorothyGasperLin‐den.Hewas theFatherof AlbertAnthony (Donna), WilliamPatrick (Stacy)and James Joseph (Dawn).He was theoldestof ﬁve chil‐dren, brotherofthe late Errol (Myrna), thelateJohn (Erna), thelateEricLinden and thelateHazel Linden Schmitt (Joseph).Hewas the GrandfatherofHaleyLynn(Theodore), Adam and GarrettLinden; Jacob Cheramie(Bianca)and Emily Danos. He wasthe Great Grandfatherof Tatum Joseph Macke. He is survivedbyseveral nieces and nephews. He received his G.E.D. from McDonough 35. He wasa member of the National Guardfor three yearsand washon‐orablydischargedinMarch 1953. ForoverFifty years helived in Gretna,LA where he joined theTerry‐townVolunteer Fire De‐partment. At theyoung age of10, he performedonthe TedMackAmateur Hour

where he played the spoons. Then at 13, he fell inlovewithperforming and became adrummer sitting in with numerous bands alloverthe West‐bankand NewOrleans, leading himtobeinducted inthe Westbank Musicians HallofFamein2013. A quote from hisinterview withthemstates“Al has been playingmusic for over57years andsaysif hehad thechancetodoit all again, he wouldn’t changea thing.”Withthe loveofsports, he played and coachedatOakdale Playground foroverthirty years.Hewas employed withthe Sewerage and Water BoardofNew Or‐leans foroverthirtyyears and retiredin1995. The familyisverygratefulfor the entire staff of theLiv‐ing in Love assisted living centerinAlgiers,LAand the medicalstaff with Hos‐piceCompassus forthe professionalism andcom‐passion showntowards his end of life care.Hewillbe deeply missedbyall who knewand lovedhim.Rela‐tives,familyand friends are invitedtoattend the visitationatMothe Funeral Home, 2100 Westbank Expy, Harvey,LAonThurs‐day,July3rd at 9:00AM withthe funeralmassin the Chapel,atMothe,at 1:30PM. IntermentWest‐lawnMemorialParkCeme‐tery, Gretna,LA. Family in‐vites youtoshare your thoughts, fond memories and condolencesonlineat www.mothefunerals.com

Funeral servicesfor MamieLeah Sargent Majoria, 86, of Marrero, LA willbeheldat Harrisonburg First Baptist Church on Thursday, July3, 2025 at 1PM. Interment will follow to Harrisonburg Cemetery, under thedirection of Young's Funeral Home.The family willreceive friends on Thursday at thechurch from 12noon until servicetime at 1PM.

Mamiepassed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, June 29, 2025. She wasborn in Harrisonburg,LA, on April 24, 1939, and graduated fromHarrisonburg High School. Afterhighschool, Mamie attended Charity HospitalNursing School in NewOrleans, LA.She worked as aregistered nurse at WestJefferson Hospitaland The Family Doctors in Marrero, LA.She enjoyed reading,gardening,puzzles, traveling,going home to Sargent Lake, and spending time with friends and family

Mamie is survivedby son BrettMajoria (SiSi) and daughterCarmella Majoria. Grandchildren Megan Majoria (Ronald), Ryan Majoria, Michele Dalon, YingHong and JingYu Zhao. Great-granddaughter Devin Michaela. Beloved brother Bill Sargent(Ann). Also, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Mamie was welcomed intoHeaven by her husband of 49 years John Majoria, her parents Roy

and Dorothy Sargent, sister Carol Kennedy, grandson DevinRepath, best friendof68years, Emma Dean McDanieland the many pets Johnnyand her hadthroughoutthe years, especially Fuji.

In lieu of flowers, the familyprefers memorial donationstoSt. Jude's or yourchosen Charity.

To leave an online condolencefor thefamily please visit www.youngsfh.com

SylveSr.,Richard James

RichardJames SylveSr. a treasuredfather, grand‐father, brother, uncle, and friend, passedawaypeace‐fully on June 18, 2025, at the ageof78. Born on June 9,1947, in West Pointe àla Hache,Louisiana,toVicto‐ria andEddieSylve Sr Richard’s life wasmarked byhis deep love forfamily, his faith,and enduring strength. Hislovefor life was astonishinglyvibrant and adored by many Richard leaves behind an unwavering devotion to his children: RichardSylve Jr (Kelly Barnes)and Raven Lewis.Hetook greatpride inbeing agood father and supporter of hischildren. His greatest joycamelater inlifewithhis threebeau‐tiful grandchildren: Madi‐son Sylve, MaxSylve,and QuintellLewis.Together withhis children and grandchildren,Richard built alife ﬁlledwithlove, comfort,faith,and an un‐breakable bond.Hewas a devoted brothertohis sis‐ter Virginia Dinet, who was a constant presence in his life. He is also survived and lovinglyrememberedby his devotedcompanion DeraDuplessis. Richardis precededindeath by his parents,VictoriaAncar Sylve andEddieSylve Sr and hissiblings: Eddie Sylve Jr Florance Thiel, Francis St.Ann,Ralph Sylve,Almenia Sylve, and Henry Sylve. He is also pre‐ceded in deathbyhis fa‐voritebrother-in-law, Ar‐mond DinetJr. He will be

remembered fondly by a hostofnieces, nephews, cousins,and many close friends.Richard’s legacy of strength, authenticity,and lovewillliveoninall who knewhim.Familyand friends areinvited to at‐tendthe Memorial Service onSaturday, July 5, 2025 for 1:00 p.m. at TheBoyd FamilyFuneralHome, 5001 ChefMenteur Hwy.,New Orleans,LA70126. Visita‐tionwillbegin at 12:30 p.m. FatherMartin, ofﬁciating. Intermentisprivate Guestbook Online:www anewtraditionbegins.com (504)282-0600. Linear BrooksBoydand Donavin D.BoydOwners/FuneralDi‐rectors

officewillbeclosedFriday,7/4/25. EARLYDEADLINESFOROBITUARIES

Sargent Majoria, MamieLeah

Linden,AlbertW.'BigAl'

Kidd, Ruth Price

OUR VIEWS

No stateneeds federally funded health research more than Louisiana

Last month, when Robert F. KennedyJr. came to PenningtonBiomedicalResearchCenter in Baton Rouge to watch Gov.Jeff Landry sign several new lawsthat aim to make Louisiana healthyagain,the Health andHuman Services Secretary bemoaned a“chronic diseaseepidemic” that has left the United States “literally the sickest nationinthe world.

As bad as things are around the country,Louisiana’shealth outcomes rankroutinelyamong theworst of any state, and thehealth disparities between different ethnic andracial groupshere have been demonstrated time andagain. So we’re deeply concerned thatPennington andother localinstitutions areseeingsteep drops in federal funding forresearchintothe diseases that make our residents sick.

Pennington has had to endits Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study,which had been tracking patients for decades, although it is appealing that and another terminatedgrant. It’salso coping with delayed grant renewals from the NationalInstitutes of Health worth $5 to $7 milliondue to aproposed cap on theindirect costs that support research, puttingongoing work at risk.

Asimilar story is playing outatinstitutions likeLSU Health SciencesCenter,TulaneUniversity and XavierUniversity,affecting work on topics as varied as infectiousdisease, reproductive health, HIV,chronic disease andthe effect of alcohol use on aging

Alist of canceled grants from Kennedy’s department for the ﬁrsthalf of thisyearreveals $2.5 million in cuts toprogramsthattrain students from underrepresented groups in biomedical research in Louisiana; thatinvestigate racial disparities in lupus, suicide andlung cancer; and that studyCOVID-19 immunity in diversepopulations and boost vaccinationrates

Another $95.3 million wascut from grantsto the state health department.

These cuts are all on top of theloss of money to Pennington for diabetes research, whichis run through Columbia University.

In all, roughly 900 clinical trials are underway in the state at any given time andabout half rely on NIH support, Claude Bouchard, professor emeritus and former executivedirector at Pennington,told reporterEmily Woodruff.

“If you don’thave your grants, you don’thave asalary,”Bouchard said.“This disruption is catastrophic.”

NIH says the targeted research is notinline with the agency’spriorities, but we have ahard time understanding why it wouldn’tbe. No lessanexpert than U.S. Sen.BillCassidy, aphysician and chair of theSenate committee that oversees health,iscallingfor thefederal government to keep fundingthe study of root causes of chronic disease.

“You don’tjust become healthy by saying you’re going to make America healthy again,” Cassidy saidrecently We think that’sobvious.

And we think something else is obvious: Few state populations stand to beneﬁt more from understandingwhatails us than Louisiana’s.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

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

Medicaid cuts will endup costingtaxpayers more

As CEO of Clover,Iamkeenly aware of Medicaid’simpact on thewell-being of people in our community

Clover annually serves nearly 10,000 children and families, many of whom receive their primary healthcare via Medicaid.

We also operate the state’slargest adult day care facility,providing comprehensive services through Louisiana’s Medicaid waiver program to morethan 60 adults and seniors needing continuous care. In my more than 20 years of experience as Clover’sCEO, whenever Louisiana’sMedicaid support is reduced, community-based options like adult day care are almost always put on the chopping block, leaving those in need with no choice except placement in nursing homes.

The state then uses Medicaid to pay those nursing homes, which paradoxically,ends up costing Louisiana taxpayers nearly three times morethan nonresidential alternatives like Clover

In July 2024, aLouisiana Pelican Marker titled,“New Orleans Massacre of 1866” was installed in New Orleanson Roosevelt Wayinthe CBD.

Ihave done my own historical research related to this event. First of all, theofficial name is “The Riot of 1866,” not the“Massacre of 1866.”This alone should be enough tohave themarker removed or revised. Evidently the NAACP has an agenda torename historical events. The same thing has happened with the “1921 Tulsa Riot,” which they now call the “Tulsa Massacre.” My research includes: “The Grand Jury Report of theRiot,” “The New Orleans Riot —It’sOfficial History,” and “New OrleansDaily Crescent” newspaper The information displayed on the marker is, at best,misleading, incompleteand, in manycases, incorrect. It states that “Upwards of one hundred blacks were murdered.” All accounts thegrand jury,the official history and

I’ve lived in New Orleanssince 2012. Insurance costs are out of control. They have tripled since we bought our home in 2021. Ourinsurance commissioner

These are thepredictable outcomes of cuts to Medicaid. However,what policymakers who support these cuts don’twant us to consider are the ripple effects.

Here’sanexample: In addition to adults and seniors whose care is supported by Medicaid funding, Clover serves dozens of military veterans who require continuous care. While the VA assumes these costs, if Medicaid funding is eliminated, our entire program will no longer be ﬁnancially sustainable, and we will be forced to shut it down. This meansthat our veterans will lose thecommunity-based care they want and deserve, leaving them with no other choice than placement in nursing homes, which, once again, will come at amuch higher cost to Louisiana taxpayers. Is this really whatwewant forour vulnerable adults, seniors and brave veterans?

KEITH LIEDERMAN CEO,CloverNew Orleans

theDaily Crescent articles —put the estimated killed at 40, both Black and White.

It also makes it sound like afriendly group of Blackswere playing music, carrying aflag and marching to get/keep their rights. What it fails to mention is that the mob of Black people was armed with clubs, sticks andabout 1in10had guns. They were incited to riot and “exterminatethe Whites” three days prior, on July 27, 1866. By mosteyewitness accounts, themob of Black people fired thefirst shot.The police kept their distance until theshooting started. This riot, along with asimilar (planned) riot in Memphis, led to the Radical Reconstruction (financial and political control) of theSouth. As usual, my emails to city and state officials get no reply.This marker either needs to be removed or revised. It is not history,itisanagenda.

TOMLONGMIRE

NewOrleans

Ihope we elect acompetent mayor.I want to vote foramayoral candidate whocan manage. I’mtired of the social activists and community organizers. I want amayor whohires proven managers whohave been successful. Iwant to see acity that functions. Jefferson Parish and St. TammanyParish have services that work. Why can’tOrleans? Orleans Parish doesn’t. Parks and pools are not maintained; buildings are in disrepair; and there’snomaintenance stafftotake care of little problems. Catch basins are not maintained, and street repairs are not done in atimely manner The current leading candidates need to tell us how they plan to address all these problemswith practical solutions if we elect them.Generalities won’twork. We need to hear about practical solutions and what qualities they would look forinstaffto makethis city function like those in neighboring parishes, if not better.I do not want to hear they need to increase taxes. That is ano-go. Being in last place in southeast Louisiana doesn’tcut it.

JOHN KENNEDY NewOrleans

Over 30 years ago, Idiscovered the origin of NewYork City’sfamous nickname, the “Big Apple.” It comes from the Fair Grounds in NewOrleans. NewYork Morning Telegraph track writer John J. Fitz Gerald overheard Black stablehands talking about where awinning horse would be shipped. In 1997, Idedicated “Big Apple Corner” in NewYork City, where Fitz Gerald last lived. Save the Fair Grounds and add a“Big Apple” plaque or sculpture to honor the Fair Grounds’ history BARRYPOPIK Goshen, N.y

Changestofederal broadbandprogram againleaving ruralresidents in limbo

They were so close.

The residents of Lake Providence, in East Carroll Parish, almost had it.Their town, along the river in the state’sextremenortheastern corner,could see the fast, reliable, cost effective internet they’d long wanted. Installers had put miles of cable down in the parish’s unincorporated areas, and they were supposedtodo the town this summer But now it’sstopped. Lake Providenceresidentsneed reliably fast internet service. If they had it, maybelocal officials could upgrade their outdated 911 systemand could move to acheaper,more efficient digital system. Maybe the district attorney’soffice could go paperless. Maybe residentswho purchased line-of-sight or satellite internet service would stop holding their devices out of windows or waiting for storms to end to finishaTV show or send an email.

Maybe kids could do virtuallearning, or sick residents could get atelemedicine appointment.

Now,those benefits are still buffering. Abatch of Trump administration rule changes to the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program, or BEAD, meansthatmany companies that wereplanning to install fiber in Louisiana’srural communities have put their projects on hold while they wait to see whether theirprojects will get funding. Conexon, which was installing the fiber in Lake Providence, is one of those that’sstopped.

The rule changes, announced last month but signaled soon afterTrump took ofﬁce, are aimed, administration ofﬁcials said, at eliminating“woke mandates” and “burdensome” red tape from the program. And, to be fair,the program’srollout was too cumbersome. The new changes also aim to make the program “technologically neutral.”

That last part is key.Itmeansthe programcan now give awardstoother types of internet service besides ﬁber. Like satellite. It just so happensthat the leading satellite internet provider is Starlink, which is owned by Elon Musk.

The second leading company is owned by newlywedJeff Bezos. Those two companies stand to beneﬁthandsomely from the rule change. It would be one thing if Starlink’s internet was as good aproduct as ﬁber Butit’snot. People in Lake Providence,

where Starlink is already available, toldreporter Jenna Rossthat thesatellite signal sometimes goes out during storms. Or that trees sometimes get in the way

Aprivate research company found that only 9% of LouisianaStarlink users get theminimum speeds to qualify as broadband. Starlink is also moreexpensive for consumers. At about$120 amonth, it’sa lot for manyofLouisiana’spoorer,rural residents. Conexon planned to charge half that for its base plan. The citizensofLake Providence may be surprised, and someofthem unpleasantly so, to ﬁnd that helping them getgood internet is a“woke mandate.”

It didn’thave to be like this.The BEAD program had bipartisan support when it passed Congress in 2021. Louisiana was the ﬁrst statetobe awarded grants under theprogram, getting more than $1.4 billion for projects across the state. It wasn’tperfect, but atleast in Louisiana, it was making progress.

In January,Gov.Jeff Landry trumpeted federal approval of Louisiana’s plans for $1.3 billion of that money, which was slated to roll ﬁber out to 140,000 homes across the state.

“Louisiana is pioneering thebroadband revolution across America as we set thenational standard for rural broadband investment,” Landry said, callingita“generational investment.”

Well, maybe it will have to be for the next generation. The rule changes, which took effect June 6, essentially rescinded those approvals and gave thestates 90 days to resubmit plans. Somecompanies, suchasConexon, may choosenot to participate this time around.

Andwhile this plays out, many of Louisiana’srural residentsstill won’t reliably be able towatch Netﬂix or YouTube. Or see adoctor online. Or use theinternet toresearch aschool project from their home.

Sadly,this is nothing new.Like rural residentsacross thestate, people in LakeProvidence areaccustomed to being overlooked. They really live in nowhere, atiny town tucked away next to an oxbow lake and the river surrounded by miles of farmland. Even one local described it to Rossasa “little bitty corner of nothing.”

Butit’sabout 50 miles from Franklin Farm, theRichland Parishsite where internet giant Meta plans to build a massive AI datacenter that will cost billions. The center will help fuel internetusage and next-level technology around the world.

It’sa good thingit’sclose, too, because for people without reliable broadband, theclosest they will get to all of that processing power is driving by on the highway

Faimon A. RobertsIII can be reached at froberts@theadvocate.com.

Blow up Washington’s brutalistbuildings

There’sareason God created dynamite.

The brutalist federal buildings that have blighted Washington, D.C., for decades deserve the same fateasCarthage after the Third Punic War, and the nation’scapital is ﬁnally beginning to moveon from these concrete monstrosities.

The Department of Housing and Urban and Development recently announced that it is leaving its god-awful headquarters in Washington for less hideous space in Northern Virginia. HUD Secretary Scott Turner has described the structure as “the ugliest building in D.C.,” which is adubious claim only becausethere are so many otherbuildings in Washington that compete for that distinction.

He’snot the ﬁrst HUD secretary to hate the building. Jack Kempcalled it “10 ﬂoors of basement.”

Meanwhile, the FBI is also departing its HQ, designated by theU.K. building materials retailer Buildworld as the ugliest building in the United States and the second ugliest in the world. The moves are in keeping withthe spirit of President Donald Trump’sexecutive order stipulating that federal buildings should “respectregional, traditional andclassicalarchitectural heritage in order to uplift andbeautify public spaces and ennoble the United States and our system of self-government.” That EO should be considered common sense, but has several trigger words for defendersofthe architectur-

published.

al status quo, including “traditional,” “classical” and, perhaps foremost of all, “beautify.” In response, theAmerican Institute of Architects expressed its “strong concernsthat mandating architecture styles stiﬂesinnovation and harms local communities.”

According to The Nation magazine, Trump’sinitiative is part of an agenda to “make historical architecture on the whole inextricable from Eurocentric white supremacy.”

In short, it’sanunforgivable offense to want agovernment building to look nice

Brutalism,with its blocky,minimalist structures made of poured concrete, was acreation of apost-war Europe that wanted to embrace thefresh and newand to economize on rebuilding. Althoughthe name “brutalism”perfectly capturesthe aesthetic effect, it actually comes from the French for “raw concrete,” “béton brut.”

To be sure,concrete is extremely important to modernlife, but no one haseversaid, “Oh, it’s so elegant and uplifting.”

Thebrutalist buildings in Washington were largely built between the late1960s and mid-1970s, an era of grievousarchitectural mistakes, including cookie-cutter multiple-purpose baseball stadiums and modernist Catholic churches.

The buildings never had aheyday, but werehated when they were erected andare still hated now

The seedbed of the trend was aKennedy administration commission that

N.O. mayor’s race is all shookup

Anything can happen in politics.

advocated contemporary designs and said —laughably,inretrospect —that federal architecture should “reﬂect the dignity, enterprise, vigor and stability of the American national government.”

Instead, thebrutalist buildings speak of alumbering bureaucracy withno regard for thesensibilities or priorities of ordinary people. They are about what you’dexpect if aDMV were headquartered in amaximum-security prison or in amassive pillbox. The buildings could easily be used as stage setsfor docudramas about East Germany.They are atributetosoulless monumentalityand agut punch to the human spirit.Ifthey don’teventually get awell-deserved appointment with a wrecking ball, they should be donated to North Korea. The original justiﬁcations of brutalism no longer apply.The buildings aren’tnew anymore, and aren’tcheap They haven’taged well in any sense, not aesthetically or functionally.The FBI building is literally falling apart, and the expense of maintaining the HUD building has becomeruinous.

Defenders of thebrutalist buildings say that they are now part of our heritageand should be preserved as such That’snot fair,though, to thepeople who have to workinthem,orwho walk or drive by them every day.They are anet subtraction to the D.C. landscape and to human happiness. If one of them has to be kept for historical reasons, it should be madeintoaSmithsonian museum devoted to idiotic fadsthat were indulged for much too long. Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry

Will Sutton

State Sen. Royce Duplessisproved that with his Sundaynight announcementthathewould ofﬁcially declare his candidacy forNew Orleans mayor Tuesday night in Central City. It wasonlyafew months ago that Duplessis, aDemocrat, declinedtoenter the race after seriouslyweighing whether to jump in. As he considered his options, afamiliarDuplessisrefrainresonated withlots of Black voters: “Representation matters.”

In January,Duplessisgave an answer to the question “Isheorisn’the?” so many hadbeen asking whenhetalkedwiththis newspaper’s James Finn:“Ilovethis city,I believe in the people in this city andinits future,” thesenator told Finn.“For morethan ayear,I’vebeen thoroughly exploring andconsidering running for mayor of NewOrleans, listening to thepeople of this city We ultimatelyhad to factor in whatit would cost.”

Read “wedidn’traise enough money.” Mayoral campaigns cost money.Alot of money Duplessisenters themayoral contest with strongsenate district name recognition.He does nothavethe citywide name recognition CityCouncilVicePresident Helena Moreno and CityCouncilmember Oliver Thomas have.That will take money —and astronggrassroots campaign. Duplessis is betting that his ground game is strongenough andcan getstronger, even withoutamajor name donortojump-start his startfrom-scratch campaign.

Thomas,who hasserved CityCouncildistricts Band Eand in an at-largerole, hassome Uptown, Central Cityand French Quarter support, andMoreno hasbeen stronger in someofthose parts. Duplessismay see possibilitiesfor success in those neighborhoods. Gentilly hasbeen split,supporting Moreno, Thomas and former criminal court judge Arthur Hunter Thenthere’sAlgiers. Based on my observations, driving through those neighborhoods, talking withAlgiers andWest Bank people,there’s no clear Algiers-preferred candidate. There are somebillboardsand signs, butnot many campaign yard signs. Yet.

In Gentilly,New Orleans East, Algiers and elsewhere, the Duplessisdecision is having an impact.

“I’m torn,” saidone heavily engaged, wellconnected Democrat. “Processing andinshock.I was totally caught off guard.” PerhapsDuplessiscan takeenough general andBlack support from Moreno, Thomas and Huntertobe the Black candidate. If he takes a shot andwinsapolitical dream job, he’s ahead in his political career andanadvanced levelofpublic service. If he takesa shot andcomes up short, he’s gained broader namerecognition There couldbeany numberofreasons. Withoutmoney andacitywiderep,it’slikely that he sees political vulnerabilities, perhapssome “good”opposition research. Of course,thatcan cuttwo or three ways.” New Orleansisn’t NewYork City, but theBig Apple hashad developmentsworthyofCrescent Cityattention.

In September,incumbentDemocraticNew York CityMayor Eric Adamswas indicted on bribery and campaign ﬁnancecharges dating back nearly10years. Seeing aweakened mayor abunchofpeopleannounced that they would unseat him.

Not so fast

In November,DonaldTrump was elected president.Adams adjusted his sanctuarycityimmigration position,enough that his CityCouncil is ﬁghting him about it.Inthe spring,Trump’s DepartmentofJustice dropped thecharges. Adams decided to runfor reelection —asan independent.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo came outofpolitical exile,entering theNew York City Democraticprimary. “Cuomo EntersN.Y.C Mayor’sRace, Upending Contest to Unseat Adams,” read The NewYork Times headline Upendingdoesn’t equal awin. DemocraticSocialistZohran Mamdaniwon the Democrats’ New York mayoral primary,stunning political veteran Cuomo andDemocrats across the nation. Cuomolost. He got bestedwith anew political game. Mamdanimadesome savvy moves andwon.Cuomo might runstill —as an independent “Fightand Deliver” candidate. Duplessisiscertainly no Cuomo. Nor is he a Mamdanisocialist. NewOrleans doesn’thave ranked-choicevoting. NewOrleans is up fora big change Duplessisknowsrepresentation matterstolots of Black voters. Will enough voters see him as the candidate of choice? Anything can happenin politics. Stay tunedfor more. Muchmore. Email Will Sutton at wsutton@theadvocate. com.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Lake Providence is still waiting for ahigh-speed internet rollout.

Rich Lowry

Faimon Roberts

NewOrleans Forecast

Summer scouting

Clemsonquarterback Klubnikhas hiseyesonseasonopeneragainst LSU

BY WILSONALEXANDER Staff writer

HEISMANTROPHYODDS

Player,teamand positionOdds

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

She pickeda song, propped up her phone andstarted dancing. It was MiLaysia Fulwiley’sfirst time in the LSUwomen’s basketball locker room,and she wanted to enjoy it. Ordinarily,transfers andhigh school recruits visit afew different programs before they choose one. Not Fulwiley

The juniordroppedinonthe Tigers forthe ﬁrst timeonJune 24 —exactly two months after she announced she wasleaving her hometown South Carolina teamfor oneofits top rivals, completing oneofthe mostintriguing offseason moves. Fulwiley toured the LSU campus andposed forphotos.For oneshot, she stood back-to-back withcoach KimMulkey,their arms folded.

“She’staller than Irealized,” Mulkeysaid of the 5-foot-10 Fulwiley And that’sabout all Mulkey took away from hervisit with Fulwiley. The two didn’tdiscuss any basketball-relatedmatters, theﬁfth-year LSU coach said. How will Fulwileyfit inside Mulkey’ssystem?How can she complement Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams? Will she play point guard? What exactly held her back from playing moreminutes with the Gamecocks? And what strides does she need to make before herjunior season begins? Those questions, Mulkey said, are best leftfor the fall.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik planned to start watching ﬁlm of the LSU defense this week, getting ajump on hispreparation for alikely top10 matchup in the season opener

AfterLSU added nine defensive transfers, many of whom areexpected to have key roles, most of the players whom Klubnik sees on tape won’tbeonthe ﬁeld this fall. But that’snot really the point. He needstostudy second-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker’ssystem.

Arch Manning,Texas QB +700

Garrett Nussmeier,LSU QB +800

Cade Klubnik, Clemson QB +900

JeremiahSmith, Ohio State WR +1300

Drew Allar, Penn State QB +1400

JulianSayin, Ohio State QB +1500

DJ Lagway,Florida QB +1800

John Mateer,Washington St. QB +1900

LaNorris Sellers, So. Carolina QB +1900 * OddsbyFanDuel

“At the end of the day, they’ve gotthe same coach, so they’re going to be getting coached the same way,” Klubnik said at the Manning PassingAcademy in Thibodaux last weekend. “They shouldhave thesame rules andthe same schemes.” Klubnik was familiar with LSU’sactivityinthe transfer portal,but he saidhewould have to see exactly who joined the team. When he does, he could notice

some familiarfaces.Klubnik playedlast seasonagainst former NC Statesafety Tamarcus Cooley,former Florida State defensive endPatrick Payton and former Virginia Tech cornerback Mansoor Delane. He plannedtoexamine the aggression and technique of the LSU defensive backs —iftheir previous team asked them to do

thesame things as Baker “For me,asaquarterback, studying alittle bit of personnel,”Klubnik said, “but alot more, honestly,schemeand schematics and what they do.” Klubnik willgive the LSU defense an immediate test. A former five-starrecruit and the No. 1quarterback in the 2022 class, he wassupposed to revive Clemson’squarterback playa couple of yearsafter Trevor Lawrenceleft. His development took alittle bit longer,but now entering his senior year,Klubnik is aprojected ﬁrst-round pick and potential Heisman Trophy contender The optimism comes from what he didlast season.Inhis second year as astarter,Klubnik completed 63.4% of his throws for 3,639 yards with 36 touchdowns and six interceptions.Healsorushed for

ä See KLUBNIK, page 4C

“I just know that I’ve gottremendous perimeter players,” Mulkey said,“and it’s my job to ﬁgureout who needs to play with who and who’sgoing to be the point guard when that group’sinthe game and whocan moveover to the wing.” LSUappearstohaveadeeper more versatile collectionofguards ahead of Mulkey’sfifth season in Mulkey says plan not yetset forS.C.transfer ä See FULWILEY, page 6C

Kershaw’sfuturemilestone lookslikedying breed

Dodgerspitcher needsjustthree strikeouts to reach 3,000 forhis career

BYDAVID BRANDT AP baseball writer

Analysis

It’sabig number for oneofthe biggest baseball stars of thisgeneration —three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw is closing in on 3,000 strikeouts. He needs just three more punchouts to reach the mark, meaning it likely will happen in front of an adoring home crowd at Dodger Stadium when Los Angeles hosts the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night. Kershaw would become justthe 20th pitcher in MLB history —and one of three active pitchers along with Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer —to hit the milestone. It’satime for celebration. It’s

6-foot-4 lefty led the National League in ERA ﬁve times, in strikeoutsthree times and wins twice. His peak arguably came in 2014, when he ﬁnished with a21-3 record, 1.77 ERA and 233 strikeouts to win both the Cy Young and MVP awards in the National League.

Kershaw,now 37, isn’tthe same pitcher these days, though his success over the past month is a testamenttothe knowledge, grit and willpower that only an 18year veteran can possess. He is 4-0 with a3.03 ERA through eight startssince returning from an injury,providing an injury-riddled Dodgers rotation with aspark despiteafastball that barely hits 90 mph on agood day

“He has given us ashot in the arm,” manager DaveRoberts said. “We’re sort of ailing on the starting pitching side. Coming in and giving us valuable innings. I just love that kind of edge that he gives on start day

“Wecertainly feed off that.” Kershaw’stwilight is coinciding with the ﬁnal years of Verlander

and Scherzer,and the trio is primed to join the Hall of Fame over the next decade. The group symbolizes what might be the last gasp of long-term excellence on the pitcher’smound. The 42-year-old Verlander has won262 career games while Kershaw and Scherzer —who turns 41 this month —both sit at 216. After that, the career leaderboards fall off dramatically

It’s fair to wonder whether any other MLB pitcher ever will reach 200 career wins again, much less 300, which was the gold standard forgenerations and last reached by the likes of Randy Johnson, TomGlavine, Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens in the 2000s and 2010s. Consider this: The current career wins leader forapitcher under 30 is 28-year-old Logan Webb, whohas agrand total of 62. Getting to 3,000 strikeouts is alittle morerealistic given the sport-wide increase in pitch velocity,but even that’sinquestion. Atlanta’sChris Sale (2,528 Ks)

Klubnik

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JACOB KUPFERMAN

Clemson quarterbackCade Klubnik passes againstCharleston SouthernonSept. 9, 2023,inClemson, S.C. Aformer five-star recruit, Klubnik is apotential Heisman Trophycandidate and NFL first-round draft pick.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JESSIE ALCHEH LosAngeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershawthrows to aWashington Nationals batter on June 21 in LosAngeles. Kershawisthe scheduled starter in Wednesdaynight’sgameagainst the ChicagoWhite Sox.

6:05 p.m. N.y.yankees at Toronto PRIME

7p.m. Cleveland at Chicago Cubs ESPN

10 p.m.White Sox at L.A. Dodgers MLBN

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Gauffloses in 1stround of Wimbledon

Only twoprevious French Open champs suffered same fate

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer

LONDON Coco Gauffbecame

just the third woman in theOpen era to lose in the ﬁrst round at Wimbledon right after winning the championship at the French Open, eliminated 7-6 (3), 6-1 by unseeded Dayana Yastremska of UkraineonTuesday night.

The No. 2-ranked Gauff made mistake after mistake at No.1 Court, ﬁnishing with justsix winners and atotal of 29 unforced errorsthat included nine doublefaults.

“Dayanastarted offplaying strong,” Gauff said. “I couldn’t ﬁnd my footing out there today.”

She joined another highly seeded American,No. 3Jessica Pegula, in bowing out on Day2 of the tournament. In all, 23 seeds —13 men and 10 women —already are gone before the ﬁrstround is even done, tying the most at any Grand Slam tournament since they began seeding 32 players in each singles bracketin2001.

It was just alittle more than three weeks ago that Gauff was celebrating her secondGrand Slam title by getting past No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the ﬁnal on the red clay of Roland-Garros.

The quick turnaround might have been an issue, Gauff acknowledged.

“I feel like mentally Iwas alittle bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards,” said the 21-year-old Gauff, “so Ididn’t feellike Ihad enough time tocelebrate and also get back intoit.” She didn’tthink it mattered Tuesday that their match location was shifted from Centre Court to Court No. 1orthat she was told about anew start time only about an hour before thecontest began. Even though Gauff’sbig breakthrough came at the All England Club at age 15 in 2019, whenshe beatVenus Williams in her opening match and made it all the way to the fourth round, the grasscourt tournament has proved to be her least-successful major

Dayana yastremskaofUkraine, right, shakes handswithCoco

women’ssingles match at WimbledoninLondon on Tuesday

It’sthe onlySlam where Gauff hasn’tmade at least the semiﬁnals. Indeed, she hasyet to get past the fourth round and now has been sent home in the ﬁrst round twicein the pastthree years.

Thetransition from clay to grass hasproven tough for most players, andthe last woman to win the French Open and Wimbledoninthe same season wasSerena Williams adecade ago. Still,sincethe Open era began in 1968, only Justine Henin in 2005 and Francesca Schiavone in 2010 went from holding the trophy in Paris to exitingimmediately in London.

Gauffwas never quiteather best Tuesday againstYastremska, who had lost all three of their previous matchups and currently

is ranked 42nd. Aparticularproblemfor Gauff, as it often is, was her serving. She managed to put only 45% of herfirst servesinplay, won 14 of her 32 second-serve points and had all of those double-faults, including apair in the tiebreaker and another when shegot broken to open thesecondset.

“WhenI canserve well,and some games Idid, it’sdeﬁnitely an added threat,” Gauff said. “I didn’tserve that well.”

Yastremska’s bestGrand Slam resultwas making it all the way to thesemiﬁnals on the Australian Open’shard courts last year although she entered this event witharecordofonly 10-11 in ﬁrst-round matches at majors. Gauff, by contrast, was 20-3 at

that stage, including aloss to Soﬁa Kenin at Wimbledonin2023.

Yastremska’sdeepest run at Wimbledon wasmaking the fourth round in 2019, although she didget to the ﬁnal of the junior event in 2016.

“I was really on ﬁre,” said Yastremska, whoaccumulated 16 winners. “Playing against Coco, it is something special.”

She recently reached her ﬁrst tournament final on grass, at a smaller eventinNottingham, which she said gave her confidence heading to the All England Club.

“I loveplaying on grass. Ifeel thatthis year we are kind of friends,”Yastremska said with a laugh.“Ihopethe road will continue for me here.”

Arecord-tying23seeds gone in theﬁrstround

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer

LONDON There was three-time Grand Slam finalistand No.3 seed Alexander Zverev,outplayed over five sets in afirstround loss at Wimbledonto 72ndranked Arthur Rinderknech, who entered Tuesday with a1-4 career record at the All England Club and zero trips past the third round in 18 appearances at majors. There was No. 7LorenzoMusetti, asemifinalist at Wimbledon last year and at the French Open last month, sent home Tuesday by NikolozBasilashvili, aqualifier ranked 126th who only once has made it as far as the fourth round in his 31 previous Grand Slamtournaments And, most striking of all,as night arrived, there was No. 2Coco Gauff going from the champion at Roland-Garros to a quick exit at Wimbledon. And on and on wentthe upsets on Day 2atthe grass-court major,meaning23seeds —13 men, 10 women —failed to get to the second round, equaling the highest total at any GrandSlam tournament since they began assigning 32 seeds in each singles bracket in 2001. No. 3Jessica Pegula also was among those leaving.

The American was the runnerup at last year’sU.S. Open and was coming off agrass-court title in Germany over the weekend, defeating Iga Swiatek in the ﬁnal, yet didn’tpose much of a challenge to 116th-ranked Elisabetta Cocciaretto in a6-2, 6-3 loss that lasted less than an hour Twoother major ﬁnalists, No. 5 ZhengQinwenand No.15Karolina Muchova,were eliminated Tuesday,aswere No. 26 Marta

Kostyuk and No. 25 Magdalena Frech, whose opponent, 18-yearold Canadian Victoria Mboko, lost in qualifying last week and only got intothe ﬁeld when another player,Anastasia Potapova, withdrew with an injuredhip. Nothing was quite as out-of-nowhere, though, asRinderknech’s success.

At leastYastremskahas been a majorsemiﬁnalist, at last year’s Australian Open.

“What amoment. Such emotions,” Rinderknech, a29-yearold from France, saidafter completing his 7-6 (3), 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4 victory across 4hours, 40 minutes against Zverev in a matchsuspendedMonday night at aset apiece. “I don’teven know where to start.”

He ended things with abackhand winner,thendroppedtohis stomach, face down,onCentre Court.

Zverev joined Musetti —who hadn’t playedsince aleg injury forced him to stop at RolandGarros and was a6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 loser against Basilashvili as top-10 losers on Tuesday, aday after No.8 Holger Runeand No. 9DaniilMedvedevdeparted

Otherseededmen exitingon Day 2included No. 18 Ugo Humbert, No. 27 Denis Shapovalov, No. 28 Alexander Bublik andNo. 30 Alex Michelsen.

Rinderknech pulled off his win thankstosome terriﬁc serving, delivering 25 aces and saving all nine break points he faced.He converted three break chances against Zverev and won thepoint on 44 of his 55 trips to the net.

“It’smyfirst top-five win, in the biggest stadium in theworld,” Rinderknech said. “My legs are still shaking. I’m justsohappy the match is finished.” Two-time champion Petra Kvi-

Alexander ZverevofGermanyreacts as he plays Arthur Rinderknech of France during their first-round match at Wimbledon in London on Tuesday.

tova played her final match at theAll England Club, bowing out 6-3, 6-1 against No. 10 Emma Navarro.“This place holds the best memories Icould wish for,” said the35-year-old Kvitova, who will retire after the U.S. Open.

“I neverdreamed of winning a Wimbledon and Iwon it twice.”

Defending women’schampion

BarboraKrejcikova andmen’s No. 4seed TaylorFritz both needed comebacks to win, No. 1Jannik Sinner wasnever troubled in astraight-set victory,and 24-time major championNovak Djokovic dealt with astomach issue during his 6-1,6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-2 win against Alexandre Muller at night.

LSU adds athird LHP out of transferportal

Oregon sophomore left-handed pitcher Santiago Garciaistransferring to LSU, he announced on social media Tuesday

Garcia posted a4.20 ERAin30 innings last season,holding opponents to a.171 batting average and striking out 32% of thebatters he faced. He issued 5.70 walks per nine innings. Before arriving at Oregon, he spent his freshmanyear at Central Arizona Community College, where he had a3.04 ERA in 232/3 innings.

Garcia is the third left-handed pitcherLSU hasadded out of the transfer portal this summer

LSU is also bringing back freshmanCooper Williams, and may bring back juniorConnerWare andredshirt sophomore DJ Primeaux.

TE Wallerunretires; Giants trade him to Dolphins

TheMiami Dolphinsare acquiringDarrenWallerfromthe New York Giants, about ayear after the veteran tight end announced his retirement from the NFL.

The Dolphins are sending aconditional2026 sixth-round draft picktothe Giants for a2027 seventh-rounder and the 32-year-old Waller,who will comeout of retirementtoplayona one-year deal worth up to $5 million, agent Drew Rosenhaus conﬁrmed.

The trade comes aday after Miami dealt Pro Bowler Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers after he had the mostproductive season of any tight end in Dolphins history Miamiwas unwilling to pay Smith what he sought and thus dealt him in atrade that also included AllPro cornerback Jalen Ramsey

OKC champion Williams gets right wrist surgery

Jalen Williams, the All-Star guard/forward whohelped the Oklahoma City Thunder win their ﬁrst NBA title, had surgery Tuesday to repair atorn ligament in his right wrist.

Thundergeneral manager Sam Presti said he expects Williams to be ready forthe startofthe regular season. Williamsaveraged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and1.6 stealslast season andwas named to the All-NBA third team andthe NBAAll-Defensive secondteam. He was injuredduring the Thunder’s125-112 win over the Phoenix Suns on April 9and playedinall 23 postseason games while nursing the torn ligament. Williams averaged23.6points and 5.0 rebounds pergame in the Finals against the Indiana Pacers.

Twinsbring Lewis back from IL for Marlinsseries

The Minnesota Twins reinstated third baseman Royce Lewis from the injured list Tuesday after a15game absencebecause of arecurrence of the hamstring strain that delayed his season debut.

Lewis joined the Twins for the start of athree-gameseries at Miami.

He hurt his lefthamstring while running out agrounderinthe ninth inning of agame on June 13, aless severe strain than the one he suffered late in spring training. Thatinjurysidelinedhim for seven weeks, costing him the ﬁrst 35 games of the season.

Lewis is batting just .202 with a.585 OPSand twohome runs in 30 games this season. He had 32 straight hitless at-bats from May 19 to June 3.

Driver Suárez to partwith Trackhouseafter2025

DanielSuárez, the only Mexicanborn drivertowin aNASCARnational series race,isout at Trackhouse Racing at the end of the 2025 season. Trackhouse and Suárez ofﬁcially calledthe parting a“mutualdecision” that allows the driver an earlier opportunity to pursue anew ride fornext season. While Trackhouse did not name areplacementinthe No.99Chevrolet, Suárez’sdeparture opened the door for the team to promote teen sensation Connor Zilisch into the ride.

Suárezhas just two wins in 305 career Cup starts, and is adistant 29th in the points standings this season.The 33-year-old Suarez is in his ﬁfth season with Trackhouse Racing andwas the team’sfirst driver in 2021.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KIRSTy WIGGLESWORTH

Gauff of the U.S. after winning the first-round

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByKIN CHEUNG

MEN’S BASKETBALL

New Orleans Pelicans’ preseason schedule is out

First two games set for Australia

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

If you want to see the New Orleans Pelicans play during the preseason, you’ll have to do a little traveling. Or a lot of traveling if you decide to go to the ﬁrst two games. The Pelicans announced their preseason schedule on Tuesday. As previously announced in March, the Pelicans will play their ﬁrst two preseason games in Melbourne, Australia. They will play Melbourne United on Oct 3 and South East Melbourne Phoenix on Oct. 4. After that, the Pelicans will return to the United States and play the Houston Rockets on Oct. 14. That game will be played in Birmingham, Alabama, home of the G League affiliate Birmingham Squadron. The Pelicans will wrap up the preseason on Oct. 16 in a

road game against the Orlando Magic.

The Pelicans also played the Magic (twice) and the Rockets in the preseason last year

The ﬁrst two preseason games will be the ﬁrst time an NBA team has played in Australia Those two games are against teams from the National Basketball League, a professional basketball league in Australia.

“We are honored to be part of this historic occasion for basketball in Australia,” Pelicans governor Gayle Benson said in March when those games were announced. “This collaboration with the NBL and NBA to bring the Pelicans to Melbourne provides an exceptional opportunity to engage with our global fanbase and share the rich spirit and culture of New Orleans with basketball fans in the region. We look forward to competing against Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix, and collaborating with the NBA and NBL to inspire and develop the next generation of

athletes across the Asia-Pacific region.”

The trip to Australia will be more than just the game. The NBA, the NBL and the Pelicans will conduct NBA Cares community outreach initiatives and lifestyle events leading up to and during the week of the games. That includes a fan night on Oct. 4.

“Hosting an NBA team in Australia has been a long-held dream for everyone at the NBL,” NBL executive director Larry Kestelman said in March. “And to see this initiative ﬁnally come to fruition after a 15-year journey shows that much can be accomplished when you ‘Dream Big.’

The preseason will give a glimpse of the roster that firstyear executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has assembled. The NBA typically announces the regular-season schedule in August.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

deal

went to the NBA Finals.

Gilgeous-Alexander agrees to a record four-year extension

BY CLIFF BRUNT AP sportswriter

OKLAHOMA CITY Shai Gilgeous-

Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed on a record-setting 4-year, $285 million extension that would give him the highest single-season average salary in NBA history, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Tuesday

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been publicly announced and likely won’t be until the league’s moratorium on most offseason signings is lifted on Sunday ESPN ﬁrst reported on the agreement. News of the deal comes on Canada Day, a ﬁtting coincidence for the 26-year-old from Ontario who is coming off a season like few others in NBA history

Not only did Gilgeous-Alexander lead the Thunder to their ﬁrst NBA championship and the league’s best record, he swept most major individual awards — winning regular-season and NBA Finals MVP honors and the scoring title.

The supermax extension was not unexpected. It was a question of timing; he could have taken a deal with an even higher total value next summer

Based on the NBA’s most recent salary cap projections — the exact numbers will not be ﬁnalized until June 2027 Gilgeous-Alexander would make somewhere around $63 million in the ﬁrst season and nearly $79 million during the 203031 season.

That would put him at an average payout of about $1 million per regular season game, and would be the highest single-season salary in NBA history

Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t enter the league with superstar expectations. He was the 11th overall pick

in the 2018 draft, and he was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Thunder after his rookie year He has been on an upward trajectory ever since, and Thunder general manager Sam Presti believes that will continue.

“He’s gotten better every single year,” Presti said. “His mindset has allowed him to take these steps and also not — I don’t feel like his progress is, like, volatile. I don’t know if that makes sense, but I don’t feel like it’s built on things that can’t be repeated and built up again.” Presti referred to Gilgeous-Alexander as a “basketball artist” because he has the emotional intelligence to know when to call upon his various gifts.

“I just think he’s got left and right brain working, and I think when you think about people that are extremely successful in what they do, they can’t operate all on one side or the other,” Presti said. “People have to have — to me, the great people in life, business, sports, any industry, have to be able to access both sides, a creative side and then also a very objective side.”

The Thunder are set to be contenders for years. Their best player is in place long-term, all their major players are under contract through at least next season and Presti has a slew of draft picks stashed from previous trades.

“We deﬁnitely still have room to grow,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers. “That’s the fun part of this. So many of us can still get better There’s not very many of us on the team that are ‘in our prime’ or even close to it.”

Free agent Beasley sued by former agency to go along with gambling investigation

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK NBA free agent Ma-

lik Beasley, who is under a federal investigation regarding gambling allegations, is the defendant in a lawsuit ﬁled by his former agency

committing wire fraud.

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

Myles Turner is about to become teammates with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Damian Lillard now has the chance to pick his next spot. And just like that, the second day of NBA free agency brought big surprises Tuesday Turner — the longtime stalwart for the Indiana Pacers agreed to a four-year deal to join the Milwaukee Bucks, who waived the nine-time All-Star Lillard to make the acquisition happen.

Turner is agreeing to a deal that ends with a player option, after spending the entirety of his ﬁrst 10 seasons with the Pacers, who went to the NBA Finals this past season. And the remaining $112.6 million owed to Lillard will be paid out over the next five seasons via the NBA’s stretch provision. Turner agreed to a contract worth $107 million.

In both cases, Achilles tendon injuries played a role in how things unfolded.

Indiana expects to be without star guard Tyrese Haliburton for the entirety of the coming season because he ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder while playing through what was diagnosed as a calf strain. Earlier, Lillard ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing for Milwaukee in the ﬁrst round against Indiana.

Lillard is likely to miss most, if not all, of the coming season. He will be free to sign with anyone he chooses, and teams could sign him now give him a chance to continue his recovery and do so

with hope that the seven-time AllNBA selection is fully ready to go by the start of the 2026-27 season.

“This is an opportunity for Damian to stay home to continue his rehabilitation, take time to decide where he wants to play next, while still being paid his entire contract,” said Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin.

Tu rne r ha s averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in his 10 seasons with the Pacers, who had to make a decision this summer about whether to surpass the luxury tax threshold knowing that Haliburton likely cannot play this coming season.

Lillard, who turns 35 this month, has averaged 25.1 points and 6.7 assists in 900 regular-season games over 13 seasons the ﬁrst 11 with Portland, the last two with Milwaukee.

The Bucks lost Brook Lopez to the Los Angeles Clippers when free agency opened Monday

Duncan Robinson, the leading 3-point shooter in Miami Heat history, is headed back to Michigan for the next step of his career

A person with knowledge of the agreement said the Detroit Pistons will land Robinson on a three-year, $48 million contract, and the Heat will receive wing Simone Fontecchio in what will be a sign-and-trade.

Robinson started his college career at Division III Williams in Massachusetts before ﬁnishing at Michigan. He was an undrafted success story with the Heat, part of the 2020 and 2023 teams that

Veteran point guard and German Olympic team member Dennis Schröder has agreed to join the Sacramento Kings on a threeyear deal, the third of which is not fully guaranteed. The deal is for $45 million.

Schröder, who is entering his 13th NBA season, is joining his 10th club — and ninth in the last seven years. He spent the ﬁrst ﬁve seasons of his career with Atlanta, then was with Oklahoma City, the Los Angeles Lakers (twice), Boston, Houston, Toronto, Brooklyn, Golden State and Detroit at various times over the past seven seasons. He has averaged 13.9 points and 4.9 assists in 849 regular-season games.

Sharpshooting wing Tim Hardaway Jr will sign a one-year contract with the Denver Nuggets, a person familiar with the player’s plans said Tuesday Hardaway spent last season with Detroit — he averaged 11 points in 77 games as a starter for the Pistons — and Denver becomes his ﬁfth club. He also has been with Dallas, New York and Atlanta.

Center Jakob Poeltl gets a raise and some job security in a contract extension that keeps him with the Toronto Raptors, a person familiar with that agreement conﬁrmed Tuesday. Poeltl will be ﬁnalizing a four-year deal worth about $26 million per year, or about $7 million more on average than what he was in line to make this coming season. Poeltl — a career 63% shooter is coming off a season in which he averaged career bests of 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds.

New York-based Hazan Sports Management Group sued Beasley in U.S. District Court for breaching a marketing contract on April 18, a day before he and the Detroit Pistons opened a ﬁrst-round series in New York against the Knicks.

ESPN was the first to report Tuesday on the lawsuit.

Hazan Sports negotiated a $6 million, one-year contract for Beasley with the Pistons last summer The shooting guard fired the agency in April and hired Seros Partners, according to the lawsuit, despite a four-year exclusive marketing agreement.

The agency is asking for $1 million in damages, plus a $650,000 advance it gave him along with commissions and expenses owed, according to the lawsuit.

Both sides are working on a settlement, according to a June 11 ﬁling.

A message seeking comment was left with the agency Beasley’s attorney is not mentioned in the ﬁlings.

His representative, Steve Haney, in the federal investigation said Tuesday he is not a part of the lawsuit. The U.S. Attorney’s Ofﬁce for the Eastern District of New York is investigating Beasley regarding gambling allegations tied to league games.

“In 23 years of practicing law, I’ve had numerous clients federally investigated who have never been charged,” Haney said. “Hope people keep that in mind and reserve judgement.”

The probe into Beasley comes 14 months after the NBA banned Toronto’s Jontay Porter, who was linked to a prop bet investigation and eventually pleaded guilty to

This past season, The Wall Street Journal was ﬁrst to report that Terry Rozier — then of the Charlotte Hornets was under investigation for activity related to unusual betting patterns surrounding him in a March 2023 game. Rozier, now of the Miami Heat, has not been charged with any crime, nor has he faced any sanction from the NBA. Porter’s ban came after a similar investigation into his performance and “prop bets” wages where bettors can choose whether a player will reach a certain statistical standard or not during a game. The Porter investigation started once the league learned from “licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets” about unusual gambling patterns surrounding Porter’s performance in a game on March 20, 2024, against Sacramento.

The league determined that Porter gave a bettor information about his own health status prior to that game and said that another individual — known to be an NBA bettor — placed an $80,000 bet that Porter would not hit the numbers set for him in parlays through an online sports book. That bet would have won $1.1 million.

Beasley signed last year with the Pistons, taking a one-year contract for $6 million in the hopes of cashing in this summer as a free agent. He made a single-season, franchise-record 319 3-pointers in the regular season. He helped Detroit make the playoffs for the ﬁrst time since 2019 and end an NBA-record 15-game postseason losing streak in the ﬁrst round against the New York Knicks.

Beasley averaged 16.3 points last season and has averaged 11.7 points over his career with Denver, Minnesota, Utah, the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee and Detroit. He scored a career-high 19.6 points a game during the 2020-21 season with the Timberwolves. The Atlanta native played at Florida State and the Nuggets drafted him No. 19 overall in 2016.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green calls a play against the Miami Heat during a game at the Smoothie King Center on April 11.

Beasley

G-Alexander

By BRAD KEMP

UL widereceiver Robert Williams is brought down by TexasState cornerback Kaleb Ford-Dement, right,as safety ShawnHolton pursues on Oct. 7, 2023, at CajunField in Lafayette. Texas

SunBeltConference, has movedtothe Pac-12

Who’splaying where?

Acheat sheet on collegesports realignment

By The Associated Press

The upcoming year forcollege sports has at least amodest sense of stability: The $2.8 billion House settlement has been approved, clearing the way for schools to share millions in revenue with theirathletes, andmajor conferences are in Year 2ofrealignment after welcoming newprograms across the country

There is still asense of urgency anduncertainty.The settlement has brought new questionsabout compensating athletes and managing rosters, while realignment has not vanishedbyany means. The Pac-12 next season willbehome to anumber of programs from the Mountain West, moves that prompted adomino effect Football membership in the Power Four and the GroupofFive over the past three decades:

ACC

1996 (9): Clemson, Duke,Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, Virginia.

2023 (14): Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami,North Carolina, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest.

2025 (17): Boston College, California, Clemson,Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest.

BigTen

1996 (11): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan,Michigan State,Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin. 2023 (14): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland,Michigan, Michigan State,Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern,Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin

2025 (18): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland,Michigan, Michigan State,Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Southern California, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin.

Big12

1996 (12): Baylor,Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech.

2023 (14): BYU, Baylor,Cincinnati, Central Florida, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, KansasState, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State,TCU,

KLUBNIK

Continued from page1C

463 yards and seven scores while leading Clemson to an ACC championship and aspot in the College Football Playoff. Klubnik said Clemson playedthe mostfreshmeninthe countrythe past two years, and though that could have contributed to some rough losses, the team nowhas continuity and experience. Clemson ranks ﬁrst in the country in returning production at 81%,

Texas, TexasTech,West Virginia.

2025 (16): Arizona, Arizona State, BYU,Baylor,Cincinnati, Central Florida, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas,Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, Utah,West Virginia. Pac-12

1996 (10): Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, OregonState, Southern California, Stanford, UCLA, Washington,Washington State

2023 (12): Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Southern California, UCLA, Utah,Washington,Washington State.

2024-25 (2): Oregon State, Washington State.

2026 (9): BoiseState, Colorado State, FresnoState, Gonzaga (nonfootball), Oregon State, San Diego State, TexasState,UtahState, Washington State.

SEC

1996 (12): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida,Georgia, Kentucky,LSU,Ole Miss, Mississippi State, SouthCarolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt.

2023 (14): Alabama, Arkansas,Auburn, Florida, Georgia,Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt

2025 (16): Alabama, Arkansas,Auburn, Florida, Georgia,Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri,Oklahoma, SouthCarolina, Tennessee,Texas,Texas A&M, Vanderbilt.

American Athletic

2013 (10, ﬁrst season): Central Florida, Cincinnati,Connecticut, Houston,Louisville, Memphis, Rutgers, SMU, SouthFlorida, Temple.

2023 (14): Charlotte, EastCarolina, Florida Atlantic, Memphis, Navy,North Texas, Rice, SMU, South Florida, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UTSA.

2025 (14): Army,Charlotte,East Carolina,FloridaAtlantic, Memphis, Navy,North Texas, Rice, South Florida, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UTSA. Conference USA

1996 (6): Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville, Memphis,Southern Miss,Tulane.

2023 (9): Florida International, Jacksonville State, Liberty,LouisianaTech,Middle Tennessee State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, UTEP, Western Kentucky

2024 (10): FloridaInternational, JacksonvilleState, Kennesaw State,Liberty,Louisiana Tech, Middle TennesseeState, New MexicoState,Sam Houston State, UTEP,Western Kentucky

2025 (12): Delaware, Florida International, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty,LouisianaTech,Middle Tennessee State,

according to ESPN. It brought backeight starters on offenseand nine starters on defense, includingprojected first-round picks TJ Parker andPeter Woods on the defensiveline. “They’re really consistent in their pace of playand their effort,” Klubniksaid of Parker and Woods. “They’re not guys who are going to take aplay off. Every time that they’reinthere,they’re going to be giving it their all. They’re aggressive, and they’re confident guys. That’swhat they are, they’re confident.” Klubnik was complimentary of

Future of NASCAR in Chicagomurky

Return afterthisyear couldinvolve moving race to differentdate

BY JAYCOHEN AP sportswriter

CHICAGO When it comesto

NASCAR’supcoming return to downtown Chicago, Julie Giese has alonglist of responsibilities. The trackpresident is monitoring an ambitious construction schedulefor the street course, to go along with everything else that goes into the busy weekend.

What happens next is going to have to wait.

Thefuture of NASCARinChicago is murky going into its third editiononthe first weekend in July

The three-year contract between the motorsports organizationand the city that was announcedin2022 has two mutual options, and their fate is unclear

Giesesaid therehave been “good conversations” between NASCAR and the city,and there is time to work on thepossibilities beyond the event.

Jason Lee, asenior adviser to Mayor Brandon Johnson, praised NASCAR forits involvement in thecommunity andits improvements withthe event. He described almost parallel discussions going on inside of the organization and the city when it comes to the future of the partnership.

Johnson’spredecessor, Lori Lightfoot, was in charge when theoriginalagreement forthe weekend was ﬁnalized.

“Weremainavailable to have anyconversations about thefuture,” Lee said Monday.“Iknow they’vebeen laser focused on executing this year’sevent becausethere arelessons they’ve learnedthattheywanttoapply And Ithink some of that, whether you successfully do that, will play arole in how they wantto proceed.”

One possible change that could interest the city is moving to a different weekend, something it hasdiscussedwith NASCAR in the past.

Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, UTEP,Western Kentucky

Mid-American

1996 (10): Akron, Ball State, BowlingGreen, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami(Ohio),Ohio,Toledo, Western Michigan.

2023 (12): Akron,BallState Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio),Ohio, Northern Illinois, Toledo,Western Michigan.

2025 (13): Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, KentState, Massachusetts, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Ohio,Toledo, Western Michigan.

2026 (12): Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, KentState, Massachusetts, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan. BigWest/WAC/Mountain West

1996 (Big West, 6): Boise State, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico State, North Texas, Utah State.

1996 (WAC,16): Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii,New Mexico, Rice, SanDiego State, San JoseState,SMU, TCU, Tulsa, UNLV, Utah, UTEP,Wyoming.

2025 (MWC,12): Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming.

2026 (MWC, 11): Air Force, UC Davis (non-football), Grand Canyon (basketball), Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, NorthernIllinois,San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP,Wyoming. SunBelt

2001 (7, first season): Arkansas State, Idaho, UL,UL-Monroe, Middle Tennessee State, New Mexico State, NorthTexas

2025 (14): Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, UL,UL-Monroe, Marshall, OldDominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, Troy

2026 (13): Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, UL,UL-Monroe, Marshall, OldDominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Troy Independents

1996(11): Arkansas State, Army, Central Florida, East Carolina, UL, UL-Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Navy, NorthernIllinois,Notre Dame, UAB.

2023 (4): Army,Connecticut,Massachusetts, NotreDame.

2024 (3): Connecticut, Massachusetts,Notre Dame.

2025 (2): Connecticut,Notre Dame.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier,saying “his ability for timingroutes is oneofthe best in the country.” They hadcrossed paths a couple of times before seeing each other again at theManning Passing Academy “I’veplayed some really good quarterbacksover theyears, and Garrett is going to be one of the best that I’ve played,” Klubnik said. “I thinkbeing able to manage the game and take advantage of every drive is going to be huge.” Theﬁrst game could be one of the top nonconference matchups in collegefootball this season.

“So really right nowthe focus is on let’sexecute areally great 2025,” Giese said. “We’ll continue to have theconversations with thecity. Butrightnow,honestly, the more consistent conversations are the planning conversations.

“Itmay make moresense to move that eventtoadifferent weekend where we don’thave as many demands on our law enforcement and other emergency personnel,” Lee told theAP. “And so that’sdefinitely something that we’vecontemplated, but thereisalso someconstraints in termsofother events in the city of Chicago and the NASCAR schedule.”

BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter

LOS ANGELES Jake Paul has entered the World Boxing Association’scruiserweight rankings, making the YouTuber-turnedboxereligible to fight for aworld title. The WBA slotted Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) at No.14 in thelatestedition of its rankings late Monday night, two days afterPaulbeat39-year-old Julio César Chávez Jr.byunanimous decision in Anaheim,California. TheWBA’s decision to rank Paullikelymeans the sanctioning body would allow him to fight WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez, who won his latest title defense in the penultimateboutinAnaheim. The fighters have not agreed to a deal, but Pauland Ramírez stared each other downduring the postfight news conference.

markable milestone for asocial media behemoth and former DisneyChannelstarwho only decided to becomeaboxer about six years ago, the WBA’s decision reflects Paul’sincredible ﬁnancial potential morethanhis ﬁghting resume.

“I wanttougher ﬁghters. Iwant to be aworld champion,”Paul said after outpointing Chávez, whohad fought once in theprevious four years. “Zurdo looked slow. tonight. That’d be easy work, too.”

While Paul’sranking is are-

Klubnikhas notwon theopener yet as astarter,and he has never played oneathome. But at least publicly,hedownplayed its importance. That’s because Klubnikknows theoutcomewon’t determine the rest of the season. Last year,Clemsonlost 34-3 to Georgia in Week 1 before reaching theinaugural 12team playoff. “It’sjustasimportant as any othergameinmymind,” Klubnik said. “At the end of the day,I can’t treat that game any different than Iwould Week 2orWeek 3. It’sa longseason, and I’mjust trying to

Sanctioning body rankings are determined internally,sothey can be changed on awhim, or to meet an opportunity to collect a bigfee by sanctioninga fight andPaul hasbecome the most financially potent boxer to emerge in manyyears. Paul’sprevious opponents include fellow YouTubers, an NBA player, severalmixedmartialartists and58-year-old MikeTyson —not apath that would lead to world rankings and title shots for anyfighterwithout Paul’s fame and fortune. He tookhis onlyloss in 2023 against Tommy Fury —a relatively serious professional boxer but nowherenear atitle contender. Paul hascalled forarematch,telling Fury to “stop running fromme.” Chávez wasbyfar the mostaccomplished actual boxer to share the ring with Paul, but the formerWBC middleweight champion fought listlessly and tepidly for all but the final tworounds in front of aSouthern California crowd desperately rooting on its Mexican hero.

be my bestself and trying to prepare myself and put my team in thebest situationthatI cantoget ready fora long year.”

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

STAFF FILEPHOTO

State, aformer memberofthe

charge. Three of them, shenoted, haveproven they can play both on the ball and off the ball. Fulwiley is in that group. So, too, are Williams and Jada Richard, the sophomore from Lafayette who ﬂashed ﬂoor-spacing skills in the limited run she saw as afreshman.

“So I’ve got three that really could play multiple positions on the perimeter,” Mulkey said It’saluxury LSU hasn’thad in recent years. In 2023, Alexis Morris ran almost exclusively as the primary point guard. In 2024, that job went to Hailey VanLith. Shayeann DayWilson and Last-TearPoa split most of those duties last season, but they sometimes passed the controls of the half-court offense over to Williams,who spent the second halfofthe yearmoonlightingasaninitiatorinspecial situations.

This offseason, Richard elected to return to LSU. But Day-Wilson exhaustedher eligibility; Poa transferred to Arizona State; and Mjracle Sheppardtransferred to California, leaving the Tigers with aneed for an experienced ballhandler Fulwiley signed up to help LSU ﬁllthat void. Mulkey has said that allittook was one phone call. Fulwiley said she wantedtoplay with the Tigers, and the Tigers decided to bringher aboard for what they hope are the most productive years of her career “I thought MiLaysia wasgetting better,”South Carolina coach Dawn Staley told The Breakfast Club radio show in May.“Isaw a whole lot of growth, on and offthe court. LSU’sgoingtoget thebest of her now.Wewentthroughthe hard part of just smoothing some rough edges and gettingher to create good habits. Idothink habits are the things that allow you to elevate.

KERSHAW

Continued from page1C

is 36 and could get there with a few more healthy seasons. New York’sGerrit Cole (2,254) has a chance, too —ifthe 34-year-old can bounce back from elbow surgery.

But again, the list of pitchers piling up strikeouts in their 20s is conspicuously absent.

The 29-year-old Dylan Cease is the under-30 leader with1,133 career Ks, but he likely will need adecade of good health to get close. By comparison, Kershaw had 2,120 strikeoutsenteringhis age-30 season. There are some young, promising arms that might emerge in the future —think Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal —but the trendsaren’t pointing in the right direction. It seems like every few days, another star pitcher goes down to Tommy John elbow surgery or a similar procedure, leavingthem out of action for at least ayear Career-altering injuries have been apart of baseballforever, but this feels different.

To dominateintoday’sgame, velocity is paramount. So is movement. The main goal is to make the baseballmoveas quickly and violently as possible, and today’spitchers are throwing nastier pitches than ever before. Abig fastball used to be anything in the 90s just afew decades ago. Now,that number is closer to

LSU coachKim Mulkey gives directions during apractice session for theNCAA Tournament on March 21 at the PMAC. Theaddition of South Carolinatransfer guard MiLaysia Fulwileygives Mulkey more options and versatility in the backcourt.

“So Ithink what we’ve given her, and what she’sgivenus, will allow her to have much better days, much moreconsistent days than shehad with usather next stop.”

Mulkey said she noticed some of that growth when Fulwiley visited LSU.

“She’sjust got amaturity about her whenyou talk to her,” Mulkey said. “She already knows ourplayers. Ithinkpeople didn’tbelieve that was theﬁrst time she’smade hervisit

“Shemade her decision based on what sheplayedagainst and who she played against and who she wanted to play with.”

Now Fulwileywill share abackcourt with twoestablished stars (Johnson and Williams), two returning shot creators (Richard and KailynGilbert) anda trio of

highly ratedfreshmen (ZaKiyah Johnson, Divine Bourrageand Bella Hines).

Theright blendofminutescould make thatgroup one of the deepest,mostdynamiccollections of guards in thecountry

It’s stilltoo early, however, for Mulkeytostart ﬁnding the right rolefor Fulwiley —one of next season’smost pressing questions. LSUonlyhas just begun theprocess of adding her to thefold.

“You getthemonthe floor,” Mulkey said, “and as Ilike to say, it alltakes care of itself, andyou’ll be able toﬁgure it out.”

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

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

ALL-TIME MLBSTRIKEOUT LEADERS

K’sfor Kids wins summer league championship

BY SPENCERURQUHART Staff writer

Brother Martin-basedK’s for Kids became the ﬁrst back-to-back champions of the New Orleans prep baseballsummer league on Tuesday thanks to plenty of runs.

In the championship game, K’s forKidsgot 14 hitsina15-3victoryinsix innings over Retif Oil at Jesuit’sJohn Ryan Stadium Jesuit-based RetifOil struck first with arun in thebottom of the first inning, but apair of runs in the top of the second got the K’s for Kidsrolling againafterscoring nine runs in its semifinaltriumph againstRummel-based Malcolm Dienes on Monday

“Wehad guys that were really lockedin,”K’s forKidscoach Jeff Lupo said. “They got some good pitches to hit and didn’tmiss. They didn’t try to do too much and stayed withinour approach. Made good,competitive swings and hit thebarrel on the ball.”

The ﬁrst big inning for the Brother Martin-based team was asixrun fourth. Starting pitcher Drake Amedee delivered atwo-run triple to left center that drove in the ﬁrst two runs of the inning, and Bronson Leaumont hit another triple to score two moreruns.

In the sixth, K’sfor Kids scored ﬁve.Justin Morgan hit atwo-run doubletoright ﬁeld followed by atwo-RBI double from Kamber

Keller to put K’sfor Kids up 15-1.

“Bronson (Leaumont) andKamber(Keller) were really good in two-out situations,” Lupo said. “We wereable to get the ball in the gap and had three or four triples. Justin had abig hit to drive some runs. We got contributions up and down the lineup.”

Amedee pitched all six innings, allowing three runs on twohits and twowalks withthree strikeouts He was named MVP of thechampionship game after going 2for 2 at the plate with twoRBIs.

“I wasthrowing it over the plate and letting my defense do my thing,” Amedee said. “I trust them to makeplays.”

Retif scored apair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, which included an RBI triple by Marshal Serio.

The Jesuit-based team will compete in American Legion postseason playthis weekend at KirschRooney Stadium

“We’re playing in the legion state championship this Saturday against sevenquality teams from around thestate,” RetifOil coach Kenny Goodlett said. “It’sanother challenge forour boys to look forwardto.”

K’sfor Kids ﬁnished undefeated in the summer league season with an 11-0 record, while Retif ﬁnished 12-2.

Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@theadvocate.com.

EA’s McGirt claims stateGatoradeaward

BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer

Not long after her high school graduation, Kiristen McGirt movedtothe University of Tennessee to begin preparing forher ﬁrst college season

But there is one final Louisiana honor forthe East Ascension throws standout. McGirt has been selected as the Gatorade Louisiana Girls Track Athlete of the Year

The honor gives the Baton Rouge area asweep of 2025 Gatoradetrack honors. Parkview Baptist middle distance/distance runner AidenMonistere wasannounced as the Louisiana boys winner last week

Athird local standout, Catholic High catcherAndrewClapinski, won Gatorade’sbaseball honor

HIGH SCHOOL TRACK ANDFIELD

Zachary’sBronco Relays. That distanceranks ﬁfth nationally

The Outstanding Field Performer on The Advocate’sAll-Metro track& fieldteam, McGirt also was the Class 5A champion in the shotput anddiscus at the LHSAA state track and ﬁeld meet in May at LSU. She recordedher best discus tossof148-11atthe Dutchtown Invitationaland had the state’s top markinboth of her throws specialties.

100.

Thebig problem is that most humanarmscan’t handle the stress —particularly for the lengthyamountsoftime needed to chase 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts or manyofthe other career milestones that once deﬁned greatness.

Over the next generation, the metricsthatdetermine which pitchersenter Cooperstown likely will change dramatically Arizona righty Zac Gallen —who

has 58 career wins and turns 30 in August —said last year that it’spossible somepitchers from thecurrent generation will be left out of the Hall of Fame as the deﬁnition of excellence changes. Butfor at least one more night —probably Wednesday in Los Angeles in front of roughly 50,000 fans —Kershaw will carry thetorch for traditional pitching greatness. Enjoy it, because that light appears to be fading fast

“I honestlydid notknowmuch about this awarduntil Iwas nominated forit,”McGirtsaid. “So, I researched it and realized this was something Iwould love to be partof.

“I hadthe best year of my high school career. Inot only metgoals Isurpassed them. Iamextremely grateful and extremely happy to receive this award.”

McGirt became the ﬁrst Louisiana girl to surpass the 50-foot barrierinthe shot put when she opened the 2025 outdoor season with atoss of 50 feet, 4inches at

“Kiristen McGirt has produced four throws of 48-6 or further sinceJanuary (during indoor season) and ripped off the state’sonly 50-foot effort in history this season,”saidRichGonzalez, editor of PrepCalTrack.com. “She also ﬂirted with 150 feet in the discus event. Ithink herrésuméwas the best in Louisiana.”

McGirt also fits the Gatorade criteria that factors in academic excellenceand community service. Shecarriedaweighted3.66 GPAatEastAscension.

In addition to working as avolunteer throwscoach foryounger competitors with the Endeavor Athleticstrack club, McGirt started aBible study group at her local church.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 5p.m.Thursdayand Friday

Popular soul food spot serves kids free meals

BY CHELSEA SHANNON Staff writer

The owners of apopular spot for chicken on the West Bank said that kids would eatfree this summer They kept their promise So far,Chicken’sKitchen has given out thousands of freemeals.

The beloved soul food spot launched its summer program on May 26, with the mission of serving any children whocame into its main restaurant or second location, The Coop. Chicken’s Kitchen on Instagramannounced that it hadgiven away more than 2,800 meals in three weeks of its summer program.

Owner Marlon “Chicken” Chukumerijeshared on Instagramthat childrenbetween the ages of 2and 15 will be able to come in andget a“Baby Back” breakfast or the “Lil Nugget” meal for lunch until August, when school resumes “This is atotally humbling experience,” he said in an Instagramvideo. “I’m supergrateful to be in aposition where I can even think about doing this.”

‘Chicken’

opened his restaurant Chicken’s Kitchen in Gretna after building afollowing as ahome-based business for plate lunches.

Chukumerije explained that breakfast and lunch meals are customizable to match the child’s preferences. Parents are not required to buy ameal of their own for achild to receive one. In addition to serving free meals at the restaurant, Chicken’s Kitchenjoins PeeWee’s Crabcakes andPra Lee’sin serving 30 free lunches to the children in the Cultivating Youth summer program. Cultivating Youth was unable to access the resourcesthey had previously relied on this year and expressed gratitude that the three local restaurants were able to help ﬁll the gap.

Chukumerije opened Chicken’s Kitchen in 2022,bringing the plate-lunch style ofservice to Gretna. The storefront grew in popularity,and he later opened The Coop down the street to help mitigate theoverﬂow often seen at the original location.

Email Chelsea Shannon at cshannon@theadvocate.com.

LIVING

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Behind the rawbar at Seaworthy, Marquis Riley slips ablade into an oyster,effortlessly working his knife until theshell cracks open. He movesontothe next withthe samerhythm:cut,pry, lift, repeat.

Each twist of the cupped shell brings him closer to an ambitious goal, shucking 100,000 oysters at the New Orleans restaurant in less than two years.

The dream isn’tsofar-fetched in astate that regularlyleadsthe nation in oyster production. In New Orleans, the shellﬁsh is more than amenuitem —it’salong-standing staple servedraw,chargrilled and Rockefeller-style.

“I have undying faiththat Iamgoingtobeable to accomplishthis in 16 months,” said Riley on Friday afternoon, minutes before theseafood restaurant opened its doors.

Above him,two silverballoons ﬂoat, spelling out “5K” —apersonal milestone Riley passed in amonth.

aSt. Anne oyster from Nova Scotia, Canada, at Seaworthy.Rileyset an ambitious goal of shucking 100,000 oysters at the NewOrleans restaurant in less than twoyears.

He’ssince opened 170 moreand has 94,830 oysters to go. Riley,who was born and raised in New Orleans, learned to shuck oysters in 2015 while working at Pier 424 Seafood Market on Bourbon Street. Afellow shucker named Mr Sambrought him behind theraw bar andshowedhim that shucking was about morethan just serving food. The shuckerbuilds rapport by asking about the customer’slife, ultimately “giving them an experience

See SHUCKER, page 2D

STAFFPHOTOSByCHRIS GRANGER

Oyster shucker Marquis Rileysmiles at Seaworthy in NewOrleans on June 20.

Marquis Rileyshucks

STAFF PHOTO By IAN McNULTy

Marlon

Chukumerije

Booze-soaked evenings bore teetotalinghost

Dear Miss Manners: Iamateetotaler.Myhusband and most of our friends are avid connoisseurs of wine and spirits. Normally, this is not aproblem, as I can politely excuse myself from any events that are primarily about appreciating alcohol. But an etiquette issue sometimes arises when we’re hosting dinner at our place.The ﬁrst couple of hours generally go well, with good conversation and enjoyment of food andcompany.Atsome point, however,the gathering evolves from adinner party into adrinking session. By this Imean that after the

meal is over,the guests continue to sit around thetable drinking, theircups reﬁlled by my husband. Eventually,the conversation becomes moreanimatedthanIcan keep up with,asvoices get abit louder and argumentsa little muddled. This can continuefor afew hours.

when this happens and get started on my dishes. Is there agraceful way to accomplish this without implying that the partyisover?

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Everyone is having a good time, no one has to drive themselves home, andIamhappyfor my guests to enjoy themselves. Idon’twant to put astop to the fun,even though it has left me behind. ButwhatIwould like to do is excuse myself from the table

Gentlereader: Curiously,the alcohol is clouding everyone’sjudgmentinthis case —even yours, and you are not partaking.

As ahost, you cannot properly leave your own party,even though Miss Manners understands both thatithas become aborefor you and thatthe guestsare unlikely to notice your absence.

The solution is to manage the time, as well as the quantity of alcohol consumed. After all, you did not keep serving thepot roast until theguestsbegged for mercy.Soatsome point, stop pouring

SHUCKER

Continued from page1D

insteadofjust pushing food in front of their face,” Riley said. At the center of thisinteraction is atray of oysters —athread connecting the shucker and the guest.

“The oyster shucker is the glue of the restaurant,” he added. Oysters took on anew meaning for Riley on May 19, the day he beganhis mission.

Wearing an apron and a bandana tied around his head, Riley regularly documents his progress on his YouTube channel. In the videos, he chats with co-workers and tells his subscribers what it takes to accomplish any goal in life: discipline and consistency. Every so often, he pans the camera to achalkboard above the raw

BITES

Continued from page1D

dining room and afountain on the patio.

The menu at Spicy Mango will feature items such as a jerk burger,jerk mac and cheese, crawﬁsh beignets with pineapple remoulade, and coconut-gulf shrimp with orange-chili-lime sauce. In addition to serving food, Morrow Hospitality said it will also featurelive music.

Morrow and his mother, Lenora Chong, opened their ﬁrst restaurant, Morrow’s, on St. Claude Avenue in 2018. The Morrow restaurant portfoliohas since grown to include Morrow Steak, Monday Restaurant and Bar,Sun Chong and, now,Spicy Mango. Morrow Hospitality also owns Hide/ Seek and Treehouse.

Spicy Mango

405 Frenchmen St.; 5p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 5p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; 5p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday and Monday

Sandwich shop reopens, expandsUptown

Acorner of Oak Street home to severalbusinesses in the last decade is once again occupied. Paul Tufaro openedthe new Uptown sandwich shop, Paulie’sDelicatessen Italiano, in May,ﬁlling the void left behind by his Central Business District restaurant, Empire State Delicatessen, which recently closed after two decades

bar,where he updates the fraction of oysters shucked. Riley said he startedthe mission to wakeupwith a purpose —toelevatehis craft, createcontent and “transcendwhatitmeans to be an oyster shucker.”

One day,hehopes to earn a YouTube plaque, an award given to creators who have achieved acertain number of subscribers on the platform Rileyisn’tthe only one who has faith in himself. Rickey Lee, aco-worker and shucker at Seaworthy,estimates that Riley will reach 100,000 by April. Lee also notedthatit isn’tuncommon for customerstoask howmanyoysters they shuck perday

“It’spretty cool that he’s putting anumber to it and bringing us onthat journey with him,” Leesaid

Not everyone shared Riley’sunbridled conﬁdence, though. Seaworthy’sgener-

al manager,Quinton Butler, initially thought shucking that manyoysters wouldbe nearly impossible.

“I thought he was insane when he ﬁrst toldmeabout it. Iwas like, ‘Are yousure that you’re gonna be able to do that?’” said Butler,who thinksRiley will achieve his goal by December

But Riley isn’tconcerned about the timeline.

“Itdoesn’t matter how long it takes, brother,” he said in one of his videos.“This is the journey.This is the road to 100,000 oysters shucked.”

Once Riley gets there, he plans to raise thegoal to 500,000— then amillion For him, it’sabout staying present, appreciatingeach moment leadingtothe day he liftsthe chalk and writes “100,000” on the board.

Email PoetWolfe at poet. wolfe@theadvocate.com

Paulie’sDelicatessen Italiano servesupclassic sandwiches, including the Italian stallion.

of operation

Tufaro opened Empire State Deli insidethe Hancock Whitney Center in 2004. Followingthe coronavirus, therise in remote workers meantfewer peopledowntown forlunch

“Most of my lunch rushes didn’thave more thana few tables,” Tufarosaid. “But peopleare always praising, and they’re like, ‘Oh,you guys are great.You know,I try to comebywhen Ican,’ but it just wasn’tenough.”

Tufaro said that 20 years of operatinghis downtown deli taughthim how to endure as abusiness owner.

“Look,when Iﬁrst opened in 2004, not even ayear later,Katrinahit, and it taught me howtosurvive very, very quickly,”Tufaro said.

Taking whathelearned, Tufaro packed up shop graduallyand took up the space at 8210 Oak St., where thefrequent turnover of businesses has been aconcern of neighbors.

Recently,it has been home to Mucho Mas Mexican Eatery &Lounge, which closed in August 2023, and asecondLakeview Harborlocation,whichlasted nearlyayear afteropening in November 2023. Tufaro said hehopes his

latest chapter will also give thespace anew start.

Tufaro has revived his menuofclassic deli-style sandwiches, but he wants to do more. Planned new additions within the space include cold-pressed juices, sno-balls, cocktails and classic Italian dishes

“I’ve always had this desire to open up an Italian restaurant that featured someofmyfamily’s recipes, stuff my mom cooked and my grandma cooked,” Tufaro said.

Tufaro also plans to host special eventsfeaturing live music, TV watch parties and other activities that thecommunity needs.

“I want it tobemoreofa chill, casual, relaxed hangout place where people want to come, maybe sit down for afew hours and not go anywhere,” Tufaro said.

Paulie’sDelicatessen Italiano

8201 OakSt.; (504) 412-8326; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday; 10 a.m.to10p.m. Friday and Saturday Email Chelsea Shannon at cshannon@theadvocate. com.

wine and offer coffee instead. Even if your guests are not grateful in themoment, they will be so thenext morning. Dear Miss Manners: My husband’s cousinand herhusband live afew miles away from us. While their parents were fairly closewhen the cousins were growing up, the cousins themselves didn’tmaintain contact once theybecame adults.

Ienjoy sending greeting cards for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and so on, and this cousin is on my list. We’re also friends on social media.

She messages me and suggests that we get together forlunch sometime, but offers no speciﬁc details. Ithen propose adate,

By The Associated Press

Today is Wednesday, July 2, the 183rd day of 2025. There are 182 days left in the year

Today’shighlightinhistory:

On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law asweeping civil rights bill passedbyCongress prohibiting discrimination and segregation based on race, color,sex, religionornational origin. Also on this date: In 1776, theContinental Congress passed aresolution saying that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought tobe, free and independent States.”

In 1881, President James A. Garﬁeld was shotby Charles J. Guiteau at the Washington railroad station; Garﬁeld died thefollowing September.(Guiteau was hanged in June 1882.)

In 1917, rioting erupted in East St. Louis, Illinois, as White mobs attacked Black residents; at least 50 and as many as 200 people, mostofthem Black,are believed to have died in the violence.

In 1937, aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator

timeand place, which she agrees to, but always cancels on the day of the meeting. I’ve come to expect this and don’tthink much of it, but it upsets my husband. Should Icontinue making suggestions even though Iknow they will likely be canceled at the last minute?

Gentle reader: Next time the cousin proposes aget-together,give an equally vague response: “That would be great.” Breaking the pattern mayormay not change her behavior,but it will give everyone something new to think about.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com.

TODAYINHISTORY

Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first round-the-world flight along the equator

In 1976, the U.S. SupremeCourt, in Gregg v. Georgia, ruled 7-2 that the death penalty was not inherently cruel or unusual.

In 1986, ruling in apair of cases, the Supreme Court upheld afﬁrmative action as aremedy forpast job discrimination.

In 1990, morethan 1,400 Muslim pilgrimswere killed in astampede inside apedestrian tunnel near Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

In 2018, rescue divers in Thailand found alive 12 boys and their soccer coach, whohad been trapped by ﬂooding as they explored acave morethan aweek earlier

In 2020, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell wasarrested in New Hampshire on charges that she had helped lure at least three girls —one as young as 14 —tobesexually abused by the late ﬁnancier Jeffrey Epstein. (Maxwell would be convicted on ﬁve of six counts.)

In 2022, thepolicechief

forthe Uvalde, Texas, school district stepped down from his CityCouncil seat amidcriticism of his response to themass shooting at an Uvalde elementary school in which19students andtwo teachers wereslain on May24ofthat year Today’sbirthdays: Former Philippine ﬁrst lady Imelda Marcos is 96. Actor Polly Holliday is 88. Racing Hall of Famer Richard Petty is 88. Former White House chief of staffand former New Hampshire governor John H. Sununu is 86. Writer-director-comedian Larry David is 78. Rock musician Roy Bittan (Bruce Springsteen &the EStreet Band) is 76. Actor WendySchaal

working life,through employer-provided benefits.When those benefits endwithretirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock,leading people to put off or even go without care

Simply put— without dentalinsurance, there may be an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.

Medicare doesn’tpay for dental care.1

That’sright. As good as Medicare is, it wasnever meanttocovereverything. Thatmeans if you wantprotection,you need to purchase individual insurance.

Early detection canprevent small problems from becoming expensive ones. The best waytopreventlarge dental bills is preventivecare. TheAmerican Dental Association recommends checkups twice ayear.

STAFF PHOTO By CHELSEA SHANNON

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Marquis Rileyupdateshis total count of shucked oysters at Seaworthy in NewOrleans.

PACES&PLACES

Golden Gallivanting

Fifty years! NOCCA embraced ahalf centuryand due celebrations ensued.

On arecent Saturday evening,the MerauxFoundation &NOCCAFoundation presentedArt &Soul, a Golden Gala, to honor the50thanniversary of NOCCA’s ﬁrst graduating class. Apatronparty,running an hour and ahalf, launched thelevity on theschool’scampus. It was presented by the Patrick Family Foundation andfeaturedMusicalTheatre alumna Sasha Masakowski as the entertainer,followed by current MusicalTheater students performing selections from amusical versionofShakespeare’s“Twelfth Night.” Next was the Art &Soul Gala with aplethora of attractions.Throughout, thefruits of theﬁrst 50 years of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts were on full display Perrier Party Rentals dressed theevent in gold,and AudioNOLA used lighting to make the shindig shine. With afeminine focus,the Merry Antoinettes made rounds to put everyone in asparkling mood, andGwendolyn Events’“Champagne Girl” handed out bubbly before amid-evening quickchange into aone-woman roving glitter station.

The gala took off with aperformance by Jazzalum Big Sam and his Funky Nation, which got the groove going. Next were line dances led by dozens of alumni and the concluding performance by Preservation Hall,featuring many NOCCA alumni in the ranks, including band leader Ben Jaffe.Current NOCCA studentsgot into the act,aswell, withthose from Culinary Arts planning and preparingthe event’sbuffet —dishes ranged from savory to sweet; the Jazz lot serenading arrivals; andrespective Visual Arts and Creative Writing students drawingguests’ portraits andpenning improv poems.

The auction for Art &Soul was supportedbya hostofartists, restaurants and boutiques. This year’smust-haves includedanoriginal painting by alum Terrance Osborne; week-long trips to Italy and Spain;a ride fortwo in the2026 Orpheus parade;and artwork by the Visual Arts students. An alumnilounge wasasure attraction, as was the cotton candy cart manned bystudents.Yet anothergo-to was chef Stephen Stryjewski‘s roast pigs and steamboat rounds. The bar sponsor wasSAZERAC/Goldring Family Foundation.

Showcased as Art &Soul co-chairswere Ashley and TimFrancis, Stephanie and Terrance Osborne, Elise and Matt Ryan and Sharonda R.Williams.The committee included Seth Bloom,Shanekah Johnson, Phyllis Mandal, Janice R. Manuel,Adam Matasar,Ashly McCord, PJ Morton, KristinShannon,Stephen Stryjewski, Claire Elizabeth Thriffiley, RegineVillain, Emily Wolfe, and Gabe Wright. Individual sponsor names included ScottWolfe and Emily, Kathyand Steve Price, Pixieand Jimmy Reiss, Madalyn and RobertSchenk, Buddy Boe, Marie and JamesCahn, ShirleyTrusty Corey, Milly and George Denegre,Ana and Juan Gershanik,Andrea Giacomino and Mark B. Kline, Debbie and SteveMarx, RogerOgden and KenBarnes, Sally Perryand Oley Sassone,Suzanne and Bob Thomas, and Karen Walk.The Times-Picayune |Nola.com was the Media Sponsor

Headliners from the NOCCA Foundation includedboardpresident Shanekah Johnson with Johmyrin,and board members Stephen Stryjewskiwithartist spouse Janine Guzzo, and Gregory Holt with Lucy Burnett. Noted,too were NOCCA Board President GarySolomon Jr with Seth Bloom; Florence Wingerter with her NOCCA alumson, Philip, who is now on the faculty; and NOCCA co-founderShirley TrustyCorey,Also, Anamaria Villamarin-Lupin and TimLupin, Kimiyo and Theron Williams, Melissa and William Legier,Anne Raymond, Dianne and JoeRicks, Denise and Bruce Germer,Kathyand Steve Price,and hundreds more. Along with all of the above —and thensome, wasthe sartorialstatement. As atogs tribute to the 50 years of NOCCA, many of thecelebratory lot incorporated gold and/or glitz in their look. They let their inner Midasshine!

n Service andAchievement

Nell Nolan SOCIETY

Contact: nnolan@theadvocate.com

n Entrepreneurship

Established in 1984, the Junior Achievement Business Hall of fame honors local businessmen and women fortheir spirit of entrepreneurship, recognition in their organization(s) and/or profession, and their service as role models forothers. Held in the HyattRegency Hotel and presented by theOscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust,anew selection of laureates was showcased. Those honored for2025 were Judy Barrasso, founding member BarrassoUsdin Kupperman Freeman &Sarver,L.L.C.; Tommy Cvitanovich, owner and general manager,Drago’s Seafood Restaurant; Takeisha Davis,M.D., MPH, CEO and president, NewOrleans East Hospital; Troy Henry,founder and managing partner,Henry Consulting, LLC; Samir Mowad,senior vice president and general manager,Caesars Entertainment, Inc.; and, for the Lifetime Achievement Award, William HenryShane Jr ,chairman of Favrot &Shane Companies. The Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Business of the Year was Canal Barge Co.,Inc., which was represented by H. Merritt Lane III. Alwaysimpressive, the Procession of Laureates (including many from years ago) occurred after the Chairman’s Reception. As attendees sat forthe awardsand dinner,and amiable chatter, Vanessa BrownClaiborne, president and CEO, Chaffe,and 2025 JA BusinessHall of Fame chair,gave welcomeremarks. The following program principals were Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans President LarryWashington for theJAupdate; student speaker MadisonHatch from Chalmette High School –JA has impacted one million students; the Tolmas presentation by trustees Vincent J. Giardina and Lisa N. Romano,bothCPA;and, forthe Lifetime Achievement Award presentation TimCoulon. The2025 laureates were recognized at the program’s closure. Ovation was hearty For theselection and planning committee of the Business Hall of Fame, the names to know were Chad Berg,Kim Boyle, Ronald Burns Sr., Vanessa BrownClaiborne, Patricia Denechaud, Kevin Dolliole,Alden McDonald Jr., Suzanne Mestayer,Curtis Pellerin and Gregory Rusovich. Several also serve on the 42-person JA board.

The pleasures of thetable added the social touch during an evening when business was hailed and entrepreneurship, extolled.

The 2025 Willwoods CommunityGalatook place inthe Metairie CountryClub, where guestsfirst gathered outdoorsfor libations before moving into the ballroom area for dinner,aprogram and the recognition of Peter Finney Jr (joined by spouse Carolyn) with the Servus Fidelis Award for his years as executive editor and generalmanager of the Clarion Herald. He was introduced by son Peter Finney III, who, along with Monsignor Christopher Nalty,spoke of the awardee’slong career in journalism and service to others. Prior to their arrival at thecountry club, guestsattended avigil Massatthe nearby St. Francis XavierChurch. Among the features of thefestive assembly to benefit the five ministries of Willwoods Communitywereameal of wedgesalad, filet mignon and, for dessert, adarkchocolate pavé topped with seasonal berries.Bouquets of springflowers bedecked thetables. Mastheaders,inaddition toFinney childrenPeter III, Jonathan and Sarah with their spouses,were Willwoods COO Ron Yager with Dione,board chairman Kenneth “Kenny” Martinez with Maggi,and AnthonyPrados and Olivia Fried,the Rev.Tom ChambersScholarshipwinners. Also,from the Willwoods board were Jane (Mrs. Paul)Nalty, mother ofMonsignor Nalty,for theWillwoods Prayer, MaryJane (Mrs. John) Becker and Sharonand Mark Rodi —all former award recipients. And,

Dr RobertQuinilty,Patrick and Dr

net,

Emily

congratulated as “The

Moniqueand PatSuffern,Judy and

.LauraMansfield, Norris and Bob Williams, John Charbon-

Blanche McCloskey,Sandy Villere,Patricia and MikeToso, Sally Reeves,Anne and Jack Dardis, Jose Bautista with daughter Angela,and Julie and David Gooch To mention aWillwoods few Special thanks at the 22nd annual gala tapped music makers The Gumbo Trio, gala coordinator Erin Vezina Caruso, Helen Sigur,Pat FenertyAndras and

Andras. Throughout theevening, honoree Peter Finney Jr.was

FaithfulServant.”

PHOTOSByMARy STROUT

Terrance and Stephanie Osborne, Adonis Rose

SidneyTorres III, Bill Haines, Merri andChris Haines

Anne Raymond,GregoryHolt

SharondaWilliams, Timand AshleyFrancis

PHOTOSByJEFF STROUT

Troy Henry, JudyBarrasso, Takeisha Davis, SamirMowad

Chad Berg,Madison Hatch, Larry Washington

Tommy Cvitanovich, William HenryShane Jr

Vince Giardina, Lisa Romano, Merritt Lane III

PHOTOSByJEFFSTROUT

KennyMartinez, Peter and Carolyn Finney

Sharon and Mark Rodi

Monsignor Christopher Nalty,Jane Nalty

Ron yager, MaryJane Becker, Anne and Jack Dardis

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Finish what you start. You must build momentum and maintain a solid grip on your goals before you face opposition. Actions speak louder than words.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Rethink what you want and how to make it happen. Put pressure on any person or situation that stands between you and your goal. A partnership will turn out better than anticipated.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Slow down, give yourself a chance to think and formulate the best path forward. Refuse to let anger set in when dignity and grace are necessary. Life is too short to let upset or people consume your mind and time.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Overreacting is the enemy. Talking with someone you trust to give you an honest opinion will help you figure out how to handle stressful emotional scenarios.

ScORPIO (Oct. 24-nov. 22) The lessons of experience will push you in the right direction. Displaying an open mind will be necessary, but don't feel obligated to donate cash.

SAGITTARIuS (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Spend only what you can afford. Concentrate on bringing in more cash and investing in your future. Maintaining a secure lifestyle will require additional funds.

cAPRIcORn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Avoid making the same mistake twice. Whether you are dealing with money, love or health, choose the route that has the best track record. A change within

will encourage those you love to follow suit.

AQuARIuS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) It's up to you to bring about change and to go after what you want. Be the one to start a conversation or take a step. Share your interests and find out where you stand.

PIScES (Feb. 20-March 20) Let your heart lead the way, and opportunities will unfold. An energetic attitude will help you pursue happiness and manifest the life you want to live. Physical improvements will exceed your expectations. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Proceed with caution. Someone will be easily offended if you ask too many questions or make demands. Do your own thing, participate in something intellectually stimulating and let your success shine through.

TAuRuS (April 20-May 20) Engage in learning, expanding your interests and fine-tuning your skills. You have plenty to gain if you participate in a group activity that offers physical health benefits.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Make changes at home that improve your life. Discuss issues you have with anyone who is causing you concern or grief. Face situations head-on instead of letting your stress consume you.

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

TODAy'S cLuE: Z EQuALS O

FAMILY CIrCUS

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

And erneSt

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon

nAte

Sudoku

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

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER

Forthelasttwodays,wehavelookedat responder’s inviting game with 5-4 in the majors opposite a one-no-trump opening bid. What does he do with game-forcing values? The best method is the Smolen convention. Responder bids two clubs, Stayman. If the opener shows a fourcard major, responder raises to game in that suit. But if the opener rebids two diamonds, the responder jumps to three of his four-card major. In this way, if they have a 5-3 major-suit fit, the opener becomes the declarer as in today’s deal. (Three no-trump would have been fine here, but if North had, say, a singleton diamond, the weakness in that suit might have been fatal.) West leads the diamond king against four hearts. How should South plan the play?

Note that if North is the declarer in four hearts, the diamond-10 lead from East, a likely choice, would be lethal. The defenders would get one heart, two diamonds and one club.

In contrast, when South is the declarer, he is in control as long as he ducks the first trick, executing a Bath Coup. What can West do next?

A trump shift is best. If declarer tries the finesse, he goes down because East wins and leads back a diamond. But South, anticipating that scenario, should win with dummy’s ace and call for the clubfive.IfEasttakesthetrickandplays a diamond, South wins, throws dummy’s lastdiamondonahighclub,andworkson trumps to take two spades, four hearts, one diamond and three clubs. Or if East duckstheclub,declarerwinsandreturns a club, discarding a diamond from the dummy.

wuzzles

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

InSTRucTIOnS:

Average

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

Scrabble GramS

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

Puzzle Answer

ken ken

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

WiShinG Well

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe iS roSe animal crackerS

DuStin

Drabble Wallace the brave

breWSter rockit

luann

to make a de positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 23 THELAW OF‐FICESOFHER‐SCHELC.AD‐COCK,JR.,L.L.C (225) 756-0373

DENNISF.WIG‐GINS,JR.

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025

may28-jul2-2t $96.18

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL

(s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025

may28-jul2-2t $93.10

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND,BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NO.1619 GEN‐ERAL PERSHING STREET,CITYOF NEWORLEANS IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:US BANK TRUST NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATION, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR VRMTGASSET TRUST VERSUS DIONEDUHON A/K/ADIONE DUHON MCPHAIL

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2022-1828

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoorofthe Civil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit:

RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-10441 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City onJuly3,2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 5530 SAMOVAR DR NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70126 LOT: 15 SQUARE:C THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQ MIN:1275702 WILLOW TREE SUBDIVISION WRIT AMOUNT: $181,506.33

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 9 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 CANDACEA COURTEAU

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s):

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orable Judges of CivilDistrict Courtfor the ParishofOr‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025,at12:00 o'clock noon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2111-13 REV JOHNRAPHAEL JR.WYNEW OR‐LEANS, LA 70113 SQUARE 347, LOT22-C FOURTH MUNIC‐IPAL DISTRICT ACQ MIN:1421662 WRIT AMOUNT: $248,200.28

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser at themoment ofadjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

1619 GENERAL PERSHING STREET PART OF LOT24 ANDLETTERF SQUARE 416, SIXTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, ACQUIRED MIN 1064037 WRIT AMOUNT: $197,243.25

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 7 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 CANDACEA COURTEAU

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025 may28-jul2-2t $93.10

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2111-13 REVJOHN RAPHAELJR. WAY, THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:HOUSE‐MAXFUNDING FUND ILLC VER‐SUSLAVIGNE INVESTMENT PROPERTIES, LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2022-9366

the balance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 5 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYG YOUNG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $86.66

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 5173-75 ELYSIANFIELD AVENUE,THIS CITY,INTHE MATTERENTI‐TLED:MILLCITY MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2017-3, WILM‐INGTON SAVING FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE VERSUS AKELLO PATRICEDAN‐GERFIELD

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-1169

BD 13 JACKSON& MCPHERSON LLC504-5819444 CRIS JACKSON

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $88.77

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1838 CHARBONNET ST,CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:PENNY‐MACLOANSER‐VICES, LLCVER‐SUSCHARLES FRANKLIN JR. CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-3040 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the above entitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025,at12:00 o'clock noon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 1838 CHARBON‐NETSTNEW OR‐LEANS, LA 70117 LOTS M& NSQUARE 838 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT

ACQMIN: 1452448 WRIT AMOUNT: $163,034.96

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2901 AMAZON STREET,THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:U.S BANK TRUST COMPANY, NA‐TIONAL ASSOCI‐ATION, NOTIN ITSINDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS IN‐DENTURE TRUSTEEOFCIM TRUST2023-NR1 VERSUS MONIQUE COLERAS INDEPENDENT EXECUTRIXOF THESUCCES‐SION OF MACK ALLEN, SR.AND AS INDEPEN‐DENT EXECUTOR OF THESUCCES‐SION OF LOIS KIRKPATRICK ALLENA/K/A LOIS BRENDA KIRKPATRICK MCDONALD ALLEN

2023-8143

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 7725 LEHIGHST NEWORLEANS LA 70127 LOT40-ASQUARE 66 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQ MIN:1383399 WRIT AMOUNT: $288,252.65

Building, 421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2520 ANNETTE ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70119 SQUARE 1372, LOT11 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQ MIN:1389468 WRIT AMOUNT: $128,295.23

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 10 GRAHAM,ARCE‐NEAUX& ALLEN, LLC504-5228256

LOUISG.ARCE‐NEAUX

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $87.71

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 5173-75ELYSIAN FIELDS AV NEW ORLEANS, LA 70122 LOTB,SQUARE 61 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 835706

GENTILLY GAR‐DENS WRIT AMOUNT: $194,627.44

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 7 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ASHLEY E. MOR‐RIS

S Case No: 2024-3704

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2901 AMAZON ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70114 SQUARE 22A LOT5A FIFTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 922451 WRIT AMOUNT:

$76,756.54 Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

BD 8 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYG YOUNG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 6 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ASHLEY E. MOR‐RIS

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025 JUL2-AUG 6-2T $88.77

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 12 HALLIDAY WATKINS& MANN P.C. AT‐TORNEYSAT LAW BRIGHAMJ LUNDBERG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $104.66

INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 3218 SABINE STREET, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTERENTI‐TLED:U.S.BANK TRUSTNA‐TIONAL ASSOCI‐ATION, AS TRUSTEEOF YURT SERIES III TRUST VERSUS KEITH STRIPLINGAND RITA LARKINS PETERS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-1107

NANCEOF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES AC‐QUISITION TRUST2019-HB1 VERSUS ESTATE OF LEROYJONES

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-822

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2727 CLOVERST NEWORLEANS, LA 70122 LOT: 35, SQUARE 18 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1082332 WRIT AMOUNT: $186,265.69

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 924-926 SPAINSTREET, THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:STAN‐DARD MORT‐GAGE CORPORA‐TION VERSUS WILLIAMAR‐MOUR,IV

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-2641 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 924-926SPAIN ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70117 LOT: 13, SQUARE:274 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 583737 WRIT AMOUNT: $51,267.28

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 3218 SABINEST NEWORLEANS, LA 70114 SQUARE 108, LOTS 27 &28 FIFTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN:837091 WRIT AMOUNT: $175,817.89

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans GH 14 JACKSON& MCPHERSON, LLC504-5819444 CRIS R. JACK‐SON

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025 JUL2-AUG 6-2T $89.83

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025 JUL2-AUG 6-2T $91.42

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2520 ANNETTE STREET,THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:WILM‐INGTON SAV‐INGS FUND SO‐CIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UALCAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR VERUSSECURI‐TIZATION TRUST 2022-INV2 VER‐SUSBONITA CHEMICA MALANEZ STEVENSA/K/A BONITA MALANEZ STEVENSA/K/A BONITA CHEM‐ICASTEVENS A/K/ABONITA CHEMICA MALANEZA/K/A BONITA C. STEVENSA/K/A BONIAM STEVENSA/K/A BONITA STEVENSA/K/A BONITA C. MALANEZ A/K/ABONITA MALANEZA/K/A BONITA COW‐ART CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-656 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans,

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

GH 16 JACKSON& MCPHERSON, LLC504-5819444 CRIS JACKSON

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s):

7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $91.95

SEVENTH MU

ACQMIN#: 2022-38904 LAKE MARINA TOWNHOMES WRIT AMOUNT: $337,602.63

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order.NoPer‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans GH 15 JACKSON& MCPHERSON, LLC504-5819444 CRIS JACKSON

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s):

7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $88.77

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1928-30 DAUPHINE STREET,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED: B1BANK VERSUS LIONDEVELOP‐MENT GROUP, LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-7737

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City onAugust7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 1928-30 DAUPHINE ST NEWORLEANS, LA 70116 LOT: 31, SQUARE:158 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1388543 WRIT AMOUNT: $1,913,724.77

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans GH 21 LAWOFFICES BAKER,DONEL‐SON, BEARMAN, CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ504566-5211 JOSEPH P. BRIGGETT

The N.O. Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $88.77

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1924-26 DAUPHINE STREET,THIS CITY IN THEMATTER ENTITLED: B1BANK VERSUS LIONDEVELOP‐MENT GROUP, LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-7737

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoorofthe Civil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025,at12:00 o'clock noon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 1924-26 DAUPHINE ST NEWORLEANS LA 70116 LOT;:15, SQUARE:158 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1388543 WRIT AMOUNT: $1,913,724.77

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 20 LAWOFFICES BAKER, DONEL‐SON, BEARMAN, CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ 504566-5211

JOSEPH P. BRIGGETT TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025 JUL2-AUG 6-2T $88.24

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER,227579 N. DERBIGNY STREET,THIS CITY,INTHE MATTERENTI‐TLED:USCS CAPITAL, LLC VERSUS2279 DERBIGNY,LLC ANDEDRO PROPERTY, LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-898

By virtue of a CourtOrder di‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court

District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the above entitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, onthe ground ﬂoor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City onAugust7 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2275-79 NDER‐BIGNYSTNEW ORLEANS, LA 70117

LOTA,SQUARE 775, THIRD MUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, ACQCIN 752752

TERMS-100% CASH AT THE MOMENT OF AD‐JUDICATION. Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans BD 17

JONAHFREED‐MANLAW LLC 504-475-8075 JONAHFREED‐MAN

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025 JUL2-AUG 6-2T $81.36

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 916 NORTH TONTI STREET,THIS CITY IN THEMATTER ENTITLED: NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELL‐POINTMORT‐GAGE SERVIC‐INGVERSUS LORENZOR RODGERS (A/K/A LORENZO RODGERS)

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-11171 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil DistrictCourt forthe Parish of Orleans, in the above entitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, onthe ground ﬂoor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City onAugust7 2025,at12:00 o'clocknoon, the following describedprop‐erty to wit: 916 N TONTIST NEWORLEANS, LA 70119 LOTS:1 AND2, SQUARE:294 SECOND MUNIC‐IPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 909085 WRIT AMOUNT: $119,538.55

Seized in the above suit

TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING

STREET,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTER

ENTITLED:EU‐STIS MORTGAGE CORPORATION VERSUS DESIREE LEEWASHING‐TON(A/K/A DESIREEWASH‐INGTON)AND KARENROGERS ANDTRACEY QUINNAND EARL QUINN

3641 RED OAK CT NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70131 LOT: 14, SQUARE:114 FIFTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1401030 TALL TIMBERS SUBDIVISION, SECTION7 WRIT AMOUNT: $417,753.86

GH 31 NEWMAN MATHIS,BRADY &SPEDALE, APLC 504-8379040

WAYNEA.MAIO‐RANA

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $88.24

ON THE OPPO SITE SIDE LINE ADJOIN‐INGLOT 2HAV‐INGA MUNICI‐PALADDRESSO 4378 GENOA ROAD,NEW ORLEANS, LA 70129.

WRIT AMOUNT: $298,350.98

Q UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 8

DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 CANDACEA COURTEAU

cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $89.30

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 4116 JUMONVILLE STREET,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED: AMERIHOME MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC VERSUS CARL LEEJOHNSON JR. A/K/A CARL L. JOHN‐SON, JR.A/K/A CARL JOHNSON, JR. AND SHAUNTAY BEACHJOHN‐SONA/K/A SHAUNTAY B. JOHNSONA/K/A SHAUNTAY JOHNSON

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-3373

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 4116 JU‐MONVILLE ST NEWORLEANS LA 70122 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT SQUARE 2873, LOT11 ACQ

MIN:1350507 WRIT AMOUNT: $178,143.03

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACEMASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 23

LAWOFFICES OF HERSCHEL C. ADCOCK,JR. LLC (225) 756-0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s):

7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $94.07

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 36173619 DANNEEL

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-6644

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 3617-3619 DAN‐NEEL ST NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115 SQUARE 507, LOT3 &J SIXTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQ

MIN:1382222 WRIT AMOUNT:

$135,403.47

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

BD 26 LOGS LEGAL GROUPLLP 504838-7535 EMILYA MUELLER

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $90.98

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 3641 REDOAK COURT, THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:HAN‐COCK WHITNEY BANK VERSUS DARRENMARK HARRIS

Case No: 2025-2442

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans GH 32 NEWMAN, MATHIS,BRADY &SPEDALE, APLC 504-8379040 JEFFERY TOEPFER

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025

JUL2-AUG 6-2T $88.77

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1329 TOUROSTREET, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTERENTI‐TLED:FMM BUSHNELL LONG LAKES, LLCVER‐SUSK.JAI,LLC ANDCHRISTIN ALEXIS GRADY

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-676

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 1329 TOURO ST NEWORLEANS, LA 70116 SQUARE 510, LOT2 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQ MIN:1352179 WRIT AMOUNT: $171,722.14

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 31

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 4378 GENOARD, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:CROSS‐COUNTRY MORTGAGE,LLC VERSUS ERIC CORDELL MCGOVERN, (A/K/A ERIC C. MCGOVERN) ANDJIRATHI‐TIKARN,(A/K/A JIRATHITIKARN JIRATHITIKARN)

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-1408

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

ALLTHAT CER‐TAIN LOTOF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLTHE BUILD‐INGS AND IMPROVE‐MENTSTHEEON, ANDALL OF THE RIGHTS,WAYS SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐NANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGINGORIN ANYWISE APPERTAINING, SITUATED IN THETHIRD DIS‐TRICT, CITY OF NEWORLEANS, PARISH OF ORLEANS, STATEOF LOUISIANA. IN THAT PART THEEOF KNOWN AS VENETIAN ISLESSUBDIVI‐SION 4, SECTION 2. BEINGA RE‐SUBDIVISIONOF PARCEL 16 OF PROPOSED SEC‐TION 2. VENET‐IANISLES SUB‐DIVISION PER PLAN OF SUBDI‐VISION OF UNIVERSALEN‐GINEERS, INC., DATEDDECEM‐BER19, 1978, APPROVED BY THECITY PLANNING COM‐MISSION, AU‐GUST 21, 1979, DULYREGIS‐TEREDINTHE CONVEYANCE OFFICE FOROR‐LEANSPARISH ON AUGUST 22 1979. IN COB 763, FOLIO477 AND ACCORDINGTO SAID PLAN.SAID LOTISDESIG‐NATEDASLOT NO IN SQUARE NO 27. ANDBEING MORRE FULLY DESCRIBEDAS FOLLOWS: LOT NO 3. SQUARE NO 27 MEASURES75 FEET FRONTON GENOASTREET 62.44 FEEL IN WIDTHINTHE REAR ON IALTOWATER‐WAYBYA DEPTHOF172.50 FEET ON THE SIDE LINE AD‐JOININGLOT 4 NEARER TO GRANDBAYOU, ANDA DEPTH OF 172.50FEET ON THEOPPO‐

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans RB 28

ALBERTELLI LAWTAMPA OP‐ERATINGAC‐COUNT PENNY DAIGRE‐PONT

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/2/2025 & 8/6/2025 JUL2-AUG 6-2T $137.48

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT PORTION OF GROUND BEARINGMU‐NICIPALNO. 4950 ST.ROCH AVENUE,THIS CITY,INTHE MATTER ENTITLED:THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKATHE BANK OF NEWYORK AS TRUSTEEFOR THE CERTIFICATE HOLDERSOF CWABSINC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-2 VERSUS WEBB SIMMONSJR. ANDATHENA WLLIAMSSIM‐MONS CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2022-5253 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground ﬂoor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on July 3, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon,the fol‐lowing de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: 4950 ST.ROCH AVENUE LOTS 13, 14 AND 15, SQUARE 56, THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, GENTILLY TER‐RACE, ACQMIN: 747973 WRIT AMOUNT: $112,152.48

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 5/28/2025 & 7/2/2025

may28-jul2-2t $93.54