Final budget bill delays some changes for several years
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON — During his nearly nine-hour floor speech opposing passage of the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries used Louisiana to underscore his argument that the measure harms Medicaid The legislation, signed into law Friday, includes tax breaks and increased funding for Republican priorities. It pays for them, partially, by cutting spending by $1.1 trillion over the next 10 years for
Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
That will lead to 17 million Americans losing health care coverage, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
“Louisiana is a state that stands to suffer mightily as a result of this all-out assault on Medicaid,” said Jeffries, D-N.Y He pointed out that the Republican supermajority in the Louisiana Legislature passed a resolution asking Congress not to slash Medicaid
SPOUT AND ABOUT
ABOVE: Members of the Erath volunteer fire department team get pelted with water by the team from Meaux/Nunez during the Erath 4th of July Celebration water fights in Erath on Friday
RIGHT: Area volunteer firefighters from Delcambre get pelted by a Church Point team during the Erath 4th of July Celebration water fights on Friday
STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP
La. schools, food banks try to keep students fed over summer
Mission grows more difficult as costs rise
BY ELYSE CARMOSINO
The smell of baking garlic bread and chicken nuggets filled the air inside the Collins Elemen-
tary School cafeteria in Jefferson Parish on a recent summer afternoon as more than 100 children loaded up their lunch trays. Some of the students, who ranged from ages 5-12 and wore cowboy hats and boots to celebrate “western day,” held their plates to their noses, inhaled and let out an audible “Mmmm.”
“We like to get feedback from the kids about what they like and don’t like,” said Destiny Uhle, district area manager for Jefferson Parish schools, as she bustled from table to table chatting with students. “They aren’t shy about telling us.” The school is one of many in Louisiana that participate in the Summer Food Services Program, a federal program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides free breakfast and
lunch to children 18 and under when school is not in session. Local food banks also help many low-income families fill their pantries over the summer when children are home from school. But that mission has become more difficult this year due to rising food costs and a growing number of families seeking assistance,
ä See STUDENTS, page 4A
Fort Johnson becomes Fort Polk once more
But the base’s old name refers to a new person
BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer
Two years ago, with flags, speeches and the clang of a hammer Fort Polk became Fort Johnson, shedding its Confederate namesake and honoring a Black World War I hero. Now, in another ceremony this month, Louisiana’s largest military installation will become Fort Polk once again. But the base’s old name refers to a new person: Gen. James H. Polk, awarded the Silver Star for his World War II service. To many in the conservative, veteran-heavy Vernon Parish, the move is a welcome reversal, returning the fort to the name they’d continued using anyway “If you did a poll, you would probably find 90% are happy,” said Phillip Hunt, an at-large council member in Leesville. “That’s what they’ve known it as.”
But to the family of Sgt. William Henry Johnson — who was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart in 1996, the Distinguished Service Cross in 2002 and the Medal of Honor in 2015 — the move is a disappointment in the long fight for Johnson to get the recognition he deserves. His granddaughter Tara Johnson doesn’t want to fight anymore. Some have suggested that the name
ä See BASE, page 4A
WESTBROOK
Fort Polk became Fort Johnson, shedding its Confederate namesake and honoring a Black World War I hero. Now Louisiana’s largest military installation will become Fort Polk once again.
President Donald Trump holds up his signature on the bill of tax breaks and spending cuts at the White House on Friday in Washington as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, left, watches and Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, takes a photo.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EVAN VUCCI
Homes burn, 1 dead in fireworks explosion
LOS ANGELES Amid exploding fireworks, more than 130 firefighters battled a fire that engulfed four homes in Pacoima on Thursday night, authorities said.
On Friday morning, officials said one person was found dead
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to three burning one-story homes. Fireworks were exploding upon firefighters’ arrival, exposing surrounding homes and brush to the danger of ignition.
At 9:30 p.m. the Fire Department declared the blaze a “major emergency” and said that a 33-year-old woman was transported to a hospital in critical condition. An injured dog was also taken to an emergency veterinary hospital
Several animals were reportedly injured in the blaze, and a 68-year-old woman declined transportation to a hospital for smoke inhalation injuries.
“I felt almost like the impact, you feel it. And as soon as I heard that, I turned the street to see if anyone needed help and more fireworks started going off,” a resident told KABC-TV “It felt like an explosion the fireworks started going off and sooner or later all these fires started coming.”
Kenneth Colley, who had role in ‘Star Wars,’ dies
Kenneth Colley, a British actor known for playing Admiral Piett in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, has died at age 87. Colley died at his home in England on Monday according to a statement shared by his agent, Julian Owens. Before his death, Colley been admitted to a hospital for an arm injury he suffered in a fall, but he quickly contracted COVID-19 that eventually developed into pneumonia. Throughout his 64-year career, Colley worked continuously in film, television and on the stage, playing a wide variety of characters from Jesus in “Monty Python’s Life of Brian” to the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” for the BBC. In “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi” he played Admiral Piett, an imperial officer in command of Darth Vader’s flagship Executor He reprised the role in 2012’s animated “Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out.” Colley also appeared in films such as Clint Eastwood’s “Firefox” and British TV shows like “Coronation Street,” “EastEnders” and “Return to Treasure Island.”
Bulge in underwear was 3 pythons, officials say A Sri Lankan man is accused of trying to illegally smuggle animals out of Thailand after airport security reported finding snakes in his underwear, officials said.
The Wildlife Crime Intelligence Center received a tip that a known wildlife trafficker was arriving on a Thai Airways flight in Bangkok on Tuesday, according to a Thursday news Facebook post from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
The man had been previously arrested on wildlife crimes in Sri Lanka in 2024, and had in the past tried to move wolves, meerkats, black cockatoos, sugar gliders, porcupines, ball pythons iguanas, frogs, salamanders and turtles, officials said
The day after landing in Bangkok, the man left his accommodation in a taxi and arrived at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, officials said.
He checked into his flight and tagged his luggage, then moved through the security checkpoint, according to the post.
His suitcase passed through the checkpoint without incident, but as officials performed a body search, they found his underwear to be full.
Three ball pythons were hidden in a soft mesh bag, with different variations of color photos show.
Ball pythons require import and export permits, meaning moving them across the border without proper documentation is a crime, officials said.
Hamas edges toward ceasefire
Group has given ‘positive’ response to latest proposal, says further talks needed
BY WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMYA KULLAB Associated Press
DEIR al-BALAH, Gaza Strip Hamas said Friday it has given a “positive” response to the latest proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza but said further talks were needed on implementation.
It was not clear if Hamas’ statement meant it had accepted the proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump for a 60-day ceasefire. Hamas has been seeking guarantees that the initial truce would lead to a total end to the war now nearly 21 months old. Trump has been pushing hard for a deal to be reached, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to visit the White House next week to discuss a deal.
The Hamas statement came as Israeli airstrikes killed 15 Palestinians in Gaza early Friday, while a hospital said another 20 people died in shootings while seeking aid.
The U.N. human rights office said it has recorded 613 Palestinians killed within the span of a month in Gaza while trying to
obtain aid. Most were killed while trying to reach food distribution points run by an Israeli-backed American organization, it said. Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, during which the U.S. would “work with all parties to end the war.” He urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. In its statement late Friday, Hamas said it “has submitted its positive response” to Egyptian and Qatari mediators. It said it is “fully prepared to immediately enter into a round of negotiations regarding the mechanism for implementing this framework.” It did not elaborate on what needed to be worked out in implementation.
An official close to the talks said Hamas had several issues it was requesting — that Israeli troops in Gaza pull back to positions it held on March 2 before it broke the previous ceasefire; that aid flow into Gaza in sufficient quantities through the U.N. and other international humanitarian agencies; and that negotiations continue beyond 60 days if needed to reach
a deal for a permanent end to the war and the release of all remaining hostages.
Officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said at least three Palestinians were killed Friday while on the roads heading to food distribution sites run by the Israeli-backed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in southern Gaza.
Since GHF began distributions in late May, witnesses have said almost daily that Israeli troops open fire toward crowds of Palestinians on the roads leading to the food centers. To reach the sites, people must walk several miles through an Israeli military zone where troops control the road.
The Israeli military has said previously it fires warning shots to control crowds or at Palestinians who approach its troops. The GHF has denied any serious injuries or deaths on its sites and says shootings outside their immediate vicinity are under the purview of Israel’s military
On Friday, in reaction to the U.N. rights agency’s report, it said in a statement that it was investigating reports of people killed and
Russia launches missile, drone barrage on Kyiv
It’s largest aerial assault since the war began
BY HANNA ARHIROVA Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine Waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv overnight in the largest aerial assault since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began more than three years ago, officials said Friday, amid a renewed Russian push to capture more of its neighbor’s land
Hours after the barrage that killed one person and wounded at least 26 others, including a child Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a “very important and productive” phone call with U.S President Donald Trump.
The two leaders discussed how Ukrainian air defenses might be strengthened, possible joint weapons production between the U.S. and Ukraine, and broader U.S-led efforts to end the war with Russia, according to a statement by Zelenksyy
The U.S. has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defense missiles. Ukraine’s main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack. Zelenskyy says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine’s domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the call.
The seven-hour bombardment of Kyiv caused severe damage across multiple districts of the capital in a seven-hour onslaught, authorities said. Blasts lit up the night sky and echoed across the city as air raid sirens wailed.
“It was a harsh, sleepless night,” Zelenskyy said
Russia has been stepping up its longrange attacks on Ukrainian cities. Less than a week ago, Russia launched what was then the largest aerial assault of the war Russia launched 550 drones and missiles across Ukraine during the night, the country’s air force said. The majority were Shahed drones, but Russia also launched 11 missiles in the attack.
In Friday’s call, Zelenskyy said he congratulated Trump and the American people on Independence Day and thanked the United States for its continued support. They discussed a possible future
meeting between their teams to explore ways of enhancing Ukraine’s protection against air attacks, Zelenskyy said.
Ukrainian officials and the Russian Defense Ministry said another prisoner swap took place Friday, though neither side said how many soldiers were involved. Zelenskyy said most of the Ukrainians had been in Russian captivity since 2022. The Ukrainian soldiers were classified as “wounded and seriously ill.”
The attack on Kyiv began the same day a phone call took place between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Asked if he made any progress during his call with Putin on a deal to end the fighting in Ukraine, Trump said: “No, I didn’t make any progress with him today at all.”
“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin because I don’t think he’s there. I don’t think he’s looking to stop (the fighting), and that’s too bad,” Trump said.
The Ukrainian response needs to be speedy as Russia escalates its aerial attacks. Russia launched 5,438 drones at Ukraine in June, a new monthly record, according to official data collated by The Associated Press. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said earlier this week that Russia also launched more than 330 missiles, including nearly 80 ballistic missiles, at Ukrainian towns and cities that month.
Throughout the night, AP journalists in Kyiv heard the constant buzzing of drones overhead and the sound of explosions and intense machine gun fire as Ukrainian forces tried to intercept the aerial assault.
“Absolutely horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on social media platform X. “One of the worst so far.”
Kyiv was the primary target of the countrywide attack. At least 14 people were hospitalized, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Zelenskyy called the Kyiv attack “cynical.” In Moscow the Defense Ministry claimed its forces targeted factories producing drones and other military equipment in Kyiv Ukrainian air defenses shot down 270 targets, including two cruise missiles Another 208 targets were lost from radar and presumed jammed.
Russia successfully hit eight locations with nine missiles and 63 drones. Debris from intercepted drones fell across at least 33 sites.
wounded while seeking aid and that it had given instructions to troops in the field based on “lessons learned” from reviewing the incidents. It said it was working at “minimizing possible friction between the population” and Israeli forces.
Separately witnesses have said Israeli troops open fire on crowds of Palestinians who gather in military-controlled zones to wait for aid trucks entering Gaza for the U.N. or other aid organizations not associated with GHF The crowds are usually made up of people desperate for food who grab supplies off the passing trucks, and armed gangs have also looted trucks.
On Friday, 17 people were killed waiting for trucks in eastern Khan Younis in the Tahliya area, officials at Nasser Hospital said.
Airstrikes also hit the Muwasi area on the southern end of Gaza’s Mediterranean coast, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes are sheltering in tent camps. Of the 15 people killed in the strikes, eight were women and one was a child, according to the hospital.
Judge briefly blocks immigrants’ deportation
BY NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press
A federal judge on Friday briefly halted deportations of eight immigrants to wartorn South Sudan, sending the case to another judge, in Boston, the day after the Supreme Court greenlighted their removal.
District Judge Randolph Moss sent the case north from Washington after an extraordinary Fourth of July hearing on Friday afternoon. He concluded that the judge best equipped to deal with the issues was Brian Murphy the one whose rulings led to the initial halt of the Trump administration’s effort to begin deportations to the eastern African country It was unclear whether Murphy would act on the federal holiday to further limit the removal. Moss said new claims by the immigrants’ lawyers deserved a hearing.
The administration has
been trying to deport the immigrants for weeks. None are from South Sudan, which is enmeshed in civil war and where the U.S government advises no one should travel before making their own funeral arrangements. The government flew them to the U.S. Naval Base at Djibouti but couldn’t move them further because Murphy had ruled no immigrant could be sent to a new country without a chance to have a court hearing. The Supreme Court vacated that decision last month, then Thursday night issued a new order clarifying that that meant the immigrants could be moved to South Sudan. Lawyers for the immigrants, who hail from Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam and other countries, filed an emergency request to halt their removal later that night. The administration has said it expected to fly the immigrants to South Sudan sometime Friday
A local woman walks past cars destroyed by a Russian strike Friday in Kyiv Ukraine.
Taxand spending cutbillsigned
BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE and NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press
WASHINGTON PresidentDonald Trump signed his package of tax breaks and spending cuts into law
Friday after his cajoling produced almost unanimous Republican support in Congress for the domestic priority that could cement his second-termlegacy
Flanked by Republican legislators and members of his Cabinet,Trump signed the multitrillion-dollar legislation outside the White House,and then banged down the gavelthat House Speaker Mike Johnson gifted him that was used during the bill’s final passage Thursday Against odds that at timesseemed improbable, Trump achieved his goal of celebrating ahistoric— and divisive —legislative victory in time for the nation’sbirthday.Fighter jets and stealth bombers streaked through the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic
“America’swinning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump said, noting last month’sbombing campaign against Iran’snuclear program, which he said the flyover was meanttohonor.“Promises made, promises kept, and we’ve kept them.”
The White House was hung with red, white and bluebunting forthe regular Fourth of Julyfestivities. The United States Marine Band played patriotic marches. There were three separate flyovers.
Trump spoke for arelatively brief 22 minutes before signing the bill, but was clearly energized as the legislation’spassage topped arecentwinningstreak forhis administration. That included the Iran campaign and aseriesofU.S. Supreme Court rulings he’sfought for.
The budget legislation is thepres-
ident’shighest-profile win yet. It includes key campaign pledgeslike no tax on tips or Social Securityincome. Trump, who spent an unusual amountoftime thanking individual Republican lawmakerswho shepherded the measure through Congress, contended “our country is goingtobea rocket ship, economically,” because of the legislation. BigcutstoMedicaid, food stamps
Critics assailed thepackage as a giveaway to therich that will rob millions more lower-income people of their health insurance, food assistance andfinancial stability
“Today,DonaldTrumpsigned into law the worst job-killing bill in American history.Itwill rip health care from 17 million workers to pay for massive tax giveawaysto the wealthyand bigcorporations, amounting to the country’slargest money grab from theworking class
to the ultrarich,” AFL-CIO President LizShuler said in astatement. “Everymember of Congresswho voted for this devastating billpickedthe pockets of working people to hand billionaires a$5trilliongift.”
The legislation extends Trump’s 2017 multitrillion-dollar tax cuts and cuts Medicaid and food stamps by $1.2trillion. It provides for a massive increase in immigration enforcement. Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeper projectsthat nearly 12 million more people will lose healthinsurance under thelaw
The legislation passed the House on alargely party-line vote Thursday, culminatinga monthslong push by theGOP to cram most of its legislative priorities into asingle budget bill thatcould be enacted without Senate Democrats being able to block it indefinitely by filibustering. It passed by asingle voteinthe Senate, where. Vice President JD Vance
had to cast the tiebreaking vote. In the House,where two Republicansvoted against it, one, conservative maverick TomMassie of Kentucky,has also becomeatarget of Trump’swell-funded political operation.
The legislation amounts to arepudiation of the agendas of two Democratic presidents, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, in rolling back Obama’sMedicaidexpansion under hissignature health law and Biden’s taxcredits for renewable energy
TheCongressionalBudgetOffice estimates the package will add $3.3 trillion to the deficit over the decade and 11.8 millionmore people will go without health coverage.
Certaintobemidterm flashpoint
Democratic National Committee Chair KenMartin on Fridaycalled the bill“devastating” and said in a statementthatTrump’ssignature on the legislation “sealed the fate of the Republican Party,cementing them as the party for billionaires and special interests —not working families.”
Trump exulted in his political victoryThursday night in Iowa,where he attended akickoffofevents celebrating the country’s250th birthday next year
“I want to thank Republican congressmen and women, because what theydid is incredible,” he said. The president complained that Democrats voted against the bill because “they hate Trump—but I hate them,too.”
The packageiscertaintobea flashpoint in next year’smidterm elections, and Democrats are making ambitious plans for rallies, voter registration drives,attackads, bus tours and even amultiday vigil, allintended to highlight the most controversial elements.
Trump wants UFC fight at White House BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE and HANNAH FINGERHUT Associated Press
DES MOINES,Iowa— President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’sthinking of staging aUFC match on the White House grounds with upwards 20,000 spectators to celebrate 250 yearsofAmerican independence.
“Wehavealot of land there,” said Trump, aUFC enthusiast whohas attended several of its mixed martial arts matches in recent months and is close friends withDana White, the league’spresident.
Trump announced his plan in Iowa during the kickofffor ayear’sworth of festivitiestocelebrate America’s250th birthday on July 4, 2026.
TheRepublicanpresident also announced aculminating festival on the National Mall in Washington, and a separate athleticcompetition featuringhighschool athletes from acrossthe country
“So every one of our national parks, battlefieldsand historicsites are goingto have special events in honor of America 250. And Ieven think we’re going to have a UFC fight,” Trump said.
“Thinkofthisonthe grounds of the White House. We have alot of land there,” he said, adding that it would be a“full fight”with20,000 to 25,000 people. White House press secretary Karoline Leavittlater said Trumpwas “dead serious” about those plans.
Trumpsayshedidn’tknowtermheusedisconsideredantisemitic He said ‘shylock’ during speech
BY MICHELLEL.PRICE Associated Press
WASHINGTON President DonaldTrump says he didn’t know theterm“shylock”is considered antisemitic when he used it in aspeech to describe unscrupulous moneylenders.
Trump told reporters early Friday after returning from an event in Iowa that he had
“never heard it that way” and “never heardthat” the term was considered an offensive stereotype about Jews. Shylockrefers to the villainous Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare’s“The Merchant of Venice” who demands apoundofflesh from adebtor
The Anti-Defamation League, which works to combat antisemitism, said in astatement that the term “evokes acenturies-old antisemitic tropeabout Jews and greed that is extremely
offensive and dangerous. President Trump’suse of the term is very troubling and irresponsible.”
Democrat Joe Biden, while vice president, said in 2014 that he hadmadea“poor choice” of words aday after he used theterm in remarks to alegal aid group.
Trump’sadministration has madecracking down on antisemitism apriority His administrationsaidit is screeningfor antisemitic activity when granting immigration benefitsand its
Bill hasprovision to send spaceshuttle DiscoveryfromSmithsonian to Texas
BY SARAH BAHARI
The Dallas Morning News (TNS)
DALLAS The Smithsonian could lose the iconic space shuttle Discovery to Texas as part of President Donald Trump’smassive tax and spending bill.
The Senate narrowly passed Trump’s“Big Beautiful Bill” Tuesday with a provision setting aside $85 million to move Discovery to Space Center Houston. U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both Republicans, are pushing for the move and lauded its passage this week Cornyn said the move would
right an “egregious wrong.”
TheSmithsonian says the move would cost morethan $300million, including the costoftransferand construction of afacility to house it in Houston. The museum’s directortold theWashington Business Journal this week that it maintains full ownership of the shuttle “Our position is that the Discovery is staying right where itis,” Air and Space Museum Director Chris Brownetold theoutlet. In awritten statement Thursday to TheDallas Morning News, amuseum spokespersonsaid theSmith-
sonian is “charged with collecting, preserving, and displaying aerospace objects and artifacts of historical interest andsignificance for current and future generations.” NASA, it said,transferred all rights, title, interestand ownership of the shuttle to theSmithsonian.
Aspokesperson for Cornyn calledthe Smithsonian’scost estimate “purposefully overblown”inan email Thursday and said an outside vendorskilled at moving heavy military equipment estimated the cost between $5 million to $8 million.
fight with Harvard University hascenteredonallegationsfromthe WhiteHouse that the school has tolerated antisemitism.
On Thursday night in his speech in Iowa, Trumpused theterm while talking about his signature legislation that
was passed by Congress. “No deathtax,noestate tax, no going to the banks and borrowing somefrom, in some cases,a fine banker and in somecases shylocks and bad people,” he said.
When areporter later asked about the word’san-
tisemitic association and his intent, Trumpsaid; “No, I’ve neverheard it that way.To me,ashylock is somebody that’sa money lender at high rates. I’ve never heard it that way. Youviewitdifferently than me. I’venever heard that.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EVAN VUCCI
President DonaldTrump bangsa gavelpresented to him by House Speaker MikeJohnson, R-Benton, after he signed his signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts Friday at the White House in Washington.
CUTS
Continued
because the state, one of the poorest in the nation, couldn’t afford the extra costs.
Except forNew Mexico, Louisianahas thenation’s highest percentage of residents —one-third —onMedicaid, which covers the cost of health carefor low-income adults, children and seniors.
The law eventually could cost Louisiana $4 billion and lead to 267,550 losing theircoverage over the next 10 years, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and other nonpartisan experts.
However,inthe frenzyof negotiations over thepast few weeks, some of the biggest cuts were delayed for several years.
That includes some of the changes that most alarmed Louisiana health care leaders, such as new restrictions on provider taxes and statedirectedpayments.
Louisiana’shospital community,while not exuberant, says the bill could have been much worse had the Louisiana congressionaldelegation not inserted wording that delayed the changes, said Paul A. Salles, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge-based LouisianaHospitalAssociation.
State Senate President
STUDENTS
according to schoolsystems and local food pantries. Meanwhile, the Trump administration this year cut about $1 billion in federal aid thathad helpedschools, child care centers and food banks acrossthe country purchase food from local farmers. Families’ need for assistance remains high. About 25% of Louisiana children live below the poverty line, well above the national average of 16%, according to a2025 report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation,which tracks children’swell-being nationwide.
While many students rely on school meals during the academic year,participation plummets during the summer.In2023, only about 8% of Louisiana studentswho typically received free or reduced-price lunch at school participated in the summer food program, according to areport from the Food Research &Action Center In Jefferson Parish, wheremorethan 75%ofthe
Cameron Henry,R-Metairie, put it more succinctly in apostonX:“The Senatepassed reconciliation bill is much improved, and Louisianaisingood shape.”
Henry had saida previous version of the bill could have causeda big enough budget problem for Louisiana that theLegislature would need to convene for aspecial session.
With some of the biggest changes still yearsout,some in Louisiana healthcare circles hope changes can be made to bluntthe impact of the cuts. Many of those changes won’ttake effect until after midterm elections next year, when themakeup of Congresscouldchange significantly
La.Medicaidchanges
Of the $16.4 billion annual Medicaidcosts for Louisiana,state taxpayers kick in about$3billion, according to theLegislature. Thenew law would halt someofthe tools Louisiana usestopay that$3billion, requiring the statetopour in extra money or let some people go without health insurance. Republicans cast the changes as needed to shore up the health care programs by ensuring services remain available only for those truly in need
“A lot of the estimations are far overblown …especiallyinmydistrict,”said
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton. About 40% of his constituents are Medicaid eligible.
But U.S.Rep.Troy Carter D-New Orleans, saidthe bill “represents the largest cuts to healthcare and nutrition assistance in American history It strips support from our hospitals and nursing homes,” threatening to close long-term facilities and rural hospitals. About 38% of Carter’sconstituents are Medicaid eligible.
Much of thesavings in the newlaw comes from fees thestate levies on hospitals, clinics and other healthcare providers. Theseprovider taxes help the state put more money into Medicaid.
Providertaxes alsohave theeffect of increasing the portionthe federal government must pay. The newlaw ratchets down theprovider tax rate from 6% to 4.5% over several years. ButLouisiana’s rate is 4.6%, so thestate has abuffer
Some of themoney raised through provider taxes goes directlytohospitals in what are called state-directed payments.One state-directed payment sends funds to rural hospitals whosepatients— almost half in some parishes have Medicaid, which doesn’t alwayscover thecost of services provided.
The new law immediately freezes the size of state-
directed payments and, starting in 2028, lowersthat amount by 10% each year
Theprovidertax also is usedtoboost Medicaid payments to nursing home facilities used by seniors who needlong-term nursing care but have run out of insurance andsavings, whichisabout 60% of theminLouisiana.
The bill will effectively lower paymentstonursing facilities andcould cause many to limit patients or close their doors.
State-directed programs using providertaxes,such as those forrural hospitals and nursing homes,must be approved by U.S. Centers for Medicare &Medicaid Services, called CMS.
Wording inserted by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy,R-Baton Rouge, allows CMS to consider Louisiana’sstate-directed payment applications already in the pipeline.
“It’sasmallchange with huge consequences,” Cassidy wrote in amemoto state officials.
delaying until 2028 allows time for the provisions to be amended
Work requirements
One of the biggest changes is arequirement that most adults under the ageof65 years work, volunteer or go to school at least 80 hours a month. The states will have to verify eligibility twice a year rather than every 12 months beginning in 2027.
KFF Health, arespected San Francisco-based nonpartisan health care think tank, says relatively fewpeople who receive Medicaidare able to work but choosenot to.
KFFfound that 69% of Louisiana Medicaidpopulation is working andmost of the31% who are not working are disabled, elderly, or provide care fora sick family member or are coveredunder the exemptions included in the law
As part of the deal to persuade senators to acceptrestrictions on provider taxes and state-directed payments, theSenate created a$50 billion fund to help ruralhospitals.
Louisiana hospital officials say the fund will help but the amount is insufficient. But
June 27
change, one of seven that President Trumpannounced in June, could be reversed in four years, Johnsonsaid by phone this week. “No, it won’t. Please don’tdothat,” she said. “Take all seven of them and name them after something new
“Something new and vibrant that is not tainted by racism.”
Members of both Polk and Johnson’sfamilies have been invited to the July11 renaming ceremony,spokesperson Chuck Cannon said. Officials are looking at ways to honor Johnson at the base, he said, naming astreetor building after him. “Wewill somehow honor him.”
Founded in the early 1940s, the fort originally borethe name of Leonidas Polk, aConfederate general, slave owner and Louisiana’s first Episcopal bishop. The name change, required after Congress approved the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021, was part of abroader effort to remove the names of Confederates from military facilities.
To get around that law,the newbatch of names honor different people. Polk now refers to aGeneral James H. Polk, aWorldWar II cavalryman who becamea commander of U.S. Army Europe, bolstering NATO’s defensive posture during the Cold War’sheight, according to an announcement from the Joint and Readi-
ness Training Center and Fort Polk.
Twoyears ago, thefort was telling the story of another military hero. Johnson, of NewYork, enlisted in 1917, two months afterthe U.S. entered World WarI.On night patrol in theArgonne Forest,the 5-foot-4soldier fended off asurprise German attack with grenades, his rifle, and when his cartridgeswere spent, his bolo knife He earned thenickname “Black Death”and the Croix de Guerre avec Palme, France’shighest military honor
Butitwould take decades before hisown country recognized his heroism.
“Fort Johnson is now namedafter asoldier who fully embodied thewarrior spirit,” Brig. Gen. David Gardner,the fort’s commanding general, said during the 2023 ceremony.
“Weare honored to bear his name.”
Tara Johnson, who lives in Toledo, attended that “wonderful” ceremony. She was surprised to learn this monthabout thereversal andhas triedto wrap her head around the reasoning. She suspects it’spartly poli-
tics,“to getbackat(President)Biden,” and partly aboutrace,notingthat the new honoree is White.
Butshe refuses to letthis move muddy hergrandfather’s legacy.The mostimportant recognitionwas the Medal of Honor,she said.
“Granddad, it doesn’ttake your medalawaythatwe fought for,” the66-year-old said. “We’re good. We’re good. We’reabsolutely good.” On FortPolk’sFace-
book announcementofthe change, residents, retirees andafew people from elsewhere in thecountry debated the news. Several called for recognition for Johnson, listing his acts of heroism. A few questionedthe cost of theswitch.
Butmostcheeredthe return to Polk.
The fort plays an enormous role in the parish, said Hunt. It employs some 15,000 soldiers, plus contractorsand
The issue with the workrequirement, said U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, is the amount of paperwork and effort required to remain qualified. States that have tried work requirements ended up forcing qualified recipients off Medicaid rolls.
“It sounds good,” said Fields, D-Baton Rouge.But the data showsmore people lose their qualifications from
district’s roughly 46,000 students comefrom lowincome families, thedistrict has served about 30,000 summer mealsthis month, said Claire Delerno, the district’s executive director of food services. Each of the10distributionsites serve between 100 and 300 students daily alargernumberthan in the past, Delerno said.
“With the waypeople’sbudgets are shrinking,” she said, thesummerprogram “takes an economic burden off families anditensures that kids arereceiving regularmeals they would getwhile they’re at school.”
Jefferson Parish is predominantly alow-income district, and all enrolled students are eligible to receive reimbursementfor breakfast and lunch during the school year at no charge.The district’ssummerprogram costs the district $3 per meal for breakfast and $5 per meal for lunch, whichthe district receives reimbursement for through the USDA.
While federal budget cuts have resulted in adecrease in somesupplemental funding, Delerno said, the district’s primary funding through the
civilians, andisa big part of why manyveterans settle in the area. “Without them, I don’tknowwhatour population would be,” he said.
Hunt, personally, didn’t have strongfeelings about theoriginalrenaming and could see both sides.
“I don’tcarewhatyou call it,” he said then, as long as the fort didn’tclose, as it did in the 1950s.
being unable to quickly track down the appropriate supporting documents, suchas proof of previous jobs. The Louisiana Department of Health,whichwill handle theincreasedvetting,did not respond to inquiries. But LDHofficials toldhospital andcongressionalrepresentativesthata more technologically advanced system is beingput in placetohandle the qualification process more efficientlyand will be ready by 2027, when those requirements go into effect.
The newlaw also will charge asmall copay to some enrollees, particularly those in families of four with incomes between $32,000 and $44,000 annually,for most provider visits exceptfor primary careand some other services.
People who buy private insurance using federal subsidiesunderthe Affordable Care Act will have to sign up during anarrower window from Nov.1toDec. 15.
“For the first two years, we’ll be fine, but at some point that third year is going to come,” Fields said. About 37% of his constituents are Medicaid eligible.
“It doesn’tnegate the fact that soon peoplewho use Medicaid are going to lose their health care benefits, and manyofthe hospitals, particularly rural hospitals, will close,” he added.
USDA hasremainedstable, so far allowing them to continue to serve everystudent in need —with afew adjustments.
“It does limit our flexibility in menuplanning,” Delerno noted. “Especially for incorporating higher-cost ingredients.”
Meanwhile, some localorganizations arestruggling to keep up with the growing need this summer
The Baton Rouge Food Bank, whichservesnearly adozen parishes in theregion, has seen the number of people seeking help in recent years grow by about 5%-10% annually, said CEO Mike Manning. At the same time,40% of the food bank’s federalfunding hasdisappeared,reducing the number of families it can serve. Over the summer,the food bank providesbackpacks with take-homemeals that familiescan pickupattheir local libraries.
“Because of thehangover of the inflationwe’ve hadto deal with,” Manning said, “families are muchmore focused on trying to take advantageofthese opportunities.”
Buthegot calls asking, “Why’dyou allowthis to happen?” The change didn’tjust affect Fort Polk, he noted. Every local business that used thefortintheir marketing had to reprint their flyers andupdate theirwebsites Leesville had amural on an underpass that read, “Welcome to Leesville and Fort Polk.” Officials had been making plans to repaint it, Hunt said,whenTrump made his announcement.
Cassidy
STAFF PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER
Students areservedlunch in the summer food program at Collins ElementaryinMarrero on
BY HANNAH FINGERHUT
and JIM VERTUNO Associated Press
KERRVILLE,Texas Months worth of heavy rain fell in a matter of hours on Texas Hill Country, killing at least 13 people and leaving more than 20 girls attending a summer camp unaccounted for Friday as search teams conducted boat and helicopter rescues in the fast-moving flood water
Desperate pleas peppered social media as loved ones sought any information available about people caught in the flood zone.
Lt. Gov Dan Patrick said somewhere between 6 and 10 bodies had been found so far in the frantic search for victims Meanwhile, during a news conference conducted at the same time as Patrick’s update, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha reported that there were 13 deaths from the flooding. At least 10 inches of rain poured down overnight in central Kerr County, causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River and leading to desperate pleas for information about the missing.
“Some are adults, some are children,” Patrick said during a news conference. “Again, we don’t know where those bodies came from.” Teams conducted dozens of rescues, and emergency responders continued to search for those who were unaccounted for That includes more than 20 girls missing from summer camps.
“I’m asking the people of Texas, do some serious praying this afternoon. On-your-knees kind of praying, that we find these young girls,” Patrick said.
Comments on a Facebook post from the Kerr County sheriff’s office were riddled with photos of people in the flood zone. Loved ones posted there, hoping someone could offer an update on the whereabouts of those they hadn’t heard from. One woman said she couldn’t reach her daughter, who had rented a cabin in Hunt for her husband and two children, and pleaded for someone to post the names of those already evacuated
Judge Rob Kelly, the chief elected official in the county, confirmed fatalities from the flooding and dozens of water rescues so far He said he was advised not to cite specific numbers and said authorities are still working to identify those whose lives were lost.
“Most of them, we don’t know who they are,” Kelly said during a news conference. “One of them was completely naked, he didn’t have any ID on him at all We’re trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don’t have it yet.”
One family’s terrifying ordeal
Erin Burgess’ home sits directly across from the river in the Bumble Bee Hills neighborhood, west of Ingram. When she woke up to thunder at 3:30 a.m. Friday morning, “it was raining pretty heavy, but no big deal,” she said.
Just 20 minutes later, Burgess said water was coming in through the walls and rushing through the front and back doors. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree and waiting for the water to recede enough that they were able to walk up the hill to a neighbor’s.
“My son and I floated to a tree
where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said, becoming emotional.
Of her 19-year-old son, Burgess said: “Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him.”
A flood watch issued Thursday afternoon estimated isolated amounts up to 7 inches of rising water That shifted to a flood warning for at least 30,000 people overnight.
When asked about the suddenness of the flash flooding, Kelly said “we do not have a warning system” and that “we didn’t know this flood was coming,” even as local reporters pointed to the warnings and pushed him for answers about why more precautions weren’t taken.
“Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming,” he said. “We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States.”
‘Catastrophic level floods’
Texas Gov Greg Abbott said the state was providing resources to Hill Country communities dealing
Chestnut reclaims title in hot dog contest
BY SUSAN HAIGH
Associated Press
Famed competitive eater
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut reclaimed his title Friday at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after skipping last year’s gastronomic battle in New York for the coveted Mustard Belt.
Chestnut, 41, consumed 70½ hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, falling short of his 2021 record of 76 wieners and buns. It marked the 17th win in 20 appearances for the Westfield, Indiana, eater.
“I wish I ate a couple more. Sorry guys,” a smiling Chestnut told the crowd, many chanting his name.
“I’ll be back next year.”
Defending champion in the women’s division, Miki Sudo of Tampa, Florida, won her 11th title, downing 33 dogs, besting a dozen competitors.
Joey Chestnut eats hot dogs during the 2025 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest Friday at Coney Island. RIGHT: Competitive eater Miki Sudo raises a champion belt as she arrives at the 2025 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest Friday.
with the flooding, including in Kerrville, Ingram and Hunt.
The Texas Hill Country, a scenic and rocky gateway to booming vineyards and vacation rentals, begins west of the state capital and is a popular outdoor summer getaway Parts of the region are prone to flash flooding.
Dozens of people posted on Facebook asking for any information on their children, nieces and nephews attending one of the many camps in the area, or family members that went camping during the holiday weekend.
Ingram Fire Department posted a photo of a statement from Camp Mystic, saying the private Christian summer camp for girls experienced “catastrophic level floods.” Parents with a daughter not accounted for were directly contacted, the camp said.
Two other camps on the river, Camp Waldemar and Camp La Junta, said in Instagram posts that all there were safe.
The Guadalupe’s river gauge at the unincorporated community of Hunt, where the river forks recorded a 22-foot rise in just about two hours, according to Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National
A flood gauge marks the height of water flowing over a farm-tomarket road near Kerrville, Texas, on Friday.
Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. Fogarty said the gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet.
“This is the kind of thing that will catch you unaware,” Fogarty said. “The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you.” N.J. severe weather deaths
Meanwhile, strong thunderstorms were being blamed for at least three deaths in central New Jersey including two men in Plainfield who died after a tree fell onto a vehicle they were traveling in during the height of a storm there, according to a city Facebook post.
The men were ages 79 and 25, officials said. They were not immediately publicly identified.
“Our hearts are heavy today,” Mayor Adrian O Mapp said in a statement. “This tragedy is a sobering reminder of the power of nature and the fragility of life.”
The city canceled its planned July Fourth parade, concert and fireworks show. Mapp said the “devastating” storms had left “deep scars and widespread damage” in the community of more than 54,000 people and it was a time to “regroup and focus all of our energy on recovery.”
Continuing power outages and downed trees were reported Friday throughout southern New England, where some communities received large amounts of hail. There were reports of cars skidding off the road in northeastern Connecticut.
Last year, she ate a record 51 links. She also was apologetic for her performance A large crowd, peppered with foam hot dog hats, turned out to witness the annual eat-a-thon, held outside the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, since 1972.
buns, falling short of the 58 he ate to earn the 2024 men’s title.
Last year’s winner, Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago, came in second place after gobbling up 46½ hot dogs and
Last year Major League Eating event organizer George Shea said Chestnut would not be participating in the contest due to a contract dispute. Chestnut had struck a deal with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By yUKI IWAMURA LEFT:
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By ERIC GAy
A raging Guadalupe River leaves fallen trees and debris in its wake Friday in Kerrville, Texas.
Shown
BY MICHAEL WILNER
LosAngeles Times (TNS)
WASHINGTON As Americans mark the Independence Day holiday this weekend, the Trump administration is planning ahead for the 250th anniversary of the Declarationof Independence nextyear,amoment of reflection for anation besetby record-low patriotism anddivided by heatedculture wars over the country’sidentity.
White House officials areactively involvedinstate and local planning for the semiquincentennial after the president, in one of his first acts in office, established “Task Force 250” to organize “a grand celebrationworthy of the momentous occasion.”
The administrationhas launched awebsite offering its telling of the nation’sfounding, andDonald Trump’s“Big BeautifulBill” includes aprovisionallocating$40 million to commission 250 statues for a“National Garden of American Heroes,” to be built at an undetermined location.
Trumphas been thinkingabout the 250th anniversary for years. He invoked the occasion in his first joint session to Congress in 2017,stating it wouldbe“oneof the great milestones in thehistory of the world.”
But that milestone year comes amid fierce debate over Trump’s attempts to exert government control over the teaching of American history
In March, Trump signed an executive orderaimed at “restoring truth and sanity to American history,” directing publicinstitutions to limit their presentation of the
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER FILE PHOTO By DAVIDMAIALETTI
Spectatorswatchthe Salute to America Independence DayParadein PhiladelphiaonJuly 4, 2022.
nation’shistory without nuance or criticism. “This is nota return to sanity,”the Organizationof American Historians responded at thetime. “Rather,itsanitizes to destroy truth.”
On the “America 250” website created by the White House, the account of the nation’sfounding is outsourced to Hillsdale College, afar-rightinstitution that was a member of the advisory board for Project 2025.
“A question over this coming yeariswhetherthe celebrations around the 250th will be used as yet another cudgel in the culture wars where thegoalistodivide rather than unite,” saidDavid Ekbladh, ahistory professor at Tufts University
“TheviewTrump’s‘Task Force 250’ seems to belaying out is com-
fortable, but doesn’tgive us afull view of that historical moment,” Ekbladh said. “And afull view doesn’treduce things to astoryof tragedy or oppression —although there was plenty of both —but can show us thefull set of experiences that werethe foundationsofa dynamic country ”
In 1976, when the United States marked its200th birthday,the festivities were prolific.Federal government letterhead was decorated for over ayear to mark the anniversary State-sponsored celebrations were designed to revive anational sense of patriotism that had been challengedbyastagflating economy,lingering trauma from the political convulsions of the late 1960s andthe Vietnam War. Afull schedule of eventshas yet
NOLAN
BYMIKE
DailySouthtown (TinleyPark, Ill.) (TNS)
Officials in Dolton, Illinois, are moving ahead with plans to buy Pope Leo XIV’schildhood home in the village, hoping to snap up the modest brick home that has gained international attention ahead of a planned auction. The Village Board at aspecial meeting Tuesday voted unanimously to move forward on buying the house at 212 E. 141st Place, andsaid there are planstobuy an adjacent home. Mayor Jason House told reporters after the meeting he hoped the
village could close on the purchase in acouple of weeks, but that the finalpurchase price is still up in the air House said the chance to buy the home is a“once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and a“historic movement moving forward” for Dolton. “Wecan either seize the moment and move itforward or we can let that moment to go an investor,” House told the audience.
An auction of thehome by New York-based Paramount Realty USA is scheduled to close by 4p.m.July 17, according to Paramount’swebsite. Areserve price of $250,000 is set for the home.
Aresident filed afederal lawsuit seeking to block thevillagefrom using taxpayer funds to buy the home, but ajudge recently said Dolton could proceed with plans to securethe property from itscurrent owner Robert FrancisPrevost lived withhis parents and siblings for many yearsinthe home, and it’s becomeatourist destination since his election as pope. Dolton has had to have police regularly patrol theneighborhood.
Before the VillageBoard vote, residents said they were concerned about the moneybeing spent considering the village’sfi-
Historians question Trump’splans for‘America250’
“So thenextyear will mark ahugelyimportant tension between the version of American historythat Mr Trumpand his allies want taught —and actual American history.”
ANDREW RUDALEVIGE, history professor at Bowdoin College
to be made public. But scholars expect echoes of 1976, when government efforts to instill pride in aweary nationmet with mixed success.
“In 1976, there weredueling celebrations: official, governmentsponsoredones, and‘people’s’ observances organized by progressive groups,” said Michael Kazin, ahistory professor at Georgetown University.“Iexpect something of that kind will occur next year too.” Thereare significant differences. This time, thenation will celebrate aconstitutional system of checks and balancesunder historic pressure from apresident testing the bounds of executive power
“Two hundred and fifty years of constitutional democracy is well worth honoring,” said Andrew Rudalevige, ahistoryprofessor at Bowdoin College, “but this particular anniversary is symbolic in ways that resonate exactly oppositetoTrump’svision of governance and history.”
Most of the Declaration of Independence, Rudalevige noted, is dedicated to laying out “how centralized executive authorityleads to tyranny,and must be opposed.” And the document’s promise of
inalienable rights and the pursuit of happiness have been abeacon of hope andinspirationtoimmigrants since the founding. “So the next year will mark a hugely importanttensionbetween theversionofAmericanhistory that Mr.Trump andhis allies want taught —and actual American history,” Rudalevige said.“We will have asortofpolarized patriotism.”
That polarization has already become evident in recent polling.
Asurvey published by Gallup this week found that ahistorically lownumberofAmericans feel patriotic, with 58% of U.S. adults identifying as “extremely” or “very”proudtobeanAmerican Thatisnine points lower than last year,and the lowest figure registeredbyGallup since theybegan polling on the matter in 2001.
Pride among Republicans has stayedrelatively consistent, with 92% registering as patriotic. But it hasplummeted amongDemocrats and independents. And pride decreased across parties by age group, with more Democratsin Generation Z—those born between the mid-1990s and mid2010s —telling Gallup theyhave “little” or “no” pride in being an American than saying they are extremely or very proud.
If nothing else, historians said, the anniversary is an opportunity foreveryday Americans to reflect on the country they wanttolive in.
“Tobesure, formany people the day is just aday off and maybe a chance to go to aparade and see somefireworks,”saidEkbladh, of Tufts. “But the day can and should be amomenttothink aboutwhat the country is.”
nancial condition, with amassive backlog of unpaid bills and streets thatare in poor condition because the funds are not there to repair them.
Houseacknowledged thereisa concern about buying the home given thefinancial position his administration inherited. He said he andthe trustees know thelist of priorities is long, including fixing streets andaddressing thebacklog of bills. “Weare fully committed andwill be doingboth,” he said of buying thehome andtaking care of other issues. Trustee KianaBelcher saidshe
agreed buying that homewill help the village by spurring moretourism and business development. “In thelongrun Ithink this is going to benefit ourcommunity,” she said. Prevostlivedinthe home from his birth in 1955, and his parents lived there until they sold it in 1996. Since Prevost wasnamed the leader of the Roman Catholic Church May 8, thehouse has drawn significant interest from the public, and Trustee Ed Steave said that there are “busloads in and out of our town” filled with people who wanttoview the home.
Lafayette updates emergency plan
Officials tout major public safety milestone
BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer
Lafayette Consolidated Government last week announced its updated emergency operations plan, described by officials as a major milestone in enhancing public safety, community preparedness and coordinated emergency response across Lafayette Parish. The updated plan is now publicly available at www.lafayettela.gov/eop.
Interstate 10 bridge work set to begin
Lake Charles project will be 5.5-mile corridor
BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer
Construction on a new Interstate 10 Calcasieu Bridge in Lake Charles is set to begin in less than a year, after years of discussion and planning.
Calcasieu River Bridge Project Public Information Officer Jonathan Hill said the 5.5-mile corridor stretching from Ryan Street to the Interstate 210 and I-10 interchange in Westlake is scheduled to begin construction in early 2026 and be completed by fall 2031.
Built in 1952, the current bridge initially had an average daily traffic count of about 30,000 vehicles. Today that number exceeds 70,000 vehicles daily, Hill said.
“The infrastructure is aging. Its current design is no longer suitable for the amount of traffic that continues to cross it each day,” Hill said. “The (Department of Transportation) determined that this was the next project they wanted to undertake, and so we’re here now seeking to build this new bridge.” Hill said the project’s initial requests for proposals period was from 2021 to 2023. In August 2024, financing for the project was secured.
“From there, a notice to proceed was issued for the work to commence on the project,” Hill said. “Since then, the project has been in its design phase, where the engineering team has been looking at what will be the official footprint of the new bridge.”
In addition, Hill said the bridge team is analyzing the various utilities that are underground and aboveground near where the bridge will go to understand the impact the construction of the new bridge may have.
“I-10 will remain open during the construction,” Hill said. “Many people thought that it would be shut down or traffic (would) be significantly rerouted, but I-10 will remain open as the new bridge is constructed. When there are impacts, the public will be made aware of it.”
The project is a public-private partnership between the state, federal government and private entities.
“This will be a $2.3 billion investment into southwest Louisiana,” Hill said. “There are various funding sources that make that up, from state, local and private partners.” When the new bridge is completed and operating, there will be tolls, but the amount drivers will pay won’t be available until it gets closer to completion.
Email Courtney Pedersen at courtney.pedersen@ theadvocate.com.
The plan, created by LCG’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, aims to provide a comprehensive framework for how Lafayette Parish prepares for, responds to, and recovers from all types of emergencies and disasters, including hurricanes, floods, hazardous materials incidents and other large-scale events.
“We’re seeing storms and emergencies become more intense and more frequent, making preparation
and collaboration critical,” MayorPresident Monique Boulet said “This plan helps us respond faster, work together better, and protect lives and property when it matters most.”
The update was developed in collaboration with the LSU Stephenson Disaster Management Institute, which officials say is a nationally recognized leader in emergency planning and disaster resilience. The institute provided technical ex-
pertise to help modernize the plan’s structure, integrate best practices and align Lafayette’s strategy with state and federal guidelines, officials said.
LCG officials said key components of the plan include: n Stronger coordination between municipal departments, public safety agencies, health care systems and nongovernmental partners n Clearer roles and responsibilities across all phases of emergency management — preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation n Enhanced communication pro-
tocols for issuing public alerts, activating shelters and supporting vulnerable populations
The plan’s release comes as Lafayette and the rest of the state enter the height of hurricane season. Residents are encouraged to:
n Review the plan and learn what to expect from government response efforts.
n Sign up for LafayetteNOW emergency alerts at lafayettela. gov/alert
n Prepare a family emergency kit and have an evacuation plan in place.
A group of friends
BETTER TOGETHER
St. Landry woman named state’s top female farmer
Melville farm raises sugar cane, cattle
BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer
A St. Landry Parish sugar cane and cattle farmer won the 2025 Louisiana Farm Bureau’s Outstanding Young Farm Woman award Courtney Gerace, 34 received the award Friday at the Louisiana Farm Bureau’s 103rd annual ceremony This award goes to farmers whose primary income comes from an owned agricultural operation.
“I had no idea the lasting lessons I’d derive from livestock judging, public speaking and showing horses,” Gerace said Then I married my husband. He
has farmed his whole life, and I know why no matter how you arrive at it, if farming is in you, it’s in you.”
Along with her husband, Nicholas, the two operate a farm in Melville where they raise sugar cane, cattle and five young children. Gerace plays a hands-on role in nearly every aspect of their operation — from feeding livestock and branding calves to baling hay and hauling equipment. She also manages much of the paperwork, decision-making and daily logistics for the farm, all while homeschooling their children.
In addition to her role on the farm, Gerace is an active leader in her parish and state Farm Bureau. She serves on the Louisiana Farm Bureau State Women’s
Committee and the State Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. She’s also been a finalist in both the Discussion Meet and the Achievement Award contests in recent years.
“Farming takes dedication in the field, out of the field and on Capitol Hill. Between the crops, the cows and our five kids, there is constant growth,” she said.
For winning the award, Gerace received $2,000 from the Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, a trip to the American Farm Bureau YF&R Leadership Conference in Portland, Oregon, $500 from Bayer, and two $250 awards courtesy of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Companies.
PROVIDED By LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU From left, Louisiana Farm Bureau young Farmers and Ranchers Chair Nicholas Gerace, Outstanding young Woman Courtney Gerace and Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot.
STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD BOWIE
sits hillside during the Red White and Boom! Youngsville Independence Day Celebration on Thursday at the Youngsville Sports Complex.
LEFT: Charley Cache performs during the Red White and Boom! event. ABOVE: Attendees try to stay cool with foam and bubbles.
Immigrants chargedinLa.
BY JAMES FINN Staff writer
Federal prosecutors in NewOrleansthis spring charged five immigrants with petty offenses for failing to register with the government, invokingalittleused World WarII-era law in afresh bid by the Trump administration to penalize illegal immigration.
Now,after ajudge rejected those charges, the Justice Departmentisappealing— setting up aLouisiana-based showdown betweenTrump and thecourtsthat could shape the fate of an emerging prong of the president’s immigration crackdown.
The charges filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans represent Trump’s latest push to wield the Justice Department, FBI and other federal agencies against immigration violations. Trump’sJustice Department has also charged asurge of people undera separatelaw making it a felony for people who’ve been deported to reenter the country without permission.
Prosecutors have now begun charging immigrants under the 85-year-old misdemeanor statute, too, filing cases under that obscure law in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Washington, D.C., according to court records and officials. The law threatens migrants with a$1,000 fine and up to six months’ jailtimeifthey “willfully” failtoregister,hand over personal data and be fingerprinted by the U.S. government.
The cases highlight Trump’sredirection of federal law enforcement resourcesawayfrompriorities such as rooting out public corruption andenvironmentalcrimesand toward low-level criminal immigration violations offenses long viewed by line prosecutors as among the least-coveted assignments in the federal courts
The bulk of U.S. immigration proceedingshistorically played out in the country’ssiloed system of administrative immigration courts.But underTrump prosecutors are increasingly filing immigrationrelated charges in criminal court, too —part of what the administration describes as abid to frighten immigrants into leavingthe country themselves, before they get detained by immigration agents.
“Ifyou leavenow,you may have the opportunity to return and enjoyour freedom and live the American dream,” DHS Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in theagency’snotice that it would begin enforcing the registration requirement.
The misdemeanor registration requirement had rarelybeenenforced until Trump administration officials announcedits role in the president’simmigration agenda.
“I didn’teven know that was an offense until acouple of months ago when(the Department of Homeland Security) started talking aboutit,” saidCarey Holliday,a Baton Rouge-based immigrationattorneywho was an immigration judge in Miami from 2006 to 2009.
The strategy has drawn scrutiny from judges, public defenders and former Justice Department officialswho question using resources to go after such low-levelviolations.
In Louisiana, the budding tactic struck an early barrier last month in theform of acourt order fromaNew Orleans-based magistrate judge.
When Judge MichaelC North rejected the charges in aMay 19 order, saying they were“unsupported by any of the normal suggestions of probable cause,” it marked ararewin for immigrants andthosewho advocate forthemduring Trump’ssecondterm
But prosecutors swiftly appealed thedecisiontoa district judge, and aruling is pending.
Aspokesperson for the NewOrleans-based U.S. Attorney’sOffice for theEastern District of Louisiana declinedtocomment on the cases.
85-year-oldlaw
Theobscuremisdemeanor law requiring immigrantstoregister with the government originated in 1940 as aprovision of the so-calledAlien Registration Act. Thatlegislationordered foreign citizens present in the United States for more than 30 days to register andbefingerprinted at localpostoffices.
Formore than 70 years, the law lackedteeth
SignsthatTrump might seek to invoke the statute as part of his ambitious second-term immigration agenda —headlined by a promise to deport millions of people—appeared during hiscampaign last year, said Jeremy Jong, aNew Orleans-based immigration attorney who represents one of themen charged under the misdemeanor statute last month.
In February,as part of ablizzard of executiveorders Trump issued after taking office, administration officials announced the law wouldbeapartoftheir multifaceted approach to penalizing illegal immigration.The next month, they published anew onlineform
for migrants to complete the requirement
Holliday called the strategy partofthe administration“full-court press” on immigration enforcement
Like Holliday,MattComan, aformer assistantU.S attorneywho now practices in civil court, saidhehad not heard of the failuretoregisterstatute during hiscareer as afederal prosecutor Prosecutors
Jong was at homeone day this spring when he gota call from theFederal Public Defender’sOffice asking if he could lendsome lastminute help representing immigration defendants.
Inside the courtroom, North listened as thegovernmentlaid out its case againstthe five immigrants: Juan Carlos CastroIgnacio, Josue Alejandro Guerrero, Arnol Humberto Reyes-Galindo, Henri MiltonVasquezand Osborn Nash Bodden Welcome.
Afew weekslater,the judge publishedhis order rejectingthe charges.
He dismissed them in part, he wrote, because prosecutors showed little reason that the men accused of “willfully” evadingthe registrationrule could have even known it existed.
“There is no evidence that any of these defendantsknewtheywererequiredtoregister under (the law), andevenifthey had, until very recently there was no mechanism for these defendants to do so,”hewrote.
In an earlier order appointing apublic defender to represent themen in federal court, North noted the challenges they faced in navigating criminal cases while in immigration detention centers many miles fromthe courthouse in downtown New Orleans.
Oneofthose defendants this weekdescribed being ferried back andforth from ICE detention in north Louisiana to Hancock County,Mississippi, where ICE holds detainees in alocal jail on their way to and from proceedings in New Orleans.
Welcome, whoisfrom Honduras, said agents transporting him forone hearing in his federal casethis spring offered no information aboutthe purpose of the trip. He thought he was being deported.Hecomplainedof hungerand feltthatthe handcuffs and shackles he wore during the trip were unnecessary
“Itjust made me want to give up,” he said in an interview from the La Salle Detention Facility in Jena.
ManpleadsguiltytoBRcharges
Armedrobbery left onedead
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
Aman involved in afatal Baton Rouge armed robbery was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to criminal charges Wednesday,according to 19th Judicial District Court records.
Dereck Torrise Hayes, 30, accepted the plea and prison sentence imposed by District Judge Eboni Johnson Rose, who ordered him to serve his stint behind bars with the possibility of parole Hayes was originally arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the Nov.20, 2020, killing of 54-year-old Brian Dawson. During Wednesday’shearing, he pleaded guilty to a lighter charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, escapingthe specter of a mandatory life sentence that awaited himifhe’d been convicted of the murder charge. Hayes also pleaded guilty to home invasion in an unrelated July 2021 domestic dispute and Johnson Rose handed hima nine-yearprison sentence that he’ll serve as he does time on the other conviction.
Dawson was gunned down near theMississippi River bluffs in asection of Baton Rouge known as the Bottoms. Accordingtopolice, he wasshotinthe chestand found dead in the breezeway of an apartmentcomplex alongAsterStreet. Investigatorsnoted signs of struggleinthe breezeway, and witnessessaid they heard someone demanding money just beforetwo gunshots rangout
Thewitnesses told detectives they saw apair of male culprits in gray hooded sweatshirtsrunning from the scene, and one resident gave police license plate numbersofthe vehicle the duo usedto flee. Those tips ledtoa quick capture, according to reports. Officersspottedthe vehiclewith thelicense plate alongPlankRoad near Huron Street about an hour afterthe shooting, police said. Hayes and his alleged accomplice, JohnnyBrown, were stopped, and both had on gray hoodies Hayes denied being at the sceneofthe shootingthat evening and told officers he borrowed the vehicle froma friend,althoughheadmitted he wasthe only personthat hadaccesstoit, police said Both he and Brown were
Bienvenu, Marianne
OurLadyofFatima RomanCatholic Church,Lafayette at 11:00am.
Obituaries
Shipley,Dolores Gerrard
It is with greatsadness and deep gratitude fora life well-livedthat we announce thepassing of DoloresGerrard Shipley on June 28, 2025, at theage of 95. BornonAugust 25, 1929, in Benton Mississippi, and anativeof Yazoo City, Mississippi, Dolores touched thelives of allwho knew her with her faith, spunk, wit, and relentless dedicationto her family and community.
Dolores met theloveof her life,Beryl Shipley, at Hinds JuniorCollege.The twomarriedonNovember 24, 1949, and moved to Cleveland, Mississippi, where they both graduated fromDelta State University. Theirpartnershipwas one of purpose passion, and deep devotion.
Alifelong learner and dedicated educator, Dolores earnedmultiple advanceddegrees, including amaster's +30 and a specialist degree in special education fromthe University of Southwestern Louisiana(USL). At theage of 60, she proudly completed her final master's degree in Home Economics/ Nutrition--an act of love and purposetoextend Beryl's life and health.He lived23morecherished years.
Dolores was one of the founding teachers of the Genesisprogram forthe LafayetteParish School System, where she mentored and taught pregnant teens about theimportance of education,nutrition, and prenatal care. Her commitment to education extendedbeyond the classroom; she purchased collegetextbooks for each of hergrandchildren--an enduring symbol of how deeplyshe valued learning
Dolores was alongtime member of First Baptist Church in Lafayette, joining in 1958. She pioneered thechurch's "First Place" program--a Bible-based weight loss ministry that helpedadultsand youth alike embrace biblical principles of self-control, discipline,and health.
Aproud member of the Daybreak Adult Sunday School class, she forged many lifelong friendships through her church, her P.E.O. sisterhood, and her cherished social circle including ChezAmis.
Dolores wasdeeply devotedtothe UL basketball program. After Beryl's coaching years at SLI/USL from 1957 to 1973, sheremained apassionate supporter andwas lovingly known as "TheFirst Lady of UL Basketball." Coach Bob Marlinand hiswife Jennybecame dear friends, andthe familyis deeply grateful for thelove andrespectshown to Dolores over theyears.
"BigD," as she wasaffectionately known, leaves behind alegacy of warmth, tradition,and inclusivity. Sheand Beryl created meaningfulfamilytraditions--especially thetreasuredannualbeachtrips that spannedgenerations, filledwith laughter, singalongs, and connection Theirhomewas always open:whethertobasketballplayers in need of a hotmeal or childrenfrom Girard ParkPool. Dolores& Beryl instilledintheir family that love andfriendship knows no boundaries and that characteralways matters more than thecolor of one's skin.
Shewas amagnificent cook whoinspired her daughters anddelighted friends andneighborswith regulargatheringsaround thetable. Hospitality was notjust agesture--itwas a wayoflife.
Sheissurvivedbyher daughters, Marilyn Shipley Watson, Patty Shipley Snyder (David), and Amy Shipley Cowand(Scott); nine grandchildren to whom she wasaffectionately known as Nanny: Cheramie Joubert, Abbey Rubel, WadeWatson, Jesse Cowand, Christopher Cowand, Jennifer Carlson, Matthew Cowand, Leah Case, andElizabeth Cowand; andfifteengreatgrandchildren, alongwith numerousbeloved nieces andnephews.
Shewas preceded in death by herbeloved husband, Beryl Shipley; her parents; herson-in-law, BillWatson; brothers, Dennis and HalGerrard; andsisters, Mary DeLoach
and Patty Walker
Thefamilyrequeststhat visitinghours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home -Bertrandon Sunday, July 6, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Dolores will be laidtorest in aprivatefamilygravesideservice at Lafayette Memorial ParkCemetery on Monday, July 7th. Pallbearers will be hergrandsons andgrandsons-in-law: Jesse, Christopher, andMatthew Cowand; WadeWatson; RobRubel; Gael Carlson; andMatthew Case. Honorary pallbearers are Will Rubel, RoninCowand, andKeegan Watson.
The familywould like to extendheartfelt thanks to herdevoted caregivers, LoriCarol Guidry, Crissy Guillory, andMelissa Griffin; and to Hope Hospice and hercompassionate nurse,Bethany.
Dolores lived with purpose,loved with generosity, andleaves behinda familywho adored herand acommunityforever shaped by her.
Thefamilyrequestsany donations, or charitable giving,bemade to the Beryl Shipley Mended Hearts Endowed Scholarship
Personalcondolences may be sent to thefamily of Dolores GerrardShipley at: www.delhommefuneral home.com
Dolores GerrardShipley andher familywerecared for andentrustedfinal arrangements to Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 BertrandDrive, Lafayette, LA.
When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe news
arrested andlater indicted in connectionwith seconddegree murder.Brown, who was 15 at thetime, was chargedasanadult.His case is still ongoing.
Court records show Brown,now 19,hired anew attorney when he appeared beforeJohnson Rose on Wednesday.Baton Rouge defense lawyer Ryan Thompsonenrolledtorepresentthe teenage defendant.Thompson replaced Brown’spreviousattorney RonHaley,who was suspended indefinitely by the Louisiana Supreme Court in April.
State prosecutors offered Brown a10-year sentence in exchange for him pleading guilty to the sameconspiracy to commitarmed robberycharge Hayes accepted Wednesday.Court records show he rejected theoffer Brown is next set to appear in court Aug. 18 for ahearing on pretrial motions.
She was an accomplishedtennisplayerwho played into her late 70s and celebratedmany league wins--includinga cherished Southern Oilmen'sTennis Tournament (SOTT)victory. Dolores also lovedthe theater, maintaining PASA seasontickets at the Heymann Performing Arts Center, and took greatjoy in sharing performances withher local grandchildren
OPINION
ANOTHERVIEW
Is Mamdani’sN.Y. mayoral primary win atemplatefor Democrats?
For years, politics in New York City have captured national attention. Based on last week, it still does.
The nation’sbiggest citymust nowdecide if it will elect asocialist mayor.Democratic insidersfear that Zohran Mamdani’sprimary win, and his front-runnerstatusinthe general election, reinforces perceptions that their party has movedtoo far left. They’reright, it does.
New York hasarichhistory of electing a wide variety of leaders. In1932,MayorJimmy Walker —aflamboyant man-about-town —was forced to resign due to acorruption scandal; the politicalfallout almostderailed New York Gov.Franklin Roosevelt’s chances to win the presidencythatyear Then there was Mayor FiorelloLaGuardia, acharismatic “progressive”Republican who is rememberedfor reading the “funny papers”onthe radio during a newspaper strike. La Guardia was rankedthe best mayor in the nation’shistory by a1993 study.
The city has continued to have nationally famous mayors —John Lindsay,EdKoch,David Dinkins, Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloombergand Bill de Blasio.Four of them wouldrun for president (and lose).
Current Mayor Eric Adams’ legal troubles and thepolitical footsy he’splayed with the Trump administration to make them go away,have attracted nationalattentionand damaged his reelection prospects. He’s nowrunning for a second term as an independent.
This brings us to Mamdani’sJune 24 primary victory.An underdog, he trailed formerGov.AndrewCuomo in fundraising andmost every poll. At 33,heproved to be askillful, energetic messenger for anew generationofprogressives.Herallied the left (a big constituencyinNew York City) and turned out young voters in record numbers. Mamdani’scampaign also adroitly exploitedthe growing issue of affordability and showedDemocratshow to talk about the high cost-of-living, not with facts andfigures, butasapersonal “struggle to survive.”
While Mamdani has been able to identifyhot issues,the solutions he’soffering requiremoregovernment,more spending and more taxes. Democrats whowanttocopyhis success in other places will have to askthemselves: Will Mamdani’sself-described“democratic socialist” agenda sell to awider,mainstream audience?
Pollsshow there is alarge constituency ofyoung voters, notjust in New York but nationwide,who embracethe conceptofsocialism. In March, anationalpollbyYouGov for the Cato Institute found that62% of Americans aged 18-29haveafavorableview of socialism. But these numbers drop intothe 30samong voters45and older. Astonishingly,34% of the 18-29 age cohort alsohas afavorable view of communism.
Zohran Mamdani’sDemocratic Party isn’tJohnF.Kennedy’sorBill Clinton’sparty
One of Mamdani’splatform planks is thecreationofa network of city-owned supermarkets to offerresidents low-cost groceries. Something about this idea “feelslike Soviet-style communism,” one Cuomo supportertold me. Mamdani, whodoesn’t own acar,isalsopromising free bus service and has pledged to freezerentsfor onemillion New Yorkers. He favors congestion-pricing to discourage residents from drivingcars at peak times.Additionally, he says he doesn’tbelieve there should be billionaires. He hasn’texplained how that wouldwork in acity with 123 of them.
To fund his proposals,Mamdani is pushing anextra 2% income tax on wealthy city residents anda$5billion increase in corporate taxes.
Dangerous for Democrats is Mamdani’srefusaltocondemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” abattle-cry the AmericanJewishCommitteeand the Anti-Defamation League view as an endorsement of political violence against Israelis and Jews.Mamdani says he regards the slogan as asymboliccall for Palestinianrights. New York City has aJewish populationof2.1 million, secondonly to TelAviv Mamdani’scandidacy hasput two topDemocrats, both New Yorkers and nationalcongressional leaders, in apolitical box. SenateMinority Leader ChuckSchumerand HouseMinority LeaderHakeem Jeffriesare reluctant to jump on his bandwagon. At press time, they still haven’t endorsed. Regardless of establishment and mainstream party opposition, could Mamdani’scampaign becomea modern template for left-wing Democratic politics andafusillade fora new,tougher,moreideologicalresistancetoPresident Donald Trump’spolicies? Democrats, left and center, shouldthink hard before they step on that train.
Ron Faucheux is awriter,pollster and nonpartisan politicalanalystbased in Louisiana.
Thedangers that are hiding in oldhomes
We love old homes for their charm and craftsmanship —but rarely do we talk about what’shidden inside them. Many houses built before the 1980s are filled with toxic materials like asbestos, and mosthomeowners have no idea.
Asbestos was once used in everything from pipe insulation and Sheetrock to floor tiles and joint compound. It was also in black mastic —athick, tar-likeadhesive used to glue down vinyl, linoleum and even wood parquet flooring, like the popular Higgins-brand tiles found in manymidcentury homes and schools. That mastic often contains asbestos. When disturbed during renovations —scraped, sanded or ground up —itcan release deadly fibers intothe air
Yetthere’snorequirement to test for asbestos before starting renovationsunless you’re demolishing the entire home. Real estate disclosures often skip it entirely.Even many contractors won’ttest, since confirming asbestos adds liabilityand
Iamatacomplete loss to understand how any American can believe it is OK to violatethe immigration and other criminal laws of the United States.
Do they believe that because immigrantscame to the U.S. to get a job,human trafficking, fraud and other laws do not apply to them as they do apply to the demonstrators? Arethese demonstrators aware that according to the Biden administration, illegal immigrants pay an average of $8,000 tohuman trafficking organizations (drug cartels)tocross the border,the same organizations that engage in acts of terrorism and drug trafficking thatkilled thousands of Americans last year as well as rape, human bondage and more? Paying money to these terrorist organizations to illegally enter the U.S.isa felony These organizations use some of the billions ayear that immigrants here illegally pay them for their operational financing. Is this acceptable to thedemonstrators?
Rachel Tabor,anorganizer with theimmigration advocacy group
cost. At thesame time, social media is full of DIYers ripping out old flooring and sanding walls with no protective gear —unknowingly exposing themselves and their families to long-term health risks.
This silence is dangerous. Asbestos exposure is linked to diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer, sometimes decades after exposure. It’stime for change. Homeowners should be informed before they renovate. Testing should be mandatory.Public safety messaging should be modern, clear,and visible —especially on homeimprovement platforms.
Your beautifulold house may look safe. Butunder the surface —under thepaint, underthe tiles, under that parquet floor —could be materials that can quietly poison the air you breathe. Andthe most disturbing part? No, no one thought to warnus.
AVERYYOUNG NewOrleans
Union Migrante, asserts immigrant workers are among President Donald Trump’shotel employees. Who said anything negative about legal immigrants? My mother was alegal immigrant,and Ihave dual Italian/ American citizenship. Iamall for legal immigrants. However,I suspect that Tabor wasactually alleging that illegal immigrants were working for Trump’shotel (conflatinglegal with illegal immigration is not acceptable). If so, any illegal immigrant working in the U.S. is committing at least three felonies: using astolen Social Security number (bylaw they cannot be issued one), using false government documents andfraud by lying on the I-9 employment form. These demonstrators should be asking why,according the U.S. Census Community Survey,some 30,000 illegal immigrants in the New Orleansarea are not filing tax returns while thedemonstrators, as citizens, do report their income.
JOSEPH MOLYNEUX
Metairie
Budget bill will create an economic crisis
No president should trigger a crisis and then declare emergency powers when the crisis occurs. This is asignificant possibility with the contents of this One Big Beautiful Bill. It adds $3 trillion to our national debt, immediately worsening the outlook forinflation and recession. Other countries are turning away from buying U.S. bonds. They would rather buy gold which pays no interest. Look at the chart of gold prices over the last year.Gold is up, the dollar weaker
So, afinancial crisis is quite possible if the Big Beautiful Bill is not changed. Also in the bill are changes that weaken the SupremeCourt’sability to decide if the president’s actions are legal. This is called oversight and has been the law since 1803.
So here you have the ingredients forapresident to help cause abig emergency and then to grab big powers. This is about overthrowing our democracy.Where are our TeaParty Republicans? Yes, “things may get abit worse at first,” as the president pointed out.
JOHN STEPHENSON NewOrleans
Officials, protesters on No KingsDay don’t reflectreality for regularfolks
The mob mentality wasonfull display in the No Kings protests by people and our own government’sso-called leaders. Do your own research. I, for one, worked hard foryears for what Ihave. I’mnow retired. I don’tappreciate our civic leaders giving my money and benefits away to those illegal immigrants whocame and feel entitled to my money and benefits.
The government leaders protesting weredisgraceful and did not represent those whom they were elected to represent.
MICHELE
MABERRY Covington
SAINTS PREVIEW QUAR TERBACKS
This season should determineif Saints have newfranchise quarterback
BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer
There has been no shortage of intrigue when it comes to themost important position in the NewOrleans sportsuniverse this offseason Aquick recap: The New Orleans Saints hired coach Kellen Moore, who spoke carefully in his introductory news conference when asked if the team was committed to Derek Carrasits starter.About two months later,news spread that Carrwas dealing with aseriousinjury that cast doubt on his 2025 availability Afew weeks after that, the Saints selected Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough withthe No.40overall pick. Afew weeks afterthat, Carr announced his shocking retirement
QB DEPTH CHART
PLAYER HT WT EXP
Spencer Rattler 6-0 211 2
Tyler Shough 6-5 219 R
JakeHaener 6-1 200 3
Hunter Dekkers 6-3 215 R
from football. And throughout the summer,the Saints quarterbacks have been more scrutinizedthan they have been in sometime. The optimist will look at this group andbethankfulthe Saints are finally getting ayoung, cheap reset at the position with some potential for hope in the future. Thepessimist (realist?) will be scared offbythe glaring lack of proven experience and draft pedigree.Whatever happens, it will
at the very least be interesting. New Orleans is guaranteed to go into the season withadifferent opening-day starter thanlast season, which will mark thethird different Week 1starter in the five seasons since Drew Brees announced his retirement. The Saints hope theywon’t need to see what’sbehind door No.4 in 2026.
Best case
Whether it’srookie second-rounder Tyler Shough or second-year player Spencer Rattler, theSaints just need tosee some signs that they have apotential franchise building block outofone of theirtwo young quarterbacks. Jake Haener is
ä See SAINTS, page 3C
BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer
The Orlando Magic arebringing back forward Moritz Wagner on aone-year deal, aperson with knowledge of the movesaid Friday Wagner,the brotherofMagic forward Franz Wagner,will sign acontract worth $5 million,accordingtothe person whospoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymitybecause the deal likely will notbe finalized untilthe league’soffseason moratorium on moves is lifted Sunday Free agency officially started Monday andmostdealsthathavebeen agreed to since then —along with some tradesfrom last month, including the one that will bring Kevin Durant to Houston from Phoenix can begin getting final approval from the league at that time as well. There are several notable free agents still available. Among them:
Injured guard Damian Lillard, who is availableafter thesurprise waive-andstretch move by Milwaukee that allowed the Bucks to agreetoterms with former Indiana forward Myles Turner.Lillard isn’t expected to playmuch, if at all, this seasonbecause he still needsatleastseveral months to recoverfrom an Achillestendon tear suffered in the playoffs Veteran center Al Horford, whohelped Boston win the 2024 NBA title and is 62 games away from reaching 1,200 forhis career Point guard RussellWestbrook,who is set to enter his 18th year in the league and someone who averaged13.3points pergame with Denver this past season. Point guard Chris Paul, who turned 40 in
LONDON This mostunpredictableofWimbledons delivered yet another surprise FridaywhenreigningAustralian Open champion Madison Keys, the No. 6seed, was a lopsided loser in thethird round, eliminated 6-3, 6-3 by 104th-ranked Laura Siegemund of Germany Keys’ exit left just one of thetop six women in thebracketbeforethe endofWeek1: No. 1Aryna Sabalenka, who stuck around by claimingthe last five games anddefeating 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu of Britain 7-6 (6), 6-4 at aboisterous Centre Court at night. No. 2Coco Gauff, No. 3JessicaPegula,No.
4Jasmine Paolini and No. 5Zheng Qinwen already were out. The men’sfield also hasseen its share of surprises, including aWimbledon-record 13 seeds gone in the first round. “At times, it wasn’tthe best quality,let’s say.But Imanaged, and in the end, it’sjust important to find solutions and Idid that well. Kept my nerves in theend,”Siegemund said, then added with alaugh: “There are always nerves. If you don’thave nerves in this moment, you’re probably dead.” Wimbledon might be the only Grand Slam event where Keyshasn’treached at least thesemifinals, but she hasparticipated in the quarterfinals there twice and is enjoying abreakthrough 2025, including her title at Melbourne Park in January Keys’ power vs. Siegemund’sspins and slices offered quite acontrast in styles, and this outcome was surprisingly one-way traffic on awindy afternoon at No.2 Court. The key statistic, undoubtedly,was this: Keys
Jake Haener
Tyler Shough
Spencer Rattler
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Drillers hoping to reversefortunes at statetourney
BY MIKE COPPAGE
Contributing writer
Will the third time be the charm for theLafayette Drillers?
The Drillers willface the Southland Hogs for the third time this summer in the opening round of the American Legionstate tournament 1p.m. Saturday at Kirsch-Rooney StadiuminNew Orleans
The Drillers (8-5)are hoping foradifferent result afterdropping thefirst two meetingsbyscoresof6-3 and7-4 to theHoumabasedprogram.
“The biggest thing both times is they jumped on us early,” Drillers coach Matt Standiford said. “Wemadeboth gamescompetitive, but we got down by too much early on.”
GradyLeBlanc (2-1, 1.57ERA, 14 Kin131/3 innings) will get the start for the Drillers TheHogs areled by BrennanChampagne andbrothers Owen and Peyton Trosclair of Covenant Christian.
Owen Trosclair,the LSWAClass 1A MVP this spring, compiled an 8-1 pitching record while batting nearly .470. Champagne,alefthander,was 9-0 and made first team all-state along with Peyton Trosclair,acatcher who hit.399.
“They’re one of the best teams in the state,” Standiford saidofthe Hogs.
Thewinnerofthatgamewilltakeonthe Abbeville 29ers/RetifOil winner on Sunday. Retif Oil (13-2), aJesuit-based teamout of New Orleans, finished as runner-upto an undefeated Brother Martin squadinthe Crescent City Sports summer league.
Abbeville is led by pitcherDillon Navarre, aLoreauvilleHigh graduate andBossier Parish Community College signee.
“It’ll be huge from amental side,”Standiford said of the importanceofwinning Game 1. “I told our guys the otherday that it’stough to beat somebody three times. Hopefully we’ll getthem when it matters themost.”
Standiford plans to throw region Pitcher of the Year Evan McDaniel on Monday.The former St. ThomasMore star is 2-2 with a 2.37 ERA and 25 strikeouts in172/3 innings
“Evan has one loss to Crowley,who he previously beat,” Standiford said.
“He gave up two runs in the first inning against Bossier,and then shut them out the rest of the way.”
Crowley (15-4), Bossier (14-2) and St. Landry Bank, which features Braylon Harris and CarterStelly of Opelousas Catholic,are also in the field. The Carencro Aces took the spot of the LafayetteBraves, who finishedas district runner-up to the Drillers butdidn’t have enough available players forthis weekend.
“Wehave five, six or even seven arms that we feel confident about,” Standiford said. “Wehavepitching depth.This team is different in that we have alot of talent, but it’snot big-time DI talent. We’re alittle moregritty than usual. This team has toughness.
Standiford said Braxton Boudreaux, who is batting .524 out of the nine-hole, exemplifies that toughness. The Drillers also have region Hitter of the Year Andrew Menard (.457, seven doubles) and LukeRoger(.486).
“Andrew has an 11-game hitting streak,” Standiford said. “The kid can flat out play Roger has 18 hits in 13 games. He’s been super-consistent and plays every spotinthe infield.”
Key players for Crowleyinclude Notre Damestandouts Griffin Doucet (runner-up for Hitter of the Year) andKagen Semmes andZeke Wall (Iota).
Bossier,the reigning champ, advanced to theWorld Series last year.The Phillies feature Brock Laird (Natchitoches-Central, Southeastern Louisiana),EastonSanders (Glenbrook, Louisiana Tech) and several players from a35-6 Benton High teamled by hard-throwing pitchersThomas Allen,Kade Bryant andTannerWebb
“(Coach) Dane Peavy does agreat jobgetting Bossier locked in and ready to play,” Standiford said. “They havethreearmsthat canbring it over90mph
“Bossier and the Southland Hogs play the game the right way.That goes alongway in today’sculture.”
Standiford said he thinks his squad is battle-testedand ready for thetourney,which it wontwo years ago.
“One thing that is kind of consistentiswe’ll play anyone, anywhere,” he said. “Wedefinitely don’tshy away from competition. That hasprepared us.”
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11 a.m. Paris St.-Germain vs.B.Munich TNT
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11 a.m. Walesvs. Netherlands Fox
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5a.m.Wimbledon: third round ESPN
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Napier braces for roster reckoning
Floridacoach amongthose concernedabout reduced player numbersamidstrecentNCAAantitrust settlement
BY EDGAR THOMPSON Orlando Sentinel (TNS)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. Florida
football coach Billy Napier and his brethren have been bracing for aroster reckoning spurred by the House v. NCAA antitrust settlement.
The landmark legislation went into effect Tuesday,but sweeping changesremained on the horizon, not yet at the doorstep.
With fall camp scheduled to start at month’send, Napier’s roster stands at 117 players adozen abovethe proposed future limit of 105.
“When we got thejob, there were certainparameters around howyou buildyour roster.Weproceeded that way,” Napier said at the SEC spring meetings on May 28 in Destin. “I really like the group that we have. We’ve been fortunate to keep that group intact for the most part. …But if we’ve learned anything, it’s very fluid.
“So, play by the rules this year.
Senior District Judge Claudia Wilken did notapprove the settlement until June 6. A sticking point was including aprovision to allow current walk-ons to receiveagrandfather clause.
The reprieve is welcomed by coaches grappling with roster management in an era of the transfer portal,NIL and the CollegeFootballPlayoff. Whilethe delaybuys time, it doesn’tallay long-term concerns about the impact of smaller rostersonplayer safetyand practice efficiency
Napier recalled astudy indicatingNFL franchises had an average of 119 playerspass through their rosters, even though teams are limited 53 activeplayers and up to 16 on apractice squad. Afree-agent market provides acontinual source of available players to replace those who are injured or underperforming.
“The biggestchallenge from, from our perspective, is we don’thave accesstoarevolving roster situationduring the season,” Texas A&M
coach Mike Elko saidduring the SEC spring meetings.“If it was 105 that could stay 105,
“When we gotthe job, there were certain parameters around how you build your roster.We proceeded that way. But if we’ve learned anything, it’svery fluid.”
BILLyNAPIER, Florida coach
it would be enough. The fear that we have is you get arash of injuries in the NFLyou go to the free-agent wire and you fix it
“You get arash of injuries for us, andthere’snoout, there’snooption, there’snothing you can do.”
Many have bemoaned the settlement’simpact on walkons, especially coaches who once werenon-scholarship players themselves.
Clemson coach Dabo SwinneywalkedonatAlabama as awide receiver.Former Florida andSouth Carolina coach Will Muschamp was awalkon safety at Georgia, where he currently is adefensive analyst.
“I’mtotally againsteliminating walk-ons,”Swinney told theOrlando Sentinel last winter
Swinney’sstance was philosophical andpractical relative to roster size as much as personal to his experience.
“It’senough to be able to play thegames,” he said. “But in college football, to prepare guys properly with a20-hour rule, to not be able tohave theabilitytohave apractice squadata minimum is going to be achallenge foralot of people.”
Coaches initially worried walk-ons would be entirely fazed out. While some conferences could allow all 105 players to receive ascholarship, the SEC will permit 85 scholarship players andan additional 20 walk-ons.
“I didn’tlike when it was initially presented,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “There’s so manystories, whether it’scoaches in that room,great players that went on to be great NFL players that, as you start saying, well, if we don’thave that, then those don’texist
Mississippi tackle Cooley commits to LSU football LSUlanded itsthird commitmentinthe past week Friday with the addition of four-star offensive lineman Bryson Cooley
Cooley announcedhis decision in asocial media post.The 6-foot6, 315-pound offensive tackle is ranked as the No. 299 overall recruit in the 2026 class, according to the247Sports compositerankings.
Cooley goes to West Jones High School in Laurel, Mississippi. He also received interest from Alabama andMississippi State, among others.
Cooley became thethird offensive lineman in LSU’s 2026 class alongwith top 100 prospect Brysten Martinezand four-star Emanuel Tucker
LSU has 13 players committedin the class after adding Cooley
Reports:Texas Tech lands five-star OT for$5.1million FORTWORTH, Texas On his 17th birthday,Mansfield Lake Ridge High School five-star Felix Ojo, the No. 1recruit in Texas and the No. 1 offensivetackleinthe nation, announced his commitment to Texas Tech on Instagram live.
According to ESPN’sEli Lederman, Ojo’sagent stated that he signed afully guaranteed, threeyear,$5.1 million revenue-sharing contract.Texas Tech,whichwasn’t among Ojo’sfinal four announced Thursday,madea latepushfor Ojo’stalents, according to Rivals. With recent changes to the NIL and revenue sharing landscape under House Bill 126, players who are 17 years old can now sign NIL deals. Student-athletes may notreceive compensation until they are enrolled in aprogram
“It’sjustareallycool part of alocker room.”
Yet, locker roomswill soon become less crowded. The average roster size in 2024 was 128. UF at one point had 131 players.
Coaches have already whittled down theirnumbers, but avoided thelargercuts soon to come.
“We’ve been very honest with our guys,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said in late May “Wetoldthem that they were free to go in the(transfer) portal. Somehave looked outand realizedthatthat’s not necessarily the grass is greener because there’snot alot of opportunities. Everybody’sgot areductionofopportunities.”
Elko lamented thedifficult choices, conversations and calculations he and his fellow coaches faced, but felt worse for theplayers impacted by legislation meant to help student-athletes. The settlement set out to control costs and protect athletes as schoolswould begin to share revenue and increase scholarship funding to atune of $20.5 million. Roster limits were seen as one way to manage transition amid an ever-changing financial model of college athletics, where football and men’sbasketball fund nearly every other sport.
“It’schallenging. You’re trying to figure out your fall camp roster in late June and still don’thave clarity,” Elko said.“We’vetried to be honest with thekids. Butfromtheir perspective, it’seven tougher You’ve got 19-year-olds who don’tknow if they’re part of the team. They’re left in limbo heading into the summer.”
As UF and other high-profile programs inchtowardanuncertain future, the task of balancing afootball roster is one of many issues facing college athletics as it adapts to anew realityofathlete compensation and legal accountability Napier and his fellow coaches can take abreath fornow but change is coming.
“We’ll proceed according to thesettlement,” he said. “But Ithink it’s to be determinedin the next couple of months or years where it goes.”
Chelsea, Barcelona must pay total of $54.2M in fines GENEVA— Chelsea was fined $36.5 million for breaking financialmonitoring rules by UEFAonFriday to hit arecord sum foraEuropean club penalized in asingle season. Barcelona also was ordered to pay $17.7 million formaking excessive losses according to UEFA’s complex evaluations of club accounts if they qualify for European competitions, designed to promote stability in the industry Both clubs weresanctioned over their financial accounts for 2024 and must paytensofmillionsofmore dollars in future seasons if they missfinancial targets setbyUEFA. Chelseawas fined$23.6 million forfailing to approach break-even and $13 million forspending more than a80% set limit of its revenue on so-called “squadcost” suchas transfers and wages.
Mexico president:Chávez Jr should do time in Mexico
MEXICO CITY Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that Mexico hadn’tpreviously arrested boxer JulioCésar Chávez Jr.ona2023 arrest order,because he had been mostly beeninthe United States since.
Sheinbaumspoke aday after U.S authorities announced the boxer’s arrest in California foroverstaying hisvisa and lyingonagreen cardapplication. He was being processed for expedited removal, according to U.S. authorities.
“Thehopeisthathewill be deported andservethe sentencein Mexico,” Sheinbaum said during herdaily news briefing Friday referring to charges thatChávez faces for armsand drug trafficking.
Bryant fires63, makes hole-in-one to lead BMW
MUNICH Davis Bryant, an American ranked 576th in the world, madeahole-in-oneand ninebirdies on the waytoshooting 9-under 63 for atwo-shotleadafter the second round of the BMW International Open on Friday
Bryant aced his third hole of the day— No. 12 —with ashotfrom 165 yards, and also rolled in putts from 30 feet and 20 feet at Golfclub München Eichenried. Bryant, whowas 12 under par at the halfway point as he chases his first protitle,isplaying hisfirst season on the European tour after coming through Q-School. He tied for 10th place at the Italian Open last week.
KristofferReitan of Norwaywas alone in second place after shooting 65 and there wasathree-way tie forthird place.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILEPHOTO By JOHN RAOUX
Florida coach Billy Napier said his roster currently stands at 117, which is 12 above the proposed future limit of 105. The Gators startfall practice at the end of July
technically stillinthis competition, but he felt like along shot before an oblique injury zapped most of his summer Technically,itwould be best for the franchise if Shoughwas the answer.Hewould give the Saints another yearofaffordable control on arookie contract, and it would also present awin for the new regime to have hand-picked its quarterback. But he’s going to have to beat out Rattler,who looked more poised this summer after aturbulent rookie season. Both of those young passers possessbig-timearms, both are athletic enough to make playson the move and both will flash some creativity as throwers. In terms of pure ability,Shough mayhave aslight edge overRattler,and his prototype sizeisanadded benefit.
Whatremains to be seen from either passer is how well they can operate Moore’soffense and how well they can navigate pressure —the latter being something Rattler struggled with last year and somethingShough struggled with in college.
To be clear,the odds aren’tgreat for either Shough or Rattler: The track recordfor quarterbacks drafted outside of the first round is not great, and for every Dak Prescott (fourth round, 135th overall) there are adozen Ian Books (fourth round, 133rd overall). If the Saints have afranchise quarterback on this roster,hewill be an historical outlier While it would be apleasant surprise, feeling good about the future of the position in NewOrleans doesn’tnecessarily have to equate to wins this year.The Patriots feel they have acorner-
stone player in Drake Maye, and the team went 3-9 in games he started in his 2024 rookie season. Whoever it is, they just need to showreason to believe they’re the guy
Worstcase
What you may be thinking here is that theworst-case scenario is for the quarterback play to be rotten and the Saintsfinishwith one of theworst recordsinfootball. But there’satwist on that which would be even less desirable.
Let’ssay the corepieces of the Saints roster stay healthy over the course of theseasonand are actually muchbetter than some aroundthe league think they are, giving the team itself ahigher floor—highenough that the Saintsare able to win, say,seven games even withbad quarterbackplay
If New Orleansgets through this season with amiddle-ofthe-pack record andalso clearly does not have aplausible solution at quarterback, that is the worst-case scenario. Next year’s draft classat quarterback should theoretically be better than this year’s, butifthe Saints go into the draft with apick in theteens needing apasser,theymight be outofluck again
One wayoranother,the Saints could really use some long-term clarity on thequarterbacksituation this year.Ifthey’re good, then they are set. If they’re awful, there is nothing stopping them from using atop-five pick on aquarterback in 2026. Don’t be in the middle.
Apredictionin10words or less
Shough wins atight competition andkeepsthe job.
Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.
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Mayand would be playing a21st season in the league. He’s coming off ayear whenhestarted all 82 games for San Antonio.
There’salso the question surrounding GoldenState restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, who has been mentioned frequently in potential sign-andtrades that could send himtoa new club.
Moritz Wagner tore hisACL in agame in December andhas hopes of beingready for the startofthis coming season
TheMagic earlier declinedan option to bring him back on a deal that would have paid $11 million this year, and thebackup center wound up takingless money to remain in Orlando ateam with serious hopesof contending in the Eastern Conference. The Magic added Desmond Bane in atrade with Memphis lastmonth,landed guard Tyus Jones earlier in free agency and are expected to givePaolo Banchero,the No.1 pickinthe 2022 draft, an extensionthis summer
Warriors forward Jonathan Kumingareacts after making a3-pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves on May 10 in San Francisco.
—one that likely will be in the range of nearly $240 million for fiveyearsand wouldrepresent thebiggest contract in franchise history
Moritz Wagner was averaging acareer-best 12.9 points through 30 games last season when he got hurt. He playedfor Germany’s team that won the2023 Basketball World Cup and was with his national team again for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
He is entering hiseighthNBA season and what will be his fifth full year with the Magic.
No.1Sabalenka holdsoff home favorite Raducanu
BY KEN MAGUIRE AP sportswriter
LONDON Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staved off an upset bid by resurgent Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon by beatingthe home favorite 7-6(6), 6-4inthe thirdround at araucous Centre Court on Friday night. Sabalenka, atwo-time semifinalist at the All England Club, fought back in bothsetsagainst thethe 2021 U.S. Open champion, who had been playing some of her best tennis since her title run at FlushingMeadows as aqualifier at age 18.
In a74-minute first set, Sabalenka convertedher eighth setpoint, whichcame 30 minutesafter the first Raducanu wentup4-2,only to see Sabalenka reeloff 11 of 12
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made31unforced errors, 20 more than Siegemund.
When it ended with one last backhand return from Keys that sailed wide,Siegemund smiled broadly, raisedher arms and jumped up and down repeatedly
“You can’t notbehappy when you beat agreat player like Madison,” Siegemund said.
How unexpected is this for Siegemund? Beforethis year,her career record at the All England Club was 2-5, andshe’d nevermadeitpast thesecond round.Taking into account all four Grand Slam tournaments, she had reached thethird round only once in 28 previous appearances,gettingtothe quarterfinals at the 2020 French Open.
“Thereistechnically no pressure for me,” said Siegemund, at 37 the oldest woman remaining in thetournament. “I try to remember thatI only play for myself. I don’tfeel like Ineed to prove anything anymore. My boyfriendoften tells me that.”
On Sunday,the German faces another participant no one could havepredicted would be at this stage of thegrass-court major: 101st-ranked Solana Sierra of Argentina, who lost in qualifying and made it into the maindrawwhen another player withdrew Shelton, Alcarazadvance BenShelton playedfor all of four points andabout aminute,wrap-
pointsduring onestretchwhile moving out front by a5-4 score. Then arrived an epic game, lasting 13 minutesand containing 22 points, eightdeuces, and seven set points forSabalenka —all ending with Raducanu holding serve.
Then, Raducanu hadaset point while leading 6-5 in the tiebreaker, but Sabalenka saved it with adropshot winner and took the last three pointsofthe set —ending it with a volley winner
The fansprovided extra energy for the British player, cheering wildly when Raducanu fired winners and exhaling “aww!” when she missed Sabalenka, athree-time Grand Slamchampion, said she pretended the cheers werefor her “Guys wow—what an atmosphere. My earsare still hurting. It was super loud,” she said in an
ping up his second-round match against Rinky Hijikata that was suspended Thursday night.
TheAmerican, who reached the final four at the2023 U.S. Open and this year’sAustralian Open, and Hijikata, an Australian ranked 87th,returned to the same stadium alittle less than 16 hours later after thesuspension forwhat turned out to be just one game.
After awarmup period quite a bit longer than the resumption of actual play,Shelton beganwith a 141 mph ace. The 22-year-old lefthanderthen hit asecondserve that resulted in aframed return by Hijikata, followed with an ace at 140 mphand onemore at 118mph to end things quickly
Carlos Alcaraz kept his Wimbledon three-peat campaign chugging
on-court interview In the second set, Raducanu broke to 3-1 and led 4-1 at the 1-hour,35-minute mark, but Sabalenka reeled offthe last five games.
Raducanu,rankedNo. 40,had defeated2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the previous round.
“She pushed me really hard to get this win. I’m happy to see her healthy and back on track,” Sabalenka said. “I’m pretty sure that soon she’sgoing to be back in the top 10.”
Sabalenkareached thefinal at each of the past three Grand Slam tournaments, winning the U.S. Open last September and finishing as the runner-uptoMadisonKeys at the Australian Open in January andtoCocoGauff at theFrench Open in June.
along by beating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court on Fridaytoreach thefourth round.
Alcaraz extendedhis winning streak to 21 matches overalland 17 consecutive victories at the All England Club, where he haswon the past twotitles. The five-time Grand Slam championshook offasecond-set wobble withanearly break andbydropping only four points on his serve in the third set. Struff held tough but Alcaraz broke fora 5-4lead in the fourth set and served out the victory Other men’s seeds advancing were No. 5Taylor Fritz, No. 14 Andrey Rublevand No.17Karen Khachanov.Inthe women’sdraw, four-timemajor titlewinner Naomi Osaka’sWimbledon ended in the third round for the third time, eliminatedbyAnastasia Pavlyuchenkova.No. 13 Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. advanced to the fourth round, as did No. 24 Elise Mertens and No.30Linda Noskova. WhowillplaySaturday?
Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek will take on Danielle Collins at Centre Court —who couldforget their testy exchange at the Paris Olympics? —while No 1Jannik Sinner and 24-time major champNovak Djokovic also are involvedinmatches at themain stadium.Two American women will be in action at No. 1Court: HaileyBaptistefaces No.7Mirra Andreeva of Russia, andNo. 10 Emma Navarro plays defending champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.
AP PHOTO By ALASTAIR GRANT Ben Shelton celebrates winning at Wimbledon second-round match against Rinky Hijikata on Fridayin London.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIAGERMER
Saints rookie quarterback Hunter Dekkers throws the ball during the organized team activities on May22atthe team’s practice facility
AP PHOTO By GODOFREDO A. VÁSQUEZ Golden State
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByKIN CHEUNG
Aryna Sabalenka returns to Emma Raducanu during athird-round Wimbledon match on FridayinLondon. Sabalenka defeated Wimbledonfavorite Raducanu.
Don’tdothe last thing firstwhen dealingwith problems
One of my college philosophy professors would often say, “Don’tdothe last thing first.” He wanted us to understand that there is aprocess, asequential way of doing things that will most often get the best results. He likened it to the principle of subsidiarity,which is often illustrated in organizational charts. For example, an employeewho is at the bottom of the chart wouldn’ttake aproblem they are having straight to the CEO. They would first bring it to their immediate supervisor Then, if the problemwasn’t resolvedthere, they might consider bringing it to ahigher-level supervisor. This process doesn’tonly apply to organizations. In life, we have situations, problems or opportunities that we want to handle, fix or take advantage of. For avariety of reasons, we may feel that “going straight to the top” is the best course of action. While there may be instances where this is warranted, more often it behoovesustowork the process.
Isee this quite often when teens and/or their parentsare experiencinga problemat school. I’ve been asked countless times at the initial presentation of aproblem, “Should we switch schools?”
Switchingschools is amassive action that, in most cases, willhave some downsides, evenwhen it is the best decision. My initial response to clients is: “That option is definitely on the table. But let’s explore afew steps we might take before taking that one.” Usually,Isee relief on the facesofthe parent and teen because somehow,intuitively, they know there is merit in addressing the problem in areasonable sequence of actions. It can be hard to not skip steps. It requires agreat deal of patience and discernment For some, it requires tolerating uncertainty as they take the necessary first steps in the process. This is especially hard for me when Iexperience mild hypochondriasis.
When my anxiety is elevated, Ican worry unnecessarily about minor healthissues. If my knee is bothering me, I want to go straight to my orthopedic surgeon instead of taking an ibuprofen, stretching andgivingita coupleofdays.
ä See FIRST, page 6C
DANCING
THROUGHLIFE
Longtime BR instructor opens newstudio
BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer
On awarm JuneMonday night in Baton Rouge,14people paraded intoadance studio off Coursey Boulevard. Each personwas met with cheersofwelcome, and the anticipation of adance class buzzed through the room Baton Rouge Ballroom’sbeginnerballroom classwas starting.
Thedance studioritualofputting on danceshoes while chatting ensued. As thedance students milled about, James Heath, the owner of Baton Rouge Ballroom andthe head instructor,greeted students and began giving directions on their first steps In April, Heath openedthe studio, at
ä See DANCE, page 6C
L.A. comedian’s KimMulkeysketchesgoviral
BY JANRISHER Staff writer
When afriend presented Mollie Merkel with two magenta blazers from a movie with Salma Hayek, thecourse of the LosAngeles-based comedian’s career shifted. Merkel paired theblazers with a blonde bob wig and took tothe internetasLSU’sKim Mulkey
“Weimprovised that first sketch in Venice, andit just went viral and people loved it,” Merkel said. “It’s been really great for my comedy to have done Kim.” Merkel frequently partners with Rachel Samples who plays the Pat Summitt character to Merkel’sMulkey
What does Mulkey have to say?
If Oscar Wilde is correct in saying, “Imitationisthe sincerest form of flattery,” then Merkel’s viralvideo portrayal of thefiery women’sbasketball coach is flattery with awhistle and awhole lot of flair.The blazer-clad “Mulkey” video sketches have led to an invitation for Merkeltoauditionfor “Saturday Night Live.”
Mulkey admits that she has seen some of Merkel’s work, though she is famously not on social media. Even so, Mulkey says her kids, coaches and players often send the videos to her “Thosethat Ihave seen are really funny,” MulkeysaidofMerkel’s work.
“Obviously,she knows alot about me. Maybe one day she can
come to agame.” Merkel was aDivision Isoccer player at West Virginia University Hermotherwas abasketballstar in Maryland. She uses herathleticism and deep knowledgeofsports to perform afunny exaggeration of Mulkey —incorporatingMulkey’s walk, the occasional stomp, high heels, accent, in-your-face conversationswith officials, Queenof Sparkles attire and more.
“I wasalways surrounded by female basketball players because of my mother,” Merkel said. “A lot of her teammates were Olympians.” Her oldest brother is also abasketballcoach at Randolph Macon, whoseteamwon the Division III national championship in 2022. He wasnamed coach of the year in the
PROVIDED PHOTO
Los Angeles-based comedian Mollie Merkel hasgone viralfor her videoparodies of LSU basketball coachKim Mulkey
STAFFPHOTOSByMICHAEL JOHNSON
James Heath, center,gives instructions to aclass on theproper steps during aballroom class Mondayatthe Baton RougeBallroom studio.
Linda Baileyand VJ Marretta work through dancesteps at the Baton Rouge Ballroom studio.
Roy Petitfils
Merkel
Cash gift mightinsultgrievingfriend
Dear Miss Manners: Iamwondering if it would be crassorin poor taste to give anew widow a thoughtful sympathy card with money in it, rather than sending flowers. Adear friend just became widowed in herlate 40s after her husband’s somewhat lengthy and most unexpectedillness. My friend has been astay-at-home mom throughout her marriage, and has no post-high schooleducation. I’m sure she will get life insurance benefits as herhusband had aunion job, and of course she can get Social Security benefits. But Iimagine agood-paying job will be achallenge to find.
couple of hundred dollars on a floralarrangementthat will soon be dead, and would prefer to give hersomemoney and anice handwritten note. Is this acceptable?
Judith Martin MISS MANNERS
Gentle reader: Let us think aboutthis for asecond. A newlywidowed young-ish woman receives athoughtfulletter from her close friend abouther dearly departed husband —and cash falls out of it.
This is not ateenager’s birthdaycardfroma well-meaningbut emotionally unavailable grandpa. This is an adult woman who, higher education notwithstanding,wants to maintain her dignity after her husband’sdeath. If his illness was lengthy (but also unexpected?),surely there
Ifind it impractical to spenda
TODAYINHISTORY
By The Associated Press
Today is Saturday,July 5, the 186th day of 2025. There are 179 days left in the year
Todayinhistory:
On July 5, 1996, Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned fromanadult somatic cell by scientists at theRoslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, was born.
Also on this date:
In 1687, Isaac Newton first published his PrincipiaMathematica,athree-volume work setting out his mathematical principles of natural philosophy
In 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered his speech “Whatto the Slave is the Fourth of July?” at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York.
In 1865, the Secret Service Division of the U.S. Treasury Department was founded in Washington, D.C., with the mission of suppressing counterfeit currency
In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signedthe National Labor Relations Act. In 1937, Hormel introducedacanned meat product called Spam; more than 9billion cans have been sold since.
In 1940, during World WarII, Britain and the Vichy government in France broke off diplomatic relations
In 1946, the modern bikini, designed by Frenchman Louis Reard, was first modeled in Paris.
In 1947, Larry Doby made his debut with the ClevelandIndians, becoming the firstBlack player in the American League three months after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the National League.
In 1954, Elvis Presley recorded his first single, “That’sAll Right,” at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.
In 1971, President Richard Nixon certified the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.
In 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to wina Wimbledon singles title, defeating Jimmy Connors.
In 1980, Bjorn Borg became the first male player to win five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles.
In 1994, Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos as an onlinemarketplace for books.
In 2011, ajury in Orlando, Florida, found Casey Anthony, 25, not guilty of murder,manslaughter and child abuse in the 2008 disappearance and death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.
In 2013, Pope Francis cleared two of the 20th century’smost influential popes to become saints in the Roman Catholic church, approving amiracle needed to canonize Pope John Paul II and waiving Vatican rules to honor Pope John XXIII.
Today’sBirthdays: Julie Nixon Eisenhower is 77. Rock star Huey Lewis is 75. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage is 74. NFL Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton is 69. Cartoonist Bill Watterson (“Calvin andHobbes”) is 67. Singersongwriter Marc Cohn is 66.Actor Edie Falco is 62. Actor Jillian Armenante is 61. Actor Kathryn Erbe is 60. Actor Michael Stuhlbargis57. Rapper RZA is 56. Author Gary Shteyngart is 53. R&B singer Joe is 52. Rapper Royce da 5’9” is 48. International Tennis Hall of Famer Amelie Mauresmo is 46. Actor Ryan Hansen is 44. Countrymusician Dave Haywood (LadyA) is 43. Actor DanayGarcia is 41. Retired soccer player Megan Rapinoe is 40.
was talk and arrangements made over how she would get on without him. Andifnot,some extra cash is not going to be worththe embarrassment of her thinking that her friends believe she cannot handle life on her own.
More meaningful than ahundred dollars, or the equivalent in flowers, would be that condolence letter —plus an invitation to dinner or companionship when she is ready.Having never navigated theworld on her own, she may need assurance that she still has a supportive social circle.
Of course, if your friend immediately startsher own public fundraising platform,which she will undoubtedly do, Miss Manners will give up her self-righteous defense and humbly takeitall back. Dear Miss Manners: My family
DANCE
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12240 Coursey Blvd., after teaching in otherstudiosfor 20 years.
Although abeginner class, several veteran dancers come regularly to the class to freshen up on certain dances or just topractice with their dancingbuddies.For Lauren Marino, owner of Lake House Reception Center,attending thebeginner ballroom class regularly is afixture in herweek
“It’sall levels,” Marino said. “I’ve been doing it for years, and Istill come to beginners. Everyweek, I learn something either new or that Iwas doing wrong, and(Heath)just helps youtweak everything.” Throughout the class, each time Heathcalled for participantsto rotate and find anew partner,exclamationsof“Hey!” and “How are you?” rangthrough the studio. When Michael Bublé began crooning“Cuando, Cuando” through the speakers, theenergy shifted into rumba vibes.
Between steps and turns, the partners talked and learned together
Thestudents were amix of ages —from people in their 20s to 70s, which Barrios saidiscommon for their classes. Colorfulcharacters likePhil Chenevert in his newsboystyleflat cap and bright Hawaiian shirt were peppered through the room. Chenevert said he dances to pass on love andjoy ‘Feelingthe music’
In 1991, Heath was in themilitary and also working at aconvenience store in VirginiaBeach, Virginia, when he first startedballroom dancing. Acustomer invited him to atraining, and Heath hasbeen dancing through life ever since. He said dancing provides afreedom andfeelinglike nothing else.
“I likefeelingthe music.Ilike just doingmyown thing,” he said. “There’spatternsthat we can do in abook, but Itruly believe that you shouldbefollowing themusic rather than just doingjust stepsout of a book. Ilike thefeeling of being able to communicatewith somebody else without using words.”
Heath moved to New Orleans to continue ballroomtraining and then to New York to study under highly trained professionals. Eventually,hemade hisway to Baton Rouge where he taught at Ric Seel-
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same year Merkel got into comedy in her 20s aftershe graduated from college.She movedto Chicagoand did astintwith Second City “Wewere watching the NCAA with some friends two years ago. And all the peoplethatIwas watchingwith said,‘Youshould do an impression of KimMulkey,’” she said. “So Istarted working on it, and then Iwould listen toher on YouTube and it just was really easy to get into her voice.”
The work has paid off. Merkel has captured Mulkey’ssignature Tickfaw-cadence and delivery
What’s next forMerkel?
What’sonthe horizon for Merkel andher Mulkey character?
She could be headed for the big stageinNew York. Or maybe it’s TikTok and the DIYpower of the internet, whereshe’s alreadyfound viralsuccess —ora combinationof both.
Merkel’sdeep knowledge of college athletics adds depth to the potential of her comedy.She’sbuilding an interview show titled “Horsing Around,”where her Mulkey character interviews aguest each episode while simultaneously playing agameofHorse with the guest.
enjoys hosting casual open housetype parties. Whoever wants to stop by can do so at their leisure throughout the day,and we usually get timetovisit one-on-one with our guests. We always have plenty of food, but well-meaning friends who don’twant to show up emptyhanded alwaysask, “What can Ibring?” My answer is always that there’s no obligation to bring anything, but they’re welcome to bring abottle of wine or atreat to share if they’d like. However,people tend to bring food and leave it behind, leaving us with leftovers our family couldn’tpossibly consume before they spoil. Idon’twant to offend anyone by implying their treats aren’tgood enough forus, but Ialso don’twant food to go
to waste. What is the appropriate etiquette forparty leftovers brought by aguest?
Gentle reader: If freezing them or aneighborlygiveaway is notan option,gentlyinsistthatguests taketheir food withthem, saying, “These were delicious,but we couldn’tpossibly consume them all. CanIgive you back at least half?
Of course, Miss Manners’ real advice is to avoid the problem entirely by being moreinsistent when they ask in the first place.
Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St Kansas City,MO 64106.
ing Dance Studio for 20 years. He decided to go out on his own and opened Baton Rouge Ballroom this year.For the first few months, he taught lessons at LakeHouse Reception Center until the studio wasready.Healsotaughtlessons to Marino’swedding clients to prepare them forwedding reception dances.
Janice Barrios, Heath’shype woman and marketing coordinator, camealong with him and has waltzed hand-in-hand with Heath as the twohave built Baton Rouge Ballroom. Heath and Barrios held their grand opening April 19, and since then, they have also hosted the third annualSouthernSoiree Dance Challenge at Boudreaux’sin BatonRouge in May Theyhavetraveled to Moscow andSt. Petersburg, among other foreign locations, to compete and teach. OneofHeath’s best memoriesisteaching countryand westerndancing to dancersinRussia.
For Heath,the relationships, camaraderie and personal growth keep him teaching ballroom dance. He teaches all ballroom styles
Her dream guest:Kim Mulkey
She hasmuchshe would like to discuss withthe legendary coach. “I would love to do atelevision show with Kim about the NIL deals. Kids used to just get ascholarship andtheywould come from notalot of money or opportunities. They would get ascholarship and
as well as country and line dancing, but his favorites are Latin or rhythm, which is essentially an American version of the Latin style.
“I definitely like watching everybody grow,” Heath said. “It’sfunny because yousee married couples comingin, andthe wife hasbrought thehusbandinkicking andscreaming. Then he windsupbecomingthe one thatgets really interested in it, andhebecomes thebetter dancer So it’skind of fun watching them grow as acouple or seeing the different partnerships that build up from the studio.”
Barrios and Heath have cultivated awarm atmosphere of friendship and acceptance in the studio. No matter the level of the dancer, Heathand other students provide encouragement and instruction. Everyone is welcome.
“Some people have never done anything like this,” Marino said, “but youdon’tcomeinhere and feel nervous or looked down on. It’s very welcoming and sweet.”
Heath’svision for the ballroom is oneofcollaborationovercompetition.
have an opportunity to go to college,” Merkelsaid. “Now,they’re professionals making six figures.”
Merkel says the shifts caused by NIL make for an interesting topic to explore —interms of history, culture, feminism and how it changes loyalty and team dynamics.
One of Merkel’ssketches with more thana million views on TikTokfeatures her Mulkey character playing basketballonanoutdoor court in heels, blackslacks and her signature magenta blazer.She announces that shehas some news: “I’m avery private person. Idon’t have social media, but …I’ve got a boyfriend.”
In the sketch, “Matteo,” her“boyfriend” explains that they met on Hinge (a dating app).
Merkel’sparody Mulkey says, “There’sa prompt that says, ‘I’m weirdlyattracted to …,’and he wrote …” CueMatteo, who quietly says, “Kim.”
Merkel adds, “Mulkey.” It’s all silliness, but the kind thatsticks, because somewhere between the stomp, the sparkle and thesass, Merkel captures Mulkey’s larger-than-life presence —one that is morethan capable of inspiring both championships and comedy gold.
Email Jan Risheratjan.risher@ theadvocate.com.
Barrios and Heath have plans to unitethe communitythrough an upcoming Alzheimer’sfundraiser Heath said that he hopes to help people understand that music and dancing can be beneficial for individuals with Alzheimer’s.
Heath is also planning special performances at Perkins Rowe duringNationalBallroom Week in September.Hewants to strengthen the Louisiana ballroom dance scene by joining forces with other studios, as well as exposing the various dance styles to the public.
“I’m trying to bring everybody more together,” Heath said. “The badthing aboutstudiosisanold mentality, which is everybody stays with their own studio. Ithink youshould go experienceeverybody.You have more opportunities to dance at different places and withdifferentpeoplewhen you work together as ateam.”
For information on classes, membership and lessons, visit batonrougeballroom.com
Email Joy Holdenatjoy.holden@ theadvocate.com.
FIRST
Continued from page5C
More often than not, it was atight quadmuscle that just needed rest and stretching. Sometimes when we feel wronged or hurt, we maywant to “show them who’sincharge.” Afriend recently got in acar accident and immediately said, “I’m going to sue them!” Isuggested he call his insurance company first, and in the next day or so, subdue the strong emotions of anger and powerlessness while awaiting their response.
In this case, his insurance company handled the situation well and ultimately took great care of him,sparing him the unnecessary timeand expense of hiring an attorney forafender bender
Following aprocess of handling difficult situations isn’t always easy and, in many cases, requires agreat deal of patience and emotional regulation. It means taking apause, gathering perspective and holding the tension of asserting ourselves in a measured but purposeful way. When we are able to do this, we’ll find, more often than not, that we’re more effective and have less regret.
STAFF FILEPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey celebrates during aMarch NCAA Tournament game in Baton Rouge.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Janice Barrios and James Heath givedance classes at Baton RougeBallroom studio.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Stop secondguessing and start doing. Consider whereyou belong and what you can do to make adifference. Theprospects look good if you join forces with likeminded people.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Take abreak and see what lifeoffers: Go on amini vacation, attend aconference or have a reunion. The important thingistorelax and baskinthe possibilities.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Make thefirst move, start aconversation, listen attentivelyand take mental notes, and you will discover helpful information. Keep your emotionshiddenand displayyour poker face.
LIBRA(Sept.23-oct. 23) Put your energy into gaining ground and building asolid base for your next venture. Opportunity is apparent,but patience, knowledge and experience arerequired.
ScoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Areaction, body language or verbal response will reveal what'stocome. Don't shy away from the truth or ignore it. Don'tbe bashful; youcannotmove forward until you deal with the present.
SAGITTARIuS(nov. 23-Dec. 21) Get ready to change things and deal withany mismanagement slowingyou down. Reviewyourexpenses, medications and homeenvironment,and consider what's notworking foryou anymore
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take an interest in how you can hone your skills
or usethemdifferently.Partnerships look promising, but be aware of competitors trying to undermineorsteal your thunder.
AQuARIuS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Embrace change and enjoy the results. How you set up your home or deal with relationships will set the tonefor theday.Love and romance are in thestars.
PIScES (Feb. 20-March 20) Home in on your target and muster up the energy to carry through with your plans. Make personal relationships your priority and enjoy whatyou can accomplish when people work together.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Pay attentionto detailand make changes regarding how you invest and handle your cash. Refuse to let unrealistic domestic issues stand between you and your goals.
TAuRuS (April 20-May 20) Promise only what's doable. Beingareliable source for others will helpyou build asolid reputation. Knowyour limits and set standards that live up to your expectations.
GEMInI (May21-June 20) Research, scan the internet and look for the best deal before placing an order. Refuse to let your emotions leadthe waywhendealing with domestic issues. Listen, evaluate and talk to experts.
Celebrity Cipher cryptogramsare created fromquotations by famous people,past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands foranother.
ToDAy'S cLuE:H EQuALS V
better or For WorSe
SALLYForth
beetLe bAILeY
Mother GooSe And GrIMM
bIG nAte
Sudoku
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the samenumber onlyonce. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
By PHILLIPALDER
Mark Twain said,“Do theright thing It will gratify somepeople and astonish the rest.”
At the bridge table, if you do the right thing, it might bothgratify and astonish your partner! After alot of columns about bidding opposite no-trump with major-suit hands, let’s have afurlough andplay in ano-trump contract.
Southisinthree no-trump. West leads hisfourth-highest diamond, theseven. How should Southplan the play?
As Ihave noted many times before, if North’sfive-card suit were amajor,he would showit, planning to make it the trumpsuitwhenpartner hasatleast three-card support. Butsince it is so unlikely that fiveclubs will make and threeno-trumpfail, responder should justgofor the nine-trick game.
Southhasseventoptricks:fourspades, twoheartsand one diamond. There are more thanenough supplementarywinners available in clubs.But there is a danger that the opponents will get too many diamond trickswhen in withthe ace of clubs.
If the missing diamonds are breaking 4-3, there is no problem. But what if they are 5-2? Then surely East has honor-doubleton. With asuit headed by the king, queen and jack, West would have led the king,nottheseven.AndifEastdoeshave honor-doubleton, declarer mustwin the first trick withdummy’sace. This blocks thesuit from thedefenders’ point of view. If East throws his queen under the ace, South’s 10 wins the fourth round of the suit.And if East keeps his queen, the defenders cannot untie the suit Declarer then plays aclub, raking in at least one overtrick.
