The Advocate 07-11-2025

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“If there were ever a time where we are really going to need support from our community to help our friends and neighbors, now is that time.”

MIKE MANNING, president and

CEO

of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank

Food bank forced to reduce rations

As federal aid dwindles, BR nonprofit scales back again

BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer

The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is having to reduce the amount of food it can provide to clients in the face of cuts to federal aid, the nonprofit said Thursday It is the second cutback in rations in the past year, according to the organization.

The reduction comes even as the food bank reports a steady increase in the number of clients seeking help each month due to ongoing inflation impacts, rising food costs and a 40% reduction in federal food support since 2024.

This past spring, the nonprofit went from being able to provide 25 pounds of food per person each month to 20 pounds. Now, that number is dropping to 15 pounds, closer to the national average of 13.5 pounds.

ä See FOOD, page 4A

Researchers lower number of named storms

Hurricane experts tweak prediction

BY MARCO CARTOLANO

Staff writer

Hurricane researchers at Colorado State University on Wednesday tweaked their prediction of above-average activity during the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, decreasing the number of expected storms. Hurricane experts with CSU — which issues annual forecasts just like the National Hurricane Center said they now expect a slightly above-average sea-

son and lowered the number of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes each by one from the initial April 3 prediction.

The probability of a major hurricane making landfall in the U.S. and in the Caribbean was also slightly above average.

CSU now predicts the season will produce 16 named storms, including eight hurricanes and three major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or above.

The primary reason for the forecast change is both the observed and predicted high levels of Caribbean wind shear

While high wind shear in June and July is generally associated

with less active hurricane seasons, the CSU researchers said there are still conditions that are conducive to hurricane formation and intensification. Those conditions include warmer-than-normal tropical Atlantic temperatures and El Niño-Southern Oscillation neutral conditions a set of conditions over the Pacific Ocean that affects weather patterns across the world.

CSU researchers said there’s now a 31% chance that a major hurricane will hit somewhere along the Gulf Coast, from the Florida panhandle to Brownsville, Texas There’s a 48%

chance of landfall somewhere along the entirety of the U.S coastline.

So far, there have been three named storms and no hurricanes this year: Andrea, Barry and Chantal None has posed a threat to Louisiana.

CSU predicted the 2024 season would have 23 named storms, including 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes, the highest number ever predicted by the university

By the end of last year’s season, there was a total of 19 named storms and 11 hurricanes, with five classified as major

Officials evaluating impact on LSU arena project

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

A day after the CEO of the firm that is the sole finalist to build a new LSU arena was indicted in Texas, university officials said they are weighing how the criminal charges could affect the project in Baton Rouge.

Developer’s CEO indicted in Texas bid-rigging case Leiweke

On Wednesday, Oak View Group CEO Timothy J. Leiweke was indicted on federal charges that he rigged the bidding process for an arena at the University of Texas at Austin, a project similar to the LSU proposal. In an emailed statement Thursday, LSU Athletics Chief Communications Officer Zach Greenwell said officials are reviewing how the charges might impact the proposed arena at LSU. “All involved parties are evaluating the implications on the potential arena project in Baton Rouge considering this week’s news regarding Oak View Group,” Greenwell said. “There is not a finalized agreement in place with Oak View Group, nor has a potential agreement gone before any governing bodies for approval, including the LSU Board of Supervisors.” In May, LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward said Oak View Group was the sole finalist for the project which was estimated to cost up to $400 million, noting that competitor ASM Global was out of the running.

See ARENA, page 4A

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

A Livingston man who murdered a Louisiana State Police trooper and a Prairieville woman in 2021 was sentenced to two life sentences with an additional 348 years in prison after taking a plea deal. Matthew Mire, 34, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Master Trooper Adam Gaubert and 37-year-old Pamela Adair in separate shootings, according to the plea agreement filed in the 23rd Judicial District Court in Ascension Parish. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder in Ascension Parish. In his signed plea agreement, he also admitted to counts of attempted first-degree murder in shooting two of his neighbors in Livingston Parish. Mire, who was found mentally fit to stand trial last year, potentially faced the death penalty if he had not agreed to the plea deal and his case had instead gone before a jury Man

ä See LIFE, page 5A

Food bank volunteer Ramona Santos loads up groceries to give out to community members at New Ruach Christian Church.

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Food bank volunteers Ezra Santos, left and Guillermo London load up groceries Thursday to give out to community members who were unable to make it to New Ruach Christian Church.

BRIEFS

Accused Trump shooter

wants to represent self

FORT PIERCE Fla. A man charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at his Florida golf course told a federal judge Thursday he wants to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself, saying he will be ready to defend himself before a trial jury this fall.

Ryan Routh made his request during a hearing in Fort Pierce before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon. When the judge asked Routh, 59, whether he wanted her to appoint new attorneys to defend him, Routh replied: “No. I will represent myself.”

Routh is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.

“Do you understand that selfrepresentation is almost always a bad idea?” the judge asked Routh.

“Yes, your honor,” replied Routh, who described the extent of his education as two years of college after earning his GED certificate.

Cannon also asked Routh if he understood the court’s rules of evidence and federal criminal procedure He told her: “I have a book.”

Secret Service suspends 6 after Pa. Trump rally

The Secret Service has suspended six agents tasked with securing the Pennsylvania rally where Donald Trump was shot last year

Matt Quinn, Secret Service deputy director, told CBS News that their punishments range from 10 to 42 days of leave without pay or benefits. They include several agents at the service’s Pittsburgh field office, along with one agent on Trump’s detail and a counter sniper, sources told CNN. It is unclear when the agents were formally suspended.

At least two of the agents are reportedly appealing the move.

On July 13, 2024, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks unleashed gunfire from a rooftop overlooking Trump’s rally in Butler The president was just six minutes into his address when a bullet grazed his right ear One rally attendee, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, was killed in violent chaos. Two others were wounded before a sniper finally took out Crooks.

In the months since, a series of congressional investigations and federal reports have been completed, including the Secret Service’s own analysis. It uncovered multiple failures the day of the shooting, including communication breakdowns with local police, who spotted the shooter and even confronted the gunman.

Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned amid scrutiny regarding security the day of the assassination attempt.

Real estate influencer indicted for scheme

A New Jersey real estate influencer was indicted Thursday on numerous charges for running an alleged Ponzi scheme to generate his millions, the Justice Department announced.

Cesar Humberto Piña, 47, was known online as “Flipping NJ” until July 2023, when his operation began falling apart.

Piña promised investors returns of up to 30% in only four to five months, then took their money and spent it on personal items, according to the feds. Most of the money he did pay back was simply taken from new investors, authorities said Piña was charged with two counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy and one count of bribing a public official.

Piña’s wife, Jennifer Iturralde Piña, additionally faces a federal charge destroying evidence. The feds said she destroyed a cellphone when agents arrived at the couple’s home to search it in March 2024.

Eligibility for programs to change

Immigrants in U.S. illegally will be unable to enroll in Head Start

BY ANNIE MA Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will restrict immigrants in the country illegally from enrolling in Head Start, a federally funded preschool program, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday The move is part of a broad effort to limit access to federal benefits for immigrants who lack legal status.

People in the country illegally are largely ineligible for federal public benefits such as food stamps, student loans and financial aid for higher education. But for decades they have been able to access some community-level programs such as Head Start and community health centers.

HHS said it will reclassify those programs as federal public benefits, excluding immigrants in the country illegally from accessing them. Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the changes were part of a larger effort to protect American citizens’ interests.

“For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans’ tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration,” Kennedy said in a statement. “Today’s action changes that — it restores integrity to federal social programs, enforces the rule of law and protects vital resources for the American people.”

A spokesperson for the Administration for Children and Families, which administers Head Start, said that eligibility will be determined based on the child’s immi-

gration status. Requiring proof of immigration status would likely create fear and confusion among families seeking to enroll their children, said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association. “This decision undermines the fundamental commitment that the country has made to children and disregards decades of evidence that Head Start is essential to our collective future,” Vinci said.

The changes are part of a multiagency announcement rescinding a Clinton-era interpretation of federal law, which had allowed immigrants in the country illegally to access some programs The Education Department, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labor announced

31 workers reach safety after L.A. tunnel collapse

BY DAMIAN DOVARGANES and JULIE WATSON Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — All 31 construction work-

ers who were far inside a huge industrial tunnel being dug under Los Angeles made it to safety after a partial collapse, an outcome officials called a blessing after they initially feared much worse.

The workers were 400 feet underground and as much as 6 miles inside from the only entrance when the cave-in Wednesday evening threatened to trap them on the far side of the tunnel’s boring machine, said Michael Chee, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts.

Fire Department Chief Ronnie Villanueva said the workers had to make it through the most treacherous part themselves, climbing over more than 12 feet of loose dirt and debris to reach the boring machine before rescuers could drive them to the opening of the nearly $700 million project, which is designed to carry treated wastewater to the Pacific

Ocean

Aerial footage showed a crane hoisting workers out of the tunnel in a yellow cage None had major injuries, authorities said

The accident happened as workers were operating the boring machine, said

Robert Ferrante, chief engineer and general manager for the sanitation districts. “A section that they have already built had squeezing ground and had a collapse, a partial collapse,” he told reporters.

The collapse in the tunnel, which is 18 feet wide and will be 7 miles long, happened under the Wilmington neighborhood, a heavily industrial area filled with oil refineries just north of the Port of Los Angeles.

Working so near the shoreline and at such a depth means crews could have been contending with very wet conditions that add challenges during design and digging, said Maria Mohammed, president of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California.

“You would design not just for the pressure from the soil and the weight of the soil, you have to design for the pressure from the water,” said Mohammed, whose group is not involved in the Wilmington project.

The cause is under investigation, Chee said. Work will not resume until they can figure out what happened and determine that it’s safe to proceed, authorities said. Mohammed said that investigation could take months, if not longer It will take some time just to make the tunnel safe for investigators to enter Once inside, they’ll try to determine where the collapse originated, she said.

Senate Republicans block attempt to roll back tax hike on gamblers

BY JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press

WASHINGTON Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked an attempt to reverse a little-noticed provision from their tax and spending cuts law that professional gamblers warn could be the end of their industry

Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez

Masto of Nevada sought unanimous passage of a bill that would roll back the change on gambling tax deductions, but

Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana objected, stalling the proposal for now

The emerging fight over the gambling provision is likely only the beginning of the fallout from the new tax law and its impact on the country Spanning more than 900 pages, the bill signed into law by President Donald Trump last week contained a slew of provisions changing federal programs and the tax code, many of which lawmakers admit they are only now beginning to fully digest.

Under the new tax law, starting in 2026, individuals can only deduct 90% of their

gambling losses up to the amount of their winnings. That’s a change from the previous rule, which allowed gamblers to deduct 100% of their losses, up to the amount they won.

The change will only significantly impact those who gamble larger amounts and who take the extra steps to itemize and deduct their losses. But for those individuals, the impact could be steep.

In practice, for example, under the old rule, someone who wins $100,000 and loses $100,000 could deduct the full $100,000 in losses and owe nothing. Under the new rule, they would only be able to deduct $90,000 and would still owe taxes on the remaining $10,000, despite having lost all their winnings.

“This new amendment to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would end professional gambling in the U.S. and hurt casual gamblers, too,” Phil Galfond, a professional poker player, said on social media just days ahead of the bill’s final passage.

The provision is estimated to generate over $1.1 billion in tax revenue over eight years.

similar changes affecting a range of workforce and adult education programs.

The changes will affect community health centers that immigrants rely on for a wide range of services, said Shelby Gonzales, vice president of immigration policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

“People depend on those services to get cancer treatment, to get ongoing maintenance for a variety of different health needs,” she said. Students in the country illegally will no longer be eligible to participate in postsecondary career and technical education programs or adult education programs, the Education Department announced. The department also issued a notice to grant recipients to ensure that programs receiving federal funding do not provide services to immigrants without legal status.

Texas AG’s wife files for divorce

BY JIM VERTUNO Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton, the wife of Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, filed for divorce on Thursday, seeking to end 38 years of marriage as her husband campaigns for the U.S. Senate.

Angela Paxton had stuck by her husband through a decade of legal troubles that included state and federal corruption investigations and a 2023 state impeachment trial that publicly exposed his extramarital affair The trial ended with his full acquittal.

A fierce and vocal ally of President Donald Trump, Ken Paxton was first elected state attorney general in 2014 and is now campaigning to unseat long-time Sen. John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary Angela Paxton, who stood by her husband during the impeachment trial, cited “recent discoveries” in her announcement that she had filed for divorce.

“Today after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds,” Angela Paxton posted on

X. “I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation. But in light of recent discoveries, I do not believe that it honors God or is loving to myself, my children, or Ken to remain in the marriage.” Ken Paxton later posted his own statement asking for prayers and privacy

“After facing the pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny, Angela and I have decided to start a new chapter in our lives,” Ken Paxton posted on X. A former high school teacher and guidance counselor, Angela Paxton used to play guitar and sing, “I’m a pistol-packin’ mama, and my husband sues Obama,” at his campaign events and Republican clubs across the state. When it came time for Angela Paxton to launch her own political career, a $2 million loan from her husband propelled her to a narrow victory for a state Senate seat in the booming Dallas suburbs. Once elected, she filed bills to expand his office’s powers, and approved budgets over his state agency and salary

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JAE C. HONG

An aerial view Thursday shows the only entrance to an industrial tunnel in Los Angeles after a section of the tunnel partially collapsed Wednesday night.

Mourning of flood victims begins in Texas

BY NADIA LATHAN, SEAN MURPHY and JOSHUA A. BICKEL Associated Press

KERRVILLE,Texas

Shock has turned into grief across Texas where at least 120 people have died from flash

floods and more were missing as the search for victims moved methodically along endless miles of rivers and rubble Thursday

Photos of those who have died along with a colorful array of flowers and candles now decorate a fence in Hill Country — a growing tribute that reflects the enormity of the disaster in the region

The victims include three friends who had gathered for the July Fourth weekend, 8-year-old sisters who were at summer camp and a 91-year-old grandmother known for her sharp wit.

More than 170 people have been reported missing, most in Kerr County, where nearly 100 victims have been recovered The death toll remained at 120 Thursday, nearly a week since the floods first hit.

Authorities say they have carefully gone over the list of those unaccounted for but those numbers are often tough to pin down in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

The unrelenting power of the floods forced families to make unnerving escapes with little time to spare in the middle of the night. One woman recounted how she and others, including a toddler, first climbed into an attic and then onto a roof where they heard screams and watched vehicles float past Photos and videos captured their ordeal.

More than 2,000 local, state and federal workers were involved in the search for victims. Stifling heat and mounds of trees, hunks of lumber and trash made the task more difficult.

At a small shopping center damaged in the floods, people piled debris gathered from the rivers. Officials hope to eventually set aside personal items so residents find their possessions.

On Wednesday, hundreds prayed, wept and held one another at a prayer service, among the first of many somber gatherings to come in the weeks ahead.

“Our communities were struck with tragedy literally in the darkness,” said Wyatt Wentrcek, a youth minister David Garza drove more than an hour to support his loved ones.

“I’m from here, and I was here

in the ’78 flood and the ’87 flood,” Garza said. “I just wanted to be a part of this.”

Some at the service wore green ribbons for the girls from Camp Mystic, the century-old Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died.

Parents of children who were at the many summer camps in Hill Country have credited the teenage counselors with ushering campers

to safety and helping keep them calm during the chaos.

Texas Gov Greg Abbott called on state lawmakers to approve funding for new warning systems and emergency communications in flood prone areas when the Legislature meets later this month. Abbott also asked for financial relief for the response and recovery efforts.

“We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future,” he said in a statement Wednesday Public officials in the area have come under repeated criticism amid questions about the timeline of what happened and why widespread warnings were not sounded and more preparations were not made. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha has said those questions will be answered after the victims are recovered.

Local leaders have talked for years about the need for a flood warning system, but concerns about costs and noise led to missed opportunities to put up sirens.

Polls taken before the floods show Americans largely believe the federal government should play a major role in preparing for and responding to natural disasters, which are becoming a growing worry On Tuesday, a deluge in New Mexico triggered flash floods that killed three people.

ThedevastationinTexasstretched from Hill Country all the way to just outside the state’s capital. At least 15 people died in the Austin area and adjacent counties. Just north of Austin, floodwaters from the San Gabriel River swamped two RV parks in Georgetown.

Survivors captured terrifying ordeal in photos, video

BY JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press

Jane Towler was up late in a small cabin along the Guadalupe River as thunder boomed through a thrashing rain. It was 4 a.m. and water was pooling on the floor Suddenly, her phone rang. It was her friend from a nearby cabin.

“Jane, we’re f*****!” Brian Keeper said frantically.

“The water’s in my house! Get out!” Towler’s grandfather bought the property in Texas Hill Country in the 1930s, and she’s lived through many floods in her 70 years, losing a canoe or chairs here and there. But last Friday was different. The river would swell 26 feet in 45 minutes and lay waste to homes and buildings, sweep away cars and trucks, and claim the lives of more than 100 people, including many summer campers.

Pulling shoes onto bare feet, Towler ran in her pajamas toward the nearby house where her son, Alden Towler, and family friend Shabd Simon-Alexander were sleeping, along with Simon-Alexander’s toddler daughter

Situation worsening

When her son awoke to Simon-Alexander’s desperate screams, the water was already ankle deep.

“Who do we tell? We have to tell someone,” SimonAlexander said in a video of those frantic moments shot by Jane Towler one of sev-

eral the retired nurse would record during the deluge.

“Everything in our yard has floated away,” Jane Towler said as her video captured the muddy water rising in the kitchen SimonAlexander’s daughter was quiet, strapped to her mother’s chest.

“OK, I want us to be prepared to go up in the attic,”

Jane Towler said. Alden Towler got busy stacking belongings on a bed in another room to keep them dry But Simon-Alexander pointed out the futility

With the water now at his knees and him still in just underwear, Alden Towler shifted priorities and grabbed a bottle of water and peanuts.

As the fridge toppled over with a splash, their narrowing options crystallized

“What do we do to be safe?

Go on the roof?” asked Jane Towler

“I guess we go on the roof,” her son replied

A climb into darkness

Simon-Alexander consoled her daughter Five days earlier they celebrated the girl’s first birthday

Now, Simon-Alexander stood with her baby, the water up to her thighs. Looking back, she said at that point she was sure they would drown, either where they were or in the attic But in the video, she calmed her daughter in a gentle voice, telling her, “Yeah, it’s a lot.

It’s a lot, baby.” Then darkness.

“Oh my god!” said SimonAlexander

At 4:16 a.m. and with the furniture floating, Jane Towler called 911 from atop the kitchen counter

“You have to help us,” Simon-Alexander pleaded into the speakerphone. “We are going to die.”

The dispatcher, calm and kind, couldn’t promise rescue any time soon, but urged them to get as far away from the water as they could, and stay alive. They then pulled themselves into the attic.

Through the hatch, they watched water silently rise in the kitchen below Then they heard the eerie clinking of plates and glasses as it swirled around the cabinets and neared the ceiling.

Glimpsing the destruction

Alden Towler found a vent to the roof, punched it out, and they eventually climbed through. Water licked the roofline. Screams pierced the thunder as people called for each other across the valley Car horns blared nonstop and vehicles floated past them, lit by lightning. The river smelled of sewage.

There was a boom, and then a drawn out splintering noise that carried through the cacophony The house quivered.

Their neighbor’s house, buoyed by the swollen river, appeared to have smashed into the cabin Jane Towler had been staying in and torn it from its foundation It then slammed into the house they were huddled on and a tree

between the two structures before coming to a stop.

They were preparing to spend days on the roof, conserving their water, peanuts and the flashlight’s battery, switching it on only every so often to check the river level.

It had dropped 4 inches.

Then later, a foot.

Making it to safety

The sun began to rise at around 6:30 a.m., illuminat-

ing the transformed world around them. They shouted to cars that were driving on the road up the hill, and were eventually helped off the roof and driven to a church were others were gathering

“That’s really where the real horror begins,” said Alden Towler, who is certified as a wilderness first responder With their medical training — Jane Towler is a retired labor and delivery

nurse — they helped two doctors tend to the injured. To the Towlers and SimonAlexander, the scene was a mix of horror and generosity A man asked Alden Towler if he had his wallet, which he didn’t, and the man handed him $300. Five days later, Alden Towler’s voice still cracked with emotion when he described in the community the “unstoppable drive to help people.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ASHLEy LANDIS

A woman prays during a vigil for flooding victims Wednesday at Tivy Antler Stadium in Kerrville, Texas

ARENA

Adeal between Oak View Group andLSU has yet tobe inked.

“The future status of the project will be informed by adue diligence review,” Greenwell said.

ASM Global is also linked to the charges against Leiweke, who was working for Oak View whenheallegedly persuaded competitors from Legends —whichacquired ASM last year —to withdraw their bid for the Moody Center at UT Austin. While aspokesperson for Leiweke said the Department of Justice’sallegations “are wrongonthe law andthe facts,” Leiweke told employees Wednesday he would be stepping downas CEO and transition to vice chairman, according to a Variety report.

Oak View agreedtopay $15 million in penaltiesin connection to the conduct laid out in the indictment, while Legends is to pay $1.5

million.

Deal tied to RiverCenter

The arena proposal is intertwined with new plans for the city-parish’sRaisingCane’sRiverCenter in downtown BatonRouge, which is managed by ASM as avenue for events.

Whenthe deal was proposed, it was supported by then-Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome. After newsofthe indictment, currentMayor Sid Edwards saidhis “priority is that it’s done right,and that’s what is expectedinEast Baton RougeParish.”

“Although the events in Texasare disturbing, I’m confident that LSU’sleadership andall stakeholders will be transparentand do theright thing,” Edwards said.

Last March, theEast Baton Rouge ParishMetro Councilpassedanordinance that supported the LSUarena project and agreed to cappingattendanceat3,500for live music and entertainment at the River Center.That would

makethe proposed LSU arena the area’sonly venue for larger crowds and drive economicdevelopment near the university, while the River Centerwould shift itsfocus to hotel and convention space, proponentsargued.

While th en -May orPresident SharonWeston Broomevoiced support for the deal and10council members voted in favor of the ordinance, council member Darryl Hurstand then-council member Chauna Banks did not Hurst,who unsuccessfully tried to delay thevote, said Thursday thathenever believedthe plantoavoid competition between the two arenas madesense.

“Inmymindand in several other people’sthat I’ve talked to at LSUand at the city-parish, anoncompete wasnot needed because it’stwo completely different markets,” Hurst said. “There has to be ajustifiable reason for anoncompete.”

Hurst said he does believe LSU“deserves and needs” a

FOOD

The food bank serves about 55,000 peopleevery month, providing boxed groceriestomore than 140 member agenciesinan 11-parish area. For many years,“we were at 25 pounds per person, because we were very fortunate,”saidMike Manning, president and CEO of the food bank. The food bank, founded 41 years ago and located at 10600 S. Choctaw Drive, provides canned fruit and canned vegetables, some produce and protein “if we have any” to its member agencies, Manningsaid “Weprovide them sufficient food based on the censusateach agency,” he said.

Mark Antoine, director of the Zachary Food Pantry on Rollins Road, said the all-volunteer organization receives 80% of what it distributes from theGreater

BatonRouge Food Bank.

In the fiscal year that ended on June 30, that was more than 231,000 pounds of food, Antoine said.

The Zachary pantry served 2,629 households during that time, providing food to 8,990people, he said.

Th ec ommu n ity throughfoodbarrels, churches, service organizationsand individuals —is astrong supporter of the Zachary pantry,Antoine said.

Butthe amount the pantry has been able to provide has droppedfrom fiscal year 2023-24,whenitwas about 40 pounds per person, to fiscal year 2024-25, when it was about 32 pounds per person, he said.

“When that 80% we get from the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bankgoes down, what we give out goes down,” Antoine said. In another blow to nonprofit food agencies, the USDA this year stopped providing funding for food banks to buy from small lo-

cal farms, Manning said.

The BatonRouge food bank said it also is anticipating “sweeping changes” to SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food benefits to low-income families.

Legislation recently approvedbyCongress is expected to cut$186 billion from SNAPover thenext 10 years, according tothe Congressional Budget Office.

“Wedon’t knowhow that will impact theindividuals we serve,” Manning said Thursday Duetothe effectsofinflation,some people are returning to food distribution organizations“after no longer needing us,” he said.

“If therewere ever atime where we are really going to need support from our community to help our friends andneighbors, now is that time,” Manning said.

Email EllynCouvillion at ecouvillion@theadvocate. com.

new arena.

While Hurst says he knows little aboutthe allegations againstLeiweke, he addedthathe’salwaysfelt uneasy aboutthe deal that has been proposed.

“From day one, I’ve always said that therewas something fishy withhow this was going on,” Hurst said.

Council member Carolyn Coleman, whose districtincludes the proposed arena site, has voiced support for theLSU arena as well as for transitioning the RiverCenter intoaconvention space. Colemandid notrespond to multiplerequestsfor comment Wednesday and Thursdayabout whether she still supports the plan followingLeiweke’s indictment.

‘Wewereveryclever’

LSU officials have repeatedly pointed to UT-Austin’s MoodyCenter —the venue at the center of the new bidrigging allegations —asthe model for the proposed Ba-

tonRouge arena. Prosecutors say Leiweke subverted the competitive public bid process in Austin, leading ascheme to steer the Moody Center contract to his company, OakViewGroup. He allegedlyreached an agreementwith acompetitor to withdraw from the bidding in exchange for subcontracting opportunitiesonceOak View secured theproject. Oak View ultimately submitted the only qualifying bid. In the indictment, prosecutors quotedfrom emails thattheyclaim shedlight on the illegaldeal Oneemail allegedly from Leiweke seems to brag about the arrangements to someoneinanotherorganization: “Wewere very cleveratputting together apartnership that scared everyone else away …This allowsustodictate termsto (the University).”

The indictment also includes an emailprosecutors said was sent to Leiweke by

thecompetitor:“We expect to get whatwebargained for by standing down on pursuing the Austin project basedonyourrepresentation. But the competitor was never awarded thepromised subcontracts, prosecutors say. LSU andthe TigerAthletic Foundation have largely remained silent on howOak View was selected as the lead developer forthe arena project since the process beganin2023. Initially,TAF invited six developers anddesign teamstoBaton Rouge but narrowedthe field to two now known to be Oak View andASM Global. When Athletic Director ScottWoodward announced in May that LSU would workwith Oak View on the project, he did not explain why ASM was no longer being considered.

Email Patrick SloanTurner at patrick.sloanturner@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

bank volunteer Ezra Santos loads up groceries

members at NewRuach Christian ChurchonThursday.

JudgepausesTrump’s birthright citizenshiporder nationwide

BY HOLLYRAMER and MIKE CATALINI Associated Press

CONCORD,N.H. Afederal judge in NewHampshire issued aruling Thursday prohibiting PresidentDonald Trump’sexecutive order ending birthright citizenship from taking effect anywhere in the U.S. Judge Joseph LaPlanteissued apreliminary injunction blocking Trump’s order and certified aclass action lawsuit including all children who will be affected The order,whichfollowed an hourlonghearing, included a seven-day stay to allow for appeal.

The judge’sdecision puts the birthright citizenship issue on afast track to return to theSupremeCourt. Thejustices couldbeasked to rule whether the order complies with their decision last month that limited judges’ authority to issue nationwide injunctions. The Supreme Court saiddistrict judges generally can’tissue nationwide, or universal, injunctions. But it didn’trule out whether judges could accomplishmuch the same thing by adifferent legal means, aclass action. The class approved in New Hampshire is slightly narrower than that sought by the plaintiffs, who wanted to include parents, butattorneyssaid that wouldn’t make amaterial difference.

“This is going to protect

LIFE

Continued from page1A

Mire’sattorney, Kerry Cuccia, did not immediately respond to arequest for comment Thursday.A spokesperson for the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to arequest for comment.

Multiparishmanhunt

Mire’sstring of shootings beganaroundmidnight on Oct. 9, 2021, when he brokeintoaFrench Settlement trailerhomeand shot his neighbors. He then ran through the woods and stole atruck fromanother residence before driving to Ascension Parish.

Gaubert was writing reports while sitting in his patrol car near the intersection of Airline and Jefferson highwaysinPrairieville when Mire ambushed and killed him. Mire then drove less than amile and shot two relatives, killing Adair

Amultiparish manhunt started around 5a.m. after Mire fired at another trooper who tried to pull him over in Prairieville. Gaubert was found dead in his car about 12 hours into the manhunt.

ALouisianaState Police SWAT team arrived at an abandoned house on Hoo Shoo TooRoad after hearing Mire was hiding there, according to an arrest report.

“LSP SWAT drove their Bearcat vehicle down along

every single child around the country fromthis lawless, unconstitutional and cruelexecutive order,” said Cody Wofsy,anattorneyfor the plaintiffs.

Thelawsuit was filed on behalf ofa pregnant woman, two parentsand their infants. It’samong numerous cases challenging Trump’sJanuary order denying citizenship to those born to parents living in the U.S. illegally or temporarily

The plaintiffsare represented by the American Civil LibertiesUnionand others. At issue is the Constitution’s14th Amendment, whichstates:“Allpersons born or naturalized in the United States andsubject to the jurisdictionthereof, are citizensofthe United States.” TheTrump administration saysthe phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof”means theU.S. can deny citizenship to babies born to women in thecountry illegally,ending what has been seen as an intrinsicpart of U.S. law for more than a century

“Prior misimpressionsof the citizenship clause have createdaperverse incentive for illegal immigration that hasnegativelyimpacted this country’ssovereignty, national security,and economic stability,” government lawyers wrote in theNew Hampshire case. LaPlante, who had issued a narrow injunction in asimilarcase, said while he didn’t

ing, Deputy AssistantAttorney General Eric Hamilton arguedthatbothapproving aclass action and issuing an injunction would be premature,given that no oneother than Trump has taken action. He said doing so would mean asinglecourt couldbecome the“end-all-and-be-all” in reversing new federal policies and said if anything, the injunction shouldbelimited to New Hampshire.

Similar cases are pending from Washington to Maryland. It’snot time to panic, saidAma Frimpong,legal director at nonprofit immigrant rightsorganization CASA, which is also seeking anationwide injunction.

TheNew Hampshireplaintiffs, referredtoonly by pseudonyms, include awoman from Honduras who has a pending asylum application andisdue to givebirth to her fourth child in October She told the court the family came to the U.S. after being targeted by gangs.

“I do notwantmychild to live in fear andhiding. I do not wantmychild to be atarget for immigration enforcement,” she wrote. “I fear our family could be at risk of separation.”

considerthe government’s arguments frivolous, he foundthemunpersuasive He said his decision to issue an injunctionwas “not aclose call” and that deprivation of U.S. citizenship clearly amounted to irreparable harm.

“That’sirreparable harm citizenship alone,” said LaPlante. “It is the greatest privilege that exists in the world.”

Thirty years after ratificationofthe 14thAmendment, Wong Kim Ark, aman born in the U.S.toChineseparents, was refused reentry into the U.S. after traveling overseas. Hislawsuit ledto the Supreme Court explicitly ruling that the amendment gives citizenship toanyone born in theU.S., no matter their parents’ legal status.

driveway tothe residence and Mire was waiting under the carport at thefront of theresidence,”troopers wrote in the report

Thereport stated Mire firedabout four rounds and ran insidethe house,where he firedmore rounds and ranout thebackdoorintoa “wooded and swampyarea.” The manhunt continued through those woods and ended with Mireinhandcuffs, largelyunharmed, after 10 p.m.

SentencedtoAngola

Mirefaced aslewof charges in both Ascension andLivingston parishes, with the first-degree murder counts in Ascension On Thursday, he also pleaded guilty in Ascension Parish to one count each of illegal useofweapons, home invasion, aggravated flight from an officer,attempted armed robbery and illegal possession of stolen things

worth more than $5,000 but less than $25,000.

He also admitted to home invasion, theft of amotor vehicle and simple burglary charges in Livingston Parish on thepleaagreement, though those charges weren’t handledatthe Ascension court hearing.

Judge Jason Verdigets sentenced him according to the plea stipulation,including the recommendation that Mire serve the sentence at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola in West FelicianaParish. The plea agreementalso places additional conditions, including agreeing notto seek post-conviction relief and not seeking to write books, speak to themedia or makefilms about his crimes for monetary gain.

Email Christopher Cartwright at christopher cartwright@theadvocate. com.

White House spokesman Harrison Fieldsaccused LaPlante, who was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, of “abusing classaction procedures.”

“The Trump Administration will be fighting vigorously against theattempts of these rogue district court judgestoimpedethe policies President Trump was elected to implement,” he saidina statement.

Trump’sexecutive order signed in January, seeks to deny citizenship tochildren who are born to people who areliving in theU.S. illegally or temporarily.Itispart of thehard-lineimmigration agenda of the president,who has called birthright citizenship a“magnet for illegal immigration.”

During Thursday’shear-

Louisiana State Police troopers salute in 2021 as the body of Master Trooper Adam Gaubertis removedfrom the hearse at ResthavenGardens of Memory& Funeral Home in Baton Rouge. Gaubert wasshot to death inside his patrol car during amassive multiparish manhunt.

“No one has to move states right this instant,”she said. “There’sdifferent avenues through which we are all fighting, again, to make sure that this executive order never actually sees the light of day.”

Another plaintiff, aman from Brazil, haslivedwith his wife in Florida forfive years. Their first child was born in March, and they are in the process of applying for lawful permanent status based on family ties —his wife’sfather is aU.S. citizen. “My baby hasthe right to citizenship and afuture in the UnitedStates,”he wrote.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

Mairelise Robinsonattendsa Mayprotest in support of birthright citizenship outsidethe Supreme Courtin Washington.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BILL FEIG

More Russian missiles,dronespound Kyiv

BY VASILISA STEPANENKO and HANNAARHIROVA Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine Russia pounded Ukraine’s capital with another major missile and drone attack overnight into Thursday,killing at least two people and causing fires across Kyiv aday afterthe heaviest drone attack so far in the more than three-year war,Ukrainian officials said.

In another tense and sleepless night for Kyiv residents, with many of them dashing in thedark with children, pets and blanketsto the protection of subway stations, at least 22 people were wounded, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Regional Administration.

The night was punctuated with the chilling whine of approaching drones that slammed intoresidential areas, exploded and sent balls of orange flames into the dark during the 10-hour barrage. Russia fired 397 Shahedand decoy drones as well as cruise and ballistic missilesatKyivand five otherregions, authorities said.

“This is aclear escalation of Russian terror: hundreds of Shahed drones every night, constant missile strikes,massive attacks on Ukrainian cities,” President VolodymyrZelenskyysaidina Telegram post. June brought the highest month-

ly civiliancasualtiesofthe war, with 232 people killed and1,343 wounded, the U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine said Thursday, as Russialaunched 10 times more drones and missiles than the same monthlast year At least 13,580 civilians, including716 children, havebeen killed andmorethan34,000 wounded since Russia’sfull-scale invasion of its neighbor began on Feb. 24, 2022, theU.N. said Tworounds of directpeace talksbetween Russian andUkrainian delegations have yielded no

progress on stopping the fighting.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday there is no datefor apossible third round of negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of StateMarco Rubio saidThursdaythatthe U.S and Russiahave exchanged new ideas for peace talks.

Russia aims to sapmorale

Russia has recently sought to overwhelm Ukraine’sair defenses with major attacks that include increasing numbersofdecoy drones The previous night,itfired more

than 700 attack and decoy drones, topping previous nightly barrages for thethird timeintwo weeks.

“The continued increase in the size of strike packages is likely intended to supportRussian efforts to degradeUkrainianmoraleinthe face of constant Russian aggression,”the Institute forthe Study of War, aWashington-based think tank, said late Wednesday

“Atpresent, the rate of Russian advance is accelerating and Russia’ssummer offensive is likely to put the armed forces of Ukraine underintensepressure,” Jack Watling, asenior research fellowatmilitary thinktankRUSI, wroteinanassessment published Wednesday.

Thepressure has caused alarm among Ukrainian officials, whoare uncertainabout continuing vital military aid from the United States andU.S.PresidentDonaldTrump’s policy toward Russia.

“Partners need to be faster with investments in weapons productionand technology development,” Zelenskyy said Thursday.“We need to be faster with sanctions andput pressure on Russia so that it feels the consequences of its terror.”

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said at aUkrainian recovery conference in Rome that German officials “standready to acquire additional Patriot (air defense) systems from the U.S. and make them available to Ukraine.”

TheU.S. last week haltedsome

shipments of weapons, including crucial Patriot systems, to Ukraine amid concerns that its ownstockpileshavedeclinedtoo much. “The Americansneedthem themselves in part, but they also have agreat manyofthem,” Merz said. Some lose almost everything In Kyiv,Karyna Holf, 25, wasin the living room near the window whenshe hearda whistling sound from theincoming weapon. Momentslater,littlewas left of the room but debris.

“After such ashock, when you know from your own experience what it’s liketoloseeverything,” she said. “I don’tevenknow what comes next. AllIhave now is a backpack,aphone,a winter coat that’sit. This is my whole life now.” Holf said shewas grateful to have her parents to turn to, but added, “There are people who have no one at all.”

One Kyiv subway station worker said more than 1,000 people, including70children, took refuge there. One of them was 32-year-old Kyiv resident Alina Kalyna.

“The drone attacks ayear ago were onething, andnow they’re a completely differentthing. We’re exhausted,” she said. “I sleep poorly,Irecover poorly,infact Ino longer recover,I am just somehow on areserve of energy,ofwhich I have alittle left, Ijust somehow live and exist,” Kalyna said.

Deathfuels speculationabout harsherenvironment forKremlin elites

Russian Cabinet minister allegedly killed himself

By The Associated Press

The death of aRussian Cabinet minister in afield near his posh home in a Moscowsuburb has fueled wild speculation about how he died and what it means.

Ukraine, and Russian media reports claimed that he testifiedagainst hisformer boss. Russianauthorities have not announced any criminal case against Starovoit.

Observers say Starovoit’s deathhighlightedthe deepening rifts and tensions within thegovernment.

death,and some mediaoutlets claimed that he killed himself over the weekend.

When thefirstunconfirmed reports aboutStarovoit’s death emerged Monday afternoon, lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov toldnews outlet RTVI thatStarovoit killed himself “quiteawhile ago.”

esofembezzlement and money laundering and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Among theunanswered questions: Did Roman Starovoit really kill himself in his car,asauthorities said, or did he take his life in anearby park? Was he facing acriminal investigation into large-scale corruption?

And does his death signal anew,harsher environment for Kremlin elites related to the war in Ukraine?

Russian media was abuzz with claims that Starovoit, who was founddead hours after being fired Monday by President Vladimir Putin, had faced potential corruption charges linked to his previous job as governor of the Kursk region,where Ukrainian forces staged asurprise incursion last year.His death drew quick comparisons to Sovietdictator Josef Stalin’spurges in which sometop Kremlin officialskilled themselves rather than risk arrest.

Starovoit’sformer deputy,who succeeded himas Kursk governor,was arrested in Apriloncharges of embezzling state money allocated forbuilding fortifications on the border with

Tatiana Stanovaya of the CarnegieRussia Eurasia Center said members of Russian officialdomhave found themselvesincreasingly trapped by the war environment, which “hasmade the interestsofonce-influential figures look small” and made “everything subordinate to the harsh logic of the system’ssurvival.”

Suspicionarises

Starovoit, 53, who served as transport minister for just over ayear,was found dead from agunshot wound Controversy immediately surroundedthe death. The Investigative Committee, the country’stop criminalinvestigationagency, said Starovoit’sbody was found in his car in theOdintsovodistrict just west of thecapital that is home to many membersofthe Russian elite. The committee said acriminal probe was launched and that investigators saw suicideasthe most likely cause.

But Russian media reported that his body was actually foundinthe bushes near aparking lotwherehe left hisTesla, and authorities allowed reporters to record morgue workerscarrying it from the site.A pistolpresented to him as an official gift was athis side.

It was unclear when he died. The Investigative Committee did not offer atime of

Some observers noted that it marked the first suicideby aCabinet member since Soviet Interior MinisterBoris Pugokilledhimself after a botchedhard-line coup in August 1991.

Many also pointed outa string of recentmysterious suicides involving senior executives at Russian state oil and gas companies, including Andrei Badalov,vice president of thestate-controlled Transneft oilpipeline operator,who reportedlyfell from thewindow of his Moscow apartment last week.

TheKremlin called Starovoit’sdeath “tragic” but refrained from commenting on the circumstances Corruption factor in war

Thealleged embezzlement scheme involving Kursk officials hasbeen namedasa keyreasonbehindthe Russian military’s failureto stem the surprise August 2024 incursion into theregionbyUkrainiantroops. The attack dealt ahumiliating blow to the Kremlin, and it took nearlynine months for theRussian militaryto reclaim the border territory

Starovoit’s death and the corruption allegationsin Kursk follow astring of corruptioncases that have been widely blamed for Russian military setbacks in Ukraine.

On July 1, former Deputy DefenseMinister Timur Ivanov was convicted on charg-

On Monday,Khalil Arslanov aformer deputy chief of the military’sGeneral Staff, was handed a17-year sentence on corruptioncharges. They wereamongadozen top military officialsclose to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoiguwho were targeted in awide-ranging probe intoalleged military graft. Shoigu, aveteran official whohad personalties to Putin,survived thepurge of his inner circle and was givena high-profile post as secretary of Russia’sSecu-

rity Council. Mark Galeotti, an expert in Russian politics who headsthe MayakIntelligenceconsultancy,observed in arecent podcast that highlevel corruption in Russia was getting worse because of thewar.Hewarned that at some point in the future an “angry patriot” could try to tell the public that the nation has“been letdownby this bunch of self-indulgent, self-interested, embezzling old men,and as aresult, our boys died.” Starovoitwas reportedly linkedtothe Rotenberg brothers,Putin’slongtime

personal friends who have extensive business interests in the transportation sphere. Many observers saw their failure to protect their protégé as apowerful new sign that oldconnectionsnolonger work.

“The prospect of arrest is literally beginningtokill its representatives as the war is pushing the oldcriteria of theunforgivable wider,”said Stanovaya, of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.Now anything that “increases the vulnerabilityofthe state to theenemy’shostile action must be punished without mercy or compromise.”

Starovoit

Khalil files$20Mclaim over hisdetention

BY JAKE OFFENHARTZ Associated Press

NEW YORK On arecent af-

ternoon, Mahmoud Khalilsat in his Manhattan apartment, cradling his 10-week-oldson as he thought back to the predawn hours spent pacing a frigid immigration jail in Louisiana, awaiting news of the child’sbirth in New York. For amoment, the outspoken Palestinian activist found himself uncharacteristically speechless.

“I cannot describe the pain of that night,” Khalil saidfinally, gazingdownas the baby,Deen, cooed in his arms. “This is something I will never forgive.”

Now,weeks after regaining his freedom, Khalil is seeking restitution. On Thursday,his lawyers filed a claim for $20 million in damages against the Trump administration, alleging Khalil was falsely imprisoned, maliciously prosecuted and smearedasanantisemite as the government soughtto deport him overhis prominent role in campus protests.

The filing —a precursor to alawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Act —names the Department of Homeland Security,U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the State Department. It comes as the deportation case againstKhalil, a 30-year-old recent graduate student at Columbia University,continues to wind its way through the immigration court system.

IWAMURA

On that night, he saidhe was returning home from dinnerwith his wife, Noor Abdalla, when he was “effectively kidnapped” by plainclothes federal agents, who refused to provide a warrant andappeared surprisedtolearn he was alegal U.S. permanent resident.

He wasthenwhiskedovernight to an immigration jail in Jena, aremote location thatwas “deliberately concealed” from his family and attorneys, according to the filing.

Inside, Khalil said he was denied his ulcer medication, forced to sleep under harsh fluorescent lights andfed “nearly inedible” food, causing him to lose 15 pounds. Meanwhile, theTrumpad-

anti-American activity.”

Khalil, who hascondemned antisemitism before and since hisarrest, wasnot accused of acrime and has not been linked to Hamas or any other terror group.

Deported forbeliefs

Afew weeks intohis incarceration, Khalil wasawoken by afellowdetainee, who pointed excitedly to his face on ajailhouse TV screen. A new memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledgedKhalil hadn’t broken thelaw,but argued he should be deported for beliefs that could undermine U.S. foreign policyinterests “My beliefs arenot wanting my taxmoney or tuition goingtoward investmentsin

deredreleased by afederal judge, who found the government’sefforts to remove him on foreign policygrounds were likely unconstitutional. He nowfaces new allegations of misrepresenting personal details on his green card application. In amotion filedlate Wednesday,attorneys for Khalildescribed those charges as baseless andretaliatory,urging a judge to dismiss them

The goal, Khalil said, is to send amessage that he won’t be intimidated into silence. “They are abusing their power because they think they areuntouchable,” Khalil said. “Unless they feel there is some sort of accountability,itwill continue to go unchecked.” Khalil said he plans to share any settlement money with otherstargeted in Trump’s“failed” effort to suppress pro-Palestinian speech. In lieuofasettlement, he would alsoaccept an official apology and changes to the administration’sdeportation policies. AWhiteHouse spokes-

person deferred comment to theState Department, whichsaid its actionswere fully supported by thelaw In an emailed statement, Tricia McLaughlin, aspokesperson for theDepartment of Homeland Security, called Khalil’sclaim “absurd,”accusing him of “hateful behaviorand rhetoric” that threatened Jewishstudents.

Harshconditionsalleged

Thefilingaccuses President Donald Trump and other officials of mounting a haphazard and illegalcampaignto“terrorizehim and his family,” beginning with Khalil’sMarch 8arrest

BY ELLEN KNICKMEYER, AAMER MADHANI and JOSEF FEDERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended amemorialservice Thursday fortwo slain Israeli Embassystaffersas he wrappedupafour-day visit to Washington in which talks with President Donald Trump, White House aides and lawmakers focused on finding apathway to aceasefire deal in Gaza.

But as Netanyahu gets set to head back to Israel, it is unclear if there was any breakthrough on sealing aTrumpbacked60-day truce between Israel and Hamas, which the U.S. leader believes can lead to apermanent end to the 21-month war in Gaza.

Netanyahusaid in avideo released Thursday that he is trying to wrap up the U.S.backed deal but stressed it will be “temporary” and would be aimed at releasing half of the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, many of them believeddead.

The prime minister also underscored that in any potential ceasefire agreement he will not budge from his fundamental demand that Hamas lay down its arms and no longer have any gov-

erning or military capabilities —something thegroup so far has rejected

“These are our basic conditions,” Netanyahu said.“If this can be achieved through negotiations —somuch the better.Ifitisnot achieved through negotiationsin 60 days, wewill achieve it in other ways —byusing force, the force of our heroic army.”

With hisattendance at the memorial for the slain embassy staffers, Netanyahu once againsought to spotlight “antisemitic brutality” that Jews aroundthe globe have faced asthe Israeli Defense Forces havewaged operationsinGaza.

Yaron Lischinsky,30, and SarahLynnMilgrim, 26, two colleagues who had been on theverge of getting engaged, were fatally shot May22astheywere leaving areception for young diplomatsatWashington’sCapital Jewish Museum.

Sara Netanyahu, theIsraeli leader’swife and apsychologist,signedaletter of condolence at theembassy, saying,“May theirmemory be blessed.” Familymembers of thetwo were among those attending theservice, held atthe Israeli embassy, the prime minister’s office said in astatement.

Asuspect was arrested in theshootings and shouted “FreePalestine” as he was led away.Charging documents said he later told police, “I diditfor Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”

U.S. officialsremain hopeful that restarting high-level negotiations —mediated by Egypt andQatar andincludingWhite House envoy Steve Witkoff —will happen soon and could bring progress.

“We’recloser than we’ve been in quitea while, and we’rehopeful,but we also recognizethere’sstill some challenges in the way,” U.S. SecretaryofState Marco Rubio toldreporters while attending the annual Association of SoutheastAsian Nations Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.

Senior Trumpadministration officials, including Witkoff, met withIsraeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer as well as Qatari officials at the White House on Tuesday to discuss sticking points in the talks. This included Israel’sdesire for its military to retain control over partsofGaza during apotential 60-day truce, according to aWhite House official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By yUKI

Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and his wife, Dr Noor Abdalla, hold their babyDeen during an interview July 3inNew york

Protesters, federal agents clash at farm

Raid takes place in California

BY AMY TAXIN Associated Press

A confrontation erupted Thursday between protesters and federal officials carrying out a raid on a Southern California farm, with authorities throwing canisters that sprayed what looked like smoke into the air to disperse the crowd.

Vehicles from Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection blocked the road in a largely agricultural area of Camarillo, California, lined with fields and greenhouses. There were military-style vehicles and a helicopter flying overhead.

Television images showed dozens of demonstrators gathered on a road between fields where uniformed officers stood in a line across from them. In other images, white and green smoke can be seen as protesters retreat. Other images showed protesters shouting at agents wearing camouflage gear, helmets and gas masks It wasn’t clear why the authorities threw the canisters or if they released chemicals like tear gas.

Another image from KTLA showed people sat against a wall with their hands bound in front of them; it wasn’t clear if they were workers or protesters. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said they were executing a warrant at a marijuana facility Glass House Farms said on social media that it was

visited Thursday by officials for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and “fully complied with agent search warrants.”

The company has a permit to grow cannabis in the Ventura County, and as of last year used half of the space for cannabis while half was dedicated to tomatoes and cucumbers, the Ventura

County Star reported.

Judith Ramos said she received a call Thursday morning from her father, who worked in the tomato fields.

“He said immigration was outside his job, and if anything happened to take care of everything,” Ramos said, her voice cracking. The 22-year-old certified nurse

assistant said she has two young siblings. Ramos went to the farm and saw a busload of people being taken out. She was protesting alongside others when agents sprayed the deterrent.

“They didn’t want us to get any closer, and they started firing,” Ramos said. “I got some in my eyes. I had to put milk on my face.” Ramos said she does not know where her father is.

His truck is still at the worksite, she said. It was not immediately known which agencies par-

ticipated in the raid. The incident comes as

eral immigration enforcement agents have ramped up arrests in Southern California, heading to car washes, farms and Home Depot parking

BY ANDREW

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Two employees at an Arkansas prison where an inmate known as the “Devil in the Ozarks” escaped have been fired for policy violations, corrections officials said Thursday as they faced questions from lawmakers who said the escape points to deeper problems.

The head of the Arkansas Board of Corrections told state lawmakers the violations allowed Grant Hardin to escape from the Calico Rock prison wearing a makeshift law enforcement uniform on May

25. But officials have said there was no evidence employees knowingly assisted Hardin’s escape.

One of the fired employees had allowed Hardin onto an outside kitchen dock unsupervised and the other employee worked in a tower and had opened the gate Hardin walked through without confirming his identity Chairman Benny Magness said “If either one of them would have been following policy, it wouldn’t have happened,” Magness told members of the Legislative Council’s charitable, penal, and correctional institutions subcommittee. Hardin was captured 1.5 miles

northwest of the Calico Rock prison on June 6. Authorities said he escaped by donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform Magness said the outfit was crafted from an inmate uniform and kitchen apron dyed black using a marker while a soup can lid and a Bible cover were fashioned to look like a badge.

Lawmakers said the escape pointed to systemic problems beyond the two employees — including how Hardin was able to fashion the fake uniform without guards noticing.

“I think we’ve got major issues here that need to be dealt with,”

said Republican Sen. Matt McKee, who co-chairs the subcommittee.

Hardin, a former police chief in the small town of Gateway, near the Arkansas-Missouri border, is serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. He was the subject of the TV documentary “Devil in the Ozarks.”

said Dexter Payne, director of

Payne said a critical

or

After his capture, Hardin was transferred to a maximum-security prison in Varner, a small community about 65 miles southeast of Little Rock. Hardin has pleaded not guilty to an escape charge and is set to go on trial in November Hardin fashioned a ladder out of wooden pallets that were on the dock and also took peanut butter sandwiches from the prison to survive on after his escape, corrections officials told lawmkers Thursday Hardin planned

A demonstrator kneels in front of federal agents in a farm field during an immigration raid in Camarillo, Calif.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By MICHAEL OWEN BAKER

Demonstrators hold a flag in front of

Camarillo, Calif.

DEMILLO Associated Press

| Friday, July 11, 2025 1BN

BR attorney suspended for 3 years

La. Supreme Court order stems from misconduct probe

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

Longtime Baton Rouge attorney

Niles Haymer was recently barred from practicing law for three years following an investigation into his conduct in legal matters

According to a July 3 order from the Louisiana Supreme Court, Haymer violated several rules of professional conduct for practicing attorneys in Louisiana. Among the violations, Haymer engaged in conduct that involved “dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation” and was “prejudicial to the administration of justice,” according to the order

The suspension stems from a complaint made to the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, the state agency that metes out fines and sanctions for lawyers.

The board’s investigatory arm, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, conducted a probe into allegations that Haymer “neglected multiple legal matters resulting in abandonment of one matter, failed to communicate with clients, failed to safeguard client and third-party property failed to timely remit

funds to clients and third parties, failed to cooperate with the ODC, engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.” Before that investigation was completed, Haymer and the Office of Dis-

ciplinary Counsel agreed to the terms of a joint petition for consent discipline. The state Supreme Court approved the findings of that consent decree in its order suspending Haymer last week. The court also gave Haymer 30 days to show documentation proving he has paid all his past clients and third-party business associates “appropriate restitution.” The details of the allegations

JUST PEACHy

Woman takes plea deal in child’s death

homicide and a second-degree cruelty to a juvenile charge relegated to a lesser count of child cruelty Scott pleaded guilty to the reduced charges during a hearing Monday inside the 19th Judicial District Courthouse.

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

One of the mothers who went to a Baton Rouge casino while leaving their children home unsupervised has pleaded guilty to charges tied to the death of a toddler who suffered a fatal beating during their absence.

Terica Denise Scott, 28, accepted a deal that saw a manslaughter charge downgraded to negligent

District Judge Collette Greggs handed down a 15-year sentence on the charges but suspended the prison time and placed Scott on five years of probation, according to court records. The judge fined Scott $2,500 and ordered her to be evaluated for substance abuse and complete a parenting class as part of her probation. Scott is the second woman to plead guilty to charges tied to

the killing of 3-year-old Blessing Buckles. Dineshia Sharmaine Yates, Blessing’s mother, confessed to manslaughter and second-degree cruelty to a juvenile charges on April 10. Greggs originally sentenced Yates to 15 years and suspended all but 18 months of the prison stint. On April 21, the judge wiped away the suspended portion of the sentence and gave Yates two years behind bars, according to court records. Scott was the guardian of the two boys, ages 10 and 12 at the time, who are accused of beating Blessing to death on Feb. 12, 2024. According to reports, one of the

boys is her son and the other is her nephew Authorities arrested the pair as juveniles and booked them on counts of second-degree murder and battery Investigators said Yates and her children had been living in Scott’s house in the 3300 block of O’Neal Lane for about two weeks before East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical call there early on the morning of the killing. A bruised and beaten Blessing was unresponsive and not breathing. Paramedics rushed the girl to the hospital in critical condition with brain bleeding,

ä See TODDLER, page 2B

Groups sue Formosa Plastics over access to site

Activists focus on unmarked cemetery in St. James

BY DAVID J MITCHELL Staff writer

$9.4 billion petrochemical complex in western St James Parish The groups, Inclusive Louisiana and the Descendants Project, allege that the owner of the site, a U.S. arm of Taiwanese chemical giant Formosa Plastics, has hindered their ability over more than five years to access the unmarked cemetery that they say holds the graves of their enslaved ancestors. Filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, the suit recounts the ways in which slaves were denied proper burials that

marked their graves, though they were buried on plantation properties up and down the Mississippi. That includes in St. James, where 70% of the population was in bondage by 1850. The plaintiffs charge this history makes it all the more important to mark and preserve such cemeteries when they are found to honor “a people whom those more powerful intended to disappear from history.” “Like all discovered cemeteries of the enslaved, the Buena Vista Plantation Cemetery is sa-

cred ground, a precious and irreplaceable connection through time when there was once little hope of finding the grave sites because their ancestors’ lives were so devalued that their burials did not merit formal recording by plantation owners or the dominant society around them,” the suit adds.

Citing past state court precedents, the plaintiffs allege that state law prevents private landowners from “categorically and

ä See FORMOSA, page 2B

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

JC Harrington, tour director of The Peach Truck Tour, moves 75 pounds of peaches to a customer’s car on Thursday as The Peach Truck

stop at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge.

Haymer

Jeffries, House members blast bill

Democrats describe law’s impact in La. at N.O. event

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

“The big ugly bill.”

That’s the term U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and four of his colleagues repeatedly used Thursday night in New Orleans as they took turns blasting President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending measure, known by Republicans as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

es Medicaid spending by $1.1 trillion over 10 years. That means that over time, 267,550 people in Louisiana will lose their governmentsubsidized health care unless Louisiana lawmakers raise taxes or cut other spending programs to offset the revenue loss, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, played a pivotal role in rounding up the votes to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Jeffries, Rep. Troy Carter, of New Orleans, and three other Democratic representatives said passage of the bill last week will take away health care for hundreds of thousands of Louisiana’s most vulnerable residents.

“We believe in an America where health care is not simply available to the privileged few,” Jeffries told the crowd of several hundred.

“It is a right that should be available to every single American.”

Last Thursday, Jeffries broke the record for the longest House speech, nearly nine hours, as he inveighed against the bill.

Jeffries, Carter and the three others — Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz, of Florida; Rep. Robin Kelly, of Illinois, and Nanette Barragan, of California are wasting no time in taking the offensive against Trump’s biggest domestic priority, passed by Congress on July 3 and signed into law by the president the following day It extends the Trump tax cuts approved by Congress in 2017 and also temporarily cuts taxes on tips and overtime pay Wasserman Schultz noted that studies show the bill showers its biggest tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans.

The Tax Policy Center at the middle-of-the-road Brookings Institution in Washington reports that someone who earns less than $34,600 per year will save about $150 in taxes. Those who earn between $460,000 and $1.1 million per year will save $21,000 on average.

To pay for a portion of the tax cuts, the bill reduc-

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against Haymer remained unclear He declined to comment on the suspension Thursday Haymer’s attorney, Gideon Carter, issued a statement that indicated his

They portrayed the reduction in Medicaid as a way for the federal government to reduce waste, fraud and abuse, and they have said the tax cuts will promote investment and create jobs.

A mention of Johnson and Scalise on Thursday night elicited boos.

About 40% of Johnson’s constituents under 65 — he represents western Louisiana from Shreveport to Lake Charles — are on Medicaid, compared with 27% for Scalise’s district Carter pointed out that the Republican supermajority in the Louisiana Legislature passed a resolution asking Congress not to slash Medicaid because the state doesn’t have the money to restore the lost federal aid without raising taxes, a no-no in red Louisiana.

Carter said the loss of federal Medicaid dollars threatens 33 rural hospitals in Louisiana.

He described the bill as “reverse Robin Hood, stealing for the poor and giving to the rich.”

The Republican bill also aims to reduce federal government spending for the food assistance program known as SNAP The bill shifts administrative costs to states and requires most adults under 65 to work or volunteer for 80 hours a month as a condition to continue.

In May, 806,000 people in Louisiana — or about 17% of the population collected SNAP, according to the state Department of Children and Family Services.

The Republican move stands to undo much of what then-Gov John Bel Edwards did on his first day in office when he extended Medicaid to the working poor That extended health care to more than 500,000 Louisiana residents

client has stepped away from the profession.

“Mr Haymer is extremely remorseful, has accepted the disciplinary outcome related to matters from his prior private practice, and has taken full responsibility,” Carter said in his statement “He is no longer engaged in private law practice and remains

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unreasonably” restricting grave access to descendants of the deceased. Those people have “unrestricted rights” to visit and care for their graves, the plaintiffs allege.

But the groups claim Formosa has applied extensive advanced notice, sign-in and liability waiver requirements, allowed surveillance and interruption of past services by its security guards, and offered only a dusty and sometimes muddy route by foot to the grave site off La. 18.

Recently, during a Black History Month ceremony, the suit alleges, the company, FG LA LLC, stymied their wish to put headstones on the now unmarked graveyard with the names of five people that the groups’ recent genealogical research has uncovered were slaves of the plantation-owning Winchester family during the pre-Civil War era.

The groups assert the five slaves were buried in the Buena Vista Plantation Cemetery. Formosa has contended it doesn’t know who is buried at the cemetery, though its own archaeologist initially concluded several years ago that cemetery likely held slaves due to a number of common telltale signs.

In a previous related case and a statement Wednesday

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according to an arrest report. No adults were present when officers arrived. Eight children ranging in age from 11 months to 12 years were left unsupervised at the house for several hours, according to investigators.

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in Ascension Parish said both allegedly committed criminal conspiracy to commit forgery between Nov 1, 2024, and March 6.

The couple’s attorney, Landon Gauthier said he was “excited for our day in court,” mentioning the couple’s lack of criminal history and community reputation.

“Alison and Mike, they’re upstanding citizens. They give back to our community more than you can imagine,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the light getting shined on this case, and

committed to public service through his work in community engagement, youth development, and criminal justice reform.”

Haymer, 47, has spent the past three years working for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, a nonprofit coalition of stakeholders that brainstorms new policy initia-

Formosa defended its actions as appropriate to secure its property and said it had offered reasonable accommodations for visits.

“FG remains committed to the St. James Parish community and to preserving its rich history and cultural resources. FG has been and will always be respectful of the remains and unmarked burial site within property the company owns in St. James Parish,” said Janile Parks, director of community and government relations for FG LA.

“With the oversight of and coordination by the appropriate governmental agencies, FG has followed all procedures in researching and preserving the protected area. FG has been fully transparent and cooperative in giving residents access to the burial site.”

In a news conference outside the federal courthouse in New Orleans, genealogist Lenora Gobert detailed how she identified the five Buena Vista slaves through mortgage and other records and, due to the well-known practices of slavery, reached the conclusion that they had to be buried in the cemetery

“When people died on the plantation they were buried on the plantation,” she said.

Gobert acknowledged the five slaves haven’t been directly tied to the family trees of any of the members of the plaintiff organizations, but Kayla Vinson, a staff attorney with the Center for

Yates and Scott drove up to the residence as deputies canvassed the area. They told officers they had just left a nearby casino boat At the hospital, medical staff reported Blessing’s bruises and abrasions to officers, telling deputies the injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma wounds. Investigators also noticed bruises on a 4-year-old girl

I’m looking forward to our court system doing what it’s supposed to do, and that is to take allegations and bring forth the truth.”

Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Donovan Jackson did not respond to a request for more information about the arrest. Motions submitted by Gauthier to modify the bond conditions for both said the couple voluntarily turned themselves in at the Ascension Parish Jail.

Michael Delatte is the founder and owner of DelCon LLC, a construction service provider that has contracts with the Ascension Parish government. A message left on the com-

tives for the parish’s criminal justice system. CJCC’s website still listed him as their deputy director Thursday He ran in a hotly contested race for Baton Rouge City Court judge last November, losing to Brittany Jorden by less than 1,000 votes, secretary of state election results show

Constitutional Rights, which is representing the plaintiffs, said longtime residents in the river corridor and others in the diaspora of slavery have historic ties to the enslaved.

Vinson added that, under state law, a defined familial connection isn’t necessary to assert rights to the burial sites.

“Loved ones have rights to cemeteries, right, so it doesn’t have to be as direct of a connection as you just described under Louisiana law to have access to a cemetery,” she told a reporter

The suit also accuses Formosa’s practices of violating the 13th Amendment’s ban on slavery and its vestiges

Vinson explained that she expected the suit to lay bare what the 13th Amendment should demand of the state cemetery law when it comes to access to slave burial sites.

“Though Formosa Plastics may be powerful, they do not have what we have — the truth, the law and the unbreakable strength of our ancestors behind us,” said Barbara Washington, 74, a co-founder and co-director of Inclusive Louisiana, whose family still owns St James land first purchased by an ancestor who was a freed slave.

Inclusive and The Descendants Project are among several local and national groups that have opposed new industrial development in the Mississippi corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans on the grounds of envi-

at the house. Blessing died from her injuries on Feb. 17. Scott was present when detectives questioned her son as one of the suspects in the fatal beating. She interjected several times and told investigators she and Yates had previously noticed bruises on the other children when they were left alone with the other suspect — Scott’s nephew

pany’s voicemail was not immediately returned.

According to the company’s website, Michael Delatte founded the business in 2016, and it maintains offices in Morgan City, Gonzales and Daphne, Alabama

According to the Port of Morgan City website, Alison Delatte is the company’s office manager Del-Con contracts with several governments in the state, including Ascension Parish. In April, the Parish Council approved entering into a $240,000 contract with the company for renovations to the parish government complex. In May, it approved a contract with Del-Con and another company for maintenance of the

He spent more than 15 years as a private attorney handling cases across the state before he vied to become a juvenile court judge and lost in 2019. After arsonists burned down Haymer’s downtown law firm in March 2020, he became a City Court prosecutor for a few years before joining CJCC’s staff.

ronmental justice — that the Black communities along the river are disproportionately bearing the pollution burden from those industries. The political and legal pushback over environmental justice has tangled up permits for the still unbuilt 14-unit plastics complex the Formosa affiliate has been proposing in northwestern St. James for more than seven years. In a since-dropped lawsuit FG LA filed in January, the company alleges it has made reasonable requests of cemetery visitors, has allowed them access, despite sometimes harsh words from some visitors, and has fenced off the graveyard along the three sides that abut the company’s property The company says it needs security to ensure people don’t wander elsewhere on their large property or near a pipeline that runs through the graveyard.

That suit, which was dropped in April, had asked a judge to clarify what FG LA’s access responsibilities are and to address the request for headstones. The plaintiffs alleged the on-andoff suit was an attempt to obstruct their attempts to lay the headstones in February The plaintiffs’ new suit is asking for court orders ending FG LA’s control of the cemetery, allowing placement of the headstones and ordering new archaeological investigations, among other demands.

The woman told officers that Yates ignored her children’s pleas for help and continued to leave them at the house unsupervised for hours, despite the boys’ violent behavior toward them. It was not clear if the boys have been tried or convicted in juvenile court.

Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.

parish generator fleet. The St. Mary Parish Council approved a roughly $220,000 contract with the company earlier this year for improvements to the parish’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness warehouse, according to May 14 meeting minutes. No court records provided more details of the alleged crimes or said they were connected to Del-Con. A spokesperson for the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office did not respond to a request seeking more information.

Jeffries

Tesla announces shareholder meeting

Tesla has scheduled an annual shareholders meeting for November, one day after the electric vehicle company came under pressure from major shareholders to do so.

Billionaire Elon Musk’s company said in a regulatory filing on Thursday that the meeting will be held on Nov. 6 A group of more than 20 Tesla shareholders said in a letter to the company a day earlier that it needed to provide public notice of the annual meeting.

Texas law states businesses must hold annual meetings within 13 months of their last one, if shareholders request it But the law also allows for “written consent instead of the annual meeting” to be executed within the 13-month timeframe. Tesla is incorporated in Texas.

The annual meeting, given Tesla’s fortunes this year, has the potential to be a raucous event and it is unclear how investors will react to the delay, which is rare for any major U.S. corporation.

Tesla shares have plunged 27% this year, largely due to blowback over Musk’s affiliation with President Donald Trump, as well as rising competition.

Also on Thursday, Musk said that the Grok chatbot will be heading to Tesla vehicles.

“Grok is coming to Tesla vehicles very soon. Next week at the latest,” Musk said on social media platform X, in response to a post stating that Grok implementation on Teslas wasn’t announced on a Grok livestream Wednesday Southern border closed after parasite is found

The U.S. has closed its southern border again to livestock imports, saying a flesh-eating parasite has moved farther north in Mexico than previously reported.

Mexico’s president was critical Thursday, suggesting that the U.S is exaggerating the threat to its beef industry from the parasite, the New World screwworm fly The female flies lay eggs in wounds on warm-blooded animals, hatching larvae that are unusual among flies for feeding on live flesh and fluids instead of dead material.

American officials worry that if the fly reaches Texas, its flesh-eating maggots could cause large economic losses, something that happened decades ago.

The U.S. largely eradicated the pest in the 1970s by breeding and releasing sterile male flies to breed with wild females, and the fly had been contained in Panama for years until it was discovered in southern Mexico late last year

The U.S. closed its southern border in May to imports of live cattle, horses and bison but announced June 30 that it would allow three ports of entry to reopen this month and another two by Sept. 15. However, since then, an infestation from the fly has been reported about 370 miles from the Texas border Ford recalls over 850K over fuel pump issues

NEW YORK Ford is recalling more than 850,000 of its cars across the U.S. because the low-pressure fuel pump inside the vehicles may fail and potentially cause an engine stall while driving, increasing crash risks.

The recall covers a wide range of Ford and Lincolnbranded vehicles made in recent model years That includes certain Ford Broncos, Explorers and F-150s, as well as Lincoln Aviators and Navigators documents published this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration note. Ford plans to send out notification letters to affected owners starting Monday to warn of safety risks related to potential fuel pump failure. But a remedy is still “under development,” the NHTSA’s recall report notes.

Ferrero to buy Kellogg for $3B

Italian confectioner to take over cereal brand

BY DEE-ANN DURBIN and MICHELLE

CHAPMAN

AP Business Writers

Italian confectioner Ferrero, known for brands like Nutella and Kinder, is buying the century-old U.S. cereal company WK Kellogg in an effort to expand its North American sales.

The Ferrero Group said Thursday it will pay $23 for each Kellogg share, or approximately $3.1 billion. The transaction includes WK Kellogg Co.’s six manufacturing plants and the marketing

and distribution of its breakfast cereals across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

Kellogg was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1906 after its founder accidentally figured out how to make flaked cereal while he was experimenting with granola. Kellogg still makes Corn Flakes, as well as Froot Loops, Special K, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies and other cereals.

Kellogg now has four U.S. plants, which are located in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Nebraska It also has a plant in Mexico and a plant in Canada. The company has around 3,000 employees. The current company was

formed in 2023, when Kellogg snack brands like Cheez-Its and Pringles were spun into a separate company called Kellanova.

M&M’s maker Mars Inc announced last year that it planned to buy Kellanova in a deal worth nearly $30 billion.

Ferrero Group, a privately held, family-owned company founded in Italy in 1946, has been trying to expand its U.S. footprint. In 2018 it bought Nestle’s U.S. candy brands, including Butterfinger Nerds and SweeTarts. In 2022, it bought Wells Enterprises, the maker of ice cream brands like Blue Bunny and Halo Top. Kellogg has been struggling with a long-term decline in U.S.

cereal consumption as consumers turned to protein bars, shakes and other breakfast items. Cereal sales got a bump during the coronavirus pandemic as more families stayed home, but sales continued to decline after the pandemic eased.

At the start of July, U.S. cold cereal sales were down 6% compared to the same period in 2022, according to market research company Nielsen IQ. Kellogg’s net sales fell 2% to $2.7 billion in 2024.

Once the transaction is complete, Kellogg’s stock will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange and the company will become a Ferrero subsidiary

AI tech device startup suing ex-employee over trade secrets

Company had previously sued Open AI, Jony Ive

BY MATT O’BRIEN AP technology writer

A secretive competition to pioneer a new way of communicating with artificial intelligence chatbots is getting a messy public airing as OpenAI fights a trademark dispute over its stealth hardware collaboration with legendary iPhone designer Jony Ive.

In the latest twist, tech startup iyO Inc., which already sued Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for trademark infringement, is now suing one of its own former employees for allegedly leaking a confidential drawing of iyO’s unreleased product.

At the heart of this bitter legal wrangling is a big idea: we shouldn’t need to stare at computer or phone screens or talk to a box like Amazon’s Alexa to interact with our future AI assistants in a natural way And whoever comes up with this new AI interface could profit immensely from it.

OpenAI started to outline its own vision in May by buying io Products, a product and engineering company co-founded by Ive, in a deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion. Soon after, iyO sued for trademark infringement for the similar sounding name and because of the two firms’ past interactions.

U.S District Judge Trina Thompson ruled last month that iyO has a strong enough case to proceed to a hearing this fall. Until then, she ordered Altman, Ive and OpenAI to refrain from using the io brand, forcing them to take down the web page and all mentions of the venture.

A second lawsuit from iyO filed this week in San Francisco Superior Court accuses a former iyO executive, Dan Sargent, of breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets over his meetings with another io co-founder Tang Yew Tan, a close Ive ally who led design of the Apple Watch.

Sargent left iyO in December and now works for Apple. He and Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

“This is not an action we take lightly,” said iyO CEO Jason Rugolo in a statement Thursday “Our primary goal here is not to target a former employee whom we considered a friend, but to hold accountable those whom we believe preyed on him from a position of power.”

Rugolo told The Associated Press last month that he thought he was on the right path in 2022 when he pitched his ideas and showed off his prototypes to firms tied to Altman and Ive. Rugolo later publicly expanded on his earbud-like “audio computer” product in a TED Talk last year

What he didn’t know was that soon after, Ive and Altman would begin quietly collaborating on their own AI hardware initiative and give it a similar name.

“I’m happy to compete on product, but calling it the same name, that part is just amazing to me. And it was shocking,” Rugolo said in an interview The new venture was revealed publicly in a May video announcement, and to Rugolo about two months earlier after he had emailed Altman with an investment pitch.

“thanks but im working on something competitive so will (respectfully) pass!” Altman wrote to Rugolo in March, adding in parentheses that it was called io.

Altman has dismissed iyO’s lawsuit on social media as a “silly, disappointing and wrong” move from a “quite persistent” Rugolo. Other executives in court documents have characterized the product Rugolo was pitching them as a failed one that didn’t work properly in a demo.

Altman said in a written declaration that he and Ive chose the “io” name two years ago in reference to the concept of “input/ output” that describes how a computer receives and transmits information. Neither io nor iyO was first to play with the phrasing — Google’s big annual technology showcase is called I/O — but Altman said he and Ive acquired the io.com domain name in August 2023. The idea was “to create products that go

beyond traditional products and interfaces,” Altman said. “We want to create new ways for people to input their requests and new ways for them to receive helpful outputs, powered by AI.”

A number of startups have already tried, and mostly failed, to build gadgetry for AI interactions. The startup Humane developed a wearable pin that you could talk to, but it was poorly reviewed and the startup discontinued sales after HP acquired its assets earlier this year

Altman has suggested that io’s version could be different. He said in a now-removed video that he’s already trying a prototype at home that Ive gave him, calling it “the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen.”

What Altman and Ive still haven’t said is what exactly it is. The court case, however, has forced their team to disclose what it’s not.

“Its design is not yet finalized, but it is not an in-ear device, nor a wearable device,” said Tan in a court declaration that sought to distance the venture from iyO’s product. It was that same declaration that led iyO to sue Sargent this week. Tan revealed in the filing that he had talked to a “now former” iyO engineer who was looking for a job because of his frustration with “iyO’s slow pace, unscalable product plans, and continued acceptance of preorders without a sellable product.”

Fed chair accused of violating renovation rules

Budget director questions standards

BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON White House budget director Russell Vought suggested in a Thursday letter that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is in violation of government building rules in the renovation of the Fed’s headquarters. Vought, in a letter he shared on social media, called the initial renovation plans featuring rooftop terrace gardens, VIP dining rooms and premium marble an “ostentatious overhaul.” Vought

also suggested that Powell misled Congress by saying the headquarters had never had a serious renovation, saying that a 1999-2003 update of its roof and building systems counts as a “comprehensive” renovation. It appears part of a larger pressure campaign by the Trump administration to pressure the Fed chair into departing before his term ends in May 2026. Powell has declined to reduce interest rates until the U.S. central bank has a better understanding of the impact that President Donald Trump’s import tax hikes could have on inflation. Fed officials did not respond to an email seeking a response to the

White House letter Powell said in Senate testimony last month that some of the elements in the 2021 plan such as the dining rooms and rooftop terraces are no longer part of the project for the 90-year-old Marriner S. Eccles Building. The Supreme Court said in May that it could block any attempts by the White House to dismiss Powell, noting as part of a separate ruling that the Fed “is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity.” Trump said at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting that Powell “should resign immediately” and be replaced by someone who would lower rates, as the U.S. president believes that high inflation is no longer a risk to the U.S. economy

As Trump sees it, a rate cut would reduce the costs of government borrowing in ways that make mortgages, auto loans and other forms of consumer debt cheaper But a rate cut could also lead to more money flowing into the economy and push up inflation, worsening affordability as the financial markets ultimately determine the interest charged on the national debt. In Thursday’s letter, Vought sent Powell a series of questions about whether the renovation project complies with federal standards. Vought said that Powell’s testimony about changes to the 2021 plan “appears to reveal” that the renovation is not in compliance with the National Planning Capital Act.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Jason Rugolo, founder and CEO of iyO, holds the motherboard of the iyO One audio computer

4B

Garrido, Louis

OurLadyofMercy Church,445 MarquetteAvenue,at10a.m

Gaudet, Susan

Today Sunday,June 22, 2025at her home. Sheleavesto cherishher memories 2 sons,Eugene Carter,Jr. and Gregory Carter(Rosalind); 6grandchildren, Timothy Johnson,Sr. Cheron Carter, Umeca CarterBriscoe,Sheila Blakes, Tamara Harkless (Bryan), andRyanCarter; 28 great-grandchildren,14 great-great grandchildren; 2sisters, Matilda P. Livous and Dorothy P. Coleman; a brother,Willie Pitcher (Compton,CA);Godchildren, Wanda Wright, Brandon Vaughn, and Alexander Wilson, ahosts of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Shewas preceded in death by hergrandparents, parents, husband, Eugene Carter,Sr., daughter, PatriciaA.Carter Cave,son, Cedric A. Carter,3 grandchildren, and sisters, Louise Myles, MargaretRaby, Mildred Hilliard, and EstelleP.Walker;11brothers-in-law and5 sisters-inlaw.

Coleman, Mozelle Tonie

Vetter, Donna

RabenhorstFuneral Home,825 Government Street at 12pm Wilson, Juanita Hall'sCelebrationCenterat10am.

Obituaries

Boyd,Luther Clyde'Johnny'

Luther (Johnny) Clyde Boyd passedpeacefully surrounded by hisfamily on June 25, 2025. Relatives andfriends of thefamily areinvited to attend aCel‐ebration of Life at New Home Family WorshipCen‐ter, 1616R.C.BlakesDrive NewOrleans,Louisiana 70130 on Saturday,July12, 2025, at 10:00 am.Viewing will beginat9:00am. Bishop Samuel R. Blakes: Officiant. Interment: Provi‐denceMemorial Park Mau‐soleum,8200 AirlineDrive, Metairie,Louisiana 70003. Arrangements entrustedto D.W. Rhodes FuneralHome, 3933 Washington Ave.,New Orleans, LA 70125. Please visitwww.rhodesfuneral. comtosignthe online guestbook,share memo‐ries andcondolences with thefamily.

Carter,Virginia Pitcher 'Doo'

Evangelist, Dr.Virginia Pitcher Carter was bornto the union of the late Rev. Dr. Willie and Margaret (Walker) Pitcher in Baton Rouge, LA on Wednesday, June 6, 1923. Dr. Carter peacefully ascended from this life on

Mozelle TonieColeman enteredintoeternal rest on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at St.Joseph'sCarpenter House, Shewas anative andresidentofBaton Rouge, Louisiana. Viewing at Nazarene BaptistChurch on Monday,July14, 2025 at 10:00 am until Celebration of Life Serviceat11:00 am conductedbyRev.Calvin Brooks; intermentat Roselawn Memorial Park Survivorsinclude her10 siblings,two step-siblings, nieces,nephews,other rel‐atives andfriends Arrangements entrustedto Miller &DaughterMortu‐ary.

Afuneral Mass willbe held forformer WestFelicianaParish president KevinCouhigMonday,July 14 at 11 a.m.atOur Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic ChurchinSt. Francisville. Visitation begins at Catholic Hall at 9a.m. Burial in the Catholic Cemetery willfollow the service.Rob and Missy Couhig will host areception at theirhome following the graveside service (4363 Hwy. 966).

Dear,PatriciaDumas Services forPatricia DumasDearwillbeheld Saturday,July12, 2025 at Mt.PilgrimBaptist Church, 9700 Scenic Hwy. Apublic visitationwillbeheldfrom 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. with religious services be‐ginningat10:00 a.m. Inter‐ment:Private.Professional services entrustedto

Epps, Shirley

Anativeand resident of Batchelor, La was called to glory July5,2025 at theage of 64. Visitation services FridayJuly 11, 2025 at A. Wesley's Faith Center 152 Hwy 3050 Morganza, La from4 to 7pm. Religious services Saturday July12, 2025 at Zion Travelers Baptist Church 11900 Pointe Coupee Rd,New Roadsservices start at 11am. Shirley is survivedbyher twochildren Krystal Eppsand Cedrick Epps, Sr.; agranddaughter, Carley Denae' Epps; five sisters: Clementine Epps, AnnieThompson, Alma Epps, Joyce Turner (Rev. Reece Turner) and Beulah Epps; onespecial nephew whom was raised as abrother, Arthur Epps. Shirleywas preceded in deathbyher parents Edward and IsabelEpps; twograndchildren, Cason DeRae' and Cedrick Epps, Jr sixbrothers: Isiah, Roosevelt, Edward, Jr., William, Henry and Anthony Ray Epps; Godparents: Ernest and Beulah Quinn;one brother-in-law, Williams Thompson; one God sister, Carolyn FranklinDavis, and twoGod brothers: Robert Quinn and Otis Quinn

Forrest, Leroy

It is withprofound sorrow and solemnreverence that we announce the passing of Mr. Leroy Forrest,who departedthis earthly life on the27thof June,inthe year of our Lord 2025, at thedistinguishedage of 83. Apublic viewing shall be held in his honoronSaturday, the 12thofJuly, commencing at 8:00 AM at Second Baptist Church, 914 NAcadian Thruway W, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where family and friendsmay gatherto paytheir final respects. A CelebrationofLife shall follow at 10:00 AM. His earthly remains shall be laid to rest at Southern MemorialGardens. The distinguished &solemnarrangements have beenentrusted to thecare of WinnfieldFuneral Home of BatonRouge &C.D Slaughter, FDIC.

Carl Prentiss Grayson, a resident of Baton Rouge, LA,passedaway on Saturday, July5,2025. He is survivedbyhis mother,brother,daughter, and hisfiancée.Visitation willbeat Restoration Christian Center, 2018 Main Street, Baker, LA 70714, on Saturday, July12, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until religious services beginat11:00 a.m.,conducted by Pastor Charles R. Thomas Jr.

Jackson,Lecery 'Cornell'

Lecery C. Jackson was born to theunionofEula Hawkins Jackson &the late Lecery JacksonSr. He was anativeofPortAllen, Louisiana. He departed this life on July06, 2025. Visitation willbeheldMonday, July 14, 2025, at 9a.m., followedbya celebration of Life Service at 11 a.m. HallDavis &Son,1160 LouisianaAve.,Port Allen.

Jackson, PercyL. PercyL.Jackson,a na‐tive of BayouGoula,LA, passedawayonThursday, July 3, 2025. Visitation on Friday,July11, 2025 from 5:00-7:00p.m.atPilgrim BaptistChurch,57900 Au‐gustaRd.,White Castle,LA. Visitation resumesonSat‐urday, July 12, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. untilreligious ser‐vice at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Samuel Pierre,Pastor. In‐termentinPilgrim Baptist Church Cemetery.Arrange‐mentsentrusted to Pugh’s Mortuary,Plaquemine, LA

Guay, hislifelongbest friendwithwhomhegrew up on Adams Avenue, were captivated by therock & roll andNew OrleansR&B bands that performedat theFriday nightCYO dancestheyattended. Each of them knew then that they wantedalifein music, and they began playing professionally whilestill in high school. Dale graduatedfromBaton Rouge High School in the class of 1964 thenattended LSU, whereheperformed, recorded,and taughtmusic and, more significantly, met the love of his life, Anne,whomhemarriedin 1969. He went on to have a successfulcareerasa performer, bandleader, songwriter, andproducerthat culminatedwith his induction into theLouisianaMusic Hall of Fame on August 26, 2024. Makingthishonor all themoreremarkable wasthe factthatDale's music career includeda three-decade hiatus. The reason: In thelate1970s, Dale walked away from music, theonlyworkhe'd ever known,tobea dad Dale was an exemplary familyman,workinglong hoursfor over thirty years at Louisiana WeldingSupplyand itssuccessorcompany, Gulf States Airgas, to provide forhis familybut always making time for his twokids.After he retired from hisdaytime job, he went rightbacktomusic as if he'd neverleft it.His later period in music,in whichhereconnected with hislongtime songwriting partner, RexPearce, included some of his most impressive writingand production work.Dale was aquiet,thoughtfulman whospoke through his actions. He rarely- if everraisedhis voiceinanger andheneverlet anyone down. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of over 55 years, Anne,his twochildren, Drew (Stephanie) andEmily, and cousinsinOregon whom he held dear. Hisburial will be private but his family andsome fellow musicians are planninga celebration of life whichwill be announced in thecoming weeks

death by herparents and brothers, David Smith and SeabornSmith.She is survivedbyher children, Derek(Jenn)Nottingham, RhettNottingham, Jessica Nottingham andHollyn Stephens; and hergrandchildren, HaileyNottingham, MorganNottingham, Krissy Rogers, Breyden Nottingham, Rome Nottingham, and Ramseay Nottingham; andher greatgranddaughter, Rory Nottingham Bales. Amemorial service will be held Saturday, July 12th at Zoar Baptist Church Building DinCentral. Visitation at 10am. Service at 11am.

In theearlymorning hoursofJuly 8, 2025, the world lost atruly good man when Glenn Dale Murray, Jr known as Dale, passed away in his sleep from an apparent heart attack.Dalewas agentle soul and awonderful husband, father, and friend. Hiskindness, sincerity, and selflessnesswere legendary among thosefortunate enoughtoknowhim. Dale was born on November21, 1946, in Baton Rouge, theonlychildofLola Mae BennettMurray, originally of Richland Parish, and Glenn Dale Murray, Sr., originally of CoosBay, Oregon. In the late 1950s, he and Phil

LawanaNellSmith Nottingham, alovingmother and grandmother,passed away on Sunday, March 23rd,inSweetwater, Texas, at 71 years of age. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on November 20th, 1953, she wasthe first of threechildren born to SeabornL.Smith and HelenHard. Lawanagraduated from OurLady of the Lake School of Nursing and devoted decades of herlife to serving others "Mimi," as shewas affectionately known by her grandchildren, wasa beautiful example of selfless love,inspiringstrength andunconditional joy. She wasalways ready with a listeningear, anda warm cupofcoffee wasnever far away. Herlove of coffee wasmatchedbyher love of reading,and wasonly outdonebyher love of her family. Shewas aconstant source of love,and she will be missed andloved always Shewas preceded in

Kay Waggenspack Smith passedawaypeacefully on July 6, 2025, surroundedbyher childrenafter acourageousbattle with leukemia. Kay was born on September 15, 1948, in Baton Rouge Louisiana, theonlychild to Irma andClaude Waggenspack. Kay was preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years, Donald Russell Smith. As a little girl, Kay took theferry boat from Burnside, Louisiana, to school at AscensionCatholic in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, where she cultivatedlasting friendships that sustained herthroughouther life. Shemoved to Baton Rouge in 1966 to attendLouisiana State University, whereshe earneda degree in education andmet herhusband, Don. After teachingmiddle school, Kay began herfamily, whichwas hermost important life'swork. Kay wasthe epitome of warmth, kindness, and grace. Kay was aconfidant to manybecause she truly caredwhat people were carrying on theirheart, and, in return,she was blessed with many wonderfulfriends.Her willingness to listen with compassion and withoutjudgmentwas oneofher greatest gifts, as washer ability to see the best in people andeverycircumstance. Herfaithand positivity throughouther life wasaninspiration to all and, despiteher declining health, shealways showed up for herloved ones with abeautiful smile, words of encouragement,and ahumorous anecdote. Kay was selflessly dedicatedtoher

CharlesMackeyFuneral Home Grayson, CarlPrentiss

Patin, Gregory 'Teacake'

Smith, Kay Waggenspack

Nottingham, Lawana Nell Smith

Couhig, Kevin

MurrayJr.,Glenn Dale

family, friends, and community. She faithfully cared for her husband, Don, through two battles with cancer, the second one while she was also fighting the illness. She supported him in his legal practice and through the Baton Rouge Bar Auxiliary She was an active member at St. George and St. Aloysius Catholic Churches through eucharistic ministering and ministering to the sick. She organized and led her neighborhood civic association, was a docent at Magnolia Mound, and volunteered extensivelywith the CharityBall of Baton Rouge and the U-High Mom's Club. She drove for every field trip, ran the school concessionstand, and hosted the Easter egg hunts in her beautiful yard, which brought her so much joy. KayKay, as she was affectionately referred to by her 9grandchildren and their friends, hadthe ability to make life brighter and festive for everyone, whether it was by cooking, hosting, cheerleading, flower arranging, painting, or sharing her passion for history and current events. She began every day with gratitude and calls from her3 children, where she sincerely offered to help and received an update on her grandkids' sports, performances, or school schedules that she would eagerly attend. She will be deeply missed by all who loved her, especially her children, grandchildren andcousins. Kay is survived by her son Dr. Adrian Russell Smith and his wife Jessica,ofJackson, Mississippi, her daughters, Lauren Hensgens and her husband Scott, Gretchen Q=Petersen and her husband Preston, both of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and her 9wonderful grandchildren OliviaAnsley Smith, Luke RussellSmith, Samuel Covington Smith, Caroline Scott Hensgens, George Nikolaus Hensgens, Henry Russell Hensgens, Thomas Claude Q=Petersen, Adele Lauren Q=Petersen, and Helen Claire Q=Petersen. Visitation willbeheld at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2025 Stuart Avenue, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Friday, July 11, 2025, from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, followed by afuneral mass at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers,

please considera donation to your localbloodbank.

Square Sr., Robert Leroy

Robert Leroy Square,Sr., abeloved husband, father, grandfather, and Vietnam veteran, passed away peacefully at home surroundedbylovedones on July 5, 2025. He entered this world on January 28, 1947. He was anative of Scotlandvilleand alifelong resident of Baker,LA, proud graduate of Scotlandville SeniorHigh School, classof1965and Southern Universityand A&M College,U.S.Air Force veteran, ExxonMobilretiree, and faithful member of Beech Grove Baptist Church. He is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, SarahStemley-Square; children: Robert Leroy Square,Jr.,RaquelSquare Ayles(Charles), and Richard Leon Square (Ashley); grandchildren: Taylor Square-Honore' (Darryl), RobertLeroy Square,III, RavenLashawn Square, Nyia LanaeSquare, Malachi Xavier Square, ChaseNeyland-Square, and Nicholas DarnellButler;and great-grandson, HarperChristopher Honore'. He is also survived by siblings: Daisy Square Beck,BeatriceSquare White (Lynell, Sr.), Mildred SquareCarrethers, Percy L. Square (Michelle),Bonnie Square Jackson, Sharolyn Square Morgan, andTamara Square Creech. He was preceded in deathbyhis parents,Willie T. and Clara ByrdSquare,his siblings: Estella SquareBanks, LauraSquareLang,Willie T. Square, Jr.and Arthur D. Square, Sr. Relativesand friends areinvited to attend the visitation at Hall'sCelebration Center,9348Scenic Highway, Baton Rouge, LA on Monday, July 14, 2025

from9:00 AM until the funeral service at 11:00 AM, officiated by PastorKevin Cowan, Sr.Interment will follow at 1:00 PM at LouisianaNational Cemetery,303 W. Mount Pleasant Road,Zachary, LA.A repast willbeheldafter theburialatthe LeonR Tarver II Cultural and Heritage Center, 8320 G. Leon NettervilleDrive, Baton Rouge, LA.Family and friends may sign theonline guestbookorleavea personalnotefor thefamily at halldavisandson.com. The family wouldliketoextend our heartfelt gratitude to Always Best Care and Hospice of Greater Baton Rouge for theircompassionatecare, support,and dedication

Van Kerkhove,Robert

Robert Van Kerkhove, 81, diedSunday, June 22, 2025 at OLOL in Baton Rouge. On Saturday July 12, visitationwillbegin at 11 AM with service at 12 Noon at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 15615 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge 70817. Arrangementswith Church Funeral Services, Baton Rouge.

Vetter,Donna Staples'Tutta'

Donna StaplesVetter (Tutta),a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on July5,2025, at theage of

82, comfortable and secure in thehome she built and loved. Born on June 11, 1943, Tutta was aproud graduateofSt. Joseph's Academy and Louisiana StateUniversity, bothinstitutions that wouldremain closetoher heart throughout her life

Early in her career, Tutta demonstratedher concern forchildrenand families as aHead Start counselor. She was an activeand appreciated presence in BatonRouge's social and philanthropiccircles, generouslylending her time, energy, and leadership to causes she cared about deeply.

She chairedthe fundraiser thatwas the originofthe St.Joseph's Academy Science and Technology Center, ensuring future generations of studentswouldhaveaccess to STEM resources. Tutta's love for LSUextended far beyond the classroom; she served as Chair of the LSUAlumni AssociationBoard and on the LSUAthletic Council, championing the university's mission and spirit. She was also adevoted sup-

porter of theLSU School of VeterinaryMedicine,playinga pivotal roleinhelping theVet School acquire radiologyequipment to bettercarefor animals and train futureveterinarians. Herservice in those roles wascut short by adiagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

Aboveall,Tutta cherished herfamilyand friends. Shewas atalented chef and served as Executive Chef in herfamily's Baton Rouge restaurant. Shemade an early cooking video, butdecidedshe didn'twant to promote it because she "didn't wanther hairtoalways smell like roux."Tut had an eye for fashion and wasknown for herunique style. Shehad an active lifestyle. Before MS slowedher down, she enjoyed powerlifting,golf, andrunning. Andwhenit didslowher downshe began to paint andher paintings are treasured by her family.

Sheissurvived by her loving husband CyrilVetter hertwo daughters, Heather (Mark) Schaefer of Nashvilleand Gabrielle Vetter of Baton Rouge;her threeadored granddaugh-

ters, Ellie, Claire,and Ava Schaefer, all of Nashville, andher sister Lou Staples of Baton Rouge

Tutta will be rememberedfor herwarmth, her spirit,her easy andinfectiouslaugh, andthe legacy of service andlove she leaves behind. Herfamily andall whoknewher take comfortinher love,her peacefulpassing andthe lives she touched.

Visitation willbeonFriday, July 11 from 11AM12PM, followedbya short service at noon. RabenhorstFuneral Home, 825 Government Street.Inlieu of flowers, if so inclined, considera donation to St Joseph's Academy or the LSUSchool of Veterinary Medicine in hermemory

OPINION

It’s time forLouisiana to lead in business

The 2025 legislative session has come to aclose, and with it, Louisiana enters anew era of economic possibility

modernization of our state’seconomic development tool kit in a generation.

alongside newly recruited firms.

The team at Louisiana Economic Development entered this legislative session riding awave of historic wins: Meta’sdata center in Richland Parish, Hyundai’s first North American steel plant in Donaldsonville and major liquid natural gas investments in both the southeast and southwest corners of the state. We closed out this year’ssession having announced $62 billion in new capital investment across the state since Gov.Jeff Landry took office last year

But those wins came even before we had fully assembled thenew playbook. The special taxsession and passage of Act 590 last year gave LED anew framework to boost competitiveness and move at the speed of business. This session, we had theopportunity and the responsibility to build on that momentum andcomplete the most ambitious

Under the bold leadership of Gov.Landry and with stronglegislative support for LED’slegislative package, we got it done.

Thepoliciesand investments madethis session fully align with and enable the execution of our department’s new strategic plan —acomprehensive blueprint to attract major projects, create high-paying jobs and address long-standing barriers to growth.

Oneofthe most transformative changes was transferring amajorityofour incentive programstoaprocess called rulemaking. While this may sound like abureaucratic footnote, the way our legislators structured this reform allows LED theflexibilitytorespond tomarket and economic changes in real time while remaining transparent and accountable tothe people of Louisiana.

TheLegislature also delivered agame-changing $150 million for our new Sites and Infrastructure Initiative. For too long, Louisiana has lost out on major projects because we didn’thave readyto-go sites. This investment flips

thescript, creatingapipeline of development-ready locations across the state that will pay dividends for decades to come.

Ourapproach for this initiative is rooted in leveraging partnership and existing assets to drive aquantifiable return on investment to the state. Projects will be selected through acompetitive processfocused on long-term economic impact. This is what smart growthlooks like —bold,

BanningPBMswould hit veterans,rural residentshard

Louisiana’slegislative session ended lastmonth with asignificant outcome: House Bill 358, aproposal thatcould have reshapedthe state’spharmacy landscape, failed to pass before adjournment. Gov Jeff Landry has now suggested that he may call aspecial session to revive it.That would be amistake.

In short, HB358 would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owningoroperating pharmacies in Louisiana. Supporters framed it as away to address rising drug costs and curb the power of largecorporations in the health care system.

pendent pharmacies achance to thrive.

strategic andbuilt to last. We’ve also redesignedour incentive programs to reflect our agency’scoremission —ensuring everyLouisianan has the opportunityfor prosperity.Rather than rewarding job quantity,the new High Impact Jobs Program focuses on wage growth, targeting positions thatpay well above parishaverages.Italso ensures that existing Louisiana companies of every size canbenefit

Anotherforward-thinking initiative is the creation of the Louisiana Innovation Fund, which will help build the next generationofindustry leaders right here at home

The next biotech giant, AI innovatororadvanced manufacturing corporation doesn’thave to come from BostonorSilicon Valley. It can find seed capital, take root andgrowright here in Louisiana.This fund complements ourbroader Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO) strategy to cultivate a thriving ecosystem forstartups andearly-stage companies, ensuring everyregionofour state hasa meaningful stake in the industries of the future. Gov.Landry andthe Louisiana Legislature have shown that when ourstate leaders unite behind aclear visionand act with purpose,Louisiana doesn’tjust catch up —welead Now is ourtime.With the tools, talent andmomentum we’ve built, Louisiana is ready to compete andpositionedtowin.

Susan B. Bourgeoisisthe secretary of LouisianaEconomic Development.

Medicaid andSNAP arelifelines for families like mine

Butrecent examples suggestotherwise. When Rite Aid declared bankruptcy earlier this year,communities without a strong presence of larger pharmacy providers struggled to fill thegap. In Pennsylvania, for example, smaller community pharmacies often lacked thecapacity or resources to absorb theinflux of patients —especially those with costly or complex medication needs. If Louisiana does not exercise caution, it could face asimilar outcome.

However,for all its good intentions, the bill would createmore problems than it solves PBMs play acritical, behind-the-scenes role in the health care system. They help negotiate lower prices for medications, manage formularies and provide access to mail-order and specialty pharmacy services that are vital for many patients. This includes veterans, as well as activeduty service members and their families, who often depend on these systems to ensure continuity of care.

An example of this is the mail-order pharmacy network used by TRICARE, the health program for active-duty service members, retirees and their dependents. These mail services —often coordinated through PBM-affiliated pharmacies —ensure that veterans who live far from aVAfacility or who face mobility issues can still access their medications in atimely and convenient manner.If HB358were enacted,significant parts of this supply chain could be disrupted, creating new barriers for veterans toaccess their lifesaving prescriptions.

The bill’simpact wouldn’tstopthere. By effectively preventing PBMs from operating pharmacies in the state, passage of HB358could result in the closure of more than 100 pharmacy locations, displacing over amillion patients, including tens of thousands of veterans.

That kind of disruptionwould be difficult for any community —but it would be particularly hard on rural areas, where pharmacy options are already limited and where veterans disproportionatelyreside.

Some have argued that eliminating PBM-owned pharmacieswould give inde-

Independent pharmacies are an importantpart of our health care system, but they cannot singlehandedly replace thescale, reach or specialized services that theretail pharmacies this bill would force the state to help provide. We should be working to integrate all providers— large and small— into afunctioning ecosystem that serves patients,not dismantling one part of it in hopes the rest will catch up.

None of this is to say there isn’troom for thoughtfulPBM reform. Greater transparency in pricing, stronger oversight and fairer reimbursementpolicies are all worthy goals.

Butbanning PBMs from operating pharmacies altogether —asHB358 proposed to do —doesn’tget us closer to those outcomes. Reviving it in aspecial session would only reintroduce theuncertaintyand potential disruption that so many patients can’tafford.

Veterans in Louisiana deserve asystem thatworks for them: one that provides timely,affordable access to medications, wherever they live and whatever conditions theyface. Policies that undercut the very services making that possible areastep in the wrong direction. If our leaders want to uphold the commitment they have made to our menand women who served in uniform, they should be engaging with stakeholders to craft practical, patientcentered reforms, not resurrecting legislationthat could make it harder for those who served to get thecare they need.

Rob Maness is aretired U.S. Air Force colonel andaformer candidate for U.S. Senate in Louisiana.

I’m asingle mom with three kids, and they keep me on my toes. Ilove them and Iwould do anything for them, but thecost of raising afamily keeps jumping, and I’mfeeling the pressure. Iwas laid off twice last year, which has humbled me in ways I could never have imagined, and my family is feeling the strain. My kids know I’munder stress. They feel it, too.

Earlier this month, one of my children experienced an emotional breakdown.Wehave been able to place him in abehavioral healthunit,where he’sgetting the specialized, intensive care he needs to heal. My whole family is now receiving counseling services, which we will have to stop if Medicaid funding dries up. Though this support is critical, the out-of-pocket expenses would be morethan we can afford Iwish Icould focus only on my son’srecovery.I’ve had to take a pay cut at work, andthe strain is mounting. I’ve reapplied forfood stamps, and the additional $300 a month helps, but my budget is still tight and I’m worried.Ifwelose our SNAPbenefits, it’ll hurt my family and families like mine.

in our state. SNAP serves 867,000 Louisiana residents. About 45% of those recipients are children. Medicaid and SNAP are making it possible formychildren —and manychildren across Louisiana —to survive. Taking these programsawayfrom children and the adults raising them would be dangerous. Earlier this year,my family traveled to Capitol Hill for the Strolling Thunder rally hosted by ZERO TO THREE. We called on Congress to protect Medicaid and SNAP,and boost funding for other programs that make raising afamily in this country possible. We metwith lawmakers to share our stories and highlight the importance of these programs for families like mine

For work, I’ve been facilitating training courses forblue-collar workers who typically work through thesummer when the weather is good. Businessismuch slower in the summer,making it difficult to make ends meet on my own.

I’m doing everything Ican to build abetter future for my children. I want them to grow up in asociety where families don’thave to choose between healthy meals, working hard and paying for lifesaving healthcare.

Andwe’re not alone. Louisiana’s Medicaid program, LaCHIP, covers 56.8% of all children in Louisiana and nearly two-thirds of the births

Now, Congress has passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which will cut these programssignificantly Taking health care and food away from sick children and struggling families will only result in ugliness. It will mean higher costs, morepaperwork and fewercovered services. Hospitals will close, grocery bills will skyrocket and children who need physical and mental health supports —like my son —will be leftwith few, if any,options. Today,myfamily is healing because we got the support we needed when it mattered most. Families like mine just want what all families want: to give our children the best possible start in life. That meansfood, that meanshealth care, and —sometimes —itmeans a helping hand. For families like mine, Medicaid and SNAP aren’tjust programs. They’re alifeline.

Katherine Hickle lives in Mandeville.

PHOTO By JILL PICKETT

Earthwork began in December at the site of afuture Meta artificial intelligence optimized data center in the Holly Ridgearea of Richland Parish.

Susan B. Bourgeois GUEST COLUMNIST

Rob Maness GUEST COLUMNIST

Katherine Hickle GUEST COLUMNIST

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

ROOM FOR DEBATE DISAPPEARINGMODERATES

After stating he could not support the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Sen.Thom Tillis, aRepublican from NorthCarolina, announced that he would not seekreelection. President DonaldTrump threatened to supportprimary challengers to anyRepublican whodaredoppose hissignature legislation, and detractorscalled Tillis aRepublican in Name Only.But Tillis said he wasfollowing hisconscience. It wasn’t always this way. Politicians usedtobeable to break ranks with their party to defend local interests.Tillis supporterscallhim agood government casualty.Hereare twoperspectives.

Tillis

joinsthe dropouts with unforgivable sin

“Another one bites the dust,” goes the popular Queen song, which might have been writtenfor therecent news in Trumpworld. Irefer to Sen.Thom Tillis, the Republican senator from North Carolina, who, in the wakeofavirtual assault by Donald Trump,announced thathewon’tseek reelection next year Thus, Tillis joins alengthening line of dropouts or,asthe presiding party prefers, RINOs —Republicans in Name Only who have left publicoffice during the years since Trump first became president rather thanbe forced to breathe the sulfurousvapors emanating from Pennsylvania Avenue andseeping intocongressional offices Among other considerations for Tillis was Trump’spromise to seek revenge through aprimary challengerasrecompense for Tillis’ “betrayal” in withholding his vote for Trump’smassivetax and immigration bill, which theHouse of Representatives passed andTrump signed intolaw You’ve probably heard of it. Tillis didn’t like parts of the billthat cut Medicaid over the next decade. Tillis andTrump spoke about theirdifferences and, Tillis said, reached ameeting of the minds.But it wasn’t long after that Trump stood in the doorway of his Truth Socialplatform andbegan firing insults at Tillis, saying he was “a talker and complainer,NOT ADOER!” Not the machine-gun fire of Queen’ssong, but effective enough in getting rid of Tillis, though the senator claims he had been mulling adeparture before Trump’ssniping In astatement to reporters, Tillis said: “In Washington over thelast few years, it’s becomeincreasingly evident that leaders who are willingtoembrace bipartisanship, compromise anddemonstrate independent thinkingare becoming an endangeredspecies.”

millions ofchildren. Andtothink that evangelical America claims God chose Trumptolead the country and, presumably,the world.

If Republicans are representing themselves as Christians while cutting essential aid to the neediest among us, then we might infer that they’re all going to hell. Trump is no more Christian than he is a Republican.

When an ‘endangered species’ loseshis ground

atrailer,working as acook and waiter at afast-food joint, finally making enough at awarehouse to afford atrailer of his own. These are our voters —your voters, he’s telling Trump—and these are the people whowill be hurt by your policies.

Trump isn’tjust aBible-thumping sideshow barker pitching gospel andperfumes. He also peddles fakenews, false motives and packs of lies, notably that he wants to help the working class while decreasing the federal deficit. Perhaps he meant bigger Christmas bonuses for hisLatinolandscaping crews and golf caddies because the Congressional Budget Office found that his bill would add roughly $3.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years.

ThankstoVicePresident JD Vance’s tiebreakingvote, the Republican-controlled Senate embraced therich and shafted the poor.(Not to be outdone, the GOP-led House did thesame, though much morequickly.)

After Sen. Thom Tillis announced his opposition to Donald Trump’sOne Big Beautiful Bill, thepresident excoriated theNorth Carolina Republican and vowed to support aprimary candidate against him next year Tillis promptly declared that he was not running again, depriving Trumpof leverage and reclaiming the “pure freedom” to speak his mind.

Andspeak he did. While Trump had promised to protect Medicaid funding, Tillis argued that his bill would eventually deprive almost 12 million Americansofhealth care coverage, including 663,000 in North Carolina.

It’shard to miss the irony, if you’re in the mood, of the chainsaw-wielding, empathy-deficient Elon Musk, richest man in the world, slashing government programs while aman such as Tillis, who moved out of his family’strailer at 16 to get ajob, is run out of town forcaring about his state’spoor Such are Trump’spriorities, in anutshell. “Screw the poor” is the leitmotif running through this “moral abomination,” as Sen. Chris Murphy,D-Connecticut, recently described thelaw beforeit had been passed. In plain terms, this legislation translates to aloss of health care —and food subsidies —for tens of thousandsifnot

We can surmisethat at least thethree SenateRepublicans who voted against the bill, including Tillis, had hoped that theHouse would reject theSenate version. Theother two senators demonstratingpossession of aspine were Susan CollinsofMaine and RandPaul of Kentucky. There was no need to rush to pass the monsterbill before July 4, the deadline Trumphad set. Understandably,he might have hoped to declare one great big, beautiful victory on Independence Day to displace the national memory of his tedious, snooze-worthy birthday parade. Toobad Trumpcouldn’thave adapted amore fitting deadline —Labor Day,perhaps, for abill that should pay greater heedtothe needs of the less fortunate than to thebillionaire club to which Trumphas always aspired. Tillis’ legacy,meanwhile, might well be that aDemocrat fills his seat. Though North Carolina is aswing state that went forTrump in 2024 by aslight margin, voters are split almost evenly between thetwo major parties. The largest group of voters, at 38%, is unaffiliated. By November 2026, given theaccelerating pace of crazy,there’snotelling which directionthe political winds might blow —orwho next might bitethe dust

Email Kathleen Parker at kathleenparker@washpost.com.

“Republicans are about tomakeamistakeonhealth care and (betray) apromise,” Tillis warned on the Senate floor.“I’m tellingthe president that you have been misinformed: Yousupportingthe Senate markwill hurt people who are eligible and qualified for Medicaid.”

Tillis subsequently joined all 47 Democrats and two other Republicans(Rand Pauland Susan Collins) to vote against thebill, which passed the Senate 51-50 after Vice President J.D. Vance cast atiebreaking vote. (The House passed the bill. Trumpsigned it into law July 4.)

What is happening to thebase of the Republican Party,and to thecharacter of the U.S. Senate?

LastMay,Sen. Josh Hawley,aMissouri Republican, wroteaninsightful article in The New York Times,lamenting the same Medicaid cutsthat infuriateTillis and stating that his party’sposition was“both morally wrong and politically suicidal.”

When Ronald Reagan denounced “welfare queens” in the1980s, he could dismiss them as unswerving and undeserving Democrats, not hardworking, taxpaying Republicans.

Buttoday,Hawley maintained, the GOP is increasingly the party of the working class, and “Republicans need to open their eyes: Ourvoters support social insurance programs. More than that, ourvoters depend on those programs.”

Exit polls last fall reinforce his point about the changing makeup of Republican loyalists.

In 2020, voters earning less than $100,000 ayear backed Joe Biden overTrumpby56 to 43. Last year,that sameincome group supported Trumpover KamalaHarris by 51 to 47.

Voterswithout college degrees voted Republican 56 to43. Those who said their economic situation had declined under Biden, almost half the electorate, overwhelmingly favored Trumpby82to16. Tillis makes asimilar argument and describes his own boyhood: growing up in

Even as the Republican Party has been broadening its base, however, it’sbeen cracking downondissent and diversity.Other strong-minded lawmakers whohave defied Trump —Mitt Romney,Liz Cheney,Jeff Flake and Bob Corker —have been driven into exile and denounced as heretics.

“InWashington over the last few years, it’sbecome increasingly evident that leaders whoare willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Tillis stated. Tillis is no liberal —he’snot even amoderate —but he is apragmatist, aprofessional legislator whoserved as speaker of the North Carolina House.

As The Washington Post reports: “He built areputation forhimself as abipartisan dealmaker,working with Democrats on legislation to address gun violence and codify the right to same-sex marriage. He also worked on the failed effort last year to pass abipartisan immigration and border bill.”

While Trumpdid not start the trend that is making dealmakers like Tillis an “endangered species,” he has vastly accelerated it. All good politicians understand the imperative to reward friends and punish enemies, but Trumphas taken his tirades to anew extreme, denouncing anyone who showseven ahint of disloyalty Trumpisthe worst example of politics as Holy Warintoday’scapital, but he’shardly the only one.

Tillis rightly points out that Democrats were deeply intolerant of two of their own members whoactually worked with Republicans, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten SinemaofArizona, and helped drive them out of office.

“They got things done,” Tillis said. “But they were shunned after they courageously refused to cave to their party bosses to nuke the filibuster forthe sake of political expediency.They ultimately retired, and their presence in the Senate chamber has been sorely missed every day since.” Tillis will be missed as well. The ranks of his “endangered species” —lawmakers whoknow that “compromise” is not acurse word, but an essential element of realworld problem solving —keep shrinking. Email Steven Roberts at stevecokie@ gmail.com.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., speaks with reporters as he headstothe chamber during a2024 vote at theCapitol in Washington, D,C.

Kathleen Parker

Steve Roberts

STAYINGHOME

BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer

The black Nike tech hoodie maintained the mystery for college football fans from Miami to Baton Rouge to Austin, Texas. The all-black getup kept the football future of lineman Lamar Brown,Louisiana’sbrightest highschool talent, hidden until he announcedhis college commitment on ESPN2 at 12:15 p.m. Thursday Brown, who stands 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, entered Pennington McKernan Gymnasium about 30 minutes before showtime Family,teammates, fans —including a collection of elementary school-agekids on asummer field trip— and media members trickled in.

As Brown’sdark attire hidthe color of the shirt of his future college, hisfamily followed the idea of one of his cousins by wearing matching custom t-shirts that said, “What’sNext?,” withpictures of five-star recruit Brown in uniforms

BY RODWALKER Sports columnist

There were times Thursday when youcould see just why the NewOrleansPelicansdrafted Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen in the first round.

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Foracouple weeks, it looked like the New Orleans Saints had one of the most electric receiver duos in the NFL. Through the first fivegames of last season,both Chris Olaveand Rashid Shaheed both topped 80 yards receiving in agamethree times. Olavelookedon his way to athird consecutive 1,000-yard receiving campaign to start his career, and Shaheed was adding to his big-play prowess, with his threetouchdowns coming from 43, 59 and 70 yards out. Thenitall unraveled. Shaheed sufferedakneeinjury thatendedhis season after six games.Olave suffered multiple concussions that limited him to eight games andkepthim sidelined the final eight weeks. As good as those two were, New Orleanshad littleelsetolean on behind them.Despite playing in only eight games, twoofwhich he left with injury afterplaying fewerthan10snaps,Olave led all Saints receivers in yards receiving (400). If New Orleans wasconcerned about itsyoung receivers staying healthy this season, it didn’tshowduring the offseason.The Saints did notaddress the position with any of their nine draft picks, andtheirlone signing before the ä See SAINTS, page 6C

Notesonagolfscorecard while pulling the levers and flipping the switches to go from vacation mode to full-on football mode…

…When LSU officials said they wanted to build a new on-campus arena that would be modeled after the still new andflashy Moody Center at Texas, Idon’tthink this is what they meant. The CEO of the

ect at Texas. That person is the founder of the Oak View Group, TimothyJ.Leiweke. The indictment handeddown by afederal grand jury charges Liewekewith “orchestrating aconspiracy to rig thebidding process,” according to theDepartment of Justice. As always, we caution folks by saying that an indictment is no proof ofguilt and everyone must gettheir

There were othertimes when youcould telltheywererookies with just three days of practice under their belt. The Pelicanslost their Summer League opener Thursday,falling to theMinnesotaTimberwolves 98-91inLas Vegas in thedebut for Fears and Queen. Fears, selected out of Oklahoma with the No. 7overall pick finished with 14 points andtwo assists. He also had seven turnovers.His best play cameona pick and rollwith center Yves Missi when Fearsthrew alob for an alley-oop. Queen, aformer Maryland star drafted with theNo. 13 pick,finished with13points and had 10 rebounds. He also had seven turnovers. Queen got off to arough start,not scoring his first basket until less than four minutes in the thirdquarter.But then he got going to finish witha double-double. Queen’sday was highlighted by a behind-the-back assist to Hunter Dickinson. Collectively,the Pelicanshad 25 turnovers. Fears andQueen ledthe Pelicans in minutes played. Both playedexactly26minutes and 33 seconds. That was the plan for Pelicans’ SummerLeague coach CoreyBrewer coming intothe game.

{span}“Those guys aregoing to get aton of work,” Brewer said earlier in the week.{/span} {span}“Wewanttosee what we got.”{/span}

While the rookies werethe main attraction,the Pelicans’ best gamescamefromplayers who were on the team last season. Lester Quinones led the Pelicanswith 20 points and knocked downfive of his eight 3-pointers. Missi, the first-round draftpick froma year agowho went on to be named second team on the AllRookie team, recorded 13 points

ä See BROWN, page 6C

1:30 p.m. IndyNXT: Practice FS2

2:30 p.m. NTT IndyCar:Practice FS2

5:30 p.m. IndyNXT: QualifyingFS2 BEACH VOLLEYBALL

9p.m. AVPLeague: Week 5CBSSN COLLEGE BASEBALL

6p.m. HBCU: National vs.American MLBN GOLF

10 a.m. Scottish Open Golf

1p.m. Champions: TheDICK’S OpenGolf

3p.m. ISCOChampionship Golf

MEN’SLACROSSE

6p.m. PLL: Newyork vs.Boston ESPN2 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

6:10 p.m. Seattle at DetroitAPPLETV+

8:35 p.m. Arizona at L.A.Angels APPLETV+

9p.m. PhiladelphiaatSan DiegoMLBN NBA SUMMER LEAGUE

3p.m. Memphis vs.Boston NBATV

3:30 p.m. Atlanta vs.Miami ESPN2

5p.m. Newyork vs. Detroit NBATV

6p.m. Utah vs. Charlotte ESPN

7p.m. Chicagovs.Toronto NBATV

8p.m. Washington vs.Phoenix ESPN

9p.m. L.A. Clippers vs. Houston NBATV

10 p.m.Portland vs.Golden State ESPN2

WIMBLEDON

MEN’S SOCCER

8p.m.OrangeCountyatMontereyESPN2

9:55 p.m.ClubAmerica at JuarezFS1

WOMEN’S SOCCER

2p.m.Italy vs.Spain Fox

2p.m.Portugal vs. BelgiumFS1

6:55 p.m.Ecuador vs.UruguayFS1 SOFTBALL

6p.m.Bandits vs.Talons ESPNU TENNIS

7a.m.Wimbledon: men’ssemifinals ESPN

10 a.m. Newport-ATP/WTATennis WNBA

6:30 p.m.Atlanta at Indiana ION

9p.m.ConnecticutatSeattle ION

American to face Swiatekin final

Anisimovabeats

No.1seed, to face five-timemajor champ

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer

LONDON Alittle more than two years ago, Amanda Anisimova took abreak from tennis because of burnout. Ayear ago, working her way back into the game, the American lost when she had to go through qualifyingfor Wimbledon because her ranking of 189th was too low to get into the main bracketautomatically Look at Anisimova now: She’sa Grand Slam finalist for the first time after upsetting No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a compellingcontest at asteamy Centre Court on Thursday In Saturday’sfinal, Anisimova will face Iga Swiatek, who is a five-time major champion but advanced to her first title matchat the All England Club with a6-2, 6-0 victory over Belinda Bencic. Swiatekwas dominant throughout, never letting Bencic get into their far-less-intriguing semifinal and wrapping thingsupin71minutes with serves at up to 119 mph and twice as many winners, 26, as unforced errors, 13. So it turns out she can do just fine on grass courts, thank you very much.

“Tennis keeps surprising me. Ithought Ilived through everything, even though I’m young. I thought Iexperienced everything on the court. ButIdidn’t experience playing well on grass,” Swiatek said. “That’sthe first time.”

She’s5-0 in major finals —4-0 on the French Open’sclay,1-0 on the U.S. Open’shard courts —but only once had been as far as the quarterfinals at Wimbledon until now.It’sbeen more than ayear since Swiatek won atitle anywhere, part of why the 24-yearold from Poland relinquished the top ranking to Sabalenka in October and is seeded No. 8this fortnight.

Saturday’swinner will be the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon women’schampion.

The 13th-seeded Anisimova, who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Florida, was playing in her second major semifinal after losing at that stage at the 2019 French Open at age 17.

“This doesn’tfeel real right now,”Anisimova saidafter ending the 2-hour,36-minute contest with aforehand winner on her fourthmatch point. “I was absolutelydying out there.I don’t know how Ipulled it out.”

In May 2023, Anisimova took time off,sayingshe hadbeen“ struggling with my mental health ”for nearly ayear Now 23, she is playing as well as ever,her crisp groundstrokes, particularly on the backhand side, as strongand smooth as anyone’s. She is guaranteed to break into thetop 10 of the WTArankings forthe first timenextweek, no matterwhathappens in the title match.

“If you told me Iwould be in thefinal of Wimbledon, Iwould not believe you,” Anisimovasaid with alaugh. “Atleast not this soon,because it’sbeen ayear turnaround since coming back and to be in this spot, it’snot easy .Tobeinthe final is just indescribable, honestly.”

For Sabalenka, 0-3 in semifinals at the All England Club, this defeat prevented her from becoming the first woman to reach four consecutive Grand Slam finals since Serena Williams won four major trophies in arow adecade ago.

Sabalenka missed Wimbledon

lastyear because of an injured shoulder,then won the U.S. Open in September for her third Slam title. She was the runner-up to Madison Keys at the Australian Open, and to Coco Gauff at the French Open, where Sabalenka’s postmatchcomments drewcriticism and led her to apologize both privately to Gauffand publicly Sabalenka andGauff smoothed things over before thestart of play at the All England Club, dancing together and posting videos on social media.

On Thursday,Sabalenka beganher news conference with as simple astatementascan be, “She was the better player,” then laughed.

“Losing sucks, youknow?” she added in response to thefirst questionfromareporter.“You always feel like you don’twant to existanymore.”

Anisimova improved to 6-3 against Sabalenka,a27-yearold from Belarus, and two of the hardest hitters in the game traded booming shotsand loud shouts. They smacked big serves: Sabalenka reached 120 mph, Anisimova112 mph. They ended points quickly with first-strike aggressiveness. The averageexchange wasoverafter just three shots. By the end,

167 of the 214 total points lasted fewer than five strokes, and just seven contained nine or more. Probably agood thing, too, given the heat.

Thetemperature hit88degrees Fahrenheit (31degrees Celsius) in thefirstset, which wasdelayed twice because spectators in the lower level —withnoshade felt unwell.

Onekey to theoutcome: Anisimova saved 11 of the 14 break pointsshe faced There was aparticularly lengthy shout by Sabalenka in the second set, shortly after she was angeredwhen Anisimova made some noise during another backand-forth. When the game ended, with Sabalenka making the score 3-all, shelet outanotherscream.

Sabalenka, whodouble-faulted to endthe opening set, pulled even by closing the second set with a114 mph servicewinner. She shebroke to begin the third. Could have been daunting for Anisimova. Instead,she didn’t waver, coming back to lead 5-2. Only then did some tensionarrive anew,asAnisimova wasted her firstmatch point, and Sabalenka broke for 5-4.

Anisimovastayed right there and, with another break,she had won,thencovered her mouth with her right hand.

Seasoned Djokovic readytofaceyounger generation

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer

Preview

LONDON Novak Djokovic began expressing aheartfelt thought about returning to the semifinals at the All England Club —“It means the world to me,” he was saying, “that I’m still able, at 38, to play (in the) final stages of Wimbledon” —whenthe Centre Court crowd interrupted with yelling andapplause.

“Thank you for cheering for my age. Ireally appreciate it. That’s beautiful. Makes me feel very young,” he said with asmile. “Another thing that makes me feel very young is competingwith youngsters.”

Truth is,Djokovic should be used to this sort of thing by now

He is the last member of agolden era of men’stennis stillontour, andafterbeating one 23-year-old in the quarterfinals, Flavio Cobolli, to reach his 52nd GrandSlam semifinal as he bids for arecord 25th major singles championship, Djokovic will meet yetanother 23-year-old, No. 1-rankedJannik Sinner,onFriday for aberth in the final.

“That motivates me —tosee how much can Istillkeep going with these guys, toe-to-toe,” the sixth-seeded Djokovic said. Djokovic enters his Wimbledon semifinal with 4 losses in arow to Sinner,includinginthe semifinals of this year’s French Open. And Djokovic lost each of the past two title matches at WimbledontoCarlosAlcaraz, whoisalmost exactly 16 years younger, meaning they’rethe men with the second-largest age gap between majorfinalopponents No. 2Alcaraz, whois22, will play No. 5Taylor Fritz, 27, in the other semifinal. Alcaraz andSinner—a pair Djokovic identified as “theleaders of (men’s) tennis today” —have combined to win the last six Slam trophies in arow Djokovic is more than adecade older than the other men left at Wimbledon.

For Alcaraz, his career haul of five Slams includesthe titlelast monthatRoland-Garros, where he overcame atwo-set deficit and

atrio of championship pointsto sneak past Sinner in afive-set, 51/2 hour classic of afinal. Sinner’s count is three. Both havebeen rankedNo. 1. (Fritz’sbest showing at amajor was being therunnerup to Sinneratthe U.S.Openlast September.) All noteworthy.But nothing compared to what’sonDjokovic’s resume, whichincludesseven triumphs at Wimbledon alone oneshy of Roger Federer’smen’s mark— and 100 tournament titles, along with the most weeks spent at No.1 in the rankingsbyany player

“He’sa legend of our sport,” the 22nd-seeded Cobolli said Wednesday after being eliminated 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 by Djokovic.

Sinner’splaying style draws comparison’stoDjokovic’s, from the returning prowess to the court coverage to the power-plus-precision groundstrokes. Not much higher acompliment is possible. Djokovic took each of their first three head-to-head matchups, including at the AllEngland Club in the 2022 quarterfinals and 2023 semifinals. But Sinner has gone 4-1 since.

“Me andNovak,weknow(each

Orioles trade RHP Baker to Rays for 37th draft pick

BALTIMORE The Baltimore Orioles traded right-handed reliever Bryan Baker to AL East rival TampaBay on Thursday in exchange for the 37th overallpickinthe 2025 MLB amateur draft, asign that one of baseball’smostdisappointing clubs could be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline. The draft begins Sunday OriolesGMMike Eliasacknowledged the possibility of selling during Thursday’sspilt doubleheader In acorresponding move,the Orioles selected the contract of catcher David Bañuelos from Triple-A Norfolk.After adreadfulstart that brought theMay dismissal of manager Brandon Hyde, the Orioles have steadied under interim Tony Mansolino, playing to a21-14 record since aloss to St. Louis on May 28.

Athletics’ Rooker joins Home Run Derby list

WEST SACRAMENTO,Calif. Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is adding his name to thelistofHome Run Derby participants.

Rooker announced Thursday that he’sparticipating in the event, which takesplace Monday in Atlanta. He will become the first Athletics playerinthe Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021.

Rooker,30, entered Thursday with a.270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace forathird straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 andhad 39 homers in 2024.

His58homers since the start of the 2024 season rank him third amongall American League players.

Healy wins hilly sixth stage of Tour de France

VIRE NORMANDIE,France Irish rider Ben Healy won ahilly sixth stage of the Tour de France after along solo breakaway on Thursday and Mathieu van der Poel took back theyellowjersey fromdefending champion Tadej Pogaar by one second.

The 24-year-old Healy had won astage on the Giro d’Italia before, but this was his first victory at cycling’sshowcase race.

“A stage win in the Tour is just unbelievable, it’swhat I’ve worked for,”hesaid.

“Participating in the Tour is already an achievement.”

American riderQuinn Simmons finished2 minutes, 44 seconds behind Healy in secondplaceand Australian Michael Storer was 2:51 back in third spot.

Former Jazz coachand GM Layden dies at 93

SALTLAKECITY— Frank Layden, the sharp-witted former coach who led the Utah Jazz to the playoffs forthe first time, has died. He was 93.

Known for his humor andsideline antics,Laydencoached the Jazz from 1981-89 and had 277 wins, third-most in franchise history

He’sthe only coach in Jazz history to be named NBA coach of theyear,earningthe honorin 1984, when he also washonored as executive of the year

other) because we playedquite alot.Soweunderstand what’s working and what’snot,” said Sinner, whoout-servedbig-hitting BenShelton in a7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4 quarterfinal victory Wednesday “But I’venever wonagainst him here in Wimbledon, so it’sgoing to be avery,very tough challenge.” Worth monitoring Friday: Djokovic took an awkward fall in the last game against Cobolli; Sinner hurt his right elbow when he slippedinthe last game of his fourth-roundmatch Monday Alcaraz seeksa sixthGrand Slam title, andFritz eyes his first.

While Alcaraz andFritz have met just twice, never at amajor andnever on grass, Alcaraz won bothmatches.

But Fritz has become adifferent player over thepast year,improvinghis returns and overall game while still possessing oneofthe best serves around. The surface at Wimbledon can only help, he figures.

“I’mhappy that we’re notplayingatthe French Open, on clay, with theFrenchOpen balls, ’cause that would be an absolute nightmare,” theCalifornian said “Grass is very muchsoanequalizer.”

Among the best one-liners attributed to him was one about a problem player he coached: “I told him, ‘Son,whatisitwith you? Is it ignoranceorapathy?’ He said ‘Coach,I don’tknow and Idon’t care.’”

Vikings LB scammed for $240K in bank fraud EAGAN, Minn. Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner was targeted in an alleged financial fraud scheme that cost him about $240,000, according to local authorities.

Sgt. Rich Evans confirmed Thursday that the Eagan police department wasactively investigating the case, working toward criminalchargeswithmultiple suspects identified. Onlyabout $2,500 has been recovered so far, Evans said. According to the search warrant affidavit, Turner saidhereceived acall in February from an individual impersonating abanker who advised him to transfer money in order to prevent atheft attempt. Turner later suspected thecall was ascam after conferring with afamily member

Djokovic

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KIRSTy WIGGLESWORTH

Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. celebrates beating top-seeded ArynaSabalenka of Belarus at Wimbledon in London on Thursday.

Rangers’ DeGrom is an All-Star aceagain

BY STEPHEN HAWKINS AP baseball writer

This is finally the vintage Jacob deGrom pitching for the Texas Rangers, and not because the lanky right-hander recently turned 37 years old. After several injury-filled seasons in arow,both before and since going to Texas in free agency,deGrom is again an All-Star ace.

“It’salittle bit of validation,” deGromsaid. “Coming back from amajor surgery,your second (Tommy John), there is some unknown. To be fortunate enough to be able to throw the ball pretty well, I’m just thankfultobeable to be back out there on amajor league mound.”

DeGrom (9-2,2.29 ERA) this year has made 18 starts, twice as many as he had combined the past two seasons after joining the Rangers. It is alreadyhis most since 2019, when he wonhis second National LeagueCyYoung Award in arow while pitching for the New York Mets.

His fifth All-Starnod is hisfirst in the American League after being the only Texas player selected forthe game next Tuesday night in Atlanta.

“I don’twant to take forgranted how hard this game is because he’smaking it look really easy,” said Chris Young, the Rangers’ president of baseball operations and aformer big league pitcher “It’sprecious when you get tosee greatness like that.”

Ano-decision against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night ended deGrom’s franchise record of 14 consecutivestarts going at least five innings without giving up more than two runs. That samespan was the longest streak by any traditional starter (not including openers) in themodern era since 1900 of not allowing more than six hits and two runs in agame, accordingtoSTATS

DeGromcamethe closesthe has to ano-hitter in his 236 career gamesonJune26atBaltimore.

He was perfect through sixinnings andthe only hit wasa leadoff single in the eighth.

“He’sanalien or something, I don’tknow how he does what he does,” said Jack Leiter,the son of abig league pitcher and the 2021 No. 2overall pickstill aRangers rookie this season.

“It doesn’tlook like anything’s bothering him,” catcher Jonah Heim said. “It looks likehe’sgoing outthere free and easy and and trustinghis stuff, andit’spretty fun to watch.

Second surgery

The Rangers wonthe first six gamesdeGrom started in hisdebut for them by the endofApril 2023before he hadTommy John surgeryfor the second time —the first was in 2010 as aminor leaguer for the Mets. He wasn’tpitching when Texas won its only World Series title, then rehabbed most of last year before three short starts at the end of the season.

His 1061/3 innings this year are onemore than he pitched combined the past three seasons, his first two in Texas and his final one in New York.

“I think as much as anything with Jacob, he’sjust so happy that he feelsgood,” Rangers manager BruceBochy said. “The talentobviously is there. It’satough road Now he’sback having fun playingthe game.”

Bochy said the Rangers willcontinue to monitor deGrom’sworkload.

He had at least five days of rest between six of his seven starts while going 5-0 since the beginning ofJune.Heisaveraging 86 pitches agame, andhis 103 on May21was the only time over 100.

“The thing about Jacob is it’s so effortless,” Bochy said. “Not alot

of stressfulinnings.”

All-Star appearances

The 2014 NL Rookie of theYear made his first All-Star Game in 2015,whenBochy was theNL manager andDeGrom needed only 10 pitches to strike outStephen Vogt, Jason Kipnisand Jose Iglesias

DeGrom also made three consecutive All-Star teams in 2018, 2019 and 2021 —therewasn’tone during thepandemic-shortened 2020 season He allowed asolohomer to

Pelicans,defensive star Jones agreetocontractextension

BY RODWALKER Staff writer

The New Orleans Pelicans are locking down their best defender The Pelicans and Herb Jones agreed to athree-year,$68 million contract extension, according to areportfrom ESPN Insider Shams Charania.

Jones now has atotal of five years and $97 million on his deal with the Pelicans. He has aplayer option on the deal in 2029-’30. Jones, asecond-rounddraft pick in 2021, has become one of the topdefensive playersinthe league. He earned first-teamhonorson the All- Defensive team in the 2023-24 season.

The Pelicans ranked sixth in the NBA in points allowed per 100 possessions that season and theseason before, thanks in part to the defensive presence of Jones. Jones led the Pelicans in steals (105)and ranked secondin

blocks (62) that year.Nearlyonefourth of hisblocked shots(15) were rejections of opponents’ 3-point attempts. He is oneof only four players in New Orleans franchise history to make an AllDefensive team; ChrisPaul, Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis are the others.

Jones was limited this seasonaftersuffering atornrotator cuff in his right shoulderin January. He underwent shoulder surgery in February

“Herb loved being withhis teammates right up to that point (ofthe surgery),” coach Willie Green said in February.“We’re sendinghim ourprayers fora speedyrecovery.Heisone of the pillars of our team and oneofour leaders, so wewanthim to heal quicklyand progress as he goes through this.”

Joe Dumars, the Pelicans’ new

executive vicepresident of basketball operations, didn’tgive a timetableonJones’ return when asked in May. But Dumars said Jones is on schedule.

Jones, who starred at theUniversity of Alabama, played in just 20 gamesthisseason Jones missed 18 gamesearlier in theseason when he injured his shoulder while diving for aloose ball against the GoldenState Warriors in late October.He returnedand played 16 games before the season-ending injury against the Portland TrailBlazers in January Jones averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and3.3 assists this season.

For hiscareer,he’saveraged 10.1 points 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

Sincehecame into the league in 2021, he is one of just eight players in theleague with350 steals and 150 blocks.

EmailRod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

MarchMadness expansion to 72 or 76 team discussed

BY EDDIE PELLS AP national writer

Thecommittees formen’s and women’sDivision Ibasketball met this week to discuss possible expansion of the March Madness tournaments, but made no immediate decisions or recommendations.

“The still viable outcomes include the tournaments remaining at 68 teams or expanding the fields to either 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2026 or 2027 championships,”Dan Gavitt, the NCAA senior vice president of basketball, saidina statement Thursday The idea of expanding the tournament picked up steaminthe spring whenNCAA President Charlie Baker said it could add value and that he’d like to see the issue resolved in the next few months. He saidthe NCAA has had “good conversations” with TV

partners CBS and WarnerBros., whose deal runs through 2032 at the cost of around $1.1billion a year Baker also mentioned increasingly difficult logistics involved with adding teams to what is now known as the “First Four” —a series of fourgames played on Tuesday and Wednesdayofthe first week to placefour teams into the 64-team bracket. Though therehas been no concrete plan for how expansion would work, speculation has centered on bringing more at-large teams, likely from major conferences,into the 64-team bracket. Such amove that would come at theexpense of champions of lower-levelconferences. Currently, twoofthe FirstFour games involve 16 seeds —teams that automatically qualify by winninglower-ranked conferences —while two more involve at-large teams often seeded 11 or 12.

For instance, in 2021, UCLA made the FinalFourasan11seed that also played in theFirst Four.

“I don’tacceptthat that model just continues in the future,” Southeastern Conference commissionerGregSankey said at league meetings in May He used theexample of North Carolina State advancing to the Final Four as an 11 seed in 2023 as how bubble teams from big conferences can makelongruns in thetournament.

“You couldgoask my colleagues in the(automatic qualifier) conferences what should happen,and I’mcertain they want that split to continue for life,” Sankey said. “Butyou’ve got some really,really good teams that Ithink should be moved into thetournament.”

Anyrecommendation for expansion would have to be approvedbythe NCAA’s Division Iboard, which next meets in August.

Mike Trout in the 2018 game, and

pitched aperfect inning in 2019.

After his back-to-back Cy Young seasons, deGrom started 12 of the Mets’ 60 games in 2020. He had a1.08 ERA over 92 innings through 15 starts in 2021, but didn’tpitch in the All-Star Game and missedthe rest of the season with rightforearm tightness anda sprained elbow.Hewas shut down during spring training in 2022 after astressreaction in his right scapula, then was 5-4 with a3.08 ERA in 11 starts the lasttwo months of that season before becoming afree agent.

Injuryextension

The $185 million, five-year contractdeGromsignedwithTexas included aconditional sixth-year club option for 2028 that has already been trigged because of thetimehemissedafter Tommy John surgery.That option is worth at least $20 million, but would be $30millionifhefinishes among the topfive in Cy Young voting or pitches at least625 inningsduring the contract It increases to $37 million if he finishes among the top five at least threetimesorpitches 725 innings.

By The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS All-Starcenter

fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has addeda fewmoreaccomplishments to his breakout season for theChicago Cubs. With two home runs that fueled an 8-1victoryoverthe Minnesota Twins on Thursday,the 23-yearold recorded his fifth multi-homer game in his92nd game thisseason. That’sthe mostbya Cubs player since Derrek Lee hadeight in 158 games in 2005.

PELICANS

Continuedfrom page1C

and 13 rebounds. “Yves looks like he’sinbetter shape,” Brewer said thisweek.”He looks like he’sstronger.I think we are goingtosee adifferent Yves this year.” Missi shot just 5of14from the floor.Hewent 3of9 from the freethrow line andthe Pelicans made just 14 of 25 free throws. Quinones and Queen combined

Crow-Armstrong also became the fourth-fastest playerinmajor league history to reach the 25-homer,25-steal markina season.Eric Davis (69games in 1989),Alfonso Soriano (91 games in 2002) and Bobby Bonds (91 games in 1973) were the only ones who got there in fewergames.

“I’ve only been humbled by the names that I’mmentioned with,” Crow-Armstrong said.

Crow-Armstrong went 3for 4 with three runs andthree RBIs against the Twins. He finished the seriesinthird place in MLB with 27 steals, tied forsixth with teammate Seiya Suzuki with 25 homers, tied forfourth with teammate Kyle Tucker with 67 runs and seventh with 70 RBIs.

to scorethe Pelicans’ final13 points of the third quarter The Timberwolves blocked 12 Pelicans shots. Micah Peavy, thePelicans’ second-round draft pick out of Georgetown, scored 11 points to go with seven rebounds. Antonio Reeves scored 10 points. The Pelicans play the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in theirsecondSummerLeague game.

Email RodWalker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

PHOTOByNICK WASS

TexasRangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom throws during agame against the Baltimore Orioles on June 25 in Baltimore.

Jones

Knapp shares Scottish Open lead as McIlroy shakes off rust

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland Jake

Knapp is loving links golf so much he’d like to extend his stay another week, and he took a step toward that Thursday with a 6-under 64 that put him in a four-way share of the lead after the opening round of the Scottish Open.

The blustery conditions at The Renaissance Club were not enough to keep more than half of the 156man field at par or better, although Rory McIlroy had to birdie his last three holes and make a 25-foot bogey putt on the 15th hole — for a 68. Sepp Straka had eight birdies in his round of 64, also joined by Nico Echavarria and Victor Perez atop the leaderboard alongside Knapp

Four other players were one shot behind, while Scottie Scheffler had to settle for a 67 and was three back.

Knapp is among those who have not qualified for the British Open next week at Royal Portrush. The Open is offering spots to the leading three players at The Renaissance Club who are not already in the field.

His current itinerary is to leave Monday for Boston and then to home in California.

“As of right now,” he said “Hopefully, I can change that.”

Perez isn’t set for Portrush, either He birdied three of his last four holes, finishing with a birdie putt from 25 feet on the 18th hole that played into the wind.

Scheffler, who missed the Scottish Open last year to spend more time at home with his newborn

RABALAIS

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is serious business

The wheels of justice turn slowly so we’ll likely have to wait quite awhile to see how this case is resolved and what impact it will have on LSU’s plans to build a $400 million multi-purpose venue to replace the aging Pete Maravich Assembly Center In May at the Southeastern Conference spring meeting, LSU athletic director Scott Woodward said LSU was focused on just the Oak View Group as being its partner in this project – the other developer considered, ASM Global, was out of the running at that time, he said Woodward also said LSU hoped to open the doors on the new facility sometime in 2029. Instead of turning over the first shovel full of dirt, Lieweke’s indictment may throw some dirt on LSU’s plans, especially if the school has to find another developer

There was a lot in Wilson Alexander’s superb story from earlier this month on how the NCAA’s new revenue sharing plans would impact LSU athletics. So much so that only recently have folks seemed to have taken notice of the part about LSU’s plans to put logos on the field in Tiger Stadium this fall and their hopes (pending NCAA approval) to put them on the uniforms, all in the name of helping fund

son, played in the morning and started with a 30-foot eagle putt.

He gave himself plenty of chances the rest of the way but failed to hole enough birdie putts inside 10 feet

There were a few mistakes, but otherwise very little stress.

“I feel like I could have gotten a little bit more out of my round,”

Scheffler said “I felt like I did some good things that I didn’t quite get rewarded for after my start.

But 3 under, I wish I could have had a couple of bogeys back, but overall not too bad.”

McIlroy figured he was about 80% of where he wanted to be ahead of his return home to Northern Ireland next week. He struggled with the wind, particularly off the tee, hitting only four of 13 fairways.

One tee shot landed just short of a wall on No. 5, forcing him to play out sideways to the fairway

Another found a bunker on the 15th McIlroy tried 9-iron to clear a steep lip and failed, the ball roll back into a depression caused by the swing He got the next one out, hit wedge that rolled over the back of the green and holed a 25-foot bogey putt to limit the damage. He birdied the last three holes a two-putt on the par-5 16th, a 25-footer on the 17th and a final birdie from 20 feet — to salvage a reasonable score. Also at 68 was Xander Schauffele, the defending British Open champion, who played alongside him.

“It was a great finish,” McIlroy said. “Felt like the rough was a bit stop-start, a little bit of rust in there taking a couple of weeks off. But I found my rhythm and started hitting better shots on the way in. It’s

the $20.5 million LSU and other schools will have to begin sharing with their athletes.

As you’ve probably surmised, I’m pretty old school in that I don’t like ads on the field or on uniforms at any level of sport. That said, I’ve known for a long time they were part of the sports landscape, going way back to my youth baseball days in the 1970s when our neighborhood team in Cedarcrest-Southmoor was sponsored by Pitre Auto Parts.

Pitre Auto Parts is long gone, but ads and logos and things like it are here to stay But what is next? Naming rights for LSU’s new basketball arena, like the Caesars Superdome? Can you imagine Tiger Stadium or Alex Box Stadium being Raising Cane’s Field or some such? One SEC school has already sold the naming rights several years back to its football stadium, when Kentucky remade its Commonwealth Stadium into Kroger Field

I understand where LSU, and other schools, are coming from with millions needed to be generated to stay competitive in the ever changing, more-likepro-sports-all-time landscape of college athletics. My concern is where does it end? I certainly don’t imagine we’ve reached that goal line quite yet SEC football media days start Monday in Atlanta, with LSU among the four schools tak-

Maguire’s hole-in-one gives her 1st-round lead

The Associated Press EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Leona Maguire made a hole-inone at the Evian Championship on the way to a 6-under 65 in the first round Thursday and a fiveway share of the lead.

Having started on the back nine at the fourth major of the year, Maguire aced the par-3 second hole — her 11th — at Evian Resort Golf Club, holing her tee shot from 164 yards.

“It was just taking a little bit off an 8-iron for me. Looked good in the air You’re never sure on that hole until the ball actually lands,” she said. “Sort of a perfect morning for it. Not much wind which is nice, especially on that tee box.”

The Irishwoman was joined on 65 by American duo of Andrea Lee and Jennifer Kupcho as well as Australians Grace Kim and Gabriela Ruffels. Australian Minjee Lee, who won the Women’s PGA Championship last month for her third major title, was in sixth place af-

ter a 66.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda was a stroke behind her in a tie for seventh Korda is seeking her first win of the season and third major title. No. 2-ranked Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, bidding to win a major for the first time, was tied for 16th after a 68 in a group featuring Lottie Woad. The 21-year-old Woad, a college student from England, was thrust into the spotlight after delivering one of the most stunning wins by an amateur — by six shots over a strong field at the Women’s Irish Open on Sunday Woad, the world’s No. 1 amateur and winner of last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur, is now on the cusp of securing a place on the professional tours. English golfer Charley Hull had to withdraw from the first round after collapsing to the ground twice because of a virus. Organizers said Hull underwent medical checks but did not have any serious health issues.

the sort of golf course and the sort of conditions where I feel like the field is going to be pretty bunched.

“So to only be four behind after the first day, feeling like I’ve still got my best stuff ahead of me, that feels good.”

Knapp skipped the Scottish Open last year as a rookie. He won the Mexico Open in February and played more golf than usual, leading to fatigue and a body that needed a rest. So this is his first trip to Scotland, and he began having a blast from the time he arrived.

“I haven’t played a ton of links golf but I feel like it fits my game pretty well,” Knapp said. “I like to be creative and hit different shots and it just fits my eye.”

On the advice of Rickie Fowler, he landed Monday and headed to North Berwick, a course just down the Firth of Fourth that has been around nearly two centuries. He played with his father and his caddie, with his mother and girlfriend walking along.

“It was awesome,” he said.

Scheffler had a large gallery not all for him. He played alongside Robert MacIntyre, who last year became the first Scot in 25 years to win his national open He had quite the opposite start to Scheffler, failing to birdie the par-5 10th at the start and then hitting a shot on the 12th that he feared was outof-bounds.

“Thankfully, I didn’t listen to the marshals,” he said. “Managed to find it a yard-and-a-half inbounds, got the drop and made bogey From there on, it was back to the basics.”

He wound up with a 68, right in the thick of it along with most everyone else.

ing part on the first day, and I am always intrigued to see which trio of players each team will bring. This year, LSU coach Brian Kelly picked quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (one of the SEC’s brightest stars), linebacker Whit Weeks (he will fill reporters’ notebooks and be a big hit) and wide receiver Chris Hilton. The latter is something of a surprise. I thought LSU might bring fellow receiver Aaron Anderson instead, or perhaps senior safety Jardin Gilbert. But Hilton is an interesting choice, and a good sign for LSU fans for the upcoming season as they look forward to him helping stretch opposing defenses like he did in the latter part of 2024. Who attends media days isn’t the be-all/end-all for the season, but it shows the confidence Kelly has in Hilton as a leader and as player No one brings anyone to media days who they are worried will say foolish, “bulletin board” things. Clearly Kelly considers Hilton a major asset, a long way from the will he or won’t he be back talk from late last year

Speaking of uniforms, I like the Saints’ snazzy new alternate white helmet the team unveiled earlier this week. At least the Saints will look sharp en route to going 5-12 for a second straight season.

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

A

new agency is rejecting some NIL deals involving donor-backed collectives

BY EDDIE PELLS AP national writer

The new agency in charge of regulating name, image, likeness deals in college sports sent a letter to schools Thursday saying it had rejected deals between players and donor-backed collectives formed over the past several years to funnel money to athletes or their schools.

Those arrangements hold no “valid business purpose,” the memo said, and don’t adhere to rules that call for outside NIL deals to be between players and companies that provide goods or services to the general public for profit

The letter to Division I athletic directors could be the next step in shuttering today’s version of the collective, groups that are closely affiliated with schools and that, in the early days of NIL after July 2021, proved the most efficient way for schools to indirectly cut deals with players.

Since then, the landscape has changed yet again with the $2.8 billion House settlement that allows schools to pay the players directly as of July 1.

Already, collectives affiliated with Colorado, Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia and others have announced they’re shutting down. Georgia, Ohio State and Illinois are among those that have announced plans with Learfield, a media and technology company with decades of licensing and other experience across college athletics, to help arrange NIL deals.

Outside deals between athlete and sponsor are still permitted, but any worth $600 or more have to be vetted by a clearinghouse called NIL Go that was established by the new College Sports Commission and is being run by the auditing group Deloitte.

In its letter to the ADs, the CSC said more than 1,500 deals have been cleared since NIL Go launched on June 11, “ranging in value from three figures to seven figures.” More than 12,000 athletes and 1,100 institutional users

have registered to use the system.

But the bulk of the letter explained that many deals could not be cleared because they did not conform to an NCAA rule that sets a “valid business purpose” standard for deals to be approved.

The letter explained that if a collective reaches a deal with an athlete to appear on behalf of the collective, which charges an admission fee, the standard is not met because the purpose of the event is to raise money to pay athletes, not to provide goods or services available to the general public for profit.

The same would apply to a deal an athlete makes to sell merchandise to raise money to pay that player because the purpose of “selling merchandise is to raise money to pay that student-athlete and potentially other studentathletes at a particular school or schools, which is not a valid business purpose” according to the NCAA rule.

Sports attorney Darren Heitner, who deals in NIL, said the guidance “could disproportionately burden collectives that are already committed to spending money on players for multiple years to come.”

“If a pattern of rejections results from collective deals submitted to Deloitte, it may invite legal scrutiny under antitrust principles,” he said.

On a separate track, some college sports leaders, including the NCAA, are seeking a limited form of antitrust protection from Congress.

The letter said a NIL deal could be approved if, for instance, the businesses paying the players had a broader purpose than simply acting as a collective. The letter uses a golf course or apparel company as examples.

“In other words, NIL collectives may act as marketing agencies that match student-athletes with businesses that have a valid business purpose and seek to use the student’s NIL to promote their businesses,” the letter said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANDREW MILLIGAN

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy shot a 2-under 68 during the first round of the Scottish Open on Thursday at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LM OTERO

Leona Maguire hits from the fairway on the second hole during the first round of the Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament on June 19 in Frisco, Texas.

Brownreturns to Bakerasfootballcoach/AD

1993. At that time, Bakeramong the Baton Rouge area’sClass 5A footballpowers. It is nowaClass 2A school.

BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer

Could the third time around be the charm for Marc Brown?

The former quarterback said he believes it will be as he fills therole of football coach/ athletic director at his almamater,BakerHigh School.

“We’vebeen working outand our numbers are picking up,” Brown said. “It’s been going well. It’sbeen aboutus learning each and finding ways to get better “We’re adding staff as we go along. Being back in our building at 3200 Groom Road is ahuge part of what’shappening.”

The 49-year-old Brown has become part of the transitionasa charter group, Helix Community Schools, takescontrol of theBaker school system for the 2025-26 schoolyear Brown played quarterback for theBuffaloes and graduated in

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draft was 12-year veteranBrandin Cooks.

Best case

Both Olave and Shaheed stay healthy and build upon what they started to show lastyear,while Cooks proveshe’sstill got something left in the tank as aNo. 3option after acouple of down years.

It feels like alot to askfor all three of those things to come true, but it’snot impossible. Olaveaveraged 15.5 games his first two seasons before ascary string of concussions last year,and Shaheed

BROWN

Continued frompage1C

of four teams:LSU, TexasA&M, Texas and Miami

In the moment of truth, ESPN’s No. 1player in the 2026 class informed the world he wasn’tleaving Louisiana, committing to LSU as he placedanoversized purple LSUcap over his dreadlocks and unzippedthe hoodie to show his LSU chain and gold Tigers shirt.

Brown is as familiar with Brian Kelly’s operation as muchasany recruitcould be. His University High School is alaboratory school of LSUand is only afive-minute drivefrom Tiger Stadium.

While he’s been mainlyrecruited by LSUassociate headcoach Frank Wilson, he has relationships with the majority of the coaching staff throughvisits, camps and multiple home games.

“Some games Iwantedtocommit, but Iknew Ihad to trust my process,” Brown said. “Tiger Stadium, there’snothingelselike it.”

He also has relationships with playersthat arefrom the state and even former high school teammates such as freshman Keylan Moses

He accepted the coachingjob at Baker five years ago but left before coaching agame andlanded at Class 1A White Castle, where he ledthe Bulldogs to two quarterfinalplayoffappearances in five seasons.

Brown’s22-year high school football résumé includescoaching stints atBrusly andLivonia.Healsowas the offensive coordinator at Livoniawhenthe Wildcats wonthe Class3Atitle in 2014.

“Somethings here were notin place here theway Ithought they should be at thattime,” Brown recalled, when asked about the brief stint at Baker.“Ilearned from that experience andfrom every coaching job I’ve had. Each situation is different.”

In 2020, Baker’shigh school students were housed at the middle school because of damage the school’sfacilitiesfrom the historic 2016 flood.

The2024-25 school year marked Baker’s return to its renovated high school facility on Groom Road

Brown’s final White Castle team went5-6 with aDivision IV nonselect playoff berth. He was relieved

playedin33ofapossible35games to starthis career beforehis knee injury sidelined him for thefinal 11 gamesin 2024. Cooks is abit of a reach,consideringhehasn’ttopped 700 yards in aseason since2021, and he too is coming off an injuryplaguedseason. If they’re on the field,it’shard to betagainstOlave and Shaheed’s talents, especially with aproven offensiveplay-caller like Kellen Moore available to push the right buttons

It will likely look different than it did atthe start of lastseason, when theSaints were consistently taking deep shots with their speedy receiver corps. New Orleans may alsoask Olave to do less work between thenum-

of his duties after the season.

In turn, James Dartez, the previous Baker coach, was relieved of his coaching dutiesafter a6-5 season anda berth in the Division III nonselect playoffs. That move opened the door for Brown to return.

“Tobehonest, it was thebest thing happenedtome,” Brown said of the exit at White Castle.

“I figured Iwould getthe next senior group out at WhiteCastle and then possiblyget out of

bers as away to expose himtofewer big hits. But there alsomight be more opportunities for both players after thecatch in the Moore offense.

Both Olave and Shaheed gained about 30% of their yards after the catch last season, while Devonta Smith—asimilar player in terms of style andframe —gained about 36% of his yards after the catch underMoore last year compared to 27.6% in the year before Moore arrived.

If bothcan stay healthy,and if Cooks can take advantage of the attention the top two garner,it’s not hardtoenvision aSaints passing attack that is better than last year’s,eventakingthe unproven quarterback into account.

LSU GETS PLEDGE FROM FLORIDAEDGE RUSHER

It’scommitmentseason, and LSU football addedanother playertoits 2026 recruitingclass.

DeAnthonyLafayette, athreestaredgefromLakeNona Highin Orlando, Florida, announced his commitment Thursdayafternoon on social media. Lafayette chose LSUoverOklahomaand Miami. Lafayette’s commitment came a fewhoursafter LSU landed five-star lineman Lamar Brown out of Baton Rouge. LSUnow has16players committed in the 2026 cycle, and six of thosepledges have come within the past two weeks.

Thesupreme comfort he had with LSU wasthere but it didn’t make donning thepurple and gold aforgone conclusion. Brown admitted it wasn’t until an hour so before his 12:15 p.m.announcement that he was completely sure on his tough decision.

“I give themprops,” Brown said about how hard the other schools recruited him. “Theyweren’t scared of LSU.

Lafayette is ranked as the No. 794 overall prospect and the No. 74 edgedefender in the country, according to the 247Sports composite.He’slisted at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds LSU nowhas twoedgedefenders in the 2026 class, and both have come fromFlorida.Lafayette joined top 100 recruit Trenton Henderson, afour-star out of Pensacola, Florida whocommittedtoLSU last week.

Before Lafayette’scommitment, LSU’s class was ranked No. 7by 247Sports and No. 5byOn3/Rivals Wilson Alexander

“I madethe bestdecision for me. Ilove playing forthe state, playing for my city.Put achipon my back beingthe (hometown) hero.”

Brown is atwo-way player that canbemenace on theoffensive and defensive line. He’ll enter LSU with the planofplayingdefense because that’swhere the staff saidhecan have thebiggest impact

coaching. Ithought Iwas done.

“I took some time off. My blood pressure was out of whack. Igot myselftogether and reset. And then this cameabout. It’sa blessing.” Brown is still putting together acoachingstaff.DonaldClark, aformer head coachlocally at multiple schools, including Glen Oaks andCapitol, will coach the defensive line. About 40 players are participating in offseason workouts.

Worstcase

Yeah,but what happens if they can’t stay healthy?

And will theSaints rue their decision nottoadd some size to this position group?

Allthree of thetop guys are 6-foot or shorter, andall weigh between 180 and 190 pounds. Beyond the durability concerns that comewith those frames, even someone as technically proficient as Olave is limited when it comes to makingthe contested catches that movethe chains on third-andmedium

New Orleans has lacked this element in its offense for years. Maybe that role can be filledbysomeone like Bub Means, who showed

“They like Ican play inside out,” Brown said. “I’ll play outside (on thedefensive line) and come back inside on third downs and finda mismatch to go getasack.”

The Tigers have anew defensive line coach in Kyle Williams. Brown said he doesn’t knowhim too wellyet but thatheseems like a“good guy” andknowsthat his NFL experiencewill help develop players. Williams is aformerLSU defensive tackle whoplayed13 years in the NFL.

Brown is ecstatic to joinanalready loaded LSU team. The soonto-be senior said he expects to have an impact sooner rather than later when he gets on the field.

“I don’tplan on just being on the team,” Brown said. “I planon playing freshmanyear Day1.”

While it’simpossible forhim not to look ahead to college,Brown said that he’s been workinghard preparing for his senior season.

He announced his college decision now so it wouldn’tlinger into his team’spursuit for astate championship.

“We’re hungry,alot of people doubted us this year butthisprobably one of our best teams,” he saidofthe Cubs.

Anotherhungry player at University High is Darius Coleman,

Baker High School football

“What Helix is doing (academically)willbring kids back to Baker and Ithink it will be averygood situationfor us,” Brownsaid. “These are good kids andthe communityisgetting involved and helping.

“They’re getting ayouth football program back in line with us. Ijusthave agood feelingabout this.”

Email RobinFambrough at rfambrough@theadvocate.com

some promise last year before dealingwithhis owninjuries. Maybe Juwan Johnson, whoiseffectively abig-bodied receiver with a tight endnexttohis name, can be that guy.But maybe the Saints still don’thave it on their roster Moore has said several times this offseason that he likes his receiver group, but it’shard to get excited about anybody beyond the two lead guys who will comeinto the season needing to prove theycan stayon the field.

Prediction Olave and Shaheed combine to post more than 2,000 yards. EmailLuke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

arising seniorsafety,who has known Brown sincetheir freshman season.The first time they met he thought Brownwas older becauseofhis alreadyimposing frame andspecial ability as avarsity starter.

Brown’sathletic gifts and onthe-field impact arenot allthat makes him stand out. The relaxedmanner star hasanother talent: connecting people

“He’sagood dude,” Coleman said. “He going to call, he’s going to joke around, he’snot very distant. He’llbring youin.”

Brown had teammates like Coleman accompanyhim on recruiting visits outside the state.

The gift of getting people together is something that can even benefit LSUbeforehe’son the roster officially.Hesaid that he and other commitments will get to work on helping add to an already strong 2026 recruiting classrankedNo. 7inthe country, according to 247Sports.

“I’m pretty sure we’re going to have the No. 1class,” Brownsaid. “Weplan on talking to some commits, that’swhat we want to do and build off that.”

Email Toyloy BrownIII at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com

coachand athletic director Marc Brown talks to the team after Thursday’s workout.

STAFF PHOTO By ROBIN FAMBROUGH

ALLTHINGS FILMMAKING

Want to learnabout the film industry?

The Baton RougeUnderground Film Festival will host aQ&A panel of local film professionals, along withtime for networking,atthe Filmmaker Forum from 6p.m. to 8p.m.Sunday at the Main Library at Goodwood,7711 Goodwood Blvd. batonrougeunderground.com

THINGS

ALLIN AGAIN

Music, film, communitymeld forsecond iterationoffestival

Staff report

With the goalofbuilding unity,the 2nd annual (Neighbor) Hood Fest will take place from noon to 8p.m. Saturday at the Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. in Baton Rouge. Henry Turner Jr.’sListening Room Museum Foundation, fest organizer,hopes to foster harmony “by exploring thecity of Baton Rouge and Louisiana’s diverse cultural communities through music andfilm,” according to anews release. New at this year’sfamilyfriendly,free festival is ahot dog eatingcontest sponsored by Frankie’sDawg House. Ten entrants will be chosen, with the winner receiving $100 cash. Entry forms and more information are available on the websiteat neighborhoodfest.org or by calling (225) 802-9681. The event also will featurea vendor village,food court, live music and films, along with an antique car show and children’s play area with bounce houses and asoccer field, if players want to bring their gear.Featuresand shorts will be shown in the library,followed by filmmaker paneldiscussions Afestival pre-party runsfrom 7p.m. to midnight Thursday at Henry Turner Jr.’sListening

ä To view a schedule for the festival, see PAGE 2D

PROVIDED

Baton Rougecontemporary Christian artistPrincess Teha opens entertainment for (Neighbor) Hood Fest on Saturday.

CATCH ‘CONFLUENCE’

The LSUMuseum of Artisshowing Alabama artist Jamey Grimes’immersive sculptural installation that reimagines the Mississippi River flowingthrough Baton Rouge—upside-down and overhead —in itslobbyonthe fifth floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge. lsumoa.org

SEE ‘40 ACRES’ Presented by Films at Manship, this sci-fi

Peter Simonplays guitar at his studio July 3. Singer-songwriter Simon, amember of Minos the Saint, recently

Morning Bird’s PeterSimon andRaudol Palacios spread theirwings

PETER SIMON

6p.m.Friday and Saturday l Free admission l L’Auberge Casino, 777 L’Auberge Ave., Baton Rouge l lbatonrouge. comand minosthesaint. com

ABY JOHN WIRT | Contributing writer

few days beforePeter Simon’ssolo set at lastyear’s Baton Rouge Blues Festival, he invited Raudol Palacios, a classically trained cellist,tosit in with him.

On stageatthe Blues Fest, Simon, thesinger-songwriter in the musically expansive Baton Rouge band Minos theSaint, and Palacios, who performswith the unconventional instrumental quartet Favorite Friend, made an inspiring musical connection. Those creative sparks spread to the recording studiocollaboration Simon has named Morning Bird. The duo recentlyreleased an elegant and atmospheric recording debut,the five-song EP “A Change in Elevation.” It’savailable from music streaming services.

STAFF PHOTOSByJAVIERGALLEGOS

Peter

Morning Bird began as asolo project forSimon in the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID-19 was, for me, alesson in solitude,” he said. “Morning Bird,initially,was just abedroom-studio COVID project, for the sake of sanity.”

True to their contemplative origin, Simon sings his Morning Bird lyrics in earnest, intimate style.For instance, in “Man’sFirst Steps,” he expresses an unreadiness to trade the night’sdreamsfor the singing birds and “morning canvas” stretched before him

ä See MORNING, page 2D

Children’s museum to teachkidsfinancialliteracyfor initiative

Staff report

Knock Knock Children’sMuseum and the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants areputting the fun in fundamental financial literacy for children.

Theannual“Earn andLearn —FinancialLiteracy Weekend” will take place Saturday and Sunday at Knock Knock Children’sMuseum, 1900 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge.

AdmissiononSunday is freeto the public. The Earn andLearn initiative introduces children to financial literacy through fun, hands-on activities. Visitors can complete jobsin18learningzones to earn wooden tokens, which they can saveorspend at the Earn& Learn Shop. Volunteers with the society will guide childrenthrough tasks such as workingina farmers market, garage or restau-

rant, andevendonatingfood, helping them explore career pathways, money identification and financial decision-making. Through pretend play activities,families and children will: n Exploreearning wages, the difference between wants and needs, making thoughtful choices and giving back n Gain apractical understanding of budgeting andprioritization n Introduce basic numerical

skills by learning thevalue of items n Experience the rewards of financialplanning anddecisionmaking by earning credit and redeemingitems in theEarn& LearnShop. The Society of Louisiana CPAs is dedicated to equipping individuals of all ages with essential financial knowledge andskills by helping familiesintroduce

ä See LITERACY, page 2D

Learn’

collaborated in the studio withFavorite Friend’s Raudol Palacios.

Simonand collaborator Raudol Palacios playtogether at their studio on July 3.

ä See FESTIVAL, page 2D

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday,July11, the 192nd day of 2025. Thereare 173 days left in the year TodayinHistory

On July 11, 1995, the U.N.-designated“safe haven” of Srebrenica in Bosnia-Herzegovina fell to Bosnian Serb forces, who subsequently carried out the killings of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys.

Also on this date:

In 1798, the U.S. Marine Corps was formally reestablished by acongressional act that also created the U.S. Marine Band.

In 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounded former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton during apistol duel in Weehawken, New Jersey.(Hamilton died the next day.)

In 1859, Big Ben, the great bell inside the famous London clock tower, chimed for the first time.

In 1914, Babe Ruth made his Major League Baseball debut, pitching the Boston Red Sox to a4-3 victory over Cleveland.

In 1921, fighting in the Irish WarofIndependence ended with atruce.

In 1960, Harper Lee’s novel “ToKill aMockingbird” was published.

In 1972, the World Chess Championship opened as grandmasters Bobby Fischer,ofthe United States, and defending champion Boris Spassky, of the Soviet Union, began play in Reykjavik, Iceland. (Fischer won after 21 games.)

In 2006, eight bombs hit acommuter rail network during evening rush hour in Mumbai, India, killing more than 200 people.

In 2022, President Joe Biden revealed the first image from NASA’s new space telescope, the farthest humanity had ever seen in both time and distance, closertothe dawn of the universe and the edge of the cosmos

Today’sBirthdays: Fashion designer Giorgio Armani is 91. Actor SusanSeaforth Hayes is 82. Actor Bruce McGill is 75. Actor Stephen Lang is 73. Actor Mindy Sterling is 72. Actor Sela Ward is 69. Reggae singer Michael Rose (Black Uhuru) is 68. Singer Peter Murphy (Bauhaus) is 68. Actor Mark Lester is 67. Saxophonist Kirk Whalum is 67. Singer Suzanne Vega is 66. Rock guitarist Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) is 66. Actor Lisa Rinna is 62. Author JhumpaLahiri is 58. Wildlife expertJeff Corwin is 58. Actor Justin Chambers (TV:“Grey’sAnatomy”) is 55. Actor Michael Rosenbaum (TV:“Smallville”)is 53. Rapper Lil’ Kim is 51. Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Johnson is 44. Pop-jazz singer-musician Peter Cincotti is 42. Actor Serinda Swan is 41.

Continued from page1D

concepts of smart saving, spending and sharing from ayoung age to pave the way for afinancially secure future For more information, visit knockknockmuseum. org.

Newmother-to-be seemsungrateful

Dear Heloise: Ihear alot of talk about gender reveal parties, but where I’mfrom, there are far too many ungrateful mothers-to be. At a recent baby shower, the mom-to-be opened abox with one of the most beautiful white baby blankets I’ve ever seen. Thewoman who gave the gifttold the soon-to-be mother that it was handmade in Ireland by awoman who makes one-of-a-kind baby clothes and blankets. Many of the knitter’sitems were usually handed down to the next generation because of theirbeauty and durability

(NEIGHBOR) HOOD FEST

STAGELINEUP

Hints from Heloise

for it,” and that was about all. Her attitude and tone of voice said everything. There was no sign of appreciation for aone-of-a-kind gift as beautiful as this blanket.The woman who gave thelovely gift looked embarrassed because the future mother didn’t seem tolike it. What gives withsome of these pregnant women? —Katy D., Concord, New Hampshire Katy,good question! Do any of my other readers see this type of behavior at baby showers?Let us know —Heloise

The future mother just looked at it andsaid,“I’m sure Ican findsome use

FRIDAY

ALYSEYOUNG: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6p.m.

DYLAN AUCOIN AND THE JUDICE RAMBLERS: TheSilver Slipper, Arnaudville, 6p.m.

JULIE WILLIAMS: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.

MIKE BROUSSARD: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza&Brewery, Lafayette, 6p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan Company PieBar, New Iberia, 6p.m.

LATE BLOOMIN’: Gloria’s Bar &Grill, Lafayette, 7p.m.

JILL BUTLER’S JOYRIDE: Acadiana Center forthe Arts, Lafayette, 7:30p.m.

JAMBALAYA TRIO: Randol’s Cajun Restaurant,Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m KIP SONNIER: SHUCKS!, Abbeville

6:30 p.m LIVE MUSIC: Buck &Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m

AJ’S65TH BIRTHDAY BASH: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8p.m. THE AMAZING NUNS WITH OPENERTHE CONRADS: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m. MATT GARYTRIO: Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 8p.m.

GENO DELAFOSE: Pat’s Atchafalaya Club,Henderson, 8p.m.

JOHNNYMARKS: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30p.m.

NIK-LBEER: Rock ‘n’ Bowl, Lafayette 9p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Cowboys Nightclub, Scott, 10 p.m

SATURDAY

DONNY BROUSSARD BAND: Fred’s, Mamou 8a.m

MIKE BROUSSARD & NU EDITIONZYDECO: Buck& Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 8a.m.

SATURDAY MORNING JAMSESSIONS: Savoy Music Center, Eunice, 9a.m.

CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 9a.m.

CAJUN JAM: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m

CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC JAM: Vermilion-

More on gender reveals Dear Heloise: Ilove the hints, tips and commentsfrom

you and your readers. You recently asked readers to comment on what they think of gender reveal parties. Iabsolutely hatethem!I thinkthey are just another mindless gift-grab, not to mention how manyhurt feelings there may be because of them (couples experiencing fertilityissues, people withfinancial issues, etc.). It should be enough to have ababy shower,even though these days baby showers are so over-the-top that Ihave stopped going to these, too. Thanks for letting me sound off! Again, Ireally enjoy your column! —Vicky, in St. Louis

Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

Lil’ Nathan will performatRock‘n’ Bowl

ville, Lafayette, 1p.m

ZYDECO CAPITAL JAM: St.Landry ParishVisitorCenter, Opelousas, 1p.m

AMIS DU TECHE: Cypress Cove Landing, Breaux Bridge, 3p.m

PRENTICE JAMES BAND: BayouTeche Brewing, Arnaudville, 4p.m

JULIE WILLIAMS: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6p.m

JAKE KNOTTAND COUNTRYCLUB: The Silver Slipper,Arnaudville, 6p.m THE MINTLLYILLBILLIES: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6p.m

LIVE MUSIC: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6p.m LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s, Lafayette, 6p.m

GRACENOVASAD: The TapRoom, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

RORYSUIRE: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Buck &Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.

TET DUR: Pat’sAtchafalaya Club, Henderson, 7p.m

JULIAN PRIMEAUX: HideawayonLee, Lafayette, 8p.m

NOTYOUR HIGH SCHOOL TALENT SHOW: The Loose Caboose, Lafayette, 8p.m

CARNELIAN JAZZ

DUO: Whiskey&Vine, Lafayette, 8p.m

DON RICH: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m.

SPANK THE MONKEY: Rock ‘n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9p.m

ORYMICHAELS: Cowboys Nightclub,Scott, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY

GLENN ZERINGUE:

Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 11 a.m.

Lafayette at 5p.m. Sunday.

VIEILLE MANIERE: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6p.m

LIVE MUSIC: Tante Marie,Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.

BALDUDIMANCHE

–WALLACE TRAHAN AND RICE &GRAVY: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1p.m

CAJUN JAM: Bayou

Teche Brewing, Arnaudville, 2p.m

GENO DELAFOSE: Cypress Cove Landing Breaux Bridge, 3p.m

FORET TRADITION: Pat’sAtchafalaya Club,Henderson, 4:30 p.m.

LIL NATHAN: Rock ‘n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 5p.m

JULIE WILLIAMS: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6p.m STOP THE CLOCK

COUNTRYJAZZ: Feed n’ Seed,Lafayette, 6p.m

BONSOIR CATIN: HideawayonLee, Lafayette, 8p.m

MONDAY

PATRICIO LATINO

SOLO: Cafe Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m

SAMSPHAR: Charley

G’sSeafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

TUESDAY

TERRYHUVAL & FRIENDS: Prejean’s Restaurant, Lafayette, 6p.m

JAZZ TRIO —PAUL

TAUSSIN, JAIRUS

DAIGLE, MASON FEDUCCIA: Charley

G’sSeafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

WEDNESDAY

DULCIMER JAM: St Landry Visitor Center, Opelousas, 10 a.m.

MATT GARYTRIO: Whiskey &Vine, 6p.m

SAMSPHAR: Charley G’sSeafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

CARTER SIMONEAUX: TapRoom, Youngsville, 6:30 p.m.

CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Saloon,Lafayette, 8p.m

THURSDAY

STAYCAYTHURSDAYS: East Regional Library, Youngsville, 2:30 p.m.

LAYLA: Whiskey & Vine,Lafayette, 6p.m.

JACK WOODSON: Charley G’sSeafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

DUSTIN SONNIER: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

TYLER JUNEAU: Gloria’s Bar &Grill, Lafayette, 7p.m

CIGAR SOCIAL: Downtown (Wurst Biergarten),Lafayette, 7p.m

LADIES KARAOKE NIGHT: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 7:30 p.m.

DYLAN AUCOIN: Rock ‘n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 7:30 p.m.

JESSE BROWN CAJUN TRIO: Hideawayon Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m

KARAOKE PARTY— PANDAENTERTAINMENT: Black Bull, Youngsville, 8p.m

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s musiclisted? Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadlineis noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper

n Noon-12:30 p.m.: Hosts GiseleHaralson and Free Spirit n 12:40 p.m.-1 p.m.: Princess Teha (Contemporary Christian) n 1:15 p.m.-1:40p.m.: XavieShorts (Contemporary Christian/R&B) n 1:45 p.m.-2:05p.m.: Ms. Pressure (Southern Soul) n 2:15 p.m.-2:45p.m.: Hot DogEating Contest n 3p.m.-3:30p.m.: “Maestro” ErvinFoster (Smooth Jazz/Pop) n 3:45 p.m.-4:10p.m.: Chris Christ Child (ContemporaryChristian)

n 4:15 p.m.-5 p.m.: Henry Turner Jr.& Flavor(Blues/Soul Reggae) n 5:15 p.m.-5:45p.m.: Da Beautiful Key(Pop/House/ EDM)

FESTIVAL

Continued from page1D

Room, 2733 North St. in Baton Rouge. Admission is $30 and includes abuffet.

This year’sfest sponsors include East Baton Rouge Public Libraries, WBRZ Channel 2, 2+, and their affiliate stations WBTZ,Chan-

MORNING

Continued from page1D

The quiet intro in “Man’s First Steps” yields to the studio backup band that enters and exists throughout thesong’smeditativebut smoothly accessible pop music. Elaborate though the arrangement is, it doesn’tspiral into progrock excess. Thattasteful restraint appliestoevery “A Change in Elevation” song. More morning references andintrospection surface in track No. 5, “Headspace.”

“I counted every bone in my skin, painted every thought that came to mind,” Simon sings sincerely. “Tooka breathand turned it back in. …I’ll dry my tears in themorning sun and once morerise.”

In the course of recordinghis COVID-19-erasongs at his homestudio, Simon moved from making asolo projecttocollaborating with others, especially Palacios.

“Raudol gave the songs life, layering hiscello on each of them, but staying true to my vision,” Simon said. “He added so much. It would not be what it is without him.”

Palacios’ cello plays prominently,for instance, in the EP titlesong“A Change in Elevation.” Within an arrangement featuring soft-loud contrast of the kind typical of classical musicperformances, the cello plaintively echoes and answers the pensive melody in Simon’slyrics.

“My parts in Morning Bird are different from what IdoinFavorite Friend,”Palacios said. “It’sa different philosophy in the way Icompose and, forPeter,it’sadifferentapproach from Minos the Saint. Adifferent set of rules governs what the product is going to be.”

n 6p.m.-6:30p.m.: King Solomon (R&B) n 6:45 p.m.-7:15p.m.: Shore Enough (EMO/Punk/ Pop)

FILM SCREENINGS

n 1:15 p.m.-1:45p.m.: Louisiana Film Block-Music Videos (35 mins.) n 2p.m.-3:30p.m.: “Wasted: Overtourism &the French Quarter” (95 mins.) n 3:45 p.m.-4:15p.m.: Q&A withWriter/Director Laura Cayouette and Producer Erin Holms n 4:30 p.m.-5 p.m.: “Mid City Flats” (documentary, 16 mins.,Director/ProducerNick Savides) n 5:30 p.m.- 6:15 p.m.: ReverbNation-Listening Room AlumnaRunning (40 mins.) *Lineup and times subject to change; all times approximate.

nel 36.1 and WBRZ.com, Frankie’sDawgHouse, VernonW.Thomas, Joyful Jumps, Clifford’sNeighborhood Antique Car Show and Henry Turner Jr.’sListening Room Museum Foundation. GiseleHaralson and Free Spirit are musical hosts. Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

Keepinga duo for its core, Morning Bird nonethelessplans to be more spontaneous than Simon’s and Palacios’ other bands.

“Wewant to do something more free-form,” Palacios said.

“The idea is astarting point, five songs that give anyone amap,” Simon said. Synthesizers and drum programming in Morning Bird’sEParrangements point to more instruments. When Simon and Palacios compose, they envision the number of players can range fromsimply their duo to the duo plus bass, drums, abrass section and even an orchestra.

The Morning Bird EP alreadyfeaturesthe duo’s friends in the Baton Rouge music community.Simon’s guitar and keyboards and Palacios’ cello join Chad Townsend’sdrums, Lee Barbier’sand David Hinson’sbass playing, Alex V. Cook’spedal steelguitar andKimberlyMeadowlark’s andTaylorStoma’s clouds of backup vocals. In additiontoperforming with Minos the Saint and Favorite Friend, Simon, a Ponchatoulanative, andthe Cuban-born Palacios,are music educators —Simon in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s talented musicprogram,Palacios at the Palacios School of the Arts. Palacios also performs withSimoninMinosthe Saint,having joined the group following last year’s departure of longtime violinist Joel Willson. Morning Bird, featuring Simon and Palacios, will performSept. 3atthe Baton Rouge Gallery’sFirst Wednesday opening reception and Sept. 14 at the gallery’sSundays at 4series. In the meantime, the solo Simonappears at 6p.m Friday and Saturday at The Edge in L’Auberge Casino. Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn.com.

STAFF FILEPHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

in

FRIDAY

PETER SIMON: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 6 p.m.; Saturday same time

3:05 EXPRESS: T’Quilas, Zachary, 6 p.m.

CAM PYLE: Tallulah at the Renaissance, 6 p.m.

CORDON BLUEZ BAND: Blue Iguana, 6 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6 p.m.

RACHAEL HALLACK DUO: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 6 p.m.

EDDIE SMITH: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

TAYLOR NAUTA: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

MATT TORTORICH: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m.

BEN BELL & CLAY PARKER: Curbside Burgers, 7 p.m.

CHRIS ALLEN TRIO: Crowne Plaza, 7 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

THE LONGNECK SOCIETY: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-

STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

BUBBA PLAUCHÉ: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m. DIRECT FROM SWEDEN — THE MUSIC OF ABBA: L’Auberge Event Center, 8 p.m.

2 DOMESTIC 1 IMPORT: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m.

KEEPIN’ TIME BAND: Charlie’s Lounge, Addis, 8 p.m.

TAYLOR RAE: Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill, Denham Springs, 8 p.m.

TITANIUM RAIN: Locals-Central, 8 p.m.

WEREWOLF: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 9 p.m.

ANNA CLAIRE & BRADY

GEORGE: The Vineyard, 9 p.m.

I-10 BOUND BAND: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m

JUNIOR AND SUMTIN’

SNEAKY: Southern Rhythm, Denham Springs, 9 p.m.

LAUREN LEE/CONNOR MAR-

TIN: The Texas Club, 9 p.m.

PRESS 1 FOR ENGLISH: Icehouse Tap Room, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY (NEIGHBOR) HOOD FEST: Main Library at Goodwood noon

DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRA-

CY: VFW Hall-Choctaw, 4 p.m.

BRITTON MAJOR: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5:30 p.m.

BRIAN RITTENHOUSE: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

KEEPIN’ TIME BAND: T’Quilas, Zachary, 6 p.m.

PAPO Y SON MANDAO: Pedros, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

ROCKIN’ ROUGE: Papi’s Fajita Factory, Watson, 6 p.m.

DERRICK LEMON: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

STONE SOBER: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

THE LEE SERIO BAND: American Legion Post 38, 6:30 p.m.

JOEY HOLAWAY: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m.

AGE OF REASON: Curbside Burgers, 7 p.m.

CHRIS ALLEN: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

RACHAEL HALLACK: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

PAUL DAIGLE AND CAJUN GOLD: Ric Seeling Dance Studio, 7:30 p.m.

CANDLEBOX: L’Auberge Event Center, 8 p.m.

WILL WESLEY: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m.

I-10 BOUND BAND: Southern Rhythm, Denham Springs

8 p.m.

REGENERATION: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 9 p.m.

AFTER 8: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

CHRIS PRYOR & THE MAIN EVENT: Crazy Dave’s, Livingston, 9 p.m.

DAMON KING & BO JAMISON: The Vineyard, 9 p.m.

DOWNFALL/GYPSY LA BLUE: The Texas Club, 9 p.m. ON TAP: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9 p.m.

THE DRUNK UNCLES: Icehouse Tap Room, 9 p.m.

CHASE TYLER BAND: The Basin Music Hall, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY BRYCE BROUSSARD: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville 10:30 a.m.

JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior Grill MidCity, 11 a.m.

ROBERT CALMES: Cocha, 11 a.m.

ANNA CLAIRE & BRADY GEORGE: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.

CHRIS ALLEN: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 11 a.m.

ERIC GAUTREAUX: Red Stick Social, noon

OLD TIME MUSIC JAM: West Baton Rouge Museum, Port Allen, 3 p.m.

NATALIE & SOUTHERN ACCENT: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 3 p.m.

MOM AND DAD: Icehouse Tap Room, 4 p.m.

SONGWRITER SUNDAYS: La Divina Italian Café, 5 p.m.

BRASSHEARTS QUARTET: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 6 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

MONDAY

ACOUSTICRATS: Phil Brady’s, 6 p.m.

JEFF BAJON PROJECT: Pedros, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

KATIE KENNEY DUO: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY

KIRK HOLDER: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

RALPH DAIGLE: Rio Verde Mexican, 6 p.m.

EDDIE SMITH: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

OPEN MIC: Crazy Dave’s, Livingston, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 2 DOMESTIC 1 IMPORT: BLDG 5, 5:30 p.m.

THOMAS CAIN: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 5:30 p.m.

GARRETT REMSON DUO: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

ASHTON GILL: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

MIKE ESNEAULT: Cary Saurage Community Arts Center,

6:30 p.m.

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC W/

HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7 p.m.

ANDY PIZZO TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7:30 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

KYBALION: El Paso-Sherwood, 6 p.m.

2 DOMESTIC 1 IMPORT: The Tunnel, 6 p.m.

ALLISON COLLINS TRIO: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

BRANDON RINGO: T’Quilas, Zachary, 6 p.m.

DRAMA KINGS: Pedros, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

ERIC SCHMITT: La Divina Italian Café, 6 p.m.

MELISSA SINGS: Thai Kitchen, 6 p.m.

CHRIS OCMAND: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

ERIC LEGER: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

THE BISHOP ELLIS TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7 p.m.

THE STARDUST BOYS: The Brakes Bar, 7 p.m.

TET DUR: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 7 p.m.

BRITTON MAJOR: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALLSTARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

HEATH RANSONNET: Icehouse Tap Room, 8 p.m.

BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s, 9 p.m.

RHETT GUILLOT: The Vineyard, 9 p.m. OUTLYING

FRIDAY

KENNY ACOSTA: Big J’s Side Porch, Clinton, 6 p.m.

GARY BELLO: El Mejor, St. Francisville, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

KENNY FIFE: Big J’s Side Porch, Clinton, 6 p.m.

RACOON: El Mejor, St. Francisville, 6:30 p.m

THURSDAY

JIMMY DELATTE: El Mejor, St. Francisville, 6:30 p.m.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s music listed? Email info/ photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper

FRIDAY MOVIE AT THE LAGOON: “MOANA 2”: 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., BREC’s Liberty Lagoon, 111 Lobdell Ave. General admission applies. brec.org.

FRIDAY NIGHT LECTURE: 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., BREC’s Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Road. Skygazing tips, physics phenomena, space programs and famous events are covered. For ages 14 and older. Free. hrpo.lsu.edu. Also, evening sky viewing from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

FRIDAY AND TUESDAY

“ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND”: 10 a.m. Friday, Eden Park Branch Library; 2:30 p.m. Friday, Central Branch Library; and 10 a.m. Tuesday, Baker Branch Library. A Bright Star Theater production. Registration may be required; Call library location directly. ebrpl.com.

SATURDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org.

GARDEN DISCOVERIES: 10 a.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Mary Broussard Perrin will present the program “Healing Traditions of South Louisiana: Prayer, Plants, and Poultices.” Registration is available at ebrpl.co/events or call (225) 231-3750 for registration assistance. ebrpl.co/garden.

FAMILY-HOUR STARGAZING:

10 a.m., Irene W. Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Learn about the stars and constellations in the local nighttime sky followed by an all-ages show. lasm.org.

GREATER BATON ROUGE MODEL RAILROADERS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Republic of West Florida Historical Museum, 3406 College St., Jackson. Electric trains of all sizes will be running on five different layouts. Free admission and parking.

CAJUN LUAU DANCE: 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Ric Seeling Dance Studio, 10776 N. Harrell’s Ferry Road. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and free dance lessons (after paid admission) begin at 6:45 p.m. Featuring the live music of Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold. Bring snacks and beverages. $10, CFMA members; $15, nonmembers; $10, students with ID; free, children 12 and younger. batonrougecajundance.com.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

BASF’S KIDS’ LAB: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Explore the science of chemistry during 45-minute handson workshops for scientists ages 6-12 and their accompanying adults. This month, kids will explore polymers, the pH scale, and make their own hair gel. Included with paid admission. lasm.org.

SUNDAY

BRAVER ANGELS BATON

ROUGE: 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m., Bluebonnet Branch Library 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd. Forum on “Depolarization in the Age of Misinformation: How Do We Bridge Divides if We Can’t Agree about Facts?”

SENSORY SECOND SUNDAY:

3 p.m.-5 p.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Dimmed lights, lowvolume music, designated quiet areas, headphones and sensory tools are available. lasm.org.

MONDAY BASTILLE DAY WINE TASTING:

6:30 p.m.-9 p.m., The Gregory at Watermark Hotel, 150 Third St. An evening exploring the world of French wines. Light bites will also be served. $35. bontempstix.com.

TUESDAY RED STICK FARMERS MARKET:

3 p.m.-6 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org.

TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 18303 Perkins Road. Collect your team and jockey for first place. loom. ly/y-CKtQ4.

WEDNESDAY RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 9 a.m. to noon, ExxonMobil YMCA, 7711 Howell Blvd. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. www.facebook. com/redstickfarmersmarket.

COSMIC CRAFTS: MUSIC & NATURE EDITION: 1 p.m.2 p.m., Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Watch a planetarium show, then do a themed hands-on craft activity. Part of the LASM’s Beat the Heat Summer Series. Included in paid admission. lasm.org.

TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 27350 Crossing Circle, Suite 150, Denham Springs. Collect your team and jockey for first place. loom.ly/y-CKtQ4.

THURSDAY

SOLAR VIEWING: 9:30 a.m.12:30 p.m., BREC’s Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Road. See the motions of clouds in front of the solar disk, sunspots, flares, prominences and plage. Weather permitting, viewing of the sun’s image. For ages 6+. Free admission. brec.org.

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. facebook.com/redstickfarmersmarket.

WEEKLY SOCIAL BIKE RIDE: 7 p.m., Geaux Ride, 521 N. Third St., Suite A. Free. https://fareharbor.com.

TRIVIA NIGHT: 7 p.m., Bayes Oyster Bar, 315 North Blvd. Test your trivia skills with your friends and family. Free.

ONGOING

BATON ROUGE GALLERY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: 1515 Dalrymple Drive. Group exhibit by April Hammock, Marcus McAllister, Hye Yeon Nam and Nonney Oddlokken, through July 27. Free. batonrougegallery.org.

CAPITOL PARK MUSEUM: 660 N. Fourth St. “Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend,” through Jan. 10. (225) 342-5428 or louisianastatemuseum.org.

ELIZABETHAN GALLERY: 680 Jefferson Highway. Group show. Call (225) 924-6437 or follow the gallery’s Facebook page.

LOUISIANA ART & SCIENCE MUSEUM: 100 S. River Road. “Discoveries on the Nile: Exploring King Tut’s Tomb and the Amin Egyptian Collection,” through Oct. 31. (225) 344-5272 or lasm.org. LSU MUSEUM OF ART: Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. “Carved and Crafted: The Art of Letterpress,”

Me Fashion,” more than 45 looks with related accessories spanning approximately 100 years of fashion history from c. 1890 to 1990. Exhibit runs through Aug. 15. (225) 578-5992 or email textile@lsu.edu.

MAGNOLIA MOUND MUSEUM + HISTORIC SITE: 2161 Nicholson Drive. Guided and selfguided tours. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. MondaySaturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. brec.org/facility/MagnoliaMound. OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION: 502 North Blvd. Open for tours. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Free admission. oldgovernorsmansion.com.

OLD STATE CAPITOL: 100 North Blvd. “Water/Ways,” traveling Smithsonian exhibit exploring the critical role water plays in all our lives and how to preserve it, through Aug. 9. “America’s Sacred Freedoms in the First Amendment,” yearlong exhibit. Free. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org. USS KIDD VETERANS MUSEUM: 305 S. River Road. Displays of a variety of artifacts that celebrate veteran and naval military history. Note: Vessel is in Houma for dry dock repairs. usskidd.com. WEST BATON ROUGE MUSEUM: 845 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen. “Radbwa ê tire tik-layé: The Art of Jonathan Mayers,” through Oct. 12. (225) 3362422 or westbatonrougemuseum.org.

Compiled by Judy Bergeron. Have an open-to-the-public event you’d like to promote? Email details to red@theadvocate.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday for the following Friday’s paper

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Catch Taylor Nauta at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Le Chien Brewing Co. in Denham Springs.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Focus on your objective, and don'tstopuntil youfinish. The outcome will be satisfying and helpyou gainoutside interest. Believe in yourself. Network, promote and market who you are and what you offer.

LEO(July 23-Aug. 22) Consider what others can contribute, and incorporate fresh ideas into your plans. Seta budget before you begin aproject. Social and networking events will motivate you to start something new.

VIRGO(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Listen carefully. Refuse to let changes others make tempt youtofollow. Gather information, watch others' progress and learn from theirpitfalls and failures. Avoid premature assessments.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Emotional energy will require direction. Keeping your eye on expendituresand essentials will helpyou make better choices. Too much of anything will require adjustments.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Conversations that bring about change may notbe easy, but the results will enhance your life. Lineupyour preferences and set a course that can carry you to victory.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec.21) Let your intuition take the lead. If you move too quickly, you'll face unexpected pitfalls that delay your timing. Put your money in asafe place and refuse to payfor someone else's mistakes.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Question everything regarding money andwork

Reset your plans, review your investments and options, and map out aplan to get where you want to go.

AQUARIUS (Jan.20-Feb. 19) Focuson home improvements. Consider what you feel passionate about and start to makechangesathome or to yourself that will give you anew lease on life.

PISCES(Feb. 20-March 20) Do what works for you, regardless of what others choose. Be careful; avoid jeopardizing your health or physical well-being. Be charming instead of complaintive.

ARIES(March 21-April 19) Balance the budget before committing to home improvements, moves or anything that mayjeopardizeyou financially. Rethink how you earn aliving and consider how you can use your skills.

TAURUS (April 20-May20) Refrain from starting something you cannot finish. Spend timegathering informationto help you reach your goals; stop spinning your wheels. Do thelegworkand set your sights on what'spractical.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Take your time, gather information and stick to basics. Too much, too fast will lead to undue expense and worry.When someone applies pressure, knowenough to back away.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2025 by NEA, Inc.,dist. By

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 gridwith 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 same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases fromMonday to Sunday.

Yesterday’sPuzzleAnswer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

Puzzle Answer

BY PHILLIP ALDER

On agame show, aprize wasatrip to aEuropean destinationwith aweek in aluxury hotel that, according to the announcer, included 24-hour access to the contestant’s room! At the bridge table, accesstoone hand or the other can be vital to enjoying success. How does that apply in this deal? Against three no-trump, West leads the spade nine. Howshould South plan the play?

In the auction, North’s two-diamond rebidwasNewMinorForcing,promising atleastgame-invitationalvaluesandasking opener to describe his hand further. Three clubs denied three hearts, indicated agood five-card suit, andimplied aweak spade or diamond holding. (Otherwise, South wouldhave continued with two no-trump.)

South has eight top tricks: three spades (given the lead), two hearts and three clubs. Where will he find winner No. 9? Against best defense, there isn’ttime to play on diamonds or hearts. Declarer must get afourth club trick. But that requireslosing one club and having a hand entry in spades.

If South reasonably assumes the spade nine is top of nothing, he can take the first trick with dummy’s ace and play on clubs. Butitissafer to put in dummy’s spadejack. If it wins,South’s king is his entry; or, if Eastcoverswith the queen, South wins with his king and can get to his hand with the spade10. ButifSouth errs by playing the spade two, Eastputs up hisqueen,and the contract’s door closes. ©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

EachWuzzle is aword riddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. Forexample:NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four lettersbythe addition of “s,” such as “bats”

thought

restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalms 23:3

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield