The Advocate 07-14-2025

‘We just want people to know that we’re here ... we’re ready.’

Program aims to keep kids out of courts

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

Gracie Bergeron, director of the Families In Need of Services program for West Baton Rouge, Iberville and Pointe Coupee parishes, keeps a manila folder in her cramped office across the street from the courthouse.

The folder is full of success stories. She calls them “the happies.”

“You just need that,” Bergeron said. “Sometimes, in this job, you see the ugly side of humanity.” Bergeron leads the 18th Ju-

dicial District Court program, which intervenes in cases of truancy running away and other crimes that can only be committed by children. Instead of putting youth in courts and jails, the goal is to figure out what’s causing the behavior and get them connected to therapy or other resources that could help.

Since the program started on the Westside in February 2023, the organization has managed the cases of hundreds of children Area schools observed decreases in chronic absenteeism and improvements in the daily at-

tendance rate since gaining support from the group.

In December, West Baton Rouge Parish schools’ chronic absenteeism rate dropped by nearly half compared with the same month the year before from 18.7% to 9.8%.

“We’re able to refer kids for that program,” the district superintendent, Chandler Smith, said. “It’s helped tremendously.”

Iberville Parish School Parish school district child welfare and attendance supervisor Brandie Blanchard, whose

ä See KIDS, page 4A

Families In Need of Services

Director Gracie Bergeron, left, and case manager Casey Cannon, right, stand with supervising Judge Elizabeth Engolio at the West Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse in Port Allen.

FLASH FORWARD

BR woman recovering after being struck by lightning

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

It was just a short walk to the front door from the driveway But Rebekah Prevost, a Baton Rouge mother living on a quiet street a couple blocks from Broadmoor High School in Baton Rouge, still wasn’t taking any risks.

Fueled by past “close calls” with both hurricanes and tornadoes, Prevost said she has always felt a mix of “fear and fascination” for extreme weather As her husband, Dale, pulled the family truck into the driveway on July 3, Prevost planned to run inside, leaving the groceries for him to carry She said a short prayer under her breath for protection. That prayer was the last thing Prevost remembers. As she opened the truck door and stepped onto the rain-slickened concrete in her sandals, a bolt of lightning struck a tree in her front ä See LIGHTNING, page 3A

The trunk of a tree in the yard of Rebekah Prevost shows signs of a lightning strike that also

Lake Charles mom training for trip to space

BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer

bill

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON After narrowly passing Congress without a single Democratic vote, the sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed into law July 4 codifies much of President Donald Trump’s agenda, like building a wall along the Mexican border

But mostly, the legislation is about tax cuts about 50 different ones.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton, says preventing existing tax breaks from expiring and adding new ones will energize the nation’s economy

“It’s going be jet fuel,” Johnson told “Fox News Sunday” and anybody else who asked “Small business owners, entrepreneurs, risktakers, the people that provide the jobs, manufacturers, farmers get assistance here, and that will lift the economy.”

“Waiters and waitresses with no tax on tips. We get rid of all taxes on overtime pay for blue-collar workers. It’s going to lower inflation, create higher wages for families,” added House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, in a video released on X.

Jenee Fox was working out four years ago when an audiobook about spacesuits — and the differences among those made in America, Europe and Russia — piqued her attention. She had a casual interest in space exploration before, but the book ignited a new passion. Now the Lake Charles power plant worker and mother has be-

come an expert in spacesuit design and is training to be a research astronaut for a March 2029 flight

“This isn’t just my mission,” Fox said. “It’s for every child who’s ever looked up at the sky and dared to wonder, ‘What if?’” Fox, 35, was recently named an astronaut candidate by Titans Space Industries a private space tourism company headed by veteran NASA astronaut Bill McArthur She’s one

Entergy worker a research astronaut candidate ä See SPACE, page 5A

The rub for Democrats is that the new law pays for the tax cut’s drop in federal revenues — about $4.5 trillion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office — mostly with reductions in spending on Medicaid and food stamps. Republicans say the changes will protect those programs for those who truly need them.

U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, points out that most of the tax benefits for working people expire in four years and include provisions that limit the breaks available to employees who work for tips, rely on overtime, or Social Security

“All they care about is making sure Trump doesn’t hurt their reelection campaigns and giving a handout to their wealthy donors,” Carter said.

Rebekah

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

PROVIDED PHOTO

Jenee Fox performs a space flight simulation as she trains as an astronaut researcher ahead of a planned orbital flight with Titans Space in March 2029.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON Rebekah Prevost, left, and sister Samantha Reed have grown closer following Prevost’s recent near-death experience following a lightning strike in Baton Rouge.

BRIEFS

EU delays retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods PARIS The European Union will suspend retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods scheduled to take effect Monday in hopes of reaching a trade deal with the Trump administration by the end of the month.

“This is now the time for negotiations,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels on Sunday, after President Donald Trump sent a letter announcing new tariffs of 30% on goods from the EU and Mexico starting Aug. 1.

The EU America’s biggest trading partner and the world’s largest trading bloc had been scheduled to impose “countermeasures” starting Monday at midnight Brussels time. The EU negotiates trade deals on behalf of its 27 member countries.

Von der Leyen said those countermeasures would be delayed until Aug. 1, and that Trump’s letter shows “that we have until the first of August” to negotiate. Europe’s biggest exports to the U.S. are pharmaceuticals, cars, aircraft, chemicals, medical instruments and wine and spirits.

“We have always been clear that we prefer a negotiated solution,” she said. If they can’t reach a deal, she said that “we will continue to prepare countermeasures so we are fully prepared.”

Farmworker who fell off roof during ICE raid dies SAN FRANCISCO A farmworker who fell from a greenhouse roof during a chaotic U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid last week at a California cannabis facility died Saturday of his injuries.

Jaime Alanis, 57, is the first known person to die during one of the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement operations. Yesenia Duran, Alanis’ niece, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. Duran posted on the fundraising site GoFundMe that her uncle was his family’s only provider and he had been sending his earnings back to a wife and daughter in Mexico. Alanis worked at the farm for 10 years his family said.

The United Farm Workers reported Alanis’ death prematurely late Friday The Ventura County Medical Center later issued a statement authorized by the family saying he was still on life support

Biggest piece of Mars on Earth up for auction

NEWYORK For sale: A 54-pound rock. Estimated auction price: $2 million to $4 million. Why so expensive? It’s the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth. Sotheby’s in New York will be auctioning what’s known as NWA 16788 on Wednesday as part of a natural history-themed sale that also includes a juvenile Ceratosaurus dinosaur skeleton that’s more than 6 feet tall and nearly 11 feet long.

According to the auction house, the meteorite is believed to have been blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike before traveling 140 million miles to Earth, where it crashed into the Sahara A meteorite hunter found it in Niger in November 2023, Sotheby’s says.

The red, brown and gray hunk is about 70% larger than the next largest piece of Mars found on Earth and represents nearly 7% of all the Martian material currently on this planet, Sotheby’s says. It measures nearly 15 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches.

CORRECTION

An article published Sunday incorrectly stated that District Attorney Hillar Moore and Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse partially attributed homicides in Baton Rouge to lenient judges. While both officials cited the prevalence of repeat offenders among homicide defendants and expressed concerns about low bond settings, neither specifically referenced judges or attributed increased homicides to judicial leniency The Advocate regrets the error

Search for Texas flood victims briefly paused

Heavy rains bring new threat of high water

BY GABRIELA AOUN Associated Press

KERRVILLE, Texas More heavy rains in Texas on Sunday temporarily paused a weeklong search for victims of catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River and led to high-water rescues elsewhere as officials warned that the downpours could again cause waterways to surge.

It was the first time a new round of severe weather had paused the search since the July Fourth floods, which killed at least 129 people. Authorities believe more than 160 people may still be missing in Kerr County alone, and 10 more in neighboring areas.

In Kerrville, where local officials have come under scrutiny over the failure to adequately warn residents about the rising water in the early morning hours of July 4, authorities went door to door to some homes after midnight early Sunday to alert people that flooding was again possible. Authorities also pushed phone alerts to those in the area.

During the pause in searches, Ingram Fire Department officials ordered crews to immediately evacuate the Guadalupe River corridor in Kerr County, warning the potential for a flash flood is high.

Late Sunday afternoon, the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office announced that search teams in the western part of that county could resume their efforts. The Ingram Fire Department would resume their search and rescue efforts Monday morning, said agency spokesman Brian Lochte.

Gov Greg Abbott said on X that the state was making rescues in San Saba, Lampasas and Schleicher counties and that evacuations were taking place in a handful of others. Texas Task Force 1, a joint state and federal urban search and rescue team, had rescued dozens of people in the Lampasas area, Abbott said.

The latest round of flooding damaged about 100 homes and knocked down untold lengths of cattle fencing, said Ashley

Johnson, CEO of the Hill Country Community Action Association, a San Sababased nonprofit.

“Anything you can imagine in a rural community was damaged,” she said. “Our blessing is it was daylight and we knew it was coming.”

With more rain on the way, county officials ordered everyone living in floodprone areas near the San Saba River to evacuate. Johnson said people were being moved to the San Saba Civic Center, which has become a safe, high place for people to receive aid and shelter

“Everyone is in some way personally affected by this,” she said. “Everyone is just doing what they can to help their neighbors.”

The weather system brought multiple rounds of heavy rains and slow-moving storms across a widespread area, pushing rivers and streams over their banks Heading into the afternoon and evening, the heaviest rains were expected along the Interstate 35 corridor and east, said meteorologist Patricia Sanchez from the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office.

“A few spots might see up to 2 to 4 (inches per hour), pretty much through the evening, before the rain, the coverage of rain and the intensity of the rain, slowly decreases,” Sanchez said.

Forecasters warned that the Guadalupe River could rise to nearly 15 feet by Sunday afternoon, about five feet above flood stage and enough to put the Highway 39 bridge under water in Hunt, the small town where Camp Mystic is located along the river

“Numerous secondary roads and bridges are flooded and very dangerous,” a weather service warning said.

The rains were also causing other waterways to swell further north in Texas, where emergency crews rescued one motorist who was left stranded in waisthigh rapids on a submerged bridge over the Bosque River The man leaned onto the vehicle for support as crews tried to reach him with life jackets.

“He drove into it and didn’t realize how deep it was,” said Jeff Douglas, president of the McGregor Volunteer Fire Department. “Luckily he was able to stand next to the vehicle.”

2 killed in church shooting; suspect dead, authorities say

BY BRUCE SCHREINER Associated Press

Two women died Sunday at a church in Lexington, Kentucky in a shooting rampage that began when a state trooper was wounded after making a traffic stop, police said. The suspect in both shootings was also killed.

The suspect carjacked a vehicle after the traffic stop near Lexington’s airport and fled to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where he opened fire, city Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said. Killed in the shootings at the church were a 72-year-old woman and a 32-year-old woman, the local coroner said.

Two other people were wounded at the church and taken to a local hospital, the police chief said. One victim sustained critical injuries and the other was in stable condition, Weathers said.

The suspect was shot by police and died at the scene, he said. The suspect was not immediately identified pending notification of family, he said.

“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church,” the

police chief said at a news conference.

The trooper stopped the vehicle after receiving a “license plate reader alert” and was shot about 11:30 a.m., Weathers said. The trooper was in stable condition, he said.

Police tracked the carjacked vehicle to the Baptist church, the police chief said.

The church is about 16 miles from where the trooper was shot.

The shootings remain under investigation, Weathers said.

Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said the church is home to a small, tightknit congregation.

“Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence, and let’s give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police,” Kentucky Gov Andy Beshear said in a social media post.

State Attorney General Russell Coleman said detectives with his office were ready to support local and state agencies. “Today, violence invaded the Lord’s House,” Coleman said in a statement. “The attack on law enforcement and people of faith in Lexington shocked the entire Commonwealth.”

Israeli strikes kill at least 32 in Gaza

Palestinian war deaths top 58K

BY WAFAA SHURAFA and IMAD ISSEID Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip

Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 32 people on Sunday, including six children at a water collection point, while the Palestinian death toll passed 58,000 after 21 months of war local health officials said.

Israel and Hamas appeared no closer to a breakthrough in indirect talks meant to pause the war and free some Israeli hostages after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Washington visit last week. A sticking point has emerged over Israeli troops’ deployment during a ceasefire.

Israel says it will end the war only once Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile, something it refuses to do. Hamas says it is willing to free all the remaining 50 hostages, about 20 said to be alive, in exchange for the war’s end and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Frustrated, families of some hostages demonstrated outside Netanyahu’s office Sunday evening. “The overwhelming majority of the people in Israel have spoken loudly and clearly: We want to do a deal, even at the cost of ending this war, and we want to do it now,” said Jon Polin, father of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage killed in captivity Throughout the war in Gaza, violence has surged in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Funerals were held there Sunday for two Pal-

estinians, including Palestinian-American Sayfollah Musallet, killed by Israeli settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry In central Gaza, officials at Al-Awda Hospital said it received 10 bodies after an Israeli strike on a water collection point in nearby Nuseirat Among the dead were six children. Ramadan Nassar, a witness who lives in the area, told The Associated Press that around 20 children and 14 adults had been lined up to get water He said Palestinians walk some 1.2 miles to fetch water from the area. The Israeli military said it was targeting a militant but a technical error made its munitions fall “dozens of meters from the target.” In Nuseirat, a small boy leaned over a body bag to say goodbye to a friend.

“There is no safe place,” resident Raafat Fanouna said as some people went over the rubble with sticks and bare hands.

Separately health officials said an Israeli strike hit a group of citizens walking in the street on Sunday afternoon in central Gaza City killing 11 people and injuring around 30 others. Dr Ahmed Qandil, who specializes in general surgery, was among those killed, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. A ministry spokesperson, Zaher al-Wahidi, told the AP that Qandil had been on his way to Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital. In the central town of Zawaida, an Israeli strike on a home killed nine, including two women and three children, officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said. Later, Al-Awda Hospital said a strike on a group of people in Zawaida killed two.

KENTUCKY

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERIC GAy

Rain falls Sunday over a makeshift memorial for flood victims along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By OHAD ZWIGENBERG Destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip are seen Sunday from southern Israel.

yard before jumping to her, knocking her unconscious.

A ‘red flash’

Prevost has lived with an excess of caution for hazardous weather, based on past traumatic experiences with storms.

She stayed in a Prairieville school gym with her family during Hurricane Andrew in 1992, even as wind began to damage a corner of the gym. As a child in St. Joseph, Missouri, she hid in a closet while a tornado roared past outside. In 2009 she witnessed the roof of her apartment being ripped off above her during a storm.

“I always said, ‘When is the next time going to not be a close call, but the real deal’?” Prevost said. “So there’s that fear, but at the same time, weather is just so powerful and so fascinating.”

Using radar apps, Prevost has often volunteered with a group of North Carolina storm spotters.

On the day of the lightning strike, the drive home from the grocery store had been shadowed by large, darkgray thunder clouds

Only minutes before the couple arrived home, Prevost was taking photos of the clouds, telling her husband it was a “beautiful formation.”

Her husband, Dale, and her 10-year-old son, Kaden, witnessed the strike that sent Prevost to the hospital.

Kaden said he had been waiting at the door for his mom to come home. He described the instant as a “red flash” that filled the whole yard.

Father and son said they heard a thunder clap closer than ever before, then saw Prevost almost lifted in the air by the force of the strike. Then, she fell forward onto the concrete, stiff as a board. Her arms were rigid at her sides.

“For 10 or 15 seconds, they both thought I was dead,” Prevost said. She had been standing little more than 5 feet from the tree that was struck.

But despite having no memory of the rest of the afternoon, Prevost reportedly picked herself up and ran the rest of the way inside, bleeding from an ear and her now-broken jaw

As her family called emergency services, they said Prevost came inside the house obviously dazed, but still trying to move her children into their designated storm-safety spots in the house.

“I fell on my knees, I was bleeding everywhere from my chin and my ear, and I started saying, ‘Get my babies in the hall, call 911,’ ” Prevost said as she retold how the events were relayed to her

Despite her fear of the rumbling thunder outside Prevost eventually allowed paramedics to wheel her out into the rain and onto an ambulance

‘Miracle’ outcome

When Prevost awoke that evening, she was in the trau-

you think that you are safe, and you can outrun something or get over there quick, you can’t. Just don’t even chance it,” she said.

Prevost said the experience has left her scared to go outside unless the sky is clear and blue. She checks her radar app religiously

ma ward at Our Lady of the Lake.

Staff described the fact that she survived as a “miracle.”

Around 90% of lightning strike victims survive, but researcher John Jensenius, of the National Lightning Safety Council, said anyone struck is “lucky to be alive.”

Jensenius has spent decades studying lightning strikes on people, first as a professor of meteorology and then as a researcher with the National Weather Service. He has been recording fatal lightning strikes in the U.S since 2006.

The average person has a 1 in 1.6 million chance of being struck by lightning in a given year, or a 1 in 20,000 chance over their lifetime, according to Jensenius’ research.

Only 13 people have been killed in Louisiana by lightning strikes since the start of Jensenius’ research in 2006, while 500 have been killed across the country in that time.

Most fatal lightning strikes occur while the victims are fishing, boating or standing out on a beach.

However, Jensenius has recorded the “deadly dozen” activities that victims are engaged in when killed by lightning.

Traveling to or from a vehicle is No. 10.

Doctors told Prevost they believe the lightning bolt had entered from her foot, traveling up her left side and exiting through the top of her head

In Jensenius’s research, there are five ways that lightning can hit a person, and it rarely is a direct strike.

In Prevost’s case, it’s possible that she was hit by a portion of the strike’s current that ricocheted from the tree and into her what researchers call a “side flash” or “side splash.”

Another possibility is a “ground current,” where the energy from a strike hitting a tree or tall object goes into the ground, before coming up through a person’s leg.

The only physical evidence that actually remained from Prevost’s strike was a bruise on the bottom of her foot and a small scab on her scalp

Prevost, however, felt echoes of the massive amount of electrical energy that had coursed through her

Not only did she smell like burnt hair, a smell that remained even after multiple

showers, but she said she could almost remember the path of the strike as it ran through her

“The only thing I remembered after, like a day or two later was how it felt for the surge to run through me,” Prevost said with a shiver “And it was only for a split second I remembered it.”

Those jitters were another post-strike symptom. Prevost said she felt like she was wired on cups of coffee with how much she shook. Only now over a week since the strike, have these begun to subside.

She also had blood work done to measure her “CPK levels,” an enzyme that plays a role in controlling the flow of energy to certain tissues in the body Victims of electrocution have higher levels of CPK in their blood, and these levels can be measured to gauge if the electricity has damaged heart or brain tissues.

Prevost’s levels indicated no long-term damage, but she said her doctors are keeping an eye on it.

Dr Mary Anne Cooper is another member of the National Lightning Safety Council and a lifelong researcher in lightning-related injuries. She said many of Prevost’s symptoms, including amnesia, nerve pain and ruptured ear drums are common in lightning strike survivors.

Both Cooper and Jensenius urge people to take thunderstorms seriously, plan activities around when storms will be active, don’t take unnecessary risks and only take shelter inside cars or buildings.

Prevost’s worst injuries actually came from losing consciousness and falling to the ground after the strike. Her jaw was shattered on one side, forcing her to have surgery stitches in two places and to live for the next few weeks on a liquid-only diet.

She also spent nearly a week with a tube in her neck, draining blood and fluid into a small plastic bag. Prevost said having the tube removed was actually the most painful part of the entire experience.

Lingering effects

Her family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for Prevost’s liquid diet and to allow her husband time off work to care for her They said their neighbors in Broadmoor have given love, support and meals.

Like the experts, Prevost said the experience has made her wish that others would treat thunderstorms

with more caution. “I just really hope that people are more weather aware, because even when

The damaged tree is set to be cut down this week Prevost’s sister Samantha Reed plans to find where the lightning’s arc is scorched into the wood and to make some kind of keepsake for her sister “the lightning lady.” Prevost also said the ordeal “has God written all over it.” “In a way, prayer works. Obviously I’m still here. I prayed before I got out of the truck, and I feel like he was protecting me, and I’m so grateful

Keeping the 2017 cuts

The biggest reduction isn’t a new tax cut. The new law makes permanent Trump’s 2017 tax cuts that were set to expire, staving off a tax increase that would have affected most taxpayers.

“If we hadn’t passed this bill, taxes on the American people would have gone up $4.3 trillion,” U.S Sen. John Kennedy, R-Madisonville, said Thursday in a floor speech. “Our economy would have gone down like a fat guy on a seesaw.”

About 85% of U.S. taxpayers will see lower taxes in 2026, mostly from extending the 2017 tax cuts, according to an analysis from the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture think tank by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, based in Washington.

Had the bill not been approved, Louisiana taxpayers would have seen a $2,135 increase, on average, in federal taxes next year.

But that’s the average.

Lower-income filers’ taxes would save about $150 from what they would have paid had the bill not passed, according to the Tax Policy Center

Middle-income filers, making $66,801 to $119,200 annually, would see about a $1,750 tax reduction. Those earning over $217,100 annually would save about $12,540 in taxes — almost 60% of the tax

benefits, calculates the Tax Policy Center

KIDS

Continued from page 1A

district saw slight improvements in the attendance rate, said the program is successful because it is tailored to each student Iberville schools refer 15 to 20 students to Families In Need of Services each year, Blanchard said, though that doesn’t account for the children referred through other agencies like the Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s more individualized,” Blanchard said. “The intake officer is more familiar specifically with that student, as opposed to it just being the masses.” The program hired an additional

Deductions for tips

The most talked-about other changes will temporarily allow workers to deduct tips and overtime pay

About 4 million workers across the nation rely on tips to help pay their rent, according to the National Restaurant Association About 198,400 Louisiana taxpayers work in food service

The law allows those in tipped occupations — the Treasury Department will pick the exact categories, but they presumably will include waiters, bartenders, and the like to deduct on their federal tax returns up to $25,000 of their tips through 2028 if they make less than $150,000 a year or $300,000, if married and filing jointly

ZipRecruiter a national employment website, estimates that servers in New Orleans earn about $27,059 per year, while those in Lafayette make an average of $26,908 annually

At those income levels, standard deductions already will relieve the average Louisiana server or bartender from paying most federal taxes.

The change applies only to voluntary tips, meaning that service charges often applied by restaurants and caterers cannot be included.

Though applying to 2025 income, any tax savings won’t be seen until the worker files federal income tax returns, which are due by April 15, 2026

Employees still must report their tips if they total more than $20 per

case manager Casey Cannon, in December, thanks to a quartercent sales tax proposed by District Attorney Tony Clayton that passed in spring 2024.

Bergeron and Cannon hope to continue expanding their reach by marketing their services to the community, moving to a bigger office and building a sensory room to create a safe space for children who have experienced trauma.

For the first time since taking her place as the inaugural director, Bergeron feels the Westside Families In Need of Services program has the capacity to take on more cases.

“We just want people to know that we’re here, that we exist,” Bergeron said. “And that we’re ready.”

month. Employers still must withhold Social Security and Medicare fees, along with state income taxes, from tip income.

“Small businesses need to go beyond the talking points and read the fine print of the ‘no tax on overtime or tips’ section of the bill if they have tipped employees or employees who qualify for overtime pay,” said Karen Phillips, general counsel for the Louisiana Small Business Association “Under the bill, these employers have new recordkeeping and W-2 reporting requirements that start right now.”

Overtime deduction

The new law also makes overtime pay tax deductible — up to $12,500 for workers making less than $150,000 annually, $300,000 for those who are married and filing jointly The benefit expires in 2028.

The provision only applies to the “half” portion of the “time and a half” usually paid for overtime. The “time” part the worker’s regular hourly rate — is to be reported and taxed as annual earnings.

The legislation doesn’t take into account some of the practices used by businesses that routinely have their employees work more than 40 hours per week, said Louis Reine, president of the Louisiana AFLCIO, the largest organized labor group in the state.

Many employers, particularly in the distribution industry, don’t follow the time-and-a-half practice.

“If your salary is $400 for a 40hour week and you work 50 hours, instead of figuring your overtime at $10 an hour, they divide the $400

FINS in action

For one mother, the program made all the difference.

Her daughter started her time in the program by locking her mother and case manager, Bergeron, in the office from the outside.

The mom, who did not want to be named to protect her daughter’s privacy, said the girl taunted them for about 10 minutes, saying she wasn’t going to unlock the door It was a moment that could have escalated in the hands of another agency, but this kind of situation represented what the organization was all about, according to Bergeron: choice.

“(She) finally realized at one moment, ‘OK, this woman’s not

by the 50 hours and that gives you a reduced rate. Your ‘half’ isn’t calculated on your regular $10 per hour, it’s figured on an $8 rate,” Reine said. “You really don’t get true time and half.”

Social Security deduction

During last year’s presidential campaign, Trump promised to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits. The rules Republicans used to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act without Democratic input, however, forbid such a change.

Republicans came up with an additional $6,000 deduction on federal tax returns for Social Security recipients older than 65. The deduction applies for 2025, to be factored into 2026 tax returns and expires after 2028.

Almost all the seniors who rely solely on Social Security won’t pay federal taxes on those benefits, according to the White House.

Many seniors augment their Social Security benefits with other income, most notably from private 401(k) plans. Seniors with more than $75,000 annual income, $150,000 for married filing jointly, may not see a tax reduction.

Other tax breaks

Some other major tax breaks include:

n Increase the child tax credit to $2,200 for every qualifying child.

n Make permanent the $750,000 principal limit for home mortgage interest deductions.

n $10,000 deduction for interest on loans to buy a new car assembled in the U.S.

going to play with me I need to go ahead and unlock it,’” the mom said. “And she did She unlocked it.”

Her daughter started the program in December In June, she was ready to advance out of the group.

“It’s just amazing,” the mother said. “I mean, this is not the child that we had last Christmas.”

Inviting kids to participate in their own service plans creates more “buy-in” to the outcome, Bergeron said.

“Kids with violation of school rules or ungovernable behaviors, a lot of time, they’re so used to being told what to do,” Bergeron said. “Nobody asks them, what do you want to do? I think giving that power back to families is some-

n Eliminate $7,500 tax credits for electric vehicles starting Sept. 30.

n Eliminate $3,200 tax credits for energy-saving improvements on homes.

n $100,000 cap on Grad Plus loans for graduate students

n $200,00 cap on loans for medical and law school students

The impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act varies depending on who is asked.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the Baton Rouge business advocacy group, had warned that 76,000 jobs in the state would have been lost had the 2017 tax breaks not been renewed.

“Lower taxes, smart regulatory reforms, and policies that support domestic energy production and manufacturing are critical to Louisiana’s economy,” Will Green LABI president, said in a statement supporting the new law “This legislation provides tools to help businesses of all sizes invest, expand and hire more workers.”

Center for American Progress, a Washington-based liberal advocacy group, sees the new law differently

“By stripping away health care and food assistance from working-class people and undermining production of American-made energy the OBBBA will increase the cost of living and lower aftertax income for the

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

thing that empowers them to want to be better.”

Operating the program between three rural parishes on the Westside brings its challenges Families In Need of Services runs more “on the road,” Bergeron said, than its equivalent in denser areas like New Orleans. But the case managers make it work, she said. They’ll meet families at McDonald’s if it comes to it.

“There are some parents that are so appreciative that you gave them the time of day,” Bergeron said. “I wish I could just hug them all and be like, ‘I love this. I want to do this.’”

Email Haley Miller at haley miller@theadvocate.com.

Wildfire destroys historic GrandCanyon lodge

BY FELICIA FONSECA Associated Press

FLAGSTAFF,Ariz. Afastmoving wildfire destroyed ahistoric lodge and dozens of other structures on the Grand Canyon’sNorth Rim, forcing officials to close access to that area for the season, the park said Sunday. TheGrand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging inside the park at the North Rim, was consumed by the flames, park Superintendent Ed Keable told park residents, staff and others in ameeting Sunday morning.He said the visitor center,the gas station, awastewater treatment plant, an administrative building and some employee housing were among the50to80structures lost. “Numerous” historic cabins in the area also were destroyed, the park said.

Twowildfires are burning at or near the North Rim, known as the WhiteSage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire. The latter is the one that impacted the lodge and other structures. The park initially was managing it as acontrolled burn but then

SPACE

Continued from page1A

of about 50 research astronaut candidatesfrom across the globe whose training and potential orbital trip is being fully paid for by the company Fox said she hopes the mission will inspire her sons, ages 8and 5, and her community at large. As awoman and aCatholic, she said she wants people “to see that science, faith and service can exist side by side.”

She works full-time at Entergy in Lake Charles while raisingher children,and Fox is also pursuing her graduate certification in bioastronautics fromthe International Institutefor Astronautical Sciences. She’sspecializing in the operational safety of spacesuits worn during flight, and is training to become an astronaut.

Still, Fox’sco-workers at the Lake Charles power plant call her“Giggles” and describeher as “justa pile of joy,” saidDamien Givens, her supervisor at Entergy She’s often the first to notice if acolleague is havinga rough day and checks on the well-being of those around her,hesaid.

“It’snothing butan honor to work with her and to be able to see her ultimatelybe able to get to this goal of being able to go to space,” said Givens, generalmanagerof Entergy power plants in the Lake Charles region. “Becauseshe’s more deserving of it than anybody Icould ever think of.” Fox is responsible for maintenance and regulatory compliance at Entergy’s Lake Charles power plant. When something breaks,she’sthe one trackingdown parts at all hours and instructing op-

shiftedtosuppression as it rapidly grew to7.8 square milesbecauseofhot temperatures, low humidity and wind, fire officials said. No injuries have been reported.

Millions of people visit Grand Canyon National Park annually,withmost

PROVIDED PHOTO Jenee Fox, whoworks full-timeat EntergyinLake Charles while raising her children, is also pursuing her graduatecertification in bioastronautics from the International Institutefor Astronautical Sciences. She’s specializing in theoperational safety of spacesuitsworn during flight,and is training to become an astronaut.

erators on repairs. She also searches for upgrades or newvendors for equipment that frequently fails.

“She’slike the key to the cog that makes the plant go,” Givens said.“She’s always in thatmindsetof, ‘Whatcan we do to make something better?’”

Later thismonth, Foxwill transition into anew roleat Entergy’sengineering support group.

Fox said herwork at Entergy and background in draftingprepared her for designing and repairing spacesuits.

“I’vedonea lotofpiping andmechanical design,” Fox said. “And somehow, that does actually tie back to spacesuits because of all the tubing andhardware features.”

If Fox makes it to the company’s inauguralorbital flight,she plans to experiment on spacesuits whilein orbit. The flight would allow about threehours of zero-

going to the more popular South Rim. TheNorth Rim is open seasonally.Itwas evacuated last Thursday becauseofwildfire, and will remainclosed for therest of theseason,the park said in astatement.

Firefightersatthe North Rim andhikers in the in-

gravitytime for research before returning to Earth.

Fox has been involved in designing every kind of spacesuit,asdifferent missions have specific needs

“And that’swhy she is an indispensable asset to the company,” said Dr.Venkataramana Vijay, the chief operating officer and chief engineer of TitansSpace Industries. “And not just to our company,but just to science in general.”

Vijay and Fox’stwo research interests overlap.

He’s acardiothoracic surgeon andBoeing pilotby tradewho focuses on life supportsystems. Thosecan circulate blood and oxygen during heart surgeries on Earth, but theycan also assist with breathing andtemperature regulation during space missions.

Meanwhile,Fox has worked on integratinglife support systems into nextgeneration spacesuits. That work helped capturethe attention of Vijay andother members of the Titans’ selection committee during her interview process.

“One couldn’t be involved in spaceand notbeimpressed with all thethings that she hasbeendoing, Vijay said. “She’s acandidate who is asubject matter expertonspacesuitsand life supportsystem integration into spacesuits, andI don’t think we could findsomeone of that level, even if we searched all the universities.”

Although tickets aboard the space planes are expected to start at $1 million, the space tourism company alsoplans to offer sponsored tickets to those who otherwise would not be able to afford suchatrip, suchashigh school science teachers and students with an aptitude for scienceand technology

ner canyon wereevacuated over the weekend. The park saidalong withthe firerisk, they could potentiallybeexposedtochlorine gasafter thetreatmentplant burned. Chlorine gas is heavier than air and can lead to blurred vision, irritation or respiratory problems if high amounts of it are breathed in, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rafters on the Colorado River through theGrand Canyon also were told to bypass Phantom Ranch, which has aset of cabins and dormitories along theriver TheGrand Canyon Lodge wasoften thefirst prominent feature that visitors see, even before viewing the canyon. Ahighway ends at the lodge,which was known forits sloped roof, huge ponderosa beams and massive limestone facade. By walking across thelobby anddescending astairwell, visitorscould get theirfirst view of the Grand Canyon shining through windows across the “Sun Room.”

“It just feels like you’re apioneer when you walk through there (the lodge),”

For Fox andother astronaut candidates who make thecut,the tripstospace will be free.

Their training —which ranges from scuba diving to mountainclimbing to obtaining apilot’slicense —is also covered. Astronaut candidatesreceive astipend during the 21/2-year training program.

“Life comes at youfast,” Givens said. “And with her, beinga mother and working at thepower plant full-time and still pursuing this goal of hers, it just shows the fight shehas in herself to put in the worktobeable to pursue thatdream.”

Email Megan Wyatt at mwyatt@theadvocate.com

said TimAllen, alongtime resident of Flagstaff,Arizona, and yearly visitor to the Grand Canyon. “Itreally felt likeyou were in a time gone by.”

Allen said the North Rim felt special and more personalbecause of its remoteness and reduced number of tourists. He often spent time there camping anddoing rim-to-rim hikes, trekking all theway to thebottomofthe canyonand back out.

“It’sheartbreaking,” he said of the destruction causedbythe fire

Aramark, the company thatoperated thelodge,said all employees and guests were safely evacuated.

“As stewards of some our country’smost beloved national treasures, we are devastated by theloss,” saidspokesperson Debbie Albert.

An originallodge burned down from akitchen fire in 1932, four years after construction wascompleted, according to the Grand Canyon Historical Society.The redesigned lodge using the

originalstonework opened in 1937. Meanwhile, officials reported progress in battling asecondwildfireburning north of the Grand Canyon. Fire linesonthe White Sage Fire that forced evacuations at the North Rim andinthe community of Jacob Lake were holding, officials said. By Sunday afternoon the firehad charred 63 square miles of terrain. On thesouthern edge of the fire, hand crews and bulldozers wereworking uphill, andthe spread of the blaze hadbeen minimal. But to the east and north, the fire hasspread rapidly, with grasses and standing dead trees contributing to the fire’sintensity,officials said. The fire was pushing downhill toward theVermilion Cliffs area, and crews were assessing opportunities to create bufferzones thathelpsloworhaltthe fire’s progress. Associated Press writer BruceSchreiner in Louisville,Kentucky,and Jaimie Ding in LosAngeles contributedtothis report.

Notice is herebygiven pursuant to Article7,Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B) that a public hearing of the Livingston Parish Fire Protection District8 will be held at the regular meeting place,French Settlement Volunteer Fire Department at 15160La. Hwy16, French Settlement, La.70733, on Tuesday, September 02, 2025 to consider levying additional or increased millage rateswithout further voterapproval or adopting the adjusted millage ratesafter reassessment and rolling forwardtorates not to exceed the prior year’s maximum. The estimated amount of tax revenues to be collected in the next year from the increased millage is $299,083.97,and the amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase is $37,684.58.

PROVIDED PHOTO By GRANDCANyON NATIONAL PARK

Smokefrom wildfiressettlesoverGrand Canyon National Park in northern ArizonaonFriday.

Plan takesshape forUkraine weaponssales

BY AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

BRIDGEWATER, N.J NATO

Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to meetPresident Donald Trump this week on the heels of the U.S. leader announcing plansto sell NATO alliesweaponry that it can then pass on to Ukraine. NATO announced on Sunday that Rutte will be in Washington on Monday and

Tuesday and wouldhold talks with Trump, Secretary of State MarcoRubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as well as members of Congress.The White House did not immediately respond to arequest for comment about the visit.

Atop ally of Trump, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, ofSouthCarolina, said Sunday that the conflict is nearing an inflection point as Trump shows growing interest in helping Ukraine fight back Russia.It’sa cause that Trump, who during hiscampaign made quickly ending the war atop priority,had previously dismissed as be-

Trumpmarks Butler anniversaryat FIFA Club WorldCup final

Manattempted to assassinate then-candidate 1yearago in Pa

BY AAMER MADHANIand

CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD,N.J.— Presi-

dent Donald Trump on Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of afailed attempt on his life, joiningfamily and close advisers at theFIFA Club World Cup final.

Trump and first ladyMelania Trump travelled from their golf club in Bedminster,New Jersey,toEast Rutherford 40 miles away to watch the final match of the U.S.-hosted tournament between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea at MetLife Stadium. Trump was greeted with cheers as he arrived at the stadium just ahead of the

pre-matchmusicalperformance by singers Robbie Williams and Laura Pausini.

And he got asmatteringof boos when he was briefly shown on the stadium’smega-screen.

The president wavedtothe crowd as he and hisentourage arrivedatthe stadium luxury box where they were taking in the match.

The Trumps were joined by FIFA President Gianni Infantino for thestart of the match. Other guests in the president’ssuite included Attorney GeneralPam Bondi, Transportation Secretary SeanDuffy,Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, NFLgreat TomBrady and mediamogul Rupert Murdoch.

MetLife in alittle over a yearwill host the 2026 World Cup final.

PSG was looking to win its fourth major title of the season, exactly 100 days after it clinched Ligue 1onApril 5. Theteam added theCoupe de

ing awaste of U.S. taxpayer money “In thecoming days, you’ll see weapons flowing at arecord leveltohelpUkraine defend themselves,” Graham said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” He added, “Oneof thebiggestmiscalculations (Vladimir) Putin hasmadeis to play Trump. Andyou just watch, in the coming days andweeks, there’sgoingto be amassive efforttoget Putin to thetable.”

TheRutte visitcomes as Trump last week teased thathewould make a“majorstatement” on Russia on Monday and as Ukraine struggles to repel massive

and complex air assaults launched by Russian forces. Graham andDemocrat Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut,who appeared with SouthCarolina lawmaker on CBS, said there is also growing consensus on Capitol Hill and among European officials about tapping some of the $300 billion in Russian assets frozen by Group of Seven countries early in the war to help Ukraine.

“It’stime to do it,”Blumenthal said.

Rubio said Friday that some of theU.S.-made weaponsthatUkraine is seeking are deployed with NATO allies in Europe. Those weap-

France by beating Reims 3-0 on May 24, thenromped over Inter Milan seven days later in the Champions League Final.

Chelsea, however,was dominating andhelda 3-0 halftime lead behinda pair of goals from Cole Palmer and one from João Pedro.

Sunday’smatch falls on thefirst anniversary of the assassination attempthe survivedinButler, Pennsylvania,while campaigning for president

The international sporting match also could offer an opportunity for Trump and aidestohuddlewithQatari

government officials.

Trumpenvoy Steve Witkoff, in abrief exchange with reporters in New JerseyonSunday,said he remained “hopeful” about Gaza ceasefire andhostage negotiations.

Witkoff, whojoined Trump for thetournament finale, appeared to nodaffirmatively when asked by reporters if he planned on meeting with senior officialsfrom the Gulf nation of Qatar, which is serving as an intermediarywithHamas in the talks, during thematch.

“I’llbemeeting them,” Witkoff said.

ons could be transferred to Ukraine, with European countries buying replacements from the U.S., he said.

“It’salot faster to move something, for example, from Germany to Ukraine thanitistoorderitfrom a(U.S.) factory and get it there,” Rubiotoldreporterslast week during visit to Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu in an interview publishedSunday in La Tribune Dimanche said that European officials have beenmaking the case to the Trump administrationtobolster air defense capabilities with any coming packages.

general

He added that France is in a“capacity hole” and will have to waituntil next year before being able to provide Ukraine new ground-air missiles.

Trump is also facing calls from Republicans and Democrats as well as European alliestosupport legislation in the Senate that aims to cripple Russia’soil industry and hit Moscow with U.S. sanctions forits ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The legislation, in part, calls for a500% tariff on goods imported from countries that continue to buy Russianoil, gas, uranium and other exports.

By The Associated Press

LAGOS,Nigeria Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who led the country twice as amilitary head of stateand a democratic president,has diedat82, his press secretary said Sunday. Buhari died Sunday in London, wherehehad been receivingmedical treatment. He first took power in Africa’smost populous nation in 1983, after a militarycoup, running an authoritarian regime untilfellow soldiersousted him less than 20 months later.When he waselected in 2015 on his fourth attempt, he became the first opposition candidate to win apresidential election there.

marked by Boko Haram’s extremist violence in the northeastand aplunging economy Current President Bola Tinubu in astatementdescribed Buhari as “a patriot, a soldier,astatesman .tothe very core.”Tinubu dispatchedthe vice president to bring Buhari’sbody homefrom London.

Others across Nigeria remembered Buhari as apresident wholeft the countryofmorethan200 million people —divided between alargely Muslim north and Christian south —more at odds than before.

Buhari rode into power in that election on awave of goodwill after promising to rid Nigeria of chronic corruption and adeadly security crisis. He led until2023, during aperiod

“The unevenresponse to Buhari’s death,withmuted disillusionment in some quarters andsadness in others, is areflection of howdifficult it is to unite a country and his inability to do so after decades in the publiceye,” said Afolabi Adekaiyaoja, an Abujabasedpolitical scientist.

p parish-widesewer

(the

WHEREAS, theBorrower has

$1,090,000

fundingBonds,Series 2015 (the

Bonds”),the proceedsof which were

by

Borrowertorefund

Authority’s Revenue Bonds (ParishofWest Baton RougeSewer Pro‐ject),Series2006; and WHEREAS, theOut‐standingBonds will ma‐tureinfullonAugust1 2025 andthereafter will nolongerbeoutstand‐ing;and WHEREAS, theBorrower desires to requestthe is‐suanceofthe Authority’s not to exceed $9,160,000 Revenue Bonds(Parish of WestBaton RougeSewer SystemProject), in one ormoreseries(the Bonds”) forthe pur‐poses of (i) financingim‐provementstothe Sys‐tem,including butnot limited to theconsolida‐tionand improvementof package plants (the Pro‐ject”);(ii)fundinga re‐serve fund or purchasing a reservefund surety,if necessary;and (iii)pay‐ing thecosts of issuance ofthe Bonds, including the cost of amunicipal bondinsurance policy,if required. NOWTHEREFORE,BEIT ORDAINEDbythe Parish Council of theParishof WestBaton Rouge, State ofLouisiana,asthe gov‐erningauthority of the Borrower (the Govern‐

g tinuing compliance with the StateBondCommis‐sionPolicyonApproval ofProposedUse of Swaps,orother formsof DerivativeProducts Hedges, Etc.”,adopted bythe Commission on July20, 2006 (the Pol‐icy”),astothe borrowing and othermatters sub‐jecttothe approval,in‐cluding subsequent ap‐plication andapproval under said Policy of the implementationoruse of any swap or otherprod‐uctsorenhancements covered thereby.

SECTION8.ThisOrdi‐nance evidencesofficial intentofthe Borrower in accordance with the lawsofthe Stateof Louisiana andthe United StatesTreasuryRegula‐tions,Section 1.1502(e) toreimburse itself forex‐pensesincurredprior to the issuance of the Bonds with respectto the Project.

SECTION9.The Parish President,the Chairman ofthe GoverningAuthor‐ity,the CouncilClerk of the GoverningAuthority the ChiefAdministrative Officerofthe Borrower and theDirectorofFi‐nance of theBorrower (the“Authorized Offi‐cers”) areherebyautho‐rized anddirectedtodo any andall things neces‐saryand incidental to carry outthe provisions ofthisOrdinance

Buhari

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METRONEWS

Farmland makes up onethird of La.

JeffersonDavis Parish haslargest averageat1,252 acres

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

According to the 2022 United States Census of Agriculture, there were 1.9 million farms and ranches (down 7% from 2017) with an average size of 463 acres.

In total, 880 million acres were farmed in theUnited States in 2022 —approximately 39% of the nation’s total land area.

In Louisiana, just under 8 million acres were farmed in 2022, making up 28.8% of the state’stotal land area. Jefferson Davis Parish had the largest average farm size with 1,252acres. That’s more than double the size of the national average at 463 acres, and four times

the sizeofLouisiana’s average at 319 acres.

The parishes withthe largest averagefarm size, in acres:

n Jefferson Davis Parish with 1,252 acres

n Plaquemines Parish with 1,226 acres

n Iberville Parish with 1,116 acres

n Madison Parish with 1,041 acres

n East CarrollParishwith 955 acres

n St. John the Baptist Parish with 944 acres

n Assumption Parish with 895 acres

n St.MaryParish with870 acres

n Concordia Parish with 809 acres

n St. Bernard Parish with

Marines beingsent to ICE facilities

Mobilization of up to 700 troopsapproved

BY MARCO CARTOLANO

Staff writer

Membersofthe

U.S. Marine Corpsare

coming to Louisiana to aid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with administrative and logistical work as ICE continuesits immigration crackdown across the country according to the Department of Defense’s U.S. Northern Command.

About 200Marines will be the “firstwave” assisting ICE. The Marines will mainly be sent to Florida, but there will besupport locations in Louisiana and Texas, the government said last week.

The Marines are prohibited from direct contact with people in ICE custodyorto take any part in the process of detainingpeople, according to the DepartmentofDefense.

“Service members participating in this mission will perform strictlynon-law-enforcement duties withinICE facilities,” the news release read.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth approved amobilization of up to 700 troops from active, National Guard and reserve forces to assist ICE in responsetoaDepartment of Homeland Security request from May,according to the Northern Command. Louisiana has nine detention facilitiesthat house immigrants waiting forlegal proceedings or deportation. All but oneare operated by private prison firms

n Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield

n Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena

n Jackson Parish Correctional Center in Jonesboro

n South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile

n Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe

n Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center in Pine Prairie

n River Correctional Center in Ferriday

n Alexandria StagingFacilityinAlexandria

n Allen Parish Public Safety Complex in Oberlin

The Jena facility drew national attention as the facility that housed pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia Universitygraduate student Mahmoud Khalil afterhewas arrested in New York City in March. Khalil was ordered releasedbyafederal judge in June and he filed a$20 millionlawsuit against the Trump administration on Thursday.

Alireza Doroudi, 32, an Iranian doctoral student studying at the UniversityofAlabama, was also detained in Jenaafter he was arrested over an allegedly revoked visa.He decided to self-deport to Iran.

Rumeysa Ozturk, aTufts University student who also allegedly had her visarevoked over support for Palestinians,was detainedinBasile before she was ordered to be transferred to Vermont.

ICE arrests of Louisiana residents have also made headlines. The detention of Mandonna “Donna” Kashanian, a47-year resident of New Orleans originally from Iran, drew local outrage and she was released following outreach by U.S.Rep.SteveScalise —the second-ranking HouseRepublican —toHomeland Security

785 acres.

Theparishes withthe smallest averagefarm size in acres, in ascending order:

n TangipahoaParish with 40 acres

n Livingston Parishwith 60 acres

n St. TammanyParish with 73 acres

n VernonParish with 83 acres

n Lafayette Parishwith 85 acres

n Webster Parish with 89

acres

n LaSalle Parish with 92

acres

n Bienville Parish with 108

acres

n WashingtonParishwith 118 acres

n East Baton Rouge Parish with 120 acres.

Howbig areLouisiana farms? Theaverage size,inacres,offarms in each Louisianaparish.

Riverride

Source:2022CensusofAgriculture

woman’srelease

wonderful things forsomanypeople, and that ought to be included in her record, and that wasn’tin her record.”

emailed Joe Giarrusso, Kashanian’s Democratic NewOrleans City Council representative.

Abike rider zooms along the levee past the Baton Rouge skyline near the OldFerry Landing on Sunday in Port Allen

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Adrian Bruneau considers himself atried-and-true conservative. TheLakeview resident and former Republican NationalCommitteedelegate has supported President Donald Trump since 2016. He sits on the Orleans Republican Parish Executive Committee.He’sastaunch supporter of Trump’spush to expel people without legal residency from the United States.

But after hearing last month about an Iranian woman taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcementfrom outside her Lakeviewhouse, Bruneau felt that government officials were penalizing someone who’d done “everything they ever asked.”

He reached outtoU.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, aJefferson Republican and Trumpally,tovouch for the woman’srelease.

“If somebody is doingexactly whatthe federal government is telling them to do,Ithink it’s aterrible message to just go pick those peopleup,” Bruneau said.

His testimonial, alongwith hundreds of othersfrompeople within Scalise’scongressional district, yielded aremarkable result thisweek. The woman, Mandonna Kashanian, walked out of ICE detention in Basile Monday after Scalise contacted Departmentof HomelandSecurity officials and suggested shebeallowed to live at home while she files fresh residency applications.

“There were peoplestepping up andlettingmyofficeknow all kinds of the wonderful things she’s doneover the years,” Scalise, the second-ranking House Republican, said in an interviewlast week.“She’sjust done so many

ICEagentsinplainclothes arrested Kashanian, aNew Orleans resident since the 1970s who is married to aU.S. citizen, while shewas gardening outside her home in Lakeview on June 22. She had applied for residency several times, regularly paid her taxes and never missed an appointment with immigration authorities, her family said.

The outcryover herarrest camefrom abroad swath of New Orleanians, both Republicans and Democrats, according to state and local officialswho fielded hundreds of testimonials on her behalf.

Theresponseillustratesadynamic appearing in someinplaces touched by Trump’simmigration crackdown. Eveninareas where people support tougher immigration policies, arrests of neighbors have prompted residentsfrom both sides of the political divide to rally for their release.

Kashanian’sarrest came as national views on immigrationappear to be shifting. The share of U.S. residents who want less immigration fell from 55% in 2024 to 30% today,according to results of aGallup poll released Friday Arecord-high 79% respondents said immigrationisa good thing, according to the poll of 1,402 U.S. adults conducted in June.

The poll results comeas Trump’spolicies have led to a steep decline in illegalborder crossings but have also raised concerns about draconian tactics to deport people in the U.S. After Kashanian’sarrest, the letters poured in. State Rep. StephanieHilferty aRepublican whorepresents Lakeview,saw her inbox fill with emails from Democrats and Republicans saying theywereoutraged that ICEagents hadtaken theirneighbor.Dozens more

On Monday, eight past and present leaders of theLakeview Civic Improvement Association —all but twoofthemRepublicans —drafted an essaytheysentto Scalise and plannedtopublish in local news outlets calling for Kashanian’s release.

“Wewrite with onevoice, putting asideour political differences, because we allknow Donna personally,” the authors wrote. “It is time to safelyreturn Donna to her family —and to her Lakeview neighborhood.” Giarrusso notedthe conservative politics of some who protested Kashanian’s detention

“You tend to have more moderate to evenconservativeviews (in Lakeview),” Giarrusso said.“One of the things that gotmyattention was the number of Republicans who were upset about whathad happened to Donna.”

Connie Uddo,anorganizer and friend of Kashanian’s family,credited former New Orleans Mayor MitchLandrieu for initially drawing attention to Kashanian’scase.

But dozens of letters written in her support by “staunch conservatives” were crucial,too, Uddo said. Though they came from people across the politicalspectrum, Hilferty said none of the letters strucka particularly partisan tone. “They were focused on Donna, on how shehad connected to these people in all these different ways,” she said. Kashanian’slong-term freedom is not ensured. Federal officials agreed to let her live at home while she filesfresh asylum and green card petitions—processes whoseoutcomesScalisesaidhe can’tguarantee.

Tricia McLaughlin, aspokesperson for theDepartmentofHomelandSecurity,saidWednesday that “the facts of this case have

notchanged.” “Mandonna Kashanian is in this country illegally,” McLaughlin said. “Sheexhausted allher legal options.”

Scalisesaid he has handled Kashanian’scase as he would that of any constituent seeking assistance navigating the federal bureaucracy.Hesaid he hopes Kashanian’s asylum and green card claims will be handled more fairly than applications she filed under thoseprograms in the 1980s.

NancyLytle, oneofthe Lakeview Civic Association leaders who pennedthe jointletter, is alongtime Democrat who switched her party affiliation to Republican several years ago.She voted for Trumplast fall. Lytle is torn on the issue of immigration—frustrated by the sense thatborders became tooporousunderPresidentJoe Biden, yetalienated,she said, by theRepublican Party’smore extreme factions.

She thinks peoplewho’ve lived herefor years, paid taxes and carved out livesintheir communities —people “like Donna,” she said —deserveeasier pathstosecuringlegal residency

“I don’tbelieve in raisingan issue on somethingunlessIfeel there’sreally an injustice that’s been done to somebody,”Lytle said. “That’swhatI felt happened with Donna.”

STAFF

PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Lambert, William OursoFuneralHomeChapelin Gonzales,LAat10:30am.

Morein,Neva

SealeFuneralHome, 1720S.Range Avenue in Denham Springs,at1 p.m Rogers Jr., Eugene Immaculate ConceptionCatholic Church in DenhamSprings at 11 a.m. Square Sr., Robert Hall'sCelebrationCenter, 9348 Scenic Highway,at11a.m

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Brown 1st Sgt. (Ret.), Mickey J.

Mickey J. Brown, aresident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2025,at the age of 74. Mickey was born on February 5, 1951,in Plaquemine, Louisiana,to John and CecileBrown. He graduated from St. John High School and Spencer-

Draughn Business College. Mickey joined the Marines, servedfor 22 years, and retired as a1st Sergeant.He attended Southeastern Louisiana University obtaining abachelor's degree in accounting, receiving cum laude honors. After leaving the Marine Corps, he worked at H&R Block for many years as aRegistered Agent. Mickeywas a memberofthe 4th Degree Bishop OttAssembly, St. Patrick Knights of Columbus Council #8601, serving as Treasurer and past Grand Knight, andthe Marine CorpsLeagueChoctaw Detachment #778, appointed as Paymaster. He was aparishioner at St. Patrick Church servingasusher,lector, and partofthe OCIA Team. He enjoyed the volunteer work of hismany associations. Mickey loved jigsaw puzzles, scrabble,family feud, cardgames,LSU baseball and football,and the Saints. Mickey was precededin death by his parents, John E. and Cecile Duhon Brown; sister,Joan Heath; and brother, Maurice Brown. He is survivedbyhis bestest girlfriendeverof6 years, Eretta Perrien; sisters, Betty Rockforte,Sr. Elvira Brown, EmilyBrown, Myrtle Chustz(Leroy), MaryJune Davis(David), and Clara Molliere (Wayne); brothers, John Jr., James(Joan), Rickey (Brenda), and Joseph (Mary); Godson, Derick Brown; and numerous niecesand nephews. Avisitation willbeheld at ResthavenFuneral Home, 11817JeffersonHwy in Baton Rouge,onTuesday, July 15, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Asecond visitation willbeheldatSt. Patrick CatholicChurch, 12424Brogdon LninBaton Rouge,onWednesday,July 16, 2025,beginning at 9:00 a.m. until the Funeral Mass at 11:00a.m. Burialwill follow at ResthavenGardens of Memory. Areception will takeplace at St Patrick's following the burial.Inlieuofflowers please make donations to St.Patrick Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council #8601, Marine Corps League -Detachment #778,

or 4thDegree BishopOtt

Assembly. The family wouldliketogivea special thankstothe staff at Baton Rouge GeneralBluebonnet. Familyand friends may signthe online guestbook or leave apersonal note to thefamily at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

TheresaGuidry Himel, belovedwife,mother, grandmother,sister, and friend, passed away on Tuesday, July8,2025, at theage of 69. Resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Theresawas born on August 30, 1955, in Lutcher, Louisiana, daughter of the late Eugeneand Irene Simon Guidry Jr. She graduated fromNicholls State University with aBachelor of Science degree and devotedher professional life to caring forothersasan OB/GYNand registered nurse at St. James Hospital in Lutcher and Woman's HospitalinBaton Rouge. A dedicatedmember of her community, Theresawas an activeparticipant in numerous church and charitableactivities. She was a formermember of the CatholicDaughters,served as theSt. Jean Vianney Prayer Line Coordinator, and was aEucharistic minister forthe homebound and nursing home residents. Theresa had apassionfor thearts, particularlyacrylic and watercolor painting.She also had a special place in her heart for animals, especially Yorkshire Terriers, adopting several furry compan-

ions over theyears. Above all, Theresa's greatest joy was her family,she cherishedevery moment spent withher lovedones. Family gatherings were filledwith laughter, love,and the warmth onlyshe could provide. She is preceded in death by her parents, Eugene JosephGuidry, Sr., and Irene Simon Guidry; brother, DonaldGuidry; and nephew and godchild, LeePaton.Theresaissurvivedbyher belovedhusband of 47 years, David E. Himel;daughter, Kristy Himel Boiteaux (Scott); son, Jason J. Himel (Shondelle); sister, Kathy Guidry Paton(Roger); brothers, Glen Guidry (Joy), and Eugene Guidry III(Melinda); sister-in-law, Kathleen DeGroff Guidry; grandchildren,Lakelynn Himeland MaddieBoiteaux; and her treasured fur "children" Pepper, Puddin, and Toby. The family extendstheir heartfelt gratitudetothe Oncologyand palliative care teams at MaryBird Perkins CancerCenter, as wellasClarity Hospice, for theircompassionate care. The family wouldliketoinvite allwho knew and lovedTheresatojointhem as we commemorateher life.A visitationwillbe held at Resthaven Funeral Home,11817 Jefferson Hwy., in BatonRouge, on Monday, July 14, 2025, from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Visitinghourswillresume the following morning at St. Jean Vianney Catholic Church, 16166 SHarrells Ferry Rd,inBaton Rouge, from 10:00 am until Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Tom Ranzino at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers,the family kindly requests that donations be madetothe Capital Area Animal Welfare Society, 6357 Quinn Dr., Baton Rouge, Louisiana70817, in Theresa's name, reflecting her love foranimals and commitment to thecare of thoseinneed.

SquareSr., Robert Leroy

Robert Leroy Square, Sr abeloved husband, father, grandfather, andVietnam veteran, passedaway peacefully at home surroundedbyloved ones on July 5, 2025. He entered this worldonJanuary 28, 1947. He wasa native of Scotlandville anda lifelong residentofBaker, LA, proudgraduate of Scotlandville Senior High School, class of 1965 and Southern University and A&M College, U.S.Air Force veteran, ExxonMobilretiree, and faithfulmember of Beech Grove Baptist Church

He is survived by his devotedwife of 53 years, Sarah Stemley-Square; children: Robert Leroy Square, Jr RaquelSquare Ayles (Charles), and Richard Leon Square(Ashley); grandchildren:Taylor Square-Honore' (Darryl), Robert Leroy Square, III Raven LashawnSquare, NyiaLanae Square Malachi Xavier Square Chase Neyland-Square, andNicholas Darnell Butler; andgreat-grandson, HarperChristopherHonore'.Heisalso survivedby siblings: Daisy Square Beck, Beatrice Square White(Lynell, Sr.), Mildred SquareCarrethers, PercyL Square(Michelle), Bonnie SquareJackson, Sharolyn SquareMorgan,and Tamara SquareCreech. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie T. andClara Byrd Square, hissiblings: Estella SquareBanks, Laura SquareLang, Willie T. Square, Jr.and ArthurD Square, Sr Relativesand friends are invited to attendthe visitation at Hall'sCelebration Center,9348 Scenic Highway, Baton Rouge,LA on Monday, July 14, 2025

from 9:00 AM untilthe funeralservice at 11:00 AM, officiatedbyPastor Kevin Cowan, Sr.Interment will follow at 1:00 PM at Louisiana NationalCemetery, 303 W. MountPleasantRoad, Zachary, LA. A repast will be held after theburialatthe Leon R. Tarver II Cultural andHeritage Center,8320 G. Leon Netterville Drive, Baton Rouge,LA. Familyand friends may sign theonline guestbook or leave apersonal note for the familyat halldavisandson.com. The familywould like to extend ourheartfelt gratitude to AlwaysBest Careand Hospice of Greater Baton Rouge for theircompassionate care,support, and dedication

Himel, Theresa Guidry

What will Zurich Classicget getfrom LIVGolf?

Likeletter writer Kathy Higgins, Iamnot in favor of the state spending $7 million tobring the LIV tournament to New Orleans in 2026 without more details about how New Orleans and who in Louisiana would benefit from this expected $60 million LIV spending.

As amember of the Fore! Kids Foundation, the nonprofit organization that runs the PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans, I am familiar with what’srequired to orchestrate and work such an event. We do it with hundreds of volunteers. As anonprofit, the foundation distributes the net profitsfrom the tournament to children’s charities throughout Louisiana. According to the website, “Fore! Kids has raised just over $51 million to date, providing health care, education, and hope for over 200,000 children.” That’sa real benefit to Louisiana and it’s very transparent. Will LIV donate to Louisiana charities and educational institutions from this tournament?Who willwork the tournament as marshals, standard-bearers, concession workers and transportation drivers? How was the estimated $60 million of spendingdetermined? If $2 million of the $7 million is used to improve the Bayou Oaks course for the tournament, what will be the increase in ongoing maintenance costs for these improvements? Will these enhancements require an increase in green fees for the everyday golfer? Without more details about all the aspects of the event, Iwould rather seethe taxpayer moneygotolocal needs, such as theUniversity of New Orleans. Doing so would have amuch longer positive impact on the city and the state as opposed to maybe aone-year event

CHARLES HIRLING RiverRidge

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR

AREWELCOME.HEREARE

YOUR VIEWS

Let’snot pretendmarketis demandingcarboncapture

In aguest column on thefuture of Louisianaand its tietocarbon capture, utilization andstorage, Spencer Martin says global markets demand cleaner energy solutions. Respectfully,Iwould ask for some evidence of that assertion. This is amantra, but no one canproduce areceipt. There may be hard left ideologues whowant American subjugation via“cleaner energy,” but no market is demanding it. Ask Germany,which just signed along-term LNG contract last year with theU.S.and buried carbon is not in the equation As to geological advantages: While Louisiana may have somegreat geologic formationstobury carbon, we also have somethat are uniquely unsuitable and dangerous for burying carbon.Weneed to be wise. Martin says we might lose business to Texas if we don’t“lead” in carbon management. The Texas Railroad Commissioner tells me no such thing is in the plan for the Lone Star State. He

sent alettertothe House Natural Resources Committeetothat effect. I’dbegladtoshare thatletterwith anyone who is interested Martin speaks of compliance: Isay it is uniquely not our culture to comply with bad things. We shouldn’tbend our knee to climate ideologues who want to take our liberties and land. I’ll agree that captured carbon might createjobs, but put it in fuels, concrete or fertilizer.Noone is demanding it be buried except hard-left climate alarmists. At theend of his article, Martingets to the issue of billions of dollars. On this front, he is completely correct. BillionsofU.S. tax dollars are creating asynthetic demand foran activity that is unproven and probably very risky.Norational market or consumer wants or cares about burying carbon. If the U.S. tax credits disappear,burying carbon will, as well.

STATEREP.CHARLES OWEN District 30

Withdrawing from thefrayas Americanscan’t debate civilly anymore

This letter will be my last as a recent encounter with someone I’ve knownfor five years mademe realize just ageneral comment can cause aviolent reaction.

Iasked him what he thinks about the protests in California, where they wereburning stores and looting. He immediately launched into avulgar tirade against the president and vice president.

Be mindful, no mention of the president and vice president was presented in my statement. If every comment someone makes about events in the country turns out like this, this country will never heal. Ialso could have retaliated. He’s retired and earns extra money as a greeter foralarge retailer,where the employees wearblue vests. But Ichose to take the high road. As an independent, Iwant to thank everyone whoexpresses their opinions. Idon’talways agree with what’sbeing written by either side, and as someone whowould like honest roundtable debate, I know that after the first question is asked, it would devolve into an angry tirade.

DAVE HEBERT Lafayette

Reliving Cuba’s slide into totalitarianism

Isee scary similarities between the dictatorial regimeinCuba for the last 66 years and our newly elected presidential administration. Ilived in Cuba forthe first 12 years of my life, so Ihave clear memories of those times.

In rebuttal to arecent letter titled “Catholicfaithful should consider making amends to abuse victims,” IamaCatholic faithful and Idisagree.

Ilove my church and supportits local mission to providespiritual guidance and education toits parishioners.

If thatwriter had ever visited the Vatican as Idid in 2023, he might not have held thatopinion. The vastamount of priceless artwork, sculptures, busts andother pieces boggled my mind. Iasked our tour guide, alocal, how the church had amassed all this.Hesaid that at one time, the pope was considered aking,and if anyone found something of value, thechurch would take it. Ididn’tresearch that, but it didn’tmatter to me

My issueisthat themother church seemingly has so much wealth thatitcertainly can afford to assist the diocesesaround the world to help pay for theabuse of their parishpriests/religious workers, etc. Ithink most everyone would agree that the church leadership, from thelocal parishestothe Vatican,all knew abusewas being perpetrated on innocent children and did not do nearly enough to address it.

Ibelieve that, due to theirnegligence throughout thechurchleadership chain, the Mother Church, notits faithful parishioners, should be held accountable monetarily for theirsins and takeany necessary steps to compensate the victims

An early target of the Castro regimewere universities; several wereclosed by the government. The regimedid not trust the media. Eventually,newspapers and TV stations were allowed to broadcast only government-approved news. Blind loyalty to the Castro regime was demanded in all aspects of life. The government chose the leaders of block committees based on their loyalty.Their mainduty wasto inform the higher-ups on whowas sympathetic or not to the government. Dueprocess was nonexistent. People in my neighborhood would suddenly disappear and their families didn’tknow where they were. Reminds me of ICEkidnapping people today

TO SEND US ALETTER, SCAN HERE

OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name and the writer’scity of residence.The Advocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

MARK RICARD Slidell

What woke really meansand whyitisa threat

Ilearned in American history classes that Paul Revererode through the countryside wakinghis neighbors up to prepare for the British soldiers coming to capture revolutionary leaders. Ilearned that the Wide Awakes were ayouth organization cultivated by the fledgling Republican Party in 1860 that were instrumental in helping Abraham Lincoln to be elected U.S.president. Iremember my mother telling me to stay alert and look for cars bothways before crossingthe street.I workedfor apetrochemical company which expected me to watch out for safety hazards and to address those hazards to prevent injury to my fellow workers and myself.

These examples are part and parcel of woke philosophy that is debated in our society today.Isuggest that woke philosophy in its many forms is embedded in our cultural fabric. It won’tbediminished. It won’tbe eliminated. Ithink that our current U.S. administration is very awake as to its intention to diminish what it labels as woke. It intends to guide us towardhiding our heads in the sand so that it can accomplish what they feelisgood —for whom, Iamnot sure.

My fellow Americans, stay awake. Stay woke.

STEPHENPASTOREK Baton Rouge

My own father was abducted by the government one day from our family table while having lunch. We did not see him again for23days. Someone reported he wascounterrevolutionary

This déjà vu has caused me PTSD.God help us.

ADATORRES NewOrleans

LOUIS SHEPARD NewOrleans Maybewhat’smissing in schoolsisn’t Ten Commandments

Maybe instead of posting and teaching the TenCommandments in the classroom, they should post and teach the Constitution.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Covanta is aformer co-generation plant that is nowclosed.Itwas located in Delano, Calif

COMMENTARY

with acaptionthat

—Walt

EDWARD LASCELLE, PINEVILLE: “No, I don’t think this is agoodtime to break for lunch!”

MIRTILE DUGAS,CARRIERE, MISS.: “But judge,I didn’t know it washis worm!”

JEFFREY NAY, NEW ORLEANS: “your Honor! Iwouldliketo file aquick ingestion injunction!!”

DAVID DELGADO,NEW ORLEANS: “Boy, have Igot a fish storyfor you!”

GREG STEEN, METAIRIE: “This verdict was aload of carp!”

MICHAEL B. RIEMER, JEFFERSON: “He should have neverbeen let off the hook.”

MARYMALONE, NEW ORLEANS: “What do youMEAN that this is too big for small claims court?!”

SHEREE MURRAY, BATONROUGE: “I call my first witness Charlie Tuna!”

JOSEPH KOVACS, NEW ORLEANS: “I think we’reabout to graduate to criminal court…”

SHERI LINDSEY,BATON ROUGE: “Please don’t throwthe hook at me!”

Lots of groups willbeharmed by President Donald Trump’sOne Big Beautiful Bill, which recentlybecame his One Big Beautiful Law.Among them: the poor, the young, themath-literate.

But it’salso worth assessing who will benefit from the GOP’srearrangement of fiscal priorities. The answer is not only the rich and corporations; it’salso America’sgrowing immigration industrial complex.

STUART CLARK, LAFAYETTE: “I’m afraid thebig guy’sgoing for an open and shut case!”

HARPER VICIDOMINA-MILLS (AGE 10), METAIRIE: “Isn’tthis illegal because onlysmall fish are supposed to be here, right?”

BOBBRUMBERGER, BATONROUGE: “Was toldhewas avegan.”

PHILLIP T. GRIFFIN, NEW ORLEANS: “I don’thavea chance; he ate my attorney on the wayin!”

HOWARD W. STREIFFER, METAIRIE: “I’m requesting an expedited ruling here!”

BOBUSSERY, NEW ORLEANS: “What do youmean,‘Where’smylawyer?’He’sright behind me.Isn’the?”

MICHELE STARNES, KENNER: “I’d like youto subpoena his stomachcontents!”

RAYAUTREY,MORGANCITY: “your Honor,I seriously object to this line of questioning!!”

GINA VILLAVASO,NEW ORLEANS: “All I toldhim was his story sounded ‘fishy’!”

BRYANREUTER,METAIRIE: “Judge, Iknowyour docket is underwater,but you’vegot to do something.”

MARYANN RIDDLE,BATON ROUGE: “Judge, help thesmall fish forachange.”

RICHIE CORVERS, RIVERRIDGE: “I plead the5th!!Now hurry up and take me intocustody.”

JEFF HARTZHEIM, FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C.: “Hesaid he wants apretrial herring.”

TIM PUJOL, MAUREPAS: “I need to reporta hostile takeover.”

MARTHA STARNES, KENNER: “I was just minding my ownbubbles!”

CHARLESE BROWN, NEW ORLEANS: “Where’sthe LARGEclaims court?”

RORY STEEN,DENVER,CO.: “I’m beginning to suspect this victory will be short-lived.”

CHARLESSMITH, ST.ROSE: “DoIreally need to explain my intimidation claim?”

LAUREN GAUTHIER, KENNER: “yes he’s mad, he’shaddock with these jokes!”

Rahm Emanuel’sstint as ambassador to Japan followed his twoterms as Chicago’smayor,which followed his 20 months as Barack Obama’sfirst White House chief of staff. But before he formally begins his likely campaign forthe Democrats’ 2028 presidential nomination, he has becomeasocial scientist.

As an avid bicyclist, Emanuel, when he retired from the mayor’soffice, took atwo-week, 900-mile ride around Lake Michigan with a friend. During the ride, he madeasociological discovery: “The worse the cellphone coverage is, the nicer people are.”

Niceness is sometimes secondary forEmanuel, whose salty vocabulary expresses the serrated edge of his personality.But his discovery of the inverse relationship between smartphones and congeniality indicates his interest in today’sculture, and his party’scontribution to its strangeness. Although politics is the Democratic Party’sbusiness, it currently has scant aptitude forit.

that for most other law enforcement agencies combined. This includes the FBI, Bureau of Prisons, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. ICEspending this year will also be larger thanmost other countries’ military budgets.

Funding for ICE agents specifically is expected to quadruple in the last year of Trump’ssecond term,according to estimates from Bobby Kogan, aformer Senate budget staffer and researcher at the Center for American Progress.

Politics is mostly talk. In an interview,Emanuel says, moreinanger than in sorrow,that too manyDemocrats speak as though their words have been “focus-grouped in a faculty lounge.” He has apoint. If the progressives whocoined the term “Latinx” had knowna fewHispanics, they would have knownthere was no interest in a “nonbinary” (more progressivespeak) namefor members of an ethnic group whohave said they prefer to be called “Americans.” Between 2020 and 2024, Donald Trumpincreased his portion of the Latino vote from 36% to 48%. When progressives refer to people in jail as “justice-involved populations,” voters are apt to be mystified, then bemused, and ultimately unlikely to fill public offices with peculiar people whospeak aprivate language.

Emanuel wishes someDemocrats would worry less about “a child’sright to pick his pronouns” and moreabout “children whodo not know what apronoun is.” He is proud of an education reform he instituted as mayor: Before handing adiplomatoahigh school senior,the student had to hand over aletter of acceptance from afour-year college, acommunity college, an armed service or avocational school.

Emanuel mused about all this afew days before the 65% of New York City’sregistered Democrats whovoted in the mayoral primary nominated (by aplurality) a33-year-old who resembles an adjunct professor of applied Trotskyism (free stuff foreveryone!) who wandered out of asatirical campus novel. In 1992, Emanuel says, Bill Clinton won while promising not to “defund” the police but to hire 100,000 moreofthem.In1996, Emanuel says, Clinton becamethe first Democratic president reelected since Franklin D. Roosevelt by running 40% of his ads promising to “end welfare as we know it.” In 2008, candidate Obamacampaigned by stressing that it is easy to father achild but hard to be afather Emanuel sees signs of incipient sanity in the fact that in this year’sgubernatorial contests, the twomost important contests, Democrats have nominated twocentrists with national security backgrounds: in NewJersey,Rep. Mikie Sherrill, aU.S. Naval Academygraduate and former helicopter pilot; in Virginia, Abigail Spanberger,aformer CIAofficer and congresswoman. (The uber-progressive president of New Jersey’steachers union finished fifth in aprimary field of six.)

Trump’snew mega-law invests $178 billion in additional immigration enforcement over thenextdecade, primarily through new funding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Tobeclear,this is notmerelyabout“border security,” which has significant bipartisan appeal. Democrats tried to beef it up last year,though Trump ordered Republican lawmakers not to cooperate. It’slargely for more detention centersand boots on the ground within the U.S. interior.Thismeans spending more dollars to round up gardeners, home health aides, gradstudents,nannies, construction workers, etc.

In other words, the administration is going after your family, neighbors and friends, regardless of how long they’ve been here, whetherthey present any “safety” threat or how much they’ve contributed to theircommunities.

Adollar figure this huge can be challenging to wrapone’sarms around. So here are some ways to put it in context: Trump has some flexibility on when he spends the new money Congress gave him (which comes in addition to the usual annual appropriations that immigrationrelatedagencies receive),but it’sreasonable to assume that this year’sannual budget for ICE alone will be larger than

As former president Joe Bidenhas oftensaid, “Show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.” Today,American valuespoint in one direction: expanding the immigration police state. What might thesenew investments mean in practice? ICE, with thehelp of lawenforcement personnel seconded from other federal, state and local agencies, has already sown terroracross the country with far fewer resources. Agents have descended upon big cities and smalltown America alike, often masked, armed and refusing to show warrants or identification. With daily arrest quotas to meet, agentsare filling detentioncentersnot withcriminals and gangbangers,but people withnocriminalhistory whatsoever In fact while the number of convicted criminals held in ICE detention is about 1.6 times what it was before Trumptook office, the number of detainees with zero criminal convictions or charges is up nearly 14-fold, according to government data analyzed by Syracuse University researcher Austin Kocher Turns out, maintaining amassive immigration police state is expensive. ICE has been burning through cash and running lowonfunds. Meanwhile, ICE agents are still not meeting their daily quotas, and

the potential pool of people theycould be snatching off the streetsand jamming into overcrowded detention centers is rapidly expanding. That’s because Trumpisnot merelysiccing immigration forces upon those who had been undocumented (with or without criminal records).Under the stewardship of DeputyChief of Staff Stephen Miller this administrationhas also been working to “de-document” hundreds of thousands of immigrants who are here legally These include Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who camein withadvanced permission under aBidenera program,after undergoing onerous screening abroad and securing asponsor here in the United States. It also includes Hondurans and Nicaraguans who had been living and working in the United States legally for decades, as Trumpannounced recently.Some of our Afghan allies, including many who supported U.S. military efforts at great personal risk to themselves and their families, are in the crosshairs as well. As are some Ukrainians and many,many others.

Many of these policies have been challenged in court and have either been paused or otherwise not yet taken effect. But the administrationischarging ahead anyway.The Justice Department recently announced plans to prioritize revoking citizenship from naturalized U.S. citizens. Aftera recent SupremeCourt ruling, the administrationisalso still trying to strip birthright citizenship from babies bornin the United States, including those bornto both undocumented and many authorized immigrant parents. Perhaps it’snowonder,then, thatICE needs all those funds. Have you seen the price of cribs these days?

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

Emanuel is wagering that “candor and authenticity have currency,” and that “strength, confidence and optimism” can be projected by ignoring “the culture police” on his party’s left. He tickles optimism from afact about Chicago’ssummer country-music festival: It features anumber of Black singers of agenre associated with rural America. That is thin evidence fornational reconciliation, but Emanuel thinks the 2026 midterm elections will give his party momentum for2028.

He says that in midtermswhen the same party controls the presidency and both houses of Congress, turnout is usually higher forthe out-of-power party,independents break 2-1 forthat party,and turnout drops forthe inpower party.This drop might be particularly pronounced next year because manysupposed supporters of the incumbent party are actually just fans of its entertaining leader,whose absence from the ballot will makepolitics unappetizing.

Mayor Emanuel did not halt Chicago’sslide toward bankruptcy,and as anational candidate he must shed the stigmaresulting from Democratic control of sagging cities (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc.). And there will be the dramaofwatching progressives of the “globalize the intifada” stripe (see their choice forNew York mayor) ponder acandidate whose middle nameis“Israel.”

Email George Will at georgewill@washpost. com.

WINNER: Brian Hanley, Baton Rouge

Catherine Rampell

George Will

Baton Rouge Weather

Mariners take Anderson at No.3

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU baseball sophomore lefthanded pitcher Kade Anderson was selected Sunday by the Seattle Mariners with the No. 3overall pick in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft Anderson is thethird LSUplayer to go in the first three picks of thedraft in the past three years,joiningNo. 1 Paul Skenes andNo. 2Dylan Crews in 2023.

“Still doesn’treally feel real. And when Iheard my name,obviously it’swhat you dreamabout,” Anderson said. “And just super gratefulto be selected by an organization thatI really got to kind of meet and take in. Ithink just everything happens for a reason, and for me to be selected by the Mariners truly means alot.” He was acandidate to go No. 1

overall to theWashington Nationals, but they electedtoselect high school shortstopEli Willitswiththe top choice. The Los AngelesAngels followed by choosing UC Santa Barbara right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner. Anderson posted a3.18 ERA in 119 innings for the Tigersthis season. He struck out37.4% of the batters he faced and walked only 7.3% of the hitters while leading the country in strikeouts by the end of the year

His 180 strikeouts placed him third on LSU’s single-season strikeouts list, trailing only Paul Skenes(2023) and Ben McDonald (1989). “When youget apitcher thatcan throw four pitches and they’replus on our scale, and he can touch 96 mph on the130thpitch of abig game,” Scott Hunter,the vice president of amateur scouting forthe Mariners, said, “I think the sky’sthe limit for

guys like that.”

Anderson also threw two shutouts, and Baseball Americanamed him the2025 College Pitcher of the Year

He was afirst-team All-American and an All-SEC selection, and he was awardedthe National Pitcherofthe Year Award by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

“(Mariners assistant general manager) Andy McKay actually came to my house maybea week anda half or two ago,” Andersonsaid. “Sat down for about an hour,and we kind of talkedthings out. And it’sfunny enough, he was theonlyguy that came to my house.

“It reminds me alot of (LSU pitching coach NateYeskie)inalot of ways.”

Anderson became an LSUlegend this season after guiding the Tigers to their eighth national champion-

ship andsecond title in three years this summer

TheLouisiana native and draft-eligible sophomore tossed ashutout in Game 1of the College World Series final against Coastal Carolina. LSU earned the 1-0 victory before clinching the national championshipinGame2 with a5-3 win thenext day

His heroics in Omaha won him theMostOutstanding Player Award at the College World Series.

“Just being able to watch him in theCollege World Series at the end, I was actually on aflight coming back from the combine,” Hunter said. “I think that wasamoment forusthat said, ‘Man, even when he doesn’t have his best stuff,hecan find

LSU offensivelinemanLance Heard, right,blocks

a five-star offensivetackle when he signed withLSU

alreadyleft the program

VANISHING ACT

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

Twoyearsago, Brian Kelly and his staff signed their first full recruiting class.Itincluded one player whohas already turned into astar,linebacker Whit Weeks, and afew otherswho have become starters.

But by the time the spring transferportal closed, most of those players had left LSU before their junior year LSU signed 25 high school recruits in the 2023 class, and 15 of them (60%) are gone. Fourteen transferred,while one withdrew before he ever practiced Traditionally, juniors formed the backbone of ateam. They had developed,and they had one more season before they could leave for theNFL. But that won’t be the case this fall, and LSU isn’talone in the SoutheasternConference.

Twoyears after the2023 class arrived, eight SEC teams havelost at least halfof their high school signees, mainly to the transfer portal. Arkansas(86%)and Mississippi State (81%) havelost the highest percentage of their classes. Missouri (28%) and Texas (28%)are tied for the lowest.

Recruiting misses are nothing new, and sometimes playersare encouraged to enter the transfer portal. The numbers show just how common it has been to lose large chunks of ahighschool recruiting class in an era with unlimited transfers, immediate eligibility and unchecked NIL inducements.

Arkansas, now entering its sixth season under coach Sam Pittman, only has three

playersleftfromthe class. Seventeen transferred —13ofthem to other powerconferenceprograms—and oneplayer medically retired. To make up for the lack of retention, the Razorbacks signed 54 transfers over the past two years. Mississippi Stateactually lost more players —21total with 19 to thetransfer portal —but it started withalarger class than Arkansas. The 2023 recruiting

cycle was also the last before the sudden deathofcoach Mike Leach. Mississippi State changed coaches again ayear later, and rosters often undergo significant upheaval during transitions. Alabama and Texas A&M standout for thatreason. Alabama has lost12of its26players, but even with coach Nick

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer

LONDON Jannik Sinner insistedearly on at Wimbledon that he putanexcruciating loss to Carlos Alcaraz in their epic French Open finalbehind him. Sinner was sure that one defeat wouldn’t haunt him,wouldn’t preventaquick recalibration and certainly wouldn’t mean athing at the All England Club. Sure wasright aboutall of that. Exactlyfive weeks afterthe devastating defeat at Roland-Garros against his rival, Sinner reversed the result, defeating the two-time reigning Wimbledon champion Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4onSundaytowin hisfirst championship at the grass-court major “At the endofthe day, it doesn’treally matter how you win or you lose the important tournaments.You just have to understand what you didwrong. Trying to work on that —that’sexactly what we did. We tried to accept the loss and then just kept working,” Sinner said Sunday, his shiny gold hardware in his hands. “And this is, for sure,why I’m holding this trophy here.” The No.1-rankedSinnerearned his fourth Grand Slam title overall, moving him oneaway from No. 2Alcaraz’s totalasthe two established stars of the game separate themselves from the rest of the pack in men’stennis. Sinner,a23-year-old Italian, put an end to several streaks for Alcaraz, a 22-year-old Spaniard.

Alcaraz hadwon theirpast five matches, most famously across five sets and nearly51/2 hoursonthe red clay of the FrenchOpenonJune 8. Sinnertook atwo-set lead, thenheldatrio of match points, but couldn’tclose the deal

Asked during Week One at Wimbledonwhether that created lingering doubts, Sinner immediately replied: “Why negative feelings? Because Ilost in (that) final?”

Thenhecontinued: “No.Look,it’sa new tournament, new Grand Slam, new surface.I’m not concernedabout my levelIcan play. I’m not concerned that

See

AP PHOTO By KIRSTy WIGGLESWORTH

of

Kade Anderson

STAFF FILEPHOTOSByMICHAEL JOHNSON

Auburnlinebacker Jalen McLeod on Oct. 14, 2023, at TigerStadium. Heard

out of highschool, is one of 15 players from LSU’sClass of 2023 whohas

LSU defensiveend Da’Shawn Womack, left, dives to make atackle on South Alabama quarterback Gio LopezonSept. 28 at TigerStadium. Womack is one of 15 players from LSU’sClass of 2023 whohas left the program

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TENNIS, page 3B

ä See ANDERSON, page 4B

Gotterup earns British Open invite

He holds off McIlroy for Scottish Open win

The Associated Press NORTH BERWICK, Scotland Chris Gotterup had a plane ticket for California to play an oppositefield event in Lake Tahoe. The only change in itinerary would be to take down Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open before a sellout crowd expecting the Masters champion to claim his 30th title on the PGA Tour Gotterup handled it all with poise to go with his great strength.

He delivered all the right shots — the short birdie putt on the par3 12th to build a two-shot lead, the 10-foot birdie on the par-5 16th to restore a two-shot lead — and closed with a 4-under 66 to hold off McIlroy and Marco Penge of England.

The victory sends him to Royal Portrush for his British Open debut, an extended trip to links golf that is starting to suit him.

Time to cancel that flight.

“I might do it right now in front of you,” said Gotterup, the trophy

at his side that also sends him to the Masters next year for the first time.

He earned those perks Gotterup, tied with McIlroy to start the final round, drove into a bunker and had to make a nervy 4-footer for bogey on the opening hole.

That was a reminder nothing was going to come easily

“I definitely was the villain out there today,” he said “I felt like I was ready and prepared mentally today And that’s kind of what I’ve been talking about over the last couple of weeks, that I’ve kind of gotten into the mix a little bit and just faded away a little bit. And today, my goal was to hang in there tough and I felt like I did that really well.”

He finished at 15-under 265 and moves into the top 50 in the world for the first time.

“Chris played a great round of golf. He was so solid,” McIlroy said. “Made the bogey on 15 but bounced back with a really nice birdie on 16. After he got a couple

ahead, I just couldn’t claw back.”

Gotterup was one shot ahead of McIlroy when he hit his tee shot on the 196-yard 12th hole to 2 feet for birdie — McIlroy missed from 4 feet — to take command. His lead was down to one over McIlroy and Penge, but McIlroy missed a 12-foot birdie at the par5 16th and Gotterup hit a right-toleft putt from 10 feet in the heart of the cup for a two-shot lead with two to play

Gotterup was so emotional when it was over he could barely speak, rubbing his eyes before saying, “Everyone at home this is awesome. I’m not going to be able to keep it together.”

Gotterup earned one of the three final British Open spots through the International Qualifying Series, joined by Nicolai Hojgaard and Matti Schmid.

Hojgaard closed with a 64 to move up 11 spots into a tie for fourth to join his twin brother at Royal Portrush Schmid shot 71 and tied for 17th, helped by Jake Knapp’s late collapse.

Knapp was tied for the lead

through five holes, but he took double bogey on the par-3 ninth and the rest of the back nine didn’t go much better He closed with a 74, losing on a chance to win and to play next week at Royal Portrush. McIlroy had said he was playing his best golf since going into the Masters. This was the first time he had seriously contended since that Masters victory, good timing with the Open in his native Northern Ireland starting on Thursday “I’m really happy with where my game is the way I played over the weekend, the shots that I hit, how I controlled my ball flight,” McIlroy said “It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that’s about it.”

Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick had a 67 and tied for fourth with Hojgaard, picking up valuable FedEx Cup points in what has been a down year Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player coming off a two-week break, had a 67 and tied for eighth. It was his 10th consecutive tournament finishing eighth or better, a streak that began in the Houston Open.

Kim wins first LPGA major after wild finish

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France Grace Kim always dreamed of winning a major on the LPGA Tour What happened Sunday in a wild final hour at the Evian Championship was beyond her imagination.

“I don’t know how it happened, really,” Kim said after an eaglebirdie-eagle finish to win on the second playoff hole against Jeeno Thitikul.

A final round at Evian Resort that nearly saw Lottie Woad become the first amateur to win a major in 58 years ended with Kim standing upright after her 12-foot eagle putt dropped, with her hand over her mouth, motionless as she tried to digest what had transpired.

Two shots behind on the final hole, Kim hit a 4-hybrid so perfectly that it slowed at the top of a slope behind the flag and rolled back to 2 feet for an eagle and a 4-under 67 to force a playoff with Thitikul. Her approach to the par-5 18th in a playoff bounced off a cart path, over rocks and into the water, while Thitikul was in good position to make birdie. Tournament over? Not quite. Kim pitched over the pond and across the green and into the cup for birdie to stay alive.

“I was pretty bummed to find out that my ball was in the middle of the water But, again, it’s not quite

finished until the very end,” Kim said “Just wanted to make sure I got it there Yeah, just happened to have chipped it in. I don’t know if I can do it again.” Back to the 18th for a third time — twice in the playoff — the Australian again hit 4-hybrid to 12 feet. Thitikul, who missed an 8-foot birdie putt in regulation for the win, missed the green to the left and chipped to 5 feet. She never had to putt Kim holed the eagle putt to capture her first major and second LPGA title. She is the second straight Aussie to win a major, fol-

lowing Minjee Lee.

“It’s a huge achievement for me,” Kim said. “I’ve had a lot of doubts early this year. I was kind of losing motivation. I kind of had to get some hard conversations done with the team. Yeah, kind of had to wake up a little bit. So to be sitting here next to this trophy is definitely surreal.”

It was a big setback for Thitikul, who along with Ai Miyazato is the only woman to have reached No. 1 in the world ranking without winning a major Thitikul’s biggest challenge had been Woad, the No. 1 amateur who

Browns rookie RB Judkins arrested on battery charge

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cleveland

Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was arrested Saturday night in Florida on a charge of battery and domestic violence.

According to Broward County arrest records, Judkins was jailed overnight and was awaiting his first court appearance. The charge is described in the arrest report as “touch or strike/battery/domestic violence.”

The charge is a misdemeanor A Browns spokesman said the team is aware of the incident and gathering more information.

The 21-year-old Judkins was the 36th overall pick in the April draft after rushing for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns at Ohio State last season.

The Browns drafted Judkins to help replace veteran Nick Chubb, who signed with the Houston Texans. Cleveland also drafted Dylan Sampson from Dutchtown.

Cardinals activate Herrera; OF Nootbaar heads to IL

The St. Louis Cardinals activated catcher Iván Herrera from the 10day injured list on Sunday before the series finale against the Atlanta Braves.

In a corresponding move, the Cardinals placed outfielder Lars Nootbaar on the 10-day IL with a left rib injury Herrera hasn’t appeared in the lineup since June 19 when he strained his hamstring rounding first base after a hit in the first game of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. Herrera is hitting .320 with eight homers and 36 RBIs.

Nootbaar left Saturday’s game in the sixth inning and did not return. He has battled rib pain and an intercostal strain for several weeks.

Astros All-Star Paredes will skip Tuesday’s game

Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes has dropped out of Tuesday’s All-Star Game to attend to a family matter Paredes was added to the roster Wednesday after Cleveland’s José Ramírez opted out to rest a nagging Achilles tendon injury Paredes was in the Astros’ lineup at designated hitter Sunday for the finale of a series against the Texas Rangers, and manager Joe Espada said he wouldn’t miss any time after the break because of the issue. It was the second straight season Paredes had been named an All-Star The 26-year-old is in his first season with the Astros after a trade from the Chicago Cubs. He entered Sunday hitting .254 with 19 homers and 49 RBIs.

Marlins All-Star Stowers goes deep three times

All-Star Kyle Stowers had his first three-homer game and drove in six runs against his former team, leading the Miami Marlins to an 11-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday

was coming off a win in the Irish Women’s Open and at one point had the lead on the back nine of Evian Resort. She closed with 64 and then waited to see if that would be enough.

Woad was bidding to become the first amateur to win a major since Catherine Lacoste at the 1967 U.S. Women’s Open.

Thitikul birdied the 17th to take the lead, and the Thai player was on the verge of her first major when she laid up short of the pond and hit wedge into 8 feet on the final hole.

But then Kim appeared with the sublime 4-hybrid to 2 feet for eagle. Thitikul’s birdie putt for the win just missed to the right, and she shot 67 to join Kim at 14-under 270.

“I think I’m so proud of myself on battling out there today,” Thitikul said.

Woad tied for third with Lee (68) and now has secured an LPGA card for the rest of this year and all of next year if the senior-to-be at Florida State chooses to turn pro. Woad already is in the Ladies Scottish Open and Women’s British Open.

Kim’s victory extended what already is a record streak in the LPGA Tour’s 75-year history, the 18th consecutive tournament to start a season with a different winner It also makes 13 different winners in the last 13 majors.

Stowers is the first Marlins player to hit three homers in a game since Brian Anderson on Sept. 18, 2020, against Washington. The 27-year-old left fielder also joins fellow Marlins Mike Lowell (2004) and Cody Ross (2006) in accomplishing the feat.

Stowers led off the second inning with a shot to right against Brandon Young (0-4) to open the scoring. An inning later, he sent Young’s first-pitch curveball 398 feet for a two-run blast to rightcenter In the fifth, Stowers homered over the scoreboard in right.

Two-time champion Els withdraws from British Open

Former champion Ernie Els has withdrawn from the British Open, the second time this year he has chosen not to compete in big championships.

The R&A did not give a reason Sunday for the withdrawal of the 55-year-old South African. Els was replaced in the field by Si Woo Kim, who was next on the alternate list.

Els won the British Open at Muirfield in 2002 after a four-man playoff. He won again in 2012 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes when Adam Scott lost a late lead. Open champions are exempt to play until they are 60.

Els also chose not to compete this year in The Players Championship, for which he qualified by winning the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone in 2024.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MALCOLM MACKENZIE

Chris Gotterup of the U.S competes at the Scottish Open on Sunday at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland The

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LAURENT CIPRIANI

Grace Kim of Australia, celebrates with her trophy after winning the Evian Championship women’s golf tournament on Sunday in Evian, eastern France.

Swiatek conquers grass woes after difficult year

BY HOWARD FENDRICH

AP tennis writer

LONDON For weeks while back home in Warsaw last year Iga Swiatek hung out with friends and made new ones, but she didn’t dare tell them about a doping case that was hanging over her

“Obviously, in the back of my mind,” she said Saturday evening at the All England Club, “I had this thing.” There was more going on, too, and she only opened up to her family and her team. A coaching change. A long-for-her title drought. A ranking drop. Her grandfather’s passing.

“It all (happened) together,” Swiatek said. “It wasn’t easy.”

And so, in some ways, the Wimbledon championship Swiatek claimed Saturday with a 6-0, 6-0 victory in 57 minutes over Amanda Anisimova could be viewed as more than merely a significant oncourt result. It mattered, of course, that she finally conquered grass courts, in general, and that venue in particular That the 24-year-old from Poland became the youngest woman with at least one major trophy on all three surfaces since 2002 when Serena Williams did it at age 20. That Swiatek now needs only an Australian Open title to complete a career Grand Slam. In the bigger picture, though, this triumph followed a difficult 12-plus months and provided the

TENNIS

Continued from page 1B

one loss can influence you for so long a time. I believe that here is a new chance that I can do something good.” Great, even. This time, he didn’t waver asserting himself in a match that featured moments of terrific play by both men, but also the occasional lapses — and one memorable, brief, interruption right before a Sinner serve when a Champagne cork came flying out of the stands and settled on the turf.

Alcaraz stepped into the sunlight bathing Centre Court with a career-best 24-match unbeaten run. He had won 20 matches in a row at the All England Club.

“It’s difficult to lose,” Alcaraz said “It’s always difficult to lose.”

The last man to beat him at Wimbledon? Sinner, in the fourth round in 2022.

So this served as a bookend win for Sinner, who would be forgiven for at least thinking a bit about his collapse in their last match — especially when facing two break points while serving at 4-3, 15-40

following takeaway, in Swiatek’s words: “The lesson is just that even when you feel like you’re not on a good path, you can always get back to it if you put enough effort and you have good people around you.”

There was a not-long-ago stretch in which she was considered farand-away the best in women’s tennis.

“She’s an unbelievable player,”

Anisimova said. Swiatek held the No. 1 ranking for most of the past three seasons.

She put together a 37-match winning streak in 2022 that included six tournament titles until it ended at Wimbledon.

She won five Grand Slam titles, four on the red clay at the French Open and one on the hard courts at the U.S. Open, and established herself as a star

Except there was always the matter of what went on when she played on grass Zero titles. Zero finals. One quarterfinal run at the All England Club.

The questions kept arising, from herself and from others. Then those doubts spread to other events and other surfaces.

She left the 2024 Olympics, held at Roland-Garros, with a bronze medal after losing in the semifinals. She departed Wimbledon last year in the third round, the U.S. Open in the quarterfinals. She exited the French Open last month in the semifinals, ending her bid for a fourth consecutive championship there.

in the fourth set Sunday

But he calmly took the next four points to take that game before eventually taking the championship.

“Very happy that I (held) my nerves,” Sinner said.

When it ended he put both hands on his white hat. After embracing Alcaraz, Sinner crouched with his head bowed, then pounded his right palm on the grass.

“Thank you for the player you are,” Sinner told Alcaraz. “It’s so difficult to play against you.”

Sinner has participated in four consecutive major finals, including triumphs at the U.S. Open — shortly after the world learned about a doping case that eventually led to a three-month ban — and the Australian Open. Wearing the same tape job and white arm sleeve to protect his right elbow that he has been using since falling in the fourth round, Sinner never showed any issues, just as he hadn’t while eliminating Novak Djokovic on Friday

In the final, Sinner and Alcaraz produced scintillating points, with few, if any, half-measures. They sprinted at top speed and swung away with full force,

France, England advance after comfortable wins

The Associated Press

BASEL, Switzerland Inspired by Delphine Cascarino’s stunning six-minute spell in the second half, France surged past the Netherlands 5-2 on Sunday to reach the quarterfinals of the Women’s European Championship.

France’s third straight win ensured it won Group D, ahead of England, which routed Wales 6-1 to finish runner-up. The French would have been eliminated by a three-goal loss and, when the Netherlands led 2-1 at one stage, rued a bad miss by Cascarino shooting over an unguarded goal.

But the San Diego Wave winger responded with a devastating burst of running and shooting to settle the game.

Cascarino said she had been “really frustrated in the first half because I barely touched the ball. So I was determined to do much better in the second half.”

First, Cascarino stole the ball from the Dutch at halfway and ran directly at the defense to set up Marie-Antoinette Katoto for a neat finish in the 61st.

Cascarino was even better three minutes later, taking a high ball 50 yards from goal and dribbling directly at goal to unleash a rising shot from outside the penalty area. In the 67th, Cascarino scored with a well-placed shot when the ball came to her after Katoto’s shot struck the inside of both posts. Sakina Karchaoui added a penalty in stoppage time.

Describing Cascarino as a star, France coach Laurent Bonadei said: “At some point you have to light the fire so she can show her full potential.”

England performance saw the defending champion demolish Wales and book its spot in the quarterfinals of the Women’s European Championship.

England had bounced back from losing to France in its opener by routing the Netherlands 4-0, and it raced into a 4-0 halftime lead against Wales following goals from Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.

Substitutes Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones added more in the second half either side of Hannah Cain’s stylish consolation for Wales.

“We’re just happy that we continued the standards that we’d set against the Netherlands,” Stanway said. “It was super important that we continue where we’d left off and we could build momentum post that.”

The result saw Sarina Wiegman’s team advance as runnerup in Group D. England will play Sweden in the quarterfinals and could then face either Norway or Italy

Had they won the group, the Lionesses would have encountered Germany before a possible semifinal against World Cup winner and tournament favorite Spain, which plays host nation Switzerland in the last eight.

England beat Sweden 4-0 in the Euro 2022 semifinals, although the two subsequent matches between the two nations have ended in draws.

“It’s a completely different tournament, it’s really hard to compare anything that happens in other tournaments,” Stanway said. “Our focus is on us, our focus is making sure that we know our things going into the game.

Swiatek went more than a year without reaching a final anywhere.

Then there was the matter of a one-month doping ban she accepted after failing an out-ofcompetition drug test. The International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted her explanation that the result was unintentional and caused by the contamination of a nonprescription medication she was taking for issues with jet lag and sleeping.

“The second half of last year was extremely challenging for me, especially due to the positive doping test and how circumstances completely beyond my control took away my chance to fight for the highest sport goals at the end of the season,” Swiatek wrote in a social media post in March, adding that the episode “forced me to rearrange certain things within myself.”

On June 12, a month to the day before facing Anisimova and a week after her 26-match French Open winning streak came to a close, it was time to get to work Swiatek headed to the Spanish island of Mallorca to practice on grass. Next was a trip to Germany for more training before entering a tournament there. She made it all the way to that final before losing and tearing up during the postmatch ceremony Two weeks later, at Wimbledon, Swiatek was all smiles, and as she left her last interview of the day, she joked: “That was a good therapy session.”

rarely bending to the other’s will.

From 4-2 down, Alcaraz took four games in a row That spurt included a 140 mph ace that sprayed the air with a cloud of white chalk dust and a set-capping, flick-ofa-backhand winner at an impossible angle after barely getting his racket on the ball.

As fans rose and roared, Alcaraz pointed to his ear and spun around, then pumped his right fist overhead.

Sinner was undaunted, quickly breaking to lead the second set. He returned exceptionally, even as Alcaraz served aggressively, which did lead to 15 aces — but also to a 53% first-serve percentage and seven double-faults. Much like at the French Open, there was often an unrelenting intensity to these three-plus hours, and any slight misstep created problems. It was Alcaraz who had more of those, although Sinner might have had the most memorable, blowing an overhead right after coming up with a behindthe-back, through-the-legs halfvolley in the third set.

In all, these guys showed why they combined to win the past seven Grand Slam trophies, and

France returns to Basel to face Germany on Saturday, with the winner on a path to play Spain in the semifinals. Spain plays host nation Switzerland in the quarterfinals on Friday in Bern.

ENGLAND 6, WALES 1: In St. Gallen, Switzerland, another rampant

“Today we focus on the result that we’ve just had and how proud we are to get out of the group. There’s been many days this tournament where we could have actually been going home, so to be in this situation, to be staying a few more days is something that we can be proud of.”

nine of the last 12. “I’m just really really happy about having this rivalry with him,” Alcaraz said about Sinner “It’s great for us, and it is great for tennis.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KIRSTy WIGGLESWORTH Jannik Sinner, left, of Italy hugs Carlos Alcaraz of Spain after winning the men’s singles final at Wimbledon in London on Sunday

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KIN CHEUNG

Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates with the trophy after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women’s singles championship at Wimbledon on Saturday in London.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALESSANDRA TARANTINO

France’s Delphine Cascarino celebrates after scoring her side’s third goal during the 2025 Women’s Euro, Group D against the Netherlands on Sunday at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland.

Record 17 shortstops

takenin1st round

BY CHARLES ODUM AP sports writer

ATLANTA— The Washington Nationals selected Oklahomahigh school shortstop Eli Willits on Sunday night with the No. 1pick in Major League Baseball’samateur draft in aselectionseen by some as asurprise.

The 17-year-old Willits is the youngest player taken No. 1overall since Ken Griffey Jr.with Seattle in 1987.He’sthe son ofexbig leaguer Reggie Willits, who played sixseasons with theLos Angeles Angels and also coached with the New York Yankees.

The Willits pick kickedoff arecord total of 17 shortstops out of 32 first-round picks. According to Baseball America, the previous record total of shortstops taken among the top 30 picks was 10 in 2021 and 2023.

Willits, from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School, is aswitch-hitter who is expected to develop apower swing.

“I feel like Ihave good hitability and I’m going to takethatto the next level,” Willits said when asked about his strengths. “And I feel like my power is up and coming, but Ineeded to getinto an organization like the Nationals that can help develop that and take that to the next level.

Thedraft came oneweekafter the Nationals fired longtime general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez. The timingofthe movesadded more uncertainty to adraft that might be one of the most unpredictablein recent years, including the choice of the No. 1pick.

Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo said Willits wasthe team’sNo. 1choicebecause he was viewed as “the best hitter in the draft and best fielder in thedraft”whilealso boasting arare “makeup and intangibles” for a17-year-old player “It made this very easy for us,” DeBartolo said.

Added Nationals vice president for amateur scouting Danny Haas: “He makes the routine plays about as easy as anybody you can see, much less a17-yearold.” Willits will likely get asigning bonus below the $11.08 million value assigned to the first overall pick, allowing Washington to redistributethose savings to later selections.

The Los Angeles Angels added another surprise with the No. 2 pick by selecting UC Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner Seattle followed by taking LSU lefty Kade Anderson.

The Colorado Rockiespicked shortstop Ethan Holliday at No. 4,

“I feel like Ihavegood hitability and I’m going to takethat to the next level. And Ifeel likemypower is up and coming,but Ineeded to getinto an organization like the Nationalsthat canhelp develop that and takethat to the next level.

ELI WILLITS, Nationals draft pick

landing the son of longtimeRockiesstarMatt Holliday.Ethan, from Stillwater,Oklahoma, was a candidate to go first overall, just like brother Jackson Holliday with did with Baltimorein2022. They would have been the first brothers to be drafted with the first overall pick.

Colorado shared an image on social mediaofayoung Ethan Hollidaywielding apurple batatCoors Field while sucking on apacifier

“The Rockies organization, I’m just so thankful,” Ethan Holliday said. “Obviously with the family andthe backgroundand my dad being drafted by them, that just adds such acool thing. And knowingeverybodyinthe organization since Iwas born,I’m superthankful.”

More highly rated players followed with St. Louisselecting Tennesseeleft-handerLiam Doyle at No. 5, followed by Pittsburgh’schoice of right-hander Seth Hernandez from Corona (California) High School.

JoJo Parker,a shortstop from Purvis (Mississippi) High School, was theNo. 8pick by Toronto Another high school shortstop, SteeleHall from Hewitt Trussville(Alabama),was No. 9by Cincinnati.

With the No. 10 pick, the Chicago White sox made Billy Carlson the sixth shortstop and the second player from Corona High School selected in the first 10 picks.A third Corona HighSchool player, shortstop Brady Ebel, wasthe No. 32 pick in the first roundby Milwaukee. Ebel is an LSUcommitment.

Therewereonlytwo catchers selected in thefirst round, and both landedwith Baltimore.The OriolespickedIke Irish from AuburnatNo. 19 and Caden Bodine from Coastal Carolina at No. 30. Texas, SanFrancisco, Tampa Bay and Minnesota also took shortstops before Texas high schooler Kayson Cunningham, theNo. 18 overall pick by Arizona, became the 11th shortstop drafted.

Thefirst three rounds were scheduled for Sundaynight, with the remainderofthe draft to followonMonday

LSUpitcher Chase Shores watches his teammates rush the field after throwing the final strike of the Baton Rouge super regional on June 8atAlex Box Stadium. Shores was drafted by the Los AngelesAngels with the No. 47 pick on Sunday night.

STAFFPHOTO By

MICHAEL JOHNSON

Shores goes No.47

as second Tigerpicked

Eyanson, Frey getselectedin thirdround

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Therewere fourLSU players and four LSU high school signees selected during the first three rounds of the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday Sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson wasthe first LSUplayer selected,goingNo. 3overall to the SeattleMariners. He was followed by redshirt sophomore right-hander Chase Shores, junior right-hander Anthony Eyanson and junior designated hitter Ethan Frey

The four Tiger high school signees who were selected were third baseman Brady Ebel, outfielder JadenFauske, shortstop Quentin Young andoutfielder Dean Moss. The first surprise of the night from an LSU perspective came in the second round when Shores became the second Tiger picked instead of Eyanson.

The Los Angeles Angels picked Shoreswith the No. 47 overall selection in the second round, despite Shores struggling in his first season after returning from Tommy John surgery.Heposted a5.09 ERA in 632/3 innings.

But his form improved after movingtothe bullpen midway through the year,ashethrew 22/3 scoreless innings to close out LSU’snational championshipclinchingwin over Coastal Carolina in Game2 of the CollegeWorld Series final.

Shores struckout 9.90 batters pernine innings this season but also hadsomeissueswith his

command, walking more than four batters per nine innings.

Eyansonwas notpicked in the first two rounds, lasting until the thirdround when the Boston Red Sox selected himwith theNo. 87 overall pick.

Eyanson had a3.00 ERA in 108 inningsinhis only season with the Tigers. He struck out 12.67 battersper nine innings and finished third in the nation in strikeouts, trailing only LiamDoyle of Tennessee andAnderson. But thebiggest domino to fall for LSU as it pertains to 2026 team came at the No. 95 overall pickwhenthe Houston Astros picked Frey.Hebroke out in his third season with the Tigers, posting a.331 batting average, 1.061 on-baseplus slugging percentage andblasting 13 home runs in 62 games. After beinga bench player as afreshman and playing through atornlabrum as asophomore, Frey emerged as asteadypower option against left-handedpitchingbefore expanding his role to start against pitchers fromboth sides by the end of the year.He eventually became astaple atop theLSU lineup. Since Frey didn’tplaythe field much during his three seasons in BatonRouge,there werequestionsabout whether or not he’d return to LSUin2026. Buthelikely willbeoff to professional baseball as LSUwill need to find more power bats to replacehim and junior Jared Jones,who was not picked in the first threerounds but is expected to sign whenever he is selected Themostnotable LSUplayer who wasn’tdrafted Sunday was juniorDaniel Dickinson. Despite being atop-100 player on ESPN, The Athletic and MLB.com’s draft rankings, the second baseman was notselected within the first 105 picks of the draft.

ThefirstLSU high school signee whowas chosen Sunday wasEbel. He waspicked by the Milwaukee Brewers withthe No. 32 overall pick, acompensation pick in the first round of the draft.

Ebelwas the No. 64 playerin MLB.com’sdraft rankings. He attended Corona High in Southern California and is the son of Los Angeles Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel. After Ebel was Fauske, an outfielderand catcher from Illinois The LSU signee was selected by the Chicago White Sox with the No. 44 overall pick in the second round.

Fauske was the No. 57 player in MLB.com’s draftrankings, the No. 31 player in ESPN.com’s rankings and the No. 42 player on The Athletic’sbig board. He attended Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park and was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois this season. He batted .461 with six home runs and 36 runs driven in forNazareth in 34 games.

Fauske’sselection was quickly followed by Young, who was pickedbythe Minnesota Twins 10 slots later in the second round at No.54 Young, the nephew of former major-leaguers Dmitri and Delmon Young, wasthe No.37 player in MLB.com’s rankings. He attended Oaks Christian High in California and wasthe No.11 player in the nation, according to Perfect Game Moss came after Young at pick No. 67 to give LSU its third high school signee picked in the secondround.Mosswas theNo. 56 player in MLB.com’s draftrankings. He’sfrom California but attended IMG Academy in Florida beginning in eighth grade. Thedraftwill resume Monday with rounds 4-20 beginning at 10:30 a.m.

IMG Academy, Fla. 24. Detroit Tigers, Jordan Yost,SS, Sickle H.S Fla.

25. San DiegoPadres, Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP Sunset H.S Ore.

26. Philadelphia Phillies, Gage Wood, RHP Arkansas. 27. Cleveland Indians, Jace LaViolette, OF TexasA&M Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick

28. Kansas City Royals, JoshHammond, SS, Wesleyan Christian Academy, N.C. Compensation Picks

29. Arizona Diamondbacks, PatrickForbes RHP,Louisville. 30. BaltimoreOrioles, Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina.

31. BaltimoreOrioles, Wehiwa Aloy, SS Arkansas.

32. MilwaukeeBrewers, Brady Ebel,SS, Corona H.S Calif. CompetitiveBalance Round A

33. Boston RedSox (from Milwaukee),Marcus Phillips, RHP,Tennessee.

34. Detroit Tigers, Michael Oliveto, C, Hauppauge H.S N.Y.

35. Seattle Mariners, LukeStevenson, C, North Carolina.

36. Minnesota Twins, Riley Quick, RHP Alabama.

37. BaltimoreOrioles, Slater de Brun, OF Summit H.S Ore.

x-FIRST ROUND

38. New York Mets, Mitch Voit,TWP,Michigan.

39. New York Yankees,Dax Kilby, SS,Newnan

H.S.,Ga.

40. LosAngeles Dodgers, Zachary Root, LHP, Arkansas. x-LAD,NYM and NYY penalized10draft slots for exceedingthe second surcharge threshold of the CompetitiveBalance Tax

By The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers each produced remarkably efficient stat lines in their first professional matchup against each other Sunday.

The ultimate resultwasn’t nearly as close.

ClarkhelpedIndiana dominate the second quarter,leading the Fever past the Dallas Wings 10283. Clark had 14 points anda season-high 13 assists, needing only 25 minutes to earnthe 19thdouble-double of hertwo-year career

Bueckers wound up with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists andfour turnovers in 33 minutes

ANDERSON

Continuedfrom page1B

away to get you. Anderson’s leap in production comes after asolid freshman season, wherehepunched out 13.81 battersper nine innings and had a3.99 ERAin381/3 innings as a midweek starter andlate-inning reliever

To beginthisseason, Anderson rose to become LSU’sFriday night starterand neverrelinquished the role, serving as one half of theTigers’ dynamiconetwo punch atop their with junior right-hander Anthony Eyanson. Without Anderson andEyanson, LSUwill have to rely on new faces atop therotationnextseason

But it’snot asituation that coach

in ahead-to-head matchup that lived up to the hype of thepast twoNo. 1overall picks squaring off.

“It’sfun to watch, not as an opponent on theother sideline.But for alot of young players that come intothisleague, there’s a learning curve,” Fever coach StephanieWhite said. “And how quickly they figure it out is always interesting to see. Paige, she’sfigureditout.”

Thehighly anticipatedmatchup between Clark and Bueckers was supposed to take place June 27 at Dallas.But Clark, last year’s Rookie of theYear,missed the gamewith an injured leftgroin.

Jay Johnson is unfamiliar with. LSU replaced its top two starters from 2024 and 2023. After the 2024 season, the Tigers turned to Anderson and added Eyanson from thetransfer portal to replace Luke Holman and Gage Jump after they were selected with the 71st and73rdoverall picksofthe 2024 draft, respectively After LSU’s national championship in 2023, Johnsonhad to replace PaulSkenes and Ty Floyd whenSkeneswas selected No. 1 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Floyd was picked in the second round. LSU has options whenitcomes to replacing Andersonand Eyanson. Freshman right-hander Casan Evansemerged as an elite arm after posting a2.05 ERA and 31.7% strikeout percentage in

Indiana still won94-86 despite Bueckers finishing with 27 points, sixassists,two steals andtwo blocks.

So WNBA fans waited until Sunday for their next chance. Theypreviously squared off in the 2024 Final Four when Clark helped Iowa rally past UConn 7169 to reach the national championship game. Clark got the upper hand again Sunday,but Bueckers also demonstrated why so many consider her this year’sRookie of the Year favorite —she’s notafraid of mixing it up with anyone, including Clark, on the professional level.

522/3 innings. Junior right-hander ZacCowan couldreturn after ayearinwhich he posted a2.94 ERA in 52 innings.

After those two, theTigers have plenty of returningdepth.A talented freshman class —including left-hander Cooper Williams, and right-handers MavrickRizy and William Schmidt —isexpected to makealeap in its second season. Redshirt sophomoreright-hander Jaden Noot andjuniorrighthander Gavin Guidry are eligible to be drafted but are strongcandidates to return to Baton Rouge. Sophomore right-hander Deven Sheerin, after missing the entire year with atorn ACL, is back pitching in the Cape Cod Baseball League this summer Email Koki RileyatKoki. Riley@theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MIKE

SECMEDIA DAYS

ON STAGEMONDAY

LSU

SOUTH CAROLINA

THE BUZZ:Ole Miss built aplayoff-caliber team aroundquarterback Jaxson Dart last season butnarrowlymissed the freshly expanded field.After arosterreset,its hopes fora CFP berth now liesquarely on the shoulders of Simmons, aredshirtsophomoreand former four-star recruit who’sbeginning his firstyear as astarter

LAST YEAR:9-4 (5-3 SEC)

COACH:Shane Beamer(5th year)

PLAYERS:QBLaNorrisSellers,DTNick Barrett, SDQSmith

THEBUZZ:South Carolina almostmade the Thenitbrought back Sellers, oneofthe country’s ylanStewart, one of its best edgerushers; and Nyck wide receiver oozing potential.TheGamecocks look like the top of the SEC again.

VANDERBILT

LAST YEAR:7-6 (3-5 SEC)

COACH:Clark Lea (5th year)

PLAYERS:QBDiegoPavia,CBMartel Hight, SRandon Fontenette

THE BUZZ:Pavia challengedanNCAA eligibility rule and won, earninghimself achancetolead Vanderbilt to another bowl win.The Commodoreswent 2-10 in 2023. Nowtheycan scare(and maybe evenupset) the SEC’stop programs. Just askAlabama, which learned that lessonthe hard wayinOctober

Reed Darcey

Pelicans struggling to shareinSummerLeague

Van Gisbergen continues road course wizardry

BY JENNA FRYER AP auto racing writer

SONOMA, Calif. Another road course win was so expected for Shane van Gisbergenthat Trackhouse Racing hadextra tiresreadyfor his Sonoma Raceway victory celebration. VanGisbergen wonfor thethird time in five races andsecondstraight on Sunday when he dominated on the California road course.The New Zealanderonceagain showedhe’sina completely differentclass on road and street coursesthan his rivals as he led 97 of 110 laps to win from the pole at Sonoma Raceway He celebrated with the traditional burnout,thenhis Trackhouse crew changed thetires on theNo. 88 Chevroletsohecould do asecondsmokeinducing spin on his way to victory lane. He also kept with hisown tradition andkickeda rugby ballinto the grandstands.

Just three minutes into the second quarter Saturday night, Lester Quinones threw apass to Jeremiah Fears. Fears, the New Orleans Pelicans’ No. 7overall draft pick, buried a3-pointer That pass by Quinones was the last assist of the night forthe Pelicans. They went the final 27 minutes without another assist, which tells you all you need to know about why the Pelicans were on the wrong end of a 94-81 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Pelicans finishedwith six assists —four in the first quarter and two in the first three minutes of the second quarter

“We’ve got to have more ball movement,” Pelicans Summer League coachCorey Brewer said.“We are running stuff, but everybodyis(playing iso ball). It’salittle bit on me. I’ve got to put them in situations to move the ball. We got to run more motionstuff.”

The Pelicans looked every bit like ayoung teamplaying just their second game together

The Lakers, meanwhile, were muchmore cohesive in what was their fifthgametogether

The Lakers playedthree games in the California ClassicSummerLeague before the start of theregular Summer League

The Lakers had 24 assists equaling the number the Minnesota Timberwolves had against the Pelicans in the Summer League openerThursday.The Pelicanshad just 13 assists in that game. So that’s19assists in two games, asubpar9.5 assists pergame for ateam that drafted apoint guard in Fears anda forward known for his ability to pass in Derik Queen Fears and Queen have combinedfor six assists through their first two games. Fears had twoin the first game and none in the second. Queen hadthree in the first game andone against the Lakers. Youcan attributethose low numbers to the growingpains for rookies getting theirfirst taste of NBA action while

adjusting from the college game. As far as the Pelicans as ateam, youcan chalk some of the lowassist numbers up to a roster with guys trying to prove they belong in the NBA. Sharing the ball isn’talwaysapriority in Summer League play

Fears made just 5ofthe 21 shots he took. His 3-pointer on the Pelicans’ final assist of the night was the only shothe made on his first 11 attempts. Many of his shot attempts cameupempty as he drove to the basket. “I like the aggressiveness, but we’vegot to makesome layups,” Brewer said. “You have to look at film andmakerim decisions. You’ve gottomake(the shot) or you’ve gottokickitout, which is something he’s goingtolearn You’drather him do it nowthan later.It’sgood that he’s getting there (to the basket).” Fears gotgoing in the third quarterand finishedwith15 points. “Just continue to stay aggressive,” Fears said. “When you stay aggressive,everything else will open up.”

Queen, the other first-round draft pick, recorded his second straight double-double with 12 points and13rebounds to go alongwith an assist, asteal and ablocked shot. Butheshot just 4of12from the floor It’sjust two games into Summer League play,soit’sway too earlytoassess what Fears and Queen will become Antonio Reeves, the Pels’ second-round draft pick in 2024, finishedwith 20 points to go with six rebounds and three steals. Micah Peavy,the Pelicans’ second-round draft pick, didn’tsuit up for the game because of an ankle injury in Thursday’s game against Minnesota. He was replaced in the lineup by Quinones, who led the Pelicansinscoring in the first game with 20 points. This time, Quinones ledthe team in assists with just two. Four other players (Queen, Keion Brooks, Hunter Dickinson andChristian Shumate) had oneassist each

Email RodWalker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com

“It means everything. That’swhy I race cars. Ihad an amazing time in Australia, and then to come here and the last couple weeks, or years, actually,has been adream come true,” van Gisbergen said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time in NASCAR. Thanks, everyone, for making me feel so welcome. I hope I’m here for along timetocome.” All threeofhis wins this year have been from the pole —which tied him with Jeff Gordon fora NASCAR recordofthreeconsecutive road course victories from the top starting spot. Gordondid it between the 1998-99 seasons. He joins Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin andKyleLarsonasthe only drivers with three wins this season and this one moved him into third for playoff seeding. VanGisbergen was 33rdinthe standings and notyet qualified forthe playoffs just fiveweeks ago.

calls a playlast season against Oklahoma at Tiger Stadium. Chester is one of 10 players still at LSU from the Class of 2023.

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Saban’s retirement,a newstaff has kept the majority of the class intact. Texas A&M, which fired coach JimboFisher during the 2023 season, has lost only 42% of the class. Meanwhile, the highest rates of retention over the past two yearswereatMissouri, Texas and Florida, in that order Texas signed 25 players, including quarterback Arch Manning and linebacker Anthony Hill, and only seven have leftthe team. Forcomparison, LSU, Oklahoma and Tennessee signed the same numberofrecruits, but all three teams have lost at least half of their 2023 classes.

Even though the Florida Gators have gone 13-12 since that recruiting cycle, coach Billy Napier’sfirst full class largely has remained intact amid speculation about his job security.Only

six of the 20 high school signees (30%) have transferred.

ForLSU, the 25-member class was supposed to set the foundation of Kelly’steam after the rockyend of the Ed Orgeron era. Thegroupwas ranked No. 5inthe country,according to 247Sports, which is the highestranked class of Kelly’stenure to this point.

But heading into preseason campnextmonth,there are only 10 players left. One of them, running back Trey Holly,remains indefinitelysuspendedashe awaits trialfor an illegalweapon charge.

Six of the 11 top-200prospects, accordingtothe 247Sports composite rankings, aregone. That includes the two highest-rated recruits, five-staroffensive tackle LanceHeard and top-50 edgerusher Da’Shawn Womack Heardleftafter oneyearfor Tennessee,and Womack went to Ole Miss after struggling to crack therotation for two years. Twotop-100 wide receivers, Jalen Brown and Shelton Samp-

son,never contributed before they transferred. For the most part, the playerswho left were going to need to developorcould findearlier playing time elsewhere. Butthe only top-100 prospect still on the team, defensive back Javien Toviano, has bounced around the secondary without finding amajor role yet So far,the biggest success has been Weeks, who finished second in the SEC in tackles as asophomoreand will represent LSU at SEC media days in Atlanta on Monday.Two others,offensive lineman DJ Chester andcornerback Ashton Stamps, started every game last season. The rest of theremaining class has yet to make an impact, but that couldchangeinthe fall. TyreeAdams is expected to start at left tackle after waitingbehind Will Campbell, and Toviano will competeatsafety. Running back Kaleb Jackson and offensive guard Paul Mubenga could have roles. Kelly has talked often about

building the roster on high school signees and then retaining them. He still believes in that approach, but on top of losing so muchfrom2023, LSU only has four players on the roster who were in the2022 or 2021 classes: quarterback Garrett Nussmeier,wide receiver Chris Hilton, linebacker Harold Perkins and backup offensive lineman Bo Bordelon. Of the 37 combined players in those classes, 22 of them transferred. Without ahigh rate of retention,LSU supplemented its needs through the transfer portal, especially this year.While signing the No. 1class in the country,according to 247Sports, it looked for veterans whocould start,trying to address the inexperience on the roster created by so much attrition.

LSU may not add that many transfers in the future. It still would prefer to retainits recruits, and so far, it has done a better job with the2024 class. After oneyear, only four of them have left theteam.

Victorynumberfour for van Gisbergen— whostunned NASCAR in 2023 whenhepopped into the debut Chicago street course race fromAustralian V8 Supercars and won—seemed agiven before teamseven arrived at the picturesque course in California wine country.His rivals have lamented that vanGisbergen has abraking technique he masteredDownUnder that none of them —all oval specialists —can learn. That win in Chicago two years ago led van Gisbergen to move to the United States for acareer change driving stock carsfor Trackhouse Racing. He and Ross Chastain have pumped energy into the team over this summer stretch with Chastain kicking it off with aMemorial Day weekend victory at the Coca-Cola 600.

VanGisbergen is the fastest driver to winfour CupSeries races —inhis 34th start— sinceParnelli Jones in 1969. He’salso the winningest driver born outside the United States.

“It’sunreal.TodoChicago, an experiencethatI really enjoyed, andnever thought it would lead to more let alone moving over here and doing things,” he said. “Its been amazing, everything that Ihoped it could ever be.” The Sonomawin madeitfour victoriesfor Trackhouse in eight weeks. Van Gisbergen wassecond from the pole in Saturday’sXfinity Series race. Chase Briscoe was secondina Toyota forJoe Gibbs Racing.

“I neverplayedbasketballagainst Michael Jordan in his prime, but Ifeel like that’s probably what it waslike,” Briscoesaidafter notbeing able to pass van Gisbergen on two late restarts the last with five laps remaining. “That guyisunbelievableonroad courses He’sjust so good. He’sreally raised the bar on this entire series.” Briscoe wasfollowedbyChase Elliott in aChevrolet for HendrickMotorsports. MichaelMcDowell in aChevy for Spire Motorsports was fourth and Christopher Bell in aToyota for Joe Gibbs Racing was fifth.

In-SeasonChallenge

The midseason tournament that pays $1 million to the winner is downtofour drivers. Alex Bowman finished 25th and eliminatedTyDillon, who finished26th. TylerReddick (11th) knocked out Ryan Preece (16th); John Hunter Nemechek knocked out teammate ErikJones as they finished 21st and22nd; and Ty Gibbs, with aseventh-place finish, eliminated Zane Smith. Bowman, at eighth, is the highestseeded driver still in the challenge, which debuted this year

Rod Walker

Folktales as only Creoles can tell them take thespotlight in theWestBaton

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

RougeMuseum

STORY TIME

“Oh, this is acutestory,” Angelique Bergeron says. She’sright, it is cute, and it comes with ahumorous twist at the end, as do mostofthe stories in the West Baton Rouge Museum’s exhibit, “Kont Kréyol-yé.”

The exhibit’stitle translates to “Creole Folktales,” which aretold through thework of local artists in themuseum’s Whitehead Gallery The show runs through Oct. 12. Bergeron is themuseum’s executive director,and it’s HenryWatson’s wood-carvedpicture, “The Maringouins,”enchanting heratthe moment.

“This artwork illustrates the Creole folktale, ‘Lé Maringwin,’which translates to ‘TheMosquitoes’ in English,” Bergeron said. “Andit’sabout these guys who are tryingtoget through the swamp. They’resotired,sotheyfind a high ground, and theyput down their blankets andtry to sleep. Butthese mosquitoes are biting themall night. The men don’tknowwhy the mosquitoes are plaguing them. In fact, they don’tknowwhatmosquitoes are, because neither is from Louisiana.

from Louisiana beingchased by mosquitoes.

TNTloadedtea trailero

BY SERENA PUANG Staff writer

“Theyhaven’tbeen in the swampbefore, and they’re like, ‘OhmyGod,what is this creature?,’ ” Bergeron continues. “Then, the next day, they find acabin. And they’re so happy,because they’re so tired they could almost sleep standing up.”

Butwhen they settleinthe cabin for thenight,they see theglow of afirefly

“And they’re like, ‘Oh, yougotta get outta here, because the bugs came back andtheybrought a lantern to find us,” Bergeron said, turning to Watson’sdepiction of the story showing two men being chased out of acabin by giant mosquitoes.

The story is one of 28 folktales fillingthe gallery’swalls. Some aresimilar to fairy and folktales found in other cultures but with alterations to fit Louisiana’senvironment. Here, visitors will read about the turtle and the deer instead of the tortoiseand the hare. They’ll also read it in Creole French

Which means even speakers of French aren’timmune to theotherness of this language,being that Creole French is atotally different dialect Don’tworry.A smartphone click on theQRcodeatthe beginning of the exhibit provides Englishtranslationsofall the stories. The museum hasalso published abook,“Kont Kréyol-yé, Creole Folktales,” to coincide with theshow. Its pagesare not only filled with theexhibit’s 28

Keith ‘Cartoonman’ Douglas’ painting depictsthe Creole folktale, ‘Br’er Rabbit:Why HisEars Are So Long.’

Malaika Favorite’spainting depicts the Creolefolktale, ‘Br’er Rabbit&Br’er Hyena.’

Zora White, a10-year-old artist, painted her ownnose and pressed it to the paper to depict the nose prints of the sevenmen in the Creole folktale, ‘SevenLost Men.

Does sustaining an active lifestyle in midlife lower the risk of dementia?

In aFebruary 2019 study highlighted in Neurology,researchers reported that staying both physically and mentally active in midlife (40s) mayprotect the brain decades later

The study involved 800 Swedish women with an average age of 47 whowere followed for44years and who werescored in twoareas of mental and physical activities. Women whowere assigned to high levels of mental activity were46% less likely to have developed Alzheimer’sdisease and 34% less likely to have developed dementia overall than the womeninthe group whoperformed lower levels of mental activity practices. With regards to physical activity, 52% of the womeninthe study wereless likely to have developed atype of dementia associated with cerebrovascular (refers to blood flow in the brain) disease and 56% less likely to have developed moregeneral dementia than the women in the group whoremained less physically active.

While the results indicate that levels of both physical and mental activities could affect cognition later,physician and study author Jenna Najar of the Institute forNeuroscience and Physiology at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, noted that physical activity may lower the chances of vascular dementia in particular The study’sconclusions also showed how the twoeffects mental and physical activity are distinct.

As Najar put it, “Wefound that mental activities in midlife,such as reading abook, doing crossword puzzles, singing or attending concerts, to name afew,reduced the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’sdisease, regardless of how physically active the women were. Physical activity,meanwhile, in midlife reduced the risk of more vascular forms of dementia, regardless of how mentally active the women were.”

Experts agree that more studies need to be conducted to find the physical pathway connecting lifestyle factors in midlifetospecific protective effects in the brain. Brain health has long been promoted foroverall aging and cognitive health, and in that respect, the study was aconfirmation and offered morevalidity that being mentally and physically active can lower the risks of cognitive decline in aging. While research is still developing, strong evidence exists that individuals can reduce their risk of cognitive decline by making key lifestyle changes, including participating in regular physical and mental activity, staying socially engaged, and maintaining good heart health. According to the Healthy

Afull shot of Henry Watson’s wood-carved artwork,‘The Maringouins,’ in the West Baton Rouge Museum’sexhibit ‘Kont Kréyol-yé’ or ‘Creole Folktales.’The piece shows twomen whoare not

RIGHT: Henry Barconey’s painting depicting the Creole folktale ‘Br’er Rabbit: WhyHis Tail is Short.

HenryBarcony’spainting depicts the Creolefolktale, ‘The Ball at Mister Deer’s.’

STAFF PHOTOSByROBIN MILLER

Judith Braggs’ textilepieces depict theCreolefolktale, ‘The Honest Thief,’inthe ‘Kont Kréyol-yé’ or ‘Creole Folktales’ exhibit.

Stem cellsbeing researched to help with Type 1diabetes

Dear Doctors: Ihave Type 1diabetes.Itry to stay healthy andkeep my blood sugar under control, but it feels like afight every day Iread there’s astudy usingstem cells for acure. Are there any updates? Does it seem like this might lead to atreatment?

Dear reader: Type 1diabetes is achronic autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakenly targets and destroys betacells in the pancreas. These cells are mainly responsiblefor producing insulin, the hormone crucial to glucose metabolism. Without enough insulin, the body is unable to keep blood glucose within a healthy range. Ways to manage blood sugar in these cases include injectable insulin, acarefully curated diet and healthy lifestyle choices.

By The Associated Press

Today is Monday,July 14,the 195th day of 2025. There are 170 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On July 14, 1789, in an event symbolizing the start of the FrenchRevolution, citizens of Paris stormed the Bastille prison and released the seven prisoners held there. Also on this date: In 1798, Congress passed the Sedition Act, making it afederal crime to publish false, scandalous or malicious writingabout the United States government.

In 1881, outlaw William H Bonney Jr., alias “Billythe Kid,” was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumnerin present-day New Mexico

In 1933, all German political parties,except the NaziParty, were outlawed by the government of Nazi Germany

In 1960, 26-year-oldJane Goodall first arrived at the Gombe Stream Reserve in present-day Tanzania to begin her study of the wild chimpanzees living there

In 2009, disgraced financier Bernard Madoff arrived at the Butner FederalCorrectional Complex in North Carolina to begin serving a150-year sentence for his massive Ponzi scheme. (Madoff died in prison in April 2021.)

In 2013, thousands of demonstrators across the country protested aFlorida jury’sdecision oneday earlier to clear George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin

In 2016, terror struck Bastille Day celebrations in the French Riviera city of Nice as alarge truck plowed into afestive crowd, killing 86 people in an attack claimed by Islamic State extremists; the driver was shot dead by police.

In 2020, researchersreported that the first COVID-19 vaccine tested in the U.S. boosted people’simmune systemsas scientists had hoped; the vaccine was developed by theNational Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc.

Today’sbirthdays: Formerfootball player and actor Rosey Grier is 93. Actor Vincent Pastore (TV” “The Sopranos”) is 79. Music company executive Tommy Mottola is 77. Movie producer Scott Rudin is 67. Singersongwriter Anjelique Kidjois 65. Singer-guitarist Kyle Gass (Tenacious D) is 65. ActorJane Lynch is 65. Actor Jackie Earle Haley is 64. Actor Matthew Fox is 59. Rock singer-musician Tanya Donelly is 59. Olympic gold medal snowboarder Ross Rebagliati is 54. Country singer Jamey Johnson is 50. Hip-hop musician Taboo (Black Eyed Peas) is 50. Actor/writer/producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge is 39. Rock singer Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons) is 38.

LIFESTYLE

Continued from page1C

is avital part of healthyaging and quality of life is emerging.” Public health professionals are gaining abetter understanding of brain disorders and riskfactors, and the public health community should embrace cognitive health as apriority

Dana Territo is an Alzheimer’s advocate and author of“What My GrandchildrenTaught Me About Alzheimer’sDisease.” She hosts “The Memory Whisperer.” Email her at thememorywhisperer@gmail. com.

Dr.Elizabeth Ko Dr.Eve Glazier ASK THE DOCTORS

Introduced in 1922, injectable insulin revolutionized diabetes treatment. Before that, life expectancy with thedisease was just a few years. Today, even with the benefit of insulin, people with diabetes areat an increased risk of developing serious complications, including cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney disease and eyedamage. As you point out, the vigilance required to manage

FOLKTALES

Continued from page1C

folktales in English and Creole but also their accompanying artwork.

Acopyofthe book is available for viewing within theexhibit Copies also are for sale in themuseum store.

Both theshow andbookare basedonthe 1931 LSU Master’s thesis by Lafayette Jarreau, who recorded folktales toldtohim by bothBlack and White Creoles in both Pointe Coupee and West Baton RougeParishes.

Bergeron’s great-uncle, Hecky Olinde, introduced her to Jarreau’s thesis 20 years ago, andthey’ve since lingered in the back of her mind.

“I’ve known that Iwanted to do something with these stories for 20 years,” she said.“When my greatuncle handed me acopy of the thesis, it was thefirst time Isaw thelanguageand humor of the old Creoles captured on thepage.”

Bergeron was born and raised in New Roads, where her own grandfather spoke Creole French, and earneda doctoral degree in French studies at LSU.

“Creole, often misunderstood, is alanguageand culture born out of diversity,” Bergeron writes in the exhibit book’sintroduction. “In ourregion,the Creole language is spoken by people of allshades and phenotypes. IamCreole, as are most people involved in this project.”

She points out that Jarreau called thelanguagea“patois,”whichreferstoLouisiana’sregional French dialects

“But, the Creole spoken in our area is afully developed language,” Bergeron said. “It’s now referred to as ‘Kouri-Vini,’ to distinguishitfromotherCreolelanguages.”

Meanwhile,Bergeron gave the jobofresearchingJarreau’sstorytellers’ biographers to author and fellowCreoleBrianCostello, founding historianand archivist of the Historic Materials Collection of thePointe Coupee Parish Library in New Roads.

Creole activist,artist and producerClif St. Laurentprovided the orthography,orconventional spelling, for this area’sCreole dialect, officially called Kour-Vini. The Baton Rouge native, self-taught in thelanguage, has received certifications in linguistics from British universities of Leicester and York andtranslated Louisiana Creole texts for universities and the federal government.

Bergeron also enlisted her Creole friend,artist and former Baton

TEA

Continued from page1C

Facebook Marketplace the next day and renovated itsotheycould start aloaded teabusiness of their own. Thus,TNT was born.

What is loaded tea?

Loaded teas are vitamin-infused, tea-based energy drinks thatare known for beinghigh in caffeine whilebeinglow in calories. Covill and Demas wanttooffer fully customizable drinks infused with vitaminsC,B3, B6, B12, biotin,calciumand taurine.

Theteas come in 16-, 24- or 32-ounce cups (many loaded tea places only have 32-ounce cups), and the caffeine in them can go from 0milligrams to 350 milligrams of caffeine. The standard drinks with no modifications contain 80, 140 and 180 milligrams, respectively,depending on size. For comparison, the average shot of espresso contains 64 milligrams of caffeine.

“If alittlekid wants to come up, they can technically get no caf-

blood sugar can be bothdaunting and tiring. That brings us to your question. Stem cells arewhat is known as undifferentiated cells. That means they have not yet developed aspecific function, like muscle, bone or nervecells. Because stem cells are like a blank slate, they can develop into other types of specialized cells. They can alsoself-renew.These unique qualities have made stem cells the focus of research into treatmentfor awide range of diseases,including Type 1diabetes

In theclinical trial you asked about, participants were infused with stem cells “taught” to behave like betacells. It was asmall study withjust 17 patients, but thepreliminary resultswere en-

couraging. One participant’sbody began to produce insulin and release it in response to blood sugar fluctuations. On the other hand, because these stem cell infusions introduce foreign tissue into the body,they require antirejection drugs. These drugs can cause side effects that can be hard to tolerate. Several participants dropped outofthe study due to theadverse effects.

Many readers have asked for information about upcoming clinical trials into this line of research. Earlier this spring, the researchers announced they are moving on to the next expanded phase of research. As with all clinical trials, the parameters for participation are quite specific.

The 27 locations of upcoming trials include cities in Illinois, Florida, California, Maryland, Texas, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Trials in Canada and Europe are scheduled as well. For moredetails, visit clinicaltrials.gov and search for VX-880.

Sendyour questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla edu, or write: Ask theDoctors, c/oUCLA HealthSciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

In this case, the study is recruiting people with Type 1diabetes whoalso have severe episodes of hypoglycemia or have impaired awareness of hypoglycemia. Due to the antirejection drugs, it is important to remember there is also an element of risk.

Rouge Poet LaureateJonathan Joseph Mayers, to recruit artistsfor theshow Mayers is known throughout the statefor his promotion of the Creole language and culture through his work, and he even went as far as to hand-craft paper out of banana leaves and the fibrous sugar caneresidue calledbagasse, which he distributed tothe show’s14artists. Most of theartists painted their interpretations of the storieson Mayers’ paper, but the show also

includes wood-carved pictures, textiles, aceramic sculpture and handmade dolls. But in the end, all 28 stories are illustrated on surfaces created from Louisiana byproducts. Among the artists are George Marks of Arnaudville;Malaika Favorite of Geismar,who mostrecently created murals for the Princess and the Frog ride in Disney World’sMagic Kingdom;and Keith “Cartoonman” Douglas, ateacher in Central’sGifted and Talented Program Douglas’ illustration for “Br’er Rabbit: WhyHis Ears AreSo Long,”appears on the book’sfront cover Andnot allofthe artists are adults.Whenone artist hadto bow out of the project, Bergeron’s 10-year-old daughter,Zora White, stepped up.She’swell-versed in CreoleFrench and hasparticipated in the museum’sFrench immersion programs.

Hermost noted piece in this show is “Sét Nomm Perd, Seven LostMen,” told to Jarreau by Louis Bizette. In the story,the men seemedtohave lost amember in their group.

“One of themen is counting, but he’s only counting six menand isn’tcountinghimself,” Bergeron said. “Finally,a man comes along

feine and get somefun drink for themselves,” Covill said. The teas comein20named flavors, but people can also custom-

ize their drinks by picking abase (citrus,orangeorberry) andaddingtwo flavors.All of theteasare sugar-free, sweetened withstevia

and has them all stick theirnoses in the mud. That’swhentheysee there are seven nose prints in the mud.”

So, making her painting as authentic as possible, White stuck her nose in paint and made seven nose prints on her picture. Bergeron and Mayers hope to tour the show,but those plans have yet to be finalized. Still, visitors have plenty of time to stop by the museum to seeHenry Watson’s illustration of Etienne Stama’s“Lé Maringwin,”where themosquitoes “çé Djab minm!”

That’sCreoleFrenchfor “the Devil himself.” “I love that story,”Bergeron said. “Now none of them will be forgotten.”

The West Baton Rouge Museum 845 N. Jefferson Ave., PortAllen, will show “Kont Kréyol-yé,” or “Creole Folktales” through Oct. 31. Hoursare 10 a.m.to4:30 p.m Tuesday through Saturday and 2p.m. to 5p.m. Sunday Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for seniors, militaryand students. For more information, call (225) 336-2422 or visit westbatonrougemuseum.org.

Email RobinMilleratromiller@ theadvocate.com.

and made with zero multi-level marketing products, such as Herbalife. Flavors like Tiger Tango (citrus,mango,peach)and Geaux Gold (citrus, dragon fruit, pineapple)pay homage to LSU, while other flavors are anod to Covill’s homestate or the couple’sdogs. Now with the trailer,Covill and Demasare busy with sixjobsbetween them in private equity,retail, Companion AnimalAlliance and LSU.

“We’re gonna try to hopefully get this up andrunningand narrow downour jobs,” Covill said. In thefuture, theowners have aspirations to expand into dirty sodasorenergydrinks, but for now,they’re going to be ironing out details at this location. They also plan to participate in events, which might mean that some of their hours might change or fluctuate. Keepupwith them on social media for the mostcurrent hours at instagram.com/siptnt.

TNT, 3651 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge.

Email SerenaPuang at serena. puang@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

TNT co-owner Shaylee Covill hands out adrink called TigerTangofrom the food truck.

STAFFPHOTOSByROBIN MILLER

Angelique Bergeron, left, executivedirector of the West Baton RougeMuseum and artist Jonathan Mayers worked together in putting together the stories andartwork in the museum’sexhibit,‘Kont Kréyol-yé’ or ‘Creole Folktales.’

André-Phillipe St. Romain depicts the Creole folktale, ‘A Man and His Lion.’

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Dream it, believe it and follow through. You have choices, and at the end of the day, what's important is that you have no regrets. Be open to suggestions, but follow your heart.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) What you do will far exceed what you say. Actions speak louder than words. Watch out for people who try to slow you down. Think positive thoughts, and rewards will follow.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Take better care of yourself, your reputation and your job. Concentrate on taking care of your responsibilities and helping others. Positive suggestions will take flight.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Test your theories privately before sharing your thoughts. Too much of anything will backfire. Add to your qualifications to ensure you head in your chosen direction.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Test your talents. Focus on completing tasks on time. Refuse to let partnerships suffer due to poor communication, anxiety or trust issues. Emotional spending will lead to regret.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Changing how you earn a living or handle your cash looks promising. The happier you are, the less money you'll spend. Contentment and gratitude have healing powers.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Expand your interests and friendships. Take better care of your physical well-being by

making healthy choices. Refuse to let temptation and indulgence interfere with personal and physical progress.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay attention to detail, and you'll surpass your expectations. Use your imagination to implement changes at home. Romance is evident; however, jealousy and emotional instability are also present.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Direct your energy wisely. Show passion in all you do, and let your actions reflect your feelings. Once you express your position and digest responses from others, you'll know which path to take.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Set a budget, and you'll have more cash to enjoy your favorite pastime, hobby or entertainment. Pay attention to your emotional well-being. A fitness routine can improve your outlook.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Arguing is a waste of time. Participating in community events can foster friendships with individuals who share your values, ethics and beliefs. Broaden your horizons, and new interests will develop.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) You may crave change, but before you make a move, consider if you are trying to please yourself or someone else. Boredom will lead to regret. Use your intelligence to ward off poor choices.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

zodIAC

TODAy'S CLUE: L EQUALS F

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

And erneSt

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

LAGoon

nea CroSSwordS

Sudoku

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

Saturday’s PuzzleAnswer

La TimeS CroSSword

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

BY PHILLIP ALDER

Will Rogers said “An economist’s guess is liable to be as good as anybody else’s.”

A bridge expert’s guess is liable to be better than a lesser player’s. In this deal, how should South plan the play in four spades after West leads the club queen?

South’s jump to four spades is normal, but he might guess to rebid three notrump. North would then have to guess whether to pass (he has 4-3-3-3 distribution) or to remove to four spades (he has four trumps). Here, three no-trump has nine easy tricks.

South has four potential losers: three hearts and one diamond. In real life, he mightguessthateitherEasthastheheart ace or West has the diamond king. But in a lesson setting or a newspaper column, declarer should know that East will have thediamondkingandWesttheheartace. How can South still survive?

If declarer wins the first trick, draws trumps, and takes the diamond finesse, East wins with his king and shifts to the heart queen — the contract is kaput.

Instead, South should duck the first trick. He takes the club continuation with his ace, draws trumps ending on the board, throws a diamond on the club king,cashesthediamondace,andcontinues with the diamond jack. If East plays low, declarer discards a heart and has 10 tricks (six spades, two diamonds and two clubs), even if West produces the king. If East covers, declarer ruffs, returns to dummy with a trump, and cashes the last diamond. He is home with no guesswork. © 2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By

Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For

thought

your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity; for it is great.” Psalms 25:11

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

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