The Times-Picayune 07-24-2025 by The Advocate

Judgeallowssanitationcontract

Controversialdealcould lead to showdown in week’s time

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

An Orleans Civil District Court judge on Wednesday greenlita controversial emergencysanitation contract for the French Quarter and Downtown Development District, opening the possibilityof ashowdown in aweek’stime between that contractor and another nowdoing the job.

Judge Sidney Cates said that stopping the city’stemporary no-

bid contract with Henry Consulting, which Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed after she declared an emergency this month, would interfere with related litigationover who may pick up trash in those neighborhoods.

“I think I’m paying more deference to fundamentalfairness in maintainingthe status quo,” Cates said in court. IV Waste, run by garbage collectionmagnate Sidney TorresIV, is nowhandling pickupsinthe area to

rave reviews from area residents andbusiness owners. After the mayor announced in April she will terminatethe IV Waste contract at the end of this month, plaintiffs seekinganinjunction on theHenry contract claimed the early terminationprovesCantrell conjureda fake emergency to grant thework to Henry Consulting, runbybusinessman Troy Henry With the path nowclear for Henry to begin work on July 31 barring other developments —all

eyes areonthe French Quarter Management District, astatecreated agency that is planning to retain Torres’ ﬁrm under its own contract, per anew state law.That raises the potential for ascenario in which both contractorsare hired to do the samework.

“The judge’sruling today gives us another data point, but in and of itself, would not stop our process,” said JaneCooper,the districtchair The district board is scheduled to voteonthe IV Waste contract

HEATINGUP

Coaches, doctorsoffer tips on stayingcool

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

TheNew Orleans Saints opened training camp Wednesday in Metairie, preparing for aseasonthat will largely transpire inside the climatecontrolled Caesars Superdome. But ﬁrst, they have to endure playing in adifferent kind of dome. Amassive heat dome —ahighpressure system that traps hot air nearthe ground —has settled over much of the United States, pushing temperatures into dangerous territory from Texas and the Midwest to theNortheast. In Louisiana,that dome is helping to drive heat index values as high as 114 degrees, with the National Weather Service warning that heat illness “can occur quickly” without precautions. Louisiana recorded 51 heat-related deaths last year and 88 in 2023, accordingtothe Louisiana Department of Health. So far thisyear,ﬁve people have died and nearly 1,900 have visited an emergencyroom for

heat-related illnesses. Keeping football players cool during the swelteringdays of training camp is critical, and the strategies theyuse can be adapted for anyone spendingtimeoutdoors, especially those most at risk: young children, the elderly,people on certain

on Monday.Henry Consulting is scheduled to begin work on the emergency contract on July 31 Both are planning to moveforward.

“We’regoing to clean.Ifthey’re out there, they can watch and learn,” Torres said, referring to Henry Consulting. “We’renot stopping.”

The Cantrell administration said Wednesday the Henry Consulting emergency contract would proceed, adding it will “continue to workwithall parties to achieve

La.tojoin anti-DEI college accrediting initiative

Southern states uniting to create newagency

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

Louisiana will join other Southern states that are developing anew accrediting agencyfor public colleges and universities, Gov.JeffLandry said Tuesday, echoing aconservative complaint that existing accreditors have imposed liberal values on the institutions they evaluate.

Accrediting agencies hold significantsway over universities,which must meet accreditors’ quality standards in order forstudents to receive federal financial aid. Lately,the little-knownprivate agencies have come underfire from conservative critics.

In April, President Donald Trumpsaid someaccreditors “abused their enormous authority” by requiring schools to meet standards related to diversity,equity and inclusion, or DEI. Last month, Florida’s Republicangovernor,Ron DeSantis, said the public university systems in Florida and ﬁve

ä See COLLEGE, page 5A

Sweat flies off Saints quarterback Tyler Shough as he throws during the first dayoftraining camp on Wednesdayin Metairie.

medications or with underlying medicalconditions, andthose who work outside. Saintsstaff closely monitor the heat index(“feelslike”temperature), humidity, sunangle and a

ä See COOL, page 4A

classroomcameras, updatedrestraint rules

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

Starting this year,Louisiana school districts must installcameras in allspecial-education classrooms and makechanges to their special education policies, undera new state lawthat puts additional safeguards in place forstudents with disabilities. UnderAct 479, whichthe Legislaturepassed this year,schools must place at least one camera in every special-education classroom by February

The law also puts new restrictions on the practiceofphysically restraining students with disabilitiesorputtingtheminseparate “seclusion”

ä See SCHOOLS, page 5A

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Saints quarterbackJakeHaener takes apicture withfans in Metairie on Wednesday,the first dayoftraining camp for theSaintsunder

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

8 taken to hospitals after church concert

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Eight children at a church near Harvard University where a French youth choir was holding a concert suffered seizure-like symptoms and were taken to hospitals, possibly the result of fumes from cleaning supplies, ofﬁcials said.

The symptoms were not lifethreatening, the Cambridge Fire Department said in a news release. About 70 other people in attendance at the concert Tuesday at St. Paul’s Parish in Harvard Square were not affected

The children, described as preteens and early teens, were doing ﬁne Wednesday and were all released from local hospitals, according to the department.

The Cambridge Fire Department’s hazardous materials team determined fumes in the building could have come from cleaning supplies used shortly before the ﬁrst complaint, the department’s release said.

USPS stamps honor

Franklin, letter carriers

The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday marked its upcoming 250th anniversary with the release of new commemorative stamps, including an exclusive, modernized version of the nation’s ﬁrst 5-cent stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin, the ﬁrst postmaster general

The event was held at the USPS headquarters in Washington and included an appearance by the 76th postmaster general. David Steiner, a former board member of the shipping giant FedEx, began in his new role last week.

“For the United States Postal Service, today is a milestone 250 years in the making,” Steiner said in a statement.

The U.S. mail service ofﬁcially turns 250 years old Saturday

Established by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, the Postal Service was launched nearly a year before the colonies declared their break from British rule. It is seen by historians as crucial to the nation’s independence and to keeping the young country uniﬁed.

Franklin was chosen as the first postmaster general because he had previously served in the British postal service for North America, including as coPostmaster General from 1757 until 1774.

The new Forever stamp features a redesigned, modern interpretation of an 1875 reproduction of the original 5-cent stamp released in 1847. President George Washington was featured on the ﬁrst 10-cent stamp.

The USPS has also released a commemorative sheet of 20 interconnected stamps, dubbed “250 Years of Delivering,” that portray a mail carrier making her rounds throughout a year 3 who went missing in Miss. River found dead

MEMPHIS Tenn. Three men who were reported missing while fishing and swimming on a sandbar in the Mississippi River have been found dead near Memphis, Tennessee, authorities said Wednesday Search and rescue teams with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and other Memphis-area agencies began looking for the men Tuesday after they were reported missing near a boat ramp at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, authorities said. The first two bodies were recovered about 11 a.m. and the third about 12:45 p.m., the sheriff’s office said. The three men were described as Hispanic, ranging in age from their 20s to their 50s, the county fire department said.

Groups warn of starvation in Gaza

BY WAFAA SHURAFA and TIA GOLDENBERG

Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip More than 100 charity and human rights groups said Wednesday that Israel’s blockade and ongoing military offensive are pushing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip toward starvation as Israeli strikes killed another 29 people overnight, according to local health ofﬁcials.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, was set to meet with a senior Israeli ofﬁcial about ceaseﬁre talks, a sign that lower-level negotiations that have dragged on for weeks could be approaching a breakthrough.

Experts say Gaza is at risk of famine because of Israel’s blockade and the offensive launched in response to Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023, attack. The head of the World Health Organization said Gaza is “witnessing a deadly surge” in malnutrition and related diseases, and that a “large proportion” of its roughly 2 million people are starving.

Israel says it allows enough aid into the territory and faults delivery efforts by U.N. agencies, which say they are hindered by Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of security Hamas has said it will only release the remaining 50 hostages it holds, around 20 of them believed to be alive, in exchange for a lasting ceaseﬁre and an Israeli withdrawal. Israel has vowed to recover all the captives and continue the war until Hamas has been defeated or disarmed.

In an open letter, 115 organizations, including major international aid groups, said they were watching their own colleagues, as well as the Palestinians they serve, “waste away.”

The letter blamed Israeli restrictions and “massacres” at aid-distribution points. Witnesses, health officials and the U.N human rights office say Israeli forces have repeatedly fired on crowds seeking aid, killing more than 1,000 people. Israel says its forces have only fired warning shots and that the death toll is exaggerated.

The Israeli government’s “restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death,” the letter said.

WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed that criticism, telling reporters that acute malnutrition centers in Gaza are full of patients and lack adequate supplies. He said rates of acute malnutrition exceed 10% and that among pregnant and breastfeeding women, more than 20% are malnourished, often severely

The U.N. health agency’s representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, Dr Rik Peeperkorn, said there were more than 30,000 children under 5 with acute malnutrition in Gaza and that the WHO had reports that at least 21 children under 5 have died so far this year

The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected the criticism in the open letter and accused the groups of “echoing Hamas’ propaganda.” It said it has allowed around 4,500 aid trucks into Gaza since lifting a complete blockade in May, and that more than 700 trucks are wait-

Ukrainians protest anti-corruption law

BY ILLIA NOVIKOV and MEHMET GUZEL Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine Activists on Wednesday called for more protests of a new law that they say weakens Ukraine’s anti-corruption watchdogs, following the ﬁrst major anti-government demonstration in over three years of war

The legislation, which has also drawn rebukes from European Union ofﬁcials and international rights groups, has put increased pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and endangered his public support at a critical phase of the war

On Wednesday evening, delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul for a third round of talks in as many months. The two sides agreed to exchange more prisoners of war

In the morning, Zelenskyy convened the heads of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption and security agencies in response to the outcry against his decision to approve the law that was passed by parliament

“We all hear what society says,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. But he insisted the new legal framework was needed to crack down harder on corruption. “Criminal cases should not drag on for years without verdicts, and those working against Ukraine must not feel comfortable or immune from punishment,” he said.

Zelenskyy said all government agencies agreed to work constructively and respond to public expectations for fairness and effectiveness. A detailed joint action plan is expected within two weeks,

aimed at addressing institutional weaknesses, removing legal hurdles and ensuring justice across the board, he said.

Thousands of people gathered in the capital and other cities Tuesday to urge Zelenskyy to veto the controversial bill. After he approved it, activists went on social media to call for another demonstration Wednesday night in central Kyiv

Zelenskyy acknowledged the protests and criticism in his nightly address Wednesday, and he said government and law enforcement agencies had agreed to come up with speciﬁc steps to “strengthen the rule of law in Ukraine.” Those recommendations, he said, would lead to a bill he would propose to parliament to safeguard the autonomy of the agencies.

Critics say the step could signiﬁcantly weaken the independence of those agencies and give Zelenskyy’s circle greater inﬂuence over investigations.

Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine’s aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in the war

“Limiting the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency hampers Ukraine’s way towards the EU,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned in a post on X.

EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, also on X, noted: “In war, trust between the fighting nation and its leadership is more important than modern weapons difficult to build and to keep, but easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership.”

Court allows Trump to fire CPSC members

BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Trump administration to remove three Democratic members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, who had been ﬁred by President Donald Trump and then reinstated by a federal judge. The justices acted on an emergency appeal from the Justice Department, which argued that the agency is under Trump’s control and the president is free to remove commissioners without cause. That’s what Trump did in May providing no reason for removing all three

Democratic commissioners on the ﬁveperson board, despite a federal law that allows commissioners to be ﬁred only for “neglect of duty or malfeasance.”

The court provided a brief, unsigned explanation that the case is similar to earlier ones in which it allowed Trump to ﬁre board members of other independent agencies, whom Congress protected from arbitrary dismissals.

The three liberal justices dissented.

The fired commissioners had been serving seven-year terms after being nominated by President Joe Biden.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Maddox in Baltimore ruled in June that the dismissals were unlawful.

ing to be picked up and distributed by the U.N.

That’s an average of around 70 trucks a day, the lowest rate of the war and far below the 500 to 600 trucks a day the U.N. says are needed, and which entered during a six-week ceaseﬁre earlier this year

The U.N. says it has struggled to deliver aid inside Gaza because of Israeli military restrictions, ongoing ﬁghting and a breakdown of law and order An alternative system established by Israel and an American contractor has been marred by violence and controversy

An ofﬁcial familiar with the negotiations said Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was traveling to Rome to meet Witkoff on Thursday The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive negotiations. The evolving deal is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phases in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Meta launches new teen safety features

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY AP technology writer

Instagram parent company Meta has introduced new safety features aimed at protecting teens who use its platforms, including information about accounts that message them and an option to block and report accounts with one tap.

The company also announced Wednesday that it has removed thousands of accounts that were leaving sexualized comments or requesting sexual images from adult-run accounts of kids under 13. Of these, 135,000 were commenting and another 500,000 were linked to accounts that “interacted inappropriately,”

Meta said in a blog post.

The heightened measures arrive as social media companies face increased scrutiny over how their platform affects the mental health and wellbeing of younger users

This includes protecting children from predatory adults and scammers who

ask then extort them for nude images.

Meta said teen users blocked more than a million accounts and reported another million after seeing a “safety notice” that reminds people to “be cautious in private messages and to block and report anything that makes them uncomfortable.”

Earlier this year, Meta began to test the use of artificial intelligence to determine if kids are lying about their ages on Instagram, which is technically only allowed for those over 13. If it is determined that a user is misrepresenting their age, the account will automatically become a teen account, which has more restrictions than an adult account Teen accounts are private by default. Private messages are restricted so teens can only receive them from people they follow or are already connected to. In 2024, the company made teen accounts private by default.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALEX BABENKO Protesters chant Tuesday while holding signs that read ‘I stand for you, and for those who are on

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Postmaster General David Steiner looks at a Benjamin Franklin stamp unveiled to mark the 250th anniversary of the Postal Service’s founding Wednesday in Washington.

Housepanel votestosubpoenaDOJ forEpstein files

BY STEPHENGROVES and MATT BROWN Associated Press

WASHINGTON AHouse subcommittee on Wednesday votedto subpoena the Department of Justice forﬁlesinthe sex trafﬁcking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein after Democrats successfully goaded GOP lawmakerstodefy President Donald Trump and Republican leadership to support the action.

The vote showed the intensifying push for disclosures in the Epstein investigation even asHouse Speaker Mike Johnson —caught between demands from Trump and clamoring from his own members forthe House to act —was sending lawmakers home aday early for its August recess. TheHouse Committee on Oversight also issued asubpoena Wednesday for Ghislaine Maxwell, aconvicted sex offenderand girlfriend of the late Epstein, to testify before committee ofﬁcials in August

Meanwhile, Democrats on asubcommittee of the powerful House Oversight Committee made amotion for the subpoena Wednesday afternoon. Three Republicans on thepanel voted with Demo-

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries,

Clark,D-Mass., left, the House minority

and

Pete

D-Calif chair of the House Democratic Caucus, talks to reporters Wednesdayatthe Capitol about the decisionbySpeakerMikeJohnson, R-Benton, to leaveWashington early

cratsfor the subpoena,sending it through on an 8-2 votetally

TheRepublican subcommittee chairman,Rep.Clay Higgins of Lafayette, said that work was beginning to draftthe subpoena but didnot giveatimeline for when it would be issued. “I’ve never han-

dled asubpoena like this. This is some fascinating stuff,”saidHiggins,who voted againstthe motion. Democrats cheered the action as proof that their push for disclosuresinthe Epstein investigation was growingstronger.The committee agreed to redact informa-

tiononvictims, yet Democrats successfully blocked apush by Republicans to only subpoenainformation thatwas deemed to be “credible” —language that Trump has also usedwhendiscussing what he would support releasing.

“Democrats are focused on transparency andare pushing back against the corruption against DonaldTrump. What is Donald Trumphidingthathewon’t release theEpstein files?”said Rep. RobertGarcia, the top Democrat on the oversight committee.

unsuccessfully implored his supporters to forget about.

“They’re ﬂeeing ourwork, our job and sending us back home because they don’twant to vote to release these ﬁles. This is something that they ran on. This is something that they talked about: the importance of transparency,holding pedophilesaccountable,” said Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa.

Democratic leaders are hopingtomake the issueabout much morethan just Epstein, who died in his New York jail cell six years agowhile he awaitedtrialonsex trafﬁcking charges.

EarlierWednesday,Johnson, R-Benton, had said there was no needtovoteona separate piece of bipartisan legislation calling for the release of the Epstein files this week because the Trumpadministration is “already doing everything within their power to release them.”

YetDemocrats have delighted in pressing Republicans to support the release of the ﬁles. Their effortshaltedthe GOP’slegislative agenda for theweek andturned attention to an issue that Trumphas

“Why haven’tRepublicans released theEpsteinfilestothe American people? It’s reasonable to conclude that Republicans are continuing to protect the lifestyles of therichand theshameless, even if that includes pedophiles,” saidHouseDemocratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries at anews conference. “So it’sall connected.”

Trump’sJustice Department has also sought the release of testimonyfrom secret grand jury proceedings in the Epstein case, but afederal judge in Florida rejected thatrequest on Wednesday. Asimilar records request is still pending in New York.

Gabbardattacks Trump’senemies on Russia investigation

BY DAVID KLEPPER, ERIC TUCKER and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON As thena-

tional intelligence director, Tulsi Gabbard is responsible forguarding America’s secrets and discovering threats from overseas. But when she made asurprise appearance in the White House brieﬁng room Wednesday,her targets were President Donald Trump’spolitical enemies

Escalating her attempts to undermine the long-settled conclusion that Russia tried to help Trump beat Hillary Clinton for the presidency nearly adecade ago,she unspooled what she called unshakable proof that thenPresident Barack Obama and his advisers plotted nothing short of acoup.

“They conspired tosubvert the will of the American people,” she said, claiming they fabricated evidenceto taint Trump’svictory Little of what she saidwas new, andmuch of it was baseless. Gabbard said her investigation into the formerDemocratic administration was designed to stop the weaponizationofnational security institutions, but it spurred more questions about her own independence atop aspying system intended to provide unvarnished intelligence. Gabbard, aformer Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii who ran for president herself beforejoining Trump’sidiosyncratic political ecosystem, seemed prepared to use her presentation to burnish her own standing. She was trailedby her cinematographer husband, who held avideo camera to capture the moment. Trump appeared satisﬁed.

Still, Trumpwas quick to reward Gabbard’sloyalty this week, calling her“the hottestperson in theroom.”

On Wednesday, she released areport by Republican staffofthe House Intelligence Committee during the ﬁrst Trump administration. It doesnot dispute that Russia interfered in the2016 election but cites what it says were tradecraft failings in theassessmentreached by the intelligence community that Russian President VladimirPutin inﬂuenced theelection becauseheintended for Trump to win.

bard’sreport and not his ties to Epstein.

“Wecaught Hillary Clinton.Wecaught Barack Hussein Obama …you ought take alook at that andstop talking about nonsense,”

Trumpsaid Tuesday

The CIA declined to commentonGabbard’sremarks

Wednesday

Otherrecentreleases

It was adisplaythatcemented Gabbard’srole as one of Trump’s chief agents of retribution,deliveringofﬁcial recognition of Trump’s grievances about theRussia investigation that shadowed hisfirstterm.The focus on ayears-old scandal also served Trump’sattempts to shift attention from the Jeffrey Epsteincase and questions about the president’sown association with an abuser of underage girls.

Gabbardtouts revelations

During her White House remarks, Gabbard said she hasreferredthe documents to the JusticeDepartment to consider for apossible criminal investigation Obama’spost-presidential ofﬁce declined to comment Wednesday but issueda rare response aday earlier “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and aweak attempt at distraction,” said PatrickRodenbush, an Obamaspokesman The White House rejected questions about the timing of Gabbard’srevelations and whether theyweredesigned to curry favor with Trump or

Gabbard wentbeyond some of theconclusions of thereportindescribing its findings from the White House podium.She,along withthe report, also seized on thefact that adossier including uncorroborated tips and salacious gossip about Trump’sties to Russiawas referenced in aclassiﬁed versionannex of an intelligence community assessmentreleased in 2017 that detailed Russia’sinterference.

The dossier was not thebasisfor theFBI’sdecision to open an investigation in July 2016 into potentialcoordination between theTrump campaign and Russia,but Trump supporters have seizedon the unverified innuendo in the document totry to undercut the broader probe.

Timing promptsquestions

Responding to aquestion from areporter about Gabbard’smotivations,White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused journalistsoflooking for astory where there wasn’tone.

“The only people who are suggesting that shewould release evidence to boost herstanding are the people in this room,” Leavitt said.

On Friday,Gabbard’s ofﬁce released areport that downplayed the extent of Russian interferenceinthe 2016 election by highlighting Obama administration emails showing officials had concluded before andafterthe presidential race thatMoscow had not hacked stateelection systems to manipulatevotes in Trump’sfavor

But Obama’sDemocratic administration never suggested otherwise, even as it exposed other meansby which Russiainterfered in the election, including throughamassive hackand-leak operation of Democratic emails by intelligence operatives working with WikiLeaks, as well as acovert inﬂuence campaign aimed at swayingpublicopinion and sowing discordthrough fake social media posts.

Dems call on hertoresign Lawmakers from both partieshavelongstressed the need for an independent intelligence service.DemocratssaidGabbard’s reports show she has placed partisanship and loyalty to Trump over her duty and some have

called for her resignation. “Itseems as though the Trumpadministration is willing to declassify anything andeverything except the Epstein ﬁles,” Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in astatement Wednesday Warner predicted Gabbard’sactions could prompt U.S. alliestoshare less information forfear it would be politicized or recklessly declassiﬁed. But Gabbard enjoys strong support amongRepublicans. Rep. Rick Crawford, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee,saidshe wasworking to put the intelligencecommunity“on the path to regaining the trust of the American people.”

Johnson

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE

D-N.y.

anked by Rep. Katherine

whip,

Rep.

Aguilar

measurement called “wet bulb globe temperature” to determine how long outdoor practice is safe Sometimes, that might look like 15or 30-minute stretches.

“We start practice inside for a walk-through or stretch, then shrink the time we’re exposed outside,” said Ted Rath, director of sports performance for the team

During practice, players rotate through two large air-conditioned tents and a “cooling box,” which Rath said can be chilled to as low as 35 degrees. Even a few minutes in these spaces can help reduce players’ core body temperature before they return to the ﬁeld

For people without personal walk-in freezers, cooling down might look like stepping inside a gas station or sitting in an air-conditioned vehicle for a few minutes, said Rath.

Beyond air conditioning, the Saints use a variety of tools to cool the body quickly Rath recommends a method backed by Stanford research: palm cooling. Professional football players use glove-like devices to rapidly cool the blood in their palms, which lowers core temperature.

For those without high-tech gear, Rath suggests a low-cost version: “Throw a couple water bottles in the freezer,” he said. When you start to heat up, holding the cold bottles in your palms can offer a quick cool down.

Other simple tactics, like placing cold towels on the neck or keeping a cloth handy to wipe away sweat, help to maintain the body’s natural cooling process.

Wearing lightweight, light-colored and loose-ﬁtting clothing also

Continued from page 1A

the best possible outcomes for its residents.”

A bitter fight

The bitter sanitation debate began when the City Council refused to sign off on a seven-year contract Henry won through a competitive bid last year. That long-term contract is tied up in court for the foreseeable future, and the fight has since centered on the rights to a temporary contract Cantrell has inked in the meantime.

On one side of the feud are Cantrell, Henry and his subcontractor veteran trash hauler Richard’s Disposal. On the other are most council members and many French Quarter residents and business owners. Each side accuses the other of underhandedly trying to install favored contractors and spawning a crisis that threatens continuity of service.

“Which of us as citizens in the city of New Orleans get to have our preferred garbage pickup person?” said Kim Boyle, a lawyer for Henry, in the court hearing on Wednesday “It doesn’t work that way There are people who have been elected to make these decisions.” For their part, council members have pulled out every stop to try to kill the Henry contract, starting with their July 10 vote to

helps sweat evaporate and heat escape. Hats offer protection but can trap heat; removing them during breaks, like players remove their helmets, helps release body heat more quickly Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can escalate quickly, especially when humidity interferes with the body’s ability to sweat and cool itself, said Dr Gregory Stewart, team physician for Tulane Athletics.

“You’re already getting hot. Now you’re getting dehydrated on top of that,” Stewart said. The humidity in Louisiana makes it difﬁcult for sweat to evaporate, leaving the body with fewer ways to release heat.

As dehydration progresses, Stewart explained fluid shifts inside the body Swelling in the hands and feet is common. So are cramps and lightheadedness, the

repeal the emergency order issued by the mayor on the previous day They are backed by Attorney General Liz Murrill, who in a recent friend-of-the-court brief called Cantrell’s emergency declaration “a manufactured pretext to circumvent procurement laws.”

Three of Cantrell’s top aides this week also questioned whether Henry and Richard’s were able to do the work and said the mayor blindsided them by approving the contract.

In a social media video Tuesday, council President JP Morrell claimed the emergency contract is “a false, altered public document,” and accused Cantrell of backdating it to give the appearance it was signed before the council’s repeal vote. Daniel Davillier, another attorney for Henry, did not respond to Morrell’s claims. Neither did Cantrell’s press ofﬁce.

Lawsuits galore

The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Leonard Levenson, argued in court on Wednesday the contract isn’t valid because, he said, it was signed after that vote. The council voted to repeal the emergency declaration on July 10, and the contract is dated July 9. Levenson pointed to an email exchange Morrell posted online to claim it was backdated.

The email exchange shows Davillier sending a draft with Henry’s signature to a city attorney on July 10. The

early signs of heat exhaustion. In severe cases, when the body can no longer compensate, core temperatures can spike to dangerous levels, “essentially cooking some of your internal organs,” he said. Heat illness typically develops in stages. The earliest is heat cramps, which are painful muscle spasms in the legs or abdomen caused by the loss of ﬂuids and electrolytes through sweating. That can progress to heat exhaustion, marked by fatigue, dizziness, nausea and heavy sweating. If not addressed, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a medical emergency deﬁned by confusion, loss of consciousness and a core body temperature above 104 degrees

At University Medical Center, emergency physician Dr Peter DeBlieux sees the consequences

city attorney, Colette White, replied two and a half hours later with what she said was a “fully executed” contract, signed by herself and the mayor The council’s repeal vote occurred in between that exchange, around 11:30 a.m.

”If the contract was signed after the council terminated the emergency then the contract is not valid,” Levenson said.

Lawyers for Cantrell and Henry Consulting countered that the council had no legal right to repeal the emergency declaration, since, in their view the council is not a “parish governing authority” authorized to do so under state law They also said the council vote was invalid because it was done by motion, not by ordinance.

Cates didn’t opine on the merits of those arguments, but said an injunction could complicate an already fraught situation with separate lawsuits over Cantrell’s attempts to hire Henry Consulting already pending before the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal and a different Civil District Court judge.

The plaintiffs in June also sued to stop a separate, seven-year contract Henry Consulting won in a competitive solicitation last year Judge Ethel Julien stayed those proceedings because the contract is pending before the 4th Circuit.

“You run the risk of inconsistent judgments,” Cates said Wednesday The next legal chapter

of waiting too long to cool down.

The escalation from heat exhaustion to heatstroke can take “nanoseconds,” he said.

DeBlieux urges immediate action by removing the person from the direct heat, getting them cool liquids and cooling them down through airﬂow and evaporation. The most effective approach, he said, is brushing the skin with cool towels and then fanning it, creating an artiﬁcial sweat mechanism.

Inside the hospital, doctors use cooling blankets, misting fans and specialized IVs that chill the blood directly But outside the ER, basic steps like rest, shade, airﬂow and misting are what make the difference.

He also advises people to monitor hydration by watching their urine.

“If you can’t force yourself to go

in a controversy that has roiled City Hall for nearly nine months will unfold at the 4th Circuit and possibly the state Supreme Court after that, as the higher courts decide whether to let Henry perform the work over the long haul.

The courts will consider whether the council can block professional service contracts by refusing to sign off on them, a power the council gave itself in a

urinate every two hours, you’re not drinking enough,” he said. “Your urine should be light yellow — like watered-down lemonade.”

Sugary caffeinated or alcoholic drinks can worsen dehydration because they increase urine output.

It’s difﬁcult to pinpoint an exact temperature that can become dangerous because heat affects people differently and risk depends on activity, environment and overall health.

DeBlieux said those at greatest risk are the very young and the very old, those with heart conditions, people who use alcohol or drugs, and anyone taking medications that affect hydration or thermoregulation, including diuretics, beta blockers, psychiatric medications and stimulants.

Even a heat index in the 80s can be dangerous in the wrong conditions, said DeBlieux.

Acclimating to extreme heat also takes time. A player coming from a dry, high-altitude climate like Utah needs more time to adapt than someone who’s already used to Gulf Coast conditions Stewart said The same goes for high school band members, athletes or young children starting summer programs after months spent mostly indoors.

The ﬁrst week to 10 days is the most critical. Tulane players begin with minimal gear and gradually build up to full pads as their bodies adjust.

Even pro athletes with medical teams and cooling tents can get “borderline” to overheating, Rath said. Telling a family member or friend your plans to be outdoors in hot weather can be a simple but important precaution.

“It’s a team effort,” Rath said. Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate.com.

2023 ordinance that Cantrell didn’t oppose. Judge Paulette Irons in December ordered the council to sign the long-term Henry Consulting contract, which council members have objected to. Irons ruled any council role in contracting is strictly ministerial. Another judge, Jennifer Medley, declared the council ordinance null and void in a different case, which is also pending before the 4th Circuit.

Arguments in the Henry Consulting case are scheduled for Aug. 5. It’s not clear when the appellate court will rule. Levenson said in court that any 4th Circuit ruling is likely to head to the Supreme Court, possibly pushing a final determination on the long-term Henry contract until after a new mayor takes ofﬁce next year Email Ben Myers at bmyers@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD Saints wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., left, and running back Alvin Kamara cool off in the cooling trailer during the first day of training camp in Metairie on Wednesday.

other Southernstates —Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas —will create anew accreditor to compete with the “accreditation cartel.”

On Tuesday,Landry signedan executive order creating atask force to explore adoptingthatnew accreditor,which he saidwill offer “an alternative to the out-of-touch accreditation system.”

“This task force will ensure Louisiana’spublicuniversities move away from DEI-driven mandates and toward asystem rooted in merit-based achievement,” he said in astatement.

Known as the Commission for Public Higher Education,the new accreditor must still be approved by the U.S. Department of Education, aprocess that typically takes at least two years. Depending on the recommendations of Louisiana’snew 13-member task force, which is expected to meet forthe ﬁrst time next month, thestate’s public university systems could pursue dual accreditation from their current accreditor and the new agency while it awaits federal approval.

University leaders in states that joined the effort for anew accreditor say they want astreamlined process that’sless burdensome

SCHOOLS

Continued from page1A

rooms. For example,aschool nurse or other staffer must visit any student who is secluded or restrained andschoolpersonnel must ﬁle detailed incidentreports. Those changes take effect Dec. 1, though districtshave untilMay to submit updated policies to the state. The law also authorizes thestate education department to develop afree “crisis intervention” training program for school staffers on how to properly restrain students during emergencies. The training is expected to roll out this fall.

The changes comeafter a2024 report from the Louisiana LegislativeAuditor’sOfﬁce foundthat, despite warnings from advocates and the federal government that using

and more focused on student outcomes.

Higher-education experts say that developing an accreditor speciﬁcally to serve public institutions could offer some advantages. But some have raised concerns about college accreditation becoming overly politicized, with politicianswielding the process which Trump has called his“secret weapon” —asacudgel to reshape higher education

“Accreditation is gettingcaught up in theculture wars,” said John Przypyszny,aWashington, D.C.based attorney who specializes in highereducation law. “When youstart lookingataccreditation through anideological lens, it’s just not ahealthy dynamic.”

Until recently,college accreditation was abureaucraticprocess that mostly played out behind the scenes.

Nonproﬁt accreditors —which arerecognized by thefederal government but operate independently —assess school quality by looking at finances, curriculum, faculty,student achievement and other factors. Louisiana and surroundingstates are accredited by theSouthernAssociation of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACS

Some university administrators call theaccreditation processan expensive box-checking exercise that does little to improve student outcomes. Critics on the right

seclusion and restraint in schools canendanger studentsand potentially violate their rights, thestate Education Department had failed to properly monitorhow public schoolsuse the practices. With the ﬁrst day of school just weeksaway,districts“should be updating theirpolicies, engagingwithstakeholdersand workingwith contractors, if theydon’t already have one, aboutinstallingthe camerastoensure they meet the deadline,” said Ashley McReynolds,programdirector for Arc of Louisiana, anonproﬁt that advocatesfor people with disabilities. Some schoolsystems areahead of thecurve.

Under adifferentlaw passed in 2024,schoolswererequiredtoinstallcameras inspecial-education classroomswithin 90 days if aparentrequested one. The state allocated $8 million for that purpose,

GOV.

have slammed some accreditors for assessing colleges’ efforts to enroll studentsfromdiverse backgrounds and ensure they feel welcomed and supported on campus.

On the campaigntrail, Trump promised to “ﬁre theradical left accreditors.”InApril, he issued an executive order directing theU.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahontorescind approvalofany accreditorthat requires colleges or universities to adoptdiversity, equity or inclusion practices, which he called“unlawfuldiscrimination.” Trump, whoeventually wants to eliminate the Education Department,also ordered McMahon to approve new accreditors. Florida and itspartner states seizedonTrump’scall for new accreditors, announcing in June their plan to establish the Commission for Public Higher Education.

According to the group’sbusiness plan, the new accreditor will be anonproﬁtincorporated in Florida andinitially fundedby$4million from that state’sLegislature. It aims to begin accrediting insti-

but only $2.2 million of those funds had been used as of December 2024, according to the newbill’s ﬁscal note.

Districts can use the leftover money to install cameras under the newstate law, the bill’sﬁscal note says. Around 1,600 classrooms need cameras, which cost about $5,000 to install per classroom,according to thenote.

East Baton Rouge Parishschools previously received $500,000 to install cameras,said Janet Armelin Harris, the district’sspecial education director.The district has already installed between 25 and 30 cameras at the request of parents, she said. Now it will need to add cameras to about 200 additional classrooms.

“Weare making every effort to move forward with planning and preparation to meet the deadline responsibly andefficiently,” said Taylor Gast, adistrict spokesperson.

tutionsnextyear while working to obtain approval from the U.S. Education Department by 2028. The plan follows earlier disputes between Florida and SACS, the Southern states accreditor,which in the past has raised concerns about political interference in Florida’spublic university system.

In June, DeSantis said the accreditor hadtold the state’s universities, “You’re not going to get accredited unless youdoDEI,” the online publication Inside Higher Ed reported.

SACS,unlike some accreditors in other regions, does not list diversity,equityand inclusioninits standards.

“I don’treally think that’san issue that SACS has had strong, or really anystandards, in,”said Przypyszny,the higher-education attorney.“DEI is alittle bit of red herring, in my view.”

SACS President-elect Stephen Pruitt, who starts next month, said he appreciates Landry establishing atask force focused on accreditation.

“Accreditation is central to quality education,” he said in an email Wednesday, adding that “accreditorsare heldtohigh standards and must themselves be reviewed.”

Before Louisiana’s public universities can change accreditors the consortium of states must get their agency up andrunning —a potentially heavy lift.

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, an advocacy

Schools will also need to train their staff on how to intervene withstudents experiencing abehavioral crisis.

The state Education Department is scheduled to present information aboutthe training, which will be provided freetoschools, at next month’sstate board of education meeting.

Thelaw speciﬁestopicsthatthe training should cover.Educators should learn how to deescalate conﬂicts, howtodetermine when studentsare at risk of harming themselves or others and how to restrain or seclude students, when necessary,inaway that’ssafe and respectstheir rights.

Board President Ronnie Morris said the trainings will be offered in two “tiers.” One tier will cover best practices for educators who are already certiﬁedtowork with studentswith disabilities, while the other will be fornoncertiﬁed

group, said on itswebsitethis week that thesix states seeking to establish anew accreditor must still hire astafffor the agency,set its standards and complete the review process for several institutions.

“All these steps must be successfully completed before the new accreditorcan apply forrecognition,” the group wrote.

Landry’sorder says the new Task Force on Public Higher Education Reform should assess the potential beneﬁts of switching to the new accreditor and identify any laws or administrative actions needed to makethe move. The new accreditor will focus on student outcomes and efﬁciency, while preventing the “imposition of divisive ideological content on institutions,” the order states.

The task force will include the commissioner of higher education; the chair of the Board of Regents, which oversees the state’spublic university systems; the board chairs of the LSU, Southern, University of Louisiana and Louisiana Communityand Technical Colleges systems; andseveral lawmakers andmembers of the Landry administration. The group, whose chair Landry will appoint, must hold itsﬁrst meetingbythe end of August and issue recommendations by Jan. 30.

Email Patrick Wall at patrick. wall@theadvocate.com.

teachers and staff.Teacher preparatory programswill also be required to administer training.

In Jefferson Parish, Louisiana’s largest district, School Board memberDerrick Shepherd estimated thatthey’ll need to train between 300 and 400 teachers and personnel. He saidthe district is awaiting further guidance from the state on how to roll out the training.

Anybody who interactswith children will be encouraged to take one of the training programs, he said, including secretaries, principals and other staffmembers.

If achildhas an outburst, the main concern is making sure personnel know “how to calm them down, how to handle them gently,” Shepherd said, “without escalating the situation.”

Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.

BUSINESS

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Feds cancel $4.9B loan for energy project

JEFFERSON CITY Mo. — The U.S. Department of Energy has canceled a conditional $4.9 billion loan for the 800-mile Grain Belt Express transmission line that developers have sought to build for over a decade.

The Department of Energy said in a news release dated Wednesday that the conditions necessary to issue the loan guarantee were unlikely to be met and that “it is not critical for the federal government to have a role in supporting this project.”

It added that the loan, issued by the Biden administration in November, was “one of many conditional commitments that were rushed out the door” in the administration’s ﬁnal days.

The project has long been a target of Missouri Republicans, with U.S. Sen Josh Hawley calling for its cancellation this year Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been investigating the project.

Bailey on Wednesday celebrated the decision to cancel the loan. In a statement, he called the Grain Belt Express a “massive green energy scam,” saying it was “propped up by the Biden administration to benefit corporate interests at the expense of family farms.” Uber will allow women to pick drivers, riders

Uber is rolling out a new program for women in the U.S. that allows them to choose female riders or drivers, the company said Wednesday

“Across the U.S. women riders and drivers have told us they want the option to be matched with other women on trips,” Uber said in a statement.

Women customers will see an option called “women drivers” and choose a different driver based on the pick-up time. Female riders will also be able to pre-book trips with women drivers Only 1 in 5 Uber drivers are women, according to the company

Women drivers will be able to choose the “women rider preference” option in their settings to get paired with female customers

“When we make our platform better for women, we make it better for everyone,” Camiel Irving, Uber’s vice president of U.S. and Canada operations, said in a release. “It’s about giving women more choice, more control, and more comfort when they ride and drive.”

Rival Lyft started a similar program in 2023 for women and nonbinary users.

Apple launches monthly AppleCare plan

Apple Inc. is launching a new product-insurance plan that bundles coverage for as many as three devices, part of a broader effort to drum up subscription revenue.

The new offering is called AppleCare One and costs $20 a month, the company said Wednesday The service also includes battery replacements, all-hours customer support and coverage for accidental damage, such as drops and spills. Any additional products added to the plan will cost an extra $6 a month. Customers can sign up for the plan on their iPhone, iPad or Mac, or in person at a retail store. The service, which will be limited to the U.S. for now, launches widely on Thursday The new program will cover all products already offered under the existing AppleCare+ plan, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, watches the Vision Pro headset, displays, headphones, TV set-top boxes and HomePod speakers. The service covers any product model or variation, so users can bundle for example — an iPhone 16 Pro with the Vision Pro and a newermodel MacBook Pro, without it affecting the cost.

It also includes theft and loss coverage, which lets customers get a new iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch if their device is lost or stolen.

BY ALEX VEIGA Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slid in June to the slowest pace since last September as mortgage rates remained elevated and the national median sales price rose to an all-time high of $435,300. Existing home sales fell 2.7% last month from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.93 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday

Sales were flat compared with June last year The latest home sales fell short of the 4.01 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet

Home prices increased on an annual basis for the 24th consecutive month to reach record heights.

The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since early 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Home sales fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.

and rising prices have intensiﬁed the hardships for would-be homebuyers who had already been pummeled by a real estate market that overheated during the pandemic. And while the number of homes on the market has increased sharply from a year ago, it remains well below normal levels, meaning prices continue to rise even as sales slow

gage has remained relatively close to 7%, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. Homes purchased last month likely went under contract in May and June, when the average rate on a 30-year mortgage ranged from 6.76% to 6.89%. Yun estimates that if the average rate on a 30-year mortgage were to fall to 6%, that would lead to an additional roughly half-million more homes sold. The housing market’s affordability crunch is keeping many aspiring ﬁrst-time homebuyers on the sidelines. They accounted for 30% of homes sales last month, unchanged from May NAR said. Median sales price

Sluggish home sales led to a lackluster spring homebuying season, traditionally the busiest period of the year for the housing market Stubbornly high mortgage rates

“The second half of the year really depends on what happens with mortgage rates,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. High mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting their purchasing power So far this year, the average rate on a 30-year mort-

Stocks soar to more records following U.S.-Japan trade deal

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK U.S. stocks set more records on

Wednesday following a trade deal between the world’s No. 1 and No. 4 economies, one that would lower proposed tariffs on Japanese imports coming to the United States.

The S&P 500 added 0.8% to its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 507 points, or 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.6% to hit its own record

Stocks jumped even more in Tokyo, where the Nikkei 225 rallied 3.5% after President Donald Trump announced a trade framework that would place a 15% tax on imports coming from Japan. That’s lower than the 25% rate that Trump had earlier said would kick in on Aug. 1.

“It’s a sign of the times that markets would cheer 15% tariffs,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management. “A year ago, that level of tariffs would be shocking. Today, we breathe a sigh of relief.”

Trump has proposed stiff taxes on imports from around the world, which carry the double-edged risk of driving up inﬂation for U.S. households while slowing the economy

But many of Trump’s tariffs are currently on pause, giving time to reach deals with other countries that could lower the tax rates.

Trump also announced a trade agreement with the Philippines on Tuesday

U.S. automakers are concerned about President Donald Trump’s agreement to tariff Japanese vehicles at 15%, saying they will face steeper import taxes on steel, aluminum and parts than their competitors.

“We need to review all the details of the agreement, but this is a deal that will charge lower tariffs on Japanese autos with no U.S. content,” said Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents the Big 3 American automakers, General Motors, Ford and Jeep-maker Stellantis.

Blunt said in an interview the U.S. companies and workers “deﬁnitely are at a disadvantage” because they face a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25% tariff on parts and ﬁnished vehicles, with some exceptions for products covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that went into effect in 2020.

The framework with Japan will remove regulations that prevent American vehicles from being sold in that country, the White House has said, adding that it would be possible for vehicles built in Detroit to be shipped directly to Japan and ready to be

sold.

But Blunt said that foreign auto producers, including the U.S., Europe and South Korea, have just a 6% share in Japan raising skepticism that simply having the open market that the Trump administration says will exist in that country will be sufﬁcient.

“Tough nut to crack, and I’d be very surprised if we see any meaningful market penetration in Japan,” Blunt said So far, the U.S. economy has seemed to hold up OK despite the pressures on it. And tariffs already in place may be having less of an effect than expected, at least when it comes to the prices that U.S households are paying at the moment.

“The main lesson about tariffs so far is that passthrough to consumer prices is tracking somewhat lower than in 2019,” according to Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle.

Tariffs are certainly having an effect, to be sure, as big U.S companies across industries have been showing through their proﬁt updates in recent days.

Hasbro took a $1 billion non-cash hit to its results for the spring to write down the value of some of its assets following a review triggered by the implementation of tariffs. It said tariffs have had no impact yet on how

much proﬁt it’s making from each $1 of its sales, but it expects to see costs ramp during the current quarter

Texas Instruments’ stock fell despite delivering results for the latest quarter that were above analysts’ expectations It gave a forecasted range for proﬁt in the current quarter whose midpoint fell a bit shy of Wall Street’s.

Analysts pointed to some cautious commentary from Texas Instruments executives about how the uncertainty created by tariffs could slow demand.

Most of the stocks on Wall Street nevertheless rose, including a 14.6% jump for GE Vernova. The energy company not only delivered a stronger profit than analysts expected, it also raised its forecasts for revenue from its power and electriﬁcation businesses.

Lamb Weston rallied 16.3% after the supplier of French fries and other potato products delivered better results for the latest quarter than analysts expected and said it expects customers will continue to eat fries even with an uncertain economy It also announced a plan to cut at least $250 million in costs by cutting about 4% of its workforce and making other moves.

Trump’s AI plan leans heavily on Silicon Valley

BY MATT O’BRIEN and ALI SWENSON Associated Press

Trump

President Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping new plan for America’s “global dominance” in artificial intelligence, proposing to cut back environmental regulations to speed up the construction of AI supercomputers while promoting the sale of U.S.-made AI technologies at home and abroad. The “AI Action Plan” introduced Wednesday embraces many of the ideas voiced by tech industry lobbyists and the Silicon Valley investors who backed Trump’s election campaign last year Trump was also expected to sign three executive orders at

an afternoon event. The unveiling was co-hosted by the bipartisan Hill and Valley Forum and the “All-In” podcast, a business and technology show hosted by four tech investors and entrepreneurs, which includes Trump’s AI czar, David Sacks. The plan includes some familiar tech lobby pitches. That includes accelerating the sale of AI technology abroad and making it easier to construct the energy-hungry data center buildings that are needed to form and run AI products. It also includes some of the AI culture war preoccupations of the circle of venture capitalists who endorsed Trump last year Trump had given his tech advisers six months to come up with new AI policies after revoking President Joe Biden’s signature AI guardrails on his ﬁrst day in ofﬁce. The plan prioritizes AI innovation and adoption, urging the re-

moval of any “red tape” that could be slowing down adoption across industries and government. But it also seeks to guide the industry’s growth to address a longtime rallying point for the tech industry’s loudest Trump backers: countering the liberal bias they see in AI chatbots such as ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini.

Trump’s plan aims to block the government from contracting with tech companies unless they “ensure that their systems are objective and free from top-down ideological bias.” A Biden-era framework for evaluating the riskiest AI applications should also be stripped of any references to “misinformation, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and climate change,” the plan said.

The plan says the nation’s leading AI models should protect free speech and be “founded on American values,” though it doesn’t de-

industry ideas

fine which values those should include.

Sacks, a former PayPal executive and now Trump’s top AI adviser, has been criticizing “woke AI” for more than a year, fueled by Google’s February 2024 rollout of an AI image generator that, when asked to show an American Founding Father, created pictures of Black, Asian and Native American men. Google quickly ﬁxed its tool, but the “Black George Washington” moment remained a parable for the problem of AI’s perceived political bias.

Chief among the plan’s goals is to speed up permitting and loosen environmental regulation to accelerate construction on new data centers and factories. It condemns “radical climate dogma” and recommends lifting a number of environmental restrictions, including clean air and water laws.

Victims’familiesaddress Idahokiller

BryanKohberger receives four life sentences

BY REBECCA BOONE and GENE JOHNSON Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho Police released documents Wednesday detailingtheir investigation into the murdersof four University of Idaho students

Bryan Kohberger wassentenced to life in prison without parole in the yearslong case.

In one of the documents, Moscow Police Department’slead detective, Brett Payne, described walking throughthe crimescene and discovering thevictims,eachof whom had multiple stab wounds. Other documents describe police interviews with friends andacquaintances of the victims.Some names have been redacted from the documents.

During asentencing hearing earlier Wednesday,one after another, the friendsand family of the four University of Idaho students murdered by Bryan Kohberger vented their emotions in sobs, insults and curses before apacked courtroom Wednesday as he was sentenced to life in prison.

Ben Mogen, the father of MadisonMogen, credited her with helpingtokeephim alive throughhis

for brutally stabbing fourUniversity of Idaho students to death nearly three yearsago

ﬁght with addiction. He called her “the only thing I’mproud of.” DylanMortenson, aroommate of the victims who told police of seeing astrange man with bushy eyebrows and aski mask in theirhome that night, calledKohberger “a hollowvessel,something less than human.”She shook with tears as she describedhow Kohberger “took the light they carriedintoeach room.”

“Hell will be waiting,”Kristi Goncalves, the motherofKaylee Goncalves, told thekiller

Judge Steven Hippler ordered Kohberger to servefour life sentences without parole forfirstdegree murder in the deaths of Mogen,Goncalves, XanaKernodle and Ethan Chapin. The defendant was also givena10-year sentence forburglary andassessed $270,000 in ﬁnes and civil penalties. Kohberger, 30, pleaded guilty justweeks before his trial was to startinadeal to avoid the death penalty.Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed on the sentence.

JudgebarsICE from immediatelytaking Abrego Garcia into custodyifhe’sreleased

BY BEN FINLEY Associated Press

Afederal judge in Marylandhas prohibited the Trump administration from taking Kilmar Abrego Garcia into immediate immigration custody if he’s released from jail in Tennessee while awaiting trial on human smugglingcharges, according to an order issued Wednesday U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the U.S. government to providenoticeofthree business daysifImmigration and Customs Enforcement intends to initiate deportation proceedings against him.

The judge also ordered the government to restore thefederal supervision that Abrego Garcia was under before he waswrongfully deported to hisnativeElSalvador in March. That supervision had allowed Abrego Garcia to live and work in Maryland for years, while

he periodically checked in with ICE.

“Defendants have done little to assure the Court that absent intervention,Abrego Garcia’sdue process rightswill be protected,” Xinis wrote in her order President Donald Trump’sadministrationviolated aU.S. immigrationjudge’s order in 2019 that shieldsAbrego Garcia from deportation to El Salvadorbecause he likely faces threats of gang violence there. The smugglingcasestems from a2022 traffic stop for speeding, during which Abrego Garcia was driving avehiclewith nine passengers. PoliceinTennesseesuspected human smuggling, buthe was allowed to drive on.

Abrego Garcia’scriminal attorneys in the Tennessee case want him releasedfromjailtoawait trial, but onlyifhewon’t be taken into ICE custodyand deported.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CIVILDISTRICTCOURT FORTHE PARISH OF OR‐LEANS STATEOFLOUISIANA NO.2025-00498 DIV. “J-15“ SUCCESSION OF PAMELA CAROLBUTLER NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE IS HEREBY given thatMathewButler, the dulyappointed, acting and qualiﬁed Executor of the succession of Pamela Carol Butler,has,pur‐suant to theprovisions ofCodeofCivil Proce‐dureArticle 3281, peti‐tionedthisHonorable Court forauthority to sell, at privatesale, for the priceof$430,000.00 payable in cash,the fol‐lowingdescribed prop‐ertybelonging to the succession, to-wit: THAT CERTAINPORTION OFGROUND, together withall thebuildings and improvementsthereon and allofthe rights, ways, privileges,servi‐tudes,appurtenances and advantages there‐untobelonging or in any‐wiseappertaining, situ‐atedinthe SECOND DIS‐TRICT of theCityofNew Orleans,State of Louisiana,inSQUARENO. 213,LAKEVIEW, bounded byMarshallFoch, Bragg, Argonne (side)and Lane Streets(side),desig‐nated as LOTNOS.19 AND 20 on asurveyby Gilbert,Kelly &Couturie, Inc.,S &E,dated Septem‐ber 21,1977, andaccord‐ing to which said lots ad‐joineachother,and mea‐sure, each,25feetfront onMarshallFochStreet samewidth in therear, bya depth of 122 feet be‐tween equaland parallel lines.Lot No.20com‐mencesata distance of 100 feet from thecorner ofMarshallFochand Bragg Streets. Improvements thereon bearmunicipalno. 6415 MarshallFochStreet New Orleans, Louisiana 70124 NOW, THEREFOE,inac‐cordancewiththe law made andprovidedfor in suchcases,Noticeis

ofGeorgeE.Gilkers through itsExecutrix Corie Paganofthe above Estate, hasmadeappli‐cationtothe Courtfor the sale of 669 Spartan LaneinKenneratprivate saleofthe immovable propertyhereinafter de‐scribed,to-wit: ACERTAIN LOTOF GROUND, together with all thebuildings andim‐provementstherein and all of theservitudes, rights, andappurte‐nancesthereuntobe‐longing or in anywiseap‐pertaining, situated as follows in this Parish: LOT13-ASQ. LSEC 2 GREATER HOLLYHGTSIn‐strument#10061032 and AssessmentParcel# 0920008543, measuring approximately 50' x100 front on SpartanLane, Kenner. UPON THEFOLLOWING TERMS ANDCONDITIONS, TO-WIT: $156,333.00 CASH Notice is hereby givento all partieswhomitmay concern,including the heirs andcreditors of the decedentherein, andof thisestate, be orderedto makeany opposition which they have or may havetosuchapplication, atany time,prior to the issuance of theorder or judgmentauthorizing approving andhomolo‐gatingsuchapplication and that such orderor judgmentmay be issued after theexpirationof seven (7)days, from the dateofthe last publica‐tionofsuchnotice, allin accordance with law. Attorney:RobertA.Bar‐nett Publication: Advo‐cate/TimesPicayune Address: P.O. Box4269 Covington,La. 70434 TelephoneNo.:504-7221042 Email: rbarnett109@ gmail.com 150975-JUL24-1T $50.66

Whenitwas his turn to speak in court, Kohbergersaid, “I respectfullydecline,” shedding no light on whyheslippedintothe rental homeinMoscow,Idaho, through a sliding glass door early on Nov. 13, 2022, and brutally stabbed four of thestudents inside.

The crime horrified thecity, which hadn’tseen ahomicide in aboutﬁve years, and prompted a massive search for the perpetrator.Some students took the rest of their classes online because they felt unsafe. Kohberger,a graduate student in criminology at nearby Washington State University,was arrested in Pennsylvania,where his parents lived, roughly six weeks later AQ-tip fromthe garbage at his parents’ house and genetic genealogy was used to match Kohberger’s DNA to material recovered from aknifesheath found at the home, investigators said. They used cellphonedata to pinpoint his movements and surveillance camera footage to help locate awhite sedan that was seen repeatedly driving past the homeonthe night of thekillings.

But investigators told reporters after Wednesday’shearing that exhaustive efforts hadfailedtoﬁnd themurder weapon, the clothes Kohberger was wearing at the time, or any connection between thekiller and the students.

“This world was abetterplace

with her in it,” Scott Laramie, Mogen’sstepfather,said. “Karen and Iare ordinary people, but we lived extraordinary lives because we had Maddie.” Goncalves’father, Steve,taunted Kohberger for gettingcaught despite his education in forensics.

“You were that careless, that foolish, that stupid,”hesaid. “Master’sdegree? You’re ajoke.” Kernodle’s father,Jeff, recalled that his daughter hadn’tbeen feeling wellthat night, and he thought about driving the 7miles to the rental home to be with her. He decided against it because he had been drinking. Mortenson and another surviving roommate, Bethany Funke, described cripplingpanic attacks after the attack.

“I slept in my parents’ room for almost ayear,and hadthemdouble lock everydoor,set an alarm, and still check everywhere in theroom just in case someonewas hiding,” Funke wrote in astatement read by afriend.

Alivea Goncalves’svoice didn’t waver as sheaskedKohberger questions, including what her sister’slast words were. She drew applause after belittling Kohberger, whoremained expressionless.

“You didn’twin, you just exposed yourself as the coward you are,” Alivea Goncalves said. “You’re a delusional, pathetic, hypochondriac loser.”

Doctor pleads guilty to sellingPerry ketamine

Afederal judge in that criminal case on Wednesday affirmed that AbregoGarcia is eligible for release. U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw ruled thatappropriate releaseconditionswillmitigate anyrisk of flight or any dangerto thecommunity Crenshawthensent the case back to U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes, whooriginally held that Abrego Garcia is eligible for release lastmonth. Holmes has held off on ordering his release at the request of Abrego Garcia’s own lawyers.OnWednesday, she signedyet another order putting off hisrelease from jail,thistime for 30 days. U.S. officials have said they’ll try to deport Abrego Garcia toacountry that isn’t El Salvador, suchas Mexico or South Sudan, before his trial starts in January because they allegehe’sadanger to the community

ADVERTISEMENT FOR HYDROGENFUELING BARGE NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS/SUPPLIERS

BY ANDREWDALTON and ITZEL LUNA By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES Adoctor whowas

aprimary target in the sweeping investigationofactor Matthew Perry’soverdose death pleaded guiltyWednesday to supplying the“Friends” star with ketamine despiteknowing he was astruggling addict.

Dr.Salvador Plasencia became thefourth of the five people charged in connection with Perry’sdeathtoplead guilty.Heand awomanprosecutorssay was a major ketamine dealer faced the mostserious charges after Perry was found dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles homeonOct. 28, 2023.

Plasencia stood next to his lawyer and said “guilty” four times for four different counts in fed-

Sealed bids will be received on Thursday,August 28, 2025, until 10:00 a.m. CST at the PortofSouthLouisiana at the Administrative Office, 1720 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, 70084 or at www.centralbidding. com .Subsequent to receipt, the bid/bids will be evaluated by the appropriate party/parties and will be presented to the PortofSouth Louisiana for handlinginaccordance with the Revised Statutes of the Louisiana Public BidLaw Bid documents areposted on http://www.centralbididng.com/. To view these, download, and receive bid notices by e-mail,you will have to register with Central Auction House (CAH).Vendors/Contractors have the option to submit their bids and bid bonds electronicallyorbypaper copy For information about the electronic submittal process, contact Central Auction House at 1-866-570-9620.

Bids received prior to the timeofthe scheduled bid opening will be securely kept unopened. No bid received after the scheduled timefor opening will be considered.

Project Description:One non-self-propelled, doublehulled, and subdivided as shown on plans. The mid-body is subdivided into five (5) main cargo tank pairs. The completed barge shall be certified by the United States Coast Guard(USCG) forcarriage of Methanol, aGrade C flammableliquid cargo,and to comply with applicable USCG Regulations in effect at the timeofcontract signing. The hull of the vessel is to be built of steel using the longitudinal system of framing. Decks aretohave straight sheer and camber as shown on Contract Plans. Completeoutfitting, piping, electrical,etc.,systems aretobeinstalled. The barge shall be capableofcarrying the following Grade Cand lower liquids The barge shall be capable of loading at 6,000 BBL/hr and discharging at 1,000 gpm to asingle vessel or 500 gpm to two (2) vessels simultaneously APump House containing the generators and other system mechanical equipment shall be located above the fourth cargo tank pair An Office shall be located near amidships on the starboardside of the vessel. Space shall be reserved at both ends of the vessel outside the deck containment for four (4) equipment lockers, each with afootprint of approximately8’xl2’ generally as shown on Reference (A). CHARACTERISTIC

STATEREQUIREMENTS

eral court in Los Angeles. Plasencia, 43, was to have gone on trial in Augustuntil the doctor agreed last month to plead guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine,according to the signed document ﬁled in federal court in Los Angeles.

The charges can carry up to 40 years in prison. He is likely to be sentenced to much less, but there is no guarantee in his agreement. He spoke only to answerthe judge’squestions. When asked if his lawyers had considered all the possibilities of pleas and sentencing in the case, Plasencia replied, “They’ve consideredeverything.” “Dr.Plasencia is profoundly remorseful forthe treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry,” the doctor’sattorney,Debra White, said in an emailed statement after the hearing.

areclearlyinthe public interest, the public

cationslet

mayspecify

for

make, or manufacturer in the

by this Part. If aparticular

the

number also shall be specified. Wherever in specifications the name of acertainbrand, make, manufacturer,ordefinite specification is utilized, the specifications shall state clearlythattheyare usedonly to denote the quality standardof product desired andthattheydonot restrict bidders to the specific brand, make, manufacturer, or specification named; thattheyare usedonly to set forth andconveytoprospective bidders the general style, type character,and quality of product desired; andthatequivalent products will be acceptable.

FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The PORTinpartnership with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development (“LED”), hasbeen awarded aU.S. Economic Development Administration (“EDA”) GrantunderEDA’s American RescuePlanAct Build Back Better(BBB) RegionalChallenge (referenced by CFDA Number11.307 Public Works andEconomic Adjustment Assistance Program), EDA AwardNumber08-79-05671,whichwill partially fund the Project to be delivered by Bidder to PORTpursuant to plans and specifications. Bidder will comply with allapplicable local,state and federal law,regulations, executive orders, EDA policies, procedures, directivesand the following:

Project Name:Port of South Louisiana ProcurementofH2the Future E-MethanolHydrogen Fueling Barge Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED) 23135-PC–Must adheretoall state rules and regulations included in the bid package. St.John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana Economic Development Agency (EDA)No. 08-79-05671

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

By KyLE GREEN

Dylan Mortensen gets ahug Wednesdayafter speaking at the sentencing hearing of BryanKohberger at the AdaCounty Courthouse in Boise, Idaho,

U.N. court issues landmark climate change opinion

It says countries could be in violation of international law if they fail to act

BY MOLLY QUELL and MIKE CORDER Associated Press

THE HAGUE,Netherlands

The United Nations’ top court in a landmark advisory opinion Wednesday said countries could be in violation of international law if they fail to take measures to protect the planet from climate change, and nations harmed by its effects could be entitled to reparations.

Advocates cheered the International Court of Justice opinion on nations’ obligations to tackle climate change and the consequences they may face if they don’t

“Failure of a state to take appropriate action to protect the climate system may constitute an internationally wrongful act,” court President Yuji Iwasawa said during the hearing. He called the climate crisis “an existential problem of planetary proportions that imperils all forms of life and the very health of our planet.”

The nonbinding opinion, backed unanimously by the court’s 15 judges, was hailed as a turning point in international climate law

BY GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA Associated Press

The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is pushing back on criticisms of the federal response to the central Texas ﬂoods that killed at least 136 people earlier this month.

“I can’t see anything we did wrong,” David Richardson told a House panel of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Wednesday He called the relationship between state and federal agencies “a model for how disasters should be handled.”

Lawmakers used the hearing about improvements to FEMA disaster response to address re-

Notably, the court said a “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” is a human right. That paves the way for other legal actions, including states returning to the ICJ to hold each other to account as well as domestic lawsuits, along with legal instruments like investment agreements.

‘Today, the tables have turned’

The case was led by the Paciﬁc island nation of Vanuatu and backed by more than 130 countries.

All U.N. member states including major greenhouse gas emitters like the United States and China are parties to the court.

Climate activists had gathered outside the crowded court with a banner that read: “Courts have spoken. The law is clear. States must ACT NOW.”

“Today, the tables have turned.

The world’s highest court provided us with a powerful new tool to protect people from the devastating impacts of the climate crisis — and to deliver justice for the harm their emissions have already caused,” former U.N human rights chief Mary Robinson said in a statement.

Island nations led the lobbying

After years of lobbying by vulnerable island nations who fear they could disappear under rising sea waters, the U.N. General As-

ports that FEMA support was impaired by bureaucratic delays that slowed the deployment of urban search and rescue teams and left the agency’s call centers unstaffed, which Richardson denied. The response “brought the maximum amount of capability to bear in Texas at the right time and the right place,” he said.

Richardson’s appearance came after a wave of criticism and fallout over the response, including the resignation Monday of FEMA’s urban search and rescue leader. President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have touted the robust federal support for Texas despite their past support for eliminating FEMA.

demonstrate Wednesday in The

Netherlands, outside the International Court of Justice ahead of an advisory opinion on what legal obligations nations have to address climate change and what consequences they may face if they don’t.

sembly asked the ICJ in 2023 for an advisory opinion, an important basis for international obligations. Its panel was tasked with answering two questions: What are countries obliged to do under international law to protect the climate and environment from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions? Second, what are the legal consequences for governments when their acts, or lack of action, have signiﬁcantly harmed the cli-

mate and environment?

“The stakes could not be higher

The survival of my people and so many others is on the line,” Arnold Kiel Loughman, attorney general of the island nation of Vanuatu, told the court during a week of hearings in December

In the decade up to 2023, sea levels rose by a global average of around 1.7 inches, with parts of the Paciﬁc rising higher still. The world has also warmed 2.3 degrees Fahr-

enheit since preindustrial times because of the burning of fossil fuels. Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s minister for climate change, called the ruling a “very important course correction in this critically important time. For the ﬁrst time in history, the ICJ has spoken directly about the biggest threat facing humanity.” He said the ruling exceeded his expectations. “I didn’t expect it to be good. It’s good. And it did go above and beyond,” he told reporters in The Hague.

Ruling could be leverage

Activists could bring lawsuits against their own countries for failing to comply with the decision, which ran to over 130 pages.

The senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, Erika Lennon, said the ruling also can be used as leverage at the next U.N. climate conference later this year in the Brazilian city of Belém.

The United States and Russia, both of whom are major petroleumproducing states, are staunchly opposed to the court mandating emissions reductions. The Trump administration has again withdrawn the U.S. from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and has made it harder to ﬁnd scientiﬁc assessments of how climate change endangers the U.S. and its people.

Reports of delays denied

The acting administrator denied reports that FEMA urban searchand-rescue teams were delayed over 72 hours because of a new rule imposed by Noem that she must personally approve any contract of $100,000 or more. Richardson said a Texas-based FEMA task force was on the ground on July 4, along with other Homeland Security assets like the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection, and that additional support came within “24 hours” of being requested.

Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz. pushed back on FEMA’s readiness, asking why more of the 28 FEMA urban search-and-rescue teams

located around the country were not on standby ahead of receiving a request from the state of Texas.

“It haunts me that we could have had more urban search and rescue pre-positioned in place,” said Stanton. “That was a choice.” The leader of FEMA’s urban search-and-rescue effort, Ken Pagurek, expressed frustration with the delays to colleagues before resigning Monday according to CNN. In response to Pagurek’s resignation, a DHS spokesperson told The Associated Press, “It is laughable that a career public employee, who claims to serve the American people, would choose to resign over our refusal to hastily approve a sixﬁgure deployment contract without

basic ﬁnancial oversight.”

The Texas Division of Emergency Management did not respond to a request for comment on whether search-and-rescue efforts were impacted by delayed deployment of the FEMA teams. Richardson also denied a report from The New York Times that 84% of calls to FEMA went unanswered on July 7, three days after the July 4 ﬂoods, because Noem let lapse contract renewals with outside call centers. The contracts were renewed July 10, according to The Times. “The vast majority of phone calls were answered. There was never a lapse in the contract,” said Richardson, echoing Noem’s statements that the report was “fake news.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PETER DEJONG Activists

Hague,

N.O. Housing Authority moving staff

Three new locations to replace Gentilly offices

BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

The Housing Authority of New Orleans is relocating all 174 of its employees from their current dilapidated ofﬁces in Gentilly to three new locations in different

parts of the city, which will allow the agency to better serve its tens of thousands of subsidized housing customers, according to HANO executive director Marjorianna Willman.

The move follows a fraught few months after Willman, who took

over as leader of the housing agency in January, informed HANO’s board in May that the dire conditions at the longtime headquarters on Touro Street in Gentilly — including mold, water leaks and faulty utilities connections were a threat to the health and safety of

employees and customers. HANO’s board initially put off Willman’s call for a move to new downtown ofﬁce digs, but in late May they agreed to allow the agency to lease space at 1615 Poydras St., a building known as the DXC Technology Center The City Council last year had given its approval for the New Orleans Police Department to lease two ﬂoors in that building. However Willman said, they weren’t able to agree on terms with the landlord for space at the DXC building, so they looked at alternative spaces and decided to split the workforce between Poydras Street, New Orleans East and Uptown. As well as being more

Body and Sol

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

A Belle Chasse man accused of doing “wheelies” before ramming two officers who stepped in front of his car to stop him from driving through a crowded Bourbon Street intersection will remain jailed without bail Mark Hunter Jr., 24, faces two counts of attempted seconddegree murder after allegedly striking New Orleans Police Department Officer William Morris and Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dustin Tomlinson late Friday Hunter allegedly attract-

ed the officers’ attention when he drove a blue Chevrolet Camaro “recklessly” through the French Quarter according to an affidavit for his arrest. The officers stepped in front of his car to prevent him from driving through the intersection of Bourbon and Conti streets, which was full of pedestrians. Hunter hit Morris and Tomlinson and fled the scene, according to court documents. Police then swarmed the Quarter and apprehended Hunter as he was running away from a Canal Street parking

Committee nixes hotel project

Decision a setback for Elysian Fields plan

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

A controversial hotel planned for a vacant lot on Elysian Fields Avenue on the edge of the French Quarter is back in limbo, after an expert committee that advises city regulators on building projects in historic neighborhoods recommended denial of the project. The Architectural Review Committee of the city’s Historic

Districts Landmarks Commission said the proposed ﬁve-story hotel is still too big for the corner lot and is not in keeping with the historic character of the surrounding neighborhood of shotgun doubles and Creole cottages.

The committee’s decision, rendered Tuesday at a packed committee hearing at City Hall, is a setback for NOLA Hotel Group the Baton Rouge-based developers who have been trying to get their project off the ground for nearly three years. The Elysian, as the hotel would be called, would be located at 621 Elysian Fields between Royal and Chartres streets. Originally proposed as a seven-story Court-

yard Marriott with 148 rooms, current renderings show the hotel as a ﬁve-story Home2 Suites by Hilton with 120 rooms. Still, the project would be more than 84,000 square feet and take up nearly the entire lot. The developers have said they have to build the hotel to that size to justify the cost of their investment in the property Neighbors have said they don’t oppose a hotel on the vacant, weeded lot but argue the current size and scale would harm the character of their historic neighborhood.

The review committee’s

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Roosevelt Dedmond, of Algiers, plays his guitar while watching the hot summer sun rise over the Mississippi River from the Moonwalk in the French Quarter on Monday. The city and region are expected to face extreme heat through midweek, with temperatures and humidity pushing the limits of comfort and safety

Musical acts named for 31st Gretna Heritage Fest

Sam Hunt, Trombone Shorty and more to play

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

The lineup for Gretna Fest 2025 has been announced, and the annual revel on the Mississippi River will feature a mix of country, pop, classic rock and Louisiana favorites. The 31st Gretna Heritage Festival in downtown Gretna will be

Oct. 3-5, featuring headliners Sam Hunt, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Collective Soul, along with Natasha Bedingﬁeld, Brothers Osborne, JJ Grey & Mofro, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Better Than Ezra, Easton Corbin and others. “We have 28 musical artists across ﬁve stages, almost 72 vendors across the food court and villages and nearly 40 craft vendors,” said Gretna Mayor Belinda Constant. Louisiana native and “American Idol” runner-up John Foster will perform as well as Amanda Shaw, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr & The Zydeco

Twisters, Tigirlily Gold and Bonerama. Tickets this year have increased in price, with single-day tickets selling for $45 on Friday and Sunday and $55 for Saturday A threeday pass is $100. Children 12 and under are free.

After technical problems with the wristbands used last year, Constant said wristbands will be used for entry only For more information about the festival, visit gretnafest.com.

Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate.com.

N.O. cooling centers to open for extreme heat

Free sites available through Thursday

BY MARCO CARTOLANO Staff writer

New Orleans was under an extreme heat watch Wednesday afternoon as residents faced dangerously high temperatures. With heat indices, or “feels-like” temperatures, measuring up to 114 degrees, the city announced several free, air-conditioned indoor cooling centers available through Thursday for residents in need of an escape from the blazing temps.

Residents can use the interactive NOLAReady Heat Relief Map to ﬁnd cooling centers shelters and water fountains and pools.

Businesses and community organizations willing to serve as a free community cooling site may email ready@nola.gov with their address, dates and hours.

The following cooling centers are available: Libraries

Available Wednesday and Thursday Libraries are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m unless otherwise noted.

n Alvar Library at 913 Alvar St.

— water provided

n Norman Mayer Library at 3001 Gentilly Blvd. — water provided

n Robert E. Smith Library at 6301 Canal Blvd.

n Mid-City Library at 4140 Ca-

nal St. — water provided

n Milton H. Latter Memorial Library at 5120 St. Charles Ave.

n Central City Library at 2020 Jackson Ave.

n Main Library at 219 Loyola Ave. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m — water provided

n Cita Dennis Hubbell Library at 725 Pelican Ave. — water provided

n Algiers Regional Library at

3014 Holiday Drive water provided

n MLK Library at 1611 Fats

Domino Ave. water provided

n New Orleans East Library at 5641 Read Blvd. — water provided

n Nora Navra Library at 1902

Bernard Ave. water provided.

Recreation centers

Open from 10 a.m to 9 p.m.

n Andrew P Sanchez & Copelin-Byrd Multi-Service Center at 1616 Fats Domino Ave.

n Desire-Florida Multi-Purpose

Rec Center at 3250 Industry St.

n Stallings Rec Center at 4300

St. Claude Ave.

n St Bernard Rec Center at 1500 Lafreniere St.

n Gernon Brown Rec Center at 1001 Harrison Ave.

n Annunciation Center at 800

Race St.

n Rosenwald Rec Center at 1120 S Broad St.

n Morris F.X. Jeff Sr. Recreation Center at 2529 General Meyer Ave.

Indoor pools

n Sanchez Pool at 1616 Fats

Domino Ave.: Monday through Thursday from 10 to 11:45 a.m. and from 1 to 3:45 p.m.

n Gert Town Pool at 3411 Broad-

way St.: Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m

n Joe Brown Pool at 5601 Read

Blvd.: Wednesday through Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m

There is an outdoor pool at 2529

Gen. Meyer Ave.: Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m and 7 to 7:45 p.m.

Overnight shelters

Available Wednesday and Thursday

n Ozanam Inn at 2239 Poydras

St.

n New Orleans Mission at 1130

Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

n Low Barrier Shelter at 1530

Gravier St.

n Salvation Army at 4526 S. Claiborne Ave.

Coke made with American cane sugar coming to U.S.

La. farmers express cautious optimism

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

Coca-Cola‘s announcement that it is releasing a cane sugar-based version of its primary soda — made with American sugar — has Louisiana sugar cane farmers excited, but not yet making plans to expand.

“We’ve heard good things come and go before with no results,” said Travis Medine, who farms 3,500 acres of sugar cane between Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parish along with his dad and brothers.

“It’s easy to get optimistic about something like this, but at the same time you don’t want to count your chickens before they hatch.”

The beverage company said in its quarterly earnings report Tuesday that an offering with U.S. cane sugar would soon be available to American consumers. The move has generated signiﬁcant conversation online — including from President Donald Trump, who said in a Truth Social post last week that he had spoken with the company about a cane sugar option of the signature soda.

“I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola,” Trump wrote.

“This will be a very good move by them.”

Despite the splash made by the Coca-Cola announcement, it’s not clear whether and to what extent the Louisiana sugar cane industry

will get a boost from the new drink.

If price or production are affected, those changes will likely be modest and over the long term, said LSU agricultural policy professor Michael Deliberto That’s partly because beverage products make up only 8% of total sugar consumption in the U.S., he said.

“When you look at beverage use, it can begin as a long-term driver for the industry,” Deliberto said.

“I don’t think it’s going to have any kind of immediate effect on price or immediate expansion in our state just from increased use in the beverage category.”

Future production is also difﬁcult to predict because the U.S regulates the crop through its sugar program, designed to maintain stable sugar prices for domestic producers that typically run higher than those on the world market.

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain said it will “remain to be seen” how much additional sugar is needed because of the quota system in place.

But prudence doesn’t stop the industry from feeling enthusiastic about the possibilities, he said.

“Overall, I think it’s going to mean long-term stability, better prices for our farmers and potentially an increase in the amount of sugar that we can grow here in Louisiana,” Strain said.

Medine said “cautious optimism” comes naturally to cane farmers, for whom variability is a lifestyle, and the same mindset applies to the Coca-Cola announcement.

MOVING

Continued from page 1B

affordable she said, that move also addresses concerns voiced by some board members that having all HANO staff in the Central Business District would have meant they were a long way from many of their customers.

The new HANO headquarters will now be on an entire ﬂoor of a different CBD high-rise — 1555 Poydras, where Willman and key executive services, including legal, strategy and development, as well as the HANO Police Department, will be located.

The HANO staff that deal mostly with customers will move to the Executive Plaza building in New Orleans East, where they will occupy the 10th ﬂoor

“Our outward facing departments, our public service departments, where we help people to work on self-sufﬁciency and provide training,” will all now be at Executive Plaza in New Orleans East, Willman said.

HANO operates a wide range of programs to facilitate affordable housing for about 22,000 families across the city It also operates a homeownership program enabling Section 8 and public housing residents to become ﬁrst-time home-

PROJECT

Continued from page 1B

decision is not the ﬁnal word on the project. The full HDLC could ignore the committee recommendation and approve the hotel design. If the commission does not, the developers could appeal to the City Council.

Still, the committee’s decision raises questions about the future of the project at a time when the holding costs on land and construction costs continue to rise.

“I don’t think we have a plan yet,” said Katie Minor Bliss, a partner in the project, following Tuesday’s meeting. “We’re going to have to meet and discuss.”

Mixed signals?

Tuesday’s decision is the latest wrinkle in a series of regulatory decisions from various city agencies, each responsible for different areas of oversight.

From the get-go, the HDLC’s Architectural Review Committee has had problems with the design of the hotel It previously denied earlier versions of the project and told the developers they would have to make changes. At Tuesday’s hearing, committee members said they appreciated recent revisions to the plan.

“But I don’t see very much effort to break down the mass of the building at all,” said architect and

OFFICERS

Continued from page 1B

garage, holding his license plate in his hands, according to court documents.

“The court does ﬁnd him to be the deﬁnition of a danger,” Magistrate Commissioner Joyce Sallah said at a hearing on Tuesday, where she held him without bail.

Public defender Mandy Cannon said video footage didn’t appear to show Hunter intentionally striking the ofﬁcers.

The intersection of Bourbon and Conti streets falls within the core of what was the French Quarter’s ”enhanced security zone” during the 2025 Super Bowl — an eightblock strip of Bourbon Street fortiﬁed by drop-arm gates at Canal and Bourbon streets, wedge barriers on the side streets leading from Dauphine and Royal to Bourbon and steel barriers at Bourbon Street intersections. The security

buyers. About 140 of the agency’s staff will be split equally between the new Poydras Street headquarters and the New Orleans East facility at 10001 Lake Forest Blvd.

About a dozen HANO staff will be located at 1891 Rousseau St., near the River Garden Apartment complex. River Garden was developed as a mixed-used complex between 2004 and 2008 and built on the site of the old Thomas Street public housing project. HANO manages the publicly owned units there.

There are also about 15 HANO staff who work at various HANOmanaged residential properties around the city, as well as the police force.

Parke McEnery, a real estate consultant who brokered the new office space for HANO and will work on the sale or redevelopment of the Touro Street premises, said HANO has full-service leases on the three new ofﬁces which work out on average to $15 a square foot.

“This makes so much more economic sense for HANO that it’s not even funny,” McEnery said “Plus they get to sell the building or partner with someone to redevelop it into affordable housing.”

Cheaper rent

Willman and her legal advisers had argued to the HANO board

committee member Tracie Ashe, adding that parts of the proposed structure, “looks very awkward from the street level.”

In addition to getting approval of their design from the HDLC and its architecture committee, however the developers also needed a zoning waiver and conditional-use permit from the City Planning Commission to build a hotel of greater than 10,000 square feet on the site.

Initially, that looked unlikely Late last year, the planning commission denied the request, pointing out that the project did not meet any of the nine criteria required for a zoning waiver

But in February, after district council member Freddie King reversed his previously stated opposition to the project, the City Council voted to overturn the Planning Commission’s denial and give NOLA Hotel Group the green light to move forward — provided the HDLC approved what the project looks like.

Neighbors then filed a lawsuit, calling the council’s decision “arbitrary and capricious.” The suit is still making its way through the courts.

King did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday Attorney Ike Spears, who was hired by the developers to lobby City Hall for the land use changes earlier this year, also did not respond to a request for comment.

Justin Schmidt, a land use attorney for the Faubourg Marigny

zone was created after terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar killed 14 and injured at least 57 Bourbon Street revelers in a Ford F-150 truck ramming attack on Jan. 1.

It’s unclear how many of those barriers remained in place Friday.

Tomlinson was treated on the scene, and Morris went to a hospital for his injuries, where he remained for several days NOPD spokesperson Karen Boudrie said Morris and Huntington were unavailable for interviews

“Detective Morris was intentionally struck resulting in severe injuries that have left him hospitalized and facing a long road to recovery,” wrote NOPD Officer John Huntington in a GoFundMe for Morris, which had raised nearly $5,000 as of Wednesday afternoon “Detective Morris is not just a law enforcement ofﬁcer he is a husband, father, friend and community hero who has consistently gone above and beyond to keep our city safe. His injuries will prevent him from returning to

that the costs of maintaining the Touro Street property were running out of control because of maintenance and repair costs.

In a letter to the HANO board, counsel Keva Landrum wrote that repairing the roof alone would cost $1.5 million, while the cost of maintenance, utilities, and janitorial services at the building was running at as much as $600,000 a year

The cost of full-service office space, on the other hand, has been dropping because of widespread vacancies in many of New Orleans’ top buildings due to the post-COVID shrinkage of workers using downtown ofﬁce space regularly Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson recently bought a nearby office tower at a steep discount from the same Charlotte, North Carolina, company that owns HANO’s new building.

Meanwhile, the HANO property in the 4000 block of Touro Street covers about 1.37 acres, has about 80,000 square feet of finished space divided into two buildings, and there are about 80 parking spaces.

McEnery said the ideal buyer or partner would be an experienced affordable housing developer who knows how to arrange the publicly available financing to turn the buildings into up to a hundred affordable units.

Improvement Association, said he hopes Tuesday’s decision by the Architectural Review Committee will slow the project enough to make the developers rethink their plans.

“Bottom line, the plans for this project are just too big,” he said. Bigger issue

The controversy over the hotel, which would be called The Elysian, is the latest of several disputes over transient lodging, and particularly hybrid hotels, planned near residential neighborhoods in the Marigny and Bywater amid a broader crackdown elsewhere in the city over short-term rentals.

Hybrid hotels are staffed like traditional hotels but offer apartment-style suites within a single building designed to accommodate larger groups of travelers.

Home2 Suites by Hilton, the ﬂag The Elysian would ﬂy is a moderately priced extended-stay chain.

Neighborhood leader Allen Johnson, a board member of the FMIA, said the council’s decision earlier this year to overturn the commission’s denial of the project zoning waiver should be seen as a cautionary tale for residents of all the city’s historic neighborhoods.

“This matters because what the City Council did means this could happen in every historic district, not just the Marigny,” he said.

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

work for an extended period, placing a significant financial burden on his family.” Hunter is on probation through August 2026 for possession of schedule II narcotics and has prior convictions from July 2023 of simple battery and resisting an officer He was booked Friday on two counts of attempted second-degree murder, one count of aggravated assault, one count of resisting an officer with force and one count of obstruction of justice.

Gretna Fest returns Oct. 3-5 with headliners Natasha Bedingfield, Trombone Shorty, Sam Hunt and Collective Soul.

STAFF FILE

PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

NewOrleans Area Deaths Obituaries

Banks,Leroy

Barker,Patricia

Barthelemy,Frances

Brandhurst Jr., Roy Brown, Doretha

Brumfield, Jacqueline

Calhoun, Tyrone

Dalcour,Winfred

Demarest Jr., Kenneth

Dickerson, Toni

Espadron Sr., Kirk

Firmin,Helen

Folse, Jerry

Garrison, Charles

Grosz, Marilyn

Harness, Emelda

James, Carselia

Jones, Charles

JonesJr.,Louis

Legaux, Doretha

Lewis, Krishon

Marshall, Scot

Matherne,Dot

Moss, Lula

Smith,Yvette

Thomas Jr., Theodore

Thurber, Holly

Williams,Bobbie

Williams,Charles EJefferson

Garden of Memories

Dickerson, Toni

Leitz-Eagan

Folse, Jerry

NewOrleans

Boyd Family

Calhoun, Tyrone

Garrison, Charles

Smith,Yvette Charbonnet

Banks,Leroy Firmin,Helen JonesJr.,Louis Moss, Lula DW Rhodes

Lewis, Krishon

Gertrude Geddes Williams,Charles Greenwood

Brandhurst Jr., Roy Grosz, Marilyn

Heritage Funeral

James, Carselia

Littlejohn FH

Harness, Emelda

Majestic Mortuary

Legaux, Doretha St Tammany

Bagnell Son

Demarest Jr., Kenneth

EJ Fielding

Brumfield, Jacqueline Williams,Bobbie West Bank

Robinson FH

Barthelemy,Frances

Espadron Sr., Kirk

Thomas Jr., Theodore

LeroyBanks peacefully transitionedtohis heav‐enlyhomeonSunday, July 13, 2025 at theage of 83 BornonDecember23, 1941, inThibodaux,LAtothe late James,Sr. andAlmaBanks, Leroy wasa lifelong resi‐dentofNew Orleans, LA Hewas educated in theOr‐leans Parish Public School Systemand dedicatedover 45years of servicetoABF Freight System and30 years to Carnival Cruise Line. Mr.Banks wasthe lovingand devotedhus‐bandofthe late Maxine F. Banks.FatherofLeroy (Regina)Chapman,Jr.,the lateLoraGaye Thompson and Kelsey Hill.Brother of Cheryl(Irvin) Banksand Lawrence(Dorothy) Banks. Brother-in-lawofNancy Banks.Healsoleavesto cherish hismemory, two granddaughters, ﬁve grandsons,six greatgranddaughters, three great-grandsons,a host of nieces, nephewsand other relatives.Inaddition to his wife, parentsand twochil‐dren. Leroyisalsopre‐ceded in deathbyhis sib‐lings,Brenda, Ruby, Shirley, Charles Lee, James, Jr., Gary, Sr Bernard, Sr Ray‐mondand Arthur Banks; one sister-in-law, Jeanette Banks.Relatives and friends of thefamily, Pas‐tor andmembers of Mt Everest andSecondMt. Calvary BaptistChurches, employees of ABFFreight System, Carnival Cruise Lineand United States PostalService,are invited toattend thefuneral.A Celebration servicehonor‐ing thelifeand legacy of the late Mr.Leroy Banks willbeheldatSecondMt. Calvary BaptistChurch 2828 Fourth Street,New Or‐leans,LA, on Saturday,July 26, 2025 at 11 am,Rev James Hunter,Ofﬁciating. IntermentMt. Olivet Ceme‐teryand Mausoleum, 4000 NormanMayer Ave.,New Orleans,LA.Visitation 10 aminthe church.Please signonlineguestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504)581-4411.

Barker, Patricia

Mrs. Patricia Barker,formerly along-time resident of Muncie, Indiana, passed awaypeacefully, surrounded by herfamily, on July4 2025,inNew Orleans, Louisiana.She was 92 yearsold. Patriciawas,in short, agifted and highly regarded artist. She worked manydecadesasa floraland interior designer at Normandy Florist and The Flower Bin, and she was recognized forher workdecoratingthe Minnestrista Cultural Center for the holidayseason. Shewas best known forher porcelain painting, forwhich she won numerous awards.She displayed and soldher prize-winning work at art fairsthroughout Indiana and in New Orleans,including displaying her work at the Indiana governor's mansion. Samples of herwork were memorializedfor national audiencesinprofessional china painting magazines, and her work wasfeatured at the PorcelainArt Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. While in Muncie, Mrs. Barkerserved as member and president of the Indiana World OrganizationofChina Painters; later she joined the Louisiana Organization of Porcelain ArtClub, an affiliate of the Southern Porcelain Art Guild Shedearly loved opportunitiestoexpandher rangeofcreativeexpressions, both as aprofessional and as arespected and beloved china-painting teacher in Muncieand in New Orleans as well.Her life remainedenrichedby her ever-widening circle of china paintingstudent, friends,and fellow

Congregationalistsatthe First Presbyterian Church in Muncie and theSt. CharlesPresbyterian church in NewOrleans. Mrs. Barker is survived by her daughter, Ellen, her son, Mark, and her daughter-in-law, Debra. She was preceded in deathbyher husband of 62 years, Dr. GeorgeBarker,and her sister, Kay EdaWilliams. Memorial contributions may be directed to causes supporting animals, such as your local animal shelters.

Barthelemy,Frances Geraldine

FrancesGeraldine Barthelemy (Cot)passedway at homeinPortSulphur,LA. onWednesday July 2, 2025 she was85years old. She was born in Magnolia,LA and wasa lifelong resident ofDiamond,LA. Shewas bornonAugust19, 1939, to the late George andCecile Barthelemy. Francesleaves behindher belovedsister JeanEva.Her devoted nieces; Laura(Jimmy), Sheila(Stanley),Bernadine (Ernest)& Hollie (Wayne). Her devotednephews Benny (Ingrid) &Jamie (Sherry). Herdevoted great niece Mandy(Oliver), a hostofnieces, nephews, cousins,and otherdevoted friends.She waspreceded indeath by herparent; the lateGeorge& Cecile Barthelemyand hersib‐lings;the late Denise Bor‐den andthe late Victoria Barthelemyand her brother-in-law; BennyBor‐den.She wasa long-life Parishioner of St.Patrick Catholic Church.Relatives and friendsofthe family are invitedtoattend the memorialservice which be heldonSaturdayJuly26, 2025, at St.Patrick Catholic Church 28698 Highway23, PortSulphur LA 70083. The familywillreceive guests beginning at 9:00AM and service will beginat10AM. Fr. Lawrence will ofﬁciate. Interment: Barthelemy Cemetery, Diamond, LA; ArrangementsbyRobinson FamilyFuneral Home,9611 Highway 23, Belle Chasse, LA. TheBarthelemyfamily would like to thankthe staff of HeartofHospice (LineikaJohnson and Michele Gunnells)for the excellent care andcom‐passion showntoour aunt and family.

RoyEstel Brandhurst Jr., 84, passedawayonMon‐day,July14, 2025, after a courageousbattlewith Mesothelioma. He was borninNew Orleans, LA on Dec 30, 1940, to thelate Roy Esteland Ned“Sookie” Brandhurst.Roy,a lifelong residentofNew Orleans, graduated from Fortier HighSchool andthenat‐tendedSoutheasternUni‐versity in Hammond. Everyonewho knew Roy knewhewas asportsfa‐natic!Heplayedbasket‐ball, football andbaseball inhighschool.Hethen playedbaseballfor South‐eastern fortwo years, prior tobeing drafted by the Cleveland Indianswhere heplayedAAA baseball as a catcher. When Royre‐turnedhome, he beganhis career at thePortofNew Orleans as asteamship clerk.After 30+ years, he retired andenjoyed golﬁng almostdaily,being with friends andfamily, and watchingall thesportshe possiblycould.Hewas alsoa devotedmemberof St. AgnesCatholicChurch inJefferson,LA. Roywas precededindeath by his parents,sisters Elaine Brandhurst andCarolyn Mauffrey, brotherRichard Brandhurst,and daughter Nan Brandhurst Orgeron. Lefttocherish hismemory ishis sonRoy Brandhurst (Lori)and daughter Tiffany Brandhurst,his siblings Ray Brandhurst (Kay)and Barbara Bordelon,and grandchildren Michael, Cody, Brooke, Brandi, Hunter,Hayden, andRyan. Also, he will be missed greatly by hisgreat grand‐children andmanynieces

andnephews.Visitation willbeat11:00 am on Fri‐day,July25, 2025, at Green‐wood FuneralHome, 5200 Canal Blvd.New Orleans, LA70124 followed by afu‐neral mass at 1:00 pm.In‐terment will be aGreen‐wood Cemetery.For condo‐lences, visitwww greenwoodfh.com.Roy was loved by many,and his memorywillbecherished byall that knew him.

Brown,Doretha Shavers 'Granny'

Granny departedthis life on Saturday, July19, 2025, at theage of 100. BorninPelahatchie, MS on June 25, 1925. She is survivedbyher children Brenda S. Hunt,Wilbur Brown, Octavia Fay Davis (Kenneth), six grandchildren,and eight great grandchildren, along with ahost of extendedfamily members and friends.

Acelebration of life will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Believers Temple of Faith, 4422 RayAvenue, NewOrleans, LA 70126. Viewing at 9:00 am -10:00 am; serviceimmediately following.

The servicewillbe streamed live on the church's facebookpage beginning at 10:00 am.

by herlovingchildrenand their spouses, RichardH Schulze Jr., Lindaand Gene Monaco, andJohnand Ra‐jeanSchulze;grandchil‐dren, Ashlee Williams, Adriane Anderson,Christo‐pherKeefer,StuartKeefer, JuliannaSchulze,and Emma Schulze; andgreatgrandchildren,Gabriel Cleveland,Jacob Cleve‐land, Samuel Williams OliverKeefer,and Eloise Keefer.She is also survived byher many extended familymembers and friends.She waspreceded indeath by herlovinghus‐bandof32years,Byron ButlerBrumfieldand her parents,Johnand Miriam Van Luppen.Jacqueline was born in Trenton, NJ and wasanonlychild However,she wasdoted on byher loving parentsand her childlessAuntBetty and UncleFredHarm, who lived nearby.She shined in highschoolasa baton twirlingmajorette and brieflyattended theUni‐versity of Pennsylvania after graduation.She mar‐riedRichard H. SchulzeSr. onNovember2,1957 and gavebirth to Richard, Linda,and John in the years that followed.Inthe early 1970s, Jacqueline ap‐plied herartistictalents and worked at Anderson Studios in Dallas,TX, where shebecameanInte‐riorDecorator andsubse‐quently earned accredita‐tionbythe American Soci‐ety forInteriorDecorators (ASID). By 1980, shewas di‐vorced, remarried, andre‐located, firsttoNew Or‐leans andthenMandeville. There,withanentrepre‐neurial spirit,she opened her own firm as an Interior Decorator,Van Luppen In‐teriors.She andByron lived happily in theMan‐deville area untilhis pass‐inginOctober of 2002.

Jacqueline remained in Mandevilleafterwards, and she returned to collegeat the ageof67. With great determination andforti‐tude, shecompleted her bachelor’sdegreeinpsy‐chology at Tulane’s City College in 2006. In 2007, she decided to move to Texas tobeclosertoher oldest son,Richard.She livedin McKinney, Texasuntil 2012 and then shemoved to Fort Lauderdale, Floridatobe closertoher daughter Linda andson-in-lawGene. In lieu of flowers, contribu‐tions in memory of Mrs. Brumfieldmay be made to the Northshore Humane Society,20384 Harrison Av‐enue,Covington,LA70433, 985-892-7387; https://www northshorehumane.org/ give.Jacquelineloved her manydogsand wasal‐wayseager to offera home toanimals that hadbeen abusedorneglected.Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend thefuneral servicesonMonday, July 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at E. J.FieldingFuneralHome, 2260 West 21st Avenue, Covington,Louisiana,with visitationbeginning at 9:00 a,m,until servicetime. In‐terment will follow at MitchellCemetery, Mitchell CemeteryRoad, Poncha‐toula,Louisiana.E.J.Field‐ing FuneralHomeofCov‐ington, Louisiana, is hon‐oredtobeentrusted with Mrs.Brumfield’sfuneral arrangements. Herfamily invites youtoshare thoughts, memories,and condolences by signingan onlineguestbook at www ejfieldingfh.com

Banks, Leroy

Jacqueline Brumﬁeld, age 89, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, passedawayonJuly16, 2025. Shewas born on Au‐gust19, 1935 in Trenton, NewJersey. Sheissurvived

Brandhurst Jr., RoyEstel

Mr.TyroneNathion Cal‐hounentered hisheavenly homeonMondayJuly14, 2025, at theage of 55. Ty‐roneissurvivedbyhis spouseDeniseCalhoun,2 sisters,Tammy (Dedrick) Chambers, Lanell (James) Landry, 1brother,Ricky (Hilda) Polk.Hewas pro‐ceeded in deathbyhis par‐entsJoe andSarah Cal‐houn, 2brothersElvin Jand Henry JPolk, 2nephews Ri‐cardo Hollinsand Timmie Carruth Jr.Alsosurvived bya host of otherrelatives and friends. Family and friends areinvited to at‐tendthe CelebrationofLife Service on Saturday,July 26, 2025, at PilgrimRest Baptist Church #2,2200 Louisiana Ave. NOLA 70115, for 11:00a.m.Visitation willbegin at 10:00 a.m. ReverendLawrenceMer‐cadel,ofﬁciating. Inter‐mentprivate.Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditi onbegins.com(504) 2820600. DonavinD.Boydand LinearBrooksBoydOwn‐ers/FuneralDirectors

Winfred Dalcour, Sr., enteredinto eternal rest at Legacy Nursing and Rehabilitation of Franklin, LA, on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at 4:30 am. He was a 74-year-old native and resident of New Orleans, LA. Viewing at Greater Evergreen Baptist Church, 2243 Clouet Street, Friday, July 25, 2025 at 9:00 am. Celebration of Life Service 10:00 am conducted by Pastor Terrence Ranson, Sr.; Winfred leaves to mourn, nine children; twenty-four grandchildren, twenty-sixgreat-grandchildren, 11 brothersand sisters, and ahost of nieces and nephews. Interment at Greenwood Cemetery Mausoleum. Arrangements entrusted to Charbonnet Family Services.

Jr., Kenneth Charles

Kenneth Charles Demarest, Jr., 53, of River Ridge, Louisiana, known simply as "Chip," passed away on July 10, 2025,in Houston, Texas, following acourageous battle with heart failure. Born on July 24, 1971, at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, to LTC Kenneth Charles Demarest, Sr. and the late Carter Boudreaux Demarest, he was acherished partner and fiancé to Carol Cancienne and father to Jacob William Demarest and Caroline Elizabeth Demarest. As adevout Catholic, Chip lived his faith through service and neighborly love. He was a parishioner of St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church for most of his life where he was proud to be a4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Chip fondly recalled his days participating in the CCRNO youth group and attending aTEC retreat, later becoming an active member of the TEC New Orleans Community. Though an electricianby trade, Chip's passion for the outdoors ran deep. He found joy in the quiet patience of fishing and the thrill of hunting. In the last several years,his creative spirit shone in his discovery of woodworking. He created cutting boards, furniture, and various other projects for friends and loved ones with skills he honed with care and pride Chip found deep enjoyment in spending time

with his family and friends. He brought warmth, kindness, laughter, and asense of belonging to everyone he encountered.Chipis preceded in deathbyhis mother,Carter Boudreaux Demarest, and hisbrother Paul George Demarest,as well as his grandparents Jessica Carter Boudreaux, George CharlesBoudreaux, Albert Aloysius Demarest, Sr., and Katherine Quealy Demarest. He is survived by his father,Kenneth Charles Demarest,Sr. (Angela), his fiancé Carol CaseyCancienne,his children, Jacob William Demarest (Olivia) and Caroline Elizabeth Demarest, hissister, Jeanne Demarest Schaumburg(Seth),and his nieces Jessica Carter Schaumburg, Katherine Quealy Schaumburg, Grace FarnsworthSchaumburg and Jeanne BlairDemarest Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at St Matthew the Apostle Church, 10021 Jefferson Hwy,River Ridge, LA on Tuesday,July 29, 2025 at 1:00 pm. Visitationwillbe held in church from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.A privateinterment will take place at alater date. Inlieuofflowers, the family asksthat memorials be sent to the National Shrine of the Blessed Father FrancisXavier Seelos Shrine, 919 Josephine Street, New Orleans,Louisiana70130. www.seelos.org. To sign the online guestbook, please visit bagnellfuneralhome com

Toni V. Dickerson, a beloved wife,mother, grandmother,sister, and friend, passedawaypeace‐fully aftera long andbeau‐tiful life.She leaves behind a legacy of love,cherished memories, anda commu‐nitydeeplytouched by her warmthand generosity Toniwas thedevoted wife ofthe late Smokey (Gerald) Dickerson,withwhomshe shared56years of aloving marriage. Shewas aloving mothertoTeresaLandry (Greg) andDaleDickerson (Darlene),and aproud grandmother to Ashley Landryand thelateGeof‐freyLandry. Shecherished her many belovednieces and nephews. Born to the lateHerbert Valentineand IreneWindham,Toniwas one of many siblings,in‐cluding Martha Sizemore (John),B Mary Neptune (Bob),ThomasWindham, Jonie Windham, Jake Wind‐ham (Karen), JoeWindham (Cindi),Pat Windham (Veronica), andMarie Macom.She waspreceded indeath by hersister Joann Windham.For over 20years,Tonisuccessfully ran herown secretarial service,a testament to her dedicationand sharpmind. Beyond herprofessional life, Toni wasa proudand activememberofSt. Matthew's United Methodist Church.She found greatjoy in leading manybible studiesand was adedicated member ofthe care team fornu‐merousyears,offering comfort and supportto those in need.Tonicreated a beautifulfamilyof friends during hertimein New Orleans. She held dearevery card game,va‐cation, and memory she madewith them,truly cherishingthose bonds. Her kind spirit andloving naturewillbedeeply missedbyall who knew her.A visitation will be heldonFriday, July 25,at 10a.m.atSt. Matthew's UnitedMethodist Church, 6017 CamphorSt.,Metairie, LA70003, with amemorial service to follow at 11 a.m.

Emileand Elvira RileyEs‐padron. Kirk wasa long‐timeresidentofHome‐place,LAofPlaquemines Parishuntil 2005. He up‐rooted hisfamilyto Abbeville, La duetothe effectsofHurricane Kat‐rina. He is survived by his lovingand devotedof27 years,MaryDuncanEs‐padronand theirchildren Oprah Espadron,Tieara (Mike)Dokes.His grand‐sonswhomhecherished somuch, Norman Taylor, and McKoyDokes.Heis alsosurvivedbyhis broth‐ers andsisters,Keith (Late Lucretia) Espadron,Kim‐berly (Ricky) Encalade, Karen (Fredrick) Pleasure and Kerri (lateNora) Es‐padron. Therewas nothing thathewouldn'tdofor them. He is also survived byhis brothers andsisters inlaw,Edward(Annie) Duncan, Mercedes (Clif‐ford) Jones, Ernestine(late Ronald) Amedee, Phyllis (AnthonySr.)Mackey, Cyn‐thiaRodgers,Claude (Zelma) Duncan,David (Starla)Duncan, late Ran‐dolph (lateRhonda),Dun‐can,latePatriciaDuncan, aswellasthe late Alexan‐der Sr.(Jane)Duncan. He is predeceased by hispar‐ents, late John Emileand ElviraRileyEspadronas wellashis son, Kirk Es‐padronJr. Kirk is also sur‐vived by ahostofnieces and nephews, cousins, other relativesand de‐voted friends. Relatives and friendsofthe family are invitedtoattend the celebration of life service which will be held on Sat‐urday,July26, 2025, at Mount OliveMissionary Baptist Church,located at 39752 Highway23, Boothville,LA70038. Pastor TheodoreTurnerJr.,ofﬁci‐ating andentombmentwill followatMt. Zion Memor‐ial Park Cemetery in Em‐pire, La.Funeralplanning entrusted to Robinson FamilyFuneralHome, 9611 LA-23, Belle Chasse,La. 70037, (504) 208-2119. For onlinecondolences,please visit www.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com.

HelenBaptisteFirmin entered into eternalrest onFriday, July 11, 2025 at the ageof93. Shewas born onDecember24, 1932 to the late OscarSamuelBap‐tiste andClementine Boutte Baptiste.Helen was the cherishedwifeofthe lateRaymond E. Firmin and devoted mother of Helene F.Belton(David) and Monique Firmin LaFonta. In addition to herhusband and parents, Mrs. Firmin is alsoprecededindeath by her sisters, BernadineB Demery, Anna MaeB Santa Cruz,AudreyB.Fran‐cois, DorothyB.Guter and ClementineB.Cager.Sur‐vivorsinclude asister, Genevieve B. Garnett; grandchildren,Macie Patrice LaFonta, DavidH Belton, II (Lauren) andDav‐etta Belton (Jevon); greatgrandchildren,Marleyand NolaFoster, as well as a hostofextendedfamily and dear friends, who will alwaystreasureher mem‐ory.A faithfuland devoted memberofthe Legion of MaryatCorpusChristi Helen liveda life rooted in faith,service andlovefor her family. Allare invited toattend thefuneral.A MassofChristian burial honoringthe life and legacyofthe late Helen BaptisteFirminwillbeheld atCorpusChristi Catholic Church,2022 St.Bernard Avenue,New Orleans, LA onFriday, July 25, 2025 at 10am. IntermentSt. Louis Cemetery#3. Visitation 8 aminthe church.Please signonlineguestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504) 581-4411.

Jerry J. Folse, adevoted husband,father, grandfa‐ther, great-grandfather, and longtime resident of Luling, Louisiana, passed awaypeacefully on the morning of July 21, 2025, at the ageof84. Born in Taft onMarch 24, 1941, Jerry was raised in thecloseknitcommunities of Vacherieand Hahnville. He graduated from Hahnville HighSchool,and it was duringhis earlyworking years at LouisianaPower and LightinAlgiers that he met theloveofhis life Renelle Hebert.Their 62yearmarriagewas oneof faith,devotion, andjoy.To‐gether, they builta home inLulingand raised three children, instilling in them the same deep values that guidedtheir ownlives Jerry dedicatedover30 years of servicetoMon‐santo,where he wasad‐mired notonlyfor histech‐nical skillasanoperator and electrician, butalso for hisquiet work ethic and integrity. Beyond his career,Jerry gave gener‐ously to hiscommunity.He servedfaithfully as a coach andofficerwiththe MimosaBoosterCluband was along-time member ofthe Rodand GunClub. Hewas afamiliarpresence atHahnville High School football gamesand band performances, where he remaineda devotedvolun‐teer long after hischildren graduated.A manofen‐duringfaith,Jerry wasa devoutCatholicand an ac‐tivememberofSt. Anthony ofPadua andHolyFamily Catholic Churches.Helived out hisfaith throughkind‐ness, humility,and service toothers. He found joyin life’ssimpleblessings—a quiet day fishing, family roadtrips,and everypre‐cious moment spentwith his grandchildren. Hisgen‐tle humor,quiet strength and deep,unconditional loveleftanindelible mark oneveryonewho knew him.Jerry also served his country with honorinthe Louisiana AirNational Guard andthe U.S. Air Force Reserves,proudly achieving therankof Sergeantbeforereceiving anHonorable Discharge after sixyears of service. Heissurvivedbyhis beloved wife of 62 years, Renelle Hebert Folse; his brother Carl Folse(Carol); his children BrianFolse (Stephanie),Barry Folse, and Bonnie Lowe (Sterling Whitley);his grandchildren Cameron Folse(Adriana), Zachary Folse, Evan Folse, Garrett Folse, JacobLowe, BenjaminWhitley,and Grif‐finWhitley;and hisgreatgrandson, CollandFolse Heisalsolovinglyremem‐bered by hissisters-in-law Amy Folseand Joan Folse, along with ahostofnieces, nephews,and friends. He was welcomed into eternal lifebyhis parents, O’Neil Folse Sr.and Sophie KliebertClardy(Eugene), and hisbrothers, O’Neil Folse Jr.(Diane),NeilFolse and LloydFolse.The family wishestoexpress their deepestgratitude to De‐lores Jones, Jerry’s de‐voted caregiverfor many years,and to thecompas‐sionate staff at Ochsner Medical Center andThe PassagesatThe Sanctuary, who provided gentle and dignified care in his final days. Relativesand friends are invitedtojointhe fam‐ily fora visitation on Fri‐day,July25, beginningat 9:30a.m.atHolyFamily Catholic Church,155 Holy FamilyLane, Luling,LA 70070. AFuneralMasswill beheldat11:00 a.m.,fol‐lowed by intermentatSt. Charles Cemetery,1279 PaulMaillardRoad, Luling, LA70070.

life of

teredNurse,and pastor who dedicatedmanyyears tonursing andthe min‐istry.Hefounded TheNew Genesis BibleChurch and inspiredmanyaround the world throughhis poetry asThe Triple AP.O.E.T.In 1981, he marriedthe love of his life,Gerolyn,and to‐gethertheyraisedfour children, Joy(Howard) Hampton,Rachel(Jebari) Garrison, Annette (Kass) Robinson, andDanielGarri‐son,while welcoming manyothersintotheir family. Charlesissurvived byhis wife Gerolyn; his children; grandchildren Madison,Chelsea,Kass, and Kade;grandchild-inloveJoshua; sistersBar‐bara(Cecil) Frezel and Kathleen (Rogers) Glenn; and ahostofgodchildren, extendedfamily, anddear friends.A pre-funeralview‐ing will be held on Thurs‐day,July24, 2025, from 3:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. at New Genesis BibleChurch,3711 FranklinAve,New Orleans, LA70122. TheCelebration ofLifeService will take place on Friday,July25, 2025, for10:00 a.m. at FranklinAvenue Baptist Church,8282 I-10 Service Rd, NewOrleans,LA70126 Visitationwillbegin at 8:00 a.m.A life of love,faith and purpose. Hallelujah! MinisterJustinRossHillard,Eulogist. Pastor FredLuter Jr,HostPastor. Intermentwilltakeplace onMonday, July 28, 2025, at Southeast LouisianaVeter‐ans Cemetery,34888 GranthamCollege Dr Slidell, LA 70460. Guest‐book Online:www.anewtra ditionbegins.com(504) 2820600. DonavinD.Boydand LinearBrooksBoydOwn‐ers/FuneralDirectors Marilyn’slifeand

MarilynClaireGrosz passedawayonJuly11, 2025, at herhomein Metairie, with herfamily byher side.BornAugust 28, 1942, in Monroe,North Carolina, Marilynmoved withher familytoNew Or‐leans shortlyafter theend ofWorld War2.Atthe age of16, shemet Fred Grosz ona blinddate. They mar‐riedonNovember30, 1963 Marilynstarted work in the Draftingdepartmentof South CentralBellTele‐phone Company, after graduatingfromEastJef‐fersonHighSchool in 1960 In 1965, Marilynand Fred had their ﬁrstchild,Ken‐nethWilliam Grosz. Mari‐lyn decidednot to return to workinorder to raiseher son.In1971, they hadtheir daughter, Kristen Claire Grosz.Marilynwas aloving wife, mother,grand‐mother, andgreat grand‐mother. Sheenjoyed crossstitch, readingher favorite Danielle Steelebooks,and gardening.She likedtravel‐ing with Fred to play golf and tennis andlater in life toEuropewithfriends and family. Shewillberemem‐bered forher drysense of humor andnever holding backfromtellingyou ex‐actly whatshe wasthink‐ing.Marilyn is survived by her husband, Fred Grosz; her sonKenny Grosz(Beth) and daughter Kristen Grosz (David);her sister Karen Moore(Lee) andbrother Bruce Cook (Linda); her grandchildren Morgan Grosz (Karl),Merritt Grosz (Ben),and KennethGrosz Jr. (Kaylee);and hergreat granddaughter Noah Claire Neuenhaus.She also leavesbehindmanyother familymembers and friends who will miss her greatly.She waspreceded indeath by herparents Al‐fredBernard Cook and ClaireMurielCook andher brother-in-lawGeorge Michael GroszIII. Thefam‐ily wishes to expresstheir gratitude to Visiting Angels and CompassusHospice for thecaretheyprovided toMarilyn. Also,a very special thankyou to Re‐becca Sadler,who did manykindthingsfor Mari‐lyn,including taking her blood on aweekly basisfor her INR. Memorial gifts may be made,inlieuof ﬂowers, to theAlzheimer’s FoundationofAmerica Relatives andfriends are invited to visitGreenwood FuneralHome, 5200 Canal Blvd.,New Orleans, LA 70124, on Saturday,July26, 2025, starting at 11:00 AM A Memorial Mass will fol‐low thevisitationat1:00 PM. Theburialwillbein Greenwood Cemetery.We alsoinviteyou to share yourthoughts, fond memo‐ries, andcondolences on‐lineatwww.greenwoodfh com.Yoursharedmemo‐ries will help us celebrate

Harness, Emelda Joseph

Emelda Joseph Harness, the matriarchofthe family, transitionedintoeternal restonThursday,July10, 2025 at herhome. Shewas the thirdoffourchildren borntothe unionofthe lateLeona Joseph andRay‐fieldMoss. Theformerwife ofWilbert Dallas Jr Robert EarlHarness, andPeter Bell. Beautifulmotherto Melanie andTerrenceHar‐nessand thelateWilbert DallasIII. Emelda wasaf‐fectionatelyknown as Ma, Madear, Momma, Auntie Emelda, Melda, Mella,Beu‐lah,Lila, andLucy. Emelda woremultiplehatsinthe workforce,including years ofservice devotedtoChild care, MonahanBrothers Inc.,TulaneIndustrial Laundry Inc.,and Gators Discount Store. Addition‐ally, Emelda wasfeatured ina localarticle,published byLouisiana Illuminator, for hervotingpollservice The articleproudly quotes, In 50 yearsofservice,she has carriedout herduties withthe highestintegrity The voters andher fellow commissioners love her.” She recitedthe phrase “I justwantloveand peacein the midstofany endured circumstances.Emelda was preceded in deathby her parents, LeonaJoseph and RayfieldMoss, son WilbertDallasIII, grandson Lance WilbertDallas, and siblings, Paul DuhonJr., JoanMarie Duhon(godson Floyd Duhon),and Gilbert Joseph. Sheleavestocher‐ish herlegacy, adaughter Melanie Harnessand son TerrenceHarness, five grandchildren, five great grandchildren,three god‐children, nieces,nephews, relatives,and friends. Emeldawilldearlybe missedbyall who were blessedtohavecrossed her path,especiallyher familywho shared the bondofagape love.Rela‐tives andfriends of the family, also pastors, offi‐cersand membersof Greater St.Andrewand First Mount CalvaryBaptist Churches arewelcome to joininthe Celebrationof LifeonFriday, July 25, 2025 atGreater St.AndrewBap‐tistChurch,7000 Earhart Blvd.,beginning at 10:00 a.m.PastorTerrence Green,officiating. Church visitationfrom9:00a.m until thehourofservice Rev.David M. PatinSr. and GwienaMagee Patin, Fu‐neral Directors. Profes‐sionalentrusted to Little‐johnFuneralHome, 2163 Aubry Street,Cal K. John‐son,FuneralDirector/Man‐ager Info: (504) 940-0045.

Carselia AnnJames, 63, passed away peacefullyat herhomeinNew Orleans, Louisiana, on July 15, 2025, after along illness. She wasthe belovedwife of Oscar Jamesfor 40 years and thecherished mother of Lashonda (Kuforiji) Adefunmi,Natasha (John) Zalewski, andTorrey James. Shewas adevoted grandmother to Delfeayo Adefunmi,and aloving sistertoAlfredClayton Jr andThomasina Clayton Shewas preceded in death by herparents,Doris Williby Clayton andAlfred Clayton Sr.Carselia was known for herkindspirit, strongfaith, and dedication to herfamily. Awoman of deep conviction, she foundjoy in singinginthe church choir andnurturing those around her.Her HomegoingCelebration will take place on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at FranklinAvenueBaptist Church,8282 I-10 Service Rd,New Orleans, LA. Viewingwill begin at 9:00 AM,with servicesstarting at 10:00 AM.Interment will follow at alocal cemetery Arepast willbeheld at the

Folse, JerryJ

Dickerson, Toni V.

Dalcour,Winfred

Grosz, MarilynClaire

Firmin,Helen Baptiste

Demarest

'Chip'

James, Carselia

Espadron Sr., Kirk John

Garrison, CharlesEdward

church fellowship hall immediately after the burial. tending lawschool parttime.Hegraduatedwith his Juris Doctoratefrom LoyolaUniversitySchoolof Law in 1975

Jones,Charles

OBITUARY FOR CHIEF

JUDGE CHARLES ROBERT

JONES

Sunrise: September 10, 1944

Sunset: July 4, 2025

Chief Judge Charles Robert Jones was born on Sunday, September 10, 1944, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Richard Edward Jones, Sr. and Jeannette Weadd Jones.He departed this life on Friday, July 4, 2025. The seventh of twelve children, Charles learned early the values of patience, organization, and clear communication that would serve him throughout his distinguished lifeand career.

Adevout Catholic from childhood, Judge Jones was Christened, received his First Holy Communion, and was Confirmed in the Catholic Church. He remained afaithful, lifelong practicingmember of his faith and served as a Lector at St. Leo and St. Raymond Parish Churches. His deep faith provided the foundation for his commitment to justice and service to others.

Judge Jones was preceded in death by his parents, Richard E. Jones, Sr. and Jeannette Weadd Jones; his brother HenryO Williams; his sister Claudette Jones Hills; and hisbeloved daughter ColetteJones Fortuna. He is survived by his loving wife, Charlee Reed Jones; sisters DorisJones Wilson, Miriam Jones Milton, Patricia Jones Amedee, Marybelle Jones Carter, andCynthia Jones; brothers Richard E. Jones, Jr., Raymond C. (Shirley) Jones, Sr., Alvin L. (Carol) Jones, and Warren A. (Gennie) Jones; sons Bryant (Marilyn) Jones, Sr., Cyrus (Javani), and Lendl Jones; daughter Adrian Powell (Brandon); grandchildren Brandon Goffner (Zahrah),Angellica Bozant, Lamar Fortuna, Jr., Bryant Jones, Jr., GabrielleJones, Avery Powell, Jaylah Jones, Eriyanna Jones, Skylar Alexander, Cyli Jones, Jacy Jones and Lori Jones; and great-grandchildren Jerron Jeanjacques, Jr., Noah Goffner, Alani Beard, Derron Beard, Jr., Ayla Beard, Alon Liddell,and Mason Barnett. Judge Jones excelled academically from elementary school through his graduation as an Honor Graduate from St. Augustine High School in 1962, where he served as Sports Editor of the Purple Knight newspaper. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served three years during the Vietnam War whereheserved as a Teletype Operator with Top Secret Clearance. During this critical period in American history, Charles received the solemn notification from theDepartment of the Army to pass on to the Commanding General of the Military Assistance Advisory Group Vietnam that President Kennedy had been assassinated. Following his service in Vietnam, he served an additional 18 months in Germany.For his distinguished militaryservice he earned theArmed ForcesExpeditionary Medal, Rifle Marksmanship Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam ServiceMedals, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Commanding General United States Forces Vietnam for Outstanding Service. Upon receiving an Honorable Discharge, he returned to New Orleans and enrolled at Xavier University using his GI Bill benefits. Balancing parttime work withrigorous studies, he graduated with aBachelor of Science Degree on Mother's Day weekend 1971, making his family exceptionally proud. He then earned aCouncil on Legal Education Opportunities (CLEO) Scholarship to Loyola University School of Law. After marriage,Judge Jonesdemonstrated remarkable dedication by maintaining full-time employment as an agent for Eastern Airlines while at-

Throughout his career Judge Joneschampioned the concerns of the disadvantagedand underserved. After passing the Louisiana Bar on his first attempt, he served as:

-Counselor in the Orleans Parish Prison Rehabilitation Program

-Assistant Orleans Parish DistrictAttorney

-Orleans ParishPublic Defender

-ElectedRepresentative of Louisiana House District 96

-ElectedJudge on the Fourth Circuit Courtof Appeal (1992)

-Chief Judge of the Fourth Circuit Courtof Appeal

His colleagues respected him for his principled legally grounded approach to deliberations and his ability to buildmeaningful professional relationships. Judge Jones' dedication to communityservice was evident through his active membershipinnumerous organizations:

-Rho Phi ChapterofThe Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (Life Member)

-Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club

-LouisA.Martinet Legal Society

-St. Augustine Alumni Association (scholarship endowment established)

-JudicialCouncilofthe American Bar Association

-JudicialCouncilofthe National Bar Association

-Louisiana Conference of Court of Appeal Judges

-Council of Chief Judges, StateCourtsof Appeal

-Board Member forthe Preservation Resource Fund in New York. Judge Jones lived alife dedicatedtoservice,love, and faith. His extraordinary impact came through both scholarly approaches to legal challengesand simpleacts of unselfish kindness, touching andinspiring allwho knew him. Whengreeting his friends, his ever-present smileand genuine carefor others were always on display and willbedeeplymissed Judge Charles Robert Jones'lifestandsasa testament to the profound difference one personcan makethrough commitment to Living, Learning, and Loving. He leavesbehind alegacy of Justice, Compassion, and Service that willcontinue to inspire futuregenerations. He truly epitomized the lyricsofthat Old Hymn: Let the LifeI'velived speak for me, Let the LifeI'velived speak for me, When I'm buried in my grave and there's nothing more to be said, Letthe LifeI'velived speak for me..

Visitation Hours are 9:00 11:00 AM on July26th at St. JosephCatholic Church,1802Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112. The Mass of ChristianBurial will commenceat11:00 AM. There willbea private intermittent at alater time Complimentaryparkingfor the St. Joseph Catholic Church is availableatthe LSUHSCparking garageacross fromthe Church on Roman Street. In lieuofflowers, please considercontributing to the Chief Judge Charles R. Jones '62 Memorial Scholarship Fund at St. Augustine High School. Funeralarrangements arebeing compassionately provided by Professional Funeral Services,1449 N. Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans,LA70116.

JonesJr.,Louis 'E boy'

Louis"Eboy"Jones,Jr., age 97,was born on July 28, 1927 to thelateLouis, Sr. andLorenza Jonesin New Orleans, LA and passedawaypeacefully on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at WynhovenHealthcareCen‐ter.Hewas marriedtothe lateFlorenceJones for over57years.Beloved fa‐therofLouis Jones, III (Kathleen), Eugene,Donald (Felicia),Michael,Vincent (Melinda)and thelate Ricky Jones. In addition to his wife,parents and son, Louis is also preceded in death by sisters, Beverly Jones,MaryHall, Alice Jones,LorraineGaspard and ShirleyHill. He also leavestocherish in his memory, ahostofgrand‐children,great-grandchil‐

dren,nieces, nephews, cousins andfriends.Mr. Jones wasa plastererand stucco ﬁnisher who later started hisown drywall ﬁnishingbusiness. Hislife touched hiscommunity and thosearound himand hewillbesadly missedby all who knew andloved him.A Celebrationservice honoringthe life of thelate Louis "E boy" Jones, Jr willbeheldatHousehold ofFaith Family Worship Church,9300 I10EastSer‐viceRoad, NewOrleans,LA onSaturday, July 26, 2025 at10am. IntermentRest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery, 10400 OldGen‐tilly Road,New OrleansLA 70127. Visitation 9amin the church.Pleasesignon‐lineguestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet LabatGlapion, Directors (504) 581-4411.

Legaux,Doretha Jane Price

In Loving Memory of Doretha Jane PriceLegaux, July14, 2025 –Age 92. With deep love andgratitude for a life well lived, we an‐nouncethe passingof Doretha Jane PriceLegaux, who peacefully departed thislifeonMonday, July 14, 2025, at theage of 92. A lifelongresidentofNew Orleans,Doretha was known forher unwavering strength, hergentlespirit, and herdeep devotion to familyand faith.She spent manyyears in serviceto her community as adedi‐cated employee of Charity HospitalofNew Orleans, where hercompassionand caretouched countless lives.Doretha waspre‐ceded in deathbyher beloved husband,Claude G.LegauxJr.,and hercher‐ished parents, HenryPrice and CeceliaCreecyPrice She leaves behind alegacy ofloveand devotion through hersix children: Maria (Aaron)Williams, Anthony (Shelina)Legaux, Karen (Mark) Lewis, Kim Legaux, Lisa Legaux,and Raequel (Joseph) Slater She wasthe proudand lov‐ing matriarchofa large family, including14grand‐children, 13 great-grand‐children, and7 great-greatgrandchildren,aswellasa hostofextendedfamily members anddearfriends who will forevercherish her memory.Relatives and friends areinvited to at‐tenda Mass of Christian BurialonFriday, July 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Ma‐jesticMortuary, locatedat 1833 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard,New Orleans, LA. Visitation will beginat 9:00a.m.Doretha’s life was a testamenttofaith,re‐silience, andunconditional love. Though sheisno longerwithusinbody, her spiritwillcontinue to guide and inspireall those blessedtohaveknown her. Professionalarrangements entrusted to Majestic Mor‐tuary Service, Inc. (504) 523-5872.

Lewis, Krishon Chante 'Lula'

Lewis, also knownas Kween", alifelongresi‐dentofNew Orleans, La., recentlyresidinginHous‐ton,TX, enteredintoeter‐nal rest unexpectedly on Tuesday,July15, 2025. Kris‐hon wasbornonNovem‐ber 18, 1992 to Denice Lewis andRalph Lagrue of New Orleans, La.Her edu‐cationwas fostered in the New OrleansParishSchool System. Shewentonto further hereducation at Coastal DrivingSchool, where sheobtained her CDL driver's license. She gaveher life to Godatan early age. Shewas mem‐ber of PentecostBaptist Church.Her favorite hymn was "I know it wasthe blood forme".Krishon was a sweet andlovingspiritto all who knew her. Shehad a smile that would brightenupa room.She was thebackbonetothe family. Always worked be‐hindthe sceneasthe plan‐ner.She wasthe familyDJ, and thoughther musicwas betterthaneveryone else's. Shealwaysgot the cardgamestarted.Her fa‐voritelinewas "where y'all quartersat?"She wasa hugeSaintsfan,win or lose, shewas gluedinfront ofthe TV each week.She was an employee of Gaubert Oil, WasteMan‐agement Services,United Rentals Co &Total Safety Krishon andKrishellbe‐cameentrepreneurs in 2019, starting K& KClean‐ing Services.In2022 they formedDenicethe Angel TruckingLLC.Krishon leavestocherish hermem‐ories;her loving Godchil‐drenEilaMitchell& Maki Bargky. Siblings,Christian, Krishell, Tyricka, Aaronisha Lewis,LaurenLewis-Brum‐ﬁeld(Leonard),Racheal and JoyLagrue, herfather Ralph Lagrue,her aunt Joannette Lewis- Robert‐son (Keith), herGodbrother TahjLewis andher Godsis‐ters, CaterraJefferson and Joyce Hall;a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, familyand friends who will allmiss her dearly.She waspre‐ceded in deathbyher mother, Denice Lewis, uncle,Nathaniel Lewis, Grandmother AlonaLewisMason,great grandmother, Juanita Dyer,grandfather WalterClark,and herbest friendRonnieRobinson. Relatives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend a FuneralService honoring the life of Ms.Krishon Lew isatD.W.RhodesFuneral Home, 3933 Washington Ave NewOrleans,La. on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 10:00 am.Visitationwill begin at 9:00 am until 10:00 am. Interment: Private. Arrangementsentrusted to D.W.RhodesFuneralHome, 3933 Washington.Please visit www.rhodesfuneral. com to sign theonline guestbook

July 11,1959-July 23,2025

Taken from thisworld unexpectedly and far too soon, Scotwillbedeeply missed by allwho knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard JosephMarshall Sr. and Dorothy Holtz Marshall, and hisolder brother Richard Joseph MarshallJr.

He is survived by his spouse, Mary Julian Marshall, his son Dr. Andre ScotMarshall(AliElise), stepsons Neil B. Smith and Keith B. Smith,grandchildren Marley RaeMarshall, Hudson ScotMarshall, Caroline E. Smith,Julianne E. Smith,and EvelynE Smith, and by his sisters, Darlene Nelson, Brenda Marshall, and Cheryl Calm (Bill) and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers we ask donations be made

to: Samaritan's Purse,P.O. Box 3000, BooneNC28607 Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Open Arms Church (formerlyBethany Lutheran Church) 1340 8th Street,Slidell LA 70458 Visitation andService at 10am followed by agatheringinthe fellowship hall. A celebrationoflifewill be held from10:00AM to 2:00PM

Matherne,Dot

Dorothy (Dot) Matherne passedawaypeacefullyat home on June 28th, 2025, at the age of 91.

Shewas born on August 25th, 1933, in Aztec,New Mexico. Herfamilymoved to Louisiana when she was eleven years old. Hereshe met thelove of herlife, Ralph Matherne,whileattending GretnaHigh School, and they married on May31st, 1952.

Dotworkedseveral years as theofficemanager at Dixie Oil Tools and spent over thirty years at SteppingStones Montessori school, continuing to work thereuntilthe week before herdeath. She wasalso atrailblazer, becoming thefirst female barber on theWestBank in the1960's. Shequicklyestablisheda loyal clientele duetoher outgoing personality, quickwit, andher excellent skills behindthe chair

Dotwas very competitive, participating in softballand volleyballinher earlier years and later playing pickleballinto her 90's. She lovedher pickleballfamilyatthe Gretna Recreation Center.She had agenerous natureand likedbeing with andobserving people. She enjoyed hosting many meals for herfriends, family, and granddogs. Dotwill be rememberedfor herbeautifulgarden,her love of children,and heractivespirit Herbrownies will be missed.

Sheissurvivedbyher loving children: JulieBurke (Butch) andRandy Matherne(Diane), herspecial grandchildrenDaniel Burke (Saul) andElizabeth Burke, hersister Carole Janiesand many nieces andnephews.

Shewas preceded in death by herhusband, Ralph MatherneonApril 21, 2025, after 72 years together,parents Richard andLillian Glenn, sisters DorisKupitsko, Marie Smith, Wanda LeJeune, AnnRoughton and brothersMarvinKynerd,Donnie Kynerd andBilly Glenn.

Shewas interred together withher husband on July 9th, 2025, aprivate familyceremony

Familyand friends may offer condolencesbyvisitinghttps://neptunesociety .com/obituaries/10963670. In lieu of flowers, please considermemorial donationstoSt. Jude Children's Hospital or the Louisiana SPCA.

Ajoint celebrationoflife is plannedfor Dotand Ralph in the near future Familyand friends are encouraged to reachout at dotandralph2025@gmail.co m

Lula BelleMoss, age90, a Treméneighborhood his‐torianand thepropri‐etor/ownerofLulaBelle’s Loungeand Restaurant passedawayonThursday, July17, 2025 surrounded by her loving family. Shewas bornonJuly26, 1934 to the lateLukeMossand Allie DeanGordoninTylertown, MSand wasraisedinNew Orleans,LA. In addition to her parents, Lula Belle is alsoprecededindeath by her stepfather,ThomasS Gordon; sister,Nettie LouiseKing; daughter,Yol‐undaE.Lawrence; grand‐son,DraperS.Lawrence (Misty);niece,Terry King and nephews, SahirMa‐june andKenneth McCoy. Survivors includeher beloved daughters, Zelinda Lawrence(PeterRogues), DeniseL.Hawkins (the late Joseph),TroyL.Lawson (Kim),and Terry Dean Lawrence; niece, Cheryl Ann McCoy; nephew,Regi‐naldMcCoy; ﬁfteen grand‐children, twenty sixgreatgrandchildren,two greatgreat grandchildren, as wellasa host of great niecesand nephews, other relatives andfriends.All are invitedtoattend the funeral. AMassofChrist‐ian burial honoring thelife and legacy of thelateLula Belle Moss will be held at St. PeterClaverCatholic Church,1923 St.Philip Street,New Orleans, LA 70116 on Saturday,July26, 2025 at 9:15 am.Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery,4000 NormanMayer Ave.,New Orleans,LA70122. Visita‐tion8 am in thechurch. A repastwillbeheldatLe Roux’sonthe Lake,9734 Hayne Blvd., NewOrleans, LA70127. Please sign on‐lineguestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet LabatGlapion, Directors (504) 581-4411.

Kimberly Monique Carbo August 29,1960–July24, 2004

Moss, Lula Belle

Smith, Yvette FrazierConerly

Yvette FrazierConerly Smith passedawayonJuly 19, 2025, at theage of 61 Yvette is survived by her devoted husband,Richard Smith; herlovingdaughter,

Marshall, Scot Howard

See more DEATHS page

OPINION

OUR VIEWS

Tariffs threaten a cherished morning ritual

The bite of tariffs is beginningtobefeltin an importantpartofthe daily routine formany Americans—their morning coffee.Perhaps as you are reading this, you areenjoying acup of your favorite brew.Ifso, you may have noticed thatsomecoffee shops and store brands have raisedtheir prices in recentweeks as they grapplewithtariffs on imported coffee beans

In Louisiana, coffee isn’tjust acherished ritual, it’salso big business.

J.M. SmuckerCo., which roasts coffee for Folgers, Dunkin’ and Café Bustelo, employs nearly 700 people at its facilitiesinNew Orleans. BatonRouge-based Community Coffee has been roastingand distributing its beans for more than 100years. The Port of New Orleans handles 16,000containers of coffee beans ayear,makingitthe largest containerized commodity at theport. So it’snostretch to say that much isatstake for Louisiana as President Donald Trumppursues atrade strategy thatisincreasing prices on this key commodity.Since April, a10% tariff on all imports has left businesses scrambling Community and J.M. Smucker increased prices last month in response. Some brands, like French Truck Coffee, aNew-Orleans-based chain, are trying to be creative, addingsurchargestocoffee purchases. The chainsaysit will remove those extra charges when andifthe tariffs are lifted. But another worry is on the horizon. President Trump recently threatened to impose a50% tariff on Brazil as punishmentfor howithas treated its former presidentJair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally facing trial for plotting acoup to remain in power after losing a2022election. Brazil supplies about 30%ofthe Americanmarket, and there is no way any other sourcecould easily ﬁll the gap.

For Port NOLA and the manywell-known Louisiana coffee brands,the effects could be devastating.That’sto say nothing of thehundreds of small business owners operating local coffee shops in towns and cities across the state.Many have said they have triedto sparecustomers the effects of these price increases foraslong as they could. But ultimately,theyhavetolook at the bottom line.

If the goal of tariffs is to strengthendomestic industry and bring manufacturing back to our shores, we can support that. But coffeeisa commoditythatisn’t producedinthe UnitedStates, largely.Only Hawaii and Puerto Ricohave any sizablecoffee-growing regions. The coffee industry is amajor contributortoour economy that relies on an importedproduct.

Some entrepreneurs have spent yearsbuilding businesses based on this globalcommodity Now they face uncertainty as forcesbeyond their control put all they built in jeopardy.We urge our political leaders tokeep them in mind as they make decisions whose effects reach all the way down to our coffee cups.

LETTERSTOTHE

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

What wouldJesus think

of

‘Alligator Alcatraz?’

Regarding “Alligator Alcatraz,” I have seen memes that aresupposed to be funny,trading cards withDonald Trump’spicture on them, assorted merchandise and horriﬁc comments supporting this cruelty.The depths thatthis country has fallen to continue to astound, mortify,depress and anger me all at the same time. Not only are we OK with immoral, inhumane treatment of humans, whose only “crime” may be seeking abetter life for themselves and their families,but we are makingfun of it and celebrating it. Humansinliteral cages, in theheat of the swamp, unprotected from the elements, treated worse than we treat animals in this country.This makes us no better than thepeople who jeered and laughed at Jesus on the cross. Have we no shame? No dignity? Have we completely abandoned basic human decency? Howinheaven’s namecan we even get our mouths

to form theword “Christian” in conjunction with the actions being taken?

Ifeel the tears and pain of Jesus as he looks upon us, wondering how we could even claim him. Ikeep saying there are no words for what is happening, for what our country is becoming, but Iamworking hard to ﬁnd away to let the world know this is not me, this is not who Iam, not whomy friends are, not what America is supposed to be. If my heart is broken, I can’teven contemplate how Jesus is feeling about His people right now Iknow he loves us all, all the time. Led by his love, Iwork to love all, all the time. Butthat just adds to the profound sadness and disappointmentwhen those you love act reprehensibly Iamconstantly praying forareturn to decency

ANGELE GIVENS NewOrleans

Disconnect of left is drivingits deathspiral

The American political left is in a free fall —morally,intellectually and electorally.Once positioning itself as the voice of the working class and commonsense reform, themodern left now claims an unearned monopoly on both morality and intelligence. Butthe resultsoftheir actions —and therejection they face from everyday Americans—tell adifferent story

Instead of addressing real concerns like rising crime, economic instability and the erosion of national pride, theleft doubles down on identity politics,climate alarmism and censorship. The result?They’ve becomenot aparty of progress, but amovement marked by arrogance, intolerance and delusion.

The modernleft appears to despise everything America standsfor: free speech, individual liberty, secure borders and national pride. They tear down statues of our founders,rewrite history through thelens of grievance and teach our children to be ashamed

of their own country.Tomany,itfeels as though their goal isn’t to improve America —but to dismantle it. In contrast, theleadership of President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise has reignited American strength. Together,they represent acoalition that honors faith, family, freedom and theConstitution. Under their guidance, America is seeing a return to common sense, patriotic spirit and the belief that this nation’s best days are still ahead

The left’sdownfall is not just political —itisphilosophical.The more they mock American greatness, the moreAmericans turn away.The future belongs to those wholove this country and are willing to ﬁght forit. Under the leadership of Trump, Johnson and Scalise, America is great again —and only getting greater God bless America.

ADRIAN BRUNEAU

chairman, Orleans Parish Republican ExecutiveCommittee

When Iread that people often think it is OK to treat prisoners badly,I realize that manyhave no concept of “there but forthe grace of God, go I.”They have often broken the law because they were abused as children. Ninety-eight percent of the prison population has at least one adverse childhood experience. Add to the fact that we do not have community mental health care, enough child care social workers or enough foster care homes, and we have ahigh incidence of unwanted and unviable births (often born addicted). Ninety-ﬁve percent of Medicaid recipients work. Many do not have ahome. They live in the back seat of acar In the U.S., 52% of female prisoners (and 49% of maleprisoners) have experienced sexual abuse. Sixty percent have experienced physical abuse. The rates are higher in Louisiana, where 80% of the incarcerated experience substance abuse disorder along with multiple medical problemsand suicide attempts. Add to this that over 50% of prisoners have IQswell below 90 because of the conditions they wereborn into, such as drug addiction, alcohol withdrawal syndromeand general lack of prenatal care (even moresoinLouisiana). As an ex-social worker,I have had manyofthese people tell me they wished they had never been born. How much moredoyou think they need to sufferinprison?

CINDYKENDALL youngsville

Iread and reread the article on about CBS editing Kamala Harris’ answer.This article wasatleast as slanted as washer response. It’s just another example of shading, twisting and weasel wording. This is not news. It’s another editorial and should have been moved to that page.

JOHN BANQUER Belle Chasse

COMMENTARY

What

higher ed’s troubles mean forpolitics?

Nine months after the 2024election, we’ve been graced with deﬁnitive dissections of the electorate and howit has changed since that escalatorride 10 years and one month ago. There’swide agreement in the analysesofThe Associated Press/Fox News Vote Cast, the Democratic ﬁrm Catalist’sWhatHappened and the Pew ResearchCenter analysis.

comingyearsand that theirreduced or vanishing Democratic margins are bad newsfor that party. But will thatbeoffsetbythe continuing growth of White collegegraduates casting relatively steady Democraticmargins?

had some effect in shaping the political views of college graduates and widening the chasmbetween thoseofWhite graduates and nongraduates.

All three conclude that President DonaldTrump owed his ﬁrst popularvote plurality to gains from racialminorities, especially Hispanics, and from the young, especially men. The result, as aPew chart shows, is alessracially polarized electorate,contrary to the many earlier analyses that Trump’s supposed “racism” would repel minority voters. This also confounds the optimistic projections of Democrats like pollster Stan Greenberg that Democrats wouldbeneﬁt from an “ascendantmajority” of groups —Hispanics, millennials and college graduates —destined to be agrowing shareof the electorate.

The Associated Press, Catalistand Pew reports also take note of what is nowold news: the sharppolarization of White college graduates and White nongraduates. That came as asurprise in 2016: There was so little difference between these groups in previous elections that most pollsters didn’tdisaggregate results according to levels of education.

Now,the contrast is stark. The Associated Press’ Vote Cast showedformer Vice President Kamala Harris carrying White college graduates 53-45 and Trump carrying noncollege White people by awhopping 65-34.And while White college graduates moved slightly toward Trump in 2024, the education gaphasn’tnarrowed nearly as muchas the racial and ethnic gap.

There’snodoubt that Hispanic,millennial and Generation Zvoterswill be an increasing proportion of voters in the

COURSE PRO

Don’tcountonit. Current trends suggest the population of college graduates may be starting to decline, after more or less constant growth since World War II,from 5% of theadult population in 1940 to 38%in2022.

Now,the population of future college graduates looks settodecline. Births in the United States peaked in 2007 at 4.32 million, almost identical to the baby boompeak of 4.31 million in 1957.

The numberofbirths thendropped through the Great Recession, down to 3.62 millionin2024, a16% drop. That means fewer Americans graduating fromhigh school and applying to college in 2025 and 2026, with numbers declining into the 2040s

That’s notjusta projection; it’sa continuation of adozen-year trend. Higher education (college and university) full-time enrollment peaked in 2012 at 11.6million, dropped to 10.1 million in COVID-19-stricken 2020, a13% drop, andhas reboundedonly slightly since.

Moreover,the job market for recent graduateshas been declining over the last dozen years, as Derek Thompson noted in The Atlantic this spring, and maycontinuetodeteriorate as artiﬁcial intelligence becomes morecommon.

As he noted, the lifetime earnings gap between college and high school graduatesstopped widening in 2010

Young people may be getting the news. An increasing number of teenagersare expressing interest in trade schools and apprenticeships, which can lead to higher-paying workthan many collegemajors. Young men, especially, maybetaking this route, avoiding 60%plus female colleges with, as one conservative put it,campuses patrolled by the feminist thought police.

There seems little question that the “woke”perspective of bothhigh-paid professors andlow-paid adjuncts has

Mini golf is asummer favorite for kids and adults everywhere.But something alittle strange is happening here. youtell me. Be witty,funny, crazy,absurd or snarky —just trytokeepitclean.There’sno limit on the number of entries. The winningpunchlinewill be letteredinto the word balloon and runMondayinour printeditions and online. In addition, thewinner will receiveasigned print of the cartoon along with acool winner’sT-shirt! Email entries to cartooncontest@theadvocate.com

There’salso littlequestion that many young people are not wired to beneﬁt from higher education. The G.I. Bill of Rights, beginning in the1940s,and the post-Sputnik scholarship school aid, beginning in the1950s,enabled many people withthe requisiteskills and temperament toearncollege and professionaldegrees,togreat national beneﬁt.

But suchpeople arenever going to be 100% of the population, and if 5% is too low,perhaps 38% is too high. Generous student loans and promised loan forgiveness may have overshot themark, and today,the Biden loan forgiveness program is gone, and Trump’slimits on student loans have become law

For the larger society, subsidizing “woke” colleges and universities,with their speech codes and racial quotas, may have become not avalue-addedbut avalue-detracted segment of the economy.Higher education, long agrowth industry,isatrisk of decline.

In any case, in electoral politics, the promise of an ever-increasing body of college graduates permanently swelling an ascendant Democratic majority seems uncertain of fulﬁllment,even as longstanding nine-to-one majorities among Black people and two-to-one among Hispanic people have been regressing towardthe national mean. That doesn’tmean that Republicans areguaranteed anything like apermanent majority. Far from it. It means that our partisan politics will continue to be sharply divided, with developmentsthat help one partywithone group sooner or later helping theother partywithanother.And election resultswill continue to be affected, in ways that almostno one anticipates,bydevelopmentslike those thatfollowed that escalator ride 10 yearsand one month ago.

Michael Barone is on X, @MichaelBarone.

Lutheran teens bringhours of blessingstoN.O.

When about 19,000 Lutheran high schoolers and some 1,000 adult mentors descend on New Orleans for ﬁve days, the economic impactalone is impressive: 38,000 room nights at 45 hotels, according to NewOrleans &Company.When about half of those high schoolers participate in community service projects while here, the beneﬁts to the city are multipliedimmeasurably in terms of both palpable assistance and goodwill.

The even better news is that NewOrleans seems to be giving the kids aton of goodwill and great experiences in return, leaving them with a lasting sense of friendship for the Crescent City

Quin Hillyer

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has ahistorical connection with NewOrleans, as the denomination’sforbears all arrived in this country via the port in New Orleans in 1839. Amid ahost of events, music and seminar sessions related to the participants’ faith, it is their community services, estimated at astunning 150,000service hours, that make the youth gathering fardifferent from most group conventions here.

“Service has always been an integral part of youth gatherings for the LCMS,” said Mark Kiessling, director of the congregation’snational youth ministry.“Our youth are excitedtoput their faith into action and to get out into communities and serve in the name of Jesus.”

In addition to service projects at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center,the kids spread out all around the metro area for 86 separate events, ranging from projects helping coastal restoration to classroom-preparation efforts to neighborhood beautiﬁcation initiatives and to work in multiple community gardens.

For instance, about two dozen high schoolers went to Gloria’sGarden on the grounds of the ArtSpace campus in Faubourg Treme, where 77-year-old Gloria Ward produces aplethora of collard, mustard, and turnip greens, spinach, kale and numerous herbs —all for freefor the community and all while hosting fun events for neighbors, especially children. There, one group painted paver stonesthat Ward will use to beautify anew barbecue patio within the garden. Another draped wet, cementsoaked cloths over plastic-covered buckets or boxes; when dried and turned upside down, the cemented cloths will be decorative ﬂowerpots. Other students actually dug in the gardenand did weeding.

“I’m here to get closer to Godand closer to my friends,” said Lydia Schulze, a16-year-old rising high school junior from Brooklyn, New York, who was busy weeding. As for the garden, she said “The lady here [Ward] is really sweet and it’snice to be here to help her This is really special, to be able to help people and to do it joyfully and not just because your youth leader said so.”

FRANKFORT,Ky. The Republican Party was declared moribund after its1964 presidential nominee,Sen.Barry Goldwater (Arizona),lost 44 states and 61% of thepopular vote. But the party won ﬁve of the next six presidential elections, 1968-1988. Democrats interrupted their losing streak in 1976 by nominating aSouthern governor, Jimmy Carter,and ended their losing ways in 1992 and 1996 by nominating aSouthern governor,Arkansas’ Bill Clinton, whose running mate was aSouthern senator, Al Gore. Kentucky Gov.Andy Beshear might remind his party’snominating electorate of this. He is agreeably uncoy about his interest in becoming president, soon.His electoral and governing achievements are impressive. He won statewide to become attorney general, then defeated aRepublican incumbent governor whosesandpapery personality rubbed Kentuckians the wrong way and made them relish Beshear’smeliorative style thathas earned him the title of Kentucky’sMr. Rogers He has twice won the governorship of astate that Donald Trump won three times by an average of 29 percentage points. Republicans hold allother statewide ofﬁces, and they control the legislature.

This column favors aconstitutional amendment: “No person shall be eligible to be president whoisoreverhas been asenator.” Governors administer things rather larger than aSenateofﬁce and are individuallyaccountable forresponding to large challenges. Beshear is much admired for his handling of some of the most serious ﬂoods and tornadoes

in his state’s recorded history. His ﬂuency in the political art of saying justenough to stop short of imprudent claritymight owe somethingto the fact that he is to themanner born: His father wasa two-termgovernor He is, however,speciﬁc in his denunciation of theRepublican-controlled Congress’s enactment of Trump’sagenda in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

Attached to legislation, thephrase “big beautiful” is invariably oxymoronic: Suchbills are jumbles of pork, and most members of Congressprobably would ﬂunkaquiz about what is in this one. If Beshear is right about its consequences, he is rightly incensed.

One-third of Kentuckians and half of thestate’schildren, he says, are on Medicaid,which covers40% of the state’sbirths and 70% of long-term elderly care. He says that under his administration, 600,000 are no longer uninsured. The legislation will reverse many gains and will mean a$1billion hittothe state’shealth care. He says Medicaidcutsput 35 rural hospitals at risk.Inmany small communities, thelocal hospital is second only to the school system in terms of the number ofpeopleitemploys. Apregnant woman near her due date might have a three-hour drive to ahospital, and then perhaps the expense of ahotel stay

To compete for his party’snomination, Beshear must, as all Democratic candidates must, run thegantlet of “the groups.” (For three more years, Republicanswill not have asimilar problem, because they are membersless of a partythanofa personalitycult.) These factions are ideologically contentious andpronetobeadisproportionate share of the voteinprimaries. They often haveagendas that strike many peopleoutsidethe groups as cultural

aggression.

In 1992, Clinton underscored his credentials as acentrist by publicly rebuking Sister Souljah, aBlack rapper with apenchant for extreme racial rhetoric. In 2028, Democratic candidates might seek their Sister Souljah momentsby conspicuously saying “no” to one or moreitems on the agendas of one or moreof“thegroups.”

Consider an issue thepolitical salience of which was missed by many Democratic candidates in 2024: biological men competing in women’ssports. Explaining his veto of abill (a veto since overridden) that would have prevented this, Beshear says it was meanspirited, and he doesn’twant governmentmaking the rules (ingovernment schools?),and he wants local communities to decide these things. Such dusty answers will not get him through Nov 7, 2028.

Kentucky’stransition from reliance on coal and tobacco has been facilitated by being aright-to-work state (no thanks to Democrats) and by diversiﬁcation that, he says, includes $2.7 billion in Toyotainvestments producing 10,070 new jobs during Beshear’s governorship, and soon will include two largebattery plants. There alsois theBourbon Trail: Touristscome from around the world to stroll, or perhaps stagger,through themany distilleries. Kentucky,which is contiguous to seven other states, is alaboratory for learning to speak Middle American, a skill that has atrophied in aDemocratic Party with coastal obsessions. Beshear is the great-grandson and grandson of Baptistpreachers. Hiscadences will be heard.

Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com.

Meanwhile, back at the Convention Center, hundreds of kids each day were donating blood, while others prepared food packets forthe Orphan Grain Train organization that rushessupplies to disaster-stricken communitiesaround the world, and still others allowed their long hair to be cut short for the Wigs for Kids programfor cancer-stricken children.

Brodie Stone, a17-year-old rising senior from Basehor,Kansas, gave blood.

“I think it’sareally cool opportunity,” he said. “The whole theme [of the conference]is ‘Endure,’ and the blood transfusions aregoing to alot of people who are in atime where they of course are getting things like surgeries… or something where they are going through a hardship, and Ithink that by me enduring just acouple of minutesofgiving blood, it canhelp someone endure something alot worse.”

Walking amid thousands of kids at the convention center,one is struck by how visibly happy every one of them seems. Meanwhile, when they are out and about in New Orleans, the city is making agreat impression. Stone, for example, compared it to the denomination’slast national gathering, whichheattended in Houstonthree years ago.

“I’ve loved it,” Stone said. “Not to trash talk Houston, but it felt very empty and bland. But NewOrleans has alot more character, and Ilove the architecture style. Going through the French Quarter,looking at the old buildings, there’sjust not many cities like New Orleans.”

Schulze, the NewYork junior volunteering in the garden, was just as enthusiastic. She rode on the Creole Queen on the Mississippi River, went to amuseum, rode the streetcar and visiteda cousin of hers who is amusician, playing violin in arestaurant.

“And Ireally have enjoyed all the murals,” she said. “They’re really cool. …Itseemslike the culture is really,like, vibrant.”

As these kids are giving New Orleans awonderful boost in so many ways, it’snice to know this city in return is providing some terriﬁc memories, based on auniquely exuberant civic character

Quin Hillyer can be reached at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com.

Michael Barone George Will

NewOrleans Forecast

Sondra Frazier; stepsons, Richard SmithJr.,Timothy Smith,and Thaddeus Brown; adored grand‐daughters,Jasmine Leon, CreeGuilbeau; sisters, Linda FrazierJohnson and Cynthia (Rob)Sumpter; her nieces, nephew,greatniece,and great-nephew; the Smithfamily; and countless friendsand loved ones whowillmiss her dearly.Precededin death by herlovingpar‐ents, Herman andSondra Frazier.Familyand friends are invitedtoattend the Celebration of Life Service onFriday, July 25, 2025, for 10:00 a.m. at NewHope MissionaryBaptist Church 1807 RevJohnRaphael Jr Way,New Orleans, LA 70113. Visitation will begin at9:30a.m.Rev.Jamaal Weathersby, ofﬁciating. In‐terment will follow at Prov‐idenceMemorialPark Cemetery, 8200 AirlineDr, Metairie, LA 70003. Guest‐book Online:www.anewtra ditionbegins.com(504) 2820600. DonavinD.Boydand LinearBrooksBoydOwn‐ers/Funeral Directors.

Theodore Thomas Jr was born on July 28, 1945 inNew Orleans, Louisiana. Hewas born to theunion ofTheodoreThomasSr. and LauraSterlingThomas. Theodoregraduated from Booker T. Washington Se‐niorHighSchool.Heen‐joyed many things,suchas sewingIndiansuits,at‐tending Second Line Sun‐days, watching hisfavorite football team,the Dallas Cowboys,orrelaxingand spendingtimewithfamily and friends. He also faith‐fully attended St.Jude Catholic Church on Sun‐days. Theodore demon‐strated astrongcommit‐menttocommunity wellbeing,consistentlyoffering hisassistanceand time to

from the heat. We do start to heat back up as we head into the end of the weekend and toward the beginning of the workweek. Forecast From WWL-TV,Your Local Weather Experts

DEATHS continued from supportneighbors and friends with varioustasks and errands. He waspre‐ceded in deathbyhis par‐ents, Theodore Thomas Sr and LauraSterlingThomas Hart; hisson,Carroll “Mike”Conley(Blanche); his sister,Elver Marie Burke;his brother, Theard Simms (Dianne); andhis nephews,RoderickDavid Burke (Veronica)and HaroldClayJr. (Tasha). Theodoreleavestocherish his memory hisloving spouse, Carol; daughters, Robin C. Thomas (George) and Lisa Thomas;sons, Ty‐rone Scott(Jaime) TheodoreScott (Schfreda), and Terrence Scott (Amber);grandchildren, Tyshawn, Sydney,Ayairii Treajon,Ronald, Chatni, Kristal,Makayla,Cortney, and Brittany;sisters,Deon T.Harrisonand Olivia T. Clay; brother-in-law,Ken‐nethWharton.Heisalso survivedbya host of nieces, nephews, extended familymembers,and dear friends.All arewelcome to attendthe funeralservice which will be held at Our LadyofGuadalupe Church located at 411N.Rampart Street NewOrleans,La 70112 on Saturday,July26, 2025. Thevisitationwill begin at 9a.m.and mass willbegin at 10 a.m. Father Scott is thehostand Fa‐therEmmanuelwillofﬁci‐ate.Interment will be pri‐vate. Funeralplanningen‐trusted to Robinson Family FuneralHome, 9611 LA -23, Belle Chasse,LA 70037 (504) 208- 2119. Foronline condolences please visit www.robinsonfamilyfuner alhome.com

Holly BrothersThurber, 64, of Wylie, TXpassed awaypeacefully on July 12, 2025 in Plano, TX Born in NewOrleans on October 19, 1960, Hollywas the daughterofSally and WilliamBrothersand grew

up in Slidell, LA.A 1978 graduateofSlidell High School, Holly was the beloved sisterofHank Brothers (Washington, DC), Chalmers Brothers (Naples, FL) and Howard Brothers (Atlanta, GA).

Holly obtainedher BSN (Bachelors Degree in Nursing) and MSN (Masters Degree in Nursing) from Southeastern Louisiana Universityand William CareyUniversity School of Nursing. She had a20-year nursing career crossing several states,culminating with 7years as an OR nurse in Richardson, TX and Plano,TX.

Holly was passionatein her desiretocare for others, and also obtained graduatecertifications as aLicensedProfessional Counselor (LPC).

Holly was quick to laugh, acommitted parent and soccer momasher sonwas growing up, alifelong Saintsfan and loverof allthings NewOrleansshe kept MardiGras decorations up all year long She taught us how to be compassionate and to always look forthe best in others, no matter what the circumstances.She helpedustolookpastour differences and be able to see thewaysinwhich we are all thesame Holly is survivedbyher sonAlexandr,her brothers Hank (Cathy Landry), Chalmers (Betsy Levy Brothers) and Howard (Wen Gregg Brothers) and her cousin Monica Smith Mills. She was predeceased by her father WilliamC.Brothers and her mother SallySmith Brothers.

ACelebrationofLife will be held in Naples FL in August.Inlieuofflowers, thefamily requests donations be made to the American Society for the PreventionofCrueltyto Animals (ASPCA) in Holly Thurber's memory.

Williams,Bobbie Jean Harry

BobbieJeanHarry Williams,age 86, passed awaypeacefully at home surrounded by family, on July22, 2025. Bobbie was bornthe beloveddaughter ofthe late Robert Benjamin Harry andthe late Maggie Varnado Harry on March 15, 1939. Shewas born in Bogalusa andwas aresi‐dentofCovington forover 60years.Bobbieissur‐vived by herdaughters, Jamie WillamsBurke (Ian) and Moleta Mowen. Bobbie had sixgrandchildren: James ScottWilliams (Cheri),Christopher Mowen (Rebecca), Brandi Mowen,Jacie Williams, MaggiePierson,and Amber Burke. Shealsohad three great-grandchildren: Baylin, Breanne andBryce Williams.Bobbiewas pre‐ceded in deathbyher hus‐band, JamesOliver Williams,Jr.;her son, James Robert Williams;her sister, WilmaRaborn; two brothers, Robert Benjamin Harry,Jr. andJohnnie Wayne Harry;and aspecial nephew, WayneRaborn. Bobbiewas amemberof First BaptistChurch of Cov‐ingtonand wasanactive memberofthe Ogea Con‐nectGroup priortorecent illnesses. Bobbie gradu‐atedfromBogalusa High School in 1957. Earlyinher career,she worked in the insurance industry.She alsospent many yearsasa child caregiverfor many childreninthe community whomshe lovedall as her own. Shewentontowork asa Bookkeeper at Coving‐ton High School before re‐tiringin2002. Bobbieen‐joyed having lunchwith the “Class of ’57Girls”, at‐tending Young at Heart, singing with theCelebra‐tionSingers at church, playing dominoswith church friends, andputting together puzzles. Thefam‐ily wouldliketoextend thankstoDr. Dale Presser and Melissa Lumpkin, FNP for theircompassionate care over theyears andto

thestaff of St.Tammany HealthSystemHospice for their loving anddevoted careduringher final weeks. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mrs.Williamsmay be madetoFirst Baptist Church of Covington. Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend thefuneral servicesatThe Chapel at First BaptistChurch of Cov‐ington, 16054 Murphy Road Covington,LA70433 on Sat‐urday,July26, 2025, with visitationbeginning at 9:00 a.m.followedbya service at11:00 a.m..Interment willfollowinPinecrest MemorialGardens.E.J FieldingFuneralHomehas been entrustedwithfu‐neral arrangements.The Williams familyinvites you toshare thoughts,fondest memories, andcondo‐lencesonlineatE.J.Field‐ing FuneralHomeGuest Book at www.ejfieldingfh com

Williams,Charles James

Deacon CharlesJames Williams,age 88, wasborn onFebruary18, 1937. He transitionedfromthis earth on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. He wasa native and resident of Houma, Louisiana where he wasa pillarofthe Terrebonne ParishCommunity.Charles was afaithfulmemberand seniordeaconofRockof AgesB.C., andalsoa Dea‐con andmemberofthe trustee boardofTerre‐bonne Parish Men’sDay AssociationLouisiana 5th DistrictLehmandepart‐ment. CharlesJames Williams wasa loving grandfather andfather who lovedgoing to church, telling youabout theword, and giving back into his community.His wavering loveand wisdom always camewithlaughterand joy for everyone who ever en‐countered it.Charles leaves behind hischer‐

ishedloveand memories, his wife WilmaWarren Williams;one daughter Juanika W. Allridge (Wil‐fred);two sons,Charles Williams Jr.and Re’she Williams (Cassandra); one sister, Sandra,Normanand one daughter-in-lawMary‐landC Williams.Hewas alsosurvivedby12grand‐children, 15 great-grand‐children, onegreat-greatgrandchildand 4godchil‐dren. Deacon Williams was precededindeath by his parents,Ora Verett, McGee and CharlieWilliams; his grandparents, FannyGo‐ings, andEmma Goings Dickerson;one Uncle Clarence“Jack “Verett; 4 sonsJames Sr.Ronald, Gregory,and Byron Williams;two brothers, ClarenceMcGee and Michael Norman Sr two sisters,MaryColeman and CharleneNorman. Rela‐tives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend the Visitation on Friday, July25, 2025 at Rock of AgesBaptist Church,1216 AycockStreet,Houma,LA 70360 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Followedbythe Cele‐bration of Life Serviceon Saturday, July 26, 2025 at RockofAgesBaptist Church,1216 Aycock Street, Houma,LA70360 at 10:00 a.m.Visitationfrom8:00 a.m.until 10:00 a.m. Inter‐mentDeweyvilleCemetery. You maysignthe guest book on www.gertrudeged deswillis.com.Gertrude GeddesWillisFuneral HomeInc., in charge (504) 522-2525.

Thomas Jr., Theodore

Thurber, Holly Brothers

Waiting for clarity

Coaches want more info on how third-party collectives will affect NIL, recruiting

BY EDDIE PELLS AP national writer

LAS VEGAS Next week, college football

coaches can put the recruiting promises they have made to high school seniors on paper

Then the question becomes whether they can keep them.

Uncertainty over a key element of the $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement that is reshaping college sports has placed recruiters on a tightrope.

They need clarity about whether the third-party collectives that were closely afﬁliated with their schools and that ruled name, image, likeness payments over the ﬁrst four years of the NIL era can be used to exceed the $20.5 million annual cap on what each school can now pay players directly Or, whether those collectives will simply become a cog in the new system.

Only until that issue is resolved will many coaches know if the offers they’ve made, and that can become ofﬁcial on Aug. 1, will conform to the new rules governing college sports.

“You don’t want to put agreements on the table about things that we might have to claw back,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said at this week’s Big Ten media days. “Because that’s not a great look.”

No coach, of course, is going to fess up to making an offer he can’t back up

“All we can do is be open and honest about what we do know, and be great communicators from that standpoint,” Oregon’s Dan Lanning said.

Aug. 1 is key because it marks the day football programs can start sending written offers for scholarships to high school prospects starting their senior year

This process essentially replaces what used to be the signing of a national letter of intent It symbolizes the changes taking hold in a new era in which players aren’t just signing for a scholarship, but for a paycheck, too.

Paying them is not a straightforward business. Among the gray areas comes from guidance issued earlier this month by the newly formed College Sports Commission in charge of enforcing rules involved with paying players, both through the $20.5 million revenue share with schools and through third-party collectives.

The CSC is in charge of clearing all thirdparty deals worth $600 or more. It created uncertainty earlier this month when it announced, in essence, that the collectives did not have a “valid business purpose.” if their only reason to exist was ultimately to pay players. Lawyers for the players barked back and said that is what a collective was always met to be and if it sells a product for a proﬁt, it qualiﬁes as legit. The parties are working on a compromise, but if they don’t reach one they will take this in front of a judge to decide.

With Aug. 1 coming up fast, coaches are eager to lock in commitments they’ve spent months, sometimes years, locking down from high school recruits.

“Recruiting never shuts off, so we do need clarity as soon as we can,” Buckeyes athletic director Ross Bjork said. “The sooner we can have clarity the better I think the term ‘collective’ has obviously taken on a life of its own.

“But it’s really not what it’s called, it’s what they do.” In anticipating the future, some schools have disbanded their collectives while others, such as Ohio State, have brought them in-house. It is all a bit of a gamble. If the agreement that comes out of these negotiations doesn’t restrict collectives, they could be viewed as an easy way to get around the salary cap. Either way, schools eyeing ways for players to earn money outside the cap amid reports that big programs have football rosters worth more than $30 million in terms of overall player payments.

“It’s a lot to catch-up, and there’s a lot for coaches and administrators to deal with,” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said, noting the terms only went into play on July 1. “But I don’t think it’s unusual when you have something this different that there’s going to be some bumps in the road to get to the right place.”

WELL-ARMED

ACC teams turn to transfer portal for high-level QBs

BY STEVE REED AP sportswriter

CHARLOTTE,N.C.— Carson Beck transferred from Georgia to Miami because he viewed himself as a great fit in the Hurricanes’ explosive offensive scheme. Miller Moss left USC for Louisville after learning of coach Jeff Brohm’s history of developing transfer quarterbacks And Tommy Castellanos moved on from Boston College to Florida State for a crack at beating national power Alabama in the season opener And then there’s Gio Lopez, who wouldn’t mind becoming Bill Belichick’s next Tom Brady at North Carolina.

In all, eight of the top 25 quarterbacks in 247Sports’ transfer-portal rankings landed in the Atlantic Coast Conference. By comparison, the Southeastern Conference has six of those top-level transfer QBs, while the Big Ten has four and the Big 12 three. It’s why the ACC has spent this week touting itself as the “conference of quarterbacks” while pointing to being the only league with at least one QB drafted in the ﬁrst round of six different drafts since 2018.

Each QB has his own story and reasons for leaving for greener pastures — and no doubt about it, NIL money played a huge factor but each comes with aspirations of replicating what Miami transfer Cam Ward accomplished last season.

Ward left Washington State for the Hurricanes and in one season developed into the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, securing a fully guaranteed $48.7 million contract with the Tennessee Titans.

Beck, who was the No. 2-ranked QB in the transfer portal behind only former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava at UCLA, left Athens despite going 24-3 as a starter for the Bulldogs.

He called it a “very difﬁcult decision,” but said it’s one that has worked out well so far leaving him excited about the future.

“What Cam was able to do is undeniable,” said Beck, who said he’s fully recovered from an elbow injury he suffered in last year’s SEC championship game.

“The last school I was at, I followed up the two-time national champion, so I didn’t really feel any pressure there. It’s a game; I’ve played football my whole life I’ve played quarterback since I was 7 years old. I’ve got a lot of good talent around me and really good coaches in position to be really successful.”

458,606 tickets sold in Alex Box Stadium. It’s the 26th time since 1996 the Tigers ﬁnished No. 1 in total attendance. LSU was also No. 1 in average attendance with a ﬁgure of 11,186 per game, just two shy of the school record of 11,188 in 2023. The Tigers posted a home record of 35-6.

LSU set a school single-game attendance record of 13,376 for an April 26 game versus Tennessee, and its attendance exceeded 12,000 six times during the 2025 season.

The top schools for total attendance were: LSU 458,606; Arkansas 407,196; Ole Miss 344,364; Mississippi State 330,009; South Carolina 251,414; Texas 250,754; Tennessee 235,035; Florida 226,903; Texas A&M 206,577; and Auburn 201,703.

Ohtani ties Dodgers record with HR in 5th straight game

LOS ANGELES Shohei Ohtani homered for the ﬁfth consecutive game on Wednesday, tying a Los Angeles Dodgers franchise record.

Yankees star Aaron Judge was the last player to homer in five consecutive games, accomplishing that feat last year

Ohtani, who leads the National League with 37 home runs, homered in the first inning off Minnesota Twins starter Chris Paddack. He hit a slow curveball 441 feet to center He carried the bat midway down the first-base line and then did a bat flip.

The Dodgers won 4-3 on Freddie Freeman’s two-run, game-winning single in the ninth.

QUARTERBACK MOVES

Miami coach Mario Cristobal couldn’t resist the temptation of adding such a proven commodity, saying “everything” drew him to recruiting Beck.

“He’s played in monster games and he’s played at a high level,” Cristobal said.

“He is ultra competitive, and his football IQ is off the charts. It didn’t take long to realize that he’s a team player, and that his work ethic is also through the roof.”

Moss threw for 2,555 yards and 18 touchdowns last season for the Trojans, but needed a change of scenery and couldn’t wait for the opportunity to work with Brohm, who’s viewed by many as a quarterback whisperer for his efforts in developing the likes of Aidan O’Connell, Tyler Shough of the Saints and Jack Plummer

“Obviously different coaches try to sell you on different things, but when there’s consistent proof of your ability to do something, that kind of transcends any words you hear in a meeting,” Moss said of Brohm’s history

Castellanos hasn’t played a snap at Florida State but has already created a stir nationally when he told On3 that he doesn’t believe Alabama can stop him in the Aug 30 season opener — in part because the Crimson Tide no longer has Nick Saban running the show

He didn’t back down from those comments on Wednesday at the ACC media days.

“We stand on what I said,” said Castellanos, who’ll look to lead the Seminoles back to national prominence following a miserable 2-10 season.

“But there’s no disrespect between that team or anything like that. It’s just the conﬁdence that I have in my teammates and the way we’ve been preparing and putting this preparation together this offseason. I just feel conﬁdent in the guys and the work that we’ve been putting in.”

Among the other QB newcomers in the ACC include Cal’s Jaron Sagapolutele, who was ranked ﬁfth in the transfer portal after his decision to leave Oregon. Duke landed a key transfer in Tulane’s Darian Mensah, and Syracuse coach Fran Brown signed a pair of bigschool transfers in Rickie Collins from LSU and Steve Angeli from Notre Dame. Collins is projected to start and attended the league’s preseason media days on Wednesday, and will look to build on Kyle McCord’s success last season after McCord himself a transfer from Ohio State — threw for a national-best 4,779 yards for the Orange The ACC has some highly touted returning quarterbacks as well, most notably 4,000-yard passer Cade Klubnik at Clemson and the versatile Kevin Jennings at SMU. Both led their teams to the ACC title game and College Football Playoff berths last season.

Georgia Tech’s Haynes King transferred from Texas A&M after the 2022 season, said he never entertained the idea of leaving despite two successful seasons with the

which

This is the seventh time in Dodgers history that a player has homered in five consecutive games. Ohtani joins Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Shawn Green and Roy Campanella in that club.

Italian sprinter Milan powers to Tour stage win VALENCE, France Sprint specialist Jonathan Milan pounced at the finish to win the 17th stage of the Tour de France after a crash in the last mile derailed rivals’ hopes on Wednesday Italian rider Milan, the green jersey holder consolidated his lead in the points classification with an explosive finish to get his wheel just over the line ahead of Jordi Meeus, Tobias Lund Andresen, Arnaud De Lie, Davide Ballerini and others in a rain-soaked sprint finale. It’s Milan’s second stage win of the Tour after his victory in similar fashion in Laval on Saturday

But it was arguably more dramatic with rival sprinter Tim Merlier and others involved in a crash in the ﬁnal mile.

Cardinals first-round pick Nolen sidelined with injury GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals rookie ﬁrst-round pick Walter Nolen has a calf injury and is expected to “miss some time,” coach Jonathan Gannon said Wednesday, putting a slight damper on the team’s ﬁrst day of training camp. The defensive lineman was the No. 16 overall pick out of Ole Miss in April’s draft.

Gannon said that Nolen injured the calf while working out and preparing for the season. The 21-yearold is expected to be a big part of the Cardinals’ revamped defensive line as they try to make the playoffs for the ﬁrst time since 2021. The Cardinals were 8-9 last season, which was a four-win improvement over the previous season.

Brother of late NFL star Tillman to undergo tests

SAN JOSE Calif. The brother of late NFL star-turned-soldier Pat Tillman will undergo a mental competency test before his trial on arson and vandalism charges, a judge ordered Wednesday Richard Tillman, 44, of San Jose was arrested after he allegedly rammed a car into a post office in a San Jose, California, strip mall around 3 a.m. Sunday He then set the car on fire inside the building, which went up in flames, San Jose police said. No injuries were reported. During his arraignment Wednesday his attorney raised doubts about Tillman’s ability to stand trial. The judge ordered a competency test and set bail at $135,000. Tillman told the judge he didn’t want his court-appointed defense attorney, calling him “incompetent.”

Yellow Jackets in

he’s thrown for nearly 5,000 yards and combined for 68 TDs.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEVE REED

Miami quarterback Carson Beck, who transferred from Georgia, speaks at the Atlantic Coast Conference media days on Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C. Beck is one of eight of the top 25 quarterbacks in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings that landed in the ACC.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah transferred to Duke.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK Former LSU quarterback Rickie Collins transferred to Syracuse.

Venus Williams, 45, shows excellence despite her age

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer

WASHINGTON There are plenty of reasons why this particular victory by Venus Williams in this particular tennis match — just one of hundreds resonated with so many folks. That she’s 45 for one thing. Only one woman, Martina Navratilova, ever has won a tour-level singles match while older; her last victory came at 47 in 2004. That Williams hadn’t entered a tournament anywhere in 16 months.

That she needed surgery for uterine ﬁbroids

And when asked Tuesday night — after beating her 23-year-old opponent, Peyton Stearns, 6-3, 6-4 at the DC Open — what message others might take away from that performance and that result, Williams was quick to provide an answer

“There are no limits for excellence. It’s all about what’s in your head and how much you’re able to put into it. If you put in the work mentally physically and emotionally, then you can have the result,” said Williams, who will face 27-year-old Magdalena Frech on Thursday “It doesn’t matter how many times you fall down. Doesn’t matter how many times you get sick or get hurt or whatever it is. If you continue to believe and put in the work, there is an opportunity, there is space, for you.”

Williams — who received a wild-card invitation on Wednesday for next month’s Cincinnati Open — has been winning at tennis for decades. Her pro debut came when she was 14. Her ﬁrst Grand Slam title came at Wimbledon in 2000, less than a month after her 20th birthday She accumulated four major singles trophies before Stearns was born and eventually wound

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the ball out of the hands of quarterback Maxwell Smith. Mathieu picked it up on a hop and dashed in for a touchdown as Tiger Stadium roared.

“He’s going to be hit and the ball is knocked loose,” then LSU play-by-play announcer Jim Hawthorne said. “It’s at the 23-yard line, picked up you want me to tell you who it was?”

“No,” LSU color analyst Doug Moreau answered, “we know already.”

“Tyrann Mathieu!”

He even had the best nickname ever, the Honey Badger, an honoriﬁc bestowed upon Mathieu by one of the most unlikely of phrase-makers: crusty, curmudgeonly LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis.

Mathieu didn’t care for it until Chavis found a wildlife video that described a honey badger’s attitude.

“The honey badger,” the narrator said, “takes what it wants.” It was perfect.

Mathieu started only one game as a freshman, but what a season. He led the Southeastern Conference with ﬁve forced fumbles, tied for ﬁrst in the conference with three fumble recoveries and had two interceptions. In the Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M alone, Mathieu had seven tackles (including a sack),

KELLY

Continued from page 1C

in December to drum up interest in a campaign that raised $3.3 million.

LSU used that inﬂux of cash to solidify a top-10 freshman class and sign one of the nation’s best groups of transfers

Now returning quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has more weapons, particularly those who can stretch the ﬁeld, and second-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker has more depth, especially in the secondary and at the edges.

Three new edge rushers from power-conference teams are in

up with seven, ﬁve at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open, plus another 14 in women’s doubles — all with her sister Serena — and two in mixed doubles.

“I have so much respect for her to come back here and play, win or lose. That takes a lot of guts to step back onto court, especially with what she’s done for the sport,” said Stearns, who is ranked 35th and won NCAA singles and team titles at the University of Texas “You have a lot behind you. You have accomplished a lot. And there is a lot of pressure on her and to kind of upkeep that at this age So massive credit to her for that.”

There were challenges along the way for Williams, none more public than the diagnosis in 2011 of Sjögren’s syndrome, an energy-sapping auto-immune disease that can cause joint pain.

More recent was the pain from ﬁbroids — noncancerous growths and shortly before the DC Open, Williams said:

“Where I am at this year is so much different (from) where I was at last year It’s night and day, being able to be here and prepare for the tournament as opposed to preparing for surgery ”

The event in the nation’s capital is her first competition in more than a year Williams also entered in doubles with Hailey Baptiste, and they won their first-round match Monday before losing Wednesday DC Open chairman Mark Ein said it took him about two seconds to respond “Of course” when Williams’ representative reached out in April to ask whether a spot in the ﬁeld might be a possibility A reporter wanted to know Tuesday whether Williams took any satisfaction from proving doubters wrong.

“No, because I’m not here for anyone else except for me And I also have nothing to prove. Zip. Zero,” she said “I’m here for me, because I want to be here.”

Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Women’s Euro 2025 semifinals match between Germany and Spain at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich on Wednesday.

Late goal pushes Spain past Germany at Women’s Euro

BY DANIELLA MATAR AP sports writer

ZURICH Aitana Bonmatí scored in extra time to send Spain to its ﬁrstever Women’s European Championship ﬁnal with a 1-0 win over Germany on Wednesday, setting up a repeat of the 2023 World Cup title match. A stubborn Germany performance had seen it take the world champions to extra time, and Spain needed a superb strike from the two-time Ballon d’Or winner to secure a first-ever win over Germany

“I feel so proud. We deserved this,” Bonmatí said. “We have played a great tournament throughout. We had a hard ﬁght tonight, of course, because we were playing Germany First to beat Germany and then to advance to the ﬁnal of the Euros. Who could ask for more?”

In the 113th minute, Athenea del Castillo threaded the ball through to Bonmatí, who got past Rebecca Knaak with a clever dummy and turn before squeezing home an audacious attempt from the tightest of angles.

“We had analyzed her with our analysts and our goalkeeping coach and knew that she would leave the

near post unprotected, and that is what happened. I just slotted it home,” Bonmatí said.

Spain moved closer to adding the European Championship trophy to its collection after winning the World Cup and Nations League in the past two years.

Montse Tomé’s team will face reigning champion England on Sunday in a repeat of the World Cup ﬁnal that Spain won 1-0 two years ago.

England also needed extra time to snatch a 2-1 win over Italy on Tuesday

It was a miserable end to a stellar tournament for Berger who had been the hero of Germany’s dramatic quarterﬁnal win against France.

“I take the blame for that. The near post must be shut, absolutely,” Berger said. “That’s why I’m even more disappointed in myself.

“I can make as many saves as I want, but that one should have been mine, and that’s why I’m incredibly sorry For the team, not for me, but for those who gave their all.”

Germany was bidding for a record-extending ninth European title but it was up against the world champion and pre-tournament favorite.

forced two fumbles, recovered one, had an interception and broke up a pass. Turned out he was just preparing the football ground for the 2011 season. Back in the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium for the colossal opener between No. 3 Oregon and the No. 4 Tigers,

the mix, as well as Virginia Tech transfer corner Mansoor Delane, Houston transfer safety AJ Haulcy and North Carolina State transfer safety Tamarcus Cooley

— a trio of versatile, experienced defensive backs expected to carve out important roles in a revamped secondary

On offense, transfer receivers Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (Kentucky) will compete for targets with returners such as Aaron Anderson, Chris Hilton and tight end Trey’Dez Green. The Tigers even landed Virginia Tech transfer Braelin Moore and Northwestern transfer Josh Thompson — two offensive linemen expected to step into prominent roles as part

Mathieu gave LSU its ﬁrst lead early in the second quarter when he stripped punt returner Kenjon Barner of the ball and scooped it up for a touchdown. The Tigers drove from that game to the SEC championship and a berth in the BCS ﬁnal against Alabama, Mathieu

of a unit that’s replacing four starters.

“On paper,” Kelly said, “this is the best roster that we will put out there since I’ve been here. And I’m excited about that.”

LSU still has a few key questions to answer in preseason practices.

Kelly and his staff will use that time to sort out, for example, their base group of receivers and defensive backs. How healthy is Nic Anderson after he sat out most of spring practices? How much is prized freshman corner DJ Pickett ready to contribute this season?

LSU also will use the opportunity to evaluate its new-look offensive line The only returning starter, redshirt sophomore DJ Chester, may switch positions, moving

leading the way He recorded a team-high 76 tackles, broke his own school record with six forced fumbles (recovering ﬁve) with two interceptions. If anything, he expanded on his repertoire and reputation with two punt return touchdowns, including one in the SEC cham-

from center to guard Two tackles took most of the ﬁrst-team reps in the spring, but one (Tyree Adams) has started only two career games, and the other (Weston Davis) took a redshirt during his 2024 true freshman season.

Those questions are important, but on Wednesday they each took a backseat to the ones at the forefront of Kelly’s mind. How can he prepare LSU to beat Clemson on the road to avoid a sixth straight season-opening loss? How can the team begin a new year without the burden of climbing out of an 0-1 hole against a daunting eight-game SEC slate?

“I’d get on a plane or a bus or a train,” Kelly said, “and I would go watch (the Clemson) game.

It almost surprised Spain early on when Klara Bühl ran onto a long ball from goalkeeper Berger but her angled drive went narrowly past the right post.

Germany managed to stifle Spain’s stellar attack, which didn’t have a real sight of goal until the 21st minute when Berger pulled off a fantastic save to tip a shot over the bar from the tournament’s top scorer Esther González.

Giovanna Hoffmann should have given Germany the lead in the 29th minute but she completely missed the ball right in front of goal, with a fresh air shot, after excellent play by Jule Brand. Spain ended the half strongly and came closest to breaking the deadlock shortly before the interval when Irene Paredes headed a corner off the post and González’s attempt at an overhead kick was blocked.

Berger also had to make two smart saves in stoppage time, to deny ﬁrst González and then Clàudia Pina.

Cata Coll had little to do all night, but the Spain goalkeeper kept her team in the tournament with a superb double save right at the end of normal time, ﬁrst to parry from Bühl and then to deny Carlotta Wamser

pionship game against Georgia as the Tigers shook off an early 10-0 deficit to win in a rout, 4210. Mathieu was the MVP Soon he would be a Heisman Trophy finalist (he finished fifth) and winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive back.

“Tyrann Mathieu,” ESPN’s Chris Fowler said, “is instant impact.”

Unfortunately for Mathieu and LSU, his impact was over after LSU’s sobering 21-0 BCS title game loss to Alabama in the Superdome. Instead of another incredible season as a junior he was kicked off the team just a month before the 2012 campaign started, reportedly for repeat violations of the school’s substance abuse policy Mathieu was drafted in the third round by Arizona in 2013 and went on to a dozen stellar seasons with the Cardinals, Texans, Chiefs and Saints.

A 12-year NFL career is something rare. But rarer still was Mathieu’s brief and brilliant career as an LSU Tiger

Now that he is retired from football, hopefully Mathieu will return to Tiger Stadium this fall and have a chance to be honored on the ﬁeld where he had perhaps his greatest glory And was the best No. 7 anyone at LSU ever saw

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

Because it’s gonna be exciting. Because our players set that as a goal and a goal that is attainable. It’s speciﬁc, it’s challenging, and they are driven for it.”

Does Kelly think the new focus will pay off? Will LSU, for the ﬁrst time since 2019, win its season opener?

“Well, you can see my excitement,” Kelly said, “and if I’m excited, you should be excited too because it’s gonna be an exciting, exciting time for us. There’s no doubt.”

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

STAFF FILE PHOTO By TRAVIS SPRADLING

LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu basks in the confetti-filled atmosphere after winning the SEC championship in a game against Georgia on Dec. 3, 2011, in Atlanta.

V. Williams

‘There are no limits for him’

If first pass of camp any indication, Commanders QB Daniels poised for another great year

BY BEN STANDIG Associated Press

ASHBURN,Va. Picture what Jayden Daniels can do for an encore now that he’s experienced against NFL opposition. Teammate Bobby Wagner has seen enough to imagine it

“The conﬁdence will grow Understanding what teams are trying to do, the mixing of coverages. Playing against those defenses is going to serve him really good (now),” said Wagner, a linebacker entering his 14th season in the league. “I think he’s going to make a big, big leap.” It took just one pass on Day One of the Washington Commanders’ training camp Wednesday to justify the belief in the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner from LSU and 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

On his ﬁrst toss in 11-on-11 drills, Daniels, working from just outside the red zone, looked left for one of his newest targets, Deebo Samuel. The design — two receivers on

crossing routes, with Samuel running a slot fade — isolated the former 49ers Pro Bowler in a one-onone matchup Tight coverage from second-year safety Tyler Owens left Daniels with a minuscule margin for error Still, Daniels threaded a perfect ball into the tightest of windows, landing it over the shoulder in stride.

Even with the understanding that the no-pads practice is closer to a walkthrough than live game action, the pass had onlookers gasping. Daniels’ brilliance in leading Washington to its ﬁrst NFC championship game appearance since 1991 raised expectations to the point where maybe no bar is high enough

“One thing I’ve learned over the year from Jayden,” coach Dan Quinn said, “(is) there are no limits on him.”

Whether the same can be said for the Commanders, coming off a surprising 12-5 regular season,

Giants open camp with rookie Dart in spotlight but Wilson still starting

BY STEPHEN WHYNO AP sportswriter

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J Jaxson Dart is squarely in the spotlight as someone the New York Giants hope will be their quarterback of the future The future is not here yet. For all the attention Dart is getting as a first-round draft pick, coach Brian Daboll made it clear when training camp opened Wednesday that the plan has not diverted from Russell Wilson being the guy at football’s most important position.

“These guys will be out here competing, but Russ is our starter,” Daboll said.

Wilson took all the first-team snaps in the ﬁrst practice of camp, with Dart and journeyman Jameis Winston alternating going second and third. Dart threw an interception on his ﬁrst throw of 11-on-11 team drills, Wilson told his younger teammate to focus on the next play and the rookie’s subsequent throw went for a touchdown.

“I think they’re working well together,” veteran defensive tackle

Dexter Lawrence said. “Russ is a great leader, Jameis is a great leader and I see them talking to him a lot. Russ handles his business really well, so for (Dart) to learn from that and them to be unselﬁsh to teach that to him, it’s only on an up trajectory.”

There’s little direction to go but up for the Giants, who tied for the worst record in the NFL last season at 3-14. That is one reason fourthyear general manager Joe Schoen turned over the quarterback part of the roster almost completely — with local cult hero Tommy DeVito the lone holdover Wilson at age 36 got a contract for this season worth up to $21 million with $10.5 million guaranteed. And New York traded a second-round pick and two third-rounders to move up to take Dart 25th, several weeks after signing Winston.

Scouting Dart from afar at Ole Miss and watching him up close in offseason workouts, the Giants like what they’re witnessing so far

“You saw leadership, you saw arm talent, you saw athleticism and he’s a rookie,” Schoen said

followed by playoff wins at Tampa Bay and Detroit, is another question. Having the preternaturally poised and athletically gifted Daniels keeps optimism high for 2025 and beyond.

That’s in part because of Daniels’ mentality. Despite the massive attention following his dynamic debut — Daniels became the only rookie quarterback in league history with at least 3,500 yards passing (3,568) and 750 yards rushing (a rookie-record 891) — he arrived at camp with his feet ﬁrmly on the ground.

“That’s kind of just who I am: gratitude and humility,” Daniels said about focusing amid an increasingly chaotic world around him. “I don’t really look too much into everything, but I would just say just my inner circle, the people I talk to, the people closest to me — they help me stay grounded.”

Daniels said he spent the offseason focused on fundamentals. Footwork in the pocket. Keeping his

eyes on the ﬁeld. Scenarios where he might need to break a tackle or escape pressure.

Washington’s offense soared last season with tone-setters Daniels and Terry McLaurin. The secondteam All-Pro receiver — who can become a free agent after this season skipped a chunk of the offseason program because of a contract dispute and remained away from the team as camp opened.

Washington placed McLaurin on the reserve/did not report list Tuesday Daniels supports his teammate

“We know he’s working; he’s still our brother,” the QB said — while downplaying any notion of a chemistry calamity from McLaurin’s absence.

“I think it’s an overstated thing,” Daniels said. “Obviously, me and Terry have a very good relationship. That’s just the business of the NFL. Whenever that time comes, and he’s back out on the ﬁeld, I don’t think we’ll miss a beat.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA

New york Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart throws as quarterback Russell Wilson watches during practice Wednesday in East Rutherford, N.J

“He’s got a long way to go, and he’s got a really good supporting cast in there to help. We’ve got a really good coaching staff as well, so he’s in a good spot right now.”

That spot is in reserve, though Daboll would not say if the backup job is up for grabs between Dart and Winston. Only that when the season starts on Sept 7 at NFC East rival Washington, Wilson will be under center if healthy Nabers’ toe saga

The toe injury that kept standout receiver Malik Nabers off the

ﬁeld this spring has healed enough that he was full go for the start of his second pro training camp. But Nabers said he does not know if it eventually will go away or even if surgery might be needed.

“(There has been) talk about it, just never really came to a complete thought in mind for me to do it,” Nabers said. “But I’ve been managing it well, been running around feeling pretty good. Everything has been going good with the rehab, so my toe’s feeling better I’m just happy to be out there with my guys.”

BY CHARLIE GOLDSMITH Associated Press

CINCINNATI Quarterback

Joe

Burrow said that the Cincinnati Bengals offense played “poorly” on the first day of training camp Wednesday

But with a healthy unit that’s fully participating in practices this season, Burrow said he’s more optimistic than he has ever been about the offense hitting the ground running during the regular season.

“When we have guys back like we do, you know, it should be seamless,” Burrow said. “Year in and year out, game in and game out. It wasn’t today So we’ll watch the tape and get better from that, but you know, we have the guys in the room that have done it before, and that feels good.”

Burrow led the NFL with 4,918 yards passing and 43 touchdowns last season, but he said that statistically his focus this year is on completion rate even after having a career-best 70.6% accuracy in 2024, which was fourth in the league. With all of the offense’s top players from last season returning, Burrow has a strong supporting cast around him.

As the unit practices this summer, coach Zac Taylor said that the group is balancing building on its strengths with staying fresh and adding new elements.

“You want to continue to do the things we think we’re excellent at and make people prove they can stop it,” Taylor said. “But at the same time, you have to evolve what you’re doing. We feel people are going to spend a lot of time studying us in the offseason to make sure they can hit the ground running if they play us early in the season.”

Unlike previous seasons, Burrow will get a lot of time and reps in the training camp and in the preseason to go through that process. In 2020, training camp was shortened because of the pandemic. In 2021, Burrow was limited during the summer as he recovered from a torn ACL. In 2022, Burrow had an emergency appendectomy during training camp. In 2023, he strained his calf. At this point last year, he was limited during several practices as he worked back from a wrist injury

“Right now there is none of that,” Taylor said. “He will participate every day like he normally would fully healthy Then anticipate playing him more in games than we ever had.” Burrow has said for years that he wants to play more in the preseason, and he’ll get that opportunity this season.

That’s one of several changes in place to help the Bengals have a stronger start to the season The Bengals have dropped their ﬁrst two games in each of the past three seasons. Cincinnati is practicing in the morning during training camp, implementing more physical practices and also playing its starters more in the preseason.

“I’m excited for the chance to get better,” Burrow said. “Those are valuable reps that we haven’t had in the past for good reason.

“I think we’re making the right decision this year, and I think that’s gonna beneﬁt us in the long run.”

Reeves headed to Charlotte; assistant Lazare Memphis-bound

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

Reeves in the second round out of Kentucky last season. He played 44 games as

a rookie, peaking toward the end of the season. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 6.9 points and 1.4 rebounds and shot 39.5% on 3-pointers He averaged 15.4 points over the last 10 games of the season Reeves scored a season-high 34 points in November in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite his success down the stretch, the Pelicans waived Reeves in early July. But they kept him on their Summer League roster, which allowed Reeves the opportunity to showcase his talent for other teams. He started all ﬁve games for the Pelicans in Summer League play and averaged 14.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in those games. He shot 46.2% from the floor (31.3% on 3-pointers).

“I think (Antonio) really fought and had a really good Summer League,” said Summer League

coach Corey Brewer after the team’s final game in Las Vegas “I think he helped himself. I don’t know what’s going to happen with him. That’s not my position, but I think he’s a really good player.” In other Pelicans’ news, assistant coach Darnel Lazare is joining the Memphis Grizzlies staff, according to a report by The Daily Memphian. Lazare, a Lafayette native who played at LSU, is returning to

Memphis, where he served as the team’s video coordinator in the 2018-19 season. Lazare worked with the Pelicans’ post players and played a key role in the development of center Yves Missi this past season. Missi blossomed under Lazare’s tutelage and earned second-team All-Rookie honors.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

Burrow

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels throws during practice at the team’s training camp Wednesday in Ashburn, Va

Saints QB competitionstartsinearnest

QUARTERBACK OBSERVATIONS

n Tyler Shough: 3-5

n Jake Haener: 2-3

Let the battle begin. The New Orleans Saints opened training camp Wednesdaymorning at their Metairie facility with ashort practice that lasted roughly 68 minutes, signaling not only the start of their 2025 season but also the nextstep in deciding who will start at quarterback in the seasonopener New Orleans currently is deciding among three options in Spencer Rattler,Tyler Shough and Jake Haener.Rattler took the first spin with the first-team offense, but coach Kellen Moore said Shough will work with the ﬁrstteam for Thursday’spractice, and the quarterbacks will be rotated throughout camp. We’ll keep tabs on the quarterback competition with daily notes and observations throughout training camp until the Saints name astarter,includingtrackingtheir daily statistics from 11-on-11 drills (seven-on-seven periods won’tcount towardthe numbers, but they will be included in the observations).

It should be noted that these numbers don’talways translate —the players could be working on aspeciﬁcskill, and it’ssometimes hard to separate what is or isn’tasack since the passers wear non-contact jerseys —but they’re still ahelpful tool to gauge general performance. Here’show the quarterbacks performed on Day1:

n Spencer Rattler: 4-4

Going beyond the numbers, every quarterback hadsome snapsthey’d like to have back —though that was something Moore said hewas looking forward to, because he wantsto see how they respond to bad moments.

Each of Rattler’scompletions in the team periods came within about5yards of the line of scrimmage.Heopened it up alittle bit more in thesevenon-seven setting, hitting Juwan Johnson on anice intermediate out-breaker with his ﬁrstrep, then drilling Chris Olave down theseam for abig gain later on.

The only down moment for Rattler was abotched shotgun snap on the ﬁrst play of theﬁnal team period. It looked like the ball got on himtoo quickly,maybe catching himbysurprise,and theplay had to be stopped. Shough and Haenerwere more up and down.

For Shough, theNo. 40 overall draft pick, there was aatleast one clear sack and acouple of poor throws. He skippedone at tight end Treyton Welch’sfeet while navigatingpressure duringone team period,thenlet a pass drift toward the middle of theﬁeldonacurl route during seven-on-sevens that was nearly intercepted

Shough didhave acouple of impressive throws, including one on an incomplete wheel route to

undraftedrookie running back

Marcus Yarns deepdownﬁeld. Yarns hadtoturn his hips to try to make the catch,but it wastoward the sideline and away from the safety,giving Yarns the only attemptatmaking acatch Haener, whomissed mostofthe summer while recovering from an oblique injury,looked rusty to start. His ﬁrst two reps were interrupted by pressure,with both likely resulting in sacks. His

third wasapoorlythrown over route to an open DantePettisthat left abig playonthe ﬁeld. He rebounded in theseven-onsevenperiod, then made some nicethrows in theﬁnalteam period— completing an on-therun sideline throw to Michael JacobsononanRPO, then layering apass over thecoverageto hit Jacobson forabig gain on his ensuing throw Howthe quarterbacksperform

Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler throws during the first day of training camp in Metairieon Wednesday.

STAFFPHOTO By DAVID

as passers is obviously going to be weighed heavily in theSaints’ evaluation,but Moore also is placing emphasis on how thequarterbacksoperate theoffense. Thatside of things should become moreclear as training camp progresses andthe Saints getintolonger, morephysical practices

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

Bearsdefense readyto‘hunt’for newcoordinator Allen

BY GENE CHAMBERLAIN Associated Press

LAKE FOREST,Ill.— Chicago Bears

quarterback Caleb Williams fired his first pass of training camp in Wednesday’sscrimmagedirectly to Tremaine Edmunds, and the veteran middle linebacker took the interception up the field.

This was how coach Ben Johnson’sera unfolded on Day One of practices. For the other side of the football it was much different as the Bears defense under new coordinator Dennis Allen seemed to pick up where it left off in its offseason work, even withoutinjured cornerback Jaylon Johnson. “I thoughttoday,for thefirst day out there, was prettygood, Allen said. “I thought the retention from what we did in spring to what we saw out there today, Iwas pleased with what Isaw there. And yet we stillhavealong way to go. We’re going to keep working every day,continueto battle, and continue to improve and get this defense better.”

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

—ﬁrst Spencer Rattler,followed by Tyler Shough and Jake Haener

—rotate reps but also an entirely newcoaching staff in place. The way coach Kellen Moore handled thepractice looked abit different from past years,from thevariety of drills to the crisp session that took roughly 70 minutes.

Even if the Saints don’t want to come out and say they are rebuilding, the vibes indicate apotential long road ahead.

The quarterback competition will take its time, withMoore telling reportersheplans to rotate ﬁrst-team reps by the day up until at least the team’sAug.10 preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. But there also has been an inﬂux of new faces andajettisoning of old ones.

This offseason alone, theSaints have had four players from last year’sroster retire —including their former quarterback (Derek Carr), and two others (safety Tyrann Mathieu and tight end Dallin Holker) this week

“Right now,we’re just building,” running backAlvinKamarasaid.

“Wehave to build. We have to earnthe respect of each other.We have to earn the respectofthese coaches, get backthe respect of these fans. And shoot, on Sunday, it’ll take care of itself. We’ve got talent. We justgot to get our vibe back, we just got to get ourspark back.”

In some ways, that’sbeen Kamara’sapproach every year. The 29-year-old is entering hisninth season, and the sport’sroutine leans into the concept of having

Allen has installed adefense along the lines of thosehehad in New Orleansashead coach and coordinator,with an emphasis on attacking and playing more manto-man coverage.

Onekey torestoring adefense thatdroppedlastseason to 27th in yards allowed will be getting therun defense back to the2023 level when it led the league.From that end, the addition of defensive tackle GradyJarrett seemscritical

“His vocal leadership’sbeen awesome,” linebacker T.J. Edwards said. “He’saguy who’s been doing that since OTAs, been here every daylocked in and ready to go

“An older guy (32),but you can see it when he’s out there. He’s got so much juice in him and he’s just readytogo.”

After10years with Atlanta and seeing Allen’sdefensesagainst theFalcons twice aseason, Jarrettanticipated theattacking emphasis they’re using.

“The grittiness, the attentionto

training camp on Wednesdayatthe team’s practice facility

to start from the bottomofthe mountain and climb up. Kamara said last year’s5-12 recorddoesn’t require New Orleans to build more than usual. Striving to be better than thepreviousyearisan essential part of the sport, he said. Kamara also said the Saints had lost their “core values” in recent years. Though he didnot specify what those values were, the running back indicated theywere “sticking” consistentlythroughoutthe team. Those values,iftheyindeed need to be reset, are now set mainly by Moore. As aﬁrst-time head coach, Moore long hasenvisioned how he wants to run a team. He said he keeps notes on the methods thatwork best, borrowing bits and pieces from his past three coaching stops with the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargersand Dallas Cowboys, and advice from other coaches includinghis own father Moorerecognizesthe Saints

detail, the knowledge of knowing what everybody should be doing from fronttoback andhow it all works togetherand communicatingtous, as adefense, what his expectationsare on adaily basis have all been something that I’ve been appreciating,” Jarrettsaid.

“Itdefinitely is going to make

still have coreveterans who know what it’slike to win at ahigh level —and strive for that. So, Moore saidhe’sformeda “leadership council” made up of 12-14 players to lean on.

“I wantwins,”defensive end Cam Jordan said. “I’ve had as muchsuccessinthe league as anybody in the league. Right now Iwant wins.”

Across the league, people don’t expectmany wins from theSaints this season. ESPN recently ranked New Orleansashavingthe worst roster in the NFL. Oddsmakers put theSaints right in themix for theNo. 1pick. The playershave heard the noise. Kamara said hisfamily sends him allsorts of narratives, even though he tries to actively avoid them. Chris Olave said he sees the predicted last-place ﬁnish, thedoubt about the team’s quarterbacksand the concern about the team’sdepth.

For now,Kamarasaidhesees hunger.Hesaid he can tell that the quarterbacksare hungry to make their markinthe league, guys who are willing to take criticism and“don’twanttolet their teammates down.”

If the Saints do surpass expectations, thequarterback will play a signiﬁcant role in that.

Butifthey don’t, and the Saints go ontohave theseason that most expect, the process is just getting started for this coaching staff.

“It’snot something that happens overnight,”Loomissaid, referring to ateam’sidentity. “I mean look at what (Lions coach) Dan Campbelland (general manager) Brad Holmes did in Detroit. That didn’t happen overnight.Mostof the time, it takes awhile to build that.”

us all better,and he is deﬁnitely somebody who’s as hungry as ever just to go out there and competeand play football and he has someplayers that’sready to go out there and hunt for him.” Allensaid it doesn’thurt having a6-foot-5 linebacker manning the middle regardless of coverage

DUNCAN

Continuedfrom page1C

hand, so the traditional in-practice soundtrack from the sideline sound system wasturned off during drills.

Still, Ican’trecall amore subdued atmosphere forthe opening day of aSaints’ training camp.

“Right now,we’re just building,” veteran running back Alvin Kamara said. “Wehave to earn therespect of these coaches and get back therespect of these fans and on Sunday,itwill take care of therest. We’ve got talent. We’ve just got to get our vibe back.”

That might take awhile if you believe outside observers.

Pundits have picked the Saints to ﬁnishlastinthe NFC South and miss the playoffs for aﬁfth consecutive season.ESPN analysts rankedthe roster as the leasttalented in the league. And Vegas oddsmakers have settheir over-under win totalat5.5,tied with the Giants, Browns and Titansfor lowest in the league.

It’sbeen awhile since the Saints opened aseason with such low expectations. Decades, maybe.

Predictably,these dire predictionselicited scoffs and smirks from Saints players and coaches this week.

“I’ve never been afan of the noise,” Kamara said. Cam Jordan echoed those sentiments, saying he doesn’tcare if people are for or against the team

“What’simportantright nowis how we feel aboutus,” Jordan said. Aday earlier,general manager Mickey Loomis said: “I don’tpay attention” to preseason predictions, saying manyofthe team’s

emphasis, as Edmunds showed in Wednesday’spractice.

“I’m anticipating him beingan exceptionalplaymakerfor us,” Allen said. “He’sgot size. He’s got range. He’sgot speed, alot of the things we’re going to look for in termsof—look,it’shard to throw over him. He’sgot length in the middle of the ﬁeld.” It could be Allen whosupplies the extra edge the defense needs to bounce back.

He had the defense doing exhaustingup-downsinindividual work Wednesday, adrill normally associated with lower levels of football.

“It took me back to like seventh, eighth grade alittlebit,” Edwards admitted.

It was an extra bit of unanticipated “fun” for the defense on a 95-degree day

“It’sall part of building the culture of whattype of defense we’re going to be,” Allen said. “You have to pay the toll. Youhave to pay the price. It’sa privilege to be on this defense.”

critics are “unqualiﬁed” to make such comments. Perception, though, is often reality.And the perception of the Saints right now is the worst it’sbeen in years. And there are tangible signs that go beyond the slings and arrows of pundits and talking heads.

The club struggled to attract top free agents this offseason, and many of the ones they did sign had local ties to the region. Keenan Allen, aveteran receiver who the Saints have courted heavily this offseason, remains in wait-and-see mode on the open market. Ditto cornerback Asante Samuel Jr Likewise, the sudden retirements of Tyrann Mathieu, Derek Carr and Dallin Holker are indicative of ateam in flux. Each decision was madeautonomously but collectively they reflect something bigger.Ifthe Saints were division favorites or Super Bowl contenders, you have to think one or two of them would have strapped on their cleats forat least another season rather than hanging them up. Who knows, maybe the Saints will shock the world and winthe division like they did in 2000 and 2006 under Jim Haslett and Sean Payton, respectively.Worst-tofirst turnarounds happen every year in the NFL. See: the 2024 Washington Commanders.

But moreoften than not, these things take time, especially with a ﬁrst-year head coach and unproven quarterback. Until the Saints prove otherwise, I— like manyof the fans in the stands Wednesday —will be in show-memode.

The best way for the Saints to quietthe noise about them is to make some of their own this season

STAFF PHOTO By DAVIDGRUNFELD

Saints coachKellen Moore, right, talks with quarterback Tyler Shough during

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByERIN HOOLEy

ChicagoBears safety KevinByard works out during practice at the team’s training camp on WednesdayinLakeForest, Ill.

GRUNFELD

Luke Johnson

Mango features in sweet, spicypork steaks

BY LINDAGASSENHEIMER

Tribune News Service (TNS)

Ilove this time of year when large, juicy mangoes are in season

Another recipe, Rice and Green Bell Pepper 2D

They’re perfectfor creating a sweet and spicy summer dinner like using them as a fresh relish for pork steaks. The recipecalls for mango cubes, and here’saquick, easy way to prepare them: First, slice off each side of the mango as close to the seed as possible. Hold one half in your hand, skin side down, and score the ﬂesh in a crosshatch pattern, beingcareful not to cut through the skin. Then, gently push the skin insideout so the cubes pop up and slice them away from the peel. Don’t forget to score and slice any remaining fruit around the pit —it’stoo good to waste!

HELPFUL HINTS:

n Ripe peaches can be used instead of mango.

n Any type of sugar can be used instead of brown sugar

Sauteed Pork Steaks with MangoRelish and Rice with BellPeppers

Yields 2servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer

(see above)

½cup

1½

1. Mix mango, brown sugar,onion and lime juice together in asmall bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

2. Remove visible fat from the pork and cut into 1-inch slices, press them down with aspoon or bottom of apan to make ½-inch pieces.Heat oil in alarge skillet and addthe pork steaks. Saute 5minutes, turnsteaks over and saute 3minutes. Ameat thermometer should read145 F.

3. Divide in two and place on two dinner plates. Spoon mango relish over the steaks.

NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 273 calories(27 percent from fat),8.3 gfat (1. gsaturated, 3.6 gmonounsaturated), 108 mg cholesterol, 36.2 g protein, 12.1 gcarbohydrates, 1.0 g ﬁber,92mgsodium.

BY GRETCHEN McKAY

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

Imiss my husband when he’s out of town for work(of course), but come dinner time, Ican’thelp butappreciate being able tocook whatever Iwant for dinner without worrying about whether he’ll walk away from the table happy

Translation: Though Iusually steer clear because he’shighly allergic to shellfish, finally,I canfill up on something Ilove —shrimp! Fried, steamed, cooked withgarlic in ascampi or served over sushi rice as nigiri —Icould eat shrimp every day in one fashion or another and never get tired of it.

rocery stores and farmers markets are bursting right now withfruit and vegetables that taste their very best. It is certainly a time to eat tomato sandwiches why deny yourself something so traditional and so delicious? Those summertime sandwiches always bring back wonderful memories. But in addition to tradition, it is the season to try new vegetables and fruit,orat least new ways to eat the familiar ones. Artichokes are one of my favorite vegetables. They make everythingyou eat with them taste even sweeter —yes, this is scientiﬁcally true. Andthey are wonderful alone. If you can get your hands on fresh artichokes, you will see how thetexture is different from canned and how theﬂavor is more pronounced. When Ihave fresh artichokes, I plan to cook too many,sothat Ican eat them with dipping sauce and still have morefor other dishes. If you scrape themeat off the leaves and mix that with the chopped

bottoms,you will have thebasis of many dishes. The bruschetta mixture on toast makes anice appetizer or accompaniment to soup for lunch. The special sweetness of ﬁgs and thesalty sourness of capers enhance arugula. Arugula is sturdy enough and has enough punch to round out this salad. It is great by itself, but if you have afew extra boiled or grilled shrimportuna (even from acan), it can turn this salad into ameal.

Let me recommend thatyou experiment withcapers— they come in all sizes. Some are as large as a grape. Ilike thesmall onesfor this salad, but youcould chop larger ones for variety,especially if you made this saladonrepeatduring

Arugula, Figand Caper Salad Serves 4to6 8fresh ripe figs 8ouncesbabyarugula ¼cup small, preserved capers fromajar ½cup choppedpecans or walnuts

1. Removethe stems and slice the figs in half or quarters, depending on the size of the figs. Place the ﬁgs and arugula into a saladbowl. Drain thecapers and chop them on a cutting board. Add them to the salad bowl. 2. Add the nuts. Add the dressing and toss. Serve immediately

DRESSING: ¼cup olive oil

2tablespoonsbalsamic vinegar 1clovegarlic, minced Salt and peppertotaste

1. Place allingredients into aliddedjar.Shake well and then pour onto the preparedsalad.Tossand serve.

TNS PHOTO By LINDAGASSENHEIMER

Sauteed Pork Steaks with Mango Relish and Rice with Bell Peppers

Arugula, Figand Caper Salad

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Liz Williams TIPOFTHE TONGUE

By The Associated Press

Today is Thursday, July 24, the 205th day of 2025. There are 160 days left in the year

Todayinhistory On July 24, 1969, the Apollo11astronauts —two of whom hadbeen the ﬁrst humans to set foot on the moon —splashed down safely in the Paciﬁc. Also on this date: In 1567, Mary,Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate her throne to her 1-year-old son James.

In 1866, Tennessee became the ﬁrst state to be readmitted to the Union after the Civil War.

In 1915, the SS Eastland, apassenger ship carrying more than 2,500 people, rolled onto its side while dockedatthe Clark Street

Bridge on theChicago River.Anestimated 844 people diedinthe disaster In 1959, duringa visit to Moscow,Vice President Richard Nixon engaged in hisfamous “Kitchen Debate” with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev In 1974, theU.S.Supreme Court unanimouslyruled that President Richard Nixon had to turn over subpoenaed White House tape recordings to the Watergate special prosecutor In 1975,anApollo spacecraftsplasheddown in the Paciﬁc, completing amission whichincluded the ﬁrst docking witha Soyuz capsule fromthe Soviet Union. In 2010, astampede inside atunnel crowdedwithtechno musicfans left21people deadand more than 500 injured at the famed Love

Paradefestival in western Germany Today’sbirthdays: Actor Dan Hedaya is 85. Actor Chris Sarandon is 83. Actor Robert Hays is 78. Actor Michael Richards is 76. ActorLynda Carter is 74. Movie director GusVan Sant is 73. Country singerPam Tillis is 68. Basketball Hall of Famer Karl Maloneis62. Retired MLB All-Star BarryBonds is 61. Actor Kadeem Hardisonis 60. Actor-singer Kristin Chenoweth is 57. Actor Laura Leighton is 57. Actor-singer Jennifer Lopez is 56. Director Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman”) is 54. ActorEric Szmanda is 50. ActorRose Byrne is 46. Countrysinger Jerrod Niemann is 46. Actor Elisabeth Moss is 43. Actor Anna Paquinis43. Actor MaraWilson is 38. TV personality BindiIrwin is 27.

Rice and Green BellPepper

Yields 2servings. Recipe is byLinda Gassenheimer. 1packagemicrowaveable

make1½cups

2teaspoons

1. Make rice accordingto packageinstructionsand measure 1½ cups. Reserveany remainingricefor another meal.

2. Add the green bellpepper, oil and salt and pepper to taste. Divideinhalfand serve on theplates with the pork steaks.

NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 235 calories (23 percent from fat), 6.1 gfat (1.1 gsaturated, 2.7 gmonounsaturated), no cholesterol, 4.5 gprotein, 40.9 gcarbohydrates, 3.2 gﬁber,8 mg sodium

Artichoke Bruschetta Makes 8to10toasts.

FOR THE BREAD: 1loaf of ciabatta bread

3tablespoons olive oil

1clove garlic THE ARTICHOKE TOPPING:

2fresh cooked artichokes, cooled (or if making out of artichoke season, a10-ounce jar of artichoke hearts in oil, drained)

2tablespoons olive oil

1clove garlic, minced

2tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped 1lemon for zesting Freshlyground black pepper 8to10Parmesancurls

Constructive criticism

Dear Miss Manners: My stepson is asuccessful novelist.I’m reading an advanced copy of his new book, which is brilliant, but containsa neurodivergent character that doesn’tring quite true to me. (I’m neurodivergent,if that matters.)

THE FILLING:

1. Scrape the meat off the leaves of the artichokes into abowl. After allofthe leaves arescraped, discard the chokeand chop theartichoke bottoms. Add to the bowl.

2. Addthe oliveoil,garlic, lemon juice, grated Parmesan cheese and the oregano

1. Slice 8to10mediumthickslices of ciabatta Lightly brush the slices on both sides with the olive oil. Use more if needed to cover 2. Heat agrill pan on the stove (or use an outdoor grill if youare grilling something else. It will give asmoky ﬂavor to the bruschetta.) Grill the bread on both sides until grill marks develop, but do not make them too hard and dry. Then rubthe toasts with thegarlicclove on oneside. Setthe toasts asideuntil ready to use.

Rustic Berry Tart

Makes one 8-inch tart

3cups mixed berries

2tablespoons cornstarch

2tablespoons sugar

Zest of 1orange

Pie crust for 1pie, either homemadeorprepackaged 1small egg, beaten Extrasugar

1. Preheat ovento450 F.

2. Place the berries intoa bowl. Add the cornstarch, sugar and orange zest. Toss well.

3. Place the crust on apiece of parchment paper. Placethe berry mixture on the crust, leaving a2-inch edge free. Turn up the edge over the berry mixture.Turn the parchment paper and continueto turn the crust over the berry mixture until it is complete.

4. With abrush, paintthe turned-over edge of the pastry.Sprinkle the edge lightly with sugar.Place on acookie sheet with the parchment paper.Place intothe preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes.Removefromovenand allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Cut slices and slices and serve.

5. Servethe tart plain or with vanilla ice cream, crème fraîche or with plain or vanilla yogurt, if you like.

FRESH

Continued from page1D

to the bowl. Stir until well combined. Use afork to mashany big lumps of artichoke bottom.

3. With abutter knife, spread each of the prepared toastswiththe artichoke mixture and place on a plate. Using the lemon and amicroplane grater,zest the lemon over each toast. Sprinkle with black pepper Place aParmesan curlover each toast and serve.

PIE CRUST Everything, including the ﬂour,shouldbeascold as possible.

1¼ cup flour ½teaspoon salt, if using unsalted butter (omit if using salted butter) cut into cubesof¼to½ inch ½cup butter Scant ¼cup iced water

1. Addthe ﬂour andsalt to thebowl of the food processor.Add thebutter andpulse for5to8timesuntil the mixture is well mixed. Remove from the machine’sbowl into another bowl. It is best to use acoldstainless-steel

bowl if you have one.

2. Sprinkle theice water over themixture and mix withalarge cold metal spoon. Incorporate allthe water.If themixture seems too dryto hold together,add moreice water 1teaspoon at atime.

3. Remove from the bowl and form intoaball withyour hands. Then ﬂatten the ball into adisk. Wrap with plastic wrap andplace in the refrigerator for at least an hour

4. Unwrap the disk and place on apiece of parchmentpaper.Using arolling pin, roll outintoa 12-to13inch circular crust. Lift onto acookie sheet. Follow the instructions above.

the summer.Aslong as you have fresh ﬁgs, this salad will call to you. And the endless variety that you will have with the berry tart will have you makingitoverand over Each timeitwill be different, because yourmix of fruit will be differentas you select the fruitthat is theripest and available. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, andany other berries that you may have seen in themarket can all be mixedinterchangeably.And if you forage dewberriesormulberries, they can be added to the tart, too.

Liz Williamsisfounder of the Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans.Listen to “Tip of the Tongue,” Liz’spodcast about food, drink and culture, wherever you hear podcasts. EmailLiz at lizwillia@gmail.com.

In arecent conversation, Icomplimented him on his truly wonderful book, but when Itried to talkabout this character in what I hoped was alight way,he said, coldly and dismissively,“Idon’tcare what you think.”

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

This hurt my feelings. Noting his defensiveness, Ileft the conversation, but afterward his father and Ifought. He thought Ishouldn’thave tried to discuss thebook, just to praise it.Hesaid Iwas being ajerk.

WasI?Ithink I’mowed an apology from both of them. ButIknow my social skills can always be improved.

Gentlereader: As it is well past time to retire theoffensive cliché “Does this makemelook fat?” as The Most Loaded Question,

Miss Manners recommends adopting in its place, “What do you think of my book?” All authors crave discerning feedback. All authors also crave praise. The trick is knowing which to give when. Miss Manners ﬁnds it best to ask ﬁrst, but has found that the former is best delivered before publication.

Dear Miss Manners: Today Iwas in aframeshop selecting amat and frame foraprint. Iama graphic designer by profession, and apainter by moonlight (ﬁguratively speaking), and thus have the world’s pickiest color sense —with the exception, so it would seem,ofthe clerk in the frame store.

Iwanted nothing more than to peruse the mat and frame samples myself and take sometimemaking my own decision. The clerk, however,was intent on selecting mat colors herself, while not showing me the manyother colors in the book.

She was trying to be helpful, so Ididn’twant to appear unappreciative,

but Ireally wanted her to leave me alone to decide formyself.I asked her if she would mind if Ilooked through the samples myself,and she gave me the sample book, but continued to hover and makeunhelpfulsuggestions. Hints (“Thanks, I’ll just look through these fora while”) didn’trepel her Wasthere apolite way I could have declined her advice and still gotten my print framed? Alas, it’sthe only shop in town.

Gentle reader: When you asked fortimealone with the sample book, the polite thing forthe clerk to have done would have been to grant it. So Miss Manners has no objection to your acting as if that waswhat happened. When she spoke up again, you could then have looked up in surprise —as if you did not realize she wasstill there —thanked her,and explained, “I’m going to just keep looking forabit.” After afew repetitions of this, she would have lost interest and wandered off. Send questions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www.missmanners.com.

Tips forgrowing blueberries

Dear Heloise: Ibought three blueberry plants, but I’ve never grown them before. Can you give me afew tips on what to do to keep themingood shape?

—Jean B.,Metairie Jean, blueberries grow well without heavy feeding, but you will need to keep anice cover of mulch around them. Make sure thatyou water them well in soil thatdrains easily.It’s sometimes recommended

to use cottonseed meal with blueberries. —Heloise

Hints from Heloise

Phrasing sensitivity

DearHeloise: Ihave to carefully read our neighborhood happenings app because of misleading headlines. If someone posts aheadline that says “Lost Dog,” it can mean the person has found adog that is lost, or sometimes the person has actually lost their dog. Might Isuggest when

posting that people should write what is actually going on in the headline? For example: “I Found This DogOnMyStoop,” or “I Lost My Dog.” For both found and missing pets, always include a picture of the animal and any quirky characteristics. Of course, microchipping and acollar with tags are both very necessary for pets. —Mark,inSouth Carolina Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

Singapore Shrimp Burgers

Serves 2. Recipe is from “Craveable: All IWant to Eat” by SeemaPankhania.

FOR SHRIMP PATTIES:

8ounces mediumraw shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed 2green onions, finelychopped

1egg white

½teaspoon white pepper

2tablespoons soysauce ¼teaspoon salt

¾cup fine bread crumbs

FOR SAUCE:

½onion, roughly chopped 4garlic cloves, roughly chopped ½-inch piece ginger,grated 3long red chilies, stemmed and chopped

½teaspoon chili powder

1teaspoon black peppercorns, crushed ¼cup ketchup

1tablespoon soysauce

Vegetable oil, for frying TO SERVE: 4green onions, sliced Juice 1lime

2burger buns

½cup mayonnaise

1teaspoon toasted sesame oil

½clove garlic, grated or minced Lettuce leaves, forserving

1. Very finely chop half theshrimp (orblitz in a food processor)and roughly chop the rest.

2. Put into abowl with green onions, eggwhite, white pepper, soy sauce, salt and half of the breadcrumbs.

3. Divide the mixture in half and shape into patties They’ll be sticky so press them intothe remaining breadcrumbs to coat evenly

4. Chillthe pattiesona plate in the fridge while you makethe sauce.

5. Putonion,garlic,ginger and chilies into abowl with

BURGERS

Continuedfrom page1D

This easy recipe for fried shrimppatties served burger-like on asquishy bun satisﬁed my craving for theseafood. Pulled from food creator Seema Pankhania’scookbook “Craveable: All IWant to Eat” (Ten Speed, $30), the dish is botheasytopull

asplash of water and usean immersionblender to blitz them into asmoothpaste (youalso can finely chop them; Iuseda food processor).

6. Heat agenerous glug of oil in saucepan (about 2tablespoons) andsaute the onion mixture for5 minutes. Add chili powder,black peppercorns, ketchup, soy sauce and 6tablespoons water

7. Cook for 2minutes, mix well, andoncecombined, turn offthe heat. Taste and season with salt.

8. Heat about1½ inches of oil in askillet and gently shallow-fry the shrimppatties for 5minutes or until golden on all sides.

together —ifyou hustle, you can have dinner on the table in about 20 minutes— and packed with ﬂavor It’s based on asweet and savory chile crab dish the social media star (and Lucky Cat alum) enjoyed in Singapore and then reimagined with shrimp to makeitalittle easier on the pocketbook. Idoubled the patty recipe to makefour burgers (I shared twowith a

9. Oncethey are cooked, transfer to apaper towellinedplate to absorb any excess oil, then return the pantothe heat andtoast the buns until golden. (I drained the leftover oil into ajar before adding the buns.)

10. Combine 4green onions with apinch of salt and lime juice. Combine the mayo andsesame oiland add the garlic. Stir to combine well.

11. Assemble burgers: Spread the mayogenerously on the bottom halves of the buns. Add afew leaves of lettuce, thepatties and then the spicy sauce and zesty green onions. Finish with thetop halves of the buns and enjoy

colleague forhis dinner), and substituted one large jalapeño pepper forthe three long red chilies. Even with double the number of patties, there wasmore than enough sauce forall four servings, with someleftovers for sandwiches. Unless you slather it on like cream cheese on abagel, the recipe also makes more than enough mayofor four sandwiches.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE PHOTOByGRETCHEN MCKAy Singapore Shrimp Burgers

STAFF PHOTOSByCHRIS GRANGER

Rustic Berry Tart

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) An open mind will lead to knowledge and new possibilities. Learn as much as you can and apply what you discover throughout your day. Engageintalksthatsatisfyyourpersonal and professional needs.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Take on a challenge and do something to fix what concerns you. Actions speak louder than words; if you want others to listen, you must go beyond the call of duty. Be prepared to face opposition.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Make what you do count. Bulldozing your way forward isn't likely to work. Start by enlisting people who share your views and build a strong foundation to help carry your agenda forward.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Review all your options before you proceed. Expect to encounter people who are spouting halftruths and making innuendos that can make or break your plans. Don't be too accommodating or frivolous.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) A financial plan will ease your mind and help you save for something that will improve your life. Refuse to let anyone treat you poorly or force you to do things their way. Romance and personal gains are apparent.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) A change of heart will help you figure out which path isbestforyou.Don'tspendtoomuchtime pondering what you can and cannot do. Seize the moment!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) It's time to stop pontificating and start doing. What you

embrace will feed your soul and offer a multitude of opportunities to connect with like-minded people.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Savenothingfor later. If you don't take advantage of what comesyourway,someoneelsewillscoop it up. Distance yourself from unhealthy competition and focus on your goals.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Takingyourideas to the top or developing what you do best will encourage financial gain and interesting proposals. Don't expect everyone to be on your team. When someone opposes you, don't get angry; up your game.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Preparation, organization and focus will help you overcome distractions. An energetic approachtomanagingyourworklifewill ensure you enjoy downtime with friends and family.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) A positive attitude can change your life. Put a smile on your face. Offering help can lead to new friendships, opportunities and fresh beginnings. You'll meet with opposition if you project a disgruntled demeanor.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) You may need backup if you take on too much today Rethink your schedule and consider how to achieve your goals more effectively. Timing and budget are crucial when trying to meet demands.

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

TODAy'S CLUE: U EQUALS B

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

And erneSt

Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM SherMAn’S LAGoon

bIG

Sudoku

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

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

BY PHILLIP ALDER

JimRohn, amotivational speaker and author, said, “The few who do are the envy of the many whoonlywatch.”

At the bridge table, the few whowatch are the envy of the many who look but do not take the next vitalstep Theplaytheme in today’sdealcatches outmanylessexperiencedplayers.They do not watch theirlosersorthen work out how to eliminate the one that they cannot afford.

South is in four spades. West leads theheart queen. How would awatchful declarer play?

North used atransferbid.Onthe next round, he wasborderline between rebidding two no-trump andthree no-trump. He was swayed by the good spade-suit qualityintojumping to game. (Donot commityour side to ahigh-level spade contract unless you know of at leastan eight-card fit. Here, South might have only adoubleton spade.) South, despite his 4-3-3-3 distribution, corrected to the nine-card fit. Notethat three no-trump would fail after aheart lead. Those missing aces are fatal.

AnobservantSouthwillseefourpotential losers: one in each suit.Itisimpossible to do anything about thethree aces, so declarer must work out how to avoid conceding aheart trick.

IfSouthplaysatrumpattricktwo,East should win and return aheart, condemningthe contract. Instead, declarer must lead aclub at trick two. SupposeWest ducks this trick, takes the second club, and plays another heart. South winsand cashes hislastclub, discarding dummy’s remaining heart. Now, finally, it is time to tackletrumps.

andrews mcmeel

syndication

wuzzles

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed toDAY’s WoRD LoGIstIcs: lo-JIS-tiks: The handling of the details of an operation.

Average mark21words

Timelimit 30 minutes

Can you find 27 or morewords in LOGISTICS?

YEstERDAY’s WoRD —HEPAtIc

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

ken ken

InstructIons: 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

Puzzle Answer

Well

HErE is a

the

Scrabble GramS

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe iS roSe

animal crackerS

DuStin

Drabble

Wallace the brave

breWSter rockit

luann

in procurementof this vehicle.

o 6. Proposal Submission Requirements Proposals must include: oCover Letter: Include a briefintroductionand summaryofthe vendor’s qualifications. oTechnical Proposal:De‐tailed descriptionofhow thevehicle specifications andrequirementswillbe met. oCostProposal: Detailed pricinginformation,in‐cludingany applicable taxes, fees,and delivery costs. oComplianceDocumen‐tation:Evidenceof com‐pliancewithfederal re‐quirements,including certifications, non-de‐barmentstatus, conflict of interest statement, andattestations. oReferences: At least threereferencesfrom previous clientswith similarvehicle procure‐ment projects 7. Evaluation Criteria Proposalswillbeevalu‐ated basedonthe follow‐ingcriteria: oCompliancewithSpeci‐fications:How well the proposed vehicles meet thespecified require‐ments. oCost: Overallcost, in‐cludingpricing andany additional fees oVendorExperience: Relevant experience and qualificationsofthe ven‐dor. oCompliancewithFed‐eral Requirements:Ad‐herencetofederal fund‐ingrequirementsand regulations. oDeliverySchedule: Abil‐itytomeet thespecified deliverytimeline. 8. Submission Instruc‐tions Allproposals must be submittedbyAugust 10th, 2025, 2pmCST,to Anne Chapmanachap‐man@laspca.org.Late submissionswillnot be considered 8. Additional Information Forany questionsorre‐quests forclarification regardingthisRFP please contactAnne Chapmanatachapma@ laspca.org by July 31st ,2025. 9. RighttoReject TheLASPCAreservesthe righttorejectany or all proposals, to waiveany informalitiesorirregular‐itiesinthe proposal process, andtonegotiate i

APPROVED.

AMENDMENT

AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTIONNO. R-25-252 BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL An amendment to Resolution No. R-25-252 to expand the scope of the investigation into working conditions for city employees to include allegations of unsuitable or dangerous environmental conditions.

AMENDMENT: 1. On page 1, the first “BE IT RESOLVED” paragraph is amended to read as follows: BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, That the City Council, in accordance with Home Rule Charter Section 3-124, does hereby commence an investigation into current working conditions for city employees, including any physical, psychological, or social factors that may be impacting the work product of city employees (the “Investigation”). The Investigation shall include allegations of harassment, retaliation, arbitrary hiring decisions, and unsafe or unhealthy working conditions within the Department of Public Works, and may encompass any other departments, offices, or agency whereworking conditions may be impacting the work product of city employees due to harassment, retaliation, arbitrary and capacious treatment, or unsafe or unhealthy working conditions.

WITHDRAWN.

HDLC APPEAL OF JONATHAN BRISBI -Requesting to appeal the Historic District Landmarks Commission’sdecision to deny ademolition application for property located at 600 N. Murat Street.

WITHDRAWN. (At the applicant’srequest).

VCC APPEAL OF JOHN WILLIAMS, WILLIAMS ARCHITECTS -Requesting to appeal the Vieux CarréCommission ArchitectureCommittee’sdecision of “denial”to allow enlarging an existing ground floor opening for property located at 241 Bourbon Street.

WITHDRAWN. (At the applicant’srequest).

ORDINANCES ON FINAL PASSAGE

CAL. NO. 35,072 –BY: COUNCILMEMBERGIARRUSSO -AnOrdinance to amend and reordain Article 4ofthe Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 4264 M.C.S., as amended by Ordinance No. 26,413 M.C.S. and subsequent amendments) to requireany docket that does not obtain alegal majority vote to be forwarded to the City Council with a recommendation of denial; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

(ZONING DOCKET NO. 11/25)

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED. CAL. NO. 35,094 –BY: COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL -AnOrdinance to amend and reordain section 2-777 of the Code of the City of New Orleans relative to prohibited financial interests of former city employees who were members of procurement selection committees; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell,Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,096 –BY: COUNCILMEMBERGIARRUSSO -AnOrdinance to amend and reordain Ordinance No. 28,298 M.C.S. (adopted January 16, 2020) regarding Zoning Docket 106/19, effectuating azoning change from HU-RD2 Historic Urban Two-Family Residential District to an HUB1 Historic Urban Neighborhood Business District and aconditional use permitting areception facility over 5,000 squarefeet therein, for the property located on Square580, Lot Uor U-1, in the Second Municipal District,bounded by Canal Street, North Murat Street, Iberville Street,and North Alexander Street (Municipal Address: 4439 Canal Street), to correct language establishing the expiration date; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell,Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,100 –BY: COUNCILMEMBERS MORENO AND HARRIS -AnOrdinance to ordain Sections 54-251.1 and 54-261 of the Code of the City of New Orleans to provide immunity from arrest and prosecution relative to certain prostitution-related offenses for persons who report acrime, assist law enforcement in the prosecution of acrime, or seek healthcareservices as aresult of acrime; to limit the admissibilityof condoms and other prophylactics as evidence of certain criminal activity; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,101 –BY: COUNCILMEMBERHARRIS (BY REQUEST) -

An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of New Orleans (the “City”), and the Finance Authority of New Orleans, for aterm greater than one year,for the public purpose of provide affordable housing and sustainable development through the provision of Payments in Lieu of Taxes in the City of New Orleans, as morefully detailed in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement form attached hereto as Exhibit “A”*; and otherwise toprovide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, Moreno, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King, Morrell -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

*Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1E09, City Hall. CAL. NO. 35,102 –BY: COUNCILMEMBERS THOMAS (BY REQUEST), MORRELL, MORENO, GIARRUSSO, GREEN, HARRIS, AND KING -An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement among the City of New Orleans (the “City”), the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (the “Commission”), and Friends of Joe W. Brown Memorial Park & Louisiana NatureCenter (“FOJWBP” or “Contractor”), for aterm greater than one year,for the public purpose of providing quality recreational academic, cultural, and/or economic opportunities for the City’sresidents by operating acarousel at NORD’sJoe W. Brown Recreation Center for residents of New Orleans as morefully detailed in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement as Exhibit “A”; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. ROLL CALL: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, King, Moreno, Morrell Thomas -7 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:0 RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED. MOTIONS/RESOLUTIONS (LYING OVER) NO. M-25-146

NO. M-25-147 CITY HALL: February 27, 2025 BY:COUNCILMEMBER KING SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL WHEREAS, Section 21.8.C.18.m of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (“CZO”) permits the issuance of only one non-commercial short-term rental permitwithin each city block, inclusive of all lots fronting any exterior boundary of said block and all interior lots; and WHEREAS, CZO Section 21.8.C.18.rauthorizes the City Counciltogrant special exceptions to the one-permit-per-block cap imposed by Section 21.8.C.18.mand to allow for the issuance of up to two additional noncommercial short-term rentals in any given block; and WHEREAS, Jesse A. Hintz has applied for aspecial exception from the block limit on non-commercial short-term rentals for the property located in Square265 and bearing municipal address 1433 DAUPHINESTREET; NOW THEREFORE BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, That the Council, having reviewed the report and recommendation provided by the City Planning Commission staffpursuant to CZO Section 21.8.C.18.r, does hereby GRANT Jesse A. Hintz,a special exception from the Section 21.8.C.18.m block limit on non-commercial short-term rentals for the parcel of property located in Square265 and bearing municipal address 1433 DAUPHINE STREET (the “Property”). This special exception is being made in accordance with, and subject to, Section 21.8.C.18.r of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.

BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That the Clerk of Councilshall forwardcopies of this motion to the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission, the Department of Safety and Permits, and the applicant. The Department of Safety and Permits is directed to advise the City Planning Commission and the Councilifthe applicant fails to securepermits within the period prescribed herein or if the applicant’sowner or operator permitisrevoked. MAY8,2025 THE FOREGOINGMOTIONWAS READ IN FULL, THE ROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,ANDRESULTED AS FOLLOWS:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, King, Moreno, Morrell -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: Thomas -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE MOTIONWAS ADOPTED. NO. R- 25-252 AS AMENDED AS CORRECTED

CITY HALL: April 24, 2025

BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL

SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS

WHEREAS, Article III of the Home Rule Charter vests all legislative power of the City of New Orleans in the City Counciland empowers the Council to conduct investigations, as morefully described in Home Rule Charter Section 3-124, and WHEREAS, The City Councilhas the authority to conduct investigations into the operation of any office, department or boardadministering the affairs of the City, along with any entity that receives funds from the City and WHEREAS, In conducting investigations, the Councilhas the right to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses and compel the production of pertinent documents; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS,

That the City Council, in accordance with Home Rule Charter Section 3-124, does hereby commence an investigation into current working conditions for city employees, including any physical,psychological,or social factors that may be impacting the work product of city employees (the “Investigation”). The Investigation shall include allegations of harassment, retaliation, arbitrary and capacious treatment, and unsafe or unhealthy working conditions within the Department of Public Works, Mayor’sOffice of Housing Policy and Community Development, the Office of Workforce Development, and any other offices or departments responsiblefor supervising or directing the personnel or activities of those departments and offices. The Investigation may encompass any other departments, offices, or agency whereworking conditions may be impacting the work product of city employees due to harassment, retaliation, arbitrary and capacious treatment, or unsafe or unhealthy working conditions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, That in conducting the Investigation, the Councilshall have the authority to investigate any other office, department or boardfacilitating or involved in any way with communications, actions or other involvement covered by the Investigation, including without limitation the Department of PublicWorks and the Chief Administrative Office.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the President of the Council, in accordance with Home Rule Charter Section 3-124 and City Code Section 2-57, is hereby authorized to execute any subpoenas, to compel the production of any documents, to request any testimony under oath, or to take any other lawful investigatory step that the President deems reasonablynecessary or appropriate to further the Investigation. The foregoing shall include, without limitation, the authority to subpoena and propound document requests upon any person, agency,orentity with information likely to be relevant to the Investigation, including without limitation the following: Joseph Threat, Gilbert Montaño, Clinton “Rick” Hathaway MAY8,2025

THE FOREGOINGRESOLUTION WASREAD IN FULL, THE ROLL WASCALLED ON THE ADOPTION OF THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: Giarrusso,King -2 RECUSED: 0 AND THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED, WASADOPTED. MOTIONS/RESOLUTIONS NO. M-25-260 BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL

SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORENO

WHEREAS, Mayor LaToya Cantrell, in coordination with the New Orleans Public Library,Office of Cultural Economy,and the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund, created aNew Orleans Poet Laureate program in 2025; and WHEREAS, The New Orleans Poet Laureate is selected by an advisory committee, established pursuant to Home Rule Charter section 4-104, consisting of ten members, one of whom shall be nominated by the City Council; and WHEREAS, Dernell Johnson is qualified to serve as the Council’s representative on the New Orleans Poet Laureate nominating committee; NOW THEREFORE BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, That Dernell Johnson is hereby nominated as the Council’srepresentation on the NewOrleans Poet Laureate selection committee. BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That the Clerk of Councilshall deliver certified copies of this motion to Mayor LaToya Cantrell for her consideration. THE FOREGOINGMOTION WASREAD IN FULL, THE ROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6 NAYS: 0 ABSENT: King -1 RECUSED: 0 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED. NO. M-25-261 BY:COUNCILMEMBER GREEN SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL WHEREAS, Section 21.8.C.18.m of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (“CZO”) permits the issuance of only one non-commercial short-term rental permitwithin each city block, inclusive of all lots fronting any exterior boundary of said block and all interior lots; and WHEREAS, CZO Section 21.8.C.18.rauthorizes the City Counciltogrant special exceptions to the one-permit-per-block cap imposed by Section 21.8.C.18.mand to allow for the issuance of up to two additional noncommercial short-term rentals in any given block; and WHEREAS, Takeesa D. James has applied for aspecial exception from the block limit on non-commercial short-term rentals for the property located in Square4816 and bearing municipal address 6024 Mandeville Street; NOW THEREFORE BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, That the Council, having reviewed the report and recommendationprovided by the City Planning Commission staffpursuant to CZO Section 21.8.C.18.r does hereby GRANT Takeesa D. James special exception from the Section 21.8.C.18.mblock limit on non-commercial short-term rentals for the parcel of property located in Square4816 and bearing municipal address 6024 Mandeville Street (the “Property”). This special exception is being made in accordance with, and subject to, Section 21.8.C.18.rofthe Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That if the applicant fails to obtain noncommercial short-term rental owner and operator permits for the Property within 30 days of the adoption of this Motion, or in the event the applicant’sowner or operator permitisrevoked or the applicant transfers the property,the special exception granted herein

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Moreno, Thomas -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED. NO. M-25-262

BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO

SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER

Morrell -5

property located in Square884 and bearing municipal address 1814 Elysian Fields Avenue (the “Property”). This special exception is being made in accordance with, and subject to, Section 21.8.C.18.r of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.

BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That if the applicant fails to obtain noncommercial short-term rental owner and operator permits for the Property within 30 days of the adoption of this Motion, or in the event the applicant’sowner or operator permit is revoked or the applicant transfers the property,the special exception granted hereinshall be void. BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That the Clerk of Council shall forwardcopies of this motion to the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission the Department of Safety and Permits, and the applicant. The Department of Safety and Permits is directed to advise the City Planning Commission and the Council if the applicant fails to securepermits within the period prescribed herein or if the applicant’sowner or operator permit is revoked. THE FOREGOING MOTION WASREAD IN FULL, THE ROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, King, Moreno, Morrell -6 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Thomas -1 RECUSED: 0 AND THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED. NO. M-25-264

BY:COUNCILMEMBER GREEN Denying the request of LEROY J. THEARD, III for the property located on Square884 and bearing municipal address 1814 Elysian Fields Avenue (the “Property”). WITHDRAWN. NO. M-25-265

BY:COUNCILMEMBER GREEN Denying the request of TAKEESA D. JAMES for the property located on Square4816 and bearing municipal address 6024 Mandeville Street (the “Property”). WITHDRAWN. NO. R-25-266

BY:COUNCILMEMBERS GIARRUSSO AND MORRELL WHEREAS, The New Orleans City Council recognizes Rabbi EdwardP Cohn for his long and distinguished service to the people of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana; and WHEREAS, Rabbi Cohn received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Cincinnati in 1970, his Masters of Hebrew Letters degree and rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College in 1974, and his Doctorate of Ministry from the St. Paul School of Theology in 1984; and WHEREAS, Arriving in New Orleans in 1987, Rabbi Cohn assumed the role of Senior Rabbi of Temple Sinai, having previously served as arabbi in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Missouri; and WHEREAS, Growing up in the 1960s, Rabbi Cohn watched rabbis in his hometownadvocate for equal justice and voting rights and speak out against racial discrimination;and WHEREAS, At an early age, Rabbi Cohn knew that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of the rabbis that he grew up with; and WHEREAS, Temple Sinai’slong and distinguished history of service to New Orleans, made the perfect home for Rabbi Cohn’sprogressive and inclusive approach to Judaism; and WHEREAS, Rabbi Cohn developed deep and meaningfulrelationships with major faith leaders, and offered the synagogue’sworship space to communities in need, including in 2008 when Rabbi Cohn opened Temple Sinai to Greater St. Stephen’sCatholic Church for Sunday services after a fire severely damaged the church; and WHEREAS, Consistent with his belief that the Jewish community should be visible and gutsy,Rabbi Cohn made social and prophetic justice a central componentofhis rabbinate; and WHEREAS, With the support of the city’ssecond Black mayor,Sidney Barthelemy,Rabbi Cohn helped re-establish the Human Relations Commission,becoming its first chairman in acity grappling with the complexities of race, poverty and justice; and WHEREAS, During Rabbi Cohn’stenure, the Human Relations Commission recommended the removal of the Battle of Liberty Place Monument, took on sexual harassment in the workplace, shed light on racial discrimination in the community,promoted LGBTQ+ rights, and called attention to excessive use of force by police; and WHEREAS, As chair of the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial Project, Rabbi Cohn spearheaded the creation of aHolocaust memorial in Goldring/WoldenbergPark, that sees 700,000 visitors ayear,byworldrenowned artist, Yaacov Agam; and WHEREAS, Rabbi Cohn is an Emeritus Member of Roots of Reform Judaism, contributing editor of the prestigious national journalof preaching Pulpit Digest, former president of the Rabbinical Council of Greater New Orleans, and served on the Union for Reform Judaism Congregation Committee on the Family,aswell as the Joint Commission on Interfaith Relations sponsored by the Central Conference of American Rabbis; and WHEREAS, Rabbi Cohn received both the Urban League’sLiving Legend Awardand the Weiss Awardfromthe National Conference of Christians and Jews in 2014, and the Anti-Defamation League’sA.I. Botnick Torchof Liberty awardin2022; and WHEREAS, He also served as an ethics consultant for MSNBC and a panel member of the internationally televised show “The Ethical Edge”; and WHEREAS, Rabbi Cohn wasanadjunct professor at DillardUniversity and until his recent move, served on the Board of Trustees of Xavier University; and WHEREAS, Adedicated family man, Rabbi Cohn holds that his greatest accomplishmentishis morethan 50 years of loving marriage to his best friend, Andrea Levy Cohn, and the family they raised together: daughters Dr.Jennifer Cohn Kesselheim and Debra Lynn Kraar; their devoted

SIONS. ALLINTERESTED PARTIESARE ENCOUR‐AGED TO ATTEND AND ALLRELEVANTCOM‐MENTSCONCERNINGTHE PROPOSED CHANGESARE ENCOURAGED.THE CPC HASESTABLISHED PUB‐LICHEARING RULES WITHIN ITSADMINISTRA‐TIVE RULES, POLICIES & PROCEDURES,WHICH AREAVAILABLE ON THE CPCWEBSITE: WWW NOLA.GOV/CPC.YOU MAY ALSO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS TO THEEX‐ECUTIVEDIRECTORIN ADVANCEBYMAIL(1300 PERDIDOSTREET,7TH FLOOR, NEWORLEANS LA 70112) OR EMAIL CPCINFO@NOLA.GOV.ALL WRITTENCOMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY CLOSEOFBUSINESSON THEMONDAY, EIGHT DAYS PRIORTOTHE HEARINGDATE. July 17, 31 and

August 7, 2025 Robert Rivers ExecutiveDirector NOCP 8505 150320-jul17-31-aug7-3t $89.10

origin,sex (including gender identity andsex‐ualorientation), disabil‐ity, age, or reprisal or re‐taliationfor priorcivil rights activity Programinformation maybemadeavailable in languagesother than English. Persons with disabilitieswho require alternativemeans of communication to obtain program information (e.g Braille, largeprint audiotape, American Sign Language), should contactthe responsible stateorlocal agency that administersthe pro‐gram or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice andTTY)orcon‐tact USDA throughthe FederalRelay Serviceat (800) 877-8339. To ﬁle a program dis‐criminationcomplaint a Complainantshould complete aFormAD3027, USDA Program Dis‐criminationComplaint Form whichcan be ob‐tained online at:https:// www.usda.gov/sites/ default/ﬁles/documents/ USDA-OASCR%20P-

Complaint-Form-05080002-508-11-2817Fax2Mail.pdf,fromany USDA office,bycalling (866) 632-9992, or by writ‐inga letter addressedto USDA.The letter must containthe com‐plainant’s name,ad‐dress, telephonenumber, anda writtendescription of thealleged discrimi‐natory action in suffi‐cientdetailtoinformthe AssistantSecretary for CivilRights(ASCR)about thenatureand date of an allegedcivil rights viola‐tion.The completedAD3027 form or letter must be submittedtoUSDAby: 1. mail: U.S. Department of Agri‐culture Office of theAssistant Secretaryfor CivilRights 1400 Independence Av‐enue,SW Washington,D.C.202509410; or 2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202)

PUBLIC NOTICE

GIVEN thatthe

LEGARDE BAKERY MAN‐AGEMENT COMPANYLLC a LouisianaLimited Lia‐bilityCompany with a domicileaddressof2538 Dante Street,New Or‐leans,LA70118, have ap‐proveda proposal that the companydissolve out of court. TheMem‐bersare nowengaged in

up andsettling the affairs of thecom‐panyunder theprovi‐sion(s) of LouisianaRe‐vised Statute12:12:1335 RichardMontgomery, d PUBLIC NOTICE Lake Forest Elementary CharterSchool todayan‐nounced itspolicyfor free andreduced price mealsservedunder the National School Program Lunchand BreakfastPro‐grams, 2025-2026. The school hasa copy of the policy,which maybere‐viewed by anyinterested party. NonDiscrimination Statement In accordance with fed‐eral civilrightslaw and U.S. Department of Agri‐culture(USDA)civil rights regulationsand policies,thisinstitution is prohibited from dis‐criminatingonthe basis of race,color,national

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. CC-25-01

RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCETHE RISK OF BUILDING COLLAPSES ISSUED [DATE]

Purpose

In accordance with Section 6-308 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans and Rule 42 of the Rules and Regulations of the New Orleans City Council, and pursuant to Council Motion No. M-23-281, the Council is soliciting proposals from structural engineers or engineering firms to provide professional services to the Council regarding adviceand assistance related to potential legislative solutions to reduce the risk of collapse of privately-owned structures in this city

Scope of Services

It is anticipated that the consultant will be responsible for the following services to the Council:

•Provide professional advice and assistance to the Council regarding the development of legislative solutions to reduce the risk of collapse of privately-owned structures, including analysis of past building collapses;

•Propose concrete legislative structures and programs to prevent further building collapses in this city whenever possible;

•Provide feedback as to any data required to undertake any such solution;

•Provide holistic cost est mates to the City and to the private sector for any proposed solution;

•Provide acomprehensive accounting of pros and cons related to any legislative solution proposed;

•Provide reports and testimony as requested by the Council.

Qualifications Statement Content

The proposal should include the following components:

1. Professional experience and resumes of partners, principals, and employees in the firm and subcontractorswho will be responsible for,and actively involved in, the provision of professional services for the Council, including any relevant experience and expertise of such keypersonnel,specifyingthe Louisiana-certified structural engineers participating.

2. Aconcise but detailed narrative indicating the proposed approach to providing the required services (including adescription of the types and quantities of services which would be provided).

3. Abrief description of three assignments which best illustrate the respondent’squalifications relevant to the areas requested in this request for qualifications, including applicable samples of work product

4. Aswornaffidavit listing all persons with an ownership interest in the respondent firm or company.An“ownership interest”shall not be deemed to include ownership of stock in apublicly traded corporation or ownership of an interest in amutual fund or trust that holdaninterest in apublicity traded corporation. The affidavit is apublic record.

5. Aswornaffidavit statingthatnoother person holds an ownership interest in the respondent.

6. Alist of all persons, natural or artificial, who areretained by the respondent at the time of the application and areexpected to perform

and disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE) utilization goals for the City of New Orleans.

Potential Conflict of Interest

Allrespondents providing aresponse to the RFQ shallprovide aclear and unambiguous indication of any potential or real conflicts of interest it or any of its sub-contractors may have with respect to performingthe work outlined in this RFQ on behalf of the Council,including but not limited to: work performed in the last five years on behalfof(i) the Council, (ii) the City of New Orleans, or (iii) any agency of the City. For any such work performed, the respondent shall indicate the scope of the engagement, the timeframe, the amount of compensation received and why the respondent deems such work to be or not be in conflictwith the execution of the proposed scope of work. The Councilshall be the sole arbiter as to any conflicts of interest and shall make the final determination as to whether any potential or real conflict of interest exists.

Minimum Qualifications

Respondentsmust either be astructural engineer licensed to practice in the StateofLouisiana or a firm that employs such an engineer who will assist with the preparation of the work product contemplated by this solicitation.

Evaluation Criteria

Uponreceipt by the due date of responses to this request for qualifications, the Council’s staffselection review committeewill evaluate all responses received based on the following criteriaaspermitted by CouncilRule 42:

1. Training and experience with type of task required;

2. Appropriateness of plan submitted;

3. Capabilityofcontractor to provide staffing and support;

4. Knowledge of local conditions; 5. Ability to provide the work in the timeperiod required, as evidenced by past performance and current workload;

6. Involvement of members of disadvantaged groups at the professional level;

7. Whether the respondent has met, or demonstrated good-faith efforts to meet,the 35% DBE utilization goal applicabletoCity Councilprofessional services contracts as morefully set forth in Section 70-467 of the City Code.

8. Participation by persons living and/or working in New Orleans at aprofessional level;

9. The need for continuity of services and/or specialized and institutional experience and knowledge; and

10. The cost of services to be provided.

Proposal Submission

Except as provided herein below,nowritten, electronic, or oral communications from any actual or potential respondent to this RFQ or anyone acting as agent or representative for such person shall be made to any Councilmember,city employee, or Councilstaffperson from the timethis RFQ is posted until a final decision is made by the Council (“Blackout Period”) except as provided herein. Allcommunications during the Blackout Periodtoand from any actual or potential respondent must be submitted by emailtothe CouncilChief of Staff, Justyn A. Hawkins at jahawkins@nola.gov.Any such communication may become apublic recordpursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana Public RecordsLaw RFQ submissions, including samples of work products, must be submitted electronically to Justyn A. Hawkins at councilcentralstaff@ nola.gov by 5:00 PM CST on [DATE] Late submissions will not

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN thatthe membersofBEL‐LEGARDE BAKERY LLC, a Louisiana LimitedLiabil‐ity Companywith a domicile addressof2538 Dante Street,New Or‐leans,LA70118, have ap‐proveda proposal that the companydissolve out of court. TheMem‐bersare nowengaged in winding up andsettling the affairsofthe com‐panyunder theprovi‐sion(s) of LouisianaRe‐vised Statute12:12:1335 Richard Montgomery, Esq.TranscendentLaw l

NOTICE On July 16, 2025 Susan Bonnett Bourgeois, Sec‐retaryofLouisiana Eco‐nomic Development, de‐terminedthatrecords pertainingtoanactive negotiation forthe pur‐poseofretaining,ex‐panding,orattracting economicorbusiness development in the state,referredtoasPro‐jectEmmy, shallbeconﬁ‐dential until conclusion ofthe negotiation, in ac‐cordancewith La.R.S.44:22 150733-jul22-23-24-3t $44.02

Council. Selection of consultant(s) is made by Motion of the City Council. Inspector General

The Inspector General shall be notified in writing prior to anymeeting of aselection or negotiation committeerelating to the procurementof goods or services by the City,including meetings involving thirdparty transactions. The noticerequiredshall be given to the Inspector General as soon as possible aftera meeting hasbeen scheduled, but in no event laterthan24hours prior to the scheduled meeting. The Inspector General mayattend allCity meetings relating to the procurementofgoods or services as provided herein andmay post questions andraise concerns consistent with the functions, authority andpowers of the Inspector General.Anaudio recorder or courtstenographer maybeutilized to record allselection or negotiation committeemeetings attendedbythe Office of the Inspector General

Section 2-1120 of the NewOrleansCity Code,relative to the Office of Inspector General,provides in part as follows:

[E]very bid, proposal, application or solicitation for acity contract,and every application for certification of eligibility for acity contract or programshall contain the following statement: “It is agreed thatthe respondent or applicantwill abidebyall provisions of City Code §2-1120, including, but not limitedto, City Code §2-1120(12),whichrequiresthe respondent to provide the Office of Inspector General with documents andinformation as requested. Failuretocomply with such requests shall constitute amaterial breach of the contract.Insigning this contract,the respondent agrees thatit is subject to the jurisdiction of the OrleansParish Civil District Court for purposes of challenging asubpoena.”

Additional Information

The City of NewOrleansisnot liable for anycosts incurredbythe respondent prior to enteringinto aformalwritten contract.Any costs incurred in the preparation of the proposals, interview,orotherprecontract activity arethe responsibility of the respondent. All submissions become the property of the City and, as such, arepublic records.

The City Council reserves the righttoaccept or reject anyand all responses submitted andtocancel the request for qualifications, in whole or in part, for anyreason, in its sole judgment.

It is anticipatedthatthe respondent will invoicethe City Council monthly during the term of the contract

The contract with the City Council shall contain aprovision thatregarding anysub-contractor proposedtoberetainedbythe respondent to perform workonthe contract with the City Council the respondent must notify the appropriate Council committeewithin 30 days of retaining said subcontractor.The Council mayrequire information on ownership interests in the sub-contractor

Publication Dates: Thursday, July 17, 2025

Thursday, July 24, 2025 Thursday, July 31, 2025 NOCP 8503

APPROVED:

OF COUNCIL

ROLL CALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1 RECUSED: 0 THIS ORDINANCE WASRETURNED BY THE MAYORONMAY 14, 2025, AT 9:35 A.M. AND THE SAME WASNEITHER APPROVED NORDISAPPROVED BY THE MAYOR. THEREFORE, SAID ORDINANCE BECAME LAWAT12:00

NOONMAY 18, 2025, AS REQUIRED BY LAW. REDLINED VERSION: “Chapter 2– ADMINISTRATION

ARTICLE VII. –ETHICS

DIVISION 3. –CODE OF ETHICS

Subdivision III. –City Code of Ethics Sec. 2-777. –Prohibited financial

Ebelow c. The

Commission

(60) days from the opening of the public hearing. The City Planning Commission may also vote to defer action within City Charter required timeframes in cases where it discovers applicantshave not submitted complete and accurateinformation, including but not limited to errors or omissions in following the Project NPP.The failuretoresolve a finding of incomplete or inaccurate information may begrounds for recommending denial. If the City Planning Commission fails to act by avote of the majority of the Commission members, the application wi lbeforwarded to the City Council without recommendation of no legal majority with arecommendation ofeffective denial for lack of legal majority. TheCity Planning Commission’s written recommendations, together with the staffreport andrecommendation, if any, shall be filed with the Clerk of the City Council.

4.3 CONDITIONALUSES ***

4.3.D PROCEDURE

4.3.D.3 ACTION BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

a. The City Planning Commission shall conduct apublic hearing on a proposed conditional use in accordance with Section 3.4 fifty (50) days from the datethe application is docketed. Notice of the public hearing is required in accordance with Section 3.3.

b. After the close of the public hearing,the City Planning Commission shall make arecommendation. Based upon the evidence presented at the public hearing, the City Planning Commission shall evaluatethe application against the applicable standards in Paragraph Fbelow c. The City Planning Commission shall recommend approval, modified approval, or denial sixty (60) days from the opening of the public hearing. The City Planning Commission may also vote to defer action within City Charter required timeframes in cases whereitdiscovers applicantshave not submitted complete and accurateinformation, including but not limited to errors or omissions in following the Project NPP.The failuretoresolve a finding ofincomplete or inaccurate information may be grounds for recommending denial. If the City Planning Commission fails to act by avote of the majority of the Commission members, the application wi lbeforwarded to the City Council without recommendation of no legal majority with arecommendation ofeffective denial for lack of legalmajority. TheCity Planning Commission’s written recommendations, together with the staffreport and recommendation, if any,shall be filed with the Clerk of the City Council.

4.4 PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS * **

4.4.E PROCEDURE

4.4.E.3 ACTION BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

a. The City Planning Commission shall conduct apublic hearing on a proposed planned development in accordance with Section 3.4 fifty (50) days fromthe date the application is docketed. Notice of the public hearing is required in accordance with Section 3.3.

c.The City Planning Commission shall recommend approval, modified approval, or denial sixty (60) days from the opening of the public hearing. The City Planning Commission may also vote to defer action within City Charter required timeframes in cases whereitdiscovers applicantshave not submitted complete and accurateinformation, including but not limited to errors or omissions in following the Project NPP.The failuretoresolve a finding of incomplete or inaccurate information may begrounds for recommending denial. If the City Planning Commission fails to act by avote of the majority ofthe Commission members, the application will be forwarded to the City Council without recommendation of no legal majority with arecommendation ofeffective denial for lack of legalmajority. TheCity Planning Commission’s written recommendations, together with the staffreport and recommendation, if any,shall be filed with the Clerk of the City Council.

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS MAY8,2025

JPMORRELL PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON MAY9 2025

APPROVED: MAY13, 2025

LATOYACANTRELL

MAYOR

RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ON MAY14, 2025 AT 9:35 A.M.

AISHA R. COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL

ROLL CALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 ORDINANCE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS CITY HALL: April 10, 2025

CALENDAR NO. 35,094 NO. 30346 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBER

ORDINANCE CITY OFNEW ORLEANS CITY HALL: April 10, 2025 CALENDAR NO.35,096 NO. 30347 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO AN ORDINANCE to amend and reordain Ordinance No. 28,298 M.C.S. (adopted January 16, 2020) regarding Zoning Docket 106/19, effectuating azoning change from HU-RD2 Historic Urban Two-Family Residential District to an HU-B1 Historic Urban Neighborhood Business District and a conditional use permitting areception facility over 5,000 squarefeet therein, for the property located on Square580, Lot UorU-1, in the Second Municipal District, bounded by Canal Street, North Murat Street, Iberville Street, and North Alexander Street (Municipal Address: 4439 Canal Street), to correct language establishing the expiration date; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 28,298 M.C.S. on January 16, 2020 incorrectly established the date by which the related development must commence to toll from date the ordinance became law in contravention to section 4.3.H.1 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance; and WHEREAS, the Council desires to correct the date by which the related development and construction must begin beforethe conditional use authorized by Ordinance No. 28,298 shall be null, void and without legal force andeffect.

SECTION1.THE COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFNEW ORLEANS HEREBY ORDAINS, That Section 4, lines 13-15 of Ordinance No. 28,298 MCS shall be amended and reordained to read as follows: herein is not commenced within aperiod of three (3) years from the date the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission approves the final drawings for aconditional use, then the conditional use will expire.

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS MAY8,2025

JP MORRELL

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON MAY9,2025

APPROVED: MAY13, 2025

LATOYACANTRELL

MAYOR RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ON MAY14, 2025 AT 9:35 A.M.

AISHA R. COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL

ROLL CALL VOTE:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0

ORDINANCE

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS

CITY HALL: April 24, 2024

CALENDAR NO. 35,100 NO. 30348 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES

BY:COUNCILMEMBERSMORENO AND HARRIS

AN ORDINANCE to ordain Sections 54-251.1 and 54-261 of the Code of the City of New Orleans to provide immunity from arrest and prosecution relative to certain prostitution-related offenses for persons who report acrime, assist law enforcement in the prosecution of acrime, or seek healthcareservices as a result of acrime; to limit the admissibility of condoms and other prophylactics asevidence of certain criminal activity; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

WHEREAS, the criminalization of sex work often creates an environment wheresex workers arevulnerable to exploitation, violence, and fear of legal repercussions that can prevent the reporting of crimes or seeking of medical assistance; thelack of access to legal protections leaves sex workers in a precarious position, unable to report crimes without risking their own safety and/or arrest as well as discouraging individuals from accessing needed medical care; and

WHEREAS, cities across the United States have enacted non-prosecution or decriminalization policies at the local-level, often through the discretion of District Attorneys or by creating local ordinances; and WHEREAS, Louisiana law permits local governments and municipalities to criminalize and otherwise regulate prostitution-related offenses at the local level, and, in accordance with that authorization, the Code of the City of New Orleans establishes the crimes of prostitution, soliciting for prostitution, and loitering for prostitution and further requires the New Orleans Police Department cite violators under the municipal version of these statutes, rather than under state law; and

WHEREAS, existing New Orleans Police Department Policy Chapter 41:35 currently governs interactions with members of the community who engage in sex work and the policy is intended to create aclimate wheresex workers, victims, and witnesses have equal access to reporting violent crimes, and to remind officers that all people areentitled to be treated with value, dignity,and respect and to be protected by law enforcement; and WHEREAS, the power to criminalize conduct includes the power to create exceptions from arrestand prosecution in circumstances that further the health, safety and welfareofthe city and its residents; and WHEREAS, immunity from prosecution protects individuals from being cited, arrested, or prosecuted for certain prostitution-related offenses if they report a crime, seek health carebecause of the crime, or assist in an investigation is a public health and safety measure; and WHEREAS, further,survivors of sex trafficking often avoid reporting their situations due to fear of being arrested for prostitution-related offenses; immunity from prosecution for reporting crimes enables victims to sharetheir experiences and expose traffickers without risking criminalization, disrupting trafficking networks and holding perpetrators accountable; and WHEREAS, this legislation would set aprecedent for treating survivors of trafficking with dignity and respect, encouraging them to engage with social services and law enforcement as partners in their recovery and safety; and WHEREAS, protections areessential for building trust and cooperation between sex workers, their communities, and law enforcement, leading to a moreequitable and just legal framework that prioritizes the safety and rights of all citizens;NOWTHEREFORE

SECTION 1. THE COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS HEREBY

ORDAINS, That the Code of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana is amended to add Sections 54-251.1 and 54-261, which shall read as follows:

CHAPTER 54. –CRIMINAL CODE

** *

ARTICLE V. –OFFENSES AFFECTING MORALITY

Sec. 54-251.1 -Immunity from prosecution.

(a) No person who is avictim or awitness to acrime, or who becomes aware that another person is avictim of acrime, shall be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for an offense under 54-251, 54-252, or 54-253 of this chapter orafor violation arising under chapter 30, article VII of this Code, as aresult ofthat person, while acting in good faith and in reasonable proximity to the occurrence of the crime or under circumstances reasonably related to the crime, reporting the crime, seeking healthcareservices as aresult of the crime, or attempting to assist in theinvestigation or prosecution of the crime. For purposes of this section, the term “crime” is intended to be interpreted broadlyand encompass any act that reasonably appears to be acrime, regardlessofwhether it results in acriminal charge, arrest, or conviction. (b)Noperson granted immunity pursuant to subsection (a) shall be subject to forfeitureofproperty for any violation for which immunity is provided by this chapter,except for prima facie contraband. (c) No person granted immunity pursuant to subsection (a) shall be subject tosanctions for aviolation of acondition of pretrial release, condition of probation,orcondition of

NAYS:

-1

ORDINANCE (AS CORRECTED) CITY OF NEW ORLEANS CITY HALL: April 24, 2025 CALENDAR NO. 35,101 NO. 30349 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS (BY REQUEST) AN ORDINANCEauthorizing

A” and incorporated and made apart hereof. ADOPTED BY THECOUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANSMAY 8, 2025 JP MORRELL PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON MAY9,2025 APPROVED: MAY13, 2025 LATOY CANTRELL MAYOR RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ON MAY14, 2025 AT 9:35 A.M.

AISHAR.COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Harris, Moreno, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: King, Morrell -2

RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’sOffice, 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS CITY HALL: April 24, 2025 CALENDAR NO. 35,102

NO.30350 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBERS THOMAS, GIARRUSSO, GREEN,HARRIS, KING, MORENO, MORRELL (BY REQUEST) AN ORDINANCEauthorizing the Mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement among the City of New Orleans (the “City”), the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (the “Commission”), and Friends of Joe W. Brown Memorial Park &Louisiana NatureCenter (“FOJWBP” or “Contractor”), for aterm greater than one year for the public purpose of providing quality recreational, academic, cultural, and/or economic opportunities for the City’sresidents by operating acarousel at NORD’sJoe W. Brown Recreation Center for residents of New Orleans as morefully detailed in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit “A”; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority contained in Article 7, Section 14(C) of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, and statutory authority supplemental thereto, the State of Louisiana and its political subdivisions, including the City, may enter into cooperative endeavors with each other,orwith any public or private corporation or individual; and

order to accomplish the valued public purpose of providing quality recreational, academic, cultural, and/or economic opportunities for the City’sresidents by operating acarousel at NORD’sJoe W. Brown Recreation Center for residents of

NOWTHEREFORE SECTION I. THE COUNCIL OF THECITY OF NEWORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That the Mayor,onbehalf of the City of New Orleans, is hereby authorized to enter into the attached cooperative endeavor agreement with the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission, and Friends of Joe W. Brown Memorial Park &Louisiana

don’tmiss don’tmis don’t miss

dollydaysindutch

Literacy is near and dear to singer Dolly Parton’sheart. Her Imagination Library has been providing books to kidsfor 30 years, and the French Market is gettinginto the act.Members of local dance troupeKrewe of Dolly will read from 11 a.m. to noon Monday through Wednesday and Aug. 1-3 at the Historical Park,916 N. Peters St.Dolly-themed sno-balls will be available and it’s all free.french

lgbt authors

Larry Bagneris, Robert Fieseler and Frank Perez, authors of newbooks on queer life and identity, will lead a discussion at 7p.m. Thursday at East Bank Regional Library,4747 W. Napoleon Ave., in Metairie. jplibary.net.

bridal expo

Impending nuptials? Visit a gatheringofpurveyorsofallthings-wedding this weekend at Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie. TheWelliver Productions 30th annual weddingpaloozafeatures exhibitors for venues,attire, invitation, music and more, plus ahost of drawings for prizes and honeymoon gift certiﬁcates. Thefree event(anonperishable food item for Second Harvest Food Bank is requested) is from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. Saturday andnoon to 4p.m. Sunday. welliverproductions.net.

trailerparkbash

Get out the doublewide attire and head to Urban South Brewery,1645 Tchoupitoulas St., from 2p.m. to 5p.m. Saturday for live music from Sean Riley and The Water, anew brew and achance to see Neuty the Nutria. The new brew, available only in the taproom, will be featured at the free event. Prizes will be awarded for the best trailer togs. urbansouth.com.

redbeans ’n’ rice cook-off

Monday is red beans day and the northshore gets serious at the 16th annualwest St. Tammany Parish culinary event for the United Way of Southeast Louisiana at 11 a.m. at the Briggs Assembly Center at St. Paul’s School, 919 Jefferson Ave., in Covington. For $10, enjoy the entries from teams vying for honors and also helping support suicide prevention, mental health services and other programs. Slidell’scompetition is Aug. 4. unitedwaysela.org.

Bagneris

Fieseler

Perez

food food food

Burger deal at Freret Street’s swanky TheHusky is forreal

THE HUSKY

4510 Freret St.

4p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sundayto

Thursday; 4p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Happyhour is daily from 4p.m. to 6p.m.

I’m always on the huntfor agood deal, and this happyhour deal at The Husky felttoo goodtobetrue. Ihad to check it out for myself

ABOUTLAGNIAPPE

The Lagniappe section is publishedeach Thursdayby The Times-Picayune |The NewOrleans Advocate. All inquiriesabout Lagniappe should be directed to the editor.

Chelsea Shannon

One burger, a side of fries anda cocktail for $20? I thought to myself, “This must be a one-off; there’sno way this is real.”Thenanother colleague brought it up.

TheHusky feels likewalkinginto alate-night jazz club. It’s dimly lit, with numerouswood andleather accents —the perfectsetting for some red meat andwhiskey

Theburger was simple but hefty, consistingoftwo quarter-pound patties topped withcheese. Igot mine dressed withonions, tomato

and lettuce, and it came with a thick pickle spear.It’sthe type of burger that Iwould expect to cost $15 and possibly extra for fries.

On theside, of course, was anice heap of fries and house aioli.

An old-fashioned comes standard with the meal, but if that wasn’tmy

The Husky serves aburger deal for itshappy hour

STAFFPHOTO By CHELSEA SHANNON

LAGNIAPPE EDITOR: Annette Sisco,asisco@ theadvocate.com

COVERDESIGN: Andrea Daniel

CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS: Victor Andrews, Matt Haines, MaddieScott, Chelsea Shannon, DougWalker

GETLISTED IN LAGNIAPPE

SubmiteventstoLagniappe at least twoweeksinadvance by sending an email to events@theadvocate.com.

ON THECOVER

style, my waiter at the time said I could swap it for another cocktail. Ialso ﬁgured out which restaurant in Uptown has asurprise decanter of whiskey in its bathroom.

Email Chelsea Shannon at cshannon@theadvocate.com.

The Flaming Dr Pepper has become apart of thefabric at theGold Mine Saloon in theFrench Quarter, and the barisready to celebrate the drink reaching amilestone. PhotobyDavid Grunfeld Story by Matt Haineson Page 6.

art art art

Focus is simple for ‘Refreshing America’

CAC exhibit features works from around the world

BY DAVE WALKER

Contributing

writer

The labels on the more than 80 works on view in “Refreshing America: Artists of America from Other Nations” reinforce the title concept. Each carries only the artist’s name and country of origin. No medium or list of materials, no biographical information, no donor recognition, no bewildering catalog number.

Marshall PROVIDED PHOTOS

Just: Gastavo Duque, Columbia. Tom Walton, United Kingdom. Manon Bellet, France. And so on.

Curated by local arts eminence Don Marshall, “Refreshing America” opened at the Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans in May and closes at the conclusion of Fidelity Bank White Linen Night, the annual Arts District gallery stroll from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 2.

Marshall retired as executive director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the nonproﬁt that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, in 2024 and began envisioning whatever he would be next.

“Basically, for the last three to four years, I’ve been dreaming of all these exhibitions I want to do,” he said. “The ﬁrst one, it turned out, was that I was getting back into my ﬁrst love of the visual-arts community. I was going back to gallery openings and museum openings and I was noticing that we had so many artists who were born in other countries, and that wasn’t the case in the ’70s, the ’80s or ’90s. And it was like, ‘OK, there’s something unusual going on here.’

“I’d discover this artist at an opening. I’d go to a website of one of the galleries and read the bios. ‘Oh, my goodness. This artist is from Ukraine’ or whatever And so I started off making a list and it kept growing and grow-

‘We had so many artists who were born in other countries,’ and that wasn’t the case when Don Marshall began his career in the 1970s and ’80s, the curator said. Here, paintings and sculptures from ‘Refreshing America’ at the Contemporary Arts Center.

ing. I mean, initially, it was about 40 and it ended up being 85.”

Full circle

The exhibit returns Marshall to a familiar address. He was the CAC’s ﬁrst director, back in 1977, when regional drugstore mogul Sydney Besthoff donated the use of what had been the K&B warehouse for use as an alternative-arts space.

“Basically, I kind of walked into a gigantic, empty building and started programming,” Marshall said. Display space for visual artists was plentiful, but there was room for more.

“We had this wonderful theater space — rugged, raw, but we had about ﬁve resident theater companies,” he said. “We started to do music concerts and it just kind of grew and grew and grew.”

Marshall went on to play key roles at Le Petit Théâtre Du Vieux Carré, the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, Krewe du Vieux and the New Orleans Photo Alliance. He also held university teaching and administrative positions. In 2004, he began his 20-year run atop the Jazz &

Heritage Foundation.

Many languages, many mediums Marshall estimates he did 75 studio visits while building the lineup for “Refreshing America.”

“I wanted to meet individually with each of the artists and hear their story,” he said. “And time after time it would be, ‘Oh, I was traveling from Russia and somebody said, “You’ve got to stop in New Orleans.”’ They stopped here for a day, that turned into a week, and then they realized that this was the place that they needed to be.

“I really enjoyed getting to know the artists, and everyone had a different story It was interesting to learn about the cultural inﬂuences they brought to their work here. Whether they were from Colombia or from Honduras or Ukraine or whatever, you could see in their work that there’s something there that is now infusing our community

“Some had classical training, others just sort of picked it up on their own, but they all had stories of their home country’s culture that is reﬂected in their work.”

In addition to the exhibit’s bringing-

Sculpture by Sasha Solodukhina, New Orleans artist originally of Belarus

‘Refreshing America’ brings more than 80 works to the CAC.

the-world-to-New Orleans international scope, “Refreshing America” also features work in a broad array of artistic mediums — to Marshall, one of its surprises even for visitors who are familiar with the local arts scene.

“The diversity in styles and techniques — I don’t think any of us realized what we have here,” he said. “Yes, we know that we have great painters (who) show in galleries here, but artists who are using new techniques and new technologies? Those artists are totally underexposed here, and it’s my hope that by bringing them into an exhibit like this, they will receive more recognition for what they’re doing.”

Dave Walker focuses on behindthe-scenes coverage of the region’s many museums here and at www. themuseumgoer.com. Email Dave at dwalkertp@gmail.com.

streaming streaming streaming

HURRICANE KATRINA l 20TH ANNIVERSARY 2005 —2025

National Geographic series explores impact of storm

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans 20 years ago, andthe subsequent failure of the federal levee system left everyday peopletofight rising waters. With unreleased footage and eyewitness testimonies from survivors, first responders andofficials, the five-part documentary “Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time”will premiere the first three episodes Sunday on National Geographic, and allfive episodes will be available to stream Monday on Disney+ and Hulu.

The productionteam is full of award-

winning and nominated ﬁlmmakers, including Oscar-nominated director Traci A. Curri, known for her 2021 documentary“Attica” detailing one of the biggest prison riotsinU.S. history

The team also includes Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-nominated producer Ryan Coogler,ofProximity Media, who directed the 2025 box ofﬁcehit and thriller “Sinners” starring MichaelB.Jordan. Coogler is joined by Oscar-winning producer Simon Chinn andEmmy-winning producer Jonathan Chinnwith production company Lightbox.

Thetrailer is available to watch on YouTube.

EPISODE SUMMARIES

n Episode 1: “The Coming Storm”: 7p.m. Sunday.It’satypically vibrant New Orleans summer when Hurricane Katrina looms. Sittinginthe bull’s-eye of aCategory 5, the cityfaces arealitycheck. With adelayed evacuation order,many are trapped and forced to brace for the storm’s fury.Residents recount for the ﬁrst time howthey navigated the impending disaster, capturing the harrowingexperienceof preparing for “The Big One.”

n Episode 2: “Worst Case Scenario”: 8p.m. Sunday.After Katrinapassed, residents soon discovered the levees breached, quickly ﬂoodingNew Orleans like abathtub. First responders and everyday citizensjumpedinheroically to savelocals; manyresidents were forced to ﬂee their houses for dry land. As residents braved dangerous conditions to survive, ineptitudeatall levels of government wasexposed as thewater rose.

n Episode 3: “A Desperate Place”: 9p.m. Sunday.Three days into theﬂood, rescue operations continue around the clock. Thousands remain trapped, as the government struggles to co-

ordinate arescue effort. Inside the Superdome, stories of resilience and survival emerge above the sometimeshorriﬁc conditions. Meanwhile, media coverageshiftstoemphasize disorder, focusingonlooting rather than the thousandsstill stranded.

n Episode 4: “Shoot to Kill”: 7p.m. Monday.Inpost-Katrina New Orleans, Gen. Russel Honoré leads rescue efforts amid pressure to use force, while local heroes tirelessly save lives. Thousands remainstranded in their homes, the Superdome, the Convention Center andalong the interstate as evacuation efforts continue to fail. Tensions rise while violence erupts and militias targetresidents.

n Episode 5: “WakeUpCall”: 8p.m. Monday.New Orleans’ resilient residents exit the city,forming part of theKatrina diaspora. As they navigate the uncertainty of how and when they mightrestore their lives, aplan for anew New Orleanstakes shape. The future of the devastated city hangs in the balance as its residents struggle to return, rebuild and restart their lives even 20 years later.

for National Geographic’s‘Hurricane

accounts of survivors and immersivearchival footage, the

revealsHurricane Katrina as adisaster thatwas anything but natural

PROVIDED PHOTO

When Hurricane Katrina hit NewOrleans in 2005, Bobby Norton was acaptain at the NewOrleans Police Department. He recounts hisexperience during an interview

Katrina: Race Against Time.’With emotional

series

GOLD L events events events

MINE INTO A STUMBLING

Ownersayscreationoflegendary

drinksaved storiedFrenchQuarter bar. Soon,itwillsellits 1millionth Flaming Dr Pepper

BY MATTHEW HAINES Contributing writer

Atourist walking by theFrench Quarter intersection where Dauphine and St. Peter streets meet would have no reason to look twice at the two-story historic home sitting on the corner.New Orleans, after all,isfull of notable architecture.

If you live in this city, though,you know that the building at 701 Dauphine St. houses the Gold Mine Saloon, and that the parties thattake placebehind those historic walls on aweekend night areunparalleled Imagine 200 people stormingthe

dance ﬂoorto“Back that AzzUp” by Juvenile or “Hot in Herre” by Nelly while toasting to hazy memories with the bar’sinfamous, ﬁery signature drink.

“If we were out in the French Quarter,wewere 100% stopping at theGold Mine,” said Vanessa Levy, aschool administrator who started frequenting the part dive bar,part dance club regularly in the late’90s andearly 2000s, and still pops in to this day.

“Birthdays, wedding parties, or justaregular night out, there was never any debate: This is where we always ended our night,” she said.

David Brinks, owner of the Gold Mine Saloon in the French Quarter,prepares the bar’ssignature Flam amaretto and a flammable grain alcohol on top.

The good times have been fueled by music, good company and a unique Gold Mine drink: thelegendary Flaming Dr Pepper Shot

The drink has been so popular over the years that David Brinks, who co-owns the bar with his mother,said the bar is close to selling its 1millionth ﬂaming shot,atally that he said counts all the shots sold since he invented it back in 1986. Brinksisinviting all generationsofGold Mine fans to aspecial throwback partyfrom 1:30 p.m. Saturday until theearly hours of

Sunday.

In an area knownfor itsparties, The Gold Mine Saloon, above, stands out among the historicbuildings Inside, the music draws hundreds onto itsdance floor, left. ‘Thisiswhere we always ended our night,’saysone patron.

“Every couple of years, our regulars ask forone of our big parties to get everyone together,” Brinks said. “The summer can be kind of quiet in New Orleans, obviously, so we thought this was the perfect time.”

As of earlier this week, he said the bar is only 629 Flaming Dr Pepper Shots shy of 1million. If all goes according to plan, the milestone will be shattered on Saturday

ä See BAR, page 8

STAFF PHOTOSByDAVID GRUNFELD mingDrPepper drink,which starts with 6ounces of abasic pilsnerbeer in five mugs, French

events events events

Continued from page 7

Legendary shot

The Gold Mine is full of spectacle, both on and off the dance ﬂoor Head to the bar and you will always ﬁnd patrons — many glistening with sweat, hard-earned from hours of dancing — ordering an extraordinary number of shots

Brinks can’t believe how popular the drink has become. But he is thankful. He has seen a lot of bars come and go in the French Quarter.

Brinks grew up tap dancing on Bourbon Street to earn money to spend at his parents’ other business, an arcade. As a child, he watched his parents struggle to keep tourist-dependent businesses open, and he learned the power of focusing on a local clientele Later, Brinks raised his three children in the apartment above the bar, where he still lives today

“Trust me,” he said laughing, “I’m aware how much of this is possible because of this shot of ours!”

The bartender makes the drink by pouring approximately 6 ounces of a basic pilsner beer like Miller Light into (in this case) five mugs. Separately, five shot glasses are nearly filled with a French amaretto, leaving a little room at the top of the glass. The combination gives the drink its soda-pop flavor, though it contains no Dr Pepper

Next, the remainder of the glass is ﬁlled with a few drops of 190-proof grain alcohol such as Everclear The mugs of beer are lined up rim to rim, and the shots are balanced where the rims touch.

A lighter ignites the grain alcohol in each glass as the bartender knocks the ﬁrst shot into the beer When each shot tumbles into the mug, it hits the next shot glass, setting off a chain reaction like a set of dominos.

The guests cheer, grab their drinks, make a toast, down their shots and decide who is buying the next round.

“It’s a New Orleans ritual,” said Abby Lukov, who ﬁrst came to Gold Mine 20 years ago as a student at Loyola University Now she comes annually with her fellow Iris krewe members on the Friday before Mardi Gras. “It’s a fun, local rite of passage we all look forward to.”

History in the making

It is a rite of passage that Brinks said saved the bar from closing 39 years ago.

“Back in 1986, my parents were having a tough time keeping the bar aﬂoat, and I was trying to ﬁnd some creative way to get people in the door,” he said. “I saw a few successful bars had these extensive shot lists, kind of like how some bars have cocktail lists today. I thought I would give it a try at Gold Mine.”

Brinks set a goal for himself to create a list of 30 unique shots. He got to work, testing out drinks with fun names like “the B-52” or “Jet Fuel.”

After his 29th shot, Brinks was stuck. How would he end his list?

“That ﬁnal shot, thankfully, was the Flaming Dr Pepper,” he said. “I wanted to model a shot after my favorite soft drink. I didn’t know if anyone would like it, but it ended up taking off and saving the bar.”

The late 1980s was an extraordinary

time for Brinks and the Gold Mine. In addition to his newfound signature shot, he was trying anything he could to expand his list of regular customers.

“We tried everything to get ourselves out of debt,” he said with a laugh. “I hosted a beer party where we literally ﬁlled Gold Mine with a dumpster truck full of imported beach sand. People still talk about that party.”

The Wheel of Booze

“And we used to run this funny weekly special where all beers were free until the ﬁrst customer peed,” he said.

“Guys used to line up in front of the bathroom and try to plead with people to hold it a little longer so they could keep drinking for free.”

Similarly, the Wheel of Booze hangs on an archway Older guests recall spinning the wheel to determine what the drink special would be for the next 30 minutes.

This is a bar that is full of memories for countless New Orleanians such as Jacques Rodrigue, executive director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.

“I think my wife ofﬁcially fell in love with me here,” he said laughing. “They stamp you with a black light stamp when you enter Well, she got a little Flaming Dr Pepper on her face, and she used her stamped hand to wipe it off.”

“She had ink all over her face and was mortiﬁed,” said a smiling Rodrigue, “so I wiped ink over my face, too, to make her feel better I think she liked that.”

Brinks loves hearing a Gold Mine story Everyone has one, he said.

A few days earlier, a construction worker on a nearby project had come in to see the exact spot he met his wife. And, last month, an aunt walked in with her newly 21-year-old nephews. She wanted to introduce them to some of her favorite New Orleans memories, which included buying them their ﬁrst Flaming Dr Pepper shots.

“This place is all about locals and community,” Brinks said. “That’s how we built it. In 39 years, from the ﬁrst shot to the almost millionth, I’ve never seen anyone take a Flaming Dr Pepper Shot alone. You take it with your friends and your loved ones to celebrate and to create memories.”

Email Matthew Haines at haines. matthew@gmail.com.

STAFF PHOTOS By DAVID GRUNFELD

Arcade machines line the eclectic wall at the Gold Mine Saloon in the French Quarter

David Brinks, owner of the Gold Mine Saloon, drops a shot into beer, triggering a chain reaction that is part of the spectacle of the bar’s famous Flaming Dr Pepper drink.

music music music

Keith Spera’s column will return next week

The "Sound Check" live music outlook does not appear in this week's Lagniappe. It will return next week.

Justin Bieber reﬂects on another reset with ‘Swag’

BY MIKAEL WOOD Los Angeles Times (TNS)

Every half-decade or so, Justin Bieber sloughs off the callused skin of the pop superstar he became at age 15 to reveal the tender and quirky R&B singer he’s always been at heart. He did it in 2013 with his album “Journals,” then in 2020 with “Changes.”

Neither project did anything like the numbers of his shinier, smilier teenidol stuff, though each seemed like a crucial reset for a guy battling the pressures of early onset celebrity Now, at 31, he’s done it again with “Swag,” the surprise LP he dropped last week just hours after revealing it existed

Like those earlier albums, the 21-track “Swag” comes after a period of change and tumult for Bieber. In 2022, citing the need to focus on his health, he called off a world tour behind the previous year’s “Justice” album; in 2023, he parted ways with his longtime manager, Scooter Braun; last year, he and his wife, Hailey Baldwin, had their ﬁrst child together

Somewhere in there he also sold the rights to his music catalog for a reported $200 million. More recently, he’s been caught on video in a series of confrontations with paparazzi that started people talking about his well-being.

“It’s not clocking to you that I’m standing on business,” he tells a photographer in one clip that went viral last month — so viral, in fact, that Bieber excerpts it on “Swag,” which puts his luscious crooning over spacey, cooled-out grooves full of pillowy synths, twanging electric guitars and reverbed chillwave-’80s beats.

More improvisation?

What distinguishes “Swag” from “Journals” and “Changes” is that this album feels much rawer and more improvisatory than the earlier ones; the production throughout is murky and smeared, and the record includes a couple of demo-like tracks that suggest Bieber simply AirDropped unﬁnished voice memos from his phone to whomever was sitting behind the computer in the recording studio.

The idea that “Swag” puts across pretty sympathetically is that a messy life — let’s not forget that Bieber is also involved in a Christian organization that some have compared to a cult — yields messy music.

“When the money comes and the money goes/ Only thing that’s left is the love we hold,” he sings in the thrumming “Butterﬂies,” which samples another of those paparazzi run-ins.

“Walking Away,” a lightly psychedelic soul-rock jam, has him describing the challenges of his highly scrutinized marriage with an endearing frankness about his desire to wise up emotionally. Scrappy, idiosyncratic vibe

In un-polishing his music, the singer is also adapting to the scrappy and proudly idiosyncratic vibe of modern pop as found on records by the likes of SZA, Charli XCX, Lana Del Rey, even Drake — A-plus stars who’ve achieved domination in the streaming era not by honing a streamlined vision but by pur-

suing odd impulses and allowing the listener to feel like part of the journey.

One of Bieber’s key collaborators here is Mk.gee, the mysterious guitar virtuoso whose 2024 debut made him perhaps the most talked-about musician’s musician of the last few years. “Swag” feels shaped by the way Mk.gee thinks about how a great pop song should balance novelty and familiarity

Other members of the creative team Bieber gathered for loose jam sessions at his home in Los Angeles include Dijon, a frequent partner of Mk.gee’s, and Carter Lang, who’s worked closely with SZA.

Given Bieber’s attentive nature and his good taste — think of his relatively ahead-of-the-curve participation in remixes of Wizkid’s “Essence” and “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee — it probably ﬁgures that in 2025 he’d make a record that imagines Phil Collins sitting in with Scritti Politti.

Outlier status

Yet as a tinkerer luxuriating in rough edges, Bieber stands alone among his fellow White male pop stars (or at least the few of them who remain near the center of the conversation). Does Bieber relish his outlier status? In one of several very cringe interludes on “Swag,” the internet comedian Druski tells the singer that, although his skin is White, his soul is Black — to which Bieber, clearly operating without the guidance of a strong manager, responds, “Thank you.”

Still, you can’t argue with Druski’s assessment that he can “hear the soul” on this album.

Shaggy, disarming, often quite beautiful, the LP argues that swag is not something to be taught (as indeed Bieber once famously enlisted someone to do) — neither a skill nor a technique to be perfected and deployed. It’s a state of mind, bro. Is that clocking to you?

TNS PHOTO By VALERIE MACON/AFP VIA GETTy IMAGES

Justin Bieber last week dropped a surprise 21-track LP, ‘Swag.’

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PROVIDED PHOTOS

Adam Breaux, left, and Rad Jennings advanced to the finals of StageDoor Idol.

Performers tie in ﬁrst round of Stage Door Idol competition

BY VICTORANDREWS Staff writer

Atie on the ﬁrst night of preliminary competition July 15 has sent two male vocalists to theﬁnals of Stage Door Idol at The National WWII Museum.

Rad Jennings, singing“La Vieen Rose,” and Adam Breaux, singing “Old Black Magic,” were selected by thepanel of judges and the audience to move on to the Aug. 19 ﬁnals.

The annual summer series at the museum’sentertainmentvenue featuresfourpreliminary nightsof vocalists performing hits from the 1940s in period attire. In addition to the audience voting, apanel of local celebrity judgescritique theperformers and cast votes for thewinner.The ﬁnal two preliminary events are at 6p.m. Tuesday and Aug. 5at 945 Magazine St. in New Orleans. In addition to the title and trophy, the winner receives $2,000.Lloyd Meekins won the 2024 competition. The ﬁnalists will be accompanied by the museum’sVictory SixSwing Band.

Tickets start at $15. Visit nationalww2museum.org.

Melissa Campbell as Julie Jordan and Patrick Cragin as Billy Bigelowlead Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Carousel,’the final production in 2025 for Tulane University’s Summer Lyric Theatre.

Out AllOver’ ‘Bustin’

Fullorchestracomplements Summer Lyric’s production of ‘Carousel’ at Tulane

Andrews

Summer LyricTheatre wrapsits season with aRodgers andHammerstein classic, while an immersive experience takes place at JAMNOLA anda psychokinetic wunderkind sings her way to the River Parishes in ashow full of young talents.

“Carousel” was thesecondcollaboration for Rodgers andHammerstein, following the phenomenal success of “Oklahoma!” And though it may be somewhat lesser known, theshow,based on aplay originally set in Budapest, is astaple of theAmerican stage andincludes standards like “IfI Loved You,” “You’llNever Walk Alone” andthe “Carousel Waltz,” with afullorchestrainTulaneUniversity’sDixon Hall.

Summer LyricTheatre’sﬁnale is astory of love, loss andredemption set on theMaine coastline and features some headytopicsbut is intertwined with ascore that has

their jobs andﬁnding outshe is expecting, Billy helps in arobberygone-badand kills himself. After15 years“up there,” he’s givenone day to return andhemeetshis headstrong andsullendaughterLouise. Bigelowhas the chance to help the child andher mother andyields a somewhat happy ending. The show is crisscrossedwith additional storylinesthatspin the plotlike the titularcarousel.

Veterandirector andchoreographerDiane Lala helms the show with SummerLyric artistic directorC.LeonardRayon as the musical director andconductorfor the orchestra

attracted such voices as Renee Fleming, Audra McDonald, Jessie Mueller,Shirley Jones, JohnRaitt, Howard Keel, Gordon MacRae and Patrick Wilson.

Setatthe end of the 19th century, the show focuses on Billy Bigelow, acarnival barker, whocapturesthe heart of gentleyet determined mill worker Julie Jordan.After losing

Cast includesMelissa Campbell as Julie,PatrickCragin as Bigelow andEryn Short as Louise.Also appearing will be Melissa Marshall, BobEdesJr.,Ken Goode, LaraGrice, Grace McLean,Eli Strain, Knox VanHorn, Molly Beth Blanchard, AaronBrewer,Stevie Cavalier, Keith Claverie,Donavan Davis, Alyssa Dempsey,Peter Elliott, SavannahFouchi, Baily Ga-

PROVIDEDPHOTOSBy MICHAEL PALUMBO

Knox VanHornisEnoch Snowand Grace McLean is Carrie Pipperidge in Summer Lyric Theatre’s‘Carousel.’

Victor

stages stages stages

brish, Nathan Long, Garrin Mesa, Sasha Munchak, Ty Robbins, Gabriella Santalla, Jan Esthus Schluter, Luke Sirinides, Susan Barrett Smith, Titan Thomas, Kaetlyn Turkmany, Camile von Hoven, Matthew Welch and Juan Williams.

“Carousel” opens at 7:30 p.m. July 31 and evening shows run through Aug. 2; a 2 p.m. matinee is Aug. 3 at Dixon Hall, Newcomb Circle on the Uptown campus. Tickets start at $31.50. Visit liberalarts.tulane.edu.

‘Spectral ectoplasm’

New Orleans loves to punch through the barrier separating reality from other dimensions and one theatrical experience seems to be testing the limits as well.

“Six Frenchmen” is billed by codirector and co-writer Vaughn Trudeau as “a thrill ride where your body is the vehicle, steering you on your experience through a cultural art tour that very quickly becomes a ghost story.”

But “nothing scary though,” he said.

The show/experience/genre-blender is at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at JAMNOLA, 940 Frenchmen St. Trudeau said the history and stories “spill out through every crack in the sidewalks and potholes of New Orleans. Our team has tapped into one such portal with an exceptional amount of spectral ectoplasm.”

The adults-only audience moves through the space as a cast of 10 creates a reimagining of the city’s past, with the 1768 rebellion of French colonists against new Spanish rule serving as inspiration.

Stephen Grush and Jason Derek North are also co-directors. The cast includes Joey Algier, Jake Bartush, Vassiliki Ellwood, Owen Ever, Rashif Holmes, Matthew Martinez, Jason Derek North, Tara Squitiro, Glenn Young and Janet Young, who co-authored the script with Trudeau and Grush.

Tickets start at $25. Visit sixfrenchmen.ticketspice.com/six-frenchmen.

A peach of a show

Roald Dahl crafted the precocious “Matilda” as a 5-year-old with telekinesis in the 1988 novel, in keeping with his spate of off-kilter children’s classics like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “The Witches.”

After a turn as a hit movie in the late 1990s, the show made it to the stage in 2010 in England, then to Broadway and

now to the St. John Theatre in Reserve.

The story revolves around Matilda, whose home life is dreadful and her incredibly horrible school is run by the tyrannical Agatha Trunchbull. The only bright spots for the young heroine is her intellect, her loving teacher and maybe a bit of magic.

It all unfolds with fun and music that includes songs like “Miracle,” “Naughty” and “Revolting Children.”

Crafting the show is Lucas Harms.

The show has been double cast, with Eleanor Zaﬁrau and Tanae Gross as Matilda. Trunchbull is played by Trey Lowry, and teacher Miss Honey is played by Sadie Kelly and Megan Harms.

The show is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at 115 W. Fourth St. Tickets start at $20. Visit stjohntehatre. com.

This week

“CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 3; Marquette Theater, Loyola University, 6363 St. Charles Ave. The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company’s version of the classic set on a prosperous plantation in the Mississippi Delta populated by Big Daddy and Big Mama Pollitt. Trouble is brewing as the wonderfully wretched family (with sons Brick and Gooper and their wives Maggie and Mae) keep secrets and circle like vultures amid Bid Daddy’s birthday and “successful” medical tests. Tickets start at $40. twtheatrenola.com.

“A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday; New Orleans Shakespeare Festival, Lupin Theater, Dixon Hall Annex, 69 Newcomb Circle, Tulane University. Audiences have enjoyed the humor, mischief and midsummer mayhem of the work for more than 430 years, but director

Graham Burk promises a “du jour” telling of the classic tales that features an evening spent in the enchanted woods which are the home of mischievous fairies, rehearsing thespians and couples in love. Tickets start at $40. neworleansshakespeare.org.

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Playmakers Theater, 19106 Playmakers Road,

The kids get into the act at the St. John Theatre production of ‘Matilda the Musical’ running this weekend in Reserve

PROVIDED PHOTO

Covington. The Bottom brothers fasten on the idea of crafting a “musical” with singing and dancing as a way to combat Shakespeare’s popularity in 1590s England. What follows is hilarity and some “slightly risqué” scenes. Tickets start at $15. Visit playmakersinc.com.

Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@ theadvocate.com