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PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING ICONHULK HOGAN DIES AT 71

Trumpexempts plants in La.frompollution rule

STAFFFILE PHOTO

Cattle graze in a field nexttothe Denka Performance Elastomer chemical plant inLaPlace. Denka is one of 12 companies to receiveatwo-year exemption from complyingwitha rule aimed at cutting pollution and cancer risks.

Regulation wasaimed at reducing cancer risks

BY DAVIDJ.MITCHELL and JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writers

Twelve petrochemical companies in Louisiana have received two-year exemptionsfromPresidentDonald Trump from complying with a2024 ruleaimed at cutting pollution andcancer risksfor communities near industrial plants, a regulation they had labeled unnecessarily costly but which environmentalactivists hadlaudedaslongoverdue.

The new proclamation citestechnologicallimits, concerns overcostand national

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

It was about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday,the dashboard thermometer read 97 degrees, and the iPhone weather app was topped with an extreme heat warning notification.Yet Fred Sipp seemed content as he tended his garden in the milky sunshine on the Lafitte Greenway.The veins in his muscular arms shone like silver under aslightsweat. Sipp was in the spotlight back in mid-June when city agencies showed up at the hand-built shack he called home on theLafitteGreenway.The makeshift shelter had been declared afire and health hazard, and after several notifications,itwas claweddown by abackhoeand hauled away

ä See SIPP, page 8A

security impacts fromsupply chain disruptions to put off compliance until 2028 for major petrochemical companiesoperating in the Mississippi Riverregion and LakeCharles area. Some advocates said they see the new exemptionsasan interim movetodelay implementation while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency undoes or lessensthe requirementspermanently

Last year,environmental advocates hailed therule as amajor step in improving air quality for minorityand poor communities that often bear thebrunt

of industrial pollution, though industry groups opposed them as too costlyand unsupported by science.

Trump’sproclamation issued July 17 grants the two-year exemptions to Shell, BASF, Dow,Union Carbide, Denka, Sasol, Westlake and ahandful of other companies in Louisiana.

The proclamation doesn’talways make cleartowhich facilities it applies for thosecompanies.Italsodoesn’tapply to all 51 Louisiana operations affected by

ä See PLANTS, page

BYTYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Reports detail robberies that didn’t happen

Former Glenmora police chiefaccused of involvement in visa scheme

BY JOSEPH CRANNEY Staff writer

During the ﬁrst half of 2024, Tebo Onishea, then the police chief of Glenmora, in Rapides Parish, wrote up aseries of reports that documented ajarring number of armed robberiesfor his townof about 1,000.

Visitors hailing from as faras Charleston, South Carolina,or Flushing, New York, reported passing through town late at night, stopping to rest or change a tire, whenthey were accosted by masked or hooded men carrying guns, Onishea wrote in six reports fromincidents he said he handled himself

The mendemanded money and jewelry from victimswho “feared for their life,” he wrote. Somewere shoved to the ground and kicked, hisreports stated. The men then escaped into the dark woods. Federal prosecutors say Onishea made all of it up, and that he wasn’t the only one. The newly-obtainedGlenmora police reports provide the ﬁrst look at what federal prosecutors allege was abribes-for-visas schemeina 62-count indictment unsealed last week. The alleged immigration fraud conspiracy centers around Onishea and police chiefs in neighboring Oakdale and Forest Hill,

They still aren’tonthe samepage. Gov.Jeff Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple are offering sharply contrasting views over how and whyGeneral Motors Insurance entered the Louisianamarket —a continuation of abattle between the two Republicans during the regular legislative session over how best to hold downrising insurancerates and whois responsible if that doesn’t happen. Muchoftheir earlierdisputecentered on thepassage of House Bill 148, whichgives whoever is the insurance commissioner the right to reject excessive

ä See SPAR, page 6A

STAFF

PHOTO By DOUG MacCASH 82-year-old Fred Sipp says he’s ‘hanging in there’ six weeks after his hand-built shack wastorndownand he agreed to move into amodernapartment.

Landry Temple

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Iran says it’s ready for nuke talks with U.S TEHRAN, Iran Iran is ready to engage in talks on its nuclear program with the United States, but only if Washington takes meaningful steps to rebuild trust, a senior Iranian diplomat said Thursday, ahead of a key meeting with European ofﬁcials.

That meeting will be the ﬁrst since a ceaseﬁre was reached after a 12-day war waged by Israel against Iran in June, which also saw U.S. B-52 bombers strike nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic.

The discussions will bring Iranian ofﬁcials together with officials from Britain, France and Germany known as the E3 nations — and will include the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. A similar meeting had been held in the Turkish city in May In a social media post, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Thursday that for talks with the Unites States, Tehran would seek that “several key principles” be upheld.

These include “rebuilding Iran’s trust as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States,” he said, adding there could be no room “for hidden agendas such as military action, though Iran remains fully prepared for any scenario.”

Washington would have to respect and recognize Iran’s rights under the international agreement known as the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty, including the right to enrich uranium “in line with its legitimate needs” and the lifting of crippling economic sanctions on Iran.

Supreme Court blocks N.D. redistricting ruling

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked a lower-court ruling in a redistricting dispute in North Dakota that would gut a landmark federal civil rights law for millions of people.

The justices indicated in an unsigned order that they are likely to take up a federal appeals court ruling that would eliminate the most common path people and civil rights groups use to sue under a key provision of the 60-year-old Voting Rights Act.

The case could be argued as early as 2026 and decided by next summer Three conservative justices, Samuel Alito Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas, would have rejected the appeal.

The court also has a separate redistricting case over a second majority Black congressional district in Louisiana. The justices heard arguments in March, but took the rare step of calling for a new round of arguments in their term that begins in October. They have yet to spell out what issues they want discussed.

In the North Dakota case the Spirit Lake Tribe and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, with reservations 60 miles apart, argued that the state’s 2021 legislative map violated the act by diluting their voting strength and ability to elect their own candidates.

Ammo depot explosion in Syria kills at least 7 DAMASCUS, Syria An explosion at an ammunition depot in northern Syria on Thursday killed at least seven people and wounded scores, rescuers and monitors said.

There was no official statement as to what has caused the blast in Idlib province. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the explosion took place at an ammunition depot

The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, also said the blast in Idlib, in the town of Maarat Misrin, struck an ammunition depot.

“Our teams are working to recover the bodies of the dead, treat the injured, and extinguish ﬁres at the site of the massive explosion of an ammunition depot,” the White Helmets said in a statement.

The state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV referred to the explosion as involving “remnants from the war,” likely shorthand for arms and ammunition left over from Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war

The TV report did not give more details.

U.S. cuts short Gaza ceasefire talks

Envoy accuses Hamas of lacking ‘good faith’

BY MICHELLE L PRICE and JOSEPH KRAUSS Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The United States is cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks and bringing its negotiating team home from Qatar to discuss next steps after Hamas’ latest response “shows a lack of desire” to reach a truce, President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday.

“While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Wi tk of f said in a statement.

“We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott would not offer details on what “alternative options” the U.S. is considering to free hostages held by the militant group.

A breakthrough on a ceaseﬁre deal between Israel and Hamas following 21 months of war has eluded the Trump administration as humanitarian conditions worsen in Gaza. Thursday’s

move is the latest setback as Trump has tried to position himself as peacemaker and vowed to broker agreements in conflicts from Ukraine to Gaza.

When pressed on whether and how the U.S. would proceed on seeking a truce in Gaza, Pigott did not offer clarity and told reporters that “this is a very dynamic situation.”

He said there’s never been a question of the U.S. commitment to reaching a ceasefire and faulted Hamas.

The sides have held weeks of talks in Qatar reporting small signs of progress but no major breakthroughs.

Ofﬁcials have said a main sticking point is the redeployment of Israeli troops after any ceasefire takes place.

Witkoff said the U.S. is “resolute” in seeking an end

PHOTO PROVIDED By RUSSIAN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE

Debris is scattered Thursday after a Russian An-24 passenger plane crashed 9 miles south of Tynda in the Far Eastern Amur region of Russia.

Passenger plane crashes in Russia’s Far East, killing 48

By The Associated Press

MOSCOW A passenger plane crashed Thursday in Russia’s Far East, killing all 48 passengers and crew on board, ofﬁcials said.

The Angara Airlines ﬂight disappeared from radar and searchers later found the burning wreckage of the plane on a hillside south of its planned destination in Tynda, more than 4,350 miles east of Moscow, Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said.

Regional Gov Vasily Orlov said in a statement that all 48 people aboard were dead, and announced three days of mourning in the Amur region over what he called a “terrible tragedy.” It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash

Russia’s Interfax news agency said there were adverse weather conditions at the time of the crash, citing unnamed sources in the emergency services. Several Russian news outlets also reported that the aircraft was almost 50 years old, citing data taken from the plane’s tail number

The Soviet-designed twin turbo prop plane had initially departed from Khabarovsk be-

fore making its way to Blagoveshchensk on the Russian-Chinese border and onward to Tynda.

Images of the reported crash site circulated by Russian state media show debris scattered among dense forest, surrounded by plumes of smoke.

Orlov said rescuers had struggled to reach the site due to its remote location, 9 miles south of Tynda.

An earlier statement from the governor said that 49 people had been onboard the flight, but that number later was updated to 48. The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear

The transport prosecutor’s ofﬁce in the Far East said in an online statement that the plane was attempting to land for a second time when it lost contact with air trafﬁc control and disappeared from radars.

The authorities launched a probe on the charge of flight safety violations that resulted in multiple deaths, a standard procedure in aviation accidents.

Aviation incidents have been frequent in Russia, especially in recent years as international sanctions have squeezed the country’s aviation sector

to the conﬂict in Gaza and it was “a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way.”

The White House and representatives for Hamas had no immediate comment

Earlier Thursday, Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu’s ofﬁce recalled his negotiating team in light of Hamas’ response. In a brief statement, Netanyahu’s ofﬁce expressed appreciation for the efforts of Witkoff and other mediators Qatar and Egypt but gave no further details.

The deal under discussion was expected to include an initial 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. Aid supplies would be ramped up, and the two sides would hold negotia-

tions on a lasting ceaseﬁre.

The talks have been bogged down over competing demands for ending the war Hamas says it will only release all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and end to the war Israel says it will not agree to end the conﬂict until Hamas gives up power and disarms. The militant group says it is prepared to leave power but not surrender its weapons.

Hamas is believed to be holding the hostages in different locations, including tunnels, and says it has ordered its guards to kill them if Israeli forces approach.

Trump has made little secret of the fact he wants to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. For instance, he has promised to quickly negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, but little progress has been made.

On the war in Gaza, Trump met with Netanyahu at the White House this month, putting his weight behind a push to reach a deal. But despite a partnership further solidified by their countries’ joint strikes on Iran, the Israeli leader left Washington without any breakthrough.

The State Department had said earlier in the week that Witkoff would be traveling to the Middle East for talks, but U.S. ofﬁcials later said that Witkoff would instead travel to Europe. It was unclear if he held meetings there Thursday

The apparent derailing of the talks comes as Israel’s blockade and military offensive have driven Gaza to the brink of famine, according to aid groups. The U.N. food agency says nearly 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe, acute malnutrition, and the Gaza Health Ministry has reported a rise in hunger-related deaths.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would hold an emergency call Friday with ofﬁcials from Germany and France to discuss how to urgently get food to people in need and launch steps to build a lasting peace.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France would recognize Palestine as a state, saying, “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved.”

DOJ official meets with Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell

BY ERIC TUCKER, KATE PAYNE and COREY WILLIAMS Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Justice Department’s No. 2 ofﬁcial met Thursday with Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The meeting in Florida, which Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Tuesday he was working to arrange, is part of an ongoing Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following ﬁerce backlash from parts of President Donald Trump’s base over an earlier refusal to release additional records in the Epstein investigation.

“Ms. Maxwell answered every single question. She never stopped, she never invoked a privilege, she never declined to answer She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability,” attorney David Oscar Markus told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, where Maxwell met with Blanche.

In a social media post Tuesday Blanche said that Trump “has told us to release all credible evidence” and that if Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the Justice Department “will hear what she has to say.”

Markus said his team was “thankful” the deputy attorney general came to question Maxwell, calling it a “good day.”

Asked if his client could potentially receive a pardon or see her prison term reduced, Markus said: “There’s no promises yet. So she’s just answering questions for now.”

The House Committee on Oversight issued a subpoena Wednesday for Maxwell to testify before committee ofﬁcials in August Maxwell is serving a 20year sentence and is housed at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida. She was sentenced three years ago after being convicted of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls.

Ofﬁcials have said Epstein killed himself in his New York jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell’s links to famous people, including royals, presidents and billionaires.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department said it would not release more ﬁles related to the Epstein investigation, despite promises that claimed otherwise from At-

torney General Pam Bondi. The department also said an Epstein client list does not exist.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Bondi told Trump in May that his name was among high-proﬁle people mentioned in government ﬁles of Epstein, though the mention does not imply wrongdoing.

Trump has said that he once thought Epstein was a “terriﬁc guy” but that they later had a falling out.

Witkoff

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ARIEL SCHALIT

People attend a rally Thursday in Tel Aviv Israel, calling for the end of the war and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Trump, Powell bicker over Fed building renovations

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, JOSH BOAK and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON After months of criticizing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, President Donald Trump took the fight to the Fed’s front door on Thursday, publicly scorning the central bank chief over the ballooning costs of a long-planned building project. Powell pushed back, challenging the president’s latest price tag as incorrect.

celerate economic growth and reduce the government’s borrowing costs. Presidents rarely visit the Fed’s ofﬁces, though they are just a few blocks from the White House, an example of the central bank’s independence from day-to-day politics.

“We have to get the interest rates down,” Trump said later after a short tour, addressing the cameras this time without Powell.

“People are pretty much unable to buy houses.”

We aring hard hats and grim faces, standing in the middle of the construction project, Trump and Powell addressed the cameras. Trump charged that the renovation would cost $3.1 billion, much higher than the Fed’s $2.5 billion ﬁgure. Powell, standing next to him, shook his head.

The Fed chair, after looking at a paper presented to him by Trump, said the president was including the cost of renovating a separate Fed building, known as the Martin building, that was ﬁnished ﬁve years ago.

The visit represented a signiﬁcant ratcheting up of the president’s pressure on Powell to lower borrowing costs, which Trump says would ac-

Trump is likely to be disappointed next week, however, when Fed officials will meet to decide its next steps on interest rates Powell and other officials have signaled they will likely keep their key rate unchanged at about 4.3%. However, economists and Wall Street investors expect the Fed may start cutting rates in September

Trump did step back a bit from some of his recent threats to ﬁre Powell before his term ends May 26. Asked if the rising costs of the Fed’s renovation, estimated in 2022 to cost $1.9 billion, was a “ﬁreable offense,” Trump said, “I don’t want to put this in that category.

“To do that is a big move, and I don’t think that’s necessary,” Trump added. “I just want to see one thing happen,

A worker stands in the window of the 1951 Constitution Avenue

on Thursday as renovations continue on the Federal Reserve in Washington.

very simple: Interest rates come down.”

The Fed allowed reporters to tour the building before the visit by Trump, who, in his real estate career, has bragged about his lavish spending on architectural accoutrements that gave a Versailles-like golden ﬂair to his buildings.

On Thursday, reporters wound through cement mixers, front loaders, and plastic pipes as they got a close-up view of the active construction site that encompasses the Fed’s historic headquarters, known as the Marriner S. Eccles building, and a

second building across 20th Street in Washington.

Fed staff, who declined to be identiﬁed, said that greater security requirements, rising materials costs and tariffs, and the need to comply with historic preservation measures drove up the cost of the project, which was budgeted in 2022 at $1.9 billion.

The staff pointed out new blast-resistant windows and seismic walls that were needed to comply with modern building codes and security standards set out by the Department of Homeland Security The Fed has

to build with the highest level of security in mind, Fed staff said, including something called “progressive collapse,” in which only parts of the building would fall if hit with explosives.

Sensitivity to the president’s pending visit among Fed staff was high during the tour Reporters were ushered into a small room outside the Fed’s boardroom, where 19 officials meet eight times a year to decide whether to change short-term interest rates.

The room, which will have a security booth, is ovalshaped, and someone had written “oval office” on plywood walls. The Fed staff downplayed the inscription as a joke. When reporters returned to the room later it had been painted over During the tour, Fed staff also showed the elevator shaft that congressional critics have said is for “VIPs” only Powell has since said it will be open to all Fed staff. The renovation includes an 18-inch extension so the elevator reaches a slightly elevated area that is now accessible only by steps or a ramp. A planning document that said the elevator will only be for the Fed’s seven governors was erroneous and later amended, staff said. Plans for the renovation were first approved by the Fed’s governing board in 2017. The project then wended its way through several local commissions for approval, at least one of which the Commission for Fine Arts, included several Trump appointees The commission pushed for more marble in the second of the two buildings the Fed is renovating, known as 1951 Constitution Avenue, specifically in a mostly glass extension that some of Trump’s appointees derided as a “glass box.” Fed staff also said tariffs and inflationary increases in building material prices drove up costs.

Trump signs bill to cancel foreign aid, public broadcasting funding

BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump signed a bill Thursday canceling about $9 billion that had been approved for public broadcasting and foreign aid as Republicans look to lock in cuts to programs targeted by the White House’s Department of Government Efﬁciency.

The bulk of the spending being clawed back is for foreign assistance programs. About $1.1 billion was destined for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which finances NPR and PBS, though most of that money is distributed to more than 1,500 local public radio and television stations around the country The White House had billed the legislation as a test case for Congress and said more such rescission packages would be on the way Some Republicans were uncomfortable with the cuts, yet supported them anyway, wary of crossing Trump or upsetting his agenda. Democrats unanimously rejected the cuts but were powerless to stop them. The White House says the

public media system is politically biased and an unnecessary expense. Conservatives particularly directed their ire at NPR and PBS. Lawmakers with large rural constituencies voiced grave concern about what the cuts to public broadcasting could mean for some local public stations in their state. Some stations will have to close, they warned.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, RAlaska, said the stations are “not just your news — it is your tsunami alert, it is your landslide alert, it is your volcano alert.”

On the foreign aid cuts, the White House argued that they would incentivize other nations to step up and do more to respond to humanitarian crises and that the rescissions best served the American taxpayer Democrats argued that the Republican administration’s animus toward foreign aid programs would hurt America’s standing in the world and create a vacuum for China to ﬁll. They also expressed concerns that the cuts would have deadly consequences for many of the world’s most impoverished people.

BY ILLIA NOVIKOV and HANNA ARHIROVA Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday submitted a new bill that would restore the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies in an effort to defuse tensions following his approval earlier this week of a controversial law that weakened their autonomy The previous bill was seen as undermining the agencies’ independence and sparked a public outcry and protests, the ﬁrst major demonstrations since the war began, as well as sharp criticism from the European Union.

Zelenskyy said parliament would review the new bill, which “guarantees real strengthening of Ukraine’s law enforcement system, the independence of anticorruption bodies, and reliable protection of the legal system from any Russian interference.”

Ukraine’s two main anti-graft agencies the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized AntiCorruption Prosecutor’s Office quickly welcomed Zelenskyy’s new proposal, saying it restores all their procedural powers and guarantees their independence.

The agencies said they helped draft the new bill, and urged lawmakers to

adopt it “as soon as possible” to prevent threats to ongoing criminal cases.

The bill would replace the contentious law passed by lawmakers and approved by Zelenskyy earlier this week. Critics said it stripped Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies of their independence by granting the government more oversight of their work.

Zelenskyy initially argued the law was needed to speed up investigations, ensure more convictions and remove Russian meddling.

After Thursday’s U-turn, Zelenskyy said the new bill reverses the earlier changes and also introduced additional measures aimed at “combating Russian influence,” including mandatory polygraph tests for law enforcement ofﬁcers.

Trump Powell

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANDREW HARNI

building

Zelenskyy

REPORTS

along with an Oakdale marshal and abusinessman in town, Chandrakant “La La” Patel. Federalprosecutors in the Western District of Louisianaallege that Patel bribed thefour lawmen to draft fake police reports, which could then be used to help foreign nationals—most, if notall,from India —obtain special visas.

The “majority” of them weren’t living in Louisiana, prosecutors said. All the reports penned by Onishea identiﬁed the victims as being from out of state.

The so-called Uvisas, created in 2000, are largelydesigned to grant temporary status to immigrants who are victims of violent crimes in the U.S.

At an arraignment inAlexandriaonWednesday,Patel pleaded notguilty to charges that include aconspiracy,bribery,fraudand illegalmoney transactions, said his attorney,David Rozas. Patel wasordered detaineduntil trial, Rozassaid, decliningfurther comment.

Onishea pleadednot guilty to conspiracy and fraud charges last week. On Wednesday,his attorney didn’treturn amessageseeking comment on detailsofthe police reports that Onishea wrote.

The three other lawmen —OakdalePolice Chief Chad Doyle,Oakdale MarshalMichael Slaneyand formerForest Hill Chief Glynn Dixon —alsohavepleadednot guilty.Dixon resignedFriday;the status of the other two is apparentlyunchanged.

SPAR

rate increases without backing up the decisionwith hard data.

Landry pushed HB148 through the Legislature, over Temple’sobjections, saying thatifrates keep rising, the public should then blame the insurancecommissioner

The latest disagreement began Wednesday when Landry touted General Motors’ move as proof hisapproach is working.

“This announcement is atestament to thework accomplished during the legislative session to bring about real insurance reform,” Landry posted on socialmedia. “Today marks anew milestone in affordable auto coverage. This is just thebeginningofamore consumer friendly insurance market.”

Not so fast, countered Temple, providing atimeline showing that General Motors made its decision before the Legislature passed pro-insurance industry bills favored by the governor andthe insurance commissioner in June. On top of that, Temple said those measures don’tgofar enough in making insurance companies want to investin Louisiana and keep down rates

“I look forward to working with the Legislature to continue identifying the areasof ourlegal system that make us an outlier and addressing those distinctionstoalign our legal system with best

Prosecutorsallege Patel offered police $5,000 for each visaseeker included in their reports. The newly released records show Onishea listedasmanyasﬁve victims per incident, in reports that describe carloads of people being held up at gunpoint. That would havebeen extremely unusual for the area, according to recordsand interviews.

state practices, thereby enacting themeaningful legal reformsthat our citizensdeserve,” Temple said. Ifwe want to see change in our market, it starts withmeaningful change in ourlegal environment.”

Landry then respondedto Temple

“General Motors is expanding to Louisiana,” Landry posted. “Period. End of question.”

But he went on. “It’sunfortunate thatthe DepartmentofInsurance feelsthe needtodistort the facts that bring our citizensrelief,”Landry added. “Collectively weshould celebrate goodnews! TheLegislature and Iworked hard to get us to this point, and we will continuetoopenthe door to any insurance companies that want to do business in ourstate.”

Landry gave no credit to Templefor his role in passingthe pro-industry measures.

On Thursday,Temple sought to lower political temperatures.

He said he was simply tryingtoset therecord straight the day before, adding, “I want to emphasize that I have no interestinentering into apublicdisagreement” with Landry That was not the approach taken by Sen. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, who saw Landry veto hispro-insurance industry bill in June and then accuse himofpushinglegislationtobeneﬁt his pocketbook. Seabaugh, an attorney,representsinsurance companiesthathave beensued.

“Jeff’s post was clearly

In Oakdale, armed robbery was virtually nonexistent, according to thelatest city crime data reported to thestate in 2022 and 2023.

Police in Oakdale and Forest Hill declined areporter’srequest for armed robbery reports drafted by thechiefs of thosedepartments

TheTimes-Picayune obtained Onishea’sreportsthrough apublic records request

untrue,” Seabaugh said, referring to Wednesday’s post.“It’s hard not to call it alie. Jeff was clearly trying to spin something into somethingit’snot.Thankfully,Tim corrected therecord.”

State Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge,who chairs the Senate Insurance Committee, wanted no part of the Landry-Temple dustup, saying only: “I’m gladGM Insurance has decided to come to Louisiana. We need morecompetition to drive rates down.”

Rep.Gabe Firment, R-Pollock,who chairs the House Insurance Committee, also lauded GM’sdecision, adding: “Weneed to be worrying less aboutwho is going to getthe credit andmore about how this is going to impact thepeopleofLouisiana.”

While Temple said he didn’twant to continue the quarrelwith Landry on ThursdayoverGMInsurance, he showed on apodcast last week that he will still decrythe passage of HB148.

“It introduced the notion that the reason rates are high in Louisiana today is because the commissioner doesn’thave the authoritytohold down excessive rates,” he said on the“State of Freedom” podcast. “That is furtherfrom the truth. I have denied rates more than 20 times. This introduces a subjectivitythat Ican wave amagic wandand reduce rates.”

Temple thenreferred to a news storywhich reported that16ofthe 17 spending projects killed by Landry

They show Onishea listed 22 victims in his sixreports. They ranged from 25 to 46 years old and hailed from Lithonia, Georgia; Frankfort Indiana; Louisville,Kentucky; several towns in Tennessee; andFlushing, aneighborhood in Queens, N.Y.

Nineteen of the 22 had the surname Patel,whichisamongthe mostcommon on the planet, and particularlyinEast Asia. Alawyer

through the line-item veto were sponsored by Republicans whovoted against HB148.

“I came intothis ofﬁce, not to be political but to bring my experiencedbackground andknowledge to try and shape Louisianainto amore competitive marketplace,” Temple said. “This has introduced asticking point in our marketplace that we did not have to have.”

Jim Donelon, the previous insurancecommissioner saidhebelieves Temple has his factsright on when General Motors Insurance came

for Patel declined to say whether he had any family ties to the listed victims, as did aspokesperson for the U.S. attorney.The other three others were named Prajapati, according to records.

Onishea’sreports portray atown under siege.

In aJune 17 report last year,he wrote that he cameupon agroup standing on the side of the highway“in apanic.” They told him they’d pulled over to ﬁx aﬂat.

Just before midnight, three men approached with “what appeared to be asilver gun and pointed it at all the subject(s) and demanded that they give them moneyand any valuables (they) had on them,” Onishea wrote.

“I patrolledthe area of interest looking forthe suspects. Iconducted several stop(s) on people walking in the area and could not establish probable cause to pinpoint (their) involvement. Case will be continuedtobee(sic)investigated at this time.”

In areport10daysearlier,Onisheawrote thathewas on patrol near aGlenmora park around 2:30 a.m.when he spotted avehicle with four men standing outside who looked “inapanicand scared.”

The group of travelers had stoppedto“stretch out” and“get someblood moving,” before two men with guns shoved them to the ground, “pointing the gun at them and kicked them in the torso area,” according to Onishea’sreport, dated June 7, 2024.

“After receiving the statements, Iconducted asearch of the area and the woods beside the park but no suspects (were) found at the time,” he wrote.

to Louisiana, noting that it usually takes months from when acompany submits its initial review until it can begin operating. The larger issue,though, is that thefight between Landry andTemple harms Louisiana, Donelon said.

“It sends amessage to the market nationwide that we’re not going to get our act together to do real reform, unlike whatwas done in Florida with aRepublican governorand Legislature when they addressed their crisis,” Donelon said.

Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-

NewOrleans, said during the legislative session that Temple sides too often with insurance companies. On Thursday,hesaidthe fact that GM Insurance decidedtocome to Louisianabefore the legislative session began “is probably indicativethatinsurance companiesare making big proﬁtsinLouisiana.Those savings arenot being passed on to consumers. We’renot seeing lower rates.” Email TylerBridges at tbridges@theadvocate. com.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Cars line the downtown area along East 6thAvenue in Oakdale last week.

PLANTS

the Biden-era pollution requirements, even though some companies that didn’tget exemptions in Louisiana received them in other states, including Phillips 66 and Ineos.

State regulators said theyknew some companies had sought the exemptions —the Trump administration had previously sought requests from companiesin March —and have been monitoring their status.

The Louisiana Department of EnvironmentalQuality’ssecretary promised to enforce the rules on companies that have notreceived theexemptions “withnochanges in how the agency oversees their operations.”

“I appreciatethe administration carefully reviewing the Louisiana facilitiesmentioned andensuring that companies here are following proper regulations,” DEQ Secretary CourtneyBurdette said in a statement.

‘Start to live again’

Sharon Lavigne, who runs the local community group RISE St James, which advocated forthe regulatory changesknown as the HON rule, alleged the exemptions would lead to more deathfor people in communities in the Mississippi River industrial corridor Lavigne had attended theceremony in Washington to introducethe new rule.

“When we signed that HON rule, we had hope that our community wouldbeabletostartto live again,” she said. “Why would they take away this HONrule? It doesn’tmake sense for us to go backwards instead of forward.”

One Louisiana industry group said, however,that the exemptions simply offered companies time to comply without forcing shut-

downs, supplydisruptions and job impacts.

The rules, they said, poseddifficulttechnical challengesand didn’tofferrealistic timelines to accomplish them when“there are simply notenoughcontractors or equipment currently available to facilitate this nationwide manufacturing effort.”

“And whileour membersare making stridestomeet theserequirements, time is needed for facilities to implement solutions safely and effectively without jeopardizing publicsafety,” said DavidCresson, president of the Louisiana Chemical Association.

Twonational industry trade groups hadasked the White House for ablanketexemption forall their members, documents show, which Trump hasn’tgranted. But some companies also filed their own individual exemptions, including Dow Chemical and its subsidiary Union Carbide Corp.,inTexas andLouisiana.

At DowinPlaquemine, for example,the company told theEPA that it would takeup to three years to design and build new controls for small emissions of ethylene oxide from wastewater at its Glycol II unit.

In aMarch 31 exemption request,Dow ofﬁcials said the unit makes ethylene oxide,whichis used as amedical sterilizer but alsoanimportant additive in U.S. government jet fueland aircraft deicing ﬂuids. The company said it would have to shut the unit to meet the current deadline in the second halfof2026.

In astatement, Dow ofﬁcials said the new exemptions for Dow and Union Carbide, which they termed deadline “extensions,” are “appropriate and necessary to address technical challenges and to ensure the continued safe andefﬁcientoperation of these facilities.”

“Safetyand integrity are at the coreofbothcompanies’ operations, andthey remain dedicated

Earth has got to have the heat.” Otherwise, the whole place would be “likethe North Pole.”

It wasprobablyfor the best. Sipp, 82, agreed to moveinto amodern apartment provided by the city’s Ofﬁce of HomelessServices and Strategy.Now,hesaid, “I got akitchen,got abathroom, Igot aliving room,a placetokeepmytrash, and abig, wide porch, and some neighbors who are pretty nice to me.”

He said he feels safer

In away,Sipp was like a castaway who’d been rescued fromadesert island where he’d learned to endure and make alife for himself. But in his case, he gets to visit the island anytime he’d like.

City authoritiesallowed him to keep the patch of land where he’sgrownvegetables since before the area was converted from a railroad corridor to arecreational park in 2015. The plot of land is within walking distance of his new home.

Sure, Sipp said, his new home is air-conditioned. But that’snot going to keep him from his plants, even on a brutal afternoon in late July

“Out here, Iknow how to take this heat,” he said. After all, he grew up on afarm in sultry Mississippi

“There’snothing you can do about it,” he said. “The

Sipp seemed very zen about thetropical weather. He seemed very zen about almost everything.True, his shackhad been torn down, but “it gave me more room to plantthatstuff,” he said, meaning the grid ofokra, turnip andtomatoplants he putinwhere his salvagedwood dwellingoncestood.

Sipp demonstratedthat you

to reducing ethylene oxide emissions to levels that meet or exceed federal andstate regulations,” said Glynna Mayers, aDow spokeswoman.

Officials with Denka Performance Elastomer,which ceased operations in Maydue to market conditions, escalating costs and theburden of complying with new regulations, welcomed the exemption but said they were continuing their shutdown process “Wecontinue to safelytransition the facility to amothball statuswhile exploring all available options for the future of thesite, including asale of the facility,” ofﬁcials said in astatement.

Biden’sthen-EPAadministrator, Michael Regan, had formally proposed the rules alittlemore than twoyearsago in front of the then still-operating Denka complex near LaPlace. At the time, theBidenadministrationwas making apush to rein in pollutionfor fence-line communities and raise the proﬁle of environmental justicequestions thathave swirledfor years around those areas with alargely minority makeup.

Leadinguptothat effort, over the past 15 years, EPAscientists hadlearned that ethylene oxide andchloroprene,anemission tied to neoprene production at Denka, were far morepotentthanearlier understood.Ethylene oxide has been classified as acarcinogen and chloroprene as likely carcinogenic.

The newrequirements Regan adopted would cut combined emissions of more than 100 toxic chemicals, including ethylene oxide and chloroprene, by 6,200 tons per year.Those changesalonewere expected to reduce long-term cancer risk from toxic emissions by 96% for fence-line communities, theEPA said last year

The rule would have also cut a different class of emissionsthat contributetosmog, knownas

don’tneed to separate the seedsfrom thepods when planting okra. Youjust lay the dried pods down in ashallow furrow and the seeds will sprout just ﬁne.When okra pods are too big and tough to eat,they can be planted, or “you boil them andsuckthe juiceout of them,” he said.

“The juiceismilk.”

Not many people know that, he said. Not manypeople these days maybe, but extractingnutritionfrom an inedible vegetable seems

volatile organic compounds, by 23,000 tons peryear,generating an estimated $767 millioninsavings through 2038 fromreduced healthimpacts due to short- and long-term exposure, EPAdocuments say Coming into office this year after hammering the former administration over what he called economically disruptive regulatory overreach, Trump, through hisEPA head, has already made sweeping moves. He has aimed to eliminate the consideration of the environmental justice in regulatory decisionsand taken steps to cut EPA’sscience and environmental justice arms. Along with the push to roll back regulations, his administration hopes to spur what it calls the ”Great American Comeback.”

‘Buyingenoughtime’

Nicholas Bryner,anLSU environmental law professor,said Trumphas the power under the Clean Air Act to issuethe two-year exemptions. But arguing that the technology doesn’texist andthat U.S. national security interests are implicated is a“pretty tough standard” to meet, he said. He saidhe expected the exemptions to face lawsuits.

Adam Kron, supervising senior attorney with environmental group Earthjustice, said he sees the exemptions as an interim step in eventually doing away with the regulations, pointing to similar moves related to coal-ﬁred power plants.

“It’sbasically the same goal, which is,you know,buying enough time to roll back these rules,”Kron said.

The Biden EPAestimated the HON rule’ssuite of control improvements and fence-line monitoring requirements would have costindustries $1.8 billion through 2038, regulatoryfilings say. The EPAargued that wouldn’tpose abig impact to company bottom

like thekind of knowledge that goes back to tougher times. No questionSipp could out-survive most of us.

Asked if he felt he was better off before or after thedisruption of his life last month,hepaused before saying, “It’sabig question right there.”

LOUISIANA PLANTS RECEIVING

TWO-YEAR BREAK ON NEW AIR

CONTROLS

n BASF Corp. —Geismar and North Geismarfacilities.

n CITGO Petroleum Corp. —refinery in LakeCharles.

n Denka Performance Elastomer LLC —closedneoprene production plant in LaPlace

n DuPont Specialty ProductsUSA LLC —Pontchartrain chemicals sitein LaPlace

n The DowChemicalCo. —Glycol II unit in Plaquemine.

n Formosa Plastics Corp. Louisiana operations.

n Rubicon LLC —Geismar chemical complex.

n Sasol Chemicals LLC —chemical complexinLakeCharles.

n ShellChemicalLP— Geismar chemicalplant.

n Total EnergiesPetrochemicals & Refining USA —Polystyreneplant in Carville

n Union Carbide Corp./TheDow Chemical Co.— Hahnville complex. n WestlakeVinylsLLC/Westlake Corp. —Fivefacilities, at least some of which are in the LakeCharlesarea Unclear if Geismaroperation affected.

lines or supply chains.

The agency estimated in regulatory ﬁlings then that the changes would have boosted the cost of key products from those industries by one-tenth to one-half of apercent and caused generally minimalsupply disruptions due to costs representing less than 1% of the multinationals’ annual sales.

DavidJ.Mitchellcan be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

Instead of discussing his own situation, Sipp diverted into alamentabout violent crime and how it seems to rise in the summertime, and how it violates God’sexpectations. Though New Orleansrecentlytouted some of itslowest murder rates in nearly ﬁve decades, Sipp said with ﬁnality: “We’ve got no business having no kind of crime going up or down.” Asked how he felt about thewaveofpublic interest in his well-being that rose last month, he said to “thank people for being concerned about me.You know, that’s the waygood people do.”

Officials: Dozens of kids,adultsinGazastarved

BY WAFAA SHURAFA, SARAH EL DEEB and LEE KEATH Associated Press

DEIRAL-BALAH,Gaza Strip Five

starving children at aGaza City hospital were wasting away,and nothing the doctors tried was working. The basic treatments for malnourishment that could save them had run out under Israel’sblockade. Thealternatives were ineffective. One after another,the babies and toddlers died over four days In greaternumbersthan ever, children hollowedup by hunger are overwhelming the Patient’sFriends Hospital, the main emergency center for malnourished kids in northern Gaza.

The deaths last weekend also marked achange: the firstseen by the centerin children who had no preexisting conditions.Symptoms are getting worse, with children too weak to cry or move, said Dr.Rana Soboh, a nutritionist. In past months, most improved, despite supply shortages, but now patients stay longer and don’t get better,she said.

“There are no words in the face of the disaster we are in. Kids are dying before the world There is no uglier and more horrible phase than this,” said Soboh, who works with the U.S.-based aid organization Medglobal, which supportsthe hospital

This month, the hunger thathas been building among Gaza’smore than 2million Palestinians passed atipping point into acceleratingdeath, aidworkers and health staff say.Not onlychildren— usually themostvulnerable— arefallingvictim under Israel’s blockade since March, but also adults. In the past three weeks, at least 48 peopledied of causes related to malnutrition,including 28 adults and 20 children,the Gaza Health Ministry saidThursday. That’supfrom 10 children who died in theﬁve previous months of 2025, according to the ministry.

TheU.N.reports similar numbers. The World Health

Organization saidWednesday it has documented 21 children under 5who died of causes related to malnutritionin2025. TheU.N. humanitarian ofﬁce, OCHA, said Thursday at least 13 children’sdeaths were reported in July,withthe number growing daily “Humans arewell developed to live withcaloric deﬁcits, but only so far,” said Dr John Kahler,Medglobal’scofounder and apediatrician who volunteered twice in Gazaduring the war.“It appears thatwehave crossed thelinewhere asegment of thepopulation has reached their limits”

“This is the beginning of a population death spiral,” he

said.

The U.N.’sWorld Food Program says nearly 100,000 women andchildren urgently need treatment for malnutrition.Medical workers say they have run outofmany key treatments andmedicines Israel, which began letting in only atrickle of supplies the past two months, has blamed Hamas for disrupting food distribution. The U.N. countersthat Israel, which hasrestricted aid sincethe war began, simply has to allow it to enter freely

The Patient’sFriends Hospitaloverﬂows withparents bringing in scrawny children —200 to 300 cases aday,said Soboh.

On Wednesday,staff laid toddlers on adesk to measure thecircumference of their upper arms —the quickest waytodetermine malnutrition. In the summer heat, mothers huddled around specialists, asking for supplements. Babies with emaciated limbs screamed in agony.Otherslay totally silent.

The worst casesare kept for up to two weeks at the center’s 10-bedward, which this monthhas hadupto19 childrenata time.Itusually treats only children under 5, but began taking some as old as 11 or 12 because of worsening starvation among older children.

Hunger gnaws at staff as well. Sobohsaidtwo nurses put themselves on IV drips to keep themselvesgoing. “We are exhausted. We are dead in the shape of the living,” she said.

The five children died in succession last Thursday, Saturday and Sunday Fourofthem, aged 4 months to 2years, hadsuffered gastric arrest: Their stomachsshut down. The hospitalnolonger hadthe right nutrition supplies for them.

The ﬁfth —4½-year-old Siwar— had alarmingly low potassium levels, agrowing problem. She was so weak she could barely move her body.Medicine forpotassium deﬁciencyhas largely

run out across Gaza, Soboh said. Thecenter hadonlya low-concentration potassium drip. The little girl didn’trespond. After three days in the ICU, she died Saturday “Ifwedon’thave potassium (supplies),wewill see more deaths,” she said. In the Shati Refugee Camp in Gaza city,2-year-old Yazan AbuFul’smother,Naima, pulled off his clothes to show his emaciated body.His vertebrae, ribs and shoulderblades jutted out. His buttocks were shriveled. His face was expressionless. Hisfather Mahmoud, who wasalso skinny,said they took him to thehospital several times. Doctors just say they should feed him. “I tell the doctors, ‘You see for yourself, thereisnofood,’” he said, Naima,who is pregnant, prepared ameal:Two eggplants they bought for $9 cut up and boiled in water. They will stretch out the pot of eggplant-water —not even areal soup —tolast them a few days, they said. Several of Yazan’sfour older siblings also looked thin and drained. Holding him in his lap, Mahmoud Abu Ful lifted Yazan’slimp arms. The boy lies on theﬂoor mostofthe day, too weak to play with his brothers. “If we leave him, he might just slip away from between our ﬁngers, and we can’tdoanything.”

Federalregulatorsapprove Paramount’s$8B deal with Skydance

BY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS and MICHAEL LIEDTKE Associated Press

NEW YORK Federal regulators on Thursday approved Paramount’s$8billion merger with Skydance, clearing the way to close adeal that combined Hollywood glitz with political intrigue. The stamp of approval from the Federal CommunicationsCommissioncomes after monthsofturmoil revolving around President Donald Trump’slegal battle with “60 Minutes,” the

crown jewelofParamountowned broadcast network CBS. With the specter of the Trump administration potentially blocking the hardfought deal with Skydance, Paramount earlier this monthagreedtopay a$16 millionsettlement with the president. Critics of the settlement lambasted itasaveiled bribe to appease Trump, amid rising alarm over editorial independence overall. Furtheroutrage also emerged afterCBS saidit was cancelingStephen Colbert’s “Late Show”just days afterthe co-

median sharply criticized the parent company’ssettlement on air. Paramount cited ﬁnancial reasons, but big names both within and outside the company have questioned those motives In astatement accompanying the deal’sapproval, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr hailedthe merger as an opportunity to bring morebalance to “once-storied” CBS.

“Americans no longer trust the legacy national news mediatoreportfully,accurately,and fairly.Itistimefor a change,” Carrsaid.

While seeking approval,

Court rulesagainst Calif. lawrequiring background checks to buyammo

By The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Avoter-

backedCalifornia law requiring background checks forpeoplewho buybullets is unconstitutional, afederal appeals court ruledThursday in ablow to the state’s efforts to combat gun violence. In upholding a2024 ruling by alower court, the 9th Circuit Court of Appealsfound that the state law violates the SecondAmendment. Voters passed the law in 2016 andit took effect in 2019 Manystates, including California, make people pass abackground check before they can buy agun. Cali-

fornia went astepfurther by requiring abackground check, which costs either $1 or $19 depending on eligibility,every timesomeone buys buy bullets. Last year,U.S. District Judge RogerBenitez decided thatthe law was unconstitutional because if people can’t buy bullets, theycan’t use their guns for self-defense.

The9th Circuit agreed. Writing for two of the three judgesonthe appellate panel, JudgeSandra Segal Ikuta said the state law “meaningfully constrains”the constitutionalright to keep arms by forcing gun ownersto get recheckedbefore each

purchase of bullets.

“The righttokeep and bear arms incorporates the right to operate them, which requiresammunition,” the judge wrote.

Democratic Gov.Gavin Newsom, who supported the background checks, decried thecourt’sdecision.

“Strong gun laws save lives —and today’sdecision is aslapinthe face to the progress California has made in recent years to keep its communities safer from gun violence,” Newsom said in astatement.

“Californians voted to require background checks on ammunitionand their voices should matter.”

Skydance management assured regulators that it will carefully watch forany perceived biased at CBSNews andhire an ombudsman to reviewany complaintsabout fairness. In aTuesdayﬁling, the company’sgeneral counsel maintained that New Paramount will embody “a diversity of viewpoints acrossthe political and ideological spectrum” —and also

noted that it plans to take a “comprehensive review” of CBS to make “any necessary changes.”

The FCCapprovedthe merger by a2-1 vote, and the regulator who opposed it expressed disdain for how it all cametogether

“After months of cowardly capitulationtothis administration,Paramount ﬁnally gotwhatitwanted,” FCC

Commissioner Anna Gomez said in astatement. “Unfortunately,itisthe American public who will ultimately pay the price for its actions.” Gomezwas appointed by formerPresident Joe Biden. Paramount and Skydance have said they wanted to seal the deal by this September,and now appear to be on apath to makeithappen by then, if not sooner

BUSINESS

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

European Central Bank holds off on rate cuts

FRANKFURT Germany The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged Thursday, hitting pause on rate cuts amid uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff moves and high-stakes trade talks marked by threats of drastically higher import taxes on European goods.

Bank President Christine Lagarde said the current economic environment and the potential impact of higher tariffs was “exceptionally uncertain.” Higher tariffs could slow investment, growth and inﬂation — or they could be inﬂationary by disrupting existing supply chains for parts and raw materials.

“The sooner this trade uncertainty is resolved the less uncertainty we will have to deal with,” she said. “And that would be welcome by any economic actors, including ourselves.”

“You could argue that we are on hold, we are in this wait and watch situation.”

The central bank for the 20 countries that use the euro is facing the same dilemma that has led the U.S. Federal Reserve to hold off on cutting rates further: It’s hard to tell how high the tariffs will end up after fraught negotiations, and what the ultimate impact will be on the economy

Fed Chair Jerome Powell has been harshly criticized by the Trump for delaying rate cuts. For his part, Powell has said the Fed wants to see the impact of the duties on prices and the economy before making any rate changes.

The ECB has already cut rates eight times since June of last year

Jobless applications fall for sixth week

WASHINGTON The number of Americans ﬁling for jobless aid fell for the sixth straight week, hitting the lowest level since mid-April.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending July 19 fell by 4,000 to 217,000. That’s fewer than the 227,000 new applications analysts were expecting.

Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as representative of layoffs

Earlier in July, the Labor Department reported that U.S employers added 147,000 jobs in June, adding to evidence that the American labor market continues to show resilience despite uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s economic policies. The job gains were much more than expected and the unemployment rate ticked down 4.1% from 4.2% in May Chocolate makers hike prices, blame costs

Here’s the good news: The Hershey Co. says it’s not raising prices for Halloween candy this year

But here’s the bad news: Hershey and other chocolate makers are continuing to hike prices, saying a volatile cocoa market gives them no choice.

Hershey, the maker of Reese’s, Whoppers, barkThins and other chocolate candies, said Wednesday that it will be raising U.S. retail prices later this fall. In some cases, pack sizes will get smaller; in others, list prices will rise. The average price increase will be in the low double-digit percentages.

“This change is not related to tariffs or trade policies. It reflects the reality of rising ingredient costs including the unprecedented cost of cocoa,” Hershey said in a statement Hershey stressed that the price increases won’t apply to products for Halloween.

The average unit price of a chocolate bar in the U.S. in July 2021 was $2.43, according to Nielsen IQ, a market research company As of last week, it was $3.45, a 41% increase.

That’s hurting customer demand. Nielsen said unit sales of chocolate fell 1.2% in the year ending July 12.

UnitedHealth says it is under investigation

BY TOM MURPHY AP health writer

UnitedHealth Group says it is cooperating with federal criminal and civil investigations involving its market-leading Medicare business.

The health care giant said Thursday that it had contacted the Department of Justice after reviewing media reports about investigations into certain elements of its business.

“(UnitedHealth) has a long record of responsible conduct and

effective compliance,” the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission ﬁling.

Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal said federal ofﬁcials had launched a civil fraud investigation into how the company records diagnoses that lead to extra payments for its Medicare Advantage plans. Those are privately run versions of the government’s Medicare coverage program mostly for people ages 65 and over

The company’s UnitedHealthcare business covers more than 8 million people as the nation’s

largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. The business has been under pressure in recent quarters due to rising care use and rate cuts.

The Journal said in February, citing anonymous sources, that the probe focused on billing practices in recent months.

The paper has since said that a federal criminal health care-fraud unit was investigating how the company used doctors and nurses to gather diagnoses that bolster payments.

UnitedHealth said in the ﬁling

Thursday that it “has full confidence in its practices and is committed to working cooperatively with the Department throughout this process.”

UnitedHealth Group Inc. runs one of the nation’s largest health insurance and pharmacy beneﬁts management businesses. It also operates a growing Optum business that provides care and technology support.

UnitedHealth raked in more than $400 billion in revenue last year to come in third in the Fortune 500 list of biggest U.S. companies.

How data centers could affect U.S. energy use

BY ALEXA ST JOHN Associated Press

President Donald Trump’s plan to boost artiﬁcial intelligence and build data centers across the U.S. could speed up a building boom that was already expected to strain the nation’s ability to power it.

The White House released the “AI Action Plan” Wednesday, vowing to expedite permitting for construction of energy-intensive data centers as it looks to make the country a leader in a business that tech companies and others are pouring billions of dollars into.

The plan says to combat “radical climate dogma,” a number of restrictions — including clean air and water laws — could be lifted, aligning with Trump’s “American energy dominance” agenda and his efforts to undercut clean energy

Massive amounts of electricity are needed to support the complex servers, equipment and more for AI. Electricity demand from data centers worldwide is set to more than double by 2030, to slightly more than the entire electricity consumption of Japan today the International Energy Agency said earlier this year

In many cases, that electricity may come from burning coal or natural gas. These fossil fuels emit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide and methane. This in turn is tied to extreme weather events that are becoming more severe, frequent and costly

The data centers used to fuel AI also need a tremendous amount of water to keep cool.

That means they can strain water sources in areas that may have little to spare.

What Big Tech is saying

Typically, tech giants, up-and-comers and other developers try to keep an existing power plant online to meet demand, experts say and most existing power plants in the U.S are still producing electricity using fossil fuels — most often natural gas.

In certain areas of the U.S., a combination of renewables and energy storage in the form of batteries are coming online.

But tapping into nuclear power is especially of interest as a way to reduce data center-induced emissions while still meeting demand and staying competitive.

Amazon said last month it would spend $20 billion on data center sites in Pennsylvania, including one alongside a nuclear power plant. The investment allows Amazon to plug

data center needs entirely with renewables by 2030. It’s necessary to use fewer fossil fuels, he said.

Experts say it’s possible for developers, investors and the tech industry to decarbonize

However though industry can do a lot with clean energy, the emerging demands are so big that it can’t be clean energy alone, said University of Pennsylvania engineering professor Benjamin Lee.

More generative AI, ChatGPT and massive data centers means “relying on wind and solar alone with batteries becomes really, really expensive,” Lee added, hence the attention on natural gas, but also nuclear What about electricity bills?

Regardless of what powers AI, the simple law of supply and demand makes it all but certain that costs for consumers will rise.

right into the plant, a scrutinized but faster approach for the company’s development timeline.

Meta recently signed a deal to secure nuclear power to meet its computing needs. Microsoft plans to buy energy from the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, and Google previously signed a contract to purchase it from multiple small modular reactors in the works.

What’s at stake

Data centers are often built where electricity is cheapest, and often, that’s not from renewables. And sometimes data centers are cited as a reason to extend the lives of traditional, fossil-fuel-burning power plants. But just this week, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on the world’s largest tech players to fuel their

New data center projects might require both new energy generation and existing generation. Developers might also invest in batteries or other infrastructure like transmission lines.

All of this costs money, and it needs to be paid for from somewhere.

“In a lot of places in the U.S., they are seeing that rates are going up because utilities are making these moves to try to plan,” said Amanda Smith, a senior scientist at research organization Project Drawdown.

“They’re planning transmission infrastructure, new power plants for the growth and the load that’s projected, which is what we want them to do,” she added. “But we as ratepayers will wind up seeing rates go up to cover that.”

Alphabet, AI stocks rise on Wall Street, neutralize Tesla’s steep drop S&P 500, Nasdaq hit all-time highs

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK Wall Street inched to more records on Thursday as gains for Alphabet and artificialintelligence stocks helped make up for Tesla‘s steep tumble. The S&P 500 added 0.1% to its all-time high set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 316 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2% to its own record Alphabet climbed 1% after the company behind Google and YouTube delivered a fatter profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It’s leaning more into artificial-intelligence technology

and said it’s increasing its budget to spend on AI chips and other investments this year by $10 billion to $85 billion. That helped push up other stocks in the AI industry, including a 1.7% rise for Nvidia. The chip company was the strongest single force lifting the S&P 500 because it’s the largest on Wall Street in terms of value. But an 8.2% drop for Tesla kept the market in check Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle company reported results for the spring that were roughly in line with or above analysts’ expectations, and Musk is highlighting Tesla’s moves into AI and robotaxis.

The focus, though, remains on how Musk’s foray into politics is turning off potential customers, and he said several rough quarters may be ahead as “we’re in this

weird transition period where we’ll lose a lot of incentives in the U.S.” Stocks have broadly been rallying for weeks on hopes that President Donald Trump will reach trade deals with other countries that will lower his stiff proposed tariffs. The record-setting gains have been so strong that concern is rising about how expensive stock prices have become. That in turn puts pressure on companies to deliver solid growth in proﬁts to justify their gains. Chipotle Mexican Grill also helped weigh on the market despite delivering a profit for the spring that topped analysts’ expectations. The restaurant chain’s growth in revenue was short of expectations, and its stock fell 13.3%. IBM dropped 7.6% even though it likewise reported a stronger profit than expected Analysts

pointed to slowing growth in its software business, among other things underneath the surface. American Airlines lost 9.6% despite reporting a stronger proﬁt than expected. The company said it expects to report a loss for the summer quarter It also gave a forecast for full-year results that had a wide range: between a loss of 20 cents per share and a proﬁt of 80 cents per share, depending on how the economy performs.

Reactions in the stock market have generally been stronger than usual when companies beat or miss their profit targets by a wide margin, according to Julian Emanuel at Evercore.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following the latest signals that the U.S. economy seems to be holding up ﬁne.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JENNy KANE

An Amazon Web Services data center is seen on Aug. 22, 2024, in Boardman, Ore.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order after speaking during an AI summit Wednesday at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington.

Manwas there afterbeing deported by U.S.

BY SUDHIN THANAWALA and GARYFIELDS Associated Press

WASHINGTON Amigrant from Venezuela deported by the Trump administration to El Salvador has taken the first step toward suing the U.S. government,saying he was wrongly sent to anotorious prison in the Central American country wherehe wasbeatenbyguardsand kept from contacting his family or an attorney Neiyerver Adrián Leon Rengel, 27, has ﬁled aclaim for $1.3 million with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,his attorneys with Democracy Defenders Fundsaid Thursday.Rengel is among more than 250 migrants from Venezuelasent to El Salvador in March, out of the jurisdiction of U.S courts, after President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 against members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Immigration agents took

Rengel into custody on March 13 in the parking lot of hisapartmentinIrving, Texas, wrongly claiming his tattoos reflected an affiliationwith Tren de Aragua, accordingto his claim. He hadentered theU.S.in 2023. He workedasa barber and was scheduled to appear before an immigrationjudge in 2028

Homeland Security said in an email that Rengelwas a“confirmedassociate” of the Tren de Aragua gang though it did notspecifyhow it reached that conclusion who had entered the country illegally.Itcalledhis claims a fake“sob story.” “President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow foreign terrorist enemiesto operateinour country and endanger Americans,” the emailsaid. It added, “We hear far too much about gang membersand criminals’ false sob stories and not enough about their victims.”

At El Salvador’sTerrorism Conﬁnement Center,orCECOT, Rengel said guards hit himwith ﬁstsand batonsand, on one occasion, viciously beat himafter taking him to an area of the prison without cameras

Migrants deported months agobythe United States to El Salvador

administration’simmigration crackdown arriveonJuly 18 at Simon Bolívar International AirportinMaiquetia, Venezuela.

Rengelwas sent to Venezuela earlier this monthaspart of aprisoner exchange deal His attorneys say he is living withhis mother and is “terriﬁed” to return to theUnited States.

Theyare seeking compensationfor emotional and psychological injuries

Afederal judge ruled in

June that the Trumpadministration must give some of the migrants sent to the prison in El Salvador achance to challenge their deportations.

U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg said the people hadn’tbeen able to formally contest the removals or allegations that they were members of Tren de Aragua. He ordered the administration to work toward giving them away to file those challenges. The judge wrote that “significantevidence” had surfacedindicatingthatmany of the migrants were notconnected to the gang “and thus were languishing in aforeign prison on ﬂimsy, even frivo-

lous, accusations.” At ahearing on Thursday, an attorney for the Trump administration told Boasberg it would not immediatelybring the migrants sent from El SalvadortoVenezuelaaspart of the prisoner exchange back to the U.S. Trump ofﬁcials planned to awaitthe outcome of other court cases before deciding whether to allowthe migrants to return,U.S.Department of Justice attorney Tiberius Davis said. Boasberg had ordered the administration to turn planes carrying theaccused gang members around, but the demandwas ignored.Rengel’s attorneys say he was on one of those planes. The judge hasfound probablecause that theadministration committedcontempt of court.

Boasberg saidThursday he plannedtoexpand his contemptprobetoincludea recent whistleblower complaint thatclaims atop Justice Department ofﬁcial suggestedthe Trump administration might have to ignore court orders as it prepared to deport Venezuelanmigrants it accused of being gang members.

Jazz legend ChuckMangionediesat84

BY MARKKENNEDY Associated Press

NEWYORK Two-time

BY KATHY MCCORMACK and MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has paused the use of ahandgun following the death of aSecurity Forces airman at abase in Wyoming.

The use of the M18 pistol, avariant of another gun that has been the target of lawsuits over unintentional discharge allegations, was paused Monday “until further notice”following the “tragic incident” Sunday at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, the command said in astatement. Security Forces airmen at all command bases “will conduct 100% inspections of the M18 handguns to identify any immediatesafety concerns,” it said.

The airman killed was Brayden Lovan, 21, of the 90th Security Forces Squadron, 90th Missile Wing at the base,wherehe began his ﬁrst active-duty assignmentinNovember 2023,baseofficials said Thursday Details of what happened are not being released pending an investigation, said Lt. Raegan Lockhart, public affairs officerfor the 90th Missile Wing. How long the investigation might take isn’t known, Lockhart added.

“Wemourn the loss of avalued defender,teammate and friend. Our focus remains on supporting the family and team during this incrediblydifficult

time,” Col. JeremySheppard, 90thSecurity Forces Groupcommander, saidin astatement. The gunismadebyNew Hampshire-based manufacturer SigSauer,which is defending itselfagainst multiple lawsuits alleging that itspopular related gun, the P320 pistol, can go off without the trigger being pulled. Sig Sauer denies the claims, sayingthe P320 is safe and the problem is user error.It has prevailed in some cases.

“Our hearts are with the service members and families impacted by therecent reported event at the F.E. Warren AirForce Base,” Sig Sauer said Wednesday in astatementposted on Facebook.

The P320 was adopted by the U.S. military as M17and M18 pistols,and the M18 is now the ofﬁcial sidearm of all branches of theU.S. military,Sig Sauer says on its website. In 2019, SigSauer announced it haddelivered its 100,000th M17 and M18s to the U.S. military The pauseissofar limited to the Global Strike Command, which includes more than 33,700 airmen and civilians. Therestof the Air Force and theother armed services have not announced anyorders to avoid usingthe pistols.

TheArmy values its forces’ safety and would continue to “monitor the situation,” it said in astatement that did not mention any plan to halt using the ﬁrearm.

Grammy Award-winning musician Chuck Mangione, whoachievedinternational success in 1977 with his jazz-flavored single “Feels So Good”and laterbecame avoice actor on theanimated TV comedy “King of the Hill,”has died. He was 84.

Mangione died at his home in Rochester,New York,on Tuesday in hissleep, said his attorney,Peter S. Matorin of Beldock Levine &Hoffman LLP.The musician had been retired since 2015.

Perhaps his biggest hit —“FeelsSoGood” —isa staple on most smooth-jazz radio stations andhas been calledone of themost recognized melodies since “Michelle” by theBeatles. It hit No. 4onthe Billboard Hot 100 and the top of theBillboard adultcontemporary chart.

“Itidentifiedfor alot of people asong with an artist, even though Ihad apretty strong base audiencethat kept us out there touring as often as we wanted to, that song just toppedout there and took it to awhole other level,” Mangione toldthe PittsburghPost-Gazette in 2008.

He followed thathit with “Give It All YouGot,” commissioned for the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, andheperformed it at the closing ceremony Mangione, aflugelhorn and trumpet player and jazz composer,released more than30albums during a career in which he built a following after recording several albums,doing all the writing.

Hewon hisfirst Grammy Award in 1977 for his album “Bellavia,” which was namedinhonor of his mother.Another album, “Friends and Love,” was also Grammy-nominated, and he earned abest original score GoldenGlobe nomination and asecond Grammy for themovie “The Children of Sanchez.”

Mangione introduced himself to anew audience when he appeared on the ﬁrst several seasons of “King of the Hill,” appearing as acommercial spokesperson for Mega Lo Mart,where “shopping feels so good.”

ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILEPHOTO Two-time Grammy Award-winning musicianChuckMangione, knownfor hisjazz-flavored single‘Feels So Good,’has died at 84.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILEPHOTO By ARIANA CUBILLOS

under the Trump

Trumporder blocks sale of ‘woke’ AI to government

Measure encourages tech giants to censor theirchatbots

BY MATT O’BRIEN AP technologywriter

Tech companies looking to sell their artiﬁcialintelligence technology to the federal governmentmust now contend with anew regulatory hurdle: Prove their chatbots aren’t“woke.”

President Donald Trump’s sweeping new plan to counter China in achieving “global dominance” in AI promises to cut regulations and cement American values into the AI tools increasingly used at work and home. But one of Trump’sthree AI executive orders signed Wednesday —the one “preventing woke AI in the federal government” —targets the behavior of AI systems.

Several leading providers of the AI language models targeted by the order— products like Google’sGemini and Microsoft’sCopilot —have so far been silent on Trump’santi-woke directive, which still faces astudyperiod before it gets into ofﬁcial procurement rules. While the tech industry has largely welcomed Trump’s broader AI plans, the antiwoke order forces the industry to leap into aculture war battle —ortry theirbestto quietly avoid it.

“It will have massive inﬂuence in the industry right now,” especially as tech companies are already capitulating to other Trump administration directives, said civil rights advocate Alejandra Montoya-Boyer,senior director of The Leadership Conference’sCenter for Civil Rights and Technology

The move also pushes the tech industrytoabandon years of work to combatthe pervasive forms of racial and gender bias that studies and real-world examples have shown to be baked into AI systems.

“First off, there’snosuch thing as wokeAI,”MontoyaBoyersaid. “There’sAItechnology that discriminates and then there’sAItechnology that actually works for allpeople.”

Molding the behaviors of AI large language modelsis challenging because of the way they’re built and the inherent randomness of what they produce. They’ve been trained on most of what’s on the internet, reﬂecting the biases of all the peoplewho’ve posted commentary, edited aWikipedia entry or shared imagesonline

“Thiswill be extremely difﬁcult for tech companies to complywith,”said former Biden official Jim Secreto, who was deputy chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Commerce GinaRaimondo, an architect of many of Biden’s AI industry initiatives. “Largelanguage modelsreflectthe data they’re trained on, including all the contradictionsand biases in humanlanguage.”

Tech workers also have a say inhow they’re designed, fromthe globalworkforceof annotators who check their responses to the Silicon Valley engineers who craft the instructionsfor how they interactwith people

Trump’sorder targets those“top-down” efforts at tech companies to incorporate what it calls the “destructive” ideology of diversity,equity and inclusion into AI models,including “concepts like critical race theory,transgenderism, unconsciousbias, intersectionality,and systemic racism.”

ForSecreto,the order resembles China’splaybook in “using the power of the state to stamp outwhat it seesas disfavoredviewpoints.”

The methodisdifferent, with China relying ondirect regulation throughits Cyberspace Administration, which auditsAImodels, approves thembeforethey are deployed andrequires them to filter out banned content such as the bloody Tiananmen Squarecrackdown onpro-democracy

protestsin1989.

Trump’sorderdoesn’tcall for anysuchﬁlters, relying on tech companies to instead showthat theirtechnology is ideologically neutral by disclosing some of the internal policies that guidethe chatbots.

“The Trumpadministration is taking asofter but still coercive route by using federal contracts as leverage,” Secreto said. “That creates strong pressure for companiestoself-censor in ordertostay in the government’s good graces and keep the money ﬂowing.”

The order’s call for “truthseeking” AI echoes thelanguage of the president’s onetimeally and adviser Elon Musk, who frequently uses that phrase as themissionfor theGrok chatbot made by his company xAI.

But whether Grok or its rivals will be favored under the new policy remains to be seen.

Despite a“rhetorically pointed” introduction laying out the Trumpadministration’sproblems withDEI,

Ammo depotexplosion in Syria killsatleast 7and injuresscores

By The Associated Press

DAMASCUS,Syria An explosionatanammunition depot in northern Syriaon Thursday killed at least seven people and wounded scores, rescuers and monitors said Therewas no ofﬁcial statementastowhat has caused the blast in Idlib province.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, awar monitor,said the explosion took place at an ammunition depot.

The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, also said the blast in Idlib, in thetownofMaarat Misrin, struck an ammunition depot.

theactuallanguageofthe order’sdirectives shouldn’t be hard for tech companies to comply with, said Neil Chilson, aRepublican former chieftechnologist for the Federal Trade Commission.

“It doesn’t even prohibit an ideological agenda,” just thatany intentional methods to guide the model be disclosed, said Chilson, who is nowhead of AI policy at the nonprofit Abundance Institute. “Which is pretty light touch, frankly.”

Chilson disputes comparisons to China’s crudermodes of AI censorship.

“Thereisnothing in this order that says that companieshavetoproduce or cannotproduce certaintypesof output,” he said.“It says developers shallnot intentionally encodepartisan or ideological judgments.That’s the exact opposite of theChinese requirement.”

So far,tech companies that have praisedTrump’s broader AI plans haven’tsaid much about the order

OpenAI on Thursday said it is awaiting more detailed

guidance but believes its worktomake ChatGPT objective alreadymakes the technology consistent with whatthe order requires.

Microsoft,amajor supplier of email, cloud computing andother online services to thefederal government, declined to comment Thursday Musk’sxAI,through spokesperson Katie Miller aformer Trumpofficial, pointedtoacompany commentpraising Trump’sAI announcements as a“positive step” but didn’trespond to afollow-up question about how Grok would be affected.

Anthropic,Google, Meta, and Palantir didn’timmediately respond to emailed requests for comment Thursday AI tools are already widely usedinthe federalgovernment, including AI platformssuch as ChatGPT and Google Gemini forinternal agency support to summarize the key points of a lengthy report.

Theideas behindthe order have bubbled up for more than ayear on the podcasts

andsocial media feeds of Trump’s topAIadviser David Sacks and other inﬂuential Silicon Valley venture capitalists, many of whom endorsedTrump’spresidentialcampaign last year

Much of their ire centered on Google’sFebruary 2024 release of an AI image-generating tool that produced historically inaccurate images before thetech giant took down and fixed the product.

Google laterexplained that theerrors —including one user’srequest forAmerican Founding Fathers that generated portraits of Black, Asianand Native American men —were the result of an overcompensation for technology that, left to its own devices, wasprone to favoringlighter-skinned people because of pervasive bias in the systems.

Trump allies allegedthat Google engineers were hard-coding their own social agenda into the product, andmadeitaprioritytodo something about it.

“It’s100% intentional,” said prominent venture capitalist and Trumpadviser Marc Andreessen on apodcast in December.“That’s howyou getBlack George WashingtonatGoogle There’soverride in the system that basically says, literally,‘Everybody hasto be Black.’ Boom. There’s squads, large sets of people, at these companies who determine thesepoliciesand write themdown andencode them into these systems.” Sacks credited aconservative strategist who has fought DEI initiatives at colleges and workplaces for helping to draftthe order

“When they asked me how to deﬁne ‘woke,’ Isaid there’sonly one personto call: Chris Rufo.And nowit’s law:the federal government will not be buying WokeAI,” Sacks wrote on X. Rufo responded that, in addition to helping deﬁne the phrase, he also helped “identify DEI ideologies within the operating constitutions of these systems.”

BY JOHN SEEWER and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press

The state-run newsagency,SANA, reported that along with the seven killed, 157 people were injured, citing health ofﬁcials.

The state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV referred to theexplosion as involving “remnants from the war,” likely shorthand forarmsand ammunition left over from Syria’s nearly14-year civil war.The TV report didnot give more details.

Syrian Minister of Emergencyand DisasterManagement Raed al-Saleh said in a post on Xthat teams were transportingthe wounded anddead despite “continued recurring explosions in the area, which are hampering response efforts.”

“Our teams are working to recover thebodies of the dead, treat theinjured, and extinguishfires at thesite of the massive explosion of an ammunitiondepot,” theWhiteHelmets said in a statement.

Syriaisstruggling to recover since the war ended with theousterofformer President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December.During the war which killed nearly half a millionpeople anddisplaced half the country’sprewar population of 23 million, Idlib was an opposition-held enclave.

The country’scurrent interimPresident Ahmad alSharaaformerlyled Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an insurgent group basedinIdlib that spearheadedthe offensive that unseated Assad.

LORAIN, Ohio Aman with ahigh-powered rifle and a vehicle filled withweapons ambushed two police officers eating lunch in their car on aremote street, wounding both alongwith another officer who heard their call for help, authoritiessaid Thursday.

The shooter was killed afterexchanging gunfire with the Lorainpoliceofficers Wednesdayafternoon.The Lorain County Coroner’sOffice identified thegunman as 28-year-old Michael Joseph ParkerofLorain, acity west of Cleveland on Lake Erie.

Twoofthe officers suffered multiple gunshot woundsand were in critical

condition after being ﬂown to atrauma center,according to astatement issued by the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police. The other ofﬁcer was shot in the hand, according to Lorain’sacting police chief.

It’snot clear why the gunman opened ﬁre on the ofﬁcers.

Authorities say theybelieve Parker acted alone when he used therifle to shoot the ofﬁcers —Phillip Wagner, 35; Peter Gale,51; and Brent Payne, 47.

Just before the ambush, Wagner and Gale parked to eat pizza on adead-end street in aremote, undeveloped area overlooking a river and asteel mill. Payne was shot after responding to theircall, acting Police Chief Michael Failing said.

“Officers returned fire during the exchange, which ultimately resulted in Parker sustaining afatal injury,” according to statement from police in nearby Elyria, who are handling the investigation. Investigators found multiplerifles, handguns and loaded magazines in and around Parker’svehicle, along with asignificant amount of improvised explosive materials that were removed andsafelydetonated, Elyria police said. Parker lived with his parents in atidy,two-story brick home along the lake. Neighbors said Thursday they often saw him walking the family dog to the nearby beach, but he rarely engagedinconversation, and never saw him with friends.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByJULIADEMAREE NIKHINSON

PresidentDonald Trumpspeaks Wednesdayduring an AI summitatthe Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington.

N.O. to vote on city attorney reform

Proposal mandates neutrality in council-mayor legal fights

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

New Orleans voters this fall will decide whether to change the job description of the city attorney, a mayoral appointee who directs the city’s legal affairs, after the City Council agreed Thursday to put the question on the November ballot.

The measure follows years of strife between the council and City Attorney Donesia Turner’s ofﬁce, though council members said the change was recommended by an outside group of civic leaders and isn’t directed at Turner specifically

“It’s really a systemic reform,” said David Marcello, a Tulane University law professor and mem-

ber of the City Service Coalition, a volunteer group that suggested the charter amendment among a plethora of other recommendations to improve city government.

“The city attorney has tended to respond to the mayors who have appointed them. We’re not talking about a particular city attorney We’re talking about occupants of that ofﬁce over the last 70 years,”

Marcello said.

The proposition on the Nov 15 ballot aims to ensure the city attorney’s independence while representing the city as a whole, as opposed to one branch or individual. If voters approve, the city attorney would be forbidden from taking sides in council-mayor legal conﬂicts, and would also have some protection against ﬁring by the mayor

The mayor would continue to appoint the city attorney, but, if they

In fine form

With ﬁshing rod in hand, a boy moves across the top of a New Orleans ﬂoodwall along the Orleans Canal, his posture mirroring the dynamic runners sculpted below. The bas-relief by Enrique Alférez is a hallmark of the city’s WPA-era public art legacy

Slidell mayoral candidates square off at packed forum

Sparks fly over police retirement funding

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

The two candidates for Slidell mayor squared off publicly Wednesday night before a packed audience, mostly sticking to familiar campaign themes but taking the gloves off over one issue.

The closest Bill Borchert and Randy Fandal came to sparring during the 45-minute Chamber of Commerce forum was when moderator Trey Berning asked about police retirement funding. The question stems from a testy

Slidell City Council meeting in May, when the council adopted a $65 million annual city budget and an ordinance in which the city would put up more police retirement funding. Police Department employees contribute 10% of their salaries into their retirement systems. The ordinance said the city would cover 3% of that.

Borchert, a former at-large City Council member who became mayor in January when Greg Cromer resigned, urged the council to vote down the ordinance, noting that police were already receiving raises via a new sales tax voters approved in 2024. Fandal,

are fired by the mayor, the charter amendment allows the sevenmember council to overturn the firing with five votes. That would complement another new council power — adopted by voters in a 2022 charter amendment to ratify the mayor’s choice of city attorney, along with other department heads.

Council member Freddie King was absent from the 6-0 vote.

N.O. jury acquits Xavier student

Driver faced charges in fatal vehicle collision

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

An Orleans Parish jury acquitted a Xavier University student over a vehicle collision on Fat Tuesday last year that killed Kerry “Fatman” Hunter, a Grammy-winning drummer as he walked across North Claiborne Avenue in the 7th Ward. The six-member jury deliberated for less than an hour before reaching a not-guilty verdict about 1 p.m. in the case against 23-year-old Jeremy Lindsey Lindsey was 21 and a senior guard on the Xavier basketball team when he plowed into Hunter, 53, near the onramp to Interstate 10 at North Claiborne Avenue and Pauger Street just after midnight on Feb. 13, 2024.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

PHOTO By MATTHEW DOBBINS

Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal and Mayor Bill Borchert greet each other during their race’s first political forum in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium on Wednesday.

Two Bogalusa employees accused of illegal work

Repairs allegedly performed at home of elected official’s mother

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

A Franklinton grand jury on Thursday indicted two Bogalusa city employees for malfeasance in office related to illegal home repairs allegedly performed for an elected official’s mother The indictment does not name the official who benefited from the free work, identifying that person only

as “Elected Ofﬁcial A.”

Prosecutors allege that James Morris, 58, told a city crew at the direction of Elected Ofﬁcial A to make a repair at the home of the ofﬁcial’s mother on April 11, 2023. Morris is listed as the assistant director of public works on the city’s website.

The indictment says the repair was the responsibility of the homeowner, not the city, and Morris’ actions led to the theft of “taxpayer funded services and materials” in excess of $1,000.

Prosecutors also accuse James Patterson, 64, listed on the website as the director of public works, of creating a “falsiﬁed paper trail” to cover up the work performed at

the house in order to protect the elected official. Patterson created an email trail saying Elected Official A’s mother’s plumbing was damaged by city workers. The paper trail includes a backdated work order, the indictment states. Morris did not make attempts to correct Patterson’s assertions, the indictment said. It says Morris disguised the fact that there was an “improper benefit” from the work to the elected official “and/or” the elected official’s family The indictments come more than six months after Bogalusa Mayor Tyrin Truong, who has served as the city’s mayor since January 2023, was arrested on counts that

stemmed from a drug trafﬁcking investigation No formal charges have been ﬁled against Truong, and he has denied the alleged wrongdoing.

In a phone interview, Sims said Thursday’s indictment “stems from a long-term investigation from multiple agencies that is still active and ongoing.”

While Sims declined to comment on the identity of Elected Ofﬁcial A, a claim that city employees worked on a property owned by Truong’s mother surfaced at a Bogalusa City Council meeting in June 2023.

At that meeting, Wendy Williams Dupont, who runs a housing nonproﬁt, told the council that city employees had done work on a proper-

Campaign targets roots of low reading levels

Getting kids in school consistently is top goal

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

As Louisiana tries to boost literacy rates by improving how schools teach reading, a coalition of New Orleans groups is trying to raise awareness of other factors — like attendance and preschool that can have a profound effect on students’ success in reading.

Crescent City Schools, a New Orleans charter school operator, found that when they analyzed the data not a single student whose attendance rate was below 85%, meaning they missed at least 20 cumulative days of school, was reading on grade level

Crescent City Schools CEO Kate Mehok said schools need outside help to tackle absenteeism so students make it into the classroom to learn to read.

“I can run as many perfect attendance days and throw parties and make phone calls,” Mehok said, “but when our families are struggling to get to school for 20 days I need the district, the city to think about helping our families

CANDIDATES

Continued from page 1B

the city’s police chief since 2016, said at the meeting that he had met with Borchert and other city ofﬁcials and none had a problem with the police pay plan and pension relief.

During a brief exchange Wednesday night before the big crowd at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium, Fandal accused Borchert of backtracking on the pension money.

“I called him out on it,” Fandal said. Borchert disagreed.

“It was never discussed,” he told the crowd.

“I’m willing to take a lie-detector test,” Fandal quickly replied when the forum moderator allowed him a response.

But for the most part, Fandal and Borchert stuck closely to the talking points their campaigns have been pushing out for the past few months during the forum, sponsored by the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce.

The election is Oct. 11. The winner will serve out the remainder of Cromer’s term, which runs through June.

Borchert, who became the city’s

REFORM

Continued from page 1B

Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration did not respond to a request for comment.

Tension over the city attorney’s allegiance is nothing new, since the council and mayor have disagreed on legal matters for generations. But those conﬂicts have hit new heights in Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s second term, with the mayor and council regularly facing off in court

That started with the council’s 2022 lawsuit against Cantrell for her handling of the Wisner Trust, which established via state Supreme Court ruling — the council’s right to take legal action as an independent body A Civil District Court judge in that case agreed with the council that Cantrell’s extension of a revenue-sharing

get kids to school?”

Mehok spoke during a panel discussion at Xavier University on Thursday about a campaign led by United Way of Southeast Louisiana that aims to have 80% of New Orleans 3rd graders reading on grade level by 2027.

It’s an ambitious goal – and one that may be more aspirational than probable, at least in the near term. Even as statewide literacy scores showed growth this past year — Louisiana made historic gains on the Nation’s Report Card in reading less than one-third of New Orleans third grade students are reading on grade level, according to spring testing.

The campaign has been underway for nearly a decade, but it has taken on heightened relevance in light of a new state law, which took effect this year, that puts third graders with very low reading scores at risk of being held back.

The organization, bolstered by grant funding, is optimistic that doubling down on efforts to address issues outside the classroom, such as chronic absenteeism and access to early childhood education, can move the needle. It’s a broad collaboration between schools, city organizations and local advocates.

“We knew no single system —

not schools, not nonprofits, not government — could do it alone but together across sectors we could build something stronger,” said Michael Williamson, CEO of United Way of Southeast Louisiana. “We’re working upstream to make sure conditions are right for kids to succeed in classrooms starting from birth.”

Reading campaign

When United Way launched its New Orleans reading campaign in 2016, localizing a national movement, the stakes were high. Only 31% of New Orleans third graders were reading on grade level, a startling statistic that educators feared would have disastrous implications for the students’ success beyond school, the group said. Children who can’t read in third grade are more likely to drop out of high school, Williamson said. The statistics have inched up since then. About 35% of students in third grade scored at or above grade level on the English portion of state LEAP tests this spring. To close the gap, the campaign has focused on issues outside the classroom that could impact a child’s ability to learn, including kindergarten readiness, chronic absenteeism and summer slumps.

full-time mayor when Cromer left for a post with state government, has campaigned on his months as the government’s chief executive.

“I’ve brought a business mindset to City Hall,” Borchert said.

“I’m already doing the job.”

Borchert ran down a list of things he has been involved in either as a council member or as mayor, including extending the Tammany Trace farther into Slidell and pushing for a multimil-

agreement was illegal. Cantrell is now appealing that ruling.

More recently the council has intervened on the side of the Orleans Parish School Board in its ongoing lawsuit against the Cantrell administration over tax collection fees. And Cantrell successfully blocked a council ordinance temporarily banning employee travel through a court decree, bypassing a veto that might have been overturned.

The charter amendment would force the city attorney to stay neutral in council-mayor court confrontations, and to “exercise independent legal judgment” when faced with conﬂicting directives.

“This would effectively take the (city attorney) out of the mix, pitting the mayor’s executive counsel or outside lawyers against the council’s,” said council member Joe Giarrusso, who stressed that he was referring to general policy and not the speciﬁc conﬂicts with

lion project to widen Bayou Patassat and line it with walkways.

Borchert said his business approach will pay dividends for the city as it looks to create new economic development opportunities and revenue streams.

Fandal, who became police chief when Randy Smith was elected St. Tammany’s sheriff, has pushed a campaign heavy on public safety and his role running the Police Department.

the Cantrell administration. “You cannot have someone who is supposed to be supporting both and (is) a confidante with attorneyclient privilege who ultimately needs to serve the mayor.” Beyond those direct confrontations, the mayor and council have engaged in proxy court battles with outside parties that will deﬁne the balance of power in City Hall for years to come. Chief among them is the heated litigation over a controversial sanitation contract with Henry Consulting, which sued the council for refusing to approve a $73 million contract for the French Quarter and Downtown Development District The lawsuit takes aim at a 2023 ordinance giving the council approval power over professional contracts worth more than $1 million. Henry Consulting won a lower court judgment effectively nullifying the ordinance, and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal will

ty owned by a company registered in Truong’s mother’s name on April 11, 2023, the same date listed in the indictment. Truong left the meeting before Dupont made the claims. Truong is still the city’s mayor, but Bogalusa is essentially being run by an accountant who was appointed by a state judge in February to oversee its troubled ﬁnances. Truong did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday Attempts to contact Patterson and Morris were not successful. In a news release, Sims’ ofﬁce said arrest warrants have been issued for Patterson and Morris, but as of Thursday at 3:23 p.m., they had not yet been executed.

STUDENT

Continued from page 1B

Research has shown those areas can make a difference. A Tulane University study that published in May found that more than half of Louisiana children from poor families start kindergarten without basic reading skills and most don’t catch up by third grade. The study also found that low-income students who attended preschool have a much higher chance of entering kindergarten with foundational reading skills.

Much of the campaign’s work has centered on advocating for more funded preschool seats in New Orleans, including the 2022 early childhood education millage, most of which would fund seats for low-income children at early childhood centers.

In the campaign’s current iteration, groups of local advocates work on different projects, including an awareness campaign to rebrand reading as “cool,” producing literacy materials for families, and expanding businesssponsored childcare for working parents.

Williamson said the new state legislation has brought increased attention the nearly decade-old campaign.

“It brings relevance to work that for some may have been in the shadows,” Williamson said.

Fandal touted Slidell’s low crime rate and said economic development begins with public safety

He said his 45 years in law enforcement includes running large departments and overseeing budgets.

Both candidates have talked about the need to fix the city’s chronic drainage problems, ﬁnd new money for the budget, and enhance the city’s Olde Towne area.

Capping the event, each candidate was allowed to ask the other a question.

Fandal asked Borchert if he had purchased property along Bayou Patassat, to which Borchert replied, “Absolutely I have.”

Borchert asked why the Police Department had let its accreditation lapse, to which Fandal replied that the department wasn’t getting its money’s worth with its accreditation service.

Afterward, Borchert said he purchased two lots along Bayou Patassat so the “city could use them for the project.” He said they cannot be built on and will eventually be mostly under water once the bayou is widened.

Fandal, meanwhile, said afterward that the Police Department uses a different service now that doesn’t offer accreditation, but does provide the department with many of the same services.

hear arguments on Aug. 5. An-

other judge struck down a similar ordinance governing legal contracts; that case is also before the 4th Circuit.

Cantrell didn’t oppose the ordinances when they passed, but has since called them unacceptable incursions on executive authority Council President JP Morrell has accused Turner of abdicating her duty for not defending the ordinances in court.

Morrell, unlike other council members, tied the charter amendment directly to his criticisms of Turner

“We have ordinances that are 2, 3, 4 years old, and when they are challenged, the city attorney will not defend it. That is what highlighted the need for this charter change,” Morrell said before the vote.

Email Ben Myers at bmyers@ theadvocate.com.

District Attorney Jason Williams’ ofﬁce charged Lindsey with vehicular homicide, which carries a sentence of ﬁve to 30 years in prison upon a conviction. The jury Thursday also rejected a lesser responsive charge of negligent homicide, ending the case.

Attorney Sarah Chervinsky, who defended Lindsey alongside attorney Will Snowden, told the jury it was a split-second accident that left Hunter dead.

The drummer, who made a name with the New Birth Brass Band and later the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, had just left Da Jump Off Lounge at the corner and was walking across North Claiborne to the neutral ground when Lindsey carrying two passengers, struck him. The impact shattered the tinted front window of Lindsey’s vehicle and knocked the shoes off of Hunter, who landed in Lindsey’s passenger seat. Lindsey drove with his hazard lights toward University Medical Center called 911 and reached the hospital in minutes, but Hunter was already dead.

Hunter

Prosecutors said Lindsey’s blood alcohol level was calculated at 0.083% — slightly above the legal driving limit of 0.08% in a test taken more than two hours after the fatal collision. They pointed to his tinted windows and said that Lindsey failed multiple ﬁeld sobriety tests, and that he was speeding. Lindsey’s attorneys cast doubt on those results, playing for jurors video of the sobriety tests. Lindsey told police he drank and smoked 12 hours earlier, on Lundi Gras — a time frame prosecutors said was implausible.

On Wednesday a series of defense witnesses testified to Lindsey’s character Among them, Xavier associate head coach Tyrone Mitchell sat facing the jury as he praised Lindsey as “a student athlete, always on time, great young man.” Lindsey had won a hoops scholarship to Xavier out of Holy Cross High School. Mitchell described him as “sometimes too laid back. Sometime we had to throw him on the ﬂoor.” Lindsey, who remains at Xavier in a master’s program, never took the witness stand.

“I think we were able to show the jury that an accident isn’t always a crime,” Chervinsky said after the verdict.

She described the police investigation as “not as thorough or objective as it should have been, and I think it’s a shame it got to this point, because Jeremy Lindsey and his family wanted nothing more than to be able to sit down with the Hunter family and reach some kind of healing.”

After Thursday’s verdict, Chervinsky said that Lindsey “certainly felt a sense of peace that he hasn’t felt since the night this happened, but no one is celebrating today It’s a horrible tragedy for everyone involved.”

A spokesperson for Williams’ ofﬁce did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the verdict.

Criminal District Judge Nandi Campbell presided over the trial, which began Monday with jury selection.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025

PHOTO By MATTHEW DOBBINS

A large crowd packed into the Slidell Municipal Auditorium on Wednesday for a mayoral candidate forum sponsored by the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce.

BatonRouge mom detained by ICE will notbe deported

California judge rulesonwifeof Marine veteran

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

ABaton Rouge mother of two, whohas been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Monroe for months, will not be deportedafteraruling by aCalifornia judge. The move comes after two Iranianborn LSU doctoral students and a 47-year-old New Orleans mother also originally from Iran, were all freed from their own ICE detentions earlier this month.

Adrian Clouatre, aMarineveteran, has beenﬁghting to get his wife, Paola, 25, out of ICE detention after she was detained in Mayatwhatthe couple thought was aroutine citizenship appointment for their green card application. As thecouplewaited in New Orleans after the appointment for aset of paperwork, Paola Clouatre was taken into custody by three ICE agents.

JAILBREAK

Since then, Adrian Clouatrehas made the four-hour drive from BatonRouge to Monroetwice aweek in order for the couple’s 10-month-old to nurse and their 1-year-old to see his mom. Paola Clouatre had adeportation order out forher since she was ateenager, theresultofher mother having missed an asylum appointment in 2018. The Clouatres were unaware of theorder,and themother and daughter are no longerincon-

tact But as of Friday,ajudge in the case’soriginal jurisdiction of SouthernCaliforniahas stayed that order of removal.

“Wellitmoves the ball forward, saidCarey Holliday,the Clouatres’ attorney and former immigration judge.“We still got some movement to make.”

The stay of removal and reopening of Paola Clouatre’scase is not the end of things. She is still detained in Monroe, although the case’svenue hasbeen transferred to a Louisiana court in Jena. Holliday said he plans to make immediatemotions

to ﬁle bond for Clouatre as soon as the court administratively closes her notice to appear.Hesaid he also believes Clouatre is entitled to “parole in place” as the wife of aMarine veteran.

This discretionary immigrationbenefit allows some family of veteransto remain in theU.S. legally in one-year increments during theirtrials,even if they lack legal status.

Meanwhile,Hollidayis working to get theClouatre’sgreen card process back on track. He says that while U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have already ruled that thecouple hasavalid marriage and that she’sentitled to an immediatevisa, the processisheldupwhile the immigration courtstill has jurisdiction over her case. Holliday described the situation as a“catch-22.”

“I’d implore ICE to rethink their strategy on this case,” Holliday said. “They’re just suckingeverybody up and not paying anyattentiontothe facts of thecase. Youknow everybody that’s notherewith avisa is nota badperson, andthat’sbeen their attitude at the moment.”

EmailQuinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.

Alexander, Harold Banks,Leroy Barre,Audrey Barthelemy,Frances Braggs Sr.,Alton Brumfield, Jacqueline Calhoun, Tyrone Carey, Sylvia Dozier,Charles Espadron Sr., Kirk Firmin,Helen Hebert,Natalie Howard Jr., Brentwood JonesJr.,Louis LaRose Jr., Charles Lewis, Krishon MageeJr.,Larry Martinez Jr.,Albert Mather,Frances Moss, Lula Ross, John Scott, Jennifer Stamps,Barbara Thomas Jr., Earl Thomas Jr., Theodore Williams,Bobbie Williams,Charles EJefferson

LeroyBanks peacefully transitionedtohis

Continued from page1B

helping the escapees. Each pleaded not guilty overa video feed before Criminal DistrictJudge Leon Roche for their alleged roles following the May 16 jailbreak, whichhas consumed Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson’sofﬁce.

Wi lliams is charged with 10 counts of beinga principal to simple escape andone count of malfeasance in ofﬁce. Authorities have said that an inmate instructed Williams to turn off the water beforethe detainees toreatoilet from the wall, jumped over afence,and ran across Interstate 10. The lone remaining fugitive, Derrick Groves, remains on the lam from one of the largest jailbreaks in recent U.S. history.He facestwo life prison sentencesfrom amurder conviction last year

and AntoineMassey.Simple escape carries amaximum 5-year prison sentenceupon aconviction.

theft that landed him in the Orleans Parish jail.

An arrest warrant affidavit states that Williams, the plumber,toldpolice that Massey threatened to shank him if he didn’tturn off the water.Williams disputes that account, as does Massey Apolice afﬁdavit for Williams’ arrest makes no mentionofaclogged toilet. It saysWilliamswas “initially very evasive and untruthful”during an interview.Williams couldhave reported Massey’s alleged threat andthe escape plan, authorities have said.

Masseywas thelast of the alleged escapees to be recaptured when authorities found himlast month at arental inHollygrove. His attorney,Robert Hjortsberg, said Thursday that “there’sno evidence that Masseyever threatened the plumber.”

“Heshouldn’thave been in jail in the first place,” Hjortsberg saidofthe allegations, which Massey also disputed in videosposted to social media while he was on the lam.

“The pending caseis baseless and we intend to ﬁle appropriate pleadings to force it to trial as quickly as possible,” Hjortsberg added. “Ifitevergoes to trial,we’ll win.”

As for theﬂight of the10 detainees in the wee hours of May 16, Hjortsberg said that there was “obviously a lotmore to this than what meets the eye.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill, whose office is prosecuting the escape cases, issueda statement Thursday

Richardson FH Braggs Sr.,Alton NewOrleans

Boyd Family

Calhoun, Tyrone Ross, John Charbonnet Banks,Leroy Firmin,Helen JonesJr.,Louis

Moss, Lula

Dennis FuneralHome

Thomas Jr., Earl

DW Rhodes

Lewis, Krishon

Kennedy maintained that the inmates clogged the toilet to force the shutoff, and that Williams was unaware of the breakout scheme.

“He was not part of any conspiracy,” Kennedy said after Thursday’s arraignment.“If he hadany indirect role in aiding the escapees, it was unknowing.” Also appearing by Zoom to plead not guilty on Thursday were Angel McKey,42; Lenton Vanburen Sr., 48; Patricia Vanburen, 18; and Tyshanea Randolph, 27. Each is charged as an accessoryafter the facttosimpleescape. Rocheset an Aug. 19 date for hearings in those cases, including requests to reducetheirmillion-dollar bonds.

Meanwhile, the nine escapees who were recaptured have each been charged with simple escape, on top of the pending counts that had kept them jailed. Several are now being housed at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

Pleadingnot guilty this week to theescape counts were Corey Boyd, Leo Tate Sr., Lenton Vanburen Jr., Kendell Myles, Jermaine Donald,DkenanDavis Robert Moody,Gary Price

Massey has since pleaded notguilty to both the escapecharge and the charges of domestic abuse battery involving strangulation and motor vehicle

“I have promised that we will hold everyone who had any roleinthe jailbreak at the Orleans JusticeCenter accountable—thatincludes those who helped the inmates fromthe inside and the outside,” Murrill said. “All aidersand abettors will be arrested andprosecuted to the full extentofthe law. Thatincludes anyone who is currentlyhelping Derrick Groves.”

Gertrude Geddes

Williams,Charles Greenwood

Hebert,Natalie Martinez Jr.,Albert Littlejohn FH

Dozier,Charles Majestic Mortuary

Alexander, Harold River Parish

Hobson BrownFH

Howard Jr., Brentwood St Tammany

EJ Fielding

Brumfield, Jacqueline Williams,Bobbie West Bank

DavisMortuary

Carey, Sylvia

MageeJr.,Larry Stamps,Barbara

Robinson FH

Barthelemy,Frances Espadron Sr., Kirk

Thomas Jr., Theodore

Harold JamesAlexander was born on November 17, 1935, to theparents of Ce‐celia Landry Joeand Clif‐fordAlexander andlived a fulllifededicated to his lovingfamilyand friends. Heisprecededindeath by his wife,Johnniestine Alexander,and he is sur‐vived by his3sons, ClarenceDunbar, Dereck J. Alexander (Maria), Dwayne J.Alexander (Jennifer).He has 8grandchildren,Jared Derecka,Paige,DereckJr., Kandeyce, Davon, Ryan Matthew,and 2greatgrandchildren,Cadence and Parker alongwithhis longtimefriend, Dianne Harris. Hisearly life began inthe neighboringtowns ofCeceilia, Louisiana, and BreauxBridge, Louisiana, where Harold attended GeorgeWashingtonCarver HighSchool andexcelled asanhonor studentand a memberofthe basketball team. In hisadulthood,he met andwas united in matrimony with Johnnies‐tineRushing.Hebegan his workcareer in thespecial policeforce as an under‐cover agentfor theNew Orleans Police Department In addition,heran hisown securitycompany just be‐forejoining at EconoMeat Marketwhere he special‐izedcutting andpackaging steaksand choice cuts of meats to be sold in various storesand supermarkets After histimeatEcono MeatMarket, Harold began anillustrious career with Kraft Foods ServiceinNew Orleans.A 30-year tenure atKraft Food Serviceled him behind thewheel of a deliverytruck andeventu‐allybecominga supervisor and managerwhere he was awardedfor various accolades.His most mem‐orablecareer milestone occurred during ahiatus fromKraft Foods in the mid-80’swhenhepart‐nered with aclose relative toembarkuponstartinga company aconcretecom‐panythatled to being awarded acontracttore‐build andpourthe con‐crete forthe infamous Danzinger Bridge.Harold was amild-mannered, hardworking,and warmhearted manwho lovedhis familyand leaves alegacy ofgreatness to follow in his footsteps. Allfriends and lovedones, alongwith the ofﬁciatingpriest, are invited to attend Funeral ServicesonSaturdayJuly 26, 2025, for10:00 a.m. at St. JosephineBakhita Catholic Church,3501 N. MiroSt.,New Orleans, Louisiana 70117. Visitation willbegin from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Interment willfollowthe funeralser‐viceatSt. Roch Cemetery No. 2, 1725 MusicSt.,New Orleans Louisiana70117 ProfessionalArrangements are entrustedtoMajestic MortuaryService (504) 5235872.

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 lateLoraGayeThompson 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 toattendthe funeral. 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.

AudreyMigliore Barre, 82, of Kenner,Louisiana, passed away peacefullyon June 30, 2025, surrounded by herloved ones after a briefbattle with lung cancer. Born on January22, 1943, in NewOrleans Audreywas knownfor her unwaveringstrength,fiery spirit,and signature red hair-earningher thenickname "Red." Shewas funloving,energetic,and leda vibrant, active life. Audrey dedicatedherself to her career,and herpassion for music and dancing broughther joythroughout theyears. Sheissurvived by herchildren: Daimon

Williams

A. Clouatre

P. Clouatre

Alexander, Harold James

Barre, Audrey

4B ✦ Friday,July 25,2025 ✦ nola.com

Ponthieux (Tammy), Jon Barre, and Holly Pradat (Brett); sister Beverly Vix; brother Michael Migliore (Sandra); daughter-in-law Adrienne Ponthieux; nieces Tristen Vix (Randy) and Heather Figueredo (Alex); her lifelong friend Lola Smith; grandchildren Nicholas Ponthieux (Courtney), Lauren Ponthieux (Sarah), Patrick Ponthieux (Amber), Daisy Ponthieux,Eric Ponthieux Michael Ponthieux (Tara), and Brett PradatIl; as well as ahost of great-grandchildren who will carry her memory in their hearts forever.

Audrey is preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Joyce Migliore; eldest son, Marvin "Patrick" Ponthieux; brother-in-law, Lloyd Vix; and her longtime companion, JohnTauzier.

Audrey builta lifelong career in the automotive industry, working for Lamarque Ford, Champ's Collision,Gerber Collision, and NOLA Collision. She truly enjoyed her work and cherished the relationships she formed along the way. Her family extends special thanks to Danny Kingston for giving her the opportunity to continue doing what she loved well into her later years.The family would also like to express their heartfelt gratitude to her hospice nurse, Tiara, and the entire Heart of Hospice staff for theloving care they provided during her final days.In accordance with Audrey's wishes, she was cremated. Acelebrationof her life will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 4to7 p.m. at Chateau Country Club in Kenner.All who knew andloved Audrey arewelcome to attend and honor her memory. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honortoHeart of Hospice or MD AndersonCancer Center.

Audrey will be deeply missed and lovingly rememberedfor her vibrant spirit, grace, strength, and beauty.

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 invitedtoattendthe memorialservice whichbe heldonSaturdayJuly26, 2025, at St.Patrick Catholic Church28698 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 FamilyFuneralHome, 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.

AltonBraggs, Sr age89, peacefullyentered his eternal rest surrounded by the love andcomfort of his lovingwifeof69years MaryLouiseWilmore Braggs,children, andother familymembers on Satur‐day,June28, 2025. He was a proudresidentof Metairie, Louisianafor morethan72years.His warmsmile andkindspirit touched thelives of many through hisbricklaying skillsand ownershipof Alton Braggs Masonry. Brother Braggs wasa dedi‐cated member andSenior DeaconatProvidenceBap‐tistChurch formorethan 50years.Brother Braggs leavestocherish hismem‐ory hislovingwifeMary Braggs,his 5children: Claudette Chassion, JeromeBraggs, Duranne Braggs,JoanBraggs,and GregoryBraggs. Hissister and brother, Azzlee Rice and Warner Braggs of Chicago, Illinois,9 grand‐childrenand 6bonus grandchildren,5 greatgrandchildren,1greatgreat grandchild and5 bonus great-greatgrand‐children, and 2godchil‐dren. BrotherAlton Braggs, Sr. is preceded in deathby his parentsRodessa and Willie Braggs,his sisters Marie andGladysBraggs, his brotherEmmett Braggs and hisoldestson Alton Braggs,Jr. Relativesand friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend hishome‐going celebrationonSatur‐day,July26, 2025, at the ProvidenceBaptist Church located at 11509 Jefferson Hwy RiverRidge Louisiana,70123.The visi‐tationwillbefrom9 am to 10am. Thecelebratory ser‐vices will beginat10am withPastorDr. Terry G. Lewis,Sr. ofﬁciating. Inter‐mentwillfollow at the ProvidenceSt. Mark’s Soci‐ety Cemetery,River Ridge, LA. Arrangements en‐trusted to Richardson Fu‐neral Home of Jefferson, River Ridge,LA. www.ric hardsonfuneralhomeofjeff erson.com

Brumﬁeld,Jacqueline

inginOctober of 2002. Jacquelineremainedin 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 manydogs andwas al‐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

theCelebration of Life at New Life Church of Christ HolinessU.S.A., 5918 Baby‐lon St.New Orleans, LA.on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 9:00a.m.Visitationwill begin at 8:00a.m. until ser‐viceatthe abovenamed church.Interment:New HomeChurch of Christ Ho‐linessCemetery-Jayess, MS. Arrangements by Davis MortuaryService,230 Mon‐roe St.Gretna, LA.Toview and sign theguestbook pleasegotowww.davismo rtuaryservice.com.Face Masks AreRecommended

follow at Mt.ZionMemor‐ial Park Cemetery in Em‐pire, La.Funeral planning entrusted to Robinson FamilyFuneralHome, 9611 LA-23, BelleChasse,La. 70037, (504) 208-2119. For onlinecondolences,please visit www.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com.

Baptiste

Firmin,Helen

Donovan, andher paternal grandparents, Vernon GeorgeGerdesand Maryann Casamento Gerdes. In lieu of ﬂowers, donations maybemadeto the SusanG KomenFoun‐dation, in supportofbreast cancerresearch, or to the SPCA, in honorofNatalie’s lovefor herpets, Tigerand Callie. Gone from oursight, but neverfromour hearts –the love we have shared willnever depart.Family and friendsare invitedto attenda visitation on Sat‐urday,July26, 2025, from 5:00p.m.to7:00p.m.at Greenwood FuneralHome, located at 5200 CanalBlvd., New Orleans, LA 70124. A Masswillimmediatelyfol‐low at 7:00 pm in thefu‐neral home chapel.Wealso inviteyou to shareyour thoughts, fond memories, and condolencesonlineat www.greenwoodfh.com Your shared memories will helpuscelebrate Natalie’s lifeand keep hermemory alive

Jacqueline Brumfield, age 89,ofFortLauderdale, FL, passedawayonJuly16, 2025. Shewas born on Au‐gust19, 1935 in Trenton, New Jersey.She is survived byher loving children and their spouses, RichardH Schulze Jr., Lindaand Gene Monaco, andJohnand Ra‐jeanSchulze;grandchil‐dren, Ashlee Williams, Adriane Anderson,Christo‐pherKeefer, Stuart Keefer, JuliannaSchulze,and Emma Schulze;and greatgrandchildren,Gabriel Cleveland,Jacob Cleve‐land, Samuel Williams OliverKeefer, andEloise 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 childlessAunt Betty and UncleFredHarm, who lived nearby.She shined in highschool as abaton twirlingmajorette and brieflyattendedthe Uni‐versity of Pennsylvania after graduation.She mar‐riedRichard H. Schulze Sr 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‐devilleareauntil hispass‐

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 11:00 a.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

Sylvia RatcliffCarey en‐tered eternalrestat Ochsner MedicalCenter MainCampusonTuesday July15, 2025, at theage of 75. Shewas anativeof Tylertown, MS anda resi‐dentofNew Orleans, LA Sylviawas agraduateof GeorgeWashingtonCarver HighSchool.She retired after 28 yearsofservice as Cardiac Cath Tech with Tu‐laneMedical Center.Lov‐ing mother of Ashaki (Archie C.)Brown. Devoted grandmother of Averie and Amanie. Daughter of the lateCleoand MildredRat‐cliff. Sister of Betty Ratcliff, Billy (Charlene) Ratcliff, and thelateLevon “Leo” Ratcliff, EddieRatcliff, Lacy Ratcliff, andJacqueline Henery. NieceofPearlie Johnson,and Theodore (Leola) Robey. Sister in law ofMaxie JeffersonRatcliff. Formerwifeofthe late Rufus LeeCarey,alsosur‐vived by ahostofnieces, nephews,cousins,other relatives andfriends.Rela‐tives andfriends of the familyalsopastors,ofﬁ‐cers, andmembers of New LifeChurch of Christ Holi‐ness areinvited to attend

CharlesDozier, known for hissoultouching gospelsolos,entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, July15, 2025. Sonofthe lateZekeSmith andMary Riley Dozier.Brother of Bryan andDarrell Dozier JacquelineD.Batiste,Cyn‐thiaD.Glenn, thelate ErnestDozier, Johnnyand James Smith, Joycelyn D. White, Brenda D. Yarber and RobinD.Johnson.Also survivedbya host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relativesand friends. Relatives andfriends,also pastor, ofﬁcers andmem‐bersofPlymouthRock Baptist Church,First EmanuelBaptist Church, First ShilohBaptist Church and allneighboring churches,all presentand formermembers of The GospelSoulChildren, for‐mer employees of The1984 Louisiana World’sFair, em‐ployees of Woodward De‐signand Construction are invited to attend theCele‐bration of Life on Saturday, July26, 2025, at Plymouth RockBaptist Church,233 Hillary Street beginning10 am. Rev. Lawrence L. Williams Jr., pastor,Rev Antoine Jacobs,ofﬁciating. Church visitation 8:30 am until servicetime. Inter‐mentGreen Street Ceme‐tery. Professional Service Entrusted to:LittlejohnFu‐neral Home,2163 Aubry Street,Cal K. Johnson, Fu‐neral Director/Manager, Info: (504) 940-0045.

Kirk John Espadron Sr departedthislifeonSatur‐day,July12, 2025. He was 61years old. He wasa spir‐itedand hard workingper‐son.Hewas born on Janu‐ary 23, 1964 to thelateJohn Emile andElviraRileyEs‐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‐atingand entombment will

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, NewOrleans,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.

In loving memory of Na‐talie Gerdes Hebert.Itis withbrokenheartswean‐nouncethe passingofour beloved daughter,Natalie GerdesHebert, age37, on Friday, July 11, 2025. Born onSeptember 14, 1987, Na‐talie wasa bright lightwho touched thelives of all who knew her. Shewas known forher kind heart, sharp intellect, andloyalty tothose sheloved.She was thekindofperson who made others feel seen,heard,and valued someone whose presence lefta lastingimprint.Na‐talie graduatedvaledicto‐rianfromLSU School of Nursing in 2012 andem‐barkedona successful ca‐reer in thenursing profes‐sion, as well as continuing toworkatCasamento’s, her family’srestaurant. She hada gift for ﬁnding beautyineverydaymo‐ments—whether through her handmade oyster shell crafts, thequiet joyofa good book,orcherished familyvacations that cre‐atedlasting memories.Na‐talie is survived by herlov‐ing husband, DouglasAlan Hebert; herdevoted par‐ents, CharlesJoseph Gerdesand LindaDonovan Gerdes; hertwinsister, NicoleMarie Gerdes;and her cherishednephew, NashWillis. Sheisalsosur‐vived by heruncles, Charles Donovan(Teresa), HaroldDonovan (Tammy), and Thomas Donovan; her aunt Gina Casamento; her mother-in-law,Barbara Hebert; andnumerous other relativesand dear friends who will carry her memoryforward with love She wasprecededindeath byher maternal grandpar‐ents, CharlesGerardDono‐vanand ShirleyFerger

Brentwood Michael (Tank) Howard Jr departed this life July 17, 2025., SonofFelicia (Posey) Zeno and Brentwood Sr Brentwood Jr,isalso survivedbyhis devoted grandmother Patricia Zeno, siblings Brencia Howard, Mykecia white andKaydeionaBeason, a host of othergrandparents, relativesand friends Celebration will be held on Saturday July 26, 2025, at 11:00am at Mount Calvary B.C. 127 W3rd St Laplace, La., Rev. Freddie Howard Sr.Pastor officiating(Grandfather) Visitation from 9am until service time.Interment in St.JohnMemorial Gardens Laplace, LA Professional Services entrusted to the Caring Staff of Hobson Brown Funeral Home 134 Daisy St Garyville, La 70051 (985) 535-2516.

Louis"Eboy"Jones,Jr., age 97, wasbornonJuly 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 andson 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.

Braggs Sr., Alton

Dozier,Charles

Howard Jr., Brentwood M. 'Tank'

Calhoun, Tyrone Nathion

Espadron Sr., Kirk John

JonesJr.,Louis 'E boy'

Hebert,Natalie Gerdes

Carey, Sylvia Ratcliff

LaRose Jr., Charles

Charles LaRose, Jr. transition from his earthly life at University Medical Center, NewOrleans, LA on Saturday, July 12, 2025,at the age of 76. Son of the late Lorien White, Charles LaRose, Sr. and Daniel White. Husband of Audrey S. LaRose. Father of Danielle Triche (Eric), Equilla Jackson, Eric Charles LaRose (Lynell), Kieon Wallace(Donald), Deloyd Dabney (Morgan), Dameion Dabney and the late Tyra LaRose Dabney Brother of John Anderson, Sr., Ura White (Debria), Bryan White, Sr., Florence White and the late Jerome Beasley.Brother-In-Law of Veronica Smith, Yevette Payne (Patrick),Craig Smith, Alfred Smith, Jr. and Cleveland Holmes. Also survived by 13 grandchildren, 9great grandchildren, and host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Anative of New Orleans and resident of Saint Rose, LA.Relatives and friends of the family, also pastors, officers and members of St. Mary Baptist Church and all neighboring churches and employees of Times Picayune are invited to attend the funeral at St. Mary Baptist Church, 706 Paul Maillard Rd, Luling,LA on Saturday, July 26 2025 at 10:00AM. Rev. Renard Dabney Sr., Pastor, officiating. Interment Providence #2 Cemetery, Montz, LA. Visitation at the above named church from 9:00 AM until service time Serviced by Robottom Mortuary

Krishon

KrishonChante"Lula" Lewis,alsoknown as "Kween",a lifelong resi‐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. Shewenton to 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, GrandmotherAlona Lewis-

Mason, greatgrandmother 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

MageeJr.,Larry Vincent

Larry VincentMagee,Jr. entered eternalrestat Ochsner BaptistHospital onWednesday,July9,2025 atthe ageof46. He wasa nativeand resident of New Orleans,LA. Larrywas em‐ployedasa offshore rigger and pump operator Beloved husband of Michelle Magee. Loving fa‐therofZaria,Samaja, Mykah,Ray’Quon, and Rah’Naj.Son of Peterand Del RileyMosby.Grandson ofthe late LanceJoseph Riley,Sr.,Rosalie Nailer Robertson,Apostle Benson Magee, andOlieMae Magee. BrotherofTravis, Demetrius,Joe,Kiey’anna, Christie, Kiey’mara, Tiffany, and thelateCorey and Peter Mosby. Nephew of the late Pennie Rileyand Adreian Magee, also sur‐vived by 5grandchildren,3 great grandchildren, anda hostofnieces, nephews, cousins,other relatives and friends. Relativesand friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend theCele‐bration of Life at Davis MortuaryServices, 230 MonroeSt. Gretna,LAon Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 10:00am.Visitationwill begin at 8:30a.m. until ser‐vicetime. Interment: Will BePrivate.Toviewand signthe guestbook, please goto www.davismortua ryservice.com.FaceMasks Are Recommended

Martinez Jr., Albert Joseph 'Al'

Albert “Al” Joseph Mar‐tinez,Jr. passedawayat his home on July 12, 2025 inNew Orleans, LA.Albert was born on September5 1930, to Albert Sr.and Osceola Anna PalaoMar‐tinez.He wasa brick mason andaneducator who taught formanyyears atBooker T. Washington HighSchool.Albertispre‐deceasedbyhis wife of 46 years,Mildred PattonMar‐tinez.Heissurvivedbyhis children, MoniqueMar‐tinez Butler (Troy) and Byron Joseph Martinez (Catrina); grandchildren: AdamTroyButler, Brandon JosephMartinez, Margaux Renee’ Butler andJustin JosephMartnez;and alov‐ing groupofother family members,church mem‐bersand friends. Albert was well knownfor his loveofmusic,his creativ‐ity,his gifted handsand especially hissense of humor.A funeralservice willbeheldatGreenwood FuneralHome, 5200 Canal Blvd.,New Orleans, LA 70124, on Saturday,July26, 2025, at 11:00 am.Burial willbeatSt. VincentDe PaulNo. 2, at theOur Lady ofLourdes Mausoleum. A repastwillfollowatthe NOLAEastchurch of Christ, 4332 Lonely OakDrive,New Orleans.Brother RL Clark willofﬁciate. In lieu of ﬂowers, please consider a donationtothe NOLA East church of Christ in Albert’s memory.

Mather,Frances J.

Dr.Frances JMather (nee McGirr)1937-2025

Frances Mather, beloved mother to Mona (Kevin Kuss) passed away on June 17, 2025 in Metairie, LA She was born in Marwayne, Alberta, Canada in 1937 to D. Grace &Francis McGirr.She moved to Edmonton at an earlyage and completed a BSc in Mining Engineering at theUniversityof Alberta. She met Alan Mather at University and marriedwhich begat Mona, her beloveddaughter. She continued her educationearning an MS in Mathematical Statistics from University of Michigan, applying for permanent US resident status. After an 'amicable' divorce, moved to New Orleans with Mona and finallyearnedher PhDin Biostatistics fromTulane University. Education was of immense importance in her family,and she continued to support students around theworld, financiallybut moresomentoring to many over the40+ years throughher role as ProfessoratTulane University in theSchool of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Biostat &Epi departments. She also served as theDirector of AcademicInformation Systems

She livedinNew Orleans forover 50 years and consideredithome,enjoying theunique NOLA lifestyle and foods. She wasa great fan of theJazzFest Gospel tent, chargrilled oysters and notsomuch theeverlasting road construction. She was first to openher home to visitors and students, anyone who needed aplace to stay was welcome. Her partieswere legendary as was theclean -up,but everyone came and "passed agoodtime."

She was one of thefirst women in Mining Engineering in the50's, she marched for Women for Peace in the60's (to her ex's chagrin), she bought a house (even as adivorcee, gasp!) in the70's, another milestone for women. The successive years were punctuated with teaching grants,mentoring,and traveling

The last several years were difficult health-wise yet she continued to be gracious and giving. She was astrong, formidable personyet would drop everything if astudent needed assistance, or for anyone who needed help. Throughall theups and downs of life,she weathered graciously.She was upbeat, looking forthe next adventure, howto help someone else, paying forward her fortunes. Should youwish to send amemorial,I knowshe wouldbepleased if donations were sent to: Frances J. Mather, PhD TechnologyEnhancement Fund

Tulane University Celia Scott WeatherheadSchool of Public Health and Tropical Medicine PO Box 669394 Dallas, TX 75266-9394

https://giving.tulane.ed u/s/1586/Giving/16/interio r.aspx?sid=1586&gid=2&pg id=4678

(Please indicatethatthe gift is in memory of Frances Mather, PhDby fully completing thetop sectionofthe online giving form, or by including a note or writing amemo on your mailed check.)

Lula BelleMoss, age90, a renownedworld legend and historianofTremé / New Orleansand thepro‐prietor/ownerofLula Belle’s Loungeand Restau‐rant, passedawayon Thursday,July17, 2025 sur‐rounded by herlovingfam‐ily.She wasbornonJuly 26, 1934 to thelateLuke Mossand AllieDeanGor‐doninTylertown, MS and

wasraisedinNew Orleans, LA. Shewas aleaderofthe community andservedas DeputyChief andChairper‐son of theBlack Legions. In additiontoher parents, LulaBelle is also preceded indeath by herstepfather, ThomasS.Gordon; sister NettieLouiseKing; daugh‐ter,YolundaE.Lawrence; grandson, Draper S. Lawrence(Misty);niece Terry King andnephews, Sahir Majune andKenneth McCoy.Survivors include her beloveddaughters, Zelinda Lawrence (Peter Rogues), Denise L. Hawkins ( JoeMC),TroyL.Lawson (Kim),and Terry Dean Lawrence; niece, Cheryl Ann McCoy; nephew,Regi‐naldMcCoy; ﬁfteen grand‐children, twenty sixgreat grandchildren,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.

Minister John L. Ross, a great manofGod,entered intoeternal gloryand into the presence of hisLord and Savior,Jesus Christ early Thursday morningon July10, 2025, at theage of 72. He wasbornonSep‐tember21, 1952, andedu‐cated in theNew Orleans Parishschool system.He was baptizedatanearly age.A devotedfollowerof Christ, John liveda life markedbyfaith,loveand service.John’slovefor God was evidentinhis kind‐ness, generosity andun‐waveringcommitmentto his familyand community Hewas preceded in death byhis parents, Rev. Roo‐seveltRossSr. andBernice GatlinRossand histhree brothersLarry Ross, Jerry Rossand RooseveltRoss Jr. John leaves to cherish the memories with hislov‐ing wife DeborahPeterson Ross, hisonlyson Maro Ross, histhree stepchil‐dren, Michael(Deion) Grif‐ﬁn, Michelle (Michael) Cargo andTori(Jerome) Jordan, histwo siblings MaryRossWareand Charles Ross Sr.and ahost ofgrandchildren,nieces, nephews,cousins,other relatives andfriends.John was aproud anddedicated memberofCelebration Church LowerSt. Bernard under theleadershipof PastorDavid Gonzalez and PastorRicky Murphy where he served as a prayercounselor and usher andactivelypartici‐pated in community out‐reach.His legacy of faith and love will continue to inspire thosewho knew him.Familyand friendsare invited to attend theFu‐neral ServiceonSaturday, July26, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Celebra‐tionChurch LowerSt. Bernard Campus,5709 E. Judge PerezDrive,Violet, LA. Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditionbegins com (504) 282-0600. Don‐avinD.Boydand Linear BrooksBoydOwners/Fu‐neral Directors.

Jennifer B.

JenniferB.Scott was born December 12, 1950 in NewOrleans, LA.She died on July17, 2025. Visitation willbefrom8 am.to9:50 a.m.Funeralat10a.m. July

26, 2025 at the First Zion Church7201 Olive Street in NewOrleans whereRev.D R. Berryhill is thepastor Burial willbeinthe ProvidenceCemetery in Metairie,LA. Arrangements entrusted to Dickey Brothers Memorial Funeral Home in Biloxi, MS

Stamps,Barbara J. Scott

BarbaraJ.Scott Stamps, age 83, answered theMas‐terscallonMonday, July 14, 2025, at West Jefferson Medical Center.She wasa nativeand resident of Gretna, LA.Barbara earned a Bachelor of Sciencede‐greeinNursing andwas employedfor many years asare Registered Nurse withthe V.A. Hospital,prior toretirement. Shewas a faithfulmemberofNew HopeBaptist Church of Gretnaand amemberof Pride of Oakville, Chapter #149 O. E. S. Devoted motherofElder Pamela S. Brooksand MichaelT Stamps. Loving grand‐motherofGavin M. Whit‐more-Stamps.Daughterof the late Eugene Leonard Scott andNancy M. Scott. Beloved sister of Mary Smith,Linda Sullivan,and the late JessieBoyd. Sisterin-lawofCharles Sullivan and Dalton Stamps.Former wifeofthe late Joseph L. Stamps. Barbaraisalso survivedbyher longtime friends,Elizabeth Louding, Elizabeth Baldwin, anda hostofnieces, nephews, cousins,other relatives and friends. Relativesand friends of thefamily, also pastors,officers,end members of NewHope Baptist Church of Gretna, Fresh StartBaptist Cathe‐dral, andall neighboring churches;members of Pride of Oakville, Chapter #149 O.E. S.;employees of the NewOrleans District Attorney’s Office,Orleans ParishSheriff Office and Big BoyEnterprise, LLC; nursing staff of Wynhoven Community Care Center and former employees of Sears Dept.Store arein‐vited to attend theCele‐bration of Life at NewHope Baptist Church,434 Sev‐enthStreet,Gretna, LA on Saturday, July 26, 2025 PastorWarrenE.Johnson and Bishop Sean T. Elder, officiating. Visitation will begin at 8:30a.m. untilser‐vicetimeatthe church.In‐terment:New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery-Gretna, LA. Arrangements by Davis MortuaryService,230 Mon‐roe St.Gretna, LA.Toview and sign theguestbook, pleasegotowww.davismo rtuaryservice.com.Face Masks AreRecommended

Earl Forest Thomas Jr entered into eternalrest onMonday, July 14, 2025, at the ageof68. Born January 27, 1957 in NewOrleans,LA tothe late Earl F. Thomas Sr. andCarrieHarden. He was preceded in deathby his sonJermaineA.Brealy Sr. Earl leaves to cherish his dear memories to his lovingwife, Gwendolyn Thomas; ﬁve children,Earl

F. Woodson, Ervin (Kennedra) Harris,Daniel HarrisSr.,Earline (Mon‐trell) Thomas,Torccare (Danny) Collor;two sisters Earline Sharp, Pamela Au‐gustus; twobrothersNikita Thomas, Darril Brimmer; fourteen grandchildren, fourgreat-grandchildren and ahostofother rela‐tives,friends.Relatives and friendsofthe family, alsoBoh Bros Construction familyare invitedtoattend a HomegoingService on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at DennisFuneral Home,1812 Louisiana Ave.,New Or‐leans,LA. Visitation begins at9:00amwitha 10:00 am Service to follow.Inter‐ment: Private. Repast:2611 Gen OgdenSt.,New Or‐leans,LA, 70118. Arrange‐ments entrustedtoDennis FuneralHome. Please visit www.dennismortuaryservi ce.com to sign theonline guestbook

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 his assistance andtimeto support neighborsand 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‐roneScott (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 attend thefuneral service which will be held at Our LadyofGuadalupe Church located at 411 N. Rampart Street NewOrleans,La 70112 on Saturday,July26, 2025. Thevisitationwill

Thomas Jr., Theodore

Ross, John L.

Lewis,

Chante 'Lula'

Thomas Jr., Earl Forest

Moss, Lula Belle

Scott,

OPINION

NOLA.COM/opinions

It’s time to push forwardonearly cancer detection

With acombined population of less than 400,000, the ShreveportBossier metro areaisonly slightly larger than New Orleans, but its impact on the national stage cannot be denied.

Twoofthe most prominent men everborninthis area are not hard to ﬁnd on television. Youcan see Dak Prescott, agraduate of Haughton High School, quarterbacking the Dallas Cowboys in the fall, while Captain Shreve High School alum Mike Johnson isnever far from the C-SPAN cameras as he oversees the U.S. House of Representatives. Thoughbothare widely visible in public life, the arenas they occupy and the audiences they engage could hardly be more different. However,weall share another bond, which is tragicallyall too common. We have all lostparents to cancer —Prescott’smother passedaway in 2013, Johnson lost his father just three days before he was ﬁrst elected to Congress in 2016, and Ilost my dad to lung cancerin1979, the secondyear of what was to be an eight-year

NFL career with theNew Orleans Saintsand theWashington Redskins.

And now we’re all ﬁghting in ourown ways to reduce cancer’simpact on our lives. In cancer treatment, the critical factor that often separates survival from deathisearly detection.

Rich Mauti GUEST COLUMNIST

Identifyingcancer at an early stageenables more effectiveand less invasive treatments and greatly decreases theburden of cancer

Arecentpersonal milestone for me was a$500,000 donation from the Rich Mauti Cancer Fund to St.TammanyHealth System to fundthe purchase of amobile lung screening unit, bringing vital early detection services to underserved communities across Louisiana.Webelieve this step can make areal difference in the lives of those battling cancer Ourefforts must also include newinnovations like multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood tests. These tests can check for dozens oftypes of cancer simultaneouslyfroma simple blood

Vietnamese communityin N.O. amodel of resilience in themidst of trouble

When Hurricane Katrina devastated our city and the task of rebuilding seemed insurmountable, our city found an unexpected source of strength and wisdom in acommunity that knew the meaning of profound loss, starting overand unwavering hope: our Vietnamese neighbors. Fifty years ago,the fall of Saigon triggeredthe displacement of millions. Many ﬂed by boat to escape persecution and seek abetter life. Thousands didn’tsurvive, but many who did found sanctuary in New Orleans. They arrived with little but an invaluable resilience forged through unimaginable hardships. Here, they built a generational home for their children and grandchildren.

draw.This is acomplement and vast improvement toour current cancer screening infrastructure, which can only test for asmall handful of cancers,one at atime.

The burden of cancer is alarmingly high in Louisiana, with rates approximately 40% higher than thenational average, according to thefederal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

This disparity has manyroot causes. Butbarriers to access for healthscreenings and specialty care compound the challenges. MCED technology,which can be deployed in nearly any care setting, can help address this burden.

Seven of every 10 cancer deaths come from cancer types for which there haven’tbeen available screening tools —such as pancreatic, ovarian or stomach cancer.Puttingthese multicancer early detection tools in morehands can save lives and signiﬁcantly reduce the$210 billion spent annually in the U.S.on cancer treatment.

Prescott andJohnson can advance early cancer detection through their own outside-inside

game. Prescott worked to arrange MCED tests forthe Dallas Cowboys front ofﬁce employees and it may well have saved the lifeof acolleague whose cancer would likely have otherwise gone undiagnosed.

Working on theinside, Johnson, as Speaker of the House, has the power to advance legislation that can deliver that samebenefit to millionsofMedicare beneficiaries and findmore cancers earlier while saving Medicare and its recipientsmoney Medicare cannot easily cover new preventive services, which is problematic since seniors make up themajority of all cancer cases in the country.The bipartisan Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act would enable Medicare coverage of these game-changing blood tests. This legislation has momentum behind it.Ithas enjoyed rare bipartisan support from nearly 400 lawmakers in the House, as well as strong support from Johnson’s committees that oversee Medicare. It has the backing of more than 550 organizations across the

country.Unsurprisingly,people wantpublic policy that aligns with evolving science and uses that science to makeour lives better.Speaker Johnson has fought forthe bill and taken it within inches of the goal line. It also recently becamethe ﬁrst health care bill in Congress to secure majority support in both chambers, making it the mostpopular health policy proposal on Capitol Hill.

I’mproud to join Prescott and Johnson on this common purpose of turning loss into mission and using our respective positions to help others. Giving morepeople access to early cancer detection is atremendous waytohonor our loved ones. As aformer NFLplayer,I’m glad to see Prescott be aleader in his community.It’stimefor Congress to ﬁnish the job and get this legislation into the end zone.

RichMauti is aformer NFL player and afounder of the MautiCancer Fund workingto educatethe public on cancer prevention,detection and treatment.

Unleashing U.S. energy results in thebestenvironmental data

deepwellofexperience. They didn’t wait; they organized, supported each other and began the arduous work of rebuildingtheir homes and businesses. Their determination, collective action and sheer will served as a powerful example for all New Orleanians. They taught us that rebuilding isn’tjust about bricks andmortar.It’sabout community,faith and abelief in abetter tomorrow,even after unimaginable loss.

Mark Cave GUEST COLUMNIST

As senior historian at the Historic New Orleans Collection, I’vehad the privilege of witnessing firsthand the resilience, faith and unflagging spirit that define New Orleans’ Vietnamesecommunity.The stories I’ve encountered highlight apeople who have woven themselves intothe very fabric of our city,demonstrating time and again how to rebuild from the ground up. Consider the extraordinary story of Keim Do, aformer deputy chiefof staff for the South Vietnamese Navy who orchestrated the evacuation of more than 30,000 people and later contributed to New Orleans as an educator,engineer and translator for vital localagencies.Heexemplifies the multifaceted ways this community has enriched our society But beyond his professional contributions, Do, like so many others, embodied the fortitude required to not just survive, but to thriveand to help others do the same. These are not isolated incidents; they are contributions that have strengthened our schools, our economy and ourcultural landscape, alwaysunderpinned by aspirit of perseverance.

When Katrina struck, theVietnamese community,havingalready faced the devastation and displacement, instinctively drew upon their

The experiences of war migration and resettlement shared by our Vietnamese elders are avital part of New Orleans’sstory. Their narratives serve as amemorial to those lost and acelebration of the community that has blossomed here. Through newlyacquired photographsand contributions from community membersand national archives, it’sclear that the Vietnamese American community has not merely settled in New Orleans;they have becomeanessential and enduringpartofour identity and atestament to our city’sresilience.

The Historic New OrleansCollection’snewest exhibition, Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans, presents these memories of ﬁrst-generation Vietnamese refugees who settled here after the Fall of Saigon. The free exhibit shares thedeeply personal stories of trauma and loss, hope, faithand family,and thelessons in fortitude they imparted to ourentire city

The resilience and sense of belonging that characterize this community areatestament to New Orleans itself, aspiritthat is bolstered by the wisdom andstrength of our Vietnamese neighbors Their storyisNew Orleans’sstory, one of grit, community and faith. As we reﬂect on our city’sfuture, maywecontinuetodraw strength from thelessonsthey so generously shared.

Mark Caveissenior historian at the Historic New Orleans Collection.

Tommy Faucheux GUEST COLUMNIST

The Gulf of America is one of the most strategic energy assets theUnited States has. Its vastreserves of oil and natural gas power our homes,fuel our economy and support Louisiana’scoastal communities. For more than 80 years, offshore energy production in the Gulf has been essential to our shared prosperity as Americans. That is why therecent biological opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service is so concerning. Forced to redo theoriginal opinion by court order and rushed to meet an artiﬁcial deadline due to Biden administration scheduling promises,the NMFS recently issued a677-page opinion that includes aso-called “jeopardy ﬁnding,” which hasbeen seized on by misguided environmental activists to suggestthat theoil and gas industry presents arisktothe Rice’swhale.

Theseopinions areimportant because the NMFS’sbiological opinion is an important document that can requireactions by industry to reduce that risk.Maintaining an up-to-date, informed biological opinioniskey to safelysupporting theenergy sector in the Gulf. Unfortunately,the new opinion fails to reﬂect thereal data we know about offshore operations and marine life in the Gulf. In fact, there is no proven evidence that any oil and gas vessel has ever struck aRice’swhale. Rather than relying on decades of records of oil and gas operations in the Gulf with no evidence of interaction between the industry and the Rice’swhale, NMFS utilizes speculation through predictive modeling to conclude industry activitycould be allegedly harming Rice’swhales.Itwould be inaccurate and irresponsible for this claim to be considered as fact. If left uncorrected, the ﬂawed biological opinion may disrupt critical permitting processes and delay or block responsible energy development,severelyrestricting exploration and production in the Gulf. The consequences will be felt far beyond Louisiana. Energy production in theGulf accounts for roughly 97% of all U.S. offshore oil and gas output. These resources are not just aregional asset. They are anational strength. Offshore development meets energy demand with some of the lowest-emissionbarrelsproduced anywhereinthe world. The carbon intensity of oil from the Gulf is 46% lower than theglobal average outside of the United States and Canada. That means Ameri-

cansget affordable and reliable energy with fewer emissions.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management found thatstopping offshore leasing would notreducedemandfor oil and gas and would result in an increase in greenhouse gasemissions by shifting production to places with weaker environmental protections. Offshore energy projects in the United Statesare subject to some of the most rigorousenvironmental standards in the world. These reviews aredesignedtoensure safety, minimize environmental impact and protect sensitive habitats.

The newbiological opinion ignores the energy industry’sdecades of experience operating responsibly andinnovating continuously to improve safety andsustainability.Its conclusions aboutthe endangered Rice’swhale arenot basedonthe best available science. According to the NationalOcean Industries Association, the decision is driven by speculationand worst-case scenarios instead of fact-based data.The result is aregulatory document thatthreatenstosloworblock responsible activity in the Gulf basedonfear ratherthanfacts.

Thatslowdown would hit Louisiana especially hard. Our state’soil and gas industry supports more than306,000 jobs, making up 15% of the state’s total employment. It generates more than$25.5 billioninwages andcontributesover$77.7billiontoour economy.

But this is aboutmorethan economics. Whenweallowﬂawed regulations to block development, we make Americamoredependent on foreign powers. Thatmeansgiving leverage to nations like Russia, Venezuela andthe members of OPEC, countries that do notshare ourvaluesorour environmental standards.

President Donald Trump hasmade it clear thathis energy agenda is about unleashing American energy,not holding it back. The Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and GasAssociationsupports the administration’seffort. We believe the United States should lead the world in energy production and environmentalstewardship.

The Gulf of America is too important to be sidelinedbymisguided policy.Offshore energy production strengthens our economy, protectsour coastand provides the energy security everyAmerican family depends on. Let’sdefendit. Let’sgrow it. And let’skeep the Gulf strong.

Tommy Faucheux is thePresident of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil andGas Association.

ISSUE OF THE WEEK THEEPSTEIN FILES COMMENTARY

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

U.S. Embassy in London last week.

The case of JeffreyEpstein, whodied in prison 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, continues to fascinate asegment of the American public whobelieve there is awider conspiracy behind Epstein’scrimes.While campaigning,President Donald Trump vowed to his supporters to release more information about the government’sinvestigation into Epstein.But recently,AttorneyGeneral PamBondi said there wasnothing more to be released, and Trump urgedhis supporters to move on. But some have refused to do so, fracturing the MAGA base.Arethe questionssurrounding the Epstein case valid, and is this adefining moment for Trump’spolitical movement? Here are twoperspectives.

JefferyEpstein’s rumored Mossad linksjusta canard

It’salmost conventionalwisdom in certain quarters that Jeffrey Epstein must have been working for the Israeli intelligence service Mossad.

“It’sextremely obvious to anyone who watches that this guy,” Tucker Carlson said of Epstein the other day,“had direct connections to aforeign government. No one is allowed to say that that foreign governmentisIsrael because we’ve been somehow cowed into thinking that that’snaughty.”

Acosta,rather an unnamed source told the story to areporter.Acosta denieshe ever said it.

Asked about the matter at anews conferenceaslabor secretarywhenthe Epstein story reemerged, Acosta seemed to deny it,although, admittedly,ina halting andindirect fashion

Steve Bannon, coveringall his bases, says Epstein was working forMossad, MI6, Saudi intelligence and the CIA, while Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA only says that Epstein may have been working for Mossad.

The ﬁrst question to askabout this purported relationship is, Why would Mossad want to associate itself with Epstein? He was under investigationfor his sexual crimes going backto2005and convicted of afew of them (as partofa sweetheart plea deal) in 2008,and would be under federal investigationagain about adecadelater

Clearly,itwould risk an enormous black eye for the State ofIsrael to connect itself to aknown sex offender whose lifestyle was ﬂamboyant and anongoing crime scene.

What would be thesupposed upside? Compromisinginformationonthe rich and powerful? Presumably,there’d be mucheasier ways to honey-trap men with untoward sexual appetitesthan hope they become friendly with Jeffrey Epstein and compromisethemselves on hisprivate island

If the notion of Epstein asanIsraeli spy seems implausible, if not farcical, it’s gotten some superﬁcial plausibility from parts of the record that have beenexaggerated or misinterpreted.

Perhaps most important, the U.S. attorney for the Southern DistrictofFlorida who worked out the plea dealwith Epstein, Alex Acosta, supposedly said that he was told to go easy on Epstein by higher-ups in the Bush administration at the time because Epstein was with intelligence. Acosta allegedly said this aspart of his vettingprocess to become Trump’s ﬁrst secretary of labor in the ﬁrst term. But this didn’t come directly from

As part of an extensive 2020 JusticeDepartmentOfﬁce of Professional Responsibilityreport into the handling of thecasebyAcosta andthe Southern District, Acosta told theinvestigators that he had no information about Epstein beingan intelligence asset and that his answer at the news conference was meant to be a“no.”

The report related that “OPR found no evidencesuggestingthatEpstein was such acooperating witness or ‘intelligenceasset,’ or that anyone —including any of the subjects of OPR’sinvestigation— believed that to be the case.”

Whatabout Epstein’swell-documented relationshipwithformer Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak? One assumes that aMossadasset wouldn’tspend inordinate time with aformer high-ranking Israeli ofﬁcial.

AlanDershowitz, whorepresented Epstein,maintains that he asked his client if he had contacts with intelligence agencies, and Epstein said “no,” even though it would have been in his legal interest to disclose any relationships.

Regarding Epstein’sdeath,which many believe wasreallya murder,the Mossad accusationsget morefantastic: Israeli intelligence hadtoclean up after itself by killing an American citizen on U.S.soil in fact, while he was held in aU.S. jail? By the way,ifMossad killed Epstein, and wascapable of pulling off ano-fingerprints operation in extremely difficult circumstances on U.S. soil,surely they would have killed hiscloseassociate GhislaineMaxwell beforeshe wentto trial with an incentive to spill herguts. All of this so beggars beliefthatit’s almost not worth addressing, exceptthat influentialvoices on theright believe Israel might be behind oneofthe most hideous scandalsinrecentAmerican life.

Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry

Don’tbet that theEpstein scandalisbehindus

When areporter asked Attorney General Pam Bondi about theJeffrey Epstein investigation, President Donald Trumpcould not contain himself amomentlonger

“Are you still talking aboutJeffrey Epstein?” he said, pushing back against the question. “This guy’sbeen talked about for years. Arepeople still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable.”

the “Epstein ﬁles” in what he implied would be aday of comeuppance forhis political enemies.

It was aday after the Justice Department concluded the convicted sex offender died by an unassisted suicide —not by foul play,ascountless rumor-mongers and conspiracy theorists had alleged. Epstein was accused of trafﬁcking and sexually abusing dozens of underage girls.

He pleaded guiltytoprocuring achild for prostitution and soliciting in aFlorida statecourt in 2008 as part of adeal to avoid federal charges

He later was charged with sex trafﬁcking in New York federal court but died in jail while awaiting trial.

Yetthis case, like any other “heater,” as prosecutors often call an attentiongrabbing case like this one,isnot about to slip far out of therumor mills and conspiracy theorists across party lines.

Whether they exist or not, “the Epstein ﬁles” becameastoryinthemselves, unfettered by anything as mundane as a lack of evidence, and easily available to be weaponized by various factions.

The ﬁles found their way into the news morerecently as Trump’sfeud with his former ally Elon Musk heated up. The billionaire entrepreneur claimed that theTrumpadministration had withheld the“ﬁles” because thepresident was named in them.

Well, who wasn’tnamed in the “ﬁles,” if you believe the rumors? Idon’tbelieve them, but in theage of social media, the never-ending cascade of information and misinformation at least offers some entertainment value if you don’ttake it too seriously

Yetit’sironic that the reporter’s question about Epstein provoked the president of the United States into an oncamera hissy ﬁt. Ialso detect ameasure of cosmic justice. After all, it wasTrump who made acampaign promise to open

In the annals of American politics, you would strain to find afigure who mademore effective use of innuendo than Trump, whofirst becameadarling of right-wing conspiratorialists around 2010 by promoting lies about Barack Obama’sbirth in the United States.

Since the salad days of “birtherism,” we have witnessed aﬂowering of outlandishly paranoid politics as social media platforms prioritized audience engagement over such antiquated notions as accuracy in the design of their algorithms. This era saw the launch of a new generation of media stars liberated from any editorial authority that might submit their assertions to afact check. Unsurprisingly,the rising conspiracy media elite loved Donald Trump, and he loved them right back.

Trumpdepended on their loyalty when he promoted the Big Lie of the stolen election in 2020, which in turn led to an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and the gravest threat to constitutional rule in the United States since the Civil War.

Is this asignificant turn in the political firmament, or is it merely an indication that Trump’stactical use of conspiracy theories is having unintended consequences? It’s hard to say,but it may not bode wellthat his administration is stuffedwith conspiracy theorists, including two—FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino —who have pushed the “Epstein files” narrative.

Idon’texpect much in the wayofreliable further revelations, but newsisa business that tries to prepare forthe unexpected —with healthy skepticism More likely,wemight ﬁnd out whoare the grifters, the shills and the suckers in this con game.

As an old-school journo, Istill rely on the advice of the old Chicago City News Bureau slogan: If your mother says she loves you, check it out —especially if it arrives in atweet.

Email Clarence Page at clarence47page@gmail.com

Clarence Page

Rich Lowry

Commuterswalk past abus stop with aposter showing President Donald Trump and JeffreyEpsteinnearthe

NewOrleans Forecast

beginat9 a.m. andmass willbegin at 10 a.m. Father Scott is thehostand Fa‐therEmmanuelwillofﬁci‐ate.Interment will be pri‐vate. Funeralplanningen‐trusted to Robinson Family Funeral Home,9611 LA -23, Belle Chasse,LA70037 (504) 208 -2119. Foronline condolences please visit www.robinsonfamilyfuner alhome.com

Williams,Bobbie Jean Harry

BobbieJeanHarry Williams,age 86, passed awaypeacefully at home surrounded by family, on July22, 2025. Bobbiewas 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 BaptistChurchofCov‐ingtonand wasanactive memberofthe Ogea Con‐nectGroup priortorecent illnesses. Bobbiegradu‐atedfromBogalusa High Schoolin1957. Earlyinher career,she worked in the

DEATHS continued from insuranceindustry. 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‐tion Singersatchurch playing dominos with church friends, andputting together puzzles. Thefam‐ily wouldliketoextend thankstoDr. Dale Presser and MelissaLumpkin,FNP for theircompassionate careoverthe yearsand to the staff of St.Tammany HealthSystemHospice for their loving anddevoted careduringher final weeks. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mrs.Williamsmay be made to FirstBaptist 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 willfollow in Pinecrest MemorialGardens.E.J FieldingFuneralHomehas been entrustedwithfu‐neral arrangements.The Williams family invitesyou toshare thoughts,fondest memories, andcondo‐lencesonlineatE.J.Field‐ing FuneralHome Guest 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, Louisianawhere he wasa

pillar of theTerrebonne ParishCommunity.Charles was afaithfulmemberand seniordeaconofRockof AgesB.C andalsoa Dea‐con andmemberofthe trustee boardofTerre‐bonne Parish Men’sDay Association Louisiana5th 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 leavesbehindhis cher‐ished love andmemories, 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, andByron 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.

CONTROL

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Late in Thursday’spractice during a red zone period, Spencer Rattler rolled to his right, saw nothing there and decided to heave the ball out of the back of the end zone.

The problem is theball didn’t getthere.

“Gottaput more on it,” Rattlersaid. “Just missed it. Bad decision.”

The ball hungupand stayed inbounds, allowing New Orleans Saints rookie corner Quincy Riley to pluck it outofthe air for an interception. It was anotable lowlight that landedinreporter’s notebooks andmade the roundsonsocial media

And then, on theverynextsnap, Rattler saw the defense parting in front of himand scrambledthrough thegap for atouchdown.

As the Saints let athree-man race play out for the starting quarterback job, the players competing forthe spot arefocusing on doing exactly what Rattlerdid in that moment:Not letting onebad snap turn into several badsnaps

They’replaying ahigh-stakes game

where mistakes can feel magniﬁed. That requiresmental focus and the ability to not only ﬂush apoor moment,but correct it in the aftermath.

threw an interception today in ared zone period, which he’d donesomany good thingsdown there. Those moments

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Chris Olave washappy to see the New York Jets pay Garrett Wilson. Thetwo were teammates at Ohio State, and the NewOrleansSaints wide receiversaid he couldtellalmostinstantly that Wilson would be “destined forgreatness.” AndWilson’s newcontract reflects that journey —four years, $130 million. With an average of $32.5 million per year,the Jets madeWilson the ﬁfthhighest-paid wide receiver.Itwas the kind of deal that could set the market forOlave,who wasdraftedthe same year as his former teammate. Buttalks of his own contract extension will have to wait, Olave said. “Coming off the season Ihad, Iwas out for the year,I’m not really looking at it rightnow,” Olavesaid. “I feel like I’ve got to prove myself to be able to get that type of money or to get that type

“It’s alwaysabout howyou respond to adversity,”saidcoach Kellen Moore

WWEsuperstar hadcolorfulcareerinand

BY CURT ANDERSON and ED WHITE

The Associated Press

CLEARWATER,Fla. Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into amassivebusinessand stretched his inﬂuenceintoTV, popculture and conservative politics duringa long and scandal-plagued second act, died Thursday in Florida at age 71. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospitalless than 90 minutes after medics in Clearwaterarrivedat his home to answer amorning call about acardiac arrest, police said “There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity,”Maj. Nate Burnside told reporters.

Hogan, whose real namewas Terry Bollea, was perhaps thebiggest star in WWE’slonghistory He was the main draw for thefirst WrestleMania in1985and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant andRandy Savage to The Rockand even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon. But outside the the ring, Hogan also found trouble. WWEin2015 cut ties with him for three years, even removing him from its Hall of Fame, afteritwas reported that he was recorded using racial slurs about Blacks. He apologizedand said hiswords were “unacceptable.” Hogan won at least six WWE championshipsand wasinducted into theHall of Fame in 2005 and reinstated there in 2018. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and millions of fans have watched the company’sweekly live television program, “Raw,” which debuted in JanuaryonNetflix “He was atrailblazer,the first

performer whotransitioned from being awrestling star intoaglobal phenomenon,” McMahonsaid of Hogan.

Hogan’sbrand of passion “Hulkamania,” as theenergy he created was called, startedrunning wild in the mid-1980s and pushed professional wrestling into themainstream.Hewas a

The ear-splitting noise emanating from the speakers in Tiger Stadium’sSouth Stadium Club at Wednesday’sjam-packed Rotary Club luncheon sounded like an ocean liner’sfoghorn being melted in ablast furnace.

LSU coach Brian Kelly,the reason hundreds of people were there and willing to endure the metallic rending sound, decided he didn’t want to deal with it.

“I don’t need amicrophone,” LSUfootball’shead man said as he took the podium Kelly took charge, then in a loud voice that carried easily above the rapt room he spent mostofthe next 20 minutes basically describing how he is in charge of atalented, promising, well-supported and well-funded football program.Ateam that he said is comprised of players who understand attention to detail andare following the right leaders within the team (he ticked off three: quarterback Garrett Nussmeier,linebacker Whit Weeksand offensive lineman Bo Bordelon) to help them get there.

“LSU football and LSU athletics is about being elite,” Kelly said. “It’sabout astandard, a Tiger standard, that is ahigh bar, that we expect you to meet and exceed every day.That’scalled accountability That’smyjob as the head coach, to create the culture and maintain it on aday-to-day basis.

“What’simportant to our guys? Those traits of excellence: Being on time, having good habits, having attention to detail, having a good attitude, showing some grit. That’sthe most important thing to us when we talk about thinking the right way.That standard is high at LSU.That’swhy Ilove being here, because that standard has been set.”

Then Kelly asked and answered the question that was on everyone’smind in attendance, and perhaps millions more minds of LSU fans everywhere. “So asking, ‘Will we win anational championship?’ is not the question,” he said. “It’s‘When

“Guys are going tomake mistakes, Spencer

STAFF FILE PHOTOBySOPHIA GERMER Saints wide receiverChrisOlave catches apass during minicamp practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 10.

STAFF PHOTOSByBRETT DUKE

Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler throwsthe ball during training camp in Metairie on Thursday.

Saints quarterbacks, from left, Hunter Dekkers, Spencer Rattler,JakeHaener and Tyler Shough gather during Wednesday’spractice.

5:25

2:05 p.m. NASCAR Trucks: practiceFS1

3p.m. IndyNXT: practice FS2

3:10 p.m. NASCAR Trucks: qualifyingFS1

4p.m. NTT IndyCar:practice FS2

4:30 p.m. ARCA: LiUNA! 150 FS1

5:30 p.m. IndyNXT: practice FS2

7p.m. NASCAR Trucks: TSport200 FS1

9p.m. NHRA: qualifyingFS1

4:55 a.m. Formula 1: Sprint race ESPN CYCLING

6a.m. Tour de France: Stage 19 PEACOCK

BROADCASTHIGHLIGHTS

7a.m. LIV Golf League: first round FS1

7:30 a.m. PGAChampions: Senior Open Golf

11 a.m.LIV Golf League: second round FS2

3p.m. PGATour:3MOpen Golf

HORSE RACING

Noon NyRA: SaratogaLiveFS2

3:30 p.m. NyRA: SaratogaLiveFS2

LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL

9a.m. Southeast regional:TBD ESPN

11 a.m.New England regional:TBD ESPN

12:45 p.m.Central regional: TBD ESPN

2:30 p.m. Southwest regional: TBD ESPN

4:15 p.m. Northwest regional ESPN

6p.m. Mid-Atlantic regional: TBD ESPN

7:45 p.m. West regional: TBD ESPN

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

3:10 p.m.Miami at MilwaukeeMLB

6:05 p.m.Philadelphia at yankees APPLETV+

7p.m.Atlanta at Texas MLB

7:10 p.m.Cleveland at Kansas City APPLETV+

9:15 p.m.N.y.Mets at SanFrancisco MLB

MEN’S SOCCER

9p.m.Valour FC at Vancouver FC FS2

WOMEN’S SOCCER

6:50 p.m.Brazil vs.Colombia FS2 TENNIS

6a.m.Kitzbuhel-ATP,Prague-WTATennis

11 a.m. Kitzbuhel-ATP,Prague-WTATennis WNBA

6:30 p.m.PhoenixatNew york ION

9p.m.DallasatGoldenState ION

England, Spaintomeetfor Euro title

Europeanpowers facedoff in WorldCup finaltwo yearsago

BY DANIELLA MATAR AP sportswriter

ZURICH Here we go again

There’sasense of déjà vu about the Women’sEuropean Championship ﬁnal that pits reigningchampion England against World Cup winner Spain.

The two nations faced off in the World Cup ﬁnal two years ago with Spain edging an open match 1-0.

“I think obviously that was a massive disappointment and Ifeel like from acollective we probably feel like we didn’thave our best performancethat day,but Ithink …ifyou’re trying to pull on that too much then you’re going to be too emotional with too many things going on,” England midﬁelder Keira Walsh said Thursday

“Obviously you thinkabout it a little bit butIthink for us, put it to thesideand focus on the game on Sunday.We’ve got so many new players in this team whoare really conﬁdent and bring so many things to this team, so it’sexciting and we can just focus on the positives.”

Both teams needed 120 minutes to get through their gruellng semifinals. England’ssuper-subs had their part to play again Tuesdaywithlate goals first taking the match to extra time and then securing alast-gasp 2-1 victory over Italy Spain needed amoment of magic from two-timeBallon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí to get past aresilient German side 1-0 on Wednesday It will be afirst Euros final for Spain but even before the tourna-

HOGAN

Continued from page1C

ﬂag-waving American hero with the horseshoe mustache,red and yellow gear andmassive arms he called his “24-inchpythons.” Crowds were hysterical when he ripped off his T-shirt in the ring —a trademark move —revealing atan, sculpted body Hogan was also acelebrity outside thewrestlingworld,appearing in numerous moviesand television shows, including areality show about his life on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.” In recent years, Hogan added his celebrity to politics. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he merged classic WWE maneuvers with then-candidate Donald Trump’srhetoric to passionately endorse him forpresident.

“Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamaniarule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!” Hogan shouted intothe raucous crowd He ripped off aT-shirt emblazoned with apicture of himself on amotorcycle to reveal abright redTrump-Vancecampaignshirt underneath. Trump stood to applaud the move.

“Welost agreat friend today,the ‘Hulkster,’ “Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. “Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way —Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.” Hogan lately began to invest in alternatives to theatrical, professional wrestling, announcing plans in April to serveasthe first commissioner for the Real American Freestyle organization,which describes itself as “the first unscriptedpro wrestling” leaguesin the world. The first event is Aug. 30 at Cleveland StateUniversity

“The idea was so exciting that I get achance to be involved with all these young people and help guide them in any way,especially to make them huge stars and

England’sKeira Walsh, left,vies for theball withSpain’sMariona Caldentey during the Women’sWorld Cup final on Aug. 20, 2023, in Sydney,Australia.The twoteams meet again SundayinBasel, Switzerland.

ment it had been the favorite to add theEuropean title to its collection after winning the World Cup and Nations League in the past two years.

The two teams have faced off twice since theWorld Cup ﬁnal, garnering awin apiece in the Nations League this year.Jess

Park scored the only goal when England beat Spain1-0 in February and Clàudia Pina grabbeda second-half double to helpSpain to a2-1 victory in June.

“Our past meetingsmean nothing because each gameisaquestion of moments, the style of play changes, thesquads change, Bonmatí said

“They have alot of players that we have faced alot of times,inthe 2023 WorldCup too. We knowthem, they knowus. So we want to prepare the best for the game, to win it.”

Spain’striumph at the World Cupwas marred by the Luis Rubiales scandal, afterthe-thenhead of theSpanish soccer federation kissed player Jenni Hermoso during the awards ceremony Rubialeswas subsequently charged withsexual assault and convicted afew months beforethe start of Euro2025, bringing an end

to one of the worst chapters in the history of Spanish soccer Walsh, who made 100 appearances for Barcelona over 21/2 seasons, wasplaying in Spain at thetime and witnessed thefallout ﬁrst hand.

“I think the mostimportant thingfor them is thatthey can enjoy this final, there’snot the controversy surrounding it,” she said. “I think just forthe girls this time andasa friend andanother football player,for them just to go and enjoy it.

“They play incredible football and they deserve to be there, so as ahuman being Ijust want them to go out and enjoy thegameoffootball.”

exploits. He wasbeloved for his “promos”— hype sessions he used to draw fans into matches. He often would playoff his interviewer, “Mean”GeneOkerlund, starting his interviews offwith, “Well, lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene!”

Outsidethe ring

He crossedoverinto movies and television as well. He was Thunderlips in themovie “RockyIII” in 1982.

In 2016,aFlorida jury awarded Hogan $115 millioninalawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25millioninpunitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 obtained and posted video of him havingsex with his former best friend’swife.Hesaidthe post violated his privacy

No timetable setfor return of Indianapolis star Clark

INDIANAPOLIS Indiana Fever coach Stephanie Whitetook a deep breath when she heard Caitlin Clark’sinjury update Thursday No further injuries werediscovered during this week’sevaluations on her injured leftgroin.

Andwithnotimetable forClark’s return, theFever will be relegated to playing the waiting game as they move forwardwithout the two-time All-Star

“I thinkthat’sbig forthe mindset of our group to know that we’vegot to continue to grow and connected in those waysand not is she available, will she, will she not practice?” White said during her pregamenews conference. “It’s one of the disruptionsthatcomes with someofthat.

“So there’sclarity and Ithink that’sgood for everyone, Ithink that’sgood forCaitlin, too.”

NewJerseyLittle Leaguer clearedafter suspension

WOODBURY,N.J.— The 12-year-old LittleLeaguer whofaced suspensionfromhis team’s first state tournament gamefor ﬂipping his bat after hitting agame-winning home run was allowed to play Thursday night.

Marco Rocco of Haddonfield, New Jersey, tossedhis batinthe aironJuly 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the ﬁnal of the sectional tournament. Marco was ejected andsuspended fora game over what the family was told wereactions deemed “unsportsmanlike” and “horseplay.”

The family sought an emergency temporary restraining order to allow himtoplay in the New Jersey state tournament that started Thursday

Raducanu beats Osaka at D.C. Open in firstmatchup WASHINGTON Emma Raducanu dominated her first career matchup against Naomi Osaka, winning the showdownatthe D.C. Open on Thursday between past U.S. Open champions 6-4, 6-2. “I didfeel it had abit of extra,” Raducanu said. “It’samatch that Ifeel alot of people were talking aboutbeforehand. Iknewthat ahead of thematch,but Iactually quite like these kind of matchups, whereyou’replaying agreat opponent. Alot of people have eyes on the match. They’re into it.” Raducanu, the first qualifier to claim aGrand Slam titlewhen she did that in NewYork in 2021, saved the only two break points shefaced and managed to break the big-servingOsaka three times.

DC council setfor Aug. 1 vote on stadium plan

create afuture for them,” Hogan said. “People might be surprised, but wrestling is wrestling, brother.”

Broken leg, newattitude

Hogan was born in Georgia but lived much of hislifeinthe Tam-

pa, Florida,area. He recalledskipping school to watch wrestlers at theSportatorium, aprofessional wrestlingstudio in Tampa.

“I had been running my mouth, telling everybody I’mgoingtobe awrestler, andinasmall town, theword gets out,” Hogan told theTampa BayTimes in 2021 “And so when Iwent down there, they were laying lowfor me. They exercised me till Iwas ready to faint.”

Theresult: abroken leg and a subsequent warning from his dad.

“Don’tyou ever let anybody hurt you again,” Hoganrecalled his father saying. “So Iwentback four or ﬁvemonthslater with awhole new attitude. The rest is history.”

Hogan ﬁrst became champion in what was then theWorld Wrestling Federation in 1984, and pro wrestling took off from there. His popularity helped lead to the creation of theannual WrestleMania

eventin1985, when he teamed up with Mr.Ttobeat “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Mr.Wonderful” Paul Orndorff in the main event. He slammedand beat Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987, andthe WWF gained momentum. His feudwith the late “MachoMan”Randy Savage —perhaps his greatestrival—carried pro wrestling even further Hogan was acentral ﬁgure in what is known as the Monday Night Wars. The WWE and WorldChampionshipWrestlingwere battling for ratings supremacy in 1996. Hogantilted things in WCW’sfavor with the birth of theHollywood Hogan characterand theformation of theNew World Order,a villainous stable that put WCW ahead in the ratings. He returned to theWWE in 2002 andbecame achampion again. His match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8, alossduring which fans cheered for his “bad guy” character,was seen as apassing of the torch. Hogan was perhaps as well known for his larger-than-life personalityashewas his in-ring

Hoganended up settling the case for millions less after Gawker ﬁled for bankruptcy

There was other fallout. The litigation led to the discovery that Hoganhad usedracial slurs on the tape.

“It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and Iapologize forhaving done it,”Hogan said in awritten statement.

After Hogan was booed at the premiere of Netﬂix’snew WWE show in January,former WWE wrestlerMark Henry,who is Black,said that the scandal wasa “dark cloud” over Hogan’scareer Henrysaidhebelievesinsecond chances but that Hogan “never wanted to go forward and ﬁx it.”

Outside Hogan’sHangout, his restaurant in Clearwater Beach, people talked about theiradmiration for Hogan as news of his deathspread. Rich Null of St Louis said thetwo men worked out together.

“Thirty minutes into our workout in the gym, he said, ‘cut the Hulk Hogan crap, call me Terry,’ ” Null said. “He wasareally superniceguy,and we’re going to miss him.”

ASHBURN,Va.— The D.C. Council is set to vote Aug. 1onrevised legislation that could allow the Washington Commanders to return to the site of their formerhome at RFK Stadium,chairman Phil Mendelson announced Thursday, describing the updated proposal as awin forthe city and its residents.

The updated plan would support a$3.7 billion redevelopment project featuring anew stadium,6,000 housingunits —including1,800 designated as affordable —and retail space and parkland across the 174-acre RFK campus.

Mendelson’sstatementcomes days after President Donald Trumpthreatened to block federal support forthe stadium project unless the team reverted to its former name, “Redskins.”

Kansas basketball coach has two stents put in heart

LAWRENCE, Kan. Kansas basketball coach Bill Self had twostents inserted into his heart to treat blocked arteries Thursday at LawrenceMemorialHospitalafterhe “felt unwell and experienced some concerning symptoms.”

“The procedure went very well, andheisexpected to make afull recovery,” the Kansas athletic department said in astatement. “He is in good spirits and expects to be released from the hospital soon.”

The 62-year-old Self directed the ﬁnalpractice of the summer session Thursday morning as he prepares for his 23rdseason as head coach of the Jayhawks. He missed the 2023 Big 12 and NCAA tournaments becauseofaheart condition, getting astandard catheterization andhaving two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries. ä Euro 2025 championship. NOON SUNDAy,FOX

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JASON DECROW

Big changes ahead

UNO making progress with the help of Master P, 13 new players

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

Change was promised for the UNO men’s basketball program when Percy “Master P” Miller became president of basketball operations.

Miller is best known for his success in the music industry but has an extensive basketball background as both a player and a coach. The New Orleans native Miller stated his plans for UNO at an introductory news conference in February and there have been signiﬁcant changes this summer at Lakefront Arena. UNO has a renovated basketball locker room that includes a freshly painted multicolored floor and bright lights. The roster includes 13 new players as the team looks to improve after a 4-27 record last season.

“We’re just getting better every day,” Miller said. “Are we coming out and saying we’re the best team in the world? No, but we’re working hard. We know that the community is behind us, and the players are excited. It’s going to be a special year.”

UNO’s revamped roster features multiple Division I transfers and a pair of centers over seven feet. Coach Stacy Hollowell is entering his second season at UNO and has worked alongside Miller to assemble the newlook lineup.

“Immediately (Miller’s)

RABALAIS

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are we going to win a national championship?’ Because we will. We have the players, the standards, the support. We have 75,000 season ticket holders — no one has more in the entire country It allows us to get a clearer picture of what the ﬁrst game is going to look like.” Kelly talks a good game. He’s always talked a good game. That take-charge voice, those words preaching attention to detail and commitment to a highminded goal of developing players as people and trying to win LSU’s ﬁfth national title along the way is heady, convincing stuff

Coming from a person who has been in this head coaching business for over 30 years, it carries even more of a visceral impact in a very Nick Saban-like manner. But there could be no clearer delineation of the transition now facing Kelly and his program than his annual appearance at the Rotary Club luncheon, always his ﬁnal preseason speaking engagement

The time for talking is over

“We

impact was felt,” Hollowell said. “I think we’ve put together a nice mix of transfers and young talent that we feel like can help us make an impact that we weren’t able to make in Year 1. One year can really transform what you look like.”

The two returning players from are sophomore MJ Thomas and senior Grant Kemp. Thomas averaged 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for UNO as a freshman and is expected to play an important role again this season as the only returning starter

“MJ has done a great job putting himself in a situation where he can take a jump in his college career,” Hollow-

The time for doing is at hand.

It’s why Kelly also talked about doing something for the ﬁrst time in his career: creating an atmosphere within the football complex to have his Tigers tunnel in on their Aug. 30 season opener at Clemson It will likely be the most highly ranked opener for LSU since 2011, when No 4 LSU beat No. 3 Oregon 40-27 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium.

He talked about the Clemson paw prints all over the weight room and Clemson videos on all the TV monitors. He even poked the

ell said. “Last year he was our big man. This year we’ve got 10 guys that are between 6-foot-7 and 7-3, so he now looks more like a wing than a ﬁve.”

“We’ve got a nice squad,” Thomas said. “I feel like I’ve matured a lot.”

The centers brought in via the transfer portal include 6-10 Churchill Abass from Wake Forest, 7-3 Mathok Majok from Oral Roberts and 7-2 William Patterson of Syracuse. UNO alum Ervin Johnson has spent time working with UNO’s post players this summer Johnson was a star center for UNO during the 1990s. He went on to play 13 seasons in the NBA and is cur-

bear (or, in this case, the other Tiger) by taking the schools’ Death Valley rivalry up a notch.

“You want attention to detail on fourth-and-goal,” Kelly said. “You want great habits when they’re needed when you’re on the road and playing at Death Valley Junior — not the real Death Valley Within that, it’s our job to prepare our players totally

“When they say ‘Coach is really conﬁdent about his team,’ it’s because I see those traits in action.”

So, take Kelly at his word. This is a committed, focused team, the most tal-

BY WILL WEISSERT

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order mandating that federal authorities clarify whether college athletes can be considered employees of the schools they play for in an attempt to create clearer national standards in the NCAA’s name, image and likeness era.

Trump directed the secretary of labor and the National Labor Relations Board to clarify the status of collegiate athletes through guidance or rules

“that will maximize the educational benefits and opportunities provided by higher education institutions through athletics.”

The order does not provide or suggest speciﬁcs on the controversial topic of college athlete employment.

cision from the Supreme Court that found the NCAA cannot impose caps on education-related beneﬁts schools provide to their athletes because such limits violate antitrust law

The NCAA’s embrace of NIL deals set the stage for another massive change that took effect July 1: The ability of schools to begin paying millions of dollars to their own athletes, up to $20.5 million per school over the next year The $2.8 billion House settlement shifts even more power to athletes, who have also won the ability to transfer from school to school without waiting to play At Big Ten Conference football media days in Las Vegas, Purdue coach Barry Odom was asked about the Trump order

rently a community ambassador for the Denver Nuggets.

“I’m just trying to help out,” Johnson said. “Using my knowledge, my wisdom and my experience to try and give (the players) everything I have to make them a better player, better student, better human being. Whatever I can do to help them, that’s what I’m here for.”

Abass and Majok are among six international transfers on UNO’s roster, with Abass hailing from Nigeria and Majok from South Sudan. Vancouver native Irish Coquia transferred from Division II Simon Fraser in British Columbia, Canada, and is expected to play a key role at guard.

Coquia is joined by a pair of Division I guard transfers in seniors Jakevion Buckley from Southeastern Louisiana and Coleton Benson from Texas State. Buckley averaged 14.5 points per game last season, with Benson averaging 2.2 3-pointers.

UNO’s season opener is scheduled for Nov 3 at TCU. The Privateers’ home opener will follow on Nov. 9 at Lakefront Arena against neighboring NAIA program Southern University of New Orleans.

“That’s going to be good to have two teams from the city compete over here,” Miller said.

“It’s going to be a great atmosphere.”

ented one on paper, he says, in his four seasons at LSU. None of that is guarantee of victory at Clemson, nor enough victories to get the Tigers back in the College Football Playoff for the ﬁrst

The move comes after months of speculation about whether Trump will establish a college sports commission to tackle some of the thorny issues facing what is now a multibilliondollar industry He instead issued an order intended to add some controls to “an out-of-control, rudderless system in which competing university donors engage in bidding wars for the best players, who can change teams each season.”

“Absent guardrails to stop the madness and ensure a reasonable, balanced use of resources across collegiate athletic programs that preserves their educational and developmental beneﬁts, many college sports will soon cease to exist,” Trump’s order says. “It is common sense that college sports are not, and should not be, professional sports, and my administration will take action accordingly.”

There has been a dramatic increase in money ﬂowing into and around college athletics and a sense of chaos. Key court victories won by athletes angry that they were barred for decades from earning income based on their celebrity and from sharing in the billions of revenue they helped generate have gutted the amateurism model long at the heart of college sports.

Facing a growing number of state laws undercutting its authority, the NCAA in July 2021 cleared the way for athletes to cash in with NIL deals with brands and sponsors — deals now worth millions. That came mere days after a 9-0 de-

time since they won it all six seasons ago. But it seems to move the odds in LSU’s favor Kelly makes it all sound very good. It simply has to be good on the ﬁeld, in a

“We’ve gotten to the point where government is involved. Obviously there’s belief it needs to be involved,” he said.

“We’ll get it all worked out. The game’s been around for a hundred years and it’s going to be around 100 more.”

The NCAA has been lobbying for several years for limited antitrust protection to keep some kind of control over this new landscape and avoid more crippling lawsuits — but a handful of bills have gone nowhere in Congress. Trump’s order makes no mention of that, nor does it refer to any of the current bills in Congress aimed at addressing issues in college sports.

NCAA president Charlie Baker and the nation’s largest conferences both issued statements saying there is a clear need for federal legislation.

“The association appreciates the Trump administration’s focus on the lifechanging opportunities college sports provides millions of young people and we look forward to working with student-athletes, a bipartisan coalition in Congress and the Trump administration,” said Baker while the conferences said it was important to pass a law with national standards for athletes’ NIL rights as soon as possible.

The 1,100 universities that comprise the NCAA have insisted for decades that athletes are students who cannot be considered anything like a school employee. Still, some coaches have recently suggested collective bargaining as a potential solution to the chaos they see.

season that has so much riding on it. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate com/lsunewsletter

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

LSU football coach Brian Kelly speaks during his annual preseason stop at the Baton Rouge Rotary Club meeting

STAFF PHOTOS By JOHN MCCUSKER

UNO president of basketball operations Percy ‘Master P’ Miller, left, and coach Stacy Hollowell talk to players during practice Thursday. Miller and Hollowell brought in 13 new players as the Privateers try to improve on last season’s 4-27 record.

The remodeled UNO basketball locker room is one of the major improvements made since last season.

Falcons’ QB Penixmore

Saints QBsrunning into earlyspeed bumps

BY CHARLES ODUM AP sportswriter

“has acannon” as apasser

Oldnews

Tyler Shough’s best throw of Thursday’spractice was his last. Before the snap, just outside the end zone, the New Orleans Saints quarterback saw thatthe defense was in acover-0,all-out blitz. So he changed the play.Shough relayed theprotection change and after the snap,the 25-year-olddrifted away from theoncoming pressure to ﬁnd Rashid Shaheed foratouchdown

“It was agood rep to go through in the installs and kind of what we’re tryingtoget done,” Shough said.

Shough’scompletion was the right note to end on, particularly becausethe earlier reps were very much awork in progress. And he wasn’talone in that regard. On the second day of Saints training camp, the quarterbacks kept running into speed bumps —the kindsthat areperhaps expected in the ﬁrst few daysof camp withanew scheme and new coaching staff in place.

Coach Kellen Moore has said he wants his quarterbacks to learn from their mistakes. And through twopractices, the trio in competition for the starting job —Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener —have shownthey’re up for the task. The most illustrative moment of that on Thursday was when Spencer Rattler followed an end-zone interceptionwitha touchdown on a quarterback scramble.

Moore said he liked the bounce back from Rattler,calling the scramble a“great decision”by “parting the Red Sea alittle bit there.”

But there have been plentyof areas to study.And sometimes the results haven’tbeen pretty.Just look at the completion numbers forDay 2from all three quarterbacks during 11-on-11:

Shough: 2-5 (5-10 overall)

Rattler: 5-7 withone INT (9-11)

Haener: 1-2 (3-5)

As promised, Moore rotated the quarterbacks so that Shough got afull practice with the ﬁrst team after Rattler took reps withthe 1’saday earlier.But in atwist, Rattler worked with the second team, while Haener stayed with the third. Moore said the plan was for Haener to likely receive ﬁrst-team reps on Friday,but that they would review it laterinthe afternoon.

SAINTS

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of deal.”

Olave’sinjury history,ofcourse, explains why the wide receiver and the Saints —would take awaitand-see approach before negotiating over such aheavyfinancial commitment.

Olave has had four concussions throughout his ﬁrst threeseasons, and two last year caused him to miss nine games. Despite getting medical clearance to continue playing, and despite two straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career,Olave likelydoesn’t have the leverage to seek atop-of-market contract. And from theSaints’ perspective, it would make sense if the team wants to seeifOlave can make it through anotheryear before beginning talks.

Olave said he wants to “make it easy” on the Saints to offer such a deal.But nothing about Olave’slast seasonwas easy

“I’m just tryingtomake it obvious,” Olave said. It was obvious, at times, that Olave was arguably the best player on the ﬁeld when the Saints started training camp. He made aleaping catch over the middle of the ﬁeld on asoaring pass from Spencer Rattler.And he was precise with his route running, even on passes that didn’tgohis way The Saints, it seems, have no reservations about using Olave in away that maximizeshis skill set. If that involves targeting the 25-year-old across the middle where wide receiverscan be punished—then the quarterbacks will go to him.

Both generalmanager Mickey Loomisand coach Kellen Moore said Olave was cleared to practice without restrictions, adding he’d be in the mix when the pads come

Thursday’s focus was in thered zone. Moore said he wanted to focus on shorter distances for the practice afterhaving hisplayers runall over the ﬁeld aday earlier Not including special teams, the Saintsconducted three periods of 11-on-11 work andone period of 7-on-7, with each quarterback receiving four reps. (Thepassers looked much sharper in these drills,asyou’d expect without an actual pass rush.)

Butintight spaces,the operation —arguably Moore’smain emphasis —was farfrom clean. With Rattler in at quarterback, theSaints had back-to-back false start penalties —which perhaps took away achance for Rattler to get afourth rep because of the time it took for to get set again after thedelays.

Then, following aRattler incompletion,Haener came in and guard Easton Kilty committed another false start penaltywhen theSaints sentawide receiver in motion.

Because of the error,the Saints took Kilty off the ﬁeld and inserted Dillon Radunz into the lineup.

“There are consequences with it,” Moore said. “If you makea mistake onthe ﬁeldpre-snap, you just switch that guyout. There are consequences related to that.” Those consequences,ofcourse,

on nextweek

“He’sfullgo,” Loomissaid. Olave, too, saidhis mindset hasn’tchangedeven after his concussions. He’snot scared of getting hit, he said.Nor will he avoid going over themiddle, which he said was astrengthofhis game.

Instead,Olave said he will prioritize getting down faster to avoid takingunnecessary hits. And he added that hehas changed his diet,which he hopes will keep him healthier over the courseofthe season.

Askedabout the possibilityof wearing aguardian cap, Olave said he considered the idea, but told reporters that helmets have been so “updated” thathedoesn’tfeel it’s necessary.Hesaid he’sconsulted with trainers so that he’swearingthe “No.1”helmet available, though said he doesn’tknowthe brand ofhelmetthat he now dons.

“I feel good,” Olavesaid. “I’m excited aboutthe year.”

Olavealsowantstostickwith the Saints for thelong haul. He made that clear in June when he laughed off traderumors andtold reporters that hewanted to be with the Saints “forever.” He reiterateda similar message Wednesday when he said that he wanted to stay for “a long time.”

The Saints, too, have expressed adesire to keep Olave. Even without an extension, the Saints picked up Olave’s fifth-yearoption this offseason that guarantees Olave aprojected $16 million in 2026. Without it, Olave would have been entering acontract year in which he couldhavehit free agency after theseason Regardless, next seasonﬁgures to be pivotal for Olave. “It’sgoing to be easy on them to make that (contract) decision when we get to the table,” Olavesaid.

Email Matthew Paras at matt paras@theadvocate.com

FLOWERYBRANCH, Ga. The Atlanta Falcons may be better positioned for awinning season with second-year coach Raheem Morris becausethe offensewill be led by aquarterback,Michael Penix Jr., who won’tfeel like afirst-year starter Penix saidafter Thursday’s opening practiceoftraining camp he feels moreconfident enteringhis second season because he was given his first three starts to close the 2024 season after Kirk Cousins wasbenched.

“Yeah, it’svery important,” Penix said. “Just knowing, just being able to go out there and get those games withfull-speed reps. It instills conﬁdence,knowing I can go out there and do the same thingthat you saw in college and all my life. So, youknow,just I wouldsay biggestthingisconﬁdence.”

TheFalcons were 1-2 with Penix as thestarter to ﬁnish 8-9 for their seventh consecutive losing season.Though the switch to the rookie didn’tproduceaplayoff berth, Penix said the experience was important forhis 2025 outlook and his chemistry with the offense.

Cousins returns in abackup role after disclosingonthe Netflix docuseries “Quarterback” that he played through pain in hisrightarm in thesecond half of the season, in part to avoid losing his jobtoPenix. Cousins threw eight interceptions with no touchdowns in a stretch of four straight losses following a6-3 startand insisted through the streak he was healthy

Morris said Thursday the comment by Cousins in theNetflix show was“kind of old news” and added“we addressedthatwhen it washappening. Nothing was ashocker.”

Cousins, 36, signed afour-year, $180 millioncontract last March that included $100 millionguaranteed.General manager Terry Fontenot has said the team is comfortable with Cousins as the backup to Penix. Morris said in the offseason “wewon’thold him back if the opportunitypresents himself”tobetraded to ateam looking forastarter

Morris more at ease

don’talways fall on the quarterback. It wasn’tHaener’sfault, for instance, that Kilty twitched at theline to cause adelay.But at thesame time, Moore wants his quarterbacks torun atight ship. Andthere’sstill along way to go before that’sthe case.

Here’swhat else stood out in practice:

Fracas ensues

It took twodays for apunch to be thrown, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks was the ﬁrst Saintsplayer this year to get involved in ascrap.

After an incompletion, Cooks seemed totake exception to jawing by Rejzhon Wright and Alontae Taylor

The wide receiver then threw a punch at Wright,and askirmish developed before quickly being broken up.

“Those things are going to come up andyou want to eliminate them as much as you can,” Mooresaid “Sometimes it’sgood to get guys to rally together andwe’ll be just ﬁne.” Irishtroubles

If Charlie Smyth wants to unseat BlakeGrupe forthe Saints’ kicking job,he’ll have to be alot more consistent than he was Thursday The Northern Ireland native madeonly two of his ﬁve kicks, missing distances of 40, 47 and 49 yards

Continuedfrom page1C

change games, so he gets to evaluateitand learn from it and Ithought he responded really well.”

Rattler, TylerShoughand Jake Haener haveall been in these spots plentyoftimes before. All of them were involved in competitions whileincollege,and Rattlerand Haener spent all of last trainingcampdukingitout to be Derek Carr’sprimary backup on gameday

Those experiences have helped form theirmental approach as they go into this training camp vying for QB1 status.

“The biggest thing you can tell yourself is these competitions aren’t wonwithone rep,”Haener said. “… Number 1, it’sa long camp,and No. 2, I’vejust gottodo everything Ican to focus on what Ican control.”

In thepast, Haener has worked with mental coach Brett Sandwick,whose clients alsoinclude U.S. military special forces. And for Haener,that means dialing in his mindset —how will he respondwhenthings don’tgohis way? Andhow will he respond when things are going well?

At leastfrom theoutside looking in, Haener appears to have thelongest odds of winning the battle. After struggling in his lone starting opportunity last season, he thenmissed almost allofthe summer programbecause of an oblique injury.Hewill also be the last of thethreetoget acrack at operating the ﬁrst-team offense.

ButHaener uses all of that to fuel the mental side of his approach. He said he’salways considered himself an underdog, and while he doesn’tnecessarily seek outevidenceofpeople doubting

“So Week 1this year won’tbe the first time I’m on the field withthe starters in agametimesituation,” Penix said. “I feel likethatwas good as well. So the guys around me as well know what they’regoing to get out of me.”

Penixspoke with confidence when he was askedabout the potentialfor an offensethat returns running back Bijan Robinson,wide receiver Drake London, tight endKyle Pitts and an experienced offensive line.

“Weshould be the best in the leaguewith the guys we’ve got around us,”Penix said. “We shouldbeunstoppable. So that’s that’sour goal. We want to be No 1inall categories.”

Penixspent extra timethrowing to Pitts andLondonthis offseason and hadPitts on his mind when he spoke withreporters Thursday

“You seewegot KP the ball today,” Penix said to open the interviewsession. “There’sgoing to be alot of that.” Penix has the conﬁdence of his teammates as the new leader of theoffense.

“He’sjust that guy and he goes out there and he does the same thing every day and that’swork hard,” London said, adding Penix

Morris said “it feels more settling, more at ease” as he begins his second season as coach.

“I think it feels even more familiarthan it had felt before,” he said. “Being back the second time, being back with the same people. I’ll comebackwiththe entire offensive staff coming back.”

Health update

Morris said all players reported on Wednesday and all are on schedule to be available forthe season. Some players, including linebacker Troy Anderson (knee), won’tbeexposed to all contact at thestart of camp.The team’s ﬁrst practice in pads will be on Tuesday Right tackle KalebMcGary showed off anew short haircut andsaidheis“allgood”after having bone spurs removed from his ankle in an arthroscopic procedure.

Fans firedup

Fans wereinvited to the opening practice, producing along line at the gate surrounding the practice facilityanhour before the session.

Morris said he is “really ﬁred up about this team, really ﬁred up about this organization, really fired up about the fan base.”

him,hewill add it to the ﬁrewhen he sees it.

“I’ve always got achip on my shoulder,” Haenersaid. “I want my teammates to feel my energy and my passion in my command of the huddle, because when those thingshappen we tend to be more crisp, moreupbeat, and when those things happen we execute.”

LikeHaener, Shough is doing his best to remind himself not to place any added signiﬁcance on oneplay —good or bad, by either himself or someone he’s competing against.

Practices, he said, are scripted by scenario. It’s not quite like the regular ﬂow of agame. “So alot of times, athrowaway

or not taking asack …are sometimes good plays,” Shough said.

“They may not look good in comparison to if Ihave agood throw or if Spencer has agood throw or if Jake has agood throw.I just try to go outand winthat rep, that’s the whole goal.

“I’ve been in abunch of differentcompetitions, so humannature is, ‘Oh this guy threw it deep, Iwant to throw it deep.’ But the biggest thing thatcoach is looking for and what Iwant to do is execute it to the best of my ability and then the good things will happen.”

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE Saints quarterback JakeHaener throws apass during training camp on Wednesday.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVIDGRUNFELD

Saints quarterbacksfrom left, Spencer Rattler, Hunter Dekkers and Tyler Shough watchadrill during the first dayoftraining camp on Wednesday at the team’spractice facility

Matthew Paras

Worst to first: Which teams can do it?

Saints, Niners among teams that could improve in division

BY JOSH DUBOW Associated Press

A team going from worst to ﬁrst in the division is nearly an annual occurrence in the NFL.

With last-place teams getting advantages like favorable schedules and higher draft picks, there have been 25 teams since the 2002 realignment that followed up a lastplace ﬁnish with a division title the following year

While no team pulled off the trick last season, it had happened least once in each of the previous four seasons. Perhaps no team is better positioned to do it this season than the San Francisco 49ers, who followed up a Super Bowl loss in the 2023 season with a 6-11 lastplace ﬁnish in 2024.

The Niners were done in by a string of injuries to key players and now head into the 2025 season with the weakest projected schedule thanks in part to three games against fellow last-place teams Chicago, the New York Giants and Cleveland.

Here’s a look at the contenders: San Francisco 49ers

Reason for optimism: The 49ers still have star power with players like Fred Warner, George Kittle, Nick Bosa, Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams and one of the top offensive coaches in the game in Kyle Shanahan With the lastplace schedule and a rotation that includes eight games against the weaker South divisions, the Niners are favored to win the NFC West

Reason for pessimism: San Francisco let several defensive starters leave in the offseason as part of a movement to get cheaper and younger But if their rookie class can’t step in and contribute immediately the defense could have some holes even with the return of coordinator Robert Saleh New England Patriots

Reason for optimism: QB Drake Maye showed flashes as a rookie and should get a boost in Year 2 with a better coaching staff led by Mike Vrabel and coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Reason for pessimism: Maye still has very little support even after the offseason acquisitions of rookie lineman Will Campbell and veteran receiver Stefon Diggs.

Chicago Bears

Reason for optimism: The Bears brought in the most highly sought after coaching candidate when Ben Johnson was hired after a strong run as offensive coordinator in Detroit They also upgraded the interior of the offensive line by acquiring Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson in the offseason to help second-year QB Caleb Williams.

Reason for pessimism: Chicago is in a division with three returning playoff teams and has one of the more difficult schedules in the NFL. If Williams’ struggles as a rookie were more about holding onto the ball too long instead of the surrounding environment, the upgrades might not be enough.

Tennessee Titans

Reason for optimism: Last year’s struggles delivered Tennessee the No. 1 overall pick. QB Cam Ward brings his playmaking ability to Tennessee and should be helped by an improved offensive line following the additions of Dan Moore and Kevin Zeitler and anticipated improvement from recent firstrounders JC Latham and Peter Skoronski. Reason for pessimism: Ward doesn’t have a strong group of pass catchers even after the signing of veteran Tyler Lockett, and Tennessee hasn’t done much to upgrade a defense that allowed 27.1 points per game last season.

New Orleans Saints

Reason for optimism: The offense could get a boost if first-round tackle Kelvin Banks can step in immediately and receivers Chris Olave and Rasheed Shaheed are healthy

Reason for pessimism: New Orleans has uncertainty at quarterback after Derek Carr’s retirement and is counting on either second-

upgraded the interior of its offensive line in the offseason to help protect Williams.

round rookie Tyler Shough or 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler to perform at a high enough level to compete.

Las Vegas Raiders

Reason for optimism: Perhaps no team upgraded at quarterback and head coach as much as the Raiders with Pete Carroll replacing Antonio Pierce at coach and Geno Smith coming in at quarterback after a platoon of Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. The offense

Nabers approves of Giants’ moves

BY STEPHEN WHYNO Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J Like what the New York Giants did this offseason? Thank Malik Nabers. No, the wide receiver coming off an impressive rookie year didn’t add co-general manager with Joe Schoen to his responsibilities. But the former LSU star did give coach Brian Daboll some input during a busy spring that included signing quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, trading up to take Jaxson Dart late in the ﬁrst round and also drafting running back Cam Skattebo.

“I think Dabes did a great job of asking me questions about making moves, and me and him were in contact about moves to be made,” Nabers said. “That was a great job of him reaching out to the players about things that we were missing that we want.” On defense, New York got a potential difference maker in edge rusher Abdul Carter with the third pick and filled some holes in the secondary in free agency by signing cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland. Daboll mentioned Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence among the other players he talks to about additions. Nabers did not have much to say for the other side of the ball Offensively where the Giants ranked third-worst in the league last season, he was happy to share his thoughts.

“He was really telling me: ‘How do you like this decision? How do you like this decision?’ ” Nabers

said. “He was able to ask me questions like that because he knew I was going to give great feedback. Having that as a head coach to come to a rookie player to decide on what decisions to be made with the team next year I feel like it shows the conﬁdence that he has in me, the conﬁdence that the organization has in me, and I’m hoping that we made some of the great decisions to be made.”

While Nabers turns 22 next week and is just one season into his professional career, having Daboll’s ear did not happen by accident. The two started building a relationship at their ﬁrst training

camp together last year when Nabers wasn’t shy about speaking up despite his lack of experience.

“He’s a smart player,” Daboll said. “I’m close with him. And I think those relationships with all your players are important and particularly ones that play like Malik.”

Nabers caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns from four different quarterbacks — as a rookie. Only one (now fourth-stringer Tommy DeVito) is back, with Wilson opening as the starter, Dart waiting in the wings and Winston around as a reliable backup.

under new coordinator Chip Kelly could be intriguing with recordsetting second-year tight end Brock Bowers and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty

Reason for pessimism: Las Vegas is in a division that had three playoff teams last season, making it a difﬁcult proposition to climb too high in the standings. There are major questions in the secondary that could prove fatal in a division with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix.

New York Giants

Reason for optimism: The Giants should have one of the top defensive lines with No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter joining Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The return of left tackle Andrew Thomas after he missed 11 games last season should help boost the offense under new quarterback Russell Wilson.

Reason for pessimism: Although Wilson may be an upgrade at quarterback, his play has fallen signiﬁcantly since leaving Seattle following the 2021 season. New York traded up to draft Jaxson Dart in the ﬁrst round, but he might not be ready to take over as a rookie on a team that still has many holes on offense.

Cleveland Browns

Reason for optimism: The Browns feature one of the game’s top defensive players in four-time AllPro Myles Garrett after he got a new contract last season, and Kevin Stefanski has won AP Coach of the Year twice in ﬁve seasons with Cleveland. Reason for pessimism: Cleveland is still searching for a QB three years after trading for Deshaun Watson. Veteran Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are all in the mix, but none provides immediate hope for success.

Jets QB Fields dislocates toe, is being evaluated

BY DENNIS WASZAK JR. Associated Press

FLORHAM PARK, N.J New York

Jets quarterback Justin Fields has a dislocated toe on his right foot and will be evaluated by the team on a daily basis.

The team announced the diagnosis a few hours after Fields limped off the practice field Thursday morning and was carted into the facility It eased some initial concerns that the quarterback, in his ﬁrst season with the Jets, could miss signiﬁcant practice time.

Fields threw an incomplete pass to Jeremy Ruckert on his ﬁfth play of team drills when he went down. The quarterback sat on the grass for a few moments before getting up and limping to the sideline while helped by a trainer

“I know it was a quick throw, so I’m assuming someone stepped on his toe,” coach Aaron Glenn said after the Jets’ second practice of training camp. “It had to be because of the nature of the call that we had as far as offensive play call. I want to look at the tape and be sure.” Fields spent a few minutes in the injury tent on the sideline as trainers examined him before a cart came out to transport him into the facility Fields sat in the passenger seat next to the driver in the cart and then got up under his own power before stepping inside to be further evaluated.

Glenn stopped the team period after Fields was hurt, and the Jets ran special teams drills.

“When anybody goes down, there’s a lump in my throat,” Glenn said. “Listen, I hate injuries for any player, but the thing is I want to make sure that I understand exactly what the injury is before I move forward on my thought process.”

Fields signed a two-year, $40 million contract as a free agent in March after playing last season in Pittsburgh and is expected to be New York’s starter this season.

Veteran Tyrod Taylor, the team’s oldest player who turns 36 next month, is the backup and replaced Fields in team drills.

“I think the most important part is, if anything does happen to Justin, I don’t think there’s any drop-off as far as what we want to do when it comes to play calls,” Glenn said. “Very similar when you talk about skill set, so that was like enticing for us. And then the leadership ability you could just tell the players really gravitate to him. When he says something, everybody really listens, even the coaching staff. He’s been around this league a long time. He knows what it takes to win, and he’s a really good person. So, we’re all excited to have that guy here.

“Listen, Justin is who he is and if something happens to him, we’ve got Tyrod and we’re ready to go.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GERALD HERBERT

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, middle, and running back Velus Jones run through drills during training camp in Metairie, La., on Thursday. The team is counting on Shough and 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler to perform at a high enough level to compete in the NFC South.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERIN HOOLEy Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams stretches during practice Wednesday in Lake Forest, Ill. The team

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SETH WENIG

New york Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, right, talks with coach Brian Daboll during a practice Thursday in East Rutherford, N.J. The former LSU standout says Daboll sought his opinion during a busy offseason.

n Bells will be ringing soon to startthe new school year,soit’stime for the BACK TO SCHOOL BOOGALOO Saturday at 10 a.m. to 1p.m. at Joe W. Brown Park, 5601 Read Blvd. in NewOrleans East. The Manning Family Children’sevent includes free vaccinations, sports physicals, primarycare and dental resources plusa chance to getfree haircuts and school supplies.There’s also food, games and music. manningchildrens. org

STATE OF THE ART

Terrence Sanders-Smith opensart gallery andplans aMiami Basel-styleart fest

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

Known as gallery row,the stretch of Julia Street near Camp Street has beenago-to destination for chic, contemporaryartssince the 1980s. New along the strip is the SmithContemporarygallery at 440Julia St.,founded by well-known former gallery owner Terrence Sanders-Smith. Sanders-Smith recently returnedtoNew Orleans after being away for several years. He has big plans, not just for his newspace, but for the whole New Orleans art scene, including anew,national art fair as soon as next spring. Smith Contemporaryisararity,being one of just afew Blackowned galleries in the history of the area.

Openingdoors on JuliaStreet

Naturally,Sanders-Smith said, he plans to sell the work of raciallydiverse artists.

“I believe we, Black dealers play an integral part in challenging systemic prejudicesin the art market locally,regionally and nationally that rarely challenges the status quo,” Sanders-Smith wrote via text.

“In addition, Ibelieve we providea more welcomingenvironment for artists and audiences of color and asense of belongingand not judgment,” he added.

ä See GALLERY, page 2D

n AudubonNature Institute will be collecting oldphones during CELLPHONE SATURDAY from 10 a.m.to1 p.m. at the 6500 Magazine St.zoological facility.The phones use amineral mined from areas where gorillas liveinthe wild. Recycling cuts down on the amount that mustbemined. Boxes will be availableatthe front as well as near the gorilla exhibit. Phones can also be brought to the AudubonAquarium on Canal Street and the Louisiana Nature Center in NewOrleans East. audubonnatureinstitute.org

n What kindofmovie can youmakein48hours?

Find out Saturday at 6p.m. at the UNO Performing Arts Center on the lakefront campus forthe 48 HOUR FILM PROJECT PREMIERE SCREENINGS. The filmmakers were given characters, alineand a prop and twodaystomake a film from startto finish. The screens will showthe results of 28 teams’efforts, with refreshments, red carpet and more. Tickets are $15. 48hourfilm.com/ neworleans/48hfp/2025.

‘That’sasgoodas

it’s goingtoget’

BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer

Alittle danceteam from NewOrleans madea big splash on July 8’s episode of ”America’s Got Talent.”

Positive comments and astanding ovationfrom thejudgesand thestudio audience brought the 15 membersofEyrie Danceand Tumbling to tears. The team, better known as EDT,had just performed high-flying flips, deathdrops and adynamic routine set to Ciara’s “Level Up” and “APT” by Rose and Bruno Mars. But first, Journee Patterson, 10, stepped ontocenter stage in her hot pink and silver,sparkly costume. Judge Simon Cowell asked the team spokesman what she’d do if they won the $1 million grand prize

“I would buy me anew wardrobe and …, “she replied as laughter erupted. “Mydream is to have my

owndance studio,and I want abig star on theWalk of Fame.”

The music beganand the dancersdid their thingto theamazementofthe audience.

“Usually,you endthe routine with adeath drop Youwere death dropping all over theplace,” judge Mel Bsaid.

ä Watch avideo of thedance team’s audition. GOTO NOLA.COM

The deathdrop starts with theperformer leaping into theair,arching theirbackand then falling backward ontothe ground, often extending one leg upward. It’s meanttobeashowstopper

“I always hope every year that we’regoing to see an act whereyou go,‘That’sasgood as it’sgoing to get,’ and that is one of those auditionsnow,genuinely,” judge Simon Cowell told thegirls. “A lot of the younger actsare coming in here with realdetermination, which is fantasticfor your life, by the way

If you really want something andare preparedto put the hours in to try and win, youwillwin,that’sit. And Ilove that.”

Four “yesses” from the judges and EDT advances on in the competition. In thenextcoupleofweeks, those same judges(which also include Howie Mandel andSoﬁaVergara) will decide if they’re one of the 44 actsmoving on to the live showsbeginning Aug. 19.

Behind every successful dance team,there’sacoach, and for EDT, that’sEyrie Toliver Toliverhas been dancing since she was 3years old —middle school, high school and college at Howard University.She had her sights set on becoming asurgeon. Then COVIDhappened, and she returned to New Orleanswith time

ä See DANCE, page 2D

these days. The streaming era has prioritized breaking from, or at least playing around with, TV norms, but these kinds of meat-and-potatoes offerings can be as satisfying as shows with wilder ambitions. That said, “Untamed” suffers from some object permanence issues; nothing about it stayed with me after watching it. But

while it was on in front of me? A good (enough) time.

Alot of that hastodowith executive producer JohnWells, whose vast array of credits include everything from “ER” to “The West Wing” to “The Pitt.” He doesn’thavearecognizable style like fellowsuper-producers

ä See ‘UNTAMED’, page 2D

Terrence Sanders-Smith is pictured at his artgallery, SMITH contemporary, in NewOrleans.

PROVIDED PHOTOByTRAE PATTON/NBC

Fifteen girls makeupthe EDTdance team from NewOrleans

Bringing your own to-gobox forleftovers

Dear Heloise: My husband and Iare in the habit of takingour own to-go box withuswhen we go out to eat. We almostalways have leftovers. Just a simple plastic container like mostly everyone has in the kitchen will do. We also keep asimilar container in each car for the few times that we forget to take acontainer with us from the house. Early in the processof making this ahabit, we hadto walk back to the car afew times to get the container,but now Ialmost never go out to eat without my purse and my to-go box.This habit keeps alot of trash outof landﬁlls. —Linda, in Montana

Linoleumadhesive

spayed and/or neutered.

Animal shelters are overloaded with kittens. They are begging for donations andfoster care for kittens and puppies that are being brought in by people who can’t or won’tkeep them. If any of your readers are willing to foster kittens, theshelterwill give you instructions and usually donatefood to help you get started. If you can takea small litter of kittensand foster them or donatetime andfunds to help a local shelter,it would be greatly appreciated —Lana T.,inDetroit Fashiontrends

Dear Heloise: How do Iget rid of linoleum adhesive? I’ve tried several things, and so far,none of it seems to be very good.The linoleum is now gone, butthe old adhesive remains. —PennyR., in Prescott,Arizona Penny,take bags or blocksof dry ice and place them on the old adhesive. Let it set for afew minutes until it gets brittle. Start to scrape the old adhesivewith athin-blade scraping tool while theadhesive is still cold and brittle. —Heloise Kitten season

Dear Heloise: We are stillin“kitten season” with so many female cats giving birth to litters. This is agood time to remind people to be good to their pets and neighbors and have theirpets

Dear Heloise: Whydosome women only tuck part of their shirts into the front of their pants and nowhere else? My husband asked me, butItold him Ididn’t know.Doyou or your readers know? Thanks. —Kelly,inBeebe, Arkansas Kelly,it’sjust atemporary fashion trend that will fade away in ashort time, likesomany fashion trendsinour lifetime. WhenIlookback at pictures of myselfinthe ’60s, ’70s and ’80s,Ihave to laugh at the way I combed myhairinthe ’60s (very trendy backthen) or the padded shouldersofthe ’80s that made us look like football players in heels. Do my readers have any “can this really be me”stories that they want to share? —Heloise

Send ahint to heloise@heloise. com.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday,July25, the 206th day of 2025. There are 159 days left in the year Todayinhistory

On July 25, 1972, the notorious Tuskegee syphilis experiment came to light as The Associated Press reported that for theprevious four decades,the U.S. Public Health Service, in conjunction with the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, had been allowing poor,rural Black male patients with syphilis to go withouttreatment, even allowing more than 100 of them to die, as away of studying the disease.

Also on this date:

In 1943, Benito Mussoliniwas dismissed as premier of Italy by King Victor Emmanuel III, and placed under arrest. (He was later rescued by the Nazis and reasserted his authority.)

In 1946, the UnitedStates detonated an atomic bomb near Bikini Atoll in the Paciﬁc in the ﬁrst underwater test of the device.

In 1956, the Italian liner SS Andrea Doria collided with the Swedish passenger ship Stockholm off the New England coast late at night and began sinking; 51 people —46from the Andrea Doria, ﬁve from the Stockholm —were killed. (The Andrea Doria capsized and sank thefollowing morning.)

In 1978, Louise Joy Brown,the ﬁrst “test tube baby,” was born in Oldham, England; she’d been conceived through the technique of in vitro fertilization.

In 2000, aNew York-bound Air

DANCE

Continued from page1D

on her hands.

“So Istarted like offeringsome dance clinics, some dance camps, between times, and then before you knew it, Ihad afull-time dance team,” the med studentturned-coach said of her 130students ages 4through 17. Now an established dance team, EDT has grownapretty big following on Instagram, Toliver explained, with one of their videos amassing morethan 200,000 views. Aproducer from “America’sGot Talent” sawthe clip, loved it and reached outand asked the teamtoaudition for Season20ofthe all-ages talent competition series

“And at that moment,I didn’t think we’d make it all the way through to, youknow, theend of theaudition process,but we did,” Toliver said. The 15 girls who traveled to Los Angeles for auditions were chosen by thecoach,aswellasa few by the show Toliver saidshe looked at leadership, consistency andskill

France Concordecrashed outside Paris shortly aftertakeoff, killing all 109 people on board andfourpeople on theground; it was the ﬁrst-ever crash of the supersonic jet.

In 2010, the onlinewhistleblower WikiLeaks posted some 90,000 leaked U.S.military records that amounted to ablowby-blow account ofthe Afghanistan war,including unreported incidents of Afghan civilian killings as well as covert operations against Taliban ﬁgures

In 2019, President Donald Trumphad asecond phone call with thenew Ukrainian president,VolodymyrZelenskyy, during which he solicited Zelenskyy’s helpingathering potentially damaging information aboutformer Vice President Joe Biden;thatnight,astaff memberatthe White House Ofﬁce of Management and Budgetsigned adocument that ofﬁcially put military aid for Ukraine on hold. Today’sbirthdays: Folk-pop singermusicianBruce Woodley (The Seekers) is 83. Rock musician Jim McCarty (The Yardbirds) is 82. Reggae singer Rita Marley is 79. Musician Verdine White (Earth, Wind &Fire) is 74. Modelactor Iman is 70. Rock musician Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) is 67. Celebrity chef/TV personality Geoffrey Zakarianis66. Actor Matt LeBlanc is 58. Actor Wendy Raquel Robinson is 58. Actor David Denman is 52. Actor Jay R. Ferguson is 51. Actor James Lafferty (TV:“OneTree Hill”) is 40. Actor Meg Donnelly (TV: “American Housewife”) is 25.

level.“AGT” producers, meanwhile,watched several videos of the dance team performing and chose three thatcaught their eye, Journee among them. Also pickedwas theyoungest member of EDT,Kylee Vann, 6.

The style of dance Toliver teaches is calledmajorettedance

“Butwhatmakes EDT different is that we incorporate alot of tumbling and gymnastics; most dance teams don’tincorporatethat,” she said.“But Ihavealot of (experience in the otherelements) because Iused todocheer as well.”

Toliver saidshe’spretty much aone-woman band, also choreographing all the routines and designing all theperformance attire. Aseamstress makes the outﬁts, and makeup is done by one of thedance parents.

“Wehave areally,really big support system,” shesaid. “When we went to California, we hadat least 30 supporters outthere.

“America’sGot Talent” airs at 7p.m. TuesdaysonNBCand streams the next dayonPeacock. For more info, visit https://www nbc.com/americas-got-talent.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

Terrence Sanders-Smithtalks

GALLERY

Continuedfrom page1D

The presence of Black ownership, he wrote, “shows the art communityhereinNew Orleans adifferentperspective andnarrative that is sometimeslostinmostlywhiteowned mainstream galleries.”

MyeshaFrancis,who ownedthe M. Francis galleryat604 Julia St from2010 to 2015, views Blackowned showplaces as doorways for Black artists to enter thegallery world.Thoseartists “feel more comfortable approaching somebody thatlooks likethem,” she said. They may feel better understood, “in their voice.”

Thesame could be said of visitors to the gallery,she said. “When Ihad shows,Black people showed up.”

From Sanders-Smith’sperspective, race is only part of the picture.Gallery Row, he believes, has to keep an eye on futuregenerations. In his opinion, the Julia Street scene, which was spurred by thefounding of the nearby Contemporary Arts Center in 1976, has gotten alittle long in the tooth.

“I’m58, so I’m part of the old guard,” Sanders-Smithsaid. To continue to ﬂourish, he said, “JuliaStreethas to reachout to a younger, morediverse audience.”

He hopesthatfuture exhibits and other cultural events at his gallery will help that happen.

City mouse, countrysummers

Sanders-Smithwas born in Pineville, near Alexandria,but his family moved to New York City when he was ababy. As akid, he spent mostofhis time in thebig city atmosphere of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, in amixed community of Italian, Chinese, Puerto Rican and Jewish people.

But he wasn’tentirely acity mouse. Sanders-Smith cameback to Louisiana every summer,where he could range around his uncle’s 40-acre spread in the country.He saw bothworlds.

By thetime he was ateen, Sanders-Smithwas already attracted to theart world. He said he became pals with Jean-MichelBasquiat andimitated the future superstar’s brand of topical expressionism until he developedhis ownstyle. Sanders-Smithsaid he sat in on classes at therenowned Parsons School of Design.

Sanders-Smith’smother eventually left the Big Apple for Baton Rouge in 2003, and he followed. He moved to New Orleans in ear-

‘UNTAMED’

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Shonda RhimesorRyanMurphy, but he understands television in waysthathavebecome increasingly rare.Here he’s working with show creators Elle Smithand Mark L. Smith (the latter of whom was thescreenwriter of 2024’s “Twisters”).

The series opens with two climbers ascending the vertical rock face known as El Capitan. Suddenly,awoman’slifeless body comes hurtling past them from above, getting caught in their ropes and nearly takingthem down withher.The circumstances of her death become the show’s driving plotline. When Bana’sKyleTurnerarrivesatthe summit on horseback, apark ranger says with amixture of envy andannoyance: “Here comes Gary Cooper.” Turner is haunted by past mistakes, abroken marriage, adead sonand atendency to ﬁnd solace at the bottom of a bottle. “What’swith youtonight?” someonesays. “You’re extra seriousevenfor you.” That sums up hispersonality.The ranger assigned to assist hisinvestigation is

ly 2005, where he established an art gallery/studio/home on Magazine Street. As Hurricane Katrina approached, Sanders-Smith decided to ride it out there. After all, he reasoned, New Orleans was no stranger to hurricanes, many of which were false alarms.

But on Aug. 29, he said, “the house started shaking andIsaid, ‘Oh my God,I’m going to die.’”Whenthe winds passed, the city wasashambles. Sanders-Smith said he helped ﬁnd bottled water,whichhedistributed to neighbors, and went back to hiseasel. What else wasthere to do?

Ironically,Sanders-Smith was working on asuite of paintings that memorialized the 9/11 terror attack on the World Trade Center.TimesPicayune columnist Chris Rose happened on Sanders as he painted. Rose consideredSanders-Smith one of the city’sreassuring stalwarts.

“I was thinking moreabout foraging for fuel andfood,maybe fending off the roving gangs Ihad heard about,” Rosewrote, “and here’sthis guy making art.”

Visual arts explosionpost-Katrina Sanders-Smithhad aroleinthe visual arts explosion that took place in the cityover the next few years. He opened anew gallery on Royal Street in the French Quarter,where he granted exhibits to local artists. He founded Artvoices magazine that, among otherthings, championed the new St. Claude Avenue art scene. And he wasinstrumental in the design of the Hurricane Katrina memorial at the Saratoga Building at 212 Loyola Ave.

The cityhad become amagnet for artists across the country,and Sanders-Smithwelcomed them. “Artists saw thisplace as the newfrontier,” he said. “It wasa fertile environment.Ithought of the city as a woman, callingout,‘We need you.’”

Sanders-Smith said the infusion of newblood broadened andenergized the Crescent Cityart community

Sanders-Smith’sart career took him to LosAngeles in 2012, where he owned and managed art spaces, before relocatingtoBaton Rouge in 2018. Meanwhile,his son, Lucien Smith, earned international acclaim for his abstract art.

Sanders-Smith said he didn’t think he was ever coming back to NewOrleans,but he changedhis mind last year.“Ithink I’m more needed here,” he said of his decision to return. Theart capitals didn’trequire another art gallery owner or another magazine publisher. But in NewOrleans, there wasroom to makeadifference.

“I’manart dealer and artist,”

arookie andthat’sbecause Turner has burned through everyone else with hisstubborn insistence on doingthings his ownway.Whenan Indigenous character shows up, it’s because Turner(andTurneralone) has befriendedhim. These arecommon tropes that can be tedious in the wrong hands —the dead childhas become overused as ashorthand meant to add sympathetic texture to acharacter’sbackstory —but “Untamed”ismadewith enough talentand skill that these pieces feel right, instead of hacky.Credit that to Bana’sperformance, which doesn’tbelabor the guy’s issues nor his stoicism.The Gary Cooper thing isn’ttoo faroff. Lily Santiago plays Naya Vasquez, the inexperienced park ranger with whom he’spaired. She’sfrom the city and therefore not thrilled with the idea of jumpingonthe back of ahorse to explore the area forclues, but Turner won’tbudge. “This park’s thesize of Rhode Island. It’s got ﬁve separate highway entrances bringing over 100,000 people a week,” and going off the trails, on horseback, is better than going in his truck. That she will eventually come around to him,and he to her,isaforegone conclusion.

Sanders-Smith said. “I understand the needs of both, and Ican Ifacilitate that.”

Anew national artevent?

He also hopes to institute anew nationalart event. Sanders-Smith believesthat NewOrleanswouldbe theperfect site foranart fair/trade show,like Art Basel in Miami Beach or Armory Show in NewYork City. Such large-scale marketplaces feature displays by hundreds of contemporary art galleries from across thecountry.Theydrawhuge crowds of visiting artlovers,collectors and dealers to their host cities. Sanders-Smithbelievesa similar event in NewOrleans is possible. Whatwould make theCrescent City art fair special is that it would be restricted to galleries from 13 Southern states, Sanders-Smith explained. The big show could be held in any number of places in the city,perhaps the nearby Contemporary Arts Center,hemused.

Sanders-Smith said he already has an investor in the project, and he’swell acquainted with the companies that produce similar events elsewhere. Basically,the galleries bring the art and install it. “It’snot complicated,” he said.

The townitself would, of course, be part of the draw.“No other city in the U.S. is as beautiful and culturally rich as New Orleans,” he said. Sanders-Smith pointedout that visitors to afuture New Orleans art fair would see great art, butthey’d also say to themselves, “We’re going to go eatsomething great,and hear some great music.”

Thetime is ripe, Sanders-Smith said, since Prospect, New Orleans’ triennial, international art exhibition, recently announced that it has canceled plans forits 2027-2028 show.Sanders-Smithsaidthere’s no reason to wait to ﬁllthat slot.He hopestopresent theﬁrstNew Orleans art fair as soon as April 2026. WhiteLinen Night

Smith Contemporary is open from 11 a.m. to 5p.m., Tues-Sat. The next opening reception, featuring works by James Macdonell, takes place Aug. 2, during the White Linen Night block party from 6p.m. to 9p.m. Myesha Francis, whoisanartist as wellasformer gallery owner,is exhibiting herown paintings and works by Sharika Mahdi at The Public Belt barinthe HiltonRiverside Hotel at 2Poydras St., on Aug. 2, during White Linen Night. Email Doug MacCashat dmaccash@theadvocate.com.

Sam Neill and Rosemarie DeWitt round out the cast as the seasoned head park ranger wholooks out forTurner and Turner’samiable ex-wife, respectively

The series’ premise is better suited to amovie, but at six episodes it doesn’toverstay its welcome. The wide open spaces and the occasional appearance of (CGI?) wildlifeare as picturesque as you’d expect —it’sone of the show’s selling points —although ﬁlming took place not in California-based Yosemite but in British Columbia. Isuppose one soaring, mountainous forest looks like another

The park rangers are stuck wearing unﬂattering uniforms, but Turner has too much swagger forthat and is outﬁtted in jeans and asand-colored work shirt worn with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The show’s subtitle might as wellbe“Untamed: Eric Bana’sForearms.”

Where other showstry to leverage the sex appeal of their male lead by having him doffhis shirt within the ﬁrst 20 minutes, “Untamed” takes adifferent tack, and Ilike it. Hollywood has never really understood the appeal of a good pair of forearms. Now’sas good atimeasany

STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE

aboutsome of the artwork in his gallery, SMITHcontemporary, in NewOrleans.

Hints from Heloise

LEo(July23-Aug. 22) Surround yourself with competent people and pursue your goals. Embrace change with apositive attitude and input, and youwill have a lasting impact.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Initiate change, keepbusy and ignore what others do Remaining calm will helpyou make the most of your day. Letting someone goad you into an argument will leave you at a loss. Seize the moment.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Speak up; sharing your thoughts and feelings will attract interesting people and lead to conversationsthatwillcontributetoyourpersonal growth. Take what you receive and turn it into aperfect fit.

scoRPIo (oct.24-nov. 22) You'llwanttoget involved in in something that can put you in harm's way. Broadeningyour awareness and taking better careofyourself andyourfinanceswillbeworthwhileand give you areason to be grateful

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Refuse to waste time. Focus on what you can achieve and get moving. Align yourself withpeople whoare upbeat and offer insightthatyoucanincorporateintoyour daily routine.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan.19) Give yourself plenty of time to developand nourish what you want to grow. Consider what's necessary andwhat isn't. Declutter your home, resolve any pressing issues and then relax.

AQuARIus(Jan. 20-Feb.19) You're on the right track, so what are you waiting for? Speak up, share your intentions and

make sure everything runs smoothly. Change is brewing. Romance and physical improvements are favored.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) You won't get ahead if you don'tact. Be aware of what others are doing or saying, but don'tfollow suit. Attend an event that offers food for thought and shows youpossibilities that can lead to aricher life.

ARIEs (March 21-April19) Plantohavesome fun. Mix business with pleasure, and you'll discover you have more in common with an associatethan you thought. Developing relationships lets you gain insight into who you can count on for support.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Rethink your strategy before you begin. You'll face oppositionifyou haven'tthought your intentions through from beginning to end. Size down, stick to your budget and be willingtodothe work yourself.

GEMInI(May 21-June 20) Embrace change with vigor and enthusiastically lead the way forward. Set the pace and plan your route. Your compassion and understanding, will catapult you into aleadership position. Trust your instincts.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Pay attention to your finances. Maintaining astrict budget will helpyou save for something worthwhile. Say no to temptation and peoplewanting to lead you astray.

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, pastand present. Each letter in thecipher stands for another.

ToDAy's cLuE: oEQuALsP

FAMILY CIrCUS

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

LAGoon

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER

Taylor Swiftsaid, “I write songs that arelike diary entries.I have to do it in order to feel sane.”

If success is proportionaltosanity, Swift must be themostgrounded person on the planet.

Abridge expert often hasacareful order in whichhemust play the tricks to enter aplusscore onto his card. In this deal,for example,how must South play in fourspades after Westleads the club king?

South’sthree-spaderebidinvitedgame while promising at leasta six-cardsuit (With only five, he would have rebid two no-trump or made ahelp-suit game-try.) North,with apotential source of tricksin his heart suit, raised to game.

Southfirst countshis losers by looking at hishand and taking dummy’s high cardsintoaccount.Here, he should see four: two diamonds and two clubs. Then he counts winners, finding only nine: six spades, twohearts and one club.

Since the loser count is too high and the winner count too low, declarer should realizethathemust establish dummy’s heart suit.

This is the safest line: Win the first trick with the club ace, cash thespade ace, takedummy’s top hearts, and ruff a heart high in hand. (South ruffs high for tworeasons: He doesn’twanttoriskan

wuzzles

overruff by West andheneedsthe two low spades to lead to dummy’s nine and 10 for entries.) Now declarer playsthe spade three to dummy’s nine andruffs another heart high. Back to dummy with atrump to the 10, South cashes the heart eight,givinghimsixspades,threehearts and one club.

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters 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 words are not allowed.

ToDAy’sWoRD cELIBATE: SEL-ih-bet: Onewho abstains from marriage because of areligious vow

Average mark 28 words

Time limit 40 minutes

yEsTERDAy’sWoRD— LoGIsTIcs

Canyou find 37 or morewords in CELIBATE? licit

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard fillmore

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letter word from theletters 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 theOfficial sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition. For more information on tournaments and clubs, email naspa –north american sCraBBlE playersassociation: info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visitour website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzle inquiriescontact scrgrams@gmail.com. Hasbro andits logo sCraBBlE associated logo,the design of thedistinctive sCraBBlE

ken ken

InstructIons: 1 -Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1thorugh 4(easy) or 1through 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.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

and thedistinctive

WiShinG Well

HErEisaplEasanT liTTlE gamEthat will give you amessage every day.it’s a numerical puzzle designed to spell outyourfortune.Count the letters in yourfirst name. if thenumber of lettersis6ormore, subtract4.ifthe numberisless than 6, add 3. The result is your key number.start at the upperleft-hand corner and check each of yourkey numbers, left to right. Then readthe message the checked figures give you

Scrabble GramS

roSe

OFFI CIAL PROCEE DIN GS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS

REGULAR SESSION

CITY HALL: MAY22, 2025

The Council of the City of New Orleans metthis day in Regular Session

at 10:08A.M., in the Council Chamber,City Hall, Council President, JP Morrell, presiding.

On callingthe roll, the following members answered to their names:

PRESENT: MORENO (VICE PRESIDENT)

MORRELL (PRESIDENT) GIARRUSSO GREEN THOMAS ABSENT: HARRIS

KING FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT,CONSTITUTING AQUORUM.

ROLL CALL

AISHA R. COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL

INVOCATION

BISHOP BRANDON BOUTIN UNITED FELLOWSHIP FULL GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH

PLEDGEOFALLEGIANCE

EUGENE J. GREEN, JR.

COUNCILMEMBER DISTRICT“D”

AMENDMENTS AMENDMENT TO ORD. CAL. NO. 35,098

BY:COUNCILMEMBERS HARRIS AND GIARRUSSO

An amendment to revise the hours of operation.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE AMENDENT WASADOPTED.

AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-25-274

BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORENO

Amendment to the Exhibit Aaccompanying Resolution No. R-25-274 to deleteunnecessary language included in error

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE AMENDENT WASADOPTED.

HDLC APPEAL OF SUSAN JOHNSON, TOWN OF CARROLLTONWATCH -Requesting to appeal the Historic District Landmarks Commission’sdecision to approve the demolitionapplication for property located at 7309 FreretStreet.

WITHDRAWN.

ZONING PETITION

ZONING DOCKET NO. 18/25 –M.SHOLAS INVESTMENTS -Requesting a Zoning Change from an S-LRS1 Suburban Lakeview Single-Family Residential District to an S-LB1 Suburban Lake Area Neighborhood Business District, on Square12, Metairie Park, Lots 1-A, 3-A, and 5-A, in the Seventh Municipal District, bounded by Pontchartrain Boulevard, 18th Street, 20th Street, and Avenue C(Municipal addresses: 6184-6192 Pontchartrain Boulevardand 100-114 20th Street). The recommendation of the City Planning Commission being “FORDENIAL”.

WITHDRAWN. (At the applicant’srequest)

ORDINANCES ON FINAL PASSAGE

CAL. NO. 34,277 –BY: COUNCILMEMBERS THOMAS, HARRIS AND GREEN (BY REQUEST) -AnOrdinance to amend and reordain Chapter 130 of the Code of the City of New Orleans by amending Section 130-39 to provide for restrictions on payments to sellers of nonferrous materials, and otherwise with respect thereto.

WITHDRAWN.

CAL. NO. 35,011 –BY: COUNCILMEMBERS GIARRUSSO, MORENO, GREEN AND THOMAS (BYREQUEST)-AnOrdinance to amend Ordinance No. 30140 M.C.S., as amended, entitled “An Ordinance Providing an Operating Budget of Expenditures for the City of New Orleansfor the Year 2025”, to transfer funds within the Office of Housing Policy and Community Development from appropriation 200 –Other Operating to 100 –PersonalServices to cover administrative expenses; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

WITHDRAWN.

CAL. NO. 35,097 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERS HARRIS AND GIARRUSSO

-AnOrdinance to amend and reordain Article 17 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 4264 M.C.S., as amended by Ordinance No.26,413 M.C.S. and subsequent amendments) to add “wine shop” as aconditional use in the CBD-5Urban CoreNeighborhood Lower Intensity Mixed-Use District subject to the use standards in Section 20.3.PPP and as defined in Article 26; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. (ZONING DOCKET NO. 14/25)

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED. CAL. NO. 35,098 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERS HARRIS AND GIARRUSSO

-AnOrdinance to establish aconditional use to permit awine shop in aCBD-5 Urban CoreNeighborhood Lower Intensity Mixed Use District, on Square218, Lot 7-A, in the First Municipal District, bounded by Girod Street, Carondelet Street, Julia Street, and Saint Charles Avenue (Municipal Addresses: 722-726 Girod Street); and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. (ZONINGDOCKETNO. 15/25)

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE, AS AMENDED,WAS ADOPTED. CAL. NO. 35,099 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERS HARRIS (BY REQUEST) AND GIARRUSSO -AnOrdinance to authorize the execution and deliverybythe New Orleans Building Corporation (“NOBC”) of the Eighth Amendment to Concession Agreement between NOBC, as sublessor and Rohin Sharma and Harpreet Bishanpal (“Subway”), as sublessee, whichamendment is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” (the “Amendment”), and which amendment amends the concession agreement between NOBC and Subway,(the “Lease”), pursuant to which NOBC subleases to Subway aportion of the first floor of the Union Passenger Terminal Building (the “Leased Premises”), for Subway’soperation of aSubway restaurant, and to provide for related matters; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED. CAL. NO. 35,108 -BY: COUNCILMEMBER GREEN(BY REQUEST) -An

Ordinance to authorize the Mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into Amendment No. 1tothe Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (“CEA”) between the Mosquito,Termite,& Rodent Control Boardand Louisiana SPCA (“LASCPA”) to extend the CEA’s term for four (4) years, to increase the CEA’s compensation, and to modify certain terms and conditions, as morefully set forth in the form as Exhibit “A” and;and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,109 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERGREEN (BYREQUEST) -An

Ordinance to authorize the Mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into Amendment No. 1tothe Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (“CEA”) between the Mosquito, Termite, &Rodent Control Board and The Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural &Mechanical College (“LSU”) to extend the CEA’s term for one (1) year, to increase the CEA’s compensation, and to modify certain termsand conditions, as more fully set forth as Exhibit “A”; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED. MOTIONS/RESOLUTIONS (LYING OVER) NO. M-25-190 CITY HALL: March 27, 2025 BY:COUNCILMEMBERSGIARRUSSO, MORENO,MORRELL, GREEN AND THOMAS WHEREAS, at its meeting on February 3, 2025, the Civil Service Commission adopted the following amendment to the Civil Service Rules (Union Business). In accordance with Article X, Section10ofthe ConstitutionofLouisiana, this agency is submitting for Council approval, the following amendment to

of the

1) participating in collective bargaining between the City and the Union; 2) participating in meetings of acommittee established by the applicable collective bargaining agreement or the Civil Service Commission; 3) consulting with the City, or its representatives, about the enforcement of any provisions of the applicable collective bargaining agreement or Civil Service Rules; 4) transmitting authorized Unioncommunications to the City’s representatives; 5) assisting other employees with filing grievances and/or Civil Service appeals or participating in the grievance process as aUnion representative; 6) attending Civil Service employee appeal hearings of bargaining unit members subject to Civil Service RuleII, §4.9; 7) investigating potential grievances and Civil Service appeals; and 8) representing employees during meetings with supervisors or the appointing authority,pre-termination hearings, or grievance hearings.

b) The employee must have requested and received authorization in writing from the appointing authority to conduct the union business.

c) Leave shall be reported when the union official conducts internal union business during work hours, such as soliciting members, electing union officials, or collection of dues, unless the work timespent conducting this internal union business is de minimis. Following arequest from the Chief Administrative Office, the Civil Service Commission approved the aforementioned addition to the Civil Service Rules to provide for the work of certain employees engaged in union activities to be counted as regular work hours; and WHEREAS, the Chief Administrative Office has certified that funds are available to implement the above proposed amendment to the Civil Service Rules; NOWTHEREFORE

BE IT MOVED BY THECOUNCIL OF THECITY OF NEWORLEANS, That in accordance with ArticleX,Section 10 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the amendment to the Civil Service Rules is approved to be effective March30, 2025.

BE IT FURTHERMOVED, That the Clerk of Council shall forwarda certified copy of this motion to the Director of the Civil Service Commission and the Chief Administrative Officer MAY22, 2025 THEFOREGOING MOTION WASREAD IN FULL, THEROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: Harris, King -2 ANDTHE MOTION WASADOPTED.

NO.M-25-272 CITYHALL: May8,2025

BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL

SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO

WHEREAS, The City Council has adopted rules and regulationsgoverning “its officers and employees, the organization of committees, and the transaction of its business,” as required by Section 3-107(2) of the New Orleans Home RuleCharter; and WHEREAS, Section 3-107(3) of the HomeRuleCharter further authorizes the Council to adopt rules “affecting the public, including regulations relating to petitions or applications to be presented to it and the hearing and determination thereof” that “arenot inconsistent with applicable law and as arenecessary to the performance of the functions assigned to it, provided that no such regulations shall become effective until they shall have been published in the official journal at least one week prior to their adoption and shallhave been subsequentlyadopted by the Council;” and WHEREAS, The Council desires to amend its Rules and Regulations to clarify the definition of aland use item and to remove the requirement that land use itemscannot be considered before11a.m.; NOWTHEREFORE BE IT MOVED BY THECOUNCILOFTHE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, That Rule 10G of the Council Rules and Regulations be and hereby is amended and restated as follows: Rule 10.G. Scheduling of Land Use Hearings.

For purposes of these Rules, a“land use item”shallconsist of azoning docket received from the City Planning Commission, amatter requiring Council approval pursuant to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, or an appeal of adecision by the Vieux CarréCommission, the Historic District Landmarks Commission, or asimilar body

The Clerk of Council shall provide initial notice of apending land use item by placing that item on the consent agenda and assigning ahearing date for the Council’s consideration of the matter.The hearing on aland use item shall be scheduled at least two Council meetings beforethe applicable deadline for Council action. Once aland use item has been set for hearing, the Clerk shall mailnotice of the hearing (i) to the applicant who initiated the zoning docket or,inthe case of an appeal,tothe appellant; and (ii) to the owner of the property,unless the land use items involve a zoning textamendment or similar issue of widespread applicability BE IT FURTHERMOVED, That the Council Research Office and the Clerk of Council aredirected and granted the flexibilitytomake allappropriate formatting and numbering changes to the foregoing and existing rules to accommodate these changes and aredirected to update the Council’s index of rules and regulationstoreflect the foregoing change. MAY22, 2025 THEFOREGOING MOTION WASREAD IN FULL, THEROLL WASCALLED ON THEADOPTION THEREOF,THE RESULT WASASFOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT: Harris, King -2 ANDTHE MOTION WASADOPTED.

NO.R-25-274 (ASAMENDED) CITYHALL: May8,2025

BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORENO SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO

WHEREAS, the city of NewOrleans supports and encourages the restoration, development, improvement, and expansion of existing structures in downtown, historic, and economic development districts through the granting of restoration tax abatements, in accordance with state law; and WHEREAS, the restoration tax abatement program is currentlygoverned by City Council City Council Resolution No.R-20-10, which provides the approval of restoration tax abatements, and allrenewals and transfers thereof; and WHEREAS, the Council desires to enact acomprehensive revision of the policies and procedures in Resolution No. R-20-10 in order to clarify and improve the application and approval process, as welltoclearlydefine eligibilityand approval criteria; NOWTHEREFORE BE IT FURTHERRESOLVED BY THECOUNCILOFTHE CITYOFNEW

ORLEANS, That the rules, requirements, and procedures set forth in the attached ExhibitA,incorporated herein and made apart hereof, are hereby adopted and shall governthe awardofrestoration tax abatements, as authorizedbyArticle VII, Section 21(H)ofthe Louisiana Constitution and its implementing legislation. BE IT FURTHERRESOLVED BY THECOUNCILOFTHE CITYOFNEW

ORLEANS, That allthis Resolution shall supersede and replace all previous resolutions related to the restoration tax abatement program, including without limitation City Council Resolution No.R-20-10, and shall governthe approval of any and allrestoration tax abatements, renewals, and transfers applied for after the date of adoption. Any applicant who has submitted an application for anew project and paidall advance notification fees on or after the effective date of this resolution shall be evaluated under the guidelines in effect prior to the adoption of this Resolution. BE IT FURTHERRESOLVED, That the Clerk of Council shall advertise this Resolution in the manner reserved for the adoption of Council rules and regulationsaffecting the public and, upon adoption, shall transmit certified copies of this resolution to the Chief Administrative Office, the City’sOffice of Economic Development and the Mayor’sOffice of Intergovernmental Relations.

MAY22, 2025

THEFOREGOING RESOLUTION WASREAD IN FULL, THEROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND THERESULT WASAS

FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: Harris, King -2 ANDTHE RESOLUTION, AS AMENDED, WASADOPTED. *Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1E09, City Hall.

MOTIONS/RESOLUTIONS

NO.M-25-289 (ASAMENDED) BY:COUNCILMEMBER GREEN (BYREQUEST) SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL BE IT MOVED BY THECOUNCIL OF THECITY OF NEWORLEANS, That

the City Planning Commission is directed to conductapublic hearing to considera zoning change from S-RD Suburban Two-Family Residential District to BIP Business-Industrial Park District for the properties not presently zoned as such,identified in Exhibit A, andgenerally bounded by Almonaster Avenue,Carver Rams Way(formerly Higgins Boulevard), Press Street,Montegut Street,BenefitStreet,Feliciana Street,Abundance Street,ClouetStreet,and Florida Avenue,the general boundaries of the formeragricultureStreet Landfill.

BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That the Neighborhood Participation Program requirement andany fees necessary to effectuate this request arehereby waived.

BE IT FURTHERMOVED, Thatinthe process of studying andreviewing the proposed map amendment, the City Planning Commission staff is directed andgrantedthe flexibility to make allappropriate changes relative to this request to ensure consistencyand continuity or to clarify anyambiguitiesormistakes, andtomake adjustments deemed necessary in light of public testimony resulting from the study andreview of this request. THE FOREGOING MOTION WASREAD IN FULL, THE ROLLWAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Harris, King -2 AND THE MOTION,ASAMENDED, WASADOPTED. NO. M-25-290 BY:COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS (BY REQUEST) SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO WHEREAS, the City Council authorizes the City of NewOrleansthrough the Office of Community Development(OCD) to submit Resilient Community InfrastructureProgram (RCIP) applications through the State of Louisiana’s online grants management system for the projects identified below; and WHEREAS, The City Council authorizes OCD to move forward with the RCIP proposals whenall projects areapproved by the State of Louisiana; and WHEREAS, The City Council of New Orleans approve the following RCIP projects: (1)Green InfrastructureWorkforce andBusiness Development Hub, (2)EnergyInnovation Incubation, (3)West EndDrainage, (4)Food Business Incubation, (5)MainStreet Resilience, (6)Small Business Power Resilience, (7)Comprehensive Reforestation, and(8) ResilienceHub RenewableBackupPower.Furthermore, the City Council of NewOrleans approves OCD to move

Building SolarInstallations BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That the Clerk of Council shall forward copies of this motion to the State of Louisiana Office of Community Development, to effectuate this request. THE FOREGOING MOTION WASREAD IN FULL, THE ROLLWAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Harris, King -2 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED. *Copies of the attachmentmay be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street,Room 1E09, City Hall. NO. M-25-291 BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO WHEREAS, the City Council of NewOrleansand Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman &Sarver,L.L.C.are parties to aprofessional services agreementfor legal services relatedtothe Wisner Trust (K-22715) (as amended, the “Wisner Agreement”); and WHEREAS, the Wisner Agreement, whichhas an effective date of April 7, 2022 andaninitialterm of one year,authorizes up to four one-year extensionsand is currently extended through April 6, 2026; and WHEREAS, the Wisner Agreementrequires an increase in the compensation payable thereunderdue to the complexity of the litigation; and WHEREAS, the Council desires to increase the maximum compensation payable underthe Wisner Agreementby$250,000 to ensurecontinuity of services; NOW,THEREFORE

BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANS, That the President of the Council is hereby requested andauthorized to execute a fifth amendment to the professional services agreementbetween the City Council of New Orleans andBarrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver,L.L.C.(K-22-715), increasing the maximum compensation payable thereunderby$250,000. In addition to the foregoing, anyamendment authorized herein maycontain such other provisions as maybenecessary or desirable to accomplish the purposesofthis Motion andtoensurethe continuity of services.

BE IT FURTHER MOVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, That contractsshall be circulatedinaccordance with normal process andthe City Council Rules. THE FOREGOING MOTION WASREAD IN FULL, THE ROLLWAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5 NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED. NO. M-25-292 BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL WHEREAS, State lawrequires thatthe City of NewOrleansselect a newspaper as its official journaleach year; and WHEREAS, The Times-Picayune/The NewOrleansAdvocate hasbeen the official journalfor the City of NewOrleansfor many years; and WHEREAS, The Council desires to renewthe existing printing arrangement with The Times-Picayune/The NewOrleansAdvocate for the coming year on amonth-to-month basis, cancellable on 30 days’ notice; NOW THEREFORE

BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANS, That The Times-Picayune/The NewOrleansAdvocate be andhereby is selected as the official journal for the City of NewOrleansfor the period beginning June 1, 2025 to andending May 31, 2026.

BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That the existing printing arrangement with the Times-Picayune Corporation, authorized by Motion M-04-737 is hereby extended on amonth-to-month basis, cancellable on 30 days’ notice, until such time as areplacementofficial journalisselected. Pending a competitive selection, the Council ChiefofStaff is hereby authorized to make such adjustments in the monthly rates as maybereasonably necessary to ensure continuity of official journalservices.

BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That the Clerk of Council shall immediately forward acertified copy of this motion to the Louisiana Secretary of State, Publications Division for furtherhandling.

THE FOREGOING MOTION WASREAD IN FULL, THE ROLLWAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Harris, King -2 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED. NO. M-25-293 BY:COUNCILMEMBERS HARRIS AND GIARRUSSO WHEREAS, Section 21.8.C.18.m of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (“CZO”) permits the issuanceofonly one non-commercial short-term rentalpermit within each city block, inclusive of alllots fronting any exterior boundary of said block andall interior lots; and WHEREAS, CZO Section 21.8.C.18.r authorizes the City Council to grant special exceptions to the one-permit-per-blockcap imposedbySection 21.8.C.18.m andtoallow for the issuanceofuptotwo additionalnoncommercialshort-term rentals in anygivenblock; and WHEREAS, TANESHA L. SANTEMORE hasapplied for aspecial exception from the block limit on non-commercial short-term rentals for the

commercial 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 herein shall be void.

BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That the Clerk of Council shall forwardcopies of thismotion to the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission theDepartment of Safety andPermits, 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 WASREADINFULL, THE ROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF, AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED.

NO. R-25-294

BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO (BY REQUEST)

SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORENO

WHEREAS, the City Councilretained the audit firm Carr,Riggs &Ingram CPAs and Advisors (“CRI”) to conduct the City of New Orleans’ (“City”) 2024 comprehensive annual financial audit; and

WHEREAS,the Louisiana Legislative Auditor requires the City to submit a completed Louisiana Compliance Questionnairethat must be adopted by resolution of the governing authority; and WHEREAS, the DepartmentofFinance has completed the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire, which is signed by the Mayor,and has submitted the completed Questionnairetothe City Council; NOW THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANS That the City Council hereby approves the completed Louisiana Compliance Questionnairepreparedbythe Department of Finance as part of the 2024 annual audit.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,That the Clerk of Council shall forwarda certified copy of this resolution to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor,CRI the Director of Finance, and the Council Fiscal Office.

THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION WASREAD IN FULL, THE ROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Harris, King -2 AND THE RESOLUTION WASADOPTED.

NO. M-25-295

BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO

Granting the applicant’srequest for the property located at 7309 Freret Street and denying the demolition. WITHDRAWN.

NO. M-25-296

BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL

SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORENO

BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, That Rule 39 of the Council Rules and Regulations be and hereby is amended and restated to read as follows: Rule 39. Council Agenda Procedure All items to be included on the agenda of aregular or special meeting shall be filed electronically with the Clerk of Council. Each legislative instrument filed for inclusion on aCouncil agenda must be sponsoredbya councilmember,who shall signify sponsorship by initialing the instrument or otherwise authorizing the filing in writing. For legislative instruments sponsored by morethan one councilmember,all sponsors shall be notified of and consent to the filing. The councilmember whose name appears first on the sponsorship line of the instrument shall be deemed the lead author The deadline for filing an item,other than ordinances for introduction, is 12:00 p.m. on the thirdbusiness day before aregular meeting, or,in the case of aspecial meeting, at such timeasthe Clerk may prescribe. Ordinances submitted for introduction may be filed at any time, including the day of the meeting, provided that the Clerk be allowed areasonable opportunity to process the request.

Items filed with the Clerk after the deadline may appear on the agenda for the next scheduled regular meeting.

BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That Rule 41 of the Council Rules and Regulations be and hereby isamendedand restated to read as follows: Rule 41. “By Request” Motions, Resolutions and Ordinances

Any councilmember may signify that alegislative instrument is being introduced on behalf of athird-party by designating it a“by request” instrument. If the by requestinstrument has multiple sponsors, only the lead sponsormust confirm sponsorship in writing.

Any “by request” instrument filed with the Clerk of Council for Council introduction shall be accompanied by aform prescribed by the Council identifying the third-party requesting the instrument (e.g., individual, agency,department) and areasonably detailed summary of why the legislation is needed, what the legislation does, and, if appropriate, how the legislationchanges existing law.Acursory recitation of the preamble shall generally be deemed insufficient to satisfy the “reasonably detailed summary” requirement.

If the “by request” instrument is an ordinance amending the City Code, the Council Research Officer shall review the ordinance beforeitis filed with the Clerk of Council for consistency with Code style and formatting. “By request” legislative instruments shall be filed in accordance with Rule 31. The Clerk of Council, in consultation with the Council Chief of Staff, may decline to accept any “by request” instrument that does not comply with these rules and may authorize waivers for good cause.

BE IT FURTHER MOVED, That the Council Research Office and the Clerk of Council aredirected and granted the flexibility to make all appropriate formatting and numbering changes to the foregoing and existing rules to accommodate these changes, and aredirected to update the Council’s index of rules and regulations to reflect the foregoing change.

THEFOREGOING MOTION WASREADINFULL, THE ROLL WASCALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,THE RESULTWAS AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Harris, King -2 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED. NO. R-25-297 BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORENO

SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL

RESOLUTION AND ORDER ESTABLISHING ACOMMENT PERIOD REGARDING ENTERGY NEWORLEANS LLC’S RCPS COMPLIANCE

DEMONSTRATION REPORTS FORTHE 2023 AND 2024 COMPLIANCE YEARS DOCKET NO. UD-19-01

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Constitutionof the State of Louisiana and the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans (“Charter”), the Council of the City of New Orleans (“Council”) is the governmental body with the power of supervision, regulation and control over public utilities providing service within the City of New Orleans; and WHEREAS,pursuant to its powers of supervision, regulation, and control over public utilities, the Council is responsible for fixing and changing rates and charges of public utilities and making all necessary rules and regulations governing the termsand conditions of service, and to govern applications for the fixing and changing of rates and charges for public utilities; and WHEREAS, Entergy New Orleans, LLC (“ENO”or“Company”) is apublic utilityproviding electric service and natural gas service to all of New Orleans; and WHEREAS, on May 20, 2021, the Council adopted Resolution No. R-21182 establishing aRenewable and Clean Portfolio Standard(“RCPS”) for utilities providing electric service to New Orleans (“RCPS Rules”); and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4: Compliance and Reporting of the RCPS Rules, ENO is required to submit aCompliance Demonstration Report annually by May 1(“RCPS Compliance Demonstration Report”), with the opportunity for stakeholder comment prior to the Council’sreview; and WHEREAS, on May1,2024, ENO filed its RCPS Compliance DemonstrationReport for the 2023 Compliance Year; and WHEREAS, on May 1, 2025, ENO filed its RCPS Compliance DemonstrationReport for the 2024 Compliance Year; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the RCPS Rules, the Council desires to establish aprocedural schedule allowing for public review of and comment upon ENO’sRCPS Compliance Demonstration Reports; NOWTHEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANS, That the following procedural schedule is adopted for the Council’s considerationofthe RCPS Compliance Demonstration Reports:

1. Comments on the RCPS Compliance Demonstration Reports shallbe filed no later than June 27, 2025.

2. Reply Comments shall be filed no later than August 1, 2025. THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION WASREAD IN FULL, THE ROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF, AND RESULTEDASFOLLOWS:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2 AND THE RESOLUTION WASADOPTED. NO. R-25-298

BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORENO

SECONDED

DOCKET UD-22-03

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Constitution of the StateofLouisiana and the Home RuleCharter of the City of NewOrleans (“Charter”), the Council of the City of NewOrleans (“Council”)isthe governmental body with the power of supervision, regulation, and control over public utilities providing service within the City of NewOrleans (“City”); and WHEREAS, Entergy NewOrleans, LLC (“ENO”) is apublic utility providing electric and natural gas service to New Orleans; and WHEREAS, ENOisawhollyowned subsidiary of Entergy Utility Holding Company,LLC; and WHEREAS, the Council has recognized the importance of improving demand response consistently, and in the wake of Hurricane Ida, stakeholders called for moreaccess to battery storage; and WHEREAS, on March9,2022, ENO filed an application requesting to implement the Battery Storage Demand Response Pilot Program (“Pilot Program”),which would include “30 residential customers with existing solar-connected smart battery systems” and connect them to the Distributed Energy Resource Management System platform; and WHEREAS, on November 3, 2022, the Council approved Resolution R-22483, granting ENO’srequest to implement the Pilot Program; and WHEREAS, on December 1, 2023, ENO filed its report on Phase Iofthe Pilot Program and requested approval of Phase II; and WHEREAS, as part of Phase II, the Pilot Program wouldbeexpanded to up to 140 customers (125 residential customers and 15 smallcommercial customers) and ENOwould partner with EnergyHub as the program implementer; and WHEREAS, ENOproposed implementing Phase II during Program Year 14 of Energy Smart; and WHEREAS, ENOanticipates the cost of Phase II at $236,466, requests recovery through the Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery(“EECR”) Rider and estimates that the bill impact of Phase II for residential customers would be approximately $0.08; and WHEREAS, on April 4, 2024, the Council approved ENO’sapplication for Phase II; and WHEREAS, on December 13, 2024, ENO filed an Application for Approval of the Extension of Phase Twoofthe Battery Energy Storage Demand Response Program, for Program Year 15 of Energy Smart; and WHEREAS, ENOanticipates that the overall costs for Phase II, including the extension, will remainthe same, and requests recovery through the EECRRider; and WHEREAS, on review of ENO’sApplication for Approval of the Extension of Phase Twoofthe Battery Energy Storage Demand Response Program, the Council finds that the Phase II extension of the Pilot Program meets the criteriaset forth in Resolution No.R-16-106, and deems it in the public interest to continue the program; NOWTHEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THECOUNCIL OF THECITY OF NEWORLEANS,

That 1. ENO’srequest to extend Phase II of the Pilot Program during Energy Smart Program Year 15 is GRANTED.

2. ENO’srequest for EnergyHub to continue to serve as the Phase II program implementer is GRANTED.

3. ENO’srequest to recover the cost of the Phase II extension, through Program Year 15 of Energy Smart, of the Pilot Program through Rider EECRisGRANTED. THEFOREGOING RESOLUTION WASREAD IN FULL, THEROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT: Harris, King -2 ANDTHE RESOLUTION WASADOPTED. NO.R-25-299 BY:COUNCILMEMBERS MORRELL, MORENO, GIARRUSSO, HARRIS, KING, GREEN ANDTHOMAS

RESOLUTION ANDORDER STREAMLINING ENTERGYNEW ORLEANS 2025 REPORTINGREQUIREMENTS

DOCKET NO.UD-20-01

WHEREAS, pursuant to the HomeRuleCharter of the City of NewOrleans, the Council of the City of NewOrleans (“Council”)isthe governmental body with the power of supervision, regulation, and control over public utilities providing service withinthe City of NewOrleans; and WHEREAS, pursuant to its powers of supervision, regulation,and control over publicutilities, the Council is responsiblefor fixing and changing rates and charges of publicutilities and making all necessary rules and regulations to governapplications for the fixing and changing of rates and charges of public utilities; and WHEREAS, Entergy NewOrleans, LLC (“ENO”),isapublic utility providing electricservice to allofNew Orleans; and WHEREAS, on July 16, 2020, the Council adopted resolution R-20-223 (“Streamlining Resolution”) establishing Council docket UD-20-01 to seek input from ENO, the Council’s utility advisors (“Advisors”), and interested parties as to which reporting requirements remainrelevant to the Council’s regulatory responsibilities and whether ENO’sreporting requirements can be moreeffectively streamlined; and WHEREAS, on May 6, 2021, after reviewing comments from ENO, the Advisors, Crescent City Power Group (“CCPUG”), and the Alliance for Affordable Energy (“AAE”), the Council adopted Resolution R-21-153, modifying and updating ENO’sreporting requirements to achieve the Council’s goals to mitigate regulatory costsand increase efficiency while providing the information necessary for the Council,the parties, and other members of the public to monitor ENO’sperformance practices; and WHEREAS, per Resolution R-21-153, the Council required 1-) ENO to provide an updated list of all reporting requirements to the Council UtilitiesRegulatory Office (“CURO”) each year no later than December 30 beginning in 2022, 2-) CUROprovide an updated list detailingENO’s reporting requirements biennially no later than March30beginning in 2023, and 3-) parties submit comments on CURO’sreport, including requests to change the reporting requirements, no later than May 1ofthe year in which the biennial report is filed; and WHEREAS, per Resolution R-23-306, the Council modified its original order and requiredENO to submitanupdated list of all reporting requirements for the preceding year to CUROnolater than January 30 to allow ENOsufficient timetointernally evaluate all reporting requirements; and WHEREAS, on January 30, 2025, ENO filed its updated list of reporting requirements to CURO; and WHEREAS, on March 30, 2025, CUROdistributed to the Service List its 2025 Biennial Report; and WHEREAS, as of May1,2025, therewerenocomments filed by any parties in response to the 2025 Biennial Report; and WHEREAS, the Council agrees with the recommendations in CURO’s 2025 Biennial Report; NOWTHEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THECOUNCILOFTHE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, That the following reporting requirements areadded as new reports, as described in Exhibit A, Section A: 1. Quarterly Transition Reports, 2. GRIP Progress Report, and 3. Annual Resilience Metric Report. BE IT FURTHERRESOLVED BY THECOUNCIL OF THECITY OF NEW ORLEANS, That the following reporting requirements aremaintained without modification,asdescribed in ExhibitA,Section B: 1. Post-MISOIntegration Report, 2. NOPS Post-ImplementationReport on Internal Controls and Cyber Security 3. ENO’slost contribution to fixed costs(LCFC)and utility performance incentive to Program Year of Energy Smart, 4. Fuel Adjustment Clause (Paragraph B) 5. Annual review of General Service Customers’ billing alternative rate schedules –new rate structures updated via the 2018 RateCase, 6. Annual statement regarding the natureofinter-company transactions: independent accountants’ report and annual report identifying nonclerical personnel from any regulated utility 7. ENOMISOCost Recovery Rider (True Up), 8. Bi-Annual application to the City Council for approval of ENO’s financing plan, 9. Bi-Annual reporting of data in accordance with Section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Act of 1978, 10. Monthly EAC RateReport, 11. Monthly Purchased Power Cost RecoveryRider (PPCR),

4. Annual1992 Affiliate Settlement Agreementreportper the 1998 revision &R-98-187 (the1992 settlementrelatedtoPublic Utility Holding Company Act(“PUHCA”) revisions of Rule 53 relative to affiliatesand holding company transactionslater revised in 1998) -This reporting requirementcan be removedsinceEntergyexiting non-regulated businesses makes the reporting unnecessary andprovides no valuable information.

5. Semi-annual NOPS O&MExpenditures-This reporting requirement can be removedasResolution R-19-78 allows for the request to remove this reporting requirementonFebruary 21, 2024.

6. EstimatedO&M Expendituresfor NOPS -The reporting requirement can be removedper R-19-78, effective February 21, 2024. THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION WASREADINFULL, THE ROLLWAS CALLEDONTHE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Harris, King -2 AND THE RESOLUTION WASADOPTED.

NO. R-25-300 BY:COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS (BY REQUEST) SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER GREEN

WHEREAS, the Code of Federal Regulations, as enacted by the United StatesCongress,mandatesthatall structures defined as bridges located on allpublic roads shall be inspected, rated for safe loadcapacity,and posted in accordance with the NationalBridge Inspection Standards, and thataninventoryofthese bridges be maintained by each state; and WHEREAS, the responsibility to inspect,rate, andloadpost those bridges underthe authority of OrleansParish, in accordance with those Standards, is delegated by the Louisiana Department of Transportation andDevelopment to OrleansParish; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 1-103 of the 1954 Home Rule Charter of the City of NewOrleans, the boundaries of the City of NewOrleansare coterminous with Parish of Orleans; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of NewOrleansisthe governing authority of the City of NewOrleansand thereforeofOrleansParish; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, That Orleans Parish does hereby certify to the Louisiana Department of Transportation andDevelopment (DOTD) thatfor the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025: 1. The Parish will perform allinterim inspections on allparish-ownedor maintained bridges in accordance with the NationalBridge Inspection Standardsand Specifications for the NationalBridge Inventory; 2. All bridges owned or maintained by the Parish will be structurally analyzed andrated by the Parish as to the safe loadcapacity in accordance with the American Association of State Highway andTransportation Officials(AASHTO) Manualfor Bridge Evaluation. The loadposting information thathas been determined by DOTD for allbridges where the maximum legalloadunderLouisiana State Lawexceeds the loadpermittedunderthe operatingrating as determined above will be critically reviewed by the Parish.Loadposting information will be updatedbythe Parish to reflect allstructuralchanges, anyobsolete structural ratings, or anymissing structural ratings;

3. All Parish-ownedormaintainedbridges whichrequireloadposting or closing will be load posted or closedinaccordance with the table in the DOTD LoadRating Directives. All DOTD supplied loadposting information concerning a bridge hasbeen critically reviewed by the Parish Engineer prior to load posting; and 4. All bridges owned or maintained by the Parish areshown on the attached list in the format specified by the DOTD. Corrections to data supplied to the Parish by the DOTD arenoted. 5. All bridges owned andmaintainedbythe Parish areaccessible to DOTD for allroutine bridge inspections. Parish will clear vegetation as required upon DOTD request. These stipulations areprerequisites to participation by the Parish in the Off-SystemBridge Replacement Program. THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION WASREADINFULL, THE ROLLWAS CALLEDONTHE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Harris, King -2 AND THE RESOLUTION WASADOPTED NO. R-25-301 BY:COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER GREEN ARESOLUTION in support of an application for the creation of the Lake Forest CulturalDistrict. WHEREAS, Act298 of the 2007 RegularSessionofthe Louisiana Legislatureauthorizeslocal governing authoritiestocreatecultural districts as amechanism for community revitalization through the creation of hubs of culturalactivity; and WHEREAS, within the boundaries of astate-certified CulturalDistrict, several taxincentivesmay be available including (1)asales taxexemption on the sale of certainoriginal works of art,(2) individualincome taxcredits for eligible expenses incurred during the rehabilitation of certainowner occupied residential or owneroccupied mixed-use structures, (3)income andcorporate franchise taxcredits for eligible expenses incurred during the rehabilitation of certainhistoric structures; and WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Culture,Recreation andTourism, Office of CulturalDevelopment is authorized to develop standardcriteria for culturaldistricts, to determine whethera proposed culturaldistrict meets those criteria, andtoestablish the procedure for local governing authoritiestosubmit applications to designate andcertify aspecified geographic area as acultural district; and WHEREAS, the City Council is the appropriate “Local Governing Authority” for the purpose of submitting the application for the establishment of a CulturalDistrictlocated exclusively within OrleansParish; WHEREAS, the geographic area generally comprisedbythe territory within the following boundaries within the City of NewOrleans, Parish of Orleans may meet the criteria for the creation of aCultural District whicharea: the west to east boundary being from Mayo Road to Michoud Boulevard, andthe north to south boundary being from the southernI-10 Service Road to Dwyer Road; andNOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANS, That the Council:

1. Supports andendorses the submission of an application to the Louisiana Department of Culture,Recreation andTourism, Office of CulturalDevelopment to designate the Lake Forest CulturalDistrictasa state-certified CulturalDistrict; and

2. Delegates its authority to submit said application andall supporting documents, reports, andotherforms required for the creation, administration,and reporting to the duly authorized CulturalDistrict Liaison, Kimberly Lavon Burbank; and

3. Strongly encourages allCity employees to support andcooperate with efforts to compile allnecessary information anddatarequired for the application andall subsequent reporting necessary for the administration of the CulturalDistrict; and

4. Request allaffected citizensand businesses to support andpromote activitiesconsistent with the purposes of the “Lake Forest Cultural District”; and

5. Authorizesthe Mayor of the City of NewOrleanstosign anyand all documents required for the establishment andadministration of the “Lake Forest CulturalDistrict”; and

6. Request thatcopiesofthis resolution be sent to the Lt. Governor’s Office, the Louisiana Department of Culture,Recreation andTourismOffice of Cultural Development, the Mayor of NewOrleans, andthe City Council. THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION WASREADINFULL, THE ROLL WASCALLEDONTHE ADOPTION THEREOF,THE RESULT WASAS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Harris, King -2 RECUSED: 0 AND THE RESOLUTION WASADOPTED NO. R-25-302 BY:COUNCILMEMBERS HARRIS AND GIARRUSSO ARESOLUTION calling an election in the Broadmoor Neighborhood Improvement District for Saturday, November15, 2025. WHEREAS, the LegislatureofLouisiana adopted Act554 during the RegularSessionof2010; and WHEREAS, Act554 (R.S. 33:9091.17) created the Broadmoor Neighborhood Improvement District (hereinafter, District), andauthorized the City Council of NewOrleanstolevy andcollect aparcel fee, after same wasapproved by avote of the people of the District, upon each improvedparcel of land located within the District, whichiscomprisedof thatareaofthe City of NewOrleanswithin the following boundaries: the

NO:861-605

JERO PROPER‐TIES,INC VS EDWARDS EXPRESS, LLC

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND

SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 14, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidd bli

g bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on July 30, 2025 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN TRACTOFLAND, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, neat thetownofHar‐vey, in Township 13 and14South, Range24East, Southwestern Land District of Louisiana, form‐ingportion of Lot"M" on map by C. 0. Hooper,Indus‐trialEngineer, datedFebruary 18,1935, ablue‐printcopy of which is attached to an

actbeforeE.M Conzelmann, N.P.,dated March8,1935, registered in COB123 folio 446, andform‐ingthe South portionofPar‐cel"M" consist‐ingofthe remainderof Parcel "M"sep‐arated from said NorthPor‐tion or Portion Oneby aline beginningat a point18' dis‐tancefromthe west rightof way line of the public road (PetersRoad) which pointis a ta distance of 150' from an iron pinSouth 73 degrees West,70.5' from apoint on the West line of boundaryofand distance of 2075 feet South16de‐grees 48 Vi East from theNorth‐

east corner of thehereinabove described larger tract, and which iron pin marksthe northeastcor‐nerofParcel "M", andrun‐ning from that point in awesterlydi‐rectiontothe east line or boundarylineof theUnited States Govern‐ment's Intra‐coastal Water‐way(Harvey CanalSection No.1)right of way, andthenalong andfollowing theeastright of waylineofthe United States Government's Intracoastal Waterway (Har‐veyCanal Sec‐tion No.1)at rightanglesto thepreceding course South17 degrees East a distance of 150'

to thesouth‐west cornet of Parcel "M".

THENCE North 73 degrees East adistanceof 272.75’ more or less, on aline forming thesouth boundaryof Parcel “M", at rightanglesto thepreceding course andto‐wards thelands of Mrs. Olivia HatchBryant's to apoint 39.5' from thewest rightofway line of thepublicroad (PetersRoad) andthe south‐west corner of Parcel "M".

THENCE North 8 degrees 38 1/2' West alongthe east line of Par‐cel"M" adis‐tanceof 151.54' to the pointofbegin‐ning,together with aservitude

of 30' roadway with parallels Lot"M" on its southboundary forthe purpose of ingressand egress, how‐ever,not to the exclusionofad‐joining. Together with a real servitudeor rightofway and passageover spur tracks ad‐joining Peters Road and locatedonthe east side of aboveproperty having theright of passage at allhours over said trackfree of allcharges andrentals Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear theMunici‐palNo. 730 Pe‐ters Road,Har‐vey, La 70058.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages,liens and i il g g privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

IRLR SILVERSTEIN Attorney for Plaintiff JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20, 2025, July 25, 2025 jun20-jul25-2t $138.94

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:858-287

JPMORGAN CHASEBANK NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATION vs DEVONJACK‐SONGILES (A/K/A DEVONJ GILES, DEVON GILES) AND HENRY GILES, JR. (A/K/A HENRY GILES) AND KRYSTALJ.WIL‐SON(A/K/A KRYSTAL WILSON)AND ADOLPHUS WIL‐SON, SR By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof

SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedNovem‐ber27, 2024, I have seized and will proceed to sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Ofﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, Louisiana, 70058, on July 30, 2025 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: ONECERTAIN LOTOFGROUND, together with allthe buildings andimprove‐ments thereonand all

therights, ways, privileges, servitudes and appurtenances thereunto belongingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in SQUARE "D"of KENSINGTON GARDENSSUB‐DIVISION, bounded by ABBEYROAD, OLDCOMPTON ROAD,WEST CHELSEAROAD andJUSTIN LANE, designated as LOTNO. 19-B-1 on asurvey made by Wilton J. Dufrene, Land Surveyor, datedSeptem‐ber16, 1983, re‐visedMarch 28, 1984, acopyof hi h i

p which is an‐nexedtoAct No 84-26872, andaccording thereto, said Lot commences at a distance of 64 feet from thecomer of ABBEYROAD andOLD COMP‐TONROAD, mea‐suresthence64 feet front on ABBEYROAD, same width in therear, by a depth of 127 feet between equaland parallel lines.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

EMILYA MUELLER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20,2025, July 25, 2025 jun20-jul25-2t $90.24

YOLANDA LEWIS)

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:849-951

JPMORGAN CHASEBANK, NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATION VS MICHAELLEWIS, JR.,(A/K/A MICHAEL LEWIS) AND YOLANDA STEVENSON, (A/K/A YOLANDA STEVENSON LEWIS, YOLANDAS LEWIS, YOLANDAF LEWIS,

g scribed prop‐erty to wit: Thelandre‐ferred to in this policy is situ‐ated In the StateofLA, CountyofJEF‐FERSON, City of HARVEY anddescribed as follows: That certain pieceorportion of ground,to‐gether with all of thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances andadvantages thereunto be‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, State

of Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Woodmere South Subdivision, Section3,desig‐natedasLot 749, Square Q, bounded by Cimwood Drive, Keith-WayDrive, Clover Lane end DestrehanAv‐enue,saidlot commences at a distance of 594.19 feet from theInter‐sectionofDe‐strehanAvenue andCimwood Drive,and measures thence 60 feet frontonCim‐wood Drive, same in widthin therear, by a depth of 100 feet,be‐tween equal end parallel li ll

p lines. Allas more fully shownonsur‐veyby Gilbert, Kelly andCouturie, Inc.,dated Sep‐tember 28, 1994, acopyofwhich is attached to actregis‐teredinCOB 2302 Folio690. This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter

20.3.PPP and

defined in Article 26; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. WHEREAS, Zoning Docket Number 14/25 was initiated by Nicole Webre and referred to the City Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission held apublic hearing on this zoning petition and recommended approval of atext amendment in its report to the City Council dated March 20, 2025, presented in Zoning Docket Number 14/25; and WHEREAS, the recommendation of the City Planning Commission was upheld, and the changes weredeemed necessary and in the best interest of the CityofNew Orleans and weregranted approval with modification as stated in Motion Number M-25-228 of the Council of the City of New Orleans on April 10, 2025; and WHEREAS,Motion Number M-25-228 inadvertently mentioned that this conditional use was subject to one proviso and Council staffhas since clarified that no proviso was intended. SECTION 1. THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS HEREBY ORDAINS, That Article 17 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 4264 M.C.S.,as amended by Ordinance No. 26,413 M.C.S. and subsequent amendments), be,and is hereby amended and reordained to read as follows: “ARTICLE 17. CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS *** 17.3USES

17.3.A PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USES

and

use per block within the CBD-5 District.

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANSMAY 22 2025 J.P.MORRELL PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON MAY23,2025

APPROVED: MAY27, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ONMAY 27, 2025 AT 3:00 P.M.

AISHAR.COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 ORDINANCE (AS AMENDED) CITY OF NEW ORLEANS CITY HALL: April 24, 2025

CALENDAR NO. 35,098 NO. 30352 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBERSHARRIS AND GIARRUSSO AN ORDINANCE to establisha conditionaluse to permit awine shop in aCBD-5 Urban CoreNeighborhood Lower Intensity Mixed Use District, on Square218, Lot 7-A, in the First Municipal District, bounded by Girod Street, Carondelet Street, Julia Street, and Saint Charles Avenue (Municipal Addresses: 722-726 Girod Street); and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. WHEREAS, Zoning Docket Number 15/25 was initiated by Girod Partners, LLC and referred to the City Planning Commission; and WHEREAS,the City Planning Commission held apublic hearing on this zoning petition and recommended approval of aconditionaluse in its report to the City Council dated March 20, 2025, presented in Zoning Docket Number 15/25; and WHEREAS, the changes weredeemed necessary and in the best interest of the City of New Orleans and weregranted approval, subject to one (1) proviso, as stated in Motion Number M-25-223 of the Council of the City of New Orleans on April 10, 2025.

SECTION 1. THE COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFNEW ORLEANSHEREBY

ORDAINS, That aconditional use to permit awine shop in aCBD-5 Urban CoreNeighborhood

shall be cause for immediatecancellation of the Use and Occupancy Permit for the premises. Alternatively, the individualshall be subject to whatever civil liabilities, penalties, or remedies the law prescribes.

SECTION 3. This Ordinance shall have the legal force and effect of authorizing this conditional use after: (1) all proviso(s) listed in Section1, which impose aone-time obligation have been completely fulfilled and complied with; and (2) all proviso(s) listed in Section1,which impose a continuing or ongoing obligation have begun to be fulfilled. Fulfilment of acontinuing or ongoing obligation is based on the City Planning Commission’sapproval of the final site plan, which shall be submitted within one year of adoptionofthis Ordinance by the City Council, unless extended as authorized by the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. The Executive Director of the City Planning Commission shallverify that the development plan incorporateall conditions set forth in this Ordinance and shall sign the plan to indicate final plan approval. The final approved plan shall be recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, within 30 days of the date of final approval, and evidence of such recordation shall be submitted to the City Planning Commission. No use or occupancy certificates or permits, other than the building permits needed to fulfill the proviso(s), shall be issueduntil the final approved plan is recorded and evidence of recordation is submitted to the City Planning Commission. If the development plan is notapproved and recorded, within the timeframes provided in the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, then this Ordinance shall be null and void with no legal forceorbinding effect. Furthermore, if the requirements of Section4.3.H.1 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance arenot satisfied within the timeframe allotted by Sections 4.3.H.1 and 4.3.H.2ofthe Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, the conditional use will expire, and this Ordinance will be null and void.

ADOPTED BY THECOUNCILOFTHE CITYOFNEW ORLEANSMAY 22, 2025 JP MORRELL

PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THEMAYOR ON MAY23, 2025

APPROVED: MAY27, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR

RETURNED BY THEMAYOR ON MAY27, 2025 AT 3:00 P.M.

AISHAR.COLLIER ASSISTANTCLERK OF COUNCIL

ROLL CALL VOTE:

YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -5

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0

ORDINANCE

CITYOFNEW ORLEANS

CITYHALL: April 24, 2025

CALENDAR NO.35,099

NO.30353 MAYOR COUNCILSERIES

BY:COUNCILMEMBERS HARRISAND GIARRUSSO (BYREQUEST)

AN ORDINANCE to authorize the execution and delivery by the New Orleans Building Corporation(“NOBC”) of the EighthAmendment to Concession Agreement between NOBC,assublessor,and Rohin Sharma and Harpreet Bishanpal (“Subway”), as sublessee, which amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” (the “Amendment”), and which amendment amends the concession agreement between NOBC and Subway,(the “Lease”), pursuant to which NOBC subleases to Subway aportionof the first floor of the UnionPassenger Terminal Building (the “Leased Premises”), for Subway’soperation of aSubway restaurant, and to provide forrelated matters; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. WHEREAS, the Leased Premises is comprised of aportionofproperty subject to alease between the City of New Orleans and NOBC;and WHEREAS, NOBC and Subway now desiretoamend the Lease in the manner set forth in the Amendment;and WHEREAS, in order to foster growth and economic development in the City,itisinthe best interest of the City to authorize NOBC’s execution and delivery of the Amendment;and WHEREAS, the proposed rent and other terms of the Amendment provide afair and equitable returntothe City and NOBC;NOW THEREFORE SECTION 1. THE COUNCIL OF THECITYOFNEW ORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That the EighthAmendment to ConcessionAgreement by and between the New Orleans Building Corporation, as sublessor,and Rohin Sharma and Harpreet Bishanpal, as sublessee which amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit “A”, is hereby approved.

SECTION 2. That NOBC is hereby authorized to execute and deliver the Amendment and such other documents or instruments necessary or appropriate to effectuate the foregoing.

SECTION 3. That all actions taken by NOBC and the City in furtherance of the matters set forth herein arehereby ratified.

SECTION 4. That the City Attorney is hereby authorized to make any technical changes and modificationstothis Ordinance and other documents to conform the Ordinance and other documentstothe actionand intent of the City Council as recorded during the City Council meeting(s) at which action relative to this matter may be taken by the City Council.

SECTION 5. That said Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated and made apart hereof.

ADOPTED BY THECOUNCIL OF THECITYOFNEW ORLEANSMAY 22, 2025 JP MORRELL PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THEMAYOR ON MAY23, 2025

APPROVED: MAY27, 2025 LaTOYACANTRELL MAYOR RETURNED BY THEMAYOR ON MAY27, 2025 AT 3:00 P.M.

AISHAR.COLLIER ASSISTANTCLERK OF COUNCIL

ROLL CALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Moreno,

or otherpublic purposes; and WHEREAS, LASPCA is anon-profitcorporation,located at 1700 Mardi Gras Boulevard, NewOrleans, Louisiana 70114; and WHEREAS, the City andLASPCA desiretoenterinto the attached Amendment No. 1tothe CEArelative to the valued public purpose of creating astrong, comprehensive, multi-sectoral Gulf South regional networkthatcombats the effectsofinadequate staffing, gaps in mosquito surveillance, andcontrols core competencieswithin Mosquito Control Abatement Districts; and WHEREAS, the City andLASPCA desiretoenterinto this Amendment No. 1thatwill extendthe term of the CEAfor four (4)years,increase the CEA’s compensation, andmodify certaintermsand conditions, andtoset forth certainothermatters in connection therewith; NOW,THEREFORE SECTION 1. THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That the Mayor,onbehalfofthe City andthe Mosquito, Termite, &Rodent Control Board, is hereby authorized to enterinto Amendment No. 1toits CEAwith Louisiana SPCA (“LASPCA”), relative to the valued public purpose of creating astrong, comprehensive, multi-sectoral Gulf South regionalnetworkthatcombats the effectsofinadequate staffing, gaps in mosquito surveillance, andcontrols core competencieswithin Mosquito Control Abatement Districts, to extendthe CEA’s term for four (4)years,toincrease the CEA’s compensation, andtomodify certain terms andconditions, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A”. SECTION 2. ThatsaidAmendment No. 1isattached hereto as Exhibit “A” andincorporatedand made apart hereof.

ADOPTEDBYTHE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANSMAY 22, 2025 JP MORRELL PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON MAY23, 2025 APPROVED: MAY27, 2025 LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR

RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ON MAY27, 2025 AT 3:00 P.M.

AISHA R. COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL ROLLCALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street,Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE (AS CORRECTED)

CITY OF NEWORLEANS

CITY HALL: May 8, 2025 CALENDAR NO. 35,109 NO. 30355 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBER GREEN (BY REQUEST) AN ORDINANCE to authorizethe Mayor of the City of NewOrleanstoenter into Amendment No. 1tothe Cooperative Endeavor Agreement(“CEA”) between the Mosquito, Termite, &Rodent Control Boardand The Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University andAgricultural &Mechanical College (“LSU”) to extendthe CEA’s term for one (1)year,toincrease the CEA’s compensation, andtomodify certaintermsand conditions, as more fully set forth in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A” andmade apart hereof; andotherwise to provide with respect thereto.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority containedinArticle 7, Section (14)(C) of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, andstatutory authority supplemental thereto, the State of Louisiana andits political subdivisions, including the City of NewOrleans(“City”), mayenterinto agreements with each otherorwith anypublic or private corporation or individual; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9-314 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of NewOrleans, the City mayenterinto agreements with anypublic or private association,corporation, or individualfor activitiesinsupportof economic growth or otherpublic purposes; and WHEREAS, LSU is apublic institution of highereducation in the State of Louisiana;and its offices arelocated at 2020 HimesHall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803; and WHEREAS, the City andLSU desiretoenterinto the attached Amendment No. 1tothe CEArelative to the valued public purpose of creating astrong, comprehensive, multi-sectoral Gulf South regionalnetworkthatcombats the effectsofinadequate staffing, gaps in mosquito surveillance, and controls core competencieswithin Mosquito Control Abatement Districts; and WHEREAS, the City andLSU desiretoenterinto this Amendment No. 1 thatwill extendthe term of the CEAfor one (1)year,increase the CEA’s compensation, andmodify certaintermsand conditions, andset forth certainothermatters in connection therewith; NOW,THEREFORE SECTION 1. THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That the Mayor,onbehalfofthe City andthe Mosquito, Termite, &Rodent Control Board, is hereby authorized to enterinto Amendment No. 1toits CEAwith The Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University andAgricultural &Mechanical College (“LSU”), relative to the valued public purpose of creating astrong, comprehensive, multi-sectoral Gulf South regionalnetworkthatcombats the effectsofinadequate staffing, gaps in mosquito surveillance, andcontrols core competencies within Mosquito Control Abatement Districts, to extendthe CEA’s term for one (1)year,toincrease the CEA’s compensation, andtomodify certain terms andconditions, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A”. SECTION 2. ThatsaidAmendment No. 1isattached hereto as Exhibit “A” andincorporatedand made apart hereof.

ADOPTEDBYTHE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANSMAY 22, 2025 JP MORRELL

PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON MAY23, 2025

APPROVED: MAY27, 2025

LaTOY CANTRELL

MAYOR

RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ON MAY27, 2025 AT 3:00 P.M.

AISHA R. COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL

ROLLCALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-5

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:Harris, King -2

RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street,Room 1E09, City Hall. NOCP 8518

NO:846-887

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND

SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedSeptem‐ber11, 2023,I have seized and will proceed to sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Ofﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, Louisiana, 70058, on July 30,2025 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereonand all of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, advan‐tagesand appurtenances thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theState of Louisiana, Parish of Jeffer‐son, in that part thereofknown as University City Subdivision in Square No.25, bounded by Ole Miss Drive, 40th Street (side),E LouisianaState Drive(side)and East Rice Place, said portionof ground is desig‐natedasLot No 17-A, formsthe cor‐nerofOle Miss Driveand E. Rice Place, mea‐suresthence62 feet fronton OleMissDrive same width in therear, by a depth andfront on E. Rice Place of 110 feet between equal andparallel lines, allas more fully shownonsur‐veyofGilbert Kelly and Couturie,Inc S &E,dated June 22, 1976.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check

with irrevocable Bank Letter of Credit

FOERSTNERG MEYER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III

Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20,2025, July 25, 2025

jun20-jul25-2t $84.42

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:765-685 WELLSFARGO BANK,N.A VERSUS RENADER MYLESAND THE UNOPENED SUC‐CESSION OF LEORAMYLES A/K/A LEORAMYLES

THAT PORTION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon andall rights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances andad‐vantages there‐unto belongingorin anywiseapper‐tainingsituated in theParishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in that portion thereofknown as BAYWOOD SUBDIVISION, SQUARE A, LOT 22-A-1accord‐ingtoa plan of resubdivisionby J. J. Krebs& Sons,Inc., dated September17, 1980, approved in Ordinance No.14505 in COB 991, Folio535 ﬁled October27, 1980, said SQUARE Ais boundedbyMt. Laurel Drive, Sheree Lyn Court

(side) Drainage servitude(side) Highland Drive North(side)and Wall Boulevard. Said LOT22-A-1com‐mences at adis‐tanceof123.98 feet from the corner of Wall Boulevard andMt. Laurel Drive, measures thence 32.09 feet frontonMt. Laurel Drive, a width in the rear of 31.06 feet,having a depth of 100.01 feet on theEast‐erly side Lot Line,and a depth of 100.00 feet on theop‐posite sideline

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of the sale

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter ofCredit.

COREYJ.GIROIR

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20,2025, July 25, 2025

jun20-jul25-2t $88.65

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:864-827

PLAINS COM‐MERCE BANK VERSUS JAREDWILFRED HYDELL

ated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that subdivision knownas, WOODMERE SUBDIVISION, SECTION5,and beingdesig‐natedonthe of‐ficial plan of said subdivi‐sion,on file and of record in theof‐fice of theClerk andRecorder forthe Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana,as LOTNUMBER ONETHOUSAND THREEHUN‐DRED NINETY FIVE-A (1395-A) of SQUARE LL, said subdivision, said lothaving such measure‐mentsand dimensions and beingsubject to such restric‐tionsand servi‐tudesasshown on the official subdivi‐sion mapand/or of record

Furtherinac‐cordance with a survey,pre‐paredbyJ.J Krebs& Sons, Inc.,dated April 24, 1978, resur‐veyedJuly22, 1978, acopyof which is at‐tached to and made apartof that certainact recorded at COB 939 Page 545, of theofﬁcial recordsofJef‐ferson Parish, Louisiana, ex‐cept said lotis showntohave a depth of 98.60 feet between equaland parallel lines.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

EMILYA MUELLER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III

Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20, 2025, July 25, 2025 jun20-jul25-2t $89.18

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA

NO:864-545 US BANK TRUST NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATION, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UALCAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR VRMTGASSET TRUST VERSUS THEUNOPENED SUCCESSION OF TILLYBERT CHERAMIE PUNCH(A/K/A TILLYB PUNCH)

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMay 14, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on July 30, 2025 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALL BUILDINGSAND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALLTHE RIGHTS WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐NANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTO BELONGINGOR IN ANYWISEAP‐PERTAINING, SITUATED IN THEPARISHOF JEFFERSON, STATEOF LOUISIANA, IN THAT PORTION THEREOFWHICH WAS FORMERLY KNOWNASLOT 21 OF AMES HOMESTEAD FARMS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLAN MADE BY J.W.T. STEPHENS,C.E &S,DATED MAY 2, 1921, ANDINAC‐CORDANCE WITH PLAN MADE BY HO‐TARD &WEBB, SURVEYOR, DATEDNOVEM‐BER6,1952, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED TO AN ACTOFDEDICA‐TION OF STREETS PASSEDBEFORE WILLIAMJ WHITE, NOTARY PUBLIC,DATED NOVEMBER 9, 1952, ANDREG‐ISTEREDINCOB 329, FOLIO325, THESAIDPROP‐ERTY IS SITU‐ATED IN MYRA SUBDIVISION ANDINACCOR‐DANCE WITH SAID PLAN, THESAID

LOTISDESIG‐NATEDBYTHE NO.17IN SQUARE 2 THEREOF, WHICHSQUARE 2ISBOUNDED BY ST.ANTHONY STREET,JUNG BOULEVARD, UR‐BANDALE STREET ANDLOT 23 OF AMES HOMESTEAD FARMS, ANDMEASURES AS FOLLOWS:

LOT17COM‐MENCES AT A DISTANCE OF 362.50 FEET FROM THECOR‐NEROF ST.ANTHONY STREET AND JUNG BOULE‐VARD,AND MEASURES THENCE 55.34 FEET FRONTON ST.ANTHONY STREET,RUN‐NING IN THEDI‐RECTIONOF URBANDALE STREET, SAME WIDTHINTHE REAR,BYA DEPTHBE‐TWEEN EQUALAND PARALLEL LINES OF 79.35 FEET ALLASMORE FULLYSHOWN ON SURVEY OF HO‐TARD &WEBB. C.E.,DATED SEP‐TEMBER 10, 1954.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or PersonalCheck with Bank Letter of Credit

EMILYA MUELLER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20, 2025, July 25, 2025 jun20-jul25-2t $120.95

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:864-335 SERVBANK,SB VERSUS ETHANPAUL SMITH(A/K/A ETHANSMITH) By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐

beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMay 9, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on July 30, 2025 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: Acertain piece or portionof ground,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐ments thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances and advantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Ridgeﬁeld Subdivision, all as perplanthereof made by J. J. Krebs& Sons C.E.,dated Feb‐ruary5,1965, approved by theJefferson Parish Council under Ordi‐nanceNo. 7040, registered in COB611, folio 438, andasper actofdedica‐tion registered in COB615, Folio 645, said prop‐erty is describedas follows:

LotNumber3, Square D, bounded by Caminada Drive, BayAdams Drive, Bastian Drive andVermillion Drive, com‐mencing105 feet from the corner of Bay Adamsand Caminada Dri‐ves, measuring 50 feet fronton BayAdams Drive, same in widthinthe rear,bya depth of 100 feet be‐tween equal andparallel lines.

In accordance with asurveyby J.J. Krebs& Son, Inc.,dated June 4, 1966, said lot commences 55 feet from the corner of Bast‐ianDrive and BayAdams Drive.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

EMILYA MUELLER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20, 2025, July 25, 2025 jun20-jul25-2t $93.42

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:864-330

THEBANKOF NEWYORKMEL‐LON, F/K/ATHE BANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEEFOR REGISTERED HOLDERSOF CWABS, INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-5 VS THEOPENED SUCCESSIONOF ANTHONYJ VALENTI(A/K/A ANTHONY VALENTI) ANDTERRI ADAMSVALENTI

ACERTAIN LOT OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐ments thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudesappurte‐nances and advantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof JEFFERSON, Stateof LOUISIANA, in BLOCK2,SEC‐TION "C"OF COLONIAL CLUB ESTATES, bounded by Colonial Club Drive(late Son‐aitAvenue), Jef‐ferson Highway, O.K. Avenue and Public River Road,desig‐natedasLOT

"X"ona survey made by E.L. Eustis,C.E.& S., datedFebruary 29, 1952, andac‐cordingto which said Lot "X", is composed of that portionof original LotNo. 2nearertoJef‐ferson Highway, andsaidLot "X"adjoining Lot1 on theJef‐ferson Highway side,and mea‐suresseventyﬁve feet (75') frontonColo‐nial Club Drive, by awidth in therearand frontonO.K.Av‐enue of seventy-ﬁve feet (75'), with a depthonboth side linesofone hundred sixtyeightand eighty-three one-hundreths feet (168.83'), andinaccor‐dancewitha survey by J. J. Krebs &Sons, C. E. &S datedApril 27, 1954, andsaid lothas the same designa‐tion,location andmeasure‐mentsasabove setforth,and commences at a distance of one hundred andseven onehundredthsfeet (100.07')from thecornerof JeffersonHigh‐wayand Colonial Club Drive. Allas more fully shownona plot of survey make by Gerald B. Dunn, Land Surveyor

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

EMILYA MUELLER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20, 2025, July 25, 2025 jun20-jul25-2t $110.36

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:863-530 FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION VERSUS

RONALD JOSEPH BERTUCCI AND EMILYBERTUCCI A/K/AEMILY LIBERTO BERTUCCI

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND

SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedApril 11, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on July 30,2025 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: ACERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLTHE BUILDINGSAND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALLTHE RIGHTS, WAYS PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES APPURTE‐NANCES,AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTO BELONGINGOR IN ANYWISEAP‐PERTAINING SIT‐UATEDINTHE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATEOF LOUISIANA, IN PORTIONOR TRUDEAU PLAN‐TATION SUBDIVISION, FORMERLY PART OF SQUARES19 AND21OFUP‐LAND SUBDIVISION DESIGNATED AS LOTNO. 23, BOUNDEDBY NORTHUPLAND AVENUE,WEST METAIRIE AV‐ENUE,FERRIS PLACE, AND SHIRLEYSTREET, WHICHSAIDLOT COMMENCES AT ADISTANCEOF 783.54' FEET FROM THE CORNER OF SHIRLEYSTREET ANDNORTH UP‐LAND AVENUE, ANDMEASURES THENCE 65.01 FEET FRONTON NORTHUPLAND AVENUE,BYA DEPTHALONG THESIDELINE NEARER TO WEST METAIRIE AVENUE OF 84.99 FEET,BYA DEPTHALONG THEOPPOSITE SIDELINEOF 84.26 FEET,BYA WIDTHINTHE REAR OF 65' FEET,ALL IN AC‐CORDANCE WITH THESUR‐VEYOFF.G STEWART, SURVEYOR, DATEDOCTOBER 19, 1958, AND FURTHERINAC‐CORDANCE WITH ASURVEYOF J.L. FONTCU‐BERTA, SUR‐VEYOR, DATED JULY 31, 1974. TITLETO THEABOVE REF‐ERENCEDPROP‐ERTY CONVEYED TO EMILY BERTUCCI,WIFE OF ANDRONALD JOSEPH BERTUCCI FROM EMILYBERTUCCI FORMERLY KNOWNAS EMILYLIBERTO WIFE OF AND RONALD JOSEPH BERTUCCI AND RECORDED ON DECEMBER 22, 2017 IN BOOK 3399, PAGE 520; subjectto restrictions servitudes, rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affect‐ing theproperty.

p p is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit.

ZACHARY YOUNG Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20,2025, July 25, 2025

jun20-jul25-2t $115.65

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:863-510

U.S. BANK TRUSTCOM‐PANY,NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR VELOICTY COM‐MERCIALCAPI‐TALLOAN TRUST2021-2 VERSUS BILLYJOE ED‐WARDS

rear,bya depth of 100feet be‐tween equal and parallel lines. Lot165-Acom‐mences at a dis‐tanceof247.75 feet from the corner of NorthDells Street andDells Court. Beinga portion of thesame property or the same property acquired by vendor herein by actdated June 1, 2005 andreg‐isteredatCOB Instrument Number 3147, folio 547, #10534415 of theofﬁcial recordsofthe ClerkofCourt in theParishof Jefferson, Louisiana. Commonly KnownAs: 4017 NorthDells Street,Harvey, LA 70058

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter ofCredit.

RYAN M. MCCABE Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20,2025, July 25, 2025 jun20-jul25-2t $114.59

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:862-942

square are shownonplan by J. W. T. Stephens,Sur‐veyor, datedNo‐vember 7, 1922, copy of which is annexedtoan actbeforeEldon S. Lazarus, No‐tary,Public, a copy of which is also depositedinthe Ofﬁce of the ClerkofCourt andonplanof W. F. Calongne, C.E.,dated March29, 1947, copy of which is annexedtoact of Paul J. Ganucheau,No‐tary Public datedApril 17, 1947, said por‐tion of ground begins at a pointof40feet from thedivid‐ing line of Lots 16 and17and thence mea‐sures30feet frontonBelle TerreRoadto‐ward the dividing line of lots 15 and16, thence in depth alonga line at rightangles, which angleis 30 feet fromthe dividing line of Lots15 and16, a distance of 152 feet thence a ﬁrstwidth in therearalong alineatright angleand in the directionofLot No.15of30feet, thence afurther depth alonga line at rightangles, which angleto andparallelto thedividingline of Lots 16 and 17 adistanceof 55 feet,thence furtherwidth in therearalong a line at rightangle and parallel to Belle TerreRoadof 60 feet,thencein depth along a line at rightangle,par‐alleltothe di‐viding line of Lots 16 and17in thedirection of BelleTerre Road,a dis‐tanceof207 feet to thepoint of beginning.

y 25, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on July 30, 2025 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit:

ALLOFDEFEN‐DANTSRIGHT, TITLEAND IN‐TEREST IN THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY,IN‐CLUDING, BUT NOTNECESSAR‐ILYLIMITED TO, AN UNDIVIDEDONEHALF INTEREST IN SUCH PROP‐ERTY:

SITUATED IN WILLOWDALE SUBDIVISION, SECTIONNO. 7, BEINGA PART OF ELMWOOD LAFRENIERE PLANTATION, ALLINACCOR‐DANCEWITH PLAN PREPARED BY ADLOEORR, JR &ASSOCIATES, C.E.,DATED APRIL9,1962, APPROVED BY THEJEFFERSON PARISH COUN‐CIL, UNDEROR‐DINANCENO. 5672, ADOPTED JULY 26, 1962, REGISTERED IN COB557 FOLIO 526, JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND ACCORDING THERETOSAID LOTOF GROUND IS DES‐IGNATEDAS FOLLOWS, TOWIT:

LOUISIANA NO: 850-473 "C

HERITAGE MANGEMENT SERVICES WITH UNIONBANKAS SE d/b/aHER‐ITAGE MANAGEMENT SERVICES VERSUS MYRIAM HI‐DALGOROSEN‐THAL,ETAL

g g privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

FEDERALHOME LOAN MORT‐GAGE CORPORA‐TION VERSUS NANCYT.LORY

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

Property Com‐monlyKnown as:801 North Upland Avenue, Metairie,LA 70003

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price

That certain pieceorportion of ground,to‐gether with all buildingsand improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances and advantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Woodmere Subdivision, SectionNo. 1, in accordance with thesubdi‐vision plan thereofbyJ.J Krebs& Sons Inc., datedNovem‐ber30, 1973, ap‐proved by the JeffersonParish CouncilonJanu‐ary17, 1974, registered in COB803, folio 551, said plan beingregistered in Plan Book 84, folio 39;and the resubdivision thereofinac‐cordance with plan of J.J. Krebs& Sons Inc., C.E.,dated Au‐gust 20, 1974, andregistered in COB824, folio 676, andaccord‐ing thereto, said Lot is designated anddescribed as follows, by a plan of J.J. Krebs& Sons, Inc.,dated Feb‐ruary6,1975. Lot165-Ain Square “B”, which said square is bounded by NorthDells Street,Delis Court, Oakmere Driveand South DellsStreet.Lot 165-Ameasures 62 feet fronton NorthDells Street,samein width in the

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 26, 2025,I have seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on July 30,2025 at 10 o'clocka.m.the following de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: THAT PORTION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon andall of the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes,ap‐purtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in that part of the property of the Ames Farms LandCompany knownas AMES FARM BELLE SUBDIVI‐SION which pieceorportion of ground forms part of the original LOTNO. 16 of SQUARE "B"ofsaidsub‐division which said lotand

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck CertiﬁedCheck, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

EMILYA MUELLER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate:

June 20, 2025, July 25, 2025

jun20-jul25-2t $113.53

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:861-903

US BANK TRUST NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATION, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UALCAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR VRMTGASSET TRUST VS GUILLERMOAN‐GELO CARLOS

LOT544 OF SQUARE 35, BOUNDEDBY SELLS,MARCIE, JUDITH AND LOLA STREETS, SAID LOTCOM‐MENCES AT A DISTANCE OF 225.03 FEET FROM THE FIRSTPOINT OF CURVATUREOF JUDITH STREET INTO MARCIE STREET,AND MEASURES THENCE 60 FEET FRONTONJU‐DITH STREET SAME IN WIDTH IN THEREAR, BY A DEPTHOF105 FEET BETWEEN EQUALAND PARALLEL LINES ALLACCORDING TO SKETCH OF SURVEY BY GILBERT, KELLY &COUTURIE, DATEDFEBRU‐ARY4,2000, FOR REFERENCE; subjecttore‐strictions,servi‐tudes, rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affect‐ingthe prop‐erty

This sale is sub‐ject to all supe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 20, 2025, July 25, 2025 jun20-jul25-2t $106.65

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF

By virtue of and in obedienceto aJUDGMENT from the24th Judicial District Court, Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in theabove num‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 27, 2025, Iwilloffer forsaletothe highestbidder at public auc‐tion,atthe Jef‐ferson Parish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, September3, 2025 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: Parcel number 0920024493: 2015 KENNER TAXSALETO KARTER GROUP LLC 11849685 IN THE NAME OF JAMIE &MYRIAM ROSENTHAL 1024/826- PO BOX390 SANPEDRO SULA HON‐DURAS 00 –OWNERPARCEL 22-ACHARDON‐NAY VILLAGECONDO UNIT 23B PLUS UNDIV.3888% INTINTHE COM‐MONELEMENTS 1010/474 CHATEAUEST SOUTH, 23 RUE CHARDONNAY, beingmorefully described as: UNIT 23B Chardonnay Vil‐lage Condomini‐ums, Parcel 22A, ChateauEs‐tatesSouth Subdivision, City of Kenner Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, being describedas: Unit 23B of that Chardonnay Vil‐lage Condo‐minium situated in theCityof Kenner,Parish of Jefferson, Stateof Louisiana, and an undivided .3888% interest in thecommon elements thereof, allas indicatedinthe Condominium Declaration of Chardonnay Village Condo‐minium,created peract before George Scari‐ano, Notary, dated8/25/81, recorded Entry No.982849, COB 1010, folio 474 of theCon‐veyance Recordsofthe Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, as designated and shownonthe plan of Joseph F. Varieco, Jr., Registered Land Surveyor dated February 9, 1981, revised April27, 1981 andJuly29, 1981 annexedas ExhibitB to said Declaration, which said Declarationaf‐fectsthe im‐movableprop‐erty andim‐provements thereonsitu‐ated and more fullyde‐scribedasfol‐lows: That certain pieceorportion of ground,to‐gether with all theimprove‐mentsthereon, and allthe rights ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances andad‐vantages there‐unto belonginingor in anywiseap‐pertaining situ‐ated in theCity of Kenner Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in

that part thereofknown as Parce22-A, ChateauEstates South, being a resubdivisionof Parcel 22, ChateauEstates South, allinac‐cordance with asurvey thereofbyJ.J Krebs& Sons, Inc.,C.E., dated January4,1973, revised May7,1973 ap‐proved by the City of Kenner, under Ordi‐nanceNo. 1526, adoptedMay 14, 1973, regis‐teredinCOB 789, folio938, Jefferson Parish Louisiana, and according to said survey by J.J. Krebs& Sons,Inc., C.E., datedJanuary 4, 1973, revised May7, 1973, said parcel is designated as Parcel 22-Aand measures as follows: Commencingat theintersection of theWesterly right-of-way line of Duncan Canaland theNortherly right-of-way line of 35th Street (now West Esplanade Avenue)which is the Point of Begin‐ning,measure thence North01 degrees 05 min‐utes 28 seconds West a distance of 1611.35 feet to a pointonthe Southerlyrightof-way line of CanalNo. 11; thence measure South87de‐grees 53 min‐utes 36 seconds West adistance of 526.27 feet to apoint; thence South02 degrees 06 min‐utes 24 seconds East adistance of 78.18 feet to a point; thence South16de‐grees 59 min‐utes 46 seconds East adistance of 28.00 feet to a point; thence alongthe arcof acurve to the left having ara‐dius of 234.00 feet (the long chordof which bears South58de‐grees 23 min‐utes 53 seconds West 118.01 feet)a distance of 119.30 feet to apoint;thence alongthe arcof acurve to theright having aradiusof 241.00 feet (the long chordof which bears South45de‐grees 49 minutes54 secondsEast 140.46 feet) a distance of 142.53 feet to a point; thence alongthe arcof acurve to the righthaving a radius of 394.00 feet (the long chordof which bears South11de‐grees 24 min‐utes 39 seconds West 509.67 feet)a distance of 554.25 feet to a point; thence alongthe arcof acurve to the righthaving a radius of 822.00 feet (the long chordof which bears South11 degress58min‐utes 41 seconds East 473.19 feet) adistance of 479.98 feet to a point; thence South4 degrees 44 minutes59sec‐onds West adis‐tanceof318.00 feet to apoint; thence amea‐sure in an Easterly direc‐trion, alongthe Northerlyrightof-way line of 35thStreet (now West EsplanadeAv‐enue)a dis‐tanceof576.24 feet to thePoint of Beginning, containing 19.643 acres.

MELISSAT CASTILLE Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: July 25, 2025, August 29, 2025 jul25-aug29-2t $204.06

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO: 839-788-"G"

CONTINENTAL RESOURCES WITH UNION BANK AS SE‐CUREDP d/b/a CONTINENTAL RESOURCES VERSUS STEPHAINEM PATTERSON

Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear theMunici‐palNumber845 DolphinCourt, Kenner, Louisiana70065.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges. TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

REBECCAD BARHAM Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: July 25, 2025, August 29, 2025 jul25-aug29-2t $96.59

This sale is sub‐jecttoall supe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages,liens and i il

By virtue of and in obedienceto aJUDGMENT from the24th Judicial District Court, Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in theabove num‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 24, 2025, Iwilloffer forsaletothe highestbidder at public auc‐tion,atthe Jef‐ferson Parish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, September3 2025 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: LOT50SQZ WESTWOOD 845 DOLPHINCT, beingmorefully describedas: THAT PIECEOR PORTIONOF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, situ‐ated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, City of Kenner,in Square Zof Westwood Sub‐division, bounded by Dol‐phin Court, Chateau Boulevard, Libra Lane,Appian Driveand Van‐derbilt Lane, designated as LotNumber 50 on survey by J.J. Krebs& Sons,Inc., dated December 21, 1977, redated January21, 1978, March6, 1978 andJuly7, 1978, according to which said lotmeasures50 ’ona curved line fronting on Dol‐phin Court, has awidth in the rear of 162.81 ’ feet,bya depth on thesideline nearer to Libra Lane of 100.11’ feet by adepth on theother sideline of 100’ feet.Allas more fully shownonsur‐veyofGilbert, Kelly &Cou‐turie, Inc.,S &E, dated January29, 1997, acopyof which is an‐nexedtoact passedbefore Stella V. Charles, Notary Public, datedJanuary 13, 1997, and registered in COB2955, folio 708.

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:861-912 INSTEP CREDIT UNION VS BENNIE W. SIDEBOARD, JR. By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritofFIERI FACIAS from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 18, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Au‐gust 27, 2025 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

2011 JAQUAR XJL, VINNO. SAJWA2G‐B2BLV15093

STORED AT: AVONDALE STORAGE 3110 HWY. 90 P. O. BOX9150 AVONDALE,LA

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

JOSHUA P. MATHEWS Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: July 25, 2025 jul25-1t $54.25