The Advocate 07-26-2025 by The Advocate

4 Livingston library board members may be back

Parish attorney says verbal notice of quitting wasn’t official

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD | Staff writer

Four Livingston Parish library board members announced that they quit the board and walked out after the library director was ousted during a tumultuous board meeting July 15.

But the people who walked out could be walking back to their seats the next time the parish library system’s governing body meets — as active board members.

A verbal ‘I quit’ isn’t technically an ofﬁcial way to resign, a parish attorney said Thursday at the Livingston Parish Council meeting. Additionally, the parish council didn’t have any official written resignations from the four board members to accept, making it seem more than likely that those same library board members would be returning. One Parish Council member even conﬁrmed his appointee was going back.

This development marks the latest political twist on a board that recently forced out its library director — a fallout from a yearslong battle sparked by complaints about youth access to sexand gender-related books.

At a meeting earlier this month, library board members Jennifer Dorhauer then-board president, Becky Morgan, then-board vice president, Rodlyn Hammond and Patricia Wilson all verbally quit the library board. This move was directly after

Skrmetta

At a meeting earlier this month, Livingston

library

Jennifer Dorhauer, then-board

Parish President Randy Delatte and the rest of the board voted to not renew Michelle Parrish’s library director contract.

During the allocated time to vote on and discuss the board appointments and resignations item at the Parish Council meeting Thursday, council

member Dean Coates wanted to include the library board’s resignations to get them ﬁnalized. His library board member appointee was not one of the people who were involved in the resignations.

ä See BOARD, page 6A

enters U.S. Senate race against Cassidy

PSC official joins two other major GOP challengers

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer

on Friday Eric Skrmetta, a veteran member of the Public Service

Commission from metro New Orleans, said he will be the third major Republican to try to keep Cassidy from winning reelection to the U.S. Senate

next year “I will embark on a journey with our President to reclaim what makes our republic great,” Skrmetta said in a statement. “We must protect our Southern border, invest in our military strength, and stop Green New Deal whims.” Cassidy and his Republican opponents will face off in a closed primary in April under the new election rules put in place by

Gov Jeff Landry and the Republican-controlled Legislature last year If no candidate wins more than 50% in the primary, which seems unlikely, the top two ﬁnishers would advance to a runoff held six weeks later Election analysts believe that Cassidy will have enough stroke with voters to claim one of the top two spots. This means that Skrmetta is battling the

ä See SENATE, page 6A

New LSU arena may hinge on tax deal

Local, state government might give up collections near site

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | Staff writer

A deal discussed to build a new LSU arena would hinge on both the Metro Council and university ofﬁcials agreeing to let the developer involved in it tap sales tax revenue related to the project, documents show

A draft agreement from November, obtained through a public records request, calls for local and state government to give up sales tax collections generated in and nearby the arena.

Baton Rouge would “rebate” 2 cents of sales tax, and the state 2 to 4 cents. The rebate would go to Oak View Group, the company that is the sole finalist to build the new arena. In the deal’s term sheet draft, Oak View Group acknowledged the Tiger Athletic Foundation — a nonprofit supporting LSU athletics that is shepherding the arena project has no authority to force government officials to rebate those taxes. But it says “this requirement shall be a condition to the closing.”

It’s not clear how much taxpayer money that deal would entail or if the terms of the agreement have changed in the months since that draft circulated LSU ofﬁcials have previously emphasized that no deal has been ﬁnalized.

LSU ofﬁcials did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the status of the deal or the arena project in general.

The proposed arena has been under increased scrutiny since Oak View Group’s CEO, Tim Leiweke, was indicted on federal charges in Texas earlier this month. He has since stepped down from that position.

ä See ARENA, page 7A

Federal school grants restored

Trump administration had frozen billions

BY PATRICK WALL | Staff writer

The Trump administration will release billions of dollars in federal education grants that it withheld from schools this month, officials said Friday ending an abrupt funding freeze that had threatened to disrupt school services just weeks before students return from summer break. Louisiana had stood to lose more than $109 million, or about 14% of its federal K-12 education funding, according to one tally of the frozen funds The administration last week released a portion of the money that funds after-school programs, but the rest remained in holding while federal ofﬁcials reviewed the grants to ensure they aligned with the president’s priorities. The money which schools had expected to receive July 1, helps pay for teacher training and programs for migrant students, English learners, adult literacy, violence prevention and more. School leaders and service providers, who had warned that withholding the money could cause devastating cuts, celebrated Friday’s announcement.

“This is great news for Louisiana,” said Andrew Ganucheau, director of the Louisiana Center for Afterschool Learning, in a statement. “These programs provide vital

ä See GRANTS, page 7A

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Parish

board members

president, Becky Morgan, then-board vice president, Rodlyn Hammond and Patricia Wilson all verbally quit the library board

FILE PHOTO By DAVID NORMAND

Four Livingston Parish library board members announced that they quit the board and walked out after the library director was ousted during a tumultuous board meeting on July 15.

Cassidy Skrmetta

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Ex-U.S. Rep. Santos

reports to federal prison

NEW YORK Disgraced former

U.S. Rep. George Santos reported to a federal prison in New Jersey on Friday to begin serving a seven-year sentence for the fraud charges that got him ousted from Congress

The federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that the New York Republican was in custody at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, in southern New Jersey Santos pleaded guilty last summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges for deceiving donors and stealing people’s identities in order to fund his congressional campaign.

His lawyer Joe Murray, when asked for comment Friday responded with a brief, all-caps text: “FREE GEORGE SANTOS.”

The ever-online Santos, who turned 37 years old on Tuesday hosted a farewell party for himself on the social media platform X on Thursday night.

“Well, darlings The curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed,” he wrote in a post afterwards.

“From the halls of Congress to the chaos of cable news what a ride it’s been! Was it messy? Always. Glamorous? Occasionally Honest? I tried most days.”

Santos will serve his time in a minimum security camp at the all-male facility, which also includes a larger medium security prison, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

1 dead, 1 injured in N.M. dorm shooting

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — One person is dead and another wounded following a shooting early Friday at a University of New Mexico dormitory that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of students and a campuswide search for the suspect.

The campus was closed and yellow tape cordoned off a student housing area as authorities conducted a sweep for the suspect. Investigators also gathered around a vehicle that was taped off in a parking lot.

The two people shot were inside a dorm building where they had been visiting a student, but they were not students themselves, said Lt. Tim Delgado with the University of New Mexico Police Department. He said a suspect remained at large as of midafternoon, and it was unknown if that person remained on campus.

A shelter-in-place order remained in place while police evacuated parts of the campus.

“We had a student orientation going so there were like 400 kids in dorms, so we wanted to make sure they were safe and they are safely off campus now,” Delgado said

EU regulator OKs an injectable HIV drug

LONDON The European Medicines Agency has recommended authorizing a twice-yearly injectable drug aimed at preventing HIV, which scientists say could help end the virus’ transmission.

In a statement on Friday the EU drug regulator said its evaluations of lenacapavir, sold as Yeytuo in Europe by Gilead Sciences, showed the drug is “highly effective” and “considered to be of major public health interest.” Once the regulator’s guidance is accepted by the European Commission, the authorization is valid in all 27 EU member countries as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein Last year studies suggested that lenacapavir, already used to treat people with HIV, was nearly 100% effective in stopping transmission in both women and men.

Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the U.N. AIDS agency has said the drug “could change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic” if it is made available to everyone who needs it In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized lenacapavir to prevent HIV Earlier this month, the World Health Organization recommended countries offer the drug as an additional option to people at risk of the virus.

Israel mulls alternatives to talks with Hamas

Netanyahu’s comments create more uncertainty about Gaza ceasefire

BY SAMY MAGDY and WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press

CAIRO Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday his government was considering “alternative options” to ceaseﬁre talks with Hamas after Israel and the U.S. recalled their negotiating teams throwing the future of the negotiations into further uncertainty.

Netanyahu’s statement came as a Hamas ofﬁcial said negotiations were expected to resume next week and portrayed the recall of the Israeli and American delegations as a pressure tactic. Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks alongside the United States, said the pause was only temporary and that talks would resume, though they did not say when.

The teams left Qatar on Thursday as President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff said Hamas’ latest response to proposals for a deal showed a “lack of desire” to reach a truce. Witkoff said the U.S. will look at “alternative options,” without elaborating.

In a statement released by his ofﬁce, Netanyahu echoed Witkoff, saying, “Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal.”

“Together with our U.S. allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas’s terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region,” he said. He did not elaborate. Israel’s government didn’t immediately respond to whether negotiations would resume next week.

A breakthrough on a ceaseﬁre deal between Israel and Hamas has eluded the Trump administration as experts warn Gaza is being pushed closer to famine, after months of Israel entirely blocking food or letting in only limited amounts. This month, deaths related to malnutrition have accelerated.

More than two dozen Western-aligned countries and more than 100 charity and human rights groups have called for an end to the war, harshly criticizing Israel’s blockade and a new aid delivery model it

has rolled out. The charities and rights groups said even their own staff were struggling to get enough food.

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

Jordan has requested to carry out airdrops of aid into Gaza “due to the dire situation,” a Jordanian ofﬁcial said The ofﬁcial said the airdrops will mainly be food and milk formula.

An Israeli security official said the military was coordinating the drops, which were expected in the coming days. The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the yet-to-be-finalized plans.

Desperate Palestinians gathered at a charity kitchen in Gaza City on Friday, clutching empty pots waiting for a share of watery lentil soup. Such kitchens distributing cooked meals have been a main source of food for many Palestinians, but the number of meals they produce every day has plummeted to 160,000 from more than a million in April, according to the U.N.

“We’ve been living three months without bread,” said one woman in line, Riham Dwas. “We’re relying on charity kitchens, surviving on a pot of lentils and there are many times when we don’t even have that.”

When she can’t ﬁnd food, she takes her children to a hospital to be put on saline IV drips for sustenance.

An Israeli airstrike hit a school-turnedshelter for displaced people in Gaza City killing at least ﬁve people, including an 11-year-old boy, according to hospital ofﬁcials. Afterward, dozens of mourners marched carrying the bodies from Shifa Hospital as women nearby screamed and wept.

“Enough!” screamed Taraji Adwan, whose son and grandson were among the dead. She said the strike hit as she was ﬁlling up water jugs.

“Stop the war! Our children are dying from starvation, malnutrition, dehydration, lack of food, strikes, and dying from fear and destruction. Enough, Hamas! Enough, Israel! Enough, world!” she said

Ghislaine Maxwell finishes interviews with DOJ officials

BY KATE PAYNE and ED WHITE Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, finished 1½ days of interviews with Justice Department officials on Friday, answering questions “about 100 different people,” her attorney said.

“She answered those questions honestly, truthfully, to the best of her ability,” David Oscar Markus told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, where Maxwell met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

“She never invoked a privilege. She never refused to answer a question, so we’re very proud of her,” Markus said.

Maxwell is serving a 20year sentence and is housed at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee. She was sentenced three years ago after being convicted of helping Epstein, a wealthy, well-connected financier, 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, such as royals, presidents and billionaires, including Donald Trump.

In a social media post this week, Blanche said Maxwell would be interviewed because of President Trump’s directive to gather and release any credible evidence about others who may have committed crimes.

Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago. But he faces ongoing questions about the Epstein case, overshadowing his administration’s achievements. On Friday, reporters pressed the Republican president about pardoning Maxwell, but he deﬂected, emphasizing his administration’s successes.

Markus said Maxwell

“was asked maybe about 100 different people.”

“The deputy attorney general is seeking the truth,” Markus said. “He asked every possible question, and he was doing an amazing job.”

Markus said he didn’t ask for anything for Maxwell in return, though he acknowledged that Trump could pardon her

“Listen, the president this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way,” Markus said.

BY JOHN SEEWER Associated Press

Deportation flights from the remote Everglades immigration lockup known as Alligator Alcatraz have begun and are expected to increase soon Florida Gov

Ron DeSantis said Friday

The ﬁrst ﬂights operated by the Department of Homeland Security have transferred about 100 detainees from the immigration detention center to other countries, DeSantis said during a news conference near the facility

“You’re going to see the numbers go up dramatically,” he said.

Two or three ﬂights have already departed, but officials didn’t say where those ﬂights headed.

Critics have condemned the South Florida facility as cruel and inhumane. DeSantis and other Republican ofﬁcials have defended it as part of the state’s aggressive push to support President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Building the facility in the Everglades and naming it after a notorious federal prison were meant as deterrents, DeSantis and other ofﬁcials have said.

The White House has delighted in the area’s remoteness — about 50 miles west of Miami and the fact that it is teeming with pythons and alligators. It hopes to send a message that repercussions will be severe if U.S. immigration laws are broken.

Trump has suggested that his administration could reopen Alcatraz, the notori-

ous island prison in San Francisco Bay

The White House also has sent some immigrants awaiting deportation to a detention lockup in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and others to a megaprison in El Salvador

The Everglades facility was built in a matter of days over 10 square miles. It features more than 200 security cameras and more than 5 miles of barbed wire An adjacent runway makes it more convenient for homeland security ofﬁcials to move detainees in and out of the site.

It currently holds about 2,000 people, with the potential to double the capacity, Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said Friday

DeSantis wants the U.S. Justice Department to allow an immigration judge on site to speed up the deportation process. “This was never intended to be something where people are just held,” he said. “The whole purpose is to be a place that can facilitate increased frequency and numbers of deportations.”

Critics have challenged federal and state officials’ contention that the detention center is just run by the state of Florida. Environmental groups suing to stop further construction and expansion demanded Thursday to see agreements or communications between state and federal ofﬁcials and to visit the site.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates deportation ﬂights mainly from a few hubs, including Harlingen, Texas; Alexandria, Louisiana; and Mesa, Arizona. Others are scattered across the country

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By COLIN HACKLEy David Oscar Markus, an attorney for Ghislaine Maxwell, talks with the media Friday outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Fla., after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA

Palestinians attend a funeral on Friday near the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City for people who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza that has been used as a shelter

Trumpstruggles with Epsteinfuror

Presidenttries to shakeoff controversyhis allies oncestoked

BY CHRIS MEGERIAN and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON Despite the sun bearing down on him and thesweat beadingacross his face, President Donald Trump still lingered with reporters lined up outside the White House on Friday.He was leaving on atrip to Scotland, where he would visithis golf courses, and he wanted to talk about how his administration just finished “the best six months ever.”

But over and over,the journalists kept asking Trump about the Jeffrey Epstein case and whether he would pardon the disgraced ﬁnancier’s imprisonedaccomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell

“People should really focus on how well the country is doing,” Trump insisted. He shut down another question by saying, “I don’twant to talk about that.”

It was another example of how the Epstein saga andhis administration’sdisjointed approach to it —has shadowed Trumpwhenhe’s otherwise at the height of his influence. He’senacted avast legislative agenda, reached trade deals with key countries and tightened his grip across the federal government. Yethe’sstruggled to stamp out the embersofa political crisis thatcould become afull-on conﬂagration.

The Republican president’s supporters want the government to release secret ﬁles about Epstein, who authorities say killed himself in his New York jail cell six years agowhile awaitingtrial for sex trafﬁcking. They believe himtobethe nexus of adark web of powerful people who abused underage girls.Administration officials who once stoked conspiracy theories now insist there’snothing more to disclose, astance that has stirred skepticism because of Trump’sformer friendship with Epstein.

Trump has repeatedly denied prior knowledge of Epstein’scrimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago. For apresident skilled at manipulating the media and controlling the Republican Party,ithas been the most

challenging test of hisability to shift the conversation in his second term.

Landing in Scotland offered no refuge for Trump.

He faced another round of questionsafter steppingoff Air Force One. “You’re making abig thing oversomethingthat’s notabig thing,” he said to one reporter.He told another, “I’m focused on making deals,not on conspiracy theoriesthat you are.”

Republican strategist Kevin Madden called the controversy “a treadmill to nowhere.”

“How do you get offofit?” he said. “I genuinely don’t knowthe answertothat.”

Trump has demanded his supporters drop thematter and urgedRepublicans to block Democratic requests for documentsonCapitol Hill. But he hasalso directed theJustice Departmenttodivulge some additionalinformation in hopes of satisfying hissupporters.

AWhite House official, whoinsisted on anonymity to discuss internal strategy, said Trump is tryingto stay focused on his agenda while also demonstratingsome transparency. Afterfacing countlessscandalsand investigations, the ofﬁcial said, Trump is on guard against the typical playbook of dripdrip disclosures that have plaguedhim in the past.

It’sclear Trumpsees the Epstein case as acontinuation of the “witch hunts” he’sfaced over the years, starting with the investigationinto Russian interference during his election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton nearly adecadeago. The sprawling inquiryled to convictions against sometop advisersbut did notsubstantiate allegations Trump conspiredwith Moscow.

Trump’sopponents, he wrote on social media Thursday,“have gone absolutely CRAZY,and are playing another Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax but,this time,under the guise of what we will call the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM.”

During the Russia investigation, special counsel RobertMuellerand his team of prosecutorswere astraightforward foil for Trump to rail against. Ty Cobb, thelawyer whoserved as theWhite House’spoint person, said thepresident“never felt exposed” because“he thought he had alegitimate gripe.”

Thesituation is different this time nowthat the JusticeDepartment hasbeen stocked with loyalists. “The people thathehas to get mad at arebasically his people as opposedtohis inquisitors and adversaries,”Cobb said.

In fact, Trump’sown ofﬁcialsare the most responsiblefor bringingthe Epstein caseback to the forefront.

FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, regularly stoked conspiracy theories about Epstein before assumingtheir current jobs, floating the idea the government hadcovered up incriminatingand compelling information thatneeded to be broughttolight.“Put on your big boy pants and let us know who the pedophiles are,” Patel said in a2023 podcast.

Attorney GeneralPam Bondiplayed akey role, too. She intimated in aFox News ChannelinterviewinFebruary thatanEpstein “client list” was sitting on her desk for review—she would later say she was referring to the Epstein filesmoregenerally —and greetedfar-right inﬂuencers withbinders of records from the case that consisted largely of informa-

tioninthe public domain. Tensions spiked earlier this monthwhen the FBIand the Justice Department, in an unsignedtwo-page letter, said that no client listexisted,that theevidence was clear Epstein had killed himself and thatnoadditional records from the casewould be released to the public. It was aseemingbacktrack on the administration’s stated commitmenttotransparency.

Amid aﬁerce backlashfrom Trump’sbase andinﬂuential conservative personalities, Bongino and Bondi squabbledopenly in atense White House meeting.

Sincethen, the Trump administration hasscrambled to appear transparent, including by seeking the unsealing of grand jury transcripts in thecase —though it’shardly clear thatcourts would grant that request or that those records include any eye-catching details anyway.Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has taken the unusualstep of interviewing theimprisoned Maxwell over the course of two days at acourthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, where her lawyer said she would “always testify truthfully.”

All the while,Trump and his allies have resurfaced the Russia investigation as arallying cryfor apoliticalbase thathas otherwise been frustratedbythe Epstein saga

Thirdsuchruling sinceSupreme Courtdecision

BY MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press

BOSTON Afederal judge on Fridayblocked the Trumpadministration from ending birthright citizenship for the children of parents who areinthe U.S. illegally,issuing the third court ruling blocking the birthright order nationwide sincea keySupreme Court decision in June.

U.S. DistrictJudge Leo Sorokin, joining another district court as well as an appellate panel of judges, found that anationwide injunction granted to more than adozen states remains in force under an exception to the Supreme Court ruling. Thatdecisionrestricted the power of lower-court judgestoissue nationwide injunctions.

The states have argued Trump’sbirthright citizenship order is blatantly unconstitutional andthreatens millions of dollars forhealth insurance services that are contingent on citizenship status. Theissue is expected to move quickly back to the nation’s highest court.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who helped leadthe lawsuit before Sorokin, said in astatement he was “thrilledthe district court again barred President Trump’sﬂagrantly unconstitutional birthright citizenship order from taking effect anywhere.”

“American-born babies are American, just as they have been at everyother time in our Nation’shistory,” he added. “The President cannotchange that legal rule with the stroke of apen.”

Lawyers forthe governmenthad argued Sorokin should narrowthe reach of his earlier ruling granting a preliminary injunction, saying it should be “tailoredto the States’ purported ﬁnancial injuries.” Sorokin said apatchwork approach to the birthright order would not protect the states in part because a substantial number of people move between states. He also blasted the Trump administration, saying it had failed to explain howa narrower injunction would work.

“That is, they have never addressed what renders a proposal feasible or workable,how the defendant agencies might implement it without imposing material administrative or ﬁnancial burdens on the plaintiffs, or howitsquares withother relevant federalstatutes,” the judge wrote. “In fact, they have characterized such questionsasirrelevant to the task the Court is now undertaking. The defendants’ position in this regard deﬁesboth lawand logic.” Sorokin acknowledged his order would not be the last word on birthright citizenship. Trumpand hisadministration “are entitled to pursue their interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, and no doubt the Supreme Court will ultimately settle thequestion,” Sorokin wrote. “Butinthe meantime, for purposes of this lawsuit at this juncture, the Executive Order is unconstitutional.”

Theadministration has notyet appealed anyof the recentcourt rulings. Trump’s effortstodenycitizenship to children born to parents who areinthe countryillegally or temporarily will remain blocked unless and until the SupremeCourt says otherwise.

By The Associated Press

PHOENIX

LoriVallow Daybell was sentenced to life in prison Friday on two murder conspiracy convictions in Arizona, marking an end to awinding legal saga for the mother with doomsday religious beliefs who claimed people in her life had been possessed by evil spirits.

Vallow Daybell, already

serving life sentences in Idaho in the killings of her two youngestchildrenand aromantic rival, wasconvictedatseparate trials this springinPhoenix of conspiringtomurder her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, and her niece’sexhusband, Brandon Boudreaux.

Vallow Daybell, who chose to represent herself in both Arizona cases even though

she isn’ta lawyer,usedher ﬁnal testimony to complain aboutjailconditions andthe legal system.

“If Iwere accountable for these crimes, Iwould acknowledge andlet youknow how sorry Iwas,” shesaid.

Judge JustinBereskysaid Vallow Daybellhas “shown blatant disregard for humanity,” and he refuted her claim that shedidn’tget a fair trial in Arizona.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON

President DonaldTrump speaks withsupporters Fridaybefore departing on Marine One from theSouthLawnofthe White House in Washington.

Trump’s golf visittocostScottishtaxpayers

BY KWIYEON HA andBRIAN MELLEY Associated Press

TURNBERRY, Scotland— It may not be typical golf attire, but one of themostubiquitous outfitsseen on U.S. PresidentDonald Trump’s golf course Friday ahead of his visit was the reﬂective yellow vest worn by Scottish police.

The standard issue garb that is far removed from the traditional Turnberry tartan was highly visible on the dunes, the beaches and the grass as thousands of ofﬁcers secured the course in advance of protests planned during the president’svisit to two of his Scottish golf resorts. Trump was expected to arrive Friday evening to amix of respect and ridicule.

His visit requires amajor police operation that will costScottish taxpayers millions of pounds as protests are planned over the weekend. The union representing ofﬁcers is concernedthey are already overworked andwill be

diverted from theirnormal duties and some residents arenot happy aboutthe cost.

“Why isn’thepaying for it himself? He’scomingfor golf, isn’t he?” said Merle Fertuson,a solo protesterinEdinburgh holding

ahand-drawn cardboard sign that featured afoolishly grinning Trump likeness in atuxedo. “It’s got nothing whatsoever todowith public money,either U.S. or U.K.”

Policing forTrump’sfour-day visit to the U.K. in 2018 costmore

Ukrainesaysdefensesholding againstRussia’ssummerpush

BY HANNA ARHIROVA

Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine Ukrainian forces are holding back Russia’sconcerted summer push to break through defenses along parts of the front line, Ukraine’sPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.

“They are not advancing. It’svery tough for our guys out there. And it’stough everywhere,” Zelenskyytold reporters on Thursday,in comments embargoed till Friday.“It’salso very hard for the Russians —and that’sgood for us.”

With thewar nowinits fourth year after Russia’s February 2022 invasion of its neighbor,the effort is draining resources on both sides, although Russia has more resourcesand people to sustain its ﬁght. Ukraine is seekingfurther support from Western partners.

Russia has claimed the capture of some villages and

BYROBERT BARR Associated Press

LONDON CleoLaine, whose husky contralto was one of the most distinctive voices in jazz and who was regarded by many as Britain’sgreatest contribution to the quintessentially American music, has died. She was 97.

The Stables, acharity and venue Laine founded with her late jazz musician husband John Dankworth, said Friday it was “greatly saddened” by the news that “one of its founders and Life President, Dame Cleo Laine has passed away.” Monica Ferguson, artistic director of The Stables, said Laine “will be greatly missed, but her unique talent

hamlets in recentweeks, but no defensively stronger urban areas have fallen toits troops.

Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have repeatedlyattempted to stage minor incursionsnear Pokrovsk in the easternDonetskregion tofilm symbolic footage, such as raising a Russian flag, but Ukrainian forces have repelled those efforts, Zelenskyysaid “Ithappened fivetoseven times recently,sometimes with onlytwo or sixpeople. Once they tried to hold aposition with 12 people —and all of them were eliminated by our defenders,” Zelenskyy said Zelenskyy described the situation in the northeastern Sumy border region as “muchbetter” than in recent months, notingprogress by Ukrainian forces over the past sixweeks. Russia has also intensified its bombardment ofUkrainiancities, with the second-

largestcityKharkiv struck withapowerful glide bomb for asecond straight day Friday.Seven people were injured, officials said. On Thursday,42were injured.

Joyce Msuya, the United Nations’ deputy humanitarian chief, told the Security Council on Fridaythat Ukraine’shumanitarian situation is “deteriorating” due to expanding Russian attacks on civilian areas across the country

“Thereisnosafe place left in Ukraine,” shesaid. Zelenskyy saidUkraine is working withinternational partners to secure 10 U.S.-madePatriotair defense systems, which can shoot down missiles, with threealreadyconﬁrmedfromGermany and Norway

The Trump administration will sell the systems,he said,but Ukraine’staskisto ﬁnd funding for all 10. Each system costs more than $1 billion.

Laine, whose husky contraltowas one of the most distinctivevoices in jazz, has died at age97.

will always be remembered.”

Laine’scareer spanned the Atlantic andcrossed genres: She sang the songsofKurt Weill, Arnold Schoenberg and Robert Schumann;she acted on stage and on ﬁlm, andeven played God in a

production of BenjaminBritten’s“Noye’sFludde.”

Laine’slife and art were intimately bound up with band leader Dankworth, who gave her ajob and her stage name in 1951, and marriedher seven years later.Both were still performing after their80th birthdays. Dankworth died in 2010 at 82.

In 1997, Laine became the ﬁrst British jazz artist to be made adame, thefemale equivalent of aknight

“It is British jazzthat should have receivedthe accoladefor its service to me,” she said when thehonor was announced. “It hasgiven me awonderful life, asuccessful career andanopportunity to travel the globe doing what I love to do.”

than $19 million, according to Freedom of Informationﬁgures.

That includedmorethan$4million spent for his two-daygolftripto Turnberry,the historic course and hotel in southwest Scotlandthat he bought in 2014.

Police Scotland would not discuss how manyofﬁcers were being deployedfor operational reasons andonly said the costs would be “considerable.”

“The visit will require asigniﬁcantpolice operation using local, national and specialistresources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other U.K. police forces as part of mutualaid arrangements,” Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the visit would not be detrimental to policing.

“It’snonsensical to say it won’t impact it,”saidDavidKennedy, generalsecretary of the Scottish Police Federation, the officers’ union.

Kennedysaidheexpects about

5,000 ofﬁcers to take part in the operation.

He said aforce reduction in recent years has policeworking 12hour shifts. Communities that are understaffedwill be left behind withevenfewer officers during Trump’svisit.

“Wewant the president of the United States to be able to come to Scotland. That’snot what this is about,” Kennedy said. “It’sthe current state of the police service and the numbers we have causes great difﬁculty.”

TheStop TrumpScotlandgroup has planneddemonstrations Saturday in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumfries.The groupencouraged people to “show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.” Trumpshould receive amuch warmer welcome from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer,who is expected to meet with him during the visit. Swinney,the left-leaning head of Scottish government and former Trumpcritic, also plansto meet with the president.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALASTAIRGRANT

Policeguardthe Trump Turnberry golf course on Friday in Turnberry, Scotland,ahead of President Donald Trump’svisit to Scotland

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BOARD

Continued from page1A

However, Parish Attorney Brad Casciosaidthe resignationsmust be submitted in writing and are not effective until the council receives and acceptsthem.Cascio recognized their intent to resign when they quit at the July 15 meeting,but said it wasn’t valid without proper procedure. “Until that happens, those board members who expressed their intent to resign, technically have not,” he said.

Coatesdoubled down, insistingtheyhad resigned,and Cascioresponded that “them getting up andsaying, ‘I resign,’ is kind of likethatepisode of‘The Ofﬁce’ whenever Michael Scott walked out and said,‘Ideclarebankruptcy.’ He didn’tdowhat he needed to do to get it done.”

Coates thenmadeamotion to lift the agenda with intention to accept resignations, saying, “the comparison to Mr.Scottisveryfar-fetched from what we’reactually dealing with.”

Council memberErinSandefuroriginally seconded the motionbut later withdrew,

wanting to follow Cascio’s guidance. LikeCoates,her library board appointee also did not threatentoresign. Both council members have publicly supportedthe move to get anew director

Council member Ricky Goff said hisappointment, PatriciaWilson, hadreached out to him, telling him she was not resigning.

“Her upsetness wasn’t the removal of theindividual, it was theway it took place. That’s what upset her more than anything,” Goff said. “Since then,Iexplained to her how important her work has been.”

Goff said there have been effortstoturn all of the library board members’emails back on.

Coates later withdrew his motion and said he did not know what happened behind the scenes, but said those board members shouldn’t have “thrown in the towel.”

“I can tell you they should be removed because what theydid was an embarrassment to thisparish,” Coates said.

Council members John Wascom andLonnie Watts, whoseappointees walked outfromthatlibrary board meeting, both directlycalled

outCoates,ultimately telling him he wasout of line “None of thosefourwere yours. You’re taking the job of these other council members,” Wascom said. “I think you’re out of line by doing that.”

If the board members had officially resigned, it would’ve added to the growingtally of members who resigned or removed by the Parish Council. Sincelast July,the board has had over ten member shakeups.

The board changes are aresult of the commotion that is the years of on-again, off-again turmoil over the li-

brary’sbudget, which wascut andtheneventually restored, andrestricting minors’ accesstosexually explicit content. The library board not renewing Parrish’sdirector contract is also acost of these yearslong debates. Parrish had beenthe director for alittle over two years after her predecessor, Giovanni Tairov,resigned following months of controversy surrounding content restrictionsfor minors. Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.

twoother Republican candidates —state Treasurer John Fleming and stateSen. Blake Miguez of New Iberia —inwhat is essentiallyaprimary within theprimary for the righttoface offagainst Cassidy in the runoff.

super PACsupporting Cassidy,has an additional $2.1 million on hand, accordingto a spokesperson for thefund.

Cassidy is known statewide and is making every move possibletowin over Trumpand conservative voters.

“They all feel they have ashot at making the runoff. And if they do, they hope DonaldTrumpwill back them against Cassidy,” said Ed Chervenak, apolitical scientist at the University of New Orleans. “The vote on impeachmentbyCassidy is unifying the attacks against him.”

Cassidy was one of seven Republicans who joined all Democrats in voting in 2021 to prohibitTrump from holding office again under an impeachment article that accused him of “inciting violence against the government of the UnitedStates” with the Jan. 6attack on the U.S. Capitol.

To be sure, Cassidy is running hard to win athird term. He has $8.7 million in campaign cash, and the Louisiana Freedom Fund, a

Cassidyvoted for Trump’sOne Big Beautiful Bill, ameasure that extends the president’s expiring taxcuts and partially pays for them by cuttingMedicaid, the federal program thatprovides health care to thepoor Last week, Cassidy’scommunications teamhighlighted that Trump signed an anti-fentanyl bill sponsored by Cassidy andinvited him to thebill signing at theWhite House, then invited Cassidy to the White Housetwo days later fora dinner withRepublican senators.

As of June 30, Fleming had $2.1 milliononhand (including $2.5 million loaned by him to the campaign). Miguez,who announcedhis candidacyonly two weeks before the ﬁling deadline for campaign finance reports, had$1.7 million(including a $1 million loan byhim)

The winner of the Republicanrunoff will face off in Novemberagainstthe win-

ner of theDemocratic primary.

Skrmetta’sannouncement on Friday came three weeks later than his self-imposed deadline to makeadecision, and it comes amid widespread speculation about whether U.S. Rep.Julia Letlow, whosedistrict stretches from Monroe to Baton Rouge,will also challenge Cassidyinthe Republican primary.She had$2.1 million.

What Skrmetta’s runningon Skrmettahad been in therunning for aspot on thefive-member Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, butlastweek,the Trumpadministration filled the finalposition with David LaCerte,who worked for Trump during his first term and for then-Gov.Bobby Jindal beforethat.

Skrmetta released acampaign videoonFriday that was produced by veteran Jefferson Parish-based mediaconsultantGreg Buisson. In it, viewers see images of the2024 Republican National Convention, where Skrmetta led theLouisiana delegation “Eric trumpeted making Americagreatagain,”an announcer says. “Now he’s ready to helppush President Trump’sagenda in Washington.” Skrmetta, 67, graduated from Brother MartinHigh SchoolinNew Orleans, from

LSUand from Southern University’slaw school. He hasa master’sinlaw from Tulane. Alongtime mediatorand member of theRepublican StateCentralCommittee, Skrmetta lost tworaces to thestate House from Metairie, in 1999 and 2003.

He was elected to oneofthe ﬁvePublic Service Commission seatsin2008. In 2014, he narrowlywon reelection over an opponent who saidthat Skrmetta too often voted with theinterests of the public utilities that thecommission regulates,atthe expense of consumers. Skrmetta was elected to athird and ﬁnalsixyear term in 2020. He cannot seek reelection in 2026.

“Afteryears of standing up to mega-corporations to protect consumers, Iamready to take the battletothe Beltway,” he said.

Pro-consumer groups, however,say he hasn’tbeen an ally

“He hasaccepted lotsand lotsofmoney from utility interests,and he has voted forpretty muchevery rate increasethatautility has brought beforethe commission,”saidDanielTait, researchand communications director for theEnergy & Policy Institute,anational group.

Skrmetta represents a district drawn by the Legis-

lature to elect aRepublican It includes St. Tammany,St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena parishes and Whitemajority parts of Orleans, Jefferson, Livingston and St. Charlesparishes. It nearly overlaps with thesame boundaries forU.S Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, but the Public Service Commissiondistrict is larger because there are ﬁve commissioners versus six members in the congressionaldelegation.

Skrmetta has the advantage of being the only Republican Senate candidate who has metro NewOrleans as his voting base

Anothercandidate is Sammy Wyatt, whoisthe chief complianceofficerand investigation officer for LSU Health-Shreveport. He had $22,000 on hand.

Decades ago, the Pub-

lic ServiceCommission launched the political careers of such governors as Huey Long, Jimmie Davis and John McKeithen. But the last PSC member elected to statewide ofﬁce was Kathleen Blanco, as lieutenant governor in 1995. She waselected governoreight yearslater ScottAngelle, aRepublican PSC member, ran for governorin2015 andﬁnishedthird in the primary Foster Campbell, aDemocrat who has represented northwest Louisianaonthe PSC since his election in 2002, ranfor the U.S. Senate in 2016 but was trounced by U.S. Sen. John Kennedy,aRepublican “If youcan getthe money, it’sagood place to be because you’re helping people all the time, or you should be,” Campbell said.

Email TylerBridges at tbridges@theadvocate. com

Miguez

Fleming Scalise

Authorities say Leiweke rigged the bidding process to develop the Moody Center at the Universityof Texas at Austin —anarena that has inspired the new facility in Baton Rouge.

LSU officials said after news broke about the indictment that they have paused work on the project to evaluate the potential impact of the criminal case against Leiweke.

On Monday,LeiwekeappearedinU.S. District Court in Austin, where he pleaded notguilty and was releasedona$1million bond.

Arebate of the cityparish’ssales tax revenue would require MetroCouncil approval. The new arena would be located in council member Carolyn Coleman’s District 10.

Coleman says it is premature to comment on the proposed arena and tax deal, but added she considers a newfacility a“transformational project” that needs to go through the proper channels at LSU before the council weighs in.

PROVIDED RENDERING

Amazon distribution center on Florida Boulevard.

“For what it’s worth, Ido notsee therebateofsales anduse taxbythe City Parish as apolitical issue whatsoever,” Landry wrote to other attorneys involved in the deal. “I got this done forAmazon and for projects andExxon. Ihavealready spoken to 11 of the council members who support this rebate.”

Landry declined to commentthis weekonthe arena proposal. In 2023, the Legislature created aspecial taxing district, the LSU Economic Development District, which plans to levy a1-cent taxnear the stadium. In May, Landry said asmaller subdistrictwill also levy a 1-cent sales tax at the site of the arena. Those taxes are in addition to existing state and local sales taxes already in place.

“Wedon’tknow it in its total entirety,”Coleman said, though she acknowledged “it could require city and state funds, and Idon’t want to throw that out the window.”

In an emailed statement, Mayor-President Sid Edwards also declined to take aposition on thedeal but said he is “confident that LSU’sleadership and all stakeholders will be transparent and do the right thing.”

“I ran for ofﬁce tomake Baton Rouge asafer and cleaner city —and I’ll continue to ensure that taxdollars areinvested in away

GRANTS

Continued frompage1A

educational assistance that many of our students and families rely on.”

The Trump administration’s decision to unlock the money follows court challenges and an outcry from educators,advocacy groups and members of Congress, who had appropriated the funding in abill that President Donald Trump signed earlier this year

Last week, two-dozen Democrat-led states sued the federal government to restore the funding. Days later,10Republican senators —though none from Louisiana —wrote aletter urging theadministrationtorelease the funds.

Officials in the White House’sOffice of Management andBudgethad said they werereviewing the grants afterallegingthat some of the money had been misusedtosupportimmigrants in the country illegally or promote LGBTQ+ inclusion. Aspokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education said Friday thatthe budget ofﬁce had completed itsreview and directed the Department of Education to release thefunds, which will start flowing to states next week.

Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said he welcomed the Trump administration’s“deliberative review” of the grants, which he said would ensure federal dollars are usedto promote student achievement. “Wewelcome the latestal-

location of resources and will keep school systems updated as they prepare for the year ahead,” he said in astatement In St. Tammany Parish, the school district had postponed someteacher trainingsthis month after the grants were frozen. Officials alsowere scramblingtoreplace federal dollarsthat coveredsome employee salaries.

that prioritizesthose two goals,” Edwardssaid. “UntilLSU proposes an actual deal, it’s premature to take aposition on it.”

In an April 16 emailto several people involved in the deal,CharlesLandry —aprominent land-use attorney who has played a central role in negotiations —expressed conﬁdence the city-parish would approve the deal. Landry noted that he helped facilitate council

On Friday,Superinten-

dent Frank Jabbia said he was stunned and relieved to learn thefunding hadbeen restored.

“Weare extremely happy,” he said. “Getting this really helpsustoget backontrack.”

Email PatrickWall at patrick.wall@theadvocate. com.

approval for similartax distributionagreements for ExxonMobil’s plantinNorth Baton Rouge and the new

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

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Weather systems keeping rain on radar

Area getting showers more than usual

BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer

Thanks to the persistence of two separate weather systems that have drifted into the Gulf over the

past two weeks, Baton Rouge has enjoyed or not depending on your point of view — more days of rain than usual this summer There were 14 days of rain in June, when there are typically 10, said National Weather Service meteorologist Phil Grigsby July usually brings 14 days of rain to Baton Rouge. By Friday

morning, there had been 12 days of wet weather so far With about another week left in the month, the area could very well pass that mark, too, Grigsby said. There have been notable exceptions since weather records for Baton Rouge began in 1892, he said. June 1898 and July 1908 each

got 23 days of rain here, tying for the wettest months in the last 133 years, Grigsby said. The driest summer in Baton Rouge’s history came in 1924, when there were six days of rain that June and July Six years later, in June 1930, Baton Rouge didn’t get a single drop of rain. Inch-wise, this year’s rainfall so far is “right on track” with the numbers for the last 30 years, he said. From Jan. 1 through July 25 for the last three decades, Baton Rouge has gotten about 36 inches, and that’s holding true in 2025, Grigsby said.

SPLISH SPLASH

Brothers Charles Cedor, 6, and James, 3, play in the splash pad outside of the Goodwood Main Library on Thursday

Livingston schools to expand programs

Lawsuit:

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

Livingston Parish school officials have plans to expand counseling services for students, install more vape detectors and fund drug tests once they receive opioid settlement funds from the Livingston Parish Council. The Livingston Parish Council voted Thursday to allow the parish to execute a formal agreement to give government opioid funds to Livingston Parish public schools.

“blind spot” out of reach of the security cameras, according to a lawsuit ﬁled by the imprisoned man in June.

The school system would receive around $220,000, said Brandon Browning, deputy chief administrative ofﬁcer LPPS Superintendent Jody Purvis said these funds would essentially expand programs the schools already use. For example, the schools have an agreement with a telehealth provider that offers some counseling services for students, and they have vape detectors installed in the majority of middle and high schools. These detectors are placed in the bathrooms, and an

Opioid settlement funds bolster initiatives ä See SCHOOLS, page 2B

A group of correctional officers allegedly beat an inmate who was in handcuffs at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel in September 2024, with one ofﬁcer yelling racial slurs and another looking for a

The lawsuit said the man who was incarcerated, Torrance Verdin, suffered torn ligaments in his leg, as well as neck, head, back and shoulder injuries from the incident.

“Torrance Verdin was on the ground

in full restraints and unable to ﬂee or attack anyone,” the petition states. “He posed no danger while being beaten by ranking ofﬁcers.” The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections declined to comment on the lawsuit. However, a

In fatal DWI crash, driver gets 10 years in plea

Victim was an LSU graduate

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

A Baton Rouge man who had methamphetamine in his system when he crashed

his uninsured SUV into a motorcycle, killing the rider, was sent to prison this week after accepting a plea deal. Carlos Darnell Anderson, 49, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide for the impaired role he played in the 2023 crash that left LSU

graduate Anthony Robert Lacombe dead, court records show District Judge Brad Myers sentenced Anderson to 15 years behind bars and suspended ﬁve years of the prison stint during a hearing in court Monday. He ordered Anderson to serve at

least three of the remaining 10 years without the possibility of parole, according to records. The judge placed Anderson on two years of probation after he is released and ordered him to pay $8,000 in

STAFF

PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

La. native takes over N.O. Corps of Engineers

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

A Louisiana native formally took command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New Orleans district on Friday, assuming a crucial job at a challenging moment while declaring he still bleeds purple and gold “with a little bit of gumbo” despite a career of globe-trotting.

Col Scotty Autin will command a district with around 1,100 staff and one of the largest civil works programs in the nation, overseeing projects vital to Louisiana from dredging at the mouth of the Mississippi River to levee construction and home elevations. But he takes charge with President Donald Trump’s administration pursuing deep cuts across government, including at the Corps of Engineers.

The Houma native will have to navigate the complex layers of politics in Louisiana — where pressing the Corps to move quickly on ﬂood con-

trol projects has long been a tradition — in addition to the turbulence in Washington. Under Trump’s presidency so far the district has said it is losing around 80 of its 1,160 employees, while a “mega-study” on the future of the lower Mississippi River has been paused due to lack of funding. Friday’s ceremony at the Corps’ headquarters along the river in uptown New Orleans provided a brief moment of celebration, allowing friends, family and state ofﬁcials to revel in the rare occurrence of a Louisianan taking the reins. Corps ofﬁcials could not immediately recall the last time that had happened

He replaces Col. Cullen Jones, a Delaware native heading to Washington after his three-year stint in New Orleans He will serve as director of the Ofﬁce of the Chief of Engineers at the Pentagon.

Autin used his speech to trace his family’s deep local

Columbia University grad.

“I look forward to saying that I am home. My family is home, and we are honored and proud to be here.”

His return to Louisiana follows a long sojourn in a list of locations, including Iraq and Afghanistan. He also deployed to Louisiana and Mississippi as part of the Corps’ Hurricane Katrina response, and was most recently based in the Netherlands in a role working with NATO.

levee, pump and floodwall system to replace it, seen as a vast improvement over what crumbled during the storm. But beyond flood protection, the Corps also ensures that global shipping on the Mississippi River continues with a vast dredging program while ﬁghting saltwater intrusion from the Gulf, among many other tasks across the state, from Cameron Parish to St Tammany and beyond.

of the Corps’ Mississippi Valley Division, at the change-of-command ceremony in New Orleans on Friday

roots, beginning around the time the Cajuns fled Nova Scotia, bound for Louisiana. An ancestor left in a canoe in 1750 and landed “20 miles west of this very spot,” he said. His greatgreat-grandfather became the first president of the

Rain falls to the north as the Mississippi River sits high as it flows through downtown Baton Rouge. Thanks to the persistence of two separate weather systems that have drifted into the Gulf over the past two weeks, Baton Rouge has enjoyed — or not, depending on your point of view — more days of rain than usual this summer

RAIN

Continued from page 1B

Gardeners are grateful for the rain, but some businesses ﬁnd a drawback.

Gene Baker, a local general contractor, said the almost daily rainfall has forced him and his crews to put temporary holds on outside jobs and to turn to inside work

Houma Chamber of Commerce, ﬁghting with others to get the Houma Navigation Channel built.

“When I say that south Louisiana has made me everything that I am I’m genuine in that assertion,” said Autin, a West Point and

Maj. Gen. Kimberly Peeples, who commands the Corps’ Mississippi Valley Division, noted that the New Orleans district handles one of the Corps’ “largest and most complex portfolios,” worth more than $1 billion annually And she lauded Jones for his management of it during the past three years.

It is difﬁcult to overstate the Corps’ importance to Louisiana, illustrated catastrophically by the devastating levee failures during Katrina in 2005. The Corps has since built a $14.5 billion

Autin appeared ready to dive in — while preparing his family for what was to come. He had a message for his three children as he takes up the role as the 66th commander in the district’s more than 200-year history “Buckle up and get ready for some great food, some thrilling football, pterodactyl mosquitoes and redefining your deﬁnition of hot and humid,” he said. “You’re going to have a great time here.”

Email Mike Smith at msmith@theadvocate.com.

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

Tommy McLain, one of Louisiana’s swamp pop pioneers, has died. He started playing at the vanguard of the genre in the 1950s, when Louisiana musicians like Abbeville’s Warren Storm and Rayne’s Johnnie Allen helped create a style that incorporated country, R&B and the traditional sounds of Louisiana French music.

“It’s extremely difficult for scheduling, but we can make it happen,” he said. “The customers are helpful.” The good thing about the rain is that it’s kept daytime temperatures lower and made outside work “much more bearable,” Baker said.

FATAL

Continued from page 1B

restitution. Anderson was also sentenced to three years on a pair of drug and burglary cases and will serve his time on those charges at the same time he does his vehicular homicide bid, court records show.

According to an arrest afﬁdavit, the crash that killed Lacombe happened on March 6, 2023, near the intersection of Perkins Road and Essen Lane Baton Rouge Police Department investigators said Anderson was driving west-

LAWSUIT

Continued from page 1B

Sept. 26 news release from the department acknowledged an investigation into an “alleged inappropriate use of force incident” over the previous weekend and announced that EHCC head warden Donnie Bordelon and a correctional officer had been suspended. DOC communications director Tiffany Dickerson said on Wednesday that Bordelon was placed on leave, pending investigation, during that time and “voluntarily demoted.” Verdin sued the state of Louisiana through the DOC and four individual employees He continues to be held at Elayn Hunt, his attorney said. The alleged battery appears to have started over a tablet device. According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 21, Verdin was inside the prison dorm, holding a tablet. Lt. Charles

At the Benny’s Car Wash locations around metro Baton Rouge, the rain has kept customers close to home, said Justin Alford, owner of the company

bound in a Chevy Equinox when he made a left turn in front of the Yamaha motorcycle Lacombe was riding. He died as a result of the collision with the small SUV Anderson’s blood was drawn after he was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center to be treated for possible injuries, the afﬁdavit said. Traces of amphetamine and methamphetamine were found in his system Police later discovered Anderson was not insured at the time of the crash, reports stated. Lacombe was a 30-year-old engineer who loved to work on old cars and was a prep golf player in high school

Creel, named as a defendant, asked to see the device, prompting Verdin to run into the recreation yard, lie on the ground and cover his head with his hands

Verdin alleged that Creel and a visiting female officer jumped on his back and restricted his ability to breathe. Creel put Verdin in restraints and started leading him out of the recreation yard, according to the lawsuit. He allegedly asked another officer about where to find a “blind spot.” According to the petition, Verdin began pleading for his life, to which an officer told him to “shut the f*** up” and “you must not love your life.”

Creel allegedly slammed Verdin’s face into the concrete walk while other ofﬁcers joined in on the beating, with one reported as shouting a racial slur They dragged Verdin “like a rag doll” down the walk, according to the lawsuit

The lawsuit also alleges there was an attempted cover-up involving former

Benny’s has seen lower numbers of customers at its car washes and even at the gas stations and convenience stores it operates.

Alford said it comes down to one fact.

“When it’s raining hard in the afternoon, people don’t get out,” he said. “We’re tired of the rain.”

Alford said he’s hoping things turn around.

“We’re hoping for a nice, dry fall,” he said.

and college, loved ones said in victim impact statements read in court at Monday’s hearing.

“Anthony had barely started his adult life and career,” a letter from friends and family stated. “His education at St. Aloysius Catholic Church and Catholic High School, and the rearing he received within the Christian homes of his parents and grandparents resulted in development of excellent values and strong character Qualities much needed in our society that were snuffed out through the actions of Mr Anderson.”

Email Matt Bruce at matt bruce@theadvocate.com.

warden Bordelon.

Verdin experienced ongoing leg and shoulder pain and emotional distress from the incident, according to the lawsuit.

His attorney Donna Grodner said it was a violation of Verdin’s civil rights under the Eighth Amendment, and that Louisiana state law prohibits corporal punishment in the discipline of inmates.

“They don’t allow correctional officers to mete out their own punishment, like, ‘Hey, you’re a bad person, so I’m going to kick you in the teeth,’” Grodner said.

Email Haley Miller at haley.miller@theadvocate. com.

LOTTERY

THURSDAY,JULY 24,2025

PICK 3: 7-5-6

PICK 4: 7-6-8-0

PICK 5: 9-8-4-7-6

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

According to a statement prepared by his family, McLain died Thursday at the age of 85.

“He was a beloved father, grandfather and friend. He will be deeply missed, but the music he made will live on in the hearts and minds of his fans, friends and family It will be his legacy.”

McLain was born in Jonesville in Catahoula Parish, and in the 1950s

SCHOOLS

Continued from page 1B

alarm goes off when it detects someone vaping.

“Once this is done, all of our middle schools and our high schools will have vape detectors in the restrooms,” Purvis said.

A portion of the funds would be used for testing students who are expelled for drugs and go to the Pine Ridge Alternative Program. Purvis said that when the students ﬁnish the alternative program, the school district would work with parents to conduct drug testing “to have that stu-

and ’60s, he was a member of country band The VelTones and Cajun swamp pop and soul group The Boogie Kings McLain’s biggest single, country ballad “Sweet Dreams” by songwriter Don Gibson, hit the No 15 spot on the U.S Billboard Adult Contemporary charts in 1966.

Swamp pop’s popularity declined in the 1960s, but it has retained a strong fan base, particularly as Cajun and zydeco musicians have found success in marketing the region’s sounds. Lafayette musicians Zachary

dent on a road to success for moving forward.”

The last part of the agreement also includes an administrative assistant at the alternative program. This person would work directly with students and provide additional supervision and support Purvis said.

“When we’re continuing to have those touch points with students, it truly helps,” he said.

Multiple parish council members and ofﬁcials commended the alternative program’s work.

“For the last eight years, I’ve been a juvenile prosecutor in Ward 2 in Denham Springs. And when I

Richard and C.C. Adcock are two of the best-known swamp pop-influenced players today, and McLain and Adcock played together on tours around the world — most recently in a performance at House of Blues New Orleans in May Elvis Costello was one of McLain’s fans. The pair began recording and playing together after they met in New Orleans in 2010, and electriﬁed audiences when McLain joined Costello’s performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2022. McLain’s career spanned 70 years, and much of his accolades and notoriety came later in life. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2007, and in 2022, at the age of 82, he released the album “I Ran Down Every Dream,” which featured musical heavyweights like Costello, Warren Storm and Louisiana’s Steve Riley Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.

see these kids come in and they go to Pine Ridge when I see them a few months later, it’s like a different kid,” said Parish Attorney Brad Cascio. “I wish more parishes would enact something like Pine Ridge.” The parish School Board still has to approve the agreement for the use of funds. But it will likely move forward easily, considering the support from the superintendent, parish president and council. The board has not set a date yet for when it will vote on the approval.

Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Col. Scotty Autin, center, the new commander of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers’ New Orleans district, is handed an Army Corps flag from Maj. Gen. Kimberly Peeples, left, commander

Cannatella,Vincent

St.Jude

St.Matthew's BaptistChurch, 22910 WarrenStreet in Plaquemine, at 11 a.m.

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Richard,Andre Bright MorningStarBaptistChurch 12812 Fordoche Bayou Road in Morganza, at 11 a.m.

He is alsosurvived by his sister, Marla D. Hertel Friedmann (Danny) of Augusta, Georgia and his brother,DonaldL Hertel (Joan) of Diamondhead, Mississippi. John graduatedfrom PassChristian High School inPass Christian, Mississippi in 1968,and attended the UniversityofSouthern Mississippi. He was artistic and creative, lovedhistory, especially of the AmericanCivil War and had apassion forcooking and travel. He lived for many years in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, traveling throughout Mexico and the American southwest collecting and sellingarts, crafts and articles of historic interest. In later years, he worked throughout the central and eastern United States as alonghaul tractor-trailer driver Aprivate memorial service willbeheld by the family in Louisiana at a date TBD. Condolences may be sent to RainHertel Mayeux at: r.christ.m@gmail.com.

Johnson,TamaraPenn

Ash, Joseph Michael Mike Joseph Michael "Mike" Ash entered eternal rest on Saturday July 5, 2025 at the VA Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, after alengthy battle with cancer.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents CJ and Pearline W. Ash, Brother James "Jimmy" Ash and wife Peggy,brother in law

John Durham.

He leaves behind his wife, Cynthia of Long Town, Mississippi,daughters Kim Frodge (Eric)of Melbourne Beach, Flordia; Haley McMullen (Devon) of Senatoba, Mississippi and son, Matthew Ash(Holly) of Hessmer, LA. Grandchildren: Ashley Vanskyhawk of Palm Bay, Flordia,Lisa Reed of Georgia, Lawrence Parker of Georgia, Harlee Ash and Mason Ash of Hessmer, LA, HudsonMcMullen and Maddox McMullen of Senatoba, Mississippi; Great Grandchildren: Gage Harper, Mckinze Vanskyhawk, Dylan Reed, Nathan Reed, KalliParker, and one Great Great Grandchild Kennedy Harper. Sister, Frances Durham, brother, Bobby Ash (Ruth). He also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Acelebration of life will be held at 10 am on August 02, 2025 at the Ash Family Cemetery in Clinton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Nana's Children's Home, 3492 Gods Way, West Melbourne FL, 32904 in memory of Mike.

Lillie Rose Jackson Harris, 84, entered into eternal rest on July 21, 2025. Visitation from 10:00 until service at 11:00 on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Mt. Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 9654 LA Hwy 10, Ethel, LA. Interment at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 6213 Groom Rd, Baker, LA.

belovedmother, wife and daughter, died peacefully inher sleep on Wednesday, July16, 2025. Shewas 49. A residentofPrairieville, Tacie wasbornonFeb.4 1976 in BatonRouge.A 1994 graduateofSt. Joseph’s Academy,Tacie graduated fromLSU in 2001 with ade‐greeincivil engineering. Professionally, sheworked for theLouisiana Depart‐mentofTransportationand Development,Ascension Parishand FedEx. Sheis precededindeath by her grandparents, Robertaand DeRooseGoettingand MaryLouiseand Howard Bourgeois.Tacie loved trips to thebeach with her familyand is survived by her husband,JeffRabalais, their son, BraedonRabalais and theirdaughter, Malo‐rie Rabalais,all of Prairieville; herparents Linda andRobin Goetting ofBaton Rouge, andher sister, KristiGoettingof Baton Rouge. Sheisalso survivedbyher mother-inlaw,Kathy Rabalais of Baton Rouge, herbrotherin-lawScott Rabalais and his wife MichellRabalaisof Baton Rouge, andsupport animals Archie andMochi A specialthank yougoes tosomanyfriends and familyfor theirimmeasur‐ablesupport,particularly the Abruzzino, Addison, Ar‐boneaux,D’Antonio,Darce, DeFrances,Drago, Lakey, LeGrange, Migliacio, Poche, Rhodes, Songy, Stafford and Vadnaisfamilies.Ser‐vices will be arranged at a later date.Inlieuof ﬂow‐ers,donations arepre‐ferredtoSt. Jude Chil‐dren’sResearchHospital at www.StJude.org

grandson, TannerGuidry. A visitationwillbeheldon Monday, July 28, 2025 at St. Jean Vianney,16166 SHarrellsFerry Rd,Baton Rouge, LA 70816, from 10 am followedbya Mass of Christianburialat11am. Burial willfollow in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Please visit www.greenoak sfunerals.com to leave condolences to thefamily

Eve Leah Voigtpassed peacefully in her Baton Rouge home in theearly hours of 14 July 2025. She entered hospice care after asix year strugglewithpancreatic cancer. Eve was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, on 1 January1941, in theclosest hospital to StateCollege, PA where she lived.

She residedinStateCollege with her parents, Dr. Hans and MetaNeuberger and brother Damian Neuberger whereshe attended primary school,State College High School and Penn StateUniversity.

Shemoved backtoBaton Rouge in 1968 to continuewith herstudies for aPhD in psychology at LSU. Shereceivedher Masters Degree in Psychology butlater withdrewfrom thePhD programin1970 before completingher dissertation

During thecourse of her studies andworking,she met herfuturehusband Adolph E. Voigt,III, attendingthe LSUSchool of Social Work.Theymet while they workedonthe same psychology research projectfor Eve'sfriend and mentor whopreceded them in death,Doctor Fred Tuton

As aresult of that first meeting with Doctor Tuton anda subsequent "date" at thePastime Lounge, they have held an annual celebrationofthatfirst "date" with aham and swiss po-boy the Pastime Loungefor thepast 53 years. Eve and Adolph marriedinMay, 1970.

cream of mushroom soups she hadever eaten,and Eve wouldknowbecause she wasa 5star cook. She remembered more about that soup thenthe opera. Shewas particularly fond of La Boehme, Madam Butterfly andThe Dialogue of theCarmelite

Sheissurvivedbyher brotherDr. Damian Neubergerand hiswife Judy. Eve'sson Adolph IV,his wife KaylaSliman-Voigt andtwo beautiful grandchildrenshe neverexpected.Josephine Katherine Voigt, andMurphy Etienne Voigt, and herhusbandof 53 years.

Eve wished to remember andthank her "besties" for their support andencouragement during some of herbest and more recentlyhard times. Thanks of appreciation andlove to Jeannie LeBlanc, Jennifer Felps, Carol Brady, DebraWhitfield,Melanie Borek, Sylvia Smith, Patty Waldand Mary Richgels

Tamara Penn Johnson, a belovedwife, mother, and daughter, peacefully passed awayonJuly21, 2025,atthe ageof50. Tamara dedicatedher life to improving the educationsystemfor over 25 years. She was known for her strong, innovative leadership and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of students and educators. Her greatest joycame from spending time with her cherished family. Sheleaves to honor her memory adevoted husband ChristopherJohnson; two lovingdaughters, Chrystin Johnson and Courtney Johnson; her faithful mother,Kathy James; and herfather, BobbyJoe Penn. Amemorialservicewill be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Greater New Guide Baptist Church,with visitation beginning at 9:00am and servicestarting at 11:00am. Tamara'slegacy of love leadership, and servicewill continue to live on in the hearts of allwho knew her.

O'Conner, Elise

Elise O'Conner was born on April 07, 1929, to Edward O'Conner and Amelia Williams O'Conner in Slaughter, La.She departed this life at 2:30 p.m. Monday, July 07, 2025,at LaneRegional Medical Center in Zachary,La. MotherElise was awoman of resilience, perseverance, and of greatfaith Hersteadfast and unmovable faith willforever be a landmark in our hearts and add to the great cloud of witnessesinthe keeping of Faith. Sheleaves to share her testimonyand cherished memories: Ronnie Fortune Baker, La., Lawrence Fortune, Michael K. Fortune (Sherri),Terry J. Fortune (Debra), JaniceF Websterall of Baton Rouge, La., Theresa Fortune Greenville,TX. And a host of extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents: Ameliaand Edward O'Conner, four brothers: Oliver O'Conner, Ed Coner, Frank O'Conner, Lawrence O'Conner,three sisters: Sadie Mae Mitchell, Soforia Flagg, Cora Lee O'Conner Tolbert, ex -husband: LeonardFortune Sr., agrandson: Dedrick Webster, ason:Leonard "June"Fortune Jr.,and a daughter: FayEvelynLong

BettyRuthWilliams

Riner passed away peacefully in her art studio in BatonRouge on July15atthe ageof85. In her last days she was visitedbyher friends and surrounded by her paintings.

BorninBastrop, LA,she was a1957 graduateofBatonRouge HighSchool and a1961 graduateofLSU, where she was amember of Delta Gamma sorority. At 42, she graduated from theOur Lady of the Lake School of Nursing.

After living and working in Louisiana, California, Taiwan, and Texas, she retired fromhome health psychiatricnursing and became an accomplished artist.Her paintings brought joytoher life and to thepeople forwhom she painted portraitsof their lovedones and pets. Her love of landscapes is demonstrated throughher recent workdepicting nature,swamp scenes, and forests.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Birdie Lee Williams and devoted husband GeorgeA.Stuart. She is survivedbyher son, Steven R. Boutwell, daughter-in-law, MaryHunt Boutwell, and granddaughter, RosemaryRuth Boutwell, whomshe adored and admired.

Acelebrationofher art and her life will be held in her home and studio on July 26 from 5-7 pm. In lieu of flowers,pleaseconsidera donationtoCancerServices of Greater Baton Rouge or to theBaton Rouge GeneralHospital's ArtinMedicine Program.

Stelly,Billie Porter

BilliePorterStelly passed away on July14, 2025, at theage of 92. Born on April25, 1933, to thelate Ulysse and EvelynLeBlanc Porter, Billieenjoyed bowling,water aerobics, and playing cards. She wasa memberofthe Catholic Daughters, ACircleof Friends, Double Nickels, and Transco Ladies. Billie is survivedbyher children, Cindy Matthews (Rick), Claire Horn (Russell), Suzette Simms (Chris), ChrisStelly (Diane), Donny Stelly (Trasie), and Tobi Gomez (Corey); 17 grandchildren; and 23 greatgrandchildren. She is preceded in deathbyher husband, Robert Stelly, Sr.; son, Robert (Robby) Stelly, Jr.; daughter,Pam Stelly Thibodeaux; grandchild, Josh Aycock; and great-

Eve'sfather started her violin lessons at 5years of age. By age 10 or 11 she was such an accomplished violinist that her father wouldcallupon her to fill in when his violin quartet came up one violin short forrehearsals.

In highschoolshe sang in thechoirand played in theschoolorchestra. She also played in aviolin quartet with some of her highschoolclassmates She famouslybotchedan auditionfor concert mistress becauseshe did not think she couldstand the pressure to tuning theorchestra to her violin before each performance. Everarelyplayedthe violin after graduating from high school.

She traveled with her husband to twoclass reunions in State College, but as travel became moreofa chorethan apleasure for her she kepttouch though theState CollegeHigh School newsletteredited by afellowclassmateand choirmember Robert Vereck. She enjoyed these visits and newsletters very much.

Eve graduated from Penn StateUniversity Magna cum laud and Phi Beta Kappa Upon graduationEve married her highschool and college classmate TimothyHewes.They spent several years in Miami where she worked for theMiami MuseumofArt cataloging art works for themuseum ,arranging some art exhibits and museum to museum art transfers. They then movedto Baton Rouge in 1964 where at LSUTim taught art. Eve entered LSUgraduate school in Psychology with aviewtoearning aPhD

Following her divorce in 1966 Evemoved to New York fora year whileshe decided what she wanted to do with her life.She worked for theNYC Department of Welfare as a case workerfor drug addicted recipients. At night she workedasa legal transcription typist averaging an incredible 90 wordsa minutewithout error.

Eve wasa vociferous reader of all categoriesof literature,history, historicalfiction,biographies, mysteries,autobiographies, and if it wasina book she wouldread it,at least as long as it kept her interest. Crosswords also filledand importantplace in herlifeusually finishing all thecrosswords in The Advocate in shortorder, exceptthe Saturday puzzle whichbedeviled herat times. She neverhesitated to leave abook unfinished if it didnot deserve her time to finish. Eve attended theUnitarianBook Club for manyyearsand presented thegroup with many interesting discussionsofthe books she chose

Herlove of music,particularlyOpera was a strongforce in herlife, listeningtothe Metropolitan Operaradio broadcast everySaturday duringthe season. She andher husband attendedmanyMet Live Broadcasts. She introducedhim to thebeautiful andattimes theintricate emotional aspectsofthe genre. He grew to love operabecause of hervast understanding of many of theworks. Shewas taken by herhusbandtothe premier of thelatestrendition of La Traviata at theMet for her65th birthday. Her jury is still outonthatproduction.However, while diningatthe Metrestaurantthe appetizer, cream of mushroom soup was4 star and wasspoken of frequently by herasone of themost memorable

Eve wasprecededin death by herparents Doctor Hans andMetaNeuberger, andbyclose friends Pamela Craig and JuliaHightower.

ACelebrationofher life will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home 825 GovernmentStreetonSunday27 July at 2pm. Viewingfrom 2-3 with Remembrancesby friends andrelativestobegin at 3:30

In lieu of flowers please make donationstoyourfavorite church, charity or favorite cause in Eve's name

IN LOVINGMEMORYOF Sergeant JosephDarbon, Sr. Jul26, 1935 -Mar 25,2025

this special day that would have been his 90th birthday, we celebrate the life of our Dear Brother Retired Air Force Sergeant Joseph Solomon Darbon, Sr. born July 26, 1935 and entered into

Voigt, Eve Leah Evelein

Riner, Betty Ruth Williams

hearts of many. Though he is

with

words

express his sisters; Ms. Muriel Dabon Marrero and family of Los Angeles, CA.

Harris, Lillie J.

BUSINESS

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Britain, India seal trade agreement

LONDON The prime ministers of Britain and India sealed a hard-wrought trade agreement on Thursday that will slash tariffs on products including Scotch whisky and English gin shipped to India and Indian food and spices sent to the U.K.

Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi met at Chequers, the British leader’s ofﬁcial country residence outside London where the U.K. and Indian trade ministers, Jonathan Reynolds and Piyush Goyal, formally signed the agreement

Starmer said it was “the biggest and most economically signiﬁcant trade deal” Britain has made since leaving the European Union in 2020.

Modi said it was “a historic day in our bilateral relations.

Alongside the agreement, the two countries announced almost $8 billion in trade and investment deals in areas including AI, aerospace and dairy products, and pledged to work more closely together in areas such as defense, migration, climate and health.

The trade agreement between India and Britain, the world’s ﬁfth- and sixth-largest economies, was announced in May, more than three years after negotiations started, and stalled, under Britain’s previous Conservative government. It still must be ratified by Britain’s Parliament.

Australia to reduce U.S. beef import restrictions

MELBOURNE, Australia Austra-

lia announced it will reduce restrictions on U.S. beef imports in a move President Donald Trump’s administration claimed as a major victory over “nonscientiﬁc trade barriers.”

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said Thursday that relaxing the restrictions designed to keep Australia free of mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, would not compromise biosecurity

“Australia stands for open and free trade — our cattle industry has signiﬁcantly beneﬁted from this,” Collins said in a statement.

Trump celebrated the announcement with a post on Truth Social that said: “Now, we are going to sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that U.S. Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Brooke L. Rollins responded to Australia’s announcement by congratulating Trump on a “major trade breakthrough that gives greater access to U.S. beef producers selling to Australia.”

Meta will cease political ads in EU

LONDON Facebook and Instagram owner Meta said Friday that it will stop all political advertising in the European Union by October, blaming legal uncertainty over new rules designed to increase transparency in election campaigns. The social media giant said in a blog post that it will no longer allow ads for political, electoral and social issues on its platforms, which also include Threads, starting in early October.

The company said it was making the decision because of the 27-nation EU’s “unworkable” Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising regulations The rules introduce “signiﬁcant operational challenges and legal uncertainties,” Meta said It’s not the first Big Tech company to make such a move. Google said last year that it would stop serving EU users political ads before the rules take effect, in an announcement that cited similar reasons. Under the regulations, which are set to take effect on Oct. 10, platforms will have to label political ads, disclosing who paid for them, and what campaign, referendum or legislative process they’re connected to.

Intel cuts spending, workforce

Nvidia’s $4.24 trillion.

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY AP technology writer

Intel Corp is shedding thousands of workers and cutting expenses as its new CEO works to revive the fortunes of the struggling chipmaker that helped launch Silicon Valley but has fallen behind rivals like Nvidia Corp and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

In a memo to employees Thursday, CEO Lip-Bu Tan said Intel plans to end the year with 75,000 “core” workers excluding subsidiaries, through layoffs and at-

trition. That’s down from 99,500 core employees at the end of last year The company previously announced a 15% workforce reduction.

“I know the past few months have not been easy We are making hard but necessary decisions to streamline the organization, drive greater efﬁciency and increase accountability at every level of the company,” Tan wrote.

In addition, Intel will scrap previously planned projects in Germany and Poland and also move assembly and test operations in Costa Rica to larger sites in Vietnam and Malaysia. Costa Rica will remain a “home to key engineering teams and corporate func-

tions,” Tan said in the memo.

In the U.S., the company said it will “further” slow construction of a semiconductor plant in Ohio. Founded in 1968 at the start of the PC revolution, Intel missed the technological shift to mobile computing triggered by Apple’s 2007 release of the iPhone, and it’s lagged more nimble chipmakers. Intel’s troubles have been magnified since the advent of artificial intelligence — a booming field where the chips made by once-smaller rival Nvidia have become tech’s hottest commodity The Santa Clara, Californiabased company’s market cap was $98.71 billion as of the market close on Thursday, compared with

Tan said Intel is focusing on its “core product portfolio” and artiﬁcial intelligence offerings to better serve customers.

“There are no more blank checks,” Tan wrote. “Every investment must make economic sense.” For the second quarter, Intel reported a loss of $2.9 billion, or 67 cents per share, down from a loss of $1.6 billion, or

Wall Street’s winning week ends with more records for U.S. stocks

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK U.S. stocks capped another strong week with more records on Friday

The S&P 500 rose 0.4% to set an all-time high, the ﬁfth time it did so this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 208 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.2% to its own record set the day before.

Deckers, the company behind Ugg boots and Hoka shoes, jumped 11.3% after reporting stronger proﬁt and revenue for the spring than analysts expected. Its growth was particularly strong outside the United States, where revenue soared nearly 50%.

Edwards Lifesciences rose 5.5% after likewise topping Wall Street’s expectations for proﬁt in the latest quarter It said it saw strength across all its product groups, and it expects proﬁt for the full year to come in at the high end of the forecasted range it had given earlier

They helped offset a drop of 8.5% for Intel, which fell after reporting a loss for the latest quarter, when analysts were looking for a proﬁt. Intel, which helped launch Silicon Valley as the U.S technology hub, has fallen behind rivals like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices while demand for artiﬁcial intelligence chips soars.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 25.29 points to 6,388.64. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 208.01 to 44,901.92, and the Nasdaq composite added 50.36 to 21,108.32.

The pressure is on companies to deliver solid growth in proﬁts in order to justify big gains for their stock prices, which have rallied to record after record in recent weeks.

Wall Street has zoomed higher on hopes that President Donald Trump will reach trade deals with other countries that will lower his stiff proposed tariffs, along with the risk that they could cause a recession and drive up inﬂation. Trump has recently announced deals with Japan and the Philippines, and the next big deadline is looming on Aug. 1

Besides potential trade talks, next week will also feature a meeting by the Federal Reserve on interest rates Trump again on Thursday lobbied the Fed to cut rates, which he has implied could save the U.S. government money on its debt repayments

Fed Chair Jerome Powell, though, has continued to insist he wants to wait for more data about how Trump’s tariffs affect the economy and inﬂation before the Fed makes its next move. Lower interest rates can help goose the economy, but they can also give inﬂation more fuel.

Lower rates also may not lower the U.S. government’s costs to borrow money, if the bond market feels they could send inﬂation higher in the future. In that case, lower short-term rates brought by the Fed could actually have the opposite effect and make it more expensive for Washington to borrow money over the long term.

The widespread expectation on Wall Street is that the Fed will wait until September to resume cutting interest rates.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following Trump’s latest attempt to push Powell to cut interest rates. Trump also seemed to back off on threats to ﬁre the Fed’s chair

“To do that is a big move, and I don’t think that’s necessary,” Trump said “I just want to see one thing happen, very simple: Interest rates come down.”

If Trump ﬁred Powell, he’d risk a freakout in ﬁnancial markets by raising the possibility of a less independent Fed, one unable to make unpopular choices necessary to keep the economy healthy The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.38% from 4.43% late Thursday The twoyear Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for what the Fed will do, held steady at 3.91%.

In stock markets abroad indexes slipped across much of Europe and Asia.

Stocks fell 1.1% in Hong Kong and 0.3% in Shanghai. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said he will meet with Chinese ofﬁcials in Sweden next week to work toward a trade deal with Beijing ahead of an Aug. 12 deadline. Trump has said a China trip “is not too distant” as trade tensions ease.

Ranchers fighting flesh-eating parasite infecting livestock

BY RAÚL MENDOZA and ISABEL MATEOS Associated Press

CINTALAPA, Mexico With Mexican cattle again barred this month from entry to the United States over fears of spreading a flesheating parasite, ranchers and veterinarians in Mexico hundreds of miles from the border are fighting what has U.S. agricultural authorities so on edge. In the southern state of Chiapas, which borders Guatemala, the New World screwworm fly’s rapid spread appears to have caught most ranchers off guard, despite memories of previous outbreaks in the 1980s and 1990s. Mexico is building a plant with U.S. support in Chiapas to produce sterile flies, which have proved effective at stopping the spread, but it won’t be ready until next year Meanwhile, the price of medicines used to treat livestock infected with the screwworm have soared in price. That has led some to fall back on

home remedies like applying gasoline or lime to open wounds to coax out the worms. In addition to the cost of the medicine, treatment requires careful monitoring and usually involves multiple courses. Any open wound,

even very small ones, are an invitation to the ﬂy to lay its eggs. Veterinarian Alfredo Chávez left Chiapas to study in 1989, so he says he missed seeing the effects of that outbreak, but now he’s seen cases multiply in his corner of the

state over the past month. He’s heard of dozens of cases in the area now and treated about a dozen himself. It’s not just cows either — sheep, pigs, cats and dogs are targets as well. Armed with a pair of blue tweezers and an aerosol spray that helps draw the maggots out, Chávez moves from animal to animal. He puts maggots in plastic tubes as samples, which he provides to agricultural authorities. But beyond providing the tubes and encouraging ranchers to report cases, he said that the government hasn’t provided much help. “We’ve faced it alone,” he said Wednesday

The U.S. had just gradually started to reopen the border to cattle imports this month after an earlier suspension in May, when the Trump administration said that it would close it again after an infected animal was found in the Gulf Coast state of Veracruz. While prevalent in Central America, the concern is that the ﬂy is moving north.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RICHARD DREW Traders Drew Cohen, foreground, and Dylan Halvorsan work on the floor of the New york Stock Exchange.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ASISABEL MATEOS

Alfredo Chávez, a cattle rancher and livestock technician, shows New World screwworm larvae removed from a cow at his ranch in Chiapas, Mexico.

OPINION

Handicapping possible Democraic presidential hopefuls

Please forgiveme. Iknow thelastpresidential election was only eight months ago, and you may not have gotten over it yet. But the next one ﬁres up in 2027, and that’snot far away.Soready or not, it’stime to handicap possible candidates. We’ll start with Democrats who may seek their party’snomination. Later,we’ll look at Republicans.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, 60. Strengths: Name recognition, career experience, ran three times for national ofﬁce.Weaknesses: Lackluster performance as VP,inability to handle tough issues. Even with aunited party and lots of money, couldn’tbeat aconvicted felon. RestlessDemocrats may want astronger messenger,somebodynot so closely tied toJoe Biden.Harrismay run for governor of California instead.

Gov.GretchenWhitmer of Michigan, 46. Strengths: Twice elected governor of a vitalswing state; focused on practical accomplishments: roads,schools, water systems, taxcuts andeconomic development.Good debater May be acceptable to awide swath of Democrats. Supposedly Barack Obama’schoice in 2024. Weaknesses: Has never run nationally.Tough pandemic restraints led toan initiative curbing her emergency powers.

Gov.Wes MooreofMaryland, 46.Strengths: New face, good publicspeaker,Rhodes scholar,studied international relations. Army captain, 82nd Airborne. Former investment banker. First African American governor of Maryland; slogan “work, wages and wealth.” Seen as acomer by party bigwigs. Weaknesses: Lacks national recognition, won only oneelection —ina solidly blue state Pennsylvania Gov.Josh Shapiro, 52. Strengths: Smart, driven, knows how to argue a case,moderatetemperament. If he can carry his home state in apresidential election,his jobfor the Democrats is more thanhalf done. Weaknesses: Harris was reportedly put off by his know-it-all attitude(althoughplenty of Democrats wishedshe hadpicked him for VP). Progressives aren’t excited by hiscentristslant; Pro-Palestinians frownonhis support for Israel.

Gov.Gavin Newsom of California, 57. Strengths: Smart telegenic, skillful campaigner Had to win three statewide elections toget —and keep —the governorship of the nation’slargest state and did so by landslides. Wants White House more than anybody. Hishome state willhave a boatload of delegates at the Democratic convention. He’s trying to redeﬁne progressivism to better ﬁt swing-voter needs.Weaknesses:Slick, smooth, may be too Hollywood for working-class America.

Ro Khanna, U.S. representative from California, 48. Strengths: Articulate, smart, champion of theparty’s left ﬂank. Parentsimmigrated from India. Lawyer,intellectual propertyexpert; worked in Obama’s commerce department. Techies likehim. Could inherit Bernie Sanders’ organization,which would beabig deal. Weaknesses: Not well known, maybe too progressive.Would have to ﬁght for home state delegates if Newsom and/or Harris runs.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. representativefrom New York,35. Strengths: Young, progressive, working-class background, strong populist appeal, next-gen champ Polls well; already anational money-raisingmachine. Weaknesses: Tooyoung, too farleft; Democratic prosfear she’d bring down theparty Could run,instead, for Chuck Schumer’sSenate seat Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, 43. Strengths:Sound-bitewhiz, highlyintelligent, military experience. Impressiveperformance as 2020 presidential candidate; nearly tied Sanders for ﬁrst place in Iowa and New Hampshire. Weaknesses: Performance as aBiden cabinetmember thickened his resume, but tough spotsinthat job may have taken thebloom off therose.

Gov.Andy Beshear of Kentucky,47. Strengths:New face, sensible tone. Elected twice in avery conservativestate. Maybe notliberal enoughfor progressives in primaries, maybe too liberal for swing voters in thegeneral election.Weaknesses: Good candidate for Democrats in the 1990s, but how about 2028?

Gov.J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, 60. Strengths: Could write a billion-dollar check forhis campaign.Spent $172 million to win thegovernorship. Family owns Hyatt hotel chain. Forceful liberal, battler for hiscauses. Weaknesses: Image of an old-style political boss; billionaireina party that doesn’tlike billionaires; bigspender in astate with crushing public employee pension debt.

Former Chicago Mayor RahmEmanuel,65. Strengths: Tough operator,whip-smart, best political strategist of thebunch. Diverse resume includes beingformer congressman, Obamachief of staff, U.S. ambassador to Japan.Weaknesses: Maybe too political. Ideologues won’t likely trust him. Anybody else? Cory Booker? Gina Raimondo? TimWalz? Raphael Warnock? Mark Cuban? Mitch Landrieu? Everybody’slooking in the mirror these days, seeing afuture president RonFaucheux is anonpartisan political analyst,pollster and writer based in Louisiana.

Suárez, Keller,Lugo amongtop players whocould

be traded

BY DAVID BRANDT

The Associated Press

PHOENIX The ArizonaDiamondbacks got thetradedeadlinepartystarted on Thursday night when they dealt 2024 All-Star Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners for two pitching prospects. That probably won’tbethe lasttime theD-backs make news before the July 31 deadline.

Arizona has had adisappointing season with a50-53 record and now appears to be one of the most active sellersonthe MLB market, dangling third baseman Eugenio Suárez andstartingpitchers ZacGallenand MerrillKelly

Thepotentialbuyers includeteams like the New York Yankees, NewYork Mets, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, who are all trying to beef up their rostersin hopes of adeep playoffrun.

Themarketisheatingupquickly:The Yankees acquired third baseman RyanMcMahon from the Rockies on Friday while the Mets added left-handed reliever Gregory Soto from the Orioles

The D-backs havebeenone ofthe most intriguing teams in baseball over thepast few weeks because management hashad to make atough decision whether to buy or sell. Arizona had a50-50 record after sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals following theAll-Star break butwerethenswept by the Houston Astros.

Those three losses appeared to seal their fate as sellers —thoughArizonageneral manager Mike Hazensaid he’sstill open to changing course “I want to see this team tocontinue togo out there and play,” Hazen said. “I haven’t decided what it’sgoing to look like, honestly.I’m open-minded to anumberof different things.”

Here’salookatsome of the top players

ä See MLB, page 3C

Saints,Haenerinsistheisatruecontender to become starting QB

BY MATTHEWPARAS Staff writer

KellenMoore hasissued apolite correction anytime someonebrings up the New Orleans Saints’ “two-man”quarterback competition. The coach will note the team’sbattle includes three quarterbacks —not just SpencerRattler andTyler Shough.

Moore doesn’t wantpeople to forget about Jake Haener

Andheinsistsit’snot just lip service, either.Haener willreceiveﬁrst-team reps throughout camp, he said.

“Wefeel good about letting all these guys go for it,” Moore said.

Haener got his chance to go for it Friday when he receivedﬁrst-team reps for the ﬁrst timethis season —completing therotation that Moore said would occur Afourth-round pick two years ago, Hae-

nerhas only onecareer start, and he was benched at halftime of that game whenthe Saintslost to theWashington Commanderslastseason. But Moore appears to be intrigued with Haener’sskill set, telling reportershelikedthe quarterback coming out of the 2023 draft. Thetwo also have known each other fora long time, with Moore’sbrother,Kirby,serving as Haener’soffensive coordinator at Fresno State.

Truthfully,Haener faces an uphill climb in the quarterback competition The26-year-old missed mostofthe team’s offseason workouts after suffering an oblique injury,giving the Saints more time to evaluate Rattler and Shough. And Haener’sﬁrst-team reps also cameona daywhen thecoaching staffgave several veterans the practice off, including center ä See SAINTS, page 4C

Ibelieve this organization respect them, they draftedme— if they didn’ttruly believe Icould be aguy that they think couldn’t win thestarting job,they wouldn’t include me in it Simple as that.”

JAKE HAENER, Saints quarterback

UCLA QB Iamaleavalooks to move past Tennesseedrama

BY EDDIE PELLS AP national writer

LASVEGAS Collegefootball’sfutureworea

baby blue suit, agold pin that said“UCLA” and apair of diamond-encrustedhoop earrings. He glided toward the mic,sat down, then prepared for the grilling about howmuch money he makes, why he left Tennessee, who betrayed whom when he departed, and what it all means for the college football world that his story now deﬁnes.

Bottom line: If quarterback Nico Iamaleava handles the rest of the season as wellashe did with his half hour of Q&A at Big Tenmedia days Thursday,chances are UCLA willbe good —maybe even very good —in2025. “I think, it’sjust, keep my head down and

be humble,” the 20-year-old quarterback said. “And try not to let the outside noise affect you.”

If he succeeds at that, he will have more disciplinethan agreat majority of college football fans, experts andjournalists who have ﬁlledthe internet and air waves with timelinesand analysis of adecision that shook the sport and seemed to say everything about the burgeoning power that playerswield in aworldofname, imageand likeness deals. The thumbnail of the story is that Iamaleava was asuccessful quarterback who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season,thenabruptlypickedupstakes to head closer tohomeand play for UCLA. Money seemed to be themost obvious motive

Reportscirculated that he waslooking for araise—maybe adoublingtonearly$4milliona year —tocome back to theVols. Then, one day last spring, Iamaleava missed practice. Just as abruptly,hewas gone. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel handledit diplomatically “Today’s landscapeofcollege football is different than it has been,”hesaid. “It’sunfortunate, thesituation, and where we’re at with Nico.” Beforeheeven enrolled at Tennessee, Iamaleavawas causing his share of turmoil. It was his NIL deal with the Vols thattriggered an NCAAinvestigation and lawsuit by theattorneys generalofTennessee and Virginia in January 2024.

AP FILEPHOTO By GEORGE WALKER IV Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava lookstothrowapass during agame against Vanderbilt on Nov. 30 in Nashville, Tenn.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Saints quarterback JakeHaener receives asnap during training camp on Fridayatthe team’spractice facility

Eugenio Suárez AP PHOTO

8:55 a.m. Formula 1: qualifying ESPN2

10:30a.m. NITIndyCar:practice FS1

Noon IndyNXT: qualifying FS1

1:30 p.m. NIT IndyCar:qualifying FS1

1:35 p.m. NASCAR Cup: qualifying TruTV

3:30 p.m. NASCAR Xfinity: Pennzoil 250 CW

3:30 p.m. IndyNXT: GP of MontereyFS1

5p.m. NHRA: Sonoma ChallengeFox BIG3 BASKETBALL Noon Week 7: TBACBS BOXING

8p.m. Xander Zayasvs. JorgeGarcia ESPN CFL

6p.m. Winnipeg at Toronto CBSSN CYCLING

5a.m. Tour de France: Stage20PEACOCK

7a.m. Tour de France: State 20 NBC

1p.m.Tour de France: Stage20* NBC

BROADCASTHIGHLIGHTS

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

1p.m. D.C. Divasvs. St. LouisSlamESPN2 GOLF

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

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

9a.m. LIV Golf League: second round Fox

11 a.m.PGA Champions: Senior Open NBC

Noon PGA Tour:3MOpen Golf

2p.m. PGATour:3MOpen CBS

2p.m. U.S. Junior Amateur Golf HORSE RACING

9a.m. King GeorgeStakes FS2

11:30 a.m. NyRA: SaratogaLiveFS2

2p.m. Jim DandyStakes Fox MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

11 a.m.UFC undercard bouts ESPN

2p.m. UFC main: Whitaker vs. de Ridder ABC MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Noon PhiladelphiaatN.y.yankees MLB

6p.m. Cleveland at Kansas City Fox

8:30 p.m. Seattle at L.A.Angels MLB

Carroll: Team didn’t make hastydecision on veteran’sstatus

BY MARK ANDERSON AP sportswriter

HENDERSON, Nev.— Raiderscoach Pete Carroll said Friday theclub didn’trush into its decision to release defensive tackle Christian Wilkins aday earlier over adispute regarding hisrecoveryfrom abroken foot.

“Wetooka longtimetomake our decision,” Carrollsaid. “We watched our way through the whole thing. We’re keeping it really clear with what we said.I think there was no clear path to his return, so we just hadtomove on.” His comments largelyechoed the unusually strongly worded statement issued by the Las Vegasorganization on Thursday,in which the Raiders said Wilkins failed to provide a“clear path or plan for future return to play.”

Wilkins was injuredinWeek5 last season and had some sort of setback in his recoverythat took him out of offseason practices and landed him on the physically unable to perform listshortly before training campopened Wednesday Wilkins, 29, was the Raiders’ marquee free-agent signing last year,agreeing toafour-year,$110 million contract with $82.75 million guaranteed. The Raiders reportedly are tryingtovoidthe remaining $35.25 million of Wilkins’ deal. Wilkins has filed agrievance with the NFL Players Association, aperson with knowledge of the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic

The Raiders willhave adead salary caphit of $29.8 million even if they win the grievance. With Wilkins off the roster, Adam Butler and Jonah Laulu ran ﬁrstteam at tackle this week in practice.

Butler started16games last season,ﬁnishing with 65 tackles, eight for loss and ﬁve sacks. Laulu started seven games as arookie, making 35 tackles, with three for loss and asack. Both players were in all 17 games.

“Thisplace is aboutcompetition,” Carroll said.“It always has been. It’swide open.I’m not going to talk about any names right now If you watch the rotations,we’re giving everybody achance. We’re mixing the (starters)withthe (backups) all the way throughout just to gather abunch of information.”

training camp.

MEN’S SOCCER

3p.m.Everton vs.AFC BournemouthNBC

4p.m.york United FC at CavalryFCFS2

6p.m. Westchester SC at Detroit CityFCESPN2

6p.m.FCCincinnatiatInterMiami CF FS1

7p.m.Atletico Ottawa at PacificFCFS2 SOFTBALL

2p.m.Bandits vs.Talons ESPN TENNIS

7:30 a.m. Kitzbuhel-ATPFinal Tennis

9:30 a.m. Prague-WTA Fina Tennis

11 a.m. Washington-ATP/WTATennis

1:30 p.m.Washington-WTAsemifinalsTennis WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

9a.m.Italy vs.Poland CBSSN

1p.m.Brazil vs.Japan CBSSN WNBA

6p.m.Los Angeles at Newyork NBA

*Taped

IN BRIEF FROM

Former LSUpitcher Herring partofRockies-Yankees deal

DENVER The NewYork Yankees acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday, giving themaveteran at aposition of need as they try to stop their slide down the AL East standings. The Yankees sent pitching prospectsJoshGrosz andGrifﬁn Herring, aformer LSU player,toColorado. The 30-year-old McMahon, an All-Star ayear ago, was hitting .217 with 16 home runs and35 RBIs forlast-placeColorado. His 127 strikeouts this season led the National League entering Friday Herring, asixth-round pick in 2024, made16starts across Class low Aand high A, totaling a1.71 ERA anda102-36 strikeout-towalkratio over 891⁄3 innings.

Dutch rider Arensman wins 19th stage of Tour de France

LA PLAGNE, France Dutch rider ThymenArensmanlauncheda daring solo attack on alongfinalclimb andheldongrimly to winthe 19th stageofthe Tour de France on Friday

Although race leader TadejPogacar took astep closer to afourth Tour title, the Slovenian star could not catch Arensman.Heﬁnished thestageinthirdplace behind DaneJonas Vingegaard,who just beat Pogacar to the line.

It was arare success for the two-time Tour winner Vingegaard over Pogacar in this year’s race but ultimatelymade littledifference, sincePogacaris4minutes, 24 seconds ahead of Vingegaard with twostages left.

Saturday’s20th stage is ahilly 114.5-mile route through eastern Franceﬁnishing in Pontarlierbefore Sunday ﬁnal stage.

Bogey-freeHarrington leads Senior British Open

BY DENNIS WASZAKJR. AP pro football writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. The New York Jets hope seeing more black-and-whitestripes in training camp will result in fewer yellow ﬂags during the season.

Coach Aaron Glenn said Friday theteam will oftenhave ofﬁcials at practice through thesummer afterthe Jets, under the previous regime of coach Robert Saleh, led the NFL in penalties thepast two seasons. New York rarely usedofﬁcials duringtrainingcamp practices last summer.ManyNFL teams hire officialsfor at least some of their camp practices, giving players the opportunity to get usedtohow plays are called in a non-game environment.

“I wantthe officials here as much as possible and theyknow that,”Glennsaid. “It’snosecret that wewerethe most-penalized

team in theleague last year,so that’sone of the things that Iwant to nip in thebud early —making sure that the disciplinepart of what we do, that we ﬁx that now “You cannot win games in this league with an undisciplined team, so all the penalties that we had last year,we’re knocking those things out ”

Last season, the Jets were penalized 137 times, ﬁve morethan Tennesseeand Baltimore,and finished5-12 —withSaleh and generalmanager Joe Douglas both fired in themiddle of the season. In 2023, New York was called for124 penalties, nine more than Clevelandand Dallas, and went 7-10.

“The ofﬁcialsare going to be here andwe’re goingtoknock that out, all right,” Glenn said. “I will tell you this:Weare going to knock these penalties out. We’re going to understand that undisciplined teams do not win games.”

Philadelphia,last year’sSuper Bowl champion, ranked 11th in theNFL with 103 penalties. Kansas City,the AFC champion, was fourth with 94.

The Los Angeles Rams, who wonthe NFCWest, hadthe fewestpenalties in the league with 91.

Glenn said there are two types of calls on players during games: pre-snap penalties —“thedumb penalties” —and competitive penalties, includingpass interference.

“The competitive penalties, listen, you go back and forth with those, right?” Glennsaid. “Like P.I.,guys are ﬁghting. Those are competitive penalties. Holds, thoseare competitive. Now, false starts, jumping offside, hitting after plays, the dumb stuff, we’ve got to knock those out. And we control those. Andthose are the things Iwanttomakesurewe get rid of.”

BERKSHIRE, England Padraig Harrington birdied his last hole Fridayfor a5-under65, giving him a one-shot lead in the Senior British Open as he goes forhis second senior major title of the year Reigning champion K.J. Choi had thelead late in thesecond round on the Old Course at Sunningdale untilhetook bogeys on the 16th and 17th. Choihad to settle fora67and was one shot behind along with Thomas Bjorn, who hada 63. Harringtonistrying to become the ﬁfth player to win the British Open and the Senior British Open. The Senior British Open is the ﬁfth major on the PGA Tour Champions. Theregular tournaments are 54 holes. Harrington wonthe U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado.

Woad takes two-shot lead at Women’sScottishOpen IRVINE,Scotland Lottie Woad of England played bogey-free Friday and took advantage of unusually calm conditions toward the end to post a7-under65, giving theEnglishstar atwo-shot lead over topranked Nelly Korda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen in the Women’s Scottish Open.

Woad is making herprofessional debut,which onlymeans she gets paid at theend of theweek. She looks no differentfrom the last couple of weeks, when shewon the Women’sIrish Open andthen tied forthird in the LPGA major in France at the Evian Championship. Korda birdied herlast twoholes for a66toget to withintwo shots, as she goes for her ﬁrst win of theseason. Koerstz Madsen also shot 66.

By The Associated Press

The NFLisfining about 100 players and two dozen club employeesfor violatingleague policybyselling SuperBowl 59 tickets for above face value, a person with knowledgeofthe details told The Associated Press on Friday

Theperson,speakingtothe AP on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation,said theplayers whoresold their tickets will have to pay aﬁne of 11/2 times the face value they paid. They also won’t be permitted to buyticketsfor thenexttwo Super Bowlsunless theyare playinginthe game. Club employeeswho violated thepolicy will beﬁned two times face value.

In amemo sent to teams and obtained by the AP,NFL head of compliance Sabrina Perel said theleague was still completing

its investigation. The “bundlers” will face increased penalties, per thememo. According to the CBA, players on all 32 teams can purchase two tickets for the Super Bowl.

Vikings

WR JEFFERSON HAS ‘MILD’HAMSTRING

STRAIN: Minnesota will keep wide receiver Justin Jefferson off the ﬁeld for awhile because of amild strain of his left hamstring.

Coach Kevin O’Connell said before practice on Friday that theformer LSU star would be reevaluated next week. The twotime All-Pro, who has themost yardsreceiving in NFLhistory through aplayer’sﬁrst ﬁve years, felt some tightness in bothofhis legs during the team’ssession on Thursdayand cutshort his participation as aprecaution.

The Vikings latersenthim for

an MRIexam, whichrevealed whatO’Connelldescribedas a“very mild”strainofhis left hamstring. O’Connell said he hadnoconcernabout Jefferson being ready forthe season opener at Chicago on Sept. 8, which is more than six weeks away

Bengals

ROOKIE DE STEWART ENDS HOLDOUT: Shemar Stewart andCincinnati agreed to acontract on Friday, ending the rookie defensive end’s three-day holdout from training camp.

Stewart’sagent, Zac Hiller of LAA, said thefour-year deal is worth $18.97 million guaranteed, includinga $10.4million signing bonus.

TheBengals and Stewartwere deadlocked over contract language that could potentially void future guarantees if there are any off-ﬁeld incidents or conduct detrimental to theteam.

Braves activate 3B Riley from 10-day injuredlist

ARLINGTON, Texas The Atlanta Bravesactivated third baseman AustinRileyfrom theinjured list on Friday aheadofa weekend series at Texas. Riley hadn’tplayed since straining an abdominal muscle while making athrow on July 11 against St. Louis.

The 28-year-old washitting .274 with 14 homerunsand 48 RBIsat thetimeofthe injury.The twotime All-Star’sreturn comes with Atlanta fading as the trade deadline approaches. The Braves entered Friday10 games outofthe last wild-card spot in the National League and were3-5 during Riley’sabsence. To make room for Riley on the 26-man roster,Atlanta optioned inﬁelder Nacho Alvarez to Triple-A Gwinnett.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By FRANK FRANKLIN II

Newyork Jets coach Aaron Glennwatches drills at the team’s training camp ThursdayinFlorham Park, N.J

Alexander reunites with Jackson at Ravens camp

Ex-Louisville standout to help shore up Baltimore secondary

BY NOAH TRISTER Associated Press

OWINGS MILLS,Md. Lamar Jackson wasted little time putting Jaire Alexander to the test during training camp.

“He tried to throw a back-shoulder on me with ‘D-Hop’ (DeAndre Hopkins), so I had to give him a little jazz about that,” Alexander said. “I said, ‘Come on, man. I know it’s my ﬁrst day, but it’s still me, you know what I mean? It’s still me.’ ” Alexander and Jackson go way back they were teammates at Louisville — and when Alexander joined the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, the two were reunited.

The ﬁt made sense with Baltimore looking for some secondary help, and the chance to play with Jackson again sweetened the deal even more.

Alexander suggested Wednesday he probably would have explored more options if Jackson weren’t on the Ravens.

“That’s my boy,” he said “I want to win with him.” Alexander is the answer to an in-

MLB

Continued from page 1C

who could be available as teams try to upgrade for the stretch run:

EUGENIO SUÁREZ

3B • ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Suarez is just an average defensive third baseman these days, but that’s not why teams want to acquire him. He’s got the kind of bat that can carry a team for weeks at a time, major pop from the right side of the plate. He has 312 career homers, is well-liked in the locker room and has been productive in limited postseason at-bats with a .300 average.

MITCH KELLER SP PITTSBURGH PIRATES

The 29-year-old Keller has been overshadowed in the Pirates’ rotation thanks to the emergence of former LSU standout Paul Skenes, but the right-hander has been a reliable starter for the past four seasons and was an All-Star in 2023. The one catch is it’ll take a sizable haul for the Pirates to make a deal: He’s under contract through 2028 as part of a $77 million, ﬁve-year deal

SETH LUGO SP KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Lugo has thrived in Kanas City over the past three seasons, moving to the starting rotation from the bullpen and providing consistent results. The 2024 AllStar has a 7-5 record with a 2.95 ERA over 19 starts this year

ZAC GALLEN SP ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Gallen is having the worst full season of his career with a 7-11 record and 5.58 ERA but could still be an attractive add for a team that needs a starter The 29-year-old right-hander has been one of the top pitchers in the National League over the past ﬁve years, ﬁnishing in the top 10 of the Cy Young vot-

teresting trivia question: Who was the ﬁrst player out of Louisville taken in the 2018 draft? Green Bay picked the defensive back at No. 18 — 14 spots before Baltimore selected Jackson

It’s safe to say those picks worked out. Alexander spent his ﬁrst seven seasons with the Packers, starting almost every game he played. But he dealt with injuries to his quadriceps, groin and knee last season and played only seven games. In fact, he’s exceeded seven games only once in the past four seasons.

Green Bay released him with two years left on his contract.

When the Ravens picked him up, they posted video of Jackson greeting him.

“I tried to get him on a fade route with D-Hop,” Jackson said after practice Wednesday “We were out of bounds a little, but he’s still that guy. Jaire’s still that guy.”

The Ravens will obviously hope so.

“We’ve been talking kind of me playing nickel, he’s playing corner and how I play things. So it has been exciting, but what I like the most is just his swag to the game,”

cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “I think conﬁdence is the biggest key you can have at cornerback, and I think you can never have too much conﬁdence.”

Baltimore’s secondary includes a

veteran in Humphrey, plus a trio of recent ﬁrst-round picks — fourthyear safety standout Kyle Hamilton, second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins and rookie safety Malachi Starks.

“I love the secondary I love the potential that we have,” Alexander said. “I love watching Marlon play I love being around him. I thought I was weird, but I don’t know he might (have) me beat.”

Humphrey was asked about that assertion.

“We do the early morning lift at 6 a.m. It’s about eight of us, and he’s like, ‘Man, I need a speaker right here as loud as can be,’ ” Humphrey said. “We are not alike in that aspect at 6 a.m., but he’s a cool guy We’re both, I would say, on a little bit of the strange side, but we’re really jelling well.”

Baltimore lost cornerback Brandon Stephens in the offseason, and safety Ar’Darius Washington went down with a torn Achilles tendon.

Alexander brings plenty of experience to the group and seems to be ﬁtting in — in his own unique way

“Like I said, he wants music blasting He said, ‘I need a speaker right here,’ ” Humphrey said. “I was like, ‘We’ve got them in the ceiling.’ He said, ‘No, I need the boombox right by here, right in my ear,’ and I’m like, ‘All right, that’s different.’”

Diamondbacks

Jets QB Fields returns after dislocating toe

BY DENNIS WASZAK JR. Associated Press

FLORHAM PARK, N.J Justin Fields

was back on the ﬁeld for the New York Jets, but he didn’t practice Friday still a welcome sight for fans who were nervously holding their breath 24 hours earlier

The quarterback dislocated a toe on his right foot early in practice Thursday and was carted from the ﬁeld to the facility, where he had multiple tests before the team announced the diagnosis. Coach Aaron Glenn said Fields will be day to day and the Jets won’t rush him back into practice.

“It is early, but also we want to make sure we get as many reps as we can with him,” Glenn said Friday after the team’s ﬁrst practice of training camp with fans in attendance. “So when he’s ready to come back, we’ll make sure he’s out on the ﬁeld, make sure he’s getting those reps. Now he’s going to be in meetings, he’s going to be in all those things.

“But for the most part, man, we’re going to work together and make sure it’s collaborative as far as when he gets back on the ﬁeld.”

Fields wore his helmet as he spent most of practice on the sideline and with the rest of the offense while appearing to walk without a noticeable limp Veteran backup Tyrod Taylor led the offense during practice, with Adrian Martinez and rookie Brady Cook also receiving snaps. Fields was hurt when a teammate stepped on his foot while he threw an incomplete pass to Jeremy Ruckert on his ﬁfth play of team drills. The quarterback sat

on the grass for a few moments before getting up and limping badly to the sideline while helped by a trainer He then sat in the passenger seat of a cart that took him from the field to the facility, where he got up and walked under his own power In the hours before the Jets confirmed the nature and severity of the injury, social media was buzzing about whether Fields could miss significant time.

“The huge storm that was created really made no sense,” Glenn said. “And I think that’s a lesson for all of us of, guys, let’s just wait until we get the diagnosis. And I will not BS you, all right? I will tell you exactly what it is, and we’ll move on. So that shouldn’t happen again.”

Fields is in his ﬁrst season with the Jets after playing last year in Pittsburgh. He spent his ﬁrst three NFL seasons in Chicago after being the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Ohio State. Among the attributes that made him attractive to New York, which signed him to a twoyear, $40 million deal in March, is his ability to make plays with his legs — something Glenn isn’t concerned will be compromised by the injury

“If Justin gets back to practice, that means he’s ready to go,” Glenn said. “So he’s going to be himself, and I’m not going to hold him back from being himself. Now, the thing is we don’t want anybody to step on his toe, but he has to be himself when he’s out there because, to me, I try to make sure practice emulates games as much as possible So I want him to be himself as he’s going through his practice.”

Record crowd is expected for MLB Speedway Classic

Braves-Reds game to be played at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 2

BY TERESA M. WALKER Associated Press

should be in place by Wednesday at the latest.

Crews also held a light check Thursday night to make sure the Musco lights meet MLB standards.

RYAN O’HEARN 1B/DH • BALTIMORE ORIOLES

The 31-year-old is having a career year with a .281 average, .375 on-base percentage and 14 homers, helping him earn All-Star honors for the ﬁrst time in his career

SANDY ALCANTARA SP MIAMI MARLINS

The 29-year-old Alcantara isn’t the same pitcher he was when he won the 2022 NL Cy Young Award, but the right-hander still has quite a bit of upside. He gave up just one unearned run over seven innings in a win against the Padres on Wednesday, which might help his value.

ing in 2020, 2022 and 2023 MERRILL KELLY SP ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS The 36-year-old righty has quietly been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball with a 9-5 record and 3.32 ERA. He was also excellent during the D-backs’ postseason run in 2023 with a 3-1 record, 2.25 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 24 innings. Kelly doesn’t have an overpowering fastball but has a ﬁve-pitch mix that has consistently delivered results.

Workers still have some finishing touches to put on the field inside the racetrack at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, and officials are expecting a record crowd in a week to watch the Cincinnati Reds play the Atlanta Braves in the MLB Speedway Classic on Aug. 2. “We can’t wait for next Saturday night when that first pitch is thrown out and the stands are full,” Jerry Caldwell, Bristol’s president and general manager, said Friday “We’ll be setting records, we’ll be having attendance records. We’ll be announcing all those details later on, but we’ll be there. I know we will.” The largest crowd ever to see a baseball game was 115,300 for a March 2008 exhibition between the Red Sox and Dodgers at Los Angeles Coliseum. Bristol packed in 156,990 for the Battle of Bristol college football game in 2016.

Officials showed off the work Friday with a baseball field now sitting on top of the infield inside the half-mile bullring where cars and a building once sat for NASCAR races. Murray Cook, an MLB field and stadium consultant with BrightView, said he’s excited to be at this point in the process of building a ballpark. Final touches still remain for the clay along with all the padding and branding, which

“We’ve had a blast building this,” Cook said. Even though the Braves play the Reds in Cincinnati on Aug. 1, the day before the Bristol game, fans are being encouraged to settle in for the big party planned both outside and then inside the racetrack for game day

Caldwell said fans should show up by noon on game day to enjoy the attractions outside the track including music, a 110foot Ferris wheel, a food truck row, pitching tunnels, batting cages and team mascots. Once fans head inside, Tim McGraw and Pitbull are scheduled to perform.

Demolition started in early June with heavy construction now in high gear to transform Bristol Motor Speedway into a ballpark for the ﬁrst MLB game in Tennessee.

This game features grandstand seating for fans along both baselines. Both teams will be wearing NASCAR-inspired uniforms with details like ﬂames on the brim of the Braves’ caps and a ﬁnish-line checkerboard for the Reds’ caps.

The MLB Speedway Classic also will be included in the “MLB The Show 25” video game after an update scheduled for Tuesday Caldwell said the project has been long in the works.

“We’re thrilled to be able to welcome everyone to Bristol and partner with Major League Baseball, the state of Tennessee and so many others to be able to pull this off,” he said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By REBECCA BLACKWELL

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo throws a pitch during the second inning of a game against the Miami Marlins on July 18 in Miami.

AP PHOTO By ORLANDO RAMIREZ

Arizona

starting pitcher Merrill Kelly works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a game on July 8 in San Diego.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By FRANK FRANKLIN II New york Jets quarterbacks Justin Fields, left, and Tyrod Taylor walk in the field during drills on Thursday in Florham Park, N.J

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander speaks after practice on Thursday in Owings Mills, Md. Alexander said having quarterback Lamar Jackson on the team was a plus, as the two played together at Louisville.

NewOrleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler throws the ball during training camp on Fridayin Metairie.

QB Rattlerwinsday that Haener workswithstarters

The ﬁrst-team reps belonged to Jake Haener on thethird day of New Orleans Saints training camp, but the practice may have belonged to Spencer Rattler

Chaseplaying hard at Bengalstrainingcamp

BY CHARLIEGOLDSMITH Associated Press

CINCINNATI Bengals wide receiverJa’Marr Chasedidn’t participateintraining camp last year as he tried to negotiate acontract extension.

Although he went on to become thesixth wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to lead the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowncatches in the same season, Chase stillfeltlikehe missed something by not being a part of practices leading up to the ﬁrst week of theseason.

“I love to work,”the former LSUreceiver said. “I’m aworkaholic.I love to work. Joe asked me today,amItired? Isaid, ‘Call the play while I’m tired.’ At the end of theday,whenit’sthe fourth quarter and I’mtired, they’re not going to ask me if I’m tired. It’s all about how hard youcan push yourselfatthe end of the day,especially on days like this. As long as youget 1% better each day that’show you improve.”

He only received afew lastminute practice reps leading into the first week of the 2024 season. While he started abit slow,Chase still had aterrific season. He was aunanimous All-Pro last season, finishing the year with 127 receptions for1,708 receiving yards as wellas17receiving touchdowns. But Chase’stwo worst games of theseason werethe first two weeks.That includedanunsportsmanlikeconduct penalty in Week 2atKansas City after he thought apenalty should have been called forahip-drop tackle on him

“I hadgreat legs last year,” Chase said. “Like Isaid, Ilove to work. At the end of the day,I gettoworkonstuff that Ididn’t work on last year and getting that real feel from the (defensive back) andworking on certainthings that Iwanted to do this year.Iget achance to do it in campnow instead of just doing it in games.”

Chase has been an active receiver and target of quarterback Joe Burrowduring the ﬁrst two training camp practices.

Operating the second-team offense, Rattler enjoyed astrong performance during asweltering session at the team’sMetairie training complex. Whether it was during full team drills or in seven-on-seven periods without apass rush, the second-year passer showed off his talented throwing arm on a number of occasions. That is only one factor in determining who gets the job —as coach Kellen Moore and anybody else with decision-making power has made abundantly clear —but these are deﬁnitely the types of days that New Orleans’ brain trust wants to see. Here is how it played out by the numbers Friday.Again, these statistics are from only the full team periods. Rookie Tyler Shough,who operated the ﬁrst team Thursday, saw limited opportunitywhile running the third-team offense Friday.

Haener: 5of7(8of12overall)

Rattler: 6of6(15 of 17)

Shough: 1of1(6of11)

Rattler not only completed each of his six attempts during the full team drills but he also went aperfect 4of4during aseven-

SAINTS

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Erik McCoy and runningback Alvin Kamara.

But Haener said he feels likethe Saints are taking him seriously

“If I’ve learned one thing about this league, this league does not care about your feelings,”he said. “It doesn’tcare about who youare, whatyou do.And it’sall about whatyou’ve done for me lately.And Ibelieve this organization —respect them, they drafted me —ifthey didn’ttrulybelieve Icould be aguy that they think couldn’t win the starting job, they wouldn’tinclude me in it. Simple as that. They wouldn’tmake me feel good about myself.

“I totallysee it as athree-man race. Ithink I’ve earned that right.”

Haeneraddedhebelieveshe’s earned the right not only because of his workethic but also by being “cerebral enough to command the troops when the moment’sthe brightest.” At his core, Haener exudes conﬁdence —all while taking pride in labeling himself as an underdog.

Doubt his competitiveness?

Go watch his 2021 performance against UCLA, he said. You’ll see a feisty 6-foot-1 quarterback writhe around in pain, lifting himself off the grass just after he needled a tight throw among three defenders for the go-ahead score. You’ll see Haener,grimacing over aninjured hip, leading the Bulldogs down the ﬁeld over the ﬁnal minute to re-take the lead. And you’ll see an athlete collapse out of near exhaustion when his defense holds onand he realizes he led an upset over the 13th-ranked team in the country

Doubt his arm strength? Go call JohnBeck, Haener said. The former NFL quarterback now trains prospects such as Haener andcan refute such aclaim, he said.

Doubt his size? Sure, he’sonthe smaller side. He’ll use it as fuel

anyway

on-seven period. And the throws weren’tgimmes, either: One of those seven-on-seven completionswas abomb he heaved deep downfieldtosecond-year receiver Mason Tipton,who’d beaten corner QuincyRiley on adouble move. Thevariety of his skillset was on display.There was one especiallycrisp sequence during the secondfullteam period when Rattler showed aquickrelease to get theball out in the flat to Michael Jacobson,followed by an impressive sideline throw on adeep out to Tipton, followed by him driving aslantto Rashid Shaheed On that last play,Rattler zipped theballpast adiving defender,allowing Shaheed to catch the ball and zoom upfield for what likely would’ve been atouchdownif they were playing tackle football. If Rattler can stack performances likethe one he put on display Friday,he’ll be hard to beat. Haener’sday running with thefirst team was up and down, though it likely didn’thelpthat stars Alvin Kamara and Erik McCoy received rest days. Haener does some things very well, andthat showed on his first snapwhenhe rolled right on aplay-action bootleg andflipped theballovera defensive lineman to an open Juwan Johnson for anicechunk of yards. Haener is never going to be confused for arunning quarterback, but he has functional athleticism that allowshim to make plays. But through acouple of days of camp, he’salso hadsome bad

misﬁres, including oneFriday on athrowtoward thesideline whereitwas hard to make out whowas his intendedtarget. Haener was being pressuredon the play, andit’spossible he was intending to throw the ball away, but it wasn’t his ﬁrst throw of camp that looked to be wellofftarget.

Working with thethird team, Shough attempted only onepass during team drills, hitting undrafted rookie Chris Tyree in the ﬂat. His last rep featured alow snap fromthe center,withcoaches killing the playashescrambled to pickthe ball up.

Throwofthe day(full-team edition): Rattler’sthrowonadeep out to Tiptonwas athing of beauty While it’s fun to see quarterbacks connect on thedeep throws,like Rattler andTipton did in sevenon-seven, the deep sideline routes are arguably the most difﬁcult throw forany quarterback.Rattler’spass came out on time and withplenty of zip, allowing only Tipton to makethe play.

Throwofthe day(seven-on-sevenedition): While Shough didn’thave much opportunity to impress in 11-on-11drills, he did make a brilliant throw to Johnson on an intermediate crossingroute during the seven-on-sevenperiod. The rookie passer ripped athrow to the perfect spot, hitting Johnson in stride forabig gain.

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com

Friday

“I thinkI’m just counted outfor whatever reason,” Haener said. Haener is now the vet in the room —not countinghis coaches who are former quarterbacks and do-it-all Taysom Hill, who still pops into quarterback meetings. He’s onlyinhis thirdyear, butthat’s longer than Shough (a rookie) and Rattler (secondyear) have been in theleague.

He said the sudden changefeels a“little weird,” but alsonotes that he has experience in avariety of systems that has allowed him to pick up different offenses. Moore’s offensewill be Haener’sthird in the NFL, and he thinks his coaches see him as asmart player and hold himin“high regard.”

Andthat’strue.Saintsquarterbackcoach Scott Tolzien said one of the reasons why Haener is in themix for thestartingjob is because of the way thequarterback conducted himself when he was injuredthis offseason.Tolzien noticed Haener’spreparation didn’t change andhow attentive he was in the meetings. “Being anew coach, I’mproud of

him for that,” Tolziensaid. “(The injury) didn’tchange thequestions he’sasking me or the things he’s walking around sharing with receivers. That’s all appreciated.”

ForHaener to actually winthe job, he’ll have to backupwhathe’s shown in the classroom and bring it to thefield.OnFriday, Haener completed 5-of-7 passing attempts during team drills, and he showed a willingness to let it rip. He nearlyhit Rashid Shaheed on adeep ball that was broken up at the last minute by cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry And he rolled outonaplay-action pass to ﬁndJuwan Johnson in space.

Through thefirst three days,Haener’saggressiveness and tendency to push the ball hasreinforced the idea thathe’snot going to be forgotten. On Thursday,during seven-onseven drills,hefired astrike past cornerback RejzohnWright to find Johnson for atouchdown.

“That one ripped pretty good,” Haener said. “That one was fun. Yeah, that one was really fun.”

Email Matthew Paras at matt paras@theadvocate.com

Chase was presentatall of training camp last year,but he watched it from the sideline as a part of ahold-in. He went on to receive thelucrative contract he was looking for in March,but he bet on himself entering 2024 and played on his rookie contract.

“There’sareasonyou’re AllPro at the end of the day and one of the best in the league,” Chase said. “So you’re supposed to have an on andoff switch andgoout and do it.”

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

Ja’MarrChase makes acatchduring practice at the Cincinnati Bengals training camp on ThursdayinCincinnati.

QB

Continued from page1C

The NCAA settled that lawsuit, and though there aren’t as many questionsaboutwho makesthe payments to the players (the colleges can do it themselves now), recriminations that ﬂowed when Iamaleava enrolled at Tennessee kept flowing after he made his movetoUCLA.

Asked aboutwhat triggered his move andexactly when it happened, Iamaleava said it came around the time “false stuff about whether it wasaﬁnancial thing or not” started coming out that made him “notfeelcomfortable in the position Iwas in.”

Then, in arevelation that not everyoneappears quite ready to accept,hesaid moving closer to where he grew up in Long Beach, California, about 30 miles from theUCLA campus, wasthe biggest piece of the puzzle.

“My driving factor to comeback home was my family,and Ihope every Tennesseefan understands that,” he said. “It was really one of thehardest decisions I’ve ever had to make.”

“He’sateam guy anda family guy,” Foster said. “It just felt good that we were getting the right kind of quarterback.” From apure talentstandpoint, hardly anyone argues that. Iamaleavawas considered one of the country’stop prospects coming out of high school. He threw for 2,616 yards and19TDs last year in leading the Vols to the playoffs. But, as oneofthe theories abouthis departure goes, he and his family werelessthanthrilled aboutTennessee’sability to protect him.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit dove into the mix whenhesaid he’d heard Iamaleava’sdad had gone to Heupel in December and said “Hey, listen, you’ve gottoget better at offensive line, better at receiver.”

“Obviously, everyone has to move on.I’m excited about what’snext for me. But I’m where my feet (are), and right now, I’maUCLA footballplayer and I’mexcited to go to camp.”

He will not delve in to fin anc es, though most of the reporting has shown that Iamaleava will make about as much, or just barelymore, with UCLA than he was making at Tennessee. “Allthat stuff is for my business team andmyagents to handle,” he said. “I just focus on football.”

NICO IAMALEAVA UCLA

quarterback

Among the other questions consuming college football is how a player whomakes moremoney and generates more hype than anyone else in the locker room can possibly ﬁt on ateam that is still, at itscore, ﬁlledwithteenagers whose football lives will end in college.

UCLA’s second-year coach, DeShaun Foster,said he considered thatpart when the prospect of Iamaleavacoming to Westwood becamereal.

Speaking notso much about that speciﬁc storybut to the realities of football, Foster said he knows keeping things clean in the pocket for Iamaleava will be key to his success.

“If he stays upright, things are going to go the right way,” Foster said. Andiftheydo, there’satleast a chance Iamaleava could be aone-anddoner at UCLA. He is widely thought to have NFL talent if he improves his mechanics and accuracy —two areas that will be helped by better protection.

Iamaleava said he pays no mind to thebillion-dollarquestions swirling around the college game every day —all revolving around money,freedomtotransfer and other issues that have turned the UCLA quarterback into avillain in some places, ahero in others, and aplayer to watcheverywhere.

“I love collegefootball,” he said. “Everything that goes on with my name, that’snot going to change my lovefor thegame. Obviously,everyone has to move on. I’mexcited about what’snext for me. But I’m where my feet (are), and right now,I’m aUCLA football player and I’mexcited to go to camp.”

STAFF PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

Saints quarterback JakeHaener looks to make apass during training camp on

at theteam’spractice facility

PHOTOByJEFFDEAN

Luke Johnson

USC’s Riley feeling

‘refreshed’ as pressure mounts

BY RYAN KARTJE Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LASVEGAS While the rest of the college football world spent the summer whipped into a frenzy, swept up by the specter of revenue sharing or congressional intervention or one of the many other landscape-altering changes looming over the sport, Lincoln Riley was able to actually step away and take a breath In four years as USC’s coach, Riley hasn’t had many chances to really unplug

There was the sprint ahead of his first season, and the heavy po rt al p us h ahead of his second The third came with a new conference, new defense, new expectations, new pressure.

The fourth, by comparison, is starting on a more relaxed note than Riley is used to There were no phone calls taking up half a day of his family vacation His ﬂy ﬁshing went mostly unbothered. He even golfed at Pebble Beach in May

“I’d say I’m feeling as refreshed and recharged as I’ve been in a long time,” Riley said Thursday during Big Ten media days. Never mind that the pressure for Riley to win at USC has perhaps never been so high, coming off a 7-6 campaign in which the Trojans needed a comeback bowl win to scrape past .500. The path to winning has arguably never been so uncertain, either, with the advent of revenue sharing completely upending how championship rosters are constructed.

In spite of that backdrop, this past summer still felt less daunting to Riley than the rest. He said he didn’t feel the offseason chaos that some of colleagues have described in the wake of the House settlement. Some of that added calm he credits to Chad Bowden, USC’s new general manager, and his handpicked front office, who have taken personnel matters largely off Riley’s plate. Immediately laying claim to the nation’s No 1 recruiting class for 2026 hasn’t hurt in building that trust, either But it’s more than that, Riley said.

“There are less big ﬁxes going on right now, you know?” he said. “It’s like you’ve got the house built, and it’s kind of all about the finishes now You’re not trying to put up a wall or anything like that.”

The biggest leap could once again be on defense, where USC went from one of the worst units in the nation in 2023 (121st in scoring defense) to respectable (56th) under defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. That was no small feat, considering where they came from. And the Trojans have added considerable talent to its defense since. The front seven should beneﬁt greatly from the return of linebacker Eric Gentry and defensive end Anthony Lucas from injury And on the interior, USC brought in two massive transfers on the interior as well as a ﬁve-star freshman.

“I think the depth, the talent level, and the size of the defensive line, I mean, there’s honestly really no comparison to this time 12 months ago,” Riley said But the Trojans’ path will inevitably at some point, come down to their quarterback. Riley reiterated his conﬁdence in Jayden Maiava as the Trojans’ starter, even as he once again heaped praise on ﬁve-star freshman Husan Longstreet.

Left tackle Elijah Paige said Thursday that he has seen a major change in Maiava since he entered the offseason as the presumptive starter

“He’s taken a complete 180,” Paige said of USC’s quarterback. “(In the spring), he commanded the offense, and that’s what this team needs.” Riley isn’t the only one who feels those ﬁnishing touches underway

“We’ve gone and gotten some of the very best people in the business,” Riley said. “They’re not going to attach themselves to something where they don’t see the progress.”

Tulane, Sumrall set for busy battle at QB

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tulane

coach Jon Sumrall insisted Friday the late commitment of former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was not an indictment of the three quarterbacks already on campus.

Allowed to speak about the roster’s new addition for the ﬁrst time at American Conference media day, he started by praising the players who had been around for more than a week

“Some people may not believe it, but I feel like we can win with all of the guys we have,” he said.

“We’ve got four transfer quarterbacks, and all of them were told the same thing in the recruiting process. I told them all, ‘Hey, you guys decide who the starter is, not me You’ll get what you earn.’ ”

The task now is ﬁnding a way to give all four a chance to compete equally when preseason practice starts Wednesday With 116 players available, Sumrall hinted at running dual, duplicate drills that allow two quarterbacks to split repetitions on each side of the ﬁeld.

Ball State transfer Kadin Semonza and Illinois transfer Donovan Leary, both of whom participated in spring practice, could alternate with summer arrival Brendan Sullivan (Iowa) and Retzlaff.

Tulane faced a similar situation at this time last

year, with three quarterbacks competing for a wide-open starting job.

After initially discounting then-redshirt freshman Darian Mensah in favor of highly recruited Ty Thompson and holdover Kai Horton, Sumrall chose Mensah and never looked back.

Making this one a fourplayer race required some discussion.

“We vetted every angle of it, checked all the boxes and said let’s do it,” Sumrall said. “The old adage that less is more, I don’t subscribe to that. More is more. I want more good players on our team all the time.”

Retzlaff, a fifth-year player who guided BYU to an 11-2 record and a ranking of 13 in the final Associated Press poll, will begin at the bottom. He will take his first snaps with the Wave while Semonza and Leary had 15 practices in the spring and Sullivan participated in summer OTAs.

Retzlaff getting comfortable by the Aug 30 opener against Northwestern is difﬁcult but doable.

“It’s challenging, but it’s different than being a true freshman,” Sumrall said.

“(Retzlaff) has had a lot of time on task. He’s got a ton of experience. He has a really high football IQ. I’m not going to say he has a photographic memory, but it’s impressive. You can tell him something and he can regurgitate it an hour later, and you’re like, oh my goodness.”

The rest is up to performance. Mensah outplayed Thompson and Horton, securing the starting job a little more than a week before the 2024 opener, but there is no timeline or set schedule for a decision.

“I don’t ever do anything with a hard and fast date,” Sumrall said. “I don’t know when we’ll get there It may be a couple weeks into camp. It may be three weeks into camp. It may be the week of the ﬁrst game. It may be four weeks into the year.”

Depending on how the competition shakes out, Sumrall said he would consider using two quarterbacks against Northwestern with speciﬁc packages for both. All four have different skills.

Sumrall cited Semonza’s craftiness and instincts, Leary’s ability as a pure pocket passer, and Sullivan’s outright speed and competitiveness. None of them won like Retzlaff did at BYU last season, but anyone pre-judging the battle is ignoring recent history

“We proved that with our actions last year,” Sumrall said. “We didn’t go with the most known player or the highest recruited player We went with the guy we felt like could help us win and lead our team.”

Linebacker and co-captain Sam Howard agreed.

“Any one of those guys can take us to a championship, so I’m excited,” he said. “I put full trust in all of them.”

Purdue: Leaked playbook allegation

By The Associated Press

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Boilermakers said the alleged leaking of a playbook from defensive back Tahj Ra-El, a former Memphis player, to UTSA quarterback Owen McCown has been “mischaracterized ”

Ra-El left Memphis in the middle of last season and has since transferred to Purdue where coach Barry Odom is in his ﬁrst season.

“Our coaching staff sees this scenario as being mischaracterized and does not have any concerns moving forward,” the athletic department said in a statement given to The Associated Press on Friday

The controversy erupted last week when On3 published screenshots of an alleged conversation between the former high school teammates from Charlotte, North Carolina.

“Far left is coverages.

i’ll send you better list showing you the call,” the screenshot showed Ra-El wrote. “But they run qtrs none of they safeties can cover btw (sic).”

‘mischaracterized’

Ra-El also reportedly told McCown that starting safety Kourtlan Marsh had an injured hamstring. Marsh didn’t play in the game, which UTSA won 44-36 after scoring 30 consecutive points to erase a 24-14 halftime deﬁcit.

During the American Conference media day, UTSA coach Jeff Traylor said the information had “no bearing whatsoever” on the outcome of that game, adding that he had not heard about the allegations until last week.

“The stuff he sent him didn’t make any sense, so he didn’t tell me,” Traylor said. “He was just being nice to his buddy It got blown out of context in my opinion.”

McCown, who is the son of former NFL quarterback and current Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, threw for 3,424 yards and 25 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 13 games last season, his first as the Roadrunners starter They ﬁnished 7-6 and beat Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

N.J. Little Leaguer plays after judge lifts his suspension

BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter

DEPTFORD,N.J Marco Roc-

co ﬁdgeted with his helmet and dug in at the plate to chants of “Marco! Marco!” from his Little League teammates as he settled in for a night of baseball, after his family got mixed up in a court case where a judge — not an umpire or coach made the call that allowed him to take the ﬁeld.

The 12-year-old played Thursday night for his New Jersey team hours after he faced a suspension from his ﬁrst state tournament game after he was ejected for flipping his bat as he celebrated a home run.

Marco, who’s from Haddonfield, New Jersey, tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixthinning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament.

Marco was ejected and suspended for a game over what his family was told were actions deemed “unsportsmanlike” and “horseplay.”

The family sought an emergency temporary restraining order that would allow him to play in the New Jersey state tournament that started Thursday He got one.

Judge Robert Malestein ruled hours before the game that Marco could play

Joe Rocco, Marco’s father, said the experience

was “stressful” but added he was “just happy my son got to play baseball.”

Marco played for Haddonfield against Elmora Little League in the first game of a four-team, double-elimination tournament at the Deptford Township Little League complex. Elmora won 10-0 in a game that was shortened to four innings by the mercy rule. Marco went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts.

Marco was on the bench when the game started his father said it was to ease Marco into the game — but was inserted at third base after Haddonfield’s starting pitcher allowed six runs in two-thirds of an inning and was pulled. Little League stood behind its umpires but said it would respect the judge’s decision.

The sides made their arguments before a judge in Gloucester County Chancery Division on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the game. The winner of the state tournament advances to the regionals, where it has a chance to move on to the Little League World Series. What makes the ejection and suspension noteworthy is that Little League Baseball post bat ﬂips on social media that do not result in punishment.

In fact, Marco has tossed his bat in celebration in prior tournament games without warnings or punishment, according to the court complaint.

Venezuelan team denied visas into U.S.

BY CARLOS RODRIGUEZ AP sportswriter

A Venezuelan baseball team was denied visas into the United States and will miss this year’s Senior Baseball World Series, Little League International conﬁrmed Friday

Memphis coach Ryan Silverﬁeld said Friday he spoke with Traylor earlier in the week over the phone and again at the coach’s dinner on Thursday night.

“Look, it’s the nature of it,” Silverﬁeld said. “(We) have had open dialogue. We both said it’s in our best interest, regardless of what happened, that we should move on and focus on our 2025 season.”

American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti addressed the situation on Friday, saying that he spoke to both coaches and was allowing them to handle the situation.

He downplayed the story, saying, “What I can tell you is there’s really not much to this story I think a lot of it has been, you know, sensationalized, and some of it I think quite frankly is clickbait.”

While Pernetti said protecting the integrity of the league is vitally important to him, he added, “anything that flirts with the line we are going to take seriously but I think in this case it is much ado about nothing.”

The Cacique Mara team, from Maracaibo, Venezuela, was scheduled to participate in the tournament after winning the Latin American championship in Mexico.

“The Cacique Mara Little League team from Venezuela was unfortunately unable to obtain the appropriate visas to travel to the Senior League Baseball World Series,” Little League International said in a statement adding that it is “extremely disappointing, especially to these young athletes.” The Venezuelan team traveled to Colombia two weeks ago to apply for its visas at the U.S. embassy in Bogotá.

The embassy did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.

“It is a mockery on the part of Little League to keep us here in Bogotá with the hope that our children can fulﬁll their dreams of participating in a world championship,” the team said in a statement. “What do we do with so much injustice, what do we do with the pain that was caused to our children?”

Venezuela is among a list of countries with restrictions for entering the U.S. or its territories. President Donald Trump has banned travel to the U.S. from 12 other countries, citing national security concerns. Earlier in the month, the Cuban women’s volleyball team was denied visas to participate in a tournament in Puerto Rico.

“They told us that Venezuela is on a list because Trump said Venezuelans are a threat to the security of his state, of his country,” said Kendrick Gutiérrez, the league’s president in Venezuela. “It hasn’t been easy the situation; we earned the right to represent Latin America in the World Championship.”

The Senior League Baseball World Series, a tournament for players aged 1316, is played each year in Easley, South Carolina It begins Saturday The tournament organizers replaced the Venezuelans with the Santa Maria de Aguayo team from Tamaulipas, Mexico, the team that was a runner-up in the Latin American championship.

“I think this is the first time this has happened, but it shouldn’t end this way They’re going to replace us with another team because relations have been severed; it’s not fair,” Gutiérrez added. “I don’t understand why they put Mexico in at the last minute and left Venezuela out.”

PROVIDED PHOTO

Joe Rocco and his son Marco Rocco pose in Haddonfield, N.J., in an undated photo.

Riley

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

Tulane coach Jon Sumrall watches the action against Temple on Nov. 9 at yulman Stadium in New Orleans. Sumrall recently got a commitment from former ByU quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who joins three others vying to be the Green Wave starter

TerryRobinson FAITH MATTERS

Forgiveness centralto living life by thegospel

Amodern-day retellingof Joseph’sOld Testament journey opened the Rev.Kevin McKee’s compelling messageonforgiveness at The Chapel at LSU

“Even after many times being abandoned, lied about, he was able to see God’sperspective, and he was able to forgive, which is ajust ahuge, tall order,” McKee saidofthe young dreamer Joseph, once sold into slavery by his envious brothers but ultimately reconciled with themyears later whileserving as ahighranking government ofﬁcial.

McKee’ssermon was part of the summer series titled,“The Gospel-centered Life.”

“We’re learning to have gospel conversations with ourselves so that we can tell other people,” McKee explained Forgiveness, McKee said, is central to living agospel-centered life. It is “the single most important concept to biblical Christianity” and “one of the most profound aspects of the gospel.”

“It’satthe heart of Christianity,because we either need to forgive somebody or be forgiven by somebody,” he said. “Wehave either wronged somebody or been wronged,so it affects us all. And some of us have been holding on to pains that we need to forgive.”

After captivating the congregation with the Joseph narrative, McKee pivoted to forgiveness in the New Testament, including in his central text from Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,just as in ChristGod forgaveyou.”

From that scripture, he drew his three primary points.The ﬁrst of which: Gospel-centered forgiveness forgives as God has forgiven us.

McKee said he used aform of forgiveness three times for emphasis.

“Let’sjust be clear about forgiveness: It’sunnatural. It’s expensive. It’s difﬁcult. It costs you, the forgiver,something,” he said.

McKee said, “Forgiveness is required for the Christian no matter what.”

“Weare to forgive because we know what it’slike to be forgiven,” he said. “In forgiveness, true forgiveness, you bear your own anger,wrath, at the sin of another and you voluntarily accept responsibility for the hurt that the other person has inﬂicted on you. ...That’swhat forgiveness is. That’s what God did for us.”

McKee stressed: “Forgiven sinners forgive sin. .You can look at that and say that makes sense in my head but not so much in my heart because there’shurt, and there’spain.”

Another point: Gospel-centered forgiveness embraces kindnessand compassion.

“Our natural tendencyisnot kindness and compassion;it’s the opposite,” McKee said “Gospel-centered forgiveness brings tenderness and compassion— notvicious words that leave people sliced and diced. Forgiveness is not afeeling. It’sadecision.”

Lastly,McKee said gospelcentered forgivenessdesires reconciliation.

“It’snot forgiveness as it is described in the Biblewithout

The BRIDGES Project recently took the stageinthe Cary SaurageCommunity Arts Center’sBlackBox Theatre for apreviewperformance of ‘Soundscapes.’The Arts Council-sponsored group is performing the playatthe Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.

REALIZING THEDREAM

GroupofBRartists will go global to performatapopular

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Ivy Roberts didn’ttalk much at ﬁrst.

To be honest,she wasa little scared,and whocould blame her? She was the only kid in thegroup of 13 makingrandom trips to the Cary Saurage Community Arts CenterinBaton Rouge, whichmadeher feel like an outsider.One could say shewas on thefringes. But time hasa wayofchanging things, and Roberts not only found herniche within thegroup,she’s become itsleading lady This isn’tametaphorical scenario.Roberts has, indeed,stepped into theleadingroleofSarah in “Soundscapes,”a drama the Arts Council’s regional youththeater program, the BRIDGESProject, will perform at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

Fringe is thelargest and most prestigious theater festival in the world. And though the BRIDGES Project won’tbethe first Baton Rouge-basedgroup to attend, it will be theﬁrst with no afﬁliation to ahigh school or college.

“LSU has been sending agroup

festival in Scotland

IvyRoberts, left,and Johnae Herbert performinthe BRIDGESProject’s previewshowof‘Soundscapes’ at theArtsCouncil of GreaterBaton Rouge. Both are partofthe Arts Council’sBRIDGES Project

over therefor years,” saidChris Adams,the Arts Council’sdirector of technical operations and coordinator of the BRIDGES Project.“We are actually the ﬁrst non-high school to be offered this opportunity.”

Adams previously has taught the-

ater at Baton Rouge Magnet High School.

“I’ve realized as an educator that there are lots of times schools aren’tinterested in this for whatever reason, either economic status or low arts interest,” he said. “But we still have ahandful of students that are interested in participating in this festival, and Istarted thinking, ‘What if we took alarger geographic approach to this?’”

TheBRIDGESProject

So,Adams andthe Arts Council developed the BRIDGESProject with the idea of linking Louisianathrough theater.These links are bridges connecting students through theater,hence thename BRIDGES Project.Thenheopened the program up to high school studentsinthe arts council’s10-parish area: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana,Iberville,Livingston, Pointe Coupée, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, West Feliciana and West Baton Rouge. Then the Arts Council hosted the Louisiana ArtsSummit last October,and wordspread throughout the state. The BRIDGES Project

Report highlights area restaurant wine programs

Mansurs on theBoulevard received an awardfrom Wine Spectator for its wineprogram

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

When it comestothe world of wine, Baton Rouge is working its way up. Recently,ﬁve localrestaurants received awardsofexcellence from Wine Spectator —a lifestyle magazine thatfocuses on wine, wine culture and wine ratings. Wine Spectator’srestaurant awards are divided into three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of AwardofExcellenceand Grand Award. In total, 46 Louisiana es-

PROVIDED PHOTOSBySARAH NICHOLS/ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER BATONROUGE

McKee

Parent wants daughters to stop allthe ﬁghting

Dear Harriette: As parents, I’m sure most of us have experienced asquabble or disagreement between our kids. Ideﬁnitely have, but they’re usually short-lived. Currently,two of my girls aren’tspeaking and haven’tbeen for afew months. This all started because my older daughter made ajoke about me owing her back pay because my younger daughter’s college tuition was more expensive than hers. My younger daughter, who is usually quite docile, blew up at the comment. She called her older sister ungrateful, rude and spoiled. They argued like I’ve never seen before, and they haven’tspoken since. I tried talking to my younger daughter about it, but she won’tapologize.Idon’t think her sentiments were wrong; the joke was in poor taste. Ithink as afamily we should never be so hostile toward each other.How doI get my girls back on track?

—Family Disagreement

By The Associated Press

Today is Saturday, July 26, the 207th day of 2025. Thereare 158 days left in the year Todayinhistory

mentand created the Central Intelligence Agency In 1948, President Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the U.S. military

Harriette Cole SENSE AND SENSITIVITy

Dear Family Disagreement: Rather than continuing to ﬁsh for apologies,look for away forward. It can start by you bringing the two of them together to address the topic that sparked it all. State that you have cared for each of your daughters

to thebest of your ability and individually based on their needs. It pains youto see that there would be any jealousy or envysparked by how youprovided for their education —or anythingelse, for that matter Tell them that family must come ﬁrst.Yes, there will be arguments and disagreements, just as they recently had. That’slife. But family shouldbe more valuable than any squabble.Ask themto forgiveeach other for any hurtful words or actions and to committoreclaiming theirsisterhood. Sometimes youjust have to letgo of the past.Invite themtodothat. Dear Harriette: Ihaveanemployeewho’sbeen with me for nearly eightyears. I’m asmall-business owner,so eight years is about as good as beingfamily.She has alwaysbeen agreat contributor,but lately things have changed. Herwork is often incomplete or submitted late. It is rare thatshe arrives on time anymore. Sheoften stepsaway to takepersonal calls, and extended lunches are hernew normal. Based on ourhistory,Ican’t allow myself to think that she’sbecome an awfulworker overnight. It seems so unlikely.I’ve tried

having various stern but caring conversations with her.I’ve invited her to be open with me so that Ican help accommodate whatever workplace changes she may need at the moment, but she insiststhat everythingisﬁne and that she’ll do better.Iwant to be able to help, but it feels inappropriatetopry.Atthis point, her performance is affecting the bigger picture, and Imay need to let her go, but I’d really hate to do that to someonewho has been such abig help over the years. What would you do? —Concerned Employer

Dear Concerned Employer: Sit her down and tell her that her inconsistent and progressively unprofessional job performance is negatively impacting her future. Remindher that you have spoken to her on several occasions about your observations, but she hasn’timproved. Askagain if something is wrong and if you can help. Let her know that if she doesn’treturn to her previous level of professionalism, she will lose her job

Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.

Preventing heartworms in pets

Dear Heloise: Itook my dog to the vet and discovered that he had heartworms

My dog is now on medication to kill the worms, but my vet said dogs should be tested annually Apparently,cats can also develop heartworms. But this is preventable!

On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed theAmericans with Disabilities Act, prohibiting discrimination based on mental or physical disabilities.

Also on this date:

In 1775, theContinental Congress established a PostOfﬁce and appointed Benjamin Franklin its Postmaster-General.

In 1847, thewestern African country of Liberia, founded by freed American slaves, declared its independence.

In 1945, Winston Churchill resigned as Britain’sprimeminister after his Conservatives were soundly defeated by the LabourParty.Clement Attlee succeeded him In 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed theNational Security Act, which reorganized America’s armed forces as the National Military Establish-

In 1953, Fidel Castro began his revolt against Fulgencio Batista with an unsuccessful attack on an army barracks in eastern Cuba. (Castro ousted Batista in 1959.)

In 1971, Apollo 15 was launched from Cape Kennedy on America’sfourth successful manned mission to the moon In 2002, the Republicanled House voted to create an enormous Homeland Security Department in the biggest government reorganization in decades.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton becamethe ﬁrst womanto be nominated forpresident by amajor political party at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. In 2018, the last six members of aJapanese doomsday cult whoremained on death row wereexecuted foraseries of crimes in the 1990s, including agas attack on Tokyo subways

that killed 13 people. Previously,seven other cult members were executed on July 6ofthat year In 2020, aprocession with the casket of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis crossed the Edmund

Hints from Heloise

“An ounce of prevention is worth apound of cure,” as my granny used to say.Ask your vet if your cat or dog should be on heartworm medication, or check with HeartwormSociety.org for more information. —Connie, in Tulsa, Oklahoma Cleaning teamugs

Dear Heloise: Thank you for publishing the reader’shint about using multipurpose cleaner with bleach to clean stains from mugs used for tea. Her hint works like a dream. Icould never get

WINE

Continued from page1D

signiﬁcant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation,” the magazine states online about the award. “Typically offering 350 or more selections, these restaurants are destinations for serious wine lovers, showing adeep commitment to wine, both in thecellar and through their service team.”

The following Baton Rouge restaurants received

my favorite mug clean; I’ve haditfor over 30 yearsand was resigned to it being stained. Following your reader’s hint, I sprayeditand put it in the dishwasher. It cameout looking like new. Unbelievable! Elizabeth Fry, via email Lights out

Dear Heloise: When thelights go out during a power outage, go into your front yard and/or backyard and bringsome solar lights into the house. They last for most of thenight with no dangerofaﬁre or mess. My mother-in-law,at 103, was amazed. —Joe Mastro, in Temecula, California Shower tip

Dear Heloise: Iamanold man. Ihave increasingly had aproblem withdrying my back afterIshower Because of my limited ﬂex-

theAward of Excellence:

n Bin 77 Bistro and Sidebar, 10111 Perkins Rowe n Tallulah Crafted Food and Wine Bar,7000 Bluebonnet Blvd., inside Renaissance Hotel n Sullivan’sSteakhouse, 5252 Corporate Blvd

n The Gregory, 150 Third St., inside Watermark Hotel. Along with BatonRouge, more than 2,000 restaurants across thecountry received the award of excellence, which requiresrestaurants to offer at least 90 selections, feature an assortment of quality producers and

ibility,gettingatowel back there is almost impossible. ButIsolved this problem a few years ago: My solution is to put on an oversized cotton bathrobe, then lay down on my bed. In less than 5minutes, you ﬁnd yourself nice and dry all over —BobbyAllen, via email

Short-livedretirement

Dear Heloise: After my handyman retired from his full-time job,hethought he’d do just alittle handyman workfor acouple of days aweek to keep busy and earn alittle extra money.Hecame over to my house to ﬁx my faucet, and when he went out to his truck, he found 15 notes under thewindshield wipers from people needing his services. Retirementover! —Patty T.,inWisconsin Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

match the winestothe menu in price and style.

Wine Spectator often looks forrestaurants that offer winesfrom multiple vintages, or years, along withinteresting selections that are appropriate to the cuisine.

Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@ theadvocate.com.

Please,notablets whileatthe table

Dear Miss Manners: Whenwehave alarge familydinner,between 10 and 21 people, there is one child whose parents allow her to be on her tablet, with volume on high Shecomes intothe house, whizzes by everyone present and goes directly to the table to set up her tablet. Idisapprove of this, and feel that the host or hostess needs to express to the parents that devicesare not allowed at thedining table.There are other children her age present, but their parents do not allow them to have their tablets. My belief is the hostess can set such rules, but there are others who feel you cannot tell another

FESTIVAL

received more than 100 applications statewide.

The list was whittled down to 13 students representing Baton Rouge Magnet High School,EastAscension High School in Gonzales, Jewel Sumner in Kentwood, Lutcher High School and Hanson Memorial High School in Franklin. Shakespeare’shome

Adams began meeting with the students lastNovember

“So, we’re using this as a model, and then we’re going to hand this model off to the American High School Theatre Festival, which will disseminate it around the country,” Adams said.“We’ve created asuccessful model in how they can do this.”

And it was the American High School Theatre Festival that selected the BRIDGES Project to perform in Edinburgh.

After eight months of meetings and rehearsals that were split betweenBaton Rouge and Franklin, Adams, his cast andthe Arts Councilstaffleft for Scotland on Friday for two weeksofpromoting and performing their play.Shell Corp. is funding thetripfor the entire group, and the Ofﬁce of the Lieutenant Governor has ofﬁcially proclaimed BRIDGES participants as Louisiana Ambassadors.

The

ﬁrst three days of the trip will be spent in London, where students will watch productions in the Globe Theatre —Shakespeare’s home venue —and theaters on London’sWest End

After that, it’stoEdinburgh, where they’ll not only perform but interact with other theatergroups and fans while handing out ﬂyers and otherpromotional materials to try to lure audiences to their production

It’sall apart of the festival experience, which is also minimal when it comes to

parent howtoparent their child Ifeel that it’s“my house, my rules.”

So,Miss Manners, can we tell parents what the rule is at ourhouse, and allow the other guests a quieter dinner? Gentle reader: Why go throughthe parents? Miss Mannerssuggestsyou go straight to the source, quietly telling the child that youare sorry,but you do notallow electronics at the dinner table. At which point the child will turn to her parents— and you will ﬁndsomethingurgent to do in the kitchen so as to avoid eye contact with them. If the plan is unsuccessful, you can alwaysdrop apair of head-

Scotland

sets andcostumes.

“The Fringe Festival is very much like guerrilla warfare,” Adams said. “You just sort of pack the veryfew things that you need, and that’sit. There are no fancy trappings of theater.You know,there are really only threethingsthat Iever think we need to do theater: Youneed the story, youneed someone to tell the storyand someone to listen to the story.And we’regoingto provide this.”

So, props are minimal, as are costumes. ButmusicbyBaton Rouge-based Grammyand Emmyawardwinning composer Michael Esneault will be plentiful.

“He’screated an amazing soundscape for us, which is thename of theplay,” Adams said

Atwo-yearjourney Roberts, 14, will enterher sophomore year atKentwood HighSchool in thefall. Initially,she was nervous about joining the BRIDGES Project.

“When Iwent tothe first rehearsal,itwas really scary forme,” she said. “Everyone kindofalready knew each other,and Iwas scared I wasn’tgoing to make any friends. Ijustdidn’treally

phones casually at her place setting. So as toatleast ensure quiet for theothers. Dear Miss Manners: Ilive in agated community.There is agate box where people can punch in the code to open the gate and let them in. In both of our vehicles,wehave aremote that we press to open the gate. There have been numerous occasions when I’ve been behind someoneattemptingtoenter the code, and Ihave used theremote to open the gate for them. Is it impolite to give abrief honk on mycar horn to let the person know thegate is opening, or should Ijust wait until they notice it’sopening, thinking they’ve done it?

Gentlereader: Butthen how will

connect with anyone until the start of rehearsals in July.I think it was because we all went out to go eat together andstarted talking.And I think Iamgood friends with mostpeople in the castnow.”

Roberts, along with her fellowcast members, were requiredtoaudition forthe project.After that, they were assigned parts with Roberts standing center stageasa teenart student with synesthesia.

“This is anew piece, alovely play by ClaudiaHaasand Sarah Grace Kraning, and it’s really Sarah’sstory,”Adams said of hercharacter.“Sarah has synesthesia,and she likens it to having dyslexia.”

Synesthesia is aneurological condition where stimulation of one sense, such as hearing, caninvoluntarily activate another sense, such as sight, causing the individualtosee colors, shapes or other sensory perceptions. The condition causes problems between Sarah and her peers. She feels like afreak andbecomes aloner until her classmateTim, played by Tristan Olivier,reveals that he, too, has thecondition. Olivier, 18, graduated from Lutcher High School in May andplanstoenter Northwestern StateUniversity in Natchitoches in the fall, wherehe’ll major in theater “Tonyalsohas synesthesia, andhechooses to hide

they learn?

Granted, the second option is moreentertaining, what with its potential to convince these drivers that they are magical. But it is moredamaging to their learning curve —and your wait time—in thelong run. Miss Manners suggests instead that you give that brief honk, followed by alittle waveand point that says, “Wehave the remote. Andyou do not.”

Dear Miss Manners: Iama 63-yearold woman whoﬁnds herself frequently told by strangers that she resembles afamous actress of similar age. Idon’tﬁnd this actress particularly attractive, and therefore don’tknow what to say when someonemakes the comparison.

it,” Oliviersaid. “The reason is, duringhis childhood,Tony allowed himselftobeexpressive, andhechose to wear his favorite color,which was orange. And it got him beat up. So now he wearsonly black and triestogounnoticed.”

Olivierjumpedatthe chance to be apartofthe BRIDGES Project, an opportunityhemight not have had through his school.

Also in thegroup is Sara Milton, 18, arecentgraduate from East Ascension High School in Gonzales and the New OrleansCenter for Creative Arts.She’splanning on majoring in theatre at Drake University in Iowa.

“I met Chris at atable read for ashow that Iwas doing at the time, and he was talkingabout the festival with oneofmyteachers,” she said. “My teacher looked over at me and said, ‘This is abig deal.’ This seemed like areally like crazy deal, and Iwanted to experience it.”

Then there’s17-year-old Mattie Judice, whowill be asenioratHanson Memorial High SchoolinFranklin in the fall. She’sjoined by 16-year-old Hanson High junior Johnae Herbert Both love acting and also wanted achance at experiencing the Fringe Festival.

“This project hasbeen a two-year journey for the Arts Council,”Adams said. “Now it’s becomeareality.”

Idon’tknow whether to take it as acompliment or merely an observation. “Thank you” seemstoimply I’mﬂattered (which I’mnot), but Idon’twant to express offense when none was likely intended. Is there another option forreply?

Gentle reader: “Hmmm.” Uttered ﬂatly with no question markor inﬂection other than one that indicates, “That is something that you just said.”

Send questions to Miss Manners at herwebsite,www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.

RELIGION BRIEFS

FROM STAFFREPORTS

Back-to-school giveaway set

Carolyn Gee’sannual

Back-to-School Giveaway will takeplace from10a.m. to 1p.m. Saturday,Aug. 2, at Greater Mt.Canaan Baptist Church, 5820 Evangeline St., Baton Rouge. Allare welcome to attend. Childrenmust be presenttoreceivesupplies.

For more information, call (225) 229-0762.

Gospel singing set for Tickfaw

The Rev.Mike Vaughn will leada“Southern and Country GospelFest” at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Good News Fellowship Church, 13101 La. 442 West, Tickfaw Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.,and singing will

MATTERS

Continued from page1D

the desire forreconciliation,” he said. “Too many of us don’tknow what it is to be forgiven and offer forgiveness. Even fewer

start at 6:30 p.m. with Vaughn. Dennis Calmes will sing at 7:30 p.m. This is afree concert, but alove offering will be received. A concession stand will serve desserts. Forfurtherinformation, contact Barbara Vaughn at (985) 974-0507 or mvmgoodnews.com

Bible institute registration now open The St.JohnBible Institute is now registering students forthe 2025-26 academicyear. Classesbegin on Aug. 17. The institute is accredited by the Association of Independent Christian Colleges and Seminaries in St. Charles, Missouri. For more information, call(225) 774-1468 or visit www.saintjohnbc.org.

of us know the power that happens when I’ve forgiven and I’ve been reconciled.” For more, go to thechapelbr.com/online. Contact Terry Robinson at terryrobinson622@ gmail.com.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Letyour charm lead the way, and everything else will fall into place. Participating in community and networking event will allow you to establish valuable connections.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Consider thepossibilities andchoose thepath that promotes themost integrity, peace and love. Thereare no winners when fights break out. Raise your standards and distance yourself from peoplewho don't treat you withrespect.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Stopprocrastinating and start heading in adirection that puts asmile on your face, askipinyour step andlove in your heart.Participate in events that interestyou and minglewith intriguing and entertaining people.

scoRPIo (oct.24-nov. 22) Rethinkhow youwanttoallocate your time.Taking on responsibilities thatdon't belong to youwill lead to regret. Don't letanyone take advantage of you. Donate your time or money to causes that concern you

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Givehope to those you encounter, and it will restore your faith in others. AKeep your emotionsfrom interfering with time-sensitive decisions.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan.19) Emotional spending will be your downfall. Pay attention to hidden costs andthose eager foryou to foot thebill. Discipline will pay offinsituationsthatrequirepatienceand precise timing.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay attention to detail. Last-minute legal, financial or medical changeswill require care-

fulconsideration. Take pride in your appearance. Protect what matters most to you

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Changemay be your goal,but consider what it will take before you begin. Takeanother gander at your options and fine-tune your plan to meet therequirements.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Pay attention to what you are trying to achieve. Refuse to let compliments cost you. Be realistic,have aplan and budget,and negotiate with precision.. Love and social events will encourage romance.

tAuRus (April 20-May20) Check your ego beforeyoustartadialoguewithsomeone looking forafight. Sometimes it's best to walk away fromsituations that are disruptiveorlikelytospinout of control. Know when to leave andcut your losses.

GEMInI (May21-June 20) Going on ashort trip, attending areunion or changing your routinewill helpyou realignyourself in preparationfor what you wantto pursue. Aphysical challenge will take its toll if youaren't careful.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Consideryour current situation and mull over your options. Preparationwill help youfeel more comfortable dealing withinstitutions, authority figures and financial or medical issues that concern you.

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms arecreated from quotations by famous people, past and present. Eachletter in thecipher stands for another toDAy'scLuE: DEQuALs M

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

SALLYForth

beetLe bAILeY

GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with severalgiven 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

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

Groucho Marx said,“A blackcatcrossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.”

Notasuperstitiousman,he.Andbridge is not agame for the superstitious, with its 13-card hands and 13-trick deals.

To get from one hand to the other, you often have to be careful with your cards. How does that apply in this deal? South is in four spades, and West leads the club queen. If you open two no-trump with only 20 or 21 points, you should definitely upgrade that South hand and open two clubs. If you require agood 20, 21 or 22 fortwo no-trump, it is acloser call, but with all fouraces, two 10s and those combining honors, the hand is worth nearer 23 points than 21. On the second round, Northemploys Stayman to uncover the 4-4 spade fit.

South should see four potential losers: two hearts, one diamond and one club. He has only nine guaranteed tricks: four spades, one heart, three diamonds and one club. Declarer should conclude that the diamondfinesse must be winning. However, that finesse might have to be taken three times, which would require three dummy entries. Put those trumps to work!

Declarer should win with his club ace,cash the spade aceand carefully overtake the spade eight with dummy’s nine. Then he tries the diamond finesse.

wuzzles

When it wins, South plays the spade 10 to dummy’s jack andrepeats thediamond finesse. Finally, he leads the spade queen to dummy’s king, takes athird diamond finesse,andclaims10tricks:fourspades one heart, four diamonds and one club. Watch your entries like acat, black or otherwise.

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. Forexample: NOONGOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words