The Advocate 08-01-2025

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Murrill seeks to prevent shield laws

Group asks Congress to intervene in abortion

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT and ALYSE PFEIL Staff writers

Louisiana Attorney General Liz

Murrill and her Republican counterparts are asking Congress to prevent other states from passing laws that protect doctors who send abortion-inducing drugs to states that have banned them. Louisiana and some other states have criminalized the use of

mifepristone and misoprostol for abortion. The drugs are now considered controlled dangerous substances in those states and can be prescribed only for narrow medical conditions like postpartum hemorrhages or miscarriages.

Earlier this year, Louisiana officials charged a New York doctor with sending a Louisiana woman medication for an abortion. But New York Gov Kathy Hochul refused a request to extradite

the doctor, citing a state “shield law” that protects abortion providers.

Murrill and 14 other red-state attorneys general sent a letter to congressional leaders Tuesday urging them to bar such shield laws, which they argue are “blatant attempts to interfere with

pill clash

States’ ability to enforce criminal laws within their borders and disrupt our constitutional structure.”

“Every time someone mails abortion pills to Louisiana, it’s a State and federal crime,” Murrill said in a statement. “If the FDA won’t act, Congress must.”

As more states consider enacting shield laws or expanding existing ones, whether one state can shield providers from liabil-

NONPROFIT GRAPPLES WITH FUNDING CUTS

BRidge Agency support part of $800M eliminated by Justice Department

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

Josh Nelson spent two weeks this summer acting as a mentor for a summer camp run by The BRidge Agency, a nonprofit founded in 2017 that focuses on community outreach in Baton Rouge. During the program, he helped teach leadership and self-advocacy through skits and other activities while also assisting with field trips. This fall, he will be an ambassador for the organization’s youth council, which will help local students develop financial literacy, improve leadership skills and apply to college. Nelson said his role at the summer

camp helped prepare him for it

“That was my two-week basic training, or my orientation,” the 19-year-old said. “I feel like I’m way more confident going into this one, knowing what I’m going into.” Yet it’s not all rosy behind the scenes. The U.S. Department of Justice terminated more than $800 million in grants nationally this year, including one that The BRidge Agency founder Nicole Scott said was going to pay for 80% of the organization’s budget. It’s already had a direct impact, beginning with the summer camp. In previous years, the organization offered eight weeks of programming for children be-

tween 7 and 12 years old and a four-week camp for teenagers.

“We had to completely scrap our 7- to 12-year-old program this summer,” she said. “It broke my heart.”

The federal funds for The BRidge Agency were part of a $2.9 million DOJ grant awarded to Equal Justice USA, a New York-based organization that works on community violence prevention. Equal Justice distributed grant money to several Louisiana organizations, including Forever Takes a Village in Bogalusa, Silence is Violence in New Orleans and The BRidge Agency

ä See CUTS, page 4A

ity for breaking another state’s laws around abortion is still an unsettled area of law

“That is inherently a challenge with shield laws and telehealth,” said Carmel Shachar, faculty director of the Health Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School.

“At a certain point, for the purposes of abortion bans, the courts will need to decide: Do we treat a telehealth abortion as happening within the state of the provider or within the state of the patient?”

ä See PILL, page 5A

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

The Gulf “dead zone” off Louisiana’s coast was nearly the size of Connecticut this summer, federal researchers reported Thursday while the Trump administration proposes cuts to some federal funding intended to help address the pollution that contributes to it. Despite the gargantuan size of the lowoxygen zone, covering an area across nearly the entire Louisiana coast west of the Mississippi River, it was smaller than predicted and slightly below the longterm average. It remained, however, far larger than the 2035 goal to reduce it. Federal officials said states have made progress on reducing certain types of nutrient pollution flowing down the Mississippi, which leads to what has become known as the “dead zone” each summer. But they acknowledged that President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 defunds two types of federal grants that assist states in addressing and monitoring pollution.

We had to completely scrap our 7- to 12-year-old program this summer. It broke my heart.

“ “

SCOTT, BRidge Agency founder

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, as the death toll of Palestinians waiting for food and other aid continued to climb. Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee will inspect food distribution in Gaza on Friday the White House said. At least 91 Palestinians were killed and more than 600 wounded while attempting to get aid in the past 24 hours, the Gaza Health Ministry said Thursday The victims included 54 people killed while awaiting food in northern Gaza near the Zikim crossing on Wednesday, the ministry said

ä See ISRAEL, page 5A

Murrill

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Janae Smith, 13, from left; Carson Parker, 9; Payton Brown, 12; Josh Nelson, 19; and Caden Parker, 9, sit Tuesday at a table at The BRidge Agency to share their experiences with the nonprofit.

NICOLE

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Trump ally should be disbarred, panel says

WASHINGTON Jeffrey Clark, the former Justice Department official who aided President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, should be stripped of his law license, a Washington disciplinary panel ruled on Thursday Clark played a key role in Trump’s efforts to challenge his election loss to Joe Biden and clashed with Justice Department superiors who refused to back his false claims of fraud.

The D.C. Board of Professional Responsibility’s recommendation will now go to the D.C. Court of Appeals for a final decision.

Under the second Trump administration, Clark has been serving as acting head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, a part of the Office of Management and Budget that is responsible for reviewing executive branch regulations.

At issue in the D.C. bar proceedings was a letter that Clark, as an assistant attorney general in the first Trump administration, drafted that said the Justice Department was investigating “various irregularities” and had identified “significant concerns” that may have impacted the election in Georgia and other states. Clark wanted the letter sent to Georgia lawmakers, but Justice Department superiors refused.

The board said disciplinary counsel proved that Clark made “intentionally false statements” when he continued to push for the Justice Department to issue the letter after being told by superiors that it contained falsehoods.

Filing: Tillman’s brother set post office on fire LOSANGELES A newly unsealed court document alleges that Richard Tillman admitted to police officers that he drove a vehicle into a Northern California post office and set the building on fire, “trying to make a statement to the United States Government.” It’s unclear what the statement was intended to be.

The youngest brother of late NFL star and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman has been charged with the federal crime of malicious destruction of government property by fire in connection with the July 20 incident at Almaden Valley Station Post Office.

The 44-year-old San Jose resident was arrested at the scene. The criminal complaint against Tillman was filed July 23 but remained sealed until Wednesday when Tillman made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Jose.

The criminal complaint includes a statement of probable cause by U.S. Postal Inspector Shannon Roark. According to the statement, Tillman told officers on the scene that he had placed “instalogs” throughout his vehicle and doused them with lighter fluid He then backed the vehicle into the post office, exited the vehicle and used a match to set the car ablaze.

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Pat Tillman famously walked away from a three-year, $3.6 million contract offer from the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the Army Timberlake reveals Lyme disease diagnosis

LOSANGELES Justin Timberlake has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, the former NSYNC star said on Instagram Thursday. Timberlake shared the news in a post commemorating his Forget Tomorrow tour, which wrapped in Turkey on Wednesday, adding that the disease “can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.”

The singer wrote he considered ending the tour when diagnosed, but wrote that he “decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I’m so glad I kept going.”

Teacher admits stabbing hikers

BY ANDREW DEMILLO and SAFIYAH RIDDLE Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK,Ark.

— A teacher admit-

being held without bond.

“He did indicate that he committed the murders,” Rhoads said during a news conference Thursday When asked to elaborate, she said: “I would call it an admission.”

But officials emphasized at the news conference that McGann, who has no criminal record, is innocent until proven guilty

“I honestly don’t know what my future is onstage, but I’ll always cherish this run! And all of them before! It’s been the stuff of legend for me,” Timberlake wrote. Timberlake canceled and postponed multiple shows throughout the tour’s run, citing health issues including bronchitis and laryngitis.

ted he fatally stabbed a couple he didn’t know who were hiking with two of their children in an Arkansas state park, authorities said Thursday, after a five-day search and hundreds of tips led to his arrest State Police arrested 28-year-old Andrew James McGann on Wednesday at a barbershop in Springdale, approximately 30 miles north of Devil’s Den State Park, said Maj. Stacie Rhoads, commander of the department’s criminal investigation division. McGann is charged with two counts of capital murder in the killing Saturday of Clinton David Brink, 43, and his 41-year-old wife Cristen Amanda Brink. McGann is

Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said authorities are trying to determine a motive for the attack and have no reason to believe McGann knew the couple or their children.

Officials said the husband was stabbed first, approximately half a mile into the park, then the mother ushered her children to safety before returning to help her husband. She was also stabbed to death.

McGann was cooperative during the arrest and admitted to killing the couple soon after, Rhoads said. Police also matched his DNA to blood found at the crime scene.

“In my 27 years that I’ve been with the State Police, this is probably one of the most heinous that we’ve had, especially the aspect of just how random it was,” Rhoads said.

Two of the Brinks’ three daughters ages 7 and 9 were with them on the hiking trail Saturday, but they were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities said.

State Police collected photos and videos from other hikers who didn’t witness the attack but were on the trails at around the same time Police also released a composite sketch and a photo that showed a person of interest from behind.

The police then narrowed down the suspect’s vehicle, which had tape over the license plate, using surveillance footage from homes and businesses near Devil’s Den.

Within an hour of McGann being identified as a suspect, he was caught at the barber shop.

“Everyone speculates that there was a lot of thought that went into this to conceal his identity, but on the other side of that, he was very

Local leaders questioned over deadly July 4 floods

BY NADIA LATHAN Associated Press/Report for America

KERRVILLE, Texas A rural Texas county

was missing some of its key leadership in the initial hours of a catastrophic flood that came barreling through the region, causing widespread destruction and killing more than 130 people. Kerr County’s sheriff and its emergency management director both acknowledged Thursday during a legislative hearing that they were asleep when it first became apparent that a major flood event was unfolding. Moreover Judge Rob Kelly, the top executive of Kerrville County, was out of town on July 4, the day of the flood

Their testimony, which came during a joint House and Senate panel of lawmakers who visited the hard-hit Texas Hill Country, revealed a lack of on-duty leadership in the key initial moments of the flooding that killed at least 136 people, including 27 youths and counselors at an all-girls camp

William “Dub” Thomas, Kerr County’s emergency management coordinator told lawmakers that he was sick the day before the flooding occurred and missed two calls with Texas Emergency Management officials. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha and Thomas both acknowledged being asleep as a crisis was unfolding.

Lt. Gov Dan Patrick expressed his frustration

“I’m not pointing a finger, I’m not blaming you, I just want to set the record straight. Everyone was here that day working their ass off, and you were nowhere to be found,” Patrick said as the audience applauded.

Thomas said on the morning of July 4, he was first awakened by his wife around 5:30 a.m., about two hours after emergency rescue operations were underway, and quickly drove to the sheriff’s office.

“There was no visible flooding on my drive into the office, but it quickly became clear that the situation was escalating,” he said.

In other testimony, local officials said they needed but lacked an updated warning system, when flash flooding swept away homes and vehicles and left families begging for rescue on the roofs of their homes earlier this month.

Others who testified Thursday before an audience of hundreds of people — some who wore green ribbons in memory of the victims — called for urgent improvements for better flood warnings and flood mitigation.

Kelly said residents had virtually no warning of the impending weather catastrophe until it was too late.

“We need stronger communications and better broadband so we can communicate better,” he said, adding that poor cell service did not help those along the river “What we experienced on July 4 was sudden, violent and overwhelming.”

Leitha presented a timeline of events to lawmakers and said emergency responders realized they had an “all-handson-deck” situation as early as 3:30 a.m., when dispatchers received a call from a family stranded on their roof requesting air evacuation. But Leitha acknowledged he was not alerted of the flooding until about an hour later, at around 4:20 a.m.

Kelly testified that he was out of town at Lake Travis on the morning of the flood and woke up around 5:30 a.m.

Heavy rain pummels East Coast

BY PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press

Strong rain storms lashed the East Coast Thursday, delaying flights throughout the region and prompting emergency rescues of motorists trapped in deep water on busy highways from the Philadelphia area to New York City In New York, flash flooding briefly closed sections of major roadways and flooded train stations across the metropolitan region just as the evening rush hour approached. Commuters captured video of water pouring over a train on a platform in Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal, while commuter rail lines into suburban

Long Island and New Jersey were suspended in places as tracks were deluged. Power lines also were impacted.

Traffic cameras and social media posts on a highway in Queens showed motorists at one point standing on the roofs of stranded vehicles and a tractor trailer nearly fully submerged. Police said they pulled cars carrying two people from the flooded stretch before the waters receded and traffic slowly resumed.

Photos and videos from Reading, Pennsylvania, showed parked cars nearly underwater and water pouring down a narrow city street. Other videos from Reading showed emergency vehicles blocking off some streets or underpasses as flood waters had rendered them impassable.

sloppy,” Rhoads said. Carter indicated the state would give a jury the option to sentence McGann to the death penalty McGann has active teaching licenses in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma, according to each respective government certification website. There are no infractions or suspensions noted on his public state licensures in any of those states.

McGann was placed on administrative leave in spring 2023 while he was employed at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, “following concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism,” according to a spokesperson for the Lewisville Independent School District.

McGann also taught at a small Oklahoma school district from the summer of 2024 until May this year He resigned to take a job in another state, according to a statement from Sand Springs Public Schools. The district said McGann passed all background checks.

$200M ballroom coming to White House this year

BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press

WASHINGTON The White House on Thursday announced that construction on a $200 million ballroom will begin in September and be ready for entertaining before President Donald Trump’s term ends in early 2029. It will be the first structural change to the Executive Mansion since the addition of the Truman balcony several decades ago. Trump has substantially redecorated the Oval Office by adding golden flourishes, cherubs and other items and installed massive flagpoles to fly the American flag on the north and south lawns. Workers are currently finishing a project to replace the lawn in the Rose Garden with stone. Trump says the White House doesn’t have enough space to hold large events and he does not like the idea of hosting heads of state and other guests in tents on the lawn, as past administrations have done for the hundreds of guests who attend state dinners. The East Room, the larg-

est room in the the White House, can accommodate about 200 people. The 90,000-squarefoot ballroom announced Thursday will be built where the East Wing currently sits and have a seated capacity of 650 people. The East Wing is home to several offices, including the first lady’s, and those offices will be relocated during construction.

“President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail,” White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in a statement. She said the president and his White House are “fully committed” to working with the appropriate organizations to preserve the “special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future administrations and generations of Americans to come.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that Trump and other donors have committed to raising the approximately $200 million in construction costs. She did not name donors.

McGann

TEXAS

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERIC GAy Attendees look at a marked-up map of the Guadalupe River during a Senate and House Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding public hearing Thursday in Kerrville Texas.

Trumpgetting hisway in hisglobaltrade war

BY MICHAEL WILNER

Los Angeles Times (TNS)

WASHINGTON When President Donald Trump rocked the economy with an unprecedented attack on global trade in April, the plan was dismissed as swaggering, capricious and unsustainable. Market meltdowns and price increases would teach the White Housethe true cost of its mistakes, economists warned.

Yet, four months later,Trump is largely getting his way,refashioning the global economic order around his long-standingworldview that the United States has been ripped off for decades—all before the economy can fully absorb the shock.

Prices are ticking up, but markets have rebounded, andconsumer confidence is resurgent after Trump backed down from hismostdraconian threats. Projections of alooming recession are being tempered. And ahandful of deals havebeen struck that, on their surface, give Trump much of what he wanted.

Alongroadahead

Experts still warn that the net effect of Trump’strade war will hurt the U.S. economy, slowing growth andraising prices in the short term while depressing livingstandards in the long term.

Ahandful of preliminary agreementswithimportant trading partnershavebeenannounced in recent days. But the president said Wednesday that he was committed to raising tariffs on others by Friday

“THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE IS THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE —ITSTANDS STRONG, AND WILL NOT BE EXTENDED,” Trump wrote on social media. “A BIG DAYFOR AMERICA!!!”

That leaves the most valuable U.S. trading relationships vulnerable to devastating rate hikes that could severely roil the U.S. economy by the holiday season, when U.S. retailers make as much as a quarter of their annual sales, experts said. Trump saidWednesday he would raise the tariff on India to 25% and on Thursday extended

cent economic data, which show slowing U.S.growth but rising U.S consumer confidence.

Mexico’scurrent tariff ratesfor 90 days to allow more time fornegotiations.

Themost dramatic provisions in the biggestdeals struck thus far with the European Union, Japan, theUnited Kingdom and Vietnam, amongothers —lack enforcement mechanisms and are, in some cases, downright fanciful, such as an EU pledge to purchase $750 billion in American energyover thenext three years.

Yet, despite raising tariffrates in those deals up to an average of between 15% to 20% —higher than the 10%baseline that Trump unveiled in April, itself amarked increase from historic standards —Trump’s reversals on his most dramatic levies, such as a125% import duty onChinese products, have helped calm markets and buoybusiness confidence.

Thegap betweenreality and public perceptionisevident in re-

BY PAUL WISEMAN and MATT SEDENSKY Associated Press

WASHINGTON Appellate court judges expressed broad skepticism Thursday over President DonaldTrump’slegal rationale for his most expansive roundoftariffs.

Members of the 11-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington appeared unconvinced by the Trump administration’sinsistencethat the president could impose tariffs without congressional approval, and it hammeredits invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to do so.

“IEEPAdoesn’teven mention the word ‘tariffs’ anywhere,” Circuit Judge Jimmie Reyna said, in asign of the panel’sincredulity to agovernment attorney’sarguments Brett Schumate, the attorney representing theTrump administration, acknowledged“no president has ever read IEEPAthis way” but contendeditwas nonethelesslawful. The 1977 law,signed by PresidentJimmy Carter,allows the president to seize assets and block transactions during anational emergency.Itwas first usedduring the Iran hostage crisis andhas sincebeen invoked

for arange of global unrest.

U.S. economic growth lastyear was at 2.8%.This year,economists warnthat thecountry is still on track for lessthan2%growth overall, aslowing rate not seen sincethe height of the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020.

“The president’srecent push on trade has produced aflurry of agreements that, while stopping short of the sweeping free-trade deals of past administrations, have headed off thethreat of a full-blown tariff war,” saidSung WonSohn, an economist and aformercommissioner at the Port of Los Angeles.

“The administration hasmanaged to calm immediate fears of atrade shock while lockingina costlier trading environment,” he added. “The dealsrepresent progress, but thetoughest negotiations—with some of America’s most important partners —still remain.”

‘Fragile’deals

Thedeals Trump hascut so far

Trump says thecountry’strade deficit is so seriousthatitlikewisequalifiesfor the law’sprotection. In sharp exchanges with Schumate, appellate judges questioned that contention, askingwhether thelaw extendedtotariffs at all and, if so, whether theleviesmatched the threat theadministration identified.

“If thepresident says there’saproblem with our military readiness,” Chief Circuit Judge Kimberly Moore posited, “andhe puts a20% tax on coffee, that doesn’tseem to necessarily deal with(it).”

Schumate said Congress’ passage of IEEPA gave the president “broad and flexible power to respond to an emergency,but that “the president is not asking forunbounded authority.”

But an attorney for the plaintiffs,Neal Katyal, characterized Trump’smaneuver as a“breathtaking” power grab that amounted to saying“thepresident can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, for as long as he wants so long as he declares an emergency.”

No ruling was issued from thebench. The case is widely expected to reach the U.S. SupremeCourt.

“Neither the tariffs northe side dealsseemtoreflectany kind of broader strategyotherthan trade is bad and tariff revenue is good.”

amount to loose conceptual frameworks that have not been formalizedthrough U.S. or foreign governing systems—and will ultimately survive at the whims of a president whohas thrownout his own trade deals before.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, was agenuine trade dealnegotiated by Trump himselfduring his first termin2020 that overhauled trade across the continent. Yetthat has notstopped himfrom entering a retaliatory spiralover trade with Canada and putting extraordinary pressure on Mexico’spresident, Claudia Sheinbaum,tobend to painful U.S. demands.

“It is fair to saynocomprehensive tradeagreements have been

reached reallywithany of ourtradingpartners,” said Stan Veuger,a senior fellow in economic policy studiesatthe AmericanEnterprise Institute and afrequent visiting lecturer at Harvard, referring to the settlements reached thus far as “side deals.”

Those deals, he said, “have been limited in scope, and can only be read as an effort to getthe U.S. government to calm down and focus on something else.”

“They are also very fragile, as they are ill-defined, barely formalized or not at all, and especially on the U.S. side amere product of executive action,” Veuger said.

“Neither thetariffs nor theside deals,” Veuger added, “seem to reflect anykind of broader strategy other than trade is bad and tariff revenue is good.”

Recessionfears remain

After Trump’s“Liberation Day” announcement of global tariffs April 2, nearly every U.S. financial institution issued forecasts warning that aU.S. recession thisyear wasmore likely than not.

Thoseforecasts have been downgraded—but the risk is still significant, analysts say.According to J.P.Morgan, the probability of a recession hasfallen to 40%.Apollo GlobalManagement warned that thefate of U.S. economicgrowth probably would fall on the administration’s ongoing trade negotiations with China.

“In this first round of the trade war,Trump has triumphed, at least on the termsheset out for himself. The way the EU caved, in particular,isstunning,” said Kenneth Rogoff, aprominent economist and professor at Harvard. “That said, so far the tariffs seem to have been mostly paid by U.S. importers, not foreign countriesthat export to the U.S. Eventually,now that the war has settled down, the cost will be passed on to consumers.”

Rogoff still put the odds of an “outright recessionover the next 18 months” at greater than 50%.

“It is very likely that there will be somemodest inflation over the next year and weaker growth,” he said, adding, “it is already becoming harder to find jobs in many sectors.”

STAN VEUGER, asenior fellowin economic policy studiesatthe American Enterprise Institute

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByROBERT F. BUKATy

Aworker focuses on steel decking in the construction of ahousing project Thursday in Portland,Maine.

“Each of us were awarded $250,000 over the course of the next two years,” Scott said. “Within that grant was also support for capacity building to expand our ability to attract new funders and also expand our programming services based on the demand for our services in the community.”

She got news that the grant was terminated on April 23.

“I learned of it through Equal Justice. One of their team members called me and told me,” she said. “I had to pull my car over on the side of the road because it was definitely jolting.”

The next day Equal Justice USA CEO Jamila Hodge published a news release about it.

“Our priorities for that money were to invest it in communitybased public safety strategies

— specifically, five innovative organizations throughout Louisiana that are building safety for their neighbors,” Hodge wrote. “Instantly, this funding, plus a separate grant supporting our restorative justice work, disappeared.”

The organization said it learned via a letter from the Department of Justice, which wrote it had “changed its priorities with respect to discretionary grant funding.”

The department did not respond to a request for comment about the grant termination from The Advocate.

At the time, Hodge vowed to continue the organization’s work. However, in an announcement last week, she and board Chair Lenny Noisette said the more than 30-year-old organization would cease operations Aug. 15.

“This is an incredibly painful decision,” they wrote. “When we started this year, EJUSA’s staff was nearly 50 strong. While this chapter is ending, the work we have dedicated our professional lives to and the vision you’ve helped build is far from over.”

Scaled-back summer program

The funding termination quick-

GULF

Continued from page 1A

Researchers are watching closely to see if other cuts could be on the way as the Trump administration pursues what it describes as policies to make government more efficient. The president’s budget proposal is not the final word, since Congress can move to add or subtract money throughout the budget process.

Amounts for the two categories of Environmental Protection Agency grants defunded in Trump’s budget proposal known as sections 106 and 319 have varied over the years. The EPA has granted about $18.5 million yearly in 106 grants, though Congress has also added additional money The 319 grants amounted to $178 million in fiscal year 2022, the last year available on the EPA website.

Brian Frazer, director of the EPA’s office of wetlands, oceans and watersheds, noted however that other funds to address hypoxia — the scientific term for low-oxygen areas — were still being distributed.

“It does call for no 319 or 106 funds,” Frazer said during a news conference to announce the dead zone findings. “That can always

ly impacted The BRidge Agency which Scott said had already faced financial challenges in recent years.

“Typically, we normally serve about 60 to 100 kids every year,” Scott said. But because of the funding cuts and strains, we had to really decrease our number a lot over the past two years.”

The nonprofit scaled back its staffing and cut stipends in half for paid internships.

She said the organization plans to continue its work, which includes connecting families with resources, toy donation drives and a Police Athletic League that builds relationships between young people and law enforcement

Additionally students who participated in the camp said they

change. But as I mentioned earlier states soon will have been awarded final Gulf hypoxia program grants totaling $4.3 million.”

The area of low oxygen can cause fish, shrimp and other marine life to flee or die. It can also affect fish diets, reproduction and growth.

Beyond the implications on marine life in general, the dead zone also affects Louisiana fisheries, particularly the shrimping industry

‘Most productive fisheries’

The nutrient pollution leads to algae growth. When the algae dies and decomposes, it uses up the water’s oxygen.

Measuring the dead zone was pioneered by scientists based at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium and LSU, and those institutions still play a lead role in the research.

Cassandra Glaspie, of both LSU and the consortium which researches coastal and marine systems, on Thursday reported the findings from those organizations’ annual cruise survey from July 20-25 to measure the dead zone. This year, it measured 4,402 square miles, or about 90% the size of Connecticut and about seven times the size of Lake Pontchartrain.

It remains far above the 2035 goal of around 1,900 square miles

hoped to do it again next year and shared the summer’s activities.

Carson Parker, 9, said he had been excited for the program because he would “have a lot of people over here that I can play with.”

Janae Smith, 13, discussed making a “vision board,” which helped her think about her future. She also acknowledged how the national cuts have impacted people she knows.

“I knew about it because I watch the news and stuff, but I think it sucks that that happened,” she said of the funding cuts.

“And my friend’s mom actually lost her job because of the cuts. So, it sucks.”

Email Christopher Cartwright at christopher.cartwright@ theadvocate.com.

Glaspie noted that the dead zone “makes the seafloor in that region uninhabitable for fish and shellfish. And then this, of course, impacts one of our nation’s most productive fisheries.”

Besides the dead zone west of the river, new research is beginning to understand a similar phenomenon east of the river, causing major concerns for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Findings on the size of this year’s dead zone in that area are expected to be reported next week.

Much of the nutrients flowing down the Mississippi come from fertilizer and animal waste from farms in the country’s Midwest, though there are other sources as well, including sewage and storm runoff. A task force including the federal government and states along the Mississippi has been seeking to address the issue, and some farms have adopted measures to try to limit nutrient runoff into the river

Those include conservation practices such as two-stage ditches that can function as wetlands that absorb nutrients and encouraging the use of cover crops.

‘Pretty shocking to us’

Gretchen Oelsner, of the U.S. Geological Survey, said preliminary data from May showed nitrogen in the Mississippi and Atcha-

falaya Rivers was 24% below the long-term average, though phosphorus was around 31% above But R. Eugene Turner, another LSU scientist who has closely studied the dead zone, said those figures were a “misdirection.”

He said nitrogen in the Mississippi has declined by 4% at most since a hypoxia action plan was adopted in 2001. The number cited by USGS is anchored in a baseline set in the 1980s, he said. Turner also argued the size of the dead zone being somewhat less than predicted for this year likely had more to do with the Gulf being particularly warm, and said the modeling used for the predictions may not have sufficiently accounted for it. The measured size did, however, fall within the range of uncertainty for such estimates.

Warmer waters can limit the size of certain types of plankton, which contribute to the dead zone.

Glaspie highlighted the especially warm waters in her presentation, saying that surface temperatures were “extremely high” at up to 97 degrees — around the temperature of the human body

“So we basically had human body temperature water at some of those locations out in the Gulf,” she said. “That was pretty shocking to us.”

Studies have identified a combination of cyclical factors and cli-

Josh Nelson,

will be an ambassador for The BRidge Agency’s youth council this fall, shares his experiences with the organization recently

mate change for the rapidly warming Gulf.

Nancy Rabalais, the LSU professor who began carrying out dead zone measuring cruises in 1985, noted the five-year dead zone average remained 4,440 square miles, which is more than twice the 2035 target.

Describing this year’s size, Rabalais called it “average, but still large.”

Environmental group Healthy Gulf also noted the warm waters and said the 2035 goal seemed virtually impossible to attain.

“It would take $2.7 billion annually to meet the task force goal, utilizing current conservation practices,” Matt Rota, the group’s senior policy director, said in a statement.

“We need to understand that unless we fundamentally change how we address this pollution, from farming practices to federal and state policies, there is no way we will meet the 2035 goal. If we don’t reach this goal, our fisherfolk, coastal communities and Gulf ecosystem will continue to suffer.”

Email Mike Smith at msmith@ theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter, @MikeJSmith504. His work is supported with a grant from the Walton Family Foundation, administered by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

STAFF PHOTOS By HILARy SCHEINUK

Kari Scott, 13, right, speaks during a recent roundtable discussion as Payton Brown, 12, from left; Josh Nelson, 19; and Caden Parker, 9, listen at The BRidge Agency in Baton Rouge.

19, who

Thetoll is expected to rise further as many of those killed or wounded were brought to isolated,undersupplied hospitalsin northernGaza and have not yet been counted

Israel’smilitary said Palestinians surrounded aid trucks and the Israeli military fired warning shots into the crowd, but reported no awarenessofinjuries resulting from Israeli fire.

Asecurity official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with militaryregulations, said the gunfire came from within the crowd and resulted from altercations between Palestinians attempting to access aid.

Scenes of desperationand chaos played out again on Thursday as scores of Palestinians ran toward food aid dropped from the air in Zawaida,a city in central Gaza. Aid providers have turned to the skies as border crossings remainclosed amid severe food insecurity across the Gaza Strip.

The drops have set off stampedes and skirmishes as hungry crowds scream, fight and jostle for the parcels.

Eslam al-Telbany,adisplaced woman from Jabaliya, said she was carrying abottle of cooking oil and a sack of flour when shewas attacked and bitten, ultimately dropping the items and returning home without aid.

“I went and my children prayed that I’d return with food. They haven’teaten or drank anything for two days,” she said as she wept Ahmed al-Khatibsaid someone stole abag of flour from him, and he broke a tooth in the struggle Rana Attia, another displaced woman, said people felt more dignified receiving text messages telling themwhere to collect aid rather thanrandomlychasing falling parcels under the scorching heat. “We don’twant them to help us that way,” she said. Despite the airdrops, the amount of aidgetting into Gazaremains farlower than the 500 to 600 trucks per day that aid organizations say are needed.

The Israeli defense body in charge of coordinating

humanitarian aid in Gaza said 270 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Wednesday, and32pallets of aid were airdropped intothe Strip.

Under heavy international pressure, Israel announced aseries of measures over theweekendtofacilitate the entry ofmoreinternational aid to Gaza. The international community has heapedcriticism on Israel over the deteriorating humanitarian situationin Gaza.

International organizations said thatGazahas been on the brink of famine for the past two years, but that recent developments, including acompleteblockade on aid for21/2 months, mean that the “worst-case scenario offamine is currently playing out in Gaza.”

Israel criticized by allies

German Foreign Minister JohannWadephularrived in IsraelonThursdayona two-day trip that will also take himtothe Israeli-occupied West Bank. Germany,traditionally a staunch ally of Israel, has been increasingly critical recently of Israel’sactions in Gaza.

It has insisted that Israel mustdomore to increase aid supplies and pushed for aceasefire.

Berlin hasn’t joinedmajor alliesFrance, Britain, and Canada in saying it will recognize aPalestinian statein September

But in astatementahead of his departure Thursday, Wadephul underlined Germany’sposition that atwostate solution is “the only way”toensure afuture in peace and security for people on both sides.

“For Germany,the recognition of aPalestinian state stands rather at the endof the process. But suchaprocess must beginnow.Germany will not move from this aim,” Wadephul said.

Adiplomaticpush

Witkoff, Trump’sspecial envoy,arrived in Israel on Thursday afternoon and metwith Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about thehumanitariansituation and apossible ceasefire, according to an official who spoke on the condition of anonymitytodiscuss sensitive matters.

It was the first meeting between Witkoffand Netanyahu since both Israel and the U.S. calledtheirnegoti-

ation teams home from Qatar one week ago. Witkoff saidatthe time that Hamas “shows alack of desire”to reach atruce.

“The fastest way to end the HumanitarianCrises in Gazaisfor HamastoSURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Thursdaymorning.

Trumpsent Witkoff to the region “inaneffort to savelives andend this crisis,”WhiteHouse press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, calling the president “a humanitarianwith abig heart.”

The war started when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. They still hold 50 hostages, includingaround20believed to be alive.

Mostofthe othershave been released in ceasefires or other deals.

Israel’sretaliatory offensive haskilledmore than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’sHealth Ministry.Its count doesn’tdistinguish between militants and civilians. The ministry operates under the Hamas government. The U.N. and other internationalorganizationssee it as themost reliable sourceofdata on casualties.

Louisiana state Sen. Thomas Pressly,R-Shreveport, sponsored the legislation that in 2024 putmifepristone and misoprostolon the state’scontrolled substances list after his sister’s husband gave her abortion pills without her knowledge. Pressly applauded Murrill’seffort.

“My sister and my niece were the victimsofaviolent attackbymysister’sthenhusbandwho obtained these dangerous drugs with the intent of killing my niece

and harming mysister,” he said.“Congress should act to protect women and children, and IappreciateAG Murrill taking the lead on this important issue.”

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, saidthat chemical abortions done withoutmedical supervision “pose severe risk” for mothers andtheir unborn children.

“I commendAGMurrill for herleadershiptohold out-of-state doctorsaccountable for subverting Louisiana’spro-lifelaws that protect mothers and babies,” he said.

But CongressmanTroy Carter,aDemocrat from

New Orleans, criticizedthe move, saying “mifepristone is asafe and effective drug. Period.”

“By limitingits access to women who need it in Louisiana, AG Murrill is putting livesatrisk,”Carter said. “Blockingits access also blatantly disregards the right to bodily autonomy Political interference in our healthcare is wrong, and I’ll continue to pushback against dangerous actions like this.”

The Associated Presscontributed to this report

Email Matthew Albright at malbright@theadvocate. com.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByJEHAD ALSHRAFI

Palestinians mournaround the body of aman killed while trying to reachaid trucks entering northernGaza through the Zikim crossing withIsrael at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Thursday.

Trumpsigns orderimposingnew tariffs

BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON

President

Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that set new tariffs on a wide swath of U.S. trading partnerstogointo effect on Aug. 7—the next step in his trade agenda that will test the global economy and sturdiness of American alliances built up over decades

The order was issued Thursday evening. It came after aflurry of tariff-related activity in the last several days, as the White House announced agreements with various nations and blocs ahead of the president’sselfimposed Friday deadline. The tariffs arebeing implemented at alater date in order for the ratesschedule to be harmonized, according to asenior administration official who spoke to reporters on acall on the condition of

anonymity

The order capped off a hecticThursday as nations sought tocontinue negotiating with Trump. Itset the rates for 68 countries and the27-member European Union,with abaseline10% rate to be charged on countries notlisted in theorder

The senioradministration official said the rateswere based on tradeimbalance with the U.S. and regional economic profiles.

On Thursday morning, Trump engaged in aphone conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum ontrade. As aresult of theconversation,the U.S. president said he wouldenter into a90-day negotiating period with Mexico, one of the nation’slargest trading partners, with the current 25% tariff rates staying in place, down from the30% he hadthreatened earlier “Weavoided the tariffin-

creaseannounced for tomorrowand we got 90 days to build along-termagreement through dialogue,”Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on Xafter acall with Trump thathereferred to as “very successful” in terms of the leaders getting to know each other better

Theunknowns created asense of drama that has defined Trump’srollout of tariffs over severalmonths, with theone consistency being his desire to levy the import taxes thatmost economists say will ultimately be borne to some degree by U.S consumersand businesses.

“Wehave made afew deals today that are excellent deals for the country,” Trump told reporters on Thursday afternoon withoutdetailing the terms of those agreements or nations involved. The senior administration official declined to reveal the nations that have

new deals during thecall with reporters. Trumpimposed the Friday deadline after his previous “Liberation Day” tariffs in April resultedinastock market panic. His unusually high tariff rates unveiled in April ledtorecession fears, prompting Trumptoimpose a90-day negotiating period. When he was unable to createenough trade deals with other countries, he extended thetimeline and sent out letters to world leaders that simplylisted rates, prompting aslew of hasty deals.

Trump reached adeal with South KoreaonWednesday, and earlier withthe European Union, Japan,Indonesiaand thePhilippines.His commerce secretary,HowardLutnick, said on Fox News Channel’s“Hannity” thatthere were agreements with Cambodiaand Thailand after they had agreed

to aceasefire to their border conflict.

Going into Thursday, wealthy Switzerland and Norway werestill uncertain abouttheirtariffrates. EU officials were waiting to complete acrucialdocument outlining howthe framework to taximported autos and other goods from the 27-member state bloc would operate. Trump had announced adeal Sunday while he was in Scotland.

Trump said as part of the agreement with Mexico that goods imported into the U.S. would continue to face a 25% tariff that he has ostensibly linked to fentanyl trafficking. He said autos would face a25% tariff, while copper,aluminum andsteel would be taxedat50% during the negotiating period. He said Mexico would end its“NonTariffTrade Barriers,”but he didn’tprovide

specifics. Somegoods continue to be protected from the tariffs by the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, which Trump negotiated during his first term But Trump appeared to have soured on that deal, which is up for renegotiation next year.One of his first significant moves as president wastoimpose tariffs on goods from both Mexico andCanadaearlierthis year U.S. Census Bureau figures show that the U.S. ran a$171.5 billiontradeimbalance with Mexico last year That meansthe U.S. bought more goods from Mexico than it sold to the country The imbalance with Mexicohas grown in the aftermathofthe USMCA, as it was only $63.3 billion in 2016, the year before Trump started his first term in office.

BY MICHELLEL.PRICE

Associated Press

WASHINGTON Canada’s announcement it will recognize aPalestinian state “will make it very hard” for the United States to reach atrade agreement with its northern neighbor,President Donald Trump said. Trump’sthreat, posted earlyThursday on hissocial media platform, is the latest way he has sought to use his trade war to coerce countries on unrelated issues. And when other allies had raised the matter of Palestinian statehood, the Republican president had been ambivalent.

He said this week that he did not mind that British PrimeMinisterKeir Starmer was taking the positionthat the United Kingdom would

recognize aPalestinianstate in September unless Israel agreed to aceasefire in Gaza,allowedthe UnitedNations to bring in aid and took other stepstoward long-term peace. “Wehavenoviewon that,” he told reporters later on Air Force One. Last week, the Republican president said French President Emmanuel Macron’s similar movewas “not going to changeanything.”

ButTrump, who has heckled Canadafor months and suggested it should become its 51stU.S. state, is nowindicatingthatPrime Minister Mark Carney’ssimilarrecognition would become leveragebefore aloomingdeadline that the American leader set in U.S.-Canada tradetalks “Wow! Canada has just announced thatitisbackingstatehood for Palestine,”

Trump saidinhis TruthSocial post.“That will make it very hard for us to make a TradeDeal with them. Oh’ Canada!!!”

Trump has threatened to imposea35% tariff on Canada if no deal is reached by Friday,whenhe’ssaid he will levy tariffs against goods from dozens of countriesifthey don’treach agreements with the U.S. Aspokesperson for Carney declined comment WhiteHouse presssecretary Karoline Leavitt said later that Trump“expressed his displeasure and his disagreementwith the leaders of France,the United Kingdom and Canada. He feels as though that’srewarding Hamas at atime where Hamas is the true impediment to aceasefire andtothe release of allofthe hostages.”

Mourners honorNYPDofficer

BY DEEPTI HAJELA and JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

NEW YORK Mourners packed aNew York mosque on Thursday to honor aBangladesh-born police officer who embracedthe job of protecting hisadopted city and gave his life for it when agunman opened fire in an office building this week.

Islam

Officer DidarulIslam “did believe in the American dream, not as something handed down but as something built with your own hands,” Police Commissioner

Jessica Tisch told Islam’s family and friends as his fellow officers lined up rows deep outside the Bronx house of worship

Dignitaries and members of the New York’sthriving Bangladeshi community also paid tributetothe fallen officer during amemorial that emphasized the importanceheplaced on his family,background and service to the city

Amarried father of two with athird child on the way,the 36-year-old was working aNew York Police Department-approved private security detail, in uniform, when he and three other people were killed Monday at the Manhattan skyscraperthat housesthe

ASSOCIATED PRE

Newyork police officers salute as the hearse carrying the casket Islam passes after his funeral ThursdayinNew york.

NFL’s headquarters and other corporate offices. “Toour family,hewas our world. To thecity,hewas a proud NYPD officer who served with compassion and integrity.Helived to help others,”Islam’swidowsaid in astatementthata relative read on her behalfatthe service at the Parkchester JameMasjid mosque After coming to the United States, Islam began buildinga career in thenation’slargest police force. He described policingas“a blanket of the community there to provide comfort andcare,”the police commissioner said. Islam served as aschool

safetyagent before becoming apatrol officer less than four years ago, and was promoted posthumously Thursday to detective.

Like others whospoke, Imam Zakir Ahmed highlightedthe officer’simmigrant background and Muslim faith. But saidIslam “lived at atime when people like himare too often feared,vilifiedand made to feel like outsiders.”

“It’stime for New York andAmerica to give back —tosee us, to hear us, to protect our dignity, theway Officer Islam protected yours,” Ahmed said.

The eldest of several siblings,Islam supported his

pa well yo th commiss wor rad pri day Dep hammad commander Bron lamw “h able” “He to gave and erything at

Shooting victim remembered as liftingall

BY LEONARD GREENE and JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA Newyork Daily News (TNS)

NEW YORK While juggling the balance of abusy home life and acorporate job, New York Cityshooting victim Wesley LePatner was adamant about getting home in time to spend evenings with her husband Evan and their kids.

“That was nonnegotiable,” alongtime colleague said. It was, then, shocking to friends and family that LePatner,aBlackstone investment executive,was among the first people shottodeathwhen a gunman stormed aManhattan office tower on ParkAvenueMonday evening and opened fire in the lobby and an upper floor,killing four people.

“How many of us thought thatsurely Wesley was safe,” the colleague

said Thursday at acrowded funeral for theLePatner,43.

“She was never in the office at 6:30. She waswith herkids. Always.”

Friends,family and co-workers filled Manhattan’sCentral Synagogue on Thursday, where they traded storiesabout howLePatnermixedher professional drive with apersonal touch highlighted by care and compassion. The 5-foot-tall dynamo was agiant amongher peers,who said LePatner alwayssaw thebest in everyone.

“She ledwith her mind and heart,” said ChrisLee,a former colleague at Goldman Sachs, where LePatner got herstart.“She didn’tjust show up for you. She lifted you. She wasn’tjust on your team. She was your biggest fan.”

Lee, apartner at KKR Real Estate in Manhattan, recalled how his friend struggled with her decision when she

got an offer

“She was work-life ba one of those people have you don’taccept I’m calling someone yo like that with.” Aday earl same synagogue rites. LePatner Police Commissioner andHyman, who worked Managemen securityguard NYPD Officer Hymanwas rest in thed Tamara, 27, skyscraper, took his own

Trumprevives Presidential FitnessTestfor scho

BY MICHELLEL.PRICE and SEUNG MIN KIM

Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Thursday reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test for American children, afixture of public schools for decades that gauged young people’s health and athleticism with 1-mile runs, situps and stretchingexercises

“This is awonderful tradition, and we’re bringingit back,” Trump said of the fitness test that began in 1966 but was phased out during the Obama administration

An executiveorder he signed Thursday alsoreinvigoratesa national sports councilthat thepresident stocked with formerand current athletes and other figures from the sports world. It’sthe latest athleticsrelated push from Trump, an avid golfer who remains enthralled with the world of sports. Much of the domestic travel he has done this yearthatisnot related to weekend golfgames at his clubs in Florida, New Jersey and Virginiawas built around attending sporting events.

Trump on Thursday said

the council, known formally as the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, andNutrition, will also deal with various issues on collegeathletics, such as the transfer portal that has more easily allowed athletes to switch from school to school. The council, which will have up to 30 members, will also develop criteria fora Presidential FitnessAward.The fitness testwill be administered by his health secretary,Robert F. Kennedy Jr In the test, children had to run and perform situps, pullupsorpushupsand a

It is with profound sorrowand solemn reverence that we announcethe passing of Mrs. Remender Weatherspoon, whodepartedthisearthly life on the27th of July,inthe year of ourLord2025, at the distinguished age of 66. A publicviewing shall be held in herhonor on Saturday, the2nd of August, commencing at 8:00 AM at Winnfield Funeral Home. A CelebrationofLife shall follow at 10:00 AM.Her earthly remains shall be laidtorest at Louisiana NationalCemetery.The distinguished& solemn arrangements have been entrustedtothe care of Winnfield Funeral Home of Baton Rouge &C.D Slaughter,FDIC.

DorisTuckerWiggins departedthislifeonTues‐day,July22, 2025, at Chateau D’villeNursing HomeinDonaldsonville, LA. Shewas 82, anative and resident of Napoleonville,LA. Visita‐tiononFriday, August 1, 2025, at Williams and SouthallFuneralHome from5:00pmto6:00pm. VisitationonSaturday, Au‐gust2,2025, at Shekinah Glory ChristianFellowship Church from 9:00 am to re‐ligious services at 11:00 am. IntermentinShekinah Gardens Cemetery ArrangementsbyWilliams & Southall FuneralHome, 5414 Hwy. 1, Napoleonville, LA 70390, (985) 369-7231. To

sitpr It Fitn governm awa ath providing stu fir also Move” reduci th The “minimize between stead th goals

Williams,Ziva Ziva Williams passed awayonSaturday, July 26, 2025, at OurLadyofthe LakeRegionalMedical Center. Shewas 60, ana‐tiveand resident of Napoleonville,LA. Visita‐tiononFriday, August 1, 2025, at Williams and SouthallFuneralHome from3:00pmto5:00pm. A private serviceand inter‐mentwillbeheld. Arrange‐ments by Williams & SouthallFuneral Home, 5414 Hwy1,Napoleonville LA70390. (985) 369-7231. To signthe guestbookor offercondolences,visit our website at www.william sandsouthallfuneralhome com.

Honoringthosewho Served, Thosewho SavedLives, Thosewho Survived andthe LovedOneswho were Lost

Vaccine firings inquiry downplayed

Democrats seek probe of RFK’s advisory panel shake-up

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON

U.S. Sen Bill Cas-

sidy doesn’t see the need to investigate Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to fire the vaccine advisory panel.

The probe was launched by Democrats on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions commit-

tee that Cassidy chairs. But the Republicans, who hold a majority of the seats on the committee, won’t be joining.

“The guy who made the decision was going to come and talk to us,” Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge,

said Wednesday “So, like, we have to investigate, when he’s going to come and talk to us?”

Though a strong promoter of vaccinations, Cassidy persuaded wary fellow Republicans to confirm Kennedy President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

The eight Democratic members, who make up a minority of the committee, demanded that Kennedy provide details by Aug. 12 on his decision to let go all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a nonpolitical scientific panel that has advised the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccination policy for 60 years. They want an explanation of how he chose eight

Creative park

CRIME BLOTTER staff reports

new members, many of whom didn’t have a background in the biomedical research that creates the immunizations.

When the reconstituted advisory committee met for the first time, the new members announced plans to revisit the schedule that recommends a series of vaccines to protect children from infectious diseases.

Specifically, Democrats want to

GALLEGOS

PHOTO By JAVIER

A piece of tape ruffles in the wind after being pulled loose from the ground by senior Olivia Muse as she and her mother, Michelle, decorate her designated parking space at Walker High School on Tuesday. Seniors have the option to purchase and personalize parking spaces at the school.

An East Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputy has been fired and arrested for allegedly distributing marijuana and other contraband to inmates in the parish prison, authorities said. Investigators received a tip on July 14 that Deputy Jevon Winfrey, a corrections officer, was distributing narcotics, tobacco and phones to inmates multiple times a week, according to an arrest warrant. Winfrey would place the items in a disposable glove, wrap it in cellophane and put it in a zippered pocket of his uniform, according to the warrant. Winfrey’s arrest Wednesday came after an undercover agent with the Sheriff’s Office arranged to deliver counterfeit narcotics and $2,000 to Winfrey in the parking lot of a Baton Rouge business. Shortly before the transaction, Sheriff’s deputy fired amid drug allegations

Appeals court reverses murder conviction

BR man got life in prison for 2021 case

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

The Louisiana 1st Circuit Court of Appeal voted Thursday to reverse the conviction of a Baton Rouge man sentenced to life in prison for a 2021 murder Curtis Stewart, 31, was arrested in 2021 in connection with the killing of Devonta Ennis, who was found dead in his vehicle from multiple gunshot wounds.

Stewart chose to waive his right to a jury trial and was found guilty by Judge Eboni Johnson Rose after a 2023 bench trial.

Stewart appealed the conviction, arguing the evidence presented during the trial was circumstantial.

On Thursday, a panel of three judges with the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal agreed, ruling that the judge did not have sufficient amount of evidence that could prove Stewart killed Ennis without a reasonable doubt.

“Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the pros-

ecution, we are convinced the evidence presented at trial was not sufficient for any rational trier of fact to find the essential elements necessary to support the defendant’s conviction for the second degree murder of Devonta Ennis,” the opinion stated.

“Most glaringly, no rational trier of fact could conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant was the shooter,” the opinion added.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said his office would appeal the ruling to

the Louisiana Supreme Court. “We respectfully disagree with the appellate court’s reversal,” he said. Ennis was sitting inside his Mercedes on Prescott Road near Beechwood Drive when the shooting happened on April 25, 2021. According to authorities, he was shot several times in the chest and arms when suspects used a Chevrolet Traverse and a Nissan Armada to block his vehicle from leaving. Baton Rouge police Detective Robert

Prairieville man spared prison time in drug case

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

STAFF

EarthquakesimpactLakePontchartrain

Waterlevelsoscillate from distantevents

BY KASEY BUBNASH Staff writer

Youprobably didn’tfeel the earthquake that shookAlaska earlier this month or the one that brought tsunamis to the coasts of Russia and Japan on Wednesday but Lake Pontchartraindid. Twomajor earthquakesthatoccurred thousands of miles away from Louisiana this month sent

CONVICTION

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Blanchard testified during the trial that Ennis’ vehicle was riddled with 22 bullets. Ennis, a25-year-old Baton Rouge man, was afather of two young sons who went to school forwelding andused to paint cars with his father Family members believed the shooting stemmed from abeef betweenrival neighborhoodsinthe city

Police found the SUVs used to barricade Ennis during the shooting on fire on Alexander Drive shortly afterward. Both had been reportedstolen earlier in the day,police said. During the 19th JDC bench trial, which involved three days of testimony, prosecutors alleged the vehicles used to trap Ennis were owned by two of Stewart’s girlfriends. Investigatorsused that connection to tie him to the crime. During hisappeal, Stewartspecificallyasserted that therewere no eyewit-

BLOTTER

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Winfrey called the undercover agent and told him to instead leave the goods in an alley next to the store.

Agents watching Winfrey’shome saw him leave in his Dodge Charger and followed him to the designated drop-off place, according to the affidavit.

The undercover agent put the counterfeit narcotics andbills in adisposable glove and left them in the alley,then left the scene.Winfreywas seen picking the goods up and taking them back to his home on Tallwood Drive, according to arrest records.

In addition to acount of possession with intent to distribute Schedule Idrugs, Winfrey was booked into the parish prison on counts of malfeasance in office and transactions involving proceeds from drug transactions,accordingtothe affidavit.

Winfrey had been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2021 before he was terminated and arrested, SheriffSid Gautreaux said.

“The moment we received credible information about this deputy’sinvolvement, we immediately launched a targeted investigation,” Gautreaux said in astatement.

“This kind of behavior is a betrayal of the badge and will never be tolerated within this agency.”

Man arrested in Ala in 2023 murder

Nearly two years after a Baton Rouge woman was found dead the day after her 42nd birthday,her former boyfriend has been arrested in Alabama, authorities said.

seismicwaves across theglobe in minutes, vibrations thatlocal meteorologists say led to tangible impacts in the New Orleans area.

National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Effersonsaid both quakes caused water levels in Lake Pontchartrain to oscillate in apattern thatmirrors water sloshingback andforth in abathtub, aphenomenon scientists call aseiche.

Efferson said he just happened to check awater level gauge in New Canal on July16, shortly aftera 7.3magnitude earthquake

nesses linkinghim to the shooting. Additionally,a bloodstainedfirearmwas foundabout15to18feet from Ennis’ bullet-strewn vehicle, which Stewart’s lawyers pointed out was never tested for fingerprint or DNA evidence.

Detectives also obtained surveillance footage of the incident, but theCourt of Appeal determinedthe video was too unclear to identifyStewart or any gunfire. In the opinion, written by Judge Steven Miller,the court also noted that even if there was evidence proving Stewart has access to the vehicles andwas in the vicinity of the shooting, the judge’sdeterminationthat Stewart firedthe shots was based on “speculation rather than reasonable inferences.” Miller wrotethat if twovehicles were involved, andthere wasnoevidence Stewart was in either of the cars, thenitcan’tbedetermined Stewart was the shooter

“The Statefailedtonegate areasonableprobability of misidentification,” the

The body of Tonyetta Loveless was discovered on the morning of Nov. 29, 2023. She was lyingona sofa in her apartment with agunshot woundtoher head. After an investigation,detectives withthe East BatonRouge Parish Sheriff’s Office identified her live-in boyfriend, Andre Weatherspoon,asthe suspect. Authorities at the time believed Weatherspoon hadfled the area. Now,ananonymous Crime Stoppers tip has led to his arrest in Ozark, Alabama. The 41-year-old was extradited to Baton Rouge and booked into the East BatonRouge Parish Prison onTuesday on counts of second-degree murder and battery of adatingpartner

Theday before she was found dead, Loveless and her father had traveledto NewOrleanstocelebrate her birthday,along with Weatherspoon. Her father told detectives thatWeatherspoon and his daughter had averbal fightduring the celebrations and that he had threatened to “rawher out,” accordingtoanarrest affidavit.

Surveillance video from that night showed Loveless and Weatherspoon arguing in the drive-thru of aCheckers restaurant near their apartment after dropping offher father.The argument escalated to aphysical fight, in which Weatherspoon allegedly struck Loveless multiple times.Awitness reportedthe couple later engaged in averbal and physical fightinthe parking lot of theapartment complex, according to Weatherspoon’s arrest affidavit.

WEDNESDAY, JULY30, 2025

PICK 3: 6-5-0

PICK 4: 0-4-0-4

PICK 5: 7-9-9-6-3 EASY 5: 2-7-12-15-21

shook Alaska’sAleutianIslands and prompted atsunamiwarning. Though the quake occurred roughly4,000 milesfromNew Orleans, Efferson could see the changes in Lake Pontchartrain: water levels rhythmically rising and falling by about three-quarters of afoot over thecourse of an hour

“The lake was really steady and all of asudden you see these weird little oscillations,” Efferson said. “It’s minor but it’s measurable.”

Asecondearthquake on Wednesday, this time amagnitude 8.8 nearly 6,000 miles from New Orleans,

opinion added.

Judge Hunter Greene concurred withMiller’s opinion,while Judge ElizabethWolfe dissented Stewart remains incarcerated.

Johnson Rose, who was elected in 2020, handleda full slateofcriminal cases anda small civil docket before the LouisianaSupreme Court justices took the unusual stepofsuspending herlastAugust. Shereturned to thebench in June. The suspension stemmed from aseriesofmiscues JohnsonRosemadein criminal cases that led to five judicial misconduct complaints being lodged against herinlittle more than amonth last year

In June, her colleagues at the 19thJudicial District Courthouse decided to take her off criminal cases. She will begin presiding over a docket composed entirely of civil cases beginning Aug. 11.

Email Aidan McCahill ataidan.mccahill@ theadvocate.com.

As they fought, Weatherspoon allegedly brandished ahandgun, pointed it at Loveless and threatened to shoother.Onthe staircase leading to thecouple’s apartment, detectives found scattered french fries and a Checkers carton alongside dropletsofblood.

Surveillance footage from theapartmentcomplex’sgatecameras showed Weatherspoon’svehicle arriving minutes after thealtercation at Checkersand then leaving30minutes later

Inside the apartment, more droplets andblood smearing were found in severallocationsaswellas aspent shell casing.

Loveless’ body had bruisingaround the neck and face. TheCoroner’sOffice ruled thecause of death as a gunshot wound to themouth, exitingthrough thebackof her head.

One person dies in 2-vehicle crash

One personwas killedin atwo-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in West Baton Rouge Parishthat Louisiana StatePolice is investigating, officials said.

The accident happened about12:30 p.m. in the2000 block of Rosedale Road, said Lt. Landon Groger,ofthe West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Adelivery truck and asedan were involved in acrash on Rosedale Road near LaPlace Lane. Thedriver of the sedan was killed, said Trooper Shelby Mayfield, spokesperson for StatePolice Troop A.

brought another seiche of asimilar scale toLakePontchartrain. Efferson said theweather service has seen these kinds of local impacts from faraway quakesbefore, particularly those stemming fromthe region encompassing Russian andAlaska.

Whether an earthquake’seffects arefeltacrossthe globe also has to do withits strength.Scientists use the Richter scale to measure an earthquake’sintensity,withany earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or less considered aminor event that is not usually felt but can be re-

corded by aseismograph. Millions of these earthquakes are recorded every year

Any quakethat measures above amagnitude 7isconsidered amajor event that could cause serious damage. These quakesare fewand farbetween. This month’searthquakes hit in relatively remote areas and officials had reported fewinjuries as of Wednesday afternoon, according to The Associated Press. Email KaseyBubnashatkasey bubnash@theadvocate.com.

DRUG CASE

Continuedfrom page1B

courtroom.

Outside thecourthouse, Anderson’sLakeCharles attorney Todd Clemons said he was thrilled with thesentence and reiterated his client’sgratefulness.

“He’sveryrelieved,” Clemons said. “He was just very,veryconcernednot about himself, butofhaving to leave his family for three or four years. So he’sjust grateful that he will be able to be here with his family He’slearned alot through this process. He’sbecome closer to God, Iknow that.”

Andersonwas one of six traffickers sweptupina 22-count federal indictment in August 2022. He became thelastmember of the crew to accept apleadealApril 8when he pleaded guiltyto acount of unlawful use of communication facilities. According to theagreement,Andersonadmitted that Francisco Palma, the drug ring’smastermind, called him in November 2018 and told him he had 8 kilograms of cocaine.Andersonsaidhewantedto buythree of them during thephone call. Federal prosecutors, as partofthe deal, agreed to dismiss other felony drug counts that alleged Anderson metPalmainaHome Depot parking lot two days later,where Palma gave him the drugs. They returned to the same parking lotaday later so Andersoncould payPalma for thecocaine, according to the federal indictment. Federal probation agents recommended asentencing range of 37 to 46 months behind bars for Anderson.

FIRINGS

Continuedfrom page1B

knowthe conflicts of interest that Kennedyallegedthe firedscientists had andany conflicts the newpanelists might have,according to a Tuesday letter sent to Kennedy Kennedy has been aleading skeptic of vaccinesfor years. Outbreaks of measles, whoopingcough and other diseases thathad been

Clemons, Anderson’sattorney,argued for alower sentenceand told the judge it wasadeviation fromthe normal behavior of afamily man.

“I certainly believe the behavior he engaged in was an aberration,” the attorney said.“Ijustdon’t thinkit’s reflective of the man his mother raised or the man he grew up to be.”

Dick was convinced that prison time wasn’tnecessary for Anderson, who she felt hadan“extremely insignificant” criminal record before his arrest on the drug charges. He wascharged with resisting an officer in one incident, and in 2021 he was citedfor failing to control his dog, according to Ascension Parish court records.

While she rejected Clemons’ claims that Anderson played a“minorrole” in the overall drug conspiracy relative to his co-defendants, she notedthe allegations against him were notviolent and he had no history of violence.

Anderson told the judge he still owns aused car dealership as his mainjob and also manages rental properties. Thatseemed to impress Dick, who later commended Anderson for histrack record whileunder pretrial supervision. She indicated he followed all the conditions of his release andnever missed or failed dozens of drug screenings over the three-year period he awaited trial.

“You have astrongsupport system.You have a good job —two businesses,” Dick said. “The court is very persuaded by Mr.Clemons’ argument that this was a one-off. It was aberrant behavior.This was maybe apathway to some easy

controlledfor yearshave broken out this year in communities that have refused to be immunized.

“Secretary Kennedy has spread liesabout safe and effectivevaccinesfor decades,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and the ranking member of the committee’sminority.“Unfortunately,since he was confirmed, Secretary Kennedy has doubled down on his disinformation campaign and waronscience. This will lead to preventable ill-

money,and you madeareally bad wrong turn.” Federal prosecutors said Anderson wasamong acrew of traffickers that transported anddistributed coke, heroin and cash in Baton Rouge, across Louisianaand beyond. They used phones to negotiate theirdeals and often talked in code to thwart the suspicions of law enforcement. The traffickers conducted many of the cash and drug exchanges in highly visible public places like the Tanger Outlets mall in Gonzales, Walmart parking lots, outside the Benny’s CarWashonSiegenLane, near an auto shop on Airline Highway and at popular food spots on College Drive and near Essen Lane. Palma, 45,ran the drug operation from what was then his lofty Baton Rouge home at theLSU Lakes. Juan Villareal Jr aNorth Texas man, ran ahub of the operation near Dallas-Fort Worth. Court records show he and Palma traveled to Mexico City several times to meet cartel members andother suppliers that sold them kilosofcocaine andheroin, which the pair smuggled across thebordertosellto dealers in NewOrleans, Baton Rouge andother partsof the state. All six members accepted plea deals. Palma pleaded guilty in March 2023 to 11 charges that included drug conspiracy,racketeering, moneylaunderingand weapons offenses. He was remanded into federal custody andnow stands as the last memberofthe trafficking crew yettoreceive his sentence, according to court records.

Email Matt Bruceat matt.bruce@theadvocate. com.

ness and death.” In theirletter to Kennedy,the senators lay out what they see as the consequences of his actions: “As your new ACIP makes recommendationsbased on pseudoscience, fewer and fewer Americans will have access to fewerand fewer vaccines.And as you give aplatform to conspiracy theorists, and even promote theirtheories yourself, Americanswill continue to lose confidence in whatever vaccines are still available.”

BR JCPenney sold as part of $947M deal

A Boston-based private equity firm has reached a deal to buy 119 JCPenney stores, including the Mall of Louisiana location for $947 million.

An affiliate of Onyx Partners Ltd. is set to close on the purchase by Sept. 8, according to a news release issued last week. The seller was Copper Property CTL Pass Through Trust, a trust set up by JCPenney’s lenders as part of the reorganization after the company filed for bankruptcy in 2020. It is not clear what Onyx will do with all of the stores.

The Baton Rouge JCPenney store was the only Louisiana location listed in the portfolio The department store chain has 13 stores in Louisiana, including locations in Metairie, Lafayette, Covington Gretna, Hammond, Houma and Lake Charles.

Health care stocks push

Wall Street lower

Stocks capped a choppy day of trading on Wall Street with more losses Thursday after an early Big Tech rally faded and a health care sector pullback led the market lower Roughly 70% of stocks in the S&P 500 lost ground, with health care companies accounting for the biggest drag on the market.

Health care stocks sank after the White House released letters asking big pharmaceutical companies to cut prices and make other changes in the next 60 days Eli Lilly & Co. fell 2.6%, UnitedHealth Group slid 6.2% and Bristol-Myers Squibb dropped 5.8%.

Gains by some big technology stocks with hefty values helped temper the impact of the broader market’s decline.

U.S. applications for jobless benefits up

WASHINGTON The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits inched up modestly last week as businesses continue to retain staff despite economic uncertainty around U.S. trade policy

The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending July 26 ticked up by 1,000 to 218,000, less than the 225,000 new applications analysts forecast.

It was the first time in seven weeks that benefit applications rose, although layoffs remain at historically low levels.

Weekly applications for jobless benefits are seen as representative of U.S. layoffs and have mostly settled in a historically healthy range between 200,000 and 250,000 since COVID-19 throttled the economy in the spring of 2020, wiping out millions of jobs.

This week, government data showed that employers posted 7.4 million job vacancies in June, down from 7.7 million in May The number of people quitting their jobs a sign of confidence in their prospects elsewhere — fell in June to the lowest level since December Hiring also fell from May

Meta Q2 results blow past expectations

Meta’s artificial intelligence spending spree appears to be paying off with investors, who sent the company’s stock soaring following a blowout quarterly earnings report Wednesday

The Menlo Park, Californiabased company easily beat Wall Street’s expectations for the second quarter, helped by higher advertising revenue and a growing user base on its flagship social media platforms. The money is helping to fund the company’s massive investments in AI development and hiring top talent at eye-popping compensation levels.

Meta is facing an antitrust case that’s now awaiting a judge’s decision and could force the company to break off WhatsApp and Instagram, startups Meta bought more than a decade ago that have since grown into social media powerhouses. The company earned $18.34 billion, or $7.14 per share, in the April-June period. That’s up 36% from $13.47 billion, or $5.16 per share, in the same period a year earlier Revenue jumped 22% to $47.52 billion from $39.07 billion

BUSINESS

Trump administration cancels wind plans

Lease sales were anticipated for La. coast

BY JENNIFER MCDERMOTT Associated Press

The Trump administration is canceling plans to use large areas of federal waters for new offshore wind development, the latest step to suppress the industry in the United States.

Offshore wind lease sales were anticipated off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana Maine New York, California and Oregon, as well as in the central Atlantic. The Biden administration last year had announced a five-year schedule to lease federal offshore tracts for wind energy production.

Trump began reversing the country’s energy policies after taking office in January A series of executive orders took aim at increasing oil, gas and coal production.

The Republican president has been hostile to renewable energy particularly offshore wind. One early executive order temporarily

More than 3.5 million acres had been designated wind energy areas, the offshore locations deemed most suitable for wind energy development. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is now rescinding all designated wind energy areas in federal waters, announcing on Wednesday an end to setting aside large areas for “speculative wind development.”

The Interior Department is considering withdrawing areas on federal lands with high potential for onshore wind power to balance energy development with other uses such as recreation and grazing. It also will review bird deaths associated with wind turbines, which are allowed under federal permits that consider the deaths “incidental” to energy production.

Earlier this month, the department said all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters must be personally approved by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

halted offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and paused the issuance of approvals, permits and loans for all wind projects. In trying to make a case against wind energy, he has relied on false and misleading claims about the use of wind power in the U.S and around the world. The bureau said it was acting in accordance with Trump’s action and an order by his interior secretary this week to end any preferential treatment toward wind and solar facilities which were described as unreliable, foreign-controlled energy sources. Renewable energies such as wind and solar provide an intermittent supply of electricity when it is windy or sunny Increasingly, batteries are getting paired with solar and wind projects to allow renewables to replace fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal, while keeping a steady flow of power when sources such as wind and solar are not producing.

American Eagle ad sparks debate

Campaign starring Sydney Sweeney comments on race, beauty standards

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP retail writer

NEW YORK U.S. fashion retailer American Eagle Outfitters wanted to make a splash with its new advertising campaign starring 27-year-old actor Sydney Sweeney The ad blitz included “clever even provocative language” and was “definitely going to push buttons,” the company’s chief marketing officer told trade media outlets.

It has. The question now is whether some of the public reaction the fall denim campaign produced is what American Eagle intended.

Titled “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” the campaign sparked a debate about race, Western beauty standards, and the backlash to “woke” American politics and culture. Most of the negative reception focused on videos that used the word “genes” instead of “jeans” when discussing the blondehaired, blue-eyed actor known for the HBO series “Euphoria” and “White Lotus.”

Some critics saw the wordplay as a nod, either unintentional or deliberate, to eugenics, a discredited theory that held humanity could be improved through selective breeding for certain traits.

Marcus Collins, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, said the criticism for the American Eagle ad could have been avoided if the ads showed models of various races making the “genes” pun.

“You can either say this was ignorance, or this was laziness, or say that this is intentional,” Collins said. “Either one of the three aren’t good.”

Other commenters accused detractors of reading too much into the campaign’s message.

“I love how the leftist meltdown over the Sydney Sweeney ad has only resulted in a beautiful white blonde girl with blue eyes getting 1000x the exposure for her ‘good genes,’” former Fox News host Megyn Kelly wrote Tuesday on X.

American Eagle didn’t respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

A snapshot of American Eagle

The ad blitz comes as the teen retailer, like many merchants, wrestles with sluggish consumer spending and higher costs from tariffs.

American Eagle reported that total sales were down 5% for its February-April quarter compared to a year earlier

Like many trendy clothing brands, American Eagle has to differentiate itself from other

midpriced chains with a famous face or by saying something edgy, according to Alan Adamson, co-founder of marketing consultancy Metaforce.

Adamson said the Sweeney campaign shares a lineage with Calvin Klein jeans ads from 1980 that featured a 15-year-old Brooke Shields saying, “You want to know what comes in between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” Some TV networks declined to air the spots because of its suggestive double entendre and Shields’ age.

“It’s the same playbook: a very hot model saying provocative things shot in an interesting way,” Adamson said.

Billboards, Instagram and Snapchat

Chief Marketing Officer Craig Brommers told industry news website Retail Brew last week that “Sydney is the biggest get in the history of American Eagle,” and the company would promote the partnership in a way that matched.

The campaign features videos of Sweeney wearing slouchy jeans in various settings. She will appear on 3D billboards in Times Square and elsewhere, speaking to users on Snapchat and Instagram, and in an AIenabled try-on feature.

American Eagle also plans to launch a limited edition Sydney jean to raise awareness of domestic violence, with sales proceeds going to a nonprofit crisis counseling service.

In a news release, the company noted “Sweeney’s girl next door charm and main character energy — paired with her ability to not take herself too seriously — is the hallmark of this bold, playful campaign.”

Jeans, genes and their many meanings

In one video, Sweeney walks toward an American Eagle billboard of her and the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great genes.” She crosses out “genes” and replaces it with “jeans.”

But what critics found the most troubling was a teaser video in which Sweeney says, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color My jeans are blue.”

The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels but is not part of the ad campaign.

While remarking that someone has good genes is sometimes used as a compliment, the phrase also has sinister connotations Eugenics gained popularity in early 20th century America, and Nazi Germany embraced it to carry out Adolf Hitler’s plan for an Aryan master race.

Civil rights activists have noted signs of eugenics regaining a foothold through the far right’s promotion of the “great replacement theory,” a racist ideology that alleges a conspiracy to diminish the influence of White people.

Shalini Shankar, a cultural and linguistic anthropologist at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, said she had problems with American Eagle’s “genes” versus “jeans” because it exacerbates a limited concept of beauty

“American Eagle, I guess, wants to rebrand itself for a particular kind of White privileged American,” Shankar said.

Inflation gauge rose as Trump’s tariffs lifted goods prices

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge ticked higher last month in a sign that President Donald Trump’s broad-based tariffs are starting to lift prices for many goods. Prices rose 2.6% in June compared with a year ago, the Commerce Department said Thursday, up from an annual pace of 2.4% in May. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, prices rose 2.8% in the past year, the same as the previous month, which was revised higher The figures are above the Fed’s 2% goal. The uptick in prices helps ex-

plain the central bank’s reluctance to cut its key interest rate this week, despite repeated demands from Trump that it do so.

On Wednesday, the Fed left its key rate unchanged at 4.3%, and Chair Fed Powell suggested it could take months for the central bank to determine whether the import duties will cause just a one-time rise in prices, or a more persistent increase in inflation.

Trump has attacked Powell personally and repeatedly and did so again on Thursday for the Fed’s reluctance to cut rates, calling him

“TOO ANGRY, TOO STUPID, & TOO POLITICAL, to have the job of Fed Chair.” On a monthly basis, prices ticked

up 0.3% from May to June while core prices also rose 0.3%. Both figures are higher than consistent with the 2% target.

“The above-target rise in core prices in June, upward revisions to previous months’ data and the sharp rise in core goods inflation will do little to ease the Fed’s concerns about tariff-driven inflation,” said Harry Chambers, assistant economist at Capital Economics, a forecasting firm.

“If these pressures persist, as we expect, a September cut looks unlikely.”

The government’s measure of gas prices jumped 0.9% from May to June, while grocery costs rose 0.3%. Many longer-lasting

goods that are heavily imported saw clear price increases, with furniture prices up 1.3% just last month, appliances up 1.9%, and computers up 1.4%.

The cost of some services fell dramatically last month, offsetting some of the price pressures from goods. Air fares dropped 0.7% from May to June, while the cost of hotel rooms plunged 3.6% just in one month. Thursday’s report also showed that consumer spending rose 0.3% from May to June, a modest rise that suggests Americans are still spending cautiously Adjusted for inflation, the increase was just 0.1%, the government said.

INVISION PHOTO By SCOTT A GARFITT

Sydney Sweeney is the star of a new ad campaign for American Eagle Outfitters and has sparked a debate about the wordplay used in the advertising

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Obituaries Brunett, Doris

Blessed are the purein heart, for they shall see God. -Matthew 5:8 On the evening of July 25, 2025,Doris Lane Brunett closed her eyes in sleep and awoke to see the face of God. The sixth child of the late Betty Johnson and John D. Lane, Doris was born on September 8, 1933, in Dillon County, SC. Her humble beginnings as the daughter of sharecroppers was anything but ahindrance for Doris. From her parents, she learned a strong work ethic and a deep and abiding faith, both of which became the foundation for her personal and professionallife.

Doris was outstanding in all aspects of academic andextracurricular activities at her Alma Mater, Latta High School. She was valedictorian and prophet for the Class of 1951. Doris was also amember of the National Honor Society, a Marshal, adelegate to South Carolina Girls' State, and amember of the Latin Club. An honor roll student, Doris also participated in a number of extracurricular activities. She was acheerleader, amember of the Glee Club, and was selected by her senior classmates as Most Intellectual and Most School Spirited. She demonstrated her leadership abilities as a member of the Student Council. With the assistance of the oldest Lane sibling, Charlotte, Doris attended Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, MS. She graduated in 1953 and went back home to South Carolina to take a job at Dillon Manufacturing Company, asewing plant that made parachutes for the Korean Conflict. On aSaturday junket to Fort Bragg, NC, with acoworker and friend, Doris met her future husband, Louis E. Brunett, from Tangipahoa Parish, LA. Theirs was abeautiful love story. At the time of his death in 2019, they had been married nearly 64 years. From their marriage, two children were born: Charlotte "Anne" Brunett of St. Gabriel, LA, and the late Charles Elwood "Charlie" Brunett. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. -Matthew 5:6-7 For asignificant number of years, Doris worked as a stay-at-home wife and mother to keep the home fires burning. She taught her children many important life lessons, modeling for them her love of Jesus. Those who knew Doris recognized her traits of compassion, forgiveness, and kindness to others. Her faith in the Lordwas discernible through her words and actions. She lived out her testimony. Doris's faith was instilled in her from an early age when her father escorted her to the altarat Pyerian Baptist Church and had the four year old sing "Jesus Loves Me" before the congregation.Faith and familywere integral to Doris throughout her life, both in South Carolinaand Louisiana. Before her marriage, Doris was active in her church's music ministry, often singing solosor with her sisters as partof atrio or quartet. She succeeded her sister, Ruth, as

president of the Women's MissionaryUnion. Doris was amember of Pinehurst Baptist Church in Ball,LA, formore than55 years, where she sangin the choir and favored the church many Christmas seasonswith asoloof"O, Holy Night." She also taughtSunday School and served on variouscommittees throughouther half century at Pinehurst. In the early 1970s,Doris launched what would become alucrative career with Home Interiors & Gifts.She started as aconsultant, showing and selling products in the homes of others. Eventually, she had more than 1,000 recruits working in her divisionand was largely responsible forthe expansionofthe brand in Louisiana and Mississippi. Doris retired from the company in 2008 In addition to herparents,husband and son, Doris was precededin death by three brothers, J.D. Lane,Sherwood Lane, and Herbert Lane, Sr.,and five sisters,Charlotte Patrick Burson, Ruth Sessions, MaryLayton Lee, Jo Edwards, and Jimmy CarolynLane. Doris is survived by her devoted daughter, Anne,her sister, Jean Irick of Florence,SC, and a brother,Randy (Juanita) LaneofDallas,GA. Aspecialsister-in-law, Velma Lane(Sam) Tennysonof Florence, SC,alsosurvives her,aswellasnumerous nieces and nephews.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, forgreat is your reward inheaven.Matthew5:12

Aprayerservice willbe held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 1, 2025,atHixson Brothers Funeral Home,2701 Military Hwy.,Pineville,LA. Visitation, also at the funeral home, willbeat10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2025,prior to the funeral service at 12:00noon. Interment willfollow the servicesatForest Lawn Memorial Park &Mausoleum, 3994 MonroeHwy, Ball,LA.

Memorials may be made to Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, 7200 Desiard Street, Monroe, LA, 71203.

Butler, YvetteBoutte

Ms. Yvette Elyne BoutteButler, abeaconoflove passedawayonJuly19, 2025,inBaton Rouge, Louisiana.A NewOrleans native, she was the cherished daughter of the late Lawrence P. Boutte and M. Margaret Boutte-Milton. For over 30 years, Yvette dedicated her life to the Orleans Parish School System as an instructor. Shewas the devoted mother of Karess ButlerMossand JamalR.Butler. Amemorialservicewill be held at 11:00AMon2025 -08-01 at Berean Seventh DayAdventist Church , 5100 Osborne Ave. Baton Rouge, La 70805

Cook,Nicodemus Ray'Nic'

Nicodemus RayCook, a resident of Crescent, Ok and Walker,LA, born on September 18, 1997,went on to be with hisHeavenly Father on Thursday, July 24th, 2025 at the ageof27. He was aproud father of a beautiful little girl who was the light of hislife. Nic was an unapologetic Christianwho enjoyed passionately debating the Bible with friends and family. He loved fishing, star gazing and working with his hands. Nic is precededin death by grandfathers Willie G. Cook,Jr. and Richard Erwin,great grandparentsSonny and Myrtle Cook, Tedand Aline Shackelford, Cletus and Ruth Hooker, Joy Acosta and Eugene Sullivan. He is survived by his daughter Aleigha Grace Cook, sisters Reagan Erwin and Faith Erwin and brother Preston Erwin, parentsJeremy Cook, Craigand Taren Cook,and Jenny and Trent Erwin, grandparents Jerry and Karen Gresham,Linda Kiffeand TimHooker,Donaldand Lawren Graham and RoseanneErwin,great

grandmother Nellie Sullivan. Nicfacedmany battles in this life buthenever waveredinhis faith in God. He also understoodwith confidence that God will ultimately win thewar. He will always havea special place in allour hearts. Visitation forfamily and friends will be held at Community Chapel,35490 Walker Rd North, Walker, LA on Saturday, August 2nd,2025 from 3-5 pm with serviceat5 pm conducted by PastorJosh Spinks. A reception to follow at the Erwin's residence.

Fernandez, Joycelyn Louise

Joycelyn Louise Fernan‐dez departed this life on Thursday,July24, 2025, at Thibodaux Regional Med‐icalCenter. Shewas 69, a nativeofBelle Rose,LA and resident of Franklin, LA. Visitation on Saturday August2,2025, at Williams & Southall FuneralHome, 101 Loop 945 Donald‐sonville, LA from 9:00am to religious services at 11:00am.Interment in Greater Israel Baptist Church Cemetery.Arrange‐ments by Williams & SouthallFuneralHome, 101 Loop 945, Donaldsonville LA70346. (225) 473-1900. To signthe guestbook or offercondolences,visit our website at www.william sandsouthallfuneralhome. com.

Deborah Thrasher Firesheets, age67, of GreenwellSprings, Louisiana passed away on Saturday, July26, 2025. She was amember of St Paul Lutheran Church for over 20 years. Deborah was abig fan of LSUsports and Saintsfootball. She lovedjigsawpuzzles and crosswords.Deborah was apre-k and kindergarten teacher at BlackwaterPDO for15years. She loved teaching kids and making them laughwhileseeing them learn and grow.Deborah was alovingwife and mother, to know her was to havea friend and she will be greatly missed.

She is survivedbyher husband Karl Firesheets; son, Austin Firesheets and wife AllieFiresheets; older sister, Linda Mundinger and husband John Mundinger;younger sister, Martha Tabarlet and husband Joey Tabarlet;nieces, Kathrin Mundinger McGregorand husband Mike, and Libby Tabarlet;aswellas nephews, JT Mundinger with wife Kristina and James Tabarletwithwife Vana.

Deborah is preceded in death by her parents, Don MillerThrasherand Mary Louise Wagner Thrasher.

The family ask any donations to be madeto Blackwater United Methodist or St. Paul Lutheran.

The family also sendsa special thankstoSt. JosephHospice

away peacefully at her home on Monday, July 28, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.She was 93 yrs oldand just 3daysshy of her 94thbirthday on July 31st.She was born in Donaldsonville, LA and aresident of White Castle,LA. She was aformerMayor of White Castle for6 months after thedeathofher belovedhusband, MayorS J. "Blue" Guercio, III, in 1993. She wasa member of Court St. Bernadette CatholicDaughters and LadiesAltar Society at Our LadyofPrompt Succor CatholicChurch. She is survivedbyher devoted children who lovedand cared for her: BrendaJoffrion (Fil), Marilyn Zeringue (Johnny), Maria Grace (Hank), Sam Joseph, IV (Rita); CamillaGuercio (Dana); LukeGuercio;Russell Guercio (Stacy). Marian was aproud and adoring Maw Maw Blue to 16 grandchildren: 25 greatgrandchildrenand 3greatgreat-grandchildren. Marian is also survivedbyher brother, EugeneT.Robert, Sr.,sister,Clara Ann R. LeBlanc, sister-in-law, Jackie M. Robert and numerous nieces and nephews whomshe dearly loved. Marian was preceded in death by her parents, BenoitFrancis and Elise Cire Robert;her husband, Mayor S. J. "Blue" Guercio, III; her daughter, Marian TheresaGuercio;grandchildren, Louis M. Zeringue,IIand Britni A. Adams; her great grandchildren, Cooper and Cohen Guercio; herbrothers, Curtis, Irby,Herman Sr. (Whitey), Bernard Robert, Sr.;and her sister, AgnesR Daigle. Serviceswillbe held on Saturday, August 2nd,atOurso Funeral Home in White Castle from 9AM-11:30AM. Funeral mass willbecelebrated at noon at Our Ladyof Prompt SuccorCatholic Church by Father Matthew Dupre and Father Alec Sheldon. Interment to followatWhiteCastle Mausoleum. Pallbearers willbe her grandsons: Brad and Clint Joffrion, William Zeringue,ErnieLeBlanc IV, S. J. GuercioV,Mario Guercio and Seth Guercio.The family wouldliketoespecially thank Charlton Bajon for his dedication in preparing her weekly medicines each weekand making sure she had the correct medsdaily. The family wouldalso like to thank ComfortCare of Plaquemine, especially JamieDenoux, fortheir loving care. Special thanksto her dailycaretakers who took such greatcare of her every day. We are forever grateful to allofyou.She willberemembered forher kindness,lovingguidance and thebeautiful memories she created withher family and friends. Her love,faith,and strength willliveoninthe heartsof allwho were blessed to haveknown her. Her work on earthisdone and may she rest in peace in her Heavenly home!

GuerinJr., James William 'Buddy' James "Buddy" William Guerin, Jr. passed away peacefullyathis home at theage of 79. Jameswas a man whose warmth,kindness, and generosity touched thelives of all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Isadore and Lorraine Dupont Guerin; maternal grandparents, William and EthelLaBauve Dupont; and paternal

grandparents, Isadoreand Beatrice Barrow Guerin. Jamesissurvived by his brothers, David Yancy Guerinand wife Jaye Cazes Guerin, andHaroldRay Guerin andwife Paula Billings Guerin; nieces JacyeGuerinand Kristi GuerinCavaliere (husband Brett, along with theirson IsadoreWilliam Cavaliere); as well as nephew,Ray Guerin (wifeConnie, along with theirsonsDillonand Mason) andniece, Stacy Guerin Richards (husband Keith, along with daughters Isabella, Charleston andGabriella) four great great nieces and nephews. Jameswas knownfor his bigheart,his infectious humor, and hisgenuine care for others.His remarkable spirit earnedhim recognition by Iberville Parish's "Men of Iberville program, an honorthatreflected his dedication and impact on thecommunity. Visitation will be held at Wilbert Funeral Home, PlaquemineonSunday, August 3rd,from5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Visitation will at St.Johnthe Evangelist Catholic Church on Monday from 9:00 am until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Burial at Grace Memorial Park. Thefamily wishes to express that it wasa great honor and blessing to be partof James's life andtocarefor himsince hisparents passed. Jameswill be dearlymissedbyfamily, friends, and all whohad theprivilegeofknowing himand especially those of hisinner circle.Please share sympathies, condolences, and memoriesonline at www.wilbertservices.com.

It is with profound sorrowand solemn reverence that we announcethe passing of Mr.James L. Jackson,who departed this earthly life on the 23rd of July,inthe year of ourLord 2025, at the distinguished ageof83. Apublicviewing shall be held in hishonor on Saturday, the2nd of August,commencing at 9:00 AM at Winnfield Funeral Home. ACelebrationofLife shall follow at 11:00 AM Hisearthly remainsshall be laidtorest at Dawson FamilyCemetery in Kentwood, LA. Thedistinguished& solemn arrangements have been entrusted to thecareofWinnfield Funeral Home of Baton Rouge &C.D.Slaughter, FDIC.

AledaAnn Joseph de‐partedthislifeonTuesday July22, 2025, at Baton RougeSpecialty Hospital

Shewas 71, anativeand residentofBelle Rose,LA. VisitationonFriday, Au‐gust1,2025, at Williams and Southall FuneralHome from2:00pmto4:00pm. VisitationonSaturday, Au‐gust2,2025, at FirstIsrael Baptist Church from 9:00amtoreligious ser‐vices at 11:00am.Inter‐mentinthe church ceme‐tery. Arrangements by Williams &SouthallFuneral Home, 5414 Hwy1, Napoleonville,LA70390 (985) 369-7231. To sign the guest book or offercondo‐lences, visitour websiteat www.williamsandsouthall funeralhome.com.

Kimble, Peggy Loland

PeggyLolandKimble passedawayonTuesday, July 28, 2025, at theage of 82. Shewas anative of Donaldsonville,LAand a residentofBaton Rouge LA. Sheretired after20 years of service as apublic school teacher. Peggyis survived by herson,Ben Kimble; granddaughter, GeraldineKimble;and other loving familymembers. Sheispreceded in death by herhusband, Joe; and parents, Isreal andLeona Loland. Visitationwill be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd Baton Rouge,LA, on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 12pm untilthe funeral service at 2pm. Burial willimmediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.

Dorlane"Granny" KriegerbornFebruary 27, 1960, and resident of Gonzales,passed away at her home surrounded by her familyonJuly25, 2025, at the age of 65. Granny enjoyed planting flowersand beinginher garden, she also lovedanimals and shopping at thriftstores. She lovedspendingtimewith herfamily, especially her grandchildren. Granny is survived by herspouse, Larry;children, Heather, Jessica (Duston); bonus children, Troy (Meagan), Michelle (Keith);grandchildren,Madison ,Tucker (Chance), Mackenzie, Jadyn,Laiten,Ava,Adley; bonus grandchildren, Justin(Adrienne) Taylor Austin (Alexis), Maggie, Ellie; great grandchildren, Alani,Maddie, Amelia; parents, Bob and SoniaCarles; siblings, Bert(Nora), and Cyndie; nieces and nephews, Cole (Emily), Shelby (Paul), Stephanie, Emily, Mitchell;great nieces andnephews, Gracie, Sophia, Olivia, Letty, Lane; herbeloved cats, Tilly Harper, Isabelle, and duck,DuckDuck. Sheis preceded in death by her first husband, Roland Babin. Agravesideservice will be held at Resthaven GardensofMemoryCemetery (11817 JeffersonHwy, Baton Rouge)onMonday, August 4th, 2025, at 11:00am. Agatheringof friends andfamilywill followatCedarcrest Baptist Church Hall, 2020 Cedar-

Krieger, Dorlane 'Granny'

Jackson, James Leo

Firesheets,Deborah Thrasher

Joseph,Aleda Ann

Ave, Baton Rouge. In lieu of flowers, please consider adonation in Dorlane's honor to an animal shelter of your choice. Arrangements entrusted with Church Funeral Services

Mays, Maressa Ann Re Re

Maressa Ann Mays, affectionately known to all as Rere, was abeacon of joy and laughter in the lives of everyone she encountered. Born on August 6, 1991, in the warm community of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Rere's journey began as aspark that would grow into aradiant flame, illuminating the lives of those around her until her untimely passing on July 19, 2025, in the very city that gave her life.Rere's story is not one of sorrow but one of triumph, love, and the boundless generosity that she poured into the world. She was the cherished daughterofMarvin Hamilton Sr. and Monica Lafayette, and she adored her stepfather, George Lafayette Jr., with all her heart. The most profound love in her life was the one she sharedwith her daughter, Tari Ann Mays, who was not only her child but her greatest friend, her confidant, and the very essence of her enduring legacy.Rere liveda life that exemplified the virtues of compassion and kindness. She was the embodiment of aloving spirit, agenerous soul, and the person who could always be counted on to bring a smile to your face with her infectious humor. Her laughter was amelody that resonated in the hearts of her family, friends, and even strangers who had the pleasure of crossing paths with her.Her interests were simple yet profound. Rere found immense joy in spending quality time with Tari, her beloved daughter creating memories that would forever be etched in the annals of their family's history. Her faith was as deep as the ocean, and she found solace and strength in reading the Bible, drawing from its words the courage to face each day with grace and optimism.As we remember Maressa Ann Mays, let us not dwell on the mystery of her departure but rather celebrate the undeniable impact of her presence Rest in peace, dear Rere, until we meet again. Viewing Aug 2nd ,202510:00 am until 11:00 am and Funeral at 11:00am until 1:00pm at Wilson Woodale Funeral Home 1553 Woodale Blvd Baton Rouge LA 70806

1941 -2025 (née Gilbert Wayne Melcher, Jr.)

BROTHER MALCOLM

MELCHER,S.C., 83, aBrother of the Sacred Heart and aresident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana since 2010, passed into eternal life at Our Lady of Wisdom Community Healthcare Center in New Orleans, LA, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Brother Malcolm was born Gilbert Wayne Melcher, Jr., onOctober 25, 1941, in Fort Leavenworth, KS, to the late Gilbert W. Melcher, Sr., of Manchester, OK, and the late Margaret Mary Abel of Lewistown, MT. He is survived by his blood sister Mrs. Mary Catherine Melcher Bonds (James) of Tuscaloosa, AL, and several nieces and nephews. He is also preceded in death by three blood brothers, Joseph, John, and James Melcher.

As apre-novice, Brother Malcolm entered the formation program for the Brothers of the Sacred Heart on September 12, 1959, in Spring Hill, AL. He became anovice on August 14, 1960, at Metuchen, NJ, and he professed first vows there on August 15, 1961. His perpetual profession took place in New Orleans, LA, on September 27, 1967, and in 2021 there was agreat celebration when BrotherMalcolm marked the 60th anniversary of his

first profession.

Brother Malcolm prepared forhis yearsasa professional, religious educator by earning aBachelor's degreeinSecondary Education from Spring Hill College and aMaster's degree in General Science from Oregon State University. During hisyears in school ministry, Brother Malcolm thoroughlyenjoyedhis time in chemistry and religion classrooms at St. Aloysius and Cor Jesu High Schools in New Orleans, LA; at Saint Stanislaus College in BaySt. Louis, MS;atMcGill Institute and McGill-Toolen High School in Mobile, AL; at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge,LA; and at Vandebilt High School in Houma, LA. He worked hard in each locale at cultivatinga reputation as and being aprepared, no-nonsense and challenging teacher

Outside the classroom, students willremember Brother Malcolm's presence to them as across country and trackcoach, as afootball coach and as atremendous supporterof any of their athleticteams. Thisdie-hard Alabama athletic fanwouldnever pass up an opportunity to offer arealistic assessmentof his currentstudents'orof graduates'athletic performances. He also never missed an opportunity to offeranencouraging word to them, regardless of the final score,and Brother Malcolm was even willing to follow the teams of current students or of alumni great distances to personally witness theircompetitionsatthe highschool, college or professionallevel.Facultymembersfrom allover the worldexpress greatgratitude forBrother Malcolm's giftoffourtest banks filledwith thousands of tried-and-true chemistry, religion, moral theology and church history questionsthatwere readily available -freeof charge -simplyfor the asking. And, they continue to be afterhis passing Along with his genealogical work, keeping these test banks current andaccurate occupied many of this retiredteacher's hours.Brother Malcolm offeredtoall,but especially to many ayoung man, an exampleofpractical wisdom and amodel of manly piety, selfless serviceand adevotion to othersthat profoundlyinfluenced them forlife.

The consummate educator, Brother Malcolm donated his body forthe furtheringofscience.Nofuneral willbeheldatthis time,however aMemorial Mass and luncheon celebrating Brother Malcolm's life and ministry will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025,atOur Lady of the Gulf Church(228 South BeachBlvd., Bay St. Louis, MS 39520) at 10am. Brother Malcolm's cremains will be interred at the Brothers' cemeteryinBay St. Louis, MS,when they are returned in abouta year-and -a-half

Donations can be made in Brother Malcolm's honor to the Brothers of the Sacred HeartFoundation (4600 Elysian Fields Ave New Orleans,LA70122).

Jaynel Froisy Nadler, age86, resident of Plaquemine, Louisiana,passed awaypeacefully at home on July 29, 2025. Born December 28, 1938,Jaynel liveda fulland joyful life rooted infaith, family, friendship, and community. She was precededin death by her parents, Jay and JessieFroisy, and sonin-law KevinCater.Jaynel is survivedbyher devoted husbandof66years, Andrew"Bruck" Nadler; sister,Karen Hall;and brother,Brian Froisy. Shewas the proud motheroffour children,Kirk Nadler(Cecilia), Rachel Cater,Brandon Nadler (Suzanne), and Gretchen Clifton(Clay). Herlegacy continues through her grandchildren Kristin Cater,Scott Cater (Elizabeth), Ryan Cater, AndrewNadler(Jeanne), Alexander Nadler (Hannah), Cameron Clifton (Paige),and Cody Clifton (Kacie);and her treasured great-grandchildren,Levin Tuma,Nash Stevens,Heidi and Starla Cater,Emma Nadler, and Hattieand Evie Clifton.A graduateof Plaquemine High School

Jaynel was acheerleader and homecoming queen, earlyreflections of the charm, warmth,and leadershipthatdefinedher life Professionally, she was a legal secretary known for her remarkable typing speed.Jaynelwas active in community and social organizations, servingas president of the Plaquemine Garden Club,a member of Les Etudiantes, and a part of aclose-knit group of highschoolfriends known as theGoldenGirls. She lovedtoplaycards, to travel,and to entertain, buther greatest joywas found in creating awarm, welcoming home filled with love and laughter. Jaynel likedtodecorate her house with MardiGras beads, or purple and gold whenshe invitedfriends over to watch an LSUfootball game and to eat her delicious seafood gumbo. Deeplycommitted to her Catholic faith, Jaynel faithfully attended mass at St John theEvangelist CatholicChurch. She especially enjoyed theelaborate nativitydisplay during Christmas season. On Saturday, August 2, avisitation willbeheldatSt. John theEvangelistCatholic Church at 9:30 AM until Mass of ChristianBurial at 11:00 AM, celebrated by Father Martin Lawrence.Interment willfollowatSt. John theEvangelist CatholicCemetery,Plaquemine. In lieu of flowers,the family requests that memorial donations be madetothe 100 Years CampaignatSt. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 57805 MainStreet, Plaquemine, Louisiana 70764. JaynelFroisy Nadler will be deeply missed,lovingly remembered, and forever cherished.Please share sympathies, condolences, and memories online at www.wilbertservices.com.

Robert,Mary AliceDecuir

Mary Alice Decuir Robert passed away peacefully in thecomfort of herown home surrounded by her lovedones on July 24, 2025 after 82 years of love and service to the Lord.She was born to the late Clyde and Catherine Collins Decuir, of Erwinville,LAonMarch 1, 1943. She is survivedbyher loving husband of 61 years, James Ronald Robert, Sr.; daughters, BrendaRobert Hurst and her husband Mark and JenniferRobert Jones and her husband Ervin "Chip" ;son, James "Jimmy"Robert,Jr. and his wife Deidre;sisters, Sally Ann Brooks, CherylWright, Kathy Butler and Tarlyn Henry; brothers, Lucas Decuir,LukeDecuirand Rickey Decuir; grandchildren, Alex Hurst,Lauren Hurst Fontenot, Leslie Hurst Green, Desiree'Jones, Danielle Jones, James Robert, IIIand Jude Michael Robert.

Sheispreceded in death by her parentsand immediatefamily,Clyde Decuir, Jr., Gloria Ann Decuir, LottieBellDecuir, Oliver and Beatrice Robert, Lester Robert and Benny Butler. Family and friendsof Mary Alice are invitedto attend theVisitation on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at ImmaculateConception CatholicChurch from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Mass will beginat10:00am. Father RajAmrit, Officiating.She willbelaid to rest in Chenal Cemetery, Jarreau LA.Services Entrusted to HallDavis and SonFuneral Services. www.halldavisandson.com

speak French in Louisiana, toddle in thedesert of California, and eventuallysettling in NewMexico and Arizona as an adult. He was acreativesouland a voracious reader, witha kind heart and awarm, friendlysmile. He leaves behind ason, JosephSherwood, III, his parents, Mary East Sanders and Joseph Sherwood,and his sisters Samantha Sanders and Tracy Boyette. He is also survivedbyhis grandmothers Rebecca East and Maria Chauvin,aswellas his auntsYvetteChauvin Rispone and Susan East Nelson, and uncles Charles East and Fred Chauvin. He was preceded in death by his stepfather William Sanders, III, andhis grandfathers Morris East and Junius Chauvin, as wellashis aunt,Mary Loftus. He also leavesbehindfriends spreadthroughout the country who all havea funny story(or two) to tell you aboutJoey. His Louisiana family willholda small memorial on August 2, 2025, in BatonRouge. The family asks that in lieu of sending flowers,those who wish to remember him send donations to the JedFoundation (jedfoundation.org) or NAMI (nami.org).

Thomas, Hazel Mae Douglas

Hazel Mae Douglas Thomas passedaway on Saturday, July19, 2025 at her home surrounded by her family She is survivedbyher daughters, Pamella Thomas and ZoeCollier; sons, Clyde(Pernell) Thomas and Brian Thomas and her brother, Ceasar Douglas. Family and friends of Hazelare invited to attend theVisitation on Friday, August 1, 2025 at Hall's CelebrationCenter, 9348 Scenic Highwayfrom 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Visitation willresume on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at Hall'sCelebrationCenter from 9:00am to 10:00am with the Funeral Service immediatelyfollowing. PastorLarry James, Officiating.Entombment:Heavenly Gates Cemetery of BatonRouge. ServicesEntrustedtoHall Davis and SonFuneralService. www.halldavisandson.com

Albert Hays Town,Jr. passed away during the early morning of Friday,July 25, 2025, at theage of 90. He died as he lived,wellgroundedinhis Christian faith and surrounded by family.Hays wasbornon February 3, 1935, in Jackson, MS,the second child of Albert Hays Town and

BlancheAnita Scharff Town. He lived mostofhis life in Baton Rouge where he graduated from LouisianaState University He wasa member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. At LSU,Hays met hiswife of 68 years, MargueriteGay MayTown, whopredeceased him.

Throughouthis life Hays wasbeloved andwell -known in the community forhis tireless dedication to service andcharitable work.In1988, he andhis wife started theSt. Elizabeth Foundation,a nonprofitadoptionagency, providingsupport andcare to pregnantwomen in Louisianathathas placed morethan600 babies since itscreation. While earning hisMaster of Science in Geography fromLSU in 2013, Hays establishedthe Baton Rouge Citizens to Save ourWater organization,dedicatedtopreservingBaton Rouge ground water. He positivelyimpacted countlesspeopleallinmeaningful ways, bothsmall andlarge. For thelast several years, Hays spent his mornings between Thanksgiving and Christmasvolunteeringfor theSalvationArmyringing thebell.

Hays earnedmanyhonorsoverhis lifetime,includingMan of theYear fromthe national chapter of theAssociated Builders andContractors,Angel in Adoption Awardfrom Congress, and theLeadership forLife Awardfrom LouisianaRight to Life Hays was honoredasan LSU distinguished alumni in 2019, forhaving made significant contributions in hiscareer,personal achievements, andcivic responsibilities.

Hays wasknown forhis integrity, moral character, compassion, generosity andstrongleadership.

Hays is survivedbyhis 6 children: A. Hays TownIII, George Wilton Town (Emily Hanchar), Christopher AshleyTown (Lisa Files), GregoryHarrell Town(Tammi McCallie),MargueriteGay MayTown Caryl (Theodore Caryl), and JonathanAdam Town(Molly LaPrairie).He is survivedbyhis 21 grandchildren: MariaTown (Cheryl Lovelady), A. Hays TownIV, John HenryTown (AnaArnone),Nanette TownSaia(BartSaia), George Wilton Town,Jr. (Rachel O'Malley), Amelie TownBernhard (Patrick Bernhard), Mignon Town Kastanos (Jonathan Kastanos), Gabrielle TownOllendike(Phillip Ollendike, ), MargoTownMathews (Michael Mathews),LindseyTown Hardy (Elliot Hardy), ForrestTown (Stefanie Gillett),MaryClaire TownStickle (Will Stickle), GregoryHarrell (Hal) Town, Jr., Robert(Beau) WebsterTown, Leigh Ann TownPodorsky (Micah Podorsky), Matthew Town, MargueriteGay Mott Baruch(Satyam Baruch) JonathanAdam Town,Jr. (Caroline Marks), Martha Buckner Town,and Sarah MayTown. Hays is also survivedbyhis 28 great grandchildren, his3 sisters -in-law,PatriciaMay Dalton(John Dalton,Jr.), George MayJeansonne (Richard Jeansonne),and Mary MayStelly (Harry Stelly)aswellashis sister, BlancheAnitaGladney.

flowers,please senddonationstoSt. Elizabeth Foundation,8054 Summa Avenue, SuiteA,Baton Rouge, LA 70809. https://stelizabethfoun dation.org/donate/

La 70788.

Tafferon Walker Vance, age 59, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2025, in NewOrleans,Louisiana. Born December 9, 1965, in Baton Rouge,she attended Baker High School, known for herfriendlynatureand bright smile. Sheislovingly remembered by herhusband, SammuelVance Jr.; daughter, Nicosha Walker; stepdaughter, Shantrell Vance; sisters, CrystalTate (Derrick), KellySpears (Will), andRachel Washington;brothers, Leon Walker Jr., Deon Walker Sr., andChristopherBarnes Sr.; andfourgrandsons, Vernon Medearis III,D'Sani Walker, D'Cayman Walker, andKashHawkins. three great grand kids Xaylann, Hakeem, D'Laya Visitation will be held on August 1, 2025, from 3:00-6:00 PM at Hall Davis &Son Funeral Service,and thefuneral service will follow on August 2, 2025, at 12:00 PM at Mt.ZionBaptist Church on TheHill, 220 WPlainsPort Hudson Rd

Funeral serviceswill be heldonThursday, July31st andwill includevisitation from9:00 to 11:00 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, followedbymass. In

Walker,Alvin Joseph 'Squeaky'

Alvin Joseph Walker "Squeaky" departedthis life on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at Baton Rouge General, Bluebonnet. He was66and anative of WhiteCastle. He leaves to cherish his wife of 40 yrs, Betty Walker,his 2children, grandchildren, siblings &a host of familymembers.

Eulogistic servicesare Saturday, August 2, 2025, 11 am at Greater ProgressiveChurch32580 Leona Ave,WhiteCastle,

Walker Vance,Tafferon

Weams, WaynePatterson

Town, Albert Hays

Melcher, Malcolm

Nadler, Jaynel Froisy

OPINION

Trustincourts, judgesa bulwarkofdemocracy

ent still received partial relief

young man to years in prison?

The rule of law is society’s security blanket. Faith in theConstitution, enabled by the rigorous demand for free and fair access to the courts, provides everyone with rights unique to America. That foundation —that we stand equal beforeand because of the law —isdependent on judges. Their daily toil ensures the ideal becomes reality

Lewis Unglesby GUEST COLUMNIST

The courthouse is the community’schurch. The judges are the guardians of that sanctuary,people who do thehard things that keep us free. Throughout history, withits evolving changes in public opinions, it is the rule of law that maintains stability.That consistency is necessary to achievethe possibilities of democracy

The third branchofgovernment

is coequal in every state constitution.It is the most democratic and the most accessible. At thecourthouse,the people’svoice is ascendant. The judge oversees and decides disputesdirectly,face-to-face with thelitigants. None of uscan require theexecutive or the elected legislature to explain their positions. Only in court are questions asked that must be answered.Only in court can aperson place an adversary under oath.The faithful guardian of this civilized conflict is the judge.The voice of thecalloused hand counts just asmuch as the polished fingernail.

Today,there are someinpublic service who, in atemporary grab for power,choose to diminish thenecessity of judicial inde-

pendence. Politicianserr when they relegate thejudge’swork to an inconvenience that may be criticized or reshaped to fit selfinterested desires.

Courts are thewalls of the Alamo, thebeaches at Normandy and themonuments in Washington. They are what guard thepeople from abuses promoted by those in power The concept —now areality —ofajudge feeling personally attacked or pressured by the shifting political whimsofthe time is anti-American. Ajudge’s duty—their essence —isfidelity to law and fact. Regardless of the power or stature of thelitigants, thesystem has always held.

Think about this fact: In arecent oral argument before the LouisianaSupreme Court, my opponent stated that his clients “don’ttrust judges.” Yethis cli-

Educationalmaterials aredisplayedinaclassroomatJ.B.Nachman

Used properly in theclassroom, AI canbea huge learning boost

Teachers and schools across thecountry are working to find the right role and balancefor artificial intelligence in the classroom,and the road to gettingthere can be bumpy

But AI presents enormous opportunities to uplift our education system if we use it correctly.Instead of hanging back and allowing ourconcerns to control us, the path forwardistoface AI’srole in oureducation system head-on and seize theopportunities it presents. Louisiana is already leadingthe way, blazing new trails in early childhood literacy by deploying AI in the classroom. For students who are behindonliteracy, especiallythose with learning disabilities, AI can make ahuge difference intheir ability to catch up and avoid falling behind, especially wherestaffing and school resources are alreadystretchedthin.

What AI cannot teach above all is how to think for yourself. As we incorporate AI into our curricula and strive for an appropriate role in the classroom,wemust be mindful of the value it canbring, and how thebetter attuned to AI our students are, thebetter prepared they are to compete globally

In what other area of public discourse canthe integrity of the system overcome direct insults to those making the decision?

Respect andadherence to our legal system’sdecisions are the bulwark of acivil society.The foundational necessity of freedom is found in the courthouse.

Ajudge may have to rule against afriend or aneighbor on Friday, and enjoy their company in the cafeteria line on Sunday.That acceptance of the decision is the nutrition that feeds democracy.The application of law is never easy, but it is essential. Deference and respect forthe rule of law come with recognition that the judge is doing the hard taskthat few want. Who wants to start their Monday listening to aheartbreaking victim impact statementand then sentence a

Lawyers can pick their issues. Judges have no such discretion; at all times, their duty is to the law,the case facts and fair process. Case by case, the rule of law remains constant and consistent. It is that dependability that guarantees public trust.

This is not an aspirational wish. It comes from the perspective of apractitioner with over 50 years of experience. In ademocracy with afree-market economy nothing is perfect. But the third branch of government remains the mostdependable, consistent and accessible. The fairness of the public square —where all can witness the process —isthe lifeblood that nourishes our togetherness.

Lewis Unglesby is an attorney based in Baton Rouge.

Food security akey tool in fight forbetterhealth

As healthleadersacross the country strive to make America healthy,oratleasthealthier,werecognize the enormity of the task we face, especially in Louisiana. There are many opportunities to make Louisiana healthier. More than 14% of Louisiana adults have diabetes, and nearly 40% are obese. There arenoeasyfixes to these challenges. There is no single answer.But tackling food insecurity could have ahuge, positive impact. Food security is aboutmore than simply having enough to eat. It means ensuring accesstonutritious food thatsupports good health. According to Feeding Louisiana,1 in 7Louisianans struggle to provide healthy meals for themselvesortheir household.

Research shows thatifyou eat healthy,you’re less likely to developdiabetes and will bettermanage diabetesifyou already have it. You’re less likely to become obese. Being food secure also addresses two othersocial determinants of health —education andemployment —bymaking you more productive at school or work. With aboutone-third of all Louisianans and more thanhalfofthe state’schildren covered at least in partbyMedicaid, Healthy Louisiana plans have aresponsibilitytobepartofthe solutiontofighting Louisiana’s food security crisis.

At our company, we are doing this in myriadways.

While we have long supported Louisiana organizations working to endhunger, in 2025, we startedour Healthy Food,Healthy Community initiative,through whichwehavefundedfood banks and invested in partnerships with local grocers and communitybased organizations in low-income neighborhoods.

Likeany other tool, AI’sreal worth depends on how we use it

If we do not adjust our curricula to make room for AI, China will assuredly not wait for us. We must instead adapt how we educate in recognition of AI’spromises and pitfalls, and that includes making sure our lessons emphasize and encourage students to engage in original thinking, with or without AI’s assistance.

AI’s benefits are not limited to teaching directly —itmay even have greater value as an administrative tool and assistantfor teachers. It can help teachers draft and tailor curricula andlesson plans, prepare individualized assignments and speed up grading, among othertasks

While there is no replacement forhuman teachers, AI can nevertheless free upsignificant amounts of teachers’ timesothat they can devote more of their attention to theirstudents’ unique interests and needs.

Finding the right rolefor AI in theclassroom will require both patience andeffort.It is nota substitute for core skills, but there is no denyingthatit can help students who are strugglingtocatch up or students who are excelling advance even further.

That’swhy gettingajumpstartonhow we navigate learning in apost-AI world is so important Louisiana’sefforts to integrate AI into the state’s education system will not only allow us to gather real-world dataabout how and where AI is most helpful in the classroom, but also lay the foundations we need to set our studentsupfor success later

It is essential that Louisiana —and the United States as awhole —proactively engage the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence. AI is not apassing trend; it is a transformative force that will shape the future of education, work and society.Likeany tool, itsvalue depends on how and when we use it

RonnieMorris is thechairman of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

This money hasgonetowardprograms suchasMakin’ Groceries Mobile Markets, mobile pop-up food pantries, food backpack distributions andsummerfood serviceprograms for students. That lastinitiative is especially important during the summer, when many childrenlose one of their few consistent sources of healthy meals for more than two months. By providing healthy food choices,weare helping Louisianans overcome food insecurity and building healthiercommunities.

Monetary donations areagreat starting point for delivering impact. But youwill also find our associates volunteering at the food pantries —unloading food pallets, packing boxes and grocery bagsorhanding themout to the families.

ButMedicaidhealth plans can go even further by providing medically tailoredmealsfor those with special dietary needs. For example, people with diabetes need food that will keep their blood sugarlevelsincheck.

Ourcompanyhas provided medically tailored meals as avalueadded benefit for many years, andwehavefound thatitreduces avoidable hospital readmissions. Based on this result, the Louisiana Department of Health recently gave us permission to make medically-tailored meals acovered benefit, whichwill allowusto offer this help to more of ourmembers.

The Louisiana Department of Health calls its Medicaid health plans “Healthy Louisiana” plans, and we take the responsibility to live up to thatnameveryseriously.Thatiswhy we will continue to work to address food insecurity.Itwon’tsolve all of Louisiana’shealth challenges, but making sure Louisianans have access to healthy food would be an important stepinmaking Louisiana healthy again.

Kyle Viator is market president of AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana.

Ronnie Morris GUEST COLUMNIST

Kyle Viator GUEST COLUMNIST

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIEWESTBROOK

ElementarySchool in Alexandria.

ISSUE OF THE WEEK STEPHENCOLBERT

One night, Stephen Colbertwas blasting Paramount,the corporate owner of his “Late Night” showonCBS,for its settlingofwhat some saw as afrivolous lawsuitbyDonald Trump.The nextday,Colbertlearned that he would no longer have ashow. Paramount says thecancellation was duetopurely financial considerations. But others worrythat withthe show’s demise, the country is losing apoint of connection.What does late-night television mean for Americans?Hereare twoperspectives:

Thecancellationissad, butnot becauseofTrump

When Calvin Coolidge died, Dorothy Parker is saidtohave remarked, “How can they tell?” Ifelt the same way when CBS announced it was canceling Stephen Colbert’s“Late Show.” At some point, Iprobably registered that Colbert had taken over the network’slate-night franchise, but if Idid, Iquickly forgot it. I never watched theshow, because Iliterally can’trecall the last time Iwatched network television,outside of presidentialdebates.

road.

ega McArdle M n

In asurvey last year by Statista, only 59% of Americans said they had watched “linear television” (read:broadcast, cable or satellite shows) in the past 12 months, down from 79% five years ago. Thatreality is visible in Colbert’sratings, which declined from 3.1 million viewers in the 2017-2018 season, to 1.9 million lastyear, with only acouple hundred thousand viewers in the critical 18-49 segment that advertisers covet. Advertisingdollars similarly fell by about 40%, driving the showtoareported $40 million loss. That, and not Colbert’spolitics, is the primary thing you shouldbethinking about when you ask why the show was canceled. The great unbundlingofthe old networks and cable packages meant that late-night shows were no longer ahot media property but an economic liability Yes, Paramount, which ownsCBS wants to consummate amerger with Skydance for which it needs theTrumpadministration’sblessing. And yes, Colbert’s highly visible ideology probably alienated viewerslooking for some light entertainment, not aheavy dose of left-wing politics. Arguably,the political inflection made the show less funny, since humor depends on surprise, and Democratic politics longago became pretty predictable But it would have been much harder to cancelashow that was making thenetworklots of money —oratleast generatingprestige and buzz.Bythe time CBS pulled the plug, late-nightshows were no longer even doing that.Sometimedur-

ing the pandemic, that cultural centrality started to erode. These days, when someone pulls out their phone to show me aclip from one of the shows, it is likely to be one that aired years ago. And that is why you should be concerned about what Colbert’s cancellation means for American democracy —not because it’sa sign of acorporation bending the kneetoawould-be dictator,but because it’sa sign of the unbundling of theAmerican public.

That’svisible even when we leave the house,whereabout theonly national experiences we seem to have in commonare Starbucksand Target.The pews of major religious denominations are sparse, the lodges and service organizations and Veterans of Foreign Wars halls are closing,libraries are morphing into social service providers and scouting is in managed decline. Meanwhile, the institutions we still have in common, such as public schools, have been riven by a divisive form of politics that often makes them feel like battlegrounds, rather than asharednational project.And America needs ashared national story,acommon understanding of something, to hold together as anation.

Butifit’snot exactly ashock —it’sstill incredibly sad to lose ashow that was a culturaltouchstone for decades. Amite dangerous,too, given that it looks as thoughCBS was appeasing apresident theshowoften opposed (even if that’s notthe case). But what’smostworrying is that we have no obvious successor to the unifying force that late-night shows usedtobe. America might no longer want the“Late Show.” Butitneeds some way to hear thesame stories, laugh at the same jokes and gather around the collectivewater cooler to talk about what they mean.

Megan

McArdleinonX,@asymmetricin-

fo.

Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” has been canceled by CBS, effective in May.Critics of the decision are claiming politics is the reason. They are right,except the show has been too political. During its10-year run it has been aconduit for Democrats to attack President Donald Trumpand Republicans. There are rumors within the entertainment industry that Jimmy Kimmel’slate-night show on ABC may also be headed for thedoor.Nothing heard yet about the future of Jimmy Fallon andthe “Tonight Show.” While Colbert’s show was thetop-rated broadcast lateshow (2.8 million viewers, but Greg Gutfeld averages 3.289 million on Fox), it had few advertisers, astaff of 100 and Colbert was reportedly paid $20 million annually

People of acertain age will recall the nameSteveAllen, who invented the “Tonight Show” format on NBC. Steve was pure entertainment.Hewas followed by Jack Paar,who brought an intellectual depthtothe show,along with his unique brand of humor.Johnny Carson and Jay Lenofollowed, avoiding partisan politics. In a1979 interview with Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes,” Carson was asked whyhe didn’tdopolitics on the show.Hereplied: “Tell methe last time Jack Benny,Red Skelton, any comedian used his show to do serious issues.” He said serious issues are “a danger” for acomedian. “Once you start that, you start to get that self-important feeling that what you say hasgreat import you could use that show as aforum to sway people and Idon’tthink you should as an entertainer.” That attitude is what kept Carson on NBC for nearly 30 years. He was beloved by Democrats and Republicans. While he occasionally had politicians as guests (Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon wereamong thehighest-profile Republicans, while Bill Clinton and then-California Jerry Brown were among thebest-known Democrats), Carson let thepoliticians make their political points while he kept to the middle of the

Iused to stay up late watching the monologues and someofthe interviews, beginning with Allen and ending with Leno. It’s not worth it anymore, unless you are aliberal and want reinforcement of viewsyou already hold. It’s the samewith manyof the award showsand whyratings forthe Oscars and Emmyshave fallen. After along day that usually includes exposure to politics in conversations or on cable TV,I suspect manypeople are hungry forentertainment. There is another reason whypeople are watching less late-night TV.Wecan access excerpts of the showsonYouTube and other platforms, while getting agood night’ssleep. For an example of funconversation and humor check out this video of Jack Paar on Carson’sshow.Apologies forthe ads: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?vQ4LHwGPH57U

Despite overwhelming evidence that people are tired of politics replacing comedy,the leftisdetermined to keep forcefeeding us the samepolitical gruel. This includes speeches from award winners, lecturing viewers about how they hate President Trump, and Republicans, as they did Republican presidents before him They are now suffering the consequences of their misguided decision.

On the day CBS announced the cancellation of his show and the vacating of his timeslot, Colbert denounced the network. He had been critical of CBS before when network owner Paramount agreed to a$16 million settlement with President Trump over aBill Whitaker “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President KamalaHarris before the election. Trumphad claimed the interview was heavily and deceptively edited to makeher sound better Colbert’sdenunciations of his employer violated another truth: Don’tbite the hand that feeds you.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub. com.

Cal Thomas

PROVIDED PHOTOBySCOTT KOWALCHyK

Stephen Colbertrecords ashowbefore astudio audience at ‘The Late Show withStephen Colbert’ last week in Newyork

Baton Rouge Weather

Alookat LSU’sdeep depthchart as camp begins

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU’sfourth season under coach Brian Kelly began on Wednesday as the Tigers kicked off preseason practice. It was abusy winter and spring for LSU. After regressing to a9-4 recordlast year, Kelly added arobust transfer portalclass and brought in adeep freshman class into themix with ahandful of keyreturners, including quarterback GarrettNussmeier Here’salook at where the depthchart stands heading into the finalmonthof practice before the startofthe 2025 season.

Quarterback

Starter: GarrettNussmeier (5th-year Sr.)

Backups: Michael VanBuren (So.), Colin Hurley (R-Fr.), Ju’Juan Johnson (So.)

Breakdown: Nussmeier looked unstoppable on the first day of practice, picking apart LSU’simproved secondary withease. Van Buren is acandidate to start next season He’s avaluable backup this year whoalready has SEC experiencehaving transferred from Mississippi State. Hurley was afull participant at practice Wednesday.Hewas sidelined thisspring following aserious car crash in January. Johnson, ahigh schoolquarterback,returns to hisold position after spending last season at running back and safety.

Runningback

Starter: Caden Durham (So.)

Backups: HarlemBerry(Fr.),Kaleb Jackson (Jr.), JT Lindsey (Fr.)

ä See LSU, page 3C

SPORTS

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Kool-Aid

McKinstry has thathard-to-define thing going for him right now

Whatever it is driving thatthing —a full offseason, anew uniformnumber, anew defense,a newplaying weight,adefined role,clearly expressed confidence theNew OrleansSaints cornerback has Year 2breakout written all over him “It definitely feels like afresh start,”McKinstry said. “We’ve got new coaches, (I’ve got)anew number,Ifeel like all that is playing part intowhat’sgoing on now.”

And what’sgoing on right now, in coach Kellen Moore‘s words, is “a big-time camp” for McKinstry

“He’sjust making aton of plays,”Moore said.

Those plays are coming against some of the best the Saintshave to offer.Wednesday morning, he ran downfield withRashid Shaheed and made aplay on the ball as it arrived, breaking up apotential big play

Shaheed hasburned plenty of histeammates this train-

ing camp, but as theballleftJakeHaener’shand, only one thought wasgoing through McKinstry’shead:“Get theball down; don’tlet him catch it.”

That thought turned into action, and it’snot the first time it hashappened since this new coaching staff installed McKinstry as aclear-cut starter after their arrival.Every piece of information the staffhas gathered on McKinstry is being validated on the field right now

That wasn’talways the case during his rookie season.

Going into thedraft,some viewed McKinstryasa potentialfirst-round draft pick, but he slid to the Saints in the second round —aslidethat was perhaps influenced by afoot injury that required surgery.McKinstry missed someofthe off-season program in 2024, then when he got on the field he wascarrying extra weight.

McKinstry began the season as the Saints’ fourth corner.Injuries to Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo eventually forced him into the starting lineup, but his play was uneven. ä See SAINTS, page 5C

Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstryruns adrill on Monday during training camp at the team’spractice facility McKinstryispoised to have abreakout season in his second year with the Saints. STAFFPHOTO By

Notes on agolf scorecard whi… wait. Hold on. The scorecard just burst into flames.It’sreallyhot rightnow …Two days into LSU’spreseason practice and of course the question of questionsis, “How do the Tigers look?”

I’ve covered LSUfootball since they went 2-9 in 1992 and when they won three of their four national championships. Iwasn’t around for 1958. I’m old but not that old And Ialwayssay it’shard to tell what ateam is going to be whenthey’re running through individual drills andgoing against each other in theonly level of football that doesn’thave some sort of preseason schedule. That said, LSU clearly lookslike it has atalented group. Garrett Nussmeierhas been throwing darts all over the football

RABALAIS, page 2C

BY EDDIE PELLS AP national writer

The new agency vetting name, image and likeness deals in college sports reached an agreement Thursday that relaxes standards on player agreements with third-party collectivesand avoids takingthe issue back tocourt after years of legal wrangling. The College Sports Commission saidit will nowconsider athird-party company that seeks to pay aplayertohave a“valid businesspurpose” if the deal “is related to the promotion or endorsementofgoods or services providedtothe general public for profit.” It did away withthe concept that collectivesestablishedsimply to payplayers did not have avalid business purpose even if they sold products forprofit. That guidance, issued earlier in July, threatened to fundamentally change the conceptofthird-partycollectives, which were established in 2021 as the main source of NILdeals forplayers.With

schoolsnow allowedtopay players directly under terms of the industry-changing House settlement, the role of collectives was throwninto limbo.

The CSC, in charge of vetting third-party dealsworth $600 or more, was trying to make it more difficultfor schoolstouse collectives as aworkaround to the $20.5 million cap that theschoolsare allowed to pay players.

Plaintiff attorneys threatened to take the caseback to court, arguing the CSC guidanceamounted to an incorrect reading of the lawsuit settlement that made the payments possible. The CSC’snew guidance provides a moreliberal view of what third-party collectives can do. “Withthisnew guidance, student-athletes can now devote moreoftheir energy to their sport, knowing that the House settlement provides that NIL opportunities from collectives can be available to them as long as the NIL deals comply with

ä See NIL, page 3C

DAVID GRUNFELD

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier gets hit by apad during adrillonWednesdayatthe team’sindoor practice facility.

AP PHOTO By ERICGAy

Texas quarterback Arch Manning throws a pass during practice on Wednesdayatthe team’spractice facility in Austin, Texas.

2

5

Pelicans sued over copyright infringement

BY RASHAD MILLIGAN

Staff writer

A Michigan artist is suing the New Orleans Pelicans for a 2024 photo shoot he said stole from what he argues are his copyrighted artworks.

Tyrrell Winston, of Franklin, Michigan, filed a 19-page complaint in the United States District Court Eastern District of Michigan, as obtained by The Times-Picayune via his attorney, Jayaram Law The suit was originally reported by Sportico.

The complaint comes after Winston said the Pelicans ignored a cease-and-desist order from his legal team in October 2024.

Winston, born in California, is known for his sculptures of deflated basketballs, arranged in “precise grid compositions,” according to the complaint and his social media pages. In 2024, the Pelicans posted photos that featured Dejounte Murray, Brandon Ingram and Daniel Theis posing in front of a grid of deflated basketballs.

“Without authorization, Defendants – a NBA team – created and publicly displayed an unauthorized work substantially similar to Mr Winston’s copyrighted work (the “Infringing Work”), which was used to promote the Pelicans via their official @pelicansnba Instagram account (the “Infringing Posts”),” Winston’s attorney said in the complaint.

The complaint said Winston holds a pair of copyright registrations for his artwork involving the deflated basketballs.

Winston was the subject of a USA Today sports profile about his deflated-basketball artwork in January 2022. He has many high-profile fans of his work, including former San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who hired the artist to produce three “large-scale sculptures,” according to his complaint.

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores also bought art from Winston, and his work was featured at a ‘47 Brand and NBA event during 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.

Instagram users called the Pelicans out in the comments section under the original posts, as cited by his attorney

The complaint ends with a request to take the matter to trial in federal court. U.S. District Judge Linda V. Parker will reportedly preside over the matter.

Sportico suggested the Pelicans are likely to cite “fair use” or highlight that no one owns an idea as the defense points to dismiss the case.

from page 1C

complex, most of them hauled in by impressive receivers like Aaron Anderson, newcomer Barion Brown and tight end Trey’Dez Green. Even one of the few Nuss passes that didn’t find the bullseye was still caught one-handed Wednesday as Destyn Hill skied into the air for a sensational grab in pretty tight coverage.

Linebackers Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins, both coming off injuries this past season, look full go with a complete range of motion and lateral agility There is depth aplenty in key places like the secondary and on the lines. LSU has to be more than a collection of talent by the time it takes on Clemson on Aug. 30. It has to be a team. Brian Kelly and his staff have four weeks to oversee the development of chemistry that’s oh so crucial to succeed in sports. Making a group of

Georgia opens camp with youthful roster

BY CHARLES ODUM AP sportswriter

ATHENS,Ga. Kirby Smart opened his 10th season as Georgia coach with Thursday’s first preseason practice knowing he didn’t have to worry about his message growing old with his players.

More than half of Georgia’s players are starting their first or second years. Smart knows his lessons won’t quickly sound stale for the defending Southeastern Conference champion Bulldogs.

With only seven returning starters, Georgia opened practice with a long list of young players eager to seize their first starting jobs.

“We are young but we are hungry,” Smart said Thursday.

“We’ve got a team that’s fun to coach. A lot of them haven’t had an opportunity to play, and now this is their opportunity Sometimes when you’re coaching, it’s a lot more exciting for guys when they’re having their first time. Now that being said, the lack of experience sometimes can show, but we’re going to try to get through that in camp.”

A more experienced Georgia team finished 11-3 last season and No 6 in The AP Top 25 final poll It was the team’s eighth consecutive top 10 finish under Smart, including back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. Last season’s SEC championship was Georgia’s third with Smart. Georgia returns only four starters on offense.

That total includes two tight ends — Oscar Delp and Lawson Luckie, who made seven starts. Right tackle Earnest Greene III

guys that includes returning stars, transfers and freshmen is a daunting task, but a necessary one. Kelly’s tweaking Clemson’s nose at last week’s Rotary Club luncheon, calling its Memorial Stadium “Death Valley Junior,” has as you would expect not gone unnoticed over in South Carolina. Allow those Tigers to retort: “They can have their opinion,” defensive end TJ Parker said. “We’re going to handle all that on Aug. 30.”

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney pointed out his school has called its stadium Death Valley since 1948 while LSU started describing Tiger Stadium that way after beating Clemson 7-0 in the 1959 Sugar Bowl. Some vintage LSU fans probably remember it being called “Deaf Valley” for how loud it was before that It’s all fun and games, or insults and anger, if you prefer My thought is, so what? Can’t there be two football stadiums called Death Valley? Obviously there’s more than two schools that have

is the only returning starter on the offensive line. Wide receiver Dillon Bell is the fourth returning starter on offense.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton took over for injured Carson Beck in the second half of Georgia’s 2219 overtime win over Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta. Stockton started in the Bulldogs’ 23-10 Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals.

Smart says Stockton is still competing with Ryan Puglisi, but it would be a major surprise if the junior doesn’t start in Georgia’s season opener against Marshall on Aug. 30. Following Beck’s transfer to Miami, Stockton strengthened his hold on the job with a strong spring practice and directed the first-team offense in the G-Day spring game.

The defense includes only three starters: lineman Christen Miller, inside linebacker C.J. Allen and cornerback Daylen Everette. Fire, passion, energy Smart, 49, was asked if he still lives up to the team’s 2025 motto: “fire, passion, energy.”

“I feel it every day, because if you don’t have it, it’s hard to be successful,” Smart said. “You can’t keep up. Our staff has it. Our staff has great juice. We’ve had a chance to reenergize.”

Championship standard

Delp was a freshman on Georgia’s 2022 national championship team. He said he’s motivated to help the Bulldogs win another title and has tried to share lessons from that team with new players.

the nickname Tigers out there, though LSU claims to be the only Fighting Tigers. Someone will get to claim bragging rights on Aug. 30. It’s amusing, but that’s about it. Friday marks the end of an era at The Advocate. Our beloved prep editor, Robin Fambrough, is retiring after 34 years covering high school sports (and occasionally a few LSU things) at our newspaper

To say Robin covered high school sports is landing far short of the mark. She knew all the coaches. All the administrators. Stayed on top of all the key issues and chronicled all the budding careers of so many stars as well as so many kids for whom high school sports was the farthest they’d go. She covered stars even before anyone else knew they were stars, like Seimone Augustus, from Capitol High to LSU to the WNBA to the Olympics to the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Robin knew so many of their stories, on such a personal, granular level. I used to joke that

McGregor loses appeal in sexual assault case

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor on Thursday lost his legal appeal against a civil court’s finding that he sexually assaulted a woman at a Dublin hotel. In November a jury at the High Court in Dublin found McGregor liable for assaulting Nikita Hand, who says he “brutally raped and battered” her in a hotel penthouse in 2018. He was ordered to pay Hand almost 250,000 euros, as well as about 1.3 million euros in legal costs.

Hand, 35, successfully sued McGregor in civil court after prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely

Three appeals court judges in Dublin on Thursday dismissed the appeal “in its entirety.”

Siegrist set for Wings return after missing 17 games

Maddy Siegrist is set to return for the Dallas Wings after missing seven weeks with a fracture in her right knee.

Siegrist will be available for Friday night’s game against the Indiana Fever, the team said Thursday Siegrist, the NCAA Division I scoring leader ahead of Clark when she played for Villanova in 2022-23, has missed the past 17 games with the knee injury Injuries limited her to 11 games as a rookie two years ago Siegrist has averaged 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 11 games and had her only double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 boards the game before she was injured, an 81-65 loss to Minnesota on June 8.

“I came back for a reason,” Delp said when asked why he didn’t enter the NFL draft. “I want to have a great season.

“I know how it was when when we won games and we won national championships. I was here for that and so I just kind of share with them the standard and what those older guys were holding me to when I was younger I just try to keep it the same, you know the standard is the standard. You’ve got to do it certain ways to win championships.”

‘Big Mike’ has shot Offensive guard Micah Morris

(6-4, 330) entered camp as a projected starter. The fifth-year senior was a fill-in starter last season. This is his long-awaited opportunity to be a full-time starter Morris, who has a nickname of “Big Mike” and a reputation as the strongest player on the team, said he never considered finding an opportunity to start at another school through a transfer “This is my home, this is where I committed,” Morris said. “This is where I wanted to be when I was a 17-year-old kid. I knew I could develop here even if I wasn’t starting.”

Jackson faces discipline

Smart said backup offensive lineman Jahzare Jackson, a sophomore, “is disappointed, obviously, in the decision-making process” following his arrest in Athens on July 16 on possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, a felony “He’s being disciplined internally, but he’s with the team,” Smart said.

she could tell you what the quarterback for Woodlawn High had for breakfast, never quite sure I’d want to test her on her encyclopedic knowledge. She is a huge part of an amazing legacy of high school coverage at our paper Since 1948, The Advocate has had only two prep editors: the late Ted Castillo, and Robin, who filled Ted’s shoes in 1991. Seventy-eight years. Two people. Basically, if you were at a high school game in Baton Rouge in the postwar era, and you saw Ted Castillo or Robin Fambrough in the press box or courtside, you knew it was the biggest game in Baton Rouge. Coming up in this business as I did in the latter year’s of Ted’s career, I never thought someone would have his gravitas. Robin did. And in legendary fashion.

Local prep fans should rest assured that we are hiring a new writer to fill Robin’s role. But replace her? That simply isn’t possible.

F1 champion Verstappen stays with Red Bull for ’26 Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen says he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future.

Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull through 2028. At recent races he had deflected questions about whether he’d stay with the team next year, and there had been indications that a performance-related clause could allow him to exit the contract early The details of any clause are not public.

Red Bull is more dependent on Verstappen than any of F1’s other leading teams are on any one driver Of the 192 points Red Bull has scored this season, Verstappen contributed 185, while his teammate Yuki Tsunoda hasn’t scored a point in the last six races

Schwarber defers college Hall of Fame selection

All-Star Game MVP Kyle Schwarber is deferring his selection to Indiana University’s Athletics Hall of Fame to a future year because of a rule requiring all living inductees to attend the ceremony Indiana’s induction is set for Sept. 5, a day Schwarber’s Philadelphia Phillies visit the Miami Marlins as they attempt to win their second straight NL East title.

Schwarber was selected in his first year of eligibility Indiana’s athletic department announced the selections on Thursday Schwarber was one of the school’s biggest baseball stars, leading to two Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles while ranking among career leaders in hits (238), home turns (40), runs (182) and slugging percentage (.607) while batting .341.

Hulk Hogan cause of death revealed as heart attack

Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan ‘s death last week was caused by a heart attack, according to Florida’s district six medical examiner report released Thursday Hogan, 71, whose real name was Terry Bollea, previously had leukemia and atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm, the report said. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital less than 90 minutes after medics arrived at his home in Clearwater to answer a call about a cardiac arrest on the morning of July 24. The report said the cause of death was “natural.” Hogan was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history, known for both his larger-than-life personality and his in-ring exploits. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years.

STAFF PHOTO By MIKE STEWART

Gunner Stockton works out with the team during a Georgia football practice on Thursday in Athens.

Clemsonleads preseason ACCAll-Conferencepicks

BY AARON BEARD Associated Press

Preseason league favorite Clemsondominated the Atlantic Coast Conference’s preseasonall-conference picks, including quarterback Cade Klubnik as the preseason pick for player of the year The league releasedits All-ACC picks Thursday after voting by media members attending last week’s football media days in Charlotte, NorthCarolina. The ACCannounced Wednesday that Clemsonwas the

LSU

Continued from page1C

Breakdown: Durham was the lead back by theend of last season. Berry and Jackson seem poised to split reps behind him, although Berry had more run with the first team on Wednesday.Lindsey rounds out ayoung room that no longer has the veteranpresence of Josh Williams.

Wide receiver

Starters: Aaron Anderson (R-Jr.), ChrisHilton(5thyear Sr.), Barion Brown (Sr.)

Backups:NicAnderson(R-Jr.), Kyle Parker(R-So.), Zavion Thomas (Sr.), Destyn Hill(RSo.), Jelani Watkins (R-Fr.), Kylan Billiot (R-Fr.), TaRon Francis (Fr.), Phillip Wright (Fr.)

Breakdown: Onecouldargue that this is LSU’sbest positional group from topto bottom. AaronAnderson, Hilton and Thomas provide returning experience, especially Andersonwho had884 receiving yards ayear ago. Parker,who showed flashes ayearago,returns from a torn tricep tendon. Brown provides even more speed to the room as atransfer from Kentucky.Oklahoma transfer Nic Anderson was cleared to practice fully on Thursday after he was in acar crash on July 11. Hill, a Florida State transfer,shined on Wednesday

The Tigers only added two freshman to the mix over the offseason. But withBilliot and Watkinsreturning, they still have adeep group of prospects.

Tightend

Starter: BauerSharp (5thyear Sr.)

Backups: Trey’Dez Green (So.), Donovan Green (R-Jr.), JD LaFleur (Fr.)

Breakdown: LSU’s tight ends room is deeper this season despite no longer having Mason Taylor,the program’sall-time leader in receiving yards. Sharp transferred from Oklahoma and led the Sooners in receptions last season. Trey’DezGreenhastheathleticism to turn his promiseinto

runaway choice to win the leagueaheadofMiami and SMU.

Klubnick earned 146 of 183votes forplayerof the year,with Georgia Tech quarterbackHaynes King secondwith nine votes and SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings nextwith five The Tigers claimed 11 of the 27 spots on the preseason team. Klubnikheadlined six picks onthe offense, joining receivers AntonioWilliams andBryantWesco Jr., offensive tackle BlakeMiller, offensiveguard Walker Parks and center Ryan Linthicum.

more production. Donovan Green transferred from Texas A&M and provides more valuable experience. LaFleur is the son of former LSU AllAmerican David LaFleur.

Offensiveline

Starters: Tyree Adams, LT (R-So.); DJ Chester,LG(RSo.);Braelin Moore, C(RJr.); Josh Thompson,RG (5th-year Sr.); Weston Davis RT (R-Fr.)

Backups: Paul Mubenga (R-So.), Coen Echols (RFr.), Carius Curne (Fr.), Bo Bordelon (R-Jr.), Solomon Thomas(Fr.),BrettBordelon(Fr.), KhayreeLee (R-Fr.), Tyler Miller (Fr.), Ethan Calloway (R-Fr.), Ory Williams(R-Fr.)

Breakdown: Among all the position groups, this is the unit that holds the most question marks.Chester, the center last year,isthe only returning starter but will likely bump out to guard to make wayfor Moore, acoveted transfer from Virginia Tech.The only transfer who joins himisThompson, another highly soughttransfer from Northwestern Adams started two games last season, including at left tackle in thebowl game. Daviswas afour-star recruit in the2024class butdidn’tplay much as afreshman Kellymentioned Mubenga,Echols, Curneand Bo Bordelonasdepthpieces who could contend for a starting spot. Thomas, atop50 recruit,willbeout for a month witha broken fifth metatarsal in his foot

Defensiveline

Starters: Ahmad Breaux (So.), DominickMcKinley (So.)

Backups: Jacobian Guillory (GraduateSr.), Bernard Gooden(5th-year Sr.),Shone Washington (R-Jr.), Sydir Mitchell (R-So.), Zion Williams (Fr.), Brandon Brown (Fr.), Walter Mathis (Fr.)

Breakdowns: Thestarting spots on the defensive line are still fluid. Guillory missed nearly alloflast season with an injury.But if he’sfully himself by the start of the year, he’lllikely earn the nod over Breaux or McKinley Breaux was asteadysur-

Southern’s Givens mentionedontwo preseasonwatchlists

BY TOYLOY BROWNIII Staff writer

Ckelby Givens hasbeen mentioned on two national award watch lists lessthan amonth after beingvoted thepreseason Southwestern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Southern’sdominant defensive end is on watchlists forthe Buck Buchanan Award andthe Stats Perform HBCU National Player of theYear The Buchanan Award is given annually to thebest defensiveplayerinthe FCS. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior is theonly HBCU player on the 30-player list announced Wednesday Givens is theonlyreturning finalist among 20 players on the HBCUNational Player of theYearwatch list, which was announced

NIL

Continuedfrom page1C

the settlement terms,”plaintiffattorneys Steve Berman and Jeffrey Kessler said in astatement.

Thursday.Players of any position are eligible. Givens said Monday he’sgrateful for the honors, but doesn’tlet that cloud his view of the upcoming season.

“I’m blessed to get the accolades Ireceive,” Givens said. “At theend of the day it’sjustfootball, youknow.I’vegot to go play one game at atime. No matter (the) preseason accolades or accolades Igot lastyear,it’sa new year.”

The Shreveport native led the FCS in tackles forloss with 271/2 and finished third in sacks with 12. In 13 games,Givens had 73 total tackles (42 solo), 13 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles andone pass breakup, earning SWAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year.Hewas instrumental in the Jaguars finishing 8-5and winning the SWAC West Division title

Clemson had five on the defense: defensiveend T.J. Parker,defensive tackle Peter Woods, linebackers Wade Woodaz and SammyBrown, andcornerbackAvieon Terrell. Pittsburgh claimed three spots, though versatile running back Desmond Reid was voted in for two positions as an all-purposethreat and as aspecialist Miami,SMU,Georgia Tech, Louisville and Duke were theonly other teams with two selections, while FloridaState, N.C. State and Syracuse each had one.

prise ayear agodespite being afreshman. McKinley’simmense talent shined in spots in 2024, and Kelly has been very impressed with his offseason. Gooden, aSouthFlorida transfer,had astrong first day of preseason practice. Washington is back after recording eight tackles last year.Mitchell is atransfer from Texas. Williams, Brown and Mathis give LSU depthfor the future.

Edge

Starters: Jack Pyburn (Sr.), Patrick Payton (5th-year Sr.)

Backups: Gabriel Reliford (So.), Jimari Butler (Graduate Sr.), Kolaj Cobbins (R-Fr.), Dylan Carpenter (R-So.), CJ Jackson (R-Fr.), Damien Shanklin (Fr.)

Breakdown: LSU hitthe portal hard by adding Pyburn from Florida,Payton from Florida Stateand Butler from Nebraska. Pyburn will play abig part in the Tigers’ run defense and bring more toughness. Butlerprovides veteran depth and Payton has16sacksoverthe past three seasons. Relifordearnedsome playingtimelastseason. His role should only grow this fall. Carpenter,Cobbins, Jackson and Shanklin provide LSUavariety of youngeroptionsatthe position

Linebacker

Starters: Whit Weeks (Jr.), Harold Perkins (R-Jr.), West Weeks (Graduate Sr.)

Backups: Davhon Keys (So.), Charles Ross (Fr.), TylenSingleton (R-Fr.), Zach Weeks (Fr.),Jaiden Braker (Fr.), Keylan Moses (Fr.)

Breakdown: Perkins’ return gave LSU arguably the best linebacking corpsinthe nation heading into this season Whit Weeks is fully healthy afterdislocating his ankle and fracturing his tibia in the Texas Bowl.His brothers, Zach and West, provide depth for the present and future. Keys is aformer four-star recruit in the2024 class and was arockfor the Tigers lastseason.Expect he and West Weeks to rotate and help keep Perkins and Whit Weeks fresh. Singleton,Ross, Braiker

Partofthe CSC’srequirements include athletes needing to, in certain cases, provide documentation showing the entity’s efforts to profitfrom thedeal.

In ajoint statement, the defendants and plaintiffs reiterated that “the traditional purpose of manyNIL collectives—raising money to induce student-athletes to attend or play at an institution —does not satisfy thevalid business purpose requirement.”

But, thestatement said, “Inevaluating such payments, the Settlement’s requirementsfocus on substance, notlabels” —an indication that the focus should notbeon whether the organization making the deal is considered a”collective,” but only whether it sells something to thepublic for profit.

CSCcommissioner BryanSeeleyreiterated that the main point of the settlement was to make sure “pay-for-play” payments, long forbidden by theNCAA, weren’t being madetoplayers.

“Pay-for-play will notbepermitted and every NIL deal done witha student-athlete must be alegitimate NIL deal, not pay-forplay in disguise,” he said.

Partsofthe arrangement that don’t change are the CSC’stask of determining fair market valuefor thegoodsand services provided and the collectives’ ability to match athletes withother businesses offering NIL opportunities.

moving forward.

and Moses all have thepotential to step in if an injury occurs. Ross was atop-60 recruit in the 2025 class.

Cornerback

Starters: MansoorDelane (Sr.), Ashton Stamps (Jr.) Backups: DJ Pickett(Fr.), Ja’Keem Jackson (R-So.), PJ Woodland (So.), Michael Turner(R-Fr.), AidanAnding (Fr.), Wallace Foster (RFr.)

Breakdown: Despite being a freshman, Pickett hasthe talent to start immediately The five-star recruit was the No. 24 playerinthe nation, per the 247Sports Composite. Delane is atop transfer from Virginia Tech who can also play safety.Stampsisa returning two-year starter. Jackson was atop recruit at Florida and worked under current LSU secondarycoach Corey Raymond. Woodland earned playing time last season as afreshman. Turner,Anding and Foster are multiple prospectsLSU can work with

Safety

Starters: Tamarcus Cooley (R-So.), AJ Haulcy (Sr.)

Backups: DashawnSpears (So.), Jardin Gilbert (5th-year Sr.), JavienToviano (Jr.), Joel Rogers (R-Fr.),AustinAusberry(R-Jr.), Jacob Bradford (Fr.),Jhase Thomas (Fr.),CJ Jimcoily (Fr.)

Breakdown: Cooley and Haulcy areapairoftransfers poised to right the ship fora positionunit thatstruggleda year ago. Cooley transferred fromNCState,Haulcycame from Houston. Gilbert was astarter ayear ago but had arocky campaign. Spears showed flashes in limited playing time last season.Toviano moves to safety full-time after working at cornerback. LSU adds adeep freshman class to the position while bringing back Rogers andAusberry

Kicker

Starter: Damian Ramos (5thyear Sr.)

Backup: Aeron Burrell (So.)

Breakdown: Ramos returns as LSU’sthird-year starter Burrellwill serve as theTigers’ kickoff specialist again while providing competition forRamos as theplacekicker Punter

Starter: GrantChadwick(So.)

Backup: Badger Hargett (RSo.)

Breakdown: LSU added Chadwick, atransfer from Middle Tennessee, and lost Peyton Todd to the transfer portal. Todd transferred to ULMonroe after averaging 41.3 yards per attempt last season. Return specialists

Starters: Barion Brown, Zavion Thomas

Backups: Parker,Watkins

Breakdown: Brown was afirst team All-SEC return specialist last season. Thomas held the majority of the return duties for LSU ayear ago, averaging 24.6 yards per kickreturn and4.7 yards per punt return.

Email Koki RileyatKoki. Riley@theadvocate.com.

AP FILEPHOTO By DAVID ZALUBOWSKI

Colorado safety Carter Stoutmire celebrates after an overtime victory overthe Baylor Bears on Sept. 21 in Boulder,Colo.

Nov. 30 in Clemson, S.C. Klubnikwas votedthe

Correa to Astros highlights busy trade day

BY DAVID BRANDT AP baseball writer

Major League Baseball’s trade

deadline brought plenty of chaos

Thursday, with dozens of deals capping a frenetic 24 hours as teams sought to improve their rosters ahead of the postseason.

Among the highlights: All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa is reuniting with the Houston Astros, the San Diego Padres went on a trading spree that brought in hardthrowing closer Mason Miller, and the New York Yankees grabbed two-time All-Star reliever David Bednar

In other moves, outfielder Cedric Mullins was dealt to the New York Mets while former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber is joining the Toronto Blue Jays.

The recent swaps are on top of several deals over the past few days including the Mariners landing slugger Eugenio Suárez — and the final hours saw a whirlwind of activity as teams made trades right up to the 5 p.m. deadline. New deals were still rolling in as the deadline passed Here are some highlights from Thursday:

Astros

CORREA REUNITES WITH OLD TEAM: Correa returned to Houston in a deal with the Minnesota Twins, giving the franchise a boost as it tries to stay atop the AL West.

Correa spent his first seven years in Houston, where he became one of the most beloved players in franchise history helping the team to six playoff appearances, three American League pennants and its first World Series title in 2017 — a championship tainted by a sign-stealing scandal. Minnesota is also sending $33 million to offset the $103.4 million left on Correa’s contract, which runs through 2028. The Twins will receive minor league pitcher Matt Mikulski in return.

Correa has exclusively played shortstop in his 11-year MLB career but will almost certainly move to third base with shortstop Jeremy Peña close to returning from the injured list. The Astros need help at the hot corner with All-Star Isaac Paredes out indefinitely with a hamstring injury

The 30-year-old Correa has had a down season by his standards, batting .267 with seven homers and 31 RBIs. He’s under contract

through 2028. Houston also got outfielder Jesús Sánchez from Miami for righty Ryan Gusto, infielder Chase Jaworsky and outfielder Esmil Valencia.

Padres

SAN DIEGO ADDS ALL-STAR MILLERAND OTHERS: The Padres made several bold moves, adding hardthrowing closer Mason Miller from the Athletics and All-Star first baseman Ryan O’Hearn from Baltimore while swinging five total deals for seven major league players.

San Diego general manager AJ

Preller picked up Miller and lefthander JP Sears while shipping four solid prospects to the A’s. The Padres then got catcher Freddy Fermín from Kansas City before acquiring O’Hearn and outfielder Ramón Laureano from the Orioles. San Diego also added left-hander Nestor Cortés from Milwaukee and utility infielder Will Wagner from Toronto.

Preller was his usual voracious self at the deadline, sending out 14 players and acquiring eight. The biggest loss for San Diego’s farm system was shortstop Leo De Vries, one of the top prospects in baseball, who was used to acquire Miller, one of the majors’ most dynamic relievers.

The Padres entered Thursday in the NL’s final wild-card spot at 6049 after sweeping the New York Mets on Wednesday for their fifth consecutive win. San Diego trails the defending World Series champion Dodgers (63-46) by just three games in the NL West, and Preller clearly believes his veteran core has World Series potential Mets

NEW YORK GETS NEEDED BOOST IN CF WITH BALTIMORE’S MULLINS: Mullins give the Mets an upgrade in center field, where Tyrone Taylor was playing terrific defense but providing little offense. The 30-year-old Mullins who was an All-Star in 2021 — is batting 229 with 15 homers, 49 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

Versatile veteran Jeff McNeil has also been getting starts in center because of his bat, but he has much more experience at second base and the corner outfield spots.

The last-place Orioles received right-handers Raimon Gómez, Anthony Nunez and Chandler Marsh.

Yankees NEW YORK ACQUIRES BEDNAR FROM PIRATES, BIRD FROM ROCKIES: Looking to fortify their bullpen for the stretch run, the Yankees agreed to acquire Bednar from Pittsburgh, Camilo Doval from San Francisco and Jake Bird from Colorado. They also added utilityman José Caballero from Tampa Bay New York was set to send catcher/first base prospect Rafael Flores, catcher Edgleen Perez and outfielder Brian Sanchez to the Pirates in exchange for Bednar

The Yankees sent infielder Roc Riggio and lefty Ben Shields to the Rockies for Bird, outfielder Everson Pereira to the Rays, and four minor leaguers to the Giants, including catcher Jesús Rodríguez, right-hander Trystan Vrieling, infielder Parks Harber and lefthander Carlos de la Rosa.

The 30-year-old Bednar struggled early in the season and spent some time in the minors but has been dominant since his return. He joins a bullpen that already has Luke Weaver and Devin Williams. Bird has a 4.73 ERA and 62 strikeouts over 53 1/3 innings.

The 28-year-old Doval has 15 saves and a 3.09 ERA.

The Yankees have made more than a half-dozen trades since last Friday They obtained third baseman Ryan McMahon from Colorado on Friday, reserve infielder Amed Rosario from Washington on Saturday and reserve outfielder Austin Slater from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday Blue Jays

BI EB ER OFF TO T OR ONT O, NEARING MLB RETURN: Bieber is head-

ed to the AL East-leading Blue Jays in a deal with the rebuilding Cleveland Guardians

Bieber, who is working his way back from April 2024 Tommy John surgery, has made five rehab starts. His most recent outing was Tuesday for Double-A Akron, in which he allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven in four innings. His next rehab start was scheduled for Sunday

The Guardians are getting righthander Khal Stephen from the Blue Jays. Toronto also got righty reliever Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France from Minnesota for rookie outfielder Alan Roden and minor league starter Kendry Rojas.

Bieber had spent his entire career in Cleveland, including winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2020. He has a career record of 6232 with a 3.22 ERA and 958 strikeouts in 136 games, with 134 starts since his debut in 2018. He agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract last fall with a $16 million player option for 2026.

Rangers

TEXAS FORTIFYS PITCHING BY ADDING STARTER KELLY, RELIEVER MATON: The Texas Rangers acquired righthander Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks, adding a veteran starter with postseason experience to help rotation at the trade deadline. The D-backs received three minor league pitchers: left-handers Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt and right-hander David Hagaman. The 36-year-old Kelly has spent all of his seven major league sea-

SCOREBOARD

p.m.

World Tour National Bank open results Thursday At Sobeys Stadium Toronto Purse: $9,193,540 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Men’s Singles Round of 32 Karen Khachanov (11), Russia, def. Emilio Nava, United States, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1. Alex Michelsen (26), United States, def. Lorenzo Musetti (3), Italy, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Francisco Cerundolo (14), Argentina, def. Tomas Martin Etcheverry Argentina, 6-3, 6-4. Men’s Doubles Round of 32 Mate Pavic, Croatia, and Marcelo ArevaloGonzalez (1), El Salvador, def. Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik, Czechia, 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5) Rajeev Ram, United States, and Nikola Mektic, Croatia, def. Fabien Reboul and Sadio

Doumbia, France, 6-7 (8), 6-3, 10-5

Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash (2), Britain, def. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Spain, and Flavio Cobolli, Italy, 6-4, 4-6, 15-13. Horacio Zeballos, Argentina, and Austin Krajicek, United States, def. Matthew Ebden and Alex de Minaur, Australia, 7-5, 6-2. Pro golf Wyndham Championship par scores Thursday At Sedgefield Country Club Greensboro, N.C.

$8.2 million

Okayama 32-35—67 5

Takeda 35-32—67 -5 Miyu Yamashita 31-37—68 4 In Gee Chun 36-33—69 3 Manon De Roey 36-33—69 -3 Laura Fuenfstueck 37-32—69 3

Chisato Iwai 33-36—69 -3

Shiho Kuwaki 35-34—69 -3

Alexa Pano 33-36—69 3

Mimi Rhodes 33-36—69 -3

Mao Saigo 34-35—69 3

Emma Spitz 36-33—69 3 Ina Yoon 36-33—69 -3 Na Rin An 35-35—70 2 Lindy Duncan 37-33—70 -2

Ayaka Furue 34-36—70 -2

Linn Grant 35-35—70 2 Darcey Harry 34-36—70 -2

A Lim Kim 35-35—70 2 Auston Kim 34-36—70 2 Nelly Korda 35-35—70 -2

Andrea Lee 33-37—70 2 Minjee Lee 35-35—70 2 Ingrid Lindblad 35-35—70 -2

Brooke Matthews 37-33—70 2

Hae-Ran Ryu 35-35—70 -2

Jeeno Thitikul 34-36—70 -2

Miranda Wang 33-37—70 2

Amy Yang 37-33—70 -2

Pajaree Anannarukarn 35-36—71 1 Olivia Cowan 35-36—71 1 Diksha Dagar 34-37—71 -1

Kristen Gillman 35-36—71 1 Georgia Hall 35-36—71 1

Brooke Henderson 35-36—71 -1

Esther Henseleit 35-36—71 1 Wei-Ling

home plate during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 22 in Los Angeles.

sons leagues with the Diamondbacks. He was the only Arizona pitcher to beat the Rangers in the 2023 World Series, throwing seven dominant innings in Game 2. Kelly is 9-6 with a 3.22 ERA and 121 strikeouts over 128 2/3 innings this season.

The Rangers also added righthander Phil Maton from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers — right-hander Skylar Hales and lefty Mason Molina — and international bonus pool money The 32-year-old Maton has a 2.35 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 38 1/3 innings.

Finally, the Rangers added lefthanded reliever Danny Coulombe from the Twins in exchange for minor league left-hander Garrett Horn.

Phillies

PHILADELPHIA STAYS AGGRESSIVE, ADDS OF BADER IN DEAL WITH TWINS: The Phillies got outfielder Harrison Bader in exchange for two minor leaguers. It was the team’s second deal with the Twins in two days after landing closer Jhoan Duran.

The 31-year-old Bader, a 2021 Gold Glove winner, remains a strong defender at all three outfield spots and has 12 home runs, 38 RBIs and a .778 OPS in 96 games. He also has postseason experience, playing in five playoff series with the Cardinals Yankees and Mets with a .809 OPS and five career homers.

The Phillies sent minor league outfielder Hendry Mendez and right-hander Geremy Villoria to the Twins for Bader

Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa runs toward

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERIC THAyER

STAFF PHOTO By DAVIDGRUNFELD

Haener shines as Shough struggles

One of the most spirited New Orleans Saints practices in recent memory ended with abit of controversy and alot of trash talk.

Commanders QB Daniels finding newconnections as McLaurin dramaswirls

BY BEN STANDIG Associated Press

ASHBURN, Va The Washington Commanders’ seventh training camppractice, allwithout holdin wide receiverTerry McLaurin, occurred during another punishing wave of summer heat.

The kind that can make aday feel much longer Jayden Daniels did not appreciate acalendar reality check.

“It’s only been aweek?” the quarterback said Washington’sfans know all about time movingslowly and the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year’s arrival last season allowed them to quickly re-engage. The Commanders’ stunning2024 season culminated in the franchise’sfirst NFC championship gameappearance since the 1991 season. One fan brought ahandmade sign to Thursday’spractice that summed up themoodshiftacross the fan base: “Thank you #5 Jayden for making it fun again to be afan.”

Expectations are high thanks to the electric playmaker.Tostayin contention, Daniels needstobuild chemistry with arevampedreceiver group— especially since McLaurin has yet to practice while in acontract standoff. Later Thursday,two peoplewith knowledge of the discussions told TheAssociated Press that McLaurin had asked the Commanders to tradehim.

Samuel said.

Having Daniels throwing him the ball helps.

“It’sreal fun,” Samuel said. “It’s real fun.”

The admiration runs both ways.

“The guy is apro, and he works hard,” Daniels said.“Ijust go out there and try to communicate, ‘This is what Iwant versus this look, versus this coverage.’ And he goes out there, puts in the work, and understands it.”

Fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane is another wide receiver thriving in camp, and Daniels has maintained hisred zoneconnection with tight end Zach Ertz.

Leading the third-team offense on atwo-minute drive to close out practice, quarterback Jake Haener faced an all-or-nothingscenario from the 13yard line with two seconds remaining. His pass toward the back of theend zone fell incomplete, causing an eruption from the defensive sideline, but alateflag flew from the officials working practice.

The penalty was apass interference on cornerback Rejzohn Wright, whom officials deemed madetoo much contact with Mason Tipton in the back ofthe end zone.Defensive players yelled at the official to no avail, saying the contact was admissible because Haener had rolled out of the pocket.

Given another shot from the 1-yard line, Haener faked apitch, rolled to his right and found a wide-open Tipton in the endzone for asituation-winning score. This time the offenseerupted That sequence was the practice encapsulated: It was aspirited, physical and fun nearly two hours in the Saints’ indoor facility— and one that put the quarterbacks under duress.

Here’s how the numbers shook out before we go into the individual performances:

n Spencer Rattler:11-17(44-64 overall)

n Tyler Shough:5-9 with 2interceptions (25-44)

n Haener: 9-13 (33-47) Thursday was Rattler’sturnto

SAINTS

Continued from page

It wasn’tabad season by any stretch —according to ProFootball Reference, opposing quarterbacks completed just 54.8% of their passes when targeting McKinstry in coverage. But there weren’tmany impact plays on his rookie highlight reel.

Healthy going into the offseason, McKinstry focused on getting his body right. He paid close attention to what he ate and played alot of basketball with ahighschool team near his Birmingham home —something he believes helped his conditioning. He arrived to training camp noticeably lighter, carrying about 12 pounds less than his playing weight last season.

“I feel like I’m moving better,Ifeel like everything’s better,” McKinstry said. “I just feel like I’m better,I’m not going to lie —Ifeel like

operate thefirst team, and once again heshowedoff his poise and decisiveness. With defensive coordinator Brandon Staley sending avariety of pressure looks at all three quarterbacks, Rattler handleditwell by moving off his spot in the pocket andfinding his receivers downfield.

His best throw came in ared zone period, when he put theperfect touch on aball to Rashid Shaheed in the back of the end zone, dropping the pass over Alontae Taylor’s reach into Shaheed’s hands to close out theperiod

It wasn’t a perfectday for Rattler,who couldn’tlead ascoring drive on thetwo-minute drill (the Saintstook thefirst-team offense off thefield rather than have them attemptaHail Mary from aboutthe 35-yard line). Rattler also had two passes deflected at theline of scrimmage, which has beenabit of atheme in camp. But he has probablybeen the steadiest day-to-day of thegroup. Shough’sturn running the second-team offense did not go well. After goingthrough the first seven practices without turning the ball over,Shoughthrew two interceptions. One of them was a tip-drillinterception that can be chalked uptoagood play by the defense, but the second was more concerning.

One of the knocks on Shough coming out of Louisville was his play under pressure. With Staley throwing different looksathim Thursday,Shough hadtrouble keeping up. During the red zone period, with pressure coming up the middle,Shough backpedaled andthrew ajump balloff his back foot,allowingsafety Jordan Howden to make an easy interception.

Shough also had arough two-

“I feel like I’m moving better, Ifeel likeeverything’s better. Ijust

feel like I’m better,I’m not going to lie —Ifeel likea betterhuman being, abetter person and alsoabetter football player.”

KOOL-AID McKINSTRy Saints cornerback

abetterhuman being, abetter person andalso abetter football player.”

After Derek Carr retired in May,McKinstry snatched up hisold uniform number, ditching theNo. 14 he wore in 2024 in favor of No.4

Andthen he dove into the newscheme brought by defensive coordinator Brandon Staley,whichhe feels is similar to what he played in at theUniversityofAlabama where he was aconsensus

minuteperiod that went like this:

Ascramble throwaway under pressure, asack and what appeared to be astrip sack (theonly clear thing was that he lost control of the ball). That last play was Shough’sfinal rep before he gave way to Haener

It’stoo early to really be concerned about Shough, who is barely aweek into his first training camp. There is alot to like —including acouple excellent throws from Thursday’spractice —and there is time for it to click into place for him. But at this stage, the gamelooks sped up for him

That has not been thecase for Haener,who continues tolook comfortable operating the offense. He only made four throws in the first three team periods, including aripped throw on an in-breaker to Bub Means,but he performed well in the two-minute setting.

Haener went 7for 9inthe final period, withone of those incompletions being theaforementioned controversial defensive passinterference call. One of those throws was aperfectly placed ball down theseam to DantePettis,squeezed in between converging defenders. The pass came immediately after Haener had taken a“sack,” reversing the field after anegative play

With Haener,it’snot all about thethrows, though. He may enjoy pushing back against commentaryabout his arm strength, but his best traits are still his commandofthe offense and his ability to process the defense. That was on display during that final drive as he directed the offense, finding chunks of yards on the sidelines to setupthe scoring opportunity.

All-American as ajunior

“It’svery comfortable for me,” McKinstry said.“The plays, the techniques, everything is kind of the same as what Ilearned for three years under coach (Nick) Saban.

The Saints tradedLattimore midway through last season, andlet Adebo walkto theNew York Giants in free agency,clearing the way for McKinstry to lock down a starting jobinthe secondary. So far,the returns have been nothing but positive

“This is going to be that second-year jump we felt really confidentthat(it)was going to be,” Mooresaid.“In Philly,wethought really,really highly of him, and certainlyBrandon didduring thedraft processthe year before as wellwhenhewas in SanFrancisco. We feel like we’re going to create a really good opportunity for him.”

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate. com.

Deebo Samuel, acquired this offseasonfor a2025fifth-roundpick, alreadylooks in sync with Daniels The veteran receiver has made a big play in nearly every session, whether on adeep shot —such as Thursday’scorner-of-the-end-zone pass—oracrossing route where he turns ashort pass into alonger gain.

Film study andpractice reps help with timing. But Daniels also values building trust beyond the playbook

“I try to connect with each and every guy in the locker room,” said Daniels, whohas become more vocal entering Year 2.

“That’swhere it all starts. Once you start with that, thenyou’re able to moveontothe field —get to know how the guy works, what type of person he is.”

Samuel, 29, had1,405 yardsand 77 receptions in 2021. He hasn’t topped 60 catchesor900 yardssince, slowed by injuries and inconsistency.But his confidence hasn’t dipped.

“I still gota lotinthe tank,”

DanQuinn sees another difference. The second-year Commanderscoach praisedDaniels for becoming more assertive. Quinn highlighted apost-play conversation with tight end Ben Sinnott after ablitz-beating throw

“The communication’s the main thing,” Quinn said. “If you see it, say it.”

That communication doesn’textendtothe field withMcLaurin at the moment.The veteran wideout reported to camp Sunday after skipping the first four practices and parts of the offseason program.He remains on the physically unableto perform list with an ankle injury Speaking before news broke of McLaurin’straderequest, Daniels —who formed one of the league’s most successful passing combos with McLaurin last season wasn’tsweating the timeline. “I knowthattime will come,” he said of McLaurin eventually rejoining the offense. “Till then, if that’susgetting in the film room andjust talking we always talk.”

RaidersDLlooks to prove itself afterrelease of Wilkins

BY MARK ANDERSON AP sportswriter

HENDERSON, Nev.— Christian

Wilkins’ expected impact on the Raiders’ defensive line was in question long before he was shockingly released last week, which if nothing else provided clarity on what kind of front Las Vegas can take into the season. JonahLaulu hasshowed some promise he could take over Wilkins’ spot at tacklenext to Adam Butler, who comes offa career season. Maxx Crosby is an elite edge rusher,and Malcolm

Koonce on the other side has shown theability to disrupt opposing passing games.

Not that replacing one of the game’stop interior linemen will be simple,but theRaiders might be able to absorb sucha changereasonably well.

“We’re not necessarily thebiggest group, butacross theboard everybody moves really well,” coach PeteCarroll said. “So we’re goingtoplay to that. That’sa real competitive group, and that’s going to take us all camp. It’s going to take us through the games and all of that to figure thatout. There’snorush.

AP PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels takes awater break during practice at training camp on Sunday in Ashburn, Va

Saints quarterback JakeHaener calls aplayasguard Kyle Hergel prepares to snap the ball during training camp on Mondayatthe team’sfacilityinMetairie.

Luke Johnson

Dahmen leads with 61, matching career best

By The Associated Press

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Joel Dahmen

started his long-shot bid to make the PGA Tour postseason by closing with three straight birdies for a 9-under 61 on Thursday to match his career best and give him a one-shot lead over Alex Noren in the Wyndham Championship.

The Wyndham Championship is the final tournament in the regular season, with the top 70 in the FedEx Cup advancing to the lucrative postseason filled with potential perks.

Dahmen is 101st in the standings and would need a runner-up finish with no more than two other players to reach the FedEx Cup playoffs.

He was happy with the start — 10 birdies on a dry course at Sedgefield and also realistic about his chances of playing next week in the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He has one victory and three runner-up finishes in 231 tournaments.

“I mean, I’ve had like three top 2s in my career I don’t know four of them, maybe?” he said. “I mean, it’s not even a thing, right? Yeah, great to make the playoffs, hat would be unbelievable, give me a lot of time off this fall We’ve got a baby coming so that would take some pressure off of that

“The playoffs are a bonus for

me,” he said “I’m just going to go out and try to play good golf, and I guess if I play really well, then I get to play another week.”

Dahmen also shot 61 in the second round of the RSM Classic in 2020.

Noren missed six months with a hamstring tear and can’t reach the postseason even with a win.

The four players at 63 included Mark Hubbard, who is at No 98 and who also would need a runnerup finish to advance.

Hubbard was joined by Cameron Young, defending champion Aaron Rai and Nico Echavarria, who at No. 65 needs to hold his position.

“I think t’s all about how you look at it. For me I think it kind of takes the pressure off because it’s really hard to do that and it’s not something that you’re really thinking about,” Hubbard said.

“I’ve just got to go play super well and make a ton of birdies. If that happens to fall into place that way, then that’s great.

“I think it’s easier than if I had to top-15 or top-10 because that way you’re always looking at the board where this week I’ve just got to go out and play as good as I can.”

Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott have different objectives this week and wound up with the same score at 65.

Spieth had four birdies over his last five holes. He is set for the postseason at No. 50, but wants to help take the pressure off when he gets to Memphis, Tennessee.

The top 50 after the first playoff event not only advance to the next week, they are guaranteed to get in all the $20 million signature events.

Spieth missed out last year then had wrist surgery, and had to ask for exemptions into the signature events. Scott, however, is at No. 85 and would need at least third place to reach the postseason.

“I’m going to need to get like 20 under to think of anything, so I better not be 1 under through day one or I’m going to leave myself a lot of work,” Scott said. “So nice to make a few birdies. And of course as much as I think about moving on, I’d like to win this tournament.”

Also at stake this week is the first FedEx Cup bonus pool — $10 million to the points leader (Scottie Scheffler) and $4 million for second place (Rory McIlroy), which they both have wrapped up. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley is at No. 10 and would pick up $500,000 if he can stay there. Bradley bogeyed his last two holes for a 68. He played with Ben Griffin (67) and Andrew Novak (68), who both have Ryder Cup hopes.

Takeda, Okayama lead surge during Women’s British Open

By The Associated Press

PORTHCAWL, Wales Rio Takeda

overcame a double bogey at the turn with four birdies over her final seven holes Thursday for a 5-under 67 to share the lead with Eri Okayama in a Women’s British Open that featured a Japanese surge and a mixed day for Lottie Woad.

Japanese players held the top three spots at Royal Porthcawl, with Miyu Yamashita at 68.

Three others were among the top 12 after an opening round in which the wind kept anyone from going low but about half the field was at par or better

Takeda, one of 20 players who have won on the LPGA Tour this year, took a double bogey on the par-5 ninth hole, only to rally over the closing hole to make up ground.

Okayama, who plays the Japan LPGA, hit fairway metal to 12 feet on No. 17 for her final birdie Woad started the month as the No. 1 amateur in women’s golf. She won on the Ladies European Tour, missed a playoff by one shot in an LPGA major and then won the Women’s Scottish Open against a strong field in her pro debut. She was the betting favorite at the final major of the year and did well to stay in the mix with a birdie on the par-5 18th for an even-par 72. Woad played alongside defending champion Lydia Ko (73) and Lilia Vu, a double major winner from two years ago, who had a 74.

“Had a good amount of birdies, just a few poor bogeys on the front nine that could have definitely been avoided,” Woad said. “Nice to finish on par and birdie the last. It’s one of those rounds that could

Marchand wins IM gold at Swim Worlds

BY STEPHEN WADE Associated Press

SINGAPORE Léon Marchand of France won gold in the 200-meter individual medley at the swimming world championships on Thursday — and it had a Texas flavor to it.

American swimmer Shaine Casas claimed the silver and Hubert Kós of Hungary took the bronze. The three — from three different countries — all train with American Bob Bowman at the University of Texas at Austin.

Bowman is famous, of course, for training legendary American Michael Phelps.

Marchand, who shattered the 200 IM world record just 24 hours earlier in the semifinal, almost did it again as he finished in 1 minute, 53.68 seconds. That was just off his Wednesday mark of 1:52.69.

Both times blew away the old mark of 1:54.00 set 14 years ago by American Ryan Lochte.

“It was a bit tough today, but it was great,” Marchand said. “I know Shaine always goes out super fast so I knew I couldn’t be far off him. It was a battle all the way to the end, so that was cool for me.”

Marchand won four individual gold medals a year ago in the Paris Olympics but is only swimming for two individual golds in Singapore.

He already holds the 400 IM record of 4:02.50 from the 2023 worlds.

That one may go on Sunday on the eighth and closing day

“That’s still a whole new challenge,” Marchand added of the 400.

“I know I’ve gained a lot of power, but I’m not sure yet it makes a big difference over the 400. We’ll see.”

He also praised Bowman and said it was difficult to come back after his draining record swim.

“I was going for the title and I was racing my teammates,” Marchand said. “We’re sharing the podium together That just shows how good a coach Bowman is at swimming.”

McIntosh show

Summer McIntosh of Canada won the 200-meter butterfly for her third gold of the championships. She was on pace to break the world record after 150 meters but faded, finishing in 2:01.99. The record is 2:01.81 set in 2009 in the

Leclerc

have definitely gotten away from me. I am happy how I hung in there and got a decent round together.”

Nelly Korda, whose No. 1 ranking she has held for the last 16 months is in jeopardy, had an early bogey and kept a clean card the rest of the way, adding three birdies for a 70.

Much like Woad, that round could have produced a much higher score if not for a series of key pars, none bigger than Korda’s 12-footer on No 16.

“Sometimes you have to get lucky when you make the wrong decision You kind of have to bail yourself out,” said Korda, still looking for her first win this year after seven titles last season.

Korda and Woad played in the afternoon, when the wind began to blow harder off the Bristol Channel, and faced a quick turnaround

before starting the second round in the morning.

Mao Saigo, who won the first LPGA major of the year at the Chevron Championship and Riviera Maya Open winner Chisato Iwai were in the large group at 69. That also included Mimi Rhodes of England, who leads the LET money list with three titles.

Rhodes grew up playing across the Bristol Channel, and she came over a month ago to see Royal Porthcawl ahead of her first Women’s British Open.

The wind was strong that day, which made Thursday feel more manageable.

“The members told me it was the windiest they’d ever seen it, so I played it like with a lot of wind,” Rhodes said. “So yeah, maybe I played it when it was at its toughest and now I just think it’s easier.”

super-suit era by Liu Zige of China. McIntosh will also start training this fall under Bowman at Texas. American Regan Smith took silver (2:04.99), with bronze for Elizabeth Dekkers of Australia (2:06.12). Yu Zidi, the 12-year-old Chinese prodigy, was fourth in 2:06.43. It was her second fourthplace finish at the worlds.

“My coach and I, our goal was to break the world record,” McIntosh said, openly disappointed she just missed it. “That’s what I’ve been training for I missed it by that little, and I know that I messed up the last 15 meters of my race. I didn’t reach my goal today.” It was, however, the second fastest time in history Popovici wins

David Popovici of Romania took the 100 freestyle in 46.51, the second fastest time in history behind the 46.40 set last year by Pan Zhanle of China. Pan failed to reach the final. American Jack Alexy was the silver medalist (46.92) and Kyle Chalmers of Australia claimed the bronze (47.17).

Popovici was the bronze medalist a year ago in Paris in the 100 and he won the 200.

“Usually the one who wins is the one who can isolate themselves from others.” Popovici said of his race tactics.

He also talked about constructing imaginary walls between his lane and the others.

“I imagine I’m alone and do what I trained for,” he said.

American Katharine Berkoff of the United States took the 50 backstroke (27.08), just edging teammate Regan Smith (27.25) with bronze going to Wan Letian of China (27.30). It was Smith’s second silver of the night and the Americans’ fourth gold.

The Americans have won four golds over five days. The team seems to still be battling a stomach bug picked up at its training camp in Thailand, but head coach Greg Meehan has suggested team health is improving.

Gretchen Walsh of the United States pulled out of the women’s 100 freestyle. The women’s 4x200 freestyle relay went to Australia (7:39.35), with silver for the United States (7:40.01) and bronze for China (7:42.99). It was Australia’s fifth gold and it tops the gold-medal table.

Yu, the 12 year old, will get a bronze, having swum in the preliminaries.

trusts Vasseur’s ‘vision’ post-extension

By The Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary Charles Leclerc hailed Fred Vasseur’s “vision” and cold-blooded approach after the Ferrari team principal was handed a new contract following speculation about his future.

Ferrari said the deal for Vasseur announced on Thursday was a sign of “trust in Fred’s leadership,” with the Italian team yet to win a Formula 1 race in 2025.

“In Formula 1, it takes time to build something, especially a successful team,” Leclerc said, arguing that the situation had been complicated by the “hype around the team” after Lewis Hamilton’s arrival, and narrowly missing out on the constructors’ championship last year

The driver from Monaco added that Vasseur stood out for his sense of humor and his “cold blood” when Ferrari comes under pressure.

“I think what’s very difficult within Ferrari is the emotion is very much part of the daily job,” Leclerc said. “Fred really knows how to leave his emotions aside and have a clear vision of where we are at, no matter how much noise there is around the team.”

Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Ferrari said the new deal was a “multiple-year contract,” without giving further details. Leclerc’s teammate Hamilton gave Vasseur his backing last month after reports in the Italian media suggested his job could be in question.

Ferrari last won a race in October and, while it’s second in the constructors’ championship, neither Hamilton nor Leclerc has consistently been able to challenge the leading McLaren drivers this year

“Today we want to recognize what has been built and commit to what still needs to be achieved,” Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna said in a statement.

“It reflects our trust in Fred’s leadership — a trust rooted in shared ambition, mutual expectations and clear responsibility We move forward with determination and focus, united in our pursuit of the level of performance Ferrari has to aim for.”

Vasseur joined Ferrari as team principal at the start of 2023. He was Hamilton’s team boss in junior series in the mid-2000s, and played a role in convincing the seven-time champion to leave Mercedes for Ferrari for 2025 in a move which shook up F1.

Vasseur also previously worked with Renault and Sauber in F1. Hamilton, who hasn’t finished on the podium in a Grand Prix race since joining the Italian team, has been holding meetings with senior executives to push for improvements and a voice in developing the team’s car for 2026. Next year brings sweeping changes to the regulations.

“I’m grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me. This renewal is not just a confirmation — it’s a challenge to keep progressing, to stay focused and to deliver,” Vasseur said.

“Over the past 30 months, we’ve laid strong foundations, and now we must build on them with consistency and determination. We know what’s expected, and we’re all fully committed to meeting those expectations and taking the next step forward together.” Leclerc played down expectations for his own performance this weekend.

Despite the twisty Hungaroring sometimes being likened to Monaco without walls, he said it’s often been “by far the worst track of the season” for him.

Vasseur

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By LM OTERO

Joel Dahmen hits off the 12th hole during the Charles Schwab tournament on May 22 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. GOLF

Wyndham

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KIN CHEUNG

Rio Takeda of Japan takes a swing during the Women’s British Open at Royal Porthcawl Club on Thursday in Porthcawl, Wales.

Marchand

‘SEQUINS &STARLIGHT’

An end of summer celebration at the Louisiana Art& Science Museumfrom 1p.m. to 3p.m.

Fridaywill offer aTaylorSwift-inspired afternoon

—aSwift-themed craft, dance parties and a tour of “Threads of Evolution: Engineeringa Community That Sparkles.”Regularadmission applies. lasm.org

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

Showing at 7p.m. Saturday,the feature-film ‘The Spin’ depicts the messy life of amusicloving record store owner in the NorthernIreland town of Omagh.

FREE FIRST SUNDAY

In addition to free admission at several downtown museums,the Louisiana Old Governor’sMansion and the East Baton RougeParish Librarywill present Reading at the Mansion from noon to 4p.m.to celebrate and foster literacy in the state. Also free tours for guests of all ages. laogm.org

BLAST TO THE PAST

Louisiana Retro Con returns to the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales this weekend.

FROM THETOP

BY JOHN WIRT

Contributing writer

The Baton Rouge IrishFilm Festival returns to the Manship Theatre and Shaw Centerfor the Arts on Saturday for aday of movies,music anddance.

Twofeature-length comedydramas from Ireland will bookend the festival’stwo afternoon segments of short films. The shorts have beena popular staple of the festival for years.

“It’sfamily-friendly,”festival publicistLiz Walker said ofthe short-films program. “People love that and, at the end, everybody votes for their favorites. The audience chooses thewinnerofthe O’Kalem Award.”

The festival’sO’Kalem Award is named in honor of director Sidney Olcott andscreenwriter-actress Gene Gauntier.Pioneers of Irishand American filminthe early 20th century, New Yorkers Olcott and Gauntierwere professionally known as the O’Kalems.

Baton Rouge’sfestival of Irish film, presented by the Baton Rouge Irish Club, has becomea screening destination for Irish filmmakers.

“The Irish Film Institute put the call out in Ireland to the filmmakers, to send their films to us,” Walker said. “We’ve been told by the institute that, because we’ve been doing thisfor so many years and have been so consistent, filmmakers wantto submit specifically to us.”

This year’sprogram of10 short films offers six comedies andone fairytale, drama, action film and documentary each

Although “Wee Irish Film Night,” the festival’susual Friday night screenings of short films, has been afestival highlight for years, budget restrictions this year compelledorganizers to show both shorts and feature films one day only atthe Shaw Center

“Mostofthe sponsorsthat we ve had over the years told Twofeature films and10shortswill screen Saturday

BATON ROUGE

IRISH FILMFESTIVAL

Noon to 8:30 p.m. Saturday l Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. l $15 per screening l batonrougeirishfilmfestival.com and manshiptheatre.org

DBYJOHN WIRT Contributingwriter

evon Allman’ssummer and fall touringincludesa trio of Louisiana visits. The blues-rocking son and nephew,respectively of Allman Brothers Band co-founders Gregg and Duane Allman, Devon Allman has been making his markinmusic for nearly three decades. His“Blues Summit” tour comestoBaton Rouge on Thursday and LakeCharles the following day.Hereturns to Louisiana in October for ashow in New Orleans. The “Blues Summit” tourshares its title with Allman’sguest-filled newalbum. Released last week by Germany’sRuf Records, it pairs the Devon Allman Project with five

BY BARBARA SIMS Contributing

writer

What is R&B, where’d it come fromand where’d it go? An array of five-star entertainers will give a musical answer to these questionswhen theManship

special guests—young Mississippi blues star Christone “Kingfish”Ingram,Wet Willie singer andharmonica player Jimmy Hall, sacred steel guitarist Robert Randolph, Michigan-based blues singer-guitarist Larry McCray, and gospelinfluenced NewOrleans rhythmand-blues singer Sierra Green.

“I want to see things through a different lens and work with different people,” Allman said from hishome in St.Louis. “This (‘Blues Summit’)isanotherstepinthatdirection. The different textures and depth wouldn’tbepossible with it only being aDevon Allmanrecord.”

Allman’s studio guests Hall,McCray andGreen are joininghim on tour.Hehas an especially long association with Hall, the voice of WetWillie’s1974 Top10hit, “Keep On Smilin’.” WetWillie opened shows forthe Allman Brothers Band in the 1970s and Hall later joined the Gregg Allman Band.

“Jimmy played saxophone, harmonica and he gave my dad abreak in the show by singing acouple of songs in the show,” Devon Allman

PROVIDED PHOTO

Though thedrops aredigital,the songsare real

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

CYT’S‘SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN’

The year is 1927, and talkies are replacing silent films in the movie theaters. Don Lockwood’ssinging voice is as eloquent as his talking voice, maybe more so. But his glamorous leading lady,Lina Lamont, has aproblem. Her voice is grating, her words pinched. She sounds like aBrooklyn telephone operator when she speaks, which makes it even funnier when she’sasked to say the line, “I can’t stand him.”

7p.m. Friday,2 p.m and 7p.m. Saturday and3 p.m.Sunday l

LSU’sShaverTheatre, Music &Dramatic Arts Building, Dalrymple Drive l $19 forchildrenage 12 andyounger; $22 for adults;all tickets $25 at the door l cytbatonrouge.org

Or,inher heavy accent, “I cayent stayend ’em.”

Fans of “Singin’ in the Rain” are already laughing at this reference. As for those whoaren’t familiar with the story,Christian Youth Theatre Baton Rouge plans to change that.

Lina’sline is probably the mov-

ie’s most memorable one, andit’ll definitely be part of the dialogue when CYT of Baton Rouge continues its Community Theatre run of “Singin’ in the Rain” in LSU’s ShaverTheatre.

Showtimes are 7p.m.Friday, 2p.m.and 7p.m. Saturday and 3p.m. Sunday

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday,Aug. 1, the 213th day of 2025. There are 152 days left in the year

Todayinhistory On Aug. 1, 1981, MTV began its American broadcast; thefirst music video aired on the new cable TV network was “Video Killed the Radio Star,” by The Buggles.

Also on this date:

In 1876, Colorado was admitted as the 38th statein the Union,less than amonth after the US Centennial (earning it the nickname “the Centennial State”)

In 1907, aweeklong boys’ camping eventbegan on Brownsea Island in southern England, organized by Robert BadenPowell; the eventisnow marked as the beginningofthe Scout Movement.

In 1936, Adolf Hitler presided over the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in Berlin.

In 1944, an uprising broke out in Warsaw,Poland, against Nazi occupation; the revolt lasted two months before collapsing.

In 1957, the United States and Canada announced they had agreed to create the North AmericanAir Defense Command (NORAD).

In 1966, Charles Joseph Whitman,25, went on an armedrampage at the University ofTexas in Austin that killed 14 people, most of whom were shot by Whitmanwhile he was perched in the clock tower of the main campus building.

In 1971, The Concert for Bangladesh, an all-star benefit organized by George Harrison

Continued from page1D

tours with his band. He also narrated and was featuredinLouisianaPublic Broadcasting’spost-Katrina film “American Creole: New Orleans Reunion,” showing the havoc of the storm andthe determination of New Orleans musicians to reunite and keep their music alive.

St. John is aversatile cabaret singer; jazz, opera and musical theater performer; and an educator honored for Excellence in Teaching She’shad popular stints as featured chanteuse in well-knownNew Orleans hotelsand amorediverse audience in her current venue in the French Quarter,the Bombay Club. She is ofteninvited to perform in festivals in Italy and other countries.

Andfor those curious about rainfall for the “Singin’ in the Rain” number,well, the rain will be digitallyproduced in this show

“Wewere going to usereal water,and we designed it where therainwould be contained within our sets, but LSU was concerned aboutit,” director Jeff Elliott said. “So,the rain will be digital on a backdrop, but we’ll still have the iconic scene where Don hops up on thelight post with the umbrella.”

Basedon1952 film

The stage production of “Singin’ in theRain” isbased on the 1952 film starring Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood and Debbie Reynolds as hisfriend-turned-love-interest

KathySeldon The story opensin1920s Hollywood, where Don and Lina are thekingand queenofsilent films

They also pose as aromanticcoupleoff-screen to stay in favor with fans and boost ticket sales.

But talkies are beginning to overtake the industry.Suddenly acting requires more than facial expressionsand body language.

Actors have to add voices to their performances, andthe studio

of The Beatles and sitar player Ravi Shankar,was held at Madison Square Garden in New York.

In 2001, Pro Bowl tackle Korey Stringer,27, died of heatstroke, aday after collapsing at theMinnesotaVikings’ training camp on the hottest day of the year

In 2004, the Ycuá Bolaños supermarket fire in Asuncion, Paraguay,killed morethan400 people.

In 2007, the eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, amajor Minneapolis artery,collapsed into theMississippi River during evening rush hour,killing 13 people.

In 2014, amedical examiner ruled that aNew York Citypolice officer’schokehold caused thedeath of Eric Garner,whose videotaped arrest and final pleas of “I can’tbreathe!” hadsparked outrage.

In 2023, former President Donald Trump was indicted by afederal grand jury on conspiracy and obstruction charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn theresults of the 2020 presidential election.

Today’sBirthdays: Actor Giancarlo Giannini is 83. Basketball Hall of Fame coach RoyWilliams is 75. Blues musician Robert Cray is 72. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum is 69. Rock singer Joe Elliott(Def Leppard) is 66. RapperChuckD (Public Enemy) is 65. ActorJohn Carroll Lynch is 62. Rock singer Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) is 61. Film director Sam Mendes is 60. ActorTempestt Bledsoe is 52. Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James is 47. Actor Jason Momoa is 46.

Rouge her home, she continues hersolo career as well as being a part of popular local group Phat Hat with leader Woods. Rhythm and blues is aterm musiciansadoptedinthe 1940s to describe the transition from traditional blues to include amore varied and often moreprominent andcomplicated rhythm pattern.

Cave launched her solo singing careerinher hometown of Las Vegas but the road companies of several Broadway plays recruited her and then followed aseries of bandtours with such stars as Stevie Wonder.Now making Baton

wants to do just that with thelatestLockwood-Lamontmovie, “The Dueling Cavalier.”

The only problem is Linadoesn’t have thevoice for it, so she’sgiven

elocution lessons, which she either doesn’torrefuses to comprehend. Or both. This is where she blurts out her famousline.It’salsowhenDon

begins fallingfor Kathy,then sings in therainabout his newfound love.

Emphasis on authenticity

“Our themeisauthenticity,” Elliott said. “It’swhat we are really focusing on as thetheme of this show.You’ve got Don, who’s willing to lie about his backstory so that the audience loves him, and you’ve gotKathy, who’sclambering for the New York stage. Both of them find that it’snot whoyou are andwhatyou do, butwhat they find that’s truly important.Yeah.And they find their authenticity when they find each other.” Elliottisdirecting acastof35 adults, many of whom aregraduates of theCYT program.Josh Finch is spotlighted in the lead role of Don, Chelsea Gidden is Kathy, Matthew Lass is Don’ssidekick Cosmoand Ally Hollowaywill command the stage as Lina.

“The three productions during the school year are Christian Youth Theatre productions, but the summer show is always aChristian Community Theatre production, where adults get to participate,” Elliott said. “It’sa great group. One of thethings I’ve told this castis if you take away the costumes, the sets and the props, they would still bring an amazing show.”

Email RobinMilleratromiller@ theadvocate.com.

‘Four Mothers,’showing at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, is acontemporarystoryabout four men and the elderly mothers for whom they are principal caregivers.

CINEMA

Continuedfrom page1D

us that they just couldn’tdoitthis year,” Walkerexplained. “All organizations are struggling for donations and sponsorship. Look at LPB (LouisianaPublic Broadcasting), what they’re up against now.” Nonetheless, thefestivalis carrying on with three days of events.InadditiontoSaturday’s films andsponsors’dinner at the Shaw Center,Sunday is military day at the U.S.S. Kidd (includinga screening “The Last Rifleman” starring Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, 11 a.m. to 3p.m.) and Monday is pub, burger and movie night at Phil Brady’sBar &Grill (6:30 p.m.)

The festival’stwo Saturday features at theManship Theatre are both recentlyreleased comedydramas. Showingat12:30 p.m., “Four Mothers”isa contemporary story about four men andthe elderly mothersfor whom they are

ALLMAN

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“R&B often had afaster,heavier beat, and was suitable for doing the new dances that came along every few years,” Esneault said. Themusic andthe termR&B became better known in the’50sand ’60s when Billboardand other music magazines made R&B aseparate chart,replacing the previous term, “race” records. Much of the music derivedits feel from the gospel and spiritual music that many of its early stars heard in the churches of their youth.

Those fortunateticketholders for Thursday’s showwillhearnew versions of songs that are widelyknown and loved, made famous by Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner,Diana Ross, andothers. It’sgoing to make you want to dance in the aisles.

said. “He hasalways been Uncle Jimmy to me.I think my dad is smiling down because I’m keeping Jimmy Hall working androcking. At 75 yearsold,it’suncanny how powerful his voice is.”

Thepowerfully vibrant “Blues Summit” albumisone of thedozen recording projectsAllman has produced for himself and others. “This is probablymyproudest producer moment,” he said. “It wasa treat to pick which songs feature horns; to tell Kingfish, ‘Man, don’tbeshy.Playexactly like B.B. King’; and to talk the string section through ‘Real Love.’ It was an honor andapleasure to have all these folks trust me.”

Allman chosetointerpret two classics for the “BluesSummit” album,Jimi Hendrix’s“Little Wing” and Willie Dixon’sChicago blues classic“Wang Dang Doodle.” His “Little Wing” recording followed Allman’sperformances of the song on the 2025 “Experience Hendrix” tour.It’smodeled after the Derek andthe Dominosrecordofthe song featuring Allman’slateuncle, Duane Allman

principal caregivers.

“It’s endearing,” said festival organizer Joanna Anselmo. “They take their Catholic mothers to Mass every morning.”

Aremake of the 2008 Italian film “Mid-August Lunch,” “Four Mothers” especially follows the misadventures of aspiring novelist Edward (James McArdle). Edward struggles to find timetopromote his upcoming book and care for his widowed mother (Fionnula Flanagan) while she recovers from astroke. His responsibilities escalatewhen three of his friends, all of whom aretheir mothers’ caregivers, abandon the women at Edward’sdoorstep whilethey go to Spain.

Variety movie criticGuy Lodge praised “FourMothers,” describing the film as awarm, sweet story that contains “surprising reserves of wisdom and sadness.”

Showingat7 p.m. Saturday,the feature film “The Spin” depicts the messy life of amusic-loving record store owner in theNorthern Ireland townofOmagh. Owen

“It was ano-brainertorecord that version,” Allmansaid. “And ‘Wang Dang Doodle’ is such aclassic. I knewJimmy Hall would murder it.”

Prior to his “BluesSummit” project,Allman worked with his bandsHoneytribe andthe Devon Allman Project; performedand recorded with theRoyal Southern Brotherhood (with New Orleans’ Cyril Neville) and the Allman Betts Band (with Duane Betts); and enjoyed aTop 5Spanish hitwith Spain’sVargas Blues Band. Despite having amusic star father,Allmandidn’tgrowupin themusic business. The child of thelate Gregg Allman’sfirst of seven marriages, he spent mostof his childhood separated from his father.Upon meeting his father for the first time at 16 years old, Devon Allman and his long-absent dadformed an instantly close relationship. In the early 2000s,Allmantook abreak from the traveling musician’slife. During his first child’s early years, he worked at areal job and playedsoloacoustic gigs on theside. His career revivedin 2005 after he sang three songs for an albumbySpain’sVargas Blues Band. One of those songs, “How Verso Are You?,” becamea Top5 hit in Spain.

Colgan plays Elvis, the co-owner of the Boneyard Records music store with his best friend, Dermot, played by Brenock O’Connor Unlike Elvis, Dermot has grown weary of themusic store. He longs to leave Omagh andbea professional musician.But Dermot dreadsthe prospect of raising aparting glass to Elvis, aman alreadyburdenedbyhis crushing fears of abandonment.

“The Spin” becomes aroad comedy when Dermot and Elvis drive southtoCountyCorkinthe Republic of Ireland on asearch forgold. The gold the lads seek sits in abox of incredibly collectible andvaluable vinyl records.

“The Spin” cast also includes Tara Lynne O’Neiland Leah O’Rourke (“Derry Girls”) and Maura Higgins (“Love Island”). Saturday’sIrish Film Festival schedule of events is available at batonrougeirishfilmfestival.com and manshiptheatre.org.

Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. com.

“That was crazy,” he said. “The song went to No. 2. We were on MTV and Toyota commercials. I always laugh with my wife and say ‘I’m aSpanish rock star.’ Forone summer,Iwas on top of the world.” His surprise Spanish success gave Allman the confidence to invest the income generated by the hitintoproducinghis 2006 album, “Devon Allman’sHoneytribe.”

“I placed all bets on me,” he said. “I’m gladIdid. My first record cameout and Itoured theworld with it, opening for heroes and jamming with heroes. It carvedmytrajectory right there and then.”

Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. com.

PROVIDED PHOTO By FIRECASTLE MEDIA LLC

Josh Finch, left, is Don Lockwood,and Ally HollowayisLina Lamont in a scene from the ‘Dueling Cavalier,’ the moviethat is being filmed in the story of Christian youth Theatre Baton Rouge’sproduction of ‘Singin’ in the Rain.

PROVIDED PHOTOFROMDEXTERFILMS

Cave St. John Woods

FRIDAY CAMPYLE: Tallulah at the Renaissance, 6p.m.

CORDON BLUEZ

BAND: Blue Iguana, 6p.m.

KAITLYN WALLACE

DUO: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6p.m

LONGNECK SOCIETY

TRIO: City Café, 6p.m.

SHO RETRO: Le Chien Brewing Co Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

ACOUSTICRATS: Bin 77, 7p.m

NIHIL (OKC), MORTAL COIL (MO), FACE OFF: MidCity Ballroom, 7p.m.

ZACHARYMCLAIN: Crowne Plaza, 7p.m

HENRYTURNER JR.

&ALL-STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8p.m

HOTEL CALIFORNIA: L’Auberge Event Center, 8p.m.

WEN TILLEY TRIO/ JOSH GARRETT: Phil Brady’s, 8:30 p.m.

N’TUNE: The Showroom, 9p.m

BTB ACOUSTIC: Moonlight Inn, French Settlement, 9p.m.

CLAYLEBLANC: Jack’s Place, Port Allen, 9p.m.

JOHN FOSTER/LAUREN LEE/CONNOR

MARTIN: TheTexas Club, 9p.m.

SATURDAY

JOSIE MENARD & ALEX BLACK: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.

KAITLYN WALLACE DUO: Agave Blue,

FRIDAY

LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar, New Iberia, 5p.m.

DERRICK SAVOIE: Adopted DogBrewing, Lafayette, 6p.m.

DUELING PIANOS

FEATURING SPARKY

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

FRIDAY NIGHT JAM: La Maison de Begnaud, Scott, 6p.m

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

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

JAMABALAYA TRIO: Randol’s Cajun Restaurant, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.

HUVAL FAMILYBAND: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m.

CHOKE, LA PHAN-

TOMS,BLACKWATER CANAL: Freetown Boom Boom Room, Lafayette, 8p.m.

MATT GARYTRIO: Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 8p.m.

DVNEHPPY+THE

BAD: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8p.m

ROUGE KREWE: Rock

‘n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Cowboys Nightclub, Scott, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY

DON FONTENOT

BAND: Fred’s, Mamou, 8a.m.

GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH ROCKIN’

Gonzales, 6p.m.

PAPO YSON MANDAO: Pedros,Denham Springs, 6p.m.

THE LEE SERIO BAND: Just Wingin It, 6p.m.

CLAYTONSHILLING: Le ChienBrewing Co.,Denham Springs 6:30 p.m.

CAMPYLE: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7p.m.

DIZZY: Bin 77, 7p.m.

NED FASULLO&THE

FABULOUS BIG BAND/ ASHLEY ORLANDO: LSU Union Theater, 7p.m.

ACOUSTIC SATURDAYS W/HENRY

TURNER: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8p.m.

BRIAN &THE BANDITS: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 8p.m.

JOHN FOSTER/LAUREN LEE/CONNOR

MARTIN: The Texas Club,9p.m.

SUNDAY

JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior Grill MidCity,11a.m.

ROBERTCALMES: Cocha, 11 a.m.

ERICWHITFIELD: Crowne Plaza, 11 a.m

JOVIN WEBB: Leola’s Café,11a.m.

KEEPIN’ TIME BAND: Floyd’s Morley Marina,Brusly,4p.m.

LUCY YOES: Pizza Byronz, 5p.m.

SONGWRITER SUNDAYS: La Divina Italian Café,5 p.m

KAITLYN WALLACE: Fiery Crab-Siegen 6p.m.

FRITZ ANDCO. WITH WORTHPOWERS: Mid CityBallroom, 7p.m

OPEN MIC JAM: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 7p.m

MONDAY

ACOUSTICRATS: Phil Brady’s, 6p.m

TUESDAY

EDDIE SMITH: On The HalfShell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m

OPEN MIC: Crazy Dave’s, Livingston, 7p.m.

WEDNESDAY BO BURKES: Mason’s Grill, 5:30 p.m.

SETH LECOQ: BLDG 5, 5:30 p.m

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC: Le Chien Brewing Co.,Denham Springs, 6p.m

KIRK HOLDER: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC W/HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’son 621, Gonzales,7p.m

OPEN MIC JAM: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8p.m.

THURSDAY

BEN BELL &THE

STARDUST BOYS: Southern Rhythm, Denham Springs, 5:30 p.m

KYBALION: El PasoSherwood, 6p.m

ADRIAN, DOC &PHIL: La Divina Italian Café, 6p.m.

WILL WESLEY: Mike Anderson’s, Gonzales, 6p.m.

SHOWSTOWATCH —ACADIANA

BOOGIE: Buck & Johnny’s,Breaux Bridge, 8a.m.

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

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

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

CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC JAM: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1p.m.

CHRIS HIMEL DUO: Lakeview Park, Eunice,5p.m.

ROCK NROSE: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6p.m.

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

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

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

TIDUS,ARCHONA, SILVERTONE,AND

GHOST PRISM: The Loose Caboose, Lafayette, 7p.m.

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

4-HORSES: La PoussiereCajun Dancehall, BreauxBridge, 8p.m.

CEDRICWATSON &BIJOU CREOLE: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m. THE TROYBREAUX QUARTET: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 8p.m.

RUSTY BROWN BAND: Toby’s Lounge Opelousas, 8:30p.m.

SHOTGUN LILLIE:

BRIAN RITTENHOUSE: T’Quilas, Zachary, 6p.m

MIKEHOGAN: Bin77, 6:30 p.m.

THE BISHOP ELLIS

TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7p.m

THE STARDUST BOYS: The Brakes Bar, 7p.m

RHYTHM AND BLUES REVIEW: Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

ANTJE DUVEKOT: Mid CityBallroom, 7:30 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR.

&ALL-STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8p.m

DEVON ALLMAN’S ‘BLUES SUMMIT’: Raising Cane’s River Center Performing Arts Theatre, 8p.m

BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s, 9p.m OUTLYING

SATURDAY

BRIAN RITTENHOUSE: Big J’s SidePorch, Clinton, 6p.m

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s musiclisted? Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadlineis noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper

ette, 8p.m

Rock ‘n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Cowboys Nightclub, Scott, 10 p.m

SUNDAY

GLENN ZERINGUE: Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 11 a.m.

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

JAMBALAYA ACOUSTIC MUSIC JAM: Tom’s Fiddle&Bow,Arnaudville, 12:30 p.m.

BALDUDIMANCHE

—JOHN WILSON & THE ZYDECO HOUSE ROCKERS: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1p.m CAJUN JAM: Bayou Teche Brewing, Arnaudville,2p.m FORET TRADITION: Pat’s Atchafalaya Club,Henderson 4:30 p.m

RUSTY METOYER: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 5p.m.

CATHEAD BISCUIT BOYS: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m

MONDAY

PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Café Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m

TUESDAY

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

KILLER KARAOKE: Freetown Boom Boom Room, Lafayette, 8p.m.

GROOVE ROOM: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafay-

FRIDAY MOVIE AT THELAGOON: “SONIC 3”: 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., BREC’s Liberty Lagoon, 111 LobdellAve.General admission applies. brec.org. SPOOF NIGHT! WITH “SHREK” (2001): 7:30 p.m.,Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St The Family Dinner Comedy Troupe presents an interactivemovie experience with livecommentary,drinking games, and plenty of laughs that pokeloving fun at the iconic film. Costumes encouraged. $17. manshiptheatre.org.

FRIDAYNIGHT LECTURE: 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.,BREC’s Highland Road Park Observatory,13800 Highland Road. Skygazing tips, physics phenomena, space programs and famous events arecovered. Forages 14 and older Free. hrpo.lsu.edu. Also, evening sky viewing from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

SATURDAY

SWAMPBIRDTALKS: 7a.m.9a.m., Bluebonnet Swamp NatureCenter, 10503 N. Oak Hills Parkway.Led by a member of theBaton Rouge AudubonSociety,visitors can go on amorning hikethrough the forest and swamp while identifying variousbird species. General admission applies. braudubon.org.

BATONROUGE ARTS MARKET: 8a.m.tonoon,Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Vendors sellavariety of unique,original worksofart including pottery,woodwork, textiles, glass, paintings, sculptures, photographs, handmade soaps, handmade toys,jewelry and more. artsbr.org.

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8a.m.tonoon,Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org.

FAMILY-HOURSTARGAZING:

WEDNESDAY

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

LIVE MUSIC: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6p.m

LIVE MUSIC: Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 6p.m

LIVE MUSIC: Tap Room, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Saloon,Lafayette, 8p.m

THURSDAY

LIVE MUSIC: Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 6p.m CIGAR SOCIAL: DowntownLafayette, 7p.m

KARAOKE PARTY: Black Bull, Youngsville, 8p.m

LIVE MUSIC: The Tap Room, Lafayette, 8p.m

NOUVEAUSTRING BAND: Hideawayon Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m

ZACH EDWARDS: Blue Moon Saloon,Lafayette, 8p.m

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s musiclisted? Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadlineis noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper

St.; Cary Saurage Community Arts Center,233 St. Ferdinand St., and LSU Center for River Studies, 100 Terrace Ave. Free admission to all exhibitsand installations, plus reduced-price entryto LASM’s IrenePennington Planetarium shows.

“WILD KRATTS: LOST AT SEA”

—APBS KIDS PRODUCTION: 4p.m., Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. Presented by Films at Manship and Louisiana Public Broadcasting. Screening and dance party in conjunction withFreeFirst Sunday.manshiptheatre.org

TUESDAY BATONROUGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA POP-UP CONCERTS: 12:30 p.m., RiverCenter Branch Library,250 North Blvd;1:30 p.m., OurLady of theLakeRegional Medical Center,5000 HennessyBlvd. Smallensembles in 30- to 45-minuteperformances. Free. brso.org.

RED STICKFARMERS MARKET: 3p.m.-6 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood,7711 Goodwood Blvd.Farm-fresh produce,goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org

TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m Burgersmith, 18303 Perkins Road. Collect your team and jockey for firstplace.loom. ly/y-CKtQ4.

WEDNESDAY RED STICKFARMERS MAR-

KET: 9a.m. to noon, ExxonMobilYMCA, 7711 Howell Blvd.Farm-fresh produce goodsand more. www facebook.com/redstickfarmersmarket.

BATONROUGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA POP-UP CONCERT: 1p.m., Ochsner Medical Center,17000 Medical Center Drive.Small ensemblein30- to 45-minute performance. Free. brso.org.

10 a.m.,Irene W. Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art &Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Learn about the stars and constellationsin the local nighttime sky,followedbyanall-ages show. lasm.org.

BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY

GIVEAWAY: 10 a.m.,Zachary High School gymnasium, 4100 Bronco Lane.Presented by the Dr.Martin LutherKing Jr. Zachary Committee. Also, local vendors will be on-site. All attendees asked to bring at least onecanned good to support the Zachary Food Pantry. (225) 202-1076 or (225) 933-6431.

READ &CREATE: 11 a.m., Louisiana Art&Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Children ages 3-8 and their accompanying adults can takepart in amuseum guideled storytime and art activity Regular admissionapplies; free for members. lasm.org.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH:

1p.m.-3 p.m.,Tanger Outlets Gonzales,2100 S. Tanger Blvd. Family fun including a meet-and-greet with local athletes, liveDJ, fun jumps for all ages and touch-atruck with emergency and specialty vehicles.

SATURDAY BALLROOM

DANCE: 7p.m.-10p.m American Legion,151 S. Wooddale Blvd. Tropical Nights theme. American Legion hosts cash bar. Expect amix of recorded musicfor ballroom, Latin and swing dancing. $15 cash admission (dancers and spectators)

SUNDAY

FREE FIRSTSUNDAY: Louisiana Art &Science Museum, 100 S. River Road; Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd.; Magnolia Mound Plantation, 2161 NicholsonDrive;LSU Museum of Art, 100 Lafayette

TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 27350 Crossing Circle, Suite150, Denham Springs.Collect your team and jockey for firstplace loom.ly/y-CKtQ4.

THURSDAY

RED STICKFARMERS MARKET: 8a.m. to noon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center,6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce,goods and more. facebook.com/ redstickfarmersmarket.

BATONROUGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA POP-UP CONCERT: 5:30 p.m Capitol Park Museum, 660 N. FourthSt. Smallensemblein30- to 45-minuteperformance. Free. brso.org.

WEEKLYSOCIAL BIKE RIDE: 7p.m., Geaux Ride, 521 N. ThirdSt., SuiteA.Free. https://fareharbor.com.

TRIVIA NIGHT: 7p.m., Bayes Oyster Bar, 315 NorthBlvd. Test your trivia skills with your friends and family.Free.

ONGOING

ARTGUILD OF LOUISIANA: Independence Park Theatre, 7800 Independence Blvd.“55th Annual River Road Show,” anational, juriedshow, Louisiana State Archives, 3851 Essen Lane, Monday-Sept. 23. Reception from 5p.m. to 7p.m. Aug. 21. (225) 773-8020 or artguildlouisiana.org.

BATONROUGE GALLERYCENTER FORCONTEMPORARY ART: 1515 Dalrymple Drive Group exhibit by April Hammock, MarcusMcAllister HyeYeonNam and Nonney Oddlokken,through Sunday batonrougegallery.org.

CAPITOL PARK MUSEUM: 660 N. FourthSt. “Billy Cannon: They CalledHim Legend,” through Jan. 10. (225) 3425428 or louisianastatemuseum.org.

CARY SAURAGE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER SHELL

GALLERY: 233 St. Ferdinand St. BigBuddy’s SummerArt Collective: “Expressions of Me,” astudentexhibition showcasing artwork from 40 local middleschool students, through Sunday.Hours are from 9a.m. to 4p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2p.m. Saturday.artsbr.org.

ELIZABETHAN GALLERY: 680 Jefferson Highway.Group show.Call (225) 924-6437 or followthe gallery’s Facebook page

LOUISIANAART &SCIENCE MUSEUM: 100 S. River Road. “Threads of Evolution: Engineering aCommunity That Sparkles,” engineering meets imagination through thework of Jaime Glas Odom, founder and creative director of fashion brand Queen of Sparkles, through Nov. 9. “Discoveriesonthe Nile:Exploring King Tut’s Tomb and theAmin Egyptian Collection,” through Oct. 31. (225)

or

MUSEUM OF

“Carved and

of

through

“In Focus:

by LSU Faculty,”through Sunday.(225) 389-7200 or lsumoa.org. MANSHIP THEATRE GALLERY: 100 Lafayette St. “Michalopoulos:HappyTimes, Summerinthe City,”through Oct 10. Hours

JONES WALKERFOYER: 100 Lafayette St. Mitch Evans’ “Out of Sloveniana,”through Thursday, Aug. 7. Free and open during regular Shaw Center building hours unless there is aprivate event. LSU TEXTILE &COSTUME

or email textile@lsu.edu MAGNOLIA MOUNDMUSEUM +HISTORIC SITE: 2161 Nicholson Drive.Guided and self-guided tours.Hours arefrom10a.m. to 4p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 1p.m. to 4p.m. Sunday.brec. org/facility/MagnoliaMound OLD GOVERNOR’SMANSION: 502 NorthBlvd. Open for tours.Hours arefrom9 a.m. to 4p.m. Monday-Friday.Free admission. oldgovernorsmansion.com.

OLD STATECAPITOL: 100 NorthBlvd. “Water/Ways,” traveling Smithsonian exhibit exploring thecritical role water playsinall our lives and howtopreserve it, through Aug. 9. “America’s Sacred Freedoms in the FirstAmendment,” yearlong exhibit.Free. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org.

USS KIDD VETERANS MUSEUM: 305 S. River Road. Displaysofavariety of artifacts that celebrate veteran and navalmilitary history.Note: Vessel is in Houma for dry dock repairs.usskidd.com. WEST BATONROUGE MUSEUM: 845 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen. “Radbwaêtire tik-layé:The Art of Jonathan Mayers,” through Oct. 12. (225) 336-2422 or westbatonrougemuseum.org.

CompiledbyJudy Bergeron. Have an open-to-the-public eventyou’dlike to promote? Email details to red@theadvocate.com. Deadline is 5p.m.Friday forthe following Friday’s paper

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Pay attention to detail and avoid criticism. Make simple changes if they will improve your position or help you gain interest in what you have to offer. An energetic, unemotional approach is best.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Be cautious when dealing with institutions, government agencies and those in positions of power. Listenattentivelyandalignyourselfwith those who share common concerns and interests.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Set aside your emotions and let hard work and discipline guide your actions. Home improvementswillliftyourspiritsandencourage you to focus more on what makes you feel complete

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Relax; don't let what others do annoy you. Impulsive spending is apparent. Don't spend trying to impress someone or win favors. If you must buy someone's love, you are with the wrong partner.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Consider upgrading your skills to ensure you continue to meet demands. Focus your energy on networking, negotiations and making home improvements that lower your overhead.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Direct your energy into something enjoyable and healthy. Trust yourself and leave nothing to chance. Nurture partnerships, and something good will unfold.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) A change of location, surroundings or who you hang out with will be uplifting and make you

WonderWord

aware of what's important to you. Discourage jealousy and possessiveness in yourself and others.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Pay attention to where each dollar goes. Don't leave possessions out in the open. Someone will try to take advantage of you if given the chance. Take care of responsibilities before moving on to more enjoyable pastimes.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Reach out to people you know who can contribute to your success and help you move forward. Mix business with pleasure; brainstorm with thosewhoshareyourideasandyearnfor a similar outcome.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Refuse to let youremotionsgetyouintrouble.Holdon to your thoughts until you are sure that whatyouhavetosayisaccurate.Rethink your strategy and the outcome you desire, and proceed with confidence.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Learn a new skill or update your profile to stay current with the latest trends in the job market. Embrace home improvements that promote more convenience and comfort. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Refresh your memory and rethink your spending habits. Address debt, and it will ease stress. Be open with loved ones, and you will gain valuable insight into how to turn a negative into a positive.

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

FAMILY CIrCUS

beetLe bAILeY

GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

BY PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

E.J. Smith,the future captain of the Titanic, certainly tempted fate by saying, “When anyone asks me how Ican bestdescribe my experience in nearly 40 yearsatsea, Imerelysay,uneventful. Inever saw awreck nor wasIever in anypredicament that threatened to end in disaster of any sort.”

When youare in apredicament at the bridge table, consider the various sensible options and decide between them. Look at the Northhand in today’s diagram. East openstwo diamonds, weak; Southmakes atakeout double; and West raises to three diamonds.What should North do?

He clearly has enough strength to act, but to force to game with afour-diamond cue-bid would be overstating his hand, especially since thediamond king is probablyworthless.Andhewouldprefer not to guess which majortobid.

Theansweristodouble. It is called responsive and says,“Ihave enough strength to act but no suitable bid available.” South, with such astrong hand, should jump to four spades.

West leadsthe diamondqueen.The defenders taketwo tricksinthe suit, then play aclub. How should South continue?

In dangeroflosing one spade, one heart andtwo diamonds,heshould

assume afavorable layout.Here, he wins the fourth trick, drawstwo rounds of trumps, cashes the two topheartsand plays on clubs. Whether East ruffsinor discards and is then endplayed with his trump winner, he must concede aruffand-sluff, on which South’s last heart disappears.

by

©2025

NEA, Inc.,dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle whichcreatesadisguised word, phrase,name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOONGOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

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

allowed.

or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper

by

or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAY’s WoRD BuMPtIous: BUMP-shuss: Obtuselyand oftennoisily selfassertive; obtrusive

Averagemark21words

Time limit 45 minutes

Can you find 36 or morewords in BUMPTIOUS?

YEstERDAY’sWoRD—FEntAnYL

today’s thought “Let all the earth fear the Lord: let allthe inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalms 33:8-9

wuzzles

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard